Gu Qi was startled and placed her hands on her chest, her strong heartbeat reaching through her thin shirt.
Why, are you jumping faster and faster?
Perhaps agitation was contagious, Gu Qi felt his heart rate speed up, his lips were slightly open, and he was breathing lightly.
"Pei Qihuan..."
The deep and melancholy voice was completely different from his usual voice that was as cold as an ice cellar. This call made the person feel numb all over and had goosebumps on his skin! Gu Qi endured her anxiety and slowly clenched her hands against her chest into fists, using a little more strength to keep some distance away from him.
"Your Highness!" Gu Qi folded his hands, pushed forward, and bent down: "I am guilty!"
After saying that, he took out the dagger from his waist and presented it with both hands: "This dagger is a gift from a friend. Because I rushed to the capital and feared the dangerous journey, I gave it to myself for self-defense. If Your Highness likes it, I will lend you flowers to offer to the Buddha. It is also this dagger that has been blessed." .”
Yuan Zhe picked up the dagger and swiped his thumb over the engravings on the sheath: "This dagger is extremely sharp, and even the engravings on the sheath are carefully carved. I think it took a lot of effort. I wonder who this friend is?"
"Xi Yao!" For some reason, such a name came to mind. I was just making nonsense in a moment of impatience, but I didn't expect Yuan Zhe to ask his name seriously. While blurting out, he also flashed his tongue. Gu Qi felt guilty and said in a very soft voice: "Li Xiyao, I was my childhood playmate."
Still no response.
Gu Qi's heart was pounding, and she felt a cold light coming from the top of her head, making her scalp numb.
"Ha, no wonder." Yuan Zhe raised his finger and turned the dagger twice, and said with a smile: "Since it is a gift from a friend, how can I, the king, give up my love? Get up, sit down and talk."
Gu Qi stood up and the dagger fell into his hand again.
"Jiang Mingchuan, what did I tell you?"
Hearing Yuan Zhe's voice, before he could sit down, he hurriedly greeted him and answered: "Your Highness, when I was checking the list, I found that the three batches of Tuzhou women were going in different directions. I couldn't figure it out, so I had to look for Jiang Mingchuan. , before I could ask anything, he... died."
"Oh? It's my fault for being so troublesome."
"Your Highness, forgive me!" Gu Qi hurriedly knelt down and showed respect: "Your Highness said this, which makes me feel ashamed! I am useless and was held hostage by Jiang Mingchuan, causing Your Highness to get his hands dirty."
"sit."
Gu Qi's eyes flashed with cunning, and he stood up slowly while holding on to the armchair, pretending to be trembling and sitting down.
As expected, when Yuan Zhe saw his frightened appearance, he couldn't bear to scold him. He just frowned, rubbed the round jade around his waist with one hand, and sighed.
"If Jiang Mingchuan dies, I'm afraid it will be difficult for His Majesty to explain."
Yuan Zhe glanced at Gu Qi and said forcefully: "There is nothing to explain, I just killed the beast."
"Your Highness, have you ever carefully looked at the abduction list found in the pawn shop?"
Yuan Zhe looked at Gu Qi, shook his head, and frowned again unconsciously.
Gu Qi took out three small green and red fruits from the plate and placed them on the small square table in front of him: "Fifteen years ago, all the women trafficked from Tuzhou came to the capital, Laozhou and Zezhou."
He raised his eyes slightly and saw that Yuan Zhe was concentrating on the small fruits he had placed. Gu Qi smiled slightly, took out two more small fruits, and put one down gently: "Seven years ago, many women were scattered in Qingzhou. Your Highness, what did you find?"
"Someone is making a move."
Gu Qi nodded and placed the last small fruit in his hand next to the previous one: "Most of the women from three years ago stayed in Qingzhou, and a small number dispersed to Yun Country."
Yuan Zhe stared at the fruits on the table and snorted: "Child's trick."
"Your Highness, seven years ago, Jiang Mingchuan was only six or seven years old. This trafficking line was obviously not his."
"There is no way he is Jiang Mingchuan's father."
