treacherous world

Shen Bo'e and Shi Tianjie's accidental inclusion in the list added a bit of suspicion to this autumn test, and their faint hostility towards Bao Yan also made Zhan Zhao Bai Yutang wary.

"Haha, even the top three in the autumn test are here, this king is really lucky today." One sentence broke the subtle silence among the crowd.Following the sound, he saw that it was Chai Xing who was walking.

"My lord, don't come here without any harm." Shi Tianjie seemed to know Chai Xing well, so he immediately went up to greet him.

Shen Bo'e also stepped forward, but Bao Yan was not familiar with Chai Ying, so he opened his eyes wide and looked at Pang Yu beside him.Pang Yu made a face at him - he probably belonged to a gang.

Seeing that all the annoying people had arrived, Bai Yutang winked at Zhan Zhao—what a coincidence.

Zhan Zhao squinted his eyes and nodded at him——yes, how did the coincidences collide?

"Master Zhan." Naturally, Chai Xing saw Zhan Zhao, and hurriedly stepped forward to give Zhan Zhao's hand, "I'll leave on the boat that day, and I miss Master Zhan day and night..."

The corner of Zhan Zhao's mouth twitched, and before Bai Yutang raised his eyebrows, he skillfully drew his hand back.Of course, Zhan Zhao has seen someone like Chai Xing, who looks like he is thirsty for talents, and he is very pretentious.

When Bai Yutang saw that Chai Xing didn't grab his hand, his anger subsided a little, and he said to himself, I miss your sister day and night!Want to fall in love after meeting once, how about meeting twice? !

The fourth son let Zhan Zhao hold him, he opened his eyes and looked at Chai Xing curiously, thinking that this person is also a prince?Are Jiujiu and Jiujiu brothers?Why do you miss Meow Meow day and night?

Subconsciously, the fourth son said to Zhan Zhao, the landlord, in his heart, no way!Miaomiao and Baibai have made some progress in their kiss just now, so they can't be ruined by others.

"Young Lord." Chai Xing was also very polite to Pang Yu, how is the grand master recently?

It's true that Pang Yu is a fool when it comes to talent and learning, but when it comes to treating others with others, especially in officialdom, he is much better than Bao Yanke.Seeing Chai Xing's enthusiasm, he nodded with a smile, "Tofu Tofu, Lord Laochai misses you."

Chai Xing went over and bowed to Bao Yan again, "Congratulations to the champion of the new division, indeed the tiger father has no dogs."

"Uh, my lord congratulates me." Bao Yan now had a sense of reality that he had won the number one prize, so he wanted to go back and tell Bao Zheng so that his father would be happy too.

"Fifth Master Bai!" Chai Xing saw Bai Yutang and wanted to step forward, "I really miss you last time when I saw Bai Yutang..."

"Do you miss so many people every day?" Before Chai Xing could finish speaking, Tang Shitou couldn't take it anymore.He didn't know what a "Wang Ye" was, so he just took this person's surname as Wang, and when he saw him smiling and thinking about this and that, he was a little annoyed, so he asked him seriously, "Can you think about it?"

"Uh..." Chai Xing opened his mouth wide, looked at Tang Shitou in embarrassment, and wondered who this person was.

"What are you?" Shi Tianqiong glared at Tang Shitou, "Where did the country bumpkins come from to be so rude to the prince? Zhan Zhao, you Kaifeng people are too arrogant."

Zhan Zhao coughed, thinking that Shi Tianqiong was taking advantage of the problem.

"Oh, little prince, don't be so serious." Chai Xing persuaded Shi Tianqiong with a smile, "This little brother is just outspoken, he is a man of the world!" As he said, he patted himself on the chest, "It's all my fault, the favorite thing in this life is It’s impolite to make friends with capable people and strangers, and to see everyone getting carried away! Why don’t you go to Xiao Wang’s painting boat and tell him that Xiao Wang punished him with three glasses of wine as an apology?”

Pang Yu quickly waved his hand, "Prince Chai, what's the crime? But we'll have to wait for the next time to drink, we still have things to do right now."

"Is that so?" Chai Xing looked regretful.

