In the past few days, Yuan Siyi was on duty in front of the palace, and when he learned that Gao Lishi asked to see him, Yuan Siyi hurriedly came out of the palace to ask.

"General Gao, the saint is taking a lunch break."

"Don't dare to disturb the saint's rest, I'll wait."

Yuan Siyi then accompanied Gao Lishi to stand outside the palace gate and asked, "The results will be found out so quickly." ”

"No, I just found something interesting and wanted to show it to the saint."

"I'm talking a lot, I want to ask General Gao...... This matter is actually very simple, how can General Gao be busy for so many days? ”

"Oh?" Colliers asked, "General Yuan, tell me, how simple?" ”

"Dealt with together, Xue Bai is good at causing trouble, Wu Huaishi is resentful and retaliating, and King Shou is resentful, all of them are not innocent."

Gao Lishi nodded, knowing that Yuan Siyi could remind him like this, it must be because he guessed the sage's mind in the past two days - cockfighting is okay, a few fighting cocks ran out of the circle, and "cooed" and bit on the main hall, which annoyed people, so they all twisted their necks.

When the sun had moved westward, and the midday heat had passed, and the saint had woken up, Colliers went into the temple to give a report.

"Is it General Gao?"

Li Longji leaned on the imperial couch, half-opened his eyes, glanced through the curtain, and muttered: "With General Gao here, I can feel at ease." ”

As soon as he said that, he raised his fingers, and Gong E stepped forward and held a scroll in both hands, asking him to read the story and wake up.

"What story is the saint reading today?"

"It's called "Pillow in the Record", the opening chapter is about a clan disciple returning to Chang'an from Luoyang, when he crossed the Kunshan Mountain, he got lost because of the twilight, and was suddenly attracted by a strange fragrance, and strayed into the Lu Temple after Han Gao, and the Empress Dowager Lu summoned Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Mrs. Qi, Zhao Feiyan and other beautiful women to feast and write poems with him."

It's hard for Li Longji to be a dignified son of heaven, and he is willing to tell Gao Lishi these contents.

It can be seen that he really likes this story recently, and after that, he sighed with emotion.

"Now that this story is becoming more and more novel, Yang Guozhong has summoned a group of people to write stories, and in order to read them, they will write everything into it."

When Gao Lishi touched the scroll in his hand again, he was not so confident.

Li Longji felt his hesitation and asked, "Is there something wrong with General Gao?" ”

"Old slave here, there is also a story, but it is far less interesting than this "Pillow Record".

"Show it to me."

Since it was specially sent, Li Longji did not hesitate to take a look, took the scroll from Gao Lishi's hand, opened it and looked at it, and first said: "The pictures and texts are very innovative." ”

"If you can enter the eyes of a saint, the old slave will be relieved."

Li Longji didn't speak again, leaned there and watched, Gao Lishi didn't dare to say more, so he stood aside.

In the story, Nezha was mistaken for a monster when he was born, Taiyi Zhenren appeared in time to accept him as an apprentice, killed the third prince of the Dragon King in the sea and gave gifts to his parents, and then apologized for his sins and committed suicide......

The scroll unfolds again, and the story ends here.

"Sure enough, it's Xue Bai."

Li Longji sighed with emotion.

Colliers was amazed and asked, "Did the saint see it?" ”

"When he writes, it's a handicap." Li Longji said, "He is the only one who does not follow the wishes of the saint, and the story has ups and downs." If you look at this "Pillow Record" again, you take care of me everywhere, for fear that I will be a little anxious and hateful. ”

"Sage Mingjian." Gao Lishi said, "This is indeed written by Xue Bai, he plans to write a book "Romance of the Gods", not only this Nezha, but also Yang Jian and Jiang Ziya. ”

"How hard was he when he knew how to please me now?" Li Longji threw away the scroll in his hand, and his tone was cold, "If you don't see the coffin, you won't cry." ”

He has no shortage of people to play cards, write poems, and make up stories for him.

