In the north of the city, just after lunch, Shi Xin, the third son of the prime minister, went to the bamboo garden in the house for a walk.

The bamboo garden in the four gardens of Xiangfu is second to the plum garden, and it begins to sprout a spring vitality. On this sunny spring day, the scene of the bamboo garden becomes more and more vivid. Shi Xin walked on the gravel road between the bamboo gardens, took a deep breath of the air wafting with the smell of tender bamboo leaves, and the confusion of his mind brought by the feeling of satiety gradually cleared up a little.

His gaze swept over a few new bamboo leaves, and he saw three or two servants digging bamboo shoots in the garden, and the servants did not notice the three sons of their own who were walking alone.

It wasn't until Shi Xin saw a person squatting in the green bamboo field that he shouted, and the servants looked back at him by the sound, and immediately stopped what they were doing and hurriedly saluted him.

Shi Xin waved his hand, and the servants understood and continued to dig bamboo shoots, but they changed to a place that was a little farther away.

Hearing Shi Xin's shout, the man squatting on the ground also glanced back, and then smiled: "It's Shi Gongzi." ”

The man squatting on the ground was nearly forty years old, loosely dressed, and had an ordinary face. But his eyes were bright, and he was so sharp that he was thinking. And when he smiled, there were no wrinkles on his face.

This middle-aged man with an ordinary face, but a leisurely atmosphere in his demeanor, is named Fang Wu.

Before befriending Shi Xin, Fang Wu was actually a wandering magician, who made a living by divination and word measurement, and swam freely between mountains, rivers, lakes and rivers in his spare time. After being a guest in the Prime Minister's Mansion, he didn't do anything else, except for the measurement of the astrological destiny, and he still had a very high enthusiasm. But this seems to be useless to the prime minister, but Shi Xin, the third son of the prime minister, still respects him.

Seeing that Fang Wu didn't mean to get up, Shi Xin didn't show anything about it, just after approaching him. He also squatted down and said gently: "I saw Mr. Fang squatting here from afar, and he hasn't moved an inch for a long time, but what new things have you found?" ”

"Actually, I didn't do anything, I just wanted to squat for a while after standing for a long time. I just watched them digging bamboo shoots, and I wanted to help them, but they didn't agree, so I had to watch from the sidelines, and I forgot the time for a while. ”

Fang Wu kept smiling as he spoke. Even if his next sentence suddenly changed his words and deeds, "Shi Gongzi, Fang is going to leave the Prime Minister's Mansion for the time being." ”

There are many talented people in the prime minister's house. They don't have the best reputation, but they do have their own strengths. In the name of friendship, Shi Xin left these people as guests in the Prime Minister's Mansion, and of course there were many people who were willing to contribute to the Prime Minister's affairs, so naturally there were guests who lived for a long time. People who want to leave for a while and travel to other places.

And most of these people who don't like to stay in one place for a long time are not craftsmen, but aliens, such as a warlock like Fang Wu.

Shi Xin knew that Fang Wu had been using fetal breathing to maintain his health, according to Fang Wu's statement. In addition to the practice of this kind of qigong itself, it also needs the assistance of factors such as geographical location and climate. Therefore, Shi Xin was not surprised that Fang had no idea of preparing to leave the Prime Minister's Mansion to travel far away, although the gardens of the Prime Minister's Mansion were elegantly built. But in the end, it can't compare to the beautiful mountains and rivers created by nature.

"When is Mr. Fang going to leave?" Shi Xin didn't ask where Fang Wu went, nor did he say a word to stay, but just asked the time with some ease.

Fang Wu stood up, with a slight smile on his face, and said, "Tomorrow." ”

Shi Xin said. There was finally a hint of surprise in his eyes, and he stood up and said, "Mr. Fang, this is also too anxious, right?" It's better to put off for a day. I will also have the servant prepare for you some things to carry with you for your travels. ”

Fang Wu hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Then leave a day later." I have to bother Shi Gongzi again, every time Fang thinks of this, he always feels uneasy. ”

Shi Xin smiled and said: "Why should Mr. Fang be so careful, I should call myself a late born in terms of seniority, and it should be so." If you still can't let go of this, why don't you look at the stars for me tonight? ”

"It's fine." Fang Wu glanced up at the sky, then lowered his eyes to look at his feet, and then said warmly: "However, the premise is that tonight this sky has to be appreciated for Fang Mou to take a look." ”

Shi Xin subconsciously glanced down, only to see that the place where Fang Wu had squatted just now had gathered in the pitch black, going in and out of a pile of fluffy soil particles, and he suddenly realized something.

Although the two stood very close, they did not see anyone speak again for a long time.

After a while, not far away, a person who looked like a military attendant in the courtyard strode closer, and after seeing the person, Fang Wucai spoke again: "Shi Gongzi is busy with daily things, Fang Mou is an idler, so he won't disturb Shi Gongzi's business." ”

So he said goodbye.

Shi Xin also arched his hand, and then shouted out to Fang Wu, who was about to turn around and leave, and said with a slight hesitation in his tone: "I don't know when Mr. Fang is going this time, when is he expected to come back?" ”

Fang Wu was silent for a moment, then stretched out his hand and pointed to the nest of ants on the ground, and said gently: "When that bamboo shoot grows into a green bamboo, Fang Mou will definitely come back to cut it and make a flute." ”

Fang Wu turned to leave, Shi Xin looked at his back, his face was calm, but there was a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes.

