Chapter 15 The Fifteenth Chapter Caring for Wind and Rain
When Kangxi heard the sound of the gong, he put on his clothes and stood up. A guard came to report that something happened in the Palace of Compassion, but he couldn't tell what happened.He was in a hurry, when he saw Wei Xiaobao coming in, he hurriedly asked: "How is the Queen Mother? What happened?"
Wei Xiaobao said: "The Empress Dowager told this servant to go back to her room to sleep tonight, and then move into the Palace of Compassion and Peace tomorrow. No... I didn't expect something to happen in the palace. I don't know what, this servant will go and have a look." Kangxi said: "I'm going to pay my respects to the queen mother, you follow." Wei Xiaobao said: "Yes." Kangxi was very filial to the queen mother, so he didn't have time to wear it, so he put on a long robe and rushed out, walking quickly, while asking: "Would the queen mother want You serve me, why did you come to my place again?" Wei Xiaobao said: "The servant heard the sound of the gong, worried that the assassin would come again, and only cared about the emperor, rushing here, really... really damned."
As soon as Kangxi left the palace, a large number of eunuchs and guards followed him, and more than a dozen lanterns illuminated his body.He saw that Wei Xiaobao's clothes and hair were extremely disheveled, but he didn't know that he was slipping in and out under the Empress Dowager's bed, he also said that he was loyal to protect the Lord, and only cared about the Emperor wholeheartedly, and came to protect him before he could get dressed, he was quite relieved .
After walking a few feet, two guards rushed over and reported: "The assassin trespassed on the Palace of Compassion and Ning and killed a eunuch and a court lady." Kangxi hurriedly asked, "Did the Empress Dowager be alarmed?" The guard said: " Director Duo has led people to surround the Palace of Compassion and Ning to protect the Empress Dowager closely." Kangxi felt a little relieved.
Wei Xiaobao thought to himself: "Even if he led a hundred thousand soldiers to protect the Palace of Compassion, it would be too late now."
It is not far from Qianqing Palace to Compassionate Ning Palace, just bypassing the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the Hall of Tai Chi.I saw lanterns and torches shining like daylight, and hundreds of guards standing in a row, not to mention assassins, I'm afraid even a mouse couldn't get through.When all the guards saw the emperor, they knelt down together.Kangxi waved his hand and walked quickly into the palace.
Wei Xiaobao raised the door curtain.When Kangxi walked in, he saw that the boxes and cages in the dormitory were in a mess, blood flowed all over the floor, and two dead bodies were lying on the ground. He was so frightened that his heart beat wildly, and he shouted: "Queen Mother, Queen Mother!"
A person on the bed whispered: "Is it the emperor? Don't worry, I'm fine." It was the Queen Mother's voice.
Wei Xiaobao's shock was no small matter, and he thought to himself: "So the old bitch is not dead. I was really stupid, why didn't I put a sword on her earlier? She is not dead, I must die." Looking back, he thought He ran away with his feet, but saw that there were densely packed guards outside the door, and if he couldn't escape three steps, he would be caught, his feet became weak, his head became dizzy, and he wanted to fall down.
Kangxi came to the bed and said: "Queen Mother, you are frightened. The child is not well protected. It is a heinous crime. Those useless guards must be punished one by one." The Queen Mother took a breath and said, "No...it's nothing. It was a eunuch and a court lady quarreling...fighting each other to death, not doing anything about the guards." Kangxi said: "The Queen Mother is safe? Has it disturbed your old man?" The Queen Mother said: "No! It's just me looking at these The servant is angry. Emperor, go ahead and ask everyone to disperse."
Kangxi said: "Quickly send the imperial doctor to feel the empress dowager's pulse." Wei Xiaobao shrank behind him, not daring to agree, he was afraid that the empress dowager would see her and recognize him as soon as he opened his mouth.The Empress Dowager said: "No, there is no need to tell the imperial physician, I will just sleep. These two people...the corpses of these two slaves...don't need to move. I am very annoyed. I am afraid of noise. Emperor, you...you call everyone Hurry up." She spoke in a weak voice, out of breath, obviously injured really badly.
Kangxi was very worried, but he didn't dare to disobey his orders. He wanted to thoroughly investigate how the eunuch and the maid fought, which made the Queen Mother so angry. Although they were dead, they committed such a serious crime, and their family members had to be held accountable. Hearing what the Empress Dowager said, he obviously didn't want to publicize it, and even the corpse was not allowed to move, so he had to ask the Empress Dowager for peace and leave the Palace of Compassion and Peace.
Wei Xiaobao narrowly escaped death, his feet were still weak, and he walked with his hands on the wall.
Kangxi lowered his head and pondered, feeling that what happened tonight in the Palace of Compassion and Ning was so abrupt that there must be secrets in it, but the empress dowager's intentions were so obvious that he couldn't pay attention to it.He lowered his head in thought, walked for a long time, then raised his head, saw Wei Xiaobao following behind, and asked: "The Empress Dowager wants you to serve, why are you following here again?"
Wei Xiaobao thought to himself that he would leave the palace and escape at dawn anyway, so Da Ke opened his mouth and said, "Earlier, the queen mother said that she was very upset, and she got angry when she saw the eunuch. The slave is not very comfortable seeing the queen mother's body, so it is better not to provoke the queen mother It's better to be troubled."
Kangxi nodded, returned to the Qianqing Palace bedroom, all the eunuchs waiting to serve him retreated, and said: "Xiao Guizi, you keep it!" Wei Xiaobao agreed.
Kangxi paced back and forth from east to west, and then from west to east, and asked, "Look at that eunuch and that maid, why did they fight to death?" Wei Xiaobao said, "I can't guess that. Many court ladies and eunuchs in the palace are very bad-tempered, quarreling at every turn, and sometimes fight secretly, but they dare not let the queen mother and the emperor know." Kangxi nodded and said: "Go and tell everyone, don't mention this matter again, so as not to Make the Empress Dowager angry." Wei Xiaobao said: "Yes!" Kangxi said: "You go!"
Wei Xiaobao invited Ann, turned around and left, thinking: "I'll never see you again when I go." He turned his head and took another look.Kangxi was also looking at him, with a smile on his face, and said: "Come here." Wei Xiaobao turned around.Kangxi opened a gold box next to the bed, took out two pieces of snacks, said with a smile: "I've been tired for a long time, I'm hungry!" and handed him the snacks.
Wei Xiaobao took it with both hands, remembering that the Empress Dowager is vicious and vicious, there are men hidden in the palace, one day she will harm the Emperor.He was kept in the dark and knew nothing.The emperor treated himself like a friend and brother. If he didn't tell him about this, he would be killed by the queen mother, and he would have no sense of loyalty.Thinking of this, there seemed to be the tragic scene of Kangxi's whole body being broken and his body lying on the ground. His heart felt sour, and he couldn't help but burst into tears.
Kangxi smiled and said, "What's the matter?" He reached out to pat him on the shoulder and said, "You want to follow me, don't you? That's easy too. I'll talk to the Queen Mother after a few days. To be honest, I also I miss you."
Wei Xiaobao was excited, thinking: "Tao Gong'e said, if I tell the truth, the emperor will inevitably kill me. A hero can do anything, but he has to show loyalty. If a man dies, he will die." Put two pieces of snacks on the table He held Kangxi's hand and said in a trembling voice, "Little Xuanzi, let me call you Xiaoxuanzi again, okay?"
Kangxi smiled and said: "Of course. I have said it long ago. Where there is no one, we will be the same as before. You want to compete with me again, don't you? Come, come, let the horse come over." , holding his hands instead.
Wei Xiaobao said: "Not busy with the martial arts competition. There is an important confidential matter, you have to tell my good friend Xiao Xuanzi, but you must not tell my master Long Live Lord. After the emperor heard about it, he will chop off my head. Xiao Xuanzi treats me as a friend, Or it doesn't matter."
Kangxi didn't know the importance of the matter, and the young man's mood, he just felt it was very interesting, he hurriedly pulled him to sit on the edge of the bed, said: "Say it quickly! Say it quickly!" Wei Xiaobao said: "Now you are Xiaoxuanzi, not the emperor?" Kangxi smiled Said: "Yes, now I am your good friend Xiao Xuanzi, not the emperor. Being an emperor all day long, I don't have a close friend, and I don't have much taste." Wei Xiaobao said: "Okay, let me tell you. You want to kill me There's nothing you can do about your head." Kangxi smiled and said, "Why should I kill you? How can a good friend kill a good friend?"
Wei Xiaobao took a long breath and said: "I'm not the real Xiao Guizi, I'm not a eunuch, the real Xiao Guizi has been killed by me." Kangxi was shocked and asked, "What?"
Wei Xiaobao briefly talked about his background, and then he talked about how he was captured into the palace, how he poisoned Hai Dafu to blind him, how he pretended to be Xiao Guizi, how Hai Dafu taught martial arts, etc., and told the truth one by one.
Hearing this, Kangxi smiled and said, "Damn it, you first untie your pants and show me."
Wei Xiaobao knew that the emperor was shrewd, how could he not verify such an important matter with his own eyes, so he immediately took off his pants.
When Kangxi saw that he was not a clean eunuch, he laughed loudly and said, "So you are not a eunuch. It is not a big deal to kill a little eunuch, Xiao Guizi. It's just that you can no longer live in the palace. Otherwise, I will I will assign you to be the head of the imperial guards. Although Duolong is good at martial arts, he is very foolish in his work."
Wei Xiaobao tied up his trousers and said, "Thank you very much, but I'm afraid it won't work. I heard some big secrets related to the Queen Mother."
Kangxi said: "It has something to do with the Queen Mother? What is that?" When he asked these two sentences, he felt something was wrong.
Wei Xiaobao gritted his teeth, and then narrated the conversation between the Queen Mother and Hai Dafu that he heard in the Compassion Ning Palace that night.
When Kangxi heard that his father, Emperor Shunzhi, did not die, but became a monk at Qingliang Temple in Wutai Mountain, his surprise was no small matter, and his joy was especially ecstatic.He trembled all over, held Wei Xiaobao's hands, and said tremblingly: "This...is this true? My father... is my father still alive?" Wei Xiaobao said: "I heard that the Queen Mother and Hai Dafu are indeed Said so."
Kangxi stood up and shouted loudly: "That... that's great! Great! Xiao Guizi, as soon as the sun breaks, let's go to Wutai Mountain to meet the emperor and invite him back to the palace."
Kangxi ruled the world, doing everything he wanted, and the only major regret in his life was the early death of his parents.Sometimes when I dream back at midnight, when I think of my parents, I can't help crying.Hearing what Wei Xiaobao said at this moment, even though he still couldn't help but be skeptical, he was overwhelmed with joy.
Wei Xiaobao said: "I'm afraid that the Empress Dowager is not willing. She has been hiding it from you, there is a major reason for this." Kangxi said: "That's right, what is the reason?" When he heard that his father was not dead, he was filled with joy Thoughtful, but after a moment of meditation, countless doubts immediately emerged.Wei Xiaobao said: "I don't understand anything about the important events in the palace, so I can only tell you the truth about the conversation between the Queen Mother and Hai Dafu." Kangxi said: "Yes, yes! Tell me quickly, tell me quickly!"
Hearing Wei Xiaobao talk about how Empress Duanjing and Empress Xiaokang were killed by others, Kangxi jumped up and shouted: "You... you said Empress Xiaokang was... killed by someone?" Wei Xiaobao saw that his expression changed drastically, His eyes were wide open, the muscles on his face couldn't help twitching, he couldn't help being afraid, and said in a trembling voice: "I... I don't know. I only heard Hai Dafu and the Queen Mother say so." Kangxi said: "What did they say? You ……pardon."
