Chapter 5 Chapter 05 Ghost Shadow
At the foot of Taihang Mountain, Lanyu Temple.
Li Yuanfang and Shen Huai raced fast along the way, and finally arrived in front of the two cliffs outside Lanyu Temple just as the sunset took away the last ray of light and a full moon rose into the sky.Looking from a distance, the top of these two dark cliffs is covered with pale moonlight, which is indescribably strange and desolate.Before they got close, they smelled a strong smell of blood blowing towards their faces.Li Yuanfang yelled: "Not good!" He rushed to the crack between the cliffs first, and the bloody smell became even stronger, making it almost suffocating.The gap was too narrow, so they had to dismount and tie the horse in front of the hut outside the gap.Li Yuanfang clenched the Youlan sword tightly, and winked at Shen Huai, and the two of them turned around cautiously, one behind the other.What was presented in front of them was a horrific killing scene!
Dozens of corpses were lying on the open space in front of Laojun's Hall in disorder. Each corpse had been chopped into mutilated limbs, and brain plasma and blood splashed everywhere.The murderer is obviously not satisfied with killing people, but seems to want to vent his full of resentment on these people.The scarlet blood flowed all over the ground, and there were messy footprints on it, which could not be distinguished at all.More blood flowed into the hot spring pool along the cracks in the mud, and mixed with the hot spring water, making the steaming mist full of bloody smell. Li Yuanfang and Shen Huai felt that the night sky in front of their eyes was Become red, with blood.Li Yuanfang gritted his teeth, and moved forward step by step, Shen Huai closely followed him, they passed through the open space like a slaughterhouse, and checked the alchemy rooms one by one.The door of each alchemy room was wide open, in front of the door, in the room, and beside the bed, there were dead bodies lying or lying everywhere, and the death conditions were the same as those corpses in the open space.After going around in a circle, Li Yuanfang and Shen Huai returned to the front of Laojun Palace. Shen Huai looked at Li Yuanfang and asked out of breath, "General Li! What should I do?!"
Li Yuanfang flashed a gaze that was colder than ice, and said word by word: "When my lord and I stayed here the night before yesterday, there was no one here, but today it has become like this, who did this? !why?!"
Shen Huai looked at him blankly and anxiously, not knowing how to answer.
Li Yuanfang frowned and thought for a moment, then raised his head and said to Shen Huai, "General Shen, it's not too late, you go back to Bingzhou City immediately, report the situation here to Master Changshi, and ask him to send troops here immediately. I will stay here , guard the scene, and wait for reinforcements."
Shen Huai hesitated and said, "This... General Li, is it too dangerous for you to stay here alone?"
Li Yuanfang sneered: "General Shen, do you have any other options?"
Shen Huai didn't say a word, he walked out of the crack silently.Li Yuanfang followed and sent him all the way to the crack, saw him get on the horse, and said: "Be careful all the way."
Shen Huai whipped the whip bitterly, the horse neighed, and charged straight towards the official road.
Li Yuanfang turned around slowly, and walked back to the center of the blood-red field step by step. The moonlight shone on him, and the hem of the moon-white robe was already stained red by the blood under his feet. He stood motionless, quietly. waiting.
A large cloud drifted past, covering the desolate light of the moon.In the deathly silence, Li Yuanfang's voice sounded coldly: "You don't feel tired after being nestled in the pile of dead people for so long!"
The pile of dead bodies around him began to tremble slightly. Suddenly, with a whistle, several bloody dead bodies jumped up from the ground, forming a formation in an instant, surrounding him in the center.
Above the head, like a roc spreading its wings, along the straight rock face of the cliff, a black shadow slowly descended and stood in front of Li Yuanfang without a sound.This person covered his face with a black scarf, only revealing a pair of eagle eyes, emitting a sharp light.
"Li Yuanfang really deserves his reputation. He is a hero. It's a pity that he has courage and no knowledge, and only knows how to show off. If you don't send away the person who is traveling with you tonight, you don't have to die so alone."
"Oh, how did you know I was going to die today?"
Black Shadow laughed wildly: "If you don't die, is it because I can't die?"
Li Yuanfang raised his eyebrows slightly, and said, "I seem to have heard your voice somewhere before."
Heiying was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter again: "Yes, you are very precise. Unfortunately, it is too late, and you will not have the opportunity to verify your judgment."
Li Yuanfang sneered and said, "Then you all have a try."
With a wave of Hei Ying's hand, the killers disguised as corpses waved their sharp knives and rushed forward.Li Yuanfang waved the Youlan Sword in his hand unhurriedly, the snow-white sword light drew a stunning arc, where the sword tip touched, the two killers couldn't dodge it, and there were deep bloodstains on his neck, and the hot blood flowed from it The wound gushed out.The remaining killers took a few steps back in shock, formed a formation again, and attacked Li Yuanfang together.Li Yuanfang made a mistake, jumped into the air, and jumped out of the encirclement. Then he swung his backhand, and the arms of two killers were chopped off to the ground.The two killers screamed in pain, but they didn't flinch, and rushed towards him desperately. Li Yuanfang was surrounded by them and fought fiercely.After a few moves, another killer had his hands and feet cut off, but what is frightening is that although these killers were seriously injured, they did not lose their fighting spirit at all. Although Li Yuanfang was able to cope with such a fierce attack, he still couldn't help but feel palpitations when he saw such a brutal attack, so he fought quickly and killed these desperadoes with one sword strike.The black-clothed leader had been watching the battle intently, with an intriguing look in his eyes. Seeing that Li Yuanfang had finished the battle and was approaching him step by step, he sneered: "Sure enough, very good." As soon as he finished speaking, he He jumped up and flew straight to the top of the cliff.
How could Li Yuanfang let him go? You Lan pointed at her sword, and followed her straight up the cliff. The two of them, one behind the other, seemed to be two big birds flying above the steep rock face. Li Yuanfang's speed was even better. Seeing to catch up.The man in black suddenly dodged to the side, and shot countless arrows straight at the top of Li Yuanfang's head from the top of the cliff.Li Yuanfang swung the Youlan Sword to split the rain of arrows, and the man in black took this opportunity to slide along the cliff to the crack, and he was about to disappear.Li Yuanfang gritted her teeth, stretched out her left hand to grab a flying arrow, and took it towards the man in black.The man in black was caught off guard, and the sharp arrow was firmly nailed into his left shoulder. He couldn't bear the pain, and rolled down the cliff.Li Yuanfang also followed quickly down, only to see the man in black jumped out of the gap in the cliff.Li Yuanfang was about to follow him when he staggered suddenly. He supported the rock beside him and took a deep breath.Looking up, there is no one on the top of the cliff, and the man in black outside the crack of the rock has disappeared without a trace.He gritted his teeth, flashed out of the rock crack, and was about to find out the direction and continue to chase, but saw a large group of people on the official road in front of him, holding light balls and torches, rushing towards this side at a fast speed.The leader was Shen Huai.
