"I live in Liyu Hutong now. If you have any questions, go there. Enter the fifth yard in the alley."

An Zhilu returned to her usual appearance as she was not as dewy as she was. She lowered her head slightly and looked at the servant in Qingyi who had taken the money bag. "Qingniu, An Gui is not here. You should take the lead here first. After we, the group of people, after completing the work of these three cultivation centers, you can arrange one or two to wait for me. If I have something to do, I can find someone at any time."

"No problem. At worst, we can raise money and find a small place nearby to live directly. Then I will arrange for people there to always be someone there."

The servant in Qingyi who took the money bag was called Zhang Qingniu. He was very active in his work. After happily agreeing, he saw An Zhilu wave his hand and about to leave. He suddenly thought of something and said softly: "Brother Zhilu, last night, at least a dozen noble people in the city were robbed. It was said that it was done by people from the Headless Bodhisattva Temple. But after we inquired, it was not like that. The most bizarre thing was that those people returned the robbery back in the early morning. Later, when the officials went to ask each other, no noble person admitted that his family was robbed."

An Zhilu's expression changed at all, and she just said softly: "This is a matter between noble people. Those people dare not admit it because they are afraid that those who stole their things will get some evidence. If they say they are robbed from their homes, they will not be able to bear the responsibility."

Zhang Qingniu nodded and lowered his voice, "In addition to these noble people, some ordinary families have also been robbed. Other families are not weird. Do you know Ding Wang from Xiangchunyi? That guy was very stingy. He used our people to help him do things, but later he only paid 70% of the salary."

"Of course I remember this person, and I will inevitably cause trouble for him at that time." An Zhilu whispered: "What the hell is it that you mentioned this person specifically?"

"I heard from Jian Laoliu that this man sneaked up with a bag of things to his favorite place on the night before."

Zhang Qingniu looked at the left and right, except for the group of servants in green, and no one noticed it. Then he said softly: "I sent off the things the night before, and I was robbed last night. The other families we inquired about were robbed. Although the big people in the family didn't admit it, they seemed to be very worried and scared, but this person seemed to be a little proud. Brother Zhilu, do you think there is any mystery in this bag of things?"

"You pretend not to know first, don't do anything, wait until I find out." An Zhilu had already had a scheming in her heart, but she was calm on her face.

He didn't show any interest either. After waving his hand, he went straight back to the small courtyard where Xu Tuibei was.

Shortly after walking back to the yard, I was still thinking, but the sound of horse hooves sounded in the quiet alleyway.

The sound of horse hooves stopped outside his yard. He walked into the yard, but heard An Gui's voice sounding at the door, "Brother Zhilu?"

"Agui, why are you here?" An Zhilu screamed in surprise.

"I happened to go back to Yongning Cultivation Center, and I was with you. I heard that you had found me and I was fine at this time, so I came to find you." An Gui entered the door and looked at An Zhilu with joy on his face. He didn't have such joy during the Chinese New Year. "Brother Zhilu, it is said that you have become an official, and you have really made it."

"The official with a big sesame is just a military official. Just look at General Xu in the yard and do chores." An Zhilu also had a little bit of young vitality in front of An Gui. He patted An Gui on the shoulder and smiled, "The generals of the border army are not as good as the doorman of the official in Chang'an City. If you want to make it through, you will really make it through. I want to go to Chang'an to do business at that time, maybe I have to rely on you."

"Brother Zhilu, you can stand out everywhere." An Gui said sincerely, "If you get this opportunity, you will definitely soar into the sky."

As soon as he finished speaking, An Gui's stomach started to scream.

This sound is too familiar to An Gui and An Zhilu, the orphans.

"Brother Zhilu, do you have anything to fill your stomach here?" An Gui did not make any politeness in front of An Zhilu: "I have been busy all night until now. I just took the time to eat two cakes and didn't even drink hot soup."

