Chapter 30 Chapter Thirty: Pretending to be True, Inviting Special Favors, Covering Up Honor and Concealing Deep Worry

Yu Jiaolong turned around sharply, grabbed the edge of the cliff with a few steps, and jumped off the cliff with a few steps. All the pilgrims standing beside the screen exclaimed and rushed to the edge of the cliff together.Cai Yaomei rushed ahead of the crowd, bent down and looked down, only to see a piece of fluttering white skirt, like a petal of a falling flower, falling lightly towards the deep valley.In just a moment, the white skirt disappeared into clumps of green thorns. Cai Yaomei couldn't help leaning over to call down the cliff, the mournful and shrill voice caused a soul-stirring echo in the hollow valley, and the reverberation dissipated, and the deep valley was still deadly silent.

Some of the pilgrims standing on the edge of the cliff were covering their faces and weeping, and some were silently looking at the valley with tears in their eyes. More than two hundred devout hearts were stunned by the scene before them.Shocked.For a while, the edge of the cliff was silent, shrouded in a tragic and desolate atmosphere.It was like this for a long time, until Dongmei and Qiuju, who had been awake for a long time, went to the edge of the cliff and knelt and cried bitterly when the family and servants who followed Miss Yu up the mountain came to hear the news, and the pilgrims started to commotion again.In twos and threes, there was a lot of discussion, some regretted, some felt pity, some marveled, and some admired.Regarding Yujiaolong's throwing off the cliff, many speculations and discussions quickly spread among the pilgrims: some said that she was slandering her to make her clear; It's throwing a cliff to die for her husband, to be completely chaste. ...In short, everyone guesses and discusses Yujiaolong's cliff throwing from the good side.A few words of this good word, that one adds a bit of color, everyone's mouth shines with gold, and everyone's mouth is full of gold, and the image of Yujiaolong has changed from a vixen and a demon to a holy and solemn one, which is becoming more and more popular in everyone's hearts. shine up.

Among the pilgrims, there are also some idlers in the capital. They did not go to the mountain to worship the gods, but to take advantage of the excitement to get incense and attract fans. Usually in the capital, they were stopped because of the Yujiaolong sedan chair , made a lot of rumors, and captured a lot of wind and shadows, but at this moment, seeing this situation, these people actually touched their consciences, deeply regretted their harshness in the past, and felt guilty.Therefore, they shook their lips and tongues at Yu Jiaolong's throwing off the cliff, arguing for their filial piety, and their words were shocking.

Cai Yaomei cried for a long time, learning from the pain, remembering the hidden words Yu Jiaolong said to her on the mountain before and this time, and then suddenly realized that she had already come down when she went up the mountain that time. She made up her mind to commit suicide by throwing herself on a cliff, deeply regretting that she was careless and failed to see through it earlier, so that she watched her take this dead end.Cai Yaomei bowed to her before Yujiaolong jumped off the cliff, thinking of what she said to herself, and thinking of what she did for her father, she was suddenly startled, and her expression immediately became serious Get up.

At this time, Liu Taibao, who had already walked up to her from the crowd, had already seen the difference in Cai Yaomei's expression, and asked her repeatedly about the words she said to her before throwing Yu Jiaolong onto the cliff. The words and the suspicion aroused in her heart were told to Liu Taibao. Cai Yaomei said: "Could it be that my father died at her hands? Otherwise, how could she bow to me, and how could she say that she was guilty and begged for my forgiveness?" When Liu Taibao heard this, he didn't seem very surprised and said: "Actually, I have been suspicious of her for a long time, but I was afraid that you would not give up and seek revenge, so I didn't speak out."

On the contrary, Cai Yaomei looked very surprised, and hurriedly asked: "Tell me, why did you suspect her coming?" Liu Taibao said: "After Dad died, someone came to your room that night to deliver blood books and silver taels. After you were awakened, didn't it mean that you smelled a fragrance from someone, and you also said that you touched the ring on that person's hand, which can be seen. The visitor must be a woman. Later, Miss Yu married into the Lu family, and after something happened to Lu Hanlin, I asked a friend to inquire about Miss Yu's situation in the Lu family. Miss Yu refused to dress up and worship, and even three or four maids pulled her, but she didn't move a muscle.I think Miss Yu must have a lot of kung fu, otherwise, how could she be so stable.Therefore, that night when Dad fought with Bi Yanhu, and seeing that Bi Yanhu was knocked to the ground, the one who suddenly came out to stab Dad and snatch Bi Yanhu, I suspected it was Miss Yu. "Cai Yaomei recalled the scene of her father's tragic death that night, and she couldn't help crying again.