Shen Huai saw Li Yuanfang from a distance, and shouted loudly: "General Li!" He rushed to him and fell off his horse.Li Yuanfang looked at him in surprise, and asked, "General Shen, did you move to rescue the soldiers so soon?" Shen Huai gasped and said, "Yes, it's Master Di! He didn't trust us, and he sent a letter as soon as the two of us left. Go to the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion and ask Chen Changshi to send troops to come. As soon as I was on the official road, I saw Vice General Sun and his troops, so I rushed back so quickly."
Li Yuanfang said softly: "My lord." Vice-General Sun also came in front of him at this moment, clasped his fists and said, "General Li!" Li Yuanfang nodded and said, "Vice-General Sun, please send your troops to surround this place immediately. Send another team to search around the cliff, be careful!" He said to Shen Huai, "Follow me, let them count the dead bodies, and let's check the scene again." Soon, the number of dead bodies at the scene was counted , except for the six killers who were just killed by Li Yuanfang, the rest of the dead were all wearing Taoist uniforms.Because the night was too dark, the searchers found no traces.
Li Yuanfang said to Shen Huai: "In this case, please ask Vice General Sun to guard the scene here, and you and I will rush back to Bingzhou immediately and report everything that happened here to Master Di and Chen Changshi separately."
"it is good!"
The two rushed out of the cliff to find their respective horses. Shen Huai had just jumped on the horse, but when he looked back, he found Li Yuanfang standing beside the horse, his face pale and his teeth clenched.Shen Huai was startled, and hurried to his side, and asked, "General Li, what's wrong with you? Are you injured?" Li Yuanfang raised his head and forced a smile, and said, "I'm fine. It's just some old injuries, I don't know why, It’s always not perfect, it happens from time to time, and it’s very verbose.” Shen Huai said: “Then...how about you stay here? I’ll report to Lord Di first, and then to Lord Changshi.” Li Yuanfang shook his head and said: "No. I can go." After speaking, he took a deep breath and got on the horse.Then the two of them rode their horses and galloped towards Shangguan Road, heading towards Bingzhou City.
In front of the city gate of Bingzhou, Shen Huai showed his identity, and the guards opened the gate and let the two of them in.Flying along the quiet street to the intersection, Shen Huai said to Li Yuanfang: "General Li, from here onwards is Lord Di's mansion, I can go east from here to the governor's mansion." Li Yuanfang nodded, he said to Shen Huai smiled, and said: "General Shen, I hit it off with you very much, and I don't want to deal with red tape anymore. It's better to exchange the age now, so we can call you better in the future." Shen Huai was startled, and hurriedly said: "The last general will not Dare." Li Yuanfang shook his head, and said: "I have wasted thirty-two years, and I don't know Brother Shen Guigeng?" Shen Huaixi said: "We are the same age." Li Yuanfang laughed: "In this case, Yuanfang considers himself brother Brother Shen, what do you think?" Shen Huai clasped his fists and said, "General Li, oh, brother Yuanfang, Shen Huai is so happy." Li Yuanfang nodded with a smile and said, "Okay, now let's split up and report. Brother Yu, let's go first!" He urged his horse to run up the alley leading to Di's Mansion.
In the north of Bingzhou City, Difu.
Di Renjie's study room was brightly lit, and after Di Chun returned from delivering a letter from the governor's mansion, he reported to Di Renjie that Chen Songtao had sent troops out.Di Renjie nodded worriedly, and kept pacing back and forth in the study.The ominous feeling in his heart was so obvious that he couldn't sit still, and his whole body and mind were in anxiety.It was only less than two days after he returned to Bingzhou, so many series of things happened, which made him seem to be gradually falling into a dark net. He had experienced danger countless times in the past, but it was never like this time. , it seems that all the spearheads are directed at one center, that is - himself!
Di Renjie felt that his mind was in turmoil and his temples were swollen and painful. He walked to the open door of the study, looked up at the night sky, and took a deep breath of the bitter autumn night air.
"Father." Di Jinghui strode over and stood in front of him.Di Renjie lowered his head slightly, and carefully looked at this young son. His face, expression, and behavior all had so many resemblances to his own that he could clearly tell that they were connected by blood without careful identification.However, he is so different from himself, it is so different, it seems that fire and water are incompatible.Di Renjie sighed, and agreed: "Ah, Jing Hui, you are here. Come, come in and sit down, let's talk."
Di Jinghui silently followed his father into the study and sat on a chair.His face was also a little haggard, and he didn't know what he had experienced in the past two days.He sat upright, waiting for his father to speak first.
Di Renjie coughed and said, "Jing Hui, the last time we met was during the Mid-Autumn Festival the year before last. You went to Luoyang for business and stayed in my mansion for just a few days. It happened that Yuan Fang went out to investigate the case in those few days, otherwise at that time It's time for the two of you to meet."
Di Jinghui "hummed" and didn't respond.
Di Renjie continued: "I remember that time we met, we also had some conversations, but it's a pity that our conversations always ended in quarrels, and the last conversation also broke up unhappy."
Di Jinghui said in a low voice: "Yes, I remember that I originally wanted to stay for a month, but I left after only five days."
Di Renjie nodded with a wry smile: "Actually, I often wonder, where are our differences? Is there really any irreconcilable conflict between you and me?"
Di Jinghui said with resentment: "I'm afraid I have to ask you. My son has always been confused about this."
Di Renjie sighed and said: "Jing Hui, the first time I heard you say you want to abandon your official position and go into business, I really couldn't accept it at that time. But after so many years, why didn't I acquiesce in your choice. This is not our tit-for-tat The essential."
"Oh? Then besides this, what other reason is there?"
Di Renjie shook his head and said: "Jing Hui, let's not talk about these things today. Because too many things have happened these days, I'm afraid that my mood is too disturbed to talk with you calmly. Today, I want to talk to you Something else."
Di Jinghui curled his lips impatiently, and said: "Father, you always talk about him like this. You are used to rambling. Others can bear it, but unfortunately I just can't adapt."
