"Ling'er should still be at Miss Wu's place now, right? Go and get her." Li Daozong said, "Be careful, don't let her hear anything."
"I understand." Qin Mubai nodded knowingly, said goodbye to Li Daozong, and went to Wu Mei's mother's house.
Riding slowly on the horse, Qin Mubai kept thinking in his heart: How can he hide it from Ling'er? This girl, who is usually naughty and childlike, is actually a smart and shrewd girl. Now she can only make two preparations: first, cover it up carefully and try not to let her know about Li You; second, if she finally finds out, she must plan a countermeasure in advance.
Just walking forward slowly like this, we walked along a street for a long time. Along the way, many common people and gentry greeted him cordially, and he was really tired of dealing with them.
It turned out that during the sacrifice, Li Daozong announced a series of policies promulgated by the emperor to appease the people, and the frivolous corvee and poor taxation in Xiangzhou had already been passed down to the people of Xiangyang. When people receive such benefits, they will naturally feel grateful. Naturally, they would not be ignorantly grateful to Yang Guang, the former Sui Dynasty Emperor, but would use their thoughts on Li Ke and Qin Mubai.
Especially Qin Mubai.
Because there have long been rumors from the outside world that it was Qin Mubai who deciphered the secret treasure map left by the water ghosts, found the true mausoleum of Emperor Yang, and carried out today's sacrifices and the imperial court's policy of appeasing the people. As early as when the water ghost case was solved, Li Ke and Qin Mubai had become "idol" figures in the minds of the people of Xiangzhou. Now that the ceremony was held, the image of the two people was unprecedentedly tall. The local people and gentry in Xiangyang almost burned incense and worshiped Li Ke and Qin Mubai as if they were gods and Buddhas.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted loudly: "General Qin!"
The voice was very familiar. Qin Mubai looked sideways and saw that it was Xue Rengui. Wearing casual clothes, he was among the crowd and waving to Qin Mubai.
Qin Mubai got off his horse, and the two of them gathered together. He asked, "Where are you going, Brother Xue?"
Xue Rengui returned the gift with his hand, and said with a somewhat embarrassed smile: "The general heard that Wu Dong's family has arrived in Xiangzhou, so he wanted to go and pay a visit."
"Oh!" Qin Mubai smiled knowingly, "You want to know if your wife and children came to Xiangzhou with you, right?"
"Exactly." Xue Rengui said bluntly, smiling quite shyly.
"Then let's go together, I'm about to go to her house." Qin Mubai stroked his back and said, "I heard from Meiniang that your ladyship seems to have come to Xiangzhou together. I also heard that she gave you A son was born!"
"Yes, I have already found out in the letter that the baby has been born for three or four months." Xue Rengui said with some excitement, "I thought that after half a lifetime, I, Xue, was a poor official and fell down, and now I finally have a baby." My son, I can finally answer to my ancestors!”
"Haha! Congratulations, Brother Xue, you are now a father!" Qin Mubai laughed hahaly, "By the way, have you given your son a name?"
Xue Rengui shook his head, beaming with joy, and said with a smile: "Not yet. Xue doesn't read much, so he's afraid of giving him a bad name. General Qin is very knowledgeable, how about giving some advice to the general?"
"That's not good! Haha, it's better to name your own son." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "Otherwise, my wife won't listen to you anymore."
Just as he was talking, he arrived at Wu Meiniang's house.
As soon as the two entered the door, they saw Princess Gao Yang walking anxiously in the yard of the front house. When Bu saw Qin Mubai, she immediately ran over excitedly, regardless of Xue Rengui's presence, and threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"Mubai, are you okay?" There was a cry in her voice, which made Qin Mubai feel sour.
"It's okay, I'm okay, isn't this okay?" Qin Mubai stroked her back and comforted her softly.
At this time, Wu Meiniang also hurriedly walked over from the back house. Seeing the scene in front of her, she couldn't help but shake her head and smile, and stood not far away without coming over again.
"Look, Mei Niang is laughing at you!" Qin Mubai said jokingly.
"Ah?" Princess Gao Yang woke up and hurriedly got out of Qin Mubai's arms. She wiped the tears from her eyes and said with a smile, "It's all your fault! I just want to make people worry. I'm I don’t know how I got through the whole day, it felt like a year!”
