"The wind has stopped the dust, and the flowers are gone. I'm tired of combing my hair at night …"
The Spring Flower Hall was full. The top courtesan from Taiyuan was performing a song that had been sung in the brothel for a long time.
The private room on the third floor was beautifully decorated, with a carved soft couch and white jade cups. Jiang Kai tapped his fingers on the railing. While admiring it, he looked at the bead curtain across the hall and thought about how to surpass Jiang Rui, the Prince of the Left.
Zuo Zhan did not come. It was a little hard for him to come up with an idea, and there were no good friends who could talk about men. After thinking for a while, Jiang Kai decided to ask a girl to come up and help him. He raised his hand to the back.
"Someone."
Footsteps came from outside the private room. The door opened, and a guard came behind him.
Jiang Kai stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze swept across the girls below and he said,
"Go and call that dark-skinned girl up. She looks so pitiful standing there alone with no one to support her."
Jiang Kai pointed at a foreign woman standing in the corner of the hall. She should have come from overseas. Her skin was as dark as ink, and her hair was naturally curly. She could not be said to be ugly, but she obviously did not meet the aesthetic standards of the nobles in Guiyan City. She was also ostracized by her peers.
The guard behind him did not bow and say yes. Instead, he said with slight approval,
"Your Highness, you've grown a warm-hearted heart."
"…"
Jiang Kai's cold and extraordinary expression was petrified on the spot.
This voice sounded like …
Utterly heartless!
Jiang Kai did not look back. He lifted his legs and was about to climb over the railing and jump into the hall from the third floor.
But no matter how strong his desire to live was, the gap in strength was still obvious.
Jiang Kai had just moved when he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck. He felt dizzy and fell on the soft couch.
Jiang Kai was the prince of a vassal king. How could he stand being tossed back and forth? He raised his hand and pointed at the black-robed man in front of him. He lowered his voice and said angrily,
"Are you done? Huh? Why do you keep staring at me? I've been hiding in Guiyan City. Did I provoke you? "
Xu Buling did not seem to hear him. He sat down on the chair next to him, picked up the wine pot, poured himself a cup, and slowly sniffed it.
Jiang Kai did not dare to shout. He sat a little closer and pointed to the opposite side.
"This is where the Emperor lives. There are many nobles and ministers. The Left Prince's son, Jiang Rui, is over there. Do you want to kidnap him? The Left Prince is right across your house. If you kidnap him, you can get at least several cities. How can you kidnap me? "
Xu Buring leaned against the back of his chair and took a sip of his wine. His smile was calm.
"There's nothing I can do. I only know you in Northern Qi, so I have to find someone I know to ask around."
Jiang Kai slapped his knee. "You don't know Jiang Rui? You even went to celebrate his father's birthday. He was sitting next to the Left Prince. You should have met him. "
Xu Buring thought back and shook his head. "There were so many people at that time. The Left Prince had so many sons. How could I tell who was who?"
"Strangers the first time, familiarity the second. We'll know each other once we meet. Do you want me to show you the way? "Go."
Jiang Kai also wanted to make Xu Buling kidnap Jiang Rui, who was on the opposite side.
Unfortunately, Xu Buling did not have the time to do that. He put down the cup and said, "Don't talk nonsense.
"Don't talk nonsense. Before I leave Guiyan City, you won't be able to go anywhere. Whether you can return alive to be the Crown Prince or not depends on how smart you are."
Jiang Kai choked on his words. After a long while, he had no choice but to take a step back.
"Fine, fine. I'm unlucky. Ask me whatever you want. But I'm just staying in Guiyan City. This is the capital of Northern Qi. I can't help you much. "
Xu Buling was satisfied.
"Is there an agarwood paperweight in the imperial city?"
Jiang Kai frowned.
"You went through so much trouble to get into the enemy's territory just for a piece of wood? Just tell me. I can buy you a cart of it and send it to Chang 'an as firewood. Just don't bother me anymore. Really … "
Xu Buling's eyes turned cold. "Answer me. If you keep joking, you can only hang around the Prime Minister's Residence for the rest of your life."
"…"
Jiang Kai felt a chill in his lower body. He sat up straight and closed his legs.
