Chapter 32 Mo Yuan

Ming Huashang was whispering to Xie Jichuan when she suddenly felt everyone was looking at them. She stopped awkwardly and then realized that she was so focused on talking to Xie Jichuan that their heads were almost touching.

Ming Huashang quickly stepped back and walked to Ming Huazhang obediently: "Brother."

She didn't know what role Ming Huazhang had assigned to her yet, so she didn't dare to call him anything, but it was always right to call him brother. Ming Huazhang glanced at her gently, his eyes like the first clear day after snow, bright but without any warmth, and said, "Follow me closely."

The housekeeper watched from the side and said with a smile: "Mr. Cui and your sister are really close brothers and sisters. The Cui family is indeed a noble family. Not only are the Mr. and Mrs. both outstanding in appearance, but they also have such a good relationship."

Xie Jichuan smiled and said, "Hello, housekeeper. I heard on the way that the shopkeeper Wei has adopted three apprentices, regardless of gender, and treats them all as his own children, teaching them everything he knows. The shopkeeper Wei is kind-hearted, no wonder he has been able to make such a big business."

"No, no." The housekeeper smiled and declined, but the smile seemed a little forced. At this time, a hoarse laugh came from the Wei residence: "You have so many distinguished guests. I am sorry for not welcoming you. I am sorry."

Ming Huazhang and the other five turned around when they heard the voice. The man walking in front was wearing a long robe. He had a fair complexion, bright eyes, and a beard that did not hide his handsome appearance. It was obvious that he was also a handsome man when he was young. He was about forty years old, but he was not fat at all. He walked with a rhythm and his figure could be described as elegant.

This should be the head of the Wei family - Wei Yanqing. Ming Huashang was a little surprised. She thought he was a decrepit old man from his voice, but she didn't expect that Wei Yanqing himself was so handsome.

How come he has such a hoarse voice when he has such a good-looking face?

There was a young man following behind Wei Yanqing. The man looked to be in his twenties, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He had a dignified appearance and a very likable and decent look. Unfortunately, he was in a bad mental state and looked dazed, which ruined his handsomeness.

Wei Yanqing greeted Ming Huazhang, who returned the greeting. After everyone had settled down, Wei Yanqing pointed at the young man behind him and said, "This is my eldest disciple, Wei Moyuan. I am an inferior disciple and have made Master Cui laugh at me."

After saying this, Wei Yanqing looked at Wei Moyuan, and said with a hint of pressure in his tone: "Moyuan, why don't you come and greet the distinguished guest."

Nowadays, the aristocratic families are declining, and the scholar class represented by the imperial examination has risen. The aristocratic families have long lost their voice in the court. However, the influence of the more than one hundred years of family rule cannot be erased in a short time. The people still highly respect the aristocratic families, especially the five most famous families and seven noble families, which enjoy a high reputation among the people.

Wei Yanqing had become accustomed to seeing the powerful and wealthy over the years, and many of them had purchased puppets from his family, including prime ministers and high-ranking officials. However, it turned out that Cui from Boling had also heard of his family and even wanted to come and place an order.

This was a great honor for Wei Yanqing. He was determined to make this deal a success, but Wei Moyuan seemed absent-minded, which simply made Wei Yanqing furious.

Wei Moyuan suddenly heard the master's voice, and his body shuddered. He quickly bowed his head and admitted his mistake: "Master, please forgive me. I remembered that the puppet had not been painted yet, and I was distracted."

Wei Yanqing glanced at him, turned around with a smile on his face, and bowed to Ming Huazhang, saying, "I am an unsophisticated disciple of mine. I am sorry to have embarrassed you, Master Cui. I wonder what kind of puppet you want. As long as my Wei family can achieve that, I will do my best and will never let you down."

Ming Huazhang said, "Grandmother is dying. I came to Luoyang on my uncle's orders to prepare things for her after her death. Money is secondary to things for her. The most important thing is to make sure they are safe. I heard on the way that your puppets have caused trouble?"

Wei Yanqing's smile became stiff, and he said, "How could that be? I dare not say anything else, but when it comes to funeral puppets, we are second to none in Luoyang City. Those words are just rumors, they can't be taken seriously."

