Chapter 43 Chapter 43: A Soft Spot

Gu Yueming returned to Junshan Garden, and as he expected, Ji Nieti sat in the hall, holding the invitation card for the 10th anniversary dinner of Hongyelou that he put on the table, with a thoughtful expression. Gu Yueming sat down on the other side of the table. Ji Nieti put down the invitation card, looked at him, and said, "What happened?" Gu Yueming shrugged and said, "I said earlier that nothing will happen, did Lord Ji believe it?" Ji Nieti said distressedly: "It is very hard to talk to Yueming, Yueming always seems to embarrass me. Although you and I are not friends, we can be regarded as partners in cooperation. I treat you very well , you asked me not to disturb Xue Tinghao's body, so I did so, and I lent you a four-bow arrow machine last night, what do you think of me?"

Gu Yueming said indifferently: "Maybe it's because I'm withdrawn and don't know how to deal with others, but maybe Master Ji is used to giving orders, is used to obeying others' orders, and dare not disobey. So the problem is very likely to be two-sided, right?" Ji Nieti laughed dumbly and said: "It makes sense! Very few people... No! No one would be so frank with me. But I really hope that I can cooperate loyally with Yueming, because there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in front of me." Gu Yueming said categorically: "I will never pay attention to anything other than things related to Chu He."

Ji Nieti was silent for a moment, then nodded and said: "Okay! I respect Yueming's decision. I will only ask Yueming about Chu He. Is the person pretending to be Lang Geng a Five-Dun Pirate?" Gu Yueming said: "There is no doubt about it. As for why another Five-Dun Thief suddenly appeared and stole Qian Shichen's Celestial Lady Jade Sword, then even the real Five-Dun Thief is inexplicable. I don't understand who is willing to help him like this busy." In this matter, he had to hide it for Wu Zixu.If J Nieti knew that one of the luminous pearls on the Chu box fell into Wu Zixu's hand, no matter how Gu Yueming explained it, he would not be able to persuade J Nieti not to touch Wu Zixu, because J Nieti would conclude that Wu Zixu had already got Chu box, and this must be Qian Shichen's view.Who would believe that Wu Zixu's Ye Mingzhu was "picked up"?

Only two people would believe Wu Zixu in this matter, one is him Gu Yueming, the other is Ruan Xiuzhen, only they understand that under the ingenious arrangement of Goddess Yunmeng, any weird and bizarre things may happen. Ji Nieti said in a deep voice: "There is no other Five-Dun Robber at all. The theft is caused by Qian Shichen's suspicion, in order to make the Dahe League lose its reason to arrest the Five-Dun Robber. Is that right?" Gu Yueming nodded and said, "Very reasonable." Ji Nie said: "But why did Qian Shichen defend the Five-Dun Pirates? What good does it do him?"

Gu Yueming secretly cried out that it was terrible, and Ji Nieti continued to ask, how to resist.Goddess Yunmeng's move was ingenious, but it hurt him.What's even worse is that Ji Nieti is actually controlling Wu Zixu's life and death. As long as Ji Nieti proves to Dahemeng that Wu Zixu is the fifth escaped thief, Wu Zixu will definitely be doomed, and Gu Yueming will not be much better. The trouble should end it. Gu Yueming said: "Nothing is reasonable now, Mr. Ji should understand the reason. As I said, because Wudun Pirates have gods to protect him, so no one can do anything to him, obviously doomed, but Live in peace again.”

Ji Nie Timo said expressionlessly: "Is there really nothing you can do to him?" Gu Yueming said casually: "What can Mr. Ji do?" Jneti pondered for a moment, his face changed slightly, and he said: "You are right. I want to deal with him, and I can do it with a word, but I can't say this, and I have to protect him, so I don't let him fall into the trap." In the hands of the Dahemeng, because Huangfu Tianxiong and Qiu Ruan have a secret agreement, as long as the Five Dungeons are handed over to Huangfu Tianxiong, Huangfu Tianxiong will give up the position of the leader of the dragon to Qiu Jiushi."

