The Ascension of Ghosts

The meat of sea fish is firmer than river fish, but somewhat similar to poultry meat, especially this sweet fish meat, when you bite into it, it's like biting off a meatball wrapped in fragrance, the fragrance stays on the teeth and cheeks, the more you chew, the more delicious it becomes. The mouth is full of fluid, almost swallowing the tongue.

The taste of the sweetfish itself is delicious enough, and supplemented with various sauces, instead of covering up the taste of the fish, it adds to the icing on the cake. When dipped in rattan pepper sauce, it highlights the sweetness of the fish, when dipped in hot and sour sauce, it highlights the richness of the fish, and when dipped in mustard, it highlights the tenderness ... Especially near the belly of the fish, the fat is fat, and the dipping sauce just relieves the greasy, and the sake that is cool and pleasant in the well water makes it even more addictive.

Lu Sheng took one mouthful after another, and he felt salty, spicy, sour, sweet and pungent. The tastes of each mouthful were different and varied, and he never got bored. two.

At this moment, Lu Sheng felt a little embarrassed, holding the lacquer plate with one hand, and asked embarrassingly, "Ah Rong, you... don't want it?"

Xie Rong then turned around, turned sideways to Lu Sheng, squinted at him and said, "Yes."

However, although he said an important word, he didn't see any action, nor did he see Ruoxia and Ruodee offering grilled sweetfish, but Xie Rong still looked at him, and after a long time, he showed some resentment.

Lu Sheng understood it, hesitantly picked up a piece of fish meat, and brought it to Xie Rong's mouth, the young man did not refuse, leaned forward slightly, still looked at Lu Sheng, but stuck out the tip of his tongue, gently touching the white fish meat. I licked it, then opened my mouth to hold it, and ate it slowly.It's just that the line of sight is not smooth, staring at Lu Sheng, but it is indescribably meaningful and charming.

Lu Sheng felt his throat tighten, and the tip of his red tongue didn't seem to be licking the fish, but rather licking somewhere between his chest. It was hot and soft, itchy and crisp, but he couldn't even scratch it. People fidget.

He was stunned for a while, and then took back the bamboo chopsticks that were held in the air, but Xie Rong asked, "Why didn't Lu Lang ask?"

Now that Lu Sheng was out of his mind, he asked kindly, "Ah Rong... do you want more?"

Xie Rong said: "More."

Lu Sheng had no choice but to grab another piece of fish and bring it to his mouth.

Xie Rong still opened his mouth to eat, licked his lips, and looked at him sideways.

Lu Sheng had no choice but to ask again and again: "Could it be... more?"

A gleam of light appeared in Xie Rong's eyes, and he replied, "I want more."

Lu Sheng's throat was not only tight, but also dry and hot. An unknown fire was slowly burning in his chest. He felt that the inexplicable thirst came from nowhere, so he couldn't help swallowing his saliva. Then he picked up the fish again and continued to feed him.

So many times, Lu Sheng's wrists finally became weak, and a pair of carefully polished bamboo chopsticks fell on the wooden floor of the corridor, making two crisp thumping sounds.

Xie Rong poured a glass of wine by herself, said with a light smile, "Just eat a few pieces of your grilled fish, why do you have to show such an expression of bitter hatred and gritted teeth?"

Lu Sheng still didn't know how to answer, so he had to hang his head in silence.

I don't know when Ruoxia retreated two feet away, and then quietly came forward with her servants, cleaned up the mess, removed the food table oven, and replaced it with cool plum wine, sweet and sour, no different from ordinary fruit juice, Plus a pair of silver plates, one filled with bright red red cherries with shatterable peels, and the other filled with plump and juicy sweet yellow loquats like golden pearls.

After everyone receded again, the surroundings were silent again. There were several lanterns hanging in the courtyard, illuminating the flowing water and shining silver light. A tiger-striped kitten was sitting by the stream, staring intently at the water surface, when suddenly the water splashed. With a splash, a black and shiny little turtle floated up from the surface of the water. The kitten was so frightened that the hairs all over its body stood on end, and it jumped into the flowers in the blink of an eye.

The little turtle floated comfortably along the water, and gradually approached the two of them, but suddenly raised its eyes to look at Lu Sheng, and suddenly dived back into the water, disappearing.

