After Chu Mofeng and Shi Hanshuang came out of Lao Jun's medicinal herb shop, they found that the middle-aged man from before was still standing at the door, and when they saw the two coming out, the middle-aged man hugged his fist at the two and said, "Please come with me, and I will take you to retrieve the horses." With that, he made a gesture of please, and walked forward without saying a word.

Seeing this, Chu Mofeng and Shi Hanshuang hurriedly walked forward with the middle-aged man, and went around all the way to the courtyard behind the warehouse. Then he turned his horse's head and walked in the direction of the West Market.

The two walked side by side, and Shi Hanshuang said to Chu Mofeng: "Fortunately, there are nobles to help, otherwise there will inevitably be a fierce battle today, where are we going next?"

"Let's go to your hometown of Duling County first, you should go back to meet your mother after going up the mountain for so many years, but before that, we have to find Song Xin, there are some things I need his help with." ”

"Then without further ado, let's set off, go to Song Xin first, and then go back to Duling. When Shi Hanshuang heard that he was going back to his hometown, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, he was taken up the mountain by his master since he was a child, and he was already about to enter his double decade in a flash, and it was time to go back to visit.

The two made a plan and rushed to Wencheng business non-stop, who knew that they met Song Xin on the way, as soon as the two sides met, Song Xin hurriedly beckoned the two into a restaurant, found a clean single room, asked for a few dishes and closed the door, and asked anxiously before sitting down: "Nothing happened to the two of you today, right?"

"Why did Brother Song say this?" Chu Mofeng asked suspiciously, thinking about the matter of the Xiao Cavalry Guards mentioned by Lao Jun, he wiped his right hand on his waist, pulled out a dagger and put it at Song Xin's throat, and said coldly: "Could it be that those Xiao Cavalry Guards who came to us were brought by you?"

At this time, Shi Hanshuang closed the door, and when he turned around, he saw that Chu Mofeng had already put the dagger against Song Xin's throat, and couldn't help but whisper: "Mofeng, put the dagger down, if it is the person attracted by Brother Song, then why should he throw himself into the net again?"

Feeling the coldness from his throat and a hint of blood in his nose, Song Xin slowly pushed Chu Mofeng's dagger away, smiled and said, "Don't hide it, you two seem to have some misunderstanding of Song, I think this note can prove my innocence." Then he threw a note on the table and looked at Chu Mofeng without saying a word.

Chu Mofeng picked up the note and unfolded it, only to see that the note read: 'Try to send the two to Luoyang, inform the Luoyang head office, and after the two of them have dealt with the matter, they will return to Zhangye with the caravan going to the mutual market, and there must be no mistake. The inscription below the note is a beautiful 'Xuan' word.

After reading the note, Chu Mofeng asked Song Xin suspiciously: "I recognize this handwriting, it belongs to Sister Xuanji, what is the relationship between you and Sister Xuanji?"

Seeing that Chu Mofeng finally didn't doubt himself, Song Xin couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and said: "Brother Chu, I have nothing to do with the eldest lady, if I have anything to do with it, I am the shopkeeper of the Xijing branch of the Wencheng firm under the eldest lady's family, and I am directly under the command of the eldest lady." ”

"You mean my sister Xuanji, is it your eldest lady, and what is her family?" Chu Mofeng asked three questions in a row, and when he heard Song Xin say this, Chu Mofeng couldn't help but be confused.

"The two members of the eldest lady's family should have heard of it, the Song family, one of the largest merchant families in this dynasty, in the fourth year of Renshou, I was instructed by the eldest lady and her father, Mrs. Song, to open the first Wencheng firm in Xijing, and some of the shares are owned by Gao Jiong Gao, and some are owned by a son surnamed Chu, but the money is all contributed by the eldest lady. ”

At this time, he heard someone knocking on the door, Song Xin stopped talking, got up and opened the door and found that it was the shopkeeper who delivered the food, and then welcomed the person in. ”

Song Xin took out twenty yuan and threw it to the shopkeeper and said, "Go down, close the door, I don't want anyone to disturb me during the meal, you know what to do." ”

"Cheng, guest officer, don't worry, the little one knows how to do it, and you use it slowly. After receiving the reward, the shopkeeper turned around and went out of the house and closed the door.