"I heard what you said just now, are you going to Taibai Residence to celebrate?" Shen Bo'e said suddenly, "We also go to Taibai Residence, why don't we go together?"

"Really?" Chai Xing immediately regained his spirits, "Then let Xiao Wang be the host!"

Seeing that everyone did not agree, Shi Tianqiong sneered, "I heard that Taibai Residence is hard to find, but no matter how lively it is, the best private room on the third floor must be reserved for the people of Kaifeng Mansion to eat. "

Shi Tianqiong was kicked off the horse by Bai Yutang before, and was beaten up by Bao Zheng's order, so he held a grudge. This time, Bao Yan robbed his brother of the champion position, and he was even more dissatisfied.Old sorrows and new hatreds are added together, and the words are not pleasant.

Zhan Zhaobie can bear it, but Shi Tianqiong seems to say that people in Kaifeng Mansion are using power for personal gain, which damages Lord Bao's reputation, and his face also changes.

He pointed at Bai Yutang with his hand, "Misunderstanding, that private room is reserved by Bai Wuye all the year round."

Shi Tianqiong smiled, "Oh? So Bai Yutang is not from Kaifeng Mansion?"

Bai Yutang saw that he was not pleasing to the eye, and nodded lightly, "Who said I am from Kaifeng Mansion? It's just that there is a cat I raised in Kaifeng Mansion."

Zhan Zhao glared viciously at the past.

"Haha." Chai Xing quickly broke the embarrassing situation with a smile, "Fifth Bai is very funny."

"Haha~" At this time, the fourth son yawned, and fell sleepy on Zhan Zhao's shoulder, thinking that these people talking here are so annoying!Looking up, I saw someone walking in front of me, it was Grand Master Pang whom I hadn't seen for some time.

"Small belly!" The fourth son immediately cheered up and waved at Pang Ji.

"Yo, baby!" Pang Ji ran over and pinched the fourth son first.

"Father?" Pang Yu was also a little puzzled, why didn't Pang Ji take a sedan chair?Holding his belly, he ran up.

"You still know to call me daddy, and I still think you recognize that Baohei as your daddy! If you live in Kaifeng Mansion, you won't come here." Pang Ji gave Pang Yu a glare.

Pang Yu stuck out his tongue, he had indeed stayed in Kaifeng mansion recently and did not go home.

"Master Pang!"

Chai Xing hurriedly greeted Pang Ji, Grand Master Pang seemed to have something on his mind.After exchanging a few words with Chai Xing, he stopped, turned around and said to Zhan Zhao in a low voice, "Well, Guard Zhan, can you take a step to talk?"

Zhan Zhao was slightly taken aback, handed the fourth son to Pang Yu, walked over, and Pang Ji bowed to Bai Yutang again, motioning for him to come too.

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao exchanged glances, and walked aside together. Pang Yu wanted to sneak over to eavesdrop, but was kicked back by Pang Ji.

"Teacher, what's the matter?" Zhan Zhao asked.

"Well... I just went to the palace and heard the emperor mention the zombies. I want to ask you, are those zombies found in the ruined temple on the outskirts of the city, and there is a water pool near the ruined temple? The water ghost, is he a scholar?" Pang Ji lowered his voice a little bit, "The scholar has been sneaking around lately, hasn't he?"

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang frowned—how did Grand Master Pang know about the water ghost?

"Teacher?" Zhan Zhao was puzzled, "What happened to this water ghost?"

Pang Ji scratched his cheeks, and said in a low voice, "It's amazing, guard Bai Shaoxia, you two can save this old man's life!"

Zhan Zhao was startled, and Bai Yutang also wondered, "Grand Master, who wants to harm you?"

"That water ghost!" The grand master stomped lightly.

"Why?" Zhan Zhao felt strange, "It came looking for you?"

"It's probably not my turn yet, but death is a matter of time!" Pang Yu wept bitterly, "I have a secret, it's about the pool of water and the ruined temple."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were naturally happy when they saw a clue. Zhan Zhao suggested, "Grand Master, why don't you go to Kaifeng Mansion and discuss it with your lord?"

