Chapter 25: His Highness just left like that? ...
Li Funing's Adam's apple rolled, and the tips of his ears flushed. He stared at her intently, his eyes as if he wanted to devour her completely. A smile played on his thin lips. "Oh? How would you like to teach me, Princess?"
Song Youning smiled, and suddenly hooked his fingertips on Li Funing's belt, and pulled him forward with a clever tug.
She rubbed his earlobe with her red lips, her breath warm: "Master Li, do you want to learn?"
Li Funing's Adam's apple rolled, and he grasped her waist with his palm: "Your Highness... if you are willing to teach me, I will... learn from you."
“Bang!”
Song Youning pulled out the token from his waist in an instant and slid it down his leg deftly.
“I got it…”
Song Youning stood up, and the hem of her skirt accidentally swept across the table, causing the overturned teacup to splash a large amount of water on Li Funing's robe.
Song Youning: "I almost forgot about the important matter."
She curled her red lips and walked out of the room as if nothing had happened. Her movements were smooth and seamless, without a trace of hesitation.
Just as she was about to step out of the room, she paused, as if remembering something. She turned to look at the dazed Li Funing and shook the token in her hand: "Let me borrow Lord Li's token for a while."
Li Funing's eyes darkened suddenly, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness is leaving just like that?" His voice was extremely hoarse.
"What's wrong?" Song Youning turned around.
Curiosity and innocence flickered in her bright eyes. "Master Li, are you... not willing to lend it?"
Li Funing: ...
It was already a while before Song Youning left with the token.
Li Funing remained in this position, not daring to move.
He stood with his legs apart, his eyes fixed on the tea stains on his robe, his face flushed, his knuckles white from pinching.
The water mark was exactly three inches below the waist and abdomen, and the bright yellow tea liquid flowed down...
There were people scattered around in Li’s Teahouse.
Song Youning clapped his palms, and the token hit the pearwood counter with a "bang", startling the shopkeeper's beard.
"Today's storyteller..."
She raised her chin, curled her red lips, and pushed the scholar in blue robes behind her forward.
"Let him speak"
She stroked the word "Li" on the token with her fingertips and smiled slyly: "As for the wages...it will be charged to your boss." The shopkeeper glanced at her and immediately led the person into the building tremblingly.
There's no need at all, he knows who she is too well...
As dusk deepens, the lights in Li's Restaurant begin to come on.
Song Youning was wearing a green long gown and leaning against the carved railing of the elegant seat on the third floor.
With one hand he tapped Li Funing's token intermittently, and with the other hand he held Huzui Furong in the air, listening to Xiao Liuzi's storytelling.
The storyteller in green clothes clapped his hands and the whole room fell silent.
"Do you know, my dear readers?"
Xiao Liuzi lowered his voice and pointed southeast, "A hundred years ago, the Zhou Governor's Mansion was a mass grave!"
"ah!"
Everyone sighed and talked about it.
One of the onlookers was clearly unconvinced and questioned, "How can a governor's mansion be located in a mass grave? You're obviously making this up."
"Yes, yes..." There was an uproar in the building.
Xiao Liuzi is worthy of being the person Song Youning values so much. He remains calm even when a mountain collapses in front of him.
He calmly patted the table and said, "This Zhoushi Mansion was a mass grave a hundred years ago. But one day, a magical stone fell from the sky and absorbed all the negative energy from this place."
Xiao Liuzi pulled out a feather folding fan from his sleeve, and he really looked like a storyteller. "From now on, anyone who lives in the mansion..."
He paused deliberately, watching the guests in the room crane their necks.
"How is it?"
A handsome man with a jade face leaned closer, eager to know what would happen next, but he kept it a secret, which piqued her curiosity.
"Getting promoted and making money are trivial matters. Three years ago, Governor Zhou was just a minor official, but he became Governor in just a few years. This shows how good the feng shui of this mansion is." Xiao Liuzi shook his head and sighed.
“I know, I know.”
Behind the building, a young man in brocade robes was jumping around with his hands raised, and everyone looked at him.
The young man quickly rushed to the front of the stage, straightened his collar, and pretended to be mysterious, "I heard that this Governor Zhou was just a ninth-rank official five years ago. Later, I don't know which big shot he got close to, so..."
"It was a leap to heaven..."
"That's right..."
Xiao Liuzi shook his folding fan and looked satisfied.
He added: "And the most amazing thing is that this Zhou Mansion can cure all kinds of diseases!" The wake-up stick hit again.
"You all know the famous Golden Branch Prince, right?"
