Fire Captain

Mei Changsu went to Marquis Yan's mansion and perfectly resolved the incident. Seeing that the New Year was approaching, Bai Ziyang thought that he could finally have a peaceful New Year's Eve.

There weren't many people in the Su residence, and even fewer women. From guards to cleaners, almost all of them were men, except for Aunt Ji in the kitchen, which was Chu Qiao. It wasn't easy for Aunt Ji to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner for everyone alone, so Chu Qiao volunteered to help. But Chu Qiao's hands, which she had used more often with swords than spatulas, felt a little helpless for a moment.

Aunt Ji is old, and she usually interacts with rough men, so she speaks and does things in a straightforward manner, but she still has a feminine side. Now that she has found Chu Qiao, she finally has an audience for what she has to say, and she can't stop talking.

While listening to Aunt Ji's nagging, Chu Qiao learned how to cut vegetables, cook, and make dumplings with fresh fillings. For the first time, she felt that this was life... ?

On New Year's Eve, everyone in the Su residence had a New Year's Eve dinner together. Chu Qiao helped to bring up two plates of dumplings, while Aunt Ji was still cooking the second pot in the kitchen. Mei Changsu, as the host, was distributing red envelopes to everyone. Fei Liu was kneeling in front of Mei Changsu, kowtowed and said, "Happy New Year!"

Mei Changsu looked at the cute Fei Liu and handed him a red envelope, and said with a smile: "Okay, take it! Fei Liu, be good this year!"

"Yeah!" Fei Liu nodded happily.

Chu Qiao put the dumplings on Mei Changsu's table and was about to go to the kitchen, but she saw Mei Changsu handing her a red envelope and saying, "Achu, this is yours, Happy New Year!"

Chu Qiao took it and said with a smile: "You treat me like a child!"

Mei Changsu said: "No, this is a custom... everyone has it!"

Chu Qiao then saw that not only Bai Ziyang had one in his hand, but also Chu Qiao placed another plate of dumplings on Bai Ziyang's table and leaned over to sit beside him. Bai Ziyang picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and placed it in Chu Qiao's bowl. Chu Qiao smiled.

At this time, Aunt Ji came in with two more plates and placed them on the table for the others. Mei Changsu handed the last red envelope to Aunt Ji and said, "Aunt Ji, Happy New Year!"

Aunt Ji took it and said with a smile: "Okay... Thank you, Sect Master!"

Mei Changsu picked up the chopsticks and said, "Pick up your chopsticks!"

Xiao Feiliu had been staring at the dumplings on the table since Aunt Ji came in. When he heard Mei Changsu's words, he picked up a dumpling and put it in the bowl. He took a bite. When he was about to take the second one after tasting it, he found that the plate full of dumplings was now empty! He looked at the bowls of other people at the table and found that everyone had one or two dumplings in their bowls. Feiliu felt very aggrieved and hurried to find Mei Changsu to complain.

Mei Changsu, Bai Ziyang and the others smiled as soon as they saw it. Mei Changsu waved at Fei Liu and said, "Come here!"

Little Fei Liu immediately made a face to the others and rubbed against Mei Changsu's table. Seeing Fei Liu's aggrieved and greedy appearance, Chu Qiao was filled with love. She immediately took the dumplings from Bai Ziyang's table and gave half of the plate to Fei Liu, in exchange for a sweet smile from Fei Liu. Chu Qiao pinched Fei Liu's cheek because she felt itchy.

Bai Ziyang held up his chopsticks and said, "Hey, I haven't eaten yet, okay?" He also looked at Chu Qiao aggrievedly like Fei Liu. Who is not a baby? Chu Qiao slapped Bai Ziyang's big face with her backhand!

The first day of the Lunar New Year is the day for New Year greetings. In the morning, Yan Yujin came to the Su residence to pay New Year greetings to Mei Changsu, thanking him for dissuading Lord Yan. Secondly, he also reflected on his neglect of his father over the years and felt that he had failed in filial piety. After seeing Yan Yujin off, Bai Ziyang said, "Yan Yujin is a rare and understanding person. Under the appearance of laughing, scolding, and scolding on weekdays, he also has a soft and considerate heart."

Mei Changsu nodded with satisfaction. When he turned around, he saw Fei Liu coming in holding a vase with several plum blossoms in full bloom. Mei Changsu walked over and said, "Fei Liu, are you going to Prince Jing's mansion to pick plum blossoms again?"

"Yeah!" Fei Liu nodded.

Mei Changsu said: "After breakfast I will take you to Prince Mu's Mansion. The flowers there are more beautiful!"

"Yeah!" Fei Liu laughed and nodded.

