Chapter 92: Picking Wei

Ming Huachang spoke softly, tilted her head, and blinked at him with her black eyes, with an expression that said, "Look, I've already begged you so much, do you still have the nerve to pursue me?" Ming Huazhang was helpless, but he really couldn't pursue her.

Ming Huazhang could only glare at her coldly and threatened her in a way he himself didn't believe: "Don't make this an example next time."

Ming Huachang's eyes immediately lit up with smiles, and she nodded quickly like a chick pecking at rice, her eyes were very sincere, but in her heart... she must have not taken it seriously.

Ming Huazhang sighed in his heart and tore the seal under her expectant gaze. Ming Huachang looked at his second brother with a cold and noble demeanor, but his hands were steady and ruthless in tearing the seal, and he sighed and whispered: "Only the governor is allowed to set fire, but the people are not allowed to light lamps. Didn't you tear it directly?"

Ming Huazhang glanced at her sideways, and Ming Huashang immediately withdrew her complaints and blinked obediently.

After the gate opened, Ming Huashang poked her head inside, and Ming Huazhang followed her, walking into the courtyard at a leisurely pace.

What came into view was a simple small courtyard with three rooms in a row. The courtyard walls on both sides were high, and the corners of the walls were covered with withered grass and white frost. Being in it felt like being caged by heaven and earth. There was also a seal on the door. Ming Huashang pulled up the window paper to look and asked, "Second brother, when were these seals put up?"

"I ordered it to be sealed after the Chu Jun case happened." Ming Huazhang walked to the door with his hands behind his back, and tore the paper into pieces with his slender fingers, doing the most destructive thing with the most calm attitude. He saw Ming Huachang staring at him with wide eyes, and he brushed off the crumbs on his fingers and said, "I am the Shao Yin of Jingzhao, and I tore open the seal to investigate the case."

Ming Huashang hesitated for a moment before finally nodding and saying, "Yes, you are right."

Four years had passed since the murder, and during that time, people had been constantly living in this courtyard. Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang no longer expected to find any clues. They came here today more to observe the terrain.

Ming Huashang was looking through the books in the room when he said to Ming Huazhang, "Second brother, have you asked the monks at Pudu Temple?"

"I have read their testimonies from four years ago," Ming Huazhang said. "After the Chu Jun case happened, I personally brought people to the temple to inquire, and I have a rough idea."

"Then you should know that on the day Chu Jun was attacked, Pudu Temple closed early and no one left. When Huang Caiwei died, she stayed alone in this courtyard. No one saw her go out, right?"

Ming Huazhang said calmly, "I know."

"That's strange." Ming Huashang stood in the house, very puzzled, "The two cases seem to have nothing to do with the monks of Pudu Temple, so why did the murderer choose to be near this temple?"

This is also what Ming Huazhang couldn't understand. Logically, the location of the body dumping is closely related to the location of the murderer. The bodies were found around Pudu Temple, so the murderer should live here. However, the monks in the temple all have alibis and their testimonies can corroborate each other, which is really puzzling.

The room was very simple, with a statue of a bodhisattva hanging in the center, a mat underneath, and curtains on both sides. It looked cold and gloomy. Apart from the utensils for worshipping Buddha, there was only a hard couch on the east wall. It really didn't look like a place where one could spend a long time.

Ming Huachang knelt on the mat and looked up at the Bodhisattva portrait in front of him, with a ribbon tied around his waist and the morning glow encircling his body, and his 18 arms each holding a Dharma instrument. He said, "There is one more thing, I don't know if it is important or not. The novices of Pudu Temple have some complaints about the incense in their temple. They think that this incident was instigated by someone to maliciously smear them."

Ming Huazhang walked behind Ming Huashang and looked at the magnificent, majestic, but inexplicably eerie statue of Bodhisattva with her. He said, "This is Cundi Bodhisattva, one of the six Bodhisattvas worshipped by Tantric Buddhism. Pudu Temple believes in Tantric Buddhism, but most Buddhist temples in Chang'an believe in Zen Buddhism. Even temples of the same sect are competing for incense, let alone temples of different schools."

Ming Huashang exclaimed, "Are there so many different schools of worshipping Buddha?"

"Of course," Ming Huazhang said, "Three people will have different opinions, not to mention that Buddhism attracts so many followers. Even if there was only one Gautama, different followers would have different understandings of the Buddha and practice, and eventually they would evolve into completely different sects."

