Chapter 201: Your Majesty

Early in the morning,

it was slightly bright outside the window.

Zaizhang suddenly opened his eyes and saw his wife, Sheng Hualan, being served by Cuichan to insert a white jade hairpin under the candlelight.

"Hmm? Da Niangzi, why did you get up so early?"

"Husband, sleep first. Didn't I tell you last night?"

Zaizhang, lying on the bed, paused.

Before he could say anything, Sheng Hualan had already walked out with Cuichan.

Listening to the fading footsteps, Zaizhang looked at the candle in the bedroom in a daze, thinking of Sheng Hualan's tear-stained face when she returned last night, and Zaizhang sat up.

"Someone come!"

When he arrived at his mother's courtyard, he didn't see anyone and asked the maid standing by: "Where is Mother?"

"The mistress and the Second Mistress have gone out, saying they have something to do."

"Then bring breakfast to my study."

"Yes, Young Master."

Around the time of *Chen* (after 8:00 AM),

the sun didn't show itself from behind the clouds,

and the sky was gloomy.

The workshops in Yichun Lane had not yet opened their doors.

A small servant guarding the door of a shop that made good colored lanterns suddenly woke up, and hearing the continuous clattering sound outside the door, he curiously looked out.

Through the crack in the door, several carriages passed by one after another, each with a strong woman beside it.

Seeing they were not soldiers, the servant pulled out the door bolt, opened the door, and poked his head out to look.

He saw these carriages stop deep in the lane, and a strong woman pulled a wide cloth a person's height to block the view of passersby.

The Sun family was originally from a military official background, and their in-laws were mostly daughters of military officials. There was nothing else in military families, but there was no shortage of strong women who knew a move or two of martial arts, not to mention the Xu family.

Blocking the view on both sides of the lane, Sun Shi and Sheng Hualan walked down.

Sun Shi looked at the sisters-in-law beside her. After they said a few words, Sun Shi raised her chin, and a strong woman walked to the gate of the small courtyard.

She picked up the door knocker on the door panel.

"Pop, pop, pop."

"Who is it?"

A clear and spiritual voice came from inside.

"We are servants of the Marquis's residence, there are a few words to ask the Madam, please open the door."

It suddenly became quiet inside the door.

The mistresses outside the door looked at each other.

Soon, footsteps came from inside the door, and the courtyard gate was opened.

A woman wearing a veil looked at the women in brocade and satin with pearls and emeralds at the door with surprise, and the women were all scanning her.

"This concubine greets you, I don't know which noble family you are all from?"

The strong woman who knocked on the door said: "We are from the Xu family of the Marquis Yongyi's residence and the Sun family of the West Water Gate. Madam Yang?"

"Oh! Please come in, please come in."

As she spoke, she led everyone into the room.

The little girl holding a drumstick tied with red silk ran out, nestled beside the woman, and looked at this group of women with surprise.

Sun Shi scanned this courtyard, saw that the ground in the courtyard was neat and clean, and all kinds of tools were arranged neatly, and there were no maids or servants. She and her sisters-in-law looked at each other and nodded, knowing that this woman was not lazy.

After everyone entered the front hall and closed the door, the main gate of the small courtyard was also slowly closed by the strong woman.

"Noble guests, please sit."

Sun Shi said: "No need to sit, we are all women, please Madam Yang take off this veil."

Hearing this, Yang Luoyou paused.

Looking at the eyes of the crowd looking at her, her eyes were full of thoughts, and she bowed:

"This concubine's face is ruined, I'm afraid taking off the veil will scare the noble guests. If it is about the money spent by the young master of your residence at Pan Lou, please go to Pan Lou..."

"It is not about money."

Sun Shi signaled.

A strong woman walked over and said: "Madam Yang, don't move."

Then she lifted a corner of the veil.

Looking at the scar on it, the strong woman's eyes tightened, and then the strong woman nodded to the crowd.

With the situation as it was, one of the Sun family's sisters-in-law came to Sun Shi's side and whispered: "The situation inside seems to be somewhat different from what we thought."

"Hmm."

Sun Shi then smiled and said: "Madam Yang, do you know who the young man who accompanied you yesterday afternoon was? I don't know why you two were together?"

Yang Luoyou suddenly realized and said: "Noble guest, that young man is surnamed Zhu, he is the Xie Zijue Zhu who previously performed meritorious service for the country. Yesterday, Xie Zijue Zhu was sending money to this concubine."

"Money for rehearsing music!"

Yang Luoyou hurriedly added.

Sun Shi continued to ask: "I don't know what piece of music it is?"

"The 'Trap-Breaking Tune of the Zhu Father and Son'."

"Is this about Xie Zijue Zhu of Xiangzhou?"

