The author

Chapter 128: Repaying Favors and Revenges

Gong Zhenyong was quite polite to the young man in brocade clothes and a golden crown. He looked at Li Guanyi and said unhappily, "Boy, hurry up and come out. What, is it comfortable to stay in this place?!"

"Come out soon."

Li Guanyi put on his shoes and walked out. Although he had only stayed here for two nights, it felt like a long time. The sunlight on his body was warm.

Li Zhaowen put his hand on his shoulder unceremoniously, opened the folding fan in his hand, covered himself and Li Guanyi, and said with a smile: "I say, Brother Li, Brother Li, although I said before that with your personality and martial arts, you may end up in jail one day."

"But you don't have to give me face like this."

"It's only been a few days, have you really gone in?"

Li Zhaowen teased him, and was very generous, but Li Guanyi felt that this guy must have a problem with his mouth. He bowed to Gong Zhenyong over there and said, "I'm sorry to bother you this time, General."

Gong Zhenyong had a better impression of the young man and said, "What nonsense are you talking about."

"If you run into something like this and don't take action, I will kick you out of the Jinwu Guard. You should take action when necessary. If something goes wrong, I will cover it for you. I can't cover it because there are people above me."

"If the bones of soldiers are bent, then our country is really finished."

He raised his hand and threw a waist badge over, saying:
"Your position, scarlet robe, and jade belt have all been taken away, your position has been suspended, and you will no longer be assigned to join the military. You can only be a guard below the ninth rank now. Don't worry, after this period of time, at the latest after the grand sacrifice, you will be reinstated."

Li Guanyi thanked him and kept the badge on his body.

He has realized the importance of identity.

Gong Zhenyong looked at the young man in brocade robe next to Li Guanyi, who smiled and nodded.

Gong Zhenyong frowned.

When he was at the border, he had fought against the cavalry of Ying State and also had a fight with people from the Longxi Duke's Mansion, so he just nodded with a rather cold attitude.

Originally, Li Guanyi had to be kept in seclusion until after the grand sacrifice, but the status of the young man next to him was too high, especially during the grand sacrifice.

Today, she suddenly mentioned that Li Guanyi was her good friend, so an imperial decree soon came from above, allowing Li Guanyi to come out. In other words, he was released, but those high-ranking officials just wanted this young man to accompany the dukes and young masters of other countries to relax.

This made Gong Zhenyong feel depressed for a long time. He picked up the knife and smashed the rocks. Only when the knife broke did he feel a little better. Although he had been an officer in the capital for a long time, he still felt uncomfortable sometimes.

The one who cleaned up the ghost market has been caught, and he must be locked up no matter what.

However, he was released because he was asked to accompany the senior officials of Ying State.

Didn't we just win a battle in the Western Regions? Why are we so cautious?!
Gong Zhenyong was angry in his heart, but his expression was calm as he said, "There is an order from above."

"Before the grand ceremony, you don't have to come to the palace to stand guard."

Li Guan was stunned. Gong Zhenyong patted him on the shoulder and grinned:
"Of course, if you want to come back, we'll be waiting for you."

"Go."

Li Guanyi and Li Zhaowen left the Jinwu Guard's place. There was already a carriage outside, but Li Zhaowen waved her hand, indicating that the carriage should go away. She and Li Guanyi walked side by side outside. The morning in Jiangzhou City was still very peaceful, and it was hard to tell that a big event had happened yesterday.

Li Guanyi was wearing a blue shirt at the moment. The sword on his waist was given by the emperor, but it was confiscated because of this incident. He tied his hair with a wooden hairpin, looking like an ordinary young man, quite simple.

He had just been released from the small dark room and was simple and chatty with Li Zhaowen.

"Brother Li is well-informed."

Li Zhaowen said with a carefree smile: "The big events in the capital city have been hidden from many people, but they cannot be hidden from many people. Brother Li, your name is well known. All the countries knew yesterday that a 15-year-old Jinwu Guard came to the Ghost Market with a sword in hand."