When Gao Lishi heard this, he hurriedly pleaded guilty in fear: "The old slave deserves to die, he is ordered to investigate the case, he shouldn't be biased in his heart to favor Xue Bai, and even come to intercede for him today." ”

"I don't blame you." Li Longji saw that Gao Lishi directly confessed his guilt, but did not continue to investigate, but asked: "You dare to intercede for Xue Bai, but it is clear that he is indeed wronged?" ”

"If he is innocent, he is not innocent. Even if the saint executes him, he deserves it. Colliers said, "It's just ...... Although Xue Bai deserves to die, the saint must not be moved by the accusations of others. ”

Li Longji got up, walked out of the curtain, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, and said, "General Gao, is this interceding for him, or is it to dissipate my anger?" ”

"The old slave never dared to deny that he was pleading, but he wanted to tell the sage, 'There is nothing in the world, and mediocrity disturbs it'."

"Lu Xiangxian's famous words." Li Longji sighed.

Lu Xiang was a famous minister from Jingyun to Kaiyuan, and was promoted by Princess Taiping, but he refused to attach himself to her, and also protected Li Longji, so Li Longji liked him a lot.

"Yes, the old slave is based on this principle, 'but when it is quiet at the source, then there is no need to worry', to investigate this case from the source, only to find the story of "Nezha in the Sea" ......"

"Then I will first order to kill Xue Bai, and then talk about the source of tranquility, how about it?"

"The old slave commands."

Colliers stopped pleading, bowed, and waited for the saint to give an order.

"On what charge?" Li Longji groaned and said, "General Gao, let's talk first." ”

"Wu Huaishi has a personal grudge against Xue Bai, and he wants to convict Xue Bai of a big crime, Xu guessed something from the story of Nezha's 'third prince' and 'lotus rebirth', and he thought he was smart, and he really thought the evidence was conclusive."

"Something too true?"

"The singer in Mrs. Qiu's mansion wanted to sing to the concubine on the first day of the sixth month, so that Wu Huaishi heard it."

"Can I trust General Gao?"

"The old slave does not dare to use the trust of the saint as a guarantee for others." Gao Lishi knelt down directly and said: "Wu Huaishi is the adopted son of an old slave, and the old slave has no way to teach, so please ask the saint to give him sin." ”

"General Gao will deal with it for me."

"The old slave commands."

Gao Lishi waited for a while, thinking that Li Longji would say something like "Send the "Romance of the Gods" then".

But no.

~~

Gao Lishi withdrew from the South Xun Temple, thought about it, and went to the North Ya.

Beiya was silent, and when he entered, he saw that the Zhonglang general who was guarding today was Guo Qianli.

"What about General Chen?"

"Inside."

In many cases, the guards in the forbidden area are actually in charge of these eunuchs who are known as "generals", and Chen Xuanli, the general of the Longwu Army, is more often guarding when the saints travel and feasting, and he stays in Beiya in the past.

At this time, Gao Lishi went all the way into the room, and he could already hear the thunderous snoring inside.

"If you have something important, please ask General Chen to get up."

The soldiers guarding the door knocked on the door, and a loud shout came from inside.

"Come in!"

Gao Lishi entered, only to see Chen Xuanli just got up, sitting on the couch to wake up, unlike the sage, he did not read the story, but picked up the wine on the desk and drank a few sips to moisten his throat.

"What's wrong? How did you find this place? ”

"You won't be ignorant of the recent events in the palace, right?"

"It's not about me." Chen Xuanli said lightly.

He put down the flask, rubbed his face, and said, "My son's business...... Xue Bai avenged him, I should have helped to ask for mercy, but Wu Huaishi's crime was too big, and there was nothing to be done. ”

There are not many people in the palace who have received Xue Bai's favor, for example, Gao Lishi's other adopted son, Zhongguan General Feng Shenwei, was recommended by Xue Bai to serve as the head of the newspaper institute, supervising public opinion for the sage, but as Chen Xuanli said, this time the involvement was too deep, and no one dared to help Xue Bai intercede.

"I just interceded for him in front of the palace." Colliers.

"Really?" Chen Xuanli was quite surprised, but also a little happy, and said with a smile: "You are not partial to your adopted son Wu Huaishi? ”

"How much affection can I have?" Colliers looked indifferent.

Chen Xuanli knew that he was quite affectionate, and he was the same for his adoptive father and brother-in-law, but those adopted sons received more favors from Colliers.

"Don't I know you yet? If you owe someone a favor, you will make it up. Chen Xuanli said: "This time I am willing to make a move, but I owe it to Xue Bai?" ”

"Not really." Colliers said, "His good looks want to hurt me." ”

"What's going on?"

