Outside Linzi City.
Bai Yan had just stepped out of the carriage, and what he saw were a dozen officials of the Qi State, standing not far away in official uniforms of the Qi State. Many people coming and going outside the city also gathered outside the city gate. Chang Ge's Qi soldiers stood behind and watched.
Looking along the city gate and looking into the city, you can see a huge crowd of people at a glance. If you look at it casually, you can clearly see that countless scholars are crowded together in the city, talking and watching incessantly. The lively atmosphere makes Bai Yan was in a daze.
Five years ago, when he left the city gate, the only people who saw him off were Tian Feiyan, his grandmother, and his aunt. At that time, he kowtowed to his grandmother inside the city gate and left alone.
Today, five years later, when I returned to the city gate, the city was full of people, and countless scholars came to the city gate.
Is it because he is from Qi?
With this thought, Bai Yan stepped out of the carriage.
"Doctor Qi Tian Xie, I have met Mr. Wu Lie!"
Among the officials of Qi State who greeted him, the leader was named Tian Xie, a senior official of Qi State.
Next to Tian Xie, another Qi official was Hou Yao, the son of Hou Sheng. In the past in Qin, Bai Yan had a very good relationship with him and was particularly close.
"Bai Yan is on an envoy to Qi, thank you for your help!"
Bai Yan looked at Tian Xie, returned the favor with his hand, and then looked at Hou Yao.
Seeing Hou Yao's understanding look, not taking his own as an outsider at all, Bai Yan smiled on the surface, but in his heart, he remembered the mentor who taught him swordsmanship in the dark night.
Previously in Qin, Bai Yan was close to Hou Yao, but he didn't know the secret behind his mentor's death, so he just got close to Hou Yao.
Now that he knows the cause of death of his mentor Yin Bei, Bai Yan no longer has any old feelings for Hou Yao in his heart.
"We are all from the same family, no need to be polite! Mr. Wu Lie has worked hard all the way, and the king is already waiting at the palace!"
Tian Xie said to Bai Yan with a smile on his face.
Tian Xie's appearance is that of a standard Confucian scholar, and even his words and actions reflect the style of a Confucian scholar.
"Thank you!"
When Bai Yan heard Tian Xie's words, he didn't reply much, but raised his hand to return the favor.
Before coming, Mr. Wei had already told Bai Yan about Tian Xie. Tian Xie was a senior official of Qi State and a famous scholar who came out of Jixia Academy. After Tian Ding left, Tian Xie quickly took over Tian Ding's former position. .
Previously, when Tian Ding resigned and retired from the Qi court, the Linzi scholars who learned the news were all guessing that the person who replaced Tian Ding might be Tian Heng, who also came from the Qi clan.
After all, Tian Heng is the best candidate to succeed Tian Ding, regardless of his status or for helping Qi Guo.
But the result was beyond everyone's expectation. The person who finally replaced Tian Ding was Tian Xie.
"please!"
"please!!"
Tian Xie and Hou Yao smiled at Bai Yan and signaled Bai Yan to enter the city.
King Qi is still waiting for Bai Yan in the palace! The reason why they came to the city gate to greet him in person was to show that King Qi valued Bai Yan's return to Qi.
"please!"
Bai Yan nodded and motioned for the two of them to leave first, then turned around and returned to the carriage.
In Linzi City.
Noisy voices came and went, and among the chaotic conversations, there were scholars' exclamations everywhere.
"See! That Bai Yan is really young!"
"No, I didn't expect the rumors to be true!"
The crowd was full of exclamations from the people. When they looked outside the city gate and saw the man wearing Qin's official uniform, he turned around and returned to the carriage, the discussion became even louder.
Among them, there were a few men who put their feet up and looked at the carriage outside the city. They turned around and started chatting excitedly with the men who were traveling with them.
"Did you see Bai Yan's appearance clearly just now?"
"See clearly! I wonder if there will be a chance to visit Bai Yan!"
Ping looked at the excitement on the faces of her husband and her friend beside her, and her pretty face was filled with disappointment. Because of her height, she could not clearly see Bai Yan's appearance in the crowd.