He answered seriously, "There is a paperweight passed down from our ancestors. It is a heirloom of the Jiang family. It is said to have the effect of prolonging life. It has always been kept by the Emperor. In recent years, His Majesty has been ill, so he carries it with him. I can't steal it."
When Xu Buring heard this, he frowned slightly.
"It's impossible that no one can get close to the Emperor. You must know some of the servants, maids, and concubines around him, right?"
Jiang Kai thought for a while. "Well … the maids have to go through several gates to get in and out of the imperial city. You can't take it out even if you steal it. If you really want someone to steal it, it seems that you can only do it from Crown Prince Jiang Du. Jiang Du has just become the regent and has been in contact with His Majesty for a long time. It depends on whether you have the ability to deal with the Crown Prince. "
Forcing the Crown Prince of a country to steal something was a pipe dream.
Xu Buling felt that this method would not work. But since he was already here, there was no other way. It was not impossible to see the situation first.
"Arrange for someone to find out the Crown Prince's movements."
"Okay."
Jiang Kai nodded seriously, got up, and walked out.
He had only taken two steps when he saw that Xu Buling did not stop him. Jiang Kai stopped and turned around.
"I'm leaving?"
Xu Buling raised his eyebrows.
"What do you think?"
"…"
Dejected, Jiang Kai walked back to the group.
A moment later.
On the bustling street, a dozen guards turned back with their carriages. A few trusted subordinates who had received orders scattered around the city to inquire about Crown Prince Jiang Du.
Spring Flower Hall was still full of music. Jiang Kai went downstairs to the hall. In front of all the nobles in the hall, he unrestrainedly put his arm around the neck of the tanned courtesan in autumn.
"Beauty, accompany me to the back to have some fun."
Then, amidst the silence, he held the singer in fear and trepidation and went to the back of the Spring Flower Hall.
All the guests naturally did not dare to disturb the mood of the son of a vassal king. Even Jiang Rui, the Prince of the Left, who disliked Jiang Kai, raised his hand in admiration and watched Jiang Kai disappear into the corridor.
After Jiang Kai left the noisy hall, the smile on his face became lifeless. He raised his hand to drive away the procuress who was trying to please him and walked out of the back door.
The back door of the brothel was prepared for high-ranking officials and dignitaries who were not convenient to show their faces. It was very private. Once he went out, there was an alley that extended in all directions. Except for two thugs, no one could be seen.
After Jiang Kai walked to a secluded place with the courtesan in his arms, he said to the shy black beauty,
"You go directly to my mansion and stay there. I have something to do. If anyone asks, just say you don't know."
Hearing this, the courtesan was a little disappointed, but she did not dare to refuse. After bowing respectfully, she turned around and walked into the city.
Jiang Kai looked at the exaggerated lower body of the black pearl and was a little reluctant to part with her. When the figure was far away, he spread out his hands and said,
"I've done as you said. Now where are you taking me? Let me tell you in advance, I don't want to live in a shabby house. I don't need to arrange a girl to serve me, but I need a quilt. I need to eat at least one meal a day. If there are drinks, that would be great … "
Xu Buling landed from the alley, took out the bamboo hat and cloak he had just taken and threw them to Jiang Kai.
"As long as you are obedient, you won't starve to death. Let's go."
Jiang Kai might have gotten used to it the first time, but he was not nervous. He followed behind Xu Buling and looked back from time to time.
"Actually, it's fine to bring the black girl along. She's a little dark, but blowing out the lamp shouldn't make a difference. It's better than being tied up and starving."
"You're really not picky about food."
"I'm already a prisoner. Do I have a choice?"
…
Talking nonsense along the way, Xu Buling brought Jiang Kai to a slightly smaller inn. After getting a room, he let Jiang Kai in.
Jiang Kai scanned the environment and was quite satisfied. But before he could say anything, Xu Buling gagged his mouth with a cloth and tied him up tightly.
Xu Buling clapped his hands. After confirming that there were no problems, he turned around and walked out of the room.
The little sparrow that had followed him all the way flew into the corridor through the window and hovered in front of Xu Buling. It had grabbed two melon seeds from somewhere and wanted to put them in Xu Buling's hand.
