The palace of the king of Xiang is very large, more than the house, the wheel is magnificent, and the magnificence is almost like the palace. A month ago, Zhu Yiming once talked about finding that Huaqing lacked a ladder maid to give to Lian Zhi, considering that Huaqing has been in the palace for more than three or four months, it can be seen that Zhu Yiming, who is dedicated to managing many industries under the name of the palace, actually has little time and energy to care about the affairs of the palace through the courtyard that turns around, and it is also evident that his son Zhu Changfa can often sneak out of the palace to get around.

Zhao Dangshi hadn't seen Huaqing before, and he didn't want to alarm Zhu Yiming again this time, after all, it was unreasonable for a military attache outside the palace to insist on seeing the county lord three times and twice, so the middleman Zhao Dangshi was looking for this time was Zhu Changfa. Zhu Changfa still doesn't know that the real murderer who kidnapped him actually came from Zhao Ying, he was born optimistic, and as time went by, he also forgot a lot about it, and rarely thought about it again, on the contrary, Zhao Dangshi's handsome and Hongyi appearance and modest and steady personality left a deep impression on him, and the young man's yearning for heroes and heroes made him have a good impression of Zhao Dangshi.

Zhao Dangshi deduced from Zhu Changfa's abrupt sentence last time, "The county lord, she is also waiting for you", Zhu Changfa may have guessed the relationship between himself and Huaqing, so he sent Man Ning into the palace and made an appointment with Zhu Changfa. The two met at the foot of the Dongcheng corner tower and asked a few tentative questions, and the two tacitly turned to the topic.

"If I take the county lord out, will the prince find out?"

"Not necessarily. Father he has no time to give, only occasionally when he has free time, he thinks about family affairs, and it is difficult to say when he is free. ”

"If that were the case, it would be difficult to do......"

"Not necessarily. With me, even if the county lord goes out for a few months, my father won't be able to notice it. ”

"Oh? What are the supernatural powers of the prince? ”

"Haha, this is not something that Brother Zhao has to consider. I, Zhu Changfa, dare to pat my chest and say, leave this matter to me, and it will be fine. ”

"To be able to get the help of the prince, Zhao is grateful."

"Wait, Brother Zhao, you don't need to be grateful, I haven't promised you yet."

"What are the conditions for the prince, Zhao will do his best."

"It's not a condition. Brother Zhao, if you take the county lord out for a few months, I will have to stay in the palace for a few months and keep an eye on my father. You know, if I don't go out and stay at home for a long time, it's more painful than being tortured...... But for the sake of Brother Zhao and the county lord, I still have the courage to take the lead, and I, Zhu Changfa, can endure it. ”

"Thank you for your righteousness......"

"But when you and the county lord return to Xiangyang, you have to let me breathe a sigh of relief, right? Cattle and horses need to be scattered after a long time, let alone people. ”

"But it doesn't hurt to say it."

"Brother Zhao, when you come back to send the county lord back to the house, can you take me out of the city...... You know that I am a great warrior with archers and swordsmen, and it would be great if I could stay in your camp for a while......"

"That's not ...... It's not impossible, it's just that Zhao is afraid that the prince will ......"

"You can rest assured, how dare I go out of the city without preparation? All you have to do is answer me, and I'll take care of the rest. Take 10,000 steps back, and even if something happens at that time, I will bear it alone. ”

"The prince is serious......"

"Brother Zhao agreed? Very good, don't worry, I will be thoughtful on the county lord's side, and I won't make my father feel a little strange. ”

“......”

Zhu Changfa was afraid that this transaction would change, so he got on the horse and left immediately after saluting, as if covering his ears and stealing the bell, thinking that in this way Zhao Dangshi would have no room for repentance. Zhou Wenhe asked, "Lord, is this kid reliable?" ”

Zhao Dangshi smiled bitterly: "Although the prince is a young man, he is far more thoughtful than you and me, and with him as a guarantor, he will be safe." "I'm just worried about what he's going to do in the camp in the future." There are many battles in the camp, and if he is burdened with the trouble, I will die. ”

Zhou Wenhe immediately stepped forward and said, "My subordinates are going to chase him back now." ”

Zhao Dangshi shook his head and said, "No need, the eldest husband has a promise." We will discuss it later. The three of you are waiting for me in Zhongxuan Tower, and I will go to Xiangwang's Mansion by myself. ”

Zhou Wenhe was worried: "My lord, I heard that the Xiangwang Mansion is heavily guarded, in case it ......"

