I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

After Pei Xiang returned to his residence, he immediately began to select paintings.

She took out the works that Mingzhao wanted to "appreciate" and put them in one place, and carefully put together the rest of the paintings.After she tidied up the desk case again, the Painted Skin Ghost, who had disappeared for a few days, jumped out of the window and entered.

"Sister Pei, you have been talking to the third master for a long time today, are you tempted by him?"

Faced with the Painted Skin Ghost who suddenly returned, the little dancer's face suddenly turned pale, she flinched slightly, and replied with a forced smile:

"You, you're back, I, how could I be tempted by a strange man, don't say such shameful things."

"Really, but, I see that you and the third master have a very happy conversation, especially when it comes to the painting style of Fanbang and foreign lands, you are particularly congenial. Sister Pei, you know so much, why didn't you know it before?" Did you mention it to your sister? Is it because you think your sister is not a human being, and her aptitude is dull and vulgar?"

The little dancer quickly shook her head, and quickly explained: "No, you misunderstood me. I mentioned this to you before, but you despise their painting techniques, which are not as elegant as our ink painting, It has a profound charm. I, I won’t talk about it anymore.”

While explaining to Painted Skin Ghost, Pei Xiang took out a few paintings from those eliminated paintings, and hurriedly unfolded them for Painted Skin Ghost to see:

"Look, here, there, and the patterns on the mirror are all very common decorative patterns in foreign lands. I saw them at a foreign merchant.

I think it's very novel, and I just added it when I was painting. Didn't you say before, um, these patterns are weird, aren't they as good-looking as our auspicious cloud pattern or hundreds of flowers and flying butterflies? "

Painted Skin Ghost took a closer look, and Pei Xiang said that the so-called Fanbang pattern was indeed familiar. It had been seen by chance before and discussed with Pei Xiang. From this point of view, this little dancer did not deliberately hide it.

"Since the third master also understands these foreign barbarians, you should find out what he likes and have a good discussion with him. Why did you delete these paintings? You are... not going to take them for him to judge. ?”

Pei Xiang lowered her eyes and pursed her lips, and unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes with her fingers, and she could tell that she had a ghost in her heart.

Painted Skin Ghost sneered a few times, piercing the little dancer's thoughts:

"I see. You are guarding against me. You don't want to win the favor of the third master, do you? Why, do you feel sorry for him?"

As it spoke, it unfolded all the paintings that Pei Xiang had just selected:

"Let me see, are you going to go out with these not-so-bad works? Heh, what an exquisite mind. If I hadn't been staring at you all the time, I wouldn't have realized that you have so many minds. Tsk tsk, you choose The works that come out are not as good as those that you eliminated, do you think I'm easy to deceive?"

The little dancer's face was flushed, and there was embarrassment and panic in her eyes:

"You, you misunderstood me, I, I just thought, you don't like the exotic style of Fanbang, and you don't understand it. If I show these related works to the third master now, in the future, I will replace them with You, you, you will show your stuff."

Painted Skin Ghost snorted angrily:

"Do you look down on me? You yourself only know a little about these things. To discuss with the third master tomorrow, it is natural to listen to his explanation.

What you can hear, I can also hear clearly, and what you can learn, I can also understand, so don't pretend to be smart. "

The little dancer's eyes showed reluctance and distrust, as if she was saying that Painted Skin Ghost might not be able to understand the discussion between her and the third master.

Such an expression stimulated Painted Skin Ghost, and it didn't talk too much nonsense with Pei Xiang, and directly selected works related to Fanbang's painting style from the leftover sketches, and stuffed them into Pei Xiang's arms.

"Don't play tricks, you will take these with you tomorrow, and you have to discuss this with the third master, understand? Sister Pei, if I find out that you are obsequious, I won't be as good-tempered as tonight .”

Facing the domineering Painted Skin Ghost, the weak and helpless little dancer could only agree to its request aggrievedly, and re-selected the works to be taken out the next day.

The next day, Pei Xiang took her painting to visit her neighbors.

In the temporarily packed study room, the third prince Mingzhao slowly opened Pei Xiang's work.

"Good!" Ming Zhao couldn't help cheering, he really didn't expect to see such a high-quality painting today.

"Sweet and ethereal, fresh and elegant, Miss Pei, you are a spring dawn in the south of the Yangtze River, which makes people forget the customs, good, good!"

