Chapter 8 The Young Master of the Meng Family 1
Three days later, an urgent memorial from Yancheng, traveling eight hundred miles, was delivered to Emperor Xuanhe.
Duke Qing said that when Yancheng was plagued by bandits, the soldiers in the city strictly followed their duties, and the brothers of the imperial guards seconded from Chang'an fought with all their might, and finally killed all the bandit leaders, protecting the peace of Yancheng. The people in the city were extremely grateful to your majesty. However, during the turmoil, the soldiers were all flesh and blood, and many of our Dayu's passionate men died in Yancheng. Duke Qing begged your majesty to issue an order to give the warriors posthumous honors and treat their families well.
In addition to the memorial, a list of soldiers who died in the bandit suppression campaign was also attached.
Emperor Xuanhe replied soon that the matter was of great importance. In order to show the court's attention, he ordered Duke Qing to go to Chang'an City to host a banquet for the warriors' families, to comfort and provide relief to the warriors, so as to comfort their souls.
After Emperor Xuanhe received the memorial from Duke Qing, Cheng Jue received a list that night, and those who were transferred away from the imperial guards were on the list.
He burned the list. The flames were dim, but they managed to light up the darkness for a moment.
Without the warm embrace beside her, the fox fur coat could not keep away the coldness of the night. Zhou Zhenzhen woke up dazedly, rubbed her eyes and looked at Cheng Jue standing by the window, a little stunned: "What are you doing here, sir?"
They ate and slept in the Dali Temple these days, fearing that they would miss any important news. Zhou Zhenzhen just thought that Cheng Jue still went to the duty room to sleep every night. She was a person who could not be shaken once she woke up from a deep sleep, so she was a little surprised to see others here.
Cheng Jue turned around and saw that she was sleeping with a red face and a sleep mark on her right cheek, which was really cute. He walked over, sat beside her, held one of her soft hands and kneaded it.
Zhou Zhenzhen was a little shy, so Cheng Jue said, "I've been standing for a long time, and my hands are a little cold."
She immediately felt distressed and put her other hand over him, holding his hand: "Then I will warm it up for you, sir."
Cheng Jue forced a smile, and in this night of complicated thoughts, he was able to see through the fog and see many things clearly, such as the girl in front of him. From the first time he saw her, he saw through her obedience and passion, and her eyes always looked at him brightly, ignorant and expectant.
Until he realized that he had fallen in love, and when he thought of her and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he had the same look in his eyes.
His heart softened, and his voice softened unconsciously: "Well, this 'small hand warmer' is really useful."
This address made Zhou Zhenzhen blush very much. Not wanting him to see her in such an awkward state, she quickly changed the subject: "You haven't answered my question just now, sir?"
"I am used to standing in front of the window when I am thinking about something, preferably with a crescent moon outside. The moon is in the west at this hour and cannot be seen from the duty room. The Detective Department is the best place to be."
When Zhou Zhenzhen recalled the case at the beginning of the month, Cheng Jue was also standing in front of the window of the attic in Yanliufang, thinking quietly, as if this was the case.
"Everyone seems to have some weird habits. Huo Chi is used to lifting one leg when writing. He said it was a sequelae from his martial arts training when he was young. Sitting properly was really torture for him. He felt comfortable when his legs were bent into all kinds of weird shapes. Meng Fan had even more weird habits. He loved to imitate the sounds of all kinds of things. Sometimes when he was happy, he would take turns shouting, one person on top of all the animals in the forest..."
Cheng Jue's eyebrows turned cold, he chuckled and said, "You have observed Meng Fan very carefully."
Zhou Zhenzhen didn't hear the storm in his words, she just nodded and continued, "Lin Yuxiao, he hasn't been in the detective department for long, he has so many bad habits that I can't even count them all. But there is one strange habit, he likes to carve words on the table... Oh, and he wears a green sachet with green bamboo embroidered on it every day, he never changes it even though it's worn to the point of frayed edges."
"Engraving?"
"Yes, it's right below." Zhou Zhenzhen pointed at the table beneath her. Cheng Jue pulled his hand out, took the candle, squatted down to take a look, his brows furrowed.
