After interrogating all the people and waiting, the man saw that it was still early and invited You Shu to drink tea in the apse. After all, he was his own savior. Although he was afraid that he would be deceived by him, Yu Shu also took the risk and took the tea that the other party personally handed over, and took a sip carefully.
Seeing his pretending to be gentle and elegant, the man couldn't help laughing, and immediately raised his teacup and lowered his head to sip to hide his slightly curved eyes. It has been a long time since he met someone more interesting than the magistrate of Xiao Zhao.
Youshu stared at him and asked curiously, "How on earth did you drink the tea?" Isn't there still a mask behind
In fact, the man didn't wear any mask, and what others saw was just a trick he cast. But Yu Shu's round and bright eyes, looking left and right Zou Zhou looked so cute, he didn't want to explain a word at all when provoked. He really enjoyed the feeling that You Shu put all his attention on himself, especially when he appeared suddenly, and You Shu clearly saw it but pretended not to know, and then stared at him from the corner of his eyes all the time, as if he was him When the only focus was on, the man only felt extremely happy, and a secret and endless sweetness kept rising in his heart.
At this moment, the tea in the mouth has completely changed its taste, as if it is mixed with honey or licorice, and it slowly dissolves on the tip of the tongue. The man stared at You Shu and took a sip, and then took another sip. His eyes were obscure, but he never said a word.
Youshu felt terrified when he saw him, so he began to fidget and wondered, "Could it be that my origins have been discovered?" He wanted to leave immediately, but he was afraid that his behavior would be too abrupt, so he had to sit around patiently.
"It's late at night, and I haven't been far away, so I'll make do with a little rough tea." As if seeing his predicament, the man raised his hand and swiped it on the table to create a lot of delicious food, and the rich aroma spread in the hall instantly.
Sweet and sour pork ribs, pork knuckle in sauce, Longjing shrimp... All of them are my favorite dishes, and there are a few dishes I have never seen before, which should be special products of hell. Since becoming the county magistrate of Suichang, Youshu has not eaten big fish and meat for a long time, but occasionally wants to taste some meat and fishy, and only asks the cook to buy the cheapest ingredients such as pig offal and poultry offal.
Now, with a table full of Han Chinese in front of him, he couldn't help shaking his index finger, and then secretly swallowed the saliva that was rapidly secreting in his mouth, and the saliva was about to flow out of the corner of his mouth.
Seeing that he didn't move for a long time, the man asked in a deep voice, "Master Zhao, but the dishes are not to your taste? Would you like to change another table?" . Obviously a greedy ghost, but still forcing himself to save on food, which is pitiful.
Shu has pressed her palm on the chopsticks, but didn't lift it up for a long time. She murmured, "After eating the food from the underworld, can I go back to the world?" I heard that the food from the underworld is not edible, and Persephone is a lesson from the past.
The man didn't seem to have expected him to say this. He was stunned for a while, and then he laughed softly. Although his voice changed a little through the mask, his thick nature was extremely provocative, making the tips of Shu's ears crimson, which was extremely embarrassing. He slowly realized that he was "taking the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain", but the other party was not angry, but smiled, showing a broad-mindedness.
King Yama really is a good god! Youshu's affection for the other party has been rising again and again, and he is about to break through the sky, and his round eyes show the brilliance of shame and ardent worship at the right time. This is the instinct of the end-time people, admiring the strong and longing for the benevolent.
The man in front of him undoubtedly has both.
"No need to worry, this king will take you back in person later." Youshu's burning eyes saw that he was completely relieved, and the man raised his chopsticks and put vegetables in his bowl.
Although Youshu is afraid of being found out, she will not doubt the assurance of King Yama. He now has an understanding of what kind of person the other party is. He is fair and benevolent, but he is also decisive and does what he says. He will never lie. Thinking of this, Yushu let go of it completely, and immediately picked up the bowl of rice, and the throat that had not had time to swallow too much food couldn't help but make a "whoosh" sound, which made the man chuckle again.
