The long street is cold and the clouds are rolling.
This day seems to be accumulating boundless chill, accumulating strength for the arrival of the first snow.
People in Kyoto, return home so early, thousands of lights are on, and the world is bustling.
I don’t know how many people were sitting around the fire in this cold night, chatting with wives and childish children.
The warmest place in the world is home.
There are still travelers, the journey to the end of the world is long, and the wind and frost are everywhere.
Sikong Mansion.
Xiao Yuanche was still sitting in front of the desk, under a red light, seeming to be looking at something with interest.
The study was spacious and he was the only one.
Xiao Yuanche was a book addict and had a unique perspective on poetry and poetry.
Articles and poems compete with each other, even in troubled times.
Xiao Yuanche's attainments in poetry and prose were comparable to those of countless literati and talented scholars in the Jin Dynasty who were famous for their articles.
Most of his poems and poems are generous and tragic, and have a noble demeanor.
Therefore, Xiao Yuanche, his sons Xiao Sixu and Xiao Cangshu are as famous for their poems and essays, and are known as the "Three Xiaos" of the Jin Dynasty.
Most of the people who wrote poems and poems in the current era imitated the three men. It is said that the Jin Dynasty's articles were elegant and the Three Xiaos had the unique style.
Even Xiao Yuanche himself once said that his greatest wish was to become a great scholar of Confucianism, to write poems that would make others envious.
As for whether it was a joke or not, I'm afraid only Sikong of the Jin Dynasty, who now has the most powerful decision to kill, knows it.
Not long after, I heard faint footsteps coming from in front of the study door.
Xiao Yuanchefang glanced at the books on the desk a few more times, raised his head and said, "No need to report, just come in."
The door was pushed open, and a gust of cold wind poured in.
Two people in front of the door.
Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo came here wearing cold clothes to protect themselves from the wind.
The two of them entered the study. Xu Wenruo was okay and just rubbed his hands.
Guo Baiyi was a little weaker, his face turned pale with coldness, and his whole body was shaking.
Xiao Yuanche hurriedly asked them to sit down, then personally moved the charcoal brazier to the two of them and said, "It's getting cold early in Kyoto this year. Let's warm up."
Seeing Sikong doing this in person, the two of them stood up and held their hands. Xiao Yuanche waved his hands, and the two of them sat down.
Xiao Yuanche smiled at Xu Wenruo and said: "Wenruo, the decree is well drawn. Liu Xuan, the former general of the Han Dynasty, is still living in Sikong Courtyard, and Xiao Yuanche is asking the soldiers to listen to him. This is also a first-class miracle. He can't open the mansion.
The former general who governs the government, and the Marquis of Yucheng who does not have a single soldier, are very poor! Very poor!"
Xu Wenruo and Guo Baiyi looked at each other with a little smile.
Guo Baiyi said: "Sikong Ruye ordered us to come, but is there anything important?"
Xiao Yuanche said calmly: "Don't be impatient...wait a moment."
As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps sounded again outside the door, and someone said loudly: "Weiwei, Lieutenant Commander-in-Chief of the Shadow Division, Lieutenant Commander Bonin, is asking to see Sikong!"
Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo looked at each other.
When this person comes, something big is bound to happen. Both of them sat upright.
Xiao Yuanche seemed to know that Boning was coming, so he glanced at the door and said, "Come in!"
A figure flashed in front of the door, and a person walked in slowly.
Wearing a brown official uniform, a dark red official hat, a black official belt wrapped around the waist, a gold buckle with a tiger's head, and a thin sword hanging on the left waist. The middle of the scabbard is inlaid with gold foil, and the gold foil carves a strange beast, a tiger-headed snake.
The body also has two pairs of flying wings, fluttering and ready to fly.
He has light eyebrows and deep eyes, a hooked nose, a thin face, and deep eyes that seem to hide a lot of intelligence and a hint of sinisterness.
A short, inverted triangular beard under his chin looks quite mysterious and alert.
This person is Xiao Yuanche's confidant, the guard who frightened Xiao Yuanche's political enemies, and now the chief commander of the Shadow Division - Boning.
It is widely rumored that Lord Bonin is mysterious and cold-blooded, and no one has seen his true face, because whoever sees his face means that the moment of death has come.
Lord Boning, who relied on blood and blood to step up to the top of the Xiao family's espionage and assassination ranks, was a chilling presence in the Xiao family's power.