After seeing the shopkeeper leave, Song Xin greeted Chu Mofeng and the others: "Let's talk while eating." Then he took a mouthful of food with chopsticks and put it in his mouth, and then said: "When the two of you came to my business on the first day, the eldest lady had already sent a book to me, and then after you left, I don't know if the eldest lady had learned any news, and then flew a pigeon to pass the book to me, asking me to send you to the eastern capital quickly, I don't know the specific situation, it is estimated that your whereabouts were discovered by someone, so there was a matter of Xiao Cavalry Guards entering the city before." ”

Hearing Song Xin say that Wencheng had his father's shares in the firm, Chu Mofeng suppressed the idea of telling Song Xin his true identity, stood up and shook his fist at Song Xin and said: "I hope Brother Song forgives me for my abrupt move just now, I respect Brother Song for this cup, and it can be regarded as a compensation for Brother Song." ”

Song Xin waved his hand and said, "Don't mind the trivial matters, it's normal for Brother Chu to suspect me at first." Then he picked up the wine glass and touched Chu Mofeng and said, "Brother Chu, take the liberty of asking, what is the next step for the virtuous couple?"

Chu Mofeng glanced at Shi Hanshuang, who was struggling with the food in front of him, and said to Song Xin: "I really don't hide it from Brother Song, the two of us are going to go to Duling County first, and then I hope you can help us and send us to Luoyang, I don't know if it's convenient?"

Song Xin pondered for a moment and said: "Well, since your goal is slightly different from the eldest lady's instructions, it will not affect it, so let's do it, after the virtuous couple come back from Duling, I will arrange a carriage to go to Luoyang for delivery, and I will also repair a book at that time, the two of you will go to the Wencheng business head office in Luoyang, hand over the letter to the person in charge over there, and when the two of you want to leave, you can go to him again, but I estimate that the eldest lady's flying pigeon biography should also arrive in Luoyang at this time." ”

Then Song Xin and Chu Mofeng drank a few glasses of wine in a row, and then got up to say goodbye.

Chu Mofeng and Shi Hanshuang sat in a single room, discussing the specific details of the trip while eating, after the meal, the two went downstairs to settle the bill, but they were told that the person who went downstairs before had already settled the bill, and the two couldn't help but be a little embarrassed.

After returning to the inn, the two packed their bags and settled the room money clearly, then turned over and walked towards the Yanping Gate in the southwest direction.

As soon as I entered the county, I felt that the whole county was not as dilapidated and depressed as the northwest counties, and the streets were very lively, perhaps because they thought that they were under the jurisdiction of Jing Zhaoyin like Xijing, and the prosperity of Xijing also relatively drove the economy of the counties.

The two walked aimlessly on the street, and found that the crowd did not pay special attention to strangers like Xijing, but walked by themselves, and the two passed by a shop to buy some gifts, and asked the shopkeeper about the location of Shi Hanshuang's mother's mansion by the way.

The shopkeeper thought for a while and said: "The two of you should be talking about the wife of General Shi Wansui's family who went out of our Du Ling, the lady now lives in the mansion in the north of the city, which is the ancestral house of the Shi family, which was renovated once five years ago, and the two of you walked west along the road in front of me to the intersection in front of me and turned south, the largest house is." A large area of land at the back of the house belonged to her family. ”

The two thanked the shopkeeper and turned around and walked out of the store, following the route indicated by the shopkeeper all the way, and sure enough, they turned south and saw a big mansion with three entrances and three exits, the two of them turned over and dismounted and tied the horses to the door, Chu Mofeng took the gift in Shi Hanshuang's hand and motioned her to go up and knock on the door.

