At that time, people were quiet, the sky was high and the moon was pale, and the night was vast and deep. The bonfire broke the silence and burned, and the caravan that had been traveling all day finally set foot.
"Crack. Cuck." The branches and weeds in spring are full of moisture, and they always make such a sound when they burn themselves to provide warmth, and this sound seems to awaken the spring insects in the fields.
Mu Qing looked back and looked around. The fields here were all flat and cultivated farmland, but he didn't know why the seedlings in the fields could be seen as green and yellow under the night.
Mu Qing's eyes looked very far away, and finally penetrated the darkness of the night, and saw the torches on the city behind him struggling to push through the fog.
There should be more than twenty kilometers between the fires in front of him and the city there. Mu Qing had to strain his eyesight to see the outline of the city that was disappearing and appearing in the fog.
Jianan City, as the southern gate of Jinguan City, is only more than 80 kilometers away from Jinguan City. The caravan originally planned to stay in the city for one night for repairs. However, after Liu Weirui came back from the manager of the Liu family in the city, she decided to continue on her way, shortening the original journey that was still a day and a half at most.
Liu Weirui noticed Mu Qing's gaze towards Canaan City and sighed: "After tonight, the north gate will be closed for a while, and you won't be able to get out tomorrow morning. Now we have to sleep in the wilderness for a night."
Earlier, when the caravan left the city from the north gate, Li Si went to negotiate and revealed his identity as "Jinsi Liu", but he was still subject to a very strict and harsh interrogation by the city gate defenders. It seemed that as the caravan got closer to Jinguan City, the anxiety and tension in the surrounding air became stronger.
Mu Qing thought of what he had just seen and said to everyone: "This Jianan City is not small in size, but it does not need so many gate guards. They should be arresting someone."
Yue Jiu has lived in Jinguan City for a long time and is familiar with the surrounding official roads. He guessed: "The North City Gate is under martial law. You can still go in or out tonight. I think Jinguan City is on guard and wants to go south." people."
Among the crowd, probably only Liu Weirui knew better, so everyone focused on her.
Liu Weirui nodded and said: "There is a problem in Jinguan City, which has affected this area, but I don't know who Canaan City is arresting."
The caravan entered the city through the south gate very late in the evening. At that time, the martial law at the south gate was completely different from that at the north gate. After entering the city, Liu Weirui was planning to take the caravan to find a familiar inn to rest, when she was invited over by the manager of the Liu family in the city.
From the mouth of the manager, Liu Weirui learned that there had been a problem in Jinguan City not long ago. The surrounding small towns had begun to impose strict curfews. The north gate heading towards Jinguan City had long been restricted to exit and entry, and the city guard The army said that the North City Gate will be completely closed tomorrow.
The steward's expression was a little panicked at that time. Because of the recent changes in the Liu family, he was extremely respectful to Liu Weirui. The other party advised Liu Weirui to stay in Jianan City and wait for the storm to subside before making any plans. After all, he ventured to Jinguan City at this time. You may get caught up in unnecessary disputes.
But after weighing the situation, Liu Weirui was eager to return home. After replenishing water and dry food, she went directly out of the North City Gate tonight.
"Miss, Jinguancheng is the capital of the state, so what can go wrong?" Xiaochan sat next to Liu Weirui, her brows furrowed slightly, her tone full of confusion.
Liu Weirui looked towards the spring field in the north, and seemed to see the smoke burning on the big city further away. The solemn look in his eyes gradually deepened, and he shook his head and said: "The news was blocked quickly, and Manager Tian only heard some rumors. He I got some information from the defenders, saying that this may be the first civil strife in the Lord's Mansion of Jinguan City."
"Civil strife?" Mu Qing was a little unfamiliar with these things.
Yue Jiu was puzzled and said, "You should be familiar with this."
Mu Qing tried hard to think about the memories in his mind, shook his head and said, "Huh? I really haven't experienced it."
Yue Jiu frowned and said, "Didn't you live in Suzaku City for a few years before you were taken to Hidden Valley? How come you have no impression?"
Mu Qing has a slender figure and a face like a bright star, but Yue Jiu forgets that Mu Qing is actually ten years younger than him and has just grown up.
Staring at Mu Qing by candlelight for a long time, looking at the last traces of greenness on the other person's face, Yue Jiu suddenly said: "How old were you in the first year of Tianshou? Maybe you didn't remember anything at that time, and Suzaku City also There was a civil unrest.”
Mu Qing's eyelids moved slightly, and he nodded and said, "I must have been born not long ago. What happened after the civil strife?"
"In the first year of Tianshou, the 173rd generation of the Mugung Dynasty, one hundred and seventy-one people in the former city lord's palace in Suzaku City were killed. This was a major event that shocked Tiannan."
Yue Jiu looked up at Danxing Boyue and said in a calm tone, "I was ten years old back then and had been taken to Hidden Valley. I accidentally saw this news on Hidden Valley's spy reports."
It was late at night, cold in spring, and everything was gone. It was already an old story in the pile of old papers, but because of Yue Jiu's straightforward words, the smell of death and blood of one hundred and seventy-one people was suddenly brought closer.
Xiaochan thought about the current civil strife in Jinguan City, shook her head and said, "Miss, will the civil strife in Jinguan City turn out like this this time?"
Liu Weirui frowned and said seriously: "The current city lord is called Bai Ting. He is a member of the royal family. He manages Jinguan City very well. Things should not come to this."
