Chapter Nineteen A New Generation Replaces an Old One
The Black Yamen is independent of the six departments. It can provide one-stop services including inspections, arrests, interrogations, and executions from within. The prison where important criminals are imprisoned is at the back of the Yamen—to be precise, right below the Mingyu Tower.
Ye Jingtang followed Shang Jianli for a long time, and gradually came to the vicinity of Mingyu Tower, and found that behind it was a large-scale mansion. Behind the high wall were many pavilions and shady plants, which fully demonstrated the luxurious style of the imperial home.
"Is this the back door of Prince Jing's palace?"
"Heiya is the private guard of Prince Jing. Logically speaking, this is the outer residence of Prince Jing's palace, and the gate of Heiya is the back door of the palace."
Shang Jian left the corridor and entered the stairs leading to the underground. Those who could send out the Hei Yamen were not mediocre people, and most of them would be killed on the spot and would not be allowed to live for another moment. There were not many people imprisoned in the dungeon.
As soon as the Night Terror Hall entered the underground, I felt a gloomy cold air blowing in my face. The aisle in front was bottomless, and the oil lamps along the way looked like will-o'-the-wisps.
After walking forward for about a hundred steps, we walked down two floors until we came to a basement.
Two jailers stood outside the basement. There were no windows on all sides, oil lamps were lit inside, and there was a patio in the middle.
The top of the patio was covered with a fine iron fence, connected to the wellhead with iron locks. Each iron rod was as thick as a man's wrist. Just because of its weight, ordinary people could not lift it, let alone break through the iron locks.
Ye Jingtang came to the patio and took a look inside.
Below the patio is a stone room with some living utensils placed. There is a prisoner sitting against the wall. The prisoner's clothes are relatively clean, but his hair is disheveled. His hands and feet are bound by arm-thick iron chains. He has a large frame, but
The body is very thin.
The Night Terror Hall emerged from the mouth of the well, and the hairless prisoner raised his head - there were some wrinkles on his face, and he looked about fifty, but his eyes were bright and clear, not showing any signs of decadence, as if he was sitting at home looking at the door.
visiting guests.
However, after discovering that the face was unfamiliar, the prisoner resumed his sitting posture and closed his eyes.
Ye Jingtang asked: "Is this Daxia Qiu? Is the lock so tight?"
"These things are just to prevent accidents and don't have much effect; what really locks him is the 'cartilage fragrance'."
After Shang Jianli explained, he looked towards the dungeon:
"Qiu Tianhe, this is Young Master Ye Jingtang, who is also a swordsman. You may be interested."
In the dungeon, Qiu Tianhe opened his eyes again:
"Come down."
Shang Jianli opened the mouth of the well and raised his hand to indicate:
"please."
"..."
Ye Jingtang didn't believe that the lock was so tight and could still pose a threat to him, so he didn't give up and jumped directly into the patio.
tread--
A soft sound sounded in the claustrophobic stone room.
Qiu Tianhe's eyes were originally dull, but with a quick glance, he saw the 'Glass Dragon Ring-headed Sword' behind Ye Jingtang.
The shape of this sword is actually very common in the world, because Kuang Yazi, the master of swordsmanship in the previous dynasty, was at the top among swordsmen. The swords he used were naturally followed by his descendants, and there are now a lot of them in the world.
Junshantai's sword technique is called "Dragon Slaying Order", and the original intention is to kill with this glass dragon ring head sword.
But there are many imitations and only one genuine one.
It may be difficult for unfamiliar people to tell the difference, but top swordsmen who have seen this knife can recognize the knife more accurately than the person!
Qiu Tianhe's eyes and expressions did not change, he just looked at Ye Jingtang's face:
"What a handsome boy. Why are you looking for me?"
Ye Jingtang did not condescend. He sat on the floor ten feet in front of Qiu Tian, cupping his hands and saying:
"I have long admired the name of Hero Qiu, but I just came here to visit."
"The knife is good. Show it to me and let me see how deep it is."
Ye Jingtang didn't hesitate, he pushed the knife behind his waist and held the handle behind his back.
Choking——
There was a flash of cold light in the stone room, and a slight breeze blew up Qiu Tianhe's long and messy hair.
call……
Ye Jingtang sheathed the knife, released the handle and asked:
"What do you think, Master Qiu?"
Better than blue...
Qiu Tianhe didn't look strange at all, he just nodded lightly:
"He is a great talent. If I had not been trapped in this place, I would have consulted Young Master Ye for advice."
"Master Qiu, thank you. I'm new to the martial arts world, and I don't know much about the swordsmen in the martial arts world. I only know Xuanyuan Dynasty, Qiu Daxia, Zheng Feng, and others. Can Daxia Qiu tell me these allusions?"
Qiu Tianhe has already figured out Ye Jingtang's identity. Although the sword techniques are completely different, the starting points are exactly the same.
When Qiu Tianhe was young, he and Zheng Feng were rivals and confidants. They competed no less than a hundred times, and he knew that the "right path" Zheng Feng was searching for was the flawless sword strike he had just made.
Zheng Feng didn't come, and the knife appeared in this man's hand. It can only be said that Zheng Feng had already taken the first step and reached the Naihe Bridge.
Qiu Tianhe's eyes flashed with sadness that things are different, and he understood the purpose of Night Jingtang and said:
"Xuanyuan Dynasty is the contemporary 'King of Swordsmen', and his life story can be heard everywhere. I don't need to repeat it. Xuanyuan Tiangang has long since withdrawn from the world, so it is inconvenient to mention it. As for Zheng Feng, he is just an idiot."
"Oh?" Ye Jingtang asked more seriously, "What's the meaning of this statement?"
Qiu Tianhe looked towards the patio: "Come down and listen, it's not a secret."
