The Ascension of Ghosts

Xie Xiao looks like a rich playboy, but he handles things very neatly. In the afternoon, he sent a message to Lu Sheng that he will be brought into the palace in three days.

After Lu Sheng dealt with the backlog of official business, he met Linghu Feiyu and Yan Xiu again, and the cat and the duck reported to him one after another: "There is no change in the son's mansion, and the servants in the outer court are completely unaware of the inside story. It's just that the big and small monsters in the city fled one after another, and they didn't dare to stay in Jianye. It was because a powerful and unparalleled spiritual power surged from Taicheng, and they were all scared away. Another thing, only a few people were left in Wuchen Temple. The servant who burns the fire looks after the house, and the rest of the Taoists are gone."

The tiger-striped kitten licked its front paws, and said solemnly: "Lu Gongcao, something big is going to happen in the capital, I advise Gongcao to leave the capital quickly, and it's safe to stay in Dawangzhuang. If you don't want to...follow me Brother, far away from the temple and the world, it is also chic and at ease."

Lu Sheng didn't answer, just pondered for a while, then sat down and wrote a letter, ordering the two little monsters to send to his elder brother Lu Yuan, saying: "Be sure to send your brother and sister-in-law to Dawangzhuang, and the family from the south will naturally also have to do the same." Go. My sister-in-law is going to give birth, please tell the owner She, and take care of her if she is troubled."

Yan Xiu and Linghu Feiyu looked at each other in dismay, Linghu Feiyu said: "Just leave this matter to Yan Xiu, Mr. Lu always has a helper by his side."

Huamao scoffed: "If it's a helper, it's better for me to stay, it's much more useful than you."

The mallard sat on the window sill, glanced at the cat slowly, and said calmly, "I can fly."

Huamao was speechless for a moment.

Lu Sheng thought it made sense, so he patted the cat's head and said, "My brother has met Brother Yan Xiu, and you will deliver the letter, and tell him to feel more at ease. I will entrust the blood of my Lu family to you."

The cat looked stern, picked up the letter in its mouth and said vaguely: "I will live up to my trust!" Then it turned and ran out of the window sill.

While combing his feathers, Linghu Feiyu said: "Taicheng is heavily guarded and there are many magic circles. Young Master Lu is going to enter the palace, but I can't accompany him. I have to wait on the top of the city. If you have something to do, you need to be there." Try to warn." With force on his lips, he pulled out an emerald green feather that seemed to be carved from jasper, and put it in Lu Sheng's hand, "burn it, and I will be able to break into the formation of Taicheng and help you. About a quarter of an hour."

Lu Sheng thanked him, put away the feather, and asked, "What will happen if the time passes?"

Linghu Feiyu still said slowly: "If you still stay in the formation after a certain time, your body will be smashed to pieces and your soul will disappear."

Lu Sheng's heart trembled, and he decided not to use this last resort unless he had to.

For three consecutive days, he rested in the office, and when the appointed time came, he put on his official uniform, put the hanging pot in the cabinet, and followed Xie Xiao into the palace.

The chief deacon of the Qingming Department is a fourth-rank military officer, so the court clothes are much simpler than Xie Xiao's usual attire. Although he doesn't pay attention to the majesty of the heavenly family and the court etiquette, he doesn't want to listen to the officials' noise To criticize, he only wore a fluffy snow-white sable fur cloak over the court clothes. The edges and collar of the cloak were rolled with bright red fox fur. During middle school, even the court ladies and young officials couldn't help being bewildered by the stunning beauty, their knees felt weak for a while, their hearts pounded wildly, and Xia Fei's cheeks.

Xie Xiaoxu has long been used to it, just walking forward without seeing it, and if he sees a woman who looks the way he likes, he will look up and down unscrupulously, his peach eyes almost overflowing with water.

Lu Sheng only felt that this person was frivolous and frivolous, and even Sima Yu couldn't compare to him. He had never heard any rumors about him in Beijing in the past. It must be because Xie's family took him very seriously. There was no other way, and he followed behind him blindly.From time to time, he had to deal with Xie Xiao's frivolous questions and deliberate probing, so Lu Sheng just showed a dumbfounded look, answering one word for one question, and crossing ten sentences for ten questions. Xie Xiao's questions were boring, so he let him go.

The two passed through several palace gates, long corridors and curved bridges, and a row of palace people came in front of them. The first female official was Fan Gongling next to Concubine Wen. The two sides greeted each other according to their ranks. It's a sin not to go to my cousin to say hello."

