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Chapter 655 Art Orchestra

Qi Ning frowned and said, "Are you from Northern Han?"

Xiuniang said: "My father was originally a small county official under Dingtao County in the Northern Han Dynasty. Before the Qinhuai Battle, my father knew that Dingtao would be affected. He was afraid that his family would be implicated, so he took us away from Dingtao and wanted to avoid the war."

"Oh?" Qi Ning said: "Your father is an official. You leave before the battle, so you can be considered as escaping at the last minute."

"Yes." Xiu Niang said: "At that time, many officials took their families away first, and their father also followed the crowd. However, they did not dare to go north, worried about being arrested and held accountable, and did not dare to go south, so they could only come eastward." With his head down, he said calmly: "It hasn't been long before he met a rioter on the way!"

Qi Ning knew that the war was coming and people were in panic. Some people formed grass to burn, kill, loot for bandits, which was inevitable. Xiu Niang continued, "They would kill people when they see them, and rob money when they see them. We, one of us, would not be spared!" At this point, our voice was also bitter.

Perhaps it was because she had been sad for many years after a few years, so her emotional control is pretty good now.

Qi Ning asked, "So, did your family be killed a few years ago?"

Xiu Niang nodded: "Those rioters killed people and robbed goods, but they did not kill the young girls and captured us back." At this time, the head pressed down even lower: "We thought we would suffer all their humiliation, but they didn't touch us. They just locked us up and took care of us every day. After more than a month, we were taken to Qi State. After staying in a place for only a few days, I was sent to the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"Why is this?" Qi Ning frowned.

Xiuniang said, "Later I realized that those people took us to Dongqi to sell us to high-ranking officials as slaves. Some people saw that my servant was pretty pretty. They told the manager of the Prime Minister's Office that the manager sent me over and then stayed in the Prime Minister's Office."

Qi Ning said: "So that's it."

"There is an art orchestra in the prime minister's office, so I will practice dancing together." Xiuniang said: "I used to be a bit of a foundation, so I was very good at practicing. Later, I learned that the art orchestra in the prime minister would change a group of people every few years, and after training, it would often give it to other dignitaries."

Qi Ning thought to himself that Linghu Xu was also a scholar, so why did he do these methods? He also thought to himself that Linghu Xu, as the prime minister of Qi, had a high position and power, but to form his own team, he would inevitably have some ways to win people's hearts. This method of giving beauty is also a good method.

"If the person sent from the art band is returned, there is no way out." Xiu Niang whispered: "The Prime Minister's Mansion will not be taken back, and the people who came out of the Prime Minister's Mansion will not dare to take in other mansions."

Qi Ning understood and said, "So you must not be able to stay in Qi State?"

Xiuniang said, "I heard that during the Qinhuai War, Dingtao was also broken into ruins. When I returned, I couldn't find my home." She smiled miserably and said, "In fact, I had no home long ago."

During the war, the people were displaced and homeless. This was not just Xiuniang's experience. Qi Ning sighed and said, "Do you have an uncle, but it's true?"

Xiuniang immediately said: "I am just worried that the marquis knows that I am from the Northern Han Dynasty and will not ask for my servant. The other words of me are true. I have an uncle, but I have no whereabouts. I don't know whether I live or die."

Qi Ning frowned and thought to himself that if she said this, the girl really had no place to go. After thinking about it, she said, "If you want, just go back with me, you can always give you a bite."

Xiuniang saluted and said, "Xiang thanked the Marquis of Marquis to take in."

Qi Ning summoned someone in and ordered Xiu Niang to arrange a residence for her. She would set off tomorrow morning. The inn was very big and could make do with anything. Xiu Niang thanked her and was about to go down. Qi Ning suddenly thought of something and called Xiu Niang and asked, "Xiang Niang, were you arrested in the Northern Han territory and then sent to Dongqi by them, and then resold them into slavery?"

Xiuniang said, "Yes."

"Is there a lot of this situation in Dongqi?" Qi Ning asked: "Does girls who are often in trouble be sold to Dongqi?"

Xiuniang frowned slightly, thought for a while, and then said, "I am not very clear, but there should be many. The art band in the Prime Minister's Mansion is divided into more than a dozen teams, and each team needs five or six people. They said that the girls in the art band were carefully selected!" Her cheeks were slightly red, and she lowered her head and said, "If she looks good and has a good body, she will be sent to the art band, otherwise she will not be able to get in."

Qi Ning said: "In this way, there are nearly a hundred people in the art band."

Xiu Niang said, "I just heard them occasionally talk about how many people there are. I don't know and have never seen them. But I know that new people join the art orchestra every year, and people are sent out from the art orchestra every year. I stayed in the art orchestra for three years before being sent to the Marquis. I have been here for a long time."

Qi Ning thought to herself that this is not because you are not outstanding, on the contrary, both in appearance and figure are very good, so naturally they will not be given out easily.

At this time, he couldn't help but think of the situation in Huize City. The captain of Huize County, Xiao Yishui, colluded with Mrs. Hua to secretly sell girls, controlled the girls in distress from the war, and after a little training, he sent them to the capital to sell them to the nobles, and formed a dirty underground line.

Xiaodie's whereabouts are unknown because of this.

Today’s Xiuniang’s experience immediately made Qi Ning think of Xiaodie. Although she felt that the possibility was extremely small, a small flame still rose in her heart and asked: “The girls in the art band are all from the Northern Han Dynasty? Are there girls from Chu?”

Xiuniang hesitated for a moment, and then said with a slight hint: "Yes, there are two sisters from Chu in my team." She thought of something and said: "Does the marquis remember the girl who came with me today?"

Qi Ning nodded, remembering that the girl looked charming and had an impression.

