Golden Knife 17 years

In the sixth year of Qinglong, Meicheng beheaded an oiran.

Above Meicheng is Tongzhou. Zhang Shijie, the youngest son of the magistrate of Tongzhou, died in the room of the oiran. Half a month later, the oiran was sentenced to death and beheaded in a vegetable market in the west of the city.People who saw the cut flower back then said that they had never seen such a beautiful woman. Even in prison clothes, she was still breathtakingly beautiful, especially her eyes, which were as clean as snow water. No one who saw her could believe that she could kill people.

Huakui's body was hung on the city gate for three days, and then thrown into a mass grave.

On the second day after Hua Kui died, a fire broke out in the Wenxiang Building where she used to live, and many people were killed. People said that she came back to claim her life.Afterwards, people kept seeing her on that street. Slowly, Suchunhua Street, the most prosperous place in the past, became depressed. Chunjie was completely reduced to the territory of beggars and refugees.

"But to be honest, after so many years, Meicheng has produced so many oirans, none of them can compare with Bai Xiangqing, that is the most beautiful, worthy of the word oiran." Hu Laobao poured out the words to the people in front of him. After serving the wine, he served him dishes graciously, and pushed a plate over: "Try this, it's a specialty of our side, it's called golden tea shreds, and it's made from the new season's dried tofu. The tea soup is boiled, dried and tasted in high soup, then dried and dried again and again, and finally put into the pot and fried with various dried goods. This is what we eat. There is a saying in Meicheng that it is called golden tea silk. For rice wine, the gods have to shake it three times."

A small pile of honey-colored shredded tea was neatly piled up on the plate pushed past. The person opposite stretched out his chopsticks, revealing a hand under the candlelight. Looking at this hand, one can tell that it is well-raised, so the whole hand is glowing with luster, Hu Laobao squinted his eyes, and took another sip of wine-this man is indeed either rich or expensive, is a character.

"According to this, 17 years have passed, why have there been rumors recently?" The person on the opposite side took a mouthful of gold tea silk, and when he opened his mouth, there was a jade-like voice, which could be heard in people's ears Incomparably comfortable.Hu Laobao also took gold tea silk to eat, and said while chewing, "Have you heard of Ting Youlan's song?"

Ting Youlan is a lovesickness song that has been popular for decades, so the person on the opposite side has heard it before. Seeing him nodding, Mr. Hu tapped on the table with his hand: "This Ting Youlan is being sung by flowers all over the country, but In our Meicheng, no flower house dared to sing. When Bai Xiangqing sang this song, he was caught by the magistrate’s son. You know what happened. The girls in Meicheng behind did not sing it. Unlucky, but guess what?" Hu Laobao leaned closer and said, "In the past two months, someone sang Ting Youlan in that old street in the middle of the night, and someone who heard Bai Xiangqing's song said that the voice was exactly the same as Bai Xiangqing's. Isn’t this haunted what is it?”

"The old man also believes in ghosts and gods?" The man stopped his glass and looked up at him.Old Bao Hu chuckled: "Believe it or not, it depends on people's hearts. If you think there is a ghost, it's probably because you have a ghost in your heart. Don't you think so?"

Hu Laobao came out of the tavern on the second watch, and the meal was a joy for both the host and the guests. After the VIP inquired about the news, he got the money.It is Dongyue now, and it is still bitingly cold outside. Braving the cold wind, Mr. Hu staggered out of the tavern door for a long way, and then he stabilized his steps and looked back. A lamp at the tavern door was dimly It was on, and the distinguished guest was still standing at the window like a sword, and those eyes seemed to be still staring at him.

Hu Laobao's heart twitched violently, and a chill rushed to his head from his feet - when he was drinking just now, he caught a glimpse of the embroidery on the cuff of the guest, one layer of black, one layer of silver and one layer of gold, and the embroidered maple leaf gold knife , this one is called Jindao Zhanqiu, others can't recognize it, but he, Hu Laobao, has seen it before.

In the Golden Pavilion Duwei's Mansion, Yan Luo ghosts are sad.

Hu Laobao only felt that the whole body was shaking, the sky in Meicheng was about to turn upside down, and the white wolf of the Golden Pavilion was already smelling the smell.

