Jun You Ji Fou

The tea stalls at the gate of Chang'an City are always very lively, and most of the passers-by stop to drink tea and talk about the general trend of the world.

A tall and thin young swordsman found a place to sit down, put the sword on the table casually, and greeted the boss to serve tea.The people next to them were talking about something, their tone full of resentment and dissatisfaction, everyone was emotional, the swordsman was confused, and he leaned over to listen while holding a cup of tea.

"Sure enough, year after year is not as good as year after year! Think about the hundred years since the Great Xia Dynasty, when did we have to suffer this kind of anger?!"

"Exactly! We are such a big country, why do we have to pay so much to a small country like Loulan? Isn't it just a woman who died, let alone we didn't kill it, why should we pay for it?!"

"Didn't they die at the border? They said they were Han Chinese. Who knows if they killed themselves to blackmail us?"

"So what? What can be done? I think that what is left in the imperial court is soft bones. If it was put back in the past, then there is nothing to pay for it. Just beat it down!"

There was a burst of echoes from around, and someone interrupted: "What you said is simple, what are you fighting for? How can those noble people live happily when they fight? They must pay if they can. Anyway, it is ours. Blood money."

When the voice fell, there was another commotion.

The swordsman was confused when he heard that, he pulled a middle-aged man beside him and asked, "Brother, what are they talking about?"

The middle-aged man turned around and looked at him, "Little brother, don't you know yet? A few days ago, the princess of Loulan died inexplicably. Our country paid a heavy gift, hundreds of boxes! I just left the city gate." His jaw dropped. He lifted it from a distance, and his words were filled with anger, "I heard that there are 1 taels of gold and silver, and there are [-] bolts of silk and satin!"

The swordsman nodded, but did not answer.The middle-aged man still said to himself: "These officials and gentlemen really have lived a good life for a long time, and they sent it out with one sentence. Doctor Yushi, doctor Yushi, I didn't expect to be like this today, General Su Jue If he is still alive, he will probably die of anger."

The swordsman was puzzled: "You are talking about Master Su Shiyu, isn't he always praised for his virtue?"

"It's him." The middle-aged man said, "But what you said is probably in the past. The apology I just said was sent out by him!" He sighed again, "Actually, think about it, where is it?" What kind of virtuous people are here, the world is as black as crows, and the court is not all about making money for themselves. A few days ago, I heard people say that he and Chu Taiwei conspired to murder Su Xing. I still didn't believe it, so I quarreled with that person It's been an afternoon, think about it now..." He sneered, shook his head, and stopped talking.

The swordsman looked at the aggrieved people complicatedly, and sighed.

The middle-aged man shifted his gaze from the sword on the table to him, and suddenly said: "Hey, little brother, you look like a ranger with your clothes?"

The swordsman hurriedly said: "You're welcome, I'm not a knight-errant, I'm just a wanderer."

"Hey, I'm being modest," the middle-aged man smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Now, the dignitaries don't care about our life or death. If anything happens in the future, it's up to you!"

The swordsman nodded his head and did not answer. He glanced at his sword, thoughtful.

It was night, and suddenly there was a black shadow passing by outside the study.

Su Shiyu's expression remained unchanged, he still rolled up his sleeves and slowly opened the pine smoke ink. The door of the room was suddenly opened, and the night wind flickered the lamps and candles. .

Su Shiyu lowered his eyes indifferently, and quietly pressed the Hidden Sword in his palm.

But failed to make a move.

The figure froze suddenly, and there was a soft sound when the sharp blade pierced into the body in the silence, the blade protruded from the front chest, and blood splashed wantonly.

Su Shiyu dodged backwards, and saw in his vision that deep red blood fell into the ink, which contrasted with black and red.He raised his eyes, and the black shadow fell to the ground, revealing the person behind him with the sword back in its sheath. The long sword drew a ray of light, and the person with the moonlight behind his back was a face he was familiar with.