Fish leaped and turtles swam, cats lived and insects flew, and the night breeze was blowing, but other than that, there was not even half a person. Lu Sheng sat on Xie Rong's right hand side, and looked at the courtyard with him.Although he didn't say a word, he felt so peaceful and peaceful.

He looked at it for a while, then unconsciously said: "Ah Rong, my brother and sister-in-law are having a child."

Xie Rong smiled and said, "It's gratifying, but why isn't Baoyang happy?"

Lu Sheng hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "I, of course, am happy. It's just...just..."

He suddenly felt miserable in his chest, he felt a lump in his throat and couldn't speak a word.

Xie Rong continued for him: "It's just that you became an outsider after all."

The eldest brother is like a father, and the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. Lu Sheng was regarded as his own by his brothers and sisters since he was a child. Now that he suddenly heard that he was going to have a nephew, he was inevitably a little disappointed.

This thought is not for outsiders, but Lu Sheng confided it to Xie Rong without thinking about it. Now that he came back to his senses, he was a little embarrassed to hear Xie Rong explain his knot.

Lu Sheng sighed, and said with a light smile: "...That's all. Ah Rong, I'm here to make amends. Back then, to send Shen Lun out of the city, I kept it from you. It was my fault. If I had no other choice, I definitely wouldn't To make such a move..."

Xie Rong said: "In your heart, I am also an outsider after all."

Now Lu Sheng compares his heart with his heart, he doesn't understand, he feels bitterness in his mouth, and he wants to swallow it by himself, then moved to Xie Rong's side, and said: "... I am even more afraid that if you object after I say it... I will not do it." Do? How to do this?"

Xie Rong said: "Since you and I have known each other, how have I ever objected to what you really want to do?"

Lu Sheng was taken aback for a moment, and said in a daze, "It's never been..."

Xie Rong said again: "Although you are a bit stupid, you know what you should do and what you shouldn't do, so you don't need me to object."

Lu Sheng was neither smiling nor angry, so he could only sigh and say, "...Ah Rong."

He spoke softly, without even the momentum to complain, Xie Rong raised his hand and said, "Come here."

Lu Sheng was drunk, so he did what he wanted, and leaned sideways on Xie Rong's shoulder. His shoulders were broad and strong. Lu Sheng leaned on it relaxed and comfortable, and felt a little drowsy. He whispered: "Brother, sister-in-law? The child is gone, and the childhood sweethearts don't want me anymore... In the end, there is only Ah Rong by my side."

Xie Rong said: "Yes."

Lu Sheng said again: "Ah Rong, after you get married, it's better to marry a son and daughter like me... In the next hundred years, we will have a good family..."

Xie Rong let him talk nonsense, just rubbed his back, pressed the back of his head lightly, Lu Sheng suddenly felt drowsy, pillowed on Xie Rong's shoulder, and fell into a deep sleep.

Only then did Xie Rong look coldly into the courtyard, deep in the shadows of the trees, and said coldly: "Your Excellency is also a scholar of the current court. If you came in without warning and broke into my shabby room, it would be a loss of status."

The shadow of the tree swayed, but a scribe really came out from behind, wearing a scribe scarf, a snow-like Taoist robe, and a long robe embellished with ink colors, elegant and moving, this man is in his late forties, with elegant eyes, holding the running dog The missing tiger-striped kitten walked steadily towards Xie Rong, and said with a gentle smile, "It's really offending to bother you rashly. It's just that I don't see my student, and I don't feel at ease when I walk. Thank you for your accommodating son." .”

Xie Rong'an didn't move, she just put her arms around Lu Sheng's shoulders and said, "It's inconvenient for Xie to stand up to pay respects, please forgive me, Mr. Shuiyue."

That scribe is the person in the center of the situation, the long-lost imperial court prisoner, Mr. Shuiyue, the confidant of King Chen Liu, smiling gently at this moment, he really is a gentleman like jade, and bent down to put the kitten back on the ground, the tiger Wen's kitten reluctantly licked his fingers, and then excitedly ran up the corridor, leaning against Xie Rong's legs and lying down.

