Urban Night Returner

The spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, with auspicious days and good days.Luo Jing's wedding day is here.

Zuo Mu left Luo Mansion quietly on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, and Ding Lancha's letter arrived in the capital after a few days, saying that Zuo Mu disappeared on the way back to Qingzhou.Luo Jing read the letter and was silent for a long time, but still did not mention Zuo Mu's whereabouts to Ding Lancha.After that, there was no movement in the Shangshu Mansion. I don't know if they really regarded Zuo Mu as a thief, or it's not easy to publicize this kind of thing.Or it was because the emperor was purging the forces of King Zheng's faction, and he was among them, and if he couldn't take care of himself, he naturally couldn't take care of other things.

King Zheng was convicted of treason by the Dali Temple. Because he is of royal blood, he was exempted from being slaughtered. He was given a cup of poisoned wine. The man in the palace executed the woman and exiled him. The emperor was kind enough to demote his youngest son to a commoner. , It can be regarded as leaving a ray of incense.The once prominent power disappeared, and those officials who were once very close to King Zheng were naturally in danger, lest the emperor's sword would be stabbed at their own head.Luo Jing is now a celebrity in the eyes of the emperor, and many people want to curry favor with him, so this time his marriage is a great opportunity to give gifts to show his favor.

In the early morning of the auspicious day, people began to come and go at the gate of Luo Mansion like flowing water.The daughter of the Ding family has already been escorted to Beijing by Ding Lancha's confidant soldiers, temporarily staying at Han Lan's residence, and being escorted by Mrs. Han.Because Luo Jing has no parents in the mansion, the etiquette can be simpler, but even so, there are a lot of things. Fortunately, the Han mansion sent all the servants to help, so Biyan and Biquan were not overwhelmed. head.

Bi Yan had already changed her bun and put on the pink clothes of the concubine's room.According to the etiquette, she will offer tea to the wife in the first room in the early morning of the second day after the new couple is married.Because she has a formal status, it is inconvenient for her to show her face again, and she only arranges a banquet in the back room, and the reception of guests and gifts in the front are all done by the butlers of Biquan and Hanfu.

Luo Jing was dressed in a bright red wedding dress, standing at the gate, watching the colorful sedan chair with red flowers and flowers slowly approaching from the other side of the street, accompanied by Xi Niang's trumpeter.Firecrackers exploded crisply behind him, Xi Niang yelled to get off the sedan chair, lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, and helped out the bride and groom.The red silk hijab embroidered with gold-threaded peonies trembles slightly in the evening wind, and pearl tassels hang down from the corners. The wedding dress with dragon and embroidered phoenixes is lifted gently in the brazier, revealing a pair of embroidered shoes with gold threads, from head to toe , impeccable.

"Spread the tent east, the hibiscus tent warms the spring breeze; spread the tent south, only envy mandarin ducks but not immortals; spread the tent west—"

Listening to the happy words, Luo Jing saw handfuls of red dates, longan, and lotus seeds scattered on the bed embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water, feeling vaguely unreal.When he was young, seeing his mother crying in the corner, he had naively thought that when he married his wife in the future, he must treat her well and not let others bully her... But today, his big day, Xiao Dengke's bridal chamber On the festive night, he didn't know why, but he wasn't excited. Even when the hijab had been handed over to him, his heart was still beating so peacefully, just like in the past.

The big red hijab slid down gently, and Ding Hui's heart was pounding. After a while, he slowly raised his eyes.In front of him was a face with sharp edges and corners, not handsome, but heroic.Ding Hui felt his heart that had been suspended all this time drop slightly, but his cheeks became hot involuntarily.This is her husband, the young general who is said to have repeatedly made military exploits at the border and beheaded the enemy with one hand, the man who was praised by her uncle and father himself, he is indeed suitable for her girl Her dream is not those dudes she worries about marrying, but a real young hero.At this moment, she was extremely grateful to the sky.