Gu Qi paused and laughed: "As expected of His Highness. No matter whose line it was, it fell into Jiang Mingchuan's hands three years ago and was placed in Qingzhou for the purpose of consolidating his power. So what would happen if he was put in the Yun Kingdom? Your Highness knows the purpose better than I do."
Yuan Zhe was seen clenching a fist with one hand, his sword eyebrows were furrowed, his eye sockets were sunken, and there were invisible emotions hidden in his bright eyes.
After a long while, he softly uttered: "It shouldn't be like this."
"Your Majesty protects Jiang Mingchuan. In fact, you want to protect this line. This line may help the frontline war, but it will hurt the foundation of the country." Gu Qi stood up, with a solemn face, and bowed slightly to Yuanzhe: " I, on behalf of the people of Tuzhou and even the people of Lan Country, thank you, Your Highness!"
Yuan Zhe closed his eyes, but could not hide the sadness in his heart.
This nephew has gone astray after all.
If one day we go the other way...
Yuan Zhe pinched his forehead and his doubts disappeared. When he opened his eyes again, he was filled with determination and hope.
"Pei Qihuan, are you speaking for His Majesty or for me?"
Gu Qizhan smiled: "Your Highness, in fact, many times, it is not necessary to distinguish so clearly."
"Okay." Yuan Zhe stood up and patted Gu Qi on the shoulder: "I, thank you."
"Sneeze!" Gu Qi rubbed her sore nose, raised her head to meet Yuan Zhe's clear gaze, and laughed innocently.
In the remaining two days, Xie Ruoling and Rong Di rushed to various wealthy houses, scattered a lot of money, and redeemed a few women. If the concubine or the head of the family did not agree, or she was unwilling, she took out her belongings, attached a letter, and asked Rong Di to take it back to Tuzhou. There were more than twenty people together, and the three large carriages were filled to the brim.
At dawn, the sun emerged from the east and hit the Qingzhou city wall.
Gu Qi rubbed his sleepy eyes, stood in front of the general's mansion and yawned.
"Your Highness, sir, take care of yourself along the way."
Gu Qi smiled and returned the greeting: "General Rong, take care."
After saying that, he bowed slightly to Xie Ruoling beside him: "Xie Ling, I will leave the matter of Xun Tuzhou woman to you."
"Don't worry, Mr. Pei!" Xie Ruoling agreed with a smile, with bright eyes and white teeth, and an upright posture. If he was really a man, he would be able to charm many women. Unfortunately, all those soft eyes fell on Yan Churong, who was silent at the side.
"Rong Di, the Qingzhou Pass is very important. If there is any change, please inform me as soon as possible."
"Your Highness, don't worry!"
The three of them got into the car one after another. The driver sat in front of the car and waved his whip, shouting "Drive!"
The horse shook its head and changed from riding to running. The bell on its neck made a crisp sound, which seemed to be the beautiful music to welcome the rising sun.
Thinking of being able to bring so many women back to Tuzhou, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep all night. I didn't feel sleepy until the candles burned out and the sky gradually became clear. The carriage was like a cradle at the moment, and Gu Qi felt his eyelids were heavy and he was drowsy.
He tilted his body and woke up instantly!
Gu Qiqiao looked at Yuan Zhe beside her, shocked, but fortunately she didn't lean on him, so it wasn't rude.
Yan Churong pursed his lips and smiled, helplessly shaking his head. Quietly, he moved to Gu Qi's side and tapped Gu Qi's knee with his leg.
Gu Qi turned her head, raised her neck and lightly stuck out her pink tongue and snickered.
Yan Churong turned his back, Gu Qi closed his eyes and wanted to push his head over.
But he was stopped by a big hand!
"Your Highness...Your Highness."
Yuan Zhe looked solemn and pulled Gu Qi over!
"Why, my shoulders are not broad enough?"
"Ahem..." Gu Qi suddenly choked, saliva stuck in his throat, and he started coughing!
A touch of sadness appeared on Yan Churong's indifferent face.
Yuan Zhe pulled Gu Qi's head and put it on his shoulder. Then he turned his head, his ears turning slightly red.
Gu Qi held her neck tightly and did not dare to move. How could she still sleep?
