Chapter 54: Hypocrisy
The long-awaited warm sun finally brought a sigh of relief to the travelers. They no longer felt as cold as they had been a few days ago, and their pace was a bit faster than usual. Xu Jian led the group to Nanfeng Town. It was said that the people there had lived on the land for generations, and they were hardworking, diligent, and simple. Qin Xiangnuan supported Old Madam Qin, thinking only of rushing to the clinic as soon as possible. Even if they encountered a mediocre doctor, at least he would have some Chinese herbs for her to use. Ideally, she could also prepare some cold-relieving decoctions for the people in the general's mansion, just in case.
"It seems they've gone astray. Should we send a letter back to the capital to tell the master?"
"Hurry up, hurry up and tell the Seventh Prince that they are going astray again!"
The two groups of people who were secretly watching Qin Xiangnuan sent letters almost at the same time, and they all arrived in the capital.
At the Seventh Prince's Mansion, Gu Mingqi read the brief text, scanned it, narrowed his eyes, and held the beautiful woman in his arms, holding her chin with a paper fan, revealing a greedy and lustful smile. "It really is true that there is always a way out for everyone. Qin Xiangnuan always finds her way to my door! Since they have deviated from their original exile route, if they encounter any danger in Nanfeng Town this time, it will not be anyone's fault."
"Doesn't she think that she can get what she wants just by getting my token? This time, I'm going to let her know that the Seventh Prince's things aren't so easy to use! Even if she wants to take them, she'll have to see if she's still alive to use them!" Gu Mingqi gritted his teeth. The beautiful woman in his arms picked up two grapes and stuffed them into his mouth, staring at him with affectionate eyes. "Come on, let me take you to have some fun!"
Gu Mingqi picked up the beauty and carried her sideways, then threw the mess to his staff.
Although the staff had complaints in their hearts, since they followed such a master, they had to plan for him and could not be dissuaded.
"Take the letter and rush to Nanfeng Town. Tell their county magistrate to be smart and understand the current situation. Who controls the court now? The general's mansion has lost its former weight. They know what to do!"
After the staff member finished speaking, the assassins from the Seventh Prince's Mansion hurried away to deliver the message.
Elsewhere, at the Xiaoyao Marquis's mansion, Jiang Lin was reading a letter, stroking the paper thoughtfully. An Feng, who was beside him, guessed what his master was thinking and walked lightly to his side. "Master, should we send someone to help?"
"What do you think of the Third Miss?"
Jiang Lin did not answer, but instead touched the jade ring and looked up at An Feng.
The relationship between master and servant had always been like that of friends, with no distinction between high and low. Naturally, An Feng dared to speak freely. He was Jiang Lin's most capable secret guard, and his ability to discern people's hearts was naturally the best. He was silent for a long while, pondering his answer. "I once accompanied the master to the General's Mansion to meet the Third Young Lady. It was just a brief encounter, but I felt that she was different from the rumors. She didn't seem like a young woman lost in romantic affairs. Instead, she had some of the general's former character. Besides, our people have been with the General's Mansion for many days, and she seems to have some skills."
"And he's proficient in medicine."
An Feng added, Jiang Lin smiled and continued to ask, "Who do you think will win or lose between her and Gu Mingqi?"
"The Seventh Prince is powerful and influential, and the current General's Mansion is naturally incomparable."
An Feng answered from his own perspective, but Jiang Lin shook his head. He gently picked up a chess piece and placed it on the board. Although no changes were visible at the moment, this piece was already slowly and secretly having a significant impact, and the situation began to reverse from that moment on.
"Tell our people not to show up. If they show up easily, they might be discovered by that girl."
"Even if Gu Mingqi wants to cause trouble, she can rely on her own abilities to get through it safely. She will come forward when it is really necessary." Jiang Lin didn't know why, but he always had an inexplicable confidence in Qin Xiangnuan. "Send someone to deal with the affairs in the capital. I will leave for the border after the New Year." An Feng looked at Jiang Lin in surprise. This was a little earlier than they had planned.
But he just kept his doubts in his heart and did not ask.
After all, Jiang Lin has his reasons and plans for everything he does.
On the way to exile, they finally saw the sign for Nanfeng Town in the evening. As an official, Xu Jian could only stay at the official post. But since he had Gu Mingqi's token and the place was remote, the brothers naturally wanted to live better. With some hope, they handed the token to the county magistrate's house and then returned to the official post to wait.
Time passed minute by minute, and the skinny monkey paced back and forth at the door, looking outside eagerly.
"I don't think the Seventh Prince is that useful. The token might not even be seen by the County Magistrate! We should stay at the official inn for half a day and leave as soon as we're done." The skinny monkey squatted on the ground in frustration. He poked the ground with his fingers and muttered, "I was hoping to have some good food to start with. Yesterday's meat already whetted my appetite. How can I eat pancakes now?"
Xu Jian didn't answer, but just looked at the sky and sighed.
Qin Xiangnuan was able to sit still. She looked outside quietly, felt the slight collision between the tables and chairs and the ground, and counted one, two, three in her mind.
Bang—someone pushed open the door of the official inn and came in against the light.
A man in official uniform ran up to Xu Jian, holding Gu Mingqi's token in his hand. "Excuse me, who is from the Seventh Prince's residence?"
Xu Jian looked back at Qin Xiangnuan awkwardly and took a step forward.
He was about to speak when the county magistrate hurried up, took his hand, and shook it vigorously twice. "I was saying that you looked so majestic and energetic, you must be a close confidant of the Seventh Prince. I didn't know you were so honored to come. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"Those guys in my house have poor eyesight and didn't even realize the importance of that token."
"Sir, you have been waiting here for a long time, right? Come with me back to the mansion. The people in the mansion have prepared hot meals and dishes, waiting for you to enjoy the delicious food and wine!" The county magistrate pulled Xu Jian and was about to go out. After only two steps, he felt that Xu Jian did not want to follow him, and looked back in confusion.
Xu Jian bowed and said politely, "Your Excellency the County Magistrate, you may not know that we are traveling here to escort people from the General's Mansion."
"If we were the only ones to follow you to your house, they..."
After Xu Jian finished speaking, he was struggling to decide how to phrase it, but the county magistrate gave him a look of understanding, "Although my home isn't big, it's more than enough to house more than a dozen people. Since this is your business, I'll go with you..."
"I have always admired the general, and it is an honor for me to have the opportunity to receive someone from the general's mansion today."
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