Luozhou is in the northwest of Qingzhou, and it takes five or six days to get there by horse-drawn carriage. However, since there is an urgent case waiting, with Huo Weilou's vigorous and vigorous temperament, most likely he wants to speed up the horse regardless of day and night. The carriage couldn't get up fast.
"Master Hou, do you want to rest tonight?"
Huo Weilou frowned slightly, and Eunuch Fu said, "I'm afraid there is no need to rush for two days. , Mr. Ming and Mr. Xiao are still on the way, Mr. Lin, the Minister of Justice, also walks very slowly, so what if we go early?"
Hearing what Mr. Fu said, Bo Ruoyou's brows moved slightly. She didn't know who the young master was, but she understood clearly that the minister of the Ministry of punishment had heard it clearly. This time in the case of Luozhou, not only Marquis Wu Zhaohou came in person, but also the minister of the Ministry of punishment came from the south of the capital. It can be seen that it is a serious case.
Huo Weilou turned his eyes, and his eyes fell on the carriage covered with red lacquer. The carriage was gorgeous and sturdy, but it never stopped for a day. At that time, Huo Weilou knew that Bo Ruoyou had only eaten a small half of the pancake, his eyes darkened, "Go to the village and town ahead, and find a place to rest."
Eunuch Fu responded with a smile, "Not bad, the old slave followed Lord Hou all the way from the capital to Qingzhou, but he was almost exhausted. Let's take it easy this time. After all, the case happened ten years ago, so what if it takes a few more days? "
Huo Weilou frowned lightly, raised his whip, and galloped forward even faster.
Eunuch Fu smiled and rode his horse to follow outside the carriage, and continued to talk to Bo Ruoyou. He didn't have a good voice to talk about. Now that there is Bo Ruoyou, Eunuch Fu is really happy, "Youyou, you said earlier that you have something to ask for from Lord Hou. What do you want? If you don't want to tell our family, then our family will give it to you." A few words of kindness from you..."
At the end of the day, Eunuch Fu became even more friendly to Bo Ruoyou. At noon, he asked her adoptive father how to call her, and then he pretended to be an elder and called her Youyou. It's not easy to say clearly before the errand is done."
Eunuch Fu raised his brows, "You have to finish the errand before you open your mouth. Could it be that it has something to do with your skills?"
Bo Ruoyou lowered her head and smiled slightly, "It's okay for Eunuch to think so."
As the sun sets, the golden afterglow falls on the mountain. The further to the northwest, the thicker the remaining snow in winter. On both sides of the official road, there are even more layers of snow. Going far away, Mr. Fu sits on the horseback, and sees Bo Ruoyou without saying a word He didn't ask any further questions, just saw her smiling sweetly, her eyes embracing frost and snow, her eyes became softer for a moment, "You are right to think so, Lord Hou always rewards meritorious deeds, but..."
After a little hesitation, Mr. Fu's voice became a little more serious, "But this case is not easy to handle."
Bo Ruoyou raised his head, with doubts in his eyes, but Eunuch Fu glanced at Huo Weilou in front of him and said, "Let Hou Ye talk to you about the official business, but you don't need to be nervous, Hou Ye brought you here this time because of the autopsy. For the most important."
Bo Ruoyou responded with a sense of awe in her heart. Although she had expected that this case was unusual, but now that Eunuch Fu said so, it was more difficult than she guessed.
When the last rays of the setting sun fell into the sky, a group of people entered a small town.
The embroidered envoy who explored the way said: "Master Hou, this place is called Xiushui Town. There are more than a hundred families and two inns. The villain has booked the Laifu Inn with many vacant rooms."
Huo Weilou nodded without saying anything, and walked into the only long street in Xiushui Town.
Xiushui Town is remote, and most of the residents are local people. When they suddenly saw strangers appear, they all went out to look around. Fortunately, all the embroiderers changed into normal clothes today, so it was not so scary. Everyone looked at it and felt that it was a rich family. People pass by here.
The Laifu Inn arrived soon, with a big wine flag fluttering in the wind, outside is a large yard for resting horses, and walking inside is a two-story building, although it is simple, it is also clean and tidy with gray tiles and white walls. Ruoyou's carriage entered the courtyard gate, and immediately a young man greeted him.
Lifting the curtain, the servant put down the footstool courteously, "Meeting Madam..."
