Chapter 119

Jia Cong was shocked when he heard this. He was just about to go to Jin Ling, and such a thing happened. He asked: "Were those Japanese ronin who killed people captured later?"

Qu Hongxiu shook her head: "Although this matter has passed for more than ten days, the Jin Ling garrison soldiers are incompetent, and that group of Japanese ronin is still at large."

"It's not guaranteed that there won't be some risks in Jin Ling city. You just copy your scriptures when you go, take precautions, and don't provoke other things, so as not to cause side issues."

Jia Cong felt some warmth in his heart when he heard Qu Hongxiu's earnest feelings.

However, he was not too worried about the safety of the trip to Jin Ling. This time he was on an imperial mission, and the construction site of the Daci'en Temple was for the Emperor's biological mother, so it naturally had heavy troops guarding it.

And the Jia family's old mansion where he lived was in Longxing Fang in Jin Ling. Within a bowshot, there were important government offices such as the Yingtian Prefecture Yamen and the Jin Ling Thousand-Household Office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

It was a key location in Jin Ling, with strict defenses. As long as he stayed in the Jia family's old mansion, he would be absolutely safe. Just be more cautious when going in and out daily.

It was just that the garrison soldiers were several times the number of the Japanese ronin, but they still couldn't resist.

Was the combat power of the Great Zhou government soldiers too weak, or were these Japanese ronin too strong?

Jia Cong smiled at her: "Don't worry, wait for me to return."

They could talk about any topic between them, except for one topic, which was the Hidden Sect.

Just like a drowning person, at the critical moment of life and death, they will subconsciously grab the rope they think is the most solid and effective.

Jia Cong understood what this iron token represented, and even more understood the implication of Qu Hongxiu saying that it should not be used unless it was a last resort.

She smiled again: "Jin Ling is a prosperous and wealthy place in the world, where rich merchants and noble families gather, and the extravagant atmosphere is even better than the Love Shenjing. I will pay attention to whether there is a suitable place when I go, so that we can open a branch of the Xiuniang Perfume Shop in the future."

When Jia Cong was in the academy, he had heard a lot about foreign barbarians, plus some knowledge from his previous life.

He knew that many of these ronin were down-and-out samurai in the Japanese shogunate struggles, who extremely believed in the spirit of Bushido, valuing death over life.

Qu Hongxiu took out a curved saber, which was wider and longer than the curved saber she used herself. The hilt was simple and simple, with a kind of restrained craftsmanship beauty.

After a long while, she took out a square iron token from her bosom and said: "Keep this iron token well, don't let anyone see it. If you really encounter any dangerous things, you can go to the Yao family wine shop in Xinghua Lane."

These years, the Great Zhou has been peaceful for a long time, the garrison soldiers are slack in military preparations, empty salaries are serious, and their combat power is becoming increasingly muddled. Comparing the two, it is not surprising that those Japanese ronin are rampant.

She put the saber in a package, stuffed it into his hand, smoothed his collar, turned and left, then looked back at him, her bright eyes looking at Jia Cong's clear and handsome face, as if hesitating.

In addition, Japanese swords are known for being exquisite and sharp, and they have been famous until later generations.

Jia Cong felt a chill in his heart when he heard this. In the past two years, he had been practicing the saber with Qu Hongxiu. Qu Hongxiu had been teaching him hand-in-hand. Young men and women touched each other, and it was no exaggeration to say that they were intimate.

Jia Cong knew that Qu Hongxiu had long been tired of the wandering and killing. In these few years, she had been trying to get rid of the shadow of the Hidden Sect, but the imprint of many years made her subconsciously bond again when she felt danger.

"Show this iron token to the shopkeeper lady, and someone will help you. Remember, don't use this iron token unless it's a last resort."

Qu Hongxiu lowered her head and smiled when she heard this, like a strange flower, beautiful and peerless: "You are a scholar, why is your head full of making silver?"

"You have practiced the saber for two years, you should have a handy one. I found an expert to cast this. I originally wanted to wait for you to come back to give it to you, but in this situation, you should take it for self-defense first."

The two of them also ran that Xiuniang Perfume Shop together, which was also a lot of fun. After several years of getting along, they had unknowingly become an indispensable part of each other.

