The Book of Troubled Times

In fact, what Baoqin knew was not very overlapping with Wan Dongliu. After all, the Four Symbols Sect did not hold meetings with Tang Wanzhuang all day long. Everyone was doing their own things, and many things depended on tacit understanding.

Just like the Four Symbols Sect used Tang Buqi's birthday banquet to set up a trap, Tang Buqi himself was unaware of it. Huangfu Qing and Sanniang felt that if they had told him earlier, he might have been exposed.

Even though Wu Hou had worked hard for thirty years to develop Jiangnan into a prosperous place, everyone still did not trust Tang Buqi's IQ very much... The prosperity of these thirty years was mainly due to the prosperity of sea transportation. Pigs can fly on the wind. Besides, Tang Wanzhuang would personally interfere and guide from time to time. Baoqin was here to supervise this time.

Wan Dongliu didn't talk much with Baoqin, who was wearing a woman's bun, but just said: "Since you are here, I won't go to Gusu this time."

Zhao Changhe said: "It's Buqi's birthday, why don't we celebrate it together?"

Wan Dongliu laughed dumbly: "We are close and often get together. Just two months ago, he got drunk with me for a night in our Xiaoxiang Pavilion."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

What do you mean by getting drunk together for a night? You said that you went to whorehouses together so freshly and unworldly. Both of them are overlords in one place, how can they lack women? Why are they so hungry...

"What's that expression? It's just for fun, different from the ones at home. Only you are weird, saying that you are lustful but never do these things."

"Yes, yes, I'm weird."

Baoqin sat obediently beside him and listened to his brothers chatting. At this time, he couldn't help but interrupted: "You are a vulgar woman, with your taste, do you need us?"

"..."Wan Dongliu was hit hard and drank without answering. What can you do? The most outstanding beauty in the world has been taken by your master, and even the maidservants in the same room are more charming and lovely than others. It is not enough to take humans, and even gods and demons are not spared, and no soup is left for others. Compared with you, everyone is not a mediocre woman, and is there any meaning in distinguishing who is more mediocre and more vulgar?

Wan Dongliu would not cry about this, and said instead: "Anyway, this is not a big birthday. Common sense is to send a younger generation to congratulate and give gifts. This time I plan to let my youngest son go out to see the world."

Zhao Changhe looked at him vigilantly.

Wan Dongliu said unhappily: "Why are you staring? You and I are old friends. Even if I formally propose to you on behalf of my son, isn't it normal? Although your current appearance is a bit weird..."

Zhao Changhe looked at his old friend's appearance in his fifties and was silent.

In fact, since we met, I have always felt weird in my heart. This feeling is really hard to describe. If I see their children and grandchildren in person, that taste will be even weirder.

Just like when I played Chinese Paladin IV and saw the gray-haired Murong Ziying at the end. That feeling came to my mind and I can’t describe it.

Tang Buqi was kicked out of the Hidden Dragon List because of his age. His martial arts talent was far inferior to Wan Dongliu. I don’t know what he looks like now. Maybe his hair and beard are even grayer. There are many old friends who are worse than Tang Buqi. I’m afraid I’ll have to see their tombstones in a few years...

Life is really a dream, and it has never been as intuitive as it is now.

If we talk about the cultivation of gods and demons in the third level of the realm of control, is this also a necessary path that has never been taken?

"Forget about the marriage proposal." Zhao Changhe took a sip of wine and said with a sigh: "Are we still talking about the parents' orders? Let's just have a free love relationship."

Wan Dongliu was laughing: "Of course. Are we pedantic?"

Zhao Changhe pondered: "But Ruoyu may have some problems. It is recommended that you don't have any ideas... Most people can't afford it and will suffer a disaster."

Wan Dongliu was stunned: "What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure at the moment. I need to observe it again." Zhao Changhe looked at the sky: "It's getting late. Let's go to Gusu first and talk about it later."

"Okay, I have arranged the boat and I can go anytime."

In the end, Zhao Changhe did not cross the river with the Cao Gang. He took Baoqin and his little apprentice to take the boat of the original Demon Suppression Division.

Seeing that Zhao Changhe was silent all the way, Baoqin asked in a low voice: "What's wrong? I feel that you are a little depressed today."

