On December 13, the 25th year of Wucheng in the Xia calendar, he received a secret report from Xu Wenhan and took Chang San to rush back to Beijing on the 14th of the month. Now in the early morning of the 29th day of the first month of the 26th year of Wucheng in the Xia calendar, it has been a full month and a half since I left Penglai. During this time, Yang Zhi's body and mind were almost always in a state of high tension, and it was not until nearly ten days after he married Zhao Yan that a few days of quiet days passed.

His painstaking filial piety in Shandong is the solid capital that the Yang family can really rely on in the future. was newly married to Linglong for less than a month, and there was no room to say hello in person, so she had to leave her alone to support the situation off the coast of Penglai. As long as there is a little leisure in the mind, there is always a thought. But it was not easy to recover after the emperor was reinstated, and under the selfish reminder of Liu Er and Chang San, the Qin family took a letter from home. Every time I think about this, I feel extremely guilty. The guest who came late at night not only said that he was from Shandong, but also claimed to be an old man who was familiar with Yang Zhi. In addition to being a secret envoy sent by Linglong, who else could it be? And how could it not make him ecstatic?

Ah Fu brought people in from the gate of the Hou Mansion, and it only took half a cup of tea at most, but Yang Zhi paced countless times in the study. Back and forth. After the surprise, think about it for a while. I can't help but wonder again: a thin man? There are not many people with thin bodies among the 7-ups. I think it's either Wen Si or Zeng Liu. Chang'an closed the four doors at sunset, and it was late at night after this moment, why did the people come at this time? After nightfall, the Chang'an City Tower is heavily guarded. The city wall is dozens of feet high, and it is not easy to avoid alarming the night guard sergeant to enter over the wall? Even he asked himself how difficult it would be to do, so why take such a risk? Isn't there something urgent in Penglai?

After waiting uneasily for a while, Ah Fu came to say goodbye: "Young master, someone brought him according to your instructions."

"Master Hou! This,, the villain see Hou Ye! A man flashed out from behind Ah Fu and bowed down. His voice sounded strange, as if he was trying to suppress something.

"Huh?. Yang Zhi fixed his eyes and saw that the person who came was indeed relatively short, and his eyes were shining. was full of excitement, but it was neither Wen Si nor Zeng Liu, as Yang Zhi had guessed before, but it just felt a little familiar. couldn't help but suddenly burst into a spirit, and blurted out: "Ling'er? How could it be you?! ”

I saw that the person who came carefully rubbed his face with his hands, and raised his head again, isn't it Zhu Ling'er who has not been seen for a long time? Seeing that Yang Zhiyu was stunned, he hurriedly responded in a low voice: "Master Hou has good eyesight, and the slave maid is Ling'er." The county lord is far away from the road, so he is afraid that it is inconvenient for the slave and maid to walk alone. taught the slave and maid some methods of disguise, so that the Hou Ye smiled

Yang Zhi came back to his senses at this time. helped her up with his own hands, and said continuously: "What are these words?" "Miss Zhu has worked hard all the way! Hurry up, hurry up! You may be seated, you may be seated! ”

Ah Fu, who was standing stupidly on the side, looked stunned: in the blink of an eye, not only was it unrecognizable, but how did the male become a female? Tricks? What kind of eyes do I have?

When he was stunned, he was slapped by Yang Zhi on the head: "What are you looking at blindly?" Didn't I ask you to piggyback on tea, wine, and food? Don't go yet! Oh, go get a new face towel and get a basin of hot water."

Ah Fu's days of waiting for Yang Zhi are not short. A foreigner who can enjoy such a courtesy from the young master is the first time he has encountered it today. It seems that the reward is not expected, but it is true that it is a distinguished guest who came. I have heard that the young master also married a county lord of Laoshizi in Shandong last time, what if this unfair and motherless lady in front of him is not careful and becomes the fourth young lady of the Yang Mansion? That's a no-brainer! I didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore, so I slipped away.

