The capital city in winter is still noisy and bustling.
The curfew is gradually being lifted, and street vendors and shops will be connected day and night.
Here the shopkeeper put out the fire and yawned, while over there the shop opened and the shopkeepers yawned and kept the stove burning with the remaining fire burning.
The steaming mutton soup makes the smoggy streets in winter look like a fairyland.
The fairyland was crowded with mortals. Some people shouted for noodles, and women called out to playful children along the street. They even bumped into each other and started scolding and fighting.
"Who ignored it first?"
"You're a foreigner."
"What's wrong with the foreigners? Are they bullying students?"
"Sue the official, sue the official."
In addition to the garrison of soldiers and horses at the city gates and the imperial city, as well as soldiers and horses patrolling at night, soldiers and horses are not commonly seen in the streets during the day, only patrolling officers.
The officers were quickly summoned by the onlookers, listened to their arguments, and then made judgments instead of shouting and beating a group of people away.
"Things with bigger farts are worthy of judgment." A man in his twenties among the onlookers shook his head, "It's too idle."
The older man beside him smiled: "What big thing can happen in this world?"
But now is not the secular world, but a troubled world. The young man who spoke earlier did not know what to say. Thinking of his nervousness along the way, entering the capital felt like he had entered another world.
This is the capital city, the place where the world fights. Why does it seem that it has not been affected by the troubled times at all?
"Wu Lang, you also said that this is the place where the world is fighting, whether it is Ankang Mountain or Mrs. Chu." The older man tightened his robe, turned around and left the noisy place, and whispered, "It doesn't matter.
If you are not willing to mess with it, you will only support and protect it."
"Look at the bad habits these people in the capital have got into." The man called Wulang followed him and looked back, muttering with resentment and jealousy.
The older man was not so jealous. He walked through the crowd and walked to a shed and shouted to the waiter, "Here comes a bowl of mutton soup."
Go up and the two of them sat down at a table on the street.
"Uncle Qi, this is the restaurant you like." Wulang said, looking up at the signboard, and paused with his chopsticks, "I don't know if it's true or not, but this mutton soup restaurant hasn't gone anywhere?"
Before Uncle Qi could say anything, the clerk heard a loud reply: "Our master's family has not left. We have been guarding His Majesty in the capital. Linzhou was pretended to be us."
What nonsense, instead of hiding in the capital to betray Ankangshan, he dared to brazenly say that he was guarding the capital for the emperor. Wulang almost sprayed mutton soup in the face of this guy.
Uncle Qi smiled and said to Wu Lang: "This is how people from the capital behave."
I am not ashamed to say that I am the only one who is superior.
Wulang curled his lips, didn't even Ankang Mountain scare them? It seems that life in the capital has been very good, he regretted a little: "Uncle Qi, we should have come earlier, we have been delayed for so long."
Uncle Qi glared at him: "I'm confused. Now that our money has been robbed, we can sue the government. If we are robbed then, do you dare to sue Ankang Mountain?"
Wulang smiled and laughed at himself: "Now that I have entered the capital, I look like a native of the capital."
Uncle Qi drank several sips of the mutton soup, his face turned red as he drank, and he looked around: "Money is a small matter, the main thing is to see the situation in the capital. The official changes happened suddenly, and then the situation changed even more suddenly. In the blink of an eye, everything happened.
Years have passed."
But no, the seventh year of Chengyuan was about to pass. Wulang finished eating the sheep's hoof in three mouthfuls: "We at home don't know the situation in the capital. It's like we are blind."
Hearing this blind calligraphy, Uncle Qi frowned and looked a little strange. Wulang saw it and cheered: "Uncle Qi, are you thinking of your aunt again?"
Uncle Qi coughed slightly and his face became serious. He seemed unable to drink the mutton soup: "This bitch doesn't know whether he is dead or alive."
"Even if you don't die, you can't have carriages and horses, and you can still come to the capital in these troubled times." Wu Lang said, "Uncle Qi, you have recognized the wrong person. There are many blind people in the world. You can't think of your eldest aunt when you see one."
"Such an immoral thing." Uncle Qi said, placing the mutton soup bowl heavily on the table. "We, the Wu family, can't even lift our heads when we think of her."
"Okay, okay, Uncle Qi, it's been more than ten years, and he's turned into bones after death. Don't think about it. It's ruined your mood." Wulang drank the mutton soup in one gulp, stood up to pay, and said, "Now I have grown up."
Our family has inherited the family's family, and we are willing to do good things to help our neighbors. Everyone from top to bottom would not praise our Wu family, and no one will remember those things long ago."
