By the Qinhuai River, red lights and green willows, in the middle of summer, a gust of wind passes, but it makes people feel refreshed.

Sparkling, quite wide Qinhuai River is like a big mirror, the scenery on both sides of the river is reflected in the water, the river water is clear, with the breeze blowing, the river surface is sparkling slightly, standing on the bank overlooking the river, but it is a heart-stringing beauty.

When Qi Ning fell to the river, it was already past lunch time, because the weather was hot, many people were closed, and under the shade of the trees by the river, it was quite lively, many people played chess and sang under the shade of the trees, and there were also fortune tellers who pretended to close their eyes and recuperate, waiting for the arrival of guests.

Wang Xiang had been standing on the side of the boat, already sweating profusely under the sun, just waiting to see Qi Ning coming, he was immediately excited, and hurriedly came over to greet Qi Ning on the painting boat.

Qi Ning has been on Zhuo Xian'er's painting boat several times at night, and the lights are bright at night, and the painting boat looks very magnificent, but at this moment it is broad daylight, whether it is Qinhuai River or the painting boat, it is not as amazing as the night.

"Miss Zhuo on the boat?" Qi Ning put his hands behind his back and followed Wang Xiang upstairs.

Wang Xiang said: "The girl has been waiting, and the little one is worried that Hou Ye is busy with official business today and can't come, but the girl said that Hou Ye will definitely come." ”

"Oh?" Qi Ning smiled: "Will your girl still be able to calculate hexagrams?" As he spoke, he was already on the second floor of the ship.

There was a soft voice from Xian'er in the room: "Xian'er doesn't know how to tell fortunes, but I know that Master Hou will definitely not leave Xian'er alone." At this time, the curtain was lifted, and I saw Zhuo Xian'er, who was standing behind the curtain with beautiful eyebrows, with a sweet smile between her eyebrows, looking at Qi Ning.

Xian'er is wearing a turquoise emerald smoke shirt, her shoulders are shaved into a waist, and under the reflection of the sun, her eyebrows are three points bright.

Qi Ning was stunned for a moment, and then smiled: "Didn't you rest?" Going straight to the cabin, Xian'er glanced at Wang Xiang, and Wang Xiang immediately retreated.

The cabin is cool and pleasant, Qi Ning glanced at it, and saw that there was a wooden barrel on the side, which contained ice cubes, it turned out that it was used to dissipate heat with ice cubes, Qi Ning knew that this era was not like the later generations, although there were indeed people who stored ice cubes in winter and sold them in the middle of summer, but the price was expensive and abnormal, and not ordinary people could consume it.

Because the cabin is covered with ice, the windows are closed to prevent the cool air from escaping.

The cabin was still as clean and tidy as before, lit with sandalwood, and there was still the guzheng on the table, and there was a small square table next to the guzheng with melon and fruit snacks on it, and two embroidered futons in the basement.

Qi Ning put on a thin shirt outside, after entering the cabin, Xian'er had already walked behind Qi Ning very well-behaved, just like a wife who had been waiting at home for a long time to serve her husband who had returned from taking off her clothes, Qi Ning had a problem with Xian'er going out in the middle of the night, but at this moment Xian'er was so well-behaved and lovely, it still made Qi Ning's heart slightly warm, and she took off her coat under Xian'er's service, and walked over to sit down on an embroidered futon.

It's already a familiar road, and he's not welcome.

Xian'er put her coat on the hanger, glanced at Qi Ning, smiled sweetly, and then turned behind a screen, and soon came out, holding a jade bowl in her hand, knelt down beside Qi Ning, and carefully placed the jade bowl in front of Qi Ning, but inside was a bowl of bird's nest rock sugar water, and Wu Zi could see a few pieces of crushed ice inside.

"Master Hou, let's cool off first." Xian'er said softly, took a small spoon from the table and handed it to Qi Ning.

Qi Ning turned his head to look at her, and saw that she was beautiful, with a trace of caution between her eyebrows, and a pair of clear spring-like eyes seemed to be able to flow clear water at any time, looking Chu Chu moving, Qi Ning sighed, took the spoon, ate a few bites, and caught a glimpse of Xian'er looking at herself without blinking, and couldn't help but look herself up and down, and wondered: "What's wrong?" ”

Xian'er said softly: "No..... Nothing, it's just ..... It's just that I haven't seen Master Hou for a long time, so I ..... So I want to take a good look. ”

Qi Ning put down the bowl and said, "It's not too long. He looked around and asked, "Didn't you rest today?" I thought you were sleeping. ”

"Master Hou..... Is Master Hou still blaming me? Xian'er lowered her head slightly, and said timidly: "Is it..... Did Xian'er do something that made Hou Ye unhappy? ”

She spoke softly, as if she was blaming herself, which seemed to make people feel pitiful, Qi Ning sighed lightly: "Don't think about it, there's nothing to blame." ”

"Master Hou said this, just blame me." Xian'er bit her pink lip, "I.... I know it's my fault, but I just don't want Hou Ye to be angry. ”

Qi Ning originally thought that Xian'er would deliberately conceal it, and she wouldn't mention it if she didn't mention it, but at this time, she took the initiative to say it, which was a little surprised, but Xian'er didn't hide it and made him feel better, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Who picked you up?" ”

Xian'er lowered her head, stopped talking, and did not speak.

