The Ascension of Ghosts

At the end of February, the spring in the south of the Yangtze River is deep, peach and apricot blossoms are all over the garden, and the river banks and orchards near and far are shrouded in light smoke like a piece of delicate rice. There is Qingxi River in the east of Jianye City, which surrounds half of the capital city and connects with the canal in the city. , the stream is clear, green as blue, regardless of the people's dignitaries, most of the time on the Shangsi Festival, they have to go to the Qingxi River to bathe to get rid of uncleanness.

In the old days, the Han Dynasty traveled southwards, abandoned Luoyang and chose Jianye, and the imperial power was declining to the west. It was the king who supported the Sima royal family and went out on a large scale during the Shangsi Festival. He went to rest by the Qingxi River. His ceremonial guard was grand and grand, and he conquered the south. The dignitary has gained a firm foothold in Jianye.

Since then, Shangsi Rixiu has become a custom, and it has become a major event for the clan and nobles. Naturally, the common people also flock to it. On the occasion of this festival, men and women pass flowers and sing songs to each other. It is also a grand event for officials and people to enjoy together. .

Seeing that the Shangsi Festival was approaching on March [-], Lu Sheng prepared peach blossom wine and plum wine and went to visit Xie Rong.

Earlier, Xie Rong handed over the beautiful portrait painted by Master Qianshan to his younger brother Xie Xuan, and made it public at the Hundred Flowers Banquet where talented scholars from Beijing and China gathered. What was handed over at that time was another painting that was repainted afterwards. Although the portrait and Shen Yun are [-]% similar, the face has been slightly changed, and it is no longer Lu Sheng's original face.

Lu Sheng took this opportunity to thank Xie Rong.

When Ruoxia took the wine jar with both hands, she smiled and said, "Today a fisherman brought fresh fish and shrimp, which is just right for a whole fish banquet to go with the wine."

Lu Sheng said happily, "Thank you Miss Ruoxia."

Ruo Xia Fu stepped back, but Xie Rong lowered her face and asked coldly: "Only Xie Ruo Xia?"

Seeing that he was dissatisfied, Lu Sheng had no choice but to cup his hands again and said, "Mr. Lu, thank you for your kindness, young master, and I will always be grateful."

Xie Rong was leaning on the couch, squinting at him with one hand on his back, with a half-smile, but said: "Come here."

Naturally, Lu Sheng didn't want to come over, so he sat upright beside the case, and said solemnly, "I have good ears and eyes, so you can just speak up when you have something to say, my lord."

Xie Rong's eyelids closed slightly, but she suddenly sneered and said, "If you have nothing to do, you can go to the Three Treasures Hall. Why do you come here, you might as well explain clearly earlier."

Lu Sheng choked, and said embarrassingly, "I only saw you four days ago..."

Xie Rong said: "If nothing happens, I'm a little sleepy today, why don't we meet again some other day."

Lu Sheng quickly stood up, and hurriedly said: "Ah Rong!" Seeing that Xie Rong only raised a pair of long and narrow phoenix eyes, he casually glanced at him, so he sighed and said, "Ah Rong, I just want to ask you, Shangsi Festival How about going to Qingxi with me?"

Xie Rong glanced at him before saying: "Of course."

Lu Sheng's heart relaxed, and he showed joy, and said, "Ah Rong, I have to trouble you one more thing."

Xie Rong was still lazily reclining on the couch, hooked her fingers and said: "Let's talk about it for now."

Seeing his appearance, Lu Sheng secretly sighed in his heart, but he had to get up obediently, sit beside Xie Rong, and leaned over to discuss with him softly.

After the discussion between the two, it didn't take long for Ruoxia to bring people to serve wine and food, which was still as colorful as before.

The one that is crystal clear as snow and melts in the mouth is the sea bass; the one that is red and full of aroma is grilled sweet shrimp; Fresh broad beans are ground into bean paste, mixed with fresh fish soup, the entrance is very smooth and delicious.

Surrounded by various dishes is a white jade plate that is more than a foot long. On the jade plate is ice crushed ice on the bottom, and there is a sea bream with complete head and tail. The adult fish's body was crystal clear, with a faint crimson glow.