Di Renjie didn't want to argue with him too much, so he just laughed dryly and said straightforwardly: "Jing Hui, today I want to ask about your relationship with Henying Villa."
Di Jinghui's body trembled, his eyes rolled, and he said in a low voice, "Hanying Villa? What do I have to do with them?"
"Yes. Today I went to Henying Villa." Di Renjie seemed to be talking to himself. "According to Mrs. Feng, the hostess of the villa, you and Fan Qixin have been in touch for so many years."
Di Jinghui gritted his teeth and said the name: "Feng Danqing, it's this woman again! The words "femme fatale" are not excessive at all when applied to her!"
"Oh? So what she said is true? Not only do you have contacts with them, but you also have some festivals?"
Di Jinghui sneered and said: "Father, don't beat around the bush like this, and use your usual trick of tricking others. I can confess very frankly, yes, although you have repeatedly told me not to have too much contact with Fan Qixin, I didn't listen. As you say, I have always maintained a relationship with him, and it is very close."
Di Renjie stared fixedly at this son, he was really a little scared, he didn't know what he would hear next, and how many facts that would frighten him would be revealed.
Di Jinghui looked at his father's face, softened his tone a little, and said, "Don't look at me like that, it's scary. Didn't you ask me to recognize Mr. Fan as your godfather back then, otherwise how could I be with this man?" This kind of eccentric people deal with them." He paused, and continued: "Actually, my son's dealings with Mr. Fan are mainly for business, and there is no other meaning."
Di Renjie asked in surprise: "Business? What kind of business do you have with him? Isn't Fan Qixin an outsider who has nothing to do with the world?"
Di Jinghui snorted disdainfully and said: "The world's best people also eat whole grains. Father, you are not so naive as to think that he can live to this age by breathing out the energy of heaven and earth? You will also go to see it today After leaving his villa, how could such a scale, buildings, flowers and trees not be built with money? Father, haven't you ever thought about where his money came from? "
Di Renjie murmured: "He is a famous genius doctor. I only know that he treated some intractable diseases for princes, nobles and officials in the past, and he still earned a lot of money."
"Hey, people have quit doing this a long time ago. They have been retreating and meditating for so many years, and they no longer see patients. Hey, let me just say it, dad, his villa, those ostentations, and the fact that he can marry Such a vixen-like wife is all the money I got from running a business with my son." Di Jinghui finished speaking in one breath, and looked at Di Renjie's surprised expression with some complacency.
Di Renjie followed his words in great surprise and asked, "Fan Qixin runs a business with you? What kind of business can he run with you?"
Di Jinghui said: "Father, even though you are a world-renowned detective, you are known as a man of great knowledge and knowledge, and you know everything in the world, but in my son's eyes, you are still far from enough in this business. Keen."
Di Renjie waved his hand and said, "Okay. You'd better tell me what's going on?"
Di Jinghui said seriously just now: "Father, you should know that Fan Qixin is not only a genius doctor of his generation, he is also one of the best masters of pharmacy in this dynasty. Although he is not as famous as the 'medicine fairy' Sun Simiao, it is only because he went astray In fact, in the eyes of his son, his attainments in medicinal knowledge are indeed very profound. More importantly, Fan Qixin has always liked to study the customs and culture of foreign lands, although he does not interact with ordinary people. , but he has made friends with many foreign people over the years. He knows all kinds of foreign people from Tianzhu, Persia, and Dashi. He collects rare medicinal materials and medicines from these people and compiles them into exotic pharmacopoeia. He also tried to plant some rare exotic medicines in his own villa, and then matched them with the medicines from the Central Plains to synthesize special medicines with miraculous effects." He raised his head, with eager eyes shining, looked at his father, and then said : "Father, restaurants and restaurants are only part of the business run by the son. The biggest business of the son is actually the Baicaotang opened in various places. And the uniqueness of the Baicaotang is these medicines from exotic lands, and Fan Qixin said The special drugs made by the company, these drugs have no semicolon, only this one, although the price is expensive, but the effect is outstanding, and all patients are flocking to it. This is really an excellent business with extremely lucrative profits! Over the years, my son and Fan Qixin have worked together, The business of Baicaotang has already been extended to the provinces of Hedong, Hebei, and Henan, and the annual income is over one million taels of silver."
He stopped and watched his father's reaction carefully.Di Renjie was obviously deeply shocked by these words. He looked at Di Jinghui with a new look, and several completely different emotions rolled in his heart: suspicion, appreciation, emotion, disgust, and so on. indescribable.After a long time, he murmured: "Jing Hui, you really surprised me."
Di Jinghui smiled wryly and lowered his head.
Di Renjie calmed down and said, "Well then, I'm very clear about your relationship with Fan Qixin now. You can answer another question for me. On the morning of five days ago, did you go to Henying Villa and have a relationship with Fan Qixin?" Talked?"
Di Jinghui was startled, thought for a moment, nodded and said: "Yes. I did go to him, just to talk to him about the recent trip to Guangzhou to buy medicinal materials. There is nothing special. I was in his Tuna's Shibuting chatted with him for a few words, and then left. What's the matter?"
Di Renjie whispered: "According to Mrs. Feng, when she went to deliver Fan Qixin's meal at noon that day, she found that he had been stabbed to death in Shibu Pavilion. Before that, you were the only one who went to look for him."
"What?!" Di Jinghui jumped up from the chair, his face flushed, and he yelled loudly, "This, this is nonsense! He was fine when I was talking to Mr. Fan, why..." He thought for a while, then gritted his teeth and said: "Feng Danqing, it's this woman again. Father, I advise you to pay close attention to this woman. You must not believe her words easily. To this day, everyone has only heard about her death. We haven't even seen Mr. Fan's body so far, so who knows if what she said is true or not!"
"I saw Fan Qixin's body today. He was indeed stabbed to death with a short knife."
"Oh? So..." Di Jinghui fell into deep thought.
Di Renjie looked at him, and an indescribable love and pity welled up in his heart: After all, he was his own child, if something happened to him, how would he deal with himself?Di Renjie couldn't help but whispered: "Jing Hui, I just hope you don't hide anything from me and tell me everything. I'm doing it for your own good."
Di Jinghui shivered all over, and said with a sneer, "Father, my son doesn't want to hide anything from you, and there is indeed nothing to hide from you. You investigate your case yourself. If you want to make your son a suspect, your son will have nothing to say." Can say."
Di Renjie let out a long sigh and stopped talking.
The two were silent for a long time, Di Jinghui said: "Father, if you have nothing else to do, my son will leave."
