"Sir, since it is certain, why not arrest him directly? Practicing magic is not a small crime. Even if it is just suspicion, you can arrest him and put him in jail."
The hook-nosed man stepped forward, looked at Cheng Lidong and couldn't help but say.
"Need not."
"Although I am certain that he has practiced strange arts, I have no substantial evidence."
"After all, it has to do with the new dynasty. The strange magic must be eliminated, but it cannot be like before."
Cheng Lidong shook his head.
Then he continued to speak.
"You send two people to keep an eye on them. Just say that the road to the imperial examination is difficult, and you are worried about their safety, so escort them to Nanyu Mansion."
"When he arrives at Nanyu Mansion, if he has practiced any other magic, ask a Confucian scholar to come and examine it in person to know whether it is true or false."
"Those who practice strange arts have demonic seeds in their bodies. We can't see it, but Confucian scholars practice Haoran righteousness and are naturally capable of restraining such evil spirits. They can detect it at a glance."
"As long as he goes to Nanyu Mansion, it will be like catching a turtle in a jar for us."
Cheng Lidong explained.
If he doesn't arrest Xu Qingxiao, he is still worried about causing trouble to the prince, but as long as Xu Qingxiao doesn't leave his sight, there won't be any problem.
It's just a matter of time.
"Yes, sir."
The hooked nose nodded.
At this moment, a figure quickly appeared.
"Report! Mr. Cheng, we have found traces of the fugitive."
As the sound sounded, Cheng Lidong's expression in the courtyard changed instantly.
"lead the way."
He shouted these words very coldly, and then everyone left quickly.
And at this time.
Zhou Ling's home.
It's already the second hour of Xu.
The sky has already darkened.
In the inner hall, Mrs. Wu placed the food on the table. The hot dishes were fragrant. Zhou Ling, Chen Xinghe and Xu Qingxiao sat down respectively.
"The food is ready, you hurry up and eat."
Wu said hello and then walked towards the door.
Soon, there were only three people left in the room.
However, Zhou Ling was a little silent, Chen Xinghe was also thinking about something, and Xu Qingxiao seemed very calm.
He came to Zhou Ling's home in two hours, and then told everything that happened during this period. Of course, he would not tell anything about practicing strange arts.
The general meaning is that he was poisoned by the Yin Ming poison, and then he happened to encounter a fugitive when the poison was released. The other party stole Ping'an County's magic. After some simple practice, he gave himself a slap, but he did not expect that he miraculously recovered by fighting poison with poison.
.
Although it sounds so incredible, at least it makes sense in theory and logic.
But after the matter was finished, Zhou Ling and Chen Xinghe remained silent, leaving Xu Qingxiao somewhat silent.
"Sir, senior brother."
"The student's involvement in the strange arts is too involved and may affect the two of us. If sir is worried, Qingxiao will never harm him or involve our senior brother."
Xu Qingxiao spoke very calmly. After all, this kind of matter involved a lot, and the most important thing was that he had indeed practiced the magic.
If they are really found out in the future, Chen Xinghe and Zhou Ling will also be interrogated, so what Xu Qingxiao said was not to retreat in order to advance, but sincerely.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Zhou Ling waved his hand and dismissed Xu Qingxiao's idea.
"Teacher, the matter of magic is too involved. The student is not pretending, but sincerely speaking. Especially for Senior Brother Xinghe, if it is really involved, it may affect his official career, and Qingxiao cannot afford it."
Xu Qingxiao is very serious. He is worried about being implicated, so he might as well clear up the relationship now, so that he won't deceive others.
As for the rest of the journey, at worst I can walk alone. Anyway, the world is so big, so why don’t you worry about not having enough to eat?
"Qingxiao, that's nonsense."
"Don't worry, I'm not worried about this at all. Xinghe and I can tell at a glance whether you have practiced any other magic."
"Master, I'm mainly worried that this Cheng Lidong will be detrimental to you."
Zhou Ling shook his head. He was not silent because Xu Qingxiao caused trouble. Instead, he was silent because he was worried that Cheng Lidong would be disadvantageous to Xu Qingxiao and was thinking of a way.
And Zhou Ling's tone was very firm, believing that Xu Qingxiao did not practice any other magic.
"What are you afraid of? In this government examination, the student will definitely pass the high school, and he will be blessed with fame and honor. If he dares to do harm to his junior brother, I will naturally not stand by and watch."
Chen Xinghe spoke out, his words seemed very domineering.
"No."
Zhou Ling shook his head again.
"Xinghe, you are still too young."
"The crime of strange magic is far from as simple as you think."
"Since ancient times, magic has been taboo in all dynasties and generations. Not to mention the imperial court, the entire Immortal Way has also strictly prohibited it."
"Hiding strange arts secretly, killing everyone in the family, practicing strange arts, and implicating nine tribes. From ancient times to the present, too many people have died due to strange arts."
"The good thing is that a new dynasty has been established. After His Majesty ascended the throne, he suppressed all parties, weakened power, and the court was turbulent. Otherwise, when Emperor Wu was still alive, as long as Qing Xiao was suspected, he would at least be imprisoned.
disaster."
"I would rather kill by mistake than let go."
Zhou Ling carefully explained the disasters of strange arts. These words made Xu Qingxiao feel lucky to be born in the right era.