"You can't go! Don't let Bao Heizi know about this!" The grand master stomped, "The matter is very important. If it is investigated, I am afraid that he will find something that should not be investigated. At that time, throwing black yarn will be a trivial matter, and moving his head will affect his wife. My son is big! Don't get me involved."

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were flustered when they heard this, what was going on in their minds, what about it?Scared Grand Master Pang like this!

"Both of you find me a hidden place, let's talk alone, right!" Pang Yu said, "It's best to call the Ninth Prince together."

Bai Yutang suggested to go to the White Mansion, it was safer than talking anywhere, Grand Master Pang nodded, dragged people away from Chai Xing and Shi Tianjie, and ran away.

After everyone left, Shi Tianjie, Chai Xing and others were left looking at each other, curious about what happened.

"What are those people planning?" Shi Tianqiong frowned, "It's mysterious."

"I really didn't expect that Bao Yan would be able to win the first place with a horizontal bar, which ruined our great affairs." At this time, the amiable look on Chai Xing's face had faded away, as if he had changed himself.

"This Baoyan is underage, just a doll who can read, the prince doesn't need to worry too much about it. But Zhan Zhao Bai Yutang is not easy to deal with..." Shen Bo'e said shaking his head, "there is no taboo for these two people to be born in the Jianghu. The kung fu is also amazing!"

"These two are dragons and phoenixes among men, and Xiao Wang really wants to recruit them." Chai Xing asked Shen Bo'e, "Brother Shen is from the Jianghu, so you know about them, do you know what weaknesses or preferences they have?"

"Oh." Shen Bo'e shook his head, "My lord, it's better to put away this love of talents as soon as possible. Both of them are well-off young men who became famous, and they are among the best figures in the world. Zhan Zhao followed Bao Zheng loyally. Two, it is absolutely impossible to buy. And Bai Yutang... Hehe, it is better not to touch that nail. This person is eccentric and ruthless. It's a seamless wall."

"Is it that powerful?" Shi Tianqiong was dissatisfied, "We have recruited so many martial arts heroes, can't we still deal with three of them?"

"Tianqiong!" Shi Tianjie glared at him, "I don't know how high the sky is!"

Shen Bo'e smiled, not as knowledgeable as Shi Tianqiong, and asked Chai Xing, "My lord, we still act according to the plan, and the most important thing is to win the champion of martial arts. He has no power to restrain Bao Yan, and he will never be able to compete with us." Bar?"

"Very true!" Chai Xing nodded and left with everyone.

After the crowd left, an old man flashed out from behind the crowd, and Nian Xu looked at the backs of the crowd thoughtfully.In the end, he stretched out his hands and pinched his fingers to count, and laughed so hard that he murmured to himself, "It is indeed up to people to make things happen, but it is a pity that this time it is still a waste of time, just making wedding dresses for others! Haha. "

Inside the White Mansion, Bai Yutang brought Grand Master Pang and Zhan Zhao into the study, and after a while, Zhao Pu and Gongsun also came.After congratulating Bao Yan, they entered the study room, and the five of them closed the door for a private conversation.

Staying outside, Pang Yu, Bao Yan, Tang Shitou and the fourth son were puzzled.

The fourth son was in a daze, and fell asleep lying on the rattan chair under a small quilt.

Pang Yu held his chin, "What is my father doing? He is mysterious."

Bao Yan shook his head, not very clear.

Tang Shitou had nothing to do, so he practiced his sword in the yard.

Pang Yu and Bao Yan looked at it for a while, and felt that Tang Shitou's sword skills were very powerful, and to some extent similar to Bai Yutang's sword skills, but for some reason, they always felt that they were not as good-looking as Bai Yutang's sword skills.

"Shitou, do you want to be the number one scholar in martial arts?" Bao Yan asked.

Tang Shitou put away his knife, "Well, I want to pass the exam and become an official."

"Why don't you let Bai Yutang teach you the sword skills?" Pang Yu asked casually while chewing on a pear, "I always heard people say that Bai Yutang is the best swordsman in the world, why don't you ask him for advice?"

