There was silence in the room, dozens of eyes staring at Dong Erniang.

A palace servant looked at Dong Erniang suspiciously, and suddenly said: "This old servant remembered that the prince went out a few days ago, and there were several times when Dong Mingfu's chariot appeared. The family's car is also behind, if it weren't for the fact that the prince had set up a curtain outside the bamboo forest, I don't know how long the Dong family would have to follow. This lady Dong, what are you thinking about, why do you always follow the prince?"

Duan Ningyuan didn't know there were such twists and turns, and after the shock, his expression became a bit ugly.

Jue Sheng slapped his forehead: "I see, brother, one of the master and servant is poisoned in disguise, and the other does everything possible to beg you for six yuan pills, if Mrs. Teng distributed the medicine to them, or if the brother did not put Wuzang. Array, Liuyuan Dan was successfully smuggled away by them."

Dong Erniang's eyes became flustered, but she still refused to speak.

Lin Chengyou sneered and said, "Have you not made up a lie yet? It doesn't matter, I just don't have the patience. According to the sparse rule of this dynasty, 'A person who steals more than 50 pieces of silk will travel three thousand miles'. Two years. Your master and servant worked together to steal six yuan pills. With the value of six yuan pills, there is no problem with fifty or two years of imprisonment. For such a serious crime, there is no need to bother Wannian County. The servant will be sent to Jingzhao Mansion.” (Note 1)

Dong Erniang's face suddenly turned pale, and she looked at Duan Ningyuan subconsciously. Duan Wenyin's eyes concealed a touch of disgust, and she quietly blocked Duan Ningyuan's front. Fortunately, Duan Ningyuan only looked at Dong Erniang, and did not become confused by impulsiveness. .

The palace servants were about to surround Dong Erniang, when a thin layer of water mist appeared in Dong Erniang's eyes, and suddenly said, "Hold on—"

She glanced at Lin Chengyou with tears in her eyes, and slowly fell to the ground: "I'm not the Liuyuandan who deliberately lied to the prince, I just want to save A-Niang."

"Your aunt?!" Everyone said in surprise.

Dong Erniang nodded silently and wanted to speak, but her body shivered violently. She didn't know what magic technique Cheng Wang Shizi used for her, and it was so itchy that she couldn't handle herself.

"My aunt started to get sick at the beginning of the year." She was cold and hot, and she resisted speaking, "My grandfather has searched for famous doctors, and tried every aspect of divination and acupuncture. I have used countless medicines and stones, but my aunt has not improved. Maybe One day I was thinking about it and I had a dream at night. One day my grandfather went to the Ci'en Temple to offer incense. After coming back, I had a dream. In the dream, a Buddha told Grandpa that if he wanted to save his wife's life, he could ask the prince to ask for it. Medicine. After my grandfather woke up, he inquired and learned that Prince Cheng had a strange medicine with him. The old man believed that this dream was an order from God, and he took my brother to pay homage to Prince Cheng’s mansion the next day. Unfortunately, Prince Cheng and his wife traveled far away from Beijing. , the prince is not in Chang'an, grandpa has been looking for a month after another, but he has not even seen the prince's face.

She was born to be extremely beautiful, her shoulders trembled slightly when she spoke, and her teardrops drooped down, giving her a soft and gentle state of pear blossoms and rain.

"After that, my grandmother became seriously ill, and my grandfather also fell ill because of running around. A few days ago, my brother and I heard that Prince Cheng had returned, and we went to wait outside the palace with a glimmer of hope, but maybe the luck was bad, don't When I asked for medicine, I didn't even hand the invitation to the prince. I reported this to my grandfather on the sick bed, and the grandfather lamented that everything was a matter of fate. Busy, Daoist Qingxuzi suffered a lot in order to refine the six yuan pills, although the medicine was given to the prince, but the prince never gave it to others because he cared about the master's hard work."

