The eastern capital of Luoyang, the forbidden garden of Ziwei Palace. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

It was late afternoon.

The forbidden army at the door had just eaten dinner, changed shifts, and suddenly two people came to the door, these two people walked crookedly, as if they were drunk, and when they arrived at the palace gate, they didn't stop, and went straight to the palace. The two forbidden soldiers stopped them with guns and shouted: "Bold fanatics, don't stop yet, do you know what kind of place this is?"

One of the two middle-aged man with a slightly yellow face smiled and said, "Where is it, isn't it where Emperor Lao Tzu lives?"

The forbidden army shouted: "Since you know that it is a forbidden place in the imperial city, you still dare to trespass, don't you want to die?" ”

Another purple-faced man was three points drunk, and while eating the shortbread, he said: "This shortbread is paired with Chen Sanbai's old wine, which is really unique." This military master, you can also taste it. As he spoke, he shoved a half-eaten piece of bread in his hand into the hands of the forbidden army, who took the cake and couldn't help but be furious, and said: "You nonsense and barbaric people, see if I don't break your legs, see if you dare to trespass." So saying, he raised his hand and threw the bread to the ground.

When his hand was raised in the air, he seemed to feel that there was something strange about the cake, as if it was particularly heavy, like a discus, and suddenly stopped. When I looked closely, the corner of the bite of the cake was yellow, and I quickly opened it to take a closer look, and there was a yellow gold brand wrapped in it.

When I wiped my hand, four words appeared on the gold medal: "Catch the thief by order."

The forbidden army broke out in a cold sweat at this time, and hurriedly pleaded guilty to the two, and the two laughed, it turned out to be Rou Tie and Dong Fei.

After Dong Fei received the order, he didn't stop and finally rushed back to the capital within half a month.

The forbidden army informed the inner court that there was already a big eunuch to the emperor, and the emperor issued an edict to summon him immediately. It turned out that the emperor had already ordered that no matter when Dong Fei arrived, even in the middle of the night, he would be summoned immediately.

In the side hall, Empress Dowager Zheng, Emperor, Dong Fei, Rou Tie, eunuchs Jia Shi, Lin Wei Sang Maocai, and Chen Zongqi.

Dong Feirou wanted to bow down to the Empress Dowager Zheng, but the emperor waved his hand and said goodbye, and talked about business directly.

Dong Fei briefly told the Empress Dowager about the Lingnan investigation and handling of the case of Liuhua Baojue. And Cheng Shuangshuang's affairs were made clear, and for the fact that he was an official of the court and privately married the daughter of a criminal minister, he asked the emperor to punish him.

Before the emperor could speak, Empress Dowager Zheng said: "Dong Qing's family is far away in Lingnan, and they have worked hard to solve this strange case. Even if Cheng Shuangshuang is really the daughter of a criminal minister, this merit can be offended. I just heard Qing describe the case in detail, this Cheng Shuangshuang's father, Cheng Qian, Fengtianfu, refused to join Fan Songnian that day, and was retaliated against by him, and died in Lingnan on the way to exile. This person is loyal, and he is really a loyal minister of our dynasty. Both of them were eager to avenge their father, so they stole Liuhua Baojue and killed the Marquis of Jingnan by mistake. ”

Dong Fei said: "The Queen Mother is clear, that's exactly the case. At that time, the Marquis of Jingnan was having a night banquet in the mansion of He Shiquan, the governor of Lingnan. ”

The emperor sneered: "In the ancestral system of this dynasty, foreign vassals are not allowed to make friends with Beijing officials and foreign officials privately, otherwise, they will be taken away from their titles, demoted to commoners, and never used." This Marquis of Jingnan blatantly violated the rules of the imperial court, which is already a big crime, and now he was killed by mistake, this crime does not need to be investigated, Jia Shi, you will pass the decree tomorrow, and reward him with more silver taels to arrange the funeral for his family. His son is demoted to a first-class raider, and I think he should be a disobedient uncle. ”

Jia Shi said: "The grace of the Holy Heaven, not only did not investigate the crime of Jingnanhou, but also attacked his descendants. ”

