Li Siye squatted in front of the death row cage. This thing was only three feet high and five feet wide. It looked like a coffin, but it was made of wooden fences with vertical and horizontal tenons. Starlight from the sky could leak in, as well as rain and snow.
The person was lying in the cage unable to turn over, and the same was true for Zhang Xiaojing. His wrists and ankles were locked with iron chains, his eyes were slightly closed and he was snoring.
"Zhang Xiaojing, Zhang Xiaojing."
Zhang Xiaojing slowly turned his face. The beard on his chin grew wildly, making his face look dull and thin. He squeezed out a smile from the corner of his mouth and said, "Why are you here?"
"I just returned to Chang'an recently. I heard something happened to you, so I came over quickly to see if I could fish you out."
"Get me out," Zhang Xiaojing said in a self-deprecating tone, shaking his head and asking in a vague voice, "You have become the prime minister? It's a pity that you can't get me out even if you become the prime minister."
"Why is this happening? We have to find a way to make it happen or not." Li Siye said, holding the wooden cage with his hand.
"I killed more than thirty prodigal sons of the Xionghuo Gang, and also killed my boss, Wannian County Lieutenant. This is one of the most unjust crimes among the ten evils. Don't waste your efforts to seek favors."
"Killing so many." Li Siye twirled his beard, nodded and thought, "It's really too tricky."
"Is there meat and wine?"
"Oh," he scratched his forehead and said, "I came in a hurry, I forgot."
"Look at you, it costs a lot of money to come here from the county gate. Why don't you bring some wine and meat with you? It doesn't mean that your trip is in vain."
"That's exactly what I said. Bring more when you come next time."
Zhang Xiaojing turned his head over, lay flat on the ground and looked at the sky and said: "It doesn't matter whether you come or not. During these days in Chang'an, please take care of Wen Ran for me. There is nothing else. Her shop is no longer here
The original Dunyifang was moved to Changmingfang."
“The location is so remote, wouldn’t it be nice to stay in Dunyifang?”
"It was demolished and the Xiaobolu Embassy has been built."
The jailer came behind Li Siye, crossed his hands and said in a low voice: "It's almost time, General Li, please don't embarrass me." The officer saluted Zhang Xiaojing again: "Zhang Shuai."
Li Siye nodded: "Then I'll come see you another day."
…
After walking out of Wannian County, Li Siye went to Dunyi Square. Standing outside the square wall, he could see that the original architectural style in the northwest corner was very different. It was more well-planned than before. This should be the so-called small town.
The Bolü embassy is here.
He never imagined that the envoys of Xiao Bolu who followed him to Chang'an would cause such a big commotion, and also involve a violent demolition. The two groups of envoys sent by King Xiao Bolu only had a total of five or six people, and they could not live there.
Is it such a big yard?
snort.
He walked along the street to Changming Square, and after asking around, he found the location of the Wenji Incense Shop. It was in the south corner of the square. The location was quite remote. Even if the wine was fragrant, the alley would not be afraid of it unless there were many old customers.
Come on, it's impossible to attract new customers in a place like this. The Xiangpu's area is a bit larger than that of Dunyi Fong, just because there are fewer people living in Changming Fang, and there are even many vegetable gardens in the square.
He stood at the door of the incense shop and looked up. There was only a very simple woodcut sign hanging vertically. Wen Ran was standing in the shop, wearing a light green gauze skirt and a yellow jacket, standing on tiptoes holding the sign against the wall.
hang.
"Wenran."
She turned around and looked at Li Siye with joy on her face: "Brother Li, why did you return to Chang'an? Did Mei'er come back with you?"
"She didn't come back," he walked into the shop, looked up and around and said, "I followed Jiedushi back to Chang'an to report my merits, so I didn't take her with me. She was really thinking about you in Shule."
"The little girl should grow into a big lady."
Li Siye nodded and smiled: "Let's not talk about her anymore. Let's talk about you first. What is going on?"
Wen Ran sighed and sat down gently in front of the table in the center. Tears filled her eyes before she could speak. She raised her sleeves and wiped the corners of her eyes. She forced a smile and said, "You are now the chief minister of the imperial court."
Now, can you rescue Zhang Xiaojing?"
Li Siye pursed his lips and said: "I have to go and try first. The sin of murder cannot be forgiven at any time. Do you need my help elsewhere?"
"No need, I'm fine now, I just want to save Zhang Xiaojing out."
"Okay, I'll think of a way."
