咚咚咚——
远处传来晨钟声,透过朦胧的雨帘.
京城繁华的大街小巷,随着钟声的响起,缕缕炊烟渐渐升起.北方雄伟的皇城也敞开了宫门.身着各式官服的文武百官,通过千步廊,鱼贯而入皇宫.
东方丽人身着绣着"胖龙"图案的银色肚兜,双臂张开,站在屏风后.侍女们为她穿上衣袍.她的目光越过屏风,望向尽头的皇城.一辆由百人抬着的轿子正朝着太极殿驶去.
"皇上今日起床比平常晚了一盏茶的时间,什么原因呢?"
白发老妪站在她身后,恭敬地回答道:"昨夜太后去了永乐宫,在寝宫里留宿.太后喜欢与人交谈,皇上或许是昨夜与太后谈话太晚了,才导致此事."
"皇上朝政繁重,早已疲惫不堪,若是夜里被太后缠着聊家常,那可怎么办..."
"要不我安排一下,请太后进宫住几天?"
东方立人沉吟片刻,点头答应.
穿上蟒袍玉带后,东方立人来到顶楼的书房坐下,打开黑衙整理好的奏折,查看着各方传来的消息:
"鸿华楼的几位香主同时出动,看来是要大动干戈了...鸿华楼这是想干什么?难道要倾尽所有,将水云剑池全部剿灭?"
白发老妪想了想,"不可能,老枪长在的时候,鸿华楼还有把握灭掉水云剑池.现在,鸿华楼却要看水云剑池的脸色了.我听说鸿华楼的各堂主每年都会聚会一次,估计是要商量鸿华楼的未来."
"鸿华楼看得见的规模很大,暗中隐藏的肯定更多,堪称江湖数一数二的豪门.他们若在江湖无法生存,又愿意臣服于我,我可以给他们一个机会."
"是的."
Dongfang Liren stopped paying attention to the Honghua Building and continued to look through the reports. "A merchant caravan entered the pass from Liangzhou, and it seems that the 'Blood Bodhi' is hidden among them... Who is the Blood Bodhi?"
"He was an assassin who rampaged through the martial arts world in Tiannan ten years ago. He had a long list of blood debts in his life. He once tried to assassinate the Prefect of Chongzhou and was hunted down by both the court and the martial arts world. He has been missing ever since."
A look of seriousness appeared in the white-haired old woman's eyes. "His martial arts skills are unknown. He is good at using mechanism hidden weapon and concealing himself and disguising. His patience is also astonishing. He once lurked near the Qixuan Sect for nearly a year in order to assassinate the sect leader. He passed by the target several times but didn't make a move until the other party completely relaxed their vigilance. Then he made a fatal strike and fled far away. Now that he has reappeared, he might have been recruited by the 'Green Bandits'."
When Dongfang Liren heard this, her eyebrows furrowed tightly. "The Green Bandits recruiting such a top assassin means that their target is either a high-ranking court official or me. Tell the Black Yamen to pay attention to the people who have come from Liangzhou recently..."
As she said this, Dongfang Liren suddenly thought of Ye Jingtang, who had just entered the capital from Liangzhou.
However, Ye Jingtang was only eighteen years old, and his age didn't match. After thinking about it, she dismissed her doubts.
After learning about the news presented by the Black Yamen, Dongfang Liren got up and came to the terrace to observe the situation inside and outside the imperial city.
But not long after she started paying attention, she saw her cousin Wang Chihu, holding something in his arms, sneakily leaving the Black Yamen.
Dongfang Liren frowned and asked, "What is Wang Chihu going to do this time?"
"Ye Jingtang paid a visit yesterday afternoon. He was going to capture the Wingless Owl and asked the yamen for assistance. He borrowed something from Wang Chihu."
Dongfang Liren didn't think Ye Jingtang had the ability to capture the Wingless Owl, so she naturally became interested. She turned around and asked, "What did he borrow? The Soft Bone Incense or the Soul-Separating Needle?"
"Uh..."
The white-haired old woman hesitated a bit, but she couldn't deceive Prince Jing either. After thinking about it, she walked up to Dongfang Liren and whispered a few words in her ear.
Dongfang Liren listened quietly. Her heroic face turned red, which was rare for her. She frowned and said, "Is he out of his mind?"
"Sigh, for the sake of official business, Your Highness shouldn't care about such trivial matters..."
...
-----
In the light rain of early summer, the raindrops fell into the old bluestone alley. The yellowed wine banners swayed silently under the eaves.
