Chapter 6
Her charming look softened the rough men on the spot, and there was another commotion, with everyone attacking Han Fengci and the soldiers.
One of the tall men was the first to be attacked, with a bad attitude: "Sir, why don't you go back and check again? She is a weak woman, unable to carry anything, unable to run, how could she do such a big thing as murder and arson? At most, it's just that some man fell in love with Hua Li, thinking about her day and night, and forgetting about his wife. Is this a big deal?"
The people around laughed: "That's right, is it necessary to mobilize so many people? Which man doesn't have a few dream lovers in his mind? Sir, don't you think so?"
These troublemakers grinned with slanted mouths, not taking the government officials seriously at all, which made Feng Huanhuan's chest rise and fall, and she was very angry. If Feicui hadn't been stopping her, she would have stepped forward to argue.
Han Fengci didn't say a word from beginning to end. He waited until those troublemakers had finished making trouble. He looked around with cold eyes and then spoke: "Are you done?"
The chill around him made everyone around him shut up, but everyone's eyes were full of disdain. He didn't seem to care: "That's enough, it's my turn to speak."
"I am Han Fengci, the Minister of the Dali Temple. If you have any objections to the Dali Temple's handling of cases, you may appeal by beating the drum."
When the common people heard that it was the Dali Temple, they looked carefully at the group of men in black robes in front of them. The faint wolf pattern on the cuffs of the black robes told them everything. They all took a few steps back, probably mistaking them for government officials and soldiers.
At this moment, the few troublemakers lost their fierceness, shrank their necks and submerged in the crowd, reducing their presence. Now they are afraid, but it is too late. As everyone knows, the Dali Temple handles public cases, and the cases of ordinary people are handled by the government. Obstructing public cases is a serious crime. If Han Fengci wants to investigate, according to the laws of Qing Zhaoguo, obstructing the Dali Temple in handling cases will result in a light sentence of one year in prison, and a heavy sentence of ten years.
The people had lost their aggressiveness, and the scene was completely silent, leaving only Hua Li's sobbing. At this moment, no one dared to defend her. Seeing this, Han Fengci continued, "This woman is a spy from another country. She used her identity to get close to court officials to obtain information. The Dali Temple must have solid evidence to bring her to justice. If there are any objections, the Dali Temple is always ready to be supervised by the people."
With just a few words, he easily intimidated the people. Seeing this unfavorable situation, Hua Li hurriedly broke free from the Black Wolf Guards who were holding him, and was about to run towards Han Fengci. The Silver Wolf was quick-witted and pulled Hua Li back, and she fell to the ground fiercely. The Silver Wolf was furious: "How dare you be a spy! How dare you despise the authority of the government!"
Hua Li raised her eyes and saw that Silver Wolf seemed to be young, with a slender figure, broad eyebrows and narrow eyes. His skin was wheat-colored due to years of running around. He seemed to be a silly boy, but he was easier to talk to than the cold man. Although he was very angry just now, his face was very immature. So, she collapsed to the ground, her collar was slightly loose when she struggled to break free, and she deliberately leaned forward a little, so that the whiteness of her chest was vaguely visible. She lowered her eyes and pinched her voice. The tears in the corners of her eyes seemed to drip onto the ground in a regular pattern, "Sir, I sell my art but not my body. I only focus on studying music on weekdays and never go out. I am really wronged!"
Seeing that Silver Wolf was indifferent, Hua Li was a little flustered. She knelt and slid forward, gently pulling Silver Wolf's lower robe, "Sir, everything I said is true. Sir, you are so handsome, you must be a good official. Please... ...make the decision for me!"
She was crying like a pear blossom in the rain. If the Dali Temple had not directly grasped the hard evidence, this appearance would probably have fooled her. Silver Wolf kicked her away, and the people around her took a breath of cold air, but they dared not say anything, just because Han Fengci's cold eyes swept across the crowd.
“Should I call you Hua Li, or Xi Qing Ni Hua, the princess of Donglai Fanbang?” As soon as Han Fengci spoke in a cold voice, Hua Li lost her shyness instantly. Her face turned pale and she struggled forward desperately to beg for mercy: “Sir, sir, I am just the daughter of an ordinary citizen. I don’t know what Donglai or Xi Qing are!” She ignored the Black Wolf Guards’ obstruction, her hair was disheveled, her eyes were red, and she crawled forward desperately, “Sir, I am really wronged!”
