The Ascension of Ghosts

According to calculations, Lu Sheng has only been exiled for more than five months, but now he is going back to his hometown. As for Baili Xiao, Ji Chong and others, they have not received a transfer order, and they will stay in the Western Regions for a few years.

Lu Sheng secretly made up his mind that after returning to the Qingming Office, he would try his best to run away and transfer several colleagues back to the North Camp of Jianye Guard City.It's just that now Yulin's left supervisor has been replaced by Chao He's uncle, and the gossip in the court has never stopped, saying that Chao He sold his senior brother for glory, and even Lu Sheng could not help but feel estranged.If Habayashi Wei was mobilized by bypassing Habayashi Zuojian, it would be unavoidable to have side effects.

After much deliberation, he couldn't come to a conclusion, so he simply put it aside for further discussion when he returned to the city.

After such a two-day rush, Xie Rong also ordered the whole family to pack their bags slowly and set off for home.He captured Shura's worm mother, and the Dinghun Orb was also found. This trip was a rewarding experience, so he contacted a caravan and set off together after the Double Ninth Festival.

Mixed living in the frontier, but they also celebrate the festival with the people of the Jin Dynasty. There are many things like walking in the autumn on the Double Ninth Festival, climbing high and looking far away, drinking chrysanthemum wine, and eating Chongyang cakes.

After the war was pacified this year, the people became more leisurely and relaxed, so they made the festival extraordinarily lively.

The Lu Mansion also specially set up a chrysanthemum appreciation party, and invited the generals of the Liaoxi Camp and the Duhu Mansion to have a drink together. Xie Rong didn't like the excitement and avoided it. seat.

Lu Sheng, a mere sixth-rank military officer, was implicated and exiled to the Western Regions, but he was transferred back to the capital in less than half a year. Everyone naturally regarded him as someone in the court, and his wrists were as good as the sky, so he was much flattered at the banquet.But he didn't know that even Lu Sheng himself was kept in the dark, and he didn't know whose favor he had received.

After the banquet was over and the guests were sent away, Ruosong led a young novice inside to meet Lu Sheng, claiming that he was sent by Master Sunlight to present Lu Sheng with rituals.

Lu Sheng suddenly remembered this monk, and asked, "How is Master Riguang? I haven't seen him for a long time."

The little novice, who was about ten years old, was calm and introverted. He lowered his eyes and replied: "The master is in retreat, and he can't see Lu Sima off in time. He specially ordered the little monk to tell us that we will meet again in the mountains and rivers. We will meet again in the future."

Lu Sheng had no choice but to thank him, and after seeing off the little novice, he couldn't help laughing wryly, the Jieluo Sect is certainly a strong shield to protect the country, and the sun has been kind to him, but he is required to form a relationship with the great sage Huanxitian and convert to the Jieluo Sect Holy Son, this is too unimaginable and difficult for others.

The sun was setting to the west, he felt a little drunk, and leaned lazily on the soft couch, but he heard Ruodee laughing and saying from outside the door: "Young master is back."

Lu Sheng hurriedly got up, and saw Ruoqing, the gatekeeper, opened the curtain, and a noble young man in silver brocade, Shi Shiran, stepped into the room. The outer robe was shimmering in silver, making his skin whiter and more beautiful, his gestures elegant and elegant, and his expression light, noble and unstained, as if he had stepped off a fairy painting.

Only when he looked at Lu Sheng, did he smile, as if the jade carving was suddenly infused with vitality and warmed up, and said with a smile, "Hold the sun."

Lu Sheng only felt a warm current in his heart, he stepped forward to hold Xie Rong's hand, asked him if he was tired or hungry, and said: "Hurry up and serve the food to the young master."

Then he took Xie Rong's hands, didn't say much, just looked at him with a smile.

