Dali Temple Conspiracy Records

Chapter 2

Wenguang 11 years.

After New Year's Day, the streets of Chang'an City have been a little deserted. People who work hard for their livelihoods on weekdays have all gone home for the New Year, looking forward to enjoying the rare leisure of the year.It wasn't until the Shangyuan Festival was approaching that the streets and alleys became lively again.

The Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the last day of the Spring Festival, and it is also a rare opportunity for Dazhao officials to rest.Usually at this time, the government offices only arrange necessary personnel to be on duty, and even the most diligent officials will go home to reunite with their relatives and spend a good night together.

But Li Quan still reviewed the files in Dali Temple as usual, and stayed in office until the end of Youshi, before tidying up the files and stretching himself.

"Si Zhi, Master Murong sent someone to ask you when you will be there? He's going to Huayue Tower to wait for you first." The servant asked respectfully at the door.

"It's getting late, let's go."

At this time, Chang'an was already full of lights, and even in Dali Temple, you could hear the bustle and bustle outside the imperial city.The Moonlight Lantern Mountain is full of imperial capitals, and the Xiangche Baochai pass is a thoroughfare.At night, the different colors of lights that have already been tied up have different shapes, making people dazzled.Several teams of celebration teams wandered up and down the main road in the city, thaumaturgy and supernatural powers, songs and dances, all tangled with each other, and the music was noisy for hundreds of miles.

This momentum is too lively, as far as the eye can see, there is nothing but shoulders and backs, and the flow of people is like a tide.Li Quan rode a detour on the remote path outside, and it took almost half an hour before he arrived at Huayue Tower in Beili Nanqu.

Needless to say, Beili is famous, although there is no sound of oars, lamps and shadows, painted boats, flutes and drums in the Qinhuai River for ten miles, but it is also full of boundless wind and moon.There are Sanqu in the square, those who live in Nanqu and Zhongqu are all prostitutes with extraordinary talents.Some are good at composing poems, some are humorous, and some are good at singing and dancing. Therefore, the distinguished talents in Beijing love to talk about poetry and Taoism here, and to dispel romance.

But the girls in these two songs are not something ordinary people can see.In addition to money, you have to have a few taels of literary talent, knock on the door with poetry, and the girl is willing to receive it when she is satisfied.

Huayue Building is an elegant small building with several halls attached to it. The courtyard is quiet, and several close girls live together.These few people are all well-known in Beili, and the banquet tonight is also specially set up for regular guests.The censor, Murong Ke, was a prime minister in his ancestors. He was deeply influenced by his family and handsome, so he was very popular.He said that the dim sum newly released by Huayuelou was so amazing that he insisted on inviting Li Quan to try it too.

When Li Guan arrived, everyone was already drunk, and the drinking order had been passed several times.The band was playing "Ask the Hurrying Hu Xiang", the musicians danced in harmony, and the guests were drinking and chatting happily.

When Murong Ke saw him coming, he raised his hand to say hello: "Come here, Huiming, this way. It's a big holiday, won't you still be in that pile of files? You are too dedicated."

"Then when you participate in the performance, don't forget to give me a few more compliments."

The surrounding guests saluted Li Quan one after another, and he crossed his hands in return before taking a seat next to Murong Ke.He lost his parents and wandered on the streets for several years. Later, he was lucky to be adopted by Murong's family, and he became good friends with Murong Ke who was the same age.After being a Jinshi, thanks to the recommendation of Murong's family, he got the position of Sizhi in Dali at a young age.

"What kind of snack is so delicious, you have to get me here?" The maid leaned over to pour the wine, and if there was nowhere to snuggle over, Li Quan didn't refuse, and let her feed it.

"What's the hurry, just go."

While talking, the maidservants brought food tables and put a few plates of pastries on each table.Murong Ke was also polite, and picked up one of them: "This is it, hurry up, don't blame me for not letting you in."

