"Do you know Chai Anxi's whereabouts?"
Ying Xiang shook her head, "I heard that Princess Mengji is now sending people to search for Chai Anxi's whereabouts."
Chu Zhao smiled carelessly, "Xiao Huaijin came to Jiyang to find someone." After a pause, he asked the woman beside him, "Who is Liu Buwang?"
"I've never heard of this person's name before. On the surface, he's Military Governor Xiao's master."
"Where did Xiao Huaijin's master come from?"
Ying Xiang also nodded, "But they seem to trust and value Mr. Liu very much."
Chu Zhao put down the teacup in his hand, "These are not important. The most important thing is to find Chai Anxi before Xiao Huaijin."
"I understand," Ying Xiang said hesitantly after a moment, "But how do you plan to treat Miss He?" Although he had already heard from Chu Zhao that He Yan was a girl and his heart was already prepared, it was not until he saw He Yan's female body through the window that he felt it was real. It was really difficult to connect the petite and weak girl in front of her with the valiant and cold young man in her memory.
"Don't you think it's strange that Xiao Huaijin has a woman with him?" Chu Zhao smiled slightly, "I really want to know how much he trusts this woman."
Ying Xiang lowered her eyes and didn't speak. Niao Niao steam rose from the tea in the teacup and quickly escaped into the air, leaving no trace behind.
On the other side, the people in the room were sitting separately.
"This is the Uto's military defense map." He Yan handed the scroll to Liu Buwang.
"The fourth young master of Count Shi Jin's mansion brought news that the Uto will attack Jiyang in a few days, but I don't know if it's true or not. Master, take a look at this military defense map. Is there any problem? "
Liu Buwang looked at it for a moment and put down the scroll in his hand. "I don't know if this map is real or fake, but if Uto really wants to attack Jiyang, it will indeed start from the canal as depicted on the map."
After all, the most important thing in Jiyang City was this canal. Cutting off the canal meant cutting off the lifeline of the city.
"Mr. Liu, you once said that you were tracking Uto to Jiyang." Xiao Jue looked at Liu Buwang. "Can you tell me the reason?"
Liu Buwang thought for a moment before saying, "Every year before and after the Water God Festival, I will go back to Jiyang to take a look. This year, before they reached Jiyang, they encountered a massacre outside Jiyang City. Someone took advantage of the night to kill all the people in the village outside the city. He changed into the clothes of the people in the village and entered the city with a fake identity. One of the children who was lucky enough to escape told me about this. I originally thought that it was an enemy seeking revenge or killing people to rob money. However, when I was investigating, I found that these people weren't from Da Wei. These Uto disguised themselves as commoners and sneaked into the city. It's not something that can be done overnight. I can only find a few. I'm afraid that before this, many commoners outside the city have already been killed. There are also many disguised Uto in Jiyang City. "
"Master, are you saying that many Uto have already entered?" He Yan asked.
Liu Buwang said, "Yes, they have been planning for a long time. They were waiting for the Water God Festival to cause trouble and kidnap His Highness. However, their plan was disrupted by you, so they should soon take action again. "
"Master Liu, do you mean that there will be a war in Jiyang City soon?" Lin Shuanghe said nervously, "Isn't it very unsafe here?
"Don't worry." He Yan comforted him, "Princess Mengji once mentioned to us that she would evacuate the commoners from the city to a slightly safer place in the next few days. Brother Lin will be fine with the commoners in Jiyang City at that time. "
Only then did Lin Shuanghe feel a little relieved, but he immediately put on a righteous appearance. He said, "What do you mean by following the commoners in the city? How can I be such a coward? Naturally, I will advance and retreat together with my brothers and live and die together. Don't try to persuade me. I must be with you and won't live alone. "
He Yan was speechless for a moment before he said to Liu Buwang, "Master, Princess Mengji has handed the city gate guards to the commander-in-chief. Do you want to come and take a look?"
"A He, have you forgotten?" Liu Buwang was a little helpless. "I only know how to set up formations and don't know how to fight."
That was true. Liu Buwang knew Qimen Dunjia, bow, horse, saber, and spear, but they were all his skills. Back then, when he taught her Qimen Dunjia, He Yan studied it himself and used it to set up formations. Only then did he gradually develop his own set of skills.
