Chapter 36 Night Rain
After Ming Huazhang finished speaking, Xie Jichuan kept smiling, but Ming Huachang inexplicably felt that the air became strange, as if there were cold arrows flying by.
Ming Huashang said quickly, "We were delayed today. Thank you for waiting for us. I feel very sorry. There is nothing I can do but prepare some snacks. Thank you for not blaming me for holding you back."
"How could that be?" Xie Jichuan said, "Second Mother helped a lot today, how could she be a hindrance? Jingzhan, don't you think so?"
This was the thing Ming Huazhang didn't want to see the most, but Xie Jichuan insisted on bringing it up, which was like bringing up something that was not meant to be brought up. Ming Huazhang knew that with Xie Jichuan's petty personality, his fight back would only go on and on, so he simply ignored him and said to Ming Huachang, "Let's go."
Ming Huashang nodded her head like a chicken pecking at rice and followed Ming Huazhang obediently.
Ming Huazhang provoked Xie Jichuan, who was unhappy. Ming Huazhang did not respond, which made Xie Jichuan even more unhappy. However, the worst thing was that the thing he had finally forgotten came back to his mind again.
He is not clean anymore.
Xie Jichuan began to adjust his sleeves frequently again. Even though the blood stains had been covered up, he still felt uncomfortable every time he thought about Hun Shen.
Ming Huazhang caught a glimpse of it and said rather ruthlessly: "Don't throw this dress away. Remember to test it when you get back to see if the blood on it is human blood."
Even though Ming Huachang couldn't understand Xie Jichuan's obsessive-compulsive cleanliness that made him go crazy when his sleeves were dirty, she felt that Ming Huazhang was going too far. It was simply murderous and inhumane.
Ming Huashang coughed softly, trying to divert the attention of the other two and stop them from killing each other: "Second brother, when Sister Ren and I were resting in the guest room, we asked the little maid of the Wei Mansion about many things."
Then, Ming Huashang roughly told Ming Huazhang what she had learned, and then looked at Ming Huazhang expectantly: "Second brother, what are we going to do next?"
They had a general understanding of what happened, but the identity of the murderer was still unclear. Who should they focus on investigating next? Ming Huazhang did not express his opinion, but asked, "What do you think?"
Ren Yao repeated her and Ming Huashang's speculations: "We think that Wei Moyuan killed for money, Wei Zhuyan killed for love, and Hua Nu coveted Wei Baixuan and harmed her. All of these are possible. And Wei Yanqing, the maid said that most of the puppets in the Wei family are now made by Wei Baixuan, but the wealth of the Wei family is controlled by Wei Yanqing. We rule cannot out the possibility that Wei Yanqing killed people to maintain the power or interests of the head of the family."
Jiang Ling sighed, "You've been trying to guess who the culprit is, but in the end, you haven't ruled anyone out. The murderer must be one of the people in the Wei family. Do you need to tell me?"
"Shut up!" Ren Yao said angrily, "You didn't help us at all, you just made things more troublesome for us, and you still have the nerve to criticize me?"
Jiang Ling also had the temper of a young man, and he was unhappy when he heard this: "Who do you think is causing trouble? If I hadn't helped you, you would have been exposed as soon as you walked in!"
Before they could come to a conclusion on the case, the two of them started arguing. Ming Huashang said helplessly, "Okay, okay, Jiang Ling and Sister Ren both helped a lot today, and neither of them can be missing."
Ren Yao sneered, Jiang Ling turned away with a dark face, neither of them bought the deal.
Ren Yao and Jiang Ling both felt that Ming Huashang was playing the game of peacemaking, and they did not think that he had any redeeming qualities. Ming Huashang sighed and could only ask for help from the other two: "Second brother, Brother Xie, in your opinion, who of these four people is the most suspicious?"
At this moment, the evening glow illuminates the smoke-filled trees, the willow pond is covered with green leaves, the vendors who have set up their stalls are packing up their goods and preparing to go home, peddlers are carrying shoulder poles through the streets, children after school are chasing and playing in the streets, and the air seems to be filled with the smell of cooking smoke. It is the busiest and most lively time of the day in Luoyang.
Ming Huazhang stood in the early spring twilight, wearing a dark green round-necked robe. The belt made his figure look extremely slender. The dim light made his complexion appear as pure as snow and his eyes as cold as a river.
