The sky turned blue, a few white clouds hung in the air, and the not-too-dazzling sunlight fell on the ground.
A carriage slowly walked towards Nanyu Mansion.
"We are still three hours away from Nanyu Prefecture. There is a tea shop in front, which sells authentic herbal tea from Nanyu Prefecture. You two have worked hard, so we brothers are going to treat you to a sip of tea and a short rest. I don't know what to do next.
?”
On the carriage, the driver said, this is Cheng Lidong's subordinate.
In the past few days of contact, although Chen Xinghe was cold and arrogant, he didn't talk to these two people very much. Xu Qingxiao was a good person, so they were a little wary of each other at first. But later on, Xu Qingxiao talked to them from time to time and explained some things to the two of them. Occasionally, when nothing happened,
Also tell some stories to relieve the boredom along the way.
It was because of this verbal conversation that the two of them lowered their guard against Xu Qingxiao, and even had a good relationship.
After all, they were just subordinates, Cheng Lidong's subordinates, and they had no deep hatred against Xu Qingxiao. Furthermore, even if Cheng Lidong suspected that Xu Qingxiao had practiced strange arts, at least it seemed that Xu Qingxiao had no problem now.
And there is no evidence.
"Okay, I've heard that Nanyufu herbal tea is extremely famous, and I definitely want to try it. However, I will pay for the tea, and the two brothers will escort you all the way. If I ask you to pay for the tea, doesn't it seem that we are rude?"
Xu Qingxiao opened the car curtain and said with a smile.
"You're welcome, you're welcome, it's just two tea money, isn't it? Brother Qingxiao, we two brothers are also detectives after all. Our monthly salary is okay, so we should pay for the tea."
The latter spoke.
His name is Yang Bao, and the other person's name is Yang Hu. They are two brothers.
He has a good personality and is good at talking. Moreover, Xu Qingxiao and Chen Xinghe came here to take the imperial examination. They are not qualified, but at least they are scholars. These days, scholars are basically respected, especially those who work as errands.
Maybe one day Xu Qingxiao will be their immediate boss, so it's normal to be polite.
There was no fight over tea money.
Xu Qingxiao smiled and nodded.
Finally, when he returned to the carriage, Chen Xinghe was still reading. Xu Qingxiao also read a lot these days, but she would stop and think about it halfway through.
Mainly due to motion sickness, ancient road construction was mediocre, and even the official road had some steep slopes. If the carriage moved a little faster, the whole carriage would sway, making Xu Qingxiao feel nauseated.
This is because he is in good physical condition. A normal person would probably have vomited.
On the contrary, Chen Xinghe remained motionless, forcing Xu Qingxiao to accept it.
About less than half an hour.
Finally, the carriage came to a tea shop.
However, the tea shop was very desolate. Although the shop was still there, there was no customer, and the outside of the shop was also clean. There was only an old man packing his things.
"Shopkeeper, why are you packing your things in broad daylight? You're not doing business anymore?"
When Yang Bao, who was driving the car, saw this scene, he couldn't help shouting and asked the old man.
The old man who was cleaning up saw Yang Bao wearing official uniform and couldn't help but respect him immediately.
"Your Majesty, it's not that this old man doesn't do business. Some strange things have happened in Nanyu Mansion recently. There are monsters eating people, and notices have been posted in the manor. How can I dare to continue doing business? I can only go back and rest first, and wait until the matter is over.
Come again."
"But if you two gentlemen want to drink some herbal tea, I can get it for you now."
When he saw the officer, the old man was very respectful.
"Monsters eat people? What nonsense? This place is only thirty miles away from Nanyu Mansion. If there really are demons, people from the mansion have already come to suppress them."
When Yang Bao spoke, his first reaction was disbelief.
Although demons appear in the world at random, it does not mean that there are so many demons, just like theft and robbery. This kind of thing happens everywhere, but it does not mean that there is theft and robbery everywhere all the time.
It's nothing more than the seriousness of the problem.
Hearing Yang Bao speak like this, the old man suddenly cried and said.
"Master Guan, I think so too, but there's nothing I can do about it. Notices from the government have come down. You see, this is a notice. I'm going to put it up later before leaving this place."
"Masters, please wait a moment while I prepare herbal tea."
The old man put the notice from the mansion in front of the table. He felt uncomfortable. Who from all over the country didn't know that his herbal tea was delicious and he earned at least several taels of silver every day. But now a man-eating demon has made people panic.
He felt uncomfortable too.
"Okay, I'll bother the store."
Yang Bao was not the kind of person who bullied the people, but he was really thirsty along the way. Furthermore, he had agreed to treat Xu Qingxiao to a sip of herbal tea. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if his interest was ruined?
While the old man went to prepare herbal tea.
Xu Qingxiao also stepped out of the carriage.
Seeing that there was no movement outside, he simply got out of the car and took a look.
"Brother Leopard, Brother Tiger, what's wrong?"
Xu Qingxiao stepped out of the carriage and looked at the two of them curiously.
"It's nothing. The shopkeeper of the tea shop said that a man-eating demon has appeared in Nanyu Mansion, and the government has issued notices to warn the people."
Yang Bao pointed to the notice on the table and said.
"Man-eating monster?"
Xu Qingxiao was a little surprised and turned his attention to the notice.
【Notice】
One year in Wuchang.
March twenty-fifth.
There are demons who are violating the law, and the government is currently investigating closely. We hope that traders and tourists from all over the world will pay more attention.
Once you notice anything unusual, report it to the official immediately and do not stay.
Notice from the Yamen of Nanyu Prefecture.
Seal: Li Guangxin, the Prince of Nanyu Prefecture in the Great Wei Dynasty.
——
The notice is very simple.
