After Xing Su left, Li Qing was in a much lighter mood, through the courtyard, he came to a mansion with many houses, most of them were in a single courtyard structure, no one could be seen all the way, quietly, some of them went out with the fifth Qi, and some of them had worked hard all night, and they had fallen asleep at this time.

The sky was gloomy, large black clouds drifted from the east, and there was a faint thunder in the distant sky, reminding people that today was a sting.

Li Qing looked at the sky and quickened his pace.

The courtyard where Li Jingyan lived was at the end, close to his own accommodation, and several personal soldiers stood guard at the door, and when they saw Li Qing coming, they immediately stood up straight.

"Good work, guys!" He nodded with a smile and walked into the courtyard, which was full of flowers and trees, and between several rockeries was a small pond, and the water was alive and flowed away from a small canal.

In the big trees and flowers, hiding a row of houses with white walls and black tiles, Li Qing stopped as soon as he entered the courtyard, and saw Li Jingyan sitting on the rockery in a daze, staring at the swimming fish in the pool.

She was dressed in a plain white dress, her favorite color, and from the side, she was graceful and curvaceous, her hair was simply pulled up, revealing a white neck like a swan, long eyelashes drooping, crystal clear skin, and a beautiful nose.

Li Qing suddenly remembered Chu Lianxiang last night, and he also had an elegant temperament, but it was a pity, he restrained his thoughts, quietly walked behind her, gently hugged her shoulders, and said softly: "Did you rest well last night?" ”

Li was shocked. Hearing his voice, she relieved her heart again, and fell into his arms, she smiled, "I slept well!" Laughing but with a little pain, Li Qing picked up her face, looked at her face carefully, and saw that her eyes were a little blue. I couldn't help shaking my head and complaining: "You must have stayed awake all night, thinking nonsense, you still live with me tonight and sleep in my room." ”，

"Li Lang!" Li Jingyan sighed slightly, and she stared at a lonely little red fish in the pool. "I'm thinking, others can rise to the top if they marry the princess of the county, but if you marry me, it will bring all kinds of obstacles to your career, and you may face three years of exile.

Maybe my eldest brother is right, I'm just too selfish. ”

"What are you talking about! Do you want to go to Tibet and kiss? The only one in the world who can protect you is me, and the emperor will not embarrass me for money. I delayed in Yangzhou for half a year, and this matter has passed. Do you understand? I've written to ask the concubine for help, don't you still believe me? ”

Li Qing was so anxious that the bruises on his forehead were rising. Li Jingyan smiled and kissed him on the forehead gently, "Li Lang, my father has accepted your courtesy, I am your fiancée, it is your responsibility to protect me, how can I not believe you!" ”

"That's good! You are obedient and go pack your things. Move to me. ”

Li Qing helped her up and urged, "Go quickly!" It's going to rain. I'm going to make an appointment, I'll be back soon, and I'll talk to you when I get back!" ”

After speaking, he sent Li Jingyan into the house, and went to the gate of the courtyard to tell the soldiers to take care of him, and then hurried to the Huaiyang Restaurant to make an appointment.

Li Jingyan kept watching his back disappear, smiled miserably, and whispered to himself: "Li Lang, even if I die for you, I am willing, but I can't affect you, you know?" The second Li Xiang is married, and my father has been deposed. ”

.

Shopkeeper Lin never dreamed that Li Dongzhu and Xiao Li back then would be the Tang Dynasty Household Servant and Jianghuai Transit Envoy who caused a sensation in Yangzhou, his eyes were as big as eggs, and his mouth didn't close for a long time, and suddenly, 'Ah! He knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "The little people don't know, please forgive me!" Please forgive me! ”

Li Qing couldn't help but laugh and helped him up. "I called you here, not to show off to you, let alone to accept your kowtow, I have something to look for you."

Lin Dongzhu was frightened for a moment, his legs trembled, he sat down slowly, looked at Li Qing timidly, and was thinking about whether to return the two thousand yuan to him.

