Yan'er was at an age where she was prone to sleep, but she got up early that day. Holding a small cloth bag, she took several maids and ran to the front yard to summon many servants and send out strings of coins.
"Remember, if you have any news, report it to me immediately."
"Miss Yan'er, there is news from the other hospital. Governor Yang and his family had packed up last night and were harnessing the carriage..."
"Have they eaten before setting off?"
"This little guy doesn't know anything."
"Go and ask the cook in the other courtyard. You can take this bunch of money first and go quickly. Well... did the concierge see anyone coming to visit?"
"No, I will go and wait here..."
Yan'er had to ask too many questions, and she couldn't remember them, so she took out a small piece of paper, looked at it twice, and continued to inquire about various information.
"Who is the gardener in the west courtyard...has Mr. Taining arrived at the public apartment?"
"Not yet. Mr. Taining's grandson spilled ink on some famous painting. Mr. Taining is lecturing his grandson and he is crying hard."
"Where is Mr. Jiang Han? When are you going to see off Governor Yang?"
"Mr. Jiang Han just got up because he was tired and sick. He should be gone in a while..."
"Okay, who... Oh, Granny Dong, who cooks the medicine, find Granny Dong... I'd better go, Feng'er, you wait here for news, I'll bring Granny Dong to the eldest sister."
This little maid is usually very lazy, but recently she has become very energetic in doing these things. She holds up her skirt and runs very fast, as if she is in a hurry...
In the guest house, Jingxuan is still scolding Jingkan...
He loves his little grandson the most on weekdays, but today the stained painting was supposed to be taken to Yuan Haowen, so he can't help but get angry.
Jingxuan and Yuan Haowen were admitted to the same examination, and they passed the Jinshi title in the fourth year of Jin Guoxingding's reign. They had a close personal relationship.
If the Jin Kingdom had not been destroyed, there might have been opportunities for the two of them to disagree politically in the future. But before they could show their talents in the officialdom, they would have ruined the country and destroyed the family.
The two became survivors together in the same year, and their friendship became deeper.
Looking at the painting in his hand, Jingxuan cursed but gradually became distracted. He thought about the Jin Kingdom's royal family being driven out and exterminated by the Mongols. There would be no possibility of returning to the country. He thought about the demise of his old friends... He just felt that life was too bitter.
A little more.
"My generation is trying to survive in this world..."
Jingxuan murmured, leaving his ignorant grandson behind, and walked out of the small courtyard. He saw the servant sweeping the floor looking over here.
Jingxuan slowly waved his hand and said, "There's no need to look around, I'm just telling you... I really have a visitor today."
"Sir, villain... villain..."
The servant who was sweeping the floor was extremely frightened, and his face turned pale with fear.
"Go and get some reward money."
Jingxuan walked away, shaking his head with a wry smile, and murmured to himself: "I am a girl, I have no time to spend time with a scholar..."
He could see many things clearly, but apart from this sigh, he didn't say much. After all, it was a matter in the owner's house.
We walked all the way to the public room and sat there for a while. Sure enough, someone came up and said, "Mr. Taining, we have a visitor."
"Go and invite Wu Lang here too..."
"Taisuzi...I thought Li Xia would come here in person. It seems he doesn't have the courage, which is disappointing."
Bai Pu didn't dare to respond, so he bowed and sat down on the chair.
Jingxuan asked: "Did you see Li Xia last night?"
Bai Pu said: "I met him this morning. He saw that the search had stopped in the city, so he came to see me."
"According to his conditions, Yang Guo will leave immediately."
"Yes, Li Xia also said that he is honorable and trustworthy. Please open the city gate. He will go to Kaifeng again to arrange for his people to evacuate the Liu family."
Jingxuan said: "Let him out of the city, what if he doesn't keep his promise?"
"The Zhang family hastened to send a message. Alan Da'er can find Shi Zhang at the Liu family within two days. At that time, Mr. Yang arrived in Shouzhou. It will be safe for both parties."
"Let's arrange it this way. We will open the North City Gate in half an hour."
"yes."
After talking about official matters, Bai Pu turned to personal matters again and asked respectfully: "I wonder if I can let this junior go out of the city? I still need to rush back to Huolu Apartment."
Jingxuan said: "Taisu, please wait for two days. When things are settled here, I will go with you to see Yuzhi."
"Thank you Mr. Jing."
"If you see Li Xia again, tell him that I want to talk to him... about some private matters. He can decide when and where."
"This junior will definitely comply with the request, but I'm afraid Li Xia won't come to see this junior again."
…
Zhang Hongdao sat there holding the soup and drinking it without saying a word.
