I am imprisoned in Kaifeng Mansion

Soon the foundation of the haunted house was dug, the trees were cut down, and the shadows that originally surrounded the house disappeared. On sunny days, the sun shines into the courtyard.

The front wall was demolished, and passers-by walked by the front of the house. At first glance, the house suddenly felt very bright, with sunshine everywhere, and some flowers and plants were placed around the yard, which gave an inexplicably beautiful and peaceful feeling amidst the decadence.

After the employees left, Dayu Lane became quiet again.

Cui Tao asked Taoist Master Wuyou what he meant, and he was very willing to come and perform another ceremony for Zhaizi.Cui Tao made the platoon bigger to let everyone know that the most knowledgeable Taoist Wuyou in Bianjing exorcised evil spirits from the haunted house.

When Taoist Master Wuyou finished the ritual, Cui Tao immediately expressed his gratitude, offering him a reward and a box of fried crispy fruit that she had prepared.

Taoist Wuyou declined the reward, but he was also hesitant about the fried crispy fruit, wondering if the ingredients were all vegetarian.

"Don't worry, Daoist. The fried crispy fruit I made doesn't have any fishy smell. I use a new pot and don't touch anything else. It tastes delicious."

Taoist Wuyou heard Cui Tao boasting so much, so he wanted to try this fried crispy fruit.One piece is three inches long, about the thickness of two fingers, and it makes a crispy sound when you bite into it. The noodle has a strong fragrance, and there is a crisp layer inside, with fillings. There are three types: sesame candy, almond candy and walnut candy.

It is only after tasting it that I realize that what he said is not boastful at all, but rather humble.This fried crispy fruit is more than a simple sentence of "taste is fragrant", it is obviously very, very fragrant, and it is as crispy and delicious as milk.For a person like him who has been a vegetarian all year round, this is really a special food.But there are also disadvantages, it is too delicious, and it arouses his appetite, which may not be a good thing for those who practice purely.

Cui Tao signaled Taoist Master Wuyou to stop talking for the time being, and then closed his eyes to let Taoist Master Wuyou listen carefully.

Taoist Wuyou listened as he said, it was too quiet, he didn't hear any movement, so he asked Cui Tao what he wanted to hear.

"It's very rare in Bianjing to find a place of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. The Taoist priest doesn't consider building a Sanqing Temple here? The Taoist priest has a high reputation and is very popular in Bianjing. He often stays too late because of doing things , it’s too late to go back to Sanqing Temple. If you live in other people’s houses or inns, it’s always inconvenient, and it’s not suitable to stay in ordinary people’s residences for a long time. There is a place in Bianjing Isn't it convenient to stay?"

"It's quiet here, and the place is not too big or small. It's just right for you to observe the three things." Cui Tao asked Taoist Wuyou to feel the tranquility of the house again, and then added, "There was an eye-gouging case in this house, and others Maybe I will care about it, but to the Taoist priest, it is as if it does not exist. And those outsiders see that the Taoist priest lives in such a place safe and sound, don’t they admire the Taoist priest’s high magic power, which is different from ordinary people?”

After Wuyou Daoist snorted, he continued to laugh, and took a special look at Cui Tao.The little girl didn't shy away either, and looked back at him frankly, directly showing her purpose.She did have an idea to sell the house to her.

"What Mrs. Cui said has some truth, but Pindao never thought of setting up a Taoist temple in Bianjing. This is the first time Pindao has heard of the term 'divided temples' today."

"There is a first time for everything, don't worry, the Taoist priest can think about it as he pleases." Cui Tao suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly argued, "The Taoist priest must not think that I specially invited the Taoist priest to come here today just to clean up this house. Changed hands to the Taoist priest. I just suddenly remembered that this place is a very good choice for the Taoist priest, and I bought this place with the intention of changing hands. If it is suitable for the Taoist priest, of course I should tell the Taoist priest , to save the Taoist priest from missing such a good place."