Gu Yueming secretly wiped off the cold sweat.He is rarely worried about others, but now he is really happy that Wu Zixu has overcome another difficult time, not only for Chu He, but also because he feels that Wu Zixu may be his first or only friend. Goddess Yunmeng once again showed her extraordinary intelligence, without missing anything.Everyone has no choice, including Jneti. Gu Yueming understands that the reason for Ji Nieti's discoloration stems from inner fear.People like Ji Nieti, who have been in high positions for most of their lives, are used to manipulating the power of life and death of others, and suddenly realize that the person who can really call the shots is not themselves, but a certain force in the dark, and their destiny is no longer controlled by themselves. It felt like falling straight down from a high cloud, and it wasn't a good feeling.

In fact, Jneti was most likely "destined" to die at his hands.He has no personal grievances with Jneti, but under the current situation, he must kill Jneti, and when the opportunity comes, he will do so without hesitation. Gu Yueming said: "Master Ji, until now, still puts the search for Chu He in a secondary position." Ji Nieti looked at him and said in a deep voice, "What exactly is in the Chu box?" Gu Yueming said: "It is definitely not an ordinary treasure. At the age of Eunuch Feng, there are no rare treasures that can impress him. And if it is an ordinary thing, how can it work for the gods?"

Ji Nie gave a thoughtful look. Gu Yueming clearly grasped his state of mind.For a long time, Ji Nieti did not take the ancient city of Chuhe to heart. His energy was focused on practical issues, which could not be separated from the struggle for power and profit.Until last night when Wu Zixu overcame the difficulties beyond his expectation, Jneti realized that he couldn't help Wu Zixu, so he had to seriously think about ghosts and gods.This is exactly the process that Gu Yueming has experienced, from disbelief to conviction. Jneti pondered and said: "Yueming thinks the Grand Duke knows what is hidden in the Chu box?"

Gu Yueming said calmly: "Master Ji is more familiar with Grandpa than I am, so he should be clearer than me about this." Ji Nieti was obviously not used to talking about Eunuch Feng with others. He sighed, nodded, and then looked at him, saying: "The Eunuch's desire for Chu He is indeed extraordinary, and the situation inside is also unpredictable. It's not up to us to deal with it. Alright! Let's do our own thing well. How do you think I can help you with the matter of the five escaped thieves?" Gu Yueming said: "The Dahemeng will definitely not stop here. The only chance to escape from Yueyang now is the evening of the tenth anniversary dinner of Hongyelou the day after tomorrow. The north and south city gates are open all night. As long as you show the invitation card, you can come in and out freely. Regardless of Qian Shichen's reason Any reason to protect Wudun Pirates, even knowing that Wudun Pirates is the key person to find the ancient city, will never prevent Wudun Pirates from leaving the city, and Dahemeng will not rob people in the city because of concerns about Qian Shichen So as long as your lord agrees on a place outside the city and prepares top-notch war horses for the five thieves, we will reach Yunmengze before the pursuers, and when we get there, all problems can be easily solved."