She was dishevelled and pale, obviously frightened. The people around her were moved with sympathy, and looked around eagerly. Han Fengci glanced at the crowd with a cold look, "If anyone feels sorry for this spy, please stand up. The Dali Temple of this official has always been reasonable and is always waiting for the people to listen attentively."
As soon as these words came out, everyone broke into a cold sweat. How could ordinary people hear such a public case? I'm afraid that after hearing this, they will never be able to get out of it again.
After all, she is just a leading actress, it is not worth risking her life and property.
Feng Huanhuan's eyes were full of stars. The burning gaze forced Han Fengci to turn around and look back. Their eyes met. The young man holding the peacock fan was wearing a blue brocade robe and a round arc hat. His simple little face was full of smiles. He recognized it at a glance. It was Feng Huanhuan. In other words, he noticed Feng Huanhuan as early as when she came in. So, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly, as a greeting.
Soon, the Black Wolf Guards carried Hua Li to the prison car. As they left, Han Fengci turned around, glanced at Feng Huanhuan, then mounted his horse and galloped away.
Until falling asleep, Feng Huanhuan was still holding Feicui and muttering: "Han Fengci is so majestic and imposing..."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Han is so majestic and handsome. Miss, I can recite it. It's midnight now. Go to bed quickly. Tomorrow I have to visit Mr. Qing with my master."
Feng Huanhuan finally fell asleep at Feicui's urging, but Han Fengci and the Black Wolf Guard were interrogating today's leading lady - Xi Qing Nihua - in the secret cell of Dali Temple.
She slumped on the ground, her scattered hair covering half of her face, her eyes red, staring at Han Fengci who was sitting in a high position. At this point, she couldn't pretend anymore. This time she came to Qingzhao Kingdom, it was rumored that a list was left among the people, and that list involved many officials, many of whom were warriors they had trained for many years. If it weren't for the secret that Emperor Qingzhao wanted to review the Fuzhou corruption case, she and the king would never have taken such a risky move! Now, it's a failure.
Han Fengci took in all the expressions on Xi Qing Nihua's face, and it seemed that he could not get any useful information from her. It would be better to wait and see, and lock her up for a month or so, maybe there will be some movement in the East Frontier. He closed his eyes and observed the sky. It was getting late, and the little girl should be asleep. He had to go over to warm her room. His brows were full of impatience, and he kept stroking his sleeves. After a while, he looked at the Silver Wolf beside him and said, "Lock her up in a conspicuous prison, and keep an eye on her during these days."
Silver Wolf understood immediately and quickly followed the order to go to the cell that was most vulnerable to jailbreak. When Silver Wolf returned to the trial table again, the master had disappeared.
Under Han Fengci's care every night, Feng Huanhuan slept very peacefully in the cold winter. The next morning, she followed her father to visit an old friend, Qing Xuanzi from the Imperial College. He was an old man with gray hair, always wearing coarse linen clothes, but his hair was tied up meticulously. His square and thin face was always smiling. Since childhood, whenever he saw her, he would ask her, "Has Huan'er read books recently?"
Normally, Feng Huanhuan would have been playing dirty, because she was almost 15 years old, and she didn't want to answer boring questions. But now, the person sitting opposite her was Han Fengci, and she straightened her body, lowered her head, and looked like a very polite lady.
"Returning to the great scholar, I have been reviewing the women's training recently."
This answer obviously shocked Qing Xuanzi so much that his beard almost stood up. He just wanted to tease this little girl. The little girl was smart since she was young. At the age of three, she could recite the Four Books and Five Classics fluently. But she had a bad temper, so every time he saw her, he wanted to tease her, not to really test her. But now, this answer is very strange, the first time in ten years. Qing Xuanzi looked at Feng Huanhuan, and then at the upright Han Fengci sitting next to them. They were a talented man and a beautiful woman. He thought leisurely that this little girl would also be a marriageable girl this year, right? He suddenly seemed to understand, so he stroked his white beard that was about to reach his chest and laughed out loud: "Okay, Huan'er has been smart since she was young and can read ten lines at a glance. Now at this age, she is still revisiting old acquaintances. She is a model of a lady!"
Feng Nianxiang's eyebrows were furrowed at the side. This Qing Xuanzi was really good at handling things. He must be afraid that this girl would come back to settle accounts with him and pull out his beard, so he was lying with his eyes wide open.
Feng Huanhuan was delighted to hear Qing Xuanzi's praise. This old man was very sensible. He would never try to touch his beard again. She secretly raised her eyes and quickly glanced at Han Fengci opposite her. There was a slight smile on his lips. She felt relieved.
