Since Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty promoted Hangzhou to Lin'an Prefecture in the third year of Jianyan, and established Lin'an as the capital in the eighth year of Shaoxing, the Song court did not officially designate Lin'an as the capital.
Except for the ambiguous mention in "The Chronicles of Emperor Gaozong" that "Lin'an was the capital at the end of the year", this place has always been called "Xingzai", which can be regarded as retaining the hope of restoring the foundation of the north.
Therefore, the nominal capital of the Song Dynasty is still the "Bianjing" that may or may not exist.
Li Xia led Gao Mingyue into Lin'an City.
They came from Kaifeng, which in a sense can be said to have come to Lin'an Prefecture from the "Capital of the Song Dynasty".
It is said to be "holding", but in fact both of them are holding a cloth belt in their hands, which is covered by their sleeves, making it look like they are holding hands.
When he was interrogated when he entered the city, Li Xia casually handed over some money, saying that he was taking his wife to visit the city and forgot to bring her household registration.
Gao Mingyue covered her face again, lowered her head after hearing those words, and thought of a poem in her mind.
"The gall woman came to the market while she was in the market. She was on the South Street of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Pedestrians should not laugh at the ugly woman, because her husband is buying silver hairpins for her."
This is a poem she read when she was a child. The female teacher in her family described how villagers from the Song Dynasty often went to the city to play. Now that I think about it, it has a different meaning.
In fact, Li Xia still had a message in his arms from Marquis Du Yu in front of the palace, but he only took it out three times along the way.
Only when the investigation was too strict and bribery couldn't pass, would he be willing to take it out. He was usually like this... nonsense.
After entering the city, Gao Mingyue looked around and was a little surprised. The outer city of Lin'an was very prosperous. He didn't expect that the inner city could be even more lively.
This was her first time seeing such a big city, and every stall on the street caught her eye.
But she was afraid of missing something, so she tried not to turn her head to look. She held the cloth belt in her hand and followed Li Xia closely...
Li Xia asked several people in succession before gradually finding the house at the foot of Wushan Mountain.
Walking from the north of the city to the south, he discovered that the house was located in Qinghefang, which was an excellent location in Lin'an City.
Because the palace city is at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain to the south of Wushan Mountain.
Qinghefang at the foot of Wushan Mountain is surrounded by Imperial Street and Palace City to the south; Lin'an Government Office and West Lake to the west; Xiongwu Palace and Qiantang River to the east; and bustling Lin'an streets and alleys to the north.
Walking into Qinghefang, Li Xia said: "Yes, I was coming from Qiantang County Government and passed by here. The house was right in front."
"Um."
"You will see your brother soon."
Gao Mingyue raised her head and glanced at Li Xia, but said nothing.
White walls and tiles appear in front of you...
Suddenly, Li Xia took Gao Mingyue's hand, turned around and left.
Gao Mingyue was startled like a little rabbit, but she followed him quickly without asking.
The two walked through the streets and alleys, bypassed the Lin'an government office, and arrived at the east bank of the West Lake.
Li Xia casually took out the copper coins and got on a boat on the lake.
He was obviously walking around aimlessly, only occasionally looking back and scanning the lake as if to look at the scenery.
The cruise ship rowed to the north bank of West Lake and stopped.
Li Xia seemed to be relieved, and took Gao Mingyue to find an elegant Xizi Inn nearby and asked for a first-class private room.
It wasn't until she entered the room that Gao Mingyue asked, "Is something wrong?"
Li Xia nodded and said, "Have you noticed?"
"Well, there's someone spying on you near that house."
Li Xia said: "I'll change my clothes and go there again. You wait for me here."
"Okay." Gao Mingyue asked, "Shall I go to the teahouse downstairs to get some news?"
"That's fine, you have to be careful."
The two of them have a tacit understanding, and a few words are always enough.
While talking, Li Xia had already taken off his coat and started to disguise himself.
Gao Mingyue turned away with tacit understanding, but then secretly glanced back.
After a while, Li Xia put on a pair of coarse clothes, looked out from the crack of the door, and pushed the door open.
This time he did not lead the horse or carry a knife. He just touched a handful of mud on the ground and wiped his face.
I walked around the area first to get familiar with the environment, and then walked towards Qinghefang.
After observing from a distance, I saw a big man sitting on the roadside selling tea. He glanced at the house from time to time.
Li Xia stepped forward and asked, "How to sell tea?"
"Thirty-five dollars per pound."
Li Xia said: "Aren't there four kinds?"
"Same price."
"How about something cheaper? If you can buy one for fifteen dollars..."
The big tea seller raised his head and cursed: "If you don't buy it, get out!"
He cursed so loudly that many pedestrians around him turned their heads and looked over.
Li Xia seemed to be frightened. He lowered his head and glanced around. He took a few steps back, turned around and walked away. He went to the tea stall at the entrance of the alley and ordered a bowl of tea.
Before finishing the bowl of tea, he had carved several strange symbols on the tea table.
In the distance, a tall and thin young man chatted with someone for a few words, and their eyes fell on the big tea seller.
Li Xia frowned, vaguely feeling that the two groups of people didn't know each other.
The styles are all different...
The next moment, the tall and thin young man raised his feet and walked towards this side.
Li Xia stood up and walked away, walking through two alleys but then going back around, looking at the tea stall from a distance.
I saw a tall, thin young man standing in front of the tea table and staring at the mark for a while, then he called two people over and pointed in the direction he left.
"Not stupid." Li Xia muttered to himself and turned back to Xizi Inn.
