Fantastic scenery

Mingzhi'an had to pass a dark road from the market, Fang Shu suddenly felt a little timid, "You are alone, aren't you afraid that your enemies will come to your door?"

"Don't worry, I won't drag you into the water. They can't do anything to me here. They won't be afraid to go out."

"I'm not...", Fang Shu originally wanted to refute, but thinking about it was hypocritical, so he didn't say anything.

"Not what?"

"No... it's better to be careful."

Huo Tailing put his arms around his waist, "Your lips are glistening, what did you touch?"

Fang Shu's heart beat faster, and he brushed his lower lip, "It's a bit cold, so I put on lip balm to protect myself."

Huo Tailing quickly moved closer and stuck out his tongue to lick it, "It's a bit sweet..." He still wanted to get closer, but Fang Shu stretched out his hand to block it.

"Don't make trouble!"

Luckily, there was no one around, and it was almost pitch dark around here.

When you get out of this dark road, you can hear the noise of people, and when you turn a corner, you can see the lights, feasting, fiery trees and silver flowers, faithful men and women passing through, and street vendors lined up on both sides.

Fang Shu has never been here before, and it is full of fireworks.

"This street is Xihe Lane. Every year in February and March, every three and seventy-nine months, this place is very lively. Most of the couples or newlyweds will come to take advantage of the night market. There are also many foreigners who come to visit. .”

Fang Shu lived here for a few years ten years ago. He was really obsessed with studying, and he didn't know that this place was so lively and prosperous.

Huo Tailing seemed to see his thoughts, "This is a rule that has only been formed in the past few years, it didn't exist before."

I saw a stream behind the vendors on both sides, and there were crane-shaped paper boats in the stream, as big as the palm of your hand, with thin red candles on the back of the crane, burning a goose-yellow light.

Fang Shu couldn't help being curious, and leaned forward to watch them follow the water to the distance, like a stream of people, with no end in sight.

"Many people put white crane lanterns at the source of the stream...", Huo Tailing explained.

"For wishing." Huo Tailing pointed to the upstream, "They all put crane lanterns at the source."

On the side is a little brother who sells ceramics, but there are teapots, teacups, trays, vases, and ceramics in the shape of small animals on the small stall table.

A man and a woman, like lovers, the woman held up a snow-white jade rabbit pottery with her slender hands, she was full of joy, and whispered in the man's ear. The room was so close that she couldn't help but hear a little, "This rabbit is beautiful and cute, it's not as good as..." Brother sent me as a bride price?"

Fang Shu took a closer look at the woman's goose-shaped face, with some light brown freckles on her cheeks, she looked even more delicate when she smiled.

The man who was called Brother Jia took out the eggplant bag and stole the incense on her face regardless of who came and went, "I'll give it to you, and I'll let someone carry the sedan chair to your house tomorrow!"

After asking the price and paying, the woman went to another stall with the man on her arm.

The little brother looked at Fangshu for a long time, and asked: "My lord, I think this pair of sapphire tea sets are very suitable for you! These are all from Jingdezhen. They are as thin as wings and have a loud sound. Listen!" He flicked the teapot with his index finger, and the sound was very crisp.

Fang Shu saw that the Jade Rabbit pottery was worth two liang just now, and knew that this tea set must not be cheap, and his pockets were empty, thinking about it this way, he didn't particularly like this tea set.

Huo Tailing stood behind him all the time, watching him look at the pile of ceramics, and finally said: "Thank you, I just watched the fun."

"My lord! It can be cheaper, it's fate if you like it."

"Thank you for your kindness!" Fang Shu turned around, grabbed Huo Tailing's wrist and left the booth.

Huo Tailing let go of his hand and interlocked his fingers, people came and went pushing and crowded, no one paid attention to them at all.

"What? Don't you like the pottery just now? If it's a good tea, you can buy it." Huo Tailing stood still, "I can also buy it as a bride price for my concubine." The corner of his mouth smiled wildly.

"Good things in the world are not firm, but colorful clouds are easy to scatter and glass is brittle." Fang Shu tried to pull him away, but he couldn't.

"Whether it's crisp or not, if you like it, don't worry so much." Huo Tailing's eyes were firm, he turned around and bought the set of ceramics, plus a emerald white ceramic three-tailed fox.

He held the crawling three-tailed fox and shook it in front of Fang Shu, "I think it looks like you."