"Okay, it's already knocked four times, you go to rest first."
Di Jinghui was about to get up, when Di Renjie said again: "Jinghui, do you have the medicine list of Baicaotang with you?"
"There's a copy in my son's room. Father, would you like to read it?"
"Well, you have someone bring it over to me."
"What do you want to see that for? Are you looking for some medicine?"
Di Renjie nodded and said, "I want to see what special medicine you have here for Yuan Fang. I'm very worried about his health."
A disdainful expression appeared on Di Jinghui's face, and he said, "Father, you really miss this Li Yuanfang all the time. What's wrong with him? I think he's fine, he doesn't look sick."
Di Renjie sighed: "Jing Hui, why do you want to have trouble with Yuan Fang? I originally hoped that you could become good friends. He has been by my side for so many years, through life and death, and only I know the new wounds and old wounds on him best. I don't care about him, who cares about him?"
"Good friend? Well, I'm not interested in making friends with a guard. Besides, do you have to worry about him so much? If he's not sick, he should work for you. If he's sick and can't do it, let him go People are, why bother."
Di Renjie suddenly felt angry, and was about to reprimand him, but he heard "My lord." Li Yuanfang walked in quickly from outside.He stepped into the door of the study room, and was stunned when he heard Di Jinghui's last words.
The atmosphere was momentarily awkward.After a while, Li Yuanfang called again in a low voice: "My lord." But he didn't greet Di Jinghui, nor looked at him, just pretending that he didn't exist.
Di Renjie rushed to meet him, but saw Li Yuanfang's Yuebai robe was stained with blood, and couldn't help being shocked: "Yuanfang! What's wrong with you?"
Li Yuanfang looked down at himself, smiled, and said softly, "My lord, don't worry. This time it's all other people's blood."
Di Renjie held his hand, nodded frequently, but couldn't speak for a moment.
Di Jinghui stood up from the chair uncomfortably, said: "Father, I'll go first." He walked out of the study.
Di Renjie hurriedly pulled Li Yuanfang to sit down, and asked, "It seems that my premonition still makes sense. What happened in Lanyu Temple?"
As soon as Di Jinghui walked to the door, he was shocked when he heard the word "Lan Yu Guan". He hesitated and slowed down.
At this time, Di Renjie's attention was all on Li Yuanfang, and he didn't notice anything strange about his son.Li Yuanfang said: "My lord, what I saw there today was a rare tragedy. Dozens of Taoists were killed in Lanyu Temple, and the death conditions were horrific. In addition, Yuanfang also met there tonight. Ambush, the killers have strong attack power, and they are all outlaws, very scary. If you hadn't sent reinforcements in time, I don't know what would have happened."
Di Renjie nodded repeatedly, and said in a trembling voice, "As long as you're fine, it's fine." Di Jinghui quietly slipped out of the door, striding toward the backyard.
Li Yuanfang told Di Renjie the scene in Lanyu Temple in detail, and finally said: "Vice General Sun has led a team to surround the scene of Lanyu Temple. I'm here to report to you. Brother Shen Xian went to the governor's mansion to report to Master Changshi." report."
Di Renjie's eyes flashed, and he jokingly said, "Brother Shen? Oh, is that General Shen Huai, right? Yuan Fang, you're calling him a brother so soon?"
Li Yuanfang smiled embarrassedly: "Shen Huai is not bad, so I..."
"Well, very good, this is very good. If you want to go out to act in the future, go with him, so that I can rest assured."
Li Yuanfang asked: "My lord, what should we do now?"
Di Renjie said: "Yuan Fang, I have to think about it. Since we met the Taoist priest who died eating cakes on the mountain road, so many things have happened in just over two days. Things seem to be scattered and independent, but I always feel that they are inextricably linked. I think that through careful analysis, we will be able to find out this internal connection, and only in this way can we Sort out these complicated clues and find the key."
Li Yuanfang nodded and said, "Where is the Lanyu Temple? My lord, do you want to go to the scene to see it?"
"I will definitely go to the scene of Lanyu Temple. Looking at the current situation and comparing it with the situation when we stayed there last night, I believe we can find some clues."
"Then let's go tomorrow, oh, today, after dawn?"
Di Renjie stared at Li Yuanfang and said sternly, "There's no rush. As I said, the government is the presiding judge of the case. We'd better wait for Chen Changshi to ask us to participate before formally intervening."
Li Yuanfang hurriedly got up and said: "Brother Shen Xian has already reported to Chen Changshi, I think Mr. Changshi will come to invite you to the scene soon. I will go change clothes so that I can accompany you to the scene."
Di Renjie grabbed his hand: "Yuanfang, what's wrong with you? Why are you so impatient? You were not like this in the past. I have my own mind when I go to the Taoist temple to investigate the scene. But, I can tell you that no matter Whether Chen Changshi will come to invite me, I will not go today."
"grown ups?!"
Di Renjie looked at Li Yuanfang's face carefully, and sighed, "Yuanfang, are you dying? Besides, even if you don't feel tired, my old man can't keep spinning like this. Look, it's already bright outside. That's fine. , don’t say anything more, you go to rest first, come to me after lunch, let’s discuss and study the case. Lan Yuguan, we will go again tomorrow.”
Li Yuanfang wanted to speak, but Di Renjie firmly stopped her with his eyes.He stood up silently, saluted Di Renjie, and left the study.
Di Renjie looked at his back for a long time, his eyes full of worry.
Bingzhou, the governor's government office.
Standing in the center of the main hall, Shen Huai had just reported to Chen Songtao exactly what happened in Lanyu Temple.After listening to his narration, Chen Songtao pondered for a long time and said, "I never thought that such a catastrophe would happen under the rule of Bingzhou. It's because of my oversight. It's strange, I never heard of such a blue Yuguan?"
Shen Huai replied: "The general is also very surprised by this. The general can go and investigate."
"Well, I should check it out. How about this, General Shen, you have been busy all night, go to rest first. This afternoon, you find a way to learn more about the situation with Lan Yuguan, and then go to Master Di for a while Let’s go, ask him to go to investigate the site of Lanyu Temple tomorrow together with the official, Facao and other adults.”
"yes."
Watching Shen Huai walk out of the main hall, Chen Songtao stood up, walked slowly into the back hall, opened a small door hidden behind the bookshelf, and turned into a secret room.
