Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 105 Jiajing's Only Sister (Part )

A curfew was also imposed in the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

At 3:00 a.m. the evening drum is struck and people are prohibited from leaving the house; at 3:00 a.m. the morning bell is struck and people are allowed to leave the house.

Anyone caught walking on the street during the second, third, or fourth watch will be flogged fifty times. Anyone who breaks the curfew after the first watch and shortly before the fifth watch will be flogged forty times. In case of serious illness, childbirth, death, or other unexpected circumstances, temporary passes can be applied for.

The Yunyin Society's performance was held just after nightfall and before the curfew.

The 1:30 p.m. update corresponds to about 8:15 p.m. in later generations. Considering that the audience has to go home after watching the show, Yunyin Society’s show starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m.

This was already very rushed, and those who lived a little further away could not make it back. But when Haiyue and Yan Shifan arrived outside the overpass, they saw a scene of bright lights, noisy voices, and a sea of ​​heads piled from the overpass all the way to Zhengyang Gate.

"How is it? Is it lively?"

"It's really good."

"Let's go in!"

The more people there were, the more crowded they became. Seeing everyone crowding together, Yan Shifan became excited and pushed forward to squeeze in.

His small body was bumped into and bumped into other people, and he was almost pushed out because he was a weakling. Fortunately, Haiyue supported him and cleared the way for him, so that he could reach the bottom of the temporary platform.

The people of the capital city were waiting in anticipation, with buzzing discussions everywhere as they waited for the legendary magician to appear.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The gong sounded five times in succession, and the whole place finally quieted down. A baby not far away just cried and its mouth was covered.

In this extreme silence, an illusionist in a long robe with wide sleeves slowly walked onto the stage.

This person was very tall and wore a simple mask that only revealed his bright eyes. He held a folding fan in his hand and waved it gently. The fan opened up and a colorful bird flew out of thin air, spreading its wings and soaring high, causing the audience to exclaim in surprise.

Before the audience's voice died down, the magician turned up his sleeves, reached out and held up a celadon bowl, then turned it in front of everyone, indicating that the bowl was empty.

Then, he raised the bowl above his head, and as he muttered something, a stream of clear water gushed out of the bowl, flowing like a torrent and making a gurgling sound.

The water flowed down, but there was no trace of water. Instead, it turned into a thin mist, and a few fish could be vaguely seen swimming in the mist.

The audience stared with their eyes wide open. Some of them reached out to grab it, but they got nothing. Even their hands were dry. They screamed in surprise again.

"Ah!"

The magician's mouth under the mask seemed to smile slightly, and he took out a bronze mirror from his arms, the mirror surface was as smooth as the moon.

He pointed the bronze mirror at the audience below the stage, and a reflection appeared in the mirror, but the movements in the reflection were exactly the opposite of the real person, as if there was another world in the mirror.

Everyone was so stunned that they even forgot to cheer.

Finally, the magician put away the bronze mirror, closed his folding fan, and waved it gently, and a cloud of white smoke rose above the stage.

When the smoke cleared, the illusionist was nowhere to be seen, leaving only a paper crane circling in the air, slowly flying up into the sky and disappearing.

"Clap clap clap!"

The people around the platform clapped their hands vigorously, and the applause was thunderous and lasted for a long time.

"This is the first one! The members of the Kumogakure Society always end up hiding in the clouds!"

Yan Shifan watched intently and did not forget to introduce it. Even Haiyue couldn't help but applaud and admire it.

The performance of the Harrier Class was still in the realm of martial arts. They threw the flying knives with great accuracy and were known as masters of hidden weapons in the martial arts world.

Now the performances of Yunyin Society are pure magic, and some of them are even quite miraculous, like the magical tricks in ancient strange stories, such as "Youyang Zazu".

In fact, similar strange stories and legends can be heard in every dynasty.

For example, on the way to Tianqiao, Yan Shifan told him that during the Zhengde period, there was a magician in the capital who could plant fruits and vegetables in an instant. In the early years of the Jiajing period, there were also street performers who performed the five ghosts moving magic. The first magic work in later legends, "The Magic of Immortals", also appeared after the Jiajing period.

Let’s not talk about those things, just look at the current performance. There are four magicians on stage, all wearing masks and wide robes, but judging from their figure, they should be two men and two women.

Each person's performance lasts about half a quarter of an hour, and it is smooth and wonderful, allowing the audience to savor it for a long time during the interval and then enjoy the next good show.

After the four magicians finished their performances one after another, Hai Yue couldn't help but take out the purse from her waist and prepare to give them rewards.

It is said that once the kite troupe performed a wonderful show, a clever servant would immediately come out with a basin, and everyone would join in the fun by throwing copper coins into the basin to cheer and enjoy a better show.

But the Yunyin Society was just performing, and I didn't see them asking for money. Were they planning to collect a large sum all at once? However, Yan Shifan shook his head, pressed down his hand, and chuckled softly, "No need to pay. They're performing charity shows these days, otherwise I wouldn't have come!"

"Are you really stingy? Or have you saved up some money and are planning to go to Jade Hall and drink with those sisters?"

