It is the seventh day of the eleventh month of the first year of Dalong Taiping.
Hundreds of thousands of troops who returned to the court rushed to the cities in Dalong's northern border and stationed themselves in six major cities according to Liu Mingzhi's previous arrangement.
Not only did the snow fall suddenly on the grassland, but also the first snowfall since the beginning of winter came to Dalong's northern frontier on their way back to the court.
After various troops entered the city one after another, the entire northern Xinjiang border was already covered in silver.
With the troops and horses of the battalions properly arranged, Liu Mingzhi ordered the Song and Qing Dynasties to command the imperial army, and An Gouer commanded the navy to rush back to Beijing. After staying in the palace for a few days, he also abandoned the carriage and took the queen with him. The others hurriedly set off on their way back to Beijing with ease and simplicity.
November 15th.
Liu Mingzhi and his party braved the wind and snow all the way, and finally crossed Xinzhou Fengyundu and entered Mingzhou.
It was only a few days away from the capital.
In Mingzhou Post, after taking a hot bath, Liu Mingzhi put on a simple light white Confucian robe, then put on a large cloak and a bamboo hat, and quietly slipped out of the back door of Mingzhou Post.
Liu Mingzhi didn't know that his sneaky behavior had been clearly seen by the Queen who was standing in front of the window on the third floor of the inn, admiring the view.
Staring at Liu Mingzhi's thief-like figure with bright eyes, the Queen murmured to herself with a hint of curiosity hidden in her eyes.
"Why does it sound like you're stealing? You just want to go out and say something, but how can you do it so secretly?
In my impression, this heartless man didn't seem to have incurred any romantic debts in Mingzhou!
Besides, besides the little goblin next door, what other woman can he go to in Mingzhou for sex?
Is it because I'm afraid that my mother will feel unhappy and secretly go out to live in the world of you and me? "
The Queen frowned slightly and subconsciously glanced at the next door.
If he had no conscience and went out to have a secret meeting with the little goblin somewhere else, how could he explain the sound of the shower next door?
Seeing Liu Mingzhi's figure disappear at the corner of the street, the queen hesitated for a moment, turned and walked out the door, stopped in front of the door of the upper room next door and raised her hand to knock.
"Little goblin, are you here?"
"Here...here, what's the matter?"
"Can I come in?"
"Wait a minute, I'll put on some clothes and open the door for you."
Listening to Hu Yanjunyao's familiar voice and the rustling movements of her clothes in the room, the Queen's eyes couldn't help but become strange, and she shook her head with a sneer.
"What a strange thing!"
About time after tea, the door opened wide, and Huyan Yunyao wiped her wet hair and walked towards the room.
"Old...Sister, what are you doing here, little sister?"
The queen looked up and down at Huyan Yunyao's pretty face, which was flushed by the heat.
"Tell the truth to my sister, did that heartless guy touch you?"
"ah?"
"Ah what? Don't tell me that you are still a perfect young lady?"
Huyan Yunyao finally understood the meaning of the Queen's question, and her pretty face turned even redder due to the bath.
Not daring to look directly at the Queen's curious eyes, Huyan Yunyao entwined their fingers together, the shyness in her eyes was obvious.
"I touched... I touched, but I didn't touch!"
"What do you mean you didn't touch it?"
"Just...except for the wedding night, everything else is just...
The senior brother said that after returning to Beijing, he would arrange a wedding for all the sisters before... he would take the younger sister's body again. "
The Queen shook her head with narrow eyes and walked towards the door.
"After a long time, you just got blown away."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
The queen looked at Huyan Yunyao's curvy body with a smile, and gently closed the door: "It's not interesting, you will understand later!"
The queen left Huyan Yunyao who was confused and returned to her room with light steps.
He glanced at the little cutie who was sleeping soundly on the bed wrapped in a brocade quilt, and looked curiously in the direction where Mr. Liu disappeared.
"What on earth did you do?"