Li Qing saw that his expression was timid, so he smiled slightly: "I came to you because you are from your hometown, and you are familiar with the situation here, so I want to ask you for a favor, of course, there are also benefits for you." ”

Lin Dongzhu's suspicion gradually disappeared, and he thought that his old man had become a big official, and his heart slowly warmed up.

"My lord, please just say it, and the little people will do their best."

"Do you have a salt merchant friend?"

If Lord Lin realized, he hurriedly said: "Xiaomin's wife and uncle are big salt merchants, and some Xiaomin also want to change their careers to make salt. ”

"That's good!" Li Qing called Gao Shi and said to Lin Dongzhu: "This is my staff Mr. Gao, you take him to meet your brother-in-law, if you want to do it, you might as well participate together." ”

After a pause, Li Qing said again: "In addition, you can find me a group of local snakes in Yangzhou, ruffians and hooligans, and I will hire them at a high price." ”

Lin Dongzhu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is the underworld okay?" ”

Li Qing shook his head, "The underworld is not good, as long as there are some unorganized gangsters." ”

"Xiaomin understands that there are many such people in the east and west markets, as long as the adults are willing to pay, they can call their fathers."

Li Qing called Brother Lifei and said with a smile: "Use your skills in the Hexi Corridor to organize a team for me, ask for money, just ask." ”

Suddenly, there was the sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and a personal soldier shouted outside, "Governor! Something happened to the county lord. ”

Li Qing was startled, and rushed out like a whirlwind, only to see a soldier jumping straight to his feet in a hurry, and Li Jingyan's maid next to him was crying and wiping her tears, "What's wrong!" ”

Li Qing grabbed the collar of his own soldiers, and yelled in a hurry: "Say it quickly!" Something is wrong! ”

"She's missing!"

"What is a disappearance, what is going on? Didn't I tell you to take a good look at her? When he saw that his soldiers were stammering, he pushed him away with hatred, pulled the maid again, and asked urgently: "You say slowly, what happened?" ”

The maid said while crying: "The county lord said that she was depressed and wanted to go out for a walk, so we went with her, and this soldier brother also followed, but as soon as she went out of the gate, the county lord said that she forgot her handkerchief, and she would not have it when I got it back." ”

Li Qing's gaze swept to the pro-soldier again, and he was so frightened that he 'pounced!' He knelt down and kowtowed again and again: "The county lord ordered me to go back and urge, and I went in a daze, and when I came back, the county lord was gone." ”

Li Qing stomped his feet in anger, and secretly hated in his heart: "Shocking Yan, why do you have no confidence in me like this!" ”

Gao Shi walked to Li Qing's side

Said: "My lord, do you think the county lord will be captured by them?" ”

Li Qinghuo was taken aback, and he thought of the words of the county lord and princess that Li Jingyan said before leaving, so he shook his head, "It shouldn't be!" ”

He immediately called the Lifei brothers and said to them: "Go to the barracks at once, and order all the brothers to go out to search, and whoever finds it first will be rewarded with a thousand yuan and promoted to one rank." ”

After that, he pulled the maid and rushed into the carriage again, and ordered: "Go back to the house immediately, quickly!" ”

The wind became more and more urgent, the black clouds pressed the city, the thunder exploded overhead, and the five years of Tianbao's sting came with wind and rain, which made Li Qing extremely anxious.

The carriage is still there, the maid did not bring clothes, money and belongings, it seems that she is not surprised, she is near Yangzhou.

About an hour later, the rain outside was getting heavier and heavier, Li Qing was pacing back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, anxious like ants on a hot pot, and suddenly there was a sound of running outside, and Li Qing hurriedly caught up.

An officer bowed down and reported: "Lord Shilang, I have searched for ten miles in the east of the city, and I can't see a single woman in white." ”

He was deflated for a while, and immediately ordered: "Go find me again!" No matter what color the clothes are, as long as they have a Beijing accent, they will all be brought back! ”

"Honorable Order!" The officer turned back and left.

Li Qing was anxious, it was dark and cold outside, wind and rain, she was a single woman, what should she do when she met a bad person?

He couldn't hold back any longer, rushed to the door, looked up to the sky and shouted wordlessly: "Wild goose." I know you don't want to bother me, but do you know that if something happens to you, I will regret it for the rest of my life, God, bless her! ”

He turned around suddenly, and now he decided to ask Li Chengshi for help.