Wei Xiaobao had a very good memory, he recounted the conversation between the Empress Dowager and Hai Dafu that night, and even imitated their tone of voice very much alike.
Kangxi was stunned for a while, and said: "My mother... my mother was killed by someone?" Wei Xiaobao said: "Empress Xiaokang is... is... your mother?" Kangxi nodded and said: "Go on and don't miss a word." My heart felt sour, and tears streamed down my face.
Wei Xiaobao went on to tell that the murderer used the "bone-melting palm" to kill Queen Duanjing's son Prince Rong first, and then Queen Duanjing and Concubine Zhen. How the concubine's work was ordered by Hai Dafu to go to Mount Wutai to report to Shunzhi, how Shunzhi sent Hai Dafu back to the palace for a thorough investigation, until the Queen Mother and Hai Dafu faced each other.He didn't dare to say that Hai Dafu was killed by himself, but he said that after he became blind, he was no match for the Queen Mother, so he died by palming his hands.
Kangxi gathered himself together, questioned the situation of that night in detail, tracked down what he heard, asked repeatedly, guessed that Wei Xiaobao would never be able to fabricate this matter, raised his head and thought for a while, and asked: "Why didn't you tell me until today?" ?”
Wei Xiaobao said: "This matter is too involved, how dare I talk nonsense? But tomorrow I will escape from the palace and never come back again. It is extremely dangerous to think that you are alone in the palace, so I can't keep it a secret." Kangxi said "Why do you want to leave the palace? Are you afraid that the Queen Mother will harm you?" Wei Xiaobao said: "Let me tell you, the maid who died in the Palace of Compassion and Ning tonight was a man and the Queen Mother's senior brother."
The maid in the Empress Dowager's palace turned out to be a man, which was unimaginable, but Kangxi heard that his dead father was not dead, and his mother was assassinated by the always dignified and loving Empress Dowager. It is no surprise that the man is pretending, not to mention the little eunuch in front of him is also pretending, asking: "How do you know?"
Wei Xiaobao said: "Ever since I heard what the queen mother said to Hai Dafu that night, the queen mother has been trying to kill me." Now I will tell how the queen mother sent Ruidong, Liu Yan, and all the eunuchs to harm him one by one, He also said that in the Palace of Compassion and Ning, he heard a man talking to the Queen Mother, and the two started to quarrel. The palace lady that the man pretended to be was killed by the Queen Mother, but the Queen Mother was also injured.Of course, what he said was not entirely true, he didn't mention Tao Gong'e, he didn't say that he killed Rui Dong and Liu Yan, stole several "Forty-two Chapters" and so on.
Kangxi pondered and said: "This person is the empress dowager's brother? From his tone, it seems that the empress dowager is still being coerced by another person. Who could it be? Could it be... Could this person know that there is a fake maid in the empress dowager's bedroom, so..." Wei Xiaobao heard his words related to the Queen Mother's "adultery", he didn't dare to say anything, he just shook his head, and after a while, he said: "I can't think of it either."
Kangxi said: "Tell Duolong."
Wei Xiaobao agreed, thinking: "The emperor wants to turn against the queen mother and ask Duolong to arrest the old bitch and kill him? Should I run away quickly? Or should I stay and help him?"
Duolong was worried about himself, accidents happened one after another in the palace, even if the head on his neck was not moved, the hat on his head and the top of the hat were always very unstable. Hearing the emperor's call, he rushed into the Qianqing Palace .Kangxi ordered: "There is nothing wrong with the Palace of Compassion and Ning, you immediately remove all the guards outside the Palace of Compassion and Ning. The Empress Dowager said that she was very annoyed when she heard the guards standing outside the house." Although Duolong saw the emperor's expression was rather strange, he did not hesitate. He was overjoyed at the words of reproach, and hurriedly kowtowed and went out to deliver the order.
Kangxi questioned Wei Xiaobao carefully about all the doubts in his heart, after a long time, he knew that all the guards had withdrawn, and said: "Xiao Guizi, you and I will visit the Palace of Compassion at night."
Wei Xiaobao said: "Are you going to visit in person?" Kangxi said: "Exactly!" Now that the matter is so important, you can't just listen to the one-sided words of a fake eunuch and have doubts about the mother who raised you; Secondly, "Night Exploration at Risk" is a must for those who learn martial arts, how can they easily let go of this opportunity?I am the emperor, so I can't go out of the palace to try my skills, but it is better than nothing to be a "night walker" in the palace.It's just that ordering all the guards in the Palace of Compassion and Ning to withdraw, and then going to "night spy" by himself, it's just not suitable for the status of "martial arts expert".
Wei Xiaobao said: "The Empress Dowager has already killed her senior brother, she is sleeping peacefully to recuperate, I'm afraid nothing will be found."
Kangxi said: "I haven't checked it, how do I know I won't find anything?" Immediately changed into casual clothes, and put on thin-soled fast boots, which was the same outfit as Wei Xiaobao's martial arts competition that day, took a waist knife from the bedside, hung it At the waist, walked out from the side door of Qianqing Palace.
All the guards and eunuchs were guarding the outside of Qianqing Palace, and when they saw it, they hurriedly knelt down and saluted.Kangxi ordered: "Everyone stop, and no one is allowed to move." This is the emperor's decree, who dares to violate it?More than 200 guards and eunuchs just stood there, motionless.
Kangxi brought Wei Xiaobao to the Garden of Compassionate Ning Palace, and saw that there was no one there. He hid under the window of the Empress Dowager's bedroom, bent his ears to listen, only to hear the Empress Dowager coughing unceasingly, suddenly, thoughts surged in his heart, both sad and irritable, hearing the coughing sound of the Empress Dowager, he wanted to rush in and hug her Watching her cry bitterly, he wanted to put his arms around her neck and ask sharply, what happened to the royal father and his biological mother?For a moment he hoped that what Xiao Guizi said was all lies, and at the same time he hoped that what he said was true.He couldn't stop shivering, his hair stood on end, and the chill penetrated to the marrow of his bones. The candles in the Empress Dowager's room were not extinguished, and the window paper flickered on and off.After a while, I heard a maid's voice saying: "Queen Mother, it's finished." The Queen Mother gave a "hmm" and said, "Put...the dead body of this maid...in a quilt bag." The maid said: "Yes. Where is the dead body of the eunuch?" The queen mother said angrily, "I just told you to pretend to be that maid, you... what kind of eunuch are you in charge of?" The maid hurriedly said: "Yes!" Then she heard There is the sound of objects being dragged underground. Unable to bear it, Kangxi probed into the cracks in the window, but all the cracks in the windows of the Empress Dowager's bedroom were filled with putty, not even a single crack.In the past, he had heard Wei Xiaobao talk about the tricks and taboos of nocturnal travelers in the rivers and lakes. They were all relaying what Mao Shiba said all the way from Yangzhou to Beijing.At this moment, the window was seamless, right in the middle of his chest, he stretched out his fingers to get saliva on the window paper, lightly wetted the paper on the window, and with a slight force on the finger, a small hole was broken in the window, but there was no sound at all. He looked away and saw that the brocade curtain on the Empress Dowager's bed was hanging low, and a young court lady was stuffing a dead body underground into a large cloth bag. The corpse was dressed in a court lady's attire, but there was no hair on the top of its head.The palace maid stuffed the corpse into the bag, picked up a ball of wig on the ground, hesitated a little, then stuffed it into the cloth bag, and said in a low voice: "Queen Mother, put it...it's done!" The queen mother said: "The guards outside have all withdrawn? I seem to hear voices." The maid walked to the door, looked out, and said, "There is no one." The queen mother said: "Drag your bag to the lotus pond Next, put four big stones in the bag, tie the mouth of the bag with...a rope...cough...cough...then...then...cough...push the bag into the pond." Then The maid said: "Yes." Her voice was trembling, and she seemed very frightened.The Empress Dowager said: "After pushing the bag down the pond, pick up more soil and throw it on it so that no one can see it." The maid replied again: "Yes." Dragging the bag, she went out of the room and walked towards the garden. Kangxi thought to himself: "Xiao Guizi said that this maid is a man, probably right. If there is no hidden secret, why would the empress dowager sink her body into the pond to wipe out the traces?" Seeing Wei Xiaobao standing beside him, he couldn't help stretching Go out and hold his hand.Both felt that each other's palms were wet and cold. After a while, there was a plop, and the cloth bag containing the corpse fell into the lotus pond, followed by the sound of digging and throwing soil into the pond, and after a while, the maid went back to the bedroom.Wei Xiaobao recognized her voice a long time ago, it was the little maid Ruichu. The queen mother asked: "It's all done?" Rui Chu said: "Yes, it's all done." The queen mother said: "There are two corpses here, why is the other one missing? Someone will ask tomorrow, what do you say?" " Rui Chu said: "Slaves...slaves don't know anything." The Queen Mother said: "You serve me here, how can you not know anything?" Rui Chu said: "Yes, yes!" The Queen Mother said angrily: " What 'is, is'?" Rui Chu said in a trembling voice: "The slave saw the dead maid standing up, so she was only injured, not dead. She slowly... walked out slowly. At that time... At that time, the Queen Mother was sleeping peacefully, The servant did not dare to disturb the Empress Dowager, seeing that court lady walked out of the Palace of Compassion and Peace, I don’t know... I don’t know where she is going.” The Empress Dowager sighed, and said: “So, Amitabha, she didn’t die, so she left by herself, that’s good. Quite." Rui Chu said: "Exactly, thank God, she didn't die."
