The Ascension of Ghosts

On the way back, the flames around Bi Fang were flickering, Xie Rong rested his head with one hand, closed his eyes, and said casually, "Since you have something on your mind, you should ask it earlier."

Bi Fang folded his wings slightly, bowed his head and said, "Young master, why didn't you hide the news from Lu Gongcao and leaked the news to the city guards? He cooperated more, and he didn't hesitate to get out of the carriage to accept a thorough investigation... I'm afraid it will scare those three people out of their wits."

Xie Rong closed her eyes and sneered coldly: "If he hides and uses me, he can do it, but if I hide him, he can't do it?"

Bi Fang's flames subsided a lot, and he lowered his head so that it almost hid it in the wings. It has an upright personality, and was afraid that if it made a mistake, it would anger Mr. Xie, so it simply closed its eyes and remained silent.

Lu Sheng's concealment was originally for the sake of Xie Rong; Xie Rong's concealment was purely for the purpose of oppressing goodness. The meaning of this is completely different.

Xie Rong had already put down his hands, and said with a sneer: "He has devoted all his energy to a mere Shen Lun, and even I have used it. If I had known this, I shouldn't have taken out the shadow worm at the beginning, and I should have let him be a puppet, and asked him to be sympathetic and loyal. , he can immediately kneel in front of me, so why are there so many twists and turns."

You were the one who took the shadow worm back then, and now you are the one who regrets it. Mr. Xie's mind is getting better day by day, becoming more weird and unpredictable.

Bi Fang raised his head slightly, but finally couldn't bear it any longer, and whispered: "Dare to ask my lord, why are you so angry?"

Xie Rong, who was full of anger, had blank eyes. He turned his head to look at the green fields outside the carriage, and repeated in a low voice: "What the hell am I... angry about?"

This noble young man, who looked like the moon shining on the ice and snow, suddenly showed a lonely smile, and said softly: "I'm angry that he still refuses to believe me even now."

Bi Fang was speechless, the carriage ran over the long and winding official road, and headed towards the city.

After the Shangsi Festival, Shen Lun lived in seclusion in Wuchen Temple.

Although the Wuchen temple is managed by King Pengcheng's power, it is still a place outside the square after all. This reclusive guest is also a distinguished guest of the disciple of the temple master, and the Taoists never made things difficult for him.In the blink of an eye, it was April, except for the whereabouts of Mr. Shuiyue and Song Siming who were once aides of King Chen Liu, the core of the remnant party of King Chen Liu was all killed, and the army of the Northern Wei Dynasty began to gather on the riverside, crossing the river to take the Southern Dynasty. If it is obvious, the center of gravity of the court will naturally shift to how to garrison troops to deal with it, and the efforts to hunt down small soldiers like Shen Lun have also been relaxed.

Every other day, Yue Nanlai would go to Wuchen Temple to visit Shen Lun, cut clothes, sewed shoes and socks for him, made soup for his hands, and cooked delicacies in different ways.Shen Lun recovered from his injuries in nine out of ten cases. Although he didn't dare to go out every day, he assisted the Taoists in cultivating wasteland and tending flowers and plants in the temple. Lu Sheng also sent him paper, ink, pens and inkstones. In his spare time, he read and practiced calligraphy. After writing a parallel essay on wind, flowers, snow and moon, discussing politics, then shaking his head and sighing, he threw it into the fire and burned it.

Now he is just a stray dog, a fish slipping through the net, a deserter from a defeated bandit, and a remnant of a chaotic party.

Lu Sheng was very relieved. When he came to visit, he comforted him and said, "Mr. Shuiyue is always cunning, so he can get away with it naturally. Brother Yunchang, why should you worry about him? It's a great luck to escape with his life now. I wasted my life. Wait for the wind to pass for a while, and I will find a guide for you. You left Jianye first, and settled in another place for a few years. Nanlai is not too young. You two should get married as soon as possible, and be harmonious and beautiful. After a lifetime, give me more nephews and nieces. After a few years of calm, if you want to find a living and where to settle down, I will naturally help you."

Shen Lun drank all the wine in his glass, and then sighed: "Baoyang, I am now like a floating duckweed, torn and torn, with nowhere to settle down, why bother to come to the south again."

Lu Sheng said seriously: "Brother Yunchang, in the past you were reluctant to talk about your children's personal affairs because of your future career, but now...cough now, I am not blind, of course I can see that since the husband is affectionate and the concubine is interested, now it is good time……"

Shen Lun lowered his eyes and remained silent, only drinking one cup after another. After a while, he whispered: "Baoyang, you don't understand."

Lu Sheng poured wine for him, and asked in a deep voice: "Of course I don't understand, are you still waiting for Mr. Shuiyue to make a comeback?"

