In the dead of night, Duan Baiyue was lying on the bed with her legs crossed, staring at the top of the bed in a trance.
There was a big spider lying beside the pillow, innocent, innocent, and innocent.
In the next room, Chu Yuan tossed and turned, so he picked up a book on the table and wanted to kill the time. It was brought back by Sixi when he was buying snacks. He said it was the secret history of the King of Southwest China. It was very beautiful and everyone liked it. queue.
When you open the first page, you will see a huge painting, which depicts the Southwest Palace as a nest of hundreds of insects, not only spiders, but also various snakes, insects and poisonous ants. Duan Baiyue was drawn as a monster with a scorpion tail, tearing the leg of lamb with a naked upper body, with a hideous face.
Closing the book with a snap, Emperor Chu felt that he had to issue a decree to clear the folk customs and let the common people see what they should see.
…
The two of them tossed around all night, and early the next morning, Chu Yuan heard Si Xi talking outside. After a while, the courtyard door creaked, and it was Duan Baiyue's voice.
Chu Yuan put on his clothes and got out of bed, and Sixi came in to serve and wash up. By the way, he carefully asked if the King of Southwest had already bought breakfast, whether to use it or let the inn do it separately.
Chu Yuan wiped his face with a handkerchief, pushed open the door and went out, and saw Duan Baiyue holding the knife, leaning on the stone platform under the porch. There was a large food box in front of him, still steaming.
"Want to eat?" Seeing him coming out, Duan Baiyue asked, "Roast leg of lamb, it is said that the restaurant owner specially invited the chef from the Western Regions."
Leg of lamb... Chu Yuan remembered the painting from last night again.
"What's wrong?" Duan Baiyue asked when he saw him standing silently.
Chu Yuan pursed his lips and held back a smile: "Eat."
Duan Baiyue has some doubts between her brows, so happy
Chu Yuan had already entered the house.
Father Sixi followed behind, and winked at the King of Southwest again and again. The emperor looked very happy, but don't take out that spider again.
The golden crispy scones and the roast lamb sprinkled with chili powder are too greasy for most people to eat in the morning, and Chu Yuan has always had a bland taste. But this time he wasn't picky, and he had quite an appetite.
The prince who grew up in the palace, his manners are naturally the rules. The scones that other people held in their hands were dripping oil everywhere, but he could eat it nicely, without any sound or residue.
Duan Baiyue felt that even if she didn't eat it, just looking at it was fine.
Chu Yuan drank the last spoonful of soup, and the whole person warmed up.
Duan Baiyue asked, "What should I do with the Jinshan outside the city?"
Father Sixi shook his head straight outside, and so did the King of Southwest China, why did he discuss business affairs just after dinner.
"Huh?" Chu Yuan wiped his mouth.
"Lan Ji will be leaving in three days. Before that, she will definitely find a way to evacuate Xu Zhiqiu's private treasury." Duan Baiyue said, "Although even if it is transported back to Tianzha for teaching, if she wants to snatch it back, she can snatch it back. , but if she can't take her out of the city at all, it would be even better. There are too many things, and one can save one."
Chu Yuan nodded: "It's not difficult, I thought about it. It just so happens that there are rare trees near the cliff, and the government spent a lot of money to bring it from Nanyang to cultivate it, but it has not yet grown into a climate. Xu Zhiqiu also reported a few times for his achievements in the past. Go back, if I want to see it, it won't be abrupt." At that time, bring more troops and horses over, thinking that even if Lan Ji has the courage, she will not dare to grab it under the eyes of the imperial court.
"Okay, then do the same." Duan Baiyue said, "I will also find out the whereabouts of those old people and Mu Chi old people as soon as possible."
"I want to be transformed into Wei Ziyi again?" Chu Yuan seemed to be playing with the teacup, his tone casual.
"Of course not." Duan Baiyue said, "Wei Ziyi's purpose is just to get rich. Now that Lan Ji has promised to take a piece of the pie, if she comes to look for it every three days, it's easy to teach people to feel strange."
Chu Yuan asked again, "Or do you want to be someone else?"
Duan Baiyue laughed: "Why do you keep changing face?"
