In the early morning of the same day, Bai Yi got up early. After freshening up, he put on his veil and went directly out of the gate of Fang Mansion.
Following the location in my memory, I came to a cloth shop in the east of the city.
Bai Yi stood at the door of the cloth shop and looked at the huge plaque above his head, which read the four characters "Qian wins the cloth shop".
Walked straight in.
As soon as I got to the counter, I asked the waiter: "Do you have any high-quality white cloth? It's one foot wide and nine feet long."
The boy was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then raised his head and saw a veiled woman. His expression changed: "Yes! But the price is not cheap. It's three strings and three hundred coins in total. I wonder if you can accept it?"
"Hmm... It's a bit expensive. Can I add 75 Wen to the three guans?"
The boy's expression was shocked, then returned to normal, and said with a smile: "I'm going to ask our shopkeeper about this. The cloth is also in the back warehouse, why don't you go and take a look together?"
"good."
The two of them came to the backyard of Buhang. The boy led Bai Yi into a side room and then closed the door and went out.
Not long after, an old man with luxurious clothes and a white face came in. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Bai Yi standing with his hands behind his back.
He asked aloud: "May I ask who the girl is...?"
Bai Yi took off her veil and slowly turned back, smiling: "Eunuch Qian, long time no see."
Qian Desheng was surprised when he heard this. He quickly knelt down and said, "Old slave! I have met the third princess!"
"I heard that you were missing a few days ago. This old slave was in a panic and didn't know what to do. He kept sending people around Jianjiang Mansion to look for you, but he never found you. I didn't expect you to arrive in the capital!"
Bai Yi sighed after hearing this: "Thank you for your hard work, get up. I was lucky. I was rescued on the way, and I made it all the way to the capital."
"What's the situation in Jianjiang's old department now?"
Qian Desheng stood up and said dejectedly: "The situation is not very good. I heard that our secret stronghold in Jianjiang was inexplicably washed away by the flood due to a vision from the sky. As a result, many new recruits felt that destiny was in the scene. So...all of them left the religion."
"Many elderly people in the church also died in the floods. Officers and soldiers in Dajing have also stepped up inspections. The situation is really difficult now."
"So now there are very few news exchanges between Lao Nu and Jianjiang..."
Bai Yi smiled bitterly, and couldn't help but feel Fang Zheng's mean smile in his heart.
"Your Highness, do you have anything to tell me this time?"
Bai Yi took out the invitation letter and handed it over: "Three days later, there will be a poetry debate on Quzuo Lake. There will be a gathering of dignitaries, and Zhang Chang, the son of the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, will also be present. Do you have any reliable candidates here? Send someone to the boat."
"Making friends with these people, especially Zhang Chang, may be of great use in the future."
Qian Desheng pondered for a while and said: "Yes! Shui Ange, the second son of Prince Ning's Mansion, has been in the capital. He now uses the pseudonym Ning Hongyuan and has been walking around the city and made friends with many literati and elegant guests."
"But... he may not have been here for a long time, so I don't know his specific situation."
Qian Desheng showed a worried look: "Your Royal Highness, you are now the only bloodline of the royal family. During the period of your disappearance, people in the church were panicked. The old slave was afraid... I was afraid... But now that you are back, everything will be over." It’s all good, I’ll send someone to spread the news right away!”
"No need! It's good that you know my news. We don't need those disloyal and unjust people to revive the cause! A mere flood can make us take advantage of the situation. The people are ignorant and the people's support can be used. We can look for opportunities later."
"How have you been these past few years?"
Qian Desheng lamented: "I have lived a good life these years... If the princess hadn't come here, I would have ended my life like this."
"However, now that there is hope for recovery, the princess can rest assured that I will protect the princess even if I risk my life! I will never forget the late emperor's legacy!"
Bai Yi couldn't help but feel a little moved: "I have thanked you on behalf of my father. If my father had known how to see you doing well, he would have been very happy."