"Is it the storyteller who is so popular in Da Gan?" A delicately dressed young lady Jiaojiao was sitting on a chair, listening to the storyteller talking about the residence of Governor Zhou. She was bored and did not believe that the story was really so amazing, thinking that it must be exaggerated.
As a result, when he heard the words "Golden Branch Young Master", he jumped up from the rattan chair and stared at Xiao Liuzi with shining eyes.
Seeing someone showing support, Xiao Liuzi worked even harder, "Miss, you're very knowledgeable. It's the Golden Branch Master. It's said that the Golden Branch Master originally suffered from chronic coughing up blood..."
"So the 'Da Gan Feng Wu Zhi' became more sporadic. It just so happened that Governor Zhou's mother was having a birthday party, so I came to the banquet. As a result, I stayed at Zhou's house for a day and actually recovered!"
Sitting in the elegant seat on the second floor, Song Youning paused with her hand holding the tea. Which bastard had thought up this story that dared to curse her with hemoptysis? Even though he helped her cover up the lie of not updating her articles, it was of no use. It must be that unreliable Mu Qi. She would definitely skin him alive when she got back.
Upon hearing this, the delicate young lady Xie Linlang's eyes widened, and she covered her lips with the gilded fan. "Is this really true?"
She turned her head and pulled the maid beside her over, "Baozhu, go back and tell grandma that we should find a day to visit the Zhou Mansion! Grandma has not been feeling well these days... If..."
Baozhu hesitated and said, "Miss, isn't this a bit too hasty?"
The maid frowned, looking embarrassed.
The young lady grasped Baozhu's hand and looked at her with determination, "Baozhu, if Young Master Jinzhi says it's useful, then it must be useful. Why not give it a try?"
After hearing the story of Young Master Jinzhi, the audience was shocked and clamored to go to Governor Zhou's mansion to share in the good fortune.
Song Youning on the second floor looked at the scene below. There were many different opinions and arguments. Some people even went to the governor's mansion without listening to Xiao Liuzi's story, for fear of missing out on this great blessing.
Song Youning looked at Xiao Liuzi who was telling a story enthusiastically on the ground floor. It seemed that her Zuixianzhai could develop another business as a storyteller.
The originally quiet mansion of Governor Zhou was now deserted. A large crowd of people were standing there, including some wealthy families, who were clamoring to enter the mansion to bring good fortune.
"Everyone, everyone"
Governor Zhou stood on the steps in front of the government office, beads of sweat on his forehead. He forced a smile and bowed to the huge crowd:
"Dear elders!" His cuffs were already soaked with cold sweat.
"My residence is nothing special. How could there be any magical powers? These are just rumors..."
In a moment of panic, Governor Zhou blurted out, "My mother is seriously ill, so it's really inconvenient for me to entertain guests!"
Before he could finish his words, a rotten vegetable leaf was suddenly thrown from the crowd and hit him right between the eyebrows.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, "You bastard official! Your mother had a grand birthday party a few days ago, and now she's seriously ill? Do you think we're fools?"
"That's right, since it is a blessed land, why don't we dare let others share in the blessings?" Everyone was circling at the gate of the mansion, unwilling to leave.
"Sir, many unruly people have climbed over the wall and entered."
A commoner servant came out of the palace in a panic and whispered to Governor Zhou.
Governor Zhou frowned and looked at the bustling crowd: "What's going on? Why are all these people coming to my house?"
"Master, I just heard someone say that every teahouse and tavern in Lingnan is saying that my Zhou Mansion has auspicious treasures. Coming here will not only help you get rich and have a smooth career, but also help you live a long life..."
"That's pure nonsense!"
After hearing what the steward said, the governor Zhou was so angry that he blew his beard and glared, "Go and tell me right now..."
"Master Zhou, it's been a long time since we last met."
Before he finished speaking, a luxurious and gorgeous sedan chair arrived in front of the mansion, and everyone in front of the door was separated from the others by the guards inside the mansion.
A man in a gorgeous brocade robe and a golden crown in his hair got down from the sedan chair.
There are some wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, but he still has a handsome face and extraordinary temperament. He must have been a stunningly handsome man when he was young.
When Governor Zhou saw the visitor, he greeted him like a lackey: "This humble official pays respects to the Marquis of Pingyang."
He forced a smile and said, "The presence of the Marquis in person truly brings honor to my humble abode..."
"No, no, I'm sorry for disturbing you. Please forgive me, Governor." Pingyang Marquis helped him up and said politely.
"I, the Marquis, and my family have come to Lingnan to relax. I wonder where my daughter Linlang heard that Lord Zhou's residence is a place of great feng shui, and can cure all kinds of diseases..."
