Chapter 16: A Chance Encounter

Besides, Wu Zixu, after leaving the palace gate, did not board the carriage waiting on the side, and walked straight out, Gongsun Li was also there, seeing him like this, he couldn't help but be stunned, and immediately hurriedly followed, he wanted to ask about Gou Jian, but seeing that Wu Zixu's face was wrong, he swallowed back with interest and followed quietly behind.

Halfway through, God suddenly changed color, and the rain poured down, causing countless snow-white splashes on the ground, and even the road could not be seen clearly, and passers-by looked for a place to shelter from the rain.

Wu Zixu and the others came to the door of a piano restaurant to take shelter from the rain, and after a while, their clothes were soaked and clinging to their bodies, unspeakably uncomfortable.

Wu Zixu was already upset, and was drenched by this sudden heavy rain, and he was even more angry, and said in annoyance: "Hmph, even God is against the old man!" ”

Gongsun Li said with a smile: "Although Tiangong is a little unpretty, it is in line with the will of Lord Xiangguo." ”

"Conform to the old man?" Wu Zixu said with a puzzled face: "Why do you say this? ”

"It hasn't rained in Gusu City for many days before, the water level of the river has dropped, Lord Xiangguo is worried that the people will have difficulty getting water, and yesterday he said that it would be good if there was a heavy rain, wouldn't it rain today?"

When he said this, Wu Zixu also thought about it, and his face eased slightly, "In this way, the old man is wrong to blame God, if it is ......" Halfway through his words, he sighed heavily, and his eyes were gloomy.

Gongsun Li cautiously probed: "The king refuses to kill Gou Jian? ”

Wu Zixu's eyes sank, and he said coldly: "It's all because of the villain Bo Yao, and I don't know how many benefits I have received from Yue Guo, and I have used clever words in front of the king to maintain Gou Jian in every way." After a pause, he said: "He is a villain for profit, so it is not unusual, but I didn't expect the king to be bent on him, and no matter how the old man persuaded him, he couldn't listen to it." ”

Gongsun Li was also full of surprise, in his impression, the husband was very obedient to Wu Zixu's words, and there had been times when there were disagreements before, and it was always the husband who compromised, and it was the first time that he had experienced it today, no wonder Wu Zixu was so annoyed.

After being silent for a long time, he said: "Since the king insists, King Yue can only do it." ”

"Okay?" Wu Zixu sneered, and there was already a bit of fierceness in his eyes, "Are you looking at this big Wu Jiangshan too stable and want to have some storms?" ”

Gongsun Li was shocked, and hurriedly said: "How dare you have such a thought, the humble position is the same as the Lord Xiangguo, I can't kill the king of Yue immediately, and I will never suffer in the future; But the king listened to Dazai's words and refused to give the order to kill, and his humble position was also powerless. ”

Wu Zixu was stunned, staring indifferently at the pouring rain outside the eaves, such silence made Gongsun Li more and more uneasy, if it weren't for the fact that there were many people here, he would have already knelt down to ask for guilt.

Just when Gongsun Li was nervous, Wu Zixu said slowly: "For the sake of Wu Qianqiu's foundation, Gou Jian must be killed; As for the king...... He'll understand. ”

"What Sangkoku-sama said is very true." Gongsun Li hurriedly echoed.

This rain has been raining for several days, the whole Gusu has been rainy, it is difficult to see the sun, Wu Zixu is in a bad mood, seeing such weather, it is more and more bad, and it is difficult to see a smile all day long.

On this day, Wu Zixu had a dispute with his husband in the court because of some things, and after the next court, he was depressed and incomprehensible, and he didn't want to go home, so he walked around on the street, and unconsciously came to the piano hall where he passed by in the rain a few days ago.

It is also a coincidence, just arrived at the piano hall, the original cloudy and light rain became heavy again, can only temporarily shelter from the rain under the eaves, Gongsun Li is also there, brave the rain to buy umbrellas, and when I have to come back, I found that there are two more men under the eaves, and they are talking to you and me.

One of the older ones wiped the rain from his face and complained, "This god, when you say it's raining heavily, it's raining heavily, and you're not prepared for it at all." ”

The man next to him smiled: "If the will of heaven can be measured, then it is not called the will of heaven." ”

The man from before muttered and said with concern: "Brother Fan, are you okay?" ”

"It's just some rain, it's okay." The man next to him smiled slightly, his smile was clear and peaceful, it was Fan Li.

