Meng Tianchu was about to leave, Xi Rui smiled, pointed to the front and said, "My lord, let's get in the car, there is still a certain distance from where the old man lives." ”

Meng Tianchu: "Master Xi came on foot, and there is still a reason to take a car anywhere." ”

Xi Rui stroked his gray beard, looked at Meng Tianchu approvingly, and said, "Okay, then let the old man accompany Master Meng to take a look at our walled village." ”

Xiao Nuo pointed to a group of people not far away and said, "Lord Xi, are those your family members?" ”

Xi Rui looked at this woman who was only fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed gorgeously and beautifully, and said, "This is..."

Meng Tianchu hurriedly said: "This is in the lower low, named Xiaonuo. ”

Xi Rui suddenly realized, hurriedly bowed and saluted, and said: "I have heard of the name for a long time, and I have always heard that the two daughters of Lord Cheng are the appearance of the city and the country. ”

Xiaonuo returned the salute with a smile and said, "Do you know me when you listen to Lord Xi's tone?" ”

Xi Rui said with a smile: "It's not just acquaintance, my seventh son is now serving as the chief soldier in front of the tent under the command of Madame's father, and now he is guarding the border with your father." ”

Xiao Nuo looked at Meng Tianchu in surprise, Meng Tianchu smiled quietly and said nothing.

Xi Rui: "Okay, let's talk as we go." ”

Meng Tianchu followed Xi Rui towards the walled village.

Meng Tianchu followed Xi Rui and walked for about a stick of incense, and then he vaguely saw a huge mansion standing at the foot of the mountain in the gap of dozens of ancient pines not far away, like a thousand-year-old temple.

Xi Rui said: "Master Meng is tired of walking, he goes out in a car or sedan chair on weekdays, and there is not much time to work hard with his feet." ”

Meng Tianchu is indeed hot. But you can't let an old man laugh at himself, and said: "I can't say I'm tired, but it's really hot, this mansion of Master Xi is a good place for self-cultivation." ”

Xi Rui laughed a few times. Said: "Self-cultivation is not enough, but it is a good place to retire." ”

Meng Tianchu looked at Xiao Nuo and Jian Ning beside him, Xiao Nuo is a person who practices martial arts after all, and Yin Susu has been urging him to practice every day recently, but he doesn't feel anything, but Jian Ning is already out of breath. Meng Tianchu said: "Master Xi is really old and strong, you see that Miss Jian has become tired like this." ”

Xi Rui glanced at Jian Ning. said indifferently: "This girl is the daughter of Master Jian Qi Jian, right?" ”

Jian Ning saw that a force like Xi Rui only saw him at this time, so he smiled indifferently and did not give Xi Rui a gift.

Xi Rui sighed twice and said: "Master Jian is also very blessed, all the ladies are as beautiful as flowers, I think that looking at the girl in front of me can't help but remind me of his former wife, that lady is one in a million beauties..."

Meng Tianchu found that Jian Ning's face was very ugly, so he quickly diverted the topic of Xi Ruidi, pointed to the Xi Mansion that had already approached, and said, "Lord Xi, it was easy to get to your mansion, and I felt a little thirsty below. ”

Xi Rui: "That's right. It is. I'll just say let the adults drive forward, and the adults will be tired, so please come in quickly. ”

Xiao Nuo and Jian Ning are the best, naturally they know why Jian Ning's face is suddenly so ugly, they stepped forward and carefully shook Jian Ning's hand, Jian Ning smiled reluctantly, and walked into the door of Xi's Mansion hand in hand with Xiao Nuo.

After dinner. Meng Tianchu thought that Xi Rui would find him. Whoever wanted Xi Rui to say that he was tired, he asked Xi's housekeeper, a thin little old man, to send Meng Tianchu and them back to the backyard to rest. He never showed up again.

Meng Tianchu and the others sat in Meng Tianchu's room and didn't feel a little puzzled, they didn't know what kind of gourd this Xi Rui gourd was selling, why they didn't mention anything about Xi picking it up, Meng Tianchu decided to take the initiative the next day, don't be so passive.