With just one glance, Mingzhao was attracted by Pei Xiang's calm and elegant pen and ink.He was originally prepared to euphemistically raise his shortcomings, but now, just looking at this first work, Ming Zhao put the words of comfort he had prepared in advance to the back of his mind.

He is good at Danqing and understands Danqing, so he can naturally appreciate the poetic and artistic flavor of Pei Xiang's works.

Mingzhao carefully admired the first unfolded painting, reluctant to part with it, and impatient to see the rest of Pei Xiang's works. He pushed all the decorations on the table to the corner, and signaled Pei Xiang to show her works next.

Talented people will always be respected.Before appreciating Pei Xiang's paintings, Mingzhao's affection for Pei Xiang stems from her beauty, gentleness and clarity, and he only regards her as the interpreter flower that Jiangnan and his party meet by chance.He really had a good impression of such a beauty and wanted to keep her by his side, of course, the premise was that Pei Xiang's identity and background were really okay.

But at this moment, he associates the charm of brush and ink in the painting with the beauty and wisdom of the person outside the painting. Mingzhao can no longer treat Pei Xiang as an ordinary Xiaojiabiyu.

He thought, if he brought him back to the royal palace in the imperial capital, he should give Miss Pei a decent title.The person who draws such a wonderful work cannot be allowed to work as a low-level worker in his back house, and be arbitrarily studied by a woman who is not as talented as her.

Pei Xiang could feel the change in Mingzhao's attitude, but she never expected that the third master had already started thinking about what title to give her.What the third prince Mingzhao took for granted was strange and unfamiliar to Pei Xiang.

She approached him only because she wanted to join hands with him to kill the heart-eating Painted Skin Ghost.From beginning to end, she was looking for allies and assistance.After the cooperation between the two is completed, they will naturally go their own way, and there is no special relationship.

However, in Mingzhao's view, a commoner woman like Pei Xiang has no reason to refuse his attention. As long as he asks her to follow him from now on, she will naturally agree shyly and tenderly.

After all, it should be a very honorable thing to be able to enter the palace to serve the prince. How many people are looking forward to this opportunity.

The way of thinking of the two is completely different from each other, but there has been no collision yet, because they are now focusing on appreciating Danqing's works.

After Pei Xiang unfolded the fifth work, he quietly walked to Mingzhao's side to appreciate this special work with him.

"This is……"

Mingzhao looked at the corner of the painting seriously, where there was a decoration in the style of Fanbang. This decoration did not arouse Mingzhao's doubts, but the "patterns" on it, so that the three who had learned a certain language of Fanbang His Royal Highness frowned.

Pei Xiang followed Mingzhao's line of sight, she leaned forward inadvertently, and the hand hidden in her sleeve "coincidentally" pressed Mingzhao's arm, and after pressing it a little harder, she fixed her light white fingertips again. On a "pattern".

"Third Master, look here."

Ming Zhao just frowned because of Pei Xiang's "hands and feet" without authorization, but now he diverted his attention because of her words.When he understood the meaning of the pattern, he immediately realized that Pei Xiang poked his arm just now to imply something, instead of suddenly becoming frivolous.

Just when Mingzhao was in doubt, Pei Xiang took out another one from the works she brought, and unfolded it side by side with the work she was admiring at this time.

What is amazing is that the scenes in these two works are actually connected together. In the area where the utensils are depicted, the patterns disguised in the Fanbang language are also pieced together. Complete paragraph.

"Third Lord, please help the little girl to see if the drawing of these patterns is correct.

I have little experience, I only learned some fur, and these patterns are not as regular as the patterns we are used to. Look at the pattern styles of these foreign barbarians. Not sure why they like such an asymmetrical layout. "

Pei Xiang was talking with a smile, but his fingers lightly traced every place where a sentence should be broken.This made Ming Zhao, who also knew the language of Fanbang, realize that Pei Xiang actually understood the meaning of these lines, but she was unwilling to say it clearly.

—Why didn't you say it?What is she worried about?

——There are only her and me in this study, and no one will eavesdrop outside. Who is she guarding against?

——What kind of secret is she going to reveal, even using such a secret method?

Seemingly sensing Mingzhao's doubts and prudence, Pei Xiang pulled out another painting.

In this painting, there are no bright and exotic decorations, but in the book held by the figure in the painting, there is an image of a monster, and there are warning words of caution and danger written in the Pan-Bang language next to it.

