Zhang Gou nodded in agreement and followed Princess Taiping outside.
After Wang Datou saw it from a distance, he hurriedly came over and followed Zhang Gou.
Princess Taiping did not look at Wang Datou. The princess did not speak, and the guard did not ask any questions.
After leaving the houfu, Wang Datou seemed to be satisfied and did not follow Zhang Gou anymore, but took the initiative to say goodbye and leave.
Zhang Gou rode his horse and followed Princess Taiping's carriage back to the princess's mansion.
After entering the mansion, Princess Taiping ordered: "Take him to clean up, and then come to Nuange to see me." After that, she walked away.
Zhang Gou's face was slightly red.
He was traveling in a dusty way, and his white clothes turned into gray clothes. He expected that he had not showered for a few days, and there must be a smell on his body, which would be smelled by the princess, which made him feel very embarrassed.
Silently following the maid from the princess's mansion, he came to a side room.
Along the way, Zhang Gou discovered that the servants and maids of the Princess's Mansion were all luxuriously dressed, and the pavilions and houses were extremely exquisite. Even the Changping County Prince's Mansion that he had just visited had no such luxury.
Soon, a servant brought in a large wooden barrel and poured hot water into it.
After Zhang Gou washed himself, a maid had already prepared a new set of clothes for him, as well as a high crown, jade belt and brocade shoes.
After getting dressed neatly, Zhang Gou's image changed drastically, and he looked like a handsome young man.
Led by a maid, they came to Nuange, but Princess Taiping was nowhere to be seen.
When he asked the maid, she was told that Princess Taiping was taking a bath and asked him to wait here.
When he thought of the charming princess taking a bath, Zhang Gou felt hot in his heart and his face turned red again.
After waiting for a long time, Princess Taiping came to the Nuan Pavilion with a group of maids. She had changed into a white palace dress. After sitting down on the brocade couch, she asked: "Have you been waiting for a long time?"
Zhang Gou said quickly: "No."
Princess Taiping put one hand on the armrest and supported her head. She looked at Zhang Gou with her eyes full and said with a smile: "What do you do under my second cousin?"
Zhang Gou hesitated for a moment and thought to himself: "Strictly speaking, I am not a subordinate of Prince Changping." He reluctantly replied: "His Highness asked me to help him look after an island."
Princess Taiping noticed the unnatural look on his face, narrowed her eyes and said: "So, you are not a member of the Yangzhou officialdom?"
"Yes." Zhang Gou didn't dare to look at her and lowered his head.
"Did he meet you after he went to Yangzhou?"
"Yes."
Princess Taiping put away her smile and said calmly: "Immediately tell me all the experience of getting to know your second cousin, and don't miss a word!"
Zhang Gou lowered his head and didn't answer. If possible, he didn't want to talk about his experience.
"Why don't you answer my question?" Princess Taiping's voice suddenly turned cold.
As soon as he looked up, he could see the irresistible majesty in her eyes. Zhang Gou didn't dare to hide anything anymore and explained all his experiences one by one.
Princess Taiping stared at him quietly for a while, then suddenly smiled and said: "So you are a pirate."
Zhang Gou smiled bitterly and said: "I am a pirate who has no choice but to become a pirate."
Princess Taiping smiled and said: "You can defeat the army with hundreds of villagers. It's no wonder that my second cousin keeps you by his side."
After a pause, he asked: "How is your second cousin's current situation in Yangzhou?"
Although Zhang Gou had been on the island, he had already heard about the situation in Yangzhou on the way to Chang'an, and replied: "Yangzhou is currently in the hands of His Highness, who is training the navy to fight against pirates."
Princess Taiping nodded, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly waved her hand to dismiss the maid.
"Why did your second cousin ask me to take you to Taishan Palace?" she asked with a serious expression.
Zhang Gou took out another letter, handed it over, and said, "This is what His Highness asked me to do. Please read it."
Princess Taiping took it and read it, her face suddenly became very strange. After looking back and forth several times, she nodded and put the letter in her arms.
"You go and have a rest. Tomorrow the Imperial Palace will ask the Empress for a decree, and we will go to the Taishan Palace together."
In the afternoon of the next day, Zhang Gou followed Princess Taiping's group towards the city gate.
Princess Taiping received a decree from the queen to go to Mount Tai to inspect the renovation of the palace.
Accompanying him were a large group of Qianniu Guards and several officials from the Ministry of Works.
On the way out of the city, Zhang Gou suddenly noticed that there were many Jinwu guards on the road, and they were also heading towards the city gate.