"You don't know how to fight?" Lin Shuanghe was very surprised. "My Younger Sister He is so good at memorizing military books. I thought that a famous teacher produced a brilliant disciple. Why? Is my Younger Sister He a self-taught genius?"
He Yan smiled awkwardly. "She's very talented. Maybe I was a female general in my previous life, so I can understand it easily!"
Xiao Jue sneered and didn't say anything.
"In the next few days, I will continue to track down the whereabouts of that group of Uto." Liu Buwang said, "If we find their heads, we may be able to solve a lot of problems. As for the City Gate Army of Jiyang, I'll leave it to Military Governor Xiao. " Liu Buwang looked at Xiao Jue. He now knew Xiao Jue's identity. "The City Gate Army doesn't have the advantage in terms of numbers. Military Governor Xiao, please take care of the people of Jiyang."
He seemed to have deep feelings for Jiyang. Xiao Jue nodded.
Everyone talked about the Uto matter again. Xiao Jue would go to train the City Gate Army of Jiyang City tomorrow. The time was very short, so it wasn't an easy task for him. Liu Buwang continued to track down the whereabouts of the Uto. Lin Shuanghe didn't expect him to do anything, so he just needed to stay in the Cui Mansion and wait for orders. As for He Yan, she became the most embarrassed one. She wanted to follow Xiao Jue to take a look at the City Gate Army, but Mu Hongjin didn't let her go. She didn't know if something would happen. She simply made another copy of the military defense map and planned to see if she could set up a new formation according to the terrain of Jiyang overnight. If this military defense map was real, it would be twice the result with half the effort. If it was fake, she could find a loophole in it and wouldn't be fooled.
After speaking, everyone was about to leave. As soon as they pushed the door open, they saw a beautiful maid standing under the tree in the courtyard outside the door. It was Chu Zhao's personal maid, Ying Xiang. She didn't know how long she had been standing here. When she saw everyone come out, she stepped forward and bowed to He Yan. "Miss He."
He Yan returned the greeting.
"Young Master has something to say to Miss He," Ying Xiang said with a smile. "He's waiting in the front hall. Does Miss He have time?"
He Yan looked back and saw Lin Shuanghe waving at her slightly, indicating that she shouldn't go. Xiao Jue looked calm, and no one could tell what she was thinking. Seeing this, Ying Xiang said with a smile, "Young Master said that he might have some misunderstandings with Miss He before, so he wants to clarify things with Miss He in person. Last time, when we were in the Liangzhou Guards, he didn't have time to say goodbye to you and left without saying goodbye. It was very rude of him. He hopes that you won't take it to heart. Today, he'll take it as an apology. "
He Yan didn't take the small matter of leaving without saying goodbye to heart. There were so many things to do in the Liangzhou Guards, so he didn't have the time to pursue these trivial matters. He was the Young Master of Count Shi Jin's residence, yet he remembered it so clearly and spoke so politely. If she continued to be pretentious, it would seem that she didn't know what was good for her. Moreover … He Yan really wanted to know what identity Chu Zhao had now and what position he had come to the Liangzhou Guards. He also wanted to know whether the so-called 'dealing with Uto' was just an excuse or if he had other motives.
Thinking of this, he cheerfully replied, "Okay."
Lin Shuanghe's expression changed greatly. "Younger Sister He!"
"Thank you for your tolerance, Young Master." Ying Xiang was overjoyed.
"Commander in Chief, I'll go take a look first," He Yan said to Xiao Jue. "You don't have to wait for me for dinner tonight." After saying this, he said goodbye to Liu Buwang. "Master, I'll leave first."
Lin Shuanghe still wanted to say a few more words of advice, but He Yan had already left with Ying Xiang. Liu Buwang still had matters to attend to, so he only bowed slightly to Xiao Jue and Ying Xiang before leaving.
After they left, Lin Shuanghe asked Xiao Jue, "You're letting her go just like that?"
"Otherwise?"