However, after laughing, looking at him as if he had been hungry for eight lifetimes, the man felt heartbroken again and again. It is really too difficult to be a good and honest official in the completely decayed Dayong Kingdom.
He didn't talk anymore, but silently helped Youshu with the dishes, and then in a deep voice told him to eat slowly and not to choke. You Shu nodded frequently, but the speed did not slow down at all. After finishing two bowls of rice, she stopped for a while, and reached for the tea cup. I ate so fast that I choked.
The man had long expected that he would do this, and he first took the teacup and poured it into his mouth, then raised his hand and wiped off the few plates of fish. This monkey's anxious appearance, it's better not to eat fish, otherwise it will be stuck in the throat by the fishbone.
The two cooperated tacitly, but they were both busy with their own affairs and did not find any abnormality. Some Shu continued to eat, while the man supported his cheek with one hand and silently admired it. After a few quarters of an hour, You Shu was full, but she was reluctant to put down her chopsticks, moved a plate of peanuts to her, and ate them one by one.
The man suddenly stood up, walked to the window and listened, with warmth in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" You Shu had to put down her chopsticks and asked.
"Come and have a look." The man waved at him.
You Shu didn't know why, but he walked over quickly and looked out the window, only to see the dead souls crowded under the palace wall several meters high, shouting in unison, "We want to see the magistrate of Xiao Zhao! He is Innocent!"
The sound of dispelling the heavy yin, the anxious eyes, and the cries of grief and indignation all originated from the victims of Lishui. They were eager to get the news from the magistrate of Xiaozhao, and they were worried that the officials of the underworld, like Yang Shi, were all beasts who had no distinction between right and wrong. If even the magistrate of Xiaozhao was wronged and died, how could there be any kind of love in the world? Where can there be a refreshing breeze and a bright sky
You Shu was stunned, not knowing how to react for a long time. Although he has experienced many storms and waves, it is the first time that he has been loved and supported so sincerely.
The man grabbed his slender wrist, took him to the terrace outside the palace, and said softly, "Let your people see if you are safe."
You Shu was pushed to the edge of the terrace, not knowing where to put her hands and feet, so she raised her arms and waved it stiffly.
"It's the magistrate of Xiaozhao! And King Yama, he's fine!"
"Great, great! My sons and daughters are still in the mortal realm. If Xiao Zhao county magistrate is dead, I don't know how they will live. Where can Dayong find a parent official better than Xiao Zhao magistrate? ah!"
This sentence caused many dead souls to weep, and then they called out Xiao Zhao county magistrate more enthusiastically, and then they all knelt down and bowed. There was no official who could make them feel grateful, admire and admire from their hearts, only the man on the terrace with a clear breeze and bright moon. In order to support the people, he sold his entire wealth, defied power, and insisted on justice. Who has such boldness? Who has such feelings of worrying about the country and the people, and dying after death
If Dayong's officials were like the magistrate of Xiaozhao, there would not be so many wronged souls in the underworld.
"Quickly send the magistrate Xiaozhao back! The people are still waiting for him!" Someone shouted, and everyone immediately responded in unison, with a great momentum.
You Shu, who was hit by the sound wave, took two steps back involuntarily. Although her expression was at a loss, a small dimple appeared on the side of her cheek.
King Yama stepped forward at the right time, supported his lower back, rubbed him without a trace before letting go, and asked, "How does it feel to be worshipped by all the people?"
If someone else stood here, they would definitely be excited and high-spirited by this magnificent scene. , pressed the back of his hand, and after a full half a quarter of an hour, he straightened up, bowed again, bowed again, stood up after three bows, and said dryly, "It feels very heavy."
The man looked suspicious.
Youshu paused, then said, "If I had to use two words to describe my mood at the moment, it would probably only be awe and compassion." Reverence for life and compassion for living beings. Those who are high will never know what great power they hold if they don't really get close to their people.
