003

The sun is quite scorching.

Cui Huaiji felt stuffy just sitting here.

Shi An was sent by him to arrest someone.

I scanned the endless stream of people and sighed inwardly.

Qingzhou is quite lively, on par with Sheng'an.

Cui Huaiji stared at the bustling crowd in boredom, his eyes were lazy and he looked listless. When exposed to the sun, he looked even more listless.

“Bang!”

Someone was kicked out.

The laziness in his eyes disappeared instantly, and his sharp gaze was like a cold sword, piercing the man's heart and making him want to run away subconsciously.

"Yo, still running?"

The teacup in his hand flew out suddenly and hit him accurately on the back of the head.

The man in gray fell down with a short groan. When he tried to get up again, he was suddenly stepped on by his father's foot and fell down. His side of the face rubbed against the ground and it hurt so much.

I don't know where he got the folding fan from, but he opened it leisurely, shaking it while rubbing the gray-clothed man's back with his toes.

The man in gray was in great pain. He only caught a glimpse of the man's compassionate face with a cold light in his eyes, as if he was looking at a vengeful ghost who was about to be crushed to ashes.

His heart immediately sank.

"master."

Shi An waved his hand to signal his followers to take the man down.

Cui Huaiji lifted his noble feet and let him go as if he was doing him a favor, the folding fan in front of his chest still swaying gently.

[Yang Chaoxue, I wonder what expression you will have when you see me? ]

Um?

He was familiar with this voice. Who else could it be but Little Li Nu?

Sure enough, he saw his little fox slave at the window on the second floor diagonally opposite.

Opposite her is...?

Cui Huaiji narrowed his eyes and recognized the man as Xu Nanheng, and a faint feeling of unhappiness dissipated in his heart.

Shi An had just turned around to deal with someone when his master disappeared.

"master?"

*

Song Jin has tolerated him for a long time.

Xu Nanheng confirmed that she was really going to Sheng'an, and excitedly talked about her life in Sheng'an and the good friends and confidants she made.

She didn't like to hear this. Xu Nanheng's affairs had nothing to do with her anymore.

[Tsk, so annoying, even a peacock with its tail spread out is not as annoying as you.]

She really couldn't bear to listen any more, "Your Highness, Sheng'an is so prosperous and charming. I wonder if Your Highness has had one or two handsome men in Sheng'an before?"

As if afraid that he would misunderstand her, Song Jin looked at him timidly, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

"I know I shouldn't ask these questions. Your Highness is a prince, and there must be countless young ladies who admire your Highness. Song Jin is just a merchant's daughter, and it is a blessing to be favored by your Highness, but I still feel uncomfortable in my heart..."

Song Jin is famous for her beauty in Qingzhou. She is like a lotus in full bloom, so beautiful that even if she is surrounded by mud, it cannot diminish her stunning beauty.

It is because of this kind of her that Xu Nanheng can't forget her.

"No!" He denied it flatly. His attitude seemed firm, but he hesitated the next moment. "But I have a childhood sweetheart, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue, but there is absolutely nothing between her and me!"

Hearing Yang Chaoxue's name from his own mouth, Song Jin's long suppressed anger released a little. If it was really innocent, why hesitate? He could just say it directly.

She had seen it all with her own eyes in her previous life, yet she was still being hypocritical here.

[What a pure and innocent person! I must be blind to fall in love with you! ]

As if afraid that she might have misunderstood, Xu Nanheng hurriedly explained, but suddenly he heard a mocking sneer coming from the window.

Both of them were interrupted by the sudden sound.

"Marquis Quling?"

Yes, the sneer just now came from him.

Cui Huaiji sat on the windowsill, leisurely bent one leg, rested one hand on his knee, and waved his folding fan with the other.

He came quietly, and they were so focused on each other that no one noticed his presence, and no one knew how much he had heard.

However, his expression was calm and he seemed to have no interest in joining their conversation, so his appearance must be for other reasons.

Xu Nanheng breathed a sigh of relief without leaving a trace.

But before he could vent his anger, Cui Huaiji almost killed him with one breath because of the words in his mouth!

"Oh, did the Seventh Prince just mention Miss Yang? I remember that she had a good relationship with Concubine Liang, and I heard that Concubine Liang intended to introduce her to you. So Your Highness has no interest in her?"