Shen Lun put down his wine glass and remained silent. Lu Sheng frowned and said, "Shen Lun, what are you insisting on?"

Shen Lun was dressed in plain white dark clothes, on which a landscape painting was embroidered in depth and depth with ink-colored embroidery thread, as if painted with brush and ink. He sat on the bed, straightened the clothes hanging on his knees without any wrinkles, and said solemnly : "Lu Sheng, the current government implements the nine-rank Zhongzheng system. No matter how powerful you are, you also need to rely on recommendation to become an official. Therefore, there are no low-ranking families at the top and no nobles at the bottom. Do you really think this is fair?"

Lu Sheng remained silent, and Shen Lun said again: "Like Yu Zheng and other ignorant dudes who can enter the Imperial Academy, but don't know how to cherish the education of the current academicians, they are just sleeping in flowers and willows all day long, with no breasts. A silverfish with some ink. However, if this silverfish hadn’t died on the street, after three years of playing, he would be recommended as a top-ranking official and enter the court as an official. In the Great Jin Dynasty, there were external and internal troubles, and it was the time of life and death. With no knowledge and no skills, how can you support yourself with only a few mainstays? If you don’t make up your mind to reform, the Great Jin Dynasty is not far from subjugation. Baoyang, Mr. would rather be alone, be responsible for treason and stigma, and all you want is for the world to be for the public , The common people are alive, if I don’t wait for my master’s call, how can I feel at ease after I die?”

Lu Sheng laughed softly, "A big lover has no love, and a passionate one has no love. I'll fall in love with you no matter what you come from the south."

Shen Lun smiled bitterly: "Brother Yu is incompetent, he can't repay the kindness of the virtuous brothers and sisters in case. Baoyang, I will entrust you when you come from the south..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the half-covered wooden door was pushed open, and Yue Nanlai was carrying the bamboo basket, with a sad expression on his face, staring at the two of them coldly.

Lu Sheng hurriedly stood up and said, "Come from the south..."

Yue Nanlai said: "Nanlai has parents, so I don't need you two to worry about my life-long affairs. Mr. Shen has great ambitions, the phoenix soars to the sky, and he doesn't live in the sycamore tree. Nanlai dare not climb high."

Shen Lun also hurriedly got up and said, "Come from the south, I..."

Yue Nanlai put down the bamboo basket, turned around and ran out of the courtyard.

Shen Lun chased after him without thinking, and anxiously called out: "Nanlai, Nanlai!"

Lu Sheng was thrown aside by those two in a blink of an eye, drank two glasses of dull wine in a dull mood, and went out to look for him.But he saw the two standing under a peach tree arguing endlessly, and then Shen Lun stretched out his hand to pull Nan Lai into his arms, the girl struggled a little, then snuggled into Shen Lun's arms and stopped moving.

Lu Sheng felt more and more redundant, so he went home alone.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw that everyone in the family was beaming, and the eldest brother who was supposed to be on duty at the Yamen was also at home. When he saw Lu Sheng, he smiled, grabbed his hands and folded his hands and said, "Holding the sun, holding the sun, there is, there is! "

Lu Sheng said blankly, "Brother, what...is there?"

Mrs. Zhou sat on the soft chair and didn't get up. She only covered her sleeves and smiled lightly, but her face was full of sunshine and her complexion was very good. Lu Yuan laughed and said, "Fool, of course it's your sister-in-law! Miracle doctor Jia really lives up to his reputation!"

Lu Sheng was overjoyed and grabbed Lu Yuan's wrist with his backhand, "Really!?"

Lu Yuan said: "I invited three doctors to see the doctor, and all of them were diagnosed with happy pulse. Seriously, Baoyang, you are going to be an uncle."

Lu Sheng was really overjoyed at this moment, he quickly let go of his hands, clasped his fists in both hands, bowed to Lu Yuan and Zhou Shi each, and said solemnly: "Congratulations brother, congratulations sister-in-law."

Lu Yuanlang laughed out loud, and put his arms around Lu Sheng's shoulders, "Family, what a gift, my brother and I are going to get drunk tonight."

Lu Sheng said, "Brother, I will accompany you!"

Lu Yuan talked boldly, but he was concerned about his wife and children, but he had a few drinks with Lu Sheng, and then hurried back to his room to accompany Mrs. Zhou.

Lu Sheng first drank some water and wine at Wuchen Temple and then at home, but now he felt a little tipsy, so he didn't dare to drink more, but his heart was empty and he felt very uncomfortable.He simply grabbed the hanging pot and sword, and found an excuse to go out.

