"Master, what happened?" Xiang Lian'er asked in confusion.
Liu Zhiyun wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and said: "Since Lingyue Pavilion was merged into Xiushanfang, the number of disciples in the workshop has been several times greater than before. Although it is now the largest gang in Nanhuai,... the funds in the workshop are already running low. . In the past, the disciples of Xiu Shanfang went out to treat diseases and were quite self-sufficient. But now that Lingyue Pavilion has been merged, the disciples in the pavilion used to only practice martial arts and work hard for the Nanhuai family in exchange for money and food. Now, although they practice medicine, But it’s far from the point where you can go out to practice medicine…”
Shanlian'er held her breath, waiting for the master to continue.
"Nanhuai has now been merged into the imperial court. Although the aristocratic families are still alive, they are no longer fighting... Granny Wang from Xiufanfang just came to me and mentioned that the funds in this factory are tight..." Liu Zhiyun couldn't continue, Ling Although Yue Pavilion and Xiu Shan Fang were in the same place, Li Hongying did not make things difficult, but other people in Xiu Shan Fang didn't see it that way. With so many mouths waiting for food every day, there was naturally a lot of gossip.
Xiang Lian'er understood: "Master, do you want me to marry Li Dingxing so that we can use the remaining power of the Li family in Nanhuai to support Xiu Shanfang?"
Liu Zhiyun was exposed by his disciple in person, and his face turned red: "Master has no choice... Women's families cannot do business and cannot be engaged in politics... Master really doesn't know how to face the two factions of disciples from Xiu Shanfang and Lingyue Pavilion..."
Xiang Lian'er clenched the sword in her hand. Her original intention in learning martial arts was not to rely on the protection of Yi Xiaodao. She could travel around the world with the three-foot green blade in her hand. But now...she has to marry for the sake of the sect, and her master came to pray for her. This made her Don't know what to do with yourself.
"My teacher also knows that this is too difficult for you. Even if you don't enter Xiu Fanfang, Master Yi can protect you all your life... It's because my teacher is confused..." Liu Zhiyun didn't dare to face Xiang Lian'er again, and stood up to leave. .
Xiang Lian'er grabbed Liu Zhiyun and said with a forced smile: "What Master said is heretical. I have indeed reached the age of marriage. What's more, if this can really help Xiu Shanfang and solve the difficulties of Lingyue Pavilion, then It couldn't be better. This Li Dingxing is my sworn brother...Yi Xiaodao helped me pick it. Can't I still trust him? Hahaha, Master, don't worry too much. I've been waiting for Master to bring this matter to me. Otherwise, I, a girl, would be too embarrassed to go find someone else."
Liu Zhiyun didn't expect Xiang Lian'er to be willing. Looking at Xiang Lian'er's small face with a bright smile, he hurriedly said: "Okay... okay... Since Lian'er agrees, I will go to Mr. Li to discuss it. You must do it" Don’t force yourself!”
Xiang Lian'er shook her head and said: "Master, don't force me. Go ahead and I'll practice for a while~" Xiang Lian'er, He Yue'er, and Yi Xiaodao were together for a long time. The three of them walked all the way from Wancheng to the capital, and they met again. Yi Xiaodao walked from the capital to Nanhuai, and he had learned 70% to 80% of this deception skill. Even though Liu Zhiyun was an old man in the world, he didn't see any clues.
Liu Zhiyun looked back at Xiang Lian'er three times step by step. Seeing that Xiang Lian'er's smile did not change, he felt relieved and left the practice room.
When Xiang Lian'er saw Liu Zhiyun leaving, her smile slowly faded away. She put away her sword and sat on the stool. She said to herself: "Yi Xiaodao, did you arrange this secretly..."
Sioux City, Li Mansion.
The majestic Nanhuai Prince's Palace in the past is still there, still elegant and majestic under the sunset, but the plaque of "Nanhuai Prince's Palace" has long been removed and replaced by the simple and rustic "Li's Palace". Apart from the servants, Li Dingxing was the only one left in the mansion.