Ji Nieti frowned and said, "Why can all problems be solved after arriving at Yunmengze?" Gu Yueming said in a deep voice word by word: "Because that is the place where the power of the gods in the ancient city is the strongest, and she is the master of Yunmengze." Jneti stared at him blankly, speechless. Gu Yueming said lightly: "Master Ji finds it hard to accept, doesn't he?" Ji Nieti let out a breath, and said with a wry smile: "It's hard to accept, but I have to accept it, because I have encountered strange things. Alas! Frankly speaking, I really don't want you to find the ancient city, it's too unacceptable." Then he regained his composure, and said: "There is no problem with the war horse, maybe you don't even have to worry about Qiu Jiushi, everything will be resolved on the night of July 7. Finally, I just want to ask a question, Wudun Pirates and Qian Shichen Did you meet and talk in Hongye Building last night?" Gu Yueming said casually: "This is for sure, because what Wudun Pirates needs most now is silver taels, and he still has a treasure in his hand, and Qian Shichen is the most qualified buyer. Wudun Pirates showed me this treasure before." , It’s just a jade bead, I don’t see its value at all, of course Qian Shichen knows better than me. I have a very good relationship with Wudun Pirates now, so I can borrow it from him to show you.” Ji Nieti was puzzled: "How could Qian Shichen betray the Dahe League for such a jade bead?" Gu Yueming said: "The fact is like this." Ji Nie raised his hand and said, "Okay! Tonight, when Yueming comes to return the four-bow and crossbow machine, show me the jade beads by the way." Say that and leave. "Mr. Lang! Mr. Lang!" Baichun entered Fengzhu Pavilion, but he couldn't see Wu Zixu, so he raised his voice to call. "I'm here!" When Baichun came to the place where he climbed the stairs, he saw Wu Zixu sitting on the top step of the stairs, with his elbows resting on his legs, his face buried in his palms, with a sluggish posture. Baichun walked up and asked, "What happened?" Wu Zixu said dejectedly: "Sure enough, there are new tricks. I had a terrible nightmare." When Baichun came to his third level, Dai Mei frowned lightly and said: "What new trick? What's the big deal about having nightmares, everyone will have nightmares." Wu Zixu said painfully: "You won't understand." Baichun sat down on the steps angrily, and said angrily: "Say it out and listen to see what's difficult to understand. It's so unmanly." Wu Zixu raised his head and asked: "It's not yet noon, has Baichun had enough sleep?" Baichun slightly shrugged his shoulders and said, "I didn't close my eyes last night." Wu Zixu's pale face turned red immediately, and he tentatively said, "Did you miss me? That's why he came to me at dawn. Ha! I told you everything! After seeing the painting I made for you, Bai Chunding can't help falling in love with me." Baichun smiled sweetly and said: "I really can't help it, but what I fell in love with is not your person, but your painting. I have never seen a person who is as passionate as you, but I always feel that you will not love I'm just used to talking to pretty girls. Am I wrong?" Wu Zixu pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "It's so weird! You really understand me, no one has ever said that to me before. Because every time I have a physical relationship with a beautiful woman, I will regret it to death. So the more I If you like Baichun, the more you dare not have skin-to-skin relationship with Baichun, the fear is another hope will be dashed." A red cloud flew up on each of Baichun's cheeks, making her even more charming, and said angrily: "You are playing the ninth-rate aggressive method, I will never fall for it." Wu Zixu sighed: "The first-rate is good, the one that can make Baichun blush is the first-rate means of love. The eight beautiful pictures are completed, and I will leave Hongyelou at any time, but I still have a dream in Hongyelou, which is Baichun stays with me all night, to see if I never want to leave when I wake up." Baichun showed a thoughtful look, and after a while, he said softly: "You are the first man who directly asks Baichun to devote himself so directly. If I have always had a temper, I will probably give you a slap in the face. But I really didn't Angry, and suddenly feel that your playful persona is a fake, just to cover up the pain in your heart. However, I'm sure I'm not the person you've been looking for. You know why I came so early in the morning Looking for you? The reason is that I want to tell you that I already know who the person you are looking for is." Wuzi lost his voice and said, "That's impossible. If it's not Baichun, who else is there? Even if there is, that person has not yet appeared. Can Baichun predict the future? Sigh! Don't think so much, Baichun is very possible It is the last chance in my life, and I don't want to miss it no matter how risky I am." Baichun's big charming eyes radiated light and heat, ignored what he said, looked up and said, "After you left by boat last night, I looked at my portrait and felt that it really has mysterious magic power. The painting is obviously different from