"Really?" Ming Huazhang still looked arrogant and indifferent, and asked, "But I heard that your puppets can devour their owners and even cause deaths?"

The puppets go to the underworld to serve their masters. If they turn around and bite their masters, that would be a big problem. Wei Yanqing couldn't help but look up at Ming Huazhang, but saw that the young man still had a cold expression and said, "The Cui family doesn't care about fame, but the word filial piety cannot be neglected. If it's inconvenient for you, Manager Wei, to say it, then forget it."

After Ming Huazhang finished speaking, he turned around and left, as if they were not the ones who came to the Wei family to buy puppets, but the Wei family was begging them to sell the puppets. Ming Huachang silently took a breath. He left just like that? Was Ming Huazhang being too arrogant?

Ming Huashang grumbled in her heart, but she did not hesitate in her actions and followed Ming Huazhang closely. Jiang Ling was a little hesitant, but Xie Jichuan gave him a look and forcibly pulled him away.

They walked down the stairs, and after a few steps, they heard Wei Yanqing's voice behind them: "Mr. Cui, please stay. Alas, it's all because of my lax management of the family. I originally thought that this was a family disgrace that should not be told to outsiders. If Mr. Cui cares, I will tell you the whole story."

Jiang Ling stared at Ming Huazhang with eyes wide open, and looked at him in surprise, wondering if Wei Yanqing had some masochistic fetish. Ming Huazhang was already so high-handed, and Wei Yanqing was still trying to please him?

Jiang Ling couldn't understand.

Ming Huazhang was not surprised by this. He glanced at Jiang Ling secretly, warning him to keep his expression in check. Then he turned around calmly and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Oh, what do you mean?"

Wei Yanqing sighed and said, "The rumor of the puppet devouring its master should have come from my second disciple, Wei Baixuan. In fact, it was not the puppet that devoured its master, but... it was this child who got angry with me and locked herself in the puppet workshop without eating or drinking. I thought she was making puppets, so I ignored her. Who knew that after several days, I realized something was wrong, and when I asked someone to force the door open, I found that she had committed suicide."

Ming Huazhang raised his eyebrows slightly: "Suicide?"

"That's right." Wei Yanqing sighed, "When she died, she was surrounded by puppets, and it looked like the puppets had killed her. That's when the rumor of the puppets devouring their masters spread. Suicide is not a glorious thing, and the Wei family is in this kind of business. I was afraid that the customers would think too much after hearing it, so I had someone suppress the news and only told the outside world that the second child was missing. After a while, when the rumors have died down, I will give her a proper burial."

Ming Huashang found that the surname Cui was really useful. I'm afraid that even if the court officials came to ask these questions, Wei Yanqing might not be willing to tell them, right?

Of course, Ming Huazhang also contributed to this. He had a cool and handsome appearance, a dignified and noble demeanor, and standing here he was exactly what people imagined a noble young man to be. No one would doubt whether he was a member of the Cui family. Especially since he looked like a flower in the sky, unreachable, the more he ignored people, the more people wanted to please him.

This kind of contradictory psychology is probably the nature of human beings.

Ming Huashang silently sighed that Ming Huazhang would find a breakthrough point. At the same time, he hugged Ming Huazhang's arm in fear and said in panic: "What, there are dead people here? Brother, this place is so scary, let's go quickly."

Ren Yao and Jiang Ling were listening carefully when Ming Huashang suddenly howled, startling them. Jiang Ling looked in shock as Ming Huashang buried himself in Ming Huazhang's body, sobbing non-stop, his pupils dilated uncontrollably.

He just couldn't get around Jiang Anhou, so he had to find another place to kill time. But does joining Xuanxiaowei really require this?

Ming Huazhang was relatively calm. He held Ming Huachang's shoulders in a soothing manner, half-hugging his frightened sister, and said, "My sister is timid and very afraid of dead people. Excuse me, is your disciple's body still in the Wei residence?"

Jiang Ling only then understood Ming Huashang's intention. He thought that it was fortunate that Ming Huazhang reacted quickly and took over Ming Huashang's act, otherwise, with Ming Huashang's abrupt and exaggerated acting skills, they would definitely be exposed.

