In the early morning, not long after the sun appeared, the sky began to get hot and dry.

On the way to Qingguo, Wuxian was driving outside, and Jiang Zuiyao was sitting alone inside, with nothing to do except enjoy the scenery along the way.

All the way, there were no people's forest paths, so that Jiang Zuiyao couldn't tell where it was, so she let Wuxian drive forward, walked for about ten days, and finally arrived.

It is a desolate city, Qingguo is located in the northwest, the weather is not hotter than the country, but it is blowing the wind and sand.

The weather at the end of July, the wind was blowing whirring, without a moment's pause, and the wind swept the sand and dust, making people unable to open their eyes.

There were very few people walking in the streets, each wearing a variety of wind-proof headdresses on their heads, and it seemed that this place was like this all year round.

Jiang Zuiyao was in the carriage, because of the wind and sand, so the windows were closed, and I didn't know what the situation was outside, until the carriage stopped, and Wuxian said outside: "We're here, get off." ”

Jiang Zuiyao opened the car door, and with a "whew", the dry wind blew on his face, carrying dust and sand. Jiang Zuiyao, who was blowing, hurriedly raised her hand to cover her eyes with her sleeve, frowning irritably.

When I got out of the car, I saw that Wuxian was covered with dust from the wind, his collar was raised high, but his hair was mixed with dirt.

Is such bad weather like this all year round in Qingguo?

When I looked up, it was a huge mansion, and the plaque clearly reads - Prince Gong's Mansion.

Such a royal courtyard, it stands to reason that there should be a sentry guarding the door, but it is empty and there is no one, it looks a little deserted, and the plaque is also covered with years of wind and sand, and no one has cleaned it.

On the steps, Wuxian knocked on the heavy door, but no one came to open the door for a long time, so that Wuxian shouted loudly: "Is there anyone!" ”

After shouting several times, I heard a distant call from inside: "It's coming!" Here it comes! ”

Jiang Zuiyao couldn't help but wonder, is this really the royal palace?

"Squeak-", the heavy door opened from the inside, making a dry sound, as if the door hadn't been opened in a long time.

I saw that the person who opened the door was an old woman, dressed in dark gray coarse cloth clothes, wearing an apron, and holding a spoon for stir-frying, looking at Jiang Zuiyao and Wuxian with unfamiliar faces, and asked, "Who are you?" ”

Jiang Zuiyao was slightly stunned, if it weren't for the plaque that said Prince Gong's Mansion, she would definitely think that she had found the wrong door.

Wuxian also looked puzzled, but he didn't say anything, only said: "I am from the country of Contempt, and I am a distant guest of Prince Gong, and I exchanged letters with Prince Gong a few days ago. ”

The old woman blinked, suddenly remembered something, waved the spoon in her hand and said excitedly: "Oh! Yes, yes, yes, I remembered, Prince Gong did leave a message, come in, come in. ”

Jiang Zuiyao crossed the threshold, looking dazed. It stands to reason that they have to determine their identities, but as soon as Wuxian said that, they came in so easily.

The old woman led the way in front, and Jiang Zuiyao found that this so-called huge palace was very simple inside, not to mention the royal palace she had seen, and even the Shao family where she lived was worlds apart.

This...... Is it really a royal palace?

After walking for a distance, I suddenly heard a voice in the distance: "Grandmother, come quickly, the pot is paste!" ”

Listening to the voice, it seems to be a little boy's voice, and I also know that this old woman's name is Aunt Cui.

Aunt Cui immediately exclaimed: "Yes! Broken! Broken! ”

Aunt Cui muttered, and said to Wuxian very seriously: "This son, you follow this road all the way, and you will arrive at the front hall of the reception, I have to go and see the pot, there is still soup boiling in it, this can not be delayed!" ”

Throwing down these words, Aunt Cui took the spoon and hurriedly ran away.

Jiang Zuiyao looked at Aunt Cui, who was gradually moving away, looked at Wuxian with a dazed expression, and asked, "Are there no other subordinates in this palace?" I actually asked a cooking mother-in-law to open the door. ”

Although Wuxian also felt strange, he said in anticipation: "Prince Gong is not valued by the royal family, and his life is not as good as that of you, a rich young lady." ”

According to Aunt Cui's instructions, Jiang Zuiyao walked along the road, thinking as she went, even if she didn't pay attention to the royal family, she shouldn't be so casual. looked around, there was no one in sight, could it be that this huge palace was not a subordinate of Aunt Cui?

When they arrived in the front hall, the two of them sat on chairs and looked at everything in the room, which was very simple.

The room is not small, but there are not many furnishings, only a few chairs and a few tables, there is only a very ordinary calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall, and the teacups and bowls add up to less than ten, which makes this front hall very shabby.

Either way, there is a shelter from the wind.

Jiang Zuiyao and Wuxian worked in the front hall for a long time, but no one came, and they couldn't look for people everywhere when they first arrived, which was rude. Therefore, Jiang Zuiyao asked, "Didn't Prince Gong know that we were coming?" ”

Wuxian got up and looked at the empty courtyard, there was nothing but the wind and sand in the sky.

Jiang Zuiyao simply opened the door and shouted, "Is there anyone!" ”

There was no response except for the wind of "whirring".

Jiang Zuiyao frowned irritably, and shouted louder: "Hey! Is there anyone, we are Prince Gong's guests, is there anyone to spread the word! ”

"Who's yelling?" , Someone finally heard it, but listening to the voice of the reply, it should be a little far away.

After a long time, I heard the sound of sparse footsteps approaching, and a woman with a veil on her face peeked out of the courtyard gate, looked at the two strangers, and asked, "Are you the contemptible people mentioned in the letter a few days ago?" ”

Wuxian nodded: "Exactly, the tired girl went to invite His Royal Highness Prince Gong." ”

The woman did not go to the courtesy, but walked in across the threshold, carried her skirt up the steps, and said, "Prince Gong is not in the palace at the moment, please wait a minute." ”

With that, the woman stepped over the threshold and entered the antechamber.

Jiang Zuiyao and Wuxian had no choice but to close the door and enter the house, looking at this strange woman, Jiang Zuiyao didn't know what to say.

At this time, the woman said, "Please sit down, and I will cook tea for you." ”

Anyway, someone finally greeted him, and Jiang Zuiyao took a seat.

Wuxian was dusting off his body, but he didn't pay attention to the woman.

I saw that the woman began to light the fire and cook tea, the action was very skillful, saying that it was a maid, looking at the golden hairpin on the head is not like what the next person should have, but if it is the master, this clothes made of coarse arrowroot material are not what the master should have.

Who is she?

When they met for the first time, it was not easy to come up and ask about the identity of the people, so Jiang Zuiyao said, "I wonder when Prince Gong will come back?" ”

The woman fanned the fire and replied, "I'll be back soon, don't worry." ”