That night, Hongjun had another nightmare.
In his dream, Du Hanqing's entire body was on fire, burning fiercely. His skin was cracked, and blood spurted out, revealing the badly mutilated fur of a fox under his skin. The fox in pain was struggling to get up from the human body, dragging blood and sizzling fats as it let out a tragic cry.
"Ah —!" Hongjun sat up suddenly.
"Hongjun?" Mo Rigen's voice sounded from outside the room. He quickly walked in and pressed one hand on Hongjun's forehead, who was about to collapse.
Hongjun breathed softly. This was the second time he had a nightmare. He struggled to sit up, gasping for breath. After calming himself down, he looked at Mo Rigen.
"The night the White Deer left," Mo Rigen whispered. "The Nightmare of the Prairie wreaked havoc everywhere, howling."
He poured Hongjun a cup of water and chanted a few spells over the teacup. Hongjun took the cup and drank it. His mood calmed down a little.
"What does that mean?" Hongjun asked.
"The Grey Wolf guards the day, and the White Deer guards the night," Mo Rigen said. "There's a legend in our hometown. When the White Deer disappears in the darkness, children who leave home will have nightmares … Are you homesick?"
"A little." Hongjun nodded.
Mo Rigen patted Hongjun's shoulder and smiled. "When you grow up, you have to leave home."
"Yes." Hongjun whispered and nodded gratefully at Mo Rigen. After drinking the cup of water, he felt much better and lay down again. This time, he fell asleep quickly.
Early the next morning, Hongjun was the first to wake up. When he squatted by the well and brushed his teeth, the Carp Demon learned about what happened last night and persuaded him. "Why do you care about that monster? It's not related to you. You can't do anything about it. "
Hongjun wiped his mouth, thought for a moment, and replied, "Actually, I'm a monster too, right? One day, the elder historian will know. "
"You're different from the foxes." The Carp Demon said, "It's not like Elder Shi despises me. Blame the foxes for not seeking refuge with your father back then. They asked for it. What's more, you don't usually eat anything. When you eat meat, I don't see you saying that all life is equal. "
"That's different." Hongjun said, "Not eating meat is benevolent; eating meat is to free them from the sea of suffering. Qing Xiong said so."
"Good morning, Elder Shi." Qiu Yongsi and Li Jinglong greeted each other from behind. Hongjun and the Carp Demon immediately stopped talking. At this moment, Mo Rigen happened to come in from outside. Li Jinglong asked, "You're done?"
Mo Rigen nodded. Hongjun asked, "Where did you go so early?"
Mo Rigen smiled mysteriously and made a "shh" gesture, indicating that he would know later.
Li Jinglong said, "This time, I only heard 'benevolent'. Let's have breakfast first. After eating, change your clothes."
No matter how big the matter was, it would become insignificant after a night's sleep. Hongjun's grudge from last night had already disappeared. When facing Li Jinglong, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, Li Jinglong only glanced at him and then ordered everyone to change into official robes.
The cloth used for the Exorcist Division's official robes was brocade personally given by the Emperor and Yang Guifei. It was made of the best dark blue material with a snow-white lining. The sleeves of the martial robe made the shoulders wide and the waist narrow. It was different from the loose robes of the civil officials. The lower lapel was nine centimeters long, revealing pitch-black martial boots. It was convenient for fighting, and when walking, it had a mighty aura.
Everyone stood in front of the mirror and straightened their robes. Sure enough, clothes made the man. Everyone looked very tall and handsome. Even Qiu Yongsi, who was used to wearing a scholar's robe, looked heroic in this official robe. Among the five people, the most handsome was still Hongjun. Ever since Hongjun came to Chang 'an, he was used to wearing a coarse robe. His upper body was pale white, and his lower body was blue. He looked like a farmer's youth. If it were an ordinary person, they would not be able to pull it off. However, Hongjun was born with a good foundation, so he looked like a young man. Now that he had changed into a luxurious robe, it really made people unable to look at him directly. He had the demeanor of a prince.