Everyone gathered together, worried that there would be an ear on the wall, and after saying inconsequential things for a while, they went back to their rooms to sleep.

After the third watch of the night, Meng Tianchu saw that Xiao Nuo, who was extremely sleepy, had fallen asleep in the crook of his arm, but he didn't feel a little sleepy, remembering what Xi picked up to himself during the day, and then thinking about this Xi Rui's words and deeds, it can be seen that he is a well-read, wise and funny old man, but he is definitely not an easy person to deal with, from the meeting to the last meal, it was only two hours, Meng Tianchu already knew that this old man was not only full of peach and plums all over the world, but his seven sons and four daughters now have official positions, The daughters are also married to officials of Hangzhou Mansion, and one of the daughters is also married to a younger brother of the Lord of Long Life, although it is not a close relative, but it can be regarded as a relative of the emperor, no wonder a case has been delayed for so many years because of Xi Rui's interference, it seems that this old man is really not easy to mess with, more than seventy people actually drink and do not lose to Meng Tianchu These young people, whether it is a demonstration or not, Meng Tianchu is still a little upset in his heart.

The wind outside the door blew the window paper, Xiao Nuo snorted a few times, turned around and left from Meng Tianchu's arm, Meng Tianchu covered Xiao Nuo with a quilt, got up and dressed, opened the door and walked out.

The door next door also opened, and Meng Tianchu saw that it was Jian Ning, so he said, "The girl has worked hard all day, why don't you rest?" ”

Jian Ningwan smiled, rubbed her hands, put it to her mouth and took a breath of heat, and said, "Probably left my bed, a little uncomfortable, why don't adults rest?" ”

Meng Tianchu looked up at the dark night sky and said, "It's probably the same feeling as the girl." ”

Jian Ning smiled, and Meng Tianchu said: "The girl seems to be in a good mood recently, and she loves to laugh more than when I saw it before." ”

Jian Ning was stunned for a moment and said, "Really?" Didn't I like to laugh before? ”

Meng Tianchu nodded.

Jian Ning walked up to Meng Tianchu and said, "Are you wondering why this old man wants to frame this Xi pick-up?" ”

Meng Tianchu sighed, and before he could speak, he could only hear the sound behind him, and he didn't have time to turn back. Jian Ning had already pushed Meng Tianchu aside, and she almost fell, and the voices of the two people probably woke up Chai Meng and Slayer Long in the other house, and the two of them rushed to the door. Seeing Meng Tianchu walk to the doorpost, there was a dart stuck in it.

Meng Tianchu: "Miss Jane, you're not injured, are you?" ”

Jian Ning smiled and shook her head, without telling Meng Tianchu that her feet were twisted and a little painful.

The dragon slayer stepped forward and pulled the dart down, leaving a deep mark on the pillar. It seems that the force is very strong.

There was a note on the dart, and Meng Tianchu unfolded it to look at it. I saw that it was written: "If you want to know the reason, check the details of the orphans first." ”

Meng Tianchu looked around, and Slayer Long said in a low voice, "Could it be a trap?" ”

Meng Tianchu pondered for a long time and said: "Whether it is a trap or not, it is necessary to find out what happened before Xi picked up before he was twelve years old, and this note reminded me that we also have to find out what kind of role the person who adopted Xi picked up the land was in the walled village." ”

Jian Ning whispered, "I think they must be watching us in the dark." ”

Meng Tianchu: "There is no doubt about this, if you don't star, then it's not them." Alright, let's go back and rest. ”

Jian Ning: "Where do we start with Xi's previous life experience?" ”

Meng Tianchu: "Tomorrow in the walled village, ask the villagers who were neighbors with their families at that time, there should be some clues." If not, we're thinking of something else. Besides, Xi is not dead, he is still talking. ”

Jian Ning: "I hope I can ask something." ”

Meng Tianchu comforted: "But if you do something, you will definitely leave clues, what do you say?" ”

Jian Ning snorted and returned to the house first, Meng Tianchu thought about it. Stop Jane Ning. said: "I think you still sleep with Xiaonuo, anyway, I don't have a trace of sleepiness now." I slept next door with Chai Meng and Slayer Long, and there was something calling us. ”

Jian Ning: "No, okay. ”

Meng Tianchu: "There's nothing wrong with it, it's really not reassuring that you sleep alone in a room, although Xiaonuo is a three-legged cat's kung fu, she can always resist for a while, and she is very lightweight, so I can rest assured, okay, let's go in, it's so cold outside." ”

Jian Ning had no choice but to enter Meng Tianchu's house, and after Meng Tianchu saw her close the door, he returned to the house with Tulong and Chai Men.