"Why are you here?" Su Shiyu was slightly surprised.

Chu Mingyun didn't answer, stepped forward and looked down at the tall and thin swordsman who fell on the ground, and sighed: "Master Su, the apology has just been sent out of Chang'an, so someone came to take your dog official's life so soon?"

Su Shiyu looked at him helplessly, Chu Mingyun raised his eyes, and met his gaze, "You are so courageous, the assassin is already in front of you, can't you even dodge?"

"I was about to strike, but you preempted me." Su Shiyu put aside the blood-stained paperwork, and said with a smile, "Master Chu, please take action. I owe you a favor."

Chu Mingyun sat down at the table, folded his arms on the desk, leaned forward, and chuckled with a drawn-out tone, "You owe me a favor? Do you want to send me away with just one sentence—"

The ending sound and the movement of approaching were stopped by a jade pendant on the forehead, which was delicate and warm to the touch.Su Shiyu looked at the face that was close at hand, and then put the jade pendant in his hand, "Then this should be enough."

It was radiant and warm, and Chu Mingyun still remembered that this jade pendant was given to him by Su Shiyu in the Bliss Building as a bet, "Why do you give me this?"

"Repay your favor, just accept it." Su Shiyu paused, and then added, "In the future, if you come to the mansion again, you don't have to be like an assassin, you can come to me anytime with the jade pendant, and even more No one will stop you."

Chu Mingyun caressed the carved patterns on the white jade, "Including when you take a bath?"

"..." Su Shiyu said, "What do you think?"

Chu Mingyun laughed and accepted the jade pendant, "But this time I have something serious to come to you."

Su Shiyu smiled faintly, poured tea for him, "I know, just tell me straight."

"You keep the matter about Ji Heng secret," Chu Mingyun looked at him, "Is it the King of Huainan who instigated it again?"

Su Shiyu nodded, "That's what was written in the confession, and Ji Heng also handed over the token, it seems to be true."

"Looks like it?" Chu Mingyun smiled, "Master Su also noticed something was wrong?"

Su Shiyu looked back, "What do you know?"

"Do you still remember the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven?" Chu Mingyun said, "I sent someone to check Jiang Yuan's hometown, and you probably already guessed it?"

"Huainan?"

"Yes," Chu Mingyun said with a smile, "there are not so many coincidences in this world. If His Majesty the Emperor chose to pursue it, then Jiang Yuan's origin would definitely be found out, and I'm afraid it will be attributed to King Huainan again. "

Su Shiyu closed his eyes and remained silent, thinking secretly.

"Tsk," Chu Mingyun reached out and raised his chin in dissatisfaction, "look at me."

Su Shiyu's figure froze slightly, and his thoughts became confused. He pulled his hand down and looked over, "What's wrong?"

"Why did you ignore me again before I finished speaking?" Chu Mingyun frowned.

He couldn't help chuckling, "I'm sorry, Mr. Chu, let's continue."

Chu Mingyun took the teacup, "So isn't this strange? The opponent's methods are getting worse and worse, and the evidence is getting more and more obvious."

"The Queen of Huainan was found out in the Su Xing case. You did not act. Soon after, Jiang Yuan, who was originally from Huainan, framed me, but His Majesty did not pursue it. Then now, the Queen of Loulan was killed, and the evidence pointed directly at the King of Huainan, forcing you to pursue the matter." .”

Su Shiyu was startled, and suddenly understood, Chu Mingyun came to a conclusion, "He seems to be urging you to kill him, the more you don't move, the more impatient he will be."

Su Shiyu frowned, "But Wang Yin is like a jade seal, it cannot be faked."

"I didn't say that those evidences were fake, so I just found it strange." Chu Mingyun looked at him, "In a few days, Mr. Su should go on a hunting trip. Do you still want to go?"

Su Shiyu met his gaze and nodded, "Since it is confirmed that King Huainan is inextricably involved, of course we will go."

