The snow kept falling, and the wind kept pouring into the sleeves of a tall man standing at the end of the corridor in the foyer, who was no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, and he stretched out his hands, as high as his shoulders, and each of his hands carried a Tito about twenty pounds, but his face was crimson, as if ten braziers had been placed in front of him, and he stood like a pine.

The hall door was slightly open, with a large stone in front of the door to prevent it from closing, and the foyer was four dark red doors, and the two doors in the middle were also slightly open. The rhombic wooden windows in the side porch are open, clean and refreshing. In front of the porch, there are rattan chairs and rattan tables, three feet away from the rattan table, and the flowers and plants are thick. The originally deserted courtyard actually looks more vivid and simple against the backdrop of flowers and plants. Outside the walls, on the tall trees, there are occasionally a few amazing birdsongs. Although the wall is mottled, its free and simple style can still be seen from the small windows made of bricks on the wall and the surrounding decorations.

Out of the room came an old man, his forehead was particularly large and bright, and the contours of his face were strange, because all his teeth had been lost. His eyes shone with wisdom and alertness.

After two dry coughs, the old man walked up to the man and held a rattan to the man's left hand, and the man did not tremble at all, but his eyebrows trembled slightly.

The old man nodded with satisfaction and said, "If you want to give me this, if you don't study hard and practice hard, how can you learn a good kung fu?" ”

The man neither spoke nor looked at the old man, who stood in front of the man and looked up at the gloomy sky, and said to himself: "This broken weather, when will it be clear, I feel that my body is going to be moldy again." ”

The man held back a smile at the corner of his mouth behind the old man, but the old man did not look back. But he said, "You think it's funny too?" Hmph, let me tell you, if you don't lift fifty pounds of subway support with your hands, you don't want to go back to spend the New Year with your grandfather this year. ”

The man immediately stopped laughing, and even showed a hint of sadness.

The old man ignored the man and walked out the door. At this time, a man came steadily with a load of firewood, and when he saw the old man, he immediately stopped, and was about to put down the firewood to give the old man a salute. The old man stopped, "That's it, go back and change your clothes." Look at your wet body, let you not carry firewood in this weather, you just won't listen. ”

"Master, Xi's Mansion..."

Before the man finished speaking, the old man pointed to the door, and the man immediately understood, walked to the old man's side and whispered: "Master, the Xi Mansion has a distinguished guest, and the housekeeper of the Xi Mansion has sent some snacks and bacon brought by those distinguished guests." Cook some wine for you at night? ”

The old man knocked a rattan stick at the man's head. The man groaned, and the old man said angrily: "I don't know you yet, so naturally you want to get me drunk again, and then gamble with a few of your junior brothers?" ”

The man hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Don't dare, don't dare, I don't dare anymore after letting Senior Brother Jiu say it last time." ”

There was a hint of pity in the old man's eyes. He said softly: "Don't tell anything about the Xi Mansion to your Ninth Senior Brother. You know? His family didn't want him to be distracted by his martial arts practice. ”

The man nodded sensibly and said, "Master." I know. ”

The old man said kindly, "Go in." ”

The man picked up the firewood and passed by the old man, and after walking a few steps, he stopped, and said, "Master, come back too, be careful that your clothes are wet." ”

The old man did not look back, only shook his hand, the man had to go into the door, the old man looked to the east, and saw wisps of cooking smoke wafting out of a house in the distance, as if there was still a faint sound of talking and laughing down the wind to his ears, the old man couldn't help but sigh, turned around and went in.

Xi Rui sat down next to the main seat of the Xi Mansion Hall with a light smile, and Meng Tianchu sat on the right seat, the two of them looked at each other and smiled tacitly, as if they could read each other's hearts.

Xi Rui was about to open his mouth, when he heard a sound from afar, like the sound of silver bells colliding, and like the sound of jade bracelets colliding, which was very pleasant.

"Hee-hee-hee, I'll just say, you're coming again, how about it?"

Although Meng Tianchu hadn't seen anyone yet, he had already heard whose voice it was, and Zuo Jiayin and Tu Long on the opposite side looked at Meng Tianchu and smiled slightly, each of them knew it.

