my demon

Xiao Ji stepped forward to salute Xiao Yan and Empress Dowager Sun, but Empress Dowager Sun was in a hurry to avoid the ceremony, and only asked: "Can you find any clues? Is it man-made, or is it really ghosts and gods retribution for evil spirits?"

Xiao Ji was a little helpless on his face, and he just cupped his hands and said: "The officials of the Ministry of Punishment are already inspecting the scene. It rained last night, but the room at the scene was very dry, and when Hou San screamed, the little servant waiting outside his room He ran into the room, only to see Hou Sanyi covering his eyes and rolling on the ground, howling fiercely, but there was no suspicious person beside him, the doors and windows were closed, and there was no sign of anyone entering or leaving."

"Wu Zuo examined the wound. The wound looked like it was scratched by a wild animal like a cat, but it was sharper than a normal cat's claws. He accurately grabbed out both eyes, and the two eyeballs fell to the ground. The wound marks were neat. But However, the hair and footprints of other animals could not be detected. Moreover, the amount of bleeding was relatively small, and the wound seemed to have been frozen and shrunk, with frostbite congestion, so there was not much bleeding, which is inconsistent with common sense."

"The wounded has been in a state of mental confusion, and has been yelling ambiguously, unable to ask for any effective information. He has ordered an imperial doctor to diagnose and treat him to see if he can recover his sanity."

"I interrogated the people he met during the day, and I only know that he was not on duty during the day. When he went to the imperial dining room, he saw a mother cat feeding several kittens, so he took a black cat away. The servants of the imperial dining room He didn't dare to say anything, but after questioning his fellow townspeople and servants who worked with him, he did have the habit of abuse. When the previous emperor was still there, he just covered it up and no one knew about it. After the empress moved to the West Palace, due to the remote It is said that he often brings cats and dogs and other young animals, and teal ducks, mandarin ducks and young birds in the imperial garden back to the courtyard to kill them."

"The guards on duty at the Sixth West Palace that night have also inquired one by one, and they all said that they were all on duty, and they were not slack or dereliction of duty, and the incident happened at Yinshi. .”

"The watchman that night and the maid serving the concubine have also inquired about it, and there was nothing unusual until I heard Hou San scream."

Xiao Ji narrated the matter clearly and meticulously, and articulated clearly, but he explained quite clearly.

Empress Dowager Sun asked: "So, is it really evil?"

Xiao Ji said: "Now the Ministry of Criminal Justice speculates that someone took revenge with personal anger, domesticated and manipulated cats, tigers, leopards, monkeys and other ferocious beasts to enter the room to hurt Hou San. This person must be familiar with palace affairs, and has arranged for officials to investigate carefully and visit the palace. Is there anyone in the house who keeps such wild beasts or birds of prey. The emperor and the empress dowager don't need to worry too much, if they seek revenge, they will not hurt innocent people at will, and I have ordered the guards to strengthen the defense of the palace."

Zi does not talk about strange powers and confusion. The young man Xiaoji once commanded an army. He is not afraid of ghosts and gods and does not believe in evil spirits. Clues like monkeys and hawks are indeed the most likely.

The Empress Dowager Sun asked several more details, and gave some more detailed instructions before letting Xiao Ji go. After Xiao Ji left, she said to Xiao Yan: "Prince Duan is too serious, he won't say a word, but I am sorry How can this cat and bird tamer come and go as he pleases? Fortunately, Pujue Guoshi has arrived, and the Ai family ordered someone to take him to the West Sixth Palace to perform rituals to drive away evil spirits. Your majesty, you are a noble man. Don’t go to that dirty place, lest you bump into other people. You’ve been with me for half a day, so let’s go back to the palace and rest, be careful, don’t let anyone leave your side.”

Xiao Yan responded and was about to get up, but Concubine Li knelt down, her eyes were as red as peaches, she was pitiful: "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, what happened, my Yingcui Palace, I would never dare If I stay here again, I would like to ask the Empress Dowager to give me another place to live."

Empress Dowager Sun said: "It's all because of your lack of strict control and lack of discipline. Whether it's someone who is threatening private revenge or evil spirits making trouble, it's because you haven't restrained and indulged too much. Who can you blame?"

Concubine Li's voice trembled: "The concubine just let the empress dowager punish me. I will accept everything, but I dare not live in the Yingcui Palace. I also ask the emperor and empress dowager to be sympathetic and change my residence."

Empress Dowager Sun sighed slightly, as if she was very sympathetic: "Forget it, I saw that you were so frightened that your face became smaller, but now that the Sixth West Palace is full, if you want to live, you can only live with other people." Sisters squeeze..."

Concubine Li hurriedly said: "I am willing!"

Empress Dowager Sun then said: "Then go to Jing'an Palace and be with Concubine Jing. It's just that you have to be punished for your lax crime. You will be fined for one month, and you will be punished by copying ten copies of the scriptures and enshrining them in front of the Buddha." , sincerely repent."

Concubine Jing has always been cowardly, and would not say anything if she thought about it, Concubine Li quickly got up to thank her.