the other seven beautiful pictures. It has a feeling that the other seven pictures do not have. Crying. I am a person who cries easily, until the cicada wing came to take the painting away, I still couldn’t recover, and my heart was filled with a certain emotion that I couldn’t understand.” Wu Zixu stared at her blankly. Under the morning light, her beautiful eyes shone frighteningly. The pupils were like two fiery balls of fire, allowing you to see into the depths of her heart.He was sure that she was in love, but with his painting and had nothing to do with him. Baichun was completely intoxicated by a certain kind of feeling, and said with great enthusiasm: "When I returned to the Qingzhu Pavilion, I couldn't help but look at your 'Picture of the Goddess of Yunmeng' again. Inspiration, this time I looked at it very carefully and carefully, and I felt a strong difference between the two paintings. Do you know where the difference is?" Wu Zixu shook his head blankly. Baichun said: "The picture you drew of me successfully captured the expression I showed you at a certain moment, as if you could see into my heart. But what touched me the most was that this painting seemed to be completely Beyond who I was then, beyond the moment when I showed you that look, combined with something more eternal, mysterious and poignant, I was so moved that I couldn't help myself." Wu Zixu said: "That just represents my love for you." Baichun cast his eyes on him, stared at him, slowly shook his head and said: "Without comparison, I might believe your words. When I admire your Yunmeng goddess again, I immediately grasp the difference between the two paintings. .My painting must be a magical pen and an immortal work, but it is still not as good as your Yunmeng goddess. Because when you painted your goddess, you put all your heart and soul into your sea-like affection, without repression It expresses your deep desire in your heart. In contrast, when you draw me, you are just a bystander, but when you draw your goddess, you are passionately in love with the beauty in your own pen. I'm sure this feeling can never be wrong, and I feel the need to come and tell you right away, so you can think of me as the messenger of Goddess Yunmeng, here to convey the most important message that Goddess has given you—it is her that you have been looking for all your life, and you don’t have to worry about it anymore Look for it, because you will never find what you are looking for in other women, including me, Baichun." Wu Zixu showed a shocked expression, opened his mouth wide, but couldn't speak. At this moment, Cicada Wing rushed over and shouted: "Miss! Miss! Where are you?" Suddenly found two people sitting on the steps, too surprised to speak. Baichun cast a blank glance at Bai Wuzi, her big beautiful eyes seemed to be saying: "There is nothing to say! Get me the real evidence, you don't love me at all." Then he said to Chanyi: "What's the hurry? " Cicada Wing gasped and said, "Young Master Qiu Jiu came to find Missy." Baichun stood up with a "huh", feeling a bit at a loss. Wu Zixu reminded: "I haven't told you the terrible situation in the dream yet." Baichun ignored him, and said to Cicada Wing: "I want to meet him at Qingzhu Pavilion." Cicada Wing gave Wu Zixu a suspicious look, and took the order. Baichun stretched out his hand to pat Wu Zixu's cheek, and said with a smile, "Good boy, be good, and come back to listen to the moving stories in your dreams after the adults finish their serious business." After finishing speaking, he hurried away. The chief minister's office. Qian Shichen entered the stone house and sat down opposite Ge Mo. Gemo said, "How's the situation?" Qian Shichen said: "The Dahemeng seemed to have no doubts, and withdrew all the people monitoring Hongyelou, while I pretended to strengthen the city's defenses while sending people to search for the five escaped robbers from house to house. eyeliner." Gemo said: "Is there any trace of Jneti?" Qian Shichen said worriedly: "Since Ji Nieti left the city to Yunmeng Lake that night, I haven't heard any news from him." Ge Mo said: "Ji Nieti must be back, otherwise, how could Gu Yueming have four bows and arrows in his hand, which made Gu Yueming turn the situation around at once. But now we can't find Ji Nieti, so it can be seen that he has been there all along To guard against your own preparations, so you can come and go freely and hide your tracks." He pondered again: "If Ruan Xiuzhen was so easy to be fooled by you, the Dahemeng would not have the momentum it is today, so the Dahemeng is just pretending to trust you, I dare say they have other means." Qian Shichen sighed, "Did we do something stupid again?" Ge Mo said unhappily: "I said earlier that it was just a temporary measure. The goal was to prevent the five escaped thieves from falling into the hands of the Dahemeng. I never said that this plan could promote your friendship with the Dahemeng. Ten years ago Where did Qian Shichen go? It was you who told me ten years ago that you were willing to pay any price to get the Chu box. Last night you had the same air, why do you regret it now?" Qian Shichen said with ashen