Chapter 232 Inside and Outside the Palace

Moon on the branches.

The lights on the pier in the suburbs were like daylight, and hundreds of large and small ships were docked on the river bank. As far as the eye could see, there were flags flapping in the autumn wind.

"Woo——~"

Loud horn sounds sounded from the river, and several giant official ships sailed into the port.

The pedals were lowered from the official ship, and the Imperial Guards wearing black unicorn armor filed out of the ship. Their solemn and solemn aura made the entire dock become silent in an instant.

On the river about two miles away from the pier, a cruise ship full of literati was floating slowly on the river.

In an elegant room at the back of the ship building, an old man with white eyebrows dressed as a butler, holding a cane and a cane, stood at the window and looked at the dock, saying slowly:

"Back in the capital, when all the kings were princes, King Wu often took boats to enjoy sightseeing on the Qingjiang River. He was not good at academics, but he loved to be pushy and said a lot of ignorant words without knowing it.

"Because King Wu was incompetent, Taizu did not discipline him harshly. He also granted the king a title to the peaceful land of Wuzhou. He only hoped that King Wu would be free from illness and enjoy wealth for the rest of his life, but he never thought that this man could overestimate his ability. This step..."

In front of the old man with the goatee is a young man wearing a brocade robe, holding a folding fan, and his face is less than thirty. Although he is quite strong in body, he has a gentle and elegant temperament. He looks like a well-educated scholar.

The young master's name is Dongfang Shuoyue. He is the eldest son of King Yan and the crown prince of Yanzhou. After the empress succeeded to the throne ten years ago, she and other princes went to Beijing to study. They often hang out on Wutong Street. They have a good reputation and are considered semi-transparent. .

Dongfang Shuoyue did not respond to the white-browed old man's chatter. He focused his gaze on the dock in the distance, looking at Prince Jing and his party who were getting off the official ship. When he saw a military attaché in black leaving from a remote place with two followers, he He opened his mouth and said:

"When it comes to overestimating one's own abilities, who can compare to Blood Bodhi. In the past two months, Blood Bodhi lost his hand, and after asking about the whereabouts of Night Terror Hall, he took the initiative and borrowed two fish from the rivers and lakes to take revenge. I thought I was dealing with just an ordinary master. I never thought that the person Blood Bodhi wanted to kill was actually the contemporary Wu Kui..."

The old man with the goatee responded:

"It's no wonder that Blood Bodhi is hiding too deep, or he's very lucky. He's only been showing up in the capital for a few months, and he's already doing this. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, who would have believed that such a young man has already entered the army? Among the Wu Kui."

Dongfang Shuoyue frowned and said:

"Since the empress ascended the throne, Master Xuanji has been silent on weekdays. Every autumn, he returns to Beijing for a period of time. It has been ten years since he was untouchable. The reason must be found out. If Master Xuanji is the only military leader, he can still manage to deal with it. ;If you add the Night Terror Hall..."

"Your Highness."

The old man with the goatee interrupted Dongfang Shuoyue's words and sighed softly:

"Among the four sons of Taizu, our King Yan was the most highly regarded by the courtiers for his ability to conquer and fight. When Taizu established the crown prince, most of the courtiers favored King Yan. It was only because the great Wei Dynasty needed a conservative king to rise up due to its failure, that the throne was passed to the late emperor. And when the eldest son of the emperor was deposed, the courtiers also turned to our King Yan.

"As long as the empress does something wrong in the future, whether she cuts down vassals, abdicates, or even dies young, once the imperial power is in turmoil, King Yan will be the first choice to enter the capital and inherit the throne. There is no need to rush to commit treason. It aroused a lot of suspicion. Guarding the border steadily, waiting for the empress to be unable to bear it anymore, and maybe the courtiers will beg the prince to come to the capital in the end..."

Dongfang Shuoyue stood with her hands behind her hands, shook her head and said:

"My father can afford to wait, but I can't afford to wait. The Empress is not a kind person. She summoned all the princes and princes to the capital, but she didn't think about letting us leave Yun'an. My father has more than one son, and he doesn't care whether I go back or not. Both parties are just... It’s a race to see who can’t sit still first. Once someone takes a desperate risk and tears his face, I will be the first discarded piece on the chessboard.”

