This trip to Nanchu was not urgent in terms of time.
Regarding the investigation of the former prince, the key point is to find the letter sandwiched in the jade butterfly. The jade butterfly has always been in the hands of the remnants of the previous dynasty, and they have not discovered it after so many years.
Su Xian is not in a hurry at this moment. The right way is to proceed slowly and slowly.
It is not too urgent to block the alliance between the remnants of the previous dynasty and Queen Nanchen's family, because Su Xian has received a message from Chen Keyan, and it is said that the shipment of the property will be in ten days.
Ten days were enough for Su Xian to reach the home of the remnants of the previous dynasty - Nanchu Yuezhou.
Therefore, they only traveled during the day, stopping to rest at noon. At night, they slept in the wild or found a town, stopping and walking without being in a hurry.
After setting off from Shendu, Su Xian and his party went all the way south, passing through Ruzhou, and arrived at Tangzhou at noon that day, which was already the boundary of Shannan East Road.
When they reached the foot of a mountain, due to the scorching sun and the fact that everyone was already hungry after half a day's driving, Su Xian ordered him to stop along the road, eat some dry food, drink some water and rest for a while.
The woods here are not dense, there is a gurgling stream beside the road, and the terrain is flat, making it a good place to rest midway.
After the motorcade stopped, everyone got off the car to eat dry food and move around freely.
Su Xian also came down to stretch his muscles. Ancient carriages lacked shock-absorbing devices, so sitting on them for most of the day would be life-threatening.
Suddenly, Su Xian realized something was wrong. Why was Tang Shujing, who was always chirping, not seeing anyone? Shouldn't you still be in the car?
He walked to Tang Shujing's car and asked with a smile: "Hey, why don't you get off?"
There was no movement in the carriage. After a long time, Tang Shujing's suppressed voice came out: "Brother-in-law, come in and talk."
"All right."
Before Su Xian got into the car, he looked back and saw that Zhou Wei was walking away with his back to him. He smiled and shook his head, and got into the car.
"What's wrong with you?"
After Su Xian got in the car, he looked up and found that the usually carefree Tang Shujing was huddled in a corner of the car. Although she was not shivering, she was not far away.
"Shh..." Tang Shujing lowered her voice and asked, "Is Zhou Wei nearby?"
Su Xian twitched the corner of his mouth and said with a smile: "Are you worried!? I just saw him leave, not around here."
Tang Shujing breathed a sigh of relief. She patted her calm chest with her small hands. Her whole body seemed to be falling apart and she was leaning on the carriage.
"If I had known this today, why did I do it in the first place?"
Su Xian burst out laughing.
By the way, why is Tang Shujing afraid of Zhou Wei? What's the reason for this?
Su Xian knew it clearly.
It turned out that a few months ago, when Zhou Wei followed Su Xian and Li Qingniu out of Butterfly Valley and came to Shendu City for the first time, he was a simple man who didn't understand anything and was full of curiosity about everything.
Tang Shujing usually likes to be the eldest sister. In her early years in Yingzhou, Hebei Province, she once treated the police officers of the Leshou County government as her younger brothers and commanded them at will.
Seeing that Zhou Wei was innocent, she took him in as her younger brother and took Zhou Wei shopping and seeing all kinds of new things.
During this period, Tang Shujing was so high-spirited that she could not help but brag, such as "My kung fu is inferior to that of Lady Yang", "Except for Lady Yang, I am the best in the world" and so on.
In addition, she also teased others and made them spin around.
What's more, as the eldest sister, she once ordered Zhou Wei to do many terrible things, such as ordering Zhou Wei to pour water for her feet, and tricking Zhou Wei into paying the bill.
Later, by chance, Tang Shujing discovered to her horror that Zhou Wei was actually a super master!
If you give him some time, it's not impossible to rival Yang Zhilan.
Tang Shujing was so frightened that her heart trembled. Thinking back on the things she had done about bragging, cheating, teasing, and driving Zhou Wei, she almost hit her to death.
From then on, she avoided Zhou Wei.
She was afraid that when Zhou Wei came to his senses, he would cause trouble for her and deal with her severely.
"It's all my fault, brother-in-law, for not telling people about Zhou Wei's true identity earlier, which has harmed people..." Tang Shujing said unwillingly, but her voice became weaker and weaker.
"So, this is still my problem?" Su Xian glared.
Tang Shujing remained silent, her originally fair face turned as red as a monkey's butt.
Su Xian grinned and said, "He has gone far. You should get out of the car and breathe some fresh air."
In this way, Tang Shujing followed Su Xian and got out of the carriage. After her feet landed, she looked around, and sure enough, Zhou Wei was nowhere to be seen.
Her heart suddenly relaxed, and she regained the vitality of a young girl. She breathed in the fresh air, stretched, and her eyes were bent into crescent moons.
"Here you go, the conditions on the road are difficult, just make do with it."
Su Xian handed over a pancake and a pot of water.
Tang Shujing took it and gnawed it carefully while complaining: "It's so boring to eat dry food. It would be wonderful if there was barbecue."