Yue Jiu shook her head and chuckled: "How many people are there in the Bai family of the Mugung Dynasty until now? But there are always only nine positions for the city lords of the state capital. The power brought by this position is not the same as that of the vassals who do not have much real power. If Wang Yibi compares, then one is heaven and earth. So even if Bai Ting is a royal family member, there will always be other royal family members coveting this position. The royal family oppresses civilians and slaves, and they are the lackeys of the emperor. Just because of a hint from the emperor, he will turn into a hungry wolf that has been thirsty for blood for a long time. It is precisely because Jinguan City has developed well that this piece of meat seems delicious and tempting enough."
"The royal family oppresses the common people and slaves, and the royal family who are close to the emperor oppresses the alienated royal family." Mu Qing shouted, but he did not expect that Yue Jiu could see so clearly. He turned to Liu Weirui and asked: "If it is really the city lord Will the civil strife in the government affect your family?"
Mu Qing slightly understood Liu Weirui's worries. She narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded: "The location of the City Lord's Mansion has a natural advantage. The big families in Jinguan City have contacts with the City Lord's Mansion."
A majestic and elegant figure appeared in Mu Qing's mind, and he said comfortingly: "As long as Mrs. Lin has returned to your home, I believe nothing will happen to your family."
"Huh~" The spring cold is so cold that a breath of fresh air turns into a mist as soon as it comes out of the mouth.
Liu Weirui breathed away the annoyance in her chest, frowned and said: "This change in the City Lord's Mansion will definitely have an impact on everyone, but I don't know whether it is good or bad. You can't actively choose, you can only passively accept it. This feeling is very bad. .”
"Then..." Mu Qing looked up at the pale missing moon and said seriously: "How about traveling all night and going back early?"
"Is that okay?" Liu Weirui's eyes were brighter than the white moonlight. She looked around and saw that many people had fallen asleep after walking all day. She couldn't help but regretfully said, "Forget it, everyone can't walk anymore."
Mu Qing shook his head and said, "No, I don't suggest that we all go together."
"What?" Xiaochan said a little anxiously, "Then I have to talk to Miss. Where is Miss, where am I?"
The two Zhang brothers sat next to Yue Jiu and never expressed any opinions. After returning from Qingchuanguan Town, they talked less and less.
The two brothers were depressed about why they didn't meet a few hair-cutting thieves along the way. They were worried about not being able to help Liu Weirui. The closer they got to Jinguan City, the more they feared their mistress's blame. They were worried that they had no chance to show off. At this time, when he heard what everyone was discussing, he trembled all over, stood up like a chicken blood, and said impatiently: "Miss, do you want to get to Jinguan City early? If you have to leave now, we two brothers I can definitely protect you."
Liu Weirui's eyes grew slightly, and she was surprised by the sudden enthusiasm of the two brothers. After calming down, she nodded and said, "Then I'll bother you two eldest brothers."
"No trouble, no trouble. We will be in trouble only if you don't trouble us."
"You bastard, what did you say?"
Two obvious black lines appeared on Xiaochan's smooth forehead. Seeing how unreliable the two brothers were, she frowned and said, "Miss, I must follow you."
Liu Weirui chuckled and said, "Well, of course. Mu Qing, what do you think?"
Mu Qing pursed his lips and smiled bitterly. He really didn't expect that Liu Weirui was a woman full of mobility. She had been gone for a day, so why was there still endless vitality in this delicate body that looked weak and boneless. He asked with concern: "Can you bear the food while traveling at night? I just forgot to consider your physical condition."
"No problem!" Sensing Mu Qing's concern, Liu Weirui smiled heartily and said, "We can bring an extra horse, which will be much better."
"Yeah." Mu Qing said, "Then let's go together, the five of us."
Mu Qing cast his gaze on Yue Jiu and said, "The caravan has a large group left, so I'll trouble you."
Although it is not easy to carry so many people, the danger will be much less. Yue Jiu smiled casually, understanding that Mu Qing was considering that his path was still not stable, so he nodded and said: "I almost hurt Miss Liu in the forest before, and I am worried that I have no chance to express my apology. You can go ahead with peace of mind."
Yue Jiu looked at Liu Weirui again and said, "Miss Liu, if the caravan encounters danger, can I handle it myself?"
Liu Weirui nodded and said, "It's convenient for you. It would be better if you can protect Li Si."
Li Si was clearly the head guard of the caravan, but now he was reduced to being protected. He couldn't help but embarrassment and vowed in his heart that he would work hard to improve his strength and protect the young lady in the future.
…
…
In Jinguan City, no one can sleep tonight. Many people, clad in single clothes, huddled by the windows and leaned against the wall. They were horrified to discover that a line of fire was gradually rising into the sky in the direction of the city lord's palace.
Liu's study room eliminates the cluttered sounds outside.
Ling Qingzhu asked calmly: "Isn't it over at the City Lord's Mansion yet?"
Liu Chaoge frowned and said, "The city lord Bai Ting is dead. He just set a fire before he died. Her daughter Bai Zhi should have escaped."
Ling Qingzhu shook his head and said: "These worshipers of the secular dynasty have lost their intention to practice Taoism and dare not risk their lives."
Liu Chaoge's eyelids moved slightly and he said: "This man is a first-grade swordsman. Who would have thought that he would be the husband of the city lord's daughter."
"No." Ling Qingzhu recalled the great spirit that had just soared into the sky, and said calmly: "He is a pseudo-transcendent sword cultivator, but his momentum is not enough. It should be that an accident happened when he broke through to the spiritual realm, and the great path was damaged. "
"Which families in the city does Bai Ting's daughter have good friends with? She and her master should not be able to escape. They just had the aura of four first-class people."
"Suffered."
"how?"
Liu Chaoge was reminded by Ling Qingzhu and said: "That girl Li Miaozhen has a good relationship with Bai Zhi, so she won't be so reckless, right?"
