"Your Highness, do you need to think again?" The great eunuch hesitated slightly, although he didn't have a good impression of Akiba Bai, as the so-called evil wants to die, and joy wants to live.

But now the situation in the DPRK and China is not clear, His Royal Highness was originally hidden behind the scenes, and appeared as the arm of the five princes' staff, but now he has to jump in front of the stage, and the five princes have long been at odds with His Royal Highness, if it weren't for the fact that he is still patrolling in northern Xinjiang, I am afraid that he would have already rushed to Pingyun Hall to question His Highness.

Now His Royal Highness can move freely, or because of the continuous pressure on the imperial court from southern Xinjiang, but Pingyun Hall has also been forced into a lot of spies, and the situation of Pingyun Hall is not delicate.

"Pingning, do you think this hall will be so easy to plant in the hands of others?" Baili Lingfeng put down the book, and slowly tapped the table with his index finger with the jade ring: "Although Lafayette wants to get rid of me, a grandson who does not have the blood of the Du family, she also has to think about it, in case the news spreads, after the mutiny of the army in southern Xinjiang, the entire empire is in turmoil and is full of flames, what will she do to let her grandsons who have the blood of the Du family inherit." ”

He paused, and the corners of his lips hooked up a sneering and grim smile: "Lafayette has been rolling in the palace for many years, and she can tell the weight clearly, she doesn't dare to take my life directly now, so she has to eat away at my power in the palace step by step, she chose Qiu Yebai to be the arrow, and what if the arrow is broken in the main hall?" ”

He paused and said indifferently: "What's more, since Qiu Yebai is unwilling to be used by me, and he has to be the enemy of Pingyun Palace, then I will fulfill him." ”

"Although Akiba Bai is a Jedi egoist, but he is not small, if His Royal Highness 'folds' this person, I am afraid that Lafayette will not find such a suitable person to be the knife in her hand in the short term." Pingning is also low and authentic.

Baili Lingfeng looked at the sandalwood smoke rising in front of him, and a condensed and unpredictable color flashed between his handsome and sharp eyebrows.

"It is not yet known who killed the deer."

……*……*……

Yecheng

This city is leaning on the Yeshan Mountain Range, originally just a village, but more than 100 years ago, after a large amount of iron ore was found here, there were many small workshops for private mining, and later after the government rectified it, Yecheng was classified as an iron mining site, and set up an official iron-making point, with the influx of miners and blacksmiths, Yecheng gradually prospered, and gradually became a town from a small mountain village.

"However, because of the topography, it is not easy to mine the iron ore veins in Yecheng, and the government does not attach too much importance to it, and the real few large iron mines also produce enough iron, so the development of Yecheng is not fast, and it is just a chicken rib for the imperial court. An iron shop shopkeeper led Qiu Yebai all the way around Yecheng, explaining the historical status of Yecheng to her all the way.

Qiu Yebai nodded: "The Mei family really deserves to be the number one merchant in my empire." ”

As soon as she entered Yecheng, she found that in addition to wine shops, inns, and grocery stores, the most common ones here were iron shops, pots, bowls, scoops, basins, kitchen knives, and chains...... There is always a façade hung up, although the weather is cold, but the shop is full of sparks splashing, the blacksmith is bare-chested, and there are many merchants from other places waiting in front of the door, but it seems that they are all small merchants from all over the world.

The shopkeeper touched the beard on his chin with a smile and said, "Bai Gongzi really wants to buy ironware, and the work of the Mei family's iron shop will definitely not disappoint you." ”

"Shopkeeper Chen has bothered a lot." Qiu Yebai looked at Shopkeeper Chen and smiled, and then looked at Ning Qiu beside him.

Ning Qiu immediately took out a small brocade bag and handed it to the shopkeeper Chen, and said with a smile: "Shopkeeper, it's hard work, I will have to ask you for the affairs of my Bai Gongzi in the future." ”

This shopkeeper Chen said that the shopkeeper was actually a broker, and the most common thing to do was to introduce the shops in the city to the merchants who came from all directions, and he was responsible for the commissions at both ends, because of the fair business introduced, so he was quite famous, and Ning Qiu hooked up with him as soon as he arrived in Yecheng.