face: "My heart is in a mess, senior brother teach me what to do." Ge Mo was silent for a moment, and said: "You have two choices, the first choice is to go see Ruan Xiuzhen and Qiu Jiushi, confess to them, and say that you will not dare in the future, Lang Geng is indeed a five-dun robber, everyone immediately Rushing into the Red Leaf Building to arrest people, I hope that Ruan Qiu and the others will see that you have sincerely corrected your mistakes, and give up the five escaped robbers for two or three hours, and let us serve you with great torture." Qian Shichen's face changed: "Then where will I put my face? Will they still think highly of me in the future?" Ge Mo said indifferently: "compared with wealth and life, face is just a trivial matter, isn't it?" Qian Shichen said distressedly: "But don't they know that I have been dishonest, so what's the point of our covenant?" Ge Mo sighed: "You still haven't grasped the key point of the problem. The biggest problem is to let the Dahemeng see through your background. The imperial court is going to deal with you, not the Dahemeng. There is no urgency for the Dahemeng's uprising, and it is impossible to prepare well." Better than rushing into battle, right?" Qian Shichen said in amazement: "Then I have no choice at all?" Ge Mo said: "It's been like this since the beginning, and it has never changed. Your life is tied to the Chu box. Only when you get the Chu box, things may turn around. You tell me honestly, whether you continue to work or not. Or run away, I have no leisure to waste time on nonsense." Qian Shichen's face became as ugly as it could be, cloudy and sunny at times, and finally he clenched his fist and waved his hands and said, "I've decided, everything will be done according to senior brother's instructions." When Gu Yueming arrived at Hongyelou, an unexpected situation appeared before him. In the old Hongye Building, everything was in a nearly static state before noon. After noon, there was no movement in the building, like a sleeping person gradually waking up. But now it was more than an hour before noon, the square in the outer courtyard was already full of bustle, more than a hundred craftsmen and servants were busy, festooning everywhere, and building firecracker towers as high as five feet high on both sides of the main hall. Fatty Zhou, who was directing, saw Gu Yueming and hurried up to greet him. Gu Yueming said: "Is Boss Zhou satisfied with Lang Geng's eight beauties?" Fatty Zhou said in admiration: "The word 'satisfaction' is no longer enough to describe my mood, I should use 'grateful'. I admire Mr. Lang completely. The pictures are different, each has its own characteristics, and each picture is extremely seductive. Especially the one of Baichun, it must be the highest state, any man who sees that painting will have a noble sentiment of pity and pity, I really feel pity, and this is exactly what eats the brothel Girls can reach the highest level. Ha! Once a man is moved with compassion, he is willing to offer anything. Haha! Yueming is coming back, is he going to see old friends?" Gu Yueming said: "I want to see my horse first." Fatty Zhou said cheerfully: "Go this way, let's go through Hongye Hall. We will be closed for three days, and we will do our best to prepare for the party the day after tomorrow. Yueming can give us some advice so that we can make it more perfect." The two walked up the doorstep and entered Hongye Hall. The bustling lobby is even more lively than the square outside. Hundreds of people are working hard on the layout and decoration of the lobby. More than a dozen long ladders are attached to the four walls to make people climb to higher places. Lanterns are hung, and even the tallest beams are worked on. The Linhu Garden was crowded with people, and the atmosphere was as hot as the weather. Yan Niang was instructing her subordinates to set up a large round table in a suitable place, she was so busy that she was sweating profusely, when she saw Gu Yueming, she did not forget to send her a charming smile, and went back to work in a blink of an eye. Gu Yueming clearly felt the unanimous support for Hongyelou from everyone above and below, and everyone united and worked hard for the goal. Fatty Zhou lowered his voice and said: "What happened last night? Old Qian suddenly sent someone to tell me that Lang Geng was not a bandit from Wudu, and the Dahemeng removed the people who watched us. Master Qiu Jiu was coming to look for Baichun. Now it's time to talk to Baichun in Qingzhu Pavilion." Gu Yueming walked through the north gate together with him and arrived at the garden near the lake. He heard the words: "The five escaped robbers stole Qian Shichen's heavenly maiden jade sword last night. Evidence of presence." Fatty Zhou laughed and said, "Lang Geng is really not a Five-Dun Bandit, this joke is too big." Gu Yueming stopped walking and said, "Boss Zhou doesn't need to send it off, I want to go to the stables alone." Fatty Zhou had a strange look on his face, and said, "Isn't Lang Geng really a Five-Dun Bandit?" Gu Yueming said: "You have to ask Qian Shichen yourself to get a definite answer." Say goodbye and go.