Rong Ziqi looked at the middle-aged man standing in front of him, this person he recognized, Yang Wu, the chief housekeeper of the Yang family. After seeing the contents of the letter, he asked the person who sent it a month ago.

"How is she doing in Ciro?" Rong Ziqi was silent for a moment and still asked.

Yang Wu's face was his usual professional smile, "Master Xie cares, Miss is doing well." Moreover, the news came a few days ago, and the young lady's eyes were already healed. ”

"Really? That's good. Eiko muttered, his eyes looking back at the letter he had placed in his hand.

Yang Wu's gaze also looked over, and said with a smile: "Miss, but I have been thinking about the prince of the world!" How is the prince going to reply to Miss? ”

Rong Ziqi's gaze returned to Yang Wu, and instead of answering him, he asked, "Who is your master?" ”

"Does it matter?" Yang Wudao.

"Of course it is." Rong Ziqi affirmed.

Yang Wu smiled, "Actually, the prince just wants to confirm the stakes!" The young lady is indeed the daughter of the master, the daughter of a person who holds the hidden power to spy on the Great Jin. As a strong army that has been at war with Da Luo for generations, even if the future heir really only marries a merchant girl, there is nothing wrong with it, but if he marries the daughter of a person who has just turned the Great Jin upside down, hehe. ”

Yang Wu put away his smiling face, looked at the silent Rongzi period seriously, and continued: "The lord asked people to send this letter back, and I also want to see if you choose it?" ”

Until Yang Wu left, Rong Ziqi didn't say a word again. Huo Huo jumped out at this time and sat on the edge of Rongzi Period.

"Son, you have to think clearly. Although Miss Lin is very good, but. This is not just a joke about your personal future, if you don't get it right, the Rong family will also be affected. Huo Huo didn't have the hippie smile of the past, and his words were a little serious.

In fact, from Hawking, they have learned the true identity of Yang Weide, the only sister of the current emperor of the Xiluo Kingdom. The only son of the eldest princess of Huining, although, as the son of the eldest princess, it is a little strange that he does not have a title at all. However, with such a force under his hands, no one can underestimate it.

What's more, although his father is only an inconspicuous son of the tenth generation of the Lin family. But. Lin family! That's the guy who has absolute control over the thirteen towns in the eastern realm of Xiluo. Even if the children of the Lin family rarely enter the army, it is not the Lin family who stands behind the generals who have fought against the Rong family in this generation.

It is precisely because of this that no one will associate Lin Jishan, a squire in a small place in Xingzhou, with the Lin family.

"I understand." Rong Ziqi said lightly, "Okay, you've been running around with me for the past few months, and now that the dust has settled, you can rest well!" ”

Huo Huo opened his mouth. I want to say something more, but. Seeing Rong Ziqi's expression of "hurry up, don't bother me here", he still left with a reluctant face.

As soon as he left the Xingguo Mansion, Huo Huo went to find Huo Shui and told Huo Shui about this matter like and that.

"You're the smartest of us, tell me, what the hell does Childe think!" Huo Huo frowned, very worried.

Huo Shui was a little unimpressed, "I don't think it matters how the son chooses." ”

"So what's important?" Huo Huo looked humbly seeking advice.

"The heart is the most important thing." Huo Shui said meaningfully.

Huo Huo was stunned for a moment, and only said after a while, "Can you speak human words?" ”

Huo Shui glanced at Huo Huo with disdain, and turned to look out of the sunny window. It seems to be recalling something through the sun.

……

Far away in the imperial capital of Xiluo Kingdom, Lin Zhiqi, who was living a leisurely life, didn't know that the cheap father in her family used her as a bet and assigned a multiple-choice question to another young man.

At this point, she was surprised by another piece of news she had just heard.

"Marriage again? Did they play home? Lin Zhiqi couldn't help but complain.

She doesn't know where the fake Chonghua has been gone now, but she still remembers the reason for the previous border war. Isn't this a bloody case caused by a sudden political marriage? Moreover, there is no official statement about this bloody case to this day. What is the reason for the two countries to marry again?

Lin Zhiqi felt that the Xiluo people who came up with this had a hole in their brains, although the border is calm again, but after such a trouble, if the Eastern Jin Dynasty people agree again, then the world will be too crazy.

