On the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year of the new dynasty, what an auspicious day it sounded, in a warm expectation, it came as scheduled. The new courtiers who were just immersed in the swallows, the warblers, and the clamoring for singing and dancing did not know that this day would be the beginning of a nightmare for them.

From this day of this year, the national fortunes of the new dynasty took a sharp turn after the flood, and the erosive hypocrisy and prosperity revealed its true appearance after the flood, and the entire new dynasty fell into the most difficult situation since then.

There is no news of the great water in the north to the south, and as for the increasing number of ragged passers-by outside the city, no one really cares, and the people in the south of the Yangtze River are not stingy with a little kindness, let alone on such a festive day.

It is night, the lights on both sides of the Qinhuai River, the pedestrians are bustling, this thousand-year-old capital shows its most extravagant side, although this situation is not as good as the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the people of the new dynasty who love to play by nature will not waste this opportunity, so the excitement that should be there is quietly staged in various parts of this city.

In order to welcome such a grand event, the prefect of Jiangning Prefecture summoned the magistrates of Shangyuan and Jiangning counties and instructed some things, so until the night completely sank, the two magistrates went out of the prefect's yamen with a worried face, and the two adults who were officials in the same city did not say a word politely, and went to their own yamen in a sedan chair.

The officials patrolling the streets were in groups, saying that they were patrolling, but they also took the opportunity to do some amusement and enjoyment.

Wuyi Lane Confucius Temple area is also lively at this time, there are many people patrolling the street to enjoy the fun, the street is not a little crowded, the program prepared by each Qinglou has been staged in a place called Bailuzhou downstream at this time, it is probably the qualifier of the Mid-Autumn Festival Oiran Competition, so each building has launched a popular woman, plus this year is led by Jiangning Mansion, Shangyuan, Jiangning County faintly more energetic. Such a gimmick naturally attracted many people to look at each other.

Wang Ning accompanied Ji Ling'er to hide on the slope at the back, the front was already full of people, and the organizers in some places in front of him set up simple stands, and there were vendors selling there.

Several large boats on the river were put together, and a terrace was built on the deck, probably for those women to compete.

Ji Ling'er was obviously the first time she had seen this kind of excitement, and she couldn't hide her excitement, and her eyebrows and eyes completed the good-looking crescent.

Wang Ning is also the first time to see such a grand performance, but he is a person who has seen a big scene, and he hides it well on his face.

"I don't know if Second Brother Ji is on the boat over there!" Ji Ling'er stood up and looked over there.

"Not really." Wang Ning paused and added, "They are supporting Feng Yingying from Chunyuan Building this time, I'm afraid they won't be on the boat over there." ”

Ji Ling'er sat back in place and laughed: "It's really embarrassing for the second brother." ”

Wang Ning agrees with this, Ji Wenbo's character, this kind of occasion is indeed a little difficult for him. Of course, because of Ji Kang, no one will target him excessively, in other words, Ji Wenbo may not lose to Ji Kang, this guy just doesn't want to get involved in officialdom, so he doesn't have to worry about being made difficult.

Not long after, the staff sent by the Jiangning Mansion came out to give a speech, praising the prosperous era and boasting to the officials, and the program that had been prepared for a long time finally began.

After the drumming, there was a figure on each of the four rings, and although it was far away, Wang Ningli could still see a rough idea.

Ji Linger's complaint in her ears rang out at this time: "It's really boring, I can't see ......"

Wang Ning closed her mouth and didn't speak, but she was interested.

The dance on the stage Wang Ning didn't know how to evaluate, but listening to the shouts of a group of people around Wang Ning could also feel its popularity, of course, it was not these ordinary people who watched the excitement that could really decide whether the women on the stage were promoted.

Wang Ning sighed at the wealth of those second ancestors, and secretly planned whether to visit at night, but recently he really spent money like water. Subconsciously turned his head to look at Ji Ling'er, Wang Ning's face was distorted in pain.

The dance is followed by singing, and after the singing, there is an instrumental performance, and it is probably in this rotation that the time is pushed back for a long time, and it is midnight, and the most lively time period also begins.