Zhou Shen watched Hu Laobao walk away, lowered his head and pulled down the sleeves of his outer robe to cover the dark pattern.Zhou Cong turned over and got off the beam, stood behind him and whispered, "My lord, I'm afraid that man has recognized the Golden Pavilion." Zhou Shen said meaninglessly, "Let him go, if you want to fish, you have to muddy the water first. "

He stood there for a moment, then Shen Hu, disguised as a waiter in the shop, led the two horses and walked to the window: "Master Commander, the horses are ready." Zhou Shen looked at the sky by the light in front of the window, and there was already someone in the night wind. There was fine snow, the size of a needle tip, flying in the dark night, and it hurt people's faces.Zhou Shen put on his hood and walked out of the tavern, Shen Hu lowered his head even lower, not daring to look up at him.

Zhou Shen got on his horse, walked two or three steps on the same spot, and then took out a token from his arms and threw it to him: "You don't have to wait in Meicheng, leave Lian Qi and the others on standby, you can use this token when you go back. Call three white wolf guards to come over."

Shen Hu saluted and obeyed, Zhou Shen nodded at him, then clamped his horse's belly, and headed south in the wind and snow.

The south of the city is where Suchun Street is located. When Zhou Shen and Zhou Cong arrived at Suchun Street covered in snow, the night was already dark and the snow was heavy. Gathered in several groups around the fire to cook, and the rest were a few thin dogs wandering on the street.

Suchun Street is indeed the most prosperous flower street in those days. The buildings built along the street are all made of blue bricks. The cornices of each building are next to the corner wall, layer by layer, and the doors of each house are engraved with various colors Patterns, the flower sign hooks picked out in front of each house are plated with brass. Although they have been patinaed, it can be seen that peonies are engraved on them. Just standing here, you can think of the street that year. What a sight it is to see the rich balsam and powder-faced jade arms, and the lively colors and fragrant bells, drums, silk and bamboo all over the street.

But now there is only a street of empty buildings and a street of wind and snow.

Zhou Shen led the horse to the middle of the street, and came out of Wenxianglou, the stunning Bai Xiangqing's, which was right here.

It turned out that the second day after Bai Xiangqing died, there was a fire here, and it was rebuilt later, still in the original layout, with four entrances to the compound and three floors of buildings.

Wenxiang Building is different from other flower buildings. It specially builds a three-story gate building in front of the street, and builds a room facing the street. Every day, different girls play the piano and sing at the window. After singing, they throw a seasonal flower. Go downstairs, if the people below pick it up, they can enter the building with the flowers, drink tea and listen to the girl throwing flowers and then sing a song carefully. After a long time, the flowers in Wenxianglou also have an elegant name, called Xihua Ting sound.

That year, Bai Xiangqing sat by the window and sang Ting Youlan, threw a crabapple and was picked up by Zhang Shijie, and the two fell in love at first sight, thinking back then when they were envious and passionate, who would have expected such an ending.

Now Meicheng has not sung Ting Youlan for a long time, and I have not seen Cherish Flower listening to the music for a long time, Zhou Shen looked at the small window facing the street on the third floor, the wind and snow were heavy, and the rotten gauze curtains floated from the window lattice, almost A piece of rotten yarn is flying in the air, setting off the street, making it indescribably pitiful and desolate.

Zhou Cong listened to the wind in the street and looked at the dark gatehouse. He couldn't help but feel a little trembling. He rubbed his hands and said, "Master, there really are ghosts, right?"

Zhou Shen replied lightly: "Maybe there is."

Zhou Cong laughed dryly: "Master, don't scare me."

Zhou Shen pointed to the corner of the window and asked him to look: "Look for yourself."

Zhou Cong took a closer look, and saw four off-white fingers protruding from the corners of the window sill. He took a few steps back in fright: "It's really a ghost!"

Zhou Shen looked around, but saw no one: "It's just pretending to be a ghost."

All of them from the Golden Pavilion are good at lightness. Zhou Cong only felt a flash in front of his eyes, and saw that Zhou Shen had already kicked off the corner towards the blue brick wall. In just three or two steps, Zhou Shen had landed lightly. On the window sill on the third floor.

Zhou Shen stretched out his foot to remove the rotten yarn wrapped around the severed hand, and lowered his head to distinguish it carefully—it turned out to be a fake hand, but it was exquisitely carved, and it could be seen from a distance as real.Zhou Shen took out a handkerchief from his bosom to wrap his hand. When he took it up, he found something was still under it. He pulled out the knife from his waist and picked up the thing with the tip of the knife for a closer look. It turned out to be a woman's handkerchief. The handkerchief, but it seems to be a long time ago, the handkerchief has turned yellow, but it can still be seen that a cluster of white crabapples is delicately embroidered on the corner.Zhou Shen took away the fake hand and the old handkerchief, and searched around again. He was looking around above, but Zhou Cong below suddenly called him: "Master! Did you hear anything?"

