In the evening, an inn in Chang'an.
The quiet guest rooms do not try to introduce the hustle and bustle of the streets outside.
An oil lamp with only a little wick burned silently on the table.
An Zicheng finally couldn't sit still anymore and stood up to pour himself a cup of tea.
After drinking half a cup of tea in one gulp, An Zicheng pursed his lips and looked at Jiang Fengqing, who had been sitting at the table for most of the day.
"First Prince, would you like some tea?"
Jiang Fengqing shook her head and said slowly, "Pack your things and prepare to go out for a walk later."
"Where to go?" An Zicheng was a little surprised.
The two of them have been staying at this inn since they came back from Fugui Tavern last night. He didn't ask Jiang Fengqing what his plans were, but the risk of wandering around Chang'an City was too great. Once discovered, even he would not be able to escape unscathed.
Jiang Fengqing said no more and closed her eyes again.
Not long after, the innkeeper watched these two strange people walk out of the inn door.
The reason why they are called strange guests is because these two people are dressed very strangely.
It's late spring now, and it's not that cold in Yongzhou at all. Some coolies can even be seen on the streets, all wearing short coats and sweating profusely on their foreheads.
However, these two people were wrapped up tightly. When they entered the door, they didn't even take off the straw hats on their heads. Moreover, these two people went up to the second floor and entered the guest room, and never came downstairs again. When it was time to eat, he ignored the waiter at the door who asked if he wanted food.
However, he has been a shopkeeper in Chang'an for so many years and has seen all kinds of people, including many such weirdos.
He also knew very well that Chang'an, as the capital of the Jiang Dynasty, had all kinds of people in the city. They all come here for various reasons, and have various secrets buried in their hearts. As an ordinary innkeeper who just wants to make a living, all he can do is ask nothing and do nothing. Say, just take care of yourself.
The streets in the evening were deserted than usual, because most people went to have dinner at this time.
An Zicheng and Jiang Fengqing walked side by side on the streets of Chang'an. They stepped on this familiar place again, but An Zicheng could no longer walk out as calmly and at ease as in the past. It seemed as if the smooth bricks under his feet now, the bright lights in his eyes, and his ears. The shouts and shouts from the vendors are all about stolen luxury.
In fact, Jiang Fengqing's arrival that night was beyond his expectation.
He originally thought that Jiang Fengqing had died in the assassination, and even if he was lucky enough to survive, he would find a place to hide, but Jiang Fengqing appeared in front of him so clearly, which made the poisonous snake named guilt in his heart It bit into his heart.
In fact, he also asked Jiang Fengqing, wasn't he afraid that the various remarks that were making a fuss outside that he had bowed to the second prince would make Jiang Fengqing, who appeared alone in front of him like this, appear in Dali Temple the next morning? prison.
Jiang Fengqing just smiled indifferently and did not reply to his words.
He had no way to refuse Jiang Fengqing's request to accompany him into Chang'an City, and Jiang Fengqing did not ask why his Red Guards participated in the hunt for Huo Mansion.
The two of them walked into Chang'an City, just like they did a long time ago.
After walking for a long time without realizing it, they came to a dilapidated mansion.
The corner covered with weeds has obviously not been cleaned for a long time. The two big red lanterns in front of the old and peeling vermilion door are also covered with cobwebs. The plaque on the door has disappeared, and there is still half a bird's nest inside. , but there is actually a swallow huddled up in the bird's nest.
Sitting at the door was an old man who was sitting on the ground and dozing against the doorpost. His thin body was curled up under a pair of coarse cloth clothes that looked very ill-fitting. His gray hair looked a little forlorn in the evening breeze.
There was a broken bowl in front of him, and there were a few scattered coins in the bowl.
This is clearly a beggar.
Jiang Fengqing's steps stopped instantly and she stared at the old man closely.
"Isn't that Uncle Li?" An Zicheng asked in surprise.
An Zicheng was really shocked by Li An's change. It was difficult for him to hide the old man in front of him and sleep at the door. The dark and haggard old man was still strong in his memory. He seemed to have endless energy in his body. He could handle such a big man by himself. A well-organized butler who manages the eldest prince's mansion.
He still remembered that when he left, Li An comforted him with a smile and said, the eldest prince Jiren has his own destiny, I will wait for him here, and I believe he will always come back.
