"Xiao Qiu, be careful. I'll go over and find out what's going on," Gu Xin said to Zheng Qiu as she turned to him.
“Okay.” Zheng Qiu nodded, and then began preparing for the autopsy.
Seeing that she had already started preparing, Gu Xin asked Lord Xu to lead the way. When she reached the door, she glanced at Fatty Wang, who was being pinched and beaten, pursed her lips, and turned to continue walking out.
Lord Xu wasn't sure about Gu Xin's temperament, so he didn't say much and led Gu Xin to a small house.
The room contained only tables, chairs, and benches, with some firewood piled up in the corner.
"Your Highness, this is a woodshed. Hongyuan Temple has several courtyards, all for pilgrims to stay in. Sometimes pilgrims come as a family, and it's inconvenient to share things with other people in the temple. So, courtyards like this have separate woodsheds. There are really no beds or deceased people in the entire courtyard except for the woodshed and the main hall. I am truly ashamed that Your Highness has had to condescend to stay here," Lord Xu explained to Gu Xin.
“It’s alright. Lord Xu, there’s no need to speak like that. Just say what you have to say. I don’t have any special requirements for the environment, as long as things are explained clearly,” Gu Xin said.
Dongxue, who had come along, moved a stool for Gu Xin, while another recorder took out paper and pen to take notes.
"Yesterday was a day off for the yamen, and Lord Wang brought his whole family to Hongyuan Temple for a vegetarian meal. These past few months, Shoucheng has been obediently staying by Princess Xinxin and General Lu's side, which has greatly pleased Lord Wang, so he planned to come to pray for blessings and fulfill his vows. I remember that yesterday morning around Chenshi (7-9 AM), the whole family of five set off. There were two carriages, two drivers, a servant boy, a personal attendant, three maids, two old women, and a wet nurse. A total of fifteen people." Lord Xu began to recount the last time he saw Lord Wang.
“Under normal circumstances, it takes about an hour and a half for a family to travel from the prefectural city to Hongyuan Temple if they are not in a hurry,” Lord Xu added.
"Lord Xu is right. Lord Wang and his party arrived at the temple at the end of the 9-11 AM yesterday, and it was this humble monk who received them," the abbot said from the side.
"And then?" Gu Xin asked.
"Your Highness," the abbot said, "whenever Madam Wang brings her wife, young mistress, and son to the temple, they almost always stay in this courtyard. Therefore, I brought them here. After settling them in, I arranged to play chess with Lord Wang this afternoon and then left. All meals at the temple are eaten in the main dining hall, and worshippers can also send someone to get their food. I inquired today, and Lord Wang and his family sent someone to get their lunch yesterday at noon. Around 1-3 PM, Lord Wang came to my meditation room to play chess with me. During the game, he told me about his son's affairs over the past few months. He was in a very good mood and expressed his gratitude to Lord Gu, Princess Xinxin, and General Lu. Lord Wang said that even if he were to only reach the position of Prefect of Tongzhou in this lifetime, he would still hope that his son would have a better future." At this point, the abbot clasped his hands together, his face filled with compassion, and said, "Amitabha!"
"Alas!" Lord Xu sighed.
How come this old Wang dares to say anything in the temple?
See? It worked!
The Bodhisattva has given your son a bright future, but you've truly reached the level of Prefect of Tongzhou.
Lord Xu and Lord Wang have been partners for almost six years. They are in a superior-subordinate relationship, but more than that, they are old friends who appreciate each other.
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