Great Sui Storyteller

Chapter 649 648. Strange Reaction

"How about it, Taoist priest."

Master Huqiu's voice was full of amusement:
"This Jiangdu is better than Luoyang."

"..."

Li Zhen didn't say anything at first, but squinted at the large number of ships docked at the port, and after watching for a while, said:
"As far as waterways are concerned, it is much more prosperous than Luoyang."

Hearing this, Master Huqiu responded:
"Hmm. Can you see those swaying figures on the shore?"

"I see. It seems to be a market?"

"Yes, Jiangdu has plenty of water and is a land of fish and rice. The people who live by the river are different from those in the north. They rarely encounter any natural disasters. In addition, after His Majesty selected the Jiangdu Palace, the entire city is under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry. For your Majesty to see, it should all be the prosperity of the south of the Yangtze River. Therefore, these small merchants and hawkers who sell some small fish from the river dare not push the unruly fish out of the dock. Therefore, the bottom of the Jiangdu is now Ordinary people here come here every day to buy some small miscellaneous fish that dignitaries don’t eat. Over time, this fish market has formed.”

After Mr. Fox Qiu finished explaining, Li Zhen subconsciously nodded and said:
"Is there a place that sells some food?"

"...What? Are you hungry?"

"No, it's just... miscellaneous fish are delicious, my lord."

With a bit of excitement, let alone time travel... Even before time travel, Li Zhen, who hadn't eaten much serious wild fish from the Yangtze River, was indeed a bit greedy.

He is a northerner who was born under the red flag and grew up in the spring breeze. Although he often went to Tianjin after entering Beijing, he still rarely came to the south.This is the first, and the second is that the country banned fishing before crossing, let alone eating wild fish along the entire Yangtze River... I dare not ask a question.

And along the way, those cooks didn't have any idea of ​​catching a fish to eat on the spot.

He naturally didn't think of this crop.

But now, upon hearing Lord Huqiu's words...

Yangtze River fish.

Isn't it worth eating?
try it?
Especially trash fish.

A pot of stewed miscellaneous fish, the taste, even thinking about it...

But Mr. Huqiu turned his hat around, and saw that the Taoist priest's face was really full of yearning, not like joking...Suddenly found it interesting, so he nodded:

"Alright, then just find a restaurant. If you want to eat, I will take you to eat."

"Ha~"

Li Zhen couldn't help laughing out loud:
"Thank you, Mr. Pindao."

But the laughter didn't last long. Suddenly, there was a gong beating in the direction from the pier to the city.

"...?"

Li Zhen was a little puzzled, but Master Huqiu paused.

Before he could ask, he heard someone shouting in front of him:

"Quick, quick, there's another beheader! Go and see!"

Then a group of people ran over there.

Li Zhen noticed that there were still people picking up some fish scales, mud, and various leaves on the ground.

He felt a little puzzled.

"Sir, this is..."

"Go and have a look."

Lord Fox Qiu didn't explain, but followed the flow of people and started walking in one direction.

Li Zhen had just arrived here, and she didn't know where she was.

can only follow.

But after walking for a while, I gradually couldn't walk anymore.

It's not that there are no roads, but that people have filled up the roads.At the same time, some people were carrying a pile of household garbage in their hands.

Before I figured out what was going on, suddenly, I heard lively voices coming from the direction of the entrance of the pier.

Lord Fox Qiu remained unmoved.

Li Zhen listened attentively.

"Dog officer!"

"It's time to kill, good kill!"

"Pooh!"

"Hahahaha, dog officer, you have today too!"

The voice is getting louder and the crowd is commotioning a little bit.

Like the waves of the sea, it slowly spread to Li Zhen and Lord Huqiu.

And Li Zhen finally saw what happened.

prison car.

Two prison cars.

Pulled by a blindfolded horse covered in dirty clothes, he was passing in front of him under the escort of several officials.In the prison van, there were seven or eight middle-aged men who looked ashamed.

His body was covered with all kinds of garbage and filth.

"...My lord, this is..."

