Chapter 368: Beautiful Faces Hit the Midstream

Earl's Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Last night, a night rain drizzled for most of the night, and the air contained a fresh and moist breath.

The sky outside the window turned white, and the soft morning light passed through the semi-transparent glazed window, leaving soft light and shadow in the room.

The room was floating with a sweet and fragrant scent. On the sleeping couch next to the bed curtain, a thin cotton quilt with embroidered Xinyi flower branches wrapped a slender and graceful outline, and the end of the small quilt revealed a pair of snow-white and delicate feet.

On the jade-colored gauze pillow, her ink-black, glossy hair is piled up in a thousand tangled strands, with a few disheveled locks hanging down to the edge of the sleeping couch.

Zhi Shao is sleeping soundly in a sweet dream, her cheeks rosy, her breathing long and steady, and her soft chest rising and falling slightly.

Outside the thin cotton quilt, her jade arms were curved, and her snow-white and delicate skin was moving in the morning light.

When the sunlight on the glazed window gradually rose, the end of the light gradually shone on the sleeping couch, and her bright and moist eyes slowly opened.

Rubbing her eyes slightly, Zhi Shao lifted the small quilt and got up, stretched her slender waist slightly, and got off the ground quietly.

Zhi Shao helped Jia Cong wash and comb, and the two entered the hall, and let the little maid go to call the young ladies over for a meal.

Among the few people in Jia Cong's room, although Wu'er usually didn't talk much, unlike Qingwen who was lively and active, she was always delicate in mind, and her actions and words were all reasonable.

Zhi Shao was because her master was old, and her health had been poor this year, so I took her to visit her master. I sent her to Panxiang Temple in Gusu, and I went to Jin Ling to handle business myself, and went to pick her up on the way back.

Just a sour and corrupt moth of salary, why don't these sisters feel boring and vulgar? They were born to be smoked by him and ruined their spiritual roots. Each of them was deceived by him. I really have nowhere to complain....

Qingwen looked at Zhi Shao behind Jia Cong, her eyes full of envy, and her words were a bit sour.

The bed curtain was silent, and steady breathing came out, which Zhi Shao heard, and she smiled slightly, then went behind the screen to dress.

Baoyu was very twisted when he heard this. What was Jia Cong doing? First it was Second Sister, then it was Sister Lin and Third Sister, and now even Cloud Sister had been coaxed away.

She said: "Sister Zhi Shao is good. Following Third Brother south, Third Brother is too partial, and didn't take us with him. I went to Jin Ling once last year, and I'm still thinking about it now."

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Although Xiangyun let Baoyu learn from Jia Cong last time and experience more official career economics, which made Baoyu feel annoyed, the two quarreled and made a fuss.

Baoyu asked: "Sister Yuanyang, is Cloud Sister in the old lady's room?"

Qingwen heard this, her bright eyes shining, and said: "Then Third Brother is not going to Jin Ling alone, and there is no one to take care of him. It's better to take me, I will serve Third Brother."

Wu'er and Qingwen took two food boxes from the kitchen, with various breakfast foods stacked layer by layer, and hot water kept warm at the bottom.

Now Third Brother is different, with a loud name, and is a government official of the imperial court. Many people are watching, handling official business with imperial decree, and taking several maids with him. It's too eye-catching and will cause gossip."

Besides, Zhi Shao going to Gusu to visit her master had nothing to do with Jia Cong handling business in Jin Ling.

Jia Cong didn't take Wu'er and the others south with him this time. What Wu'er said was not the only reason.

Qingwen felt that Wu'er's words made sense when she heard them, so she didn't make a sound, but the expression on her face was a bit discouraged.

Zhen Ying Lian chimed in from the side: "Take me too, I can accompany Sister Zhi Shao to Gusu, without delaying the young master's work. Master Abbess Xiushan and Sister Sister Miao Yu are very good to me, and I miss them too."

Baoyu was always obedient to the sisters in the family, and he didn't hold grudges after things passed. Hearing that Xiangyun was here, he wanted to go to Jia Mu's room to see her.

As soon as she finished dressing and washing, light footsteps came from the corridor outside the house, and extended to the hall next door, and Jia Cong also woke up and lifted the bed curtain.

