When they arrived near Baoxu Temple, Zheng Haizhu did not rush to the door, but walked around the area first.
She discovered that this Taoist temple was not so much adjacent to the Imperial Academy as it was closer to the Wude Guard Camp.
The Wude Guard Camp in the northeast of Beijing is also one of the capital's garrison, with a strength of five to six thousand people. Nowadays, most of it has become a place where the emperor's relatives and relatives are paid, and there are still hundreds of soldiers coming and going. out.
Zheng Haizhu thought for a while and asked Hua Er next to him: "Do you think there's anything weird about it?"
In the past few days, Li Daniu was sent by Zheng Haizhu to keep an eye on the doctor who was treating Liu Qiao's only son.
Hua Er had no colleagues to discuss research participation with, so he was forced to think quickly.
The little girl looked around and said, "Madam, wait a moment, Hua Er will be back soon." Then she ran to the shop at the other end of the alley to buy flowers.
When they came back, Hua Er first made a show of giving the bouquet of his choice to Zheng Haizhu, and then reported in a low voice: "Madam, I asked the guy, he said that Baoxuguan was originally an abandoned barn. , this Taoist temple was built three years ago. But there is no Taoist temple inside, only female Taoist priests and disciples practice, but there are usually women who come in and listen."
Zheng Haizhu nodded and continued to wait for Hua Er's analysis with a kind expression.
Hua Er said with a smacking tone: "My wife came back from the Wenhua Palace last time and said that the female Taoist priest is very young. I think her disciples are not too old. But here in the north are all strong-blooded soldiers who love to eat. He likes to make trouble when he is drunk. I heard from the waiter that some drunken soldiers even provoked the supervisors of the Imperial College and the maids passing by. Therefore, if this Baoxu Temple is not a famous Taoist temple in the capital, why should the female Taoist choose one? What about here? Even if she had no fame or money in the past, she could only choose this place. But now there are people who can enter the palace to serve Concubine Zheng, why don't they move away? "
Zheng Haizhu looked satisfied.
The little girl's ideas are getting better and better.
"Hua Er, there are two major sects of Taoism, the Zhengyi sect and the Quanzhen sect. Taoist priests of the Zhengyi sect can get married and have children. They also have to do some rituals on weekdays, such as praying for blessings or salvation, and are not too taboo about the secular world. But that day , I looked at Taoist Master Jingzhao, the hat he was wearing was a Hunyuan scarf, he clearly belongs to the Quanzhen sect, and he should avoid noisy and noisy places."
Hua Er listened attentively to Zheng Haizhu's explanation. She was as smart as she was. Madam was teaching her that the ability to conduct on-the-spot investigations was indispensable, but to be a qualified spy, one must also spend time in daily life. He is well aware of the origins of the three religions and nine streams.
"Madam, shall we go in now?" Hua Er asked.
"Wait a minute," Zheng Haizhu pointed to a carriage in the driveway outside Baoxu Temple, "That's the carriage from Honglu Temple."
"Ah? How did Madam know that?"
Zheng Haizhu said: "That day after the lecture in the Wenhua Hall, I wanted to ask Sun Chengzong about Sun Hanlin's lectures, so I turned to the East Symbiosis Gate. The six yamen, Hanlin Academy, Taiyuan Hospital, Qintianjian, and Honglu Temple, etc. We gathered together there. Mr. Lu, Li Daniu, and I divided the work and took a rough note of the carriages at the gates of each government office, the paint color of the awnings, whether they were new or old, the color of the curtains, and the color of the horses' coats. When walking in the capital, these things can be seen with our eyes Son, there is always something useful."
Hua Er clicked her tongue, Madam was really a businessman, she was very calculating and unwilling to waste her time. A trip to the palace would bring back twice as much knowledge.
"Madam, Hua Er understands the imperial hospital, but what does Honglu Temple in the imperial court do?"
"Originally, it was used to contact envoys from various countries, arrange court etiquette, and arrange civil and military officers and generals who came to Beijing for business. However, due to its frequent dealings with the cabinet and the inner court, the Honglu Temple now, like a yamen in the imperial court called the General Affairs Department, can often directly When you see the Long Live Lord, the Chief Assistant, and the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, you will know the news in the court best."
Hua Er twisted her beautiful eyebrows and tried very hard to understand Madam's words. Then she rolled her eyes and speculated: "Well, Madam said that Jingzhao is from Concubine Zheng. So, is it possible that Honglu Temple The official, you know something important, and coming to tell Jingzhao is equivalent to telling Concubine Zheng?"
Zheng Haizhu murmured: "You can think about it this way. Long live the Lord has just ascended the throne, and envoys from various countries came to Beijing to congratulate them. They all stayed in Honglu Guest House. Honglu Temple arranged some Buddhist scriptures and moral preaching for them. So Honglu Temple If you are a good person, come to a Taoist temple in an open and honest manner, the pretense is just right.”
However, she has deeper thoughts based on the time traveler in her heart, which she cannot express even to her subordinates now.
