Next, Dingguo Hou didn't go to Luoxia Garden for a while. It wasn't until after the end of the first month that Nangong Xueruo found that there was not much left of the red pill, so she took the initiative to look for him. - If you don't let him follow him personally, I'm afraid he will be even more suspicious.

Lan Lieting was watching Xue Ji dance. In the cold weather of spring, Xue Ji was wearing a single-layer skirt, looking at the past from afar, like a light butterfly. She has a soft figure, a staggered dancing posture, and brightly colored costumes, which is very eye-catching in a group of dancing girls. Lan Lie sat in the pavilion, holding the delicate wine bottle in one hand, his expression slightly drunk, and his eyes chased her figure.

Nangong Xueruo didn't bother, and stood under the corridor from afar and waited.

After the dance, Lan Lie threw the wine bottle and high-fived him. Yukihime's eyes wandered and she walked towards him seductively. The maid waiting on the periphery hurriedly shook off her robe and put it on her. Her lips turned pale with coldness, and she naturally snuggled into Lan Lie's arms to keep warm. Lan Lie took her cold fingers and kissed them on her lips: "What if it's frozen?" ”

Xue Ji replied softly: "It's okay to freeze, just be happy." ”

Lan Lie chuckled: "Ben Hou is reluctant. ”

Yukihime smirked down the porch. She had already seen Nangong Xueruo's figure, and only then did she greet her: "When did my sister come over?" Fang Cai only cared about dancing, but he didn't even notice it, I'm really sorry. She leaned into Lan Lie, without the slightest intention of getting up. He said apologetic words in his mouth, but his expression was flamboyant.

Nangong Xueruo's face was pale: "I just came." ”

Xue Ji smiled warmly and sweetly: "Hou Ye likes to watch dances. Why don't you have one for your sister? ”

Nangong Xueruo was stunned and admitted calmly: "I won't." ”

Yukihime smiled even more kindly. Of course she knew that this girl wouldn't, since Nangong Xueruo lived in Luoxia Garden, Xue Ji quickly tried to turn around and try. It is rare to have such a great opportunity, she deliberately embarrassed Nangong Xueruo, so she said generously: "Then call someone to take the piano over, I will dance again, my sister will play a song, how about accompanying me?" ”

"No, it won't."

Xue Ji showed a distressed expression, and her heart was even more proud: "Or, write a poem?" ”

Nangong Xueruo frowned slightly: "I haven't studied, and I can't read a word." ”

Xue Ji didn't give up: "My sister was born so beautiful, she must be very popular, right?" ”

Nangong Xueruo began to be impatient, and replied very simply: "No." ”

Xue Ji was stunned, and was about to say something more, when Lan Lie stretched out his hand to interrupt her and asked Nangong Xue Ruo: "Something?" ”

Nangong Xueruo bit her lip, as if she didn't know how to speak. Seeing this, Lan Lie sighed, rubbed his forehead, and took the initiative to ask, "I'm bored in the house, and I want to go out to play?" Seeing her nod in acknowledgement, Lan Lie leaned at her and hooked his fingers: "Come here." ”

Nangong Xueruo approached obediently, stood beside him, smelled the smell of alcohol all over his body, and didn't know how much he had drunk, his face was slightly drunk and red, and his body momentum was a little weaker than usual, and he was no longer aggressive.

Lan Lie leaned over Xue Ji and raised his eyebrows: "What will you do?" It's okay to make me happy. ”

Nangong Xue thought about it in embarrassment and replied, "It seems that there will be nothing." She looked up at Lan Lietian, quite flattering: "What does Master Hou like?" I'm starting to learn now. I'm smart, I'm sure I'll learn it. ”

Lan Lie closed his eyes, rested his head on Xue Ji's shoulder, the corners of his lips curved slightly, and he didn't speak again for a while. Xue Ji carefully supported him: "Master Hou is tired?" Shall I help you go back to rest first? ”

"Hmm." Lan Lie replied without objection.

Xue Ji didn't look at Nangong Xueruo much, and directly helped the person back to Qingyuan.

On the second day, the weather was beautiful. Nangong Xue Ruo didn't have the habit of getting up early, and when the sun spilled into the room, she was still lying in the quilt, and suddenly heard the voice of the maid outside the door, saying that Lan Lie was coming, so she quickly got up and quickly wrapped her clothes. Lan Lie stepped into the door, saw her messy hair at first glance, his expression suddenly became helpless, touched her head, and asked, "Didn't wake up?" ”

Nangong Xueruo heard that his voice was quite gentle, and her heart was settled, and she raised her eyes to look at him: "Wake up." ”

"Where do you want to go today?"

"Just walk around."