Zhao Dangshi smiled and said, "You still can't believe my skills?" These days, with the guidance of Coach Ge, I am more diligent. The side of the tea pavilion in the back garden on the west side of the Xiangwang Mansion is densely wooded, and there is little surveillance, so I entered from there. "Don't say much, and go across the horse.

After moving around to the west of Xiangwangfu, Zhao Dangshi temporarily handed over the horses to a post station to take care of, and when there were no pedestrians in the streets and alleys, he climbed the low wall and jumped into the palace. As soon as you settle down, you will see the grass and trees of the hazelnut in the back garden. There was no one in the forest, and Zhao Dangshi relied on his memory to carefully sneak along the side wall of the corridor. The sound of silk and bamboo in the side hall not far away was endless, and the singing voice of the singer clapping was mixed in, and Zhao Dangshi guessed that perhaps the sociable Zhu Yiming was entertaining the guests. He held his breath and contemplated, avoiding the eyes and ears of many people halfway, and passed through a half-hidden wooden door, and suddenly saw a large pool in front of him. The lotus flowers in the pond have fallen, and only countless pale brown wilted stems are bent. The stone bridge road on the pond winds and stretches in all directions, but Zhao Dangshi does not dare to go up, and only surrounds the road from the willow trees lined up by the pool. At the end of the road, there are two stacked stones in the shape of a fox, and the middle road leads to a deep courtyard. After a few steps, there are three words "Anlan Xuan" carved on a moon door, which is the residence of Huaqing.

On the path in the garden, there was a maid who was fiddling with flowers and plants, and when she saw Zhao Dangshi coming, she was surprised, but Zhao Dangshi was well-dressed and majestic after all, and the maid did not treat him as a villain, but only a guest who got lost in the palace and came unexpectedly, so she asked softly: "This official, what are you doing here?" ”

Zhao Dangshi smiled slightly, but before he could answer, his ears were ringing, and Hua Qing's voice came: "Zhao ...... General Zhao ...... "turned his head and looked, he hadn't seen it for a few months, and Hua Qing, who was dressed in a light blue outfit, was even more clear, "Xiaolian, this adult is my old acquaintance." ”

Xiaolian promised twice, and went to prepare tea with interest, but there was no one around, Zhao Dangshi hurriedly stepped forward to hold Hua Qing's hand and said, "Aqing, are you still comfortable these days?" ”

Hua Qing smiled strangely: "It's uncomfortable, there is one less funny horse monkey." They all laughed at each other.

Zhao Dangshi pulled her under a peach tree, and the two confided in each other, Zhao Dangshi sighed: "I came to the door a month ago, but you were infected with a small illness and it was difficult to see each other, alas, God made people." ”

Hua Qing was stunned and said, "Is it the one in early October?" ”

Zhao Dangshi nodded, and Hua Qing was slightly surprised: "I have been in good health since I entered the palace, and I have not been infected with any diseases...... That time you were going to come to the palace, Chang Fa's kid told me very early, I was really happy that you came, how could you push it away? ”

"Is that so?" Zhao Dangshi was also stunned, "But the prince clearly said ......"

