The bear child of the Red Chamber, Jia Cong

It is said that Zhu Tong found a box of rouge on Cao's desk, worth 60 taels.Eunuch Li immediately understood: "Did you buy it yourself, or did someone give it to you?"

Zhu Tong interjected: "Your Majesty must have a good relationship."

Mrs. Cao hurriedly said, "This is just a gift from a young lady."

Zhu Tong raised his eyebrows: "Which lady is so ungrateful that she gives rouge to the layman?"

Cao was stunned: "There are so many people here, how can I remember so clearly. I don't need it, I don't know how long it took."

Zhu Tong smiled and turned the rouge box over: "Cao Niangniang has been a monk for too long and doesn't know the world. Prime Minister Liu Feng made a rule when he was in office that everything with a shelf life must be printed with the date of manufacture, and the powder is among them."

Eunuch Li bent down and took a closer look, and there was indeed a black ink mark on the bottom of the box. "It was shipped on the 23rd of the previous month. It's so fresh."

Cao's face froze, and forced a smile: "I really can't remember."

Zhu Tong nodded: "It doesn't matter if Madam Cao can't remember the person who gave the gift. Anyway, there should be records in the rouge shop, and the clerk must have a good memory. Let's ask and find out."

Cao struggled and said, "It's just a box of rouge, what's the matter?"

Zhu Tong smiled and said: "My lord, please forgive me. I am not sure that this rouge has something to do with the fake draft. What if?"

Cao said hurriedly, "Really not."

Zhu Tong said sternly: "Your Majesty may not know everything. There are so many beauties in Chang'an City, and someone dares to take the risk of offending the prince and the mother, why is there no idea?" Is there anyone else who can go to the palace to talk to the queen mother from time to time, except Empress Cao?"

Eunuch Li thought for a while: "It's gone. Everyone else is in Daci Temple in the western suburbs of the city, and there are a few in Guanyin Temple in Zhongnan Mountain. Only Lady Cao has returned to Chang'an City." He looked at Cao's family coldly, "It's still The empress dowager is kind."

Zhu Tong was taken aback for a moment: "Da Ci Temple? Da Ci Temple also has concubines from previous generations?"

Li Gonggong said: "The Guanyin Temple is a big temple with many aunts. Those women cry day and night and often interfere with the practice of the masters, so they moved to Daci Temple, leaving only the mothers of the three princesses. The Empress Dowager wanted an old man to talk to. Then let Cao Niangniang return to Chang'an. The mother of the three princesses passed away two years ago, and now there is only one left."

Zhu Tong frowned and said, "Father-in-law, are you sure that everyone else is in Da Ci Temple?"

Eunuch Li was taken aback: "Why did Master Zhu say that?"

Zhu Tong said: "Two years ago when I was still in the state of Lu, I read the "Ping'an State Business Daily". There was a report about the functions of temples and Taoist temples in a series of more than a dozen issues, and one of the issues mentioned... well, that article It’s well written, I cut it out, and I’ll show it to my father-in-law later.” Knowing that something was wrong, Eunuch Li bowed his hands and thanked him.

Then I heard Cao say: "But that "Religion and Society"? I also cut it." Then, he took out a thick newspaper clipping from the bookshelf, and handed it to Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li took it over and took a look. There was a paragraph circled by a red pen on the newspaper clipping, which read: The princes of the pre-Qin Dynasty have passed away, and there are many concubines left.So he thought of a way to send them all to the famous temple to become nuns.After a year or so, I will find an excuse to transfer her to a little-known temple, and then quietly marry him.For example, the concubines of the first son were transferred from the Zhongnanshan Guanyin Temple to a very small and secluded Daci Temple, and they were all married in less than three months.Eunuch Li was shocked: "There is such a thing! The prince doesn't know it at all."

Zhu Tong coughed twice: "My lord doesn't know...well, maybe the Queen Mother knows about it." Eunuch Li's expression changed.

Mrs. Cao lowered her head and said: "Sister Tao, who died of illness in Guanyin Temple, left with a pilgrim. The presiding master probably couldn't explain it, so she said she died of illness. They were also worried that the two of us would run away with others, so they were on guard day and night. It was because they made them stare uncomfortable that I begged the Queen Mother to allow me to return to Chang'an. Sister Wang really wanted to become a monk, so she didn't come back."

Zhu Tong said: "It can be seen that such things as becoming a monk have to be done willingly. A twisted melon is not sweet, and it cannot be tied to become a monk."

Eunuch Li nodded, put down the newspaper clippings and said, "It's not convenient to talk here, Madam Cao, please come with us to the prefect's yamen."

Zhu and Li then took Mrs. Cao back to the yamen and put her in custody for Madam Feng to interrogate first, and then sent a policeman to go to the cosmetic shop.Eunuch Li rushed back to the Qin Palace to report to the King of Qin.