As for taking Zhi Shao to Gusu, it was because Sister Miao Yu sent several letters, saying that Master Abbess Xiushan was old and sick, which made Zhi Shao feel uneasy and often thoughtful.

Yuanyang smiled: "Cloud young lady saw the old lady yesterday, and then went to the East Prefecture to find the young ladies. She also stayed at Second Sister's place last night, and hasn't come over today."

Gusu and Jin Ling belonged to different places. Even if there was a change in Jin Ling, it would not affect Gusu.

Baoyu felt that this made sense when he heard it.

Before Daiyu arrived at the Jia Prefecture, the young Xiangyun had been raised by Jia Mu with Baoyu, and the two had always been harmonious, even more harmonious than the other sisters.

Master Abbess Xiushan was a celebrity in Gusu, and the magistrate of Wu County also respected her very much and often took care of her, so naturally there was no problem.

Now that Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun had moved to the East Prefecture, Baoyu was very uncomfortable, and just happened to have Shi Xiangyun here, so he could find her to play.

It was Sister Xi Ren who stopped him, saying that it was late now, and Cloud young lady was grown up now, so it was not appropriate to go over rashly, so it was better to wait until tomorrow morning.

Jia Cong saw Qingwen unhappy, knowing her thoughts, and smiled: "You all stay at home well. There are many new things in the south. Whatever you want to eat or play, I will bring them to you."

Jia Cong smiled: "I'm only going to Jin Ling for two months this time, and the road back and forth takes more than ten days.

Just arrived outside Jia Mu's room, but saw Yuanyang carrying a food box, preparing to serve Jia Mu for a meal.

In the hall, Zhen Ying Lian was arranging bowls and cups, but the number of arrangements was much more than usual.

By the next morning, the breakfast brought by Musk was not eaten by Baoyu, so he went to Jia Mu's room to find Xiangyun.

A new day unfolded like this....

Footsteps came from the door, red shadows swayed, and Xiangyun's crisp and flexible voice came: "What delicious and fun things is Third Brother going to bring? You can't forget my share."

Why do you have to follow and run around? It's better to stay at home and accompany Second Sister and the others."

Wu'er smiled from the side: "Last year Third Brother went to Jin Ling, he was not a proper official, just copying scriptures for the Empress Dowager, so naturally he could take us.

Yesterday, Prince Beijing sent someone to invite Baoyu to meet friends at his prefecture. Baoyu was carefree at Prince Beijing's prefecture for most of the day, and when he returned to the prefecture, the sun had set. When he returned to the room, he heard that Shi Xiangyun had arrived.

Zhen Ying Lian was usually obedient. Although she really wanted to go to Jin Ling with Jia Cong, since Wu'er said it was not good to go, she gave up. Although she was reluctant in her heart, fortunately, she could endure for two months, and the young master would come home.

The important thing was that he knew what he was doing in Jin Ling. This trip to Jin Ling would probably not be peaceful. To avoid extra trouble, it was naturally better not to take them with him.

He entered Jia Mu's room. Jia Mu was happy to see him coming early in the morning, so she let him sit down and eat breakfast together.

Baoyu couldn't eat anything, only asking why Cloud Sister went to live in the East Prefecture, and coquettishly asked Jia Mu to call her back early.

Jia Mu had such thoughts about Xiangyun in her heart, and she wished she could get closer to Jia Cong, so how could she pull her back, so she took some nice words to coax Baoyu.

Baoyu couldn't see the way, and felt helpless in his heart, and couldn't think of any way to deal with it.

He suddenly remembered that yesterday at Prince Beijing's prefecture, he heard the "Parasitic Grass", in which there was a section "Coming and going without worries", wasn't that talking about himself? He couldn't help but feel full of grief and indignation.

It was better to find Sister Xi Ren to complain, so that he could get some gentle and considerate comfort from a girl, and also eliminate the lumps in his heart. Even if he died, it would be worth it....

Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun had long heard Yingchun say that in the East Prefecture, there was a habit of eating breakfast together at the table every morning. The girls and maids sat in a circle, without the empty etiquette and vulgar customs of the West Prefecture, and it was lively and fun.

