At night, a waning moon hung in the sky, emitting a faint light. The cold wind howled, the thick snow covered the roof, and the cold that could not be relieved by the large quilt and the charcoal fire that could not be alleviated by hiding in the house, this winter was more bitterly cold than any previous winter.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

A figure quickly shuttled through the night, the afterimage flickered on the palace wall, and the toes stepped lightly on the glazed tiles like a cat jumping silently. The moonlight flowed, and the figure disappeared into the Zhai Xing Pavilion in the southeast.

At this time, in Zhai Xing Pavilion, the study room was brightly lit. A tall and tall young man in a white brocade robe, with tall black hair and a handsome appearance, stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back. His eyes were sharp, and he looked out the window at the thick night with an expressionless face, letting the snow fall from his hair.

He is the second high priest of the imperial family, Yuanqi.

A low red plum blossom in the flowerpot on the windowsill was in full bloom, and he gently twisted the twigs with his fingertips, which were full of budding buds. Bowing his head and playing with him, he said coldly, "What about people?" ”

A dark shadow flickered in the candlelight, and a figure appeared. He has a tall posture, silver hair is scattered, although he is a man, he looks feminine, his face is pale, his eyes are tall, and his face has a bit of the beauty that a woman should have.

With his hands clasped into fists and bent down to salute, he said respectfully: "Master, it's the disciple's carelessness, the old man of the Qi family turned back halfway, I couldn't defeat him, let... Let them live one more day, and tomorrow they will bring back the girl. ”

Yuan Qi turned around, threw out the flower branch in his hand and threw it at the man's feet, and said sarcastically, "You can't even help an old man of the Qi family?" ”

The silver-haired man was frightened, bowed his head and defended, "It's the disciple who is incompetent, that old man of the Qi family actually used the heavenly thunder as a way to summon thunder, I really haven't heard of it..."

Yuan Qi raised his eyebrows, "Use the heavenly thunder as the thunder method?" With a suspicious look in his eyes, he continued: "Is this true? ”

The silver-haired man nodded yes, raised his right hand and swore: "I, Situ Mingyuan, swear, what I said is true." ”

Situ Mingyuan, one of the four major families in Kyoto, is the eldest grandson of the current head of the Situ family, the younger generation of the family is the most talented, and he is a second-level senior sorcerer in his early twenties.

He is the third among the four apprentices of the current royal high priest.

At this time, the heavy snow had stopped, and a bolt of lightning accompanied by rolling thunder pierced the sky, which was particularly striking in the dark night.

Yuan Qi was silent, his face was unpredictable, and he looked out the window with lightning and thunder, and the slender fingers in his sleeves moved slightly, and a small flame burst out.

Situ Mingyuan raised his head and said suspiciously, "Master? ”

Yuan Qi looked sideways, "I have never seen anyone in this Youxing Land for five hundred years who can use the Heavenly Thunder as a way to summon the Thunder Method, if it is really him Qi Xianglin, I would like to see it." ”

"Master, what if it's a forbidden technique? There must be something strange in this. ”

Yuan Qi flicked his fingers, and the flames went towards Situ Mingyuan's front door and stopped in front of his forehead.

The flames turned his face red, and there was even a hint of horror in his eyes. He bowed his head and said in horror, "Master, what does this mean?"

Secretly slandered himself, this master is moody on weekdays, and rarely gives them a few brothers with a good face, and all his patience is only reserved for the little junior sister.

Yuanqi lowered his eyes, "Away from the fire, I gave it to you." ”

Hearing Master's promise, Situ Mingyuan was overjoyed, raised his hand and took it into the spiritual power, "Thank you, Master, I will definitely bring that girl tomorrow." ”

Away from the fire, the most fire spirit. Master's reward came in handy this time, and he was upset that he had lost two great fire spirits today.

Yuanqi was silent, waving his hand to signal that he could leave.

Clenching his fists slightly, Situ Mingyuan instantly disappeared under the candlelight.