"Actually, some things are not what you think." Lin Qiye rarely came to see Lin Zhiqi, and when he heard her complaint, he said with a smile.

"It's not what I thought it was, what was it?" Lin Zhiqi was not convinced.

Lin Qiye explained: "The border war between the two countries is actually something that happens every year, but the scale of the fight this year is relatively large. ”

"That's it?" Lin Zhiqi scoffed, just this "that's it" caused her to have to take refuge in the same county, but it turned out to fall into the hands of Mrs. Bi, and then it was a hard journey!

"Really. The so-called reason for the war is actually only circulated in a small part of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and I dare to guarantee that it is even only circulated in the Xingzhou border area, and even the gang of people in the capital of the Eastern Jin Dynasty do not know much. ”

"I don't believe it." Lin Zhiqi shook her head firmly, you must know that the Eastern Jin Dynasty was taken down from the city at that time, how could it be that the court didn't even know the reason why Xi Luo was so loud.

Lin Qiye smiled meaningfully, "Do you know how chaotic the Eastern Jin Dynasty was at that time? ”

Lin Zhiqi was stunned, those hearsay memories came back, it seems that there were really not many stable places in the entire Eastern Jin Dynasty at that time, it seems that something happened to the capital?

Lin Qiye continued: "To be honest, if it weren't for the Rong family, it would not be impossible for Xi Luo to directly kill Jingzhou in the Eastern Jin Dynasty through that battle. ”

Lin Zhiqi was still stunned when she heard it, and in the bottom of her heart, she still felt a little unbelievable.

However, if Rongzi is here at this time, it will be confirmed that Lin Zexiao's words are true. In the previous life, because the second master Rong participated in another palace forcing incident planned by the prince in the capital. It makes the identity of Xingguo Gong Rong Mu embarrassing, the Rong family army is in a difficult situation, and the spies who have been buried deeply in this life have been cleaned up by Rong Zi. In his previous life, Rong Mu was directly killed, and there was no chance of regaining Liancheng at all. At that time, the army of Xiluo really swept Xingzhou and Shouzhou, and even almost broke into the capital.

"As for Da Luo's side......" Lin Qiye said and paused, "The girl should know whose territory is in Qingcheng, right?" ”

Lin Zhiqi finally stroked her forehead with her hand, speechless, she really had a headache about these things that were scheming. In the end, though. She still asked again, "What is my father's role in this?" ”

"This ......" Lin Qiye hesitated for a moment and found a suitable word. Maintain a balance between the two countries. ”

...... "Nima, why don't you say it's to maintain world peace?"

The 007 identity of the cheap father can already be determined in the things that Rong Ziqi told her. Before, she also thought that the chaos in the Eastern Jin Dynasty was related to the cheap father. Later, I heard Lin Qiye say. It seems that Mrs. Bi's people took advantage of the chess played by the original cheap father.

However, later, she listened to Ye Chengyu's joke that Xiluo seemed to be in a mess for a while, and it was the cheap father behind her who was doing it, so she didn't understand. Who the hell does this father help?

Now after listening to Lin Qiye's words, Lin Zhiqi suddenly felt that it was not for nothing that she was so hateful. The source is that there is a father who lights fires everywhere!

"That's right, Uncle Seven. Do you know how much longer I'm going to be here? Lin Zhiqi asked suddenly.

Lin Qiye was stunned, "What?" Aren't you used to staying here? ”

"Almost!" Lin Zhiqi said vaguely.

"Or, come back to Qindu with me! The mansion still exists. Lin Qiye proposed.

Lin Zhiqi hesitated, did not agree or refuse immediately.

Lin Qiye looked at Lin Zhiqi's face, and suddenly understood: "You want to go back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, right?" ”

Lin Zhiqi nodded, "I want to go back to Anping." ”

After all, the days in Anping are her happiest days, and if she can, she still wants to go back there, especially after she has become more and more of a Lin Zhiqi who thinks of herself as this world. She could feel that when she was most helpless and confused, the memory, or the depths of her soul, did not really disappear, and she thought the same thing.

Lin Qiye wanted to say, "Xiluo is so good, why do you want to go back to that rural place." However, seeing Lin Zhiqi's somewhat lonely expression, she swallowed it back and said instead, "Why don't I go talk to the fourth brother?" ”

"Then please leave it to Uncle Seven." Lin Zhiqi smiled like a peach blossom all of a sudden, making Lin Qiye feel that he had been deceived by this girl.

