Shanwu City is the administrative capital of Yanmen County.
As a place to the north of the Central Plains, connecting Daidi and Yunzhong, Yanmen has an excellent geographical location. As early as when Li Mu was in charge of Yanmen, merchants from the Central Plains liked to come to Yanmen to trade with nomadic merchants in the northern grasslands. Today, Yanmen County, where Bai Yan is present, is far more popular with merchants than during Li Mu's time.
One is that Bai Yan, like Li Mu, is a sufficient deterrent to the northern grasslands. When trading with each other, the nomadic tribes in the north do not dare to turn against them, seize property, or even kill people. This is more important to Central Plains merchants than anything else. De Zhong, after all, I want to make money and have a life to spend.
Secondly, Bai Yan managed Yanmen more thoroughly and properly than Li Mu. From the looting and selling incidents in the past, we can see how crazy the nobles in Zhao were for property. Compared with other counties, After hundreds of nobles in Yanmen County were executed by Bai Yan, it was also a good thing for merchants. There was no need to pay money to the local nobles when traveling between cities.
All of this has resulted in merchants from Chu, Wei, Han, Qi, and even Yan, all wanting to come to Yanmen.
Fortunately for merchants traveling from Han, Wei and Chu, Yanmen is to the north.
But for Qidi, compared to merchants from the north, coming to Yanmen requires a longer journey.
The merchants of Yan land are the most shocking. The merchants are obviously in the north, but many merchants of Yan land would rather give up trading with Donghu in ancient times and come to Yanmen through Dai land.
Perhaps this also confirms the saying that businessmen pay more attention to the business environment than seeking convenience.
There is no good in the city.
Compared with the time of the drought four years ago, now there are scenes of people entering the city from their rural pavilions outside the city. The streets and alleys in the city are even more lively, with people constantly coming and going. Among the busy traffic, there are many places. A woman with a child is shopping for household necessities on the street.
Looking at this scene, no one can associate it with the scene four years ago, when ten rooms were empty and there were bones on the road.
A carriage was driving on the street. Because there were too many pedestrians, even though there were slaves and maids in front of the carriage to remind pedestrians to give way, the carriage was still moving very slowly.
After a long time, the carriage slowly stopped in front of a restaurant.
"Little Master, we're here!"
In front of the carriage, Ms. Ying quickly got out of the car, then took a stool and placed it on the ground. But as soon as she saw Ms. Bei coming out of the carriage, Ms. Ying pointed to the huge restaurant on the side and said to Ms. Bei.
"My lord, I went to inquire about it! It's this restaurant! In the past, General Bai Yan liked to come to this restaurant when he was entertaining guests. I heard that there was a woman named Xi'er who was with Bai Yan. The general has a lot of connections!”
Mrs. Ying watched Bei Ji get off the carriage and stood by her side to guide the way for Bei Ji.
Along the way, even the Ying family couldn't help but sigh. Compared with most places along the way, the city of Yanmen was much more lively than imagined, especially this Shanwu City, which was different from the Ying family. What I heard three or four years ago, the impression in my mind is completely different.
As for this restaurant, Ms. Ying finally found out about it from a small vendor. However, at this time, Ms. Ying was also worried about whether she could see the girl Xi'er. After all, she could find out about it. This also meant that the nobles in the city The dignitaries and merchants, as well as the children who came to Yanmen from other places, naturally knew about it.
Thinking of the little vendor saying with emotion, countless people come to this restaurant to drink every day, and there are even more people who want to become familiar with Xi'er. Those people all want to be with her. Get acquainted with the county lieutenant.
Thinking of the little vendor's sigh, her eyes were full of admiration. Yingshi looked at Bei Ji. At this time, she didn't know whether Bei Ji would be able to see Na Xi'er later.
"Walk!"
Bei Ji heard what Yingshi said, nodded, and then walked towards the restaurant.
Inside the restaurant.
The waiter in the restaurant was a little surprised when he saw Bei Ji and Yingshi arriving, but there was no man beside them.
"How many guests are there?"
Surprisingly enough, the waiter also stepped forward enthusiastically and spoke.
