Chapter 2 The first part is Brilliant Flowers, Human Love, Chapter 1, on the eve of the grand ceremony

"The wind blows the flowers, the flowers move and the flowers fall. No matter how many flowers are added to his world, it is also a common thing. Flowers fall and people die, and the world is ruthless. The heaven and the earth are ruthless, if there is love, the sky will be barren and the earth will be old. " one The fourteenth day of the first lunar month. Jinan. Zaisi closed the door.Shutting out the ever-changing wind and snow in the ancient city of Jinan, he took off his blue sable cloak made of dark blue velvet, hung it on a hanger made of sandalwood branches on his left, and turned around. When he turned around, his right hand had already picked up a light blue crystal cup.

Purple Persian wine was held in a crystal glass. The crystal cup was taken from the sandalwood table, which was next to the brazier, and the brazier was next to the sandalwood chair. Zai Si sat down comfortably and took a sip of the wine. He likes famous horses, beautiful women, colorful clothes and fine wine, and enjoys enjoying himself. He likes blue. He is very picky about everything, and everything he does has been carefully planned, and he will never waste a little effort, and he will never be negligent, even these details of life are no exception. This is Zai Si. He was able to live to this day, and he was able to become the master of Nanjun King at such a young age of twenty-six years old, perhaps because he was such a person.

The exquisite, gorgeous and warm room, and the sweet and sweet wine have completely dispelled the coldness in his body. But he suddenly felt very tired. In order to prepare for tomorrow's grand ceremony, he has completely messed up the rules of his life in the past half month. He must not let any mistake happen in this matter tomorrow. Any small mistake may cause a big mistake that can never be made up. At that time, not only will he regret it for the rest of his life, but his master will also be implicated. Even the overall situation in the arena will change because of this. More importantly, he must not let Huangfu Qingtian's flourishing career and reputation suffer any blow or damage.

The two most unbearable things in Zaisi's life are "mistakes" and "failures". Huangfu Qingtian really couldn't be hit or hurt at all. He took over his father's position at the age of twenty-four, and it has been twenty-four years since he made a mistake or failed once. two After drinking the first glass of wine, Zai Si had rethought the ins and outs of planning tomorrow's grand ceremony three times. He had always drank his wine slowly, but his thoughts were extremely fast. Tomorrow is the "Beautiful Flower Ceremony" held once every five years in Jinan Prefecture, and it is also the day when the king of Nanjun was conferred the title of "Invincible General" by the emperor to receive the imperial edict.

No matter how you look at it, it can be regarded as a major event that caused a sensation in the officialdom and the world. The most shocking point is that the "oiran" elected every five years is probably the daughter of the king of Nanjun who has been missing for twenty years. Twenty years ago, Nanjun Wang Dayi killed his relatives and personally captured his sworn brother "Nine Heavens Ghost Emperor" Zhong Ruihui. This incident not only caused a sensation in the world, but also made his reputation even higher. But when he came back triumphantly, his wife Lin Shujun's "Shuyuan Villa" had been destroyed. Both Lin Shujun and her newborn daughter were missing, and her life and death were unknown.

Although the murderer who destroyed "Shuyuan Villa" has never been found out, everyone knows in their hearts that this person must be Zhong Ruijie's closest confidant, and he is also the person who later rescued Zhong Ruihui from the prison. Thinking of Zhong Ruofu, everyone in Jianghu absolutely believed that he was a vengeful person, and he was not easy to mess with. After Zhong Ruohui escaped from prison, everyone was convinced that he would take revenge soon, even Huangfu Qingtian had prepared for the worst. However, the facts were unexpected. Not only did Zhong Juehui not retaliate, but even the person suddenly disappeared, as if this person had never existed in the rivers and lakes.

It was getting dark, and although there were no lights in the house, the lights outside were getting brighter and brighter. The cold wind blowing in through the window cracks also brought the voices and laughter of people in the front courtyard. Zai Si poured another glass of wine, took a sip, and his eyes fell on a piece of light green paper on the sandalwood table. "Twenty years, don't come without a lamb?" These are the eight characters on the light green paper. There were only eight words, no signature, and no indication of who it was addressed to, but both Zai Si and Huangfu Qingtian knew who wrote it and who it was addressed to.

This light green note was found on the table in Huangfu Qingtian's study three days ago. At that time, Zai Si and Huangfu Qingtian were discussing about tomorrow's celebration, and no one noticed this light green note. It was only after they finished talking that they found this light green note on the desk. When was it placed on the desk? Was it before they entered the study? Or are they talking? Zai Si vaguely remembered that when he walked into the study, there was no such piece of paper on the table. Then this piece of paper must have been placed on the table during his conversation with Nanjun King.

