Gu Qi turned around and looked at the man's back. He was wearing coarse clothes, his back was covered with patches, his pants were too short, and his shoes were so rotten that they almost fell off while running.
"My lords, please take a seat in the room."
Hearing Zhou Hu's voice, Gu Qi turned around and saw that Xue Peilin had already walked towards the rice vat.
Xue Peilin looked at the rice vat and said in shock: "What is going on!"
Gu Qi didn't know why, so he came over and took a look. There were only two handfuls of brown rice left in the jar. Rather than rice, it would be more appropriate to call it rice bran. There were barely a few grains of rice visible, and it was all skin.
Zhou Hu rubbed his hands nervously: "I really can't help you. The polished rice distributed by the court is really difficult to solve the plight of the people. It's better to replace the polished rice with more brown rice and rice bran. As long as the people can fill their stomachs, they can eat anything." it's the same."
Yang Yi next to him nodded lightly: "That's good. In the darkest time, it's a nightmare to think about changing children and eating them."
After a period of silence, Xue Peilin raised his head, tears flowing down the gully on his face to his mouth.
"Everything will get better when His Majesty's decree comes down." Gu Qi took out the sweater and handed it to Xue Peilin, comforting her softly.
Yang Sheng came over with a smile and said, "Master Pei, is your Majesty going to release grain?"
Yang Yi glared at his younger brother from the side and looked up at Gu Qi, his eyes full of expectation.
Gu Qi grinned: "Maybe."
When the few strong men behind him heard the answer, they started talking, causing a commotion.
Zhou Hu lowered his head and wiped the corners of his eyes, then raised his head with a pleased smile.
We stayed for a while at Zhou Hu's mansion, and it was almost dusk when we returned to the governor's mansion.
Feng Rui hasn't come back yet.
The maid in the house prepared dinner and carried it to the wing in accordance with Ling Qi's instructions.
There were only Gu Qi and Xue Peilin in the house, and a few hot dishes that were delicious, tasty, and delicious seemed like a huge irony to Gu Qi.
Xue Peilin picked up the shrimp in front of him and said, "I really agree with the saying 'the rich wine and meat smells bad, and there are frozen bones on the road'."
Gu Qi poured warm wine for him: "Now is not the time to lament. Mr. Xue, in the next few days, I will find a way to meet Brother Zhao outside the city. You need to help me cover. Let's go out to investigate together, and also We have to come back together."
Xue Peilin put away his sad look and said seriously: "Okay. I will be waiting for you at the mountain stream of Yingshan Mountain these days, no matter how late. Go out together and come back together."
It was night, and Xue Peilin went back to rest early.
Gu Qi sat at the table and read a book.
I heard a knock on the door: "Master Pei, Doctor Yan wants to see you."
Gu Qi didn't move, just shouted: "Come in."
The boy opened the door from the outside, and Yan Churong walked in carrying the medicine box.
"You should step back first." Gu Qichong responded to the boy at the door, and he nodded and left.
Yan Churong closed the door and stood stunned at the door for a while before walking over.
"But is there any news?" Gu Qi poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Yan Churong.
Yan Churong sat down without drinking tea: "At noon tomorrow, we will set up an ambush eighty miles outside the city."
next day
Gu Qi got up early, put on close-fitting clothes, put the dagger on his waist, and put on a loose coat.
Sitting with Xue Peilin and eating something simple.
It's strange that Feng Rui has not been seen since last night.
That's all, Feng Rui is not the focus right now.
Gu Qi glanced at Xue Peilin, who was immersed in drinking porridge.
After a while, he straightened up and wiped his mouth: "Master Pei, I've finished eating."
Gu Qi also picked up the handkerchief on the table and wiped his mouth and said, "Then let's set off."
He got on the carriage and left the governor's mansion.
Gu Qi raised her hand, lifted a corner of the curtain and looked out. The alley was empty and no one was following her.