"Where does it look like?!"

"From top to bottom, from the beginning to the end, it looks like... By the way...you are not really a vixen? A vixen in human skin, come to suck my yang energy, and seek the way to become an immortal?"

Fang Shu wanted to cover his mouth, afraid of being overheard by passers-by, but the tea set that Huo Tailing handed over took his hands empty.

"What nonsense!"

"When the time comes, my concubine will be in the immortal class, please remember to cross me."

Hearing Huo Tailing's confused words, Fang Shu followed behind him, "I will pay you back the money."

"Since it's a betrothal gift, why pay it back? It doesn't matter if you have a dowry or not."

The streets and alleys are very long, there are all kinds of things, and there are snack shops. They came out to eat, but the two of them looked at it with colorful eyes and forgot their purpose for a while.

The two bought some water chestnut cakes and meat skewers and walked around while eating, just like other couples. The atrium that Fang Shu finally built collapsed into rubble after being teased by Huo Tailing in a few words—if you like it, don’t worry so much , then let him indulge this moment.

I don't know if the openness of the folk customs should be said to be the benefit of the emperor's absence from the early court. Even if someone walks the street with bare buttocks, it is not uncommon, so no one thinks it is wrong for two men to go shopping.

Occasionally someone would look sideways, curious about the two young masters, one handsome and tender-eyed, the other unparalleled but full of spring breeze.

Passing by an old man with a slightly hunched back, the passers-by were a little shy, and there were only a few rows of long strips of membranous matter on the stall.

His curiosity was as strong as Fang Shu's ambition, he twisted his fingers and asked, "Mr., what is this?"

Behind him, Huo Tailing held the harvest of the two people's shopping in both hands, and smiled maliciously.

The old man was familiar with this problem, and he said seriously: "This is called sheep intestines. It is made of sheep's small intestines washed and dried. When going to the clouds and rains, they are put on the dingling to carry flowers and avoid them. No need to use them any more. Let women use mercury, safflower, etc., which are harmful and risky." As he said, the old man also took out something from under the table, and after a closer look, it was a person from Jingdong with a formal suit With a sheep intestine. "Look, my lord, there are some empty pouches left on it, which are used to hold blood for descendants. Not only that, but it can also avoid the disease of flowers and willows!"

Originally, Fang Shu felt very ashamed at the beginning. He was fascinated by what he said. He carefully looked at the intestines in his hand, "It's not elastic. If the user is very big, if it's small, how can it fit? Could it be that there is only one size? People can use it?"

The old man held the lamp and got close to the rows of sheep intestines, only to find that the size was different, the small one could hold the little finger tightly, and the big one could accommodate a six-inch giant. Fang Shu stared at the largest sheep intestine, frowning, "There is no bigger one? "

The old man looked him up and down, a little unbelievable, and said, "Your...Young master, I really can't tell..."

Huo Tailing laughed from the side, "Don't be a fool here! Besides, this thing is not comfortable to wear."

Fang Shu felt a little blocked, "Have you used it?"

Hearing this, the old man curled his lips and looked at the two of them, "Young master, that's not what he said. It's uncomfortable for me, but it's good for my partner..."

Fang Shu saw that the old man's eyes were a bit vicious, and he dragged Huo Tailing away from here, only to see that Fang Shu was a little unhappy, Huo Tailing said: "Wait a minute, I'll go back as soon as I go."

"whats the matter?"

"Come right back!" After saying that, Huo Tailing squeezed into the crowd.

Fang Shu was about to chase after him, when he heard a voice, "Isn't this Mr. Fang?"

The visitor wears a gray gauze crown on his head, and his complexion is a little gray. He is about forty years old, and there is a young woman beside him. The woman has a spring breeze on her face, and there are thousands of styles.

Some familiar faces, Fang Shu tried his best to search for the memories in his mind, only to be stupefied for a moment, he returned to his usual smile, "Master He! What a coincidence!"

This is He Shengwen, the young minister of Dali Temple. Fang Shu didn't have a positive face with him. The reason why Fang Shu knew him was that he came to visit his father ten years ago, when he was just a concubine. Last year, I saw him come to the Hanlin Academy to look for Grand Tutor Qi. At that time, Li Zheng introduced him to him, and only then did he know that he was already the young minister of Dali Temple.

It's just that he doesn't know how he knows himself, which makes him a little panicked.

