The strange story of Huai'an Inn

"Hey, good evening, guest officer. Who are you? Do you want to stay at the hotel?" Chongliu had a smile on his face that was bright and springy, but with a slight smile on his face. The blue-clothed guest who came in from the horse brushed off the dust from his clothes, and introduced earnestly, "We have all the shops, side rooms, and front rooms here, but the kitchen is about to close. If you want to eat, I have to hurry up with the back kitchen. Say."

The guest officer in blue had a dignified and heroic face, a tall and straight figure, with a sword at his waist, and an extraordinary aura.He glanced back at his traveling companion and said, "Two people, one room, three nights first. Just get some dinner. We have two horses."

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll let them lead the horse to the backyard for you." The waiter turned his head, and suddenly shouted at the back hall angrily, "Xiao Shun! Hurry up and lead the horse for the guests! "

Xiao Shun ran out from the back hall leading to the atrium, untied the reins tied to the horse post outside the door, and led the two horses to the back yard from the small alley next to them.Another guest, who had been watching the horse outside the door, then entered and pulled the hood of his cloak down.He is a young official who looks about the same age as Chong Liu, but his figure is quite thin. He is dressed in a taupe-colored satin robe and wears a soft-footed toe on his head. He is very gentle and elegant.

Chong Liu led two officials who had a temperament different from ordinary customers to the counter, opened the registration book, picked up a brush, and licked it on the tip of his tongue, "Can you tell me your name?"

"His surname is Xu and my surname is Liu." The man in blue said simply.

Chong Liugan said with a smile, "Well... there are quite a few Xu and Liu here... can you be more specific?" Said, "His name is Liu Sheng. Sheng who is full of food and hard soldiers."

The man in blue who was called Liu Sheng frowned and glared at his companion, apparently dissatisfied that he had revealed his real name.

It seems that this petty official named Xu Hanke has no experience in running the world, and he is a little bit bookish.Saying such polite words, I am not afraid to make him dizzy.

Chong Liu picked up a pen and quickly and fluently wrote the names of two people on the ledger.

"Our first room here costs 280 renminbi a night, but the first room only costs [-] renminbi with breakfast included. In addition to the bed, there is a warm bed in the room. Don't you think about it?"

"No..." Liu Sheng just wanted to refuse, but Xu Hanke said, "Okay! Then the first room!"

Liu Sheng cast a disgusted glance at Xu Hanke again.Xu Hanke clicked his tongue and said in defense, "Brother Liu, the rent can be reimbursed, who are you saving money for by being so frugal?"

Liu Sheng pulled Xu Hanke aside, and said in a low voice, "Young Master, we only brought so much money, and when we run out of money, should we stay here to wash the dishes to pay off the debt?"

"Oh, don't you still have the government office if you don't have any money? I printed it out with the official seal."

Liu Sheng's eyes widened, "You..."

Before Liu Sheng got angry, Xu Hanke had already returned to the counter with a smile, and said kindly to Chong Liu, "I want the first room, do you have any signature dishes here? I heard that the Tieguanyin from Zilu Mountain is very good. Do you have any?"

"Oh, guest officer, you are really a person of taste! Don't worry, I will make it for you in a while. Our restaurant's signature dishes include wine steamed crab, sauced duck, scallion carp and quail. In addition, our restaurant's Fragrant sweets are all imported from Shuifangzhai, some are soft and some are crispy, especially delicious!"

"That's fine, then send some to our room."

After registration, Chong Liu helped carry a suitcase of luggage, and led the two of them into the atrium through the door of the back hall.In the courtyard, a huge ancient locust tree stands upright, its thick and gnarled trunk rises from the ground, forming a giant umbrella in the air, and its branches and leaves are pressed down from the air, like a shady blue sky.At this time, when the Sophora japonica is in full bloom, there is a faint dreamlike fragrance of Sophora japonica floating in the air.

Xu Hanke looked up at the old tree that had been around for a long time, half admiring and half worried, "Xu Xing sheds tears and falls to the ground to become a locust tree. Everything has its own end, and all ghosts have the same root. Planting this shade-collecting tree in the atrium, you are not afraid of bad luck." ."

Chong Liu thought to himself, this person seems to owe as much as himself?So he made a slightly exaggerated expression of astonishment, looked around, lowered his voice and asked closer, "How do you know that there are a hundred dead people buried under our tree? To tell you the truth, our inn has come in , but I can’t get out!”