It would be unbelievable that the two of them could put the paper on the table without realizing it. Could this person know the mythical invisibility technique? "Old friends are old friends after all." Huangfu Qingtian looked at the light green paper and said with a smile, "It's been so long, but he still remembers me." Zai Si didn't answer, but just looked at Huangfu Qingtian quietly. "Old man Zai, do you think we should prepare to entertain this old friend whom we haven't seen for many years?" Zai Si was obviously only twenty-eight years old, but Huangfu Qingtian liked to call him "Old Man Zai".

"Should." Zai Si said: "When we meet again after a long absence, you must have a lot to talk about." "Not only do you have a lot to talk about." Huangfu Qingtian said: "There is still a lot of wine to drink." "I heard that you An old friend's drinking capacity, can he compare to Li Xunhuan in the past?" "I'm afraid even Chu Xiangshuai would not dare to compete with him." Huangfu Qingtian smiled. "It's time for me to ask someone to tidy up the wine cellar." Zai Si also smiled. "As soon as your old friend comes, just entertain him in the wine cellar to save the trouble of carrying the wine." "I hope the wine in the cellar can meet his wishes."

The fire light danced on Zaisi's face, and his thoughts raced in his mind. Zhong Juehui has been missing for twenty years since he escaped from prison, and it is bound to be not so fun to come back this time. Tomorrow's celebration is a good opportunity for him to take revenge, and he will definitely not miss it. This time the grand ceremony is completely public. Those who have received the invitations can of course enter the house dignifiedly and be the guests of the King of Nanjun. Those who have not received the invitations can also go to the yard outside the mansion to watch the excitement, and even watch the parade on the street. . Many of the disciples of the "Demon Demon" are masters who have experienced countless battles and killed countless people. Among the assassins who are up for grabs in the arena, there are not many who can kill in an instant amidst heavy guards. These people might come here tomorrow, mix into the crowd, and wait for the chance to assassinate Huangfu Qingtian. In the course of the grand ceremony, there are of course many such opportunities. But Zai Si believes that the grand ceremony will still be successfully completed, and Huangfu Qingtian will still not be injured. Because he has calculated every possible situation, and everyone who may assassinate the king of Nanjun has been under his strict surveillance. In order to guard against Zhong Juejue's revenge, he has mobilized 276 first-level masters from the "Southern Prince's Mansion", and also mobilized 54 masters in the rivers and lakes, each of whom can deal with thirty big men. . Zai Si divided them into nine groups, and each group could definitely be independent, and each group was arranged in an absolutely favorable location. But the second group that has been specially selected is just to deal with two people. "Two people?" This morning Huangfu Qingtian once asked Zai Si: "Why use two groups of people to deal with two people?" Zai Si answered this question by only saying the names of these two people. "Because of these two people, one is Ren Piaoling, and the other is Fat Girl." At this time, Huangfu Qingtian was eating breakfast. His breakfast today was a large piece of veal sirloin weighing at least two catties, with twenty eggs and a lot of fruits and vegetables. The beef is simmered over charcoal, covered in a tangy sauce and spices, and grilled to perfection. This is one of the Nanjun King's favorite foods, but after hearing Zai Si's two names, he put down the Persian scimitar he used to cut meat, and stared at Zai Si with a pair of foggy eyes. "Fat girl?" "yes." "Have you seen this man before?" "I don't have one." Zai Si said lightly, "I believe there are not many people in the Jianghu who have seen her." Most people in the Jianghu know the fat girl's name, but few people have seen her. I hope I never see this person in my life. Fat girl is of course a woman, and she is also Zhong Ruijie's favorite general in the past, the hall master of the punishment hall in "Momo", and the most dangerous person under Zhong Ruihui's subordinates. In the past, Zhong Ruihui rarely let her leave his side. When Zhong Ruehui was captured, everyone expected that she would rob the prison in a big way, and even if she didn't, she would break into the palace and assassinate Huangfu Qingtian. But Fat Girl didn't do this. As soon as Zhong Huehui was caught, her people disappeared. Some people speculated that she might be afraid of Huangfu Qingtian's martial arts and hid. Since Huangfu Qingtian can defeat Zhong Ruihui, he will definitely be able to kill Fat Girl. Since Zhong Ruihui is captured, his subordinates will definitely not let him go, so when Zhong Ruihui is caught, Fat Girl will definitely hide. Zai Si didn't think so. He knew that Fat Girl wasn't hiding. If she was this kind of person, there wouldn't be so many people in the world who were afraid of her. There must be a reason for her disappearance. "Ren