Early in the morning, before Gui Liu got up, Wang Sizhi was grooming the little girl. Sitting in front of the dressing table, she looked at the little girl in the mirror and said softly: "The money in the embroidery bag is enough to last for several months. Don't squander it. Eat well and wear warm clothes. Live alone and be careful at all times."
The little girl didn't speak, and quietly clenched the money bag in her hand, her eyes slightly unhappy.
Suddenly, Wang Sizhi seemed to notice something, and she turned around deliberately. In an instant, the little girl quickly grabbed the precious hairpin she had coveted for a long time, hid it in her sleeve, and then sat obediently as if nothing had happened.
Wang Sizhi sighed softly, suddenly feeling tired, and said softly: "Let's go, I'll take you back."
Walking to the place where the two met last night, the little girl shook off Wang Sizhi's hand, hesitated for a moment, hesitated, then turned around and ran away in a hurry.
Pedestrians on the street could see a woman standing there, speechless for a long time.
For Wang Sizhi, when is the saddest time?
It wasn't the poisoned crossbow pointed at her, or the little girl hiding a dagger in her sleeve, but just now, when she turned around deliberately, the little girl stole a hairpin.
It's obvious that we treat each other with kindness, but we can't even exchange it for a "thank you".
"Those who love going out love to return, and those who go out are blessed to come back?"
Wang Sizhi laughed at himself.
When she returned to the inn, as soon as she climbed upstairs, she saw a sneaky man wandering in front of her room door.
She is very gentle towards the little girl, but don't forget, she is Wang Sizhi, the empress of the Sui Dynasty.
Zhu Xian appeared next to her in an instant, cutting off the jade pendant hanging from the man's waist. The cold blade was placed on the man's neck. As he approached slightly, a line of blood instantly appeared.
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"
The man begged for mercy in fear, trembling all over.
Wang Sizhi frowned slightly and subconsciously blurted out: "Are you Li Zixin, a Beijing official?"
The man's eyes widened, "You know me?"
Wang Si realized it later and looked a little flustered, "No, I don't know him."
She had peeped into Gei Liu's memory, so she had a deep impression on next year's Chunwei examiner, but the peeping must not be discovered.
The Immortal Killing Sword disappeared from his hand, and those coquettish and frightening eyes suddenly glowed with a strange red light. Li Zixin's face was full of horror at first, and then he looked around blankly and stared blankly at the woman in front of him.
Wang Sizhi smiled gently, "You blocked me."
The man took a step back, saw the woman in front of him was about to enter the room, and said in a panic: "Wait!"
Wang Sizhi turned her head in confusion and had an interesting idea in her mind. Just as she was about to speak, the door was suddenly opened and a sleepy-eyed Gei Liu came out.
He didn't even see Li Zixin beside him. He hugged Wang Sizhi and said coquettishly: "Where have you been? I can't find you anywhere."
Li Zixin was stunned.
Wang Sizhi struggled to break away from Kai Guiliu's arms, took a step back, and lowered his head with a slight apology, "Sir, you drank too much last night."
Guiliu looked vaguely at the dark figure beside him. When he saw clearly that it was Li Zixin, he woke up suddenly.
"Your Highness."
Li Zixin bowed respectfully.
Guiliu was surprised and happy. Meeting an old friend in a foreign country is one of the great blessings in the world. Last time it happened, he never expected that he would be so destined to meet here again.
"You don't work in the capital, why are you here?" Guiliu said, walking to Wang Sizhi, wanting to hold her hand and introduce her to Li Zixin.
Unexpectedly, Wang Sizhi took a step back, tilted her head, smiled, and said softly: "Young Master."
From those flirtatious red eyes, Gui Liu read a strong threat, and could only play along with her.
Li Zixin's question timing was just right, and he whispered: "Your Highness, who is this?"
Guiliu glanced at Wang Sizhi who had a sweet smile, and replied bravely: "The maid I brought from the palace is responsible for taking care of my daily life."
Li Zixin suddenly realized it, and muttered in Gui Liu's ear: "She is so beautiful, she is probably not much worse than the top ten beauties. Your Highness, please let her be included in the harem and give her a title, so she can be picked at will."
