On the second day, the rumor that the Li family's happy event was about to turn into a funeral instantly spread throughout Suzhou. In less than half a day, several versions were made up and circulated in some inns——
"The Li family has done many evil things. I heard that the eldest daughter of the Li family came back yesterday with her sponsor to sever ties with the Li family. She was so angry that Mrs. Li was bedridden with only one breath left. The doctor bluntly said that she would not live for more than half a month. I don't know if it was true or not? "
"Why is that not what I heard?"
"Then tell me, what did you hear?"
"It seems that the bride brought back by the young master of the Li family yesterday suddenly suffered from an old illness and died just after entering the new house! What bad luck! The young master of the Li family was so angry that he sent the bride back to the Su family overnight!"
"What the hell? Have you all heard the wrong news? It's clear that the young master of the Li family suddenly suffered from an old illness yesterday and is about to die. The bride was so frightened that she ran away overnight!"
"No, no, this version I heard is the most correct. He was obviously the patron of the Li family, and that gentleman came to congratulate him in person, but in the end he fell in love with the bride of the young master of the Li family... that gentleman threatened and robbed her. If it doesn’t work, I will send someone to kill the young master of the Li family in a fit of anger!”
"No, the truth of the matter is like this? But isn't the eldest daughter of the Li family the eldest daughter of the lord? In this case, the big patron is eyeing his sister-in-law, then wouldn't the eldest daughter of the Li family want to Are you so angry that you vomit blood?"
"Who says it's not the case? I heard that the eldest daughter of the Li family is so angry that she can't breathe. She's been to several doctors to no avail. I'm afraid she won't live long!"
"..."
"???"
The more I listen to it, the more outrageous it becomes.
In the Luoyang Inn, Lu Xiaoxiao, who had been waiting for her room on the third floor, came down to have breakfast. She just picked up her tea cup and took a sip. When she suddenly heard the guests talking, she almost spit out the tea in her mouth. .
[If I hadn’t heard His Highness talk about the excitement of the Li family just yesterday, I’m afraid I would really have believed their fabrication today! 】
[However, it is such a pity that I was not able to see the liveliness of Li Mansion with my own eyes! 】
[If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have wandered around with Bai Zhi and Chen Lu. I might as well have secretly followed Mr. Huaijun to the Li Mansion. Then I would have secretly come back. His Highness would not have known about it anyway! 】
Xie Xi, who was eating next to him, and Meng Huaijun, who was sitting opposite and drinking tea: "..."
They all heard it.
With the cover of the tea cup, Meng Huaijun glanced at His Highness without leaving any trace, and doubts arose in his heart. She clearly knew the purpose of His Highness's trip, so why didn't she just be honest with His Highness, instead of keeping it secret in her heart and constantly collecting information for His Highness? All kinds of gossip?
Meng Huaijun really couldn't understand what His Highness and Madam were doing. When he found the opportunity, he would definitely ask His Highness.
Now Madam is wholeheartedly helping His Highness, Your Highness should not keep hiding this from Madam.
Sensing Meng Huaijun's rather complicated gaze, Xie Xi raised his eyes and frowned slightly, "Why do Master Huaijun keep looking at me like this?"
Lu Xiaoxiao:? ? ?
【What happened? 】
Lu Xiaoxiao, who was busy listening to gossip, heard His Highness's voice and immediately sat upright. She subconsciously leaned next to His Highness. She turned sideways and stared straight at Xie Xi with her round, almond-shaped eyes. : "Husband, what's wrong?"
[I didn’t pay attention for a moment, what on earth were His Highness and Young Master Huaijun talking about! ? 】
Xie Xi withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Lu Xiaoxiao, "Nothing. Didn't Madam say she was hungry earlier? The spring rolls here are good. Madam, please try some."
With that said, Xie Xi gave Lu Xiaoxiao a piece of spring roll and gently put it into her bowl: "Eat it."
Lu Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes and looked at Meng Huaijun first. When she saw his slightly complicated eyes, she looked at Xie Xi again and decided to follow Xie Xi's wishes and eat obediently.
No matter how important it is, she should eat and drink first!
Meng Huaijun: "Young Master, after dinner, I have other things I want to talk to you about."
Now that the imperial envoy has arrived in Jiangning, His Highness's mission of searching for evidence can no longer be delayed in Suzhou. He still has to set off for Jiangning as soon as possible.
Besides, I don’t know what the situation is like on Shi Weian’s side.
Just an eldest girl from the Li family might not be able to stop Shi Weian from rushing back to Jiangning.
Besides, Shi Weian, who has been an official for so many years, will definitely be able to tell which one is more important.
"Um."
Xie Xi nodded.
Lu Xiaoxiao ate the spring roll in one bite.
Hearing this, Lu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but ask: "Master Huaijun, what do you want to say to my husband? Can I listen nearby?"