The old man with the goatee knew that His Highness the Crown Prince's talents and abilities were extraordinary, but he had been living under someone else's roof in the capital for ten years. He had already had enough of this kind of life, and what he said was the truth. He thought about it and said:

"Although the Green Bandits are powerful and have connections throughout the Northern and Southern Dynasties, they still don't know their true identity or their purpose. They are a double-edged sword. They can hurt the enemy, but they can also hurt themselves..."

"Any weapon will hurt you if you use it incorrectly."

Dongfang Shuoyue stopped talking about these nonsense. After seeing King Jing and others leaving the dock one after another, he turned around and returned to the room:

"Master Xuanji and Ye Jingtang must solve one of them first. Master Xuanji is too comprehensive and almost invulnerable, but the background of Ye Jingtang is not clear. First find a way to test the depth of Ye Jingtang to see if there are any weaknesses, and then prescribe the right medicine. Try to deal with it."

Seeing this, the old man with the goatee said no more. After bowing his hands and bowing, he quietly retreated...

——

Hoof-clack, hoof-clack...

The streets were filled with bright lights, and the three of them led their horses across the stone bridge and arrived at the crowded street of Tianshui Bridge.

After running for nearly a month and finally returning home, Pei Xiangjun breathed a sigh of relief, but there was also a bit of nervousness on his soft cheeks.

After all, when she went out, she was still a dignified and mature eldest lady, and when she came back, she had learned how to hold and feed her and ride a horse. She even knew that patting the moon meant she was tired and wanted to change positions.

Even if my sister-in-law doesn't know how to laugh, she will praise her for being useful, which is a bit embarrassing to say.

Pei Xiangjun led the horse and walked in front, pretending to look at the business conditions of each shop, but deep down he was secretly wondering how to report the current situation to his sister-in-law.

Luo Ning is not under any pressure at the moment. She is dressed as a cool heroine in Tsing Yi, walking beside the Night Terror Hall, disciplining the birds who don’t know they have returned home:

"You took so many skyships, you stayed upstairs all day, and Night Terror Hall was injured, and you didn't even know to come back to visit..."

"Chiji..."

Ye Jingtang returned to freedom after finishing his business, and his gait was naturally much more relaxed. When he reached the entrance of the alley, he saw the old escort Yang Chao coming out of the back alley, and he said in the distance:

"Lao Yang."

"Ouch! The young master's family is back."

Yang Chao quickly ran up to him and looked at Ye Jingtang, who he had watched grow up since childhood, with joy and exclamation written on his face:

"The Young Master's family is amazing. My Master has a spirit in heaven. If I knew that the Young Master's family has become the leader of swordsmen, I would be so happy that I couldn't sleep for three days and three nights. I would have to chat with everyone..."

Ye Jingtang chuckled a few times and asked:

"There hasn't been anything going on in Tianshuiqiao's business recently, right? How is Liuzi's leg?"

"It's good for the sixth son. I'm going out to escort today. As for Tianshui Bridge, the young master's family has established a strong position for the gangsters in Yun'an City. Tianshui Bridge has almost become a forbidden area, and even petty thieves have gone around it..."

Luo Ning followed behind, thought for a while and asked:

"What has Yunli been doing recently? Have you been naughty on the street?"

Zhe Yunli walks around the streets all day long, and basically knows everyone on the Tianshui Bridge, but because Shuiling is cute and polite, the neighbors think well of her.

Yang Chao did not mention the fact that Zhe Yunli was idle all day long, but responded euphemistically:

"Miss Yunli is very sensible. She helps Mrs. Zhang inspect the shops every day. Things are busy on Dyefang Street, so she often goes over to help keep an eye on things. She went out this morning and stayed at Dyefang Street all day..."

"..."

Luo Ning blinked, feeling that Yunli shouldn't be so sensible, but the temporary inspection found no fault, and she felt a little more relieved.

