The mask is also used to hide the face, but the rattle is all for the purpose of appearing friendly and coaxing children. Bo Ruoyou said: "There is a sound of bells, what can use bells? If a murderer commits a crime, there should be no one around him." Wear something cumbersome, or is there someone else present?"
Ming Guilan shook his head, "I can't remember clearly, the voice was not loud, and after I woke up, the man left the ruined temple temporarily, and I don't know what he did, I just wanted to escape."
Later, when Ming Guilan fled, he fell from the slope and broke his leg, and was disabled for the rest of his life.
After hearing this, Sun Zhao showed a strange expression, "Speaking of bells, I know there is a saying..."
Huo Weilou looked over, and Sun Zhao said: "Xiaguan's hometown is in Xiangzhou. We have a saying that bells can call back souls. Before our children reach the crown, they can't wear bell ornaments on their bodies, and they can't hang bells in the bedroom and study. , Only in places like Buddhist temples and Taoist temples that are not afraid of ghosts, can the bells appear, and there are also Buddhist and Taoist masters who practice deeds. "
When he said this, Bo Ruoyou said: "I know the eaves bells in the Buddhist temple. The bells can also be called bells, which means the Buddhist magic weapon. Baoduo bead streamers, colorful decorations, "very lovely music" refers to this thing. In Buddhist temples, bells are hung on the eaves to judge the direction of the wind. It has the meaning of praying for peace and happiness, and spreading the Dharma to all living beings."
Ming Guilan also said: "I've heard a little about these sayings, and there are also rumors that there are people who drive corpses in the southwest, and they use bells as lures. This is a rumor, and I don't know if it is true or not. It's weird, but I think that the sound of the bell when the murderer commits crimes is probably not the meaning of the Buddhists' wish for peace and happiness, but rather a symbol of some kind of evil spirit."
The sound of the bell is evocative, but the more it is said, the more mysterious it becomes. Huo Weilou glanced at Bo Ruoyou, "The child outside the city died strangely, and the murderer's motive is unknown at the moment. Maybe it really has something to do with these Buddhist and Taoist mysterious It is related to the matter, how about going to the Xiangguo Temple to see if the Buddhists have anything to say?"
Bo Ruoyou also felt the same, Ming Guilan sighed and said, "Unfortunately, I can't think of any more."
"That's great." Bo Ruoyou said about checking the files in the inner library, "If we can find similar cases, it will prove that the murderer has not stopped all these years. If you think of anything else, son, please come and let us know. "
Ming Guilan knew that he should not act too hastily, so he took his leave and left the yamen very quickly. It was getting late at this moment, Huo Weilou immediately sent the servants of the Marquis Mansion to Xiangguo Temple.
Going to Xiangguo Temple now, they couldn't make it back before dark, so they stayed in the Yamen for a while, they wanted to wait for Wu Xiang's return to see if there was any clue, but they didn't see Wu Xiang's face at dusk, so the two had no choice but to wait for Wu Xiang to return. go home.
Although Huo Weilou seldom asked about court affairs, but he had been lazy for many days, Emperor Jianhe had already complained, and he had more errands recently, so Bo Ruoyou couldn't bully him all day long.
On the return carriage, Bo Ruoyou sighed and said, "The bell can call back souls? Could it be that the murderer killed people for the sake of calling back souls? Or, what strange things did his murders have to do with it? Whether it's Buddhism or Taoism, I've never heard of such a thing." statement."
Huo Weilou said without hesitation: "Maybe it's a cult." He just followed her train of thought and never thought deeply, "Buddhism is prevalent now, and Taoism is something left by our ancestors. Other sects arise from time to time, and most of them can be called cults. The teachings of these cults are narrow and extreme. Either some people make mysteries for personal gain, or they misinterpret the teachings of Buddhism and Taoism to induce people to be evil. All proclaim kings and rebels."
After he finished speaking, he shook Bo Ruoyou's hand, and asked an important question: "Mr. Cheng won't let you take care of this case, what are you going to do?"
Bo Ruoyou's early morning melancholy returned to her mind, and she said helplessly, "You can't keep coming out without telling your adoptive father. When I return home today, I have to ask my adoptive father why he is like this, and there may be some reasons. It's just this foster father's attitude. Unlike usual, when I asked him last night, he didn't reveal anything... Recently, my adoptive father is preparing my dowry, and he's also quite busy, and I can't bear to make him unhappy. Since I was a child, I have never had any disputes with my adoptive father."