An indescribable expression flashed across Wei Yanqing's face, and he said, "My dear, don't worry, we have taken good care of the bodies of our two disciples and will not disturb you."

Ren Yao expressed doubt: "Really?"

Wei Yanqing repeatedly assured them that since they came as guests, their insistence on seeing Wei Baixuan's body was futile. Ren Yao was helpless and could only put the topic of the body aside for the time being.

Ming Huashang buried her face in Ming Huazhang's chest for a dramatic performance, and her shoulders trembled in unison. She quietly pulled Ming Huazhang's clothes, signaling Ming Huazhang to go and see the scene of Wei Baixuan's suicide.

If a person commits suicide, it means that her emotions have overwhelmed her rationality, and the scene of her suicide must have left a lot of psychological traces. The scene of Wei Baixuan's death happened to be a puppet workshop, and Ming Huashang felt that there must be a lot of clues in this place.

Ming Huazhang understood Ming Huachang's hint. He held her hand and said something completely different: "Someone just died here. The yin energy is too heavy. Wu Niang, you should leave first."

Ming Huashang was stunned and looked up in disbelief: "Ah?"

Ming Huazhang, however, had already grabbed Ming Huachang's shoulders and pulled her away, and said to Jiang Ling and Ren Yao, "Take Wu Niang outside for a walk, don't scare her."

The housekeeper knew that such aristocratic families were very particular, and that washing hands required five or six steps. How could a lady from such aristocratic family get close to a dead person? The housekeeper immediately replied, "My lord, you are right. Your wife is a distinguished guest. How can you let a distinguished guest wait outside? Why don't you go to our garden to relax?"

Wei Yanqing also said, "Yes, I didn't think it through and almost bumped into Madam Cui. Madam Cui is well-informed and I'm afraid she won't like my humble home, but I just renovated the house and it's acceptable. If you don't mind, why don't you go to the garden to relax?"

Ming Huashang was about to say something, but Ming Huazhang stopped her and said, "Then Lao Wei will be the shopkeeper."

Wei Yanqing was overjoyed. He turned around and winked at his eldest disciple, saying, "Mo Yuan, why don't you take Madam Cui to the garden? Cheer up. If you neglect Madam, I will punish you."

隗墨緣一路跟在隗嚴清身後，沉默的像個影子，聽到這話他勉力笑了笑，對明華裳三人行禮：“崔娘子，請。”

明華裳萬分不情願，然而無論是真身份還是假身份，她都拗不過明華章，只能跟着隗墨緣往花園走去。

明華章等明華裳、江陵、任遙走遠後，才對隗嚴清說：“既然傳聞是誤會，那我就放心了。我想去看看木偶，可否請掌櫃帶路？”

隗嚴清求之不得，笑着道：“當然，郎君這邊請。”

隗嚴清在前方帶路，謝濟川不着聲色走到明華章身邊，調侃道：“你竟然放心讓她離開你的視線？”

“不放心。”明華章面上還是那副冷淡清高的模樣，嘴唇的動作微不可見，完全看不出他在說話，“所以我将那兩人打發過去了。”

江陵和任遙動腦能力暫不評價，但真發生什麽危險，倒還能擋一擋，适合留在明華裳身邊做護盾。

謝濟川極輕地笑了聲，同樣低不可聞說：“她身上的天賦獨一無二，韓颉恐怕就是看中這一點，才要将她吸納進來。如果她真的能勾勒出兇手的畫像，你這樣打發走她，不是耽誤案件嗎？”

“不需要。”明華章說，“沒有畫像，一樣可以破案。但她肯定要離開玄枭衛，過多參與案子，對她有害無利。”

謝濟川聳聳肩，說：“随你吧。反正又不是我升職。”