"That's Chu Zilan! Didn't Younger Sister He like him so much that she lost her soul? She was stood up by him and even went to look at the moon alone. Such an irresponsible heartless person actually came back to find my Younger Sister He. Just wait and see, he'll definitely play the same trick again and use gentle attacks to move my Younger Sister He's heart! "
"Isn't that good?" Xiao Jue turned around and lazily mocked, "The liar finally got what he wanted."
"Aren't you worried?" Lin Shuanghe waved his fan and followed him closely. "If Chu Zilan sees my Younger Sister He's stunning red makeup, he'll be beastly and do something bad to my Younger Sister He. What should I do?"
Xiao Jue entered the room, poured herself a cup of tea, and said casually, "Do you have some misunderstanding about Chu Zilan's taste? How can that liar's red makeup be worthy of the word 'stunning'?"
"How is it not stunning?" Lin Shuanghe was angry. "Xiao Huaijin, you can't compare your own face with the rest of the world."
Xiao Jue didn't bother to pay attention to him and only said, "Besides, did Chu Zilan do something bad to her?" A trace of mockery flashed through his eyes. "That guy can twist off Chu Zilan's head with his bare hands. Instead of worrying about her innocence, it's better to worry about Chu Zilan."
Lin Shuanghe: "…"
He Yan bumped into Chu Zilan in the front hall.
When Chu Zilan saw her, he smiled and stood up. "Miss He."
"Fourth Young Master Chu." He Yan returned the greeting.
The sky had already darkened. The night in Jiyang City was lively and bustling. Chu Zhao looked outside and said, "Shall we go out for a walk?"
He Yan didn't know what He Yan had in mind, but there were too many people in the Cui residence, so it wasn't convenient for them to talk like this. He Yan said, "Okay."
The two of them walked out of the residence.
Spring nights in Jiyang were warm and harmonious. Along the banks of the river, hawkers carried lanterns and hawked their wares along the street. The pavilions were scattered randomly, and the scenery was beautiful. It could be said that between the alleys of the village, there were stringed instruments and singing, and there was a society where day and night were connected.
However, such a gentle and bustling night was full of hidden murderous intentions. People came and went, and under the smiles of the hawkers, there were many Uto who harbored evil intentions. When she thought about it this way, she felt that no matter how lively and interesting the scene was, it would become dull and boring. He Yan couldn't help but frown.
"Miss He, are you angry with me?" Chu Zhao, who was beside her, asked softly.
"Why would I be?" She was a little surprised.
"Then why did you frown when you went out with me, as if you had something on your mind?"
He Yan couldn't help but laugh. "No, I was just thinking about the Uto and was worried."
After a moment of silence, Chu Zhao said, "Miss He, you don't have to worry. Her Highness will arrange everything. Besides, there's still Military Governor Xiao, isn't there?"
He wasn't stingy with his praise for Xiao Jue. He Yan wanted to test him, so she asked, "I thought that Fourth Young Master Chu didn't get along with our Governor."
"Military Governor Xiao has some misunderstandings about me." Chu Zhao smiled. "However, his position is slightly different from mine. We're just working for different masters. "
He actually admitted it just like that? He Yan was a little surprised.
"However, Military Governor Xiao and I are on the same page regarding the Uto. Miss He, you don't have to worry. "Chu Zhao said," I'm a citizen of Da Wei. Naturally, I don't want to see Da Wei's rivers and mountains be invaded by foreign tribes. "
He Yan nodded. "That's natural. When the nest is overturned, no egg will remain unbroken. We should be united against foreign enemies. "
"Is Miss He relieved after hearing what I said?" He asked.
He Yan asked, "Why are you relieved?"
"I won't hurt Military Governor Xiao. Miss He, you don't have to be wary of me because of Military Governor Xiao."
He Yan laughed dryly. "Fourth Young Master Chu, you're overthinking. I'm not wary of you."
"Is that so?" Chu Zhao smiled a little sadly. "But ever since we met this time, you stopped calling me 'Brother Chu'. You called me Fourth Young Master Chu. It sounds like you're deliberately drawing a line between us."
That works too? He Yan said, "It's nothing. If you don't think it's good, I can call you Brother Chu again."
"Then can I call you A He?"
He Yan was stunned for a moment.