The people in the room thought to themselves, this is the truth. Liuyuandan is comparable to a rare treasure. I don’t know how many people in Beijing are jealous. The previous year, Wei Shangshu’s wife was critically ill. Wei Shangshu also wanted to ask for Liuyuandan for his wife. Later, he still begged to the sage, and only got a grain after the sage's intercession.

Not long after, the Taoist priest Qingxuzi spoke in public, and the prince became the prince of Geqijue, and he needed to keep this medicine for self-defense. Unless the great demon was in trouble or the situation was in critical condition, he could not use it to give up others, otherwise the prince himself would have his own life at stake. Only when he came out, did he completely cut off the thoughts of the people in Beijing.

Dong Erniang said sadly: "Grandpa said, 'There are so many seriously ill people in Chang'an City, if all of them went to Prince Cheng to ask for medicine, would the prince give it or not? Being close to human affection has actually saved the prince a lot of trouble. That's all, there is no hope of asking for medicine, and if A-niang can't save her life because of this, it's fate."

"Since then, my grandfather and brother have given up the idea of ​​going to worship and become the heir of the king. A-niang's illness has not improved, and I have to sleep and eat to serve my mother. Brother sees me as haggard, and takes advantage of the Shang Si festival. Forced me to go out to a banquet to relax, I originally planned to go to the riverside to pray for my grandfather and mother, but halfway I saw Prince Cheng and his servants passing by on horseback..."

She caught a glimpse of Duan Ningyuan and saw that he didn't move, her chest tightened suddenly, and she lowered her head and said: "I didn't have time to go back to the city to tell my grandfather and brother, so I made up my own mind and ordered the steward to drive after him. Who knows that he was noticed by Prince Cheng, once again. was blocked from the bamboo forest.

"I was so disheartened at the time that I had to take a long detour. When I was halfway there, something heavy fell from the roof of the cart. I opened the curtain and saw a huge black object passing by outside. I was so frightened that I passed out on the spot..."

Suddenly remembering Lin Chengyou's warning just now, she slapped her head coldly, and changed her words: "I just fainted for a while, and when I woke up, I heard someone talking outside. Those people seemed to have just heard the news and said that there was someone in the bamboo forest. Attacked by monsters, there are many people injured, they are going to the Moon Lantern Pavilion to find a solution for the prince, I will, I will—"

"You just pretended to be poisoned by a demon?"

Dong Erniang said with tears: "I thought at the time, since there are many injured people, it's fine for me to have one more. The prince is half a Taoist. When I had the opportunity to meet Prince Cheng, I might be able to get a six-yuan pill for my aunt, so I changed my mind and simply fell asleep in the car. This matter was planned by me alone, and my nurse didn’t know about it.”

The lady in charge shook her head desperately, only hating the socks in her mouth.

"Speaking of which, it's my fault." Dong Erniang cried, "My aunt is now a candle in the wind, and I have no choice but to do this day and night."

She lost her voice even more, and her expression was very sad. There were two ladies who were soft-hearted and sighed: "Poor to see, it turned out to be for A-Niang."

Duan Ningyuan's face was frosty, but his expression softened a little when he heard this.

Unexpectedly, at this time, someone coughed lightly. Dong Erniang heard Teng Yuyi's voice. Thinking of what happened tonight, she knew that this woman was very skilled. She pretended to cover her sleeves and wiped away her tears, but she was like a great enemy in secret. Mrs. Du said: "Even if you want to save your mother, you can't harm others again and again. It's okay to go ahead, and if you are confused, but later the prince said in public that the six yuan pills have been divided, why are you still pretending to be unconscious behind the curtain, obviously unscathed No injury, but you let your servants make a fuss, causing Yu'er to be infatuated in vain, what is your motive?"

Dong Erniang secretly hated in her heart, but her face was stunned: "I didn't know in advance that the six yuan pill was not enough, and I didn't know that being poisoned by the demon would be so dangerous. I was also quite surprised that the demon chased the Ziyun Tower, although I thought it would be so dangerous. I got six yuan pills, but I never thought about hurting other people's lives. After the medicine was finished, I knew that my fate should be like this, but as long as I thought that my mother would die, my heart was frying, waiting and waiting, just hoping Prince Cheng can still think of other ways."

