Chapter 10
Seeing that no one answered him, Wang Sheng quietly lifted a corner of the black belt.
What caught his eye was a pair of soft-soled brocade boots. Looking up, he saw a tall and straight figure standing in front of him. Shi Ye was folding his arms and looking down to see when he could get up.
Wang Sheng was quite surprised, "Master? Why are you here?"
Without even looking at him, he said calmly, "Catch the ghost."
Wang Sheng glanced at the sky. Catching ghosts at this time? That's right, if not in the dark, then during the day.
He tore off his black belt, stood up angrily and looked for the sick ghost everywhere, as if he was going to fight with it once he found it.
"Where's the ghost? How dare you come and pick a fight with your Grandpa Wang? You must be tired of living, right?"
He rolled up his sleeves to his left and right, and suddenly remembered that he had a wooden sculpture in his hands. He coughed violently, then inadvertently hid the wooden sculpture in his sleeves and laughed nonchalantly.
"Haha, thank you so much for saving my life, Master. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, right? Master, you are truly selfless and serve the people. You are busy exorcising ghosts every day. I admire you so much, so much."
He was also looking at his own courtyard when he saw it, so he quickly introduced it: "Master, don't look at this courtyard as small and shabby, but it has everything you need, and the scenery is also superb."
Wang Sheng pointed to the teacup on the table and tried to be polite: "Master, if you don't mind, would you like to stay for a cup of tea?"
In fact, I was thinking in my heart that this person would definitely not drink. Under such circumstances, it would be a good thing if he didn't say anything sarcastic to him.
I also took a look at the teacup. Although it didn't look delicate, it was elegant in a unique way. It was obvious that the sculptor had good skills.
"You carved..."
"Gu."
Before Shi Ye could finish his words, his stomach rumbled and both of them froze in place.
Wang Sheng widened his eyes and then blinked twice.
Wang Sheng: "I'll go and make you a bowl of noodles."
Shi Ye opened his mouth, wanting to say something but couldn't utter it, and the tips of his ears turned red.
So the story evolved into Wang Sheng frying minced meat and cooking noodles in front of the stove, while he also sat at the wooden table and drank water with dignity.
Wang Sheng came over with a bowl of steaming, fragrant noodles and boasted, "Noodles are here! Master, try some. Although the ingredients aren't as good as those out there, the taste is definitely not bad."
Shi Ye pursed his lips and said, "Thank you."
"Hey, what's the big deal? You've saved me so many times. It's just a bowl of noodles."
Tsk, I thought this guy just didn't have the character for thanking someone, after all, it wasn't his style. But I didn't expect him to be so awkward and actually thank him, it really made things difficult for him.
Wang Sheng curled his lips, then instantly changed his expression to a grin. He also took a bite and asked, "How's it?"
The minced meat is fried to a savory and fragrant taste, the noodles are chewy and smooth, and the noodle soup is rich and delicious.
Shi Ye: "It's OK."
"Fine?" Wang Sheng clenched his fists under the table. Someone who didn't know him would have thought he usually ate delicacies prepared by the imperial chef. He retracted his previous opinion of him.
Shi Ye said that it was okay, but he finished the whole bowl of noodles and even drank a lot of the soup.
He put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
Seeing that Shi Ye was in a good mood, Wang Sheng's eyes rolled. He moved his stool, rubbed his hands, and said, "Master, look, you have saved me so many times, I really can't repay you. How about this, I will do your laundry and cooking, and you can go out and catch ghosts and save people in peace? I don't want money, I just want to repay you for saving my life."
Wang Sheng's words were sincere and touching, as if he wanted to repay Shi Ye so much. He looked at Shi Ye with his eyes, like a young lady who was ready to pledge herself to him. If Shi Ye didn't agree, he would cry and die on the spot.
She folded the handkerchief and put it into her sleeve. Under Wang Sheng's eager gaze, she took out a piece of silver from her waist and put it on the table, clearly rejecting Wang Sheng's request, then got up and left.
Wang Sheng was left sitting in the yard, staring at Yin Zi in disbelief.
Before Shiye could get far, he quickly turned around and yelled, "Do you think anyone can eat the food I cook? If you don't want to eat it, forget it!"
After saying this, he picked up the bowl he had eaten from and angrily wanted to smash it on the ground to show his anger.
But this bowl is still brand new, and I can’t bear to smash it.
Someone had no choice but to face reality, put away the money, and go wash dishes obediently.
.
In front of the restaurant, Wang Sheng, biting a steamed bun and eating porridge, remained hunkered down, not even sparing a fly that flew by. Who knew how many tricks he had at that moment? He could even turn ghosts into paper figures, and maybe he could even change his form and turn into a cloud and float away.
There was a constant stream of people coming and going, some carrying loads, some eating breakfast and going to work.
But Shi also didn't come downstairs. Wang Sheng touched his chin and thought, could he have left last night?
The person next to him put down his basket, made up his stool and sat down next to him.
Wang Sheng leaned over and asked doubtfully, "Master, what do you think of my talent for exorcising ghosts? If you were a master ghost catcher, would you take me in as your apprentice?"
The old man opened the lid of the basket, and Wang Sheng took a sidelong glance. Hey, the fish is still alive. He didn't know whether it was caught again or the old man went to buy more.
There was no hope of the old man answering his questions. Wang Sheng yawned. Last night, after being disturbed by the ghost, he didn't dare to sleep in the second half of the night. He even kept his shoes on and was ready to run at any time.