"Why are you so busy?" An Zhilu greeted An Gui into the house, and Xu Tuibei had a lot of marinated meat in the courtyard. He originally steamed a piece on the stove and also a cake mixed with pepper sent by Hua Cangming. This was also delicious enough for An Gui to eat.

"I am now working chores under Pei Yunqian, the second lady of Pei family." An Gui was used to it. He first made tea for himself and An Zhilu, and then started eating pancakes and cured meat. He was eating and drinking while talking, and he couldn't even get busy with his mouth. "Last night, Miss Pei Er went to Songxi Academy to work all night, and I was also busy all night, helping to drive a carriage to pick up and drop off students from Songxi Academy and Qianxin Academy."

An Zhilu lowered her eyelids as soon as she heard this and said solemnly: "Agui, you must be careful in your words and actions in the future. Miss Pei Er is a person at the forefront of the Tang Dynasty. Not to mention her every move will cause so many storms, even her whereabouts. She doesn't know how many people are staring at her jokes. You must not reveal a little bit in the future. Moreover, you cannot even speak easily when you are in her hands. If you do things under her hands, your future will be bright, but it is also very dangerous. You must keep your mouth shut."

"Brother Zhilu, look at what you said. We have been working in Yongning Xiu for so many years, aren't this some strength yet?" An Gui laughed and picked a piece of fat cured meat, and his mouth was so oily. "I just told Brother Zhilu that even if I hide it from everyone in the world, can I still hide it from Brother Zhilu? Our brothers, Brother Zhilu, you are very capable and your mouth is stricter than everyone else. Unlike A Niu and the others, I dare not reveal any of them."

"They usually don't have a regular shape, so they have not encountered serious major events. When they encounter such things, they have a sense of their qualities." An Zhilu himself also pulled a piece of cake mixed with pepper and ate it slowly. Seeing that An Gui was probably not enough to eat the cured meat alone, he got up and washed a piece of cured meat to steam it on the stove, and added some dry firewood to the stove. Then he continued to talk to An Gui, "In the future, they should do a lot of things that are easy to lose their heads with us, and their mouths will naturally be tight."

When An Gui saw that An Zhilu didn't touch any cured meat, there was a little mist rising in his eyes, "Brother Zhilu, we all understand it very much even if you are kind to us."

"They are all brothers who have finally survived together, and they say what they did." An Zhilu smiled and said, "You tell me, why did Miss Pei Er go to Songxi Academy to do it? Do you want to pick some people to take it back to Chang'an for use?"

An Gui's expression became solemn, and he said in a deep voice: "Actually not. I didn't ask, but I heard some of their conversations when picking up and dropping off those students. In addition, I knew something about them. You probably heard about what happened last night. In fact, the thieves entered the mansions of the nobles to rob, and the things that happened before were big. Someone used the arrows of the storm that were only available in the Chang'an Palace in the city. The fifth prince was also in the city. It was probably someone who framed the fifth prince."

"You dare to openly use the Fierce Arrow in Youzhou City?" An Zhilu immediately felt that although Zhang Qingniu was doing a good job, he was sometimes much worse than An Gui. "Agui, do you know that the fifth prince recommended me? It was the young hero who watched the sword at the top of Yongning Club that day."

"That person is actually the fifth prince!" An Gui was shocked, "Then the fifth prince is kind to you, Brother Zhilu, and you are considered your own person."

"We naturally have to take this kindness to heart." An Zhilu's hands intertwined with her fingers, slowly moving her fingers, thinking: "But this method of frame-up is too vulgar, so the emperor of Chang'an should not be stupid."

An Gui nodded and said, "Those students said the same thing when they secretly discussed it, but two smart students said that the emperor was particularly good at following the flow. He felt very clear in his heart, but whether he believed or not on the surface depends on who he wanted to do. So whether the fifth prince had anything to do with the storm arrow was naturally clear in his heart. But if he had been unhappy about the fifth prince, if the fifth prince wanted to keep the head, he had to present some evidence first and then talk about it."