"She is from Chu." Xiu Niang said: "Her experience is not much different from that of my servants. It is also during the war, and her family was destroyed and her people were sent to Qi State. However, she was unwilling to say more, so I didn't ask more questions."

Qi Ning frowned, thinking that he had made a mistake. If he had known this, he should have kept the girl together. He might not have been able to ask some clues.

It was only then that he realized that during the war, the secretly forcing the sale of girls was not just in Huize County. Now it seems that many people were doing this beast-like thing in private. The escort team that sent Xiaodie and others to the capital was wiped out in the middle of the journey, and all the girls escorted were kidnapped, which may not have been done by another group of people engaged in the sale of people.

Xiaodie's disappearance has always been a hidden injury in Qi Ning's heart. There is no clue. If you want to find Xiaodie, you are really looking for a needle in a haystack.

Although he knew that Xiaodie was missing, he would never be sent to Dongqi, and even more so that he would be sent to Linghu Xu's art band. After all, there were many gangs of human trafficking, and there were more dignitaries who bought girls as slaves. There was no such coincidence in the world, but a glimmer of hope still arose in his heart and asked: "Except for the girl today, how old is another Chu girl in your team?"

There was still a shadow of Xiaodie who had never seen each other before but had the image of Xiaodie. I remember Xiaodie was a little younger than him and looked like she was fifteen or sixteen years old.

Xiuniang thought for a while and said, "I am one year older than me, and I have been in the art band for more than a year."

When she said this, Qi Ning knew that it was absolutely impossible for Xiaodie. Xiuniang looked ten years old and older than her. She was almost twenty years old. She had been in the art band for more than a year and couldn't match the time. She felt a little disappointed, shook her head, and thought to herself that she was really thinking too much.

It was getting late, so I ordered the soldiers to take Xiu Niang down first. Before Xiu Niang left, she was a little shy and said, "Don't you need anyone to serve me at night?"

Qi Ning thought to myself that I didn’t plan to touch you at all. Even if I really wanted to take you, it wouldn’t be tonight. I’m going to set off back to Beijing tomorrow. The journey is quite long and you always have to keep your energy.

Before dawn the next day, the Chu delegation got up early and everything was ready. Under the leadership of Qi Ning, they went to Shengmen, south of Lucheng.

When we arrived at Nanshengmen, there was already a guard with hundreds of people waiting. However, the princess had not arrived yet. After waiting for a short while, the prince led a team of maids and eunuchs. The carriage the princess was riding in was spacious and gorgeous, with four horses pulling carriages, which were very grand.

The king of Dongqi had already said goodbye to Princess Tianxiang in the palace and did not send it over. After the prince and Qi Ning met, he discussed it briefly. In Qi State's territory, everything was naturally done according to the prince's intentions. The Qi State cavalry guard led the way in front, the princess' carriage was in the middle, and there were cavalry guards on both wings. Behind the princess' carriage were accompanied by Qi State palace servants, more than 30 palace maids and twenty eunuchs. Qi Ning asked for a set of palace maids' clothes, so that Xiuniang could dress up and mixed into the palace maids' team, so that she would not be conspicuous.

After departure, before arriving at a place, someone would inform the local government in advance that the governments along the way also tried their best to provide extra money. Not to mention that it was for Princess Tianxiang's face, the prince was escorted by the marriage envoy, and no one dared to neglect it. Officials of all sizes were flattered and flattered.

As an envoy of Chu, Qi Ning naturally received all the courtesy with the crown prince. There were even many gifts from the government along the way. Qi Ning naturally refused everyone. She wanted to go on a business trip and complete the task smoothly. She deserved some gifts, and felt quite comfortable.

There is no need to worry about food and accommodation in Qi State. Everything is arranged by Tao Qian, the Minister of Rites of Qi State, who accompanied him.

Qi Ning told the prince privately that the speed should not be too fast. The prince is also a smart person. He knew that Qi Ning wanted to make some time for Chu to prepare for the work. After all, this was also related to the face of Qi. The prince naturally agreed, so he didn't have much trip every day. After walking for three days, he entered Xuzhou.

After entering Xuzhou City, everything was in order. Qi Ning thought that the death of King Taishan was still controlled by Qi, and did not cause much turmoil. He knew that receiving foreign envoys was one of the major events of Qi during these days, but the Qi court must be dealing with the aftermath of King Taishan's rebellion.

Xuzhou City was full of traffic, everything was in order, and there was no sign of chaos. When he arrived at the Xuzhou Inn, Qi Ning realized that Xuzhou was currently being served by Situ Mingyue. After the death of Taishan King and Xuzhou Governor Fang Xingzhai, Xuzhou Governor Fang Xingzhai, there was no leader in Xuzhou. However, Situ Mingyue, the chief of the Prince's Mansion, was recommended by the Prince to temporarily handle Xuzhou affairs. Qi Ning thought no wonder he had never seen Situ Mingyue when he arrived in Lucheng.

Situ Mingyue has not been named the governor of Xuzhou for the time being, and his official position is vacant, but what he does is equivalent to the governor of Xuzhou.

This is the prince's confidant, and he prepared in advance, so he naturally received warmly. Although the evening banquet was lively, after the banquet, it was not as good as the officials along the way gave gifts. Qi Ning knew that Situ Mingyue had just been in Xuzhou for a few days and had not sat in her butt, so she would definitely not be able to take out anything. Moreover, he was the prince's person, so he didn't have to give gifts and flatter him, which made Qi Ning lose some investment.

After using the dinner party, Li Tang came to report: "Marquis, there is a man named Mao Hu'er who is asking for a meeting outside, saying that he has something urgent to meet with the Marquis."

"Mao Hu'er?" Qi Ningqi said: "Who is that?"
Chapter completed!
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