The news of the defeat of Shuofang's army only spread to the court for two days before it subsided. In order to prevent the incident from spreading, the Right Prime Minister Chang Gun used his power to suppress the matter. This was also a means of minimizing a major incident.
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Time gradually arrived in mid-May. At noon that day, Guo Song and his party arrived in Bashang and were about to arrive in Chang'an.
This time Guo Song returned to Beijing in a very low-key manner, bringing only three entourages with him. In addition to Kang Bao, who had been following him, he also had two other personal bodyguards.
"Kang Bao, have you never been to Chang'an?" Guo Song asked with a smile.
Although he knew that Kang Bao's real name was Ash Darhan, Guo Song still used to call him Kang Bao. This name was more Tang-like.
Kang Bao scratched his head and said with some embarrassment: "I came to Chang'an twenty years ago and lived in Chang'an for five years to learn martial arts. It was at that time that I learned Chinese."
Guo Song smiled and nodded, "No wonder you can speak popular Chinese."
"Lao Kang, how old are you this year?" Yang Jun, another guard, asked curiously.
"Thirty-eight!" Kang Bao sighed, with a trace of confusion in his eyes.
"Stop talking about this, let's find a place to eat."
Guo Song didn't want Kang Bao to be disturbed by the sad thing, so he changed the subject. He pointed forward with his riding crop and said with a smile: "There is a tea shed ahead, let's go there to fill our stomachs."
The four of them accelerated their horses and ran towards a greenhouse in front...
An hour later, Guo Song finally entered Chang'an City. Compared with when he left Chang'an City the year before last, Chang'an City had almost no changes. The scenery was still the same, and the people were still the same. It seemed that even the soldiers guarding the city gate had not changed.
It felt to Guo Song as if he had just left Chang'an yesterday.
But his mentality was completely different.
The four of them went directly to the Qingxu Palace. The Qingxu Palace was crowded with people and the incense was strong. Several Taoist boys were busy adding incense, lighting candles, and cleaning away the accumulated dust.
Guo Song got off his horse and was about to lead the horse in when he suddenly heard someone calling him, "Uncle Master!"
When Guo Song turned around, he saw a young Taoist priest waving to him. He immediately recognized it. It was the original Taoist boy Qingfeng. Although he was still sixteen or seventeen years old, he was thin and tall.
Qingfeng ran over happily, "When did Uncle Master come back?"
"Didn't I just arrive? Where is your master?"
"Master is here! Uncle Master, come with me to observe first."
Qingfeng handed several horses to two Taoist boys and asked them to take them to the stables. He took Guo Song and his entourage into the Taoist temple through another door. As Qingfeng walked, he said: "There is a big courtyard here specially for the master."
The ones left here haven’t been lived in yet. We clean them regularly and it’s very clean and tidy.”
When Guo Song saw him walking as fast as flying, he smiled and asked, "Are you still breathing the way I taught you?"
"I insist on it every day, and the effect is very good. Now I can run ten miles easily, but it seems to have nothing to do with martial arts." Qingfeng scratched his head and said.
Guo Song laughed, "The purpose of practicing martial arts is to strengthen your body. Now that you have achieved your goal, why bother practicing martial arts?"
"Uncle Master is right. If I don't go to the battlefield, there is no point in practicing martial arts. Uncle Master, we are here!"
Qingfeng pushed open a courtyard door. Inside was a large courtyard, about a hundred square meters, surrounded by a circle of about a dozen bungalows. There was also a small door on the other side, but there was a lock on it.
Qingfeng pointed to the small door and said: "You can go out directly through this small door. There is a small river outside, and there is a small bridge to cross. I will find the key later."
Guo Song nodded and said to several of his subordinates: "There are many rooms. You can each live in one! There is no need to crowd together. Of course, you can live together if you want."
With faces full of joy, the three of them went to find their own rooms.
"Uncle Master, do you want me to bring some food?" Qingfeng asked.
"No, we've eaten outside the city, let's talk about it tonight!"
"Then I'll report it to Master."
The breeze bowed and left in a hurry.
Guo Song entered his room. His room was a suite, divided into two rooms, the inside was the bedroom, and the outside was the study room. It was very clean, but there were no daily necessities for the time being.
At this time, senior brother Gan Feng's voice came from outside, "Where is my junior brother?"
Guo Song hurriedly walked out and saw his senior brother in gorgeous Taoist robes, a purple gold crown on his head, fair and rosy skin, and an air of immortality. However, he was still the pickled Taoist priest who sat in the kitchen cooking fern root powder all day long.
Guo Song chuckled, "Senior Brother, I think you can apply to the imperial court for a Heavenly Master."
Gan Feng's face turned slightly red, "To tell you the truth, I am now a Celestial Master. My name is Li Ganfeng Celestial Master. In March last year, the Ministry of Rites officially approved it. All Taoist temples in the world have approved a total of seven Celestial Masters, and I am one of them.
.”
"Then congratulations, senior brother!"
"All of this was brought about by my junior brother. Without my junior brother, I, Gan Feng, would not be where I am today."
