Chapter 5757 (Revised) Deserted Village
Compared with Xiyue Town, Yongchang Town is more prosperous.
Although it was daytime, street vendors were constantly hawking their wares and the streets were filled with people.
The shops along several streets were all booming, and there were even four or five ready-made clothing stores. When passing by a jewelry store, Liang Yi insisted on dragging Su Yan in to take a look, saying that he wanted to give her a gift. Su Yan found that the jewelry sold in Yongchang Town was more exquisite.
There are ordinary materials as well as those made of gold and silver, with delicate patterns, and they are very valuable.
Su Yan certainly would not waste money on buying jewelry. Before she had a stable income, she would try to save as much as possible to avoid going hungry in the future.
Su Yan pushed Liang Yi out.
He only knows a little bit of Kung Fu and can't even beat Su Yan.
Liang Yi snorted angrily, "I'm giving it to you, what are you afraid of? This thing is not worth much."
Su Yan frowned, "Any one of these pieces of jewelry is enough for ordinary people to eat several meals. Why don't you help your second brother gain a good reputation?"
"Second brother" is a magic weapon. Liang Yi immediately shut his mouth and never mentioned giving him jewelry.
Su Yan looked back at the shop and saw a silver hairpin. The petals were light blue, gradually turning white from the tip to the center of the flower. The hairpin beads were milky white jade, small and exquisite.
If she has the chance in the future, she will buy it and play with it.
Su Yan took Liang Yi for a stroll on the street, and their target was the old man selling tofu.
She doesn't consider anything else when choosing a man, only his age.
Su Yan bought four pieces of tofu first, and while the old man was picking up the tofu, he asked, "I'm going to Shanyin Village in a while. Do you know how to get to Shanyin Village?"
"Go to Shanyin Village?" The old man handed the tofu to Su Yan, "There's no one there, don't go! Hey, next time you pick up tofu, bring a plate in advance, otherwise it will be difficult to serve. When you go home and put the tofu away, you have to return the plate to me."
Su Yan agreed, and then said flatteringly: "Old man, I have a sworn sister who is from Shanyin Village. We agreed to meet this year. What do you mean by saying that there is no one left?"
The old man sat down under the shed, took out his pipe, shook his head and said, "All the people over there are dead. Don't go there. It's unlucky."
"How could it be?!" Su Yan pretended to be surprised, "We are the same age, how could she die?"
The old man frowned and said, "I can't say for sure, but they are all dead. I heard that the witch went crazy."
"Witch?"
The old man said, "Didn't your friend tell you about the witch? There was a long-lived woman in Shanyin Village. She was 93 years old before she went crazy, more than 30 years older than me. I heard she was crazy, and then the government sent someone to look for her. When they came back, they heard that everyone in the village had died. It should be that the witch was dying and didn't want to go on the road alone, so she cast a spell and took everyone else away."
In the Zhou Dynasty, people aged sixty were considered old and no longer had to perform corvee labor. If one could really live to ninety-three, he could indeed be considered long-lived.
Su Yan didn't expect that there was a witch in Shanyin Village. She recalled: "The witch lived in... the biggest house?"
"I'm not sure about that," the old man said. "I've only heard about it, I've never been there. I just heard everyone say that the witch is very magical, knows how to live longer, and can extend people's lifespan."
Longevity, Wang County Magistrate.
Su Yan integrated several key words together and had an idea in his mind.
After leaving the old man, Su Yan asked a few more people from Yongchang Town.
Half of the people have heard of Shanyin Village, but have never been there. The most famous thing about Shanyin Village is the fortune-teller.
Some people say something even more mysterious, saying that the witch can communicate with the sky and has boundless power. She looks like an ordinary old person, but is actually a deity.
Most people believe this.
Liang Yi didn't believe it. "If one can really live a long life, why would all the people in Shanyin Village be massacred? In my opinion, it was County Magistrate Wang who did it. Maybe he wanted to find the longevity lady to find the secret of longevity!"
Su Yan looked at Liang Yi in surprise. It was rare that she and Liang Yi had the same idea.
——Not stupid anymore.
Liang Yi looked around, "Who is not stupid? Where is the idiot?"
The two men rushed around Yongchang Town all day, and it was already dark when they returned to the inn.
Liang Yi wanted to go to the inn lobby to order some food, but Su Yan pushed the tofu out without saying a word, "Don't waste it."
Liang Yi: “…”
*
The moonlight is hazy, the stars are brilliant, and Yongchang Town is shrouded in night.
As the prosperity faded, Yongchang Town became silent, with only big red lanterns swaying in the wind.
There were footsteps coming from in front of Magistrate Wang’s residence, and Yun Xing, who had been waiting for a long time, turned over and sneaked in.
According to the official system of the Great Zhou Dynasty, if one's term of office is five years and one passes the performance test, one can be promoted.
After Zhao Mingde came to power, he promoted his confidants and this system was gradually abandoned.
County Magistrate Wang should have been promoted long ago, but he was just a small chess piece and was forgotten in Yongchang Town for many years.
