The inner city of Jianglin was quiet, and the officials were confined to their homes. Even though the morning light had filled the long street, it was still a little bleak, but the outer city did not know everything about the inner city. The people were as usual, although they were still concerned about the "ghosts walking at night" I still have lingering fears, but compared to living, it seems that "ghosts" are not scary enough.
The market is full of busy people, and on the day when all nine markets are open, the vendors in the East Market are busy laying out their products for sale, hoping to open as early as possible and sell them at a good price;
The horse-drawn carriage sellers in the North City were already calling for orders to load the goods into the carriages so that they could leave early;
Even in those fireworks places in Nanshi, there are hints of hangovers, and the disheveled young man comes out of the door, staggering towards his home with a bit of drunkenness...
The West Market is not noisy, not because there is no business, but because the restaurants and teahouses have not yet begun to make a living. Despite this, servants from each house have opened the doors, yawned and called for the people who came to deliver the goods. Fresh fish, meat and vegetables are delivered to the back hall...
Under the busy conditions, there was only one restaurant. It was incompatible with the increasingly busy scenes of restaurants and tea shops in the West City. The doors were closed tightly. Not only were there no delivery people, but there was no sign of the waiter who got up early in the store and was busy. There was only one hanging on the door. The iron painting with silver hooks in front of it is very eye-catching.
"We live together when guests come, and we welcome guests together."
"I said, what's wrong with Qi Ranju? The Lantern Festival has just passed, and it's a good time for business. They don't even open the door." A hundred feet away, the seller delivering fish and meat looked at the yawning little boy leaning against the door. Er Da probed.
The waiter rubbed his sleepy eyes and said impatiently: "What are you doing with all these messy things? He doesn't even want them. I want them all in Zuixian Pavilion, so you can just send them over."
"Yes... I'm just curious..." The delivery man glanced at Qi Ranju's closed door. He was about to take a closer look when he was called by the waiter beside him, so he had to speed up his work and finish the work. All the fish, meat and other items were moved into the back hall...
Qi Ranju, outside the elegant room on the second floor, shopkeeper Zhou was standing under the "blue and white" wooden sign with a solemn face, stroking his beard to cover up his anxiety.
The man in cloth next to him had a calm and calm expression, but his eyes were unfocused under his furrowed brow, and his eyes were flashing, which all showed his inner urgency.
Beside them, a man with thick eyebrows and a puffy nose was pacing back and forth in front of the elegant room, sighing from time to time...
After pacing around for a few more times, he finally couldn't help it. The man turned sideways and grabbed the old body of shopkeeper Zhou who was standing with his hands folded. He said angrily: "You keep saying you have a magic medicine, how come it hasn't worked yet?"
Although Shopkeeper Zhou is over sixty years old, he does not panic when faced with a rude man. He is neither humble nor arrogant and says: "General Zhang, don't be impatient. Even the elixir needs time to take effect..."
"Hude!" The calm man next to him was worried that the reckless man would disturb the old man in the elegant room, so he hurriedly scolded him.
"Cough cough...cough cough..." Several violent coughs came from the room. The expressions of the three people guarding the door suddenly became serious. The rude man even realized that his words and deeds were reckless and disturbed the elegant room. The old man's face was full of eagerness, his eyes were wide open, and he was staring at the door nervously.
"Squeak--" The door of the elegant room slowly opened, and the cardamom girl stretched out her head, but it no longer looked as bright as before, and her slightly immature peach blossom face was full of worry.
"Uncle Hude, Uncle Wu, Grandpa Zhou, Grandpa Xiao calls you in."
Hearing Wang Yue'er's message, the reckless man didn't care much and rushed into the room. Wu Fen and Shopkeeper Zhou were worried about Xiao Xiang, so they quickly cleaned up their expressions and then walked in slowly.
The rude man rushed into the room and saw that the teacher who once scolded Fang Qiu was now half leaning on the couch, coughing uncontrollably. The straight backbone that once held up half of Qi Yun's sky, even when three armies retreated, was not bent now. The pain gradually collapsed under the torture of the disease. The square scarf was held tightly in his hands and his lips were lightly covered, but a little bit of redness could still be seen between the fingers...
The unparalleled warrior who has no plan left is now like a candle in the wind, crumbling, how can it not make people sigh? Zhang Hude, who is walking straight forward, has red eyes, squirming lips, and the anger in his chest can no longer be concealed. He looks back and wants to leave the room... . Just when he was about to act impulsively, he was gently held down by a hand. Looking back, he saw Wu Fen with a calm and calm expression.
