Tong Xin waved her hand, and sixteen or seven sturdy men walked in one after another outside the door. They were all dressed as farmers. Each of them carried a load on their shoulders. Under the load were two huge baskets, and each basket contained a There is a box.
Wang Rong asked: "Where do you plan to carry these boxes?"
Tong Xin said: "There are mainly two places, one is Xuanzang Hall and the other is Deqing Hall."
Wang Rong shook his head and said: "Both places are guarded by guards, so I'm afraid they won't be easy to get close to."
Tong Xin waved her hand and said: "No need to get close, we just need to place the boxes around."
Wang Rong nodded and said, "Okay, then follow me."
Wang Rong led Tong Xin and others through the alleys. They did not dare to go to Xuanzang Hall first, but made a big detour in the mansion and headed towards Deqing Hall.
After walking for about a stick of incense, Tong Xin became a little impatient and asked: "How long do we have to go?!"
Wang Rong said: "Don't worry, it's just in front. It will be there soon."
After bypassing a garden and passing through a moon cave door, an antique courtyard flashed before his eyes. When everyone had entered the courtyard, Wang Rong pointed to the southeast with her hand and said, "That's Deqing Hall."
Tong Xin looked in the direction of her finger and saw a building with green tiles and red roofs among the green cypresses and willows. Against the backdrop of many surrounding houses, it looked more majestic and towering.
Tong Xin nodded and asked, "How far is it from the Deqing Hall?"
Wang Rong thought that Tong Xin was dissatisfied with her for not bringing them to Deqing Hall, so she hurriedly explained: "This is already very close. If you go further, there will be guards from the palace patrolling constantly. Only here is the safest place."
"Where is this place?"
Wang Rong replied: "This place is called Shuiyun Garden. It was originally the place where my wife's relatives lived when they came to the house. Later, my wife left without saying goodbye. Naturally, her relatives never came again, so this place became free. You can put the box in No one will find it if you leave it here."
Tong Xin said: "Where is Xuanzang Hall?"
Wang Rong said: "We are now in the southwest of the mansion, and Xuanzang Hall is behind us in the northeast."
"How far is it from Xuanzhengtang?"
Wang Rong said: "That's far away. It will take at least half an hour to walk."
After hearing this, Tong Xin murmured to herself: "It seems that we have to find another place."
"What's wrong?" Wang Rong asked, "Isn't it possible here?"
Tong Xin shook his head and said: "No, this place is very good. Come, put ten boxes here."
The man behind was ordered to unload ten baskets, move the boxes out of the baskets, and take out many tools such as shovels and hoes from the bottom of the baskets.
Wang Rong saw this and asked in confusion: "What is this going to do?"
Tong Xin smiled and said: "Don't worry, you will know after a while. Come on, let's go to Xuanzheng Hall."
Tong Xin left five people here, and the remaining ten people continued to carry baskets and headed towards Xuanzheng Hall.
There were only two roads to go from Deqing Hall to Xuanzheng Hall. Wang Rong proudly chose a farther and more remote road. Even so, she encountered two groups of patrolling guards along the way. Some guards recognized Wang Rong and came forward to salute: "Where are you going, Mr. Wang?"
Wang Rong replied: "Ah... the rockery in the back garden is a little loose. I asked a few people to pick up some earth and rocks to repair it."
When the guards saw that most of the people were dressed as civilians and carrying baskets, they didn't ask any more questions.
After walking like this for more than half an hour, Wang Rong stopped in front of a rockery. Tong Xin looked up and saw that the mountain was rugged with strange rocks, with many mountains, gurgling streams at the foot of the mountain, and lush green mountains. Everything was natural, with no trace of artificial carving. She couldn't help but sigh: "What a beautiful scenery!"
Wang Rong said: "You know the goods. This mountain was originally a huge stone that was tens of thousands of years old at the bottom of Taihu Lake. That year there was a severe drought in the south of the Yangtze River and the water level of Taihu Lake dropped sharply, so the stone was exposed from the center of the lake. The then Imperial Master Zhang Xianren heard Listen, I came all the way from Chang'an. When I saw this stone, I said, "This is the pillar stone of the country. It is really a blessing for the country to be born today." So he made a ritual at the altar beside Taihu Lake to pray for rain. It is really miraculous. After a while, , the originally clear sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds, thunder and lightning struck, and torrential rain fell, and the severe drought was resolved."
Tong Xin said: "So, this is still a treasure mountain and a rare stone?"
Wang Rong said: "Of course. After the Holy One ascended the throne, he specially arranged for people to take this stone out of Taihu Lake and gave it to the General's Mansion to show my master's identity as the pillar stone of the country and the minister of the humerus."
Hearing this, Tong Xin showed a strange smile, looked around, and asked, "Where is the Xuanzang Hall?"
"You can see it behind the mountain at the Tingyu Pavilion."
Tong Xin looked up and saw a small wooden house not far away, nestled against mountains and rivers, which was very unique. Tong Xin's body swayed, and she arrived in front of the wooden house in two or three steps. She gently opened the door and saw that the house was fully equipped with beds, seats, tea tables and other items. When you enter the house and look out the window, you will see the Xuanzang Hall with black tiles and black walls.
Tong Xin nodded when he saw this, and said to the dozen or so men: "Leave ten more boxes here, and put them all on the rockery."
Wang Rong said in confusion: "The rockery is full of strange rocks, and there is no room for these boxes. Besides, if so many of you climb up the rockery together, the goal is too big. This place is not like Shuiyun Garden, where the doors and courtyards are deserted. , no one cares about it, only a few servants occasionally go to clean it, but it is very different here. A hundred steps away is the Xuanzang Hall, surrounded by patrolling guards. If you show off like this, you will definitely be discovered by the guards."
Tong Xin smiled and said: "That's okay. You just said it. We are migrant workers here to repair the rockery. It is natural to dig and mend it. I believe no one will doubt it."
Wang Rong said in astonishment: "This...this statement can fool the guards in the palace, but it cannot fool the master and the young lady. If they know about this, you will be in danger."
Tong Xin said: "Don't worry, I have my own sense of discretion. Now take us to each door of the mansion."
"The door? Which door are you going to?"
Tong Xin asked: "How many gates does Chen Mansion have?"
Wang Rong replied: "The mansion has two main entrances in the north and south, two side entrances in the east and west, and two small doors in the northwest and southeast. The south door is always open on weekdays and is used by office directors and other public officials to enter and exit, while the north door is used by family members and servants. The doors for people to come in and out. The east gate and west gate are only opened during special periods. For example, this time when people from all over the city come for an interview, they use the east and west gates. The northwest and southeast gates are where the guards and maids of the mansion come in and out. Normally, It won’t open either.”
"Is the north gate open now?"
Wang Rong thought for a moment and said: "Logically speaking, it should be closed. The area near the north gate is mostly the residence of the female family members of the mansion. Under normal circumstances, it will not be opened easily."
Tong Xin clapped her hands and said, "Okay, in that case, let's go to the north gate and have a look!"