He Shengwen is also a careful person, "Often I heard Taifu Qi mentioned you, and also heard about your deeds against the Japanese. Your reputation can be spread privately among the officials..."

"This is really scary!"

He Shengwen looked left and right, and asked, "I just saw Mr. Huo with you, and thought I was wrong. What about the others?"

"He... just said that he had something to do and that he would be right back."

After finishing speaking, Huo Tailing squeezed back from the crowd, "Little..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw He Shengwen and his wife, "Master He?!"

Huo Tailing's smile also disappeared, and he put his hands behind his back, with some food and gadgets in his hands.

"It's Madam's birthday today, because I've been so busy with the White Lotus Society, I have some free time, so I took Madam out to relax."

After finishing speaking, Mrs. He bowed low to Huo Tailing.

"How did your trial go with the candle light?"

Huo Tailing's tone of voice was somewhat condescending, Fang Shu looked strange, logically speaking, although they were of different ranks, after all they performed their duties.

He Shengwen asked the servant boy and maid to take Mrs. He home, and walked away behind He Shengwen. Then Mrs. He glanced at Huo Tailing with ambiguous and complicated eyes. When she looked back, she stayed on Fang Shu for a moment. , looking at him with no kindness.

He Shengwen also glanced at Fang Shu, hesitant to speak.

"I'll take my leave first." Fang Shu bowed and prepared to leave.

"No, he's one of his own."

Fang Shu didn't know whether he should leave now.

He Shengwen laughed a little awkwardly, "Then today I'm going to be an official, and I'll invite the two adults to have a meal at the end of the alley - Weixianju. I've been busy with my wife since I came back, so I remembered that I haven't eaten yet."

Huo Tailing dragged Fang Shu to the front, whispered to him from time to time, but ignored He Shengwen, Fang Shu felt uncomfortable, and tried his best to stay between the two of them.

When we arrived at Weixianju, it was obvious that He Shengwen and Huo Tailing were frequent visitors here. As soon as Xiaoer saw them, he led the way to the private room on the second floor.

Randomly ordered some refreshments and food.

He Shengwen got to know Fang Shu a lot better, and he was no longer wary at first.

He Shengwen: "Today, Zhuzhao had a broken leg when he was escorted, so he didn't dare to use torture for interrogation. He really wanted to die without saying a word."

"I broke that leg." After Huo Tailing finished speaking, he asked again: "Is there any movement between Shen Yiguan and Zhao Zhigao?"

"Boshang of the Dongchang and Han Xia, the supervisory censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, have both been here today, asking around. Even Li Dai, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, came."

Huo Tailing was thoughtful, "The Imperial Envoys of the Metropolitan Procuratorate have private contacts with Shen Yiguan. On the surface, Dongchang only obeys the orders of the Holy Master, but also colludes with Zhao Zhigao in private. The Minister of the Ministry of Officials may just be purely because of his disappointment. His son is worried, and he is also a person who does not report. Now the leader of the cult has become a tool for all parties to compete."

Dongchang and Jinyiwei are thorns in each other's eyes, and everyone knows that thorns in the flesh are also things that the emperor just asked them to restrain each other.

He Shengwen nodded, "Shen is always afraid that Zhuzhao will shake out Li Zheng, so he will follow the clues and find out about him. He just wants to let Zhuzhao die. Dongchang just wants to use Zhuzhao to weaken Jinyiwei's power——Ruo Zhuzhao died unexpectedly , It can be said that Jin Yiwei murdered people and silenced them, so he has an excuse to investigate you, if he is still alive, he has a chance to tamper with his confession, I am afraid that this time the three divisions will interrogate, and the people in Dongchang will do something wrong."

Huo Tailing frowned, "Jin Yiwei is tied up now, this deadlock is not easy to break."

Fang Shu tilted his head to listen to what they said. Now he is completely confused about the stakes between Huo Tailing and Shen Yiguan. Listening to his tone, he is now on Jin Yiwei's side. Logically speaking, even if Jin Yiwei lay in the mud, It has nothing to do with him either.

"I have an idea..." Fang Shu broke the silence.

He Shengwen: "Master Fang, it's okay to say it!"

