Chu Susu expressed her meaning clearly.
Zheng Xiu understood.
Chu Susu couldn't figure out why Zheng Xiu insisted on heading north.
The north is Ye Weiyang's base camp. To continue going north is tantamount to becoming the enemy of Ye Weiyang as a whole.
Her suggestion was to give up going north and head west, towards the desert.
Chu Susu thought she had expressed enough sincerity.
She even revealed the location of the incomplete building without the permission of the building owner.
"The Nu family hopes that Brother Zheng will consider this proposal. Once the stranger Feng Bei falls into Ye Weiyang's hands, the consequences will be disastrous."
Zheng Xiu asked: "Do you really don't know why Ye Weiyang wants to attack Feng Bei?"
Hearing this, Chu Susu was silent for a moment and said: "The Nu family only knows that the stranger Feng Bei is closely related to Ye Weiyang's lifelong ambition."
"What ambition?"
Chu Susu shook her head vigorously and smiled bitterly: "Brother Zheng, do you think that the Nu family is hiding it? How can such a huge secret be known to a small person in the Nu family?"
"Oh, you are not young." Zheng Xiu looked at Chu Susu meaningfully and said. At the end of the sentence, Zheng Xiu saw Chu Susu first stunned, then turned red and spat lightly, then realized that his words were slightly ambiguous, and added He said: "The implication of Zheng's words is that as one of the ten leaders of the incomplete building, even you don't know the inside story. Zheng is very curious as to what is the reason that makes you and Ye Weiyang the enemy."
Chu Susu nodded and lowered her eyebrows, trying hard not to let Zheng Xiu see the hatred hidden in her eyes, and laughed softly: "Brother Zheng, you don't want to know what Ye Weiyang did to us back then, even if Brother Zheng beat the Nu family to death , I don’t want to recall those years that were like living in hell.”
"It's getting late, let's continue on the road."
After almost resting, Zheng Xiu woke up Monk Ruchen.
The latter rubbed his eyes drowsily: "Is it dawn?"
"time to go."
"Okay, little monk knows."
Ruchen quickly stood up and packed his luggage.
After extinguishing the fire and burying it, the three of them remounted their horses and continued to move along the mountain road in the dark.
When the road forks.
Chu Susu stopped and asked pointedly: "Brother Zheng, should we continue heading north, or... take another way?"
Ruchen looked at the two of them curiously, his brows twitching.
Although he didn't understand the relationship between men and women, Ruchen vaguely felt that there was a story between this strong man and this beautiful woman.
When did it happen?
Ruchen scratched his bald head in confusion, puzzled.
Zheng Xiu took a deep breath, then laughed and said, "Continue heading north."
Hearing this, Chu Susu nodded lightly.
But his expression could not hide his disappointment.
…
The first day of February.
Imperial City.
Even though the Imperial City is still chilly in February, you can look up and see the clear sky and the vague buds sprouting on the bare trees, as if spring is hidden under the depths of winter, making people full of expectations for the coming spring.
It was spring, the season when everything springs.
It’s been ten days.
Many people secretly said something strange.
Ravens hover over the imperial city, which is a unique scenery of Daqian Capital City.
However, since more than ten days ago, the number of ravens in the imperial city has inexplicably decreased by 90%, making the people stunned and secretly wondering.
There are rumors spread by word of mouth among the people in the market.
"You don't know something. March 3rd is the ancestor worship ceremony of the Wei family. God couldn't stand the black crows in the city and drove them away!"
"No way! The emperor must be so lucky that the crows no longer dare to get involved in the big business, and they are all scared away!"
The common people only thought that the ravens were nesting in the city and did not know the existence of "Ye Weiyang".
Although there are different opinions among the people about the "crow migration", the people are generally more worried about food, clothing, housing and transportation. The crows can't leave or come. Just talk about it, and they can't fill their stomachs, let alone turn into money. Ten days later, about the "crow migration" "This incident was replaced by another more interesting rumor and became the talk of the common people after dinner.
The words are divided into several parts.
Ever since the great writer Ximen Bei received funding from the Zheng family, his talents have been flowing, his inspiration has burst out, he is as productive as a sow, he has written several popular books day and night without stopping.
He even accumulated the favor of a group of famous ladies and princesses. Every day, some people gave him gold, silver and jewelry on the grounds that "Mr.'s wonderful pen and romantic style should be rewarded", and suggested that Ximen Bei should write faster.
"It's difficult!"
In an elegant little pavilion in the east of the city, a middle-aged scholar with sparse hair, a mustache, and a navy blue fur collar warmed a pot of hot wine and sat in the courtyard, writing and meditating. It hasn’t been down for a long time.
The aroma of wine filled the courtyard, and the middle-aged scholar remained motionless.
He is Mr. Ximen Bei, who is now famous all over the north, and some people privately call him "Ximen Literary Sage".
Ximen Bei heard a piece of gossip recently.
It is a poignant story about the richest man in the Zheng family, Zheng Xiu, the Marquis Zheng, and his encounter with a Jiangnan woman, Xia Yuhe, ten years ago.
"The drizzle is hazy, Jinghu Yating."
