At this moment, the study room was pushed open, and Xue Yujin walked out of the room. He glanced around and said, "Are Xu Yuanju and Zhang Qiming here?"
"Hello, County Master Xue, we meet again, my father and Uncle Xu are here." Zhang Gou walked up the first few steps.
Xue Yujin tilted his head and asked curiously: "Who are you? Do we know each other?"
"Zhang Gou, when I went to the palace to meet the princess, you took me in, don't you remember?"
Xue Yujin nodded, not knowing whether he recognized Zhang Gou or not, and said: "Brother Wu said, let Xu Yuanju and Zhang Qiming go in, so hurry in."
Zhang Qiming and Xu Yuanju responded in unison and entered the study together. Xue Yujin closed the door from the outside.
Zhang Goudao: "Master Xue, aren't you going in?"
Xue Yujin waved his hand and said: "I can understand every word of what Brother Wu and that man named Yang Wulian said, but when they are put together, I don't understand them at all. I really can't stand it anymore."
Zhang Gou noticed the county chief's unexpected frankness and couldn't help laughing: "It doesn't matter if you don't understand."
"Why?" Xue Yujin glanced over.
Zhang Gou said with a smile: "You are a woman, it doesn't matter whether you understand these things or not."
Xue Yujin snorted and said, "Are you looking down on women?"
Zhang Gou was taken aback and waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, absolutely not!"
Xue Yujin rolled her eyes at him, turned her gaze to Yang Tai, and asked, "Hey, where is Chen Zi'ang? Why haven't you seen anyone else?"
"He's gone." When Yang Tai spoke, his head was still staring at the study.
Seeing his cold attitude, Xue Yujin snorted and left the courtyard.
At this moment, Zhang Gou suddenly asked: "Mr. Xue County, has Her Royal Highness Princess Taiping not come here today?"
"No, why are you asking?" Xue Yujin turned around.
Zhang Gou waved his hands in a panic and said, "No, it's nothing."
Xue Yujin didn't think too much and suggested: "Hey, it's so boring for you to wait here. Why don't you go to Nuang Pavilion with me and wait, and you can have a cup of tea."
Zhang Gou said hurriedly: "I have no objection."
Xue Yujin nodded and left with Zhang Gou without inviting Yang Tai.
When the moon rose above the top of the tallest tree in the courtyard, the study door finally opened, and Yang Wulian, Xu Yuanju and Zhang Qiming all came out.
Immediately afterwards, Wu Chengsi and Li Zhiying also followed.
Yang Tai looked at his father's face and saw that although he tried his best to control his expression, the joy on his face could not be concealed at all, and he breathed a long sigh of relief.
"I take my leave." The three of them bowed their hands to Wu Chengsi.
Wu Chengsi smiled and said: "I hope you can work together in the future to contribute to the development of our smelting technology."
The three of them all responded with their hands, especially Yang Wulian's voice was the loudest.
After leaving Wu Chengsi's palace, Zhang Qiming and his son and Xu Yuanju immediately got into the carriage without saying a word to Yang Wulian and his son.
Yang Wulian didn't feel dissatisfied at all. He patted his son on the shoulder and said, "Tai'er, please walk a few steps with your father."
Yang Tai couldn't bear it any longer and asked: "Father, has His Highness the King of Zhou promised to absolve you?"
Yang Wulian shook his head and smiled, saying: "It's not that easy, but at last I don't have to spend the rest of my life in prison. It's all thanks to you."
Yang Tai asked anxiously: "Father, what is going on? What did His Highness King Zhou talk about with you?"
Yang Wulian showed a strange look on his face and said: "He asked us to improve the smelting method and find a way to make longer and thicker iron pipes!"
Yang Tai frowned and said: "Does it need to be thicker? Wouldn't it be heavier? It's difficult to carry such a weapon. How can we fight?"
"I can't figure it out either. He asked Zhang Qiming and I to build another Shenhuo Workshop in Yangzhou to specialize in studying this kind of iron pipe."
"What about Master Xu?"
Yang Wulian sighed and said: "He is a blessing in disguise this time. His Royal Highness King Zhou is going to recommend him as the governor of Yangzhou. When the time comes, he will fully cooperate with our Shenhuofang."
Yang Tai nodded and said: "His Royal Highness the King of Zhou seems to be very confident about this weapon. Father, I will go to Yangzhou with you."
Yang Wulian said: "What are you doing there? I have already made an agreement with His Highness the King of Zhou to let you enter the Shenhuo Workshop in Chang'an and pass on the technology of refining iron pipes to the craftsmen there."