After Bai Pu left, Jingxuan said: "Li Xia met Bai Pu this morning. If Wu Lang sends people to keep an eye on him, can they catch him?"
"If you can't catch it, just these two sentences or a note will do. The reason why Li Xia asked Bai Pu to pass on the message is just to test our sincerity."
"Li Xia will leave the city from the north gate in half an hour. Will Wulang secretly send someone to arrest him?"
Zhang Hongdao shook his head and said: "It's a trivial matter to send a message to Kaifeng. Li Xia can just send someone there at will. The reason why he said this is still to test. Li Xia must still stay in Bozhou City to observe whether we have sent people.
"
"Yeah, I used to think this guy was bold in doing things, but now it seems he's actually very cautious."
"He is different than before." Zhang Hongdao sighed: "Last year, he only knew how to kill people, but now he can weigh the pros and cons, contact all parties... and he is more precious about his life."
"He's making progress."
"It's more difficult to deal with."
"Why do you always think about dealing with him? Even if you deal with him, how much will you gain and how much will you lose? The art of war says, 'The first is to attack the enemy, then the second is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the army, and then the third is to attack the city.' The same is true for dealing with people."
Zhang Hongdao was silent, with a look of contemplation in his eyes.
He has always considered himself smart, but today it was rare for him to reflect.
"Can you please leave everything to me sir? I'm going to see my eldest sister."
Jingxuan stroked his long beard and nodded, smiling: "Wu Lang has also made progress..."
"Is eldest sister here?"
"I met Wu Lang, in the pavilion over there..."
Zhang Hongdao nodded and walked over slowly.
Walking around the flowers and trees, I saw Zhou Shu talking to Zhang Wenjing.
"Anyway, I have to thank you for what happened yesterday."
"Sister-in-law, you're welcome. It's just a little effort."
Zhou Shu turned around and saw Zhang Hongdao coming over. She panicked for a moment, then showed a gentle smile, stepped forward and said softly: "Why is the official free to come here today?"
"The matter is solved." Zhang Hongdao smiled rarely, his eyes looking much more relieved than usual.
"That's good. Officials work too hard."
"You go back first, I will chat with the eldest sister... By the way, I will be back early today."
Zhou Shu was a little happy and said, "I'll prepare some good food for the officials."
"Um."
Over there, several of Zhang Wenjing's maids ran over from a distance. They stood there as if talking, but did not dare to come forward.
Zhang Hongdao walked into the pavilion, glanced at them, and said, "Don't think I don't know what you are doing."
"Nothing to do."
"You plan to use the pretext of delivering medicine to Mr. Jiang Han to sneak into the Yang family's carriage while he is saying goodbye to Yang Guo."
Now that she had been spotted, Zhang Wenjing did not deny it. She looked at her brother openly and said: "I don't like the people my father and brother picked. I have to choose my husband myself. I have decided... Li Xia.
"
"so what?"
"I want to meet him, tell him my feelings, and let him marry me."
Even though she was the daughter of a wealthy family in the North, Zhang Wenjing's fair face was flushed. She tilted her head and pursed her lips slightly.
Some are bold and some are shy.
Seeing his beautiful sister in such a posture, Zhang Hongdao was a little angry and asked: "Are you going to elope with him?"
"Elopement is something only silly girls do. I want to marry him legitimately and keep him."
"Oh, aren't you afraid that your family will be implicated?"
"Fifth brother can't help it, he always has a way."
Zhang Hongdao sighed and looked at the lake with his hands behind his hands.
Zhang Wenjing, however, was more calm than him and asked: "Fifth brother, can you help me?"
This question sounds innocent.
It's like a girl has been carried away. She only has her own little love in her eyes, and can't see anything else...
But Zhang Hongdao stood silently for a long time, and then said slowly: "Okay."
Zhang Wenjing was also extremely surprised. She didn't expect that her fifth brother would be so straightforward today.
She was extremely happy, and she was busy doing a lot of work, her eyes were full of pride and longing.
"Thank you Fifth Brother."
"It's not difficult to see Li Xia, as long as he is willing to show up. Today Yang Guo is out of the city, and Li Xia will definitely be observing in secret. We may not be able to find him, but we can make him take the initiative to see us."
"Yes, on the road from the Military and Civilian House of Ten Thousand Households to the South City Gate, choose a place where he can definitely see it?"
"Jin Lou, you and I, brother and sister, don't bring any guards, just the two of us go upstairs to prepare wine. He will understand that we have something to talk to him about."
"Fifth brother, aren't you afraid that he will do something bad to you?"