Shi Hanshuang walked up the steps step by step, slowly came to the door, took a breath and adjusted his state, stretched out his hand to hold the beast ring on the door and gently buckled it three times, and there were three crisp sounds in the air, and a woman's voice came from inside the door: "Who?"

Shi Hanshuang said softly: "We are from Xijing and have come to visit Mrs. Du. ”

Then the door squeaked open, and a woman dressed as a maid came out, and said to Shi Hanshuang and Chu Mofeng, "Two, please wait a while, I'll go and report to Mrs. Then the maid turned and went inside.

Seeing this, Chu Mofeng stepped forward and joked with a smile and said, "By the way, your maid doesn't know you, this maid can't be fake." ”

"When I left home, it was the twenty years of the emperor's reign, and now it is the twelfth year of the great cause, and there is a gap of sixteen years in between, if the person who opened the door is a middle-aged person, he may still be able to recognize me, but you see that the maid just now is obviously not as old as me, and it is normal not to know me. ”

While the two were talking, a woman about thirty years old walked out of the door, and after carefully studying Shi Hanshuang for a long time, she asked softly, "May I ask if you are Miss Hanshuang?"

When Shi Hanshuang saw this person calling himself Miss Frost, he asked suspiciously: "I am Shi Hanshuang, are you?"

"Miss, it's really you, I'm Cui'er, the personal maid next to Madame, where have you been for so many years, Miss?" Hearing that the person opposite was Shi Hanshuang, Cui'er couldn't help but burst into tears and hugged Shi Hanshuang.

As soon as he heard that this person was Cui'er beside his mother, Shi Hanshuang recalled the scene when Cui'er played with him when he was a child, and tears welled up in an instant.

The two cried for a while, and Cui'er said to Shi Hanshuang: "Miss, come into the house, just now I was in the front hall to serve Mrs. after eating, the maid Xiaoyu came to report that there was a guest from Xijing who wanted to visit Mrs., Mrs. felt surprised and motioned for me to come out and see, I didn't expect that it was Miss You are back, hurry up and follow me in, Mrs. will be very happy to see you." ”

Suddenly turning her head and seeing Chu Mofeng standing aside, Cui'er was stunned for a moment and asked, "Miss, who is this?"

"He is the one with whom I am engaged, and he is coming back with me to visit my mother. Shi Hanshuang looked at Chu Mofeng and said a little shyly.

"This son is really embarrassed, as soon as he saw the eldest lady was too happy, he snubbed you, I hope you will forgive me. Cui'er said as she made a blessing to Chu Mofeng.

Chu Mofeng shook his head at Cui'er and said, "It's okay, please lead us in." ”

"Hey, you two please. After making a gesture of please to Chu Mofeng and Shi Hanshuang, Cui'er turned around and led the way in front.

The two followed Cui'er through the weeping flower gate, and after walking through a garden, they saw a graceful and luxurious woman about forty years old standing on the steps of the main house from a distance. ”

After Shi Hanshuang's mother, Mrs. Du, saw the appearance of the person who came, her eyes turned red, she hugged Shi Hanshuang and said, "My good daughter, I haven't seen my mother for so many years and miss you to death." Then he pulled Shi Hanshuang's shoulders and stared at her pretty face and said, "Call me a mother and see if you have lost weight." ”

Shi Hanshuang said with a smile while crying: "What are you talking about, the master and sisters on the mountain are very good to me, and the food on the mountain is also very good. ”

At this time, Du Fu saw Chu Mofeng in front of him, looked at it suspiciously for a while, and Mrs. Du said in a very uncertain tone: "You are...... Wen Cheng?"

As soon as he heard someone call his real name, Chu Mofeng hurriedly took a few steps forward and knelt down to Mrs. Du and said, "Auntie is above, the child is Wencheng, please give you a farewell." Then he prostrated three times.

