When he went back, due to the heavy guard, there was an incense burner on horseback in front of him to open the way, followed by several personal guards of the prince. Wang Ye and Gu Yongyuan each sat in their own sedan chairs, and it was a little difficult to speak.

However, as soon as he entered the east gate of the prince's mansion, the prince got off the sedan chair and motioned for Gu Yongyuan to step forward. He asked in a low voice, "Is this task difficult?" ”

Gu Yongyuan didn't want him to worry, and said with a smile: "Luck is made by ourselves, who can accurately predict these things?" ”

The prince pinched his shoulder hard, and when he saw Gu Yongyuan's answer, he was obviously relieved.

Soon, the palace issued an edict appointing the Duke of Hubei to Aixin Jueluo Jingxiang as the minister in charge of the northern seaport affairs of the Suzhou-Taicang route. He was going to Shanghai to negotiate with the Great Powers. All that remains is that when the customs seal arrives, Gu Yongyuan will set off immediately.

The shops near the north exit of East Fourth Street are bustling with activity. The first Lan Kwai Fong restaurant was quite famous in the capital, with golden signboards sparkling in the sun.

Lan Kwai Fong Restaurant is famous for its roast chicken. The secret recipe of chicken soup has been passed down from generation to generation, infusing the essence of chicken into the bones. Anyone who has tasted it can't help but be amazed.

In the East Room 1 on the second floor, the price of the abalone and sea cucumber feast is very expensive. The waiter was careful in and out of the room, for fear of breathing too loudly. But this is not surprising. Look at the people waiting in the room, the leader is Mo Ba Wangye. Each of them is a prominent figure in the control of the city. Not to mention their hosts.

Gu Yongyuan will leave the capital tomorrow. Rui Ci and his Yellow Belt accomplices, who are familiar with him, prepare to hold a farewell banquet for him. According to Ruici's plan, it will be a lively celebration for three days. However, Gu Yongyuan tends to be simple in everything. These yellow belts saw Gu Yongyuan as their leader, so he had to tolerate their zealous plans.

Sitting among them was a dilemma for Gu Yongyuan. Ruici is more well-behaved. At least, he still has his sweetheart Lotus by his side. Either way, she's still a woman. However, when Gu Yongyuan looked at the antics of Uncle Fei and the seventh son of Xianwang Debin and others, he couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine. Each of them is accompanied by a man with feminine features. Although their faces were delicate and lovely, their exaggerated movements made Gu Yongyuan cringe.

Among them, Fei San, the eldest of the seventh generation, is the oldest, but he has the most flamboyant personality. He amused the performers and raised his glass with a smile. "Fei Sanjing has a cup of young kings, the ancestors often say that our five banners finally have a person who can share the emperor's worries, see who dares to gossip behind his back." King Yong has only one son, and these people generally call Gu Yongyuan "little prince" to his face.

Gu Yongyuan raised his glass and said, "Thank you, third brother." ”

Although Debin was the son of Prince Rui, he had three older brothers above him. He was not favored by the King of Wise, and with a birth defect, it was unlikely that he would inherit the title. He wandered around the mansion all day, looking as if he could be blown down by a gust of wind. He staggered to his feet and stammered, "Brother, brother, De Debin also toasts you and wishes you all the best." Although he may not know where Gu Yongyuan is going, nor what mission he is doing, his blessing is from the heart. Although Debin was wooden, he knew that among Prince Yong's brothers, the third brother cared about him the most.

Gu Yongyuan looked at Debin and couldn't help but feel sympathy. In later history books, most royalty was treated as parasites. But who is to blame? According to the rules left by their ancestors, members of the royal family were not allowed to leave Beijing freely, nor could they engage in commercial trade. If they were not able to obtain positions through military service, they would spend their lives doing nothing, living on subsistence until they died. Looking at Durbin's appearance, it is estimated that he will not live to be thirty years old. He lives aimlessly like this, and he can't experience the joys and sorrows of the world. Why travel to this world again?

"Third brother, don't worry, after I leave, you have to take good care of yourself." Gu Yongyuan sighed and patted his hand gently.

"I know." Durbin said these three words with difficulty, and his face turned red. He coughed even harder, and the weak man beside him raised his slender fingers and wiped his mouth with a pale pink handkerchief. Seeing this scene, Gu Yongyuan couldn't help but be a little annoyed.

Rui Ci squinted at Debin, and couldn't help but say, "Third brother, if your physique is not good, drink less, don't choke to death in the future." Then he turned to Gu Yongyuan and said, "Brother, you're welcome to deal with those damned foreigners, if they cause you trouble, you can take out your weapons and fight them." ”

Gu Yongyuan smiled bitterly and nodded.

As the conversation continued, the conversation gradually turned to trivial matters. Fei San smiled so brightly, he looked crooked. He asked Gu Yongyuan: "Have you heard the news of your concubine?" Does the prince know about this? ”

Gu Yongyuan glared at Rui Ci, and Rui Ci immediately pretended to be innocent, "I didn't say anything!" Hey, third brother, can you clarify, did I tell you, or did you find the wrong person? ”

Fei San said with a mischievous face: "You told me, why did you shirk your responsibility in front of Jing Xiang?" ”

Gu Yongyuan knew that Rui Ci was a troublemaker, but he didn't want to say more. His presence in the courtyard of the Prince's Mansion is no secret. People coming and going, especially women, are easily noticed by people with keen eyes.

