Judge of the Lamp

Chapter 142 Li Shabai's Masterpiece
Meng Shizhen led the crowd to watch the night in Beiyuan, passing by Liu Xuxing's outer house, and met He Fang.

Wang Zhennan looked at Xu Zhiqiong with a smile: "I've met this girl, I'm afraid you have something important to do tonight."

Xu Zhiqiong waved his hands and said, "It's nothing important, let's light the lamp together!"

"Why do you still light a lamp? This girl is here for you, Zhiqiong, I really admire you, brother, when I was your age, I didn't have the same luck as you!"

He Fang is different from other women, she disdains reserve.

She walked directly in front of Meng Shizhen, clasped her fists and said, "I have a few words with Xu Qingdeng, is it convenient for private conversations between men and women?"

"It's convenient, Miss He from the Onmyoji Division has spoken, how dare you say it's inconvenient!" Meng Shizhen led the crowd to continue the night patrol, leaving Xu Zhiqiong alone.

Xu Zhiqiong was rather cramped: "Miss He, hurry up if you have something to do, there is business in hand, so there is no delay."

He Fang pointed to Liu Xuxing's outer house: "Is the official business here?"

Xu Zhiqiong was taken aback, how did she know that I wanted to check this house?
Could it be that the Onmyoji is also staring at me?
Xu Zhiqiong's original intention to investigate Liu Xuxing was just the news from Chang Decai, but now he has found nothing, but such a big commotion has occurred.

"Miss He, you are straightforward, and Xu respects you very much. Now that you mentioned it, Xu will ask, what's so special about this house?"

"This is not a place to talk. I have booked an elegant room in Li Qi Tea House. If Xu Denglang does not give up, is he willing to go there with He Mou?"

Xu Zhiqiong didn't want to go to Li Qi Tea House, where he tried his best to snatch Xia Hu from Peach Blossom Girl. It's hard to say that this tea house has any connection with the Sixth Princess.

"Li Qi Tea House is too far away, I have to watch the night, how about we find a place nearby?"

He Fang showed displeasure: "He's heart is all for Xu Denglang, why are you always on guard against He? If you don't want to follow me tonight, I won't tell you about the mystery of this house."

"If you don't say it, don't say it, Xu just doesn't listen." Xu Zhiqiong turned around and left with the green lantern in his hand.

He Fang said: "This matter is related to Wu Shilang. If Xu Denglang doesn't listen, I'm afraid he will regret it in the future!"

Xu Zhiqiong turned his head and looked at He Fang with a stern expression.

He Fang smiled and said: "If you don't care about the safety of Wu Shilang, then you have never seen He tonight."

What a smart woman, she knows Xu Zhiqiong's vitals.

Xu Zhiqiong put away the lantern: "Let's go with the girl."

The two came to Li Qi Tea House, and the clerk invited them into the elegant room.

There was already a person waiting in the elegant room, that person looked to be in his thirties, with a thin figure, thin cheeks, pale skin, dull eyes, and looked sick.

He was making tea for the two of them, and poured a pot of boiling water into the teacup. In the tea soup, a beautiful woman appeared, stretched her waist, and danced in the tea soup.

In just a few seconds, Xu Zhiqiong could clearly see the woman's figure, appearance, clothing, jewelry, and even every dance move.

Daxuan tea art is popular, but it is the first time Xu Zhiqiong has seen the tea art so exquisite.

The man got up and offered the tea soup to Xu Zhiqiong.

Xu Zhiqiong was afraid it would be poisonous, so he didn't dare to drink it.

The man smiled, took another teacup, poured out half of the tea soup, and drank it by himself.

Xu Zhiqiong took the remaining half of the tea soup and could only drink it.

If you don't drink anymore, it's really unreasonable in terms of etiquette.

"My painter, Li Shabai, met Xu Qingdeng!"

Li Shabai?
Daxuan's number one painter!

Daxuan has made countless men (including many women) addicted to the master of art, and even Wu Xu has not been able to escape his clutches.

Xu Zhiqiong knew that Li Shabai was the shopkeeper of Li Qi Tea House, but he didn't expect him to order tea for himself.

"Long admiration, long admiration!" Xu Zhiqiong hurriedly returned the salute.

The three of them sat down, Li Shabai didn't talk too much, and just focused on making tea.

After drinking a few cups of tea, Li Shabai brought up two brocade boxes, handed them to Xu Zhiqiong and said: "This is my next wish, one for my step, one for my trouble, and forwarded to Minister Wu."

Xu Zhiqiong thanked him and asked, "I don't know what you gave as a gift?"

Li Shabai smiled and said: "This is my work, a set of four volumes of "Chun Xiang Ji" is given to Wu Shilang, and a set of "Xia Jin Ji" is given to my step. There is nothing else in it, Deng Lang can inspect it face to face. "

Before Xu Zhiqiong could speak, He Fang opened the brocade box directly beside him.

In Daxuan, it is extremely impolite to open a gift in front of the gift giver.

But Li Shabai didn't mind, and seemed to be waiting for He Fang's evaluation.

He Fang read a few pages, and repeatedly praised: "It's really a masterpiece. This volume, on the market, should be worth a thousand taels."

Xu Zhiqiong took out a volume and flipped through two pages.

He dare not say that he understands painting, but looking at these two pages of paintings is much better than the realistic video works he has seen in his previous life.

Painting has a higher level of artistic taste and richer imagination.

For example, the artistic conception of the second painting is completely beyond Xu Zhiqiong's imagination.

The two people, one on the left and the other on the right, are like a pair of wings connected together, ready to flap their wings and fly at any time.

