Raising wolves

The lights were cold, and Ning Juan was walking alone on a long corridor.

This is a long corridor that can't be seen at a glance, but he knows in his heart that the person he is looking for is in the house at the end of the corridor.

Consciousness told him clearly that it was just a dream.

Repeated dream countless times.

Finally, after going around a corridor, the wind chimes at the corner of the eaves rang softly, and the room in the distance came into view.

The room was dimly lit by candlelight, and the warm light drew a thin silhouette on the window paper. It was just a shadow, but it also appeared to be elegant and graceful. The vaguely visible facial features were as smooth as the handwriting of a famous artist.

Ning Juan's breathing became heavy involuntarily, staring at the figure, standing for an unknown time before walking over cautiously, afraid of scaring the figure away.

But as usual, he walked for a long time without getting closer. The room was always separated from him by a certain distance. Under anxiety, his footsteps involuntarily became faster and faster, wanting to run there.

This had the opposite effect, as he suddenly moved further and further away from the room, and the shadows became blurred.

Immediately, his eyes suddenly lit up.

The fire of Hunting started to burn, and the hot wind rushed to his face. He saw the gorgeous flames flapping out, swallowing the shadows on the window.

His heart was trembling, and he made countless choices as usual. Without hesitation, he wanted to rush into the fire, but was pushed farther and farther by an invisible force, as if falling into the sky, and the raging fire became a sight in sight. a small point.

Piaoyuan's vague voice came from the fire: "May your Majesty's mountains, seas, Yanhes and rivers be clear, and the world will be peaceful."

"Guoguo, bye."

Ning Juan opened his eyes from the pile of clothes.

His breathing was still a little tight, and there was cold sweat on his forehead. He had just woken up from a dream, but his eyes were clear.

After a long while, he was comforted by Mei Xiang, who was wandering around, and slowly calmed down his breathing.

Even if you know it's a dream, the panic deep in your soul will never go away.

There was a faint fragrance of plum burning in the room, and the cold breath was not the one that Ning Juan was familiar with, but it was the closest he could find.

The voices from outside were still ringing.

Ning Juan sat up with his forehead up, his eyes seemed to be burning with raging flames, and the familiar voice before waking up was like a pair of scissors, twisting his heart, making his voice even deeper: "What's the sound outside?"

The Lu mansion has almost become the second palace, and Changshun often follows him to watch the night. Hearing the sound, he quickly responds: "Go back to your majesty, today is the Shangyuan Festival, there are fireworks in the city, are you arguing? The slaves will send someone to stop it."

New Year's Eve?

Is it going to be a year again?

Ning Juan put on his robe, got out of bed, opened the door, and said lightly, "No need."

He doesn't like fun, but he's also not interested in disrupting other people's fun.

When I looked up, I saw gorgeous fireworks flying over the sky, exploding with a "pop", covering the entire night sky.

Ning Juan was leaning against the railing, still echoing the familiar voice that lingered in his ears before he woke up from the dream.

Lu Qing had never entered his dream.

Perhaps as he thought, Lu Qing had already left this place and returned to his hometown.

Ning Yan closed his eyes.

Lu Huaixue, when did you say goodbye?

fraud.

On the day of Shangyuan, Lin'an House was very lively, with fire trees and silver flowers, bustling, and lively and singing.

The long street was noisy and crowded with men and women on a tryst.

Since Emperor Shao ousted the Guardian Party three years ago and completely took over power and pro-government, the half-dead Daqi seemed to have been injected with a new vitality, and in the hands of the young His Majesty, it became prosperous again.

In today's Lantern Festival, there are many unique lanterns hanging by the lake. The first person to guess the ten lantern riddles from the organizer will be able to get the special colored lanterns for this year's Lantern Festival.

The glazed lantern hung on the eaves, and it was dazzling and dazzling, compared to the surrounding lanterns.

Not long after the lanterns were hung up, they attracted many passers-by, who crowded over to guess the riddles.

It was extremely difficult for the host to come out. Before they could figure it out, the host suddenly stood on tiptoe and took down the glazed lamp: "Someone has already finished guessing, there are other lamps, why don't you guys take a look?"

Who, so fast?

There was a burst of boos in the crowd, and they looked in the direction of the glass lantern.

The one who took over the glazed lantern was a pair of slender hands with a lustrous white and a cold white lustre like jade. Under the radiance of the two, they were not inferior to the glazed lamp.