"Bai Yingrui, the river canal envoy in charge of the Ship Bureau of Dushuitai, Shi Dian, the general supervisor, and Hu Ke, the minister in the palace, oh? Xu Maobin, the governor of Yeting?"

Master Huqiu talked about one after another, Li Zhen only roughly knew what the official position was, but he didn't know the names of officials of several ranks.

After the prison van left amidst the garbage spilled by the people, she whispered:
"Let's go, let's go to the execution ground to have a look."

And with this sentence, eight heads fell to the ground.

It was built on the execution ground by the river, and the executioners put away their ghost knives, and Li Zhen looked at the few nameless corpses that were still screaming for injustice before they died. That good appetite was gone.

He was just staring at the beheading platform that was dyed black because of the scorching sun or too many murders, in a daze.

And those few heads have been gathered up by the officials, and several bloody headless corpses have also been dragged away, and it is unknown where they will be transported.

There was no excitement to watch, and the common people also started to leave.

Lord Fox Qiu didn't leave.

Instead, he walked straight towards the execution officer below the execution ground.

The supervisor didn't wear any bright red, didn't turn his body sideways, and didn't have any means of protecting against evil like crystal sunglasses.

Originally, he was not angry and arrogant before killing people, but after killing people, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He was sitting in the shed panting, and suddenly saw Mr. Huqiu walking this way.

He was stunned at first.

blinked...

Then he got up quickly, first straightened his hat, and then bowed:

"Wang Yuanshou, the supervisor and beheader, has met Mr. Assistant Minister."

The beheading officer named Wang Yuanshou knew Mr. Huqiu, but he didn't seem to be afraid. It was different from other people who saw Mr. Huqiu as if they were seeing the biggest spy chief in the world.

Lord Huqiu didn't do anything else, he just waited for the other party to get up and asked:
"These people, why?"

"Return to the servant."

After Wang Yuanshou quietly glanced at Li Zhen, he cupped his hands and lowered his voice:

"They were all beheaded by His Majesty's order, and I don't know the specific reason."

"Your Majesty let it?"

"Exactly."

"...Okay, I understand. Mr. Wang has worked hard."

"Thank you, Sir, for your encouragement."

"Um……"

After getting this reason, Master Huqiu left directly.

Seeing this, Li Zhen, who was hoping to hear more reasons, hurriedly followed.

After all the way out of the gate of the practice field, he asked:

"Your Excellency already knows the specific reason?"

"Ah."

Master Huqiu responded:
"Normal officials are convicted and need to go through a joint trial by the Ministry of Penalties... The last thing is to go through Dali Temple. Before the execution, the prison officer will also release the crimes of this person and inform the people. Let him die to understand... And just now , did you hear that?"

"...Pindao understands."

Li Zhen nodded.

Although he didn't make it clear, judging from what he said to the executioner just now and the explanation at this moment, what Master Huqiu wants to express is already very simple.

Who in this world can skip the framework of the law and directly condemn someone to beheaded?
Who else could.

Yang Guang chant.

After hearing Li Zhen's words, Mr. Fox Qiu nodded and wanted to walk towards the exit of the pier.

After all, she has lost contact with Baiqisi for a long time, and now she urgently needs to understand what happened in the past few days.

But just after taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

"Taoist, do you still have an appetite?"

"……Gone."

Li Zhen shook his head seriously.

Seeing the hideous appearance of a few human heads dying in peace, it is a ghost to still have an appetite.

"Then let's wait until the evening. After I finish my work, I will take you around the bustling Jiangdu."

After finishing speaking, she went straight forward:

"gone."

"it is good."

Just like that, after Li Zhen followed her all the way out of the pier, there was already a man in gray waiting with a carriage at the pier.

Li Zhen was taken aback for a while.

My heart said, what kind of work efficiency is this?
After Mr. Huqiu got on the car straight away, Li Zhen wanted to sit on the crossbar on the other side.

But Master Huqiu said directly:

"Get in the car. How many more people do you want to be recognized by?"

"……Yes."

Li Zhen nodded and got into the carriage directly from behind.

After closing the door, Master Huqiu said:
"go back."

The man in gray nodded silently, and drove the carriage towards an unknown place.

