When the sky first dawned and the first ray of golden light broke through the clouds in the east, there were already attendants and bookboys walking back and forth in the Confucius Temple, holding sacrificial utensils in their hands, preparing for today's ceremony to worship Confucius.
When the auspicious time came, the doors opened one after another, and to the sound of morning bells, Qiao, who was wearing sacrificial robes, offered wine in front of him, and led the Imperial College students in long robes to enter slowly.
Soon, Taifu Chu and other officials, who were accompanying the priests, also arrived.
Also coming was Mingluo, who had been appointed as the praise officer during the past years of offering sacrifices to Confucius.
For the families of various gentry clans who attached great importance to literature and ethics, worshiping Confucius was also a major event, so all the clans also had their children present.
In addition, there are famous Confucian scholars and scholars from all over the world.
Led by Qiao Jijiu, Taifu Chu, and Ming Nu Shi, everyone first bowed in front of the apricot altar. More than a thousand people came, and they lined up in order to hold the ceremony. It was a grand occasion.
After offering incense and worshiping in front of the apricot altar, Qiao Jijiu and others entered the Dacheng Hall.
Above the shrine in the temple, a statue of Confucius is enshrined in the middle. On the left and right are the accompanying statues of four sages, including Yan Hui and Zeng Shen.
As the music to welcome the gods began to play, Mingluo held the gift silk in his hand, and the sound of the ceremony was heard in the hall: "Welcome to the restoration of Confucius, the sage master, to worship the gods, and all the officials knelt down——"
Most of the people in the hall were officials and children of aristocratic families. Many supervisors and ordinary scribes had lined up outside the hall, and they all knelt three times and kowtowed nine times.
Song Xian stood at the head of the supervisory committee, but he was a little distracted because he had not seen Qiao Yubai since the beginning of the ceremony.
Where have people gone?
Is it because of the disappearance of the Chang family girl that she has no intention of attending the ceremony?
The ceremony was proceeding in an orderly manner, and the descendants of each noble clan came forward individually to offer incense and pay homage to each saint. While Mingluo temporarily stepped aside to wait, her personal maid came over.
"Female Shi, something happened in the mansion..." The maid lowered her voice and said, "The prince is missing!"
What?
Mingluo didn't show anything strange. He took his maid to avoid the public's sight and went to speak behind the pillars of the palace.
"...It is said that the Crown Prince left the mansion through the back door with only his wife and servant. The guard guarding the back door was knocked unconscious by someone!"
The maid said: "The palace has sent people to look for it, and finally the prince's carriage was found in front of a courtyard where the wife was married, but the servants in the courtyard said they had not seen the prince!"
"When the saint learned about this, Long Yan was furious. At this time, he has ordered people to intensify the search for the prince's whereabouts inside and outside the city..."
Mingluo's eyebrows frowned more and more tightly.
The guard was knocked unconscious...Who helped Ming Jin get out of the house at night?
It's definitely not his gangster friends. Those dudes don't have the courage, and they can't do it so cleanly!
Could it be... Chang Suining?
Thinking of this possibility, Mingluo's heart beat a few times, and a bad premonition arose in his heart.
Chang Sui Ning's whereabouts could not be found anywhere in the past two days, which made her start to feel a little uneasy.
This situation is not quite right now...
If the Chang family had succeeded, why didn't they show up for so long? With the Manchu clan members of the Chang family around, the Chang family would definitely not dare to escape... So, could it be that something unexpected happened?
And if Chang Sui Ning was behind all of this, then what was the purpose of the other party leading Ming Jin to leave the house on his own initiative? Take him hostage and force the Ming family and the saint to release Chang Sui'an? Or do you have other intentions?
Soon a book boy came looking for him, and Mingluo had to calm down and return to the front of the crowd to continue to greet him.
And the possibilities she could think of, the Holy Book Emperor had naturally thought of.
At the signal of the Holy Emperor, the imperial army and various government offices quickly dispatched troops to search for Ming Jin's traces inside and outside the city, and focused on searching places related to the Chang family.
"Recently, a large number of refugees and bandits have been causing trouble in the capital. Sometimes they hide in private houses and wait for opportunities to steal and hurt people. We have been ordered to come and search for the whereabouts of the bandits!"
Outside the Chang family's Zhuangzi outside the city, a group of officials also came.
Shen Sanmao was horrified when he heard this, and quickly bowed and made a "please" gesture: "Such a thing has happened... Sirs, please come in quickly, please search more carefully!"
He personally led the way and led the officers to search the house and then went to the back mountain.
He was afraid that a thief was really hiding, and even if he only stole a grain of rice, it would be a pain he couldn't bear.
As groups of forbidden officers quickly entered and exited various places in the city, they fell into the eyes of some people who didn't know the truth, which made people panic.
Ever since the refugees came to Beijing and the war broke out in Yangzhou, it can be seen to the naked eye that the capital has become less peaceful day by day...