Bo Ruoyou was about to get out of the carriage when she heard the words, her face changed slightly, and Huo Weilou had already arrived at the entrance of the main hall, when she heard the words, she couldn't help frowning and looked over.
Bo Ruoyou hurriedly said, "I'm not Madam."
The boy was very clever, "Ah... that's Young Madam..."
The inn is in this town, and the guests come and go from south to north, and if there are female relatives, most of them accompany them, so the servant thinks that Bo Ruoyou, who is sitting in the carriage, is of high status, and must be the wife or the young wife.
Bo Ruoyou frowned helplessly. Seeing this, Eunuch Fu was about to lie down laughing, coughed lightly and said, "Don't make mistakes, this is our young lady."
The servant's face was awkward for a moment, "My son is a dragon and a phoenix, the lady is gorgeous and beautiful, she really looks like... Miss forgive me, it's a villain's eyesight, please come inside—"
Huo Weilou stood at the hall door, and frowned even more when he heard the words, but he looked at Mr. Fu for a moment, and he entered the hall door without saying anything. Naturally, Bo Ruoyou didn't dare to recognize the lady, and looked at it hesitantly when he got off the carriage. Looking at Eunuch Fu, Eunuch Fu stepped forward and took her in vain, "Don't say that, everyone along the way will regard you as our young lady."
Bo Ruoyou suddenly thought of the scene where Zheng Xiaofei said she was Mrs. Hou Ye that night. After such a comparison, Fu Gonggong's "Miss" sounded less frightening, while Huo Weilou's stern gaze just now fell on her. On her face, she knew that Huo Weilou must have felt offended, the conscience of heaven and earth, could it be that she was happy to hear it
After entering the hall door, I saw the innkeeper talking courteously in front of Huo Weilou, "There are three upper rooms, and it just so happens that the young master and the young lady share one room, and this... the old man also has a separate room, and there are five other two-room rooms. Waiting for the room, it is tight enough for the servants, should the dinner be sent to the room or used outside?"
Huo Weilou went to the second floor, "Bring it to the room."
Huo Weilou walked swiftly, Eunuch Fu hurriedly followed with Bo Ruoyou, when he went upstairs, he saw Huo Weilou stopped in front of the upper room in the middle, pointed to the one at the end, "Go there."
This was for Bo Ruoyou, she responded, and when she turned around, the shopkeeper looked at them strangely, as if she felt that the relationship between the two was not like brother and sister. Eunuch Fu pointed to the room at the end, "Let's go!" Go and see-"
However, at this moment, a man and a woman came in from the main entrance downstairs, both of them are over 30 years old, they are a couple. The woman said with a frown, "It's a good Dharma conference, but if you don't want to do it, you won't do it. What should I do?"
The man at the side supported her waist and persuaded: "I can only come again next year, if it doesn't work, let's go to the Xiangguo Temple in the capital..."
Both of them spoke with foreign accents, and their voices were also loud. After saying this, they realized that there were many people in the hall. When they saw two embroidered clothes envoys with knives standing on the stairs, their expressions changed, and they hurried back room.
The shopkeeper looked back and saw Bo Ruoyou and Eunuch Fu standing at the moment, and Huo Weilou hadn't entered yet, so he explained with a smile in a low voice, "These two people came in yesterday, and they were going to beg for a child at Famen Temple in Qixia Mountain. , because Famen Temple held a ten-thousand-Buddha conference at the beginning of February, but I came here yesterday to learn that the Famen Temple Dharma Conference will not be held this year. I stayed for a day today and wanted to wait to see if the news would change. It seems I plan to go back."
The shopkeeper sighed at this point, "Every year during the Famen Temple Dharma Conference, this inn is also full every day. This year's Dharma conference will not be held, and this inn is also deserted."
Bo Ruoyou has lived in Qingzhou for ten years, and she knows the reputation of Famen Temple on Qixia Mountain in Luozhou.
Great Zhou valued Buddha and despised Dao, so all the nobles worshiped Buddha, even the royal family had the habit of enshrining Buddhist temples. The Xiangguo Temple in the capital was built by craftsmen ordered by the Taizu of Great Zhou a hundred years ago. Now, it has become the most prestigious Da Zhou Temple. Zhou Buddhist Temple.