Chu Yuan thought to himself, it would be easy, seeing as you enjoyed it so much last night.
"Last night Lan Ji said that there will be a Hundred Gu Celebrations in the church on the three days of next month. It sounds like a great event. As the leader of the church, I must rush back." Duan Baiyue said, "She won't be able to stay in the city for long, and if she wants to Go, even if you can't take Jinshan with you for a while, you will definitely take those old people with you."
Chu Yuan asked, "Do you want help?"
"The people of the Southwest House should have more than enough to deal with the Demon Sect." Duan Baiyue said, "It's not too late to investigate Xu Zhiqiu after the old people are rescued."
Chu Yuan said: "Well."
"In the next few days, I'm afraid I'll keep staring at Yanhui Inn." Duan Baiyue said again, "Although Lan Ji doesn't dare to attack the imperial court, she must be more vigilant when she goes to the mountains."
Chu Yuan continued: "Okay."
Duan Baiyue smiled: "Then I'm leaving."
Chu Yuan nodded and watched him all the way out of the small courtyard, only then did Si Xi pass Xiang Lie in.
After leaving the inn, Duan Baiyue went back to his inn first. Duan Nian was burying his head at the table to eat breakfast, and when he saw that he almost choked on the noodles after entering the door, is the prince a sinner? Why did he buy such a new set of ugly clothes, yellow and willow green.
Duan Baiyue looked calm, and slashed over with a palm.
Duan Nian hugged his head, feeling very innocent.
Inside the government office, Xu Zhiqiu got angry recently, and his mouth was full of big bubbles. At this time, he was rushing to the next person to get angry, and suddenly heard the butler pass that the emperor was coming, so he hurriedly changed into official uniforms and went to greet him.
"Xu Aiqing doesn't look very good." Chu Yuan took it slow and brushed off the foam of the cup of tea.
"Back to the emperor, the lower officials are indeed a little weak these days." Xu Zhiqiu said, "I have already seen the doctor and prescribed a few medicines."
"Aiqing is such a pillar of the country, you must take good care of yourself." Chu Yuan put down the tea bowl, "I also stayed in this Dayan City for a while, and suddenly remembered last night, Aiqing once said that there was a Nanyang horse on the mountain outside the city. The new wood forest that came here is growing satisfactorily, I wonder if it’s still there now?”
"Yes." Xu Zhiqiu said, "They have grown up a lot, and they will be able to become a forest in about a few years."
"It is difficult for a southern pipien to move north to the capital in the Imperial Garden, but I didn't expect that Nanyang wood species can really be grown here." Chu Yuan said, "I have nothing to do today, I wonder if Aiqing would like to come with me to see it? "
"Naturally, naturally." Xu Zhiqiu repeatedly agreed, "Xiaguan will go to prepare now."
When the emperor went on a tour, his style was naturally not small, so at noon, the people saw a mighty army of the Imperial Forest leaving the city, and the line was too long to see the end. At first, he thought that something big had happened, but later he said that he was going to the mountains to check the growth of the trees.
Xu Zhiqiu sat behind him in a sedan chair, sighing in his heart. He was not afraid that the private treasury would be discovered. After all, the design of the agency was extremely exquisite, and Lan Ji should not be so stupid that she knew that there were such a large number of imperial guards entering the mountain, and she had to go to dig for gold. He was only annoyed that he was too lascivious and too lighthearted on weekdays, that he had followed the path of the demon girl, and had so many years of work in vain being taken away from such a huge amount of money.
Fortunately, Qiufeng Village is still there, and the Wu family car dealership is still there. As long as the city stops again, the ghost wooden box can be turned into money again.
The trees in the mountains are just at the season of sprouting, and the tender green color looks pleasing to the eye. And in a large open space that was specially created, the trees brought in from the South China Sea really grew strong and full of vitality.
Chu Yuan was pleased: "Xu Aiqing is really a talent."
"Your Majesty is too good, but Wei Chen just bought the saplings, and the cultivation method relies on a few forest guards in the mountains." Xu Zhiqiu said, "They have guarded the mountains for a lifetime, and these saplings have traveled long distances, and when they arrive, The roots and leaves have fallen, and it is thanks to them that they have been taking care of them without sleep and without rest, and they are able to survive."