[I’m really tired of staying in Suzhou, when can I go to Jiangning! Mrs. Jiang has been away for so long, and she has not been able to send a single letter back. I don’t know what the situation is like with Mrs. Jiang...]
【It’s really frustrating! 】
[Calculating time, we should go to Jiangning, right? I just don’t know what His Highness thinks. Is there anything else to arrange in Suzhou? 】
[There is also Guard Mu Qing. His Highness sent Guard Mu Qing out this morning. I don’t know what else Guard Mu Qing is busy with...]
What else can you be busy with?
Xie Xi lowered his eyes and put away the thoughts in his eyes. He sent Mu Qing out because he wanted Mu Qing to find out where Wei Jianqing was hiding?
If Wei Jianqing really wanted to take revenge on Shi Weian, then he would not miss this opportunity.
Meng Huaijun glanced at His Highness subconsciously. He did not know that His Highness was deep in thought. Seeing that His Highness did not speak, he thought that His Highness agreed to let his wife listen.
After thinking for a while, Meng Huaijun quickly looked away and smiled gently: "Actually, it's not a big deal. If Madam wants to hear it, then Xiaosheng is willing to have Madam come too."
Xie Xi came to his senses instantly.
Xie Xi looked at Meng Huaijun in surprise, astonishment flashed across his eyes.
Lu Xiaoxiao didn't notice His Highness's reaction. There was a look of shock on her face, and she asked in disbelief: "Master Huaijun, can I really listen?"
[No, is it possible that His Highness really wants me to participate in this matter openly? 】
[But... Master Huaijun wouldn't have said that without His Highness's consent, right? 】
Xie Xi: "..." Can he say that he didn't agree at all?
Meng Huaijun said firmly: "Really."
Lu Xiaoxiao looked at Xie Xi with bright eyes, the corners of her lips were slightly raised, and the little pear dimples on her cheeks were rising. She said with a smile: "My husband is so kind!"
"Um."
Xie Xi's heart softened instantly, and his eyes were full of pure smiles.
Forget it, Xiaoxiao won't harm him, so it's not entirely a bad thing for her to listen more.
It was time for him to confess to her the purpose of his trip.
Although Xiaoxiao already knew it, he still wanted to tell her again.
After the three of them had finished their meal and left the Luoyang Inn, the conversation in the Luoyang Inn still couldn't stop.
There were more and more stories about the Li Mansion, and they even spread to the Li Mansion, and even to Shi Weian's ears. Shi Weian was so angry that he threw away more than a dozen of the things that were placed in the room. All the vases were smashed into pieces!
The guard chief rushed back to Jiangning in person to deliver the message, leaving a group of guards to continue to guard the Lord's side. They were constantly scolded by the adults. Each one of them just dared to be angry and dare not speak out, wailing in their hearts for the guard chief to come back.
Once the chief of guard comes back and there is a chief of guard in front to block the adults' anger, then they, the little soldiers, don't have to suffer like this!
After smashing the room into a mess, Shi Weian managed to calm down. He looked at the guards kneeling on the ground with a pair of gloomy eagle eyes and said coldly: "Leave two people to guard me. Everyone else leaves the house and continues to search the city for Qi Qi’s whereabouts!”
"Also, go to the government office and ask Mr. Jia to borrow some government servants and let them look for someone together!"
"Tell Mr. Jia that I will give him two more days. If I don't see Li Qiqi and that person's whereabouts after two days..."
"Don't blame me for personally taking off his black gauze hat!"
"yes!"
All the guards responded one after another.
Two guards stayed, and a dozen guards left Li's Mansion together, taking the lead in heading towards the government office.
After successfully borrowing the government officials, they will have enough manpower and will definitely be able to find where Mrs. Li is hidden.
At the same time, a dirty and ragged little beggar knocked on the door of Li's house, holding a crumpled letter tightly in his thin hands.
…
Lu Xiaoxiao, Xie Xi and Meng Huaijun, who had left Luoyang Inn, were riding in carriages heading towards Chang'an Temple outside the city.
When they were at the inn just now, Lu Xiaoxiao's inner voice reminded Meng Huaijun——
Mrs. Jiang has indeed been away for a few days. Logically speaking, Mrs. Jiang should have returned to the Jiang family by this time. I wonder if Mrs. Jiang has thought of a way to get close to Mr. Jiang and get evidence that Mr. Jiang and Shi Weian accepted bribes together. .
I don't even know if Mrs. Jiang sent him a letter.
Meng Huaijun had mentioned to Mrs. Jiang before that if he wanted to send someone to deliver a message, he should have that person deliver it to Chang'an Temple and hand it over to the abbot. However, during the few days they lived in the city, they never saw the abbot send Sikong down the mountain. Entering the city, I'm afraid Mrs. Jiang didn't write a letter at all.