Shang Jianli seemed to be interested in these old affairs. He jumped down and landed silently behind the Night Terror Hall, standing with his hands behind his back.
"I have been practicing swordplay since I was three years old. It has been fifty-two years now. I have met many friends and many opponents. But except for Xuanyuan Tiangang, all others have become nothing. Zheng Feng is not outstanding among these people, but he suits my taste.
, considered a confidant.”
Qiu Tianhe looked at Ye Jingtang: "Back then, Zheng Feng was as sharp-edged and high-spirited as you, but unfortunately he was not as handsome as you, and his talent was not as good as yours. I originally agreed with him that on the day when our sword skills were perfected, we would defeat Elder Xuanyuan first.
Son, let’s have another decisive battle at Junshantai and determine the contemporary ‘King of Swordsmen’ in one battle. Unfortunately, Zheng Feng broke the promise first.”
Ye Jingtang asked: "Why did you miss the appointment?"
"That boy Zheng Feng has a good relationship with Xuanyuan Tiangang. He has been to Junshan Terrace several times and met Xuanyuan Shuye, Xuanyuan's daughter, and they became attached to each other."
Xuanyuan Shuye...
Ye Jingtang frowned secretly, feeling that this name was most likely related to his surname "Ye".
"Zheng Feng was deeply in love and came to propose marriage. But at that time, the imperial court was drafting girls. In order to seek wealth, Mr. Xuanyuan wanted to send Xuanyuan Shuye to the palace as a concubine. In order to make his daughter obey the arrangement, Mr. Xuanyuan deliberately provoked the generals and asked those who came to propose marriage.
Zheng Feng speaks with a knife."
Qiu Tianhe sighed slightly: "Zheng Feng was not even a grandmaster at that time, so he was not qualified to challenge Mr. Xuanyuan, but he still drew the sword. Mr. Xuanyuan never thought about marrying his daughter to him. In order to make his daughter give up, he did it on the spot.
Although he didn't take Zheng Feng's life because of his ruthless hand, he must have become a useless person."
Ye Jingtang knew that his adoptive father had never been married and had no children. He was drunk every day. Hearing this, his expression slightly condensed:
"Then what?"
"After that day, Zheng Feng completely disappeared from the world, and I have never seen him again. Now, I'm afraid he has passed away before me."
When Ye Jingtang heard this, he was slightly silent and asked again:
"What happened to Xuanyuan Shuye in the end?"
Shang Jianli, who was standing behind him, answered:
"In the second year of Cheng'an, the imperial court selected good girls to enter the palace. Xuanyuan Shuye was among the beautiful girls. When they arrived at the border of Yunzhou, Qiu Tianhe rushed into the convoy, stabbed eight times in his body and took Xuanyuan Shuye away. She fled to the end of the world and was killed by the court.
He Junshantai has been chasing him for nearly 30 years, and it was not until last year that he was captured and brought to justice by the Hei Yamen."
"..."
Ye Jingtang was shocked and looked at Qiu Tianhe in disbelief.
Qiu Tianhe showed a smile: "I and Zheng Feng are rivals and confidants. After he disappeared, Xuanyuan Shuye sent someone to find me secretly and asked me to help find Zheng Feng's whereabouts. Tell him, Xuanyuan Shuye will be there
Waiting for him at the bridge.
"How could I know where Zheng Feng was hiding? I couldn't bear to see these sad things in the world, so I killed Xuanyuan Shuye alone and kidnapped Xuanyuan Shuye. Then I accompanied her to search for Zheng Feng for ten years. From the Tiannan Mountains
, found the desolate grassland; from the sea cliff in the east, found the desert in the northwest; I still don’t know where he is hiding.”
After being silent for a long time, Ye Jingtang said softly: "Xia Qiu, you are truly righteous and righteous."
Qiu Tianhe shook his head: "I have my feelings for Zheng Feng. In the past ten years, I have traveled across mountains and rivers, and Xuanyuan Shuye has been following me. From being full of hope, I found that my heart was filled with despair; from being young, I found that my face was full of wind and frost. I have been in love with each other for a long time.
Finally, I married Xuanyuan Shuye. Do you think I am a villain?"
This was a sincere inquiry, and it seemed that Qiu Tianhe had always felt guilty.
Ye Jingtang does not think that his adoptive father is a dishonest person. His adoptive father used to gossip after drinking. When he mentioned Qiu Tianhe, he spoke very positively of him. It is impossible that he did not know what happened next.
The adoptive father was hurt by the Xuanyuan Dynasty and could no longer give the beauty a happy life, so he retired into seclusion sadly. He may have thought this was the best outcome.
Since the adoptive father made this choice, how could Ye Jingtang, as his son, evaluate the rights and wrongs of his father's generation.
"If Zheng Feng kept his name anonymous, there is no way he would not have heard about what Qiu Daxia did. If Zheng Feng doesn't speak, others have no right to point fingers at Qiu Daxia."
"hehe……"
Qiu Tianhe laughed twice: "I will go down and talk to Zheng Feng about these matters. Who is right and who is wrong? We can only come to a conclusion after we meet. Let's go. The matter of the older generation of swordsmen has nothing to do with you, a young bird. It's just that.
I hope you will not become as virtuous as Zheng Feng and let Mr. Xuanyuan be the chief swordsman for thirty years."
"Thank you, Master Qiu. Please take my leave."
After saying that, Ye Jingtang stood up, bowed, and jumped out of the patio with Shang Jianli.
Qiu Tianhe leaned against the wall and watched, until the iron fence closed and his footsteps disappeared, he sighed secretly:
"A new generation replaces an old one... You have worked hard to become a good son, but I have been punished by God. Why..."