However, this Famen Temple was famous far and wide before Xiangguo Temple. When the previous dynasty was despised by Buddha, Famen Temple was known as the number one Buddhist temple in the world, and this annual Ten Thousand Buddhas Conference has been passed down for more than a hundred years. According to the custom of the year, not only believers from nearby Luozhou will come, but people from the capital and even neighboring countries will also come to worship and pray for blessings.
But why not do it this year
Bo Ruoyou had some doubts, but Huo Weilou turned around and entered the room at this moment. Bo Ruoyou hesitated for a moment, but he didn't say much. This time when he came out to follow Huo Weilou and his party, he had to be cautious in every word and word. If he shouldn't ask her, he wouldn't. Ask more.
Eunuch Fu patted Bo Ruoyou's arm, "Go and rest, Youyou."
Bo Ruoyou was blessed, and turned around to enter the room at the end of the corridor. Since it was the upper room, the room was spacious and comfortable. Bo Ruoyou had no opportunity to travel far in recent years, and she was not a delicate person, nor was she. She can be picky, but she is a woman, so she has been treated kindly. And the room at the end of the corridor was quiet and safe, and I don't know if Huo Weilou did it on purpose or not.
At this time, the night was shrouded, and Bo Ruoyou opened the window to see the remaining snow in the atrium of the inn's backyard. A few old willow trees with gnarled trunks stood on the side of the pond with dead branches. sprouts emerging from the top.
The dinner was delivered quickly, and Bo Ruoyou finished it quickly, because she didn't see Huo Weilou's call, she wanted to take a bath, but before she finished bathing, the door suddenly rang, and Bo Ruoyou sank into the tub suddenly, The heartbeat is a little flustered.
Eunuch Fu said outside: "Youyou, come here."
Heaving a sigh of relief, Bo Ruoyou hurriedly responded, and hurried out to wipe and change clothes. When he arrived at the door of Huo Wei's building, his hair was only loosely tied, and water droplets were still dripping from the ends of his hair.
Knocked on the door, and the next moment, the door opened.
Huo Weilou's lapels were slightly loose, and he was wearing a comfortable black cloak. The moment he saw Bo Ruoyou, his eyebrows twitched slightly.
For a person who has just bathed, even the eyelashes seem to be wet, the cheeks are slightly powdered, the lips are thin red, and a few wisps of untwisted ink are scattered around the cheeks, which further accentuate the bright eyes and white teeth of this face. The skin is more radiant and moist, with a subtle fragrance.
It's really icy muscles and bones, and the snow is a god.
Bo Ruoyou's clothes were neatly dressed, she came out in a hurry, with a slightly panicked look on her face, Huo Weilou's hand on the door slightly tightened, she retracted her gaze, turned and walked in.
"Oh my God, why is your hair still not dry yet?" Mr. Fu was collecting the official documents that Huo Weilou carried with him, and when he saw Bo Ruoyou walking in wet, he sighed immediately, "It's so cold outside, you're going to suffer from typhoid fever like this " As he spoke, he went aside to pick up a handkerchief, pointed to the stool beside the round table, "Sit down—"
Just as Bo Ruoyou closed the door, she was a little hesitant when she saw this. She was indeed very cold. Although the weather had warmed up these few days, the remaining snow hadn't melted yet. It was the coldest time at night, so there was no time to wipe her hair, so she had to drip water When she came out, she felt very rude, but she didn't expect Eunuch Fu to treat her so caringly.
But she didn't dare to move, she just looked at Huo Weilou standing in front of the window in awe.
Huo Weilou turned sideways to her, and his gaze also fell outside the rear window.
Eunuch Fu laughed helplessly, stepped forward and pulled her onto the stool to sit down, "What are you afraid of Lord Hou? Who said you are not afraid of Lord Hou?"
Being exposed face to face made Bo Ruoyou feel even more uneasy. Unexpectedly, Eunuch Fu wiped her hair and said: "When our family took care of the eldest princess, the eldest princess praised our family's skill of combing hair the most..."
Thin as you are like a light on your back.
The eldest princess is Huo Weilou's biological mother and His Majesty's biological sister. Eunuch Fu takes care of the eldest princess, so what can she do
Bo Ruoyou was about to get up, but Eunuch Fu pressed her down, "Don't panic, our family sees you now, just like our little niece, you don't have to see our family..."
