Looking to the Thirteen Rivers

The long-lost warm sun cast aside the dark clouds and reappeared in the sky. The thin snow on the branches began to melt. The snow water dripped down the branches and leaves, and hit the slippery bluestone slabs, making a dense and crisp sound.

As the wind blows, the red maple trees in the courtyard sway slightly, like a scarlet mist, mixed with falling water droplets, like the splash of a clear spring, pleasant to the ear and eye-catching.

A little bit of Dailan passed through the maple forest and stopped at the entrance of the small building.

Wen Chaoyu was drenched all over, and the hat was covered with melted snow. She took off the hat and shook it off. The face exposed to the sun was not covered with makeup, but it had a lustrous luster. The deep facial features contained a woman's Soft and beautiful, but also showing a rare heroic spirit.

"Where did the news come from?" Wen Chaoyu put on his bamboo hat again, covering his bright eyebrows.

"It's spread all over the rivers and lakes," replied a subordinate standing below the steps, "I heard that Shen Mandong has appeared, and that the holy sword is on her body."

"Is the news reliable?" Wen Zhaoyu asked.

"The subordinates have heard it with their own ears," said the subordinate, "the protector must report to the leader in time. If the holy sword is really in Shen Mandong's hands, Yunhua Palace must not let it be snatched first."

Wen Zhaoyu thought for a while, dismissed this subordinate, and finally turned around and knocked on the door: "Master? I have something to tell you."

The building was filled with women's laughter as usual, and the familiar incense lingered on the tip of his nose. Wen Zhaoyu waited outside the door for a while, and heard the movement inside subside. After a while, he heard Nangong Min A voice came from afar, saying, "Come in."

The hall was shrouded in clouds and mist, with crimson veils hanging everywhere, there were no figures of those women, and it was as quiet as if no one had ever existed.

Behind the heavy curtains, Nan Gongmin was wearing a red dress, reclining on the beauty's couch, flipping a booklet in her hand, without raising her head, she said, "Shen Mandong really showed up?"

Wen Chaoyu didn't eat breakfast, picked a fruit from the table and took a few bites, said vaguely: "That's how it was spread, but no one in the church has seen her, I just heard that there is such a thing."

"I heard?" Nangong Min chuckled, "I heard that the child was dying of illness, and now I heard that Shen Mandong showed up. Nothing is final, what did you report to me?"

Wen Chaoyu knew that she was insinuating that she had done something wrong, so she didn't refute it, but said calmly: "The news in the Jianghu is true or false, there is falsehood and truth, who knows what the hell is going on in Yunhua Palace? It's not the leader yourself What did you say, I have to report to you for any disturbance, am I obedient?"

"You're so smart, why don't you see the intention of Yunhua Palace?" Nangong Min threw down the booklet, got up and opened the curtain and walked out, "Xiao Qi wrote to me a long time ago, and the child is doing well in the palace. No, since she is not ill, Shen Mandong will not show up easily, as for whether the holy sword is in her hands, it is up to Xie Yijun to say."

Wen Zhaoyu said: "But there is no wind without waves, if no one sees Shen Mandong, how can this news spread?"

"Maybe it was made up by Yunhua Palace itself? Xiaoqi's letter said that they took people to Jincheng, and they probably went to pick up Shen Mandong," Nangong Min said, "But if they really went to pick up Shen Mandong, they would not mess with people. Everyone knows that Xie Yijun pretends to be smart, but he is extremely stupid, and he sees me as stupid as she is, so it is thanks to her that she can figure out such an obvious trap."

Wen Zhaoyu looked at her, gnawed half of the fruit in his hand and threw it away, and said, "Then why do you plan to hold back?"

"It's boring if you don't move," Nangong Min laughed, "Xie Yijun released fake news, not to lure us into the trap, but to take the opportunity to find out the eyeliner we planted. If I don't move, it proves that someone secretly reported the news , only by moving and following the trend can Xie Yijun's plan not fail."

Wen Chaoyu supported the handle of the knife at his waist, and said in silence for a moment, "So how do you move?"