In fact, as Wang Ning, as an official, no matter how prosperous this night is, it is nothing more than that. He sat on the slope here, looked up at the graceful woman over there, listened to the singing voice that was as clear as a warbler's cry, and at most paid attention to the wealth of a certain son...... Life is nothing more than that for him.

Of course, this is not the case for most of the people on the ship over there, most of the women who perform hard in front of people want to get something practical and make their lives better in the future, and among the people behind these women, various forces compete, and some secret things have already begun to operate, compared to the beautiful appearance of those women, behind it is unspeakably dirty.

It's just that none of these things have anything to do with Wang Ning.

A small boat quietly rowed to the center of the river in the night, and someone handed over the post and was greeted on a larger merchant ship.

The woman was dressed in plain clothes, with a close smile on her face all the time, and she looked quite sincere between her eyebrows. Noticing that several men dressed as scholars in the distance were looking at this side, the woman's gaze followed.

The familiar female relatives around her also looked over at this time, and continued: "The leader is the second young master of the Xue family, I heard that I came up with two good poems tonight, and a few people over there also praised them a lot." ”

The woman retracted her gaze, but she didn't believe it, and said with a smile: "I'm afraid I bought the lyrics from somewhere, that person...... It doesn't look like it. ”

The lady who spoke before also smiled: "Sister Su has always been right. ”

Su Xiaoyan scolded with a smile, and the topic also turned to the matter of children's affection, at this time, she often listened to others.

Su Xiaoyan's mind fell on most of this, but a little bit of it was used for other things.

The Xue family is one of the three major cloth merchants in Jiangning City, relying on their own officialdom relationship, they are faintly the first of the three major cloth merchants, and they have always been a very strong opponent for the Su family. In the past, Su Xiaoyan also knew that the Xue family had a second young master who was a good learner, but he never saw it, and when he saw it today, he only glanced at it in a hurry, and his impression was not very good, but it was not bad.

Thinking about the beginning, Su Xiaoyan finally decided to talk about family affairs for Lu'er.

The daughter's private room talked for a while, and the performance there attracted everyone's attention.

"This Feng Yingying is hot this year." I don't know who said it, and the conversation box of the daughter's family was opened, of course, the topics involving the women of the Qinglou were mostly the things of Yingying Yanyan, who were also women, but they had never deliberately belittled them.

Su Xiaoyan listened for a while, found an excuse and left.

Not far from here, the son-in-law named Xue Lin put down the wine cup in his hand, said goodbye to his friends and left, and chased after Su Xiaoyan, who was leaving.

This side is on the boat, and it is not far away, and the two of them have met together.

The topic started with business, during which Xue Lin found a suitable starting point and appropriately cut into other topics, but the woman politely rejected him, but many of his subsequent words were blocked in his throat.

This meeting was not satisfactory, but they had their own impressions in each other's hearts, and things in the future were probably possible.

Xue Lin once asked someone to come to the door and said that, according to the people who came back, the master of the Su family did not directly refuse, but many things in the Su family were actually decided by Su Xiaoyan, who is a daughter. Xue Lin originally thought that this was just Master Su's love for his daughter, and he was quite accommodating, but he was in a hurry, but he dispelled his thoughts, how could that woman be easy to support the signboard of the Su family's cloth merchants.

With a new understanding, it is necessary to make adjustments to the original plan.

Xue Lin had a plan here, but Su Xiaoyan couldn't hide her disappointment over there, I don't know if she was glad to be glad of her previous decisive refusal, but as her daughter's family, she was not easy in her heart when she got to the current situation.

Su Xiaoyan breathed a sigh of relief, looking forward to the arrival of true fate.

's own thoughts, but they didn't pay much attention to the performance in full swing over there.

As for Wang Ning on the slope by the river, he had already gotten up and grabbed Ji Linger's hand at this time, regardless of the other party's struggle, and squeezed out of the crowd.

After leaving a distance, he let go of Ji Ling'er's hand and said, "It's almost enough, don't you say you can't see clearly!" ”

Ji Ling'er was indignant and glared at Wang Ning: "You care about me." ”

In the midst of the noise, the noise over there became another kind of noise.

