The dinner was very sumptuous.
Because the Taikang Banquet will be held tomorrow, all colleges are closed for the holiday.
Qin Chuan and Qin Lang came back together.
The whole family sat together to eat, enjoying themselves.
Miss Qin, who has never liked the crowds, was also pulled out by Song Ruyue herself.
During the meal, Qin Chuan was talking enthusiastically about things happening in the academy and seemed to be having a good time there.
Qin Lang sat beside him, saying nothing.
Luo Qingzhou also didn't say anything.
Qin Chuan talked for a while, then looked at him and asked, "Qingzhou, the Spring Examination will be held next year. How are you doing studying at home? Are you confident that you will pass the exam?"
Luo Qingzhou replied: "It's okay, there should be no problem."
Qin Chuan smiled and said, "That's good. When you pass the exam, your second brother will personally lead your horse, and we will beat gongs and drums and parade around the capital to show off."
Song Ruyue on the side rolled her eyes at him and said, "You are the only one who likes to show off, but Qingzhou is very low-key."
Then he glanced at someone and said, "If he is an ordinary Jinshi, forget it, so as to avoid bumping into the top scholar, which would be embarrassing."
Qin Chuan smiled and said, "Mother, maybe the top scholar is Qing Zhou."
Song Ruyue immediately said: "If it's Qingzhou, I'll lead the horse!"
Qin Chuan laughed out loud.
Qin Lang, who was standing aside, also smiled.
Everyone in the Qin family and the maids serving nearby also laughed.
The atmosphere suddenly became lively.
Speaking of next year's Spring Examination, we naturally talk about tomorrow's Taikang Banquet.
Song Ruyue whispered, "I heard from people in the store that princes from five countries are attending the Taikang Banquet, as well as the five major sects. It is said that the Queen Mother and His Majesty want to take the opportunity to choose a consort for the eldest princess..."
Qin Chuan said: "I also heard about it in the college. Everyone in the college, from teachers to students, was very excited. They wanted to participate as well."
At this time, Qin Lang, who had been silent, said, "The Queen Mother and His Majesty should have a candidate in mind, but it will take a fair competition to get a result."
Miss Qin Er said softly, "That's the right way. If we don't let everyone see a fair competition, most people in Da Yan will probably disagree. After all, the eldest princess's prestige is too high, and she has made so many contributions to Da Yan over the years. Naturally, she can't be careless about her lifelong event."
Song Ruyue had heard a lot of gossip in the inner city recently, and said, "I heard that this time, in addition to the princes of the five countries, there are also talented disciples from the five major sects, and the eldest princess may even set the questions herself."
Qin Chuan said: "The teacher at the academy said that the princess might participate in a martial arts competition. Given the princess's strength, she will probably need a martial artist at least at the early stage of a great martial artist to have a chance. The princess is a martial artist, so she probably won't like weak scholars."
Song Ruyue said: "That's not necessarily true. The more powerful and domineering a woman is, the more she may like the kind of weak and gentle scholar."
Qin Chuan didn't dare to argue with her and said, "Anyway, there should be a lot of tests, and they will definitely be exciting."
Song Ruyue said excitedly: "Fortunately, we can also go to the palace to see it. Thanks to Qingzhou, we were invited."
Luo Qingzhou quickly said: "It should be because of my eldest brother."
Qin Lang smiled and said, "It has nothing to do with me. The emperor specifically invited you. The five princes also brought many talented people and warriors from their countries. They may compete in poetry to liven up the atmosphere, and you will definitely be invited."
Song Ruyue held Miss Qin's hand and said, "Jianjia, why don't you go tomorrow, too? The palace is very beautiful and lively. There are all kinds of food and fun things to do. It's better than you staying alone at home in the cold and lonely."
Qin Lang also said, "Jianjia, let's go together tomorrow. It's not good to stay at home all the time."
Miss Qin shook her head slightly and said calmly, "No."
Qin Lang glanced at her and said nothing. He turned his gaze to his second sister, motioning her to try to persuade her.
Miss Qin Er said, "Sister doesn't like crowds, so forget it. I don't want to go either, mother, if you don't go tomorrow, why don't we go to visit West Lake together? There won't be many people at West Lake tomorrow, so we can go for more."
When these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.
Song Ruyue looked puzzled and said, "Why do we have to go tomorrow when we can't go to the West Lake? The Taikang Banquet is held every three years. It's impossible for ordinary people to go. We finally have this opportunity. Mother must go."
At this time, Qin Wenzheng, who had been drinking silently, suddenly frowned and said, "Listen to Weimo. Tomorrow you will accompany Weimo and Jianjia to visit the West Lake, and don't go to the palace."