Suddenly. A maid in Li was frightened and ran over, holding a handkerchief, "Master! We found this in the box! ”

Li Qing took it and shook it open, only to see two lines of words written on it:

'But three thousand troubles, living alone next to the ancient Buddha of the green lantern'

The handwriting is beautiful, and it is written by Li Jingyan.

"Someone!" Li Qing turned around and shouted. Immediately ran into five or more pro-soldiers.

"Hurry up and ask the locals, where is there a nunnery around here?"

The soldiers were motionless, looking at each other, and only after a long time did one hesitate: "The locals of the mansion have been driven away by Master Liu!" Not a single one is left. ”

Li Qing was stunned for a moment, and then remembered the order he gave Liu Yan, and he stomped his feet angrily, "A group of stupid people, won't they go outside and ask?" ”

Now that he had the clues, Li Qing himself couldn't stay still, and immediately ordered: "Inform all the brothers." Go search the nunnery in Yangzhou! As for the consequences of the soldier's intrusion into the nunnery, he didn't care. With that, he grabbed a robe from his coat. Rushed into the rain.

Li Qing rode a horse on a rampant ride in the rain, the rain fell so much that it seemed like the heavenly river was pouring down, his clothes were all soaked inside and out, and the rain flowed down his neck, and he could hardly open his eyes.

"Let's split up!" Li Qing shouted loudly in the rain.

In the pouring rain, lightning and thunder, he rushed out of the west gate on horseback. The pro-soldiers behind him did not ride horses, where could they catch up with him. Gradually, he was thrown away.

But Li Qing still didn't look back, he suddenly remembered that for the people of Chang'an, the most famous temple in Yangzhou is Daming Temple, and Li Jingyan knows the place, and it can only be there.

Daming Temple is in Shugang in the northwest of Yangzhou, but the rain is dark, I don't see a family, I can't tell the direction, I only rely on instinct to gallop in the rain, and I don't know how long I run, when I galloped through a large forest, Li Qing suddenly grabbed the reins, and he seemed to hear the sound of chanting faintly in the forest.

Li Qing jumped off the horse and walked in with the reins, the forest was dense, the rain was gone, and he only heard unknown insects chirping in all corners, and the bushes were 'booming' from time to time! The sound of the ground scurrying, crossing a stream, the front is still dark, he has the courage to walk for a long time, and after a big circle, he found that he was back in the same place, there was still the sound of chanting in his ears, and he opened a few branches, but he saw a corner of the eaves exposed at the edge of the forest, Li Qing scolded secretly, pulled the reins fiercely, and strode over.

The temple is not big, under the light of lightning, only to see the gate mottled, showing the age, and it is a lightning bolt, he vaguely saw the plaque on the door, a "wonderful" word and a "hermitage" word.

"Huh! Finally found the nun! ”

The war horse also seemed to understand Li Qingdi's intentions, followed by a long neigh, Li Qing was overjoyed, stepped forward to smash the door, his hand on the door, but the rigidity turned into softness, stretched out his index finger and wrote a word 'edge' on the door, and then kicked the door open, just knocking a Shani who came to open the door with his back facing the sky, and the orange lantern also rolled aside.

"Ahh I'm sorry," Li Qing hurriedly apologized, and stepped forward to help, only to see her monk's hat fall off, revealing a smooth scalp, through the hazy lantern light, I saw that her eyebrows were also delicate.

When the nun saw a man breaking in, she was so frightened that she let out an 'ah' sound, got up and ran, Li Qing followed her and chased after her, 'Little nun, don't run, I have something to say!' But the nun ran faster, rushed to the door of the lobby, Li Qing stood suddenly, only to see that under the statue of Guanyin in the lobby, two old nuns one left and one right, one holding a lacquer plate, a shining razor on the plate, one holding a magic weapon, with a long face, is waiting with perseverance under the Bodhi tree for thousands of years.

On the futon between them, kneeling in a wonderful posture, the white dress was like snow, the black hair was like a waterfall, draped on the thin shoulders, she slowly turned around, showing a beautiful face, it was Li Jingyan.