The emperor turned his head and said: "This time, Dong Qing was urgently summoned to the palace to investigate the important case of the murder of the Queen Mother, and the purpose has been clearly stated." ”

Dong Fei said: "Well, on the way back to Beijing this time, I happened to meet Rou Tierou Daxia, he happened to come to Beijing for something, so he went with him, and he promised to help me solve the case together." ”

The emperor said happily: "Rou Daxia is famous in the rivers and lakes, in the case of Iron Mask back then, if there was no Rou Daxia to help him, there would be no joint today, and this time he will trouble Daxia again." ”

Rou Tie said with a smile: "The emperor's destiny is as big as the sky, this time I went to Beijing to help Dong Fei, saying that it is a business matter, but also a private matter, both public and private." ”

Chen Zongqi said: "Why do heroes enter Beijing and other private matters, if there is no inconvenience, can you tell me." Routie told the story of the beggars.

The emperor said: "People in the world generally think that my royal family is the supreme and noble family in the world, and the beggar gang is the lowest and lowest gang in the world. In fact, people have the same heart, and things have the same reason. Where are there many differences, I can't imagine that this time there is an accident in my palace, and the beggar gang also has this big incident. There is such a coincidence. ”

Rou Tiedao: "Exactly, I am also so strange, so I returned to Beijing with Master Dong." ”

Dong Fei smiled: "You have always called me eldest brother, why did you change your name to adult." Rou Tie said: "Didn't the emperor already make you a squire of the Criminal Department." ”

The emperor said: "This investigation is a very important matter, and in order to facilitate the dispatch of all parties, I hereby order you to concurrently receive the title of minister." ”

Rou Tiedao: "Look, you are now an official master." Isn't Fenglu enough? However, I have a lot of problems, I am a good drinker and a gambler, and the people in the rivers and lakes say that I am half righteous and half evil, which is very polite, and I know that I am actually more evil. This period of eating, drinking, and gambling money is going to cost the court's silver. The emperor won't ask me about my crimes. ”

Empress Dowager Zheng said with a smile: "Rou Daxia wanders the rivers and lakes, is unrestrained, and although he acts evilly, he is upright. As the saying goes: 'If a righteous person uses evil law, his law is also right.' ’”

Rou Tie said: "Queen Mother Miao Zan, how dare the grass people in the rivers and lakes be." ”

The Queen Mother said to Dong Fei: "Shuangshuang has been living in fireworks all these years and has suffered a lot, you can bring her to the palace in a few days and let me see her." My old woman used to have a companion to talk to, but now that Empress Dowager Yang has unfortunately passed away, there is no one in the palace who can talk well. As he spoke, he sighed again and again, and his expression was infinitely sad and lonely.

Dong Fei said: "Yes, this time I will enter Beijing on a fast horse, and the post stations along the way will have the best fast horses for me to ride." Although both set off at the same time, her journey may be slower, and she will meet the Queen Mother as soon as she enters Beijing. The Queen Mother nodded and smiled.

Rou Tiedao: "There are witnesses to this cockfight. ”

Sang Maocai said: "I can see it with my own eyes." ”

Penal Department, Heavenly Prison. Dong Fei interrogated the chicken slaves in the Western Liao Mission, who were responsible for watching the cockfighting cage.

The chicken slave confessed that the fighting in the last chicken coop that day was not brought into Beijing by himself. When I entered Beijing that day, I also checked all the chicken coops when I arrived at the pavilion, and all the fighting cocks in the cage at that time were familiar with the temperament, but when I later uncovered the cover of the last chicken coop, I was also taken aback, and found that it was not my own, but it was ready to be pointed out.

Dong Fei asked, "Have you ever seen or recognized that white fighting?" ”

The chicken slave smiled bitterly: "I haven't seen it, I am very familiar with the forms of cockfighting all over the world, and even the fighting cocks of the Western Regions Rest in Daqin also know a thing or two, but I don't know the white chicken species." It's doubtful even if it's a cockfight. ”

Rou Tie and Dong Fei glanced at each other, and said in their hearts: "Isn't that a cockfight?"

