Under the night sky, a palanquin landed outside the provincial governor's residence and was also stopped by the guards outside.
Fang Zhe went up to negotiate with him. Niu Youdao, who was sitting in the palanquin, quietly closed his eyes with a calm expression …
The residence was brightly lit, and the vermillion pavilion was beautiful.
The weather was warm, but there was a charcoal fire in the room.
The table was filled with delicacies. The youth at the table was wearing thick clothes. His skin was white, his face was pale, and his eyes were dark. He seemed to have no appetite.
The woman sitting next to him was in a different situation. She was wearing a thin palace dress, and her fair skin was covered in tiny beads of sweat.
There was no helping it. There was a stove in this season, so it would be strange if it wasn't hot.
The woman's every movement was rather dignified, and her appearance was also radiant. Her long hair was coiled into a bun, and her eyebrows were picturesque. Her appearance was beautiful, graceful, and charming. Her figure was slightly plump, the kind of plump that seduced people.
The youth was the provincial governor of Jinzhou, Xiao Tianzhen.
The woman was the princess royal of Zhao, the younger sister of the emperor, and Xiao Tianzhen's mother, Hai Ruyue. Although she was already forty years old, time was kind to her and did not leave any marks on her body.
"I know you don't have an appetite, but you have to eat even if you don't!" Hai Ruyue personally picked up some food for her son.
Outside the room, the white-haired housekeeper Zhu Shun appeared at the door. He did not enter, but nodded to Hai Ruyue.
Hai Ruyue looked up and put down her chopsticks. At the same time, she did not forget to remind her son, "You have to eat even if you don't want to. This is for your own good, not to harm you!"
After leaving the table, she slowly walked to the door. The servant outside immediately put on a coat for her. The temperature outside the room was not as cold as inside the room with the stove.
After the master and servant walked a little further, Zhu Shun reported, "Madam, that Fang Zhe is here again."
Hai Ruyue's bright eyes slanted, "What's the reason?"
Everything that needed to be said had been said clearly, and there was nothing else to talk about. She had already said that she would not see him. Moreover, it was already late, and as a widow, she usually did not have male guests at night. Logically, the housekeeper would have sent him away, but he came to report, so there must be a reason.
Zhu Shun said, "This time, he brought someone over. He said that he is a doctor specially sent by Duke Yan Yongping to treat Young Master."
"Good doctor?" Hai Ruyue frowned. "They already know about Zhen 'er's illness. What kind of good doctor can cure him?"
Zhu Shun replied: "This old servant also finds it strange. Logically speaking, this should not be the case. However, I also feel that Shang Chaozong would not act rashly on this matter. Therefore, I ask Madam, should we meet or not?"
Hai Ruyue was slightly hesitant, but she had the same opinion. Shang Chaozong probably wouldn't act recklessly in this kind of matter, so she nodded and said, "Bring it over!"
"Yes!" Zhu Shun bowed and quickly left.
Not long after, he returned with Fang Zhe and Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao's sword had been temporarily detained.
When they entered the inner courtyard, the two's eight extraordinary meridians were also sealed by the cultivators here. Niu Youdao's transcendence energy was no longer able to be used.
Relatively speaking, Hai Ruyue could be considered to be responsible for Shang Chaozong because of her old friendship with King Ning. After all, the two of them were going to discuss a secret matter, and it was not suitable for too many outsiders to know about it. If she didn't seal Niu Youdao's transcendence energy, there would definitely be people watching over him.
Beside the pavilion by the water, Hai Ruyue, who was dressed in a gorgeous long dress, leaned against the railing and looked at the bright moon in the night sky. Her beautiful figure was lonely, and the moon was reflected in the water.
Fang Zhe and Niu Youdao stopped not too far away. Together, they bowed to Hai Ruyue, who had her back facing them, and said, "Greetings, Princess Royal."