Xu Buling did not understand. He opened his palm and caught the melon seeds, wanting to taste them. But the little sparrow was anxious. It quickly stood on Xu Buling's hand and pointed at the room with its beak.
Xu Buling observed for a while before he somewhat understood Yiyi's meaning. He turned around and opened the door.
Jiang Kai was tied up on the bed and was trying to untie the rope. When he saw Xu Buling return, he was shocked and quickly put on an obedient look.
Xu Buling's face was extraordinarily cold. He walked to the bed and put the two melon seeds on the stool at the head of the bed. He did not say a word, mainly because he did not know why he gave the two melon seeds to Jiang Kai.
Jiang Kai was definitely even more puzzled. After Xu Buling left, he looked at the two melon seeds on the stool and felt that there must be a deeper meaning. He frowned and his expression gradually became serious.
Could it be that he and I are both princes and there is no difference between us?
No, the difference is huge.
I can only live for two days?
Or is there a bigger metaphor …
…
After dealing with Jiang Kai, Xu Buling returned to the nearby inn. The moon was already high in the sky. The lights in the streets of Guiyan City had not been extinguished all night and people were still jostling on the streets.
The rooms they had booked were adjacent to each other on the third floor. It was still early, so Man Zhi and Chen Sining had not gone to bed yet. They were chatting on the balcony of their rooms while watching the night view.
Xu Buling did not feel sleepy either. After greeting them, he went to the room on the right to check on Lil Wan's health.
Just as he walked to the door of the room, he heard the faint sound of water splashing and someone humming inside. It was a folk song that came from the streets. The voice was sweet and melodious, even better than the singers outside.
The corner of Xu Buling's mouth curled up. He slowed down a little and gently pushed the door open.
Although it was an inn, it was definitely much more luxurious than an inn in a remote village. It was a suite with a soft mattress, a desk, and a coffee table in the room. From the window, one could see the night view of the city. The environment was very good.
Hearing the door open, Ah Qing raised her little green head from the jewelry box. When she saw that it was Xu Buling, she shrank back. It was obvious that she was assigned to be a lookout.
Xu Buling closed the door and looked at the screen in the inner room.
With the light of the lamp, he could see a curvaceous silhouette. Her slender hand splashed water under her collarbone. Her beautiful peaks trembled with the water, making her look indescribably charming.
Xu Buling raised his eyebrows and did not go in to disturb her. He sat down on the soft mattress and watched quietly while drinking tea.
After a while, Cui Xiaowan came out of the bathtub. She was wearing a tea-blue nightgown. She wiped her hair with a towel and walked out from behind the screen. Her face was still watery and a little rosy.
When she looked up and saw Xu Buling sitting in the room, Cui Xiaowan was shocked and quickly hid back. However, she quickly came out again with a hint of anger.
"You're not going back to your room to sleep? You're here to eat auntie's steamed buns?"
"Pfft — Cough, cough …"
Xu Buling choked on the tea. He coughed twice and put the teacup aside. He shook his head and said with a chuckle,
"Why would I? I … Hmm."
"Humph —"
Seeing that Xu Buling admitted it, Cui Xiaowan did not show any shyness. As usual, she walked to Xu Buling and sat down. She lectured him in a clear voice like an elder,
"You are young, so you must know how to control yourself. Since ancient times, many young heroes have been emptied by wine and women. You can be King Zhou or King You, but Mother and I don't want to be Daji or Baosi."
I don't want to, but my body is honest …
Xu Buling muttered to himself and took the towel to dry Xiaowan's hair.
"I'm just talking. I didn't do it for real."
"You still have the nerve to say that? If the two girls next door knew what you look like, they would definitely be scared away."
"Miss Chen probably will, but Man Zhi won't."
"Why? Have you licked Man Zhi? "
"Uh … Not yet …"
Cui Xiaowan's words were very calm, as if she was talking about a very normal matter. There was not the slightest hint of provocation.
Xu Buring, on the other hand, couldn't take it anymore. As he wiped his hands, they slid down his shoulders.
Cui Xiaowan did not avoid it. She leaned into Xu Buling's arms and twirled a strand of hair with her fingers.