He weighed the things in his hand, and as soon as the connoisseur passed his hand, he knew if there was any, and the weight of the silver in the bag made him very satisfied, and he glanced at Ning Qiu and smiled: "That's the credit of Bai Gongzi for having such a capable beauty, and looking at Ning Qiu girl, I also know that Bai Gongzi is a capable person, and it is also our honor to serve you." ”

Qiu Yebai looked at him and smiled: "You don't have to be polite, I still have a reluctant request, if you can do it for me, the commission will definitely be less than yours." ”

The shopkeeper Chen hesitated for a moment, and then asked: "Oh, what kind of request, Bai Gongzi, please say, but if the old man can do it, he will definitely do it." ”

Qiu Yebai saw that his eyes were flickering, and she answered very cautiously, she didn't go around in circles, and said directly: "I have a batch of important things that need to be made by a good blacksmith, so I hope to meet the Mei family's shopkeeper in person." ”

Shopkeeper Chen was stunned for a moment and raised his eyebrows: "What is it, can you take a look at it first?" ”

When Ning Qiu heard this, he took two steps forward and opened a roll of things in his hand to show Shopkeeper Chen, and when Shopkeeper Chen saw it, he changed color in an instant: "This is not good, so many ...... are made privately." ”

He paused, looked around, and found that no one noticed them here, so he lowered his voice and said sharply, "It's going to lose your head!" ”

Qiu Yebai looked at him and raised his eyebrows: "You just have to rest assured, this matter will not implicate you." ”

"Who the hell are you?" The shopkeeper Chen instantly became vigilant and looked at Qiu Yebai.

Qiu Yebai smiled slightly, his expression was indifferent and cold: "Buyer." ”

Ning Qiu handed over a bag again, the shopkeeper Chen originally planned to refuse, but he didn't want to mention the bag, he was stunned, and subconsciously looked down, the bag full of gold instantly made his eyes widen in disbelief.

……*……*……*……

Several wagons gurgled through the snow, and bells rattled around the horses' necks.

On the carriage, Qiu Ye Bai Wensheng explained to the two teenagers sitting cross-legged beside him: "Xiaolou, you must be careful when you and Rape and Xiaofu sneak in for a while, the rats will answer on the periphery, and once you find something wrong, light the signal, and they will come to respond." ”

Xiao Lou's expression had also become calm at this time, and he said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, we will definitely complete the task." ”

While putting away all kinds of fine utensils, Rape also said, "Don't worry! ”

Akiba Bai nodded and didn't say anything more, and the carriage quickly stopped.

This is an inconspicuous mansion, only the word 'Mei Mansion' on the door shows that this is the sub-industry of the Mei family, the leader of the shopping mall, in Yecheng.

The two servants stood in front of the door early and ushered them into the antechamber of the Mei Mansion.

After the group sat down, the shopkeeper Chen asked Qiu Yebai and others to wait, and he himself left in a hurry, Qiu Yebai looked around at the layout of the Mei Mansion, which must be a not too important business of the Mei family, so the layout is very far from the Mei family in the capital.

But a moment later, she heard footsteps outside the door, and when she turned her eyes, she saw a middle-aged man of about forty years old, accompanied by the shopkeeper Chen, stepping into the antechamber.

"This is Bai Gongzi from Jiangnan, and this is the manager of the Mei family." Shopkeeper Chen introduced both parties with a smile.

The steward Zhen looked at the young man in green clothes in front of him and turned around, trimmed his eyebrows and starry eyes, his complexion was like the bright moon and autumn light, and there was a romantic relationship between his eyebrows, and he couldn't help but secretly praise himself, what a beautiful son, which suddenly reminded him of the head of the capital.

But among such a person with outstanding temperament and elegance, the dragon and phoenix would come to the small Yecheng to do such a 'business'?

A hint of gloom flashed in Steward Zhen's eyes, and he arched his hand towards Autumn Leaf Bai.

"Bai Gongzi."

"Steward Zhen."

The two of them bowed briefly to each other and sat down separately.

