The night wind blew through the woods. Occasionally, the howls of wolves could be heard from the eerie outlines of the distant mountains. There was a slight rustling sound in the woods, and small bumps on the ground covered with fallen leaves spread from far away.
Wow!
The small bag exploded, and dead leaves and mud flew in all directions. Sun Yingxian rushed out of the ground. The moment he landed, two magic talismans hit his legs. The fallen dead leaves were lifted up again. He bent his body and left a shadow and rushed out of the foothills.
"He didn't go back to Lujia Village. Where would he go?"
The Taoist priest took two bags of dry food prepared by Li Jinhua while running, and hurried back overnight under the starry sky. He didn't dare to tell Lu Laoshi and Li Jinhua about what happened in the capital, and just said that he was passing by and came to take a look. While the woman was preparing dry food for him, Sun Yingxian quietly set up a magic circle in Lu Liangsheng's house, and anyone who carried an official aura would go in from the front and come out from the back.
"Given Old Lu's personality, he wouldn't commit suicide. He has the old toad and the female ghost around him..."
The stars and the moon gradually disappeared from the night sky. When the sky in the east began to turn pale, Sun Yingxian had already reached the official road. He asked some merchants on the road and learned that the capital had issued a wanted notice and was searching for the evil scholar. As for whether the scholar could be caught, the Taoist was not worried at all.
The sky gradually brightened. In the dim light, the Taoist priest sat on a stone by the roadside, chewing his big white steamed buns bit by bit.
"… Damn it, where can I find you?"
Looking around, on the official road connecting the capital and Hegu County, there are more and more merchants and pedestrians, and the nearby teahouses are also noisy. Steam is emitted from the steamers. Many travelers who travel all night from the south to the north will come here to rest and have a hot breakfast.
"… The evildoer has not been caught yet. In the capital, His Majesty is furious and has scolded many officials."
When pedestrians and vendors from all over the world get together, they usually chat with each other about what they have seen or exchange some useful information.
"Alas, if it weren't for the Minister of Personnel Min who stopped him, His Majesty might have sent people to arrest the scholar's family as well."
"Although that demon smashed the Golden Palace, it is a bit of an exaggeration for a dignified emperor to go to a remote place and arrest the scholar's family. It seems too intolerant."
"If he had the forbearance, why did that scholar smash the Golden Palace? According to the news from inside, it was your majesty who insulted people first, and the scholar only talked about He Liangzhou's affairs..."
"Is there such a thing?"
Someone slammed the table.
"If it were me, I would smash it too!"
"Be careful with your words, don't talk nonsense!"
A guest at the next table to the one who was waving his hand also took a sip of the porridge and sighed.
"Speaking of which, the scholar smashed the Golden Palace in a rage, which implicated his mentor. Have you heard of Mr. Shu Hua? He is now in prison..."
Lord Shuhua
Outside the pergola, Sun Yingxian swallowed a mouthful of steamed bun and quickly put the rest into the bag. Without taking a rest, he used the earth escape technique and quickly drilled into the ground, puffing up a small ball. He took a shortcut through the wilderness and quickly headed towards the capital.
Except for Lu Liangsheng, the Taoist always kept his distance from scholars. In his eyes, these Confucian scholars were either dull and pedantic, stubborn, or too cunning, profit-seeking, weak and spineless.
But in fact, apart from Old Lu, Wang Shuhua really made him feel awe, and he was also Lu Liangsheng's teacher, so he had to go there no matter what.
If possible, bring him out of prison.
It was already the second noon when they arrived in Tianzhi, the capital. Sun Yingxian first went to Min Changwen's residence, but the latter was not there. Upon inquiring, she found out that he had not returned since the morning court session.
After many twists and turns, the Taoist went to the Ministry of Justice prison again. Before he could cast a spell to sneak in, he met a man outside.
—Zuo Zhengyang.
"Get out of the way! A good dog doesn't block the road."
Sun Yingxian roared and tried to cast a spell to pass through the wall into the prison. When he was halfway in, he was pulled out by the collar and thrown aside.
"How dare you! How can we allow you to break into the imperial prison and save people without permission!"
In the alley on the side of the Ministry of Justice prison, Zuo Zhengyang held the hilt of the knife in one hand and stretched out his other arm to stop the extremely angry Taoist. He stared at him with stern eyes for a while, and then softened his tone.
"Minister Min also doesn't allow you to do this. He has already gone to the palace to plead with His Majesty."
"It's no use begging for mercy." The Taoist pushed his arm away and took two steps back.
"If he were open-minded, he wouldn't take his anger out on an old man!"
But he was interrupted by Zuo Zhengyang, who shouted, "You are wrong this time. Although there is an element of venting your anger on others, Lord Shuhua himself also contradicted Your Majesty! That's why he was thrown into prison!"
He turned sideways, made way, and waved.
"If you don't believe me, go to the prison and ask him yourself to see if what I said is true!"
Sun Yingxian was stunned for a moment, then glared at Zuo Zhengyang and the brand new robe of a chief constable on his body.
"I will ask myself."
They walked straight out of the alley and walked into the Ministry of Justice prison with Zuo Zhengyang. After passing through a narrow corridor, the view was dim and the air was filled with the smell of damp and mold. There were people wailing and crying everywhere. The jailer who led the way shouted from time to time and smashed the prison bars with wooden sticks.
"Shut up! Whoever is making a noise and crying out for justice, I'll whip him!"
Zuo Zhengyang walked to one side. He was originally a police chief and was used to seeing life and death. He didn't feel much for the people crying in the prison. The only difference was that the old man he wanted to see was also an old friend. On the way there, he still spoke:
"Lord Shuhua has a very hot temper and is very famous, so Your Majesty didn't dare to vent his anger on him and put him in jail before... But some time ago, Lord Shuhua ran to the Xuanyang Gate alone and beat the drum. Even Minister Min didn't know about it. Later, I don't know what he did to offend Your Majesty, so he was locked up here. I hope Lu Liangsheng doesn't know about it, otherwise it will be troublesome."
After hearing this, the Taoist just snorted.
“It’s right here.”
The jailer who led the way took out a copper key and removed the chain. Zuo Zhengyang stayed outside and let the Taoist go in by himself.
"You are also an acquaintance of Lord Shuhua, so it would be best if you could persuade him."
When Sun Yingxian arrived, she nodded to him and walked in. Sunlight shone in from the small window above the cell, and light dust was flying.
The old man was sitting cross-legged in a shadowy corner, wearing a dirty prisoner uniform, with messy pale hair that hid his features. He had no scars on his body, which must have been specially taken care of by Zuo Zhengyang.
In the corner, Wang Shuhua seemed to hear footsteps. He raised his head slightly and saw that it was Sun Yingxian who walked into the light and dust room. A smile appeared on his face.
"Little Taoist priest, long time no see."
The Taoist priest, who used to be smiling and cynical, squatted opposite the old man and was silent for a while.
"Master Shuhua, I will take you away."