Liu Taibao had no choice but to persuade her gently, and then said to her: "Don't blame me for not telling you the suspicion in my heart. I always feel that stabbing my father that night was really not out of that person's intention.At that time, you could also see clearly that the culprit was still the blue-eyed fox.What's more, that person came to my house twice late at night, once with blood books and silver taels as a sign of repentance;Daddy is dead and can't be brought back to life, and Biyanhu has been eliminated by Sister Yu, this revenge is considered revenge, so...so...I don't want to mention these things in front of you again. "Cai Yaomei listened to Liu Taibao's words, thinking of Miss Yu's love for her when she entered the mansion to perform skills, and thinking of the miserable situation she has encountered in recent years. Cai Yaomei appreciates the misery in her heart, perhaps more than herself. Back then, it was still a bit better. I finally did what God wanted, married a loving and righteous Liu Taibao, and had a happy family, but Miss Yu was ridiculed all over her back, full of grief and hatred, Concealing the ulterior affair with Brother Luo, she jumped off the cliff. Thinking of this, Cai Yaomei couldn't help but compare the hatred welling up in her heart to a burst of pity and sympathy. She sighed deeply With a sound, he turned his head to Yagu and said silently: "Miss Yu, I already know what you mean.Both of us are hard-working people, and death and hatred are separated, so you can go at ease, and may your three souls and seven souls ascend to the heaven soon. "

Liu Taibao had understood Cai Yaomei's intentions at this time from her expression, and couldn't help but feel very relieved.He said softly to her: "You are really kind. With you, I will be satisfied for the rest of my life. Let's go and see what we can do for Miss Yu." Besides, several family members and servants in Yufu were terrified like ants on a hot pot, running and shouting beside the cliff, desperate to get down, and panicked. Seeing this, Liu Taibao hurried over and said to them: "It's useless for you to stand here in a hurry, don't rush back to the government to report the news, and try to go down to collect the corpse as soon as possible."

The elderly family came back to their senses and hurriedly ordered two servants to rush down the mountain to report the news. It was getting dark.The Taoist priest lit joss sticks on the edge of the cliff, and asked the incense burners in the temple to bring a lot of dry firewood, and lit two piles of raging fires on the edge of the cliff.Many pilgrims guarded the edge of the cliff all night, shouting down the cliff from time to time.No one said the reason why they did this, but the people who yelled in harmony had their own ideas: some were afraid that wild animals would injure Yu Jiaolong's body, so they used their yelling to drive away wild animals for her; Long Wanyi was still alive by chance, so that he could dispel the fear of being alone in the valley for her.On the edge of the cliff, the flames lit up all night, and the roar moved the ground.

Cai Yaomei and Liu Taibao stood side by side on the edge of the cliff, sometimes gazing at the valley, sometimes silently watching the crowd, feeling half sad and half relieved.What is sad is Yu Jiaolong's tragic death and misfortune; what is comforting is that from those shouts, they felt the hearts full of kindness. In the afternoon of the next day, the steward of the Yu Mansion rushed to the mountain with Shen Bantou and others. The Taoist leader led them to the edge of the cliff, and reported to the steward in detail all the circumstances before and after Miss Yu threw herself off the cliff.Team leader Shen just listened silently.After listening to the steward, he looked down the valley for a while and asked, "Where does this valley lead to? Has anyone ever been there?"

The Taoist said: "Along the valley, you can reach the mouth of the valley in the middle of the mountain in the east, but there are thorns and thorns, and there is no way to pass. It is really a place where no one can go." The steward said anxiously: "Before leaving, the young lady repeatedly ordered that Miss Yu's body must be found as soon as possible, and she must not be left in a barren valley for a long time. If there is no way to go through this valley, what should I do!" Shen Bantou said beside him: "I have heard people say that there is indeed a secret road at the east valley entrance that leads to the bottom of the valley below, but it is extremely difficult to walk, and only a few herbal pickers who are accustomed to climbing can reach it." The steward: "If this is the case, even if we find a secret path, the corpses will not be transported out. I hope Uncle Shen can come up with a good plan." Shen Bantou: "The only feasible way is to ask someone to break through the thorns and blaze a trail." The steward: "How long will it take? If Miss Yu's body is destroyed by wild animals, how will we explain to the boss and the young lady!" Bantou Shen said indifferently: "There is no need to worry about it. In such a dark and dense valley, except for snakes and small things, where can they come..." Bantou Shen stopped talking suddenly and paused for a moment. Then he said, "However, if you cast such a high cliff, how can you expect a whole body." After discussing for a while, everyone felt that there was no other way except for the method proposed by Shen Bantou to open the way.I had no choice but to hire some farmers nearby to open the way to the