She actually said it was a good place for a haunted house that nobody built?Daoist Wuyou knew that Cui Tao had some ability to solve cases, but if he had the ability, he would not talk nonsense and fool people like this.

Taoist Wuyou smiled meaningfully, nodded, and perfunctorily responded to what Cui Tao said, of course he couldn't agree with what Cui Tao said in his heart.

While Taoist Wuyou was thinking, he was suddenly interrupted by Cui Tao.

"The Taoist may not believe it, but this house is very popular."

Cui Tao's confident expression made Daoist Wuyou almost believe her words in a daze.

Daoist Wuyou was stunned for a moment, then laughed, nodded, and echoed Cui Tao like coaxing a child.

Is this house in high demand?He couldn't believe it.The reputation of this ghost house in Bianjing is well known, and it is also well known that it has not been sold for several years.

The little girl's intention to buy at a low price and buy at a high price to fool people is so obvious that he is too embarrassed to expose her.

After sending away Taoist Master Wuyou, Cui Tao went to find Erniang Yang.

Who is Yang Erniang?It was the proprietress of Huandie Case who opened an inn for scholars.Her inn is full of scholars who are coming to Beijing to rush for the exam, and the price is cheap, so it is very popular with the scholars, even to the point where it is not always possible to reserve a room one or two years in advance.

Yang Erniang didn't open this inn to pursue profit blindly. She started this business because she hoped that the atmosphere in which scholars would study could influence and educate her son.Now that her son is growing up and her inn is famous again, Cui Tao thinks it's time for her to consider transformation, expand her business, make more profits and save more money for her son to marry a wife.

After Cui Tao took Yang Erniang out of the haunted house, she explained to her: "Just now Taoist Master Wuyou came here to do this, and it exorcises evil spirits. Everyone knows his ways."

Yang Erniang deliberately listened to the movement around her, and it was indeed as Cui Tao said, it was surprisingly quiet here.

Quiet, cheap, nice, but...

Yang Erniang heard Cui Tao talk about her thoughts again.There is a two-story building in the front, which provides tea, water and meals, and is specially for literati and scholars to study and learn from each other. A house is built in the backyard for scholars to live in. It will definitely be an excellent and quiet place to study...

"I will ask Yang Erniang for a pair of Ding Maoke's second-best words to hang here. What kind of sentences like 'Toad Palace wins laurel' are so pleasing."

Ding Mao's second place in the ranking naturally refers to Han Qi.Scholars who are rushing for the exam admire the champions and the second places, especially the young high school students, they are the most admired people.Just like toads and sweet-scented osmanthus, they seem to be mascots that can give them good luck in the exam, and the things they write are naturally liked by these candidates.

Cui Tao silently apologized in her heart by the way, she just compared Han Qi to a toad.But he can be a toad, she will cook swan meat.

At this time, Han Qi in Kaifeng mansion, dressed in official robes, standing tall like bamboo, sneezed suddenly as he was about to meet the guests.

Cui Tao also suggested that Yang Erniang can plant a variety of osmanthus trees around the yard. When they bloom, they have a pleasant fragrance and a good meaning.

"The most expensive thing in Bianjing is the land. Erniang bought this house at a low price and built an inn, which can not only solve the problem of the shortage of rooms in the inn, but also accommodate more scholars rushing for the exam, and also reduce operating costs. And this place The place is really quiet and quiet, suitable."

Cui Tao felt that she just didn't have time, if she had, she would turn this place into an academy and arrange it as she said before.As for the death in this house, in fact, it will not affect much business, because it is really difficult to find such a cheap and quiet place for studying in the capital, and those scholars are all from other places, so they don’t know how scary the legend is. After coming in, I experienced the benefits, and I didn't see any ghosts, so naturally there was nothing to be afraid of.