In the eyes of the common people and political opponents, this Lord Bonin is even more of a cold-blooded devil, a monster who kills without blinking an eye.
Therefore, when Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo saw him coming, they acted like they did just now.
Boning walked into the room and saw Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo also there. He was stunned for a moment, and for a moment he couldn't look away. Only Xiao Yuanche, who was above him, was in his eyes.
Then he knelt down on one knee and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Boning, bow to my lord!"
Xiao Yuanche was very satisfied with Boning's reaction. In Xiao Yuanche's heart, he wanted to cultivate him into a lone wolf who only had Xiao Yuanche in his eyes.
"Here you go...sit down!" Xiao Yuanche said calmly, a kind of pressure from a high-ranking person came to Boning invisibly.
Boning stood up but did not sit down. He only nodded lightly to Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo, his expression was neither arrogant nor respectful.
Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo seemed to be used to it, and nodded slightly.
Seeing that he was not sitting down, Xiao Yuanche didn't say much, so he said, "Let's talk about it."
Boning then nodded and said loudly: "I have already investigated. There was indeed an ulterior secret hidden when Dong Si entered the palace."
Xu Wenruo thought, Dong Si...could it be that Sikong was finally going to attack him?
Thinking of this, Xu Wenruo lowered his head and thought about his thoughts.
Xiao Yuanche glanced at him lightly and said nothing. He only said to Boning: "Tell me carefully."
Boning said: "According to our plate report, he saw with his own eyes that the Holy Emperor gave Dong Si the jade belt he wore. And the content on the jade belt has been seen on the plate. It was written in blood by the emperor himself, and the content written by the emperor has been copied by the emperor.
Copy it and ask your lord to read it."
As he spoke, he presented a bamboo slip.
In the Jin Dynasty, paper or silk was mostly used. For the convenience of the Shadow Division, they often used bamboo slips marked with the Shadow Division's special code.
Xiao Yuanche took the bamboo slip and read it carefully, frowning slightly.
Then he handed the bamboo slip to Guo Baiyi. After looking at it, Guo Baiyi's eyes moved and he handed the bamboo slip to Xu Wenruo calmly.
Xu Wenruo looked a little ugly after looking at it.
Suddenly he stood up and said: "Sikong, I am guilty! The decision to announce Dong Si's entry into the palace was made by me."
Xiao Yuanche waved his hand and said, "If it doesn't have to be like this, Wen, you would have told me about this..."
Xiao Yuanche looked at the bamboo slips and laughed dumbly and said: "I thought that when the emperor was displaced, I welcomed him back, and then painstakingly built the forbidden palace for him to live in. Now he is well clothed and well-fed, and thousands of people worship him.
You are so resentful towards me...returning the blood letter? Doesn't it hurt?"
After saying that, he burst out laughing again.
But when he smiled like this, Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo's expressions became even more ugly.
It seems that Dong Si, the general of chariots and cavalry, is destined to die, and I am afraid that the emperor will also...
Xu Wenruo's face became more solemn.
Boning said again: "I have been following people secretly these days. After Dong Si took the blood edict, he even plotted against several people to do evil." He said these words without any expression on his face.
.There is only Sikong in his eyes.
Xiao Yuanche raised his voice and raised his eyebrows: "Oh? How many people are there? Who are not afraid of death?"
"General, Shen Jizhou, Marquis of Bohai; former general, Liu Xuanhan, Marquis of Yucheng Ting; Marquis of Bei, Ma Xunzhang, the prefect of Shaliang; Qin Yuanji, the commander of Shesheng; Wu Xian, the partial general; Wang Tanzhi, the official of Zhongsan." Boning said. There was no emotion at all when he named these names, as if these people were already dead in his mouth.
Xiao Yuanche snorted and said: "The others are not beyond my expectations. That Ma Xunzhang... and Liu Xuanhan, who has been a former general for how long, how dare he come out and jump around? "
Boning was hesitant and his lips moved, seemingly hesitant.
Xiao Yuanche glanced at him with some dissatisfaction.
Bonin lowered his head in panic.
"Who else? Say..." Xiao Yuanche said coldly, "There is someone who makes you hesitate?..."
Boning then said: "There were only so many people there, but tonight, the Shooting Colonel Qin Yuanji went to a place alone... That place was the place that I was personally watching."
"Oh? Where is it?" Xiao Yuanche asked suspiciously.
"It's not good...he met Su Ling." Boning said in a low voice.
"Su Ling..." Xiao Yuanche was stunned, somewhat unexpected.
Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo were also surprised and looked at each other.
Xiao Yuanche narrowed his eyes slightly and said faintly: "Their hands can be stretched out long enough... Do you know what to say and what to do?"
Boning said: "I personally monitored it. Su Ling must have agreed to join forces with them and marked his name on the blood edict!"
A cold light flashed across Xiao Yuanche's slightly narrowed eyes, and it disappeared in an instant.
He stood up and walked back and forth in the room for a few times. Fang turned to Guo and Xu and said, "What do you think?"
Xu Wenruo shook his head and said: "I don't know Su Ling well, and I don't know why he is like this."
Guo Baiyi thought for a while and then said: "Master, I think Su Ling is just acting for the occasion..."
"Just for fun? Just for fun and write his name on the blood edict? Did he stab the chest or the brain with the knife?" Xiao Yuanche said angrily.
Guo Baiyi smiled bitterly and then said: "My lord, please calm down, please think about it, Qin Yuanji is the commander of Shesheng School, and Su Ling is just a worshipper. If he wants Su Ling to do that, how can Su Ling resist? Furthermore, although he doesn't know the lord, I have met him several times, but I always understand that without Sikong Mansion, his bad hall would not be as big as it is today? I think that even if Su Ling is unwilling to surrender to the lord, he will definitely not help them!"
Xiao Yuanche then stroked his forehead with his head. His behavior did not seem to be out of anger at the enemy, but as if his junior had done something wrong and made himself furious.
Xiao Yuanche waited for a long time, then Fang looked as usual and said to Boning: "Go down, those people in Beijing are being watched by me, waiting for my order, yes, and Su Ling, also be watched closely by me, don't What more trouble will come out!"
Bonin hurriedly bowed in response, turned around and walked towards the door.
Xiao Yuanche seemed to suddenly remember something and stopped him and asked: "How was the investigation about the bracelet?"
His seemingly mindless question left both Guo and Xu a little confused.
Boning said hurriedly: "I've seen him wear it a few times, but most of the time he hides it in his sleeve. He takes it off at night, wraps it in white silk, and always puts it on the side of the pillow. He seems to cherish it a lot."
Only then did Xiao Yuanche look happy and said: "That's not bad... let's go down."
After Boning left, Xiao Yuanche turned around and asked, "Are you two sleepy?"
Guo and Xu said hurriedly: "The interest is strong."
Xiao Yuanche nodded and said: "In that case, how about you two follow me to the bad hall and talk to Su Ling?"
Guo Baiyi didn't say anything, but Xu Wenruo lowered his head and said: "I have never met Su Ling... I'm afraid it will be inconvenient if I go."
But Xiao Yuanche smiled and took Xu Wenruo's hand and said: "Where did Wenruo come from? How could Wenruo not see someone I know well? After all, Wenruo is also my Xiao Yuanche's Zhongshuling, isn't he?"
He seemed to emphasize the words "I, Xiao Yuanche" intentionally or unintentionally.
Xu Wenruo was shocked and said hurriedly: "In this case, I will happily go with you!"
Xiao Yuanche laughed loudly, took Xu Wenruo's arm and walked out.
Guo Baiyi suddenly said: "Master... the three of us... why don't we call Xu Jinghu to go with us, in case things change..."
Xiao Yuanche rolled his eyes at him and said, "What's your name, Xu Jinghu? I'm going to see my own private... private offering, not to ask for guilt!"
After that, he and Xu Wenruo stepped forward and left.
Only then did Guo Baiyi feel a little calmer, he quickly grabbed a mink fur collared cloak, rushed up behind him and said, "My lord, it's cold..."
............
Su Ling was full of worries, so she ate dinner hastily and told Wang Jun not to come to the church these days and spend more time with my mother at home.
Wang Jun asked a little puzzled why, but Su Ling just excused himself and said that it was cold and there was no business in the hall, and he, Du Heng, and the sergeants and assistants were busy.
In fact, Su Ling was afraid that something bad would really happen that would implicate Wang Jun. But he couldn't say it clearly. He knew that according to Wang Jun's temperament, if he told him the truth, Wang Jun would not leave tonight.
Wang Jun had no doubt that he was there, so he took his leave and went out.
When Du Heng saw Wang Jun leaving, he chuckled and said, "We are the only ones left. It's freezing cold today. Why don't we compete in martial arts in the courtyard and get sweaty? How about we sleep again?"