"This is a script book I saw when I was a child. The content is weird and bizarre, so I was so impressed that I drew it casually."

While talking, Pei Xiang tapped the monster's ears and eyes, and then tapped under the word "be careful".

This time, Ming Zhao can probably understand why Pei Xiang is so strange.Combining with the foreign text he just read, she was reminding him that there are monsters and ghosts lurking near them, he can hear them talking, and he can see them doing things, and monsters are very dangerous.

Ming Zhao nodded towards Pei Xiang, and lightly read a few Fanbang vocabulary.His pronunciation is very fluent, and it seems that he has spent a lot of time practicing it. Pei Xiang immediately showed a surprised expression, and said crisply:

"The third master is indeed well-informed and knows the meaning of these patterns. The foreign merchants who taught me before also read them to me, saying that they are auspicious patterns used to pray for blessings and avoid disasters. Unfortunately, I don't remember them clearly."

While talking, Pei Xiang also tried to read a few pronunciations. It seemed that he was talking nonsense, but he was actually responding to Mingzhao's question.

Now, Mingzhao's attitude became completely serious. Of course, on the surface, he was still admiring Pei Xiang's paintings with great interest.

With Pei Xiang's deliberate reminder, Mingzhao looked at the works on the table again, and soon discovered that there was a mystery in every painting.

According to the order in which Pei Xiang opened the paintings, he studied the works she brought from beginning to end. This time, Mingzhao no longer focused on the artistic conception and techniques of the paintings themselves, but on the hidden parts.

After a while, Mingzhao sighed softly, looked at Pei Xiang with a very complicated look for a moment, and then said:

"Miss Pei, there are still some omissions in the patterns you memorized silently. This is related to your lack of understanding of their culture and traditions. I will correct some for you now, and you can learn along with it."

"Thank you, Third Master, for your trouble."

So, in the following time, the two began to communicate in foreign languages.

Occasionally, there are places that are not smooth, and the two will draw a few strokes.After some back and forth "teaching" explanations, Mingzhao almost understood the cause and effect, including Pei Xiang's current dangerous situation, and the fact that the two brothers were coveted by a monster.

He naturally thought of the flirtatious woman who claimed to be Qianniang before, and also thought of Pei Xiang's so-called missing sister, and his heart suddenly dawned on him.

——Given Miss Pei's gentle and clear temperament, she didn't show her missing or worrying about her sister. I asked her several times, but she also avoided answering...that's how it is.

Mingzhao suddenly heard strange news about monsters today. According to his rigorous and suspicious personality in the past, he shouldn't have believed Pei Xiang's words so easily.But Mingzhao couldn't think of any reason why Pei Xiang would lie to him in such a complicated way.

If she wanted to attract his attention, her painting skills and familiarity with foreign culture alone would be enough to impress him.But the sudden addition of a lie about a monster haunting is completely superfluous to the relationship between him and her.

He believed that with Pei Xiang's cleverness and transparency, he would not do such a stupid thing.

Since there is no need for Pei Xiang to lie, it means that what she told him euphemistically is true.

——So, Lao Qi and I were indeed coveted by an ignorant monster who wanted to eat our hearts?

Mingzhao sneered inwardly. He was not surprised that there were ghosts and spirits in this world. As a child of the royal family, he could always get more news.

——But now, the monster in Miss Pei's mouth is so bold that it wants to plot against the blood of the royal family. If it doesn't kill that beast, it's not enough to warn and deter all parties that are about to move.

Mingzhao didn't know that Pei Xiang had inspired Painted Skin Ghost to provoke the royal family. He only thought that it was because the royal family was busy with internal fighting and quelling various rebellions, and then relaxed the control on the folk mountain spirits, which made these non-human groups unscrupulous. , wanting to provoke the luck of the royal family.

——If I take power...

It was almost noon at this time, and Mingzhao still had a lot of difficult things to ask Pei Xiang. He also knew that once she left him and Lao Qi, she might be attacked and killed by monsters at any time, so he asked Pei Xiang to eat.

Pei Xiang was naturally willing, and she talked with Ming Zhao about Fengshui, fate and other related topics in a chatty tone.One sentence and one sentence, vaguely telling Mingzhao what she found.

Fortunately, Mingzhao also dabbles in these fields.He followed Pei Xiang and said that apart from the fairy house, the most honored place in the world is the nine palaces in the imperial capital.

