Chapter 4 third quarter

Han Xiang was awakened by the morning bell. He raised his heavy head from the desk, the window was covered with hazy morning light, and the room was still dark.The candles had been extinguished long ago, and a pile of thick candle tears formed on the celadon candlestick, like a red agate mountain. Han Xiang rubbed his swollen and painful temples, recalling what happened last night.He didn't remember when he fell asleep, and the doorman named Li Fuyan was nowhere to be seen, he must have left long ago. There was still the song "Huashan Girl" beside the candlestick. Han Xiang picked it up and read it again, but the surprise of last night turned into melancholy - so what if he knew that Pei Xuanjing was in the palace?I can't do anything for her.

Outside the courtyard wall, people's voices became more and more noisy.The common people rushed to Zhuque Street early in the morning to occupy seats, ready to welcome the Buddha bones. On the twelfth day of the first lunar month in the fourteenth year of Yuanhe, the phalanx bone relics of Buddha Shakyamuni's real body were welcomed from Famen Temple to Chang'an, the imperial capital. It is nearly three hundred miles from Fengxiang to Chang'an.The Buddha bones left Famen Temple at dawn, and it was past noon when they arrived outside Chang'an City.When the guard of honor that stretched for several miles appeared far away at the end of the official road, both inside and outside Chang'an City were boiling.People who have been waiting on both sides of the avenue since sunrise, who have been devoutly worshiping for several hours, can no longer control their emotions. They shouted and kowtowed, tears streaming down their faces, and many even burst into tears.

The guard of honor composed of the Imperial Army Guards and Buddhist Dharma Guardians escorted a golden chariot and slowly passed through the Mingde Gate directly south of Chang'an.The seven-treasure pagoda enshrining the Buddha's relics shines brightly on the golden chariot, the drums of the Three Thousand Streets in Chang'an City sound in unison, and the fireworks of incense sticks rise for nine days.The two sides of Suzaku Avenue are filled with precious tents and incense, almost impenetrable.Between the colorful flags and streamers, there are countless heads of worshipers.Wherever the golden chariot passed, some people burned their heads and fingers, some undressed and gave away their money, and their deeds were almost crazy, but the people around them didn't think it different at all, but rushed to follow suit.

It wasn't until night fell that Buddha Bone walked the entire Suzaku Street.Enter Tianjie from Zhuquemen, and then enter Daming Palace through Danfengmen from Tianjie.In the next three days, the Buddha bones will receive offerings from the royal family in the forbidden area.After the Shangyuan Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, it will be sent to major temples in Chang'an for people to visit and worship. Jing'an Square is located on the east side of Zhuque Street, almost exactly in the middle of the north-south street, so the Buddha Bone passed by more than an hour ago.The onlookers dispersed one after another, and some continued to follow the Buddha bone to the north.Many people still stayed where they were, kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times in the direction of Daming Palace.The twilight on Longshouyuan is low, and the numerous palaces and palaces reveal hazy figures in the depths of the smoke and clouds, like a fairyland of nine heavens, like a dream.

Is this the end? Han Xiang walked towards the Han Mansion uninterestedly.During the whole day, he had seen enough of the madness of the common people when they worshiped the Buddha bone, and he felt it was unspeakable.Unexpectedly, there is such misery buried in the hearts of the people.Are those tears that burst from the heart the fear of death or the despair of life?Is it because of faith, or because of confusion? Uncle must not want to witness this "grand event" with his own eyes, so he must leave before the Buddha bone enters Beijing.But until now, Han Xiang still has no clue about the scourge that Han Yu emphasized.

Because the crowd had gathered to Zhuque Avenue, Jing'an Fang was cleaner than usual.Han Xiang just walked with his head buried in his head, and when he was almost outside the gate of Han's residence, he bumped into someone unexpectedly. "It's you?" By chance, Han Xiang and Duan Chengshi met a few times when Pei Xuanjing cracked the "Xuan Ji Tu" case.At that time, in Han Xiang's opinion, Duan Chengshi was only a half-grown child, so he didn't pay much attention to it.Fast forward two years.Seeing him today, Duan Chengshi's stature has grown a lot, and he has become stronger, with a faint black fluff growing on his lips.Because it was the New Year's Day, Duan Chengshi was wearing a bright red round neck robe, a crown of honor on his head, and a golden millet belt around his waist. He looked like a handsome young man with a bee waist and crane back.

