Chapter 38 Teammates

After Ming Huashang talked it out with Ming Huazhang, she was not polite at all and went out the next day under Ming Huazhang's name.

Ming Huashang had already decided to investigate in the direction of Wei Moyuan, but when she came out, she stood on the street in Luoyang, looking at the noisy and bustling pedestrians coming and going, and felt a little confused.

It's easy to say, but she has no connections. How can it be easy to track down a person in such a big city?

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After calming down and thinking for a while, he decided to go to the Bodhi Temple to burn incense first, and then, under the pretext of sightseeing, he went around to ask the monks in the Bodhi Temple about the Wei family.

She had heard from people in the Wei family that Wei Yanqing had been a devout Buddhist since he changed his career, and had offered a lot of incense at the Bodhi Temple. Even after he gave up the desire to have a child, he never neglected the temple.

Ming Huashang doesn't believe in ghosts and gods, but she knows that if you worship, you will have something to ask for. People who are truly free from desires and have no desires need not believe in any gods or Buddhas. Wei Yanqing spent so much money to buy peace of mind, and perhaps he could start his inner appeal from the temple.

Ming Huashang launched her shameless attack, persistently asking questions in an indirect way for an entire afternoon, and finally pried open Shami's mouth.

When Wei Yanqing came to the Buddhist temple for retreat, he often mentioned to the master what happened before the capital, and it seemed that he was still obsessed with his past life in the opera troupe.

Ming Huashang immediately asked about the details of the troupe. The young nun thought for a long time and said uncertainly, "I only heard about it once by chance when I was serving my master. I can't remember it clearly. It seems to be called the Wu Family Puppet Troupe. It was very famous in Beijing twelve years ago."

Wu Family Puppetry Troupe, Ming Huashang silently recalled the name and asked: "I heard that Manager Wei's voice was damaged when he was in the troupe. Master, do you know what happened?"

The nun shook her head: "I have never heard the donor mention it. I guess he has let it go."

Let it go? Ming Huashang didn't believe it. Would a person who had let go of his worries be unable to listen to puppet shows for many years and get angry when his apprentices imitated them?

Seeing that she could not get any more information from the Buddhist temple, Ming Huashang could only say goodbye. The next day, she did the same thing and sneaked out again.

She learned from yesterday's lesson that it was a waste of time to inquire from the outside, so she decided to start directly from inside the Wei family.

She waited at the gate of Wei's mansion, not believing that she would not find any clues.

The idea was good, but unfortunately there was little progress in actual practice. She rented a carriage and waited outside the Wei residence. When no one came out, she asked the neighbors about the secrets of the Wei family. But in such a big house, if someone died inside, people outside might not hear about it, so how much could the neighbors know?

As for the Wu Family Puppetry Troupe, the progress was not smooth either. Luoyang was a gathering place for extraordinary people from all corners of the world. Even people from the Western Regions came from thousands of miles away to perform in the capital. I don't know how many troupes went in and out of the city gate every day.

The next day after Ming Huashang was waiting, someone from the Wei family finally went out, and it was Wei Moyuan, whom she had paid special attention to. Ming Huashang immediately asked the driver to follow, and she carefully followed him to the South City. Wei Moyuan first went to the dyeing shop to look at the cloth and discuss the clothes for the puppets, and then went to the Hu merchant to buy pigments.

He went to five or six stores in a row, and Ming Huashang followed him all the way. He didn't get any news, but he was exhausted.

By the time Wei Moyuan bought all the pigments, it was already dark. Ming Huashang looked at the blazing glow in the sky and realized that she had made a stupid mistake.

What on earth is she doing, trying to solve all problems with her own shortcomings?

This mission is related to the assessment and rating, so there is competition, but if Han Jie really wants them to kill each other, why bring them together? The five people agreed on a meeting point and found an informant to issue the mission individually, which is both safe and efficient. Why let them see the faces of other competitors?

Unless, this is not a one-person mission where you have to fight to the death, but there is another way that does not harm the interests of everyone.

The driver saw that Ming Huashang had been silent for a long time, so he asked, "Young lady, are you still coming?"

