Although most of the shops on both sides of the street were open, there were very few customers coming in and out, and there were no pedestrians on the street. The cold wind blew through the empty long street, picking up a few fallen leaves, and a group of fully armed soldiers marched forward.
Patrolling with neat steps and looking around with vigilant eyes.
The common local ruffians and beggars disappeared, but business was booming in teahouses and restaurants. Many quacks and businessmen sat around in groups and discussed something in low voices. The atmosphere seemed solemn and strange.
From time to time, armored cavalrymen galloped through the streets, attracting a lot of attention.
Qin Yun was lucky enough to hire a passing carriage, so he arrived at the Shui family's old residence smoothly.
The door of the mansion at the end of Shuijia Lane was closed. After knocking on the door and waiting for a while, someone finally came out and opened the door.
This time, the person who opened the door for Qin Yun was no longer the white-haired old housekeeper, but a heroic young girl in a sword suit. When she saw Qin Yun, she was stunned for a moment, and then shouted in surprise: "Qin Yun."
Brother Yun! Why is it you?"
This girl was none other than Shui Shengnan. When she returned to Lingyang with her fellow disciples, she was intercepted and killed by Tu Wanxiong and Xu Jingye on the road. She was almost involved in it, so she became acquainted with Qin Yun.
Qin Yun had a good impression of her and said with a smile: "Why can't it be me? Sister Shengnan, are you here?"
"Yes, yes!" Shui Shengnan smiled happily and stepped aside to say: "Come in quickly and talk. My grandfather, father and uncle are all here. Last time you came to our house, you left without waiting for me. Then I was in the city.
I've been looking for you for a long time and still haven't found you. My brother went too far, and my grandfather even used family magic on him..."
She talked nonchalantly, her tone full of joy and happiness.
Qin Yun smiled slightly, walked into the door and said, "Take me to see Nainai first!"
Under the guidance of Shui Shengnan, the two walked through the corridor to the inner courtyard of the old house, and met Shui Wanning's mother, the kind and amiable old lady, in a side room.
Seeing her granddaughter bringing Qin Yun to visit her, the old lady was surprised and happy. She held Qin Yun's hand and burst into tears: "Yun'er, where have you been during this time? Do you know that Nainai is worried about you?
.If something happens to you, how can I explain it to Wan Ning!"
Qin Yun was moved in his heart, and after bowing respectfully, he said: "I'm sorry if you have any trouble. Qin Yun went to Shiwan Mountain to practice on the orders of his master, and everything went smoothly with no accidents!"
"The Hundred Thousand Mountains are the territory of the Miao people, and the black Miao there are very powerful at playing poison!" The old lady wiped her tears and sighed: "It must have been very hard and dangerous for you to wander alone at a young age. Now that you are back, you are here
Stay here for a few days and treat it as your own home."
"Don't worry, if anyone wants to drive you away this time, I will fight them tooth and nail!"
As she spoke, she picked up the dragon-head crutch and slammed it on the ground, showing her firm determination.
This desire to protect made Qin Yun feel a surge of warmth in his chest. Speaking of it, he and the old lady only met once, but because of Shui Wanning's relationship, the other party treated him as his own grandson.
It made him feel the warmth of family affection that he hadn't had in a long time.
But now is not the right time. He suppressed his fluctuating emotions and said in a deep voice: "Nainai, this time I came to discuss something important with my master. This matter is related to the safety of Lingyang City. Time is running out.
There can’t be any delay!”
Seeing Qin Yun taking things so seriously, the old lady became a lot more serious. She immediately turned to Shui Shengnan and said, "Shengnan, go and invite your grandpa here. We have something important to discuss!"
Then she ordered the maids standing next to her: "You go out first, and you are not allowed to come in unless summoned!"
After Qin Yun sat down and had just drank half a cup of tea, Shui Shengnan came back with Shui Mingdong.
Qin Yun quickly stood up and went forward to pay homage according to etiquette.
Shui Mingdong couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed when he saw Qin Yun. The last time Qin Yun came to visit, he couldn't help but neglect Qin Yun because he had prejudices against him. As a result, Shui Fenglin left Qin Yun in anger.
Later I found out that Qin Yun turned out to be an innate master and even killed Tu Wanxiong. I really regretted it at that time.
So now when I see Qin Yun again, his attitude is much more warm and polite.
Although this seems very snobbish, Shui Mingdong is the head of a family, and the Shui family is the weakest among the seven families in Lingyang, so it is understandable that he has more worries.
Qin Yun did not waste time. After a few polite words, he got straight to the point. He told Shuimingdong the news that Chu was about to invade Lingyang and that the Shangguan family might surrender to the enemy and rebel. He also specially emphasized that he was in Shiwanda Mountain.
The experiences inside.
After hearing this, Shui Mingdong was stunned on the spot, looking completely dumbfounded.
After a long time, he laughed bitterly and said: "Qin Yun, this is a big deal, are you kidding me? Da Chu invades, Shangguan rebels, haha!"
Shui Mingdong smiled extremely dryly and hoarsely, and his tone also revealed that he didn't trust Qin Yun very much.