The secret room was closed on all sides, and was only illuminated by the faint light of a candle lit on the table. The man in black sitting on the chair beside the table was clearly the man in black who fought fiercely with Li Yuanfang on the cliff last night.At this moment, he was holding a piece of gauze and gently wiping the wound on his left shoulder. On the table was the sharp arrow thrown into his shoulder by Li Yuanfang, which had been cut in two.While wiping the wound, he gritted his teeth and let out a moan, obviously feeling unbearable pain.
Chen Songtao came over, looked at his wound with his head, and said, "What's the matter? The injury is not serious?"
"Well, this Li Yuanfang is really powerful. It's too difficult to deal with."
"I reminded you not to underestimate the enemy. You just didn't believe it, but you insisted on seeing his abilities. What happened?"
"Hmph, I was careless this time, see him next time..."
"Okay, I think it's better not to have a next time. By the way, you just said that he seemed to recognize your voice?"
"Yes. This man is too delicate. I just said a few words in front of him."
Chen Songtao nodded, and said: "In general, this matter went very well, and it fully achieved the effect we needed. Especially what I didn't expect was that Di Renjie and Li Yuanfang strayed into the Lanyu Temple on the way to Bingzhou. God help us, it saves us a lot of trouble leading them astray. Now Di Renjie must have listened to Li Yuanfang's report and started to analyze the case of Lan Yuguan. Hmph, the more in-depth his analysis, the more proactive we are. Very good, very good , I will give them a day to think about it today, and I will go and listen to their analysis results tomorrow."
The man in black said: "Master Chen's ingenious calculations, my subordinates are very impressed. However, my subordinates always feel that this Li Yuanfang is a trouble, and I feel quite uneasy when I think about it."
Chen Songtao thought about it and said: "That makes sense. Now that Di Renjie is an official, there is no soldier around him to call on. No matter how powerful he is, he is nothing more than an old man with no strength to restrain himself. We can It was easy to play with him in the palm of his hand. But now that Li Yuanfang is by his side, things are not so simple. Besides, Li Yuanfang can recognize your voice..."
"How about finding a way to kill him?" The man in black made a "click" gesture, which touched the wound, and immediately winked in pain.
Chen Songtao shook his head and said: "No way. You fought with him last night. If you can't beat him with your martial arts, I'm afraid no one here can put him to death easily. If you miss, it will be self-defeating. Besides Yesterday, I watched Di Renjie coldly. Di Renjie loved him very much. If something happened to Li Yuanfang, it was hard to say whether this old fox would jump the wall in a hurry and do something excessive. Difficult to deal with."
"Then, what should we do then?"
Chen Songtao paced back and forth, muttering: "Let me think about it, think about it, I must find a perfect solution..." Suddenly, his eyes lit up: "How did I forget him?! Great, I have a solution. I won’t kill Li Yuanfang, I’ll make him unable to stay, let him go!” He said to the man in black again: “Don’t stay here for long, go back immediately after treating the wound. Be careful, don’t let that The woman saw the flaw. Also, how is the monitoring of Di Mansion going?"
"Please don't worry, my lord. I have sent the most capable people there, and told them to be more careful, so that what happened on the first night will not happen again. And these people are our dead soldiers. If they are captured, they will immediately Suicide, never let Di Renjie ask the truth!"
"very good."
Chen Songtao walked out of the secret room and came to the main hall. He resumed his usual demeanor and called out: "Come on, prepare your horse. I want to go to Miss Chengnan's home."
In the south of Bingzhou City, Di Jinghui's mansion.
Different from the simplicity and solemnity of Di Renjie's mansion in the north of the city, Di Jinghui's mansion is extravagant and can be described as the first among Zhu households, with uneven pavilions, prosperous flowers and trees, and fresh smoke.There are Kunlun slaves outside the door to welcome them, inside the door there are officials in purple clothes to receive them, and ladies in green clothes shuttle around to serve in the courtyard.Agarwood is the beam, the tortoise shell is pasted on the door, the jasper window, the pearl foil, and the blue-colored steps are built together. Those who don't know may really think that they have come to a certain palace of the emperor.
Di Jinghui was still in a hurry all the way, went straight into the inner house located in the fourth courtyard, pushed open the door, he saw Chen Qiuyue sitting at the table with a sullen face, and immediately said angrily: "I see you with a tiger's face every day. , show it to someone!"
Chen Qiuyue glanced at him listlessly, and said, "Who else can I show it to? Just show it to me. You won't go home for ten days and a half months, and you won't be able to see it for a while."
Di Jinghui ignored her, and continued: "I just saw your father leave here on horseback, has he been here before?"
"Come here."
"What is he here for?"
Chen Qiuyue sneered and said: "It's hard to come back here, don't ask me, don't ask the children, but immediately ask my father, you really confuse me more and more."
Di Jinghui's complexion changed, and he was about to explode, but he held back after thinking about it, and said, "I'm just asking casually, so don't be picky." Then, he sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea in silence drink.
Looking at his actions, Chen Qiuyue suddenly had an eager light in her eyes, she poked her head over and said, "Jing Hui, you can stay at home for dinner today, and I will ask the kitchen to make you some of your favorite side dishes on weekdays. The husband and wife have not had a chance to have dinner together for a long time. Huh? Okay?"
Di Jinghui hummed, noncommittal.
Chen Qiuyue said again: "Jing Hui, actually my father didn't come here for anything else. He just wanted to ask what you've been up to lately, and he's also a little worried about you."
"Worried about me? When did he treat me so kindly?"
Chen Qiuyue rolled her eyes, the expression on her face was very complicated, she thought for a while, and continued: "Father told me that last night the government found a place called Lanyu Temple in the Taihang Mountains outside the city, and there were many corpses of Taoists .”