Xu Qingxiao, who has lived in two generations, knows a truth: the fewer words, the greater the consequences.
"In a time of troubled demons, it's okay to live in a remote place. If you dare to do evil around Nanyu Mansion, aren't you seeking death?"
Xu Qingxiao looked back, he was a little curious.
It is not an extremely rare thing for demons to harm people, but the crime locations are usually in remote areas. After all, the sky is high and the emperor is far away, and it is difficult to investigate if something goes wrong in a small place.
Although the imperial court once sent troops to guard the country and established many institutions and organizations, the effect was very poor.
There are still relatively few people choosing places like Fudu.
It's like it's basically impossible for this kind of thing to happen in the imperial capital. Once it happens, it will be an insult to the country.
It is precisely because of this that most people want to live in the city.
"Yes, there are hundreds of counties and villages under Nanyu Prefecture. There are many incidents of monsters attacking people, but the prefecture has never heard of it. This monster is too courageous."
Yang Bao nodded, agreeing with what Xu Qingxiao said.
"The scourge of demons will be eliminated by the imperial court sooner or later. I heard from people that His Majesty has sent people to set up a new organization called the Jinyi Tianwei. He plans to select talents from all over the country and cooperate with Taoist sects."
"It specializes in dealing with these monsters and people who practice strange arts."
Yang Hu spoke out. He had heard some information, so he said it directly.
"Jinyi Tianwei?"
This was the first time Xu Qingxiao heard this name. It was a bit like Jin Yiwei, but Jin Yi Tianwei sounded a bit taller.
"Well, the Heavenly Guards in Jinyi obey your Majesty's orders directly and have great power."
"It is said that when the Jinyi Tianwei goes to the counties, towns and villages of the Wei Dynasty, officials from all places must fully cooperate and have the right to kill first and report later."
Yang Bao also spoke up and gave more information.
"Officials from all over the country are fully cooperating, killing first and reporting later?"
Xu Qingxiao smacked her tongue, this power is really outrageous.
Just fully cooperating means that the court attaches great importance to it, and it is even more amazing to kill first and then report later.
For a dynasty, the judiciary is the backbone, and everything, no matter how big or small, must go through a set of procedures.
Whether to kill or release was reported to each local government at all levels, and was finally reviewed by Dali Temple one by one.
Responsibility is lifelong, and names are left at every level.
Once an unjust case is discovered, the most unlucky people will be the officials of Dali Temple, and then they will be unlucky at every level.
Judiciary is the foundation of the country.
To kill first and then report is to be above the law. This is a double-edged sword. After all, no one is perfect. You can't control whether you did something wrong or killed the wrong person.
Since ancient times, the greatest power has been to kill first and then report later.
Good guy.
If you have the opportunity in the future, you must have good dealings with this kind of people, otherwise you will die if you are targeted by this kind of people.
Xu Qingxiao had an idea in her heart.
Regardless of whether he will be found out for practicing strange arts or not, if someone discovers something and reports it, these people are not like Cheng Lidong, who is worried about this and that.
Let’s cut it with a knife.
While Xu Qingxiao was thinking, the old man brought several bowls of herbal tea.
Yang Bao put a few copper coins and warmly invited Xu Qingxiao to drink tea.
The herbal tea was clear and light green in color. When Xu Qingxiao was holding the tea and was about to drink it, she suddenly felt a surge of righteousness in her body.
For just a moment, my eyes felt cool, and when I looked at the herbal tea in my hand, I saw a faint white mist rising up.
"Something weird!"
"Don't drink."
Xu Qingxiao took action directly and very quickly, knocking the tea bowls out of the hands of Yang Bao and Yang Hu.
boom.
The tea bowl fell to the ground and broke.
The two of them were a little confused, but they were not stupid. They put their hands on the handle of the knife almost instantly, alert to their surroundings.
Chen Xinghe, who was in the carriage, felt something and immediately walked out.
"There's something wrong with the tea."
Xu Qingxiao didn't waste any time and explained the problem clearly in four words.
hiss.
Brothers Yang Bao and Yang Hu were immediately shocked. At the same time, they stared at the old man with murderous intent in their eyes.
"My lord, my lord, it's unjust, it's unjust, how dare this old man act so recklessly."
"Sir, I brewed this herbal tea myself, there can be no problem."
The old man was frightened and fell to his knees with a thud, terrified.
"Brother Leopard, keep an eye on him. Brother Tiger, please protect my senior brother. I'll go in and take a look."
Xu Qingxiao frowned, there must be something wrong with the tea, the Haoran Zhengqi in her body noticed something strange, so she protected herself.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to detect anything.
As for this old man, Xu Qingxiao didn't know if he had any problems. He had to at least go in and investigate.
"Brother Qingxiao, I will go in with you."
When Yang Hu spoke, he held the long knife tightly, worried that Xu Qingxiao would be in danger alone.
"No, if the other party uses poison, it won't be very strong. Besides, I, Xu, have reached the top level, so I have no fear of evil spirits."
Xu Qingxiao shook his head. He was now a tenth-grade warrior after all, and he had great righteousness in his body.
If the other party uses poison, it won't make him any stronger. Otherwise, would he still need to use poison?
Simple logic allowed Xu Qingxiao to make the best judgment.
"Okay, if Brother Xu doesn't come out within half a quarter of an hour, we will kill this person first and then go in."
Yang Bao drew his sword, put it on the old man's neck, and said seriously.
As soon as he said this, the old man fainted and died on the spot.
Xu Qingxiao nodded without thinking about anything.
"Junior brother, I will accompany you in."
Chen Xinghe said, he didn't want to stay here and be protected.
"No, senior brother, wait a moment."
Xu Qingxiao walked directly into the tea shop without waiting for Chen Xinghe to say anything else.