"The teacher seems to be doing much better. It must be Lao Zhang who was making noises in front of the door just now and disturbing the teacher... Lao Zhang
, still not apologizing? "
Although he was impulsive, he was not stupid. He instantly read Wu Fen's thoughts from his eyes. Zhang Hude immediately calmed down and forced a smile.
"Yes...yes, teacher, you see...Lao Zhang, I have this temper. I have been impulsive since I was a child. Don't be anxious, we...we kowtow to you!"
As he said this, Zhang Hude actually knelt down and knocked his head three times in a row, causing the floor of Qi Ran's second floor to vibrate and buzz.
With the square towel in his hand, he wiped the blush that overflowed from the corner of his lips. The old man glanced at everything, and suddenly felt relieved: "Hu De, you are the leader of Qi Yun's seven sons. Remember...ahem...from now on. Always think twice before doing anything!"
"Oh, we have recorded...Teacher, your illness, otherwise, we leave overnight and go back to Weizhou. You have been in Weizhou for so many years and this old problem has never happened. Now you have returned to Jianglin." Day..." Zhang Hude followed the old man's words and immediately knelt forward to express his thoughts.
Xiao Xiang tried his best to smile, but did not agree to Zhang Hude's request. Instead, he turned his head and looked at the people behind him. When he fell on Shopkeeper Zhou, he said softly: "For so many years, I have wronged you in this small Qiran residence." Be a shopkeeper..."
Shopkeeper Zhou's eyes were already red. Hearing Xiao Xiang's slightly guilty words, he hurriedly knelt down and said: "Master Xiang, this life of Lao Zhou was given by His Highness the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister. How could he say such things that are unheard of?" So, are you trying to break the villain?"
Wang Yue'er saw that the atmosphere in this elegant room was getting heavier. Thinking of Grandpa Xiao's illness, she couldn't help but feel depressed, her eyes rolled, and she immediately took a step forward.
"Oh, Uncle Hude, you two are really... It's a great joy that Grandpa Xiao is safe. Get up quickly...Grandpa Zhou, although Yue'er is in Weizhou, you are the best in the group." The reputation of snow has already spread to the border, and Yue'er wants to try it. I wonder if she will be happy today?"
Who doesn't love Bingxue's smart daughter? With Wang Yue'er making jokes, the atmosphere in the elegant room suddenly changed. Even Xiao Xiang showed a look of love on his face and said with a smile: "Lao Zhou, what Yue'er said is true. She learned about your Dragon Tuan Shengxue at some point in Weizhou, and she has been clamoring for a taste of it."
Lao Zhou stood up with a busy smile: "Since the princess wants to taste it, Lao Zhou will prepare it now..."
After a cup of tea, the dragon group was full, and the fragrance filled the entire blue and white elegant room.
The girl tasted it carefully, and the arrogant man drank it. The girl praised it a few times, and the arrogant man said he was satisfied.
Scenes like this fell into the eyes of the old man who was half-reclining on the couch. He felt more and more happy. Even the burning in his chest was relieved a lot under this scene... After a long while, he looked away and spoke calmly.
"He has left the capital?"
As soon as these words came out, several people suddenly came to their senses. Shopkeeper Zhou withdrew his loving gaze from the cardamom girl, turned to Mr. Xiao, lowered his eyebrows and said, "Yes."
"How many people are traveling together?"
"Only the old eunuch Zhongqi and Yan Ruohai."
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Xiao frowned again, and said softly to himself: "It seems that the fragment of the scroll really exists, otherwise how could he wait at this juncture, disregarding the country, not thinking about his son, and abandoning everything? We are going to Bianjing."
After saying this, he raised his eyes slightly and turned to the calm and calm man who had been beside him: "Fen'er, the person who stayed in Beijing, but he..."
Hearing the master's soft call, Wu Fen pursed his lips slightly, nodded and sighed: "Teacher is right, Duanmu Qiu is the one who stayed in Beijing to shock all the officials."
"So, he wants to completely take Qiu'er under his command..." Xiao Xiang was not surprised when he heard the news, but actually raised his brows slightly.
Wu Fen nodded and said: "We and others all have their own character flaws... Although Duanmuqiu is not as good as Chu and Wei in martial arts, and not as good as Linghu in writing, he is the best among the seven of me..."