Rou Tiedao: "Your fighting seems to have been transferred." You've been in contact with some very people lately. ”

The chicken slave said: "This fighting is only fed once a day, and at the time of the people, the day before entering the palace, when I feed, all the fighting cocks are right, after feeding, I went to the front street with a friend to drink...... By the way, it could be his ......" Suddenly a strange light flashed in his eyes.

Dong Fei hurriedly asked, "Who is he, who is your friend?"

The chicken slave said: "His surname is Wen, and he has been doing silk and leather business on the Hanliao border all the year round, and everyone calls him Boss Wen." I was so surprised that I asked him why he was here, saying that he had a few stores in the back streets of Beijing, and this time he was here to buy some goods. I happened to see our delegation entering Beijing and recognized me, I was not available a few days ago, but I happened to be free that night, so I was invited to drink in the evening. Since I was an acquaintance, I gladly went. It was late at night after drinking, so I went straight to sleep. The next day, he brought the fighting into the palace, because the fighting in our Xiliao area could not see the light except for food. Otherwise, the combat power will be greatly reduced, so it is not until this chicken is on the field that I will uncover the black cloth of the cage. Who knows......"

Rou Tiedao: "How do you know that someone has been transferred." From this point of view, this boss Wen is very suspicious. ”

Dong Fei said: "Where is the boss of the store, and what does it look like?"

"I haven't been to his shop, this man is in his forties, of medium build, with a bronzed square face, and by the way, he has a scar on the corner of his left eye." (Q5.1: Scar Man)"

Rou Tiedao: "But what else can I remember?" ”

Ji Nu said: "By the way, when he drank that day, he wore a green wide-sleeved silk jacket with a '10,000' character pattern on it. ”

Dong Fei slapped the table and sneered: "I see that you are full of lies, except for the color, when drinking, who will notice whether the other party's clothes are wide or narrow, let alone the words on the pattern." ”

The chicken slave hurriedly said: "The villain didn't lie, just because the **** drank too much, and accidentally splashed on the sleeve of his shirt when he drank the soup, so he wiped him with a handkerchief, so he remembered it deeply." Routie said: "This is reasonable. ”

Suddenly, Sang Maocai said: "Green silk jacket, bronze square face, scar." I seem to have seen this person somewhere, let me think, by the way, it seems that I was in the palace at the back door that day. ”

Dong Fei said: "Inner Servant Province, isn't that where the eunuchs live." Could it be that this person personally went into the palace to adjust the bag? ”

Sang Maocai said: "It won't be broken, there are records in and out of the palace gate." If this person is really a contractor, he will never be so stupid. But maybe it has something to do with the palace. ”

When everyone asked again, the chicken slave knew nothing, and everyone went out of the punishment department.

Rou Tie thought to himself, there is nothing special about this person's appearance, there are not thousands of businessmen of this kind in Beijing, but there are hundreds. The backstreets are lined with shops, and it is not easy to find this person.

Dong Fei turned to Sang Maocai and said, "Didn't the flowers shoot down a piece of this bird's tail feathers that day, where is it now?" ”

Sang Maocai said with a smile: "I know that Lord Dong will definitely investigate, and he has already personally sent this feather to the noon office of the Criminal Department. ”

Dong Fei said: "Let's go, let's go back." ”

Wu Zuo took out a box, and in the box was a piece of white feathers, which were more than five inches long, flat, and extremely hard. Except for a few, it is no different from ordinary bird feathers.

Rou Tiedao: "In this world, the feathers of birds must be different, but it is difficult for us ordinary people to distinguish ......"

Dong Fei sighed: "Yes, by the way, we might as well go to the West Market Poultry Market and find someone who knows the goods to argue." Routie nodded yes.

There are four large markets in the southeast, northwest and northwest of the capital, and the west market specializes in flowers, birds, insects, fish and beasts.

In the West Market, I found a few old customers who have been selling poultry for decades, but they all don't know where this feather comes from. Everyone is at a loss.