Gu Yongyuan smiled: "It's just a matter of time, the third brother's nose is very pointy, and I plan to take her with me this time." ”

He had already informed Lin Wanxue. This was a convenient opportunity to escort her and Lin Yingrui to Shanghai. Once there, she could join the Taiping army in Tianjing, or return to the territory via Canton. The risk is reduced and it will be safer. When he returned, he could simply say that she had escaped.

Sitting next to Gu Yongyuan was a beautiful woman named Binglan, who was from Yanchun Courtyard. She had recently been transferred from Zhigu. She is smart and has long wanted to attract the attention of her esteemed client, Ruici. However, Rui Ci fell in love with the young dancer Lotus. Her methods are extraordinary, and it is not easy to seize information from her.

Binglan was overjoyed when she heard that Rui Ci was holding a banquet and that the first person she wanted to see was her. She thought Ruici had always been interested in her.

But now at Lan Kwai Fong Restaurant, she finds that things are not as simple as they seem. She was with others, though he was just as handsome and elegant. Binglan felt a little disheartened. However, when she saw Lotus's envious and jealous eyes, she noticed that something was wrong. Moreover, as everyone called her target "young master", she gradually put it together. It turned out that this room was crowded with influential guests, and Binglan realized that she had picked up gold. No wonder Lotus is so unhappy.

Although Binglan wanted to show it, she was still a little cautious when she saw Gu Yongyuan's well-behaved appearance. She helped pour wine and serve food, and rubbed Gu Yongyuan's arm with her soft chest from time to time, pretending to be careless.

However, when the conversation turned to more ambiguous topics, the hands of the two gentlemen and their effeminate companions began to wander. However, the young master seemed to be engrossed. Binglan was anxious. Seeing that Gu Yongyuan's cup was empty, she hurriedly filled it and said coquettishly: "Lord, wine is like intestinal poison, drink less." ”

Rui Ci laughed and said to Gu Yongyuan: "Look, someone cares about you, will you stay tonight?" ”

I called Binglan in because Rui Ci hadn't picked her up yet. "Friends and wives are inviolable" is an unspoken rule in the Spring Boudoir Pavilion. If a girl is called by a friend, she can't call again, otherwise it will be considered immoral. If someone likes a girl introduced by a friend and wants to be in a relationship with her, the girl has to refuse. Of course, after some twists and turns, girls can still get engaged, but in the jargon it is called "cutting the waist of boots".

Rui Ci is principled and will not bring a girl who used to be with him to accompany Gu Yongyuan.

Bing Lan was overjoyed in her heart, lowered her head shyly, and did not speak.

At this moment, laughter came from the west room, mixed with a man's voice: "That woman is really a shy flower!" ”

There is a thin wooden partition between the two private rooms, which naturally has a poor sound insulation effect. This is a very common thing. Unexpectedly, the other party was obviously drunk, and his voice became louder and louder, followed by hoarse laughter.

Gu Yongyuan heard it clearly. The man was bragging about how he dealt with his local opponents. He boasted that he was from rural Hubei, where he framed a peasant named Ba Shi, who somehow offended him. He plotted and falsely accused the farmer's wife of adultery. It seems that even the county magistrate was a little jealous of him, so he sentenced the young woman to a beating.

Gu Yongyuan's brows furrowed deeply. When a woman is whipped for adultery, she must remove her clothes and endure the whipping of her bare back. To be stripped naked in public and to be punished like this is a shame worse than death, especially in this Confucian society. Degradation is unimaginable.

The man continued to brag: "I didn't hit him, what's the big deal about beating him?" ”

The other side erupted in laughter again.

Gu Yongyuan snorted, "Bastard! ”

Ruici's eyebrows had already been raised. Seeing Gu Yongyuan openly scolding, he didn't need to prompt anymore. He patted the table and stood up. Fei San and several yellow-clothed followers followed him, followed by the servants. Only Debin looked around drunkenly, completely unaware of what was going on.

Then came the sound of furniture colliding, dishes shattering, and exclamations from the next room. The man's voice was hoarse, and he shouted: "Damn, I am a relative of Lu Ziang, the commander of the Yancheng militia, you ...... Yes! The man screamed in pain, indicating that he had been beaten again.

Gu Yongyuan's brain was racing. Commander of the Yancheng militia? Lu Ziang? He didn't expect that his first relationship with Lu Ziang's relatives would begin like this. No matter who is right and who is wrong, it seems that there is already a grudge.

Although Lu Ziang's reputation is no longer prominent, even if he becomes a scholar and a marquis in the future, will these yellow-clothed lackeys still respect him?

The screams of pain continued, and Gu Yongyuan drank slowly. He realizes that his first encounter with Lu Ziang happened in this situation. One way or another, they seem destined for conflict.

At the same time, Ruici seems to be exhausted from the battle. He shouted: "Send them all to Beiping Mansion!" I'll clean you up today! ”

Seeing that the situation was getting worse, Gu Yongyuan did not dissuade Rui Ci. Even if Lu Ziang is a distant relative, taking the case to court will undoubtedly bring shame to his reputation. Gu Yongyuan didn't try to stop Rui Ci. After all, what does it matter if he clashes with the future man of the hour? How will this affect his plans to revitalize the country? Ultimately, people must be at peace with their conscience.