Steward Zhen looked at Qiu Ye Bai and said with a smile: "I don't know where Bai Gongzi is from Jiangnan, my Mei family is also from Jiangnan." ”

She also smiled: "In the Suzhou clan in the south of the Yangtze River, I just followed the master but was in Shudi, and I worked in the capital a few days ago and lived for a while, so I came here because of the name of the Mumei family." ”

Steward Zhen listened to Qiu Yebai's Ruan Nong tone, but it was indeed a Suwu accent, but the pronunciation was a little astringent in some places, and it did have a bit of the taste of Shu people's speech, and a certain suspicion in his heart was slightly released.

"Master, I don't know where Bai Gongzi is from?" Steward Zhen is polite.

Qiu Yebai looked at the steward Zhen and smiled faintly: "The master walks up and down three roads, and the eight hundred miles of carriages and horses are followed. ”

The steward Zhen was stunned for a moment, although he was not from the rivers and lakes, but there were many people from the rivers and lakes who came to buy swords, he had an epiphany in his heart, this was the other party talking nonsense, and the suspicion in his heart was a little less, he raised his hand and continued to say politely: "What is the matter with the son?" ”

She estimated that the shopkeeper Chen had already told Steward Zhen the inside story, so she went straight to the ground: "It's very simple, we need a batch of specially customized swords, there is something to do, we want to get the goods before the third day of the first lunar month, we need to use your Mei family fleet to send it to Suzhou in the name of sending grain." ”

"Hehe, Bai Gongzi, the Mei family has never done illegal business, although your order batch is not very large, but it is also a violation of the law of the imperial court to privately cast weapons, not to mention that the Mei family has never done dart business, our fleet fleet only does its own business, you have to ask for another master." Steward Zhen took a sip of hot tea and said slowly and logically.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Qiu, who was on the side, stepped forward, took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Steward Zhen: "Shopkeeper, you can take a look at this letter." ”

That steward Zhen originally wanted to refuse, but as soon as he raised his head and looked at Ning Qiuruo's bright eyes with autumn water, he instantly felt numb, and involuntarily reached out to take the envelope, opened it, and instantly widened his eyes: "This is a deposit?" ”

Such an amount of money is inevitably too large, almost exceeding the price of a custom weapon.

Autumn leaves lowered his eyes and blew lightly on the teacup in his hand: "No, this is the upfront gold for the commission to the shopkeeper." ”

Steward Zhen instantly looked at Qiu Yebai in disbelief: "What did you say?" ”

"The steward doesn't need to reply in a hurry, but take a good look at it, and if you can get your help in the lower master's gate, then you will definitely be rewarded." Qiu Yebai looked at Steward Zhen and smiled slightly, and arched his hand: "Okay, I won't bother much in the future, and I will leave here." ”

After that, she got up and led people out of the door, and the steward Zhen looked at Qiu Yebai and said to leave, so that he couldn't react, he was stunned for a while, grabbed the envelope and looked at the shopkeeper Chen on the side: "You go and send Bai Gongzi, let's talk about it later." ”

Shopkeeper Chen immediately nodded, glanced at the envelope in Steward Zhen's hand enviously, turned around and hurriedly followed Qiu Yebai out.

As soon as Autumn Leaf White got out of the Mei Mansion, he got into the car, and Lao Qin, who looked like a housekeeper, immediately came up and whispered by the Autumn Leaf White window: "Xiaolou and Rape have already touched the Mei family, and they have found a place for the cat to come down." ”

Autumn Leaf White nodded: "Let's go." ”

The group immediately split up and took a car to a small inn nearby.

It was soon night, the wind and snow had stopped, but the sky was still dark and dark, and the snow-covered streets outside the Plum Mansion had long been empty, but the guards in the Plum Mansion were meticulously patrolling alternately, almost sparing no corner.

But there was a mistake in the end, a dark black shadow jumped out of a grain depot silently like a ghost, and the thin black shadow was like a ghost sticking to the patrol guard, constantly jumping in the blind corner of each vision, avoiding everyone's sight, and taking advantage of the darkness all the way along the path of the morning exploration to the main house, he looked up at the beams, climbed up with his hands and feet, and gently leaned on the roof to uncover a piece of tiles.