When Song Ruyue heard him say that, she pouted and begged, "Master, I want to go."
Qin Lang and Qin Chuan were about to persuade them, but Qin Wen Zheng suddenly glared at them and scolded them with a stern face: "You are so old, but you still like to play. Isn't it okay for me to ask you to spend more time with Jian Jia and Wei Mo?"
Song Ruyue pouted, lowered her head, and looked aggrieved.
Qin Chuan couldn't help but said: "Daddy..."
“Shut up!”
Before he could finish, Qin Wen Zheng glared at him.
Qin Chuan immediately shut up and lowered his head to eat.
The atmosphere at the table suddenly became dull again.
At this time, Luo Qingzhou suddenly said: "Father-in-law, let mother-in-law go, and the second young lady should go too. Let's go together to make it more lively. As for the eldest young lady..."
He looked at the girl in the white dress next to him and said, "I think she should not go."
Everyone looked at him in confusion.
Miss Qin also raised her head and looked at him.
Qin Chuan couldn't help but ask, "Qingzhou, why don't you let Jianjia go? You can't not take her just because you... you divorced her, right?"
Qin Wenzheng immediately shouted angrily: "Shut up! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll slap you to death!"
Song Ruyue, who was standing by, also picked up a clapper and knocked it on his head, staring at him and saying, "You're the only one who knows how to talk? You've been chattering away all night. Can you take a break?"
Qin Chuan immediately lowered his head and said nothing more.
Luo Qingzhou explained: "The eldest lady doesn't like crowds. That kind of place is not suitable for her. She would feel uncomfortable and unhappy if she went there. And..."
At this point, he paused and said, "The young lady is so beautiful. There will definitely be a lot of people in the palace tomorrow, not only people from the Five Nations, but also people from various sects. If they see the young lady, there will inevitably be some accidents."
After hearing this, everyone looked at him with different expressions.
Miss Qin Er was smiling.
Qin Wen Zheng's eyes were complicated.
Miss Qin still had a cold expression.
At this time, Qin Lang said: "Qingzhou is right, Jianjia should stay at home. If other people like her, it's fine, but if she is..."
He didn't say anything else, and said, "Wei Mo, then you should stay at home with Jian Jia."
Miss Qin nodded and said, "Okay."
Song Ruyue said weakly: "What about me?"
Qin Wen Zheng did not answer immediately, but looked across.
Luo Qingzhou said: "Mother-in-law can go."
Qin Wenzheng then said: "Okay, then you go with me tomorrow."
Song Ruyue couldn't be happy at this time. She muttered in a low voice with a melancholy face: "Sure enough, I am the safest and least beautiful one in this family. You worry about Jianjia and Weimo, but not me. I am old and ugly, no one cares about me."
Everyone: “…”
Everyone pretended not to hear and moved on to other conversation.
When dinner was almost over, Qin Wen Zheng ordered the maids to clear the table and asked them to leave.
Then he went and closed the doors and windows himself.
Qin Chuan was still talking to Luo Qingzhou in a low voice, but when he saw that he seemed to have something important to say, he quickly quieted down.
Qin Wenzheng saw that only his wife and children were in the room, so he said, "Lang'er, did you find out who killed Luo Changtian and those Jinyiwei?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned to Qin Lang.
Qin Lang frowned slightly when he heard this and said, "Dad, I can't tell you about Eucalyptus."
Qin Wenzheng said with a straight face: "These are all your family members. What can't you say? Are they willing to harm you?"
Qin Lang fell silent.
Qin Wenzheng suddenly shouted coldly: "Speak!"
Qin Lang looked at him and said, "Dad, why do you insist on letting me speak? And why do you insist on speaking in front of everyone? Do you know who the murderer is?"
Qin Wenzheng suddenly slammed the table and shouted angrily: "What's your attitude? What, now that you've become the commander of the Jinyiwei and have become powerful, you don't take me seriously anymore, right?"
Qin Lang's face changed, and he immediately knelt on the ground, bowed his head and said: "Father, please forgive me. I have never disrespected you. But I really cannot reveal this matter."
Qin Wenzheng was about to get angry when Luo Qingzhou suddenly said, "Father-in-law, according to the rules, even family members cannot disclose such cases casually. It's not wrong for my elder brother to handle it impartially, so please don't ask any more questions."
Qin Wen Zheng glanced at him, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't open his mouth and sat down with a gloomy face.