After coming out of Wen Ji Incense Shop, Li Siye thought about who he should look for to save Zhang Xiaojing from the death penalty, or change his sentence to exile. Yang Taizhen couldn't look for him anymore, and it wouldn't be possible for her to excuse a death row prisoner who had committed one of the most heinous crimes.
Reality. He has no connections with Li Linfu and Gao Lishi. If he goes to the prince and asks him to excuse a death row prisoner for no reason, it will probably be difficult to do it - but he can try.
I remember that when he visited the Prince's Mansion in the Sixteenth Prince's House the year before last, he agreed that if he wanted to meet, he could go directly to Jianfu Temple in Kaihuafang. Two years later, I don't know if this location is still valid, but you can give it a try.
Jianfu Temple is the largest royal temple in Chang'an. It was built by Wu Zetian a hundred days after Emperor Gaozong's death. There are dozens of large and small pagodas in the temple, and a translation institute has become an academic center. Xuanzong believed in Taoism, although the Buddhist temple was not
Although it was valued, it was still very popular, and the emperor did not impose restrictions on the beliefs of officials and dignitaries. Those who practiced Buddhism could practice Buddhism, those who practiced Taoism could practice Taoism themselves, and those who had a prosperous education could choose freely.
Not only Buddhism and Taoism, before Tang Wuzong exterminated Buddhism, the foreign religions active in Chang'an City also included Zoroastrianism, Dashi Cult, Persianism, Nestorianism, etc. It was like a multicultural exchange center. At this time, Europe was completely
Everything is shrouded in the holy light of Christianity. Let alone foreign pagans, even if they have the slightest heretical theory, they will be sent to the stake. However, this is Chang'an, and it is in this relaxed and open religious atmosphere.
Only then did Chang'an have the glorious scene of all nations coming to court.
He entered along the mountain gate of the temple, and the main buildings were arranged in sequence along the central axis. The temple was simply too big. The prince asked him to search here without giving a specific address. Did he have to search there room by room? When
can be found.
He climbed up the steps and came to the Hall of Heavenly Kings. In the hall was a statue of the Four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism. Next to him was a monk sitting cross-legged on the ground with a merit box in front of him.
He turned around and looked around, and found nothing out of the ordinary, so he was about to leave. But the monk next to him suddenly said, "A visitor from afar is coming. Do you want to give incense?"
He had never seen a temple that actively asked for alms, so he turned around and knelt down, took out the few remaining coins from his sleeves, and threw them into the merit box.
The monk didn't even raise his head, and asked in a straight and soft voice: "May I ask the donor's name?"
"Li Siye."
“Chongrenfang Jinglong Temple.”
He lowered his head and looked at the monk in surprise, but the monk did not raise his head, as if these six words did not come out of his mouth.
He thanked the monk with his hands, turned around and walked out of the hall, leaving Jianfu Temple and heading towards Chongrenfang.
Chongrenfang is located in the north of Pingkangfang, Wannian County, only two blocks away from Xingqing Palace. Jinglong Temple is on the west side of Chongrenfang, running across the entire Chongrenfang from north to south. He entered from the north gate, surrounded by various trees.
From time to time, you can see a Taoist boy sweeping up fallen leaves with a big broom. Judging from the layout of the building, it seems that he entered the backyard.
This Jinglong Temple was originally built as the residence of Princess Anle, the daughter of Zhongzong and Empress Wei. The majesty of the royal family can be seen everywhere. Although the residence is large, there are not many Taoist priests, and no one questioned him as an uninvited guest.
He came to the door of a palace courtyard. Standing at the door were two Taoist boys holding whisks in their hands. They had fair faces and red lips and were very handsome. When he saw Li Siye coming slowly, he asked from a distance: "Where do you come from, honored guest?"
Come from anywhere"
"I'm from Qixi."
"What's the point of visiting Jinglong Temple as a distinguished guest?"
Li Siye didn't know whether he should answer or not. He just stood outside the courtyard door for a moment and glanced inside. He felt that today was not an opportunity and was just about to turn around and leave.
"Please stay."
He turned around and saw a young Taoist wearing a hibiscus crown and a hairpin standing in the courtyard, wearing a light blue Taoist robe and holding a whisk in his hand.
He stepped over the threshold and entered the courtyard, standing three feet away from the Taoist. The Taoist's face was as white as jade, and his eyebrows were as sharp as a sharp edge. Although he looked childish, he already showed a calm demeanor.
"Your Excellency is under the command of Fu Meng, the envoy of Anxi Jiedu, the envoy of Shule and Khotan, the captain of Shangqingche, and the loyal general Li Siye."
Li Siye smiled: "Why do you have so many titles? Just call me by my name. I don't know the taboo of having a long name."