Defend the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 32
After teaching the basic drawing method of sketching, Han Pingan went back to his room and took out the mahjong horns brought back from Xiao Bolu, sitting cross-legged on the bed under the grape trellis, drinking grape wine and playing with the mahjong tiles.

It can't be him...

Who could it be if it wasn't him...

Yinniang was sitting by the well washing clothes, and at first she was still thinking that he was a child who would never grow up, until she heard him talking to herself, and suddenly realized what the mahjong tiles in his hand represented.

Looking back at the main room, the little painter was still holding the drawing board inside.

In total, he was only given two hours to study, but he didn't write for a long time.

Just sitting there so stupidly, looking at the clay pot on the painting for a while, then looking at the clay pot outside, and closing his eyes like an old monk in meditation for a while.

He looked focused, as if he had entered a world that only belonged to him, and turned a deaf ear to everything that happened outside.

Hearing the screams of Gu Sili being beaten in the yard next door, and the scolding coming from outside the west wall, Yinniang couldn't help but think of Han Ping'an once said, "There is nothing difficult in the world if you put your heart into it", and she admired the little painter.

"Crazy Han, don't be ignorant, my aunt came to see you kindly, how dare you not even let my aunt in!"

"Han Sankuan, get out of here, Auntie, if you don't get out, I'll throw something at you..."

He could tell from the voice that it was Li Yu, the daughter of General Li's family. In fact, Li Yu was the only general in Yele City who dared to yell and scold outside the house of Master Supervisor.

This is not the first time, I remember when the superintendent's father declined the marriage of the two families, this girl came and scolded her for three days in a row.

Thinking of the "resentment" between her younger brother and Li Yu, Yinniang couldn't help laughing secretly.

"Crazy Han, I'm not a concubine's daughter, you are also born to a concubine. My mother is a barbarian, but you are a lunatic, we are not the same, why do you look down on my aunt..."

With a muffled bang, something smashed in from outside the wall.

Han Ping'an poked his head and saw that it was a melon, which had been smashed to pieces.

Just scolding, how can you throw something, what if you hit someone...

Han Pingan thought about it, decided to throw it back, coughed dryly, and pouted towards the utility room diagonally opposite.

Yinniang could only stand up, shake off the water in her hand, go to the house to pick up two of the most worthless clay pots, walk over to listen to the movement through the wall, and throw the pots over.

With a bang, the clay pot shattered.

There was a scream from outside, followed by another burst of cursing.

"Han Sanfeng, how dare you hit your aunt with a can? Why didn't you get killed by the horse thief? The horse thief tied you up well. You deserve it. Next time you are kidnapped by the horse thief, you won't let me die." Dad sent soldiers to rescue you!"

Still scolding, then do another one.

Han Ping'an raised his head and pouted again.

The clay pot was bought with money, it didn't fall from the sky, Yinniang was reluctant to throw it away, so Han Ping'an could only throw the remaining one away as he kept winking.

This time it was closer than last time, almost being hit, Li Yu gritted his teeth angrily, said a few harsh words, tightened the reins, turned the horse's head, swung the whip, and ran away angrily.

"Sanlang, didn't you always praise Li Yu for being good-looking before, saying that she is the most beautiful half-breed, why don't you like her again?"

"Praise is not the same as liking, her father almost took it seriously, how dare I praise again."

"She's pretty."

"She's only 15, a child."

Yinniang said: "Fifteen is not young anymore."

15 years old is indeed not young, and it is normal to talk about marriage.

Thinking that the lifelong event was almost arranged, Han Ping'an couldn't help laughing: "Sister, I finally know why our father likes my mother, but he doesn't like the aunt who is far away in his hometown."

Yinniang asked curiously, "Why?"

"Because when he married my aunt, my aunt was only 15 years old. I can imagine that my aunt didn't understand anything at that time, and I'm afraid she didn't grow up. When I met my mother, my mother was already 22, and she was in the palace. The female officer is not only charming but also knowledgeable, as long as it is a man, who doesn't like it."

"So you like older women, too."

Han Ping'an was about to speak when another noise came from the front yard.

Just as Yinniang was about to ask Huang Dafu if she wanted to go ahead and have a look, Huang Dafu had already knocked on the door and ran into the small courtyard, reporting what happened ahead.

"Yu Yiren escorted a prisoner back and locked him up. Before Xu Shaofu could come back for interrogation, two guards came to the General's Mansion to take the prisoner away, saying that the prisoner was a guest of General An."

"Do you have the general's warrant?"

"The general and the servants are both in Baisha City, so where will the two personal guards have the general's warrant?"

General An's mansion actually came to ask for someone, this matter is getting more and more puzzling.

Han Pingan picked up the red box that had just been put aside, and asked in a low voice, "Who is in front?"

Huang Dafu hurriedly said: "Huang Xingguan came back with several large boxes of physical evidence. Huang Xingguan also asked them for the general's warrant, but if they couldn't get it out, Huang Xingguan wouldn't let him go, so he just started arguing."

Han Pingan thought about it and asked again: "How is the prisoner doing now? Is the injury serious? Will he die?"

"I went to take a look. The injury was serious. The buttocks and thighs were all smashed. I guess I won't live long."

"Why hit it so hard, it's troublesome now."

"Master, do you mean to ask Huang Xingguan to hand him over?"