Luo Qingzhou walked over, helped Qin Lang up, and said, "Brother, the murderer should be Chu Feiyang, right? Brother, don't worry about your family leaking the news, and don't worry about your family making things difficult for you. If the murderer is really him, even if he has done a favor to your mother-in-law, you should handle the matter impartially and arrest him."
As soon as these words came out, Song Ruyue's face suddenly changed, and she asked in a trembling voice: "Is... is it him?"
Qin Lang was silent for a while, then said, "I got news these days that Chu Feiyang has already reached the middle stage of the Great Martial Master. He may have concealed his level before, otherwise he would not have been able to advance so quickly. Also, he was in the city when the Zhongwu Marquis's Mansion was destroyed, and judging from the deaths of Luo Changtian and those Jinyiwei, the other party must have used fists. Coincidentally, Chu Feiyang also majored in boxing..."
Qin Wenzheng said with a gloomy face: "This is just your speculation, do you have any evidence?"
Qin Lang said: "It's very simple. As long as I see him and fight with him, I will naturally have evidence."
Qin Wenzheng snorted coldly and said, "The world is so big, there are so many warriors who practice the same techniques. Even if his technique is the same as the murderer's, you can't conclude that he is the murderer."
Qin Lang said: "Of course, I have other evidence."
Qin Wenzheng narrowed his eyes and asked, "What evidence?"
Qin Lang lowered his head and said nothing more.
When Qin Wenzheng was about to continue asking questions, Luo Qingzhou said, "Brother, in fact, we can just arrest him and interrogate him. As long as we bring him to the Jinyiwei, you will naturally find a way to make him talk, right?"
Qin Wen Zheng glanced at him.
Miss Qin Er also glanced at him.
Qin Lang nodded and said, "Yes, but he is a disciple of Lingxiao Sect and has been hiding in the sect. We can't go in and arrest him."
Luo Qingzhou pondered for a moment and suggested, "This Taikang Banquet may be an opportunity. If he enters the palace, you can take him away for questioning. If he does not enter the palace, you can also take advantage of the Lingxiao Sect's high-level officials coming to Kyoto to arrest him."
Qin Lang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty means that we cannot touch him for the time being. Tomorrow's Taikang Feast, nothing can go wrong."
At this time, Miss Qin Er said, "Brother, since you have already found the murderer, just report it to His Majesty truthfully. Whether to catch him or not, let His Majesty decide. In this case, it has nothing to do with you."
Qin Lang fell silent and said nothing more.
The family talked for a while about going to the palace tomorrow, and then left.
Qin Wenzheng asked Luo Qingzhou and Miss Qin Er to stay. After everyone left, he asked in a low voice: "Qingzhou, are you sure you can let your mother-in-law enter the palace tomorrow? Will there be any trouble in the palace?"
Luo Qingzhou knew what he meant and said, "Nothing will happen. Tomorrow the palace will be full of experts and the defense will be the most strict. Nothing will happen."
Qin Wenzheng looked at him deeply, felt relieved, and said, "Okay."
All three of them understood each other tacitly.
Luo Qingzhou helped Miss Qin Er away.
Qiu'er and Zhu'er walked in front, carrying lanterns.
The two of them were silent along the way, each thinking about their own things.
When they reached the gate of Meixiang Garden, Miss Qin Er suddenly said softly, "Brother Qingzhou, you go in first. Weimo will go to my sister's place."
Luo Qingzhou nodded and entered the courtyard alone.
Xiaodie was boiling water in the kitchen. When she saw him coming back, she asked, "Sir, where are you going to take a bath later?"
"In your room."
Luo Qingzhou walked into the kitchen and spent some time with her tenderly.
With Qiu'er's help, Miss Qin Er quickly arrived at Lingchan Moon Palace.
Zhu'er carried the lantern, walked to the door and knocked.
Miss Qin Er frowned slightly, holding a snow-white handkerchief in her hand, her eyes deep in thought, no one knew what she was thinking about.
"Squeak..."
At this time, the gate opened.
Bai Ling poked her head out, and seeing that it was them, she asked crisply, "Second Miss, is there something wrong?"
Miss Qin Er walked up and said, "Has my sister returned to her room? I want to talk to her."
Bai Ling hesitated for a moment, opened the door, and said, "The eldest lady has gone to the back garden to practice the piano, and Chanchan is also practicing sword there. It's very cold there, and the second lady is weak, so it's best not to go."
As she spoke, she glanced at the handkerchief in her hand.
Miss Qin Er smiled slightly, handed the handkerchief in her hand to her, and said, "By the way, Bailing, there is a very special flower scent on this handkerchief. Can you smell it and see what flower it is?"
Bai Ling quickly shook her head and said, "I don't know. Little Bai Ling really doesn't know."