Judge of the Lamp

Chapter 45
Xu Zhiqiong and the skeleton brother spent three shameful days in the Goulan.

During these three days, Xu Zhiqiong felt that his cultivation had improved a lot.

Not to excuse himself, but Xu Zhiqiong really felt that his soul and mind had been deeply purified in the Goulan.

This big skeleton brother is called Qi Xin'an, and he claims to be Wu Xu's friend. Apart from that, Xu Zhiqiong knows nothing about his system, his cultivation, and his occupation.

But Xu Zhiqiong believed that he was Wu Xu's friend, and it was Wu Xu who asked him to protect him, otherwise he would not have been able to scare away that eighth-rank eunuch at such an appropriate time.

On the fourth day, when the rest was over, Xu Zhiqiong had to go back to the yamen, and Qi Xin'an didn't keep him, he just said a word: "Brother, next time you come to Washi, you must come to me, we are all detached from the world. People, this is where our destiny lies."

Xu Zhiqiong firmly believed in this sentence.

When they arrived at the yamen, Xu Zhiqiong came early, an hour before the night patrol, and chatted with Niu Yuxian in the yamen.

According to Lu Yinpeng, Niu Yuxian had long been qualified to be a lantern bearer, but this kid refused to watch the night, insisting that he was not good at learning and had to continue to practice.

Xu Zhiqiong told Niu Yuxian about his experience of fighting the eunuch. Niu Yuxian was very interested, so he took two pieces of silver from Xu Zhiqiong, and promised to make another light pole for Xu Zhiqiong.

Xu Zhiqiong said: "Can you spray liquid medicine on the lamp pole? It's best to turn it into mist and spray it out."

Niu Yuxian felt a little troubled: "Aren't you afraid of hurting yourself by turning into mist? Besides, I don't know how to refine poison."

"It doesn't have to be poison. I will find a way to make the potion myself."

"You can try it."

The two were chatting when Xiao Songting, the green lantern man, came over: "Zhiqiong, Qianhu asked you to go to Mingdengxuan."

Strange, Wu Xu asked me to go to Mingdengxuan, why did Xiao Songting come to find me?
I am Meng Shizhen's subordinate, Meng Shizhen is Qiao Shungang's subordinate, I am not under Xiao Songting's management.

Xu Zhiqiong didn't dare to delay, and hurriedly followed Xiao Songting to Mingdengxuan, Wu Xu was looking through the files, without raising his head, he said, "Shut up for three days, I'll let you stay in the yamen, where did you go?"

Xu Zhiqiong answered truthfully: "My subordinate, last time I fought against the eunuch, I was defeated in a bitter battle, and I felt unwilling. I will go back and work secretly when I go back. I hope I can improve my cultivation as soon as possible."

Wu Xu nodded appreciatively: "How is your practice in the Goulan?"

"Yes, I have benefited a lot," Xu Zhiqiong stuttered, "It all depends on Qi Xin'an, brother Qi's guidance."

Wu Xu smiled: "You two really hit it off."

Xu Zhiqiong said with a silly smile: "Brother Qi, said he is your friend."

"Not my friend, why should I take care of you? Are you handsome?"

Xiao Songting said from the side: "Senior Qi is a close friend of Lord Qianhu, entrusted by Lord Qianhu to protect you."

From the appearance, Qi Xin'an and Xiao Songting are about the same age, but Xiao Songting calls them seniors, which proves that Qi Xin'an's cultivation level is definitely higher than Xiao Songting's.

Xu Zhiqiong expressed his gratitude: "Thanks to Brother Qi, without him, I really don't know how to deal with that eunuch."

Wu Xu was not surprised at the fact that Xu Zhiqiong was attacked by eunuchs: "Do you know what Qi Xin'an's cultivation level is?"

Xu Zhiqiong shook his head.

Wu Xu said: "He is the same as you."

And, like me?
Xu Zhiqiong was startled, thinking of Qi Xin'an's performance that night.

He quietly appeared behind the eunuch, neither Xu Zhiqiong nor the eunuch noticed.

So good at concealing himself, could it be said that he is a judge?
What does Wu Xu mean by this sentence?
What does it mean to be the same as me?
Wu Xu knows that I am a judge?

Xu Zhiqiong didn't know what to say, Xiao Songting said from the side: "Yes, just like us, Senior Qi kills Dao, he has a sixth-rank cultivation base."

Xu Zhiqiong heaved a sigh of relief, it turned out that it was all murder.