When Mrs. Du heard that it was Gao Wencheng, she hurriedly motioned for him to get up, and said with a smile: "It seems that I am really old, you see that you and Hanshuang have grown so big." ”

Chu Mofeng smiled and said, "Where does my aunt look old? If I didn't know, I would have thought that my aunt was only thirty years old this year." ”

Hearing Chu Mofeng praising her youth, Mrs. Du couldn't help but smile and said, "You kid is really sweet-mouthed, come, come into the house, let's sit down and talk." Then he led the two into the main room, and after the three of them sat down, a maid served tea, only to see Mrs. Du say to the maid: "Tell me to go down, there are distinguished guests here today, and a table of wine and food will be prepared in the evening, and I will greet the distinguished guests." ”

The maid answered, took the gift from Chu Mofeng's hand and turned to retreat, at this time Mrs. Du looked at Chu Mofeng and said, "Child, I also heard about your family later, but it hurt Sister Heba and you children." ”

"My aunt doesn't have to be like this, my mother and two brothers were also sent back to my hometown in Bohai County, and it is said that everything that can be taken away has been taken away, and the mansion in Xijing was bought by a friend, and it can be bought back after discussion, but my father's death is a little too wrongful. ”

Mrs. Du nodded and said: "Actually, your father reminded my husband a long time ago, asking him to be careful of Yang Su old thief, I never thought that it was still his way, hey, don't mention it, come to my aunt today, this is your home, don't be restrained." ”

Shi Hanshuang said to his mother at this time: "Mother, our family's house in Xijing was bought by my uncle, but now my daughter can't go to my uncle, after all, he is still an official in the court, and I am afraid that it will not affect well." ”

"It's okay, it's right for you to think so, child, after your father was killed, your uncle and your uncle have been helping me openly and secretly, otherwise how could I buy such a big family business by myself. ”

"Then I will definitely visit my uncle and uncle when I have the chance. Shi Hanshuang nodded solemnly, and then asked, "Mother, where is my brother, why can't I see him?"

Mrs. Du smiled and said: "The house has opened a shop in the city, and your brother is taking care of it on weekdays, and a few days ago he took people to Luoyang, the eastern capital, to buy goods, saying that he would come back at the end of the month." ”

"Then let's catch up with my brother when I have a chance. ”

Mrs. Du nodded, and chatted with the two of them about homely gossip, and before she knew it, the maid came to report that the wine and food were ready, and Mrs. Du motioned to the maid to move the wine and food to the main room.

The three of them sat around a table and ate while chatting about homely things, and during the banquet, Mrs. Du said to Chu Mofeng: "Wencheng, I don't know if you have anything important to do with Shuang'er this time?"

Chu Mofeng looked at Shi Hanshuang and stopped talking, Shi Hanshuang saw this and kicked Chu Mofeng's leg violently and said, "Do you still expect me to say this kind of thing?"

Chu Mofeng was pained and said to Mrs. Du: "Auntie, the two of us came this time to prepare to go to the Eastern Capital and then go back to Zhangye to get married, I hope my aunt can also be there." ”

Mrs. Du pondered for a moment and said, "Yes, but you must notify the government in advance, after all, you also know that the road to Zhangye is long, and it is not possible to get there in three or two days." ”

Chu Mofeng thought for a while and felt that what Mrs. Du said made sense, so he said to Mrs. Du: "That's it, auntie, after we finish our business from Luoyang, we have to go back to our hometown in Bohai County to visit my mother, and after picking up my mother, we will come back to pick up my aunt and Brother Shi, and then let's go back to Zhangye together to see if it's okay." ”

"It's okay, it's your young people's world now, you can do whatever you want. ”

Then the three of them pushed the cup and changed the lamp, at this time, Mrs. Du looked at Chu Mofeng just like the saying, the mother-in-law looked at her son-in-law, and the more she looked at it, the happier she became.

It was already four o'clock after the meal, Chu Mofeng was arranged to rest in the east wing, while Shi Hanshuang was pulled to the bedroom by Mrs. Du to talk.

In the early morning of the second day, the two put a stick of incense on Shi Wansui's tablet, and after bidding farewell to Mrs. Du, they hurriedly left Duling County and turned back to walk in the direction of Xijing......