Kaifeng Monster

Chapter 22
People often say, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
Of course, spring will not be far away. In fact, this spring passes quickly, not only spring, but also the following summer.

But as soon as autumn comes, the pace of life seems to slow down suddenly.

When the first autumn rain shook the yellow leaves in Kaifeng, Zhan Zhao suddenly remembered the autumn of a year ago.

At that time, it was also the time when the autumn rain continued, and Duanmucui sat bored on the porch of the thatched hut facing the courtyard, resting his hands on his chin and watching the raindrops on the edge of the eaves for more than half an hour.

Zhan Zhao curiously asked what Duanmucui was doing.

"I'm worried." Duanmucui said.

When Duanmucui uttered the word "worried", she frowned slightly, and let out a long sigh, her beautiful face was full of bewilderment, against the drizzle in the sky, it seemed like a picture of a beauty smeared on rice paper.

"What are you worried about?" Zhan Zhao asked very softly, more precisely, so softly that it was close to "whispering", as if he was afraid that if the sound was too loud, everything in front of him would become a frightened bird flapping its wings fly away.

If it wasn't Duanmucui who acted opposite him, this graceful and melancholy scene might have lasted longer.

But Duanmucui replied in a very puzzled manner: "It's so hard to bear just in autumn, won't I freeze to death in winter? Zhan Zhao, do you think I should go to the south to take refuge?"

Just now it was just beautiful music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and hops. Duanmucui didn't open his mouth, but it was fine. Once he opened his mouth, he turned the above seven items into gold and made great strides towards firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea.

"This question is really worrying." Zhan Zhao said unhappily, "Think about it slowly."

When talking about it with Wang Chao afterwards, Wang Chao was surprised and said, "My sister Duanmu belongs to the wild goose family, can't I still fly south in autumn?"

Thinking of the past, a smile appeared on the corner of Zhan Zhao's lips, almost subconsciously, he raised his head to look at the sky.

At this time, it is the time when wild geese migrate south.

The sky is gray, and the gray clouds are lighter than the gray sky, and even the rain seems to be dyed a dark color.Occasionally, the wind blows, and the rain line slantly hits the hem of Zhan Zhao's blue clothes. After a while, the hem of the skirt is completely wet.

In the distance, the high eaves and flying corners of Kaifeng are surrounded by mist and rain, which is strangely lonely.

Zhan Zhao didn't know how long he stood by the corridor until Zhang Long broke into the inner courtyard with a pale face.

Zhao Hu was seriously injured.

Two ribs were broken, and one of them would go straight to the heart and lungs.

When talking about it, Gongsun Ce's voice trembled a little.

"Who made such a heavy hand?" Zhan Zhao asked not loudly, but everyone in the room fell silent suddenly, even Zhao Hu, who had been moaning all the time, turned his head and stopped making a sound.

"Who made such a heavy hand?" Zhan Zhao's face was calm, but flames gradually ignited in his bright black eyes.

"Brother Zhan, forget it." Zhang Long did not dare to raise his head.

"Brother Zhan, I'm really fine." Zhao Hu forced a smile, "A little injury."

Zhan Zhao was silent for a long time, then he took off his robe suddenly, and strode out.

"Brother Zhan." Zhao Hu was in a hurry. He struggled and wanted to stop him, but Gongsun Ce stopped him with sharp eyes and hands, but he touched the wound and couldn't help moaning.

Zhan Zhao's figure paused slightly.

"Brother Zhan, don't go." Zhang Long was almost pleading, "It's our fault, we know we shouldn't mess with Xiaohualiu..."

Sure enough, it was another stream of fine flowers.

A trace of imperceptible anger flashed across Zhan Zhao's face.

"Zhan Huwei, don't go." Gongsun Ce smiled wryly, "Even if you go, you won't be able to see Mr. Wen Guweiyu, let alone..."

What's more, Gongsun Ce didn't say anything.

Although they didn't say it, everyone's heart is bright.

Don't look at the monk's face to look at the Buddha's face. The old owner of Xihualiu is Duanmucui after all.

He promised Mr. Gongsun to settle the matter and not to pursue it, but Zhan Zhao couldn't help but came to Jinhou Lane on Zhuque Street during the night patrol.

