In the quiet courtyard, there was a woman who was making tea. After the tea boiled, she poured the tea into two teacups. She stretched out her slender hand, pointed, and smiled at the woman sitting opposite:
"Ma'am, please use it."
Qingrong smiled and thanked her, "Thank you very much, Liniang's skills are really good."
Cui Liniang smiled and took out the newly made snacks at home from the food box, "My tea-making skills are also improved after I became a bride and learned from my husband for a while. Thank you, madam, for not dissatisfying it. Madam, try it
?”
Qingrong asked curiously: "What is this?"
Cui Liniang introduced: "This snack is called jujube cake, which is a very popular food in Xizhou. Dried dates and walnuts are added to it, which makes it taste a little sweet. If you find it too greasy, it goes well with this tea."
"Liniang is indeed thoughtful." Qing Rong thanked her and picked up a piece of jujube cake to try, "It's really good. I'll ask some of the cooks at home to make some tomorrow. How long can this snack last?"
"This is nothing unusual. I think every household in Xizhou has this stuff, but I haven't seen my wife mention it. Now that it's cold, it's okay to leave it for ten days and a half. When I came here, I heard that my wife has lost her appetite these days.
, Now that I have an appetite, it is naturally the best. After practicing these days, do you feel better, Madam?"
Qingrong nodded and smiled, "It's much better. Actually, it's nothing. It's just that I'm a little acclimatized. It'll be fine in a while."
"Mrs. Zhang originally wanted to come over for a visit, but the general meant that it was not appropriate for her to see guests. She stayed in Xizhou for two days and then returned to Qiuci."
Thinking of this, Qingrong felt a little helpless. She originally thought there was no need to make such a fuss, but Xue Shao refused, as if she would fall ill if she didn't pay attention. She strictly ordered that no outsiders come to disturb her, and she didn't know what he was doing.
Was it stimulated by something?
Qingrong was a little embarrassed: "It's my fault that I made Mrs. Zhang lose her interest. If there is another time, I will definitely apologize to her."
Cui Liniang smiled with her eyebrows curved and charming, and said: "Your health is the most important thing, madam, it's better to be careful. This Xizhou is not like Yong, and getting sick here is even more troublesome."
Qingrong heard the words and nodded in agreement, "Thank you Liniang, I will pay more attention to it."
Cui Liniang took a leisurely sip of tea, glanced at Qingrong, and asked, "I wonder if Madam has heard about the theft by the master from Qianfo Temple a few days ago?"
Qingrong nodded calmly and waited for Cui Liniang's next words.
"It's a coincidence that General Xue and Master Kongji were old acquaintances in the past. Now there are rumors in the temple that Master Kongji stole the money, not to mention that the evidence all points to the master. Although the general and the master have some history, they are openly protecting him this time.
, after several days of delay, they still didn’t agree to judge the case and deal with the mage, saying that they believed in the mage as a human being, but wouldn’t this damage the general’s reputation for fairness? Madam... I’d better give him some advice.”
Qingrong sighed after hearing the words, and said helplessly: "Of course you are right, but how can a man tell us about this external matter? Even if he did, how could he listen to us? I'm afraid it is
There is no intention but no power.”
Cui Liniang was slightly startled, but it seemed that the words were touching her heart. She also sighed softly, "Madam, you probably don't know something. The Buddhist culture in Xizhou is far more prosperous than in the capital city. Even a child can memorize a few Buddhist scriptures.
Even the good things are in the temple. Sometimes the words of the officials are not as impressive as the few words of the monks in the big temple. Now that things like this have happened, the monks of Qianfo Temple are holding back their anger.
"The general is showing favoritism, I'm afraid if he continues like this, even the people of Xizhou will make irresponsible remarks. I also think about the general, and don't want to see the general lose the support of the people..."
Qingrong nodded and said yes, "I understand the good intentions of Chang Shi and Liniang, and your concerns are indeed good. It's just that there is something I don't understand, and I want to express my opinion. Maybe I don't want to be blamed.
I intervened for personal gain and interfered with Chang Shi's judgment, just to make the case more cautious. This move was also for Chang Shi's consideration. Although the monks of Qianfo Temple are prestigious in Xizhou, Master Kongji is no ordinary person either.
Monk. He was originally a mage from Lingbao Temple. He went to Huailuo for translating scriptures and then came to Xizhou. His translation of scriptures was also approved by the court. If this matter is unfair and there is grievance,
If this news spreads, it will be even worse for the reputation of Changshi and Qianfo Temple. Liniang, do you think so?"
Cui Liniang was startled for a moment, then sighed after a long while and said: "What Madam said is true, but in this situation, could there be someone else who stole it?"
Qingrong raised the tea cup, took a sip slowly, and said: "It's hard to say. Sometimes what you see with your own eyes may not be true. If someone deliberately framed you and made a big show to make you stand up, I'm afraid no one else would believe it.
, even you yourself can’t say anything, right?”
Cui Liniang also fell into silence after hearing this and did not speak for a while.
"I heard that Chang Shi has tried several cases in Xizhou City before, and he has experience in this matter. Liniang doesn't have to worry, but it may take some time to find out the real culprit who stole the money. Since
There are people in the temple who are impatient. If they wait a little longer, if they become impatient, the person behind the scenes may not be able to hold back and reveal their flaws."