Colliers only talked about the matter, but he hid the details.

Chen Xuanli couldn't help but say: "You just have to say, who is this evil girl, where is it at this time, I took out this evil breath for you." ”

"That's it." "I went to ask her about it, and I got useful news...... Do you know why I want to save Xue Bai? ”

"I just said, didn't you owe him anything?"

"It's not. In fact, it was really because of the little lady's words of 'breaking the jar and breaking'. ”

Chen Xuanli frowned and shook his head.

Gao Lishi said: "She said, we can't kill Xue Bai, because he is really the emperor's grandson." ”

"If it's not broken, it's ill-intentioned."

"She can really take me." Gao Lishi smiled: "If I hadn't changed my mind, I would have been reduced to a prisoner now." I really changed my mind, and she saw it and let me go. ”

"Why?"

Gao Lishi restrained his smile and said slowly: "Because, when I saw the sentence 'Take the lotus stem as the bone, the lotus root as the meat, and the lotus leaf as the coat, rebuild Nezha's body', I thought that what Xue Bai did was too much like the emperor's grandson, and I had doubts in my heart, and I doubted what I saw back then." ”

Chen Xuanli was about to drink, and a pair of big hands had already held the wine jug, but he stopped when he heard the words.

The flask stopped in mid-air, and he didn't realize it.

After a while, Colliers took the flask and took a big sip with his head up.

"I don't understand what you're saying." Chen Xuanli said, "The emperor and grandson are dead, this is what we saw with our own eyes back then, and the body was buried by me personally, and you and I performed it to the saint together." ”

Colliers nodded.

"If you say that Xue Bai was wronged by Wu Huaishi and want to protect him, I can understand." Chen Xuanli said: "But now you say that because you suspect that what Wu Huaishi said is true, you want to protect Xue Bai instead." This makes no sense, and the more people listen to it, the more confused they become. ”

Gao Lishi shook the wine jug in his hand and said slowly: "On April 21, the twenty-fifth year of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, after the sage issued an order to give the death of the three people, we have been staying in the palace, we should have gotten the news at the moment of the unitary time, right?" ”

"Yes, the twilight drum had already sounded. You, the general of the right prison gate, have to go to the Zhonglang general and the city gate general on duty, sign the document together, hand it over to the saint for approval, and then go to get the survey charm. ”

"We have been waiting for the palace gate key for a long time, and when we leave the palace, has it been three quarters?"

"It's over." Chen Xuanli said: "Outside Anxingfang, we heard the sound of banging. ”

Gao Lishi said: "Then it should be almost time to abolish the prince's mansion, I remember that it was the king of Ruyang who greeted us outside the door, and the turmoil that should be dealt with at that time has been dealt with, and the crazy soldier has also been taken down." ”

"Yes."

"The children of the abolished prince, the king of Ruyang arranged for someone to take them away."

"Yes."

"When we entered the main hall, Concubine Xue hung on the beam, and she was out of breath."

Chen Xuanli looked at him with a look of memory and nodded.

Gao Lishi said: "The body of the emperor and grandson fell not far from the feet of Concubine Xue, with a pool of blood under his head, and the back of his head was smashed. ”

"The murder weapon is the copper paperweight with the dragon coiled on it, and it fell not far away." Chen Xuanli said, "The one I picked up was quite weighty, and it killed someone." ”

"The snort of the emperor and grandson you reached out for?" "I thought about it for a long time, I wanted to find out, but you said 'it's dead.'" ”

"Didn't you probe? You've always been careful......"

Chen Xuanli squinted his eyes halfway through his words, and said, "You doubt me?" ”

"Nope. After many years, a lot of things have been forgotten. Gao Lishi looked at Fang Liang, still remembering, and muttered: "After that, you and I didn't let anyone get close, and buried the emperor and concubine Xue together, and before entering the ground, no one had seen the emperor and grandson." ”

"So what? You and I have seen it with our own eyes. ”

"I was originally very sure of this matter, but when I thought about it today, I was puzzled and wanted to ask you."