Thinking of this, Pingman was very anxious, but no matter how she got up, it was of no avail in the end. Instead, she felt the collision behind her, and immediately turned her head to look behind her with vigilance. When she saw the man restraining himself, and pretending to be careless, this Then he gave up.
However, when he turned around, Ping could already see in the silhouette of one person, one carriage after another, under the care of the soldiers, passing directly through the wide street in front.
On the main road of Linzi City.
As the capital of wealthy merchants, it is also the broadest street in the capital of Qi. Like the streets, looking down from the sky, the streets along the way from the city gate to the palace of the King of Qi are all densely packed with people. If not there are Qi soldiers along the way. Guard, I'm afraid the whole street has already been blocked.
"I'm coming!!!"
A couple was also crowded in the crowd. In the past, as small vendors, the couple regarded their stall as the same fate. Now they stood on the small stall and looked at the streets guarded by soldiers in the crowd. Carriages passed by.
"They are all palace guards. Look at those carriages! Doctor Tian Xie and the prime minister's son have all gone to greet Bai Yan! There are so many officials!"
"I have lived in Qi for most of my life, and this is the first time that the king can welcome someone like this!"
"Look, aren't those carriages belonging to the clan? All the Wang clan members gathered together and followed Bai Yan to Linzi... Hiss!"
Kaimata and his wife stood on the pavement, looking at the exquisite carriages in the distance. As people who had never ridden in a carriage, not to mention those carriages, the Qi officials riding in the carriages were all their husband and wife. These two are important people who will never be able to come into contact with each other in their entire lives.
In the past, when a small official from Qi State who was patrolling the city passed by in a bad mood and had a gloomy look on his face, the couple would be filled with anxiety, fearing that the official would make things difficult for them.
Nowadays, I see so many important figures from Qi State, and even those Qi State clan members who were rarely seen in the past, come to Linzi City together.
Not to mention Bai Yan, even Bai Yan's aunt looked dazed at the moment, with an expression full of disbelief.
"My dear, are these the people who are accompanying Yan'er to welcome Yan'er back to Linzi?"
The aunt turned her head and looked at her husband in a daze, thinking that Yan'er was riding in the carriage.
Even though he knew that Yan'er was now the famous Bai Yan.
But when she thought about how she sent Yan'er away from Linzi City five years ago, and looked at Yan'er's appearance, she really couldn't believe that in that Qin carriage was the young man who called her aunt in front of her in the past.
But now, countless high-ranking officials and dignitaries in the entire Qi Kingdom who were beyond her reach gathered together to greet and accompany him because of the young man's return.
"should……"
Looking at his wife's appearance, not to mention her being confused, even Yamata himself was confused.
I thought I was mentally prepared for all my thoughts, but when I actually saw this scene, the shock of seeing it with my own eyes still made it difficult for Katama to recover.
King's Palace of Qi.
The civil and military officials of Qi State still did not go to court. Qi Wangjian sat on his knees behind the wooden table in the main hall, listening to the officials' court discussions and watching with bamboo slips.
Finally, a palace guard hurriedly entered the hall.
Seeing this, not to mention Qi Wangjian, even the civil and military officials of Qi State, His Highness, couldn't help but look at each other and started to shout in low voices.
"Your Majesty! Lord Wu Lie, Bai Yan, is asking for an audience outside the palace!"
The palace guards were reporting to the King of Qi in front of the palace.
"Xuan!"
When Qi Wangjian heard the palace guard's words, his expression was full of excitement. Regardless of the bamboo slips in his hands, his whole body was shocked. His urging gestures seemed to be eager to see Bai Yan immediately.
Outside the palace of King Qi.
Bai Yan was beside the carriage, watching Mr. Wei and others take the carriage to the ambassador's house, and then continued talking with Hou Yao, Tian Sui, Tian Dan, Tian Xie and others.
Although he had grown up in the water village outside Linzi City since he was a child, this was Bai Yan's first time to visit King Qi's Palace.
For Bai Yan, there were very few opportunities to come to Zi when he was a child. They were just a few fixed places, fixed streets and alleys.
"I still don't know when Young Master Sheng will return! Wu Liejun and Young Master Sheng have had many contacts before. If Young Master Sheng learns that Lord Wu Lie has returned to Linzi, he will be extremely excited and overjoyed!"