The driver looked at her with regret and sympathy, and he obviously thought she was a woman who was betrayed by her husband and was out to catch him cheating. Ming Huashang didn't want to explain, she smiled at the driver and said, "Thank you, uncle, please go to the Marquis of Jiang'an's mansion."

Even though a day had passed and her voice had become a little tired, her eyes were still clear and bright, without a trace of gloom.

The driver felt very sorry for this pretty, amiable and polite young lady and could not help but say, "My lady, you are from a rich and powerful family, so why do you have to be upset over a man? I know what men think. Once he has an affair, it is impossible to stop him. The more you look at him, the more he wants to cheat. Although the man looks good, he is often involved in rouge and powder. He is too feminine and not strong enough. You will suffer if you are with him. He is not a good match for you."

Ming Huashang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She leaned against the car window and said, "Thank you for reminding me, uncle. As long as I can find out the truth about him, my wish will be fulfilled. I know the seriousness of the matter."

The driver didn't say anything more after hearing this. He patted the horse vigorously and said generously, "Sit tight, young lady. Let's go."

Jiang'an Marquis's Mansion was built in a prosperous area of ​​​​Luoyang, and they arrived soon. Ming Huashang got off the car, paid the driver a day's fare, and said, "Thank you, uncle, for your trouble today."

The driver could see that although the young lady's clothes were plain, the fabrics were of the best quality, and she must have come from a wealthy family. It was amazing that she was born into a wealthy family but was still sincere. She always said "thank you" and "thank you" to these peddlers and hawkers, without any contempt in her eyes.

Whoever can marry such a young lady in the future will be blessed. The driver said, "My lady, it is getting dark and the road is dangerous at night. You should hurry back after you finish your business and don't delay on the road."

Ming Huachang was stunned for a moment. She had not expected the driver, who she had only met once, to be so enthusiastic. She thanked him sincerely, "I understand. Uncle, please be careful on the road."

After the driver had gone far away, Ming Huashang went to ask the concierge of the Marquis Jiang'an Mansion: "Excuse me, has Lord Jiang returned?"

The doorman looked Ming Huashang up and down. Their prince was a famous playboy in the capital, but he had done a lot of horse riding and prostitution in Jiangling. I haven't heard that he also had affairs with women? The doorman asked cautiously, "Who are you and why are you asking about the prince?"

Ming Huashang said, "I work at the veterinary clinic. I live in Enshunfang. My last name is Han. I treated the baby of Prince Jiang not long ago, but there was a mistake in one of the medicines. I want to tell the prince in person. Please let the concierge pass the message. The baby is lively and cute. It would be a pity if the wrong medicine was used."

The Jiang'an Marquis's Mansion was large and powerful, and the doorman would be too lazy to deal with even high-ranking officials who came. But this woman said it was about the prince's pair of treasures, so the doorman did not dare to be careless and hurried inside to pass on the message.

In the mansion, Jiang Ling had just returned. He had no idea how to investigate these three days, so he just wandered around Luoyang, killing time as usual. He had just sat down when he heard the doorman say that his baby had taken the wrong medicine.

Ah, he thought they had taken the wrong medicine. His baby was so strong and brave, how could he have fallen ill?

Jiang Ling was about to curse the man out, but the words failed on his tongue and he remembered something.

Isn't Enshunfang the place where they met that day? And his last name is Han...

Could it be that Han Jie sent someone to look for him?

Jiang Ling thought about it over and over again and finally decided not to be careless. He endured his sleepiness and got up and went out to see it himself.

Jiang Ling walked out of the gate and looked around the street. He didn't find Han Jie, but he saw a familiar person. He subconsciously said, "Ming..."

"Prince, my last name is Han." Ming Huashang came over, interrupted Jiang Ling, and winked at him, saying, "There are some mistakes about the prescription. Prince, follow me, I will make you a new one."

Jiang Ling blinked, said nothing more, and followed her out. After leaving the sight of Jiang Anhou Mansion, Jiang Ling said in surprise: "What are you doing here? Don't tell me that you are still going to investigate a case at this hour."

