Chapter 78 Chapter 78 "Xiaoju, let's go." ...

"Of course... yes, Prime Minister."

Before Zhang Jingxian could even salute Prime Minister Xie, she was startled by his friendly tone and tightened her grip on the collection of essays.

"Okay, Ah Xian." Xie Li's eyes lingered on her, and with a faint smile, he said, "Please sit down. No need to be so polite."

After saying this, he casually lifted his wide robe and sat down by the clear pool. Compared to his nephew, his movements and temperament were more free and easy.

After all, with Xie Yun's personality, it was absolutely impossible for him to sit on the ground. Even when his legs were injured, he would only lean against the wall or tree trunk.

The posture is elegant and superior.

But Prime Minister Xie was not like that. He was like the scholar hermit described in the book, with a handsome and elegant face, and without that domineering and sharp feeling.

Unlike Gong Chengyue who was refreshing, Zhang Jingxian looked at him and always felt that she had returned to the familiar mountains. The forest was quiet and peaceful, but danger was always around.

She followed suit and sat by the clear pond, her eyes as obedient as a deer in the mountains.

When looking at Xie Li, he had a slight awe in his eyes.

"Axian, do you like my collection of essays?" Xie Li's eyes fell on the collection in her hand and asked with interest.

"Yes, I like it very much," Zhang Jingxian nodded hurriedly. "The Prime Minister's writing style is natural and sincere. It feels very detached and free to read."

There are several pine trees growing unevenly around the clear pond, their deep green color cast shadows on the water, like a quiet painting.

Xie Li listened patiently as she described the contents of her collection, smiling. At the end, he sighed, "It's like a deep mountain valley. After all these years, I finally heard a fresh evaluation."

"Don't blame me, Prime Minister. I was just thinking about it. In fact, I have lived in a place like that since I was a child." Zhang Jingxian honestly revealed her identity and experience, as if she was talking to a friend, saying that her biological mother died early and she lived with her uncle and aunt, and also talked about a conflict between her and her aunt.

"I live alone in a small courtyard at the foot of the mountain. Every day I go into the mountains to gather and hunt. Occasionally, my uncle will nag me for a few words before I go to the fields to pull weeds. Pulling weeds is the hardest part. I have to bend over and be careful not to cut my fingers on the grass leaves."

She showed her fingers to Prime Minister Xie. These were not the hands that were carefree and supported by others.

"From ancient times to the present, the people have suffered the most." Xie Li sighed and asked her about the time when she found her nephew while hunting in the mountains.

Zhang Jingxian nodded again and replied, "The envoy made a very impressive impression. If I hadn't been carrying a bow and arrow, I would never have dared to approach him."

"Qi Lang is too proud and cold-hearted. As his elder, I often have a headache. I always hope that he can change his temper one day."

Xie Li seemed worried when talking about his nephew's problems. He had taught his nephew more than once, trying to change his temper, but unfortunately the results were not satisfactory.

This time it was Zhang Jingxian who listened quietly without saying a word.

It is obvious that Prime Minister Xie has a deep uncle-nephew relationship with Xie Yun. When talking about Xie Yun's deeds from childhood to the present, he knows every detail by heart.

Arrogant, picky, stubborn, duplicitous, narrow-minded, and vindictive... but also extremely intelligent, decisive and brave, a good boy that makes the Xie family proud.

"So, Ah Xian asked Shiyilang to introduce me to her because of Qilang, right?"

As he spoke, Xie Li's tone changed slightly, and his deep eyes calmly looked at the girl in front of him. It seemed that he already understood everything without her having to speak.

"Yes," Zhang Jingxian admitted honestly, "I would like to ask the Prime Minister to help me leave the Envoy. The Envoy... to me, he is someone I must stay away from."

She clearly stated that she and Xie Yun were not from the same world, she could not give him what he wanted, and he also made her feel uneasy and afraid.

"I am just a peasant girl who works from sunrise to sunset in the mountains. I am deeply distressed by the envoy's coercion to stay with me. I don't want to be hypocritical with him all the time."

"The envoy comes from a distinguished family. Even with my limited knowledge, I know that he cannot afford to have a lowly peasant girl standing by his side in the future."

"...Even ants want to survive. I don't want to get involved in the Envoy's affairs. Please, Prime Minister, please help me because I saved the Envoy."

After the last word was uttered, Zhang Jingxian bowed deeply to Prime Minister Xie, looking discouraged yet hopeful, as if she was a deer trapped in a hunting net, begging the mountain god for help.

Xie Li looked at her with compassion for a long time, then asked her gently whether she had any feelings for Xie Yun.

"I know Qilang taught you how to read and ride, and he put a lot of thought into you. We spend every day together, but don't you have the slightest affection for him?"

"...No, the Envoy and I only have fear and anxiety. If I stay with him, there will only be one consequence, and that is death!"

There was a hint of sadness in Zhang Jingxian's eyes, but more of an emotion was determination. She still wanted to live freely and unrestrained in the mountains and forests, so how could she be willing to be trapped in a hunting net?

"Besides, I don't owe him anything."

When she said this, her expression was cold. In this life, she just wanted to have nothing to do with him.

Even if she still had feelings for him in her heart, it was still like this.

"You are also a smart girl, Ah Xian. I promise you." After a moment of silence, Xie Li handed her the scroll he brought with him. "This is a collection of essays I compiled personally. I'll give it to you."