"Oh?" Chu Yuan became interested, "I don't know where these forest guards are now? I would like to meet,"
Xu Zhiqiu hurriedly sent the yamen to Houshan and invited the forest guards over. There are seven people in total, all of them seem to be old, but because they are active in the mountains all the year round, their body and bones are very tough. Dayan City is a woodworking city. To work, you must have mountains and forests. To be able to serve as a forest guard, you must first have rich experience. Chu Yuan chatted with him a few words, and found that he was indeed quite insightful in the method of raising seedlings, so Long Xin Da Yue not only gave him the reward immediately, but also ordered the Imperial Forest Army to stay here, guarding the elders to summarize their experience. He wrote a book, and even invited a painter from the city to describe how to classify and plant saplings of different shapes.
Xu Zhiqiu did everything one by one, and he still felt a little gloating in his heart. As a result, Lan Ji was afraid that she would not dare to come again. Although the money could not be taken back by herself, it was a beautiful thing to add some blockage to her.
For a time, the mountains outside the city were full of garrison troops. The people taught by Tian Bra went to see it three times, and then slapped the people in the city with clichés, but they all said that it would take at least a month, and it might not be finished.
Lan Ji was angry when she heard the words, but there was nothing she could do.
"Sect Master." The maid said, "It's better to stay here for the golden mountains, and Xu Zhiqiu doesn't dare to think about it. After the imperial army leaves, it will not be too late for us to come again."
Lan Ji waved her hand impatiently: "Just do as you said, and leave for the southwest in two days."
Duan Baiyue heard it outside the window, and the corner of her mouth raised slightly.
Of course, in order to have a beginning and an end, he pretended to be Wei Ziyi once again to come to the door and ask when the money would be given. Lan Ji was upset, so naturally she didn't have the time to think about anything else, and when he heard that he was talking about money, he only felt that his brain was hurting, so he drank a few glasses of wine in a hurry, and then dismissed the person perfunctorily. After going out, Duan Baiyue felt relieved and threatened Duan Nian not to tell anyone.
Duan Nian bowed his head and promised, and finally managed to hold back his laughter.
Two days later, the Tiansha disciples took a few large car cabinets, disguised themselves as traders and left, and rushed back to the southwest to hold the Hundred Gu Celebrations. The Dongchengmen guard was Xu Zhiqiu's, so he let him out easily. Duan Baiyue followed silently all the way. In the evening two days later, a group of people stopped by the side of the road to set up a fire, looking like they were going to cook here. Caitian took the other five maids and hurried into the woods. After walking for about a stick of incense, he stopped at a mass grave, and he didn't know where he pressed the switch, and he saw a solitary grave. Slowly cracked in the moonlight.
Duan Baiyue was hidden in the dark, watching them jump in one by one, and then come out after a while, and there were a lot of old people behind. All of them were gagged, but their hands and feet were not tied. Thinking about it, they felt that they were getting old and could not escape.
Duan Baiyue counted them one by one, and there were exactly twenty-six people, still not knowing where the old man Mu Chi was.
"Hurry up!" Caitian urged, "As long as you are obedient and obedient, you will be able to survive in the future. If you want to cheat and escape, don't blame auntie for being rude!"
The old people have been carpenters all their lives in the city, where have they seen this battle. The big guy was sleeping that night, but suddenly he smelled a sweet and greasy aroma, and then his brain became dizzy. When he woke up, he was already detained underground, and he didn't know when or what happened. . I haven't seen the sun in the past few days, and now I've been threatened by the demon girl again.
Although Caitian said that he was ruthless and irritable in his heart, he didn't dare to act as ruthlessly as he did with ordinary prisoners.
More than 20 people are old, and they will inevitably be injured if they try hard. Besides, Duan Baiyue didn't want to do anything until the whereabouts of the old man Mu Chi, so he just followed all the way back to the camp.