"What's going on?"
A group of common people who avoided the officials gathered together to discuss in low voices.
The sky, which was still somewhat sunny in the morning, was now lowered, and the cold wind blew, making people tighten their necks.
Ming Jin had no idea that the capital was almost turned upside down in order to search for his whereabouts.
At this time, he was lying on the couch. He just struggled to open his eyes and subconsciously raised his hand to press his aching head.
"Your Majesty... you are finally awake." Kushuang, who had been standing by the side, said.
Ming Jin sat up with her help. While looking at the furnishings in the room, he frowned and asked, "Why should I sleep here?"
"My lord, have you forgotten? You fell asleep in the carriage on the way here. When we arrived outside the courtyard, the maidservant failed to wake you up, so we took you here to rest with them."
Yeah?
Ming Jin tried to recall what happened when he fell asleep, but the more he thought about it, the more his head hurt.
He drank a lot last night and took those aphrodisiac pills. In addition, he was inevitably tired after not resting for a long time. It was normal for him to fall asleep due to the alcohol.
Fushuang's words gave him the impression that he was in another courtyard at this time, and he asked casually: "Where is Minggui?"
Minggui is his personal servant.
Guoshuang looked out the window and answered without hesitation: "He is guarding outside. Do you want the maid to call him in to serve him?"
"No need." As his thoughts returned, Ming Jin clearly thought of his purpose of coming here, so he stood up and walked outside.
After leaving the inner room, he realized that it seemed to be an attic. The courtyard where his mother was married was very large. He had only been there once and didn't have much impression of the furnishings, so he didn't feel anything was wrong. .
Plus he quickly saw the people around Chang.
"Mama Liao." Ming Jin laughed: "Guoshuang didn't lie, you are indeed here."
"Your Majesty..." Grandma Liao bowed slightly, followed by an entourage.
"Did you really catch that *** from the Chang family?" Ming Jin couldn't wait to ask, "Where is she? Is she dead or alive?"
Grandma Liao looked hesitant.
"Why, mother forbids you to tell me?" Ming Jin sneered impatiently: "How can I not deal with a lowly adopted daughter of a military commander?"
The cold and sharp object suddenly pressed against her lower back was full of reminders and threats. Grandma Liao did not dare to hesitate any longer: "...The person is upstairs."
Ming Jin laughed "ha", with a touch of excitement in his eyes, and immediately walked upstairs.
Listening to the sound of people walking up the stairs step by step, Nanny Liao was heartbroken and looked at Sushuang with cold and resentful eyes.
This *** actually betrayed the Crown Prince and conspired with outsiders to trick the Crown Prince into this place!
Sushuang clenched her palms that were covered with sweat due to nervousness, her face was trembling but she did not avoid Grandma Liao's sight. She just wanted to live!
Before giving Mother Liao a chance to speak again, she saw that Ming Jin had already gone upstairs. The attendant quickly tied her hands and feet, took her to an old and abandoned small library, locked the door tightly, and guarded her outside. .
Seeing that Granny Liao had been imprisoned, Mrs. Chang, who was also tied up, quickly asked: "...What does Chang Sui Ning want to do? Where is this place!"
"Madam... I don't know what tricks she used to let that *** Guishuang deceive the Crown Prince!"
"What?!" Mrs. Chang's eyes widened violently: "What on earth does she want to do!"
Seeing her wife's miserable appearance, Grandma Liao shook her head in despair.
She didn't know where this place was. She and her wife were knocked unconscious and brought here. They had not eaten for two days and only drank some water.
The dual physical and mental torture deepened Chang's
Frightened and uneasy, she struggled and fell to the ground, trying to leave here to prevent the unknown, but it was destined to be in vain.
During the useless struggle, Chang's eyes were red as she fell to the ground due to excessive exertion. At this moment, the last words the girl said to her in Guansheng Temple suddenly rang in her mind -
"Before you die, take a look at the truth of an ant like me."
…
Ming Jin has already gone to the second floor.
There were two attendants guarding the second floor, but when they saw him coming, after a slight hesitation, they bowed and gave way.
This made Ming Jin more and more convinced of everything in front of him, not to mention that he was originally unable to think about other possibilities.
He raised the corner of his mouth: "You guys stay here, I'll go in by myself."
Two followers should say "yes".
Ming Jin raised his hand to open one of the hanging bamboo curtains in front of him and walked in.
All the doors and windows here are tightly closed, not a breath of wind can come in, and you can't see the outside scene at all. It is indeed a scene that should be experienced when a person is imprisoned.
Ming Jin soon saw the imprisoned man.
She was tied to a chair, her hands and feet were bound, the robe she was wearing was covered in mud and blood, and the hair tied to her head was messy.
When she heard the footsteps and turned her head to look, only those eyes were still astonishingly bright and filled with chill.
Ming Jin smiled in surprise: "Great, he is indeed alive!"