Hua Qing continued: "However, the prince later mentioned you to me, saying that you had urgent military affairs temporarily, and you hurriedly left before you could stay for dinner. When I heard this, I was so disappointed for the past few days, alas. ”

Zhao Dangshi said strangely: "Did the prince really say so? ”

Hua Qing nodded seriously and said, "Exactly, I couldn't help but take the initiative to ask him later, and he said it." ”

Zhao Dangshi was speechless: "If I hadn't sneaked in to meet you, I would still be in the dark." ”

Hua Qing said suspiciously: "You sneaked in?" ”

Zhao Dangshi replied: "Yes, it seems that it is a wise move now. ”

Hua Qing put his fingers on his chin and thought quietly, Zhao Dangshi looked at her, and said, "Ah Qing, I came to you today to invite you to the southeast together." Saying that, General Bian said his plan to meet Zheng Zhilong through Su Gaozhao, "I think I have had little time to accompany you for most of the past six months, and this farewell to the southeast is rare for several months, which is really unbearable, so I moved this idea." ”

"Zhao Lang, you invited me, I was overjoyed. It's just that there are many eyes and ears in the palace, and I'm afraid that the prince will ......."

Zhao Dangshi replied: "Don't worry about this, I told the prince that he will help you cover the eyes and ears of the prince." He was able to sneak out of the palace. At the same time, he clenched Hua Qing's slender hands, "Now you only need to answer, and I will take you out of the house today." ”

Hua Qing did not hesitate, his eyes flashed, and he smiled lightly: "Since you sincerely invite, I will agree to you this time." If you don't come to see me again, and tell me to wait for a month, there will be no next time. ”

Zhao Dangshi was overjoyed and took her into his arms.

In the evening, Zhou Wenhe and the others waited for Zhao Dangshi and Huaqing downstairs in Zhongxuan. Huaqing women disguised themselves as men and covered their faces, Zhao Dangshi dragged her to ride a red horse prepared in advance, and said: "This horse is obtained by defeating the Cao thief and capturing its head Wang Long, called 'Chasing Flame', it is a first-class good horse, and it will be your mount in the future." ”

Hua Qing laughed and deliberately said in a rough voice: "Thank you Brother Zhao for your good intentions!" "There is also a man who learns to hold his chest and clench his fists on the horse. Zhou Wenhe and the others couldn't help but laugh when they saw her troubled appearance.

After arranging the affairs of the camp and taking Huaqing, Zhao Dangshi's heart was unloaded one after another, and he had no worries. From the early morning of the sixth day of the first lunar month, five horses rode out of Zaoyang County to the east. Within three miles, there was flying dust behind him, and more than ten horsemen caught up, but it was Qin Qigong, Li Wanqing, Sun Weizheng and others.

During the military reform, Qin Qigong was transferred from the field army to the director of Zaoyang County, responsible for the affairs of Zaoyang County. But there are many and miscellaneous things in the county, no less than in the camp, of course he is not enough alone, it just so happens that Li Wanqing has deep qualifications, and it is not easy to arrange in the camp, so he simply sent him to Zaoyang to be Qin Qigong's deputy and Zaoyang County's second-in-command. In addition, Sun Weizheng is the previous Sun Tuanlian, because Zhao Ying caught Chu Xi and reported his hatred to him and was really grateful to Zhao Ying, and because he was familiar with the affairs of the county and brought the county soldiers and townsmen to have some fame, he was also absorbed by Zhao Ying, and he is now the third-in-command of Zaoyang County.

After Zhao Dangshi and others left Xiangyang, they came to Zaoyang County to settle down, Qin Qigong thought about it, but he still couldn't let go of his worries, so he chased Li and Sun to escort him. They were all earnest, and Zhao Dangshi couldn't bear to brush them, so he accompanied them eastward along the official road and went straight into De'an Mansion and returned to the Suizhou boundary. Hua Qingchi looked back for a long time, and found that they were still standing on the horizon to watch, sighing secretly, and looking at Zhao Dangshi, his eyes couldn't help but have a little admiration.

During the period when Zhao Ying was stationed in Zaoyang, all the bandits and bandits in the county were swept away, and together with the Suizhou border that was handed over, the bandits disappeared and fled without a trace, and the road was unimpeded. The group spent the night at the Mida Temple on the way, and arrived in Suizhou the next day. Zhao Dangshi remembered the agreement with Su Gaozhao, and did not stay much on the way, connecting Anlu, Yunmeng, Xiaogan and other places, and arrived at Wuchang Mansion in mid-November. The group hired three boats in Wuchang Mansion, one to carry people and two to carry horses, and changed to waterways.