Zhang Jingxian respectfully took the new collection of essays and mentioned her cousin and the villagers. This was the promise Xie Yunyu made to her, but she was not sure whether he would use it to threaten her.

"I see." Xie Li looked into her eyes intently and smiled. "It just so happens that I need to arrange for Shu Jian to do something. You go pack your bags and leave with him in an hour. Don't worry, Qi Lang has other important matters to attend to and won't notice your whereabouts."

"Don't hesitate, Ah Xian. You saved Qilang and also saved his leg. You deserve some of this."

"Thank you, Prime Minister."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingxian thanked him very sincerely. She did not trust the wrong person. Prime Minister Xie was indeed a benevolent, upright and wise gentleman.

When she returned to her residence, she quickly packed some clothes, took a water bag and some easy-to-carry gold, and held the yellow warbler's wooden cage in her arms.

Looking around, her eyes fixed on the four big characters on the wall. She walked forward and gently stroked them with her fingers.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, she headed towards the stable.

Since he is not a gentleman, she will be a villain and take the foal away.

In the stable, the foal was drinking water. Suddenly, it saw a human with a tense face and wagged its tail in confusion.

Are you going out again today? But why is she alone?

The black horse opened its eyes and looked over, raising its hoof excitedly.

It’s good to go out. As an energetic horse, what it looks forward to most every day is running with humans!

However, the result disappointed the black horse. The skinny human didn't even look at it, and left with the foal and a yellow oriole with rolling eyes, leaving it behind.

The black horse snorted unwillingly. Where was its owner at this moment?!

-

morning.

In a dimly lit room, Yi Yu shook his slightly sore wrist and wiped the blood off the back of his hand without changing his expression.

Wei walked over and whispered something in his ear. Yi Yu's expression changed slightly and he walked out of the room.

The bright sunlight shone on his face. He knew clearly where he should go next, but he hesitated and waited for a quarter of an hour before walking towards the stable.

Last night, Yi Yu, Xie and others were very busy. A group of people under the eldest son were handed over to them, and they interrogated them for a long time without stopping.

When Mr. Gongcheng woke up from his drunken stupor, he immediately pulled the envoy to take over the power of the eldest prince. According to him, after being idle for so long, he finally had something to do.

They had to settle everything before returning to Changling. At this time, he was a hardworking and diligent counselor.

After hearing Gong Chengyue's instructions, Yi Yu did not dare to slack off at all. He and Xie were busy almost all night long. He had no choice but to ask Xie to feed the more than ten horses in the stable.

It’s not that the servants of the Xie family treated the horses harshly, but Yi Yu himself got an extra batch of millet and wheat as extra food for the horses in the stable.

However, when Wei came back from feeding the horses, he told him something unusual.

In the stable, the chestnut mare's foal was led away.

"I think it was Madam Zhang who took the colt away. Yu, do you think we should report this to the envoy?"

He was torn. Madam Zhang had absconded before, so he should have told the envoy immediately. But Madam Zhang was now a distinguished guest of the envoy's household, having left the Xie family in good faith yesterday. He was afraid that his unnecessary action would upset her.

After thinking about it, Wei told Yi Yu about this matter and let Yi Yu decide.

After all, Madam Zhang had a better relationship with Yi Yu, and he also helped Yi Yu feed the horses.

...The young soldier walked to the stable, and when he saw the empty space next to Ta Mo, he lowered his eyes.

"Yu, I'll treat you to some grape drink I brewed some other day."

"Yu, thank you for taking care of me."

"Yu, even though I've become a high-ranking guest, I still miss my own home."

Recalling what the woman had said, he stood quietly in the stable, waiting for time to pass little by little until the sun was high in the sky.

Ta Mo couldn't help but arch his arm, and Yi Yu woke up as if from a dream. He finally raised his eyes and walked towards the study step by step.

However, before he could report the matter to the envoy, the maid A Luo came hurriedly and knelt on the hard and cold ground with a plop.

Gong Chengyue was writing something quickly with a pen in his hand. When he heard the noise, he yawned, put down the pen, and gently asked A Luo to stand up.

"Serve the food, please. We've been busy all night and are really tired and hungry."

"Isn't that right, Lord Xie?"

He teased his good friend with a cheerful face. How could he not be happy after setting up a plan to solve a worry in his heart? In the future, they would be the ones who would truly take over the eldest branch of the Xie family.

Gong Chengyue had disliked Xie Ping, the eldest son of the Xie family, for several years. No matter what brotherhood they had, as long as he stood in Xie Yun's way, he would be eliminated sooner or later.

However, he had hinted to Envoy Xie several times, but received no response. Although Xie Ping's move this time was risky, it was exactly what Gong Chengyue wanted. Therefore, after sobering up, he couldn't wait to drag Xie Yun along to devour the forces under Xie Ping.

Those who have ulterior motives are all eliminated, while those who know the current situation are sent to do some unimportant tasks.

They had been away from Changling for too long and it was impossible for them to stay in Jiankang for many days. The sooner they dealt with the problem, the sooner they could leave Jiankang.

Hearing Gong Chengyue's joke, Xie Yun put down the letter Xie Ping had exchanged with someone four years ago, and looked at the maid kneeling on the ground with cold eyes.

"What's the matter?" He didn't realize at first that the person was A Luo.

A Luo raised his head in panic, but before he could say a word, Xie Yun exerted a little force with his finger bones.

The letter in his hand was roughly torn into a big hole.

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The author has something to say: Muah, Ah Xian is gone! Sprinkle flowers~