Bo Ruoyou was quite embarrassed, "I dare not be a civilian girl."
Eunuch Fu just smiled and said nothing, just continued to brush her hair, Bo Ruoyou glanced at Huo Weilou's back, "I don't know what orders the Marquis has?"
Huo Weilou just turned around. He narrowed his eyes and stared at her with an inexplicable gaze. This gaze is not only oppressive, but also has a sense of substantive invasion. Bo Ruoyou's heart was looked at by him. Up and down.
"Can you ride a horse?"
With this question, Bo Ruoyou understood that the carriage was still too slow, and she was a bit of a drag on everyone.
Bo Ruoyou pursed her lips slightly, "Yes."
Huo Weilou said, "Riding on horseback tomorrow, the case in Luozhou will not be delayed."
Eunuch Fu also said at this moment: "Although the case is an old one, someone died in the past few days, so I am very anxious."
During the day, Eunuch Fu was quite leisurely, but at night, perhaps he had received other news, and felt that the trip should be very fast, Bo Ruoyou responded, "Minnv understands, Minvn can ride a horse."
It seemed that she was called here for this purpose, and now that she had finished the order, Bo Ruoyou hesitated whether to resign, but Eunuch Fu said, "Master Hou, why don't you give the case to the bottom?"
Huo Weilou thought for a while, walked to the desk and sat down, "You heard just now that the Famen Temple Buddhist Conference will not be held this year."
Bo Ruoyou's heart moved, and Eunuch Fu continued, "This time, the place we are going to is Famen Temple."
Huo Weilou asked again, "Do you know the relationship between Famen Temple and the royal family?"
Some rumors flashed through Bo Ruoyou's mind, but he was not sure, so he shook his head, and Mr. Fu said, "Famen Temple is the most famous Buddhist temple in the previous dynasty. Besides its long history and several eminent monks, there are also Because there is an underground palace underground, and in the underground palace, the relics of the Buddha's real body are enshrined."
Bo Ruoyou raised her eyebrows slightly, she had heard about it.
Eunuch Fu continued: "When the previous dynasties were destroyed, this underground palace was almost destroyed by bandits. In our current dynasty, the great grandfather ordered people to renovate the underground palace, and opened the underground palace every thirty years. Body relics, and pray for blessings, so that our country will be peaceful and the people will be safe."
"Ten years ago, when the underground palace was opened for the last time, His Majesty came here in person and brought half of the civil and military officials of the imperial court here. The whole blessing ceremony went very smoothly, but on the last day, the relics were to be released again. When I returned to the underground palace, the relic disappeared. It is rumored that the relic was the real relic of the Buddha. .”
Bo Ruoyou couldn't help asking: "Could it be that this time is to track down the relic?"
Huo Weilou said: "The relic has been on the lookout for ten years, but the one who disappeared with the relic back then, and Master Jingkong, the abbot of Famen Temple, has been rumored for many years that Master Jingkong stole it privately for the sake of Buddha's fate. But just one month ago, a skeleton was found in Famen Temple, and according to his disciples, that skeleton was probably Master Jingkong who had disappeared for ten years."
Bo Ruoyou suddenly realized that Luozhou reported to the court a month ago, Emperor Jianhe ordered Huo Weilou to investigate the matter personally, and later he was entrusted by the Marquis of Xinyang to make a detour, but in the end it was because of Luozhou's case.
Huo Weilou's voice became more serious, "If the skeleton is really Master Jingkong, it is doubtful when he died, and if we can find out what happened back then, maybe we can find the long-lost relic. The outside world does not know that the relics have been lost long ago, and the annual Ten Thousand Buddhas Assembly is held as usual, but this time it was suspended after the discovery of the bones, it is good for you to know about it, and you must not tell others."
Bo Ruoyou responded immediately, and Huo Weilou said again: "This time, apart from this Marquis, there are also several courtiers who were in charge of arranging the relic prayer meeting ten years ago. After the incident happened that year, they were also included in the list of suspects, but later The investigation was fruitless, and it was not easy to make a big deal out of it, so they covered it up, and this news sent them back to the capital, and they rushed to Famen Temple together."
Bo Ruo couldn't help but look serious.
