A Sword of Frost

Chapter 24: Frost Horse

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Wu Suosi asked: "What's going on?"

The old concubine looked anxious, she patted the table and said: "They are trying to force Yanran to rebel!"

Whether there is a so-called "person behind the scenes" in Wangxing City is unknown, but it is actually the former emperor's personal servant, the great eunuch Lu Xiaopeng.

Yun Yifeng frowned: "Lu Xiaoseng?"

"Yes." The old concubine said, "He has been by the late emperor's side since he was a child, and he is considered the number one confidant. After the late emperor passed away, Lu Xiaodeng asked to leave the palace, sell all the property and fields in Wangcheng, and return to Wangxing City Take care of your life."

When the first emperor passed away, Lu Xiaoteng was the only one beside him, and the civil and military officials did not hear what he said, nor did the concubines in the harem. Interested people made a big fuss about this matter, saying that today's son Li Jing was not actually the candidate for the heir apparent that the late emperor wanted, and that the late emperor was still holding his breath when he was dying, and ordered Lu Xiaodeng to draw up quickly. The decree was to pass on the throne to Ji Yanran, the king of Xiao who was guarding the far northwest frontier at that time. Li Jing, who was also the prince, heard about this, and immediately led his troops to forcibly break into the palace, killing the late emperor.

Yun Yifeng hesitated: "But..."

"I know, this is absolutely impossible." The old concubine sighed, "Not to mention my foreign status, just because Yan Ran has already changed his surname to adoptive, even if the late emperor loves this son in his heart, he will not make him change again. Reverting to Li's surname and taking over the country, but no matter how absurd the rumors are, it can't stand Yanran's outstanding military achievements, and others are deliberately instigating."

In recent years, the folks have speculated about Ji Yanran's life experience, but this is obviously not the time to discuss Xiao Wang's growth history in detail, Yun Yifeng said: "Only Lu Xiaopeng knows what the former emperor said when he was dying. Relic is clearly in Wangcheng, but the prince shows up in Wangwangxing City with a defector, and the other party will probably lure him to find Lu Xiaopeng, once the news spreads, it will be more difficult to clear up."

"Too Concubine." Wu Suosi said, "Why don't I go and get the relic first, this object cannot be presented to the emperor by others."

"I'll go too." Yun Yifeng said, "It's not appropriate to make a public announcement, let alone those businessmen, so as not to leak the news."

The old concubine nodded: "Then there are two Laos."

Wu Suosi counted a hundred elite soldiers overnight, and ambushed them around the mansion in the west of the city. The lights in the house were bright, and the two brothers were still guarding beside the relic, they didn't seem to be dozing off at all, and they were discussing which high-ranking official to recommend to them, so that they could enter the palace and present the treasure smoothly. Yun Yifeng landed lightly outside the window, and with only a slight flip of his left hand, two silver needles pierced the window paper and sank into the necks of the two of them in an instant.

The snoring sounded loudly in the room, and the people who were still spitting just now were sprawled on the table in a blink of an eye, and they were still smashing their mouths in their dreams to see the emperor, get promoted and get rich and marry their daughter-in-law.

Yun Yifeng put the relic into his sleeve, turned and left the courtyard.

Seeing that he had succeeded, the hidden guards of the palace hidden on the roof made a gesture, Wu Suosi immediately gave an order and led people to attack.

"Someone—" The guard who discovered it first was crushed to the ground before he could shout out. This group of elite soldiers was taught by Ji Yanran, and they can kill every enemy with one enemy on the battlefield, not to mention dealing with this kind of bastard, killing chickens with a butcher's knife, and they will be tied up in a short while. courtyard.

And until these people were thrown into the carriage and "rumbled" away, the neighbors of the surrounding houses were still sleeping soundly, not knowing what happened outside, only vaguely feeling that tonight was extra noisy than usual .

"How is it?" The old concubine was waiting in the yard.

"This is the relic." Yun Yifeng took it out of his sleeve, "As for those merchants, none of them slipped through the net, and all of them were brought back. Old Wu is currently interrogating in the dungeon."