At the other end, the food was already cooked, and the old people were given a cake and a bowl of soup, and they all squatted on the ground to eat. Duan Baiyue flicked and threw a pill into one of the bowls. The other party looked at the young man and said he was in his 70s. It was very difficult to swallow, and he was afraid of being beaten if he didn't eat, so he relied on the soup to pour down, and he drank a bowl of soup in a short time.
"Sect Master, can we continue on our way tonight?" Caitian asked.
"Let's go for another hour." Lan Ji said, "There are fewer people in the deep mountains."
Caitian nodded and said yes, called everyone to pack their things, and then drove the troika over to let the old people enter in batches.
"Ah!" exclaimed from the crowd.
"What's it called!" Caitian raised his eyebrows and raised his palm to hit someone.
An old man covered his chest and fell to the ground convulsively. His face was pale and he was gasping for breath. He looked like he had a heart attack.
Caitian kicked the old man with both feet, and there was no sound, so he asked what to do.
Lan Ji had a headache: "Let's throw it back to the grave, bury it deeper, so that no one will find out."
Tiansha taught to kill many people, but still buried them for the first time. Several maids worked together to dig a big hole and buried the old man tightly before turning around and leaving.
Along the way, the torches got farther and farther, and in the darkness and silence, Duan Nian led the people to dig up the soil, wrapped the old man in a cloak and brought him back to the city. The poison in the Southwest Palace can make people suspended for three days, and they will wake up after taking the antidote.
Seeing the death of their companions, the rest of the old people felt even more depressed, sitting in the carriage with their heads bowed, not saying a word. Lan Ji is quite satisfied with this, as long as people don't die or go crazy, it's good to be quiet - if they're all chattering like the old man Mu Chi, and yelling from time to time, it'll be a headache.
Duan Nian waved his whip, and the horse galloped along the mountain road. It took only one day to send the old man back to the Dayan City Inn, and handed a letter to Sixi. After another half an hour, Commander Xiang personally came to the door and took everyone to the post house.
The imperial doctor was waiting with a medicine box in his arms. The old man had already taken the antidote, wiped his body with hot water, and drank the hot soup, and he woke up after a while. Just when I first opened my eyes and saw a group of people beside the bed, I was unavoidable and almost fainted from fright.
Father-in-law Sixi hurriedly stepped forward to support the person, and comforted him for a long time before he was comforted.
"Your Majesty?" The old man was shocked when he heard the words, trembling in disbelief.
"Yes, it's the emperor." Si Xi said, "Don't be afraid of the old man."
"Your Majesty." The old man burst into tears, and regardless of his weakness, he was about to kneel, clutching his chest and coughing repeatedly. Xiang Lie hurriedly supported him and brought a cup of hot tea over.
"Don't be too polite." Chu Yuan sat beside the bed, "What happened in the past few days, the old man can just say it, and I will decide for you."
The old man's name is Chu Fu, an old craftsman in the city, who has been living in a shantang without children and daughters. He is not deaf or blind, and his thinking is quite clear. Although he has experienced catastrophe this time, after drinking a few bowls of hot soup, he recovered and recalled roughly what he had experienced in the past few days.
"Qianhuihuan?" Chu Yuan frowned.
"Yeah." Chu Fu said, "After we woke up, someone came to ask who would make a thousand loops. Everyone started shaking their heads, but she said we were being tricky."
"The old man really doesn't know what this is?" Chu Yuan asked.
Chu Fu nodded: "The old folks in this city usually make benches, tables and chairs, and even agencies, they are all common hidden weapons. If it gets bigger, firstly, the government will not allow it, secondly, no one will buy it, and thirdly, it will come with drawings. Not too much. What is this thousand loops, not to mention doing it, the big guy has never even heard of it.”
"Since they won't, why did the demon sect take you all away?" Chu Yuan frowned.
"We said no, and they drew their swords to kill. When someone was frightened, they said they could try." Chu Fu said, "The big guy nodded in confusion, thinking to save his life first. Besides, I heard that Mu Zhizi was also killed. They caught them, maybe they can actually do it."
"Old Mu Chi?" Chu Yuan asked again.
"It's him." Chu Fu nodded, "Mu Zhizi is different from the big guy. He doesn't make tables, chairs and benches. He knows kung fu. He is only interested in hidden weapons.
