Chapter 7 Chapter two

Di Renjie gazed melancholy at the pitch-black sky, where the clouds were thick and the stars and the moon were hidden.As soon as I entered the Yefu courtyard, it was quiet and deserted, and no human voice was heard.Only one corner lamp was lit in the hall, and the black shadows of the overlapping eaves weighed heavily on the top of the head, making people feel suffocated.In the past two months, due to the fierce epidemic, the scholars and people in the capital died three times out of ten. People were panicked and all businesses were depressed.The emperor moved to Fengxiang, and the court temporarily moved out of Chang'an.Di Gong was appointed as the minister of Dali Temple, the left-behind leader of the capital, to take charge of the government affairs of the capital, frequently punished and deposed officials, patrolled the capital camp, and released relief and caresses, so as to wait for the epidemic to subside.The government office was located in Jingzhaoyin Mansion.

Di Gong's purple python robe, golden jade belt, butterfly hook soap boots, and on his head is a grand master's crown embroidered with gold thread inlaid with pearls and coiled dragons.Standing next to him was Qiao Tai, who had followed him for many years and was now the captain of Zuo Guoyi in the 16th Wei Yafu of the capital.Qiaotai wears a helmet on his head, armored military uniform, a treasured sword attached to his waist, and a golden double dragon emblem in the middle of the armor. Di Gong sighed, and said to himself: "The Holy Majesty and the imperial court have moved out of Chang'an for half a month. What a bustling capital full of people and prosperity, now it has become a world of ghosts and corpses. During the day, I only see those wearing clothes. The corpse collection team in black robes and black hoods dragged Shi Mou around. There were few people in the thoroughfare and streets, and no singing was heard in the city for ten miles. The night was almost a dead city, and Chang'an City, which was 24,000 paces around, was like a dead city. Wrapped in a layer of shroud. Two days ago, there were crowds carrying the tablet of the Dragon Lord, begging for rain with gongs and cannons, but today there is not even a peddler." Di Gong shook his head and continued: "Vicious I know very little about how the plague occurred and spread. For half a month since I was in danger, the plague has not been suppressed, and the number of deaths has continued unabated. Seeing corpses everywhere and people complaining and crying, how can I bear it? There was another commotion in Chengcang's relief, and Mei Liang's accidental death broke an arm of the government. How can there be a suitable official who can manage the relief on his own?"

Qiao Tai heard the words and said: "My lord, Chief Mei has exhausted all his efforts on the matter of releasing relief from the official warehouse, and calmed down the fluctuating hearts of the scholars and people in the capital. It's really hard for him. He doesn't care about his age. He is loyal and daring in his official duties , He also dispatched a lot of pigs, sheep, fruits and vegetables from Guanzhong, Weinan and other places to the capital. His death left many things that others could not be prepared for. I heard that Chief Mei fell down the stairs of his own house to die. After all, he was too old. We have worked hard all day, but an accident happened at night, which caused us a lot of inconvenience."

Duke Dee said: "My kindness is due to his sudden heart attack when he was about to go downstairs, or else he was exhausted and dizzy and fell down the stairs. This unfortunate accident caused us to lose a loyal friend. However, it was at such a critical moment. I heard that there was a doctor named Lu who was there when the accident happened. He often went to Mei’s mansion to see a doctor for Mei Liang and his wife. I found out his address and asked him to come to the government office once. Ask him something." "Mei Liang's death means that one of the three great aristocratic families in Chang'an has no heirs." At this time, Tao Gan entered the inner office and interrupted.

Tao Gan is also Di Gong's confidant, and now he is the governor of the left-behind government office in Kyoto, specializing in criminal litigation and documents. He said: "The two sons of Mei Liang's ex-wife died early, Mrs. Mei has no children, and the Mei family's direct lineage is cut off. The family property will be inherited by a family brother outside the pass." Di Gong asked in surprise, "Tao Gan, you have read all of Mei Liang's case files, and you only found out about his death at noon today!" "Master, I finished reading all the files of the Mei clan a month ago. In the past two or three months, I have been reading the files of the most famous families in Guanzhong. I am very interested in the information on the status of the city, the status of the title, the status of the marriage, and the lineage of the people. Each clan has more than a dozen thick books, and it may not be possible to read a book in one night. I read them. As the best pleasure to while away a long night."

Duke Di looked at Tao Gan with admiration, sighed and said, "With the disappearance of the Mei family, only the Ye family and the He family are left in the royal family of the capital." Tao Gan nodded: "One hundred years ago, the Mei, Ye, and He families ruled the Guanzhong and Jingji areas. The power of the three families rose and fell. , seized the food city but still bells and whistles, retaining the ancient traditions and family laws, as if still a gentry." Di Gong nodded, and slowly stroked his beautiful beard.Said: "They live in their memories, they always take their surname and family as glory, and they look down on the upstarts of the common people. They even regard our saints as the Hakka Han people. Only a few of them are the so-called nobles of the emperor of heaven. They also stubbornly used the revoked official titles among themselves, compiled genealogy discs, strictly restricted extra-clan marriages, and seemed to think they were superior: despised all things."

Tao Gan said: "They intentionally ignore the present, arrogantly self-important, and isolate themselves in a small old world. Most of their houses are in the old city of Chang'an. But Chief Mei is an exception. Most of the characters are at odds with each other, and they are eager to be fair and righteous, cautious in their words and actions, and they are new citizens with a university way. It's just that Ye and He are still the same, and they are completely different from today's fashion." Qiao Tai said: "People in the old city regard Mei Liang's death as an ominous omen. A widely circulated and well-known nursery rhyme heralds that the luck of the Mei, Ye and He families has come to an end, as if it was God's will."

Di Gong said: "Since ancient times, some nursery rhymes have contained mysterious power. People say that the luminous stars in the sky turn into children's mouths to predict disasters and fortunes, but in the end they often come true. It’s like wildfire, unstoppable. Qiao Tai, how do you say that nursery rhyme?” Qiaotai replied: "I heard these few words: Mei, Ye, He, Guan Zhonghou. lost his bed, lost sight, lost his head, You can't live long in the daytime. ——Officer Mei fell from upstairs and fell down the stairs, and died with a broken head. He should be on "lost his head". "

Di Gongdao: "At present, the epidemic is prevalent, the saints are lucky, the people are terrified, and the country is in dire straits. The gangsters and thieves are bound to be ready to move, and the likes and dislikes will take advantage of the fire to rob. They will also fabricate rumors, nursery rhymes, etc. to confuse the audience and stir up trouble. Provocative. You must be very careful, pay attention everywhere, patrol day and night, and do not neglect to prevent accidents." "My lord, Ma Rong and I have made perfect preparations. Even if an accident happens, we can kill the bait in time. Although we had to find many soldiers to cremate the corpses and guard the yamen, palaces, The empty house of the official businessman's family. We still..."

Di Gong interrupted Qiao Tai: "Listen! Are there street singers outside?" A woman's trembling and desolate singing voice floated from the street, accompanied by the playing of musical instruments, and the lyrics were faintly heard: The moon bends in the sky, Sister and son sleepless leaning on the embroidered guise, I can't bear to hold the curtain in my hand, How to brush the ground frost? Have a dream to go far away. The heart is lingering and hesitant. Qiufeng suddenly started the room, Suddenly there was a horrible scream, and the singing stopped. With Di Gong waving his hand, Qiao Tai rushed out of the inner office.