Li Qingdi's throat 'grunted', 'Frightened geese! He finally shouted hoarsely, and Li Jingyan was shocked, his palms clasped together, and two tears slipped down his white jade cheeks.

Li Qing strode forward, without saying a word, grabbed Li Jingyan's arm and walked out, and Li Jingyan's frightened cry came from his ears: "Li Lang, I have become a monk." ”

"Nonsense! Come with me. ”

Li Qing said secretly: 'When you become a monk, you still call me Li Lang, which family is this?' ’

A gray shadow flashed, 'Amitabha! Lao Ni is the host here, please let go of your wisdom. A wrinkled old nun blocked the way.

Li Qing casually took off the purple gold fish bag given by Li Longji from his waist, held it high in his hand and said: "I am the Tang Dynasty Household Servant, Jianghuai Transfer Envoy, and Imperial Doctor, so you can't stand in the way!" ”

The host had a little insight, and saw that although Li Qing was like a chicken fished out of the water tank, he was dressed in an official uniform, and the thing he held in his hand was indeed a purple gold fish bag that non-high-ranking officials could not have, so his heart became a little timid, but he said hardly: "Once you enter the Buddha Gate, you will go out of the Three Realms, please go back!" ”

Li Qing saw her

Shuo, obviously a little unnatural, couldn't help but smile secretly, let go of Li Jingyan's host, and asked her to step aside, and whispered to her: "Do you know what the identity of this woman is?" Let the emperor's granddaughter, the county lord of Pingyang, you dare to accept her as a monk, this is a crime of destroying the family. ”

The host glanced at Li Jingyan, and saw that she was beautiful and had a noble and outstanding temperament, so he couldn't help believing Li Qing's words, and took out Li Jingyan's degree with trembling hands, "I haven't been naturalized in the government yet, and I am not considered a monk yet." ”

Li Qing snatched it away, stuffed it into his arms, hesitated, and when his hand came out, he changed it to a counter ticket, "This Qianguan is the counter ticket of Wang Baoji's cabinet shop, Yangzhou can be cashed, there is no need to record it, it is regarded as the incense money I gave to your nunnery." ”

This temple is dilapidated, the statue of Guanyin has not been plated for decades, the incense money is only a few dozen times a year, when have I seen a huge amount of money of a thousand times, this time, the host even his legs trembled, he didn't dare to pick it up, and he didn't dare to hold back a sentence for a long time, 'The Bodhisattva will blame!' ’

"Don't steal or rob, instead of me spending all day drinking, it's better to leave it to you to do good deeds, why don't you dare to accept it!" Li Qing stuffed the counter ticket and the purple gold fish bag into her, and said, "If a sergeant comes to search the temple, you can use this purple gold fish bag as a basis to say my order, ordering everyone not to harass the nunnery again." ”

With that, he turned around and pulled Li Jingyan and ran out.

"Li Lang, listen to me!"

"I don't listen! I'm mad! ”

Rushing out of the gate, Li Qing stopped and picked up Li Jingyan. Pushing her onto the horse, he turned over on the horse, turned the horse's head, clamped the horse's belly, and the horse jumped out, and then disappeared into the rain and fog in the vast expanse.

waited until Li Qing walked away, and the host let go of the hand holding the ticket in the cabinet, and took a closer look under the lamp, and suddenly she knelt down with a 'plop'. Ask the Bodhisattva for sin: "Bodhisattva, my brother is guilty!" My brother was greedy. ”

Then he carefully put the cabinet ticket into his sleeve, put his palms together and said: "Brother must reshape the golden body of the Bodhisattva, remember the words of the donor, and do good deeds." ”

.

Lightning, thunder, and torrential rain, Li Qing hugged Li Jingyan tightly and galloped on a flying horse in the dark night. I don't know how long he walked, he had lost his way, but even if he didn't lose his direction and the city gates were closed, he couldn't go back.

"Li Lang, let's find a place to shelter from the rain!" Before becoming a monk, it was not until this moment that she finally followed Li Qing with all her heart.

