The more Dezhong said it, the more it seemed true, and he almost burst into tears. Zhou Xi next to him also sighed and nodded, seeming to be touched in his heart. It seemed like a pair of brothers sharing their hearts with each other, but in

Dezhong felt something different in his heart.

It's not that your brother intentionally deceives you. After all, we are not on the same path. Brother Zhou, don't take offense.

That night, the two stayed in a wing room next to the southeast warehouse. According to Eunuch Li's instructions, Dezhong carefully closed the doors and windows, lit the charcoal fire, put the curtains straight, and prepared to go to bed.

"Why, Brother Zhang just wants to sleep if you don't accept it?" Zhou Xi took off his smock and cotton-padded jacket and put it on the back of the chair.

"It's freezing cold today. I wish I could put on more clothes so I could sleep warm." Dezhong replied.

"So Brother Zhang is so afraid of the cold." Zhou Xi chuckled, lifted up the quilt and slipped into bed.

Dezhong turned off the light and went to bed to lie down.

"Brother Zhang..."

"Call me Dexiu, I'm always called Brother Zhang for his weird ideas."

"Okay, Dexiu...Brother Dexiu, you can also call me Zhou Xi."

"good."

Perhaps it was because resisting the cold wind during the day was too exhausting for his energy. Dezhong was so confused that he didn't hear what Zhou Xi said after that, and he fell asleep in the blink of an eye.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already early morning. Zhou Xi was still asleep. Dezhong got up and looked at the doors and windows. They were all tightly closed and the curtains were flat and untouched as they were before going to bed last night. Dezhong looked at

He stared at the door and tilted his head in confusion. What Eunuch Li said about closing the doors and windows at night might not have much meaning, Dezhong thought.

It was just after noon. Today's work was done. When the two were packing the brooms, the sun was shining warmly on the green bricks on the ground. There was no wind and no clouds, and the weather was perfect. When the two walked out of the small room where the tools were kept, Zhou Xi suddenly

Stop and look up at the sky.

"It's still early, I'm going to visit Eunuch Li. Can Brother Dexiu come with me?" Zhou Xi patted the dust on his body and asked Dezhong.

"What are you going to do with Eunuch Li?"

"Hmm...nothing. Hehe." Zhou Xi smiled slyly, "It's just that this Southeast Library is too deserted. It's better to go out and walk around more."

Thinking of Zhou Xi's words yesterday, Dezhong probably understood the meaning of walking around. "I feel a little unwell today. Brother Zhou Xi will go explore the road first. I will visit Eunuch Li another day." He will leave secretly after a while.

It's better not to attract attention now.

Seeing this, Zhou was delighted and did not force himself: "That's fine. Brother Dexiu, please rest easy. I'll go and come back."

It’s been a long time since I’ve been so leisurely. No need to worry about livelihood, no need to hide, no need to think about anything. Dezhong sat in the sun for half an afternoon. He felt sleepy, so he went back to the house to take a nap. When he woke up,

The sun had already set. Dezhong stretched himself contentedly. Looking around the room, he saw that Zhou Xi had not come back yet. So he dressed up and went out for a walk again.

Most of the rows of small rooms here are locked. Dezhong leaned on the door crack one by one and looked around. Some small rooms were filled with incense, candles, cloth and other things. Some were empty and covered with dust.

Seeing the last few rooms on the south side, it was just like this. Dezhong felt bored and was about to return when suddenly there was a sound coming from nowhere. Who was nearby? Dezhong took two steps and listened carefully. The sound

It seemed that someone was singing. The song was old and low, and it should be not far away, but it seemed to be out of reach as if it was seeping out from the depths of the earth. Dezhong felt a little chilly in his heart, but he couldn't help but be curious, relying on the light of the sky.

He knew it, so he plucked up the courage and followed the source of the sound to find it.

Approaching the gap between the two rows of small rooms, the singing gradually became clearer. Dezhong looked around and saw that there was indeed a small door hidden in the gap, which was ajar and unlocked. The singing should have come from this. Dezhong stopped.

Footsteps, listen carefully, the song seems to go like this:

...

It's prosperous, but the sun shines late at night.

When the twilight is gone, the moon is cold and the wind is clear, and the high places are even more desolate.

...

The sunset... what a coincidence, my name is actually implied in this lyrics? Dezhong became more and more interested, so he approached the small door, raised his hand, paused, and knocked twice hesitantly.

The singing stopped suddenly, and a hoarse question came from the door.

"Who is it?"

"I...Zhang Yishan, please forgive me for disturbing you so rashly."

"Please come in."

Dezhong took a deep breath, stretched out his hand to open the small door, took a step, and walked into the house.

As soon as he entered the room, an indescribable smell floated past the tip of his nose. It seemed like the smell of incense or medicine. The light in the room was very dark. Dezhong looked carefully and saw a scripture hanging on the walls on both sides.

Next to the small six-sided window, there is an oak-colored sixteen-compartment chest of drawers. At the deepest part of the room, there is a Buddha statue, which looks like Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. An old man is sitting on a low wicker chair in the corner.

He was looking at himself quietly.

"This little brother, why are you here?" the old man asked slowly.

Dezhong bowed and replied: "I was just attracted by the singing, nothing else. I wonder if this song was sung by a senior?"

