It was already past midnight when Qi Ning came out of the palace.
If an accident happened to another local official, it would naturally not be Qi Ning's turn to go and investigate in person. But this time the accident happened to the Commander-in-Chief of Donghai Navy. This is not only a major event for the Tantai family, but also a major event for the Chu State. .
Qi Ning could naturally tell that Sima Lan did not want to investigate the case by himself, but Tantai Old Marquis was obviously very insistent.
Qi Ning was also keenly aware that the direct consequence of Tantai Zhilin's death was that the Donghai Navy was leaderless. As a result, the Donghai Navy would surely face a huge shock.
After coming out of the palace, Qining did not go back directly to his home, but went to Xianleju where the Ximen God was.
Although Ximen Wuhen is the God Marquis of the Shenhou Mansion, he spends less and less time in the Shenhou Mansion now, and he often stays in Xianle Residence. Moreover, the old God Marquis's body looks much worse than before.
Xianleju is located in a remote place. When Qining arrived at Xianleju, it was already midnight. He was not sure whether Ximen Wuhen had already known about Tantai Zhilin's suicide. After all, the news was blocked immediately. , has not spread to the outside world, but the Shenhou Mansion has vast magical powers, so it would not be surprising even if Ximen Wuhen knew the news.
There was silence in Xianle Residence. Ximen Wuhen seemed to have fallen asleep. Qining hesitated for a moment and finally knocked on the door.
The knock on the door was very clear at night. It took a long time before he heard a voice coming from inside: "Who is it?" It was a girl's voice. Qining immediately recognized the voice of Ximen Zhanying.
After the martial arts competition in the palace that day, Qi Ning has not seen Ximen Zhanying again. It has been a long time now, and according to the customs of Chu State, after getting engaged, men and women should not meet in private, so Qi Ning has not seen each other in private these days. I haven't looked for Ximen Zhanying in private, but I couldn't avoid it when I came to Xianleju tonight.
Qi Ning hesitated for a moment and then said: "Zhan Ying, it's me!"
There was silence in the room for a while. After a while, Qining heard a voice coming from behind the door: "You... what are you doing here? It's already very late...!"
"Um... is the God Hou here?" Qining said softly: "I have something urgent to see the God Hou!"
"Dad is already asleep." Ximen Zhanying whispered from behind the door: "How about... how about you come over early tomorrow morning."
Qi Ning thought that when they were discussing the matter just now, both the emperor and the old Marquis of Tantai wanted him to leave as soon as possible, so he had only one day to deal with the things at hand. He had to leave the day after tomorrow, and he really didn't have time. After going back and forth and thinking for a while, he said softly: "I know that Shenhou has rested, but...!" After a pause, he still said: "That's all, then you should rest early. I will find time to come back tomorrow."
He thought that no matter how urgent the matter was, it would still be wrong to wake up Ximen Wuhen in the middle of the night. He turned around and was about to leave. After taking a few steps, he heard a "crunch" and the door of the house was opened. Qining stopped and said, When he turned around, he saw that the door of the room was half open, and Ximen Zhanying was standing by the door without speaking.
Qi Ning looked around and said nothing nonsense. In a flash, he got in quietly. Ximen Zhanying closed the door smoothly and turned around. He saw Qi Ning in front of him, the two of them were close. Nearby, Ximen Zhanying's heart skipped a beat and he took a step back. Qining looked at it through the moonlight and saw that Ximen Zhanying was wearing an extremely loose blue silk skirt. His temples were slightly messy. He had obviously just gotten up, but so It looks more beautiful.
Ximen Zhanying has practiced martial arts for many years, and the lines of her body are naturally more three-dimensional than those of ordinary girls. Her beautiful body is wrapped in a silk skirt, making her graceful and moving.
Seeing Qi Ning's eyes sweeping over her body, Ximen Zhanying's cheeks were slightly hot, but Qi Ning couldn't help but whispered: "Zhan Ying, you seem to be much more beautiful."
"You... you just like to talk nonsense." Ximen Zhanying was praised by Qining, but there was a burst of joy in his heart, and he said a little shyly: "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
Qi Ning deliberately walked closer and said in a low voice: "I came here to see my wife. I can't be guilty, right?"
"Still... not married yet, not your wife." Ximen Zhanying lowered his head, not daring to look at Qining.
Qining saw the shy and charming Ximen Zhanying, who was normally heroic, and couldn't help but reached out and held her hand. Ximen Zhanying was taken aback and tried to break away, whispering: " You... don't mess around, daddy is still here."
Qi Ning thought to himself that this was not a joke. If Ximen Wuhen saw him coming to take advantage of his daughter in the middle of the night, he might not be able to reap the rewards. Qi Ning was still quite wary of the old god, so he let go of his hand. When Zhan Ying saw this, she couldn't help but smile on her lips. She rolled her eyes at him and whispered, "It turns out that you are also scared sometimes."
"It's not that I'm afraid." Qining whispered: "I'm just patient. Anyway, in a few days, you will be my wife. Then I can hold you as much as I want, and kiss you as much as I want. …!”
Ximen Zhanying heard what he said was unbearable. She gritted her teeth and whispered: "Still talking? If you...if you talk nonsense again, I will call daddy to come out."
Qi Ning chuckled and asked in a low voice: "Zhan Ying, is the Lord asleep? I really have something urgent to see him for."
"Why do you have to come here in the middle of the night for something urgent?" Ximen Zhanying frowned and said, "Dad is not in good health these days, and he won't let me see the doctor. I really don't know... I don't know what to do."