That year, the man came to Yongchang Town and promised to help him, but there was no news of him after he returned to Beijing.
County Magistrate Wang had a lot of grievances in his heart but couldn't express them.
He returned to the main room of the mansion tiredly. He didn't want to see his wife tonight, but missed his docile concubine more, so he turned and left.
When he reached a secluded corner of the corridor, a sharp sword was pressed against his neck. He didn't even know where the sword came from.
Magistrate Wang looked over in horror and saw a man in black standing outside the corridor. He was wearing a mask and his face could not be seen clearly.
"cloud……"
Yun Xing gently turned the sword, the blade pointed at Magistrate Wang's throat, and Yun Xing's voice was cold, "Why didn't you complete the task I assigned to you?"
County Magistrate Wang was so frightened that he lost all strength. He dared not move, so he had to hold on to the pillars of the corridor and asked flatteringly, "Are you...Eunuch Zhao's man?"
Yunxing said nothing.
The more he kept silent, the more frightened Magistrate Wang became. He cried and shouted, "I really didn't know that Eunuch Zhao had given me a mission. After that incident, no one came to see me again. I only have Eunuch Zhao in my heart, and I have been waiting for him!"
Yun Xing looked at County Magistrate Wang, "What was that matter?"
"That's it..." County Magistrate Wang laughed awkwardly and said, "It's about Shanyin Village."
*
Yun Xing hasn't returned to the inn yet. Su Yan resisted the urge to sleep and sat by the window waiting.
For safety reasons, the three of them slept in a room with a bunk bed. Liang Yi was already fast asleep.
Su Yan tried hard to keep his eyes open and count the stars to prevent himself from falling asleep.
However, the more she read repetitive things, the more Su Yan yawned, and just when she was drowsy, a gust of wind blew on her cheek.
Su Yan woke up in shock. Yun Xing had been standing outside the window since some point. When he saw Su Yan wake up, he jumped in, holding onto the windowsill with one hand.
Su Yan asked hurriedly: "What's the situation?"
"Wang County Magistrate is working for Zhao Mingde," Yun Xing sat down next to Su Yan, his eyes fell on the ground, and said in a deep voice, "There is an important reason why the emperor relies on Zhao Mingde. Zhao Mingde claims to know the secret of longevity and can make the emperor live a hundred years. Zhao Mingde has been looking for a way to live forever in recent years. There is an elderly woman in Shanyin Village. It is rumored that she can make people live longer, so Zhao Mingde sent someone to find her."
At first, Zhao Mingde's people smiled and gave the old woman a lot of gold, silver and jewelry, but she still refused. She claimed that she was just lucky and lived longer.
But her reputation as a fortune teller was well-known, and the people in Shanyin Village were convinced by her and everyone listened to her. Under such circumstances, Zhao Mingde naturally did not believe her.
Later, they forcibly took the witch away because they wanted to know whether she really knew any secret arts, and they also took away some of her belongings.
The villagers who heard the noise ran out to stop it, as they did not want their respected witch to suffer.
County Magistrate Wang went with them that day. Seeing that the situation was not good, he drove everyone to the back mountain, dug a pit and buried them alive.
From then on, there was no more Shanyin Village in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Su Yan was shocked when he heard this.
Is there a way to achieve immortality in this world? In the past, there were so many dynasties and so many emperors, but was there any one who achieved immortality?
But these people in high positions are greedy for power. Even after being emperors for their entire lives, they are still not satisfied and even desire eternal life.
Su Yan asked: "Did they capture the witch?"
Yun Xing nodded, "Wang County Magistrate said that the witch never explained the secret of longevity until her death, so Zhao Mingde..."
"What did he do?"
Yun Xing glanced at Su Yan, then quickly looked away, as if feeling guilty.
He whispered, "Zhao Mingde ordered his men to execute the witch, made her flesh and blood into pills, and gave them to the emperor to eat."
Su Yan was speechless for a moment.
What kind of person could do such a ridiculous thing?
What’s even more terrifying is that the emperor actually allowed such a person to be in power for many years.
Yun Xing looked at Su Yan and saw that she looked solemn and confused.
After a moment, Yun Xing took out a handkerchief, which seemed to contain something. He handed it to Su Yan.
Su Yan took the handkerchief and opened it, and inside was the silver hairpin that she had seen in the jewelry store during the day.
Su Yan was surprised and asked: "How do you know...you have been following us?"
Yunxing did not deny it.
Su Yan couldn't understand, "Why didn't you come with us? Are you worried that County Magistrate Wang would find out?"
Yun Xing avoided Su Yan's gaze.
Su Yan frowned, thinking that Yun Xing had been acting abnormal all day.
He was unusually silent. Although he had never been talkative before, today was obviously different.
Su Yan said: "Tell me honestly, what are you going to do?"
Yun Xing was silent for a moment, then said, "Liang Yi is a good friend of the Crown Prince, a righteous man, and well-known in the capital for his honesty. Although he scolded Zhao Mingde harshly, after he became an adult, Zhao Mingde only regarded him as a straw bag and never attacked him. It is safe to follow him."
