Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen
After finishing his tea, Mr. Di was about to take a sedan chair to go to the eastern suburbs. Suddenly, it was reported that Mrs. Ni and her son had come to the county government office to ask for an interview.
Ni Shan is a confident young girl, beautiful and intelligent, and Di Gong likes it very much.
Di Gong ordered Mrs. Ni, mother and son to sit in front of the book case. After exchanging greetings, Di Gong said: "Madam, I wanted to spend more time on your case, but I have not been able to untie the scroll yet because I am too busy with government affairs. However, if I know more about your deceased husband's situation before his death, I am afraid it will be helpful for me to solve the problem in the trial. For this reason, I have something to ask you."
Mrs. Ni nodded: "Master, please tell me face to face, I will tell you the truth."
Di Gong asked: "First, how did your deceased husband treat his eldest son Ni Qi? According to what you said, Ni Qi was a wolf-hearted person. When your husband was alive, you can know that his son's mind is not righteous, full of evil?"
"Before my late husband passed away, Ni Qi was gentle and elegant, and he behaved without loss. I never thought that he would be so cruel and cruel later. When my late husband was here, seeing Ni Qi working hard day and night, he always praised him as his good assistant in managing the family. At that time, I saw that he was very obedient and obedient to his father, and I was also full of joy, thankful that my Ni family has such a filial son and grandson."
Di Gong asked again: "Secondly, Ni Gong has been in Lanfang for many years, and he must have many good friends. I wonder if Madam can list the names of some of them?"
Mrs. Ni hesitated and said: "My master doesn't know something; my husband is withdrawn by nature and doesn't like to make friends. Before he was alive, he would go to the field every morning to check the plowing and harvesting, and in the afternoon, he would go to the maze alone to kill time. Then half an hour, at least one hour, every day, without interruption."
"You must have been to that palace too?"
Mrs. Ni shook her head and said, "That's not the case. My late husband always said that the palace was dark and damp, and he wouldn't let me in. Every day when he got out of the maze, he would go to the small pavilion in the back garden of the house, where there was a desk and a cup of fragrant tea." , or reading, or painting, self-indulgence. Speaking of painting, I think of a person. In the past, although there were few people in Shexia, my late husband often invited Mrs. Li to comment on books and paintings in Xuanzhong, and I went with him. Therefore, it is extremely familiar to write about her. Mrs. Li has always loved calligraphy and painting, and she has a deep knowledge of ink painting and painting."
"Is Mrs. Li still alive?"
"She probably won't be here. In the past, her home was very close to our city, so she often came to visit her. This person has always been humble and kind-hearted, with a pitiful life. He was widowed shortly after marriage. I am still in my boudoir. , Once she walked by the edge of my natal family's field, met me by chance, hit it off with me at first sight, and regarded me as a confidant. I left the pavilion and came to Nimen, and she still has a constant friendship with me, and we often come and go. My husband is considerate of me, He is very caring. He knows that when I come to such a big new home from Pengmenpohu, I live in a sparsely populated place, so I can’t help but feel lonely, so he makes an exception and often invites my old friend Mrs. Li to come to the house as a guest, so as to relieve my depression."
"After your husband passed away, Mrs. Li still had frequent contacts with you?"
Mrs. Ni turned red when she saw the question, and said: "Since my husband died, I have never seen her again. Therefore, it is my fault. Ni Qi drove me out of the house. I felt ashamed and had no face to see others, so I took her away." I sent Shan'er back to Ning Zhe to avoid, and never went to see her again."
Seeing that she was emotional, Di Gong quickly changed the topic: "So, Ni Gong has no one in Lanfang and has no close friends?"
Madam Ni controlled herself and said: "My husband always likes to be quiet and doesn't socialize with others, but once he told me that a close friend of his lived in a mountain not far from the city."
Di Gong asked anxiously, "Who is this person's name?"
"My late husband never mentioned his name. I only know from his conversation that he admires this man very much and regards him as a confidant."
Di Gong said solemnly: "Madam Ni, what else do you know besides this, let's think about it carefully."
Madam Ni lowered her head and thought for a while, then raised her head and said: "This person must have met my husband once at the house. Because he came at a strange time, I can still recall it. When my husband was alive, he would meet tenants at home every fifteenth day. , any tenant who has any grievances or difficulties can come to see him on this day. Once, an old man dressed as a farmer was waiting to see him in the courtyard. The husband got the report, so he hurried out of the gate to greet him personally. After the ceremony, we will join hands Please tell the old man a long story in his study, and he will not come out for a few hours. I think this person must be an old friend of my late husband, maybe a hermit hidden in the mountains. However, this is not a matter for us women. Never asked."