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, a rich voice came from behind her, saying apologetically:
"Sister Tang, this is the bird I shot on the road. It has been roasted. Please don't dislike it, Sister Tang."
"Well……"
Tang Shujing paused while biting the pancake, then slowly turned around to look. At first glance, it turned out to be Zhou Wei!
Gosh!
Tang Shujing shuddered and dropped the kettle and pancakes in her hands. She jumped into the carriage like a frightened rabbit and hid tightly.
"Sister Tang?"
Zhou Wei held the fragrant roasted bird in his hand and looked disappointed. Sure enough, Sister Tang still refused to forgive him? But he still couldn't remember where he offended Sister Tang!
"Junior brother!"
Su Xian smiled and took the barbecue from Zhou Wei's hand, and took another pancake and a pot of water. While boarding Tang Shujing's carriage, he waved to Zhou Wei and said:
"Don't worry, I'll deliver the barbecue for you, and I'll put in a good word for you."
Zhou Wei was immediately moved beyond measure and said, "Thank you very much, senior brother!"
"It's a trivial matter." Su Xian chuckled, turned around and got into the carriage.
"Brother-in-law!" Tang Shujing, who was hiding in the carriage, stamped her feet angrily, "You didn't want to find a way to eliminate the misunderstanding between us, and... you also deliberately misled Zhou Wei..."
"These are minor issues."
Su Xian handed over the pancakes and kettle, while he ate the fragrant barbecue and said, "Junior brother, he has a simple mind and didn't realize that you were bullying him before."
"Isn't this...impossible?" Tang Shujing stared, subconsciously took the pancakes and kettle, and started to bite them carefully.
"You are hiding from junior brother. Junior brother, why do you think you have offended you?" Su Xian wolfed down. Well, barbecue is indeed much more delicious than dry food.
"Does he really think so?" Tang Shujing fell into deep thought.
"Of course, how this matter ends depends on you..."
After a while, Tang Shujing's bright eyes lit up, she clenched her fists tightly, and said happily: "I know what to do, thank you sister...husband..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she was shocked to find that Su Xian was holding a pile of bones in his hand.
Wait, didn't Zhou Wei bake it specially for her?
…
…
A few days later.
Nanchu.
Yuezhou.
Su Xian and his party trekked for several days and finally arrived at their destination.
The tall and majestic Yuezhou City is already in sight.
You can enter the city immediately.
After days of bumpy driving, it was really hard. When he found a teahouse next to the official road, Su Xian ordered him to stop the car and have a rest in the teahouse first to drink a cup of hot tea before entering the city.
Although it is already afternoon, it is still early in the sky, so there is no need to delay entering the city.
In the teahouse, there were not many tea-goers, only one guest.
This teahouse has a special location. It is built next to the official road, but the back is close to the vast Qingcao Lake [Dongting Lake]. Su Xian found a seat by the window, where he could enjoy the lake view while drinking tea.
Yang Zhilan, Tang Shujing and Zhou Wei sat with him.
The "misunderstanding" between Tang Shujing and Zhou Wei has been resolved. Zhou Wei still regards Tang Shujing as his eldest sister, while Tang Shujing is much more humble and polite.
The waiter brought hot tea, and Su Xian took a sip. He looked through the window and looked at the vast green grass lake. The scenery was beautiful, and the fatigue accumulated for several days was wiped away.
"Brother-in-law, don't we come to Nanchu for a big deal? Yuezhou City is in front of us, why don't we just enter the city?" Tang Shujing suddenly asked.
"There's no rush. This time we come to Nanchu, unlike the last time we went to Liao, we have plenty of time." Su Xian drank tea comfortably and looked at the wide lake and said with a smile:
"If it hadn't been getting late today, I would have wanted to go out to the lake, go boating on the lake, go fishing and enjoy the wind. It should be a different experience."
Tang Shujing has a playful character. After hearing this, she smiled and said, "Let's go swimming in the lake after the business is done!"
Zhou Wei suddenly stretched out his hand, pointed to the far distance on the lake, and said with an excited smile: "Brother, look, there are flower boats on the lake, and there seems to be music coming from it!"
"puff!"
Su Xian spit out the tea he just drank. Feeling guilty, he turned to look at Tang Shujing.
Sure enough, Tang Shujing's expression had changed a long time ago. She stared at him warily with a pair of bright eyes and changed her words:
"It's important to do business. After you finish business, go back quickly. Why swim in the lake? Sister and the others are still waiting for us to go back in Shendu."
"Ahem."
Su Xian wiped his mouth with his sleeves, turned to glare at Zhou Wei, frowned, showed the dignity of a senior brother, and lectured:
"Junior brother, don't forget what master taught you before leaving. Why can you only see flower boats in your eyes? This is inappropriate and inappropriate!"
"Senior brother is right..." Zhou Wei was so ashamed that Sister Tang's head was still there, and she had indeed been in trouble just now.
"..."
At this time, the only tea guest in the teahouse suddenly stood up and walked straight towards Su Xian.