"What do you want to do? We still have to sleep later. I didn't sleep well last night."
"Are you anxious?"
"Yes."
"…"
Obviously, they could not continue this conversation.
Xu Buling could not tease Cui Xiaowan. Instead, he was teased badly. He simply stopped pretending. He lowered his head and covered Xiaowan's lips. Her nightdress also fell to the ground …
Pop, pop, pop …
The noise on the street was still there.
In the room on the left, Zhu Manzhi and Chen Sining were sitting on the balcony. There was a small table in the middle with a few pots of sake from Fen River on it. Two empty bottles were tilted on the table.
Chen Sining had a good capacity for liquor. However, she was responsible for security, so she did not drink too much. She just accompanied Man Zhi to drink and enjoyed the bustling night view that she had never seen in Nanyue.
Zhu Manzhi could not hold her liquor. After drinking two pots of sake that were not strong, her little face turned red and she became a little tipsy. She held the small cup and nagged earnestly,
"Old Chen, I am experienced. I went out to Jianghu at the age of fourteen, entered the Wolf Guards at the age of fifteen, and met Young Master Xu at the age of sixteen. I have seen all kinds of storms. I am older than you in every aspect. So, you have to listen carefully to the experience of an experienced person …"
Chen Sining leaned against the small table. Her peach blossom eyes seemed to be drunk. She was slightly unconvinced by Man Zhi's drunken nonsense.
"You are not as tall as me."
Zhu Manzhi immediately furrowed her eyebrows in the face of this stab to the heart.
"What's the use of a woman being so tall?"
"My martial arts skills are better than yours."
"…"
Zhu Manzhi slammed the small table. "I am talking to you about serious matters. I am doing this for your own good. If you continue to interrupt me with these unimportant things, I will stop."
Chen Sining lifted the cup and took a sip, indicating for her to continue.
Zhu Manzhi was satisfied. She continued to say earnestly,
"Old Chen, when you meet a man you like, you must not be shy. You must take the initiative. You are most afraid of the kind where he treats you as a girl and you treat him as a brother. I was like this in the past. I always wanted to be brothers with Young Master Xu. Young Master Xu wanted to take advantage of me, but I pretended not to understand.
Man Zhi's words came from the bottom of her heart.
Chen Sining blinked and subconsciously looked at the room next door.
"Of course I know that. But when you meet a man you like, you need to take the initiative. There is also loyalty between men and women in Jianghu. You can't just treat it as falling in love when you get close. "
Zhu Manzhi was really experienced in this. She excitedly moved closer and said seriously,
"Friends in Jianghu are like-minded. It is far from the love between men and women. Have you ever had a dream? "
Chen Sining nodded.
"Have you ever dreamed of a man?"
Chen Sining hesitated for a moment. She looked around and then nodded faintly. "I must have dreamed of a man, but not the kind you think …"
Zhu Manzhi raised her hand. "I dreamed of fighting and killing with a man. This is called loyalty in Jianghu. I dreamed of hugging and being lovey-dovey with a man. This is called liking. What kind of man did you dream of? "
"Uh …"
Chen Sining's expression froze. She seemed to have dreamed of fighting and killing with Xu Buling. She did not win, and then Xu Buling hugged her …
What was this?
Zhu Manzhi giggled and shook her head. "It's fine if you don't say it. Just know it in your heart."
What do I know …
Chen Sining was already confused. Now she was even more confused.
Zhu Manzhi talked to herself for a moment. She seemed to have thought of something. She tilted her head and asked,
"When you went to get the wine, did you find anything?"
Chen Sining was still thinking about her dream. She said absent-mindedly, "I asked casually. The Emperor of Daqi has a few princesses. But the youngest one is already thirty and married. Young Master Xu probably won't like her."
Zhu Manzhi sat up a little when she heard this. She was a little worried.
"Young Master Xu seems to like older women. If you bring back a princess, Sister Hongluan will definitely explode with jealousy."
"I've asked. A few of the Emperor's consorts are still alive. They are not widows. Young Master Xu can't possibly kidnap a married woman."