"You want me to learn swordsmanship from a nasty ghost?" Tang Shitou stood in the courtyard and thought about it carefully, thinking that if one day he could be as brilliant as Bai Yutang... then it would be easier to find a wife!

Leaving aside the commotion outside, the atmosphere in the study is dignified.

"Huh?" Zhao Pu opened his mouth wide and asked Pang Ji, "Grand Master, you said that many scholars were killed in the previous dynasty? Was it the royal family who did it, my brother?"

"It's Taizu..." Taishi muttered, seemingly hesitant.

"Wow... Grand Master." Zhao Nana Pang Ji joked, "He's going to be beheaded."

Pang Ji quickly shook his head, "Oh, my lord, don't be joking, I took a lot of risks to say it!"

Gongsun grabbed Zhao Pu to signal him not to make trouble, and let Grand Master Pang finish.

"Taizu reigned for 17 years. At that time, he went through several major exams. You also know the situation at that time. Taizu snatched the throne halfway. Scholars are pedantic. If there are too many gatherings, there will naturally be more rumors." Taizu whispered Said, "At that time, many scholars spoke badly but were very knowledgeable. They had a good chance to go to high school, and they seemed to have a conspiracy to win over courtiers. Therefore, it is said that Taizu secretly organized a team. There were about 30 people in this team. Gao Qiang came and went, killing those scholars, and often disguised the murders as if he accidentally fell into the water and drowned."

Bai Yutang frowned, "Isn't it enough not to let them become officials? Why kill them all?"

"Yes." Zhan Zhao was also dissatisfied.

"I really want to hear about that team." Zhao Pu took a sip of tea, "It's called Evil Pen, isn't it?"

"My lord knows?" the grand master was surprised.

Zhan Zhao and the others all looked at Zhao Pu with contempt, as if asking—won't you join in too?

"I wasn't born at that time!" Zhao Pu hurriedly dismissed it, "I just read some secret histories of the royal family, so I took a look."

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt Gongsun tugging at his sleeve beside him.

Zhao Pu turned his face away, only to see Gongsun's face upturned, his eyes shining brightly, as if to say - the secret history of the royal family?I really want to see it!

Zhao Pu leaned over to touch his head, "It's all hidden in the palace, I'll steal it out for you to see later!" Gongsun gave Zhao Pu a big smile, which made Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang tremble.

"Teacher." Zhan Zhao continued to ask Pang Ji, "What does that have to do with you?"

Pang Ji smiled awkwardly, and whispered, "That...who didn't do anything wrong when they were young, right?"

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other and shook their heads, "We haven't done it before."

Gongsun and Zhao Pu also nodded, "I haven't done it! I am worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth."

Pang Ji blushed, "I was young back then, don't look at me like this, I was also a student back then."

Zhan Zhao was puzzled when he heard this, "Grand Master, Your Excellency said you were born as a general?"

"That's because I couldn't get ahead in school, so I abandoned literature and followed martial arts." The grand master scratched his chin, "Later, he didn't succeed in learning martial arts, so he abandoned martial arts and followed literature."

Everyone couldn't help but twitch their mouths. In the end, it had nothing to do with civil and military affairs. They only achieved success by flattering, having a good girl and having a lot of bad intentions.

"What did you do to offend those scholars when you were young?" Bai Yutang asked him.

Pang Ji laughed dryly, "It's like this... Old man, when I was taking the exam in Kaifeng, some friends came to live together, and they kept close contact with each other. They were different from me. I was an idiot. Everyone is very arrogant and likes to cause trouble. In fact, I think that is quite naive, it is too ostentatious, and the result is too eye-catching... Gradually, I found that people often follow us."

Bai Yutang and Zhan Zhao exchanged a look - they were being targeted!

"I knew at the time that a catastrophe was coming!" Pang Ji said with a wry smile, "If it was going to be killed, it would kill absolutely all of them. I often went with them, although we didn't discuss or conspire together, but the so-called better than in vain Anyway, burying them with them is a certainty!"

"So you acted first?" Gongsun shook his head, really like Grand Master Pang's style.

Pang Ji was embarrassed, "Yes! I was quite despicable back then, but think about it, this is the only way to protect yourself!"