The rain has not stopped yet, and the bluestone road paved inward at the entrance of the alley has been washed bright by the rain. One after another, old and dusty red lanterns hang from the eaves of one after another. Light.

At the end, there is a house with a high courtyard wall, a door knocker with a black lacquered copper animal head, a plaque with the words "Xihualiu" across the door lintel, and two red-bottomed lanterns hanging high under the eaves, which are more beautiful than the lanterns hanging beside the lane. It should be extra bright, bright enough to burn people's eyes.

Zhan Zhao stopped in his tracks.

He doesn't come here often, to be exact, the number of times he set foot on Jinhou Lane is very few.

Partly because Wen Guweiyu is eccentric and mean.

But the deeper reason is...

Everything in Jinhou Lane, whether it is the gorgeous plaques, the shiny black doors, the lanterns hanging high, or the bluestone roads touched by the lowered head, reminds him all the time: the Duanmucui era of fine flowers and flowers has passed. passed.

Now it is Mr. Wen Guwei Yu who is holding the fine flowers and flowing ears.

Three months after Duanmucui left, Xihualiu, which had been silent for a long time, reappeared.

On that day, the letter of worship was sent to Kaifeng Mansion, signed by "Wen Guweiyu".

Zhan Zhao clearly remembered that it was a day when the spring water thawed and the earth was about to warm up. Everyone in Kaifeng Mansion had put on spring jackets, but Wen Gu Weiyu, who got off the carriage, was still wearing fox fur lightly in early winter. Qiu, wearing a purple and gold cloak, looks like a posture that is extremely cold in spring.

Are people from Yingzhou so afraid of the cold?
Wen Guweiyu's stature was almost the same as Zhan Zhao's, so when he walked closer and looked directly at him, it was Zhan Zhao's eyes.

In fact, from the moment he got off the carriage, Wen Guweiyu's gaze was always glued to Zhan Zhao.

This is not a friendly look, with three points of contempt, three points of ridicule, three points of hostility, and one point of sneer.

When they passed each other, Zhan Zhao heard Wen Guwei whispering like a sigh: "Not much."

But a little?Who is not mediocre?Is it Zhan Zhao, or Kaifeng Mansion?

Zhan Zhao couldn't help turning his head back.

Wen Gu Weiyu didn't look back, his heart was full of some kind of cold and playful satisfaction, his back was straight, and I believed that Zhan Zhao would read the undisguised contempt and hostility from his haughty back.

This contempt and hostility did not come violently, but it was like a shadow creeping in silently, unknowingly, covering the usual clear sunshine of Kaifeng Mansion.

At Master Bao's request, Gongsun Ce specially brewed the dragon and phoenix stone milk tea bestowed by the emperor. "The Chronicle of Things" contains: "Dragon and Phoenix Stone Milk Tea was made by Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, and Jiangzuo was made with a paste tea for the imperial court, which is the product of Dragon Tea."

Treating guests with imperial milk tea shows the prosperity of the heart.

Holding the tea bowl close, the tea mist curls up with fragrance.

"Thank you." Wen Gu Weiyu didn't reach out to pick it up.

Since entering the room, Wen Guweiyu's eyes were clearly alienated and indifferent.He seems to be too stingy with his eyes, unwilling to stay on anyone for a moment, just like a person cherishes his white clothes and does not want to be dusty and dirty - anything in front of his eyes will be dirty if he stays on it.

Dirty?Gongsun Ce shook his head, secretly laughing at his absurd thinking: Maybe Young Master Wen Gu is naturally cold-tempered.

Bending down and about to put down the tea bowl, Wen Guweiyu's faint voice came from next to his ear: "I never drink tea from the world."

The sound is not loud, but it is enough for everyone in the study to hear clearly.

Gongsun Ce's body froze, and the teacup in his hands seemed to have suddenly become a hot potato: should we put it down or not?

Bao Zheng was slightly astonished, and the displeasure flashed across his eyes; Zhan Zhao's lips were tightly pursed, and he didn't say a word.

"Ordinary goods in the world can't stand shoulder to shoulder with Yingzhou immortals. There are some immortals who are not used to it." Gongsun Ce quickly resumed his usual calmness and gently placed the tea bowl on the table.

The bottom of the bowl touched the table, making a slight knocking sound.