Di Jinghui's cheeks tightened a little, he firmly held the teacup in his hand, but he didn't say a word.陈秋月从旁观察着他的表情，继续说：“奇怪的是，公公来并州的路上，就已经和那个李将军一起去过了蓝玉观，而且还在那里过了一夜，当时观中是空无一人的。景辉，公公和你谈起过这件事情吗？”
“他和我谈？没有，他什么都不和我谈的。”
“那么就奇怪了，我父亲还说已经去请公公明日与他一起再去勘察现场，以公公的能耐应该能很快查出事情的真相。对了，听说那个李将军，昨天夜里还在蓝玉观和人交了手。我父亲说，李将军的功夫十分了得，有他在，公公真是如虎添翼，没有什么疑难案情解决不了。”
狄景辉将手中的茶杯猛地拍在桌上，茶水溅了一桌。
陈秋月哆嗦了一下，但她显然已经下定了决心，咬了咬嘴唇，继续往下说：“父亲说那几十个道众都死得十分凄惨，说不定是有人要杀人灭口也未可知。景辉，父亲来告诉我这些，是想让你有些准备，毕竟你，你仿佛和那个蓝玉观有些关系……”
狄景辉猛地跳起身来，死死地盯着陈秋月，道：“你说什么？我和蓝玉观有什么关系？我连听都没听到过什么蓝玉观！”他一字一顿地道：“陈秋月，还有你那个狡诈阴险的父亲！我劝你们不要得寸进尺！当年的事情是我看在与你的夫妻情份上，才隐忍了下来，可你们也不要欺人太甚！我自己的事情我自己会解决，你们休想牵扯到我的父亲，我绝不会让你们得逞！”
陈秋月惨白着脸道：“你倒是很维护公公啊。只可惜公公对你是横看竖看都不顺眼，倒把个外人当宝贝似的信任着，爱护着。我看你这个儿子，做得也真够失败的。如果哪天公公真查出你有什么差错，只怕立时就把你当作他大义灭亲的牺牲品了！”
狄景辉拉开房门，头也不回地冲了出去，房门在他身后“砰”地一声关上了。
陈秋月喃喃自语道：“你走吧，你走吧。永远也不回来才好！”
并州城北，狄府。
午后的阳光透过窗纸，斜斜地洒在狄仁杰宽大的书案上，把他铺放在案上的张张白纸渲染成温暖的淡金色。他一会儿在这张纸上写几笔，一会儿在那张纸上写几笔，忙得不亦乐乎。李元芳轻轻地走进来，问了声：“大人，您在干什么？”
狄仁杰并不答话，一直等他走到面前，凑着阳光打量了下他的脸色，才点头道：“嗯，脸色比昨夜好一些了，睡得好吗？”
李元芳道：“好，从早上一直睡到现在，刚刚才醒，就到您这里来了。”
“那你还没吃午饭？”
"No."
狄仁杰指了指桌子，道：“这里有几包点心，都是太原城里最好的和记点心铺子上午刚做出来的，我让人去买了些来，你吃吧。”
“好。”李元芳拿起块点心正要吃，狄仁杰走过来，倒了杯热茶给他，道：“坐下慢慢吃，这酥饼配热茶吃是最好的。”
“大人，您在干什么？”李元芳在桌边坐下，又问了一遍。
狄仁杰微微一笑：“我在分析案情。”
“能说给我听听吗？”
“你倒会享受啊，又有的吃，又有案情听，很舒服嘛。”
“说说吧，大人。”
狄仁杰把手往身后一背，笃悠悠地开始在屋子里踱起步来：“元芳啊，昨夜我们谈到，从我们在山道上路遇那个道士到现在，发生了许多一系列的事情。我们先做一个大的假设：假设这些事情之间有着必然的联系，那么我们现在要做的就是找出这种联系，然后再反过来验证我们的假设是否正确。”
他走到书案前，拿起那几张纸，放到桌上，指给李元芳看：“这些纸上，分别记录了我们所遇到的不同的事情，以及这些事情中的可疑之处。这些纸是分别独立的，但是放在一起，说不定我们就可以把它们组织起来。”狄仁杰挑出其中的一张，放在面前，道：“这张上写的是：'山道上的死者。'这是我们所遇到的一系列怪事的开端，那么这个死者身上到底有什么可疑之处呢？首先，他到底是因何而死？从表面看他是食蓬燕糕鼓胀而死，但是紧接着我们就在蓝玉观外的厨房里发现了一块蓬燕糕。所以，这两者间就有了联系。元芳，我回来后检查了那块蓬燕糕，那块糕似乎是掺杂了些别的东西。”
李元芳正捏着块酥饼，听到这里，不由自主地朝手里的酥饼看了好几眼，最后还是放下了，道：“大人，如果道观里的蓬燕糕是掺了东西的，那说不定那个韩锐，他是叫韩锐吧？想吃到的不是普通的蓬燕糕，而是道观蓬燕糕里掺的那种东西。”
“说的好！我也是这么想的。不过，现在要查出来那掺的东西，有些难度，所以我们就暂且搁下这第一个结论，再看下一个疑点：韩锐脖子上戴的金链。这条金链我们已经分析过了，十分奇特，不像中土的物件，和道观似乎也扯不上关系。但是，元芳，这两天里面我们不是还见识过其他一些异域风貌吗？”
“是……您说恨英山庄？”
“对，就是恨英山庄。元芳啊，坦白地说，昨天的那个恨英山庄，真是让我大开眼界啊。”
“确实开眼界，从东西到人都怪得要命。”李元芳低声嘟囔了一句。
狄仁杰呵呵一笑，道：“怪却怪得很有名堂啊。昨天冯丹青提到，范其信曾和大食人有些往来，而我看那些建筑的式样，泉池的格局，也仿佛很有伊斯兰穆斯林的味道。”
李元芳皱起眉头，狄仁杰知道他不太懂这些，疼爱地拍了拍他的肩，道：“伊斯兰是大食人和波斯人共同信奉的宗教，教徒自称为穆斯林。他们有自己的教义、教规和经书。经书是用大食的文字书写的。”随后，狄仁杰拿起书案上放着的那条金链，道：“今天上午我已让狄春把这条金链送到城里波斯人开的珠宝店里去认过了，虽然没有人见过这样东西，但是那些波斯商人都肯定说这是一个与大食穆斯林有关的饰品，而且这块绿色宝石里面所刻的蝌蚪样的图形，就是大食文字书写的伊斯兰经文——古兰经。”
李元芳直听得目瞪口呆，好半天才蹦出一句：“大人，您怎么什么都懂啊？”
