Chapter 136 Incident
After the Dragon Boat Festival, the emperor gradually handed over court affairs to the crown prince, and later let the crown prince preside over the morning court. Civil and military officials privately speculated that the emperor was preparing to abdicate and become the emperor emeritus.
In fact, the emperor's health condition is not optimistic, and he wants the prince to take over court affairs as soon as possible to prepare for the future, so that he will not be caught off guard even if something unexpected happens in the future.
That day, the emperor summoned Qi Wuhan into the palace. When Eunuch Liu led Qi Wuhan into the imperial study, the emperor was studying a chess game in front of him. Then he asked Qi Wuhan to come over and continue the game. Eunuch Liu asked the servants inside to leave first.
"I remember that you joined the army at the age of nine. Am I right?" The emperor placed a piece on the chessboard and asked casually.
Qi Wuhan replied, "Your Majesty, you remember correctly. I followed my father to the military camp to gain experience when I was nine years old. When I was fifteen, Your Majesty conferred the title of marquis on me. Your Majesty is so kind, and I am deeply grateful." He also placed a piece on the chessboard, and the smooth and shiny chess piece made a slight sound when it landed on the chessboard.
The emperor smiled and said, "I reward according to merit. You have made contributions, so naturally I will reward you." At this point, the emperor sighed, "It's a pity that your father passed away so early that he didn't get to see you marry and have children... cough cough..." The emperor coughed twice and sighed with a smile, "I am old and my body is not good enough. I don't know how much longer I can hold on."
Qi Wuhan held up the teacup and handed it over. The emperor took it and took a sip. After putting it down, he and Qi Wuhan played two more games and said, "Bei Mo has been stationing troops on the border for almost half a year. I am always worried."
"I am willing to share your Majesty's worries." Qi Wuhan replied.
The emperor waved his hand and said, "You have been married for less than a year, and you have fought enough battles. I have chosen someone to fight in the war. You should just take a good rest for a while."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qi Wuhan bowed.
The emperor waved his hand and asked him to continue playing chess.
When the outcome of the chess game was decided, Qi Wuhan bowed and said, "I lose."
"I am tired too, you go back first." said the emperor.
Qi Wuhan bowed and took his leave. When he came out of the imperial study, he heard coughing again. Eunuch Liu hurried in to serve him. He stood outside the door, looked up at the sky, and walked away.
"Has the person left?" asked the emperor, his expression somewhat gloomy.
Eunuch Liu replied, "The Marquis has already left." Seeing His Majesty about to stand up, he quickly walked over and helped Him up, "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."
The emperor sighed, "I've kept a knife for over twenty years. Now that I'm old, it's still sharp. Do you think I should destroy it?" Eunuch Liu replied cautiously, "Your Majesty is wise. Everything you do is for the good of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." The emperor smiled and sighed, "Never mind. After all, I've kept it for so many years. I'd be reluctant to destroy it. Let it remain sharp forever."
…
After taking a bath in the evening, Jiang Lan sat in front of the dressing table to comb her hair. Qi Wuhan leaned on the bed with one hand on his head, looking at her delicate and charming profile. Her long black hair reached her waist, making her waist look even more slender and graceful. Looking at the beauty under the lamp, the more he looked at her, the more charming she became.
When Jiang Lan put her hair up to comb it, a hand reached out and took the jade comb from her hand. The next moment, Qi Wuhan held her in his arms and sat her on his lap.
"Let me comb your hair." He gently lifted up the silky black hair and slowly combed it down. His movements were gentle, delicate and patient.
Jiang Lan looked at the gentle and smiling face in the bronze mirror. Although there seemed nothing unusual, she could feel that something was wrong with him, most likely related to the emperor summoning him to the palace during the day.