The servants were naturally busy, serving the dishes and serving the waiters.Xie Rong took off her fine clothes for going out, cleaned her hands and face, and changed into a light, soft and cool Shu brocade Taoist robe. The bamboo green color is elegant and cool, which makes this noble young man more and more picturesque, with outstanding demeanor.Lu Sheng also changed into a fine attire for meeting guests, put on a silver-gray satin narrow-sleeved gown, pulled Xie Rong's wet cotton handkerchief, shared one with him, wiped his red cheeks, and peeked at Xie Rong from time to time. , the corners of his mouth, eyebrows and eyes are curved like crescent moons, and he is so happy for some reason.

Sitting in front of the food table, Xie Rong finally couldn't bear it anymore, pinched his red hot cheek, and sighed: "Baoyang, you are drunk."

If it had been different from normal times, this young man would have slapped his troublesome fingers away in anger, and added, "I am a majestic man, how can I allow you to be teased like a child!"

But at the moment she was very well-behaved, she let him pinch and rub her shoulders, and said with a smile, "I drink well, so I get drunk easily."

Xie Rong looked down at him, although she felt good in her heart, her face was still calm, she just lightly rubbed the top of Lu Sheng's head, and said with a joke, "If you're not drunk, you're missing me."

However, Lu Sheng raised his head and met Xie Rong's eyes. The tails of his eyes were blushing, which made the pupils more black and white, and the water vapor was dense. He said word by word: "Ah Rong, I miss you."

Xie Rong caressed his cheek lightly, and leaned closer, unexpectedly her lips pressed together, and the door curtain was opened again, it was Ruoxia who came with her servant Bucai.

At the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Party, Lu Sheng was overwhelmed and only focused on drinking, but Xie Rong was out and busy for half a day, so it was just the right time to bring dinner.A burst of fragrance, Lu Sheng turned his head suddenly, Xie Rong's kiss was barely missed, it only landed on the cheek.

Ruoxia put a flat round copper food bowl on the food table. The soup is as white as milk. The tender mutton slices, white fish balls, and chicken slices are floating in the soup. The color is crystal clear and delicious, dotted with bright red tomato pepper , yellow lemongrass and ginger slices, green celery and green onion, exude a slightly spicy and delicious aroma that tempts the appetite.

Lu Sheng's spirit was shaken, and he hurriedly said, "Ah Rong, this fresh fish and sheep soup is very delicious. You've been working hard all day, so please try it."

He filled half a bowl of soup with his own hands and served it to Xie Rong.

Xie Rong took it, took a few sips slowly, and said with a smile: "This soup is made with 32 kinds of raw materials such as sheep scorpion, sheep's hooves, sheep's tail, scallops, dried cuttlefish, and sea cucumber, and boiled for six hours on low heat. Chef Zhu has a heart."

Lu Sheng praised: "Ah Rong is really powerful, you will know it once you taste it."

Xie Rong said: "Chef Zhu's specialty dishes, I have called him to ask in the past. But..."

Seeing Ruoxia serving all kinds of delicacies from the food bowl, he smiled and said: "It seems that there is innovation again, Chef Zhu has a heart."

In the fish and sheep fresh soup, not only the soup has been painstakingly worked out, but the ingredients are also the essence of delicacies from mountains and seas. In the copper bowl, cabbage hearts, tofu, Shuifa magnolia slices, dried bamboo shoots, adult lamb tenderloin slices, and chicken slices are spread layer by layer.The fish balls were red carp salvaged by Lu Sheng from the Shizi River. The bones and bones of the fish were carefully removed, and the fish meat was finely mashed into a puree. Egg white, the finished product is as smooth and clear as white jade balls in the milky white soup, and the entrance is delicate and tender, only the sweetness of the fish is accompanied by the umami of the mutton soup.

Then pour in the broth that has been hung for more than six hours and finely filtered out impurities, and boiled in a whole bowl. The onion, ginger, garlic and various spices are like icing on the cake, adding to its deep and complex flavor.