Wucheng City Lord's Mansion

In the Lingxi Pavilion, He Lan was lying on his side on a soft couch, wearing a brown mink on his shoulders, and his head was tied in a cloud bun. Although she is more than half a hundred years old, she has never defeated a beauty, she has delicate facial features, gentle appearance, and proper maintenance, and there are few traces of time on her face.

I saw that she was holding a note in her hand, which read:

Ah Lan, there has been a change in the Qi family, and your brother-in-law was ordered to go home. Now that the traitors are coming, Qi Yue and I have escaped, and we need to come to the house to take refuge in the near future.

He Lan was shocked, and hurriedly ordered his subordinates to prepare the side room, got up and walked towards the city lord's study.

In the middle of the night, there are few pedestrians on the road, and the street vendors in the city have long since closed their doors, leaving only the lanterns in front of the door to flicker faintly.

At the city gate, the flames on the torches swayed in the cold wind, and four soldiers in black armor with the word "Xiao" engraved on their shoulders were leaning on each other and falling asleep.

At that moment, a rudimentary carriage approached, and they were awakened by the sound of tapping. The leading soldier stood upright with his spear and cried out, "Who is coming?" ”

The carriage stopped, and a person poked out of the window, it was Lin Zhi.

She couldn't hide her tiredness, and handed out a token with the word "Xiao" engraved on it.

The leading soldier hurriedly flattered, bent down and saluted, "It turned out to be someone from the City Lord's Mansion, so I'll let you in." ”

Several soldiers stood upright and watched the carriage enter the city.

Qi Yue was sleepy-eyed in the car, leaning on her grandmother and whispering, "Grandma, are we here?" ”

Lin Zhi pulled the blanket for his granddaughter and said, "After entering Wucheng, I'm almost at the City Lord's Mansion." ”

Qi Yue woke up in shock, completely sleepy. I opened the curtains with one hand and looked in, only to see that the city was empty, with only the faint light of scattered lanterns.

Very disappointed, "It has been night for a long time, no wonder it is so deserted." ”

Lin Zhi explained: "I thought I could get there before dark, but the heavy snow blocked the road, and the carriage was difficult, so I took a detour to the official road. Seeing that you were sleeping soundly, I didn't wake you up. ”

Qi Yue nodded, "No wonder." ”

Lowering the curtains, Qi Yue looked at the fox in his arms who had turned back into his real body, sleeping soundly, and was about to wake him up. Outside the carriage, there was a sound of procession.

A sonorous and powerful voice came: "Mrs. Qi, Mrs. City Lord sent me and others to greet you." ”

The two in the carriage glanced at each other, and Lin Zhi opened the curtains, only to see a middle-aged man riding on a horse, and on both sides of him were soldiers in neat rows. They were all dressed in black armor with the word "Xiao" engraved on it.

Now the city lord's surname is Xiao, and his name is Xiao Yan, it seems that he is a person from the city lord's mansion.

Lin Zhi bowed his head and thanked him, "Thank you, my lord." ”

The middle-aged man led by him clenched his fists slightly, "Mrs. Qi doesn't have to be polite. With a wave of his big hand, the soldiers on both sides protected the carriage in it, "Mrs. Qi, please." ”

Lin Zhi nodded and lowered the curtains.

"Grandma, now that someone has come to greet us, we are safe. I'll continue to sleep for a while, and you can rest too. Qi Yue said sleepily, and then hugged the fox in his arms, it was really hot.

hugged his granddaughter tightly, and Lin Zhi also closed his eyes and rested.

The carriage followed the troops along in the silent night, and the moonlight fell. After a while, the pavilions in front of him gradually appeared.

I saw two mighty stone lions in front of the gate, and a plaque between the two red lacquer columns on the steps had the word "Xiao Mansion" on it, shining with golden brilliance, and the horizontal and vertical were vigorous and powerful, showing the majesty of the master in the house.