The reason Huo Weilou traveled thousands of miles south due to the strange way was because of this case. There have always been rumors about the Buddha’s relics enshrined in the underground palace of Famen Temple. It’s just that the blessing ceremony held every 30 years is exclusively for the royal family. Ordinary people are not allowed to participate. In addition, it only happens once every 30 years, so the reputation is not as great as the annual Dharma Conference, but it is related to the royal family, the relics are lost, and the eminent monk may have died long ago. After this calculation, this case really belongs to Wu Zhaohou in person.
Seeing Bo Ruoyou's eyes were serious, Huo Weilou said: "This time you are focusing on the bone examination. It is still unclear whether someone who has died for many years is Master Jingkong."
Bo Ruoyou should be, but couldn't help but ask: "But just now, Eunuch said that someone just died?"
Huo Weilou's eyes darkened, "The person who was directly responsible for this case was the old prefect of Luozhou. Later, he was promoted to the capital and served as the servant of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. He had retired three years ago and returned to his hometown. This time, he learned that he had found Master Jingkong. His bones were summoned to Luozhou again, and according to the news the night before, he fell off the back mountain of Famen Temple and died just two days after he arrived in Luozhou."
Bo Ruoyou's mind tightened, she hadn't seen the body yet, but after hearing Huo Weilou's words, she already realized the strangeness, the old magistrate fell down the cliff and died, was it an accident or man-made
"This case may be more complicated than the case of the Marquis of Anqing, and it involves the royal family and a lot of courtiers. It can be regarded as a state matter. You need to pay attention to it." Hou will not blame you."
Bo Ruoyou clenched her hands tightly in her sleeves, "Yes, Minnv understands."
The bottom line of the case has also been handed over, but Eunuch Fu is still wiping Bo Ruoyou's hair. Huo Weilou stared at Eunuch Fu for a moment, and his brows furrowed impatiently. Bo Ruoyou was a little restless for a while. Working in the Marquis of Anqing's Mansion is very different from following Huo Weilou now, following him from time to time makes it easier to know that the rumors about his gloomy and unpredictable temperament are true.
"Thank you, father-in-law. If Lord Hou doesn't order, the daughter-in-law will leave."
Bo Ruoyou stood up tactfully, and only heard Huo Weilou's "Yes", she blessed Fushen and thanked Eunuch Fu, then turned around and went out, closing the door behind her.
Eunuch Fu looked at the handkerchief in his hand with a bitter expression, "Why is Lord Hou so terrifying?"
Huo Weilou looked at him with cold eyes, "If your mother hears your voice, what will happen to her?"
Eunuch Fu put down the handkerchief and sighed, "Master Hou, are you going to blame the old slave? The old slave just thinks that they are similar in age, so he moved his mind..."
Huo Weilou's expression did not loosen, "She has nothing to do with you or me. After this errand is over, she will go elsewhere. What will you do then? Fortunately, she knows how to advance and retreat, otherwise you will treat her with kindness." , will only hurt her."
Although Eunuch Fu is a slave, his status is much higher than that of ordinary people. Ordinary women must be greatly moved by his elder-like care. In addition, he is also Wu Zhaohou's confidant, and maybe he will have other thoughts.
Eunuch Fu laughed and said: "Master Hou is the best at seeing people's hearts. Since you can see that Youyou is obedient and respectful, why worry about this? The old slave always feels that he has some fate with her. Even if he went his separate ways after this case, the old slave Shouldn't it be better to treat her a little more kindly? Besides, she is not under Lord Marquis, so why should the old servant dictate to her?"
Huo Weilou frowned at these words, but Eunuch Fu stepped forward, and his tone was even more gentle than that of Bo Ruoyou, "My lord, this is not a court, nor a battlefield, she is just a little girl , there is no need to weigh everything.”
Hearing his words, Huo Weilou couldn't bear to speak harshly, so he shook his head helplessly: "Whispering—"
Yan Bi stood up and went to rest. His back was still broad and generous, standing upright, and his steps were windy, but he still had a bit of youthful spirit. Eunuch Fu sighed, his Marquis was only twenty There are three.
After a light night's sleep, Bo Ruoyou woke up as soon as there was a noise in the next room, she got up to wash and wash, and when she picked up her bag and went out, Huo Weilou had just come out of the house, and Bo Ruoyou hurriedly greeted her.