"It's a pity that now that the young master has been promoted, he is still with the old man who wrote the book. May I ask Mr. Wu Lie if you can hear about that old man?"
Tian Xie looked at Bai Yan and suddenly mentioned the young master's promotion. Tian Dan, who was on the side, his eyes lit up after hearing Tian Xie's words. He immediately agreed and asked Bai Yan.
Tian Xie deliberately brought the topic to the old man who wrote the book. After all, not only Tian Dan, Tian Rong and others who were clan members, but also Tian Xie who took Tian Ding's place also longed for Bai Yanneng at this time. Return to Qi to serve.
Just now when he was outside the gate of Linzi City, he saw Tian Dan and other clan members arriving. Tian Xie immediately realized that Tian Dan and others were in Bogu City before and obviously did not persuade Bai Yan.
Tian Xie then analyzed how Tian Dan and others would persuade Bai Yan, and how he would persuade Bai Yan.
Then Tian Xie thought of Gongzi Sheng, whom he had met with Bai Yan before, and the reason why Gongzi Sheng was not in Linzi now, and immediately realized that maybe he could talk about the old man.
After all, they want to persuade Bai Yan to return to Qi, so telling Bai Yan about the good things about Qi is naturally the top priority, and the mysterious old man can also give Bai Yan confidence.
"Bai Yan, I heard a little bit about it!"
Bai Yan looked at Tian Dan and Tian Xie and nodded.
Seeing the two men breathing a sigh of relief, Bai Yan and Tian Xie looked at each other, and they both understood Tian Dan and Tian Xie's purpose.
"Tian Xie had been lucky enough to see bamboo slips in the palace of the King of Qi before, and he unified them with the sacrificial wine. He coordinated the talents hidden in the bamboo slips and wrote books in Jixia Academy. If Lord Wu Lie does not give up, it is better to choose a day to go together. How about going to Jixia Academy to read it?"
Tian Xie faced Bai Yan with an indifferent smile on his face and confidence in his eyes.
Although many bamboo slips have been circulated, no matter how they are circulated, all the bamboo slips in the world are absolutely inferior to the bamboo slips in Jixia Academy. They are complete. This was the king of Qi who personally ordered him to sacrifice wine and copy it with his own hands.
Tian Xie can even guarantee his life, which is the only one in the world, and to prevent leaks, there are even fewer people who have seen it.
"Hi~! Did you copy it?"
"This! We didn't know about it!"
Hearing Tian Xie's words, not to mention Tian Dan, even Tian Heng looked at Tian Rong in shock. If they had understood Tian Xie's meaning before and were willing to agree, then now they are indeed a little surprised.
None of them expected that the King of Qi had secretly ordered Tian Xie and Xuegong to offer wine to excerpts from the bamboo slips hidden in the palace of King Qi.
"In the past, King Qi had an order and was not allowed to spread the news. Now that Lord Wu Lie is here, Tian Xie takes the decision without permission!"
Tian Xie looked at the expressions of Tian Dan, Tian Rong, Tian Heng and other clan members, and even Hou Yao and Tian Sui were surprised. His eyes smiled even more, and he couldn't help but feel a little proud.
The sentence of "doing it without permission" also implies that the King of Qi had entrusted him with great power before.
Being able to take Tian Ding's place is not only due to Tian Ding's help and recommendation, but more importantly, the former King of Qi also paid special attention to him and entrusted him with important tasks.
"This! It seems that we are the ones going to ask the king..."
Tian Dan smiled bitterly, shook his head at the other tribesmen, and sighed.
Tian Heng, Tian Rong and others also nodded. After hearing the news, they calmed down and looked at Bai Yan. Everyone also struck while the iron was hot. In front of Bai Yan, they kept praising the mysterious old man's power like a treasure trove.
Hou Yao stood aside and listened. The look in his eyes seemed to be very interested, and he seemed to have thoughts about the old man.
Tian Sui and Bai Yan were standing together. They had already known that the old man whom Master Sheng was looking for was most likely a fake. His eyes were full of sneers, but he didn't say it out loud.
