An Long asked, "Why not tonight?" Isn't it better to get as soon as possible? ”

"Is it the boredom of your home life that makes you lose your ability to think, or is it that your brain is starting to dull after spending a lot of time with dwarves?" Veronica sneered and mocked him, "The day after tomorrow is the day when the border merchants will set off from Myton to trade in Wheat City, we will go to Merton first tomorrow night and go with the caravan, otherwise the Noga border guards will immediately arrest us as spies." It's true that we're spies, but don't tell the enemy about it. ”

As her childhood sweetheart, An Long knew that she had always spoken in this way, so she didn't care, but said: "The situation of Nuojia in the past two years is indeed unsettling, the current king is getting sicker and sicker, but the successor has not yet been decided, and the ministers and nobles are divided into several major factions and fight fiercely. While their infighting is good for us, it would be too bad if it was Prince Mario who came out on top. This guy is ambitious, always thinking that one day he wants to unify the whole continent. If he becomes King Nogar, we will never be at peace. ”

This matter is not a secret, so Veronica unceremoniously spat out: "Who doesn't know about this kind of thing?" Do you still need to say it? The people we sent to Nomonca, the capital city of Noga, have already started to act in secret, if Mario really wins by then......" A hint of fierceness flashed in her eyes, and she aimed at An Long, and a mocking smile tugged at the corner of her mouth: "As the son of the founder of the National Security Agency, don't you know what kind of role we play?" ”

An Long frowned slightly: "Okay, Veronica, you know I don't like to mention him. He quickly returned to the point: "What happened to the men sent to McCity?" Why is the message disconnected? Could it be that it was discovered? Didn't the people at the intelligence station send a message back? ”

Veronica replied, "No, that's why I'm going to find out what's going on." But I can probably guess that most of it was Gama's playboy who went to a tryst with a girl behind someone's back, and even left business behind. It's not the first time he's been around, and I'm afraid the people at the intelligence station are still in the dark. I really hope that one day someone will click his little brother off, and see if he dares to provoke women everywhere. ”

An Long smiled bitterly: "Veronica, you are a lady, how can you say such things?" Before Veronica opened her mouth to spit poison juice at him, he changed the subject: "So what do you think we should disguise ourselves as?" It's not that I'm pouring cold water on you, Winnie, you don't look like a businessman at all, and others will be suspicious when they see it, or you try dressing up as a man......"

===================== I'm the dividing line ====================== shift perspective

Minna was frightened, and when the door closed, she shivered and walked back to the living room, sobbing quietly.

It wasn't a joke, it was a real knife, it was right on her skin, it seemed to be cold, it was painful, maybe it was bleeding. That woman is really hateful, she didn't do anything, why do this to her?!

The housekeeper Marshall soon noticed that she was crying, and hurriedly walked over to hug her and asked, "Miss Minna, what's wrong with you?" Who bullied you? ”

Minna was just about to tell the story of that hateful woman, when she suddenly remembered her father's instructions, flattened her mouth, did not speak, but hugged Marshall and cried. Marshall saw the dirty clothes on her body, and thought that she was scolded by her mother because of this, so he comforted her: "It's okay, it's okay, Madame is just angry for a while, and she will be angry soon." Little Minna stop crying, didn't you say that only children cry in front of others? ”

"I'm not a child!" Minna sobbed and retorted, "Besides, there's no one else here. ”

Marshall paused, and a loving smile appeared on his face: "Little Minna is right, there are no outsiders here, only family, even if you cry, it's not a big deal." He whispered to the little girl, looking up at the beautiful and melancholy woman in the portrait on the wall, and a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.

By the time Minna finally put away her tears and smiled again, the guests in the garden had already taken their leave. Marshall immediately went to clean up all the tea sets, tables and chairs, while Minna cautiously approached the living room to find out if her mother was still angry.

Dora counted poor Brie with a cold face: "I don't care what you wear on the May Festival, I specially made shoes for you so that you don't have to be rude when entertaining guests." You actually said that because you were reluctant to wear new shoes, you appeared in front of your broken straw sandals?! You've lost my face! ”

Brie cried and begged her, "Madam, please, don't drive me away, I don't dare anymore." Next time, I'll be sure to put on new shoes and pour tea for the guests. "Although she is only a temporary maid, she is already a beautiful poor in the local area, and if her stepmother knew that she had lost her job, she would definitely be beaten to death.