"Senior brother, what you said is wrong. All of this was brought about by Master. It was Master who founded Qingxu Guan, and Senior Brother has carried forward Qingxu Guan. We are all grateful in our hearts."
"Junior brother is right, our teacher's kindness should never be forgotten!"
The two walked into the room and sat down. Gan Feng asked: "How long do you plan to stay in Beijing this time?"
"About ten days, mainly because some things need to be explained to the emperor and the court. This time should not be too long. I will live here for the time being."
Gan Feng nodded, "All kinds of utensils are ready. I will let the disciples bring them later. Junior brother can live here with peace of mind."
"How is the fourth child doing now? Is his career as an assassin going smoothly?" Guo Song asked with a smile.
"You have to ask the third child about this. The two of them are in contact, and I haven't heard from the fourth child for a long time."
Gan Feng remembered something again and said with a smile: "I have given the silver fox shawl you brought to Miss Xue according to your instructions. Miss Xue is good, and my junior brother has good eyesight."
Guo Song's face felt slightly hot and he asked again: "How is she doing now?"
"You have to ask the third child about this. I heard the third child vaguely mention that her family seemed to be having some troubles in the past few months. The third child helped them. I don't know what the specific matter was."
"Okay! I'll go to the West Market later."
Gan Feng smiled slightly and said: "You'd better go to Dongshi. The third child spends most of his time in Jubao Pavilion."
.........
Guo Song asked his men to rest. He changed his clothes and went to Dongshi Jubao Pavilion alone. When he walked into the lobby, Guo Song immediately saw Zhang Lei standing in the corner chatting with the big shopkeeper.
A waiter came forward and said: "Welcome to our store!"
Guo Song smiled and pointed at Zhang Lei, "I'm looking for your proprietor."
Zhang Lei happened to turn around and saw Guo Song. He was surprised and happy, and ran forward quickly: "Junior brother, when did you come back?"
Guo Song smiled slightly and said: "I just arrived at noon and settled at Senior Brother's place. I came to see you."
"I was just planning to write you a letter, but you came back. Did the imperial court summon you to come back?"
Guo Song was startled, "Senior brother, what do you mean by this?"
"follow me!"
Zhang Lei brought Guo Song to the inner hall. He asked Guo Song to sit down and asked a waiter to pour a cup of tea.
Guo Song looked at him with confusion, waiting for his answer.
Zhang Lei pondered for a moment and said: "The big shopkeeper and I were invited by the Yushitai to assist in the investigation about you a few days ago."
"What's the matter about me?" Guo Song asked.
"It's mainly about two things. One is to investigate the relationship between you and Jubao Pavilion. The big shopkeeper and I both told the truth. Jubao Pavilion is half of your family..."
"Then what?" Guo Song asked quietly.
"I think the second thing is the focus of their concern. You remember that two months ago you sent someone to deliver a batch of gold vessels and exchanged them for one hundred thousand taels of silver. You should be aware of this!"
Guo Song nodded, "Is Yushitai going to investigate this matter?"
"Yes, they want to know if these gold vessels are your private property. The Yushitai led me to believe that you sent these gold vessels to Jubao Pavilion for private collection. They want this result."
"Then how do you answer?"
"Of course I tell the truth. Jubao Pavilion bought these gold vessels for 100,000 taels of silver. According to the official price, these gold vessels together with the gems inlaid on them are estimated to be only 96,000 taels of silver. We bought them
, and lost four thousand taels of silver, I told the Yushitai truthfully and showed them the account records, but in the end they had no choice but to let me and the shopkeeper go unhappily."
Guo Song sneered. He didn't expect that someone would make a fuss about this matter. Who brought it out?
It seems that it is right for me to return to Beijing.
"Let's go! Let's go have a drink."
Guo Song stood up and said with a smile: "I haven't had a good drink for a while, so my throat is a little itchy."
"Junior brother, wait for me a moment, I'll get a bottle of wine!"
Zhang Lei rushed away and picked up a celadon bottle in a moment. He raised the bottle and said with a smile: "This is our latest Meishou wine. It is selling very well. You can try it later. I still have several bottles in my room."
Bottle, if you want it, I’ll give it to you.”
Guo Song took the wine bottle and looked at it. Different from the shape of the Meishou wine bottle, this one had a slender neck, but it was actually a very good vase.
"Is this wine from the Liang family in Lingzhou?"
Zhang Lei nodded, "They shipped it last year. I stored it for a few months and shipped another batch at the beginning of the year. I didn't officially release it until two months ago. It was very popular as soon as it came out. This bottle of wine weighs a kilogram.
Sell it for three guans."
"Stop talking, quickly find a restaurant and sit down,"
There is a restaurant diagonally across from Jubao Pavilion, called Tianxing Pavilion. Zhang Lei owns 30% of the restaurant and is considered a small owner. He is also a regular customer and comes to have a drink every day.
It was not yet dinner time, and there were not many customers in the restaurant. They sat down by the window on the second floor, and the bartender brought some snacks to go with the wine.
Zhang Lei poured a glass of wine for Guo Song and said with a smile: "What should I say first, the wine or the Xue family?"