Qu Xiaocang raised his hand to invite Qin Ning to have some tea. When Qin Ning took a sip from the cup, he signaled with his eyes that Yan Lingxian should step aside for now. Yan Lingxian did not want anything he wanted, so he immediately withdrew.
After Yan Lingxian retreated, Qu Xiaocang raised his hands and said with a smile: "My Lord Marquis brought back the delegation from his trip to Dongqi. It was really hard along the way."
"Captain Qu, the one who will bring the delegation back to the capital is King Huainan." Qining laughed and said, "I can only give up halfway."
"The Marquis is joking." Qu Xiaocang is very capable in dealing with people. He will leave half of what he should say and never say a word of what he shouldn't say.
Qi Ning looked around, then lowered his voice and said: "Qu Xiaowei, does he know why I left suddenly after entering the territory of Chu with the Dong Qi envoy?"
Qu Xiaocang shook his head and said, "I don't know how humble my position is."
"Does Lieutenant Qu know about the Qingmu Conference of the Beggar Clan?" Qi Ning leaned forward slightly: "Actually, I followed the emperor's secret order to see if the Beggar Clan will cause trouble in Xiangyang."
Qu Xiaocang was stunned and asked: "Could it be that the Marquis went to Xiangyang?"
When they were in Xiangyang, Qi Ning disguised himself as Captain Wei of the Kang Jinlong branch of the Beggar Clan. Although Qu Xiaocang was shrewd, Zhong Ya came from a family of disguisers in the North Liang and Nanzhong, and his disguise skills were extremely good. , after all, Qu Xiaocang has no attainments in the art of disguise and has not seen through it.
At this time, I heard that Qining had also been to Xiangyang, and I was a little surprised. I thought that although the Shenhou Mansion was not full of ears and eyes in Xiangyang, if Qining had arrived in Xiangyang, he would know some clues, but he knew nothing. It seemed that This young prince is really very powerful.
Qi Ning smiled slightly, then became serious, and asked in a low voice: "Captain Qu, it is said that Lu Shanghe was imprisoned by the Beggar Gang, but then disappeared suddenly. Is this true or false?"
Qi Ning naturally didn't want Qu Xiaocang to know that he had changed his disguise, but when Qu Xiaocang heard Qi Ning's inquiry, his heart trembled, thinking that Lu Shanghe's disappearance was not publicized to the public, and not many people knew about it. The Hou Mansion did not leak the information to the outside world. Could it be that Qining got the information from the Beggar Gang
"Master Hou, this is indeed the case." Qu Xiaocang nodded.
Qi Ning frowned and said, "Who rescued people under the eyes of the Beggar Clan?"
Qu Xiaocang hesitated for a moment and then said: "Reporting to the Marquis, who did it is still under investigation and cannot be determined. However, the person who rescued Lu Shanghe did have great supernatural powers and was not an ordinary person, and he did not leave any traces behind. Useful clues. After I returned to Beijing from Xiangyang, I reported the matter to the God, and the God has also told us to investigate the truth behind the investigation."
Qi Ning said "Oh" before saying: "Captain Qu, Lu Shanghe and Bai Hu intend to control the Beggar Gang. We don't know what the conspiracy is after that. But this time they failed, Lu Shanghe will definitely not be reconciled, and he will definitely not be willing to do so in the future." There will be some action, Lu Shanghe is a figure in the world, this matter really requires your Shenhou Mansion to pay more attention to this matter."
"Don't worry, Lord Marquis." Qu Xiaocang said: "Elder brother is now in Xichuan, secretly investigating this matter. First of all, we will start from Lu Shanghe's past dealings to find out whether this person has any connection with the Eastern Qi or Northern Han Dynasty. "After a pause, he said softly: "The Shenhou Mansion will also send secret letters to the major sect leaders of the eight gangs and sixteen factions. Anyone who can find the whereabouts of Lu Shanghe will be rewarded heavily, and Lu Shanghe is now the enemy of the Beggar Clan. The whole Beggar Clan will pursue him with all their strength. The Beggar Clan’s disciples are all over the world, and they have eyes and ears everywhere. Unless Lu Shanghe disappears, as long as he shows up in the world, he will be captured immediately."