Yang Zhi helped Zhu Ling'er to sit down, and took advantage of Ah Fu to go to Zhang Luo to eat hot water, and looked her up and down. Zhu Ling'er was dressed in a man's outfit, and the whole person was wrapped in a gray cotton robe that was obviously too fat, which looked a little funny. The sideburns on either side of the hat are scattered. The face is blue and the lips are white. At present, although the first month of the month is coming to an end, the land of Sanqin is still the cold winter season when the north wind is howling, and Zhu Linger obviously has suffered a lot along the way.

Zhu Ling'er has been secretly attached to Yang Zhi for a long time, and when she saw that the man she liked looked at her without shying away from it, she was ashamed in her heart, but she just hung her head and said nothing. The first time the two met at the Jinan Inn, it was enough to make Zhu Linger unforgettable for a lifetime. After that, there were very few opportunities to be alone like this, and the atmosphere was quite awkward for a while.

There was already a master-servant relationship between the two; Yang Zhi naturally couldn't laugh at the random title of an aunt. Qiang Zi temporarily suppressed the many doubts in his heart, handed the hand stove to Zhu Ling'er, and said with a dry smile: "Miss Zhu, it is really difficult for you to come all the way to Chang'an in the cold weather." I don't know when the girl set off from Shandong? When did you arrive in Chang'an? Why didn't you rush to my house mountain until late at night?"

Zhu Ling'er's eyes were red, and she said as calmly as possible: "Thank you, slave, for your concern and compassion." If you go back to the Hou Ye, the slave maid is on the order of the county lord, since the fifteenth day of the first month early in the morning from the camel alum island to set off, this afternoon Shen Shi at the end of the hour into Chang'an City. When the slave maid entered the city to rest and eat some tea and rice, she also inquired about the location of the Hou Ye's mansion, and it was time for the palm lamp to be dark. The slave maid wanted to find it near the Hou Mansion... I would like to live first and come tomorrow to ask for the market and the street is boiling because of the prince's rebellion and the army was reinstated, and then on the day of the patrol, he was assassinated in the East Market, so far Chang'an has been very strict in the investigation. Because the slave and the maid are women disguised as men. It was a foreign accent again, and he was in a hurry before leaving, and he didn't have time for Mr. Tuo Yi to give a guide. So I found several inns and were denied check-in. After such a grind, before I knew it, it was already dark at night. ”

"Slaves and maids are used to walking the rivers and lakes, so they are not cowardly women who are weak and can't help the wind. When the slave maid first arrived in Chang'an, she didn't want to cause trouble to the Hou Ye. I wanted to find a broken temple or street hut to deal with for a night, but I didn't expect that the wind was cold and the night was cold, and I really couldn't stand it, so I had no choice

In the cold winter, he rushed to Chang'an from Shandong. In less than half a month, it can be said that it is a day and night.

When Zhu Ling'er said this, she was already choked up. In fact, half of what she said was left behind. Half of the reason is because the night is cold. The other half is thinking that Yang Zhi is close at hand, and it is difficult to bear the pain of lovesickness. It's just that I have a little arrogance in my heart, lest I be underestimated by Yang Zhi. How could Yang Zhi have the heart to take care of her children's affection? couldn't help but scold her again and again for being stupid and deserved: Lao Tzu is also a figure in Chang'an, will I be a place with little food and less accommodation? If you go straight to my house after entering the city, will you need to suffer this foreign sin? It's better than finding the door in the middle of the night!

While speaking, Ah Fu led a few servants on night duty to bring hot water, fragrant tea, and wine and food. Yang Zhi greeted: "When you arrive at the Hou Mansion, you will be considered home." Please don't be restrained, girl. Your third brother has been living outside my study, and your second brother has also come. Because I entrusted the two of them to take on the responsibility of guarding the mansion of the Hou Mansion. A few days earlier, I moved to the wing room of the west courtyard. It's getting late today, so call them back tomorrow to talk to you about your brother and sister! Come, first wipe your face and eat something to warm up. ”

The study room is burning with a ground dragon, and the whole room is warm. Zhu Ling'er silently washed up. After a little hesitation, he took off the gray cotton robe on his body and carefully sat down on the round table where the wine and food were arranged, and for a while, the slender and beautiful Zhu Ling'er came back.