Songyang Restaurant in Mingzhou City,
Liu Mingzhi didn't know whether Songyang Restaurant was a property of the Liu family, but Songyang Restaurant was one of the best in Mingzhou City in terms of scale.
Liu Mingzhi pressed down his bamboo hat and walked towards the bustling Songyang Restaurant.
It's the end of the year, and both dignitaries and ordinary people rarely get together in small groups. This period before the year is also the busiest time for restaurants, wine shops, brothels, and gambling houses.
Liu Mingzhi walked to the counter, gently placed half of the Pisces pendant on the counter and pushed it in front of the restaurant manager.
"Keep your appointment!"
The old shopkeeper, who was about sixty years old, was stunned for a moment. He picked up half of the Pisces pendant and looked at it. He glanced at Liu Mingzhi, took out another half of the Pisces pendant from the drawer and compared it with the one in Liu Mingzhi's hand. They found that they fit perfectly. Together.
The old shopkeeper hurriedly walked out of the counter holding the Pisces pendant: "Old man, I'm blind, it turns out that a distinguished guest has arrived.
The distinguished guest who booked the fourth floor is waiting for your arrival at Tianzihao.
He has already told the old man in advance that as soon as your distinguished guest arrives, he will just take you up.
Distinguished guests, please come this way, and I will guide you. "
"Good work!"
Liu Mingzhi looked around at the guests drinking and fisting on the first floor, then followed the old shopkeeper directly towards the stairs.
After a while of tea, the old shopkeeper respectfully stopped in front of the Tianzihao wing.
"Dear guest, that guest is waiting in the room, please put your jade pendant away!"
Liu Mingzhi silently took a pair of Pisces pendants, took out a fifty-tael silver note from his sleeve and stuffed it into the old shopkeeper's hand.
"Don't let anyone bother you."
"No, no, that guest has already reserved the fourth floor. I can't collect money a second time. This is against the rules."
"The old man is kind and righteous, so I won't be polite."
"Don't dare, I'm a distinguished guest. I'll take my leave."
Seeing the old shopkeeper disappearing at the top of the stairs, Liu Mingzhi directly opened the Tianzihao door and walked in.
A beautiful figure sitting in the room with her back to the door heard the sound of the door opening, and her body trembled involuntarily.
Liu Mingzhi raised his hand and took off his bamboo hat, and walked towards the beautiful figure dressed as a scholar.
"I thought you wouldn't come to the appointment even after receiving the letter. How are you doing during this period?"
Qianying trembled slightly when she heard Liu Mingzhi's words, turned her stiff body, and looked at Liu Mingzhi who was slowly approaching her. The sadness in her eyes was self-evident.
"We agreed that we wouldn't owe each other anything, so why did you invite the Ai family out again?
You promised the Aijia not to harm Tao'er. You won't go back on your promise, right? "
Liu Mingzhi looked at He Shu's panic reaction, pulled out his chair and sat next to the beauty.
"Going back on my word? In your eyes, am I just such a person who doesn't abide by my promise at all?
Since I promised you not to touch Li Tao, I will definitely not touch Li Tao at all. "
He Shu's tense heart suddenly relaxed and he breathed out softly.
"Then why did you invite the Ai family to the date?"
Liu Mingzhi picked up the pot and poured a cup of tea, took a sip, then raised his hand and gently placed it on the back of He Shu's hand.
He Shu subconsciously retracted, but Liu Mingzhi grabbed him in the palm of his hand.
"You...what are you going to do? Let me go!"
"You are so afraid of me, why were you so proactive in the carriage?
We've already had skin-to-skin contact, why would you react so much? "
"You and I...."
Liu Mingzhi gently patted the back of He Shu's hand: "Li Tao is thinking about his past in the Zongren Mansion, and the child Jingyao also lives in the Princess Mansion in the capital.
It's not convenient for you to stay alone in Mingzhou. If something happens, there will be no one to help each other.
It's better not to expect Ming Wang Li Ting to help you!
