Taihao drove the halberd male out of the door, and then there was a "bang", and the door closed tightly, like an iron and copper wall, sealing all the prying eyes of the outside world. He moved to the cabinet again, and gently opened the door, and the three brocade boxes were hidden under his clothes as if they were secrets, fearing that the thieves would steal them.

After thinking about it, Taihao wanted to find Jiang Bao in order to uncover the mystery of his brocade box and clear up his grievances for Yangshun. But considering that the halberd male had not gone away, he waited in the house for the time of half a burnt incense, and only went downstairs when he was sure that it was correct.

On the first floor, Tai Hao inquired to the shopkeeper: "The young man who walked with a limp has left here?" ”

The shopkeeper replied respectfully, "He has left, let me lead his yellow horse from the stable to the door, and then he rode away." ”

Tai Hao bowed his head and said, "Okay, I understand, you continue to guard my room for me, no matter who you are, you are not allowed to trespass." ”

The shopkeeper immediately responded: "Vice General Taihao, but please rest assured, the little one will continue to guard!" After speaking, he respectfully retreated.

The moment Tai Hao left the Snow Lotus Inn, the route of Jiang Bao's family still echoed in his mind, but in an instant, those memories seemed to be blown away by the wind and could no longer be condensed and formed. So, he walked down the street, every step of which was like exploring in a strange dream.

The hustle and bustle of the street was in stark contrast to his state of mind at the moment, as if the whole world was moving rapidly before his eyes, but his heart stayed in place. Within a few steps, a bookstall attracted him like a magnet.

For Tai Hao, books are not a regular visitor in his life. But in this place called Nine Earth City, a place of poverty and sin, the very existence of books is a miracle. The book seller was an old man, his face full of wrinkles carved with the traces of time, and he was about sixty years old.

Tai Hao stepped forward curiously and asked softly, "Uncle, what books do you have here?" There was a rare gentleness in his voice.

The old man looked up at Tai Hao, his eyes seemed to hide endless stories, he pointed to the books on the bookshelf, and said lightly: "My family's books are all here, if you are interested, you can choose any one, no money is needed." ”

Taihao was stunned for a moment, and asked suspiciously, "Why are you so generous?" ”

The old man smiled bitterly and said, "My grandson unfortunately broke the law and was punished by the government. I am already in the last years of my life, and there is no point in living in the world, just waiting to meet the king of Hades. His voice was filled with endless sadness and helplessness.

Tai Hao's heart seemed to have been hit by something heavy, and he couldn't help but ask, "Dare to ask Ling Sun Zun's name?" ”

The old man glanced at Taihao, a trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but he still decided to tell him frankly: "The old man doesn't hide from the strong man, my grandson's name is Yangshun ......" His voice was full of pain and longing.

Tai Hao was shocked, as if he had been struck by lightning, he hurriedly interrupted the old man's words, and his voice trembled with a hint of trembling: "Yangshun's body, has it been put down from the city gate?" ”

The old man shook his head slowly, his old eyes were full of endless grief, and he choked up: "Strong man, you don't know that the world is difficult. The lord of the city has ordered that the body of my grandson be hung at the head of the city for three days and three nights. Now, it's only the first day, how can the city lord easily let my grandson go? ”

Tai Hao clasped his hands, frowned, and whispered to himself: "The Yuhong City Lord clearly promised me that he would put Yangshun's corpse down, why is he backtracking now." He took a deep breath, trying to calm the anger and incomprehension in his heart, and then said firmly to the old man: "Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely make the Yuhong City Lord change his mind as soon as possible and put your grandson's body down." ”

The old man raised his teary eyes, looked at Tai Hao, and asked in a hoarse voice: "Dare to ask the name of the strong man, what is the relationship with my grandson?" ”

Tai Hao took a deep breath and said solemnly: "I am a close friend of your grandson, and I am deeply saddened by what happened to him......

The old man smiled bitterly and interrupted Tai Hao's words: "Zhuangshi, you don't have to hide it from me. If my grandson could have a friend like you, he would not have embarked on that road of no return. His voice was filled with sorrow and remorse.

Taihao's heart was like being cut by a knife, but he still couldn't help asking: "Has Yangshun always been brought up by you?" Where is his father and mother now? ”

The old man's tears welled up again, and he choked up: "Yangshun lost his father and mother when he was one year old, and it was I who single-handedly pulled him up. Blame me, blame me for not educating him well, let him go astray and follow the Mu brothers. He's only a teenager, so he went, I hurt him! As the old man spoke, tears slid down his wrinkled face and dripped on the ground, turning into cloudy teardrops.

