Chapter 38 Teammates

After Ming Huashang talked it out with Ming Huazhang, she was not polite at all and went out the next day under Ming Huazhang's name.

Ming Huashang had already decided to investigate in the direction of Wei Moyuan, but when she came out, she stood on the street in Luoyang, looking at the noisy and bustling pedestrians coming and going, and felt a little confused.

It's easy to say, but she has no connections. How can it be easy to track down a person in such a big city?

she

After calming down and thinking for a while, he decided to go to the Bodhi Temple to burn incense first, and then, under the pretext of sightseeing, he went around to ask the monks in the Bodhi Temple about the Wei family.

She had heard from people in the Wei family that Wei Yanqing had been a devout Buddhist since he changed his career, and had offered a lot of incense at the Bodhi Temple. Even after he gave up the desire to have a child, he never neglected the temple.

Ming Huashang doesn't believe in ghosts and gods, but she knows that if you worship, you will have something to ask for. People who are truly free from desires and have no desires need not believe in any gods or Buddhas. Wei Yanqing spent so much money to buy peace of mind, and perhaps he could start his inner appeal from the temple.

Ming Huashang launched her shameless attack, persistently asking questions in an indirect way for an entire afternoon, and finally pried open Shami's mouth.

When Wei Yanqing came to the Buddhist temple for retreat, he often mentioned to the master what happened before the capital, and it seemed that he was still obsessed with his past life in the opera troupe.

Ming Huashang immediately asked about the details of the troupe. The young nun thought for a long time and said uncertainly, "I only heard about it once by chance when I was serving my master. I can't remember it clearly. It seems to be called the Wu Family Puppet Troupe. It was very famous in Beijing twelve years ago."

Wu Family Puppetry Troupe, Ming Huashang silently recited the name and asked: "I heard that Manager Wei's voice was damaged when he was in the troupe. Master, do you know what happened?"

The nun shook her head: "I have never heard the donor mention it. I guess he has let it go."

Let it go? Ming Huashang didn't believe it. Would a person who had let go of his worries be unable to listen to puppet shows for many years and get angry when his apprentices imitated them?

Seeing that she could not get any more information from the Buddhist temple, Ming Huashang could only say goodbye. The next day, she did the same thing and sneaked out again.

She learned from yesterday's lesson that it was a waste of time to inquire from the outside, so she decided to start directly from inside the Wei family.

She waited at the gate of Wei's mansion, not believing that she would not find any clues.

The idea was good, but unfortunately there was little progress in actual practice. She rented a carriage and waited outside the Wei residence. When no one came out, she asked the neighbors about the secrets of the Wei family. But in such a big house, if someone died inside, people outside might not hear about it, so how much could the neighbors know?

As for the Wu Family Puppetry Troupe, the progress was not smooth either. Luoyang was a gathering place for extraordinary people from all corners of the world. Even people from the Western Regions came from thousands of miles away to perform in the capital. I don't know how many troupes went in and out of the city gate every day. Who would know about the Wu Family Puppetry Troupe twelve years ago? I'm afraid that the only way to find out is to go to Taiyuan.

The next day after Ming Huashang was waiting, someone from the Wei family finally went out, and it was Wei Moyuan, whom she had paid special attention to. Ming Huashang immediately asked the driver to follow, and she carefully followed him to the South City. Wei Moyuan first went to the dyeing shop to look at the cloth and discuss the clothes for the puppets, and then went to the Hu merchant to buy pigments.

He went to five or six stores in a row, and Ming Huashang followed him all the way. He didn't get any news, but he was exhausted.

By the time Wei Moyuan bought all the pigments, it was already dark. Ming Huashang looked at the blazing glow in the sky and realized that she had made a stupid mistake.

What on earth is she doing, trying to solve all problems with her own shortcomings?

This mission is related to the assessment and rating, so there is competition, but if Han Jie really wants them to kill each other, why bring them together? The five people agreed on a meeting point and found an informant to issue the mission individually, which is both safe and efficient. Why let them see the faces of other competitors?

