In the capital city, in a simple courtyard.

The courtyard is deep and the fragrance of flowers is fragrant. In a small pavilion, a middle-aged man wearing a white robe has a look of deep worry on his face.

There was a piece of fine rice paper placed in front of him. His wrist was trembling slightly, and he was holding a pen in his hand, but he couldn't put down the pen. He actually couldn't write a single word.

"Father, there is a lot of dew in this yard. Do you want to go back to the house first?" A young girl came from the cobblestone path on the side. After arriving, she lifted the corners of her skirt with both hands, jumped up to the pavilion lightly, and came to the middle-aged girl.

The man's side.

"Wu'er, dad is fine. You go and see your mother. Your mother is not in good health these days."

"What's wrong with mother?" Zhang Wu'er became nervous. She went to the south a few days ago and she just came back.

"I have been suffering from the cold and have been taking a rest recently." The middle-aged man sighed.

"Dad, you are a bachelor of the imperial cabinet. You work hard day and night and are busy with affairs, but you should also pay attention to your health." Zhang Wu'er advised.

"It's okay, there are a lot of things happening in the court recently, and I won't feel at ease if we don't get them done quickly," Zhang Tingyu said.

"Dad, then I'll go see my mother first." Zhang Wu'er saw that there was nothing he could do to persuade her. She knew that her father had a stubborn temper and had already made up his mind. Very few people could persuade him.

"Go." Zhang Tingyu said.

Seeing his daughter leaving the pavilion and rushing towards the backyard where the family lived, he sighed to himself.

"What is Mr. Zhang so worried about?" Suddenly, a voice sounded in his ear.

Zhang Tingyu was shocked. This was his inner courtyard. How could an outsider break in? If he were a malicious person, wouldn't he be attacked? Suddenly, many thoughts went through his mind, and he secretly thought

nervous.

But on the surface, he didn't show anything strange at all and said, "Who is here? Why don't you show up to meet me?"

"Master Zhang, have you forgotten me?"

Immediately, a figure dressed in black appeared in front of Zhang Tingyu.

"Are you Xingyun?" Zhang Tingyu looked at it and then said in an uncertain tone.

The man in black is wearing a half-mask. If you are not familiar with him, it will be difficult to recognize him.

"Master Zhang has really good eyesight. He recognized me right away."

Xingyun took off the mask on his face and showed a smile. He did not wear the mask intentionally to scare people, but he was worried about being noticed on the road. He tried not to show his original face in front of unfamiliar people.

"Xingyun, why are you here?" After confirming that it was Xingyun, Zhang Tingyu relaxed.

Since it was Xingyun, it was impossible for him to come here to harm him.

Those who are truly capable of accurately entering his courtyard not only need super martial arts skills, but also need to know the layout and defenses of his courtyard thoroughly. There are probably only a few such people, and they are all members of the imperial court.

"Master Zhang, on Madam Yang's order, I am taking you to see someone." Xingyun said straightforwardly.

"Are you going now?" Zhang Tingyu heard the meaning in the words, which could not be refused.

But it was impossible for him to refuse, because he had already guessed something from the words. After all, he was a first-rate smart man.

"Without further delay, let's set off now." Xingyun said.

"Okay, let's set off." Zhang Tingyu quickly made a decision.

"Master Zhang, everything has been arranged outside, but Master Zhang can't just go out, lest he be discovered." Xingyun said sincerely.

"It's okay. I can arrange to take my family to the temple to offer incense and pray for my wife," Zhang Tingyu said.

"That's okay. Mr. Zhang, if you go to this place, we will send someone to pretend to be Mr. Zhang for a while, but not for too long." Xingyun said.

This arrangement would not be a big problem. On the surface, Zhang Tingyu still went to the temple to offer incense and pray for blessings, but the real Zhang Tingyu would leave secretly with Xingyun, and then go to see Qi Xingyun.

After the discussion was completed, Zhang Tingyu began to make arrangements for his family. In just over an hour, he quickly handled all the big and small matters, and left the Zhang Mansion with his family, heading towards the temple on the outskirts of the city.

At the halfway point, a man who looked very much like Zhang Tingyu replaced him. Of course, this was a temporary replacement.

After the conversation is over, Zhang Tingyu will go back and change with the substitute.

"Reached?"

Zhang Tingyu's family took several carriages and came to a street corner under the protection of guards.

Zhang Tingyu got out of the car to do some errands. When he came back, he got back on the car with an expressionless face. But in fact, in the process, the real Zhang Tingyu had been replaced.

Zhang Tingyu got on a carriage, which was surrounded by thick curtains. He couldn't see the scenery outside at all. He only knew that the carriage was constantly changing directions. Where would it stop?

No clue either.

After about an hour, the carriage finally came to a slow stop.

"Master Zhang, we're here!" Xingyun's voice came from outside.

The thick curtain in front was opened, and in front of Zhang Tingyu appeared a ginkgo tree that could not be hugged by several people, and Xingyun's half-masked face.

"This is...?" Zhang Tingyu habitually stretched out his hand to touch the long beard on his chin. In the past two years, as he got older, the beard on his chin became longer.

"Master Zhang, if you ask me this, I won't tell you." Xingyun smiled.

"I made a mistake." Zhang Tingyu said calmly.

"Let's go, lead the way." Zhang Tingyu got off the carriage. He only knew that this was a very ordinary courtyard in the capital. There was nothing special except the ginkgo tree.

As for ginkgo trees, there are many of them planted in Beijing. They are found in many courtyards. There are at least several thousand, if not tens of thousands. How can you find them in a short time?

What's more, this is obviously just a temporary contact point.

There was no one else in the yard except Xing Yuan. Looking up along the roof, there was a breeze in the dim sky, and sometimes swallows with scissor tails spread across the sky.

"Master Zhang, follow me." Xingyun walked in front and led the way.

After walking for a while, a door appeared in front of him. Xingyun stopped, turned around and said, "Master Zhang, go in by yourself. I don't have permission to go in."

Zhang Tingyu nodded in response, and veins appeared on the back of his hands. At this moment, he was a little nervous, not knowing whether what he faced next was what he expected.

He opened the door and saw a man in gray robes with his hands behind his back and his back facing him.

"Close the door." A voice sounded.

Zhang Tingyu's heart trembled, and he quickly turned around and closed both doors.
Chapter completed!