The capital, the residence of the Duke of Peiguo.

Although it is a mansion that is not very old, it is not particularly outstanding in a place like the capital where families gather, but the pair of mighty gilded bronze lions at the door are enough to show the domineering spirit of the owner of the mansion.

Xu Mao, the Duke of Peiguo, is now in his prime, and it is rare for a duke of this age to be in the dynasty, not to mention that this is still an old general who has assisted the first emperor to lay down the country, and when he thinks of a famous general in this mansion, the cars and horses passing by in front of the door can't help but be solemn.

Xu Jilin, the Marquis of Pingnan, had just returned home at this hour. Although the Great Qi Dynasty has been peaceful for many years, he still needs to be an early dynasty as a military general, and the first thing he does after the next dynasty every day is to greet his father Pei Guogong. His eldest brother, the eldest son of Pei Guogong, died on the battlefield in his early years, so the meritorious family has only one vein in his generation.

Coming out of his father Xu Mao's yard, he caught a glimpse of the entourage waiting on the side, and the entourage stepped forward, bowed down and said with a smile: "Master Hou, Zhao Ji is back and is waiting for you in the study." ”

Xu Jilin nodded, turned around and went to the study.

In the study, seeing Xu Jilin enter the door, Zhao Ji first bowed in accordance with the rules, and then consciously closed the door, and then said in a low voice: "Master Hou, the slave went to Weizhou and Sizhou to investigate many times, but he really didn't find anything suspicious. In addition, last year in the capital Chu Mansion, I didn't find anything, this time, I'm afraid we are too worried. ”

Xu Jilin didn't answer immediately, only glanced at the henchman in front of him expressionlessly, and sneered lightly.

Nothing suspicious?

Chu Xue's appearance is the biggest suspicion.

Although it has been eight years, when he saw the woman beside King Heng at the palace banquet last year, he still couldn't help but be surprised, and the figure of the woman who had been floating in his heart for many years suddenly appeared in front of him again.

But she had already died, and such a resolute swing of the sword in front of him would make it difficult for him to let go of it in this life.

He never understood, what was the difference between him and Yue Lan?

At that time, it was obviously her he met first, he was high-spirited at that time, he was a young and promising general, and he also inherited the position of the duke's son, how could he not be as good as Yue Lan who had climbed into the throne from the army?

She rejected her courtship, but chose Yue Lan, who was born in a poor family, and then, Yue Lan, who got her, was unstoppable and made many military exploits, and the limelight of the Yue family army even overwhelmed their Xu family for a time......

Putting away the past in his mind, he didn't believe that Chu Xue, who was only an aunt and nephew, would be so similar to Chu Rong, and the Chu family must have covered up some secrets.

He finally opened his mouth and said to Zhao Ji: "What kind of person is Chu Lin, if he has the intention to hide it, it is normal that you can't find out, since there are no clues in Weizhou and the Chu family's ancestral hometown of Sizhou, then go to Jinzhou, isn't Chu Lin's father-in-law's family there?" ”

When Zhao Ji heard this, he suddenly said: "Yes!" ”

Seeing that he was about to raise his feet, Xu Jilin stopped him: "In the past few days, there may be major changes in the DPRK and China, this matter will be put aside for now, and we will go when the overall situation is stable." ”

"Yes, the minion understood."

Some things can be put on hold, some can't, his father assisted two generations of kings to ascend the throne, and now, it's up to him.

~~

Yanzhou.

Song Chen and Chu Xue have been away for nearly a month, and the news from Beijing has also spread here one after another, so many things have happened one after another, and the original return date must be delayed. Xu Jinhe understands that now is a critical moment for her husband, and she can't help with the major affairs of the court for the time being, what she can do now is to take care of Yanzhou's home.

But the only thing that made her angry was that after hearing that Concubine Jing had an accident, it turned out that Chu Xue was by her side every day to take care of her, this trick of approaching the water and the platform of the courteous act not only pleased Song Chen, but also made Concubine Jing close to her, I couldn't see that this woman was not very old, and she was so scheming.

Mama Li's account hasn't been settled yet, and she asked her to bargain in Beijing...... Xu Jinhe secretly gritted his teeth, feeling a little tricky.

Under the lamp, Lilac is rubbing the acupuncture points on her head for her, as the main mother of the palace, there are too many things to worry about every day, she has reached this age, it is inevitable that she is a little tired, fortunately, Lilac massage techniques are skillful and proper, help her press a few times before going to bed every night, she can also sleep more comfortably.