Ming Huazhang didn't look at her, but looked at all the people, and said calmly: "This is an assessment of you, I have nothing to say. Who do you suspect? Go find evidence yourself."
Ming Huashang was stunned. She didn't expect Ming Huazhang to be so strict. "Ah? I actually have a candidate in mind. Can you tell me if I guessed it right?"
"No." Ming Huazhang said, "If you have made up your mind, tell the other party's name, and the assessment will end. Do you want to tell me now?"
"No, no." Ming Huashang waved her hands quickly, "I'm just guessing, I haven't thought it through yet."
Ren Yao originally thought that the real murderer was close at hand, but seeing Ming Huazhang being so ruthless, she began to doubt again. There was only one chance, and Ren Yao did not dare to waste it. She sighed: "It seems that I have to come to the Wei family tomorrow."
Ming Huazhang raised his eyebrows and said, "I remind you once again not to reveal your identity. You can come to the Wei family again, but you must not arouse their suspicion. Once they are startled, the whole mission will fail. Do you understand?"
"What?" Ren Yao was surprised. "So we can't just ask directly?"
Jiang Ling couldn't help but ask, "If we are not allowed to show our official status and we can't send police officers to search our house, how can we investigate?"
"So, why do you think Xuanxiaowei is named after Xuan?" Ming Huazhang said, "I brought you to the Wei family today. I believe you have already gathered the necessary information. I will not take you on any actions in the future. You are free to do whatever you want. There is only one thing. Once the Wei family finds out that the court is investigating them, you will fail the assessment immediately."
Jiang Ling widened his eyes in astonishment. Not providing manpower or power, but still requiring confidentiality, isn't this making things difficult for people?
However, Ming Huazhang didn't smile at all, and told them clearly that this was not a joke. Ming Huachang thought that Ming Huazhang took them to visit the Wei family today to teach them step by step, but he didn't expect that the novice guidance would end here?
Ming Huashang asked: "Is there a time limit?"
"No." Ming Huazhang said, "But time will affect the rating. Only the first person to complete the task will get the Earth level."
Ming Huashang suddenly became nervous: "Only one person can be rated as Earth level? But General Han clearly said that as long as the assessment is passed, one can enter the Earth level of Xuanxiaowei."
"That's right." Ming Huazhang's voice was still calm, "But there is no elimination in the assessment?"
Ming Huashang was speechless. The atmosphere in the team, which had been harmonious just a moment ago, suddenly became tense.
Originally, Ming Huashang thought that as long as she passed the assessment, she could join, so she was very relaxed and did not hesitate to share clues with Ren Yao and Jiang Ling. But now she knows that only one of the three can stay.
Jiang Ling was sent here by Marquis Jiang An. With a father with such a powerful background, there was almost no need to guess who would get the only spot.
Jiang Ling still looked indifferent, but Ming Huashang and Ren Yao fell silent for a moment.
Xie Jichuan looked at Ming Huazhang silently, without saying anything, and continued to toss around the bloody beach with his head down. Soon they arrived at the main street, and none of the group of people lingered, saying goodbye in silence, each going their own way.
Ren Yao and Jiang Ling had already changed their route. Xie Jichuan walked a little longer but just left. Among the five people, only Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang were left walking side by side.
The two returned home in silence. This time, Ming Huashang didn't need to hide and followed Ming Huazhang into the house. Ming Huazhang saw her off to the gate and said, "Don't sneak out in the future. If something happens to you today, where will your family find you?"
Ming Huashang murmured in response. People in the courtyard heard the noise. Zhaocai opened the door to check and was overjoyed to see Ming Huashang: "Madam, why are you here? Where did you go today? We have been looking for you all afternoon, and if we can't find you, we will report to the Duke and the old lady."
Ming Huashang was shocked when she heard this: "You didn't alarm Father and Grandmother, did you?"
"No." Zhaocai said anxiously, "Madam, where have you been?"
"My second brother and I..." Ming Huashang turned around and found that Ming Huazhang had left. She sighed and said, "Forget it, let's talk inside."
After entering the house, Jixiang Ruyi and the others were relieved to see that Ming Huashang had returned safely, and they hurriedly asked about Ming Huashang's whereabouts.