"Ask me?" Chen Xuanli's face became more solemn, and he said, "Then I can tell you now that I haven't done anything, and I have never done anything to change the pillars." ”

"In the twenty-fifth year of Kaiyuan, the saint has a grandson...... It should be ninety-seven. Gao Lishi said slowly, "Although Li Qian is the third son of the abolished prince, however, the prince was not loved by Concubine Wu Hui in those years, and there were only one or two opportunities to meet the emperor and grandson once or twice a year. ”

"What the hell are you trying to say?"

"Do you really recognize the emperor's grandson Li Qian?" Gao Lishi asked, "That night, are you really sure that the dead child is Li Qian?" ”

"That's ...... of course"

"To tell you the truth, I don't recognize it."

Colliers finally spoke his heart, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

In front of Chen Xuanli, he took off a lot of guards.

"The world thinks I am shrewd, but I am sixty and six, I was fifty-three years old at the time of the incident, and I was in the dark, and I identified two bodies in the night, and the child was only six years old, and the last time I saw him was when he was four years old, mixed with a large group of children."

As he spoke, Colliers shook his head in a dejected manner.

"I always say that this emperor is like a saint, and that one is also like. Except that the King of Heiqi and the saint were exactly the same when they were young, what is not like the other, in my old and dizzy eyes, it is nothing more than two eyes and a nose. ”

Chen Xuanli was silent for a long time.

Colliers had no choice but to ask again: "At that time, did you recognize it?" ”

"I ......"

Chen Xuanli looked outside the door and said, "At that time, we all knew that it was the emperor and grandson who died, and everyone's reaction was ......."

"Everyone's reaction made us never suspect that it was not the emperor who fell to the ground."

"But it can't be fake, no one needs to take him away and put a fake corpse there." Chen Xuanli said: "And the reaction of Xue Bai and the emperors and grandsons at the beginning can prove that it was Li Qian who was killed, and the county lord of Boping is the witness!" ”

"If Li Qian is alive, it is possible that the king of Ruyang took him to treat his injuries, or someone else ......"

"The King of Ruyang didn't!"

Chen Xuanli first said arbitrarily, and then said: "Did King Ruyang do this, don't you know if you are in charge of the province?!" ”

Gao Lishi said: "The king of Ruyang is dead, and Wu Huaishi, who poisoned the king of Ruyang, thinks that Xue Bai is the emperor's grandson, he believes in his own judgment, he really thinks so." ”

Chen Xuanli grabbed his hair irritably, and said in a low voice: "This is impossible, and it is impossible for the imperial grandson to become Xue Bai." ”

"I know it can't be." Colliers.

"And what else can you think like that? Crazy? ”

"I'm just trying to figure out why there is such a person like him in the world."

This sentence was a little inexplicable, but Chen Xuanli understood it as soon as he heard it.

A young man born out of nowhere, his eyes are pure, but the city is as deep as a hundred-year-old goblin. knows astronomy and geography, composes poems and can sing harmony with Li Taibai, and can be the champion in the entrance examination, and his long-term vision seems to have seen through a hundred generations......

Except for the saint, Chen Xuanli has really only seen Xue Bai alone in his life.

Let's talk from the heart, the saint is not as good as Xue Bai at this age.

"General Gao, you ...... Looking forward to Xue Bai being the emperor's grandson, right? Chen Xuanli asked, "You have an expectation in your heart, so you deliberately look for clues along with this expectation." ”

"Maybe." Gao Lishi said: "Maybe I really thought that if he was the emperor's grandson, it would be the blessing of the Tang Dynasty." ”

He knew that Du Yan was so anxious that he wanted to do it at that time.

But it was precisely because of this that he saw Xue Bai's strength and courage, so if Xue Bai was really the emperor's grandson...... In case the crown prince cannot serve the public in the future, and King Qing will succeed him, Xue Bai has the ability to help King Qing stabilize the situation.

Just like the Tang Long and innate changes that Gaolishi has experienced.

After thinking only for a moment, he shook his head and did not continue to think about the unrealistic questions.

"General Chen, you haven't said it yet, did you recognize the emperor's grandson Li Qian that night?"

"It won't be anyone else who dies there." Chen Xuanli replied stiffly, and finally muttered, "I thought you recognized." ”

Colliers said, "I don't want to kill by mistake...... Such a person. ”

"Got it, the saint promised to let him go?"

"Nope."

"If you make a move, will you not succeed?"

Gao Lishi muttered: "The saint asked me to deal with it, but this time, I can't figure out the saint's mind. ”

Having said that, he actually guessed the mind of the saint.

