Although he didn't know why Granny Qin proposed the rule of not lighting candles at night, Xu Huaigu still followed it tonight. After all, when you come to other people's homes, you still have to be respectful.
Yu Qin was still a little frightened by Granny Qin's strange words before, and she didn't dare to sleep all night. She slept on another bed in the same room as Xu Huaigu, and kept chatting with Xu Huaigu to relieve her inner fear.
Xu Huaigu also took advantage of the rare quiet time at night to think carefully about what he planned to do in Xingqing.
First, he had to go to the palace in Xingqing City, preferably to see Emperor Lin Hongzhi directly. Although it is indeed embarrassing to ask for money, Xu Huaigu now feels that his face is getting thicker and thicker. And presumably for the emperor of a country, a little money is nothing.
Secondly, he has to be careful about the Xu family members. Last time I gave Xu Guonan a sword at the ferry, I don't know if that guy will have a chance to seek revenge. But no matter whether the Xu family would come to his door or not, he had to be prepared for the worst, and it was always a good idea to be cautious.
For the rest, he doesn't have any more goals for the time being. But in addition to these two basic tasks, he also wanted to visit Xingqing and see more of this city that was about to disappear.
He was also thinking about whether he could find some auxiliary treasures such as immortal elixirs and talismans in Xingqing City. After all, Xingqing is a big city, there should be a lot of monks, and there will also be corresponding trading places.
As a monk, he has not owned any elixir talismans so far, which is indeed a bit unjustifiable. And since that day when he saw the old priest named Han from the Xu family using the talisman that restored spiritual energy, Xu Huaigu was in danger. This also made Xu Huaigu, who had always been a little disdainful of talismans, a little afraid.
Of course, he has not forgotten Yu Qin's practice. It is best to find a way to practice so that Yu Qin can also practice. This is very important. As a monk himself, Xu Huaigu knew how much the power of mortals was inferior to that of monks. What's more, he has seen the abilities of the gods in the Nine Realms and Ten Realms, so he is even more fascinated by them.
Xu Huaigu wanted Yu Qin to live the best life.
In the final analysis, Xu Huaigu liked Yu Qin very much, but he felt that he cherished Yu Qin's kindness and kindness.
As for the swords that Yu Qin took with Xu Huaigu that day, and the swords on the officers and soldiers whose heads were missing, Xu Huaigu still didn't understand. The human heart is really a very complex thing, full of contradictions, and Xu Huaigu couldn't tell whether there was something else hidden behind Yu Qin's kindness.
It's like even Taoist priests can't see through Li Zi's true heart.
But that doesn't stop him from liking Yu Qin.
Xu Huaigu was thinking about these things when Yu Qin's timid voice came over: "Xu Huaigu, are you sleeping?"
Xu Huaigu felt funny in his heart and said, "I haven't slept yet."
Yu Qin shrank and said, "I always feel like something is rustling outside. Is there a ghost?"
Xu Huaigu listened carefully, but only heard the sound of wind blowing through the weeds.
He advised: "It's just the wind, there's no ghost. It's getting late, so go to bed quickly."
Yu Qin was silent for a while and then asked: "You said I am so useless that I am even afraid of ghosts, how can I still help my father to avenge me?"
Xu Huaigu felt uncomfortable when he thought of Yu An. He said: "Okay. The days are still long, and we will get revenge one day."
Yu Qin retracted her head into the quilt and secretly glanced at the beautiful bag of tips that Yu An gave her at the last moment, thinking a lot.
She tightened her grip and secretly made up her mind: One day, she would definitely kill Qi Wen.
…
The next day, Xu Huaigu walked upstream along a small canal in front of Grandma Qin's house, heading towards the palace of the emperor's relatives and dignitaries in the north.
Along the way, he could clearly feel the prosperity of Xingqing City. The sun has just risen in the morning, and the long street is already bustling with people. Some people carry poles and sell food such as wonton pancakes on the street, and some people gather together to watch the sideshows on the street. Occasionally, you can see rich children in rich clothes riding tall horses, shuttling among the crowd. Wherever they go, they will cause a stir. commotion.
A peaceful scene.
According to what Pingcui said casually yesterday, Xingqing City is celebrating an early summer festival called "Lingering Garden Festival" recently, which is very festive. Xu Huaigu secretly speculated that the fireworks he saw at the ferry that day should also be set off to celebrate this festival.
Originally, Xu Huaigu didn't have any big ideas about Molong. He just wanted to protect the people he liked. But now he suddenly felt that there were so many good places in the world like Xingqing City. It would be really terrible if they were destroyed like this. It's a bit of a pity.
But he couldn't change anything, so he didn't think about changing.
After asking several people for directions, he quickly figured out the location of the Princess Mansion and headed in that direction.
