Gu Qinghan said: "Ms. Tang has a good temper and is kind-hearted. You have asked people to come to the house. How can Miss Tang refuse? Yesterday morning, Miss Tian's family stayed in Miss Tang's house. At noon, I asked They arranged meals for the mother and daughter, and took two pairs of medicines before leaving in the afternoon. I heard that Miss Tian's eye disease is difficult to cure, and it will take some time, so I will come over every few days to have a look."
Qi Ning said happily: "That means there is really hope?"
Gu Qinghan said: "You can ask Miss Tang later. I don't know for sure. But since we let them come here often, there should be some hope." He sighed softly: "It's a pity to think about it. I heard that the girl has suffered from eye disease. Over the years, I have seen many doctors, but nothing has improved. If Miss Tang really cures her this time, she will be considered a great virtue."
"Miss Tang was responsible for the previous epidemic in the capital." Qi Ning said with a smile: "If we talk about accumulating virtue, she has accumulated enough virtue to last several lifetimes."
Gu Qinghan closed the box and said: "Okay, you go to eat first, I also need to clean up here."
Qi Ning hurriedly said: "Sanniang, don't worry, I have one more thing to ask you."
"What's up?"
"Sanniang, do you know Beigong Liancheng?" Qining asked: "One of the five great masters in the world is called the God of Swords."
Gu Qinghan frowned and said, "You mean the second old man of the Qi family? Why do you suddenly think of him?"
"Sanniang, how much do you know about Beigong?" Qi Ning asked: "He is from the Qi family, why is his surname Beigong?"
Gu Qinghan thought for a moment and then said: "When I got married and started a family, the second old man was no longer in the house. In fact, he had never been to the Hou Mansion, and few people in the house mentioned him. I only know that he was young. When I was young, I traveled around, and my relationship with the Qi family was very estranged, and I had never seen him before."
"Then do you know why his surname was Beigong?"
Gu Qinghan shook his head and said, "I didn't ask either. In fact, even if I asked, no one would tell me."
When Qi Ning heard what Gu Qinghan said, she knew that her knowledge of Beigong Liancheng was extremely limited, and she was quite disappointed. Suddenly she heard a voice from outside the door: "Third Madam, Mr. Marquis, someone from the palace came over and left a letter for Mr. Hou. .”
Qi Ning came out and saw Manager Han standing far away from the door. He went over and asked, "Is there someone coming from the palace?"
Manager Han presented a letter and said, "Eunuch Fan personally sent it, saying it was a secret letter from the Emperor to the Marquis. After he left the letter, he did not stop and hurried back to the palace."
Qi Ning took the letter, opened it and glanced at it a few times. There was a hint of surprise in his eyes, but he still put the letter away and whispered: "Manager Han, you go to a place...!" He leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words. , Manager Han immediately said yes and hurriedly left.
Early the next morning, Qining just got up when another guest came. After cleaning up, he went to the front hall and saw an official over forty years old sitting in the hall drinking tea and waiting. When he saw Qining coming in, he hurriedly He stood up and came forward and saluted: "Hu Bowen, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, the official, pays my respects to the Marquis!"
Seeing that Hu Bowen was in his early forties, with a Chinese character face, dignified appearance, and quite a refined air, Qin Ning smiled and said, "It turns out to be Mr. Hu, come on, you're welcome, please take a seat." After the guests and hosts sat down, Hu Bowen He smiled and said: "Master Hou, I am here today to ask for instructions on the orders of Mr. Yuan Lao Shangshu."
"Please give me permission?"
"The Marquis is the envoy to Dong Qi this time. After discussion, I am honored to go with you." Hu Bowen said with a smile: "I can still help you by following the Marquis and doing chores." .”
Qi Ning smiled and said: "That's very good." He thought that after the emperor issued an order to propose marriage to Dong Qi, the efficiency of the court's affairs was not satisfactory. A deputy envoy had been arranged. Hu Bowen was the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, just under Yuan Lao Shangshu. , this person naturally knows everything about diplomatic etiquette. It would be great to have such a person by his side to help.