mouth of the valley. Everything was ready, and early the next morning, Bantou Shen led seven or eight farmers and a few servants in the mansion to the mouth of the mid-valley valley, and chose a place where the vines were sparse, and asked everyone to chop the vines from there. go in. Shen Bantou had already seen a ruined temple in the cypress forest next to the valley entrance. He waited for everyone to open the way, and then he walked through Berlin and came to the gate of the ruined temple. On the stone floor covered with moss, a string of horseshoe prints appeared.Team leader Shen was very surprised, thinking, how could there be horses in such a remote place.He took a closer look and saw that the string of horseshoe prints went straight to the mountain road in Berlin.He looked around and saw only the footprints of the hoofs that had gone, but not the footprints of the coming hoofs.Team leader Shen was even more astonished.He hastily pushed open the temple door, which was half-hidden, and went into the temple to have a look. He saw that in the side room next to the temple, broken pots and wadding were scattered all over the room, the firewood ash was still warm in the corner, and the bed was covered with no quilt. It looked like incense in the temple. Just left not long ago. Shen Bantou went to the back of the hall and pushed open the small door. He saw a lot of dry firewood piled up on the four walls of the house, and some grass fodder was placed in one corner. There are many horseshoe marks.When Bantou Shen was wondering, he suddenly found two lines of fist-sized characters engraved on the dark and eroded wall.He carefully identified it, and it said: "The horse goes with the people, so you have to worry about it. Leave the gold and silver, and each make a living." Shen Bantou read the words on the wall, pondered over them carefully, and felt that although there was something strange in it, it was always confusing and difficult to see, leaving only a cloud of doubt in his heart. More than a dozen strong men worked in the canyon for three whole days before they opened a narrow tunnel. About two hundred steps away from the bottom of the cliff, Captain Shen ordered everyone to stop.He said: Miss Yu is the jade body of the daughter of the Hou family. He was ordered by Mrs. Yu to find and collect the corpse, so he can only do it himself, and outsiders are inconvenient to approach.Therefore, he ordered all the hired farmers and footmen to retreat to the valley mouth to wait for dispatch, and only a few servants from Yufu stayed in place to wait.Shen Bantou took off his outer shirt, tied his sleeves tightly around his waist, brushed the branches, and went to the foot of the cliff alone. It took him a lot of effort to get to the foot of the cliff, and when he looked up, he saw Qianren cut off the wall like a cliff, heading straight for Xiaohan. The majestic momentum is dazzling and overwhelming.On the half of the cliff, there are bushes and vines intertwined, like snakes and nets.Shen Bantou can be regarded as a man who has lived in the world for a long time. He also felt terrified and thrilled when he saw such a scene. He drilled around the bottom of the cliff and searched carefully. Except for a few stumps and bones that had been dead for many years, he did not see Miss Yu's body.Team leader Shen was very puzzled, and thought: Since he jumped down from here, how could he not leave a dead body, maybe it was hanging between the branches of the half-cliff.He raised his head and looked towards the cliff again.Searching, searching, suddenly, between a clump of branches and leaves about thirty feet above the ground, I faintly saw two pieces of white cloth hanging, and on the top of the clump of branches and leaves, there was also a faintly upturned piece of cloth. Traces of leaves.Shen Bantou's heart suddenly became tense, and he hurriedly got closer to the foot of the cliff and looked up. Through the sparse branches and leaves, he couldn't see a black figure similar to a human body.While Shen Bantou was meditating, he suddenly saw a red vine hanging in front of his eyes. It seemed that someone had climbed it. There were still some fresh fallen moss on the ground, and there were two shallow footprints beside the fallen moss.Shen Bantou shrank suddenly, and couldn't help feeling a shudder. What he secretly suspected and had foreseen for a long time really happened.What frightened him the most was how much courage and tenacity it took to escape from such a narrow escape!Mrs. Yu's martial arts, Shen Bantou had already had a glimpse of Miss Yu's martial arts from the willow stick she angrily punished Xiao Chong, and it was really "supernatural".Now he saw her unpredictable scheming and extraordinary courage from her action of throwing herself off the cliff. Shen Bantou always had a mysterious and awe-inspiring feeling towards Yu Jiaolong.In the past two years, some things happened inside and outside the mansion, such as Cai Jiu's death, Gao Shiniang's disappearance, Yu Jiaolong's departure, and Luo Xiaohu's sedan chair.But what he still can't find out is where did Yu Jiaolong learn the almost unpredictable martial arts and swordsmanship?How did she and Luo Xiaohu get involved in their affair?The more puzzled Shen Bantou was, the more he wanted to find out.Therefore, he always secretly watched everything around Yufu carefully and cautiously. Of course, Bantou Shen was not entirely out of curiosity. There was another main reason. He felt the kindness of Master Yu's favor, and in order to repay his virtue, he