Judge of the Lamp

Chapter 60 The ghost gate in the restaurant

At dusk, Wu Xu asked Xu Zhiqiong to change into casual clothes, without lanterns or knives, and went with him to watch the night.

The plan has changed, they will not go to the courtyard tonight, they will go to a restaurant.

How many restaurants are there in Wanganjing?There is no way to verify this. Someone once said that if you add all the restaurants in the world together, the restaurants in Wang'anjing will take up half of them.

This is not an exaggeration. In the capital city, there are seventy-two main stores that have been approved by the imperial court to have the right to brew wine.

The so-called authentic stores can brew and sell their own wine, and they all have their own signature wine.Famous wines such as Meishou Wine from Fenglelou, Xianmao from Xinlelou, Fragrant Mash from Sunyangzhengdian, and Lamb from Jiangzhaiyuanzizhengdian, these famous wines can only be brewed and sold in designated restaurants, and other hotels without the right to brew wine. You can only go to the main store to wholesale alcohol.

These hotels without the right to brew wine are called foot shops. There are foot shops everywhere, and the number is hard to count. Today they are going to a foot shop called Wu Anfu Old Wine.

Wu Xu asked Xu Zhiqiong to keep an eye on Liang Yuming's whereabouts in this restaurant.

Most people don't know about Wu Anfu Old Wine, but Xu Zhiqiong knows that it is a wine shop in Beiyuan.

This kind of wine shop doesn't seem to match the status of Liang Yuming, the heir of Prince Huai.

But it's also easy to understand. In this kind of low-end restaurant, few people can recognize Liang Yuming, which is suitable for some secret activities.

Wu Xu gave Xu Zhiqiong five taels of silver, and asked him to order a table of food and wine in the corner of the first floor, and watch the guests passing by while eating and drinking.

If he saw Liang Yuming, Xu Zhiqiong only needed to do one thing, send a signal to Wu Xu.

Wu Xu gave him a candle: "This is a twin candle of yin and yang. Here is one for you. I have another one in my hand. When you see Liang Yuming appear, you light the candle, and my candle will light up. When Liang Yuming leaves, If you blow out the candle, mine will go out too, and leave the wine shop immediately after you have done this."

It turned out to be stalking.

It sounds easy, but Wu Xu was a little worried: "You just came to the Yamen not long ago, and you shouldn't be allowed to do this kind of thing alone, but I really lack people in my hands. You must remember that when you see someone, light a candle." That's good, don't eavesdrop on Liang Yuming's words, and don't follow him, Liang Yuming is extremely alert and ruthless, there was a Lantern Lantern who died in his hands while stalking him, you must be careful."

When Wu Xu said this, Xu Zhiqiong became a little nervous: "Liang Yuming recognizes me, and Wu Anfu also recognizes me."

Wu Anfu is the shopkeeper of Wu Anfu Restaurant.

Wu Xu said: "This kind of small shop is dimly lit at night. As long as you don't show off, Liang Yuming will never see you. As for Wu Anfu, he is an honest man. As long as he doesn't want to lose this business, he will definitely not dare to tell you the truth." Identity, you must remember, just keep an eye on, don't do unnecessary things."

At the fork in the road, the two split up, and Xu Zhiqiong went to Wu Anfu's restaurant.

Although he was wearing casual clothes, Wu Anfu, the shopkeeper, recognized Xu Zhiqiong at a glance, and hurried forward to greet him.

Before Wu Anfu could speak, Xu Zhiqiong waved his hands again and again, signaling him not to talk nonsense. Wu Anfu has been in business for many years, so he naturally has some insight, so he quickly changed his tone: "Guest officer, what would you like to eat?"

"Find some delicious dishes and serve them on a few plates, and make a jug of wine."

Xu Zhiqiong sat on a table behind the stairs, Wu Anfu stepped forward and said, "Guest officer, please sit by the window, it's bright there."

Xu Zhiqiong waved his hands and said, "It's very good here, so you don't have to worry about it."

A clerk in the distance looked at Xu Zhiqiong and asked in a low voice, "Who is this person? Why is the shopkeeper so polite to him?"