"Okay, it was just a false alarm. Didn't I come back safe and sound?" Qin Mubai raised his head and saw Su Lianqing standing behind Wu Meiniang, winking and making faces at him. I couldn't help but feel a blockage in my heart: This guy didn't talk nonsense, did he
Xue Rengui had already stepped forward to greet Wu Meiniang. When Qin Mubai and Princess Gaoyang came over, they heard Wu Meiniang say: "Sister-in-law Liu is a little weak after childbirth and can't bear the fatigue of carriage and horses. She may be unwell due to the cold. I asked her to rest in bed in the back house. Please The doctor is taking care of you. Brother Xue came just in time. Come and have a look!"
"Okay!" Xue Rengui couldn't wait, and under the leadership of a housekeeper, he went to Liu's residence. The rest of the idlers all retreated, leaving only Qin Mubai, Su Lianqing, Wu Meiniang and Princess Gaoyang.
"Mubai, are you okay?" Wu Meiniang came forward and asked with concern and a smile.
"Of course it's okay! If I take action, what's the difference?" Su Lianqing chuckled.
"It's disrespectful and inappropriate. You should shut up. If you want to make a living under me, the first thing you have to learn is to obey the rules." Wu Meiniang said coldly, "You saved Mu Bai, I need to thank you. , so I fulfilled my previous promise and agreed to accept you and stay with me; but since you are staying, you must abide by the rules. You have to distinguish between these two things. "
"Yes, yes, big boss. I will definitely abide by your 'rules' from now on." Su Lianqing didn't care, smiling brightly.
Qin Mubai glared at her angrily and said, "Have you already told King Wu?"
"Of course." Su Lianqing twirled her hair and said with some pride, "His Royal Highness King Wu heard that I wanted to follow Wu Dong's family and agreed without even thinking about it. General Qin, you are so proud. !”
Qin Mubai couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. This sexy and troublesome woman followed Wu Meiniang from now on, and she didn't know what trouble would happen.
Wu Meiniang glanced at Su Lianqing and said calmly: "Go and have a rest. I'll call you if anything happens."
"Yes, Wu Dong's family." Su Lianqing cupped her hands with a smile, turned around, and left leisurely and proudly.
"Hey, I don't like this girl." Princess Gao Yang curled her lips and said, "No matter how you look at it, she doesn't look like a kind person."
"But if it weren't for her this time, it would be really difficult for Mu Bai to escape safely!" Wu Meiniang said with a smile, "Actually, the three religions and nine streams each have their own strengths. As long as you use your strengths and avoid weaknesses and use people in the right way, different people will have different uses. I know this Su Lianqing has a wild temper and great abilities, and she only came to hide here to eat a bowl of food in comfort. It doesn't matter, I will keep her, and I won't worry about giving her a pair of chopsticks one day. It can be of great use to me.”
"Mei Niang, aren't you afraid that she will cause trouble for you? Seeing how carefree and unruly she is, she will definitely not keep her peace." Princess Gao Yang said worriedly.
Wu Meiniang smiled confidently: "Don't worry! In the past few years of doing business, what kind of people have I not come into contact with? In fact, there are people under me who are more difficult to tame than her. Isn't it all safe and sound? It's just a world. I can't control the gangster Su Lianqing, how can I run such a big family business?"
Qin Mubai was sincerely pleased and admired: Wu Meiniang is Wu Meiniang! In history, she controlled the entire world! Su Lianqing, a mere person, is indeed beyond her words.
It seems that I really worry too much!
Perhaps, when Su Lianqing met Wu Meiniang, she truly found a suitable place to stay and a destination. In this vast sea of people, it is really not that easy to find a boss who can control and control her and give her a sense of security.
"It's just... Su Lianqing knows too many things about me. He compared it to the small building in the suburbs and Chen Yan, to Li You, to the killer sisters who gave me drug sores. If you tell any of them to the two women in front of you, then But it's all a disaster caused by Halley's Comet hitting the earth!" Qin Mubai couldn't help but feel nervous, "No wonder this old woman looked so relaxed and calm, not worried at all that the boss was not treating her well. It turned out to be because of her. She has a big handle on me, the backstage boss! It seems that from now on, I will have to coax her and keep her mouth shut... Depressed!"
"Mubai, what are you thinking about? As soon as you walked in, you were in a trance and worried." Wu Meiniang asked curiously and caringly.
"It's okay." Qin Mubai smiled and said, "I've been too busy these two days and I'm a little tired. Now I just want to sit down and have a quiet meal."
"Then what are you waiting for? Come and invite me!" Wu Meiniang said with a smile, "I'll have the kitchen arrange the dinner right away."
