There is a white bone spirit in the village

Chapter 35

It was late at night when Yang Jingxuan returned to the county seat, and he arrived at the county yamen's palace as scheduled during the day, but Li Guantao hadn't rested yet, and was still waiting for him in the study.Knowing that the Wang Daya he met during the day did not exist in Xilin Village, he was very disappointed, and said a few words, "Why did that woman leave in such a hurry, and didn't want to leave her real name?"

Yang Jingxuan's mind once again recalled the slender back that he saw during the day, and for some reason he thought of his niece and daughter-in-law Chunjiao at this moment.Couldn't help asking about the woman's appearance again, Li Guantao recalled: "The eyebrows are black like satin, shaped like willow leaves, when she smiles, her eyes are like crescent moons, and there is a light dimple on her cheek."

Yang Jingxuan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately merged with the woman in his mind.Li Guantao saw that his expression was different, and asked, "Why, did you remember anything?"

Yang Jingxuan hurriedly shook his head to cover it up, Li Guantao didn't have any doubts, just sighed: "I see that woman is young, and I only spoke to her a few words, but I always feel that she has a lot of experience in water control, at least she has been taught by an expert. It’s fine if you don’t know, but now that you know there is such a person, you must find out in the future.”

Yang Jingxuan echoed, then changed the topic and asked about Wang Suqian and others coming to celebrate his birthday during the day, Li Guantao sneered and said: "They have long been under the command of the King of England, not only them, but also the salt and iron taxes in this state capital and other places, I'm afraid Before reaching the treasury, I had to put some cents into the king's pocket first. I was instructed to come here from a long distance. First, I was afraid that I would hand over the salt tax to the emperor to spy on me. Is it just the prince's secret dealings? It's really ridiculous to make a face."

Yang Jingxuan was silent.

In the year when the war with the Northern Dynasty ended, the crown prince was framed and accused of conspiring to force the palace. The emperor suspected him, so the Eastern Palace was abolished and moved to a corner of southern Xinjiang. Conspiracy theory.At that time, Li Guantao, who was still the prime minister, took the top spot to fight for the crown prince's innocence, but the emperor believed it, and suspected that he, the prince and Taifu, was also secretly involved, but there was no evidence.In a rage, he demoted him to this place according to his intention of taking off the top, and several years have passed in a blink of an eye.

"The prince has a generous nature, so how could he do such treasonable things. It's just that someone separated his father-son relationship to profit from the muddy water. The miasma in southern Xinjiang is hot and humid. I'm afraid the prince will suffer..."

In the candlelight, Li Guantao's brows were full of melancholy.

Yang Jingxuan comforted: "My lord, just relax. At the end of last year, when I took my lord's handwriting and went to the southern border, I saw that the prince was darker and thinner, and his mind was calm. People who are angry. Given time, the emperor will definitely understand what is right and what is wrong."

Li Guantao said: "I have been in charge of the master for 20 years, so I naturally know that he is not a foolish person. It's just that he is old and the throne can deceive people's eyes the most, so he credulously believes in people's words that his flesh and blood are separated. I'm afraid that when he understands, It's already too late..." After finishing speaking, he sighed and was full of worry.

Yang Jingxuan said a few more words of comfort, seeing that Mrs. Li was still coming over and urging her, she resigned and left. After leaving the gate of the Hou Yamen, she went to her own residence.

He didn't have a house in the county seat, the Yang couple asked him to live with him several times before, he didn't want to disturb his family, so he only rented a small courtyard in South Street not far from the yamen for lodging.Because there is no plan to live there for a long time, the furnishings in the house are very simple, just one couch and one couple.

Yang Jingxuan led the old horse home under the moonlight. As soon as he opened the courtyard door, he immediately felt that something was wrong, and subconsciously put his hand on the handle of the knife at his waist. He led the old horse like that and tied it under the shed, then turned around and went to the courtyard, and said coldly: "After squatting for a long time, my legs and feet must be numb, so it's good to come down and rest. Whoever the road, please report your name." Bar."

As soon as he finished speaking, a man in black jumped down from the locust tree in the courtyard, his kung fu should be excellent, and he landed lightly and silently.

The man in black laughed softly: "Brother Yang has good ears, I can't hide anything from you. It has been a few years since I left the north. Do you still remember my brother?" A face with a raised forehead and a high nose, and a shallow scar on the side of the cheek.

Yang Jingxuan smiled slightly and said: "Gu You Sima is famous, he was so powerful in the three armies, how dare I forget?"

