Time flies by in a hurry, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye, and it is already early spring.
Early morning, Yumen Pass. It was still just dawn, and Wu Modi had already gotten up as usual and came to the city for inspection.
Although the morning in the desert is not as cold as the night, it is still a bit cool. Wu Modi just liked to take advantage of this time to come out. He said it was for inspection, but in fact he just came out to enjoy this moment of coolness. Because soon, the sun will come out to scorch this land again.
After walking slowly around the city for two times, he ignored the greetings from the soldiers on guard and came to the east corner of the city, where there was a deck chair. As the recliner creaked, he lay down as usual, unbuttoned his clothes, and exposed his round belly. This place is the earliest place in the city where you can see the sun. Although he hates being in the sun, because he sweats easily, and when he sweats, his body becomes sticky, and he has to take a bath. Taking a bath takes time, and he has always valued time, so he hates being in the sun.
However, when he participated in the martial arts examination a year ago, he suffered a serious injury to his stomach, and it seemed that he would no longer be able to participate in the palace examination. At this time, a doctor prescribed medicine to him and immediately cured his belly. Finally, he told him that he had to bask in the sun every day, otherwise the Dantian would be damaged. This is why he comes to patrol the city every day.
The sun slowly climbed up the mountain, and the sunlight invaded the city head inch by inch. Be invincible, fight and retreat, and always keep the sun above your neck.
"Master Zhou Mu." Su Xuan, the city guard general, came to the city. He was used to the strange behavior of his Zhou Mu showing his belly and dragging a chair every day on the city wall.
"What's the matter?" Wu Modi put down the chair, got up and went to the shade, ending his time in the sun today.
"I have come to report three things to you." Su Xuan bowed and said, "The first thing is that there is a letter from Chang'an. The emperor will be buried in the imperial mausoleum tomorrow. Let us pay more attention to the west during this period. Over there in the desert. The second thing is that many new faces have entered Yumen Gate during this period, and our people arrested a few, including people from the palace and people from the world. "
"Why are they coming to this place where birds don't poop?" Wu Modi asked curiously, "After they have eaten and have nothing to do, they come here to hang out? They can't be like King Xiaoyao and go to the Western Desert King's City to enjoy the autumn breeze, right?"
"My lord is joking."
"Didn't you say there are three things? What about the third one?" Wu Modi asked.
"The third thing is that the eldest prince is coming."
This winter, Chang'an was not covered in snow. There were only a few snowflakes, which disappeared without a trace before they fell to the ground.
As soon as Jiang Fengqing walked out of the First Prince's Mansion, the dazzling sunlight forced him back inside. The two guards at the door didn't say anything, because He Shengbai was standing quietly in the yard with his hands behind his hands, and there were dozens of government officials waiting at the door.
"The eldest prince is quite free these days. I'm afraid he hasn't seen the sun outside for a long time." He Shengbai said expressionlessly.
Jiang Fengqing looked up at the sun for a long time, then slowly walked out. At this time, he was unkempt, the expensive silk clothes on his body had completely lost their luster, and his whole body exuded a sour smell.
"Thanks to your care, I have a lot of leisure these days." Jiang Fengqing licked her dry and flaky lips, her mouth felt bitter, and blood oozed from her lips.
"You two take him to the well in the backyard to get some water to wash himself with." He Shengbai took out a set of clothes from behind and said, "Your butler asked me to bring these. You can put them into the palace later."
The two guards took the clothes, frowned, covered their noses and escorted Jiang Fengqing to the backyard.
Not long after, the three came back. The green robe Jiang Fengqing wore was made by Li Qinxi according to his body shape when he was eighteen years old. He felt it was too small for it at the time. Now that I wear it again, it looks extremely loose.
On the streets of Dongshi, Fugui Tavern had a strange guest come today.
There were only two or three people in the tavern, minding their own drinking. Liu Fugui was sitting at the counter, calculating the bill, but his eyes kept glancing at the beautiful figure under the shed outside.
There was a table covered with grease and grime that had become moldy over the years. The four benches, which have been repaired countless times, creak every time a customer sits on them.
"Shopkeeper, the customer over there has been sitting there all morning." The waiter leaned into his ear and reminded him, "Shopkeeper, you have to be careful, maybe there is some ulterior secret..."
"I know, just leave them alone and do your job." Liu Fugui glanced at him and said.
The waiter left angrily.
Liu Fugui had his own ideas. This guest didn't look like an ordinary person at first glance. In this mixed bag of people in Chang'an City, he might meet some high official or powerful person. Some people would take this opportunity to rise to the sky and become famous, while others would fall into the abyss and never recover.
He has opened a shop here for so many years. He has always valued harmony and carefully entertained the guests in the shop. Although I didn't make any big fortune, I was still stable.
Thinking of this, Liu Fugui put a portion of tea on a tea tray and walked outside.
"Guest, please have tea." Liu Fugui smiled and looked at the woman who covered her face with a veil.
"I didn't say yes," the woman said softly, still staring at the street entrance in the distance.
Liu Fugui smiled and said, "I see that the customer has been sitting here all morning, and he is probably thirsty too. This is given to you by the shop, so please feel free to drink it."
"Okay, you can leave it here."
Liu Fugui put down the teapot and teacup and returned to the shop. After putting down the tea tray, he secretly poked his head towards the street entrance and saw no movement. However, the street was very quiet. The Feng Lai Building opposite was not open today for some reason.
Just when he was wondering what this guest was waiting for after waiting for so long, he saw the woman finally moved. The woman slowly stood up and walked into the store, found a table in the corner and sat down silently.
Liu Fugui was very confused. At this time, a group of government officials came from the street in the distance. Among the government officials, a thin young man was talking to the middle-aged man next to him.