Haiyue didn't want to expose the other party, but she was a little puzzled: "These stage settings and props must have cost a lot of money, right? And the Yunyin Society is performing a charity show without charging a penny?"

"Ha! It's worth it!"

Yan Shifan said, "After all, this sky bridge performance is for the common people to watch. No matter how much money is given as tips, it won't earn you many taels of silver in a day. But once you become famous, and perform in restaurants in the capital, especially at the homes of high-ranking officials, your value will be completely different. A few performances will be enough to make back your investment!"

As if in response to these words, as the climax was over and today's program was about to end, a group of people suddenly came from the other side of the overpass, forcibly separated the people who were blocking the way, and a man who looked like a manager came to the back of the platform and said something to the illusionist who came to meet him.

Yan Shifan had sharp eyes. In the light from the high platform, he looked at the manager-like man with a hint of pride. "Shisanlang, what do you think of what I just said? This Yunyin Society has indeed gained a reputation, attracting powerful people to invite us!"

Haiyue smiled: "Donglou is indeed foresighted."

Not only them, but also the people who lived nearby came over. Soon the news spread and everyone was shocked.

"Someone from Princess Yongchun's residence?"

"That's your Majesty's only sister!"

Even Yan Shifan was surprised.

There is no shortage of powerful people in the capital, but Princess Yongchun's Mansion is also extremely special.

Emperor Zhengde Zhu Houzhao had no surviving brothers or sisters. He was the only son of Emperor Xiaozong and Empress Dowager Zhang. There was even a mystery about his birth mother. It was said that Zhu Houzhao was not Empress Dowager Zhang's biological son, but that Empress Dowager Zhang took someone else's son as her own.

In any case, it was because Zhu Houzhao had no younger brother to inherit the throne that he had to choose from among the vassal kings after his death.

The same was true of Zhu Houcong.

Zhu Houcong's biological mother, Empress Dowager Jiang, gave birth to two sons and three daughters, but the eldest son died at birth, the eldest daughter only lived to be four years old, and the second daughter, Princess Yongfu, died at the age of twenty. Now the youngest daughter, Princess Yongchun, is Zhu Houcong's only surviving sister.

However, the princess did not seem to have a good life. Her husband, Captain Xie Zhao, was a bald man. According to folk legend, his hair was so sparse that he couldn't even comb it into a bun, which naturally became a hot topic on the streets.

Seeing the princess's housekeeper on the overpass, Yan Shifan blinked, "What good luck! Once they perform at Princess Yongchun's house, the powerful and influential people in the capital will be vying for invitations. This magic troupe will be completely famous!"

Haiyue said, "They truly have amazing skills and deserve to be famous."

Yan Shifan said, "Amazing skills are useless. Ever since Emperor Wuzong's Leopard House acrobatics were disbanded, the court has been taboo against treating these street performers. Only Princess Yongchun's status will not be reprimanded by His Majesty. Once she invites, other wealthy families will invite them without hesitation..."

Hai Yue thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. She smiled and said, "It seems that the next time I watch Yunyin Society's performance, the ticket price will be quite high."

Yan Shifan sighed: "Yes, yes, another expense..."

In fact, these were the richest times of his life.

The Ouyang family was engaged in business, and the Yan family had never been poor. Now the simple and honest style was a lifestyle chosen by their family. However, over time, Yan Song also got used to it. In the past, when he wanted to please the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department, he was reluctant to give large sums of money.

Until his son entered the Imperial College and hung out with a group of like-minded young prodigies, he couldn't let him lose confidence, so he finally took out a lot of money and told Yan Shifan to use it without worry and not to lose face in front of his friends.

As a result, Yan Shifan took the money and started running towards Biyutang.

The second-place female candidate, Yun Shao, had really turned good and left the capital, but Biyutang, which was backed by the Jiaofangsi, was never short of beauties. The twin sisters Qinxin and Fengxiao were the favorites for the next Lotus Terrace Fairy Meeting, and Yan Shifan soon became their guest of honor.

After spending all his money on the brothel, the young priest became more and more stingy in other aspects. Now he couldn't even watch the fantasy play for free, which made him look very disappointed.

Hai Yue saw this and secretly laughed. When the performance on the stage came to an end and curfew was approaching, the two of them could not delay any longer and returned to the Imperial College.

More than ten days passed.

Time quickly came to November.

Just as the six members of Yi Xin Hui began to spread the New Version of Journey to the West and word of mouth gradually began to ferment, one morning, Hai Yue and the other three were going to the school to attend classes together, and they saw a young lady who looked like a maid wandering around the prison, her brow full of anxiety.

Seeing the four of them arrive together, he hurried over and said tearfully, "Four gentlemen, do you know which dormitory Master Haiyue is in?"

Hai Rui and Yan Shifan's eyes flickered, a look of scrutiny on their faces. Lin Daqin then looked directly at Hai Yue, who replied, "It's me."

"Great! I finally found you, Master!"

The maid was overjoyed: "My humble servant Huixiang is the personal maid of Princess Fanglian. Something happened in Princess Yongchun's mansion, and the princess was also involved. I hope you can rescue her!"

(End of this chapter)