There was silence in the courtyard for a while.

Then Chong Liu laughed meanly again, "I'm just joking, officer! Don't worry, we are at the foot of Zilu Mountain, and all the demons and ghosts in a radius of a hundred miles would have been wiped out by the alchemists of Qingming Temple on the mountain~ If there is no such tree Shu, the name of our inn has to be changed accordingly."

There are two small buildings on the north and east sides of the atrium, and the 24 guest rooms are located in these two buildings.To the west is the warehouse for storing goods.From the northeast corner and from the northwest corner, there is a moon gate leading to the second courtyard, where there are stables and houses where the workers of the inn live.

The corridors of the north building are dimly lit, and the candles on the walls cannot light up all the dark corners, shaking scattered shadows.In the guest rooms on both sides, there are sporadic rooms with light shining through the paper panes, and there are low voices of conversation and snoring surging in the unique silence of the night.

Chong Liu stopped in front of a room and unlocked the door with a key.There is a wooden sign hanging by the door, with the word "Yu Ling" written on it.

The first room is fully furnished and the couch is very comfortable.

After Chong Liu left, Liu Sheng closed the door and said in a low voice, "Can you say a few words less outside..."

Xu Hanke unpacked his luggage at the back, and raised his head innocently when he heard the words, "I didn't say anything..."

"When you go out, you will report your real name when you come up. You are not afraid that people will know that you are the new Zhaoning Xiansi and tie you up? And didn't I tell you not to bring your official seal? We didn't inform the local government this time either. It was originally for an unannounced visit, but you are good, not to mention your real name, you even brought your official seal." Liu Sheng sighed tiredly, sat on another bed not occupied by Xu Hanke, untied the burden on his back, "What do you think of this inn?"

Xu Hanke pondered for a moment, then said, "The waiter's handwriting is pretty good."

Liu Sheng rolled his eyes towards the sky, "You know it's useless to watch these things!"

"How can you say it's useless?" Xu Hanke looked at Liu Sheng who was busy taking off his boots, "There are not many people in the market who can read, and those who can write their own names are only one in ten. This waiter can understand Don’t you think it’s a little strange that what I said, and I didn’t write a single word wrong?”

Liu Sheng thought about it, and it was indeed a bit strange, "Maybe he has studied?"

"Liu Sheng, you and I don't think there's anything wrong with being the sons of officials, but the academy is an unattainable luxury for ordinary people. Unless the whole family wants to send a son to take the exam for fame, who would go there in vain?" Throw your hard-earned money in?"

"Maybe he didn't pass the exam? Or just learned a few words from others?"

"You can see that he handles the pen like a cloud, with calluses on his fingers, and you know that it is not just a few words. If he is a scholar who has been educated by the academy, who would be willing to put down his body to serve others like a waiter? Even if you starve to death, you won’t be able to do business. But look at his hands, they don’t look like those of a scholar, they seem to be used to work. It’s really weird.” Xu Hanke picked up the teapot on the table, opened it and looked at it. Looking inside, he muttered, "Hey, isn't there any teapot made by a famous kiln in the first room?"

Liu Sheng ignored the young master's complaints, and continued to think, "So this inn is indeed a bit strange..."

"We only saw a waiting room, and we will look for opportunities to inquire again, and see what kind of guests are here." Xu Hanke muttered while talking, "Tsk, look, there are so many smokers in this room. There is no fragrance..."

Chong Liu was rushing to the back kitchen to report the dishes to Master Liao.However, just as he was passing through the atrium, he suddenly heard a magical sound piercing his ears, "Liuer~~~" Goosebumps all over his body like a conditioned reflex on the sixth day, this prolonged and soul-like voice could not be someone else, it must ... "Master!"

Shopkeeper Zhu was wearing a robe of Yun Jinxiu crane, leaning lazily on the vermilion lacquer pillar under the porch, holding his puffy raccoon cat in his arms, and beckoning to him.

Strange, the shopkeeper usually doesn't pay him much attention?

Chong Liu trotted to the shopkeeper, nodded and bowed, "Master, are you looking for me?"

"Which room did the two guests arrange just now?"

"Yu Ling, did you see them? Those two guests are a bit strange, as if they eloped from some rich family..."

The shopkeeper chuckled twice, and sighed softly, "I saw their names when I went to get the ledger just now. Zhaoning's newly appointed Superintendent of the Department of Penalty and Prison came here suddenly. We are too neglectful."

