Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 94 Flying on a Kite
Lao Liu never thought that the clues would come so quickly, so he was inevitably a little proud and motioned to Ali to speak quickly.

Ali stumbled and said: "Eight days ago, on the third day of the Lunar New Year, I got up from my hut in the middle of the night and saw a faint red light in the wall of Shi's West Garden in the alley across the street. I just thought it was a flood, so I I rushed over, but I didn't expect that there was silence in the wall, and the fire slowly went out. Suddenly two big white birds flew out. I vaguely saw people riding on the big birds, and I couldn't help but follow them for a long distance. The two big birds flew out. The big bird seemed to be looking for a way, flying up and down, and then it flew into a dense forest and disappeared. At that time, I woke up from a dream and found that I had followed Shuyuan Lane. I had delivered goods to the shop in that area. The back hill of Ziyang Academy."

It's Ziyang Academy again, Lao Liu sighed, it seems he can't avoid it.

"I stood stunned for a long time, and suddenly realized that I had violated the night ban, and if I was caught by the doorman, I would be slapped with a stick. I hurriedly hid in the bushes at the back of the mountain and waited for daybreak. Finally, I walked back to my house on Ma Yi Ke Lane. That woman, regardless of the inconvenience, beat me until my forehead was bruised. Master Cha, look at it, it's not easy yet." Ali smoothed his hair and pointed to a scar on his forehead to show Lao Liu.

Ali paused and said doubtfully: "It's strange to say that since that day, the Shi family father and daughter have disappeared. I heard that they went back to their hometown to worship their ancestors. I thought about it. The ones riding, don’t just be the two of them.”

Lao Liu paid the reward and asked Yu Jia to take the porter Ali back and report back later if he remembered anything.

Today, the county government office is not in session. Lou Zhixian is having tea with the masters and directors in the back office. When he sees Lao Liu, the team leader, waiting behind the screen, he calls him in and says happily: "Old Liu, it's only been a day, and the long pile in your hand has Is there any clue about the case of Xing Dang’s demon painting?”

Lao Liu bowed in greeting and said, "I'm going back to the county magistrate, I was lucky yesterday. I made a lot of achievements after a day of investigation. Now I have a clue, but it's just too weird. I'll report it to you for an idea."

Lou Zhixian asked suspiciously: "How can you say this?"

Lao Liu took out the fragments from the stone incense burner and presented it, saying: "The Baiyuan Cult demon master involved in Longxing's case. I traced it down and found that it was probably the father and daughter of the Shi family who opened a shop in Ma Yike Lane. It's a pity that they He escaped eight days ago. Some witnesses saw the Shi family father and daughter riding a white kite and finally flying to the mountain behind Ziyang Academy. Some witnesses also pointed out that there was a scholar from Ziyang Academy who had a close relationship with the Shi family. "

"Flying on a white kite?" Lou Zhixian exclaimed, "The white kite taught demons how to fly with a white kite. It's just a legend. Is it true?"

Lao Liu said: "Although I have not seen it in person, there is indeed a record in the old files of the Baiyuan Sect that they can fly on big birds, but it is really weird. I would like to ask the county magistrate to tell me if I should use this clue from Ziyang Academy." Arrest him immediately?"

The magistrate of Lou County couldn't help but hesitate. The students in Jiangnan were really difficult to deal with. He was not the former talented magistrate of Yuan County. He felt that being the magistrate of Wu County was as bitter as swallowing bear bile. He had only served as the magistrate of Wu County for one term, and he had just gained some taste like chewing olives. , I still want to continue to serve, but I have offended the scholars, and I am afraid that I will not be able to do it for a long time.

However, the Bai Yuan cult members committed a serious crime of treason and fraud, so there was no reason to let it go lightly.

"Lao Liu, you go to Ziyang Academy to bring someone to trial. Don't let him escape. If this scholar has a reputation, treat him more favorably and do your best to save face." Lou Zhixian waved his hand and asked him to leave.