Di Gong stroked his beard, and asked again: "Ni Gong's calligraphy and painting are invincible, I think about it, you must have several volumes of his masterpieces by your side?"
Madam Ni shook her head repeatedly upon hearing this.
"When we got married, I was almost an illiterate person. After marriage, I was taught by my husband sooner or later, and I was gradually able to read and write. Mistakes often happened. This matter of calligraphy and painting It is beyond my ability. If the master wants to borrow my late husband's calligraphy and painting, he can ask Ni Qi for it, and he must have a few in his house."
Di Gong stood up and said, "Ma'am, I have nothing to thank you for coming to the yamen to meet you. Only by being determined to solve the mystery of the painting scroll can you fulfill Ni Gong's wish. Your son Ni Shan is very clever and clever. , you will be blessed in the future."
Mrs. Ni's mother and son also stood up, thanked them with courtesy, and Hong Canjun sent her mother and son out of the yamen.
Hong Liang returned to the inner office and said to Di Gong: "My lord, it should be easy to find Ni Shouqian's handwriting in several running scripts, but it is so difficult! If he consulted the memorial, if he turned to the capital for help, it would be difficult to solve."
"Hong Canjun's words are reasonable. It's just that one month's return is necessary to go to Chang'an. I'm afraid it's too late. I think that Mrs. Li is not only an expert in calligraphy and painting, but also had frequent contacts with the Ni family. She still has Ni Shouqian in her hand. One or two calligraphy and paintings are also unknown, but I don’t know if she is still alive and where she lives now. Hong Canjun, this matter is completely entrusted to you. You can go to find out the truth when you have time, and report it quickly. Ni Shouqian’s best friend He lives in seclusion in the deep mountains and old forests, his whereabouts are erratic, we don't know his name, we don't know whether he is dead or alive, so it may be difficult to find him."
"I was promoted to court this afternoon. I don't know if the master of the Ding family's case will be reviewed?" The night before, Di Gong recited Ding Yi's poems and found something between the lines, but he didn't reveal the mystery. Out of curiosity, Hong Canjun was eager to know The inside story, so lead him with words.
Di Gong didn't answer for a while, thought for a moment, got up and said: "Hong Canjun, to tell you the truth, I am still restless, and the rules have not yet been decided. Let's go to the suburbs first, and then we will make an argument when we come back. You can go and see the official sedan chair?" Once everything is ready, go and call Ma Rong to go with you."
Hong Canjun knew it would be useless to ask again, so he took orders and left.
Di Gong sat in a sedan chair, Ma Rong and Hong Liang got on their horses respectively, and the group left the east gate, and walked along the criss-crossing paths in the fields.When you reach a high ground, there is a three-way intersection ahead.In order to avoid the mistake of losing sheep on a crossroad, Ma Rong got off his horse and asked the farmers on the side of the road. After being guided, he knew that the first trail on the right could lead to the farm of Nifu.This road is desolate and desolate, full of thorns and thorns, and there is only a place in the middle of the road to settle down.
The sedan chair team stopped the official sedan chair, and Ma Rong said to the sedan window: "Master, the road ahead is narrow, and the sedan chair and horses may not be able to pass. It is better to go on foot, so as not to get in the way." Di Gong got off the sedan chair, Ma Rong, Hong Liang A horse was tied to a tree, and the three walked slowly in a line.Di Gong headed away, followed by Ma Rong and Hong Liang, passing through nine twists and turns, and finally came to a tall gate building.During the camp, the door was also painted with gold, but now there is no gold paint left, only the broken door and rotten wood are left, crooked.
When Di Gong saw it, he was shocked and said, "In this way, everyone can come in and out freely!"
Hong Canjun said: "My lord, there is no safe place for a hundred miles around the main workshop of humanity. I heard that this place is very dirty. When the golden bird falls to the west and the jade rabbit rises to the east, even a strong man who has eaten the bear's heart and the courage will not dare Stepping over this threshold hastily."
