Chapter 65 065 Just an old friend

Huang Pu snorted and looked at the screen with dissatisfaction. He thought that judging from how he had been hiding in a panic just now, he would not dare to come out. Since that was the case, he said directly, "I was thinking of letting you cousins ​​meet, but there are always some irrelevant people crowding in. You go to the study in the front yard and wait. I will have He Tai go and call Zi Zhan."

"Grandfather!" Qingli didn't want Meng Qingshan to be spoken to like that, but she also didn't want to go against her grandfather's wishes. She was caught in the middle and had a hard time. After calling out, she thought about it again and said something she thought was reasonable, "The past can't be changed, the present is the most important."

"Hmph!" Huang Pu said discontentedly to the screen.

Meng Qingshan's expression darkened. He thought to himself that the old fox was not afraid of him being there at all, so blatantly trying to sow discord between them. But then he thought of how the little fox could stand up for him, and the corners of his mouth, which he had suppressed, involuntarily turned up. His eyes darted around, and when he looked at the fourth prince in front of him, his expression froze. Could it be that the old fox was up to something else?

Ling Zizhan felt a cold wind behind him. He moved his hands and feet slightly, but unexpectedly bumped into the screen with a dull thud. The voices outside suddenly stopped. The two of them held their breath and listened intently, no longer daring to relax.

Qingli coaxed him into telling her about Bai Lufeng's situation. Seeing that her grandfather wasn't so angry anymore, she got up to leave. Before leaving, she glanced hesitantly at the screen.

At dawn, Qingli and her party left the Huang residence. As soon as they drove out of the alley, they heard the loud sound of horses' hooves behind them. Qingli lifted the curtain and looked out. The bright sunlight shone on his face, making him look exceptionally handsome. He was dressed in a dark blue auspicious cloud patterned narrow-sleeved outfit. He had no attendants with him. A small bundle was attached to the saddle. He held the reins in one hand and the whip in the other. He looked very dashing and unrestrained.

Qingli had not seen him for several days. Although they kept in touch, when she suddenly met his eyes, she subconsciously lowered her eyelashes. Her mind wandered, and she suddenly realized the direction he came from. He had also come out of the alley.

Meng Qingshan watched as she propped herself up, blinking her eyes as she looked back, innocent and adorable. Realizing she didn't know he already knew her identity, the humiliation he felt from being ridiculed by the old fox vanished instantly. He was her grandfather; how could he possibly break them up?!

Meng Qingshan suddenly had an idea and decided to do it both ways. Since the old fox could say one thing to someone's face and another behind their back, so could he. Thinking of this, he said, "The world is so vast, and we met here. It's truly a meeting of minds."

...

I'm not so curious anymore.

Qingli's ears burned at those words. In broad daylight, he knew how much suspicion those words would arouse. Qingli had already seen the teasing glances around him, and hurriedly withdrew his body, pulling the curtain down.

The next moment, the carriage sank, and the door opened from the outside. Meng Qingshan glanced at it, and Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao had already scurried out like quails. For this trip to Bailu Peak, she had prepared another carriage for all the necessary items, and the two of them quickly went to the back.

Meng Qingshan sat down casually, and the carriage started moving. Qingli was still confused and asked blankly, "How did you get in?"

"I am too busy and exhausted to ride a horse."

Seeing that he did indeed look tired, Qingli didn't want to send him away. However, his imposing manner, having spent so much time navigating the inner circle of the powerful and influential, carried an unspoken sense of coercion. Qingli's palms warmed slightly as she hung up the curtain, looked outside, and exclaimed in surprise, "They've left the city gates!"

Qingli has been feeling increasingly at ease these days, but she only dares to wander around within Kyoto. This is the first time she has been able to go out so easily. It is late spring and early summer, and the warm breeze is gentle and unhurried, sweeping softly on her face. The trees are shady and the grass is green. Occasionally, she passes by a small lotus pond where the lotus leaves are just beginning to unfold. Just looking at it makes her feel refreshed and relaxed.