"No, no, Mei Niang!" Princess Gaoyang said hurriedly, "I still have some 'important' things to ask Mu Bai. How about I ask him to accompany me to the emperor's uncle's residence for dinner? … I’m sorry, Mei Niang, I’m going to take him away as soon as he comes back, hehe! Please be accommodating!”
Wu Meiniang smiled slightly: "Her Highness the Princess has already spoken, how can I not agree?"
At this moment, Xue Rengui came over with an infant child in his arms, and said with a face of joy and gratitude: "Dong Wu's family, thank you for taking care of Zhuojing. Mother and son are safe, and the son is white and fat!"
"Let me take a look." Qin Mubai went over to take a look and teased his little nose, and the boy burst into tears. Qin Mubai couldn't help but laugh: "This guy has a bad temper, haha! Brother Xue, he will definitely have a bigger temper than you in the future!"
"Man, having a temper is not necessarily a bad thing." Wu Meiniang said with a smile, "Brother Xue, please give your son a name!"
Xue Rengui smiled innocently and said, "If you have a bad temper, you can easily offend people and do bad things. Then I'll give him a neutral name, let's call him - Xue Ne!"
"Naive?" Qin Mubai couldn't help but smile, "Do you hope that he will be as dull as you?"
"Uh..." Xue Rengui suddenly laughed awkwardly, "If something is wrong, please ask General Qin and the Wu Dong family to help think about it. You two are more knowledgeable."
"Huh, does it mean that this princess is uneducated? You, a dull elm-headed person, have immediately offended me!" Princess Gao Yang laughed and scolded angrily, "And Xue Ne, when she grows up, she will be as dull as you. What’s so good about it?”
"No, no, I definitely didn't mean this... Your Royal Highness, please forgive me!" Xue Rengui couldn't laugh or cry and hurriedly admitted his mistake.
"Xue Ne is quite good." Wu Meiniang nodded and smiled, "As the saying goes, great wisdom is like stupidity, and great skill is like clumsiness. A naive person has a heavy sword without an edge, hiding his clumsiness and being restrained, and he has the demeanor of a general. In my opinion, Brother Xue is the real smart person. , both humble and connotative. I really hope your son will have your demeanor and talent in the future.”
Wu Meiniang's words made Xue Rengui blush. He smiled awkwardly and said: "It is the Wudong family who are talented in literature and profound in learning. Xue is just a reckless man. What kind of grace and talent can he say? But the Wudong family just said this. It makes sense, Xue Ne, the name is good, let’s just settle it!”
"Okay, congratulations on your good son. Remember to hold a banquet some other time and invite us to celebrate together!" Qin Mubai said with a smile.
"Definitely!" Xue Rengui nodded gratefully, "When Zhuojing recovers from typhoid fever, I will definitely invite everyone to come to a banquet to celebrate!"
"Okay, it's time for us to leave, Mu Bai." Princess Gao Yang couldn't wait. She smiled and stuck out her tongue at Wu Meiniang, "Meiniang, we're leaving. Are you going to be angry?"
"No, go ahead!" Wu Meiniang nodded generously and smiled.
"See you then!" After saying that, Princess Gaoyang took Qin Mubai and left, directly leaving Wu Meiniang's house.
Wu Meiniang stood there and frowned, thinking: This girl is so weird, why should she leave suddenly? It's not like her usual style. Did she realize something and want to find out from Qin Mubai privately? ... But Su Lianqing opened her mouth and talked nonsense, so she got the clue
"Come here." Thinking of this, Wu Meiniang's face darkened slightly and she called.
A maid came up and asked, "What are your orders, master?"
"Tell Su Lianqing to come to my room."
"yes!… "
Qin Mubai was pulled out by Princess Gaoyang. Of course, he also realized the abnormality of Princess Gaoyang and felt a little uneasy.
However, Princess Gaoyang kept smiling with excitement and joy, and did not let him ride a horse. She directly pulled him into the princess's carriage. Instead of going to the King of Jiangxia's carriage house, she ordered the coachman to go to the riverside.
"Ling'er, why are you going to the riverside at this time?" Qin Mubai asked.
Princess Gao Yang leaned against him quietly, letting out a long sigh of relief, and said, "I just want to talk to you quietly for a while without anyone else, can't I?"
"Of course." Qin Mubai had no choice but to reply.
Princess Gao Yang didn't speak any more along the way, but quietly leaned on Qin Mubai's arm, closing her eyes as if she was asleep.
Qin Mubai felt that she seemed to be worried and had many things brewing in her mind, waiting to talk to him later.