Cui Liniang seemed to understand what she was talking about. She raised her head, looked at Qingrong and smiled, "I'm just talking. This tea has gone cold. I'll make another one."
Qingrong smiled, "Thank you, madam."
While Cui Liniang was making tea, she told Qingrong about the cases that Lu Kaiyan had tried before, some of which were ridiculous and some of which were hateful. "This Xizhou City is big or small.
But the affairs are all handed over here. Although Shaoze is now a long history, he is actually busier than before. Two days ago, another incident happened in the yamen. Everyone said it was mysterious. This is normal.
My daughter actually came back to life!"
Qingrong couldn't help but be surprised, "This is new? What's going on?"
"It's just a family matter of a barbarian family, but just like the Master's matter, everyone insists on their own opinions and can't explain clearly. There is a woman named Cudisuxuniang in the market. She said that a monk saw someone with her in the market.
They were pestering her and wanted to take her away, so they kindly called the government officials to drive her away. The other party said that they knew Cudisu Niang and were entrusted by her family to take her back. When I asked her name, someone said
I know Cudisu Niang, and Cudisu Niang has died of illness a long time ago! The one in front of me must be a fake. After saying that, he asked someone to call Cudisu Niang’s father, Cudi Dalang. He originally said that he did not
He knew this woman, but after some time, he said that this was his daughter Cudisuniang. But the strange thing was that the woman refused to admit it, saying that this man was not his father at all, and she refused to follow him.
He leaves...this is really a mess."
Qingrong was also a little surprised, "There are such weird things. Someone must be telling lies. What are the backgrounds of those who came to pick people up? And if you want to know whether Cudisu Niang is dead, go to
Isn’t it clear by checking the household register?”
"It's just a coincidence that the household register was requested by the Anxi Protectorate more than half a month ago, saying it was for routine review. Now there are different opinions, and I don't know who is deliberately committing fraud."
How could it be such a coincidence? Just as an unidentified person happened here, the household registration register was transferred over there?
It's hard for people to admit that this is just a coincidence, not man-made! The fake one... has died a long time ago... An idea suddenly came to Qingrong's mind, and she asked: "How old is Cudisu Niang?"
"I heard he was sixteen or seventeen years old."
What a coincidence! Isn’t Li Yuanmin also sixteen or seventeen years old?
Qingrong couldn't sit still and asked anxiously: "Where is Madam Kudisu now?"
"She should be at her residence. The government sent officers to watch over her, saying that she would not be allowed to come and go freely until the matter was found out. What's wrong, madam, did you notice something?"
Qingrong calmed down after hearing the words and did not dare to say anything. She shook her head and said: "How do I know anything? I just feel strange. If Kudisu Niang is really the daughter of Kudi Dalang, why does she refuse to recognize him and would rather follow an outsider?"
Why don’t you go back?”
Cui Liniang nodded and sighed after hearing this: "Actually, this is not without reason, but the ancestors of the Kudi family originally left some savings, but this Kudi man is a useless man. Over the years, he has lost all his savings and his family has fallen into decline.
She is a drunkard on weekdays...probably, she doesn't want to go back."
Qingrong thought in her heart, even if this is the case, the change of attitude of Kudisuda Lang is really suspicious, and who are those people who want to pick up Kudisu Niang? "So, have you seen Na Kudisu?
Di Xu Niang?"
Cui Liniang shook her head, "No, these are just what I heard from others. Just like what Madam just said, we still don't know what the matter is."
…
"Madam, do we really want to go?" Songyue advised with some worry, "It's better to wait until Alang comes back..."
Qingrong shook her head categorically. After sending Cui Liniang away, she got up and went back to the house to change into a pair of inconspicuous Hu clothes. She dressed like an ordinary servant and planned to go and see for herself whether Cudisu Niang was herself.
The person we are looking for. "The sooner we know the news about her, the better. Yun Niang has seen her and still remembers her appearance. She will ask her to come with me later. I will do all the things I asked A Zhen to do."
Already?"
Songyue nodded, "I've already been there and told the guards over there that someone will be there to deliver meals in person later."
"I understand. I will be back before dark. If not... you should inform Alang immediately."
The sun was setting in the west, and soon a westerly wind blew, blowing on people's faces, bringing a chill, and the number of pedestrians on the street gradually became less and less. A Zhen and the two guards from the mansion had already brought wine and food to Xue Mansion's
The two guards held the talisman and offered to guard them for a while. The two guards smiled and thanked them and left the guarding place.
Qingrong and Yun Niang were not far away and watched them go away before they showed up. Qingrong looked around and saw that this single-family courtyard was in an alley of Shifang. Is this what it was? It was last time
I saw a place where there was a drunken monk.
There was no need to think too much at the moment, so she opened the door and walked in quietly, with Yun Niang following closely behind her. There was no one in the courtyard at this time, and there was nothing special about this small courtyard. There was only one swing standing there.
next to.
At this moment, a woman's voice suddenly came out from the room, "Bai Li."
Qingrong and Yun Niang looked at each other and stepped forward. Just as they were about to push the door open and enter, a woman behind them suddenly raised her voice and asked, "Who are you!"