This can't help but remind Meng Tianchu of the sentence written by Comrade Lao Cao when Wang Xifeng appeared in "A Dream of Red Mansions": "The powder face contains spring and is not revealed, and the red lips are not smiling first." "Here comes the word of the earth.

Just as he was thinking, a woman in a pink dress ran in with a smile, followed by four maids, and she was panting after her.

Xi Rui smiled and said to Zuo Jiayin: "Yuling Heavenly Master, let you laugh, last time, Master Meng had already seen this girl in my family who had no rules, she is..."

Zuo Jiayin naturally saw Yue'er, interrupted Xi Rui's words with a smile, and said, "Lord Xi, don't be polite, this girl is Yue'er." ”

Yue'er was about to talk to Meng Tianchu, when she suddenly saw a beautiful woman sitting opposite Meng Tianchu, wearing a pale pink gold-rimmed mink jacket on the upper body and a beige long skirt on the lower body, which was gentle and beautiful, and even more charming.

Yue'er walked to Zuo Jiayin's side with a smile, Xi Rui was afraid that his granddaughter would be rude, this Zuo Jiayin could be red and purple next to Long Live Ye, Xi Rui was naturally not only offended, but was about to give Yue'er a hint, who would have thought, Yue'er actually bowed down and said very politely: "This is Meng Tianchu, one of the six ladies of Lord Meng, right?" ”

Xi Rui hurriedly said: "Naturally, Yue'er is..."

Yue'er turned to look at her grandfather, and said with a smile: "Grandpa, I know. ”

Xi Rui lowered his face and said, "Yue'er, don't be so rude." ”

Yue'er: "I'm not rude, this should be the third lady, Zuo Jiayin." ”

Xi Rui was anxious, stood up, walked up to Zuo Jiayin and hurriedly apologized, Zuo Jiayin smiled and said, "Master Xi, don't get in the way." "Last time I saw the sixth lady, although it is also very beautiful, but it is less calm than the third lady, and a little more delicate and arrogant. Although Yue'er has only seen two, I already feel that Master Meng is a good fortune. ”

Xi Rui was a little embarrassed, but Meng Tianchu said: "Lord Xi doesn't have to be formal, Yue'er is just a child, don't care." ”

Yue'er mocked: "I seem to be older than Lord Meng's sixth lady?" ”

Meng Tianchu laughed, but did not speak. Pick up the teacup and pretend to drink tea to hide your embarrassment.

Yue'er generously sat beside Zuo Jiayin and said, "The third lady came with Master Meng this time, to see if Yue'er can really read minds?" ”

Xi Rui was finally annoyed. said: "Yue'er, the more you say that the covenant is out of proportion, hurry up and go back to your house for me." You are not allowed to come out without my permission. ”

Yue'er was about to speak, and a few strong people came in from outside the door, Yue'er had no choice but to get up, pointed at the subordinate and said ghostly: "You have the ability to kidnap me in front of Lord Meng and the third lady?" ”

Zuo Jiayin: "Master Xi, Miss Yue'er has an excellent temperament, there is nothing wrong with it, don't treat him like this, then Tianchu and I should not be able to deal with ourselves." ”

Meng Tianchu: "What the cheap one said is true. ”

Yue'er walked up to Meng Tianchu's side, approached Meng Tianchu's ear, and whispered: "I know why you came back, is it that Xiaowei went back for the New Year with what he harvested?" But he still looked at the pretty Yue'er with a smile on his face. He whispered, "Then you should read everyone's heart and help me find the person I'm looking for." ”

Yue'er smiled, her face was as delicate and charming as a peach blossom.

"So what's in it for me?"

Meng Tianchu hadn't answered yet, and Xi Rui said, "Yue'er must not be so rude to Lord Meng!" ”

Yue'er raised her body, Meng Tianchu had no choice but to shut up, only to see Yue'er look at herself with strange eyes, walked to the door, and said to Xi Rui: "Grandpa." I've already eaten it. It's time to fall asleep soon, and don't call me when you eat. With that, he turned around and went out.

