Xu Zhiqiong and this skeleton brother spent three shameful days in the hook fence.
In these three days, Xu Zhiqiong felt that his cultivation had improved a lot.
This is not to excuse himself, but Xu Zhiqiong truly feels that his soul and thoughts have been deeply purified in Goulan.
This skeleton brother is called Qi Xin'an, and he claims to be Wu Xu's friend. Other than that, Xu Zhiqiong knows nothing about his system, his cultivation, and his profession.
But Xu Zhiqiong believed that he was Wu Xu's friend and that Wu Xu asked him to protect him, otherwise he would not have been able to scare away the eighth-grade eunuch at such a suitable time.
On the fourth day, the rest was over and Xu Zhiqiong had to go back to the Yamen. Qi Xin'an did not try to persuade him to stay. He only said one sentence: "Brother, next time you come to Wa City, you must come to see me. We are all detached from the world."
People, this is where our destiny lies."
Xu Zhiqiong firmly believes in this sentence.
When they arrived at the Yamen, Xu Zhiqiong came early, there was still an hour before the night patrol, and he chatted with Niu Yuxian in the Yamen.
According to Lu Yinpeng, Niu Yuxian has long been qualified as a lantern holder, but this boy refused to watch the night, not because he was not good at learning, and he had to continue to hone his skills.
Xu Zhiqiong told Niu Yuxian about his experience of fighting the eunuchs. Niu Yuxian was very interested and took two pieces of silver from Xu Zhiqiong and promised to make another lamp pole for Xu Zhiqiong.
Xu Zhiqiong said: "Can potion be sprayed into the lamp pole? It is best to turn it into mist and spray it out."
Niu Yuxian was a little confused: "Aren't you afraid of hurting yourself if you turn it into mist? Besides, I can't refine poison."
"It doesn't have to be poison. I'll find a way to make the potion myself."
"You can try this."
While the two were chatting, Green Lantern Master Xiao Songting came over: "Zhiqiong, Qianhu asked you to go to Mingdengxuan."
Strange, Wu Xu asked me to go to Mingdengxuan, why did Xiao Songting come to me?
I am Meng Shizhen's subordinate, Meng Shizhen is Qiao Shungang's subordinate, I am not under Xiao Songting's control.
Xu Zhiqiong did not dare to delay and hurriedly followed Xiao Songting to Mingdengxuan. Wu Xu was checking the files and said without raising his head: "Take a rest for three days. I asked you to stay well in the Yamen. Where did you go?"
Xu Zhiqiong answered truthfully: "My subordinate, I fought against the eunuch last time and lost a hard battle. I feel unwilling to do so. I will go back and work hard in secret. I hope I can improve my cultivation as soon as possible."
Wu Xu nodded with appreciation: "How is your practice in Goulan?"
"I have benefited a lot," Xu Zhiqiong stuttered, "It all depends on Qi Xin'an and Brother Qi's guidance."
Wu Xu smiled: "You two really hit it off."
Xu Zhiqiong said with a naive smile: "Brother Qi, he said he is your friend."
"You are not my friend, why should I take care of you? Are you handsome?"
Xiao Songting said from the side: "Senior Qi is a close friend of Master Qianhu. He was entrusted by Master Qianhu to protect you."
Judging from their appearance, Qi Xin'an and Xiao Songting are similar in age, but Xiao Songting calls him his senior, which proves that Qi Xin'an's cultivation level is definitely higher than Xiao Songting's.
Xu Zhiqiong expressed his deep gratitude: "Thanks to Brother Qi. Without him, I really don't know how to deal with that eunuch."
Wu Xu was not surprised at all when Xu Zhiqiong was attacked by eunuchs: "Do you know what Qi Xin'an's cultivation level is?"
Xu Zhiqiong shook his head.
Wu Xu said: "He is just like you."
And, like me?
Xu Zhiqiong was shocked, thinking of Qi Xin'an's performance that night.
He appeared quietly behind the eunuch, and neither Xu Zhiqiong nor the eunuch noticed.
Being so good at hiding himself, could it be said that he is a judge?
So what does Wu Xu mean by this sentence?
What does it mean to be like me?
Wu Xu knows that I am a judge?
Xu Zhiqiong didn't know what to say, Xiao Songting said from the side: "Yes, just like us, Senior Qi Shadao has a sixth-level cultivation."
Xu Zhiqiong let out a sigh of relief, it turned out that it was all about killing.
Xiao Songting sighed and said, "Since Senior Qi met the eunuch that night, he shouldn't have let him run away. It's a pity."