"Thanks for your hard work." The old concubine finally breathed a sigh of relief, took him by the hand and led him into the house, and said, "I have been thinking just now that the theft of relics is related to the face of the royal family, and the court originally hoped to keep it a secret. So far only a few people know about it, but precisely because of this, people with ulterior motives have the opportunity to use Yan Ran's whereabouts to make a big fuss, and now I don't know what's going on in Wangxing City, so I really feel uneasy."

Yun Yifeng thought for a while and said, "Why don't we take the initiative to spread the news."

There is no loss of face if there is a thief in the palace, besides, the relic has been found. Compared with the rumors that His Royal Highness Xiao Wang went to Wangxing City to find Lu Xiaopeng to plot a rebellion, it is more pleasing to the ear to find a relic.

The old concubine said: "I also mean the same thing, and the sooner the matter is passed on, the better, so as not to be seized by the other party. I will send someone to do it tomorrow morning."

"If the concubine is at ease, you can leave things like fanning the flames to me." Yun Yifeng smiled, "There are many hidden clues to the Fengyumen in the royal city, with a wide range of connections, and they are usually responsible for finding clues. Can be used to spread the word."

While the two were talking, Wu Suosi also knocked on the door and came in, saying: "Those people will recruit everything once they hear that we are members of the official family without scaring them."

The two brothers were originally from Fujian, and they came to Wangcheng to sell firecrackers. They wanted to make a small fortune during the Chinese New Year, but they didn't expect to meet a middle-aged man who claimed to be a rich man from Shanxi when they passed by Yunshan City. A few days ago, I just received some antiques from a tomb robber. Among them was a Buddhist bead relic. I thought it was just an ordinary item, but the pattern on the bottom bracket looked wrong, it looked like something from the royal family.

Although this story is full of loopholes and inexplicable, but it can't help the two brothers who have never seen the world, so they believe it as soon as they are fooled. The other party also said that this might be a treasure stolen from the palace, and he dared not keep it in his hands, so he begged the two of them to help send it back to the royal city, and if he gave it to any adult, he might even get a reward.

Yun Yifeng asked: "Then they were very happy and came to Wangcheng to make a fortune?"

"Yes." Wu Suosi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "They are quite bold. After listening to the other party's relics and national fortune, they felt that they were about to become heroes of the Great Liang. As soon as they arrived in Wangcheng, they couldn't wait to inquire about buying a house and land. That person paid extra They were given a large sum of money to hire guards."

Yun Yifeng sighed: "The majestic King Xiao led his troops to search for relics, and found nothing for several months, but in the end he was sent to the palace by these two bastards who couldn't even speak well. It sounds unbelievable. The other party's arrangement is really... Wicked." Even without Wang Xingcheng and Lu Xiaopeng, it would be embarrassing if the whole thing got out. And there is another point, the caravan and the guards were all recruited temporarily, even if the emperor became suspicious and tortured, he still couldn't find any clues.

Wu Suosi asked, "Then what should we do next?"

"Spread the news as soon as possible that Relic is in Wangxing City." Yun Yifeng said, "I will go to find the prince immediately, no matter what the current situation in Wangxing City is, as long as Relic can appear there, everything will have room for explanation."

"But from here to Wangxing City, it will take half a month at the fastest." The old concubine was worried, "Is it in time?"

"I have to go before it's too late." Yun Yifeng said, "The eldest disciple of Fengyumen is in Wangcheng, and I have already sent someone to pass it on. In the future, if you have something to do, just tell the concubine, he knows what to do."

Wu Suosi had a flash of inspiration, and interjected: "It does take half a month to walk the official road, but if you can climb the Wangu Mountain, you can reach Wangxing City in seven days."

"That snow mountain near Wangcheng?" Yun Yifeng said, "Indeed, it's a shortcut."

"It's a shortcut, but it's not easy to climb over Wangu Mountain." The old concubine said, "Although Master Yunmen is good at lightness, he can't ride a horse. He can't walk all the way on his feet, he has to rest Yes, it will be colder and slower that way."

"Why don't you try Wang Ye's Flying Frost Jiao." Wu Suosi suggested, "It's a snow horse, no matter how steep the mountain road is, it can walk on flat ground."

Yun Yifeng looked at the old concubine: "The prince's war horse is in the palace?"