Fan Gongling hurriedly bowed his head and replied: "Master Hou is serious. The concubine received the letter that Lord Hou brought back to Beijing, and she was very happy. Knowing that Master Hou is involved in mundane affairs, she specially told Master Hou not to rush to greet him."

The two chatted a few more words, and Fan Gongling took a closer look at Lu Sheng, and said with a smile, "It's good that you have nothing to do with your meritorious service."

Lu Sheng replied: "I dare not be, thanks to the great blessing of the concubine, the official is not hurt. I will ask to see the concubine some other day, thank the concubine for her kindness."

He was just saying politely, but Fan Gongling said: "It's just a coincidence, the concubine has caught the cold and hasn't seen any guests for a few days."

It turned out that there was no room for turning back in his refusal, and he made it clear that he did not want to deal with him.Naturally, Lu Sheng was extremely embarrassed. He had little such experience, so he had to deal with it a few times, and he was a little annoyed for a while.Fortunately, the two teams occupied a corridor, and it was inconvenient to stay for a long time, so they exchanged a few words and left alternately.

Before leaving, Xie Xiao only took a deep look at Fan Gongling, the female officer looked at her nose and heart, and she couldn't see anything on her face.

Fan Gongling went back to Miwu Courtyard and reported to Concubine Wen all the things that happened on the way. The noble lady was reclining on the soft couch with rabbit fur cushions, and a court lady was squatting beside the couch, using a pair of jade hammers to help her. Gently beat the leg.Concubine Wen just closed her eyes and listened, her expression didn't change at all, and she didn't know if she was awake or asleep.After Fan Gongling finished the report, he paused for a while and said hesitantly: "Your Majesty..."

Concubine Wen's well-maintained face slowly showed a smile, her eyes were still closed, she rested her chin lazily with one hand, and said with a light smile, "I know what you want to say, so I don't need to repeat it."

Fan Gongling bowed his head deeply, and replied: "Yes..."

Concubine Wen just opened her eyes, her eyes were clear and sparkling, and she could not express her joy: "Baoyang is a good boy, but if that one tells me not to interfere, naturally I can't intervene and miss a big deal."

Fan Gongling said: "Your officer understands." This time, there was no hesitation in his tone.

Concubine Wen murmured again: "It's been 23 years, why hasn't she aged?"

Here, Lu Sheng has already seen Xie Rong.

When Lu Shengshang was outside the courtyard, Ruofie's eyes were sharp, and when he saw him, he lifted his skirt and ran towards the courtyard, shouting, "Young Master Baoyang is here!"

The festive atmosphere diffused like a stone falling into the lake, and suddenly the courtyard became noisy and lively, either going out to greet him, or pulling up the curtains for him all the way, like pine trees, bamboos, butterflies, clouds, everyone was there, smiling at Lu Sheng Saluted, and said: "Young Master Baoyang, you are here. My young master misses you to death."

Accompanied by Xie Xiao, he teased and said: "I don't see you in a day, it's like three autumns, the ancients are sincere and don't deceive me."

Lu Sheng's ears were slightly hot, and he knew that Xie Xiao might have noticed the clue, but he had no time to take care of it. Instead, he smiled frankly: "I made adults laugh."

He followed Ruodie, as if he was really being led by a fluttering butterfly, his footsteps became faster and faster, passing through the hanging flower door and the arcade door, he saw the gazebo behind the rockery, peeking out from the light green curtains surrounding the octagonal pavilion. A lonely and silent figure appeared.

The sound of the zither was like weeping and whispering; the wind was blowing and the dead leaves were blowing away. Lu Sheng vaguely heard Xie Xiao calling him behind him, but he didn't pay attention to it. , I felt a heart almost jumped out of my chest.Only when I saw that person, did I have a down-to-earth, peace of mind; this gray and dull world, just now gave birth to a lively and lively voice.

Lu Sheng originally thought that he had a thousand words to say, but unexpectedly when he actually met, his mind was blank, he didn't know what to do, he choked up for a moment, and finally he could only choke out two words: "Ah Rong."

The man has long hair tied into a black crown, and is wearing a dark black dress with dark gold half-sleeves. The material of the clothes is a mixture of gold and silver threads that have been tempered and forged to a dark color. When the clothes move, they look extravagant and extravagant. .

When Lu Sheng lifted the curtain, he stopped playing the qin, and was still kneeling in front of the qin, with a cool and bitter incense burning in the censer. At this time, he turned around slowly, with an ethereal expression, as if on a beautiful face carved from jade, Can't find the slightest change in expression.Clearly showing a smile, the corners of his lips are slightly hooked, and his eyes as dark as the night are as cold as eternal ice, and he said softly: "Baoyang, you are here."

