The shopkeeper hadn't slept yet, he was sitting in the front door of the store under the lamp under the lamp, and when he saw that the four of them were going out of the store in the middle of the night, he was startled, and said with a smile: "Why do you have to go out at this time, you have to call a girl, send a guy out for three taels of silver, and do it......" Kangxi didn't understand yet, and he screamed at the side: "Fart!" Open the door! When the shopkeeper saw that he was fierce, he was so frightened that he did not dare to say a word, so he came out and opened the door and let them out. Su Malagu stepped on the threshold and said to the shopkeeper with a calm face: "You are here to guard, and we will be back in a while." Kangxi saw that he was pitiful and frightened, and said with a smile: "That's not necessary, you should be vigilant, just listen to us come back and call the door." ”

The snow was more than half a foot thick, and the sky was rolling with flakes of goose feathers. When I came to the street, the cry was even more terrible and miserable, and it was terrible. Listening quietly, it was obvious that an old lady was whimpering, and she was still muttering something, and she couldn't understand it. The four of them walked in the snow, and when they saw that not far from the store, there was a light flashing in a broken thatched hut facing the street—from where the cry came from—and the door was not even bolted.

As soon as he entered the house, Kangxi was stunned - this was really a living hell scene, the house was empty, the ashes were extinguished, there was no heating, and the snow that drifted in through the crack in the door was covered with a thin layer. A white-haired mother-in-law in her sixties was lying on the kang table nailed by rotten wood chips, guarding the small tiled lamp of the miserable and faint tile, already crying and her face was swollen and her voice was broken. On the kang stood a corpse straight and straight, also gray-haired, with a yellow paper-mounted paper on its face, a broken mat under it, and a bed of broken knots like quails on its body. Looking at this miserable scene, Kangxi shivered from the bottom of his heart.

When the old woman heard someone coming in, she raised her wrinkled face like a walnut shell and stared at the four richly dressed people, first as dull as wood, expressionless, and then suddenly burst out with a hahahehey smirk: "Here you go again?" If you see what is good, take them all. Get me too! Hahahaha! Laughing and laughing, he cried again, "Alas—my miserable son, old man......"

"Old man," Kangxi got goosebumps on his body. When Ao Bai raised his arms and raised his eyebrows in the Qianqing Palace, he never had this feeling of fear with penetrating bones. He closed the door and whispered, "You...... Don't be afraid, we are passers-by, we can't invest in the store, we want to come in to avoid the snow, I don't know that your family has suffered such a big thing...... We're just a stop...... Just go. "The more the emperor is able to be sharp in the face of dangerous circumstances, he somehow starts to tremble. He wanted to come closer to comfort him, but when he saw the old woman's shining eyes, he cowered and stopped. Aunt Su Mala was still able to stabilize her mind, and stepped forward and asked softly, "When will this uncle return to heaven?" There are only two old people in the family, and you don't even have a child to take care of? ”

"Children? - Daughter! The old woman began to cry again, but there was not a single tear, only her hands twitched and fought in the air, shouting, "My poor daughter, the enemy of the previous life—you return my daughter!" She couldn't restrain herself, and the madman jumped up on the kang like a madman, standing beside the corpse trembling and scratching, her hoarse voice getting higher and higher. Kangxi didn't dare to listen anymore, and Aunt Su Mala was so shocked that she staggered backwards, pulled Kangxi open the door and flashed out. Wolf is also a noble child, where have you seen this? hurriedly followed, only Wei Dongting was calmer, and when he left, he threw a silver ingot on the old woman's kang table.

Kangxi fled to the street, his heart was pounding, and when he saw that Wolf Eye and Wei Dongting had also followed, he shook his head again and again: "It's terrible, this is too scary!" I will never forget it, and I really don't know how hard the people are - Ming'er will help this poor mother-in-law as a pilgrim! ”

The four men were silent and walked back to the store with heavy steps, the soft snow creaking beneath their feet. A howling wind whipped up snow and dust, and the trees beside the road shook uneasily. Wei Dongting shuddered, and suddenly remembered the terrifying night when Ao Bai searched Suofu to murder Kangxi, and couldn't help slowing down, pressing the sword to review, and walking to the door. Wei Dongting took advantage of the snow light to see a small patch of red blood covered by a thin layer of snow, and suddenly waved his arms and shouted: "Wolf blind, protect the master!" An arrow jumped up, made a "Hou Yi shoot the sun", pushed open the door with both palms, and slammed on the door with a "pop", and the door of the store fell backwards with a "rattle"!