The young man's smile was especially gentle, like a charming and harmless orchid blooming in the night. In the spring night of Jiyang, his robes were fragrant, and his face was handsome. The passersby couldn't help but glance at him. He was really eye-catching. It was hard to say anything harsh to such a good-looking and good-tempered person. He Yan hesitated for a moment and said, "If you want to call me that, then just call me that."
Chu Zhao's eyes flashed with a hint of a smile. He continued to walk along the riverbank with He Yan. He said, "I haven't apologized to A He for what happened before. That day, I made an appointment to drink with you at Mount Baiyue, but something came up at the last minute and I couldn't make it. The next day, I left early and didn't even have time to say goodbye to A He. Later, when I thought of this in Shuojing, I felt very regretful. "
"Brother Chu, you don't have to take such a small matter to heart," He Yan said. "Moreover, you didn't do it on purpose. I'm not angry because of it." If it weren't for Chu Zhao, she wouldn't have gone to the foot of Mount Baiyue that night, and she wouldn't have waited for Xiao Jue. She also wouldn't have known that the person who saved her from the darkness on the mountaintop behind Yuhua Temple was Xiao Jue.
Perhaps, this was a blessing in disguise?
"A He didn't take it to heart because A He is broad-minded." Chu Zhao smiled. "But I can't pretend that this didn't happen. I must apologize to A He." He looked forward. "I'll give A He something."
He Yan was startled. "What is it?"
Chu Zhao stretched out his hand. In the palm of his hand lay a small tassel. The tassel was decorated with a very delicate pomegranate flower carved from red jade. Below the tassel was a red tassel. Although it was small, it was very ingenious.
"Today, at the gate of the Wang fu, I saw A He wearing a long whip at his waist." Chu Zhao looked at her gently. "I was lucky enough to obtain a flower tassel. But I don't know martial arts, and I don't have a weapon. It's a pity that it's with me. But this flower tassel is very compatible with A He's long whip. Why don't A He try it and see if it'll be better? "
He Yan subconsciously wanted to refuse, "I can't accept a reward without any effort. Brother Chu, let's just forget about it. Besides, this thing doesn't look cheap." That red jade was small, and its color was translucent like the clouds. Who knew if it would be another "several hundred gold"? She always took things here and there and received "small gifts" there. Those who didn't know would think that she was really here to cheat.
"A He calls me 'Brother Chu', which means that he treats me as a friend. It's very common for friends to give gifts. Moreover, A He worries too much. This flower tassel isn't expensive, and this jade is fake. A He doesn't have to feel burdened. It's useless to leave this thing with me. A He doesn't want it, but he dislikes me. Or perhaps, deep down in his heart, he still sees me as an enemy? "
Even if his words were slightly accusing and wronged, when he said it, it was still gentle and calm. He Yan hesitated for a moment. "Is this pomegranate flower tassel really a fake jade?"
Chu Zhao smiled. "A He wants real jade. I may need to raise some money."
Since it was fake jade, it wasn't very expensive. It should be more straightforward to accept it. He Yan smiled. "Then, thank you very much, Brother Chu." She reached out and took out the purple jade whip from her waist. She tied the flower tassel to the purple jade whip's wooden handle. The black whip suddenly looked more lively and beautiful.
"It really matches A He's whip." Chu Zhao smiled.
"Courtesy demands reciprocity. Since Brother Chu gave me a flower tassel, I should also give Brother Chu something in return." In the end, He Yan felt that if she didn't return the favor, she would feel that she was taking advantage of Chu Zhao. She said, "If Brother Chu takes a fancy to anything in the night market today, I can give it to Brother Chu." After saying that, she reached her hand into her sleeve and touched her pitiful string of copper coins. She added weakly, "However, I left in a hurry, so I didn't bring too much money. Brother Chu, you can … choose what you want."
After all, she didn't bring Lin Shuanghe with her today. She couldn't just buy whatever she wanted.
Chu Zhao couldn't help but smile. He looked at her and said, "Okay."
He Yan followed him. The night market in Jiyang was very lively. People were selling things at night. From snacks to rouge and face powder, old books and ancient books to rusty weapons, everything was available. Both of them were good-looking. When they walked past a place, they received warm greetings.