"What a filial piety." Lin Chengyou applauded, "In the name of filial piety, what he does is harmful to others. If you get this medicine, someone who is really poisoned will surely die because of the short medicine. The last pill If the medicine is distributed to you, the servant in Teng Mansion is already dead at this moment."

Dong Erniang frowned, biting her red lips and shaking her head desperately.

Lin Chengyou gave her a contemptuous look: "Deceiving Liuyuan Dan first, and catching the demon after me. If you hadn't pretended to poison me and set up the Wuzang Formation, the demon would not have almost escaped from the Ziyun Tower, this demon will soon become Demon, if you really want to let the tiger go out, it's not just four or five people who will be injured. All together, it's not an exaggeration to break you with a cane."

Dong Erniang opened her mouth to argue, and when she saw the blood on Lin Chengyou's clothes, she panicked. It turned out that Lin Chengyou was injured so badly. It is reasonable to wake up again. Who knows that there are thousands of calculations, and these secrets in Taoism are missed. Lin Chengyou is an unusual son and grandson. If his injury alarms the palace, the saint and the queen will definitely be held accountable. At that time, I am afraid that even the grandfather will be implicated.

Her face turned pale, and she glanced at Duan Ningyuan again. Duan Ningyuan looked complicated, but she did not avoid her sight. There was a faint hope in her heart. Duan Ning is willing to come forward, and there may be room for a turnaround.

Lin Chengyou understood it clearly, sneered in his heart, took out a packet of medicinal powder from his arms and said to the palace person next to him: "Tie her up with the old thing and send it to Jingzhao Mansion. She has poisonous insects on her body, you should take the antidote before you start. ."

There was chaos in the house, Dong Erniang didn't know whether she was scared or itchy, her body trembled more and more, the steward's mouth whined and twisted like a fat worm. out of the house.

At this time, the curtain of the bed arched, and Juesheng ran out from behind the curtain with a bowl of talisman soup: "Senior brother, Mrs. Anguo has drawn a demon poison from her body, now it's good, don't worry about her dying halfway before reaching Qingyun Temple. "

Lin Chengyou took the tea cup, and there were strands of ink-like things hanging in the tinted tea soup. Although it wasn't too much, it was better than not being able to draw out a single drop. He frowned and asked, "How about the other four injured?"

"The demon poison is almost cleared, I guess I will wake up tomorrow."

Lin Chengyou asked the palace servants outside again, "Is Duke Ang coming?"

"Here, I just arrived at the front building, and the Prince of Chun'an is also outside. Duke An accidentally fell off his horse and broke his leg because he was in a hurry. Ignoring the serious leg injury, he insisted on rushing to the back building. I stopped after a while before giving up, and I'm still bandaging my injured leg in the front building."

Lin Chengyou turned around and walked out: "Prepare your horse and return to Qingyun Temple quickly."

***

The lights were shining brightly outside the building, and the carriages and horses were waiting at the door.

Teng Yuyi helped Mrs. Du into the cart. The driver was about to whip the whip when the horses and horses were making noise behind him, and the carriages and horses of the Duke's Mansion surrounded him.

Duan Ningyuan rode a silver saddle and a white nose. He took the lead and stopped at the reins. He dismounted from the horse and gave a salute to the chariot. He said respectfully, "Madam was frightened tonight, and this junior can't be relieved. Back to the city."

His face was calm, and after saying this, he handed over.

Duan Wenyin emerged from behind him, and also got off the horse and said, "Madam, Yu'er, Ning Yuan lost his temper after drinking and said some stupid things, but he is pure and straight, and he didn't intend to do so. There are many misunderstandings that still need to be done. He confessed to his face. He regretted it a long time ago, and he told me just now that there are tourists everywhere in and out of the city tonight, and the Teng family needs to take care of a few injured people.