The conversation between the people in the room floated up, and he heard it clearly.

"The chief steward, I have checked the recent Cao Gang and Lu Hui people in Suzhou and the fire is very strong, the Cao Gang people sank the ship of weapons and grain transported by Lu Hui, Lu Hui died a lot, I heard that the Cao Gang also let go, whoever dares to send weapons to Lu Hui will build and sink whose ship, the two sides made an appointment to talk outside Suzhou on the third day of the first month of the first month." Another person who looked like a steward said respectfully to Steward Zhen.

The so-called talking about something is a black talk in the rivers and lakes, which is to liquidate the fire and merge.

Steward Zhen looked at the silver ticket of one thousand taels in front of him, narrowed his eyes and sneered: "This Lu Hui was originally a gang in Shuzhong, but it moved to Suzhou after it couldn't get along, no wonder they would go around in such a big circle and hit the head of the Mei family's fleet and were willing to spend such a big price." ”

"The head of the family said that unless the Mei family branch is approved by the general firm, it will never involve the dispute between the underworld and the rivers and lakes, let's ......." The little steward was a little hesitant.

"Our master is not the head of the Mei family, as long as someone from the official mansion in the capital is not coming to investigate things, why not make some money." Steward Zhen sneered: "We have served the Mei family for many years, what good have we gained, not to mention that this is also a handle for us to make a ready-made Mei family for our master, why not have the best of both worlds?" ”

The little steward looked at the numbers on the silver ticket, and his face couldn't help but show joy, and he nodded immediately, and suddenly remembered something: "But the master has also said, we must be careful these days, and we are never allowed to open the bellows again!" ”

When Steward Zhen heard this, a trace of hesitation appeared on his face: "This ......." ”

It is true that more than 100 Jingguang Xuantie knives are cast, and the bellows of the ordinary small workshop for making pots and pans are naturally not possible, and it is necessary to use a place that specializes in making weapons, but his own master also said that he is not allowed, for fear of attracting the attention of the imperial court, and making weapons privately is a big crime.

Is it difficult to achieve such a duck that gives up to get it?

The two of them frowned sadly in the room, and the thin black shadow on the roof instantly and silently climbed down the big pillar and disappeared into the darkness.

Not long after that night, Qiu Yebai received a note from Lao Qin, and she nodded and ordered: "Send another 1,000 taels of silver tickets to Steward Zhen tomorrow." ”

And on the second day, after receiving the second silver ticket of 1,000 taels, Steward Zhen immediately gritted his teeth and simply agreed: "No problem." ”

Akiba Bai was very satisfied, and then came to the door again to make a request, she brought a very rare refining formula, and asked to see the bellows for casting the sword in person.

Naturally, Steward Zhen would not agree, and was only willing to let Qiu Yebai test in a shop under the name of the Mei family, and the two sides were deadlocked, and Qiu Yebai finally 'compromised', but asked to live in Mei's house.

Steward Zhen saw that the owner was so wealthy, and in the end he accepted people's money, so he reluctantly agreed.

"Vice-seater, let's live in, it's hard to find out where their bellows are, and the guards around have increased a lot." Lao Chang came in while carrying the 'salute', and whispered to Akiba Bai.

Qiu Yebai only chuckled: "We didn't come in to check the place where they privately cast weapons, they have done a good job of Xiaolou and rape, we are just here to drag people." ”

Lao Chang nodded, and then moved Qiu Yebai's salute into Steward Zhen's house, but he was stunned when he entered the room: "This is ...... Which lady-in-waiting is next to you? ”

As soon as Autumn Leaf Bai entered the door, he looked at the people in the room, and his face instantly turned a little green: "Why are you here?" ”

Although the maid beside the deputy seat is ghostly, strong in martial arts, and beautiful as a flower, although the maid in front of her looks good at her eyebrows and eyes, she is also too burly.

The person standing in the room was dressed in the same white clothes as Ning Qiu, looked at Qiu Yebai and touched his face with some uneasiness, lowered his head and said, "Xiaobai...... The deputy seat was asked by Sister Ning Qiu to serve the deputy seat. ”

Qiu Yebai closed his eyes: "Often, you go back first." ”