Huo Weilou comforted himself, and when he arrived at the door of Cheng's house, he said again: "You don't have to worry about the wedding ceremony, I will ask Fu'an to go to the house to help, Mr. Cheng sometimes goes out to see a doctor, and his legs are inconvenient, so let Fu'an bring a lot of people with him." Share it, and you don't have to worry about these."
Bo Ruoyou raised her brows slightly, and looked at him with rippling eyes, "Master Hou has thought of everything for me."
Huo Weilou embraced the man in his arms, "The wedding ceremony is just some red tape, it's not a big deal, I'll only feel at ease when I marry you back to the mansion in March."
Bo Ruoyou leaned into his arms and was tender for a moment before getting off the carriage and going home.
At this time when the night was coming, and the lights in Cheng's house were lit up, Bo Ruoyou looked at it, and felt that the Cheng's house tonight seemed to be more lively than usual. The second master and the second wife are here."
Are Bo Jingli and Wei Shi here
Bo Ruoyou entered the courtyard suspiciously, and just as he walked to the atrium, he heard voices in the room.
Wei shi sighed and said: "It's not good to have trouble with the Lin family. Now it's considered old and dead. If you want me to say, she is too bad at being a human being. Why do you have to fight for these few months? Now it's all right, everyone in the capital You know the reputation of the Bo family."
"Sister-in-law has completely given up. Even girl Xian, I haven't figured it out yet. Someone came to the mansion a while ago to say goodbye, and sister-in-law meant to agree. She is a child of a cousin in the sister-in-law's clan. The family is a businessman. The child has not passed the examination, but he is a good businessman, even if he heard that he has some illnesses, and there are one or two concubines at home, in the past, if they were given a hundred courage, they would not dare to come to the Bo family to propose marriage. But now it’s different…”
Although it had nothing to do with the Wei family, the Bo family was in decline, and the second room was also in decline, so her tone was a bit desolate.
Bo Ruoyou paused outside the door for a few breaths, and entered the room after seeing the conversation stopped. Bo Jingli and the Wei family naturally exchanged warm greetings, and Cheng Yunzhi couldn't help asking: "How is Your Highness the Eldest Princess today?"
Bo Ruoyou wanted to tell a lie, her heart felt guilty, but her face was still calm, "I took the medicine from my adoptive father, and I'm much better. I'm no longer moody, and I can sleep peacefully at night. Master Hou and I haven't approached each other before, so it's good to look at it from a distance." A lot."
Cheng Yunzhi nodded, Wei's eyes lit up and said: "Youyou and Lord Hou are going to visit the eldest princess today?"
Bo Ruoyou responded, Wei sighed again, and said that Bo Ruoyou's marriage was approaching, and they could do something for the marriage, Cheng Yunzhi responded, and Wei and his wife saw that it was getting late before they left.
On the carriage, Wei Shi sighed and said: "Did you see that? As I said, Youyou's marriage and canonization must be the meaning of Lord Marquis. Her Royal Highness has lived in seclusion for many years to recuperate, and she has not yet entered the house. For his diagnosis, Youyou can also visit him, such kindness shows how much the Marquis attaches great importance to Youyou."
Bo Jingli hurriedly said: "Madam is right, as long as I don't make people disgusted, I'm willing to come and walk around more."
After returning to Bo's, as soon as he entered the gate, he saw the young servant waiting anxiously inside. When he saw them coming back, the young servant quickly stepped forward, "Master, madam, the eldest lady and the eldest young lady had another quarrel." In the afternoon, the eldest lady is waiting in the main hall, saying that she is waiting for you to come back to discuss the eldest lady's marriage."
Bo Jingli frowned and said, "What's the meaning? Are you really going to marry Xian'er like that?"
The servant didn't know what Mrs. Hu was thinking, so Mrs. Wei snorted and said, "Shouldn't we find out after we go and see? It's about getting married. Sister-in-law is Xian'er's biological mother, so naturally she has the final say."
Bo Jingli said helplessly: "But... But you know the children of that family, it's too wronged Xian'er."