Seeing that Xu Jinhe's brows had been frowning slightly, Lilac secretly pondered for a while, and said softly: "Princess, it's still early, do you want to drink a bowl of lily sweet soup?" It's very soothing. ”

After being silent for a while, Xu Jinhe, who closed his eyes and recuperated, hummed softly. When Lilac heard this, she hurriedly nodded to Qiu Gui who was waiting in the house, Qiu Gui understood, raised her feet and stepped out of the door, and walked towards the dining room.

The hour has come to the middle of the hour, the palace is quiet, except for the guards who have patrolled, few people walk, all the way to the eaves of the wall corner are hung with palace lights, it seems that the palace is magnificent.

Halfway to the dining room, Qiu Gui was coming to a corner, a few steps to the right was a small garden, she subconsciously glanced in that direction, but saw a figure that seemed to be hiding in the dark.

"Who?" Qiu Gui asked.

There is no response in the dark.

Is this hiding from her? Qiu Gui sneered, as the eldest girl next to the princess, she has been in this palace for ten years, this little trick, want to hide it from her?

"If you don't come out again, I'm going to call the guards, and then I will definitely want you to see if the guards are powerful in their swords and halberds, or my sister and I are powerful!"

At Qiugui Lilac's age, she is indeed the oldest among the maids, and it is not an exaggeration to call herself a sister.

"Sister, don't!"

With the sound of begging, the figure of a handmaiden turned out of the shadows.

Qiu Gui looked at it, and it was Miao Rui beside Xia Wanyin of Zishao Garden.

"It's so late, you don't serve your master well, what are you hiding here?" Qiu Gui asked her.

"No, nothing." Miao Rui was a little hesitant, "Oh, sister, our master lost a bead flower and sent me to look for it." ”

I came to look for pearl flowers at night, but I didn't even mention a lantern in my hand...... Qiu Gui glanced at Miao Rui and asked, "When did Mrs. Xia's pearl flower be lost?" ”

"Afternoon...... Oh no, it's evening, it's late afternoon. ”

Stammering, obviously very problematic.

On the wall behind the garden is a small corner gate, the three masters and servants of the Purple Peony Garden are all from Goulan, coquettish and charming, and they came here in the dead of night, could it be a private meeting with someone......

"Okay, you little hoof, you dare to make up nonsense to tell my sister!" Qiu Gui suddenly said sharply, "If you lost the pearl flower in the evening, why did you come to look for it now?" Are you the only one? Say, "Who is it that you are messing with?" If you dare to lie to me again, see if I don't call someone to pick your skin! ”

"My sister is wronged, wronged!" Hearing this, Miaorui actually knelt down and cried: "If you lend me a hundred guts, I don't dare to do such a shameless thing!" ”

The master of Zishao Yuan has a low position, and the subordinates around him are also low, even if she is a personal maid, she was grabbed by someone, and it is not too much to kneel down and cry, seeing her like this, Qiu Gui even decided that she had something ulterior.

"Since you haven't done anything ugly, then what are you doing here, don't you say it quickly!"

Qiu Gui didn't give up, the timid Miaorui was terrified, and her body couldn't stop trembling, but she didn't seem to be ready to let go.

Suddenly, there was a crisp fragrance, and something fell from Miaorui's body, and before she could pick it up, Qiu Gui hurriedly leaned over and picked it up in her hand.

It's a money bag!

Qiu Gui weighed it in his hand, good guy, it's nearly fifty taels!

Qiu Gui hung contempt on his lips, and sneered: "Okay, it turns out that the pearl flower is fake, and stealing silver is real!" Where did you get so much money? Who is it for smuggled here? Who's answering you outside the door? ”

In the face of the aggressive Qiu Gui, Miaorui burst into tears, "Sister is wronged!" I have not stolen any money, but this is our master's purse, and he called me here. ”

Xia Wanyin?

The personal maid has always been loyal to her master, and she shouldn't use it at will, seeing Miaorui say this, Qiu Gui believed most of it, but Xia Wanyin is a helpless singer, and she has no maiden family outside, who do you want to give this silver to?

Qiu Gui felt that this matter was extremely suspicious, Xia Wanyin must have some secret......

She immediately withdrew her anger and put on a smiling face, "Since it was ordered by Mrs. Xia, it seems that my sister is wrong to blame you, get up quickly." As he spoke, he reached out and picked up Miaorui.