The middle-aged man at the head jumped off his horse, "Mrs. Qi, we have arrived at the City Lord's Mansion, please dismount." ”

Lin Zhi immediately sobered up and patted his granddaughter beside him, "Xiaoyue, wake up, we're here." ”

"Arrived, grandma?" Qi Yue was sleepy-eyed and sleepy.

"It's here, get off." Pulling the granddaughter who had not woken up yet, the two got out of the carriage.

The man raised his hand and gestured, "Please." ”

The group of three entered the City Lord's Mansion.

The house is brightly lit, and you can see the pavilions and pavilions, rockery gardens, which are very magnificent. At a glance, I only feel that the eyes are full of beautiful scenery, especially in the backyard, the two rows of red plum blossoms under the corridor are blooming, and the slightest dark fragrance hits, which makes people feel refreshed and happy.

Qi Yue was already awake, looking around, even the fox in her arms had woken up at some point, yawning, her eyes half-open.

"Sister Zhi!"

A bright yellow figure in front of him walked towards several people, calling out in his mouth, and his voice sounded very happy.

"Ah Lan!" Lin Zhi responded happily and excitedly quickened his pace. The person who came was He Lan, her close friend, they had known each other for thirty-five years, so they had the deepest relationship in their friendship. But since she and the old man moved to Wuling Mountain, they hadn't seen each other for thirteen years.

He Lan approached, the wind was in full swing, at this time, she still had the majesty of the lady in charge on weekdays, her face was full of happy smiles, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes came out, she took Lin Zhi's hand and said excitedly: "Sister Azhi, it's been thirteen years, and I finally see you!" ”

Lin Zhi was also a first-class beauty when she was young, but she made people miserable, lost two sons, sent black-haired people to white-haired people, and finally followed the second master of the Qi family to live in poverty in Wuling Mountain. The experience of losing a child alone made her look extremely vicissitudes, with most of her hair white and wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.

Helan only felt that creation made people.

"yes... Ah Lan, are you alright? Lin Zhi's eyes were moist, and she was also very much in love with this good sister, if it weren't for this danger, she wouldn't have been able to see her.

The guilt grew in my heart.

"I'm all right, all right!" After that, he turned his head to look at Leader Jiang on the side, and nodded, "Leader Jiang is bothering you this time, the city lord is waiting for you in the study at this time, and there is something important to discuss." ”

"Madame doesn't have to be polite, and then I'll retire first." The ginger leader bent down and saluted.

Seeing him retreat, He Lan pulled Lin Zhi and walked towards the side room, "Why didn't you see your little granddaughter?" ”

As soon as the voice fell, Qi Yue poked her head out from behind her grandmother and said mischievously: "Aunt Lan, I'm here!" ”

She has been observing behind her grandmother, this city lord's mansion is really big, and there is a shadow of a high wall in the distance, and pavilions and pavilions can be seen everywhere. She also saw He Lan in her grandmother's mouth early in the morning, the lady of the city lord of Wucheng, really magnificent. The maintenance is quite good, the face is ruddy, and there is not a trace of gray hair in the hair.

"Little clever ghost, you've grown so big. Ah, why did you hug a fox? He Lan squatted down, raised her hand and pinched her red little face, with a smile in her eyes.

The first time she saw this girl was thirteen years ago, when she was just a baby. Now he is well-behaved and pleasant, his eyes are full of aura, and a pair of little tiger teeth are very cute when he laughs.

Seeing that she was wearing a small lotus pink padded jacket, she was still a little thin in winter, so she hurriedly took off her shoulders and draped it on her, "You guys have been tired all the way, let's go, Aunt Lan will take you to the wing room for a snack." ”

"Thank you, Aunt Lan. This fox was raised at home, and this time when I went out of the house, no one took it all the way. "It seems that this Aunt Lan is sincere to her and grandma.

The cold wind howled, and the group headed towards the wing, and the figure gradually disappeared into the light.