"Old Wu, what are you talking about! How can that traitor be compared with the six of us? This thief was so close to Linghu back then, and it wasn't just for the sake of the official title. Let's not mention the matter of Linghu..." Before Wu Fen could finish speaking, , Zhang Hude, who was drinking the dragon and winning the snow, threw the tea cup in his hand, jumped up and shouted... Just as he was about to continue speaking, he remembered Xiao Xiang's advice just now, and like a child who made a mistake, he hurriedly cast a probing look.
Seeing that the prime minister was not angry, he felt relieved, and then he looked at himself again
The act of throwing the cup was really impulsive and they hurriedly bent over to put it away. Everyone was surprised when they saw Zhang Hude in such a posture for the first time. Only the old man who was half leaning on the couch showed a little smile in his eyes.
The cardamom girl who was sipping tea carefully on the side, her eyes as clear as lake water flashed, seemed to have figured out the mystery, and murmured.
"It is certain that Duanmu Qiu will avenge Uncle Linghu. He is using the plan of leaving the capital to use the life of Duke Wei as a gift. Duanmu Qiu killed Duke Wei and will not be tolerated by hundreds of officials. If he wants to return to Xiao Grandpa’s subordinates will be criticized by officials. If this happens, there is no way out. The only way to save your life is to work for him wholeheartedly... What a good plan!"
Hearing the cardamom girl reveal the man's plan, Xiao Xiang's tired and sickly eyes flashed with approval: "Yue'er can think of this, it's really good, but he and you have underestimated this person."
After hearing this, the cardamom girl paused for a moment, thinking about it, but still had no answer, so she had to ask for advice: "Who did you underestimate?"
Not only Wang Yue'er had never thought of it, but also shopkeeper Zhou, a man who usually dealt with the market and officials, had never thought of it. The rude man who was busy cleaning up the mess on the ground didn't even know, and he didn't bother to think about such a headache... Only Wu Fen seemed to have guessed something from the twinkling eyes of Xiao Xiang.
Everyone's doubts naturally fell into the eyes of Xiao Xiang. He didn't show off, just tilted his head slightly, turned to the window, and said softly: "Although it is spring and the weather is still cold, don't freeze your body. Come in..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the window of the elegant room suddenly opened, and the figure flashed. He entered the room, closed the window, knelt down, leaned down, and kowtowed, all in one go. He was afraid that if he was a little slower, the cold outside the window would make the old man cough again.
As soon as they saw the person being invited, the expressions of the people in the Blue and White Elegant Room suddenly became clear. Wu Fen had a look of realization on his face. When shopkeeper Zhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief, he showed a relieved smile. Wang Yuer's eyes as clear as lake water widened, filled with disbelief. , Zhang Hude's eyes widened, and his anger gradually filled up.
"Good boy, how dare you come to the door yourself? Today we will clean up the door for the prime minister!" Zhang Hude, who was distracted for a moment, saw the person coming and immediately shouted angrily.
The visitor knelt in front of Xiao Xiang's couch and remained motionless. He just looked at the old man in front of him with concern. Although he didn't say a word, his eyes contained a thousand words.
Zhang Hude became furious when he saw the person coming and said nothing. He was about to attack immediately. As soon as he was about to move, he was held down by the palm of Wu Fen behind him.
"Old Wu...you..." Zhang Hude was not angry as to why Old Wu wanted to stop him. Just as he was doubting, he saw Wu Fen looking at him calmly, shaking his head slightly, and his mind, which was overwhelmed by anger, calmed down a bit, and finally I thought of something strange... I suddenly looked back and looked at the back of the man kneeling on the ground, my eyes suddenly filled with confusion.
"How is Duke Wei?" The old man on the couch said softly with distress in his eyes, suppressing the burning in his chest and abdomen.
The visitor raised his eyes, temporarily withdrew his concerned gaze, and spoke to Mr. Xiao: "Just as Mr. expected, the Duke of Wei did not reveal anything... and... he hit the blade in Qiu'er's hand... and died. ..."
"If you die, you will die. But in a few days, the news will spread throughout the capital. What you have to bear will be even heavier. Can you bear it?" The old man did not care about the life or death of Duke Wei, with a hint of worry in his eyes. Look at the person coming.
The visitor raised his head with firm eyes, just like the stubborn young man who knelt in front of the door many years ago, and showed a relieved smile: "It's enough to protect everyone..."