In fact, it was true. Ming Huashang not only wanted to investigate on her own, but also wanted to drag Jiang Ling to investigate together. Ming Huashang asked: "What have you done these two days?"

"What can I find? Just wander around the streets and look for clues." As he said that, Jiang Ling glanced at Ming Huachang and said, "Why, are you here to spy on the news?"

Ming Huashang said frankly: "To be honest, I haven't made any progress, so I want to come to you for cooperation."

Ming Huachang's eyes were sincere and honest, without any hint of joking. Jiang Ling paused, a little caught off guard: "With me?"

When his father saw him, he sighed and said that he had accomplished nothing. His eight-year-old brother could still recite poems and compose essays, so what could he do?

At such times, his stepmother, who came from a scholarly family, would always offer some words of comfort and comfort. Jiang Ling was impatient to play along with them in the drama of loving father and filial son, and would rather go out and run horses all day, but in fact, he also agreed with his father and stepmother in his heart.

He was indeed ignorant and accomplished nothing, so his father had to use his power to put him in the Queen's private army. This kind of place would not be exposed to the eyes of the court and the public, and he would not be judged if he did something wrong. It was most suitable for a second-generation ancestor like him who had no ability but needed to be gilded. Although Jiang Ling was impatient, he went there as scheduled.

He had long accepted the judgment of fate and his family that he was a playboy who could not accomplish anything. He never thought that someone would recognize his value and take the initiative to seek cooperation with him.

"Yes." Ming Huashang looked at him with eyes like broken stars and said, "Jiang Ling, I realized that I can't do this task alone. How about we work together? The final reward, we will split it equally."

Jiang Ling raised his eyebrows and stared at her with a strange and puzzling look. Ming Huashang did not dodge and let him look at her.

Ming Huashang guessed that Jiang Ling might think that she wanted to use him. It was true that it was not uncommon for people to abandon their work and then destroy the bridge after crossing the river. Ming Huashang was thinking about whether to put forward some conditions to show her sincerity, but she heard Jiang Ling say, "Okay."

Ming Huashang choked and asked in surprise: "You don't even ask how the rewards will be distributed in the end?"

"It's nothing." Jiang Ling put his hands behind his back and looked at the street in the sunset glow. "I don't care."

Ming Huashang had not expected Jiang Ling to be so easy to deceive. The long speech she had prepared was useless. She paused and said in the same generous way: "Okay, straightforward! Let's go find Sister Ren."

Jiang Ling was shocked: "You still want to find her?"

"Yes." Ming Huashang said, "We are a team, and of course no one can be left behind. I can't convince my brother and Brother Xie, but the three of us should go in and out together and fight side by side."

Jiang Ling was silent for a moment, and said awkwardly: "She might..."

"Don't worry." Ming Huashang held Jiang Ling's arm and said, "Sister Ren is not an unreasonable person. I will convince her. Now you just need to consider whether you are willing to join this team. If you are willing, we will go find her now."

Jiang Ling was silent, as if he was still thinking. Ming Huashang observed his expression and patted him on the shoulder: "A real man should stand tall and upright. Why are you being so fussy? Are you going to leave?"

Jiang Ling couldn't stand the provocation and immediately cursed: "Who are you talking about? Just leave."

The heart of a young man is like crystal, shallow and fragile, but never accumulates dirt. With just one excuse, he becomes passionate and sincere again, and forgets all the suspicions and barriers.

Ming Huashang and Jiang Ling walked towards the Pingnan Marquis's Mansion together. It was much easier to meet Ren Yao. Ming Huashang didn't need to worry about the difference between men and women, and directly gave her name to the doorman: "I am Ming Erniang from the Zhenguo Mansion. I have something to say to Madam Ren. Please pass it on."

After a while, Ren Yao came out. She saw Ming Huashang was very happy, but when she saw Jiang Ling behind her, she was stunned: "You guys..."

Ming Huashang didn't wait for her to say anything and directly pulled her away: "Let's go, I know a place with delicious wontons, I'll treat you guys to a meal."