Han Xiang couldn't help smiling, Duan Chengshi also recognized Han Xiang, and hurriedly greeted him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Han Xiang asked casually, "Has Duan Lang also visited the Buddha bone?" "No." Han Xiang was quite surprised. This was not like Duan Chengshi, who was known for his curiosity. Duan Chengshi hesitated for a moment, then explained: "I... just came out from home." "Oh." Han Xiang suddenly remembered: Duan's Mansion, which was the Prime Minister's Mansion of Wu Yuanheng back then, was in Jing'an Square with Han's Mansion, not too far away.Han Yu's house was bought after he was promoted three years ago. Han Xiang hadn't lived in it for a few days, so he was not familiar with the surrounding environment.

He was thinking about it when he suddenly heard Duan Chengshi asking: "Han Lang, has your house been stolen these days?" "Stolen?" Han Xiang was surprised, "Why do you ask?" "Han Lang has just returned to the capital, so he probably hasn't heard of the Flying Thief?" "I heard it mentioned by the housekeeper's servant. I thought he was exaggerating. Why, there really is such a thief who flies through the walls?" Duan Chengshi said: "That's right, it's been more than half a month, and there's been a lot of rumors. There are all kinds of opinions. I thought that Master Han and his family left the capital, and the mansion was empty, so I specially reminded Han Lang."

"Thank you Duan Lang for your kindness." Han Xiang replied, "But uncle has always been poor, and the only valuables in the family have been taken away with him this time. If the flying thief really came to the house to steal, I'm afraid he will be disappointed. "As he said that, he also laughed. But Duan Chengshi said solemnly: "That's not necessarily true. Master's pen and ink are the most valuable. If you encounter a knowledgeable thief, it's really hard to say. Besides..." After a pause, he continued, "I heard This flying thief is very strange, he never steals gold, silver and treasure."

Han Xiangqi asked, "Then what did he steal?" "He stole..." Duan Chengshi stopped suddenly, turned his clever eyes around Han Xiang's face, and asked with a smile, "Han Lang, what are you doing tonight?" "Me?" Han Xiang spread his hands, "I'm alone in Chang'an now, what can happen?" "If Han Lang has no other arrangements, I will invite Han Lang to have a drink." He spoke so chicly, but in Han Xiang's ears, he still pretended to be an adult.Han Xiangzheng couldn't help laughing, but suddenly something moved in his heart - Pei Xuanjing.