"That's hard to say. If the Emperor's consorts are killed, they will become widows. That's how Xiaowan came to be …"
After chatting for a while, Zhu Manzhi felt tipsy and dizzily leaned on the small table.
Chen Sining shook her head. She got up and carried Man Zhi back to the room. She helped Man Zhi take off her clothes and put her under the covers.
It was getting late. Chen Sining stood by the bed and hesitated. She wanted to chat with Xu Buling, but the matter of the marriage alliance had been put on hold. She didn't know what to talk about. In the end, she took off her clothes and lay down beside Man Zhi.
After two days on the road, Chen Sining was also quite tired. She was a little tipsy and soon closed her eyes.
But not long after, the sounds outside gradually died down. Chen Sining was half asleep when she suddenly heard rustling beside her. Man Zhi had gotten up again.
Chen Sining sobered up a little. She tilted her head and asked, "Man Zhi, are you thirsty?"
"No, I … I miss Young Master Xu."
Zhu Manzhi was in a daze. Perhaps she didn't even know what she was saying. She crawled over Chen Sining's body and wiped her face with the edge of her robe.
So big …
Chen Sining blushed. She couldn't stand Man Zhi's mockery. She tilted her head and whispered,
"It's getting late. Young Master Xu should be asleep."
"I know."
Zhu Manzhi slowly put on her dress, got up and put on her embroidered shoes. She didn't forget to cover Chen Sining with the quilt and then walked out.
Chen Sining wanted to stop her, but in the end, it was not appropriate. After thinking about it, she let Man Zhi go.
But with this interruption, Chen Sining thought of something.
Dreaming of men …
Fighting and killing or hugging …
Chen Sining secretly pondered, closed her eyes and relaxed her body and mind. She wanted to see if she could have a dream and verify Man Zhi's words …
…
On the other side, Zhu Manzhi was a little drunk. She walked through the corridor and came to Xu Buling's room. She pushed the door and looked around. She found that Xu Buling was not there, so she closed the door and walked out. Then she came to Cui Xiaowan's room.
Maybe because she knew what Xu Buling was doing, Zhu Manzhi didn't want to knock on the door. There was a little jealousy in her eyes as she walked straight into the room.
Between the curtains, Cui Xiaowan leaned on Xu Buling's shoulder weakly. She had just been bullied and hadn't fallen asleep yet. Her face was a little red. Seeing Man Zhi walking over, she asked with concern,
"Man Zhi, why did you drink so much?"
Xu Buling also propped up his upper body and looked at Man Zhi with a little doubt.
Zhu Manzhi drank a little and obviously became bolder. She walked to the bed, looked at it a few times, and then lifted the quilt and lay down. She said with a grievance,
"Sister Xiaowan, you've been hugging me for a month. Let me hug you too. Elder sister has to give in to younger sister."
"…"
Cui Xiaowan saw that Man Zhi was drunk. She turned over from Xu Buling's body and lay on the inner side. She smiled and said,
"Well, I'll give it to you. I'm not fighting with you for it. Usually, you say that you're still young and hide."
Xu Buling also curled up the corner of his mouth. He held the soft Man Zhi in his arms and pinched her drunk red face.
"Yeah, didn't you say that you're still young? Why are you so active today? "
Zhu Manzhi wrapped her arms around Xu Buling like an octopus, rubbing her cheek against his chest.
"As an elder sister, you have to be bold. Si Ning obviously has other thoughts about Young Master, but she doesn't even dare to say anything. I met Young Master before she did, so I have to set an example for her. I can't be coy anymore, or I'll really become the youngest."
"Haha …"
Xu Buling laughed twice. He hadn't had enough just now. At this time, with the soft body in his arms, he must have some improper thoughts. He lay flat and let Man Zhi lie on him. He asked,
"How are you going to set an example?"
Zhu Manzhi talked extravagantly, but in fact, she didn't know anything about these things. She had only heard a few words from Yu Fu in private. She looked at the handsome face close to her drunkenly and thought for a moment.
"I … I'll give Young Master a massage."
As she spoke, she moved around and rubbed against him.
Man Zhi's body was very fleshy and soft. Even Xiaowan couldn't help but raise her hand and pinch it twice. Although she didn't know anything, this kind of jerkiness was also a unique experience.
