Miao Xiaoguang searched around with sleepy eyes, but he didn't see any silver. Instead, he saw a pair of high-soled black boots that were obviously very expensive.

He was stunned for a moment, and looked up along the man's legs, and met Chang Xi's impatient eyes.

Miao Xiaoguang was completely awake this time. Having worked in the palace for many years, he had of course seen the eunuch next to the prince. In his mind, that was the untouchable pinnacle of official career! Miao Xiaoguang was surprised and frightened by the sudden arrival of a big shot. He quickly stood up, saluted and asked, "Eunuch Chang, what are you doing here?"

Chang Xi glanced at him, lowered his voice and said, "Come out and talk."

Miao Xiaoguang followed him out happily. Chang Xi took him to a quiet street corner, turned around to see that no one was around, and took out a silver coin from his sleeve: "Your master is now the steward of the Jibei Palace?"

Miao Xiaoguang's eyes almost fell out when he saw the silver, and he nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes."

Chang Xi asked: "Then you can naturally enter and leave the Jibei Palace at will?"

Miao Xiaoguang replied: "Of course."

"Do me a favor, and this silver is yours." Chang Xi raised his chin at him, and took out a bamboo tube from his sleeve, "Here is a secret letter, to the Jibei Princess. How about it, simple?"

Miao Xiaoguang was not a fool, he still doubted: "Are you asking me to be an informant? No, this is not possible, I will be kicked out!"

"Not an informant." Chang Xi glared at him, "I just asked you to pass a message, deliver a message, and run an errand. Even when two countries are at war, they don't kill envoys. What's wrong with you passing the message? If the princess asks, just tell the truth."

Miao Xiaoguang licked his lips: "If it's that simple, why did you spend a lot of money to find me?"

Chang Xi choked. What can he do? The princess guarded the palace as strictly as an iron barrel. The guards at the door were like wooden stakes. When they asked if the visitor was from the prince's mansion, they were unwilling to pass on the message. They treated them as poisonous toads and almost drove them away with a trident. He really couldn't find any other way, except Miao Xiaoguang, who looked desperate for money.

Chang Xi did not answer his question. He put away the silver ingot with a sullen face and threatened him, "If you don't want to, forget it. But I had a good relationship with your master before, and I thought it would be good for you. I think you don't need this little money. Forget it, I'll find someone else..." He turned around and was about to leave.

"Eunuch Chang!" Miao Xiaoguang hurriedly grabbed him, "Of course there is no problem delivering the letter, it's just a small errand! But, can I take a look at what is written in the letter first? If it is something treasonous, I'm afraid I'll lose my head!"

Chang Xi said, "It's up to you." He threw the bamboo tube into Miao Xiaoguang's arms.

Miao Xiaoguang took it and read the words on it in the dim morning light. There were only a few names: Feng Yongjia, Xu Guang, Zhou Jiangcheng, Qiu Lingjun...

Miao Xiaoguang asked, "What message do you need me to convey?"

Chang Xi said, "You only need to ask the princess if she wants to know the fate of these people."

This is not difficult and there should be no danger. Miao Xiaoguang was relieved.

He patted his chest and assured, "Eunuch Chang, don't worry, I will definitely do it!"

Chang Xi instructed, "Remember to avoid the prince. Find an opportunity when the prince is not at home, and then ask again. If you do well, I will give you another ingot of gold!"

Miao Xiaoguang agreed, and then happily took the silver from Chang Xi, put it in his mouth and bit it, thanked him, and went into the clinic.

Chang Xi lifted her hair, smiled meaningfully, and happily got on the carriage parked by the roadside.

He just didn't believe that if the princess knew how those people died tragically and how cruel Pei Yuan was, she would not be afraid? The simpler a person is, the more afraid they will be.

...

Two days later, Baoning went to the clinic to visit Manager Miao.

He seemed to be in much better spirits, leaning on the couch to drink soup. Baoning comforted him and asked him to have a good rest. He said that he had rented a small house for him and asked him to move there to recuperate in two days. Manager Miao was shocked after hearing this. Baoning was going to use this incident to drive him out!

He was worried and scared, and hurriedly admitted his mistake, but Baoning didn't listen. He left some money, smiled and said goodbye to him, and went back home.

A few days ago, she was still troubled, how could the nail inserted by Emperor Zhou be removed without making a sound, she didn't expect it to be so coincidental. Jixiang's bite solved her biggest worry.

When Pei Yuan returned home, Baoning was stewing potatoes and pork ribs, and the aroma of meat could be smelled at the gate of the courtyard.

"What a good day is this? Such a big fish and meat." Pei Yuan put down the sword and walked to the kitchen, "Did you get rich?"

"Look at your aggrieved look, when you were not rich, would you eat wild vegetable soup?" Baoning called him over and poked the meat on the ribs with chopsticks to show him, "Look, is it crispy? It will definitely melt in a bite, and it is very tasty."

Pei Yuan said: "Let me taste it."

Baoning picked up a chopstick of meat, and then fed it to Pei Yuan's mouth with his hand, and asked: "Is it salty or light?"

"Just right." Pei Yuan's hand naturally rested on her waist, "It would be even better if you had a drink."

Bao Ning snorted, "You wish, don't even think about drinking again in this life."

She remembered something and threatened him, "You are not allowed to drink secretly when you go out tomorrow without my supervision. I will let Chen Jia watch you, if you drink secretly, don't even think about entering my house."

Tao Maobing died in that assassination, and the position of Kyoto garrison could not be filled by a suitable person for a while, so Pei Yuan took over part of the responsibilities and needed to patrol for a few days every half month. Set off tonight and return in the morning of two or three days later.

