The master said not to judge people by their appearance

It was agreed, but Xie Yunlan went to the study after returning to the mansion, and had no intention of helping Shen Fan with errands at all.

When Xie Yunlan and Shen Fan were talking, Wang Tai was driving in front and heard it, but he didn't hear it very clearly. He only knew that Shen Fan seemed to ask Xie Yunlan to do something, and he asked: "Master, Master asked you to do something. Aren't you going to do something?"

Xie Yunlan raised his eyebrows, remembering Wang Tai's dog-legged appearance before, now that there are no outsiders, he can finally speak bluntly: "What kind of ecstasy soup did he give you? I think you went to the princess mansion and didn't even know your last name." Can not remember!"

"No, Lord Hou, you didn't see it with your own eyes, but I saw the master with my own eyes!" Wang Tai recounted the scene at that time, and he said it in more detail than Yuan Wan, after all, he was I have fought Xie Chong personally.

"The candle in the master's hand is very miraculous. I saw that his hand was empty, but the candle was burning out of thin air. This must be the master's mana!" Wang Tai said firmly.

But Xie Yunlan just sneered after hearing this, and said while rubbing the ink: "The candlelight is probably some kind of trick, just some blindfold."

"What about the real Lingbao? After being possessed by the evil spirit, his posture and appearance completely changed. He is like a wolf in the desert. He is ferocious and bloodthirsty, and he is extremely powerful. If it is not for the master, no one can control him!" Wang Wang Tai said again.

Xie Yunlan was still disdainful: "You also said that the real Lingbao had winked at Shen Fan before, and the two of them probably knew each other a long time ago, and they colluded to perform this play."

"This..." Wang Tai choked, and suddenly realized that Xie Yunlan's logic seemed to make sense, but... the gloomy and oppressive feeling in the courtyard when the evil spirit appeared, and the warm feeling after the candles were lit, shouldn't be the reason. It can be created with organs or collusion in advance.

"Master Hou, I still think Master has real skills." Wang Tai said seriously.

Xie Yunlan didn't taunt or speak this time, he just lowered his head to write, Wang Tai stood over and took a look, it was four words - play tricks.

Wang Tai had completely given up trying to persuade Xie Yunlan. His Lord Marquis was relatively firm, or rather stubborn, and generally would not change what he believed in. Xie Yunlan had never believed in ghosts and gods since he was a child. Perhaps someday monsters would really show up in front of him and cause trouble. , he will believe that there are really gods and ghosts in the world.

After Wang Tai left, Xie Yunlan wrote in the study alone for a while, and after a while, Wei Chengzhi came.

He had already heard a rough idea from Wang Tai about the matter at the eldest princess's mansion, but his focus was not on Shen Fan's supernatural powers. His thoughts were the same as Xie Yunlan's. The concern is: "Master Hou, the crown prince also went to the eldest princess's mansion?"

Xie Yunlan nodded.

Wei Chengzhi asked again: "Is it for evil or...?"

Xie Yunlan put the pen back on the shelf and said, "Of course it's for me. The prince heard about the second prince's invitation to the lotus banquet, so he came to check my attitude."

Wei Chengzhi: "Then how will Lord Hou answer?"

Xie Yunlan roughly talked about the conversation between him and the prince, and Wei Chengzhi said after listening: "The prince and the second prince both want to win Lord Hou through marriage. Although Lord Hou refused, I am afraid they will not give up easily. It's not too young, if I don't choose a lover to marry earlier, I can live in peace."

This is the third time Xie Yunlan has heard people persuade him to get married in the past few days. The first two have their own purposes, so Wei Chengzhi is thinking of him, so he can talk to him.

It's not that Xie Yunlan doesn't want to get married, his parents are a loving couple, his mother Zhou's is originally a young lady from a wealthy family, and Xie Guodong was just a poor boy at that time, working as a groom in Zhou's family.After the two fell in love, Zhou resolutely married Xie Guodong regardless of the obstruction of his family, and he never regretted it despite suffering and poverty.

And Xie Guodong did not disappoint her. For her, he joined the army and made contributions, and gradually became a general from a flat-headed soldier. After his fortune, many people wanted to give his daughter to him as a concubine, but he bluntly refused.Mrs. Zhou has suffered a lot for him. She used to be a daughter who never touched the sun, but now her hands are full of calluses, and her complexion is sallow and ugly. Xie Guodong is not an ungrateful person. As early as the day Zhou married him, he promised Never marry anyone else in this life.

It's a pity that the Zhou family suffered too much in those years, and his body broke down. Xie Yunlan died of illness when he was about seven years old.After his mother died, his father, Xie Guodong, was only in his 30s and in his prime, but he kept his promise and never continued.Occasionally in the middle of the night, the young Xie Yunlan would see his father, who had always shed blood but not tears, secretly weeping at his mother's belongings.

Xie Yunlan envied this kind of relationship, one life and one couple, without the intrigue of those aristocratic families, only the love of the husband and wife.

