Chapter 20 Chapter fifteen

Ma Rong and Qiao Tai walked into the temple of Guandi, which was full of incense.Because the Jinghe Niangniang Temple in Chang'an was too far away from the city and was ineffective, rain seekers in Chang'an came to burn incense from the Guandi Temple instead.I only hope that the rain will save all things and business, drive away the evil plague, and return to the peaceful and prosperous age. Ma Rong asked the Miao Zhu who was sitting on the hall, "Try to ask the elders, is there a family named Yuan living behind the temple?" Miao Zhu replied sleepily: "Pin Dao has never heard that there is a family surnamed Yuan living behind the temple."

Qiao Tai added: "He is a puppet show performer, and he has two daughters." "Pindao has lived in this temple for decades, and has never seen any puppet show. Sir, let's go to the back street of the temple to find out!" Qiao Tai shrugged, and he and Ma Rong left the Guandi Temple and turned towards Temple Back Street. ——Before they entered the Guandi Temple, they had gone door-to-door in Temple Back Street, and no one had ever seen a busker surnamed Yuan.Ma Rong was very upset, and scolded Lan Bai loudly for deliberately coaxing him. There are dozens of households in Liaoluo in Miaohou Street, all of which have closed their doors due to the epidemic.Not a single child playing in the street was to be seen.Otherwise, you might as well ask the children where they can see puppet shows.

Qiao Tai suddenly thought of something, so he asked Ma Rong: "Didn't you say that Yuan Yutang has a monkey, I have an idea." "Yuan Yutang's monkey? Big brother asked what this monkey is doing?" "You don't know something. Since Yuan Yutang has a monkey, he has to be fed and raised, which is inseparable from the trees. I think Yuan Yutang and Lanbai are deliberately avoiding the government and living in a remote courtyard. This courtyard must be There are trees where the monkey can live. I see no shade around here, and there are very few trees. We might as well go up to the pagoda in front of the Guandi Temple and look for a place with green trees. "

Ma Rong was enlightened, so the two quickly climbed to the highest level of the pagoda of Guandi Temple. Looking down from the window opening of the pagoda, one can see continuous yellow clouds covering the huge city of Chang'an.In the distance, on the garrison tower as high as the tower, a military flag fluttered slowly. They looked around, and sure enough, there was a green shade not far behind the Guandi Temple. Excitedly, they got off the pagoda in a hurry, and walked through a dilapidated and dirty stone road from the back street of Guandi Temple.The houses on both sides were crumbling here and there, and many of them had collapsed, leaving only ruined walls, and no one could live in them.

The closer you get to the green shade, the house gradually grows taller and deeper.It's just dilapidated, and the corners and doors are covered with weeds and vines. Suddenly Ma Rong said: "Brother, don't you think that is Dr. Lu's bastard?" Dr. Lu also saw Qiao Tai and Ma Rong, hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and asked in amazement: "How did the two captains come here for inspection? There are no guards in this area." Qiao Tai said: "Why did Doctor Lu come here? Could it be that there are rich and noble people here who are also infected with the epidemic."

"I just came out of the old mansion in front of me. Two young women died there—they died from the epidemic." Dr. Lu replied slowly. Ma Rong felt anxious, and blurted out, "Are those two girls surnamed Yuan?" "Surnamed Yuan? Does the officer know their surname is Yuan?" Dr. Lu asked in surprise. "Hurry up and take us to the mansion!" Ma Rong said. Dr. Lu led the two of them back into the mansion, turned around the courtyard, passed through the moon gate, and saw a hall.Ma Rong saw the bodies of two young women lying on the floor of the hall.Ma Rong recognized that it was not Lanbai and Scarlet sisters, and a big stone fell to the ground in his heart.

He said: "Doctor Lu, quickly call someone to collect the two female corpses and send them to the cremation plant. Monitor the corpse collection teams all the way and don't allow them to do anything wrong." Dr. Lu took the order and led four corpse collection teams to collect the two corpses, loaded them into the corpse cart, and hustled away. Just as Qiao Tai and Ma Rong were about to leave the old mansion, Qiao Tai suddenly saw a jujube tree with lush green leaves in the adjacent courtyard separated by a high wall, and a chestnut monkey was climbing on a branch and was peeling dates to eat.

Qiao Tai shouted loudly; "This is right here, Brother Ma Rong, look at that monkey!" Ma Rong looked up and saw that the monkey was looking at them with a pair of sensitive eyes, and its long tail was circling three or four times on a branch. Seeing that a corner of the high wall had collapsed, Ma Rong hurriedly motioned to Qiao Tai.They quickly climbed over the wall and jumped into the adjacent courtyard. "Listen!" Ma Rong said. "Someone is playing the flute in the backyard." Qiaotai listened carefully, and there was indeed the faint sound of music. They walked through the hall and saw a small garden with mixed flowers and trees.The rockery is tall and the green bamboos are rustling, which is very elegant.Just as Ma Rong was about to turn in from the round door, he couldn't help but staggered back two steps.

The spacious and tidy backyard is bluestone paved with mottled shade.The monkey on the tree screamed in panic.In the shade of the tree, Yuan Yutang was sitting on a round stool playing the flute, while Scarlet danced to the beat of her father's flute.The figure is light and dancing.Crimson is wearing a long skirt of fragrant flower red light silk, with a green ribbon around her waist. In Ma Rong's eyes, this scene is just like fairy palaces and Yaotai dance pavilions.He couldn't help but lightly shifted his steps, walked into the backyard, rushed forward and bowed deeply to Yuan Yutang, and Qiao Tai followed.

"Mr. Yuan greets you!" Yuan Yutang put down his flute, seeing that it was Ma Rong, he quickly put on a smile and said, "Yuan is so lucky to see you again, sir, I hope you will forgive me for not welcoming you." Ma Rong glanced at Hong, and saw that she was panting frequently after dancing, her cheeks were as red as peach blossoms.That appearance is almost as gorgeous as Lanbai's, but there is no heroic spirit in Lanbai's eyes. "Mr. Yuan, is your daughter Lan Bai at home?" Ma Rong asked politely. Yuan Yutang glanced at Ma Rong thoughtfully, and replied. "Not here. She has been out for a date for half an hour. Is the officer looking for her?"

"No! No!" Ma Rong blushed, and hurriedly waved his hands and said, "No, I just asked casually. I didn't know that Lan Bai was Mr.'s biological daughter. Mr. didn't tell me yesterday." Yuan Yutang nodded and smiled, and ordered Hong Hong to make tea. Seeing that Ma Rong was in a trance and at a loss, Qiao Tai hurriedly stepped forward to salute Yuan Yutang, and said, "Mr. Yuan, please go to the Jingzhao Office. Master Di ordered to see you and your daughter Honghong in person." Crimson came out holding the tea tray, and put down two more cups on the tea table. Yuan Yutang glanced at Hong, and said, "Crimson, Master Di of Jingzhao Yamen asked me to go with you to see him." Scarlet was taken aback, and covered her mouth with her sleeve in fear. Ma Rong hurriedly said: "Miss Hong Hong, don't panic. Master Di has good intentions, just asking you a few words, it's really not a big deal." Yuan Yutang nodded in agreement, put the flute on the coffee table, stood up and said, "If you bother the two officers to lead the way."