Chapter 231 Nine Gates Golden Flow Hall
The dusk was like indigo brocade, and just as it covered the top of the city, more than a hundred sheep-horn glass lamps in Langyinfang were lit one after another.
The lights are coming on.
The three-story eaves of Mingke Tower reflected the golden and jade scenery, and the building was bustling with people.
The charred aroma of roasted meat, the crispness of new wine, the warm, sweet scent of powder from the singer's sleeves...
Mixed with the noisy sounds of Hu music and Pipa, it creates a lively atmosphere in the cool night of early autumn.
In the elegant pavilion by the window on the third floor, a large round table made of rosewood inlaid with mother-of-pearl has been laid out with eight cold and eight hot dishes.
There was only a wealthy guest sitting crookedly in the main seat, wearing a royal blue Sichuan brocade robe with round flowers, and his fingertips tapped the edge of the table from time to time.
Knock…knock…knock…
His eyes swept across the table full of delicacies, and then passed the bustling lights and crowds on the street below the window, but his expression was gloomy.
With his eyes half-closed, he looked lazy and listless.
Only the sound of stringed instruments could be heard through the wall, making the banquet even more depressing.
The servant standing by was used to observing people's expressions. He bent down even lower and whispered tentatively:
"Master Deng, is the Drunken Lips not hot enough today?"
Uncle Deng didn't answer. He picked up a chilled grape, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.
Seeing this, the servant immediately changed the subject.
"The most exciting event today is undoubtedly the arrival of the daughter of a noble from the northwest border into the capital.
It is said that the Sixth Princess and Mr. Pei from the Prime Minister's Mansion went to the city gate to pick him up in person.
This guy is incredible, not only does he spend a fortune, he's also incredibly talented..."
Just as he started talking, Mr. Deng waved his hand, obviously not interested in this noble lady from the border court.
At this moment, a thin figure slid into the pavilion like a swimming fish. It was Aji, the shopkeeper's trusted servant.
He bowed deeply, and then went to Mr. Deng and whispered in his ear,
"Master, new bamboo shoots are breaking through the soil over at Chengyuan tonight.
It is said that this is a young girl from Yaoguang Dao, who is well versed in music and has a voice clearer than that of a thrush."
Mr. Deng's fingers, which were tapping the edge of the table, suddenly stopped.
The lazy autumn water in his eyes seemed to have been plunged into by a stone, and the corners of his lips curled upwards.
"Walk."
Just a few words dispelled all the stagnant air at the table.
Mr. Deng stood up, his robe fluttering in the wind as he left the table, leaving behind a table full of delicacies that had barely been touched.
Aji led Grandpa Deng downstairs, through the bustling lobby, and around to a quiet narrow corridor in the back kitchen that was filled with empty wine jars.
Pushing open a heavy wooden door that looked like a storage space, a dark corridor that was only wide enough for two people to pass through was revealed.
Candlelight flickered in the corridor, and the air was filled with the scent of aged wine dregs and the bitter aroma of grass and trees.
After closing the door and walking a dozen steps, you can only hear your own footsteps, blocking out all the flashy noises from the building in front.
Soon, an inconspicuous ebony door appeared in front of him.
There was no lock on the door, only a brass animal head door knocker.
Aji took out a white jade bamboo pendant from his bosom, pressed it into the mouth of the beast head and gently rotated it.
With a crisp click, the mechanism engaged and the door slid inward.
A warm yellow glow and a richer, sweet and warm exotic incense hit me in the face.
Faintly, a very clear sound of pipa fingers could be heard, like pearls falling on a jade plate, or like the first cry of a young phoenix.
Aji stopped in the shadow outside the door, stood respectfully with his hands hanging down, blending into the darkness of the corridor.
"Master Deng, we've arrived at Chengyuan."
Master Deng straightened the cuffs of his wrinkle-free brocade robe, squeezed out a slight "hmm" from his throat, and walked into the halo.
The small ebony door closed quietly, and the dark corridor returned to silence.
There are still traces of strange fragrance in the air, as if connecting two completely different worlds.
There is another world under Chengyuan.
It is the lair of the Jiumen Jinliutang, named Jianjinku.
Most people would never imagine that there is a magnificent palace under the mysterious Chengyuan.
The luxury far exceeds that of ordinary palaces, with gold as its bones and desire as its flesh.