"I know Master Su has long intended to cut down the feudal clan. Could it be possible that he would even risk his life for this?"

Su Shiyu smiled lightly, "Why not?"

"It's up to you." Chu Mingyun looked away and drank tea.

Su Shiyu didn't continue this topic any more. The lanterns swayed softly and the shadows of the candles flickered. He looked at the cool corpse on the ground, sighed and said suddenly: "Although the apology can save me from a war, I'm afraid that as long as the Loulan Lord returns After one day in power, Loulan will never have any contact with our Great Xia again, I just hope not to form an alliance with the Xiongnu..."

Chu Mingyun put down the teacup and laughed, "Loulan is the only way to come back from the Western Regions. Do you think they will let those Han Chinese caravans pass by?"

it goes without saying.Su Shiyu asked: "Master Chu has a solution?"

"I just thought of it." Chu Mingyun said with a smile, "Just replace the general guarding the western border with Zhou Yi."

"What do you plan to do after changing?"

"It doesn't matter, Mr. Su doesn't have to have the idea of ​​choosing someone else when we have a solution." Chu Mingyun said, "Zhou Yi has been with me the longest. He was my deputy when we defeated the Huns. If he is in charge of the Western Region, he will definitely It can deter the Xiongnu and Loulan."

Su Shiyu calmly said: "This matter is no small matter, let's discuss it carefully after reporting it to His Majesty."

"As long as Mr. Su agrees now, I think His Majesty's side will not be a problem." Chu Mingyun smiled and looked at him, "Huh?"

Su Shiyu stared at him silently for a long time, the night breeze passed through the corridor, and some fireflies flew out of the window.

What Chu Mingyun said is true, except for a few of his confidants, no one in the court can take on the heavy responsibility.

Su Shiyu sighed softly, "Since Master Chu said so, I have no reason not to agree."

Chu Mingyun laughed, "Lord Su really understands the truth." After a pause, he suddenly remembered something, "By the way, what exactly did Tianlu Pavilion lose that time?"

"I lost several books randomly, and I can't guess what the other party's purpose is." Su Shiyu recalled, "There are imperial examination questions from previous years, edicts for building canals, some border memorials, vassal records, and... "

"Fan Wang Lu?" Chu Mingyun interrupted.

Su Shiyu nodded, "I remember that it contains the fiefdoms of the princes and vassals, family trees, ceremonial pattern beasts, and the list of audience gifts."

tattoo beast.

Chu Mingyun's eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his lips curled up.

The ornamentation on the copper talisman.

The other party was more thoughtful than him. In order to avoid being exposed, he stole the record of the feudal king first, so there was no way to check it.

Chu Mingyun got up and straightened his sleeves, "Okay, I've finished what I need to say, I'll go back first."

Su Shiyu responded, and stood up to send him out. Chu Mingyun took two steps but turned back, "I almost forgot."

"how?"

Chu Mingyun handed him a paper bag, "here."

"What is this?" Su Shiyu took it over and looked at it.

"Last time I said I gave you pine nut candy." Chu Mingyun casually raised his hand, turned and left, "There is no need to give it away."

He disappeared in the blink of an eye, Su Shiyu looked down at the paper bag in his hand, and slowly smiled with the corners of his lips curled up, unable to tell what emotion it was.

The guard at the gate of the Su residence was leaning against the wall and drowsy, when he was awakened suddenly by the sound of footsteps caught in his ears, he turned around and saw the person coming before he could react, and was shocked by the jade pendant brought out by the other party, "You ..."

The guard was tongue-tied, looked at a little light in the study room in the distance, and moved his eyes to Chu Mingyun in front of him with difficulty, opened the door of the mansion in a hurry, couldn't help but glance at the jade pendant, bowed down respectfully: "You...you are slow Walk."

Chu Mingyun glanced at the jade pendant in his hand, frowning in confusion.