In the restaurant, Nangong Xueruo habitually looked around, and when she saw the familiar figure of Thirteen, a smile flashed through her eyes, and her expression became lively: He was really fine. When she turned around, she saw Lan Lietian staring at her, her eyes sharp, and she quickly gathered her expression and sat down. After the dishes were served, Lan Lietian simply tasted two bites and then put down his chopsticks and looked at her meaningfully. Nangong Xue didn't know why, so she had to stop chopsticks.

"Wait here." He dropped a sentence and got up to leave, taking most of the guards with him. After a while, the thirteenth pretending restaurant junior came over quickly with a wine jug: "Girl, your wine." ”

He blinked, lowered his voice and said, "The day after tomorrow is your birthday, and I'm afraid I won't be able to spend it with you this year." ”

Nangong Xueruo's eyebrows curled: "It's okay." She swept her eyes and saw several Hou Mansion guards who did not leave next to her, and quickly smiled: "He seems to have found out." He was referring to Lan Lie.

Thirteen's face remained unchanged, he steadily put down the tray, put the wine glass and flask on the table, and his voice was full of anxiety that could not be concealed: "Are you embarrassed?" He was more worried about her safety than about the hidden mission.

Nangong Xueruo quietly put away the bead string he hid under the wine utensils, and comforted: "No, he is very good to me." The red pill was hidden in the string of beads, and Nangong Xueruo keenly discovered that there was one more bead. She put it away properly and didn't ask more.

Thirteen was a little relieved: "Be careful." I'm making arrangements outside and will be able to leave soon. ”

"Don't take any chances." Nangong Xueruo reminded seriously.

Thirteen wanted to hug her, but he was afraid that there were still a few people who were blue and leaning next to him, so he had to raise his voice casually: "Ah, didn't you order it, girl?" Sorry sorry, I sent it wrong. Nangong Xueruo glanced around quickly, and found that Lan Lietian was walking towards this side, and hurriedly gave Thirteen a code. Thirteen's face was as usual, and he calmly finished putting away the wine utensils, lowered his head and held the tray, and passed by Lan Lie.

After leaving the restaurant, Thirteen finds himself being followed. He deliberately made a few detours, taking advantage of the crowd on the street to distance himself from them, and then turned into a remote alley. By the time the trackers caught up, there was no one in the alley.

Lan Lietian and Nangong Xueruo went home after eating. He had roughly guessed that every time Nangong Xueruo came out, it was to get the pill. Today he deliberately left, took most of the people with him, and sure enough, he found clues. When listening to the guard's report that he had lost his target, Lan Lie raised his eyebrows, not sure if he wanted to be serious. If he uses some means, the target will not escape. But if the man doesn't go back on time, things will get big and alarm the people in the shadows. In order to protect themselves, the people behind it are likely to adopt the strategy of abandoning the pawn to protect the car and directly kill Nangong Xueruo. He didn't want to take any risks for a while.

That night, after Nangong Xueruo branched out all the people around her, she took out a string of thirteen beads from her sleeve and pinched the extra bead - what was hidden in it was not a red pill, but a colorful glass bead. Thirteen's birthday gift to her. She watched quietly for a moment, took the beads into her palm, and smiled alone.

The weather begins to warm up in February, and the bare branches of the trees are bursting with new green shoots.

Guo Maohuai was stimulated by the tragic death of his eldest son, and successively offered many shops. Qu Shaojie personally participated in the raid process and found that each shop had two account books, real and fake, and a fixed share of funds flowed out every month, and the whereabouts were unknown. Qu Shaojie's speculation was confirmed: these shops vaguely weaved a powerful network of contacts, which could hide and transport people or things under the premise of avoiding the imperial court; It is likely that the funds whose whereabouts are unknown are further refining these networks.

This speculation frightened Qu Shaojie.

Guo Maohuai's actions are also angering the people behind him. Stores were raided, a fixed source of funds was lost, and most importantly, loopholes were cut out of the contact network, which in turn affected the integrity and rapidity of the information. As a warning, Guo Maohuai's concubine was poisoned and died. Guo Maohuai was so frightened that he almost went crazy, and closed his mouth tightly again.

Qu Shaojie began to feel a headache.

Although these confiscated shops are considered achievements, they are just shops, and they have nothing to do with the government, and they have nothing to do with the murder of the little prince, and they are not progress at all. Thirteen secretly kept in touch with him, but he couldn't betray the information of the idle pavilion, otherwise he would reveal his identity - he was now a member of the idle pavilion after all, and if something happened to the idle pavilion, he would not be able to live a comfortable life.

Qu Shaojie served as the Dali Temple of Zhengwupin, and nominally, he was responsible for all matters in Guo Maohuai's case; In fact, the security guards were in charge of Wu Jin, the commander of the Praetorian Guard of Zheng Sanpin. Qu Shaojie is a civilian and has the right to build a guard, but he has no right to directly transfer the guards. Wu Jin did not have enough experience to deal with the assassination methods of the rivers and lakes, and it was difficult to agree with the construction of civilian officials, and the two often disagreed.