"My child understands."
Yang Wulian suddenly looked up to the sky and sighed, saying: "If only I had met His Royal Highness King Zhou earlier, I wouldn't be in the situation I am today."
Yang Tai frowned and said, "Father, why are you still saying these things now?"
Yang Wulian glanced at his son, shook his head and said, "You don't understand that my father did not say this because of his favor, nor because of his talent, ambition and other factors."
"Then you are?"
Yang Tai was silent for a while and said slowly: "He is different from others. I can feel his emphasis on smelting technology and respect for craftsmen. If his status as a soldier is put aside, I even think he has also been a craftsman."
In the Nuan Pavilion, Wu Chengsi lay on his side on the couch, hunched over, supporting his head with his arms, playing Go with Li Zhiying, while Xue Yujin knelt down next to Li Zhiying and watched the game.
The three of them had just had dinner. After dinner, they played a few games of chess, which was a popular pastime among the nobles of the Tang Dynasty. Wu Chengsi gradually adapted to this habit.
Because there are so few entertainment activities that can be done at night.
Xue Yujin did not have a good habit of watching chess without saying a word. Whenever it was Li Zhiying's turn, she would keep shouting from the side: "Zhiying, come here, listen to me, you are right!"
Wu Chengsi did not protest, because Xue Yujin's level was very bad, and his help to Li Zhiying was zero. No, it should be a negative number.
Li Zhiying's chess style is a hidden needle type. She never competes with Wu Chengsi head-on. As long as Wu Chengsi is a little stronger, she will take the initiative to avoid it.
This would have been a big disadvantage, but she calculated the game very far.
Sometimes it was clear that Wu Chengsi had the upper hand and he didn't make any mistakes, but as time went on, Li Zhiying made up the difference without even realizing it.
Wu Chengsi sometimes even felt that his wife might be a hidden master, but she only deliberately wanted to create an evenly matched situation every time.
But it doesn’t matter, anyway, for Wu Chengsi, Go is just a pastime, and there is no difference between winning and losing.
After a game of chess was played, Wu Chengsi won with a slight advantage. He sat up straight and said, "Yu Jin, it's so late, why don't you go back?"
Xue Yujin said while helping to collect the chess pieces: "Then I won't go back today."
Seeing Wu Chengsi frowning, she hurriedly said: "Don't worry, I won't compete with you for Zhiying, you two just go to sleep."
Wu Chengsi said angrily: "This is a matter of course!"
Li Zhiying said with concern: "Yu Jin, you haven't been home for several days. I'm afraid your elder brother will be worried."
Xue Yujin flattened his mouth and hummed: "He doesn't care."
Li Zhiying asked: "Did something happen to you two?"
Xue Yujin didn't want to say anything at first, but she couldn't hold back her words. She only held it for three seconds before saying, "He has been looking for the second lady of the Wei family all day long in the past few days. He doesn't take me to heart at all."
Li Zhiying was surprised and asked: "Did he have contact with Miss Wei's family again?"
Xue Yujin pursed his lips and said, "Isn't it true? It's because of that stinky guy Yan Yaosheng who has been secretly communicating information for them, and that's why their old relationship rekindled!"
Wu Chengsi crossed his legs and said with a smile: "This is a good thing. Your eldest brother is almost thirty and should have married a long time ago. The three ladies of the Wei family are all famous for their beauty and virtuousness. You, my younger sister,
You should be happy for him."
"No! I hate that woman!"
Xue Yujin seemed really angry, climbed off the couch, and left the room angrily.
Wu Chengsi scratched his forehead and frowned: "Does she have any conflict with the second lady of the Wei family?"
Li Zhiying glanced at Wu Chengsi and said softly: "Husband, this matter is not that simple. Yu Jin has suffered a lot of grievances in this matter."
Wu Chengsi sat up straight and said, "What's going on? Please tell me in detail."
Li Zhiying slowly crawled to Wu Chengsi, leaned on his arm, and said, "This matter started eight years ago, when Yu Jin's eldest brother met the second young lady of the Wei family at a lantern festival."
Wu Chengsi smiled and said, "Did Xue Dalang fall in love at first sight with the second lady of the Wei family?"
Li Zhiying also smiled and said: "My husband guessed it right. The most famous among the capital at that time were the three daughters of the Wei family. The children of every wealthy family wanted to marry a daughter of the Wei family."
Wu Chengsi nodded. The original owner was still in Lingnan at that time, so Wu Chengsi had no relevant memories. After coming to Chang'an, he only knew that the three ladies of the Wei family were famous for their beauty.