"It's in the stables in the backyard." The old concubine hesitated, "but that Feishuangjiao has a very strong temper, except for Yan Ran, everyone else will get angry if they touch it. There are so many people in the barracks, only Xiao Linzi was injured on the battlefield last time. It barely carried it over. Old Wu couldn't do it, Ling Fei didn't believe in evil, he just touched it, and was almost kicked by it to break his ribs."

Yun Yifeng asked: "Can I go and have a look first?"

"Okay, I'll take you there." The old concubine stood up, "But you have to be careful, don't be hurt by it."

At this time, the sky was already slightly bright, and the groom was preparing forage. Yun Yifeng pushed open the wooden door of the backyard, and saw a tall silver-white horse standing there from a distance. Its body was strong and smooth, its hooves were firmly on the ground, its black eyes were inlaid with gems, and its tail and mane faintly protruded from the metal. Shimmer, looks like the smoothest silver satin.

Yun Yifeng praised: "It really is a good horse."

"When the prince was seventeen years old, he stayed in the wild forest for three full months before he tamed it." Wu Suosi reminded, "Be careful."

"En." Yun Yifeng agreed, and tried to approach it slowly. Hearing the sound, Feishuang Jiao turned his head lazily and glanced at him.

Wu Suosi supported the old concubine and stood in the distance, and repeated: "Run quickly if there is something wrong!"

Yun Yifeng agreed, but he didn't feel that Feishuangjiao was hostile to him. He tried to stretch out his hand and rubbed the smooth mane with the back of his finger, showing a smile on his face.

He likes this beautiful horse very much.

Feishuang Jiao was very obedient, she stood motionless and let him touch her, her back felt comfortable, she simply forced her whole face closer, and snorted briskly.

Old Wu was dumbfounded: "To hell with it."

The old concubine was overjoyed: "God's will, God's will."

Yun Yifeng grabbed the reins of the horse, turned over and got on the horse's back.

Feishuangjiao easily stepped out of the fence and was about to run out with him.

"Wait!" Old Wu chased after him, "I haven't finished talking yet!"

What's the hurry, come back!

"Sect master." The disciples of Fengyumen also came to report, "Senior brother, please see me."

"Let him wait for me in the front hall." Yun Yifeng landed on the ground, led Feishuangjiao into the stable again, and said to it, "We will start again later."

Da Ma flicked his tail and watched his back leave all the way. It was quite... no, I wonder if it was because Old Wu was dazzled. In short, he felt that this horse seemed to have fallen in love with the master of Yunmen. Will follow to the storm door.

What did you say before, the family background of the Wangfu, look, now that the horses are gone, if there is a war in the future, the prince may only have to ride a donkey.

The eldest disciple of Fengyumen is named Qingyue, who is very handsome with straight eyebrows. Although he is only eighteen years old, he is calm and experienced in dealing with people. Yun Yifeng has always loved him the most. This time I was sent to Wangcheng to investigate another matter, but I didn't expect to have a new mission just after the matter was finished and before I could return to Chunlin City.

Yun Yifeng explained the matter to him roughly, and said: "During the time I was away, I followed the orders of the concubine and Vice General Wu, do you understand?"

"Yes." Qingyue took the order, "Master, don't worry, I know what to do."

"It just so happens that you also stay in Wangcheng for a year." Yun Yifeng patted him on the shoulder, "Thank you."

After arranging everything, Yun Yifeng rode his horse and left the royal city in the early morning.

New Year's Eve is approaching, and every village passing by along the way is full of lights and festoons, which is very lively.

But what he has to do now is to leave all these extraordinary hustle and bustle behind him, and rush to Wangxing City with the fastest speed without distracting thoughts.

The snow-capped mountains in front of you are majestic and towering, with white ice and snow mixed with black rocks, and the peaks are shrouded in clouds and mist all year round.

"Let's go." Yun Yifeng leaned slightly, and sighed in Feishuangjiao's ear, "This time it's all up to you."

With a long hiss, the silver horse smashed the layers of snow and ice like thunder and lightning.

Yun Yifeng only felt the wind whistling beside her, and tiny ice crystals kept flying past her eyes, her fingertips huddled in the cloak were stinging from the cold, her cheeks were even colder, and she could hardly see the road in front of her.