"It's just that I don't know something, if Mrs. Xia wants to send money, why bother to pick this dark night? Isn't it possible during the day? She looked at Miaorui's already pale face, and continued to ask, "Who is this money for?" ”

"I ...... I don't know. Miao Rui immediately shook her head, "I just do what my master says, and I don't know, sister." ”

"Alas!" Qiu Gui sighed deeply, "It seems that my sister still doesn't believe me, and she still wants to hide it from me?" Do you want me to report to the princess? ”

Hearing that she was going to report to the princess, Miaorui suddenly weakened again.

But seeing Qiu Gui look around, he lowered his voice and said: "Actually, my sister probably doesn't know, among the three ladies in the palace, the princess's favorite is Mrs. Xia, although Mrs. Xia is favored but not coquettish, she is really better than the one who doesn't know where it is!" On weekdays, the princess often instructed those of us to take care of Mrs. Xia from time to time, Mrs. Xia is already pitiful without her mother's family, and must not let those bullies be abused. ”

Miao Rui was obviously surprised, and after a moment of silence, she hesitated: "What my sister said is true?" Does the princess really like our master? ”

"Is that still fake? Mrs. Xia has been living peacefully since she entered the mansion, who can't see it in the entire palace? Is it comparable to the one in Wantang Garden who is going to make waves in three or five days? ”

This sentence actually touched Miao Rui very much, who doesn't know that the princess can't see Wantang Garden? And since Chu Xue entered the mansion, it was Xia Wanyin who was hit the hardest, and now they have a common enemy, and tonight's incident is actually because of Chu Xue......

Seeing that Miao Rui's expression was relaxed, Qiu Gui further said: "If there is any difficulty on Mrs. Xia's side, in fact, my sister can talk to me, if I can help, I will definitely help you, if I can't help, there is also the princess!" ”

When she said this, she kept holding Miaorui's hand, which was particularly sincere.

After hesitating for a while, when her brain turned around, Miaorui looked at Qiu Gui eagerly, "Sister, please help our master......"

Qiu Gui was overjoyed in her heart, and listened carefully to the whispers of the person in front of her.

It turned out that after the last peach blossom pollen incident, the boss who received their money was dismissed, but he lost the fat difference in the palace, so he was naturally unwilling, so he found someone to blackmail them and took the opportunity to extort some silver.

At first, Xia Wanyin didn't want to pay attention to it, but he had no choice but to have a handle in his hand, so he had to give a sum of money, who expected that the person became more and more greedy after tasting the sweetness, and even came to threaten one after another, Xia Wanyin was just a concubine, taking some example silver every month, without the support of her mother's family, and her net worth was actually not much.

Again and again, this person clung to Zi Shao Yuan like a dog's skin plaster, making the master and servant physically and mentally exhausted, and tonight, it was that person who came to extort money again......

After listening to this, Qiu Gui was not too surprised.

In fact, since the last time there was a peach blossom pollen incident, Xu Jinhe had suspected that Xia Wanyin did it, but Song Chen had already sent someone to investigate at that time, and she didn't want to do it too much. In her heart, although she was tired of Xia Wanyin ruining her, if it weren't for this brainless singer, Chu Xue would have been unable to give birth a long time ago, which can be regarded as the biggest hidden danger in her heart.

But the matter has already come out, she didn't move Xia Wanyin, because she felt that she should still have some use, but she had been struggling with how to subdue her.

Now, here's the opportunity.

Qiu Gui smiled slightly, "This matter is just that Mrs. Xia is confused for a while, besides, so much time has passed, the princess has always been tolerant, and she will never pursue it again...... It's just that the boss is too rampant, and my sister will go back and let Mrs. Xia rest assured first, I'll figure out a way for you to do this. ”

Seeing her say this, Miao Rui breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her.

The two of them each went back to their own courtyards, and Miao Rui informed Xia Wanyin of tonight's events.

Xia Wanyin was naturally frightened, but she was skeptical when she calmed down, and it wasn't until she went to Danwei Yuan on the second day to find that Xu Jinhe was no different to her, and she finally let go.

Qiu Gui is Xu Jinhe's loyal servant, so naturally he won't hide it, but there is a common enemy between them...... Since it's okay now, it should be okay in the future.

Of course, Qiu Gui reported Xu Jinhe truthfully, and after Xu Jinhe heard this, a smile curled into the corner of his mouth, and then he sent someone to secretly remove trouble for Xia Wanyin.

Sure enough, since then, the boss of the slander has not appeared again.

Although she may be used by Xu Jinhe because of this, Xia Wanyin is very concerned, at the moment their enemy is Chu Xue, if she joins forces with the princess, how can she not fight the little girl who has just entered the mansion?

We'll see!