"Are you sick?" Qining frowned and said, "You're not feeling well yet?"
"Every now and then." Ximen Zhanying showed worry on his eyebrows and sighed softly: "A few nights ago, I... I even vomited blood...!"
Qi Ning was shocked. With Ximen Wuhen's cultivation level, he could also vomit blood, which showed that he was seriously ill.
But Qining also knows that no matter how high the martial arts is, it is still a body of flesh and blood, not a god, and is inevitable from birth, old age, illness and death. Ximen Wuhen is now old and physically weak, which is inevitable, but he is so seriously ill that he does not ask a doctor to see him. The disease is really strange.
Seeing the worried look on Ximen Zhanying's face, Qi Ning said softly: "Zhanying, Shenhou has great martial arts skills, and his body is different from ordinary people. Even if he is sick, he will definitely recover if he takes care of himself over time."
Ximen Zhanying hummed and said softly: "Please help me persuade dad. Every time I ask him to find a doctor, he always says that those doctors are incompetent and cannot even cure diseases that he himself can't treat. Those doctors can't see at all." Why?" Youyou said: "Dad has been too proud in his life and never asked for help. Now that he is old, he still refuses to admit defeat and won't even let the doctor see him when he is sick."
"You have been waiting for a hero all your life. Naturally, you don't feel like you have to find someone if you have a minor illness." Qi Ning sighed softly: "Zhan Ying, don't worry too much. I will persuade him later."
Ximen Zhanying nodded, and then whispered: "Why are you coming here to see daddy so late?"
Qi Ning hesitated for a moment and then said: "Actually... it's about our marriage."
Ximen Zhanying blushed, lowered her head and said, "Isn't it the third old man of your family who has been here to discuss things these days? You... what are you doing here by yourself?" She thought that other people's marriages were arranged by matchmakers, so there was no need for them. You, the groom, take action yourself.
"Zhan Ying, do you know that something big happened over there in the East China Sea." Qining's expression became solemn.
"Big deal? East China Sea?" Ximen Zhanying asked doubtfully, "What big deal?"
Qi Ning looked at Ximen Zhanying's reaction and thought that Ximen Zhanying seemed to really not know that Tantai Zhilin was dead, but he didn't know whether Ximen Wuhen deliberately concealed it or Ximen Wuhen didn't even get the information.
Qi Ning did not hide anything and told Tantai Zhilin about his suicide. Ximen Zhanying turned pale and said in surprise: "The Governor of Tantai committed suicide? This... how is this possible?"
"The imperial court also felt that there was something fishy about this matter, so...!" Qining hesitated to speak.
He knew very well that for Ximen Zhanying, he might be immersed in the joy of becoming a wife. The two families have been planning this marriage for a while. Good things are coming. If he told him at this time that he was going to The Donghai investigation may disappoint Ximen Zhanying.
Ximen Zhanying seemed to understand something, and asked in a low voice: "Then... will the imperial court send you to the East China Sea?"
Qi Ning was startled, thinking that Ximen Zhanying was smart, and said with a wry smile: "I just came to the palace, and the old Marquis of Tantai spoke to me alone tonight. What he meant was that the Governor of Tantai committed suicide this time, and there was something fishy. , I can only go to the East China Sea to investigate Xiangjia. Moreover, the court is worried that after the death of Governor Tantai, the situation in the East China Sea will be turbulent. The court is currently preparing for the Northern Expedition. Once there are changes in the East China Sea, it will inevitably hinder the court's plan for the Northern Expedition. We even missed the opportunity to dominate the world...!"
There was indeed a hint of disappointment between Ximen Zhanying's brows, but he still said: "You are... you are the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Such a big case happened in the East China Sea, so it is only natural that you should be sent there... That's natural."
"Zhan Ying, we are going to get married soon, but at this moment...!" Qining felt a little guilty.
Ximen Zhanying forced a smile and said in a low voice: "Don't worry, I know that national affairs are important, and if you ignore such a big thing, it won't be you. You go to Xichuan, go to Dongqi, and finally Everything is done right away, and this time...this time when we go to the East China Sea, we will definitely find out the truth smoothly."
Ximen Zhanying was so considerate, which made Qi Ning feel even more guilty. He reached out and gently took Ximen Zhanying into his arms. Ximen Zhanying was startled for a moment, but still let Qi Ning hold him. Qi Ning said softly: "Zhan Ying, when I go to the East China Sea this time, I will finish the matter quickly. When I come back, we will get married immediately."
"You... you go well." Ximen Zhanying whispered: "Dad is not in good health, and I want to stay with him to take care of him. This time... I can't go with you this time. You should take care of yourself outside. Anyway... Anyway, I’m just waiting for you to come back.”
Qi Ning hugged Ximen Zhanying's soft body tightly, the moonlight was dim and the love was lingering.
"I'm going to call daddy." After a moment, Ximen Zhanying gently pushed Qining away: "You go to the East China Sea. You won't be able to come back for a while, so you can only change the wedding date. This matter... I have to tell my father about this. "
"Yes." Qining nodded and said, "I came here tonight just to discuss the matter with the god to see if I can postpone the wedding for a few months."
Ximen Zhanying nodded slightly and said in a low voice: "Wait a minute, I'll go take a look." He went straight to Ximen Wuhen's room. Qining waited in the courtyard, thinking about how to explain to Ximen Wuhen later. OK, a moment later, he saw Ximen Zhanying coming over in a hurry, with a look of worry on his face. Qining hurried up and asked, "Is the Lord awake?"
"No...!" Ximen Zhanying said anxiously, "He... he's not in the house, he's gone!"