While Gu Xiao was still in Hejiabao trying to track down the disappearance of the Chongyang pen.
Qiyun Zhongzhou, Jianglin City, the rising morning light awakened this sleeping city, slightly dispelling the coldness of the winter night. Although the Lantern Festival has passed, the festive atmosphere is still there, and the streets covered with thin snow are gradually becoming lively. After getting up, the people began to get busy after the festival.
The vendor kissed the sleeping baby, took the clothes from his wife, arranged the goods, and thought about selling more today so that he could buy more clothes for the newborn child and buy a hairpin that his wife was reluctant to buy;
The merchants were shouting and ordering their servants to remove the door panels and prepare to welcome customers, hoping to take advantage of the festival to make more money;
Even the girls in the brothel, when sending out the overnight guests, did not forget to gently sway their waists to attract the few passers-by...
In the Fan Mansion, the servants are busy arranging the court uniforms and official hats for the master.
"Sir, the New Year's Day has passed and it's not time to enter the palace yet. Why did the Holy One send another message to let hundreds of officials accompany him, but it's so painful for the master." Butler Wang is not here, and Butler Wang has become the master's eyesight. The celebrity just hopes to seize this rare opportunity to express himself in front of the master. Maybe when Lao Wang comes back, he will have replaced his position in the Fan Mansion. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Butler Wang will not forget to show his thoughtfulness. I started to care about my master.
Under the official hat, the old man has a thin face, high cheekbones, and slender eyes. Only the few wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and the three long white beards under his chin reflect his sixty years. When Butler Wang spoke, I was still excited. Fan Mou, who was concentrating with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Butler Wang in front of him.
Lao Wang immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing, and hurriedly took a few steps back, slapped himself several times until his cheeks were red and swollen, and said, "Master, look at this mouth of mine. I look at you, Qi Yun, all year round, for our sake. It’s rare to have a few days to recuperate, and today I have to go out of the city hard... I just made a mistake, and I hope you can forgive me..."
Seeing Lao Wang's fearful look, Fan Mou calmly withdrew his gaze, signaled Lao Wang to stop, closed his eyes and said: "Lao Wang, besides Butler Wang, you are also an old man who follows me. How old were you? "
When Lao Wang heard the old man mentioning the past, he recalled: "I told you, it was eighteen years ago, when the Southern Tang Dynasty rebelled and launched an army... The old man saved the villain's family of five. From then on, the villain followed It’s my lord.”
"Yes, so many years have passed, and you and I are the same. We have never been confused and have become sixty." Fan Mou said with emotion, closing his eyes in deep thought as if he was reminiscing about the past.
Butler Wang didn't know why the master was so emotional today. He was completely different from the one who usually dominated the court, so he could only stand there awkwardly, at a loss.
When the servants saw Butler Wang like this, they were even more careful. They packed up their red clothes, red clothes, large scarlet material belt, jade belt, brocade ribbon and jade pendant, damask stockings and leather shoes in a short time. Fan Mou gently stroked his long beard and waved for everyone to leave. Butler Wang bowed and left as if he had been granted amnesty.
When there was no one in the room and the lights were dim, a person walked out from under the tent behind Fan Mou. He had a long body and a jade face, and was dressed in rich brocade. There was a warm smile on his lips, but with the lights flickering on and off, it made people look away. Shenghan, who is it but Zong Shenxing, whose pseudonym is Yang Zijun?
Fan Mou looked back and saw that it was his lord. He hurriedly lifted up his official robe and was about to kneel down. Just as he was about to bow, he was lifted up by Zong Shenxing. The firelight illuminated his eyes, and the flashing light made Tangtang Right Prime Minister Qi Yun did not dare to look directly.
"Your Majesty." Fan Mou bowed his head and spoke respectfully.
"Second uncle, didn't I say that in your house, no matter what time, you can only call me your nephew, or your son, and I respectfully call you my second uncle, don't forget it again." Zong Shenxing He arranged the official robe for Fan Mou and said.