They had moved to the East Prefecture for a few days. Jia Mu saw that the two granddaughters had just moved, worrying that they were not used to it, so she sent food from the West Prefecture kitchen several times every meal, until Yingchun went to say it, and then stopped.

Early in the morning, Jia Cong asked Juan'er and Si'er to invite them. It was also their first time to the East Prefecture, and they were naturally full of curiosity.

Jia Cong saw them coming, and after hearing Xiangyun's words, he asked: "Is Cloud Sister used to sleeping last night?"

Yingchun smiled: "How could Cloud Sister not be used to it? Yesterday she pulled me and talked for a long time, and I couldn't sleep because of her tossing. She fell asleep as soon as she hit the pillow, and she was still lazy in bed this morning."

Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun both laughed. Xiangyun didn't care at all, just seeing that various foods were placed on the round table in the hall early.

Rice porridge, yellow rice steamed buns, nine-steamed pickled melons, eggplant, tofu skin buns, and two bottles of boiled and filtered milk.

Everything was steaming, fragrant, and made people's appetite open.

Although these foods were considered exquisite, Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, Xiangyun, and others had lived in luxury since they were young, so they were not too novel.

It was just that eating in a circle like this was very different from the upbringing habits they had in the past, revealing a pleasing intimacy and warmth, and the things eaten in the mouth seemed to become exceptionally delicious.

Daiyu didn't eat much usually, and it was the first time Jia Cong accompanied her to eat breakfast. She actually smiled and drank a bowl of rice porridge and ate two tofu skin buns.

Seeming to be unfinished, she went to take a yellow rice steamed bun, but was stopped by Zi Juan, who was worried that her young lady couldn't bear to eat too much.

Jia Cong smiled: "Now that Sister is at the age of growing, walking in the room is not enough. Tomorrow I will make a shuttlecock for you, and you can kick it in your own courtyard.

This thing is best for exercising eyes and feet. When the body is practiced to be healthier, there will be no need for too many taboos in eating."

Xiangyun on the side said: "I envy Second Sister the most now, being able to go to the East Prefecture and live with Third Brother. Look at her, living such a carefree life.

There are no elders above to manage, whatever she wants, even breakfast is so exquisite and lively, I'm really envious to death."

Seeing Tan Chun smiled: "Then you don't have to go back in the future, just live in the East Prefecture, and let Third Brother raise you."

Xiangyun smiled and opened her eyes, not caring at all, saying: "That's great, I won't leave in the future."

Seeing Tan Chun couldn't help but laugh when she heard this, Daiyu also understood, seeing that Xiangyun didn't seem to notice, and looked at Jia Cong again, and couldn't help laughing out loud, and the atmosphere at the table became more and more active.

Only Yingchun smiled and didn't speak.

Xiangyun saw Seeing Tan Chun laughing strangely, and suddenly thought it was wrong. This was teased by Third Girl, saying something about letting Third Brother raise her, and she actually agreed without shame.

Her pretty face was flushed, and she secretly glanced at Jia Cong, seeing that his face was as usual, as if he didn't hear the difference.

She glared at Seeing Tan Chun fiercely, but although she had a sparse personality, her mind was not rough, and she pretended not to know, focusing on dealing with the yellow rice steamed bun in her hand.

Jin Ling city east, Apricot Blossom Lane Yao Family Wine Shop.

Last night, a night rain drizzled, the air was exceptionally clear, and the bluestone slabs in the small alley shone with a moist luster.

In the bedroom on the second floor of the wine shop, a young woman in her twenties sat opposite Zou Min'er. Her figure was graceful, her eyebrows were beautiful, and every smile was charming and soul-stirring.

Zou Min'er had just arrived in Jin Ling yesterday, and today she found this inconspicuous wine shop according to the list of Central Vehicle Office secret agents given by Du Qingniang.

But this wine shop owner's wife looked too conspicuous, and Zou Min'er had some complaints in her heart. Such a character as the owner's wife, was it to buy wine or buy laughter?

In the list given by Du Qingniang, the shopkeeper's wife, Xu Qiniang, was specially marked, and Zou Min'er was asked to contact this person first after arriving in Jin Ling.