Zhu Shun, on the other hand, walked in front of Hai Ruyue and muttered a few words.
Hai Ruyue slowly turned around. Under the illumination of the lantern, her charm was boundless. Even Niu Youdao couldn't help but secretly praise her. What a beauty!
"Niu Youdao? Aren't you the abandoned disciple of the Yan Sect? "Hai Ruyue looked him up and down, and snorted coldly.
Niu Youdao didn't expect that the other party would even know about this. However, it was understandable. In the neighboring territories of the enemy country, there would definitely be spies to investigate. Moreover, with Shang Chaozong communicating with them, how could the other party not know what was going on? Thus, it wasn't strange at all. He nodded and said, "That's me."
Hai Ruyue said, "In the early years, when I was in the Yan Sect, I was acquainted with King Ning, and I was also acquainted with your teacher, Dongguo Haoran. We can be considered old friends. How did Dongguo Haoran's disciple become a good doctor who can cure difficult and complicated illnesses?"
Niu Youdao realized that the old man Dongguo had quite a wide network. He replied, "Princess Royal, please understand. The person who really cured the illness is not me. I was only ordered to escort the good doctor here. However, when we reached the prefecture, an accident happened, and the good doctor was kidnapped."
Hai Ruyue's bright eyes slightly narrowed. Zhu Shun frowned and asked, "What happened?"
Niu Youdao said, "Princess Royal, you may not know this, but I have some grievances with the Song family of the Yan Sect's court in the Yan Sect. I just arrived at the prefecture today, but unexpectedly, I ran into Song Jiuming's son and was chased. I was lucky to escape, but the good doctor that I brought fell into their hands. At this moment, I don't know where the good doctor has been taken to, and I don't even know if he's alive or dead. I hope that Princess Royal can help find the good doctor. After all, this is Princess Royal's territory."
He didn't have any connections or manpower here. If he wanted to save Yuan Fang, he could only rely on the widow's influence.
Fang Zhe, who was standing at the side, pondered for a moment. How could there be a good doctor? He roughly guessed that it was referring to Yuan Fang. After listening to these words, he seemed to understand why Niu Youdao hurriedly left Fulin Inn.
On the other hand, Hai Ruyue had long been aware of the situation on Shang Chaozong's side. Since she knew that Niu Youdao was an abandoned disciple of the Shangqing Sect the moment she heard his name, she naturally knew about the grievances between him and the Song family. Zhu Shun whispered beside Hai Ruyue, "Song Jiuming's second son, Song Long, has indeed arrived at the prefecture. He has already been settled in the Fragrant Boudoir."
Hai Ruyue's expression didn't reveal any clues. She stared at Niu Youdao and asked, "Are you sure that the good doctor you brought can cure my son's illness?"
Niu Youdao said, "Even if he can't cure you, he is the most likely person to ask for the Red Sun Vermillion Fruit. Princess Royal, the Prince is very clear about your son's illness. Since the Prince sent us for this matter, he naturally has some confidence! Princess Royal, if this drags on, the good doctor's life may be in danger! "
He didn't care about anything else right now. To him, rescuing Yuan Fang was the most important matter. In his opinion, Shang Chaozong's great cause might not be more important than Yuan Fang's life. He and Shang Chaozong's followers had different thoughts. They had different values and ideals.
Hai Ruyue slowly turned to look at Zhu Shun and said expressionlessly, "Bring some men with you and ask Song Long to hand the doctor over!" There was an unquestionable tone in her tone.
"Yes!" Zhu Shun acknowledged. He then turned to Niu Youdao and said, "Come with me." He didn't know the so-called good doctor, so he needed Niu Youdao to identify him. He also needed Niu Youdao to confront Song Long if necessary. Without a witness, what if Song Long refused to admit it?
Niu Youdao immediately bade farewell to Hai Ruyue and left with Zhu Shun.
