The sky was covered with dark clouds, the west wind was blowing, and countless snowflakes were falling. In the first month, even the old cows and horses have to rest, in order to have a happy year. However, the Xuannu Palace was busy from top to bottom. A series of clear footprints in the snow lead straight to the Kunming Hall along the Danqi.

Xue Lanyi wore a white crane embroidered gown, and wore a phoenix crown of a hundred birds on her head, and slowly walked into the main hall. The three lords of Begonia, Hibiscus, and Pear Blossom also followed, and the rest of the disciples also entered along the stone steps. The main hall was crowded, and the younger ones were graceful, with flowers and branches, and they exchanged heads and whispered to each other. The old man's demeanor is solemn and very majestic.

Everyone also found a place to sit down in the order of the elder and the youngest, except for the lords who sat on the chairs, and the rest of the disciples sat on the futon. The snowflakes outside the door were getting tighter and tighter, and a cold wind blew, and the disciples standing at the door couldn't help but shiver.

Xue Lan closed the door according to the instructions of the waiter, opened the warm wall mechanism on the four walls, and after a while, the hall was warm. Xue Lanyi sat on a rosewood couch and covered her knees with a white fox blanket. The disciples hadn't seen the palace master for a while, but when they saw her radiant at this time, they were also much more relieved. The head of ceremonies said loudly: "I wish the Snow Palace Master, good health and good health." ”

Above the hall, the blessings of the disciples were higher and higher. Xue Lanyi smiled and waved her hand, and said to the master of ceremonies: "Tian Zhangyi, give rewards to all disciples." "[The so-called head of the Xuannu Palace is a position below the lord and deputy lord. It is divided into four categories: law enforcement, transmission of merit, moving mountains, and pouring the sea.

Law enforcement, as the name suggests, is to punish the disciples who make mistakes in accordance with the rules of the door; to pass on the merits, it is self-evident, to supervise the disciples to carry out martial arts practice; to move mountains, in fact, is the job of a doctor, as the saying goes: Illness comes like a mountain falls, and illness goes like a thread. There is a person in each department who is proficient in medical skills, and everyone hopes that the medicine will cure the disease, so it is called "moving mountains";

The sea is also a kind of elegant name, there is a way to spend money like flowing water, and earn money like catching ghosts. This one who pours the sea gathers the flowing water in one place. The nine departments of the Xuannu Palace all have two incomes from animal husbandry and field production, and most of the people on the mountain do not participate in farming, so how to make these two industries play a huge role and ensure that the warehouse is sufficient, it depends on the means of pouring the sea. ）

Before she could finish speaking, dozens of people walked out of the back door of the hall, holding vermilion lacquered wooden plates, all covered with red silk. According to the practice of the Xuannu Palace, on the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, the seven disciples of each department will lead the seven disciples of the headquarters and the other elders of the department to greet each other, and each senior will give the female disciples some spices, jewelry, embroidery or other things, in short, a colorful head.

Because the Lord of the Six Divisions has died, this practice has not been carried out again. And the blessing of the lord of the tenth house at the beginning of the first month, this has not changed. In previous years, each person was given 200 copper coins, three brocades, a sachet, three sweat towels, and a box of rouge. But I don't know what to reward this year, but those young disciples are quite praying.

At this time, I saw that the chief of ceremonies stretched out his hand to remove the red silk on a vermilion lacquer plate, and the two exquisitely carved gold hairpins shone brightly, and everyone couldn't help but exclaim when they saw it.

"Disciples of the Orchid Department, Jiang Hanyue and Shui Hanyan stepped forward to receive the lottery. ”

Jiang and Shui quickly came out of the ranks, and immediately knelt down and said, "Please bless Your Excellency." Na Tian Zhangyi took out the two golden hairpins on the plate and handed them to the two of them. The two of them raised their hands above their heads and said loudly, "Thank you, Palace Master Longen." "Whether it is the disciples of the east head or the west head, they can't help but show envious eyes.