Seeing that Concubine Li had been dismissed, Xiao Yan got up and went back to the palace.

It rained all night last night, and the day has cleared up. Under the faint spring light, the green trees in the courtyard have sprouted many tender green leaf buds. The sky is bright, making the clouds and shadows rippling.

In the courtyard, He Chang'an brought a few servants and a few monks to set up the altar.A young monk stood quietly under the tree, with moon-white monk robes, scarlet beads, thin bones, and a dusty temperament. It was Qi Yuan who became a monk on behalf of the emperor. , Just like ink brush painting, there is a natural Tsinghua spirit.

He noticed Xiao Yan coming over at the first time, stepped forward and said deeply, "I have seen the emperor." He no longer called himself a slave, nor a poor monk, but just a minister.

Xiao Yan was a little surprised, and asked him as he walked towards the study: "Why did you enter the palace too? Did you enter the palace with the national teacher?"

Qi Yuan followed behind, and replied: "I went to the palace with senior brother Pujue to do the ceremony, and the senior brother is still in Yingcui Palace, let me bring people to the emperor's side to prepare for the ceremony."

Xiao Yan nodded, and asked again: "Are you used to it in Baoguang Temple? Just a few days ago, I got a string of coral, beeswax and Buddha beads. I thought I could give it to you, so I let them keep it." He called He Changan: "He Dajian, go and get it. Bring the Buddhist beads obtained the day before yesterday to Venerable Pucheng."

He Changan hurriedly trotted to the warehouse to get the prayer beads himself.

Qi Yuan said: "Thank you for your kindness, the temple is safe and quiet, very suitable for cultivation."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, and had already entered the study room, but saw a white jade flat vase on the desk, inside the vase were inserted a few linden flowers with green leaves, the flower spikes were as white as a pagoda, the leaves were green, extremely elegant .

"The seven-leaf Bodhi in Baoguang Temple has grown for thousands of years. The flowers bloom like a tower and bloom like clouds. I picked the most beautiful and clean branch in the morning, offered it to the Buddha, and recited it nine times sincerely before bringing it into the palace. Dedicated to the emperor, I pray that all diseases will not invade your majesty, and evil spirits will not come close."

Xiao Yan's eyebrows stretched out: "Qing has a heart."

Qi Yuan's face was calm: "In the past, when I was young and ignorant, I was lucky enough to enter the palace to accompany me. I saw the emperor submitting to the servants around him without saying a word. I often misunderstood the emperor. Now that the times have changed, it's my turn to be in this situation." Unbearable, I know that there are many unavoidable things in the world. The emperor is too old to practice his life and cannot be independent, but he can hide his strengths and bide his time, and seek perfection from the music. Thinking about all the conflicts in the past, Qi Yuan feels deeply ashamed and remorseful. His majesty is magnanimous and gracious. , Qi Yuan only thinks every day, how to repay the emperor's deep kindness."

Xiao Yan didn't expect Qi Yuan to suddenly confess frankly, turned his head to look at him, thought for a while and said: "It's not like this from the beginning, when I first entered the palace in the past, there were indeed many things that I wasn't used to, but once there was something that didn't fit As far as the rules are concerned, the nurses, aunts, and housekeepers around me can lock me into a quiet room to be alone, without holding a lamp, and only talk about defeating the emperor, meditating and introspecting, often for several hours at a time .”

Qi Yuan raised his head in shock, but then remembered that he shouldn't look directly at Shengyan, and lowered his head again, Xiao Yan laughed at himself slightly: "How can there be such a natural emperor's demeanor, it's as tall as a mountain, it's just like training dogs and eagles It was tamed. Since you already know the truth of Qu Zequan, you can know that this practice will be of great benefit to you... I am not trying to ask you to repay you or not. In your situation, it is not easy to hide in the palace, and it is even more important for you to go out of the palace. Alright, don’t think about anything else. The national teacher’s Buddhism is profound, so you should follow him to learn some skills..."

Qi Yuan replied with lowered eyelashes, "I obey the order."

After a while, Xiao Yan said slowly: "Those who save others, first save themselves."

Qi Yuan's body trembled slightly, as if he had realized something.Xiao Yan had already turned around to look for books on the bookshelf, and He Changan had come over with a box of Buddhist beads from outside, and said with a smile: "I saw the Dharma of Pujue Guoshi coming outside."

Xiao Yan turned his head and ordered He Chang'an to give the beads to Qi Yuan, and said, "Go to the imperial dining room and pass some licorice and perilla water to quench the thirst of the masters."

He Chang'an complied and ordered someone to spread the word, and sure enough, he saw a report from outside that Pujue Guoshi had arrived.

Sitting on the imperial couch, Xiao Yan saw Pujue Guoshi coming to pay a visit, so he asked Pujue Guoshi: "The Guoshi just came from Yingcui Hall just now, what do you think about the case?"

Pujue Guoshi calmly said: "The wounded person was frightened too much and has become an idiot. The poor monk saw that there seemed to be resentment entwined around the wound. This is a long-standing resentment. Going out of the palace and returning home, recuperating slowly, there is still a possibility of regaining sanity."