Kangxi and Wei Xiaobao stayed for a while, heard that the Queen Mother didn't speak anymore, she seemed to have fallen asleep, so they quietly left step by step, and returned to Qianqing Palace.I saw a group of guards and eunuchs still standing upright.Kangxi laughed and said, "Let's walk around casually!" Although he was talking with a smile, his laughter and voice were very dry. Back in the bedroom, he stared at Wei Xiaobao, without speaking for a long time, then burst into tears in a daze, and said: "So the Empress Dowager...the Empress Dowager..." Wei Xiaobao didn't know what to say. Kangxi thought for a while, clapped his hands, and the two guards walked to the door of the bedroom.Kangxi said in a low voice: "There is a confidential matter that you and the two of you are assigned to handle, and you must not let it out. There is a big bag in the lotus pond in the garden of the Palace of Compassion and Peace, and the two of you went to carry it. The queen mother is sleeping peacefully, and the two of you If someone makes the slightest noise and wakes up the Queen Mother, then he will cut off his own head." The two bowed and agreed to leave.Kangxi sat on the bed, kept silent, thinking over and over again. After a long while, two guards finally carried a big wet cloth bag to the door of the dormitory. Kangxi said: "Did you wake up the Queen Mother?" The two guards said together: "Slaves dare not." Kangxi nodded and said: "Bring it in!" The two guards agreed and brought the bag into the room.Kangxi said: "Go out!" Wei Xiaobao and the other two guards exited the bedroom, closed the door and bolted it, then untied the rope on the cloth bag and dragged the corpse out.Seeing that although the beard on the face of the corpse was shaved, the roots of the beard are faintly visible, the throat is knotted, and the chest is flat, there is no doubt that it is a man.This person has knotted muscles and protruding knuckles. He looks like he has practiced martial arts for a long time.It seems that this person pretended to be a palace lady and lurked in the palace only recently, otherwise with his appearance, even a man would be too ugly, how could he pretend to be a palace lady without being noticed? Kangxi pulled out his waist knife and cut through the man's trousers. After taking a look, he was extremely annoyed and swiped his knife several times, chopping his waist and crotch to pieces. Wei Xiaobao said: "Queen..." Kangxi said angrily: "What queen? This bitch forced my father away, killed my mother, messed up the palace, and did many unrighteous acts. I...I will smash her to death. Duan, kill everyone." Wei Xiaobao let out a long breath, and immediately felt relieved: "The emperor no longer recognizes her as the queen mother, no matter what bad things this old bitch has done, if I find out, he will not kill me." Kangxi picked up the knife and chopped on the corpse for a while. He was so angry that he wanted to call the guards and arrest the queen mother for interrogation. Then he thought: "Father is not dead, but he is a monk in Wutai Mountain. What a big deal? If there is a leak , The officials and the people all over the world are stirring up trouble, I must never be reckless." Said: "Xiao Guizi, tomorrow morning, I will go with you to Mount Wutai to find out the truth." Wei Xiaobao replied: "Yes!" He was overjoyed, he had to go with the emperor and go to Mount Wutai for a while, it was much more fun than being bored in Beijing. But Kangxi was far more insightful than Wei Xiaobao, and thought carefully, and then thought that the emperor's tour was very grand, at least it would take several months to prepare and arrange, and hundreds of officials along the way would be ready to pick him up and protect him, it would take a lot of trouble, he must not just leave; I am young, I have not been in power for a long time, and the princes and ministers in the court have not been attached. If the queen mother takes the opportunity of leaving Beijing to seize power and usurp power, abolish herself, and establish a new monarch, it is worrying; if the father is actually dead, or Although he is still alive, he is not on Mount Wutai. If he goes up to the mountain with great fanfare to meet him, if he fails to see him, he will not only be laughed at by the world, but will also be ridiculed by future generations. He thought for a while, then shook his head and said, "No, I can't just go out of Beijing. Xiao Guizi, just go for me." Wei Xiaobao was rather disappointed, and said, "I'm going alone?" Kangxi said, "You alone Let's go. After we find out, father is indeed on Wutai Mountain, and I have arranged a way to deal with that bitch in Beijing, and we two will go up the mountain together to make sure." Wei Xiaobao thought to himself that since the emperor decided to deal with the Empress Dowager, it was his duty to visit Mount Wutai by himself, and said, "Okay, I'll go to Mount Wutai." Kangxi said: "My rule in the Qing Dynasty is that eunuchs are not allowed to go out of Beijing unless they go with me. Fortunately, you are not an eunuch. Xiao Guizi, you will not be a eunuch in the future, you should be a guard. But the people in the palace I already know you, but you will be very surprised if you don’t become an eunuch suddenly. Well, I can tell people that in order to capture Oboi, you were ordered by me to pretend to be a eunuch. Now that the culprit has been eliminated, naturally you can’t keep pretending. Guizi, if you study some books in the future, I will make you a high official." Wei Xiaobao said: "Okay! It's just that I get a headache when I see a book. If I read less, you can make me an official, so I'll be younger." Kangxi sat at the table, picked up his pen, and wrote a letter to his father, declaring that he was not filial. Until now, he knew that his father was still alive, and he was overjoyed. However, the son also had to get married again. After writing a few lines, he suddenly thought: "If this letter falls into the hands of others, it will be very wrong. If Xiao Guizi is captured or killed by others, this letter will be given to him." People searched." He picked up the half-written letter paper, burned it on the candle, and wrote again: "Decree that the deputy head of the imperial guards give Wei Xiaobao wearing a yellow jacket to go to the Wutai Mountain area on business, and the civil and military officials from all provinces are ordered to dispatch, hereby." After finishing writing, he stamped the imperial treasure and handed it to Wei Xiaobao. He said with a smile, "I made you an official. Look at what it is." Wei Xiaobao's eyes widened, and he could only recognize his own name, and the three characters "five, one, and wen", a total of six characters, and the characters "Wei" and "Bao" were only recognized by the combination of the characters "Xiao". Yes, if they are separated, they will not be able to recognize it, shaking their heads and saying: "I don't know what kind of official it is. It was appointed by the emperor himself, so it can't be a small official?" Kangxi read the edict with a smile.Wei Xiaobao stuck out his tongue and said: "It's the deputy head of the imperial guards, powerful, powerful, and even wears a yellow jacket." Kangxi smiled and said: "Although Duolong is the head, he doesn't have a yellow jacket. If you can do this Properly, you will be promoted after returning to the palace. It's just that you are too young and too big to be a decent official, so let's take it slowly." Wei Xiaobao said: "I don't care if the official is big or small, as long as I can see you often, it will be great." Kangxi was both happy and sad, and said: "You should be careful when you go here, and your affairs must be extremely confidential. This edict, if it is not a last resort, should not be taken out for others to see. Just go!"
Wei Xiaobao bid farewell to Kangxi, saw that Dongfang had turned pale, went back to the house, opened the door gently and entered. Fang Yi did not fall asleep, and said happily: "You are back." Wei Xiaobao said: "Everything is fine, let's go out of the palace now." Mu Jianping woke up in a daze, and said: "Senior sister is very worried, afraid of you In danger." Wei Xiaobao smiled and asked, "What about you?" Mu Jianping said, "Of course I'm also worried. Are you okay?" Wei Xiaobao said, "It's okay, it's okay." Only the sound of the bell was heard, and the gate of the palace opened, and all civil and military officials would enter the palace one after another to wait for the court.Wei Xiaobao lit the candles on the table, checked that there were no flaws in their attire, and said with a smile, "You two are so beautiful, just wipe some dirt and dust on your face." Apply it on the face, and do the same.Wei Xiaobao also packed the three scriptures stolen from under the Empress Dowager's bed, took out the silver hairpin, handed it to Fang Yi, and said, "Is it this hairpin?" Fang Yi's face flushed, she slowly reached out to take it, and said: "You are willing to take a big risk, so... so you are going to get this hairpin for me." Her heart felt sore, her eyes turned red, and she turned her head away. . Wei Xiaobao smiled and said: "There is no danger." He thought: "This is called good intentions will be rewarded, if you don't take this hairpin, you won't be able to get a