Although Li An looked haggard at that time, he was still in good spirits.
He also relayed Jiang Fengqing's words and told him the location of the land deed of the mansion, telling him that if he couldn't survive, he could sell the mansion and find his own way out. If that didn't work, he could go to the Queen Mother.
But why Li An ended up like this is something Jiang Fengqing and An Zicheng both want to know.
Jiang Fengqing gestured towards An Zicheng, and the two of them turned back to a dark alley.
However, after a cup of tea, Li An woke up from his nap. Just now, he vaguely heard a slight sound coming from behind the wall.
"Could it be that there's been a burglar? But there's nothing left to steal in the house..."
Although Li An said he didn't care, he still stood up shakily, grabbed a few old copper plates in the bowl, rubbed his cold and stinging legs, and walked into the door.
"Why did this old man come into the house so early today?"
"Who knows? He might be dying soon. Even if the old man's body is made of iron, he can't withstand such wear and tear. He has no food and no clothes..."
"That's true, but who makes him so stubborn that he has to guard such a big mansion? You know, buying the mansion is the intention of the second prince..."
"Be careful!"
"Okay, okay, now that he has entered the house, let's go have a drink today."
"Okay, let's go, let's go!"
As Li An's back disappeared behind the gate, several pairs of peeping eyes on the street corner also disappeared into the darkness.
Li Jing stood quietly in the courtyard.
Facing him was an open door, a dim candlelight and two blurry figures.
"Is there really a thief?" Li An hesitated for a moment. If he went in, with his waning body, if there were really two thieves, he really wouldn't be able to stop them. But if he doesn't go in, he really won't feel at ease. After all, this is the eldest prince's mansion that he has guarded for so long.
At first, several wealthy businessmen came to visit, threatening him with force and promising huge profits, in order to get him to hand over the eldest prince's palace, but he sternly refused.
The few servants and maids left in the mansion had no choice but to bid farewell to him one by one. In the end, he was the only one left in the huge prince's mansion, a gray-haired old man.
When he came back from a trip to buy groceries, he found that the entire mansion had been emptied out, and all the money and belongings had been swept away. Fortunately, the title deed to the eldest prince's mansion was sewn into the middle of his clothes, so it was not stolen. Walk.
While cleaning up the chaotic mansion, his heart began to fall into the abyss.
It wasn't like he didn't think about seeking the Queen Mother's asylum, but before he stepped into the imperial city, he was kicked out by the guards with evil eyes, their eyes full of jest and viciousness.
The days passed like this. After hitting the wall again and again, the wealthy businessmen no longer sent anyone to persuade him. They just sent two men to beat him half to death late one night and took away the little money he had left.
He had no money to see a doctor, so he could only drag his injured body at the door and start begging. In the end, he survived, but his days of begging continued.
Later, it seemed that the wealthy businessmen were no longer in a hurry and just let him spend his time.
The moonlight finally cast Li An's shadow. Seeing that the blurry figure in the room remained motionless for a long time, he finally decided to go in and take a look at the situation.
As soon as he stepped into the door, he was stunned.
I saw those two familiar faces in the room.
"Uncle Li!"
Jiang Fengqing hugged Li An's thin body, as if feeling that this weak body could no longer withstand his strength, he quickly relaxed his strength, but could only hold his body tightly.
Li An was in tears. He stretched out his skinny hand and gently stroked Jiang Fengqing's head in his arms. His trembling lips just repeated mechanically, "It'll be good to come back, it'll be good to come back..."
An Zicheng on the side couldn't help but burst into tears at this time. The old man in front of him had also taken great care of him.
His parents died of illness when he was young. After following Jiang Fengqing, Li An always entertained him warmly every time he came to the mansion. Whenever he was leaving, he could feel the kindness and sincerity in the old man's instructions.
But no matter how long the warmth is, they can't covet it. They will eventually say goodbye to this short reunion.
After leaving a sum of money, Jiang Fengqing and An Zicheng left, taking with them the title deed of the Grand Prince's Mansion. Although the plaque in front of the mansion had long since disappeared, people from other places would never know it when they came here. It was the former Grand Prince's Mansion.
That night, Li An leaned against the dead tree in the courtyard and sat there all night.