Feishuangjiao, however, ran more and more freely. It was originally a snow horse. After staying with Ji Yanran in Mobei for these years, although it was not aggrieved, it still liked the ice and snow in its bones. On the way, it felt that the person on its back had let go of the reins, as if it had given all the trust to itself, so it became more frenzied and excited, raised its head and let out a long hiss, and rushed towards the steep mountain road.

The hard horseshoes gouged into the ground like steel nails, like a spring thunder in the wake of a stung, which shocked the rest of the hibernating beasts in the mountain in their dreams. The woodcutter looked from a distance, but saw a silvery-white horse running extremely fast on the cliff. It seemed that it had fallen into the valley in the blink of an eye, and it flew away like a light cloud. trace.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, outside Wangxing City.

"It's almost here." Lin Ying got off her horse and looked up at the bluestone city wall, "I knew there would be an avalanche, so I might as well start off two days later, so as not to waste many days in the mountains and freeze two horses .”

"It's fine if nothing major happens." Ji Yanran said, "Let's go to the city."

This is one of the most prosperous towns in Daliang, so there is no shortage of inns. After everyone settled down, Lin Ying brought Zhou Ming to Ji Yanran, and asked, "Vice General Zhou, Wangxing City is also here, what's the next step?"

"According to the previously agreed date, there are still two more days." Zhou Ming replied, "On the fourth day of the lunar new year, I will tell the prince where to meet."

Lin Ying warned: "You'd better not play tricks."

Zhou Mingdao: "Master really wants to cooperate with the prince. I am just a mere chess piece. What tricks can I play? General Lin is too worried."

His attitude was neither humble nor overbearing, his speech was logical, and there was no doubt about it.

Ji Yanran put down the teacup and ordered Zhou Ming to be taken away temporarily.

Lin Ying asked, "What do you think, my lord?"

"They all came to Wangxing City. No matter it's true or not, we have to meet the legendary behind-the-scenes master." Ji Yanran blew on the tea foam, and asked after a while, "Wangxing City's magistrate, if I don't remember If it is wrong, it should be called Zhang Guhe?"

"Yes, he is a good official. He is upright and clean like water, and he is not afraid of power. The people love him very much." Lin Ying said, "Your Highness wants to see him?"

"That's all." Ji Yanran said, "You and I have nothing else to do, why bother, let Master Zhang feel at ease for the New Year first."

After sunset, Wangxing City was silent.

Ji Yanran leaned against the head of the bed, and subconsciously thought of Yun Yifeng who was far away in Wangcheng.

I don't know if those old men in the Tai Hospital have found a way to detoxify him.

The white beards are as long as the other, so there must be some real skills, right

If it can't be cured... It can't be cured, thinking of the blood ganoderma lucidum in the mist, His Royal Highness Xiao Wang started to have a headache again.

If he can't find the relic, Wei Lie will lose his head, but if he finds it, it doesn't seem like a good thing for him.

Seriously.

One day after the second day of junior high school, it was the fourth day of the new year as agreed.

Zhou Mingdao: "Fengxian Road, the house with the crooked willow tree at the door, the master is waiting for the prince inside."

Ji Yanran smiled: "When Vice Admiral Zhou wanted to push back, I didn't expect to be so straightforward this time."

"The lord was joking, but the master is looking forward to seeing the lord all the time, so how can he shirk." Zhou Ming said, "But I have a request."

Ji Yanran nodded: "Say."

"My lord's martial arts are world-class, and he has a lot of people with him. I can't escape." Zhou Ming said, "Can you untie my rope? Otherwise, if the master sees it, I'm afraid he will say I'm a coward."

Lin Ying tsk-tsk: "I didn't see it. You still pay attention to your image, but this rope is just a decoration anyway, so it's okay to untie it. Besides, are there any other requirements?"

"No more." Zhou Ming bowed his head, "My lord, please."

Fengxian Road is not far from the inn, just across a few alleys, and the willow tree with crooked neck at the street entrance is also very eye-catching.

The gate was ajar, and it opened as soon as it was pushed, and the yard was quiet, as if there was no one there.

"Master." Zhou Ming said in the courtyard, "The guest has arrived."

As soon as the words fell, there was the sound of a bench moving in the room, the footsteps got closer, and the door curtain was flung open.

He is a thin and hale old man.

"My lord, General Lin?" He looked at the two suspiciously, and after seeing Zhou Ming clearly, his face turned pale again, "Zhou... why are you still alive?"

