After a cup of tea, Mu Qingshan invited someone over from the next door, but to Wen Liunian's surprise, the other person didn't look like a scholar, he was quite burly, but more like a martial artist.
The painter's name was Cao Dai, and he went to the study to polish the ink and asked, "What do you want to paint, my lord?"
"I'll dictate a person's appearance, and you can draw him for me." Wen Liunian sat opposite him.
Cao Dai nodded, picked up the wolf hair to filter out the excess ink, "Please tell me, my lord."
Wen Liunian recalled Zhao Yue's appearance, and then explained everything to the painter in detail. Both of them were extremely patient and meticulous, and if something was wrong, they would scrap it and start over. It took two full hours to complete it.
"My lord wants to post a list to find someone?" Cao Dai flexed his wrist and asked casually.
"It's not necessary now." Wen Liunian picked up the scroll, and saw that the portrait on the paper was lifelike, very similar to the man he met on the ridge during the day, so he praised, "Sir, you are a good painter."
"Naturally, you need to be proficient in the art of making a living." Cao Dai smiled, "In the future, if your lord needs it again, you can send someone to look for it at any time."
"Thank you." Wen Liunian nodded, then called the butler and took him to the cashier to collect his wages.
"Who is this person?" Mu Qingshan stepped into the study and asked.
"When I was out of the city today, I met this man on the ridge of the field." Wen Liunian carefully placed the portrait on the table, and gently blew on the wet ink, "Guess who he claims to be?"
Mu Qingshan thought for a while when he heard the words, and then took a deep breath, "Could it be that he claims to be the husband-in-law of your lord?"
"Ahem!" Wen Liunian had just lifted the tea bowl, luckily he hadn't had time to drink it yet, but even so, he almost splashed the tea on the painting with a shake of his hand, and said angrily, "Why did Master say such a thing, how could he do that?" Claiming to be the husband-in-law of the official?!"
"No, that's the best." Mu Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the words, and then said, "Your Excellency, I don't know. A few days ago, a madman came from somewhere outside the city. Whenever he saw someone, he would go up and strike up a conversation with him, regardless of gender or age." Youdu insisted that she was his wife, and he had to exchange a few coins before he would leave, thinking that the adults also met him."
Wen Liunian: ...
"Then who is this person?" Mu Qingshan asked again.
Wen Liunian put down the tea bowl, "He calls himself Zhao Yue."
"Who?!" This time it was Master Mu who was stunned.
"Zhao Yue." Wen Liunian said, "Later, a dozen or so horse riders came down from the mountain path. They looked like swordsmen, and they also called him the master. They should indeed be horse thieves in the vast mountain."
As soon as the words fell, Mu Qingshan dragged him out from behind the table, then turned around and checked him several times, "Is your lord injured?"
"Not really." Wen Liunian said, "This person doesn't look bad, and he even gave me a steamed bun."
"Steamed buns?" Mu Qingshan wondered upon hearing this.
"Yes." Wen Liunian nodded, and picked up the portrait again, "You really haven't seen him?"
"Indeed not." Mu Qingshan shook his head.
"That's weird. He also told me that the Zhao Yue in the little album is actually Wang Tianhu." Wen Liunian sat back on the chair and thought about everything, but he still didn't have a clue.
"It's getting late, my lord should rest early." Mu Qingshan said, "I'll talk about it tomorrow, the banditry in Cangmang Mountain has a long history, and it won't be solved overnight."
Wen Liunian nodded, and then said, "Tomorrow I want to go to Tengyun Castle, and the round trip will take about three or four days. During this period, I will temporarily trouble the master with the affairs of the mansion."
"My lord is going to Tengyun Castle?" Mu Qingshan frowned upon hearing this.
"Are there any problems along the way?" Wen Liunian asked.
"Going to Tengyunbao and going to Cangmang Mountain are two directions, plus the servants of the yamen, there will be no major problems along the way." Mu Qingshan said, "But Tengyunbao is a sect of the rivers and lakes, and has always disdain to deal with the government. A few days ago Ren Zhifu also thought about asking Lord Shang to suppress the bandits, but he was rejected without exception, I don't know why your lord is going this time?"
"It's also for the purpose of suppressing the bandits, but even if Lord Shang doesn't agree, he should be able to help me with another favor." Wen Liunian said, "Master, don't worry, I have my own discretion."
Speaking of this, Mu Qingshan didn't ask any more questions, and after helping him tidy up the study, they went back to their bedrooms to rest.
It was a night of misty autumn rain, moistening things and rustling all night, adding a bit of chill to the whole boundless city. In the early morning of the second day, Wen Liunian took a few family servants and set off for Tengyun Castle.
Among the rivers and lakes, although Tengyun Castle is not a great sect, it can't even be ranked in the top ten, but in Cangmang City and even the whole Cang'er Prefecture, it can definitely be called famous. Shenlong has always seen the head but never the end, so various versions have been spread. Some people say that he has a blue face and fangs. Surging, the waist is also very soft, and the walking posture is particularly graceful. In short, they are very imaginative and very lifelike.
But Wen Liunian was obviously not interested in his appearance. In fact, as long as he could take action against the bandits, not to mention that the other party had a green face and fangs, it didn't matter even if he was a goblin.
Since it was an official road, the journey was very peaceful. Two days later, the group arrived at the foot of Duanyun Mountain, and handed over the greeting cards and letters to the disciples guarding the mountain gate.