This is ancient times, there is no mechanical equipment that can change the celestial phenomena and landforms, and there is no scientific and technological power to travel in space. But they have an indelible spirit, a beautiful vision of turning evil into good. With this spirit and prayer, they can perform miracles. They can make the sky cry for it and the earth to overturn; they can make ghosts and gods retreat, and evil spirits are dispelled; they can make Huangquan Road a smooth road leading to justice.
Right and wrong have their own right and wrong, and justice is free in the hearts of the people. This is the worst era, but also the best era, because people's hearts have not changed, neither good nor bad. When the deceased fell down, Youshu, who had never liked the ritual of kneeling, naturally bent her knees. The vast majority of them, who had never even been his subjects, did so for him. He comes from the end times when people's good and evil are extremely distorted, and he realizes the heaviness and value of life more and more.
"Look, the magistrate Xiao Zhao is returning the salute, and he is also bowing to us!"
"There is no reason for parents to bow down to their people! The magistrate of Xiaozhao is really, really..." The rest of the words were drowned in the cries of the dead souls. They had never seen such a good official before. It would be great if they were under the rule of the magistrate of Xiaozhao in the next life, and they would no longer have to worry about the issue of "living is worse than dying".
King Yama was also deeply shocked by Youshu's words. After a long silence, he slowly touched the top of the other's hair and said softly, "You are fine."
"No, you're better!" You Shu hurriedly stepped back and knelt down again. The reason why life in the world is ruined is precisely because of the chaos of reincarnation in the underworld. If the person in front of him is not vigorously purging, I don't know how many people will die in vain. In terms of merit, he is the greatest, and he is only doing his little bit.
Wherever King Yama was willing to bow to him, the palm of his hand immediately supported his smooth forehead, preventing him from leaning over, and the thumb was placed between his eyebrows and slowly rubbed. Youshu felt that this move was a little too intimate, and was about to take a few steps back, but heard the other person say in a deep voice, "Don't move, this king will send you back."
Can you go back by touching your eyebrows? You Shu was secretly surprised when he saw a black light shoot out from his fingertips, hiding in his forehead, and then a familiar dizziness struck.
Looking at the empty terrace, King Yama twisted his thumb and didn't move for a long time, but he slowly reminisced about the smooth and soft touch just now. It was the first time to touch the magistrate Xiao Zhao openly, and it felt really good.
"Master Zhao has returned to Yang Shi, you are all gone." Hearing the hustle and bustle below, he waved his sleeves to disperse the souls of the dead.
When Yushu opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a cold cell, and a half-foot-square skylight above her head shone dimly, showing that it was almost dawn. He immediately wiped off the soul-releasing talisman on his forehead and half sat up against the wall. The buttocks, which were bloody and painful, are now intact, except for the bloodstains on the prisoner's clothes. He groped for a few times, and then he bent round eyes.
At the same time, Wang Zhifu, imperial envoys, county officials, and other witnesses all woke up one after another. Some were covered with welts, some had swollen eyes and tongues, and some had abdominal cramps, all of which were strange to what they had experienced in their dreams. overlapped.
Wang Zhifu pushed away the concubine who was sleeping in his arms, got up with a grunt, first touched his neck, and then let out a long sigh of relief, feeling quite frightened in his heart. Fortunately, it was just a dream, not real.
"Master, why is there a blood line on your neck? It's like being stabbed, like having your throat cut!" The concubine didn't dare to speak, she pulled the quilt and backed up a little bit. Seeing Wang Zhifu raised her hand to touch her neck, she screamed again, "Master, why do you have it on your hand? Could it be that you have some strange disease?"
Wang Zhifu couldn't see his neck, but he could see his wrists. He immediately lifted the quilt, lifted his trouser legs, and went to check his ankles. There are also two blood lines on the ankle, showing traces of twisted sutures, and there is also a dull pain. The vision of being beheaded and limbs beheaded and then stitched up in the dream was repeated uncontrollably, making his liver and gallbladder torn apart.
He didn't care about putting on clothes or shoes, so he hurriedly jumped out of bed and ran to the guest house, where Hao Zuosi, the imperial envoy, lived there, and he was also on trial in the underworld last night.
