old subordinates
Ye Zhihui looked at her seriously and said, "Okay, I will go and discuss this with His Highness."
Su Fangli lowered her eyes.
She hasn't seen He Chenghuan since the last time the aliens came.
At first she thought He Chenghuan was seriously injured and was still recuperating.
She went there several times and wanted to visit him, but was stopped outside each time.
They were clearly in the same camp, but she had never seen him once. He must be deliberately avoiding her.
Could it be that he thinks she has some kind of relationship with the foreigners and doesn't want to see her?
"Okay, then please ask for me." Su Fangli's tone was calm, and her true mood could not be seen.
Not long after Ye Zhihui left, someone else came to look for her.
"Miss Fang, Prime Minister Fang's former subordinates are here and are in the meeting room."
Since deciding to temporarily assume the identity of Prime Minister Fang's only surviving daughter, Su Fangli changed from Master Fang to Miss Fang in the camp.
Perhaps it was He Chenghuan who gave the order, and everyone in the camp readily accepted the fact that she was the only living descendant of the Fang family.
However, he did not expect that when the news was released, it did not attract the imperial teacher, but instead attracted Prime Minister Fang's old subordinates.
She didn't know much about the Fang family in the capital, so at this point, she could only rely on her divination skills and take things one step at a time.
She was already prepared in her heart and nodded, "Okay, I understand. Let me wash up."
Su Fangli changed into a complicated dress, put on her makeup and put on a veil, then followed the messenger to the meeting hall.
Besides He Chenghuan, there were a few unfamiliar faces in the meeting hall. Both men and women, judging by their attire and appearance, they must have come from the capital. They looked dusty, as if they had been traveling for days.
Among the people in the entire camp, only He Chenghuan and Ye Zhihui knew that Su Fangli was just using a false identity and was not the real daughter of the prime minister.
He Chenghuan hadn't been able to sort out his thoughts clearly because of some of the things he had experienced before, so he had been avoiding Su Fangli. Today, these former Prime Minister's subordinates came in a hurry, and they were unprepared. They hadn't even told Su Fangli about the characteristics and habits of the Prime Minister's daughter.
He was originally going to make an excuse, saying that Su Fangli was sick and couldn't see anyone, but he didn't expect that almost everyone in the camp knew him, and they volunteered to go over and report it, so he didn't even have a chance to call that person back.
Su Fangli walked in.
Before He Chenghuan could open his mouth to introduce himself, Xu Qiao, who was standing beside him, came forward excitedly.
He carefully looked Su Fangli over from head to toe, then clasped his hands and said, "Miss, Miss, I'm so glad you're safe."
Xu Qiao wiped his face excitedly, his eyes moist, and continued, "Seeing that the young lady is fine, this old man can finally let go of his worries. Lord Fang can rest in peace in his grave."
He Chenghuan approached and subconsciously glanced at Su Fangli. When their eyes met, he quickly turned away.
Seeing He Chenghuan approaching, Xu Qiao saluted him again, his voice choking with emotion, "Your Highness, I didn't expect you to be so loyal and righteous that you would come to this bitter cold place to save my young lady. From now on, we will go through fire and water without hesitation."
As he spoke, he gave a long bow.
The people brought by Xu Qiao also crouched down like him.
He Chenghuan didn't show his inner doubts on his face, and only said earnestly: "We are all family. Since Miss Fang and I are engaged, I will not really see her fall into danger."
These words deeply moved Xu Qiao and his companions.
He Chenghuan simply exchanged a few words with Xu Qiao and others, then left after saying a few words.
Su Fangli was worried about the blizzard and charcoal, but before she had time to discuss it with He Chenghuan, He Chenghuan said goodbye and left first.
It was difficult for her to chase after him, so she could only chat briefly with Xu Qiao and others before returning to her room.
Someone helped light the charcoal fire in the room, and it was warm.
Su Fangli walked to the table and unexpectedly saw a bunch of keys and a note on the table.
Warehouse Key
There was no greeting or explanation, just four words, written in a free and vigorous handwriting, with the last stroke being dragging.
Was it sent by He Chenghuan? Or was it sent by Ye Zhihui?
She picked up the note and read it again and again, and always felt that the handwriting on it was very familiar.
Where have you seen this before?
After getting the key, Su Fangli immediately started preparing.
She didn't touch anything else in the warehouse, only having someone take out the charcoal and put it in the sun to dry. Then she took out a third of it and asked someone to go with her to Yunchuan City to sell the charcoal.
"Master, are you going into the city to have your fortune told today?"
"Master, your divination is so accurate. Thank you so much."
“…”
People talked to Su Fangli along the way.
"Master, what's in your car?"
Seeing that it was almost done, Su Fangli glanced at the people next to him, and then two of his men, one on the left and one on the right, forcefully pulled off the thick cloth covering the car.
"Huh? Charcoal?"
Someone else took out a piece of wood with the price of charcoal written on it.
The people gathered around.
The price doesn't seem expensive. This city is now unattended and this winter is colder than in previous years. Many people are tempted by this truckload of high-quality charcoal.
"Since you're selling it at such a low price, why don't you just give it to us?" Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, "Aren't you a god? Why do gods want money?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everything around fell silent.