"Master...Second uncle has taken note of it." Fan Mou bowed and saluted.
Zong Shenxing smiled and did not mention Fan Mou again, but asked: "Isn't the Yuanri Festival over? Then why did Qi Shao call you into the palace?"
"You...are not calling me into the palace, but...calling me out of the city." Fan Mou replied.
The smile on Zong Shenxing's lips grew wider, and he said curiously: "I don't understand. Why is your emperor taking you out of the city in this cold winter?"
"Welcome someone."
"Oh? Who can let your emperor lead hundreds of officials out of the city to meet him?"
Fan Mou finally straightened up and looked up to the northeast outside the window. The majestic Prime Minister Qi Yun had fear in his eyes. The rising morning sun had gradually climbed up the window lattice, but it still could not sweep away the chill in Fan Mou's eyes. , just listen to him speak slowly.
"Qi Yun's Left Prime Minister Xiao Yushen."
Hearing this name, Zong Shenxing's smile that had been hanging on his lips seemed to be slowly smoothed away by someone's hands. It was not because he was frightened by this name, but because this name had appeared in his father's mouth more than once.
The counselor who is said to have endless plans, the counselor who once assisted Qi Yuan, who was still the Marquis of Yun, to defeat all the princes, returned the power to the Zhao family and won the praise of Emperor Zhao, and one person can be worth a million soldiers, the counselor who personally taught "Immortality" "General Gui" and the emperor's disciples who are now Emperor Qi Yun have returned.
Just for a moment, the corners of Zong Shenxing's mouth curled up again, and his eyes bloomed with incomparable brilliance. Even the light of the rising morning sun seemed to be covered by the light in his eyes. He stood up suddenly and clenched his fists. , trying hard to suppress the excitement in his heart, Zong Shenxing has never been so excited as he is today since he sneaked into Qiyun, and he smiled.
"I want to see him."
As soon as these words came out, even Fan Mou, who had been working in the temple for many years, couldn't help but be frightened. Panic flashed through his narrow eyes, and he hurriedly advised: "My lord, no, this Xiao Yushen is not only unparalleled in intelligence and planning, but also has the ability to observe people." With wisdom, the master's heroic appearance is like the scorching sun, and he may be able to see through his identity..."
Perhaps he was persuaded by Fan Mou, or perhaps Zong Shenxing realized that he had lost his composure. When Fan Mou finished speaking, he looked at his young master again. He had regained his previously concealed expression, and the excitement on his face had returned. He also returned to his calm and smiling appearance.
I saw Zong Shenxing bowing to Fan Mou and saying, "My nephew will obey my second uncle's teachings."
Seeing his master like this, Fan Mou showed a hint of panic on his face. He was about to raise his hand to help him, but he heard Butler Wang whisper from outside the study door: "Master, the carriage and horses are ready, and it's time to set off."
He raised his hand in the air and then put it down. Fan Mou didn't dare to look at it, but he had already re-examined his master several times in his mind. It turned out that he had already noticed someone coming outside the courtyard, and that's why he made this gesture. This kind of ear power, This kind of response is really not easy. It seems that he has seen the right person... Thinking of this, Fan Mou stood up straight and said in a deep voice toward the door: "I know, let's go now."
Hearing the sound of people leaving quickly outside the door, Fan Mou was about to raise his hand to help him, but saw his master quickly take a step back and loudly said: "Second uncle, please go. My nephew is waiting at home for his return."
Seeing this, Fan Mou was silent for a moment, frowned in understanding, then stroked his beard and laughed loudly: "Okay, if Jun'er needs anything, just tell the servants at home. When I come back with you, I can talk to Jun'er freely." Late."
Zong Shenxing bowed and said, "Farewell to my second uncle."
When Fan Mou heard this, he shook his official robe and opened the door and left. There were servants outside the courtyard to greet him. He left the mansion and entered the sedan chair. He opened the curtain of the sedan chair and looked back at the mansion for a moment. He laughed at himself and whispered to himself. : "It seems that Mr. Xiao is still thinking about me. Before I arrive, he wants to knock on the mountain and shake the tiger."
