The dark stone steps are silent and windless, and I don’t know where they lead.

Chen Ji looked at the deep stone steps and thought, could he know who Prince Jing was conspiring with and what he was conspiring with just by walking through this underground tunnel? Maybe at that moment, many of the mysteries that had puzzled him for a long time would be solved. .

Prince Jing walked down the stone steps carrying an oil slag lamp. When he turned around, he saw Chen Ji standing at the entrance of the cave without moving. He wondered, "Let's go."

Chen Ji suddenly hesitated: "Your Majesty, where does this secret passage lead to? If I see someone I shouldn't see or something I shouldn't see, will I be silenced?"

Prince Jing couldn't laugh or cry: "What have you been thinking about all day long? Put your heart back in your stomach, no one will kill you. Also, leave the knife in your hand to your master for safekeeping. Such a long knife There’s no sheath for the sword, so it would be a bit awkward to take it out.”

Chen Ji thought for a moment and leaned the whale knife against the wall of the house while casually asking Old Man Yao: "Master, when you came to Luo City three years ago, did you discuss it with Prince Jing in advance?" Old Man Yao glanced at him sideways: "Young Master. If you come to trick me, get out of here."

Chen Ji: "Oh."

He lowered his head slightly and followed Prince Jing into the extremely narrow corridor.

In the darkness, only the weak flame in Prince Jing's hand was swaying, stretching Prince Jing's shadow infinitely in the corridor. Chen Ji became more alert with every step he took.

He was about to meet that mysterious big shot. What kind of person was he? Can he trust him like Master and Prince Jing? He had no idea.

After walking for dozens of breaths, Prince Jing climbed up the steps holding an oil lamp. Chen Ji took a deep breath before following him. The next moment, he was a little stunned.

There are no big shots here, no followers, only empty shops.

Chen Ji looked at the surrounding furnishings and said, "Your Majesty, is this the Wangji Butcher Shop on Anxi Street?"

Prince Jing replied: "Yes, this Wangji Butcher Shop is the property of the royal family, and the business has always been good."

When King Jing was not paying attention, Chen Ji touched the candlestick on the table: the white wax had not yet completely solidified, which meant that not long after it was extinguished, the person who had a secret meeting with King Jing had just left. But since the person who had the secret meeting had already left, King Jing still had to leave. What to do?

Chen Ji asked: "Your Majesty, where is the person you want to see?"

Prince Jing was delighted: "When did I say that I was coming to see someone? I never said that."

Chen Ji looked up and saw that Prince Jing had blown out the oil lamp, opened the door of the butcher's shop and walked to the street. He was standing in the moonlight and waved back to him: "What are you doing here? It's almost too late." He walked towards the door. Go, but before he could go out, he pulled Prince Jing back into the shadow of the butcher shop.

Prince Jing was confused: "What's wrong?"

In the dark night, a carriage hurriedly rolled over the snow on the road, heading east.

The carriage was plain and simple. Prince Jing and Chen Ji saw that the wedding cake had opened a little of the curtains and was looking out quietly, urging the driver to go faster. The carriage passed by and Prince Jing stood in the wind brought by the carriage and smiled. Then asked: "How many people do you think are in this carriage?"

Chen Ji recalled: The carriage just now was not big, but it was difficult for the horses to pull it. Come to think of it, there were at least two people in the carriage, or even three. Who were the other people in the carriage? Concubine Yun.

At this moment, Prince Jing was "seriously ill", but Concubine Yun quietly left the palace under the cover of night. This matter may be big or small. Chen Ji looked sideways at Prince Jing's expression and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, I can't judge. There were a few people in the car when they came out."

Prince Jing was delighted: "It's a trick."

He looked at the back of the carriage running into the night, and smiled softly: "The generals will not dismount, and they will go their separate ways. Let's go, we have business." Luo City, Tongji Street, where wealthy businessmen gather, is also a ruin. The place where Shopkeeper Yuan was assassinated.

There are forty-eight courtyards in the entire long street. The first twelve courtyards cover an extremely large area. Gardeners from the Jiangnan water town were invited to build each of them. They have all kinds of pavilions and pavilions and are jokingly called "Tiankui" by the people. The last thirty six courtyards cover an extremely large area. It is much smaller and is nicknamed "Di Kui" by the people.

However, no matter whether it is the chief of heaven or the chief of earth, the rise and fall of the master's family changes like water, but only the pavilions and towers remain unchanged.

At this time, on the bluestone road of Tongji Street, cars and horses were parked in rows and rows. The driver and the boys put their hands in their sleeves and gathered in twos and threes under the gray tile wall to brag and talk about women. Today, "Tiankui" is the eldest son of Lin Yuan's maternal family. For the big wedding, the streets were decorated with lights and colorful decorations. On the bluestone pavement, a red word "happy" was pasted with paste every five steps.

Guests gathered in the courtyard outside Yuan Lin, and dozens of tables were set up just for the flowing water banquets.

Prince Jing stood in front of the Lin Mansion, raised his head to check the plaque, smiled and said to Chen Ji, "This is it." After that, he raised his legs and started to walk in.

Chen Ji grabbed him and said in a low voice: "My lord, are you going in like that? There are so many people in the Lin family, what if someone recognizes you?"

Prince Jing said angrily: "What are you afraid of? You are a young man, how can you be more depressed than me? This member Lin is in the brothel and gambling house business, and he has a group of young men under his command. A nobleman will never lower his status. Attending his wedding banquet. Since I don’t have any official status, how could anyone recognize me? "

Chen Ji hurriedly said: "That won't work. If something unexpected happens in this place where fish and dragons are mixed together, how can I explain to Bai Li, the Crown Prince?"