Looking at the charming appearance of the Monument Queen, the waiter also guessed in his mind that maybe a man would come soon, and this woman should have booked a private room for other men in advance.
Thinking of this, the waiter also sighed with emotion, such a beauty should be kept at home and supported, but he actually ordered a woman to do things. What kind of man could he do that?
At least in the restaurant, I have seen countless dignitaries and nobles, but the waiter has never seen them all.
"Is Miss Xi'er here?"
Bei Ji didn't say she was going to drink, but asked Miss Xi'er if she was in the restaurant now.
When the waiter heard that Bei Ji wanted to see Xi'er, he couldn't help but look at Bei Ji and Yingshi in confusion. When he saw Bei Ji taking out some money from her sleeve pocket and handing it to him, the waiter didn't dare to take it.
"I'm going to see if Miss Xi'er is here. May I ask what the guests are called?"
The waiter didn't dare to take the money, so he bent down and asked Monument Lady.
If there are other women in the restaurant, such as many regular customers, or if a nobleman or merchant wants that woman to accompany him, the waiter will arrange it, and he will just take the reward money, and nothing will happen.
But when it comes to Miss Xi'er, the waiter doesn't have the guts. Miss Xi'er has a relationship with the county captain, so he doesn't dare to make the decision privately, especially since he just heard that some merchants said that the county captain seemed to be awarded the title of Dashang due to his merits. Made by Lord Wu Lie.
"Monument Princess!"
Beiji said to the waiter. She looked at the waiter and nodded. Without taking any money, she took out some more money and asked the waiter to open a private room.
Maybe Bei Ji was lucky, or maybe it was broad daylight and there happened to be a private room in the restaurant. The waiter asked Bei Ji to wait for a while and then left, asking other women to take Bei Ji and Yingshi to the private room while he went to look for Xi. Son.
"Have you heard? Bai Yan has been named Lord Wu Lie. I heard that Ying Zheng not only rewarded Bai Yan with tens of thousands of gold, but also provided Bai Yan with food for tens of thousands of households!"
"What, Daishangzoo!!!"
"Yes, yes, I've heard it too. I've also heard that Ying Zheng granted Bai Yan the title of Daliang, and even gave Bai Yan the land of Northern Xinjiang, mobilizing all the power of the Qin army!"
"All the military power in Northern Xinjiang? Hiss~ this...!"
In the corridor of the restaurant, Beiji followed a woman. As she walked, she vaguely heard some men in the restaurant talking, making shocking remarks.
Hearing this, the Lady of the Monument was also full of surprise, Qin State made it great!
Thinking of Bai Yan's current title, which was so high, Monument Princess' heart couldn't help but be filled with throbbing. She recalled the past when Bai Yan brought her into the mansion, recalled how Bai Yan sent her out of the city, and then recalled the unknown relationship between Bai Yan and her father. relation……
"Guests, please!"
The woman took Bei Ji to a private room, and then asked Bei Ji to wait in the private room.
Bei Ji nodded, watched the woman leave, glanced at Yajian, and then walked step by step to the window, looking at the densely packed wooden houses on the street, spreading to the sky.
"My lord, General Bai Yan has been named Lord Wu Lie! He has been named Lord!!!"
Mrs. Ying watched the Monument Princess kneel down in front of the wooden table. She recalled what she had just heard and said with a shocked look on her face.
The Ying family had heard before that Bai Yan was from Qi, from the Qi country! ! !
A person from the state of Qi was granted the title of king in the state of Qin! How is this not surprising.
"Um!"
When Beiji heard what Yingshi said, her eyes were a little excited and she nodded lightly.
At this moment, looking at the shocked look on Ying's face next to her, Monument Princess did not say that compared to the title of lord, Bai Yan actually had the title of lord long before he obtained the fiefdom of Luoyin. What is really shocking , still the title of Bai Yan, created by the great emperor of Qin.
It is also another name that people in the world have used to say when talking about it for hundreds of years: "The great creation of the Qin State."
Before Bai Yan, during the hundreds of years of the Qin State, there were only five people in total who were called Daliang Zao, Shang Yang, Zhen Ao, Gongsun Yan, Sima Cuo, and Bai Qi.