Last night's new discovery has not been confirmed yet, will Duan Chengshi know something about her recent situation?It is very possible, after all, his maternal grandfather was Wu Yuanheng, and his father, Duan Wenchang, was also being heavily used by the emperor. "Being respectful is worse than obeying orders," Han Xiang clenched his fists at Duan Chengshi, "Then I will thank Duan Lang first." A quarter of an hour later, Han Xiang followed Duan Chengshi on horseback to a restaurant in Dongshi - Huihui Building. As a special case during the New Year's festival, the East Market will continue to open after the evening drum, and the restaurants and restaurants will be decorated with lights and festoons. The floor of Huihui Building is paved with red felt, and colorful brocades of red, orange, yellow, green and purple hang from the atrium on the third floor. Han Xiang remembered that the emperor issued a decree requiring the people of Chang'an to abstain from alcohol and be vegetarian on the day of welcoming the Buddha bones.But at this moment, the smell of wine mixed with the smell of meat was coming from the Huihui building, and no one seemed to take the holy decree seriously. Duan Chengshi took Han Xiang up to the third floor familiarly.Different from the open lobby on the two floors below, this floor is full of private rooms, separated from each other by carved wooden fans.Brocade curtains hang in front of the door of each private room, and a painted vertical screen is installed to block the sight of outsiders, making the interior of the private room more elegant and private. Walking along the way, Han Xiang saw a series of vertical screens, some of which were painted with hairpin flower maids, and some were painted with green landscapes. The brushwork was quite good, and he was admiring in his heart that Duan Chengshi was at the innermost private room door. stopped before. He raised his right hand and said with pride in his voice, "Please invite Han Lang into my ghost flower room." Ghost flower room? Before Han Xiang had time to ask what these three words mean, he was surprised to see that the vertical screen in front of the private room was covered with only a piece of snow-white plain paper, on which a blooming flower was drawn in black ink. In the middle of the flowers, there are human-like facial features painted, as if they are showing their faces and smiling.The painting is quite immature, and it is not the same as the screen painting skills in front of other private rooms, but it presents a strange and treacherous beauty.There is a line of small characters written next to the painting: "The ghosts and flowers are silent, and they laugh frequently." Duan Chengshi said softly beside Han Xiang: "I heard from the merchants of Dashi that there is another country two thousand miles southwest of Dashi. In the valley of this country, there are different trees growing on the branches that look like human faces. When When someone passes by and asks a flower for directions, the face of the person on the flower will smile and say nothing. Smiling and laughing, the flower will wither." He raised his head and smiled, "I named this flower ghost. flower, and draw it in front of my private room, making it smile to everyone who comes in.” Han Xiang was surprised when he heard it, and felt that there was something inexplicably touching in this story. Just as he was about to speak, a figure jumped out from behind the ghost flower vertical screen: "Duan Chengshi, why did you come here? I've been waiting You have been for a long time..." He suddenly saw Han Xiang, and hurriedly swallowed back the words that followed. "Han Lang, please come in!" Duan Chengshi invited Han Xiang to sit down in the elegant room before introducing him and Guo Huan.Han Xiang has heard of Guo Huan's family background for a long time, and he is cute when he sees it today, but he is dressed too luxuriously and has a round figure, no matter how you look at it, he looks like a big zongzi full of jewels. Fortunately, Guo Huan has a generous heart. Seeing that Han Xiang was introduced by Duan Chengshi, he immediately treated him as a close friend, talking and laughing without any scruples. The three of them had a round of drinking, and Han Xiang sighed: "I only know that there are mountains, seas, waters and clouds. Today, Duan Lang's Ghost Flower House really opened Han's eyes." Guo Huan said: "This is Duan Chengshi's perennial private room, so I have to give it a different name!" "Perennial private room?" Han Xiang looked at Duan Chengshi, "But why?" "Because Duan Chengshi wants to collect ghost stories, and he is afraid of being taught by his father at home, so he hides in the Huihui building to do this." Guo Huan laughed hard. Duan Chengshi glared at him, and explained to Han Xiang: "There are businessmen from all over the world in Huihui Building, and there are also many merchants from foreign countries. Their stories are the most strange, so I reserved a private room here, please come to the restaurant. The shopkeeper of the store told the guests that if you have any anecdotes about ghosts and