"My neck is a bit tight …"
In the end, Hongjun exposed himself as soon as he opened his mouth.
Li Jinglong could only go forward and help him pull it open a bit. He said, "I forgot about the collar."
Previously, Li Jinglong had specially asked the tailor to come over and work overtime to make it. At that time, Hongjun was not here. Now that the robe was very tight, Hongjun could not help but feel a bit strange. He asked, "No one has measured me before."
Li Jinglong was a bit embarrassed. He coughed and said to everyone, "See, I told you it was suitable."
"Chief Shi's eyes are really good." Mo Rigen gave a thumbs up.
Hongjun looked suspiciously at Li Jinglong and asked, "How do you know my size?"
"Okay, don't ask anymore …" Li Jinglong handed Hongjun a shrunken bathrobe. He pointed outside the room and said, "You have a thin body, so I made another set of clothes with the remaining fabric."
"Zhao Zilong — —!" Hongjun held the small bathrobe and suddenly shouted.
"What, what?" Zhao Zilong immediately rushed over. It had lived for so many years, but this was the first time it was wearing clothes. When it saw that Li Jinglong did not forget about it, it immediately cheered. It took the bathrobe and spread it on the ground, stretching one of its hairy legs into it. After putting on the bathrobe, it tied the belt tightly, and the back of the lapel happened to cover its tail. Li Jinglong also gave it a small satchel to carry. It must be used to store the Soul Leaving Pollen.
Everyone could not help but laugh. The Carp Demon said again, "Let me see …" So it kept jumping in front of the mirror.
Li Jinglong said, "Today, everyone will act together. This is a day of life and death. Don't use the Soul Leaving Pollen for no reason."
Everyone responded one after another, took their weapons, and prepared to go out. Hongjun's heart could not help but pound. He thought of Li Jinglong's words that night, "If the Exorcist Department is fine," and seemed to understand something. When he looked at Li Jinglong again, Li Jinglong glanced at him with a faint smile, as if comforting him: Don't worry, everything will be fine.
Early in the morning, the cloudy waterfall poured down from Mount Li, soaking the clothes of those who climbed the mountain. At the side of the road, the Divine Martial Army guards hurriedly said, "General! Please get on the carriage! "
Feng Changqing leaned on his cane and climbed up Mount Li with great difficulty. He walked toward the Emperor's temporary residence and waved his hand at the same time, saying, "It's fine. Are you looking down on this general?"
The soldiers could only keep quiet and watch as Feng Changqing walked along the official road with his back hunched. Feng Changqing's parents had both died when he was young. His maternal grandfather had been framed by Li Linfu and exiled to Anxi. He had been homeless and miserable his entire life, fighting in the military. He was disabled, but he displayed astonishing talent under Gao Xianzhi's command, successively conquering Lesser Balur and Greater Balur. In thirteen years, he had become a fierce general on the same level as Geshu Han and the other veteran generals.
Feng Changqing had won battle after battle, and his plans for the war in the Western Regions were almost flawless. Everyone laughed at Li Jinglong, but no one dared to laugh at this frail and small Feng Changqing. As someone who commanded tens of thousands of soldiers, his words naturally carried an aura of power without being angry.
Although Feng Changqing was idle in the capital, on the day he returned to the court, he presented Li Longji with a memorial of nearly ten thousand words, requesting that the fields at the border be reorganized and that he use conciliation as a political strategy to allow the officers and soldiers on the expedition to return home. As a result, he had an extremely high reputation among the military officials and the military.
The eunuch rushed into Pure Flowers Palace, his body shrouded in mist. At this time, Li Longji was still sleeping soundly with Yang Yuhuan in his arms. The eunuch didn't dare to make a sound, but he was also afraid that Feng Changqing would charge in with his walking stick. None of the guards outside dared to stop him.
The eunuch opened his mouth, but didn't dare to make a sound. He was incomparably anxious.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't stutter."
