Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Taoist Aunt Lingsu said with dismay: "Everyone in the world loves a good-looking person. It has only been more than half a month since Junior Sister Lingwei was brought back by the master. Several disciples came to my temple gate and disturbed the purity of my Taoist gate."

When she saw Wang Heng asking questions and only looking at Taoist Sister Lingwei, she couldn't help but classify Wang Heng as a disciple. There was a bit of contempt in the corners of her eyes and her tone of voice was much colder.

The general information had been asked, and Wang Heng was impatient to deal with her, so he said casually: "Since Taoist Master Huayang is not here, I will come back to invite you another day." After saying that, he turned around and walked away, followed by Xiaocai and Yue'er. back.

Stepping out of the mountain gate, Wang Heng said to Fei Yue'er: "I would also like to ask Yue'er for help. It's still early in the morning. We will go into the city to visit Wang Yushi's brother and sister at Wang's home. If they are not here, we may have to find Wu Que Bridge." Wang Yushi’s ancestral home, I’m trying to find a way to see Miss Wang. It’s naturally inconvenient for me and my two foreign men, Xiaocai, but you may be able to do it, Yue’er.”

Yue'er happily obeyed.

The three of them led the horses and walked through a mountain road while discussing their ideas. Wang Heng taught Yue'er to ask Miss Wang a few questions, and Yue'er couldn't help but nod.

After discussing for a while, the three of them raised their whips, mounted their horses, and galloped towards Suzhou Fucheng.

This time the horse was racing, much faster than when he came in a sedan chair, and he suddenly entered the city gate.

Everyone came to the vicinity of Wang's home in Tianyuan by familiar routes. They opened the upper room in the old shop and handed the horses to the waiters to feed them.

Fei Yue'er took out the women's clothes from her bag and returned to her appearance as a tall, heroic eldest sister with thick eyebrows and big eyes. In order to avoid being noticed, she put on a thin curtain hat.

A group of people arrived at Guitianyuan Residence. The doorman was Li Sou. Xiaocai smiled and walked up to them, shouting through the bamboo leaf: "Brother Li, Brother Li."

Li Sou took a closer look and said with a smile: "It turns out to be the little brother from the Wang family. I haven't seen you for several days. You are still thinking about visiting the garden."

Xiaocai said: "Brother Li, is your master Wang Yushi in the garden today?"

Li Sou said: "It's a coincidence that you are here today. My uncle only came here with the eldest lady in the morning."

Xiaocai said: "Brother Li, the laborer, went over to inform Mr. Wang for us, saying that the Seventh Young Master from the King's Office in Taicang came to pay a visit."

Li Sou only thought in his heart that he was a disciple of the same clan as his master, so he smiled and said, "Master, please wait a moment. The old man will come back as soon as he goes."

Not long after, Li Sou came back and said respectfully: "Master, please follow me this way. My uncle is waiting for you at Lan Xuetang."

The door of Guitianyuan is very narrow, just a firewood leaf in the alley. After entering the house, you can follow the winding flower path and see all the delicate reds and greens, with green grass and green grass. You will feel suddenly enlightened and have a different world.

Lan Xuetang is a serious building in the garden. It is located on a high ground. It is currently the reception room of Wang Yushi.

Wang Yushi was twenty-six or seven years old. He was fair and lean, gentle and elegant. He looked somewhat familiar. He was standing outside Lanxue Hall with a spring breeze on his face. When he saw Wang Heng and his entourage coming, he said warmly: "Seventh Young Master." , I’ve been away from each other for several months at the Tiger Hill Conference, how are you doing?”

Wang Heng heard from his words that he should be a member of the Xingshe who participated in the Huqiu Conference. Wei Dao looked familiar, so he bowed respectfully and said: "Master Wang, it is polite to be born late."

Wang Yushi took Wang Heng's arm and welcomed him into Lanxue Hall. He said with a smile: "I am a disciple of Yuan Shanchang, the leader of Ziyang Academy. Brother Xiru, the leader of the Xinghe Society, is my best friend. My name is Banchan." , How old are you, Chi? I regard myself as my brother, and Qi Lang and I consider ourselves brothers." Wang Heng was about to establish friendship with him at this time, and immediately called out to him from Shan Ruliu: "Brother Banchan."