ghosts, you can tell me about them at the Ghost Flower House. Well, I will pay for everything, one hundred yuan per story." Duan Chengshi spoke very seriously, but Han Xiang just wanted to laugh, and his affection for the young man suddenly increased a little. Duan Chengshi said proudly: "I have been collecting for more than a year. Now that Ghost Blossom House has a great reputation, even if it is not a guest of Huihui Building, anyone with a good story will come to the door." "What a ghost flower room," Han Xiang raised his wine glass high, "It's a big white!" After drinking a few more cups, Guo Huan cautiously asked Duan Chengshi, "Have you thought about that?" Duan Chengshi said: "Talk to Han Lang first." "Oh." From Guo Huan's narration, Han Xiang learned the whole story of the so-called Flying Thief. Since the twelfth lunar month of last year, there have been a series of thefts in Chang'an City. It is said that before and after the new year, there are many festivals and activities, and people raise money for the new year. In order to let everyone have a happy holiday, Jingzhao government has relaxed various control measures such as curfew, so it is not surprising that there are more robberies.But this time the theft was very different from previous years. There were all kinds of things stolen, but there were no such common items as gold, silver, jewelry, silk, or grain.Several pharmacies had their herbs stolen; several butchers reported having freshly slaughtered fat pigs stolen; and a silk and satin factory had stolen a large pile of saponins that were stored for rinsing materials.The most unbelievable thing is that in several posthouses for foreigners opposite Honglu Temple, the mud around the huts was secretly planed and transported away. Because the thief's methods are clever and elusive, and the stolen things are extremely weird, it is unimaginable.Once the public adds more fuel to the story, it becomes a "Legendary Case of Flying Thieves" that disturbs the capital. "That's not right." Hearing this, Han Xiang interjected, "Since the stolen items are irregular and the thief didn't leave too many clues, how can we say it was done by the same person?" Duan Chengshi replied: "According to very few eyewitnesses, sometimes the thieves seen are one person, sometimes several, but they all have green faces and long fangs, and their appearances are very similar; The stinky smell will linger for a long time. That's why everyone guessed that the Flying Thief is actually a vixen who can clone himself." The officials of Jingzhao Mansion are very good at dealing with ordinary theft cases, but they are a bit at a loss when dealing with this bizarre case.From New Year's Eve to Shangyuan Festival, there are various festivals and activities in Chang'an City, and the pressure to maintain law and order is already very high. This case is very strange, and it did not cause any major losses. No effort has been made to investigate.Until the emperor issued an order, the whole Chang'an was in a hurry to welcome the Buddha bones, and the Jingzhao Mansion had no spare time to deal with these theft cases. On the contrary, the folks made the Flying Thief more and more bizarre, and the more it was made up, the more mysterious it became, which became a big topic for everyone to relieve boredom after dinner. Just two days ago, another Taoist priest from Xuandu Temple came to report the theft, saying that a batch of precious Taoist classics had been stolen, and asked Jingzhao Mansion to investigate and deal with it as soon as possible.Because body odor was also smelled at the scene, it was deduced that the case was also committed by the Flying Thief.Originally, the Jingzhao Mansion wanted to postpone the matter until the Shangyuan Festival, but unexpectedly, the matter was directly brought to the emperor's court. "How did the emperor know?" Guo Huan said angrily: "It's not that Liu Bi's fault!" "Liu Bi? Which Liu Bi?" "Which Liu Bi is there?" This surprised Han Xiang so much!As early as more than two years ago, Liu Bi was convicted of bewitching the people with evil magic and attempting to destroy the sacred object Yulongzi, was dismissed from the official position of Taizhou governor, and was arrested and thrown into the prison in Chang'an? "Hmph, what kind of prison!" Duan Chengshi said angrily, "The Holy Majesty imprisoned Liu Mi in the palace and still ordered him to make alchemy for himself. Unexpectedly, this guy is really good at it. After two years of refining the elixir, the Holy Majesty has become more and more powerful." I can’t live without him. Not only was his death sentence spared, but he was even named a national teacher a few days ago.” Han Xiang was dumbfounded. He thought that Liu Mi must be doomed, but he never thought that he would be able to recover from the ashes. Guo Huan said angrily: "This guy is so arrogant now, let's not mention that disgusting face of being a villain, but he has provoked my father again! Once the Xuanduguan case came out, he So he ran to the Holy Master to slander, saying that among the stolen Taoist scriptures were Sun Simiao's alchemy