In the courtyard of the Ye family in Xinghua Hutong, the lights are bright.

Mrs. Shen sat on the main seat, full of anxiety, and the thrush persuaded her a few times to go to rest first, Mrs. Shen waved her hand and said, "Qiong'er hasn't been found yet, even if I lie on the bed, I can't sleep peacefully!" ”

Xie couldn't sit still, walking in circles in the hall, and asked the people around him from time to time: "Is there no news yet?" It's almost past curfew! ”

Ye Yao also put down the half-embroidered wedding dress, and now the Ye family's house is in a mess, even the Xie family has no intention of taking care of it, so she can only take care of the door of the inner courtyard, at this moment she is carrying a lantern and hurriedly came to the front of the hall, saying: "Auntie, the doors of several households in the house have been locked, and they have all left their own people, so they are prepared for the situation that if my sister comes back, but no one opens the door." ”

Xie Shi nodded, and turned around anxiously, Feng's mother held the fine porridge that had been heated a few times, and persuaded on the side: "Madam, why don't you use some first, it's useless for your dinner." If the second girl finds it, but you fall, it will be distressing when she comes back to see it. ”

Xie shook his head and said, "I can't eat it, let's put it first." ”

Feng's mother was helpless, Ye Yao on the side took the bowl herself, and also came to persuade her: "Auntie, there are lotus seeds in this porridge, you can eat some, lotus seeds are pity, just ask for a mouth." ”

Xie Shi took the bowl at this time, regardless of whether it was hot or cold, he drank the porridge in one go, and before he drank it, he heard a noise outside the courtyard, and hurriedly put down the bowl and chased it out, and the people who came were Ye Zhujin and Ye Xizhu.

It was already the cold winter season, but the two of them were sweating profusely, and they didn't have time to salute, so they said first: "There is no news for the time being." The Yun family's argument is that Qiong'er has never been seen in and out of the city gates, and the fifth brother also looked for Zhu Wuye and asked the lower nine streams in the capital to find it. Zhu Wuye said that it will take some time to have news. The third brother, Lang'er, Brother Jin'er and Siheng are still outside to look for them. ”

Xie Shi was full of joy and was drenched, and said hurriedly: "It's a little later, but it's a curfew!" After the curfew, you can only wait for tomorrow morning, after a whole night, who knows what will happen, even if it is found intact, Qiong'er's reputation will be over! ”

There was no one present who didn't understand this truth, and everyone's face was like a vegetable.

At this moment, Ye Jin rushed in ecstatically, shouting loudly as he ran: "Found it, found it!" ”

Everyone was stunned at first, and Xie Shi took the lead in asking, "How did you find it, where is Qiong'er?" As he spoke, he looked behind Ye Jin.

However, it was not Ye Qiong who was standing behind Ye Jin and walking slowly, but Mrs. Lu.

Mrs. Lu smiled and saluted, and said, "The person has found it, and it is the news that Shaodan just sent someone." Qiong Yatou was at the princess of Nanping County in Shuiyue Nunnery, but because the road was a little far, and the curfew was approaching, she didn't come back in time. At dusk tonight, the princess of Nanping County was enjoying the scenery on the hill near Shuiyue Nunnery, but she heard a woman shouting for help, so she asked the accompanying guards to come to the rescue, and happened to save Qiong Yatou. ”

Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief, only Mrs. Shen's expression was complicated.

Mrs. Shen often enters the palace, and she is a handkerchief with the Queen Mother, and she is the person in the Ye family who knows the most about the affairs of the palace.

She remembered very well that the princess of Nanping County has been widowed in Shuiyue Nunnery since the king of Nanping County died on the battlefield, and the heavenly family took the county lord into the palace to be raised by the queen in order to show grace.

It's a good thing that Qiong'er is safe and sound, and with the princess of Nanping County to testify, her reputation is naturally unharmed, but why is it related to the princess of Nanping County?