Xiao Songting sighed and said, "Since Senior Qi met that eunuch that night, he shouldn't have let him run away. It's a pity."

Wu Xu raised his head and looked at Xiao Songting with lowered corners of his eyes: "What's the pity?"

Xiao Songting said: "If Senior Qi is willing to act, he will definitely be able to catch that eunuch."

"Why? Why did he want to arrest that eunuch? Is he a lantern bearer? Or is he related to you?"

Xiao Songting was speechless, Xu Zhiqiong heard the words and said: "This subordinate understands."

"What do you unserstand?"

Xu Zhiqiong said: "I'm Lantern Lantern, Yugong, catching the thief is my duty, privately, that eunuch hurt me, revenge is a man's duty, publically or privately, you can't count on others."

Wu Xu laughed: "What I said is the blood of my Lantern Lang! You are ninth rank, and the eunuch is eighth rank. It is not shameful to beat him, but you must at least find out some clues.
Go and see Meng Shizhen in a while, this old bachelor is about to get moldy in the prison, his brain is not working, you go and help him. "

Wu Xu assigned me a task, why did Xiao Songting listen to me the whole time?

Let him listen, it proves that Wu Xu trusts him, Xiao Songting must be Wu Xu's confidant.

Xiao Songting knew about the dancer Chen Jiu'er, about Qi Xin'an, and that I was going to assist Meng Shizhen in investigating clues.

Wu Xu had almost no secrets in front of him, so he had to be more careful when getting along with Xiao Songting in the future, he didn't have to deliberately please, but he definitely couldn't offend easily.

When Xu Zhiqiong arrived in the prison, Meng Shizhen was putting on a show.

He tied Chen Jiu'er firmly on the rack, and laid out the instruments of torture in front of her.

Whips, sticks, boards, hammers, saws, hooks, chisels... Every instrument of torture is stained with old blood.

Meng Shizhen said with a gloomy face: "I have been squatting with you in this big prison for four days. I can't even see the sun. I will provide you with delicious food and drink. If you don't draw for me, you will persuade you with nice words. Still don’t paint for me, I have to get you something hot today, I’ll see if you paint or not!”

Meng Shizhen's task was to let Chen Jiuer draw that scar.

But in the past four days, Chen Jiu'er has been unable to draw.

Seeing the instruments of torture in front of her eyes, Chen Jiu'er's facial features were distorted, and she shouted hoarsely, "I'll draw, so I'll draw."

"You draw a fart!" Meng Shizhen spat, "I was going to clean you up the day before yesterday, but you said you wanted to paint, and you drew two strokes indiscriminately, which made me scolded by thousands of households. Yesterday you said you wanted to paint again. Take it up, and I was scolded by Qianhu again, why are you still trying to lie to me today, don't be in a hurry to draw, I'll beat you first!"

Xu Zhiqiong stood beside him, laughing to himself.

Don't listen to what Meng Shizhen said about gnashing of teeth, in reality he couldn't do anything to Chen Jiuer.

Lantern Lang doesn't need to say so many words when he is tortured, no matter in court or prison, as long as he does it, he will not soften his heart!

If this person is not Chen Jiuer, try another person here!Meng Shizhen had already made him lose a layer of skin!

The old bachelor has fallen in love with Chen Jiu'er.

Meng Shizhen slapped the whip and didn't stop it for a long time. Seeing his embarrassment, Xu Zhiqiong had to give it a step.

"Meng, Meng Qingdeng, please calm down," Xu Zhiqiong stepped forward to stop Meng Shizhen, "You don't need to do this, I have my subordinates to do it for you."

Meng Shizhen smacked his lips and said, "You mean, you do it? This, is this appropriate?"

Infected by Xu Zhiqiong, Meng Shizhen also stuttered, he was really nervous.

"What's wrong with this, this subordinate is here to help you," Xu Zhiqiong persuaded Meng Shizhen to put down the whip, "you, don't use this, this woman has delicate skin and tender flesh, even if she is beaten, she will be damaged if she is beaten. It’s not easy to explain to Qianhu.”

"I think she is itchy!" Meng Shizhen put down the whip angrily, feeling a little more at ease in her heart.

He thought Xu Zhiqiong could hit him twice with his hands at most, and it shouldn't break him.

Unexpectedly, Xu Zhiqiong picked up the scissors.

"Zhiqiong, you, what are you doing, you, you know the inside story about this matter, she, she is not a bad person, she just can't remember, no, no, Zhiqiong, you, you can't touch her Face, this, this is inappropriate, Zhiqiong, peed, peed, Zhiqiong, get out of the way first!"