Duke Di pushed the door open and entered.One look, in the past, there was a beautiful garden with exotic grasses and flowers, but now it is full of hazelnuts and hazelnuts, desolate.The garden is full of butterflies dancing and birds singing, but the surrounding fields are quiet, lifeless and creepy.A small path in the garden leads to the depths of Zhenmang. Ma Rong parted the thick branches and leaves to let Di Gong pass by.In an instant, a high platform appeared in front of it, and in the center was a one-story house, which had become dilapidated because it had not been repaired for many years.The house is very spacious, and I think it must have been very grand in the past, but now there are only ruins and several roofs collapsed.
The section in front of the high platform is already blocked by gravel, which is incomplete.Ma Rong got up the steps, looked around, and then called out loudly: "Where is the door?" He called several times, but only answered.Reluctantly, the three pushed the door open and entered the hall.
The hall is also full of desolation, only the plaster on the four walls is peeling off, and a few tables and chairs in the corners are also broken and broken.Ma Rong called several times, but still no one answered.Di Gong gently sat down on a broken chair, and said: "You two, go and look around in the garden, maybe the two old men, Weng and Yu, are planting flowers and vegetables in the back garden."
After the two left, Duke Di rested his chin on his hands, closed his eyes and listened intently. The eerie feeling in the silence came over him again.While meditating, he suddenly heard the sound of chaotic footsteps approaching from a distance, and Ma Rong and Hong Canjun rushed into the hall.
Ma Rong gasped, and said: "Master, it's not good, the old man and the old woman have already died, and their corpses are in the wilderness!"
Di Gong said: "Lead me to have a look."
The two led Di Gong to the high platform behind the house, and saw long pines all around the back garden.There is an octagonal pavilion in the center, and there is a magnolia plant in the corner.Ma Rong pointed at Mulan and said, "Master, that's over there!"
Di Gong went down the steps, walked through the grass, and walked towards Mulan.There were two rotting corpses lying on a bamboo couch under the tree. The skin and flesh on their bodies had long since rotted away, exposing white bones. Beside the skulls, there were only two strands of white hair left.Both were lying side by side with their arms around their chests. Judging from the scene, they had been dead for several months.
Di Gong leaned over and took a closer look, and said: "It seems that the old couple died of old age. One of them died on the bamboo couch first, and the other had no support. He was poor and sick. It is better to go with his wife. So I also lay down and died slowly. I want to order the Yamen soldiers to come and carry the body to the county Yamen for examination, but I don’t expect to get any other results.”
Di Gong went to Xiaoxuan, and saw that the lattice window lattice structure was exquisite and the pattern was unique.It can be seen that it was indeed an elegant place in the past, but now it is surrounded by bare walls, only the big dirty and broken painting table is still inside.Di Gongdao. "Ni Shouqian often read and painted in this small pavilion during his lifetime."
The three left Xiaoxuan and walked towards the wooden gate on the wall behind the garden.Ma Rong pushed the door open, but saw a large courtyard.A stone gatehouse in front is hidden among clusters of green leaves, glazed tiles are shining on the top of the curved ridge, and two tree walls line the left and right sides of the gatehouse.When Di Gong approached and looked up, he saw words engraved on the stone slab above the arch, and said silently:
Mo Dao Pan Tuo thousands of miles away
Tong Xin turned around and said to Hong Liang and Ma Rong, "This must be the entrance to the maze, just look at the two lines of inscriptions on it."
Hong Canjun and Ma Rong raised their eyes to look carefully, but shook their heads.Hong Canjun said: "This cursive script is too sloppy, I can't even recognize a word."
Di Gong didn't seem to hear what Hong Canjun said, and just stood there silently looking at Chrome Wen in a daze.After a while, he praised loudly: "Good calligraphy! I have studied hard since I was an official, and I have seen many kinds of real grass, script and seal script. It’s the first time I’ve seen this masterpiece of wild grass! It’s just that the inscription is covered by moss, so I can’t really see it. Ah, I can see that the author’s name is ‘The Hermit in Crane Clothes’. Interesting! Interesting!” Di Gong lowered his head and thought again After a while, he said: "I can't remember whether I have heard of this person, but no matter who it is, this hermit in crane clothes should be a peerless magic brush. The ancients called calligraphers as masters of pens, and praised his calligraphy as flying dragons and phoenix dances , seeing such a formidable work, I have to be completely convinced."
When Duke Dee walked through the Z of the arch, he still shook his head in admiration.