Qi Ning said with a smile: "That's good." After thinking for a moment, he took something from his arms and handed it over. Qu Xiaocang stood up, took it respectfully with both hands, opened it and took a look, with a serious look on his face, and returned it with both hands. He said respectfully: "It turns out that the Marquis has come to secretly interrogate Beitang Yu according to the imperial decree."
What Qi Ning took out was naturally the handwriting that Longtai gave him.
Longtai was very clear about the value of Beitang Yu. Beitang Yu presided over the restoration of the map of the world in the Northern Han Dynasty. With the map of the world in hand, the world is at hand. If the Chu State can obtain an accurate map of the world, it will be of great significance. Tens of thousands more elite soldiers.
Long Tai deliberately asked Qi Ning to test Beitang Yu about the inside story of the World Map. Although Qi Ning felt that it was extremely difficult to get Beitang Yu to hand over the World Map, it was better to give it a try than to remain indifferent, and Beitang Yu's greatest value It's the World Map. If he can't use this value, Beitang Yu will be equivalent to a useless person.
He came to the Shenhou Mansion today originally to test Ximen Zhanying's tone. Although he knew that Ximen Zhanying had a crush on him, but it was a life-long matter, it was better to check Ximen Zhanying's intentions in advance, but Ximen Zhanying Before Ying came to Shenhou Mansion, she took this opportunity to visit Beitang Yu.
Beitang Yu was arrested in Xiangyang, and then secretly escorted to Beijing by the Shenhou Mansion. He is now in the Shenhou Mansion.
Qi Ning put Longtai's oracle in his arms and said with a smile: "Captain Qu, I'm here for interrogation this early in the morning. I don't know if it's convenient or not."
Qu Xiaocang immediately said: "With the emperor's decree, it will be convenient for the Marquis to interrogate you anytime." He asked cautiously: "Master Marquis, do you want to go there now?"
Qi Ning stood up and said, "If it's not troublesome, please ask Captain Qu to lead the way now."
The two of them walked out of the lobby, with Qu Xiaocang leading the way. They passed through several doors, turned east, and walked to an arch. There were guards on the left and right sides of the arch. There was an official from the Shenhou Mansion guarding them. When they saw the two of them, they did not salute. Standing like a stone sculpture, Qu Xiaocang turned around and said: "Master Hou, after entering, there is a stone path. Follow my footsteps and don't go wrong."
Qi Ning knew that his instructions must have deep meaning, so he nodded slightly, and then Qu Xiaocang walked through the arch and entered, followed closely by Qi Ning.
When he entered the courtyard, he saw that there were various rockeries in the courtyard, as if he had entered a stone forest. Qining was startled, but he immediately thought that there must be a mystery in this courtyard.
Sure enough, after walking seven or eight steps forward, Qu Xiaocang looked back at Qining again and nodded slightly. Qining understood what he meant and nodded to express his understanding.
Next, Qu Xiaocang took every step forward with great care, while Qi Ning followed behind, following the steps Qu Xiaocang had taken, not daring to make a mistake. The road twisted and twisted among the rockeries. Like a snake, after walking for about sixty steps, Qu Xiaocang suddenly kicked off his feet, and his whole body floated out like a cloud. Qining thought to himself that Qu Xiaocang was short and fat, but his movements were agile.
He followed behind, also kicked up, and landed next to Qu Xiaocang. Qu Xiaocang said with a smile: "Good work, Master Hou." He raised his hand and pointed forward: "Master Hou, that's where Beitang Yu is over."
