Chapter 76: The horoscope is pure Yin, Feixue is wronged
"Ma Shi, I remember you told me before that you worked in the city lord's mansion."
"Yes, sir."
"Then you should have met the city lord?"
Wang Li asked very directly, and Ma Shi couldn't help but be slightly startled.
He jogged two steps to be level with Wang Li, and whispered: "Sir, you have also met the city lord, Taoist Fuliu. However, although he is also the master of White Tiger Temple, he has never put down his duties. On the contrary,
Anping Prefecture has been peaceful and smooth for many years, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. It can be said that it is prosperous. The increasingly wider canal and the increasingly larger ferry outside the city are the reasons why Chief Fuliu pushed forward ten years ago despite all opinions and efforts.
By digging a large river and building an official road directly connected to the ferry, the entire Anping Prefecture relies heavily on this for its increasing prosperity, and the people are all grateful."
Wang Li remained calm, nodded and said, "Since you have such ability to govern the world, why do you have to be the master of the temple?"
Ma Shi smiled and said: "It is said that Taoist Master Fuliu was abandoned when he was young and was adopted by a Taoist. Therefore, he believed in Taoism in his heart. Even when he became a high official, he never gave up practicing Taoism."
"I see."
"Although the imperial court did not prohibit this matter, the Taoist Master did not want others to know about it and disturb his spiritual practice, and he did not want the people to imitate him. Therefore, many people in Anping City knew about Taoist Master Fuliu, but very few knew that he was the city lord.
"
Wang Li hummed and said no more.
One day while traveling to the west city, Wang Li sprinkled many talismans.
In the evening, they parted ways and agreed to meet again the next day.
After Ma Shi left, he remembered his mother's instructions and bought some chickens. With a bright smile and carefully carrying the chirping little ones, he hurried home.
Still far away, he heard hoarse wailing.
In an instant, Ma Shi's expression suddenly changed, and he threw away his arms and started running without caring about anything else.
The chicken in the cage crows louder and louder, like an urging note that makes him anxious and inside.
Looking at the earthen house, inside the simple fence, I saw a Taoist and several servants standing in silence. There was a wooden coffin in front of him, and his old mother was lying on the coffin, crying heartbrokenly.
The color drained from Ma Shi's face, his lips couldn't stop trembling, the chicken coop fell to the ground with a clang, and the chickens chirped but could not bring back his soul.
He stepped forward and rushed forward. While supporting my mother, he couldn't help but had to look into the coffin.
Xiao Ma's face is very calm, with a trace of peace in the cold white. His messy hair has finally been combed to perfection. He is no longer wearing patched old clothes, and the new brocade robe makes him look like a noble man.
Ma Shi couldn't help but froze, as if he had been hit by a restraining spell. His whole body was so stiff that it was difficult to move. Even his breathing seemed to be suppressed. His pale face soon became red and swollen from the pain.
The next breath, his mother's sharp and mournful cries woke him up.
Ma Shi once again supported his limp mother, tears falling from her eyes.
Ma Shi hugged his mother and was speechless.
"My son!!" I cried incessantly.
Taoist priest Fuliu stepped forward and waved his hand gently. The old woman's crying stopped, she closed her eyes slightly and fell asleep.
"Big Ma, she has been sad for a long time. Let's help her go in and rest first."
Ma Shi blankly took his mother back to the house, covered her with a quilt, tucked the corner of the quilt, wiped her tears, and walked out of the house.
"Taoist Master, my brother..." Halfway through, the tears couldn't stop again.
Taoist priest Fuliu sighed: "He has been ill a few days ago, and he was resting at home today. When Pindao heard about this and knew that your family was poor, he wanted to diagnose and treat him, but he couldn't get away for a while, so he sent someone to help him.
I came to pick him up. Unexpectedly, before Pindao even saw him, his illness had already broken out, and by the time I was informed that he had arrived... he was already helpless." As he spoke, his white eyebrows trembled, and his sadness grew.
Ma Shi fell to his knees, feeling powerless.
He covered his face with his hands and cried with regret: "He is sick...I should have thought of it earlier, that night...Xiao Ma, it's my fault!!"
the other side.
Wang Li monitors the city.
Thousands of lights illuminate the blue clouds in the night market, and high-rise buildings are crowded with red-sleeved customers.