Xi Rui hurriedly said, "Master Meng." My granddaughter is crazy, please don't care. ”

Zuo Jiayin: "Master Xi, I see that your granddaughter is smart and clever, is she unwell, do you still need to eat it?" ”

Xi Rui was a little embarrassed, thought about it, and said: "It's just some illusory disease, I found a few famous doctors to see it, and now I have prescribed some prescriptions to calm the qi and calm the nerves, and I have eaten a lot." ”

Zuo Jiayin: "It's a three-point poison, if it's not a serious illness, it's just a casual temperament, so don't just give it to such a young child." ”

Xi Rui hurriedly responded and said, "What the Heavenly Master said is true. ”

Zuo Jiayin: "I also checked Xi Shu's body, and found that this person also has some illusory diseases, but it is different from Yue'er. ”

Xi Rui was a little unhappy when he heard Xi Xuan's face, but it was not good to show too much in front of Zuo Jiayindi, so he had to listen copingly, but he had nothing to say.

Meng Tianchu saw Xi Rui's attitude, and quickly changed the topic, and said: "That's it, that's it, let's not talk about this, this time we are mainly here to take a look at the carpenter's house in the neighboring village and report the funeral to others." ”

Xi Rui was a little surprised when he heard this, and said, "Which carpenter, what kind of mourning?" ”

Meng Tianchu: "It's the person named Wu Min I brought back last time, who said that he was the one who repaired the bed for our family, and he died in the official mansion within a few days, alas, it's really..."

Xi Rui: "My lord, how did that Wu Min die?" ”

Meng Tianchu shook his head and said, "I haven't found out what the reason is yet, but I am very puzzled about one thing, it was found in his stomach, Lord Xi, you have also been a prefect, and you have seen many cases of all kinds and different places, why don't you help me take a look?" ”

Xi Rui pretended to refuse, but he looked carefully at the things that Meng Tianchu took out of his arms.

Meng Tianchu handed a small box to Xi Rui, and after Xi Rui took it, he opened it carefully, walked to the door and looked at the contents of the box in a bright and bright place, and then said: "Master Xi, this thing is diamond powder, are you sure you found it from the carpenter's body named Wu Min?" ”

Meng Tianchu and Zuo Jiayin glanced at each other, got up and walked to Xi Rui's side and nodded.

Xi Rui pondered for a long time, then returned the lid of the box to Meng Tianchu, and said, "This murderer is still so smart, this thing will die if it takes a long time for people to eat." ”

Meng Tianchu: "Your Excellency, you might as well tell me about it?" ”

Xi Rui smiled and said, "Lord Meng smiled, isn't there a Rain Spirit Heavenly Master by your side?" Why do you still ask about old decay? ”

Zuo Jiayin hurriedly said: "When this thing was first handed over to me by Master Meng, I really hadn't seen it. Later, I asked a famous doctor of Saihuatuo, and the answer was the same as that of Master Xi. ”

Xi Rui looked at Meng Tianchu with deep meaning, and said, "Since you have already asked, how can Master Meng..."

Zuo Jiayin explained: "But Saihuatuo said that this kind of diamond powder has been banned by the imperial court now, and it is the same as poisons such as mandala. There is no one on the market, but there is one person who knows the origin of this thing, and can even find it. ”

Xi Rui smiled. Said: "What, you mean old decay? ”

Zuo Jiayin was a little annoyed. said: "Naturally, it's not you. ”

Xi Rui breathed a sigh of relief, but Zuo Jiayin said immediately: "But that person has a relationship with you." ”

Xi Rui was puzzled and said, "Who is it, the Rain Spirit Heavenly Master might as well speak up." ”

Zuo Jiayin: "Xi Yuan." ”

This sentence surprised Xi Rui a lot, Xi Rui said: "How does it have anything to do with Xi Yuan, that Saihuatuo is simply a mouthful, spewing people with blood, how does he know that our Xi family people use this thing?" ”

Zuo Jiayin: "Master Xi doesn't have to be angry, when Sai Huatuo told me. I'm even more surprised than you, my lord. But Sewartuo said something, do adults want to hear it? ”

Xi Rui felt that he had fallen for Meng Tianchu, but now that he had admitted that he knew this thing, and besides, it seemed to be getting darker and darker, so he had to nod.

