caged robin

The atmosphere at breakfast should have been more relaxed.Abner's arm was flexible as if it had never been injured, and he put a thin slice of meat dripping with hot soup on the white bread, and ate it heartily.Jonny's complexion turned slightly rosy, and he was quietly pressing the golden saffron juice on the egg tart with the back of a spoon.

"Riya, your father will be here soon." The Duke said to his wife beside him.

Rhea's hand stopped, and the small onion pieces on the knife fell to the plate. Then she felt her gaffe, and forced a smile, "He didn't tell me."

"I received the letter last night. Lord Rolek was very worried about your health. He rushed over as soon as he heard about the accident." "The accident" obviously refers to Rhea's miscarriage. The Duke glanced at Rhea and continued to concentrate He carefully cut the salt and pepper venison on the plate, "Riya, you haven't been back to visit Lord Rolek for a long time. I heard that his eye disease has become more and more serious over the years. My lords, if he comes, you should treat him well." .”

Rhea remained silent, her knuckles turning white while holding the knife.The Duke chewed a piece of tender meat carefully, with an elegant demeanor, as if he was out of it.Jonny silently spread honey on the bread.

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

Although Abner was confused, he was not interested in Rhea's family affairs.What he knew about Rhea's father, that is, Earl Tucker Rollerick, was no more known than ordinary people.He only knew that the Roleke family in Blue Spring City had a long history and was famous far and wide for their rich family property. The folks called it "gold is flowing everywhere, and the wealth is incomparable to the country."This Earl Tucker Rollek is a devout believer, and he never leaves the "Red Dragon Bible" every day, and even once wanted to shave his hair and become a holy dragon messenger.Earl Rolek has many children, but except for the eldest daughter, Tanis Rolek, who was born to his wife, the rest are all offspring he brought back from abroad.The main wife would get angry at first, but because she couldn't bear a son, she just watched with cold eyes. Anyway, these bastards are just in the name of "sons of the earl", and they can eat enough here at most. No title can be assigned.

Abner is not sure whether his father really loves Rhea, but he can at least be sure that marrying Rhea will greatly help his father become Wang Fu. Since Janey Apocassari obtained the title of nobility for the king to repel the harassment of the nomads, there have been two sword-clothed knight commanders and three censor chiefs.The first generation of the Roleke family was the hero of the "Four Kings" era, with a long history and "rich as an enemy".The marriage of the two families should be a match made in heaven.

Every time he thinks of this, his teeth itch with anger.

His biological mother, who was criticized by the nobles, died when he was under two years old, because he had lived away from his mother since birth, and he had a very strange impression of his mother.There are only broken images in his mind to keep his memory of his mother alive: a field, a beautiful pale young woman, the tenderness in peacock blue eyes, a wicker wreath in a slender hand, my young self riding on his father's shoulders superior……

The father of the circus, who claimed to be Abner's grandfather, told Abner how beautiful, how gentle and virtuous his mother was, but he only remembered that shadow with a distant face and an indeterminate voice.In fact, he can't even remember his mother's death and funeral, so he has a stepmother in a daze, and he doesn't even remember whether he had a big fight with his father.

Abner felt tight in his chest, and went out irritably after breakfast.Standing at the gate of the boulevard, looking up at the tall silver tower in front of me, I felt a strong sense of suffocation.

He wandered aimlessly, and before he knew it, he had already left the Duolun Palace and was in the bustling city market.The largest market in the city is obviously much more bustling and lively than the rural markets outside the city. The wide streets are paved with stone slabs, and the two rows of small vendors are neatly dressed. The goods are placed on clean wooden shelves. Thick cloth acts as a shelter.From time to time, luxurious carriages of nobles pass by, and pedestrians on both sides give way one after another. There are indifferent faces hidden behind the yellow silk curtains of the carriage windows.

"Is this thing really useful?"

"My lords, the crazy woman next to me was cured just like that."

Abner heard furtive whispers beside him, glanced at it, and saw two middle-aged men in short shirts secretly sharing something.

"Just stick this on the crazy woman, and the 'Ghost Leopard' will come over immediately. Hey, please be gentle, I bought it for ten copper coins, don't tear it up."

"My lords, are you so clever?"

"It's absolutely true. My old lady saw it with her own eyes. Master 'Ghost Leopard' is exactly the same as this painting. Damn it, please be gentle."

Ghost Leopard?

Abner walked slowly to the two of them, pretending to buy ribbons on the shelf.Glancing out of the corner of the eye, one of the men was holding a thin painting in his hand, which seemed to depict a ferocious black-haired animal.He took a closer look, and there were words like "ghost leopard", "blessing", "dispelling evil" written under the painting.

Abner: "..." This painting can't be Aureas, right?But if so, this painting is too scary.

"Where can I buy it?"

"Go straight ahead, see the persimmon stand? Turn right and you'll see it. I bought it there just now, but I've been checking closely for a while. If you slow down, you might not be there anymore. "

"Damn it, what kind of bullshit is the knight in swordsman? He can't even catch ghosts. He's still blocking the 'ghost leopard' everywhere. I think he's probably afraid of losing his job."

"Hey, please keep your voice down, there is a little lord behind us."