Ruoxia put side dishes next to the fresh soup. Because the mutton is hot and the fish is warm, the side dishes are mainly sweet and refreshing, such as coir raincoat cucumbers that are cut like blooming flowers, and crisp and refreshing cold lotus root slices, which are full of taste The fragrant braised wild pork...the whole table was filled.

Lu Sheng drank half a bowl of soup with Xie Rong, tasted a few fish balls, suppressed his alcohol, and sat aside to watch Xie Rong eat.

This noble young man looks like he doesn't eat the fireworks of the world, but he actually eats a lot, but his demeanor is so elegant and noble that it's hard for people to notice his appetite.

Seeing that he had a good appetite, Lu Sheng was naturally happy. Holding the jug in his hand, he persuaded Xie Rong to drink again and again, but Xie Rong only drank a small glass and was full. people."

Lu Sheng was [-]% drunk, [-]% reckless, touched the back of Xie Rong's hand with his backhand, and said with a smile, "I'll see whoever Ah Rong wants me to see."

Seeing this, Xie Rong sighed: "Baoyang...the matter is very important, so be careful."

Lu Sheng regained his senses, retracted his hand in embarrassment, and asked, "Who did you see?"

But Xie Rong got up, walked out of the door, and replied: "The leader of the ranger who once helped you in Mulan Castle..."

Lu Sheng cheered up, got up and followed, and said happily: "He finally agreed to see me. The leader took care of me a lot a few days ago, so I naturally want to thank you."

Xie Rong didn't say a word, and only led Lu Sheng to the vast apricot forest in the backyard. Lu Sheng became more and more curious, so he could only suppress his doubts and follow behind Xie Rong.

The two waited quietly in the forest for a while, then Vice General Sun appeared, greeted Xie Rong and Lu Sheng, and said: "The leader is late, and the two young masters will forgive me."

Lu Sheng didn't dare to take the lead, and couldn't wait to look behind him. Several rangers each led the way with a lantern.

He is tall and tall, with a dignified appearance, and looks like a nomadic king. This man is a hero in Kyoto. He was born in Youzhou. Although he has lived in Jianye for a long time, he has a chivalrous temperament. The dragon and the phoenix danced on the waist, with a long bow on his back and a long sword hanging from his waist. His spirit was high, but his complexion was more than ten times better than when he was the left supervisor of Habayashi.

As if being struck by lightning, Lu Sheng froze on the spot and couldn't move. He just stared at the man who was the leader with wide eyes.

The man was embarrassed by Lu Sheng's stare, scratched his cheek with one finger, and said with a soft smile: "My dear disciple, are you so stupid for wanting to be a teacher?"

Only then did Lu Sheng stammer and call out: "En, teacher... You are not, you are not... Could it be a ghost..."

This person was the former Habayashi Zuo Supervisor and General Weisu who was beheaded by the Holy Spirit.

With the twilight in full view and the lights and shadows of the lanterns changing, Lu Sheng suddenly thought he had seen a ghost.

But Wei Su laughed loudly, strode forward, patted Lu Sheng on the shoulder, and rubbed the top of his head vigorously, until the young man was dizzy, "Fortunately, I got a few friends to help me, and escaped by feigning death. Are you a teacher?" ghost."

Even the whole court has been deceived by him, this leader is not only bold, but also serious about his methods.

Lu Sheng noticed that his palms were warm, that he was really human and not a ghost. His eye circles were red and the tip of his nose was sore. He hugged Wei Su, choked up and called, "Master, Master..."

There are countless questions in his mind, such as how Wei Su faked his death, why he became the leader of the rangers, how many twists and turns he has experienced, and what are the details inside... However, thousands of words were stuck in his throat, and finally turned into a stream of heat. Only two words came out, so he had to call repeatedly: "Master..."

Wei Su, however, seemed to know what he meant, and let the little apprentice cry until his shoulders and clothes were soaked, he only patted Lu Sheng on the back, and said softly: "It's hard to say... As a teacher, I just feel that there are many friends in the Jin court, and the corpse is a vegetarian meal." There are so many people who clearly know that the barbarians are rampant, but the court is always intriguing and not doing business properly, and it is not very interesting to be a general. It is better to be a ranger, concentrate on killing the enemy, and relax."