Zuo Jiayin: "That Sai Huatuo used to practice medicine in Qiantang County, and he was in the walled village. That is, your nephew Xi Yuan has a very good relationship. Because your nephew has a ventilation problem, he can only be effective if he eats the prescription of Saihuatuo. ”

Xi Rui: "The Heavenly Master directly said that how did that Sai Huatuo know that my family Xi Yuan had this thing?" ”

Zuo Jiayin: "Naturally, Xi Yuan told Sai Huatuo. ”

Xi Rui smiled. said: "Probably Xi Yuan said nonsense, as a local official, how could he know the law and break the law, it is absolutely impossible." Besides, even if there really is, it doesn't mean that it was we Xi Yuan who harmed Wu Min. ”

Meng Tianchu smiled and said, "Lord Xi, we don't mean this, we just want to know who else in this nearby village may have this diamond powder besides Lizheng's family?" ”

Xi Rui breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's it, since you already suspect Xi Yuan, why don't we go to Xi Yuan's house to check first, someone is coming..."

Meng Tianchu: "Master Xi, go now?" ”

Xi Rui was also anxious, and he had already gotten up and said: "If you go tomorrow, you should say that the old man has reported the news, and we will go now, you can rest assured that if you investigate and deal with someone who leaked the news afterwards, it is up to you to punish the old man if he asks you to take it down." ”

Meng Tianchu looked at Zuo Jiayin, Zuo Jiayin: "That's fine, the clear is self-purifying, since Master Xi has already said so, let's just accompany Master Xi on a trip." ”

Several people followed Xi Rui out of the door of the hall, Meng Tianchu heard someone calling him, turned his head and looked, it turned out to be Yue'er's personal maid Sui'er, only to see Sui'er hiding behind a rockery and beckoning to him, Meng Tianchu walked to Sui'er's side, Sui'er quickly handed Meng Tianchu a note, and then disappeared behind the rockery.

Meng Tianchu opened the note and looked at it, only to see a few Juanxiu Xiaokai written on it: If you let me help you, unless you exchange your life.

Meng Tianchu couldn't help laughing, and suddenly felt that someone was looking at him, and when he looked up, a pink figure flashed in front of the attic window and disappeared.

Zuo Jiayin came forward after Meng Tianchu came forward for a long time, and asked in a low voice, "What did Yue'er tell you?" ”

Meng Tianchu smiled: "How do you know it's Yue'er?" ”

Zuo Jiayin: "If it weren't for her, would you laugh so ambiguously?" ”

Meng Tianchu touched his cheek and said, "Is there one?" ”

Zuo Jiayin smiled and nodded.

Meng Tianchu handed the note to Zuo Jiayin, Zuo Jiayin tore it after seeing it, Meng Tianchu was about to speak, Zuo Jiayin said with a straight face: "Tianchu, I'm not jealous, but this woman has a bit of evil in her bones, don't get too close to her, you know?" ”

Meng Tianchu nodded, he also knew that Zuo Jiayin was not a woman with a small belly, Zuo Jiayin naturally had her reason for saying this, and even he sometimes felt that this month was different from other women, what was different, but he couldn't say it clearly.

Soon, Xi Rui took more than a dozen family members to walk for ten minutes in the heavy snow and came to Lizheng Xiyuan's house.

A subordinate went up and was about to knock on the door, but the door opened, only to see Xi Yuan dressed neatly, standing solemnly at the door, bowing deeply towards Meng Tianchu and then respectfully said: "The prefect has come from afar, and the humble duty is not welcome, please forgive the prefect." ”

Xi Rui was stunned, stepped forward, and was about to speak, when he saw a playful woman walking out from Xi Yuandi, and everyone in the venue was surprised, because this person was none other than the girl in pink clothes in the attic before, Yue'er.