Ji Ling'er looked back, a high column of smoke rose from the bright candle flame, and faintly heard the sound of someone shouting "The water is gone".

Ji Ling'er looked back at Wang Ning in astonishment and asked, "What do you know?" ”

Wang Ning shook his head, he can't say it's like to be a professional killer! So he pulled out a surprised expression and said, "This is too coincidental!" ”

Ji Ling'er made it clear that she didn't believe it, but she also knew that she couldn't stay for a long time, and she couldn't even say some words again, so she said, "Let's go." ”

After walking for a distance, Wang Ning stopped, glanced towards the gloomy night, and said to Ji Linger: "You go back first, I have something to leave." ”

Ji Ling'er didn't want to say anything more, Wang Ning had already disappeared from her sight.

When Su Xiaoyan heard the voice, she was about to leave, but before she understood what was happening, the crowd was already panicking, and the big boat in her body tilted closely, and choking smoke and dust rolled up from the bottom.

The people on the boat are all people with status, but at this time they still seem to be no different from ordinary people, and between their escapes, the sound of falling into the water is heard from time to time. Su Xiaoyan followed her memory, bypassed a few corners but was knocked to the ground, and she gradually fell asleep in the choking smoke and dust.

The Qinhuai River is brightly lit, the voices of people are boiling, and it is really lively.

The poor two county magistrates were busy all night and finally decided to sleep, but they were woken up by their subordinates, and hurriedly rushed out with their clothes.

Huang Xiao of Shangyuan Zhixian County arrived at Bailuzhou one step earlier, and had already arranged for his servants to guide the crowd, and the small fishing boats nearby gathered over, and then went to the merchant ship that caught fire.

Min Xuetong from Jiangning Zhixian County came a little late, but he also scattered people out as soon as possible to help his colleagues in Shangyuan County save people.

Master Min is over forty years old, his body is fat, and he looks like an official who only knows how to eat, drink and have fun, so he tried to open his eyes at this time and said, "How is this good!" ”

Huang Zhixian is much calmer, unlike the official portrait of Min Zhixian, Huang Zhixian looks quite capable, but if he hadn't heard the worries of his colleagues at this time, he stared closely at the big ship that was about to sink over there.

At the same time as the rescue of people, the arrest of people has also begun, and some of the men sent out by Yi Zhu Xiang's kung fu have returned, and at the same time brought all kinds of people they think are suspicious.

Huang Xiao ordered people to be thrown into prison, and then looked at Min Xuetong on the side and said, "It's really a natural and man-made disaster." ”

The prefect's yamen quickly sent someone to invite the two prefects to drink tea, you look at me, I look at you, but they no longer hide their thoughts.

"Go together, go together, Lord Min, please ......"

"Lord Huang, please ......"

A few thoughts, in such a night, each played out.

Ji Wenbo stood on a small fishing boat, helplessly looking at everything that happened in front of him, several of his clothes were burned in several places, and his face was also smoked.

"Guest, sit tight!" The old man who rocked the boat reminded.

Ji Wenbo came back to his senses and smiled: "Don't worry, old man, I know water." ”

Along the way, he rescued several people who fell into the water, and Xiaozhou was a little overwhelmed.

At a certain moment, Ji Wenbo jumped back into the water, and the people on the boat soon couldn't see him, and in an instant, in the direction he swam to, the fire-burning planks of the merchant ship fell, and the river turned into a sea of fire.

Two or three miles away from Bailuzhou, outside the small courtyard of the independent gate, several black-clothed people have quietly sneaked in, and the leader determined the location again, and with a wave of his hand, several figures climbed over the wall and entered silently.

Wang Ning walked out of the shadows not far away at this time, tore off a piece from the front hem, covered his face, and touched the corner of the wall, and the sound of fighting in the small courtyard had already come out.

The fight lasted for half an hour, and a familiar voice came out: "Dad, why did you come out." ”

Wang Ningxin said that it was really a coincidence, and he was about to leave, but he accidentally stepped on a dead branch on the ground, and there was a violent cry in the yard, "Who!" ”

Like the wind, the courtyard door was swept open, and a figure chased out of the door.