Ming Huazhang lowered his eyes and looked at Ming Huashang: "What are you doing kneeling here?"

"I was wondering what Huang Caiwei was thinking when she was worshipping Buddha. Why could she stay in this room for a whole day? Even if she believed in Buddhism, could her maid be patient?"

Ming Huazhang did not urge her any further, but lifted his robe and sat beside her, watching the Bodhisattva statue with her. Ming Huachang was startled and turned around quickly: "Second brother, what are you doing?"

"I'll watch it with you." From the side, Ming Huazhang had broad shoulders, a thin back, and a long neck. Sitting like this, he looked like a young man who was both unrestrained and dignified. "Don't worry about me. Just do your thing."

The two of them knelt side by side in front of the Bodhisattva, and inexplicably felt like a devout man and woman proposing marriage to a Buddha. Ming Huashang felt a little confused, and she secretly said sorry to the Buddha. Just as she was about to get up, she suddenly heard a sad and melodious flute sound from outside.

Ming Huachang paused in her attempt to stand up and turned back in surprise: "Who is playing the flute here?"

"He was playing the mantra for the dead, which can help the dead to transcend and eliminate all karma, so that they can be reborn in the Pure Land of Bliss," Ming Huazhang said. "Maybe he was playing it for the dead."

Ming Huashang seemed to understand what was said, but she was about to continue talking to Ming Huazhang about Huang Caiwei, when suddenly Ming Huazhang's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes looked in the direction of a certain place like a sharp blade: "Who?"

Ming Huashang was startled and stood up in a hurry, but Ming Huazhang had already chased after him. Ming Huashang hurried to the door and saw Ming Huazhang standing in the aisle, looking coldly at the fork in the road ahead.

Ming Huashang ran over and asked, "Second brother, what's wrong?"

Ming Huazhang shook his head slowly, his eyes cold and majestic: "Someone just peeped in, and he seemed to be very familiar with the terrain of the temple. He disappeared when I chased him out."

Ming Huashang also became alert after hearing this: "Peeping? Is he peeping at us, or is he peeping at Huang Caiwei's room?"

"It's hard to say." Ming Huazhang turned around with his hands behind his back, and his other hand naturally took Ming Huachang's shoulder and led her out. "It's not safe here. I'll have someone take you back home."

Before Ming Huachang could react, Ming Huazhang grabbed her with one hand and she stumbled forward. She grabbed Ming Huazhang's sleeve and shook her head vigorously: "I don't want to leave! Second brother, I finally got out, please let me stay for a while..."

Ming Huazhang was unmoved: "Whenever you want to come out, I'll accompany you. But not here."

His eyebrows were still, his eyes were cold, and he was as hard as a rock. Ming Huashang saw that soft tactics were useless, so she simply reached out and hugged him, and changed from acting coquettishly to being naughty: "I don't care, I'm going to follow you anyway."

Ming Huazhang had not expected her to do this. He quickly glanced around and pried her hand away coldly, but his ears turned red quietly: "What are you doing? There are people here."

"I won't. If you're not afraid of being seen by your men and damaging your dignity, then go ahead."

The two of them, or more precisely, Ming Huazhang was being entangled by Ming Huashang, when the door opposite opened. The person inside was startled when he saw them, then smiled and bowed, "So it's Jingzhao Prefecture that's handling a case here. I'm honored."

Ming Huazhang was wearing the official uniform of Jingzhao Prefecture, and the bright color of the clothes clearly showed his rank. Ming Huachang took advantage of the fact that there was no one around and pushed herself further, but she bumped into someone. Her cheeks flushed and she quickly let go of his hand.

Ming Huazhang had just mercilessly pulled Ming Huachang's hand away, but when someone appeared, he instinctively pushed her behind him. Ming Huazhang looked up and saw the person coming, and he also bowed in return, and quietly blocked Ming Huachang's way: "Excuse me, brother, who are you..."

He could recognize the Jingzhao Prefecture's pattern at a glance, so he was obviously a member of the imperial court. The man smiled and raised his hand and said, "I am Lu Du, a doctor of the Imperial College of the Imperial Academy. I am just a minor official, not worthy of being mentioned here."

Ming Huashang hid behind Ming Huazhang and looked forward over his sleeves.

The man standing opposite was elegant, handsome, and graceful, holding a white jade flute in his hand, and he was truly a gentleman like jade.