An Zhilu said a little enviously: "These people read a lot of books, and they are indeed insightful. An Gui, you have average talent in practicing and your life will be better in the future, so you should read more books as well."

An Gui nodded, An Zhilu raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Why did Miss Pei Er go to Songxi Academy last night because of the Fifth Prince?"

"It should be." An Gui said: "The students also seem to be searching for and analyzing some evidence. Some of their leaders are still discussing what aspects can they start from."

"The two academies are quite famous, and they are said to have been taken care of by Mrs. Zou." An Zhilu breathed a sigh of relief, "It seems that Miss Pei Er and the fifth prince have received the care of Mrs. Zou. The fifth prince should not have anything to do this time."

An Gui picked a piece of meat and put it on An Zhilu's cake. He then poured out the cold tea that An Zhilu hadn't drunk and replaced it with the hot one. Then he asked seriously, "Brother Zhilu, you went to Yongningxiu to find me as soon as you came back, but what's the important thing?"

“The view of depravity.”

An Zhilu took a deep breath. Even though there was no one around the courtyard, he still suppressed his voice very low. "I am very interested in this view of depravity. We are not saying that we should join the view of depravity, but we want to explore what methods they used to cultivate so strongly."

An Gui knew as soon as he heard this, An Zhilu coveted some methods of the view of depravity.

For them, who were struggling and fighting at the bottom of Youzhou, although they knew that the group of people in the Depravity View were a great rebellion in the previous dynasty and had to behead their heads, they didn't care much about the distinction between Taoism and good and evil.

The most important thing is that they have no family members. At most, they will lose their heads by themselves and are not afraid of implicating their family members, so they are less concerned about doing things.

"I may be able to help you with this." An Gui knew that this was about his head, so he dared not speak without hesitation. "The students from the two academy moved all the books, notes and essays about the practitioners of the previous dynasty to Songxi Academy. They seemed to have sorted out the things carefully. These things are not secrets, and there are no detailed methods of practice, and no powerful people think they are precious, and no one will sort them out."

"If it's convenient, find two capable students and show me what they have sorted out. Don't just have everything about the view of depravity, otherwise it will make people suspicious." An Zhilu pondered: "If the things they have sorted out are inconvenient, then ask clearly the names of the books, notes and essays, we borrow them all, copy them, and then spend some money to let people organize them slowly."

"It should be no problem. I picked up and dropped off the students from the academy that night. I can still see which individuals are capable." An Gui nodded.

An Zhilu lowered her head.

He looked at the piece of meat placed on the cake and made a decision in an instant, "Agui, if you have nothing else to do tonight, just live in my house. Then you can help me see when General Xu will come back. If he lives outside tonight, it would be best. I will go out to do something and come back later. During this period, you will think I am in the house too. In the future, if someone asks about what to do tonight, you can help me get a certificate."

An Gui nodded directly, "I know, I just say that after I come tonight, you have never left the house."

"You are smart, I feel relieved."

An Zhilu grabbed the piece of meat and cake, finished eating in a few bites, took a cloth and wiped her hands clean, and then went out directly.

After An Gui finished eating the cured meat, he took off his boots and baked his feet on the stove. He entered the room where An Zhilu and got into the bed with his clothes. Because he didn't sleep all night, he fell asleep in a deep sleep.

After sleeping for a while, there was a slight noise in the yard. An Gui and the orphans were all alert when they were young. Even though they were so heavy that they seemed to be a mountain pressing on their bodies, he still woke up suddenly and heard the man's footsteps clearly in his dizziness.

"Brother Zhilu?"

An Gui instantly heard the sound of his footsteps and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm back, things are going well." An Zhilu's voice sounded, "You can go to bed."

"good."

An Gui was so tired that he was dying. Now An Zhilu was back, so he didn't have to worry. After answering a word, he fell asleep completely again.

It was just dawn the next day, and he woke up and finally felt refreshed.

In the yard outside, An Zhilu was already exercising her body and breathing and practicing.

