After bowing to each other, Hongyuan held his arm and invited Xiling into the house. They were old acquaintances when they were in the capital, but their relationship didn't seem to be this good; and now they were meeting someone in a foreign country, even if they were overly enthusiastic.
, and would not be blamed. Xiling went into the mansion to rest and freshen up, and then went to the hall to be polite. Hongyuan ordered the servants to retreat, leaving only these two adults in the hall.
The Lord of Hongyuan City looked a little uneasy, and his enthusiasm just now was to some extent to cover up the nervousness in his heart. At this moment, Master Xiling did not speak, and he did not dare to take the initiative to speak. There was an exquisite glass cup on the table in front of Xiling, and the contents in the cup were
The tea leaves are slowly stretching and opening, returning to their green and vivid appearance, and the tea water has also turned into a golden amber color.
Xiling seemed to be enjoying the tea in the cup with great interest, and then looked up at the cup in front of Hongyuan. There was only a cup of water in it. He frowned slightly and said: "Hongyuan City Lord, we have been together for a long time.
My dear old friend, is it a little too unusual for you to treat guests like this? You treat me to such a wonderful drink, but you only drink a glass of water yourself?"
If it were an ordinary family, it would be a solemn etiquette to bring out the best things to entertain distinguished guests. However, the Lord of the City received the envoy and talked privately as an old friend. He only brought out a cup of tea, but he sat beside him to drink it.
Bai Shui, this seems too pretentious.
When someone who didn't know the inside story saw this, they thought that Mr. Jun was too arrogant and wanted the best in everything, and had no intention of sharing it with others, so Xiling seemed a little unhappy.
Lord Hongyuan smiled bitterly and explained: "Master Xiling, please don't misunderstand me! To tell you the truth, I usually like to drink tea, but I don't drink it every day. I only drink this tea when distinguished guests and friends come to visit.
It was made by Mr. Xin Lan, a national worker in this city, and it is a wonderful product that I treasure.
Originally, there were still some, but the young gentleman two months ago came to Feihong City and lived in the city lord's mansion. He claimed that he was practicing bigu cultivation and did not need any other offerings. He ordered people to serve tea every day, morning and night.
Tea. I have no choice but to offer it. After he leaves, the tea leaves collected this year will only be enough to make this cup!"
Huwa did not ask for any reward from Lord Hongyuan. Not only did he not get the plate of gold, but he did not even eat a bite of meat when he lived in the Lord's mansion. However, he felt that the tea served by Lord Hongyuan when entertaining guests was very good, so he asked the palace to serve him every day.
Tea is fine. Drinking tea is not divided into three meals, morning, lunch and night, like eating. He would have a cup when he had nothing to do. He also lamented that Panhu was not around, otherwise they could drink together.
Such a tea contains many beneficial effects for the body and mind. It takes a lot of manpower and material resources for ordinary people to make it. What's more, it is a tea specially collected in the mountains by a monk from the Five Realms and made with the power of refining medicine. It is extremely rare and rare. Hongyuan
Even if the city lord has some, he will never have too many, but he is too embarrassed to be stingy, so he can only try his best to meet Huwa's requirements.
Huwa didn't know much about the situation and drank almost all the tea. Fortunately, he left early and left the last cup for the monarch's envoy. Otherwise, Lord Xiling would have to sit here today with Lord Hongyuan.
Drink plain water.
Xiling's expression was quite surprised, even a little bit dumbfounded. The explanation of Hongyuan City Lord relieved the atmosphere a lot. He finally asked cautiously: "The monarch has heard about what happened in Feihong City. What is the order?"
Xiling sighed and said: "The king is furious. The military formation guarding the city has turned out to be a murderer who slaughters villages and annihilates people! How did you become the city lord? If it spreads, it will inevitably be criticized - Junior High School
Can each of the city walls be able to protect the environment and fulfill the responsibility of calming the people?"
Sweat immediately appeared on the forehead of Hongyuan City Lord, and he explained in a low voice: "I really didn't know anything. When I came here to serve as the City Lord, they had already committed a murderous crime, and they were not discovered until they committed another crime today."
Xiling nodded lightly and said: "Two years ago, because of the murder in the city wall, the city lord was blamed and replaced. The monarch sent you to take charge of the affairs of Feihong City and find out the details of the murder. In two full years, that
The so-called bandits are right next to you, but you don't know anything about them. This can't be said to be a dereliction of duty. - That's what the monarch said!"
Seeing that Lord Hongyuan's face was getting more and more nervous, and sweat was already flowing down his face from his forehead, Xiling changed his tone and said: "According to the situation that has been identified, the so-called bandit is deeply hidden and his identity is unexpected.
.You only came to Feihong City two years ago. The murders that occurred before have nothing to do with you and are not your responsibility.
Now that the murderer has been executed, not a single person has escaped since Yan Lingzhu. They committed another crime without success, and have been wiped out. The task assigned to you by the monarch is to manage the city walls, appease the people, and at the same time wipe out the group of bandits. From now on
It turns out that you have indeed done it, and your identity as a rogue is not your responsibility... This is what I said when the Lord asked me."