But Meng Huaijun still wanted to go there in person.
Lu Xiaoxiao, who was sitting in the carriage, opened the curtain of the window and couldn't help but take a look outside, "Husband, you've been gone for so long, why haven't you arrived yet?"
"If I had known that Mr. Huaijun was going to come to Chang'an Temple to discuss matters, I should have brought some plain cakes. After all, when we lived in Chang'an Temple before, the host and Sikong were quite good..."
As he said this, Lu Xiaoxiao felt a little regretful.
Xie Xi, who was closing his eyes to rest his mind, suddenly opened his eyes. He raised his eyes and glanced at Lu Xiaoxiao, and said in a gentle tone: "I have already prepared it for Madam."
Lu Xiaoxiao:?
Lu Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment and looked at Xie Xi in surprise, with a hint of confusion in his round almond eyes.
【What have you prepared? What do you mean by your husband's words? 】
Xie Xi raised her lips and chuckled. He couldn't help but stretched out his hand to rub her head. "The cakes that Madam wants are in Mr. Huaijun's carriage."
Hearing this, Lu Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up, and her annoyed expression disappeared instantly. She said with a smile, "Sure enough, my husband is the smartest!"
[Your Highness is so kind. When you go out, you don’t have to worry about anything. This is great! 】
"Ah……"
Xie Xi smiled.
In less than half an hour, two low-profile carriages stopped at the foot of Chang'an Temple.
Lu Xiaoxiao and Xie Xi got off the carriage, and Lu Xiaoxiao saw Meng Huaijun standing next to the carriage with a food box in both hands.
"Sir, madam, let's go up the mountain first."
"Um."
Xie Xi responded in a low voice, looked at Lu Xiaoxiao with side eyes, and said with a gentle expression: "Madam, come, I will take you up the mountain for my husband."
Xie Xi planned to use Qinggong to directly bring Lu Xiaoxiao up, while as for Young Master Huaijun, he would leave it to Xie Shiba who was hiding in the dark.
"good!"
[Since His Highness is with you, I don’t have to walk up in misery. 】
[But, what about Mr. Huaijun? 】
When he thought of this, Lu Xiaoxiao quickly shook his head and said quickly: "If my husband takes me up, wouldn't I just leave Mr. Huaijun to walk up the mountain alone?"
Meng Huaijun: "Madam, there is no need to worry about Xiaosheng. It's just a mountain road. Xiaosheng is used to walking. He will be able to go up the mountain soon. Madam, please go up with the young master first."
"But……"
Lu Xiaoxiao frowned, somewhat disagreeing, but it was rare for His Highness to be so proactive, and she didn't want to hurt His Highness's heart.
This put Lu Xiaoxiao into a dilemma for a while.
"There is no need to worry, madam."
Xie Xi knew what Lu Xiaoxiao was thinking, and had no intention of blaming her. Xie Xi said unhurriedly: "Seventeen and Eighteen have always been hiding in the dark. Let's go up the mountain first, and Eighteen will take them." When Mr. Huaijun goes up the mountain, he will definitely not be allowed to walk alone on the mountain road."
Lu Xiaoxiao nodded: "If that's the case, then Master Huaijun will be handed over to Shiba?"
Meng Huaijun leaned forward slightly and bowed: "Thank you for your consideration, Sir."
Xie Xi: "Master Huaijun, there is no need to say thank you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Shiba suddenly appeared from the darkness, and his tall body suddenly appeared in front of the three of them.
Xie Shiba bowed slightly and saluted: "My subordinate Shi Shiba has met his master."
Xie Xi: "Eighteen, take Mr. Huaijun up the mountain."
Xie Shiba responded: "Yes."
Meng Huaijun: "Thank you."
As soon as Xie Xi stretched out his hand, he hugged Lu Xiaoxiao's slender waist, quickly used his internal strength, and used Qinggong to lead Lu Xiaoxiao up the mountain.
The same goes for Xie Shiba, taking Meng Huaijun with him, he saw the two of them flashing and rushing towards the mountain quickly.
However, after the four people successfully went up the mountain, they saw that the gate of Chang'an Temple was tightly closed, and Sikong, who usually cleaned outside Chang'an Temple, was not there.
Seeing this situation, Meng Huaijun suddenly wondered if something had happened in Chang'an Temple. If not, how could Sikong not be outside?
"Master, let your subordinates go in and take a look first."
The door of Chang'an Temple was closed. Xie Shiba was afraid that something might happen inside, and feared that his master would encounter any danger if he entered rashly, so he asked him to go in first to investigate.
Naturally, Xie Xi would not refuse Xie Shiba's kindness. He thought for a moment and then said, "You can go in and take a look. If anything happens, come out and report to me as soon as possible!"
Xie Shiba: "Master, don't worry, my subordinates understand!"