"No..." Zhao Changhe sighed: "It's just that I feel a little touched when I see the years go by. When I am with you, it seems that time has frozen at that time, and the feeling is not obvious. But when I see Lao Wan and others, the feeling is really... I don't even dare to ask how Uncle Wan is now. I kept him alive back then, and I didn't take the responsibility of continuing to treat him later."

"Old Gang Leader Wan has passed away for seven or eight years. He passed away peacefully in his sleep without any pain. In fact... our old man also passed away the year before last."

Old Master Tang, Tang Buqi's grandfather, gave birth to Tang Wanzhuang in his middle age. It has been sixty years since then, and he was over a hundred years old when he passed away.

He is not as high-ranking and powerful as Lao Cui. After Tang Wanzhuang rose to power, Wanzhuang had the final say on the affairs of the entire Tang family. He couldn't compete with his daughter like Lao Cui, so he had no sense of existence in Zhao Changhe. The most significant thing was to discuss the royal relationship with Tang Wanzhuang, which opened up their cause and effect.

This seems like a feudal patriarch, but in fact, he is an extremely open-minded old man. It was not a decision that ordinary patriarchs would dare to make to let their 14-year-old daughter travel around the world. That decision made the Tang family glorious for decades.

It turned out that he was gone without knowing it... Zhao Changhe silently looked at the river outside the cabin, and once again felt strongly that things had changed and the world had changed.

The next generation rose up and became famous in the world. The previous generation has passed away, leaving only memories. The same generation has white hair and discusses the parents of their children.

Maybe these are the real meanings of these thirty years of sleep?

It is reasonable that time is a part of the way of heaven, but is the way of heaven always there?

Bao Qin said: "After all, the descendants of Marquis Wu are all in the house. The old man left with a smile and no worries. If I have any regrets, it is that I didn't see the young lady's children and grandchildren."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

If he and Wan Zhuang had a baby, what would Tang Buqi's grandson, who was already crawling all over the floor, call this infant baby in the future?

No, your descendants are still going to Xiaoxiang Pavilion for prostitution. From this point of view, it seems that the years have solidified and never changed.

Zhao Changhe rubbed his head, shook off the strange emotions in his heart, and asked Baoqin: "What is the purpose of collecting those demon souls in your spirit bag?"

Baoqin replied: "This is what Sisi asked for. They said that they can use a kind of witchcraft to use these demon souls and beasts as guides to find clues to the way of heaven. The more demon souls collected, the better the location will be. The more accurate it is.”

"The way of heaven is outside the boundary. This is not an ordinary boundary separation. Are you sure you can find it?"

"Anyway, Sisi said it's okay." Baoqin glanced at Ling Ruoyu, who was sitting on the other side of the cabin, and lowered his voice: "Actually, her master is also cooperating with this matter."

Zhao Changhe always feels that this is like a competition between the Four Symbols Sect and the non-sect factions, each doing his own thing to see who can make a contribution first... Among them, Yue Hongling seems to have "apostatized". As the venerable Dai Baihu, But she was helping Sisi and Tang Wan make up.

Or maybe she is the one who bridges the gap. It is very possible that she has a conspiracy with Jiuyou, and the core clue seems to be the young apprentice.

Zhao Changhe's eyes fell on Ling Ruoyu. Ling Ruoyu has always sat far away from the couple since he got to know them, not talking to them, but it seems that his relationship with Long Que is getting better.

I used to carry it on my back, but now I always hold it. The way the girl holds the huge dragon bird and whispers is so cute.

Zhao Changhe listened secretly, and what was being said over there was: "Good Queque, just tell me about my master. She also came to Yangzhou back then, and what happens next?"

"Then what? It's so noisy." Long Que was impatient.

Zhao Changhe was astonished. Was there ever a day when Longque was too noisy? What's wrong with this world?

Ling Ruoyu was complaining: "You obviously enjoy the way I fawn over you."

"You all know this...who said I enjoy this?"

"Do you dare to say that you are not?"

"What I enjoy is when you ask the story about how Longque is so domineering and cool and kills thousands of enemies. It's not about Yue Hongling. I don't dare to talk about their secrets casually. If I let them know in the future, I will die if I let them know. That's me "Auntie."

"Speaking of which, I have a question I've been meaning to ask you for a long time."

"What?"