He has only seen two extremely extraordinary people in his life, one is a saint and the other is Xue Bai.

But if you have to compare, the saint may not be as good as Xue Bai.

~~

"Do you know why you lost your favor?"

"I've caused too much trouble."

"It's not scary to have more incidents, but the scary thing is that you hate it when you look at it."

Xue Bai was a little surprised, and asked rhetorically, "I look at it?" ”

Across the wooden fence, Colliers nodded, and said, "Do you know how annoying people are? ”

"Selfish and troublesome." Xue Bai added: "Such as An Lushan and the like. ”

"He thinks he is wise." Gao Lishi's face turned a little cold, and said, "You are the only one in the world who is smart?" Without you, the world would be in chaos? ”

Xue Bai wanted to say "yes", but he did realize that this was very annoying, so he became a little more sincere and said, "Please also ask General Gao to teach me." ”

"I can't teach you." Gao Lishi said, "I have also reminded you that I should have reminded you, you are so self-conscious." ”

He didn't tell Xue Bai that he had rescued him, he still didn't say anything, and still tried to find some hidden secrets from Xue Bai's mouth.

It's been another day, and Xue Bai seems to have figured out a lot, and plans to confide in Gao Lishi.

"I'm willing to do it myself, think about it, or want to tell General Gao something, but I don't know how to speak."

"Then let me ask you, do you know what Wu Huaishi's speculation about your life experience?" Gao Lishi asked, waiting to see Xue Bai's reaction.

Xue Bai said: "I also found some, I seem to be ......"

"Say."

"It's hard to say." Xue Bai shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Princess Ning said that I am the illegitimate son of Zhang Yuma. ”

Colliers was stunned.

"This matter must be false, but General Gao should also know that I was discovered by Princess Ning in Zhang Yuma's courtyard, according to some speculation...... Zhang Juma couldn't explain to Princess Ning Qin at that time, so he had to pretend that it was He Jian who asked him, and found someone to forge the documents, thinking that this would scare Princess Ning Qin and make her dare not speak out, but she didn't expect that the princess had a strong personality, not only did she stop calming people, but also made things bigger. ”

Colliers laughed with great morale.

He got up and personally went to pick up a bucket of meat and bones for feeding the dogs next to him, and poured it at Xue Bai's feet.

"I'm afraid you've put a lot of effort into making up such words, so let's eat."

Leaving this sentence aside, Colliers turned around and left.

Xue Bai said: "I didn't make it up, it was rumored in the market, and Princess Ning also thought so......"

Before he could finish his sentence, Colliers had already walked away.

~~

This case, because it involved the old affairs of the palace, did not spread.

I don't know who revealed the news to Princess Ningqin, saying that Xue Bai was detained, and it was still related to his life experience.

Princess Ning asked to enter the palace for an audience.

“……”

"It's really what my daughter said, Xue Bai is very likely to be Zhang Yan's illegitimate son."

"What did you say?" Li Longji had an impatient and curious expression on his face, and said, "Why do you say that? ”

"That's what my daughter thinks, Xue Bai and Zhang Yan are too similar when they were young, and for some reason, the two of them suddenly got very close......"

Li Longji didn't wait for her to finish speaking, and asked, "Then who do you think Zhang Yan gave birth to this son with?" ”

"It must have been born with Siniang, so he can come up with the surname 'Xue'......"

"That's enough, don't bother."

"Father only needs to confront Zhang Yan and Xue Bai, and he will know as soon as he asks."

"How could I have given birth to such a stupid daughter as you?"

Gao Lishi hurriedly came out and said, "The saint is angry, Princess Ning is not to blame for this matter." ”

"Don't blame her? Reckless, listening to the wind is rain. ”

"The sage also knows that Xue Bai is a lowly person, and there have been many people who have praised him in the past two years, he really takes himself seriously, and he always wants to find a grandfather." Gao Lishi said: "Someone used this to frame him, and at the same time, he also wanted to use this to cling to the minister." ”

Speaking of this, there was a slight sneer in Gao Lishi's tone.

"It's nothing more than Xue Bai making jokes everywhere looking for his father, I really don't blame Princess Ningqin."

Li Longji also smiled when he heard this.

Faintly, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to be a little lighter.