Fang Shu said, "Bai Lian Hui has amassed a lot of money over the years. It is reasonable to say that the treasury should be full, but the government has found nothing. Now the treasury seems to be rich, but in fact it is in short supply. There is an urgent need for food, grass and supplies, all of which require gold and silver, and the most important thing in the relationship between the emperor now is the civil strife. Use this money to exchange candles for one's life, and find a reason to distribute it to the frontier. Next, someone will naturally take his life. "

Some people here are referring to those officials in the imperial examination corruption chain, and the biggest one is naturally Shen Yiguan.

After Huo Tailing listened, he said: "Dongchang and Zhao Zhigao will not let it go."

Fang Shu: "What are the officials most concerned about now? It's not civil strife, nor is it the chaos of cults, but the struggle for the foundation of the country! Who will be the crown prince? The emperor does not have an eldest son, but all officials want an eldest son. All these pressures are in the cabinet On the first assistant, he incited the team of the Sixth Division to go up and scold and fight, and guarantee that Zhao Zhigao and the others are incapable of fighting, so how can they care about these 'little things'."

After hearing this, He Shengwen was a little stunned, "Shen Yiguan and the others will get away with this!" He looked at Fang Shu with sharper eyes.

Fang Shu glanced at Huo Tailing, but Huo Tailing just looked at him in his free time.

Fang Shu sighed, "There are so many connections behind this, how could they be brought down because of this incident? Why not start from the overall situation and first calm down the internal chaos in Bozhou, where the people are in dire straits. Although Shen Yiguan and his party are corrupt Yes, but they are also working, he strives to reduce mining taxes, takes a forceful attitude towards Japanese pirates, as long as the Yellow River does not flood, it will be used for farmland."

Xiao Er went out quickly after the food was served, Huo Tailing just ate a lot of snacks and candied fruit, and now his appetite is still good, so he ate slowly and listened to their talk.

He Shengwen had no appetite, and felt uncomfortable, "This Shen has always formed a clique, which has hurt many people! It is said that he is upright, an upright official, and he only wants to find a job for his son, and does not allow his eldest son to participate in the imperial examination. , Now the father and son are turning against each other!", He took a sip of tea, "Ten years ago... a close friend was also created out of nothing by him, and his family was ruined by impeachment... What a wonderful person...".

"Best friend?" Fang Shu's heart tightened.

"Well, Zuo Shaoqing of the Taipu Temple——Fang Yan."

With a slap, Fang Shu's chopsticks fell to the ground, and he picked them up hastily, his face turning pale.

He Shengwen asked: "Master Fang is all right?"

Huo Tailing pressed Fang Shu's hand under the table and said: "He's fine, you can continue talking."

He Shengwen's face turned even paler, "It's all over, but I feel guilty in my heart, I didn't do anything to help, Fang Da'er was sent to the army, I spent some money to have someone take care of it, and it turned out that a gang The guy who collects money and doesn't care about it, I heard that Fang Daer suffered a lot of hardships and suffered a lot, and finally his sister-in-law died tragically, and his nephew's whereabouts are unknown. It's funny, I have never met my sister-in-law and nephew."

Huo Tailing's hand under the table lightly supported Fang Shu's clenched hand. After a while, Fang Shu loosened his strength and clasped Huo Tailing's fingers with his backhand.

Fang Shu: "The friendship between gentlemen is as rare as water, and it's normal if you haven't met... I believe Mr. Fang knows your friendship, and he must be grateful."

"What are you grateful for? Now that Shen Yiguan is doing well, how can anyone remember those wronged souls?"

Fang Shu smiled, "With all the achievements, the person who climbed to the top is not stepping on bones."

"If Mr. Fang had a close friend, he would not have spoken in such a calm manner when encountering things like mine. Mr. Fang is still too young to be able to speak these great truths calmly."

Fang Shu's smiling face finally collapsed, he couldn't bear it anymore, his heart hurt more than anyone else, but he was the least qualified to show his pain, "Master He is right, this junior is indeed too young to know the world..."

The three of them had a meal with a strange atmosphere. Before parting, Huo Tailing explained to He Shengwen, "I will arrange those things, just follow what Mr. Fang said, and tell them not to act rashly."

them?who are they?Fang Shu is now like a spider web of mystery, layer upon layer, thread to thread, only one thing is certain, he was led away by the nose by Huo Tailing.

The flow of people on Hexi Street dwindled, and some vendors began to close their stalls. Fang Shu asked, "What is your relationship with Shen Yiguan? While helping him, while slandering him."

Huo Tailing said with a smile: "There is no fixed relationship, the most fixed is interest."