Hu Bowen stood up and took a list and presented it: "Master Marquis, this is the list of gifts prepared by the Ministry of Rites. Please read it first. Going to Dong Qi to propose marriage is no small matter. Although Dong Qi is a small country, it is not a trivial matter. We must not lose our etiquette. The gifts listed in this list are in line with diplomatic etiquette and can also show the magnificence of our great Chu. Lord Marquis, let’s see if there is anything that needs to be deleted or added.”
Qining took the list, scanned it, and found that the gifts listed on it were really generous. He couldn't help but ask: "Master Hu, Dou Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue complains about poverty every day. How much are the gifts on this list worth?" But it’s not cheap, can their Ministry of Household Affairs purchase it?”
Hu Bowen smiled and said: "Master Marquis, it is our business to go to Dong Qi as an envoy, but preparing gifts is the business of the Ministry of Revenue. Making the list is an errand within our rites department. We don't need to consider whether the Ministry of Revenue can do it." Be prepared. The first thing to consider is whether it is in line with etiquette. The Marquis knows that if the gifts prepared this time are too shabby and are criticized by the people of the Eastern Qi Dynasty and lose the face of the court, some people will inevitably say that our etiquette department is not doing things well. , the responsibility will fall on us."
Qi Ning smiled and said: "So we can just report the gifts that should be prepared. Whether we can prepare them is a matter for the Ministry of Finance."
"That's the truth." Hu Bowen said: "But everything needs to be reviewed by the Marquis. If the Marquis feels it is inappropriate, he can take it back and discuss it later."
Qining closed the list, handed it back, and said, "Since everything has been agreed upon, I don't have any objections. Just send this list to the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Hu Bowen put away the list and said: "I will obey your orders."
"Master Hu, how long do you think we need to prepare?" Qining asked.
Hu Bowen said: "The Ministry of Rites also selected several days, which are all conducive to travel. The earliest is after three days, the slowest is after seventeen days, but the best day is after eight days. , eight days later is an auspicious day, the best time to travel. Yuan Laoshangshu means that it is best for us to travel eight days later on May 18th, so when the official goes to the Ministry of Revenue today to send this list, he will also Discuss with the Ministry of Household Affairs and ask them to prepare these gifts within eight days so as not to delay the trip."
Qi Ning nodded and said: "It's up to you to arrange everything. If you need my cooperation, just come to me."
Hu Bowen cupped his hands and said, "I won't disturb you anymore. If the Marquis thinks of anything that needs to be arranged, you can always send someone to find him."
Qi Ning was not willing to deal too much with people from the Ministry of Household Affairs. Now that Hu Bowen was here to handle these matters, Qi Ning felt quite comfortable. Anyway, these trivial matters also needed people like Hu Bowen to take care of them.
At dusk, Qi Ning asked someone to prepare the carriage. As soon as the carriage was prepared, someone came to report that someone outside the house asked to see him. Qin Ning knew who was coming and asked people to welcome him in. Soon he saw a man wearing a brocade dress. The crowned Jiuxi Poison King Swing Yi came into the hall. Qining saw the Jiuxi Poison King dressed up and said with a smile: "In the clothes Poison King is wearing, he really looks like an old country squire who is enjoying his old age."
Zhu Qianyi sat down, glanced at Qining, and asked, "What are you going to do? Why do you want me to change into these clothes?"
Qi Ning sent Manager Han to find Zhuo Qianyi last night, and even brought this set of clothes for him to change into. Qi Ning was originally worried that Zhuo Qianyi had a weird personality and might not change his clothes as he said. When he saw it, he was a little relieved and said with a smile: "Poison King has been in the capital for a few days, and he has never been treated well. I just have free time today, so I took Poison King out to relax."
Swing Yi was startled, then sneered: "Where am I going, and do you still need to take me with you? Brat, what the hell are you doing?"
