Pawn Crossing the River

Yao Pei was actually standing outside the door.

Qi Xuansu couldn't help but ask: "Su Yi, how long have you been waiting?"

"Just arrived." Yao Pei said, "Congratulations on becoming a heavenly being."

Qi Xuansu said: "I thought you would be kind enough to help me protect the law."

Yao Pei did not answer his words and said: "The investigation team has arrived. Master Sun has informed us to attend the banquet."

Although Zhang Wuhen's incident did not turn into an opportunity for internal fighting among the three parties, Jinque still responded quickly.

An investigation team composed of members from Ziwei Hall, Beichen Hall, Tiangang Hall, and Fengxian Hall arrived at the Wanxiang Taoist Palace along with the master of the Wanxiang Taoist Palace.

Obviously, the investigation team is not here to ask questions, but to investigate what happened.

In addition, because this matter involves Zhengyi Dao and Quanzhen Dao, it is mainly members of Taiping Dao, and the leader is Lu Yushu, the deputy head of Fengxian Hall in the seven-person investigation team of Jinling Mansion.

For this reason, the Wanxiang Taoist Palace held a special banquet to cleanse the investigation team. Yao Pei and Qi Xuansu were also able to attend because they were parties and had meritorious service.

Over the years, due to the prosperity of maritime trade and frequent exchanges between the East and the West, Taoism has been influenced by many Western learnings, and the West has also been influenced by the East. But there is nothing wrong with this. If you don’t learn, then you should still wear clogs and sit on the ground today instead of sitting on a chair with shoes on.

Therefore, this banquet is not a one-person banquet in ancient times, nor is it a large round table or a long table that can accommodate many people. Instead, it imitates a Western banquet and is conducted in the form of a buffet. Various foods are placed on the long table. , the wine is mainly various kinds of rice wine and a small amount of red wine, and there is no white wine, so there is more free space for easy communication.

The elders such as Master Zhang Gong and Sun Hewu did not show up, and Ning Lingyun took over the hosting. This is reasonable. If these elders are present, the younger generation will inevitably have to restrain their hands, and the elders do not like this kind of trendy things. Regarding things, they prefer banquets where they sit upright, solemn and solemn.

As a country bumpkin, this was the first time for Qi Xuansu to participate in such a banquet with a strong Western style. He took a glass of rice wine from a Taoist man, held it in his hand, and said uncomfortably: "You look weird, why do you learn this? Can't you have a good meal? ?”

"Five of the ten people are fasting. Do you really think they are here to eat?" Yao Pei said expressionlessly, "It's just a cover. The key is to use this opportunity to mix things up. If they are all on the same table, you There is me in the middle, and you are in the middle of me, so it is inconvenient to say some things.”

While the two were talking, Lu Yushu walked over.

"Master Qi, we meet again." The deputy head of Fengxian Hall took the initiative to speak.

Qi Xuansu saluted and said, "I have met Deputy Hall Master Lu."

After Lu Yushu returned the gift, he exchanged greetings with Yao Pei, and then said: "The last time I met Master Qi, Master Qi was with Deputy Hall Master Zhang. Today I met Master Qi again, and Master Qi was with Master Yao. Deputy Hall Master Zhang and Master Yao The masters are both great and phoenix among men, and Master Qi can be acquainted with the two of them. He is really a great scholar in conversation and has no idle contacts. "

This statement seemed to be an insinuation that Qi Xuansu was eating from the bowl and looking at the pot. If Qi Xuansu and Yao Peizhen have some unclear relationship, it can also play a role in provoking them.

Qi Xuansu said indifferently: "Birds follow the phoenix and soar far away, and people are proud of themselves when accompanied by virtuous people. When we meet next time, maybe I will be with fellow Taoist Li Changge and Li Daoyou. I will always be with the younger generation of our Taoist sect. It takes making friends all over again.”

The smile on Lu Yushu's face froze slightly, he apologized, and turned to leave.

From the beginning to the end, Yao Pei's face had no expression and was indifferent.

People who practice "Tai Shang Forgetting Love Sutra" do not care about feelings, only about interests.

After Lu Yushu left, another old acquaintance came over.

Xu Kou.

"Lao Qi, during the second major Jiangnan case, Zhang Wuhen was resurrected. Why did you catch up with all the good things?"

"This is not a good thing. It is a fatal case. If you are not careful, you will lose your life."

"But as long as you survive, you can be promoted step by step. In just one year, you have been promoted from seventh grade to fourth grade, faster than our Deputy Hall Master Zhang."

"What's the point of being fast? The key depends on your age. When you are seventy or eighty years old, even if you are promoted to a first-grade innocent Taoist priest overnight, you will not be able to be a great leader. I, a fourth-grade wine-sacrifice Taoist priest, will not be ranked in the Taoist sect. Qingxiao But he is the youngest third-grade Taoist priest."

"Your vision is really extraordinary. You speak loudly and hold your tongue. I'll be satisfied if I can become a real person in the back row and retire to the mountains and forests."

"What you get depends on what is above. What you get depends on what is below. What you get depends on what is below. You get nothing." This means that if the initial expectation is first-rate, the final result may be only average; if If you only expect to be a middle-class person in the beginning, you will only achieve a low-class result in the end; if you only hope to be a low-class person, you may get nothing in the end. If I hope to be a great master, then I will probably be able to get the title of real person, and you will get nothing. If your expectations are real people, then you will probably only be able to get the position of a third-grade Youyi Taoist priest."