Meng Qingshan didn't look outside, but seeing her bright eyes and the smile on her lips, she was a hundred times more beautiful than the spring scenery outside.

Bailu Peak is famous far and wide. The road is wide and flat, and there are many carriages coming and going. There are many tea stalls and restaurants along the roadside, with shouts and calls of vendors rising and falling. Qingli found a shady spot under a tree at the fork in the road and waited for Ling Shuyao and Tang Shuqing.

Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao couldn't wait any longer. With her permission, they walked over to the roadside vendors. Qing Li ordered the driver to open the carriage door, and a refreshing breeze filled in.

The first to arrive was the Second Prince, dressed in a dark, fitted outfit with his hair tied up in a black jade style, exuding an air of aloofness.

The two had met at the Huang residence a moment earlier. Qingli pretended not to know them and simply nodded. Ling Zizhan looked at the two of them, unsure of how to speak to maintain their secrets. Fortunately, he was usually taciturn and didn't feel awkward at this moment.

Being in the suburbs, where no one knew her, Qingli felt at ease. As she stepped out of the carriage, the old woman beside her had been watching the nobleman closely, hoping that the silver that slipped through his fingers would be enough for her family to eat and drink for half a year. However, she did not dare to offend him and stood three steps away, respectfully saying, "Miss, young master, would you like to try some wild fruits from the mountains?"

The old woman's fingers were rough, covered with fine lines and scars, stained with a purplish-red color. She carried a small basket filled with plump, red fruits, some of which had a purplish-red hue. Qingli had never expected that wild fruits from the mountains could have such an alluring luster, and she was momentarily tempted.

"cousin..."

"Um."

"Um."

Qingli stiffened, genuinely surprised by the two sounds beside her. After a couple of breaths, she turned to Meng Qingshan and said casually, "They look really fresh. Let's buy some and try them."

When the old woman heard that a distinguished person wanted to buy it, she praised the fruit repeatedly for its sweetness. Her loud voice broke the silence between the three of them, and Qingli secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Qingli!"

Qingli turned around and saw that Tang Shuqing had arrived in front of her. He jumped down from the carriage without waiting. Ling Shuyao also got down from the carriage behind her, supported by her maid. The three of them huddled together, chattering excitedly.

Ling Shuyao was dressed in a red dress, adorned with dazzling pearls and jade, her skin fair and rosy, radiating joy and vitality as she looked around the crowd.

Tang Shuqing teased, "Princess, what are you looking for?"

Are you looking for someone?

"Who are you looking for? Tell me their name, and I'll call out their name for you."

Ling Shuyao blushed at the teasing, scratched Tang Shuqing, and said reproachfully, "That'll teach you to talk nonsense."

Tang Shuqing dodged around Qingli, who was caught in the middle and suffered an undeserved misfortune, but she couldn't help but laugh happily.

Ling Shuyao stomped her foot. Qingli caught sight of the person out of the corner of her eye, nudged the sulking Ling Shuyao, and said in a slightly raised voice, "Our Second Princess didn't send anyone. She came by herself."

Ling Shuyao blushed and hid beside Qing Li, her shy appearance quite amusing.

Lu Yunye had been confined to the ancestral hall for a long time. He found an opportunity to run out and walked towards the three people standing outside. He clasped his hands and said, "Fourth Prince, Commander Meng, Brother Yanqing."

Tang Yanqing was about to take the imperial examination and had been studying hard at home these days. She even carried her books with her on the way here. Only when I saw her so carefree did I feel that it was all worth it.

The woman was laughing and talking inside, while the four of them stood outside chatting.

The wind blew gently, causing his black hair to sway in a graceful arc before falling back down, repeating the cycle endlessly. Qingli looked around and saw him standing at the edge of the shade of a tree, the dappled sunlight making his eyes sparkle. For a moment, Qingli's ears went silent; the surrounding sounds seemed to be muffled and indistinct, as if separated by a membrane.

Her heart pounded like a drum, growing ever clearer. She averted her gaze in panic, trying to calm her racing heart.

