Today's day is not very good.

The daylight is thin, and a few rays of light in the clouds on the horizon sink, falling on the screen without the mottled shadow of the past.

A maid entered the hall with her head bowed, and discreetly served tea to the guests seated at the top, barely making a sound.

This guest is over half a hundred years old, his face is stable, his eyebrows are kind, and he looks kind, but the black-clothed subordinates who follow behind him have sharp eyes, and when they meet his gaze, they feel that they will be wiped out by a knife.

This invisibly brings a kind of depression to the whole room.

She endured the trembling of her hands, served her tea, and respectfully exited the hall.

"Master Li?"

A calm voice sounded, followed by a slight crunch of the teacup.

The guest took a sip of tea, and the interval was long and dull.

Li Zhihuai bowed his hand: "Lord Yan." ”

Lord Yan's name is Yan Huaduan, who joined the Hanlin Academy, and this time he came to Gwangju to meet Lord Shao.

It's just that Master Shao didn't plan to meet him, so Yan Huaduan had been resting in Gwangju for a few days.

Yan Hua put down the teacup and tapped his fingers on the tabletop.

"Master Li, I heard that Mrs. Ling is the daughter of Lord Chen, and the old man has been to Minzhou, heard the name of Lord Chen, and admires what he has done."

This chatter is very similar to talking about homely things, but Li Zhihuai doesn't think that this Lord Yan really wants to talk to him about his father-in-law.

The hand holding the teacup tightened, Li Zhihuai raised his head, and when he saw Youdao's eyes examining him, he couldn't help but shake his head and sigh: "My father-in-law is deceased, and he was a false name before his death." ”

Li Zhihuai's father-in-law, Chen Ke Chen, moved his family to Minzhou more than ten years ago, and for the past two years, he has been loyal to his duties, thinking about the people, and winning the love of the people, but in the end, he died at the hands of the people.

In that year, there was a riot in Lianzhou, Xianzhou and other places, and the situation was urgent, which shocked the west, and then the rebels in other states and counties in the west responded together, raised the banner of resistance in various places, and openly confronted the imperial court.

Chen Ke, as the prefect sent by the imperial court, bore the brunt of their killing.

On that day, the Chen Mansion was dark, the blood and water were connected into a river, and there was a thick smell of death everywhere.

Lord Yan stared as if he was recalling, and said again for a long time: "The old man is deeply saddened by the death of Lord Chen, and he also hates those thieves in Minzhou. ”

After that, he sighed, his tone sad and melancholy.

"Now that his family is dead, only his daughter is still alive, the old man has been thinking about it for a long time, and he still wants to see Mrs. Ling, and tell the old man his admiration in person, and he should also think about it."

Li Zhihuai's eyes flickered slightly, colliding with the eyes of his subordinates behind him, and the cold light suddenly appeared, and a fierce aura came to his face.

"Lord Yan, Clumsy Jing is in the house all the year round, I'm afraid ......"

"Hey, Master Li doesn't have to be like this."

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted, Yan Hua waved his hand and said, "Just see it, I won't mention Mrs. Ling's sad matter." ”

Although the tone was gentle, it was a little tough when he listened carefully, and Li Zhihuai could only respond and order his subordinates to summon Chen.

The curtain rolled, and after a moment's pause, there was silence in the room again.

The breeze blew into the house, but it brought in a hint of stuffiness.

Li Zhihuai moved slightly, trying to dispel the thin sweat that came out of his back.

"Master Lee." Yan Hua smoothed his clothes, put his right hand on the armrest, and said with a smile, "Although Ling Lang is now in a small position in Hanlin, the old man sees that he is full of talent and talent, and he is outstanding, and he will definitely have an unlimited future in the future." ”

Li Zhihuai hurriedly praised it

Yan Hua's black-clothed subordinate standing behind him listened to the compliments that the two of them said casually, and the corners of their mouths hooked up a mocking smile.

……

……

"Please come over?"

Chen stood up suddenly, looked at the maid who was standing with her head down, and said in surprise, "Are you sure the second master said it?" ”

The maid whispered.

Logically speaking, this kind of scene does not need women to come forward, and what they are talking about should be officialdom.

Chan was silent.

"Did the second master say why?"

She asked.

The maid shook her head and said I don't know.

Chen pinched the handkerchief, his eyebrows tightened, and the thoughts in his heart finally turned into a slight sigh.

"Go ahead."

Chen entered the hall with uncertainty in his heart, and his tense body relaxed when he heard that the Yan lord from the capital saw that she was talking about her father.

She seemed to have a feeling: "My father is determined to ask for the people's life, and it is his life's wish for the people to be well-being, but it is a pity that he ......"

Unable to speak, she sighed and hung her head, very sad.

Seeing this, Yan Huaduan also apologized and said: "Madame, don't lament again, the old man is not here to mention Madame's sadness, but to let Madame know that the old man has not forgotten Master Chen'......"

As he spoke, with tears in his eyes, he raised his sleeve and wiped it, and his face was filled with grief.

It has reached such an extent that it is natural that this matter cannot be mentioned again.

Even if Li Zhihuai really felt strange in his heart, he had to suppress it and not let it appear on his face.

He soothed and persuaded: "Don't look back at the past, everything needs to be looked forward, don't mention it to Lord Yan." ”

Yan Hua nodded yes, and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Now that Mrs. is in good health, Ling Lang also has a bright future, and Master Chen knows about it, and he can rest assured."

Chen replied, wiping the tears that flickered in his eyes.

The subordinate behind him whispered a word to Yan Huaduan, and Yan Huaduan touched his beard and nodded.

He stood up with his chair and said, "Master Li, the old man still has some things, so I won't bother." ”

After that, he left to leave, and Li Zhihuai sent Yan Hua out of the house.

All the way to the door of the house.

"Master Li, please go back."

Yan Huaduan was helped into the carriage, lifted the curtain and smiled at him kindly.

Li Zhihuai gave a salute: "The hospitality is not good, and I also invite Lord Yan Haihan." ”

The black-clothed subordinate glanced at him and stepped into the carriage, and the coachman grabbed the whip and drove the horse.

The carriage creaked and galloped away.

Li Zhihuai watched them leave, and when the car was gone, only the dust remained, and the hand in his wide sleeve couldn't help but shake, and his palm was covered with a thin layer of sweat.

"Alin, send a letter to the capital."

He said solemnly, turned around and went home.

……

……

When he reached the mouth of an alley, the carriage stopped, and the man in black got off the horse, looking in the direction of the Li Mansion with an unknown meaning in his eyes.

"Lord Yao?" Yan Hua lifted the curtain.

Yao Pu's thin lips were slightly hooked, he stared at him for a long time, and said with a smile: "Lord Yan's clever words today can make me gain insight." ”

The tone was full of mockery, if this was said from someone else's mouth, Yan Huaduan should blow his beard and stare at him, and scold that person well.

But the person in front of him is not something he can afford to provoke.

"This is a reluctant move...... he said, his eyes drooping, his hands casually touching the edge of the window.

"You don't have to explain."

Yao Pu interrupted him loudly, his demeanor devoid of respect.

Yan Huaduan smiled awkwardly, his mouth blocked by his beard moved slightly, and he just wanted to ask, but he gave a warning look.

"This matter has nothing to do with you, Mo is nosy."

Yao Pu glanced at him coldly, "Don't tell anyone about today's events, otherwise, you should know your fate!" ”

Yan Huaduan Nuo didn't dare to respond.