the enlightener says

"Stop." With the wave of the imperial guard at the gate of the palace, the hard-working cow slowly stopped, because there were flies always flying around its ears, it shook its head, and its ears kept shaking .

"Yo, Lao Guo, pulled another cart? What is the first cart today?" The imperial guard obviously knew the people in front very well, and they didn't have any dignity, let alone restraint. They came to the cart and said with a smile: "Three days ago was the Lantern Festival dinner, and today is the imperial concubine's birthday, how much money do you have to make by going in and out?"

"Hey. There's no such thing as oil and water." The middle-aged man called Lao Guo replied with a smile, but it was not convincing to say this from his mouth with a big belly, but the scene had to be continued: "One year is not enough." Just buy more during the New Years and holidays, there is no money in this palace, alas, what I do is hard work, what profit can I make?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, it really sounds like that." The guards of the imperial guards walked over while smiling, "I still have to check, there is an explanation in the palace today, so it must be more rigorous, so as not to make any mistakes. You know, how many times?" The palace caught fire and was stolen a few months ago, many people died inside and outside the palace..."

Lao Guo got off the bullock cart, stretched out his hand frankly and lifted the tarpaulin on the cart, revealing the melons and fruits inside: "What's there to check, they are all melons and fruits, can they still be found in the car?" Can an assassin be hidden inside?"

He stretched out his hand and took a few pomegranates and pears from the car: "Accommodating, the time will come soon, and the royal chefs will blame me, I can't afford it..."

Chapter 253 Dong Dabao

The sky darkened early in late autumn, and it was time to hold the lamps while the few people were talking. The imperial guards smiled and reached out to take the pomegranates and pears handed over by Lao Guo. When they came, they divided the fruits and did not avoid suspicion. They ate them like this. They were all from the tribute palace. The natural quality was high, the pears were full of water, and the pomegranates were bright red and soft. They were happy to eat them.

"You still have to check, you are not easy to do business, how can it be easier for us than you? It is always necessary to pretend." The guards of the imperial army divided and ate the fruits on their hands, and continued to walk to the ox cart, reaching out and grabbing casually I picked up a bunch of grapes, bit off one, and rummaged through the car while eating.

Lao Guo shook his head helplessly, and hurriedly said: "Oh, be careful, don't damage the melons and fruits, hey! You big bastards!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and several "Yingshan officers" in the car also laughed.

The guards of the imperial army ate while checking, and several people gathered around the car to comment. When they "finished checking", they ate a vacancy in the pile of melons and fruits.

"Okay, okay, almost, let's go." The leading imperial guard waved his hand, and there was still some unsatisfactory eyes in his eyes.

However, Lao Guo still diligently moved out a basket of picked melons and fruits from under the car, moved to the place where the imperial guards changed guards with a fat belly, and then ran back diligently, saying: "Brothers have worked hard, little boy!" Mind, don't be disgusted."

The guards of the Imperial Army looked at each other, with tacit smiles on their faces, and at the same time, the leading guard also went up to him. He seemed to be shaking hands with Lao Guo to thank him, but in fact he took the money from Lao Guo's sleeve. .

The lead guard smiled wider.

"You still know how to be a man, Lao Guo, next time! If there is no ban in the palace next time, we promise to let you go all the way, and enter as you like!" He lowered his voice again, "At that time, we will let you know how many 'private goods' you want to grab. Can be regarded as invisible."

"That's a good relationship." Lao Guomei smiled, his fat face gleaming under the high hanging candlelight, and he hurriedly got into the ox cart, the driver whipped the ox cart, and the ox cart started to move again.

It's just that before the wheel rolled into the palace gate, the imperial guard suddenly showed some doubts, raised his hand and said: "Wait!"

"Why, what's the matter?" Lao Guo looked at him puzzled.

The guard of the imperial army came forward with a waist knife, Qin Ke lowered his head, screaming in his heart that something was wrong.

"Who are you? I don't seem to have seen you before?"

The lead guard's eyes were like torches, and it was Qin Ke who was staring straight at him.

Qin Ke tried his best to keep his voice small and humble, and said, "Hello, my lord, I am..."

But Lao Guo shouted at this moment: "He is my cousin's eldest nephew, he has a lot of strength, the fruit is heavy, so he was called to help, and he will work with me on the first day, don't scare him , is still a half-grown child."