Chong Liu's eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets, "What? You said that the man in the blue dress is a high-ranking official?"

"It's not the one in blue, it's another one. Xu Hanke, the son of Minister of the Household Department. The one in blue is his adjutant, Liu Sheng, the third master of the Minister's family of the Ministry of War."

Chong Liu's expression was full of disbelief.It's probably because the guy named Xu Hanke really doesn't match the image of ordinary high-ranking officials and lords in the minds of common people.There is no big belly, no white beard, and no guard of honor.

And how did the owner recognize him?

"Then... why did Xianji come to our place? We didn't have any murders here?" Chongliu asked in bewilderment.

"Maybe it's because of the case of Zhongwang Zhongxie's death." The shopkeeper looked up at the locust tree casually, "He was promoted to investigate this case."

King Zhong, who had been living in Jiyun Mansion on Zhaoning Road, went to the capital to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday, but the news of his inexplicable death has already spread among the people, but he died in the capital and lived in Jinxiang City. This Xiansi came to Tianliang City Check what?And still live in their little famous inn.

Chongliu said in a reverent tone, "Master, you know a lot!" Finally, he found an angle where the light of the lantern could be reflected from the eyes, trying to create the effect of stars in the eyes.

The shopkeeper looked down at him, and raised the corner of his mouth slightly, as if he was very pleased.

The shopkeeper Zhu is a head taller than him, and he always looks at him, as if he is too lazy to lower his head.Chong Liu always felt that there should be no lazier person in the world than the shopkeeper. He would never sit if he could lie down, and never stand if he could sit. Even if he was standing, he always had to lean on something.So lazy but still in such a good figure, it can really kill people's anger.

"It's not that I know a lot, it's that the inn has been open for a long time, and I can always hear some strange news." The shopkeeper Zhu saw Zhongliu raised his face and looked very interested and eager to learn, and continued to say kindly, " The death of the loyal king was very evil. He was obviously the emperor's favorite fourth son, but when he died, he was in a state of mourning, and he didn't even stop. It is said that he was unconscious a few days before his death, and often stayed up all night, making everyone The servant stood with him in his room, as if fearing something would appear."

Chong Liu looked serious with racking his brains, "There is no stop? Maybe the emperor is too sad and wants to end it quickly? Or is it because the emperor is ashamed because the king is crazy?"

The shopkeeper Zhu smiled, as if he had heard something very childish, "The royal family's face is too great, if there is no hidden secret, it would never be so hasty. Zhong Wang has been healthy since he was a child, and his temperament is gentle and exquisite. He is a prince. One of the important candidates, how can such a person go crazy easily? Unless it is... stimulated by something."

Chong Liu suddenly realized, "So someone made him go crazy? And this person has something to do with our Tianliang City?"

The shopkeeper put the fat cat on the ground, then stood up straight, and said casually, "The position of the crown prince always has to be stained with so many layers of blood. Well, you go to your work. Be vigilant these two days." , Pay attention to what you say."

After speaking, Shi Shiran walked towards the backyard.

Chong Liu scratched his head and continued walking towards the back kitchen, thinking how he could make a good impression on the official, and maybe earn more rewards.

After arriving at the back kitchen and explaining to Master Liao the meals that the two officials wanted, Master Liao told him that this was the last order, and the kitchen would be closed after that.Chong Liu then went to the lobby and began to scrub the tables and chairs with Zhu Yi, turning the stools onto the table one by one, and splashing water to sweep the floor.

While chattering, someone suddenly came in from the door.

Chong Liuyi raised his head and greeted him with a slightly apologetic smile, "I'm so sorry, guest officer, our kitchen is closed, but there are two rooms left, do you want to stay in the hotel?"

The person who came was a dignified and beautiful woman, about 30 years old, with a little makeup, a pearl walker inserted in the cloud-like black hair, and an elegant half-arm blue and white skirt.There are slight traces of wind and frost between her eyebrows and eyes, but she is graceful, like a willow by the river, faintly hidden in the green smoke and mist.She held a package wrapped in scarlet silk in her hands, which looked like something like clothes.

She looked at Chong Liu carefully, with a smile in Xing's eyes, "Why haven't I seen you before?"

"Ah! So it's the lady of the Luo family!" Zhu Yi came up to meet her, as if he knew the beautiful woman well, "You brought clothes again?"