Li Guanyi said: "...Okay, but should we change the name?"

"You call me Brother Li, and I call you Brother Li."

"Who is Brother Li?"

"Or are you Brother Li's Brother Li?"

It was a cold joke, but it seemed to hit Li Zhaowen's funny spot. She pondered it for a while, and suddenly burst into laughter. She laughed so hard that she leaned forward and backward, and there were tears in the corners of her eyes. In the end, she laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. She patted Li Guanyi's shoulder with one hand and said, "Haha, hahahaha, Brother Li, you are really funny."

Li Guanyi felt that this guy had a sharp tongue and a low sense of humor, and said:
"Who is Brother Li? Which Brother Li?"

“Hahahahahahahaha, you, you don’t need to talk anymore, haha…”

Li Zhaowen was amused again. She laughed until her stomach ached. She said, "Okay, okay, then let's change the name." She smiled, unfolded the folding fan in her hand, covered the upturned corners of her lips, put her left hand behind her back, and said casually, "I'll call you Brother Li."

"As for you, just call me Jilang."

Li Guanyi did not comment, but when the two of them walked by, he keenly noticed that some people around were looking at him, and their eyes seemed a little strange.

Is someone following me?

Moreover, it seems that there are more people following me?
Li Guan turned around and heard the sound of horse hooves. Someone was riding a horse towards him. The so-called walking horse was different from a running war horse. When this kind of horse walked, each of its four hooves ran separately, as if it was walking steadily and quickly, just like the clockwise walking style of the horse stepping on flying swallow in his previous life.

The so-called quick tour is very expensive.

The one above is a handsome young man in a brocade robe, surrounded by servants. The rest are young men from wealthy families, with flying brows, holding a folding fan, and their facial features are quite good-looking.

It was as if he had been beaten up by someone, and the bruises on his face hadn't healed yet.

Even so, he still held his chin high, and was quite proud and arrogant.

It was the son of a civil servant who had fought with Li Guanyi and others in Changfeng Tower before, or in other words, the son of Yan Daiqing, the son of the minister of the inner court, who was beaten unilaterally on the opposite side. The people around him should also be the sons of those civil servant families.

These civil servants looked at Li Guanyi and said with a smile, "Ah, isn't this Lieutenant Li Guanyi in a scarlet robe? Why is he a military officer of the eighth rank wearing a plain robe today?"

"Where's your scarlet robe?"

"Where's your white jade belt?"

They teased, with a lighthearted tone in their voices, as if the boy in front of them was in trouble.

They themselves won.

Yan Daiqing said: "Okay, let's go to the banquet."

The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was a nobleman, and Yan Daiqing had some reputation among these children of civil servants, so they laughed for a while and left. Yan Daiqing was riding the horse at the end. He had ridden far away, but he still held the reins with his hands.

The very spiritual horse slowed down.

Li Guan raised his eyes and suddenly heard Yan Daiqing riding a horse in front of him and said:

"You, what you did was really stupid!"

"You are a man of great wealth and you cannot sit still in the hall. Don't you know to come back and look for someone?"

"It's just stupid, stupid as an ox! Humph!"

Li Guanyi was surprised. This young man with a good reputation pursed his lips, took off the sword and threw it in front of Li Guanyi. Li Guanyi raised his hand to hold the sword. He knew that the sword was not a bad one. It was also a sword of the sharp weapon level. Yan Daiqing, who was beaten black and blue at that time, was still arrogant:

"I've heard your poem about the swordsman."

"I've already said that if anyone has a grievance, a gentleman cannot be without a sword."

"I'll lend it to you until your sword is returned."

"Next time we meet, you and I will still be rivals in both civil and military matters. Last time you played dirty tricks on me and hit me with benches many times, I will pay you back."

He hesitated for a moment. There was a clear distinction between civil and military affairs. However, he held the reins tightly, feeling a little nervous and uncomfortable. He still said softly:

"well done."

