The master said not to judge people by their appearance

Shen Fan was good-looking, but not feminine. His handsome brows and eyes like ink paintings were obviously male, but he was indeed harder to serve than the pampered princess in the palace.

Xie Yunlan doesn't like the extravagance that prevails in Beijing. Although he was born in a general family, he has never lived the life of a young master since he was a child. Everyone in Xie's house has a hard and simple style since the old general was there. The family members are only ordinary officials. Half, many small things are done by myself, the decorations in the mansion are also simple and elegant, and some precious and gorgeous things that His Majesty rewarded are all stored in the warehouse.

Fortunately, Shen Fan turned all over and made the guest room so magnificent that Xie Yunlan almost thought he was in the palace at first glance.

In the past, during military training, there would often be some children from powerful families enlisting in the army. These people came here for the gilding of their resumes. They didn't even want to be a soldier seriously.

Xie Yunlan saw that these people were the most distasteful, so he sent them to do some dirty work such as cleaning the stables and cleaning the latrines, and occasionally he would personally beat them up in the name of martial arts competitions.Shen Fan is even worse than these people, these people are just the fault of the young master, Shen Fan has gone up to another level, comparable to a princess.

Coupled with his original status as a magic stick, it can be said that he repeatedly violated the two taboos of Xie Yunlan. Although Xie Yunlan has become more calm and introverted over the years, Wang Tai still heard the sound of "click click" knuckles clenched at this moment.

"Master Hou, the news has already spread." Wang Tai reminded in a low voice.If you beat someone at this time, all your previous efforts will be for naught!

Xie Yunlan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes again, his anger had all subsided. He entered the courtyard gate with a smile on his face, walked up to Shen Fan, bowed and bowed, and asked, "Is the master satisfied?"

Shen Fan was still sitting on the chair, he had no intention of getting up to return the salute, he ate the lychee and thought for a while, then said: "Let's make it."

Xie Yunlan's eyebrows trembled, and his smile became more and more kind: "The humble house is simple, Xie's hospitality is not good, and I hope the master will take care of it."

"Okay." Shen Fan sighed, as if reluctantly.

"I'm really wronged, Master." Xie Yunlan pronounced the word "wronged" very heavily, and although there was a smile on his face, there was a sinister feeling of a superficial smile.

Shen Fan didn't feel any difference, he only felt that he had been wronged, so he nodded.

Xie Yunlan took another breath, feeling deeply that he couldn't stay any longer, otherwise accidents would easily happen, so he told the servant girl in the courtyard, "Master is a distinguished guest in the mansion, please remember to treat him well", and immediately took Wang Tai gone.

There was a smile on his face all the time, but the moment he just left the courtyard gate, his whole face instantly sank, like a cloud that was about to rain.

Wang Tai cautiously followed behind, knowing that he was angry again, but it was normal, anyone would be angry with Shen Fan's attitude.

I've seen people who don't understand etiquette, but I've never seen such an exaggerated one. A magic stick, placed like an emperor, but you can't touch him, and you have to hold it respectfully, how can you be so angry.

Wang Tai tried to comfort him and said: "Master Hou, when the matter is done, I will beat him up and help you vent your anger!"

Xie Yunlan sneered, he also had the same intention, and when the matter was over, he would personally teach Shen Fan a lesson.Thinking of this, he restrained his anger a little, glanced at Wang Tai, and asked, "How is the matter of spreading the news?"

Wang Tai patted his chest and said, "Don't worry about my business! The teahouse and tavern are now spreading, saying that you have invited an expert home, who is the envoy sent by the Dragon God to inspect the world. The discussion is lively, presumably It will spread throughout the capital in a few days."

Xie Yunlan gave a "hmm" and said, "Has Mr. Yuan Mou come back?"

Wang Tai: "Not yet, he met some friends in the teahouse and they were having tea."

"Go and ask him to come back. I have something to discuss with him. In addition, you can go to Dongshi to buy some lychees." Xie Yunlan ordered.