"That's good." Wen Chong said casually while twisting the hem of his dripping clothes: "I learned that Wu and Yue were at war before, and I was really worried about Brother Fan, but fortunately, you are safe." As he spoke, he said curiously: "By the way, how did you escape from the capital of Yueguo, I heard that it was so surrounded that not even a fly could fly." ”

Hearing that Fan Li was from Yueguo, Wu Zixu was slightly startled and couldn't help but turn his head to look.

"When the Wu army besieged the city, I was no longer in the capital." Fan Li looked at Wu Zixu and nodded slightly, which was regarded as a greeting.

"Not in the capital?" Wen Chong said with a surprised face: "After you left the Chu State, didn't you go to the Yue Kingdom?" Last year, he also sent a letter over, saying that he was on an errand by the side of King Yue, why was he not in the capital in a blink of an eye? ”

Fan Li smiled bitterly, "You also said that it was last year, and many things can happen overnight, not to mention a whole year, and things have long been wrong." ”

"What the hell is going on?" Facing the questioning of the literary species, Fan Li sighed and said: "I want to be loyal to the king, but I can't do anything." ”

"After separating from Brother Wen that day, I did go to the Yue Kingdom, and also met the King of Yue, at first he treated me politely, and allowed me to be a guest, and I could enter the palace at any time to see the driver, and also rewarded the house and servants; But all this caused the dissatisfaction of a strategist named 'Zipi' beside him. ”

The word "Zipi" caused a wave in Wu Zixu's heart, and he never expected to hear this name here.

Gongsun was surprised and a little frightened, after all, he had done something wrong, and opened his mouth to say: "...... Xiang" As soon as he said a word, he was interrupted by Wu Zixu raising his hand, signaling him to continue listening.

At that time, Fan Li didn't notice their strange appearance, and continued: "Zipi is a humble gentleman on the surface, but in fact, he is narrow-minded and has no tolerance for others; He was afraid that I would rob him of his favor, and he often sowed discord in front of King Yue; As time went by, King Yue became more and more reluctant to me, and often scolded me for a little thing; Later, he was tired of even seeing me, and just a few months ago, he kicked me out of Duyue; It was a blessing in disguise for me to avoid that earth-shattering battle. ”

Wen Chong listened carefully, and after he finished speaking, he sighed: "I left the Chu State back then, because the king of Chu was faint and the government was dark; I thought that King Yue would be a Ming monarch, but I never thought that it would be like this again, I was really wronged Brother Fan. ”

"Time, life." In the seemingly calm tone, the loneliness that can't be concealed.

After a brief silence, Wen Chong said, "What are your plans next?" ”

The rain rushed down the tiles of the eaves, like a dense string of beaded curtains, enveloping everything in a hazy mist.

In the sound of the tumbling rain, Fan Li said softly: "I want to go to Wu Xiangguo." ”

Xu is rain was so loud that Wen Chong didn't hear clearly, "What did you say?" ”

Fan Li met his gaze and repeated word by word: "I want to go to Wu Xiangguo!" ”

This time, Wen Chong heard it clearly, and his expression suddenly became extremely strange, and after a while, he said, "Or...... Brother Fan thought about it again. ”

Fan Li said suspiciously: "What, isn't it good?" ”

"It's not bad, it's impossible." In Fan Li's surprised gaze, he said: "Wu Xiangguo is in a high position, and I don't know how many people want to get close to him, but as far as I know, no one can get Wu Xiangguo's favor; What's more, he was beaten away without even seeing him; Brother Fan went, I'm afraid he would also touch the ashes in vain. ”

Fan Li listened quietly, and then asked, "Brother Wen knows so clearly, could it be that you have also been there?" ”

Wen Chong smiled bitterly: "Don't hide it from Brother Fan, when I first arrived in Gusu, I went to visit Wu Xiangguo, thinking that if I could have a relationship with him, even if it was a slight, business would be much smoother; But I went back and forth five times, and I didn't see Wu Xiangguo's face. As he spoke, he added: "I know that Brother Fan has always been ambitious and wants to show his talents, but Wu Xiangguo ...... I advised Brother Fan to break off this idea as soon as possible. ”