Zhou Zhenzhen sat with her legs bent, her eyebrows furrowed, and murmured, "But I don't know what the words he carved mean, but the depth of each word is almost exactly the same. This is not something you can do casually in a short period of time. It requires a very solid foundation. I also learned wood art for a period of time before, but it's nothing compared to Lord Lin..."
"Why did you learn that?" Cheng Jue stood up and put the candlestick away. When he came back, there was no more emotion in his eyes. He naturally put his hand into her soft hand again. There were calluses on her palms. She must have suffered a lot before coming to Dali Temple.
"I met an artist from the Western Regions in a small town in the southwest. He later became my master. I wanted to learn from him. I heard that he liked wood carving the most, so I decided to cater to his interests. Unexpectedly, he was about to leave and I hadn't learned much. I blocked his way with a pile of wood that looked terrible. The master saw that although I had little talent, I was still hardworking, so he made an exception and accepted me."
"Did you learn hypnosis from him?"
Zhou Zhenzhen nodded, with the corners of her mouth raised, looking innocent. It was hard to tell from her face how hard the years had been on her.
"But my master was right. I am not talented. No matter how hard I tried, I only learned the basics. My master gave me his chain and let me go."
Cheng Jue's fingers gently rubbed the calluses on her palms, and suddenly he felt that the jealousy just now came out of nowhere.
She is such a person, she will try her best in everything. Whether it is learning sculpture, learning hypnosis, or finding her own shortcomings, reading files day and night, and learning from him to carefully remember the small habits of everyone around her... all come from this point of her.
This is what he appreciates most.
That vibrant energy made him seem to return to the time when he was full of vigor and vitality.
He thought about it, rubbing her messy hair at the back of her head, and said, "Your Master Cheng thinks you are very talented, so he will let you go without giving you anything."
Zhou Zhenzhen was stunned. He was indeed a good teacher to her, but she didn't just want him to be her master.
Cheng Jue carefully observed her reaction and smiled: "When this case is over, I will give you something else."
"what?"
"It is unspeakable."
Ever since Cheng Jue said Yancheng was the opportunity, several people from the Dali Temple have been waiting.
Waiting for the news that the suppression of bandits in Yancheng was over, waiting for the news that Duke Qing requested rewards for the soldiers who died in the battle, waiting for the news that Duke Qing would leave for Chang'an from Yancheng soon... Cheng Jue still didn't make any moves. Since Meng Fan came to the Dali Temple, this was the first time he saw Lord Cheng so idle on a case.
He was so free that he took Zhou Zhenzhen for a stroll, and when he returned to the government office, he brought a bunch of snacks to share with everyone. Meng Fan peeled the freshly roasted chestnuts and thought silently: Mr. Cheng could be so indulgent and willful that he completely ignored the three of them who were alone. This is indeed the power of love.
"Have you peeled the chestnuts?" Lin Yuxiao, who was sitting on the inside, yawned and spoke lazily.
Meng Fan threw the small plate of chestnuts in front of him with a "bang", then felt aggrieved that he was so tired but didn't eat any, so he grabbed a few and stuffed them into his mouth, but almost choked to death.
Lin Yuxiao laughed so hard that he fell backwards: "The young master of the Meng family is really interesting."
Meng Fan choked even more when he heard him say that.
Yesterday, when Cheng Jue took Zhou Zhenzhen for a stroll, he left three people in the yamen. Lin Yuxiao was a person who could not sit still, and Cheng Jue also said that the people from the Detective Department did not follow the time rules of the Dali Temple to come to the yamen, so he dragged Meng Fan and Huo Chi to Liuyeju.
Xiaoxiang House at Liuyeju usually has people competing in painting, but yesterday a few people came to compete in wood carving.
Meng Fan couldn't help but stabbed Lin Yuxiao and said, "Lord Lin is conceited about his superior ability and has no rivals in painting, but now you are standing here watching them carve woodcarvings, you probably don't understand it! I am kind-hearted, if you beg me sincerely, I am willing to teach you a thing or two."
"Lord Meng likes carving?"
"My father loves carving, and there are many treasures in our home since I was a child. I am just a little more knowledgeable than others."
Lin Yuxiao complimented perfunctorily: "Great, great."
"you!"
"It just so happens that I hate asking others for favors. I only like others to ask me for favors. Since Lord Meng is so powerful, why don't we come down and compete with each other? If you win, you can ask for anything you want. If I win, buy me some freshly baked sugar-roasted chestnuts, peel them one by one, and watch me eat them."
