Night once again enveloped the small courtyard, and the people at home fell into a deep sleep.
The ground dragon slowly stretched its body in the yard.
To the outside world, this small courtyard has only one master and four servants. He does not exist, so he spends his time sleeping during the day.
Night is his time of activity.
But besides him, no one was sleeping.
The night wind blew by, and someone's figure flickered on the eaves. The ground dragon was not alert, but pretended not to see it.
The first time he saw him, the figure landed directly in front of him and said hello.
"It's me, don't be surprised." The girl said, "I'm going out for a walk."
After saying hello, Ground Dragon often saw her going out for a walk in the middle of the night.
So it's not as Qing Pheasant thinks that the lady has never left the house since she came to Beijing.
The figures on the eaves didn't care about the ground dragon standing in the yard. It flew out quietly, and the birds on the treetops didn't even disturb.
The ground dragon looked up at the night sky. Miss Qixing worked during the day and didn't rest at night. She worked like this day and night. What big thing was she busy with?
The seven stars wandered in the night of the capital, just like they did in Xucheng.
The houses here are so high that standing on the roof seems to put the heaven and earth under your feet.
The city on New Year's Day is like the Milky Way falling to the ground.
The capital is much larger than Xu City, but here you don't just jump into the sea and swim freely. In this unquiet night, many houses cannot be approached, and there are hidden sentries of guards in many places.
In this city with high eaves and wide roofs, she walked cautiously. There were too many places she couldn't go, not to mention the palace where the powerful and aristocratic families were, and even an ordinary restaurant was not something she could set foot on casually.
Qixing's toes just landed on the corner of the roof. The next moment she turned around and the people flew away like flying swallows. At the same time, two figures floated on the ridge of the roof.
"Who?" they whispered.
If I look after him, the figure has disappeared. If I can't follow him with my eyes, I can't catch up with my footsteps.
They didn't pursue him either.
This is even more terrifying, like the mythical beasts on the roof, they will not leave you no matter how tempting you are. If you want to get close or spy, you have to get rid of them.
Getting rid of them will inevitably alarm the homeowner.
Qixing looked back and saw the words "Huixian" hanging high.
"spy?"
Gao Xiaoliu was sitting in the restaurant, listening to the report, then rushed to the backyard and cursed into the night sky.
"What are you probing for? If you want us to know the secret recipe of Immortal Tower, is there any need to probe?"
"Just spend more money to poach the cook."
"The cook is not stupid. If you pay more, he will naturally run away with you."
When the cook heard this, he immediately opened the window and shouted: "Master, I am loyal to Huixian Tower, and I will die here in my life."
Gao Xiaoliu sighed: "Why die during the Chinese New Year? Isn't it enough to die here? You really want to ruin my business."
After scolding the cook, he continued to scold everyone around him.
"Let me tell you, don't think that no one will care about me, Gao Xiaoliu, at Huixian Tower in the gambling house every day."
"Because of my absence, Huixian Tower has set up a dragnet."
"I tell you plainly, my Immortal Tower is guarded by many experts, and I will not be guilty of breaking into private houses and killing you."
It seemed that the sound was too noisy, or that the words were really outrageous. Someone upstairs opened the window and said, "Gao Xiaoliu, be quiet."
Gao Xiaoliu looked up with his arms akimbo, and saw the open window on the highest floor, and the silhouette of a person standing by the window.
"Have you disturbed Mr. Liu?" he shouted, then he thought of something and said, "I understand."
After saying that, he turned around and went inward. With the sound of "dong dong", he boarded the Tianzihao room in one breath.
"Master Liu, Master Liu." He opened the door and went in, "I know, this must be here to assassinate you!"
Liu Yan was sitting in the Tianzihao room, but he was not alone. There were seven or eight other people, all dressed in casual clothes. There was a dazzling array of things in front of them, including wine and food.
Although Liu Yan was a solitary person, he did not mean to be a loner. As an official in the court, there was no real loner.
After hearing Gao Xiaoliu's words, the others looked unhappy and yelled, "Stop talking nonsense."
"How is this nonsense?" Gao Xiaoliu said solemnly, "Masters, tell me, who is more hated by people, I know Xianlou or Master Liu?"
This was unspeakable, and the adults in the room frowned.
Liu Yan was not angry at all. He smiled, held the wine glass, and asked, "How about we let the government make a judgment? Check it out, check it out, and see who is more hated, me or you?"
Gao Xiaoliu immediately withered: "That would be too much of a waste of money for gambling." He bowed to Liu Yan, "I am the one who attracts people's hatred. Sir, please use it with care. The Huixian Building is yours tonight, and you can live here."
After that, he left.
Liu Yan drank the wine in one gulp.
Others in the room also laughed.
"Why did a rich man give birth to such a son?" One person shook his head and said, "Sooner or later, this family business will be ruined."
Another person said with a smile: "The wealth accumulated by a rich man can be destroyed by himself. I guess it will be about the same for his grandchildren."
