The room was silent for a moment, and Liu Buwang's voice interrupted He Yan's recollection.
"What about you?" He asked, "A He, how did you become like this now? Did you disguise yourself? Young Master Qiao shouldn't be your husband. "
It was a long story. He Yan lowered his head and smiled, saying, "Master, I'm not He Rufei anymore. I'm He Yan. That person … is my superior. We came to Jiyang to find someone, so we pretended to be husband and wife. As for disguising myself, I didn't disguise myself. I look like this now. I can't come back to my original appearance. "
Liu Buwang thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "I see."
He was always like this. He had a sense of propriety when it came to other people's affairs. If other people didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't deliberately inquire about it. In some people's eyes, this would seem a little cold, but for He Yan, not asking about it was already the greatest blessing.
After a while, Cui Jiao knocked on the door and walked out, still holding the little girl's hand.
This little girl seemed to have worn off the effects of the drug and was able to walk with more strength. Her face had been washed clean, and she looked like she was only a little over ten years old. She was beautiful and quick-witted, and her eyes were as moving as black jade, slim and elegant. Cui Jiao combed her hair with long braids, which were the favorite style of Jiyang girls. Her hair was braided to the front and hung down to her chest. There was also a circle of small bells. Her clothes were red riding clothes, which she asked the housekeeper of the Cui Residence for. When she walked over, the jingling sounds were delicate and cute, and she looked more valiant and heroic than ordinary girls.
Liu Buwang looked at her and was slightly absent-minded.
He Yan asked with a smile, "Have you eaten?"
Cui Jiao looked embarrassed. "Madam, the little miss refuses to eat."
He Yan asked, "Why don't you eat? Aren't you hungry? "
The little girl turned her head to the side and ignored her words. She was quite arrogant.
"Maybe because she ate something wrong before, she doesn't want to trust others anymore." Liu Buwang chuckled and looked at the little girl. "Little girl, since we have saved you from the thieves, we won't hurt you anymore. Otherwise, we wouldn't have brought you back to the residence. You can rest assured. If you don't believe me, we can eat together. This way, you won't have to go hungry, and you won't have to worry about any problems. "
Liu Buwang's gentleness always carried a faint alienation. In addition, his manner was natural and elegant, so it was easy for people to have a good impression of him, and this little girl was no exception. She stared into his eyes for a while, then said, "Alright."
In the end, his attitude softened.
He Yan heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly asked Cui Jiao to prepare some food that children like to eat. Cui Jiao retreated as she was told. Liu Buwang said with a smile, "What's your name?"
"Xiaolou." In front of Liu Buwang, the little girl was less arrogant and more well-behaved.
"Good name." Liu Buwang said with a smile, "Which family are you from? How did you get kidnapped?"
At this point, Xiao Lou shut his mouth and refused to say anything more.
He Yan and Liu Buwang looked at each other. This child was quite defensive. They didn't know what he had encountered before.
While they were thinking, Xiao Lou's gaze fell on the long zither on the table. She looked at it for a while and asked Liu Buwang, "Is this your zither?"
"Good taste," He Yan thought. "She can tell at a glance that this kind of romantic thing doesn't suit me."
"Yes."
"Can you play the zither?"
Liu Buwang answered, "Yes."
"Play a song for me," Xiao Lou said.
"How can this child be so good at ordering people around?" He Yan didn't comment. Although Liu Buwang carried a zither with him, he rarely played it. When He Yan was his disciple, he also asked him to play. But Liu Buwang refused every time.
But this time, Liu Buwang's answer was beyond He Yan's expectations. He just looked at Xiao Lou gently and smiled, "Okay."
He Yan said, "… Master?"
Whose master was he?
"What do you want to hear?" He even asked Xiao Lou gently.
Xiao Lou played with the braid in front of her chest and shook her head, "I don't know. You can play whatever you like best."
He lowered his head and seriously asked Xiao Lou for her opinion, "Is' Slow Time 'okay?"
"I haven't heard of it." Xiao Lou nodded, "Play it!"
He Yan was speechless.
Liu Buwang was more obedient to Xiao Lou than to his disciple. If it weren't for the age difference, He Yan would almost suspect that Xiao Lou was Liu Buwang's long-lost daughter.
