Chapter 144: Tolerance
Ming Huashang had another nightmare. In the dream, Zhaocai was holding a bag of pine nuts and complaining that they were too overcooked. Then, Zhaocai was lying in a pool of blood, with a big hole in his abdomen. you die?"
Yes, why wasn't she the one who died?
Ming Huashang felt as if someone was choking her throat. She took deep breaths but still couldn't breathe. She grabbed at something in vain while suffocating. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her tightly and hugged her tightly: "Shangshang, don't be afraid, I'm here."
The evil spirit was laughing strangely in her ear. Ming Huashang wanted to run, but her body couldn't move at all. The pair of warm hands kept holding her, patting her back gently, and whispering in her ear: "I'm here."
I'm here.
These words seemed like an oracle that could drive away evil spirits. The dark shadows that had been haunting her in her dream gradually dissipated. Ming Huashang's body gradually relaxed, she tilted her head, and finally fell asleep peacefully.
Ming Huazhang waited until her breathing became even before carefully putting her back on the bed. Unexpectedly, Ming Huachang was like drowning. As soon as she touched the bed, her breathing became rapid and her mood became unstable. Ming Huazhang could only hold her hand tightly and stay with her: "Don't be afraid, I'm here, I won't leave."
Madam Ming frowned when she saw this scene: "Did she get into something dirty? How about asking a monk to exorcise the evil spirit?"
The Duke of Zhenguo was a little hesitant when he heard this. Ming Huashang had never suffered any hardship since she was a child. She was so that she refused to continue learning needlework even when her fingertips were pierced by needles. Suddenly, she saw the death of the people around her.
"No need." Ming Huazhang carefully wiped the sweat off Ming Huashang's forehead and said without turning his head, "She is very brave. She is not afraid of seeing a corpse. How could she be scared? Besides, even if there are ghosts in the world, they are Zhaocai. Zhaocai is the closest to Shangshang. He must stay by her side to protect her. What evil can be driven away?"
Madam Ming frowned: "If it wasn't a ghost, then why did she become like this?"
Ming Huazhang looked at her frowning brows even in her sleep, held her hand tightly, and said, "She just feels guilty. She thinks she killed Zhaocai. Shangshang, Zhaocai won't hurt you, nor will he blame you. You have to get better soon, so Zhaocai won't worry."
Old Madam Ming saw Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang being too intimate and frowned, saying, "If she has to hold someone else's hand to fall asleep, then let the maids watch over her. Erlang also has other things to do and can't stay here all the time."
"It doesn't matter." Ming Huazhang whispered, "Nothing is more important than her. I am willing to accompany her."
Madam Ming's face became even more irritated. She turned to look at Duke Zhenguo with a very clear look in her eyes.
To keep your son in check, do you really have to create a scandal that will be known to everyone?
Duke Zhenguo came last night, so he could clearly feel that after Ming Huazhang came back, Ming Huashang was much more stable, and no longer had nightmares like last night. back."
When Madam Ming heard what the Duke of Zhenguo said, she was so angry that she was fuming. She shook her sleeves and said angrily, "Okay, I'm old and my words are useless. You can just leave your children alone. I want to see what kind of trouble you are going to cause to the Ming family."
After saying that, Madam Ming stormed out. Duke Zhenguo looked at Ming Huazhang apologetically and chased after the old lady.
Inside the house, the maids seemed to sense something was wrong, so they put down their things and left. They were the only two people left in the inner room. Ming Huazhang looked at Ming Huachang, who was close at hand, and gently wiped the sweat from her nose. He said in a low voice, "Why should you feel guilty? It's me who keeps bringing disaster to those around me."
Ming Huazhang stayed with Ming Huachang the whole day, feeding her medicine and water by hand, and was absolutely inseparable from her. The sun was setting in the west, and while Ming Huazhang was taking care of Ming Huachang, he couldn't help but stare at the light spots on the ground to distract himself.
He is busy today and cannot go to Jingzhao Prefecture. The ten-day deadline is about to arrive. He wonders how the investigation is going.
Speak of the devil, here comes the devil. Just as he finished this thought, the maid came to report that the prince's servant Xie Langjun, the captain of the Yulin Army Ren Yao, and Jiang Ling, the Marquis of Jiang'an, came to visit the second lady.
Ming Huazhang was a little surprised. It was not surprising for these three people to come to visit Ming Huashang. Ming Huazhang would have beaten them if they didn't come. But, so early?