Like a precious thing like a golden hairpin, the Xuannu Palace has never been easily given to the doorman. Even if it is the position of the lord, there are only three people who have the golden hairpin. The three lords of Ding, Liu, and Shen have never had this gift, and their faces are a little unbearable.

Ding Wanqiu glanced at Jiang Shui and said loudly, "Slow down." The second daughter was stunned at first, and Tian Zhangyi said: "What does Lord Ding Zun say?" Ding Wanqiu sneered: "These two yellow-haired girls, why do you take this fire phoenix golden hairpin?" Tian Zhangyi said: "Lord Ding, don't be impatient, and listen to me." This fire phoenix golden hairpin was given to these two girls, which was the intention of the palace master. ”

Ding Wanqiu glanced at Xue Lanyi and said lightly: "Senior sister, for so many years, my little sister has repeatedly made great contributions to this sect, and I have never seen my senior sister reward me with a golden hairpin." How can you reward these two girls for the first time today?"

Jiang Hanyue has always been alert, and seeing Ding Wanqiu's words, this golden hairpin must not be able to accept it. Hurriedly glanced at Shui Hanyan, and interjected: "Uncle Ding is right, we are juniors, so we are naturally not worthy of this golden hairpin." As he spoke, he lifted the golden hairpin with both hands and put it back into the wooden plate, and Shui Hanyan did the same.

Xue Lanyi smiled faintly and said, "Senior Sister Ding, when did the palace master give orders and ask you?" Ding Wanqiu said: "I don't dare to do this." It's just that the little sister told the truth, don't blame the sister. The disciples of all the departments couldn't help but be surprised when they saw Ding Wanqiu openly contradicting the palace master. Shen and Liu were calm, although what she said just now was the truth, but in front of the palace master, it obviously made her unable to get off the stage.

Xue Lanyi glanced at everyone and said slowly: "Yes, I know that some people disagree with me. Failure to protect the relics of the ancestors is regarded as incompetence; traitors who cause trouble and have no way to deal with it are regarded as incompetent; negligence in employing people and almost ruining the foundation of the family are even more incompetent.

If it weren't for my incompetence, how could the Xuannu Palace lose so many innocents? As soon as these words came out, the palace became noisy. Tian Zhangyi knelt down and said loudly: "My subordinates only recognize the master of the Snow Palace, and others don't recognize them." "Among the many disciples in the hall, there are many wise people. They were weighing whether to stand on Ding Wanqiu's side or the Snow Palace Lord's side.

Jiang Hanyue knew best in her heart that Master Xu Fengying's soul had returned to the Nine Heavens, and the four masters of the Orchid Department had also died one after another. The only one who can really protect the orchid department is the old palace master, if he stands on the side of the Begonia Department, he and his junior sisters are not Ding Wanqiu's descendants, so they are naturally not taken seriously. She also followed Tian Zhangyi and echoed at the moment: "Please ask the palace master's mother-in-law to take back her fate, and the disciples are only willing to listen to your dispatch." ”

The situation of the peony, peony, and autumn chrysanthemum is similar to that of the orchid department, and they are also chanting with the orchid department to retract the words of fate. The situation of the Narcissus Department was quite embarrassing, the Venerable Lord betrayed his fellow disciples, and his disciples were not immune to criticism from the same sect, and they did not express their stance at the moment.

Although the lord of the Lamei Department is dead, there are two Zhangyi, one is Tian Zhangyi, and the other is He Zhangyi. The two disagreed, and the disciples were not easy to express. The two departments of Hibiscus and Pear Blossom have recently only looked forward to the Begonia Department, and now Ding Wanqiu is openly calling Ban Xue Lanyi, and they also have plans in this regard.

It turned out that Xue Lanyi's mention of the transfer of power that day had caused dissatisfaction among the two. The three lords then discussed in secret, and decided to put Xue Lanyi under house arrest to seize power, so as not to talk about innovative strategies and defeat the ancestral foundation.

