Chapter 66: It's hard to fly even if you have wings
February 16th, 15:30
The discussion was deadlocked for a while, and Shen Shen finally asked the question he was reluctant to face.
"How many people would it take to surround the yard and prevent the people inside from escaping?"
"You want to catch her?" Xu Chong was also shocked.
"No, I just want to go to her house and ask her a few questions. But I don't want her to leave either."
"The yard is not big. It was originally the house of an imperial physician. It has a courtyard and attic. The first floor is both a study and a clinic, and the second floor is a bedroom. It is simple and quaint , without glazed tiles and carved porches, but it is not ostentatious among the surrounding wealthy courtyards. The wall is about ten feet from east to west and seventy to eight feet from north to south. The south is close to the Cai River. The river is only two feet wide, but very deep and there is no bridge to cross. Therefore, there is no need to send people to the south. You only need to guard the three sides, four or five people in each place, a total of more than ten people can besiege it. But if you want to guard the street, you will probably need fifty or sixty people."
“How many people are here now?”
"Normally there are twenty-one or twenty-two people at night, but now they are all patrolling the streets. At this moment, even if you and I are included, there are only thirteen or fourteen people, right?"
"We are short of manpower. We should go to the Military Headquarters and ask Bao Tongxiang to transfer some manpower."
"Brother Shen, I saw that after the old woman gave her instructions and left, Jin'er was there packing her things. It seemed like she was leaving overnight. I'm afraid she can't wait."
"Let's go now without further delay and send someone to the Military Headquarters to ask for reinforcements."
"Okay, I'll find a fast horse to go to the Military Headquarters." He stood up with the help of the table and turned around, "Do you really think that the master and the servant are both Maitreya?"
"I don't know. I just want to ask her something in person. If she can explain it, maybe... she can get away with it."
"Okay, okay." Xu Chong went downstairs to find someone to go to the Military Headquarters to mobilize the imperial guards. Shen Kuo was upstairs thinking about how to face Xiao Ping. It was a good thing that Bao Zheng could n't make it in time, so he could face Xiao Ping and ask her one-on-one to see if he could get Xiao Ping to explain everything. But he still couldn't think of all the possibilities that Xiao Ping might have gotten away with.
Before leaving, he picked up Xiao Ping's piano, wrapped it in cloth and went downstairs. Xu Chong had gathered the rest of the people, about ten officers, which seemed a little short, but considering that Xiao Ping was not a big man, it seemed enough.
So they left two people to guard the yard, while Xu Chong and Shen Kuo took eight people to the street outside Zhuque Gate.
February 17th
Ten people rushed to the outer city's Zhuque Gate. As expected, after nightfall, there were no pedestrians in the inner and outer cities. The group quietly arrived outside the house. Xiao Ping once secretly mocked that the house in Lao Ya Lane where Shen Kuo lived now was not so impressive. It seems that he has some confidence. This house is hidden in the busy city on the north bank of Caihe. From a distance, it is neither ostentatious nor conspicuous, but from a close distance, it is unique and simple. There are ancient trees and rocks, exotic flowers and plants in the courtyard, which is quite elegant. Compared with the high-walled courtyards next to it, it gives people a sense of leisure and comfort in the midst of noise.
Xu Chong assigned two people to guard each wall, and he and Shen Kuo went to the door. Shen Kuo saw that the gate was narrow and had no steps, which was totally unmatched by the wide yard. However, according to Xu Chong, the neighbors nearby paid attention to this place, probably because of Xiao Ping's identity in the brothel?
Looking across the street in front of the courtyard is the Cai River, with all kinds of shops lined up on both sides. On the other side of the river is the famous Huixianlou in the outer city of Bianjing, which is also a three-story restaurant. However, most of these shops and restaurants have no lights on, probably because there are no customers and they are closed.
He walked to the door and hesitated for a moment, then knocked on the door. After knocking a few times, he heard Xiao Ping's voice from inside.
"Is Jin'er back?" The voice was suppressed and sounded alert.
Shen Kuo didn't know how to respond and didn't answer, he just knocked on the door hurriedly.
The door opened, and Xiao Ping and Shen Kuo met. They stared at each other for a long time without saying a word. Xiao Ping was wearing an ordinary batik blue cloth dress and a simple headscarf, which seemed to be a low-key outfit for going out. She didn't put on any makeup on her face, but she was still pretty. She was dressed so simply, and she looked like the day she bought the donkey in the mountains.
"Sir, why are you..." Xiao Ping asked suspiciously.
"I think……"
Xu Chong, holding a knife, slowly appeared behind Shen Kuo, and Xiao Ping immediately realized what was going on.
"Since you are here, please come in." She said coldly, turned and walked inside. Shen Kuo and Xu Chong followed her in. Since she called Jin'er just now, Jin'er should have gone out and not come back yet.
When they reached the front of the building, Xu Chong decided to stay outside. He went to the backyard to check if there was a place where he could escape.
