In the fifth year of Taihe, September Bingchen, the first moment of Shen.

Chengdu Mansion, Biji Fang, Yinshi Building.

There was a melodious sound of the piano upstairs, playing the miscellaneous songs of the new Yuefu.

The people who came and went in Biji Fang listened to it, and knew that Xue Tao Xue Xiaoshu lived in this building, and every time in the beginning of Shen, they would stroke the qin on the street on the Yin Shi Building, which often lasted for half an hour. Pedestrians who are familiar with music often pass by, and it is inevitable that they will involuntarily stop and listen.

Today, however, the sound of the piano only ends abruptly at the end of the song.

Xue Tao turned his face slightly, looked at Zhang Yijun through the tulle, and bowed his head silently, as if signaling Zhang Yijun to enter and sit together. Seeing this, Zhang Yijun saluted, lifted the light veil, took off his boots, and stepped in.

The ground behind the tulle was covered with bamboo mats, and Zhang Yijun followed Xue Tao's example, sitting on the ground a few times apart.

Although Zhang Yi, who was born in the Zhong Ding family, has a natural arrogance, he naturally has little respect for a dusty woman. However, even so, when he was young, he heard the name of Xue Tao, a talented woman in Shuzhong, and he didn't expect that he would be able to see the truth today.

Xue Tao, who is over sixty years old, has a high bun on his head, is not decorated with a bad leaf, and only has a plain silver step. Although her hair was black and white, on her unpainted countenance, she could not be seen at all to be over the age of six. If you don't know that she is Xue Xiaoshu, you may think that she is a noblewoman in her forties from an official family. Even now, I can vaguely imagine her gorgeous appearance and outstanding talent when she was young. Zhang Yijun secretly understood why so many nobles from the family would secretly send autumn waves to Xue Tao back then.

However, the fifth year of Taihe was in Xue Tao, which was really not a peaceful year. In July of this year, Yuan Zhi died of a violent illness in Wuchang. A month ago, the peacock that had been raised in the Shuai Mansion since Wei Gao was the envoy of the Xichuan Festival was no longer there. Since then, Xue Tao has been in poor health, day after day, and soon moved out of Huanhuaxi and lived in this bard building, where he never saw anyone every day.

Xue Tao's piano sound was clear and tactful, but Zhang Yijun knew in his heart that the cheerful tune was a music song written by Yuan Zhi to Xue Tao in Chengdu Mansion more than 20 years ago.

Zhang Yijun couldn't help but sigh in his heart, things are not people.

"The younger generation has heard of Xue's book for a long time, and I don't want to see ...... today" Zhang Yijun crossed his hands and saluted.

Xue Tao just smiled faintly, his face was not shocked, and he only asked softly, "Does that gentleman know where this is?" ”

Zhang Yijun smiled and said: "Chengdu Sixteen Fang, from the balcony on the third floor, you can see Qingcheng Mountain, you can see the Shuaifu Hall in the northeast, and Wenshu Fang is lively in the north direction. Presumably, this place is Biji Fang, and there are more than a dozen buildings in Biji Fang that can overlook the whole city, but like this building is so new, I am afraid that there is only Xue Xiaoshu's poetry building. ”

After a confident discussion, even Xue Tao couldn't help but be surprised by the observation and reasoning of this young man who had just passed the weak crown.

Fangcai's maidservant dressed in a xia veil, cooked tea soup for Xue Tao and Zhang Yi, and gently placed it on the table in front of the two. Then he silently wrapped up the goose yellow light yarn and withdrew.

"Then ......" After the greetings, Zhang Yijun went straight to the point, after all, he had not forgotten his mission, "...... The matter is urgent, and I also ask Xue Xiaoshu to solve the doubts for the younger generation, how did a certain come to this Biji Fang? ”

Xue Tao didn't seem to hear Zhang Yijun's question, and didn't answer, a pair of sheared autumn pupils carefully measured Zhang Yijun's face, not knowing what he was seeing. After a while, Xue Tao asked softly: "Can I ask Mr. again?" ”

"Zhang Yijun, a native of Jingzhao Wannian."

