In the afternoon of this day, two female customers came to Wang's Noodle Restaurant in Sesame Lane in the north of the city, both wearing ordinary cloth clothes. When the widow Wang Jiang saw the two of them, she knew that something was unusual. One is Chen Ruijin, she knew it; The other woman is bright and moving, and her bearing is also very human. Wang Jiang's only stood up and did not greet him.

Chen Ruijin stepped forward and said a blessing: "Sister Jiang." ”

Wang Jiang said: "It's you." I heard that you have created a lot. ”

Chen Ruijin said: "Acceptable." Nai pointed to the woman and said, "This is Mrs. Jiang's Xue, and I will accompany her to talk to Sister Jiang about business today." ”

Wang Jiang saluted Xue Baochai first, thought for a while, and closed the store. Although the shop is ugly, the three of them are still seated separately. Xue Baochai said what he meant. Wang Jiang frowned slightly after hearing this, and said: "I'm just a messenger, and such a major matter must be decided by the Empress Dowager." ”

Chen Ruijin said: "Annoying Sister Lao Jiang to mention one or two. You have to tell us what we say. ”

Wang Jiang said: "Uncle Jiang's matter is easy to handle. ”

Xue Baochai said: "The people's daughter knows that her brother is on the other side, and the difficulty is only in the identity of my sister-in-law. But he has also made meritorious contributions. ”

Wang Jiang said: "Mrs. Jiang doesn't know. Everyone knows that everyone has done all the work, if he stopped singing since that year, it would be fine. He has still sung for all these years, and there are more and more ticket holders. Not only did he love him like madness, but he also did many good deeds. Every day, they either give soup and rice, or build bridges and roads......" She stopped and looked at Xue Baochai.

Xue Baochai said: "I don't understand the meaning of the shopkeeper. Wouldn't it be good to do more good deeds? ”

Wang Jiang said: "It is naturally good for others to do more good deeds. For example," she looked at Chen Ruijin, "Bao Er's grandmother in Rongguo's mansion is now leading many wives and grandmothers to do good deeds." ”

Chen Ruijin said idly: "Mrs. Jiang, everyone Liu's good deeds are too effortless. ”

Xue Baochai said: "What do you mean by this? ”

Chen Ruijin said: "Bao Er's grandmother does charity because many wives and grandmothers with status do it together, and she herself has to come out from time to time; Liu's good deeds are not very prominent, and they only say something to the ticket holders who listen to the play when they sing the curtain call, and the ticket holders do it spontaneously. He has a lot of friends and is obedient, and he has his words...... It's like a holy decree. ”

Xue Baochai nodded: "The folk girl understands." But he has no intention of being an official, so what does he have to do with the court? ”

Wang Jiang said softly: "I have heard that Mrs. Jiang is extremely intelligent, why pretend to be confused? If one day Liu Aiyun's intentions are contrary to the government, but I don't know whether his ticket friends listen to him or the official's family. ”

Chen Ruijin shook his head: "This sounds so depressing. Why didn't Sister Jiang think about it, if one day the two armies of Yan and Qi were confronted, the general of the Qi army would be Liu Aiyun's friend, and Liu Aiyun would persuade him to surrender before the battle? People have all kinds of abilities, just like a surging river, and it is impossible to prevent it. ”

Wang Jiangshi pondered for a moment when he heard this, and said, "There is some truth in this. ”

Chen Ruijin said: "Looking back, if the court arrives, even a play with broken sleeves must be guarded against...... Who is not guarded against the many loyal ministers and good generals? Which great Confucian is not more famous than him? Which general is not more powerful than him? ”

Wang Jiang said: "He has the power to lead the people to make trouble, and he doesn't know where those 'people' are. Three religions and nine streams, high doors and low households, everywhere. Moreover, he is a drama after all. If the son of the drama can get the knighthood, who can't get it? I'm afraid that the people who bought the knight are going to mess up. ”

Xue Baochai smiled and said: "Isn't it possible that the drama is not a knight, and the one who buys the knight is not chaotic?" ”

Chen Ruijin said: "If the Empress Dowager is afraid that everyone in Liu can respond to every call, if the Xue family gets this knighthood, wouldn't it be more appropriate for the heavenly family?" ”

Wang Jiang said: "How can I say this. ”

Chen Ruijin said: "First, Liu has always been yin and yang, and the boy's body is the heart of the daughter. When Master Xue got the title, he was sure that he was a 'wife' who mistakenly voted for a male fetus. The world can look at him and Bao Er's sister-in-law together. ”

Xue Baochai looked at her and said with a smile: "The words 'Bao'er sister-in-law' are said very smoothly. ”

Chen Ruijin looked at the two of them: "Does anyone think it's inappropriate for me to say these four words?" ”

Xue Baochai waved his hand: "No." "I secretly wondered in my heart that she didn't blush at all? The woman Jia Cong looked at was really weird. Wang Jiang also smiled and shook his head.