Mrs. Shen quietly looked at Mrs. Lu, who came to report the news, and found that this Mrs. Lu, who she had never paid special attention to, was outstanding in appearance, abided by etiquette in her manners, and had a lot of demeanor, unlike a woman raised by a small family, and she was even more suspicious in her heart.

Ye Zhujin was also full of questions.

Shuiyue Nunnery is a royal garden, where would there be robbers who rushed there so desperately, and they also provoked the princess of Nanping County.

Sister Qiong'er disappeared from the post station outside the city for no reason, how could those robbers just attack her, near the end of the year, there are still a lot of wealthy businessmen in the post station! It can be seen that this matter is not for money, Qiong'er is only twelve years old, and it is unlikely that she will be sexual, so it is only for revenge.

For revenge, the most suspicious thing in the capital is the Xie family, who was retired by his third brother and third brother and sister.

But if this is the case, how to explain the rescue of the princess of Nanping County?

Although the Ye family had different thoughts, they finally got accurate information, and the source of this information was Mrs. Lu, who had been a close neighbor for many years, so the Ye family naturally would not doubt her credibility.

Xie Shi hurriedly shouted to call the few people who were still looking outside to come back, and rushed to tell the news to all parties on the eve of the curfew and thanked them.

Mrs. Shen's face was already tired, Xie helped Mrs. Shen to rest, on the way, Mrs. Shen suddenly thought of something, and asked Xie: "The Lu family next door, when you came to Xinghua Hutong, was it nine years ago?" ”

"Yes." Xie's face was still worried about his daughter, "I remember that it was not long after King Sheng's rebellion. At that time, there was chaos everywhere in the capital, and the famous doctors in the capital were requisitioned to treat the nobles in the palace. Their family is unfamiliar with the place when they first arrived, and they didn't even clean up the yard, so we helped to hire a doctor for Shaodan's child. ”

Mrs. Shen was silent for a long time, and finally sighed and said, "Let's talk about the marriage between Qiong'er and the little son of the Lu family, you remember to watch a few more for Qiong'er." By the way, I will be more respectful to Mrs. Lu in the future. ”

Xie was confused, but seeing that Mrs. Shen didn't want to say more, she didn't ask more, just nodded in response.

……………………

In the Suigetsu Nunnery, a beautiful woman stood in the courtyard, looking at the snow falling on the pines, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, as if she was smiling.

A maid who was also dressed as Kun Dao stepped forward, put a cloak on the beautiful woman, and persuaded: "Princess Jun, it's cold outside, let's go into the house and wait." ”

The beautiful woman was the princess of Nanping County, she shook her head, and said expectantly: "Yunying, you don't have to persuade me anymore, I'll wait for the child to come over and go in." The last time I saw him was when he first went to Yunnan at the age of twelve, and that was three years ago. I don't know how he's looking now, but he's a little taller and stronger......"

As he was talking, a maid ran in and said with a smile: "Princess of the county, the prince has arrived!" He said that the girl he brought had been wronged by hiding and hiding along the way, and the son took her to freshen up first, and then came to see you to say goodbye. ”

The princess smiled and joked with the maid named Yunying next to her: "Look, I will feel sorry for the girl, but won't I please the girl when I grow up?" Then he asked the maid who had come to tell the news, "But behold, what does the girl look like?" ”

Yun Ying smiled: "It's so tightly hidden, I didn't let me see it at all." Look at the body shape...... is about twelve or thirteen years old, and it can be seen that it is a beauty billet. ”

The princess sneered and said with a smile: "I haven't seen my face, so I just say it's a beauty, and I choose something nice to make me happy, right?" By the way, the girl has to freshen up, and she can't do without some beautiful clothes. Twelve or thirteen years old...... The size should be about the same as Qin'er, send her the clothes that Qin'er didn't wear, Qin'er rarely comes here anyway. ”

The maid who came to report was stunned, and when she saw that the princess did not want to change her mind, she went down with a smile.