Wu Xu raised his head and looked at Xiao Songting with lowered eyes: "What's the pity?"
Xiao Songting said: "If Senior Qi is willing to take action, he will definitely be able to catch the eunuch."
"Why? Why should he arrest that eunuch? Is he a lantern man? Or is he related to you?"
Xiao Songting was speechless. Xu Zhiqiong heard this and said, "I understand."
"What do you unserstand?"
Xu Zhiqiong said: "I am a lantern-carrying man. It is my duty to catch thieves in public and in private. That eunuch hurt me. It is a man's duty to take revenge. In public and private, I can't count on others."
Wu Xu smiled: "What I said is the blood of my lantern-carrying man! You are a ninth-grade eunuch, and that eunuch is an eighth-grade eunuch. It is not shameful to defeat him, but you must at least find some clues.
I'll go see Meng Shizhen later, this old bachelor is going to rot in prison, he's not thinking right, go and help him."
Wu Xu assigned me a task, why was Xiao Songting listening the whole time?
Let him listen to it, which proves that Wu Xu trusts him, and Xiao Songting must be Wu Xu's confidant.
Xiao Songting knew about the dancer Chen Jiuer, and also knew about Qi Xin'an, and also knew that I was going to assist Meng Shizhen in investigating clues.
Wu Xu had almost no secrets in front of him. He had to be more careful when getting along with Xiao Songting in the future. There was no need to deliberately please him, but he must not offend easily.
When Xu Zhiqiong arrived at the prison, Meng Shizhen was putting on a show.
He tied Chen Jiuer firmly on the rack and laid out the torture instruments one by one in front of her.
Whips, sticks, boards, hammers, saws, hooks, chisels... every torture instrument has old blood stains on it.
Meng Shizhen said with a gloomy face: "I squatted with you in this prison for four days. I couldn't even see the sun. I provided you with good food and drink. If you didn't paint for me and persuaded you with kind words, you
You still won’t paint for me, I have to serve you something hot today, and I’ll see if you paint or not!”
Meng Shizhen's task was to let Chen Jiuer draw the scar.
But in the past four days, Chen Jiuer has been unable to draw.
Seeing the instruments of torture placed in front of him, Chen Jiuer's facial features were distorted, and he shouted in a hoarse voice: "I paint, and I will paint now."
"You're a fool to draw!" Meng Shizhen spat, "I wanted to deal with you the day before yesterday. You said you wanted to draw, but you made two blind strokes, and I was scolded by Qianhu. Yesterday you said you wanted to draw again, and after you finished painting, I
I took it up and was scolded by Qianhu again. You still want to lie to me today. Don't rush to draw. I'll beat you first!"
Xu Zhiqiong stood nearby, laughing secretly in his heart.
Don't listen to what Meng Shizhen said about gritting his teeth, but in fact he couldn't do anything to Chen Jiuer.
The Lantern Man doesn't need to talk so much when he's tortured. No matter in court or in prison, as long as he takes action, there will be no soft-hearted person!
If this person is not Chen Jiuer, try binding someone else here! Meng Shizhen has already made him lose a layer of skin!
The old bachelor is attracted to Chen Jiuer.
Meng Shizhen swung the whip so loudly that he didn't pull it off for a long time. Looking at his embarrassed look, Xu Zhiqiong had to step down no matter what.
"Meng, Meng Qingdeng, please calm down," Xu Zhiqiong stepped forward to stop Meng Shizhen, "It's not your job to do this, my subordinates will do it for you."
Meng Shizhen smacked her lips and said, "You mean, do it? Is this appropriate?"
Influenced by Xu Zhiqiong, Meng Shizhen also stuttered. He was really nervous.
"What's inappropriate about this? This subordinate is here to help you," Xu Zhiqiong advised Meng Shizhen to put down the whip, "Don't use this. This woman has thin skin and tender flesh. If she is beaten, she will be damaged." It’s hard to explain to Qianhu.”
"I think her skin is itchy!" Meng Shizhen put down the whip angrily, feeling a little more at ease.
He thought that Xu Zhiqiong could hit it twice with his hands at most, and it should not be damaged.
Unexpectedly, Xu Zhiqiong picked up the scissors.
"Zhiqiong, you, what are you doing? You, you know the inside story of this matter. She, she is not a bad person, she just can't remember it. No, it can't be done. Zhiqiong, you, you can't touch her. Face, this, this is inappropriate, Zhiqiong, you peed, you peed, Zhiqiong, stay away first!"