Ren Yao had been busy practicing shooting for many years and didn't have many friends, let alone anyone coming to her house to see her. So even though Ren Yao saw Jiang Ling as an opponent and was reluctant to see him, she didn't struggle and reluctantly followed Ming Huashang to eat Yanyue wontons.

Ming Huashang is really good at eating. Ren Yao has never seen her eat the same thing twice since he met her. Ming Huashang sat in the private room and enthusiastically recommended it to the other two people: "This wonton with matsutake mushroom filling is the best. Is there any new shrimp on the market recently? The shrimp filling is also good. Do you eat coriander?"

After the three of them had ordered and the waiter brought the wontons, they were the only ones left in the box. Ming Huashang drank a sip of soup and asked, "How is your investigation into the Wei family going?"

The other two were silent. Ming Huashang took the initiative to say, "Then I'll speak first. I learned from the monks at the Bodhi Temple that Wei Yanqing once performed in Taiyuan Prefecture, and the name of the troupe was Wu Family Puppet Troupe. I guess something very important happened in the Wu Family Troupe twelve years ago, and until now Wei Yanqing has been unable to get out of the shadow, and has been frequently offering merits to ease his mind."

Ren Yao subconsciously wanted to ask Ming Huashang how she could be sure that Wei Yanqing prayed to the gods for the sake of the opera troupe, and why she said that he had not yet stepped out of the shadows, but when the words came to her lips, she remembered the relationship between the three of them and hesitated: "This is your clue, you tell us..."

"This is my sincerity." Ming Huashang swallowed a matsutake wonton and said seriously, "I came to you two today to form a sincere alliance. Let's share clues and solve the case together."

Ren Yao stopped, looking very hesitant and doubtful. Ming Huashang asked, "Sister Ren, Jiang Ling, why did you join Xuanxiao Guard?"

Let’s not talk about Ming Huashang for now. Ren Yao and Jiang Ling are both nobles who have no worries about food and clothing. They have endless money in their hands. Why don’t they do something else? Why do they have to look to others for advice?

Jiang Ling didn't care. They all knew about it anyway, so he said without any psychological burden, "Because my father asked me to come. After joining the Xuanxiao Guard, it will be easier for the Queen to remember it, which will be of great benefit to my future career."

Ming Huashang looked at Ren Yao. Ren Yao clenched her chopsticks tightly. This was the scar she was most reluctant to touch. She worked hard for it day after day, but never dared to speak about it in front of others.

But maybe it was the aroma of wontons that confused his vision, or maybe people can't think after eating. Anyway, Ren Yao, for the first time in his life, told his most embarrassing secret in front of the opposite sex: "I want to inherit my father's title of marquis."

Women have no right of inheritance, let alone the title of Marquis, and will have to walk in a social circle full of men in the future. Everyone laughs at her delusional thoughts, and her father's old subordinates, good friends, and even her grandmother don't understand her.

If she wanted to realize her wish, she could only turn to the imperial power. The empress herself was a woman, and perhaps she was the only one who could tolerate a female marquis.

Ming Huashang returned the favor and took the initiative to say, "I want to live a peaceful and stable life. Maybe you think I am good at pleasing people, but in fact, I hate dealing with interpersonal relationships, especially having nothing to do for the rest of my life and having to rely on pleasing my husband, my mother-in-law, and the wives of my husband's colleagues. Jiang Ling did it for his father's orders, Sister Ren did it for the family, and I did it for myself. None of us can back down, so we must fight to the end for this case of the Wei family."

Ren Yao put down his chopsticks and looked at her with a gloomy look. Unexpectedly, Ming Huashang changed the subject and said, "But I think we don't have to follow the path they have planned. Who can win in the end in a battle between trapped beasts? Only the people in the stands are laughing to their heart's content. Are you willing to trust me, and let's work together to solve this case?"

Ren Yao didn't want to make things too awkward. There weren't many people who could talk to her, so what good would it do her to have a falling out? But Ren Yao frowned, "But Ming Hua Zhang said that only one person can be rated as a prefecture-level official."