Chen Ruijin continued: "Second, the title was given by the imperial court. After getting the title, Liu's family is no longer a 'people'. Nai sneered, "The Empress Dowager is just worried that all the good things are not done by the officials." She is an old man who can't stop others from doing good deeds, and she is afraid that others will win the hearts of the people, and she looks down on others as a drama. ”

Xue Baochai couldn't help laughing and said, "Why bother to say it so clearly." ”

Chen Ruijin also smiled: "You don't know, the people in the palace are eccentric, and they value their faces more than their lives." If we don't explain it clearly, Sister Jiang may not be able to help us coax the Queen Mother. ”

Wang Jiang said: "How can I coax the Empress Dowager? But I'll just pass on a word for you. ”

Chen Ruijin said: "There are also different ways to pass on a word. My sister is out of the palace now, and she should know how different the outside is from the inside. The people in the palace are really pitiful, and they ask for face because there is nothing else to ask for; People outside the palace can get everything, and their faces are just like a layer of paper. ”

Wang Jiang said: "Are you here to pry me?" ”

Chen Ruijin said with a smile: "I obviously came to pry my sister to partner." If this business is done, the two of us have something else to do. Sister Jiang, doing well in business is not a benefit for one party, but for many parties. The Empress Dowager, the person who bought the knighthood, me, you - if we don't do it, Grandpa Dai will do it. ”

Wang Jiang said: "Now this matter is being done by Father-in-law Dai. ”

Chen Ruijin said: "It is difficult for him to get out of the palace. My sister owns a noodle shop here, isn't that what she does? ”

Wang Jiang said: "It's really not. There is another use. ”

Chen Ruijin said "oh": "There are not many people who come to eat noodles horizontally and vertically." It doesn't hurt to do a side business by the way. Father-in-law Dai is the back section, and Sister Jiang is the front section, isn't it cheaper and smoother? I think the one in the palace will also approve. ”

Wang Jiang's family is now unrestrained outside, and it is inevitable that he will be moved when he hears the words. After thinking for a long time, he said: "I have to return to the Empress Dowager to make plans for this matter." ”

"This is natural." Chen Ruijin smiled and picked up the teapot on the table and sifted about one cup of boiled water into the large noodle bowl in front of him, "Sister Jiang, I look forward to our happy cooperation in the future." ”

Wang Jiang hesitated for a long time, and finally never raised a bowl to touch her, but only reported a fist. Chen Ruijin smiled, raised the bowl and drank it all, and pulled Xue Baochai to say goodbye.

Going out, Xue Baochai asked softly, "Sister Chen, do you think this matter is possible?" ”

Chen Ruijin said: "Sooner or later, it can be done." Blinked, "Left, just wait a little longer." "The Empress Dowager is not willing to live in the harem, just a little temptation; Wang Jiang's family, even if the wine and wealth can't move her, one of the three things of power, love, and freedom can move her sooner or later.

On the other side, the missing Gao Gongzi has a clue. Two idlers came to Liguofu and said that they had seen him in a dark kiln in the west of the city on the day of his disappearance. Liu Xiaoqi rushed over immediately when he heard the news, but saw that Ah Hei, who had taken him down in Rongguo Mansion that day, was sitting in it eating wine, and he immediately became suspicious.

Ah Hei was also taken aback, and beckoned: "Xiao Qi, why are you?" Let's sit together. Nai said to the fan, "This is Liu Qiye." Fan Tou hurriedly stepped forward to greet him and pulled Liu Xiaoqi to sit down. Ah Hei asked again, "Do you also like to catch freshness?" ”

Liu Xiaoqi asked, "What's fresh?" ”

Ah Hei said: "Their house has only been open for less than a month. You're not here for this? Nai smiled at the fan and said, "This kid is young, don't tease him." ”

When the two fans heard this, they stuck to Liu Xiaoqi's body and laughed with him. Liu Xiao has been young for seven years, although he has seen these things since he was a child, he has never experienced them, and he suddenly stiffened. Ah Hei called the old bustard to add wine. Liu Xiaoqi closed her eyes, used a little bit of strength to gently break free from the two fans, and jumped up from between the two of them! Hei laughed dumbly. Liu Xiaoqi turned over and landed behind Ah Hei and said, "I'm here to investigate." ”

"Huh?" Ah Hei turned his head, "What are you looking for?" ”

"Mr. Gao."

Ah Hei touched his nose: "He has been here?" Liu Xiaoqi nodded. Ah Hei turned around and looked at Liu Xiaoqi for a while and said, "You still don't know how to investigate, right?" You can't find out that way. Sit down and have a glass of wine. Rest assured, their wine is not bad. Liu Xiaoqi was silent.

Ahei then asked, "Do you have a son surnamed Gao here?" His son is Gao Hanlin, and his maternal grandfather is Liu Biao, the prince of Liguo. The fans looked at each other and said they couldn't remember such a person. Then he called them to the old bustard.