In the Ming Dynasty, it was easy to be an official but difficult to be an official. After receiving the order, Lao Liu felt relieved, returned to the arrest hall, called his two apprentices, and ran towards Ziyang Academy.

It was almost noon when we walked all the way to Shuyuan Lane.

"The Yamen is handling the case?" Zhang's father, the porter of Ziyang Academy, rubbed his groggy eyes, but did not take it seriously. He called out to Lao Liu and his three servants: "Gentlemen, please sit down in the porter. Today we are Dean Pu. When I'm on duty, I'll pass the message first to see if Dean Pu can take the time to see you."

As for Chief Yuan Shan, he was a distinguished Jinshi master, and Father Zhang did not think that Chief Yuan Shan would condescend to talk to officials in the yamen.

After leaving Lao Liu and the others on the cold bench, Zhang Dadi slowly walked into the "Yangxian Building" and disappeared from sight.Lao Liu felt that more than an hour had passed, and when calluses were about to form on his butt, Father Zhang came in leisurely and said with a smile: "Master, Dean Pang wants you to come in."

He took some credit and said, "If I hadn't waited for you, Dean Pu would have left right after school."

Lao Liu thanked him for taking the trouble. Seeing that he had no intention of helping the doorman, Father Zhang thought that there was indeed an unkind guy in the public house. He said with a cold face: "I will pick up the important things later, Pu." The dean has to rush to Canglang Pavilion to attend Lord Tongpan’s poetry meeting.”

The first room at the east end of Yangxian Building is where Dean Pu works and receives guests. It is as big as a three-bay facade, with huanghuali furniture and all kinds of books stacked upright.

Dean Pu is about forty years old. He is wearing a pair of fashionable crystal glasses and looks very elegant. He is leaning on the official hat chair with his eyes closed to meditate.

There was a young man sitting on the stool next to the desk beside him, flipping through a roll of paper at random.

Hearing the footsteps, Dean Pu opened his eyes and signaled Lao Liu to speak.

Lao Liu gave a brief summary of the case. Someone alleged that students from the Certificate Academy had close contacts with the suspect, and asked the academy to help find the scholar surnamed Wang so that he could find out the whereabouts of the suspect.

Dean Pu frowned and was about to consider his words when the young man beside him said lazily: "Second uncle, it's important for you to rush to Mr. Tong's poetry meeting. The county government wants to check some information. My nephew will take them to Mr. Ye's information room. Just check it out."

The young man took a look at Lao Liu and others since they came in, but never looked at them.

Dean Pu nodded slightly and said to Lao Liu: "Follow Sanlang to find Assistant Professor Ye. He is in charge of the academy's roster. Just ask him." After saying that, he stood up and put on his big fur cloak. Lao Liu knew that he was seeing off guests. Sorry, I resigned.

The young man led them through the long corridor and stopped at the "Zhishi Building" at the foot of the back hill to the west. Lao Liu admired in his heart that although Ziyang Academy is a private school, its scale is not inferior to that of a government school.

It was time for dinner in the dining hall, and the "Zhishi Building" was empty. After waiting for a while, an old man wearing a half-worn cotton robe came in. When he saw the young man, he was stunned and showed no airs at all. He smiled and said: "Master Pu San is looking for me?"

The young man is the nephew of Dean Pu, and he gave birth to Pu's third son.

Pu San Gongzi gave a brief salute and said: "Mr. Ye, the county government is handling the case and needs the registration information of the academy. Dean Pu has asked to check it for them."

Mr. Ye glanced at Lao Liu and his group, his eyebrows seemed to have infinite doubts, and he said lightly: "What information do you want to check?"

On Lao Liulu, he had already planned how to ask, so he opened his mouth and said: "There are several young scholars named Wang in the academy. Which class are they in and where do they live? How to find them?"

(End of this chapter)