This pastry is made into a plum blossom with five petals. It is white and soft. Although it looks good, it is nothing special.Li Quan was a little disapproving.The son of Murong Ke's family, since he was a child, he has been dressed in rich clothes and rich food, what new things haven't he seen?He actually regarded a plate of mediocre snacks as a delicacy, but this aroused his curiosity again.

So he also picked up a piece, and just took a bite, and his appetite was immediately whetted.People in the north like pasta, and most of the snacks are made of wheat. Although it is delicious, the taste is relatively full.And I don’t know what to make of this dessert. It’s soft and delicate, but it has just the right elasticity. The first taste is sweet and full of nose, and the second taste is full of fragrance. It’s really...

"Where's the stuff?!" Li Guan glanced down, the plate was already empty, where was there any trace of Baihua Dim Sum?He looked at Murong Ke in disbelief, and saw that the noble young man had puffy cheeks, hoarding like a squirrel. "Is this how you treat guests? You called me to eat, but you didn't leave a piece?"

After enjoying the pastry in his mouth unhurriedly, Murong Ke had no choice but to say: "Hmph...Didn't I remind you? Who told you not to hurry up, and you are still pretending to be delicious."

For this bad friend, Li Yan was speechless, and could only ask: "What is this made of? The taste is really good."

"This is called Touhua Ci. It's made by Wu Xingmi. I don't know what else is added, but it's delicious anyway. Ah, Miss Sanxiu! Please come here." Murong Ke's eyes lit up as he said this, and he waved and shouted.

"Master Murong is well! What's the matter, today's snacks are not to your liking?"

Hearing Murong Ke's greeting, the man walked over with a smile.This is a delicate girl with round eyes and a small mouth, and crescent moons when she smiles, making her even more cute.She didn't wear any makeup, she was wearing a sarong with few accessories all over her body. Compared with the few charming celebrities in the field, she was so simple that she looked a bit shabby.But facing Murong Ke, she was generous and natural, without any cowardly and humble attitude, and she was obviously an acquaintance.

"How come, it's delicious!" Murong Ke leaned forward with a smile, "My friend came here today, and it's the first time I ate Touhua Ci, and I haven't eaten enough. Do you have any left?"

Bai Sanxiu couldn't help laughing: "Pfft, Mr. Murong, it's obvious that you are greedy, and you borrowed the name of a friend."

"Who said that, if you don't believe me, ask him."

Bai Sanxiu followed the conversation and turned her face to look, only to see Li Quan staring at her in a daze.She also froze for a moment, but quickly realized: "This is?"

"Dali Sizhi Li Yu. Don't be afraid, he is not bad."

"I met Li Sizhi."

"Girl, you don't need to be too polite. It seems that this snack is made by the girl's skillful hands. Lao Muke has told me about it for a long time."

"Let me tell you, Sanxiu is not a professional cook. Only Miss Qiuji can serve her guests in order to enjoy her cooking."

Bai Sanxiu giggled and said, "Young Master Murong is so flattering. Then if you give me some more spices from last time, I'll bring the ones I kept."

"Deal deal!"

Looking at the back of Bai Sanxiu leaving, Li Guan showed a thoughtful expression for a moment, and then disappeared in a blink of an eye.

-

There is a moon in the sky and thousands of lights on the ground.The feasting and revelry lasted until late at night. In the city, the city was full of wooden carvings and colorful lanterns, and inside the building, singing, dancing, singing and flute continued all night long.After drinking a few rounds of wine, Murong Ke felt a little sleepy, so he went to the guest room to take a nap.Li Guan leaned against the railing, watched the noisy crowd, and poured himself a drink.

"Chang'an City is so lively! My friend has always wanted to see it."

Li Guan turned his eyes to look, Bai Sanxiu raised the tray in his hand. "It's cold, Li Sizhi should drink this, it's warm." He walked up to him and poured warm rice wine for him with light hands.

"Where's Lao Mu?"

"Young Master Murong is fast asleep, hehe, everyone is snoring."