The man in black was named Gu Xiang, waved his hand and said, "Brother Yang is making fun of you like this, you killed brother. We haven't seen each other for many years, and I have prepared some food and drinks when we meet this time. Can you have a drink with me?" ?”

Yang Jingxuan stood still and said: "When General Li died, I swore that I would never drink alcohol again in my life."

Gu Xiang was stunned, and looked up to see him with a calm expression under the moonlight, seeing that he really wouldn't go with him, with a slight wry smile on his face, he sighed and said: "I think you and I had no backing in the army back then, and it was all based on bloody battles." At the end of the military exploits, the left and right Sima are divided, and they are both the left and right arms of General Li. On the battlefield, they advance and retreat together and kill the enemy together. They feel like brothers and sisters. What a joy. It’s a pity that we are now separated, and you and I are strangers..."

Yang Jingxuan seemed unwilling to continue this topic, frowned slightly, and asked: "You must have something to do when you come here, so let's just say it."

Gu Xiang said: "Brother Yang still has the same temperament as before. Forget it, I'll just say it straight. I came here this time because I was entrusted by someone to repay the life-saving grace of the year..." Passed a wooden box from behind to Yang Jingxuan, " Before that nobleman went to the battle in person, he was surrounded by the enemy army due to the negligence of his guards. When he saw that he was about to be captured, his younger brother fired arrows in anger and forced the Northern Dynasty people to be unable to approach him. He single-handedly rescued him from the chaos. I still do not forget Brother Yang’s bravery. He mentioned it in front of me several times over the years, and he has a heart of gratitude. Knowing that my brother is now a headhunter in a corner of the country, and dealing with small thieves every day, he sighs that he is too talented to use a pearl to secretly cast The nobleman knows that brother Yang doesn’t have a thing in his eyes, so naturally he doesn’t dare to stain your eyes with those. Knowing that brother Yang loves knives like his life, the precious sword in this box is the great casting master Ding Shiwu who worked hard a hundred years ago The cast blue kite cuts iron like mud. It is said that on the day the sword was completed, he vomited blood on the blade and died, so the blood streaks appeared on the blade. The nobleman ordered me to donate it to you, I hope my brother will accept it."

As Gu Xiang said, he opened the lid of the box, and there was indeed a knife lying quietly in the box, the jet-black scabbard was covered with gemstones of various colors, it was blurry and eye-catching in the moonlit night.

Yang Jingxuan stared at it for a moment, stretched out his hand to hold it up, and slowly pulled out the blade. Seeing that the blade was as thin as a sword's wing, the blade was cold and sharp, and the cold light was piercing.

"How is it? This precious sword is a nobleman's favorite thing, and it is often played with. Today, it is a joyful gift for brother Bo, and I am generous."

Seeing him playing, Gu Xiang said with a smile on his face.

"It really is a good knife!"

Yang Jingxuan praised him, and held a knife under the moonlight. Gu Xiang couldn't dodge the snowflake-like shadow of the knife. He felt his scalp was slightly cool, and a few strands of hair fell from his eyes. After cutting off the top of his hair, his face changed in astonishment, and he said angrily, "Yang Jingxuan, what do you mean?"

Yang Jingxuan put away the knife, and blew away the few hairs that were stuck on it. The smile just now disappeared, and his face was gloomy. He stared at Gu Xiang and said slowly: "You Sima, since you haven't forgotten that you and I used to be together General Li's left and right hand, let me ask you a question. Before the final battle, you invited me to have a drink. Someone lured the enemy army, so that the general died alone. Let me ask you, have you drugged my wine?"

The angry look on Gu Xiang's face disappeared immediately, he bowed his head for a while, and said: "I just saw that you still have this old horse by your side, so I know you are a nostalgic person. Well, since you know, I dare not deny it It's just that I can't help myself. I've felt guilty all these years. It's just that if I didn't obey my orders at that time, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to escape the fate of General Li. What's more, even if I didn't obey my orders, others would do it It's my business. Although the nobleman sometimes goes too far, he absolutely loves those who are loyal to him, and you will know in the future..."

Yang Jingxuan said coldly: "I'm afraid I'm not lucky enough to know about your nobleman. Please go back and tell your nobleman that I saved him back then because he was the commander of soldiers and horses in the world. I just did my duty as a soldier. Please don't worry about it." But now, there is only one emperor in the world, and I, Yang Jingxuan, have narrow vision and can't see anyone else. Since this blue kite is the nobleman's favorite, how can I, as a commoner, dare to take away the nobleman's love?" As he said that, with a sound, a cold light flashed, and the knife was thrown back into the box impartially.