Dora became even more angry when she heard this: "How many guests do you think will come to our family in such a country place?" Except for my dad, this is one a year! You made such a mistake, it's too late to say anything! Half of this month's wages will be deducted! Next time, you'll be gone! ”

Brie suddenly cried and laughed: "Thank you, madam, thank you, madam, you are so merciful, I will definitely do a good job, and I will never make a mistake again......" Dora waved her hand in annoyance to let her down, and when she saw her daughter who had disappeared at the door, her heart was angry again.

"Minna Cardo! Come over to me! She screamed.

Minna bit her lip and moved over, peeked at her mother carefully, and immediately lowered her head, making a pitiful look of "I know it's wrong, don't scold me, don't scold me".

Dora glared at her for a long time, but after all, she didn't say anything, just pointed to the cardboard box on the table: "This is a gift from your Uncle Goodwin, take good care of it, don't break it." ”

Minna looked over and saw a doll more than a foot tall lying in the box, wearing a gorgeous dress made of satin and ribbon, and a small pearl necklace hanging around her neck. She knew that the doll, called "Barbie", was sold in her grandfather's trading house, and she had seen a man in a muslin dress at the knight captain's daughter, which was obviously not comparable to this high-end goods. But she's not interested in this kind of thing: "I don't like dolls, so I don't want them." ”

Dora was so angry that she said sharply, "Minna! What's going on with you today?! Why are you always disobedient? I dressed you in clean and decent clothes early in the morning and told you to stay in the house and wait for the guests to come, but you ran into the woods and climbed trees, making yourself dirty, and Uncle Goodwin gave you a gift, and you actually ignored it and ran away?! Don't you know that this is rude?! ”

Minna was unconvinced and said, "But I hate him!" He always looks like a good person every time he comes, but every time he causes me to be scolded by my mother. My mother would only ask me to be obedient, to be a good child, to always say that I was not doing well here, not enough there, and always making fun of me with Beryl and Mandaby. What do they have to do with me? Why should I compare myself to them?! As she spoke, she couldn't help but redden.

Dora couldn't help but reflect on what she said. It seems that she only asks her daughter to do the best she can every time, not to be compared to her husband's two nieces, so she always finds fault with her, but she never praises her daughter, and indeed ignores the child's feelings.

However, she is also thinking about her husband and children. Their family is different from everyone else. An Long's brother doesn't have to do anything, he can inherit the titles and property of the Xiao family and the Kajia family, but An Long himself does his best, but he is just a little knight, and he has to go to this kind of countryside to suffer. The future is already worse than others, if even his wife and children are to be laughed at, then An Long will be crushed on his head for the rest of his life.

She looked at her daughter's aggrieved expression, coughed lightly, and said, "Okay, mom admits that she was negligent." But! It's not right for you to be rude in front of guests today! The next time you see Uncle Goodwin, remember to apologize to him and thank him for the gift. ”

Minna twisted for a long time, nodding reluctantly in the face of her mother's stern gaze. She hugged her mother's neck and said coquettishly: "Mom, I don't like Uncle Goodwin, next time I apologize, I won't talk to him, okay?" He's smiling all day long, so fake, it's scary to look at. ”

Dora glared at her daughter angrily: "It must have been your father's words, right?" Don't listen to him, that's called aristocratic demeanor. Besides, Dad is not at home, only Mom entertains guests alone, it's too inconvenient, with you present, at least I can accompany Mom. ”

Minna flattened her mouth: "Who said Dad wasn't at home?" He was there, and he was talking to Aunt Veronica in the study behind closed doors, and the vicious woman was scaring me with a knife and driving me away. As soon as she finished speaking, she remembered her father's instructions and hurriedly covered her mouth: "Oh no! I said it! Dad said he wasn't allowed to tell anyone, what should I do?! ”

Dora's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and she squeezed out a sentence from between her teeth: "It's okay, you're doing the right thing, you should tell your mother about this kind of thing!" ”

Winnie, who was standing beside her, added fuel to the fire: "Why is that fierce woman here again?" Since the past, she has always pestered her uncle, who married a young lady, and she came over a few times a year to shake it, what kind of idea did she have? ”

"Naturally, it's an unsavory idea!" Dora replied coldly, got up and walked out the door, bumped into Marshall, the butler, at the door, and went straight to the study without answering his inquiry.