always spared no effort to maintain the honor and reputation of Yufu in secret.The last time Miss Yu went up the mountain to offer incense, he had doubts and secretly went up the mountain ahead of time.Because he suddenly heard that Miss Yu was going to go up to the mountain to offer incense, he always felt that there was something strange about it. He expected that Miss Yu must have other plans, and he was afraid of causing trouble and embarrassing Mrs. Yu. Go up the mountain in advance to inquire secretly.When he saw that Liu Taibao and Cai Yaomei were also on the mountain, he was afraid that Miss Yu would find out, so he hurried down the mountain quietly.He didn't expect that Miss Yu finally found out about this matter. Team leader Shen had expected that Miss Dingyu would eventually escape.But he never expected that she would take such a dangerous escape method.He stood blankly among the thorny bushes in the valley, looking up at the towering and dangerous cliffs, and Miss Yu became a dragon in his heart. He once again secretly warned himself, don't touch her scales again, otherwise, she will turn into powder with just one blow. For a while, Bantou Shen thought a lot.But the most urgent thing right now is how to deal with the problem of not being able to find the corpse.He immediately calmed down his mind, stopped his thoughts, and pondered for a moment, thinking of the current predicament facing Yufu, thinking of Miss Yu's desperate situation, thinking of Mrs. Yu's usual ideology, and thinking of Miss Yu's unpredictability With his disposition, he feels that this matter must not be publicized, he can only pretend to be true, and use his tricks.He thought over and over again and made up his mind. Then Team Leader Shen came out from the dense forest again, met a few servants, and led them out of the valley without saying anything, called the steward aside, and whispered to him: "Miss Yu's body has been found, and all her clothes are gone." It was hung torn and her limbs were crippled. It was really unbearable to see. I thought there was no evil in that valley, but I didn’t want to be torn into such a mess. I have searched for some pieces of cloth to cover Miss Yu’s exposure. Boss Yu He has been ill and debilitated for a long time, and he has been upset recently. If he knows this situation again, it will make him sad. I would like to wrap Miss Yu's body in the coffin right away, so as not to be cruel for a long time. It is also you and me who want to treat Miss Yu Respect." The steward felt that the matter was of great importance, so he hesitated. Shen Bantou said again: "I will take care of the shroud and burial by myself; I will report to Mr. Yu after I go back to take care of it. I don't think he will blame too much." The steward saw that Team Leader Shen spoke so earnestly, and thought of being so thoughtful and reasonable, so he agreed.The two of them discussed it again, and then sent someone to handle it separately. The next day, a piece of white silk and a coffin made of thin boards had been transported to the valley.Team leader Shen sent away all the people for a meeting. When he was the only one left in the valley, he found some stones and mud balls at random, wrapped them in white silk, put them in the coffin, nailed the lid of the coffin, and then called the people from the coffin again. People carried the thin coffin out of Taniguchi, and then it was officially shipped back to the mansion under the escort of the steward, family courtyard, servants, and maids. Besides, five or six days have passed since Yujiaolong threw himself into the cliff at the top of Miaofeng Mountain and transported the corpse back to the mansion. In this short period of five or six days, the story about Yu Jiaolong's death for his mother on Miaofeng Mountain has been spread all over the capital by those pilgrims.It is rumored that it can grow wings and fly in all directions; rumors are like rolling snow, the more it rolls, the more it rolls.Those pilgrims who were there at the time spoke of how pious, sad, solemn, and touching Yujiaolong was when she sacrificed to the spirit of the Jade Mother and kowtowed to the capital on the edge of the cliff; , how heroic.Those pilgrims had already done their utmost ingenuity, adding branches and leaves, painting shapes and shapes, rendering the Jade Jiaolong as virtuous and filial, which almost made a "Biography of Martyr Girl" pale in comparison.Those rebroadcasters, each with their own galloping thoughts, made up many shocking and auspicious omens: it is said that after the Jade Dragon threw himself off the cliff, three thousand colorful flowers flashed in the sky, and ten thousand lotus rose from the cliff; All the gods bowed their heads together, and Empress Yuanjun also had tears in her eyes. Yu Jiaolong already had a somewhat filial reputation among the famous families in the capital, but later, on the day of her wedding, Piluo Xiaohu came and made a big fuss, causing storms all over the city, and rumors and rumors spread everywhere.She actually ruined her good reputation.In fact, those people who are fond of hearsay and hearsay have no prejudice against Yu Jiaolong, and they say good things and bad things just for the sake of flattery.Xiao Lie, who is all over the city arguing about talking about Yu Jiaolong again, those people who can't keep their mouths open also come to catch the limelight, talking harder than anyone else.Of course, there are also quite a few people who were indeed moved by Yu Jiaolong's Xiaolie, deeply ashamed that they shouldn't have treated