"My mother has been feeling unwell lately, and I'm wondering if I could stay at your residence for a few days. Lord Zhou is kindhearted, so I'm sure you won't refuse my request, right?"
"Cough, cough"
Suddenly, a long cough was heard from the sedan chair, echoing his words.
Governor Zhou looked at the gentle and polite Marquis of Pingyang in front of him, and glanced at the sedan chair. When the curtain swung, it happened to reveal the sickly and pale face of the old lady of Marquis of Pingyang and Xie Linlang's concerned expression.
The person had already arrived at the door. How could he, a governor from a remote place, refuse him?
But if the old lady of the Marquis really moved into his Zhou residence, the constant flow of food and drink would be unstoppable, and the servants and doctors who came and went would sooner or later discover the strange things going on in his secret room. If it were to be exposed, the consequences would be disastrous...
Governor Zhou opened his lips slightly, frowned, and said in a hoarse voice, "Of course you can, but my mother has recently caught a cold. I'm afraid that if she gets seriously ill, she might infect the old lady..."
"oh?"
Marquis Pingyang looked him up and down. He was a marquis, yet he came to ask for help humbly, but he didn't expect that this person was so ungrateful. A cold look gradually appeared on his brows.
Pingyang Hou waved his hand lightly and ignored him.
The housekeeper of the Marquis's Mansion simply ordered his subordinates to move things into the mansion, and precious medicinal materials and supplements were brought in continuously.
"That's fine. We have many skilled doctors in our mansion. Since the old lady is also unwell, we can ask them to treat her together when the time comes."
Seeing his unyielding attitude, the governor Zhou could only tremble and say, "As you command."
He bowed and saluted, his face full of flattering smile: "My Lord, please..."
As he stepped aside to make way, he made a quick gesture with his right hand behind his back. The old man in the mansion who had been with him for many years understood his intention and quietly retreated.
According to the plan, they would first go to the dark room, gag the person, and then transport him to a villa in the suburbs after dark.
Madam Hou and Xie Linlang were arranged to live in an elegantly decorated and quiet courtyard. As the courtyard was shaded by dense trees, the people from the two mansions did not disturb each other.
Three o'clock in the morning
It was late at night, and everything was quiet. The hazy night enveloped the silent house, but a light was on in one part of the yard, and the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard faintly.
"Have you found out everything?"
Governor Zhou lowered his voice to a very low level, his Adam's apple rolling under his tense skin: "Over at the Marquis' Mansion..."
"The old lady drank the tranquilizing soup and fell asleep."
The old housekeeper leaned over and reported, "Miss Xie turned off the lights at the end of the evening hour... She should be asleep now..."
Governor Zhou stood at the side door of the backyard. The three carriages were as silent as coffins, with the curtains lowered. Only the wheels occasionally creaked under the heavy load.
"Is everything settled?"
He lowered his voice very low, his Adam's apple rolling as his eyes swept over the women whose hands and feet were chained and whose mouths were gagged with cloth strips.
Their faces were pale, and panic was still in their eyes, but they were unable to struggle due to the effects of the drug, and could only be carried onto the carriage one by one by the guards like cargo.
When the guards carried a young woman over, Governor Zhou gave her a deep look.
"This is my token. Keep it safe. You'll need it when you leave the city."
The old butler bowed and took the token, stroking the word "Zhou" on it.
"Don't worry, Master"
He looked at the carriages and said, "I will escort them myself. There will be no mistakes."
As the old housekeeper was about to get into the carriage, Governor Zhou suddenly grabbed the housekeeper and said, "If you are questioned, just say you are an infected maid being sent to the northern suburbs..."
"yes"
Watching the carriage gradually disappearing from his sight, Governor Zhou felt his eyelids twitching wildly. If it weren't for the sudden accident, he wouldn't have transferred all the people away. If that person knew about it, he would be in big trouble. He didn't know whether such a risk was right or wrong.
Xiao Lin, who had been hiding on the eaves of Zhou's house, witnessed the whole process.
"Prince Xiao, people are lying in ambush on the small road outside the city." A guard with a sword jumped lightly onto the eaves, lowered his voice, and squatted beside Xiao Lin.
"Ningning has always been trusted by this prince..."
Xiao Lin polished the red agate of the hilt of his sword and looked at Governor Zhou who lay motionless in the darkness.
The guard scratched his head and hesitantly explained, "It was...it was arranged by Lord Li..."
Xiao Lin turned his head and gave him a blank look.
At this time, Governor Zhou, who had been looking around for a while, finally turned around and went back to his room.
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