Just now, the people who were immersed in reading the lantern riddles followed their hands and looked over, only to find that it was a young man wearing a mask.

It's not unusual for many people on the street to wear masks on the New Year's Day, so no one noticed him just now.

Now it seems that he has a good temperament, wearing a snow-blue robe, slender and thin, even if he can't see his face clearly, he feels clear and strong, with a temperament like the brilliance of the moon, which makes people feel close. Another elusive distance.

It fits perfectly with this lamp.

Noticing everyone's burning gaze, the young man smiled: "I'm sorry, everyone."

The voice is like his own temperament, clear and gentle, and it is very comfortable to fall into the ears.

The people who were still a little lost hurriedly waved their hands: "It's okay to do it, you can guess it first, it's just your ability."

Lu Qing nodded politely at them, then walked out of the crowd with his own colored lantern.

After a quick calculation, he hadn't been to Lin'an Mansion for three years.

Three years ago, after leaving Duan Lingguang's cargo ship at the dock, Lu Qing stopped and went to many places.

He didn't have any destination. He just stayed in the cage for a long time. After he was free, he planned to walk around and play in the mountains and rivers all the way. Apart from getting sick from time to time and interrupting the trip, he had no other troubles.

Occasionally, there will be some dangers, but they can be resolved, and it is not a big trouble.

Although the chariots and horses of this era are slow, they are also another kind of leisure and elegance. The land measured with both feet is always better than the car.

When he had to stop, he cultivated for a period of time in the village that Duan Lingguang secretly ran.

Duan Lingguang is willing to let Lu Qing eat and drink for nothing, but Lu Qing has no shame in doing that kind of thing.

He has been in the officialdom for a long time, he has read a lot of manuscripts, and he understands the situation in many places. He has helped Duan Lingguang to make two large businesses. Although the income is not comparable to Duan's amazing wealth, it is not a small amount.

After this, Lu Qing continued to spend some money on Duan Lingguang's bank from time to time.

It's not that he has a heavy desire for material things, but that after the two bottles of medicine Xu Shu gave him, he had to prescribe the medicine for himself. Fortunately, there were no major problems in his body. Small glitches are okay.

After Duan Lingguang's Zhuangzi has finished his cultivation, Lu Qing will write something to record before departure, put it away by himself, and then continue his journey on a donkey.

Last year, he strolled to the southernmost part of Daqi, and saw the sea for the first time in his life. Cracked, fell ill for a month, rode a donkey to the north, and went to Shuzhong to recuperate for two months.

I just arrived at Lin'an, just in time for the Lantern Festival on the New Year's Day.

When passing by Jiangyou, Lu Qing made a special detour and went to Ji'an Mansion to take a look from a distance.

When a flood broke out in Jiangyou, he and Ning Juan secretly went to Ji'an Mansion to rectify it.

At that time, Jiangyou flooded the sky, the epidemic spread, and it was lifeless. Now I look at it again, and the fertile fields that were once submerged have been exposed again. The new administrator Yu Shurong is diligent in government and loves the people, and the people are quite happy.

The Lingshan Temple also restored the incense and became the largest temple near and far.

Seeing is believing, at least he has seen it with his own eyes over the past few years, and Daqi has gradually recovered his vitality.

The one in Beijing did not disappoint him.

After walking around at the lantern festival for a while, Lu Qing was a little tired, so he walked into the teahouse at will, ordered a pot of tea and sat down.

Guessing lantern riddles is hot outside, and the teahouse can't help but be deserted. There are only a few middle-aged men in different clothes.

Lu Qing didn't mean to eavesdrop on other people's speech, but those few didn't restrain themselves at all, and their voices were so loud that he just sat down and got into his ears without any omission: "The sage today is working hard, Great talent and great strategy... You don't know, I have seen it from a distance when the saint came to come to the south!"

When he was caught off guard, Lu Qing raised the fingertips of the tea cup for a moment.

He hadn't deliberately inquired about the situation in the capital, and few of the rumors about the people were true, but when he heard someone discussing it, he still felt a little dazed.

After a long while, he slowly sipped his tea, half-squinted his eyes, and listened carefully.

Those few did not notice that someone came in, and the chat became more and more heated: "How about it, is it possible for the Holy One to really give birth to ... what?"

"How could the sage be because of such a reason? It must be because the bloodbathed Yanjing three years ago, and the means were cruel, which shocked the entire Daqi, so no one dared to get close..."

The sky is high and the emperor is far away, but the people are bold.