Prince Jing raised his legs and walked towards the door of Lin Mansion: "Boy, I hired you to be a guard, not to take care of me. I have something important to do today and I have to go in." Chen Ji could only bite the bullet and follow quickly. superior.

When they arrived at the door, the butler who welcomed the guests stood in front of the high threshold, smiled and bowed to the two of them: "The two guests are strangers, may I ask, do you have an invitation from my master?" Prince Jing said carelessly: "I The two of them were businessmen passing by. Seeing the bustle of a party held here, they simply came to say hello and mix some drinks."

The housekeeper was shocked, he had never seen such a confident and confident person.

He looked at Prince Jing's empty hands and said skillfully without thinking: "You two, today is a big day for our Lin Mansion. I only invited a few relatives and friends to the banquet..."

Prince Jing smiled and interrupted: "Please forgive me, my lord, I came in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare a small gift. But today is the Lin Mansion's big day, so we and I will present thirty taels of silver to express our congratulations." I mean." After saying that, Prince Jing looked at Chen Ji and said, "Give it to the butler."

Chen Ji: "?"

He was watching the excitement from the sidelines, but as he watched, he realized that he had been tricked. Seeing that Chen Ji was hesitant to move, Prince Jing urged him again: "Thirty taels."

Chen Ji was shocked and confused: "Thirty taels, shall I give it?"

Prince Jing said warmly: "Didn't you bring it? Take it out quickly. Don't keep this housekeeper waiting."

Chen Ji expressionlessly took out three small silver ingots from his sleeves and handed them to the butler. The butler smiled slightly and put the silver ingots into his sleeves: "You two distinguished guests, please come in. A servant will show you the way." After entering the door, a man The boy led the two of them toward the courtyard.

Chen Ji Ning said: "You do things and I spend the money. Isn't this appropriate?"

Prince Jing laughed happily and said, "How much money has Bai Li spent on you? What's wrong with me asking you to spend thirty taels of silver? Do you want me to calculate the account for you in detail?" Chen Ji felt bored. deficit.

He was silent for a long time and then asked in a low voice: "You didn't ask me before you said thirty taels of silver. What if I didn't bring that much? You should discuss it with me next time." Prince Jing put his hands behind his back and spoke slowly. He said, "No need, your master told me that you should carry thirty taels of silver with you for emergencies."

"Okay, okay..."

The waiter led the two of them and arranged a table at the edge of the hall in front of the stage.

There were leftovers on the table, and Prince Jing didn't mind it. While picking up food for himself, he stretched his neck and looked towards the stage. Chen Ji followed his gaze and asked: "The person you want to have a secret meeting with later is on stage? "

Prince Jing looked at him strangely: "Secret meeting? What secret meeting?" Chen Ji was confused: "Didn't you say there was something serious?"

Prince Jing patiently said: "Today, Lin Yuan, the Foreign Affairs Office, specially invited Meng Meng, the lead singer of the Northern Zaju Opera "The Story of the White Boat". You know, Meng Meng was a famous actor in the capital at that time. I want to hear him sing a tune." Playing is not easy, I just came to listen to the play."

Chen Ji: "Ah?"

In line with what you said earlier, the main thing is to listen to the show?

At this moment, the Liu family is famous for their plans, Concubine Yun is famous for her plans, Concubine Jing is famous for her plans, and the Supervisor of Ceremonies is famous for her plans. Everyone is trying to win something in the changing situation. But you, in the center of the whirlpool, are just like a normal person. Entering other people's halls to listen to a show?

The Liu family is about to rebel, and the royal family members have to go their separate ways. Things outside the play are even more ridiculous than what happens in the play. If you don't hurry up and turn the tide, what are you listening to? Just when Chen Ji was about to say something, But Prince Jing suddenly said: "Don't say anything, this drama is about to begin."

The young man suddenly turned his head and looked at the dimly lit stage. He saw the red stage, the drums were beating, and an actor with strong facial makeup rushed onto the stage: "The summer night is far away, the summer night is far away, flying through the passes, running through the wilderness." In the suburbs, I lost my youth in the capital city in the world of mortals..."

In the play, a young man is ordered to go to the battlefield in danger.

He beheaded traitors, killed bandits, and pacified Northern Xinjiang. In the blink of an eye, his hair turned gray. But before he could return to Beijing to pay homage to the Prime Minister, he was already jealous of the emperor and was imprisoned. As the saying goes, peace is decided by the generals, and the generals are not allowed to see peace. .

Chen Ji looked back at Prince Jing, only to see the gray-haired feudal prince sitting upright, but his eyes were no longer in the play, and his mind was nowhere to be found. It seemed that the joys and sorrows on the stage and the ridiculous things off the stage were unclear for a moment. .

I don’t know how long it took before the play was over.

Prince Jing looked at Chen Ji and said with a smile, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Chen Ji was heartbroken: "You risked going out tonight just to listen to this show?"

Prince Jing joked: "Can't you just listen to the show? Who stipulates that a person must do one important thing to save the country and the people every day in his life? How tiring that would be." Chen Ji was speechless.

Prince Jing laughed loudly: "In the early years when the northern style of opera was still flourishing, the Queen Mother once called Master Meng to the palace to sing. The song he sang at that time was "The Story of the White Boat". At that time, I was crowned king at the age of twenty-one, and Master Meng His reputation is so great. Now that southern Kunqu opera has replaced northern opera, Meng Meng has been reduced to singing in the houses of merchants who need to do business in skins and meat. "

Prince Jing looked at the empty stage and said with a smile: "They are all famous actors from the old era who are about to take their final bow. This play, once it comes out, is missing." Chen Ji asked: "Your Highness, let's hear the play." It’s over, where to go now?”
Chapter completed!