One of the old guests said: "This feather does not look like a fowl, but more like a bird feather." ”

Sang Mao heard this, his eyes lit up, and he smiled suddenly: "There is it, there is a way." ”

Everyone: "What way?"

Sang Maocai said: "I know a person, out of the west gate of Beijing, there is a blue bird valley in thirty miles, adjacent to the royal garden on the forest garden, here is a person who lives in seclusion, people in the rivers and lakes only know his surname and, do not remember his name, but call him a bird official." I heard that this person was a descendant of the Hundred Birds Palace back then, and he knew all the birds and birds in the world. ”

Dong Fei said: "How do you know?" Sang Maocai said: "I am Lin Wei of the Imperial Garden, although the official is not big, but I am in charge of all the affairs of the Imperial Garden, so I know it." ”

Rou Tiedao: "I have heard of the name of the Hundred Birds Palace, it was famous in the rivers and lakes back then, but since the Southern Song Dynasty, it has long been in decline, there has been no news for many years, and I have not heard of any outstanding people in recent years." ”

Sang Maocai said: "It's not too late, I'll lead the way and go to Jade Bird Valley quickly." ”

Among the stables of the Criminal Department, there are good horses. The three of them each picked a horse and went straight to Jade Bird Valley.

Out of the west gate of the capital, it is Guanqu Avenue, and the twenty-mile road is just a pillar of incense. Further ahead are two mountain peaks towering into the clouds, in the middle is a valley, in the valley is a dense forest, only a narrow path, all of them are in the gravel, the horse is inconvenient, the three of them tied the horse to the mouth of the valley, dismounted and walked. Dong Fei said: "How far is the bird official's residence from here?" This horse is tied to this place, and no one will lead it away? Sang Maocai said with a smile: "The thatched hut of the bird official is less than ten miles, on a low slope. Next to this place is the Royal Forbidden Garden, and even if someone passes by, no one will dare to steal a horse. You must know that the people who come here to hunt are all royal relatives and nobles, and it is not a light crime to steal their things. ”

The three of them were all light and strong, and they were on the slope in a short time.

A hut with two wooden doors ajar and half hidden.

Sang Maocai gently pushed open the firewood door.

Hearing the sound, a person had already come out of it, and when the person saw Sang Maocai, he hurriedly went to cover the chai door, and said: "It turned out to be you, you go, you go, I don't want to see you Laipi." ”。

When Dong Fei took a closer look, he saw that the man was dressed in a crane, with a banner loosely wrapped around his head, and his face was thin and pale, as if he had not seen the sun all year round. Instead, a pair of eyes, as sharp as a falcon, glanced at the three of them one by one.

Sang Maocai said with a smile: "Don't come to the big officials without harm." I've brought a few friends to see you. Rou Tie thought to himself, it turned out that this person was a bird official.

As soon as the bird official saw Sang Maocai, he scolded: "Sang Maocai, what are you doing this day when you came out of the coffin, last time you took my three Annan budgies, and you didn't even give one or two pieces of silver." What friends are not friends, you still don't give me ......"

Sang Mao didn't wait for him to finish, and said with a smile: "Hey, big official, don't say that, those birds last time were asked for by a few ladies in the palace, you think, everything in the palace may be lacking, the only thing that is not lacking is money." How could I be short of a penny of your money? You see, didn't I send you money, and I also brought a jar of good wine. As he spoke, he took out a small cloth bag from his arms, gently pulled the knotted rope at the mouth of the bag, and fell to the bottom of the bag. I looked at it from the small blue on the ground, and the aroma of wine came to my nose, and it was indeed a bottle of aged bamboo leaf green.

The bird official's face changed, and he only scolded half of a sentence, so he forcibly accepted it, and said with a smile: "Maocai, Maocai, you only come a few times a year, and you don't treat me as a friend anymore, I have a new batch of red-capped cranes, and I am about to invite you to come and see, I think you are an official and a big man, and you refuse to come to my small place." Since you're here, please come inside. He had already opened the firewood door, turned back and shouted inside: "Little Yan Xiaoque, quickly use the snow water to bring me back from Penglai last month to make a pot of bird's tongue tea." ”

In the sound of promise, two girls rushed out of it, and they had already gone to prepare.