"Thank you! Bai Yan will definitely take the liberty to visit the Academy in the near future!"
Bai Yan listened to what Tian Heng and others said, and after watching each one finish speaking, he looked at him with envious eyes, a little embarrassed, raised his hand, saluted Tian Xie, and agreed to visit Jixia Academy on a certain day. .
Of course, the reason why Bai Yan wanted to go to Jixia Academy was not because of the bamboo slips, but because he wanted to see this world-famous place.
When he was young, his parents begged his uncle many times and suffered a lot in order to make him literate.
And this Jixia Academy was the place where his mother always dreamed of going to one day when he was a child.
"Okay, okay!"
Tian Xie nodded with a smile.
Seeing Bai Yan's actions, not to mention Tian Xie, even Tian Dan, Tian Rong and others' eyes lit up. Seeing Bai Yan wanting to go to the academy to see the bamboo slips, even Tian Heng looked at Tian Xie in surprise.
And just then.
Not far away, an exquisite and spacious carriage drove slowly over again, with six horses. This was a carriage that even Tian Dan, Tian Rong and other clan members did not dare to ride on.
Bai Yan was a little confused, but Tian Dan, Tian Rong and others were the first to come to their senses.
"It should be Hanzi, who is favored by the king!"
Tian Xie said to Bai Yan, and then told Bai Yan that Gui Hanzi was King Qi's favorite daughter. King Qi had already allowed Gui Hanzi to travel in King Qi's carriage a long time ago.
"kill!!!"
"kill!!"
While Bai Yan was listening to Tian Xie's words, suddenly, dozens of figures jumped out from the densely packed houses in the distant streets, holding sharp swords, and they all came towards Bai Yan.
This sudden scene caught everyone outside the palace off guard.
Not to mention Tian Dan, Tian Rong and others were shocked, even Tian Sui, Tian Xie and Tian Heng did not expect that someone would dare to assassinate in front of the palace.
Are these people crazy?
"There's an assassin, hurry!"
The guards standing guard outside the palace did not expect this scene to happen. They quickly drew their swords and killed Bai Yan, Tian Xie, Tian Dan and others towards the assassins.
Naturally, there are guards in the palace. After all, as the palace of the King of Qi, it would be childish to have dozens of people threaten the palace.
However, it would take a lot of time for the palace guards to come out, and without King Qi's permission, Bai Yan would not enter the palace at this time, and even Tian Dan, Tian Xie and others were no exception.
"Who is it? So bold?"
With a gloomy look on his face, Tian Dan assassinated Bai Yan outside King Qi's palace. Even though the assassins were targeting Bai Yan, this move was tantamount to a slap in the face of Qi State, which completely destroyed Qi State's face.
"They should be from Chu and Wei!"
Tian Heng looked at Tian Dan beside him and said.
Tian Rong, Tian Heng and other Qi clan members also had angry faces at this time. Listening to Tian Heng's words, everyone couldn't help but think that when they were in Bogu City before, it was also the Chu and Wei nobles who secretly instigated their tribesmen to assassinate Bai Yan. Fortunately, Tian Heng It was discovered in time and stopped.
"not good!"
Suddenly, both Tian Xie and Tian Dan and others suddenly saw that because the guards in the palace had not yet rushed to help, the guards on the street and the guards at the palace gate could not completely stop the assassin for a while.
Several assassins had already rushed over at this time, and the leader was even shouting that they would die regardless and would not let anyone go.
Seeing this, Tian Dan and others were not very worried about themselves. After all, there were many people here, whether it was Tian Rong, Tian Dan, or even Tian Heng, they all practiced martial arts, not to mention the leaders around them. Tian Sui and Bai Yan of the army are here.
What really worried them was the carriage Gui Hanzi was riding in front.
"this……"
Tian Sui was determined to rescue him, but only then did he realize that he had already given his sword to his henchman because he wanted to accompany him to the palace to recover his life.
"Watch out!"
When Tian Sui watched Bai Yan draw his sword and rush towards the carriage, he couldn't help but speak softly, but his hanging heart gradually relaxed. Tian Sui still had a deep understanding of Bai Yan's martial arts.