Princess Taiping in the carriage was not surprised by this and seemed to know what happened.
Zhang Gou was confused, so he drove his horse forward and asked a Qianniu guard general: "General, do you know why there are so many Jinwu guards on the street?"
The general glanced at him and asked, "I wonder who your Excellency is?"
Zhang Goudao said: "I am a craftsman, and I was ordered to go to the Taishan Palace to inspect the renovation." This was the identity assigned to him by Princess Taiping.
General Nalang said coldly: "Since you are from the Ministry of Industry, go and ask your own superiors. Don't ask me."
Zhang Gou had no choice but to come to another carriage and ask Wai Lang, a member of the Ministry of Industry inside, "Huang Yuan Wai Lang, do you know why there are so many Jinwu guards on the street?"
Huang Yuanwailang in the carriage opened the curtain, looked at him, and asked: "Who are you?"
Zhang Gou replied: "I am the craftsman transferred by Her Royal Highness the Princess from Shenhuofang to inspect the Taishan Palace."
Huang Yuanwailang glanced at the Jinwu guards and said calmly: "Don't ask if you shouldn't ask." After saying that, he let go of the carriage curtain.
Zhang Gou hesitated for a long time, and finally stopped worrying and came to Princess Taiping's carriage.
Princess Taiping rode in a four-horse carriage, which was large and stable, and was surrounded by the guards of the princess palace.
Luo Zhen, the leader of the guards, knew him and did not stop him.
Zhang Gou came to the window of the carriage and shouted to Princess Taiping in the carriage: "Your Royal Highness."
"What's the matter?" Princess Taiping's lazy voice came from inside the car.
"Do you know why there are so many Jinwu guards on the street?"
For a while, there was no sound in the carriage. Just when Zhang Gou thought Princess Taiping would not answer, the curtains of the carriage were suddenly opened.
Princess Taiping put her hands on the window eaves and said, "I heard that Wu Sansi disappeared after leaving the city this morning. These Jin Wu guards are all looking for him." There was a gloating smile on her face.
Zhang Gou was stunned. Wu Sansi was missing?
Yesterday he saw the uncle who looked like a woman. Why did he disappear today?
What's even more strange is that Princess Taiping smiled so happily. Aren't they two cousins?
With doubts, Zhang Gou followed Princess Taiping out of Chang'an City and headed for the Taishan Palace in Yanzhou.
…
On the tenth day of October in 677 AD, Li Zhi and Wu Mei led hundreds of civil and military officials, as well as envoys from various countries, to leave Chang'an City and go to Mount Tai for the Zen Ceremony.
The day of enshrinement will be one month later, on the tenth day of the eleventh month.
At the same time, it had been five days since Princess Taiping arrived at the Taishan Palace. The news that she had arrived at the Taishan Palace under orders soon reached Yangzhou City.
The King of Yue sent someone to invite the King of Han to discuss the matter in his study.
"Princess Taiping is just going to the palace in Mount Tai. It's not Wu Chengsi who is going to the palace in Mount Tai. Why are you panicking?" King Han said disapprovingly after entering the room.
In the past month, Wu Chengsi concentrated on training the navy and fighting pirates, which gradually made him relax a lot.
The King of Yue said in a deep voice: "Don't forget that Princess Taiping and Wu Chengsi have an extremely close relationship. It is not impossible that he entrusted Princess Taiping to help him investigate the Taishan Palace."
"Yang Xuan, tell King Yue about Wu Chengsi's situation this month." King Han said angrily.
Yang Xuan said: "In the recent period, no one from the Governor's Office or the Navy Commander's Office has entered Beijing."
Chen Shuozhen also said: "Your Highness, the poor people have also guarded the road to Yanzhou and Beijing. We will follow up and investigate any suspicious people passing by. There is no case at present."
The King of Yue frowned and said, "You all think this is a coincidence?"
King Han curled his lips and said: "You are good at everything, but you are too suspicious. Although Wu Chengsi captured Zhang Gou and rescued Xu Yuanju and his daughter, these people don't know anything. His arrest was in vain. But
You like to think too much."
The King of Yue was silent for a long time and said in a deep voice: "It is less than a month before Mount Tai is enshrined. In a few days, Wu Chengsi and we will go to Yanzhou. I must be careful."
King Han was too lazy to argue with him, so he picked his ears and changed the subject: "I heard that King Lu was ill and did not accompany him to the Zen Ceremony this time."
The King of Yue nodded and said: "Yes, it seems to be related to the arrest of his son Li Ai."