It's not time to adjourn yet, and the last day should be very busy. How did they get away?
Ming Huazhang sensed that something had changed, and immediately asked the maid to invite the three people in. He did not dare to stay too far away from Ming Huachang, so he asked the maid to lead them directly to Ming Huachang's courtyard.
As soon as Jiang Ling entered the room, he said happily: "Ming Huazhang, great news, the murderer has been caught!"
A screen separated the inner and outer halls. Ming Huazhang's figure was hidden behind the screen, and his shadow was unclear, like a slender and misty ink mark. But Jiang Ling clearly felt that Ming Huazhang looked back and gave him a cold look, and the icy edge in his eyes seemed to have substance.
Jiang Ling's words got stuck in his throat, and he forgot what he was going to say. At this time, Ren Yao caught up with him, kicked him hard from behind, and scolded him: "Second Mother is still sick, can you speak?"
Jiang Ling scratched his head and said angrily, "I'm not saying that Hua Chang's illness is a happy event, I'm saying that the murderer has been caught."
Ming Huazhang stood behind the screen, untied the jade hook, and let down the bed curtains and draperies before walking out calmly and saying, "She's asleep. Keep your voice down and go talk outside."
Jiang Ling had never thought that he would not even be allowed to sit down, but had to stand in the corridor to talk. Ming Huazhang went out first, and Jiang Ling followed with a sigh, muttering, "You didn't even give me a drink of water, how stingy."
Ming Huazhang turned a deaf ear to him. When he went out, he ran into Xie Jichuan head-on. The two looked at each other, and both of them had calm expressions, as if they were not the ones who had confronted each other in the morning.
Xie Jichuan glanced into the room. The curtains behind the screen were hanging down like a cage of smoke, so he couldn't see the face clearly, but he knew that there was a person lying there.
After Ming Huashang fainted yesterday, Xie Jichuan brought her back. I wonder if she is feeling better today?
Ming Huazhang stood by the pillar. He saw Xie Jichuan standing in front of the door, staring into the room without moving. He narrowed his eyes and said, "Xie Jichuan, what are you looking at?"
There was a hint of intimidation in Ming Huazhang's voice. Xie Jichuan rolled his eyes, his long sleeves fluttering, and turned slowly: "Of course I'm looking at my second sister. How is she?"
Ming Huazhang said expressionlessly, "She finally fell asleep, don't disturb her. Ren Yao can go in to see her, but you two can't. Also, call her Second Lady."
When the others in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion heard that Xie Jichuan and others had arrived, they all rushed over to see them. When the Duke of Zhenguo entered the house and heard Ming Huazhang's words, he said, "Erlang, you must not be rude to Master Xie. How can you let the guests stand? Please come inside and take a seat."
"No problem."
Duke Zhenguo had been upset the whole day, and he couldn't help but be excited when he heard this: "Did they catch him?"
"Yes."
Ming Huazhang's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, but he didn't reveal anything. He asked, "How did you catch him?"
Ren Yao looked guilty and said, "It was all our fault yesterday that Zhaocai got into trouble right under our noses. Today, Jiang Ling and I followed Xie Jichuan to search for a whole day. wound. We also found bloodstained clothes, saltpeter and sulfur for making gunpowder, strange symbols, and a notebook full of names. We asked what these names were, and he said they were the people he wanted to kill."
Jiang Ling took over the conversation and said: "We originally just went to his house to question him, but he ran away when he saw the Yulin Army. After being caught, he kept talking nonsense. One moment he said he was going to kill all of us, and the next moment he held his head and cried, saying that the court was monitoring him and that a big shot wanted to kill him. We asked him if he was responsible for the previous bombings, and he admitted it. He also said that there were bombs buried under Chang'an, and that in three days, the Buddha would come to pick him up."
Jiang Ling rolled his eyes and said, "He is just a weirdo. He is just an ordinary person with nothing. Who wants to harm him? We don't want to listen to his nonsense, so we hurried over from Jingzhao Prefecture to tell you the good news of solving the case."
Xie Jichuan sighed: "I really didn't expect that the person who caused so much trouble in Chang'an and fooled half of the court was actually a madman."
Ming Huazhang asked slowly, "Is Yang Banfeng the murderer's name?"