It's just that he is different from Shui Jing. Shui Jing collaborated with King Chen Liu in the rebellion, which caused a bloody storm, but Wei Su didn't want to hurt his family and apprentices, so he made such a bad plan. We can't ask Lu Sheng to know.

Those who don't know are not guilty, so that their lives can be kept safe.

Wei Su's subordinates also knew what was going on, and avoided it far away. Xie Rong was also very tolerant, standing five steps away, letting the master and apprentice talk about the old days.

After Wei Su finished speaking in a few words, he sneered again: "A man does not shed tears lightly, you weak crowned boy, you really disgrace your master."

Lu Sheng wiped away the tears on his face, and murmured: "Master misbehaved, pretending to be a ghost to scare people, this means that the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked."

Wei Su laughed, slapped him on the back of the head, and reprimanded him: "The words are unreasonable."

Lu Sheng covered the back of his head embarrassingly, and raised his head. The master and apprentice looked at each other and smiled, quite tacitly.

Wei Su touched the top of Lu Sheng's head again, and sighed: "My dear disciple, remember to practice swordsmanship diligently every day, as a teacher, I have to leave."

Lu Sheng met his mentor in a hurry, and he was naturally reluctant, and murmured: "Master...are you really not going to be a general anymore?"

Wei Su said with a smile: "In the face of a national crisis, high-ranking officials and rich salary, conferring kings and worshiping ministers are all vain. It is serious to drive out the barbarians. As a teacher, don't waste those thoughts on dealing with civil strife, Lu Sheng." Said: "You are the meritorious officer of the people, arbitrarily adjudicating difficult cases for the people, and you must not get involved in the struggle between the gentry."

Seeing this, Lu Sheng quickly saluted respectfully and said, "Disciple, keep this in mind."

Then Wei Su turned his head to look at Xie Rong, clasped his fists in the distance and said, "Mr. Xie, please."

Xie Rong said: "Leader Wei, please stop, I have a capable person to recommend to the leader."

Wei Su rubbed his chin with great interest, "Oh? Where is the sacred place that can enter Mr. Xie's eyes?"

Xie Rong only slightly raised her hand, and Ruoxia appeared from behind an apricot tree, leading a hideous and ugly man forward, and bowed gracefully.

The big man was tall and burly, with a bag on his back, but his face was burnt and distorted, ugly and terrifying, but his expression was peaceful. When his eyes rolled, he was a little dull. As soon as he approached, he stared at Lu Sheng and laughed foolishly. , and hastily saluted awkwardly: "I have seen you, young master." Of course it was Guo Qian.

Xie Rong didn't take it seriously, she just said: "Guo Dasha, you call yourself a hero, are you willing to follow Chief Wei and become a real hero?"

Guo Qian listened to Xie Rong's words, but his eyes were still looking at Lu Sheng, and he nodded repeatedly: "I am willing to be Guo Daxia, so that you can impress me!"

Wei Su naturally knew this person, and had also seen Guo Qian's ability. If he was brought under his command, even if he was mentally flawed, but if he obeyed, he would still be like a tiger with wings added. Said: "Silly, come here."

Guo Qian replied, "Yes!" But he walked up to Lu Sheng first, bowed respectfully and said, "My lord, I'm leaving."

Lu Sheng said, "Guo... Dasha, do you really want to leave?"

Guo Qian scratched his ears and cheeks, and sighed: "I, I am reluctant to leave, but if I don't leave, I can't be a hero. If I don't become a hero, I am ashamed of my son. So... I have to go. I, a villain, killed a lot of bad guys and became a hero." The hero is back, young master, don't worry about it!"