After Ye Jingtang and Yang Chao finished chatting and the three of them walked towards the door of Pei's house, Luo Ning said:

"Yunli should be in Shuanggui Lane. I'm going back first. You have a good rest at night."

"Um?"

The Night Terror Hall seems to be cold and aloof, like a humble gentleman, but as a man, he will be home soon, and there must be some thoughts that are hard to describe.

Seeing that Luo Ning was about to run away, Ye Jingtang grabbed her wrist and looked around:

"It's already so late. Let's rest first and go back tomorrow morning."

How could Luo Ning not understand what the little thief was thinking? After looking at Sanniang who came to the door to talk to the maid, she whispered into her ear;

"I will go back to accompany Yunli. If you want to take care of me, you should take care of Sanniang. She is not afraid of tigers when she is a newborn. She keeps saying that I am useless all day long. You have to let her see the dire straits.

"I'll come over tomorrow. If she can still stand up, don't come to me in the future. Anyway, she can finish the treatment alone..."

Ye Jingtang still wanted to keep Ning'er in his heart, so in the darkness of the alleyway, he put his arm around Ning'er's waist and gently kneaded the moon with his hands:

"Sanniang is a master from my maternal family, and her body is already strong. I can't possibly do it lightly or hard..."

Luo Ning was rubbed twice, her face suddenly turned red and she felt a little distracted. She pushed gently with her hand:

"You have so many tricks, but you only greet me? I don't believe she is made of iron. You..."

After Luo Ning said this, she took out a small medicine box from her carry-on bag and whispered softly into Ye Jingtang's ear.

The specific meaning is to make Sanniang Maomao disappear, and then let Sanniang see flowers and rain in the backyard, so that Sanniang can see the sinister nature of people's hearts.

Ye Jingtang hugged Ning'er, who had the bad idea, with a rather strange look in his eyes:

"Isn't this not good?"

"Why is it bad? The more I don't agree to something, the more enthusiastic you become. When it comes to Sanniang, do you have a soft heart and know how to behave?"

"well……"

Luo Ning stuffed the medicine box given by Mrs. Wang into Ye Jingtang's hand, pretended to be reluctant, and let Ye Jingtang kiss it twice before forcing her mind and leading the horse away.

After being away for so many days, Bird missed the poached eggs very much, so when he saw this, he jumped a little and followed him.

Ye Jingtang held the 'Villain Potion', which was a bit funny. After watching one person and one bird turn around the alley, he put away his things and entered the door of Pei's house.

After returning home, Pei Xiangjun returned to his mature and steady appearance. He took Ye Jingtang to the main hall to meet with Mrs. Zhang. He talked about the trivial matters of Wuzhou and his party, but did not mention anything about Bai Zi.

When Mrs. Zhang married into the Pei family, the old spearhead was at the height of his power, and Honghua House was at its peak. It can be said that she watched Honghua House decline step by step from a top-notch wealthy family to a point where even the second-rate gangsters could step on it.

Now that seeing Ye Jingtang become the chief swordsman, it is enough to restore the lintel. Mrs. Zhang has removed the big stone that has been pressed in her heart for many years. It is not an exaggeration to describe her reaction as crying with joy.

However, Mrs. Zhang also had some doubts in her heart. After sighing for a moment, she added:

"The most important thing for Jianghu sects is inheritance. Whether it is martial arts concepts or working styles, they must be inherited from the same origin to be considered orthodox. It is naturally a good thing for Jingtang to win the title of Sword Master, but the owner of Honghua Building uses a sword to fight against others. No matter what, people in the world still have to think that my heritage of Honghua Tower is over..."

Ye Jingtang held the tea cup and responded:

"Not many people know my identity in Honghualou. From now on, I will just use a gun when it comes to Honghualou. When I perfect my marksmanship and avenge my uncle, these prejudices will naturally cease to exist."

Mrs. Zhang's husband, Pei Yuanming, obtained the title of Gunslinger through 'succession', but he died at the hands of Gunslinger Duan Shengji not long after.