Xu rushed into the house and Xiaoping closed the door silently.
"Sir, please sit down and let me serve you tea."
She turned around to boil water. Shen Kuo put the zither on the table. He felt that he had made a fuss. Such a weak woman could not run away. It did not require fifty people. In fact, five people were too many.
Xu Chong walked around the courtyard and didn't see anything unusual, so he went back to the front and saw a bamboo chair under the clothes rack outside. He pulled it over and sat down on it, facing the gate outside.
After waiting for a while, Xiaoping came back after making the tea and saw the piano on the table.
"Sir, did you bring my zither with you? I left it on the top floor of Baifan Tower that day, and I thought I would never see it again."
Xiaoping picked up the piano and rubbed the strings with her face affectionately.
"Oh, I went to Baifan Tower again last night, saw this zither and brought it with me. Later, Xu Jieji...found out that my elder sister was here, so I had to deliver it to her."
Xiao Ping put down her zither and pushed a cup of warm tea to Shen Kuo. Shen Kuo took it without any suspicion and took a sip.
"But Heyuan Jiaming?"
"Sir, you really know tea. This is indeed Heyuan tea. You came to me today for some official business, right?"
Xiaoping sat opposite.
"Yes, yes, some official business..."
"What kind of official business is it that requires Xu Jieji to stand guard outside with a knife? I see he is a bit unfamiliar, so why doesn't he come in?"
"I have some questions and would like to ask you, elder sister."
"Who is the father-in-law of my dead husband that I want to ask for advice on?"
Xiao Ping's words left Shen Kuo stunned and he didn't know what to do next. He had originally decided to get straight to the point, but unexpectedly Xiao Ping spoke up before him, as if she was eager to say something clear and concise.
"So what do you mean?"
"Sir, do you think he was one of the passers-by who died on the street that day?"
"Well... I do have this suspicion. But let's first talk about what happened when you and Jin'er boarded the ship in Suzhou that day? Why did the old man called Jiugong chase after you two?"
"Jin'er and my aunt's family have nothing to do with this matter. She was just a maid kicked out of the palace, bought by my aunt and sent to the countryside to serve me. She knows nothing about what happened."
"There's no rush for this matter. Let's first talk about the story between you and that Jiu Gong."
"Why don't you tell me first, sir, how did you guess this?" Xiaoping picked up the cup and took a sip.
"I never suspected you, just because of this book." He took out the long silk scroll from his arms and opened it to the part about water and fire.
Xiaoping cast a casual glance at the silk.
"So it was from here. Do you think that during the solar eclipse, I was immersed in water by that group of people, just like in this painting?"
"That's right. I'm really confused, so I'd like to ask you to tell me."
"This is a water-fire judgment... haha," Xiao Ping laughed contemptuously, "Do you know what's behind this booklet?"
"The back is damaged, I really don't know."
"The Judgment of Water and Fire is nothing more than an ordinary illusion, not a great magical power?"
"Are there any great magical powers among these tricks?"
"Do you know the fox fairy's magic method of splitting one's body into two parts and moving one's shadow, or escaping with a flick of the finger?"
"The magic of fox fairy? You know the magic of fox fairy?"
"Hahahaha..." Xiao Ping laughed wantonly, "If this book wasn't burned, then the next one would be it."
"Are you the Saint Hu Yonger, one of the four masters of the Maitreya Sect?" Shen Kuo asked in surprise.
"What do you guess?" Xiaoping pinched the teacup with three fingers and said to Shen Kuo with a smile.
Shen Kuo stood up in a daze and heard a commotion outside, probably because Bao Zheng's large group of people had arrived.
Xu Chong did not shy away and pushed the door open and walked in. He only glanced at Xiao Ping and said to Shen Kuo, "Prime Minister Bao and Prime Minister Wen are here."
Two sedan chairs passed through the narrow gate outside, and countless imperial guards gathered in front and behind. Then there were shouting sounds outside, and it seemed that the leader of the imperial guards was commanding to surround the yard. Xiao Ping's yard wall was not high, so she could cross the wall and see the forest of spears and halberds outside. A quick count showed that Lao Bao had brought 70 to 80 imperial guards with long spears, and probably some messengers from Kaifeng Prefecture. There were more than 100 people in total, surrounding the small yard.
Shen Kuo sighed in his heart, why did it take such a big fuss to capture a little girl ? Maybe Lao Bao was really anxious to turn the tables and was willing to go to such great lengths.
Bao Zheng walked in with his head held high, followed by Wen Yanbo. Shen Kuo hurried out to greet him. Bao Zheng didn't respond, but hurried into the room with square steps. Xiao Ping sat steadily behind the long table, and slowly stood up when she saw Old Bao come in.
"Hello, my husband." Xiao Ping bowed politely.
Wen Yanbo followed in.
"Any confession?"