"Yeah, the wedding dress your shopkeeper asked for three months ago is finally done."

wedding dress?

What does the shopkeeper want a wedding dress for?

Is the shopkeeper going to get married?But you've never heard of it?And Zhu Yi used the word "again". Doesn't it sound like the first time?

"You think it's fine if you have someone deliver it, why bother to go there yourself." Zhu Yi enthusiastically invited her into the hall, "Do you want to hand it over to the shopkeeper?"

But at this time, Master Liao yelled in the back kitchen that the food for the two officials was ready.

The woman known as the wife of the Luo family took another look at Chongliu, smiled and said to Zhu Yi, "Go and deliver the food, and let this little brother take me there."

Chong Liu was taken aback, and hurried forward to take the package held by the lady of the Luo family, but she shook her head lightly, "Little brother, are you not married yet? Unmarried people touched the wedding dress, but It’s not auspicious to have a bumpy love road~” Chong Liu squinted his eyes and smiled, “It’s good to dare to love, a bumpy love road is better than I don’t even have a love road now.”

The lady of the Luo family let out a series of pleasant low smiles, and started to walk towards the atrium, "You little brother is really cute. Let's go, lead me the way."

Chong Liu was about to run over to lead the way when Zhu Yi pulled him suddenly.

"Sixth brother, to be honest, don't touch any clothes that this lady of the Luo family sends you." Zhu Yi looked at him worriedly.

"why?"

"Lady of the Luo family is the proprietress of Luo Jinzhai. You just came to Tianliang City not long ago, so you may not know what happened to Luo Jinzhai before."

Chong Liu's eyes widened, "Is she Luo Jinzhai's proprietress?"

Although Chong Liu has only been in Tianliang City for three or four months, he has already inquired a lot about the news in the city.Luo Jinzhai is a well-known clothing company in the city. Five years ago, Luo Jinzhai's original owner married a skilled embroiderer, who died less than a year later, and this embroiderer became Luo Jinzhai's new owner.Although the Luo family's lady's embroidery and garment making skills are several times more exquisite than the original owner's, especially the wedding dress she sewed is so beautiful that even Yushangfang, which specializes in making clothes for concubines in the palace, is hard to match. Such skill and vision.

The first thing that happened was Ruizhu, the daughter of Shen's family, a big salt merchant.This Rui Zhu was born with a mediocre appearance, and was betrothed to Chen Qi, the second son of a wealthy local tea merchant family, as his main wife.Strange to say, on the day of the wedding, Ruizhu, who put on the wedding dress sewn by the wife of Luo's family, turned out to be beautiful and beautiful, and I heard that the second son Chen was quite surprised.Moreover, that glamorous look became more and more beautiful day by day, and the originally flirtatious Mr. Chen became dizzy, and all the concubines he had taken before were dismissed.

But I don't know when it started, Ruizhu began to wear that red wedding dress every day and refused to take it off, even when she was in the same room with Second Young Master Chen, her temperament became extremely weird.But because she was just pregnant, everyone had to let her make trouble.

It's just that every day the month is full, the wedding dress is too tight on her body, which may hurt the fetus, but she still refuses to take it off.Finally, the old lady ordered all the maids to hold her down and forcibly take off the wedding dress.

What happened after that is only a rumor.The only thing that was certain was that although the wedding dress came down, the adults and children were gone.

Some of the maids who were present that day went crazy, and some were paid hush money and dismissed overnight.It is said that the wife of Mr. Chen who was there at the time was stimulated by some horrible scene, and she stayed behind closed doors for many years, acting like a fool.And Rui Zhu was also hastily buried, and even her natal family's request to see the body was rejected, which caused the two well-known families who were originally harmonious and beautiful to turn against each other.

However this is just the beginning.Since then, strange things will happen to all the brides who wear the wedding dress sewn by the wife of the Luo family, and all of them will look more and more beautiful at the beginning, but then they will go crazy and refuse to take off the wedding dress .After several times, the rumors about the Luo family's wife cursing on the wedding dress intensified, so that Luo Jinzhai was jointly sued by several families to the government.

Later, for unknown reasons, the case was suddenly withdrawn. As for why it was withdrawn, the government has never given a real explanation.But since then, Luo Jinzhai has stopped making wedding dresses.

But today, the lady of the Luo family personally sent a wedding dress?

And it's for the shopkeeper?