"Twenty-eight years of flowers, green lotus paper umbrella."
"It's poetic and picturesque, everything can be said without words!"
Ximen Bei closed his eyes and shook his head, thinking about the two protagonists' expressions of affection, panting and heartbeat when they met.
Pictures were automatically generated in Ximen Bei's mind.
It was a sad and sad story.
He is a man of letters and writes stories.
Just when Ximen Bei was about to put pen to paper and draft the manuscript, there was a knock on the door.
Ximen Bei was stunned. He had clearly hung a sign at the door - "No Visitors Today".
As the saying goes, there are many wrongdoings in people's popularity. He didn't feel that before he became famous. Now that he has become famous, he can finally deeply understand the troubles involved, which makes him love and hate him at the same time.
Ximen Bei, who didn't want to pay attention, listened to the rhythmic knocking on the door.
The other party obviously has no intention of leaving.
"Who is here? Does he have an eye disease and didn't see the writing on the door?"
Ximen said sadly to the door.
"My young master heard that Mr. Ximen Bei is very knowledgeable and talented, so he specially sent me a small gift. I hope he can show his appreciation."
"Xi Mou refuses to receive guests today!"
If you are poor, this door will definitely open. Who will have trouble with money?
But the rewards given by the Zheng family a few days ago were enough, enough for Ximen Huan to live in such an elegant and quiet courtyard, enough for him to have enough food and clothing for five years, and enough for him to marry several more beautiful wives and concubines. Now Ximen Bei regards money as dirt. He has no interest in money and only concentrates on writing books.
suddenly.
A figure crossed the high wall and landed in the courtyard. A handsome young man, wearing a white robe, stood in front of Ximen Bei with his hands bowed and a smile on his face.
Ximen Bei saw that the other party's sleeves were empty, where was the gift, and his face suddenly darkened. But then I thought about how the other party actually climbed over the wall and entered in broad daylight, so he must have something to rely on. Thinking of this, Ximen Bei suppressed his anger, returned the gift with his hands, and said calmly: "I am an ordinary scholar, and writing down my thoughts is not worthy of praise! Now that you have seen me, there is no need for a small gift. Please come back!" "
"Don't worry, Mr. Ximen hasn't accepted my young master's small gift yet, so I don't dare to leave."
The handsome man took a few steps forward and stretched out his palm in front of Ximen Bei. His palm was empty.
Ximen Bei looked at the other party's white palm and couldn't help but sneer: "Xi Mou has no enmity with you, why do you treat Xi Mou as a fool?"
The visitor smiled and shook his head: "My young master's small gift cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But as long as Mr. Ximen opens his mouth, this small gift will appear in front of Mr. Ximen. Sir, what is this small gift?" "
"Tsk! What a boring riddle." Ximenbei sneered: "Promise. But can your young master make Xi Mou ask for a lot of money?"
"become!"
The visitor stretched out his palm in front of Ximen Bei. Under Ximen Bei's surprised eyes, the visitor slowly straightened his pen-holding hand and motioned for Ximen Bei to write on his hand.
"Prosperity, wealth, high positions, gold, silver and jewels, as long as Mr. Ximen Bei can do one thing for my young master, I can write down my request on the slave's hand, and one day he will definitely fulfill it."
Seeing that the visitor didn't seem to be joking, Ximen Bei's smile faded and became a little heavier.
"Who is your young master?"
Visitors smile more and more.
"My young master's surname is Wei."
He pointed with a smile.
…
…
At night.
A thick stack of detailed copy of the incident "Ximen Bei was invited to the mansion by the eldest prince to speak" fell into Qing Shisan's hands.
"As March 3rd gets closer, there is an undercurrent in the city."
Qing Shisan knew that the master admired this great writer.
The master rewarded the great writer a lot.
The great writer became popular because of this.
As for why the eldest prince entertained Ximen Bei, the reason is readily apparent.
It was nothing more than taking advantage of the great writer's influence in the literary world and asking him to write some touching essays about the eldest prince.
Throwing the thick copy into the stove and burning it to ashes, Qing Shisan leaned against the doorpost, smoking a dry cigarette in silence, listening to the laughter of women and men coming from the courtyard across two walls.
"Come on, master, come after me!"
"Master, Zhizhi is over here!"
"Master! Bobo is over there!"
"Hehe! The master didn't catch me!"
In the courtyard.
The moonlight is pleasant.
"Zheng Xiu" covered his eyes with a piece of pink silk and was playing a game called "hide and seek" with four women with different characteristics in the courtyard.
The words are extraordinarily unrestrained and make people daydream.
There is a reward for catching and hiding.
The reward is "You can do whatever you want, sir."
Outside the Zheng family.
Figures dressed in black were dormant and silent on the rooftops of the surrounding neighbors.
They are Ye Weiyang's night guards.
They held their breath and watched the Zheng family's movements secretly.
The "catch and hide" movement inside was so loud and noisy that the night guards all changed their expressions.
Soon "Marquis Zheng" caught a tall, slender girl playing the flute with cold and arrogant features, and took her into his arms.
"Hey hey hey! I caught you! Is this scent like Bobo?"