Li Longji's voice came from inside the tent. He was awake.
"What time is it?" Yang Yuhuan asked lazily.
"General Feng Changqing is waiting outside. He says he has an extremely urgent matter to report to His Majesty …"
When he heard this, Li Longji immediately sat up straight and muttered, "Something happened again? That shouldn't be. Changqing hasn't been sent yet, right? Could it be that the Ministry of War sent him? "
"Is it military intelligence?" Li Longji thought for a moment, then asked, "Where's Guozhong? Why didn't he go to Guozhong's place first? "
The eunuch said, "He said it's related to the fate of the Tang Dynasty … closely related."
"What's going on?" Li Longji waved his hand impatiently. "Tell him that we know. When did he come? "
"He arrived at the foot of the mountain around the second watch period last night. He walked up step by step," the eunuch replied.
Yang Yuhuan said, "General Feng's legs are inconvenient. How did he walk up? Your Majesty. "
Li Longji helplessly wrapped himself in his dragon robes and walked out of the bedchamber with his hair disheveled.
Inside the side hall, Feng Changqing leaned on his walking stick and gasped for breath. He looked at Li Longji with a grave expression.
"Don't be in such a hurry." Li Longji comforted him, "Give General Feng a seat and give him a sip of water to drink. Speak slowly."
Feng Changqing couldn't help but tremble as he raised his head to look at Li Longji.
Li Longji was old. Although he took good care of his appearance, he was over sixty years old. In the end, he couldn't avoid showing signs of aging. Feng Changqing hadn't reached the age of hearing yet, but he looked older than Li Longji.
"When this official climbed Mount Li today …" Feng Changqing took the cloth from the eunuch and wiped his sweat. He gasped for breath, "I don't know why, but I remembered Your Majesty's … heroic appearance back then."
"What year's heroic appearance?" Li Longji laughed instead.
Feng Changqing looked at Li Longji and said, "The first year of Tang Long, the year we met in front of Lingyan Pavilion."
Li Longji woke up early in the morning and heard Feng Changqing reminiscing about the past with him. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. However, his intuition as an Emperor told him that if he started reminiscing about the past, what would happen next wouldn't be simple.
"If you didn't mention it, we would've almost forgotten." Li Longji smiled. He took the ginseng soup from the eunuch and drank a mouthful. He said, "Oh, bring a bowl for Changqing."
The past seemed to be a lifetime ago. However, when he heard Feng Changqing bring up the past, Li Longji couldn't help but think of his hot-bloodedness.
"There's also the first year of Kaiyuan," Feng Changqing said.
If he remembered correctly, that was the year Li Longji started a coup again and killed Princess Taiping. From then on, a prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty officially began.
"Changqing, you have to know that the current era of peace is a blessing for the common people," Li Longji said. "It's a good thing that we don't have to use this knife of mine."
Li Longji heard some of the hints in Feng Changqing's words. He also hinted in return. No matter what happened, he didn't want the court to be in turmoil.
"Your Majesty is wise," Feng Changqing immediately replied. "Changqing misses Your Majesty, but I can't help but miss myself."
Li Longji's brows furrowed slightly.
Feng Changqing asked, "Changqing doesn't know if ever since you entered General Gao Xianzhi's tent, have you ever concealed military intelligence from the court?"
"No," Li Longji replied. "I've exposed many people's lies."
"In these years, have I ever lied to Your Majesty?" Feng Changqing asked again.
"In this world, you're the only one who speaks the truth regardless of the occasion." Li Longji's tone carried an unquestionable majesty. "Although it's not pleasant to hear, you're the one who never lies. What happened to Chang 'an?"
Li Longji was also a ruthless character when he was young. Although he indulged in gentleness these years, he was still clear-headed in the face of major issues.
Feng Changqing raised a trembling hand and pointed at his neck, replying, "If Changqing speaks half a word of falsehood today, please take my head, Your Majesty. Changqing will have no complaints."