You are a weak woman with no strength and you are alone in Mingzhou. I am not worried. Come back to Beijing with me.
I will properly settle your identity and find you a comfortable place to settle down. "
He Shu looked blankly at Liu Mingzhi's soft eyes: "Follow... will I come back to Beijing to settle down with you?"
"Yes, your son and daughter are all in the capital, so what's the use of living alone in Mingzhou?
It’s hard to meet once, so come back to Beijing with me! "
He Shu gradually came back to his senses and shook his head hurriedly.
"No, no, the Aijia can't go back to the capital with you.
In order to save Tao'er's life, it is already unchaste for the Ai family to have an affair with you in private. How can they continue to insult the face of the late Emperor Wuzong and the Li clan.
The Aijia cannot go back, even if they die in a foreign land or die alone, the Aijia cannot go back. "
Looking at He Shu's pretty face that suddenly turned pale, Liu Mingzhi sighed and shook his head.
"I didn't say that I was going to make things between us public openly, but I was arranging your life in private. Why are you so panicked?
Don't worry, as long as you don't want to, I won't announce anything that will damage your face.
Be obedient and come back with me.
How can I rest assured that you, a weak woman, are a stranger in a foreign land? "
Listening to Liu Mingzhi's soft voice, He Shu couldn't help but think of the sad life of being dependent on others these days, and two lines of tears fell involuntarily from his beautiful eyes.
Lihua looked at Liu Mingzhi who looked at her with pity, and shook her head helplessly.
"I...I...have been unfaithful to my husband and have no shame to go back.
As long as you can spare Tao'er's life, I have nothing else to ask for in this life.
Don't come to me again, okay? I really don't have the nerve to go back. "
Liu Mingzhi shook his head firmly: "No, if nothing had happened before between us, I wouldn't have done anything unnecessary.
But since you and I are already close to each other, I can't just sit back and ignore you.
No matter what, you have to come back with me. "
"No...no...don't make me."
Liu Mingzhi stood up directly and looked down at He Shu, who was crying with pear blossoms and rain.
"Since you've come to keep your appointment, it's not up to you whether you come back or not!"
After finishing speaking, Liu Mingzhi bent down and hugged the beautiful lady.
"Yeah! Put me down quickly!"
Liu Mingzhi paused, looked down at the struggling He Shu, and licked his lips at the bed behind the screen.
"Come back with me, and I will put you down. If you don't come back with me, I will have to continue to persuade you until you agree to return to Beijing."
He Shu looked anxiously and shyly at Liu Mingzhi's narrow eyes with a smile.
"You! You are shameless, put Aijia down quickly!"
Liu Mingzhi chuckled, shook his head, and walked directly towards the bed: "Tsk, tsk, you are so stubborn. It seems that it is not okay if you don't continue to persuade."
"Liu Mingzhi, you are shameless. The Aijia orders you to put the Aijia down!"
Young Master Liu rolled directly on the bed, and with a smile, he held down He Shu who was about to escape and leaned over.
"You are domineering enough, I like it."
"Well...get out...get away...
The Ai family promises to go back to Beijing with you, isn't it okay if the Ai family agrees to go back to the capital with you?
Let me go! "
"Really going back?"
"I really...huh...I really go back! But you have to swear not to spread the stupid things that happened before."
"Okay! As long as you don't want others to know, I guarantee it won't spread."
"It's a deal, I've agreed, get up quickly... ugh!"
He Shu suddenly let out a cry and looked at Young Master Liu who was pressing towards him with shame and anger.
"You...you don't keep your word."
"After half a lifetime of fighting, it's time for me to enjoy being drunk and lying on the lap of a beautiful woman!"
"You are so presumptuous...oh..."
His arm flew away as he raised the brocade, and the sudden darkness in front of his eyes interrupted He Shu's subsequent words.
On the fourth floor of the empty Songyang Restaurant, there was a lively scene that was completely different from the one downstairs.