"Master Xue."
Xue Peilin shouted outside: "Stop at the corner ahead."
The carriage turned into another road and stopped at the corner.
Gu Qi got up and got out of the car, and heard Xue Peilin say in the car: "Let's go."
The carriage creaked and moved on.
Gu Qi took off his outer shirt and simply tied it around his waist.
He jumped up to the roof, jumped down after passing the governor's mansion, and walked quickly towards the city gate.
Yan Churong led the horse and stood at the city gate. Seeing Gu Qilai, he handed the horse's rein over: "Actually, you don't need to go."
Gu Qi raised her hand to stroke the horse's back and looked outside the city: "I'm a little flustered. Don't worry, I won't take action rashly."
Yan Churong stopped talking, Gu Qi got on his horse and headed straight out of the city.
He tied the horse deep in the bamboo forest and walked forward for three or four miles.
Although there are no tall shrubs here, there are many abandoned houses standing in the sparse bamboo forest.
I heard a bird call, which was Han Zizheng's whistle.
Looking to the left, squinting slightly, Han Zizheng stood in front of the low earthen house, dressed in black, and waved to Gu Qi.
Gu Qi understood and ran to the opposite side of Han Zizheng, lying in ambush on the other side of the road.
After waiting for more than an hour, no one came.
Suddenly, I felt very flustered.
Gu Qi took a few deep breaths to ease her nervousness.
Hearing the sound of horse hooves in the distance, Gu Qi became alert and looked at Han Zizheng opposite.
Han Zizheng raised his hand and covered the lower half of his face with a black cloth, half-crouching and hiding behind a low earth wall, with only one eye exposed.
The sound of horse hooves was getting closer and closer, Gu Qi's heartbeat was getting faster and faster, and her palms began to sweat.
until! He appears in front of you!
This is not Rong Di! It’s——Yuan Zhe!
Gu Qi opened his mouth in surprise, and then a flying arrow rushed out.
Yuan Zhe was unable to dodge and was directly stabbed in the arm by a flying arrow, causing him to fall off his horse.
At this time, Han Zizheng had raised his sword and jumped into the air, striking directly at Yuan Zhe's head!
Yuan Zhe quickly rolled to the side, stood up and drew his sword: "Who are you?"
Han Zizheng stood there and said calmly: "The person who takes your life."
"Then do you know who I am?"
Han Zizheng stared at Yuan Zhe and said coldly: "No matter who it is."
Then Han Zizheng attacked again, and Yuan Zhe had to endure the pain and fight hard to resist.
Yuan Zhe was injured, but he did not let Han Zizheng gain the upper hand.
During the fight, Yuan Zhe seemed to dodge intentionally, trying to figure out Han Zizheng's martial arts skills.
After several rounds, there were very few head-to-head confrontations. Han Zizheng kept chasing Yuan Zhe, but Yuan Zhe did not suffer any damage. Han Zizheng's patience was almost exhausted.
The two have fought before. If Yuanzhe recognizes Han Zizheng, the consequences will be disastrous!
Gu Qi swallowed, and while the two men were fighting fiercely, she got into the bamboo forest and ran back.
He ran to the place where the horse was tied, put on the coat tied around his waist, and rode towards Yuan Zhe!
Returning to the place where they were fighting, Gu Qi raised his riding whip and shouted loudly: "Who are you?"
The two people looked at Gu Qi one after another. Han Zizheng didn't expect Gu Qi to rush out and was a little distracted.
Yuan Zhe took this opportunity and stepped forward to give Han Zizheng a palm. Han Zizheng took the force and stepped back ten feet.
Gu Qi dismounted, took out the dagger and hid it in his sleeve, and ran towards Yuan Zhe: "Don't be afraid, Your Highness! I'm here to protect you!"
Yuan Zhe had no idea that he was here to assassinate him!
As expected, Yuan Zhe ran towards Gu Qi, shouting: "Hurry up!"