Someone secretly turned his head to look at Su Fangli's expression. In fact, there was a voice in his heart saying silently: Yes, yes, why does a god want money?
But to their disappointment, Su Fangli's expression remained unchanged. He simply said calmly, "This winter is different from previous years. If you have any savings, it's best to stock up for the winter. I'll be selling charcoal here for the next three days. I won't be waiting after that."
"Master, have you predicted what disasters will happen this winter?" someone in the crowd asked in a low voice.
"Yes, the hexagram is very ominous."
Although this master has only been in Yunchuan City for a short time, his several divinations are already well known to everyone.
Someone heard it and took out a copper coin to buy charcoal.
With one person starting, more and more people followed.
"This person deliberately said there was a snowstorm to trick you into buying her charcoal." The familiar voice shouted again: "If you are kind, you should give it to us for free. We don't have any money."
There are people who buy and sell charcoal. Su Fangli followed the sound and saw someone in the crowd who made trouble several times.
He was a young man in his twenties. Judging from the material of the clothes he wore, they were made of good fabric. He had a well-proportioned figure and didn't look like someone who had no money for food or clothes.
"You don't have any money?"
Su Fangli glanced at the star chart above his head and asked with interest.
This person's Saturn is in the second house and is in opposition to Mars, which means that he can accumulate wealth, but because of his stingy nature and short-sightedness, he often uses any means to accumulate wealth and only seeks short-term benefits.
In this horoscope, Venus is in conflict with Pluto, which often makes people hold on to money more tightly due to the fear of losing it, and harm others for their own benefit because of money.
"Yes!" the man said confidently, stiffening his neck. "No money!"
Seeing this, the people around were all eager to make a move, carefully hiding in the crowd and joining in the commotion: "No money!"
Su Fangli chuckled.
When she wasn't smiling, her temperament was cold and her deep eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. But this smile suddenly brought her closer to people.
"Be careful what you say." She smiled and pointed to the sky, as if to kindly remind him: "If God hears you, it will come true."
"You!" The man couldn't help but feel uneasy when hearing Su Fangli's mysterious tone. He even began to worry that what he had just said was really heard by God and would take back his savings.
No matter how good the charcoal was, he didn't dare to continue pestering them, but he was reluctant to pay for it, so he could only step back a few steps and hide in the crowd again.
Su Fangli didn't stay for too long. Seeing that the place was getting on the right track, he said something to the driver and went to the fortune-telling shop in the northeast corner alone.
-
"Your Highness, today more of the former Prime Minister's former subordinates have come to seek refuge. According to your previous instructions, they have all been properly accommodated. Would you like Miss Fang to verify their identities?"
Under the dim candlelight, He Chenghuan put down the letter in his hand, pondered for a moment, and said, "No need for now. Send someone to keep a close eye on those people and report any unusual movements immediately."
He paused, then asked casually, "Miss Fang went to Yunchuan City again today?"
"Your Highness, yes," the subordinate replied, bowing. "The carriage that returned this evening is empty. The charcoal must have been sold. The proceeds have been stored in the warehouse."
He Chenghuan nodded: "How is she...?"
The subordinate was taken aback, but still replied attentively: "Miss Fang is no different from before, except..."
"Just what?" He Chenghuan leaned forward, his hands on the table, as if he was about to get up and rush out.
The subordinate steeled himself and, head bowed, spoke in a flurry, "Miss Fang is incredibly popular among the people of Yunchuan City. Her newly opened fortune-telling shop is always crowded with people, and some have even erected longevity tablets and statues for her. The same is true at the camp. With the former Prime Minister's former subordinates who have come to seek refuge here, and the refugees Miss Fang previously picked up, it seems Miss Fang is the leader of the camp lately. Your Highness, do you need us to take action to discipline her?"
He Chenghuan withdrew his arms that were supporting the table and relaxed his body.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "No need, let her go."
"Your Highness?" The subordinate looked up, puzzled.
"If she has any instructions, you must do your best to cooperate." After giving the instructions, He Chenghuan raised his hand to wave him away.
After everyone left, He Chenghuan took out a small earring from his arms.
The earrings were already stained with his body heat, a tiny scorch in his palms. The gleaming ruby swayed gently in its gold wire cage, making a tiny crackling sound that pierced his heart.
He Chenghuan didn’t know what Su Fangli wanted, but it didn’t matter. At least they were still living under the same roof, and he could still protect her.
"Your Highness, there is urgent news." Someone outside the door announced and hurriedly pushed the door open.
He Chenghuan's hands trembled, and he didn't have time to put away his earrings. He could only hastily cover them with the letter on the table and looked at the person who came: "What's the matter?"
"Your Highness, the troops previously sent to kill the Imperial Master were completely wiped out. When the second wave of people went to investigate, they discovered that the Imperial Master was not among them."
"What?" He Chenghuan stood up suddenly, "Are there any signs of hiding nearby?"
The subordinate nodded and said, "Judging from the knife marks, it must be Cen Xiaying who rescued the Imperial Master. However, the whereabouts of those two people have not yet been traced."
Cen Xiaying was not only a skilled martial artist, but also an expert at concealing her whereabouts. He Chenghuan frowned, his face solemn: "You go and gather the troops, I will personally lead the search."
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