"Have those people ever mentioned, where is the old man Mu Chi now?" Chu Yuan asked.
Chu Fu said: "I didn't say that, I only said that I will see you in a few days."
See you in a few days. Chu Yuan touched his chin, and it seemed that Yanyun Prefecture had not been brought out yet.
…
One person died before leaving, and the others looked sick and crooked. Caitian said worriedly, "I'm afraid I'll have to travel slower." Otherwise, if a few more die, it will only be more difficult to crack the thousand loops.
"It's a long way, no matter how slow you go, I'm afraid it can't slow down the speed of these old men." Lan Ji leaned in the carriage, "I will write a letter, you go to the return village, tell Qi Zuimeng, just say Tiansha The teacher is in trouble and has to stay with him for a few days."
"Yes!" Caitian took the order and tried again, "What will happen to the people who were caught earlier?"
"Naturally, it is also brought to Guilai Village." Lan Ji said lazily, "In the end, the reason for arresting people is to crack the mechanism, and there is no need to go back to the southwest. Just find a quiet place. If you leave for 20 days to travel, you should not miss it. Hundred Gus celebrate."
Caitian nodded and turned to go out to prepare.
Return to Zhuang, Qi drunk dream.
Duan Baiyue raised her eyebrows, but she didn't expect that this person was also related to Tian Bra Sect, and he sounded quite trustworthy.
Returning Village is not an orthodox martial arts sect, but it is quite famous in the rivers and lakes, just because the owner of the village Qi Zuimeng brews good wine, and it is difficult to find silver. The Southwest Palace has also bought a few altars, but Duan Yao's insects like it very much.
Since Chu Yuan wants the old man Mu Chi, Duan Baiyue will naturally do everything possible to bring people out. Therefore, he was extremely patient, and accompanied the Tiansha Sect to set up camp in place and waited for three full days before receiving a reply from Qi Zuimeng.
"It really is a businessman." Lan Ji tsk tsk, "Knowing that this sect is in trouble, the lion opened his mouth, and his appetite is not small."
"What does the other party want?" Caitian asked.
Lan Ji said, "Bodhi Heart Sutra."
Duan Baiyue heard it secretly, her expression stunned.
Caitian sneered: "If you want the Bodhi Heart Sutra, don't go to the half-human, half-ghost Nan Moye, ask us what you want?"
"Forget it, if I can catch the little prince of the Southwest Mansion in the future, I'll leave him to interrogate him for two days." Lan Ji waved her hand, "It's not a big deal."
"Then when will we leave for Guilai Village?" Caitian asked.
"Let's go now." Lan Ji looked disgusted, "After so many hours of travel, my body will stink."
Returning Village is not far from where everyone is staying, and it takes half a day to arrive.
Qi Zuimeng seemed to know that Lan Ji would definitely agree to her conditions and was waiting at the foot of the mountain. Because they want to make wine, the villa is also huge. There are wine jars all over the place. Even if people who are incapable of drinking go in and smell it, I am afraid they will get drunk.
Duan Baiyue followed easily, and saw that Lan Ji and Qi Zuimeng entered the house together, and they were supposed to discuss some important matters. As a result, obscene words and rants came from the house, which sounded extremely happy.
…
The King of Southwest felt a little unlucky.
Those old people were placed in a small courtyard, surrounded by guards. After Caitian settled down for everyone, he ate some steamed buns to pad his stomach, and without waiting for dinner, he went into the house to sleep before dawn, looking like he had something to do at night.
Sure enough, in the middle of the night, she saw her leaving the Guilai Village alone and down the mountain along the path.
Duan Baiyue raised the corner of her mouth, and after waiting for so long, the old man Mu Chi finally appeared.
The fast horse galloped all the way. For Duan Baiyue's Qinggong, it was not difficult to follow quietly. An hour later, Cai Tian got off his horse, reached out and grabbed a vine on the cliff, and dexterously climbed up.
Duan Baiyue did not expect that Lan Ji would hide the old man Mu Chi in such a secret place.
The two climbed the cliff one after the other, but their expressions changed.
I saw not far away, a wooden house was burning, the fire was booming, and half of the sky was dyed red.