However, Lin Qiye still conveyed Lin Zhiqi's thoughts to Lin Zehao completely.

The next day, Lin Zehao came to see Lin Zhiqi.

Although Lin Zhiqi has been drinking the so-called antidote, it seems that she still has to go through a relatively long process. Therefore, when I saw Lin Zehao, I still felt tired.

And from Lin Qiye's accidental conversation, she knew that all the scars on her forehead had always been there, and it was also related to Mrs. Bi, it was she who did it back then, but because of this, Lin Zhiqi didn't understand even more, mind reading was still not the original owner's original skill.

However, after regaining her sight this time, Lin Zhiqi found that the mind reading technique seems to finally be able to call the golden finger, which can be triggered in a controlled manner. Of course, the side effects are still there. So, as a last resort, she still doesn't want to use it. What's more, every time she had a headache again, she saw the worry and sadness in Donghua's eyes that couldn't be dissolved.

She didn't try to use mind-reading skills to understand Donghua, or even whether Cheap Daddy and Lin Qiye were hiding something.

"You want to go back to Anping." Lin Zehao didn't ask, just stated.

Lin Zhiqi nodded, and then looked at Lin Zehao with a pitiful look.

"Okay!"

"Is there a but?" Lin Zhiqi was immediately alert.

Lin Zehao was stunned, he was really ready to say "but", seeing Lin Zhiqi's vigilant appearance, he couldn't help but sigh lightly, "It's just that it's not safe to go back like this now, wait another one or two months." ”

Before Lin Zhiqi's face sank, Lin Zehao continued: "When the Eastern Jin Dynasty envoys leave, they will enter the Eastern Jin Dynasty together, and they will not be conspicuous." ”

"Huh? Eastern Jin Dynasty Mission. Lin Zhiqi was surprised, "Do you really want to get married?" It's still settled so soon? ”

"The marriage is only predetermined. But the envoys didn't come here for that. Lin Zehao said.

"So for what?" Lin Zhiqi asked.

"Deal with Nanling Kingdom." Lin Zehao did not hide it.

Lin Zhiqi wants to say that Xiluo and Nanling don't border? The words came to his lips and he swallowed them back. Why does she care so much, it doesn't have anything to do with her anyway.

"Then I'll wait." Lin Zhiqi just said this in the end.

Lin Zehao just said "En" and didn't say anything more.

……

The waiting time always feels like it's getting longer. However, when the envoy group that was "called" by Lin Zhiqi arrived at SI, she was still a little surprised.

"Cousin Junyi? What are you doing here. Aren't you from Hallym Academy? How to run to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...... No, I mean the Ministry of Rites, it's the work of the Ministry of Rites, right? Lin Zhiqi was dragged by Xiao Chengzi to join in the fun to watch the envoys enter the city, and after discovering Jia Junyi in the team, she asked Donghua to inquire about the post house where the Eastern Jin Dynasty envoys collapsed. Then I was very excited.

To put it simply, it feels like you've met someone in a foreign country.

And Jia Junyi originally heard that it was strange for someone to look for him, but when he came out to take a look, he said that he was not surprised, it was all a lie. Because I have been in the capital. He didn't know all the hardships that Lin Zhiqi had experienced in the past six months.

"I was transferred to the Ministry of Rites a few years ago, but cousin, why are you here? Did you come out with a caravan? Jia Junyi thought about it and only thought of the Four Seas Commercial Bank. He remembered that Lin Zhiqi went to the capital before and followed the team of the trading house.

Lin Zhiqi was stunned when she heard this, and when she saw that Jia Junyi seemed to know nothing about the closure of the Four Seas Commercial Bank, she was puzzled. She asked her cheap dad about this. But the cheap dad only said that it was some follow-up to the Eastern Jin Dynasty turmoil. After making sure that Yang Jue was okay, Lin Zhiqi didn't care anymore.

"Eun." Thinking that it might be that Cheap Dad did something she didn't know, Lin Zhiqi had to respond vaguely.