Tai Hao gently patted the old man's shoulder, and said in a soft and firm voice: "Old man, you don't have to be sad and sad anymore, the matter of Yangshun is related to me, and I swear to clear up all grievances for him." ”

The old man raised his wrinkled face, his eyes full of doubt, and he asked, "Strongman, what do you mean by your words?" ”

Tai Hao took a deep breath, looked at the old man with a firm gaze, and said, "Uncle, this matter is a long story and involves many complicated internal affairs. You don't have to ask for the time being, as long as you trust me, I will definitely keep a clean slate. ”

The old man sighed and said sadly: "But he is dead, even if he can return his innocence, so what? ”

Taihao's heart was like being pricked by a needle, full of endless self-blame and pain. He glanced around at the books on the stall, tried to change the topic, and said, "Uncle, I see that you have a lot of books at home, why didn't you guide Yangshun to study diligently, and maybe you will be able to get fame in the future and get out of this predicament?" ”

The old man laughed mockingly and said, "Strongman, you may not understand the reality of this Nine Earth City. Here, reading and literacy is of little use. When we were born here, we poor people were regarded as inferior pariahs, and we had to rely on the 'four great families' to survive. Even the government is not trustworthy. These books are actually relics of my son, who once had a dream of escaping Jiutu City to participate in the 'Beijing Examination' in the capital and strive for fame. However, the laws of the Eastern Empire stipulate that one must take the first place in one's own city to be eligible to go to the capital. However, the first place in Jiutu City every year is a member of the 'Four Great Families', for us poor people, how can there be any day to turn over? ”

Taihao's thoughts drifted back to the distant past, when he and Onishi were two young men with dreams, and they embarked on the road to the imperial examination in the capital together. He clearly remembered that if he hadn't changed the literary test to the martial test at a critical moment, he might never have the opportunity to follow Vice General Miao Qi to the capital, let alone today's achievements. And Onishi was the first place that his father bought with a lot of money, so he was qualified to go to the capital. Tai Hao understood that in this Jiutu City, which was shrouded in collusion between officials and businessmen, this situation would only become more common, and he deeply felt the endless suffering of the people here.

A change began to brew in Taihao's heart, and he thought about how to reverse this situation and let the people of Jiutu City get rid of the heavy oppression and regain the dignity of life.

The old man seemed to feel the fluctuation in Taihao's heart, and he said softly: "Anyway, I will go to see the king of Hades in a few days, I didn't dare to say these words, but if I say it today, I won't be afraid that the government will come to arrest me." Strongman, what book do you like, take it quickly. ”

Tai Hao's gaze swept over the bookstall and finally fixed on a quaint "Classic of Mountains and Seas". He pointed to the book and asked, "Uncle, how much is this book?" ”

The old man smiled and shook his head: "Strong man, didn't I say just now, you can take whatever book you like, anyway, I'm going to see Hades soon." ”

Taihao took out some broken silver from his arms and gently put it in the old man's hand: "Uncle, please accept these silvers." I hope you don't have any more thoughts of suicide. Actually, my name is Tai Hao, and I am the newly appointed deputy general of the city guard. I swear that I will not only restore your grandson's innocence, but also rectify the unhealthy practices in the officialdom of Jiutu City, so that the people here can have a peaceful life again. ”

As soon as the old man heard that Taihao reported that he was the deputy general guarding the city, his body immediately fell down, and he hurriedly saluted: "Oh, it turned out that the deputy general Taihao is coming, the old man I don't know Mount Tai with my eyes, those nonsense just now, please raise your noble hand, don't go to your heart." I have no complaints against the government, no complaints......"

Seeing this, Tai Hao knew that the old man was terrified, and hurriedly said with relief: "Uncle, you don't have to be afraid, I am different from those officials who only know how to oppress the people. ”

At this moment, two soldiers approached, and one of them asked in a rough voice, "Are you Yangshun's grandfather Yangzhong?" ”

The old man hurriedly replied: "Yes, yes, I am." What advice does the official have? ”

Another soldier said with a blank face: "On the orders of the city lord, I inform you to go outside the city gate to collect Yangshun's body. ”

The old man was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then tears welled up in his eyes, and he asked in a trembling voice: "You mean that the city lord ordered my grandson's body to be put down?" ”

The soldier nodded and said, "That's right, you should hurry up and go outside the city gate." ”

Seeing this, Taihao had mixed feelings in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "Uncle, I'll go with you." ”

Tai Hao put the quaint "Classic of Mountains and Seas" into his arms, and together with Yang Zhong, followed behind the two soldiers who led the way in front. Their steps were like lead, and they were heavy. In a few moments, they were already outside the city gates. At this moment, Taihao noticed that the snow piled up above the city gate had not completely melted, and they silently covered the bleak field, as if they were dressed in a cold white mourning dress for the impending tragedy.

Yang Zhong's eyes immediately locked on the corpse hanging high above the city gate. Just one glance, his heart was torn apart by unbearable grief. It was his grandson, Yang Shun, a teenager who was now hanging high above the city gates. Yang Shun's face had been frozen to a bruised color, and his lips were tightly closed, as if he was still silently suffering endless pain in the last moments of his life. His hands were firmly tied behind his back with rough hemp rope, and the whole body took on an eerie, stiff posture.

A soldier who was apparently a commander gave an order to the soldier next to him in a deep voice, and then Yang Shun's body was slowly lowered from above the city gate. Yang Zhong couldn't control himself anymore, and a cry of grief burst out from the depths of his throat. He struggled to get to the front to touch his grandson's face, but was firmly stopped by the soldiers beside him. Taihao looked at the human tragedy in front of him, and his heart was full of anger and grief. He was well aware that the boy had not been treated with the justice he deserved, and that the punishment he had suffered was too cruel and merciless.

Yangshun's corpse swayed gently in the cold wind, as if telling the world his innocence and grievances in some way. And Yang Zhong's grief and helplessness were incomparably profoundly displayed at this moment, so that every soldier present could deeply feel his feelings. For Tai Hao, at this moment, he only felt extremely heavy and heartache.