"Why do I always think you look a little bit like my master?" Ling Ruoyu was very confused: "And you can also find clues about Tang Prime Minister Cui Shozuo and others from your face."

"Beautiful faces are all the same, and they all have something in common. Only ugly people can be ugly in all kinds of ways, like you."

"If I hadn't seen you as the Holy Sword of King Zhao, I would have thrown you into the river right now."

"Hey, you're good. If my aunt hadn't helped you kill people before, the grass on your grave would have been three feet high."

"If it weren't for you being a burden, I wouldn't be hunted down!"

"You're like a bird when you ask a story, but you're a burden when you turn around. Is this how your master taught you to be a swordsman?"

"It's not because you won't tell me the story. Why do I need to curry favor with you? A swordsman would rather break than bend."

"Your standards as a swordsman are a bit flexible." Long Que smiled and said, "You still have something to ask for from me."

"Where is it?"

"If Xinghe appears in this world, wouldn't it be impossible for you to compete for the core with your little cultivation? But I'm here and I can take you."

Ling Ruoyu was greatly moved: "Really?"

"Of course, at least my level will not be lower than the ordinary Yujing, right. How many people can be above the Yujing?" Longque said, feeling a little guilty. It was just relying on itself to take care of it, not because it knew that the master was sitting there. around.

Ling Ruoyu didn't know it, but she instantly became apologetic and fawning. She reached out and pinched the handle of the knife to make a massage: "Good bird, I'm going to..."

Even though the massage was meaningless, Long Que still enjoyed it: "As long as you say Long Que is Zhao Changhe's only arm, I will take you there."

Ling Ruoyu opened her mouth but still didn't want to say anything.

A swordsman would rather break than bend.

The ship's hull swayed slightly and it had docked. Zhao Changhe stood up and walked out of the cabin. When passing by Ling Ruoyu, he suddenly stretched out his finger and flicked the dragon bird.

The twin-ponytail loli crouched in defense with her head in the knife.

Zhao Changhe was in a good mood... The scene just now looked like two daughters playing around, reminding him that they were not the only ones with a family full of children and grandchildren.

Ling Ruoyu protected Longque to the side and glared at Zhao Changhe: "Don't be disrespectful to the holy sword."

Baoqin, who was passing by with Zhao Changhe on his arm, almost laughed out loud. Zhao Changhe was also laughing: "Aren't you the one who disrespects it the most?"

Ling Ruoyu was shocked: "You eavesdropped on our conversation?"

Zhao Changhe leisurely disembarked from the boat and landed on the shore: "Little girl, take it easy when you are away from home. Your master was a real veteran in the world back then. With you being so idle now, when will you be able to outdo your masters?"

Ling Ruoyu hugged Longque and followed angrily: "My master has nothing to do with you, don't keep repeating it, she belongs to King Zhao."

Zhao Changhe blinked: "Why, King Zhao doesn't have enough women? Don't you have any objection?"

"Can it be the same? King Zhao is our hero. Master likes him naturally because heroes cherish each other." Ling Ruoyu looked at the city gate in front of him and lowered his voice: "We are in Gusu. Don't be careless in front of Wu Hou. If you say anything about King Zhao, the Marquis of Wu is upright and restrained, and if you listen to others talking nonsense about the people of the country, you will be furious. "

Zhao Changhe opened his mouth wide: "Zheng Zhenglian, who are you talking about?"

Did you know he was still visiting prostitutes two months ago?

"Wu Hou, who is disrespectful to Jiangnan?" Ling Ruoyu looked at Baoqin and said: "It is said that Lord Changshi came from the prime minister's house. Seniors will know if they ask her."

Huo Qin’s stomach almost hurt from laughing: “You are absolutely right.”

Everyone filed into the city. Ling Ruoyu found that there was a formal way for seniors to enter the city. He glanced at Master Chang Shi with some contempt, and then walked to the back door...

It was also her first time in Gusu, and she was very impressed when she arrived at Wuhou Mansion.

Wu Houxiong has been in the south of the Yangtze River for thirty years, and it is such a prosperous place. No matter how you think of it, it will be a row of splendid mansions, and even overstepping is not impossible. As a result, when I saw it this time, I found that the Hou Mansion occupied a much smaller area than I had imagined, and there was nothing splendid about it. It could even be called simple in comparison.

