Zhu Qianyu took the tea poured by Zhuxiang, took a sip, and said harmoniously: "Princess Miao just said, what is the name of this tea?"
Zhuxiang reported: "Back to Your Highness, this is called Lanxue Tea, collected from Shaoxing Prefecture."
"Oh," Zhu Qianhuan nodded, "When I was young, I heard my master say that Uncle Ouyang Yong said that the two Zhejiang fragrant teas come from the place where King Gou Jian of Yue made swords as the best quality."
Outside the courtyard, Miao Ruiyun and Liu Shimin were interrogating Tong Xiyu's men.
The miserable screams made by these uninvited guests tonight when they were tortured did not affect Zhu Qianyu at all.
This royal man, who was in his prime, continued to sip the tea leisurely, and occasionally sighed: "Zhejiang and Zhejiang are just my backyard. It's a pity that my ancestors never drank such good tea in their entire lives."
Miao Zhuxiang didn't dare to answer, she just stood quietly with her eyes lowered.
Zhuxiang has been serving Miao Ruiyun for many years, and has always had dealings with big figures overtly and covertly. Even when facing Liu Shimin and Ningde Zhenggong, she did not feel as frightened as she did now.
The descendant of Emperor Jianwen in front of him, the nephew of Mu Atai, the leader who still calls himself "the widow", is the real master of these warriors who returned to their homeland. Zhuxiang saw it for the first time today.
Zhuxiang felt that Zhu Qianyu, who was clearly speaking plainly to the guards and servants on his left and right, always had a sinister aura like the cold light of snake scales.
The torture in the courtyard was suspended.
After a while, the guards sent by Miao Ruiyun and Zhu Qianyu to supervise the trial walked into the room.
The moment Miao Ruiyun recognized Han Xiying, he actually breathed a sigh of relief.
Obviously, the gang of villains who fell from the sky tonight were not assassins from the capital.
Fortunately, there was no informant under his command.
"Your Highness," Miao Ruiyun said with a look of apology, "it is a little girl I have offended before, who came to seek revenge and disturb Your Highness."
Zhu Qianyu hurriedly stood up and supported Miao Ruiyun: "Auntie, don't be anxious, sit down and drink tea first and take a breather before talking."
Zhuxiang is busy serving orchid snow tea.
Miao Ruiyun moistened her lips and spoke again: "The girl from the Han family, a local wealthy gentleman, was used as a gunman by the eldest daughter-in-law of the Gu family a few years ago to kill her sister. After teaching Miss Zheng and I to expose it, we went to Liaodong to give it to her. Taking a guerrilla general as a concubine is a form of punishment. I never thought of surrendering to the Jian slaves and going back to the south to secretly learn firearms skills. When I came here, I wanted to take my old wife's life by the way."
"Oh..." Zhu Qianyu leaned back on the chair, his Taoist robe hanging down like a slightly tilted jade mountain.
The handsome young master looked at Liu Shimin, who was standing at the threshold: "I don't think he is an assassin in the capital. If the one on the dragon throne is as General Liu said, a big move is about to happen, and there will be chaos inside and outside the imperial city." When it comes to a pot of porridge. Even if my aunt, or the subordinates of Chief Zheng and General Liu, really betray the traitor for glory, they should report the pony general first."
Liu Shimin took a few steps forward and said calmly: "What His Highness said is absolutely true."
Zhu Qianyu thought for a moment: "Bring in the buck-toothed woman in the lead."
Tong Xiyu was pushed into the house.
Han Xiying and her servants settled the matter, so Tong Xiyu didn't have to suffer the punishment.
After coming to the south, everything went smoothly for her, but she suddenly encountered a strange turn of events. After a moment of shock and confusion, she gradually guessed from the hidden presence of expert guards in the courtyard that the Mrs. Miao mentioned by Han Xiying must be more than just a palace servant who had retired to the palace. So simple.
With disheveled hair, she looked like a she-wolf that had fallen into a trap but still managed to survive, staring arrogantly at Zhu Qianjue and others.
There was no seriousness in the eyes between Zhu Qianyu and her.
"Your surname is Tong? Are you also from Ming Dynasty in your family?"
Tong Xiyu said coldly: "Our Tong Jia family's ancestors are Jurchens."