He walked over and looked at the person in front of him with satisfaction. He bent down and reached out to hold Chang Sui Ning's chin, looking at her from side to side: "Aren't you always the most majestic and capable? Why are you in such an embarrassing situation now?"
As he spoke, he moved closer to the face: "I heard that you secretly did something during the horse competition in Furong Garden, right?"
Chang Suining looked at the face that was close to Chi Chi and smiled slightly: "So what?"
Ming Jin's hand holding her chin moved down, and suddenly he strangled her neck, saying hatefully: "Chang Sui Ning, you really know how to seek death..."
Chang Sui Ning also looked at the person in front of him with satisfaction.
Sure enough, as long as you tell him the truth about his injury, he will definitely come over.
Using herself as bait is indeed a feasible and good method.
She asked provocatively: "Are you going to kill me for revenge?"
Ming Jin laughed ferociously: "Why, do you think I dare not?"
Chang Suining further dispelled his vigilance: "If you dare to kill me, why do you imprison me here?"
"That's my mother!" Ming Jin pinched her neck harder and harder: "She imprisoned you here just because she was afraid that you would ruin her affairs... But I am different! Now you are in my hands. , I want to kill you, but it’s just a piece of cake!”
"You should have found out by now that I was the one who killed Changsun Xuan!" He said proudly and cheerfully: "I can kill even the legitimate daughter of the Changsun family, let alone a lowly adopted daughter of a military commander like you!"
As if he had finally found the right person to talk to, he said ostentatiously: "To be honest, at first I was a little afraid of killing her... But later on, someone took care of everything for me, including you. Brother, come and take the blame for me!"
"Do you know why?" He smiled and said, "Because my surname is Ming!"
He looked at the girl in front of him with "pity": "Even if I skin you and break your bones today, and let others humiliate you a hundred times...who will do justice for you?" "
The girl who was choked by him turned red, but she laughed again: "You, a moth that is worse than a sewer rat... are you worthy of letting my brother take the blame for you?"
The cold contempt in the girl's eyes angered Ming Jin. He used force and pushed the person and the chair to the ground with a loud noise.
The guard guarding outside frowned when he heard the sound, but thinking about the girl's explanation, he could only hold back for a while.
The girl's head hit the ground hard, she just frowned slightly and had no other expression, she just looked at Ming Jin coldly.
Ming Jin stared at her and suddenly asked curiously: "You and Zhang Sunxuan are actually different. Are you really not afraid of death?"
"Right
, I can't let you die so easily. Changsun Xuan just died too quickly. What do I think about when I look back? Why do I feel that I am not having enough fun..." He released his hand from Chang Suining's neck, and his eyes fell on her right arm. superior.
The robe there was cut, and although the bleeding had stopped, it was obvious that he had been injured by a sword.
Ming Jin's eyes brightened slightly, and he felt a little regretful: "I came in a hurry and didn't bring anything handy..."
He looked around but found nothing satisfactory, so he finally pulled out the jade hairpin that Chang Sui Ning used to tie his hair.
"Just use this, shall we?" He held the jade hairpin and inserted it forcefully into the wound on the girl's arm, slowly gouging it out. Looking at the wound that soon became bloody, he laughed heartily.
Chang Suining frowned, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
His hands were stained with warm blood, but Ming Jin laughed louder and louder.
Chang Sui Ning watched his increasingly crazy expression, and then looked at the incense burner burning medicinal incense in the corner - it was almost time.
The girl exerted strength on her waist and suddenly swung sideways, hitting Ming Jin with the chair and herself, knocking him to the ground.
She broke free from the rope that bound her hands, and quickly broke away from the chair. She put her palms on the ground and stood up with her hair down.
"……you***!"
Ming Jin wiped away the blood on the corner of his bruised mouth and sat up.
…
On the other side, outside the Dacheng Hall, the ceremony was coming to an end, but suddenly the roar of cranes could be heard above everyone's heads.
Everyone looked up and saw the white crane coming, and they were all surprised.
Cranes are auspicious things, and the arrival of a crane on the day of the memorial ceremony is obviously a good omen!
While everyone was marveling and talking, they saw the beautiful white crane spreading its wings and flying towards the front of the palace.
In front of the hall, Mingluo was reading the sacrificial inscription when she suddenly heard a noise. She raised her eyes and looked up. Before she could react, she saw a white crane flying towards her and then took the sacrificial inscription from her hand!
The white crane hovered for a moment with the silk in its mouth, and then let out a long crane call.
"This crane is quite spiritual!"
"Look, it's flying away!"
Everyone was surprised, and they didn't know who took the lead in shouting "Follow and have a look." Then many people picked up their long robes and hurriedly followed the white crane.
Seeing this situation, Mingluo's heart suddenly sank.
Others don't know, but she knows that cranes can be tamed by humans, and under the guidance of the crane keeper, they can perform some seemingly spiritual behaviors... This is how many so-called good omens come from!
The appearance of this crane is definitely not an accident!