Meng Fan gritted his teeth and said in his heart: If I win, I will make Lin Yuxiao pack up and get out of the Dali Temple.
Huo Chi felt that he was quite redundant between the two people, but as a person born in he had a natural interest in carving and couldn't help but lean over to watch out of curiosity.
Half an hour later, Meng Fan's face turned pale. Lin Yuxiao bowed and smiled, "Thank you, thank you."
Meng Fan's carving was pretty good, but compared to Lin Yuxiao's, it was like the difference between a sparrow and a swan. Lin Yuxiao carved a human figure, wearing a long robe, a jade belt around the waist, holding a scroll in his hand, with lines as fine as hair, and it was a natural feat to carve it in such a short time.
The most amazing thing is that although this statue is a wood carving, the corners of the eyes and the tips of the eyebrows are upright, and the hem of the clothes is raised, showing a free and easy attitude that is not contaminated by the world.
Someone immediately offered a large sum of money to buy the statue. Lin Yuxiao waved his hand and said, "This was carved for a competition between Meng Xiaolang and me. It is very meaningful. I must keep it well and take it out from time to time to observe and savor it."
He was so angry that Meng Fan almost vomited blood on the spot.
Thinking of this, Meng Fan became even angrier. He drank half a pot of tea and was about to go out, wholeheartedly refusing to let Lin Yuxiao stay in the same room with him.
"Master Meng, please wait a moment."
Meng Fan looked at Lin Yuxiao fiercely and asked in a bad tone: "What are you doing?"
"This is for you. I always give and take. I already have a souvenir, so I have to give one to Lord Meng, so that Lord Meng can take it out and play with it from time to time in the future."
Lin Yuxiao handed over a statue of a human being. Meng Fan looked at it for a moment and almost suffocated. It was the first time he saw someone give him a wooden statue of himself as a present, which made him want to throw it away immediately, lest he have nightmares at night if he kept it at home.
"Lord Meng doesn't want it? Then I will write a story book tomorrow, detailing the stories of a certain official named Meng from the Dali Temple who learned the eight calls of a rabbit..."
Meng Fan snatched the portrait away, put it in his arms, and ran away like the wind.
Ever since Lin Yuxiao came, Lord Meng's escape techniques have improved a lot!
Lin Yuxiao smiled and shook his head: "I wonder what kind of mood Meng Xiaolangjun will be in when he thinks of me in the future. Alas... poor child..."
It only takes one day to travel from Yancheng to Chang'an by galloping, so Duke Qing and his entourage were not in a hurry. After one day's journey, they stopped in Qiling Town, planning to rest for one night and set off again tomorrow.
Qiling Town has a small population, but there are many inns and restaurants in the town, which are specially used by travelers to stay. The housekeeper had already arranged everything in advance, and when Duke Qing and his companions entered Yuelai Inn, the food was ready and the hot water was boiled.
As the sky darkened, Vice General Wang, who came from Chang'an City to greet the Duke, poured a glass of wine and placed it next to Duke Qing's hand. "Thank you for taking this trip, Duke. Actually, you don't need to worry about such a small matter. However, among the dead, there are guards of the Imperial Guard. The Imperial Guard is in charge of the defense of the Imperial Palace. It is the face of the royal family. That is why we have to let you personally come to take care of the compensation."
Although Duke Qing was over fifty years old and had gray hair, he was tall and strong, with an imposing manner, and did not show any signs of old age. Hearing this, he laughed out loud and drank the wine in the glass: "It's just a small matter. It just so happens that I haven't been back to Chang'an for a long time."
Only then did Deputy General Wang feel relieved and tried to be careful and put on a smile.
Duke of Qing, You Hu, was a veteran minister of two dynasties. He was also a powerful general on the battlefield and was awarded the title of Marquis for his meritorious service. His sister entered the harem and became the empress of Emperor Xuanhe. In those years, the You family was very popular . Empress You was kind and generous, and was deeply loved by Emperor Xuanhe. However, it was a pity that she had never conceived a child after entering the palace for many years. Just when everyone believed that the empress was destined to be childless, in the 25th year of Yuanqing, Empress You was suddenly found to be pregnant.