Yang Erniang was not very interested in this place at first, even if Taoist Master Wuyou had done rituals, she also felt that it was unlucky, but after hearing Cui Tao's arrangement, she changed her mind.And if the house can't be sold, if Cui Tao really starts the examinee's business, I'm afraid it won't be bad, and she can snatch her business away.Because I heard that the hair care lotion business is hers, and it's a great job.

"If Erniang Yang buys this house, I will guarantee the sale. If this house is haunted or something strange happens, come to me and I will definitely break it for you! I promise there are no ghosts! We can make a written proof of this!" Cui Tao knows what Yang Erniang hates the most , patted his chest and assured.

Yang Erniang used to be a witness in the Huandie case. She had seen Cui Tao solve the case with her own eyes, and because she paid close attention to the situation of solving the case in Kaifeng Mansion, she knew Cui Tao in particular, so she knew how powerful Cui Tao was.It would be tempting to have her as a guarantee, after all, it is indeed cheap and quiet.

"After careful calculation, no one has died in this house. In the past few decades, there are at least tens of thousands of places in Bianjing City where people have died. All of them are ghost houses, so there is no place to live. gone?"

Cui Tao continued to lobbied Yang Erniang, this kind of house that sounded 'forcible', it might be a bit scary for only one family to live in it, but if there are more people living there, everyone will be brave to each other, so there is nothing to be afraid of.

Yang Erniang nodded, feeling that what Cui Tao said seemed to make sense.

"But I really never thought about opening another inn. Let me go back and think about it, and then discuss it with my family."

"Don't worry, buying a house is a big deal, Erniang will think about it in two days." Cui Tao laughed hurriedly.

Yang Erniang turned her head and looked around the house again. The sun was shining everywhere, and it was so hot that it really didn't feel a little gloomy or ghostly.The talisman paper and incense ashes on the ground also proved the traces that Taoist Wuyou had just come to perform rituals.In addition, Mrs. Cui is the guarantor...

It really deserves serious consideration.

Yang Erniang nodded to Cui Tao with a smile, and was about to leave when she heard Cui Tao and Ping'er beside her sigh that this place should be used as an inn, which can benefit countless scholars rushing for the exam.

"The Taoist temple is also good. The Taoist leader of Wuyou is highly respected. The incense here will definitely not be bad." Ping'er said immediately.

Yang Erniang was stunned for a moment, and quickly asked Cui Tao, "Daoist Wuyou also took a fancy to this place?"

"No, he just thinks this place is quiet." Cui Tao's denial made Yang Erniang believe it even more.

Two days later, Yang Erniang sent a message to Cui Tao that they could make an appointment and try to negotiate a price.

Half an hour later, Daoist Wuyou suddenly came to find Cui Tao, and this time he brought two apprentices with him.

Cui Tao immediately took them to look at the house again, and casually suggested how to arrange the layout, including the alchemy room, meditation room, small scripture pavilion, small garden, gazebo, and tea room, all arranged clearly.

The two apprentices brought by Taoist Master Wuyou, one is in charge of the accounts, and the other has been in charge of the repair and expansion of Sanqing Temple. After hearing Cui Tao's arrangement, they both felt very suitable.Two days ago, their master went back and told them the idea of ​​this point of view. At first, he only thought it was a little bit good, but when he thought about it casually at night when he was sleeping, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was a point to build a building in Bianjing. See how convenient it is.

In fact, Taoist Wuyou's mentality is the same as theirs, and the more he thinks about it afterwards, the more suitable he feels.Taoist priests meditate during the day and need quietness most.There are other quiet places in Bianjing, but they are not so cheap, and they may not be willing to sell them.In Bianjing, this kind of place is hard to find, and it is very likely that you will not be able to find it for three to five years.

And this haunted house is really nothing to be afraid of as Cui Tao said before, as far as Taoist Wuyou is concerned, it is placed here.It also helped him to spread his fame even more, and be praised for his magical powers.

So the next day, when the three masters and apprentices met again, they all agreed that this idea was very good.