Thanks to Xu Zhiqiong's fast jump, otherwise a new pair of boots would be ruined, and they would still be yellow.

He walked up to Chen Jiu'er with the scissors, but Chen Jiu'er was scared to pee.

But he actually just cut a lock of hair near Chen Jiuer's forehead.

Meng Shizhen said, "What are you doing?"

Xu Zhiqiong said: "Looking at her, I can't remember anyway. I, I know someone who studies yin and yang, let's do a fortune telling for her tomorrow."

Meng Shizhen blinked and said, "Will it work?"

Xu Zhiqiong said with a silly smile: "Whether it works or not, try it, brother, you should be busy first, I, I went to watch the night."

Meng Shizhen nodded and said: "Remember to tell me the hexagram tomorrow. I feel very uncomfortable here. When this thing is over, I have to go to the tea house for a few days to get rid of this bad luck."

Xu Zhiqiong looked at Chen Jiuer. With such a beautiful woman in front of him, Meng Shizhen had to go to some teahouse.

Even if they live to be in their forties, there are still many men who are not enlightened. A man like Lao Meng who has been depraved in the tea house all day long is simply hopeless!
Going to Goulan is obviously much better than this!

After leaving the prison, Xu Zhiqiong was going to watch the night. Meng Shizhen's replacement was Qu Jinshan.

The light guard is a special position in charge of the light yamen.

In the lamp-handling yamen, the red lantern man from thousands of households is the fifth rank official, the deputy red lantern man from thousands of households is from the fifth rank, the green lantern man from a hundred households is from the sixth rank, the green lantern man from a hundred households is from the sixth rank, and the green lantern man from the flag head is the eighth rank The vice-flag leader Qingdenglang is from the eighth rank, and Baidenglang is the official ninth rank.

Is there any seventh rank official?

Yes, this kind of official is called a light guard.

The Dengshou belonged to Qingdenglang, but the officials were bigger than the head of the flag. They usually did not participate in night patrols. They usually stayed in the yamen to deal with daily affairs. It can be understood that they became management personnel who left the front line.

Many green light workers will choose to be light guards when they reach a certain age, because it is too difficult to be promoted from green light to green light. Red light, green light, blue light, and positions at all levels have a fixed number of people.

There are eight hundred-household green lights in the Yamen in charge of the lights, and there are hundreds of green lights under the hundred-household green lights. Each green light has five flag-headed green lights under his command. If you have the opportunity to become a green light for a hundred households, you will have a chance to become a green light for a hundred households.

Forty green lanterns compete for a job together, and the green lanterns generally have seventh-rank cultivation, long life, strong vitality, low chance of death, and will not retire easily, which has become a very anxious job. The problem.

If you don't want to be an eighth-rank official for the rest of your life, then the best choice is to be a light guard, get down from the front line first, and be successfully promoted to a seventh-rank official.

But there is one thing, once you become a lantern guard, it is impossible to continue to be promoted. The seventh rank is the upper limit, which is the rule of the lantern yamen.

Qu Jinshan is an old Qingdeng, sixty-six years old this year, retired from the head of the banner last year and became a light guard.

Old Qingdeng has rich work experience and is a kind person. The rest of Qingdeng need to take a vacation to find him. These days, he has been watching the night for Meng Shizhen, and Xu Zhiqiong is taking a bath. This is the first time he has seen Qu Jinshan.

Qu Qingdeng loves to laugh. When he smiles, his eyebrows are curved, and his eyes are curved into four arcs.

The two exchanged a few polite words, and Qu Qingdeng said his rules: "Zhiqiong, I'm getting old, listen to my long-winded words, night watch is a hard job, but we can't miss our duty,

Beiyuan is a big place, and there are indeed a lot of twelve lights, but we have to watch the night in two teams, Zhiqiong, you and Ma Guangli are in a team, and the four northernmost lights belong to you. "

Meng Shizhen had a total of eight people under his command, two of them rested, one died and hadn't been made up (Wang Shijie), and the remaining five, including Qu Qingdeng, were divided into three groups, with four lamps in each group, and there was no problem with the division.

Xu Zhiqiong and Ma Guangli were a little farther away, so they had to walk a few more steps. Qu Jinshan also thought of this, and the lights assigned to them were relatively concentrated.

"Everyone, I've worked hard tonight. It's still the same sentence. Watch the night and light the lamps. Don't be vague. After lighting the lamps, you can do whatever you want, and the old man will not interfere."