Qing Xuanzi's Confucian residence is not in the capital, but at the foot of Wutu Mountain outside the city, surrounded by a bamboo forest. In summer, the mountains are covered with green and the trees are shady, just like a paradise. In winter, the mountains are covered with silver, and the branches are full of clusters of ice flowers. When the wind blows, they fall like cotton wool. In the pavilion in the bamboo forest, a few good friends drink warm tea and appreciate the painting of the mountains and forests painted into white snow. It is really free and easy.
After weighing the tea, Feng Huanhuan used tea tongs to place the hot purple clay tea cups in an orderly manner on the tea tray on the agarwood table. After waking up the tea, moisten the tea, soak the tea leaves with boiling water, and then pour out the first tea. Repeat this process, and then brew the tea leaves. During the pouring process, nod the spout of the pot several times to gradually soak the tea leaves. Then, cover the pot and pour boiling water over the entire purple clay pot, so that the tea fragrance can be well preserved.
She poured the tea into the public cup, and then into each purple clay teacup. Elders came first, and she held the tea with both hands, "Great scholar, please enjoy."
Since he was a guest at the Confucian mansion, he should first serve the Confucian, then his father, and finally Han Fengci. Qing Xuanzi smelled the tea and laughed continuously, his voice penetrating the valley: "Well, well, Huan'er's tea ceremony has really reached a new level."
Feng Nianxiang's heart was beating even more. This girl seemed to be possessed by another spirit. But he still held the tea in one hand, looked at it, smelled it, and asked questions. He couldn't help but sigh: "Good tea, good tea! It smells fragrant at first, and tastes sweet after a careful sip."
Feng Huanhuan stared at Han Fengci closely, and saw him sniff lightly, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised: "Not bad."
Although his words were brief and to the point, she was still happy for a long time. Until lunch at noon, Qing Xuanzi still talked to Han Fengci about Taoism and Zen. The old man seemed to admire him very much, and he was very diligent, which made him laugh frequently: "Xiao Ci, I have been asking myself recently, why do Confucianism, Legalism and Taoism think about the essence of all living beings? Is it faith? Or is it learning?"
“It is the morality of all living beings.”
"Morality?" Feng Nianxiang, who had been silent for a long time, couldn't help but interrupt. Han Fengci put down the teacup and said firmly: "It can only be a kind of morality."
“Whether it is faith or the condensation of wisdom of all living beings, the essence that is ultimately conveyed is morality. It is both Tao and virtue.”
Qing Xuanzi and Feng Nianxiang looked at each other, lost in thought. Feng Huanhuan was listening, her eyes dancing with admiration. Now in her eyes, Han Fengci was all-knowing, with a golden glow all over his body.
Qing Xuanzi added: "To realize the 'I' is the best of the best. To comprehend the 'Tao' is so difficult."
Han Fengci replied, "The desire to dominate all living beings is extremely strong, and it is a calamity that mortals are born with. Only a very small number of people are chosen by heaven, and whether these chosen people can follow the path of destiny depends on their personal understanding or chance. After all, the path of choice is always in the hands of all living beings, and everything else is fate. Only by understanding me can one realize the Tao, until great wisdom is generated, and the integration of Confucianism, Legalism and Taoism is completed, and then a great opportunity to ascend to the immortal world can be obtained. Otherwise, if everyone can realize it, I am afraid that the Heavenly Court will not be able to accommodate them."
Feng Huanhuan's eyes were bright. Although she didn't understand what enlightenment and Taoism were, he said that mortals could ascend to heaven. For some reason, she felt that he would be able to answer her questions. She loved listening to these interesting stories about gods and fairies since she was a child, and she firmly believed that there were gods and fairies in heaven.
This story started with an incident in her childhood. She still remembered that it was a cool night at the end of spring and the beginning of autumn. In her dream, there were some fragmented fragments in her mind, which seemed to be her but not her. Under a cliff shrouded in black fog, a red-eyed child with dishevelled hair and ragged clothes leaned against a huge rock. Looking closely, there was a patch of red hair on his head, and his body was covered with scars, all of which were skin and flesh turned inside out. She stepped forward and asked, "Child, what's wrong with you?" The child saw that she seemed very scared and had a sign of dying, but he gritted his teeth and wanted to escape. She hurried forward and said, "Child, I'm not a bad person, don't be afraid."
The child seemed unconvinced and kept backing away, muttering, "You...you don't come over here, I'm not a bad demon, I'm a good demon."
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