Li Dingxing had just finished his day's work, coordinating food and grass, and checking recruitment. At this time, he was free and sat in the pavilion by the pool in the courtyard, looking at the old rocking chair placed in the center of the pavilion. There was a long silence.
"Master, someone from Xiushanfang is here to see you." The former housekeeper also changed his words, and instead of calling the second young master, he became the master.
Li Dingxing came to his senses, stood up and said, "What is Xiu Shanfang doing here? Please come in."
After the housekeeper left for a moment, a dashing woman followed the housekeeper to the palace. When Li Dingxing saw the woman coming in, she looked at him without saying a word. To reassure himself, he waved to the housekeeper to leave.
"Senior Sister Xiu Shanfang, I'm sorry, but why are you here at Li's house?" Li Dingxing began with a very polite tone.
The visitor was none other than Gao Cui, who had met Li Dingxing once in Hangzhou. Gao Cui remembered, but Li Dingxing had forgotten.
"Mr. Zhongyi, my little girl Gao Cui, you are so polite." Gao Cui clasped his hands in his fists, showing off his martial demeanor. "My daughter, on the orders of her mentor Liu Zhiyun, came here to discuss marriage with Duke Zhongyi."
Li Dingxing was confused: "Marriage...marriage? Who is marrying whom?"
"Master Yi's foster sister, Xiang Lian'er, is now a disciple of Xiu Shanfang." Gao Cui nodded.
Only then did Li Dingxing realize: "This matter... was a joke between Mr. Yi and my father..."
Seeing that there was no one around, Gao Cui gritted his teeth and knelt down on one knee: "Second Young Master! It was indeed my fault at Ling Yue Pavilion in the past. I helped the emperor do evil and did a lot of things for the big families in Nanhuai. I had no choice but to do it now. Things have reached this point today. Due to the situation, I had no face to see the Second Young Master again. But now I am living under someone else's roof. Please show mercy to the Second Young Master and help solve Xiu Fanfang's predicament!"
Li Dingxing was filled with emotion when he saw Gao Cui kneeling on his knees. In his heart, even if there was some resentment in the past, it all disappeared with the withdrawal of the Nanhuai vassal. Now, when people come to apologize and even kneel down to plead, he is full of regret.
"Get up. There's no need to mention the past. How do you want me to help you?" Li Dingxing adhered to the etiquette of men and women and stretched out his hand to help.
Gao Cui stood up, looked at Li Dingxing and said: "Xiang Lian'er is now my master's disciple. Her status in the family is not low. She does not insult the second young master. She is also Lord Yi's sworn sister. Lord Yi once had a close relationship with him." The old King of Nanhuai has negotiated the marriage between the second young master and Xiang Lian'er. I came here today in the hope that the two families will get married and become friends forever... In the future, the second young master will be destined, and Xiu Shanfang is bound to do so! Furthermore..."
"But it doesn't matter."
"After the merger of Ling Yue Pavilion and Xiu Shanfang, the number of disciples in the workshop has increased dramatically. Now Xiu Shanfang's income can no longer make ends meet. I hope that the second young master... can help." Gao Cui was always straightforward and bold, but at this time it was a bit difficult to say.
Li Dingxing said: "Senior Sister Gao will stay in the mansion for one night first. I will give you an answer tomorrow. It won't be too late for you to reply again."
Gao Cui nodded and said: "Okay, the second young master is also a happy person, so I'll excuse you for disturbing me."
Li Dingxing called the housekeeper, took Gao Cui to the guest room to rest, and then sat back by the pool: "Xiang Lian'er..."
Speaking of Xiang Lian'er, Li Dingxing is no stranger. On the moonlit night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, when Yi Xiaodao and the three of them were admiring the moon on a cruise ship in Sioux City, Yi Xiaodao and Xiang Lian'er destroyed the ship and took him to escape for fear of being punished. Later, half of the people in Sioux City thought that the second son of Nanhuai had been kidnapped by thieves. , the whole city was in turmoil, and many people spontaneously came to Nanhuai Prince's Mansion for the funeral the next day.