After the cup of wine was delivered, the sweet smell of rice wine permeated the room, making people want to be drunk.Ding Hui tried his best to suppress his beating heart, lowered his eyes, and took the acacia cup.The wrapped arms are strong and powerful, with broad and thick palms, and the five fingers with well-defined knuckles are carefully holding the small cup. The heat of the skin reaches her through the thin silk clothes, and the congratulations and jokes of everyone in the ears seem to be intoxicating. Far away, she only heard a deep and powerful voice: "Ma'am, please—" So she panicked, controlled herself with all her reserve of 18 years, and responded softly with her most beautiful voice: "Husband Please—” From now on, hold your hand and grow old with you...

Shen Mobai sat quietly in his room.Early this morning, he was awakened by the movement in the yard.Luo Jing's mansion is very lively, but this excitement does not belong to him.To the outside world, he is Luo Jing's sworn brother, a person who has been rewarded by the emperor with a fifth-rank salary, but in his own heart, to Luo Jing, to this wedding, he is just an embarrassing existence.He couldn't pretend to appear in front of everyone, so he could only stay in a corner of the east courtyard, quietly listening to the noise and laughter from the west courtyard.

The Lotus Sutra is spread out on the table, next to it is the Diamond Sutra.In fact, there is no need to read these, he has read them well since he was a child, almost by heart.The master once said that he has a predestined relationship with the Buddha, and he never forgets the scriptures. No matter how impetuous his heart is, he can calm down by reciting a few scriptures silently.But now these words flow through my heart, but I can't find the miraculous effect that could calm my mind and soothe my mind before.Today, he can't even recite an article fluently and completely.Is Li Mountain abandoned for a long time, or is it because of the loss of Bodhi Pearl?

Thinking of the Bodhi Pearl, Shen Mobai couldn't help but raised his hand and pressed his heart.The bodhi bead turned into a cinnabar red mole at this position on Luo Jing's body, and drove away the impermanence that came to seduce the soul.It is true what the master said back then that bodhi beads can keep you safe throughout your life.However, the master also said that you should not act against the sky, so if he saved Luo Jing's life with the bodhi beads, is he acting against the sky?If this is considered against the sky, then the existence of Bodhi Pearl is to make him have the ability to defy the sky?If Luo Jing's life should not be terminated, could it be that the Bodhi Pearl was born for him?

An untimely grunt from his stomach interrupted Shen Mobai's meditation.Ever since Luo Jing got drunk that night, they seemed to be back to the way they were before.Although he is still fasting, as long as Luo Jing is at home, the four of them still eat together in the main room.It was inconvenient for him to go out today, but Biyan didn't know whether it was intentional or not, she didn't arrange the kitchen to deliver meals for him, but let him stay in the house hungry for a whole day.

It was already dark, and the voices in the west courtyard gradually died down, and the last group of troublemakers also left.The groom should be satisfied after being drunk by them.Shen Mobai felt his flat stomach, and decided to go to the kitchen to see if there was anything to eat.

The west courtyard had already dissipated, and there was still some smell of wine and vegetables in the air, but the lights had been extinguished, only the bride and groom's room was still dimly lit, presumably it was the remnant flames of unburned candles.

Shen Mobai came out of the kitchen with two cold steamed buns in his pocket, looked at the dimly lit window from a distance, and was a little lost in thought.Everyone has fallen asleep, and no one knows that there is still someone awake and watching in the middle of the night...

The night sky was dark, without stars or moon.Shen Mobai suddenly raised his head.Since losing the Bodhi Pearl, he seems to be more sensitive at night. Although the sky is so dark that he can't see anything, he feels as if something is approaching. The slight cold makes the hair on the back of his neck stand up slightly stand up.The thing flew over his head, didn't seem to notice him, and gradually moved towards the dimly lit window.It wasn't until I got close to the window that I could faintly see a cloud of black mist. I hovered around the window for a moment, and a human face seemed to be exposed in the black mist. I leaned against the window lattice and looked inside. went in.