As soon as this incident came out, no one in the martial arts community recognized the title of the former gun leader. The martial arts hero who was originally on par with Qiu Tianhe also had the reputation of being "unworthy of his talents". It can be said that he died and became a joke in the martial arts world.

As a wife, Mrs. Zhang was so angry and resentful about this incident that she fell ill many times, but there was nothing she could do.

Mrs. Zhang used to expect Sanniang to take revenge, but Sanniang was obviously unable to do so. When she heard Ye Jingtang say this, she burst into tears and was about to stand up to thank her.

Ye Jingtang quickly raised his hand to support her and comforted her for a few words before Mrs. Zhang calmed down. After thinking about it, she started talking about betrothal Sanniang to Ye Jingtang.

Pei Xiangjun has already cooked a meal, so he will definitely not refuse. He just pretends to be half-hearted and nods shyly.

After finishing talking about these things, Ye Jingtang and Pei Xiangjun walked out of the main hall and headed to the courtyard of the back house.

Pei Xiangjun was still a little embarrassed. He walked beside Ye Jingtang and muttered in a low voice:

"Sister-in-law is talking about marriage. Please be polite and agree immediately. It sounds like you have been coveting Senior Sister for a long time and came to Pei's house for this reason."

Ye Jingtang grabbed Pei Xiangjun's wrist and said with a smile:

"I'm already greedy. If I still hesitate, my eldest aunt will think that I'm reluctantly agreeing, and Sanniang might be too worried."

Pei Xiangjun snorted lightly and said nothing. When he walked to a quiet place, he put his arm around Ye Jingtang and gave him a watermelon sandwich to show that he was still very satisfied.

The two of them walked through the verandah and came to Pei Xiangjun's yard. Xiuhe was still busy with accounting in the street and had not returned.

Ye Jingtang did not directly carry Sanniang into the house, but went to the boudoir, opened the bed board, and the two entered Qinglong Hall through the secret passage.

Ye Jingtang took Sanniang to the memorial table where the memorial tablet of her adoptive father was placed, took three incense sticks, bowed deeply, and put the incense in the incense burner.

And the grievances and resentments that spanned thirty years and lasted for two generations also ended completely at this moment.

It's a pity that the adoptive father could not see this day with his own eyes.

Ye Jingtang stood in front of the funeral. After the joy of fulfilling his adoptive father's last wish, his face showed a hint of regret.

Pei Xiangjun used to be called Second Brother Pei Yuanfeng, but now he seems to have to be called his adoptive father. It feels a little strange. Standing in front of the spiritual tablets of his master, eldest brother, and second brother, he just feels embarrassed to face them.

However, Honghualou has finally made a comeback in her hands. Whether she relies on her skills or other skills, this credit is real.

For this reason, after Pei Xiangjun suppressed his distracting thoughts, he still picked up three sticks of incense and made a serious apology...

——

After the worship was over, the two of them left the secret passage and returned to the boudoir.

The room was lit with candles, and the dim light illuminated every corner.

Pei Xiangjun, with a gentle and elegant demeanor, arranged the sheets and pillows in front of the canopy bed and asked curiously:

"Jingtang, what was Ning'er sneaking around and saying to you just now?"

Ye Jingtang had just put down his belongings, and when he heard these words, he couldn't help but look over.

Pei Xiangjun made the bed and wore a looser skirt. When he leaned over, his gourd-shaped figure was fully revealed.

The waist line is slender and soft, and behind the waist is a warm yellow full moon, with plump and round curves. Through the fabric of the autumn skirt, you can feel the thrilling voluptuousness under the skirt.

Especially the way the body moves and sways slightly in front of the lamp. If any man can resist it, he is probably short-sighted and cannot see clearly.

Ye Jingtang's eyesight was very good, but he still walked up to him, looked at it carefully, and even raised his hand...

pinch ~

Pei Xiangjun was excited, stood up quickly, looked up at the Night Terror Hall behind him, and slapped him on the shoulder with some shame:

"What are you doing? You were fine just now, and now you are showing your true colors so quickly? We have said that you can be arrogant when Ning'er is around, but you still have to abide by the rules in private..."