It is rumored that when spring comes, the peach blossoms are in full bloom, and the petals are scattered all the way to the sea. After being eaten by sea bream, the whole body turns pink, and even the fish meat also contains the fragrance of peach blossoms, sweet and crisp, so it is called spring sea bream. Gold is still being scrambled by the powerful and rich, and it is hard to come by.

Naturally, Lu Sheng didn't understand. He only felt that the fish was sweet, smooth, crispy and very delicious. With peach blossom wine, it became even more beautiful. He ate most of it before he knew it. Xie Rong saw that he was eating happily. A second spring bream was brought over for Lu Sheng's enjoyment.

Lu Sheng was full of food and drink, and his wish was fulfilled, so he felt that he had failed Xie Rong more and more. When holding the green tea, he inevitably hesitated, and said in a low voice: "Ah Rong, why don't you forget it."

Xie Rong smiled and said: "What stupid things are you talking about? If you have an appointment with Yang, I will naturally be happy to agree with you."

Seeing the servants collecting all the bowls and leaving the room, Lu Sheng couldn't help but clenched the porcelain cup in his hand, his heart became heavier and colder, he suddenly put down the tea cup, and leaned towards Xie Rong.

At the end of spring, everyone had already changed out of their padded clothes and put on spring shirts, and now they were suddenly clinging to Xie Rong's side, under the thin fabric, the heat of his skin suddenly penetrated, Lu Sheng was inevitably a little embarrassed, but he still gritted his teeth , reached out to untie Xie Rong's belt.

Xie Rong gently held his wrist, and laughed softly, "Master Lu, I'm exhausted today, I'm afraid I won't be able to serve you."

Lu Sheng's flushed face gradually turned pale, and he forced a smile, "I'm just joking with you."

After all, he had something on his mind, and reluctantly staying for a while, he said goodbye and left the house.

Seeing Lu Sheng leave, Ruo Die walked into the room with a tray in his hand, and said with a smile, "Shangsi Festival is a good day for exchanging heart and soul, Mr. Baoyang doesn't go looking for other people, he specially came to invite you for a trip, you must... "

She spoke halfway, but stopped abruptly, looking at Xie Rong's indifferent face, she couldn't help but feel chills in her heart, quietly put the tray on the table, and whispered: "Master...why are you unhappy?"

Xie Rong laughed softly: "Ruodie, Lu Sheng didn't celebrate the festival with his family, and specially invited me out for an outing, and he didn't hesitate to promise me with his body just now, do you think he was just a whim?"

Ruodie hurriedly changed Xie Rong to hot tea, "Maybe Mr. Baoyang has changed his mind."

Xie Rong didn't speak anymore, just looked down at the clear tea, the leaves stretched softly, sinking and floating, and suddenly ordered: "Bi Fang, go and have a look."

The scarlet flamingo appeared from Xie Rong's hand, bowed its head in response, then flapped its wings and flew out of the door.

The two had different thoughts, and in a blink of an eye, it was the Shangsi Festival, and Xie Rong sent a carriage to pick up Lu Sheng's "pair of sisters" at the door of Lu Sheng's house as promised.

When meeting up with Xie Rong, Lu Sheng didn't ride in a carriage, he just rode a horse to protect the carriage, and when Xie Rong asked, he only said that it was inconvenient to ride with a woman, and he refused to ride with him. Stay outside the car.

Then Xie Rong's carriage was in the front, and the carriage of the "sisters next door" was behind, and they walked to the city gate.

Although it was a festival and the officials and officials were crowded with people, the guards and inspections of the city never let up. The gentry, the Han clan, had long queues, and Lu Sheng and his party were included in the ranks of the gentry because they were riding in Xie's carriage.

When it was Lu Sheng's turn, he was subconsciously nervous, and his hand on the rein unconsciously tightened. He didn't want to go out of the city and the inspection was so strict. Even Xie Rong got out of the carriage, and the guards searched him inside and out of the carriage. Be clear and careful.

The guards at the head of the city saw Lu Sheng wearing the black and gold hakama pleats of the Habayashi Guard, and their expressions became more respectful. They clasped their fists and saluted, "This hero, may I ask who is in the car?"

Lu Sheng returned the salute and said, "I'm in Xiabeiying Qingming Department, Simin Gong Cao Lu Sheng, in the car are my neighbors and sisters."