It's a big New Year's Eve, drink some wine and smoke, and talk about the gossip above, not afraid of being caught.

Lu Qing heard it funny.

When he left, the young man in the capital was still a handsome and handsome young man. He wouldn't have been disabled for more than three years, would he?

It shouldn't be, a good seedling from childhood to adulthood, can he still see it wrong?

Hearing that the people behind him were still chatting hotly, Lu Qing finally couldn't help turning his head and said reservedly: "Several people, I heard it right, are you talking about...the saint's face is ugly?"

Those people immediately denied: "No, absolutely not, this brother, how did you talk, we didn't say that!"

Lu Qing put his cheeks on his side and asked with a smile, "Then what are you talking about?"

Lu Qing was wearing a mask, and his tone was very friendly. Those people were unprepared and said in a low voice: "The son of my next-door brother, Lao Wangtou, was stabbed and sent to the palace to be an eunuch, you know. Some secrets... The sage is twenty-one this year, but the position of the middle palace is still vacant. I heard that there is no minister urging me, so I guess, is it because your majesty looks... so no woman dares to enter the palace?"

"…"

Lu Qing was speechless for a while, his eyebrows jumped slightly, and his mind couldn't help drifting away.

More than three years, enough to forget a lot of things.

If you don't have a wife, have you met someone you like?

"What kind of secret are you, I know more than you!"

Lu Qing was silent, looking like a very serious listener. Another Taoist priest, who was somewhat immortal, touched the beard on his chin, and came up with a solemn expression of "I'm telling a big secret": "My master's uncle is a master of the Tao, and he has calculated a hexagram for the sage. It is said that the killing karma created by the sage is too heavy, and only people with the same fate can fill the position of the middle palace. If the fate complements each other, it will be detrimental. Your Majesty, it is detrimental to the fortune of the country!"

The people didn't appreciate it, they looked contemptuous, and they didn't believe it at all: "Hey—just you, a liar who sells dog skin plasters, you still know a good person?"

Seeing that others didn't believe in him, the Taoist became anxious: "Two years ago, the sage called a Taoist monk into the palace, you all know this, right? The sage invited my master's uncle, and I listened to what my master said!"

"Is there such a thing?"

"Why haven't I heard of it, what does Your Majesty ask the Taoist monks and monks to do?"

"I did hear a little bit of wind..."

Several people were muttering, but after listening to Lu Qing, he shook his head with a smile in his heart, and took another sip of tea.

It's just some folklore.

Emperor Chong'an was addicted to the art of cultivating immortals, which led to chaos in the court and the people's hardship.

Contrary to his father, the little emperor never believed in these ghosts and gods. He hated this set of things, and he hated it to the core. He didn't let people demolish the temples and Taoist temples. ?

After resting for a while, his thirst was relieved, he got up and picked up the glaze lamp and wanted to leave, but he heard the Taoist priest behind him continue arguing for him: "Of course it's true, I know that the emperor who died three years ago was stabbed and died early. Is it Qing Ze? That one is from our Lin'an Mansion, and the sage asked the Taoist priest to set up an altar for the seventy-seventh and forty-ninth days to conjure the soul of the emperor!"

Lu Qing was caught off guard and stumbled, and reached out in time to hold the door frame to stabilize his figure, but the glazed lamp came out.

Seeing that it was about to fall to the ground and smash into pieces, a hand appeared in the sky and firmly caught the glass lamp.

Lu Qing's mind was still buzzing, and he raised his head after a while, hitting a pair of familiar eyes.

Duan Lingguang was wearing a mask on his face, holding a glass lamp in one hand, shaking his fan in the other, and said with a sneer, "This lamp is rare, it's a pity to break it, if you don't want it, then it's mine."

Lu Qing held on to the door frame and slowly straightened up. The sound of "calling for the emperor" echoed in his mind, and rubbed his temples: "Send it to you."

Duan Lingguang was overjoyed: "Really? Thank you very much, I like shiny things, and I can't walk when I see them."

When the few people in the store who dared to talk about the emperor saw the movement, they turned their heads and said, "Are you alright?"

"Watch the road carefully, look at your body, you are not as healthy as my girl, you can't lie down for a few days if you fall, it's a big New Year's Eve."

"This fellow Daoist, I have a strong body-building pill. After I take it, I will walk like a fly, and I will protect your wife for three years and three children. It only takes ten taels of silver..."

"Shut up you!"