Li Zhiying continued: "It's a pity that the second young lady of the Wei family didn't like Xue Dalang. Xue Dalang is like a group of rich kids. As long as the second young lady of the Wei family goes out, they will definitely follow him."
Wu Chengsi curled his lips and said, "Then the second lady of the Wei family didn't have a crush on her at that time?"
Li Zhiying said: "It doesn't look like it on the surface, but actually it does."
"Who is it?" Wu Chengsi's heart suddenly became full of gossip.
"Just listen to what others say slowly."
Wu Chengsi held her in his arms and said with a smile: "Okay, you can speak slowly and I won't interrupt you."
Li Zhiying gave Wu Chengsi a smile, leaned against Wu Chengsi, and continued: "Yu Jin and Brother Xue have a deep love for each other. They couldn't bear that their brother was trapped by love, so they wanted to help Dalang Xue."
"How can a woman help her?" Wu Chengsi laughed.
"Husband, don't underestimate Yu Jin. If she makes up her mind to do something, she can do anything."
"Then what did she do?"
Li Zhiying looked up at Wu Chengsi and said word by word: "She went to work as a servant in the Wei family!"
After saying that, he stared closely at Wu Chengsi's expression. Wu Chengsi blinked and said, "What happened next?"
Li Zhiying opened her eyes wide: "Husband, aren't you surprised?"
"What's the surprise?"
"Yu Jin is a woman, and she is General Xue's daughter after all, but she disguises herself as a man and goes to work as a servant in the Wei family. Isn't it ridiculous?"
Wu Chengsi smiled and waved his hand, saying: "What does this mean? Some women even disguise themselves as men and go to the academy to study, and then make a long-lasting promise with a classmate."
Li Zhiying's eyes opened even wider, and she lost her voice: "Which family is this woman from? She...how could she do such a thing?"
Seeing that his wife was a little excited, Wu Chengsi hurriedly patted her shoulder and said, "Don't worry, it's a story I read in a book, not the people around us."
Li Zhiying said angrily: "The person who wrote this book should be arrested, otherwise what if a woman sees it and actually learns to do it?"
Wu Chengsi was speechless. Li Zhiying was smart. After all, she was an ancient woman and her thoughts were somewhat conservative.
"Then what happened after Yu Jin entered the Wei family?" Wu Chengsi changed the subject.
After a while, Li Zhiying said mysteriously: "After Yu Jin stayed at the Wei family for a few days, she discovered something."
"What's the matter?"
Li Zhiying raised her head again, looked at Wu Chengsi and said, "She discovered that the second young lady of the Wei family already has a sweetheart, and that sweetheart turned out to be her Mr. Qinle!"
After speaking, she stared at Wu Chengsi again. Whenever something important was mentioned, she wanted to see Wu Chengsi's reaction.
Wu Chengsi still had no reaction and only asked: "What happened next?"
Li Zhiying pursed her lips, lowered her head and said, "Later, Yu Jin reported the matter between the two of them, and the old man of the Wei family had Mr. Qin Le's legs broken and he was driven out of the Wei family."
Wu Chengsi remained silent.
Li Zhiying glanced at him secretly and whispered: "Yu Jin did not do it properly, but the reaction of the second lady of the Wei family was even more ruthless."
"Oh? Why is she so heartless?"
Li Zhiying frowned and said: "When that Qinle teacher was being interrogated, the second lady of the Wei family looked on with cold eyes. Not only did she not plead for him, she even said that Mr. Qinle forced her!"
Wu Chengsi sighed. Women in ancient times had a very strong sense of hierarchy. It was impossible for a lady like the second lady of the Wei family to really follow an ordinary Mr. Qin Yue.
And even if she is willing, it is impossible for the Wei family to be willing, and she cannot not know it in her heart.
There are only a few women who truly have the courage and ability to break through feudal shackles.
"Is this why Yu Jin hates the second young lady of the Wei family?" Wu Chengsi asked.
Li Zhiying shook her head and said: "Yu Jin was too stupid at the time. He did such a thing but did not think about running away. He continued to stay in the Wei family. As a result, the second lady of the Wei family found out about her informing."
Wu Chengsi sighed: "I'm afraid the second young lady of the Wei family won't let her go so easily."
Li Zhiying's face paled slightly, biting her lips and said: "Not only did she have someone beat up Yujin, but after discovering the identity of the Yujin woman, she also... she also planned to have a servant destroy Yujin's innocence!"
Wu Chengsi was startled and said, "What happened next? Is Yu Jin okay?"