Unless, this is not a one-person mission where you have to fight to the death, but there is another way that does not harm the interests of everyone.

The driver saw that Ming Huashang had been silent for a long time, so he asked, "Young lady, are you still coming?"

The driver looked at her with regret and sympathy, and he obviously thought she was a woman who was betrayed by her husband and was out to catch him cheating. Ming Huashang didn't want to explain, she smiled at the driver and said, "Thank you, uncle, please go to the Marquis of Jiang'an's mansion."

Even though a day had passed and her voice had become a little tired, her eyes were still clear and bright, without a trace of gloom.

The driver felt very sorry for this pretty, amiable and polite young lady and could not help but say, "My lady, you are from a rich and powerful family, so why do you have to be upset over a man? I know what men think. Once he has an affair, it is impossible to stop him. The more you look at him, the more he wants to cheat. Although the man looks good, he is often involved in rouge and powder. He is too feminine and not strong enough. You will suffer if you are with him. He is not a good match for you."

Ming Huashang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She leaned against the car window and said, "Thank you for reminding me, uncle. As long as I can find out the truth about him, my wish will be fulfilled. I know the seriousness of the matter."

The driver didn't say anything more after hearing this. He patted the horse vigorously and said generously, "Sit tight, young lady. Let's go."

Jiang'an Marquis's Mansion was built in a prosperous area of ​​Luoyang, and they arrived soon. Ming Huashang got off the car, paid the driver a day's fare, and said, "Thank you, uncle, for your trouble today."

The driver could see that although the young lady's clothes were plain, the fabrics were of the best quality, and she must have come from a wealthy family. It was amazing that she was born into a wealthy family but was still sincere. She always said "thank you" and "thank you" to these peddlers and hawkers, without any contempt in her eyes.

Whoever can marry such a young lady in the future will be blessed. The driver said, "My lady, it is getting dark and the road is dangerous at night. You should hurry back after you finish your business and don't delay on the road."

Ming Huachang was stunned for a moment. She had not expected the driver, who she had only met once, to be so enthusiastic. She thanked him sincerely, "I understand. Uncle, please be careful on the road."

After the driver had gone far away, Ming Huashang went to ask the concierge of the Marquis Jiang'an Mansion: "Excuse me, has Lord Jiang returned?"

The doorman looked Ming Huashang up and down. Their prince was a famous playboy in the capital, but he had done a lot of horse riding and prostitution in Jiangling. I haven't heard that he also had affairs with women? The doorman asked cautiously, "Who are you and why are you asking about the prince?"

Ming Huashang said, "I work at the veterinary clinic. I live in Enshunfang. My last name is Han. I treated the baby of Prince Jiang not long ago, but there was a mistake in one of the medicines. I want to tell the prince in person. Please let the concierge pass the message. The baby is lively and cute. It would be a pity if the wrong medicine was used."

The Jiang'an Marquis's Mansion was large and powerful, and the doorman would be too lazy to deal with even high-ranking officials who came. But this woman said it was about the prince's pair of treasures, so the doorman did not dare to be careless and hurried inside to pass on the message.

In the mansion, Jiang Ling had just returned. He had no idea how to investigate these three days, so he just wandered around Luoyang, killing time as usual. He had just sat down when he heard the doorman say that his baby had taken the wrong medicine.

Ah, he thought they had taken the wrong medicine. His baby was so strong and brave, how could he have fallen ill?

Jiang Ling was about to curse the man out, but the words faltered on his tongue and he remembered something.

Isn't Enshunfang the place where they met that day? And his last name is Han...

Could it be that Han Jie sent someone to look for him?

Jiang Ling thought about it over and over again and finally decided not to be careless. He endured his sleepiness and got up and went out to see it himself.

Jiang Ling walked out of the gate and looked around the street. He didn't find Han Jie, but he saw a familiar person. He subconsciously said, "Ming..."