Shen Mobai ran away, the door of the new house was locked, and he didn't know where the strength came from, but he kicked it open with one kick.There was a loud bang on the door panel, and an exclamation immediately came from the bed curtain.Shen Mobai's eyes only saw that the cloud of black mist had just floated in front of the bed, and in desperation, he bit the tip of his tongue and sprayed a mouthful of blood on the steamed bun in his hand, then threw the steamed bun towards the black mist forcefully.The first steamed bun passed through the black mist, and the white skin immediately turned into coke, and the black mist turned into a black thread and went out from the window, but the bed curtain was lifted just in time, and the second steamed bun missed. What, he flew towards the bed, only to hear another exclamation from the bed, followed by Luo Jing's annoyed voice: "Who!"

Shen Mobai stayed there, not knowing what to do.The bed curtain was lifted, and Luo Jing had already sat up, holding the burnt steamed bun in his hand, while the other fell on Ding Hui. Ding Hui saw the blood on his hands under the dim candlelight, and was frightened immediately. He yelled, then raised his head and saw a strange man in the room, immediately let out another exclamation, and grabbed Luo Jing tightly.

Luo Jing turned over and got out of bed with a sullen face, pulled back the bed curtain, and walked up to Shen Mobai: "What's going on?" He never expected that Shen Mobai would barge in and throw in two bloody cold steamed buns.If it was someone else, he might have already punched him. Although he is suppressing his anger, his face is already dark and ugly.

Shen Mobai murmured: "I, I saw something enter the room—"

Luo Jing frowned: "What?" He still believed Shen Mobai's words, because the most absurd things he said before turned out to be true in the end.

Shen Mobai frowned: "I didn't see it clearly, it looked like a cloud of black mist, and there was a human face in the mist, it seemed to be a woman."

These words were too unbelievable, Luo Jing tried his best to be patient and said: "Where is this thing?"

Shen Mobai shook his head: "It's gone."

There was a soft, almost inaudible hum from the bed curtain.Luo Jing frowned even tighter, raised the steamed bun in his hand: "Then what is this?"

Shen Mobai said a few words, the tip of his tongue gradually hurt, and said vaguely: "Steamed buns—but—"

Luo Jing sighed before he finished speaking: "Are you hungry?"

Shen Mobai nodded.Luo Jing threw the steamed buns aside and put on his coat: "Go, ask the cook to make you a bowl of noodles. Why don't you eat well during the day?"

Shen Mobai lowered his head, not saying that he hadn't seen the food all day.Luo Jing smelled of alcohol and a faint smell of powder.Shen Mobai was used to the smell of green grass and soil in the mountains, and the smell of powder made him feel a little uncomfortable, so he moved quietly, moving a little further away from Luo Jing.

The stove in the kitchen was already cold, Luo Jing rekindled the fire, poured some soup that was barely stirred at the banquet, and served a bowl of noodles.He hasn't done these things since he got Biquan, and now he's doing them a little rusty, with firewood ashes smeared on his face, it looks quite funny.Shen Mobai squatted aside and waited, his face was flushed red by the fire under the stove, and he showed a satisfied expression.Luo Jing squinted at him, his heart softened, picked up the noodles and handed them to him: "Eat."

There was spicy pepper in the soup, and Shen Mobai sucked in the cold air as soon as he put it into his mouth.Luo Jing just realized his strangeness, stood up and turned his face: "What's wrong?"

Shen Mobai stuck out his tongue so hotly, the bitten place on the tip of his tongue was already bruised and swollen.Luo Jing looked at it carefully by the light of the fire, frowned and said, "What's going on?"

Shen Mobai couldn't help breathing in, and said intermittently: "Just now, I was afraid of the black mist, and I used a blood talisman to bite through—" He fumbled for the ladle in the water tank next to him, picked it up, and poured it into his mouth.Luo Jing slapped it away with a slap: "That's cold water! I see that your stomach hurts after drinking it." Holding Shen Mobai's face in his hands, he gently kissed it, took the tip of his tongue in his mouth, and put it between his lips and teeth to comfort him.