Nan Gongmin took a few steps closer to her, and said with a smile: "They will definitely find someone to pretend to be Shen Mandong, and then make a fake holy sword. If this is the case, then we will follow suit. Isn't Xie Yijun just wanting to find Shen Mandong? ? We will send her a Shen Mandong there."

At that time, both sides will have a fake Shen Mandong and a fake holy sword to confuse the public and add fuel to the flames. In this way, Xie Yijun will not be able to identify who is the undercover agent, but he can only know that Nangong Min is dealing with a trick.

Wen Chaoyu said: "Then who will pretend to be Shen Mandong?"

Nangong Min looked at her with rolling eyes, and said, "Do you still need to ask?"

Wen Chaoyu was taken aback, and said with a frown: "I'll let it go, the injury is still not healed, don't be found out and then get beaten up, teacher, you will not come down to save me."

"What are you afraid of?" Nangong Min smiled meaningfully, "There are not many people who can beat you. I have another piece of news. This time, Man Jiangxue also went down the mountain, but she didn't walk with others , Xiaoqi’s letter said that she didn’t know where she went. It seems that she won’t go to Jincheng, but it’s hard to say, but even if she goes, it doesn’t matter. Your precious apprentice is also in Jincheng right now. With her here, Man Jiang Xue won't do anything to you in front of her."

Wen Chaoyu grinned, and said, "What you said, even if Man Jiangxue doesn't do anything, that girl will fight me with all her might, and she's not easy to mess with."

"If you don't want to mess with me, I will kill you with a sword," Nangong Min said, "You defend everywhere and show mercy every time, but she regards you as a big enemy and ruins your affairs repeatedly. If this kind of trouble continues, sooner or later, it will come to an end. killed you."

"It's not what it used to be," Wen Chaoyu sighed, "A disciple is no longer a disciple, and I, the master, am no longer a master. Her kung fu has already surpassed mine. Even if I have the heart, I can't kill her."

Nangong Min smiled softly, lifted Wen Zhaoyu's hat, moved his fingers over her cheeks, and said, "Is it because I can't kill her, or I don't want to kill her?"

Wen Chaoyu's expression did not change, and he stepped back and said: "It's really impossible to kill, my hand hurts even when I squeeze the chopsticks."

Nan Gongmin withdrew his hand, his eyes narrowed, and said: "The chopsticks can't be grasped well, but this knife can be held firmly as usual." After finishing speaking, he said, "You have a pretty face, but your usual dress is too unsatisfactory, take care of yourself. After tidying up, it should be easy to pretend to be Shen Mandong."

Wen Zhaoyu responded to all changes without changing, and said with a smile: "The leader loves beauties. I know I have some beauty. I am afraid that the leader will take a fancy to me, so I dress like a peasant woman all day long. I have been used to it for a long time. Then Shen Mandong was famous for stunning everyone, and the teacher asked me to play her, but I really don't have that ability."

Nangong Min's eyes flickered slightly, and he said with his hands behind his back: "Since you are so reluctant, I will not force it. It is hard to guarantee that your apprentice will not recognize you, so it's better to find someone else."

Wen Zhaoyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and heard Nangong Min continue: "But you still have to make a trip, and you have to escort 'Shen Mandong' once."

Wen Chaoyu thought in his heart that the other three protectors were always sneaking away except for tea, why should she come for everything, but on the surface he said obediently: "Then what should I do? There must be a purpose in a play, right?"

"Purpose?" Nangong Min smiled, "Killing people is my purpose. Xie Yijun wants to deal with me and find out our eyeliner, but I can't let her do what she wants. When the time comes, you can kill all the disciples of Yunhua Palace. Don't keep it alive, I just want to let Xie Yijun know that my Ziwei Sect is not so easy to bully."

Wen Chaoyu said, "That's easy, I'm good at killing people."

Nangong Min patted her on the shoulder and said, "But you can't face them directly, you have to show your face in front of someone first."

Wen Zhaoyu said, "Who?"

Nangong Min looked directly at her, his red lips moved slightly: "Ji Wanshu."

·

Ji Wanshu stood in front of the tombstone and lit three sticks of incense.

The mountains and forests were covered with frost and snow, covered with snow, and the small tomb was covered with a snow quilt. The cold wind swept in and blew out the two white candles.

