Since the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, when he suddenly discovered that there was a very likely scandal in the clan, the king of Xin'an County barely suppressed his shock, and seemed to be very calm to dispatch the people left by the prince in the capital, and arranged for them to focus on following Li Ge. After that, he spent the next few days in great peace. They are all clans, they go to feasts and drinks every day, and they can see Li Ge and Li Qianniang almost all the time, but he is still quiet, as if nothing has happened.

He didn't figure out whether he should let his brother Li Xin know about this for the time being, after all, there was no evidence at the moment, just suspicions. Moreover, he was not sure how to use it if this matter was true, and dispose of Li Qianniang without hurting the face of the clan. Of course, in his heart, he was actually very eager to have someone to listen to him. Only after careful discussion can his doubts be verified and his confusion resolved.

So, after receiving a letter from Wang Zixian and learning that he would leave for Chang'an on the eighth day of the first lunar month, Li Hui immediately pushed down the invitation to the banquet and came to the vine garden to wait for his best friend to return. Originally, he was supposed to go to the city gate to greet him, but Wang Ziling and Wang Zimu would return to Beijing together, so he had to wait quietly.

Sure enough, before noon, I heard various sounds in the small courtyard next door. Li Hui then ordered his servants and maidservants to prepare buttermilk, dried fruits, and tea cooking utensils, and added charcoal fire to the barrier. As soon as Qiē was ready, the servants and maids immediately retreated in a knowing and silent manner, leaving him alone in the garden.

After a short time, Wang Zixian walked out of the rockery quickly. With a smile on the corner of his mouth, his pace became faster and faster, and the moment he entered the barrier and saw his best friend, the joy floating in his eyes seemed to be pouring out, and in an instant, it was like a spring breeze blowing on his face and flowers blooming: "Ah Hui, I've kept you waiting." ”

His voice seemed a little dull compared to before, but it wasn't unpleasant. Li Hui was stunned, he had already experienced the growth of a young man in his previous life, and he also knew what it meant to change his voice, so he naturally wouldn't think that he was just sick. So, he couldn't help laughing and said, "In the future, you have to talk less, so as not to hurt your throat." Another day, I will ask the doctor to prepare some throat moisturizers and send them to you, remember to take them on time. ”

"Okay." The prince replied with a smile. They have only been separated for more than half a month, but he feels that they seem to have not seen each other for a long time, and it is inevitable that he will have a feeling of "not seeing each other for a day is like three autumns". The feeling of longing was so strong that he couldn't help but look at each other carefully. After discovering many small changes, there were both surprises and inexplicable faint surprises, as if asking secretly in my heart: Why were you not by his side when these changes occurred?

In the letter, he explained everything that happened in Shangzhou in a few words, but Li Hui was still a little curious about the many details, and couldn't help but ask a few more words-just what the letter said, he could guess how lively the Wang family was these days. Out of disgust for Wang Chang, Xiao Yang and others, he is also willing to listen to their frequent loss of flesh and bloodletting, but they have never found anything and the pain of heart, liver, spleen and lungs.

So, while cooking tea, the prince said: "After these days, in order to raise money and buy heavy gifts, Xiao Yang's family sold a total of two barren granges and a shop, all of which were my mother's dowry. I asked Sun Rong to send someone to buy it and hand it over to him to operate. It just so happened that he had already caught up with the Xu family, and it should be quite smooth to sell some goods from Chang'an to Shangzhou. My mother also has a big farm in Huazhou, two shops in Huazhou, and I will definitely let her have to give it up. ”

Speaking of the Xu family, thinking of Li Qianniang, who married into the Xu family, Li Hui's face couldn't help but change slightly. He hesitated slightly, and Fang asked: "Zixian, if a man suddenly lifts the heavy veil on the woman's curtain, and can't help but lower his eyes and smile at her—does he have affection for this woman?" ”

"......" The action of the prince pouring tea paused, and then continued unhurriedly.

He keenly noticed the change in his friend's expression, and before he had time to think about the meaning of the words, his usual calmness had already flown out of the clouds. Many speculations almost poured out in his heart, as if there was cold water pouring down, dousing all the warmth of Fang Cai. Then, his emotions became unusually calm again, but under the flat ice, it seemed that something was about to pounce out at any time, galloping and flowing, drowning everything.

He almost unconsciously scrutinized all the words, and the more he thought about it, the more he couldn't control the dark fire churning in his heart. At the same time, it seemed that there was another one who was watching his reaction, sneering and asking again and again: Why did you give birth to a dark fire? Why are you resentful? Why are you upset? Why are you jealous?!

However, he no longer had time to pay attention to these deep questions, and said with a light smile: "Could it be that Ah Hui has met ...... Someone you love? He said the last four words in such a low voice that he could barely hear them unless he listened carefully.

After hearing this, Li Hui suddenly pressed his hand that was pouring tea, and couldn't help laughing: "Zixian, you are out of shape." The tea had already overflowed the rim of the cup and flowed down the stone table, and if he hadn't reacted quickly, he would have almost wet his robe.

Wang Zixian put the teaspoon back into the copper kettle, got up and wiped the tea. Finally suppressed all the emotions for the time being, Fang said: "It's just too surprised." You have never mentioned before that you have a favorite little lady. You're a few months younger than me, but I can't imagine ......."