Yang Zhi didn't seem to have much interest in appreciating the beautiful flowers in front of him.

Patiently poured a glass of wine, put a few chopsticks and side dishes into her bowl, and then asked, "Let's talk while eating!" Why did the girl come to Chang'an? Is Linglong okay? What is the situation of the Penglai Islands today? ”

didn't want to go through this question, Zhu Ling'er's cheeks suddenly turned red. With a look of cowardice on his face, he avoided Yang Zhi's eager gaze, lowered his head and kneaded the corners of his clothes for a long time without saying a word. Yang Zhi asked with a bitter face: "Why Aunt Can, are you going to kill me in a hurry?" ”

Zhu Ling'er pursed her lips and smiled and replied in a low voice: "Hou Ye and the Qin family have a good relationship, but there are changes in Shandong. How could the second son of Qin not report it in time? The county lord is safe and sound, but he misses Hou Ye very much, so please relax Hou Ye. ”

This is a good medicine for the nerves. The strength of Qin's intelligence system is unparalleled in the world, Qin Jiaoyang and Linglong 6 Shanghai echo each other, as long as there is a sudden emergency, Yang Zhi who is far away in Chang'an will be notified at the first time.

Yang Zhi said suddenly: "That's what I said." The so-called concern is chaotic, and I am complained that I am anxious. Oh, you go on. ”

"Since Hou Ye suddenly returned to Beijing in a hurry. The county lord acted in accordance with the established strategy of the Hou Ye. Mr. Jiang, Boss Xiong and Mrs. Yingniang performed their duties, and their arms were extremely effective, and the progress was very smooth. When the slave maid set off, the fleet of tripartite patrol ships had begun to take shape, and while the arranger was in full swing to install the crossbow artillery, the bear boss was also stepping up the rectification of military discipline and training manpower. Entrusted by the county lord, Mrs. Yingniang disguised herself at the beginning of the new year, and with the full support of the second prince of Qin and Miss Bai, she planned various matters of the Jinlilai firm. According to the orders of the Hou Ye, Mr. Jiang has begun to recruit skilled craftsmen to make his own weapons, and is still secretly contacting foreign merchants in the past, preparing to purchase a large number of Western firearms

Yang Zhi smiled with satisfaction: "That's good." That's good! I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry, so with such a multi-pronged approach, it is only a matter of time before all the Penglai Islands are included in the bag. ”

Zhu Ling'er nodded and agreed: "The county lord also said so. The county lord said that although the Hou Ye is already a well-known and high-profile figure in the world, his wings have not yet been filled. In order to avoid adding unnecessary trouble to the Hou Ye as much as possible, all actions are strictly ordered not to be in the name of the Hou Ye, and not to publicize the big things. On the pretext of spending the New Year in peace, the county lord also ordered the full opening of the sea areas of Beiyan, Daxia, and Nantang, as well as the waterways leading to Goryeo and Fuso, and strictly prohibited raiding and plundering of passing ships before the beginning of spring. However, before and after the year, it was near the Southern Tang Dynasty and the sea area east of Dazhushan Wu. The ships that went out to sea to patrol still had four fights with people, and dozens of our brothers were killed and wounded. The county lord had a fierce dispute with Boss Xiong and Mrs. Yingniang, but the two were finally persuaded by the county lord to "

"Oh?. Yang Zhi naturally remembered the bloody opening gong and drum when Penglai went to sea for the first time, frowned and asked: "Isn't it that the old department of the two of them is used to being majestic on the sea on weekdays, and they dare not listen to greetings?" Let's talk about it, what's going on? ”