Wei sneered, "My mother doesn't feel wronged, why do you feel wronged? They gave her so much money, but they just want her daughter." After finishing speaking, he went to look at Bao Jingli, "You agree now, In the future, if girl Xian's life is not good, she will definitely blame you, if you say no, she will blame you in the future, don't you want to talk casually?"
After Wei finished speaking, he went to the main hall. When he got to the door, he saw Hu sitting on the main seat with a gloomy face. When he saw them coming back, Hu sat up straight, "You are finally back."
The two of Bo Jingli were seated, and Wei Shi smiled and said, "What orders do sister-in-law have?"
In just a few months, Hu's demeanor has long since disappeared. She seems to be ten years old. Even though she is covered in silk and gold, she can't hide her dejected expression. She sighed and said: "My cousin's children are not Fame, but their family can be regarded as the top merchants in the capital, especially they promise to be good to Xianer, I think it is very good, Xianer was divorced by the Lin family, and there are many rumors in the capital, if you want to find a scholarly family It's really not easy for a child—"
Bo Jingli hesitated to speak, Wei said: "Naturally, sister-in-law is in charge of this matter, but sister-in-law has to think about it. Once this marriage is settled, there will be no room for you to regret it."
Hu hesitated now, and turned to look at Bo Jingli, "What do you think, second brother?"
Bo Jingli was about to open his mouth, but Wei Shi hurriedly glanced at him, and Bo Jingli quickly said, "Of course it's my sister-in-law who decides."
Mrs. Hu couldn't make up her mind for a while, she rolled her eyes and asked about their going to Cheng Zhai. When Mrs. Wei heard about it, she began to talk about how Bo Ruoyou got Wu Zhaohou's attention. After hearing this, Mrs. Hu felt even worse Taste, "I really didn't expect that a person with such a fate could have the blessings he has today."
Wei said: "Sister-in-law, please don't talk nonsense. My sister-in-law also knows what kind of person Wu Zhaohou is, and now Youyou is the head of the county personally appointed by His Majesty, and it is not something the poor people can point out."
Even though Mrs. Hu was unwilling, she did not dare to say anything bad about Bo Ruoyou in front of outsiders, but she didn't know what to think, and her expression became gloomy, "It's really hard to say about fate, but the second brother and younger siblings should still Remember what happened back then."
Wei's eyebrows twitched, even if he wanted to protect Bo Ruoyou, he was at a loss for words.
Hu's lips clenched coldly, "This matter was taboo in the past, but now I don't have to worry about it. She sees that everything is fine now, but she is a vicious person. If one day she Going crazy again, even if you become Mrs. Wu Zhaohou, it is still the biggest joke in the capital."
After saying this, as if it was not enough to relieve her anger, she said again: "Also, if people know that she was so vicious and unrighteous at a young age, I don't know if Wu Zhaohou will still love her?"
…
After dinner, Bo Ruoyou accompanied Cheng Yunzhi into the study. Seeing that Cheng Yunzhi was about to write a prescription, she obediently stepped forward to rub the ink, and couldn't help but ask after a while: "Father, what did you do last night—"
Only halfway through the words, Cheng Yunzhi raised his eyes to look at her, his eyes were still serious, "Where did you go today?"
Bo Ruoyou was overwhelmed for a moment, sighed for a moment and said, "Don't dare to hide the truth from my adoptive father, I went to the Yamen with Lord Hou today."
Cheng Yunzhi put the pen in his hand on the table with a snap, "You don't listen to your foster father?"
Bo Ruoyou hurriedly said: "It's not that he was disobedient, it's that the adoptive father never told the daughter the reason, and the daughter was puzzled, how could she just let go of the case without letting go of the case? Also ask the adoptive father to expressly ask that if it is really impossible to find out, the daughter will definitely listen to the adoptive father of."
The corners of Cheng Yunzhi's lips were tightly pursed, and there was a hint of sadness on his old face when he first saw it, which soon disappeared. He sat up straight and remained silent for a long time without saying a word, as if the inner reason was very difficult to speak.
Bo Ruoyou became more and more suspicious, "What is the adoptive father worried about? Although the murderer in this case is weird and vicious, but my daughter promises that there will be no more accidents like before. What is the foster father worried about?"
Cheng Yunzhi suddenly raised his eyes to look at Bo Ruoyou, "Did you get any new clues when you went to the Yamen today?"