Hong Yuan's expression was like the weather on the top of a snow-capped mountain. It changed extremely wonderfully. At this moment, he subconsciously wiped the sweat with his sleeves, stood up and saluted: "Master Feng Zheng, Hong Yuan doesn't know how to be grateful for you speaking for me like this!"
Xiling also stood up and held his arm and said: "You and I have been friends for many years, so why should we be so polite? Besides, I only tell the truth in front of the lord and the adults in the court."
Hongyuan lowered his voice and said: "Then..."
Although he hesitated to speak, Xiling certainly knew what he wanted to ask and replied with a smile: "The Lord will not call you back to the capital. You are still the Lord of Feihong City. After hearing this news, can you finally feel at ease?"
Hong Yuan has been waiting for two months, and the big stone that was weighing on his heart finally fell to the ground at this moment. He sat down again and panted, feeling as if he was exhausted. He was just a member of the royal family,
It is not easy to get to where you are today by relying on your shrewdness and ability. If you are implicated and are called back to the capital, you can only receive some support every year and live at home.
Hong Yuan took a sip of water, calmed his breath and said: "Thank you for the good news, and thank you for your frankness in front of the king. If there is any mission in the future, Hong Yuan should do his best to repay you!"
Xiling waved his hand and said: "Actually, you don't have to thank me. It was you who handled it properly. You neither let the city be embarrassed in the country nor concealed the truth from the lord."
Hong Yuan: "I'm really ashamed. This group of bandits was executed, and no one escaped in the end, but it's not my fault."
Xiling: "The city lord is honest. I have heard the village treasure captain tell the whole story in detail. If it weren't for a national worker who happened to pass by Baixi Village and enter Feihong City, old friend Hongyuan, you and I wouldn't be able to do it today."
Sit here and talk!"
Hong Yuan said with lingering fear: "It is indeed true, so I am deeply grateful to the national worker."
Xiling: "I heard that he didn't ask for any repayment from Feihong City at all. He didn't accept the plate of gold you gave him, but asked you to use half of the crane to support the martyrs and villagers?"
Hongyuan nodded and said: "Yes, I will do what he wants and make the matter public to the city."
Xiling praised: "What you did is very smart, and this matter makes the Lord very satisfied!"
Huwa did not accept the plate of gold. It was said that Hongyuan City Lord could take it back by himself. As for whether he would really use half of it to compensate the martyrs and villagers, he could do it or not. But Hongyuan City Lord did as he was told and did not even reduce the amount in private.
Instead, he took half of the gold in the plate for this purpose and announced it to the people in the city walls.
Of course it is wise to do this, but it is not easy either. Who wouldn’t feel uncomfortable doing it?
Hong Yuan finally showed a smile and said: "It should be so, this is my responsibility. Master Fengzheng, you are familiar with all kinds of anecdotes in the country, do you know who the national worker is? I owe him a huge favor.
, but I don’t even know its name.”
Xiling sighed softly: "Not only do you owe him a favor, the Lord also has to thank him, and all the people in Feihong City have to thank him. Since inheriting the orthodoxy and re-establishing the Ba Kingdom, the kingdoms that have been awarded to them in more than a hundred years have
There are not many workers, and there are now a total of forty-nine people still alive holding tokens, including Mr. Ruoshan, the Lord of Shanshui City who just received this title.
I have asked the captain of the village treasure team in detail about this person's description, but no one among the workers from other countries matches it. I really don't know who the master is. I heard that this young gentleman has lived in your house for several days.
, I also let him drink up all the tea in your collection, thinking that you might know more than me, and I wanted to ask you."
In that era, if you want to stand out, you often need to have outstanding talents and abilities. Some people are of noble birth and can enjoy generous support, but it is not easy to seek a high position. The reason is very simple, if you don't have that ability, you can't do it!
Xiling came from an ordinary background and did not have a prominent tribe or family background, but he could clearly remember everything in the country and anecdotes from various places. For example, how many national workers were there in the Xiangshi Kingdom, what were their names, and what were they said to look like?
When someone asks about his appearance, how old he is, what his background is, and what he is good at, he can answer clearly, even more clearly than Lord Gongzheng who is in charge of this matter.
How difficult this was in an era when there was no systematic written record! Therefore, Xiling was neither a high-level monk nor an ordinary person, but he was able to be valued and promoted step by step, and he has served as a junior high school student.
Caifeng, I am afraid there is no one more suitable for this position than him.
When the Lord of Hongyuan City saw that the envoy was Xiling, he was full of hope and wanted to know the identity of Huwa. Unexpectedly, even the most knowledgeable and memorized Master Caifeng in the country was confused. He asked in confusion: "Little
Sir, you do look a bit too young, but among all the national workers, aren’t there any experts from the younger generation?"
Xiling pondered: "There are some national workers who are young or even not yet married. They have either practiced special secret techniques or have particularly important backgrounds. Unfortunately, these people either live in the capital.
There are people nearby, or they often come and go to the capital, and I happen to have seen them all, and none of them match the young gentleman mentioned by the village treasure... There is only one national worker, who is young but has high cultivation, and I have never met him."