The same is true of his younger sisters Xie Yuzhen and Mu Qingyun. When he left home in a fit of anger and concealed his identity to join the army, Xie Yuzhen would often come to the camp to send some pastries to visit. After becoming husband and wife, they even had children immediately, and the family was very lively, unlike his lonely family, who didn't even have a bed companion at night in the Dahou Mansion.

He said frankly: "Marriage also depends on fate. I also want to find a lover to spend my life with, but it is so easy to find a lover. If I marry someone with a bad temper, I am afraid that not only will I not have peace, but it will be noisy. There is no peace in the house every day."

As he spoke, he suddenly thought of Shen Fan again. If his future wife was as capable as Shen Fan, he would probably be so angry that he wouldn't even want to go home.

Not necessarily, if she can be as good-looking as Shen Fan, she can tolerate one or two things... Xie Yunlan went astray the more he thought about it, but Wei Chengzhi's words brought him back to his thoughts.

"What Hou Ye said is also true. It is hard to find a lover. It is a blessing to meet him once in this life." Wei Chengzhi sighed, thinking of his dead wife and children.

Xie Yunlan also suddenly remembered: "Sir, it has been seven years."

Wei Chengzhi is from Yazhou. He has a childhood sweetheart wife and an eight-year-old daughter in Yazhou. They should be a happy family. , no one alive.

Wei Chengzhi happened to be away on errands at that time, and before he left, he made an appointment to come back to bring his daughter a New Year's gift. He didn't want to leave like that, but it was a farewell forever.

"Yes." Wei Chengzhi sighed, "It's been seven years."

Yazhou was the first city captured by the Yuanrong people, and it was also the city that had been occupied for the longest time. It was not until last spring that Xie Yunlan led his troops to fight back. In seven years, he even went back to collect the remains of his wife and daughter, and immediately Not even a tomb can do it.

But fortunately, the battle is over.

"Master Hou, I actually have something else to do when I come today." Wei Chengzhi said seriously, "I want to say goodbye to Master Hou."

Xie Yunlan was taken aback: "Sir, are you leaving?"

Wei Chengzhi nodded. He followed Xie Yunlan to avenge his wife and daughter. He should leave after revenge. But after so many years, Xie Yunlan has treated him well. He cared about this friendship and worried that Xie Yunlan would lead troops outside for many years. After returning to the court, he was not used to the intrigue in the court, and would be framed by villains, so he followed Beijing.

Now that half a year has passed, Xie Yunlan's position has been stabilized. Although he only holds idle positions, fortunately there is no risk, as long as he acts cautiously and does not get involved in imperial power struggles.

He is not greedy for the prosperity and fame of the capital, but now he just wants to retire and go back to Yazhou, build a tomb for his wife and daughter, and then build a thatched hut next to the tomb, stay with him day and night, and never leave.

Xie Yunlan opened his mouth to persuade, but stopped before speaking, he knew that for Wei Chengzhi, his wife and daughter are the most important people, more than anything else, the farewell seven years ago made Wei Chengzhi regret his whole life, following him south for so many years During the Northern War, I never had time to go back to Yazhou.

"Forget it." Xie Yunlan sighed, "Sir, it's time to go back and have a look. It's just that Yazhou City was rebuilt not long ago, and the previous houses and fields have been abandoned. I'm afraid there will be no place for Mr. to go back."

"Well," Xie Yunlan pondered, "Yazhou happens to have my old department. I will write a letter and ask them to prepare a residence for my husband. If you have something to do in Yazhou, you can just ask them for help, or send someone to send me a letter. , I will do my best.”

"Thank you, Lord Hou!" Wei Chengzhi cupped his hands.

It was getting late, and although the sound of the curtain drum had not yet sounded, it was also approaching sunset.There is a curfew in Daxia, and you are not allowed to go out at night, but Xie Yunlan went back to the house and changed his clothes, ready to go out for an appointment.

A few colleagues invited him out for a drink. Xie Yunlan didn't like to socialize. He had already declined several times in the name of recuperating his injuries. However, as an official in the court, it is not easy to always refuse each other. This time he agreed.

When he passed by the backyard, he saw Wang Tai carrying a few wooden boards, with a roll of hemp rope wrapped around his shoulders, walking towards the yard. Xie Yunlan asked strangely, "What are you doing with these?"

"Oh, I'll make a swing for Master!" Wang Tai thought he was caring, but said in a doggy manner, "There is a swing in the eldest princess's house, and Master likes it very much. I think Master will ask Lord Hou to make one for him sooner or later." , I'll help him do it first, so you don't have to bother Master Hou!"

Xie Yunlan: "..."

He took a deep breath, now not only Shen Fan made him angry, Wang Tai also followed suit, if not for the tight time now, he was in a hurry to go out...

Forget it, Xie Yunlan glared at Wang Tai, ready to turn around and deal with him.

Wang Tai rubbed his head, looking at the back of Xie Yunlan leaving, not knowing why.