It was the time to light up the lanterns, and the shops in Stone Square lit up lanterns, and peddlers carrying loads and pushing wheelbarrows peddled along the street, bustling and bustling.Although the army was assembled by the river, the common people were still working day after day without much change.

Lu Sheng was alone, walking through it like a wandering spirit. Unknowingly, the surroundings gradually became silent. He looked up subconsciously, but saw the familiar word "Thank you" embedded beside the tall vermilion lacquered door. Arrived in front of Xie Mansion.

Since Xie Rong left without saying goodbye on the Shangsi Festival, Lu Sheng has never met him. The gate of Xie Mansion is closed all day long, no one comes in or out, it seems that the whole mansion has moved.

Now looking at the door and sighing, when he was about to turn around and leave, the door suddenly opened with a creak, and Ruo Die poked out a pretty face from behind the door, and said with a happy smile: "Coincidentally, my young master just came back to the manor from a tour of the fief today, Young Master Baoyang came, could it be that he has set up his eyes and ears? Young Master Baoyang, please come in, please come in!"

Lu Sheng was hesitant at first, but the little girl stepped out of the gate with the hem of her skirt, hugged Lu Sheng's arm and dragged her in. Lu Sheng followed her in, asking, "Visiting the fief?"

Ruodee said: "Back then my young master was deprived of his position as the son of the prince. The Marquis and Madam naturally made some compensation, so they asked the sage to divide half of the food town under the name of the Marquis and give it to the young master. A few days ago, the young master Lead us to inspect the fief."

Lu Sheng thought that this was the case, but he lowered his face and said, "How can you talk about your son's private affairs with everyone?"

Ruodie said with a smile: "Young Master Baoyang will know sooner or later, I will only tell you, and I will definitely not reveal it to others."

Lu Sheng recalled the scene when Xie Rong left the table angrily, but felt guilty instead, and followed Ruodei across the courtyard.

As midsummer approaches, the lotus pond in the front yard is crowded with red and white lotus flowers of various colors, with a clear and distant fragrance.The backyard is lush and green, illuminated by lanterns as if it were carved in emerald green.

Xie Rong is sitting leisurely on the edge of the open corridor in the backyard, with one leg slightly bent on the corridor floor, the other hanging in the air, leaning against a white stone pillar behind her, wearing a silver and white Shu brocade Taoist robe, the edge of the long sleeves, the skirt and the hem are eight inches wide The vermilion peony brocade on the snowy ground fluctuated with the wind, and it suddenly seemed that some blood was oozing from the white jade.

The night breeze was just right, sending a burst of mouth-watering aroma. Only then did Lu Sheng realize that there was a small silver charcoal stove on the corridor. On top of it, three small silver fishes about two fingers wide and three inches long were roasting, and they didn't know how they had been disposed of. Ruoxia took the round fan and slapped it lightly, and the aroma of the barbecue immediately overflowed, making people greedy.

Seeing that Lu Sheng was hesitating, Ruoxia smiled and said, "Young Master Baoyang is really lucky. This is sweetfish that was hunted from the sea off the coast of Jiaozhou. It was brought back alive. The meat is the most delicious. Now is the fattest time. Master Baoyang, come and taste it."

Xie Rong raised her eyes slightly, and lazily said: "Now the maids are getting more and more arrogant, and they are taking charge of the house for me."

Ruoxia hastily bowed her head to admit her mistake, and said repeatedly, "Your servant realizes your mistake, please calm down, young master."

Xie Rong just glanced at Lu Sheng, "Come here."

Only then did Lu Sheng come closer, but he said, "I, I'm just going for a walk, passing by your door..."

Xie Rong said, "Sit."

Lu Sheng kept silent, obeyed, sat cross-legged in the corridor, looked at Xie Rong from the side and behind, but the noble young man turned his head and told: "Stop spicy food."

Ruoxia responded with a smile, put back the brush dipped in the hot sauce in her hand, and only slightly smeared some garlic oil on the fish to remove the fishy smell. Give it to Lu Sheng.

Lu Sheng thanked him, and took it as usual, took a closer look, the sweetfish was grilled very beautifully, the shiny silver fish skin was not damaged at all, and it was slightly burnt yellow that tempted the appetite. A small food table with a length of one foot. There are six seasoning plates with light green lotus leaves on the table. There are six dipping sauces: spicy sauce, sweet chili sauce, hot and sour sauce, vine pepper sauce, salt and pepper, and mustard. He said with a smile: " Sister Ruoxia's grilled fish skill is the best in the world, Mr. Baoyang please."

Lu Shengying used the bamboo chopsticks to lightly press the fish body, and the fish skin made a slight crisp cracking sound, revealing the white as snow, firm and delicate garlic clove meat.