"Singing casually, I never thought of attracting any visitors. Sit down."

After hearing this, Dezhong went to sit on a chair by the wall. The chair made a squeaking sound, which seemed a bit harsh in this excessively quiet space.

"I heard that the lyrics hinted at my... a friend's name, and I became interested, so I came to visit rashly. What do you call me, senior?"

Dezhong was sitting not far or close to the old man. He could clearly see the gray hair and scattered wrinkles, but he couldn't see his eyes clearly. After hearing Dezhong's question, the old man seemed to be smiling, but he didn't seem to be smiling either.

, a moment's pause made the silence in the room a little more eerie.

"They all call me Uncle Ghost."

Dezhong suddenly leaned back in his chair, his heart jumped into his throat, and his breathing became rapid. Curiosity killed the cat. Who would have thought that ghosts can be encountered in broad daylight? What should I do, Xu Dezhong? Run away.

, but my legs and feet were so frightened that they were weak and uncontrollable. I had to cling to the back of the chair, as if being further away from the person opposite would increase my safety.

"Don't be afraid. Haha." This time, the old man really smiled, "I'm just an old eunuch. I'm called Ghost Uncle just because I guard the southeast treasury."

"..." Dezhong was in shock and didn't know how to respond.

"The Southeast Library is the ghost gate in the Forbidden City."

"Huh?" Dezhong relaxed a little, but immediately became nervous again.

"This is the darkest place in the palace, and ominous things often happen. It seems that I am new to the palace. I have never heard of this."

"Yes... I have never heard of it." No wonder Eunuch Li told him to close the doors and windows at night and not go out. That was the reason.

"Haha. Why are you here, little brother?" Uncle Ghost smiled again, the wrinkles around his mouth deeply embedded in his cheeks.

"I...I am assigned to clean here every day. I live in the wing over there."

"In that case, I can take the two portraits of Zhong Kui back and stick them on the door to ensure that nothing happens."

Dezhong looked around and saw that there was indeed a portrait of Zhong Kui on the small table next to him. Dezhong carefully rolled up the portrait and placed it in his arms.

"Thank you... Uncle Ghost."

After knowing for sure that it was a human being and not a ghost, Uncle Ghost's face looked much kinder. After Dezhong thanked him, he chatted for a few words, got up and said goodbye, and left.

When I walked out of the hut, my eyes suddenly brightened up. As Dezhong walked back, he thought that he was really ridiculous just now. The house was full of scriptures and Buddha statues. If the ghost uncle was a ghost, how could he sit peacefully in the room? Xu Dezhong, Xu Dezhong, why?

His courage became so timid. The room became darker and quieter, so he was frightened. Dezhong patted his head, curled his lips in self-mockery, and went straight back to the small room where he lived.

It was completely dark before Zhou Xi came back. The warm curtain was lifted, bringing in a blast of cold air. As soon as Zhou Xi entered the door, he pointed to the door and said:

"What? You know it too?"

Dezhong raised his head. He didn't react for a moment: "You know what?"

"There's something haunted here." Zhou Xi moved a chair and sat by the brazier, rubbing his hands vigorously. "You posted the door god on the door, right?"

"Oh, yes. I met an old eunuch today and he gave it to me."

"Are you talking about that ghost uncle?" Zhou Xi raised his eyebrows and asked.

"Exactly."

"It's better to have less contact with him from now on." Zhou Xi said seriously, "This old eunuch is crazy. It is said that he brought all this evil energy."

"Who did you hear that from?" Dezhong was a little surprised.

"That's what Eunuch Li's eunuch brother said." Zhou Xi warmed his hands, sat on the bed, put his hands in his sleeves, "That Eunuch Ma is really unreasonable, leaving us in such a ghost place. But Eunuch Li said

Okay, if you get the chance after a while, he will be transferred to another place for us."

This Zhou Xi, indeed, went to flatter Eunuch Li. "What else did he say?" Dezhong asked in a confused tone.

"There's nothing else. But I followed Eunuch Li today and met a few respectable people." Zhou Xi looked proud.

Dezhong was not that interested in those so-called respectable people, but Zhou Xi wanted to show off today’s harvest to Dezhong: “We, the direct prison guards, are the lowest among the twelve prison guards.

A newcomer is the lowest among the lowest. If you want to get ahead, you have to find the right opportunity and be transferred to the Chief Ceremony Supervisor. That is the way to promotion."

"Supervisor of Ceremonies?"

"Yes, the Supervisor of Ceremonies is in charge of the twelve prisons in the palace, the four divisions, and the eight bureaus. There are a total of twenty-four yamen. Among the twelve prisons, this is this one." Zhou Xi curled his lips and raised his thumb, "He can also help the emperor with his approval.

The memorial, the power to manage national affairs, is very powerful. The few officials and supervisors I met today are not to mention very majestic. Alas..." Zhou Xi sighed with longing, "They are all eunuchs, their status is

It’s such a world of difference, we have to work harder in the future to live a good life.”

"Well..." Dezhong agreed vaguely. Although he didn't want to work hard with Zhou Xi, he also didn't want to spoil Zhou Xi's mood. After all, it's good for people to go to higher places.
To be continued...