Ye Jingtang sat down in front of the bed and pulled Sanniang to sit on his lap:

"I know, I just couldn't help myself."

"Hmph~" Pei Xiangjun didn't resist, leaned into Ye Jingtang's arms, and asked again:

"When I asked you just now, what did Ning'er tell you?"

Ye Jingtang held the watermelon that he couldn't hold with one hand, thought for a while and whispered softly into his ear.

"...?!"

Pei Xiangjun blinked his apricot eyes. After hearing clearly, his face turned red and he immediately wanted to get up.

Ye Jingtang quickly hugged his waist: "It's just a talk, I won't force it."

Pei Xiangjun didn't expect that there was such an outrageous method. He wanted to say something to Ye Jingtang, but it was difficult to say it. Seeing that Ye Jingtang was not prepared to mess around, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief:

"You won't do it forcefully, so why don't you just think about it? That kind of shameful thing... I haven't thought about it yet. You should take good care of yourself first. Don't think about these evil things all day long..."

"I didn't even think about it. This is the first time Ning'er has told me this..."

"snort……"

Pei Xiangjun didn't believe it at all. Although he didn't have the courage to be the first to eat crabs, he still had the courage to reward Night Terror Hall.

She took off her shoes, put down the curtain, and then sat on the bed with her legs bent:

"I used to stretch my muscles on the boat, and you kept peeking. Don't think I didn't notice. Are you curious about what it would be like to stretch your muscles without taking off your skirt?"

?

Ye Jingtang was startled, blinked his eyes, and moved inside to get out of the way:

"May I?"

Pei Xiangjun has said it, so of course it is possible. She untied her goose-yellow skirt and pulled down her bellyband and thin trousers. The curtains were suddenly filled with white flowers.

Ye Jingtang instinctively raised his hand, wanting to help Sanniang lighten her burden, but he hesitated and didn't bother her.

It didn't take long for Pei Xiangjun and Ye Jingtang to make a meal. When Luo Ning was here, in order to show her ladylike demeanor, she could still let go, but she was still shy in private.

Pei Xiangjun protected his chest with one hand, his face flushed. After taking a few glances at the Night Terror Hall, he knelt down on the bed and slowly assumed a 'cat stretching' pose...

! !

Under the dim light, the curves of the figure, as white as mutton fat, are clearly revealed. The full moon is so close, every detail is visible, and the impact is astonishing.

Ye Jingtang originally wanted to maintain a stern and extraordinary look, but he overestimated his determination, and instantly lost his breath and coughed:

"cough……"

Pei Xiangjun paused, tilted his head and said with concern:

"What? The injury has returned?"

"No, no, you continue."

Pei Xiangjun felt that he might have been too energetic and had held Ye Jingtang down. This kind of flowery work could be studied after finishing it. After thinking about it, he sat up again, pushed Ye Jingtang down, and moved up.

"It's okay, I'm not in a hurry, ugh..."

Lips meet.

Ye Jingtang was lying on the pillow, raising his hands slightly. After thinking about it, he helped pull out the flower and bird hairpin from Sanniang's head and placed it next to the pillow. Then he turned over and turned back to the guests...

——

On the other side, inside the Imperial City.

After Dongfang Liren entered the city, he finished handing over all kinds of chores. It was already dark, and he returned to Prince Jing's Mansion to rest. He would go to see the empress in the morning tomorrow morning.

The Empress Dowager turned into a canary when she returned to the palace. With the mentality of staying an hour longer, she stayed in Mingyu Tower without returning to the palace, and studied the tunnel leading from Prince Jing's Palace to Fushou Palace.

When Master Xuanji returned to the capital, she was not idle. As soon as she finished her chores, she entered the imperial city alone and came to Changle Palace.

On a cool autumn night, Changle Palace is brightly lit, and countless maids in colorful clothes are walking through the palace pavilions.

In Cheng'an Hall, the mist was steaming in the small bath in the empress's dormitory.