"What do you mean?"
"After entering the capital, let Liang Yi settle you down. He can ensure your safety."
Su Yan and Yun Xing were just traveling together, and they would have separated after entering the capital.
But when Su Yan heard Yun Xing arrange her destination, she was actually a little scared, "What are you going to do?"
Yun Xing was silent again.
Su Yan refused to let him go. She stood up and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. All she could think of were insults - "You are not a good friend. You sound like you are telling me your last words. What kind of person is this? You pretend to be doing good for me, but you keep it a secret. It only makes me angry!"
After hearing this, Yun Xing had no choice but to say, "You are right. As long as Zhao Mingde is around, innocent people will be implicated. Zhao Mingde must be eliminated."
Su Yan was slightly stunned.
No wonder Yunxing was acting strangely today, it turned out that his mood had changed. When he first met Yunxing, he didn't care about the people in distress.
At this moment, Su Yan had a feeling that Yun Xing had changed from an enemy to a partner in times of difficulty.
She smiled. "If I can be of any help, please come to me."
Yun Xing hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay."
Su Yan smiled.
——Damn Yunxing, he’s being perfunctory again.
Yun Xing: “…”
Su Yan didn't expose him. She pointed at Yun Xing's mask and said, "What do you look like? Can't you let me see it? If you take off the mask in the future, I won't recognize you."
Yun Xing hid backwards, "You...will recognize me."
Su Yan didn’t quite understand—is it really that ugly?
But the lower half of the face is obviously very beautiful.
Single eyelids? Small eyes?
Su Yan became more and more curious about Yun Xing.
Yunxing walked towards the dormitory without saying anything more.
He lay down next to Liang Yi, trying to leave enough space for Su Yan, with a quilt placed across the middle.
Su Yan blew out the candle. He heard the sound of Su Yan walking around and couldn't calm down.
I saw with my own eyes the piles of corpses, and heard with my own ears what happened to the witch. Maybe he also got his hands on the pill...
Yunxing couldn't rest all night.
*
The capital city was the most prosperous place in the Zhou Dynasty.
Anyone entering the capital city needs to be inspected and the inspection is much stricter than that in other towns. If there is anything wrong, the person will be thrown into jail.
Yun Xing stopped two kilometers away from the capital. "After entering the city, go to Lai Fu Inn in the west of the city to settle down. I will come to find you in a few days. Don't mention me to anyone. I will explain why the three of us are together."
Su Yan understood something, "You want to go back to Chuyun Tower? But you didn't avoid it at first, could it be..."
Yun Xing said: "I originally only returned to Beijing for the Shi family, and I didn't plan to live."
But now that we have other things to do, we need to cover up the past.
Yun Xing warned, "Remember, you don't know my true identity. I approached you because you are close to Shi Yangui. Zhao Mingde is afraid of Shi Yangui, so it is normal for me to change my original plan because of Shi Yangui. He won't doubt it. Also, you don't have to worry about County Magistrate Wang. He has no contact with Zhao Mingde, and the middleman is dead. County Magistrate Wang believes that I am Zhao Mingde's man, and now he will do what I say."
"There are some things that I can't handle. If you have any questions, go find Liang Yi. You'll need him to send some people to protect you. Once Zhao Mingde knows that you have contact with Shi Yangui, he will keep an eye on you. Liang Yi..." Yun Xing looked at Liang Yi and called out, "Your Highness?"
Liang Yi still hated Yun Xing and rolled his eyes at him on purpose.
Yun Xing said: "I rescued Your Highness, and Your Highness owes me a favor. I will ask you to do something that will benefit Zhao Mingde. Your Highness cannot refuse, otherwise Zhao Mingde will not believe it."
Liang Yi snorted angrily: "Who knows whether you are real or fake, why should I believe you?"
Yun Xing said calmly, "Your Highness the Fifth Prince can make a decision after meeting His Highness the Crown Prince. After entering the capital, you should do what you should do and act cautiously. Don't try to hide anything."
Liang Yi: "? I've always been cautious!"
Yunxing said nothing.
Liang Yi: "... Could it be that you all know exactly what I did?"
Su Yan looked up at the sky——"What a big silly bird."
Liang Yi: "Did you just call me a fool?"
Su Yan played dumb.
Yun Xing interrupted, "Remember what I just said. I'll go ahead."
He needs to see Zhao Mingde first.
Yunzhou had already arrived in the capital. According to Yunzhou's personality, he would find an excuse for Yunxing to be unable to come back for the time being.
On the way to the capital, they passed through several towns. Yun Xing picked up some things that Zhao Mingde was interested in and gave them to him.
The only thing that made Yun Xing uneasy was that he and Su Yan had been together for too long and this matter could not be concealed.
If Zhao Mingde found out, it would be no big deal if he suspected him, but I'm afraid he would want to kill Su Yan.
The dead are dead after all, and the living are more important.
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