Thanks to Xu Zhiqiong's fast dancing, otherwise a pair of new boots would be ruined and still be in the same state.
He walked up to Chen Jiu'er with scissors, but Chen Jiu'er was so frightened that he peed.
But he actually just cut a lock of hair near Chen Jiuer's forehead.
Meng Shizhen said: "What are you doing?"
Xu Zhiqiong said: "I look at her, but I can't remember her. I, I know someone who studies Yin and Yang. Let me tell her fortune tomorrow."
Meng Shizhen blinked and said, "Can it be effective?"
Xu Zhiqiong said with a naive smile: "If it doesn't work, give it a try. Brother, you should be busy first. I, I will go on patrol at night."
Meng Shizhen nodded and said: "Remember to tell me the hexagrams tomorrow. I am very uncomfortable here. When this thing is over, I have to go to the teahouse for a few days to get rid of this bad luck."
Xu Zhiqiong looked at Chen Jiuer. With such a charming woman in front of him, Meng Shizhen had no choice but to go to a teahouse.
Even if they live to be over 40 years old, there are still many men who are not enlightened. Men like Lao Meng who spend all their time in teahouses are simply hopeless!
Going to check the box is obviously much better than this!
After leaving the prison, Xu Zhiqiong prepared to go on night patrol. Meng Shizhen's replacement was Qu Jinshan, the lamp guard.
The lantern guard is a special position in charge of the lantern yamen.
In Zhangdeng Yamen, the red lantern minister of Qianhu is the fifth rank official, the red lantern minister of deputy Qianhu is the fifth rank, the green lantern minister of hundreds of households is the sixth rank, the green lantern minister of hundreds of households is the sixth rank, and the green lantern minister of the banner is the eighth rank. Rank, the deputy flag leader Qing Denglang is from the eighth rank, and the white lantern man is from the ninth rank.
Are there any seventh-rank officials?
Yes, this type of official is called a lamp guard.
The Deng Shou belongs to the Qing Deng Lang, but their rank is higher than that of the flag leader. They usually do not participate in night patrols and usually stay in the yamen to handle daily affairs. It can be understood that they are managers who have left the front line.
Many green lanterns will choose to be lantern guards when they reach a certain age, because it is too difficult to advance from green lantern to green lantern. The number of red lanterns, green lanterns, and green lanterns at each level is fixed.
There are eight 100-household green lanterns in charge of the yamen. Below the 100-household green lanterns, there are 100-household green lanterns. Each green lantern subordinate has five flag-headed green lanterns. If one of the green lanterns is killed in battle or retired, the 100-household green lanterns will be tested. Only those with the green light at the head of the banner have the opportunity to become the green light for 100 trial households.
Forty green lanterns compete for a position together, and green lantern men generally have seventh-grade cultivation, have long lifespans, strong vitality, low chances of death in battle, and will not retire easily. This has become a very worrying situation.
The problem.
If you don't want to be an eighth-rank official for the rest of your life, then the best choice is to be a lantern guard, first come down from the front line, and successfully be promoted to a seventh-rank official.
But there is one thing. Once you become a lamp guard, you cannot continue to be promoted. Seventh grade is the upper limit. This is the rule of the lamp guard.
Qu Jinshan is an old green lantern, sixty-six years old this year. He retired from the banner last year and became a lantern keeper.
Lao Qingdeng has rich work experience and is a kind person. The rest of the Qingdeng people come to him when they need to take a break. These days, he has been patrolling the night for Meng Shizhen. Xu Zhiqiong has taken a bath, and this is the first time he has met Qu Jinshan.
Qu Qingdeng loved to laugh. When he smiled, his eyebrows were curved and his eyes were curved into four arcs.
The two exchanged a few polite words, and Qu Qingdeng explained his rules: "Zhiqiong, I'm old. Please listen to me for a few more words. Watching the night is a hard job, but we can't do any less.
Beiyuan is a big place, and twelve lanterns are indeed more, but our night patrol must be in a team of two. Zhiqiong, you and Ma Guangli will be in a team, and the four northernmost lanterns belong to you."
Meng Shizhen had a total of eight people, two of them were sleeping, one died and had not been replaced (Wang Shijie), and the remaining five people, including Qu Qingdeng, were divided into three groups, each group had four lamps, and they were all divided well.
Xu Zhiqiong and Ma Guangli were far away and had to walk a few more steps. Qu Jinshan also thought of this, and the lights assigned to them were relatively concentrated.
"Everyone, you have worked hard tonight. As I said before, you can watch and light the lamps at night. You can't be vague. After lighting the lamps, you can do what you want. I won't interfere."