After saying this, he put down the sedan curtain, and as the sound of the sedan rising sounded, Fan Mou was already looking east.
My master has no children, and everyone in the family has seen that he loves his "nephew" very much. This young master always has a faint smile on his face, and he is polite and polite to the servants in the family, without any pretense, until one day , several little maids who admired the young master made a joke and made a bet. The little maid who lost went to spy on the young master according to the bet, but she never came back, and there was no news about her. However, no one mentioned the maid in the house. The matter of disappearance.
As soon as this happened, no one dared to approach this handsome scholar-like young master. The master left the house, and within a moment, Zong Shenxing was the only one left in the small courtyard.
It wasn't until there was no one in the courtyard that Zong Shenxing straightened up, stretched, and returned to the study. He stretched out his fingers to explore the body of the pot. The remaining warmth of the boiling water was still there. He smiled, held the pot and took the cup. He was about to pour himself tea, but he heard the strong wind blowing behind him.
He stopped pouring tea. Several large acupuncture points around his body were hit by the internal force carried by the strong wind. Zong Shenxing stood on the spot, his face full of panic.
After being hit on the acupuncture point, his hand was no longer able to hold the teapot. The handle was about to slip from his fingertips. An ordinary iron sword appeared. With a flick and a pick, the teapot fell to the table like a maid's jade hand. , not even the tea in the pot swayed at all.
"I ask, you answer, if you tell the truth, I will take your head." A deep voice came from behind.
"Okay... I will definitely tell you this." Zong Shenxing replied tremblingly.
"Where is Fan Mou?" a deep voice asked again.
"Already...have left the house." Zong Shenxing replied hurriedly.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a long sword already placed on his neck. Zong Shenxing glanced out of the corner of his eye. Although he couldn't see the person coming, he could clearly see the long sword holding him. The sword was very ordinary, not made of iron. , and there are no gold, silver or jade ornaments, which can be bought for a hundred coins in blacksmith shops in cities across the land of China.
"Is it the truth?" the deep voice asked again.
"The villain dare not deceive." Zong Shenxing replied tremblingly.
After answering this question, Zong Shenxing felt the sharpness around his neck disappear, and the deep voice behind him disappeared without a trace. After burning the incense, he found that the person seemed to have really left. For ordinary people, at least one or two acupoints had been tapped. Shi Chen couldn't move, but Zong Shenxing suddenly moved. His face no longer looked frightened, and his smile reappeared. He moved his hands and feet that were stiff due to his disguise, and murmured: "Qi Yun is indeed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Na..."
After finishing speaking, he picked up the teapot and walked towards the back hall minding his own business.
——
The cold winter wind stirred up the snow and smoke. Following Qi Yunwei's ten-man team, the four teams worked together to slowly open the four-way thick city gate. The winter wind carried the snow as sharp as a knife and penetrated into the city gate corridor. Among them, the slap on the face of the gatekeeper general did not change the anxious look on the general's face.
"Hurry up. Today is a big day. If we are delayed, our heads will be moved." The gatekeeper frowned and urged.
When the Qi Yun guards heard this, they all tried their best to open the city gate completely with the loud sound of the city gate rubbing against the ground.
"Okay, don't rest any longer. Hurry up and line up. You'll be refreshed soon." The general shouted.
Normally, the general treated these brothers very well, but today he changed his attitude and was so harsh. Qi Yunwei, who usually treated the general very well, came up breathlessly and said, "Boss, what is going on... "
The general looked at his little brother with a playful smile, glanced helplessly, lowered his voice and said, "The Holy One is coming to the east gate today."
Qi Yunwei was surprised and said: "How could the Holy Lord... who is..."
The general stretched out his hand and patted Qi Yunwei's helmet hard, signaling Qi Yunwei to be silent. Then he looked towards the city behind him and saw no one around. He motioned Qi Yunwei to come closer and whispered in his ear.
"Xiao Xiang returned to Jianglin today."
Some people died, but not completely...