"It's a nickname." Ren Yao said, "No one knows his real name. We only know that his last name is Yang. He is normal half of the time and crazy the other half. He always yells that people want to kill him, so everyone calls him Yang Banfeng."
Ming Huazhang asked: "Why does he think others want to kill him?"
"I don't know." Ren Yao said, "Otherwise why do you say he is half crazy?"
"Then why did he want to kill Zhaocai?" Ming Huazhang was stunned for a moment, and said, "No, according to his character, the person he wanted to kill should be Ming. My last name is Ming, and I am an official appointed by the court. Why didn't he choose to kill me?"
"He is an abnormal person. You can't judge him by common sense." Xie Jichuan said, "He is suspicious. He thinks that someone is trying to harm him even when there is only a normal disturbance. Maybe his second sister did something unintentionally, and he mistakenly thought that his second sister wanted to harm him. He wanted to kill her to protect himself. But it was Zhaocai who stayed outside that day. He saved his second sister from a disaster by accident. The bloody clothes and knives in his room match Zhaocai's body."
Ming Huazhang frowned and said, "He is a half-crazy man. If he said that someone wanted to kill him, it was false. How can we be sure that what he said was true? Can a man like him really make gunpowder with such great power?"
"I've thought about this before," Xie Jichuan replied calmly, "I've done some research around Yang Bangan's family, and an old man in their neighborhood said that although Yang Bangan seems crazy now, he was actually a Jinshi, and he had ascended the throne and had his name inscribed on the Wild Goose Pagoda. But his career didn't go smoothly later on, and he gradually went crazy. I actually suspect that he was just pretending to be crazy. If he could pass the Jinshi exam, it wouldn't be surprising if he could make gunpowder. He likes to leave a mystery and hide his name when he kills people, which is also in line with his identity as a pedantic scholar."
Jiang Ling put his arm around Xie Jichuan's shoulders and said, "It's rare that Xie Jichuan actually went out. Today, he personally watched the coroner perform an autopsy on Zhaocai, and he also personally went to search Changshoufang. We were able to find the murderer so quickly, thanks to him."
Xie Jichuan felt Jiang Ling's hand on him, and pushed it away as if it were infected with the plague. "Your hands are so dirty, don't touch me."
Jiang Ling sighed and said in disdain: "You don't know what's good for you. I'm praising you."
Madam Ming, the second wife, the third wife and others came one after another. After listening to Xie Jichuan's words, Madam Ming chanted a Buddhist name and said, "Amitabha, it's good to catch him. There are always some people in this world who blame others for harming them when they are not successful. It's really a sin."
Everyone in the courtyard was talking and chatting, but Ming Huazhang was surprisingly quiet. He was silent for a while and asked, "Where is Yang Banfeng now?"
"In the Jingzhao prison, although the verdict has not yet been made, he will most likely be executed later." Jiang Ling said, "The Jingzhao prefect went to the palace to report on his work. Fortunately, the case was solved just before the deadline. If it was any later, it would be too late."
Ming Huazhang asked, "What did the saint say?"
"What can I say?" Jiang Ling said casually, "Of course, it's based on merit. Don't worry, although you're not here today, you've made great efforts in the past few days. After the Flower Festival is over, if not the first merit, you'll at least be awarded a second-class merit."
When Madam Ming heard this, she felt relieved and kept chanting the Bodhisattva's mercy. Ren Yao saw that everyone was so happy and hesitated whether to say anything. Ming Huazhang saw that she had something on her mind and asked, "Ren Yao, what's wrong?"
Ren Yao was a little embarrassed and asked hesitantly, "Well, what do you think of dealing with this corpse that brings good fortune?"
All people who died in accidents, regardless of their status, had to undergo an autopsy by the government before their families could take them away. Those without families would be buried by the government. Zhaocai was a slave, so her funeral would be decided by her master, the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion. If the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion was willing to bury her, her body would be sent back to the Ming family. If the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion was not willing, her body would be thrown into a mass grave with a cold mat.
The atmosphere that was joyful just now suddenly froze. Madam Ming San's smile faded slightly and she glanced at Ren Yao obliquely.
It's really unlucky. How did the old lady of Pingnan Marquis educate her younger generation? How come she doesn't even have this much foresight? One is Ren Yao and the other is Ming Huashang. Sure enough, it makes sense not to marry the eldest daughter of a widow.