I had to close my eyes and pretend to sleep.
The carriage creaked and creaked, and after a while, sleepiness came over me. Gu Qi's head felt dizzy and he snored softly without realizing it.
Yan Churong's heart was on fire and he couldn't sit comfortably no matter how hard he sat. Simply turn your head, lift a corner of the curtain and peek out.
The bright sunshine shone on the carriage, making it even hotter.
Gu Qi smacked her lips and it was already noon when she opened her eyes.
"It's getting warmer today."
Yan Churong turned around and saw that Gu Qi had straightened up and sat down firmly. His words were sour: "Master Pei slept until noon. I think I won't be able to sleep at night."
"Hehe," Gu Qi scratched his head, grabbed the water bag and took a few sips: "It's a good night, I'll be on duty."
After resting for more than half a month and having a quick bite, everyone got on the carriage again until nightfall, when they set up tents to rest.
Thinking of the inconvenience caused by the large number of people, I brought a few extra tents from the General's Mansion. Yuan Zhe had a distinguished status, so he had to use one tent alone, but Gu Qi and Yan Churong were not allowed to share the same tent, so they had to use one tent each. The girls were slightly crowded, so five people had one tent. Gu Qi slept too much during the day and was not sleepy at all at night, so he stayed on duty for the coachman for the first half of the night. The coachman was sleeping against the door and his clothes, and soon he started snoring.
The bright moonlight shone on the ground. Gu Qi raised his head. The dark night sky was full of stars.
"It seems that the weather will be good tomorrow." After muttering to himself, he picked up the branches at his feet and added them to the fire, making a crackling sound.
"grown ups."
A timid voice came from behind. Gu Qi turned around and saw that it was Zhang Xiaolan.
Gu Qi grinned and said, "Why, can't you sleep?"
Zhang Xiaolan walked up to Gu Qi in small steps, gathered up her courage, threw herself on Gu Qi, and put her arms around Gu Qi's neck!
Gu Qi was shocked and pulled her away!
"what are you doing?"
Zhang Xiaolan fell to the ground and muttered: "Sisters said that adults like me."
Gu Qi frowned and glanced at the girls' tent impatiently: "They misunderstood. I do like you, but no, not that kind of like."
"Sir, I don't understand this." Zhang Xiaolan stood up and stood there picking her hands, her head lowered very low: "Sisters said that if I follow you, I will have no worries about food and drink in this life, and I will not be looked down upon by others. Sir , I, I don’t know anything, but I can learn, if you are willing..."
"No, Miss Xiaolan!" Seeing Zhang Xiaolan unbuttoning her clothes, Gu Qi rushed over and grabbed her belt tightly!
"Sir, it's Xiaolan. Doesn't it suit your taste?"
Looking at Zhang Xiaolan's confused eyes, Gu Qi felt heartbroken.
How many innocent women like Zhang Xiaolan came out of Tuzhou. She was abducted and sold to Hongxiu Tower in Qingzhou, where she was sold as a concubine, a slave, and even... an official prostitute.
"Miss Xiaolan," Gu Qi raised her hand, gently tightened her belt, and pulled her to sit down: "I like you, not because of male love and female love, but because I love you as a sister. You are still young, don't You have to listen to the lies of those sisters. Only when you find someone you really like can you trust them with your heart."
Zhang Xiaolan looked up at Gu Qi and responded seriously: "Sir, Xiaolan likes you."
"Silly girl, you don't know what liking is." Gu Qi raised her hand and stroked Zhang Xiaolan's head, smiling with crooked eyebrows: "Why don't I accept you as my adopted sister, and when I return to Tuzhou, I will find a home for you. A good marriage?"
Under the moonlight, Zhang Xiaolan's eyes were bright, and she couldn't help but show admiration as she looked at Gu Qishi. But she didn't understand what love was, she could only feel the little heart in her chest beating vigorously, like a stumbling deer, constantly looking for a way out.
"Sir, you are so beautiful."
"Haha, is that so?" Gu Qi smiled and poked Zhang Xiaolan's cheek: "Xiaolan is pretty too."
Zhang Xiaolan lowered her head, her face turned red.