Everyone sighed and asked Grand Master Pang, "How did you do it?"

"I went to the government to report those people first, but I did say something nice to them!" Pang Ji hurriedly said.

Everyone looked at him with contempt, "Are you exonerating yourself?"

Pang Ji scratched his chin, "I know, to you chivalrous people who stand up straight and sit upright, I'm a despicable person. But the fact is that they acted recklessly and couldn't see the situation clearly and were targeted by evil pens , but in the end, I was asked to die with him! All I did was save myself, and I was also implicated."

Although everyone didn't agree with the Grand Master's approach, there was nothing wrong with it. It was impossible to expect him to have never harmed anyone since he had achieved his current status.

"What about after that?" Zhan Zhao urged Grand Master Pang to finish the matter.

"Afterwards, the evil pen continued overnight, causing those scholars to disappear. I only found out later that the scholars were tricked into ruined temples on the outskirts of the city in my name, where they were killed and thrown into ponds."

Bai Yutang frowned, "I've been used..."

Pangji nodded.

"Teacher, you are miserable." Zhao Pu clicked his tongue twice, "If your friends turned into ghosts, I would haunt you."

The grand master grinned, "After that, I was appreciated by the governor of Kaifeng. I didn't pass the exam, but every step of the way was faster than the champion." Pang Ji said, trembling, "It was only about half a year later. , something happened."

Pang Ji sighed, "I had something to do that night, and I had to go to the palace with Mr. Fuyin. On the way... I saw a ghost!"

"Ghost?" Gongsun was curious, "Could it be that those dead scholars came looking for you?"

"It's not those, it's one of them!" Pang Ji said earnestly, "The scholar's surname is Chai, but I don't remember his name, but his name seems to be Furong. He is the most extreme among the group of scholars. He usually talks about Taizu. I just gritted my teeth and said hoarsely, saying something about him..."

"What?" Zhao Pu looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"Speak ill of him..." Pang Ji was embarrassed.

"Furong?" Gongsun felt strange, "It's like a name, not like a sign."

"That day, Chai Furong was standing on the north-south street of Kaifeng Mansion. His eyes were fixed on the palace in front of him. I will remember the look of hatred in his eyes for the rest of my life. Not long after, there was the sound of candle shadow and axe. That matter..." Pang Ji said, seeing Zhao Pu's face changed slightly, knowing that this was a taboo in his family, he shrank his neck, "The great ancestor passed away."

"Grand Master." Everyone was silent for a while, Zhan Zhao looked up at Pang Ji, "This matter is far-reaching, why tell us?"

"Tsk, guard Zhan, you have to save my life!" The grand master said, took out an imperial list from his bosom, and showed it to Zhan Zhao and the others.

The Huangbang was sent out a few days ago, and the Kaifeng mansion issued a picture of the picture to capture Qiu Langxing.

Zhan Zhao frowned, "What happened to him?"

"Like!" Pang Ji pointed at Qiu Langxing's portrait depressingly, "Chai Furong is terribly like a sinner. I didn't sleep for several nights after watching the imperial list!"

This picture was drawn by Gongsun two days ago. He deliberately drew Qiu Langxing to be gloomy, and his complexion and features were slightly modified according to what Zhan Zhao Bai Yutang said.In other words, the person in this image is not only like Qiu Langxing, but also like the water ghost that everyone saw that day.

Could it be that Qiu Langxing looks a lot like Chai Furong back then?Everyone was puzzled.

"More than that!" Pang Ji took out Cen Lei's portrait again, "I wanted to say that this Cen Lei is also very similar to Chai Furong back then, but now, look, don't you look more and more like him?"

Everyone compared the two portraits together.

"Don't tell me..." Zhan Zhao didn't feel it before, but now comparing the two portraits together, and thinking about the appearance of Qiu Langxing and Cen Lei, there seems to be a subtle relationship in it!

"These three people look terrible!" Grand Master Pang wiped off his sweat, "Chai Furong died because he failed the exam back then! Cen Lei also failed the exam back then and died! But this time it is said that Qiu Langxing passed half the exam. Already! You say evil door is not evil door?"