"What did His Majesty say to you today?" She turned to look at him, and Qi Wuhan smiled, "You really can't hide anything from you." Jiang Lan raised her hand and gently poked his chest, "Then you must be more careful in the future. If you have any bad intentions, I will know." Qi Wuhan gently held her hand, brought it to his lips and pecked it, and said in a calm and relaxed tone, "His Majesty wants me to have a good rest for a while. Tomorrow I will hand in the military token and be retired."
Jiang Lan didn't say anything. He looked up and saw her looking at him with a distressed expression. He gently stroked her face and comforted her, "Although I may not have a salary in the future, I can still support you. When the time comes, we can go wherever you want to play. It's up to you." Jiang Lan held his face, kissed him on the forehead, and said with a smile, "I will support you in the future~" Qi Wuhan smiled wickedly, "Then I will be a gigolo in the future and can only sell my body to pay off my debts."
Jiang Lan blushed and punched him, and the next moment he picked her up by the waist and said that she would repay the debt from tonight...
The next day, Qi Wuhan went to the palace and handed the military order to the emperor.
The emperor asked him if he was planning to leave the capital, and he replied that he was going to take his wife to travel to the south of the Yangtze River for some time. The emperor granted him a month's leave, but he was still worried about letting him go so far away.
Afterwards, Qi Wuhan began to arrange the trip and first accompanied Jiang Lan back to her parents' home to say goodbye to Jiang Shen.
Jiang Yao was still living in the mansion. When she heard that the two had returned, she originally wanted to ask about Pei Qian's whereabouts, but she backed off when she saw Qi Wuhan. She was still a little afraid of her brother-in-law, feeling that he was capable of anything. She also knew that he didn't like her, so she asked Hua'er to go and invite Jiang Lan over alone, and then Hua'er came back alone.
"Where is my second sister?" Jiang Yao asked.
Hua'er replied, "The Second Young Miss asked me to tell you that the Second Young Master is in hiding now and will return once he has used up all the money he brought with him."
"What if he doesn't come back? Do I have to wait for him forever?" Jiang Yao said dissatisfiedly.
Hua'er comforted her, "Don't worry, young lady. A young master like the Second Young Master, who is used to a life of luxury, wouldn't be able to endure even the slightest hardship. He will definitely come back once his money is gone."
After leaving, Qi Wuhan first sent Jiang Lan back, and then went to arrange some of his own affairs.
Jiang Lan also wrote a letter and asked someone to send it to Hanshan Temple to Xie Yun, informing him that she was going out and would be back in a month, so that he would not come to the mansion to find her and make a wasted trip.
Two days later everything was arranged.
The day before departure, something unexpected happened.
That day, Qi Wuhan took Ling Feng to the street to buy food for Jiang Lan. They first went to Xingfangzhai to buy her favorite candied fruits, then went to the teahouse to buy her favorite snacks, and then went to Yipintang to buy her favorite braised pork elbow... Finally, they went to Huajian Xiaozhu to get two jars of her favorite green plum wine.
When he came back, Jiang Lan was taking a nap in the house, Lu'er and another maid were guarding outside the door, and Qing'er and Gui'er were guarding inside the house.
When he walked to the door with the lunch box, he keenly sensed something was wrong. He immediately pushed the door open and saw Qing'er and Gui'er lying on the ground unconscious. He immediately went to find Jiang Lan and found a pearl flower she had dropped by the bed. His expression instantly became extremely gloomy.
There was also a letter next to the pillow.
He opened the letter and found only a location written on it.
When he left the house, he caught a glimpse of a green feather dropped by the windowsill. It was dropped by Yuanbao.
After coming out, he whistled, but the ingot did not fly over.
He handed Qing'er and Gui'er to the steward Shi, took Lingfeng and rode out of the mansion. At noon that day, he left the city and chased in the direction of Jinzhou.
…
When Jiang Lan regained consciousness, she felt darkness in front of her eyes. The next moment, she found herself in a sack. She tried to get out, but the next moment, she heard someone talking.
"Master, she's awake."
"Then let it out."