"Lychees?" Wang Tai suddenly remembered, "Oh yes! You bought the lychees for the young lady!"

Litchi is a very delicate fruit that has extremely high requirements on water, soil and climate. It can only be grown in the south, and it is not easy to preserve. It costs hundreds of taels of silver, but an ordinary family of three can spend less than one tael of silver a year.

Xie Yunlan himself would not buy this kind of extravagant fruit, he is not someone who is greedy for enjoyment, the lychees in his house are prepared to give away, to his sister Xie Yuzhen.

Xie Yuzhen was his cousin, but her mother died of dystocia when she was born, and her father died on the battlefield when she was just one year old. Therefore, Xie Yuzhen was brought up by Xie Guodong in his house when she was very young. Four years older than her, the two grew up together, said to be cousins, but to Xie Yunlan, they are no different from their own sisters.

He spoke harshly to others, but he was always softer towards this younger sister. Xie Yuzhen even prepared a generous dowry when she got married. After sending it over, it ended up being put into Shen Fan's bowl, and at the end he even said "let's do it".

"Why are these servants so unruly! The lychee was obviously prepared to be given away, so why did you give it to that magic stick without asking?" Wang Tai rolled up his sleeves and wanted to teach others a lesson.

Xie Yunlan raised his hand to stop it. It's not Qing Yu's fault for this matter, it's him who said, try to be satisfied and don't ask again. When he said this, he didn't expect Shen Fan to be so capable. He moved out, eating a few lychees was a trivial matter, Xie Yunlan deeply felt that if he continued, even the Hou Mansion might be demolished by Shen Fan before he knew it.

Therefore, after asking Wang Tai to go out to handle errands, Xie Yunlan called Qing Yu over again, and told him, "Try to satisfy him with small things, and ask for instructions on big things."

event?Qing Yu thought about it for a while, and felt that this matter should be a major one, so he said, "Master Hou, Master refuses to eat."

Xie Yunlan had already eaten before. He was very casual about meals. All the home-cooked dishes were cooked in the house. It was almost past afternoon. It stands to reason that the dishes in the kitchen should be served together. He said strangely: " Only eat at this point? Why doesn't he want to eat?"

"Because the master doesn't like home-cooked dishes, he specially asked the kitchen to make some exquisite and complicated dishes, so this point is served." Qing Yu answered one question after another, "But the master put down the chopsticks after only one bite of the dish. , said it was salty."

Xie Yunlan: "..."

He rubbed between his brows, and began to regret his decision to choose Shen Fan not long ago, but in the end, it is hard to get over the water, it is easier to ask gods than to give them away, so he tried his best to calmly say: "Make another copy for him."

After Qing Yu left, Xie Yunlan went to the study again and began to write the word "Shen". After writing on a thick stack of paper, the handwriting changed from frantic to peaceful, and the depression in his heart seemed to gradually dissipate.

He had just regained his composure, but Qing Yu came again. As soon as he entered the door, he said: "Master Hou, Master still refuses to eat, let's put it lightly."

Xie Yunlan's hand holding the pen was suddenly clenched. He stared at the crooked word "Shen" on the paper for a long while before saying, "Make another copy."

As soon as Qingyu left the room, Xie Yunlan crumpled the piece of paper into a ball in his palm and threw it out viciously.

Just when Wei Chengzhi came back, he saw this aggressive paper ball mixed with his master's anger, and wondered, "Why is Lord Hou so angry?"

Xie Yunlan told what happened in the mansion, and it was only this morning that Shen Fan almost broke his concentration that he had cultivated for many years.

Wei Chengzhi stroked his beard when he heard the words, and said, "Master Hou, don't you think this person is a bit strange?"

Xie Yunlan: "Sir, do you want to say that he doesn't look like a magic stick?"

Wei Chengzhi nodded: "He is full of coquettish and extravagant air, and his personality is a bit simple and straightforward. He doesn't understand the world and his appearance and temperament. He doesn't seem to be born in an ordinary family. He doesn't look like a magic stick, but like a son of some aristocratic family."

