In the evening of that day, Xiu Niang came to the post house again and was led to Qining's house by Wu Dalin.
The mission was about to leave the next day, so everyone was getting ready. After all, they had come to Chu State, and everyone wanted to bring back some specialties from Qi State.
On his last trip to Qi State, Qi Ning extorted 1,700 taels of silver from General Meng Jiao and Zhou Meng. Qi Ning asked Wu Dalin to distribute the money equally among his soldiers, about 200 of them. Each person also received a few taels of silver. Although the amount was not large, it was not a small amount for the soldiers.
Qi Ning had people purchase some special products and load them into the truck. In addition, Linghu Xu also prepared some small gifts for everyone, so the soldiers in the mission received quite a lot.
Wu Dalin knew that Linghu Xu had sent a beauty to Qi Ning. He didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing. After bringing Xiuniang over, he left.
Qi Ning let Xiu Niang into the house and saw that she was wearing a purple waist-length undershirt, a light blue narrow-sleeved top, and no jewelry. She was dressed very simply, but this way she looked more delicate and clean, giving people a It feels like Xiaojiabiyu, and the light blue color makes her skin even whiter.
After Xiu Niang entered the room, she immediately knelt down. Qin Ning frowned slightly and took a look. Xiu Niang had an exquisite figure. She was not very tall, but her figure was curvy. Her breasts were full, and she looked a little plump, but she didn't give any hint of plumpness. Anyone who thinks she is fat, it turns out that her bones are quite detailed, but her skin is plump, so she doesn't look fat.
As soon as she knelt down, the back of her skirt tightened and her buttocks were lifted up, making her lines very round and full.
Qi Ning raised his hand and said, "You don't have to kneel when you get up."
Xiu Niang was very obedient and stood up. Qining saw that she just picked up a package and asked, "Is this your carry-on luggage?"
Xiu Niang said softly, "Yes," and said, "This is a gift from the Prime Minister. He said I can take it with me."
"Actually, if you need anything, just tell me and there's no need to work hard." Qining thought for a moment before asking: "Are you from Qi?"
Xiuniang hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly. Qining continued to ask: "Then do you have any other family members? Do they know that you are going to leave Chu country?"
Xiu Niang shook her head slightly and said: "They are all gone. It was always because of the mercy of the prime minister that I survived."
Qi Ning said: "Are there no other relatives?"
Xiu Niang nodded, but then shook her head. Qining was a little surprised. Xiu Niang had already explained: "There is an uncle, but... I don't know where he is, and I haven't seen him, so it's like he doesn't exist."
Qi Ning understood and said: "You are from the Qi State. You went to the Chu State. I'm afraid you won't be able to adapt. The Prime Minister has a kind intention, and I can't bear to offend him. But since you are following me now, how can I arrange it? The Prime Minister is also I can’t control it.”
Xiu Niang lowered her head slightly, with a slight blush on her cheeks, and said: "The prime minister said that people who are born as marquises will be ghosts when they die. From now on, this slave will serve the marquis wholeheartedly."
"You don't understand what I mean." Qi Ning sighed and said, "No one wants to be a slave, and neither do you. Xiu Niang, I have some money here." He took out a prepared coin. The bag was placed gently on the case: "It's not too much, but you will definitely not have to worry about life in a few years. You can take it first. If you want, you can go back to your hometown, find your uncle, or find someone else." It doesn’t matter if you get married alone, you don’t have to be a slave anymore.”
However, Xiu Niang's delicate body trembled, her delicate and fair face showed a slight look of fear, and she said: "Master Hou... Master Hou doesn't want any slaves anymore?"
Qi Ning smiled and said: "It's not that I don't want it, it just means that you don't have to be a slave anymore. You are a native of Qi, and no one wants to be far away from your homeland."
"I am willing." Xiu Niang said resolutely: "Wherever the Marquis goes, Xiu Niang will follow. There is no objection."
Qi Ning shook his head and smiled, picked up the money bag, walked over, put it in Xiu Niang's hand, and said, "You will be right if you listen to me." He called out, "Here comes someone."
A person came in from outside, and Qi Ning ordered: "Send this girl out." Thinking of something, he asked: "Can Xiu Niang know how to ride a horse?"
Xiu Niang's face looked a little pale, but she still nodded. Qin Ning ordered: "Give her a horse." Xiu Niang smiled slightly, and the guard raised his hand and said: "Girl, please!"
Xiu Niang's red lips parted slightly, and she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't say anything. She followed the guard out. Qin Ning was slightly relieved when he saw her leaving.
After much thought, he still felt that it would be better not to take Xiuniang back, so as not to cause more trouble. Moreover, Xiuniang was obviously Linghu Xu's maid and was not free. He wanted to give her her freedom this time. It's troublesome, but it can be regarded as a good deed, and the merits are immeasurable.
Not long after Xiu Niang left, Tao Gan from the Ministry of Rites rushed over and told them that at dawn tomorrow, the Chu delegation could wait at Nansheng Gate in Lucheng, and the bride-seeking team from Dong Qi would also meet at Dongsheng Gate.
Someone just happened to bring dinner, so Qining stayed with Tao Qian to eat with him. Although the messenger this time was Prince Duan Xuan, Tao Qian, as the Minister of Rites, also had to go with the team. He was an old man in officialdom and knew how to communicate with the team. It is convenient for others, so I entertained Qi Ning well in Dong Qi, and when I got to Chu State, Qi Ning would take care of him to some extent.
