Chapter 158 Persuading to Return
After thinking about it, Song Lingyi understood what was going on. She slowly put down her wine glass and said with a smile, "Madam's nephew is indeed quite good."
The lady heard her tone and thought there was a chance, so she immediately smiled happily.
"Before leaving the capital, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had already proposed marriage to the Duke's Mansion, and the marriage can be completed as soon as I return to the capital."
Removing that man at the appropriate time could have avoided a lot of unnecessary trouble, like now, when the room suddenly became quiet.
The lady looked embarrassed, knowing that Song Lingyi was deliberately teasing her, and she suppressed her smile: "Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
"Miss Song, are you kidding us?"
"Are you kidding? Madam, you can go and ask the prefect. The person sitting next to the prefect today is the Crown Prince's confidant, and he has been ordered to escort me back to Huaizhou City." Song Lingyi smiled lightly without changing her expression.
The ladies present here could not ask whether it was true or not at this moment, but seeing how confident she was in her statement, they felt that it was almost certain and would not dare to match people up randomly anymore.
Under the bright moonlight, the bamboo garden was filled with the sounds of feasting and drinking.
After three rounds of drinking, Song Lingyi left the table to change her clothes.
The galleries and pavilions of Heming Tower are winding. When I went there, there was someone to show me the way, but when I came back, I couldn’t find anyone.
But she was not in a hurry. After all, she didn't know anyone at the banquet and it would be uncomfortable to get along with them. It would be better to stay outside for a while.
“Ugh…Ugh…”
Song Lingyi was standing by the railing when she heard a vomiting sound and turned around.
Next to the rockery and the pond, a man in a green robe was leaning against a huge rock and vomiting, looking very uncomfortable.
After a closer look, the man seemed to be Sima Wang.
Song Lingyi suddenly remembered that at the banquet, others would avoid drinking if possible, but Wang Sima took a wine pot and kept pouring it around. He was a real veteran in the modern workplace drinking culture. It would be a pity if he didn't go into sales.
I thought this guy could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, but now it seems his alcohol tolerance is not that good.
Song Lingyi was about to leave when she accidentally discovered someone else's predicament. As soon as she turned around, she heard Wang Sima's voice behind her.
"Miss Song."
When she looked again, Wang Sima, who had been vomiting just now, had straightened his clothes and did not look at all embarrassed. He bowed to her properly.
"Sir Wang," Song Lingyi knelt in return, and out of politeness, she said a few words of concern, "It seems that the banquet will not end for a while. If Sir Wang is feeling unwell, please ask the waiter in the building to prepare a bowl of sobering soup."
Wang Sima smiled faintly and waved his hand: "It's okay, I'm used to it. I'll feel better after vomiting."
Song Lingyi had experienced how to survive in the workplace in her previous life, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy towards Sima Wang.
"Drinking too much alcohol is harmful to your health. Lord Wang, please take care of yourself."
Upon hearing this, Sima Wang's eyes flickered slightly, as if he was touched. "I heard that Miss Song returned to Huaizhou City to pay homage to her parents?"
Song Lingyi nodded.
"Huaizhou City is far less prosperous than Kyoto. It's useless to make connections here and then return to Kyoto. Besides, Captain Song is only working in Huaizhou City and has no ancestral property. After paying homage to her parents, Miss Song should set off for Beijing as soon as possible." Sima Wang said.
"..." Song Lingyi was stunned for a moment.
I didn't expect that this Sima Wang looked smooth but spoke unexpectedly directly.
After a brief exchange of words, Sima Wang returned to Zhuyuan.
Song Lingyi stood under the corridor, looking at the figure in green robe, and inexplicably felt that this Sima Wang was not simple.
…
At the same time, the Duke's Mansion was in chaos.
Lu Qian had not returned to the Duke's Mansion for a full month and a half, and he could not even be found in the Jinzun Tower where he often went. The Duke and his wife were extremely anxious. They sent people to investigate everywhere and also brought Chu Yizhou to the mansion for further questioning.
Under the dual pressure from the Duke and his wife and his own father, Chu Yizhou confessed everything that happened in the mountain villa.
"What?!"
Lu Tanwei was so angry that his face turned red. He asked, "You said Ah Qian spent money to build a golden cage. Who is the girl imprisoned in it?"
Chu Yizhou, who was kneeling in the middle of the hall with his ears pinched, was trembling and did not dare to respond to this question directly.
"Rebellious son! Tell the truth now!" Lord Chu was horrified.
Wang Shi looked at Chu Yizhou's trembling face, not daring to tell the truth, and had some guesses in her mind. She was immediately furious, but this matter had to be kept secret, and the Duke and the old lady must not know about it, otherwise the family would be in chaos.
"Husband, didn't Yizhou say that the girl was rescued that night and nothing happened? The most important thing right now is to find A Qian's whereabouts."
"That's easy to say!"
Lu Tanwei was furious and gritted his teeth, "I wish I didn't have this son. He's always causing trouble, and now he's even done something as ridiculous as imprisoning a woman!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He slammed the table and stood up, ordering the steward outside: "Tell everyone below to stop looking for him. Let him die outside!"
"What's this about dying or not?" Wang's face changed drastically, and she quickly said, "The Lu family only has one son, Qian. What unlucky words are you saying!"
Wang had already guessed that Lu Qian had not been home for a month and must have gone to Huaizhou City with his niece. She only regretted that she had not said the harsh words more clearly before, or simply agreed to his proposal to her niece.
It's better than a situation like this. I really don't know how to end it.
The news that the Duke's Mansion was searching for Lu Qian everywhere soon reached the imperial city.
As soon as the morning court session ended, the officials returned to their offices to do their work, and the Mingde Hall became solemn and deserted.
Xiao Mingyi's expression was stern after hearing the report from the Deputy Commander of the Palace Guards. After a moment's deliberation, he said, "Send a message to Huaizhou City and have Du Xuan keep an eye on him. Once he's found, immediately escort him back to the capital. If he refuses, tie him up and bring him back."
The deputy commander of the Imperial Palace nodded in agreement, his eyes sweeping across the topographic map hanging next to the ebony desk. He couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, isn't this a topographic map of several coastal cities? Could it be that pirates have invaded again?"
Xiao Mingyi picked up the fresh tea beside him, took a sip, and said calmly, "Since the founding of Dayuan, pirates have frequently invaded our borders. After suffering a heavy blow two years ago, there has been no movement for a year and a half."
"It's a good thing that you haven't violated the border. Why do you feel so worried?"
Xiao Mingyi brushed the foam from his cup and said in a deep voice, "Last year, I dispatched troops to patrol the pirates' tracks, hoping to catch them all in one fell swoop, but the pirates seemed to have vanished into thin air, and there has been no news since."
What I fear most is that everything appears calm on the surface.
The pirates are still determined to fight and have been gathering their strength for so long. There is no telling when they will raid the coastal cities again.
"Maybe he knows that Your Highness is brave and dares not commit the same crime again." said the deputy commander of the Palace Front Division.
Xiao Mingyi put down the teacup and leaned back. He placed his slender fingers on the armrest of the chair and tapped them a few times. His eyes were dark. "As long as the pirates are not eliminated, I will never be able to rest in peace."
As the deputy commander of the Palace Front Division left the main hall, a eunuch, holding a memorial in both hands, bowed and stepped through the carved wooden door. He then walked into the hall and reported, "Your Highness, the Memorial Office has an important document to report."
"Present it." Xiao Mingyi raised his hand slightly.
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