Facing it is a row of ancient Chinese firs, with dense branches and leaves, high into the sky, and the tops of the trees are connected and criss-crossed, blocking the sunlight.Between the two trees, there are rows of cobblestones, and thorns grow from them, just like tall parapets.The shade of the trees was full of rotten leaves, emitting a foul smell.
Beside the first road on the right, there is a stele with the word "Entrance" engraved on it.Going forward, there is a dark and damp green palace road, which is straight at first and then curved, and there is no end at the corner.Di Gong gazed into the distance, feeling a sense of dread and uneasiness spontaneously.He turned around slowly and saw that there was also a green palace road on the left. Several large boulders were piled among the ancient cedars, and the word "exit" was written on one of them.
Ma Rong and Hong Canjun stood silently behind Di Gong, seeing how deep and terrifying the maze before them, they were all terrified.
Di Gong turned around and looked at the entrance of the labyrinth again. Although the wind was calm and the trees were still, he only felt a cold air coming from the palace passage, penetrating his bones.Duke Di wanted to look away, but the mysterious palace way fascinated him and urged him to go in and see what happened.Thinking about it, he seemed to see Ni Shouqian's tall figure standing among the green leaves at the corner, waving to him frequently.
Digong tried hard to control himself, forcing himself to look down at the ground covered by rotting leaves.Suddenly, he saw a small footprint in the middle of the dirt road in front of him, and the toes were facing the entrance of the palace road.This footprint is like a signpost, pointing him in the direction and urging him to enter the palace.
Duke Di let out a long sigh, turned around and said, "I don't know the route in the palace, I'm afraid I might get in but not get out. It's better not to enter rashly."
The three of them hesitated, returned from the original road, passed through the gatehouse, and came to the garden again, only to feel that the clouds were steaming everywhere, and the spring was full of hope, as if the sun had never been so warm and bright.Di Gong looked up and saw a tall fir tree, and ordered Ma Rong to say, "Climb up this tree and see what the shape and size of this maze is."
Ma Rongxi said: "What's so difficult about this!" Then he put on a belt, jumped up, climbed up the branch, and then pulled himself up, and disappeared among the thick leaves in a blink of an eye.
Di Gong and Hong Canjun sat silently on a fallen tree trunk.After a while, Ma Rong jumped down from the tree and said: "My lord, I overlooked the whole maze from the top of the tree. This maze is as large as hundreds of acres and shaped like a spider's web. I can't see the path clearly, but I can only see a few spots of smoke and mist, so there must be several pools of stagnant water in the palace."
"You can see something that looks like a roof or a pavilion?"
"But never, I only saw a green leaf."
Di Gong said to himself: "This is strange, Ni Shouqian enters the official once a day, why is there no study and painting pavilion in the palace?"
Di Gong stood up, straightened his robes, and said, "We might as well enter Ni Shouqian's other courtyard and search carefully, maybe we can find something."
The three of them looked at the big and small rooms one by one, only to see a rotten door and broken curtains, peeling walls, a desolate scene.The three entered a dark corridor.Ma Rong walked ahead, and suddenly called out: "Master, there is another room here, let's go in and have a look." Di Gong and Hong Canjun took a closer look, and they saw a wooden door.Ma Rong carried it on his shoulders and nearly fell down. It turned out that the door was not locked, and it opened immediately.
When Di Gong entered the room, he saw a bamboo couch on the right in the corner, and there was nothing else in the room.Duke Di looked down, but the ground was not dirty. He raised his eyes and looked around the four walls. There was a window on one wall, and a pair of iron grilles sealed the window.
Hong Canjun followed into the room, and went to the window. When Ma Rong saw it, he quickly withdrew his foot that had already stepped through the door, walked all over the place, and said to Di Gong: "We have been plotted against before. Since then, when I saw secret rooms and secret passages, I felt wary. Youdao was bitten by a snake once, and was afraid of well ropes for ten years. You and Hong Canjun searched slowly in the room, and I was on duty outside to prevent accidents .”
Di Gong said with a smile: "Okay, if we are all locked in the room, we may not be able to escape for a while." He stretched out his hand to touch the bamboo couch.There was no dust on it, and he said: "There must be someone living here, who just left not long ago."
Hong Canjun said: "This is a good place for Tibetans, maybe a murderer hid here."
Di Gong murmured: "Maybe it's the murderer, maybe it's the criminal!" After leaving the room, Di Gong ordered Hong Canjun to seal the door.At noon, Duke Di ordered to take the original road back to the city.
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