Cao's confession was quick, and she recruited all the words she arranged and the officials, ladies and ladies she coaxed.It's just that she doesn't recognize the three books that record the temperament and preferences of the prince, queen mother, and queen mother.She said: "At most, I know a little about the Queen Mother's temperament. Neither the prince nor the queen mother has met a few times." Mother Feng sounded reasonable.

Liu Jing was watching the trial, and when she heard her recommending the courtesan of the brothel, she asked, "Why do you recommend Miss Bailan from Baihualou in Xianyang?"

Cao Shi said: "They asked me to recommend it. It is said that the Bai girl is not inferior to everyone's lady, and she has a brilliant literary talent."

Liu Jing thought about it: "I'm afraid this Baihualou will have to send a policeman over there so that they can make inquiries."

Mother Feng said: "What are you asking for? Just send someone over there and seal it up, and then it's over. The old bustards, Guigong Fantou, are all arrested and brought to Chang'an for interrogation."

Liu Jing said with a smile: "You are still so refreshing." Then he called someone to invite Zhu Wei.

Not long after, Zhu Wei sent people to Xianyang to seize Baihualou.

After a while, the policeman who checked the makeup powder came back and brought a buddy with him.

That shop is called Zhiyanzhai, and it is a nationwide chain of makeup shops.The main store is located in Jinling, Wu State, and the Chang'an branch has only opened in the last two years.Last year, something happened to their branch in Beijing.Some people said that after buying the rouge from their shop to wipe their faces, their faces were painful, itchy and blistered, and they wanted them to lose money.Zhi Yanzhai never calmed down, but went to the Public Security Bureau to report the case.After investigation by the Public Security Bureau, the buyer bought fake products, and by the way, took away a black workshop specializing in counterfeit top-notch cosmetics.After this incident, the shopkeepers of Zhiyanzhai's branches all over the country became more and more refined.In addition to the date of manufacture, the store code is also printed on the bottom of each powder box.Every time the goods are sold, the clerk will check off the coded booklet and indicate the date of sale.

Cao's box of rouge immediately found out in the shop that the day it was sold was the day before yesterday.This kind of rouge is quite expensive, the clerk clearly remembered that the buyer was a boy from a wealthy family, seventeen or eighteen years old and very clever, he said that his master was going to meet his concubine at night, and the concubine was an unusual woman.The catcher led him to the yamen to help the artist draw shadows and graphics, so as to find the boy.

When the portrait was finished, the yamen servant sent it to Cao Shi to see.Cao Shi was taken aback when she saw the portrait, and immediately turned her eyes to the blue brick on the ground: "I have never seen this person before."

Mother Feng sneered and said: "Ms. Cao is a smart person, why bother to force this old slave to use severe torture?"

Liu Jing smiled and said: "No, that's boring. You can tell that the painting is very good just by looking at her. Draw more of this portrait and send it to the servants of each family. Gubao will find out immediately. The servants can always I recognize the boy."

Cao said anxiously: "The rouge really has nothing to do with the draft."

Mother Feng snorted, "As a concubine of the eldest son, it's not your fault to have sex with others?"

Cao lowered her head and said, "That's just my fault."

"Oh!" Liu Jing clapped her hands and said, "Madam Cao admits that she has a relationship?"

Nanny Feng raised her hand and slapped Cao Shi down on the ground with a slap, pointed at her and scolded: "You are a whore with a black heart and a rotten intestine! It's in vain that my son loves you so much, you did such a thing! "

Liu Jing was joking aside: "And it's in the pure land of Buddhism! If you want to find a man, just return to vulgarity!"

Nanny Feng raised her leg and kicked, causing Cao to roll several times.When she was about to kick again, Liu Jing hurriedly stepped forward to stop her: "Don't kick her badly, maybe you will have to use her as bait later. She is just a part of this scam. To put it bluntly, she is being used by others." We must first find out the real culprit behind the scenes. The one who knows the prince's food preferences is the most dangerous."

Nanny Feng just gave up.Pointing at Mrs. Cao and cursing for a long time, he went out to rest while supporting his waist when he was tired.As soon as she left, Liu Jing hurriedly helped Mrs. Cao up, smacked her tongue and said, "This old woman can speak so much foul language! Where did she learn it from?" He poured tea for Mrs. Cao, "Sister Cao is tired. "

Mrs. Cao just took out the handkerchief and wiped her face silently, and said for a while, "Mrs. Zhu, don't forget what you promised me. Otherwise, my son may not be able to live in the palace."

"Don't worry." Liu Jing said with a smile, "We even rescued the favorite concubine of the former king of Wu." She gestured with two fingers, "Two." Cao's expression was slightly relieved.Liu Jing frowned and said, "But Madam Cao actually said that the mother of the third princess went with someone, I'm afraid she will not have a good life in the future."

Cao was startled, and said regretfully, "It's really because I didn't think carefully."

Liu Jing sighed: "Forget it, at worst, get one more out. One sheep is also herded, and two sheep are also chased."