Su Ling was upset and just waved her hands and said: "You have to practice on your own... Anyway, I feel that the bed is the most comfortable."
Du Heng joked: "I'm afraid you are thinking about your little girl again. If she is here, there will always be someone to warm the bed..."
Su Ling rolled her eyes at him and said, "Yes! Yes! You want to find a bed warmer, but you still can't find one..."
While the two were quarreling with each other, they suddenly heard the sound of carriages and horses in front of the backyard door.
Just as he was stunned, he heard a knock on the door.
Du Heng muttered: "It's so late, why are there still people here? One came just after dark today, why are they here now..."
Du Heng put on his clothes and walked out of the room, came to the back door, opened the door, and couldn't help but be stunned.
When Su Ling saw Du Hengchu there, her heart moved and she hurriedly walked out and came to the door to take a look.
A tall carriage, with two red lanterns above the carriage, with the word "Xiao" written in gold.
Su Ling secretly thought, it's really here, it's so fast!
Not long after, three people got out of the car. The first one was Guo Baiyi, who came down with a smile. The second one was a man dressed as a scholar, whom Su Ling didn't recognize.
Su Ling looked closely at the person who came down last.
It was none other than the chief manager of the Xiao Mansion—Xiao Liu!
It's just that Xiao Liu today is quite different from the past. In the past, he wore coarse clothes and slovenly clothes, as if he was a farmer.
Today, Xiao Liu wears a beautiful crown with a piece of flawless jade inlaid on his head. He wears gorgeous clothes and high boots. The mink fur collared cloak behind him looks quite expensive. It is much more expensive than what Guo Baiyi and the people next to him wear
All the things to keep out the cold are very expensive.
Not only that, Xiao Liu's aura was also different from before. He looked majestic and majestic, with a sense of respect and coercion from a high position.
Lidya Su was stunned for a moment.
It was Xiao Liu who spoke first: "It's cold, Brother Su won't invite us in..."
The people next to Guo Baiyi frowned when they heard him call Su Ling that way.
Guo Baiyi, on the other hand, was used to it and didn't take it seriously.
Only then did Su Ling come back to his senses. He was already sure of his guess and said hurriedly: "What are you talking about? You three are distinguished guests. Please come in quickly, please come in!"
Su Ling let the three of them into the back hall and asked Du Heng to bring the charcoal brazier to make Maojian tea. Then he said: "You three, please sit down quickly!"
But Xiao Liu did his part and took the main seat, while Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo stood on both sides with their hands down, looking solemn.
Su Ling deliberately looked puzzled and said, "Why don't the big brother in white and this friend sit down?"
Guo Baiyi got straight to the point and said loudly: "Su Ling, I would like to formally introduce to you that this person is not called Xiao Liu..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Liu interrupted and said with a smile: "Su Ling, I am Xiao Yuanche..."
After Su Ling heard him reveal his identity, he formally confirmed what he was thinking. Then he stood up quickly, cupped his hands, and pretended to be surprised: "So you are my great Sikong, the white jade pillar holding up the sky, and the purple golden beam bridging the sea..."
...Xiao Yuanche, Xiao Sikong! Su Ling's eyesight is clumsy! Damn it! Damn it!"
He just handed over his hand and counted it as a gift.
Xiao Yuanche didn't mind either. He seemed to appreciate his behavior of neither being humble nor arrogant. He laughed loudly and said, "Su Ling, don't act with me anymore, and don't say anything about Qingtian Bai Yuzhu...
, people who flatter me, Xiao Yuanche, can leave all over Zhuque Street! I guess you should have recognized me long ago."
As he spoke, Yu Guo Baiyi looked at each other and smiled.
Guo Baiyi was also smiling, probably like Xiao Yuanche, he had guessed that Su Ling had already known that Xiao Liu was not Xiao Liu.
When Su Ling saw this, he smiled awkwardly and did not deny it: "Sir Sikong is indeed very discerning. How could this boy's clumsy trick escape the notice of Sikong..."
At this time, Du Heng made Maojian tea, served it to everyone, and then stepped back knowingly.
Everyone took a sip of tea, and Su Lingfang continued: "Xiao Sikong was very high-spirited and used the seven-pointed blade to assassinate Wang Xi's traitor. Unfortunately, he did not complete his work. Afterwards, he went to a place that became the starting point for Sikong to become what he is today.
, this place is Ruliu County, so this kid has this guess, Sikong’s pseudonym is Xiaoliu.”