The door was pushed open with a bang, and Hao Zuosi was standing in front of the bronze mirror, lifting his underwear to check his back. The skin on his back had festered, showing streaks like whiplashes, and the white cloth was covered with blood, which was very painful.
"Why don't you..." The two observed each other, and then said in unison, "That dream last night... Wasn't it a dream?"
They already had guesses in their hearts, but they still refused to admit it, and they called everyone in the dream to check them out, and they all appeared to be abnormal. Until this time, no one was left with luck, and they were really sued by Zhao Youshu to the King of Hell and punished.
"What should I do now? I could have lived to be in my seventies, Wang Xiangcai, you've hurt me a lot!" Hao Zuosi patted the table and cried bitterly. In this year, living to more than 50 is considered a long life, and 70 can be regarded as a longevity star. It was originally a life with good fortune, happiness, longevity, but because of greed, there was nothing left. He was tortured in hell for eight hundred years, and then he entered the realm of hungry ghosts. Thinking about it like this, life is not as good as death, death is not as good as life, and I wish I could lose my soul.
Wang Zhifu was equally terrified and fell back on his chair, wondering what he was thinking.
An official who was summoned said tremblingly, "Should you release the magistrate Zhao and kowtow to him and confess his guilt?"
"Fuck your mother! It was he who went to the King of Hell to file a complaint and brought this official to this point. Even if this official were to die, he would have to back him up!" Wang Xiangcai really lived up to the name of living Yama, and roared with his eyes splitting. " Come here, pass on the order of this official, and immediately pull Zhao Youshu out and dismember his body! Lao Tzu wants him to taste the taste of his head and limbs being cut off!"
Several of the petty officials were pale with fright and their legs were weak. Kneeling in the hall and crying and begging couldn't make him change his mind. Several yamen could not, so they had to take the penalty ticket to the prison to give orders.
In the prison, You Shu stared blankly at the skylight above her head, waiting for Wang Xiangcai and the others to respond. He believed that King Yama, since the other party said that he would be safe and sound after returning to the world, then there would never be an accident. Although he is afraid of the other party, he also deeply believes in the other party, which is very contradictory.
Not long after, someone stepped in with heavy steps. He looked up and saw that it was a sturdy jailer with a food box in his hand.
"Xiao Zhao county magistrate, it's time for breakfast."
"Didn't Wang Xiangcai say that he is not allowed to bring me food?"
"I want to deliver it myself, it has nothing to do with Wang Beast." The jailer opened the food box, and there was a bowl of rice and a few side dishes. Although there was no meat, it looked crisp and delicious. Now that the disaster is serious and there is a shortage of rice and grain, it is very good to be able to eat such meals.
Youshu looked over with puzzled eyes, but did not move for a long time.
The jailer took out another key from his arms and said slowly, "Sir, Wang Gouguan wants to put you to death, but the little man is soft-spoken and can't do anything, so he can only let you go secretly. You don't know, the little man was originally Longquan. The county people left their family and came to the state government to serve as errands, just to keep them fed and clothed. However, the Longquan county magistrate did not treat them as human beings. , My mother and father are gone. My mother-in-law and her children finally arrived at the prefecture, but they were all blocked by Wang Gouguan from the city gate, not giving porridge, no medicine, no clothes, Treat them as livestock, as ants, as dust."
Having said this, the jailer choked up, wiped away tears and snot in embarrassment before continuing, "Xiao wanted to ask the guards guarding the city to secretly put them in, but the guard asked Xiao for two hundred taels of silver. Two hundred taels. Two, where do I go to find it? Could it be that I watched them starve to death? Just when I was a little desperate, my mother-in-law took her children to Suichang without authorization. Guess what? Officials lead the victims by the roadside. They have shacks to live in, rice porridge to fill their stomachs, decoction to treat their illnesses, and clothes to cover their bodies. They survived and lived well. With hope, they look forward to The little ones go to reunite, but the little ones have to watch their savior be killed by Wang Gouguan Shengsheng, the little ones are not beasts, the little ones can’t do it!”