In front of the Teng family's calf was a car with emerald-colored gilt, it was quiet inside, the curtain was rolled up, Madam Du came out, but it was Teng Yuyi in the car who spoke, and she only laughed: "Thank you Madam for your kindness. , but no need. I was in the Ziyun Tower first, and in front of many elders, I had already analyzed and understood the matter. Although I was young, I was not confused in my heart. I understand better than me. My cousin has just taken the medicine, so it is not advisable to delay the journey for too long, she is leaving now, the madam doesn't have to send her off, and I ask General Duan not to stand in the way."

Duan Wenyin's face froze slightly, she smiled instead and said to Mrs. Du: "Aunt Du, the family doesn't speak two languages. I remember when Ning Yuan and Yu'er got engaged, they were only twelve years old. Seven years later, Yu'er was married. , Ning Yuan is also nineteen years old, but after all, he is not young enough, so it is inevitable that he will act recklessly.

"To put it inappropriately, in Chang'an City, there are very few young men of his age who don't fight alcohol and seek pleasure. Take the children of the Duan Mansion as an example, which one has not done absurd acts? Concubines, prostitutes There are so many of them. In detail, Ning Yuan's character is really rare. He studied and practiced martial arts when he was a child, and he never saw him cry out a word of bitterness. Li Xue. The Duan family has long had rules. Before getting married, they are not allowed to have concubines. After getting married, they are not allowed to take concubines at will. As the eldest son of the Duan family, Ning Yuan is nineteen years old. When Ning Yuan was mentioned in Chang'an City, who wouldn't praise him for being a good boy.

"Mrs. Du, you have come here. You know better than Yu'er the problems of these young people. If Ning Yuan is good or bad, you just need to look at Chang'an. Sometimes it is not a good thing if you can't rub the sand in your eyes. It’s nothing to worry about, and it’s okay to be confused once in a while, just change it. But I can see that, Yu’er may not hear these words. But Madam is different. You are Yu’er’s most respected elder, and the child’s heart is knotted. I still need your help to unravel it.”

Mrs. Du sighed in her heart. Duan Wenyin's words couldn't be more clear. She just wanted to say that when young men are stupid, even if Duan Ningyuan and Dong Erniang have an affair, it's not a big deal. You may not meet a better husband than Duan Ningyuan. But after what happened tonight, let alone Yu'er's unshakable attitude, even her aunt would not agree to this marriage anymore. She didn't know how Duan Ningyuan knew Dong Erniang, but once the young man was in love, his heart was full. I can't take it back.

She thought with relief that it was fortunate that Yu'er saw more clearly and acted more decisively than her.

She looked at Duan Ningyuan again, this boy is very handsome, he is really a dragon and a phoenix, even if he was so embarrassed, his etiquette is impeccable, but even though he is standing here quietly at the moment, where is his only mind? clear.

She smiled lightly: "Madam, when I talk about this, I also want to say something heartfelt. Yu'er is no better than others. She lost her grandmother at the age of five. At that time, it was the Tubo attack, and grandpa finished cooking for her. Mother's funeral, I rushed to the frontier. I am an aunt, and because I just gave birth to Dalang, I couldn't go to Teng's house to take care of it. In the first days, Yuer's side was not even the elder servant who loved her. , even if she misses her grandfather, she can only carry it by herself at a young age."

Duan Ningyuan was slightly moved, and subconsciously looked up at the half-hanging green grass.

"Once I went to see Yu'er, this child was sitting on the swing in the garden alone, and fell asleep, holding the little puppet that A-Niang sewed for her, and fell down accidentally, knocking her head out a lot. A lump, I cried at the time, this is just one of them, I have lost my mother since I was a child, and I am a girl, how much grievance Ayu has suffered over the years, I, as an aunt, dare not think deeply."

Speaking of this, Mrs. Du's eyes were a little hot.

