In a house in the north of Jinyang City, Gu Yanxi finished reading the letter and opened the box that came with the letter. The white jade mahjong felt good in the hand. Such a new thing should be popular in Jinyang City.
After the lid was closed tightly on the box, Gu Yanxi's face darkened. Being unpopular was a good thing.
"Call Wang Hai over."
Not long after, Wang Hai pushed the door open and came in, "Master."
"Send this box of mahjong to Peng Fangming and teach them how to play. Also, it's time to get ready."
"yes."
The room was quiet again. Gu Yanxi, who was used to the quiet, felt uncomfortable. Only then did he realize that he could no longer endure it. He learned to miss her without any instruction. There was always someone living in his mind and heart. He would think of her from time to time, wondering if she was okay, if she was sick, and if she had done anything surprising. He was worried that the emperor would embarrass her and that she had suffered losses in places that he didn't know about...
He... wants to go back to Beijing.
I want to go back to where Azhi is.
Hua Zhi, who was far away in the capital, suddenly covered her chest. It was really strange. She didn't have any palpitations. Why did she suddenly feel palpitations? Could something have happened to Yan Xi
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Hua Zhi smiled and shook her head, suppressing her thoughts. Madam Sun had asked her to discuss something today, and now was not the time to think about these things. She would go back and ask Chen Qing about the progress in Jinyang later.
Hua Zhi secretly pinched her genitals and calmed down, saying, "Why are you calling me Miss like everyone else? It's really annoying."
"I think it's very good. No matter old or young, male or female, they all call you this. It's a great recognition." Madam Sun had a familiar smile on her well-maintained face. She felt from the bottom of her heart that this girl made them women proud. She also saw from Hua Zhi that etiquette and laws have always existed, but when a person is really capable, these things may not necessarily bind him. People admire the strong, which is an innate trait.
Unfortunately, she realized it too late. Her hot temper had been tamed over the years, and now she had become the mistress of the house who was not easily affected by fame or disgrace. She was no different from the other women in the inner house.
Sighing secretly, Madam Sun turned to business, "Is there any news from Qingzhou?"
"After the New Year, I received a letter from Berlin saying that the progress was considerable, but it had not yet met my requirements, so I did not dare to present it to you."
"Does this mean Xiaoliu will be back soon?"
"It should be so."
Madam Sun breathed a sigh of relief. "To be honest, I feel uneasy every time Xiaoliu leaves Beijing. Even if he is under my nose, I may not be able to protect him, but at least I feel more at ease."
"Don't worry, Xiaoliu's safety is the most important thing in our hearts. The Sun family's people are in the open, and Yan Xi's people are in the dark, protecting him to the greatest extent possible." Hua Zhi stood up and sat next to Madam Sun, lowering her voice. "I like to prepare for the worst when I act. For us now, retreat is the most important thing."
Hua Zhi lowered her head, picked up the teacup and spun it in her palm. "Let me be honest with you. Years ago, I secretly sent people to the Xuzhou Shipyard to order a ship that can go to sea. Therefore, water transportation must be controlled by our own people, and we must have our own people who we can trust."
Xuzhou? Madam Sun's mind brightened. Yes, Xuzhou is the base camp of the Lu family. Just like the Sun family and Xiaoliu are people on the same boat that can't be torn apart, the same is true for Duke Anguo and the prince. Now the prince is on Xiaoliu's side. This retreat is for all of them!
This girl from the Hua family is already preparing for another outcome for Xiaoliu.
"Yesterday I received a letter from the master. He said that he had no intention of hurting the tiger, but he had to be careful that the tiger might hurt people's hearts. He had been guarding the pass for several years, unable to return home or see anyone. He was not afraid of sacrificing his life for the country. What he was afraid of was that after his death, Xiaoliu would lose his support, and that our grandparents would be bullied. Even such a conservative and stubborn person is now thinking about finding a way out for our grandparents. I dare not imagine how disappointed the person sitting in that position must have been for all these years."
Madam Sun lowered her head and drank a sip of tea, hiding her sobs. When she raised her head, her eyes were red. "The master sent a group of personal soldiers back, but they haven't entered the city yet. I asked you how to make the best arrangements."
"Not showing up in the capital? How many people are there?"
"A hundred of them, they went to my farm outside the city in batches, and no one knew about it." Madam Sun looked at her meaningfully, "They have been with the master for a long time, and their skills have been honed by the master himself. They are far better than ordinary soldiers."
Many thoughts flashed through Hua Zhi's mind. A hundred thugs could do a lot of things, but in the end she did not make a choice. Instead, she threw the question back, "I wonder how the Sun family originally planned to arrange it?"
"These are the people that the master trained for Xiao Liu. We originally just wanted them to follow Xiao Liu. I guess the eldest lady has other better arrangements?"
"I hope these people stay in the dark and don't show up."
Madam Sun raised an eyebrow, "Like the Emperor's secret guards?"
"Almost. We have to keep some cards hidden."
"That makes sense. I'll listen to you and let them hide in the dark."
After seeing Madam Sun off, Hua Zhi came out of the dining hall in no hurry to go back.
The weather is very good today, the sun is high in the sky. Although there is still black unmelted snow on the roadside and it is wet everywhere so that there is nowhere to step, Green Moss Lane and Liyun Lane are still crowded. Just looking at them makes you feel that winter seems to be passing and the hopeful spring is about to come.
Hua Zhi sat in the carriage and watched, and she felt less cold.
She thought that she would be fine after getting through this period, and when the weather gets warmer she wouldn't feel so uncomfortable. After getting through this period and pushing Xiaoliu to the position, she would be out of it.
She dreamed of returning to her leisurely days.
But she hadn't had a dream for a long time. She didn't even have enough time to sleep, so how could she have time to dream
"I said this carriage looks like yours." As the voice sounded, Zhu Ziwen came over and was stunned when he saw Hua Zhi's lazy look that she had not had time to restrain. Her decisive cousin actually looked like this
Hua Zhi hurriedly sat up and tried to get off the carriage, but Zhu Ziwen stopped her, "It's dirty, don't get off."
"Why are you here, cousin?" Hua Zhi did not insist, but just sat out a little. Some sunlight fell on her, and the fuzz on her face could be clearly seen, making her look even fairer and more beautiful.
"Come with your classmates to buy some food." Zhu Ziwen lowered the curtain and said to the classmates behind him, "I just happened to meet my cousin. I'll talk to her. You guys go buy some things first. I'll go over by myself later."
The four scholars looked at each other, all a little excited. Someone asked in a low voice, "But is it the eldest daughter of the Hua family?"