"Eldest nephew?" The imperial guard looked suspiciously at Qin Ke's young face and figure, and nodded, at least his age seemed to be about the same.

"What's your name?" Another guard came over shaking his body.

Qin Ke felt that he was stared at by several unfriendly eyes, and his face immediately showed a little anxiety, which seemed to be a little timid, and even his voice trembled: "My lord, my name is... called..."

"What's your name? Come down!" The imperial guard shouted coldly.

Qin Ke was startled, got out of the car in a hurry, lowered his head and said, "It's called Dong Dabao..."

"What? Dong Dabao?" For some unknown reason, the guard of the imperial guard suddenly changed his expression, following the flash of the saber, with a sound of "swipe", the long saber in his hand was out of its sheath!He shouted in a low voice: "Come on!"

Afterwards, the guards who were scattered around quickly gathered together and surrounded the bullock cart one after another, their weapons shaking, and the sharp points pointed at everyone.

Qin Ke stood there blankly, and could not help stroking the sleeve arrow in his wrist with one hand. It was inconvenient for him to carry it with him, so he had to store it in the rice shop. Now, apart from this sleeve arrow, all he had left was The dagger in the trouser leg, nothing else to rely on.

It's just...why?

Just now he thought that there was nothing wrong with the fear he had pretended and the harmless eyes of humans and animals... And the name Dong Dabao was also given to him by Jing Yu, but why did the guards of the imperial guards change their minds when they heard the name? With this posture, could it be that "Dong Dabao" is some key person they are tracking down?

Qin Ke stood on the spot, still trembling his body slightly, but his brows were furrowed when he lowered his head. He believed that Jing Yu couldn't intentionally harm him, and he would never be afraid to confront this group of people head-on, but If he tries to escape now, the palace will be immediately under martial law, and it will be even more difficult for him or others to find a chance to enter.

Then, we can only...

Suddenly, his spine softened, and he knelt down trembling all over. He curled up into a ball like a frightened rabbit. Although there was no tear on his face buried between his legs, his voice was already filled with tears. Part crying.

"My lord, I am wronged, the villain did nothing! The villain just followed the car..."

In the past two days, he not only memorized the map...

Gao Yishui taught him: entering the palace is like a big show, and he is the famous actor on stage.It's just that he has to act more realistically and vividly than the actors on the real stage, otherwise, as a practitioner, it's easy to reveal his secrets.

Although time was tight, Qin Ke still spent a lot of time practicing until Gao Yishui was barely satisfied.

Surrounded by shining swords and guns, the guards of the imperial guards formed a circle, condescending, looking at Qin Ke with a hint of sarcasm on their faces.

Qin Ke knelt in the dust with his eyes closed tightly, but the wind vision technique was fully operational, and with the howling wind lingering in his ears like a friend, he could now grasp the aura of the guards of the imperial guards around him, as long as they With a little reckless movement, he can trigger the sleeve arrow in an instant.

After all, this is the weakest part of the palace gate. It is usually just transporting things, and the discipline of the soldiers seems to be loose. Moreover, Qin Ke didn't feel who among them was a practitioner. When the sleeve arrow stabbed the first person, He used the dagger tied to his leg to break out of the encirclement...

But if it is possible, Qin Ke still hopes that things will not turn out like that.

"Hahahaha..." At this time, the leading guard laughed, and the serious expression on his face melted like ice and snow. Everyone followed him and laughed sparsely. The ground was retracted into the sheath, and the guards stood apart, all looking at Qin Ke with a particularly playful look.

Qin Ke raised his head slightly, showing some doubts, while the leader of the forbidden army laughed and slapped Lao Guo on the shoulder, making the already nervous Lao Guo almost jump up.

"Old Guo, your cousin is too timid. Why did you kneel down after you threatened me with a few words?"

As he said that, a guard kicked Qin Ke's leg, raised his chin and said with a smile: "Get up, little brother, the man has gold under his knees, so it's not too shameful..."

With a helpless face on his face, Lao Guo opened his mouth and cursed: "You son of a bitch, I told you not to scare the child. If you point a child with a shining sword, can he not be afraid? You stick, every time I have to play this game when I bring newcomers here, and I was scared to death by you last time, and you owe me a drink!"