He couldn't help laughing.Li Guan was not particularly handsome, but he had a straight face, especially a pair of black eyes, like cold stars. At this time, he smiled slightly, which was a bit clear and easy.However, his expression is unrestrained, but his eyes are so calm, free from the hustle and bustle, reclusive and independent.

"what!"

Suddenly, a suppressed exclamation came from behind him, it was a soft female voice.Looking back, at the corner of the railing, a man in Chinese clothes was forcibly hugging and pulling the girl in his arms.The woman's temples were scattered, her fragrant shoulders were half exposed, her face was full of panic but she didn't dare to attack, her powerless push could not stop the man's desire to belittle her.

This woman is one of the owners of Huayue Tower, Zhao Qiuji.She is also a talented woman with a great reputation in Beili. I don’t know how many scholars and scholars spend their time trying to see Fangze, but when they meet Prince Liang’s son, they realize that no matter how tall they are, they are like a poor bird in a cage. It is nothing more than a charitable charity pretended by the powerful.

Seeing that the son's hand was about to poke into her skirt, Zhao Qiuji was shy and anxious, and was at a loss. Bai Sanxiu stepped forward, supported Prince Liang's elbow and lifted his elbow skillfully, and lifted the salty pig's hand, "My son You drank too much, I will help you go to the guest room to rest for a while."

"Go away!"

This son, Li Wei, is usually a licentious master, but at the moment he was smelling of alcohol, and someone messed up his good affairs, he suddenly became furious and waved away.He couldn't control the strength at all, Bai Sanxiu was thrown and hit the wall directly, but there was no pain as expected, one hand supported her vigorously.

"The prince is really drunk."

"Presumptuous! Who dares to stop me!"

Li Wei was blocked by someone again, cursing to see which blind thing is so bold.

"Come here, help the prince go down to rest." Li Quan ordered flatly.

A man who looked like a guard hurried up to help him.Although Li Quan's official rank is not very high, Dali Sizhi is not an idle official position, so Li Wei didn't want to make too much trouble, muttered a "good-looking", and walked away staggeringly.

Zhao Qiuji was finally rescued, straightened his clothes and temples quickly, and bowed deeply to Li Guan: "Thank you, Li Sizhi, for helping you out of trouble."

"Hands up."

Tonight, Li Quan was wearing a duck-egg blue gown without too many decorations, but against the bright white moonlight and brilliant lights, it was cool and cold, but it was indescribably beautiful.Facing the beautiful woman with pear blossoms and rain, he was indifferent, and raised his chin slightly to signal the ground, "Young lady dropped something."

The second girl looked down and saw that it was a delicate little golden lock.Zhao Qiuji let out a low cry, and quickly bent over to pick it up.

"Thank you, Si Zhi, it belongs to a little girl."

She was very grateful for Li Guan's help, and was about to thank him again, but Li Guan had already turned and left.

Looking at the handsome and slender back, Zhao Qiuji felt a little disappointed.

----

The sixteenth day of the first lunar month, early in the morning.Li's house in Ningrenli, Yongchangfang.

After drinking morning tea, Li Quan was refreshed. He entered the study and was about to read two pages of books when the servant came to report again: "Master Murong, please go to Huayue Tower as soon as possible."

Li Quan raised his eyebrows when he heard this, why did he come again, maybe he was asked to eat with him earlier. "What's up?"

"I don't know the details. The servant only said that there was an accident in the building and someone died."

"Walk."

Although slightly surprised, Li Yan was not too moved.When they arrived at Huayue Tower with the servants on horseback, the officials from Wannian County had already arrived.

"Huiming, you're too smudged, it took you so long to come here."

"I'm not a policeman from Wannian County, why did you call me here?"

"Zhao Qiuji is dead!" At this time they were standing outside the small building, watching a group of people rushing in and out, Murong Ke said in a low voice, "I took a look at the scene, maybe it's the same as that of the previous years. It's about the homicide."

Hearing this, Li Guan straightened his expression and narrowed his eyes slightly.

(End of this chapter)