Emperor Lin Hongzhi of the Dayu Kingdom had a total of four princesses, two of whom were his own children, and the remaining two were the daughters of two powerful princes. Among the four princesses, the one with the highest status is Princess Cangyang, who met Xu Huaigu last time. She is Lin Hongzhi's biological eldest daughter. He came to the princess mansion this time to see her.
Although Xu Huaigu wanted to see the emperor Lin Hongzhi more, he also knew how difficult it was to see the emperor in his current capacity. The king of a country naturally has to take care of everything. If he can meet anyone, then what's the point?
So he had to first find Princess Cangyang, who was relatively easy to find, and inquire about Dayu's recent situation. If possible, he would ask her to introduce him to Lin Hongzhi.
In fact, Xu Huaigu felt very unsure when he came to see Princess Cangyang this time. After all, Princess Cangyang is also a princess, with a high status and attracts the attention of many people. Wanting to meet a strange man is always bad for reputation, so Xu Huaigu was really not sure whether he could meet her.
But I still have to give it a try after all.
The princess's mansion is located on the west side of the north of Xingqing City. It is very close to Guangrao Mountain on the side. The scenery is relatively beautiful and the environment is even more pleasant. Along the way, Xu Huaigu saw more and more tall and prosperous pavilions and buildings, and fewer and fewer people. However, their clothes became more and more gorgeous. Many people wore black gauze and brocade clothes with embroidery, and were followed by some family members. Servant, at first glance, it looks like a wealthy family.
This area in the northwest is not as lively as the streets of Xingqing City. It seems very deserted, but the security force has been strengthened a lot.
Xu Huaigu saw many guards wearing iron armor and holding spears and knives along the way. The guards looked at Xu Huaigu carefully when they saw him. After all, Xu Huaigu's clothes were not in line with the beauty of the people around him. Fortunately, Xu Huaigu was quite good-looking, otherwise he would have doubted whether the guards were going to take him down without any explanation. By myself.
When we arrived at the gate of the princess's mansion, a huge red lacquer door stood in front of us, with two huge stone lions on both sides. One raised its front paws as if to pounce out, while the other held its head high, its mane flying in all directions in the wind, making it come alive.
There is a plaque hanging on the princess's mansion, with three large cursive characters "Cangyang Mansion" written on it. It is quite imposing and has a strong calligraphy master's charm. It is just more empty than what Xu Huaigu saw on the west side of Huanghu that day. The "mountains and water cliffs" that are big but have no charm are much better.
This word was either written by a monk who was proficient in swordsmanship, or it was really written by a master of human calligraphy. Either way, it showed the strength and majesty of the princess mansion.
There were two guards with spears guarding both sides of the gate. They had been staring at Xu Huaigu since he arrived.
Xu Huaigu had something to ask for, so he could only lower his face and talk to one of the guards: "Brother, can you help me go in and talk to the princess? I want to see the princess."
The guard looked at him warily and replied: "Who are you? Does the princess know you?"
Xu Huaigu replied: "My name is Xu Huaigu. We have known each other before. I once had a relationship with the princess."
The guard was a little embarrassed and looked at the other guard, who shook his head.
So he replied: "Sorry, the princess has a lot of things to do recently and has not seen guests."
Xu Huaigu glanced at the guard who shook his head suspiciously, and asked: "I haven't told you why I'm looking for the princess. Do you know that the princess doesn't see me? What if the princess wants to see me? Can you please help me with the message?" .”
The guard still shook his head firmly: "No, the princess is very busy recently and won't see anyone. You'd better leave quickly."
Xu Huaigu hesitated for a while, feeling more and more that the guard's tone was too firm and seemed to be covering up something.
At this moment, the red lacquered door opened a small crack, and a woman in green palace clothes walked out with an impatient look on her face.
She said angrily: "Where does this wild boy come from? He also wants to see the princess? The princess has a lot of things to do recently, and she doesn't see anyone except very close people. What else are you looking at? Why don't you leave quickly?!"
The woman in green raised her arms impatiently, and her broad sleeves flew up, as if to drive him away.
Xu Huaigu's eyes flashed.
He confessed his crime, turned around and left.
The woman in green palace clothes still complained for a few words before walking back.
Xu Huaigu walked back to a tea shop on the street not far away, ordered a small portion of local green tea soup, and began to think about the next strategy.
He has mixed feelings.
Fortunately, Princess Cangyang is willing to see him, but what is worrying is that Princess Cangyang seems to be under surveillance and her actions are controlled. The atmosphere in the entire Xingqing royal family is not quite right.
Because he clearly saw the small bracelet of Princess Cangyang on her wrist the moment the woman in green palace clothes raised her sleeves.
That bracelet is Princess Cangyang's personal belongings. How could it be in the hands of a palace maid?
Xu Huaigu felt that things were not simple.
