Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Where there is the setting sun, there is leisure and sorrow.

No matter how shameless I am, I can hardly sit still until the setting sun dissipates and the dusk falls.

The two little girls strolled in the garden until dark.

When Wang Banchan saw his guests sitting uneasily, he helped them out in an understanding way and said, "I am also a lively person. I used to be a small official, and not only did I have a large house, but I also kept visiting guests. Since Ding You returned to his hometown, the house has become empty. Today, there are only a few people. We finally have guests, and we must try my chef."

Due to his good intentions, Wang Heng had no choice but to plead guilty and sit on his buttocks.

"Qilang is also blessed. Lao Chen only cooks a pot of pheasant once every few months. It just so happens that you caught up today, Ah Xi, Ah Xi." Wang Banchan called to his boy. When he saw that Ah Xi was not in front of him, he bowed. He said: "I'm going to give instructions to the kitchen. I'll be back as soon as I go."

Seeing Wang Banchan's back disappearing from the flower path, Wang Cai couldn't help but said: "Sister Yue'er is usually very reliable. How come she has been gone for so long and she even forgot the time."

Wang Heng also said: "Who says it's not the case? Brother Banchan and we are just our first acquaintances. We have been sitting there for the rest of our lives until the master leaves us a meal."

While the two were complaining, the maid led Fei Yuer over.

Xiaocai said: "Sister Yue'er, it's a good thing you didn't go to the Changmen Rouge Pollen Store, otherwise you would have to come back after a midnight snack."

Fei Yue'er sifted a cup of tea by herself, drank it all in one gulp, and said: "Well, you don't know how smart Miss Wang is. She wants me to probe her, and she comes to probe mine. The details are pretty much the same, it scared me so much that I forgot all the words the Seventh Young Master taught me."

"Ah, was all your efforts in vain?" Xiaocai exclaimed.

Yue'er said: "So, Miss Wang and I were driving around in circles until the sun was setting. Miss Wang suddenly said to me: "Miss Fei, if you have anything to say, just say it directly, don't be anxious. I'm so anxious.' I told her: I'm here for Miss Ye San. When I told her the truth, Miss Wang was also happy and said that she had long been confused and was waiting for someone to ask her, so we could go over the details together."

"It turns out that Miss Wang and Miss Ye San don't have a deep friendship. They don't meet each other very often. They got to know each other because they both have talents and reputations. Miss Ye San mainly lives in Songling, Wujiang County, and Miss Wang lives in Suzhou City. Here, the journey is not far or near. Miss Ye San always goes to the city once a month or two. Sometimes she comes to say hello to Miss Wang, but she leaves after saying a few words. Miss Wang is a smart person, so early I guess she is using her as a cover, but rich ladies like them like to be reserved, even if they don't like it in their hearts, they can't show it on their faces."

"In July, Miss Ye San came into the city again. She had a few gossips with Miss Wang and was about to leave. Miss Wang heard that Miss Ye San was engaged and was getting married next month. Her husband's family is The Jiang family, a wealthy family in Yunjian County, couldn't help but tell her that she should do some needlework and embroider wedding dresses when she had free time, which was her duty as a mistress when she got married. Unexpectedly, Miss Ye San became angry, turned around and walked away. People parted ways unhappy.”

"At the end of July, Miss Wang was planning to hold an autumn appreciation party at her hometown in early August. She had no reason not to invite Miss Ye San, so she asked a servant to send the invitation to Shen Mansion in Songling, thinking that Miss Ye San might not come. On the same day, Miss Ye San arrived late, maybe she still remembered what happened last month. She said nothing, leaned in the corner, looking helpless, and played the piano by herself. Miss Wang also Regardless of her cold face, Miss Ye San sat down for a while and then went home, without even saying goodbye to Miss Wang when she left."

"Have you played the piano once?" Xiaocai said, "It sounds familiar." Wang Heng smiled knowingly and showed a look of astonishment: "I see, that's right."

"A day or two later, Miss Ye San sent her uncle's chief attendant with a letter, imploring Miss Wang to go to Taiping Town outside Suzhou City and to ask Taoist Huayang from Bixiao Palace to go to Songling before August 13th. Shen Zhai, do a blessing ceremony before she gets married."

"This Huayang Taoist nun has served Mrs. Wang's wife. She is an old member of the Wang family. She was introduced to Miss Ye San by the eldest miss of the Wang family. Miss Wang didn't know that the two of them were still in contact because she wanted to marry Miss Ye San. In Yunjian County, we will probably never meet again in the future, so I helped her one last time and asked my servant to go to Bixiao Palace to bring a message to Taoist Aunt Huayang."

"A few days ago, the old lady next to Miss Wang returned to her hometown. She happened to be a country girl in Wujiang County. She brought back a shocking news. Miss Ye San from Yejiadai in Fenhu, Wujiang, died of a sudden illness the day before her wedding. This The news made Miss Wang very uneasy. She thought that the servant who returned to Tianyuan Residence heard someone reciting poetry in the garden in the middle of the night. She also discovered that she had left Xiaoxiang Tower for a few days. There seemed to be traces of someone rummaging through the Xiangxiang Tower. , so she was suspicious for a few days until we came to her door."

Wang Heng nodded and said: "Thank you Yue'er for your help. In this way, I can roughly guess what happened."

The three of them waited for the master for a while, and soon Wang Banchan walked in. Seeing Fei Yue'er sitting there, he smiled and said, "Please go to Linhu Pavilion for dinner."

The group of people followed Wang Banchan to Linhu Pavilion. Wang Heng thought about his words and said, "Brother Banchan, I am actually here to visit Xiongtai for the Jiang family in Yunjian County."

Wang Banchan was stunned: "Who is the Jiang family in Yunjian?"

"The uncle of the Jiang family in Yunjian County is a close friend of the three of us. The uncle of the Jiang family proposed to marry the third girl of Ye Tianliao from Wujiang Lake. The day before the wedding, he came to report that the third girl of Ye Tianli died suddenly. We doubt that she is dead. , just escaped, so we continued to trace it all the way. Miss Ye San and the eldest lady of your house were handkerchiefs, so my cousin asked her to verify some questions. Now it has been basically determined that Miss Ye San’s whereabouts are in Taiping, just outside Suzhou City. town."

"Ye Tianli's daughter." Wang Banchan's face was uncertain.

Wang Heng took a step forward, bowed deeply and said: "Because she is a female family member, we can't make it look too ugly. Please, the eldest lady of your house, accompany my cousin to Taiping Town to recognize her tomorrow. It is just to go to Bixiao Palace to offer incense. No matter it is Either way, neither of us will lose face."

Wang Banchan frowned, pondered for a long time, and then forced a smile and said: "Since it is Qilang's request, please ask my sister to go and have a look. Fortunately, the journey is not very far. I will go with you tomorrow."

Wang Heng and others were overjoyed, and they made an appointment with Wang Banchan to go to Taiping Town together at the gate of Guiyuan Tianju at midnight the next day.

Dinner was served later than usual. Everyone was hungry and had great appetites. They praised the Wang family's cooks for their skills. Wang Banchan was a little humble and accepted their compliments with a smile.

After the guests and hosts had a good time, Wang Banchan saw off the guests in front of the bamboo gate. Wang Heng was moved in his heart and asked: "Brother Banchan, do you know what Taxue Villa is?"