"Poison King doesn't need to ask any more questions." Qi Ning stood up and said, "The carriage has been prepared. Poison King will go with me."
Zhu Qianyi didn't know what kind of medicine Qin Ning was selling in his gourd. He hesitated, but still followed Qin Ning out. The two of them did not ride horses, but shared a carriage. The carriages were rolling, and Zhu Qianyi suddenly thought of something and asked: " Are you taking me to the palace to meet your emperor?"
Qi Ning smiled and said: "Poison King, let me tell you the truth, you have a good reputation. If you want to enter the palace, I'm afraid the palace won't let you go."
Zhu Qianyi snorted coldly and said: "I heard that there are so many masters in the palace, and the emperor is surrounded by countless masters. Why is he also afraid of me?"
"The Poison King's skill with poison is so amazing, how many people in the world are not afraid of it?" Qin Ning said with a smile: "To be honest, even I admire the Poison King's skill in poisoning. This is In the whole world, I am afraid that no one can defeat the Poison King in the art of poisoning. If I really lead the Poison King into the palace, and the Poison King becomes obsessed with it and releases the poison casually, wouldn’t I be unlucky as well?"
Swing Yi laughed dryly, and Qin Ning praised him for his poisoning skills as no one could, and he felt greatly benefited from it.
"Poison King, let me tell you the truth, do you always think that there is anyone in the world who can compare with you in the use of poison?" Qi Ning asked with a smile: "The art of using poison in the world has nothing to do with Xichuan, and Xichuan You are the Poison King, you should be the best in the world."
Swinging Yi was impressed, but he became humble and said: "There are many strange people in the world. It is reasonable for me to use poison. Looking at the world, I will not lose to anyone, but it is not necessarily true that I am the best in the world."
"Oh?" Qi Ning asked curiously: "Are there any powerful masters?"
Swing Yi said: "There are mountains outside the mountains, and there are people outside the people." After thinking for a moment, he said: "Have you ever heard of the Ten Thousand Poison Cave in southern Xinjiang?"
"Ten Thousand Poison Cave?" Qi Ning frowned and said, "This name is quite majestic."
Zhu Qianyi said: "It is said from ancient times that the Ten Thousand Poison Cave in Southern Xinjiang is the first-class sect in Southern Xinjiang. The masters of Ten Thousand Poison Cave in the past dynasties have been called King of Gus, and they are also powerful characters. All along, the Ten Thousand Poison Cave in Southern Xinjiang is the first-class sect in Southern Xinjiang. Together with the Xichuan Five Poison Sect, they are known as the two major poison-using sects in the world. When it comes to the art of using poisons, no one can surpass these two sects. However, in the past hundred years, the Five Poison Sect has gradually declined and has long been inferior to the Ten Thousand Poison Caves. However, the Ten Thousand Poison Caves have only been active in southern Xinjiang, so the Central Plains knows very little about them."
"The Poison King has seen the people from Ten Thousand Poison Cave?" Qining asked.
Zhuo Qianyi said: "We have interacted with each other, but we don't have deep friendships. The people in Wandu Cave are all sneaky, unclear about good and evil, and have eccentric temperaments. Anyway, I don't want to have contact with them."
Qi Ning asked: "Poison King, when I mentioned Southern Xinjiang, I suddenly remembered that someone had told me before that it seemed that a branch of the Yuandou Palace that dominated the martial arts world had fled to Southern Xinjiang. I wonder if Poison King knew them?"
"Yuan Dou Palace?" Zhuo Qianyi stared at Qi Ning and said, "You kid, you also know about Yuan Dou Palace? Hehe, it seems that I have underestimated you. You know a lot." After thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said : "Yuan Dou Palace has long since ceased to exist. I also heard that there was a civil strife in Yuan Dou Palace. One of the tribes actually fled to Southern Xinjiang and once dominated Southern Xinjiang. It is said that in order to fight for hegemony in Southern Xinjiang, this branch of Yuan Dou Yu remained. Mai also had a dispute with Ten Thousand Poison Cave."