Cao thought: "The three of them have a very good relationship...can you?"

"Huh? Who?"

"Three princesses."

It turned out that since returning to Chang'an, Mrs. Cao often went to the Qin Palace to chat with the Queen Mother to relieve boredom, and waited for the opportunity to see her daughter.The first son died early, leaving behind three sons and three daughters.The mothers of the two concubines are still in the palace, and the mothers of the three princesses are all monks.Only Cao's father used some money to buy off the eunuchs around the queen mother, and persuaded the queen mother to let Cao back to become a layman, so that she could see her daughter often.The three princesses usually live in the same yard and are easily disciplined, and their food and daily life are all taken care of by wet nurses.These years, he has been like a transparent person in the mansion, even a slave with a little face can be bullied.The sisters depend on each other for life and love each other deeply.Then Cao thought, one of the two mothers left with someone, and the other became an aunt, so they lost their mothers.Since Liu Jing and the others are capable of rescuing their child, why not let the three girls leave that place together.

Liu Jing thought for a while: "It's not impossible. It's just that you can raise three girls by yourself, can you afford it? You're still planning to go to North America. North America is vast and sparsely populated, and even big cities often run into wild animals."

Mrs. Cao hesitated, "Then... how about I go to Dongying?"

"It's not easy going anywhere."

"Didn't Madam say that the Chinese Federation has compulsory education schools?"

Liu Jing let out a sigh of relief: "That's right... But the better schools have to take exams. Apart from piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, has the princess of the palace ever learned mathematics, physics, chemistry, and natural science?"

Mrs. Cao begged: "I don't care about these things. I beg my wife to help them out of the house together. I fell from the concubine of the Shizi's mansion to become a nun overnight, and I came here too? I know they will not want to separate. I will fight anyway. I will not starve them with my life."

Liu Jing Nahan said: "If you say such a promising thing now, why did you think of relying on that one earlier?"

Cao said with a wry smile: "Since I have given up relying on men's thoughts, I can only earn my own life."

Liu Jing sighed softly: "Forget it. We just have to ask the princesses what they mean." Mrs. Cao bowed down and thanked her.

Outside, Nanny Feng was having tea and resting, when she heard someone shouting, "Second Master Nan is here."

Looking up, he saw a handsome young man walking in from the door, wearing a gorilla felt cape, and said with a smile, "Is sister-in-law Tong here?"

Liu Jing hurriedly came out: "Here. Is it the second brother Nan?"

The person who came was none other than Zhu Wei's second son, Zhu Nan, who was originally a talented scholar in Chang'an City.He smiled and said: "Just now my father sent someone to give me a portrait without thinking, and asked me to show it to the boys of various men to identify whose family it is. Let me ask to understand. But he is an old man. Huizi is trying the case, and Big Brother Tong is also trying some old nun. I thought it would be the same to ask my sister-in-law."

Liu Jing smiled and said, "Forget it, you asked." She hesitated for a moment, and asked Mother Feng, "My little uncle has not yet entered an official position, may I tell him about this case?"

Nanny Feng was only in her forties, she had heard Zhu Nan's name a long time ago, and saw that his face was as beautiful as a crown and his eyes were so pleasing to the eye, so she quickly said, "This is the fault of Mrs. Zhu. , why don't you explain it?"

Liu Jing smiled and said, "Why don't you tell him. If uncle doesn't allow him to know, I can't be blamed."

Nanny Feng said angrily: "Ma'am is lazy." Nai smiled and said, "Forget it, Mr. Zhu blames the blame, but this old slave will bear it." Liu Jing smiled and blessed her.

Nanny Feng then told Zhu Nan everything.After hearing this, Zhu Nan laughed and said, "You guys are really laymen. I really know the boys well, but I only know the few boys who are close to my master. Chang'an City is so big, and each family has its own friends. Friends, how can it be so easy to meet someone I recognize? I just showed it to my boys, but I don’t recognize one of them. I still have a lot of friends. It’s better to take it to Hualou to recognize fans. They are fully recognized."

After hearing this, Mother Feng agreed, "It's Er Ye Nan who has the knowledge."

Zhu Nan looked at Nanny Feng and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your compliment." Then he took out the portrait to confirm to Nanny Feng.

Nanny Feng nodded and said: "It is indeed this person. Second Master Nan is very cautious."

Zhu Nan smiled slightly, and left with the portrait in his sleeve.Nanny Feng has rested her strength and wants to try Cao Shi again.Liu Jing hurriedly said: "You should always answer the Queen Mother. I am afraid that you will be angry and beat her to death. It will not be too late after the case is closed." Mother Feng was a little annoyed, her face sullen.Liu Jing persuaded, "Why bother? She dares to steal her identity, so she can't escape death anyway. It's important to find out the adulterer. Mother, there are still those three books."

Nanny Feng just gave up and went back to the palace to see the Queen Mother according to what she said.Liu Jing was slightly relieved.