"Prince, my last name is Han." Ming Huashang came over, interrupted Jiang Ling, and winked at him, saying, "There are some mistakes about the prescription. Prince, follow me, I will make you a new one."

Jiang Ling blinked, said nothing more, and followed her out. After leaving the sight of Jiang Anhou Mansion, Jiang Ling said in surprise: "What are you doing here? Don't tell me that you are still going to investigate a case at this hour."

In fact, it was true. Ming Huashang not only wanted to investigate on her own, but also wanted to drag Jiang Ling to investigate together. Ming Huashang asked: "What have you done these two days?"

"What can I find? Just wander around the streets and look for clues." As he said that, Jiang Ling glanced at Ming Huachang and said, "Why, are you here to spy on the news?"

Ming Huashang said frankly: "To be honest, I haven't made any progress, so I want to come to you for cooperation."

Ming Huachang's eyes were sincere and honest, without any hint of joking. Jiang Ling paused, a little caught off guard: "With me?"

When his father saw him, he sighed and said that he had accomplished nothing. His eight-year-old brother could still recite poems and compose essays, so what could he do?

At such times, his stepmother, who came from a scholarly family, would always offer some words of comfort and comfort. Jiang Ling was impatient to play along with them in the drama of loving father and filial son, and would rather go out and run horses all day, but in fact, he also agreed with his father and stepmother in his heart.

He was indeed ignorant and accomplished nothing, so his father had to use his power to put him in the Queen's private army. This kind of place would not be exposed to the eyes of the court and the public, and he would not be judged if he did something wrong. It was most suitable for a second-generation ancestor like him who had no ability but needed to be gilded. Although Jiang Ling was impatient, he went there as scheduled.

He had long accepted the judgment of fate and his family that he was a playboy who could not accomplish anything. He never thought that someone would recognize his value and take the initiative to seek cooperation with him.

"Yes." Ming Huashang looked at him with eyes like broken stars and said, "Jiang Ling, I realized that I can't do this task alone. How about we work together? The final reward, we will split it equally."

Jiang Ling raised his eyebrows and stared at her with a strange and puzzling look. Ming Huashang did not dodge and let him look at her.

Ming Huashang guessed that Jiang Ling might think that she wanted to use him. It was true that it was not uncommon for people to abandon their work and then destroy the bridge after crossing the river. Ming Huashang was thinking about whether to put forward some conditions to show her sincerity, but she heard Jiang Ling say, "Okay."

Ming Huashang choked and asked in surprise: "You don't even ask how the rewards will be distributed in the end?"

"It's nothing." Jiang Ling put his hands behind his back and looked at the street in the sunset glow. "I don't care."

明華裳沒料到江陵如此好騙，她準備好的長篇大論都沒了用武之地。她頓了頓，同樣豪爽道：“行，爽快！我們去找任姐姐。”

江陵一驚：“你還要找她？”

“是啊。”明華裳說，“我們是一個隊伍，當然誰都不能落下。我兄長和謝阿兄我是說服不了，但我們三個人，理應同進同出，并肩作戰。”

江陵沉默片刻，有些難堪道：“她可能……”

“不用擔心。”明華裳按住江陵的胳膊，說，“任姐姐不是不通情理的人，我會說服她的。你現在只需考慮，你願不願意加入這個團隊。如果你願意，我們這就去找她。”

江陵沉默，似乎還在思考，明華裳察言觀色，一把拍到他肩膀上：“大丈夫頂天立地，你怎麽婆婆媽媽的。走不走？”

江陵經不起激，當即罵罵咧咧道：“誰婆婆媽媽了，走就走。”

少年的心像水晶，顯淺又脆弱，但也從不積攢污垢。只需要一個借口，就又變得熱烈赤誠，曾經那些猜忌隔閡全不計較了。

明華裳和江陵一起往平南侯府走去。去見任遙就容易多了，明華裳不必忌諱男女之防，直接給門房遞了自己的名字：“我是鎮國公府明二娘，有些話想對任娘子說，勞煩通傳。”