狄仁杰笑着摇摇头，道：“所以元芳啊，我们又有了第二个结论，那就是韩锐和恨英山庄也有千丝万缕的联系，他们之间的联系是通过大食穆斯林这条纽带产生的。而且，证明这种联系的还不止这一条金链，还有另外一个重要的疑点。”
“另一个疑点，是什么？大人？”
“就是韩锐左手上的那些颜色。这还是昨天我在恨英山庄正殿上观看那些壁画时突然想到的。我想起来我在老师阎立本的手上也见到过很相似的颜色印记。元芳，你知道吗？画师在投入地绘画作品时，往往会不由自主地以手去擦拭画上的颜料，有时候一些绘画的效果就是通过手指的描画而形成的。所以，但凡画师的手上，尤其是左手上常常会染上各种颜色，常年累月下来，颜色就深入肌肤，擦洗不掉了。”
“大人，您是说韩锐左手上的颜色也是这样形成的？”
“嗯，我觉得这种可能性最大。”
“那么说，韩锐是个画师？”
“嗯，你记得吗？昨天冯丹青曾经提到，正殿上的那些壁画是由她构思，再由画工临摹上去的。”
“我记得。不过大人，我还是觉得这个推论有些牵强。据沈槐的调查，韩锐韩斌兄弟两个是十多年前乞讨来到的太原城，他们生活如此困苦，到哪里去学习绘画的技能呢？何况韩锐还是个哑巴。”
“这确实不好解释。但是沈槐也提到，这兄弟两个曾经消失过一段时间，再次出现的时候，生活似乎就有了保障。这又是为什么呢？”
“据沈槐说，韩锐在蓝玉观做了道士。”
“那好，既然你提到了蓝玉观，我们就再转到这个蓝玉观来看看。首先，你我是怎么闯入这个蓝玉观的呢？表面上看，我们闯入蓝玉观是出于偶然，但是仔细想想，还是有一些必然性的。这必然性从我们遇到韩锐就开始了。”
“是因为，我们是追踪小孩的脚印才最终闯入蓝玉观的，对吗？大人，我觉得那小孩应该就是韩斌。”
“不错，应该就是他。我想当时的情形是这样的：韩斌躲在树丛中，亲眼看见韩锐死在我们面前，他惊骇之下，往山洞而去。你我一路追踪足迹，后来遇到了恶犬袭击和山石崩塌，这些目前还无从判断是偶然还是人力所为，但是无论如何，你我还是一头撞入了通往蓝玉观的山洞。所以，基本上来讲，还是可以认为是韩斌将你我引入那个神秘的蓝玉观的。”
“是的，而且我们在蓝玉观的出口那间丹房里面，也发现了小孩的足迹。”
“还有那天夜晚，我们听到的孩子的哭声。”
李元芳点着头，他似乎想要说什么，但犹豫了一下，又把话咽了回去。
狄仁杰思忖着，继续道：“韩锐和韩斌兄弟俩个对蓝玉观一定是非常熟悉的。否则韩斌不可能知道那个山洞，和山洞里面直通蓝玉观的狭窄阶梯。”
“嗯，这个蓝玉观也真是神秘。昨天沈槐还说，似乎从没有人听说过那个地方。”
“是啊，它埋在四面绝壁的深山幽谷之中，出路除了那个热泉山洞以外，就只有那两堵绝壁之间的夹缝，确实是很难被人发现的。”
“最奇怪的是道观里面的人，一会儿不见了，一会儿又都被杀死了。这么多的道众，是哪里来的，又是被什么人所杀呢？”李元芳又想起了昨夜的恐怖情景，眉头紧锁，面色变得阴沉。
正在此时，狄春来报：“老爷，李将军，沈槐将军来了。”
“哦？快请进书房来。”
沈槐神采奕奕地走进书房，端端正正地抱了个拳，道：“狄大人，元芳兄。”
“沈将军快请坐。”狄仁杰招呼道，李元芳也紧走几步，对沈槐抱拳道：“沈贤弟。”
三人分别坐下，沈槐道：“末将今天过来，是应长史大人之命，请狄大人和元芳兄明日一起去蓝玉观勘查现场。还请狄大人、元芳兄不要推辞。”
“嗳，我们怎么会推辞呢。请转告陈大人，明日一早我们即可出发。”
沈槐道：“如此甚好，明早我会与陈大人一起过来，请上狄大人和元芳兄后，从这里出发去蓝玉观。”
"Great."
沈槐又道：“关于这个蓝玉观，今天我又去多方打听了一下，略有些收获，可以讲于狄大人和元芳兄听。”
“哦？沈将军快说来听听。”
沈槐道：“对于这个蓝玉观，过去的的确确从没有人听说过，也没有人见过。虽然韩锐和韩斌兄弟说有这么个道观，但基本上大家都认为他们是在胡说八道。直到半年多前，曾有些工匠被召集起来，蒙着眼睛去到一个幽僻的所在，盖了几座房舍，那些屋舍的构造仿佛是个道观。工匠们被遣回时也是蒙着眼睛，所以他们没有人知道如何出入那个神秘的地方。但是他们都提起，那个地方有个高达数十丈的热泉瀑布。所以，末将断定，那里其实就是蓝玉观。”
狄仁杰和李元芳相互看了一眼，点点头。
沈槐接着道：“还有一件怪事，就是最近这半年来，并州周边总有些流浪乞讨者失踪的案子，但是因为这些流浪者本来就行踪不定，也无亲无眷，所以最后都成了无头案。末将在想，不知道这些情况和蓝玉观里面的那些死亡的道众有没有关系？”
狄仁杰沉吟道：“沈将军，你做的很好啊。这些信息非常有价值，确实应该放在一起好好考虑。这样我们明天勘查现场就更加有的放矢了。”
沈槐道：“狄大人过奖了。”
狄仁杰微笑着，亲切地问：“听口音沈将军似乎是洛阳人士，什么时候来的并州啊？”
“狄大人，末将确是洛阳人，五年前从羽林卫中被派往并州折冲府。”
“哦，沈将军原来是羽林卫，难怪举手投足都这样严谨精干。”
沈槐笑道：“末将惭愧。如果狄大人没有别的事情，那末将就先告辞了。”
“好。元芳，替我送送你沈贤弟。”
李元芳跳起来，陪着沈槐到门口。沈槐看了看他，压低声音问：“元芳兄，身体好些了吗？”李元芳的脸微微一红，感激地看了沈槐一眼，道：“我已经没事了。谢谢你。”
回到书房，狄仁杰道：“你先去吧，今晚上早点休息，明天会有很多事情要做。”
李元芳答应了一声，却不动，只对狄仁杰笑着。狄仁杰让他笑得有些莫名其妙，便问：“元芳，有什么事吗？”
李元芳点点头，不好意思地道：“大人，那些点心很好吃，我可以拿些去吗？”
“啊？噢，唉呀，拿去，拿去。都拿去吧。”狄仁杰忍俊不禁，把点心包往李元芳的怀里塞。