The little girl sat on the high platform with her feet up and down. Liu Buwang put the zither on the table and sat down in front of the table. He wiped his hands and plucked the strings.
He Yan actually rarely heard Liu Buwang play the zither. Occasionally, when he got up in the middle of the night to go to the outhouse, he heard the faint sound of the zither. He thought he had bumped into a ghost and was so scared that he trembled. Later, he plucked up his courage and went to take a look, only to find that it was Liu Buwang.
When she was young, she didn't understand why Liu Buwang wanted to play the zither in the courtyard in the middle of the night. She only felt that the sound of the zither was indescribably sad. Later, after experiencing many things and gradually growing up, she gradually understood that her master was also a person with a story. In Liu Buwang's past life, there might have been such a person who engraved a deep stroke in his experience, so that he could only miss her through the sound of the zither at night.
Now that they hadn't seen each other for many years, the sadness and loss in his sound of the zither were even deeper.
Willows in the West City softened in spring. Moving the sorrow of separation, it's hard to stop the tears. Still remembering the affection, it was once tied to the boat. What happened on the green field and the red bridge that day, the people disappeared, the water flowed empty.
Youth doesn't flow for young people. Hatred lasts for a long time, when will it stop? When the catkins fall, as soon as I climb the stairs, the spring river is full of tears, endless and sorrowful.
Xiao Lou was young, so he didn't know that the sound of the zither was sad. He only felt that the sound of the zither was pleasant and romantic. However, He Yan felt that Liu Buwang seemed to be bidding farewell to something in the sound of the zither. Something was about to leave his life, mixed with reluctance and loss, and would never come back.
Lin Shuanghe and Xiao Jue had entered the room at some point. Lin Shuanghe walked to He Yan's side and whispered, "Sister, your master plays the zither really well. It's as good as Huaijin. It's just a little too sad. "
Even Lin Shuanghe could hear it. He Yan sighed slightly. However, even though she had been Liu Buwang's master for many years, He Yan also felt that she had never really entered Liu Buwang's heart. She didn't know what kind of person Liu Buwang was and what he had done in the past, and Liu Buwang didn't mention anything about it.
He was like a person who had abandoned the past, but he wasn't serious about the future. He was so casual that he seemed to be able to leave at any time without leaving any traces.
After the song "Slow Time" was played, the sound lingered in the room. Xiao Lou looked at him and suddenly clapped. She smiled and said, "I once heard my grandmother play this song, but she didn't play it as well as you. You played it much better. What's your name? "
Liu Buwang patted her head and said, "You can call me Layman Yunlin."
"That's too long." Xiao Lou wasn't satisfied with his answer. "Isn't your surname Liu?"
Lin Shuanghe agreed with Xiao Lou's words and said, "It's really good. Even in Shuojing, it can be ranked among the top. It's just … "He looked at He Yan and asked in confusion," Sister He, I don't want to criticize you, but your master's zither skills are unparalleled, and your 'husband' is extremely elegant. How can you play the zither like this? Didn't your master teach you how to play the zither? "
He Yan said expressionlessly, "My master only taught me martial arts. As for my husband … "
Xiao Jue stood beside her and raised her eyebrows slightly, waiting for her to continue.
He Yan cleared her throat and said, "You can just play it for me. Why do I have to learn this?"
Lin Shuanghe, "…"
After a while, he nodded and said, "It's really an irrefutable reason."
Cui Jiao served the dishes. He Yan had already eaten with Xiao Jue, so only Liu Buwang and Xiao Lou were eating together. Xiao Lou didn't seem to like eating with others. She showed discomfort several times. She probably let Liu Buwang eat with her because she didn't want to worry that there was no poison in the food. Liu Buwang also understood the little girl's thoughts. He only took a little bit of each dish with his chopsticks and stopped eating.
Xiao Lou was very picky with her food, but she still ate some rice.
He Yan breathed a sigh of relief and said to Xiao Jue, "Now we're waiting for Lord Cui to come back. Ask whose child she is and send her back."