The latter spoke in a casual tone, which Jiang Lan felt was familiar. She must have heard it somewhere before. She felt movement above the bag, and the next moment the bag was untied. The light of the torch shone into her eyes, which was a bit dazzling. She raised her hand to block it. After her eyes adjusted to the change in light, she began to observe the situation around her. A pair of black boots appeared in front of her. She raised her head and saw a smiling face that looked familiar. When her gaze moved forward and fell on the person sitting there, she was surprised. It was him!
The Great General of the Northern Desert, glorious at night.
Next to him stood a middle-aged man, who was serious and named Canglang.
The smiling young man was named Lu Feng.
"Why aren't you afraid?" Lu Feng squatted down and observed her reaction curiously.
Jiang Lan did not answer. She stood up and stepped back, putting some distance between herself and the three men. At the same time, she observed the surroundings and found that it was a stone chamber. There was a flickering fire outside the door, so there should be more space outside.
Suddenly, a voice of "bad guy" was heard from inside the stone chamber.
She knew it was Yuanbao's voice as soon as she heard it.
"Bad guy, bad guy,"
"If you scream again, I will roast you." Lu Feng threatened.
Yuanbao turned his head and ignored him.
Lu Feng pulled out a sharp dagger and stabbed it at Yuan Bao's head. Jiang Lan rushed over and grabbed Yuan Bao in her arms, glaring at Lu Feng. Lu Feng twirled the dagger with a smile, then suddenly came up to her and stared straight into her eyes and asked, "Are you afraid of death?" Jiang Lan immediately took two steps back, holding Yuan Bao, and asked warily, "What do you want to do?"
"Of course," Lu Feng paused deliberately, "I want to get rid of Marquis Jin'an."
Jiang Lan's expression changed, and she tried to calm herself down. Then, holding Yuan Bao, she walked to the wall and sat down. Lu Feng looked at her curiously. Seeing that she sat on the ground without crying or making a fuss, he went over and asked curiously, "Why don't you beg us not to kill your Lord?"
"Will it be of any use if I beg you?" Jiang Lan asked back.
Lu Feng pointed behind her and said, "Go and ask the master for help. It might be helpful."
"You have an insider in the Marquis' Mansion, right?" Jiang Lan suddenly asked.
Lu Feng was surprised, "How did you know?"
"You told me." Jiang Lan said.
Lu Feng scratched the back of his head, suddenly pulled out a dagger and put it against Jiang Lan's neck, turning around and saying, "Master, she is too cunning, it is safest to kill her."
"I think you are too stupid." Ye Xuanhe said in a casual tone.
Lu Feng scratched the back of his head again, then withdrew the dagger with a smile. He said to Jiang Lan with a childlike innocence, "If you try to trick me again next time, I will cut you into pieces. Got it?"
Jiang Lan nodded. When you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood.
At this time, someone else walked in from the door.
The other person's hunched body was stretched into a strange shadow on the ground.
He is one of the four elders of the Black Lotus Sect, White Tiger.
Jiang Lan had never seen the other person, but she had heard Qi Wuhan talk about him as a bad old man wearing a mask.
"Why is the person still alive?" A hoarse and dry voice sounded in the stone chamber, "If the general is reluctant to do it, then I will do it for you." A pair of extremely sharp steel claws were about to take Jiang Lan's life. With a clang, a wine glass flew over to block it, and the wine glass returned to the slender, ice-white hand.
"She's just a weak woman. What's so worth killing her for?" Ye Xuanhe shook the wine glass twice, and a pair of amber pupils were reflected in the wine.
"The general is really kind to women." Elder Baihu walked away with a gloomy look in his eyes.
"You, come here." Ye Xuanhe hooked his finger, "Pour this general some wine."
Jiang Lan leaned against the stone wall, pretending not to hear anything.
"Master, was she frightened and fainted?" Lu Feng asked.
"Maybe he was scared to death." Ye Xuanhe said.
Jiang Lan felt that both the master and the servant were mentally ill...
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