The nurse not far away had already approached, and after bowing his hand, he said in a suppressed voice: "Childe, the fire in the Lin family's old mansion has been extinguished by the people of the city patrol team, and several people have been rescued. ”

Shi Xin's eyes froze, and he said in a deep voice: "Tell me directly, is that person dead or alive?" ”

The nurse lowered his eyes and said, "This matter has not yet been clarified......

Shi Xin then asked, "Have you found out where the assassin came from?" ”

The nurse hesitated and said: "I don't know, it's the villain's dereliction of duty, please punish the son." ”

"The failure to achieve results is not necessarily your dereliction of duty, why should I punish you." Shi Xin flicked his sleeves and exhaled, and after a deep sigh, he said: "It's not difficult to guess who did this, but it's difficult to get evidence to find out, it's like scratching your boots, you can see it, you can't catch it, you can't put it down." ”

Hearing this, the nurse's face was solemn, and he said firmly: "The villain must hurry up and investigate this matter to make the son feel comfortable." ”

Shi Xin nodded and said slowly, "You do your best." Now that the opportunity to preemptively strike has been lost, the investigation of the real culprit behind the scenes has been postponed for the time being, and the first qiē action is focused on not exposing the deeds of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's Mansion is so close to the Lin family's old mansion, if there are any branches at this time, my Shi family will stretch out his face and pour ink on others. ”

After a moment of silence, he instructed the nurse again: "Go and check the daily details of those idlers in the house this morning, and make sure that everyone's activities have another person who can see and prove it." Presumably, there will be movement on the emperor's side soon, although my historian is worthy of heaven and earth in this matter, but there are many idlers in the mansion, and they must make sufficient preparations in advance to clear up their involvement in this matter. ”

Hearing this, the nurse clasped his fists and said: "The villain understands, let's do it!" ”

Shi Xin waved his hand, and after the nurse left, he also turned around and chose the way back. As soon as I got out of the bamboo garden, I saw Yahuan Xiaoqiang, who trotted all the way over, and her hair was a little scattered.

Shi Xin called out to Xiao Qiang, but before he could speak, he saw that Xiao Qiang, who turned around and ran closer, did not care about the courtesy of the master and servant, and only asked anxiously: "Childe, isn't Mr. Cen with you?" ”

Shi Xin shook her head, and was about to ask what was wrong, but she was preempted by Xiao Qiang again, and she said anxiously: "What can I do, the maid went to wash two clothes, and Mr. Cen disappeared." He said that he didn't want to stay in the house, and the maid thought he was going for a walk somewhere, but he didn't expect that lunch time was over, and he hadn't come back yet. ”

Speaking of this, she lowered her eyes and flattened her mouth, twisted her sleeves very worriedly, and was silent for a while before her voice suddenly lowered and said: "Look at the noon sun is about to catch up with the scorching heat of the summer, Lang Zhong came in the morning, and told him to rest more, he went out for so long and hasn't returned, shouldn't it be a ......?"

"Don't think nonsense, Mr. Cen has just worked hard in the past few days, and he has no illness, what can happen." Shi Xin cut off Xiao Qiang's words, thinking of what he had just told the nurse of the home, he couldn't help frowning, "He should be in the garden, maybe he rested in the shade of a tree somewhere, so that you missed your eyes." You go to the place where he often goes and look carefully, I'll bring a few family members later, the Shifu is so big, I'm afraid I won't find anyone? ”

Xiao Qiang's heart calmed down a little, and only then did she realize that her words just now were inappropriate, so she hurriedly shortened her body and said in a low voice: "Just now, the servant was rude and offended the son, and when I find Mr. Cen, I will ask the son to punish him." ”

Thinking of the accident that happened in the Lin family's old house not long ago, and after linking it with Cen Chi's disappearance, Shi Xin's mood became a little impetuous. In the face of Xiao Qiang's humility, he did not treat him as gently as usual, but flicked his sleeves a little impatiently and left with his back hand.

Xiao Qiang didn't know what was irritating in Shi Xinxin, looking at his back, she was just full of guilt that she didn't take good care of that gentleman, and the guilt in her heart sank even more.

After searching all over the three gardens of bamboo, chrysanthemum, and plum, Xiao Qiang still did not find Cen Chi's figure. Finally came to the Orchid Garden, in the most secluded place in this Xiangfu, she suddenly saw Cen Chi who had just walked in briskly from outside the garden, and she was very happy and surprised in her heart.

The location of the orchid garden is connected to the back gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and the reason why this place is quiet is because the private affairs of the Prime Minister's Mansion pass through this gate and spread to the outside of the mansion. On weekdays, in addition to a group of servants who transport garbage and collect charcoal at a fixed time, even the idlers of the Prime Minister's Mansion will not enter and exit the Prime Minister's Mansion through this door.

Judging by the situation, Cen Chi actually went out from here and came back from here.

Xiao Qiang didn't have the leisure to figure out why Cen Chi went out from this courtyard gate, and why the doorman guarding the courtyard gate didn't notice it, but after finally finding Cen Chi, he ran over a little excitedly, and shouted at the same time: "Mr. Cen, why are you here, let Xiao Qiang find it for a while." ”