Marshall asked what was going on, and Minna whispered, "I told my mom that my dad was talking to Aunt Veronica behind closed doors in the study, and she got angry. I forgot, I promised my dad not to tell anyone. Grandpa Marshall, will Mom and Dad quarrel again? ”

Marshall sighed: "Miss Veronica has just left, but the young master and the lady will probably have to quarrel. ”

Winnie's eyes widened, "Oh my God, Mr. Butler, do you know that woman is coming?" ”

"I know everyone who comes to this house." Marshall turned to Minna, "Little Miss, I think you did something wrong this time, and since you have already agreed, you shouldn't say it." ”

Minna had a bitter face, and she regretted it very much. Marshall patted her on the head and followed Dora with Winnie, ready to save the day.

When Dora came to the study angrily, An Long had just turned back from the gate, and when he saw his wife, he asked, "I just saw a very decent carriage, and the family crest on it is strange, is it that Goodwin boy is here again?" ”

Dora said with a smirk, "Just having a cup of tea in the garden and talking about things over there in Itojo." But I heard that your Miss Veronica is here again, and I wonder what you're doing in the study? ”

An Long was stunned for a moment, and pulled up a smile: "I didn't do anything, we just talked." ”

"If it's just talking, why keep the door closed? Do you still tell your daughter not to tell anyone? I thought you were working. ”

An Long saw the jealousy on his wife's face, and carefully chose his words: "Originally, Veronica was passing by and wanted to ask me to help her do something trivial, but it was inconvenient for the knights to talk, so I brought her back." She didn't want too many people to know, so I didn't sue you. As he spoke, he searched the surroundings with his eyes, and found his daughter poking her brain at the top of the staircase, and glared lightly.

Dora found out, but misunderstood what he meant, and held back her anger and said, "So, what does she want you to do for her?" Can I, as a wife, know? ”

An Long paused and decided to avoid the serious: "Of course you can, in fact, she is going to Meiton to visit her friend and wants me to give her a ride." You know, it's worrying that a young lady is riding so far on horseback alone, and it's so remote. ”

Dora wasn't worried at all: "Is there no one else but you?!" And you're not saying that her swordsmanship is as good as yours? How could a few little thieves be her opponents?! Even if she encounters a robber, the words that come out of her mouth will poison people to death. ”

An Long frowned: "Dora, what you said was too much. Veronica's father was an old friend of our family for decades and a teacher who taught me swordsmanship, and Veronica was like my sister. Even if you have any opinions about her, you shouldn't say such things! ”

Dora raised her head: "Okay, I won't say it, but you are not allowed to accompany her either!" If you do go with her, I'll take the baby back to Port Matt right away! ”

"Dora!" An Long was really angry this time, he was going to do serious things, but he couldn't tell his family, but how could his wife misunderstand him like this?

At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the window of the study, and the two turned their heads to look, only to see Veronica standing outside the window, looking at them with a smile: "I'm sorry, I didn't want to disturb the negotiation between the two of you, but I seem to have leaked my gloves here." ”

Anlong soon found her gloves on the desk and hurriedly returned them to Veronica, and was about to say something, but when he heard his wife Dora stomp her foot, turn around and rush out of the room, he smiled mockingly at Veronica, and suddenly felt a headache.

This dispute between Dora and Anlong developed into a cold war, and there was no sign of improvement at the end of the day, and everyone in the family was cautious. Minna regretted that she shouldn't have been so careless and said it. Now, as soon as her father saw her, he taught her with reproachful eyes that "what she promised others to be done", and whenever she wanted to say something good for her father in front of her mother, her mother Dora made a statement saying that if she spoke again, she would leave her and go back to Matt alone.

Dejected, Minna hides in the woods and climbs to her secret base, the big tree where she can hide. She really didn't mean to, why did her parents blame her? It was indeed wrong that she failed to obey her father's words, but why was her mother so angry? Didn't she say she did the right thing?

Is Mom really leaving? Will she really be left behind? A child without a mother will be very pitiful, the Brie sisters and brothers have no mother, so they are beaten and scolded by their stepmother every day, if she has no mother, will she be beaten every day?

When she thought of this, she couldn't help but be afraid. Through the thick branches, she stared closely at her home not far away, someone would come looking for her, right? As long as Mom and Dad call someone to come to her, it means that they will still want her.

But she waited until it was dark, and she didn't wait for anyone to come. Why? Usually she only needs to spend half an hour in the woods and Winnie will show up. Does Mom really don't want her anymore? And what about Dad? What about Grandpa Marshall?

Minna sobbed quietly. At this time, a man's voice came from the side: "Little girl, why are you crying?" ”

She was startled, and hurriedly looked back, only to see a young man in front of her, with black hair fluttering in the wind, and a pair of black eyes with a friendly smile, looking at her.