"Yi Jun ......" Xue Tao closed his eyes slightly as if he was tasting tea, muttered to himself, and said for a long time: "Yi Jun...... Yijun, I don't know which person Mr. wants to wear? ”

Zhang Yijun raised his eyes suddenly, although he knew that this was a joke, he was also shocked. For a moment, the figure of someone unconsciously flashed in his mind.

"Just kidding." Xue Tao smiled and waved his hand, and then continued: "Mr. just asked, how did you come to Bijifang?" ”

"Exactly."

"It was Mr. Yuan Xiang who sent ......"

"Yuan reward?" Zhang Yijun said suspiciously: "The school book is ...... Hanzhou Thorn History Xue Yuan Reward? ”

"He's my brother," Xue Tao smiled, "It's just that after letting go of Mr., he went out of the workshop, Xu Yes...... Let's go back to the official post. ”

Zhang Yijun felt a little confused for a while, he was knocked unconscious when he arrived at Wenshufang with the Weiyuan army general who claimed to be Yang Zong, and he didn't know what happened at this hour after that.

First of all, how did he get to Xue Yuanxian?

In the two flicks of the fingers that Zhang Yijun was secretly thinking about, Xue Tao was also quietly observing the words. Even if Zhang Yijun tried his best to be quiet, Xue Tao, who had seen countless eunuchs coming and going in Shuzhong, could see that Zhang Yijun had doubts in his heart with just one glance.

"Before the gentleman continues to ask, he must assure me that no one, not even Li Deyu, will never mention every name I will say afterwards."

Zhang Yijun was stunned: "Don't mention it? ”

"Don't mention it!" Xue Tao nodded and repeated, "Yuan Xian has a lot of friends, and his career is just improving, I don't want him to be affected by me." ”

Zhang Yijun hesitated slightly, if it was someone else, he would definitely not refuse this free message, and readily agreed. However, at this moment, somehow, Xue Tao's words made Zhang Yijun faintly uneasy.

Zhang Yijun raised his eyes and stared at Xue Tao, frowned slightly, and said with a serious expression: "Dare to ask Xue Xiaoshu, why do you want to reveal these things to someone?" ”

Xue Tao seemed to knowingly ask, "What does Mr. mean?" ”

Zhang Yijun decided not to hide it anymore, so he sat down and said frankly.

"To be honest, the younger generations have been faintly aware of the strangeness of the school book since the beginning. At that time, it was just a feeling, but Xue Xiaoshu and Yijun met for the first time, and they had no reservations and the intention of confiding. It makes the younger generation feel ...... It's not so much weird, it's as if Xue Xiaoshu did it deliberately. What I want to ask is, Xue Xiaoshu is like this...... What is the intention? ”

Xue Tao hooked the corners of his lips, "If Mr. promised me not to mention it, then why should I have reservations?" ”

Zhang Yi was silent, Xue Tao had seen many dignitaries and nobles. Wei Gao, Gao Chongwen, Wu Yuanheng, Duan Wenchang...... Several envoys of the Xichuan Festival, who later paid homage to the prime minister, all regarded Xue Tao as a guest. With Xue Tao's life, he would never be so honest with a person he had just met. There must be other reasons behind this that are not known to Zhang Yijun.

Seeing that Zhang Yijun still looked solemn, Xue Tao put away his smile, stared at each other, and said in a retracted voice: "Xue Tao is like this, it is for the sake of Wei Zhi's ......"

Micro is the word of Yuan Zhen.

Zhang Yijun noticed that although Xue Tao's tone was calm, when she said the word "micro", her dark eyes seemed to tremble.

"Wei Yi Xiang is not in good health, and he wrote to me the year before that he could not afford to travel. Li Zongmin knew that this was the case, and after being in Zaifu, the party was the same and the party was different, and he was still demoted to Wuchang," Xue Tao paused when he said this, and his eyes drooped, "Weizhi couldn't afford to be sick because of this, and he ...... a month ago."

