Every year at this time, Zhang Yuehui disappears for seven days.
When the whole family was executed, he fled the capital and failed to collect the bodies for his family.
He had a sister who was only seven years old when the accident occurred. She was a little white jade girl who was as big as a dumpling. She liked to cling to him, shouting about her brother and brother all over the courtyard. My sister died in prison. I heard that she was fed poison by her aunt.
The men in the family were beheaded, and the female relatives were thrown into the Jiaofangsi and became official slaves. The aunt felt that it would be better to be reincarnated for the rest of her life.
If his sister could survive, he would definitely be able to rescue her now, but he couldn't blame his aunt for her decision at that time. The person making the decision will only suffer more.
This guilt tortured him for many years.
He didn't know why, and his family never came to him in dreams. Why didn't anyone tell him where their bones were abandoned in the wilderness and give him a chance to be a filial son?
Is it because in the hearts of his family, he is always the one they can't count on?
There were some things he never got answers to.
He can only search for eminent monks, set up memorial tablets for his family, build pagodas, and recite scriptures thousands of times in front of the Buddha, hoping that their dead souls will not wander around in this world, but will soon pass through the underworld and be reincarnated.
Doing this every year has become a habit of Zhang Yuehui.
However, deep down in his heart, he knew that all these decencies and pomp were just a way to make up for the situation. This is more like a comfort medicine he gave himself. Only at this time of year can he have an almost absurd reunion with the names on the tablets.
He is a lonely soul without a home, and no one can save him.
No...it has happened before.
But he abandoned that home and took a deviant path. He hated the world in his heart, and that hatred forced him to move forward. And the person he abandoned seemed to have disappeared from the world, without giving him any chance to make amends.
He never made a wish in the past years.
He is naturally unruly, and whatever he wants to do, he will do it against the will of God. He does not need God's help. But at this moment, he finally felt a little helpless.
He knelt before the Buddha statue and made a wish.
The wish is to find her.
He didn't know how long he had been kneeling before he got up and left the hall. He saw the abbot and the monk standing outside at some point, joining his hands and bowing.
The great monk looked at him with compassion in his eyes.
He said: "The fairest thing in the world is cause and effect. If there is a mistake, the benefactor will suffer the consequences."
Zhang Yuehui was shocked, what happened? But what did he miss?
He couldn't figure out the mystery yet, but there was a faint uneasiness that rippled in the soft part of his chest.
——
Xie Queshan had returned to Wangxuewu a few days ago, and the wounds on his body had survived the most dangerous period and were slowly healing.
When new flesh grows, there is always an itch that cannot be scratched. It often makes people restless, as if it reminds him of the wound all the time.
Sometimes it was hard for him to tell whether it was the person who caused the wound or the wound that was causing him so much distress.
But he was not affected by it, and continued to plan things that should be planned, without any disturbance.
All Bingzhusi's next plans are nothing more than one direction - to disintegrate the Qi people's troops in Lidu Mansion, so that they can send King Ling'an south without any loss.
Song Muchuan helps Qi build the ship, and a lot of manpower and material resources will pass through his hands. There are a lot of tricks here, and Xie Queshan doesn't need to take too many actions, just cover for him.
Xie Queshan originally thought that according to Song Muchuan's usual gentle and elegant character, his style of doing things would be Xu Tuzhi. Unexpectedly, he would be quite radical as soon as he took office. It was very thrilling.
After three days of separation, the soldiers looked at each other with admiration. Deep down in his heart, Xie Queshan was happy. He had underestimated Song Muchuan before, and he could definitely be regarded as a reliable and powerful comrade-in-arms. But even an old gambler like him can't help but be wary of Song Muchuan sometimes, fearing that he would be too aggressive and expose his flaws.
Fortunately, it was quite peaceful during this period.
When he first arrived at the Return Hall, a banquet was held to invite him.
……
After a few days of silence, Hua Chao Pavilion became more popular with singing and dancing. The private rooms on the second and third floors were all banquet venues. However, the boy who led the way did not take Xie Que up the mountain. Instead, he kept walking and took him all the way. Go deeper into the pavilion.