"Then how can we resolve it? It's impossible to suffer injustice for the rest of your life, right?"
Chen Xinghe asked for Xu Qingxiao.
"Being a teacher means thinking about how to resolve it."
"But I just thought of a way to resolve it."
Zhou Ling said this, attracting Xu Qingxiao's attention.
"If you want to resolve it, there are actually only two ways."
"First of all, Qing Xiao passed the imperial examination this time and has a good reputation. Unless the emperor takes action, otherwise, no matter how suspicious Cheng Lidong is, he will not dare to touch Qing Xiao if he cannot produce absolute evidence."
"Second, ask a sixth-grade Confucian to gather awe-inspiring righteousness, open his eyes of Confucianism and Taoism, and identify the demonic nature. If there is no demonic nature, even the Lord will not be able to take action, but it is difficult to ask a sixth-grade Confucian to help.
.”
"There is only one righteous Confucian in the entire Nanyu Mansion, and he is not currently in the Nanyu Mansion. But if it comes to that step, I will definitely come forward and try my best to find this righteous Confucian and ask him to testify against Qingxiao."
Zhou Ling gave two solutions.
After these two methods were explained, both Xu Qingxiao and Chen Xinghe found it a bit difficult.
Zhongfu Examination.
This is almost impossible. Xu Qingxiao hasn't even read many books. How can he succeed in the government examination directly?
As for inviting a true Confucian to come, it is a bit far-fetched. What is the concept of a Six-grade True Confucian? He is a master wherever he goes, and scholars from all over the world must pay homage to him.
One rank higher is a great Confucian, a person who is famous in a country.
A sixth-grade Confucian scholar might not even be able to invite the prince. Although Zhou Ling is a scholar and has certain connections, it is far-fetched to ask a Confucian scholar to help.
But no matter what, at least there is a way, not at all.
"This magic is so harmful to people, why not burn it?"
"It makes people panic."
Chen Xinghe made a sound, slightly curious, thinking that this kind of thing is so harmful, why not burn it.
"Exotic magic is like a flood. It is better to block it than to clear it. There are also many troubles in the method of burning. It is difficult to copy and copy. Furthermore, burning a volume of strange magic does not mean that it is an original copy."
"The Wei Dynasty collected strange arts and asked Confucian and Taoist people to study them and come up with ways to restrain them. Also, if someone practices their strange arts, they can easily identify them. Simply burning them will not solve the root cause of the problem."
Zhou Ling gave the answer.
But after saying this, he looked at Xu Qingxiao and said.
"Qingxiao, don't be burdened with anything. All in all, if you have never practiced any magic, and you are not afraid of shadows, even if you are in trouble, I will try my best to help you overcome the difficulties."
Zhou Ling looked determined.
After the voice finished speaking, Xu Qingxiao nodded, but her mood was inexplicably strange.
Because he has practiced different arts.
But he couldn't say these words, not because he was afraid that Zhou Ling would report him, but because Xu Qingxiao was worried about involving Zhou Ling and Chen Xinghe.
"Okay, let's eat first. Qingxiao, you should study hard these days and don't lose your mind."
Seeing that Xu Qingxiao just nodded but said nothing, Zhou Ling asked the two of them not to think about anything and to eat first and talk later.
Xu Qingxiao didn't say much and lowered her head to eat.
Zi Shi.
The night is vast and the moon and stars are sparse.
In the study room.
Xu Qingxiao slowly put down the pen. Hundreds of words were already written on the white paper. The fonts were neat, simple and clean.
But Xu Qingxiao's heart never calmed down.
He has been practicing calligraphy for an hour.
But the more I practice, the more messy my words become.
If the mind is not calm, the words will be uneven.
Putting down the brush in her hand, Xu Qingxiao stood up and looked at the black sky and bright moon through the window.
My mood is inexplicably complicated.
After dinner, Xu Qingxiao couldn't calm down.
Especially after learning about those who practiced strange arts, the nine tribes involved became even more uneasy.
I used to think that practicing strange arts was just my own bad luck, but now I understand how strict the imperial court is about strange arts.
If one day he is really discovered practicing strange arts, wouldn't it involve Zhou Ling and even Chen Xinghe?
Zhou Ling did his best for his husband and did not dislike him, but if he had tricked him, Xu Qingxiao would not be able to overcome this hurdle.
That night.
Xu Qingxiao was silent for a long time, one thought after another flashed through his mind.
He wants to leave.
Go to Nanyu Mansion alone.
He even wanted to escape from Nanyu Mansion, so even if he was discovered, it would have nothing to do with Zhou Ling.
If you have not officially become a master, you are not considered a master, but if you take the master's recommendation letter to take the government examination, this relationship will be settled.
Just when Xu Qingxiao was thinking about it, the door was suddenly pushed open.
It's Zhou Ling.
He came in carrying an oil lamp.
"gentlemen."
Xu Qingxiao was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Zhou Ling hadn't fallen asleep at this hour.
"Qingxiao."
"It's getting late, it's time to rest."
When Zhou Ling spoke, he reminded Xu Qingxiao to rest.
"oh."
Xu Qingxiao nodded, just thought about it, sighed slightly, and when he was about to say something, Zhou Ling's voice sounded again.
"Qingxiao, I saw that you have something on your mind today. Although I don't understand it, I can guess some of it."