"Zheng Xiu" grabbed a girl and without saying a word, he slapped her on the face, her lips wet and glistening in the moonlight.
"Master, don't..."
Bobo pushed Master Zheng away.
A man and four women played in the courtyard for a full hour before they returned to the main room out of breath and closed the door tightly.
After closing, it’s another story.
The night guards who were responsible for monitoring the Zheng family had no expression on their faces, but they were making gestures secretly.
"By the way, why do the superiors want us to keep an eye on the Zheng family again?"
"Who knows? It's been more than ten days, no one can bear to keep staring at me!"
"Yeah! I'm so hated!"
"It turns out that the life of the rich is so plain and simple! There is no fun at all!"
"Ahem! I think there's something else interesting..."
"This guy named Zheng really knows how to play..."
"Shh! Stop talking! Keep a close eye on the Zheng family's every move! No matter who comes in or out of the Zheng family, they must be reported!"
"yes!"
"Remember! We are only responsible for keeping track, and we must not break into the Zheng family without permission, so as not to misunderstand the people of the 'Brotherhood'!"
"Once they find out and we go up to the roof to ask, we tell them there's a case nearby and we're here to investigate!"
…
In Master Zheng's room.
A man and four women entered the back of the room with blushing faces and hugging each other.
"Zheng Xiu" started to lift it from the lower jaw, lifting up a thin piece of human skin.
Underneath the human skin was the delicate and mature face of Zheng Erniang.
Zheng Erniang pointed at Lily angrily and scolded: "Lily! How can you make the master's 'voice' sound... sound... so... so..."
She hesitantly tried to find an appropriate word to describe "Zheng Xiu's voice" that Lily was imitating.
But after thinking about it, she couldn't think of any other appropriate word besides "Meng Lang".
Lily said helplessly: "There is no way. Brother Thirteen said that we should pretend to be more realistic. We must not let outsiders notice anything strange about the Zheng family."
"Don't worry, second mother. The more Lily pretends to be like this, the more people will believe that the master is drunk in the flowers and playing with the world all day long. If you pretend to be the master and study poetry and books in the garden all day long, who will come and take a look? Everyone knows it’s fake.”
The second mother was speechless when she heard this. She always felt that it was not good to speak of the master like this, but she could not refute it for the moment.
Jing Xuemei, who was kissed by the "Second Mother", has now regained her composure. She gently wiped the expensive makeup on her face with a silk scarf and said calmly: "It's just right. The master is now in a weird 'situation'. But Thirteenth Brother said that the master left instructions ten days ago, so that we don’t need to panic. Everything is according to the master’s plan. Let us just wait and see what happens and stick to the Zheng family. Er Niang, you continue to let the master’s business take care of it. There aren’t many ups and downs, let’s pretend for a few more days and see what happens next.”
Zheng Erniang sighed: "...that's all we can do."
Pingping winked at Er Niang and said, half jokingly and half seriously: "Master, it's time for you to go to bed."
Zheng Erniang glanced at the vase in the corner.
She knew that Zheng Xiu’s secret was hidden there.
But the fourth daughter said that she is not a member of the family and is not suitable to pry into the master's secrets. This is also for the sake of the second mother.
Erniang undressed and lay down on the bed that was supposed to belong to Zheng Xiu. She smelled the faint masculine scent on the quilt, put down the gauze curtain, and closed her eyes.
"Let's go see Master."
The four women glanced at each other.
When Pingping saw Er Niang lying on the bed, she skillfully twisted the vase, opened the secret door, and entered the secret dungeon one after another.
The secret door opened silently, then closed silently, and the four women locked it on the other side.
As soon as the door was locked, the expressions of the four women suddenly changed, full of worry.
They lit the oil lines, and the oil lamps illuminated the dungeon brightly.
Zheng Xiu sat cross-legged deep in the dungeon.
He has been sitting there for more than ten days.
At this moment, Zheng Xiu, in the eyes of the four girls, definitely does not fall into the "normal" range.
It's even less reassuring.
Regardless of Zheng Xiu's instructions in advance, it would be difficult for them to associate the current horrific scene with "the plan".
Zheng Xiu's skin was all shriveled, and he had lost a whole lot of weight compared to ten days ago. Black bulging blood vessels covered his body like thorns, and his face, even under the firelight, was pale and gloomy, his eye sockets were sunken, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead from time to time.
If the master walks out of the room with such a haggard posture, he will definitely leave behind even more outrageous rumors, saying that the noble Zhonglie Marquis and the son of the Zheng family were drained dry by four vixens.
That being said, the four girls had no time to think about this joke at the moment.
"There's black dirt coming out of Master's body again."
"What kind of evil method is Master practicing!"
Zhizhi said bitterly: "Master must be sick! That Thirteenth Brother knew it very well, but didn't say anything!"
Pingping wondered: "What disease?"
"A disease called 'Fengbei'!"
"..."
The four girls took a closer look and quickly went out to order someone to boil a bucket of hot water and wipe the master's body.
"It's been thirteen days and I haven't had a single drop of water!"
"Master, master, please don't let anything happen to you!"