Uncle Qi took a few deep breaths. What ruined his mood was not only a blind man he met in an inn on the road, but also a name he heard often in the past few years. In troubled times, soldiers and horses were fighting in chaos, no matter in the city or in the remote countryside, some generals had names.
The most famous one I can hear is Zhenwujun Wuyaer.
"That scoundrel was still alive back then. He must be about the same age now, right?" He said to himself.
"I said Uncle Qi, what are you doing..." Wu Lang was a little helpless and couldn't laugh or cry as he walked along the street. "When I see a blind man, I think of my eldest aunt. When I hear the surname Wu, I think of that bastard...
."
There are so many people with the surname Wu in the world, and besides, that Governor Wu of the Zhenwu Army...
"With outstanding military exploits, he became famous at a young age. He is Liang Zhen's favorite general, not to mention that Liang Zhen personally protects the matchmaker. The lady of Chu State is very famous, and she is the daughter of a rich and powerful family."
"How could that scoundrel get involved with these people? Uncle Qi, how dare you even think about it."
He approached the man and lowered his voice.
"Uncle Qi, is it because Aunt Qi sold that maidservant that you feel so sad, depressed and restless..."
Uncle Qi snorted and glared at him: "Go away, if you dare to think blindly about your elders like this, go back and ask your father to break your legs."
Wulang smiled and begged for mercy: "I will pick some good girls to send to Uncle Qi later."
Uncle Qi was too lazy to joke with the junior: "I brought you out to let you do things. If you don't do anything good, just mess around with the girls at home. Go and get the things ready. Let's go to He's house."
Wulang responded and took a quick step forward. Uncle Qi slowly followed behind, frowning. There was something he hadn't said to anyone else. It wasn't just because his surname was Wu that he thought too much about it. Mainly because of Zhenwu.
The military commander's name was Wu Ya'er. Back then he accidentally heard that bitch calling that scoundrel Wu Ya'er.
Wu Ya'er, Crow, sounds like it really makes people have to think about it.
So this time his family asked him to come to the capital to inquire about whether they could recover the debt from a few years ago, so he agreed and came in person. In fact, he also wanted to inquire about Wu Ya'er's situation.
Of course, it would have been better if he had thought more.
If not, then it is necessary for him to think too much.
You really can't blame him for overthinking this matter. Look, it was such a coincidence that he saw someone who looked like Mo'er as soon as he entered the capital city.
"Uncle Qi, hurry up." Wulang waved to the crowd in front, and several servants came around him, "You can go, everything is ready."
The man stopped thinking, nodded and quickened his pace to follow.
...
...
The courtyards of high-ranking officials and dignitaries were not destroyed. Uncle Qi and Wu Lang led their servants to search for them, and soon saw the courtyards with congratulations hanging on them.
It was still very lively outside the courtyard. Two servants and a man in gray cloth were arguing and noisy.
"We really don't know. You can ask again when the master comes back."
"I can't wait any longer. If I wait any longer, I will die."
"If you make trouble again, we will report it to the police!"
Hearing this threat, the man in gray cloth stepped back: "How could you do this? You lied to me!"
He described himself as a victim, but because the other person said he wanted to report him to the police, he hid his face and turned away.
Is it because the He family is powerful, or is this person a rogue? Uncle Qi and Wu Lang looked on and thought, the man retreated, and the servants of the He family stopped scolding him, and turned around to close the door. Wu Lang hurriedly shouted, "Wait a minute."
Two servants stood by the door and looked at them, their eyes wary but not fearful: "What's the matter?"
Wulang stepped forward and handed over the name card: "An old friend came to visit."
The two servants hesitated: "My master is not in the capital. We are the only caretakers at home now."
Is this like this? Uncle Qi and Wu Lang looked at each other and said, "The capital has been in chaos two or three times. How could the people of the He family not run away?"
But now that I'm here, I can't just go in. Uncle Qi pondered for a moment and said, "Is Housekeeper Shan here?"
The servant said: "Butler Shan is not here, but old butler Shan is here."
Many families are like this. It is impossible for the master to take all his followers with him when he flees. Usually the ones left behind are the old and the weak. The son goes with the master, but I am willing to stay behind.
Uncle Qi was originally disappointed, but he laughed at the end: "Then let's meet Mr. Shan."
The servant took the name card and asked them to wait a moment. Soon there were footsteps and voices coming from the door, "It turns out that Master Wu Qi is here!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an old man came out to greet him. When he saw Uncle Qi outside the door, he stretched out his hand to salute.
"Master Wu Qi, I haven't seen you for several years."