Ming Huashang didn't dare to tell the truth. She took out the rouge she bought that morning and made up a story: "I felt a little bored after sleeping and was too lazy to call for help, so I just went out for a walk. I happened to see my second brother going out. So I asked him to take me with him."
Ming Huashang did come back with Ming Huazhang. She was not afraid that Ming Huazhang would expose her, so she pushed all the responsibilities onto Ming Huazhang without any responsibility. When the maids heard that she went out with Ming Huazhang, they were slightly relieved, but they still complained: "Madam, even if you go out with Erlang, you have to bring someone with you. You should at least send a message back. How can you just leave? You can't be so reckless in the future."
Ming Huashang had no words to describe her grievances. She had thought she just needed to go out to meet someone and would be back soon. Who could have expected that she would have to spend a whole day?
Her trick could cover up for an hour or two, but if she stayed indoors all day, she would be exposed. Fortunately, Zhao Cai Jin Bao and the others did not dare to commit such a serious crime and kept looking for her secretly, otherwise, today's incident would be troublesome.
Ming Huashang also knew that the maids were frightened, so she did not refute them and let them complain. When she felt that the maids had almost vented their anger, she asked, "Jinbao, can you make cheese?"
Jinbao was stunned for a moment, feeling angry and helpless: "My wife, it's already so late, and you're still thinking about eating!"
"That means you know how to cook." Ming Huashang said, "Go ask the kitchen for a basket of fresh cherries and make a big plate of cherry cheese. Remember not to add sugar."
Jinbao agreed and said, "My lady, it's already this late. You may not be able to finish a large plate. It's better to make a small portion and eat the rest tomorrow."
Ming Huashang said, "Only the older ones are sincere. Go quickly, it will be dark soon."
Jinbao didn't understand why, so he could only follow Ming Huashang's instructions. Ming Huashang was the most precious daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, and no one in the mansion dared to neglect her request. After a while, the kitchen sent all the cherries over.
Cherries were a rare commodity at this time of year, and there weren't many left after they were distributed to the various households. But Ming Huachang easily took all the quotas from the entire household, and no one dared to object. The kitchen even gave her a plate of crystal red bean cakes as a courtesy.
Ming Huashang's four maids were in charge of her food, clothing, housing and transportation. Because Ming Huashang loved to eat, Jinbao learned cooking skills from her. Cherry cheese was not difficult to make, and soon, a plate of white and red, crystal clear dessert was ready.
Ming Huachang asked Zhaocai to place flower petals around the plate and decorate it very delicately. Then he took the food box and walked to the front yard in person.
Zhaocai held the lantern for Ming Huashang and chattered, "Madam, what do you want to talk to Erlang about? It won't be too late to talk about it tomorrow. Why are you leaving now?"
If it was something like eating, drinking, playing, playing chess, calligraphy and painting, it would be fine to wait a day, but a murder case could not wait. Even more unfortunate was that when they were halfway there, a gust of wind blew up in the dusk, bringing with it a damp and cold feeling.
Zhaocai said anxiously, "My wife, it might rain. Let's go back quickly."
Ming Huashang suddenly hugged the lunch box tightly and ran into the dusk: "Then we have to leave quickly. The cherry cheese will be inedible if it gets soaked in water."
Ming Huazhang changed his clothes, dismissed his attendants, and stayed alone in his study. He held a pen, his wrist straight, and sketched steadily on the paper.
He did not write fast, but his speed was steady, and he seemed to be more confident. Ming Huazhang had a clear picture of the Wei family workshop in his mind, and he used the bricks on the ground as a ruler to reconstruct the workshop one by one.
Soon, a room appeared in his painting. It was windy outside, and a cool breeze blew through the arched windows. The whole room was filled with the scent of moist earth. Raindrops fell with the wind, making crackling sounds on the windows.
The early spring breeze had lost its chill, and Ming Huazhang was too lazy to close the window. He changed his pen and continued to perfect the details on the drawing. Unexpectedly, Shu Li's surprised voice suddenly came from outside the house: "Second Madam, why are you here?"
Ming Huachang? Ming Huazhang was surprised. He put down his pen and walked quickly towards the door with a sullen face.
Ming Huazhang suddenly opened the door and saw a young girl in a snow-blue skirt under the eaves.
Her hair was wet from the rain, and clumps of it stuck to her face, highlighting her delicate and fair skin. She was holding a box in her arms, and the maid was wiping the water off her body with a handkerchief. She heard the sound and looked up. Her eyes were full of smiles, reflecting the candlelight in the room, which was even wetter than the rain outside.