Jia Junyi was obviously very happy to see Lin Zhiqi, "Why don't we just stand at the door and talk about it, how about going to the teahouse over there to sit?" ”

Lin Zhiqi glanced back at the teahouse not far away and nodded, "Okay!" I'm in for a treat. ”

Jia Junyi told the porter of the post house at the door where he was going. lest someone in the mission look for it, after all. Although they were only on the first day, who would not allow the new emperor of Ciro to summon them at any time.

In the teahouse, the two also picked up a location facing the street. Jia Junyi talked about the chaos in the capital in the past six months and the general situation after he was transferred to the Ministry of Rites, while Lin Zhiqi talked about what was interesting near the Great Luo Imperial Capital.

Hearing that Lin Zhiqi had been here in the imperial capital for several months, Jia Junyi naturally inquired about some of the situation in the imperial capital of Xiluo.

Although Lin Zhiqi doesn't care about these upper-level things, she still knows a lot when she occasionally listens to gossip.

Jia Junyi was very surprised and happy to write them down one by one.

"This should be useful to you, right?" After Lin Zhiqi finished gossiping, she poured a big sip of tea.

Jia Junyi was stunned, then got up and bowed, "Thank you, cousin." ”

He knew that most of the people in the imperial capital of Xiluo would know about these news, but it was not easy to be able to be so detailed and clearly distinguish some interests, even if half of these news were inaccurate, it would be of great help to them on this trip.

"You, you, don't do that. Someone else is watching! Lin Zhiqi hurriedly persuaded, a little embarrassed.

They are not in a box, just an ordinary seat on the second floor, Jia Junyi is like this, which has attracted a lot of people's sideways, and he is not embarrassed.

"I'm really thanking my cousin, we just got here, and our eyes are black. Even if you go to investigate, some may not be as detailed as your cousin! ”

"Really? Actually, it's nothing! Hehe. Lin Zhiqi said with a smile. She was really bored to hear these things, some of them were said by Xiao Chengzi to be happy with her, and some of them were inadvertently complained and ridiculed by Lin Qiye when he came to see her. She never thought this was any important information, and when she heard Jia Junyi ask, she said it when she knew it.

"Anyway, thank you cousin."

"Okay, okay, aren't you annoying, we're so acquainted, you've been thanking you, it's so outperforming." Lin Zhiqi had no choice but to say politely.

Jia Junyi's face stiffened unnaturally, and he quickly smiled again: "Cousin is right, I saw the outside." ”

The atmosphere unnaturally became a little awkward and silent. It looks a little out of place with the bustle in the surrounding teahouses.

"Do you have anything to say to me?" Lin Zhiqi blinked her eyes, the other party's expression was too obvious, and she didn't need to read minds.

Jia Junyi hesitated. still spoke: "My mother, told me a family matter." ”

"Huh? That's hello. When and where to put the wine, please me! ”

Jia Junyi looked up at Lin Zhiqi in some surprise, seeing that the other party's expression was really happy for him, he was relieved and a little bitter at the same time.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong with me? Lin Zhiqi was inexplicably looked at by Jia Junyi, and her heart became a little empty.

However, Jia Junyi quickly regained his gentle smile, "I will definitely invite my cousin to go then." ”

"Say yes!"

Lin Zhiqi asked about the future cousin-in-law again. At this time, there was a group of people at the corner of the street who seemed to be coming towards the post house.

"Going to the inn? Are you going back? Lin Zhiqi glanced over there and said.

"It should be someone from the palace. I'll go back and see. Jia Junyi hurriedly got up, "By the way, where does my cousin live now?" ”

"Over there on Fulin Street. Hehe. I guess you won't find it either. I'll come back to you another day! If you have time. ”

"When the time comes. I'm in for a treat. Jia Junyi said with a smile.

"Then I'm going to find the most expensive place in the imperial capital." Lin Zhiqi said.

Jia Junyi just smiled still and whispered, "Thank you." And he departed.

Lin Zhiqi was stunned by the last sentence of "thank you", "Why does he still say 'thank you' to me when he treats me?" She asked the winter flowers on one side.

"It should be Miss Xie's treat today!" Winter flower road.

"Is that so?" Lin Zhiqi looked back at the remaining pastries and tea on the table, and in line with the principle of not wasting them, she still ate some and packed some of them.