Yang Luoyou nodded and said: "At this hour, the musicians for the rehearsal should have arrived."

Sun Shi waved her hand.

Outside the small courtyard gate, several elderly musicians with somewhat timid expressions were stared at by the strong women.

The courtyard gate was opened, and the strong woman inside said: "Let them in."

The strong women cleared a path, and the musicians walked in with their heads lowered.

Soon, the Xu family's maid had the carriages at the entrance parked by the roadside and removed the wide cloth that blocked the view.

In the courtyard,

Yang Luoyou bowed before the mistresses and said: "Noble guests, the sound of these two *pipas* is Xie Zijue Zhu and his son, and the other instruments are..."

After about half an hour,

the group of mistresses walked out of the courtyard. Although they didn't all have teary eyes, they were all somewhat reluctant to leave.

Sun Shi was the last to come out, Sheng Hualan stood at the door with her: "Madam Yang, use those silver taels to form a team of musicians according to your ideas. When the time comes, I will have Brother Tiger come to find you."

"Thank you, Madam."

"I should be the one thanking you."

"Then, I will not decline."

The mistresses all got into the carriages, which soon drove out of Yichun Lane.

Imperial Palace.

Led by the Grand Eunuch,

Zhao Meifeng, who had just returned to the capital from Yang Zhou Prefecture, followed his master into the palace.

"Your Majesty, they have arrived."

"Your subject, pays respects to Your Majesty."

The Emperor behind the desk raised his head, looked at the two who knelt down, and said:

"Hmm, get up! Zhao Zilong, your son-in-law handled the affairs in Yang Zhou Prefecture well."

"Your Majesty praises me too much! This is his duty."

"Hmm, I know almost everything about Yang Zhou Prefecture, but what about the situation of the Chuihuan Division of the Bai Gao Kingdom? How can it be investigated clearly?"

Hearing the three words "Chuihuan Division," Zhao Zilong and Zhao Meifeng, who were standing in the palace bowing, paused.

"Chuihuan" was the metal ring worn on the ears by the people of the Bai Gao Kingdom in the northwest.

And the Chuihuan Division was the spy and secret service agency of the Bai Gao Kingdom, equivalent to the Imperial City Division and the Rongji Division of the Great Zhou.

One person in their memory had disappeared because of this matter.

"Your Majesty, a month ago, all the people of the Rongji Division in Bai Gao were cleared out, and the Imperial City Division has only just been restored..."

"I have read the secret files. Your first disciple, Zhao Taifeng, didn't he go to the Bai Gao Kingdom?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Zhao Taifeng, he... your subject was derelict in duty. Previously, your subject had already lost contact with him, it has been some years."

Zhao Meifeng followed his master and knelt on the ground.

When the Emperor heard "it has been some years," he said nothing in a huff.

This... 99% of it was exactly the years he had neglected the Imperial City Division.

The Emperor hurriedly changed the subject and said: "Both of you, rise. Here, this is the last secret report sent by the Rongji Division before it was cleared, take a look."

The Grand Eunuch handed the secret report to Zhao Zilong.

Being of age, he held the secret report far away and squinted to look.

After seeing the content clearly, the old man's eyes widened instantly:

"Your Majesty, the Bai Gao Kingdom envoy from a few days ago is actually the eldest son of the 'Liang Yi' family?"

"Not bad. His father is the current powerful minister of the Bai Gao Kingdom, Liang Yifu."

Zhao Zilong replied: "His aunt is the current Empress Dowager Liang of the Bai Gao Kingdom."

The Emperor picked up another slip of paper and said: "This is a secret letter sent by the Rongji Division of Northern Liao via carrier pigeon. Meifeng, you and Brother Jing are life-and-death friends, you should take a look too."

Zhao Meifeng hurriedly bowed and said: "Yes, Your Majesty."

After taking the slip from his master, it read: "Liao General Ying destroyed a hundred cavalry, Bu has not appeared."

"Master, who is Bu?"

"Bu Zhoutianhuan, the number one warrior of the Heishan Army Division."

Bai Gao Kingdom.

Southwest Zhuoluo Army Division, guarding against the Us-Tsang Kingdom.

A Bai Gao Kingdom tribe fifty miles outside Zhuoluo City.

A team of Us-Tsang cavalry was burning, killing, and looting.

On a hill near the direction of Zhuoluo City, two Us-Tsang scouts were on alert.

One of them said in the Us-Tsang language:

"These days, that Bai Gao Kingdom warrior named Weimu Boming hasn't appeared."

"If he appears, we still have to run faster, lest we be captured alive from the horse's back like the general."

"That is truly a monster."

"Yes, I still have nightmares about that battle."

In Bianjing City,

outside the Xuande Gate, a Bai Gao Kingdom warrior sneezed.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 202 =====