After Meng Tianchu entered the house, he pretended to slay the dragon and Chai Meng to say a few words, and then blew out the candles, the three of them were in the dark, Meng Tianchu whispered in front of the ears of the two people and commanded a few words, the house was completely quiet, and after a while, there was a slight footstep on the roof, Chai Meng and Slayer Dragon one went out from the door, and the other jumped out of the back window, after Meng Tianchu heard a noise on the roof, Chai Meng and Slayer Dragon returned to the house.

Meng Tianchu re-lit the candle, closed the door, and said, "Do you see who it is?" ”

Dragon Slayer: "That person is very powerful, and very cunning, knowing that Chai Meng and I are not familiar with the terrain here, and dare not chase too far, so we have no intention of fighting and just flee for our lives, but although we didn't see the looks, we knew a little." ”

Meng Tianchu: "What? ”

Dragon Slayer: "That person is a woman. ”

Meng Tianchu: "Woman? ”

Chai Meng: "That's it, I found out after a few tricks with her." ”

Meng Tianchu: "It seems that this Xi Mansion is still a place of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and we can't underestimate it." ”

Dragon Slayer: "But she was wounded, and we stabbed her in the shoulder"

Meng Tianchu: "Even if it is stabbed to death, it is useless, if it is really sent by Xi Rui, we can't find anything, forget it, this big house, we will eat and walk for half a day from the place where we sleep, one will be a long corridor, one will be a rockery and a small bridge, turn left and right, where to remember the way to come." It is not necessary that this place is as unfathomable as the Yin family cottage, so we should be careful. ”

Dragon Slayer: "My lord, who do you think the person who wrote you the note?" Friend or foe? Could it be the person who just eavesdropped on us from the rooftop? ”

Meng Tianchu: "I don't have a clue about this case, I don't know anything, Xi picks up this case and the pool is too deep, I don't know what shocking secrets are hidden behind this case." Slaying Dragon: "Then let's tell the old man Xi Rui, how do you think he will react?" ”

Meng Tianchu smiled and said, "Probably very frank." ”

Chai Meng: "No. ”

Meng Tianchu: "Of course, I'm just guessing. I don't want to, either of you who makes a bed for me, I'm sleepy. ”

Chai Meng got up and went to Wang Yi's room next door to sleep, and Meng Tianchu fell on the bed. After a while, I finally fell asleep.

The next day, Meng Tianchu hadn't gone to visit Xi Rui, but Xi Rui came to the door by himself.

Xi Rui sat in Meng Tianchu's room, looking refreshed, and said with a smile: "Did Lord Meng sleep well last night?" ”

Meng Tianchu: "Not good. ”

Xi Rui: "Why is it bad? Is the bed too hard or the room too cold? ”

Meng Tianchu: "There are assassins. ”

Xi Rui looked surprised and said, "Oh. No, how is it possible, my Xifu is heavily guarded, and even a fly will not dare to fly half a step out of Xifu. ”

Meng Tianchu smiled and said, "The problem is that there are no flies in this season, so it's probably normal to have one or two assassins."