Xu Buling lay like a master and enjoyed Man Zhi's service. Unfortunately, Man Zhi really drank too much. After rubbing a few times, she lay in his arms and didn't move.
Xu Buling spread his hands helplessly, but he didn't wake Man Zhi up. He just hugged Cui Xiaowan tightly in his arms and closed his eyes comfortably.
However, Xu Buling hadn't fallen asleep yet. Suddenly, his ears moved slightly and he heard some strange sounds.
"Um … Woo …"
？？
"Why did this girl start again?"
"Is she drunk again?"
Xu Buling opened his eyes and looked around. He didn't feel sleepy at first, but now he couldn't fall asleep …
…
The silver moon was like a hook.
In an alley adjacent to the imperial city, Crown Prince Jiang Du got out of the carriage. After asking his attendants to leave, he entered a house alone.
The house was not big. In the courtyard, several men in alien costumes were sitting by the cannons to keep warm. They all smelled of blood. Their weapons were leaning against the wall, shining coldly under the firelight and moonlight.
A middle-aged man in an official robe was pacing back and forth in the courtyard, looking at the door from time to time. Obviously, he was waiting for someone.
Jiang Du entered the house with a sullen face. It seemed that he didn't want to be seen by those aliens. He stopped at the porch and waved his hand.
"Wang Jin."
Wang Jin, who was waiting in the courtyard, hurried to the front and raised his hand to salute.
Jiang Du gestured for him to dispense with the formalities. He glanced at the four aliens in the courtyard and asked with a frown,
"Are they all here? How are their skills? "
As the saying goes, where there are people, there is Jianghu. As the capital of Northern Qi Country, Guiyan City had a population of hundreds of thousands. It was impossible for there to be no Jianghu people in Guiyan City. Moreover, there was no shortage of "White Paper Fan" like Fourth Master Chen of Chang 'an.
Wang Jin was the person in Guiyan City who helped to contact Jianghu people. He had a high status in Jianghu. However, in front of the current Crown Prince, he was obviously not worth mentioning. At this time, he was very respectful and said seriously,
"Your Highness, rest assured. These four people are the best of the tribes in Mobei. They are famous in the grassland all year round. Although their martial arts are not as good as the Nation Master, they will not have any problems if they work together. "
Jiang Du didn't ask about the identity of these aliens. Just by looking at their clothes, he knew they were the leaders of horse bandits who killed and looted in the grassland. He said seriously,
"Don't make any mistakes. I will tell you the place tomorrow. Just let them go. Remember, leave no one alive. Don't let anyone see them and don't let me get involved. "
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Jianghu people also have rules. I rely on this to make a living."
Wang Jin nodded seriously. But when he looked back, he was a little doubtful.
If the current Crown Prince wanted to kill someone, he could totally use the power of the imperial court. Although Shi Jinhai died suddenly, there were still masters in the capital. Obviously, it was not right to ask Jianghu people to do it.
If Jiang Du hired people to kill political enemies in the imperial court, Wang Jin would definitely be the scapegoat when the Emperor investigated.
The imperial court was more ruthless than Jianghu. They were never reasonable. Perhaps afraid of getting into trouble, Wang Jin hesitated again and again and asked,
"Your Highness, if I may be so bold, I would like to ask about the identity of the person I want to deal with. After all, I am just a Jianghu person. These aliens can leave with a flick of their sleeves, but I can't escape … "
Jiang Du raised his hand and thought for a while.
"An insignificant person, and I … have a little friendship with me. If I send someone from the imperial court, he will definitely be able to guess who did it …"
Hearing this, Wang Jin felt a little strange. "He is already dead. What's the use of guessing?"
Jiang Du's eyes were slightly cold. "Just do as I say. Remember to bring back the head. If any information is leaked, you will be held responsible."
Wang Jin hurriedly nodded and turned around to make the arrangements.
However, Jiang Du hesitated for a moment before he gave another reminder.
"When you do it … don't let him suffer too much. It's best to kill him with one strike. Bring back the head and bury the body."
Wang Jin was a little puzzled, but he didn't ask further. He nodded respectfully and quickly walked into the yard …