The sound of bumping seems to have attracted Wen Gu Weiyu's attention. He looked at the tea bowl with great interest, reached out to pick up the tea lid, and tapped the tea lid on the edge of the cup.The room was unusually quiet, and the sound of touching and knocking was extremely ear-piercing.

Wen Guweiyu finally spoke.

"I came here this time, firstly because I have a new palm, and I want to come to Kaifeng Mansion for a formality due to emotion and reason; secondly..." Speaking of this, there was a slight pause, and the corners of the crimson lips slightly curled up. Pick, "Secondly, I don't quite agree with what the Duanmu Sect Master did before."

"I would like to hear the details." Bao Zheng remained calm.

"It is said that the Kaifeng Mansion is in charge of the principles of the world, and the fine flowers collect the ghosts in the world. Each has its own specialty, and there is no need to learn from it. It is even more unnecessary to communicate with each other. If the master of Duanmu Sect hadn't had a close relationship with the Kaifeng Mansion before, I am afraid that he would not be rash in the end. Intervened in the case of Liang Wenqi, but finally failed to complete the merits of Xihualiu and returned to Yingzhou.

"Therefore, Xihualiu, led by Wen Gu, is dedicated to subduing spirits and monsters, and will not be entangled with the people of Kaifeng Mansion. This time I came to the door, just to clarify the matter with Mr. Bao. In the future, Xihualiu will be in Kaifeng again." Going in and out is only for the purpose of collecting monsters, and ignores anything that has nothing to do with collecting monsters. If you encounter a Kaifeng government official to handle a case, the Xihualiumen can dodge and dodge, and will never block their way; otherwise... Master Bao should understand what I mean, right?"

"Naturally understand."

What Kaifeng government official sent to handle the case, Xihualiu's family members can dodge as much as they can, you want to go around and say that Kaifeng government should not hinder Xihualiu, right?
"That's good." Wen Guweiyu smiled slightly, "If you speak clearly, you will save a lot of trouble in the future."

Much less hassle?No no no, the trouble has just begun.

Many murders, on the surface, do not appear to be caused by spirits and monsters, and it is inevitable that there will be frequent conflicts with Xi Hualiu. These conflicts can obviously be settled in quarrels, but they are often escalated because of Xi Hualiu's publicity and domineering.For a while, many officials in Kaifeng Mansion always had black noses and swollen faces.

More than once, Gongsun Ce warned Zhang Long, Zhao Hu and the others: "Don't start disputes with those who are fine flowers."

"Mr. Gongsun, do you think we started the dispute?" Zhao Hu felt aggrieved, "You haven't seen how arrogant and domineering people from Xihualiu are. , we just stopped talking..."

Gongsun Ce was speechless.

In fact, everyone's heart is as bright as a mirror. When Duanmucui was there, Xihualiu did not offend Kaifeng Fuqiu and even treated him with courtesy. With Wen Guweiyu, it deteriorated to such a state.Once the emperor and the courtiers, Xihualiu is just a group of courtiers who bow their heads and obey orders, and the "emperor" who is high above is the direction of Xihualiu's actions.

However, Zhan Zhao didn't understand why Wen Gu Weiyu hated Kaifeng Mansion so much?

There was a slight sound of footsteps behind him, and when Zhan Zhao looked back, it was a woman in red, walking towards Jinhou Lane.At this moment, the rain has not stopped yet, the woman only held the paper umbrella in her hand, lowered her head as if she was thinking about something, her whole body was completely soaked, but she still didn't realize it.When approaching the entrance of the alley, Zhan Zhao stepped aside, and the woman realized that there was someone at the entrance of the alley, and raised her head.

When Zhan Zhao looked down, he saw that the woman's face was very delicate, her temples and hair were all wet by the rain, sticking to her face in a mess, but she was even more charming, but there was a lot of melancholy in her brows, as if something was pent up in her heart.

When the woman saw Zhan Zhao, she let out a low sigh, with a look of surprise and joy on her face, and said, "You...you are...Master Zhan?"

She asked quite nervously, even Zhan Zhao could hear the uncertainty in her tone.

Zhan Zhao was not wary that the woman knew him, he was a little bit surprised, looked at the woman carefully, he was sure that he didn't know him, and said with a smile: "This is Zhan Zhao of Kaifeng Mansion, who is the girl?"

(End of this chapter)