The entrance is heavily guarded and discipline is extremely strict. It was the birthday of Marquis Wu, and people from all walks of life came to celebrate his birthday in an endless stream, and the door inspection was very strict.

Ling Ruoyu then remembered that the reason why she came was to hand Longque over to Marquis Wu rather than to celebrate his birthday. Why did he suddenly feel a little reluctant to hand it over... Moreover, Longque also said that he would take him to the Galaxy to play, so he handed it over. What should I do?

If I use the Demon-Suppressing Si Jade Card, I can get in, but if I get in, why don't I hand over my sword?

While he was hesitating, he saw the captain of the guard checking outside the Hou Mansion shouting very excitedly: "Is Miss Qin back home?"

Baoqin smiled and waved: "Hello everyone."

"Miss Qin, your hair..."

"Don't ask if you shouldn't ask."

"Yes, yes, Miss Qin, come in quickly. Marquis Wu will be very happy to see her."

The guards who had just conducted a very strict interrogation saw Bao Qin as if they were family members, and they surrounded her very affectionately and went in. Ling Ruoyu followed behind with a knife in his arms in a daze, and no one even asked her what she was doing here. , someone even asked: "Is it heavy for a girl to hold such a big thing? Can I help you carry it?"

"No, no need..." Ling Ruoyu seemed to be in a dream, it looked like Prime Minister Chang Shi was visiting, it was obviously his family coming home...

Although the Prime Minister's Office Chief Shi is probably a close subordinate of Prime Minister Tang, how can he be so close to the guards at his old residence in Gusu? Besides, theoretically, Prime Minister Tang and Marquis Wu should have separated...

"Bao Qin is back?" A clear voice came from the hall: "Did aunt bring you something?"

Baoqin smiled and said, "No, I'm here to wish the Marquis a happy birthday."

"Okay, okay, your coming is the biggest surprise today."

"Actually, there is a bigger one..."

Ling Ruoyu followed Baoqin into the hall in confusion. Looking through the bustling guests in the hall, a middle-aged man in brocade robes sat at the head of the table. His half-black hair was neatly combed, and a few strands of long beard were floating in the air. On the chest. Although there are some wrinkles and weather on his face, he can still see his youthful handsomeness and extraordinary bearing. Obviously this is Wu Hou, who plays an important role in the government and the public.

There were several young people standing beside him, not daring to breathe, which highlighted the majesty of Wu Hou's usual tutor.

But I saw Baoqin Yingying salute, but it was not an official courtesy in people's minds, but a family courtesy: "Baoqin has met the young master."

"How polite are you to me..." Wu Hou smiled and raised his hand to show off, but the smile suddenly froze on his face.

Behind Baoqin, Zhao Changhe stood there quietly, staring intently at Tang Buqi's white hair and long beard, and the young people around him, without saying a word for a long time.

Tang Buqi also stared back at Zhao Changhe in his prime, and it took him a long time to hold back a few words: "It's really unfair..."

"Whose nephew is this?" A guest asked displeasedly: "Now that I have seen Wu Hou pay his birthday, why do he stand upright and be so rude? Is this how you meet your elders?"

Tang Buqi's expression twitched twice, stood up, and gave a junior salute in an awkward manner.

Who is so talkative to remind you.

Zhao Changhe stretched out his fingers and flicked, and the gentle breeze blew by. After all, Tang Buqi failed to perform the ceremony, and a message suddenly appeared in his mind: "Don't reveal the secret first."

Looking up, Zhao Changhe still looked stunned. It seemed that the scene of the elderly Tang Buqi's children and grandchildren gathered around him to celebrate his birthday had touched him so much that he almost lost his mind.

"The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty has arrived~" A sound of singing came from behind.

Zhao Changhe suddenly looked back and saw Tang Wanzhuang, wearing a long cloak and long skirt with water sleeves, coming slowly.

Still with blue hair and bright eyes, quiet and gentle, walking towards the world like a picture of misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River.

The autumn water in his eyes is just like before.

Tang Buqi, whose hair and beard was all white, had stopped giving the junior courtesy and finally said openly to the beautiful woman outside the hall: "Aunt."

Inside and outside the hall, it seems like time has passed.

On one side is the flowing river, on the other side is the still pool.

In the middle is Zhao Changhe.