The most important thing is that the painting styles of "Chunxiang Collection" and "Xia Jinji" are completely different. "Chunxiang Ji" is subtle, while "Xia Jinji" is unrestrained. This poses a problem for Xu Zhiqiong.

Do you want to give this thing to Wu Xu?

Wu Shilang is in charge of Jiaofang Division, so there should be no need for this...

"On behalf of Wu Shilang, I thank Painter Li!" Xu Zhiqiong put away the brocade box.

Li Shabai got up and saluted, "I'm entangled in trifles, please forgive Li for not being with me, you two can do whatever you want."

After finishing speaking, Li Shabai left. This was intentional avoidance, so that Xu Zhiqiong and He Fang could talk about business.

He made tea and sent paintings, but asked for nothing. Was it because of Xu Zhiqiong that he gave such a big face?

Obviously not.

Xu Zhiqiong knew it well, it was for He Fang's face.

Who is He Fang?

It's definitely not as simple as a seventh-rank onmyoji.

"Following what I said before, Xu Denglang, do you know whose house that house belongs to?"

When talking to He Fang, don't go around the bush, this girl is knowledgeable, she uses her scheming to make herself appear shallow.

Xu Zhiqiong replied directly: "The foreign residence of Liu Xuxing, a doctor of the Ministry of War."

He Fang asked, "Why did Xu Denglang investigate Liu Xuxing?"

Xu Zhiqiong said: "This outer house is too secretive. If someone hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't even know that there is a fifth-rank official's outer house in Beiyuan, so I became suspicious for a while."

He Fang nodded, she thinks this explanation is reasonable: "You don't know, this place was not Liu Xuxing's foreign house, but the house of Lan Wuqi, a cosmetics merchant. Lan Wuqi has a daughter named Lan Yan. Liu Langzhong took a fancy to her, and took her as a concubine, and took over her family's business and house."

"Wait a minute," Xu Zhiqiong shook his head and said, "I didn't understand, he married someone as a concubine, and took over his house and business?"

He Fang said: "To put it bluntly, it is to rob civilian women. Liu Xuxing was raised by an animal. There are countless such evil deeds. I know Xu Denglang hates evil, so I am worried that you will investigate this person."

Xu Zhiqiong was stunned: "Why shouldn't he investigate?"

"It's time to check!"

"Are you related to him? Don't want me to check?"

He Fang sneered: "If you get married with him, you will lose the face of He Mou! He Mou doesn't want Xu Denglang to investigate this person, but for Xu Denglang's sake,
Liu Xuxing is a close confidant of Liu Yingbin, Shangshu of the Ministry of War. This person is greedy for a lot of military equipment and food, and most of it is contributed to Liu Yingbin. If Liu Xuxing falls, Liu Yingbin will also suffer. This matter involves a second-rank officer, Xu Denglang. , I'm afraid I can't stand it. "

Xu Zhiqiong shook his head and said, "Miss, what you said is wrong. Xu is not alone, and there is a yamen behind him."

"It is precisely because there is the Lantern Yamen behind Denglang, and this matter cannot be investigated. The Lantern Yamen is under the Imperial City Division, the Imperial City Division is in charge of the imperial city's internal affairs, and the Ministry of War is in charge of foreign affairs. I'm afraid Xu Denglang won't be able to explain clearly when he is in front of Mr. Liang's family."

What He Fang said hits the nail on the head. Unless it involves treason, the Imperial City Secretary really shouldn't meddle in the Ministry of War. There is a difference between inside and outside. This is a big taboo in the officialdom!
Xu Zhiqiong just didn't want to rush to investigate Liu Xuxing, so he sold a favor to He Fang: "After listening to the girl's teaching, Xu suddenly realized that I will not investigate this house again in the near future."

"Recently?" He Fang asked in surprise, "But you said you will continue to investigate in the future?"

Xu Zhiqiong said with a smile: "Since this thief has committed many evil deeds, how can Xu sit idly by?"

"Excellent! He respects Xu Denglang as a man. If there is a chance in the future, he is willing to kill this thief with Denglang!"

"Your Majesty, I have mentioned before that this matter is related to Wu Shilang, and I hope to give you some pointers."

He Fang was stunned: "Didn't Master Li give Denglang a set of "Chunxiang Collection" at Shicai? Wu Shilang loves spring paintings. Isn't this related to Wu Shilang?"

"Is that all that matters?"

He Fang nodded and said, "Master Li's paintings are hard to find!"

"That's true!" Xu Zhiqiong didn't ask any more questions, chatted for a while, Zhiqiong got up to leave, and He Fang sent him outside the teahouse.

Back at Beiyuan, Xu Zhiqiong hurriedly turned around, deliberately avoiding Liu Xuxing's outer house.

There are too many involved in this matter, and I really need to avoid it right now, and find a quiet place to appreciate the master's paintings.

Xu Zhiqiong was about to go back to Yilangyuan when Wu Xu appeared beside him and snatched the two brocade boxes from him.

"This is... the authentic work of Li Shabai!" Wu Xu exclaimed, "Where did you get it?"

"This one was given by Li Shabai..." Xu Zhiqiong wanted to snatch it back, but failed.

"Do you know Li Shabai? Will he give you a painting?" Wu Xu said pleasantly, "You can introduce me to him in the future. I have long wanted to visit Master Li!"

"Here, one is yours, and the other is..."

Wu Xu put away both sets of paintings, and said to Xu Zhiqiong: "Lend this to me first, and I will return it to you later. I need your help tonight."

"That "Xia Jinji" is mine..." Xu Zhiqiong wanted to cry but had no tears.

Wu Xu said: "I'm going to investigate a house tonight, the foreign house of Liu Xuxing, a doctor in the Ministry of War, do you know where it is?"

(End of this chapter)