"Wow..." Jia Ding was a little surprised when he came to such a big place for the first time. Standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up, there are black houses almost everywhere, how many people can live here.
In the martial arts training ground in the back mountain, a man in white was moving and flashing in the air, making a whistling wind with a long sword in his hand. Seeing someone running from the mountain path, he retreated and fell back to the ground, "What's the matter?"
"Castle Master." The disciple handed over the card and letter with both hands, "The new magistrate has come and said that he has something to ask for."
Shang Yunze's face froze.
"Do you want my subordinates to send him away?" Seeing that he hadn't answered invitations for a long time, the disciple cautiously probed - this was not the first time, last time there was an adult who refused to leave, so he was knocked unconscious The carriage was sent back by force.
Shang Yunze shook his head, and took the greeting card from him.
Naturally, he would not have any concerns about the so-called "Lord Prefect". Jianghu and the government have always been non-interfering with each other. Not to mention the prefect, even the governor of the Zhizhou can't control Tengyunbao, but this new prefect is from Shu Zhongyun. Lancheng transferred over.
But in Yunlan City, there is a master who cannot afford to offend.
Shang Yunze didn't care about the letter of worship, first he picked up the letter, with a piece of red sealant clearly poked on the seal, with the word "Chasing Shadow" written on it.
Sure enough... Lord Shangbao felt a little headache.
The Palace of Chasing Shadows in the middle of Shu is mighty in the world, and the lord of the palace, Qin Shaoyu, is a top expert in the world, and even his hidden guards are difficult to deal with. Since this new magistrate has friendship with Shadows Chasing Palace, Teng Yunbao naturally will not and cannot ignore it.
So after a stick of incense, Wen Liunian met Master Shang at the Juyi Hall on the top of the mountain.
"Tea, please." Shang Yunze said, "This is a fine green robe with a red border, adults should like it."
"Many, hoo, thank you." Wen Liunian was still a little out of breath, "How did Master Shang know that I like green robes with red edges?"
Shang Yunze smiled and said, "Brother Qin mentioned it in his letter."
"Palace Master Qin specifically mentioned this matter?" Wen Liunian was a little surprised.
"Naturally." Thinking of that thick letter, Shang Yunze felt very complicated, because the letter not only listed the prefect's habits and preferences in detail, but even asked Teng Yunbao to go to the government office every month. Free rice noodle oil, half a fan of beef and spicy seasoning. Of course not in a coercive tone, but the deep meaning contained in it is obvious-if you refuse, then I will send dozens of hidden guards to Tengyun Castle to exchange martial arts, I hope the owner of the castle can entertain you well, thank you.
After reading the letter, the back of Lord Chambord began to tingle. Frankly speaking, he would rather go single-handedly to the Cangwu Mountain and kill all directions than to put the hidden guards of the Shadow Chasing Palace into Tengyun Castle—what kind of ancestors are they? He is very affectionate to everyone, but his martial arts are so high that it makes people's teeth itch.
"Castle Master?" Seeing that he seemed to be lost in thought, Wen Liunian called out in a low voice.
"...What is the purpose of Mr. Wen's visit this time?" Shang Yunze returned to his senses.
"I want to ask the castle master if he has seen this person before." Wen Liunian picked up the scroll from the table and opened it.
"Him?" Shang Yunze looked at it for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I've never seen him before."
"Never seen it before?" Wen Liunian frowned upon hearing this. Fort Tengyun has been rooted in Cang'er Prefecture for a long time. If you haven't even seen Lord Shang, you really don't know who to look for.
"It stands to reason that this kind of appearance should make people never forget it." Shang Yunze said, "Since I have no impression, it means that I have never seen it before."
"I'm bothering the Castle Master." Wen Liunian sighed.
"Why is your lord looking for him?" Shang Yunze asked.
"If I'm not mistaken, this person is probably a bandit in the Cangwu Mountain." Wen Liunian said, "I have encountered it by accident outside the city, and I have some doubts in my heart, so I want to try my luck here with the castle owner. Can't ask questions."
"Meet bandits outside the city?" Shang Yunze was shocked when he heard this.
"That's right." Wen Liunian nodded, "A lot of his subordinates on big horses call him the boss, so he should indeed be a bandit."
Shang Yunze's palms were sweating coldly. He was safe and sound when he encountered bandits on the outskirts of the city. I really didn't know whether to say he was lucky or I should say that I was lucky. My lord was kidnapped by bandits on his own territory, and there will probably be countless debts to be settled between Shadow Chasing Palace and Tengyun Fort.
Thinking of this, Shang Yunze said decisively, "I will go down the mountain with the adults this time."
"Going down the mountain together?" Wen Liunian didn't realize it for a while, "Is Lord Shang going to the city for something?"
"No." Shang Yunze shook his head, "I will personally lead people to help my lord put down the chaos and bandits."
"Castle Master's words are serious?!" Wen Liunian slapped the table in surprise. In all fairness, he just wanted to go up the mountain to try his luck this time, but he didn't expect that the other party had already agreed to it before he could open his mouth.
It's like picking up taels of silver on flat ground!
"People in the rivers and lakes always keep what they say and do what they say." Shang Yunze smiled, "Don't worry, my lord." There is still a word that I didn't say, as long as you don't recruit Shadow Chasing Palace, it will be a big deal discuss.
So in the evening of that day, a group of people left the gate of Duanyun Mountain and rolled all the way to Cangwu City.
The night wind was faint, bringing countless yellow sand along the way.