"I don't know whether the rich man is happy or unhappy in this life. He has earned such a big fortune, but cannot afford to fall ill. He can only watch his sons and grandsons lose their careers." Someone lamented.
At this point, everyone looked at Liu Yan again.
"I heard that Mr. Gao and Mr. Liu have an old relationship?" one person asked.
Since Liu Yan was appointed by the emperor, he rarely interacted with people. He had no family and no job and did not accept gifts. He had no way to make friends if he wanted to, but he occasionally came to Huixianlou.
There are so many famous restaurants in Beijing, why do you have a special liking for Huixian Restaurant? No need to ask, Gao Xiaoliu has already shown off that his father saved Liu Yan of Dali Temple.
No one believed it at first. Gao Xiaoliu, a gangster from the casino, talked too much.
However, the last time a scholar was hanged in Huixian Tower, Gao Xiaoliu got a rubbing of the confession he left behind before his death and hung it in Huixian Tower for public display, claiming that it was allowed by Dali Temple.
If you don't have some friendship, you really can't do this.
Naturally, those who could come to the banquet were all from his own family. Liu Yan did not shy away from this. He nodded and said, "Back then, I fell ill on the road to distribution. I met a wealthy businessman who was passing by. He asked a doctor to treat me, and I was able to do it."
Survive.”
It's really a life-saving grace.
"So I came to their restaurant to pay a favor," Liu Yan said.
Eating alone does not bring much profit to the restaurant. In fact, Liu Yan not only spends no money, but sometimes he dislikes making noise or discussing things with others, so Huixian Restaurant will even book a table for him.
It seems that he is not here to repay a favor, but to collect a debt.
But this is for people who have no identity or status.
Regarding Liu Yan's current status, he showed that he had an unusual relationship with Huixianlou and was the backer of Huixianlou. For the Gao family whose father fell ill and whose son was a playboy, this was indeed a return of favor.
"I, Liu Yan, have already pledged myself to the imperial court, and that's all I can do." Liu Yan continued, "If he commits adultery and violates the law, there is absolutely no humane relationship to talk about."
Everyone in the room laughed, some toasted, and some smiled to reassure Liu Yan.
"In this Huixian Tower, one is seriously ill and the other is a playboy. What kind of crime can he commit? It would be nice if he doesn't get plotted to take away the family property." He smiled, "Sir, come sit here with them and keep up the facade.
It’s their father, son and even their grandchildren who are being protected, this favor is enough.”
This is indeed the truth. Everyone present laughed, "So rich people still have a good life."
Who would have thought that a criminal officer who could not even look down on his illness that he casually rescued on the road would be reused ten years later.
Liu Yan said: "I can't say whether his life is good or bad. If he is really good, he doesn't need me to repay the favor."
After that, he raised his glass.
"Let us not mention these old things. Thanks to the Holy Grace, we will work together to create a prosperous world with His Majesty."
Everyone hurriedly raised their glasses and drank together.
The court had a holiday during the New Year's Day, but the officials would not feast in restaurants all night, so they dispersed when the night grew dark.
Liu Yan didn't leave, it seemed like he was going to stay as Gao Xiaoliu said.
"Let him live, let him live." Gao Xiaoliu said, "Anyway, there is no need for a room where people have died. Let him breathe in the ghost energy."
He raised his eyebrows as he spoke.
"And if another spy comes, send him to Liu Yan's room and see what happens."
Zhike said with a smile: "It's necessary, we can't put Mr. Liu in danger."
Gao Xiaoliu looked at the night sky: "It's been a long time since no one came to spy on our Huixian Tower. I don't know where it came from. What do you want to spy on?"
"No matter where he comes from, we at Huixianlou will tell him that it is not a place where he can come and leave whenever he wants," Zhike said.
Gao Xiaoliu snorted and waved his hand: "I'm going to the casino."
Zhike responded well: "Young master, you have been working hard at the store for a few days during the New Year's Day. Go and get busy. There are a lot of things over there waiting for you to deal with."
Gao Xiaoliu sighed: "It's all my father's fault. He only gave birth to me. There's nothing I can do." As he walked out, he turned back and said, "My father."
"I'll call the young master when I wake up," Zhike said proactively.
Even though he said he disliked him in every possible way, he still missed his father.
A father can have such a son, one is better than ten.
Zhike watched Gao Xiaoliu leave with a smile.
"Go and send an old servant to serve Mr. Liu well." He told the shop assistant.
The night was dark and deep, and the high-rise Tianzihao room fell into silence.
Liu Yan was sitting alone, holding a wine glass in one hand and supporting his head in the other, as if he was drunk. The door was opened and an old servant walked in.
With a stooped figure and gray hair, he walked to Liu Yan's table with a basket in his hand and started to clear it away.
"If there are any more private killings," Liu Yan suddenly said with his head lowered and eyes closed, "you will never live in peace in the capital again."
"Yes, sir, don't worry." The old servant said, and sighed, "What happened to Liu Xiucai was really an accident."
He raised his head, and under the dim light, a face familiar to Gao Xiaoliu appeared.
That was the wealthy man who should have fallen asleep.