yellow jacket to wear." He led the two of them out of the palace through the Shenwu Gate, the back door of the Forbidden Palace City.At that time the sky was not yet bright, the guards guarding the gate saw that it was Eunuch Gui who brought the two young eunuchs out of the palace, besides flattering them, who would ask more questions? Fang Yi came out of the palace, after walking more than ten feet, she turned her head and glanced at the palace gate, with mixed feelings, as if she had lived in another world. Wei Xiaobao hired three small sedan chairs at the side of the street, ordered them to be carried to West Chang'an Street, and another sedan chair was hired to get off the sedan chairs, and got off the sedan chairs outside the two alleys where Tiandihui was located, and said: "You friends from the Mu Palace, all went out of the city yesterday. I have to discuss it with my friends, and I will see where I send you." He became the deputy head of the imperial bodyguard who was bestowed with a yellow jacket, and he felt that he had become an adult. For big things, he suddenly put away his glib tone, and besides, the master is not far away, but he dare not be presumptuous. Fang Yi asked: "You... where are you going from now on?" Wei Xiaobao said: "I don't dare to stay in Beijing any longer, the farther I go, the better, I won't dare to come back until the Empress Dowager dies and things are settled. "Fang Yi said: "We have a good friend in Shijiazhuang, Hebei. You... If you don't mind, why don't you go with... for a while?" Mu Jianping said, "Okay, you are our savior." , We are our own people. The three of us are on the road together, and it will be more lively." The two of them stared at him with anticipation, Mu Jianping looked naive and eager, and Fang Yi was slightly shy. If Wei Xiaobao hadn't been on important errands, traveling with these two pretty beauties on a long-distance trip would have been a joy, but now he had to try to evade it, saying: "I also promised my friend to do an important matter. If you can’t, go to Shijiazhuang. You are injured, and it’s inconvenient for the two girls to go home. I have to ask one or two reliable friends to escort you there. Let’s take a rest and discuss it slowly when we are full.”
Now come to the residence of Tiandihui.The brothers guarding outside the alley saw him and hurriedly led him in.Gao Yanchao came out to welcome him, he was very surprised to see him with two young eunuchs.Wei Xiaobao whispered in his ear: "It's the young master's sister of the Mu family, and the other is her senior sister. I rescued him from the palace." Gao Yanchao asked the two girls to sit down in the living room, served tea, pulled Wei Xiaobao aside, and said: "The Chief Steward went out of Beijing last night." Later, I didn't know whether I should tell Kangxi's order, but when I heard that I had left Beijing, my heart felt as if a big stone had been put down, but I pretended to be extremely disappointed, and said with a stampede: "This... this... this... alas, what did Master say?" Gone so soon?" Gao Yanchao said: "The chief rudder ordered his subordinates to tell Wei Xiangzhu that his old man suddenly received an urgent report from Taiwan, and he had to rush back to deal with it. The chief rudder, Wei Xiangzhu, should be careful and act according to the camera. If it is inconvenient in the palace Stay again, but leave Beijing for temporary shelter, and also said that Wei Xiangzhu should practice martial arts frequently, I don't know if the wounds on Wei Xiangzhu's body have been completely cleared, if something is wrong, you must report to the chief helmsman to know." Wei Xiaobao said: "Yes. Master is concerned about my injuries and martial arts, so as to teach people to be grateful." His two words are true. Hearing that the master is still thinking about his body in a hurry, he is really grateful, and asked: "What happened in Taiwan?" thing?" Gao Yanchao said: "I heard that Zheng's mother and son did not get along, and they killed the ministers. It seems that there has been an internal change. The chief rudder has great prestige. If there is any disturbance, he will be able to calm down as soon as he arrives. Wei Xiangzhu does not need to worry. Brother Li , Master Guan, Brother Fan, Brother Feng, and Daoist Xuanzhen all went with the Chief Steward. Third Brother Xu and his subordinates stayed in Beijing to be sent by Lord Wei Xiang." Wei Xiaobao nodded, and said: "You ask someone to invite Third Brother Xu." He thought that "Eight-armed Ape" Xu Tianchuan has high martial arts skills, is alert, and is an old man, so it would be best to escort his second daughter to Shijiazhuang.Thinking again: "Taiwan also has feuds between mother and child, killing people, just like the queen mother and emperor in Beijing." He went back to the hall and ate pasta with Fang Mu.Mu Jianping ate half a bowl of noodles, so he couldn't help but asked: "Are you sure you can't go to Shijiazhuang with us?" Wei Xiaobao looked at Fang Yi, and saw that she stopped eating, staring at each other with eagerness in her eyes I couldn't help feeling hot in my chest, and I wanted the two daughters to follow me to Wutai Mountain, but then I thought: "What a big deal I am going to do? Take these two injured girls on the road, get in the way, and attract people's attention. It’s absolutely impossible.” Sighing, he said, “After I’m done, I’ll come to Shijiazhuang to visit you. Where does your friend live? What’s his name?” Fang Yi lowered her head slowly, took a piece of noodles with her chopsticks, but didn't put it in her mouth, and said in a low voice, "That friend runs a mule and horse shop in Shijiazhuang West Market. His name is 'Kuai Ma' Song San." Wei Xiaobao said: "'Quick Horse' Song San, that's right, I will definitely come to visit you." With a naughty look on his face, he said softly: "Why don't I come? How can I let go of this pair of embarrassing big wives , little wife?" Mu Jianping smiled and said, "I haven't been good for a long time, and I'm talking again." Fang Yi said seriously: "If you really think we are good friends, we... We look forward to your coming every day. If you are frivolous and disrespectful , that... that's useless." Wei Xiaobao touched a nail, feeling a little bored, and said: "Okay, you don't like to joke, so I will just say no more in the future." Fang Yi was a little apologetic, and said softly: "Just kidding , There is also a measure, and you have to look at the time and the place. Are you...are you angry?" Wei Xiaobao became happy again, and hurriedly said: "No, no. As long as you don't get angry." Fang Yi smiled and said softly, "No one will be really angry with you." Fang Yi smiled so sweetly, even though the dust was still on her face, she was still pretty, and Wei Xiaobao suddenly felt warm all over her body.He drank the noodle soup one mouthful at a time, unable to think of anything to say. Suddenly footsteps were heard in the courtyard, an old man walked in, but it was Xu Tianchuan who had arrived.He walked up to Wei Xiaobao, bowed and saluted, with a smile on his face, he said respectfully: "Hello, old man." He was careful, and when there were outsiders present, he didn't address him as "Master Wei Xiang". Wei Xiaobao clasped his fists in return, and said with a smile: "Brother Xu, I'll introduce you to two friends. These two are the disciples of Mr. Liu, the 'Iron Backed Canglong'. This Miss Fang and Miss Mu are Mu王府的小郡主。”向方沐二女道：“这位徐大哥，跟柳老爷子、你家小公爷都相识。”他生怕方沐二女怀恨记仇，加上一句：“本来有一点儿小小过节，现下这梁子都已揭开了。”待三人见过礼后，说道：“徐三哥，我想拜托你一件事。” 徐天川听得这两个女扮男装的小太监竟是沐王府的重要人物，心想沐剑声等都已知道韦小宝来历，这两位姑娘自然也早得悉，便道：“韦香主有所差遣，属下自当奉命。” 方怡和沐剑屏却其实不知道韦小宝的身分，听徐天川叫他“韦香主”，都大为奇怪。 韦小宝微微一笑，说道：“两位姑娘跟吴立身吴老爷子、刘一舟刘大哥他们一般，都是失陷在皇宫之中，此刻方才出来。沐家小公爷、刘一舟师兄他们都已离京了罢？” 徐天川道：“沐王府众位英雄昨天都已平安离京。沐小公爷还托我打探小郡主的下落，我请他放心，包在天地会身上，必定找到小郡主。”说着脸露微笑。 沐剑屏道：“刘师哥跟我哥哥在一起？”她这话是代方怡问的。徐天川道：“在下送他们分批出城，刘师兄是跟柳老爷子在一起，向南去的。”方怡脸上一红，低下头来。 韦小宝心想：“你听得心上人平安脱险，定然是心花怒放。”殊不知这一次却猜错了。方怡心中想的是：“我答应过他，他如救了刘师哥性命，我便得嫁他为妻，终身不渝。可是他是个太监，怎生嫁得？他小小年纪，花样百出，却又是什么'韦香主'了？” 韦小宝道：“这两位姑娘力抗清宫侍卫，身上受了伤，现下要到石家庄一位朋友家去养伤。我想请徐三哥护送前去。” 徐天川欢然道：“理当效劳。韦香主派了一件好差使给我。属下对不起沐王府的朋友，反蒙沐小公爷相救，心中既感且愧。得能陪伴两位姑娘平安到达，也可稍稍补报于万一。” 沐剑屏向徐天川瞧了一眼，见他身形瘦小，弓腰曲背，是个随时随刻便能一命呜呼的糟老头子，说什么护送自己和师姊，只怕一路之上还要照料他呢，何况韦小宝不去，早已好生失望，不悦之意忍不住便在脸上流露了出来。 方怡却道：“烦劳徐老爷子大驾，可实在不敢当，只须劳驾给雇一辆大车，我们自己上路好了。我们的伤也没什么大不了，实在不用费神。” 徐天川笑道：“方姑娘不用客气。韦香主既有命令，我说什么要奉陪到底。两位姑娘武艺高强，原不用老头儿在旁惹厌，'护送'两字，老头儿实在没这个本领。但跑腿打杂，侍候两位姑娘住店、打尖、雇车、买物，那倒是拿手好戏，免得两位姑娘一路之上多费口舌，对付骡夫、车夫、店小二这些人物。” 方怡见难再推辞，说道：“徐老爷子这番盛意，不知如何报答才好。” 徐天川哈哈大笑，道：“报什么答？不瞒两位姑娘说，我对咱们这位韦香主，心中佩服得了不得，别瞧他年纪轻轻，实在是神通广大。他既救了我老命，昨天又给老头子出了胸中一口恶气，我心中正在嘀咕，怎生想法子好好给他办几件事才好，哪想他今天就交给了我这一件差使。两位姑娘就算不许我陪着，老头儿也只好不识相，一路之上做个先行官，逢山开路，遇水搭桥，侍候两位平安到达石家庄。别说从北京到石家庄只几天路程，韦香主倘若吩咐老头儿跟随两位上云南去，那也是说去便去，送到为止。” 沐剑屏见到他模样虽然猥琐，说话倒很风趣，问道：“他昨天给你出了什么气？昨天，他……他不是在皇宫里么？” 徐天川笑道：“吴三桂那奸贼手下有个狗官，叫做卢一峰。他将老头儿拿了去，拷打辱骂，还拿张膏药封住我的嘴巴，幸得令兄派人救了我出来。韦香主答应我说，他定当叫人打断这狗官的双腿。我想吴三桂的狗儿子这次来京，手下带的能人极多。卢一峰这厮上次吃过我苦头，学了乖，再也不敢独自出来，咱们要报仇，可不这么容易。哪知道昨天我在西城种德堂药材铺，见到一个做跌打医生的朋友，说起平西王狗窝里派人抬了一个狗官，到处找跌打医生。事情可也真奇怪，跌打医生找了一个又一个，一共找了二三十人，却又不让医治，只是跟他们说，这狗官名叫卢一峰，胡涂混蛋，平西王的狗儿子亲自拿棍子打断了他的一双狗腿，要他痛上七日七夜，不许医治。” 方怡和沐剑屏都十分奇怪，问韦小宝：“那是什么道理？”韦小宝道：“这狗官得罪了徐三哥，自然要叫他多吃点儿苦头。”沐剑屏道：“平西王狗窝里的人，却干么又将他抬来抬去，好让众人得知？”韦小宝道：“吴应熊这小子是要人传给我听，我叫他打断这狗官的腿，他已办妥了。”沐剑屏更是奇怪，问道：“他又为什么要听你的话？”韦小宝微笑道：“我胡说八道，骗了他一番，他就信啦。” 徐天川道：“我本想赶去将他毙了，但想这狗官给人抬着游街示众，断了两条腿又不许医治，如去杀了他，反倒便宜了这厮。昨天下午我亲眼见到了他，一条狗命十成中倒已去了九成，裤管卷了起来，露出两条断腿，又肿又紫，痛得只叫妈。两位姑娘，你说老头儿心中可有多痛快？” 这时高彦超已雇了三辆大车，在门外等候。他也是天地会中的得力人物，但会中规矩，大家干的是杀头犯禁之事，如非必要，越少露相越好，是以也没给方、沐二人引见。 韦小宝寻思：“我包袱之中一共已有五部《四十二章经》，这些书有什么用，我是一点也不知道，但这许多人拚了性命偷盗抢夺，其中一定大有缘故，带在身上赶路，可别失落了。”沉吟半晌，有了计较，向高彦超悄悄的道：“高大哥，我在宫里有个要好兄弟，给鞑子侍卫们杀了，我带了他骨灰出来，要好好给他安葬。请你即刻差人去买口棺木。” 高彦超答应了，心想韦香主的好友为鞑子所杀，那必是反清义士，亲自去选了一口上好柳州木棺材。他知道这位韦香主手面甚阔，将他所给的三百两银子使得只剩下三十几两，除了棺木之外，其他寿衣、骨灰坛、石灰、绵纸、油布、灵牌、灵幡、纸钱等物一应俱全，尽是最佳之物，又替方沐二女买了改换男装的衣衫鞋帽，途中所用的干粮点心，还叫了一名仵作、一名漆匠。待得诸物抬到，韦小宝和二女都已睡了两个时辰。 韦小宝先行换了常人装束，心道：“我奉旨去五台山公干，这可有得忙了，怎么还有时候练武功？师父这部武功秘诀，可别给人偷了去。”当下将五部经书连同师父所给的武功秘诀，用油布一层一层的包裹完密，到灶下去捧了一大把柴灰，放在骨灰坛中，心想：“最好棺材之中放一具真的尸首，那么就算有人开棺查检，也不会起疑。只不过一时三刻，也找不到个坏人来杀了。”于是醮些清水，抹在眼中脸上，神情悲哀，双手捧了油布包和骨灰坛，走到后厅，将包裹和骨灰坛放入棺材，跪了下来，放声大哭。 徐天川、高彦超、以及方沐二女都已候在厅上，见他跪倒痛哭，哪有疑心，只道确是他好友的骨灰，也都跪倒行礼。韦小宝见过死者家人向吊祭者还礼的情形，抢到棺木之侧，跪下向四人磕头还礼。眼看仵作放好绵纸、石灰等物，钉上了棺盖。漆匠便开始油漆。 高彦超问道：“这位义士尊姓大名，好在棺木上漆书他的名号。”韦小宝道：“他……他……他……”抽抽噎噎的不住假哭，心下寻思，说道：“他叫海桂栋。”那是将海大富、小桂子、瑞栋三人的名字各凑一字，心道：“我杀了你们三人，现下向你们磕头行礼，焚化纸钱给你们在阴世使用，你们三个冤鬼，总不该缠上我了罢？” 沐剑屏见他哭得悲切，劝慰道：“满清鞑子杀死我们的好朋友，总有一日要将他们杀得干干净净，给好朋友报仇雪恨。”韦小宝哭道：“鞑子自然要杀，这几位好朋友的仇，却是万万报不得的。”沐剑屏睁大了一双秀目，怔怔的瞧着他，心想：“为什么报不得？”