They all went to Beiyuan together and were about to split up when they suddenly saw two carriages rushing over from behind, passing by a puddle and splashing mud all over Wang Zhennan.
Wang Zhennan usually likes to be clean, but this mess made him angry.
Who is so bold as to splash the lantern lantern man with mud and water?
Wang Zhennan cursed: "It's these two birdmen again!"
Xu Zhiqiong rubbed his nose and asked: "Which two birdmen?"
Ma Guangli said: "The sons and nephews of Zhou Kairong, the newly appointed official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, are also called the Two Tigers of the Zhou Family. One is fifteen and the other is seventeen. They are crazy, ruthless and domineering. They are called the Two Tigers of the Zhou Family!"
Selected Works from the Ministry of Personnel, Qing Li Si Langzhong, a fifth-rank official.
How dare the son and nephew of a fifth-rank official be so arrogant?
Wang Zhennan said: "These bastards really deserve to be killed. They killed two beggars in Beiyuan the day before yesterday. One was beaten to death and the other was burned alive."
Xu Zhiqiong asked in surprise: "Why do you want to kill the beggar?"
Wang Zhennan said: "For no reason, these two beasts just want to have fun. As soon as Zhou Kairong took office last month, these two beasts became rampant! They did countless bad things in a month!"
Xu Zhiqiong: "Then we don't care?"
Wang Zhennan sighed: "If someone complains, I should take care of it, but who can complain on behalf of the beggar?"
Ma Guangli smiled bitterly and said: "Let alone beggars, even ordinary people, no one dares to sue them! So what if I sue them? His father is a doctor in the Ministry of Personnel. Even though he is a fifth-rank official, who is not afraid of the Ministry of Personnel? The Ministry of Punishment dares to take charge of it.
Do we, Wu Qianhu, dare to take care of it? Forget it, just turn a blind eye."
Qu Jinshan said with a straight face: "Both ordinary people and beggars have their own lives. It's okay if the two of them don't make trouble tonight. If the trouble becomes serious, they must be discouraged!"
Ma Guangli said: "How to persuade? It's useless to speak politely. If you don't speak politely, they will beat us too!"
Qu Jinshan said: "You have cultivation, but you are still afraid of them?"
Ma Guangli said: "What's the use of having cultivation? Do we really dare to hit them? We don't dare to touch them with a finger! They won't be soft when they hit us. Even if they are teenagers, they are the most ruthless at this age.
I don’t know the importance, I don’t want to…”
Qu Jinshan said angrily: "Stop talking, this is our duty, even if it is difficult to do, we have to do it!"
Ma Guangli didn't dare to say anything anymore. Wang Zhennan wiped the dirt on his body and said angrily: "I think when I first joined the Deng Yamen, Zhou Kairong was just a supervisory censor from the seventh rank. I don't know who I borrowed from in the past two years. In the blink of an eye, I did it."
Got the doctor!"
When they arrived at Beiyuan, everyone lit up their own lamps to patrol the night. The four lamps were lit quickly. Just after the second watch, Xu Zhiqiong and Ma Guangli completed the patrol of this area.
After lighting the lanterns, you can do whatever you like. Lao Qingdeng has said that he will not interfere.
The two wanted to have a drink at the White Peony Tea House. When they arrived at the tea house, they saw that the table had been overturned, the stove was smashed, the tea sets were broken on the floor, and all kinds of tea leaves were spilled everywhere.
The landlady had one eye blue and said with tears in her eyes: "Master Denglang, I can't make you tea today. Please come back tomorrow."
Ma Guangli shouted: "Whoever is short-sighted dares to cause trouble here? Tell me and see if I don't break their legs!"
A waiter next to him said, "They are the two tigers of the Zhou family."
"Uh, you, look at these lawless people..." Ma Guangli swallowed his words mid-sentence, looked at the sky, and tried to relieve his embarrassment by saying, "That's it for tonight. Let's have tea another day."
After leaving the white peony tea shop, Ma Guangli rubbed his hands and said, "I didn't expect that the white peony tea shop would be in trouble tonight. Let's be careful and don't run into those two plague gods."
Xu Zhiqiong remained silent, as he wished he could meet them.
There are still twenty-one meritorious deeds left, and he will be promoted to the middle of the ninth rank.
Ma Guangli lowered his voice and asked again: "Brother, the White Peony Tea Shop used to be Wang Shijie's territory. Now it belongs to you. Do you want to ask them for monthly payment?"