"This may also be part of the assessment." Ming Huashang had finished eating the wontons. She put down her chopsticks, rested her arms on the table, and said, "Put yourself in the shoes of the above-mentioned people and think about it. Would you rather have one more subordinate who is both civil and military savvy but completely disloyal, or three subordinates who each have their own flaws but can work together to complete difficult tasks?"

Jiang Ling and Ren Yao were silent. Ming Huashang said, "Don't forget, General Han once said that Xuan Xiao Wei was the shadow of Jin Niu Wei. Since it is in contrast to Jin Niu Wei, it is also an army. Why do we form groups of five like the army? Why did General Han let us take charge ourselves and leave us alone the whole time?"

Ming Huashang slammed the table hard, her eyes shining, and said, "I believe that we are teammates who deserve to trust and help each other, not competitors. I believe that man can conquer nature, and unity is strength."

Jiang Ling also finished eating. He put down his chopsticks and said sincerely, "Ming Er Niang, you are really good at speaking."

Ming Huashang smiled modestly: "Thank you for the award."

Jiang Ling didn't eat coriander before, but he tried it this time on Ming Huashang's recommendation, and it turned out to be quite good. Jiang Ling waved his hands and said, "It's fine with me. I'm alone anyway, and having one more person to accompany me can help relieve my boredom."

Ming Huashang looked at Ren Yao expectantly. With her own strength, she would never be able to fight against Ming Huazhang who wanted her to leave. But if the three of them joined forces, that might not be the case. Success or failure depended on Ren Yao's attitude.

Ren Yao was a little nervous when being watched by two people. She knew rationally that she should choose the most secure path, as she couldn't afford any risk now. But the wonton bowl in her palm was emitting warmth, and she really couldn't say the word "no".

Finally, Ren Yao nodded hesitantly: "You can give it a try."

"Great!" Ming Huashang said happily, "I knew Sister Ren was a passionate person. Let's combine the information we have now and discuss the next step together."

Jiang Ling didn't care. He didn't get any useful information anyway. He glanced at Ren Yao's almost untouched bowl of wontons and said disdainfully, "Are you feeding the fish? It's been so long and you've only eaten so little. Ming Er Niang has almost finished her second bowl."

These words offended two people at the same time. Ming Huashang and Ren Yao's faces turned ugly at the same time: "What are you talking about?"

Ming Huashang took a bite of the food indignantly, and Ren Yao abandoned his polite manners and ate with big mouthfuls. Seeing that Ren Yao had almost finished eating, Ming Huashang said, "I always feel that Wei Moyuan must be hiding something from us. Jiang Ling, Sister Ren, do you have reliable people who can go to Taiyuan Prefecture and find out what happened to the Wu family puppet class back then?"

"It's simple." Ren Yao said, "We have many veterans in our government. They are used to traveling all over the country. I will send them to the northern capital. If everything goes well, they will be back within five days."

Pingnan Hou had fought at the border for many years, and there were many old generals in his mansion. These people had followed Pingnan Hou and his son for many years. After the Hou and his son died, they continued to be loyal to Ren Yao and did not listen to the side branch family at all. Whatever Ren Yao wanted to do, he really had no shortage of manpower.

Great! Ren Yao easily solved the problem that had troubled Ming Huashang for many days. Ming Huashang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Sister Ren. We can't be idle for the next five days. I want to know the whereabouts of Wei Moyuan and Wei Zhuyan, but the maids and servants around them are very tight-lipped and I can't get any information."

Jiang Ling sneered, and Ming Huashang and Ren Yao looked at him together: "What are you laughing at?"

"There are no servants who keep their mouths shut." Jiang Ling, who is familiar with all kinds of entertainment places in and outside Luoyang and is known as the most dissolute playboy in Kyoto, was dismissive. "Give them money, I don't believe they won't open their mouths."

Ming Huashang was silent for a moment. Yes, spend money. Why didn't she think of such a convenient method?

Maybe it's because she is poor.

Ming Huashang, who had enough food and clothing but no spare money, looked at Jiang Ling with envy and sighed, "Okay, let's do as you say. We'll meet at the gate of the Bodhi Temple at noon tomorrow."