He clamped his legs around the horse, and the horse sped up. The children of the civil officials were still laughing together. Did anyone notice that Yan Daiqing's sword was missing? Yan Daiqing just said, "It's lost."

"Ah? Isn't that sword a rare and sharp weapon? We need to get it back."

"No need. The lost sword might be better than the one in my hand." Li Guanyi held the sword and raised his eyebrows.

The sword has a long blade, a shark skin scabbard, and a white jade inlaid on the hilt. With fingers pressed against the hilt, the sword pops out with a sharp edge, exuding a chilling chill. The blade of the sword is smooth and has inscriptions engraved on it.

[A gentleman is like jade, firm but not sharp, soft but moderate]

It is a sharp-grade weapon, a perfectly forged sword that can withstand the infusion of internal energy from a general-level warrior without breaking, and can allow the internal energy to flow smoothly without hindrance. It is also sharp and tough. A warrior before the fourth floor can fully display his strength by holding this sword.

Li Zhaowen waved his folding fan lightly, as if thinking about something, and smiled, "As expected."

Li Guanyi put the sword back into its sheath and asked, "What do you mean?"

Li Zhaowen said with a carefree smile: "Brother Li, don't you know? You are already the most powerful one among the younger generation. You are already one of the strongest among the younger generation of Chen State."

"What young people admire most is the four words 'dare to act and dare to do'."

"Neither money nor power can weigh them down."

Li Guanyi did not comment and remained silent.

Li Guanyi and Li Zhaowen went to a roadside teahouse. Li Zhaowen skillfully ordered many authentic Jiangnan dishes. They did not go to a big restaurant, but just a place that ordinary people would go. People think that Jiangnan cuisine is light, but it is not true.

It depends on the location. In some places, the food is greasy, heavy in fat and sugar.

Some were light, and after tea was brewed, someone would come to sell tea and snacks. There were women in their forties or fifties with wicker baskets on their arms, inside which were small cattail bags filled with melon seeds, peanuts and fried beans.

Li Guanyi and his friend sat down without ordering any snacks.

Someone came over and took out several small cattail bags from the wicker basket and placed them in front of Li Guanyi. Then, without saying anything, he turned around and left. Li Guanyi was stunned and said, "Wait a minute, big sister. I haven't paid yet."

He shouted, but the person did not answer him. He hurried to catch up and saw that the woman's face was full of wrinkles, her white hair was like dead grass, and she looked to be in her seventies or eighties, but Li Guanyi felt that she was only in her thirties or forties at most.

With red eyes, she turned around and knelt down towards Li Guanyi, and the young man raised his hand to support her.

The owner of the teahouse said, "Young man, please accept it."

He said softly, "This is a poor woman who came to the capital with her two daughters to make a living. Both daughters were [groped], their knees were broken, their tongues were pulled out, and they became beggars. Her husband went to ask for justice, but was beaten to death and thrown into the river. We have someone who saw what happened to you yesterday."

"She was a poor person with nothing, but at least it gave her something to think about."

"I know that the person who harmed my daughter has been liquidated and returned to my hometown. Those three lives have a place to go."

As soon as Li Guan let go of his hand, he saw the white-haired woman walk out, then burst into tears and laughter downstairs, and finally stumbled away. Li Guan asked, "Will she..."

The teahouse owner said softly, "Are you asking if I will do something stupid? No."

"Both daughters and her husband are dead, but the family has a few acres of land, so someone has to look after their graves."

"People like us are like weeds in troubled times. As long as we are not uprooted, we will survive no matter what. We will eat grass and tree bark. We will survive, right?"

"Survive, even if it means getting stuck in the mud or lying on the ground and being stepped on."

"As long as you live, you will see a peaceful and prosperous world one day."

"Are you right?"

Li Guanyi turned around and saw that there were already a lot of things on his desk.