After waiting for a while, Lu Shaodan came to visit Ye Qiong with a new costume, Ye Qiong stepped forward, performed a standard palace salute, and said respectfully: "Little girl Ye Qiong, I have seen the princess of Nanping County." ”

"Ye Qiong?" The princess of the county was slightly surprised, "Your surname is Ye, could it be the granddaughter of Old Emperor Ye?" ”

Ye Qiong was also slightly stunned, and replied: "My grandfather's name is Ye Ling, and he did serve as a grand master. ”

According to the regulations of the Daliang court, the Taishi is generally a fictitious position, and most of the people who hold this position are officials who are respected as the emperor's master by the emperor of the dynasty, and Ye Qiong's grandfather is one of them.

The princess of Nanping County was slightly surprised, and it seemed that her attitude became more friendly in an instant, and Yun Ying, who was standing beside her, listened to Ye Qiong's report on Ye Ling's name, and even bowed her knees to Ye Qiongfu, which made Ye Qiong full of doubts.

His grandfather, did he even respect such a noble figure as the princess of Nanping County?

Ye Qiong was surprised, the princess of Nanping County had already personally pulled her up affectionately, and the maid who followed Ye Qiong immediately whispered: "Princess of the county, this girl still has a wound on her arm." ”

The princess of the county was taken aback, and when she saw Ye Qiong's unchanged appearance, she was even more curious about her, so she smiled and said to Lu Shaodan, who was about to stop talking behind Ye Qiong: "You wait outside, I want to whisper something to this girl from the Ye family." ”

Lu Shaodan smiled helplessly, arched his hand, and turned around to stand under the corridor.

The princess of the county personally took Ye Qiong's hand and entered the wing, and called Yun Ying and said, "Go and get some medicine for the injury, and call the medical girl in the temple to come over, so that I can see Miss Ye's injury." ”

Ye Qiong just wanted to refuse, but the princess of the county had already patted her hand and said, "Don't refuse." I've seen a girl like you, and she can endure the pain the most, not to mention that she has taken medicine, just take it again. ”

Ye Qiong reluctantly responded, letting the princess of the county command the maid to strip off her clothes, carefully let the doctor apply medicine to every wound, and did not even let go of the traces of the rope on Ye Qiong's hands and the worn feet.

The princess of the county was amazed while staring at the medicine girl, and asked curiously while sitting, "Miss Ye, how did you get so many injuries?" ”

Ye Qiong was silent, carefully omitted the part of his experience that was not suitable for talking, and heard that the princess of the county and Yun Ying's eyes lit up, and they appreciated Ye Qiong even more, and did not forget to order another bowl of somen noodles for Ye Qiong.

When the medicine girl stepped back and Su Mian also came up, Ye Qiong thanked her embarrassedly, and was helped by Yun Ying to walk to the table and sit down.

With the previous experience of taking medicine, Ye Qiong completely believed that the princess of the county was indeed easy-going, so when the princess urged her to eat noodles, she did not shirk, picked up the chopsticks and ate them in small bites.

The princess of the county liked Ye Qiong's gradual release of wantonness very much, and said with a smile: "You eat slowly, I'll tell you about Shaodan." ”

Ye Qiong's eyes widened, the princess of the county had already spoken to herself, as kind as an elder who pulled Ye Qiong to talk about homely things, she said: "Shaodan is willing to bring you here, he should have confessed his identity to you, and I believe that you are a credible person." He was in the house...... I can't comment on it, I can only say that every family has a scripture that is difficult to read, let alone a family with a heavy army and real power like the Zhenguo Mansion. By the way, I haven't asked you yet, what is your relationship with him? ”

Ye Qiong almost choked, but fortunately the noodles were strong and soft, and they went down her throat, Ye Qiong wiped her mouth, and after making sure that there was no food in her mouth, she said: "Brother Shaodan and his mother live next door to my house, so we only met." ”

"Oh, it's a childhood sweetheart...... " Princess Jun smiled ambiguously, and Ye Qiong quietly blushed.

