Duan Ling got the news that the surviving secret guard had died of serious injuries and had died last night. But Tong Gao did not return home for a long time. Duan Ling waited until sunset, and finally ordered his henchmen to go and investigate, just because Tong Gao was not only reliable in assassination, but also a good subordinate, Duan Ling was inevitably in a passive situation, and every time the task was over, he would rush back to report as soon as possible. Now that he doesn't show up, something must be wrong.

The henchman quickly sent back the news. Qiu Yucheng said that he didn't want to treat the dark guard, but in fact, he was angry, after all, the secret guard saw the assassin, and if he woke up, he might be able to provide some useful information. So Qiu Yucheng sent four guards to take care of them, but these four guards didn't notice anything unusual last night, and they all thought that the secret guards died normally.

After hearing this, Duan Ling frowned slightly: Obviously, Tong Gao's assassination was successful, so if he didn't return for a long time, it should be because something happened outside the mission. Duan Ling thought about it for a while and decided to wait a few days before making a decision, after all, with Tong Gao's caution and his good martial arts, it would generally not be a big problem. But for no reason, this incident inexplicably made him feel uneasy.

He didn't have time to think about it, but the housekeeper sent someone to report it, only to say that Miss Lan Zhi had brought a group of beggars into the house, and was now eating in the side courtyard.

Duan Ling had no choice but to gather his thoughts and go to check. There were more than a dozen men and women standing around the courtyard, all dusty and tattered, all holding a big bowl and gobbling it up. Duan Ling glanced away, but he didn't see a single Yuyuan person, they were all from the Central Plains, Baihan, and Dongli. The housekeeper was talking to Lan Zhi in the corner of the courtyard, looking embarrassed: "Miss Zhi, I really can't make the decision about such a big matter, you better wait for the adults to come and talk to him...... Hey, here's coming! ”

Duan Ling stepped forward. Lan Zhi leaned against the courtyard wall with her sword in her arms, her eyebrows lowered and she didn't look at him, and there was some dust on her clothes. Duan Ling glanced at the housekeeper, and the housekeeper cleverly beckoned everyone to leave: "Everyone follow me to the kitchen, there is still hot soup over there." ”

More than ten people turned their heads to look at Lan Zhi in unison. Lan Zhi didn't raise her eyes, but nodded slightly, and everyone left. Duan Ling opened his mouth at this time: "Ah Zhi, who are these people?" ”

Lan Zhi replied simply: "The servant I chose." ”

Thinking of the report of his subordinates, Lan Zhi went to Fangguan outside today, and Duan Ling roughly guessed that these people were not beggars, but homeless people who wanted to enter Haotian City. Lan Zhi must have used his power to pick some homeless people to bring into the city, perhaps to facilitate the placement of fine work in it, perhaps to cultivate some of his own people, or perhaps ...... I just want to block him.

Duan Ling would not be displeased with such a trivial matter, on the contrary, he felt that the housekeeper in the mansion was clever and refused to answer, so he gave him the opportunity to meet Lan Zhi. While secretly deciding to let his men go down to find out the details of those homeless people, he looked for a way to say: "Why do you want to bring your own servants? Don't the servants of the house like it? ”

Lan Zhi finally raised her eyes to look at him and smiled mockingly: "If I say yes, will you send them out of the mansion?" ”

Duan Ling was indifferent: "Since they are subordinates, they are born like duckweed, if they meet a casual master, they will lose their lives when they are not pleased, not to mention that they are just sent out of the house." ”

He took retreat as advance, Lan Zhi couldn't be picky, and if it wasn't a last resort, she didn't want to involve others, so she retracted her gaze and changed the topic: "Your housekeeper is loyal, and you must be consulted in everything, so I will tell you my plan now." If you agree, greet him beforehand, lest we have to see each other from time to time. ”

Duan Ling's smile stiffened slightly. He secretly said in his heart: Even if the housekeeper doesn't ask for instructions on everything, we will get married in ten days, and you and I will live together at that time, can you still avoid meeting me every day? But when he opened his mouth, he still answered: "Say it." ”

Lan Zhi stood up straight and said, "The guest list for the wedding banquet needs to be revised." Lord Duan got married, how could the military officials be absent? The civil and military forces of the imperial court, as well as the merchants with heads and faces in this vast city, also have to give them a chance to come and celebrate. ”

Duan Ling had originally discussed with Lan Zhi and didn't plan to organize a big wedding, but now seeing that she had changed her mind, she pondered for a while, and still asked, "Why?" ”

Lan Zhi hooked her lips and chuckled: "If I don't invite more guests, I will let everyone know the identity of my Mrs. Duan, isn't I marrying you for nothing?" ”

Rao is Duan Ling had expectations, and when he heard this, his heart was inevitably blocked. But he still said patiently: "The invitation has not been sent out yet, if you want to invite more people and draw up a list for the housekeeper, he will take care of it for you." ”

Lan Zhi nodded, and then spoke: "The second thing is that on the day of the wedding, I will also go out to welcome guests." ”

This time, Duan Ling hesitated a little: "Ah Zhi, although Yuyuan has an open folk style, and there is a precedent for brides to go out to welcome guests, but after all, it is not in line with the general trend, and it is inevitable to attract criticism." Inevitably hearing any hurtful words from Lan Zhi's mouth, Duan Ling added: "If you want to make friends with people, you don't necessarily have to welcome guests on your wedding day, you can wait until after marriage to think about it in the long run." ”