四人休息了一会，和高彦超作别上道。韦小宝道：“我送你们一阵。”方沐二人脸上均现喜色。 二女坐了一辆大车，韦小宝和徐天川各坐一辆。三辆大车先出东门，向东行了数里，这才折而向南。又行得七八里，来到一处镇甸，徐天川吩咐停车，说道：“送君千里，终须一别，天色已经不早，咱们在这里喝杯茶，这就分手罢！” 走进路旁一间茶馆，店伴泡上茶来，三名车夫坐了另一桌。 徐天川心想韦香主他们三人必有体己话要说，背负着双手，出去观看风景。 沐剑屏道：“桂……桂大哥，你其实姓韦，是不是？怎么又是什么香主？”韦小宝笑道：“我姓韦，名叫小宝，是天地会青木堂香主。到这时候，可不能再瞒你们了。”沐剑屏叹道：“唉！”韦小宝问：“为什么叹气？”沐剑屏道：“你是天地会青木堂香主，怎地……怎地到皇宫中去做了太监，那不是……那不是……” 方怡知道她要说“可惜之极”，一来此言说来不雅，二来不愿惹起韦小宝的愁思，插嘴道：“英雄豪杰为了国家大事，不惜屈辱自身，那是教人十分佩服的。”她料想韦小宝必是奉了天地会之命，自残身体，入宫卧底，确然令人敬佩。 韦小宝微微一笑，心想：“要不要跟她们说我不是太监？”忽听得徐天川喝道：“好朋友，到这时候还不露相吗？”伸手向右首一名车夫的肩头拍了下去。 徐天川的右掌刚要碰上那车夫肩头，那人身子一侧，徐天川右掌已然拍空，他左拳却已向车夫右腰击到。那车夫反手勾推，将这拳带到了外门。徐天川右肘跟着又向他后颈压落。那车夫右手反扬，向徐天川顶门虚击，徐天川手肘如和他头颈相触，便有如将自己头顶送到他手掌之下，立即双足使劲，向后跃开。他连使三招，掌拍、拳击、肘压，是都十分凌厉的手法，可是那车夫竟都轻描淡写的一一化开。 徐天川又惊又怒，料想这人定是大内好手，奉命前来拿人，当下左手连挥，示意韦小宝等三人快逃，自己与敌人纠缠，让他们三人有脱身之机。可是他们三人哪肯不顾义气？方怡身上有伤，难以动手，韦小宝和沐剑屏都拔出兵刃，便要上前夹击。 那车夫转过身来，笑道：“八臂猿猴好眼力！”声音颇为尖锐。四人见他面目黄肿，衣衫污秽，形貌丑陋，一时间也瞧不出多少年纪。徐天川听他叫出自己外号，心下更惊，抱拳道：“尊驾是谁？干么假扮车夫，戏弄在下？” 那车夫笑道：“戏弄是万万不敢的。在下与韦香主是好朋友，得知他出京，将地前来相送。”韦小宝搔了搔头，道：“我……我可不认得你啊。”那车夫笑道：“我二人昨晚还联手共抗强敌，你怎地便忘了？”韦香主恍然大悟，说道：“啊，你……你是陶……陶……”将匕首插入靴筒，奔过去拉住她手，才知道车夫是陶宫娥所乔装改扮。 陶宫娥脸上涂满了牛油水粉，旁人已难知她喜怒，但见她眼光中露出喜悦之色，说道：“我怕鞑子派人阻截，因此乔装护送一程，不料徐老爷子好眼力，可瞒不过他的法眼。” 徐天川见了韦香主的神情，知道此人是友非敌，又是欢喜，又感惭愧，拱手道：“尊驾武功高强，佩服，佩服！韦香主人缘真好，到处结交高人。”陶宫娥笑道：“不敢！请问徐大哥，我的改装之中，什么地方露了破绽？”徐天川道：“破绽是没有。只不过一路之上，我见尊驾挥鞭赶骡，不似寻常车夫。尊驾手腕不动，鞭子笔直伸了出去，手肘不抬，鞭子已缩回来。这一份高明武功，北京赶大车的朋友之中，只怕还没几位。”四人都大笑起来。 徐天川笑道：“在下倘若识相，见了尊驾这等功夫，原不该再伸手冒犯，只不过老头子就是不知好歹，那也没法子。”陶宫娥道：“徐大哥言重了，得罪了莫怪。”徐天川抱拳道：“不敢，请问尊姓大名。” 韦小宝道：“这位朋友姓陶，跟兄弟是……生死之交。”陶宫娥正色道：“不错，正是生死之交。韦香主救过我的性命。”韦小宝忙道：“前辈说哪里话来？咱们只不过合力杀了个大坏蛋而已。”陶宫娥微微一笑，道：“韦兄弟，徐大哥，方沐二位，咱们就此别过。”一拱手，便跃上大车赶车的座位。 韦小宝道：“陶……陶大哥，你去哪里？”陶宫娥笑道：“我从哪里来，回哪里去。”韦小宝点头道：“好，后会有期。”眼见她赶着大车，径自去了。 沐剑屏问道：“徐老爷子，这人武功真的很高吗？”徐天川道：“武功了得！她是个女子，更加了不起。”沐剑屏奇道：“她是女子？”徐天川道：“她跃上大车时扭动腰身，姿式固然好看，但不免扭扭捏捏，那自然是女子。”沐剑屏道：“她说话声音很尖，也不大像男人。韦大哥，她……她本来的相貌好看么？”韦小宝道：“四十年前或许好看的。但你就算再过四十年，仍比现今的她好看得多。”沐剑屏笑道：“怎么拿我跟她比了？原来她是个老婆婆。” 韦小宝想到便要跟她们分手，不禁黯然，又想孤身上路，不由得又有些害怕。从扬州来到北京，是跟茅十八这江湖行家在一起；在皇宫之中虽迭经凶险，但人地均熟，每到紧急关头，往往凭着一时机智而化险为夷，此去山西五台山，这条路固然从未走过，前途更是一人不识。他从未单身行过长路，毕竟还是个孩子，难免胆怯。一时想先回北京，叫高彦超陪同前去五台山，却想这件事有关小玄子的身世，如让旁人知道了，可太也对不起好朋友。 徐天川只道他仍回北京，说道：“韦香主，天色不早，你这就请回罢，再迟了只怕城门关了。”韦小宝道：“是。”方怡和沐剑屏都道：“盼你办完事后，便到石家庄来相见。我们等着你。”韦小宝点点头，心中甜甜地、酸酸地，说不出话来。 徐天川请二女上车，自己坐在车夫身旁，赶车向南。韦小宝眼见方沐二女从车中探头出来，挥手相别。大车行出三十余丈，转了个弯，便给一排红柳树挡住，再也不见了。
韦小宝上了剩下的一辆大车，命车夫折而向西，不回北京城去。那车夫有些迟疑，韦小宝取出十两银子，说道：“十两银子雇你三天，总够了罢？”车夫大喜，忙道：“十两银子雇一个月也够了。小的好好服侍公子爷，公子爷要行便行，要停便停。” 当晚停在北京西南廿余里一处小镇，在一家小客店歇宿。韦小宝抹身洗脚，没等到吃晚饭，便已倒在炕上睡着了。 次晨醒转，只觉头痛欲裂，双眼沉重，半天睁不开来，四肢更酸软无比，难以动弹，便如在梦魇中一般。他想张口呼叫，却叫不出声，一张眼，却见地下躺着三人，他大吃一惊，呆了半晌，定了定神，慢慢挣扎着坐起，只见炕前坐着一人，正笑吟吟的瞧着他。 韦小宝“啊”的一声。那人笑道：“这会儿才醒吗？”正是陶宫娥。 韦小宝这才宽心，说道：“陶姊姊，陶姑姑，那……那是怎么回事？”陶宫娥笑道：“你瞧瞧这三个是谁。”韦小宝爬下炕来，腿间只一软，便已跪倒，当即后仰坐地，伸手支撑，这才站起，见地下三人早已死了，却都不识，说道：“陶姑姑，是你救了我性命？” 陶宫娥笑道：“你到底叫我姊姊呢，还是姑姑？可别没上没下的乱叫。”韦小宝笑道：“你是姑姑，陶姑姑！”陶宫娥微笑道：“你一个人行路，以后饮食可得小心些，若是跟那八只手的老猴儿在一起，决不能上了这当。”韦小宝道：“我昨晚给人下了蒙汗药？”陶宫娥道：“差不多罢。” 韦小宝想了想，说道：“多半茶里有古怪，喝上去有点酸味，又有些甜甜的。”心想：“我自己身上带着一大包蒙汗药，却去吃人家的蒙汗药。他妈的，我这次不尝尝蒙汗药的滋味，又怎知是酸酸甜甜的？”问道：“这是黑店？”陶宫娥道：“这客店本来是白的，你住进来之后，就变黑了。”韦小宝仍然头痛欲裂，伸手按住额头道：“这个我可不懂了。” 陶宫娥道：“你住店后不久，就有人进来，绑住了店主夫妇跟店小二，将这间白店改了黑店。一名贼人剥下店小二的衣服穿了，在茶壶里撒了一把药粉，送进来给你。我见你正在换衣服，想等你换好衣服之后，再出声示警，不料你又除了衣衫抹身。等我过了一会再来看你，你早已倒了茶喝过了。幸亏这只是蒙汗药，不是毒药。” 韦小宝登时满脸通红，昨晚自己抹身之时，曾想象如果方怡当真做了自己老婆，紧紧抱着她，是怎么一股滋味，当时情思荡漾，情状不堪。陶宫娥年纪虽已不小，毕竟是女子，隔窗见到如此丑态，自然不能多看。 陶宫娥道：“昨日我跟你分手，回到宫里，但见内外平静无事，并没为太后发丧。我自是十分奇怪，匆匆改装之后，到慈宁宫外察看，见一切如常，原来太后并没死。这一下可不对了。我本想太后一死，咱二人仍可在宫中混下去，昨晚这一刀既然没刺死她，那就非得立即出宫不可，还得赶来通知你，免得你撞进宫来，自己送死。” 韦小宝假作惊异，大声道：“啊，原来老婊子没死，那可糟糕。”心下微感惭愧：“昨日匆忙之间，忘了提起，我以为你早知道了。” 陶宫娥道：“我刚转身，见有三名侍卫从慈宁宫里出来，形迹鬼鬼祟祟，心想多半是太后差他们去捉拿我的，但见他们并不是朝我的住处走去，当时也没功夫理会，回到住处收拾收拾，又改了装，从御膳房侧门溜出宫来。” 韦小宝微笑道：“原来姑姑装成了御膳房的苏拉。”御膳房用的苏拉杂役最多，劈柴、抬煤、杀鸡、洗菜、烧火、洗锅等等杂务，均由苏拉充当，这些人在御膳房畔出入，极少有人留意。
Kangxi brought Wei Xiaobao to the Garden of Compassionate Ning Palace, and saw that there was no one there. He hid under the window of the Empress Dowager's bedroom, bent his ears to listen, only to hear the Empress Dowager coughing unceasingly, suddenly, thoughts surged in his heart, both sad and irritable, hearing the coughing sound of the Empress Dowager, he wanted to rush in and hug her Watching her cry bitterly, he wanted to put his arms around her neck and ask sharply, what happened to the royal father and his biological mother?For a moment he hoped that what Xiao Guizi said was all lies, and at the same time he hoped that what he said was true.He couldn't stop shivering, his hair stood on end, and the chill penetrated to the marrow of his bones. The candles in the Empress Dowager's room were not extinguished, and the window paper flickered on and off.After a while, I heard a maid's voice saying: "Queen Mother, it's finished." The Queen Mother gave a "hmm" and said, "Put...the dead body of this maid...in a quilt bag." The maid said: "Yes. Where is the dead body of the eunuch?" The queen mother said angrily, "I just told you to pretend to be that maid, you... what kind of eunuch are you in charge of?" The maid hurriedly said: "Yes!" Then she heard There is the sound of objects being dragged underground. Unable to bear it, Kangxi probed into the cracks in the window, but all the cracks in the windows of the Empress Dowager's bedroom were filled with putty, not even a single crack.In the past, he had heard Wei Xiaobao talk about the tricks and taboos of nocturnal travelers in the rivers and lakes. They were all relaying what Mao Shiba said all the way from Yangzhou to Beijing.At this moment, the window was seamless, right in the middle of his chest, he stretched out his fingers to get saliva on the window paper, lightly wetted the paper on the window, and with a slight force on the finger, a small hole was broken in the window, but there was no sound at all. He looked away and saw that the brocade curtain on the Empress Dowager's bed was hanging low, and a young court lady was stuffing a dead body underground into a large cloth bag. The corpse was dressed in a court lady's attire, but there was no hair on the top of its head.The palace maid stuffed the corpse into the bag, picked up a ball of wig on the ground, hesitated a little, then stuffed it into the cloth bag, and said in a low voice: "Queen Mother, put it...it's done!" The queen mother said: "The guards outside have all withdrawn? I seem to hear voices." The maid walked to the door, looked out, and said, "There is no one." The queen mother said: "Drag your bag to the lotus pond Next, put four big stones in the bag, tie the mouth of the bag with...a rope...cough...cough...then...then...cough...push the bag into the pond." Then The maid said: "Yes." Her voice was trembling, and she seemed very frightened.The Empress Dowager said: "After pushing the bag down the pond, pick up more soil and throw it on it so that no one can see it." The maid replied again: "Yes." Dragging the bag, she went out of the room and walked towards the garden. Kangxi thought to himself: "Xiao Guizi said that this maid is a man, probably right. If there is no hidden secret, why would the empress dowager sink her body into the pond to wipe out the traces?" Seeing Wei Xiaobao standing beside him, he couldn't help stretching Go out and hold his hand.Both felt that each other's palms were wet and cold. After a while, there was a plop, and the cloth bag containing the corpse fell into the lotus pond, followed by the sound of digging and throwing soil into the pond, and after a while, the maid went back to the bedroom.Wei Xiaobao recognized her voice a long time ago, it was the little maid Ruichu. The queen mother asked: "It's all done?" Rui Chu said: "Yes, it's all done." The queen mother said: "There are two corpses here, why is the other one missing? Someone will ask tomorrow, what do you say?" " Rui Chu said: "Slaves...slaves don't know anything." The Queen Mother said: "You serve me here, how can you not know anything?" Rui Chu said: "Yes, yes!" The Queen Mother said angrily: " What 'is, is'?" Rui Chu said in a trembling voice: "The slave saw the dead maid standing up, so she was only injured, not dead. She slowly... walked out slowly. At that time... At that time, the Queen Mother was sleeping peacefully, The servant did not dare to disturb the Empress Dowager, seeing that court lady walked out of the Palace of Compassion and Peace, I don’t know... I don’t know where she is going.” The Empress Dowager sighed, and said: “So, Amitabha, she didn’t die, so she left by herself, that’s good. Quite." Rui Chu said: "Exactly, thank God, she didn't die."