"Also, let me tell you something." Pang Ji said in a low voice, "During the exams in those years, there were also zombies!"

"What?" Everyone was taken aback.

"It's also this kind of person who was poisoned by a dog and injured his forehead, a fake zombie?" Gongsun asked.

Pang Ji shook his head, "It's just a deceitful news from the palace. Let's find a few people who are good at disguising it at night. The purpose is to keep those scholars staying in the room and not coming out to make trouble!"

Everyone nodded.

"The exams in those years are still vivid in my memory. Everyone was very hostile. Some were thinking about the former dynasty, and some liked the Song Dynasty, so they fought when they disagreed with each other, and there were many deaths and injuries."

"It's very similar to this autumn test." Zhan Zhao sighed.

"That's why I think it's weird!" Pang Ji shook his head, "It's like reliving the past."

The four people present all called Pang Yu to speak in a sinister manner.

"Is it possible that Chai Furong is not dead?" Bai Yutang asked, "Cen Lei and Qiu Langxing are related by blood to him?" They are about the same age, Concubine Pang and Pang Yu are still young, if Chai Furong has a son, Cen Lei and Qiu Langxing are the right ages! "If it's true." Bai Yutang is more inclined to say that the living are causing trouble, "Then did they come to Kaifeng this time to take revenge? Or is it for more than that?"

"Master Zhan!"

While the people in the room were talking, Xiao Bao Fu knocked on the door outside, looking for Zhan Zhao, and said, "Master told you to call the young master, and told you to go back too. The emperor wants to hold a banquet in the imperial garden, and invite the top three."

Zhan Zhao originally wanted Bai Yutang to follow, but as soon as Bai Yutang heard about the Golden Palace in the Imperial Garden, one head and two big, saying that he would wander around looking for clues and meet up again when he came back.Zhan Zhao knew his temperament, so he had no choice but to give up.

Everyone left Kaifeng mansion and entered the palace, and Bai Yutang went to the street.

Compared to blood relationship, it might actually be the disguise technique. In short, Bai Yutang doesn't believe in gods and ghosts.

For some reason today, there was a heavy fog in Kaifeng Mansion, especially on the river.Many painted boats shuttle between the rivers, looming.Seeing the beautiful scenery, Bai Yutang stood under the willow tree by the embankment in a daze.

At this time, a painted boat sailed towards the shore, and a person on the painted boat stood at the bow and waved to him.

Bai Yutang frowned slightly - it was the god Qi Sijian who had disappeared for a few days, and the little monkey that disappeared after being brought back to Kaifeng was sitting on his shoulder.

Qi Siren stretched out his hand and waved to Bai Yutang in a strange gesture.

Bai Yutang stared at him, and in an instant, he felt a little sleepy, and immediately felt that something was wrong!He was involuntarily raising his feet to get on the boat, when suddenly there was a "whoosh" beside him, and a black shadow ran over.

With a "plop", the man fell headfirst into the river.

The river water splashed up with a "splash", and the cold water splashed on Bai Yutang's face, making him instantly sober.

Looking again, I saw that there was indeed a thin layer of fog on the river in front of me, but there were no boats, let alone Qi Si Ren and monkeys!

Bai Yutang looked down, only to find that there was a person who sank after splashing twice in the river, whose appearance was still familiar.

He frowned, took a breath and jumped, grabbed his neck before he completely sank, turned over and carried him to the bank, and fell to the edge of the river embankment.

"Ahem..." The man lay on the ground and coughed.

Bai Yutang saw clearly that it was Tang Shitou.

It turned out that other than Bai Yutang, Tang Shitou didn't go to the Golden Palace. Seeing Bai Yutang going out with a lot of worries, he quietly followed behind.

But when he got to the river, he saw an old man beckoning him to drink, he fell into the water in a daze, and didn't wake up until he was rescued by Bai Yutang.

Tang Shitou shook his head again and again, "Oh, did I call you a ghost? What happened just now?" Bai Yutang knelt down and patted his back, making him choke out the river water, but he thought of Ximen's medicine before. The thing about drinking on a painting boat, and then being thrown into the fire for no reason and almost burned to death... Could it be, the art of soul-stirring?