With the arrival of various powerful clans and imperial troops, the atmosphere in Zhuangzi became inexplicably tense.
When the troops and the imperial guards began to patrol in small groups inside and outside Zhuangzi, several small roads leading to the entrance of the village from the outside world were also blocked, and anyone entering or leaving Zhuangzi would be stopped and questioned.
The tense and stagnant atmosphere became increasingly intense.
Li Qinzai knew that it had brought inconvenience to the villagers, so he ordered his servants to prepare some grain, dried meat, cloth and other gifts. He and Qiaoer went to each house in person to apologize.
The words were polite and the attitude was very humble, telling the dealers that their recent lives may have some impact, but it will pass soon.
The dealers were also reasonable. After all, they were all dealers in the Li family village. Many of them were veterans who had followed Li Jin in the Northern and Southern Wars. They understood Li Qinzai's apology.
Hearing that someone was planning to assassinate the Fifth Young Master, the villagers were filled with righteous indignation. Instead of blaming the turmoil inside and outside Zhuangzi, a group of veterans spontaneously organized themselves, patrolled with the troops and the imperial army, and carefully set up some secret roads. Set up an ambush.
After visiting the villagers to apologize, Li Qinzai led Qiaoer back.
Qiao'er's pink little hand was held in Li Qinzai's palm, and the golden sunset dragged the father and son's backs long, like a famous painting about time and dependence.
"Dad, there are a lot of strangers in Zhuangzi recently, and there are many people following Qiao'er when he goes out to play. Is someone trying to harm you?" Qiao'er raised her head and asked.
Li Qinzai hummed and said, "There is indeed someone who wants to harm me."
"Why did they want to harm you? Did Dad do something bad?" Qiao'er asked ignorantly.
Li Qinzai thought for a while and said: "To the enemy, I did do bad things, but I have a clear conscience."
"What did dad do?"
"I destroyed a country, so the people in that country regarded me as their enemy, and they must get rid of me quickly."
Qiao'er said in confusion: "But the uncles in Zhuangzi all say that dad is a great hero and has made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty..."
Li Qinzai smiled: "He is an enemy and I am a hero. We have different positions and different perspectives on things. If someone breaks into our Zhuangzi and kills many villagers in our Zhuangzi, will you hate this person?"
Qiao'er said without hesitation: "Of course I will hate it."
Li Qinzai breathed out softly and said, "Dad also did something like this in Japan."
After thinking about it, Li Qinzai added: "What Dad is participating in is a war. The main purpose of the war is to kill the enemy and seize the land. The fighting between the two sides is cruel. We killed their people, and they also killed our soldiers. The difference is Yes, we won this war."
Qiao'er seemed to understand and said: "But those enemies who lost are not willing to give in, right? It's like the children in Zhuangzi playing games with me. They are not willing to give in even if they lose, and even curse others."
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "That's more or less the meaning. The enemy was unwilling to accept it, so they used conspiracy and tricks to kill me quietly to avenge their defeat."
Although he still didn't quite understand, Qiao'er still looked enlightened and said: "So, those who want to kill you are bad people, and dad is a good person and a great hero."
"That's right."
Qiao'er suddenly puffed up her little chest and said proudly: "Dad, don't be afraid. If bad guys really come to assassinate you, Qiao'er will protect you!"
Li Qinzai stopped, squatted down to be at eye level with him, and said slowly: "Qiao'er is still young and can't protect dad yet, but dad can protect you."
"However, after many years, dad will slowly grow old, Qiao'er will slowly grow up, dad's strength will become weaker and weaker, and his courage will become less and less. At that time, dad will need Qiao'er's protection."
Qiao'er nodded vigorously: "Dad, Qiao'er will practice his skills well, learn martial arts, and protect dad in the future. Qiao'er should be like a shield, standing in front of dad."
Li Qinzai rubbed his little head happily: "You should practice the backflip first..."
…………
Late at night, the tranquility of the village was suddenly broken by a burst of crying and howling, followed by the incessant barking of dogs from every house, and then the villagers lit their lamps one after another.
Li Qinzai put on his clothes and stood up, walked out of the yard, and met Liu Asi who was waiting in armor.
Liu Asi looked nervous and put his right hand on the handle of the knife at his waist. Seeing Li Qinzai going out to check, Liu Asi stretched out his hand to stop him.