Fan Li smiled indifferently, "How do you know if you don't give it a try." ”

Seeing that Fan Li didn't listen, Wen Chong couldn't help but get anxious, "There's no need to try at all, because the result is obvious." Wu Xiangguo only trusts the old people who have been following him, such as General Gongsun, and other than that, he will not trust any of them, let alone that you have been in Yueguo; What if you are arrested as a spy of the Yue Kingdom? As he spoke, he said to Wu Zixu: "Uncle, did you say that?" ”

Wu Zixu didn't expect him to suddenly come to ask himself, and he was stunned for a while before he said vaguely: "It seems to make some sense." ”

"Look, this old man has said so, it can be seen that I am not exaggerating, Brother Fan, you just listen to my advice and don't go." Wen Chong persuaded bitterly, but he didn't know that Wu Zixu was next to him.

Seeing that Fan Li didn't speak for a long time, he said again: "If Brother Fan really wants to enter Wu as an official, I can recommend you to meet Dazai-sama, I have a few relationships with him, Dazai-sama has always been approachable, and there is a kind of elegance, I believe ......"

Without waiting for the text to continue, Fan Li categorically refused, "I won't go." ”

"Why?" Wen Chong said in surprise: "Haven't you always wanted to show your ambitions, why don't you go again?" ”

Fan Li said solemnly: "I want to be ambitious and want to show my strengths, but it doesn't mean that I will give up my principles and devote myself to a villain." ”

Wen Chong was shocked, and hurriedly made a silent gesture, and said in a panic: "Brother Fan, you are confused, how can you say this about Dazai-sama." ”

Fan Li said: "Bo Yao is greedy for money and lustful, and uses the public for personal gain, what is it if he is not a villain?" ”

Seeing that Fan Li not only did not relent, but intensified, Wen Chong's face changed in panic, and he couldn't wait to step forward and clasp Fan Li's mouth, "Don't say it, if this is heard, it will cause a big disaster." Saying that, he smiled at Wu Zixu and said: "This old man, he first came to Gusu and didn't understand anything, don't be like him." ”

Wu Zixu smiled, "The old man has never liked to talk too much. ”

"That's good, that's good." Wen Chong said while looking at Gongsun Li, who had never spoken, Wu Zixu knew what he meant, "Don't worry, he won't either." ”

Hearing him say this, Wen Chong calmed down and complained to Fan Li: "I was kind enough to help you pave the way, but you have a lot of thorns, what is the reason?" ”

Fan Li bowed and said solemnly: "I know that the literature is a good intention, but what kind of person Bo Yao is, Fan Li knows very well in his heart, he would rather be an idle cloud and wild crane for a lifetime, and will never devote himself to a villain." ”

"You ......" Wen Chong didn't know what to say about him, and after a while, he sighed, shook his head and said: "You can't be tolerated in the Xiangguo Gate, and you refuse to go to the Dazai Gate, do you really have to bear this talent?" ”

With his words, there was silence under the eaves, only the sound of rain was heard, resounding in the ears, I don't know how long it took, there was a melodious sound in the piano shop behind him, only one sound, but the aftersound was endless.

"This is ......" Fan Li's face changed suddenly, and then he turned around and walked into the store, seeing Wen Chong following in, Wu Zixu said: "Let's go in and have a look." ”

When I entered the store, I saw Fan Li caressing a lyre on the table with surprise on his face, and muttered, "It's it...... It turned out to be really it......"

Wen Chong said curiously: "Brother Fan recognizes this piano?" ”

"The name of this piano is 'Winding Liang', it is a gift from a person named Hua Yuan to King Zhuang, the biggest feature of this piano is that the aftersound is continuous, King Zhuang has been playing the piano all day long after getting this piano, and reveling in the music of the piano; once, he did not come to the court for seven days; Princess Fan Ji was extremely anxious, and persuaded King Zhuang not to lose the country and mountains because of the beautiful sound; King Zhuang knew that what Fan Ji said was good, but he could not resist the temptation of winding the beam, and finally came up with a way."