And now.
A great creation once again appeared in the Qin State.
Thinking of this, even Monument Princess, who had only met Bai Yan once, couldn't help but flash her beautiful eyes, her eyes full of brilliance.
Men love beauties, and beauties don't have the heart to admire them. Even if they meet for the first time, even if they only meet once, Bai Yan's appearance in the past is not considered handsome in the eyes of Bei Ji. Now that I think about it, in the eyes of Bei Ji, that appearance is... There is also something strange that attracts Monument Princess.
for a long time.
In the private room, Beiji, who had been waiting, saw that the food and wine had been served for a long time, but Miss Xi'er was delayed in coming. Seeing this, Beiji could only wait patiently.
Finally, as the voice of the waiter talking to a woman came from outside the door of the concierge, Beiji and Yingshi looked at each other.
"You go down first!"
As a woman's voice sounded outside the door, and she vaguely heard the footsteps of the waiter leaving, Beiji turned to look at Yingshi.
"Go and take out the things you prepared!"
Monument Lady ordered to Yingshi.
Since it was a meeting, Bei Ji would not come empty-handed, even if she knew Bai Yan, so when she came, Bei Ji was ready to give Xi'er a meeting gift, which was a little thought from her.
After all, not only did Xi'er have a close relationship with Bai Yan, but even in the restaurant, Xi'er learned hundreds or thousands of times more information than Monument Princess. Being on good terms with Xi'er would bring no profit at all. Harmful.
"Yes, little master!"
When Mrs. Ying heard this, she turned around and walked towards the wrapping cloth on the ground.
Bei Ji turned her head and watched as the door opened and a woman walked in from the outside. Looking at the woman, Bei Ji slowly stood up.
"But Miss Xi'er?"
The Monument Lady nodded slightly as a salute and asked.
Cen Qing came to the private room quietly, and the moment she saw Beiji, she couldn't help but be a little surprised when she looked at Beiji's face. Even after being in the restaurant for a long time, Cen Qing rarely saw any dignitaries, businessmen, and Which woman next to a noble family member can compare to the Lady of the Stele in front of me.
"Xi'er is polite! I heard that the distinguished guest wants to see Xi'er?"
After Cen Qing returned the gift, she looked at the charming woman in front of her with some confusion. If she had not known that she was a woman and wanted to meet her alone, Cen Qing would not have planned to come.
After all, there are many people who want to see her every day, and she naturally knows why.
When she thought of the news that she had just heard about Bai Yan, her brother-in-law had now been named the Great Master of the Qin State, Lord Wu Lie, and when she thought of the shock on the faces of those noble disciples, and the dazed sighs in their eyes, Cen Qing couldn't help but feel joy in her heart.
After all, she had known her brother-in-law a long time ago and knew his experiences from childhood to adulthood.
"It's the Monument Princess..."
Bei Ji nodded, and just as she was about to speak, Ying's voice came from behind her.
"Little Master!"
Ms. Ying stood up, with a happy face, and turned her head just now. When she saw the woman standing with the Monument Queen in the private room, her pretty face instantly froze, her pupils shrank, and her hands trembled in fright.
In an instant, the cloth bundle in Ying's hand and the meeting gift prepared by Bei Ji for Xi'er fell to the ground and made a sound.
But the Ying family, who had always been obedient and never dared to disobey Monument Princess, did not care at all about the exquisite cloth that fell on the ground. Her pale face, eyes full of disbelief, looked at the woman next to Monument Princess. .
"impossible……"
Yingshi shook her head, her eyes full of panic and fear.
How could she be here!
"Cen Qing...impossible! Impossible!"
Yingshi kept talking softly, unable to believe the person she was seeing, her legs and feet became weak, she kept retreating, and then sat on the ground.
Bei Ji naturally saw Ying's appearance, from frowning at first to doubt. Then Bei Ji couldn't help but look at Xi'er in front of her. She felt that Ying seemed to know Xi'er.
"It's you!"
Cen Qing looked at Yingshi. She didn't expect that she would meet Yingshi, her former mother, here.
No wonder when I saw Ying's back when I entered the private room just now, I felt a little familiar.