Mr. Shuiyue still smiled and said: "Young Master Xie, you are polite." He walked closer, raised his hand and gently stroked the top of Lu Sheng's head, Lu Sheng's hair was soft and smooth, and felt good to the touch, although Shuiyue wanted to rub it for a while , but was pierced by the cold eyes of the people on the side and let go, and sighed: "I haven't seen you for four years, but this kid looks so strong."

Xie Rong said: "Sir, you took such a huge risk just to meet this student who was expelled ten years ago?"

Shuiyue couldn't help laughing and said, "My lord is serious."

He was not polite, he took off his shoes and went into the corridor, and sat down casually without regard to posture. Ruoxia was instructed by Xie Rong to bring clean wine utensils and pour wine for him.

Holding the shallow wine glass carved from sapphire, Shuiyue drank the plum wine and then sighed: "Do you know why I sent Baoyang to Wei Su's family ten years ago?"

Xie Rong said: "Listen carefully."

But Shuiyue looked at Xie Rong sideways, and said with a snort, "I've heard that Mr. Xie Rong is arrogant and indifferent, and hard to get close to, but now it seems that his name is not worthy of the name. Could it be because of the mention of Baoyang?"

Xie Rong's face darkened, Shuiyue still smiled warmly and happily, and turned to say: "Ten years ago, the first emperor promoted the sharing of seats for scholars and common people. During the Shangsi Festival, the Imperial Forest Garden was opened to have fun with the people. Songfeng Academy was also accepted. Invitation to go. When in the deer park, everyone can get a bag of bean cakes to feed the deer. Everyone feeds the deer with it and enjoys it. Only Baoyang hides the bean cakes in his arms and takes them out of the deer park. .Although he thinks he is ignorant, but in the eyes of many people, everyone shakes their heads and sighs."

Xie Rong smiled, turned her head to look at the unconscious young man leaning on her shoulder, and muttered: "From Pine Wind Academy to and from Luyuan, you must pass Xingshan Temple. Ten years ago, there was a flood in Xingshan Temple. Hundreds of huts have been built outside to accommodate the victims, and this boy must have given the bean cakes to the victims on his return trip."

Shuiyue chuckled again, "You know this kid very well—exactly. I asked Baoyang afterwards, why? How do you think he replied to me?"

Xie Rong said: "It's nothing more than the fact that the deer are full and the victims are still starving."

Shuiyue clapped her palms and smiled, sighed: "Young Master Xie is really thoughtful, it's amazing."

Xie Rong was unmoved, and only asked: "Mr. Shuiyue expelled him from the school because of this, and sent him to practice martial arts under Wei Su's school?"

Shuiyue drank another glass of wine and said with a smile: "Exactly. Baoyang has a delicate and sharp mind. If he reads more sage books, he may think too much and be prone to demons, which will harm him instead."

Xie Rong said: "So Mr. Shuiyue's painstaking efforts are all for the sake of embracing the sun."

Shuiyue smiled slightly, stood up, and said softly: "My student is very stupid, and I can't get on the stage. Fortunately, I have some fate with Mr. Xie. From now on, I will thank Mr. Xie for taking care of him."

Xie Rong frowned, tightened her arms around Lu Sheng's shoulders, and said coldly: "You student is so wise and stupid, it is a rare gem, if it falls into your hands, it will be ruined."

On the contrary, Shuiyue smiled softer, like a bright and warm lamp hanging on the tower, stepped down the corridor, and looked back at Lu Sheng again.

Xie Rong said: "Mr. Shuiyue doesn't want to say goodbye to Baoyang? This farewell is an eternal separation between man and nature. At least let the former students see him off."

Shuiyue said: "I am now a criminal committed by the imperial court. If he sees him, he will be charged with dereliction of duty and failure to report his knowledge. I have implicated one, but I cannot implicate the second...Now that I have seen , let’s see you off. Mr. Xie, take your leave.”

Xie Rong gently placed Lu Sheng on the soft cushion Ruoxia sent, then stood up, straightened up, folded his arms and fisted, performed a disciple salute, and said solemnly: "Xie Rong, on Lu Sheng's behalf, send off Mr. "

Shuiyue smiled and bowed to Xie Rong, then turned around, rolled up her robe sleeves, walked into the courtyard, and disappeared among the shadows of trees.