In the past two years, I have always heard people praise how Xue Bai is, but today it is Gao Lishi who has revealed what Xue Bai is.

Thinking about it, Xue Bai is far less sincere than An Lushan, even if An Lushan is in a high position, he never forgets that he is a miscellaneous beard, and always says that everything is given by a saint, so Li Longji is willing to reward An Lushan, it is worth it.

How long has Xue Bai been in the office? seems to have completely forgotten his origins, and put on a naturally noble face all day long, as if everything is what he deserves, and he is not grateful.

But what Gao Lishi said is right, Xue Bai has never been born noble, just a cheap slave with no father and no mother, and what he does is nothing more than to hide his humble background.

Don't deserve to be looked down upon.

"From Yang Shenjin to Xue Ling, and now to Zhang Yan?"

Today's situation is exactly the same as Tianbao's six-year-old Shangyuan Night, and it has become a search for Xue Bai's grandfather, this is the big case made by Wu Huaishi and King Shou, two mediocre people.

Xue Bai also didn't grow.

Li Longji waved his hand unhappily and said, "Don't bother me anymore, get out." ”

"The saint is angry."

Gao Lishi saw that the saint's jealousy had disappeared, and hurriedly led Princess Ning Qin to retreat.

He took a few steps back, but listened to the sage's command.

"By the way, "Romance of the Gods" will be written and brought over."

"The old slave obeys."

~~

In this way, Colliers knew what to do with this incident.

He went to see Wu Huaishi in person.

"Do you remember what I told you when I entered the palace?"

Wu Huaishi responded: "I'm in the palace...... Except for Grandpa, there are no relatives. ”

"Then where did you find a husband?"

"The child knows his mistakes."

"It doesn't matter if you find someone." Gao Lishi said: "I also have a father-in-law, but in my heart, there has never been anything more important than a saint, and I will not ignore the saint's mood in order to give my father-in-law anger." ”

"Grandpa, I was wrong, I was wrong...... Please let Grandpa spare me! ”

"You can't fight Xue Bai, but you have to fight him, do you think you died unjustly?"

"No, no." Wu Huaishi hurriedly shook his head, knelt on the ground and said: "What the child said is true, Xue Bai really went to the Yeting Palace to see the Lord of Boping, and really told the King of Ruyang that Li Qian is still alive......"

"So far, do you really think he is the emperor's grandson?"

"Yes!" Wu Huaishi replied without hesitation, "Grandpa, do you know? When I figured out his identity, I suddenly understood why he acted like that, he didn't accept the benefits given by Lu Linghao, and was bent on dividing the land of Yanshi, he acted really strangely, he didn't accept the benefits of An Lushan...... I really didn't understand why he was before...... He's got a big plan! It's a big picture! ”

Colliers nodded and said, "I know." ”

"King Ruyang's reaction is also very strange, he listened to Xue Bai's words, and really went to find the copper paperweight, grandpa, you see ......"

"I know."

Colliers took the copper paperweight and looked at it carefully.

This time, he didn't say he was going to melt it.

Wu Huaishi cried: "Grandpa, you believe me, I'm really not for personal grudges. I saw that Xue Bai was wrong, so I told you everything and handled everything well. The rules in the palace, whoever investigates the case of the three concubines have to get rid of it, and I am really loyal. ”

"Okay, I believe you."

"The reason why King Shou is involved is because King Shou knows ......"

"Bang!"

Gao Lishi slammed the copper paperweight on Wu Huaishi's head.

This blow smashed the back of the head, splattering blood.

Wu Huaishi was in severe pain and screamed, but he did not die.

Colliers didn't continue to smash.

He believes that the Praetorian guards killed the emperor and grandson by mistake, and generally speaking, they should not be smashed a second time.

The next moment, Wu Huaishi was frightened, glared at Gao Lishi in astonishment, roared angrily, and was about to pounce.

Colliers has experienced many coups in his life, and he kicked him away with one kick.

"Someone!"

Outside the house, two guards pounced, grabbed Wu Huaishi, and strangled his neck with their thick arms.

Wu Huaishi's face turned red, and he still had a thousand words to say, but he couldn't say them.

Colliers didn't look at him anymore, but at the copper paperweight he was holding in his hand, as if wondering why he couldn't kill anyone......

(End of chapter)