The Empress of Wei was lying in a pool made of white jade, with her hands on the edge of the pool. Behind her was a shining dark golden armor. Her posture looked domineering, but there was a hint of fatigue on her soft cheeks.

Kaka~

The mechanism on the tiger-head sliding door was turned open, and then the door opened to the left and right, and the real Xuanji in a white dress appeared at the door.

The Empress of Wei opened her eyes and her voice was quite friendly:

"Master. Where is Li Ren?"

"At the palace, I won't come until tomorrow morning."

Master Xuanji closed the door without any awareness of being a courtier. She untied her white dress, revealing her smooth and proud figure. She tested the temperature of the water with her bare feet, and then jumped into it.

Thump~

The Empress of Wei was accustomed to this, so she moved to the side and let Master Xuanji lean in front of her:

"Still haven't found the whereabouts of the Minglong Picture?"

Master Xuanji leaned forward and raised her hand to weigh the vast mind of the great Empress of Wei:

"There are many clues. The most likely one at the moment is the one in Jiang Zahu's hand. But Jiang Zahu understands the reason why Huai Bi is guilty. There are countless experts looking for him in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. He hides very deeply and shows up very quickly. Go and come back quickly, never stay more than a day.

"From last year to this year, I searched for half a year, but Jiang Zahu was not found. Instead, I met the Beiliang Thief Saint who had the same plan as me. I chased the Beiliang Saint Thief for another half a year, but found nothing..."

The Empress of the Wei Dynasty knew how difficult it was to collect the Dragon Singing Pictures, so she said:

"This kind of thing cannot be rushed. Ye Jingtang found a substitute for Snow Lake Flower in Wuzhou. Although it is not as good as the original Snow Lake Flower, it can always last for a while longer..."

When Master Xuanji heard Ye Jingtang's name, she couldn't help but recall the incident where she rubbed against Ye Jingtang, and Ye Jingtang poked her again. They were innocent and couldn't say they were guilty, but after all, it had some impact on her state of mind.

Master Xuanji picked up the water and sprinkled it on his chest, hesitating slightly before saying:

"Ye Jingtang's talent is unprecedented and his character is extraordinary. It looks like he can be put to great use."

The Empress of Wei was quite satisfied when she heard her master praising her:

"Ye Jingtang is full of chivalry. He has no power, money or fame. He is indeed a talent that is rare to see in a century. I want him to search for the Minglong Picture on my behalf, but I cannot tell others about his health problems. There is no reason to speak..."

?

Master Xuanji felt that Ye Jingtang was still lustful, but it was obviously not easy to say this in front of the empress, and she couldn’t explain it clearly. After thinking about it, she just answered:

"I have had several contacts with Ye Jingtang in Wuzhou, and the relationship is pretty good. I told him that my bones are not good, and I need his help to find the Minglong Picture. He agreed, and he should find a way, but I'm afraid It will take several years.”

The Empress of Wei blinked her eyes and keenly captured the problem:

"The search for the Ming Dragon Picture is not a trivial matter. Ye Jingtang agreed to help him search for the Ming Dragon Picture because of Master's weak bones? It sounds like the relationship between him and Master..."

Master Xuanji didn’t have any stage fright, and even showed a proud look:

"Ye Jingtang's success as a master of swordsmanship is all due to his mentor's guidance. Is this kindness enough?"

The Empress of Wei suddenly understood, nodded, stopped thinking, and asked again:

"How is the relationship between Li Ren and Ye Jingtang going on this trip?"

"Li Ren is thin-skinned. She still says that Ye Jingtang is a subordinate. When the Queen Mother and I were present, she stayed far away and pretended to be a prince. What else could she do?"

The Empress of Wei knew this would happen, so she sighed secretly and didn't ask any more questions...

————

Thank you to Mr. [Qiang Sheng Wei Bo] for the 10,000 reward!

Thank you guys for your rewards, monthly votes, and recommendations!

This volume is called "Tongtian Yama". Tongtian means "privately communicating with Pingtian Sect", which can also be understood as reaching heaven to listen.