The city guard smiled and said: "So that's how it is. It's just that the superiors strictly ordered the search, and they have to trouble the lady next door to get out of the car and let me investigate."

Lu Sheng looked embarrassed, and said in a low voice: "The girls next door to me are all shy and timid, so please be considerate."

The city guard said coldly: "Gong Cao, as a servant of the emperor, how can you abolish official duties because of your own selfishness? Rebellion is rampant, how can you let it go easily because of women's family members? If women's clothing wants to get away with it, then neither you nor I will be able to bear the blame!"

Lu Sheng was speechless. Seeing the change in his face, the city guard became more vigilant, and ordered someone to lift the curtain of the car when he said he was offended.

Lu Sheng could only feel the darkness in front of his eyes, and his heart almost rushed out of his chest. However, all the guards opened the curtains of the car, only to see a beautiful woman wearing a newly cut goose yellow skirt, holding a blooming flower in her hand. Peach Blossom Branch was staring at the visitor with wide eyes.

The leading guard of the city calmed down, politely asked Yue Nanlai to get out of the carriage, asked his name and where he lived, while still thoroughly searching the carriage inside and out, and then sent Nan back to the carriage, and turned to him again. Lu Sheng cupped his hands and said, "Lu Gongcao, it's only our responsibility to offend you. Please bear with me."

Lu Sheng only felt that his whole body was exhausted, but he forced himself to be calm, and said with a smile, "I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed, it's Lu who is being frivolous, but I don't know why he is so cautious all of a sudden..."

The city guard said solemnly: "To tell you the truth, it's because the superiors have received rumors that some members of the Chenliu remnant party want men to disguise themselves as women and sneak out of the city with the women's family members. Therefore, we will check and even the women's family members will not let them go."

Lu Sheng laughed again: "So that's how it is. These remnants are really hard to defend against. The defenders have worked hard."

It was inconvenient for him to stay longer, so he left the city with the carriage, all the way to Qingxi, halfway there, he turned to Wuchen Temple.

All the way without saying a word, everyone entered the Zen room of Wuchen Temple. Ever since Master Qingfeng was imprisoned, Ge Hong was ordered to take charge of Wuchen Temple on his behalf, and the limelight was unparalleled for a while.Therefore, Xie Rong, Ge Hong's precious disciple, came to the temple, and all the Taoists did their best to serve him, freeing up the best meditation room for Xie Rong to use.

Yue Nanlai embraced the peach branches, suddenly took two quick steps, knelt down to Xie Rong and said, "I beg Mr. Xie to save brother Yunchang!"

Xie Rong flicked the hem of her clothes embroidered with dark silver bamboo leaf patterns, sat majestically on the bamboo couch, with a smile on her lips, but her eyes became colder, and said with a smile: "If it wasn't for me to save you, it would not only be your elder brother Yunchang, but even Your elder brother Baoyang, you and Lu Sheng's relatives have all committed serious crimes of deceiving the emperor, at least they will be exiled, and at worst they will be beheaded. I have done my best to you, how can I save you now?"

Nanlai muttered, only holding peach blossom branches in his hands.

Lu Sheng's face was pale, and he stood aside like a stone pillar, tremblingly said: "It's me... I almost hurt you."

Xie Rong didn't look at him, but said to Nanlai: "bury the peach blossom branch in your hand in the backyard, take fresh well water and pour it on for half an hour, if you want your elder brother Yunchang to be safe, remember not to heat the well water .”

Nan Lai got up thankfully, but when he was about to go out, he turned around suddenly, knelt down to Xie Rong again, and said solemnly: "Young Master Xie's great kindness, Nan Lai will always remember it in his heart, even if he has to go through fire and water for you in the future, I don't hesitate."

Xie Rong sneered and said, "Xiaomin Shengdou, what's the use if I want your life?"

Yue Nanlai's face turned red immediately, but he still whispered: "Although I'm just a grassroots... I also know that the kindness of a drop of water should be repaid with a spring."

She bit her lower lip lightly, then got up and bowed slightly, and went out with the peach blossom branch in her arms.

Xie Rong raised his hand again to signal, and all the servants left the meditation room immediately, leaving Lu Sheng alone to face the silence and coldness in the room. He couldn't stand the coldness, and while rubbing his wrist guard anxiously, he said in a low voice: "Shen Lun Originally, only Nan Lai and I knew about the changing of women's clothes and the need to fool around, how did the news get out... Ah Rong, it was my fault that I almost got you in trouble."