The reason why they delayed looking for Cui Tao until today is mainly because buying a real estate is also a major matter, they need to discuss and discuss it, and they have to inquire and investigate whether the house is really suitable.As a result, the more I checked, the more I found out that this house is really quiet, the ground is not too close, and there are no other Taoist temples in the surrounding streets and alleys to share incense, so it couldn't be more suitable.

Now that they listened to Cui Tao's arrangement, they couldn't help but imagine how quiet, comfortable and convenient the "Fenguan" built according to Cui Tao's words would be.

Of course Taoist Wuyou was convinced by Cui Tao's words, but he didn't show it on the surface.He then turned his head to look at his two disciples and discussed with them what to do.

The two apprentices also had something to say.

Cui Tao smiled and asked the three of them to talk first, and she went to the door to wait.

After standing at the door for a while, Yang Erniang came in a hurry, seeing that Cui Tao was really here, she hurriedly asked if Cui Tao brought Taoist Wuyou to visit the house.

"Yes, the Taoist priest came to me suddenly just now, how did Erniang know the news?" Cui Tao asked pretending to be surprised.

Yang Erniang didn't answer Cui Tao's question, but hurriedly asked her: "Is Taoist Wuyou also optimistic about this house?"

Cui Tao was stunned for a moment, "They are still discussing, it seems that they want to buy."

"Ms. Cui can't be unkind. I'm the one who asked Mrs. Cui first." Erniang Yang originally planned to bargain with Cui Tao, but she hesitated to think about it. Now she decided to make a decision immediately, and asked Cui Tao that she planned to sell the house. How much.

"This house is spacious enough, and it's not cheap at normal market prices. It's a ghost house, and it doesn't have a good reputation. I really didn't spend much money to buy this house. But I know Qianlima's Bole, and my vision is also valuable, so I plan to buy it." Price this place at [-] guan. This price is definitely a great value for money, and you will never find another such quiet and low-priced house in the whole capital."

Yang Erniang suddenly felt a pain in the flesh, and hated herself for not discovering this place earlier, otherwise it would be so cheap to go to the store to buy it.But time waits for no one, five hundred guan is still a low price, if you don't decide now, you want to sell it for another [-] guan.

Yang Erniang was about to nod——

"We want this house!" Daoist Wuyou's eldest apprentice hurried over and said loudly to Cui Tao.

He just overheard the conversation between the two, and immediately ran out in a hurry.

Yang Erniang immediately raised the price.

"550 guan!"

"Six hundred!"

"Six hundred and three!"

"Seven hundred!"

……

"Then how much did you pay for the ghost house in the end?" Han Qi couldn't help laughing when Cui Tao described how she sold the house.

No matter when and where, this strange woman should never be underestimated.

"One thousand and eight hundred guan." Cui Tao smiled, and sighed to Han Qi, "After all, Sanqingguan is rich and powerful. When he called [-] guan, he directly added [-] guan. Think about drawing a sketch for them."

Yang Erniang is a businessman, and the inn is not profitable. She has to consider the cost of buying a house, so she can't compete with Taoist Wuyou, so she can only retreat.

"I've taken a fancy to a house in Plum Blossom Lane. It doesn't look very good on the outside, but it's pretty good after a while." Cui Tao told Han Qi that the price of the house she planned to buy had already been negotiated. Eight hundred guan can be won.

When Han Qi heard Cui Tao talk about Plum Blossom Lane, he couldn't help laughing again.The Plum Blossom Lane was two streets away from his house, which seemed quite far away, but there was a small road leading directly to it, so it was actually very close when walking.

"Smart, and can make money." Han Qi pinched Cui Tao's face, and praised him generously.Immediately, he hugged her in his arms, feeling that when he married Cui Tao in later, he could do nothing and just wait for her to raise him.

"Okay, that's great." Cui Tao immediately turned around and sat on Han Qi's lap instead, facing Han Qi, then holding his face and teasingly said, "I just like Yang Liulang, a little beauty with a face like that." Son, it’s pleasing to the eye! Come on, beauty, give me a smile!"