Zhu Shun immediately gathered more than ten experts to accompany them. As for Fang Zhe, he was temporarily detained in the Provincial Governor's Mansion. It felt like he was a hostage …
Not long after Xie Chun and the others returned to the Fragrant Pavilion, they were faced with Song Long, who was standing with his hands behind his back with a gloomy expression.
Xie Chun and the others naturally returned empty-handed. The facts proved Yuan Fang's words. Niu Youdao was indeed staying at Fulin Inn. This was known after they asked the inn's staff and innkeeper about his appearance.
There was no need to search anything. When they found the guest room, it was already empty. The innkeeper also said that he had just checked out not long ago.
Xie Chun wasn't surprised by this at all. This was expected and nothing strange. It would be strange if Niu Youdao really stayed there and didn't leave.
Since they couldn't catch Niu Youdao, they couldn't help but drag Yuan Fang out and interrogate him in detail. For example, where Niu Youdao might have gone and why he had come here.
Yuan Fang was still as timid as a mouse. He answered whatever was asked, just that he didn't tell the truth.
Since he couldn't get anything out of him, Yuan Fang naturally had to suffer a little.
Right at this moment, there was a commotion outside. A large number of people were charging in, and the clattering of battle armor was very obvious.
Song Long's subordinate ran in with a terrified expression and reported anxiously, "Milord, the steward of the Provincial Governor's Manor, Zhu Shun, is here. He's surrounded our courtyard with a large number of people."
"What's going on?" Song Long was bewildered. It was useless to ask the others. The others didn't know what was going on either. He quickly led his men away.
When he arrived at the courtyard and saw Zhu Shun leading a group of people in, he immediately understood everything. Because he saw Niu Youdao beside Zhu Shun.
This scene made Song Long's heart skip a beat. Could it be that what this Niu Youdao said was true? Was he really someone from the Provincial Governor's Manor?
What made him even more shocked was that Niu Youdao was actually able to trouble Zhu Shun to come here personally!
He couldn't help but turn his head to look at Xie Chun, as if questioning, How did you guys handle things? Didn't I ask you guys to confirm if it's someone from the Provincial Governor's Manor before making a move?
Seeing this scene, Chen Guishuo, who was in the crowd, was alarmed. How did Niu Youdao gain power in Jinzhou?
The commotion here was too big. The envoys from various countries who had ill intentions towards Zhao were all alarmed.
Jinzhou had already sent out troops to surround the place where Yan's envoy was staying. How could the envoys from other countries not come over to see what was going on? Jinzhou's attitude towards Yan was worthy of the attention of other countries. After all, Jinzhou's troops were stationed right beside Yan's territory. If there was any conflict, it wouldn't be a small matter.
The people in the courtyards all popped their heads out. Unfortunately, the area was heavily surrounded and they couldn't get close to observe.
"Is it him?" Zhu Shun stared at Song Long and asked.
Niu Youdao confirmed at the side, "Yes, it's him!"
Song Long was bewildered. Could it be that Zhu Shun dared to do anything to him, the envoy of Yan, just because of Niu Youdao?
Even though he was a little confused, he was here to represent Yan's reputation. He rebuked righteously, "Zhu Shun, what do you mean by this? Is this how the Gold Province treats their guests? "
Zhu Shun stared at him, "Those who are polite are guests and should be treated as distinguished guests! Those who are rude are hated by everyone … Lord Song, don't beat around the bush. Just hand the person over! "
When he arrived at the Fragrance-Retaining Pavilion, he had already confirmed with the guards here that Song Long and the others had indeed escorted someone into the Fragrance-Retaining Pavilion. The timing matched what Niu Youdao had said, so he had directly deployed his troops to surround them!
Song Long couldn't easily admit that he captured someone in another country's territory. This wasn't something an envoy should do. It was against the rules everywhere. He argued, "Hand over what person? I don't know what you're talking about! "
Zhu Shun said, "Lord Song, you'd better cooperate. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"
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