Li Zhiying said: "Fortunately, Yu Jin finally revealed her identity as Miss Xue's family, and the second Miss of Wei's family let her go."
Wu Chengsi was silent for a while and said, "With the character of the second young lady of the Wei family, how can the elder man of the Xue family still like her?"
Li Zhiying said in a low voice: "He doesn't believe Yu Jin's words."
Wu Chengsi frowned and said: "Why doesn't he believe it? Yu Jin personally risked it for him, does he still choose to believe others?"
Li Zhiying glanced at Wu Chengsi and said, "Yu Jin refused to tell her about being a servant, so there are some things that don't make sense."
Wu Chengsi nodded, it was reasonable, and said: "Is there anything more to come?"
Li Zhiying said softly: "Later, the three young ladies of the Wei family got married one after another. Yan Yaosheng, the most talented man in Chang'an at that time, married the eldest lady and married into the Wei family."
"The second young lady married Yuan Gongyu's son, so Brother Xue had to give up. The third young lady married the second son of King Lu."
Wu Chengsi asked curiously: "Since the second young lady of the Wei family has married into the Yuan family, how come she still has contact with Xue Dalang?"
Li Zhiying suddenly smiled and said: "Lang Jun, this matter is still related to you."
"Is it related to me?"
"Yes, do you still remember that last year you uncovered the case of Xu Jingzong framed General Su? As a result, Yuan Gongyu was implicated and was demoted to another place as an official."
Wu Chengsi nodded and said, "Of course I remember this."
Li Zhiying said: "The eldest young master of the Yuan family was pampered since he was a child. I heard that he couldn't bear the blow and died of illness on the road. The second lady of the Wei family returned to Chang'an."
Wu Chengsi finally understood that widows in the Tang Dynasty could remarry. The more noble a woman was, the easier it was for her to remarry.
"In other words, after the second young lady of the Wei family returned to Beijing, she began to secretly communicate with Xue Dalang?"
"It's not about secretly coming and going, it's about being open and aboveboard." Li Zhiying corrected: "Since the Xue family was named the Duke of the State, the second lady of the Wei family took the initiative to find Brother Xue."
"Then Yu Jin didn't stop him?"
Li Zhiying said with a smile: "Of course she stopped it. She scolded the second young lady of the Wei family in the street, and also banned her brother from interacting with the second young lady of the Wei family."
Wu Chengsi was surprised: "Xue Dalang didn't beat her?"
Li Yanying glanced at him in vain, and said, "Brother Xue hurts Yujin very much, how could he beat her." He sighed, and said: "" Originally thought that the two of them had broken the relationship, but I didn't expect to be secretly coming and going. "
Wu Chengsi yawned and said, "It's useless to forcefully stop things like feelings. Let's let nature take its course."
Li Zhiying was stunned, and after a while, she said: "I understand, I will try to persuade Yu Jin more."
Wu Chengsi didn't know that his casual words were regarded as a task by his wife. He got up, blew out all the lights, and said with a smile: "Madam, it's getting late."
Of course Li Zhiying knew what he was going to do and said hurriedly: "Husband, please allow me to take a bath first."
Wu Chengsi grabbed her and said with a smile: "It's the same thing if you wash it later, I'll wash it with you." As he said that, his big hands were already roaming all over Li Zhiying's body.
Li Zhiying suddenly lost all strength. She leaned on Wu Chengsi and said softly: "Please have mercy on me."
After a while, the sound of gasping could be heard in the dark room.
The next day, Wu Chengsi went to see Wu Mei and told her about Yang Wulian. In the afternoon, Li Zhi's health suddenly improved, and he immediately issued an order to return to Chang'an!
On the way back to Chang'an, Xue Yujin still lived with Wu Chengsi and his wife every day. After Wu Chengsi learned about her experience, he did not tease her anymore.
After leaving Yanzhou, the brigade formed a long dragon on the official road. Xu Yuanju, Zhang Qiming and his son approached Wu Chengsi, bid him farewell and returned to Yangzhou.
After Wu Chengsi was entrusted with the important task by Li Zhi, he naturally could not return to Yangzhou. However, Zuo Wujun was still in Yangzhou, and he did not intend to give up his plan to attack the Japanese country.
So he gave Xu Yuanju a detailed explanation and asked him to deliver his orders to Hei Te Changzhi, Han Cheng and Wang Fangyi.
In addition, he told Xu Yuanju that the queen's people would come to take away Helan Minzhi and let him prepare.
Xu Yuanju wrote down Wu Chengsi's orders one by one, then separated from the brigade and returned to Yangzhou with Zhang Qiming, his son, and Yang Wulian.