her lightly in the past, and added comments and points to everything he heard, interspersed with each other, and said it in a proper way Fan, that's really touching.There are also ordinary literati and scholars who feel that this is the model of female high schools they have never seen in a thousand years, and it is also the women's virtues and behaviors preached by the sages and saints. , or a long song to cry on behalf of.For a time, there was an uproar, the crowd looked up, and everyone was watching. Before Yu Jiaolong's corpse arrived, hundreds of thousands of people had already gathered in front of the gate of Yu Mansion, waiting for the corpse to arrive. There is also an endless stream of crowns and covers in the Yufu, and there are like clouds of ladies, who all come to show their kindness and express their gratitude. Although Father Yu was secretly saddened by his daughter's death, he was always heartbroken, annoyed that she was wayward and perverted, and insulted the family. Therefore, he didn't want to ask more about her funeral. He was Luanying's manager and only planned to bury the matter hastily. He never expected that his daughter's death would cause such a sensation in two nights.Father Yu is old in the officialdom, although he is very upright and resolute, he has been in battle for a long time, is well versed in the art of war, and knows the principles of turning defeat into victory and taking advantage of the situation to attack.After a little thought, he braced his sick body, pulled himself together, and called Yuji and Luanying to the study. Asked: "What do you two think about the death of my sister?" Yuji said: "My younger sister sacrificed herself to her mother, she was sincere and filial, and she died tragically. Not only has she become famous all over the world, but she has also greatly honored the lintel of my Yufu." Father Yu held his beard with his hand and nodded frequently.Looking back at Luanying again, he asked, "Luanying, what about you? Tell me too." Before Wanlai could reply, he was already in great grief, covering his face and weeping, and after a while, he sobbed and said: "My sister had a miserable life before her life, and she died so tragically. I always feel ashamed of her." Father Yu couldn't help being moved when he heard Luanying's words.The scene of Jiaolong wrapping around his knees as a child suddenly appeared in front of his eyes again, and the love between father and daughter suddenly arose spontaneously, and he didn't feel sad and wept. Fearing that his father would be too sad, Yuji hurriedly said: "My sister is pure filial piety, and her soul will naturally return to the paradise. Eryi should set up a Taoist temple, let the city's scholars come to pay homage, and use the spring soil. Then hold a thick funeral to comfort My sister is in the spirit of heaven." Father Yu nodded again and again, and said: "This also shows your intentions as a brother. Everything is up to you and Luanying, even if it costs ten thousand gold, I will not hesitate." Yuji was about to resign, Luanying wandered around hesitant to speak, but Yufu had noticed it, and said to Luanying, "If you have anything else to say, just say it." Luanying hesitated for a moment, and then said in a low voice: "After my sister died, a strange incident happened in the house, because I was afraid that my father would blame me, I never dared to tell you, old man." Father Yu was surprised: "What's the matter?" Luanying glanced at Yuji, and then said: "On the second night after the news of my sister's death from the cliff, the watchman saw lights flashing several times in the room where my sister lived upstairs in the inner garden; Because I mourned my sister, I still didn't close my eyes in the middle of the night. I also heard the sound of weeping secretly from outside the window. The voice was exactly like my sister. I immediately woke up Yuji and told him about it, but he didn't believe it. Instead, he said that I was suspicious. It was also said that hallucinations were born of suspicion, Zhao Ma stayed in the next room, and the next day she also said that she heard her sister crying secretly." Father Yu was surprised when he heard this.He pondered for a moment, and said: "The shadow of a cup, bow and snake has already been taught; it is normal to accumulate thoughts and dream. It is also possible that you occasionally hallucinate because of missing Jiaolong. Don't publicize this matter, lest there will be objections again." Yuji: "The story of Mrs. Gao has been learned before, and I said the same about her, but she always doesn't believe it." Luanying: "It's said that my sister has become a god. Could it be that she can't go back to her home to show her holiness? I've heard it with my own ears, so I can't say the same thing as Mrs. Gao." Father Yu's expression became serious.Said: "Gods and monsters are only a difference of one thought, many suffer from them, and few are blessed by them. Confucius also said: "Respect ghosts and gods and keep them far away", how do you understand the truth!" "Seeing that Yu's father was getting angry, Luanying had to leave the study room silently with Yuji. One day later, the Yu Mansion had hung up the banners and set up the mourning hall on the grass dam in front of the garden, from the gate of the mansion to the The mourning hall is covered with filial piety all the way, amidst the solemnity and solemnity, it especially gives people a sense of solemnity and glory. That afternoon, Yu Jiaolong's coffin was brought back.Yuji and Luanying led all the people