"Later Yu'er's grandfather sent her to me to teach her, and I wished I could take out my heart to love her. Yu'er was wronged, it was more uncomfortable than digging my flesh, Yu'er was upset, I am an aunt. It will only make me feel more aggrieved, so Madam thinks it differently. Don't tell me about tonight's matter, let me solve Yu'er, I'm afraid Yu'er will have to solve me, I also want to understand, although General Duan is young, he is not reckless Child, if I hadn’t already had the idea in my heart, I would never have said the word about breaking the marriage—”

Duan Wenyin was about to speak, but Madam Du said, "Furthermore, marriage matters are by no means a child's play, how can an aunt come up with random ideas? My brother-in-law will return to Chang'an in a few days, and my brother-in-law will decide what to do. In the middle of the night, I must be tired, no matter how important it is, I can’t finish it in one night, so it’s better to leave it alone and go back to the house to rest in peace.”

Duan Wenyin touched two nails that were neither soft nor hard, but she didn't get angry. She pondered for a while, and she pulled the horse aside with a smile and said, "Alright, it's important to take care of the injured. In a few days, our grandmother will celebrate her birthday. The two families will meet again, Madam and Yu’er should go first, and tomorrow I will come to visit Miss Du.”

Mrs. Du pretended not to hear the last two sentences, and lowered the curtains of the car with a light smile. At this moment, there was a commotion in the Ziyun Building, and a group of men in luxurious clothes came out of the building, discussing something as they walked.

It was late at night, and the flowers and moon reflected each other in front of the steps. Those people were parked in the semi-darkness of the lights, and it was difficult to make out their faces.

The servants led the horses one after another, and those few moved down the steps. The leader was the one with the purple robe and jade crown, who was cynical and uninhibited, not Lin Chengyou.

Lin Chengyou's mount is a handsome and powerful horse with purple mane and snow hoofs, decorated with brocade and gold nets.

After he mounted his horse, he whistled with his fingers, and a shadow suddenly appeared in the dark, approaching Lin Chengyou, and jumped onto the horse's back.

Mrs. Du was so frightened that she covered her chest, and Teng Yuyi looked over. The thing's eyes were bright, and its ears were as sharp as clippings. It turned out to be a shiny black cheetah.

The little cheetah squatted behind Lin Chengyou, with a small physique but also awe-inspiring. In Chang'an City, there are often eagles or lynx raised by the grandsons of the princes. Such fierce and untamable cheetahs are rare, but this is in line with Lin Chengyou's consistent style.

Not long after, the guards came over with the Dong family's carriage. Duan Ningyuan turned the reins for two turns, but at the end he couldn't hold back and drove the horse to Lin Chengyou.

The siblings had just run halfway, when Lin Chengyou turned to look at the Teng family's carriage, and suddenly said something to the little boy in front of the horse.

The little Taoist nodded, raised his Taoist robe and ran towards the Tengfu carriage: "Is Mrs. Teng in the carriage?"

Not only Duan Ningyuan and a surprised look, Madam Du was also surprised.

Teng Yuyi asked curiously in the car, "What's the matter with the little Daoist?"

Juesheng scratched his head: "Can you let Pindao get on the bus? This has to be said face to face."

The author has something to say: 1 See "Tang Lu Shu Yi"

In the Tang Dynasty, there was no distinction between criminal and civil. Taking Chang'an as an example, small cases were usually handled by law officers from Wannian County or Chang'an County who joined the army, and large cases were handled by the county magistrate (the people of the Tang Dynasty called the magistrate "Ming Fu". ) report it to Jingzhao House, but if Jingzhao House can’t handle it, it will report it to Dali Temple.

In the case of a really major case, the "Three Divisions Trial" will be conducted in coordination with the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Censor's Office.

2. The children of the nobles of the Tang Dynasty liked to bring their prey with them when they hunted. There is a poem called "The cheetah after the horse is golden, and the first sea green is looking at the side."

However, it seems that there are not too many princes and nobles who dare to use cheetahs, usually the likes of Lynley and Falcon.