Speaking of the devil, Zhong Fu's voice came from outside, "Lord, Young Master Qiao and Miss Yuyan have already returned and brought back two guests. They are now eating in the room. Young Master Qiao seems to have something to ask Lord Cui. "
Then, Cui Yuezhi's rough voice came, "Got it."
The door curtain was lifted and Cui Yuezhi's voice came from behind the door, "Huanqing, Yuyan, you're back? Do you have something urgent to ask me? Her Highness summoned me early this morning. I can't stay in the mansion for long. I have to go out later … "
His voice stopped abruptly when he saw Xiao Lou's face. He was stunned for a moment and his voice changed a little, "Young Highness, why are you here?"
Xiao Lou, the little girl who had been arrogant since He Yan brought her back, put down her chopsticks and looked at Cui Yuezhi. She raised her chin and said proudly, "Cui Zhongqi, you're finally here."
Young Highness?
Everyone in the room was very surprised.
Cui Yuezhi took a step forward and half knelt in front of Xiao Lou. His voice was very anxious, "Her Highness summoned me early this morning and said that Young Highness disappeared last night. Her Highness was very worried. Why is Young Highness here?" He turned to look at He Yan, "Yuyan … what's going on?"
He Yan also wanted to know what was going on. She had already guessed that this little girl's identity was not ordinary, but she never thought that she would be "Young Highness".
"Last night, Yuyan and I fell asleep on the Fallen Firefly Boat. Early in the morning, we were planning to hire a carriage to return to the mansion. On the way, we encountered Young Highness being kidnapped and saved Young Highness from the hands of criminals. "Xiao Jue answered Cui Yuezhi on behalf of He Yan," Among the people who kidnapped Young Highness, one of them is dead and the others escaped. When Yuyan and I rescued Young Highness, we didn't know who they were. "
Hearing this, Cui Yuezhi was shocked and asked Xiao Lou, "Young Highness was kidnapped? Does Young Highness know who they are? "
Xiao Lou didn't seem to want to mention this matter and said impatiently, "How would I know? As soon as I left the mansion, I met them near the canal. I didn't think they were bad people, but who knew … "Speaking of this, he said angrily," They have evil intentions and deserve to be killed! "
Cui Yuezhi asked Xiao Lou again, "Young Highness, are you hurt?"
"No." Xiaolou muttered, looked at Liu Buwang, and pointed at him, "I was almost killed by someone, but this person, this … Lay Buddhist Yunlin saved me."
Only then did Cui Yuezhi see that there was a stranger in the room. Seeing that Liu Buwang had an extraordinary bearing, he bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for saving me. May I know your name?"
"This is my Master Wu," Xiao Jue said lightly, "He taught me martial arts back then. We haven't seen each other for many years and didn't expect to meet each other in Jiyang. Uncle can call him 'Yun Lin'. "
"It turns out to be Mister Yunlin." Cui Yue was stunned, and he had a better impression of Liu Buwang. He said, "I'm going to the mansion to send His Little Highness back. Mister Yunlin might as well go with me. If Her Highness knows that Mister saved His Little Highness's life, she will definitely thank Mister."
Liu Buwang smiled slightly and said to Cui Yuezhi, "Yunlin has long been an outsider. Yunlin appreciates your kindness. As for the reward, forget it. When I saved Young Highness, I didn't know that Xiao Lou was Young Highness."
This kind of capable person probably had a bit of a proud and aloof temperament, which Cui Yuezhi could understand. Besides, he was Qiao Huanqing's Master. There would be plenty of opportunities to befriend him in the future, so there was no hurry. The most important thing now was to send Mu Xiaolou back to the mansion. Mu Hongjin was about to go crazy.
Cui Yuezhi said to Liu Buwang, "In this case, I won't force you."
Liu Buwang smiled and nodded.
"Young Highness, do you still want to eat?" Cui Yuezhi looked at Mu Xiaolou, "If you're done, follow me back to the mansion. Young Highness will be very happy to see you safe and sound. "
Mu Xiaolou jumped down from the stool and said, "Got it. Prepare a soft sedan." With that, she was about to go out with Cui Yuezhi. When she passed by Liu Buwang, she stopped and asked unwillingly, "You really don't want to go back with me? Will my grandmother reward you with a lot of gold? You can have whatever you want. "
Liu Buwang bent down and gently rubbed her hair, "It's fine as long as Young Highness is safe."