"Isn't it?" Lin Ying's eyes widened, and she circled around the old man twice, "Eunuch Lu, you said that you are already old, why are you still thinking about conspiracy?"

"General Lin, don't talk nonsense!" Lu Xiaopeng's face turned pale, "What kind of rebellion, it's going to implicate the nine clans."

"Didn't you ask my prince to discuss the matter?" Lin Ying grabbed his shoulders and complained, "I said father-in-law, regardless of rebellion or not, let's hand over the relic first, Wei Lie is still waiting at home. It's on."

"Where did I get the relics?" Lu Xiaodeng wanted to cry more and more without tears, "My lord, what is going on?"

"What's going on, father-in-law really doesn't know?" Ji Yanran smiled, "It doesn't matter, Vice-General Zhou is very clear about the ins and outs of this, so why not let him explain."

As soon as the words were finished, there was another loud sound of footsteps outside, and the door was knocked open on both sides with a "bang", and two ranks of officers and soldiers poured in like a tide, and the leader ran out of breath. crane.

Seeing him coming, Zhou Ming's complexion changed, and he whispered to Ji Yanran: "My lord, we have been discovered."

"Master Zhang." Ji Yanran didn't change his face, "You are a Chinese New Year student, why don't you stay at home and bring soldiers to the empty house?"

"Return to the lord, the official received a secret report this morning, saying..." Zhang Guhe paused, and said loudly, "It is said that there will be a conspiracy meeting of rebels in this mansion."

"What kind of rebels, what kind of conspiracy." Lu Xiaoseng was almost bald because of the sewage for no reason, "I came here to buy bluegrass, didn't I say that there are rare bluegrass here? But the merchants didn't see it. The prince came down at the door, before he had time to say a few words, Master Zhang rushed in again."

"My lord." Zhang Guhe continued, "According to the laws of Daliang, if the matter is related to rebels, no matter how big or small it is, it must be reported to the imperial court."

Ji Yanran said: "This king knows."

"Hiss... wait, it's not right." Lin Ying pointed at Zhou Ming's nose, "Did you deliberately trick the prince to meet Lu Gonggong?"

Zhang Guhe also asked sharply: "What's going on?"

"My lord." Zhou Ming knelt on the ground, gritted his teeth and said, "If I do the trick truthfully, may I avoid the death penalty?"

Zhang Guhe promised: "If you are willing to confess truthfully, I will mention something more in the memorial. If you have made meritorious service, the Holy Majesty will naturally consider it as appropriate."

"Yes." Zhou Ming glanced at Ji Yanran, and said ruthlessly, "My lord came to see Eunuch Lu this time to ask about the secret decree passed on back then!"

His words were resounding, but Zhang Guhe scolded angrily: "Nonsense! If the prince wants to ask such a private matter, why did he take the initiative to find the government office last night and ask me to lead the army to wait here?"

Zhou Ming turned pale when he heard this, and turned to look at Ji Yanran.

Lin Ying was still standing beside Lu Xiaoseng, "It's okay, it's okay, father-in-law, don't faint, I'll take you to the market to buy bluegrass later."

Ji Yanran raised her eyebrows: "Why, Vice General Zhou won't continue acting?"

Zhang Guhe was furious: "Come here! Take down this traitor!"

Although he is a literati, his voice is really not small, this voice spread out of the alley, even Yun Yifeng's heart trembled, he didn't care to look for the gate, and flew into the courtyard: "My lord, relic—"

Ji Yanran looked at him in astonishment: "Why are you here?"

After seeing the situation in the courtyard clearly, Yun Yifeng choked back half of the sentence, leaving only an understatement "um".

I will come.

"Master Zhang, please take Zhou Ming into the dungeon of the government office first, and I will try it later." Ji Yanran turned her head and said to Lin Ying, "Accompany Eunuch Lu to the yamen to clarify the matter, so that I can send him home."

Zhang Guhe and Lin Ying took their orders to leave, and the courtyard became quiet, leaving only two people.

Yun Yifeng was exhausted, and sat on the steps in the courtyard to exercise his muscles and bones: "It turns out that the prince is not stupid."

Ji Yanran looked at the blood on his clothes and frowned: "Are you injured?"