The princess of the county said again: "Then you should know that he has been practicing martial arts?" ”

Ye Qiong bowed his head and said: "I know, but I don't know much, I just know that there is such a thing." ”

The princess said with emotion: "I think about it, he even hid it from me...... Master Cui is strong in martial arts, and he is even harsher on Shaodan, and he still has to boil his muscles and bones in the cold winter and the moon, and once even threw him into the mountains and forests infested with wild beasts, and only gave him five arrows and a small amount of water to let him out by himself, but fortunately, he didn't suffer any major injuries......"

Yun Ying beside the princess of the county quietly wiped away her tears, Ye Qiong was also sour and embarrassed when she heard it, the princess suddenly changed her tone and said sincerely: "That kid has carried a lot since he was a child, and I can see that he has a lot of feelings about his father's death." Miss Ye, if so...... Please take care of him a little more. ”

The princess didn't say what the content was, and Ye Qiong couldn't guess it herself, but seeing that the princess was so sincere, she nodded and said, "Don't worry, princess, I will." ”

Take care of one or two, Ye Qiong can still do it. She still has a lot of news about Lu Shaodan in her previous life, which should be used to guide him in this life.

Lu Shaodan has helped her so many times, and he has the grace of his previous life, Ye Qiong wanted to help him.

The princess seemed to be at ease, and turned her head to let Yun Ying take something, and Yun Ying took out a box, which turned out to be a dagger studded with gems.

The princess pulled the dagger out of the scabbard and let Ye Qiong take a look, the dagger was very sharp at a glance, and the cold light was shining when it came out of the sheath.

The princess of the county personally handed over the dagger with the box to Ye Qiong, and said with a smile: "I gave it to you." ”

Ye Qiong was at a loss, she had already received a lot of favors from the princess of the county, but she couldn't accept such a valuable gift anymore.

At the same time, Ye Qiong couldn't help but wonder, she and the princess of the county were just meeting for the first time, why did the princess of the county value herself so much, and gave this dagger to the prime minister? Where does this dagger come from?

The princess of the county couldn't help but stuff the box into Ye Qiong's arms and said, "I like you, so I gave you this, you just take it well, don't think about anything else." Okay, Shaodan is still waiting outside, you go and meet him. ”

Ye Qiong couldn't refuse, and went out with the dagger box, and saw Lu Shaodan still standing under the porch, looking up at the stars and moon, standing like a jade mountain.

Finding Ye Qiong coming out, Lu Shaodan turned around and first saw the wooden box in Ye Qiong's hand: he said with a slight surprise: "This box...... I remember that inside was a dagger given to the king of Nanping County when today's son was born, and it was originally reserved for the future Xiao Shizi. The king of Nanping died young, the princess of the county has no children under her knees, this dagger is useless, I didn't expect the princess of the county to give you ...... now"

Ye Qiong was even more at a loss, but Lu Shaodan said with a smile: "Since I gave it to you, you can just take it well, if you want to return it, you will live up to this intention." Alright, now that you're done, I'll take you to a resting place. ”

Ye Qiong calmed down, determined to keep this dagger well, and asked Lu Shaodan curiously, "Have you been waiting here?" ”

"The moonlight is good, so I took a few more looks." Lu Shaodan said, "I'll stay outside your door tonight, if you can't sleep, call me, if you can't sleep, I'll ask the maid to light you a sleeping incense." ”

Ye Qiong looked up at Lu Shaodan, the young man's gaze under the moonlight was sincere and sincere, like a lake, which made people sink unconsciously.

It seems that in an instant, Lu Shaodan is not the son of the Zhenguo Mansion who is outcast, but the young man she knows.

Ye Qiong intuitively felt that tonight should be a good night's sleep.