As long as Bai Yan is here, nothing will happen to Gui Hanzi.
"kill!!!"
The men holding sharp swords also saw Bai Yan drawing his sword to kill, and they all roared and started to kill Bai Yan.
Under the worried gazes of Tian Dan, Tian Xie, Tian Rong, Tian Heng and other clan members, Bai Yan held Zhanlu in his hand. When the first man chopped down, he dodged sideways and then swept the man with his sword. Before he could react, his neck felt cold. He covered his bleeding neck, took two shaky steps back, and fell to the ground.
Bai Yan, who has been leading troops all year round, is almost at ease facing these assassins. Even if he is wearing Qin official uniform, Bai Yan's swordsmanship is not comparable to that of several assassins.
Since the deadly battle with the Hun Touman Chanyu in the clouds and heavy rain, Bai Yan's swordsmanship has improved again. Now, unless several great swordsmen join forces to assassinate, it is not that easy to assassinate Bai Yan.
"So strong!"
"Such swordsmanship...!!"
Tian Dan, Tian Rong and other people who had practiced martial arts watched Bai Yan fight with assassins from a distance. They were all a little surprised when they saw that no matter how the assassins stabbed or hacked at Bai Yan, Bai Yan would block or dodge them.
Especially seeing Bai Yan actually getting close to him and fighting with those assassins, this kind of fighting method with swords was unheard of by Tian Rong, Tian Heng and others.
From the initial worry, to now, everyone finally saw Bai Yan's swordsmanship.
Tian Dan and Tian Heng even looked at each other, feeling in their hearts that even the most powerful swordsman among the disciples worshiped by the clan might not be Bai Yan's opponent alone.
"die!"
An assassin looked at Bai Yan with his back turned to him, with an excited look on his face. He held a sharp sword in both hands, walked up quickly with a ferocious expression, and slashed at Bai Yan's head with all his strength.
However, the expected sudden feeling of the sword hitting his head did not appear. The man holding the sword saw in horror that Bai Yan, who had his back turned to him, suddenly turned his sword in front and held it in his backhand, and then suddenly raised it high and leaned back.
The man slashed with all his strength. Not only was the attack completely empty, there was also severe pain in his abdomen. All the strength in his body gradually disappeared, and everything in front of him slowly became blurred.
Plop~!
Bai Yan pulled out his sword with all his strength. He saw the sharp sword in front of him stuck in the soil and slowly fell down. He felt that the man behind him also slowly fell to the ground along his shoulders.
"ah!!!"
Suddenly, a girl's scream came from inside the carriage. When Bai Yan looked over, he saw a man holding a sword, who had already stepped onto the carriage. He put his feet behind the carriage's wooden door and pulled it open with all his strength.
Seeing this, Bai Yan quickly stepped forward, took Zhan Lu directly, and jumped into the carriage.
As the wooden door of the carriage opened, the assassin who assassinated the woman in the carriage saw Bai Yan approaching before he could do it. Therefore, when Bai Yan jumped on the carriage, he was already holding a sharp sword and swiped at Bai Yan with his backhand. .
Seeing this, Bai Yan held Zhanlu in his hand and used his sword as a wall to block the man's slash. Then he counterattacked with all his strength with his elbow, hitting the man from top to bottom.
The man instinctively raised his hand to block it, but under the huge force, he was still hit hard on the face. He leaned against the wooden door. When the pain-stricken man came back to his senses, he saw that Bai Yan had already raised his hands high and sharp. Sword, strike down with one sword.
The man blocked again with his sword. This continuous close attack caught the man off guard and he had no time to resist with all his strength. Soon his shoulder was struck by a sharp sword.
The man in pain had already realized that he was no match for Bai Yan. The madness before his death made the man look inside the carriage. He was heartbroken and rushed towards the woman in exquisite uniforms.
However, just as the man exerted his strength, he felt that his feet seemed to be stuck.
After falling to the ground, the man's heart was full of despair, and then he suddenly hummed instinctively, blood suddenly came out of his mouth, and his eyes were fixed on the woman who was so close in front of him.
"Ahhhh!!!"
Amidst the woman's frightened screams, the man opened his eyes and slowly fell to the ground, motionless.