"Second brother."
Ming Huazhang didn't expect it was really her. Running outside in the rain at night, she was getting more and more capable. Ming Huazhang asked, "Why are you here?"
Ming Huashang held up the food box in her hand as if she were presenting a treasure: "I'm here to bring you food! You didn't seem to like the cherry cheese I bought today, so I made you a new one!"
Ming Huazhang scanned the things in Ming Huashang's hand. Her hair was wet, but the box in her hand was not stained by any rain. He thought she was protecting something, but it turned out to be a food box.
Ming Huazhang looked at her without saying a word or smiling. With the light behind him, his eyes looked particularly deep. Ming Huachang was a little nervous. She had come in the rain. Could it be that Ming Huazhang was unwilling to let her in? Then Ming Huachang might have to borrow an umbrella from Ming Huazhang.
Ming Huachang's hands were sore from lifting them, so she asked tentatively, "Second brother, don't you like cherry cheese?"
Ming Huazhang looked at her silently. Did she know what it meant to brave the rain and bring food to a man? Ming Huazhang saw her wet eyes and her face, which looked even paler after being wetted by the rain. He finally made way for her and said, "Come in."
Ming Huashang finally breathed a sigh of relief. She handed the food box to the servant and went in with her skirt. Fortunately, she ran fast and her clothes were not wet. Ming Huashang was just thinking about holding back when Ming Huazhang suddenly came out from the inner room and handed her a set of neatly folded moon-white robes: "This is my old clothes, I have never worn them before, try them on first."
Ming Huashang glanced at the serious Ming Huazhang, then looked at the clothes in his hands. Even though she was so thick-skinned, she felt a little embarrassed: "No, my clothes are not wet, they will be dry in a while."
"Go change into them," Ming Huazhang said. "It's chilly in spring, and it's easy to catch a cold."
Ming Huashang looked at Ming Huazhang's calm face and was speechless. He treated her as his sister and was worried that she would get sick, so it was reasonable for him to let her change clothes in her room. Besides, they were twins, so no one would think it was wrong.
But the problem is, she actually knows that she is not his sister.
Ming Huashang has her share of grievances, but rejecting Ming Huazhang's kindness would only attract attention. When the day comes when her identity is exposed, Ming Huazhang would think of these things and might think that she had colluded with the Su family and deliberately concealed the Duke of Zhen's Mansion.
Ming Huashang could only pretend to be a twin sister and said, "Okay. Second brother, put the cherry cheese on the table first and eat it when I come out."
Ming Huashang took the clothes easily and naturally, held them in her arms and walked into the inner room. Ming Huazhang's residence was very spacious, even larger than Ming Huashang's room. After closing the door of the inner room and the screen, no sound from outside could be heard.
But Ming Huazhang felt a little uncomfortable standing in the central hall. Ming Huazhang sent all the attendants out, closed the doors and windows, and went to sit in the study room farthest from the inner room. He deliberately ignored his hearing and did not pay attention to the movements inside. However, the more he avoided it, the weirder it felt.
Ming Huachang, who was changing clothes in the inner room, was also embarrassed. This was Ming Huazhang's bedroom, which was very clean and tidy. Compared with Ming Huachang's lady's room, the furnishings in his room were so few that they could be called simple. Ming Huachang stood in the empty space, feeling strongly that she was being watched.
She held the screen tightly and changed her clothes quickly. In the Tang Dynasty, women wore men's clothes, especially women from noble families. Ming Huashang was not unfamiliar with men's clothes, but when he thought that these were Ming Huazhang's clothes, even though he had never worn them before, Ming Huashang still felt that everything was strange.
Even the clothes Ming Huazhang wore a few years ago were too big for her, with loose shoulders and long hems. Ming Huachang could only try to tighten her belt, try to look more energetic, then roll up her skirt and tiptoe out the door.
Ming Huashangjian always felt that she was a thief who came to steal clothes.
This scene appeared in her mind, and she couldn't help but burst out laughing. Ming Huazhang was sitting at the table. When he heard the laughter, he looked up and saw a girl with wet hair and loose clothes, but she looked extremely slender and fair-skinned.
She is so heartless that she still has the mood to laugh.