in the mansion, holding incense and filial piety, and stood in front of the mansion to greet them. As soon as the corpse coffin arrived, Luanying rushed forward, holding the coffin and weeping, crying as she burst her lungs. The liver, provoked the whole family to sob together.The crowd gathered in front of the gate were also touched by the scene and felt hurt, and they burst into tears like rain.The coffin was carried to the mourning hall, and as soon as it was put into the outer coffin, Luanying ordered to open the lid of the inner coffin, hoping to see Jiaolong one last time.The steward stepped forward hurriedly, and said in a low voice, "The lid of the coffin has been nailed, so there is no need to see the young lady." Luanying was surprised: "There is no reason to nail the coffin without waiting for the relatives to see it! I have a meeting with my sister and sister-in-law, and I must see her for the last time. Call someone to come and open the coffin." The steward said with embarrassment and panic, "This... can't be done, it's already crucified...!" Yuji asked sharply: "It's against the law! How dare you make up your own mind?" Team leader Shen hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down on his right knee, and said: "Please calm down, young lady. This has nothing to do with the management, it's all a villain's idea." Yuji became even more angry, and scolded: "Who are you in the mansion, how dare you act so recklessly!" Team leader Shen calmly said: "The villain has his own feelings, please young master and young lady come to the boss and let the villain report in detail." At this moment, Jade Father came to the mourning hall on crutches.Although the old man has gray hair, a thin face, and sad eyes, he still walks calmly, with a relaxed waist, and there is a kind of majesty in his cleanliness. Father Yu went straight to the coffin, stroked the coffin with his hands, stared at the inner coffin for a long time, then sighed, and said to the coffin: "You are not insulting Yumen, you are worthy of your mother. . " After that, he couldn't help but shed two lines of old tears. Fearing that her father would be too hurt, Yuji hurried over to help him sit aside.Father Yu turned around and saw Bantou Shen half kneeling on the ground, and asked what was the matter.Yuji then reported to Father Yu about his arbitrariness in advocating to carry the Lord's back to the coffin.After hearing this, Father Yu showed no anger on his face, pondered for a moment, got up and walked to Team Leader Shen, stared at him, and asked: "You have also been in the government office for a long time, and you are a person who knows the etiquette and the law, why are you so reckless? " Shen Bantou raised his head up, his eyes were full of aggrieved eyes, and he said eloquently: "The villain has been kind to the boss, and he is always cautious when dealing with things, and he dare not be negligent. This time, Rengu searched for Miss Yu's body. After a series of twists and turns, the villain took three days to reach the bottom of the cliff. When the lady’s body was found, it was too mutilated to be recognized. The villain wanted her to die so filially, and would rather people remember her voice and appearance when she was alive forever. I can't bear to let people see her miserable after death. Therefore, the villain boldly made his own opinion and nailed up the inner coffin himself, so that the relatives would not be saddened by seeing her, and the outsiders would not be degraded by seeing her. I hope the elders will understand the above." Father Yu was thinking while listening.After Bantou Shen finished speaking, he pondered for a while, and then turned back to Yuji and Luanying and said, "Boss Shen thought very well about this matter, and did it very well. Luanying is pregnant, so it is also appropriate to mourn , there is no need to open the coffin again.” That night, Father Yu called Bantou Shen to his room, took out a hundred taels of silver and rewarded him with his own hands.Regarding the matter of entering the valley to collect the corpses, Father Yu no longer asked about it, and Bantou Shen didn't mention a word either. The next day, the rich and famous families in the capital, dignitaries and common people, no matter whether they are related to the Yufu, whether they know it or not, all came to pay homage to express their admiration and condolences for the filial daughter Yu Jiaolong.From morning to night, in front of the gate of Yufu, there is a lot of traffic, people come and go in sedan chairs, heavy wheels at the end of the street, one after another, and the stream flows endlessly. . Most of the elegiac couplets and euphemisms hanging on the posters are rigorously worded and elegantly used, either praising or lamenting, or sighing or praising, but they are also written with sincerity, admiration, and sadness.There are also some frivolous people who use this to show off their talents and play with words and sentences. Although there are many beautiful words and sentences in the essays and couplets they send, they are always frivolous.Among them is an elegiac couplet, which was given by a Tanhua from the Hanlin Academy. Although the place where the elegiac couplet is hung is not conspicuous, but because Tanhua is also quite famous in the capital, and he was very good friends with Lu Hanlin during his lifetime, it attracts people. Many scribes stood in front of the elegiac couplet, shaking their heads, chanting and reading. The birth couplet is: the fragrance of falling flowers and scattered souls is