Xu Zhiqiong shook his head and pretended to be confused: "What is monthly money?"
"Silly boy, you don't understand this? They do business on our territory and they have to pay tribute on a monthly basis."
"Offer?" Xu Zhiqiong scratched his head, "What are you offering to us?"
"Let's keep them safe!" After saying this, Ma Guangli felt a little embarrassed.
Safety?
Are they safe?
The two wanted to go to Goulan to sit for a while. When they arrived at Goulan, tables, chairs and fruit plates were overturned all over the floor. The old shopkeeper, with blood on his face, was cleaning up the shed with his assistant.
Ma Guangli stepped forward and asked, "What's going on?"
The boss laughed twice and did not dare to speak.
One of the dancers sobbed: "Two young gentlemen came, accompanied by a few attendants. They said they wanted to let me drink with them, but I went to accompany them. Unexpectedly, they raised their hands and beat them. I couldn't bear the beating.
After we hid out, they went crazy, smashed up our shed, and even beat up our shopkeeper..."
The shopkeeper pulled the dancer away and said to Ma Guangli with a smile: "It's normal to open the door for business. You two will come back another day. Come back another day."
After leaving the Peach Blossom Shed, Ma Guangli spat: "Unlucky, why did these two bastards set their sights on a poor place like Beiyuan? It's not going to be peaceful tonight, let's go to the Zhu Skull Teahouse."
"No, I won't go to the teahouse. I don't want to drink tea." Xu Zhiqiong shook his head and quickened his pace.
"Silly boy, Zhu Ku Cao is not a place to drink tea. I said brother, where are you going? Why are you leaving so fast?"
"I'm hungry and want to eat flower cakes."
Xu Zhiqiong hurried all the way to Sister Lin's flower cake shop. Ma Guangli chased after him all the way. He was out of breath and said: "No wonder you light the lanterns quickly. Your foot power is really good. Go and tell Second Sister Lin."
Okay, let her close the shop quickly, she is so handsome, those two bastards will definitely not spare her."
When we arrived at the flower cake shop, two carriages had already stopped in front of the shop.
Ma Guangli stuck out his tongue: "We are late, let's hide first! Zhiqiong, Zhiqiong, what are you going to do? Come back!"
Zhou Haiqiu, the son of Zhou Kairong, a doctor in the official department, was teasing the second sister Lin. His cousin Zhou Haifan came up to touch the second sister Lin's hand.
"Don't hide! I bought you two flower cakes and touched your little hands. What's wrong? If I had moved anywhere else, I would have kissed you!"
Second Sister Lin wanted to hide in the shop, but was stopped by Zhou Haiqiu: "Don't be embarrassed, it's your blessing that I like you!"
Second Sister Lin was surrounded by the two tigers of the Zhou family and a few followers. She gritted her teeth and blushed, but she couldn't find a chance to escape.
A waiter came forward and begged: "Grandpa, please let our shopkeeper go. You can take and eat the cakes as you like. I beg you..."
Zhou Haiqiu kicked the waiter in the face, causing blood to flow from his nose and mouth and he fell to the ground.
Second Sister Lin wanted to step forward to help the boy up, but Zhou Haiqiu grabbed her by the skirt and said, "Come on, let me have a taste. Come with me. You won't have to make flower cakes anymore. I will lead you to a good life."
Zhou Haiqiu was about to pull Sister Lin into his arms when he suddenly saw a white light squeezed in through the cracks between the people, illuminating him so hard that he couldn't open his eyes.
"Who the hell is this!" Zhou Haiqiu wanted to push the white lantern away, but suddenly he saw a candlelight flashing in the lantern, and a fireball shot out, which made the young master tremble in fright.
Xu Zhiqiong walked into the crowd, looked at Second Sister Lin and said, "Weigh some flower cakes for me."
Seeing Xu Zhiqiong, Second Sister Lin was so happy that she wanted to rush into her arms, but she was a little worried.
Does Xu Zhiqiong dare to offend these two bullies?
Zhou Haifan looked at Xu Zhiqiong and said, "What do you do?"
Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said: "Buying flower cakes."
Zhou Haifan's eyes flashed fiercely and he said, "Are you so damn blind? Didn't you see that I am buying flower cakes?"
Xu Zhiqiong sniffed and said, "I've covered all the flower cakes here. If you want to buy them, go elsewhere."
Zhou Haifan tilted his head and looked at Xu Zhiqiong: "Do you really want to die? Do you know how to get to the underworld?"
Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said: "I know, I'm quite familiar with it, how about I give you a ride?"