Xiao Yan had some doubts in his heart, but he didn't ask further, he just continued to ask: "Since it's an old grudge, is there still a remnant in the palace?"

Pujue Guoshi said: "The poor monk saw the dragon's energy steaming in the Ziwei Palace, which is magnificent. Your Majesty is a true Dragon Emperor, with good luck, so don't worry about it."

Xiao Yan paused for a moment, seeing Pujue's bright eyes, he knew that he really had some abilities, so he didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he only asked the national teacher to cast spells.

The fragrance of Buddha wafted up, and the sound of chanting sutras was loud and loud. After reading the scriptures nine times, Pujue Guoshi stood up and said goodbye. Xiao Yan glanced at Qi Yuan who was following behind him, and said: "Pucheng is young, the Guoshi should teach him a lot. .”

Master Pujue agreed with a smile, resigned from Xiao Yan, and went to the Empress Dowager again.

Xiao Yan went back to the study after watching the group of monks leave eloquently, pressed his chest and asked the Lich: "Do you know about the strange case in the palace today?"

The servants outside were busy packing up the leftovers after the ritual. There was no one in the study. The cool wind swirled the icy snowflakes. The lich suddenly appeared. He was obviously a necromancer, but he seemed to be favored by the gods. When he appeared, The whole hall was lit up.

Lich's voice was calm: "Well, I got a new pet last night."

The slender bone finger tapped lightly in the air, and black spell ripples generally spread in the air.

A cloud of black mist appeared in the air out of thin air, and then formed into a ball, fluffy fur fluffed out. The little black cat squinted its eyes lazily and straightened its front paws, revealing its frost-like sharp claws, raised its tail, and stretched itself , two clusters of green flames flickered, and the eyes froze like two clear waters.

Xiao Yan's heart seemed to tremble slightly for a moment, and then he quickly realized: "This is... that black cat that was tortured?"

The lich nodded slightly: "The black cat is psychic, the resentment and thirst for power that erupted from it when it was dying summoned me, it is willing to surrender to me, give up the eternal sleep, in exchange for the power of revenge, I made a contract with it .”

Curiously, Xiao Yan stretched out his fingers to touch the soft mist. The black cat is really too small, only a little bit bigger than a fist.

And the black cat has already sensitively sensed the mellow real dragon aura on Xiao Yan's body, and greedily sticks out its tongue, and the tip of its frosty claws can't help protruding out, radiating cold light.

At the moment when its tongue was about to lick Xiao Yan's fingertips, it suddenly felt deep-seated fear and coercion from the soul, its black hair stood up involuntarily, and it saw the golden lich behind Xiao Yan calmly looking at him. With a sound of "Aww", Mimi folded her tail and retracted her tongue. Mimi cried out and turned over, revealing her soft belly, which was convenient for the emperor to tease.

Xiao Yan only thought it was cute, touched the soft belly, the black cat had lost the body temperature of a living being, but the touch was still as smooth as silk, he asked curiously: "Does it have a name?"

The black cat meowed proudly, yes!My Lord named Soul Eater!

Xiao Yan couldn't understand, Lich said indifferently: "Give it one."

Black cat: ? ? ?

Xiao Yan thought for a while, with some doubts: "I'm not very good at naming it. It's all black and looks like a cloud. Why don't we call it Wu Yunduo?"

The Lich answered: "Then it's called Wu Yunduo."

The black cat let out an aggrieved cry, and the Lich didn't change his face: "It likes this name very much."

Xiao Yan smiled: "We can keep it at the house in Jin'oufang, and let it watch the house and catch mice by the way."

Wu Yunduo:? ? ?What about letting me play by myself?

The Lich responded immediately: "Okay, I will take it through the portal to recognize the door in a while, and it will report back soon if there is anything."

Wu Yunduo's tail hangs down listlessly, and the tip of both ears droops: "Meow..."

The lich's golden eyes stared at it: "If a mouse enters the house, I will settle accounts with you."

Wu Yunduo was threatened by the master, Mimi said twice, and answered in frustration.

Xiao Yan felt a little regretful: "Something happened in the palace, it's inconvenient to go out, I guess the Criminal Department will have to investigate for a few days... There must be people around me from time to time."

The Lich said: "It's easy, the waiter has been removed from the palace for treatment, let Wu Yunduo pretend to be an ordinary black cat, and pretend to attack him once when someone sees him to escape, and don't show up again, that's enough."

Xiao Yan thinks about it carefully. This case is taken seriously because it happened in the palace, threatening the safety of the royal family, and the murderer came and went without a trace, as if involving ghosts and gods, which makes people terrified. Once it is known that it is an animal revenge , and only aimed at the enemy, and chased him outside the palace. There was no threat to the royal family, and the pressure on the Ministry of Punishment would naturally be greatly reduced, and Empress Dowager Sun and King Duan would naturally not press too hard.

He happily touched the dark clouds: "Then I'll leave it to you."

Wu Yunduo meowed, narrowed his eyes, and rubbed Xiao Yan's palm.