Gao Mingyue also changed into men's clothes, put on a hat, and painted her face sallow. She was sitting in the teahouse downstairs. When she saw Li Xia coming back, the two of them got up and went back to the room.
"We only took the necessary items. We didn't need the other luggage and horses. We will find another place to stay."
"good."
The two of them did not check out, so they left the Xizi Inn and booked a wing room at the Jixian Inn opposite. The location was just right for them to see the Xizi Inn.
As soon as Li Xia entered the room, he stood by the window and stared at Xizi Inn.
"I left a mark. Maybe they will come and see if anyone is following me."
"good."
Gao Mingyue washed her face, took a small cloth bag, and placed it on the windowsill.
When she opened it, there were several eggs inside. She peeled them and said, "I just asked for news. A big event happened in Lin'an City recently."
"Um?"
"A few days ago, someone inscribed on the palace gate the words 'Yam Martin will be here, the country will perish', and there has been a lot of discussion in the city."
"What's the meaning?"
"It refers to the traitorous party in the DPRK, headed by four people."
Gao Mingyue sorted out the information he had found in his mind and spoke slowly.
"The first is Concubine Yan. The officials loved her very much. Seven years ago, she built a temple of merit and virtue. She did not hesitate to use the national treasury. She also wanted to cut down the ancient pines from the Jin Dynasty in Lingyin Temple to serve as pillars. At that time, the abbot of Lingyin Temple, Yuan Zhao, wrote a poem.
The old monk was not allowed to remove the pine trees and left them to be used as a painting screen in the West Lake. After the matter spread, the officials issued an order not to cut down the ancient pine trees. It took three years to build Yan Fei's Gongde Temple. It was so magnificent that it was called "Sai Ling" among the people.
"Yinsi", she relied on favor and power, so many people defected to her.
The second is Dong Songchen, the eunuch next to the official family, who is the best at speculating. It is said that last summer, the official family and Concubine Yan were admiring lotuses in the Forbidden Garden. There was no pavilion to block the sun, so Dong Songchen built a pavilion in one day.
In the winter, he built another pavilion in the Plum Garden. The officials accused him of wasting money and wasting the people, but he said that he just moved the lotus pavilion to the Plum Garden, and the officials praised him for his decent work.
The third is Ding Daquan, who clings to the eunuchs Dong Songchen and Lu Yunsheng, and gradually gains the trust of the officials. Last year, he wanted to be in power and framed Dong Huai, the right prime minister at the time. The palace edict to dismiss the prime minister was not fulfilled, so Ding Daquan used the imperial edict for personal use.
Shitai issued an ultimatum, dispatching more than a hundred troops in the middle of the night, armed with sharp swords, to surround Dong Huai's mansion and threaten him to leave Lin'an City. The government and the public were shocked, and Ding Daquan took advantage of this to enter the Privy Council to govern.
The fourth is Ma Tianji, who was promoted by currying favor with Ding Daquan and others, and is shameless. This man returned to the court not long ago, and although there are not many rumors among the people, he has been listed as a traitor."
When Gao Mingyue said this, he whispered again: "I don't know if this information is useful..."
"It's useful." Li Xia said.
Gao Mingyue raised her head and looked at him, her eyes lit up.
Li Xia took the egg from her hand and said: "Mr. Xi'an said that we are pawns in the struggle between the DPRK and China. Then we should understand who is fighting."
"It is said that Ding Daquan wanted to look at the prime minister. Is it him who harmed the right prime minister and deliberately betrayed us?"
"Also a possibility."
At this time, Li Xia was standing on this small building and could only see a corner of Lin'an City. The affairs of the court were still very unfamiliar to him. What he was concerned about was who sent people to monitor the Qinghefang house...
On the other side of the long street, I suddenly saw a little girl walking over, holding a basket in her hand, as if she was selling peaches.
"It's Qiaoer." Gao Mingyue was a little surprised.
"Don't worry, let's take another look."
Han Qiaoer was seen walking past the Xizi Inn. He didn't stop, but walked straight over.
When she looked again, there was a man behind her, following her furtively.
Gao Mingyue also noticed it and asked, "Will Qiao'er be okay?"
"There is only one person following me. It must be Qiaoer who saw the mark I left at the tea stall, which made people a little suspicious. Don't worry, nothing will happen."
"good."
"Let's go, let's follow..."
Li Xia and Gao Mingyue then stayed behind the stalker.
In the evening, Han Qiaoer sold all the peaches in the basket and entered a dilapidated house. An old woman walked out of the house tremblingly.
"Grandma, the peaches are sold out..."
When the stalker saw it, he shook his head and turned to leave.
After a long time, Han Qiaoer poked his head at the door and ran out.
She stood in the alley and turned around to look, her eyes looking very smart but her expression a little hesitant.
Li Xia and Gao Mingyue confirmed that there were no more followers around, and then they came out of the alley. The setting sun stretched their shadows.
Han Qiaoer was originally very calm, but when she saw them, her eyes turned red and she rushed towards them.
At this moment, she finally couldn't help crying.
"Brother Li, Sister Gao... Wuwu... I saw the mark left by Brother Li... But everyone who went to the tea stall was followed. I just went over and took a look, and that person kept following...
So scary...wuwu..."
"Okay, stop crying. Where are Mr. Han and the others?"
"Grandpa and Brother Gao live over there." Han Qiaoer raised her hand and pointed, "Brother Gao is still injured and my grandfather also injured his leg. I help the grandma here sell peaches so that I can pick up Brother Li..."
"
"Let's go." Li Xia asked again, "Where are Lin Zi and Liu Jinsuo?"
Han Qiaoer wiped away her tears and said aggrievedly: "They... they were arrested..."