Han Qi stared at Cui Tao seriously, and seeing Cui Tao raised his eyebrows in a teasing gesture and rubbed his face, Han Qi couldn't help turning his head away, and chuckled softly.

When Cui Tao turned Han Qi's head sideways, he saw that the skin behind his ears was light pink, and knew that he was shy again.

At the same time, the housekeeper of the shop heard the news that Cui Tao was selling maggot haunted houses, and he laughed a few times while holding up his teacup.

"Where is that house so easy to sell? No one wants to use it as a warehouse for them at a low price of [-] yuan. I know how powerful this Cui Qiniang is, but the matter of her house is not to solve the case. She thinks she is playing tricks Clever, can you make money by picking up cheap? Heh, how many years, if it can be sold, why should it be pressured by us, she can only live by herself. "

"Master, I sold it, and it sold [-] strings."

The master was shocked: "You say it again?"

"Eighteen hundred guan, Taoist Master Wuyou bought it."

The director immediately dropped the teacup in his hand, his body was shaking, and he passed out.

……

Wang Zhao rushed to look for Han Qi, saw that Cui Tao was also there, and hurriedly said it was just right.

"Someone saw the red dress appearing on Dongjiaolou Street. She is really daring. She knew that the whole city was looking for her, but she was still dressed in red. Now the yamen servants of the military patrol shop are hunting her down."

Cui Tao immediately asked the location, and planned to follow Wang Zhao to round up Hongyi.

"Don't rush in, be careful of fraud."

Hongyi chose to show up at this time, there must be something wrong, Han Qi reminded Cui Tao to pay attention to this point.

Cui Tao agreed, and quickly ran away with Wang Zhao.

After a stick of incense, Hongyi fled to Chenghuang Temple.

As soon as Hong Yi fled into the main hall, the door was closed tightly, obviously there were still Hong Yi's accomplices in the hall.

Wang Zhao led his men to immediately surround the Temple of the City God, and arranged for archers to prepare. As long as there were thieves who dared to escape from the Temple of the City God, they would be beaten into a sieve.

Next, Wang Zhao planned to forcefully rush in to get someone.

Cui Tao is too familiar with this Town God's Temple.The woman in Xuanyi is also the person called "Swallow" around Su Yuwan, who asked her to meet here at the beginning.

Cui Tao couldn't help but feel that there was something wrong when she found out that Hongyi had escaped to this place, so she stopped Wang Zhao's siege first.

"I would like to advise you, it is best not to act rashly." At this time, a woman's voice came from the main hall.

With a creak, the palace door suddenly opened, and it was slowly pushed open, and a figure was behind the door.

All the archers tightened their bows, aiming at the direction of the palace gate, and after a little relaxation, they could "fire all arrows" to ensure that the figures who appeared later would be beaten into honeycombs and died thoroughly.

"Don't do anything!" When the door was only a gap open, Cui Tao heard something wrong and reminded everyone in advance.

Afterwards, everyone saw a child who was half a person tall squeezed out of the one-foot-wide door with tears on his face.He was terrified, terrified, and cried a lot, but he didn't make a sound. The child seemed to have a problem with his voice.

Cui Tao also noticed that the child was holding a letter in his hand.

Wang Zhao came forward with several government servants and picked up the child.

"Look carefully at what is written in the letter, otherwise you will regret it!" At this time, the woman's arrogant voice came from the main hall.

Hongyi detailed her request in the letter.All the people in Kaifeng Mansion had to retreat to Santiao Street, and Cui Tao entered the Town God's Temple alone to change people.If anyone did not follow the requirements and made a surprise attack, her subordinates would immediately kill these children.

Hongyi also specifically stated in the letter that she ruined the throat voice of these children because she hated children making noise.Remind everyone in Kaifeng Mansion, don't think that if you can't hear the cry of the child, there will be no child.At the end of the letter, ten names were attached, all of which were the names of the abducted children.