Yao Pei said nothing, just looked at the two of them calmly.

Qi Xuansu took the initiative to introduce: "This is Master Yao from Quanzhen Taoism, the one who is as famous as Qing Xiao."

Xu Kou said in surprise: "I have admired his name for a long time."

Yao Pei nodded, looking extremely cold.

Qi Xuansu asked again: "Why didn't Qing Xiao come?"

Xu Kou said: "To avoid suspicion, after all, her surname is Zhang."

Qi Xuansu nodded, this reason was indeed irrefutable.

Yao Pei said goodbye and left temporarily.

She is not Qi Xuansu, she is a woman with considerable ambitions and ideas. The investigation team's stationing in the Wanxiang Taoist Palace is a rare opportunity, bringing news from the outside world. She must make good use of this opportunity to understand various trends in the outside world, and through Quanzhen Taoists pass on some news to the outside world.

Xu Kou looked at Yao Pei's back: "Tianyuan, I didn't point you out on purpose, I just wanted to remind you that the deputy hall master doesn't have sand in his eyes."

Qi Xuansu couldn't hear the implication of Xu Kou's words, and said dumbly: "Who do you think I am? To be able to win the eyes of two proud women? This Yao hair master is my distant relative, but it's just for the sake of the elders. , only then are you willing to interact with me.”

"Aren't you from the Wanxiang Taoist Palace? Why are you related to the Yao family again? Is that rumor true? Are you really the illegitimate son of Master Qi Jiao Zhengqi?" Xu Kou joked.

Qi Xuansu laughed and scolded: "You are the illegitimate son, but my master does have some relationship with the Qi family. The so-called relatives have no blood relationship."

"I understand." Xu Kou said clearly.

Qi Xuansu looked around again and saw that many guests had dispersed and were talking in twos and threes.

The day after the banquet, the investigation team began its formal work.

Qi Xuansu came to Xu Kou's temporary residence in Duiyuan, and Xu Kou bowed in a formal manner: "Chief Qi, I have been ordered to ask you about the specific events and details of the day of the incident. I hope you can cooperate."

"I knew you were going to ask this. I wrote a copy overnight after I went back yesterday. Please read it slowly." Qi Xuansu took out a book of more than ten pages from the Xumiwu.

After explaining the official business, the two started talking about personal matters: "How is Qing Xiao doing lately?"

"Very good. She has a restless temper. She is clearly resting, but she runs to the Fluorescence Department every two days. It makes me even want to be lazy and sneak away. If I am not careful, I will be caught by her. She knows that I am not afraid. If you have a demerit, you will be fined peace money." Xu Kou sighed.

Qi Xuansu smiled and said: "You said it yourself, she doesn't rub sand in her eyes."

Xu Kou asked: "What do you think after you finish your studies in the palace?"

Qi Xuansu reacted very quickly and immediately asked: "Did you hear something?"

"You'll know in another month and a half." Xu Kou kept it secret.

Qi Xuansu said dissatisfied: "Although I am no longer in Tiangang Hall, no matter what, I am still one of our Tiangang Hall. What are you hiding from me?"

"It's hard to say." Xu Kou said with a smile, "You are now a member of Ziweitang. Everything must be arranged by Ziweitang. Even Master Cihang can't interfere."

Qi Xuansu was startled for a moment: "My immediate boss, Master Lei, doesn't take care of things very much. So, does that mean Master Donghua?"

"I also heard that for the past many years, the Imperial Palace has been in name only. It is simply a place for retirement. Recently, Jinque plans to rectify the Imperial Palace and clear out a lot of trash who only know how to eat. So the Imperial Palace There is a huge shortage of personnel. It is said that Shi Bingyun, the second deputy head of the Imperial Palace, came to Yujing in person to ask for people from Donghua Zhenren, who is in charge of personnel. "

Qi Xuansu said: "You mean that I might be transferred to the Imperial Palace?"

Xu Kou nodded.

"Ziweitang is known as the number one among the nine halls. Except for Zixiao Palace, there is no one higher than Ziweitang. If it is transferred equally, I will suffer a big loss. Do you want me to go to the Imperial Palace to be a doctor?" Deputy Palace Master?" Qi Xuansu said thoughtfully. ..

"You're so beautiful. Since Jinque is reorganizing the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Palace must be reused. The position of deputy hall master has long been filled, so where can you get your turn?" Xu Kou said unceremoniously, "It should be Seconded.”

The so-called secondment means that Qi Xuansu is transferred to the Imperial Palace to serve in the Imperial Palace. However, Qi Xuansu is still a member of Ziweitang in name, and the establishment is still on the roster of Ziweitang. When the secondment period expires, Qi Xuansu can still Return to Ziweitang.

Qi Xuansu asked: "Is the matter settled?"

"I just heard about it. If Master Donghua really means this, then he will definitely ask for your opinion. This is a necessary process, so I said you will know after you return to Yujing." Xu Kou said.

Qi Xuansu felt complicated for a while.

He is a Jianghu person, and Imperial Capital is a place that is completely opposite to Jianghu.

Xu Kou continued: "I am from the imperial court, and I have some understanding of the Imperial Capital. The situation in the Imperial Capital is quite delicate now. It is a place where achievements are made. However, if it is not handled well, it is easy to miss the mark and be doomed."

Qi Xuansu murmured: "The master's yin and yang skills are greater than those of Master Ziji."