另一邊，隗墨緣帶着明華裳游園，明華裳沉默，隗墨緣也很沉默。

看得出來隗嚴清這些年錢掙了不少，宅子十分氣派，但隗家人少，大部分院子都是閑置的，草木叢生，遮天蔽日，走在寂靜的甬道中，反而有些鬼氣森森。

明華裳悄悄打量隗墨緣，他看起來精神很不好，一路走來完全沉浸在自己的思緒裏。

隗掌櫃那樣一個人精，教出來的徒弟不至于連待客之道都不懂，除非隗墨緣身邊發生了巨大變故，讓他連外界刺激都注意不到了。

明華裳不動聲色，一臉好奇地問：“隗大郎君，這是什麽樹？”

隗墨緣回神，看向旁邊，說：“哦，這是槐樹。”

槐樹高大，沿着牆種了一排，若是夏末應當很壯觀，但現在槐樹沒有開花，唯有黑色枝丫虬結盤曲，乍一看像一排鬼爪，張牙舞爪從虛空中抓着什麽。

明華裳問：“怎麽種了這麽多槐樹？”

隗墨緣打起精神道：“師父說槐樹莢果多子，多子多福，所以買下這個院子時種了許多。”

槐子諧音“懷子”，可見隗掌櫃對求子的熱切，可惜越期望就越得不到。江陵問：“我看隗掌櫃年紀不算大，為何求子這麽多年都沒結果？”

任遙重重撞了江陵一下，怒目瞪他：“你會不會說話？”

隗墨緣是大徒弟，隗掌櫃沒有親生兒子，家産就要由他來繼承，江陵當着隗墨緣的面提這個話題，不是找茬嗎？

隗墨緣咳了一聲，說：“無妨。實不相瞞，師父早年是唱傀儡戲的，但他吃錯了東西，大病一場，之後嗓子就壞了。師父唱不了戲，被趕出戲班子，他帶着我四處奔波，風餐露宿，一直沒好好養身體。等後來，我們好不容易在洛陽站住腳，木偶生意漸漸有了起色，手裏終于有閑錢了。師父再去求醫，郎中卻說師父身體留下了病根，此後恐怕有礙子嗣。師父這些年沒少求醫拜佛，可惜都沒什麽用。慢慢的師父心思就淡了，後來他又收了二師妹和三師妹，他專心教我們三人，不再提子嗣的事了。”

明華裳三人都有些驚訝，沒想到隗嚴清還有這麽一段身世。

傀儡戲有很多流派，但大致無外乎一邊操縱木偶，一邊演唱，對演員的要求很高。

難怪明華裳覺得隗嚴清走路很有韻味，原來他曾經練過。隗嚴清嗓子壞後，傀儡戲自然是演不下去了，但他對木偶知之甚詳，最後靠給死人做陪葬木偶發了家，也算無心插柳，柳暗花明。

明華裳問：“原來隗掌櫃還有這麽一段過往，敢問隗掌櫃原來練的是什麽戲？”

“牽絲戲。”

明華裳眼中露出驚嘆之色：“竟然是最難的牽絲戲，真厲害！那大郎君是隗掌櫃的首徒，是不是也唱得一手好戲？”

明華裳長着一雙優美的杏眼，她又愛笑，當她看着人說“真厲害”的時候，幾乎沒有男人抵抗得住。隗墨緣也是如此，他下意識要應了，但話到嘴邊想起師父的忌諱，還是垂下眼睛道：“讓娘子失望了，我并不會傀儡戲。”

明華裳很失望：“是嗎？家裏鮮少讓我出門，我還一直沒聽過傀儡戲呢。”

對着一個十六歲少女滿懷期待又慢慢熄滅的眼睛，任遙看着都于心不忍，更別說男人。果然隗墨緣過意不去了，說：“崔娘子，抱歉。但嗓子是師父的心結，他一聽到傀儡戲就發火，不允許我們私下學。若娘子想看其他，我定在所不辭，但傀儡戲……”

明華裳本也不是為了聽戲，見狀趕緊說：“哪裏，是我不懂事，讓大郎君為難了。郎君可真是孝順，隗掌櫃雖然沒有子嗣，但有你們師兄妹承歡膝下，倒比尋常人家的兒子強多了。将來隗

掌櫃養老時，大徒弟是兒子，二徒弟是兒媳，三徒弟是女兒，不知多有福氣……”