"I sent someone to check on him this morning." Xie Yunlan acted cautiously. When Shen Fan was asked to return to the mansion, the person who checked his identity was also sent out, "He just entered Beijing yesterday, and he went there after entering Beijing He set up a stall in the West Market and stayed at the Yunjianju Inn at night, he didn’t understand prices, and was cheated by that guy of the tens of taels of silver he earned from setting up a stall in a day.” Because of this, he confirmed that Shen Fan was really stupid. , instead of deliberately angering him, so that he can endure until now.

"It's true that he doesn't look like an ordinary magic stick, but if you want to say which family he is, I have never heard of such a person." Xie Yunlan thought.

Although the land of Daxia is large, whenever there is a strange person or a young talent in any place, the news will be brought to the capital by the local government or traveling merchants. Wu's appearance, if he really came from a famous family, he should have been introduced to Beijing as early as the fifteenth or sixteenth year, and he would become another beautiful man famous all over the country after Pan An, who threw fruit carts.

"Could it be some hidden family?" Wei Chengzhi guessed.

"Forget it, let's not mention this for now." Xie Yunlan poured a cup of tea, Shen Fan's origin is actually irrelevant, just make it clear that he was not sent by someone with ulterior motives to deliberately infiltrate the Hou's residence.

Xie Yunlan wanted to find a magic stick to do the trick, but it was a temporary idea. Before that, he had always hated quacks and warlocks. If he wanted to send someone close to him, he would not find a magic stick to do it. Therefore, it was only a coincidence that he met Shen Fan.

The most urgent task is how to let Shen Fan show his supernatural powers in front of everyone, so as to continue to push up his reputation as a master.

"Since his banner is to subdue demons and eliminate demons, then find him an errand to eliminate demons. I remember that there seems to be a disturbance in Dingyuanhou's residence recently. What do you think of this matter?" Xie Yunlan had already considered it carefully. Shen Fan's performance this time must be chosen in the homes of princes and ministers. The more influential people witness, the better the effect will be.

As for how to catch evil spirits?It does not matter.Xie Yunlan doesn't believe in ghosts and gods at all. The so-called evil is just the ignorance of the world. Under the influence of Emperor Jianwu, the people in Beijing now think about ghosts and gods if something goes wrong. If they are sick, they suspect that they are infected by evil spirits. Fu Shui, the child in the family cried twice at night and suspected that there was an evil spirit breaking into the house, so he needed to ask the master to go home to drive away the evil spirit.

In the same way, it doesn't matter whether Shen Fan knows magic spells or not, he just needs to stand there, recite some incantations, gesticulate the wooden sword twice, and finally burn the Zhang Talisman, and he's done.

Wei Chengzhi thought for a moment, nodded, and said: "If it's just to boost his reputation, Marquis Dingyuan is a suitable candidate, but..." He changed the subject, "Master Hou wants to join the second prince's camp?"

Xie Yunlan frowned, and resolutely vetoed it: "Of course not, I have already told my husband that the Xie family's ancestors have no involvement in party disputes."

Although the Crown Prince of Daxia was established, the Crown Prince Yuan Lang was cowardly, uninitiated, and embarrassed to take on the responsibility. On the contrary, the Second Prince Yuan Yi was wise and decisive, humble, courteous and virtuous, and won the support of many courtiers. His biological mother, Mrs. Luo, was also very favored in the palace. , There is even a tendency to fight against the Queen, the court and China have now been divided into two factions, and the battle is inextricable.

Xie Yunlan has held the military power in the Northwest for many years. Although he voluntarily handed over the military power after returning to Beijing, and took a idle position in the name of recuperating his wounds, his reputation is extremely high both in the army and among the people. He Xie Yunlan, it can be said that to get his support is to get the entire northwest military power, and even the future throne.