"What are you afraid of? He's busy buying tapes for Niu. Well, I'll come back as soon as I go."

Abner raised his eyebrows lightly, bought two ribbons woven with tit patterns, paid the money lazily, and walked towards the place the middle-aged man said.

Passing by a stall selling persimmons, walking into a narrow and claustrophobic winding alleyway, I could hear shouting and noise deep in the alleyway from a long distance away.Abner walked quickly, and finally saw the crowd.A group of people gathered around a peddler in a brown gown with a small black beard and a ridiculous blue hat, waving a stack of papers in his hand and shouting loudly: "'Ghost! Master Leopard has appeared! Lord Ghost Leopard has appeared! One ten copper coins, two 15 copper coins!"

"Can you show me one first?" The crowd was too enthusiastic, and Abner couldn't squeeze into the crowd, so he stood at the outermost edge and shouted at the vendors standing on the high ground.

The merchant saw Abner's aristocratic attire and fair face at a glance, and immediately pushed aside the crowd with a smile, and presented a stack of paintings with both hands, "Look, my lord."

Seeing that they were noblemen, the crowd fell silent.

Abner picked up the painting and glanced at it, only to see a long-haired black monster painted on rough and inferior paper, with all white eyes, and an extremely terrifying appearance.

"What's this?" Abner asked.

"This is 'Ghost Leopard', my lord."

"'Ghost Leopard'?"

At this moment, the crowd gradually dispersed, and the vendor leaned forward and whispered, "Your Excellency, you can buy a few. It's for warding off evil spirits. I'll make it cheaper for you."

"..."

The peddler glanced furtively around, and after confirming that there was no one there, he whispered: "My lord, you are a noble person at first glance, and there are some things that you may not know. Recently, Silver Bow City has been frequently haunted by ghosts. Possessed by ghosts... This 'ghost leopard' can get rid of ghosts, as long as you stick it on the person who is possessed by ghosts, the 'ghost leopard' can fly right away. Just listen to its 'roar—', then Immediately, people seem to be okay." The peddler was lively and dancing.

Abner raised his eyebrows, and glanced at the painting again. Although the painting was ugly, but seeing the exaggerated bright thing on the monster's neck, he was sure it was Aureas.

"Are you sure 'Ghost Leopard' looks like this?" Abner joked.

The peddler's face immediately sank, and he said seriously: "Sir, although I am a small business, I put the word 'sincerity' first, and I can guarantee it with my life..."

"Stop, stop," Abner raised his eyebrows, and immediately took out the money, "Give me one."

The small peddler smiled wryly, "Master, buy a few more, be prepared, and it's good to give it away if it doesn't work."

"Can you sell the nine copper coins?"

"Sir, this..."

Abner touched the rough paper and looked at the ugly panther, "Eight."

"grown ups……"

"If I don't sell it, I will leave."

"Hey—my lord, sell it!"

Abner put the money into the vendor's hands, "If it doesn't work, I'll have to come back and settle the score with you."

Small vendor: "..." Muttering, he went to find money in the big cloth bag next to him, turned around and saw Abner playing with the ribbon, his eyes lit up, he took out a large handful of ribbons from the bag, and presented it again with a smile, "My lord, I still have a lot of high-quality silk ribbons here, all of which are of the quality of the palace, and the price is also cheap."

Abner: "..."

Seeing that Abner frowned, the small vendor immediately put away the ribbon, and took out a tattered book from his bag, "My lord, buy a copy of "The Secret History of Nobility."

Abner: "..."

The writing was a bit torn, and the names of the big families in the four countries were written on the face. Abner saw at a glance the Margery family, the Apocasseri family who were frequently famous, and the rich and invincible family. The Rolek family, and the writing is correct, which is really rare for a folk book.

Seeing that Abner seemed to be a little interested, the small peddler quickly finished flipping through the pages, and whispered flatteringly, "My lord, there is everything in this book..."

Abner's eyes widened... The book was full of all kinds of unsightly and obscene pictures.

The small peddler said with a smile: "My lord, don't be surprised. In order to sell the book, it has to be packaged in a decent way. If you don't like the cover, I also have "Five Hundred Kinds of Folk Ballads" and "A Complete Collection of Recipes." ", "Origin Bible"..."

Abner crossed his arms, pointed his toes on the ground, and watched the peddler busy taking books out of his bag.

"My lord, as long as you buy ten copies of 'Ghost Leopard', I'll give you one." The small vendor graciously stuffed a copy of "Five Hundred Kinds of Folk Songs" into Abner's arm, and raised his hand. With a stack of "ghost leopard" pictures.

Abu Nayang raised his eyebrows, only to hear a rush of hoofbeats coming from behind the merchant, and then several patrolling guards in dark green cloaks rushed over.The vendor turned around at lightning speed, picked up the big bag and ran away.

"Chasing!" There was another gust of wind, and two guards rode their horses to chase after the vendor.

All that was left at the scene was Abner, a pile of waste paper-like pictures of "ghost leopards" and a few unrolled dirty books.

"Master Divine Bird?!" The remaining two guards exclaimed in unison.

Abner turned his head, it was Tommen and Keener.

Abner: "..."

Things happened too fast, he scratched his head, speechless for a moment.