"The capital is back, how can you just let him go, leave him alone, there is something rare ahead."

"Xu Shaofu, Huang Xingguan, Yu Xingguan and the family members of the two Youyi people have all moved here, and they are busy cleaning up right now."

"Got it, let's go."

……

Before I knew it, it was getting dark.

The curfew was about to come, Fangzheng hurriedly told the shops to close quickly, and urged those who were wandering outside to go home quickly.

Xu Haoran explained to the Mi family, and together with Yu Wangli and the fake Taoist priest, they took several large boxes of confessions and walked back to the Yamen surrounded by more than a dozen guards from the city lord's mansion.

Shi Xianning didn't know how he survived this day, he was almost exhausted.

Ashina Mountain's soul was out of control, if it wasn't for Bai Zuojian's pull, he would almost go in the wrong direction.

However, as Sa Baozheng, who was in charge of the affairs of the Sogdians, the curfew had little effect on them.The young and strong patrolling the streets did not dare to stop them, and the Fangzheng guarding the alleys did not dare to drive them home.

The three of them walked aimlessly, and finally arrived at the entrance of the Huo Temple in a daze.

Going on like this is not a problem, Ashina Shan felt that they should discuss it, stopped and called for the door to be opened, and pulled Shi Xianning and Bai Zuojian into the hall.

The sacred fire in the hall is burning fiercely and will never stop.

Mount Ashina found believers guarding the holy fire in front of the altar, and asked eagerly, "Where is Mage?"

The believer hurriedly stroked his chest and saluted: "The high priest went to the General's Mansion. Before leaving, he said that he would stay in the General's Mansion for a few days and would not come back at night."

Back at the Huo Temple, Bai Zuojian felt more at ease, looked around and asked, "Where is Ashina Sai?"

"I also went to the General's Mansion. He went there in the afternoon."

"What did he go to the General's Mansion?"

"Didn't Bai Zai be arrested by the City Lord's Mansion as a thief a few days ago? He was kept in the Weng City until noon today. He didn't know that Mifatai was dead. He seemed to be looking for Mifatai for something. See There are so many officers and soldiers in front of Mi's house, he didn't dare to go there, so he found here."

Ashina Shan felt very strange, and asked: "What happened later?"

The believer knew that the three men must be busy when they came over at night, and then thought about what happened during the day, and said nervously: "He went back after talking to Ashina Sai, and Ashina Sai sent him away and went Tuncheng, seems to be looking for the high priest."

Ashina Mountain signaled the believers to step back, and turned around to ask, "You two, what should we do now?"

Bai Zuojian had a gloomy face, thoughtful.

Shi Xianning looked at the burning holy flame and remained silent.

Ashina Shan was in a hurry, and grabbed Shi Xianning's arm: "Shi Xianning, you are good at thinking and doing good deeds. Although you are not a priest, you are as pious and wise as a priest. Now that the knife is on our necks, you should think of a way. Say something!"

Shi Xianning gently pushed his hand away, and said helplessly: "What to do, hasn't the respected Ma Ge told us already."

Ashina Shan was stunned, and asked puzzledly, "When did you tell us, and what did you tell us?"

Bai Zuojian said coldly: "It's not telling, it's reminding us."

Ashina Shan reacted suddenly, and said dumbfoundingly: "This is not a reminder, this is clearly a threat!"

Shi Xianning said helplessly, "Whether it's a reminder or a threat, do we have a choice?"

Ashina Mountain was stopped by the question, and was speechless for a while.

Bai Zuojian took a deep breath, smiled bitterly and said, "You two, I'm worried, no, I'm sure we won't wait for that day. Besides, what does these things have to do with us, why do they treat us like this, is it because we believe Orthodoxy?"

"I'm going to kill Ashina Sai, I don't have this younger brother!" Ashina Shan became more and more aggrieved as he thought about it, and his gloomy face became even more ferocious.

Bai Zuojian sighed, looked at the flames on the altar, and murmured: "Since even the wise Shi Xianning has no idea, I'll go back and pray first. The kind and merciful Ahura Mazda will definitely bless you." For those of us who are faithful believers, even if we are beheaded tomorrow, the Creator Mazda will let us go to the eternal kingdom of heaven to reunite with Zoroaster."

Shi Xianning knew that what he said was angry, and asked solemnly: "Can you let me think again?"

Bai Zuojian turned his head and reminded very seriously: "It's not that we make you think about it, but that Cui Han and that Xu Haoran make us think about it."

"I don't dare to gamble, and I can't afford to gamble."

"It's already been put on the gambling table by others, and now you have to gamble even if you don't gamble."

"This is not about me alone. Don't be unhappy if I tell you, I don't even know who to believe now."

"You don't even believe us!"

"I used to trust Miphattai so much, and regarded him as the best brother, but how did he treat me. I'm sorry, two, I should go back."

Shi Xianning walked over and opened the door without looking back, and disappeared into the night.

Ashina Shan looked at the door stupidly, and murmured, "What should I do, what should I do now..."

Bai Zuojian patted his arm, and said meaningfully: "If you don't gamble, you gamble. Miphatai is crazy, and we can't be crazy. Now that things have happened, we can only trust the high priest, or we can only resign ourselves to fate."

"Why, why?"

"You should ask your brother this question, let's go first, see you tomorrow, if there is a tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)