It was a man in his thirties, dressed as a woodcutter, and there were several bundles of firewood beside his table.
Yang Zhilan and Zhou Wei were immediately alert. Yang Zhilan held the hilt of the soft sword at his waist, while Zhou Wei glared angrily. Even Tang Shujing looked alert.
Su Xian is the most relaxed one.
He was protected by Yang Zhilan and Zhou Wei, and Tang Shujing was not bad at all. Even if tens of thousands of troops came to kill him, he could escape safely and feel extremely safe.
Fortunately, the woodcutter did not get too close. He stood half a foot in front of the table, saluted and said, "May I ask if you are Mr. Su Xian, Mr. Su? I have a letter to convey."
Su Xian's eyes lit up, he looked at this person and said with a smile:
"You have the wrong person. My name is 'Su Zhe'. He is a scholar who has traveled around the world. He is not Su Xian!"
Su Zhe is his pseudonym when traveling in Southern Chu.
This pseudonym was also chosen by him just now.
Yang Zhilan, Zhou Wei, Tang Shujing and others were stunned for a moment, and then they all realized that Nanchu was no better than Daliang and could be in danger at any time, so it would be safer to use a pseudonym.
"Su Zhe?"
The woodcutter was dumbfounded and stared at Su Xian carefully. He looked very similar, but why... He shook his head and bowed:
"It turns out I got the wrong person, sorry."
After speaking, the woodcutter turned around and walked back to the table. Carrying the bundles of firewood, he strode towards the door of the teahouse, intending to leave.
Su Xian's heart moved slightly and he shouted: "Wait a minute!"
"What are your orders, Master?" the woodcutter stopped.
"It just so happens that I am very familiar with Su Xian. Do you have any letters to convey to him? You can give them to me first and I will convey them to you."
"This..." The woodcutter hesitated.
"You should be here specifically to wait for Su Xian, right? Who are you? Who are you delivering a message for?" Su Xian stood up, and Yang Zhilan and others also moved quickly to surround the woodcutter.
The woodcutter thought for a long time and finally replied: "I am sending a message to the Princess of Nanchen and Wu Kingdom."
Su Xian pinched himself secretly. He was cheating. He finally got a pseudonym and almost delayed his business. He smiled and waved his hand. After Yang Zhilan and others left, he said:
"I am Su Xian. If you have any letters, you can give them to me now."
"But... doesn't the young master call himself Su Zhe?"
"That's just a pseudonym."
"oh."
The woodcutter nodded, with the same expression as before, reached out and took out a letter from his clothes, handed it over with both hands, and said: "This is the princess's personal letter. Please read it and burn it, Mr. Su."
Yang Zhilan took the envelope, opened it, checked it, and found no danger, and finally handed it to Su Xian.
When Su Xian read the letter, the woodcutter cupped his hands and walked away with a few bundles of firewood.
"broken!"
Su Xian's expression changed after reading this letter, and he frowned, as if he had encountered something very difficult!
"What's wrong, brother-in-law? Could it be that this isn't an autographed letter from that princess?" Tang Shujing guessed, while Yang Zhilan and Zhou Wei also looked sideways.
"The handwritten letter is authentic. I recognize her handwriting. According to what she said in the letter, the remnants of the previous dynasty changed their plans. The batch of property that was originally scheduled to be shipped in a few days actually started shipping yesterday!"
Su Xian said in a deep voice.
A look of astonishment.
That damn remnant from the previous dynasty actually got ahead of schedule!
They arrived too late.
Back in the inn in Shendu City, he had made a promise to Bi'er, and even went to Haikou to ask Chen Keyan to put her mind at ease...
The remnant of the previous dynasty brought the plan forward. Although it was a force majeure factor, Su Xian still broke his promise.
He rubbed his face and smiled bitterly. Breaking his promise was a trivial matter. The most serious problem was that after Queen Nanchen's family got this batch of property, they might really make a comeback!
That will definitely be a big trouble.
"Enter the city immediately!"
Su Xian no longer thought about drinking tea, and headed straight for Yuezhou City with his troops.
After successfully entering the city, everyone went straight to a restaurant in the city called "Rugui Restaurant". This restaurant was the stronghold of Daliang Neiwei in Yuezhou City.
Nange leader, one of the small cabinet leaders of the inner guard, personally welcomed Su Xian and his party.
Without any time to rest, Su Xian immediately took action. Finding Jade Butterfly was not an urgent matter, but the most urgent task was to try to intercept the shipment of property.
Of course, the first step is to seize Nange collar to understand the specific situation.
Nange Ling was responsible for the southern states and counties of the Liang Dynasty, as well as Nanchu, Nanchen, etc. in the south. He had more information.
If Su Xian hadn't taken the initiative to search for the former prince, the person in charge would have been the leader of Nange.
Surprisingly, Su Xian only listened to Nange Leader for a while, then stared in surprise and said:
"You just said that the remnants of the previous dynasty have all rushed to Tanzhou, and all matters in their hands, big and small, have been abandoned, regardless of their priority, including the batch of property shipped to Nanchen yesterday?"