Ming Huazhang's eyes slightly shrank as he said, "Zhaocai and Shangshang are like sisters, so naturally they should be taken back to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion for burial. Where is her body? I'll go get her."
Ren Yao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "No need. I knew you would ask her. I brought Zhaocai's body with me when I came. It's in the car outside. Er Niang paid so much for this case, and in the end, Zhaocai was also killed. Should we let her know so that she can see Zhaocai for the last time?"
There is no such thing as a funeral for a maid. With the financial resources of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, it is estimated that the funeral clothes and coffin can be purchased today. Once the coffin is nailed in, we will not see each other again until the next life.
Although Ren Yao also felt that it was cruel to witness the death of an acquaintance with his own eyes, he had to at least tell Ming Huashang. It was her choice whether to see it or not.
Madam Ming coughed heavily. Everyone in the yard looked at the old lady. Madam Ming said with a sullen face, "A maidservant is loyal to her master if she can protect him from a robbery. It is not in vain to allocate more money to her funeral. As for Second Lady, she needs to recover from her illness. Don't bother her with these trivial matters."
"How can it be a small matter?" Ren Yao said, "After all, she is the maid she has been with for more than ten years..."
"She's just a maid." Madam Ming said sternly, "Before, Second Lady was young, and the family spoiled her a lot, but now she's getting older, we can't let her be as unruly as before. When Second Lady recovers from her illness, she should concentrate on preparing her wedding dowry, and don't bring up matters outside with her."
Madam Ming's words were very impolite. Ren Yao and Jiang Ling looked at each other and heard the hidden meaning behind Madam Ming's words.
Madam Ming did not agree with Ming Huashang to continue interfering in the case, and even they had better not disturb Ming Huashang anymore.
"Yes." Mrs. Ming San said, "Er Niang is already frightened, and letting her listen to these things is not conducive to her recovery. I think Er Niang's symptoms are a bit like losing her soul, how about finding a monk to call back her soul?"
"That's not right." Madam Ming II said quickly, "So many people have died in Chang'an during this period. If we summon the souls of the dead...what if we summon something unclean?"
Madam Ming didn't dare to speak directly, but yesterday, Prince Shao and Prince Wei were beaten to death in front of Danfeng Gate, and Princess Yongtai was frightened and had a miscarriage, bleeding to death. These people are more sinister than each other, how could they be provoked to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?
When Duke Zhenguo heard these words, he frowned and glanced quickly at Ming Huazhang. He was about to scold Madam Ming Er for her inappropriate words and actions, but was stopped by Ming Huazhang.
Ming Huazhang listened calmly as his cousins were described as "dirty things", his expression was cruelly calm. He was like a sophisticated instrument. No matter how cold the weather was, he could still make the most appropriate choice rationally: "Thank you for sending Zhaocai's body here, but Shangshang's current condition is not suitable for listening to these things. Dongqing, go find a cool and dark house and temporarily place Zhaocai inside. Order people to go to the cellar to chisel ice and put it in the four corners of the house. Change it every hour. Lock the door at other times. No one is allowed to enter unless I accompany you. Butler, you withdraw 100 guan from the government account book and another 100 guan from my private account, and go to the East Market in person to buy white paper for Zhaocai's coffin. Be sure to choose the best. In addition, try to find Zhaocai's parents and brothers. If she still has relatives alive, ask them to send Zhaocai off."
Madam Ming's brows furrowed as she listened, and she could no longer bear it and said, "It seems that you didn't listen to what I said just now. If she wasn't so willful and ran away all day, would she have been involved in these things? She's just a maid, what's so great about her? Bury her quickly, it's unlucky to keep the body in the house. Don't let Second Lady go out anymore in the future, let her stay at home and prepare for her marriage. If you keep indulging her, she will be killed sooner or later."
Ren Yao had good intentions, but he did not expect to provoke a quarrel in the Ming family, which made him very embarrassed. However, Ming Huazhang stood straight, and did not follow the old lady Ming's words just because there were outsiders around. He coldly and forcefully retorted: "It's not her fault. You don't blame that idiot who wields a knife against the weak, but blame Ming Huachang for attracting the other party's attention, and blame a loyal maid for not being able to protect herself?"
Xie Jichuan raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised. Ming Huazhang actually called him a "bullshit". This was the most vulgar and ungentlemanly word Xie Jichuan had ever said to Ming Huazhang since he met him.