When Lu Sheng woke up, he found that the surroundings were soft. He was lying on Xie Rong's rollaway bed, with his head resting on Xie Rong's shoulder, and his hands and feet were wrapped around Xie Rong's waist and legs like an octopus.

Some candlelight was cast faintly from outside the bed curtain, faintly illuminating Xie Rong's sleeping face like a god, and the two of them had long hair intertwined between the pillows like splashed ink, indistinguishable from each other, exuding an unspeakable ambiguity and tenderness.Lu Sheng was so flustered that he let go of his hands and sat up, about to turn over and get out of bed.It's just that he was lying on the inside, and if he wanted to leave the bed, he had to turn over on Xie Rong's body. As soon as he moved, Xie Rong hugged him around the waist and pressed him back into the bedding.

Lu Sheng's heart was beating like a drum, and he said in a panic, "Ah, Ah Rong! Don't mess around!"

Xie Rong leaned over his head, but laughed softly. He was bare-chested, his muscles were solid and bulging, and his long hair was loose. He lacked the dignity of the past, but he faintly revealed a bit of strength and threat like a beast. , even the smile was like a ferocious beast grinning with sharp teeth, which made Lu Sheng even more frightened, and only stared at him with wide eyes.

Xie Rong didn't make any progress, she just put her hands next to Lu Sheng's ears, took a moment to look down, and said with a smile, "What are you panicking about? I just have something to tell you."

Lu Sheng tremblingly said, "What, what?"

Xie Rong said: "Someone asked me to tell you: I am leaving, you must not be reckless in the future, and discuss with Xie Rong more."

Lu Sheng was at a loss: "Gone? Who left? Who asked you to tell?"

Xie Rong said: "Mr. Shuiyue."

Lu Sheng turned pale with shock, and regardless of flirting with Xie Rong, he slipped neatly between his arms, stumbled off the pedestal bed, and searched for the shirt and shoes and socks he had taken off by the light of the candlestick left on the table, anxiously Asked: "When did you come, sir? When did you leave? Where did you go?"

Xie Rong said: "I left an hour ago, I don't know where to go."

Lu Sheng's hands trembled, and his belt fell to the ground. He turned around and stared at Xie Rong, and said sharply, "Why didn't you wake me up!"

Xie Rong also got up and got out of bed, walked towards Lu Sheng, and said softly, "Mister can't see you."

Lu Sheng's eyes were red, he felt his heart was in a state of confusion, and said in a daze, "W-why can't you see me?"

Xie Rong said: "As the Habayashi Army guarding the capital, if you see a criminal committed by the imperial court, should you arrest him on the spot or report it to the officials?"

Lu Sheng said: "I, I..."

Xie Rong said: "Mr. Shuiyue has worked so hard, don't let me down."

Lu Sheng was at a loss for what to do, and his breath became weaker and weaker. He murmured, "Sir, sir, why do you want me to discuss with you? Ah Rong, Ah Rong, sir... How is he?"

Xie Rong said: "You look very good, I'm just worried about you, so I entrust you to me."

Lu Sheng took a deep breath, calmed down a little, and said angrily, "My good boy, a man who stands up to the sky, why should I entrust it to others? Mr. He... is worrying about nothing! No, no... Sir, if you come to say goodbye, you must call Shen Lun, That fellow Shen Lun..."

He suddenly clenched his fists, "Ah Rong, I want to leave the city!"

Xie Rong sighed, "At this hour, it's already past the curfew."

Lu Sheng paced anxiously, and suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "Just tell the Habayashi guards to investigate the case, and the city gate guards will open the door for me."

Xie Rong sneered coldly: "With such a big commotion, is it to see Shen Lun, or to inform the court?"

Lu Sheng's face was pale, and he only looked at Xie Rong with a pair of deer-clear eyes, and murmured: "When the sky dawns, you won't be able to see anyone."

Xie Rong said: "I have a way, but..."

Lu Sheng cheered up, and hurriedly said, "But it's okay to say!"

Xie Rong lowered her face and said: "Everyone calls you to hold Yang, and I call you to hold Yang too. I am not happy."