Mei Changsu said sternly: "Don't say I taught you that!"

"Ah?" Fei Liu was confused.

Bai Ziyang said from behind: "I heard everything!" Last time, Li Gang asked Fei Liu who he learned this habit of picking flowers in other people's yards from. At that time, Mei Changsu did not hesitate to blame Lin Chen, but now the case has been solved.

Mei Changsu turned around and looked at Bai Ziyang indifferently and said: "Am I afraid that you will hear it? Humph..." After that, he walked away with a swagger.

"Tsk..." Bai Ziyang looked at him with contempt.

Mei Changsu and his four companions came to Prince Mu's Mansion to pay New Year's greetings. After being informed, they waited at the door for a while, and soon Princess Nihuang came out with Mu Qing to greet them. Bai Ziyang and Chu Qiao were more familiar with Prince Mu's Mansion, because they had visited Prince Mu's Mansion several times before, but Fei Liu had never been there. He felt that this place was new, and Mei Changsu had said before that the plum blossoms here were more beautiful, so after entering the gate, Fei Liu, who was walking at the back, couldn't wait to run over to play. When Mei Changsu and the others turned around, they only saw two lonely food boxes on the ground.

Bai Ziyang went over and picked up the food box and handed it to Mu Qing. Mei Changsu said, "This place is new to Fei Liu, so it's okay to let him play around, right?"

Mu Qingxian smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay, let him play as he pleases. Fei Liu is not two years younger than me, but his martial arts skills are really good!"

In fact, Bai Ziyang wanted to say, don't compare yourself to Fei Liu! Are you stupid?

Before he had sat in Prince Mu's mansion for a while, someone from Prince Mu's mansion came to report, "Princess, we just received news that a murder occurred near the palace last night!"

"Murder?" Mu Qing shouted, "Last night? Yesterday was New Year's Eve, how could there be a murder?"

The man said, "Your Majesty distributed New Year's dishes to the residences of important ministers as per custom last night. A total of twelve teams were sent out, but only eleven returned on time. The Imperial Guards and the Patrol Battalion searched all night before they found the bodies of the seven people in that team not far from the palace!"

"Corpse?"

"How is Commander Meng?" Bai Ziyang suddenly asked.

Upon hearing this, Princess Nihuang and Mei Changsu also looked at him with concern.

"General Meng was punished with 20 strokes of the cane and given 30 days to solve the case. Otherwise, he will be severely punished."

Mei Changsu sighed at the emperor and said, "He is still so ruthless..."

Bai Ziyang felt that the emperor had done nothing wrong this time. Twenty strokes of the cane were not too much. For a master like Commander Meng, it was just a flesh wound. He would be fine after a few days of recuperation. After all, if something happened at the foot of the palace, who else could be punished if not the leader? If someone made a mistake and could avoid punishment just because of a good relationship, how could he govern the country? However, the emperor was a little cruel. Er... we can't expect everyone to be so loyal, right?

Mei Changsu's mind worked quickly. After analyzing the situation, he immediately thought of what might happen next. He then contacted Prince Yu and left in a hurry.

Princess Nihuang was stunned and shouted, "Hey, brother!..."

Bai Ziyang and Chu Qiao from Prince Yu's Mansion were not suitable to go with him, so Mei Changsu only took Fei Liu with him. Princess Nihuang was stunned for a moment, and Mei Changsu had already gone out and got into the carriage. Princess Nihuang smiled and shook her head and said to the two of them, "Still so impetuous!"

When Mei Changsu rushed to Prince Yu's mansion, he found that he was still a step too late. Prince Yu had already entered the palace to plead for Commander Meng. Although this made Prince Yu and Meng Zhi suspected by the emperor, fortunately it did not interfere much with Mei Changsu's plan, and in the end he returned with Prince Yu's great gratitude.

Later, Bai Ziyang and Chu Qiao accompanied Mei Changsu to visit the injured Commander Meng. Because the position of Commander Meng's injury was rather awkward and not very decent for a woman, Chu Qiao did not stay long. Bai Ziyang sat with her for a while and then left. However, Mei Changsu stayed for a long time and talked with Commander Meng.

Mei Changsu had to avenge Commander Meng for the twenty strokes of the cane. He also put the blame on Xie Yu and Zhuo Dingfeng of Tianquan Villa, and immediately sent people to check who in the capital was Zhuo Dingfeng's man.

Afterwards, Li Gang came over with the results of the investigation and said, "Master, we have verified that there are still nine masters in the capital who are related to Zhuo Dingfeng. Here is the list."

Mei Changsu did not accept the list, but just said: "Okay!"

Li Gang asked, "Master, should we notify Mr. Thirteen to send more people to monitor the situation?"