Uncle Qi smiled and sighed: "It's a blessing in the world to see you again."
This sentence made the old butler blush. He said nothing and looked at Wu Lang: "Is this the fifth young master? I remember seeing him once."
Wulang saluted the old man: "Yes, Grandpa Shan, I was here ten years ago, and you still remember me."
The old housekeeper laughed: "My eyes are dim. I forget about things now and only remember things in the past. The fifth young master has grown up, and the trees are like trees in the wind."
Wulang chuckled and said, "My seventh uncle said the same about me."
Uncle Qi glared at him and said he was being unruly. The old housekeeper smiled and got out of the way: "Quickly, come in. Let's talk to the family if you have anything to say."
The group of people went in happily, and the door was closed to isolate them from the outside world until it got dark and the door opened again. Uncle Qi and Wu Lang said goodbye to the old housekeeper. After seeing each other off three times, Uncle Qi and Wu Lang turned across the street.
"It's a waste of time..." Wulang said, and as soon as he opened his mouth, a person rushed out from behind, making him scream in fright.
The followers had already gathered around and held back the people who rushed out.
"Have you seen Mr. He?" The man struggled and shouted, "They really lied to me!"
Wu Lang was frightened and raised his hand to hit him. Uncle Qi saw that he was thin and thin in a gray cloth gown. He was the person who made trouble outside He's house earlier and stopped Wu Lang.
"To tell you the truth, I really didn't see it." He said kindly, "The gentlemen of the He family are not here. We are catching up with the old housekeeper."
The man didn't seem to believe it, but he was helpless. He stopped struggling and said with a dejected expression: "What should I do? They are just taking my things." Then he thought of something and looked up at Uncle Qi and Wu Lang, "You guys, do you want to buy it?
Something? I have a rare treasure here."
Wulang wanted to laugh and was curious, so he asked: "What..."
Uncle Qi stopped him again and said kindly to the man: "Thank you, we don't want to buy anything. It's good if we can stay with relatives and friends and have something to eat."
The man looked disappointed, murmured and turned away sadly.
Wulang said: "What's going on with this guy? He's so weird, and he's so rare. Is he a liar?"
Uncle Qi said: "I'm not a liar, this man is a chamberlain."
Wulang was shocked, eunuch! When he thought about it carefully, this man's figure was indeed different from ordinary people. His face was white and beardless, and his expression was feminine.
"Then, what's going on? Is it in the palace now? What does the palace want to do to the He family?" he asked anxiously.
When he came to the capital more than ten years ago, he saw with his own eyes how the eunuchs and chamberlains were so domineering.
Uncle Qi laughed: "You are confused. There is no emperor in the palace now. How can the eunuchs be so domineering and cause trouble for others?"
They themselves are in great danger and don't know how to fly.
Wu Lang breathed a sigh of relief and became excited again: "Then what's going on with this eunuch? Why did he come to He's house? It sounds aggrieved..."
Uncle Qi interrupted his chattering: "It has nothing to do with us. When you go out, watch more and talk less, and don't mind your own business. Let's go, we should go."
Wulang lost interest and continued to finish what he had not finished: "This trip was in vain."
How boring.
After returning home, I could only tell the story of meeting an eunuch at the He family, and nothing else could be explained clearly.
But what surprised him was that a few days later, he saw the eunuch again in a tea shed restaurant on the road outside the capital.
The eunuch still looked depressed, wiping tears from his eyes while eating, looking very pitiful. Wu Lang signaled to Uncle Qi that he wanted to sit next to the eunuch, but Uncle Qi glared at him...
One of the waiters seemed to know the eunuch, and was urging him in a low voice: "Don't cry. If you don't want to leave the capital, just don't leave. The capital is so stable now, and you won't have an easier time back home than you did here."
The eunuch raised his head: "What? The capital is not safe for me. The emperor and Governor Wu are coming back."
Uncle Qi was looking for a seat, and when he heard the words "Dudu Wu", he paused.
The clerk had already said: "Isn't it a good thing that the Emperor and Governor Wu are back? Don't worry, the Emperor won't blame you. There's nothing you can do about serving that thief."
The eunuch hissed at him: "I am not afraid of the emperor's kindness, but that Wu Ya'er, you don't know, I have dealt with him before, he is..."
He stopped talking again and lowered his head to drink his soup.
The clerk reprimanded him: "Don't speak ill of Governor Wu. Mrs. Chu is a good person and a fairy."
After saying that, he turned around and ignored him. The figure in front of him moved, and someone sat down beside him.
Uncle Qi said: "Brother, here are two bowls of noodles."