After discussing the details with Zheng Anshun, Qin Mubai and his entourage bid farewell to Li Ke and left the Assassin's Mansion. Zheng Anshun took the two elite soldiers of the hundred cavalry sent by Qin Mubai, changed their clothes, and followed them as companions.

The two groups of people said goodbye at the gate of the Assassin's Mansion and went their separate ways.

Qin Mubai glanced at Zheng Anshun's back a few times, and joked to Chen Yan: "Sometimes I really envy a son like Zheng Anshun. Full of talent, rich and rich. It seems that there is nothing he worries about when he is born, a typical dragon and phoenix among people, leisurely and swimming! ”

"You're being hypocritical." Chen Yan joked to him, "Maybe Zheng Anshun is still secretly jealous of you!" ”

"Haha, no!" Qin Mubai said with a smile, "The Zheng family is the richest man in the Tang Dynasty, the young master of the Zheng family, but I don't know how many women are infatuated, how can I compare to him!" ”

"Is that all you men care about?" Chen Yan showed a hint of disdain on her face and shook her head, "I don't like a man like Zheng Anshun." ”

"Why?"

"Not why. If you don't like it, you don't like it Chen Yan frowned lightly and added, "Probably because he gives me the impression that he is a little too illusory." He's too perfect to seem real. Such a man only appears in the dreams of ignorant girls, and once they come into reality, their dreams will be shattered. In contrast, I prefer men who are a little more authentic. Bloody, emotional, you don't have to be good, but you must live a serious life. He can even have some minor flaws that will make him more real and more like a living person. ”

"Heh, it's the first time I've heard you talk about the ideal man in your mind." Qin Mubai pursed his lips and said with a playful smile, "It sounds very simple, but it's actually ...... That's a lot of demand! ”

"Huh, huh?" Chen Yan walked slowly with her hands behind her back, lowered her head and said with a smile, "To put it simply, he is the kind of man who is ordinary and visible, but he is rare and valuable. ”

"Isn't it a contradiction that it is ordinary and commendable?" Qin Mubai wondered.

"Not a contradiction." Chen Yan shook her head and said, "The so-called ordinary can be seen, that is, a very ordinary man, not Zheng Anshun, who is unusually out of line like Zheng Anshun; It's commendable, that is, there must be a certain quality in him that attracts me. ”

"What qualities?" Qin Mubai broke the casserole and asked to the end.

Chen Yanyan smiled: "Why do you ask so much and thoroughly?" ”

"Don't you know that I've always been very good?" Qin Mubai laughed and blurted out.

"Sanba, what do you mean?" Chen Yan wondered.

"Uh...... That is, just like the three aunts and six women in the vegetable market, they love to chew the root of their tongue when they have nothing to do, love to inquire about other people's privacy, and make trouble. Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"Giggles, what a figurative metaphor!" Chen Yan burst out laughing.

Qin Mubai stared at her and smiled, and couldn't help but shake his head.

"What's wrong?" Chen Yan's face was embarrassed, and she was a little red.

"Nothing." Qin Mubai said, "You actually look good when you smile, but now that you are like this, it is difficult to associate with your previous image." ”

"Really?" Chen Yan gently picked the corners of her mouth, "Is my image in your mind more fierce and ruthless?" ”

"It's not." Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"What's that?"

"Why are you asking so thoroughly?" Qin Mubai copied Chen Yan's original words to prevaricate, and said with a smile, "You still tell me, what kind of man you like, right?" ”

"It's hard to say, it depends." Chen Yan paused for a moment, the corners of her mouth moved a few times, as if she had something to say, but she hesitated, hesitated, and said, "Maybe the heart is moving, only in a moment." That feeling...... Indescribable. ”

"Oh, you want feelings." Qin Mubai smiled, "A person who looks so rational is so emotionally emotional. ”

"Didn't you know about it a long time ago?" Chen Yan smiled indifferently, as if with a bit of bitterness, and said leisurely with a sense of aftertaste, "Just like at the beginning, I don't know how and when I fell in love with Zhu Chengwen." For him, I am willing to spend my whole life waiting, and I will do whatever it takes. It's a pity...... I would wait, but he would not stay. ”

"The dead are gone, you should let go a little." Qin Mubai persuaded softly.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Chen Yan smiled, "That's all in the past." Although it is worth remembering and sometimes sad, I am not used to living in memories. For the deceased, the best consolation for them is that the living can live happily without being immersed in sorrow. ”

"Wise, open-minded." Qin Mubai nodded and praised, "A mature woman is so admirable and likable. ”

The corners of Chen Yan's eyebrows twitched inadvertently, and she said with a smile: "You have to call me sister according to your year, but you still come to eat my tofu, it's really begging!" ”

"Okay, if you are injured, I won't take advantage of the danger to fight you." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Now let's go back to the inn and pack up and go to a new place!" ”

"Where?"