Forget it, it's important to make a swing, he happily went to Shen Fan's yard with the wooden ropes in his arms.

After explaining the purpose of coming, Shen Fan gave him an appreciative look, and then signaled: "Do it quickly."

"Okay!" Wang Tai climbed up the tree and started working.There is a sycamore tree in this yard with thick branches, so there is no need to make a special pile, just hang the rope on the trunk directly.

Wang Tai finished it quickly, and tugged hard to confirm the firmness of the knot, then said: "Master, please."

Shen Fan sat on it and tried it. He swung twice by himself. Before he could open his mouth, Wang Tai came over to help push him. He was born with good strength, and he was much taller than ordinary people when he pushed the swing. Shen Fan swung When you reach a high place, you can even see the scene outside the courtyard wall.

It is already night now, a black curtain covers the sky, but the capital is not completely dark, Shen Fan can see the lights dotted with stars, many people's houses are lit with lights, and many of those lights are dragon candles shape.

After Shen Fan came to the capital, he went to the West Market to set up a stall, and later he directly lived in the Xuanwuhou Mansion. He hadn't had a good time in the capital so far, so he didn't notice many people in the city until he went out in a carriage with Xie Yunlan during the day. Dragon shaped lamp.

Recalling the experience during the day, Shen Fan suddenly asked Wang Tai to stop the swing, and he asked, "Why are dragon lanterns lit at the door of many people's houses?"

"Dragon lantern?" Wang Tai came to his senses, "That's not called a dragon lantern, it's called a dragon candle lantern."

Shen Fan: "Dragon candle lamp?"

"Dragon Candle Lantern, of course it is the dragon holding the candle..." Wang Tai suddenly paused when he said this, because he thought of the name they made up for Shen Fan.

Speaking of which, before he thought Shen Fan was a liar, he dared to name him like this, but now he confirmed that the other party was a master with real supernatural powers, but why didn't Shen Fan deny it when he heard the name Dragon God Envoy?

Reminiscent of the candle in the opponent's hand that can repel evil spirits, Wang Tai swallowed, and said cautiously: "Master, you can't really be the envoy of the candle dragon?"

"No." Shen Fan denied this time.

That's good, Shen Fan's background is not that big, Wang Tai heaved a sigh of relief.He continued: "The image of the dragon candle lantern comes from the dragon holding the candle. The dragon holding the candle is our great summer totem. Hanging the dragon candle lantern in front of the house means praying for the blessing of the dragon god."

"Great Xia Totem?" Shen Fan heard of it for the first time.

"Master, don't you know? It's no wonder that many people don't know about this matter." Wang Tai then explained to Shen Fan the story of Emperor Gaozu's accession to the throne.

"It is said that when the dragon god passed by here with a candle, it lit up the entire sky, and the light in the dragon's mouth broke through the night, as bright as the sun!" Wang Tai gestured to the sky, saying vividly.

Shen Fan also looked up at the night, he murmured: "I don't remember..."

Wang Tai didn't hear it, and said to himself: "In order to thank the Dragon God for his blessing, Emperor Gaozu enshrined the dragon holding a candle as the totem of the Great Xia, and built the Dragon Temple and the Dragon Tower in Beijing. There will be grand sacrifices during the Lantern Festival, and it is said that at that time the whole city will light candles and go to Simamen Chi Road to celebrate the grand ceremony."

"Master, do you know Simamen Chidao? It is the longest and widest road in Beijing, and only the emperor can drive it! There are [-] dragon candle lanterns on both sides of Simamen Chidao. The ones here are all half-human tall, and they are extremely delicate and lifelike."

"Simamen Chidao is connected to the Dragon Temple in the north and the Dragon Tower in the south. There is also a dragon candle lamp in the Dragon Temple and the Dragon Tower. It is like the head and tail of a candle dragon. There are one hundred and eight dragon candle lanterns in total. These one hundred and eight dragon candle lanterns will all be lit only during the Lantern Festival. If you look down from a high place at that time, it is like seeing a fire dragon entrenched in the middle of Beijing. , mighty and magnificent!" Wang Tai sighed again after finishing speaking, "It's a pity that the master came late, if it had been decades earlier, we would have seen the grand scene of the Lantern Festival."

"Ten decades earlier?" Shen Fan asked puzzled, "Is there no Lantern Festival now?"

"That's right." Wang Tai said, "It's been too long, and not many people remember the dragon holding the candle. The Dragon Temple has been abandoned, and the Dragon Tower has been renamed. Naturally, no one celebrates the Lantern Festival anymore."

"It's like that sentence," Wang Tai scratched his head, and thought for a long time before he remembered, "It's because Wang Tuo ascends to the Zu, not a fish swallowing waves, orchids stop the room, and does not think of a dragon holding candles."

Shen Fan looked at the dark night sky and didn't speak.

The author has something to say:

"It is because Wang Tuo is on the Zu, not pretending to be a fish swallowing waves, orchid cream is closed, and not thinking of a dragon holding a candle." From Lu Ji's "Playing Lianzhu"