Chapter 97 Ivory Chopsticks

A spring rain fell in Xijing City, dense and dense, like a fine needle, and it didn't wet the clothes. It fell on the green tiles, without making the violent sound of a rainstorm, only a slight rustling sound, like the sound of silkworms eating mulberry leaves, or the sound of wind blowing through the woods.

There are also two markets in Xijing City, East and West. There is a lake in the East Market, called the Release Pond, near Changping Warehouse.

Although the Release Pond is called a "pond", it is actually not small in area. The East Market is as large as two blocks. The Release Pond occupies one twentieth of the area of ​​the East Market, and there is a river connecting to the famous Qujiang Pond.

At this time, Pan Cuiqing was standing on the shore of the Release Pond with his men.

He had reported to Tiangang Hall about the secret society as usual, and mentioned the murder of Wan Xiuwu. He didn't really expect Tiangang Hall to take over this case, after all, Tiangang Hall was notoriously busy. But to Pan Cuiqing's surprise, Tiangang Hall actually responded this time, and it was the head of the hall, Cihang Zhenren, who responded personally.

This made Pan Cuiqing a little flattered. After all, Cihang Zhenren was one of the three Canzhi Zhenren who were expected to compete for the Grand Master. If she could be successfully elected, she would make history and become the first female Grand Master since the revival of Taoism. Even the head of Wuxu Palace had to be respectful when meeting Cihang Zhenren, let alone him.

However, to Pan Cuiqing's surprise, Cihang Zhenren actually let her confidant Zhang Yuelu take over the case.

This made Pan Cuiqing think of Yue Liuli's suspicion at the first time. Could it be that Wan Xiuwu's death was really related to Zhang Yuelu? If so, then there is no need to say more about the purpose of Zhang Yuelu's visit. But in this way, it is too obvious.

However, Pan Cuiqing changed his mind and thought that even if Zhang Yuelu was young and frivolous and didn't know the seriousness of the matter, how many years had Cihang Zhenren been a Zhenren who had experienced many storms and waves, how could he not understand such a simple truth and would never let Zhang Yuelu act like this.

Could it be that Yue Liuli made a mistake and spread her suspicion?

When Cihang Zhenren heard some rumors, he sent his disciple to clarify the facts and find out the person who spread the rumors and punish him severely.

But it still didn't make sense. After all, it was only a few days after the incident, and it was impossible for it to spread to Yujing so quickly. Unless someone did it on purpose.

Could it be that someone in Wuxu Palace wanted to use Yue Liuli to beat him first, and then use him to beat the master, and wanted to defeat the master and apprentice?

Pan Cuiqing thought about it, but he couldn't figure out the real intention of Cihang Zhenren, but Zhang Yuelu was a vigorous and decisive person, and would never delay. He was about to arrive at Xijing Prefecture, and he could only wait here with people.

The spring rain was still falling, and someone held an umbrella for Pan Cuiqing. Even though Pan Cuiqing's cultivation level did not need an umbrella to block the rain, the person holding the umbrella had a low cultivation level and could not block the rain. However, the result was that the big umbrella covered Pan Cuiqing tightly, and most of the person holding the umbrella was soaked.

This is probably the way of man: to take away from the insufficient and give to the abundant. The Supreme Taoist Ancestor has seen the principles of heaven and human nature clearly.

Yue Liuli stood beside Pan Cuiqing with a worried look on her face.

She always had a feeling that this Deputy Hall Master Zhang was probably coming with bad intentions.

From a certain perspective, the two women were in the same boat. After all, Wan Xiuwu and Qi Xuansu were both dead, but Wan Xiuwu and Qi Xuansu had been enemies in public. In fact, Yue Liuli was hiding behind the scenes in those days. People who didn't know the inside story didn't know that she pushed Qi Xuansu out to die, but only knew that Qi Xuansu almost died at the hands of Wan Xiuwu.

Yue Liuli approached Pan Cuiqing with a restless heart and whispered: "Chunqing, we are afraid that we are burning incense to attract ghosts this time. This Deputy Hall Master Zhang..."

"When the enemy comes, we will fight back. When the water comes, we will block it with earth." Pan Cuiqing interrupted Yue Liuli calmly, "No matter what, she was sent by Cihang Zhenren, the niece of Tianshi, favored by Dishi, and a superior. We can't do anything to her. We can only deal with her as she moves."

"Spend money to avoid disaster?" Yue Liuli said subconsciously.

Pan Cuiqing shook his head and said: "Zhang Yuelu participated in solving the Jiangnan case. She has a good reputation over the years. People like her are the most careful about their feathers. They will not take money directly from Taiping!"

"What should we do?" Yue Liuli asked.

Pan Cuiqing sighed: "Let's take it one step at a time. The most urgent thing is to find out the purpose of this Deputy Hall Master Zhang."

Yue Liuli could only say "um" softly.