Pei Yuan asked: "Then what should I drink when I'm thirsty? Look how hot it is at night. If you leave plain water outside for a while, it will become lukewarm and won't quench your thirst at all."

"I've definitely thought about this!"

Bao Ning put down the spatula, tiptoed to take down a leather pot on the shelf, and handed it to Pei Yuan like a treasure, "It contains red dates stewed with brown sugar, and it's iced! The workmanship of this pot is very wonderful. There is a small layer between the outer skin and the inner pot, and it's filled with crushed ice. I guess it won't melt until the evening. Drinking it will quench your thirst and also nourish your body."

Pei Yuan touched the pot and it was indeed icy and refreshing.

"Why put something else in this pot? You have to put tonic soup in it. If the smell gets out and people ask me what I drank, I'll be so embarrassed!"

Bao Ning said, "With your face gloomy, who dares to ask you? If I have to joke, you say it behind my back. You can't hear it, so just pretend you don't know. Anyway, you have to drink the tonic soup. I'll let Chen Jia watch you drink it. If you pour it out secretly, don't go home."

Pei Yuan's face was not looking good. Bao Ning pushed his arm and said, "Hurry up and take the steamed buns out. There is still some time after dinner. I will take you to see the chickens I raised." They had dinner

in the yard. The breeze was very comfortable on the summer night, and they could smell the fragrance of flowers.

The steamed buns were cooked in the pork ribs soup. The dough underneath was soaked in the color and flavor of the broth and tasted delicious. Pei Yuan looked at the steamed buns and suddenly remembered what they did in the small yard at the beginning. Bao

Ning often made such dishes at that time. The yard was small, the weather was a bit cold, and there were many living things in the yard. For the first time, he truly felt that life was such an interesting thing. There was no need to fight on the battlefield, no need for swords and blood, and some trivial things were already very exciting.

Bao Ning watched Pei Yuan finish a pot of spareribs and throw the bones to the two dogs. She was satisfied and took Pei Yuan to the south yard: "You came back too late these days. It was dark and the chicks went into the coop, so you couldn't see them. This time, I'll take you to see them. They are so velvety and interesting!"

Pei Yuan stared at her two short legs and suddenly asked: "Ning Ning, do you think you can hit my head when you jump up?"

Bao Ning stopped in surprise and asked him in disbelief: "What did you say?"

Pei Yuan said seriously: "Nothing."

Bao Ning understood and said angrily: "You are mocking me."

"I don't." Pei Yuan touched her face, "but I heard that jumping can really make you taller. How about this, let's go back later, I'll draw a line on the wall according to your height, and when I'm not at home, you try to jump up and touch the door frame, and when I come back, we'll compare with that line and see if it works?"

Bao Ning slapped his hand away: "I haven't yet complained about your dark skin, but you complain that I'm not tall enough. I'll give you an idea. You can paint your teeth black with pot soot, and then your face will look white in comparison."

Pei Yuan laughed.

Baoning laughed along with him, looked up at the sky, and said anxiously: "It's very late, go and check it out. I'll send you away after you see the chicks."

Pei Yuan asked: "I'll be gone for several days, don't you miss me?"

Baoning took his arm and said with a smile: "You'll be away from home often in the future, and I can't miss you all the time. Thinking too much will make me old and ugly. You do your job well outside, and I'll raise my chickens and ducks, run my shop, and when you come home, we'll be happy together again, and I'll cook delicious meals for you, isn't that great?"

"You little heartless girl." Pei Yuan narrowed his eyes and pinched her nose, "If your dogs and sheep also go out of the house for several days, would you think so too?"

Baoning said: "Why are you always comparing yourself with them?"

Pei Yuan said: "I'm jealous."

Baoning laughed at him for being useless. After a very full dinner, I walked around the South Courtyard, then to the lakeside, watching turtles crawling on the lotus leaves, and it was already dark. Chen Jia had been waiting for a long time. The palace was guarded by personal soldiers, so he was no longer needed. Chen Jia returned to the army, was promoted to the second rank, and is now in high spirits.

Pei Yuan went back to the house to change into armor, and Bao Ning sat on the doorstep to watch him.

It was the first time she saw him wearing such clothes, which made his shoulders look broad, his waist thin, and his face handsome. Bao Ning took a bite of the pear in her hand and thought with some pride that she had taken good care of Pei Yuan, and he was even healthier than Jixiang.

Pei Yuan changed his clothes, his face became more serious, and he stopped flirting with her. He held out his hand and said, "Give me the sword."

Bao Ning asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Pei Yuan looked at her with hatred, "It means to take the sword."

Bao Ning realized, and hurriedly went to get the sword hanging on the wall and handed it to him.

Pei Yuan looked down at her for a while, his eyes full of reluctance, and then saw that Bao Ning was still very happy. He hugged her waist angrily and whispered in her ear, "Little ungrateful bastard."

Bao Ning took the opportunity to kiss him on the cheek, "Actually, I miss you a lot, come back soon."

Pei Yuan's face lightened up a little, and he felt much more comfortable, and walked out with the sword in his hand.

Bao Ning leaned against the door and looked at his back. She remembered something and said loudly, "Remember to drink the red date soup I stewed for you."

Pei Yuan turned his head to look at her, waved his hand, and left with Chen Jia.

Bao Ning ate the remaining pears and threw the pear cores into Ah Huang's dog bowl. The moonlight was clear and her heart was calm. She looked around her small courtyard and felt that she had really worried too much before. Even if she moved to a new place and changed the way others called her, what did it matter? Pei Yuan was still Pei Yuan, and he would never change.

When Miao Xiaoguang came up with the bamboo tube that Chang Xi gave him, Bao Ning was looking at the account book of Ruyi Tower.