Li Longji's brows furrowed. He didn't know what Feng Changqing was up to. Finally, he said, "Speak."
Late in the morning, in the northern part of the city, the imperial examination hall was filled with 'dang — dang — dang — dang —' sounds of bells ringing one after another. Nearly two thousand five hundred students were searched and filed into the hall. As far as the eye could see, there were individual rooms. The rooms were connected by corridors, and the doors were marked with 'heavenly stems and earthly branches'.
The students were searched outside, received a plaque, and waited at the door of the room according to the plaque. The examiner passed by outside and checked the plaque again. The examinee hung the plaque at the door. After entering, the examiner sealed the door. There were ten rows of rooms, and each row had a hundred rooms. After the rooms were sealed, the large examination hall was incomparably silent.
Every room was completely sealed, and there was a window that allowed light to pass through. Servants would deliver food and take away urine and feces. The examinee had to stay in this room for a full three days.
In the warehouse, everyone dragged the sleeping servants to a corner and put on servant's clothes over their official robes. Li Jinglong said in a low voice, "Let's begin."
The Carp Demon hid behind a water tank and began to distribute the powder. Everyone left separately.
Lowering his head, Hong Jun walked quickly along the corridor. As he passed by a side room, he glanced sideways, looking for the markings that Qiu Yongsi had made earlier — the cuffs, lapels, and so on. Every time he found one, he would use a flying knife to gently carve another mark on the door frame.
Atay also lowered his head. When he passed by each room, he pretended to casually look inside.
"Hey."
When Atay passed by the corridor, he was discovered by the examiner.
The examiner waved his hand and said, "Come here."
Atay walked over. The examiner was about to ask what was going on when a servant was looking around outside the examinee's room. However, a hand pulled the corner of his robe from behind.
Examiner: "?"
When the examiner was about to turn around to look, the Carp Demon suddenly raised his hand and scattered some Soul Leaving Pollen.
"Wealth at Sight —"
The examiner sneezed. Atay immediately turned around and disappeared like a gust of wind. The Carp Demon also hid in a corner and ran away.
Examiner: "???"
"Stop! Why haven't I seen you before … "Another guard called out to Qiu Yongsi.
"Goodbye, Happiness!" The Carp Demon scattered the pollen again. The guard sneezed and looked confused. Qiu Yongsi hurriedly left with the Carp Demon.
Hongjun passed by a room and glanced inside. Suddenly, he saw Du Hanqing.
Du Hanqing sat behind the desk. Hongjun hesitated for a moment and passed by the room.
Li Jinglong silently walked out from behind the corridor. He frowned and stared at Hongjun's back. Unexpectedly, Hongjun turned back. Li Jinglong immediately hid behind the corridor again.
Hongjun hesitated for a moment with a flying knife in his hand. In the end, he carved a mark on the door. His eyes were red as he left decisively.
After a moment, Mo Rigen hurried over. He lowered his head and saw the mark outside the door. He peeked into the room and sighed in relief. He touched the mark and deepened it. Then, he turned and left.
Li Jinglong: "…"
When Li Jinglong was about to leave, Atay came again. Similarly, he checked Du Hanqing's door. Then, it was Qiu Yongsi's turn.
When Qiu Yongsi turned into the corridor, he almost bumped into Li Jinglong. He was very nervous.
"Oh, Chief Inspector?" Qiu Yongsi smiled.
"It seems that I worried for nothing," Li Jinglong said coldly. "All of you are very protective of Hongjun."
Qiu Yongsi laughed and said, "I'm just afraid that we will fail at the last step. Elder Scribe, at the critical moment, everyone is still standing on your side." Finished speaking, he patted Li Jinglong's shoulder.
After all the doors were marked, everyone went to the warehouse to count.
"Two hundred and sixty-six rooms," Li Jinglong said. "Everyone is here. Let's wait for the bell."
