At the end of September, in Tianzhi, the capital of Southern Chen, the breath of autumn became stronger.
Autumn leaves swirled and drifted in the streets. Pedestrians hurriedly walked over the thick fallen leaves. The city with a population of hundreds of thousands looked bleak.
In the distance, there were the soft sounds of gongs, golden horns and wooden fish. The Buddhist music seemed to come with the long team. The staffs were held high and spread among the team. The maids walking on both sides looked straight ahead, scattering sweet leaves and flower petals with expressionless faces.
The streets and shops were filled with people and vendors who had no time to leave, and they lowered their heads and dared not raise them.
The long dragon-like ceremonial procession turned the corner and stopped suddenly. The whole street felt suffocating and uncomfortable. Some people's faces and necks were covered with cold sweat. In the corner of their eyes, they saw two figures coming from the direction of the city gate in the distance.
It seemed slow but was actually fast. After a moment, it reached the front of the team and bowed slightly towards a sedan chair with long curtains and a crane head in the middle of the team, pinching orchids to make them.
"Your Excellency, something went wrong."
Within the dim curtains, a thin figure could be vaguely seen sitting cross-legged, and a woman's voice sounded righteous and majestic.
"Today, there are too many people who cannot distinguish right from wrong and help the rebels. It seems that this Dharma Master must personally save them. Good! Good!"
The two messengers replied calmly:
"Master, there is a reason for everything. The person who stopped us is Master's destined person."
Behind the long curtain, a figure held up the Fearless Seal with one hand and remained silent for a long time. After a moment, the team continued to move forward. The two messengers did not say anything else, stepped into the ceremonial procession, and followed out of the city.
At this time, the dead silence in the air became relaxed, and the people kneeling on the street stood up and continued their day's business. In a nearby restaurant, two people stood behind the guardrail, watching the team leaving the city, and smashed the wooden railing hard.
"Is this the evil monk?"
The old man who spoke first had completely white hair and beard, but he spoke with dignity and righteousness. He had been back in the capital for a long time, and this was the first time he had seen the name of the Dharma Master, whom he often heard.
"What a grand ceremony! Everywhere he passes, everyone kneels and bows. I'm afraid that in a few years, there will be no place for us in the capital!"
The companion standing aside also had matted hair and beard. He was much younger than the old man, but there were also many white streaks in his hair. Hearing the old man's indignant words, he nodded.
"I met him a few times when I was in the palace. He has a kind face and speaks little, but every time he speaks, he has a lot of secrets. He also knows some magic. The king trusts him without a doubt and refuses to listen to my advice. Alas..."
Having said that, he slapped his palm on the guardrail again and sighed heavily.
“… What can I do about it?”
The two people were Wang Shuhua and Min Changwen. After returning to Beijing, they first understood the whole story and then acted separately. The old man contacted old friends in the capital who had the power of speech and wrote a joint letter, while Min Changwen established familiar relationships with various ministers in the court and persuaded the emperor in the Golden Palace.
However, things have not yet been implemented, and the power of the Protector of the Nation is growing.
"… Now, I suddenly feel that it would be better if my student did not come."
The old man looked at the big tree beside the restaurant and sighed.
"Why do you have to be so depressed, Lord Shuhua? The matter is not over yet, how can you give up so easily!!"
Min Changwen clenched his hands in his sleeves, encouraged himself, turned his gaze away, and strode towards the stairs. The old man sighed again, followed him downstairs, got into their respective carriages, and continued with their unfinished business.
at the same time.
The student mentioned by the old man had already passed Fulinzhou and was still walking leisurely on the road with a group of people, leading an old donkey.
From the smooth Fulin Prefecture, it would take another two or three hundred miles to reach the capital of Nancheng. Now everyone felt relaxed.
Along the way, the previous group of people did not appear again, and the matter of the "destined person" made Lu Liangsheng rack his brains. He could not figure out how he was related to the monsters related to the imperial court.
As for the identities of the two men and one woman being hunted, especially the child, they were unwilling to reveal the only things they could say were their names.
Apart from Cao Shouren, the woman's name is He Jingqiu, an ordinary name.
At this time, the official road was filled with pleasant autumn scenery, and the number of farmers in the mountain village was gradually decreasing. The woman picked up the naughty child on the donkey's back and put him on the ground.
"Jing'er, it's time to come down."
Chen Jing was six or seven years old, at the age of being naughty. After getting familiar with Lu Liangsheng and Sun Yingxian, his monkey-like nature came out. Along the way, he either played around the old donkey and teased the driver, or ran to the ditch to play in the water, making Cao Shouren and the woman chase after him.
At this moment, hearing his mother's words, Chen Jing responded calmly. As soon as he landed on the ground, he slid away, took out half a steamed bun he bought on the road, ran to the bookshelf, opened the door of the small compartment, looked at a coiled big toad inside, and laughed.
He broke off a small piece of steamed bun, dangled it in front of the toad, and stuck out his tongue.
"Do you want to eat? I won't give it to you, lelele..."
In the cubicle, veins bulged on Toad’s face.
He Jingqiu was so frightened that his face turned pale. He rushed forward and hugged the child away: "Jing'er, don't cause trouble for the master!"
Cao Shouren, who ran over, looked at the scholar over there with lingering fear. What happened that night was still vivid in his mind. The bird was so fast that even with his martial arts skills, he might not be able to catch it. However, it was rolled up by the big toad's tongue.
Besides, how could the things raised by ordinary masters be simple
In front, Lu Liangsheng, who was talking to the Taoist priest, turned around, looked at the child and stroked his head.
"It's okay, don't be so nervous."
With the other hand, the sleeve of his robe closed the small door of the compartment without leaving a trace. During this half-month of slow walking, the ones who suffered the most should be Toad Taoist and Nie Honglian in the scroll. They would only come out to stretch their muscles and get some fresh air after the other four fell asleep.
"See, mother, Mr. Lu is very good, right?"
Chen Jing pulled the woman's sleeve, stuck his face out and smiled happily. He had a good impression of the scholar in front of him who looked gentle and a little weak. On the way, he bought himself a few cakes. He ate two himself, gave one to his mother, and the other was snatched away by the toad.
Just now, I was teasing it with the steamed bun, and I felt a sense of pleasure in irritating it.
The time they spent together was the happiest for Chen Jing. Looking at the scholar in front of him with a gentle smile, he sometimes thought, it would be nice if his father was like him.
The sky sank and rose again, and it was the golden autumn of October. On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Lu Liangsheng and his party had already reached the Tianzhi area. There were more pedestrians and merchants coming and going along the official road, and the stalls were opening more and more densely.
"Take a look, take a look, this is the finest silk, the best gift for your wife or lover!!"
“… Dear guests, tea is free in our store. We also have freshly slaughtered lamb, which is very fresh!”
"Here, here. The inn in the city is one cent per person. I will take him to stay there. There will be no shortage of rooms."
…
Less than half a mile away from the city gate, there was a hustle and bustle on both sides of the official road, with pedestrians coming and going like in a vegetable market.
"So big..."
It was also the Taoist's first time to visit the capital. The towering city walls seemed to stretch into the distance without end. While exclaiming in amazement, Lu Liangsheng looked at the two words "Tianzhi" carved on the city gate, turned around, and looked at the two men and one woman, as well as Chen Jing, who was reluctant to get off the donkey.
"All good things must come to an end. Everyone, we'll see you again in the future."
After traveling together for more than half a month, most of them were reluctant to leave.