The people that the young man had sensed just now, who had been following him secretly, all came. They put down their things. They were not very valuable things, but full of melon seeds, peanuts, and fried beans. Li Zhaowen closed her folding fan and patted it lightly on her palm. She thought for a moment and stood up.

Watching this scene quietly, the old shopkeeper put a pot of tea on the table and said softly:
"You can drink this tea for free."

"The food is not very good, but it is authentic. Come and have some tea, I'll prepare it."

"You go, I'll clean up here."

"They are not from a wealthy family, but they know how to repay kindness."

Li Guanyi looked at those people, and Li Zhaowen reached into his pocket to take out the silver and money.

But the young man grabbed her wrist. Li Zhaowen felt the force in Li Guanyi's palm. She turned her head to look at Li Guanyi in surprise and saw that the corners of the young man's mouth pursed down, then raised up forcefully, with a bright smile on his face.

Li Guanyi pulled Li Zhaowen together and sat here openly.

He poured a cup of tea, grabbed a handful of peanuts and put them in his mouth to eat, and then drank the tea with the rough snacks. He smiled brightly and said, "It's really good stuff. The taste is just right. It's delicious."

“This tea is also good tea.”

So those people who gave things but still felt that their things were not presentable breathed a sigh of relief, and they showed a kind of smile on their faces, a mixture of flattery, relief, gratitude, and a smile that made people cry.

Li Guanyi praised and readily accepted what they gave, as if they had finally given some explanation, and both parties seemed to have reached a silent yet grand ceremony.

That's a word.

Repay kindness with kindness and revenge with hatred.

You avenged me, and I will repay you. You accepted it. Now we are even now. I have done my best for my dead relatives, and I have done my best for you. My knees are still straight, and I am still alive on earth. I can still say that I am a grateful person, right?
After I die and see my relatives, I can say, I have done my best and taken revenge.

The boy did not use the money to insult the last bit of dignity hidden in their hearts.

The young man laughed loudly, and the people dispersed. Li Zhaowen leaned against the window, watching people leave, and said softly: "People in the world only know Gongyang Ru's revenge, but forget the principle of repaying kindness. The principles of Confucianism are hidden among the people, it's true."

"Repay kindness with kindness and take revenge with revenge."

"If such a large number of people and such aspirations were to surge, who could stop them?"

She turned around and saw the young man sitting there with a melancholy look on his face. Li Guanyi drank cup of tea after cup with a calm expression. Li Zhaowen discovered that this young friend had changed in some way compared to when they first met.

She thought about it for a long time and finally understood the change.

He was only thinking about his own things in the past, but now he is thinking about a little more.

There are differences in behavior and doing things.

He has a heroic bearing.

Li Guanyi said, "I'm sorry, Erlang, today is probably not a good day for drinking...but I have the nerve to ask you for something."

Li Zhaowen said: "Brother, tell me."

Li Guanyi said: "Phoenix roosts in the woods."

Li Zhaowen was surprised, then smiled and nodded. She called the shopkeeper over, asked for paper and pen, wrote a letter in front of Li Guanyi, and then showed it to him, saying: "This is at home. I will write a letter to my family and send it by Peng Bird. It will arrive in a few days."

Li Guanyi didn't expect that the young man didn't even ask why.

So Li Guanyi never asked her why she helped him in this way.

He just said seriously: "Thank you!"

Li Zhaowen smiled and said, "It's the way it should be between you and me."

That day, Li Zhaowen did not drink to his heart's content, so he agreed to meet again next time. Then he watched the young man pack up all his things without leaving a single melon seed behind, and then left. Li Zhaowen unfolded his folding fan, looked at his back, and said softly:

"…The dragon lurks in the abyss, but what makes you want to take off?"

She sighed, "There are so many heroes in the world."

Li Guanyi returned to Xue's house, but he never expected that there was an unexpected guest in Xue's house.

It was the Tiele boy who was among those he saved and who dared to hand him the knife.

as well as--

The Khan of the Tiele tribe, Qibili!
(End of this chapter)