Hongjun was silent. Everyone was silent too. The atmosphere was a little strange. Li Jinglong went over and pressed Hongjun's shoulder. "This time, after we finish the case, everyone will go out and have fun. Tell me, where do you want to go?"
"Really?!" Hongjun said in surprise. He seemed to be happy.
Li Jinglong's mouth twitched. He thought to himself, 'You're so merciful …'
"Pingkang!" Qiu Yongsi said immediately.
Li Jinglong was speechless.
"Pingkang," Atay said with a smile.
Hongjun said, "Is Pingkang okay? I haven't really been there yet … Of course, Chief Inspector, if you don't like it, it's okay … "
Mo Rigen said, "Then we'll have to go to Pingkang. But at night, watching dancing and listening to music should be fine, right? Pingkang isn't all … Uh, that kind of place. "
"Even you want to go?" Li Jinglong couldn't understand what these subordinates were thinking.
Mo Rigen said, "My, um, my first time, I'll leave it for Bai … Forget it, we'll talk about it later. But drinking and listening to music should be fine."
Carp Demon said, "Is Pingkang okay? I want to see that painting. "
"Then Pingkang it is!" Qiu Yongsi said decisively.
"Good — —!" Everyone cheered, and the majority overwhelmed the only one. Li Jinglong held his forehead with one hand. At this moment, the bell rang. Everyone immediately got up and went to prepare again.
The bell rang for the second round. The examiners held the test papers in their hands and walked quickly through the rooms. Every time they passed a room, they would put the test paper through the window. Then they hurried to the next room and went through all the rooms.
The sun was shining brightly. Hongjun's palms were sweating. Someone outside said, "Bring water!"
Everyone then blended in with the servants and carried a basket of water out, keeping their heads down the whole time. After the guards searched the basket and the water jar, everyone went to deliver the water. Li Jinglong's left hand held the powder of the Incense of Souls, and his right hand held the jar. When he reached the marked door, he poured the powder into the jar, then turned around to receive the water the guard poured in. After filling the jar to the brim, he handed it over to the examinee through the window.
Five rows, five rows, ten rows of rooms. There were nearly a hundred rooms. After one round, everyone was tired and sweating. When they returned to the storeroom, Li Jinglong saw that it was about time. He said, "Retreat!"
Several people climbed over the wall and went to the street opposite the examination hall. They looked in the direction of the examination hall and were all nervous. After this torment, more than half a day had passed. The autumn afternoon was slightly cooler. Hongjun was afraid that they wouldn't drink water or that there wasn't enough medicine. Now that he thought about it, Li Jinglong kept asking them to put more medicine. It was actually very prescient.
Li Jinglong waited patiently for a while. He took a deep breath and seemed to be a little nervous. Not long after, the sound of carriages came from the street. Several carriages came. It was Gao Lishi and the patrolling officials from the Ministry of Rites.
Li Jinglong was waiting for this moment. He immediately said, "Let's go."
Hongjun said, "Wait, I'm still a little scared. They shouldn't leave so quickly. Let's wait a little longer?"
Li Jinglong replied, "Your medicine has been tested on the water that the servants drank. The dosage is enough."
Hongjun said, "I'm just afraid that they won't drink it."
Li Jinglong said, "In the morning, I asked Mo Rigen to go to the Imperial College and add 40% salt to the breakfast of the entire Imperial College, just in case."
Other than Mo Rigen, everyone was dumbfounded. Qiu Yongsi immediately said, "Official, from today onwards, I will follow you!"
Atay said in disbelief, "What kind of person is this!"
Li Jinglong said modestly, "I've made a fool of myself. You have to be more serious later. Let's go!"
After that, Li Jinglong took off his outer robe and revealed a dark blue official robe. There was a sword of wisdom at his waist and he was wearing the official robe bestowed by the Emperor. His figure was tall and straight. The rest of the people followed suit. They took off their official robes and followed Li Jinglong to the examination hall.