沒一會，任遙出來了。她瞧見明華裳很高興，但轉眼看到後面的江陵，愣了愣：“你們……”

明華裳不等她說話，直接拉走她：“走吧，我知道有一家馄饨很好吃，我請你們去吃。”

任遙多年忙于練槍，沒什麽朋友，更遑論有人來家裏找她。所以哪怕任遙視江陵為對手，不大情願見到他，但還是沒掙紮，半推半就跟着明華裳去吃偃月馄饨。

明華裳在吃的方面着實精通，任遙認識她以來，還沒見她吃過重複的東西。明華裳坐在包廂裏，熱情地給另兩人推薦：“這家馄饨松茸餡的最好吃，最近是不是新蝦上市了？蝦仁餡的也不錯。你們吃芫荽嗎？”

等三人都點好，店小二端上馄饨後，包廂裏就只剩他們三人。明華裳喝了口湯，問：“隗家的事，你們查的怎麽樣了？”

另兩人都不說話。明華裳主動道：“那我先說。我從菩提寺沙彌那裏盤問出來，隗嚴清曾在太原府唱戲，戲班名字叫吳家傀儡班。我猜測十二年前在吳家班發生了一件很重要的事，直到現在隗嚴清都走不出陰影，頻繁獻功德安心。”

任遙下意識想問明華裳怎麽敢确定隗嚴清求神拜佛是為了戲班，又憑什麽說他還沒走出陰影，但話到嘴邊，她想起他們三人的關系，遲疑了：“這是你的線索，你告訴我們……”

“這是我的誠意。”明華裳咽下一個松茸馄饨，正色說，“我今日來找二位，乃是誠心結盟。我們共享線索，一起破案吧。”

任遙停住，看神色十分懷疑猶豫。明華裳問：“任姐姐，江陵，你們為什麽要加入玄枭衛？”

明華裳暫且不說，任遙和江陵都是不愁吃不愁穿的侯門貴胄，手裏有花不完的錢，幹點什麽不好，為什麽要來看人眼色？

江陵對此無所謂，反正他們都知道了，他也毫無心理負擔地說：“因為我爹讓我來。加入玄枭衛後容易被女皇記住，對日後仕途大有裨益。”

明華裳看向任遙。任遙捏緊了筷子，這是她最不願意觸碰的傷疤，她日複一日為之努力，卻從不敢在人前說出口。

但不知是不是馄饨的香氣迷惑了視線，或者是人吃飽後就沒法思考，總之，任遙破天荒當着異性的面，說出自己最難以啓齒的秘密：“我想繼承我爹的侯位。”

女子沒有繼承權，更別說繼承侯爵，日後在全是男人的應酬場中行走。所有人都嘲笑她癡心妄想，父親的舊部、好友，甚至她的祖母都不理解她。

她想實現願望，只能求助于皇權。女皇自己就是女人，或許唯有她，容得下一個女侯爺。

明華裳投桃報李，也主動說道：“我是為了安安穩穩過日子。或許你們覺得我很會讨人喜歡，其實，我非常讨厭處理人際關系，尤其厭惡下半輩子無事可做，只能靠讨丈夫喜歡、讨婆母喜歡、讨丈夫同僚的太太們喜歡而存在。江陵是為了父命，任姐姐是為了家族，而我是為了自己，我們誰都不可能退步，所以隗家這個案子，我們一定要争到底。”

任遙放下筷子，目光晦暗不明地看着她。沒想到明華裳話鋒一轉，說：“但我覺得，我們不是非要按照他們預定好的道路走。困獸之鬥，誰能贏到最後呢？唯有看臺上的人笑過瘾了。你們願不願意相信我，我們合作，一起拿下這個案子？”