Mei Changsu looked at him and said, "Hasn't their identity been confirmed? Why are you still monitoring them? Follow the rules of the martial arts world and challenge them at their doorstep. Don't be too harsh, just beat them so hard that they can't leave the house."

Li Gang was about to notify the staff after receiving the order. Bai Ziyang happened to come over. After hearing what Mei Changsu said, he took out the list from Li Gang's hand, looked at it, and pointed at the names on the list and said, "This one, this one, and this one, um... and these two. Don't move, I'll do it!"

Li Gang hesitated for a moment and looked at Mei Changsu: "This..."

Mei Changsu raised his chin and said, "Just listen to him!"

"Yes, Sect Master!"

After Li Gang left, Mei Changsu asked, "Our lazy Bai is actually willing to do it for me himself? Is the sun rising from the west today?" As he said this, he looked up at the sky in an exaggerated manner.

Bai Ziyang sat down opposite Mei Changsu and said, "My beautiful girl, what are you thinking about? It's not me, it's a sparring partner for our Qiao Qiao! No matter how high your martial arts skills are, they won't work without actual combat."

Mei Changsu rolled his eyes at him and said with disdain, "Tsk, I was wondering, this guy who would rather lie down than sit, and sit than stand, is now willing to work hard for nothing? He forgets his friends for the sake of beauty!"

Bai Ziyang was not ashamed but proud of it. He walked away with his hands behind his back. "Qiao Qiao, let's go! Let's go fight!"

Qin Yi received Zhuo Dingfeng's message and was about to go out as usual, but he didn't expect that just as he walked out of the door, a person suddenly appeared at the alley, holding a long sword and wearing a veiled hat, with a slender figure like a woman. Hearing footsteps behind him, Qin Yi turned around and saw a young man also appeared at the alley behind him, wearing a cloak from head to toe, and only his face below the bridge of his nose could be vaguely seen, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, as if smiling.

Qin Yi saw that the roads ahead and behind were blocked by people, and he knew that they were coming for him, so he asked, "Who are you two?"

The man behind him sighed and said, "Alas... I have to say it to everyone!... I have heard for a long time that Master Qin is an outstanding swordsman. We are new to the martial arts world and want to earn some fame, so we came to visit. Please Master Qin, please help!"

Qin Yi turned around and faced the man and said, "Are you here to challenge me?"

The man seemed to sigh helplessly again and said, "It's not me, it's her!"

Qin Yi turned around again and looked at the woman opposite him suspiciously and said, "Is it you? ... I advise you to go home, the world is not for a little girl like you."

After that, a cold voice came from the woman opposite, saying: "Why are you talking so much nonsense? I have someone else to challenge, don't waste my time!"

Although Qin Yi's skills were not on the Langya Master List, he was still a master after all, and had a well-known reputation in the martial arts world. Usually, many people around him flattered him, but this was the first time he was spoken of with such disdainful words, and the girl was a young woman. He immediately frowned and did not intend to waste any more words. The most important thing was to teach the other party a lesson, and he quickly drew out the sword in his hand.

The woman dodged the long sword in front of her calmly, flicked her left hand to unsheathe the long sword, moved her feet slightly to avoid Qin Yi's sword, and her body movements were graceful and elegant, just like a leisurely stroll in the garden. Even Qin Yi had to admit that this woman's Qinggong was superb. She frowned slightly and danced the long sword in her hand faster and faster.

The woman dodged Qin Yi's sweeping move by leaning forward, holding the sword behind her back with her left hand, and drew out the long sword with her right hand, making a sword flower to meet Qin Yi's sword move.

As soon as they started fighting, Qin Yi immediately felt the strangeness of this woman's sword moves. The sword was sharp, the moves were complicated and fantastic, and there were sword shadows in all directions. They seemed to be fake moves, but if his sword pointed to them, they would be transformed into real moves. The fake moves could lure and disturb the enemy, and when transformed into real moves, they could hurt the enemy. Soon, sword marks appeared around Qin Yi. Qin Yi felt that the swordsmanship of this woman was like a sudden gust of wind in a peach forest, causing all the flowers to fall.

After the woman sheathed her sword, she saw a sharp sword wound on Qin Yi's chest and injured his tendons and veins. Not only was he unable to hold the sword, he might even have difficulty standing. After looking at his injuries, the woman shook her head for some reason, sighed, and walked away briskly.

Qin Yi could still hear the conversation between the man and the woman from a distance.

The man asked, "What a beautiful win! Why are you not happy?"

The woman said: "The wound is not beautiful, what a pity..."

…………It seems like someone has led me astray? …………

"Don't feel sorry, there are two more below, let's practice more!"

…………