When Lin Zhiqi left the teahouse and walked back, she was about to pass by the door of the post house again, at this moment. At the gate, the man who seemed to be from the palace was being accompanied by the envoys.

"Master Wei, don't send it. Our family is going back to the palace to get the purpose. Prepare well, someone will come to take you to the palace for a banquet tonight. "It's a somewhat shrill voice.

Lin Zhiqi turned her head and looked, ouch, this is still an acquaintance. And when she looked over, the other party also looked over.

was just stunned for a moment, and the other party greeted him with a courteous face, "Isn't this Lord Wan?" What are you doing, shopping? ”

Isn't this nonsense? Can't you come out and go to the toilet? Lin Zhiqi really wanted to reply to such a sentence, but unfortunately, the person in front of her was the chief eunuch beside Ye Chengyu at present, and he was flattered by such a person, even if he didn't give a hot face, he couldn't give a cold ass.

So, Lin Zhiqi said "En" very calmly, pointed to the pastries packed in Donghua's hand and said, "Try the pastries here." Father-in-law, this is done with business, you want to go back to the palace, right? "So you go quickly!

"Yes! This is not the Eastern Jin Dynasty came to the envoy group, His Majesty asked our family to announce a decree and invite them to the palace for a banquet tonight! ”

"Oh!" Lin Zhiqi responded indifferently, but thought in her heart, after sending out this big eunuch, Ye Chengyu's kid still attaches great importance to this envoy group! Lin Zhiqi doesn't care about the goals, she just knows that in this way, the two countries should fight less, or even no war, then it will be smoother for her to return to Anping.

Thinking about it like this, Lin Zhiqi was in a better mood instantly, and said with a smile, "That won't delay justice." I went back too. ”

"Let's let the county lord give him a ride!"

"No need, just walk slowly!"

“……”

From the moment he saw Lin Zhiqi, the father-in-law threw down the members of the envoy who accompanied him, and came directly to Lin Zhiqi's side, and the two of them gradually drifted apart, followed by the guards who accompanied the father-in-law out of the palace on errands.

This scene made the envoys stunned, and Jia Junyi, who recognized Lin Zhiqi, was even more surprised.

Soon, they learned Lin Zhiqi's identity from the people in the inn.

"A niece of the Queen Mother's family, but she has a good relationship with Your Majesty, so she was named a county lord, which is unique."

What is the relationship here, the people of the envoy group are not clear, but in a word, this is the red man in front of Emperor Xiluo, and someone immediately began to make up his mind.

Jia Junyi, who has always been silent, looked at the distant figure, and sighed silently in her heart, she will be happier!

……

When Lin Zhiqi and Jia Junyi were still chatting in the teahouse. At the mansion on Fulin Street, there was a guest. And the one who received this guest was Lin Zehao, who was always elusive in Lin Zhiqi's eyes.

"I thought you would come last month, but I didn't expect it to be with the envoys." Lin Zehao gently pulled out the tea lid and took a sip of tea, and said to Rong Ziqi, who was sitting at the bottom. "Try this tea, it was just sent this year from Qingzhou in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it's very good."

Rongzi was not polite, took a sip of tea, but did not make any comments.

"Looks like you've already made a decision?" Lin Zehao said.

Rong Ziqi stared at the other party for a while before saying, "I'll pick her up." ”

Lin Zehao looked back at Rong Ziqi and looked at the resoluteness in the eyes of the young man in front of him. The tea bowl that he had placed in his hand a moment later got up and walked out of the hall, and said a word as he was about to cross the threshold. "She's coming back, you go and wait for her at the door!"

Looking at Lin Zehao's disappearing figure, for a moment in Rong Ziqi, Mo Ming saw a burst of sadness. He quickly drove this emotion out of his mind. He also got up and went to the gate.

……

I saw someone there like the goalkeeper. Lin Zhiqi couldn't help pinching herself, "Really fat?" ”

She trotted over to the man, circled around the other, patted the other's stomach, touched the top of the other's head, and gestured, "How did you grow taller?" ”

Rong Ziqi let the girl do something to him, but he still choked when he heard this. Then he looked at the other party with some resentment, "That's what you care about?" ”

"Or else?" Lin Zhiqi glared at each other with wide eyes.

Rong Ziqi naturally understands that someone is actually expressing dissatisfaction. "I'm sorry I'm late."