still in the crowd of scribes who are watching the butterflies returning to the dew. Some of them nodded in appreciation; some shook their heads to criticize; Where did the phrase "Butterfly Transformation" come from? There are so many sayings and eight states.In a mournful and solemn mourning ceremony for the daughter of Xiaolie, it added a little gossip atmosphere after tea and wine.It is no wonder that some scribes are such a habit. The number of people who came to pay homage to Yujiaolong increased day by day, and Yu Mansion, which had been neglected for half a year, suddenly became prosperous again.Originally, people feel refreshed when they have a happy event, but it is a funeral in the Yufu, but the whole mansion, even though they are dizzy with busy work, are all full of energy and brilliance, even Yu who has been ill for three months My lord, he healed himself without any medicine, and returned to his former majesty. On the morning of the third day when Yu Mansion held a sacrifice for Yujiaolong, Mr. Pei, the Minister of Rites, came to Yu Mansion with the emperor's imperial decree. Yurui hurriedly ordered his family to set up an incense table, and led Yuji to kneel down on the ground and listen to the order.When Mr. Pei read out the sacred decree, it was nothing more than throwing Yu Jiaolong into a cliff to die for his mother. Apart from saying something like "My heart is sad" and "You can move the heart of heaven", he also used some words such as "models last forever", "filial piety" and so on. "Lie Kefeng" and other words to give a big compliment.At the same time, it also said that "for the sake of Jiamin Yujiaolong's Xiaolie, Tesizhun set up a square next to his tomb to illuminate the light." Another five thousand taels of silver was given to the treasury for the construction of the square, which was handled by the Ministry of Industry . After Mr. Pei read out the imperial decree, he also received an order from the holy superior to burn incense and offer sacrifices in front of Yujiaolong's spirit on behalf of the emperor, and gave him an elegiac couplet written by the emperor himself. The elegiac couplet is: A hundred generations of clothes and crowns, Qin Xiaolie, Qianqiu, the sun and the moon, the soul of the jade, the dragon, so far, it is truly unprecedented, and the glory and sorrow are extremely high! Also in the afternoon of the same day, Mr. Huang Tianci, Minister of the Ministry of War, came again with an order.The imperial decree expresses condolences to Yurui and encourages him to return to his post as the admiral of the Nine Gates of Kyoto. Concurrently ruled the soldiers and horses of Gyeonggi. Master Yu has returned to his former splendor, and the Yu Mansion also appears to have a special kind of honor. Tian Xiang, the admiral of the Nine Gates, who has been complaining about Mr. Yu, was also appointed as the deputy general, and was transferred to Juyongguan to defend the northwest area of ​​Gyeonggi. Ever since the emperor delivered the imperial decree twice a day and received the emperor's special favor, the Yufu became famous in the capital for a while, and the power was poured into the court and the public. Miss, come and get close to repair it.The state of the world is divided into hot and cold, so there are people who follow the hot and the hot, which is also normal. On this day, Prince Tiebeile and his concubine also came to pay homage to Yu Jiaolong.After the concubine finished burning incense, she stood in front of Yujiao Longling, weeping silently for a long time, and then Luanying took her to her room in the inner courtyard to have tea.After the concubine sat down, she didn't mention anything about Xiaolie at all, but said to Luanying with great emotion: "There is no unparalleled road in the sky, why does Jiaolong do this!" The prince was also welcomed into the study by Yurui to offer tea and talk.After chatting for a while, the prince suddenly changed the subject, and said seriously: "Master Yu is now the admiral of the Nine Gates, and a robbery case has also occurred in my mansion. I hope you can troubleshoot it yourself." Yurui was shocked, and hurriedly asked: "I don't know what was stolen in the prince's mansion, please tell me clearly, Yurui will do her best to track it down." The prince said: "I have an ancestral sword by my side, Master Yu also knows about it. I usually hang it in my study, but it was stolen suddenly on the night of the seventh day of March. That sword is my beloved. Not to mention this, considering that the capital is where the emperor's capital is, and now they have robbed the palace, it's not bad! If we don't strictly investigate and arrest, something else may happen!" Seeing the prince's harsh words, Yu Rui looked angry, especially his last sentence, which weighed a thousand catties, and hurriedly leaned over and said, "Yu Rui will go to the government office to supervise the handling tomorrow, so that the sword can be returned, and I hope the prince will remember Yu Rui for a long time." Shut up the government affairs, a little grace." Only then did the prince stop his anger, nodded and said: "Okay, okay, I'll trouble you now." After the prince and concubine left, Master Yu ordered someone to call Bantou Shen to the study, and after telling him about the missing sword in the prince's mansion, he asked, "What kind of person do you think did this? Are there any suspicious clues?" Shen Bantou asked: "The prince lost the sword fruit on the seventh night of March?" Master Yu: "My lord is very cautious in handling things, so as not to