Pei Xiang smiled and continued, the government offices in various places also have their own oppressive luck, and they have always been afraid of evil spirits such as ghosts and ghosts, so they dare not approach them.

Mingzhao smiled and said, if you want to discuss something, or avoid any disaster, it is safest to stay in the official office.

Seeing that Mingzhao understood what she wanted to convey, she immediately changed the subject and talked about the previous assassination.

She euphemistically suggested that the two brothers had better not continue to live in the inn. It would be best if they could leave Yangzhou City. If they must stay, they should move into the government office. This way, their personal safety would be more secure.

Mingzhao took a deep look at Pei Xiang, and said meaningfully:

"If I return home immediately or move to a safer place, although I can avoid the assassin's assassination, I will be separated from Miss Pei. This is not a good thing for Miss Pei, because those villains are very likely to And anger you."

Both of them knew that what they were talking about about the assassins was not true, but what they were talking about about Painted Skin Ghost was true.

Pei Xiang didn't seem to understand Mingzhao's temptation, but instead looked at the other party very sincerely, with an urgent and sincere tone of persuasion:

"Third Lord, the assassin is arrogant, you and Qi Ye brothers have left their hometowns, and there are many inconveniences and dangers in living outside, so we really should find a way to solve the current predicament.

As for our parting, you don't have to have too many regrets. It is said that gathering and parting, separation, birth, old age, sickness and death are all God's will.People like me are already struggling to survive. One more day will not show more joy, and one day less will have no one to mourn and cry for me. I am alone, and I will not vent my anger on assassins.

What's more, presumably... there are relatives who are looking forward to in your family, and there are bosom friends in Beijing.You are someone else's son, husband and father, if something happened to you, how many people would be terrified and suffering?Therefore, please be sure to protect your own safety, not for yourself, but also for your family and friends. "

Such an answer made Ming Zhao slightly moved.

——Miss Pei took the risk to warn me, but she didn't care about her own safety, she was indeed righteous.

——She was threatened by demons and couldn't help herself, but she was able to come up with such a way to deliver the message in a predicament, which shows that she has a tenacious temperament and a sensitive mind.

——I just said that I want to leave this place and I am not going to deal with the monster, leaving her alone to face danger, and I don't see her blame and resentment.Such open-mindedness and indifference is really admirable.

Pei Xiang looked at Shang Mingzhao's warm eyes, and immediately responded with a gentle and shallow smile, but he sneered at this temptation in his heart.

—Run and hide?

——Do not cut the weeds and eradicate the roots?

——This kind of man, who is used to everything under control, will run away without a fight?Talking about avoiding the imperial capital is absolutely bluffing.

While sneering, Pei Xiang also felt a little helpless and exhausted.She really didn't understand, it was such a time, why did Mingzhao deliberately test her reaction, like a qualification test.

——Since you choose to believe my warning, just do things. As for what the person who warned me thinks and what kind of temperament is it, is it worth testing like this?I don't want to apply for your job.

——So what if the test results?If I was greedy for life and afraid of death, would you really not deal with Painted Skin Ghost?If I look down on life and death and detach myself from things, can I rely on my outstanding spiritual realm to help you defend against the enemy?

——My thoughts and attitudes are not the point at all, killing monsters is the point!Afterwards, they went back to their respective homes, the ends of the earth.

Pei Xiang complained about Mingzhao's temptation in his heart, but he couldn't tell his true thoughts when he answered.

In fact, she is also quite a double-standard character. She silently dislikes the insincere and habitually suspicious Ming Zhao, but she does not know how to reflect on herself.

Except in front of some specific people, Pei Xiang is usually used to living with a protective cover.

Those words that can flaunt her good character, she just opened her mouth, and Xiaobailian little green tea is online at any time, which can not only deceive moody painted skin ghosts, but also fool suspicious princes and grandchildren.

A little probing, and a light response, the result is that both parties are very satisfied, and start to study how to quietly eliminate the painted skin ghost who is good at disguising and escaping.

Mingzhao is now traveling in a micro-service, and he has to find out the corruption and chaos in Jiangnan's salt affairs. It is really inconvenient to look for strange people and strange people with great fanfare as a prince.Besides, he was also afraid that if he made a big move, he would scare away that monster who was good at disguising and changing, and it would be difficult to catch it in the future.