He quickly opened the copper lock and kowtowed, "Sir, let's go! Your kindness is nothing to repay, and I will treat you as a cow and a horse in the next life!"
You Shu was shocked by his actions and was speechless for a long time. After being stunned for a long time, he slowly knelt down and bowed back carefully, "I ran away, what about you? Everyone's life is equally precious and should not be exchanged, let alone given up."
The next few cells were all detained people who were wronged and aggrieved. When they heard this, they burst into tears. The more they respected and loved the magistrate of Xiaozhao, and the more they hated Wang Xiangcai and others.
The jailer tried to persuade him to no avail, so he was going to carry the magistrate of Xiaozhao, but he saw that he was clinging to the door of the prison and refused to compromise. Because his buttocks were covered in blood, it could be seen that the injury was extremely serious, and the jailer did not dare to pull hard, but there was nothing he could do for a while. Just as he was hesitating, another jailer hurried in and said urgently, "Come on, I heard from the people in the government office that Officer Wang Gou actually wanted to dismember Xiao Zhao county magistrate's five horses!"
Only then did the jailer make up his mind to break the hands of the magistrate Xiao Zhao, and one person to lift his legs.
How could Youshu trap these two to death, and immediately struggled violently. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside, followed by messy footsteps. Afraid of being discovered, the two guards had to carry the person back to the cell, locked the door, and ran to check.
At some point outside, many victims of the disaster had gathered, all with sticks, hoes, hatchets and other items in their hands, and the surrounding area of the cell was filled with water. Some people carried logs and slammed against the gate, as if they wanted to rush in. The two jailers found out after a little inquiries that the group of victims had come from Suichang and had already broken through the city gate and drove straight in. The purpose was to save the county magistrate Xiaozhao. The yamen who sent the penalty tickets had already been held down and beaten by them. If the magistrate of Xiaozhao hadn’t repeatedly warned them not to abuse lynching or to mutilate people’s lives. killed.
"Okay, okay, you can tie the people up, if the magistrate of Xiaozhao knew that we killed people, he would definitely be unhappy! Hit the door, keep hitting the door, I must save the magistrate of Xiaozhao today, it's the emperor. Come, we can't stop!" The leader shouted, and everyone agreed.
There was Shu, who was separated by a wall, listening to the noise outside, and unknowingly burst into tears. The reason why he avenged the people and rescued the people was to save his own life. His starting point is not noble, and it can even be said to be selfish, but what everyone returns to him is wholehearted love. How can he be
The heaviness and preciousness of life is far more profound than he realizes. Before, he always lived for himself, but now he understands what responsibility is. Recalling the past, he knew why his master liked to stand in the rustling wind, towering over the city, overlooking the Haiqing River, and the peaceful and prosperous times, telling him that this is the boundless love, and the benevolent invincible.
The king's mind should be like this. The master is, and so is King Yama, and he is far from inferior.
When You Shu wished to pass through the wall, drive away all the victims, and told them not to take risks for themselves, there was a neighing sound of a horse outside, and someone said loudly, "Stop for this officer! The crime of breaking the city, this official will not be held accountable, you all spread out, so that this official can release Master Zhao."
"Which immortal are you?" Someone asked back.
"This official is the minister of the Ministry of Punishment, and was ordered to come to review the case of Lord Zhao's looting of disaster silver. The existing evidence shows that Lord Zhao was wronged, and the emperor has issued an imperial decree, ordering the Lishui prefectural government to release the person immediately." The imperial decree in the sleeve is read aloud.
Only then did the victims show ecstatic expressions, and quickly retreated to both sides of the gate. But Youshu frowned and thought, "This minister of punishment has come too soon, right?" It is equivalent to Hao Zuosi having just left the capital, and he set off with the imperial edict. Could it be that King Yama had a dream for the new emperor
You Shu, who came to this conclusion, suddenly broke through the sky in his favorability for King Yama.