Kangxi and Wei Xiaobao stayed for a while, heard that the Queen Mother didn't speak anymore, she seemed to have fallen asleep, so they quietly left step by step, and returned to Qianqing Palace.I saw a group of guards and eunuchs still standing upright.Kangxi laughed and said, "Let's walk around casually!" Although he was talking with a smile, his laughter and voice were very dry. Back in the bedroom, he stared at Wei Xiaobao, without speaking for a long time, then burst into tears in a daze, and said: "So the Empress Dowager...the Empress Dowager..." Wei Xiaobao didn't know what to say. Kangxi thought for a while, clapped his hands, and the two guards walked to the door of the bedroom.Kangxi said in a low voice: "There is a confidential matter that you and the two of you are assigned to handle, and you must not let it out. There is a big bag in the lotus pond in the garden of the Palace of Compassion and Peace, and the two of you went to carry it. The queen mother is sleeping peacefully, and the two of you If someone makes the slightest noise and wakes up the Queen Mother, then he will cut off his own head." The two bowed and agreed to leave.Kangxi sat on the bed, kept silent, thinking over and over again. After a long while, two guards finally carried a big wet cloth bag to the door of the dormitory. Kangxi said: "Did you wake up the Queen Mother?" The two guards said together: "Slaves dare not." Kangxi nodded and said: "Bring it in!" The two guards agreed and brought the bag into the room.Kangxi said: "Go out!" Wei Xiaobao and the other two guards exited the bedroom, closed the door and bolted it, then untied the rope on the cloth bag and dragged the corpse out.Seeing that although the beard on the face of the corpse was shaved, the roots of the beard are faintly visible, the throat is knotted, and the chest is flat, there is no doubt that it is a man.This person has knotted muscles and protruding knuckles. He looks like he has practiced martial arts for a long time.It seems that this person pretended to be a palace lady and lurked in the palace only recently, otherwise with his appearance, even a man would be too ugly, how could he pretend to be a palace lady without being noticed? Kangxi pulled out his waist knife and cut through the man's trousers. After taking a look, he was extremely annoyed and swiped his knife several times, chopping his waist and crotch to pieces. Wei Xiaobao said: "Queen..." Kangxi said angrily: "What queen? This bitch forced my father away, killed my mother, messed up the palace, and did many unrighteous acts. I...I will smash her to death. Duan, kill everyone." Wei Xiaobao let out a long breath, and immediately felt relieved: "The emperor no longer recognizes her as the queen mother, no matter what bad things this old bitch has done, if I find out, he will not kill me." Kangxi picked up the knife and chopped on the corpse for a while. He was so angry that he wanted to call the guards and arrest the queen mother for interrogation. Then he thought: "Father is not dead, but he is a monk in Wutai Mountain. What a big deal? If there is a leak , The officials and the people all over the world are stirring up trouble, I must never be reckless." Said: "Xiao Guizi, tomorrow morning, I will go with you to Mount Wutai to find out the truth." Wei Xiaobao replied: "Yes!" He was overjoyed, he had to go with the emperor and go to Mount Wutai for a while, it was much more fun than being bored in Beijing. But Kangxi was far more insightful than Wei Xiaobao, and thought carefully, and then thought that the emperor's tour was very grand, at least it would take several months to prepare and arrange, and hundreds of officials along the way would be ready to pick him up and protect him, it would take a lot of trouble, he must not just leave; I am young, I have not been in power for a long time, and the princes and ministers in the court have not been attached. If the queen mother takes the opportunity of leaving Beijing to seize power and usurp power, abolish herself, and establish a new monarch, it is worrying; if the father is actually dead, or Although he is still alive, he is not on Mount Wutai. If he goes up to the mountain with great fanfare to meet him, if he fails to see him, he will not only be laughed at by the world, but will also be ridiculed by future generations. He thought for a while, then shook his head and said, "No, I can't just go out of Beijing. Xiao Guizi, just go for me." Wei Xiaobao was rather disappointed, and said, "I'm going alone?" Kangxi said, "You alone Let's go. After we find out, father is indeed on Wutai Mountain, and I have arranged a way to deal with that bitch in Beijing, and we two will go up the mountain together to make sure." Wei Xiaobao thought to himself that since the emperor decided to deal with the Empress Dowager, it was his duty to visit Mount Wutai by himself, and said, "Okay, I'll go to Mount Wutai." Kangxi said: "My rule in the Qing Dynasty is that eunuchs are not allowed to go out of Beijing unless they go with me. Fortunately, you are not an eunuch. Xiao Guizi, you will not be a eunuch in the future, you should be a guard. But the people in the palace I already know you, but you will be very surprised if you don’t become an eunuch suddenly. Well, I can tell people that in order to capture Oboi, you were ordered by me to pretend to be a eunuch. Now that the culprit has been eliminated, naturally you can’t keep pretending. Guizi, if you study some books in the future, I will make you a high official." Wei Xiaobao said: "Okay! It's just that I get a headache when I see a book. If I read less, you can make me an official, so I'll be younger." Kangxi sat at the table, picked up his pen, and wrote a letter to his father, declaring that he was not filial. Until now, he knew that his father was still alive, and he was overjoyed. However, the son also had to get married again. After writing a few lines, he suddenly thought: "If this letter falls into the hands of others, it will be very wrong. If Xiao Guizi is captured or killed by others, this letter will be given to him." People searched." He picked up the half-written letter paper, burned it on the candle, and wrote again: "Decree that the deputy head of the imperial guards give Wei Xiaobao wearing a yellow jacket to go to the Wutai Mountain area on business, and the civil and military officials from all provinces are ordered to dispatch, hereby." After finishing writing, he stamped the imperial treasure and handed it to Wei Xiaobao. He said with a smile, "I made you an official. Look at what it is." Wei Xiaobao's eyes widened, and he could only recognize his own name, and the three characters "five, one, and wen", a total of six characters, and the characters "Wei" and "Bao" were only recognized by the combination of the characters "Xiao". Yes, if they are separated, they will not be able to recognize it, shaking their heads and saying: "I don't know what kind of official it is. It was appointed by the emperor himself, so it can't be a small official?" Kangxi read the edict with a smile.Wei Xiaobao stuck out his tongue and said: "It's the deputy head of the imperial guards, powerful, powerful, and even wears a yellow jacket." Kangxi smiled and said: "Although Duolong is the head, he doesn't have a yellow jacket. If you can do this Properly, you will be promoted after returning to the palace. It's just that you are too young and too big to be a decent official, so let's take it slowly." Wei Xiaobao said: "I don't care if the official is big or small, as long as I can see you often, it will be great." Kangxi was both happy and sad, and said: "You should be careful when you go here, and your affairs must be extremely confidential. This edict, if it is not a last resort, should not be taken out for others to see. Just go!"
Wei Xiaobao bid farewell to Kangxi, saw that Dongfang had turned pale, went back to the house, opened the door gently and entered. Fang Yi did not fall asleep, and said happily: "You are back." Wei Xiaobao said: "Everything is fine, let's go out of the palace now." Mu Jianping woke up in a daze, and said: "Senior sister is very worried, afraid of you In danger." Wei Xiaobao smiled and asked, "What about you?" Mu Jianping said, "Of course I'm also worried. Are you okay?" Wei Xiaobao said, "It's okay, it's okay." Only the sound of the bell was heard, and the gate of the palace opened, and all civil and military officials would enter the palace one after another to wait for the court.Wei Xiaobao lit the candles on the table, checked that there were no flaws in their attire, and said with a smile, "You two are so beautiful, just wipe some dirt and dust on your face." Apply it on the face, and do the same.Wei Xiaobao also packed the three scriptures stolen from under the Empress Dowager's bed, took out the silver hairpin, handed it to Fang Yi, and said, "Is it this hairpin?" Fang Yi's face flushed, she slowly reached out to take it, and said: "You are willing to take a big risk, so... so you are going to get this hairpin for me." Her heart felt sore, her eyes turned red, and she turned her head away. . Wei Xiaobao smiled and said: "There is no danger." He thought: "This is called good intentions will be rewarded, if you don't take this hairpin, you won't be able to get a yellow jacket to wear." He led the two of them out of the palace through the Shenwu Gate, the back door of the Forbidden Palace City.At that time the sky was not yet bright, the guards guarding the gate saw that it was Eunuch Gui who brought the two young eunuchs out of the palace, besides flattering them, who would ask more questions? Fang Yi came out of the palace, after walking more than ten feet, she turned her head and glanced at the palace gate, with mixed feelings, as if she had lived in another world. Wei Xiaobao hired three small sedan chairs at the side of the street, ordered them to be carried to West Chang'an Street, and another sedan chair was hired to get off the sedan chairs, and got off the sedan chairs outside the two alleys where Tiandihui was located, and said: "You friends from the Mu Palace, all went out of the city yesterday. I have to discuss it with my friends, and I will see where I send you." He became the deputy head of the imperial bodyguard who was bestowed with a yellow jacket, and he felt that he had become an adult. For big things, he suddenly put away his glib tone, and besides, the master is not far away, but he dare not be presumptuous. Fang Yi asked: "You... where are you going from now on?" Wei Xiaobao said: "I don't dare to stay in Beijing any longer, the farther I go, the better, I won't dare to come back until the Empress Dowager dies and things are settled. "Fang Yi said: "We have a good friend in Shijiazhuang, Hebei. You... If you don't mind, why don't you go with... for a while?" Mu Jianping said, "Okay, you are our savior." , We are our own people. The three of us are on the road together, and it will be more lively." The two of them stared at him with anticipation, Mu Jianping looked naive and eager, and Fang Yi was slightly shy. If Wei Xiaobao hadn't been on important errands, traveling with these two pretty beauties on a long-distance trip would have been a joy, but now he had to try to evade it, saying: "I also promised my friend to do an important matter. If you can’t, go to Shijiazhuang. You are injured, and it’s inconvenient for the two girls to go home. I have to ask one or two reliable friends to escort you there. Let’s take a rest and discuss it slowly when we are full.”