He was almost sleepy when he got up this morning. If it weren't for the need to guard someone, he would have slept until noon.
The sun made people's skin soft. Wang Sheng was drowsy and almost fell asleep on the stall. Even the old man next to him squinted his eyes. Only the fish in the basket would occasionally wag their tails like a dragon, splashing some water.
"Everyone, stand still! Tell the truth about where you went last night. Anyone who can't explain will be taken away!"
Wang Sheng raised his head from the table, his eyes full of stars.
"How did they get here?"
"You don't know. The night before last, the prefect died in a strange way in the prison. The murderer actually dared to kill him before the Huai'an King's men. This can't be completed, so they naturally arrest people everywhere."
Chen Nian was standing on the street. A group of ferocious-looking men were stopping passers-by and asking them questions, while he was scanning the entire street, judging who the murderer might be like an eagle's eye.
Yesterday, Chen Nian conducted a thorough investigation inside Zhang County. He knew that if someone could kill someone in such a tightly sealed prison, there had to be an insider. But in the end, not a single person was suspected.
Ten feet away, there was a man in a gray Taoist robe who was stretching as if no one was around. He also stretched his waist with his left hand and stretched his legs with his right hand.
Chen Nian narrowed his eyes, then walked towards the man with big strides, clearing a space wherever he went.
"What's going on?"
"Have they found the murderer?"
Everyone covered their mouths and discussed, looking over here quietly.
Wang Sheng had just woken up and was not aware of the situation when he was suddenly pressed down on the shoulders by two people.
"Ouch! What are you doing? It's broad daylight! Believe it or not, I'm going to report you to the police!"
Chen Nian walked up to Wang Sheng, looked down at him, and said, "I am the official. Where else do you need to go to report to the authorities?"
Wang Sheng looked up, "You..."
Seeing that he stopped talking mid-sentence, Chen Nian's arrogance disappeared completely. He raised one corner of his mouth and asked, "What about me?"
Wang Sheng shut his mouth.
Chen Nian was very satisfied and asked him calmly, "When the government handles cases, you answer whatever I ask. Do you understand?"
"Where were you the night before last? What were you doing? And who can testify for you?"
The people who had been hiding far away no longer dared to whisper to each other. They all avoided looking at each other for fear of being implicated.
In Zhang County, the highest official was the prefect. They had never seen such royal relatives who lived far away in the imperial city. They were all legendary figures.
Wang Sheng was silent for a long while, until Chen Nian's men pushed him. He came to his senses and said, "I'm alone at home, and no one can testify for me."
Chen Nian: "No one? Then what did you do at home? Tell me."
A low chuckle was heard.
"What do you think, adults? What else can a person do at home besides eating, drinking, defecating, urinating and sleeping?"
"Just answer whatever the master asks. Why are you talking so much nonsense?" Someone pulled Wang Sheng's arm hard, and Wang Sheng's face was distorted with pain.
Chen Nian raised his hand and glanced at the man, who instantly dared not move.
He turned and walked away, saying, "Since you can't answer it, then come with us. You can come out when you can explain it clearly."
Wang Sheng was forced to follow behind Chen Nian. There were also a few sneaky-looking people on the street. If it were not inconvenient now, Wang Sheng would definitely find a mirror to take a good look at himself. Is he that disgusting?
Is Chen Nian blind? How can we catch him back?
Just when Wang Sheng thought that he could not avoid being jailed today, someone walked up to them and stopped them.
"He was with me the night before last, and I am his witness."
Wang Sheng looked over in surprise, wondering why the master was here.
Shi Ye, carrying Wu Men on his back, wore a long, dark blue silk kesi gown with silver embroidered water patterns along the sleeves. Around his waist hung a dark black belt, which contained a linen pouch for talismans and paper figurines. His cold, distinguished face tilted as he looked at Wang Sheng.
"Master!" Wang Sheng paused, then called out softly, "Save me, Master."
Seeing this, Chen Nian stopped and glanced back and forth between him and Wang Sheng.
"So you two know each other. Then why didn't this young Taoist priest tell me who could testify for you? Did he forget about it for a moment?"
Wang Sheng immediately said, "Who knew you would just arrest people? Anyone would be scared."
Chen Nian said, "I see. It was my fault. I offended Mr. Shi's friend. I apologize to you."
Wang Sheng hid behind Shi Ye and shook his head at Chen Nian proudly.
Shi Ye also bowed, as if to give Chen Nian face, and said: "Master Chen, there is no need to bother to capture him. I have seen Zhang Wei's body. His death is not normal and it is not the work of an ordinary person. I will write a letter to the prince about this matter. Master Chen, don't worry."
Not something that ordinary people would do?
What a joke. Chen Nian has lived for so long and has seen everything, yet he was told the same tricks used by ghosts and gods to fool people.
"That's good, I was just wondering how to explain this to the prince. Since you have a solution, I would like to thank you for your help."
"Um."
After Chen Nian withdrew his troops, the crowd dispersed in twos and threes.
Shi Ye left, and Wang Sheng followed him.
"Master, you saved me again. Speaking of which, Chen Nian is a big troublemaker. You just lied to him like that. If you were found out, would you be in trouble?"
"Won't."
Wang Sheng: Who is this guy? He is not even afraid of the King of Huai'an.
He looked down on everyone equally and acted so arrogantly. He really admired him.
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