Cui Yuezhi was a little surprised. Mu Xiaolou had been spoiled by Mu Hongjin since she was a child. She was very picky about others, but she was very close to Liu Buwang. They were both martial artists, and Cui Yuezhi could feel that Liu Buwang's kung fu was not shallow. If this person could stay in the mansion and accompany Young Highness, he could accompany Young Highness and protect Young Highness.
But these things had to be discussed after seeing Mu Hongjin. He turned to look at He Yan and Huanqing, "Yuyan, Huanqing, pack up and immediately follow me to the mansion. You saved Young Highness, so Her Highness must have a lot of questions to ask you. Sooner or later, you will have to go to the mansion. Why don't we do it today? "
He Yan and Xiao Jue looked at each other. He Yan said, "Okay, Uncle."
Cui Yuezhi took Mu Xiaolou out. He Yan said to Liu Buwang, "Master, you stay in the mansion first. If there's anything, wait for us to come back." She was afraid that Liu Buwang would leave without saying goodbye after returning to the mansion, so she told Lin Shuanghe, "Brother Lin, please take care of my master first. Don't let him act alone."
Liu Buwang looked at her and smiled helplessly.
Lin Shuanghe immediately understood He Yan's meaning and said, "No problem. I guarantee that when you come back, Master Liu will still be like this. Not a single hair is missing."
He Yan was relieved. He asked Hongqiao to comb his hair again, changed into clean clothes, and washed up. Then, he followed Xiao Jue out of the Cui Mansion. As he walked, he asked Xiao Jue in a low voice, "Commander in chief, why did you say that my master is your Master Wu?"
She also said "Layman Yunlin" instead of "Liu Buwang".
Xiao Jue raised her eyebrows, "Your master seems to be very unwilling to reveal his identity. If he says that he's my master, at least people won't be suspicious. "
That was true. He Yan was thinking about it when he suddenly heard Xiao Jue say, "But your master's identity is not simple. He seems to be an old acquaintance of Her Highness."
He Yan was horrified, "How can that be?"
"The way he looked at Mu Xiaolou seemed to be looking at someone else through Mu Xiaolou. If I'm not wrong, he should be Her Highness." Xiao Jue said unhurriedly, "As a disciple, how come you don't know anything?"
"He didn't tell me anything!" He Yan couldn't hide the shock in his heart. Liu Buwang and Mu Hongjin were old acquaintances? This was the most shocking news he had heard today! But He Yan faintly felt that what Xiao Jue said might be true. Liu Buwang's gentleness and doting towards Mu Xiaolou, the sadness in the zither, and his refusal to go to the Prince's Mansion with Cui Yuezhi seemed to indicate one thing. At least, Liu Buwang was not completely unrelated to the Mu Family.
But what exactly was their relationship?
He didn't get an answer to this question. Cui Yuezhi had already urged them to set off for the Prince's Mansion.
Mu Xiaolou sat in a soft palanquin, while He Yan and the others sat in a carriage. Cui Yuezhi personally escorted them, and the guards were all wearing armor and carrying swords. It was probably because Mu Xiaolou had said that she was kidnapped yesterday, which made people feel that Jiyang City was not as peaceful and safe as it seemed on the surface.
The Prince's Mansion was located north of the center of Jiyang City, and it occupied a large area. As soon as they arrived at the gate of the mansion, soldiers came up to interrogate them. Cui Yuezhi took them into the Prince's Mansion. He first took Mu Xiaolou in, then asked He Yan and Xiao Jue to wait in the outer hall. He would call them in later.
He Yan and Xiao Jue sat in the outer hall. Feeling bored, He Yan asked Xiao Jue, "Governor, do you know Princess Mengji?"
"I don't know much about her." Xiao Jue lazily said, "I only know that King Mengji had a son and a daughter. His eldest son died before he was 18 years old. At that time, King Mengji's position was not very stable."