Zhang Yijun just nodded slightly, he looked at Xue Tao and muttered for a long time, as if he was waiting for Xue Tao's mood to calm down a little, and as if he was carefully thinking about the trade-offs.

"That junior...... agreed to Xue's request, and then the school book said that he would never mention it. ”

After getting Zhang Yijun's assurance, Xue Tao smiled lightly. What Zhang Yijun didn't expect was that Xue Tao's words after that really made him breathe.

Xue Tao said meaningfully: "Mr. was unconscious in the Li Zhi Envoy's Mansion at that time, and Yuan rewarded ...... It was sent from the embassy's mansion with a wooden chariot......"

This seems to be a casual sentence, but the amount of information is really huge.

Li Zhi, the envoy of the Xichuan Festival, was the subordinate of Li Zongmin, the prime minister of the Chaoniu Party. Robbery is a felony, what is the purpose of Li Zhi's risk? Why did he want Xue Yuanxian to send him away? Moreover, Xue Yuansheng is a foreign assassin, and at this moment, Victoria's surrender is imminent, and he actually came to Chengdu Mansion at this time to meet Li Zhi, which has to make people suspicious......

"So what Xue Xiaoshu means, he wants to use Yi Jun's mouth to tell Li Deyu what Li Zongmin's son Li Zhi did, so as to uproot the foundation of the Niu Party in Xichuan?" Zhang Yijun said thoughtfully, frowning again and shaking his head slightly, "But...... Li Zhishu has deep roots, and he only robs the secret stake privately, and there is no basis for empty words, I'm afraid I won't be able to bring him down......"

"Of course," Xue Tao raised his chin slightly, his eyes blazing, "Li Zhi is a treacherous person, and such a trivial matter naturally can't even hurt his fur." But if I sue Mr. Yu, before the reward...... It seems that intentionally or unintentionally mentioned to me a confession drafted by Li Zhi against Li Jiedu, I don't know if it was ...... Can you add another chip? ”

"Confession?!" Zhang Yijun sat up straight.

"Exactly, it seems...... It is related to the surrender of Victoria. But I don't really know the details......"

Zhang Yijun's sudden intuition told him that it seemed that there was a hidden crisis slowly approaching around the surrender of Victoria.

"So how can this be leveraged?" Zhang Yijun was even more puzzled.

Xue Tao's pupils moved slightly, looked away, and then groaned slightly, "This will be left to Mr. himself to figure out......

Zhang Yijun wanted to ask again, but suddenly noticed that the sunset that had just filled the entire balcony was fading, and he was surprised that he had stayed here for too long, so he hurriedly bowed and wanted to say goodbye, but he raised his hand for Xue Tao to stop.

Xue Tao just turned his head towards the back of the tulle and raised his voice and called, "Ah Lian! ”

Zhang Yijun looked over, and the beautiful maid who had just served Zhang Yijun bowed her head and went downstairs after the words, and bowed to the two.

"Go and get the 'Sassy Jade Horse' ready......"

Ah Mercy sang a "meow" in understanding and retreated downstairs.

"What is 'Sa Yu'......'?"

Xue Tao said lightly: "Mr. will know soon." ”

"Sa Yuqi" turned out to be a jade white horse.

It is estimated that it is because of frequent brushing, the coat color of "Sa Yuqiu" is shining, the muscle lines are clear and toned, and the blue star spots on the forehead are like a girl's Ehuangdian. Even those who don't know anything about horses can see at a glance that the price of "Sa Yuqi" is expensive.

Zhang Yijun looked at this tall horse, and couldn't help but reach out and pat its neck, it was indeed a horse, worthy of the name "Sa Yuqi".

"'Sa Yuqi' is what you have been taking care of?" Zhang Yijun rubbed the mane of "Sa Yuqi" and asked Xiang Lian.