Unexpectedly, Xue Lanyi invited everyone to discuss in advance, and the original plan of the three of them was completely disrupted. For a while, the atmosphere above the hall was quite solemn. Xue Lanyi looked around, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "For the Chinese New Year, it is appropriate to give the children some color." Senior Sister Ding, you think the things I give to the children are flashy, I think you have a better one in your heart, why don't you take it out and let the big guy open their eyes?"

As soon as these words came out, Ding Wanqiu didn't want to continue, so she had to smile dryly: "I'm ashamed to say it, my little sister is really not ready." Xue Lanyi said angrily: "That's not possible." You go back and get it now, Tian Zhangyi, calculate how many copies you want to prepare?" Tian Zhangyi said: "If you go back to the palace master, there are only eighty-two people in this palace. ”

Xue Lanyi nodded and said, "Well, Senior Sister Ding, did you hear it? Ding Wanqiu said: "Little sister heard it, I'll go and prepare." As he spoke, he strode towards the door of the temple. As soon as Ding Wanqiu went out, Shen Liu and the others felt worried in their hearts.

Xue Lanyi looked at Shen Yuzhu and said, "Yuzhu, I have something for you here." You have always liked the works of Zhao Mengjian of the Song Dynasty the most, and this "Three Friends of the Cold Year" will be given to you by my sister today. As he spoke, he picked up a scroll from the bed, unfolded it slowly, and shook it at her.

Shen Yuzhu is obsessed with painting, and when he heard that it was a painting of the Song people, he was even more happy. He glanced at the painting, as if he had been stunned. With a snort, he jumped up from his chair and hurriedly ran towards Xue Lanyi, and said with a smile: "What Senior Sister Xue said is true?"

Xue Lanyi handed her the scroll, stretched out her finger and pointed to the pine needles on the painting and said: "You can see that it is extremely rare to be able to integrate the clear mark of plum, the proud bone of bamboo, and the beauty of pine into one picture." He gently stroked Shen Yuzhu's back with one hand and said slowly: "Senior sister knows that you love these things the most, and I don't have much time left, so I might as well explain all these things to you first." ”

Shen Yuzhu stared at the painting with a pair of eyes, fascinated. Xue Lanyi's index finger lightly touched the second acupoint of her divine hall and branch room, and an extremely strong internal force penetrated through the acupoint, and Shen Yuzhu was sore and soft, and his mouth was speechless.

Xue Lanyi looked at Liu Qinglian's face again, and said, "Sister Lian, if I give a treasure like Yuzhu, you will naturally not be moved." Because you don't like to draw, but my sister knows that you like music. It just so happens that I have Ben Jinren's "Plum Blossom Three Alleys" here, you must like it. ”

Liu Qinglian did not have any doubts in her heart, and slowly walked to her side. Xue Lanyi took a book with "Three Alleys of Plum Blossoms" written on the cover and handed it to her. Liu Qinglian stretched out her hand to pick it up, and suddenly Xue Lanyi flipped her wrist and clasped the vein gate of her left hand, and three finger forces shot out from the sleeve of her right arm, hitting her three acupoints in turn, Qi Hai, and Guan Yuan.

The two were captured in an instant, and their hearts were terrified. Xue Lanyi talked and laughed freely, and said to everyone: "Tian Zhangyi, it's cold, let's share the warm wine with the big guys." The waiters who served the plates put down the wooden plates and hurried to the back of the hall to get wine.

Shui Hanyan whispered in Jiang Hanyue's ear: "Senior sister, it seems that the palace master's mother-in-law has the upper hand. Jiang Hanyue signaled to her not to talk much. The disciples of the Furong Department and the Pear Blossom Department also thought that the palace master was close to the old sister, and they did not have doubts in their hearts.

With the ringing of a bell, Ding Wanqiu walked into the hall with a box in his hand. Xue Lanyi stepped down from the couch, stood up and said loudly: "The old body wants to give up the position of the palace master, which of you will sit?" Ding Wanqiu knelt on the ground and said loudly: "Please take back the palace master's life." Seeing Ding Wanqiu's backlash at this moment, those unspoken disciples knew that something was wrong, so they hurriedly shouted, for fear that if they were slower than others said, they would lose their lives. The hall finally spoke in unison.