"One drink, one drink! I'll make it up for you when you change defense tomorrow!" The leader of the imperial army didn't care if he called him a club. Although there was a difference in status between the two, after all, they had been with each other for many years. With so much money back and forth, it can be regarded as a kind of friendship.

He strode forward, helped up Qin Ke, who was confused and trembling, and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, are you scared? You are better than the bad guy last time, and that bad guy hasn't waited to kneel When I came down, I peed my pants, come on, show the uncles, is the crotch wet?"

Everyone burst into laughter again, Qin Ke stammered: "No...no pee..."

"That's right." The leader of the imperial army patted Qin Ke on the shoulder and said with a smile, "It's a good seedling. Today is a lesson for you. When you enter the palace, you have to be a man with your tail tightly clamped. Don't look around. It's okay to be afraid. Son, don’t flirt with the maids in the palace, it’s not good if you accidentally get someone’s head off.”

Qin Ke lowered his head and hurriedly said, "Of course not, absolutely not."

At this time, Lao Guo cursed again, probably saying that he was alarmist.

The leader of the imperial army smiled and said: "But your name Dong Dabao is not pleasant, like a nickname. You used to be a farmer who went to the fields, right? Well, when you are free, uncle, I will find you a fortune teller and do the math." It’s better to have a famous name on your birthday.”

Qin Ke froze in place, as if he could handle this silly expression best.

And Lao Guo shouted loudly: "What are you still doing? Thank you quickly! People in the province will regret it after drinking!"

Laughter was like a wave again, and the commander of the imperial army covered his stomach and pointed at Lao Guo with one hand: "You bastard, you have to take advantage of this little advantage."

"Nonsense. Remember, you have invited the fortune teller, and I will have a drink!" Lao Guo hummed, and shouted "Come in", the old cow mooed, and the guards stepped aside one after another. The person also walked slowly towards the palace.

Qin Ke raised his head slightly, looked at the main hall that caught his eyes, and was slightly absent-minded for a while. The Tang Palace had already opened his heart to him, but he just hoped that the farce just now would not affect his subsequent actions.

Far away from the palace gate, a shadow witnessed the whole process in the shadows, and then disappeared in a flash.

Chapter 254 Idle Chess

"Qin Ke has already gone in." Jing Yu got the news from his subordinates, and announced to several people in the dark room of the cellar: "The rest is to see if he can connect with the few hidden stakes left in the palace." It's up."

Abu looked at the map and frowned slightly: "Is this person surnamed Guo our own?"

"I hope it is..." Jing Yu shook his head slightly, "But if he was, he would have lost his life in the previous operation. How could the palace not know that Jing Wu sent spies to lurk in Ding'an? It's like their The spies would also collect all kinds of information in Jianye. It's just that before the fire in the inner palace, they never thought that our forces had infiltrated the palace. There was a cleaning..."

Jing Yu stretched out his finger and drew a circle around the palace wall on the map: "And they also knew that it was impossible to wipe out all the rats hiding in the dark with this cleaning alone, so they cut off all the rats at once. Our internal and external information channels, so even if we have external arrangements, it is impossible to receive them internally, and we have to be silent for a long time before we reopen the channels."

"It's really a good way." Abu lowered his eyebrows and said softly.

Jing Yu smiled slightly: "However, we also reserved all kinds of backers in advance. This person surnamed Guo is indeed not one of us, but his cousin... has been doing things for us, or... From a long time ago, she was a pawn of Jing Wu."

"This..." Abu was shocked, "This was a game from the beginning?"

"The prime minister called this 'playing idle chess'. A piece of chess placed on the chessboard seems to be just an idle move, but it will come in handy one day if it is not in order. Many things in Ding'an City are under the care of the shopkeeper. arrange……"

In Jing Yu's narration, Abu learned that Fatty Guo's cousin was originally a native of Wu country. She was separated from her family while avoiding the war, and was sold to a butcher's house by human traffickers. The butcher was Fatty Guo's cousin. The butcher was kind to her, but her family is now in Jingwu, and she has always missed her hometown, and always hopes to be reunited with her family one day.

From time to time, the shopkeeper would ask someone to bring her some news about Jingwu's family, and she was honest and willing to be a chess piece that could be activated at any time.Although she can't be expected to do great things, in her capacity, there is always a chance to send Qin Ke to Lao Guo's side.