King Han wondered: "Doesn't he dislike Li Ai? How could he get sick because of him?"
The King of Yue said calmly: "That's just a superficial phenomenon. In fact, King Lu likes Li Ai the most. However, he is well aware of the dangers of Chang'an City, so he deliberately treats the mother and son indifferently and lets them stay in Taizhou."
King Han blinked and thought for a while, then sighed: "King Lu must hate the Wu family deeply. It's such a pity. It would be great if this happened to King Zheng."
The King of Yue frowned and said, "How do you say that?"
"Prince Zheng has always been self-righteous and unwilling to join us in dealing with the Wu family. If his son is captured by Wu Chengsi, can't we take the opportunity to win him over?"
The King of Yue touched his forehead, shook his head and said, "If Li Ai was really King Zheng's son, Wu Chengsi would never touch him."
King Han was stunned, nodded and said: "That's true."
At this moment, Yang Xuan suddenly said: "There is something very strange."
The King of Yue was always impressed by his words and asked hurriedly: "What's the matter?"
Yang Xuan said: "Why did Princess Changping suddenly come to Yangzhou?"
King Han curled his lips and said, "What's weird about this? Wu Chengsi is in Yangzhou, and it's normal for her to come to Yangzhou to find her man."
The King of Yue was silent.
Li Wen suddenly smiled and said: "I know why Princess Changping suddenly came to Yangzhou."
"Why?" The King of Yue glanced sideways at his son.
Li Wen smiled and said: "Father, Uncle Wang, have you all forgotten Xu Yuanju's daughter?"
King Han touched his beard and said, "What happened to his daughter?"
Li Wen smiled and said: "In my opinion, Wu Chengsi is definitely having a relationship with Miss Xu's family. Princess Changping must have gotten wind of it and came to warn Miss Xu's family."
The King of Yue thought for a while and asked Chen Shuozhen: "Daozhang Chen, after Li came to Yangzhou, did he go to see Miss Xu?"
Chen Shuozhen shook his head: "Pindao didn't send anyone to keep an eye on her."
Yang Xuan suddenly said: "Princess Changping arrived in Yangzhou at noon yesterday and has been at the Navy Commander's Mansion in the afternoon. Today around 10 o'clock, she went to the Xu Mansion with Wu Chengsi. Neither of them has come out yet."
Li Wen was very proud and said with a smile: "Normally, the Xu family's father and daughter should go to see the princess, but Li went directly to the Xu Mansion and took Wu Chengsi with him. I'm afraid that the Xu Mansion is now in chaos.
It's like a chicken and a dog."
King Han sneered and said: "We have been unlucky for so long, and things have changed, so it's time for that boy Wu Chengsi to be unlucky!"
…
Xu Mansion.
At a round table, Wu Chengsi, Li Zhiying and Xu Yuanju were sitting around the table. Li Zhiying and Wu Chengsi both had heavy expressions.
Xu Yuanju was sitting in a wheelchair, staring blankly at the table, seemingly unable to make a decision.
Only Xu Wenqing, who was lying on the bed with a smile on his face, looked the most relaxed.
After a long while, Wu Chengsi said in a deep voice: "Miss Xu, Xu Changshi, and Zhiying's medical skills are not inferior to those of the imperial doctors. Although there is only a 50% chance, I think I can give it a try."
Xu Yuanju gritted his teeth and said: "Your Highness saved us, father and daughter, and now you have invited Your Highness the Princess to come over to treat Wen Qing. Xu has nothing to say, and I will obey your orders in everything."
Xu Wenqing smiled and said: "Your Highness, I am very happy to have a 50% chance. In fact, I have been prepared to never see it again in this life."
Li Zhiying saw that her husband valued the father and daughter, and said solemnly: "Well, before the treatment, I will prescribe a recipe to improve Miss Xu's body, and then treat her after three months, which should increase her success.
Opportunity."
Xu Yuan raised his long body and bowed, saying: "Your Highness, Princess Lao."
Li Zhiying added: "By the way, you must not eat spicy food during these three months. There are also some things you need to pay attention to."
Xu Yuanju hurriedly said: "Your Royal Highness, can you accompany me to the study? I want to write down all this."
Li Zhiying nodded and followed Xu Yuan out of the room.
After the sound of the wheelchair rolling disappeared, the smile on Xu Wenqing's face disappeared instantly. He lowered his head and bit his lips tightly, as if he was about to cry at any time.