Hearing such a sincere apology, Lin Zhiqi nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "You're finally here." ”

Rong Ziqi looked at the smile in front of him and said softly, "I have something to tell you." ”

"Do you have something to say?" Lin Zhiqi couldn't help but think of Jia Junyi before, in fact, she didn't know the meaning of Jia Junyi's words, but although she used to regard the other party as the best spare tire, in the end, she regarded it as a friend more, and the other party could have a home, of course she sent her most sincere blessings.

Rong Ziqi didn't care about the word "also" in Lin Zhiqi's mouth, nodded "En", opened his mouth, but suddenly didn't know how to speak.

Lin Zhiqi tilted her head and waited for the following, but only looked at the other party's hesitation, "Do you say it or not!" ”

"Well, I remember, you told a story about a gray man and his daughter-in-law in Anping before." Eiko period said.

"......" Lin Zhiqi has a black line, but before she has time to correct the wording that is completely wrong from the protagonist's name to the content of the story, Rong Ziqi has already finished her summary statement in one breath.

"If one day I become a guy like Gray Lang who can't even eat sheep, would you like to be my little red?"

Isn't this knowing that there are sheep? How can you still say wrong, wait, Xiaohong? What the heck?

Lin Zhiqi's eyes widened again all of a sudden, and she looked at Rong Ziqi incredulously.

"What do you say?" Lin Zhiqi asked word by word.

Rong Ziqi took a deep breath and said again: "Are you willing to be my little red?" ”

Lin Zhiqi took two steps back as if she was frightened, and her face suddenly turned red when she brushed it.

Damn, isn't it just a confession? It's not like I haven't been confessed, what the hell is blushing!

Lin Zhiqi began to despise herself in her heart, and in this way, there was even more of a blockage.

"The red wolf at least has endless pans, and you are so empty-handed!"

"Ahh Rongzi was still very puzzled by this block.

"Stupid." Lin Zhiqi "rushed in" with Donghua as if she was angry, only she knew that she actually escaped.

Ran a long way away and looked back at Rongzi who was still standing at the door, Lin Zhiqi was a little annoyed to herself.

"Ahh Shame on the dead. Lin Zhiqi yelled.

"Miss?" Donghua wondered.

"No matter, if he gives up so easily, don't do it." Lin Zhiqi just shouted to herself like this and ran away again.

It turns out that someone, of course, did not give up so easily, so, a few days later.

"You're a pig! What do you do with so many pans? Lin Zhiqi yelled at Rong Ziqi, and her yard was densely packed with frying pans that she didn't know how many.

"Didn't you say you needed an endless pan? In the past few days, I have found several blacksmith shops in the emperor's capital, and I have found so many, you use it first, and wait until you go back......" Rong Ziqi didn't finish speaking, a frying pan had already flown over, he hurriedly ducked, and just breathed a sigh of relief, another black shadow attacked, "bang", and he fell directly to the ground.

Before he fell, Rong Ziqi couldn't help but sigh in his heart in addition to complaining about Huo Huo's ghost master accident, it turned out that Gray Dalang's life was like this!

……

A month later, when the Eastern Jin envoys successfully negotiated and left the imperial capital. A spacious four-wheeled carriage followed out of the city gates.

Standing on the city tower and looking at the team traveling far away, Lin Zexiao still couldn't help but sigh, "Fourth brother! Are you really willing to let the girl just follow that stinky boy? ”

Lin Zehao didn't say anything, but asked Lin Zexiao, "Let you do everything!" ”

"Can I not do what you confessed? The wiring of the entire Sihai Commercial Bank is given out, just to protect a little girl who is not a threat to him, can he be happy. Lin Zexiao replied, "And that old lady Nie, I think, she must be smiling from ear to ear at this result." ”

"As long as she can live happily." Lin Zehao said lightly.

Lin Zexiao didn't say anything more.

The two stood until the group had completely disappeared before preparing to leave.

Putting the thing he had been groping in his hand into his arms, Lin Zehao looked up at the sky again.

Our daughter will be happy, you will always watch it.

The sun was shining in the sky, just as he had seen the girl's smile when he first saw it.

(End of text)

Writing these three words, there is an urge to yell, your sister, after a few days of repeated revisions and revisions, it is finally rectified. Ahhhh (To be continued.) )