Wang Banchan was very happy and sat down with Wang Heng as guest and host.

Wang Banchan saw two young men and women following Wang Heng. He knew that either Wang Heng was accompanying him or they were relatives and friends. He was not a pedantic person, so he also diligently offered seats to them.

Wang Banzen sat still and said proudly: "Qi Lang came to the humble house this time, but he wants to see my garden?"

Seeing that Wang Banchan was determined to make friends, Wang Heng also went straight to the topic: "Brother Banchan's garden is famous far and wide. We have admired it for a long time. My cousin is a girl from Aunt Fei's family in Taiping Town. She likes to explore the ancient times the most. It’s very inconvenient for girls to go out when traveling, so I’m so shameless to ask Brother Banchan, can you please ask the lady from your house to accompany my cousin to visit your garden?”

Fei Yue'er stood up and gave Wang Banchan a blessing: "Greetings to Mr. Wang."

Seeing that she was a generous little girl, Wang Banchan smiled and said, "What's the problem? Let my sister accompany you. You can wander around as long as you want." After that, he asked his personal servant to go to the Xiangxiang Tower to deliver a message to the eldest lady.

After waiting for a while, the servant came with a maid in a green skirt and led Fei Yuer towards the inner garden.

When the female relatives visit the garden, they are all people who know etiquette, so it is inconvenient for them to go in and walk around at will.

Wang Banchan knew what was going on and asked the servant to move the tables and chairs to the back of Lan Xuetang.

There is a clear water behind Lanxue Hall. From a distance, you can see the willow waves, small bridges and stone embankments in the garden on the other side. You can also see the distant figures in the garden, which is like a painting. Water chestnuts are planted all over the water in the lake. The Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, and water chestnut lotus leaves are everywhere. It gradually becomes ruined, which is quite interesting.

A few people had tea and chatted in front of the lake view.

Wang Banchan asked some about Zhang Xiru's current situation, and learned that Zhang Xiru had successfully merged Yunjian Jishe into Xingshe, and was living happily in Xu's Yuanyanglou. He was a little yearned for it, said a lot of envious words, and told Wang Heng that the news from his residence came that Wujiang The county magistrate Fan Ling was dismissed for unknown reasons and was replaced by Xiong Ling of the same year as Zhang Xiru, who will take office soon.

"Fan Xianzun has been dismissed from office?" Wang Heng was suspicious. Last night he was still speculating about Fan Xianzun's arbitrary trial of Feng's gourd case. The court acted so quickly and had dismissed him. It was impossible. The officialdom was so complicated that it must be something else. reason.

Wang Banchan nodded: "It is not easy to be an official in Wu. Local taxes and money are much higher than elsewhere. There are many scholars. It all depends on whether the local gentry will give you face."

After all, Wang Banchan had been a procuratorate for several years, and he was very familiar. Although he was still very young, his experience was different from that of a scholar-type official like Zhang Xiru.

Wang Heng took the opportunity to talk to him about Wujiang, starting with the poet Wen Chongguang. Wen Chongguang's uncle Shen Bohe was the Prime Minister of Guanglu Temple. Shen Bohe's second cousin Shen Jundu was currently idle in his hometown. Wang Banchan knew all these people, and mentioned that Shen Bohe also had a cousin named Shen Junzheng, who was unknown in the ranking, and was an errand in the Ministry of War, but Wang Banchan had no impression of Shen Junzheng at all.

Gradually, the conversation was led to Shen Jundu's brother-in-law and son-in-law of the Shen family, Ye Tianli. Unexpectedly, Wang Banchan nodded repeatedly and said, "Although Ye Tianli and I have different political views, I still know something about him."

So Wang Banchan said something, and Xiaocai was stunned for a moment. Wang Heng's eyes widened and he murmured: "I never expected that Ye Tianliu is such a person."