Qi Ning said lightly: "It doesn't matter if you don't want to say it, it's me who is nosy." ”

"Master Hou, you ..... Don't say that. Xian'er raised her head, and there were tears in the corners of her eyes, "You say this, Xian'er feels very painful." ”

Qi Ning shook his head with a wry smile, reached over, gently wiped the tears from the corners of Xian'er's eyes with his thumb, and said softly: "It's okay, don't cry, I won't ask." If you don't say it, you naturally have your own troubles. ”

"It's not." Xian'er suddenly raised her hand and held Qi Ning's hand, "It's over there that doesn't let Xian'er reveal half a word, and he still says..... also said that if Xian'er said it, it might invite death, not only for Xian'er herself, but also ..... And whoever I tell will bring woe upon that man. Xian'er didn't want to see Hou Ye do anything. ”

Qi Ning really didn't want to ask, but when he heard Xian'er say this, his face sank, and he sneered: "Is there such a domineering person in the capital? Xian'er, I really want to know who is so powerful now. ”

Xian'er hesitated for a moment before she said softly: "Master Hou, Xian'er..... Xian'er has always regarded herself as your person, and she will not hide anything from you. It's just that..... It's just that Xian'er begs you to agree to a request, otherwise..... Otherwise, even if Hou Ye blames Xian'er, Xian'er won't say anything. ”

"What requirements?"

Xian'er said with tears in her eyes: "Hou Ye promised Xian'er, when he came out of this door, he would treat Xian'er as if he didn't say anything, okay?" ”

She pleaded softly, Qi Ning's fingers caressed her face, and said softly: "As long as he doesn't hurt you, I will act as if nothing happened." ”

Xian'er nodded hurriedly and said, "Okay, Hou Ye agreed to Xian'er, and Xian'er told Hou Ye." Although the doors and windows were closed, he still looked left and right, and then he approached Qi Ning's side, and his soft chest pressed on Qi Ning's shoulder, instantly making Qi Ning feel its fullness and elasticity, Xian'er leaned close to Hou Ye's ear and asked in a low voice: "Hou Ye, do you remember Xiao Gongzi who came with you last time?" ”

"Young Master Xiao?" Qi Ning was stunned for a moment, and immediately thought that the little emperor Longtai had seen Swing Yi in the past, and at that time, he was called Xiao Gongzi who saw Swing Yi on this painting boat, and said in surprise: "Yes..... It's him? Did he pick you up? ”

Xian'er said softly: "Originally.... Originally, Xian'er didn't want to go over to see anyone. That night, someone came to find Xian'er and asked Xian'er to see Xiao Gongzi, and said that Xiao Gongzi was a friend of Hou Ye, and Hou Ye was on an envoy, and Xiao Gongzi had something to discuss with me. I was ..... At that time, I was very curious, and I didn't know why Xiao Gongzi would come to me to discuss things, but ..... But I knew that he had a close relationship with Hou Ye, and I was worried that he was looking for me to be related to Hou Ye, so I ......! ”

"I see." Qi Ning suddenly realized at this time: "Then you know who he is now?" ”

Xian'er snorted softly and said, "The man took me in a carriage and blindfolded me, and I couldn't see anything until I saw that Xiao Gongzi." The first two times I didn't know who he was, but ..... But the third time I went, I wondered why he didn't even let me see where he lived, and ..... And I have to walk a long way to get to the place every time, so ......! ”

"So you peek around and you find a flaw." Qi Ning smiled.

Xian'er bit her red lip and nodded slightly: "I..... I secretly saw that there were eunuchs on the road, and ..... And the place is magnificent, not like a normal place. Though..... Although Xiao Gongzi has never admitted his identity, he ..... But I have already guessed who he is. ”

"Xian'er is smart and clever, so she can naturally see through it." Qi Ning sighed: "It turns out that it was Xiao Gongzi who picked you up. Did he tell you not to show it off? ”

"No, no, no." Xian'er hurriedly waved her hand and said, "It's not him, he rarely talks to me, it's the person who picked me up and told me not to talk nonsense." The more he didn't let me say it, the more I doubted Xiao Gongzi's identity, otherwise even if he was a dignitary, he wouldn't have to hide it from the outside world. ”

"Not bad." Qi Ning said: "That's the emperor, they are taking you into the palace." He frowned and said, "Why did he take you into the palace?" Don't.....! ”