Zhou Shen stopped to search, held his breath and listened carefully. Sure enough, he heard a very soft sound of the piano, which was pulled intermittently by the wind on a snowy night that was completely silent.

Zhou Shen never believed in ghosts or injustices. No matter what the background of this person was, he pretended to be a ghost and tossed so many airs, if he dared to come, Zhou Shen would go for a while.

Zhou Shen listened for a while, kicked his foot from the window, flew straight towards the direction of the sound of the piano, flew a few times like a black kite in the snow all over the sky, and soon disappeared.

Before Zhou Cong called Master, Zhou Shen was no longer visible. Zhou Cong stomped his feet and led two horses to chase in Zhou Shen's direction.

Zhou Shen chased after the sound of the piano. There was a group of beggars surrounded by a fire at the end of the street, but now they all fell to the ground.

At the end of the street, the sound of the piano became louder again. Zhou Shen chased him two more steps, and the sound of the piano suddenly stopped.The night was deep and snowy, and there was only a little light on Jinyang Lake in the distance, a few fishing lights, and a few flower boats. Zhou Shen looked around. The end of Suchun Street was originally a lotus pond ten miles away. A stone bridge is the west wharf of Jinyang Lake. According to Hu Laobao, there was a lotus night in Suchun Street. Every year on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the oirans of each family would parade the street, and finally a lady named Furong was selected by the lotus pond. .The lotus pond, which was full of people at that time, has become a pond for refugees to wash vegetables and laundry after years of abandonment, and the lotus has long since disappeared.

Zhou Shen walked a few steps along the lotus pond at the end of the street, and the sound of the piano started again, this time Zhou Shen recognized that it was really Ting Youlan.This piece was originally a piece of lovesickness, if it is played fast, it is the beginning of love, if it is played slowly, it is lingering, but this piece Ting Youlan plays is very sad, several tones together, it makes people feel sore.

Zhou Shen remained calm and walked towards the place where the qin was playing, and suddenly there was a singing sound along with the qin.

"Yuan Youzhi and Ting Youlan, I miss you and dare not speak, you are like a bright moon in the clouds, I think about you and break my heart, and write Qin Daiyu from my heart, when will I see you, comfort me when I am hesitant." That voice It is very light and slow, and it sings about lovesickness, but it makes people feel chills when they hear it.

Zhou Shen pressed the knife on his waist with his left hand, and squeezed out a dart with his right hand. Listening to the sound and identifying the position is an introductory skill in the Golden Pavilion. He listened for a while, but found that the sound was wandering around. Pull the buckle open, and the dart is scattered into nine nails.The voice was still singing over and over again, Zhou Shen lowered his body slightly, and threw the nine nails in all directions. He had nine such darts on his body, that is, 81 nails. Zhou Shen walked along the lotus pond, his hands constantly The side of the lotus pond was full of firewood chopped by the refugees, and many of Zhou Shen's nails were hit on the pile of firewood. When the fourth dart was removed and thrown out, Zhou Shen finally heard a very slight sound of falling into the dart. There was the sound of meat, followed by the sound of falling firewood. He jumped up and jumped over following the sound, only to see a shadow behind the pile of dry firewood stacks half a person's height shaking for a moment, and there was no movement in an instant.Zhou Shen pulled out his knife, walked around behind the stack of dry firewood, and saw only a few dead branches scattered on the ground, and the nearest dead branch was wrapped with a string of strings.Zhou Shen squatted down to look at the string, the string was blue under the snow light, it looked like a thin wire drawn with fine iron, no wonder the sound of the piano was so deep.

In the past few years, no one has used the qin in the rivers and lakes, and the most famous Xu Santing who killed people with strings has long since disappeared. I don’t know why this person who suddenly appeared in Meicheng to play the qin, Zhou Shen stared at the string At least now he knows that Meicheng is not haunted by ghosts, but by people.

Ghosts and gods are not under his control, but human affairs are his.

Zhou Cong ran over leading the horse, panting and asked Zhou Shen: "Master, have you caught it? What is it?"

Zhou Shen put the strings in his pocket, and passed the fake hands and handkerchiefs he got from Wenxianglou to Zhou Cong. , it looks like it."

Zhou Shen stood up and looked in the direction of Jinyang Lake, and said to Zhou Cong: "Tomorrow, let's go and check on the flower boat."

Zhou Cong stared at him with wide eyes: "Master, do you want to take me to a brothel?"