She just felt that the will of heaven was unpredictable.

This was just Cihang Zhenren, and there were three deputy masters above her.

A "Yinglong" landed in the release pond in the rain and fog. Because the ship was too large, it almost occupied the entire surface of the release pond, and there was no room for other flying boats.

The release pond was rippling with waves, even overflowing the embankment.

A gangway was lowered.

Pan Cuiqing was refreshed, with a warm smile on his face, and he quickly went up to greet him.

As he moved, the others followed suit.

Zhang Yuelu was the first to appear on the gangway, wearing the formal clothes of a fourth-grade Taoist priest, neat and meticulous, and no one held an umbrella.

After that, there were two women, Mu Jin and Tian Baobao, and then Sun Yongfeng, Lingquanzi, Xu Kou and others.

The second-grade spiritual official who had just killed a celestial being did not show up. He didn't think anyone dared to do anything to Zhang Yuelu in Wuxu Palace, so he stayed on the "Yinglong".

Zhang Yuelu walked down the gangway and greeted Pan Cuiqing who came to greet him according to Taoist etiquette.

One is the junior chief of Wuxu Palace, and the other is the junior chief of Tiangang Hall. Although there is a difference in the rank of Taoist priests, they are actually of equal status. Zhang Yuelu is even slightly higher because of his family background and the unwritten rule that the ninth hall is half a level higher and the upper three halls are one level higher.

So Pan Cuiqing was very polite: "I have to trouble Deputy Hall Master Zhang to come here in person. I am sorry."

"It is my duty, Assistant Pan, you don't have to be polite." Zhang Yuelu did not refuse people, but went straight to the point, "On the way to Wuxu Palace, I have read the case file

and have a general understanding. Where is the body? I want to see the body first."

Pan Cuiqing's face froze slightly, and then smiled again: "There is no need to rush the case. I have asked people to prepare a banquet to welcome Deputy Hall Master Zhang and a group of Taoist friends. It will not be too late to see the body tomorrow."

Zhang Yuelu is not a person who does not know how to adapt. She can not care about the reception, but the Taoist priests of Tiangang Hall who follow her cannot be like her. She has to take care of her subordinates, so she can only nod and say: "Okay, thank you Assistant Pan."

"No, no, this is what I should do." Pan Cuiqing's smile became more enthusiastic.

This welcoming banquet was carefully arranged. Because the release pond was combined with the Qujiang Pond, Pan Cuiqing simply found a few high-quality pleasure boats to float on the river. Compared with the huge "Yinglong", these pleasure boats seemed extremely small, but they were exquisite and elegant.

Everything was prepared. The banquet was mainly based on Jiangnan cuisine. The thirty-year-old daughter red flower carving yellow wine just taken out of the cellar, the main dish was a puffer fish raised in Wuxu Palace, specially prepared by a Jinling chef, and two Wuzhou Shangqingfu specialties specially prepared by a Wuzhou chef, and three Putuo Island vegetarian dishes, all specially prepared for Zhang Yuelu.

In addition, considering that Zhang Yuelu was a woman, those beautiful women were not wanted, and the courtesans were not acceptable either, because they were vulgar. Instead, they specially hired good-looking women who were proficient in music and had elegant looks to add to the fun. The Taoist nuns serving on the side were also from Wuxu Palace, all of whom were beautiful.

Imagine, listening to the rain in a boat, drifting downstream to Qujiang Lake. In the spring rain, Qujiang Lake is misty and vast, with delicacies in the boat, and the water and sky outside the boat are one color. Listening to the sound of rain and music, what a beautiful scenery to enjoy.

It doesn't matter if you are drunk, just rest in the painting boat. When you wake up, the rain has stopped, and the sky is full of stars again, reflecting the lake.

It is exactly "When drunk, you don't know that the sky is in the water, and the boat is full of clear dreams.

This is elegance, and it can show the prosperous atmosphere.

To be fair, if you don't have a little ink in your stomach, you really can't think of these. No wonder Pan Cuiqing can be the little head of Wuxu Palace. It can be seen that he is a person who is very good at serving people.

Sun Yongfeng, Xu Kou, Lingquanzi and others were arranged in another painting boat. Among them, there are some romantic women with tastes. They are not so elegant, a little vulgar, but they can make men smile knowingly. Even if you are afraid of Zhang Yuelu and dare not use it, it can still add to the fun.

This is to see the person in the dish.

How many people can bear it?

This is just an appetizer.

The real show is still to come.

So many Taoists did not die in the swords and swords, but died in the warmth and softness of jade.

Zhang Yuelu boarded the pleasure boat, with no much expression on her face, but her eyes showed some disapproval.

Can ivory chopsticks be used with simple tea and food?

After getting used to such a delicate pleasure boat, can you still tolerate ordinary Taoist temples?

It can be seen that he is not upright.