At this time Gao Yishui came in from the outside, the two turned their heads to look at him together, Gao Yishui also looked at the two, shrugged, and said, "What are you doing?"

Abu smiled and said, "That Miss Cai, how is it?"

"What else can I do?" Gao Yishui said: "I played a song for her, and by the way, put some perspiration medicine in her tea. The amount is not large, but it will make me feel sleepy. Just sleep, so we have time to deal with it Something happened."

Abu burst out laughing: "Your move is really drastic. It directly stunned him. Be careful when Ake comes back to settle accounts with you."

Gao Yishui looked at Jing Yu: "He went in?"

Jing Yu nodded.

Gao Yishui seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then smiled and said, "What's the deal, can I still harm her?" As he spoke, his face showed a bit of intoxication, "She is a daughter who knows the rhythm, and her conversation is extraordinary. She is good-looking, I am the person who knows how to pity and cherish jade, not to mention that she is still my little music fan, I can't bear to hurt her... ah... she... ah..."

Gao Yishui repeated the word "she" several times, and even opened his mouth wide enough to stuff an egg. Abu and Jing Yu were stunned, and followed his gaze. Outside the secret door that Gao Yishui didn't close, Cai Yan Standing pretty, Zhengzheng looked at the secret room with good looks, and then asked with a smile: "Mr. Gao Shan, this is what you are going to do in Tang Dynasty? And you found such a small secret room? What do you want to do?" "

Gao Yishui pointed at Cai Yan dumbfounded: "You... aren't you asleep?"

"Why? Just because I drank that bowl of tea mixed with Mongolian sweat medicine?" Cai Yan giggled, "Is it from Lu Ding Pharmacy? Although the shopkeeper always brags in front of me, I always feel that his Mongolian sweat medicine The alkaline smell is too strong, this is a flaw. The Punan pharmacy is better, it is colorless and odorless, but it is slow to take effect, and it needs to be paired with strong wine to speed up the circulation of blood energy."

Gao Yishui was made a little silly by what she said. Is this really the reclusive daughter of the Cai Mansion?How do you talk about Menghan medicine in a clear and logical manner, as if you have used it before?

Where did Qin Ke recruit this evildoer?

He tilted his head and looked at Abu, and Abu also looked at him, looking at each other, Gao Yishui became angry: "Look at what I am doing, I was also deceived by this little girl's film, how do I know that she is still a difficult master?"

With a bitter face, Abu said helplessly, "I haven't said anything yet."

Gao Yishui turned his head to look at Cai Yan with deep eyes: "Miss Cai, sometimes too much curiosity may not be a good thing. If you have no practice, you just want to take risks easily. If something happens, Cai Zhuguo will feel distressed."

"I have had curiosity since I was a child, and it is as numerous as the stars in the sky." Cai Yan pursed her lips and chuckled, "But I have also heard a saying that it is necessary to be defensive. Well, anyway, you always You can't kill me here, why don't you tell me what you guys are doing..."

"No." Abu and Jing Yu said in unison.

Cai Yan looked at the two of them: "Why? I won't spoil your good deeds, I promise!"

However, this matter is not only related to the whereabouts of Wuxing Sinan, but also related to Qin Ke's safety in the palace, so it is a big matter.

"Hey...but I guessed what you guys want to do." Cai Yan looked at Jing Yu's palace drawings that Jing Yu had silently put away, and looked around. He raised his voice, "Did Ah Ke enter the palace?"

All were silent.

Cai Yan began to stomp her feet: "Why do you think I want to harm Ah Ke? If I want to harm him, why should I follow him?" She said with a bit of resentment on her face, "Sneaking into the palace is such an interesting thing, Ah Ke Ke didn't tell me, it's really embarrassing! I can really help you, I think that among you, no one is more familiar with the terrain of the palace than me, wouldn't it be better to have my help?"

The imperial dining room in the palace.

When the cool oil rippling along the spoon into the hot cauldron, the cleaned chicken wings jumped into the oil, the sound of sizzling was loud, and the aroma of the meat burst out in an instant, flaring wantonly in the whole place. in the kitchen.

However, the chef's eyes were half-closed, as if he was breathing calmly, and the hand holding the spoon touched the side of the pot slightly. From a distance, it looked like an old monk tapping a wooden fish, muttering something silently in his mouth.