Lu Sheng took two steps back, only to feel a slight chill on his back, that strange coldness seemed to crawl slowly on his back, spreading to his limbs unknowingly.He stared at the unknown figure in the Xie Rong shell in front of him, and with a thought, he grabbed the scabbard of the hanging pot in his hand, held the hilt of the sword, and asked in a deep voice: "Who are you?"

Xie Rong got up, and just lifted the hem of her clothes, she seemed to descend like the supreme being of heaven and earth, more majestic than before, and even her figure seemed to be more majestic.He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was confused for a moment, and then he showed Lu Sheng's familiar look, and said with a light smile, "Baoyang, who am I to you?"

Lu Sheng felt an indescribable weirdness, and Xie Rong grabbed his wrist and pulled him into his arms to hold him tightly.

The familiar heartbeat that makes people nostalgic, came slowly through the close joint, Xie Rong stroked his back lightly, and said in a low voice like a sigh: "Baoyang, please remember, even I am at this moment, anyone."

Lu Sheng was in a fog when he heard it, and said in a daze, "Ah Rong, what did you say?"

The man didn't respond anymore, he stopped even stroking his back, and after a while, he smiled and said, "What did I say?"

Lu Sheng was at a loss as to what to do, when a woman's voice came from outside the pavilion, asking softly, "Ah Rong, who's here?"

Xie Rong hugged Lu Sheng again, before she let go, and replied with a smile: "Mother, it's Lu Baoyang who my child mentioned to you many times is here."

His smile became softer, he held Lu Sheng's hand, lifted the hanging curtain, walked out of the gazebo, and said to Lu Sheng, "Hug Yang, come and see my mother."

In the corridor of more than ten steps outside the pavilion, Xie Xiao was standing side by side with a woman. The woman was only in her early twenties, with a beautiful face, unparalleled in the world, not inferior to Xie Rong, and more unique to women. She is charming and gentle, her eyes are clear, her brilliance is inherent, shining brightly, she has the bearing of a long-time superior, even if Concubine Yu comes, she will be dwarfed by comparison.

She clearly smiled and looked at Lu Sheng, but Lu Sheng felt as if a heavy burden was weighing down on him, so he couldn't help but straighten his waist, refusing to show weakness, and followed Xie Rong as he walked closer.

Xie Rong didn't let Lu Sheng go until he got close, and didn't show respect to those two, just said: "Baoyang, this is my mother."

This woman looks younger than Xie Rong, how did she become a mother?Lu Sheng couldn't turn the corner for a while, so he hesitated and saluted, "Have you seen... Mrs. Bai?"

He naturally remembered the old stories that Xie Rong mentioned to him. Xie Rong's mother's surname was Bai and her name was Xizhen. She was originally the only daughter of a rural teacher two hundred miles away from Jianye. Xie Rong was born when she was about 20 years old. In 25, this Mrs. Bai had already passed her forty years.No matter how well maintained it is, there will be a difference after 25 years, and it will not still look like it is now.

The woman accepted his gift calmly, and said with a smile: "Lu Gongcao is exempt from the courtesy, the dog has caused trouble to Lu Gongcao on weekdays."

Before Lu Sheng could speak, Xie Rong said, "No trouble."

Lu Sheng sighed secretly in his heart, how can he not be troublesome, it is simply a big trouble.

Mrs. Bai said angrily: "You are so rude, how can you say you are not troublesome. If Lu Gongcao doesn't say anything, how do you know that you are not troublesome?"

Xie Rong smiled and said: "Of course I know. Mom, I have something to talk to Baoyang, and I will bring him to chat with my mother after the discussion is over."

Mrs. Bai sighed: "We old people dare not ask you to accompany us, you go and talk to Lu Gongcao yourself."

Xie Xiao also smiled and said: "The elders are talking with the elders, the two juniors don't bother."

Lu Sheng heaved a sigh of relief, hurriedly said goodbye to the two, followed Xie Rong to leave the courtyard, and walked into the first study room at the end of the corridor.As soon as he entered the room, he immediately said: "Ah Rong, I have something to ask you."

Xie Rong walked to the desk and stopped, and said softly: "Baoyang, I know you are full of doubts, but there are priorities, let's put it aside for now, and listen to me first."

He put his hands on a thick stack of letters, lowered his eyes so that Lu Sheng could not see the look in his eyes, and said just now: "Most of these are written by General Wei Su."