After entering the wine cellar, he opened a thick dark iron door at the deepest point, revealing a solid and gloomy tunnel behind the door.
Soon someone came out to greet Zhang Yuehui with a candle. It was Zhang Yuehui's subordinate.
Luo Ci raised his hands in salute and said respectfully: "Master Queshan, the Return Hall has recently arrested a member of the Bingzhusi party. Due to his special status, I specially ask you to come and identify him."
Xie Queshan's heart was already a little worried. He couldn't figure out what this trick was. Which Bingzhusi guy was arrested? Why hasn't he heard of it? He followed Luo Ci inside cautiously, subconsciously looking around and realizing that this was a heavily guarded dungeon.
Luo Ci opened a small door. Inside the door was an isolated room. A dark window was opened in the wall, allowing him to see the other side.
He suddenly felt for the first time that there was a scene behind that window that he absolutely did not want to see. He paused for a moment, pretending to be casual and asked: "Where is your boss?"
"It's not convenient for my boss to have guests these days, so I'll convey the same idea to you. My boss said that to express his apology, today's information will be free of charge."
Luo Ci made an invitation gesture and invited Xie Queshan to look through the dark window.
The hunting instinct made Xie Queshan realize that he was the opponent's prey at the moment. He could have turned around and walked away to avoid falling into the trap, but some strange feeling prompted him to move and walk to the window.
Then his eyes were suddenly fixed on the scene in front of him.
Nan Yi was tied to the tiger bench, with shocking whip wounds all over his body. She didn't know how many times she had been doused with cold water. The blood and water stains on her hair stuck together, covering her face in embarrassing strands.
At this time, the executioner added a brick under her tied leg, and her calf was so stretched that the tip of the pen was almost bent upward.
Her drooping head was suddenly awakened by the pain. She raised her head and opened her mouth. Her whole body was convulsing, as if a breath was stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down. The pain made her almost suffocated. It can only make some hoarse whining sounds.
"This Bingzhusi party member claims to be the young lady of the Xie family. I wonder if the young master recognizes this person?"
Xie Queshan glanced at Luo Ci with a murderous look. He almost gave up rational thinking and quickly strangled him by the neck.
He set up such a big scheme and almost risked his own life just to keep her safe - how dare they! How dare you do this to her! Where is Song Muchuan? ! Is this how people look at him?
"You dare to touch my Xie family members?!"
Luo Ci was choked and his face turned pale, but his hand quickly touched a thin rope on the wall. The copper bell rang immediately, and the fully armed guards rushed in and blocked the door in preparation for a confrontation.
But Xie Queshan had no intention of letting go at all. Any living creature approaching him at this moment would be crushed by his anger.
Luo Ci said with difficulty: "Young Master, don't you remember?...She is the member of the Bingzhusi Party who stabbed you on the night of Shang Yuan. Our Return Hall...arrested this person...Young Master...why are you angry?"
Why are you angry? Why are you angry? Why are you angry? !
This question finally tore open his brain, allowing the last trace of reason to break in.
Previously, he claimed that members of Bingzhusi's party had injured him, and he deceived the location of Yucheng's army from the other party's mouth, and escaped death and returned to Lidu Mansion.
He didn't know how Nan Yi was exposed and what she confessed during such a torture, but if Gui Lai Tang was so sure that she was the one who stabbed him in Tiger Kneeling Mountain, he should regard her as an enemy and treat her as an enemy. Come true to your own lies.
After realizing this meaning, Xie Queshan immediately realized that Gui Lai Tang was using Nan Yi to test his position.
As for his position, it was a big secret that could be sold to Qi Ren for a sky-high price or put to death.
If he showed he cared too much about her, he would have fallen into the trap of Return Hall. Didn't they invite him to watch this play just to make him get into trouble?
It was as if he had been stabbed hard in his weakness, and the pain in his heart spread throughout his body, but he was a skilled hunter, and he would never admit that he had a weakness. His first reaction was to immediately open the thorns all over his body and wrap himself up.