The other five people on the list could all be contacted through this Xu Qiniang.

Zou Min'er went down to Jin Ling this time, ostensibly on the order of the Ministry of Rites, dispatched to the Jin Ling Music Bureau to select Jiangnan music girls and singers.

Her Central Vehicle Office identity was not convenient for more people to know. Jin Ling city was mixed with dragons and snakes, and the forces were difficult to distinguish. Having Xu Qiniang contact others was an extra layer of insurance for Zou Min'er.

Since Du Qingniang specially designated Xu Qiniang, she must be different.

Xu Qiniang said: "Three days ago, I received Du Dangtou's letter, asking me to listen to Zou girl's command. I don't know what the girl wants me to do."

Xu Qiniang was much older than Zou Min'er, and was experienced. Her seniority in the Central Vehicle Office also seemed to be much deeper than Zou Min'er's.

And Zou Min'er looked like a young girl who had not yet entered the world.

But Xu Qiniang did not have the slightest contempt or slackness when facing her, and the charming and soul-stirring expression on her face was also restrained cleanly.

She had been in Jin Ling for many years, and naturally knew deeply what kind of person Du Qingniang of the Central Vehicle Office was. This little girl could be valued by her, and must have her extraordinary points.

Xu Qiniang had been selling wine at the counter for many years, and had seen countless people coming and going from the south and north, so naturally she had some ability to recognize people.

This Zou girl was young, born delicate and pretty, but dared to enter Jin Ling alone, and found this place by herself.

The two guys in her shop were both first-class experts, with fierce faces, originally there to suppress the house for her, so as to save some crazy bees and butterflies, and people from the three mountains and five mountains from coming to the door to make trouble.

But this little girl was not afraid when she saw it, her expression was indifferent, she went straight into the inner hall, and named her to come out to meet.

Just now, Xu Qiniang talked to her for a while, and verified the secret language and the token of the Central Vehicle Office.

Found that this Zou girl's words and deeds were meticulous, dripping without leakage, not revealing the roots, and revealing an unspeakable ruthlessness in her weakness.

I don't know where Du Qingniang recruited such a strange woman.

Zou Min'er said: "This time Du Dangtou sent me down to Jin Ling to investigate the whereabouts of Zhou Zhengyang, and I need to use the connections of the Central Vehicle Office in Jin Ling.

The company commander Chen Kuishan, who was inserted into the Jin Ling Guard by the Central Vehicle Office, shows in the secret file that he was promoted from a small flag to a company commander within four years after being promoted by Zhou Zhengyang, and has a close relationship with Zhou Zhengyang.

I want to inquire about Zhou Zhengyang's whereabouts from him, or all relevant news."

Xu Qiniang said: "That day, before Yang Hongbin of the Dali Temple entered Jin Ling to arrest, Zhou Zhengyang had already fled in advance, and also took away more than a dozen confidants.

Another seven guard soldiers were killed one after another in the days before and after. It is estimated that these seven people were accomplices with Zhou Zhengyang, or knew his details.

Before Zhou Zhengyang fled, it might be that they were unwilling to be coerced, or because of other reasons, they were killed by Zhou Zhengyang to silence them, but Chen Kuishan was not among these seven corpses.

Chen Kuishan also disappeared after that day, so the greatest possibility is that it might be out of helplessness, or it might be voluntary, or other reasons, and he fled with Zhou Zhengyang.

I have sent people to investigate for many days. Someone saw him appear in a small fishing village east of Zhenjiang four days after Zhou Zhengyang fled, and there has been no news since then."

Zou Min'er asked: "What is the name of that fishing village?"

Xu Qiniang took out a map from the cabinet, spread it on the table, pointed to a place on it and said: "The name is Haishanzhu."

Zou Min'er looked at the position of Xu Qiniang's finger. Haishanzhu was located on the east side of Zhenjiang, at the junction of Changzhou and Zhenjiang, close to the entrance of the river and sea.

From here, going east along the river, passing Changzhou, Gusu, and Songjiang along the way, and then going east is the vast sea....

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 369 =====