Lu Qing didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and waved to the enthusiastic crowd: "Thank you, no need, you should still have snacks in front of you. The officers and soldiers patrolling the city during the Shangyuan Festival. If you hear your comments, you will have to eat Yuanxiao in prison."

These few looked out, really saw the officers and soldiers on patrol, and quickly closed their mouths.

Lu Qing kindly reminded him before stepping over the threshold and followed Duan Lingguang who was laughing non-stop.

He originally wanted to speak, but his mind couldn't help but ponder over what those people said.

He knows Ning Juan's character no better. When the child was lonely in the cold palace when he was a child, he was able to live tenaciously in the face of many malice, and he was never weak.

It's simply a fantasy.

How could Ning Juan be so weak, believing the tricks of those Taoist priests and monks.

The so-called evoking the spirit of the emperor is probably just another rumor among the people.

After all, in the past few years, I have been traveling abroad, and I occasionally heard a few familiar names in the countryside, which are all ironic rumors.

Duan Lingguang saw that he didn't know what he was thinking about, his eyes were very distant, and he couldn't help shaking the glass lamp in front of his eyes: "I finally threw off my eyeliner to find it, so you just put me aside?"

Lu Qing returned to his senses and blinked: "It seems that I didn't notify you that I was coming to Anfu."

Duan Lingguang clicked his tongue: "Yes, yes, I came to you by myself - what are you thinking, so ecstatic."

Lu Qing was quiet for a moment, and then said casually, "I think of that Jianghu warlock's bodybuilding pills."

Duan Lingguang felt that he had been perfunctory, but he had no evidence, so he could only swallow the words back, seeing that Lu Qing's exposed hands were a little blue from the cold, and pushed him up the restaurant: "I know you are here, I specially wrapped it up. Restaurant, hurry in and take shelter from the wind, and strengthen your body, you have to finish it before you blow it."

Lu Qing was not used to having physical contact with others, so he quietly avoided it.

Especially after Ning Juan's incident, he paid more attention to the distance from others.

It's not quite narcissistic, and I think that anyone who sees him has to like three points, but it's always right to pay attention to distance.

Duan Lingguang had a big heart, shook his fan, and led Lu Qing upstairs.

Entering the private room, Lu Qing glanced at the bright lights outside the window and said, "I just saw Jin Yiwei in the city."

Originally, he didn't wear a mask, but when he noticed that there were Jin Yiwei in Lin'an Mansion, he was afraid that he would meet an acquaintance who had seen him, so he bought a mask and put it on.

Anyway, there are many people wearing masks on the festival, so it is not unusual for him to wear them.

"For the past two years, Jinyi's guard has been strong, and it is not unusual for you to see the person in the Jinluan Palace everywhere."

Duan Lingguang put down the glazed lamp, sat down and said, "I read the letter you sent last time that you went to Shuzhong, how do you feel about Shuzhong?"

Lu Qing froze, and became even worse: "It's not bad, only a few flaws, it's Ning Cong's territory."

Duan Lingguang looked at his face and guessed a few points: "Did you have a holiday with him?"

After pondering again: "In this way, I have been to the middle of Shu, and I have heard some rumors. It is said that His Royal Highness the King of Shu loves to keep beautiful men and women in captivity.

After finishing speaking, looking at Lu Qingze's tightly covered mask, he suddenly realized: "That's it, I understand."

Lu Qing didn't want to appreciate his reasoning, took off his mask, cleaned his hands, and sat down to eat a bite of food: "I don't know how many people are raised in Ning Cong's house, but I stayed in Shu for two months and found him There are quite a few private soldiers raised.”

Duan Lingguang raised his eyebrows, and he did not shy away: "Oh? Could it be that he wants to rebel?"

Shu Road is difficult to navigate, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is far from the capital, unlike Lin'an Prefecture, which is well-connected by water.

Especially in the Land of Abundance, the land is fertile, and there is no need to worry about food.

"If His Majesty was weaker today, he would have backed away long ago."

Lu Qing glanced in the direction of the capital: "The cuts to the vassal in the past two years have caused many vassal kings to be dissatisfied, and now Ning Cong is still holding back, probably because His Majesty's arms are bloody, and he doesn't dare to confront him, but if he finds an opportunity, it may be ."

Even though they were so far apart, I didn't know whether Ning Juanxiao knew about the group of private soldiers that Ning Cong raised.