Behind her came Qingwen's voice: "Cong Sanye, it's time to board the ship."

Jia Cong looked back and saw Qingwen standing not far behind him, her skirt fluttering in the river breeze, but her eyes were glancing at Jia Cong's chest.

And Wu'er was directing the servants to lift the luggage onto the ship on the side.

By the time Jia Cong looked back again, Qu Hongxiu had already ridden away, looking back at him from time to time.

Qingwen walked up, blinked her beautiful eyes, and asked curiously: "Cong Sanye, who is this young lady? I've never seen her before."

The little girl's delicate nose sniffed: "Cong Sanye, you smell so good, and this package too. It's a good-smelling woman's scent. Hey, I seem to have smelled it before."

Jia Cong looked puzzled. This girl was really like a little dog. It had been so many years, and she could still remember.

At this time, someone said: "Is this the Honorable Jia, the eighth-rank official of the Rongguo Prefecture?"

Jia Cong looked back and saw a man with a scholarly and upright appearance, wearing a fifth-rank white pheasant-patterned cyan official robe.

"It is indeed Jia Cong of the Rongguo Prefecture. How should I address you, my lord?"

The man smiled: "I am Qin Bangye, Construction Director of the Ministry of Works. This time I am traveling to Jin Ling on the same ship as the Honorable."

Jia Cong was stunned. So he was the Construction Director of the Ministry of Works, Qin Bangye, who was Qin Keqing and Qin Zhong's father.

Jia Cong hurriedly returned the salute: "Qin, you are a colleague and superior of my uncle in the Ministry of Works. I dare not let you address me as Honorable. Just call me Jia Cong."

It could be seen that Qin Bangye had a good impression of Jia Cong. In fact, it was not surprising. Jia Cong was young and took the top candidate of the provincial examination, and was granted an official rank by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

He had already been famous in the Love Shenjing for a while. The youth had already shown his edge, and in the eyes of others, he was almost equivalent to a mascot of the neighbor.

Moreover, Qin Bangye was a person who hoped his son would become a dragon, so he naturally felt close to a youth like Jia Cong who was successful at a young age.

Qin Bangye smiled: "Then I will be bold and call you nephew."

The two stood there and exchanged pleasantries for a few words, the topic of which was nothing more than the construction of the Daci'en Temple.

At this time, Jia Cong saw a carriage stop not far away. First, a maid got off the carriage, then a kind-faced woman, and a red-lipped and white-toothed youth.

Finally, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old young lady got off the carriage. Her shoulders were like they were carved, her waist was as thin as a promise, her figure was graceful and beautiful, her skin was as white as snow, and her lips were red and teeth were white.

The maid helped the young lady off the carriage. The young lady's radiant appearance made everything around her lose its color for a moment.

Jia Cong usually got along with the sisters in the back house. Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and Yingchun were all extremely beautiful women, but this young lady's appearance was different, which unexpectedly made him dazed for a moment.

At this time, the maid took out a veil hat, put it on the young lady, and helped her onto the gangplank of the official ship. The woman and the youth followed onto the official ship.

It seemed they should be Qin Bangye's family members. That young lady with a stunning appearance must be Qin Keqing.

The tall official ship slowly turned around in the boat dock, the huge sails were raised, and the official ship rode the wind and waves in the Liuyang River, sailing toward the distance.

Jia Cong leaned against the bow of the ship, looking at the majestic and heroic Love Shenjing, gradually moving away with the thousands of acres of clear waves, until it disappeared from his field of vision.

Finally, he left the Love Shenjing for the first time. Does this indicate that his world will become wider and wider in the future?

He opened the package Qu Hongxiu gave him. Inside, besides the curved saber, there was a new long gown and a black iron bottle with a long neck and a round belly.

On the second floor of the ship, a window was opened, and a young lady as beautiful as a rose petal leaned out to look at the boundless blue waves. The river breeze blew her hair by her temples, adding to her style and charm.

Between the flowing eyes, she saw a youth standing at the bow of the ship, wearing a sky-blue scholarly gown, handsome in appearance, carefully examining a package in his hand. The river breeze blew, and his clothes were fluttering, just like a banished immortal.

(End of chapter)