But tonight, Yunyu Pavilion, which used to be the most luxuriously decorated, the most beautiful girl, and the busiest business on this street, suddenly fell silent.
There were no lanterns hanging high in front of the door, and the building was completely dark.
It makes many pleasure-seeking guests unhappy and makes other competitors in the street happy.
Ling Yue'er also came back, she said: "Nothing happened today."
"Listen to music on the hook?"
"Huh?" Mao Mao frowned and said unhappily: "No. Didn't the young master ask me to keep an eye on them? I found that they were in contact with people from Yaxing, and they have already released news that they will sell Yunyuge as soon as possible. Others
The brothels are very happy. Many brothels gave gifts to their guests today and even gave them discounts at checkout."
Wang Li nodded, waved his hand to brush away the screen, and said: "The day after tomorrow at the latest, we will see the difference." After that, he sat cross-legged and practiced.
Ling Yue'er blew out the light, turned into a kitten, and jumped into her humanoid nest.
The next day.
The morning light was slightly bright, and there was a knock on the door.
The person who came was a waiter from a restaurant, saying that there was someone downstairs who was eager to meet.
Wang Li's consciousness swept away, and he frowned and went downstairs.
As soon as he saw Ma Shi, the other party immediately handed Wang Li a small cloth bag in front of Wang Li with anxiety and guilt, and bowed deeply.
"Sir, something urgent happened at my home. I'm afraid I won't be able to continue to serve as your guide. I really don't dare accept your reward. Please take back the money first, and I'll pay back the rest tomorrow."
Wang Li didn't answer, just looked at the top of his head and asked: "What happened to make you have so many gray hairs overnight?"
Ma Shi smiled bitterly, his eyes turned red again, he sniffed, and then said: "Young master, my brother... suffered from a serious illness yesterday and has passed away."
Wang Li frowned again.
"He was not in good health since he was a child. He was born with pure Yin and has had many ups and downs over the years. A few days ago, I noticed that his face was a little pale and he spoke less. I just thought he was cold and tired, but I didn't want to
..." Ma Shi lowered his head and wiped away tears, then bowed: "Master, my mother is old and in poor health. At this time, I have to take care of her at home, and I also have to arrange the funeral for my brother. Please forgive me."
Wang Li paused, his eyes twinkling with stars.
"Your brother works for you in the city lord's mansion?"
"Yes, sir."
Wang Li stopped questioning and pushed back the cloth bag he handed over, "Life, old age, illness and death are unpredictable. You can use these silver coins to pay for your brother's funeral, and then take good care of your mother at home. We have traveled a lot these days. I'm sorry
This place is barely familiar."
"Son..."
"Don't say any more, go ahead, my condolences!"
Ma Shi was moved beyond words. After thanking him again and again, the young man left with his body hunched over.
Wang Li watched quietly, and when his figure disappeared, he turned his gaze to the City Lord's Mansion in the distance, sword light bursting out in his eyes.
Soon, cats and dogs ran down from upstairs. Wang Li suppressed the surge in his heart and walked calmly to the dock area outside the city that he had never set foot in before.
Anping Ferry.
At this point, Wang Li realized something again when he looked at the ships coming and going and the bustling business travelers.
In a word: death in a foreign land.
Ma Shi once said that ten years ago, Anping Prefecture opened a canal here, built a ferry, and connected the official road directly into the city. It benefited everyone. Since then, there have been countless business trips. Anping Prefecture, which used to be ranked last in the Shu Dynasty, escaped from poverty and took off.
This is a very reasonable policy that has subsequently proven to be very wise.
But is the starting point of this good deed really for the sake of the people?
Many people live because of it, and how many people die because of it?
The flowing waves are shining, and thousands of sails are competing.
The king carp is isolated on the shore, with its hair flying. The breeze along the river brings the excitement and bustle of the ferry, and at the same time, it seems to also stir up the broken souls who have been silent here for many years and cannot even cry out their grievances.
The sky was getting dark, a cool breeze suddenly picked up, and in a short while, soft snowflakes fell. Before people could recover, they turned into heavy snowflakes.
Snow in winter is nothing surprising, but people who see it have different moods, so the meaning naturally differs.
Wang Li brushed off the flying snow on his shoulders, turned around, and headed straight for the City Lord's Mansion. This chapter has been completed!