A fresh aroma of vegetable soup had already rushed straight into his nose.

"Eat quickly. Even if Miss Pei Er doesn't send you, you will go to her place early to wait. The more places they use for you, the more benefits you will get." When An Zhilu saw him coming out, she just clicked to the kitchen and continued her practice.

"I know."

An Gui went in and brought a very large bowl, drank the hot vegetable soup, and found that there were a lot of thin leg meat chopped inside, and his heart suddenly felt warm.

You must go early if you go early, but if you have time, you must do the things that An Zhilu has told you well.

"Agui, General Xu is not back until now, maybe he will go directly to the military camp. Even if Aniu and the others ask you, you will say that I have not been out all night. Those nobles are very awesome to investigate the matter." When An Gui went out, An Zhilu explained again with concern.

"good."

An Gui only knew that An Zhilu must have gone out to do something, but since An Zhilu didn't take the initiative to tell him about the specific matter, he didn't want to inquire, so he just agreed.

An Zhilu practiced for another half an hour, ate hot vegetable soup, washed up, then walked out of the door and arrived at the yamen where Xu Tuibe worked.

The Youzhou military was bullied, but knowing that Xu Tuibei was powerful, he was polite to An Zhilu. A lieutenant named Nan came to chat for a while and said that Hua Cangming had made arrangements. Xu Tuibei would go directly to Huafu today. If An Zhilu had something to do, she could hang out here and go out for a walk.

This means that you, a kid, do whatever you like, just don't just stare at us and report it.

An Zhilu has been struggling in the market for so many years, and naturally knows how to deal with these people. So he said to the lieutenant respectfully: "General Nan, I am going to go out and prepare some commonly used items at General Xu's home. However, I have just been naturalized and have not received any salary. I don't even have any extra copper on hand. I don't know if General Nan can make a few credits. I will definitely pay it back next month."

"You guys are so good. On the first day of your arrival, you are unfilial to us, but instead blackmail us." The Nan-sen captain cursed, and his eyebrows were smiling. He took out a ingot of silver and gave it to An Zhilu very readily.

"I'll invite the general to have a drink next month." An Zhilu smiled and accepted it.

The money is borrowed and returned, and more money will be added, and you will become familiar with these military people.

...

An Zhilu calmly bought some things that Tuibei might be useful in the market, bought two pots of wine and fresh vegetables, and then returned to Xu Tuibei's yard.

Only after he brought it to the yard and put down these things did his heart beat violently.

He went to the pile of firewood beside the yard and raised a package from it.

At this time, the charcoal fire in the stove fire had not yet been extinguished. He quickly added some dry firewood and put a pot of water in it. When the stove fire became strong, he quickly threw the layer of cloth wrapped outside and the black clothes covered with blood inside and burned it clean. Even a trace of the corners of the clothes and the fragments of fabric were extremely patiently carried into the fire with a fire stick.

After rummaging through for a long time, he didn't see any remaining things. He added some dry firewood, then he put away all the things in the package that had not been carefully looked at and quickly returned to his house.

The largest object in the package is a purple rectangular wooden box, and the size is probably fine to put your head on.

The other items are waist cards, one is a deer-skin money bag, a sachet woven with silver wire, and a small glass bottle.

An Zhilu first stuffed the purple wooden box into his bed, and then started from the waist card and checked it one by one.

The waist brand is heavy, it is made of some kind of copper, one side is smooth, the other side has some dark patterns on the back, and there is no handwriting.

He looked around and looked at it several times, but couldn't tell anything, so he put it in a skin bag prepared first.

The sachet woven with silver wire looks luxurious at first glance. The things inside are like spices, but they can't smell any when they fall on the tip of their nose.

The glass bottle is also empty, but the glass is a rare dark green, and there is a faint light on the inner wall, with many tiny potholes.

These three things were useless, and An Zhilu was not discouraged, so she carefully took out the purple wooden box.
To be continued...