Thinking back to the time when the Ying family sold her to human traffickers! Cen Qing's eyes were filled with anger, and tears gradually filled her eyes.
"Do you know each other?"
Bei Ji looked at Xi'er's appearance in front of her, and thought of Ying's panicked look. She didn't know where the two people were not just acquaintances, but there might be something unknown to them.
However, before Bei Ji could get Xi'er's answer, Bei Ji saw Ying's panicked face, suddenly thought of something, knelt on the ground, crawled over and kowtowed to Xi'er.
"Daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law! Qing'er, it was my mother who was confused in the past. Please forgive my mother, please forgive me! Wuwuwu~ Now Zilu and your father are nowhere to be found. I hope Qing'er can take the kindness of the past into account. , help my mother!"
Yingshi grabbed the corner of Cen Qing's clothes and kowtowed to Cen Qing with tears in her eyes.
"Qing'er, it's my mother's fault, isn't it! Qing'er..."
At this moment, Ms. Ying was both panicked and frightened, but what followed was hope. Although Ms. Ying didn't know what Cen Qing had gone through and why she was here again, she thought that now Cen Qing's name was Xi'er, and Being related to Commander Bai Yan, Yingshi immediately thought that if Cen Qing was willing to help and asked Commander Bai Yan, Commander Bai Yan would definitely agree to help her find Zilu and Zihuai for the sake of Monument Princess and Cen Qing. .
"Woooooo~! Help my mother! Qing'er, my mother is confused, it's my mother's fault! Please Qing'er, for the sake of past friendship, please help General Bai Yan, look for Zi Lu, look for Zi Lu, Looking for your father! After all, we were a family back then..."
Mrs. Ying cried with tears all over her face, snot and tears, and kept kowtowing to Cen Qing.
At this time, Ying's heart was really filled with regret!
When the husband and the eldest son wanted to sell Cen Qing, why didn't they ask for help, plead for Cen Qing, and say a few nice words? If they had said a few nice words at the beginning, and now they meet each other, maybe Cen Qing would do it because of their past kindness. Be soft-hearted and help.
At this time, while Ying was kowtowing, she could only hope that Cen Qing would still remember the bond between family members and help him to beg General Bai Yan to find someone for her.
"Daughter-in-law, mother-in-law?"
Beiji on the side looked at this scene and listened to Yingshi's words, her pretty face was filled with astonishment, and her beautiful eyes looked at the two of them in confusion.
These two people are actually related as mother and daughter-in-law! ! !
But it seems like something happened that caused the Ying family's relationship to break down.
Frowning, Beiji fell silent and did not interfere in the matter in front of her. After all, she was an outsider. At this time, she knew nothing about the two people's affairs. It would be bad to speak rashly.
Especially from Ying's words, Beiji vaguely realized that Ying must have done something to displease this woman.
In the private room.
"family……"
Cen Qing felt it. In front of her, Mrs. Ying knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Cen Qing will never forget the humiliation and beatings she suffered at the hands of human traffickers in the past, those experiences, and those reasons.
Find someone? good!
Cen Qing thought she could let go of her hatred and that memory, but now that she saw Yingshi, the hatred in her bones poured into Cen Qing's heart again.
Now, looking at her former mother Yingshi, Cen Qing also wanted to meet Zilu. She had many things to say and many grievances that she wanted to tell Zilu in person.
Didn’t Zilu have no money before? Now she has even the gold that she didn't have before. She now has it. Zilu is in Linzi. Doesn't he like to make friends and go to restaurants to drink? There are many beauties in this restaurant, all of whom are descendants of powerful people and noble families. She will introduce them to Zilu!
Thinking of this, Cen Qing slowly lowered her head to look at the woman in front of her with her tear-stained cheeks.
"My mother!"
Cen Qing looked at Yingshi.
Since Ying wanted to ask General Bai Yan to help find someone, how could Cen Qing not agree?
Cen Qing also wanted to see what Ying's expression would be like when she saw Bai Yan.
