Chapter 3 third chapter
Mrs. Di ordered the maid to carry the box and luggage into the room, and she and the second and third wives were in a hurry to change clothes and make up.The room was indeed very spacious and comfortable, with all screens, curtains and mattresses in order.Although the furniture is old, it is simple in shape, sturdy and practical. A brazier has been lit in the room, and the maids are busy baking clothes that have been wet by the rain.
Di Gong only felt slightly dizzy, and his eyes were slightly sore.He changed into a dark green cloth robe and a clean cap and hurried out of the room. Seeing his pale face, the three ladies were very worried, and urged him to go back to the room early to rest.
Tao Gan and a Taoist boy in Tsing Yi were waiting for Di Gong at the stairs.He had also changed into a faded blue cloth robe and a black velvet square hat on his head.
Daotong bowed respectfully and said: "Zhenzhi Zhenren is waiting downstairs, please come over for a while. Zhenzhi Zhenren is the abbot of Benguan. I am glad to hear that the master is coming, so I come out to pay respects."
Di Gong nodded in agreement, and while holding Tao Gan's sleeve, he described in detail what he saw when he closed the window just now.Tao Gan was curious, so he went to open the window again, and light rain came in.The opposite was indeed a solid blue-gray brick wall, and there was no window except for two window holes on the top of the tower.It was pitch black outside the window, and the Baizhang abyss outside the southeast tower was filled with muffled thunder from time to time.
Di Gong turned his eyes and said to the Taoist boy in Tsing Yi, "Take us to the warehouse opposite to have a look first."
Daoist Tsing Yi was shocked: "Why did the master think of going to that warehouse? It's dark and dirty, not to mention, and there is still a long detour."
Di Gong said: "Don't be long-winded, hurry up and lead the way."
Daotong didn't understand what Di Gong meant, so he had no choice but to lead Di Gong and Tao Gan down the stairs.After zigzagging for half a day, Daotong said, "Master, we have arrived outside the Four Sacred Halls on the east side of the main hall. There is a narrow corridor here. You can go straight east along this corridor to the warehouse."
Standing still, Duke Di stroked his long, black beard. He saw a row of tall windows on the first right, the window sills were two feet high from the ground.
Daotong pushed open a heavy door, which was unlocked.Di Gong saw that there were two candles burning in the warehouse, and there were many boxes, sundries and ritual objects piled up in the warehouse.What is striking is that there are many acting props and costumes.
"Why are candles lit in this warehouse but no one is there?" Duke Di asked.
Daotong replied: "My lord, a large theater troupe has been invited to the theater tonight, and actors who come to pick up props come in and out. Normally, candles are not lit, and no idlers come in."
Seeing that there are no windows on the three walls of the warehouse, and there is only a circular transom on the high part of the east wall, Di Gong couldn't help being surprised.
He turned around and said to Tong: "Go outside the door and wait for a while."
Daotong didn't dare to disobey, so he went to wait outside the door with a lamp.Di Gong said to Tao Gan:
"The fat Taoist said that there are no windows on the south wall of the warehouse facing the east building. This is obviously true. But I saw the scene with my own eyes. Could it be that I was dreaming? Or was it exposed to heavy rain, caught cold and had a fever? Spoiled eyes? The naked woman had a broken left arm, but there was no blood stain."
Tao Gan said: "Master, although there are many Taoist pilgrims here, and there is another big theater troupe, it seems that it is not difficult to find a woman with a broken arm. Since what the master saw happened here, we will pay attention to it." Come and check the south wall to see if there is a window covered by props or flags." After that, they cleaned up the theater props one by one.
Di Gong looked at the piles of Taoist banners and streamers in the warehouse with disgust, and suddenly he saw a large antique cabinet standing in the corner, with a yellow Luo Bagua flag hanging beside the cabinet.He tore down the gossip flag, and saw that the wall behind the flag was full of new bricks.Apparently there had been a window here, but it was now blocked with bricks.
Di Gong said to himself; "The location of this window really faces our east building."
Tao Gan stepped forward and tapped the new wall with his fingers. There was no doubt that it was a solid wall.He shook his head dejectedly and said, "Master, I heard people say that some mysterious and unbelievable things always happen in ancient temples."
Di Gong's eyes fell on the armor of a costume and the scabbard of the coiled dragon.
"Why is the helmet missing?" he asked.
"My lord, most of these costumes are not complete, either lacking this or that."
Tao Gan suddenly thought of something, and said, "My lord, I'll go out and measure the thickness of this wall."
Di Gong could only feel his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes were swollen and his nose was sore, and he felt hot.He wrapped his robe tightly, thinking that he must have really seen a ghost.
Tao Gan came back soon, and said, "Sir, the wall is indeed very thick, almost four feet long. But it seems impossible to build a secret room between the walls, where men and women can have fun."
Duke Dee said coldly: "Of course it's impossible_"
He turned to the large antique chest of drawers.The two black lacquered doors of the cabinet are decorated with two soaring golden dragons, surrounded by colorful auspicious clouds, and between the two golden dragons is a Taoist Yin-Yang Tai Chi symbol.He opened the door of the cupboard, and there was nothing in it except several stacked sets of Huang Luo Dao Shi.The back wall of the cabinet also has the same golden dragon pattern as the door.
Di Gongdao: "This is really an exquisite structure. Tao Gan, let's forget about that mysterious and puzzling scene! Just now you mentioned that three women died in this Chaoyun temple last year. It seems easier to figure out the details than the woman with the disabled arm."
"My lord, Miss Liu died of illness. Miss Huang committed suicide. Miss Gao, I have already said that she fell off the cliff and died from the bridge on the other day."
Di Gongdao: "Aren't we going to see the abbot Zhenzhi in the temple? We can inquire about the truth by the way. Let's go!"
When they left the warehouse, they saw the boy staring blankly at the corner of the corridor in the distance, his face pale.
Di Gong asked, "What are you looking at here?"
"It seems that someone is looking over there, sir." Daotong said timidly.
"Someone is looking around? Could it be that the actors in the troupe came to fetch props for decoration."
"No, it's like a soldier. I heard that there were many soldiers stationed here during the war a hundred years ago. Later, all the soldiers here were killed in a fierce battle. On a night like this when there is a lot of wind and rain, their ghosts will come out to make trouble. That's why I'm afraid. My lord, Mr. Xiang didn't hear any unusual sounds?"
Di Gong listened carefully for a while, then sighed, "I can't hear anything except the sound of wind and rain."
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