任遙其實也不願意鬧得太難看，能和她說話的人不多，撕破臉對她有什麽好處呢？但任遙皺眉：“可是明華章說只能有一人評為地級。”

“這可能也是考核的一部分。”明華裳已經把馄饨吃完了，她放下筷子，雙臂支在桌案上，說，“你們站在……上面的立場上想一想，你願意多一個文韬武略但完全不講情義的屬下，還是三個各有缺陷，但能合作完成高難任務的屬下？”

江陵和任遙都沉默了，明華裳道：“別忘了，韓将軍曾說玄枭衛是金牛衛的影子，既然和金牛衛對照，那就也是軍隊了。為什麽我們像軍隊一樣，編成五人一夥，為什麽韓将軍讓我們自己接頭，全程撒手不管？”

明華裳用力拍了下桌子，眸光湛湛，說：“我相信，我們是值得彼此信任、彼此幫扶的隊友，而不是競争對手。我相信人定勝天，衆志成城。”

江陵也吃完了，他放下筷子，由衷說：“明二娘，你口才真好。”

明華裳謙虛地笑笑：“過獎。”

江陵以前不吃芫荽的，這次在明華裳的推薦下試了試，竟然還不錯。江陵擺擺手說：“我沒問題。反正我一個人也是混，多一個人還陪我解悶呢。”

明華裳将期待的目光投向任遙，僅憑她一個人的力量，絕對無法和成心想讓她離開的明華章抗衡，但如果他們三人聯合起來，那就未必了。成與不成，就在于任遙的态度。

任遙被兩個人看着，有些緊張。她理智知道她應該選擇最穩妥的道路，如今的她經不起絲毫冒險。但手心的馄饨碗融融散發着暖意，她實在沒法說出這個“不”字。

最終，任遙遲疑地點了下頭：“可以試試。”

“太棒了！”明華裳高興，美滋滋道，“我就知道任姐姐是性情中人。那我們整合一下現在知道的消息，一起商量下一步吧。”

江陵無所謂，反正他也沒得到什麽有用的消息。他瞥了眼任遙那碗幾乎沒動過的馄饨，嫌棄道：“你是在喂魚嗎？這麽久了才吃這麽點，明二娘第二碗都快吃完了。”

這話同時得罪了兩個人，明華裳和任遙的臉色一起難看下來了：“說什麽呢？”

明華裳憤憤不平地咬了口菜，任遙放棄顧忌儀态，大口吃東西。明華裳看任遙吃的差不多了，才說：“我總覺得隗墨緣絕對有事瞞着我們。江陵，任姐姐，你們手下是否有可靠的人能去太原府走一趟，打聽打聽當年吳家傀儡班到底發生了什麽？”

“簡單。”任遙說，“我們府裏有的是老兵，他們走南闖北習慣了，我讓他們去北都一趟，順利的話，五日內就能回來。”

平南侯在邊關打仗多年，府中有許多舊部家将。這些人追随平南侯父子多年，侯爺父子死了，他們繼續效忠任遙，根本不聽旁支一家的話。任遙想做什麽，還真不缺人手。

太好了，任遙輕輕松松就解決了困擾明華裳多日的難題。明華裳松了口氣，又道：“那就有勞任姐姐了。這五日我們也不能閑着，我想知道隗墨緣、隗朱硯的日常行蹤，但他們身邊的丫鬟仆從嘴都很嚴，我問不出來。”

江陵嗤了一聲，明華裳和任遙一起看向他：“你笑什麽？”

“哪有嘴嚴的仆從。”熟知洛陽內外各種玩樂之地、號稱京都第一纨绔的江陵對此不屑一顧，“拿錢砸，我不信他們不開口。”

明華裳沉默了一剎那，是啊，撒錢。為什麽她就沒想到這麽方便的辦法呢？

可能是因為她窮吧。

不缺吃穿，但也沒啥餘錢的明華裳看着江陵發出羨慕的嘆息：“好，就按你說的辦。明日辰時，我們在菩提寺門口見。”