Bo Ruoyou shook his head, "No, Catcher Wu hasn't returned to the city yet. I went to the Yamen today because my daughter suspects that the murderer in this case may be related to Mr. Ming's kidnapping that year, and my daughter also suspects that the murderer is very likely to be still alive all these years." Continue to commit crimes."
Cheng Yunzhi's eyes trembled slightly, "It's related to the case of the Ming family's child? Wasn't he kidnapped back then?"
Seeing Cheng Yunzhi's concern about this case, Bo Ruoyou was also happy to explain, and immediately explained Ming Guilan's testimony and the case back then, "There are coincidences in the two cases, and Mr. Ming's case appears to be a kidnapping case on the surface, but if Mr. Ming never escaped back then, and no one knows what will happen afterwards, so it cannot be completely classified as a kidnapping case."
Cheng Yunzhi narrowed his eyes, "I remember that the child of the Ming family had an accident in the autumn of the seventeenth year of Jianhe."
"That's right, it's October of the seventeenth year of Jianhe."
Cheng Yunzhi clenched his hands on the edge of the table, "The murderer's methods in this case are cruel. When you investigate the case, do you feel uncomfortable?"
Bo Ruoyou asked strangely: "How could it be? Because the victim is a child, I can't bear it all the more, but with such a murderous method, the corpse's appearance is not scary, and my daughter has had autopsies for several years, how could she feel unwell?"
Although Cheng Yunzhi breathed a sigh of relief, his face was still serious. He looked at Bo Ruoyou carefully again, and saw her deep and beautiful eyes looking at him longingly, her eyes were full of doubts, and finally sighed: "If you If you can’t let it go, you can continue to help with the investigation.”
Sometimes she was not asked to check, and sometimes she was asked to check again, the changes in the middle were all in a daze, "So why is foster father..."
"Father loves you very much. You have suffered a lot these years. Now that you are acting together, I don't know if your parents will blame me when they look at you." Cheng Yunzhi sighed for a long time, and his tone was somewhat bleak and remorseful. Ruoyou's heart clenched.
Seeing Cheng Yunzhi's expression hard to bear, Bo Ruoyou hurriedly said: "Father who doesn't know how, don't think too much about foster father, daughter doesn't ask anymore, if foster father is really worried, the case is over, daughter will stay at home with righteous father Father celebrates the new year, so he doesn't care about the Yamen case for the time being."
Cheng Yunzhi looked at her again, "The weather is cold these days, you should wear more, and if you feel unwell, please tell me, don't be sick."
Bo Ruoyou was confused, as long as Cheng Yunzhi really cared for her, he naturally responded repeatedly, and when she went back to the room to rest later, she always felt that something was missed by her, but Cheng Yunzhi didn't stop her anymore. It was enough, and she didn't have to ask the bottom line to make Cheng Yunzhi uncomfortable.
In the early morning of the second day, Bo Ruoyou went to Wuzhaohou's mansion first, but Huo Weilou entered the palace early in the morning and did not return until noon, and it was also after noon that the servants of the Hou's mansion who had been sent yesterday came back and reported to him two people.
In the study room, the attendant said respectfully: "Your subordinate arrived at Xiangguo Temple last night. After expressing your intentions, it was Master Huiming from Xiangguo Temple who saw this subordinate. His subordinate mentioned the method of murdering people. Master Huiming said that Buddhism emphasizes The way of compassion to cross people, there is absolutely no such evil words in Buddhist scriptures, but Buddhism emphasizes the six reincarnations, and Buddhism has flourished for many years, and various teachings have been promoted inside and outside the Great Zhou Dynasty, but here there is only one related to blood. Something about hell—"
Bo Ruoyou and Huo Weilou lifted their spirits instantly, and the attendant continued: "There are often rumors of eighteen levels of hell among the people, and the thirteenth level of these eighteen levels of hell is called Blood Pool Hell. Anyone who disrespects others, People who are not filial to their parents, not upright, or crooked, will be thrown into the blood pool hell to suffer after death."
Bo Ruoyou and Huo Weilou looked at each other, the blood pool hell was used as punishment, if the murderer used this to murder people, then Wen Jin should have drowned in the blood pool instead of being bled.