As long as Mingzhao thinks that there is such a monster in the world, and covets his people and his heart all the time, he will feel extremely sick, and wish to solve it immediately.

He didn't want to have to wonder from time to time every time he was with his wife and concubine, was the person in his arms a real human being, or a green-faced fang-toothed heart-eating monster in the skin of a beautiful woman?

Five days later, Mingzhao invited Pei Xiang to go out.

"I promised to teach Miss Pei's painting skills before, but this is a bit exaggerated. To be honest, with my current Danqing level, I can't be Miss Pei's teacher, so I plan to introduce a few to Miss Pei. A Danqing master."

Pei Xiang immediately understood Mingzhao's hint, which meant that he had invited a strange person who could subdue Painted Skin Ghost, and wanted her to take a look.

"Third Master, thank you for taking so much trouble, the little girl will remember it in her heart, and she will definitely live up to Third Master's expectations." Pei Xiangying bowed, and immediately smiled like a flower.

Mingzhao was stunned by such a smile, he cleared his throat in a concealed manner, and turned around first.

After leaving the gate of the inn, the two each took a sedan chair and walked along the bustling street.

After a while, the voices of people gradually decreased, and the surrounding environment became quieter. After a while, the sedan chair landed and stopped.

Without waiting for anyone to invite, Pei Xiang opened the sedan chair curtain and walked out.She looked up and saw a majestic and majestic place, and then carefully looked at the gate and the inscription on the plaque, and found that this place was indeed a government office, but she didn't know exactly what kind of official office it was.

Mingzhao walked up to Pei Xiang and introduced the person she was going to meet in a while:

"I think you can see it. It's not convenient for me to reveal my background when I go out this time. I also avoid people in Yangzhou City. But unfortunately I encountered an accident, and now I want to find you a master. Therefore, I have to entrust a Get someone you trust to help.

This person, well, he must not be directly involved in the matter I am investigating now, and he must be a local official, preferably from a water town in the south of the Yangtze River.

In this way, he will know many things that outsiders don't know, and he will know what kind of master is a real talent and what kind of master is a bluff. "

Pei Xiang understood that it took Mingzhao five days to find a trustworthy local official in Jiangnan, and asked him to recommend or introduce some strange people with real talents and knowledge to help him kill Painted Skin Ghost.

"This is where the old man works? Then if we come here like this, won't it attract the attention of others?"

Ming Zhao shook his head: "This is not the official office where he is on duty. The reason why I waited for five days is to wait for him to come from Jinling, and then arrange to meet here secretly."

"Then third master, is the master you mentioned just now here? I, I should go to see him in person. How can I bother the venerable master to condescend to wait for me?"

Pei Xiang was pretending to be stupid when he asked this question, and Mingzhao also understood that he said to Pei Xiang half-truthfully:

"It's okay, since I arranged it, no one will blame your etiquette. In the future... your identity... they should also be the ones who will visit you."

Having said that, Mingzhao didn't wait for Pei Xiang to react, so he changed the subject and continued:

"After thinking about it, it's not easy for you, a girl, to get the attention of famous scholars in the scholarly circle. First, they may not be willing to accept female students. Second, you are a bit older, so it's not convenient after all. .

Therefore, I asked someone to help you find two well-educated monks to be masters. They are both good at Danqing and have no secular prejudices between men and women. They are very good candidates for masters. I will bring you to meet them today. "

While the two were talking, they saw a gentle middle-aged Confucian scholar from a distance. The man was standing in front of the main hall door, and he seemed to be welcoming Mingzhao.

Sure enough, when Pei Xiang and Mingzhao approached, the elegant and elegant middle-aged Confucian scholar greeted Mingzhao with a smile:

"Third Master, I am waiting for your honor. You came to Huaiyang. I have never greeted you from afar. I didn't come to see you until today. I still look at Haihan."

Ming Zhao waved his hand, and took two quick steps to help the middle-aged Confucian scholar up.

"Master Lin, before I went to Jiangnan, the emperor and my father told me that if I encountered difficult troubles here, I could find you. No, I really encountered unexpected troubles."

Lin Ruhai noticed Mingzhao's temporary change of words, and understood that the third prince was not going to let the girl behind him know his true identity, so he also changed his words and said with a smile:

"Third Master, you are being polite. It is a sea of ​​luck to have your father's trust and to be able to serve Third Master."

After talking, the two walked into the hall, followed by Pei Xiang.