Wen Chong listened attentively and asked, "What method?" ”

Wu Zixu said on the side: "King Zhuang ordered someone to beat the piano with iron Ruyi, so that the body of the piano around the beam was broken into several sections, and there was no piano around the beam again." ”

Fan Li looked at Wu Zixu unexpectedly, "I didn't expect my uncle to know this allusion." As he spoke, he stroked the strings excitedly, "I never thought that the winding beam would still exist in the world." ”

Wu Zixu's eyes turned around on the qin, and said with some pity: "Although the beam is here, it is no longer the original." With these words, he stretched out his hand and slightly hooked the strings, as before, the sound of the piano was continuous for a long time, but this time it was closer, and there was no interference from the sound of rain, and the sound of breaking could be faintly heard in the aftersound, and it was not as beautiful and flawless as it was rumored.

Fan Li also heard it, looked at it intently, and found that the seemingly complete body was actually made up of several sections, because the splicing method was quite clever, so I didn't see it before.

"It seems that both of them are people who know the piano." A Qingyue voice suddenly sounded from behind the falling bamboo curtain in the store.

Wu Zixu's eyes narrowed slightly, looking at the looming figure behind the piano shop, "Are you ......?"

The woman behind the curtain chuckled, "The concubine is the shopkeeper of this piano shop." ”

Wu Zixu was a little surprised and said: "It is very rare for a woman to be the shopkeeper. ”

"Let the old man smile." Through the curtain, it was vaguely seen that the woman had bent over and was blessed.

Fan Li said on the side: "Listening to the shopkeeper's words just now, this piano is really winding around the beam?" ”

Yes, this piano is around the beam, when the king of Chuzhuang ordered someone to break this piano, let the palace people take it to burn, the palace people were reluctant, so they quietly stayed, and found a musician to repair it, and then turned around, and came to me. ”

Hearing this, Fan Li showed disappointment, "I thought it was a rumor, but it turned out to be true, it's a pity." ”

"Although the beam is cracked, I still have a lot of good pianos here, you might as well take a look, maybe you can meet the one you like." Faced with the shopkeeper's recommendation, Fan Li just nodded casually; After listening to the winding beam, how can the ordinary piano be in the eye.

The shopkeeper was not reluctant, but stood quietly behind the curtain, quiet and elegant, like a lady's painting, quite unreal.

Wu Zixu looked at Fan Li and said, "Listening to this little brother's tone, it seems to be from Chu State?" ”

Fan Li was a little surprised, but still nodded and said, "Exactly." ”

Wu Zixu smiled and stroked his beard and said: "The old man is also from Chu and came to settle in Gusu many years ago. ”

Fan Li said in surprise: "This is really a coincidence, I don't know the old man's surname?" ”

"The old man's name is not worth mentioning." Saying that, Wu Zixu smiled and said: "I heard the words of the two of you at the door just now, the little brother came to Gusu to take refuge in Wu Xiangguo?" After Fan Li nodded, he said again: "But the one just now said very clearly, it is in vain to go here, it is better to take refuge in Dazai's disciples, and you can also mix up an official and a half-job." ”

Wen Chong nodded again and again beside him, "What the old man said is very true, Brother Fan, you might as well think about it again." ”

"I've made up my mind, and I don't need to say anything more." After that, Fan Li said: "Rich and can be sought, although the whip is a person, I will also do it." If you can't ask for it, do what I like. ”

Seeing that he always insisted on going his own way, Wen Chong was so anxious that he stomped his feet, "Brother Fan, Brother Fan, you have always been smart, why are you so stubborn in this matter; Obviously, there is Yangguan Avenue feasible, but you have to hit your head and bleed, why bother? ”

"Unrighteous wealth and nobility are like clouds to me." Fan Li's answer made Wu Zixu nod secretly, but he did not reveal his identity, only said: "Since this is the case, you can try it, as far as the old man knows, Wu Xiangguo is also a Chu person, maybe for the sake of being a Chu person, he will be willing to see you." ”

Fan Li bowed and said gratefully: "Thank you for your advice, Fan is grateful." ”

"It's just a trivial matter, not enough to worry about."

Fan Li said earnestly: "I don't know if my husband can tell me where he lives, and come to visit him in the future." ”

Wu Zixu smiled slightly, "If there is fate, we will see each other again." As he spoke, he glanced at the rain outside that was gradually stopping, "I should go." ”

"Slow down, old man." Fan Li bowed again, and after Wu Zixu and the others disappeared, he straightened up and left the piano hall.

Everything was calm again, as if nothing had happened.