Shen Liu and the others were full of regret in their hearts, they never expected that everything was arranged by Xue Lanyi. On the same day, after Shen Liu and the others left, Xue Lanyi had other arrangements for Ding Wanqiu. Everything Ding Wanqiu did today was acting. Its purpose is twofold: first, to test how many people in the Xuannu Palace are loyal to Xue Lanyi, and the second is to cooperate with Xue Lanyi to take down Shen Liu and re-establish his prestige.

In Xue Lanyi's heart, in order to realize the revival plan of the Xuannu Palace, the first thing to do is to unite the upper and lower levels. All obstacles to unity must be removed, and only one day is allowed in the sky, and that is Selangor.

Xue Lanyi said loudly: "Since the big guy still lets me sit, are you willing to listen to me?" Everyone said in unison: "Palace Master Hongfu, the disciple swears to follow." Xue Lanyi nodded, smiled at Ding Wanqiu, and said, "Senior Sister Ding, you said that you want to give everyone a big gift, now you might as well take it out and take a look." ”

Ding Wanqiu opened the box, took out a page of letter paper from it, and read it aloud: "Yes." The patriarch of the Liedai is on top, and the disciples Ding, Liu, and Shen bow down. Pray for the blessing of the ancestors, and the great event will be completed.

Xue Lan, the current thirty-sixth generation palace master of the Xuannu Palace, is short-sighted in wisdom, has a poor character, is jealous and jealous, and is difficult to take on a big responsibility. The three of us uphold the will of loyalty, and we are willing to get rid of this thief and protect the foundation of our ancestors. Seize his authority, and the three of them rule together. If anyone violates the oath, heaven and earth will be destroyed, and he will not die well. ”

After Ding Wanqiu finished reading, there was an uproar in the hall. She showed the page to everyone, and the handwriting of the three men was well known, and the addition of three bright red fingerprints was even more conclusive.

Everyone looked at the three of them with a look of horror, disdain, and anger on their faces. Their respective disciples also bowed their heads in shame. Xue Lanyi asked lightly: "Tian Zhangyi, betraying the palace master and intending to rebel, what crime should be punished?"

Tian Zhangyi gasped and said slowly: "Scrape the skin and see the white bones, crying blood dripping thousands of cups." Ding Wanqiu's face was discouraged, and she sighed: "Wanqiu knows that her sin is unforgivable, and she also asks the palace master to spare the people of Haitangmen." Xue Lanyi snorted coldly, pinched the back of Liu Qinglian's neck with one hand, and threw it forward. Then Shen Yuzhu was thrown again, and there were two muffled bangs, and the two of them fell to the ground like onions, blood splattered everywhere, and their skulls shattered.

Ding Wanqiu looked at Xue Lanyi and said, "Don't take the initiative in the palace, Wanqiu will come by herself." As he spoke, he took out a sharp dagger from his bosom, turned his arm around, and stabbed it at the heart. A sad look flashed in Xue Lanyi's eyes, and then she said sharply with a gloomy face: "There will be no nine in the future, can you all remember it?" Everyone saw her fierce eyes, and they all knelt down and said, "Remember." She followed and said: "There is only the Xuannu Palace in the world, and there are no nine." Someone came and threw the bodies of the three traitors under the cliff behind the mountain. Obey my command, and give you a golden hairpin. ”

The smell of blood was permeated in the hall, and all the disciples witnessed the palace master's vigorous execution of the traitors, and they were all so frightened that their faces turned pale and their legs and feet were sore. Xue Lanyi sat back on the couch, hugged the white fox fur tightly, and said to Tian Zhangyi tiredly: "Let everyone retreat, I want to be quiet." ”

Everyone longed to grow two more legs, and in a moment the hall was empty. Xue Lanyi looked at the white snow outside the door, and then looked at her palms, her whole body was like falling into an ice cave, and a few crystal tears appeared from the corners of her slender eyes.