Another clerk said: "You just came here, you haven't seen him yet, this is our Lord Deng Lang from Beiyuan."

"Lamp Lantern?"

"Keep your voice down, don't let him hear you."

"Why doesn't he have a light?"

"Who knows, it must be Huo Mu today, anyway, just be careful, don't run into him."

……

Not long after, the food and wine were brought up, Xu Zhiqiong ate and drank slowly, keeping his eyes on the door from time to time.

After half past hour (around eight o'clock), three men came in outside the door, one of whom said his surname was Ma, and asked for a single room upstairs.

There was nothing special about these three people, they were the first guests to ask for a private room tonight, so Xu Zhiqiong paid a little attention.

After a while, two more people walked in outside the door, both dressed in civilian clothes, in civilian attire.

One person said to the shopkeeper: "Let's go up to the second floor, and a guest surnamed Ma has reserved a table."

Xu Zhiqiong hurriedly bowed his head to drink, and one of these two people was Liang Yuming.

Although he was wearing civilian clothes and had a beard on his face, the judge had keen observation skills, and Xu Zhiqiong recognized him at a glance.

The two followed the shopkeeper upstairs, the location behind the stairs was hidden, Liang Yuming didn't notice Xu Zhiqiong at all.

Xu Zhiqiong waved his hand and summoned a buddy.

The guy closest to Xu Zhiqiong happened to be the new guy, and he hurried forward to say hello, "Guest officer, what do you want?"

"Bring me a lamp." Xu Zhiqiong wanted to light a candle.

"Okay, wait a moment." The clerk went to the counter to get an oil lamp, put it on Xu Zhiqiong's table, turned to leave, but was stopped by Xu Zhiqiong.

"What's your name?"

The man laughed and said, "The villain's name is Hao Quan, you can call me Xiao Quan."

Xu Zhiqiong nodded and smiled, "Xiao Quan, are you new here?"

Hao Quan nodded and said: "I just came the day before yesterday, guest officer, please take care of me in the future."

"Cut a plate of chicken for me, and some lamb."

Hao Quan said with a smile: "Guest officer, you ordered such a large table, I'm afraid you won't be able to finish it?"

Xu Zhiqiong frowned and said, "Why do you talk so much? Master is in a good mood today, so you can just serve the dishes."

"Okay, wait a minute!"

Hao Quan turned and left, Xu Zhiqiong stared at his back for a long time, the hairs all over his body stood on end.

This man has no horns on his head.

……

The candle in Wu Xu's hand was lit, and he took Qu Jinshan and twenty-two lantern bearers, dressed in civilian clothes, quietly out of the city, and lay in ambush in the woods near the official road.

Wu Xu's target was not Liang Yuming, but the three people who met Liang Yuming, three rare strong men.

Wu Xu knew the origins of the three of them, and also knew where the three of them were going.

After receiving the news, Wu Xu originally planned to attack Liang Yuming at the wine shop, but how to deal with Liang Yuming became a problem. Before there was any definite evidence of the crime, he injured the prince Huai, not only Wu Xu himself was in danger, but the entire yamen in charge of lamps was in danger of being upside down.

The entire capital has Liang Yuming's eyes and ears. In desperation, Wu Xu chose to ambush outside the city.

According to the Daxuan law, Lantern Lantern could not leave the capital without the emperor's order. Wu Xu risked the death penalty to bring them out, and they had to be brought back before dawn.

If Liang Yuming didn't show up at the restaurant, it would prove that the person who met him hadn't entered the city, and Wu Xu wouldn't let Lantern Lang go out of the city to take risks.

Xu Zhiqiong's news is very important. When the light is on, it proves that the three people are in the city. When the light is off, it proves that the three people are about to leave the city.

And this road is the only way they must pass.

……

Hao Quan didn't add food to Xu Zhiqiong first, but went upstairs with a jug of wine and entered the private room.

In the private room, Liang Yuming was discussing business with a guest.

The guest surnamed Ma said: "Shopkeeper Liang, the day is getting closer and closer, have you prepared all the goods?"