When the woman's face turned pale and she finally came back to her senses, she was trembling and saw a young man in front of her, wearing an official uniform of the Qin State, holding a sword behind his back, and reaching towards her with the other hand.
Looking at the dead man on the ground, thinking of the scene just now, how dare the woman stay here, she quickly extended her delicate hand to the man who had just saved her.
Outside the carriage.
After Bai Yan took Gui Hanzi out of the carriage, he looked at the guards who had killed all the assassins and stepped forward to protect Gui Hanzi. He looked at the belated palace guards inside the palace gate and let go of Gui Hanzi's hand. When he raised his hand and walked towards Tian Sui and others, he held Zhanlu in one hand and raised the other hand to wipe the blood on his sleeve with Zhanlu. After repeating it several times, he put it into the scabbard.
"Are you injured?"
Tian Sui looked at Bai Yan coming and asked.
Seeing behind Bai Yan, Gui Hanzi ran after Bai Yan with a pale face and full of fear, regardless of the other guards, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
The younger sister had not dealt with Gui Hanzi before, and even after King Qi deliberately betrothed Gui Hanzi to Bai Yan, he secretly deceived Gui Hanzi.
Now Bai Yan is in the hands of assassins and saves Gui Hanzi.
Think of this.
Tian Sui couldn't help but shake his head. Gui Hanzi was afraid that he would hate his little sister to death in the future.
"No problem!"
Bai Yan looked at Tian Sui and saw the concerned eyes of Tian Dan, Tian Rong, Tian Xie and others, and smiled, indicating that it was okay.
When he saw Tian Dan, Tian Xie and others sighing in relief and saluting Gui Hanzi, Bai Yan turned around and looked behind him at the girl he had just rescued.
Bai Yan looked at Gui Hanzi, who also looked at Bai Yan intently.
What she had experienced just now still made Gui Hanzi tremble. How desperate she was just now, Bai Yan's appearance was so deep in Gui Hanzi's heart.
"Bai Yan! I've met Princess Qi Hanzi!"
Bai Yan saw Gui Hanzi's eyes looking straight at him with twinkling fear. Out of interest, after Tian Dan, Tian Sui and others saluted, he also raised his hand to introduce himself and also salute.
"Bai... Yan! You are... Bai Yan."
Gui Hanzi looked at the man who was saluting, and at the benefactor who had just saved her.
At this moment, after learning that the benefactor in front of her was Bai Yan, Gui Hanzi's mind was buzzing with Tian Feiyan's words from the past.
"He! He is dark and ugly, and has a bad temper at all. He is very ferocious. His face is as rough as a cow's, and there are scars all over it. Moreover, he is extremely murderous..."
Gui Hanzi was stunned, completely stunned, looking at the young Bai Yan in front of her, with a delicate face and an elegant and easy-going look.
Think of Tian Feiyan’s words again!
Once, her father wanted to betroth her to the man in front of her, Bai Yan, who led the army to destroy Wei Pochu. However, because of Tian Feiyan's words, she begged her father to reject the marriage. Now, looking at the man in front of her, she is already Tian Feiyan's beloved.
Gui Hanzi finally understood that she had been completely deceived by Tian Feiyan! ! !
"Woooooooooo!!! Liar! Liar!! Liar!!!!"
Gui Hanzi's frightened eyes suddenly shed tears, she closed her eyes and began to cry. The crying became louder and louder, and finally she screamed in despair. She was a liar every time, as if she had been greatly wronged.
The leading person behind the palace assassination was not a person from Wei or Chu. It was Mr. Wei who planned it, and Tian Ding secretly helped.
Many years ago, Mr. Wei secretly raised dead soldiers for Bai Yan. These people are all carefully selected at this moment. This is also the reason why their martial arts are not very strong.
The assassination was to provoke conflicts between the Qi State and the gentry of Wei and Chu, to sow discord, and to plot against King Qi's beloved daughter Gui Hanzi. These were all planned by Mr. Wei behind his back and were not intended to be written in the book at the beginning.
The assassination that was prevented in Bogu City also had the shadow of Mr. Wei.
(End of chapter)