Ah Lian didn't have the fear of ordinary maids, nodded and said: "My Ah Lang has never loved property, when Wei Linggong was still in Xichuan, the officials in Chengdu did not send money and gifts to Ah Lang, but Ah Lang accepted them all and handed them all over to Wei Linggong......

Zhang Yijun listened quietly, watching Ah Lian speak, while skillfully preparing a carved silver saddle for "Sa Yuqi", and his movements were so sharp that he didn't look like a woman at all, but like a horseman who had been in the industry for several years. Zhang Yijun roughly understood why Xue Tao would only leave her as a companion.

“…… Later, Wei Linggong died, and the people died. There were a lot fewer people who came to Ah Lang for gifts. This horse is ...... The one sent to Ah Lang by the deceased was still a foal at the time, and he was named 'Sa Yuqiu'. ”

"Sassy as the wind, white as jade." Zhang Yijun couldn't help but say while looking at the "Sa Yuqi".

"Exactly ......"

When she was ready to stop, she led the horse out of the stable.

Xue Tao had come down from the Yin Shi Tower, standing in the courtyard, wearing a plain robe, at this moment, under the shroud of the afterglow, looking from a distance, the thin figure actually had a sense of twilight.

"Today's events, Yi Jun is grateful! Tomorrow, the 'Sa Yuqi' will be returned to Xue's school. ”

"No need," Xue Tao just said lightly: "Xue Tao's meaning is to give the 'Sa Yuqi' to Mr. ”

Not only Zhang Yijun, but even Ah Lian was a little surprised when he heard this.

"This ...... Why? ”

Xue Tao stroked the "Sa Yuqi" and said: "My long-cherished wish now is just a Taoist robe for the rest of my life." It followed me, to avoid being wronged. Xue Tao paused, his gaze fixed on the northeast sky, and continued: "What's more...... That's what its original owner meant. ”

As soon as Xue Tao's words fell, he leaned his head against Xue Tao's face, and touched Xue Tao's cheek with the tip of his nose, as if he was saying goodbye to his master.

Zhang Yijun knew that it was difficult to refuse, so he thanked him repeatedly.

However, when he got out of the back garden of the Yinshi Building, he was about to step on the horse, but he was stopped by Ah Lian.

"I almost forgot, sir, please wait a minute......"

After speaking, Ah Lian took out an apple and handed it to Zhang Yijun: "'Sa Yuqi' is not an ordinary horse, not everyone can ride, Mr. has to bribe her with an apple first, otherwise, this girl may fall down." ”

Zhang Yijun took the apple, laughed sneeringly, then took the apple in the palm of his hand and brought it to Sa Yujun's mouth. Seeing this, Sa Yulu first sniffed Zhang Yijun's wrist with his nose, and then sniffed the apple in his hand, which was considered recognition. Then he opened his mouth and chewed on the apple and feasted on it.

This scene made all three of them laugh, and Zhang Yijun muttered "good girl" in his mouth, and patted Sa Yuqiu's neck and back. After the "bribery" ceremony came to an end, Zhang Yijun said goodbye to Xue Tao and Ah Lian, and then got on the horse, and Sa Yuqi also straightened his neck obediently.

Zhang Yijun gently touched the horse's belly with his heels, and then the sound of hooves sounded, Zhang Yijun rode out of the backyard of the Yinshilou on a "sa jade horse", and walked into the front song of Biji Fang, which is also the flower smoke willow lane of Chengdu Mansion.

Looking at Zhang Yijun's figure gradually moving away, Ah Lian asked Xue Tao very puzzled: "Ah Lang, why did the good horse that Yuan Servant sent to you back then, why did he give it to this person so easily?" ”

Xue Tao sighed when he heard this, and said with a wry smile: "Li Wenrao and his son took good care of Weizhi back then, but now Weizhi is gone, I ...... It can be regarded as a return for the favor. ”

At the end, Xue Tao muttered softly, as if he was talking to himself: "Today, I should also let go of the ......."