The old bustard thought for a long time and said, "That night, the son of a rich man from other places held a banquet in our courtyard and invited a dozen sons and brothers, all of whom were so old, and their clothes and appearance were similar. ”

Ah Hei asked, "Who is that rich young master?" ”

The old bustard said: "It is said that the surname is Wang, and he came to Beijing from the south to study." ”

Ah Hei raised his eyebrows at Liu Xiaoqi and said, "Oh, you can ask yourself about your errand." ”

Liu Xiaoqi then asked the old bustard, the pink head, the maid, the night watchman and other characters in the dark kiln, but they couldn't tell whether this Gao Gongzi was here or not, and he couldn't figure out who the young master Wang was. Ah Hei doesn't care about everything, and he looks at the excitement from the sidelines. Liu Xiaoqi spent a long time on his energy, but he really didn't have any ideas to use. Ah Hei coughed and asked, "Aren't there more than a dozen sons and brothers?" None of them do you recognize? ”

One of the fans immediately said, "Yes! Uncle Xiong often comes. ”

Ah Hei said: "Who is Uncle Xiong?" ”

Fan said: "Uncle Xiong is not yet twenty years old, and he lives in the south of the city. Because the family is tightly controlled, I don't dare to go to the flower building for fear of letting the adults see it, and often sneak to us. ”

Ah Hei sneered: "What is there to care about this kind of thing. Can you manage it? Then he asked, "Do you know where his family lives?" "I don't know, I just say I'll come every few days. Ah Hei nodded and said to Liu Xiaoqi, "It seems that you can only come here and wait for the rabbit." ”

Liu Xiaoqi didn't know whether to believe that he came here by accident. What he says and does is above board, and he can't find fault with it. And I really help myself. Full of suspicions, I had to force it in my belly. Ahei ordered the fans to sing some songs. After the fans sang two, he said that it was not good to listen to, so he took the pipa and sang. I can't say that he sang well, the music was fresh, the words were interesting, and the fans listened to it.

For a while, Ah Hei was full of food and drink, and a little drunk, so he went to sleep. His body was a little heavy, and he couldn't help him, so Liu Xiaoqi said, "I'll help him." But he took Ahei's arm and carried him back.

This is not the time when there are many guests in the Qinglou, and it is a dark kiln and a newly opened place, and there are no other guests except the two of them. Liu Xiaoqi saw Ah Hei fall on the kang, turned over and fell asleep, so he didn't go out. While he was snoring, he quietly touched him for nothing. Ah Hei didn't notice it, and his arms had already been hollowed out.

Liu Xiaoqi nodded: There are three purses. The largest one contained two ingots of gold and two ingots of silver, and a dozen silver tickets totaling five hundred and seventy taels; Half-sized filled with fried pine nuts; The smallest one was loaded with a seal, and two words were engraved on it, "Eagle Eye". There are four hidden weapon capsules, which are extremely complete, and there are all kinds of dark weapons. A sleeve quiver, light and delicate. And there was an ordinary small burlap bag, in which a dozen small paper bags were placed. Liu Xiaoqi took a few and sniffed them, from sweat medicine to spring. From medicine to laxatives. A tiny western fire. The gun, the body of the gun is lovely. There are also two books, one is the latest Spring Palace picture album published by Zhonghua Book Company, which is expensive and tight, three hundred taels of silver each; The other is the first volume of the commentary "Chu Liuxiang's Blood Sea Fragrance", the author's name is Gu Long. Liu Xiaoqi searched him carefully, and pinned a short dagger to his waist, although he didn't know the name, it was a good weapon. Immediately, he found a note in his boots, on which a pair was written: Flying snow shoots white deer in the sky, and the smiling book god leans on the blue duck.

Liu Xiaoqi watched it for a long time and couldn't understand what the pair meant. I flipped through the Spring Palace painting again, and there were no clips or anything like that. Looking at the comment again, I saw three red seals on the title page, which were "Rongguo Mansion Collection", "Lixiangyuan Library" and "Jia Cong". Co-authored this comment is Jia Cong's. Looking through the book again, there are some annotations.

In these years, there are few families who are not curious about Rongguo Mansion and Jia Cong. Liu Xiaoqi lightly put all these things back in their original places, leaving only the commentary of Rongguo Mansion in his hand, and sat under the windowsill to read it. Until Liu Xiaoqi finished reading this comment, Ah Hei still didn't wake up. The commentary is really interesting, it still tells the story of the martial arts in the green forest, and it is obvious that it is not over, Liu Xiaoqi inevitably has a little worry in his heart. He only brought this volume. He thought about it, put the book next to Ah Hei's pillow, and got up and went outside to ask those pink-headed bustards about something.

It was getting dark, and a guest had arrived in the courtyard. It's a pity that there is no such Uncle Bear. Ahei finally woke up. It's not that he's slept enough, he's hungry.

The old bustard sent someone outside to sue Liu Xiaoqi, and Liu Xiaoqi returned to Ah Hei's house and sued him: "When you sent Brother Hei over first, you dropped this comment. The little brother was bored, so he watched it without the permission of the black brother. ”

Ah Hei yawned and said, "It's just this comment, it's also worth saying?" ”

Liu Xiaoqi smiled and said: "This comment has not been finished, is there anything behind Brother Hei?" ”

"Yes!" Aya said, "The complete collection of ancient dragons in Lixiangyuan is with me." It's a pity that it's not Mr. Gu's original work, it's written by later generations according to the story. If you like, go up to me and take it. ”