Thinking of that night, Li Dingxing couldn't help but smile. Xiang Lian'er caressed his forehead on the cruise ship. To this day, Li Dingxing still remembers it fresh.
The housekeeper settled Gao Cui and returned: "Master, are you here to ask for money?"
"Ha...Uncle Zhang, nothing can be hidden from your eyes." Li Dingxing smiled.
The butler raised his eyebrows, then remembered that now was not the time to be proud, and frowned again: "Master, didn't you say that the last money left in the house... should be left to Mr. Yi... Old man, I am too talkative, but it is for Mr. Yi. Yes, Mr. Yi is at the height of his power in the court. After marrying him, the Li family will not be defeated no matter what. But it would be a good thing to marry Mr. Yi's goddaughter, but I don't know that Mr. Yi values more money. At the end of the day, I should value his godmother more..."
Li Dingxing listened to the butler's chatter and said with a smile: "Uncle Zhang, don't worry about it. I have my own opinion."
The housekeeper looked at Li Dingxing's calm look and nodded repeatedly; "It's good to have opinions, it's good to have opinions... The second young master is becoming more and more like the master when he was young... The Li family is still richer and richer... "The housekeeper babbled, bowed and left, leaving Li Dingxing alone in the pavilion.
A gentle evening breeze blew by, and Li Dingxing seemed to be back on the Mid-Autumn Festival night. The three of them were on the roof, drinking wine and admiring the moon, but this gust of wind brought more coolness.
"Country? What kind of country do you want? You want a beauty~"
Xiang Lian'er's words echoed in Li Dingxing's mind and could not be forgotten for a long time.
"Forget it, why are you thinking so much about useless things? It's the lesser of two powers that harm each other. Maybe Xiu Shanfang really needs this money now..." Li Dingxing stood by the pool, having made up his mind.
The next day, Gao Cui set off in a hurry, and returned to Hangzhou a few days later. He eagerly reported the good news to Liu Zhiyun: "Loyal Lord Li Dingxing has agreed to the marriage!"
Liu Zhiyun was also so happy that he forgot to pretend for a moment and limped to find Xiang Lian'er: "Lian'er, Li Dingxing has agreed to the marriage, do you think?"
Xiang Lian'er smiled and said, "Hey, that's great. Once I am a master, I will always be a father. Please ask Master to help me choose an auspicious day!"
Liu Zhiyun limped out of the workshop again and went out to find someone to settle the day.
Within a few days, Li Dingxing's wedding team arrived in Hangzhou. Along with it, there were more than a dozen boxes of gold and silver, which shocked everyone in the village.
"This... this second young master is too impatient. I originally planned a good day next year..." Liu Zhiyun said, and a big stone settled in his heart. These gold and silver are enough for the family to survive. During this time, the disciples of Lingyue Pavilion also practiced medical skills, and the financial problem in the workshop was solved. More importantly, from now on, she, Liu Zhiyun, could also face all the disciples in the workshop.
"Master, get ready quickly, the betrothal gifts have been sent." Gao Cui said from the side.
Liu Zhiyun nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes. Get ready, get ready."
Xiufanfang was organized together, with lanterns and colorful decorations, and banquets. It was very lively. Gangs and merchants of all sizes in Nanhuai sent people to congratulate them. Xiufanfang was very lively for a while.
Because Li Dingxing was in a hurry to deliver the betrothal gift, Xiu Shanfang did not dare to neglect it. The banquet that was supposed to last for three days was reduced to one day. People from all walks of life took their leave after eating and drinking, and the day to see off the bride was coming soon.
The night before sending off his bride, Liu Zhiyun limped to the practice room. As expected, Xiang Lian'er was alone, wearing practice clothes, still practicing hard on the sword inside.
"I knew you were here...exactly the same as when I was young..." Liu Zhiyun smiled.
Xiang Lian'er turned around and saw Liu Zhiyun coming, and quickly stepped forward to help: "Master, if you have something to do, send someone to tell me, and I will go. Why don't you come in person?"
Liu Zhiyun looked at Xiang Lian'er and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead: "I'm here to give you a big gift. It's your disciple's wedding. How can a master do without a gift..."