Now come to the residence of Tiandihui.The brothers guarding outside the alley saw him and hurriedly led him in.Gao Yanchao came out to welcome him, he was very surprised to see him with two young eunuchs.Wei Xiaobao whispered in his ear: "It's the young master's sister of the Mu family, and the other is her senior sister. I rescued him from the palace." Gao Yanchao asked the two girls to sit down in the living room, served tea, pulled Wei Xiaobao aside, and said: "The Chief Steward went out of Beijing last night." Later, I didn't know whether I should tell Kangxi's order, but when I heard that I had left Beijing, my heart felt as if a big stone had been put down, but I pretended to be extremely disappointed, and said with a stampede: "This... this... this... alas, what did Master say?" Gone so soon?" Gao Yanchao said: "The chief rudder ordered his subordinates to tell Wei Xiangzhu that his old man suddenly received an urgent report from Taiwan, and he had to rush back to deal with it. The chief rudder, Wei Xiangzhu, should be careful and act according to the camera. If it is inconvenient in the palace Stay again, but leave Beijing for temporary shelter, and also said that Wei Xiangzhu should practice martial arts frequently, I don't know if the wounds on Wei Xiangzhu's body have been completely cleared, if something is wrong, you must report to the chief helmsman to know." Wei Xiaobao said: "Yes. Master is concerned about my injuries and martial arts, so as to teach people to be grateful." His two words are true. Hearing that the master is still thinking about his body in a hurry, he is really grateful, and asked: "What happened in Taiwan?" thing?" Gao Yanchao said: "I heard that Zheng's mother and son did not get along, and they killed the ministers. It seems that there has been an internal change. The chief rudder has great prestige. If there is any disturbance, he will be able to calm down as soon as he arrives. Wei Xiangzhu does not need to worry. Brother Li , Master Guan, Brother Fan, Brother Feng, and Daoist Xuanzhen all went with the Chief Steward. Third Brother Xu and his subordinates stayed in Beijing to be sent by Lord Wei Xiang." Wei Xiaobao nodded, and said: "You ask someone to invite Third Brother Xu." He thought that "Eight-armed Ape" Xu Tianchuan has high martial arts skills, is alert, and is an old man, so it would be best to escort his second daughter to Shijiazhuang.Thinking again: "Taiwan also has feuds between mother and child, killing people, just like the queen mother and emperor in Beijing." He went back to the hall and ate pasta with Fang Mu.Mu Jianping ate half a bowl of noodles, so he couldn't help but asked: "Are you sure you can't go to Shijiazhuang with us?" Wei Xiaobao looked at Fang Yi, and saw that she stopped eating, staring at each other with eagerness in her eyes I couldn't help feeling hot in my chest, and I wanted the two daughters to follow me to Wutai Mountain, but then I thought: "What a big deal I am going to do? Take these two injured girls on the road, get in the way, and attract people's attention. It’s absolutely impossible.” Sighing, he said, “After I’m done, I’ll come to Shijiazhuang to visit you. Where does your friend live? What’s his name?” Fang Yi lowered her head slowly, took a piece of noodles with her chopsticks, but didn't put it in her mouth, and said in a low voice, "That friend runs a mule and horse shop in Shijiazhuang West Market. His name is 'Kuai Ma' Song San." Wei Xiaobao said: "'Quick Horse' Song San, that's right, I will definitely come to visit you." With a naughty look on his face, he said softly: "Why don't I come? How can I let go of this pair of embarrassing big wives , little wife?" Mu Jianping smiled and said, "I haven't been good for a long time, and I'm talking again." Fang Yi said seriously: "If you really think we are good friends, we... We look forward to your coming every day. If you are frivolous and disrespectful , that... that's useless." Wei Xiaobao touched a nail, feeling a little bored, and said: "Okay, you don't like to joke, so I will just say no more in the future." Fang Yi was a little apologetic, and said softly: "Just kidding , There is also a measure, and you have to look at the time and the place. Are you...are you angry?" Wei Xiaobao became happy again, and hurriedly said: "No, no. As long as you don't get angry." Fang Yi smiled and said softly, "No one will be really angry with you." Fang Yi smiled so sweetly, even though the dust was still on her face, she was still pretty, and Wei Xiaobao suddenly felt warm all over her body.He drank the noodle soup one mouthful at a time, unable to think of anything to say. Suddenly footsteps were heard in the courtyard, an old man walked in, but it was Xu Tianchuan who had arrived.He walked up to Wei Xiaobao, bowed and saluted, with a smile on his face, he said respectfully: "Hello, old man." He was careful, and when there were outsiders present, he didn't address him as "Master Wei Xiang". Wei Xiaobao clasped his fists in return, and said with a smile: "Brother Xu, I'll introduce you to two friends. These two are the disciples of Mr. Liu, the 'Iron Backed Canglong'. This Miss Fang and Miss Mu are Mu王府的小郡主。”向方沐二女道：“这位徐大哥，跟柳老爷子、你家小公爷都相识。”他生怕方沐二女怀恨记仇，加上一句：“本来有一点儿小小过节，现下这梁子都已揭开了。”待三人见过礼后，说道：“徐三哥，我想拜托你一件事。” 徐天川听得这两个女扮男装的小太监竟是沐王府的重要人物，心想沐剑声等都已知道韦小宝来历，这两位姑娘自然也早得悉，便道：“韦香主有所差遣，属下自当奉命。” 方怡和沐剑屏却其实不知道韦小宝的身分，听徐天川叫他“韦香主”，都大为奇怪。 韦小宝微微一笑，说道：“两位姑娘跟吴立身吴老爷子、刘一舟刘大哥他们一般，都是失陷在皇宫之中，此刻方才出来。沐家小公爷、刘一舟师兄他们都已离京了罢？” 徐天川道：“沐王府众位英雄昨天都已平安离京。沐小公爷还托我打探小郡主的下落，我请他放心，包在天地会身上，必定找到小郡主。”说着脸露微笑。 沐剑屏道：“刘师哥跟我哥哥在一起？”她这话是代方怡问的。徐天川道：“在下送他们分批出城，刘师兄是跟柳老爷子在一起，向南去的。”方怡脸上一红，低下头来。 韦小宝心想：“你听得心上人平安脱险，定然是心花怒放。”殊不知这一次却猜错了。方怡心中想的是：“我答应过他，他如救了刘师哥性命，我便得嫁他为妻，终身不渝。可是他是个太监，怎生嫁得？他小小年纪，花样百出，却又是什么'韦香主'了？” 韦小宝道：“这两位姑娘力抗清宫侍卫，身上受了伤，现下要到石家庄一位朋友家去养伤。我想请徐三哥护送前去。” 徐天川欢然道：“理当效劳。