"Oh," Zhu Qianyu smiled, "Actually, it doesn't matter where your ancestors are from. This generation who came out to make a living is a capable person, even if they are worthy of their ancestors. I guess that you, a woman, can take on such an important task and make extraordinary plans. There should be strong support at the foot of the mountain and even outside Songjiang Mansion."
Tong Xiyu said nothing.
Zhu Qianyu stood up, took two steps forward, and continued: "You are also good at dealing with your subordinates, and you are actually willing to personally take action for her personal grudges. Well, actually, I have the same temperament."
As soon as he finished saying the last two words of "xinxing", he suddenly raised his sleeves and saw a flash of white shadow. Along with the sound of arrowheads flying out, a woman's screams were heard in the courtyard.
That was Han Xiying's voice.
"Where was it hit?" Zhu Qianyu asked.
A guard came to report: "Your Highness, that woman had an arrow in her eye socket."
"Left eye or right eye?"
"Right eye."
"Oh, it's the eye that was fine originally. I can't see anyone this time. Go give her a good time. I can't bear to hear a woman screaming so miserably."
The guard followed the order and pierced Han Xiying's chest with his sword.
The last beast-like cry sounded in the night, and the courtyard immediately fell silent.
Zhu Qianyu turned around and said to Tong Xiyu: "This girl offended my people, and I can't spare her. The remaining followers of yours, who lost their lives due to lack of skill in the encounter, can't rely on me. The two who are still alive, don't blame them. It's not easy to confess but hold grudges, go out for a walk, and gather a few skilled subordinates, you will always need them in the future."
Tong Xiyu's expression changed this time and she asked tentatively: "Master, do you want to let me go?"
Zhu Qianyu nodded: "You didn't come for me in the first place, what should I do to kill you?"
When he said this, Miao Ruiyun and Liu Shimin were also shocked.
This woman is a Jurchen spy, and the girl named Han also said that they got the French diagram of the firearms factory. Why did His Highness let them go like this?
Tong Xiyu frowned and asked Zhu Qianyu, "Aren't you from the Ming Dynasty?"
Zhu Qianyu said: "What Mingren and Jurchens are like floating in the air? They are like a sand gull in the sky and the earth."
Tong Xiyu grew up in a wealthy family and had a teacher to teach her. Knowing this poem, she felt a strange sense of sadness.
The two servants of the Tong family in the courtyard staggered to their feet and walked over: "Master, shall we go?"
Tong Xiyu no longer hesitated and said to Zhu Qianyu: "Young Master is an open-minded person. We will see you later."
…
Blacksmith Du made a gourd with his hands and washed his face with water from the river to relieve his anxiety.
Looking at the position of the moon, it's almost midnight, and the sky in the east is dimly showing the white color of fish belly. Master, why haven't they come down from the mountain yet?
He turned back and looked at Zheng Haizhu, who was tied up by the string of the boat.
This trapped beast kept its eyes wide open and looked around.
Another servant of the Tong family muttered to Blacksmith Du: "This woman has never given birth and has a very smooth body. If the master hadn't forbidden it, I would really want to eat her."
He wanted to continue complaining, but Blacksmith Du suddenly "shushed" and told him to shut up.
After listening for a moment, Blacksmith Du lowered his voice and said, "A ship is coming."
The two of them passed quickly by Zheng Haizhu, walked to the stern of the boat, parted the dense aquatic plants, and looked out.
On the river under the moonlight, the silence all night was broken, and a canoe was swimming slowly.
"Sail at night?" the servant who had just spoken nonsense asked in a low voice.
"Something's wrong. How can a night sailing ship not light a lantern?" Blacksmith Du denied his companion's judgment.
Almost at the same time, they turned back and looked at Zheng Haizhu, confirming that the woman's mouth was tightly blocked, and she could only helplessly make an inaudible "wow" sound.
Blacksmith Du was glad that his boat was parked in a good place, covered by reeds, so it was inconspicuous even during the day, let alone at night.
But he soon found out he was wrong.
The canoe was getting closer and closer, like an oncoming ghost.
The moment the bow of the ship parted from the reeds, several torches suddenly lit up on the deck, illuminating the surrounding area.
At the same time, with just a "pop" sound, Zheng Haizhu jumped into the river without hesitation.
"Go down quickly and rescue Miss Zheng!"
Huang Zunsu ordered loudly.
(End of chapter)