They went to Beiyuan together, and were about to split up when they suddenly saw two carriages rushing over from behind, passing by the puddle, splashing mud all over Wang Zhennan's body.

Wang Zhennan usually likes to be clean, but this muddy body annoys him.

Who is so bold as to splash muddy water on Lantern Lantern?
Wang Zhennan scolded: "It's these two birdmen again!"

Xu Zhiqiong rubbed his nose and asked, "Which two birdmen?"

Ma Guangli said: "The sons and nephews of Zhou Kairong, the newly appointed Wenxuan Qing official of the Ministry of Officials, are also called the Zhou family's two tigers. One is fifteen and the other is seventeen. They are crazy, ruthless and domineering. They are called the Zhou family's two tigers!"

Selected Works of the Ministry of Officials, Qing Lisi Langzhong, five-rank official.

How dare the son and nephew of the Fifth Grade Officer be so arrogant?
Wang Zhennan said: "These bastards, they should be killed. The day before yesterday, they killed two beggars in Beiyuan. One was beaten to death, and the other was burned alive."

Xu Zhiqiong asked in surprise, "Why did you kill the beggar?"

Wang Zhennan said: "No reason, these two beasts are just for fun, Zhou Kairong just took office last month, these two beasts became rampant! I don't know how many bad things they have done in a month!"

Xu Zhiqiong: "Then we don't care?"

Wang Zhennan sighed: "If someone files a complaint, they should take care of it, but who can file a complaint for a beggar?"

Ma Guangli smiled wryly and said: "Don't say they are beggars, even ordinary people, no one dares to sue them! So what? His father is a doctor in the Ministry of Officials. Don't look like he is a fifth-rank official. Who is not afraid of the Ministry of Officials? The Ministry of Justice dares to control Do we, Wu Qianhu, dare to take care of it? Forget it, just turn a blind eye."

Qu Jinshan straightened his expression and said: "Whether ordinary people or beggars have their own lives, it's fine if the two of them don't make trouble tonight. If there is a big fight, we must stop it!"

Ma Guangli said: "How can I persuade you? It's useless to speak politely, but if you speak impolitely, they will even beat us up!"

Qu Jinshan said: "You have cultivation, why are you still afraid of them?"

Ma Guangli said: "What's the use of cultivation? We really dare to beat them? We dare not touch them with a single finger! They will not be soft when they beat us. Don't look at them in their teens. They are the most ruthless at this age. I don't know the severity, I don't want to..."

Qu Jinshan said angrily: "Stop talking, this is my duty, even if it is difficult, I have to do it!"

Ma Guangli didn't dare to say any more, Wang Zhennan wiped off the dirt on his body, and said angrily: "I think when I first entered the Lantern Yamen, Zhou Kairong was just a supervisory censor from the seventh rank. The doctor!"

When they arrived at Beiyuan, everyone lit their lamps to watch the night.The four lamps were lit quickly, and just after the second watch, Xu Zhiqiong had finished patrolling the site with Ma Guangli.

After lighting the lamp, do what you like, Old Qingdeng said, and he doesn't intervene.

The two wanted to have a cup of tea at the Baishaoyao teahouse, but when they arrived at the teahouse, they saw that the table had been overturned, the stove had been smashed, the tea set was broken, and tea leaves of various colors were scattered everywhere.

The proprietress had one eye blue and said tearfully, "Master Deng Lang, I can't make you tea today, you, come back tomorrow."

Ma Guangli shouted: "Whoever doesn't have eyesight, dares to cause trouble here, tell me, and see if I don't discount their legs!"

A guy next to him said, "It's the two tigers of the Zhou family."

"Uh, you, look at these lawless people..." Ma Guangli swallowed his words halfway, looked up at the sky, and forcefully eased his embarrassment, "Let's do this tonight, and we'll drink tea another day."

Leaving the white peony tea shop, Ma Guangli rubbed his hands and said, "I didn't expect the white peony tea shop to be unlucky tonight. Let's be careful, and don't run into those two plague gods."

Xu Zhiqiong didn't make a sound, he wished to meet them in his heart.

With [-] merits remaining, he will be promoted to the middle of the ninth rank.

Ma Guangli lowered his voice, and asked again: "Brother, the white peony tea shop used to belong to Wang Shijie, and now it belongs to you. Do you ask them for a monthly payment?"

Xu Zhiqiong shook his head, deliberately pretending to be confused: "What is monthly money?"