The night is getting thicker, and the wine power of Zhu Yeqing is really powerful, and the four of them drank seven or eight cups, and their interest is even higher.

Sang Mao explained his intention, opened the basket containing the wine and food just now, and took out the feathers he brought in the mezzanine and presented them to the bird officials to watch.

The bird official looked at it for a long time and seemed to be puzzled, and then pondered for a long time, and said: "This feather is extraordinary, I guess it may be a very uncommon bird, but I don't dare to assert yet, in this way, whether this feather can be left, I will take you to the peacock mother-in-law tomorrow, and she will be able to answer it clearly." ”

Although Routie Dong Fei didn't know who his mother-in-law was, he saw that he said it solemnly, so he also agreed, and he didn't say anything that night.

On the second day, the four of them got out of the hut and climbed the mountain peak on foot, until they were about to reach the top, when a cave suddenly appeared on the mountainside, and there were still a hundred steps away from the cave door. Then he came to the door of the cave, and seemed to speak to the people inside, and then hung the box on a tree at the entrance of the cave, and returned.

When asked about him, he said that his mother-in-law had not seen any stranger, and that he would hear back tomorrow. The people returned to the hut of the bird official and stayed for another night.

Early in the morning, before the morning dew dried, he set off for the mountain where his mother-in-law lived. Not long after leaving the hut, I saw several woodcutters on the mountain road carrying firewood and had gone down the mountain early.

Rou Tie smiled: "Mo Daojun is early, and there are even more early pedestrians." ”

When they came to the mouth of the cave of the mother-in-law, the bird official couldn't help but sigh, it turned out that the peacock mother-in-law had been killed when she was eating. (Q5.2: The death of Granny Peacock is due to Jia Shi's correspondence.) Jia Shi is the inner line of the Demon Sect in the palace, and when he heard that Sang Mao said that he was looking for a bird official, he informed the people of the Demon Sect. ）

At the bottom of the dining table, the bird official found that when his mother-in-law was dying, he wrote three words: "Three-legged black." The bird official sighed: "Sure enough, it's it." ”

Dong Fei said: "What is it?"

The bird official said: "When the **** saw the feathers, he suspected that it was this bird, but this bird has not appeared for decades, so he didn't dare to make a judgment, and wanted to ask the peacock mother-in-law to confirm it, and now there is no doubt." ”

"What kind of bird is it?"

"This bird is not a fighting, but an extremely powerful falcon, just because of its sharp teeth and sharp mouth, and a very long and hard tail, it seems to have an extra foot." Hence the name 'three-legged black'. ”

Sang Maocai said: "'Three-legged black'? Its tail is more powerful than its claws, and that day it was shot down by its tail when it was full of flowers and arrows. watched it grab Empress Dowager Yang's golden hairpin and fly away. Where the hell did this bird come from? ”

The bird official nodded, "It's a long story. Back then, there was a country in the Western Regions called Loulan, have you ever heard of it? This bird is the national bird of Loulan country. ”

Rou Tiedao: "Loulan, yes, there was indeed such a country in the Western Regions, but since the Han Dynasty, I have not heard of it, and I heard that it has been destroyed for thousands of years. ”