He had promised Jiang Fengqing that he would get on the carriage and return to Yuzhou tomorrow, staying away from Chang'an, which no longer belonged to them, and the eldest prince's mansion that had disappeared.
The evening breeze from Chang'an blew in front of him. Li An looked up at the moon. The wrinkles on his face were mixed with the wind, frost, rain and snow of so many years.
A green leaf fell and landed on the root of the dead tree. Although the roots of the tree have died, the branches have grown regardless.
"Perhaps this is the return of fallen leaves to their roots. When I get old, it's time to go back." Li An murmured, recalling that cold night many years ago in his mind. He huddled in the carriage and looked at the night sky that seemed to be the same as now. He didn't know where he was. Think about something.
At that time, Li Qinxi had just given birth to Jiang Fengqing, and he was sent by the Li Mansion to look after their mother and son.
He led more than a dozen maids and servants in the newly built eldest prince's mansion, imagining the beautiful life in the future.
But now, the night sky is still the same as that time, but the people are no longer the same people back then.
The maids and handymen were all gone, and he was also suffering from injuries and was about to travel far. This eldest prince's mansion is also old and dilapidated, and it's time to say goodbye.
Things change, and so do people.
The market began to get lively, and as the crowds surged, the two straw hats walked around, and finally stopped in front of a splendid pavilion.
God of Wealth Hall.
Countless people dressed in fine clothes and looking like they were rich or noble came and went at the gate.
An Zicheng looked at Jiang Fengqing curiously, obviously not understanding why Jiang Fengqing came back here.
He didn't know why Jiang Fengqing left all the money they had with Li An.
You must know that this Caishentang is the largest casino in Jiuzhou. It is not an exaggeration to call it a gold-selling cave. I don’t know how many dignitaries, wealthy businessmen and wealthy businessmen spend money there.
It is said that a wealthy businessman from Yangzhou once came to the God of Wealth Hall with hundreds of millions in his fortune. Within three days, he was seen returning to Yangzhou in despair, selling off all his shops and properties, and borrowing debts everywhere.
Jiang Fengqing stood for a while, then took steps to enter the God of Wealth Hall.
"Two guests, what do you do for me?" A woman in fine clothes who looked like a maid stopped them at the door.
An Zicheng was not angry. After all, the two of them did not look like rich people, and they were also wearing straw hats, which obscured their appearance. It was understandable that they were stopped.
On the side, a drunken young man wearing a black gown came to the door of the God of Wealth Hall surrounded by a group of subordinates with flattering expressions on their faces.
Looking disdainfully at An Zicheng and Jiang Fengqing who were stopped, the young man burped and said drunkenly, "A hidden rat wants to enter the God of Wealth Hall? He must be dreaming like this in his next life!"
All the men on the side laughed.
"Yes, yes, these rats who came from nowhere are so courageous. Only our extremely wealthy Master Lu can enter this God of Wealth Hall."
"Get these two mice away quickly, so as not to dirty our young master Lu's eyes."
"Don't let this rat dirty the floor of the God of Wealth Hall."
The disdainful words of this group of people attracted countless people on the street to stop and watch, with either curiosity or sympathy wandering wildly over An Zicheng and Jiang Fengqing's bodies.
Although the maid who stopped them still looked calm, the joy in her eyes could not be concealed.
This young man is the eldest son of the Lu family, the second largest family in Chang'an. The Lu family made their fortune in the silk business, and now they monopolize the entire silk trade in Yongzhou.
There are countless women in romantic places in Chang'an who hope to crawl into his bed, not just because he spends a lot of money and spends a lot of money in one night, but also because they think that if they can get pregnant, maybe they can Taking the opportunity, the carp jumped over the dragon gate and stepped into the Lu family's door, enjoying endless glory and wealth from then on.
The maid was secretly proud. If she could show up in front of Master Lu this time, she might have a romantic affair tonight. As for these two people, they don't look like powerful people. They can only blame them for being unlucky enough to come here and suffer this humiliation.
An Zicheng's fists were clenched, but he made no more moves. He knew very well that now that he was in Chang'an, if something happened and their identities were exposed, the consequences would be disastrous.
An Zicheng's eyes were startled, and Jiang Fengqing in front of him moved.