Shen Mobai opened his eyes wide, looking at Luo Jing's face that was close at hand.Luo Jing covered his eyes with one hand and sighed softly.It was difficult for him to face Shen Mobai's clear eyes, those eyes were too clean, too trusting and too easy to satisfy, which made him feel guilty involuntarily.

Shen Mobai felt that the tip of his tongue was still hot, until Luo Jing let him go, it didn't get much better, his face was hotter than before, he lowered his head in embarrassment, and murmured almost inaudibly: "It's useless——"

Luo Jing touched his face tenderly: "I'll cook another bowl for you."

The flame was turned on again, dancing lively in the hearth.Luo Jing rummaged through the clear soup, looked at Shen Mobai and squatted down again, resting his chin on one hand, staring blankly at the flame, suddenly remembered something: "Where's your Bodhi Pearl?" It seems that I haven't seen it for a long time, carefully Thinking about it, it seems that in Wucheng, I never saw that scalding bead again.

Shen Mobai glanced at his chest, lowered his head and muttered: "...it's gone..."

Luo Jing was busy with the next article, didn't pay attention to his expression, and said casually: "Isn't it impossible to leave the body, why did you lose it? That bead is very strange, does it matter if you lose it? When did you lose it?"

Shen Mobai had never heard him ramble like this before, and felt warm amidst the novelty.The flames in the stove made his eyes a little sore, and he gradually felt his eyelids getting heavy.After Luo Jing fished out the noodles, he realized that he had slipped to the ground at some point, with his back against the wall, and fell asleep...

Ding Hui waited for her husband when it was almost dawn, feeling cold all over her body.The door had been kicked a little crookedly, Luo Jing straightened it with all his might, and was barely able to lock it.Seeing Ding Hui sitting by the bed, he smiled apologetically: "Are you scared? It's okay."

Ding Hui tried his best to cover up his doubts and displeasure, and came forward to take off Luo Jing's coat: "Who was that person just now? Why did he just barge in like this? I was shocked, and I thought it was a robber."

Luo Jing hesitated for a moment: "It's my foster brother Shen Mobai. He's a monster catcher."

Ding Huiqi asked, "Taoist?"

Luo Jing chuckled: "Where is a Taoist priest, it's almost like a monk. Neither. He is just, he can catch monsters."

Ding Hui bowed his head for a long while, then suddenly knelt down: "My concubine is embarrassing to my husband."

Luo Jing was startled, and quickly pulled her up: "What are you talking about?"

Ding Hui burst into tears: "My concubine's clothes are disheveled, I was bumped into by outsiders, I lost my manners, and I also lost my husband's face—"

Luo Jing awkwardly wiped her tears with his sleeve: "It's okay, it's okay, he's not an outsider, besides, he didn't see anything, did he?"

Ding Hui's tears became more and more urgent, Luo Jing said helplessly: "This is just an accident, he lives in the east courtyard, and he doesn't come to the west courtyard on weekdays, it's nothing."

Ding Hui choked up and said: "But, he still lives in this mansion, and later he came and went to meet each other, and he was an uncle again, what's wrong with being a concubine, how can I see him—"

Luo Jing sighed annoyedly: "Okay, okay, just wait until I tell him, don't come to the west courtyard anymore. He is very quiet, and rarely comes out, and he won't meet each other on weekdays, so don't worry. Besides tonight, he I saw something strange and was afraid that something might happen to me, so I broke in."

Ding Hui raised his face and said in surprise: "Husband really believes that there is something strange?"

Luo Jing said seriously: "He's not one of those charlatans, if he says there's something different, he's serious."

Ding Hui lowered his head and murmured: "Your speech is strange..."

Luo Jing felt that her hands were already freezing cold, so he picked her up and put her on the bed, saying: "Beyond heaven and earth, saints exist and don't care. I didn't believe this before, but after seeing it with my own eyes, I realized that it was not a lie. With him Now, this garden can be cleaner, which is also good for you."

Hearing what he said seriously, Ding Hui stopped arguing and responded meekly, leaning against Luo Jing.Is it Shen Mobai?ok, i remembered...