"What are your interests?"

Fang Shu didn't expect any answer from him.

"I work for the emperor, what do you say my interests are? You will know gradually, I can't tell..."

There are so many mysteries shrouded in Huo Tailing's body, Tou Guan didn't even get a glimpse of it.

"Why did you work so hard to become an official? Why did you let Shen go when you have the usual handle?"

It turned out that he had figured out all of his own thoughts, and Fang Shu didn't panic, "Didn't I say it, this still won't win him over."

"It's good to be calm." Huo Tailing only left a meaningful sentence.

Passing by the bustling end, there is another dark street, darker than when we came.

After walking for a while, there was a strange noise, two hulas, a cold silver light suddenly appeared in the night, and several silver needles struck.

Huo Tailing took Fangshu to hide, and almost got caught. Huo Tailing handed the gadget in his hand to Fangshu, and pulled out the Xiuchun knife, "Stay back, someone is overpowering and wants to assassinate me."

"You were injured..." Fang Shu rubbed his waist, it happened that when he went to find Zheng Wanhan today, he didn't bring the scenery with him, and went back to Mingzhi Nunnery to see Huo Tailing in a hurry.

A shadow suddenly approached Huo Tailing, but after a few moves, Huo Tailing had the upper hand, his speed was too fast, and his opponent's strength was exhausted, only to find the room in the corner, when they took advantage of Huo Tailing's inattention, One person approached Fang Shu, although Fang Shu didn't have a sword, he bounced away, and when he crossed the body with that person, he tore off his face scarf, couldn't see his face clearly, but saw a glowing red lotus.

Fang Shu shouted: "Ji Rong!"

The person who was fighting with Huo Tailing retreated to Ji Rong's side, and he also took off his mask, but he couldn't see his face clearly, but the green lotus was very eye-catching.

Huo Tailing's tone was cold, "There is no way to go to heaven, but there is no way to hell!"

The two of them had spent most of their energy fighting Huo Tailing just now, it wasn't because they were weak, but because Huo Tailing was too strong, the number one in the imperial court was not in vain.

Fang Shu stopped him, "I know them! Don't do anything, they won't escape anyway."

Huo Tailing whistled, calling for the Jin Yiwei nearby.

A female voice probed, "Brother Fuyan?!"

"Is it really you? Ji Rong Ji Yue?"

Ji Rong wanted to get close to Fang Shu, but was held back by Ji Yue, "He's from Huo Tailing! You don't want to die?!"

"elder brother!"

"You... why are you here?"

Ji Rong cried, "Huo Tailing and Wen Xuanqing killed many fellow Nine Lotus Sect compatriots..." Ji Rong stepped forward and hugged Fang Shu regardless of Ji Yue's obstruction.

Huo Tailing pulled Fang Shu back, "They want to kill me! I can't kill them?!", this accusation is really funny to Huo Tailing.

"They were forced, forced by Dong Mang! Our roster is in the hands of the government. If we don't obey orders, we will be massacred! This group of Jinyi Wei Dong Factory are all accomplices!!"

Fang Shu was confused, "Ji Rong, speak slowly."

Ji Yue sneered, "There's nothing good about this group of officials! They're all jokes when you say this."

"Brother... Mr. Fang is not such a person. Don't you remember what the leader said about him? He has a cold face and a warm heart, with a sincere heart, and he is by no means a treacherous villain."

Ji Yue was annoyed that his younger sister didn't know how to count, "I think you are just like the leader! You have suffered all kinds of hardships, and you don't know the people of the world! No amount of sincerity in this officialdom can be blackened!"

"You two have been talking on your own for a long time! Is the show enough?" Huo Tailing had just finished speaking, when the surroundings were illuminated by torches, and they were surrounded by a group of Jinyi guards.

Fang Shu saw clearly, Ji Rong's face was full of tears, and Ji Yue was cynical.

One of them was carrying a nine-link crossbow and aimed at the two brothers and sisters.

Fang Shu stepped forward to protect them, "Taiwan order! Don't do anything! They are not threatening!!"

Huo Tailing remained expressionless, "Come back soon!"

Fang Shu's eyes were equally determined.

"Just say it one last time, hurry, come back, come!" Huo Tailing raised his hand, and the rest of the Jin Yiwei opened their crossbows, and now the arrow is on the string. "Don't threaten me!"