You must know that when she was in Linzi, whether she was talking to the villagers or in front of everyone in the family, Yingshi liked to laugh at the young man in front of everyone. She often said something wrong about the young man behind his back. Whenever the women in the village During the conversation, Yingshi was also the most enthusiastic in slandering the young man.
Cen Qing wanted to see what Ying would do when she saw that young man!
"Mom, please get up! Don't worry, mom, when General Bai Yan comes back, Qing'er will take my mother to see the general!"
Cen Qing said, then bent down and helped Yingshi who was kneeling on the ground.
"Really? Good, good! Thank you Qing'er, Qing'er, it was my mother who was not good in the first place, it is my mother's fault! When I find Zilu in the future, my mother will make sure that Zilu and Qing'er live happily together!"
Mrs. Ying looked at Cen Qing in surprise, but she didn't expect that Cen Qing actually cared about the friendship between the family in the past and was willing to help her, and was even willing to take her to see General Bai Yan.
Yingshi was overjoyed, and her heart was filled with throbbing at this moment. Looking at Cen Qing's weak appearance, Yingshi finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that Cen Qing was indeed the same as when she was in Linzi.
Thinking of this, and thinking that she would have to ask Cen Qing for help in the future, Ying wanted to return to the relationship she had with Cen Qing when she was in Linzi, so she breathed a sigh of relief, raised her hands again as her mother, and shed tears, While feeling distressed, she wiped away Cen Qing's tears.
"I'm sorry for you, Qing'er!"
Yingshi looked at Cen Qing and said with pity.
"Um!"
Cen Qing, just like in Linzi, heard the words and leaned gently on Yingshi's shoulder.
However, leaning on Ying's shoulder at this time, Cen Qing understood better than anyone else that when she was poor, the Zilu family could sell her to human traffickers, so how could they treat her well when they become rich in the future.
She has already seen through the faces of this family, and she will never forget the experiences this family put her through in her life.
In the private room.
Beiji looked at Yingshi's smiling face, and then found Cen Qing's cold eyes leaning on Yingshi's shoulder. Seeing this, Beiji couldn't help but feel shocked.
After traveling around the world for many years, looking at this woman named Xi'er, who was actually called Qing'er, and looking at her eyes, Beiji couldn't help but worry about Ying's family, but thinking about what she heard, this woman named Qing'er , to take Yingshi to see Bai Yan, Bei Ji thought for a while and did not speak in a hurry.
After a while.
Watching Qing'er call a woman and ask the woman to take Yingshi to wash up in the yard behind the restaurant. After a tiring journey, Yingshi was asked to rest first.
Beiji looked at Yingshi looking at her with a smile on her face. She heard that Yingshi's tone was very different. Beiji nodded and looked at Yingshi's leaving back.
As the door of the private room closed, and listening to Qing'er asking about her origins, Beiji thought for a while, and then did not hide her acquaintance with Bai Yan, and told her that it was Bai Yan who asked her to come to Yanmen.
Seeing that Qing'er's beautiful eyes clearly let down her guard, Beiji breathed a sigh of relief. Listening to Qing'er asking why Ying was with her, Beiji frowned slightly, but considering the relationship between Bai Yan and her, Beiji still told the truth. , but didn’t mention a word about his father.
"I see!"
After listening to Beiji's words, Cen Qing finally understood why Ying and Beiji were together and why they came here.
"What are you going to do to her?"
Bei Ji thought about it for a while, and couldn't help but feel a hint of sympathy in her heart when she thought of Ying's experience, and asked with some worry.
In the eyes of Bei Ji, Ying is also a pitiful person. Her husband and eldest son are not at home, and there is no extra food at home. She is helpless and can only go to Linzi City to find food to eat, but she is kicked out again. Fortunately met her.
"You sympathize with her?"
After hearing what Beiji said, Cen Qing stood in front of the window and turned her pretty face to look at Beiji.
Monument Ji said nothing, and this tacit action was to express her stance.
"Do you know what the relationship is between the girl you sympathize with and Bai Yan!"
Cen Qing smiled, looked at Monument Princess and said.
Thinking of the purpose of Lady Bei coming to Yanmen, it was to wait for Bai Yan, but now she felt sympathy for Ying, the woman who liked to belittle Bai Yan the most at the beginning, so that Bai Yan had always been ignored since he was a child.