Qining looked up and saw a pond between the arches of the stone forest, covered with a layer of lotus leaves. It was midsummer, the lotus leaves were green, and the lotus flowers were already blooming. In the middle of the lotus pond, there was An antique house, surrounded by rockeries, looks dry, but there is a cave in the middle, which is magnificent.
Qining didn't expect that there was such a good place in the Shenhou Mansion. Qu Xiaocang was already saying from the side: "Master Hou, this has always been the office of the Shenhou Mansion, but the Shenhou has been living in Xianhou for the past two years. Leju, come here less often, this place is empty. After Beitang Yu was escorted back to Beijing, the Goddess ordered Beitang Yu to live here. "
Qi Ning couldn't help but ask: "Is it safe here? Beitang Yu is extraordinary, so there can't be any mistakes." He wanted to say that the little demon girl Anao was imprisoned in the Shenhou Mansion last time, and Swing Yi broke into the Shenhou Mansion. The government rescued Anao, but these words would have slapped the Shenhou Mansion in the face, but he did not say them out.
"Master Marquis, this is called Jiugong Pool." Qu Xiaocang said: "To be honest, this Jiugong Pool looks ordinary, but it is as tightly guarded as the emperor's palace. In the world, even if the great master comes, It’s not easy to get close to Jiugong Pond easily.”
Qu Xiaocang's words were concise and to the point, and he didn't say much, but these few words were already full of weight and confidence.
When Qi Ning heard what he said, he didn't doubt it. He couldn't help but think of the Enchanted Plum Blossom Forest in Chaowu Ridge. It seemed like just a forest, but it concealed ancient formations. If he couldn't break the formation, he would be trapped and die. Among them, the stone forest in the courtyard obviously has the same purpose but the same purpose.
It seemed simple to follow Qu Xiaocang in just now, but if Qu Xiaocang hadn't led the way, he might have been trapped and died in the stone forest. The stone forest in the garden obviously hid mysteries.
"Isn't there something wrong with Lieutenant Qu just bringing me in?" Qi Ning deliberately joked: "If I want to enter Jiugong Pool in the future, I can just follow the same steps as before."
Qu Xiaocang smiled and said: "If the Marquis wants to come in, there will be no problem. But if the Marquis turns back and tries to come in the same way as before, I'm afraid he will be trapped."
"oh?"
Qu Xiaocang smiled and said: "To be honest with you, Lord Hou, when we came in just now, the mechanism was triggered. The stone forest has changed. We have to take a new road to enter, so even if we remember the way just now, it will not work at all." useless."
Qi Ning thought that the doorway in this stone forest was really quite big, and asked, "Does everyone in the Shenhou Mansion know how to enter the Jiugong Pool?"
Qu Xiaocang pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said: "Except for Shenhou, there are no more than three people who know how to enter the Jiugong Pool, and humble position happens to be one of them." He seemed unwilling to say more on this topic, raising his eyebrows The hand said: "Master Hou, please!"
The two of them walked to the edge of the Jiugong Pool, and Qining saw clearly that there was indeed a straight stone path made of black stones among the lotus leaves, leading directly to the antique wooden house in the pool. Qu Xiaocang led Qining onto the black stone. He said, the drizzle has just stopped, and the lotus pond is filled with an intoxicating fragrance, which is refreshing.
When he arrived at the wooden house, Qu Xiaocang raised his hands and said loudly: "Prince Yu, Jin Yihou is here to visit!"
There was no sound in the house. Qining saw a window open. He walked to the window and took a look inside. He saw that the layout of the house was simple, but simple and simple. The most conspicuous thing was a row of bookshelves against the wall. , which was filled with various books. The Prince of the Northern Han Dynasty, Beitang Yu, dressed in casual clothes, was lying on a rocking chair, holding a volume of books in his hand, leisurely and ignoring the movement outside.
Qi Ning sighed and thought to himself about this situation. Beitang Yu didn't look like a prisoner, but more like a family man who was enjoying his old age.