Lu Sheng sighed, it's just that Guo Qian has all the skills, if he can follow Wei Su, he may not have a bright future, but it is far better than being a gardener in Lu's garden.He could only smile and said: "Be careful in everything, if you become a hero, come back with Master."

Guo Qian responded with a grin, and said, "My lord, then I'm leaving!"

Then he walked behind Wei Su.

Wei Su also smiled brightly, rubbed the top of Lu Sheng's head again, and said, "I'm leaving as a teacher, you... discuss everything with Mr. Xie more."

Lu Sheng's ears turned red, he was afraid that his relationship with Xie Rong had been seen through by Wei Su long ago, but now he didn't care about it, he just agreed, but still reluctantly asked: "Master, when will we see you again?"

Wei Su laughed out loud, raised his finger to the sky, then turned around and strode away.

Lu Sheng followed subconsciously, his shoulders sank, but was held down by Xie Rong, he could only watch helplessly as the group of people disappeared into the depths of the apricot forest in a blink of an eye, and gradually even the lights disappeared without a trace. He couldn't stop questioning: "Ah Rong, why have you been hiding it from me?"

Xie Rong said: "I also only found out the identity of the leader two hours ago."

Lu Sheng was in a trance, full of complaints, and said again: "Master, he refused to answer, he only pointed to heaven, saying whether we can see you again in the future depends on God's will... But I don't even have time to say a word, Ah Rong, master, he Also...don't want me..."

Xie Rong stepped forward and hugged the young man's crumbling body in his arms. Lu Sheng closed his eyes, only to feel that the world was far away. He was extremely small and lonely alone, and only the person in front of him was by his side.

"Ah Rong," Lu Sheng murmured to him, "Ah Rong, if you abandon me one day..."

Xie Rong said: "Baoyang, birth, old age, sickness and death, forever and ever, I will always be with you."

Lu Sheng only felt the soreness and depression in his heart slowly melt away, he rested his head on Xie Rong's shoulder, hugged his waist and refused to let go.

Xie Rong comforted him for a long time, and the two remained inseparable until they fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Xie Rong heard a slight noise, got up quietly, and turned her head to see that Lu Sheng was fast asleep before leaving the couch.He went to the study room, took the secret letter from Ruozhu and read it carefully, and said with a smile: "My lord is too impatient."

Ruoxia accompanied him, grinding ink for him, and after Xie Rong finished writing the letter and ordered Ruozhu to send it away, she offered a cup of silver pennies from Jietan, and after hesitating for a while, she still said softly: "My lord, slave girl If there is something unclear, please ask your son.”

Xie Rong smiled slightly, took a sip from the teacup, and then said leisurely: "Talk."

Ruoxia then asked: "The young master owed favors to the king of Pengcheng in exchange for the transfer order of Mr. Baoyang to be exiled to the Protectorate of the Western Regions. Now that he owes favors again, he has transferred Mr. Baoyang back to Jianye. He has been running around for half a year. Is it just to let him go?" Young Master Baoyang meeting Wei Su?"

Xie Rong said: "Exactly."

Ruoxia's gentle face revealed a complete sense of bewilderment: "This is again...why come..."

Jietan Yinhao tea leaves are delicate and tender, only soaked at low temperature, and after a little shaking, they exude a delicate and gentle fragrance. Xie Rong lowered her eyes and watched the tea buds stretch out in the pure tea soup, but a cold smile appeared on her lips, "Hug There are so many concerns in Yang's heart, master, colleagues, family and relatives, countless, and I don't know which one to rank me. Naturally, he must cut off all these messy concerns one by one, so that he will understand sooner or later, whether it is a mentor or a close relative, everyone But get away from him..."

The lights in the room exploded lightly, and the flames flickered on and off, making Xie Rong's face more cloudy and cloudy, and it was difficult to see. Ruoxia looked at her son, but suddenly her back felt cold, and she felt a little scared.

Xie Rong still laughed softly and said: "One day, I want to hold Yang in my heart, and it is enough to leave me alone."