This time the incident happened suddenly, not only Kangxi was unprepared, but the three big men hiding behind the door were also completely unaware that one of Wei Dongting's moves was smashed to the ground. Then the three of them roared and jumped out of the oblique stab, and the three big knives danced vigorously, outflanking Kangxi. Wei Dongting and Wolf Eyes protected Kangxi and Su Malagu one after the other, refusing to take half a step back when they were to death, and they didn't even have time to draw their waist swords, they only connected the white blade with their empty palms, and they turned around. Aunt Su Mala was so anxious that she pulled Kangxi to dodge, and shouted: "Are all the minions inside dead?" Still not out yet? ”

Before the words could be spoken, seven or eight guards had jumped down lightly from the wall. As soon as the gate rang, the guards had already been alarmed, they were all masters selected by Wei Dongting from the Great Interior, they were very good at night fighting, they didn't leave the gate, they went out of the wall without a sound, and they fell to the ground, surrounding the three assassins. But these three masked men have superb kung fu, and under the siege of a group of masters, they only defended Wei Dongting, and they didn't seem to care much about the rest of them, and they didn't mean to escape, but became more and more brave the more they fought. But this time the outnumbered trend reversed, Kangxi was out of danger, and hurriedly ordered the wolf: "Go in and call a few more people to comfort the old lady not to be frightened!" ”

The wolf said yes and was about to enter the store, when he suddenly saw Yuliang Daoist striding out of the dust, standing on the stone steps to take a look, and said loudly: "Stop!" ”

The guards didn't know what was going on, and they all stopped in a daze. The three assassins ignored them and forced Kangxi in a column.

"Wild!" Yuliang swung the dust, and three bone-piercing nails roared out, and none of the three assassins dodged, and they all fell into the snow. One of them was probably not seriously injured, and a carp jumped up on the ground and "swished" up the wall. Yu Liang sneered and said: "It's a good man to be able to take my dart, leave the knife and spare you!" After that, it was another dart, the arm of the person on the wall trembled, the single knife fell off his hand, and with a kick, he saw a line of snow and dust flying, and fled to the northwest.

"Long live," Yuliang Daoist came down the stairs and bowed deeply to Kangxi, "I wanted to join in with the Datong prefect with Long live, but it seems that I don't need me anymore, so I will leave!" ”

As soon as this piece of paper was pierced, Kangxi had no intention of hiding it anymore. At this time, he was frightened, and when he heard that Yuliang was going, he said wistfully: "You have such good skills, why bother to bend down, are you willing to come out to serve the country?" ”

"Am I not serving my country?" Yuliang smiled and said, "I know that my fortune is shallow, and I don't dare to be rewarded by the emperor's grace, and I can't stand it because of the etiquette and law there." I just want to swim among the rivers and lakes! Su Malagu is a very delicate person, she has already seen the strangeness from the side, and her heart can't help but move, and she said with a smile: "Yuliang, since you have this ambition, why don't you go to find the master's teacher Wu Ciyou?" ”

"I'm about to meet him!" Yuliang laughed and whistled, and a four-hoofed snow-white black donkey ran out of the back of the store with joy. As soon as Yu Liang leaned over and rode up, he arched his hands and said "Meng Lang", and disappeared into the wind and snow.

"Master," Wei Dongting saw Kangxi standing in a daze in the snow, and came up to salute, "One of these two assassins is dead, and the other is seriously injured, please show me, what should I do?" Kangxi came back to his senses at this time and asked sharply, "What about the shopkeeper?" Is it one of them? Wei Dongting smiled and said: "That's not true, the shopkeeper was killed inside first, and the slave only knew that there was an assassin when he saw the bloodstains under the door frame." "Hmm." Kangxi instructed as he walked back, "Wolf Eye will take the assassin to the back for secret interrogation, Xiao Weizi will come here, and the rest of the people will wait as usual." ”

Wei Dongting followed Kangxi into the west room of the upper room with anxiety, and saw that Kangxi looked very bad, so he hurriedly knelt down and said: "The master is frightened, the slave is not careful, please punish the master!" Xiao Maozi had already brought the prepared tea.

"Get up, I'm going out myself, what does it have to do with you?" Kangxi picked up the letter that he threw under the lamp before going out, his frightened heart didn't seem to be completely gone, and his hands trembled slightly. But after reading a few lines, this post-catastrophe reaction was gone, and his eyebrows were tightly locked, as if he was thinking about something. Wei Dongting and Xiao Maozi didn't know what to say in the letter, and they didn't dare to come out, so they quietly stepped aside and glanced at Kangxi from time to time.