"Didn't I promise you yesterday to find you a quiet place to recuperate? It's done. Qin Mubai said, "There is a good small village in Wulifang in the south of the city, the place is not big, and the environment is very good. Moreover, the architectural characteristics of Xiangzhou's houses are similar to those in the Huyang area, so you must like the house. ”

Chen Yan shook her head and said with a smile: "Mu Bai, how can you be more careful than a woman, and still remember that I am from Danzhou and like Huyang-style residences?" Presumably, you must be very good at taking care of and feeling sorry for women. ”

"That's a must." Qin Mubai grinned, "Otherwise, wait to beat the single?" ”

"Huh!" Chen Yan shook her head and smiled, and said thoughtfully: "Your romance is really different from Li Ke. ”

"Hey, why did you suddenly pull Li Ke?" Qin Mubai's mind lit up, and he smiled playfully, "Could it be that he still thinks about you?" ”

"Don't worry, he has that heart, and he doesn't have that guts." Chen Yan gently hooked the corners of her mouth, revealing a touch of disdain and coldness, and said softly, "I'm not the stupid woman next to him who lets him play with it." If anyone dares to disturb me like a wild phoenix and a butterfly, he will wait to be castrated by a sword! ”

Qin Mubai's face stiffened, and he felt a cold lower body like a few reflexes, and said with a dry smile: "No, no, although Li Ke is romantic, he still has some principles, and he doesn't mess with anyone, you can rest assured." ”

"You seem nervous?" Chen Yan smiled, smiling so much that her beautiful eyes were bent like a crescent moon, and she seemed to have a little more rare naughtiness and ridicule.

"No, I'm nervous, hahaha!" Qin Mubai laughed and strode forward.

Chen Yan couldn't help but chuckle, shook her head, and followed.

Soon after, the two returned to the inn, Chen Yan took the salute and medicine patches, and then rode a carriage to Wulifang in the south of the city under the leadership of the hundred horsemen who were in charge of renting the house.

When she arrived at the house, Chen Yan's eyes couldn't help but light up, and her joy was beyond words.

Small bridge, flowing water, and a delicate and simple wooden building on the waterfront. The front of the building is planted with all kinds of flowers, and downstairs is the gurgling water.

Listening to the language of flowers in the morning and listening to fish songs in the evening is really a secluded and elegant place, like a paradise.

"It's good, I love it, it's like going back home." Chen Yan walked to the flower garden and took a deep breath, and said with a smile on her face, "Thank you so much, Mu Bai." I can't imagine that there is such a quiet place in Xiangzhou, a lively and prosperous port city. ”

Qin Mubai said with a smile: "The brother who went out to look for rent yesterday came back and told me a few places, and as soon as I heard it, I liked it here." Let them buy it. ”

"Still bought?" Chen Yan furrowed her brows slightly, "How much money did you spend on the purchase, I will pay you back." ”

"It's vulgar to talk about money between friends." Qin Mubai smiled, "You can live in Xiangzhou, and I will rent it to you for free." Anyway, I eat and live in the barracks, and the expenses are all covered by the army. But if you stay in that place for a long time, people will easily go crazy, and maybe when I will come here to stay for a while, and change my mood. ”

"What, is it possible that you still want to hide Jiao in the golden house?" Chen Yan smiled, "It's a pity, I'm not squeamish at all, and I'm fierce." ”

"Haha, you're really good at laughing!" Qin Mubai laughed to hide his embarrassment, but said in his heart: Don't you remind me that I forgot, Jinwu Zangjiao is actually not bad......

The two walked into the small wooden building, and in the middle of the first floor was a hall, with several square tables and couches neatly arranged, and soft and delicate blankets on the wooden boards, typical of the southern style. The walls are painted with tung oil, giving people the feeling that the windows are clean and spotless, and even the small kitchen on the side of the room is not a little oil star, clean and tight.

In the other side room, the gardener used to arrange all kinds of flower tools, such as pots, shovels and kettles, although they are some miscellaneous items, they are also neatly organized.

Chen Yan smiled with satisfaction: "It seems that I will really live here for a while." After so many years of wandering, I really want to live quietly for a while, and it's nice here. Nice environment, quiet and suitable for me. If I have some free time, I will fiddle with flowers and plants, and occasionally go to the port market to sell flowers, which can be regarded as a livelihood, and I will no longer kill people and lick blood with knives. ”

Qin Mubai smiled: "Sometimes I'm quite curious. You say, "What do you chivalrous men do for a living?" You have to eat, dress, and live in a guest house, where does the money come from? ”

"Didn't I tell you just now, killing people and licking blood with a knife!" Chen Yan giggled, "I can't imagine it, I used to be an out-and-out female robber!" What a chivalrous man, it's just nice to say. ”