Therefore, at the wine table, toasts were frequently made. He was a veteran, and at the dinner table, he never mentioned sensitive topics. Even for the marriage between the two countries, he only paid a lot of compliments, and even praised the Jinyi Qi family for their invincibility.
Qining knew that he had nothing to say to an old man like Tao Gan. After dinner, Tao Gan said goodbye and left. As soon as he left, Li Tang asked to see him outside the door.
After Qi Feng left, Li Tang naturally took charge of Qi Ning's personal safety. After coming in, Qi Ning put down his bowl and said with a smile, "Have you eaten yet? Do you want to have a drink together?"
Li Tang came over and knew that the young Marquis usually had no airs and was very casual. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Marquis. I have already used it." He hesitated and stopped talking.
"What's wrong?" Qining frowned when he saw Li Tang's appearance, "Did something happen again?"
The departure was about to begin, and this was the last night in Lucheng. Qining was worried about an accident happening the night before leaving. Li Tang shook his head and finally said softly: "Master Hou, that girl...!"
"Girl?" Qi Ning was startled and asked, "What girl?"
Li Tang said: "She is the girl to whom the Marquis wants to give the horse."
"Oh?" Qining immediately thought of Xiu Niang. After Xiu Niang left, Tao Gan came over. Until he left just now, no one dared to come and bother to report Xiu Niang's affairs, and asked: "Have you given her a horse?" Have you left already?"
Li Tang shook his head and said: "He didn't leave. He just stood outside the post house, like a piece of wood. He didn't say a word. He was carrying a package. She didn't seem to hear anything he said to her."
"She won't leave?" Qining frowned.
Li Tang nodded and said, "It seems that's what you meant." After a pause, he said, "Master Hou, you look quite pitiful."
"You are sympathetic to her." Qi Ning said angrily.
Li Tang smiled and said: "Master Hou, that Xiuniang is not bad looking and can be regarded as a beauty. Why did Master Hou let her leave? It's also good to stay with him to serve tea and water. She is looking for her in the streets. You may not be able to find one so beautiful among thousands of them.”
"Do you think you should stay?"
Li Tang said with a smile: "I just said it casually, and I still want Mr. Hou to make a decision. Mr. Hou, if you really want to take her back, it doesn't matter. There are hundreds of people in the Hou Mansion, and there won't be such an extra person."
He didn't know that the young Marquis had always coveted the third lady, and he was planning to go all out to get the third lady. Naturally, it was impossible to think that Qining would care about Gu Qinghan's feelings, and only thought that a mere maid was a harmless thing.
"You know nothing." Qi Ning said angrily: "Do you think it's easy to collect the things belonging to the Dong Qi people? Let me ask you, what is Linghu Xu's intention when he gave me a beauty?"
Li Tang said: "Isn't it just to please Lord Marquis?"
"Nonsense." Qi Ning rolled his eyes at him: "Linghu Xu is the Prime Minister of Dong Qi. Although Dong Qi is a small country, he is still the Assistant Prime Minister of the country, and his status is lower than mine? Why does he want to please me?" Walked over He sat down on the big chair, picked up the tea he had just brewed, rinsed his mouth, and then put down the tea cup and said: "To put it bluntly, I don't care if all the two hundred people in our Marquis Mansion are clean." I’m not sure, can we add more people inside?”
Li Tang frowned. He was not stupid. He understood and whispered: "Master Hou, are you worried that this Xiu Niang is Linghu Xu's spy who deliberately wants to infiltrate our Hou Mansion?"
"It may be that you are judging a gentleman's heart with a villain's heart." Qi Ning said: "But be careful when sailing a ten-year-old ship. There is nothing wrong with being careful."
Li Tang said: "The Marquis has thought carefully. I will go over now and ask the guards to drive her away." He was about to leave, but was stopped by Qi Ning.
Qi Ning frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Go and ask her to come over." Li Tang said: "Master Hou, don't you mean...!" Before he could finish speaking, Qin Ning gave him a cold look and did not dare to say anything. , agreed, and was about to go down, Qining stopped and said: "Have someone come over and clean up, and prepare another meal."
Li Tang understood what Qi Ning meant and stepped back. Someone came over to pick up the leftovers.
Soon Li Tang brought Xiu Niang to the door. Qin Ning signaled Li Tang to step aside first, waved Xiu Niang in, and then said with a wry smile: "Miss Xiu Niang, I heard that you were standing outside the post house and never left? Why is this?"
Xiu Niang looked sad and said softly: "To tell you what the Marquis said, this slave... has nowhere to go."
"What?" Qi Ning was startled, and heard the inexplicable sadness in her words. He sighed and said, "Do you think you can't find your uncle?"
Xiu Niang bit her red lips and lowered her head. She was curvy and had swollen breasts. She suddenly fell to her knees and said, "Master Marquis, I deserve to die. There are some things that... I shouldn't hide from you, but... but... I’m afraid that the Marquis will be overly considerate, so I don’t mean what I say, so I beg the Marquis to punish me.”
When she knelt down like this, Qining was a little surprised. He reached over and grabbed her arm. The hand was also plump and soft. He pulled her up and said, "I don't like others kneeling here and there in front of me." He stared at her. Xiu Niang asked with her clear eyes: "What did you hide from me?"
Xiu Niang felt a little ashamed and said softly: "Master Hou, this slave... I'm not from the Eastern Qi Dynasty, I'm from the Northern Han Dynasty!"