The driver drove the carriage to the bank of the Han River and stopped at a river embankment with green grass and a quiet environment. The two got out of the car. Princess Gaoyang took off her shoes and carefully walked on the green grass by the river with her bare white feet. She lowered her head with a slight smile on her face, thoughtfully.
"What are you thinking about, Ling'er?" Qin Mubai asked.
"Mu Bai, are you hiding something from me?" Princess Gao Yang asked in a low voice, holding up her two shoes and gently kicking the grass.
"No, what can I hide from you?" Qin Mubai's heart skipped a beat and he smiled deliberately, "Are you still jealous?"
"You know I'm not referring to this aspect of the matter." Princess Gaoyang was uncharacteristically neither coquettish nor overbearing, but said very softly, "I know, you must be hiding something from me."
"Really not." Qin Mubai said firmly.
Princess Gao Yang shook her head and smiled.
Qin Mubai suddenly felt uncertain. This girl, who usually seems heartless, is actually as clear as a mirror. Her expression right now is enough to show that she is very sure of her guess...
"You all treat me as a child, coax me, lie to me, and think that I am a big fool who doesn't know anything." Princess Gaoyang was not angry or self-deprecating. She had a smile on her face and a voice. He said soothingly, "Actually, most of the time, I don't mind if you treat me as a child, especially you. Because every time this happens, you dote on me and love me. But, this does not mean that I I really don’t know anything, and I don’t know anything. Mu Bai, you must understand what I’m talking about, right?”
"I never thought you were stupid." Qin Mubai said, "My heart is like a mirror but I keep it hidden. In fact, you are smarter than most people."
"Hehe!" Princess Gao Yang laughed twice and said, "Then tell me, what are you hiding from me?"
"I really don't know what it is about. There are many things about me that you don't know!" Qin Mubai was still trying to cover up, "How about you remind me?"
"Do you think I want to ask you about the affairs between men and women? I'm not interested, vulgar!" Princess Gaoyang pouted and said, "I don't care how many women you have, as long as you don't let me know, don't let As long as I see it, I am out of sight and out of mind. What I want to ask is... what happened in the past two days? Why are you, my brother, my uncle, Wu Meiniang, and Su Lianqing all involved? Mysterious? You must be hiding something from me, right? And this matter must be related to me, right?"
"No." Qin Mubai said firmly.
"Then it must be true!" Princess Gao Yang pursed her lips, stared at Qin Mubai with big eyes, and said, "Every time you tell a lie, you will be particularly 'righteous' and 'righteous'. His expression would become unnatural and his eyes would look elsewhere instead of looking me in the eye.”
"Uh!..." Qin Mubai was shocked and gulped, "No way, you observed so carefully? Have I ever lied in front of you before?"
"No." Princess Gao Yang cut her hands behind her back, lowered her head slightly, and said leisurely like a teenager, "I just lied to you. But judging from your reaction and expression, I was right. You are indeed here. lie!"
"I...fuck!" Qin Mubai felt so aggrieved in his heart!
It’s true that caring leads to chaos! Unexpectedly... I fell into the hands of a fifteen or sixteen year old girl! Gao Yang, Gao Yang, I really underestimated your IQ before!
"Then tell me quickly, what else are you hiding?" Princess Gao Yang turned around, raised her head slightly, and whispered sincerely and expectantly, "Mu Bai, you have to believe me. I am already As an adult, I have experienced many things that women of my age have never experienced, including life and death. What else can't I accept and bear? Do you know how uncomfortable it is for you to hide it from me? ,You do not respect me."
"I don't mean to disrespect you..." At this point, Qin Mubai knew that he could no longer deal with it.
This girl is so smart. Even if she didn't tell her, she would find a way to find out the truth from other places and other ways. Don't look at her, she is usually like a madam who only knows how to have fun and doesn't care about anything. But once she decides on something and is determined to do it, she will be determined to do it before she can feel at ease. And at this time, the "great wisdom and courage" she displays is enough to surprise anyone!
For example, when she would rather die than marry into the Fang family, she would pretend to be crazy and act like an idiot to survive, just like Qin Mubai.
"Tell me quickly!" Princess Gao Yang looked at Qin Mubai with a smile and said softly, "Is the matter related to my brother and my uncle? In the past two days, you have disappeared, and my uncle has also disappeared. My brother is also avoiding me. You are too abnormal. I guess, right?"
Qin Mubai sighed, looked at Princess Gao Yang's eyes as clear as a green rock stream, shining with wisdom and spirituality, and nodded: "Yes."