"Second miss, the master and madam have told you to go back." The servant girl said from behind.

Ji Wan remained silent, watching the three incense sticks burn out silently, then got on the horse and hurried all the way back to Ji's mansion.

Before entering Yunhua Palace to learn art from a teacher, Ji Wanshu was also a young lady from a wealthy family. Ji's family was the leading family in Jincheng, and they had a big business. They had everything they needed, including firewood, rice, oil and salt, silk and satin villages, gambling houses and restaurants. Deserves to be the richest man.

The day was bright and the hall hadn't snowed in the past few days, but the weather was getting colder and colder. Ji Wanshu got off his horse at the door, and when he reached the lobby, the two senior officials were already waiting inside.

"Father, mother." Ji Wanshu bowed slightly and bowed to the elders.

Master Ji held the teacup, looked up at her, and asked, "Have you paid homage to your sister?"

Ji Wanshu gave a "hmm" and said, "There is still something to do in the palace, I have to go back as soon as possible."

Mrs. Ji hurriedly got up and said: "What's the rush, Wanshu, you rarely come back all year round, stay for two more days, and accompany your mother to talk."

"There is movement in the Ziwei sect in Jincheng," Ji Wanshu said, "I have to find out what they want to do and report it to the master in time."

Mrs. Ji smiled, took Ji Wanshu's hand, and said: "There are so many disciples in Yunhua Palace, and you may not necessarily be required to do everything. Since your master didn't assign you a task, you don't know , stay at home for a while, and mother will make you something you like to eat."

Ji Wanshu frowned, and said flatly: "What are you talking about? I am the chief disciple, and I have a heavy responsibility on my shoulders. How can I pretend not to know? What's more, the Ziwei Sect has been endangering the world for a long time, and they must be careful about any movement , if there is trouble in Jincheng and innocent people are involved, how can I explain to the head?"

Mrs. Ji looked at her, and said kindly: "Mother doesn't understand the things about you beating and killing, but aren't there any officials in the city? No matter how powerful the Jianghu sect is, they are afraid of the officials. You are a big disciple, right?" , but the eldest disciple also has to take care of his family, you put all your heart on irrelevant people, but why don't you know how to be considerate of me and your father?"

Ji Wanshu couldn't get used to her mother's words, and said bluntly: "If you think like you, no one in the world will care about the wicked. Those irrelevant people you speak of also have children who are maintaining the stability of the world. People are protecting you too, so don’t say that again.”

Mrs. Ji couldn't help showing embarrassment, and laughed twice, while Master Ji, who hadn't spoken for a long time, was furious when he heard it, and couldn't help cursing: "You have grown up, your wings have become hard, and even your old lady has begun to teach you a lesson!"

Ji Wanshu didn't want to quarrel with his father and said, "I have to go anyway."

"Go!" Master Ji put the teacup down heavily, pointed at her and said, "Go! Don't think I don't know, how many times have I told you that you want to find that witch taught by Ziwei, That's a person who can't be provoked! Your master-student relationship is over, and your mother and I have repeatedly told you to stop stalking her, why don't you listen!"

Ji Wanshu stood expressionlessly without saying a word.

"Do you think I don't know what's on your mind?" Master Ji snorted coldly, "A demon girl, lurking into Yunhua Palace as an undercover agent, has done so many harmful things! But after being your master for a few days, You have been obsessed with her until now, let me ask you, what are you obsessed with her!?"

Ji Wanshu secretly clenched his palms, but still didn't speak.

Every time the father and daughter meet each other, there will always be some disputes. Seeing that the situation is not right, Mrs. Ji quickly smooths things over and says, "Okay, master, please don't say a few words, Wan Shu finally came back."

"Is it because she wants to come back by herself?" Master Ji became more and more angry, hating that iron could not become a steel road, "If it wasn't for Ziwei Sect who came to Jincheng, she would come back? It is said that the water poured out by a married daughter is not yet When you marry, you don't take your parents seriously, she thinks that witch is more important than you and me!"

Ji Wanshu couldn't bear it anymore, and said coldly: "If you want to think that way, I have nothing to say!"

After she finished speaking, she rushed into the yard without looking back.