"What? Does she know Bai Yan?"
Stele Lady listened to Cen Qing's words, her brows furrowed, and she was full of surprise. Obviously Yingshi didn't know Bai Yan, but if Yingshi knew Bai Yan and had a relationship with Bai Yan, why would Yingshi need to ask her or Bai Yan for help.
But Cen Qing said that Ying not only knew Bai Yan, but also seemed to have a relationship!
Thinking of this, Bei Ji was puzzled and looked at Cen Qing with doubts in her eyes.
"You'll know when you see Bai Yan!"
Cen Qing did not say anything further at this time, because it involved Bai Yan's origin and the village where Bai Yan was located. When the Ying family and Bai Yan meet in the future, Bei Ji will naturally know.
In the eyes of Beiji, Cen Qing just told the story of how she was sold to human traffickers by the Ying family and what happened next.
Looking out the window, after finishing speaking, he turned to the side and looked at the shocked Monument Lady.
"If Bai Yan comes back, I will let someone notify you!"
Cen Qing said, then turned around and walked out of the private room. She did not mention Ying's matter again, nor did she say how to treat Ying.
Beiji looked at Cen Qing's leaving figure, her beautiful eyes full of complexity, and she didn't expect that Ying, who was by her side along the way, had been so inhumane.
What is the relationship between Bai Yan and Yingshi?
Beiji was filled with doubts. She sighed softly when she remembered the way Cen Qing looked at her just now.
………………………………
In Shanwu City, in the mansion of the county lieutenant.
Zhao Qiu was in the study, reading Mr. Wei's letter. Mr. Wei was indeed what she thought. With the fall of Chu, Qin would definitely take action against Qi, and Bai Yan, who had obtained the military power in northern Xinjiang, would definitely return in the near future. Go to Yanmen.
Putting down the bamboo slips, Zhao Qiu looked at Bao Shi, who was still sewing patterns on Bai Yan's clothes across the wooden table, and sighed helplessly, his beautiful eyes full of envy.
All year round, regardless of whether Bai Yan is there or not, Bao Shi will prepare clothes for Bai Yan in the mansion every season. Summer is not hot and winter is not cold. Even if Bai Yan misses one season after another, But Bai Yan's clothes not only did not become less, but instead grew more and more as each season passed.
Zhao Qiu, who is also a woman and looked at Bao, who had never paid attention to other women in Handan in the past and looked at all men like playthings, also felt a gap.
Zhao Qiu knew that compared to the charm of her own appearance and figure, it was women like Bao who made it difficult for men to let go of her.
"When he comes back, he almost doesn't have enough clothes to wear!"
Zhao Qiu spoke softly, and then lay lazily on the wooden table.
"You can take it with you in the future!"
Bao held the needle and thread, still lowering his head, with a faint smile on his charming and pretty face, and his beautiful eyes looked at the sewing patterns in his hands seriously.
"Where's Master Xu?"
Zhao Qiu suddenly felt confused as to why he didn't see Master Xu today.
Xi, who had been following Bao Shi, heard Zhao Qiu's words, thought about it, and told Zhao Qiu that it seemed that Miss Xi'er from the restaurant came to see Master Xu in the morning. It seemed that Miss Xi'er wanted to invite Master Xu. Make some medicine.
Before Xi finished speaking, footsteps suddenly came from outside the study. With Zhao Qiu's consent, the door opened and a servant hurried into the study.
Under the gazes of Xi and Zhao Qiu, he handed a roll of bamboo slips to Zhao Qiu.
"He's back! He's arrived in Jinyang!"
Zhao Qiu opened the bamboo slips and said softly after seeing the contents.
When Bao Shi and Xi heard Zhao Qiu's words, they both raised their heads and looked at Zhao Qiu, their faces full of joy. However, Bao Shi couldn't help laughing when she saw Zhao Qiu's nonchalant expression.
No matter how indifferent Zhao Qiu looked, Bao had seen Zhao Qiu's nervous look when he first learned that Bai Yan was besieged by the Chu army in Chudong.
(End of chapter)