Ming Huashang caught Ming Huazhang's eye and quickly shut up. She walked upright to sit in front of Ming Huazhang and said, "Thank you, second brother."
Ming Huazhang scanned Ming Huashang's clothes and deliberately picked out a coat with no special features. Unexpectedly, when Ming Huashang wore it, it highlighted his presence everywhere.
Ming Huazhang looked away awkwardly, lowered his eyes, and said calmly, "It's dark and raining, why are you here?"
After a brief moment of embarrassment, Ming Huashang quickly recovered to her selfless state, and even turned the tables like a social gangster, saying in a series of words: "Because I am worried about my second brother. This is the cherry cheese I specially asked Jinbao to make. I sent it to you as soon as it was ready. I haven't tried it yet. Have you tried it? How is it? Is it delicious?"
She talked so much that Ming Huazhang didn't know how to respond. He sighed, "No need. Actually, I don't like sweets."
"It's not sweet." Ming Huashang said, "I know you don't like sweet food, so I didn't let Jinbao add sugar. Try one!"
Ming Huashang even wanted to help Ming Huazhang Sheng, but Ming Huazhang quickly stopped her hand and said, "Okay, I'll try it myself."
Ming Huazhang picked up a cherry and gently put it into his mouth. Ming Huachang stared at him eagerly, and after seeing him put it into his mouth, he came forward excitedly: "How is it?"
Ming Huazhang nodded, and then realized the taste. He felt helpless. Facing such a gaze, who could bear to say no?
Ming Huashang was delighted now. She picked up the chopsticks and sympathetically helped Ming Huazhang solve the problem: "As long as Second Brother likes it, that's good. Today, in order to gather information, I randomly found a stall next to the Wei residence. Unexpectedly, their cheese was quite delicious. I thought Second Brother would like it. Brother Xie is Second Brother's friend, so I can't be partial to one over the other, so I brought a portion for Brother Xie as well. But how can the packaged ones at the stall compare to the freshly made ones at home? At least Second Brother got to taste it."
Ming Huazhang's suspicion disappeared unconsciously. Ming Huashang brought gifts to both him and Xie Jichuan, not out of courtesy but because Xie Jichuan was his friend.
Ming Huazhang's face was as calm as snow. He said, "I understand. This is your freedom. You don't have to explain."
"It's different." Ming Huashang said, "You are my twin brother, the person closest to me in this world except my father. There are so many men in the world, but there is only one second brother, so of course I have to be especially good to him."
Ming Huazhang clenched his knuckles, unable to face such a frank and undisguised expression. Seeing that Ming Huazhang did not move, Ming Huashang enthusiastically helped him pick cherries: "Second brother, eat quickly."
He lowered his eyes, his eyelashes casting a thin shadow on his skin: "Okay."
Ming Huazhang looked aloof and ate in a very elegant manner. While Ming Huachang was eating one cherry, he had already finished five. Ming Huazhang glanced at the severely unbalanced plate, put down his chopsticks, and left the remaining cherries to Ming Huachang: "You are thoughtful, but next time you can just send someone instead of coming here in person."
"That won't work." Ming Huashang took a bite of the cherry and said seriously, "The maid's gift is her intention, and my coming here is my intention."
At this time, Ming Huashang realized that Ming Huazhang had put down his chopsticks. She said she came to bring food to Ming Huazhang, but in fact most of it went into her stomach. Ming Huashang blinked and said with a guilty conscience, "Second brother, why don't you eat?"
Ming Huazhang couldn't help laughing and said, "Don't worry, eat it. I don't eat at night. These are enough for me."
Ming Huashang thought guiltily about how many meals she had eaten today, while she ate up the remaining cherry cheese. After finishing the last one, Ming Huashang wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Second brother, I actually have something to ask you."
The young man sat in the halo of light, his shoulders straight, his neck long, his face white as ice jade, which further highlighted his superior bone structure and beautiful skin. The light reflected on him, like moonlight falling on white snow, giving rise to a hint of beauty in his handsomeness.
He chuckled softly, not sounding surprised at all: "Want to ask about the Wei family workshop?"
His sister seemed to be heartless and kind, but in fact, she was very clear-headed. She would not easily offend someone, and similarly, if she suddenly treated someone well, it would not be without reason.
Especially to him. Whenever she acted coquettishly and showed kindness to him, she would always ask for something behind it.
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