Li Zixin did not forget to add: "Your Highness, don't be deceived by such a good-looking woman. The future position of queen must be carefully considered and cannot be given away casually."
Gui Liu's eyelids jumped when he heard this, and he glanced at Wang Sizhi quietly. The latter's face remained as usual, and he said softly: "I will freshen up His Highness first."
So Li Zixin waited outside the door.
"Si Zhi, are you not angry?" Guiliu asked cautiously.
"That's all." Wang Sizhi said quietly: "Continue to act."
"The little girl is gone?"
"Well, I gave you some silver."
Guiliu fell back, leaned on Wang Sizhi, and said, "I originally planned to leave here today, but since Li Zixin is here, let's leave tomorrow, go to Jitu Academy, and then go home, okay?"
Wang Sizhi hummed and said, "You decide this kind of thing yourself. Ask me what I want to do and where you want to go. I will follow you."
Guiliu said softly: "Then let's go home early and you can see your father early."
Wang Sizhi was stunned for a moment, raised his head and looked out the window, raised the corners of his mouth, and smiled happily.
When two men with very different status were walking side by side on the street, passers-by looked at the fairy-like appearance and naturally ignored the ordinary-looking Li Zixin.
As for why Li Zixin came to Shuanghua City, his answer was very free and simple.
The taste of the world is as thin as yarn over the years.
But Guiliu knew very well that this time Li Zixin was most likely "ordered to leave Beijing", which was his own father's instruction. Now that spring preparations are approaching, some people in the imperial court are ready to make trouble and want to cause trouble. Under such circumstances, letting Li Zixin leave the capital is undoubtedly a kind of protection.
"Let a junior official from the Ministry of Etiquette serve as the examiner of the Spring Examination. I'm afraid even my father will have difficulty in overcoming the objections. So Li Zixin, are you nervous? You should also know that if you take this step well, you will rise to the top, but if you don't take it, you will be successful. It’s beyond redemption.”
Li Zixin smiled and said, "When His Highness said that, I became even more nervous."
Guiliu said: "A scholar cannot be without great perseverance. The road ahead is long and arduous."
As if he caught a glimpse of something from a distance, Li Zixin suddenly became interested, "Your Highness, I heard that there are countless famous buildings in Shuanghua City. Can you visit them in the past few days?"
"It's been a long time since I went shopping. The last time was..."
Guiliu looked dazed, thinking of that lazy and charming woman, who could be called the gentle home of men in the world.
"It's been a long journey to get here. It would be a pity not to take a look. Why don't we go there together, Your Highness?"
Li Zixin raised his head and made a drinking gesture, smiled and narrowed his eyes, and did not forget to add: "But I don't have much money, so I have to pay for this meal with His Highness."
Geiliu raised his eyebrows, "No money? Don't go if you don't have money."
Of course he couldn't be stingy with money, he was just afraid. Again, the current Wang Sizhi no longer has a soft and timid temperament. She is not only the cold and charming Empress of the Sui Dynasty five hundred years ago, but also the real sword master of the Zhuxian Sword. If she is accidentally discovered while visiting a brothel, ,what's the result? Even Geiryu himself couldn't imagine it.
Li Zixin didn't expect Guiliu to give such an answer. He was stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "I'm treating you!"
Guiliu glanced at him and said, "Li Zixin, don't make a fool of yourself. You are a small official, and you can barely support yourself with your monthly salary. Why do you invite me to drink wine? Save it, if you are using such a trick, I guess you’ll be begging on the streets soon.”
Li Zixin looked depressed.
Guiliu quietly looked back in the direction of the inn, thought for a while, and said, "Forget it, I paid for the drink. But I agreed in advance that this matter should not be made public and cannot be told to anyone, especially if you see my house... um... When I'm a maid, just act like a mute and don't let out a single word."
Li Zixin looked suspicious, "Your Highness, could that maid be someone close to the Queen, specifically responsible for looking after you?"
Guiliu nodded solemnly, "That's right. So, you must not let her know about this."
"Understood." Li Zixin nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
In an inn somewhere in Frost Flower City, a woman with red eyes held her chin in her hands, leaning on the railing and looking into the distance. She saw the two men standing at the door of the brothel. She saw the man with long hair like snow becoming the target of the warbirds. , she remained silent.