A series of chaotic hoofbeats drifted from afar, drawing everyone's attention. Soon, three carriages emerged from the opposite road, escorted by burly men. They sped towards the road, kicking up dust and displaying an arrogant demeanor. The carriages bore the Duan family's emblem and pounded against each other, making a loud, clattering sound.

Tang Yanqing's face paled instinctively, and she turned to look at Meng Qingshan.

Meng Qingshan narrowed his eyes, stared sharply for a moment, then turned and walked towards Qingli, shielding her in front of him. His tall and broad-shouldered figure enveloped Qingli, calming her restless heart. Qingli was captivated by his powerful gaze and completely forgot the unpleasant things that had gradually faded from memory.

Let's go.

The three returned to their respective carriages, and casual conversations arose from the roadside: "Has the Duan family prospered?"

"The Duan family? The newly appointed Vice Minister of Justice?"

"Indeed, the transfer order was issued after the New Year. I heard that the Duan family's children are participating in this examination. Tsk tsk, I guess they will be another prominent family."

"That's really impressive. I've never heard of the Duan family in Kyoto before."

"Hey, that's just your ignorance. The Duan family must have a strong foothold in the capital, otherwise, how could they have transferred him out of Xunzhou?!"

"What foundation?"

“...”

As the carriage drove away and the sounds faded into the distance, Qingli's heart pounded wildly. She tried to reassure herself that since they hadn't met, there wouldn't be any unexpected trouble, but she still felt short of breath. Frustrated, she lifted the curtain and saw Meng Qingshan riding beside her. The road up the mountain was getting narrower, and the speed was slowing down. He sat upright on his horse, and when he heard the sound, he turned his head and looked over, saying, "The scenery is beautiful ahead, but the road is winding and troublesome. Don't be in a hurry."

Her words were calm and composed, and Qing Li's heart gradually calmed down. She was no longer the person she used to be; she was just a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. What did she have to fear?

Meanwhile, the carriage entered the city gate, and a man caught up from behind, leaning against the carriage and reporting, "Young master, I asked the vendors, and indeed the two of them called each other Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao."

The curtain was lifted by a folding fan inside. The fan ribs were made of crystal-clear white jade, and the fan surface was made of light blue silk gauze. The person inside had a pair of peach blossom eyes and looked at her sideways, revealing exceptionally delicate and three-dimensional features. She smiled slightly as she listened, appearing extremely charming and sinister.

"Follow carefully, don't get spotted."

"Yes!" The man turned around and ran towards the outskirts of the city.

Inside the carriage, the man leaned back lazily on the young woman's lap, tapping his palm with a folding fan, clearly in high spirits.

The woman chuckled softly. She had gone to great lengths to get into the capital, and she didn't want to be forgotten so easily. Feigning jealousy, she asked, "Young Master, which young lady have you taken a fancy to as soon as we arrived in the capital?"

Duan Heng glanced at her, his gaze settling on her eyes. They bore a resemblance to hers, and he grew more patient. He twisted her body in front of him, causing her to gasp for breath, and said coldly, "Just an old acquaintance."

The woman was puzzled and repeated it in a low voice. She wanted to ask more questions, but seeing her master resting with his eyes closed, she dared not make a sound. She suddenly remembered the secrets of the mansion. She had heard that her master had once acquired a beautiful woman, whom he loved and cherished, but who later disappeared without a trace.

An old friend? Perhaps someone unforgettable yet unattainable.

After Qingli Bailufeng returned, she was somewhat uneasy and told Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao about it. The two of them were also shocked and turned pale.

"You should stay home these days and let Granny Qiu take Jiang Shui with you."

"yes."

Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao had no relatives or friends in the Duan family. They had lived in constant fear and trepidation, and now that they finally had such a good life, they never wanted to go back.

Seeing the two of them become hesitant and awkward, Qingli comforted them, "Fear is useless. We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Qingli is not afraid of the Duan family. They have just entered the capital and their foundation is not yet solid. If they still harbor ill intentions towards her and it is revealed that they once attached themselves to the Prince of Dingxi's mansion, that would be a crime punishable by the execution of their entire family.