韦香主派了一件好差使给我。属下对不起沐王府的朋友，反蒙沐小公爷相救，心中既感且愧。得能陪伴两位姑娘平安到达，也可稍稍补报于万一。” 沐剑屏向徐天川瞧了一眼，见他身形瘦小，弓腰曲背，是个随时随刻便能一命呜呼的糟老头子，说什么护送自己和师姊，只怕一路之上还要照料他呢，何况韦小宝不去，早已好生失望，不悦之意忍不住便在脸上流露了出来。 方怡却道：“烦劳徐老爷子大驾，可实在不敢当，只须劳驾给雇一辆大车，我们自己上路好了。我们的伤也没什么大不了，实在不用费神。” 徐天川笑道：“方姑娘不用客气。韦香主既有命令，我说什么要奉陪到底。两位姑娘武艺高强，原不用老头儿在旁惹厌，'护送'两字，老头儿实在没这个本领。但跑腿打杂，侍候两位姑娘住店、打尖、雇车、买物，那倒是拿手好戏，免得两位姑娘一路之上多费口舌，对付骡夫、车夫、店小二这些人物。” 方怡见难再推辞，说道：“徐老爷子这番盛意，不知如何报答才好。” 徐天川哈哈大笑，道：“报什么答？不瞒两位姑娘说，我对咱们这位韦香主，心中佩服得了不得，别瞧他年纪轻轻，实在是神通广大。他既救了我老命，昨天又给老头子出了胸中一口恶气，我心中正在嘀咕，怎生想法子好好给他办几件事才好，哪想他今天就交给了我这一件差使。两位姑娘就算不许我陪着，老头儿也只好不识相，一路之上做个先行官，逢山开路，遇水搭桥，侍候两位平安到达石家庄。别说从北京到石家庄只几天路程，韦香主倘若吩咐老头儿跟随两位上云南去，那也是说去便去，送到为止。” 沐剑屏见到他模样虽然猥琐，说话倒很风趣，问道：“他昨天给你出了什么气？昨天，他……他不是在皇宫里么？” 徐天川笑道：“吴三桂那奸贼手下有个狗官，叫做卢一峰。他将老头儿拿了去，拷打辱骂，还拿张膏药封住我的嘴巴，幸得令兄派人救了我出来。韦香主答应我说，他定当叫人打断这狗官的双腿。我想吴三桂的狗儿子这次来京，手下带的能人极多。卢一峰这厮上次吃过我苦头，学了乖，再也不敢独自出来，咱们要报仇，可不这么容易。哪知道昨天我在西城种德堂药材铺，见到一个做跌打医生的朋友，说起平西王狗窝里派人抬了一个狗官，到处找跌打医生。事情可也真奇怪，跌打医生找了一个又一个，一共找了二三十人，却又不让医治，只是跟他们说，这狗官名叫卢一峰，胡涂混蛋，平西王的狗儿子亲自拿棍子打断了他的一双狗腿，要他痛上七日七夜，不许医治。” 方怡和沐剑屏都十分奇怪，问韦小宝：“那是什么道理？”韦小宝道：“这狗官得罪了徐三哥，自然要叫他多吃点儿苦头。”沐剑屏道：“平西王狗窝里的人，却干么又将他抬来抬去，好让众人得知？”韦小宝道：“吴应熊这小子是要人传给我听，我叫他打断这狗官的腿，他已办妥了。”沐剑屏更是奇怪，问道：“他又为什么要听你的话？”韦小宝微笑道：“我胡说八道，骗了他一番，他就信啦。” 徐天川道：“我本想赶去将他毙了，但想这狗官给人抬着游街示众，断了两条腿又不许医治，如去杀了他，反倒便宜了这厮。昨天下午我亲眼见到了他，一条狗命十成中倒已去了九成，裤管卷了起来，露出两条断腿，又肿又紫，痛得只叫妈。两位姑娘，你说老头儿心中可有多痛快？” 这时高彦超已雇了三辆大车，在门外等候。他也是天地会中的得力人物，但会中规矩，大家干的是杀头犯禁之事，如非必要，越少露相越好，是以也没给方、沐二人引见。 韦小宝寻思：“我包袱之中一共已有五部《四十二章经》，这些书有什么用，我是一点也不知道，但这许多人拚了性命偷盗抢夺，其中一定大有缘故，带在身上赶路，可别失落了。”沉吟半晌，有了计较，向高彦超悄悄的道：“高大哥，我在宫里有个要好兄弟，给鞑子侍卫们杀了，我带了他骨灰出来，要好好给他安葬。请你即刻差人去买口棺木。” 高彦超答应了，心想韦香主的好友为鞑子所杀，那必是反清义士，亲自去选了一口上好柳州木棺材。他知道这位韦香主手面甚阔，将他所给的三百两银子使得只剩下三十几两，除了棺木之外，其他寿衣、骨灰坛、石灰、绵纸、油布、灵牌、灵幡、纸钱等物一应俱全，尽是最佳之物，又替方沐二女买了改换男装的衣衫鞋帽，途中所用的干粮点心，还叫了一名仵作、一名漆匠。待得诸物抬到，韦小宝和二女都已睡了两个时辰。 韦小宝先行换了常人装束，心道：“我奉旨去五台山公干，这可有得忙了，怎么还有时候练武功？师父这部武功秘诀，可别给人偷了去。”当下将五部经书连同师父所给的武功秘诀，用油布一层一层的包裹完密，到灶下去捧了一大把柴灰，放在骨灰坛中，心想：“最好棺材之中放一具真的尸首，那么就算有人开棺查检，也不会起疑。只不过一时三刻，也找不到个坏人来杀了。”于是醮些清水，抹在眼中脸上，神情悲哀，双手捧了油布包和骨灰坛，走到后厅，将包裹和骨灰坛放入棺材，跪了下来，放声大哭。 徐天川、高彦超、以及方沐二女都已候在厅上，见他跪倒痛哭，哪有疑心，只道确是他好友的骨灰，也都跪倒行礼。韦小宝见过死者家人向吊祭者还礼的情形，抢到棺木之侧，跪下向四人磕头还礼。眼看仵作放好绵纸、石灰等物，钉上了棺盖。漆匠便开始油漆。 高彦超问道：“这位义士尊姓大名，好在棺木上漆书他的名号。”韦小宝道：“他……他……他……”抽抽噎噎的不住假哭，心下寻思，说道：“他叫海桂栋。”那是将海大富、小桂子、瑞栋三人的名字各凑一字，心道：“我杀了你们三人，现下向你们磕头行礼，焚化纸钱给你们在阴世使用，你们三个冤鬼，总不该缠上我了罢？” 沐剑屏见他哭得悲切，劝慰道：“满清鞑子杀死我们的好朋友，总有一日要将他们杀得干干净净，给好朋友报仇雪恨。”韦小宝哭道：“鞑子自然要杀，这几位好朋友的仇，却是万万报不得的。”沐剑屏睁大了一双秀目，怔怔的瞧着他，心想：“为什么报不得？”
四人休息了一会，和高彦超作别上道。韦小宝道：“我送你们一阵。”方沐二人脸上均现喜色。 二女坐了一辆大车，韦小宝和徐天川各坐一辆。三辆大车先出东门，向东行了数里，这才折而向南。又行得七八里，来到一处镇甸，徐天川吩咐停车，说道：“送君千里，终须一别，天色已经不早，咱们在这里喝杯茶，这就分手罢！” 走进路旁一间茶馆，店伴泡上茶来，三名车夫坐了另一桌。 徐天川心想韦香主他们三人必有体己话要说，背负着双手，出去观看风景。 沐剑屏道：“桂……桂大哥，你其实姓韦，是不是？怎么又是什么香主？”韦小宝笑道：“我姓韦，名叫小宝，是天地会青木堂香主。到这时候，可不能再瞒你们了。”沐剑屏叹道：“唉！”韦小宝问：“为什么叹气？”沐剑屏道：“你是天地会青木堂香主，怎地……怎地到皇宫中去做了太监，那不是……那不是……” 方怡知道她要说“可惜之极”，一来此言说来不雅，二来不愿惹起韦小宝的愁思，插嘴道：“英雄豪杰为了国家大事，不惜屈辱自身，那是教人十分佩服的。”她料想韦小宝必是奉了天地会之命，自残身体，入宫卧底，确然令人敬佩。 韦小宝微微一笑，心想：“要不要跟她们说我不是太监？”忽听得徐天川喝道：“好朋友，到这时候还不露相吗？”伸手向右首一名车夫的肩头拍了下去。 徐天川的右掌刚要碰上那车夫肩头，那人身子一侧，徐天川右掌已然拍空，他左拳却已向车夫右腰击到。那车夫反手勾推，将这拳带到了外门。徐天川右肘跟着又向他后颈压落。那车夫右手反扬，向徐天川顶门虚击，徐天川手肘如和他头颈相触，便有如将自己头顶送到他手掌之下，立即双足使劲，向后跃开。他连使三招，掌拍、拳击、肘压，是都十分凌厉的手法，可是那车夫竟都轻描淡写的一一化开。 徐天川又惊又怒，料想这人定是大内好手，奉命前来拿人，当下左手连挥，示意韦小宝等三人快逃，自己与敌人纠缠，让他们三人有脱身之机。可是他们三人哪肯不顾义气？方怡身上有伤，难以动手，韦小宝和沐剑屏都拔出兵刃，便要上前夹击。 那车夫转过身来，笑道：“八臂猿猴好眼力！”声音颇为尖锐。四人见他面目黄肿，衣衫污秽，形貌丑陋，一时间也瞧不出多少年纪。徐天川听他叫出自己外号，心下更惊，抱拳道：“尊驾是谁？干么假扮车夫，戏弄在下？” 那车夫笑道：“戏弄是万万不敢的。在下与韦香主是好朋友，得知他出京，将地前来相送。”韦小宝搔了搔头，道：“我……我可不认得你啊。”那车夫笑道：“我二人昨晚还联手共抗强敌，你怎地便忘了？”韦香主恍然大悟，说道：“啊，你……你是陶……陶……”将匕首插入靴筒，奔过去拉住她手，才知道车夫是陶宫娥所乔装改扮。 陶宫娥脸上涂满了牛油水粉，旁人已难知她喜怒，但见她眼光中露出喜悦之色，说道：“我怕鞑子派人阻截，因此乔装护送一程，不料徐老爷子好眼力，可瞒不过他的法眼。” 徐天川见了韦香主的神情，知道此人是友非敌，又是欢喜，又感惭愧，拱手道：“尊驾武功高强，佩服，佩服！韦香主人缘真好，到处结交高人。”陶宫娥笑道：“不敢！请问徐大哥，我的改装之中，什么地方露了破绽？”徐天川道：“破绽是没有。只不过一路之上，我见尊驾挥鞭赶骡，不似寻常车夫。尊驾手腕不动，鞭子笔直伸了出去，手肘不抬，鞭子已缩回来。这一份高明武功，北京赶大车的朋友之中，只怕还没几位。”四人都大笑起来。 徐天川笑道：“在下倘若识相，见了尊驾这等功夫，原不该再伸手冒犯，只不过老头子就是不知好歹，那也没法子。”陶宫娥道：“徐大哥言重了，得罪了莫怪。”徐天川抱拳道：“不敢，请问尊姓大名。” 韦小宝道：“这位朋友姓陶，跟兄弟是……生死之交。”陶宫娥正色道：“不错，正是生死之交。韦香主救过我的性命。”韦小宝忙道：“前辈说哪里话来？咱们只不过合力杀了个大坏蛋而已。”陶宫娥微微一笑，道：“韦兄弟，徐大哥，方沐二位，咱们就此别过。”一拱手，便跃上大车赶车的座位。 韦小宝道：“陶……陶大哥，你去哪里？”陶宫娥笑道：“我从哪里来，回哪里去。”韦小宝点头道：“好，后会有期。”眼见她赶着大车，径自去了。 沐剑屏问道：“徐老爷子，这人武功真的很高吗？”徐天川道：“武功了得！她是个女子，更加了不起。”沐剑屏奇道：“她是女子？”徐天川道：“她跃上大车时扭动腰身，姿式固然好看，但不免扭扭捏捏，那自然是女子。”沐剑屏道：“她说话声音很尖，也不大像男人。韦大哥，她……她本来的相貌好看么？”韦小宝道：“四十年前或许好看的。但你就算再过四十年，仍比现今的她好看得多。”沐剑屏笑道：“怎么拿我跟她比了？原来她是个老婆婆。” 韦小宝想到便要跟她们分手，不禁黯然，又想孤身上路，不由得又有些害怕。从扬州来到北京，是跟茅十八这江湖行家在一起；在皇宫之中虽迭经凶险，但人地均熟，每到紧急关头，往往凭着一时机智而化险为夷，此去山西五台山，这条路固然从未走过，前途更是一人不识。他从未单身行过长路，毕竟还是个孩子，难免胆怯。一时想先回北京，叫高彦超陪同前去五台山，却想这件事有关小玄子的身世，如让旁人知道了，可太也对不起好朋友。 徐天川只道他仍回北京，说道：“韦香主，天色不早，你这就请回罢，再迟了只怕城门关了。”韦小宝道：“是。”方怡和沐剑屏都道：“盼你办完事后，便到石家庄来相见。我们等着你。”韦小宝点点头，心中甜甜地、酸酸地，说不出话来。 徐天川请二女上车，自己坐在车夫身旁，赶车向南。韦小宝眼见方沐二女从车中探头出来，挥手相别。大车行出三十余丈，转了个弯，便给一排红柳树挡住，再也不见了。
韦小宝上了剩下的一辆大车，命车夫折而向西，不回北京城去。那车夫有些迟疑，韦小宝取出十两银子，说道：“十两银子雇你三天，总够了罢？”车夫大喜，忙道：“十两银子雇一个月也够了。小的好好服侍公子爷，公子爷要行便行，要停便停。” 当晚停在北京西南廿余里一处小镇，在一家小客店歇宿。韦小宝抹身洗脚，没等到吃晚饭，便已倒在炕上睡着了。 次晨醒转，只觉头痛欲裂，双眼沉重，半天睁不开来，四肢更酸软无比，难以动弹，便如在梦魇中一般。他想张口呼叫，却叫不出声，一张眼，却见地下躺着三人，他大吃一惊，呆了半晌，定了定神，慢慢挣扎着坐起，只见炕前坐着一人，正笑吟吟的瞧着他。 韦小宝“啊”的一声。那人笑道：“这会儿才醒吗？”正是陶宫娥。 韦小宝这才宽心，说道：“陶姊姊，陶姑姑，那……那是怎么回事？”陶宫娥笑道：“你瞧瞧这三个是谁。”韦小宝爬下炕来，腿间只一软，便已跪倒，当即后仰坐地，伸手支撑，这才站起，见地下三人早已死了，却都不识，说道：“陶姑姑，是你救了我性命？” 陶宫娥笑道：“你到底叫我姊姊呢，还是姑姑？可别没上没下的乱叫。”韦小宝笑道：“你是姑姑，陶姑姑！”陶宫娥微笑道：“你一个人行路，以后饮食可得小心些，若是跟那八只手的老猴儿在一起，决不能上了这当。”韦小宝道：“我昨晚给人下了蒙汗药？”陶宫娥道：“差不多罢。” 韦小宝想了想，说道：“多半茶里有古怪，喝上去有点酸味，又有些甜甜的。”心想：“我自己身上带着一大包蒙汗药，却去吃人家的蒙汗药。他妈的，我这次不尝尝蒙汗药的滋味，又怎知是酸酸甜甜的？”问道：“这是黑店？”陶宫娥道：“这客店本来是白的，你住进来之后，就变黑了。”韦小宝仍然头痛欲裂，伸手按住额头道：“这个我可不懂了。” 陶宫娥道：“你住店后不久，就有人进来，绑住了店主夫妇跟店小二，将这间白店改了黑店。一名贼人剥下店小二的衣服穿了，在茶壶里撒了一把药粉，送进来给你。我见你正在换衣服，想等你换好衣服之后，再出声示警，不料你又除了衣衫抹身。等我过了一会再来看你，你早已倒了茶喝过了。幸亏这只是蒙汗药，不是毒药。” 韦小宝登时满脸通红，昨晚自己抹身之时，曾想象如果方怡当真做了自己老婆，紧紧抱着她，是怎么一股滋味，当时情思荡漾，情状不堪。陶宫娥年纪虽已不小，毕竟是女子，隔窗见到如此丑态，自然不能多看。 陶宫娥道：“昨日我跟你分手，回到宫里，但见内外平静无事，并没为太后发丧。我自是十分奇怪，匆匆改装之后，到慈宁宫外察看，见一切如常，原来太后并没死。这一下可不对了。我本想太后一死，咱二人仍可在宫中混下去，昨晚这一刀既然没刺死她，那就非得立即出宫不可，还得赶来通知你，免得你撞进宫来，自己送死。” 韦小宝假作惊异，大声道：“啊，原来老婊子没死，那可糟糕。”心下微感惭愧：“昨日匆忙之间，忘了提起，我以为你早知道了。” 陶宫娥道：“我刚转身，见有三名侍卫从慈宁宫里出来，形迹鬼鬼祟祟，心想多半是太后差他们去捉拿我的，但见他们并不是朝我的住处走去，当时也没功夫理会，回到住处收拾收拾，又改了装，从御膳房侧门溜出宫来。” 韦小宝微笑道：“原来姑姑装成了御膳房的苏拉。”御膳房用的苏拉杂役最多，劈柴、抬煤、杀鸡、洗菜、烧火、洗锅等等杂务，均由苏拉充当，这些人在御膳房畔出入，极少有人留意。