When Duan Lingguang saw that he couldn't help but start worrying about the person above him again, he tapped the bowl with his chopsticks to draw his attention back: "Thinking about what to do, no matter how hot the fight is, it has nothing to do with us ordinary people, and finally got out. The days of freedom and happiness are not enough. Or, Master Emperor, you are not going to go back to Beijing, are you?"

The last two sentences are a bit of a joke.

Lu Qing raised his wrist, poured a glass of wine, pushed it to Duan Lingguang, and then brought a cup of tea to himself, and met his eyes peacefully: "In the past two years, there was a lot of noise in the capital, and I avoided the north. Years have passed, and your Majesty has also put down the idea of ​​coming, the Qingming Festival is approaching, and I am going to go back to the north to visit an old friend."

Duan Lingguang said "Oh": "Who to see?"

"General Shi." Lu Qing smiled and said, "I walked in a hurry and never had the opportunity to go back to worship. General Ruo Quanxia learned that I am afraid I have scolded all eight generations of my ancestors. Mobei is an important place for garrisoning troops. It is inconvenient to go, so I can only go to the clothing mound in the suburbs of Beijing."

"Do you really want to go? Do you want me to accompany you?" Duan Lingguang was not at ease. "After all, it is at the feet of the little emperor. If you are discovered, wouldn't it be a bloodbath."

In the past two years, Lu Qingze and Duan Lingguang have become more and more familiar. They used to be friends from the same country, but now they are good friends. Lu Qing is not in good health, so he can't help but take more care of them.

Lu Qing bluntly refused: "No, you are busy with business and you are short on time. What do you do with me? I just go to see the old man."

Duan Lingguang didn't say anything, and pushed the red jujube pastry beside him.

The two sat in the private room and finished eating together. Lu Qingze's face also looked much better, with a bit of ruddy blood, and he thought for a while: "Lin'an Mansion is not close to the capital, according to my pace, it will take two days. It's time to go, do you have any good wine in your winery? Get me two jars, and I'll bring them back to the general to taste."

Duan Lingguang was shocked: "Don't you want to ride your little donkey back to Beijing again?"

A beautiful woman who is like the snow like the moon and immortal, actually rides a donkey around, and he is really heartbroken!

Lu Qing laughed: "Then I can't embarrass it, I'll leave it to you to take care of it."

Duan Lingguang was dissatisfied: "My dignified son, Duan, you will let me take care of the donkey?"

Lu Qing looked at him sincerely, with a serious tone: "It's not very good, that donkey is quite edible, I'll pay you the custody fee?"

"..." Duan Lingguang said, "There's no need for that. The capital is Longtan and Tiger's Den. It's best if you go and come back."

After chatting for a while while eating, it was getting late, Lu Qing looked at the sky and prepared to leave and return to the inn.

Duan Lingguang touched his chin, looked at his overly conspicuous face, and suddenly said, "I still think it's a little dangerous for you to go to the capital like this."

Lu Qing blinked: "I don't go to Beijing, I will leave without people burning paper. It shouldn't go wrong."

I would rather be tired and manage myriad opportunities, how can I have time to go out for a leisurely stroll.

Besides, Ning Juan is not a person who likes to be busy.

"That still requires some means of protection. Lin'an is my territory, I'll know it as soon as you come, not to mention the capital?" Duan Lingguang clicked his tongue, "You are too wary of your little emperor, and you don't want to. Think, he's sad now, if he finds out that you're still alive, can he let you go?"

This is true.

If Ning Juan found out now, then he might really be summoned.

Lu Qing hesitated: "Listen to your tone, is there any way?"

Duan Lingguang smiled proudly: "Yes, Yi Rong."

Duan Lingguang has dabbled in all walks of life, and there are indeed many talents under his hands. The so-called disguise is not like in the martial arts novels, where putting on a human skin mask changes, but requires some makeup skills.

After working for more than half an hour, the ancient beauty master put on Lu Qingze's makeup, which really changed his face.

The face in the mirror has changed from pure and vulgar to ordinary, and unless someone who is very acquainted looks closely, he will not be able to find the slightest similarity in facial features.

Lu Qing touched his face and sighed, "It's really amazing work."

Duan Lingguang was even more proud, and said with a fan: "The effect is good, you can take him back to Beijing."

Lu Qing looked at his face in the mirror again and nodded with satisfaction: "Thank you."

He has changed a lot. Even if he meets some acquaintances when he returns to Beijing, he will not be recognized.

The author has something to say:

Ning tired: ? Did the teacher forget that I am a dog hook?

Lu Qingze, a man with flags stuck on his back.