The expressions of Liang Jiunan and Yu Langya were a little gloomy.
In Pei Ji's mansion, he is the only one of his lineage.
In other words, the dead women and children should all have something to do with Pei Ji.
Ten children died in one year?
Even a group of wives and concubines is quite appalling.
What's even more suspicious is that Pei Ji lost ten children in one year, and seven concubines and wives including Cui Huan also died.
But when I saw him at the New Year's Eve puja, there was only fear on his face and no trace of sadness at all.
This doesn't seem to make sense!
The silence between the two finally made the little Taoist realize that Liang Jiunan and Yu Langya's identities might be unusual.
He looked at the two of them carefully and asked, "Aren't you two here to pray for your child who died in infancy?"
Before the two of them could explain anything, an old voice sounded from the door along with the sound of footsteps.
"Master Liang, Master Yu, long time no see."
"It's just that the two of you are not married yet, let alone having children, so how can you come to the palace of Cansheng Queen?"
This voice is no stranger to Liang Jiunan and Yu Langya.
The two of them turned around and cupped their hands with a hint of respect: "I've seen Taoist Master Yunhe!"
In front of him was a white-haired old Taoist who was as skinny as a stick but had piercing eyes. He waved his whisk in the air, giving him a certain air of immortality.
"You two adults don't have to be so polite. The poor Taoist is just a cultivator, and the two are officials. There is a difference between them, so you must not lose your etiquette." After saying that, Taoist Master Yunhe looked at the little Taoist priest: "You go and finish it. As a teacher, I will entertain them by doing my own homework.”
The little Taoist priest stuck out his tongue guiltily and ran away.
Seeing Yu Langya standing there like this, Liang Jiunan sighed inwardly, his sworn sister really had a worrying emotional intelligence.
Immediately, Liang Jiunan put on a smile and continued:
"What the Taoist Master said is embarrassing us."
"You are one of the few seventh-level warlocks in Yangzhou City. What does your official status mean?"
"It's just that...the governor and the chief are already very worried, so they can only send us two juniors here. I didn't report it to the Taoist priest. Please forgive me."
Taoist Priest Yunhe shook his head, stepped into the temple, and offered a stick of incense to Empress Cansheng: "You two came here in a hurry, it must be about the Pei family's affairs."
"Taoist Priest has a keen eye." Liang Jiunan sighed: "This matter is too big and the governor is paying close attention to it. Pei Sima is also involved, so the Demon Subduing Division is helpless."
As he spoke, Liang Jiunan suddenly changed the topic:
"But... I dare to ask, sir, when was the Cansheng Empress enshrined in Qianku Temple?"
“I haven’t heard of it the few times I’ve been here before.”
Taoist priest Yunhe nodded:
"That's what happened in the past two years."
"Actually, Qiankuguan has always retained some local folk beliefs."
"It's just that, for most people, worshiping the Cansheng Empress is more or less..."
"Therefore, if we find that a donor comes to pray for a child who died in infancy, we will quietly inform him."
Yu Langya was really impatient. Seeing that the two of them seemed to be unable to get to the point in the series, he couldn't help but ask: "Taoist Priest, the Pei family bought ten jade pendants a year, don't you think it's strange?"
Liang Jiunan grinned and quietly pulled Yu Langya's sleeves.
Taoist Yun He was old, but he didn't care about it. He just smiled and said:
"Pindao is a cultivator."
"Pei Sima is a member of the officialdom and a member of the Pei clan, one of the four great clans."
"If he wants to buy it, can Pindao not sell it?"
"As for...why his children died in infancy and why there were so many, this is not something that a poor man can say."
"Then... Pei Sima's concubine Cui Huan should have come to pray alone." Liang Jiunan added.
Taoist Priest Yunhe frowned and stood there thinking carefully for a moment:
"That being said, it is indeed true."
"I think it's been three years since she came to ask for a piece of it every year on the Ghost Festival."
"Pindao doesn't know much about this matter. I just heard something about it when she asked for the jade plaque, saying that she was going to the middle of Yangzhou Lake to pay homage."
"At that time, Pindao was still surprised. Could it be that the child drowned in Yangzhou Lake? Why should we pay tribute there?"
Obviously, Taoist Priest Yunhe didn't know much about all this.
Liang Jiunan changed his mind and pulled Yu Langya away from Qianku Temple.
On the street, Yu Langya was a little distressed: "Looking at it, we can only go to the dock to find out."
Liang Jiunan nodded:
"I have a vague feeling that Qian Ku Guan may have something to do with this incident."
"His sudden arrival at the Cansheng Empress Hall is inherently strange."
"But Taoist Master Yunhe is a seventh-level master. Only the Chief Secretary, the Governor and a few seniors can suppress him steadily, so we can only give up first."
…
After thinking about it, the only direction that can be conveniently investigated at present is Peijia Pier.
As one of the four major surnames, even if Yangzhou City only has Pei Ji's lineage, the industries covered by the Pei family are quite terrifying.
Peijia Wharf, as the hub of the river, probably brings tens of thousands of taels of gold to Pei Ji every year.
"Although I knew that Pei's pier was probably very busy, I really didn't expect this scene." Yu Langya couldn't help but stare at the cargo ships that were almost full at the pier.
"Yes, that's why the boss doesn't let you and I easily investigate the Pei Mansion." Liang Jiunan said solemnly: "Although Pei Ji doesn't practice himself, the Pei family wants to kill you and me. It’s really easy.”
"Then what should we do now?" Yu Langya asked back: "The dock is so busy. If we want to borrow a boat to investigate, it will definitely not work."
Liang Jiunan also had a headache about this matter.
The Cuihuan memorial place is in the center of the lake, so you can only go there to see it.
Now...it seems that the only option is to find the person in charge of the dock.
After about a stick of incense, Liang Jiunan and Yu Langya found Manager Wu who was in charge of cargo transportation at the dock.
Manager Wu was fat and over 40 years old. Even though it was freezing cold, he was already breathing heavily from exhaustion while he was standing there instructing the workers to move the goods. He kept wiping his hands with a brocade handkerchief. Sweat stains on forehead.
"Be gentle, this is this year's new tea. If I touch it, I won't be able to afford the compensation if I sell it!"
Manager Wu was rather sarcastic when he spoke.
Liang Jiunan and Yu Langya stepped forward and after giving their waist badge tokens, they cupped their hands and said:
"Yangzhou Demon-Conquering Division Demon-Conquering Guard, Liang Jiunan (Yu Langya), would like to borrow a boat from you, the steward."
When he heard that it was the Demon-Conquering Division, Manager Wu was startled, and he suddenly smiled attentively: "That's right! But... I dare to ask you two adults, where are you going to borrow the boat?"
Liang Jiunan pointed to the distance: "The center of the lake."
In an instant, Manager Wu's face turned pale as a sheet.