“不，不，不用这么多。”李元芳的脸涨得通红，一边说着，一边从桌上拿起张纸，拣了几块点心包在里面。
狄仁杰看着他手忙脚乱地样子，突然深深地叹了口气，道：“你呀，和景辉小时候一模一样。他也喜欢吃这种点心，吃完了还要拿……元芳啊，我过去一直不觉得自己老，可是这次回到家，看到景辉，再看看你，我真的觉得自己已经老了，老了啊。”
李元芳已经包好了点心，低头听着。
狄仁杰看着他，眼里突然有些潮湿，颤声道：“人老了，就希望看到孩子们一切都好，开开心心的，这才是一个老人最大的安慰啊。景辉是我最小的儿子，你比他还要小些，我心里也一直把你看成我的亲生儿子。我是多么希望你们两个能够和和睦睦的，可惜世事总难遂人愿啊。元芳，你别和景辉计较，他就是那个脾气，我也拿他没办法。其实他的心地并不坏。如今我的身边只有你们两个，我一个都离不开啊。”
李元芳一直低着头，此时才极轻地说了句：“大人，我走了。”拿起纸包离开了狄仁杰的书房。
他走到自己房门前，转了一圈就朝府外走去，一路上快马加鞭，很快赶到了离城东土地庙三条巷子的街口，把马拴在路边的一棵大树上，慢慢地朝土地庙的方向走去。
晚霞的余晖将遥远的天际涂抹成灿烂的金色，路边树上几片摇摇欲坠的枯叶在风中轻轻摇摆，犹如在和着残阳轻盈地舞蹈，深秋时节的黄昏，路上几乎已经没有了行人，李元芳一个人悠哉游哉地走着，仿佛在尽情享受着这静谧安详的秋日即景，实际上那双敏锐的眼睛始终在警觉地观察着周围的动静。走了两条小巷，他完全确定没有任何异常情况，才飞快地跑起来，几步就飞身跃过了土地庙倒塌了一半的院墙。
落在破庙前的院中，李元芳环顾着四周，一点儿动静都没有。他皱了皱眉，举步要往土地庙里走，忽然听到庙门内有声音，他注意听了听，露出笑容，便干脆往台阶上一坐，耐心等待起来。
在他的身后，一个小孩子蹑手蹑脚地靠近了，突然，李元芳一个转身，小孩子猝不及防被他一把揪入了怀中。李元芳看着这个蓬头垢面的孩子，轻轻擦了擦他的脸蛋，道：“你的武器都让我给收走了，还有什么办法来伏击我？”
“伏击？什么叫伏击？”韩斌瞪着他，一个劲儿地在地上蹬着双脚，拼命挣扎。李元芳被他挣得没办法，只好把他放开了。再一看，韩斌的小手里面居然握着半拉剪刀，李元芳愣了愣，道：“你怎么？唉，我真不知道，把我弄死了，对你有什么好处？”
“也没什么好处，可我就是不喜欢你老是缠着我问东问西的。”韩斌气呼呼地说，把剪刀随手一扔，坐到了李元芳的身边。
“那我不问东问西了，你是不是可以对我客气些？”
“这个嘛，还差不多。”
李元芳苦笑着摇头，问道：“吃过东西了吗？”
韩斌朝他翻了个白眼，也不答话。
李元芳从怀里掏出纸包，打开来递给韩斌：“喂，我给你带好吃的来了。”
韩斌一把抢过去，抓起块酥饼就往嘴里塞。李元芳看着他笑，问道：“你明明知道不是我害死的你哥哥，为什么还是不愿意相信我？我对你不好吗？”
韩斌嘴里塞着点心，含含糊糊地说：“可你和那个人住在一个家里面，我看见的。你们是一起的。”
“那个人？哪个人？”李元芳盯紧韩斌问道。
韩斌有些被他脸上严肃的表情吓到了，嚅嗫着说：“就是那个，那个狄三公子。”
李元芳冷冷地道：“看来我没有猜错。你认识他？为什么？”
韩斌被他吓得一哆嗦，结结巴巴地说：“是，是因为，嫣然小姐，我哥哥……”
李元芳大为讶异：“嫣然小姐，你还知道陆嫣然？”
韩斌“嗯”了一声，接着委委屈屈地道：“你不是保证不问了吗？我真的不想说，我哥哥死了，我不知道怎么办，也不知道该去哪里。我……可我还想替他报仇，我哥哥他是个哑巴，他也没什么本事，除了画画他什么都不会，可他是我的好哥哥，我就这么一个哥哥，现在他死了，我什么亲人也没有了……”他说不下去了，呜呜咽咽地哭了起来。
李元芳叹了口气，呆呆地看着韩斌哭，一直等到韩斌渐渐停止了哭泣，他才站起身来，说：“斌儿，我要走了。你自己要小心。”他又绕着土地庙转了一圈，道：“把你一个人留在这里，我真是不放心，可是又不能带你去狄府，怎么办呢？我也是两天前才到太原，东南西北还搞不太清楚。让我好好想想，想想……”
他突然又盯着韩斌，道：“你骗我了，你根本就不会写字。”
韩斌转了转眼珠，道：“嗯，我不会写字。可我会画画，哥哥教我的。”说着，他从地上捡起根树枝，三下两下就在泥地上画了个人脸。
李元芳走过去一看，居然画的是自己，还挺形神兼备，就是皱着眉头似乎挺凶的样子，他看得大乐，笑着说：“我有这么凶吗？”用鞋底把自己的肖像擦掉，李元芳看着韩斌道：“真是个聪明的孩子。这样，你就在这里再呆一个晚上，明天，明天我一定想办法把你带走，我会保护好你的。”
李元芳朝韩斌挥挥手，离开了城东土地庙。
他回到狄府的时候，天色已经黑了。回房间的路上，不期碰上了在原地转来转去的狄景辉。狄景辉似乎在等他，刚一看见李元芳，脸上顿时有些尴尬的神色，但马上就调整得若无其事的样子，稳稳地走上前来，一拱手道：“李将军。”
李元芳略略犹豫了一下，也立即跨前一步，抱拳道：“景辉兄，找我有事吗？”
狄景辉笑道：“咳，景辉惭愧啊，李将军来了这两天，景辉多有冒犯，心里很过意不去。今晚上特意设了宴，想请李将军过去，给李将军赔罪。”
李元芳毫不迟疑地答道：“赔罪是绝不敢当的，景辉兄盛情，元芳怎敢违命。元芳一定去。”
狄景辉大喜：“好！痛快！李将军果然豪爽。宴席就设在景辉开设的酒肆九重楼里面。那景辉就先走一步，在九重楼恭候李将军。”
“景辉兄请便，元芳随后就到。”
李元芳目送着狄景辉大步流星地走了，才回到自己的房间，他匆匆地换了套衣服，向狄春问明了九重楼的方位，上马飞奔而去。