Qin Bi quickly chased after him, looked at the dark night, and said, "Are you okay?" ”

There was no fluctuation on the old man's face, as if everything in Fang Cai did not exist.

Qin Ruiqing withdrew his gaze from the night and said, "It should be someone who escaped!" ”

Back in the courtyard, several corpses lay in pools of blood, blood splattered on a corner of the plum tree.

Qin Ruiqing tore off the black cloth on the face of the corpse, looked up at his father, and said firmly: "It's not from Jiangshanlou." ”

Qin Bi nodded, "Go back and rest, let the people from the yamen come over tomorrow and dispose of the corpse." ”

"Father, the person behind this ......"

Qin Bi interrupted: "I can't find it!" ”

The old man went back to the house, and after a few moments the candles in the room were dimmed.

Qin Ruiqing looked at the closed door, sighed after all, and didn't pay attention to it anymore.

At some point, the rain fell again. The stone road gradually became slippery, Wang Ning's steps slowed down, thinking of the cold sweat behind Fang Cai, he couldn't help but smile bitterly, once upon a time, why did he run away so embarrassed.

When passing by Bailuzhou, the aftermath was already being dealt with here, and some people were probably dead, and many people were also locked up in the official prison at this time, and some news began to spread.

It was only in the second half of the night that the story of the displaced people circulated among some people, and by the next day, the general outline had been announced.

Of course, these "explanations to the people" can only coax the people in the end.

Few people knew about the assassination in the small courtyard by the Qinhuai River, and the corpses of the assassins were also regarded as homeless people, and they found a reason to be decisively executed for resisting arrest, and several people were thrown into a mass grave more than ten miles outside the city.

Qin Ruiqing finally set off for the north not long after, and after this incident, the small courtyard by the Qinhuai River gradually became more populated.

Ji Wenbo looked at the woman on the bed, and then looked at the old man who was squinting and checking the pulse, thinking that Ling'er was here, why bother so much!

The old doctor shook his head and twisted his white beard.

"Doctor, how's it going?"

The old doctor was unhurried: "This young lady is fine, but she caught a cold after falling into the water, and the old man prescribed two pairs of medicines, and she could be cured by eating it." ”

Ji Wenbo thanked him, took the consultation fee and the silver, and the old doctor wrote a prescription and left satisfied.

Ji Wenbo handed the prescription to Ji Wenze behind him, and ordered: "Xiao Qi, grab the medicine!" ”

Xiao Qi took the prescription, looked at the two of them, and had the intention to remind him of something and felt that it was an adult's business, so he had to grab the medicine. It's just that I can't help but have a new view of Ji Wenbo in my heart.

When Su Xiaoyan woke up, she found that she had been in a room, facing the unfamiliar environment, she subconsciously checked her body, and when she saw clothes that were not her own, she was about to cry when she was wronged.

At this moment, the man's voice came, "Don't worry, girl, I asked someone to change your clothes for you, you fell into the water, you were soaked, you didn't change into clean clothes and caught a cold, and it was not good to get cold." ”

The man said sincerely, when those eyes looked over, he couldn't see anything unusual, his gaze moved down, Su Xiaoyan saw the medicine in the man's hand, and wanted to say something, but found that he couldn't speak.

The man must have seen her move, and his movements froze, and then he said, "Drink the medicine first, and then talk about ......."

The man handed her the medicine, and she took it and drank it with difficulty as the man watched.

The man took the medicine bowl and brought a new one from the table next to him, noticing her expression, and explained, "It's preserves, sweet." ”

Su Xiaoyan understood, thinking that this man is really good at taking care of people, seeing that the other party is not very old, he must still be a person who has never married.

With a slightly red face, Su Xiaoyan lowered her head and ate the candied fruit gently.

After a while, there was a commotion outside, and after hearing the ecstatic voice of a child, the man politely withdrew.

Su Xiaoyan's heart was as sweet as the candied fruit in an instant.