He was not afraid of the swords and guns behind him at all, and he did not even restrain the anger on his face: "What kind of thing is your Return Hall? You have made a little war fortune, you really think of yourself as a figure, and you dare to interfere in my affairs??"
At this moment, Luo Ci was really out of breath.
This was his first time dealing with Xie Queshan. He had only heard of this human Shura's iron-blooded tactics from other people's mouths before, but he had been with Zhang Yuehui for a long time and everything went as he wished. He was careless and did not He didn't take Xie Queshan seriously. It was only now that he realized that these few words of temptation that he thought were sure of victory could scare those who were shallow, but they were of no use here in Xie Queshan.
He couldn't even see any panic or pain on his face because of this woman. He seemed angry just because Gui Lai Tang had interfered in his affairs. Even if he had an affair with that woman, as his boss guessed, at this moment, he must have abandoned her without hesitation.
This person... will never allow himself to stand in a passive position.
Nan Yi also heard the familiar voice. Even though her consciousness was so painful that she was confused, she still raised her eyes to explore in that direction and saw his face.
As if sensing something, he also saw her. Their eyes met in a moment of silence.
This look at each other after a long absence but unwilling to meet again.
My heart was so sour, but Nan Yi didn't show any sign of pleading. There was only numbness on her face.
She saw on his face the attitude of watching the fire from the other side.
As she expected, he didn't care about her life or death. When she realizes that she can't ask for his mercy, she will obediently put her energy away and put it into more useful things.
Like overcoming pain.
She closed her eyes again.
Her disappointment was an invisible dagger that stabbed him through again, but Xie Queshan quickly calmed down and returned his gaze to Luo Ci.
"Go and tell your smart-aleck boss that his whole family died during the Shocking Spring Incident. He wants to take revenge on me. If he has the ability, he will come and kill me first."
Xie Queshan relaxed his hand and let go of Luo Ci. Luo Ci had just taken a breath, but felt a sharp pain on his shoulder blade.
It was Xie Queshan who randomly grabbed a pair of pliers hanging on the wall and quickly and accurately nailed him to his collarbone, nailing his head to the wall.
No matter how well-trained Luo Ci was, he couldn't hold back a scream at this moment.
The dim light and shadow carved out the cold outline of Mount Xiechue: "As for this woman, I have wanted to kill her for a long time - whoever of you has the courage, come and do it for me."
Nan Yi clearly heard what he said.
Every word hits the eardrums.
My body hurt, but a sad smile appeared on my face.
Those two times, she should have been killed by him in Tiger Kneeling Mountain. These extra days of living were like stolen from God, so God wanted to give her a huge punishment.
Xie Queshan hardened his heart and turned around without looking at her.
He was unarmed, but the guards outside only dared to point at him with their swords. No one dared to stop him, so they just made way for him to walk away.
Seeing someone walking out of the door, a guard wanted to go up and rescue Luo Ci, but Xie Queshan's footsteps stopped gloomily.
He turned around, with a calm and authoritative tone in his voice: "Let your boss personally come to rescue his good dog. If anyone dares to help him, I will kill him."
The flickering firelight on the wall made Xie Queshan's back appear dark and slender. Under the sleeves and robes, his fists were clenched until his knuckles turned white.
Isn't he using rage to cover up his incompetence?
But he knew very well that the slightest concern he showed for her would become a weapon for them to hurt her. In the current passive situation, he could only do this.
He had already taken the necessary precautions. He wants Nan Yi to hate him and be afraid of him, just because he is afraid of this day coming. In her heart, he was a definite evil person, and it was impossible for Gui Lai Tang to find out any clues about him from Nan Yi.
But she suffered because of him, and he couldn't stand idly by. He had to make sure he was at the gambling table to win her back.
Although he had no chips in his hand, he bluffed and pretended to have a good hand, hoping that his opponent would be intimidated and abandon his armor.
He had to save her, but he had to hold his breath.