In the end, Qu Shaojie proposed to the emperor the case of Guo Maohuai, which was transferred to the Dingguo Marquis Lan Lietian to take full responsibility. Lan Lietian has enough brains and experience to arrange the escort matters, Wu Jin used to be Lan Lietian's old department in his early years, and he must be able to coordinate and get along; Qu Shaojie only assisted in the trial of the case.

Emperor Xia Jingze understood what Qu Shaojie meant. There are too many implications in this case, and it needs a person who can calm down the scene to lead. Xia Jingze's ninety-five honor, the official documents to deal with every day are piled up, even if he pays attention to the cause of the death of the little prince, he is also lacking in skills. All things considered, regardless of status or means, Dingguohou is the most suitable candidate. The only problem is that after Lan Lietian was summoned to the palace, he found that Qu Shaojie and Wu Jin were there, and immediately guessed the general situation, and even smiled lazily: "Brother Huang, you promised to let me live this life." ”

Wu Jin and Qu Shaojie were not qualified to persuade him, so they knelt aside and were silent. The emperor said a few words patiently, and saw that he had made up his mind to cheat and refused to let go, so he had no choice but to let go.

Lan Lie leaned back to the Dingguo Marquis Mansion, and called the chief manager Xia Haojun with a calm face: "How is Mo Changkong doing?" ”

Xia Haojun was taken aback: "A few days ago, I brought a letter, saying that I was going to Mobei. Master Hou plans to summon him back? ”

"Guo Maohuai's case, I'm afraid it will fall on Ben Hou." The implication is that he needs people around him who are capable and can be trusted. Mo Changkong used to be Lan Lietian's chief guard, and he followed him on the battlefield for a long time in his early years. After Dingguo Hou resigned from his post and was idle, he also resigned from his duties and traveled.

Xia Haojun was shocked: "You have been away from the government for a long time, how could it suddenly fall on you?" ”

Lan Lie showed a tired look: "It's about the prince, and the royal brother will never give up lightly." Wu Jin and Qu Shaojie are too tender, and no one is convinced. It's best if nothing happens in the future, and if something happens again, I'm afraid I can't shirk it as lightly as we do today. ”

"In danger?" Xia Haojun thought about it and asked cautiously. Could it be that he did something wrong, or didn't do it well enough? Otherwise, why did Hou Ye suddenly summon Mo Changkong back?

Lan Lie thought about it for a while, and then understood his careful thoughts, slightly irritable, and bent his index finger to gently tap the bookcase: "Haojun, how long have you been the manager?" ”

Xia Haojun was stunned for a moment, not understanding why the master suddenly asked this. He was puzzled in his heart, but his attitude was still respectful: "Back to the Hou Ye, ten years." ”

"Have you noticed the changes in the house in the past two years?"

Xia Haojun pondered for a moment and quickly understood: "You mean, the two of Luoxiayuan and Qingyuan?" "Apart from these two women, there is hardly any change in the house.

Lan Lie nodded: "You are the head of the mansion, the one in charge of the mansion." No matter what happens, you have to hold steady so that you don't mess up. This summons Mo Changkong back, not to doubt your ability, but now the situation is different from the past, not only to pay attention to the undercurrent of the outside world, but also to be careful of the house. With his help, you can take it easy. ”

When Xia Haojun heard this, he raised his head and wanted to justify: "Master Hou......"

Dingguo Hou interrupted him and continued: "You are very good, and what is even more rare is that you are delicate. There is no shortage of kung fu players around Ben Hou, but there is a shortage of thoughtful people like you. Mo Changkong is also very good, but he has a straightforward temperament, not as steady and patient as you, in contrast, he is suitable for following Ben Hou's side, not for the position of the chief manager of complicated affairs. Do you understand? ”

"My subordinates understand."

Dingguohou's gaze sharpened: "You don't understand. Back then, on the battlefield, Ben Hou arranged for you to live in the rear to respond, and Mo Changkong went to the front line, you were obedient on the surface, but you were not convinced in your heart, and you often competed with Mo Changkong in private, didn't you? ”

Xia Haojun choked and admitted calmly: "Yes." Could it be that because his subordinates are peaceful, they are not qualified to accompany the Hou Ye to fight, so they can only hide in the rear and take care of chores? ”

"Isn't grain and grass logistics a chore?" The Marquis of Dingguo raised his voice and asked.

Xia Haojun hung his head and did not answer. When fighting a war, grain and grass logistics are naturally important. But now? Most of his energy is spent on the women in the house, from rouge gouache to hairpin ring new clothes, just like a nanny.

Dingguohou slowed down his voice: "I know you have grievances, you don't want to be in the rear, you want to make a name for yourself in front of people." But you've always done a good job in those years, and you've never let me down, so I thought you had figured it out. ”

"What Master Hou ordered, Haojun will try his best no matter what."

(l~1`x*>+``+