Xi Rui: "My lord means that Xi sent someone to assassinate you?" ”

Meng Tianchu: "Otherwise, I just say that this Xi Mansion is not necessarily unbreakable." ”

Xi Rui and Meng Tianchu looked at each other and smiled, Xi Rui said: "Lord Meng must have something to say, since the old man is here, you might as well tell him directly." You and I are not twerkers. Guessing doesn't mean much. ”

Meng Tianchu smiled and said, "I expected that Lord Xi would come to my place. ”

Xi Rui: "Then please ask Master Meng if you have anything to say." ”

Meng Tianchu: "Asking is naturally a case that everyone avoids. ”

Xi Rui said without changing his face: "My lord, continue." ”

Meng Tianchu: "Xi Pickup, an orphan who was adopted by a family in Qianwei Village, and later the mother and daughter died overnight, and Xi Pick was arrested by the government because of this, saying that he was the murderer. ”

Xi Rui: "What does it mean that Master Meng is looking for old decay?" ”

Meng Tianchu: "If you want to make it convenient for Master Xi, I want to find someone who knew at the time and ask if it's okay?" ”

Xi Rui smiled and said, "This is the power of your Lord Meng." Naturally, there is no reason to refuse. Ask whoever you want, and I won't interfere. ”

Meng Tianchu said with a smile: "Master Xi is really a frank person. ”

Xi Rui put down the tea bowl in his hand. Said: "The gentleman is frank and the villain is a relative, that's all." ”

Meng Tianchu: "Since this is the case, I can't help but want to ask, why is Master Xi still pointing fingers at the affairs of the government after he has been out of office for so long?" ”

When Xi Rui heard this, he immediately lowered his face and said, "What do you mean by Lord Meng?" ”

Meng Tianchu: "Isn't the case that Xi picked up that you have been meddling in?" ”

Xi Rui was not in a hurry, and said with a smile: "Master Meng, who did you listen to, it was my old decay who was meddling in this matter, I was an old bone, and I have been locked up in this deep courtyard since I left office, and I never asked others about it, what evidence do you say I had in the case of Xi Pickup?" ”

Meng Tianchu: "I know that Master Xi would say this, if you didn't intervene in this matter, how could your protégés obstruct me from investigating this case everywhere, how would you know that I was coming to the village yesterday?" ”

Xi Rui was stunned for a moment, then laughed, and said: "Master Meng, let's still use evidence to speak, you are a master, and naturally the most important thing is evidence, don't talk empty in front of the old man, what you want to investigate, I won't care, but I won't force interference, but if you can't find anything, you have to say the right thing in front of Xi, this Xi is unhappy." ”

Meng Tianchu: "Don't worry, Lord Xi, I will show you evidence." ”

Xi Rui got up and put away a smiling face, looked at Meng Tianchu and said, "Then Xi will wait for good news." The Lord said that the assassin matter will definitely check the results and give an explanation to the Lord, so as to ensure that no similar thing will happen during the period when the Lord lives in the walled village. After saying that, he brushed his sleeves and left.

Xiao Nuo muttered in a low voice: "What are you dragging, I don't believe we can't find anything." ”

After a while, a person who looked like a subordinate came, and when he asked, he learned that it was Xi Rui who came to lead the way for Meng Tianchu and them, Meng Tianchu thought to himself that this old man had done enough work on the surface, since he had even found the person who led the way for himself, then there was no need for him to refuse.

The person who led the way claimed to be the chief worker of the Xi Rui family, named Ergou, and took Meng Tianchu out of Xi's mansion and headed east without saying a word.

After walking for a short time, he came to an open place, and Ergou said: "This place is the place where the mourning hall was built for the mother and daughter of the Xi family three years ago, because at that time, Xi picked up the mother and the two younger sisters were burned and couldn't tell who was who, so they set up a mound for them in this place, so that future generations can remember that there is such a family in our walled village." ”

Meng Tianchu walked to the open space and took a look, and sure enough, there was a tombstone that read: The tomb of Xi Mu's mother and daughter is very simple.

Meng Tianchu looked at the clearing here, it was winter, but he could also see that if this place was summer, vegetation should have grown, and the traces of the burned ground in the past were almost invisible, only a few small trees had burned branches on them.

Meng Tianchu: "Brother Ergou, what did this man from the Xi family do in the walled village in the past?" ”

Ergou: "It's just a farmer." ”

Meng Tianchu: "What about his insider." ”

Ergou: "It's the same"

Xiaonuo stepped forward and said, "Then do you know how Xi Ji behaves in your village?" ”

Ergou: "I live in the east, they live in the west, I haven't been there, I don't know." ”