Jing Jiu didn't knock on the door, but stretched out his hand to push a green brick half an inch into the wall.
It turned out to be an institution.
There was the faint sound of something hard rolling behind the door—his sight couldn't penetrate the wooden door, but he knew it was a smooth stone ball moving along a fixed track, and it would take a long distance to get to the ground. It fell and smashed a large porcelain bowl.
After a long time, the wooden door has not been opened.
He stood on the stone steps and waited, his expression calm as usual.
The rain was a little heavier, falling on the hat, and dripping from the edge, like a waterfall in a dry season.
Because of the rain, the pedestrians outside the alley hurried, and no one noticed him.
With a soft sound, the courtyard door finally opened, and an old man appeared.
The old man had a square face, straight eyebrows, bright eyes, and slightly red cheeks. He didn't know whether he was drunk or a little excited. He was wearing a gray unbuttoned shirt. Looking at Jing Jiu, his eyes were full of doubts and scrutiny.
Jing Jiu took out a wooden sign and handed it over.
The old man didn't dare to answer, bent over and looked at it carefully for a while.
Until it was confirmed that it was the real thing, he knelt down on his knees without hesitation, regardless of the fact that the ground was already wet with rain.
"Get up." Jing Jiu said.
The old man stood up, welcomed him into the small courtyard with a humble demeanor, and walked deep along the side corridor.
There are people in the small courtyard, to be precise, there is a family.
In the open flower hall, the family was eating, old and young, male and female, neat and tidy.
The whole family's eyes were on the table, talking in low voices, as if they didn't see Jing Jiu and the old man at all.
This picture is a bit weird.
The three or four-year-old child suddenly broke free from his mother's arms, ran to the threshold, looked at Jing Jiu curiously, and stretched out his hand to say something, but his father quickly hugged him back.
The cries of children sounded in the flower hall.
In the corridor, Jing Jiu took off his hat and glanced over there.
Seeing his face, the child couldn't help being stunned and forgot to cry.
…
…
"Is this the Jing family?"
"Yes, they have worked in Taichang Temple for generations, and they are regarded as my family's subordinates."
The square-faced old man glanced at Jing Jiu and said, "I can assure you that they don't know anything, but they will never forget what they should remember."
Jing Jiu understood that those people were his parents in name, as well as the old grandfather and brother-in-law. As for the child, was he a nephew or a niece? This was the arrangement back then, he was not good at it, but there were many people in the imperial court who were good at this kind of thing.
He sat on a chair and asked, "How many people have come to investigate these years?"
The old man stood in front of him, and said: "At the earliest, seven years ago, Qingshan Zong went to Defeng to investigate. Logically, with their means, they should be able to find some problems, so I quickly made remedies afterwards, but the strange thing is, They never came again, which has been making me a little uneasy."
Jing Jiu naturally knew why Shangdefeng didn't continue to investigate, and said, "Don't worry about it."
"Later, there were two more big movements, four years ago and one year ago."
The old man said: "A total of 21 sects have sent people to inquire quietly, and Concubine Hu Gui in the palace has also sent people."
Four years ago, Zhao Layue and Jing Jiu inherited the sword god Mo Feng, which shocked the practice world. Most of the practice sects focused on Zhao Layue, but they would also check Jing Jiu by the way. A year ago was the West Sea Sword Sect's Four Seas Banquet trip and the subsequent Qingshan sword test. Jing Jiu defeated Gu Han and broke Nanshan's sword. Master Qingshan's intention to keep a low profile and turn him into a rare soldier naturally came to naught. The reincarnation of Jingyang Zhenren, a true swordsman, how could he not attract attention?
Knowing these things, the old man naturally knew that this young man was Jing Jiu.
The Jing family moved to this small courtyard for twenty years because of this person.
"I'm here to attend the Meihui, and I'm staying here during this time."
Jing Jiu said, "Send a letter to the Zhao family and tell him."
Knowing his identity, the old man naturally knew where the Zhao residence he was talking about was. Seeing that he had no other orders, he left through the secret passage behind the house.
This secret path leads to another courtyard tens of feet away.
The courtyard occupies an extremely wide area, with carved beams and painted buildings, and the eyes are full of luxury hidden in the depths.
The old man sat silently in the study, and hadn't recovered for a long time.
Many years ago, his father had explained to him very seriously that the family can continue to this day and still maintain its glory, all because of two things, one is to unconditionally support His Majesty the God Emperor, and the other is to absolutely obey the wooden sign Owner's orders.
What if the two conflict? He was still very young at the time and couldn't help asking.
Father said, the will of His Majesty the God-Emperor and the owner of the wooden tablet must be unified.
The young man was inevitably a little stubborn, he still insisted on asking, what if
He remembered very clearly that his father was silent for a long time, and then the answer he gave was the latter.
He was shocked then, and still is today.
He didn't dare and didn't want to erase the cloud that had been over the family for hundreds of years, but he couldn't help but be curious. Unfortunately, when he personally arranged the small courtyard twenty years ago, he only received a letter and saw the piece on the letter. The monogram of the wooden sign and a few simple requirements, still don't know who the other party is.
It wasn't until these years that people from the sects of practice and even the palace cast their eyes on the small courtyard one after another, that he knew the identity of the other party, and even used his own influence to investigate secretly, but he still couldn't be sure, because Jing Jiu was too young, even if He is a kendo genius, not commensurate with the weight of that wooden plaque.
Jing Jiu should be the successor of the wooden plaque, right
The old man was thinking about these things when the housekeeper's whispered reminder came from outside the window.
"My lord, the hour is almost over."
…
…
The spring rain was continuous, and the two barriers formed by the array and colored glaze kept the guests in the courtyard from getting wet, but added a bit of elegance, but as time passed, the atmosphere in the venue became a little weird after all. The sound of rain was gradually replaced by the sound of discussion.
On the way to the wedding, I heard the sound of throwing bowls, and the host left in a hurry. After such a long time, they didn’t come out, as if they disappeared. What’s going on
"What happened?"
"I heard that the old man was very mischievous when he was young. Could it be that he is old-fashioned?"
"The old man loves his son the most. How could he make such a fuss about his marriage?"
"Don't talk nonsense, it is said that the old man is stupid and confused, and he refuses to get close to the nobles in the palace, but no matter what the turmoil has been these years, this house has always been safe and sound, still sitting in the seat of Taichang Temple, Qinggui Incomparable, this is called holy family! Can a foolish person do this?"
"The auspicious hour is about to pass."
The guests were discussing, when they suddenly heard footsteps coming from the front.
Everyone looked up, quickly stopped their voices, looked solemn, and bowed together to salute.
"I've seen Duke Lu."
"Sorry, something urgent."
Lu Guogong has a square appearance and an extraordinary bearing, even if he explains it, he has his own majesty. He doesn't look like the old man in front of Jing Jiu with a humble expression and the appearance of a housekeeper.
Today is a happy day for the youngest son of Lu Guogong to marry the prime minister's granddaughter.
Halfway through the ceremony, Duke Lu suddenly disappeared and did not reappear until this time.
No one dared to ask questions when the house was full of guests.
Some sharp-eyed guests noticed that the gray clothes that were not in accordance with the etiquette were looming under the Duke's dress, and there were water stains leaching from the knees, and they were very puzzled.