These words were clearly directed at Xu Nanheng, but his eyes rested on Song Jin. His eyes curved slightly, and he seemed very happy. The gentle smile diluted the coldness on his face, and he showed a bit of the demeanor of a gentleman.

He quickly raised his folding fan and placed it against his chin, pretending to be deep in thought, and advised her seriously, "In this case, Your Highness should explain it to her as soon as possible so that she doesn't wait in vain."

"No...I..."

Xu Nanheng looked at her subconsciously.

[Come on, why don't you explain? You have nothing to say, right? Ah, can you please take me away, my benefactor? I don't want to sit with him at all!]

Cui Huaiji raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at her meaningfully, and decided to show his rare kindness: "Your Highness, someone is coming from the West Street shop."

Song Jin was confused. Who was coming from the West Street shop?

She saw Xu Nanheng's face change drastically and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes. This was the first time she saw Xu Nanheng with this expression.

Xu Nanheng didn't bother to say anything more to her. He said goodbye in a hurry and ran away. His panicked back looked as if he was rushing to the scaffold.

"Is there any problem with the shop on West Street?"

Cui Huaiji smiled without saying anything, lowered his eyes and looked at the people running hurriedly towards West Street downstairs, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

[Nothing, just burned his hidden stake.]

"Miss Song, it's time to go back."

*

On the way back, the two walked side by side, one taller than the other, in the bustling street.

Cui Huaiji lowered his eyebrows. They were very close, only a fist away from each other. They could feel each other's hot breath. The faint fragrance on her body was not unpleasant, not the heavy smell of powder. The round balls on her head trembled slightly with her steps, like extremely sensitive cat ears. You don't need to touch it to know that it must feel good.

He calmly suppressed his sudden impulse.

"Miss Song, are you planning to go to Sheng'an?"

[The little tufts on the little fox slave’s head are so cute, I want to touch them!]

Song Jin tilted his head to look at him, and the corner of his mouth twitched noticeably.

What little bun? That’s her favorite style of hair!

She was already numb to the name of Little Cat Slave, so she turned around and said, "Well, I've always heard that Sheng An is a man of great talent, so I guess it's not surprising that he's going."

I silently complained in my heart: [It’s fake, what kind of magnificent palace is this? It’s full of evil spirits and monsters. ]

She had lived in Sheng'an for some time and knew very well that Sheng'an was not as beautiful as it seemed. Beneath the power, there were deep bones buried.

She was quite insightful. It was rare for Cui Huaiji to look at her with a different eye. He originally thought she was just a young lady who was ignorant of the world, but he didn't expect that she was quite smart and capable.

"Not really," he looked at the bustling crowd ahead, his eyes flickering with a cunning light, "Sheng Anyuan is not as good as you think. If you want to gain a foothold, you still need a backer."

The people beside him were silent.

[Backer? I once thought Xu Nanheng would be my backer, but in the end I still died at his hands&%￥#*]

Cui Huaiji could no longer hear the voices behind her. The harsh mute sound made him frown, wondering about the part of her words "die in his hands".

[She actually considers Xu Nanheng as her backer? Stupid.]

Thinking of the little kitten he had taken a fancy to dying at the hands of Xu Nanheng, a cold murderous intent flashed across his eyes.

He pointed out in an unskilled way: "The Queen is my elder sister, and I am distracting His Majesty. I think there is no reputation in Sheng'an that I, the Marquis of Quling, cannot get."

Song Jin didn't understand what was going on and looked at him suspiciously as he abruptly changed the subject in the rain and mist.

[What do you mean, Lord Hou wants me to use him as a backer? ]

Cui Huaiji was secretly delighted, as this was exactly what he meant.

[Song Jin, what are you thinking about? How can a merchant girl like you get close to the support of Marquis Quling? Just think of other ways.]

Cui Huaiji's face darkened. He was the Marquis of Quling. He took the initiative to ask others to use him as a backer, but was rejected?

[Good job, little cricket slave!]

Song Jin watched him walk away in astonishment, not understanding why he was angry.

*

Late at night, Song Jin couldn't sleep again, this time because of Cui Huaiji.