Mrs. Ji sighed annoyedly, and hurried to catch up: "Wan Shu! Wait a minute..."

"Let her go!" Master Ji coughed angrily, and shouted at Ji Wanshu's figure, "I'll leave you a word today, whether you like men or women, the father doesn't care about you, but Everyone in this world can do it, except that witch surnamed Wen!"

Ji Wanshu stopped abruptly.

"Master!" Mrs. Ji stomped her feet anxiously, "It's agreed not to mention this matter, please shut up, don't talk about it!"

"If I don't tell you, she will never understand!" Master Ji supported the door frame and stared at Ji Wanshu, "If you want to continue to be confused with that witch, never enter this house again!"

Ji Wanshu's face turned cold, and he suddenly looked back and said: "If you really don't want to control me, then don't care about anything, and no one needs to intervene in the matter between me and Wen Chaoyu!"

"You..." Master Ji was so angry that she couldn't speak, and he held his chest and gasped for breath.

"Wanshu!" Madam Ji begged with red eyes, "Do you really want to piss your father off?"

Ji Wanshu raised his footsteps slightly, but finally settled in place, gritted his teeth and said, "Nobody likes him, it's none of my business!"

After she finished speaking, she jumped onto the horse and walked away.

·

The cold wind poured into the window, bringing infinite chill, Yin Qiu nestled by the table, shivering for no reason.

"So, this is the third time you have received this medicine bottle?" Fu Xiang leaned on the chair, holding three identical small blue medicine bottles in his hand, and looked up at Yin Qiu.

Yin Qiu held a small pure white porcelain bottle in his hand, and said, "At first I thought it was left behind by my uncle when he left, but now it seems that it shouldn't be her."

Fu Xiang looked at these medicine bottles back and forth, spread his hands and said: "Uncle Man has been away for three days, and it stands to reason that she should have arrived in a state city, even if you order someone to deliver medicine to you, it shouldn't be in the middle of the night." Come sneakily?"

Yin Qiu shook her head, this is exactly where she was puzzled.

After tonight, it will be four days since Man Jiangxue left the palace. From the day she left, Yin Qiu would see a blue medicine bottle on the table every morning when she woke up. Yao's female disciple asked, but the female disciple said that Man Jiangxue only gave orders that once.

In other words, the bise medicine bottle was not a gift from Man Jiangxue, but someone else.

"Then who could this person be?" Fu Xiang was puzzled, "Do you have any other acquaintances in the palace?"

Yin Qiu replied without hesitation: "No, I only know Shishu."

Fu Xiang thought for a while, looked at the sky outside, and said: "Since he is delivering medicine to you, this person must have no evil intentions, but he doesn't want to be seen by you, which means he must have some reason why he can't be in front of you." Show up, if that's the case..."

Yin Qiu looked at her: "What?"

Fu Xiang snapped his fingers: "It's easy, just pretend to sleep tonight and wait to see who will deliver the medicine to you?"

Yin Qiu was a little apprehensive: "What if it's a bad guy?"

Fu Xiang said: "If he was a bad person, he wouldn't care about you so much, and he wouldn't go out of his way to deliver medicine to you."

Yin Qiu was still worried: "But I'm afraid."

"Don't be afraid," Fu Xiang said, "Just pretend to be asleep, take a look at what that person looks like in the dark, and don't make any noise. I don't sleep at night, listen to your side, as long as you shout, I will immediately Come here."

Yin Qiu thought about it, and could only agree: "That's good."

When the bell rang, Fu Xiang went back to his room. Yin Qiu put out the candle and got under the quilt, opened his eyes motionless, and waited quietly for the medicine delivery man to show up.

Time passed by bit by bit, except for the endless wind, there was no movement. Yin Qiu endured sleepiness and waited until midnight, but no one came. Her eyelids were heavy, and she felt a little scared in her heart. In such a quiet environment Gradually dozed off, and fell asleep without knowing it.

This sleep lasted until dawn. When Yin Qiu opened her eyes again, the sound of disciples walking could be heard outside the room. She was dazed for a while, and then suddenly woke up.

Yin Qiu stood up abruptly, looked sideways, and there was a small blue medicine bottle standing on the small wooden table.