As one of the most famous buildings in Shuanghua City, the carved beams and stucco decorations in the building are naturally gorgeous, and the fragrance of powder is permeated everywhere. Geishiu spent a lot of money, and there were rumors that this white-haired young master had the same golden phoenix eyes as His Royal Highness, and his appearance was very similar, so even the oiran who never showed his face easily came downstairs to greet him. , and personally brought Geliu into the room.
As for Li Zixin, she shamelessly asked Gui Liu for money to buy a few bottles of priceless wine, and then went to listen to music anywhere.
"Sir, please come in."
Gui Liu hummed and stepped in.
The woman closed the door tightly, knelt down at the table, and said softly: "Young master spends a lot of money, so why bother to be restrained? Just do whatever you want."
Guiliu sat down opposite her, reached out and picked up the delicate yellow Buddha's hand on the tea table, and said: "Drink some tea and eat some cakes. I will leave when the time is up. You were sewing the sachet just now, so just continue with your work. .”
The woman was stunned and looked up at the man in front of her. Spending a lot of money just to sit around for a while? How could such a person exist?
The cup of tea tasted quite satisfactory, and Gui Liu's evaluation was that it was not as good as Jin Zhi's craftsmanship. Seeing the half bag of sewn sachets in the woman's hand, Gui Liu asked casually: "It's exquisite and small. It took a lot of effort, right? Did you make it for yourself, or do you plan to give it away?"
The woman did not shy away and replied: "I don't have anyone I want to give it to. I just stayed in this building for a long time and had nothing to do. I haven't finished sewing this sachet yet. If you like it, you can just take it." "
Geiliu picked up a piece of delicate pastry, put it into his mouth, stretched his right hand forward, and said vaguely: "Give it to me."
The woman was stunned and hesitated.
"Look." Guiliu took a sip of tea, "I can tell at a glance if I'm telling you something against my will. This sachet is so exquisitely embroidered. Who do you think would believe it if I said it was just to pass the time? Since I spent a lot of money, you Can’t you tell the truth?”
"Are you serious..."
The woman felt sad for no reason.
She took out a small box from her makeup and opened it, only to find another small sachet.
"I sewed these sachets and wanted to give them to my two children."
Guiliu said softly: "Is it your child?"
The woman hummed and murmured softly: "It's a pity that I can't deliver it."
Geiliu remained silent. He knew that the woman in front of him must have had a tragic experience, otherwise she would not have committed herself to such a romantic dojo. But what happened to her child? Did he die at an early age or become separated?
The woman carefully put away the sachet, raised her head and stared at Guiliu, and asked: "Young Master came to this most expensive place in Shuanghua City just to drink tea and chat?"
Gui Liu asked back: "Do you think I have other purposes?"
The woman shook her head, "I don't know."
After a moment of silence, the woman said, "Young Master is a native of Shuanghua City?"
"No, I'm just staying here." Guiliu replied.
"That's it." The woman stopped talking.
Guiliu felt something strange and said, "Just ask me whatever you want."
Seeing that the woman lowered her head and remained silent, Geiliu put down the tea cup and said, "I said I am the prince, do you believe it?"
The woman suddenly raised her head and grabbed Guiliu's sleeve as if grasping a life-saving straw, "Are you really the prince?"
"Auntie, please respect yourself."
Guiliu stood up suddenly. Just kidding, if Wang Sizhi smells rouge on her body, her visit to the brothel will be exposed.
The woman realized it later and apologized: "I'm sorry, I lost my composure just now." She suddenly stood up, walked slowly in front of Gui Liu, then plopped down and knelt at Gui Liu's feet.
Gei Liu's expression remained unchanged. He had seen this kind of situation too many times. Once women in a brothel meet a powerful man, it's hard not to be tempted by freedom. Even if life outside the brothel may be more miserable, they don't care, at least they won't care if they are trapped in a corner of the building.
So Guiliu asked subconsciously: "Do you want me to redeem you?"
The woman shook her head desperately, sobbing could be heard, "Has Your Highness heard of the tea merchant Bai Jia?"
Gui Liu nodded and said: "I know, we had dealings with him some time ago."
Suddenly, almost at the same moment, both of them stared at each other with wide eyes.
At that moment, Geliu suddenly realized.
"Oh it's you."