Lan Zhi sneered: "Criticism? What do you criticize me? Disbehaving? Have an axe to grind? She hugged the sword in her arms in a different position: "They are not wrong, I am not a virtuous woman. When I was in the barracks, I said that everything has a price, and it depends on whether you can afford it. This marriage is just a transaction, you and I take what we need. ”

Duan Ling restrained his lips and took a deep breath: "Ah Zhi, what do you want to do, I can ask the housekeeper to cooperate with you." But can you stop talking about it? ”

Lan Zhi's smile got bigger: "What, I'll tell you the truth, Lord Duan still doesn't want to hear it?" ”

Duan Ling lowered his eyes for a moment. Without warning, he suddenly took two steps forward and pressed Lan Zhi heavily against the courtyard wall!

Xu is action was too unexpected, at this moment, Duan Ling seemed to see something in Lan Zhi's eyes, but soon, those light brown eyes were no longer wavering, and he looked at him coldly without flinching.

Duan Ling leaned closer, bowed his head slightly, and the tip of his nose was almost against the tip of Lan Zhi's nose. The man used this ambiguous posture and whispered, "Tell me the truth? To each according to what he needs? What you want is Mrs. Duan's identity, so what do I want? ”

The answer to him was the sound of the sword unsheathed! Duan Ling wolf bèi dodge away! Years of martial arts practice kept him unharmed, but the hem of his clothes was cut off by the sword! Lan Zhi stood up straight, and the tip of her sword pointed at Duan Ling steadily: "Lord Duan, please figure it out, I'm not your wife now." ”

Duan Ling stared at her, not intimidated by this sword at all: "Okay, if you don't say it, then I'll say it." I have done something wrong, you hate me, I have nothing to say. But the resentment is too heavy, and I hope you can finally let go of the past and choose to forgive. I hope to take you out of Haotian City in a few days, forget all the unpleasantness that happened here, find a place you like, and live simply. I hope that you will marry me willingly, and no matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, you will be able to support each other with love and beauty. I want to have children with you and stay with you for the rest of my ......life."

Those hearts were piled up in his chest, and Duan Ling's eyes gradually overflowed with emotion, and his tone became softer and softer. Lan Zhi just looked back without expression. Before Duan Ling finished speaking, she put her sword back into its sheath, turned around and walked towards the outside of the courtyard: "Lord Duan wants too much," her voice came from joy and anger: "I'm afraid I have to exchange my life." ”

Duan Ling looked at her back and let out a long sigh.

After this day, Duan Ling also saw Lan Zhi a few times, but he broke up unhappily. The turmoil caused by the riots in the Central Plains gradually subsided, and no one found out what he was doing in secret, Duan Ling was finally able to let go of a matter of concern. Tong Gao never appeared again, and Duan Ling sent people to secretly search for his whereabouts, but he did not get any news.

On the day of marriage, it rained early in the morning. The early summer morning was slightly cool, and Lan Zhi didn't wait for Duan Lingji to greet him, so she rode her horse to Duan's mansion by herself. The guards guarding the door were still studying whether the red flowers on the door were crooked by the wind, but when they saw Lan Zhi leading the horse into the mansion by herself, she was so shocked that her hands trembled, and she hurriedly ran to find Duan Ling.

Duan Ling knew that something would happen. He followed the guards to the side hall, and saw that Lan Zhi had already changed into her wedding clothes, and was standing alone with her back to the door, standing silently. It was obviously a happy day, but there was no half of the ornaments around her body, her black hair was simply coiled up, and there was only a green hosta in the middle. She finally didn't carry the sword with her anymore, but I don't know if it was because of this, Duan Ling inexplicably felt that the figure in front of her was ...... Some are lonely.

For no reason, Duan Ling suddenly felt a little sad. He repelled the butler and stepped forward, making the most impulsive move in recent days: he opened his arms and hugged Lan Zhi from behind.

Lan Zhi maintained a posture of tilting her head slightly, but she did not resist. Duan Ling's face rubbed against her hair, and she slowly lowered her eyes and said, "Ah Zhi...... Don't do this. You should let the bride dress you up beautifully, wear a phoenix crown, wear a xia veil, and be covered in pearls. You should be shy and expectant with your hijab on your head, and wait for me to meet you...... Instead of picking out your own wedding dress and putting it on like now, and then hiding here quietly alone, waiting for the wedding to begin. ”

Duan Ling's hand unconsciously forced: "I want to marry you, but I don't want to marry you like this." I don't want you to marry me like this without even sitting in a sedan chair. I don't want you to feel wronged in the future, and I hope your marriage is successful. Ah Zhi ...... Just today, only today, don't be angry with me, go back to the house and wait for me, let's come as arranged, okay? ”

Lan Zhi stood still and did not answer for a long time. The wind carried the sound of birdsong into the hall, and the sound of firecrackers could be faintly heard. Duan Ling felt the warmth of the woman in his arms, and for a moment thought that she agreed, but felt that she put her hand on his own.

Lan Zhi pushed him away with an undeniable and firm force. Then she stepped forward, distanced herself from Duan Ling, turned her back to him and said lightly: "The guests will come in the middle of the hour (10 o'clock), and I will go to the outer hall with you to welcome the guests, and I will stay in the side hall before that." Her voice didn't make a wave, adding, "I've already eaten breakfast, don't bother." ”