It is tempting to learn from the dragon, but Xie Yunlan knows that although Emperor Jianwu is superstitious in alchemy and the dragon body is not healthy, this emperor was also a wise and powerful man when he was young, and he was a decisive person. He has already made great achievements in the Yuan Rong battle. It is suspected that if he dares to intervene in the struggle for imperial power again, the Xie family will be ransacked and beheaded without waiting for him to support the new emperor to ascend the throne.

Therefore, Xie Yunlan never had any private involvement with these two princes or the officials of the factions they belonged to. Xie Yunlan chose Dingyuanhou because Dingyuanhou was always neutral and never got involved in the struggle between these two factions. He was more important than Dingyuanhou There were courtiers who were still haunted by high-ranking officials, but they were all overruled by Xie Yunlan because of factional issues.

Wei Chengzhi said: "Master Hou knows that Marquis Dingyuan has a young daughter who is eleven years old."

"I know, I know..." Xie Yunlan said in amazement, "Sir, do you mean that Marquis Ding Yuan wants to marry the second prince? The second prince is in his twenties this year, right? And he has already married his first wife, and besides, Marquis Ding Yuan has always been conservative in his behavior. Be cautious, how dare you take such a big risk to participate in the party struggle?"

Wei Chengzhi smiled and shook his head: "Master Hou forgot, the eldest son of the second prince is also eleventh this year."

If the second prince succeeds to the throne, then the eldest son will be the future prince, the youngest daughter of Marquis Dingyuan will be the concubine, and he himself will become the head of the country, so it makes sense.

"Where did you get the news, sir?" Xie Yunlan frowned. He also had some news channels in Beijing, but he had never heard of this matter.

"Some friends in the Jianghu told me that they also bumped into each other by chance. It's normal for Lord Hou not to know. Besides, this matter has not been really settled yet. Hou Dingyuan is just acting on his mind and hasn't agreed yet, so there is no clue on his face yet. .” Wei Chengzhi took a sip of tea.

"So that's how it is." Xie Yunlan sighed, "Thanks for the sir's reminder, if Marquis Dingyuan can't do it, does the master have other candidates?"

Wei Chengzhi shook his head: "Not yet, there is no need to rush this matter, Master Hou just wait patiently."

"Mr. is right." Xie Yunlan also took a sip of tea. He was not in such a hurry at first, he was angry at Shen Fan, and he could settle accounts with Shen Fan sooner if he brought Li Henian down earlier.

"Besides, my friends from the rivers and lakes told me one more thing." Wei Chengzhi seemed to hesitate.

Xie Yunlan said: "Sir, it's okay to say."

Wei Chengzhi then said frankly: "Mr. Hou's brother-in-law seems to have been in close contact with the second prince recently."

"Qingyun?" Xie Yunlan frowned, thought for a moment and said, "I just happen to be going to Mu's Mansion tomorrow, and I will settle this matter."

That's all.Wei Chengzhi felt relieved.

Mu Qingyun is Xie Yunlan's brother-in-law, and also his brother-in-law. He has been with him through life and death all these years. Xie Yunlan trusts him so much that he even promised his younger sister Xie Yuzhen to him.Although Wei Chengzhi is Xie Yunlan's counselor, in terms of trust, he is probably ranked behind Mu Qingyun. If he handles this matter, it will inevitably leave a rift in Xie Yunlan's heart afterwards.

The conversation between the two came to an end, and when Wei Chengzhi was about to leave, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the house.

This voice is very familiar, today is the third time, Xie Yunlan suddenly raised his head, and asked Qing Yu who had just entered the door: "He still refuses to eat?"

Qing Yu nodded.

Xie Yunlan placed the teacup heavily on the table, his patience for today was completely exhausted, and he was about to sneer and say, "If you don't eat, he will starve to death", when Qing Yu added: "Master has been eating snacks while waiting for dinner , he said he was full."

Xie Yunlan: "..."

With a "crash", the teacup in Xie Yunlan's hand was crushed.