Bao Zheng didn't even look at Xiao Ping, but just asked Shen Kuo.
"Just now, the student was about to ask...but...but..."
Seeing Shen Kuo hesitating, Lao Bao turned to Xiao Ping and said, "Sister, do you have a confession or not? If you don't, I will be in trouble."
"Sir, what if you don't confess? What if you don't confess?"
Wen Yanbo stepped forward and said: "If you confess, you will be spared the pain of the flesh."
"Another husband. Although I want to confess some past events now, I feel a little tired and want to rest. How about I confess after I wake up tomorrow?" she said in a delicate voice.
"You are so unruly and refuse to take office? Then I want to test the law?" Bao Zheng said threateningly.
Wen Yanbo pulled Bao Zheng aside and said, "Xiren, this is a serious matter. This is not the place to interrogate you."
"Of course I know that. Then take her back for interrogation?" Lao Bao said.
"But if she is related to Maitreya, this place must be their lair. If it is a lair, there may be other bandits who fall into their trap. If she leaves, wouldn't it be a pity?"
"Minister Wen Shu means that we should wait here? However, half of the imperial guards have been dispatched from outside. Is the Maitreya Sect crazy or stupid to come and surrender?"
"Haha," Wen Yanbo stroked his beard with a smile, "In my opinion, if this woman is indeed an important person in Maitreya, we are waiting here to attack her and rescue her. If we stay ashore for one night, we will have two wins and Maitreya will have two losses."
"How do you say it?"
"One. If they dare to come to rescue, they will definitely come out in the open. Since both the enemy and I are in the open, we can naturally catch them all in one fell swoop. If so, we will attack them and they will definitely come to rescue, which is a strategic victory; while the enemy will use a foolish move and take us by force, which is a defeat by wisdom."
"What about the second one?"
"If we wait until dawn and the Maitreya sect bandits don't come, it means they are cowardly and weak, and dare not fight openly, but only fight secretly. This is because our great national prestige wins by force, while the enemy is in a cowardly way and loses by force."
"Hahahaha..." Xiaoping laughed behind the two old men, obviously having heard the whisper.
"Why are you laughing?" Bao Zheng asked sternly.
"I laugh at you two gentlemen who are still using the military tactics of ordinary people to speculate on such a big event. With or without those imperial guards outside, everything that is supposed to happen will happen. Using the big to bully the small, using the bright to defeat the dark, is nothing but empty talk to deceive the world. The law of nature is changing, how can the two old men consult each other privately and praise each other for their brilliant calculations to make a conclusion?"
"You are so arrogant. We two old men are just mortals. Isn't Maitreya a mortal? Could it be that he is an invulnerable demon?"
"Since you two have already made a plan, just wait and see. Since you two gentlemen do not believe that there is magic in the world, why don't we make a bet?"
"What are you betting on? Are you betting that you can fly away?"
"Hahaha, then let's bet on whether I can fly with wings?"
Xiao Ping laughed.
"Today, I want to see how you escape, and also see if those bandits will come to rescue you," Lao Bao sneered, "Come here, fetch a seven-and-a-half-jin round-head iron leaf protective shackle. I'll let you have a taste of the pain first."
"That's inappropriate," Wen Yanbo hurriedly stopped her, "This woman hasn't been convicted yet. According to the Song Dynasty Criminal Code, how can she be put in the shackles?"
"I know that this is against the laws of the Song Dynasty, but... I am also afraid that I can't put on the chains..." Bao Zheng almost said what was in his mind.
"Husband, are you afraid that if you don't use the seven-jin or ten-jin shackles, you will lose the bet and I will get away with it?" Xiaoping said provocatively.
"What a provocation! Okay, okay, okay, I will take off the shackles today, but I won't let you go any further. I just want to see if your fellow bandits have the ability to rescue you. Or are you that important in their eyes? Xu Chong!"
"exist!"
"Take someone to search the house to see if there are any secret doors or tunnels. There's no need to get the shackles. Just get a pair of shackles to lock her hands and feet."
It seems that Lao Bao was really afraid of losing the bet, so he spared the shackles, but still could not avoid the handcuffs.
"yes!"
Xu Chong led his men to search around the first floor, but they didn't find the tunnel. The search upstairs was rather perfunctory, after all, no one could dig a tunnel to the second floor. After he returned, he fetched handcuffs and shackles to lock up Xiao Ping. Shen Kuo was distressed to see this delicate woman wearing such heavy handcuffs and shackles.
After finishing all this, Xu Chong took his men out, leaving only Shen Kuo, Lao Bao and Wen Yanbo in the room.
"These shackles are so heavy that I feel a little tired. I'm going upstairs to rest now. If you are worried, how about letting this handsome Mr. Shen accompany me? Or should you two old gentlemen come up and sleep with me? I was born in a brothel and I know how to serve the young and the old. Do you want to try the old dragon playing with the young phoenix?" Xiao Ping said with a sweet smile.