After getting into the car, Lord Huqiu took off his bamboo hat, looked at Li Zhen and said directly:

"I have to deal with some things in a while, and then you will enter the palace with me."

It's nothing to enter the palace.

but……

"Human Immortal and National Teacher..."

"It doesn't matter, the national teacher is in Datongshan Dao Palace, and the immortal is in Yahu Xiaozhu."

The woman shook her head slightly:

"Entering the palace is to give you a name. Although it is not necessary, it is also very useful."

Li Zhen always felt that something sounded wrong.

But the woman closed her eyes after she finished speaking.

Seeing this, he didn't say much, just like this, he went from the flowery all the way to the quiet and elegant all the way.

Finally, the carriage stopped slowly in a deep house compound.

Lord Huqiu opened his eyes again, and put on his bamboo hat.

Li Zhen also pushed open the car door tacitly, and jumped down first.

a mansion.

I don't know how old it is.

An acquaintance Xue Rulong was still standing at the door.

At this moment, with a face full of relief, he ignored the Taoist and bowed to Master Huqiu who got off the car:
"Welcome back, my lord!"

"Well. Go in and talk."

Ignoring the two soldiers standing at the door, Master Huqiu finished speaking, and then took the lead and walked in.

Xue Rulong, on the other hand, waited until Mr. Huqiu brushed past him, then stood up and clasped his fists at Li Zhen:

"I've seen Priest Shouchu."

Li Zhen returned the gift:

"Fu Sheng Wuliang Tianzun, General Xue is polite."

"The Taoist priest has been exhausted all the way, and someone has arranged for someone..."

"Taoist, come together."

Xue Rulong hadn't finished speaking when Mr. Huqiu's voice sounded.

The corner of Li Zhen's mouth twitched...

Hey!
Hello Xue Rulong.

Obviously before in Wujiang, there was a sincere look of "please everything to the Taoist priest".

Good guy, this is just unloading, you are really killing a donkey!

Li Zhen was speechless for a moment.

However, Xue Rulong's face was dark, and there was no sign of flushing on his face.

After hearing the woman's words, he stretched out his hand directly:
"Master, please."

"...General Xue, aren't you afraid of spoiling your stomach?"

Li Zhen sighed speechlessly.

In my heart, I picked up again the oath of waiting for Xue Rulong to die and crazily steal his tribute.

At this moment, Xue Rulong finally saw a smile on his face:

"Heh~ Don't worry, Taoist priest, a certain stomach and intestines are very good, so I definitely won't."

"... Well, don't worry, there are plenty of opportunities."

Li Zhen rolled his big eyes, and walked into the mansion together with Master Huqiu.Immediately afterwards, he saw the thick stack of official documents that had been placed in the main hall.

"My lord, these have already been processed, please review them."

"Ah."

The woman responded, sat on the chair and picked up the first one, and asked directly:
"Has there been any changes in the palace in the past few days? Where is Chen Ling? Are you back?"

Xue Rulong nodded:

"I'm back, I returned to Jiangdu at noon the day before yesterday. And our people have already told His Majesty the news of Liyang's defeat and loss..."

"How did His Majesty react?"

"His Majesty……"

Speaking of this, Xue Rulong hesitated for a moment, and gradually showed doubts on his face:

"Your Majesty's reaction is very strange..."

"……Um?"

Lord Huqiu raised his head subconsciously, with doubts also showing in his eyes:

"Strange reaction? No fury?"

"not at all."

"...?"

Obviously, Yang Guang's abnormal attitude made Master Huqiu unable to understand:

"What was that reaction?"

"Your Majesty is just very plain, as if he knew the result a long time ago. He ordered Chen Ling to rest in the mansion for a while, and then joined forces with the Ministry of War, the Sanwei Mansion, Wu Benlang General Sima Dekan, and the general counselor Pei Qiantong, etc. The front line of Liuhe set up a company battalion to defend against Du Fuwei. And they didn't even read Chen Ling's letter of apology, so they gave up. Then in the afternoon...the immortal and the national teacher returned, and after entering the palace for an audience, they didn't know what they said .But news came from Danyang yesterday that Taoist Tianji, the fourth disciple of the National Teacher, led Lao Junguan and 33 geologists began to study in Danyang. It seems that there is a sign of great construction.”