Thousands of golden knives hang from the corridor dome, and the floor is paved with colorful glazed bricks from the Western Regions.
The main hall is equipped with four beasts swallowing the sky, and the Taotie jar, Qiongqi tripod, Taowu screen and Chaos bell are respectively used to guard the four directions.
The dome is made of a whole piece of water with a star map carved into it, and a mechanism controls the movement of the stars to create a fake sky.
Each leader is in charge of an area, named Jinxue Hall, Wuchen Prison, Jinchi, and Paradise Peak.
At this time, the four masters gathered at the top of Paradise.
The head of the boss, the God of Wealth "Immovable Yama".
The Jiumen General Accounting Office controls the flow of gambling funds in Fengjing and intelligence screening.
He sits in a cypress wheelchair all day long, wearing double-sided satin: the gold-embroidered side shows the heavenly official blessing the distinguished guests; the other side shows the bones being scraped off to pay off debts and deter traitors.
His face was like a steamed wheat cake, his cheeks were round and shiny, and his chin was folded three times and hung on the brocade collar.
He wore a purple brocade robe with linked beads and a round nest pattern, and a silver fox fur half-sleeve coat.
There is always a faint smile on his lips, like a successful businessman.
But there is a scary saying in the martial arts world: Yama can kill you at three o'clock in the morning, but money can buy you five o'clock in the morning!
This is the person I'm talking about.
On the left is the second in command, the "Blood Scale" Iron Scale Buddha.
He commands the thugs among the Nine Gates and is in charge of punishments in the punishment hall.
His eyes were dyed indigo, his beard was braided into a thin braid, and a gold-foil lotus flower was pasted on his left cheek to cover the tattoo.
A jade belt is tied around the bear waist, and rhino horn rings are on the fingers.
On the right is the third in command, Tongtianma, the "Ghost Gate Key".
He specializes in mediating between the black and white worlds and managing government offices.
He wore a round-necked robe made of snow-blue gauze, a gold belt, and a jade cicada crown on his head.
Among the three men, he had the most handsome appearance, like a handsome scholar.
Opposite is the fourth in command, "Hundred-Faced Viper" Dice Heart Girl.
Responsible for counterfeiting gambling equipment, training cheating techniques, and disciplining newcomers.
A chest-length skirt with a peacock feather tulle cape.
She wore a high bun with a golden phoenix hairpin holding a pearl, and a seven-treasure necklace around her neck.
The ten fingers are dyed with marigold juice and gold powder, and the light shines like snake scales.
The God of Wealth's golden abacus jingled, "This winter, I'll give you a 30% bonus on charcoal."
The Iron Scale Buddha slammed his ruler on the table, "The newly opened Baohe cabinet in South City won't pay the commission, it's time to dismantle the scale."
Tongtianma spun the key with his fingertips and chuckled, "Tomorrow I'll send a roasted camel hump to the Jingzhao Yin, just add some pepper."
The dice-hearted lady twisted her slender waist and said, "The newly made Yin-Yang bone has been fed into the Chengyuan trap. It's time to close the net."
After quickly finishing the business, Tongtianma looked up at the boss.
"Have you heard, Master? The daughter of a noble from the northwest border court spends a fortune when she comes to the capital."
The dice heart lady smiles charmingly,
"Not only that, the poems written on the wall of Songtao Tower have spread all over the place.
I look at my sword by lamplight while drunk, and dream of blowing the horn in the camp.
Eight hundred miles of roast meat is distributed to the subordinates, fifty strings play the music from the frontier, and the soldiers are inspected in the autumn battlefield.
Even a young girl like her didn't know how to write such a grand poem."
As he spoke, he licked the corner of his mouth, his eyes blurred, "I really want to see with my own eyes what kind of skin it is..."
Tongtianma rolled his eyes and said, "Xinniang, you should take it easy.
Prime Minister Pei personally stepped in to make her famous. I haven't found out the reason yet, so it's best to stay away from it at this time.
But according to her, the second princess in the north is even more talented and knowledgeable than her, and this has caused a great stir among the scholars."
The God of Wealth nodded, agreeing with what he said.
"The provincial examination is coming soon, Xinniang is setting up a scheme to make it more lively..."
At the same time, the new leader of the Sihai Gang and his gang members had arrived at the gate of Chengyuan.
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