"I can't sleep tonight," Kangxi burned the letter by the lamplight, sighed, and instructed Xiao Maozi, "Prepare paper and pen for me." ”

The edict was quickly drafted, Kangxi himself read it first, handed it to Wei Dongting and said: "You think about abandoning Wu Congwen all day long, and I have no one to discuss with at this time, can you take a look at this edict?" ”

When Wei Dongting read it with both hands, he saw that it was written:

According to Suo Etu and Xiong Ci, the people of Xi'an knocked on the throne and called Moluo and Bai Qing incorruptible. I think that the state has set up officials to keep orders, all of which are to love the people and care for the localities, and the governor has good governance, and the previous sins seem to be forgiven. Each penalty will be fined for half a year, and the second level will be transferred to Beijing for use. There is a request for pension in front of Bai Qing's forehead, which is needless to discuss. After the Zuodu Imperial Shi Qin sent the Shaanxi envoy Mingzhu to receive the edict, he quickly went to Anhui and came to Beijing with Wu Ciyou, and the previous mission was revoked. Chin this!

After pondering for a long time, he said: "Mo Luo, Bai Qing is honest and exempt, and the master is very appropriate. Lord Mingzhu is in a prominent position, and he is afraid of sensationalizing places when he goes to Anhui, so please think deeply about the master. ”

"As usual, your words make sense." Kangxi's eyes flickered under the candle, "It is reported that Geng Jingzhong did not return to Fujian at all, but made a detour to Yunnan, the situation may change, Mr. Wu has a secret, and he can't help but send someone to find him back." ”

"Secret!"

"Evacuation strategy!" Kangxi showed a trace of uneasiness on his face, paused and said, "You don't know yet, Mr. Wu has been receiving professors from various prefectures all the way to lectures, but since he left Fengyang, he has not contacted the government, and I am really worried about him." ”

From Kangxi's face, Wei Dongting suddenly realized the seriousness of the matter, if Wu Ciyou fell into the hands of King Pingxi, the imperial court's plan to withdraw the feudal domain would have to be completely disrupted! After thinking about it, Wei Dongting cheered up and comforted: "The master doesn't have to worry too much, Mr. Wu is alienated by nature, and he refuses to accept the red tape of the government, and he doesn't know if he is playing in the mountains and rivers, or it is reasonable to be sick...... Even if he is unfortunate enough to fall into a trap, how can a man of high fortune and dignity like him be willing to sell his master to survive? ”

"I hope so......" Kangxi nodded, shook his head and sighed, "Huchen, you don't understand human nature. When Mr. Wu was teaching to me in Suo'etu Mansion, he himself once said, 'It is easy to be generous and martyrdom, and it is difficult to go to righteousness calmly'. If there is a threat of coercion, questioning, or killing, I also believe that Mr. Wu will not bow his head, and he will be afraid of ......" He wanted to say that "the Han people are weak and weak", but suddenly thought that Wei Dongting was also Han, so he intercepted it, and said in a new way: "It is difficult for eternity to die!" ”

"Besides," Kangxi was no longer talking to Wei Dongting, but talking to himself, "the rumors that have been circulating in the Jingshi...... Where did it come from? While he was groaning, the wolf hurriedly came in and said, "Master, the thief has tricked." ”

"Who's the mastermind?" Kangxi asked anxiously, "Could it be Wu Sangui?" ”

"No," said the wolf, "it's a middle-aged man in his thirties—they call him 'Third Prince Zhu'!" ”

"Where is the third prince Zhu now, and how many people are there?" Kangxi was shocked when he heard that it was such a huge case, but his face was silent, his eyes flashed like lightning, and he asked loudly, "Have you recruited them all?" ”

"According to the criminal, they came from Yunnan, a total of more than 30 people, all of them are skilled, a group of 18 people went to Wutai Mountain to hijack, and the rest have sneaked into Beijing with the surname Zhu, and he doesn't know the more detailed plot - the three of them are fighting for merit, and they came quietly tonight, saying that the rest of the people are all on the mountain......"

"How did they know I was going to Wutai Mountain?"

"How to know the act of long live, the offender does not know."

"Retrial!"

"Hurrah," replied Wolfstard, somewhat embarrassed, "he ...... It's already breathing. ”

Kangxi glanced at Wei Dongting. Wei Dongting bowed and said softly: "Long live, there are only three people here tonight, it is already so sinister, and there are still fifteen people waiting in Wutai Mountain, it seems that the thieves are determined to win!" The slave thought that Lafayette should be played immediately, and drove back to Beijing overnight. Not only is it difficult for the Wutai Mountain bandits to succeed, but even the traitors in Beijing will be caught off guard - it's not too late to disrupt their position and set up this Datong Mansion again! ”