Concubine Chicken Wings.

Today is Yang Taizhen's birthday, so the palace naturally has to prepare her favorite dishes, and this imperial chef has been able to stay in the imperial dining room for many years because of this unique skill, and he is still very popular now.

The moment he suddenly opened his eyes, he poured out the excess hot oil, poured wine and sugar from Fanbang into the pot, and while covering the pot, he began to greet loudly: " Where's the firewood! Where's the firewood!"

"Here we come." Qin Ke trotted in holding the firewood he had just chopped, all the way to the stove, bent down and wanted to stuff firewood into the dimly lit hole, but Yu Chu's face tightened and he hurriedly used up all the firewood. Pulling him with all the strength in his body, Qin Ke didn't dare to use force, so he staggered and sat down on the ground.

The chef's face was flushed, and he yelled at Qin Ke: "What's the matter! What's the matter! I asked you to bring firewood, did I tell you to stuff it in?"

Qin Ke stared blankly at him, then looked at the stove with a faint fire, and said, "No?"

"Nonsense." The imperial cook stared, and said, "This dish of imperial concubine's chicken wings has to be boiled slowly after frying to let the flavor in. If you add firewood, the dish will be ruined when the fire heats up. By then, you will have nothing to do, and I will be beheaded if I am not good! If you ask you to chop wood, you will be slow, and if you are asked to carry firewood, you will do it yourself. Who are you? Have you never seen you? Who brought you?"

At this time, Lao Guo, who heard the scolding in the room, also ran in. Seeing this scene, he hurriedly approached and said, "Master Kang, Mr. Kang, this is the eldest nephew of my cousin's family. Today is the first day he entered the palace." Help, clumsy, if there is any offense, please forgive me, please forgive me."

The imperial cook surnamed Kang obviously had a very bad temper. Looking at Lao Guo, he curled his lips and said in disdain: "Excuse me? Do you have such a face? What kind of mess is there with cousins ​​and nephews, and you bring them here alone? Old Guo, don't Blame me for not persuading you, if you do this, sooner or later you will commit crimes and have your head beheaded!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Lao Guo didn't dare to retort. He bent down and bowed his head with an apologetic smile, and kept saying, "Master Xie Kang taught, Master Xie Kang taught." From the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse of Qin Ke who was in a daze, and stomped his feet: "Still doing it in a daze." What? Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Kang!"

Qin Ke stood up and apologized to the imperial chef along with Lao Guo, while the imperial chef surnamed Kang yelled at him relentlessly, and none of the imperial chefs around came to persuade him, they all gloated and continued to be busy with their own affairs.

The royal chef surnamed Kang scolded for a while, only feeling a little dry mouth, suddenly remembered his business, slapped his thigh, and hurriedly looked at his pot. At this time, the soup in the pot had been absorbed by the chicken wings, and the chicken wings looked like It was crystal clear and plump, he didn't care too much, and hurriedly filled up the chicken wings, the fragrance was overflowing.

Chapter 255 Seven Seven

Seeing that the dishes were not affected in the slightest, the imperial chef was relieved, glanced at Lao Guo and Qin Ke, and said coldly: "It almost spoiled my good deed." Having said that, he waved impatiently and said: " Let's go, let's go and do your own work. That kid, just entered the palace, be diligent, don't chop firewood for a while, and don't pretend to be smart if you don't understand. Old Guo, you should teach me more he."

Of course, Lao Guo thanked Qin Ke a thousand times, said that he would discipline him well, and took Qin Ke out. As soon as the two of them left, Lao Guo solemnly said to Qin Ke: "This is the imperial dining room, it is no better than other places. , do your best when you are asked to do it, and don’t be smart about what you are not asked to do. These royal chefs are all about people, and we are rough and don’t know how to heat. If we add firewood to others, we will be punished Break the leg!"

Qin Ke nodded and said, "I see."

"Understood?" Lao Guo shook his head and said, "You have to keep it in your heart! My cousin is a hard-working person, and it is really not easy for you to come here from the countryside. Since you are with me, I have to take good care of you. How long will it be in the future?" Xinyan, do you know? Also, chop wood more quickly, don’t let people say you are lazy! Use your strength..."