Longevity begins with slaying demons and eliminating demons

Chapter 75

In the recent period of time, the Lu family's haunted house in Qingzhou has been a hot topic of discussion among the officials of the exorcism department.

The first is because of its danger; the second is because of its rich mission rewards; the third is because of its historical sensitivity.

After all, its former owner, Lu Huan, the former head of the cabinet, was punished by nine clans for committing treason.

Before that, the Lu clan in Qingzhou was one of the four most powerful and famous clansmen.

But now, that once-prominent family has completely vanished.

The splendid and splendid mansion back then has also turned into a desolate and gloomy haunted mansion that everyone fears.

"Could it be that the evil spirit that is making a fuss in Lu's mansion is the grievance of Lu Shoufu?" In an inconspicuous corner of the Yishui Exorcism Division, a group of small officials gathered together during their lunch break to discuss secretly.

"How is that possible? Back then, that Lu Shoufu colluded with the barbarians in the northwest privately and plotted a rebellion, but the evidence was overwhelming! It is said that the scoundrel thief still wanted to fight stubbornly, but His Majesty the Emperor personally took him down—His Majesty is the cultivator who is closest to immortals in our Daqi. With his shot, that rebel will definitely be wiped out, and it will be difficult to turn into a ghost."

"Lu Huan is indeed guilty and deserves ten thousand death! But with such a big Lu family, there will always be many innocent people involved! Like his wife, children, maids, servants... along with those old people who are over old, and babbling None of the children who spoke language survived. These people wouldn't have rebelled with Lu Huan, right?"

"If you really think so, then you are too naive! Think about it carefully, if Lu Huan succeeded in rebelling, wouldn't his wife become the queen? Wouldn't his children become princes and princesses? Even His housekeeper can become the head of the big house—ahem, if he wants to... this is a man who has achieved the right to ascend to heaven!"

"Shh, be quiet! It's not good for outsiders to hear this kind of thing."

"To be honest, I actually feel sorry for the Lu family. I have heard from the elders in the family that the Lu family in Qingzhou, as a descendant of the immortals, the young ladies in the clan are all immortal and different in appearance - not only in looks They are beautiful, and they are both talented and good at writing poetry and painting. Alas, it's a pity that they were all implicated by Lu Huan's rebel... How good it would be to keep one as my wife!"

"You think beautifully! Even if they are still alive, they will only find a man of the right family among the four major clans to marry. It's not a small official like you who has a monthly salary of two taels of silver and can't even afford a house!"

"By the way, bro, I remember reading in the previous Di newspapers that a girl from the Lu family was not executed because she was too beautiful, but was abolished and sent to the Luojing Jiaofang Division. went--"

"—You're talking about Lu Shiyao, a talented woman from the Lu family who was called 'the first beauty in Jiaodong' back then, was proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and overwhelmed the nation's young talents with her knowledge and talent?"

"Yes, it's her."

"Hehe, you must not have read the Di newspaper seriously. Lu Shiyao's self-named 'Fairy Su Xue' has always been cold and arrogant. How could someone like her be willing to go to the Jiaofang Division to be one of those high-ranking officials in the capital. A plaything? She had already committed suicide by jumping off a cliff on her way to the capital."

"Well, if only she was still alive. I'm very curious, who is better in terms of beauty, Lu Shiyao, the first beauty in Jiaodong, and Princess Zhaoning, the first beauty in Luojing now..."

"Anyway, the merit award for the Lu family's murderous house case, as well as the high-grade spell, really makes my heart flutter!"

"Young people, don't think too much! With your humble cultivation base, after going to that haunted house, it is estimated that you can only make food for evil spirits..."

"..."

At this time, Gu Xu was passing by the corridor of the Exorcism Office and happened to hear the discussions of these little officials.

He had to sigh that politics and women are always the eternal topics in men's gossip.

However, even if the whole world was talking about Lu's Haunted House, and even if the reward for this case was raised to [-] meritorious deeds, Gu Xu wouldn't accept this task even if he was killed.

After all, people have self-knowledge.

…………

Today is different from the past.

Gu Xu came to the yamen not to do the task, but to apply for reimbursement.

In recent days, he has been renovating and renovating his old house according to the original plan.

In fact, after successfully passing the promotion assessment, he has long wanted to do this.

It's just that because of the lack of funds on hand, he has been procrastinating and has not started to act.

Until recently, Cui Tianyou told him that Daqi officials could apply for reimbursement for changing the lintel.

"Brother Cui, there is such a good thing, you didn't tell me earlier!"

"Brother Gu, I see that you are busy cultivating and doing tasks every day. How dare you disturb you?"

In the Daqi Dynasty, there were strict rules and regulations for the construction of residential gates.

For example, the lintel is the beam on the upper part of the door frame above the main entrance. Only the residences of court officials are allowed to be marked, and the houses of ordinary people are not allowed to have lintels.

The lintels are also distinguished by the number of two, four, and twelve.

There are two door stalls on the lintel, corresponding to officials of the fifth rank and below; four door stalls correspond to officials of the fourth rank and above; as for the twelve door stalls, they can only be used by princes and above.

In addition, Daqi officials also pay attention to "the door is higher than the road", so there should be steps in front of the house.

But this step cannot be repaired casually, and it must be done according to the system.

The steps in front of the gate of the sixth-rank and lower officials cannot be higher than the second-level, and the steps in front of the fifth-rank officials cannot be higher than the third-level... And the ninth-level steps are the numbers that represent the top, and no one except the emperor can use them.

Therefore, people often use words such as "glorious lintel" and "level of entry" to describe the promotion of status.

Due to the existence of extraordinary powers in this world, the speed of repairing the house was much faster than Gu Xu expected.

In just a few days, the adobe wall with peeling powder and skin disappeared, turning into a brand-new white wall and black tile; the old creaking wooden door also disappeared, turning into a solemn black door with iron rings.

The stone steps at the entrance were also a lot higher than the surrounding neighbors, causing countless passers-by to stop and watch.

"Brother Gu, in fact, I think that you have become an eighth-rank official now. It's too aggrieved to live in a small place like Ping'an Lane, and it's not worthy of your status. You can absolutely find a better location and buy Set up a larger house and hire a few servants who run errands..." Cui Tianyou couldn't help suggesting to Gu Xu.

"Can I be reimbursed?" Gu Xu interrupted him.

"Well... this one can't be reimbursed, but if you're a little careful, you don't need to spend too much..."

"Forget it." Gu Xu shook his head and stopped discussing this topic with him.

Even if he has money, he has to use it for cultivation. How can he spend it on such a meaningless project?

…………

After getting the funds, Gu Xu went home.

Looking at the new environment around him, he just felt happy.

"Bring a pen and paper!" he instructed the little book boy on the screen portrait.

Afterwards, he splashed ink and wrote "Changshengzhai" in three large, frightening, smooth and elegant characters on the paper, and then framed them with magic and hung them in his room.

Literati and writers often give their bedroom or study a meaningful name to express their feelings and interests.

Gu Xu has always thought of himself as a layman with no ambitions.

What he wanted all his life was nothing but the word "longevity".

(End of this chapter)