Xie Rong still ignored it, just drank tea with eyes down, and turned a deaf ear.

Lu Sheng felt more and more guilty, sitting next to Xie Rong, and when he was about to reach out to touch him, he recalled the embarrassment of being indifferently rejected by Xie Rong a few days ago, so he had to withdraw his hand and whispered: "Ah Rong, don't be angry, you have to scold If you want to be punished, I will bear it all."

The corners of Xie Rong's mouth curled up slightly, and he smiled like a cold wind, and said softly: "I am Lu Gongcao, who is he, how can he dare to be angry with Lu Gongcao?"

His smile was icy cold, piercing into Lu Sheng's bones and heart. Lu Sheng felt flustered, grabbed Xie Rong's arm and said, "Ah Rong..."

But Xie Rong yanked and broke away from Lu Sheng's fingers, still smiling gently, but alienated and indifferent, without any enthusiasm, "What's the matter with Lu Gongcao?"

Lu Sheng endured the panic, and said again: "Ah Rong, I deliberately concealed this matter from you, just to prevent you from being involved in right and wrong... Once the Dong Chuang incident happens, you will just be used by me. Those who don't know will not be guilty..."

Xie Rong sneered and said, "It turns out that to Lu Gongcao, I am just a tool that can be used. When I use it, I call it and go away when I don't need it. I don't even need to explain it. Lu Sheng, why do you treat me like this?" ?”

Lu Sheng panicked, "Ah Rong, Ah Rong, I..."

Xie Rong stood up, without even looking at Lu Sheng, she just said, "Baoyang, you just rely on the fact that I like you."

Lu Sheng felt the cold all over his body, he felt a heavy weight falling on his feet, and he couldn't move at all. He just watched Xie Rong walk out of the meditation room, leaving the room empty and panicked.

Shen Lun was drenched in cold water for half an hour, now he took off his soaked clothes, wrapped in a quilt and shivered in front of the small stove, his lips were blue from the cold.When Nan came out of the city, he was afraid of arousing the suspicion of the defenders, so he didn't dare to wear a bandage. Now he had to cut off his shirt and bandage Shen Lun again.

Fortunately, over the past month, most of Shen Lun's injuries have healed, and with Lu Sheng's golden sore medicine, it is convenient to deal with them.

All three of them felt lucky to survive the catastrophe, and Nan Lai said: "Who leaked the news, almost wiped out the entire army, and also implicated Mr. Xie. Fortunately, Mr. Xie is proficient in profound arts, and turned Brother Yunchang into a peach blossom Branch, I was so scared that I almost screamed."

If this matter is revealed, none of the three will escape the death penalty, and their relatives will be implicated, so naturally there is no reason for it to be revealed.If you Xiaoxiao spotted him, I'm afraid he would report to the officials to receive the reward early, so why release such ambiguous news.Lu Sheng couldn't figure it out, Shen Lun sighed: "I'm afraid that the remnants of the other party thought of this, and for some reason they leaked the news..."

If there is no other explanation, it can only be regarded as a coincidence, but Lu Sheng hates this person who leaked the news. If there is no such incident, with his status as a meritorious serviceman and Xie's name, he will only bring one or two It is not too difficult for the family members to go out of the city.Not to mention alarming Xie Rong, as long as you get to the bank of Qingxi and let Shen Lun mix in the crowd, everything will be fine.When I returned to the city, I went with Nanlai, and I went to Haosheng another day to thank Xie Rong.

He originally had a well-planned plan, but now it fell short. Although Shen Lun still managed to escape from the city by chance, Xie Rong discovered the clue and instead developed a lot of resentment towards him.

The three were relatively silent, but Lu Sheng heard a sound outside the door, it was Xie Rong who left first.

A Taoist boy came to report: "Mr. Xie has an order. You can stay as long as you like. Mr. Xie will go ahead and leave another carriage for the use of distinguished guests."

Nan Lai was uneasy, and whispered: "Brother Baoyang, is it possible that Mr. Xie is angry?"

Lu Sheng sighed bitterly: "It would be better if I was really angry."

I'm afraid this time, Xie Rong is extremely disappointed in him, and really doesn't want to pay attention to him.