In the stable beside the wine shop, a spirited horse was parked. It had just stopped after running, and it was still breathing heavily through its nose and mouth.
"Chuff —— Chuff ——"
There was no one else in the wine shop. Two whispers came from the window:
"Did you bring the thing?"
"I brought it."
"What is it?"
"The dildo."
"Dildo... Hmm?"
In the wine shop, Ye Jingtang was dressed in a black robe and wore a wide-brimmed hat, looking like a ranger. He sat at the table and took a red sandalwood box handed to him by Wang Chihu. His eyes showed a strange look.
Wang Chihu was probably afraid of ruining his reputation, so he was extremely vigilant. He blocked the view of the shopkeeper and the waiter with his body and said in a low voice, "This item was carved from a whole piece of jadeite. The value of the base material alone is no less than a thousand taels of silver. It was also made by a famous craftsman of the previous dynasty. The people who have used it are either imperial concubines or first-rank imperial consorts. After the founding of the Great Wei Dynasty, this item changed hands several times and finally ended up in the mansion of the Marquis of Ding'an..."
Ye Jingtang looked at the exquisitely made red sandalwood box and didn't dare to open it. "Brother Wang, I asked you to help me find something disgraceful. This is too... too serious. This item..."
Wang Chihu had a serious expression. "When working for the court, there's no need to care about such trivial matters. Can you think of anything else that's more disgraceful than this, Brother Ye?"
Ye Jingtang really couldn't think of anything. He originally thought that borrowing the golden silk bellyband from Prince Jing was already outrageous enough, but he never expected that Wang Chihu could find something even more outrageous.
However, this thing really didn't look like something the government would use as a trap. Once the news spread, it would be disgraceful enough. Moreover, its value and origin could attract cat burglars like the Wingless Owl, so it was very suitable.
After looking at the wooden box for a few times, Ye Jingtang still put it away. "I really trouble you, Brother Wang. I will definitely live up to your expectations and capture the Wingless Owl and bring him to justice."
"We are all working for the court. There's no need to thank me. I have already asked the undercover agents in the city to spread the news and fan the flames. You can directly go to sell the stolen goods. Whether it will succeed depends on your luck. I'm leaving now. Farewell..."
Ye Jingtang watched Wang Chihu sneak away. Then he looked at the red sandalwood box in his hand. After hesitating for a long time, he still didn't open it. He wrapped it in a black cloth and left the shop.
It was drizzling, and the streets were sparsely populated. Ye Jingtang walked around the streets a few times. After making sure that no one was following him, he came to a small alley.
Luo Ning and Zhe Yunli were waiting in the alley holding umbrellas, dressed like an ordinary mother and daughter.
The bird stood on the top of the wall, keeping watch and paying attention to the surrounding movements.
Seeing Ye Jingtang coming back, Zhe Yunli quickly ran up to him and asked, "What did the Black Yamen give you as bait?"
Ye Jingtang dismounted from his horse. It was not easy to explain clearly, so he handed the red sandalwood box wrapped in black cloth to Luo Ning. "It's something not very proper. I haven't opened it. Miss Luo, you'd better not open it either, lest you get angry."
?
Luo Ning took the box and weighed it in her hand —— It didn't seem to be a "golden silk bellyband".
"Aren't you going to take a look? How are you going to sell the stolen goods later?"
As she spoke, Luo Ning raised her hand and opened the wooden box. But afraid that there might be a trap, she moved closer to Ye Jingtang and asked him to look at it together.
Hearing that it was "not proper", Zhe Yunli couldn't hold back her curiosity as a young girl and leaned over to Luo Ning to take a look.
Whoosh ——
The red sandalwood box was opened, and a piece of bright red fabric was revealed in front of the "family of three".
Inside the box was a crystal-clear green jade object. With its extraordinary carving skills and the lustrous and mellow color, even a layman could tell the value of this item.
As for the shape... It was thick and big!
Ye Jingtang blinked his eyes and didn't know what to say.
Zhe Yunli was taken aback and leaned closer to take a careful look. "Wow! What a big... deal. This piece of jade must be worth a lot of money. It's just that the shape is a bit strange..."
As she said this, she wanted to reach out and touch it.
Luo Ning didn't realize what it was at first glance. But after carefully examining the shape of the jade object, she noticed the lifelike blue veins and the turtle head on the "jade pillar"...