明華裳說着，很做作地呀了一聲，捂住嘴。她暗暗拉任遙的衣服，等着任遙給她配戲，任遙臉都憋紅了，實在演不出來，只能用力掐了江陵一把。

江陵猝不及防，脫口而出：“男……”

他本來想罵男人婆你瘋了，但接觸到明華裳、隗墨緣的視線，他硬生生轉口，沉重道：“難受的事就不要提了。剛剛隗掌櫃不是說了，二徒弟自殺死了，哪還有什麽兒媳？”

明華裳松了口氣，幸好，江陵把話圓回來了，沒有露餡。看來這戲班子還是得靠她，明華裳接過戲眼，一雙大眼睛裏流露着四分愧疚、三分難過、二分憐惜，還有恰到好處的一分害怕：“對不住，我忘了二娘子已經……唉，隗郎君，節哀。”

隗墨緣勉強笑了笑，垂下眼睛，目光有些躲閃。江陵道：“哭喪着臉做什麽，大丈夫何愁找不到妻子，你另娶一個女子，以後一起孝敬隗掌櫃不就行了？”

“是啊。”明華裳仔細盯着隗墨緣的表情，說，“我雖然不知道二娘子為什麽自殺，但她如果真的愛你，想來也是希望你幸福的。等給她下葬後，你另娶自己喜歡的女子，她肯定不會怪你。”

隗墨緣嘴唇嗫喏，臉上露出一種愧疚、解脫、痛苦交織的複雜表情。明華裳正要追問，忽然，宅院中傳來一聲凄慘尖銳的女子叫聲：“啊，她來了，她又來了！”

隗墨緣聽到這個聲音，猛地擡起頭，眼中一瞬間流露出驚惶：“朱硯！”

隗墨緣顧不得師父的交代了，瘋了一樣沖向一個方向。任遙被他這個舉動吓了一跳，本能戒備起來：“他在玩什麽花樣？”

明華裳看着前方，道：“跟過去看看。”

明華裳、任遙、江陵追着隗墨緣跑入一個院落。和其他空蕩蕩的院子比，這個小院顯得尤其精致秀麗，一看就是女子閨房，而且是很受寵的女子。

明華裳心裏已經有了猜測，這恐怕是隗嚴清的三徒弟，最受寵的小師妹——隗朱硯的住所吧。明華裳提裙邁入門檻，果真看到一個女子站在屋中。

她一身單衣，頭發披散，隐約能看出頭發下靈秀嬌美的五官。但她現在全無美感可言，她拿起身邊的東西，也不看是什麽，瘋狂地扔向地面：“我知道是你！白宣，你都死了，為什麽還不肯放過我？”

隗墨緣看到這一幕，驚恸道：“朱硯，屋裏什麽都沒有，你癔症了！”

他屢次想跑到隗朱硯身邊，都被她亂摔的東西攔住。隗朱硯很受寵，屋裏有不少擺件，但現在無論是名貴的和田玉還是稀罕的粟特金，都成了她的武器，一股腦扔向敵人。

她形容瘋癫，像是對面真有什麽恐怖的存在。然而，她瘋了般打砸的，明明只是一個木偶。

那個木偶半人大小，臉白的像紙，眼睛、腮紅、嘴唇卻勾勒得精致豔麗，衣飾一如活人，甚至手指都細致地做了五根。它躺在地上，任由隗朱硯打罵。

隗朱硯發狠，搬起梳妝臺上的銅鏡扔了下去。那枚銅鏡打磨得非常纖薄精美，但抛出來就成了鍘刀，剛剛好砸到木偶的脖子上。木偶的頭被打飛，在地上彈了兩下，咕嚕嚕滾到明華裳腳邊。

明華裳低頭，看到那個五官極力逼近活人，唯獨眼睛塗成全黑的木偶頭被她裙角挂住。它嘴唇弧度似擡非擡，表情十分奇怪，像極了在模仿活人卻又不得要領。那雙出奇大的黑眼睛一動不動，明華裳甚至生出種它在看她的錯覺。

At this moment, the eyes seemed to blink, and then two lines of blood and tears flowed out, crookedly streaking across the upturned corners of its lips.