Wu Chengsi was slightly startled, and then he realized that Xu Wenqing's previous relaxation was all fake, in order not to worry his father.
He walked forward and gently comforted her: "Miss Xu, don't worry, your eyes will be fine."
People who hold back tears are the most unable to withstand persuasion and will cry as soon as they are persuaded. Xu Wenqing cried immediately and sobbed: "Don't comfort me anymore. My eyes will never get better and I will never see my father again."
it's your turn."
When Wu Chengsi saw her crying, he was filled with guilt and said softly: "If your eyes can't be cured, I will take care of you for the rest of your life."
Xu Wenqing's crying stopped suddenly, he blinked his eyes, and suddenly cried louder.
"You just said that my eyes would be fine. You were really lying to me!"
Wu Chengsi smiled bitterly and said nothing.
After a long while, Xu Wenqing gradually stopped crying and said with a blushing face: "You just said you would take care of me for the rest of your life. Is that true?"
"certainly."
As soon as Wu Chengsi finished speaking, Xu Yuanju's exclamation suddenly sounded outside the door: "Your Highness, where are you going?"
Wu Chengsi was startled and hurried out of the house, only to see Li Zhiying running towards the gate of Xu Mansion, and Xu Yuanju sitting in a wheelchair, looking at a loss.
"Xu Changshi, what happened to Zhiying?" Wu Chengsi asked hurriedly.
Xu Yuanju said in shock: "I don't know. She arrived at the door before me, and then suddenly turned around and ran away. It seemed like..."
"What else?" Wu Chengsi asked urgently.
"Her Royal Highness the Princess seems to be...crying."
Wu Chengsi suddenly became confused and without saying a word, he chased outside the mansion.
Fortunately, Li Zhiying's skirt was too long and she couldn't run fast. When Wu Chengsi chased her out of the gate, he saw her hurriedly getting into the carriage.
Wu Chengsi hurriedly went up to hold her little hand and said: "Zhiying, listen to me, the situation is not like that."
Li Zhiying shed tears and sobbed: "Just go take care of her and ignore me." After saying that, she shook off Wu Chengsi's hand, actually pulled up her skirt, got on a horse, and left.
Wu Chengsi stared blankly at Li Zhiying's leaving figure and murmured: "I didn't expect Zhiying's riding skills to be quite good."
After saying that, he quickly mounted another horse and chased after Li Zhiying.
At a corner of the street, Li Wen laughed and said, "As expected, I started crying, arguing, and making trouble!"
He ordered others to continue to stare at this place, and he rushed back to the palace, went straight to the study, and told the King of Yue about the situation.
The King of Yue put down his brush and said with a smile: "It seems that luck has finally turned to our side. Wu Chengsi will not have time to care about us in the next days."
Li Wen said: "Father, I see that there is no one following Wu Chengsi. Should we send someone to take the opportunity to assassinate him?"
The King of Yue's face suddenly became extremely ugly, and he shouted angrily: "You unimproved thing, how could someone like Wu Chengsi not have secret guards around him? And even if you can really assassinate him, have you thought about the consequences?"
Li Wen muttered: "What consequences can there be?"
The King of Yue snorted coldly: "Wu Chengsi's soldiers are not unreasonable. If he died in such an unexplained way, these soldiers must think that it was us who did it. Do you know how terrifying angry soldiers are?"
Li Wen shrank his neck and said, "My child is just making a suggestion."
The King of Yue glared at him and said, "Go down."
Li Wen left with his head hanging.
"Wait a minute."
Li Wen turned his head and listened to King Yue say: "Go tell Daozhang Chen and ask her to send someone out to take a look. If there are no secret guards around Wu Chengsi, send someone to protect Wu Chengsi."
Li Wen was surprised and said, "We still want to protect him?"
The King of Yue shouted: "Go if you are told to go. Before the plan starts, I don't want any accidents to happen. Only in this way can the plan achieve the best results."
Li Wen could only respond in a muffled voice.
After Wu Chengsi chased out of the south gate, he noticed that Li Zhiying suddenly accelerated. He immediately became determined to win, clamped the horse's belly hard, and accelerated to chase.
Not long after, the two of them followed the mountain road and came to the halfway point of a hill. Suddenly, they saw a cave suddenly appearing between two big trees in front of them.
Li Zhiying tightened the horse's rope, turned over and dismounted, took the long sword from the horse, and walked into the cave.
Wu Chengsi followed to the entrance of the cave. He was slightly surprised, fearing that there might be some ferocious beast inside, so he hurriedly took the spear from his horse and followed in.