This is normal. After all, the two things Qin Yun said were absolutely earth-shattering in Lingyang City. If spread, I don't know how big a storm it would cause.
The most important thing is that Qin Yun is very young, and Shui Mingdong will inevitably wonder in his heart whether he is exaggerating. You must know that this is a common problem among young people, and of course he will not believe it easily.
The old lady on the side said displeasedly: "Master, I believe Yun'er won't talk nonsense. This matter is related to Lingyang City and the life and death of our Shui family. He is Wan Ning's apprentice, how could he harm us?"
We? Seriously, we should think about how to deal with the situation at hand!"
"There are more than a thousand members of our Shui family. Life and death depend on your thoughts!"
Shui Mingdong had beads of sweat on his forehead and sat slumped on the chair: "It's not that I don't believe Qin Yun, it's just that this matter is too relevant. If the Shangguan family really colludes with Da Chu to rebel, our Shui family will be
What can we rely on to resist? Now that the city is under martial law and the gates are closed, we can’t leave even if we want to!"
Qin Yun frowned secretly, feeling that his master was indecisive and did not have the courage that a head of a family should have. No wonder the Shui family was at the bottom of the seven major families in Lingyang and was not as decisive as the old lady.
However, in the current situation, he also needed the help of the Shui family, so he said in a deep voice: "Master, I have met Master Xu Jingjingxu, and I am ready to ask King Tokugawa Lu for help. I just need to clear out the Dachu army first when it attacks."
Defend Lingyang due to civil strife, I believe we can hold on until reinforcements arrive!"
"But the prerequisite for guarding Lingyang City is that the Shangguan family's conspiracy cannot succeed. If they are allowed to completely control Lingyang City, we can only sit back and wait for death. So I would like to ask you to contact the Wang and Xie families secretly and work together to find a solution.
Break the current predicament!"
Shui Mingdong wiped the sweat from his forehead. Thinking of the Shangguan family's unusually domineering behavior in the past two days, he finally believed that Qin Yun was not talking nonsense, and that the Shui family might really be facing catastrophe.
When the matter came to an end, he calmed down, stretched out his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and said: "The head of the Xie family and I are sworn friends. Although the Wang family has a good relationship with my family, they also secretly have collusion with the Shangguan family, so we just
We can contact the Xie family first, and the Ouyang family and the Shangguan family have always been at odds. Although the head of the Ouyang family does not have much friendship with me, I believe he will definitely stand by us on this matter, and the Li family...
."
As he talked, Shui Mingdong's thoughts gradually became clearer: "But the problem is that the words are empty. We can't rely on a few words to convince them to deal with the Shangguan family. We must know that at least half of the city guards are in the hands of Shangguan. Shangguan
There are many masters of retainers in the family, and there is an alliance between the two families, which is definitely not something that can be easily shaken."
Shui Mingdong's concerns are certainly justified. The seven families have been running Lingyang for tens or hundreds of years, and the relationship between them is complicated. It is impossible that just because of a few words from an outsider, Qin Yun, the seven families will immediately unite to work together.
Fight against the Shangguan family.
In fact, they didn't get any information about Da Chu's invasion, so how could they easily believe Qin Yun.
Even Shui Mingdong himself, if Qin Yun hadn't been Shui Wanning's direct disciple and an innate master, I'm afraid Qin Yun would have been kicked out as a madman if he came to his door.
Qin Yun thought for a while and said: "This is not a problem. The Shangguan family must have sealed the city gate to block news from outside the city. Then they will wait until the Chu army attacks before they suddenly attack."
"If they are really colluding together, they must be in contact with each other. I can sneak out of the city and intercept the messenger. I believe I will be able to obtain reliable evidence!"
Shui Mingdong was refreshed: "As long as I have real evidence, I can definitely persuade the other three families. It will not be impossible to overthrow the Shangguan family by then. After all, we are the people of Da Yan, and no one wants to become a prisoner of Da Chu!"
If Lingyang City was attacked by Da Chu, the common people would certainly suffer, and local wealthy families like them would not be able to escape the fate of being uprooted and killed unless they sold themselves out early like the Shangguan family did.
"But..." he frowned and said, "Now the three gates of Lingyang City are guarded by the city guards and cannot enter or exit. If you forcefully leave the city, I'm afraid you will alert the enemy. If you alert the Shangguan family, it will be troublesome."
Qin Yun smiled lightly and said: "Don't worry, Master, I have my own solution, just wait for my news!"
When he left the city guard's mansion, he copied a map of underground channels from Xu Jingye. As long as there were no problems with the map, there would be no problem in escaping Lingyang City.
"That's the best!" Shui Mingdong sighed: "Thanks to you for coming to report this time, otherwise we don't know how our Shui family was destroyed. You intercept the messenger, and I will contact the other two families secretly!"
At this time, Shui Mingdong finally showed the courage that a patriarch of a large family should have: "I will try my best to never let the Shangguan family's conspiracy succeed!"
The old lady took Qin Yun's hand and asked softly: "Yun'er, be careful!"