Huo Weilou said, "What about the bell?"
"Bells are also called hand bells and doubt bells in Buddhism. They are Buddhist instruments. In addition to ordinary bells that can be used as instruments, Buddhists also have vajra bells and pestles. Vajra bells and vajras are a set. It is used by Buddhist disciples to practice. In Buddhist scriptures, the Vajra Bell is compared to Vairocana Buddha and Vajra Self-Made, and it is also said that the bell is the wonderful sound of the Buddha’s teaching. Many eminent monks practice with the sound of the bell.”
After the attendant finished speaking, Bo Ruoyou said: "The bell appeared for no reason, although it is not necessarily related to Buddhism, but with the murderer's method of killing people, the motive is very likely to be related to some weird beliefs."
The attendant continued: "Master Huiming also said the same, but Master Huiming didn't think that the murderer was a Buddhist. He mentioned a Taoist method of self-cultivation, called the art of cultivating death with dry bones, which is also related to people. The blood body is somewhat related."
"The art of cultivating death?" It was the first time Bo Ruoyou heard such a saying.
The attendant responded, and continued: "It sounds like a method of cultivating death, but in fact it is a method of seeking longevity. This method is extremely dangerous and often appears on those who know that they cannot live for a long time. The old Taoist priest."
"They will find a geomantic treasure in advance, such as an inaccessible cave, as a resting place for their bodies, and then drive their souls into the sun. After that, the flesh will rot like a corpse, but the internal organs and blood will still be fresh. It will take three to two years, and at most twenty or thirty years, after cultivating the Dao and returning to the original spirit, you can regenerate flesh and blood, produce fluid and fluid, not only restore your body to its original state, but also cultivate the immortal body of immortality."
Huo Weilou frowned upon hearing this, "Is this what Huiming said?"
The attendant responded, and said: "In addition, the Taoists also use the bell as a magic weapon. The bell is called the Sanqing Bell in the Taoism, and it is also called the Emperor Bell. It is one of the top ten town teaching tools. Ordinary Taoists will use this thing to practice."
Huo Weilou pondered for a moment, "Hui Ming is also considered one of the eminent monks of Xiangguo Temple, so I don't think he would lie. Go and check to see if there are any Taoist priests with advanced practice in the Taoist temples inside and outside the capital. I want to ask more details."
The attendants left in response, and Bo Ruoyou stood up and paced back and forth, "The blood pool hell of Buddhism does not match this case, because the murderer didn't intend to punish the dead, but just took blood from the dead. The Taoist practice of cultivating death It’s interesting to use Fayi to seek longevity.”
"I'm an author. After death, the body rots and can never be regenerated. Will someone live a heresy way to live forever, because their own flesh and blood can't regenerate, so they want to use other people's flesh and blood to fill it..."
After Bo Ruoyou finished speaking, she felt a little shuddering. She looked at Huo Weilou, "I'm not sure about the motive of the murderer, but I think this explanation is one step closer to the truth. The technique of seeking longevity is not unique to Taoism. There are even bad customs in many places. Some people will eat purple river chariots, saying that this thing can prolong their life, and if they believe in gods and monsters, they will do everything they can. In the previous case of Heishui Village, some people used newborn babies as sacrifices. "
Most of the weird and unexplainable cases are related to ghosts and cults, Huo Weilou said: "Don't worry, I'll find a Taoist priest and ask him to see what the Taoist art of death is like."
Bo Ruoyou returned hope. Compared to when she had no clue before, now at least she has a direction of suspicion, and the place where the murderer committed the crime was near the Xiangguo Temple. Did she want to direct the spearhead to the Xiangguo Temple to disrupt the government's investigation?
"I don't know if Butou Wu found any clues outside the city." Bo Ruoyou said slowly.
Bo Ruoyou was concerned, but he didn't know that Hou Yang from the yamen had also arrived outside the Hou's mansion. After explaining his intention, the servants of the Hou's mansion brought Hou Yang into the main courtyard.
Hou Yang saw Bo Ruoyou and said, "County Lord, the arrester brought a small witness back. He is a child from the town. You should have seen him. He said he knew Wen Jin. On the day when the incident happened, he also saw Wen Jin." Guo Wenjin."
Upon hearing this, Bo Ruoyou stood up, "I'll go with you to the yamen."