Bird official humane: "Rou Daxia really has a wide range of knowledge, I also know from the records of ancient books, this bird is extremely rare, and it is difficult to domesticate, so only the grandson of Loulan Emperor at that time has it, often take it out to hunt, as a symbol of status." At first glance, the body of this bird is no different from the usual bird, but once the wings are spread and the claws are exposed, it is heroic, can be the enemy of four wolves and a tiger, its wings are spread, the width can be eight feet, the teeth and claws are sharp, the speed is like lightning, when hunting, the roe rabbit and small animal, can be grabbed at will, and in a moment you can sweep hundreds of zhang high in the air, let go of the claws, and die if you fall. On the grassland, there are foxes, wolves, tigers and leopards and the like, looking at them from afar, they have long been far away, because of their flying and pecking eyes, they are invincible in the snowy desert. The Loulan royal family often tattooed this bird, thinking that it was an auspicious thing to ward off evil spirits. The bird official also said that he had only heard from the previous generation of ancestors that he had heard that the top of the snow-capped mountain, the post of a thousand people, this bird is extremely difficult to control, and the bird catcher must kill his father and mother within one year of age, and for seven days in the extremely cold and foodless place, people and birds do not sleep or eat. At the beginning of the eighth day, let the domesticated human arm meat peck it to relieve its hunger, this bird is a psychic bird, and it is grateful to repay, so the man and the bird gradually know each other. I heard that now except for the Western Regions, except for a few people who still understand this method, it is almost extinct. But it has been nearly a thousand years since Loulan destroyed the country, so where to start with this. (Q5.3: They did not expect that although Loulan was destroyed, Gaochang would rise after Loulan.) ）”

Dong Fei said: "My mother-in-law recognized this bird, and some people were afraid that she would tell us the results, so they killed her." ”

"Yes, but this place is inaccessible, who will come to kill her." My mother-in-law is still warm, and I think she hasn't died for a long time......"

Rou Tiedao: "When we went out, we met a few woodcutters, could we say ......?"

Sang Maocai said: "Oh, I'm confused. There must be those people. ”

Routie said: "How can you see it?"

Sang Maocai slapped his thigh and said, "You don't know, this place is the Royal Shanglin Garden, and it is forbidden to pick woods within a radius of thirty miles, how can there be woodcutters." ”

The four of them chased after each other, and there were still figures.

When I returned to Beijing, I saw a group of people calling Huazi basking in the sun at the entrance of the city gate, turning over the shabby cotton jackets to catch fleas.

Dong Fei suddenly remembered something, and said to Rou Tie: "Lao Tie, aren't you going to the household department to check on Elder Huangjiao." Have you forgotten? ”

Rou Tie smiled: "Where did I forget, it's just that the emperor's destiny is like the sky, and your side is important, so I'll help you check the matter of the three-legged black first." ”

Dong Fei went to the Criminal Department, but he didn't expect that Hua Mantang was already waiting here, and asked Dong Fei what kind of fierce bird was so powerful that he couldn't even shoot an arrow at it. Dong Fei said with a smile: "This bird is called 'Three-legged Black'......" said and narrated to him about the bird official Peacock Mother-in-law. Before leaving, tell Hua Mantang that only the iron-backed crossbow can shoot the three-legged black.

At present, a ticket letter was issued in the Criminal Department, and it was paid to Routie, which was nothing more than asking the Ministry of Household to consult the old files on behalf of him, and find the internal and external officials who had been surnamed Geshu for decades, from the super prince to the Jiupin county order. None of the Beijing officials and foreign officials were missed.

Sure enough, when he arrived at the household department, Routie finally found out, and sure enough, there was a family of eunuchs surnamed Geshu.

The Geshu family was originally a hairpin family, living on the shore of Luoshui, the first generation of ancestors named Geshu Moa, was a great official of Gaochang State, and later Gaochang was destroyed by the Tang Dynasty, so he moved to the Central Plains. Originally, there was also a title, but after several generations, it was not allowed to be attacked again, but it was still a wealthy family.

Twenty years ago, his little owner, Shu Hao, was forced to sell his house and move out of the city because of a failed business.

Later, the people who went to the south came back and said that they had seen him in Jiangnan, and he had been reduced to a beggar, and there was only one old family member to accompany him and beg together.

Routie decided to go south with Dong Fei.

Rou Tie found the old family who became beggars with Ge Shuhao, and now he is an old beggar. But the old beggar lost his memory, and only vaguely said that the person's surname was Li.

Dong Fei received a secret report from Jiangnan that near Liangxi in Taihu Lake, there was a person named Li Dengke, who was secretly acting and seemed to have a plot, so it could be this person.