According to the original historical process, in more than half a month, the famous "Red Pill Case" will occur. Today, Zhu Changluo indulged too much and fell ill. Cui Wensheng, the eunuch in charge of the imperial pharmacy, failed to take the medicine. An official named Li Kezui offered him a "red pill". After Zhu Changluo took it, he died the next day.
The eunuch Cui Wensheng was a close confidant of Concubine Zheng, and Li Kezhuo was the Prime Minister of Honglu Temple. When Zheng Haizhu passed by Honglu Temple that day, he went to ask the official specifically. The minister of Honglu Temple was appointed to the official position, and the seat of Shaoqing was vacant. During these days, Li Sicheng was in charge of the official affairs of the yamen.
That's right. In all likelihood, this female Taoist Priest Jingzhao is the bridge between the foreign ministers and the inner court Concubine Zheng Guifei and Cui Wensheng.
Zheng Haizhu and Hua Er waited for another half an hour when they saw a man in blue clothes coming out of the Taoist temple and calling the coachman from Honglu Temple to drive the carriage over.
"Let's go over there."
Zheng Haizhu called Hua Er and walked towards the door, when a man wearing a black veil and a blue robe stepped out.
The man saw Zheng's master and servant passing by holding an umbrella, just treating them as ordinary visitors to the Taoist temple, and paid no attention to them. However, when Zheng Haizhu crossed their shoulders, she glanced at the breasts on the opponent's chest.
Embroidered egret.
The sixth grade is correct.
In Honglu Temple, only Si Cheng is the sixth grade.
In this regard, the middle-aged man with a beard, slightly protruding eyes and high cheekbones is probably Li Kezhuo who presented the red pill in history.
…
The sound of horse hooves faded away behind.
The Taoist temple is not big and the vegetation is not lush. After all, it used to be just a granary.
The few newly built brick houses are neat and elegant. On the double-eaves palace in the middle, there is a plaque reading "Qingdu beyond the clouds". A Bagua diagram is made of cobblestones at the foot of the stairs. Two little Taoist nuns are arranging the incense burner and Prayer flags.
A little Taoist nun saw Zheng Haizhu and came over to ask.
"I'm bothering you, please tell Taoist Priest Jingzhao. Wenhua Palace has entered the lecture hall, Zheng Shi, to ask for an audience."
The little Taoist nun heard the origin, thought about it, suddenly realized, and was a little surprised: "Master Zheng of the prince? Our temple master said, isn't the post you prayed for tomorrow?"
"So I apologize. Since I have other official duties tomorrow, I will come to the door abruptly today instead. Priest Wanwang will forgive me."
"Oh, that's it," the little Taoist nun clasped her hands on the luggage and said politely, "Master Zheng, wait a moment, the little Taoist will go and invite the temple master right now."
Zheng Haizhu and Erya stood quietly outside the palace. Without any effort, they could hear the shouts of the sergeants coming from the north. It was obvious that a few sergeants from the Beijing camp were practicing.
Hua Er whispered: "Madam, after coming in, I feel closer to Beiying. This Taoist temple seems to be opened directly in the military camp."
Zheng Haizhu gave a deep hum and did not continue the discussion. Instead, avoiding the direct sunlight at noon, he walked to the eaves of the palace and looked around several tile-roofed houses.
There are no towering cypresses, but there are a few vegetable patches.
A man wearing a bamboo hat was loosening the soil and fertilizing. Looking at it from a distance, his posture was a bit strange.
Next to the vegetable bed, a six or seven-year-old boy squatted, seemingly playing with sand and stones.
Zheng Haizhu walked through the short corridor and came to the boy's side.
"What tricks are you playing?" Zheng Haizhu asked softly.
But the boy didn't even raise his head. He just took the stone and drew twisted patterns on the soil.
Hua Er, who was following, also approached the boy, squatted down, and asked curiously: "Hey, are you drawing a house?"
When the man in the vegetable field heard the noise, he put down his hoe, strode over, took off his bamboo hat, and showed a simple and apologetic expression.
"Grandma, don't blame me. After my mother died two years ago, she didn't like to talk anymore."
After meeting the man at close range, Zheng Haizhu saw clearly that the sleeve on his left hand was empty, and he must have lost his arm.
But what caught her attention was that the man had a Sichuan accent.
Zheng Haizhu sighed and said warmly: "When my brother-in-law and sister-in-law left, my nephew was only two or three years older than him. He also kept quiet for almost a year, and he will get better slowly. By the way, you are here for this The one who grows vegetables in Taoist temple?"
The man nodded: "The master has a good heart and is willing to buy me some strength so that he can teach me and the baby something to eat."
"Oh, we are new to the capital, and we have also received a favor from the master of the temple. We come to thank her today."
"Well, then, that little one must go to work."
"Okay, you're busy."
After a few more exchanges of words, Zheng Haizhu became more and more certain that the man's tone and pronunciation were close to Ma Xianglin's accent.
"Master Zheng, the temple master invites you."
The little Taoist nun called from the other side of the corridor.
Zheng Haizhu turned around and left the vegetable patch with Hua Er.
At this time, the little boy turned his head and stared at Zheng Haizhu's retreating back for a moment. Then he turned back and carefully drew strange, symbolic words on the dirt.