Gu Xiang's arms were slightly heavy, and he quickly supported the box. Seeing Yang Jingxuan standing with his hands behind his back, his expression was cold under the moonlight, and he knew that he would not change his mind.Sighing secretly, he had no choice but to put away the knife case slowly, paused to leave, walked a few steps, looked back and saw his back was frozen, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Brother Yang, I know you despise me in your heart. Back then I was confused After doing that, I also look down on myself. But I have no way out. The nobleman is ambitious and collects the power of the world for himself to control. He will never show mercy to those who do not submit. You are an exception. He is too much. Cherish your talent. Now you are getting close to the boss, but the nobleman regards the boss as a thorn in his side, but he is afraid of his past prestige in the court, so he dare not act rashly. You should be more careful in the future." After speaking, he sighed and finally left go.

Yang Jingxuan stood silent for a moment, then walked slowly to Cao Pao, reached out and touched its head, squatted down and raised the switch knife, stuffed a few handfuls of fodder under the knife edge, carefully cut it into pieces and put it into the manger.In the calm air under the moonlight, a light green grass smell slowly permeates, which makes people feel at ease.

The next day was a good day for Lin Jiao.Widow Stone hitched her own mule cart, called a few women in the village who she was close with on weekdays, and helped Lin Jiao move her belongings into the county seat.Mrs. Yang also came here to help out, tidying up a table of food and wine. Everyone left after eating drunk. The next day, they blew up a long hanging red whip that Mrs. Yang sent, and when the door opened, Lin Jiao's new foot shop was considered to be open. up.

After Lin Jiao bought the foot shop, a former clerk came to find her.Lin Jiao left behind a person who could see clearly and asked him to greet the guests in the front hall.Mrs. Yang was asked to help find two capable women who needed to supplement the family because their families were poor. One surnamed Wang was in charge of the kitchen, and the other surnamed Ma was in charge of sweeping and washing.

There are many shops in the county town, men are out and about, and there are not a few women's houses showing their faces to support the facade, so it is not a surprise for Lin Jiao to open a shop.Only a month ago when her foot shop was still under renovation, everyone in the neighborhood knew that Yang Jingxuan's nephew and daughter-in-law in the yamen had bought it here, and it opened today, so naturally many people came to see the excitement.Everyone saw that the store had a new look inside and out, the female shopkeeper didn't talk much, she sat firmly behind the counter, but spoke frankly when socializing with others, she was a beautiful young widow.Within two days, everyone in the neighborhood knew about it, and there were even more good people who didn't live in the store. They sat down to eat just to get a better look at the beauty of the female shopkeeper, and they didn't leave after eating. So the first two days of opening God, although there are not many people staying in the store, it is still lively from the front.A few days later, some old customers from the past came to stay and saw that the restaurants and shops here were clean and tidy, but the prices were almost the same as those of other houses. Wherever they lived, they were not staying, and there was a beautiful proprietress watching them. It's getting better, the store is almost full when I'm busy, and money comes into my account every day.

Lin Jiao suddenly turned into the proprietress.Although Yang Jingxuan was covering his head, others didn't dare to really mess around.But most of the customers are rude men, ranging in age from fifty to sixty to fifteen or sixteen. Seeing that she is young and beautiful, with an amiable smile, and rumored to be a widow, it is natural that she wanted to tease her with words at first. Not a lot.

Lin Jiao knew that she was not a man running a shop, and she had thought about what kind of proprietress she would be in the future.

Speaking of all kinds of proprietresses in ancient and modern times, the one who impressed her most was Jin Xiangyu in the Longmen Inn.Now I have become one of them, but I never dare to follow her example, laughing and beating with guests, and climbing to the roof to sing spicy songs when I see a man.After thinking about it, I think it is better to use it for doctrine.So from the first day the store opened, she didn't get annoyed and ignored anyone who came into her store and stared at her, anyway, there would be no loss of meat.Answer all questions of the guests, with a smile on his face, only limited to ordinary things.If someone speaks wrong, or even touches their hands, they immediately put away their smiles and their faces are as cold as ice.A few days after opening, although Yang Jingxuan didn't come to visit in person, only yamen servants Liu Datong and Wang Jun and others took turns to report, almost every day to report in time for meals. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that it was Yang Jingxuan who was supporting his nephew and daughter-in-law. .Seeing someone behind the female shopkeeper, she is not good at teasing herself, so she gradually gave up her frivolous thoughts, at most, she peeked at her back a few times, just to enjoy her eyesight.

(End of this chapter)