At the same time, Yuan Zhe took something out of his arms and threw it at Gu Qi.
Without catching it, the cloth bag fell to the ground.
What was wrapped in cloth was a thick book. Why did this book look so familiar?
This, isn't this Pei Qihuan's theory on water control?
Just as he was stunned, Yuan Zhe ran over and bent down to pick it up.
And Han Zizheng's sword was already thrusting towards him.
It was too late to say it, but it was too soon. Gu Qi didn't have time to think too much. As if subconsciously, she grabbed Yuan Zhe forcefully and turned around to block him!
There was a stinging pain in his shoulder. Fortunately, Han Zizheng stopped his hand in time and the sword did not penetrate deeply.
Gu Qi took a breath and suddenly felt the pain getting worse!
The sword was drawn out, the footsteps behind him disappeared little by little, and Han Zizheng left.
The pain made me breathless, and I was afraid that Yuan Zhe would be suspicious, so I had to close my eyes and fall into his arms.
"Pei Qihuan? Pei Qihuan!"
Yuan Zhe called twice and saw that the person in his arms was no longer moving. He picked Gu Qi up on his horse and ran straight to the city gate.
"Zhe...His Royal Highness King Zhe?" Yan Churong stood at the gate of the city and was surprised when he saw Yuan Zhe.
When the soldiers guarding the city saw Yuan Zhe, they all knelt down and worshiped him.
Yuan Zhe's voice came from overhead: "Doctor Yan?"
Gu Qi opened her eyes slightly and met Yan Churong's concerned eyes.
Yan Churong pointed at Gu Qi and said, "What's going on?"
Yuan Zhe put one hand around Gu Qi's waist and said urgently: "Go to the Governor's Mansion first!"
When they arrived at the Governor's Mansion, Yuan Zhe held Gu Qi in his arms and, led by Yan Churong, went straight into the side room.
"Your Highness, please put him on the bed and let the common people see him."
Yuan Zhe helped Gu Qi to the bedside and sat down: "He has an injury on his back, so he probably shouldn't lie down."
Yan Churong squatted down to take a pulse, raised his head and said to Yuan Zhe: "Your Highness, Mr. Pei's pulse is weak and he is fainting now. He may have lost too much blood and needs to stop the bleeding as soon as possible."
Although he was still awake, he almost laughed when he heard Yan Churong's threatening words.
Yuan Zhe's voice came from overhead again: "Okay, I will help you."
After saying that, a big hand grabbed Gu Qi's clothes and tried to pull it down.
How can this work!
Gu Qi buried her head and pressed her clothes tightly with her chin!
Fortunately, Yan Churong had quick hands and eyes, and quickly grabbed Gu Qi's clothes: "Your Highness, you can't pull like this, it's easy to get hurt. You can go and rest first, it's enough for the common people alone."
Yuan Zhe was stunned for a moment, then slowly let go of his hand: "Okay, I'll go see Feng Rui first and come back later."
The servant led Yuan Zhe out of the room, and the room suddenly became much quieter.
"How did it hurt?"
Hearing Yan Churong's voice, Gu Qi raised his head slightly and forced a smile: "It's a long story. Doctor Yan, please help me quickly. My back hurts badly."
Yan Churong sighed, helped Gu Qi lie down, and gently opened his clothes. The exposed areas felt a little cold.
"Did Han Zizheng do it?" Yan Churong's voice was filled with anger.
Gu Qi endured the pain on her shoulder and gritted her teeth: "I was not careful."
Yan Churong snorted and stopped talking.
Clean the wound, apply ointment and wrap it with gauze.
Gu Qi knew that he had already taken care of it.
Yan Churong pulled his clothes up again, covering Gu Qi's shoulders.
"Let's take a rest."
The door creaked open and closed again quietly.
The room was quiet, Gu Qi's head was dizzy, and his eyelids started to fight...