"How can you be in such a hurry!" Kangxi was stunned at first, and suddenly laughed loudly, "Now that you are fleeing in the snow at night, aren't you afraid that the government and the opposition will laugh at me?" As he spoke, he punched the kang table, and a cold light burst out of his eyes, "The world is the world, what is there to fear?" Wutai Mountain can not go for a while, and after disposing of the bastard surnamed Zhou tomorrow, I will have to stop by for a visit. ”

Shahebao held a banquet for the prefect Zhou Yunlong to receive the wind in the house of Cai Liangdao, the largest local gentleman, who had been a fellow governor. This is for the story that the shopkeeper told - several horse dealers in Henan returned from Mongolia and were detained by Zhou Yunlong in the name of calling for military horses. Several businessmen were so anxious that they were desperate, and they inquired in all directions, only to learn that Liu Qingyuan, the county magistrate, was also from Henan. He jointly handed over the public gift and asked Mrs. Liu to mediate and accommodate. Although Liu Qingyuan is a good official and is very sympathetic, he has no choice but that Zhou Yunlong is his immediate boss. Cai Liangdao of Shahebao was in the same year as Zhou Taizun in the provincial test, and he really couldn't see it, so he came up with this idea: he came forward and asked the government and county to come to Shahebao together to discuss and end the matter.

Kangxi took Wei Dongting and Xiao Maozi to Cai Mansion with Fu Shan, and saw an old man with a goatee waiting at the door, and when he saw Fu Shan arrive, he arched with a smile on his face: "Mr. Qingzhu came early, and the mansion and county will have to arrive after the hour!" Fu Shan hurriedly returned the salute: "Although the snow has stopped, this weather, this road, I don't know if it will come!" ”

"Come, come! The family sent to urge has just returned. Cai Liangdao asked while letting Fu Shan in: "This son-"

"Oh, my surname is Dragon." Kangxi hurriedly said, "Mr. Qingzhu's passer-by pilgrim in the same store. It has nothing to do with me, but one of these horsemen is my relative, so I have to come and go. ”

"I'm afraid it's hard to say." Cai Liangdao led them to the middle hall, met with the four horse dealers, and while giving up his seat, he said in a deep voice, "This Zhou Yunlong is a famous man in Jinnan, the chest Chinese chapter is conceited, the tongue is sharp, and the background is extremely hard, although it looks like a humble gentleman, in fact, the bottom of my heart is solid, I can only do my best!" ”

When he said this, several horsemen were in a hurry, and they all came up and asked for a thousand helps, and said good things about the cart. Kangxi pulled Wei Dongting and Xiao Maozi by himself, picked a seat in the corner of the hall and sat down, and watched the development of the situation.

About half an hour later, there was the sound of a sieve gong outside, and when Kangxi listened to it, it was a seven-tone "××××-×××!" "This is a declaration," the military and civilians and others - all avoid! I couldn't help but smile slightly. The hall was full of people, even Cai Liangdao suddenly became nervous, turned around with both hands, and said to everyone in the hall: "Everyone, Taizun and the county have arrived, let's welcome them!" With this reminder, four horsemen, five or six local guys, squires and Fu Shan got up one after another, and rushed out of the hall with Cai Liangdao.

"Brother Jingyun, it's been a long time!" Zhou Yunlong stepped into the gate with one foot, and said with a smile while arching his hand, "Remember Shijiazhuang's farewell, it's been three years of flickering - hey!" Look at your white hair, it's really 'like green silk turning into snow at dusk'! Hahaha......" As he spoke, he took Cai Liangdao's hand and walked into the hall. Cai Liangdao introduced them one by one while letting him go in, and Zhou Yunlong only nodded and smiled. Liu Qingyuan, who followed behind, was thin and thin, and he also greeted Cai Liang with a smile on his face.

Kangxi was in the corner of the hall, looking at Zhou Yunlong with his eyes, only to see that he was wearing a robe with eight pythons and five claws, decorated with white pheasants, swaying between the crystal tops, his face was like a crown of jade, his eyes were blazing, and he was wearing five locks of beautiful hair. In comparison, Liu Qingyuan looks cramped and shabby, his eyes are so short-sighted that he looks at people, and he gives people an uncomfortable feeling when he sees them. Kangxi couldn't help but sigh to himself: "People can't be good-looking, it's really true!" When he turned his face to look at Wei Dongting, Wei Dongting was looking at Zhou Yunlong with admiration—he became interested in Zhou Yunlong's beard—but Xiao Maozi didn't care much, his eyes were staring at the table, he had already tasted one bite after another, and he was only thinking about how to take advantage of people not paying attention to take a sip of wine first.

Kangxi sneered, and was about to say something, when Zhou Yunlong was accompanied by Cai Liangdao, he had already turned around, glanced at Kangxi thoughtfully, and suddenly asked, "Brother Jingyun, who is this?" ”