It turned out that the person who played the flute just now was him. Ming Huashang was a little surprised. The Imperial College was the highest institution of learning in the imperial court. Those who could enter it were all descendants of aristocratic families. This man could become a doctor of the Imperial College at such a young age. He should not be underestimated.

Moreover, his surname was Lu. Lu was not a common surname, and when it appeared in Chang'an, there was usually only one possibility.

——He came from the Lu family of Fanyang.

When Ming Huazhang heard the man introduce himself, he responded with equal dignity: "My name is Ming Huazhang. I was just playing with my sister. I'm sorry to have embarrassed Dr. Lu."

Lu Du glanced at the upright young man and the pair of round eyes behind him, and said with a smile: "It turns out to be Ming Shaoyin. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. I have long heard that this year's Jinshi Lang is the most handsome man in Beijing, but it's a pity that I have never had the chance to see him. Today I am fortunate to meet Ming Shaoyin, and he really lives up to his reputation."

Ming Huazhang greeted him calmly. He said a few polite words and then said, "I have to take my sister home first. I'm sorry I can't keep you company. I'll go first."

Lu Du immediately raised his hand and said, "Of course, Young Master Ming, please."

After saying goodbye, Ming Huazhang took Ming Huashang away. As they passed by each other, Ming Huashang raised his eyes and smiled politely at Lu Du.

Lu Du smiled deeply and nodded to Ming Huashang.

After being caught, Ming Huashang dared not to argue anymore and followed Ming Huazhang out of the temple. They deliberately left through the back door and walked in the woods for half a cup of tea before they saw the circled place where Huang Caiwei and her servant were killed.

After making sure that there was no one around, Ming Huazhang glanced at Ming Huashang and asked, "Are you safe now?"

Ming Huashang puffed up her cheeks and snorted, saying reluctantly: "Then you should come back early today, eat well at noon, and don't stay out too late at night."

"Um."

Ming Huashang bumped into him and said unhappily, "Promise yourself, don't be vague."

Ming Huazhang sighed helplessly: "Okay, I will definitely come back soon. Go back quickly, take good people with you on the way, and don't let the guards leave."

Ming Huashang agreed. Zhaocai and others had been following behind and came forward. Ming Huashang walked two steps surrounded by people and suddenly turned around. With the red leaves all over the mountain and the blue sky in the distance, she asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"

Ming Huazhang couldn't help laughing. The late autumn sunshine shone on him, as if outlining a layer of golden edges, so bright that it made people dizzy. "As long as it's what you prepared, it's fine."

Ming Huachang went out early in the morning to visit her brother, and after returning to the city, she went to the East Market for a stroll, and returned home with a cart full of bags. She had been completely disrespectful since she took on the false name of a nun, and she was even unwilling to go to the old lady for a formality. She took a nap after lunch, and when she woke up, she rubbed her sleepy eyes, took out a pen, and began to sort out the clues of Pudu Temple.

She drew several pictures, but finally felt that they were not right, so she burned them on the candlestick. Ming Huashang took a long breath and lay on the table, exhausted.

This was the most uncertain portrait she had ever drawn. The biggest difficulty came from the scene. The case file from four years ago was vague, and the murder scene that had just happened was indescribably strange. Ming Huashang couldn't draw what kind of person the murderer was.

Ming Huachang pulled her hair for an entire afternoon, but finally had to admit that it was not possible, and that she needed more clues to draw the portrait. Seeing that time was almost up, she ran to Qinghuiyuan to wait.

It was dark and cold in Qinghui Courtyard, and it was obvious that no one was there. The servant saw her coming and hurriedly invited her in. Shuli wanted to light a lamp and serve tea, but was stopped by Ming Huashang.

Ming Huashang looked at the clean, tidy and well-organized room even in the dark and suddenly changed her mind. It would be stupid to just sit and wait for him. She wanted to give him a surprise!

Ming Huashang drove all the servants out and ordered them not to tell Ming Huazhang. Shuli knew how much the Second Young Master doted on his sister, so he watched with a bitter face as the Second Young Master closed the doors and windows tightly, tormented in the room, and did not allow them to ask any questions.

It's over. When Erlang comes back and sees that they dared to let Erniang stay alone in the dark, he will definitely kill him.

Ming Huashang used all the skills she had learned in Xuanxiao Guard to close the doors and windows, clean up all traces, and pretend that no one had been there. She hid behind the curtain, waiting with great interest to scare Ming Huazhang.

The plan was perfect, but she didn't expect that while waiting, Ming Huazhang hadn't come back yet and she fell asleep first.