Slap ——
The box was suddenly closed, almost pinching Zhe Yunli's fingers.
"Master's wife, what are you doing?!"
Luo Ning's face turned red with embarrassment. She directly threw the wooden box at Ye Jingtang. "You rascal..."
Ye Jingtang knew this would be her reaction. He steady and stable caught the red sandalwood box. "This is public property used for handling the case. If you break it, will you compensate for it?"
Zhe Yunli didn't know the purpose of the jade object. Like a curious baby, she asked, "Master's wife, why are you angry? What is this thing used for?... Ouch~"
Luo Ning tapped her on the head.
Luo Ning might have been afraid that Zhe Yunli would be led astray. Suppressing her shame and anger, she explained softly, "It's an item used by men in brothels. It's not clean. Don't ask too much."
Zhe Yunli blinked her big eyes. "Such a big stick. Isn't it used to bully women? How is it used... Sss ——"
Luo Ning, like a simple mother who couldn't bear it anymore, when facing her curious daughter, could only teach her a lesson by pulling her ear. "I told you not to ask, so don't ask. For a young girl, is it appropriate to ask about such things?"
Zhe Yunli felt the pain and quickly raised her hand. "Okay, okay. I won't ask. I also want to save Hero Qiu and help with the plan... Then shall we go to the black market to sell the stolen goods now?"
Luo Ning was holding such an unclean item. How could she take Zhe Yunli with her? "Since we want to lure the snake out of its hole, it's easy to alert the enemy if the three of us go together. Your lightness skills are average, and you can't help much either. Go back and stay there properly!"
Zhe Yunli obviously wasn't willing, but in the face of her strict master's wife, she couldn't say anything. She could only let out a soft sigh and leave, looking back every few steps.
Ye Jingtang had been holding back his laughter. But as soon as Zhe Yunli left, Luo Ning's face turned cold, and she glared at him. "You're shameless!"
Ye Jingtang's smile froze, and he said in a puzzled tone, "What's so shameless about me? This is an item given by the government. I told you not to look at it, but you insisted on looking. After looking at it, you call me shameless. It's just a jade-carved item. Is there any need to react so strongly?"
As a mature woman, even though Luo Ning had no experience in matters between men and women, she had heard from some women in the Pingtian Sect about the use of such items.
Ye Jingtang handed her an item used for a woman's self-pleasure without giving her a heads-up in advance. How could she not be angry?
However, this matter wasn't entirely Ye Jingtang's fault. After thinking about it, Luo Ning suppressed her shame and anger and said in a deep voice, "How can the court be so shameless as to let you use this item..."
"As long as it works. If you were the Wingless Owl and found out that someone was using this thing to sell stolen goods in your name, and it became the laughing stock of the martial arts world, wouldn't you be angry?"
Luo Ning thought about it and agreed. She didn't say anything more. But then Ye Jingtang handed the box to her again and asked her to hold it.
"What are you doing?"
"Hold it!"
叶景棠将紫檀木盒子塞到洛小姐手里,洛小姐很是不情愿,"我是男人,又是一家之主,我抱着盒子跟在你后面,合适吗?"
"..."
洛凝暗暗咬了咬牙,最终还是将盒子接过,抱在了怀里.
叶景棠将鸟儿放在肩上,牵着马出了巷子,"我们就伪装成一对飞贼,一起闯荡江湖吧.以后我叫你凝儿,你叫我..."
洛凝跟在后面,冷冷的说道:"我就叫你'无翼猫头鹰'吧."
"你在开玩笑吧?"
叶景棠转头看向一身少妇装扮的洛小姐,"叫我老公怎么样?小两口结伴江湖,不容易引起怀疑."
洛凝当然不想.但除了这个称呼,江湖里男女结伴同行,似乎没有其他关系可以解释.她想了想,说道:"夫君,夫君,太正式了,江湖里的人一般不这么称呼.嗯...不如我叫你'夜郎'吧?"
夜郎?
叶景棠知道"夜郎自大"这个典故,自然摇头,"不太好听."
"那'螳螂'呢?"
"唧唧?"
那只鸟歪着头四处张望,大概在想——螳螂在哪儿?
叶景棠突然想到,自己这个养父的起名水平,真是不靠谱,以后老婆该怎么称呼自己呢?
叶景棠想了想,想到了"三夫人"这个称呼,干脆道:"叫我四爷吧,嗯...我姓黄,黄四爷."
"黄四爷..."
洛宁以为没什么问题,便没有再多说什么...