"Master? In Danyang Kanyu?"

Lord Huqiu's brows furrowed instantly.

Immediately afterwards, for some reason, his eyes fell on Li Zhen.

And she looked at Li Zhen, and Li Zhen also looked at her.

Although there was no verbal exchange, neither Li Zhen nor she knew what the other party was thinking.

Thinking about the afternoon bath...the message left by Li Zhen.

moment.

Master Huqiu suddenly asked:

"The national teacher has been in Datong Mountain these days? Have you ever been here?"

"I have been here many times. Every time I enter the palace, I stay for about an hour. During this period, His Majesty will screen everyone away."

"Where's the superintendent?"

"At the beginning, the chief supervisor will stay with His Majesty, but just one day before the Liyang battle, the national teacher entered the palace again, and suddenly let His Majesty withdraw the chief supervisor. At first, the chief supervisor was very unhappy, and said bluntly: National teacher What do you mean? But the national teacher didn't talk about it, but asked His Majesty to withdraw the chief supervisor... After your majesty listened to the national teacher's opinion and asked the general supervisor to withdraw from the water pavilion, the national teacher waited for nearly half an hour before leaving. But our people have been I didn't dare to talk to the national teacher, so I only knew that he was out of the palace, but I didn't know where he was going next. But after that day, His Majesty's mood was not very good, and many officials have been killed in the past few days..."

"..."

The woman's eyes fell on Li Zhen again.

But he still didn't speak, just nodded after thinking for a while:

"Prepare the chariots and horses, and prepare to enter the palace. I'll read these first..."

After finishing speaking, he pointed at Li Zhen:
"Follow him, you go and find him a set of clean clothes."

"……Yes."

Xue Rulong nodded, and at the same time he did not forget to look at the Taoist priest whose hair was fixed by a wooden stick.

After looking it over, he said:
"The Taoist priest might as well go clean up first. Otherwise, if someone commits the crime of disrespect before the king, it won't be worth it."

"Uh... well."

Li Zhen nodded:
"My lord, that poor man should go to freshen up first."

"Ah."

Lord Fox Qiu responded.

Only then did Li Zhen follow Xue Rulong out.

The mansion is very big, and just as the two of them made a detour to the backyard, Xue Rulong said:
"What happened along the way?"

"Blessed Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate."

After hearing this, Li Zhen shook his head immediately:
"General Xue, don't embarrass the poor... Your servant has specially ordered that the secrets of the sky must not be leaked."

"...?"

Xue Rulong was taken aback.

Li Zhen felt relieved immediately, and then followed up:
"General Xue, if you want to know... why don't you just ask Mr. Assistant Minister directly."

"..."

Xue Rulong fell silent, staring at Li Zhen for a moment...

A final nod:

"it is good."

After finishing speaking, he ignored Li Zhen and walked forward on his own.

And in such a big mansion, Li Zhen couldn't even see a servant girl, and there were only men in gray standing in a certain position, waiting in silence.

In the end, Xue Rulong took Li Zhen to a house that stood in the garden, looked very abrupt, and seemed to be newly built.

There was also a man in gray guarding him.

"There's water in it, so go ahead. Clean yourself up."

"Thank you General Xue."

After Li Zhen thanked Xue Rulong and left, the man in gray opened the door for Li Zhen.

Only then did he realize...the inside was empty, only a well and a few empty barrels beside the well.

All of a sudden he understood why the house looked so "new" and so abrupt.

This should be specially built by this group of Baiqisi, in order to prevent people from sneaking in here... to poison?
Right?

He didn't know whether to say that others were vigilant or thinking too much, he shook his head slightly, hung the iron hook tied with the rope in the hole of the wooden barrel, and planned to scoop up a bucket of water and wash it well Suddenly, a rough feeling hit the fingertips.

At the same time, Luoshen's voice sounded in his mind:
"Taoist priest, how about doing me a favor later?"

(End of this chapter)