The vision of Cui Huaiji's tragic death in exile kept flashing before her eyes. She couldn't remain indifferent but she could do nothing about it. Things had to be handled slowly. Now that Cui Huaiji was staying in the Song Mansion, she would take good care of him and make sure he lived comfortably.

By the way, she remembered that Cui Huaiji loved foxes very much, so she might as well find one to keep him company so that he wouldn’t be bored living in the Song Mansion.

Song Jin did what he said. After waking up, he asked Qing Wu to go find it, and specifically asked for a white cat with blue eyes.

The blue-eyed white cat is a very rare breed. Because of its clear green eyes, clean and bright, it is usually offered to the royal family first, and then to the nobles of Sheng'an, but there are exceptions. Some cat owners will secretly sell a few to make money, so it is not difficult to buy them.

Song Jin excitedly carried the white cat to find Cui Huaiji.

"My Lord!"

The voice arrived before the person did. Cui Huaiji took a sip of tea, a casual smile appeared in his eyes, and he watched her jumping and running towards him, just like the little fox slaves in the mansion who rushed to him every time he returned home.

Something in my heart softened.

"What is it?"

The little fox slave looked mysterious, holding something white in his arms.

His eyes rested on her arms.

Song Jin showed an expression that showed he had expected this, and a big smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, bright and beautiful.

“Dangdangdang——”

The whiteness finally showed up, and the round green eyes looked at him timidly, curling up in Song Jin's arms. The little fox slave was not afraid of strangers, staring at him and calling softly a few times, which made her heart melt into a pool of water.

This cute little fox slave was so cute that she was reluctant to give it away when she got it.

It's so cute! No wonder it's so popular!

The little fox slave stood up by stepping on her arm. Its limbs were short and round. It stared with its round green eyes and meowed softly, as if it wanted Cui Huaiji to hold it.

Song Jin also looked at him expectantly, his almond-shaped eyes clear and bright.

One big, one small, they are surprisingly similar.

The fingers on his knees curled up slightly, and Cui Huaiji felt as if something hit his heart for a moment.

But he is the Marquis of Quling, and his self-control is unmatched by ordinary people.

[How did the little lizard know that I like lizards? He even specially found a pair of blue-eyed girls. Is he the same as those people?]

Hearing this, Song Jin almost bit his tongue.

How could she forget that Cui Huaiji's love for the fox slave was jaw-dropping, and everyone felt that a beast had no right to be favored by him.

As time went by, those people set their sights on Bi Nu and tried to harm him under the pretext of sending Bi Nu away.

She was afraid that Cui Huaiji would also suspect her because of this.

Song Jin quickly explained: "I was afraid that the Marquis would be too bored in Qingzhou, so I thought of finding a fox slave to accompany him. Song Jin swears that I have no other intentions--"

[My Lord, I really just wanted to buy you a fox slave because I was afraid you would be bored! If I lie, God will punish me with lightning! ]

The next second, the clear sky suddenly turned gloomy, and a loud thunder in the sky interrupted her oath.

[No way, even God is against me? I really don’t have any other thoughts! ]

Song Jin was so anxious that he almost cried.

The weather is so bad.

Cui Huaiji glanced at her with a flirtatious look, and the anxiety in her eyes almost overflowed. She suddenly had the idea of ​​playing with her: "Even God can't stand it. Does Miss Song really have ulterior motives?"

The little fox slave seemed to sense her eagerness and suddenly jumped out of her arms and landed on his legs accurately, raising his little head and crying.

The palm of his hand fell involuntarily on the little fox slave.

[This beetle slave has a round and mellow face, very cute, so I should reluctantly accept her feelings.]

What did she hear?!

He said that she had ulterior motives in sending the beetle slave, but in his heart he was very honest. He liked her, so what was the point of mocking her for having ulterior motives? !

Song Jin suddenly felt a burning anger in his heart.

[I have ulterior motives? Cui Huaiji, you are almost sticking your eyes on me and you are still mocking me? You deserve to be killed by Xu Nanheng in the past two years!!!]

This person was so angry that he started talking without thinking, without considering the consequences.

Cui Huaiji's face suddenly darkened, his eyes were like cold knives, revealing a hint of danger: "Say it again!"