"Fifth Young Master, you can't move, you can't go anywhere." Liu Asi said solemnly: "I don't know which family has an accident. The imperial army has gone to check. You and Xiaolangjun stay in another courtyard, otherwise you may be hit by the enemy.
The plan."
With the faint light of the torch in the yard, Li Qinzai glanced at Liu Asi.
Liu Asi's forehead was sweating, and his eyes were trying to stay calm, but his back was slightly arched, like a sharp arrow that could be shot out at any time.
The atmosphere in Zhuangzi has been tense recently, but it is these tribes and the Forbidden Army that are causing the most turmoil and causing great psychological pressure.
The information conveyed by Baiqisi was correct, and with 100% certainty, Song Sen would personally visit the house to warn.
In other words, the assassin will definitely assassinate Li Qinzai. At this time, he is just hiding in an invisible dark place, maybe staring at him with a sinister look in some corner.
Although the troops and the imperial army had protected Li Qinzai and his family members airtight, the pressure from everyone was still extremely high. With the enemy in the dark and the enemy in the dark, we suddenly heard the sound of crying in Zhuangzi tonight.
Regardless of whether the crying is normal or abnormal, it is both a test and a torture for Liu Asi's songs.
The most important thing to protect the main house is to be calm and calm, like a dead lake without any ripples. Once something unusual appears, it means something may happen.
That's why Liu Asi was so nervous at this moment, as if he was facing a formidable enemy.
In the yard, Li Qinzai smiled and patted Liu Asi on the shoulder: "Relax, don't be too nervous. I leave my life to you. I have never been worried."
Liu Asi wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a wry smile: "The villain is worried to death. I'm really afraid that before the assassin comes, the villain will die from excessive worry..."
"You're a rough guy, you don't have to learn a literary and artistic style, and it's not your turn to worry too much. That's a symptom of scholars."
The sound of rapid footsteps came from outside the courtyard, and a team of the Forbidden Army was hurriedly approaching to report to Li Qinzai.
Something did happen in Zhuangzi, but it was just something that didn't seem special.
An old man passed away.
The old man is also a banker, a former veteran, about sixty years old.
In the Tang Dynasty, being able to live to this age was definitely a sign of joy and mourning.
The Imperial Guards had just received news that the old man had been a little sick recently, so his family hitched an ox cart today and sent him to Weinan County, where they asked a doctor to check his pulse and prescribe medicine.
After the medicine was prescribed, the children and the old man walked around the city for a while. After all, it was rare for villagers to go back to the city. At that time, the old man was in good health and even had the appetite to buy a pot helmet on the street and eat it.
The teeth of a teenager were biting the pot helmet tightly.
Unexpectedly, when he returned to Zhuangzi, the old man was not good anymore. He didn't even cook the medicine, so he fell into a coma until midnight, and finally died.
The crying that came from the village just now was the old man's children crying in mourning.
After listening to the team leader's report, Li Qinzai stood in silence for a while and said in a low voice: "Logically, I should come to express my condolences, but in order not to cause you any trouble, I won't go. Let Manager Song bring some money to represent me.
Please express your condolences to the family."
"This old man was also a loyal veteran who followed my grandfather in the war. Finally, another one has died..."
…………
Early the next morning, the sound of gongs and drums could be heard in the village. Li Qinzai knew without looking that the family members of the deceased veteran had begun to hold funeral services.
The funeral was very solemn, and Manager Song sent a lot of money over the night, so the children of the veterans naturally spent their money in spacious places.
The gongs, drums, suonas and sacrificial animals in the village are all of a relatively high standard.
The children, dressed in sackcloth and mourning, knelt in the mourning hall, and villagers came to pay their respects in sorrow.
During the day, Li Qinzai was relatively free. As long as he did not leave the village entrance, he could still move around freely in Zhuangzi.
So Li Qinzai also came to express his condolences in person. After kneeling down in front of the old man's memorial tablet to pay his respects, he also comforted the old man's children and grandchildren.
The priest, with his head covered with linen cloth, stood in the mourning hall and kept calculating the good times. Then his eyes suddenly opened and he looked towards the path at the entrance of the village.
On the winding road, a group of monks were slowly walking in from the entrance of the village. While reciting scriptures, they lowered their eyelids and lowered their eyebrows, clasping their hands together devoutly.