Huo Wei looked her up and down upstairs, held back when he wanted to say something, went downstairs and had breakfast, and the group left the hall to prepare for the journey.
The one prepared for Bo Ruoyou was a docile black horse with a strong physique but not tall. Huo Weilou got on the horse's back and looked at Bo Ruoyou in a blink of an eye. More than ten people inside also looked at Bo Ruoyou together.
Bo Ruoyou gritted her teeth, and tremblingly climbed onto the horse's back, although her movements were a little stiff, she sat still, and she was quite skilled at handling the whip and rein, so Huo Weilou turned his gaze away and started to ride the horse away.
With one less carriage, everyone traveled much faster, but just after noon, Bo Ruoyou's forehead began to break out in cold sweat.
She is good at equestrian skills, but she has never traveled far on horseback, but after walking for half a day, her arms feel like lead, and the inner thighs are full of burning pain. When it was dusk, she felt that her whole body was not her own. That's right, and at this time, the embroidered clothes envoy reported something that made her lose all hope.
"Master Hou, there are no villages or towns a hundred miles ahead of here, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to find a place to stay tonight."
Huo Weilou said in a low voice, "If that's the case, let's drive all night."
Bo Ruoyou only felt five thunderbolts, at this moment, Huo Weilou looked over, "Maybe you insist?"
Bo Ruoyou's face was sweating profusely, and he nodded heavily, "Yes."
For some reason, Huo Weilou looked at her two more times before looking away, he swung his whip sharply, "Rush to Luozhou within three days!"
Bo Ruoyou gasped for a while, the hand holding the rein trembled slightly, her thighs were so painful that she was numb, and her pedals were a little unsteady, but there was no turning back when she opened the bow, if she couldn't make it now, she didn't know what would happen to Huo Weilou .
Bo Ruoyou never let go of her clenched teeth, and when night fell, the speed of the team still did not slow down, while Huo Weilou would only slow down when he had orders to speak to the embroiderer. , Bo Ruoyou couldn't even see his back, unknowingly, a round of clear moon rose to the sky, and Bo Ruoyou's cold sweat ran down his cheeks, even his lapel was wet with sweat.
After an unknown amount of time, she heard Fu Gonggong calling her twice from a distance, she suddenly woke up, and looked up, it turned out that she was unknowingly behind the team by a large distance, she immediately thought She raised the whip and walked faster, but the hand that fell by her side seemed to be broken and she couldn't lift it up. She swayed on the horse's back, and there was a loud noise in her ears, and she couldn't even hear what Eunuch Fu said next.
Just when she felt that her eyes were also darkened, she saw a person and a horse galloping towards her. The speed of the person and the horse was extremely fast, and within a few seconds, they arrived in front of her eyes. Under the clear moonlight, Bo Ruoyou could see that it was actually Huo Weilou.
Huo Weilou frowned and looked at her, "Can you still hold on?"
Panting heavily, Bo Ruoyou nodded subconsciously, but Huo Weilou didn't move for a moment, he looked at her for a few moments, and suddenly said: "Get off the horse."
At this moment, Bo Ruoyou had lost her usual alertness, she parted her lips in a daze, and she let go of the reins to get off the horse after she understood Huo Weilou's intentions, but as soon as she moved, a heart-pounding pain came from her thigh The pain, the pain made her face crumpled into a ball, and uncontrollable tears welled up in her eyes——
Bo Ruoyou didn't realize that her eyes were wet, because she couldn't hold the pommel with her hands, and her body began to lose balance the next moment. Seeing that she was about to fall down, Huo Weilou quickly supported her with sharp eyesight and hands, and this pulling, really A tear came from the corner of her eye in pain.
The ground was clear, she leaned halfway up, so that Huo Weilou saw the teardrop at a glance, his pupils darkened, and the hand holding Bao Ruoyou froze for a moment, but when he saw Bo Ruoyou's legs Still froze strangely in his original appearance, he suddenly frowned, and stretched out his hand to lift up Bao Ruoyou's skirt.
Bo Ruoyou was so painful that she almost fainted, but she didn't expect that Huo Weilou had turned into a disciple at this time, she opened her eyes suddenly, and grabbed Huo Weilou's wrist, but Huo Weilou ignored her Resisting, he only looked at Bao Ruoyou's skirt and frowned at the traces of blood on the moon white underpants.