"I know, there seems to be a house at the foot of the mountain ahead, let's go and have a look."

There are three lonely grass huts on the side of the road. Li Qing knocked on the door desperately, only to see two old men with firewood knives and kitchen knives standing inside the door. The old man blocked his wife, his eyes were tragic. Come up and fight with them at any time.

Li Qing was so frightened that he waved his hand again and again, "Don't get me wrong, we're not bandits, just lost pilgrims who want to stay overnight." ”

The old man looked at Li Jingyan behind him, his tragic gaze narrowed slightly, pointed to the grass hut not far away, and said in a dumb voice: "Next to it is the firewood house." Go there! ”

Li Qing clasped his palms and thanked him, and pulled Li Jingyan into the firewood room. It was pitch black and he couldn't see anything, and he felt an oil lamp and flint on the table, 'Boom! Cha! Two sounds of a fire, then lit the oil lamp, the surrounding lit up, Li Qing looked left and right, the room is very large, very dry, this is a firewood house and barn, but the valley is at the bottom, there is no grain, there is a pile of hay in the corner, neatly stacked, and next to it is a few stacks of firewood.

Li Qing suddenly heard the sound of his teeth chattering, and turned his head to see Li Jingyan with his hands on his shoulders, trembling all over, so cold that he couldn't even speak.

"I'm going to get some hot water!"

He turned around and rushed out of the firewood room, but he didn't come back for a long time, and there was a faint wolf roar in the distance, Li Jingyan was scared, and was about to go out to find him, but he saw Li Qing leading a horse in one hand, a brazier and an iron teapot in the other, and stomped his feet while laughing apologetically: "There is no water in their house, so I went to the front stream to get a pot of water." ”

Li Qing pinned the door with the latch of the door, blocked the wind and rain outside, first fed the horse grass and a little water, settled it, and put the brazier in the open space of the room, while skillfully using firewood, grass and wood to make the fire, while laughing: "In the past, when I was a Taoist priest, I often slept in the wilderness, and it was common to burn firewood and light fires. ”

Soon, the fire ignited, 'Crack, Crack! 'Burst out of Mars, Li Qing made a wooden frame again, and hung the kettle on it,

"Drink some hot water later, and you'll be warm." He smiled and rubbed his hands, "If only there was a rabbit." ”

"Let me help you too!"

"Let Master Huixin do the work, I really don't dare to do it!" Li Qing looked at her obliquely, with a smile on his face.

Li Jingyan's face was ashamed, and he raised his powder fist and beat him, "You bad guy, don't be ignorant, I'm for you!" ”

Before she finished speaking, her mouth was kissed by Li Qing, and gradually, her body softened and became hot, and her arms wrapped around his neck, fiercely pandering.

"Shocking geese, I know you are for me, but I must marry you, I can't live without you!"

There was no answer, only tears on her face and a desperate kiss.

I don't know how long it took, Li Qing took a long breath and said firmly: "Shocking geese, let's use heaven and earth as the medium, and fire as the medium, and become husband and wife, let that Tubo go to hell!" ”

Li Jingyan nodded silently, she knelt down on her knees without hesitation, and bowed to the sky, "The little girl swears to the sky, I, Li Jingyan, will marry Li Qing as a wife and concubine from now on, and I will never regret it!" ”

Li Qing also knelt down slowly, his forehead touching the ground, "I, Li Qing, swear to the sky and the earth, from now on, Li Jingyan will be my wife, the sea is dry and the stones are rotten, and I will never change my heart!" ”

The two kowtowed three times to each other, staring at each other blankly, and suddenly, the two hugged each other tightly, and at this moment, no one, no strength, no setback could separate them.

.

The heavy rain in the dark night is flying wantonly, the wind is roaring, the lightning is crossing the sky, the thunder is rumbling, in an unknown place in the Tang Dynasty, in a simple firewood house, at this moment the firelight hunting, warm as summer, baked clothes around the new house, the fire of love broke out here, Li Jingyan was obsessed with the ocean of love, and dedicated his body to Ailang without reservation.

This night will always be engraved in the hearts of the two of them, and they will be with each other until they are old.