So far, Kaifeng Prefecture has not received any report of the child's disappearance.

Cui Tao comforted the child delivering the letter, and asked him to answer his own question by nodding and shaking his head.He was kidnapped for only an hour. He was caught while playing outside, and his parents hadn't noticed his disappearance yet.

It seems that other children should be in almost the same situation as him.

Wang Zhao immediately sent someone to verify the identity of the children on the list.

At this time, a female voice came from the hall again: "I will give you a little time to evacuate as soon as possible, otherwise--

At the back door of Chenghuang Temple, I will give you a big gift first!If you are disobedient, all the children will be his fate! "

Wang Zhao immediately took people to the back door of the Town God's Temple and saw the body of a man.The neck was broken, not long after he died, his body was still warm, he was wearing coarse cloth clothes, and his hands were still stuck with flour and oil. It seemed that he was killed while cooking.

Threatening a deal with the lives of ten children was the method Su Yuwan of Qingfu Temple did last time, and Hongyi is obviously repeating this method this time.But this time, Hongyi learned the lesson from the Qingfu Temple last time. It took too long after kidnapping the child last time, and she also told Cui Tao in advance when to trade, which gave her time to prepare.This time, she was the kidnapper who was spotted on the same day, and she deliberately showed up to lure Cui Tao and others to come over before telling them. Cui Tao and others were caught off guard and had no time to prepare and respond.

Hongyi seems to be verifying the saying "get up from wherever you fall".

"If you don't answer, you wait to collect the bodies of these ten children. If you answer, hurry up and send them to evacuate!"

"To be precise, there should be nine, and one of you has already been released." Cui Tao squatted on the ground while correcting, and wrote the word 'bull dung mushroom' with a wooden stick.

Wang Zhao suddenly realized, and immediately arranged for someone to do it.

"What's the difference between nine and ten? In short, if you don't want the rest of the children to die, then immediately follow my request!" Hongyi's voice became a little irritable when she heard Cui Tao's retort, and her shouting became even louder. high.

Han Qi and Han Zong rushed over on horseback.

As soon as Cui Tao saw them, she immediately resigned: "I can't do this job anymore. I have to bear too much alone. Why do you threaten the lives of ten children every time and ask me to sacrifice? I am also a human being. Survive! I want to resign, I want to be an ordinary Bianjing citizen, and I am also protected by Kaifeng Mansion, so I don’t have to bear so many responsibilities.”

Hearing this, Han Zong immediately said, "It's true that you shouldn't have to bear these things. It's not your fault. It's obviously not you who killed the child, but them!"

"Judge Han Mingjian, thank you Judge Han for your understanding!"

"It's your responsibility to be in his position and to find something to do." Han Qi warned Cui Tao that he must go, otherwise Kaifeng Mansion would have no prestige in the hearts of the people in Bianjing.

"Han Zhigui, how can you say such a thing? The lives of those children are innocent, but Qiniang's life is not innocent? Besides, it is the villains in red who are really at fault, and they deserve to die!"

"No arguing! You still have half a stick of incense time, if you don't follow my request, the children will be killed one by one!" Hong Yi shouted again.

"Cui Qiniang, please resign, and don't take care of the matter. How about I replace the child?" Han Qi looked at the main hall, and asked the red clothes in a calm tone.

"You can't!" Hong Yi immediately refused.

As soon as he heard his calm voice, Hongyi somehow felt that Han Qi was uncontrollable. He had heard that he was the second best, very smart.

Wang Zhao patted his chest, dropped the knife in his hand, and said vigorously, "Then can I come?"

"You can't either!" Hong Yi roared.

"Me! What about me?" Li Cai stood up immediately, saying that he had long wanted to have this opportunity to express himself, and turned to Han Qi and said, "If one of my subordinates dies, I hope Officer Han can take care of my family. "

Han Qi nodded.

Suddenly there was a red-clothed scream in the hall: "You-you-all-give-me-shut-mouth!"