When they reached the end of the road in front, they saw a group of people surrounding a vendor. He Yan followed Chu Zhao to take a look and saw that it was a sugar painter. The peddler was a young man. He wore a clean green robe and sat in front of the stall. In front of him was a stone slab that had been wiped clean. Beside him was a large pot that was simmering with sparkling red syrup. He scooped a spoonful of syrup from the pot with a big iron ladle and poured it on the slate. His movements were very fast. The iron ladle moved up and down in his hand like a painting brush. The falling syrup outlined a complicated or exquisite pattern. Soon, it was cast into shape. Then, he used a small spatula to scoop up the picture on the slate and stuck a bamboo stick on it.
"This is a sugar pancake." He Yan was happy. "I didn't expect Jiyang to have it too."
In the past, when she was in Shuojing, there was a temple fair every year. Due to her subtle identity, she was afraid that she would be exposed. Therefore, she didn't go to such crowded places if she could. Therefore, she never went to the temple fair. She could only wait for her sisters to come back from the temple fair and secretly eavesdrop on them talking about the lively scenes and new things at the temple fair. "Sugar pancakes" were the same. There was a master who made "sugar pancakes" in Shuojing. He was very good at it. Every time He Yan heard them talk about it, she looked forward to it. Once, she couldn't help but secretly beg Madam He to bring one for her. Perhaps Madam He saw how pitiful she was and how much she wanted it, so she really brought one for her from the temple fair. He Yan still remembered that it was a picture of a bird. She couldn't bear to eat it, so she put the sugar figurine in the pen holder. However, the weather was hot, so it melted in two days. The syrup was sticky and it melted on the table. Madam He scolded her.
At that time, she didn't think it was dirty. She just regretfully scooped it up with her hands. She thought that it would be better if the sugar painting could last longer.
She did not expect to see something new when she was young, but she did not expect to see it in Jiyang. Looking at this young man's craftsmanship, she thought that he was on par with the master in Shuojing. He Yan pulled Chu Zhao and squeezed forward. They saw that there were many sugar paintings on the haystack at the side. They looked like auspicious flowers, birds, phoenixes, birds, and beasts. They were very lifelike.
Chu Zhao glanced at He Yan and suddenly smiled. "I like this. A He wants to give me something. Why don't you give me a sugar painting?"
"You like this? What's so difficult about it? "He Yan was very generous. She waved her hand." Young man, what's the most expensive sugar painting you have here? " There was a banner next to the sugar painting. The price was two copper coins each. She brought a lot of copper coins, so it should be enough.
The stall owner smiled and said, "The most expensive one is a flower basket. It costs eight copper coins. Do you want one? "
What was a flower basket? However, choosing the most expensive one was definitely not wrong. He Yan then asked Chu Zhao, "Brother Chu, what do you think?"
Chu Zhao tried to hold back his laughter. "That's good."
"Young man." He Yan took out eight copper coins and said, "Please make a flower basket. Make it beautiful."
The stall owner said, "No problem!"
He scooped a spoonful of syrup from the pot and made a thin round cake. Then, he cast a circle of sugar lines on the round cake and slowly drew a vertical line. He Yan watched intently as the flower basket changed from a flat bottom to a rich and lively one. There was a basket frame and a handle. The stall owner was very honest and added a lot of flowers to the handle. He Yan counted. There were Chinese roses, daffodils, chrysanthemums, peach blossoms, lotus blossoms … Flowers from different seasons were all piled into a basket. It was lively and gorgeous.
He Yan watched as the basket filled up bit by bit. Suddenly, she had an idea. She asked the stall owner, "Young man, I'm giving this flower basket to my friend. Can you write my friend's name on the basket?"
"Of course!"
Chu Zhao paused and his smile faded. "A He, that's not necessary …"
"What's wrong?" He Yan was puzzled. "Your name is so beautiful. It's a pity that it's not written on the basket."
"Beautiful …?"
"Yes." He Yan nodded. "Zhao means bright. Zilan means vanilla. The person who gave you this name must love you very much. They hope that you have a noble character and a bright future. That's why they gave you such an elegant name. "
Chu Zhao was stunned. The girl had already turned around and said to the stall owner, "Young man, please write 'Zilan'."
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