Liang Yuming smiled and said, "It's still a bit short, please tell the boss, the goods will be ready within a month at most."

"I can remind you of some things. My boss thinks about this day and night. You know his old man's temper."

Liang Yuming nodded and said: "Shopkeeper Ma, please tell the owner one more word, so that the old man can relax, this business..."

Before he could finish speaking, Hao Quan came in with a wine jug, and the shopkeeper stared at him: "Do you have any rules? Don't you know how to knock?"

Hao Quan looked embarrassed: "Here, this is the wine ordered by the guest officer."

Shopkeeper Ma said angrily, "When did I order wine? I haven't finished the wine yet!"

Hao Quan scratched his scalp and dared not speak, Liang Yuming said with a smile: "Let me see what kind of good wine it is, it smells really good, come here and pour me a glass."

Hao Quan poured Liang Yuming a cup: "You have a taste."

While pouring the wine, the waiter spread out his palm and gave Liang Yuming a look. There were three characters written on it: "Lang Lantern."

Liang Yuming picked up the wine glass, took a sip, nodded and said, "Good wine, I want this pot of wine, and put it on my account."

After speaking, he drew a circle on Hao Quan's hand.

This circle means, kill him.

Hao Quan put down the jug, left the private room, went straight to the kitchen, and brought Xu Zhiqiong a plate of chicken.

He holds a chicken in his left hand and a short knife hidden in the sleeve of his right hand.

When he came to Xu Zhiqiong's seat, he found that Xu Zhiqiong was gone.

He turned around and asked another guy, "Where is the guest officer?"

"Check out and leave, saying there is something urgent."

……

Hao Quan gritted his teeth, took the chicken and went up to the second floor, entered the private room and said, "Guest officer, you ordered chicken."

The horse shopkeeper said angrily: "When did I order chicken again?"

Liang Yuming smiled and said, "I ordered the chicken, you guys should try it."

Hao Quan put the chicken on the table, and showed Liang Yuming the palm of his hand. There was a word written on it: "Let's go."

Lantern Lang left.

Liang Yuming nodded and said: "This chicken is not bad, you can go down."

After Hao Quan left, Liang Yuming said to Shopkeeper Ma, "You three, don't go out of the city tonight. I'll find you a place to live."

Shopkeeper Ma frowned and said, "My boss told us that we can't live in the capital. If we come and leave on the same day, our lives will be in danger if we stay for a moment longer."

Liang Yuming said: "You must trust me. If you stay in the capital tonight, I will protect you. If you leave the capital, you will surely die."

Not long after, the five of them went downstairs together, Liang Yuming settled the bill, Hao Quan hurried up to say hello: "Guest officer, please go slowly."

Liang Yuming nodded and smiled, "You are quite clever, this is your reward."

After speaking, Liang Yuming stuffed Hao Quan with a handful of copper coins.

There is a note between the copper coins, which reads: Ask for the name of the man who carried the lantern, and kill him.

Hao Quan took the note and copper coins, turned around and asked another waiter, who was the lantern-handler who came to eat just now?

The clerk replied: "Xu Zhiqiong, Xu Denglang! You have to remember that we can never offend Lantern Lang."

Hao Quan nodded and said, "Remember it."

Liang Yuming and his party got into the carriage, a mouse looked up, turned around and ran, and ran to the tile market across the street in one breath, got into the peach blossom shed, and went to the private room on the second floor.

Xu Zhiqiong came back to his soul, and blew out the yin and yang twin candles on the table.

……

Outside the city, the candle in Wu Xu's hand went out.

"They are coming soon, let the brothers prepare for battle."

Qu Jinshan whistled, and the twenty-two lantern bearers on both sides of the road were fully prepared for the battle.

Wu Xu said to Qu Jinshan: "Two Lingxiu rank four and one Suzaku fifth rank, we still have to catch someone alive, can we handle it?"

Qu Jinshan said with a smile: "If I can't carry it, I have to carry it. I am an old bone. I am afraid that I will stay here tonight."

(End of this chapter)