Xu Wenruo and Guo Baiyi both had admiration in their eyes.
Xiao Yuanche laughed loudly and said: "The master disciples of Xuanyuan Pavilion and Xuanyuan Ghost Valley in Liyou Mountain are really different. Before they entered the world, they could know all the things in this world. It is really amazing!"
Su Ling laughed loudly and said, "Lord Sikong, that's ridiculous. I'm just a little clever."
Xiao Yuanche looked at Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo and said: "Look, I didn't want to reveal my identity originally, just because I was afraid that if I said I was Sikong, I would become alienated from him. It's really like that. One mouth sounds like Master Sikong, and the other sounds like a boy.
...It’s really awkward!”
Xu Wenruo and Guo Baiyi could only laugh.
Xiao Yuanche waved his sleeves and said: "What's wrong with Mr. Sikong... How about you just think that I am still the same old Xiao, and you are still my little brother Su?"
Xu Wenruo was a little stunned when he heard this, and glanced at Guo Baiyi, who pursed his lips at him.
Xu Wenruo shook his head helplessly.
Lidya Su didn't lie, he laughed loudly and said: "In this case, Su Ling is so bold, brother Xiao!"
Xiao Yuanche nodded with satisfaction and said, "That's right! This sounds so kind!"
Just when Su Ling was about to speak, there was a cold wind outside the house. Su Ling couldn't help but feel the cold coming and started to cough.
This cough lasted for a long time. Even my shoulders were shaking and I was gasping for air.
Xiao Yuanche's concern did not seem to be false and he said: "Brother Su, are you not feeling well?"
Su Ling waved her hands and said, "It's not like that time when I got stabbed on Zhuque Street, which hurt my heart and lungs. I fell into an air-conditioned shop and coughed endlessly."
As he spoke, he started coughing intermittently.
Xiao Yuanche turned to Guo Baiyi and said, "You are the same, why didn't you report to me earlier?"
Guo Baiyi said hurriedly: "I originally wanted to tell the Lord, but Brother Su wouldn't let me."
Xiao Yuanche then turned his head and said with some pity: "What do you think? If it's not good, I'll call the medical officer at home to take a look."
Su Ling hurriedly waved his hand and said: "That's not necessary, I am the doctor, it doesn't matter..."
Xiao Yuanche then said: "If Brother Su hadn't worked so hard for that matter, I'm afraid... I would have taken my little girl Jingshu to thank Brother Su."
Su Ling said hurriedly: "Brother...I've already stopped seeing people, why do you still come out?"
This sentence was quite strange to Xu Wenruo's ears, but when he looked at Xiao Yuanche, he felt that Xiao Yuanche's expression was quite helpful.
Xiao Yuanche then said: "You two should sit down too. Since Su Ling and I are so compatible, you don't have to be restrained."
Guo Baiyi and Xu Wenruo just sat down.
Su Ling just said: "I wonder who this is..."
He looked at Xu Wenruo, seemingly thoughtful.
Xu Wenruo smiled lightly and said: "Xiao Ke, Xu Wenruo."
Su Ling's eyes suddenly tightened, and he stood up in a serious manner, cupped his hands and said, "It turns out to be Mr. Xu, Lord Zhongshu Lingjun! I have admired your name for a long time, and I'm so lucky to see you today!"
Xiao Yuanche glanced at Guo Baiyi teasingly and said, "Baiyi, when Su Ling saw you that day, did you behave like this?"
Guo Baiyi pretended to be dissatisfied and said: "When he sees me...it's good if he has this kind of courtesy."
This sentence made Xu Wenruo a little embarrassed, and he said hurriedly: "Sikong, don't make fun of Wenruo when you are offering wine!" Then he said to Su Ling: "If Brother Su doesn't dislike it, just call me Brother Xu!"
Su Ling hurriedly agreed. Then everyone laughed.
The three of them had a conversation. Xiao Yuanche only asked how the business was going these days. Su Ling answered one by one. Only then did Xu Wenruo know that the major shareholder behind the Lengxiang Pill business was actually Sikong Xiao Yuanche.
, couldn't help but take a deep look at Su Ling.
Although Su Ling gave the reply, she still felt that Xiao Yuan came here all night and was definitely not just asking about the transaction.
Xiao Yuanche took a sip of tea, suddenly changed the subject, and slowly said: "There is something that really troubles me today. I wonder if Mr. Su is willing to give me some advice?"
Unknowingly, he had changed his name from Brother Su to Mr. Su.