Qin Mubai shrugged his shoulders indifferently: "There is also a way to steal, anyway, you have your own way of survival, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to understand it for a while." However, I always feel that that kind of life will be very empty and boring, especially in this peaceful and prosperous environment, everyone lives and works in peace and contentment, but you are floating alone, how boring! ”

"yes...... It's exactly what you say. Chen Yan rarely sighed lightly, a trace of melancholy appeared on the jade face, and said leisurely, "When I was young, I was ignorant, I only wanted to be happy, and I only walked the rivers and lakes to be chivalrous and happy. Without saying a word, drawing a knife and splashing blood five steps at each other, sometimes it is very pleasant. But in hindsight...... I will often regret it. I've really lost a lot of things because of this, and I'm a little tired of living like this. I feel that I have been living in the dream I have woven for myself for more than ten years, and my life is not real at all. There is no pursuit, no ideal, and no tomorrow. It was really until Zhu Chengwen's death that I woke up to the fact that in this world, there are really more meaningful things than drawing a sword and fighting fiercely. It was from that moment that the dreams I used to numb myself were completely shattered. It was his death that made me understand that in the past ten years, I had no meaning in my life. ”

"Is it that serious?" Qin Mubai couldn't help but wrinkle his brows.

"You can't understand it." Chen Yan gently hooked the corners of her mouth, and said in amazement, "Ten years, what does it mean for a woman?" Perhaps, I should have married my husband and had children, and lived the life of an ordinary woman with a husband and children. But I've been stubbornly insisting on things that don't make any sense, and it's really boring. The current world is no longer the chaotic times of a few decades ago. Datang doesn't need chivalrous. Because, the bandits in Datang have people like Qin Mubai to clean up, and there is no need for Chen Yan to do it. Isn't it? ”

"Uh...... Ha ha! Qin Mubai was stunned for a moment, and then laughed, "You think too highly of me!" ”

"Don't laugh, I'm serious." Chen Yan said very seriously, "If it weren't for meeting you, it would be difficult for me to change my original intention." Let me tell you the truth, I have really killed a lot of people over the years, including many thieves and bandits who are on the wrong side, wicked people who bully and dominate the market, and fierce gentlemen and evil officials who do evil things to the villagers. So until then, I didn't trust the government, and I didn't trust the law. I have always believed that the government is the government of the rich, and the law is designed to protect the rich. If you look at the so-called laws, the head of the house kills his maidservant, and he is exonerated by paying a ransom (fine). However, if the maidservant beats and scolds the head of the house, she can be hanged or exiled. Is this fair? That's why I often give people grievances. No one begged me, I did it voluntarily. ”

Qin Mubai shook his head helplessly and said with a smile: "No way, this situation is not something I can change." No matter what kind of world it is, there are established laws. When we can't change it, we have to adapt. Or...... Make yourself the one who the law is in your favor. ”

"Make yourself ...... Someone whose law is in your favor? Chen Yan chewed this sentence carefully, searched for it for a long time, nodded and smiled, "You are very smart, this sentence is really to the point." In contrast, you are much more broad-minded and far-sighted than I am. You're right, when you become a human being, you can use the law to do as many things as you want. Chen Yan is a metaphor for Chen Yan, who is a person under the people, and can only use my sword to cut down the injustices in the world and kill the unworthy people. However, this method of countering violence with simple and crude violence obviously had little effect, and this time I planted it in Xiangzhou. As a result, I ended up in prison, and a small jailer could decide whether I lived or died; And you, Qin Mubai, can use the law to have stronger strength. Although you don't have a sword in your hand, you can kill people with a sword, and kill many people, and you only need to use your brain and mouth to kill them invisibly. That's power, right? - Seriously, when you got me out of prison, I felt for the first time the beauty of power! ”

"Huh! Some of your wisdom is more than I imagined. You're so savvy! If you become an official, you must have a bright future. Qin Mubai sighed.

"Excuse me, I can't be an official with a character like me at all, everything I do and say is straightforward. The cold guns and dark arrows in the officialdom may be easier to kill than the swords and swords on the rivers and lakes. Chen Yan smiled, "However, I don't mind having some friends who are officials now." Of course, it has to be you. ”

"Really?" Qin Mubai raised his eyebrows, "That's really my honor." ”

After that, Qin Mubai thought in his heart: Why have I always ignored that Chen Yan is the "Wenjia Emperor" who instigated the uprising in history? Her understanding and thoughts seem to be beyond most women in this era, even most men. Maybe in the eyes of others, Chen Yan is deviant and unruly, and even a little unreasonable, but I have a sense of déjà vu with her. Because in her, I almost feel a little bit of the thinking characteristics of women in the 21st century. Sensitive, resolute, confident, and full of autonomy and openness, this is like a female white-collar worker in the city.

No wonder we're so close to each other.

It's not easy to meet such a woman in Datang!