When they approached, Liu Fugui took a closer look and saw that the middle-aged man and young man were the Dali Temple Minister and the eldest prince.
Seeing this, he couldn't help but slap his forehead and muttered, "I only remember that the emperor will be buried tomorrow, but I forgot that there is an eldest prince in the city."
When the eldest prince and the minister of Dali Temple passed by the shop, the eldest prince paused and looked at the tea on the table at the door of his shop.
Liu Fugui felt frightened. Could it be that the eldest prince was coming to seek revenge? I was just telling the truth in court that day.
Liu Fugui felt anxious and uneasy. He hid behind the store door and continued to look around.
I saw the government officials stopped one after another and surrounded the street. I don’t know what the eldest prince said to the expressionless Dali Temple Qing. Dali Temple Qing nodded, and the eldest prince came to the door of his shop under the gaze of everyone.
"Boss!" The eldest prince sat down where the woman had been sitting before and shouted loudly, "Let's have a cup of tea with you."
"Okay..." Liu Fugui hesitated for a long time before walking out and said.
Just as the eldest prince poured a cup of tea and was about to drink it. Liu Fugui hurriedly stopped him, "Wait a minute, this tea belongs to the girl inside."
As soon as he said these words, Liu Fugui wanted to give himself a slap in the face and let the eldest prince drink and leave immediately. At worst, it would be over if I just refill the pot for that woman.
Liu Fugui felt sweat dripping from his forehead. Seeing the eldest prince, the minister of Dali Temple and many government officials staring at him, Liu Fugui's legs went weak and he knelt on the ground with a plop.
"This tea is mine." A cold female voice came, accompanied by a burst of fragrance flowing past Liu Fugui.
Liu Fugui looked up and saw that the woman who was in the store came out at some point. At this time, everyone looked at the woman, which made Liu Fugui breathe a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat on his head with his sleeve.
The woman came and sat down opposite the eldest prince, the purple veil on her face fluttering.
However, the eldest prince did not look at the woman, and continued to drink the tea in the cup in one gulp, along with the tea leaves. After drinking one glass, he refilled himself, and then he drank, one glass after another.
Liu Fugui only felt that today was the weirdest thing he had encountered since he opened the store for so long. He was also very curious about the background of the woman opposite the eldest prince. She dared to directly challenge the eldest prince and made the eldest prince dare not say anything. . But being curious, he didn't dare to inquire more. After all, sometimes curiosity can kill.
Finally, the eldest prince drank a whole pot of tea. He didn't hesitate and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"Good tea! Boss, pay the bill!" The eldest prince put his hands into his arms and shouted loudly.
Liu Fugui hurriedly stood up and came to the table. He said with a flattering smile, "It's a blessing for the shop that you can come to drink tea. How can I ask for money from you? Besides, this pot of tea only costs a few dollars. Let's treat it as the shop's filial piety to you." .”
"Eh? I'm changing clothes today and I really forgot to bring money." The eldest prince frowned, rolled up the sleeve of his left hand, and took off a jade bracelet. A phoenix was delicately carved on the round and smooth bracelet.
"If you drink the tea in your shop, you have to pay. Let this bracelet be worth your pot of tea." The eldest prince didn't say much. He put the bracelet on the table and stood up to leave.
"How could this happen!" Liu Fugui said anxiously. This bracelet looks extraordinary at first glance, and I'm afraid even if he sells the store, it won't be worth it.
"I see that the green robe you are wearing is also a good piece of clothing. Why don't you use it to compare with this good tea." The woman said calmly.
The eldest prince paused and said, "This green robe was a gift from my mother, so it cannot be exchanged for it."
After saying that, he left with the Minister of Dali Temple and his entourage.
In the evening, the sunset gleamed in the sky in patches in the east and west, mottled the entire city of Chang'an.
"Since this tea is mine, I should pay for it, so just use this bracelet to pay for the tea." The woman left these words lightly and left.
Liu Fugui looked at the two bracelets on the table, one phoenix and one phoenix, and felt a headache.
"In Chang'an, the only woman who can wear this kind of bracelet with the eldest prince is the daughter of the Huo family. Now I am involved in them, which is an unreasonable disaster. This one is not good, my small shop can't It’s gone!”
The more Liu Fugui thought about it, the angrier he became, but the waiter in the shop was heartless. When he saw two jade bracelets on the table, he quickly took them over and said, "Shopkeeper, I'm afraid one of the customers didn't leave this behind. Take a look." , if no one comes to claim it, you will make a fortune."
As he said this, the waiter winked and winked, obviously asking for a reward.
"Get out!" Liu Fugui locked the bracelet in the cabinet and shouted.
The waiter complained that he was stingy and left aggrievedly. The few people in the store were very drunk, and the customers who were napping were woken up. They all cursed, paid their drink bills, and stumbled out of the door.
Liu Fugui came to the door and looked at the departing figures of the drunken drinkers, but he felt something. When he was about to turn around and enter the store, he accidentally glanced at the Fenglai Building opposite, and saw that the newly installed windows on the third floor of the Fenglai Building had opened at some point.
A figure seemed to flash past inside, and Liu Fugui quickly turned around and entered the store.
Not long after, Fugui Tavern closed its doors.
The third floor of Fenglai Building.
"This Liu Fugui is somewhat shrewd and an interesting person." Yun Xiang closed the window and said softly.
"After all, I have been hanging out in Chang'an for so many years. It is said that I was a big businessman from other places back then. Unfortunately, my wife and children were killed by my enemies." Wang Daofan sat on the chair and played with the tea cup in his hand.
"Chang'an will soon be in chaos..."
Yun Xiang couldn't help but tremble. Wang Daofan's faint words floated in the room for a long time, but they made the dark room feel eerie.
It's getting dark.