Li Hui laughed again and interrupted him: "How can you think that I am in love? ”

The prince was stunned, and finally calmed down completely: "Then who are you talking about?" Without cause and effect, I can only guess that it is you. The questions in his mind were still echoing, but he had no time to think about it—perhaps he was vaguely aware of something, but he didn't want to think about it. Just as he wished he could keep the secret of their acquaintance forever, he was reluctant to pursue anything that might affect their intimacy. Whether the voice in his heart was laughing loudly or venting his anger, he had to ignore it for a while.

"Zixian, you've thought too much." It was the first time for Li Huishang to see his friend react so violently, and he couldn't help but want to tease him, "Are you worried that you won't be able to meet the little lady who is happy for a while and lose to me?" Don't worry, my vision is very high, I won't be tempted, and I don't know if I can meet the person I like in this life. You only need to work a little harder to get better than me. ”

Who knows, Wang Zixian was no longer moved, smiled lightly and poured him tea again, steadily: "Even if you can't find someone who is tempting in your life, there will always be me with you, peace of mind." ”

Li Hui saw that he had returned to normalcy, and felt quite a pity: "The opportunity to tease you is rare, who knows that I failed to grasp the opportunity, it's a pity." Leave it alone, lest you be ashamed and ignore me. Then, he told everything he saw on Chinese New Year's Eve: "According to my guess, that little lady should be Li Qianniang." However, although the trilogy has been asked to investigate, there is no evidence for the time being. Come to think of it, when people often gather together to drink and feast during the New Year's Festival, they should be careful to act. ”

"If you were really a cautious person, you wouldn't do such ambiguous things in public." Wang Zixian commented, "Sooner or later, there will be evidence, and you can rest assured." Speaking of which, I was just thinking about meeting the two Sun Rong siblings, and maybe I could ask them for some news. Or, let them pay attention to it later. ”

"Indeed, if it is convenient for them, they can also help us collect evidence." Li Hui had never seen the Sun family brothers and sisters, only knew that they were approaching the Xu family. Today, Sun Rong has relied on increasingly close business contacts and has become a person trusted by Xu Khotan, often going in and out of the Xu family's mansion as a friend; And Sun Jinniang, as his younger sister, relies on her sweet mouth to please her, and she is also quite liked by the ladies of the Xu family, not only can she occasionally follow them to participate in the banquet, but she can also see Li Qianniang from time to time.

"How about meeting them together?" The prince asked. He has always felt that no matter what happens, he must grasp the timing carefully. The matter between Li Ge and Li Qianniang cannot be said to be an opportunity for this Yichuan county lord to be completely ruined. Of course, this matter is related to the reputation of the royal family, and perhaps the royal family will try its best to suppress it, which is not enough as an excuse to deal with Li Qianniang. However, is Xu Khotan willing to endure it all his life? Are you willing to live under the same roof with Li Qianniang in the future? ――The gap between the Xu family and Li Qianniang is the best opportunity.

"It's fine." Li Hui was also a little curious about the two brothers and sisters of the Sun family, and agreed with his head.

The prince sent someone to pass the message quietly without mentioning it. However, the Sun brothers and sisters had a special identity and were not suitable for appearing in the vine garden, so the two of them changed into seemingly ordinary clothes and went to a Huren restaurant in Xishi.

He was in a hurry, and before he had lunch, Wang Zixian recommended a few signature foods in the restaurant. Li Hui tasted a few bites of smallpox, sesame hu cakes and ancient buildings, and felt that it was indeed quite good: "The flavor is very unique, how did Zixian discover here?" ”

"Guozixue is recommended by those friends, and occasionally when he is free, he will come to try it. They also gather here from time to time, just because the place is lively enough. The prince said, glancing at the orchid who was singing and dancing in the center of the floor. Those orchids are all dressed in Western Regions women's costumes, their figures are very graceful, and their dancing postures are even more charming and moving. He looked at Li Hui, who was looking at them curiously, and a faint displeasure rose inexplicably in his heart.

"Most of the food cooked in Hu Ren's restaurant is a little greasy, and you may not be used to it." After the conversation diverted his friend's attention, he felt much calmer.

"It's okay to try it once in a while." Li Huidao.

Wang Zixian couldn't help but say, and ordered Cao Shilang to go to other restaurants nearby to buy some vegetarian dishes. Fresh vegetarian food is rare in winter, but as long as you can afford it, you can buy what you want.

Li Hui couldn't help but smile again: "When I return from the Chinese New Year, Zixian also has some money on hand. ”

Wang Zixian raised his eyebrows: "If you can use it, use it cleanly, it seems that I have been working hard." Otherwise, I'm afraid that people will beg for it under various names, or I will be reluctant to spend it on the reinstatement of the official behind my back. Obviously, he should be talking about the second brother Wang Ziling.

"Then how are you going to give a heavy gift to Guozijian Zuo Siye?"

"When you send it, you send it. Zuo Siye took good care of me, and it was only natural to give it as a thank you. Moreover, if you send Zuo Siye, how can you not send sacrificial wine? Don't send the right business? The school officials up and down the Guozi Prison have taken care of me to some extent, and I should always do my courtesy. ”

After that, the two looked at each other and smiled, all without saying a word.