scriptures and the "Secrets of Alchemy of the Supreme Ancestor", which are the only solitary copies left. He planned to study hard for the holy master They made elixir, so they must be retrieved. Alas, the Holy One became anxious when he heard this, and ordered my father to solve the case within ten days! But think about it, the Buddha bones just entered the city today, and the Jinwu guards wanted to protect the safety of the ceremonial guards. , almost in full swing. Next is the Shangyuan Festival, and after the Shangyuan Festival is over, the Buddha bones will be worshiped by the people in the major temples in the capital. Sutra's whereabouts!" Duan Chengshi sneered and said: "I think Liu Guoshi doesn't care about the few scriptures, but the scenery of the Buddha bones. He wants to join in the fun and show how important he is in front of the Holy One." Han Xiang couldn't help sighing secretly in his heart, the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism caused by Yulongzi was really endless, and the truth and justice that he, Pei Xuanjing, Cui Miao and others spared their lives to pursue still came to nothing in the end. Han Xiang said: "Sage Sun's alchemy scriptures and the "Secrets of Alchemy of the Great Ancestor" are rare, but they are by no means isolated. As far as I know, there are collections in the Baiyun Temple on Tiantai Mountain. However, Master Feng Weiliang I will definitely not show it to Liu Bi." He looked at Duan Chengshi and Guo Huan, and seemed to understand, "Could it be that you two want to... solve this case?" "That's right!" Guo Huan hurriedly replied, "My father is worried about the fact that he has no skills to separate himself from the Buddha's bones, and he dare not disobey the orders of the Holy Majesty. I just thought that Duan Chengshi is most familiar with demons and ghosts, as well as fox spirits, so please He helps." Then, he turned to Duan Chengshi enthusiastically, "Duan Chengshi, have you figured out something in the past few days?" "No." "Nothing?" Guo Huan widened his eyes. Duan Chengshi became irritable again: "Why should I be able to solve a case that even your father can't handle?" Guo Huan muttered in a low voice: "Duan Chengshi, did you bump into a ghost when you were in Lishan last time? Why do I feel that you have changed since you came back that time?" "You hit a ghost!" Duan Chengshi stared angrily. "Don't make noise, don't make noise!" Han Xiang said, "I have a suggestion." Four bright eyes stared at him together. "I think what Jing Zhaoyin lacks the most right now is a good judge of cases. Although Duan Lang is smart, he lacks experience in this field after all. I thought of a more suitable candidate." "Who?" "Master Pei Lian." Guo Huan asked in a daze, "Which Pei Lianshi?" Duan Chengshi's eyes flashed fiercely: "Is there any Pei Lianshi?" Only then did Guo Huan let out an "ah". Duan Chengshi asked Han Xiang excitedly: "But I heard that Sister Lianshi has gone to live in seclusion to practice Taoism. No one knows where she is!" "As far as I know, she should be in... the palace." "In the palace?" "Yes, Daming Palace." "How did you know?" Duan Chengshi was excited. "By chance, I just heard about it." "This..." Duan Chengshi was stunned. Guo Huan looked at Duan Chengshi and then at Han Xiang, hesitant to speak. Duan Chengshi rolled his eyes several times, and finally said, "I think you can try it." Guo Huan asked: "Try...what to try?" "It's very simple, you should go and suggest to your father that Pei Lianshi is capable of handling this case. As for where Lianshi's sister is and whether she is in the palace, you don't need to mention it." Duan Chengshi said, "The Holy One knows Lianshi best Sister's ability, if he is really determined to solve the case, and Sister Lianshi is indeed in the Daming Palace, the Holy Majesty will definitely consider her." "No, no, no." Now Guo Huan blushed anxiously, and shiny beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, "Grandmother told us a long time ago that matters related to Master Pei Lian are taboos for the Holy One, and we should avoid them if we can. So even if I go to suggest her to my father, my father will definitely not dare to mention it to the Holy One. You don’t know, recently, the Holy Majesty’s temper has become more and more irritable, and if a sentence is not satisfactory, no matter who it is, immediately condemn it. So... " Duan Chengshi stared at him: "So, you already knew that Sister Lianshi was in the palace?" "I'm not..." Guo Huan avoided Duan Chengshi's eyes, and said falteringly, "Yes, there was one time, I thought I heard my mother secretly tell my father..." It seems that Pei Xuanjing was indeed detained in the palace by the emperor! For a moment, Han Xiang couldn't tell whether the feeling in his heart was joy or sadness, anger or sorrow. I heard Duan Chengshi angrily scolding: "Okay! You have kept such important news from me!" Guo Huan said with a sad face, "You never asked me..." "Forget it." Duan Chengshi said, "Whether you want to mention it to your father or not is up to you. As for other things, I can't do anything."