"Master Hou, don't get me wrong, Xian'er..... Xian'er is still ..... It's still perfect. Xian'er's cheeks were crimson, and she lowered her head: "Your Majesty..... The emperor has never had a trace of offense against Xian'er, he took Xian'er into the palace, yes..... It was to ask Xian'er to play the piano for him, and he asked Xian'er to play the manzhu sawa every time. ”

Qi Ning even understood that the last time the little emperor came here, Xian'er played a song of Manzhu Shahua, which made people cry, which made the little emperor very moved, and it was inconvenient for the little emperor to come out of the palace, and it was even more inconvenient to haunt the Qinhuai River, so he arranged for someone to take Xian'er into the palace to perform.

"Xian'er played so well that even the emperor was moved." Qi Ning knew the truth, he was relieved, and couldn't help but wrap his arms around Xian'er's waist and let her sit on her, Xian'er was a little ashamed, hesitated, or raised an arm, gently hooked Qi Ning's neck, bit her lip, and said, "Master Hou...... Is Master Hou still angry with me? ”

Qi Ning smiled: "I never got angry with you in the first place. He said insincerely, Xian'er smiled beautifully, and said, "Master Hou is lying, I can see it." Then he said quietly: "Actually..... In fact, Hou Ye is angry with Xian'er, but Xian'er is the opposite.... On the contrary, he was happy, and Hou Ye was angry, explaining that he ..... It shows that Hou Ye cares about Xian'er. ”

"The fairy is gentle and considerate, and as beautiful as a fairy, who can not care?"

Xian'er immediately said: "If others don't care, I don't care, as long as I ..... As long as Hou Ye cares about Xian'er, Xian'er will be satisfied. Raising his hand, the soft boneless soft wattle caressed Qi Ning's face, and said softly: "Xian'er..... Xian'er has no relatives, too.... No one really cared about Xian'er, only Hou Ye was good to Xian'er, Xian'er..... Xian'er only has Hou Ye ..... in her heart! ”

Qi Ning's heart softened, thinking that this little beauty was indeed poor, and said softly: "How does Xian'er know that I really care about you?" What if I'm hypocritical and just want to take advantage of Xian'er? ”

Xian'er smiled coquettishly and said, "Although Xian'er is not smart, you can still tell whether a person is sincere or false." ”

Qi Ning couldn't help but be moved in his heart, thinking that if Zhuo Xian'er was really sincere in her friendship, she really couldn't let her down, and said softly: "I told you before I went to Dongqi that I would come back to settle you." I'm going to ranpen you first, and if you want, I'd like to buy you a house and put you in it. Then he said solemnly: "You don't have to think that I want the golden house to hide Jiao, after you settle down, you will live your own life in the future, if you ..... There really are people you like, and I won't stop you when the time comes. ”

Xian'er's waist turned, and she was already sitting upright, her delicate body trembling slightly: "Master Hou..... Hou Ye wants to redeem himself for Xian'er? ”

"I have some silver in my hand, but I don't know how much money it will cost to redeem my body." Qi Ning said: "When the time comes, I will let people talk to them, and it is good to let you regain your free body." But you still have three years to get back to freedom, and they don't dare to ask for a price. ”

Xian'er lowered her head slightly, was silent for a while, and then raised her head to stare at Qi Ning, her beautiful eyes trembling slightly: "Master Hou, Xian'er..... Xian'er is a fireworks girl after all, you ..... Why are you so nice to me? ”

"Fireworks Woman?" Qi Ning smiled faintly: "I have never regarded you as a fireworks woman, and you are not a fireworks woman." What's more, what about the fireworks woman, isn't she a human? On the contrary, those deep mansions and compounds, all of them look noble and luxurious, with a belly of men and women who steal women and prostitutes, may not be comparable to fireworks women. ”

Xian'er's body was close to the past, leaning on Qi Ning's shoulder, and said quietly: "Master Hou, don't be too good to me, otherwise..... I don't know how to repay you. ”

"Hahaha, a man's words count, I said that I would settle you well, and I can't go back on my word." Qi Ning raised his hand and stroked Xian'er's hair: "The people on the boat, you go back and make arrangements, after following you for so long, you have to make arrangements for others." He took out a few silver tickets from his bosom: "Here is a thousand taels of silver, you can use it for the time being, if you are short of silver, come back and tell me." ”

He holds more than 20,000 taels of silver in his hand, which is really an astronomical amount for ordinary people, and the income of ordinary people can earn 120 taels of silver a year is already good, and 1,000 taels of silver is enough for Xian'er to settle all the people on the ship.

Qi Ning is not worried about having no silver now, Mrs. Tian has dividends every month, and then send silver to join in and expand the business, and the dividends will only increase in the future, even if you really raise Xian'er, it will be effortless.