It seems that Ming Huazhang was really angry this time, otherwise he would not have used such rude words if he could still breathe.
Madam Ming was confronted by Ming Huazhang in public, and her face turned blue with anger. Madam Ming San held the handkerchief and said faintly: "Second Young Master, you are wrongly accusing me. I am just feeling sorry for you. What good girl would deal with corpses all day long?"
Ming Huazhang's eyes were as cold as a blade being unsheathed. He looked down at Madam Ming San from a high position. "In my heart, she is the best girl. She can stay in the inner house and embroider flowers if she wants to, and go out and solve cases if she wants to. She shouldn't be told by anyone. She has justice in her heart and redresses the injustices for the people, which is a first-class good deed. Why does Auntie San say this about her?"
Mrs. Ming San was embarrassed by the rebuttal. She smiled and said, "It's just family gossip. How did Erlang get promoted?"
Ming Huazhang was always gentle and considerate towards Ming Huashang, but when facing other people, he restrained his smile and his eyes revealed his original coldness and sharpness.
He stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, his face as cold as ice and his expression dignified. His voice was as cold and piercing as his appearance: "I speak directly, unlike Shangshang who always considers others and gives face to relatives. If some of my words are unpleasant to hear, please bear with me. Shangshang has never been a weak and confused person. She knows a lot of things in her heart, but she never says anything because she doesn't want to make things difficult for her father. She is not afraid of ghosts and gods, nor is she afraid of evil people. , she is just too kind, she can always feel the pain of others before others. If grandma thinks this is a bad habit, then so be it. If she wants to continue solving cases in the future, she can continue. If she doesn't want to, she can go home. I have been used to her all her life, not bothering you to contribute a single grain of rice or a grain of rice, so no matter what she does in the future, please don't instruct her. Grandma, second aunt, third aunt, if you don't have anything else to do, please leave. The doctor said that Shang Shang needs to rest."
The second and third wives came to visit the patient today. Besides pretending to be there, they also had the intention of taking pleasure in the misfortune. They did not expect to be scolded by a 17-year-old junior. Mrs. Ming San blushed and said, "Erlang's words are so unreasonable. There are so many ladies in Chang'an. Why don't we talk about others, but come to talk about her? Isn't it for her own good?"
"What she needs most right now is peace and quiet, not 'for her own good'. If you stay here, it will be bad for her." Ming Huazhang's face was not smiling at all, and his voice was clear and cold, "Please go out."
Jiang Ling initially wondered whether he should say something to smooth things over, but later on he just put his hands down silently and listened to Ming Huazhang cursing.
Ming Huazhang is truly a brave man who dares to scold his superior to his face. No matter who you are, if you provoke him, he will not give you any face.
Jiang Ling watched with great interest. Ming Huazhang even used the word "please". How gentle and polite, how humble and gentlemanly he was.
Perhaps Ming Huashang was the only one who felt that he was gentle and considerate.
When had Old Lady Ming ever been so angry? She looked at the Duke of Zhenguo angrily, but the Duke of Zhenguo stood far away and asked the maid a question, as if he had not heard Ming Huazhang's unfilial words. Old Lady Ming saw what she didn't understand. No matter how dear a mother is, she can't compare to her own children. After all, they are family. Old Lady Ming said "good" twice and walked away angrily.
Ming Huazhang didn't even give face to Madam Ming, let alone the second and third wives. Madam Ming's second and third wives were so embarrassed that they left like rats.
The courtyard was suddenly half empty. Jiang Ling breathed a sigh of relief and felt that even the air had become clean. At this time, Ming Huazhang looked at Xie Jichuan, Ren Yao, and Jiang Ling and said, "Aren't you human beings? Get out too."
Jiang Ling: “…”
You see, even the passing dogs are kicked.
Footsteps sounded one after another, and the few remaining people were also driven out, and the small courtyard returned to silence. After a while, there was a slight sound of a door being pushed open, the afterglow was golden, the curtains were like smoke, Ming Huazhang walked through the screen, lifted the soft veil in front of the bed, and it was like stirring a room of gold powder, and the brilliant golden light surrounded him.
He lowered his eyes to look at Ming Huashang, who was lying on her side in the brocade quilt with her eyes closed, seemingly in deep sleep. Ming Huazhang sighed softly, leaned over, and pulled up the quilt for her.
"Shang Shang, I'm going to be out for a while. Just go to sleep as long as you want. I'll be here."
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