Piaoling is here too?" "yes." Huangfu Qingtian looked at the veal sirloin on the disk, and sighed softly. "This person is not only the most mysterious person in the Jianghu, but also the most public killer." Huangfu Qingtian said, "As long as the price is right, I don't think there is anyone he dare not kill." "Ren Piaoling is more dangerous than a fat girl." Zai Si said: "He has no home, no fixed residence, and no fixed way of life, so no one can find him." Zai Si went on to say: "But if someone needs him, he also thinks he needs this person , then he will suddenly appear in front of this person." "What he needs are usually other people's jewels, gold and huge amounts of silver notes." Huangfu Qingtian said with a smile: "Other people usually need him. It's the sword he never leaves his hand." A long, narrow sword. When he stabs a person's throat with a sword, it is as easy and skillful as a young woman in a boudoir doing embroidery. three The scimitar inlaid with jasper on the knife ring was placed in the wooden tray, and there was still thick gravy on the blade. Huangfu Qingtian wiped his hands with a soft silk scarf, and then asked Zai Si: "You haven't seen these two people, how do you know they are here?" "I know." Zai Si said lightly: "Because I I know, so I know." What kind of answer is that? This kind of answer is not an answer at all, it is a nonsense answer at all, and no one will be satisfied. Huangfu Qingtian was already very satisfied. Because that's what Zai Si said. Huangfu Qingtian believed in his judgment, just as he believed that the knife in the wooden plate could cut flesh. However, a strange expression suddenly appeared in his eyes, and he suddenly said a very strange sentence, "Wrong." Huangfu Qingtian said, "Zhong Huo Que is wrong." "why?" "Has Fat Girl come to Jinan City now?" "yes." "Can she go back alive?" "cannot." "Let a person who is so useful like me go to die, would I do such a thing?" Huangfu Qingtian asked Zai Si. "Will you do it?" "No." "Did Ren Piaoling also come here?" "yes." "Does Ren Piaoling hate working with women the most in her life? Hate someone lying to him? Hate someone knowingly committing a crime?" "Yes." "Is he sure he will know that the fat girl is here too?" "I must know." "He knows, will he definitely find Zhong Rui to settle the score?" "He will kill the fat girl first, and then find Zhong Rui to settle the score." "Zhong Fuhui knew Ren Piaoling's temper, why did he still do this? Is he sick?" "No." Zai Si looked at Huangfu expressionlessly. "There is nothing wrong with clock destruction." "Oh?" "He wanted them to come here, not for her to die, nor for Ren Piaoling to kill Fat Sister." "What did he want them to do?" "To make a cover." Zai Si said: "Fat Sister and Ren Piaoling are just a cover." "Why?" "Because it's not them who are really going to stab you, but another person." Zai Si said, "If we only guard against them, it will be easier for the third person to attack you." "The third person? Who is this person?" ?" "It's a young man who wears a pure white silk satin gown and carries a sword inlaid with pure white jade. He lives in the most expensive and luxurious Drunken Willow Pavilion in Jinan City. He eats better meals than you every meal." Zai Si said: "He has been here for three days, and he hasn't stepped out of Zui Liu Pavilion every day, but he has made friends with more than half of the people in Jinan City." "Oh? He is so famous, everyone is eager to make friends he?" "It's not to make friends with him, but to fight for him to treat you!" Zai Si said: "He has only been here for three days, but he has already invited one hundred and thirteen tables." Huangfu Qingtian laughed. "I didn't expect this person to be so hospitable?" Huangfu asked Zai Si. "Where did he come from?" "I don't know." "What's his name?" "The name he used in Drunken Willow Pavilion was Bai Shaoyu." Zai Si said. "What accent does he speak?" "I haven't heard him speak, but I asked the little girl in Zuiliu Pavilion." "What did he say?" "He used to be a traveler, traveled to many places, and could speak the language of seven or eight provinces, but he couldn't tell where this guest surnamed Bai was from." "Why?" "Because this Mr. Bai can also speak the languages ​​of seven or eight provinces, each of which is better than him." "What kind of swordsmanship did he learn? Is the swordsmanship high?" "I have no idea." "What about his clothes?" Many things can also be seen from the clothes a person wears. Clothes are made of different materials, and there are many kinds of silk and satin. The dyeing and weaving methods are different in each place, and the origin of cotton yarn is also different. Zaisi is an expert in identifying such things. "I believe you must have seen his clothes." Huangfu asked: "What did you see?" "I can't see anything. I have never seen that kind of silk satin, not even the one he used to sew clothes." I've never seen a thread." Zai Si said: "I believe that kind of silk satin came from a very, very far away place." He said: "You and I have probably never been to that place." "Even Places we haven't been to." Huangfu smiled wryly. "Probably not too many people have been there."