mistake the date of losing the sword." Team leader Shen fell silent. Lord Yu walked around the room for a few steps, and asked: "Could it be that Luo Hu did it?" Team leader Shen resolutely said, "Luo Hu did not do this!" Master Yu looked at him in a little surprise: "How can you see that?" Shen Bantou: "According to the villain's investigation, Luo Hu is good at wielding knives and never uses swords. He is also a fierce man. He would rather take risks and steal than steal. He is used to rushing immediately, not good at climbing walls and houses. What's more, among the generals in the palace, there are quite a few masters, if they don't have excellent kung fu, how can they enter the palace." Master Yu saw that Team Leader Shen had no clue for a while, so he said: "I will go to the Yamen Office to supervise the handling of this case tomorrow, and you will also go and cooperate with the Yamen to handle it quickly." Team leader Shen has already retreated and turned around. After walking a few steps, he turned around and said: "There was also a robbery case in the mansion. The young lady did not report to the old man because she was filial and did not want to cause trouble to the old man. The villain thinks it’s better to say it.” Shocked, Mr. Yu immediately became vigilant and asked, "What robbery?! What was stolen? Tell me, tell me." Shen Bantou: "After Dongmei and Qiuju sent the lady's jade body back to the house, they went upstairs to pack their things and found that the valuable gold beads and jade antiques in the lady's room were stolen; The Guanyin porcelain statue was also taken away. It is estimated that the crime was committed around the seventh day of the lunar new year." Lord Yu's brows and beards were furrowed, he seemed angry but not angry, seemed shocked but not shocked, standing in the room without moving. Shen Bantou bowed his head and left the room. That night, Father Yu paced back and forth in the room, staying up all night. Early the next morning, Yu's father called Yuji into the room, dismissed the maid, closed the door, and said to him: "Your sister threw herself into the cliff. I suspect she is not dead. I wonder if you understand it in your heart?" Yuji said: "Since my son heard what Shen Bantou told his father why he nailed the coffin without authorization, I also felt suspicious at that time, and then I remembered that I heard faintly that night——" Father Yu: "You heard the cry too?!" Yuji: "My son also heard it at the time. It's just that I'm afraid that Luanying will be shocked and rumors will arise, so I can't go along with it." Father Yu nodded: "It seems that your sister is not dead, she may have escaped by throwing herself on a cliff." Then, Father Yu told Yuji about the lost sword and the theft in the palace, and said: "Stealing swords and losing things, I suspect that your younger sister did it. If she has fled back to the western border, she can still disappear temporarily; if she is still detained in the capital, if it is revealed, this crime of deceiving the emperor will not be sidelined." Yuji anxiously said, "If my younger sister intends to escape to the western border, she should have left home last time, and this may not be the case." Father Yu: "I predict that she will go to the western border sooner or later." 玉玑疑信参半地：“父亲所料，是否出于香姑已去西疆？若果如此，乌苏旗营多是父亲旧部，也多认识妹妹，她若投奔那里，恐又另生事端。” 玉父以手拈须，沉吟半晌，方才说道：“香姑不在旗营，那人也不是千总。” 玉玑大出意外，惊诧万分：“那人是谁？” 玉父：“多半是半天云手下头目，我疑他就是马赋中以彪猛驰名西疆的哈里木。” 玉玑惊诧已极，忙又问道：“父亲何以知道？然何又允将香姑嫁他？” 玉父并不直答，却怃然慨叹道：“处事亦如用兵，虚虚实实，纵横交错，胜败得失，瞬息万变，祸福相依，实难逆料。立身处世，唯正唯谨。我从这番遣嫁香姑中，却悟出许多道理来了。” 玉父起身在房中踱步来回，往返数遭，又才继续说道：“那日我尚卧病在床，那冒名千总持了肖准的手书和礼物来府看我，我见他参拜无规，肃立无矩，不似军营中人，心里也就犯起疑来，等他禀明了肖准派他进京的来意之后，我只随便问他一句，'你肖大人右臂的伤口可已痊愈？'他答说：”早已愈合，又能挥刀上阵了。'其实，在那次沙漠鏖战中，肖准伤的乃是左臂，他既是肖准营下千总，哪能不知！ 就从这一句答话里，我已抖定他必是马贼冒名而来，意在访寻罗小虎回西疆去的。 “玉玑：”父亲明察秋毫，只是为何反将香姑嫁他？ " 玉父：“你哪里知道，对此我也是再三思虑后才允准了的。你别小看香姑，她虽稚幼，却极有心计，留在你妹妹身旁，有如虎翼，将她远嫁，在我府中实是消除一个隐患，此其一也。罗小虎原在西疆，所率马贼不过百骑，纵横驰骋，官军竟奈他不得。我当时采用明围暗纵，逼他进关，西疆才又归安靖。而今他潜匿京畿，对我实实不利，审时度势，只有引他仍回西疆，乃为上策，遣嫁香姑，或可有助罗小虎迅速逃离京城，此其二也。香姑对我玉府，总还有些情分，一旦朝廷下谕招抚，也可有些用处，此其三也。一举三得，何乐不为。”玉父说到此处，停下话来，稍过片刻，又感慨说道：“我初疑你妹妹投崖未死实乃借此逃遁时，猛然醒悟，请嫁香姑，原是你妹妹精心安排，我也曾深悔疏于远虑，让香姑为她作了先行，但自蒙圣恩下旨为你妹妹立坊，旌表孝烈后，我日夜惶惊，惟恐败露，只望她早早远遁，又以遣嫁香姑为得计了。所以，我适才感叹的也正是为此。常言说顾此失彼，岂知失彼又能得它，世事无常，机变应随，夷险互化，用之于兵，亦可成法。” 玉玑听了父亲这番夹叙夹论，当然是敬服万分。但他困惑不解的，还是妹妹何以要去西疆的问题。他不禁问道：“妹妹可知那人是马贼？” 玉父不很情愿地微微点了点头。 玉玑：“既然如此，她怎能还去西疆？” 玉父神色慢慢变得沉厉起来：“这事我亦迷离，不过，她既已死，为神为魑，已与我玉门无关了。目前最使我忧虑不安的乃是尚无追回宝剑和促她远遁的良策。” 玉玑：“妹妹虽然任性孤傲，却也通情达理，深明利害。这次皇恩浩荡，为她立坊建墓，她如尚留京城，不会不知，想她既能以投崖保家，定能善始善终，百计隐迹。盗剑果若是她，只要她知道父亲正为此烦恼，想她也定会设法归还王府的。” 玉父一时无计可想，只好暂时搁置一边，传令备马，带着沈班头和几名校卫到提督衙署视事去了。 玉大人入衙升堂，衙内各文武官员以及各门千总均来参见，听候谕遣。玉大人慰勉几句，便退到后堂去了。他为王爷失剑一案，不能不办，却又顾虑重重，真感进退两难，正俯首踱步，抬头忽见沈班头候立门外，便叫他近前，问道：“缉盗寻剑之事，你看如何着手方好？” 沈班头回禀道：“依小人看来，此事极为棘手。那盗剑之人，不但武艺非凡，而且行踪慎秘，衙署这班捕快，哪里奈何他得。虽然如此，老大人还得勉为其难，速速下令缉拿，以免王爷怪罪，旁人又生谗谤。” 玉大人听了沈班头这话，已经会意，方才放下心来，立即发下牒票，下令严缉。 玉大人回府后，推说身体不适，闭门谢客，闷坐房中，远虑近忧，愁肠满结。已是深夜，丫环忽来报说沈班头求见。玉大人不觉暗吃一惊，忙将他叫进房来，问他何事深夜来见？沈班头忧形于色地禀告说：“小人适才从王府护院中打听得，王爷已四处张榜，悬赏千金，缉盗寻剑，意在必得。其实，这倒无关紧要，紧要的却是听说王爷已派人去九华山寻访李慕白出来帮他寻剑，此人若出，那还了得！” 玉大人不觉一震，说道：“此人我已久闻，都说他剑术精奥，出神入化，天下无故，只是听说他已隐迹十年，岂肯再来干预官家之事？” 沈班头：“李慕白早年曾受王爷知遇之恩，王爷曾将此剑赠他，只因他性情孤傲，不愿凭恃利器取胜于人，只佩带半年，又婉言送还给了王爷。因此，他虽超脱，但对王爷之情，特别是涉及此剑，恐也不会袖手旁观。” 玉大人愁上添愁，心里又加了一块压石。沈班头见他锁眉不语，便轻轻退出去了。 玉大人忧心忡忡，坐卧不安，在房中踱来踱去，竟想不出一个万全之策。耳听墙外已隐隐传来三更鼓响，他才走到床前宽衣就寝。刚吹熄灯，忽见满窗月色中，映照着一个细长的身影。 那身影有如凝住一般，一动不动。玉大人惊疑万分，凝神细辨，却有似娇龙身姿。 他心里猛然一缩，不禁也寒栗起来。见那身影突又隐到窗台下去了，一会却又从台上露了出来，如此一连三起三落，似在跪拜。接着，又听窗外隐隐传来有如蚊翼般嘤嘤之声。 玉父心里已经明白，定是娇龙最后拜别来了。他立即对着窗外，低低地祝告道：“女儿，你既已在天为神，就应庇佑父兄，免生忧患。愿你英魂早归西天，早成正果，切勿再恋红尘，致生魔障。王府失剑，早佑寻还，免遗父累，李慕白将出山寻剑，此人难犯，务宜回避。”玉父刚祝嘱至此，那人影蓦然不见。玉父忙披衣出房，唯见满园月色，树影婆娑，万籁俱寂，人迹渺无。 玉父独立窗阶，恍如一梦，窗影嘤声，犹在眼前，尚留耳畔，追思往昔，不觉潸然泪下。