"Stupid boy, you don't even understand this? They do business on our land, and they have to offer sacrifices on a monthly basis."

"Enshrine?" Xu Zhiqiong scratched his head, "What are you offering us?"

"Let's keep them safe!" Ma Guangli was a little embarrassed after saying this.

Safety?

Are they safe?

The two wanted to go to Goulan to sit down for a while, but when they arrived at Goulan, the tables, chairs and fruit plates were overturned on the floor, and the old shopkeeper with his face covered in blood was cleaning up the shed with his buddies.

Ma Guangli stepped forward and asked, "What's the matter?"

The boss laughed dryly and dared not speak.

A dancer sobbed and said: "Two young gentlemen came, accompanied by a few attendants, who said they wanted to let the concubine accompany the drink, and the concubine went to accompany them. I didn't expect them to raise their hands and beat people. I couldn't bear the beating. After hiding out, they acted like crazy, smashed our shed, and beat our shopkeeper..."

The shopkeeper pulled the dancer away, and said to Ma Guangli with a smile: "Opening the door for business is a common thing, you two will come back another day, another day."

After leaving the Peach Blossom Shed, Ma Guangli spat and said, "Unlucky, why did these two bastards focus on the poor place of Beiyuan? It's not peaceful tonight, let's go to Zhukukulou Teahouse and have a drink."

"No, I won't go to the tea house, I don't want to drink tea." Xu Zhiqiong shook his head and quickened his pace.

"Silly boy, Zhu Cave is not a place to drink tea. I said brother, where are you going? What are you doing so fast?"

"I'm hungry, I want to eat flower cakes."

Xu Zhiqiong hurried all the way to Lin Erjie's flower cake shop. Ma Guangli chased after him all the way, out of breath, and said, "No wonder you light up the lamp quickly, your feet are really good, it's okay to go and tell that Lin Erjie." Well, let her close the shop quickly, she is so handsome, those two bastards will definitely not spare her."

When we arrived at the flower cake shop, two carriages had already stopped in front of the shop.

Ma Guangli stuck out his tongue: "We're late, let's hide first! Zhiqiong, Zhiqiong, what are you doing? Come back!"

Zhou Haiqiu, the son of Zhou Kairong, a doctor in the official department, was molesting Second Sister Lin. His cousin Zhou Haiqiu stepped forward to touch Second Sister Lin's hand.

"Don't hide! I bought you two flower cakes, what's wrong with touching your little hands? If you change it to another place, I will kiss you!"

Second Sister Lin wanted to hide in the shop, but was stopped by Zhou Haiqiu: "Don't give me shame, it's your blessing that I like you!"

The second sister Lin was surrounded by the Zhou family's two tigers and a few followers. She gritted her teeth and blushed, but she couldn't find a chance to escape.

A clerk stepped forward and begged: "Grandpa, you let our shopkeeper go, you can take and eat flower cakes as you like, I beg you..."

Zhou Haiqiu kicked the clerk in the face, and the clerk fell to the ground bleeding from his nose and mouth.

The second sister Lin wanted to go up to help the clerk, but Zhou Haiqiu grabbed the skirt of her clothes: "Come on, let me taste the taste, go with me, I don't need to make flower cakes in the future, I will live a good life with me."

Zhou Haiqiu was about to pull Second Sister Lin into his arms when he suddenly saw a white light squeeze in through the gap between the people, so that he couldn't open his eyes.

"Who the hell is this!" Zhou Haiqiu wanted to push the white lamp away, but suddenly saw a candle light flashing in the lantern, and a fireball shot out, which made the young masters tremble.

Xu Zhiqiong walked into the crowd, looked at Second Sister Lin and said, "Weigh some flower cakes for me."

Seeing Xu Zhiqiong, Second Sister Lin wanted to rush into her arms happily, but she was also a little worried.

Does Xu Zhiqiong dare to offend these two bullies?

Zhou Haiqin looked at Xu Zhiqiong and said, "What do you do?"

Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said, "I bought flower cakes."

Zhou Haiqin said fiercely, "Are you so blind? Didn't you see that Master is buying flower cakes?"

Xu Zhiqiong sniffled and said, "I pay for all the flower cakes in this place, I have to buy them elsewhere."

Zhou Haiqin tilted his head and looked at Xu Zhiqiong: "Do you really want to die? Do you know how to get to the underworld?"

Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said, "I know, I'm quite familiar, how about I give you a ride?"

　Zhiqiong, readers like you very much, do you know that?
　　A chapter of conscience with [-] words, readers, are you satisfied?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)