If his position was not stable, he needed to unite forces to consolidate it. His Majesty was benevolent, but there were always confidants who did not like the vassal kings' power. They wanted to eliminate all the vassal kings in Da Wei.
In the end, Princess Mengji married the son of an important official in the imperial court. Her husband was a member of the imperial court, so he could monitor Jiyang City at any time to see if there was any rebellion. It was also because of this that King Mengji was able to keep his position as a vassal king.
However, the son of the official, who was Princess Mengji's husband, died of illness not long after Princess Mengji gave birth to a son. Their son also had the same problem as their father. He was born with a congenital deficiency, so their daughter died when she was young. Therefore, there were only Princess Mengji and her granddaughter, Mu Xiaolou, in the current King Mengji's residence.
He Yan was not particularly curious about Mu Hongjin, but after hearing Xiao Jue's words, he knew that this person might be an old acquaintance of Liu Buwang. He had some expectations and wanted to know who had appeared in Liu Buwang's past life. Liu Buwang treated Mu Xiaolou so well. If a man treated a little girl well, it was very likely that it was because of this little girl's family, if it wasn't because of his gentle nature.
After the two of them sat for a while, a maidservant in gauze clothes with braided hair came forward with a smile and said, "Please come with me. His Highness wants to see you."
He Yan and Xiao Jue stood up and followed the maidservant inside.
As soon as they entered the residence, they were surprised to find that the interior of the residence was bigger and more spacious than it looked from the outside. It could be said to be magnificent. The color of the residence was mainly red, and the railings and pillars in the residence were carved with myths and legends about the Water God. In the backyard of the residence, there was even a bronze statue of a bare-chested goddess riding a kun and traveling in the sea.
The weather in Jiyang was hot, unlike the bitter cold in Liangzhou. It was only spring, and when the sun shone in the morning, it was a little hot. Copper basins filled with ice cubes were placed in the four corners of the courtyard, so it didn't feel hot and was cool and pleasant. As for the flowers, plants, and trees, they gave off the same feeling as Jiyang City: prosperous, lively, ostentatious, and proud.
After passing through the courtyard and the long corridor, the maidservant stopped in front of the King Mengji's residence and said with a smile, "Please come in."
He Yan and Xiao Jue stepped in and felt that their eyes suddenly brightened.
The main hall was very wide, and there were columns carved with the pattern of the Water God in the four corners. Above them, there was a painting of auspicious cloud patterns. The floor was covered with a thin blanket, which was as clear as gauze and decorated with some gold, sparkling. For a moment, He Yan felt that the legendary Dragon Palace was probably like this.
It had a kind of wild and mysterious beauty to it.
There was a main seat in the hall and side seats, but there was no one on them at the moment. The princess wasn't here?
While He Yan was puzzled, he heard footsteps coming from behind the hall. Then, someone walked out from the high seat at the back of the hall.
It was a very beautiful woman.
She was very tall and thin. She was a little old, but she didn't look like a beauty past her prime. She wore a red robe, and the corners of her robe were embroidered with the shape of waves with gold thread. Her black hair was combed into a long braid, and she wore a small golden crown on the top of her head. Her skin was very white, but her eyes were very dark, and there was a hint of red at the corners of her eyes. Her facial features were gorgeous and deep, but her expression was a little cold. Even though there was a slight smile on her lips, it was a smile that was high and mighty. It was as if she was standing on a cliff, and it was a frosty flower that bloomed brilliantly and coldly. One could only look at it from afar and not approach it.
It was rare to see a woman with such a threatening aura. She was already very beautiful, but her arrogance made her beauty a burden.
Mu Hongjin walked out slowly and sat down on the high seat in the middle. She looked down at He Yan and Xiao Jue.
He Yan tugged at the corner of Xiao Jue's clothes, lowered his head, and said respectfully, "Greetings, Your Highness."
No one answered for a long time.
Just when He Yan thought that Mu Hongjin would continue to remain silent, Mu Hongjin spoke. Her voice was also very cold, gorgeous, and unbridled. It seeped into people's hearts.
"I don't know why the Commander-in-Chief of the Right Corps is so free that he didn't hesitate to disguise himself as someone else to come to Jiyang."
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