Qian Desheng burst into tears when he heard this: "Old slave, I'm honored! But... where does Her Highness the Princess live now? If it's inconvenient, why don't you come to me first? I still have some money."
Bai Yi shook his head and said, "No need. I don't know if you have heard of Fang Zhengyi. I am in Fang Mansion now, and it was he who saved me."
Qian Desheng hesitated for a while: "I wonder if there is a woman named Xiaotao in this house?"
"Huh? Yes! Have you seen her?" Bai Yi asked curiously.
Qian Desheng's old face suddenly wrinkled into a chrysanthemum, and he said in pain: "This little girl is so damn tight! I came to the cloth store to buy cloth two days ago, and the 2 taels of cloth was cut off by one tael!"
"At that time, she was settling the accounts for the old slave, and the calculation was done in many twists and turns. I was also dizzy at the time! In the end, after he left, the old slave actually lost a lot of money! Bah! Bad luck!"
Bai Yi: "..."
"Don't worry about her. Fang Zhengyi is very important. Emperor Jing thinks highly of him. I want to see if there are any suitable opportunities with him first..."
Qian Desheng didn't wait for Bai Yi to finish speaking and immediately said in a panic: "No princess! How can you personally assassinate Emperor Jing? It's too dangerous!"
"No! How could I go there in person? If I fail to succeed, it will raise Emperor Jing's vigilance and it will be difficult for him to attack next time."
"I will let you know if there is a suitable opportunity!"
"By the way, there is one more thing! There is a small county called Taoyuan County not far to the north of the capital. We have sent a few capable people into the city to investigate! Please make sure these people are careful and lurk in Taoyuan County first. There is no need to report immediately."
"Old slave, I understand..."
.....................................
imperial study room
Liu Jin knelt on the ground and vividly described to Emperor Jing what happened in Zhan Shi's mansion during the day.
Emperor Jing was surprised and said: "You mean, Fang Zheng left Yan Guoan in one fell swoop this morning?"
Liu Jin said honestly: "Yes, Master Fang answered Master Yan one by one with reason and evidence. Master Yan became so angry that he accused Master Fang of being a scumbag."
"Then he left angrily when he couldn't argue anymore! He said that he would never see Master Fang again in the future, and they taught separately! He was not there when Master Fang was present!"
Emperor Jing continued to ask: "What happened next? What did Zhengyi say after Yan Guoan left?"
Liu Jin hesitated and said: "Yes... After Lord Yan left, the time was running out and it was almost lunch time, so Lord Fang chatted with the prince for a while."
"I told a story about a barbarian swordsman...it seemed to be called Iron Egg Porter...I didn't understand it. During this period, the prince always looked at me, and I didn't dare to get too close."
"Later, the prince and Mr. Fang went to have a meal. Mr. Fang and the prince kept saying that the food in Zhan Shifu was unpalatable, and said they wanted to eat roasted whole beef... That's probably all..."
Emperor Jing smiled and waved his hand: "Okay, you can go down and report again tomorrow!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Liu Jin went out, Emperor Jing turned to look at Guo Tianyang: "What, what do you think of Fang Zhengyi's performance?"
Guo Tianyang bent down and said: "How can this old slave know this? But Mr. Fang is very good at winning people's hearts. An old man like Yan Zhanshi was fooled around."
Emperor Jing said happily: "Yes... Yan Guoan is very good, but he is rigid and does not know how to adapt. Fang Zhengyi, a newcomer, can play with him, which is beyond my imagination."
"I hope the prince can learn more from these two people. They complement each other just right."
If you want to learn this, our family can do it! No need to look for him! ?
Guo Tianyang said with a smile: "Although Master Fang is doing this to win over people's hearts, the old slave really feels warm in his heart. This is the first time in so many years in the palace that someone has spoken up for the eunuchs in the palace."
Emperor Jing looked at Guo Tianyang in astonishment and said with a smile: "Okay... It seems that Fang Zhengyi is really not simple, and he has actually affected me!"
"I feel ashamed..."
...
