◇ Chapter 60 (60) "Brother is so awesome"
"Young lady, please speak." Bo Kang bowed his head and saluted, his posture extremely humble. The girl curled her lips, brought a large wine jar from under the table, poured a full bowl of wine into it, and handed it to her.
It turned out they were just drinking. Bo Kang breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the blurry face of the girl across from him. He suddenly felt she was approachable. He raised the bowl with one hand and drank the wine in one gulp. The girl laughed, refilled the glass, and looked at Bo Kang silently.
She knew that Bai Kang would definitely not refuse.
After drinking seven large bowls, Bai Kang finally couldn't help but look at the empty wine jar: "Miss, are you still not satisfied?"
The smile on the girl's face could no longer be maintained.
What’s going on? Why isn’t Bai Kang drunk yet?
She stared at Bo Kang's red face which showed no sign of drunkenness at all, and she was so angry that she jumped up and slammed the table and stood up.
"Give it back to me!" She stretched out her hand.
Bo Kang stared at the hand without saying a word. The girl asked again, and Bo Kang finally said, "What?"
"Wine money!" the girl yelled. "You drank my wine and you don't want to pay? That huge jar of wine, and you drank it all by yourself!"
She's quite good at turning the tables. The girl's voice was clear and loud enough for the people at the two nearby tables to look over. Bo Kang gave her a long look and pulled out his purse.
The other party tore off a banknote, glared at him, and ran away. Yuan You, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites who came to look for someone, happened to see Bai Kang sitting there in a daze, staring at the girl from the Helan tribe as she left. He was immediately shocked and said, "Sir!"
Bo Kang frowned and turned his head.
"Even if your sister-in-law is ill, you can't go out and see other girls! You said so yourself!" Yuan You reminded him. Ever since Lianzhi disappeared, Bai Kang claimed that Lianzhi was seriously ill and had been recuperating in another hospital.
Although apart from the Prime Minister's wife and the Queen Mother who hoped Lianzhi would die soon, no one else cared about his family affairs.
Bo Kang's face darkened: "Go to hell. What's the matter? Tell me."
"It's like this. We captured a North Sea merchant caravan at the city wall." Yuan You said.
Rongcheng is located in the northernmost part of Daning State, and numerous caravans enter and exit daily. Just as Bo Kang was about to scold him, Yuan You quickly said, "One of the men looks very similar to the one in your portrait..."
Before he finished speaking, Bo Kang suddenly became energetic and stood up hurriedly: "Let's go!"
Most officials at the Ministry of Rites had never seen Lianzhi's true face. They had only seen her covered with a veil at a wedding banquet. But he and several other colleagues had also been curious: the person in the portrait was beautiful. Besides looking a bit like Jiang Yong, her figure also resembled that of Bai Kang's wife.
The merchant caravan was being held at the city gate. Its leader was speaking to the gatekeepers in a slurred, North Sea dialect. The doctor from the Ministry of Rites pointed to a figure in plain clothes and a veil. "Look! That's the one."
Bai Kang looked over. The other person seemed to sense his gaze and looked over as well.
The eyes are indeed very similar. But the current Bai Kang is no longer the Bai Kang who did not recognize Lianzhi and Chen Fenglian.
"It's not him," Bo Kang said. The eyes look alike, and the height is similar, but Lianzhi isn't tall either...
Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes and studied the other person carefully. The other person, unwilling to be outdone, stared back with a cold gaze. The moment their eyes met, he abruptly turned his head away.
"Let her go," Bo Kang ordered. "She must be a woman."
"Ah?" Yuan You was stunned.
"Her skeleton doesn't look like a man's." Bai Kang practiced martial arts, and the other person was wearing simple and light clothes. He could easily tell the other person's gender by her body shape.
They dress similarly, but at first glance you can't tell their gender.
"Yuan You, do you think that person at the inn just now was a man disguised as a woman?" Bai Kang asked.
Yuan You uttered another "ah." He didn't know where Bo Kang's words came from. "Sir, I didn't look carefully."
The person just now gave Bai Kang the feeling that he was really like a lotus branch.
He and Lianzhi had known each other for many years, and he was deeply impressed by her every smile and frown. Not to mention their close relationship. He also remembered Lianzhi's body... In short, that person looked a lot like Lianzhi.
Even the palms are somewhat similar.
Bai Kang had the caravan members questioned and released them. After Yuan You spoke with the city gate guards, he returned excitedly, "Sir, you were right. That person is a girl named Yuyao."
Yuyao?
It doesn't sound like a name for people from the North Sea.
There was still no sign of the princess of the Helan tribe. A day passed, and no one was found near Rongcheng. They felt that there were only two possibilities: the princess was hiding in Rongcheng, or she had escaped back to the Helan tribe.
The latter possibility was extremely unlikely, as the journey back to the Helan tribe was long and the envoys, familiar with the route, would easily be found. King Mu ordered the city gates to be temporarily sealed, and a vigorous search was conducted within the city. At the same time, men were dispatched to the official roads leading to other cities outside the city, waiting to intercept any suspicious individuals.
Bai Kang went to the post house several more times. He had always wanted to see the two young men and women, but now that he suspected they might be Lianzhi, he wanted to do everything he could to see them.
Come to think of it, Lianzhi is capable of anything, so it's not surprising that she disguised herself as a woman and infiltrated the Helan tribe.
Every time he went to the posthouse to request an audience, he was told that the two had gone to the market in Rongcheng. When Da Ximi mentioned their whereabouts, his expression was very calm, and he did not seem to blame them.
This was even stranger. Her princess was missing, and those two weren't in a hurry to find her, but were still in the mood to have fun? Da Xi Mi's attitude was even stranger. She wasn't angry at all. Perhaps she was aware of the other party's identity.
Whenever he had a free moment, Bai Kang would wait near the posthouse. But after days of waiting, he saw no one, as if the girl was just trying to extort a few ounces of wine from him. Another night, Bai Kang returned home in frustration, to the Bai Mansion, a place he hadn't been to in a long time.
He hasn't been home for several years.
Everything in the Bai Mansion remained the same. There was no estrangement because the eldest young master had been away for a few years, nor was there any particular fear because of his rising status. Bai's father had been in the army for the past few days, and besides his younger brothers and sisters, there was only the mistress of the house.
Bai Kang went to pay his respects. Upon hearing that he had returned, Mrs. Bai was caught off guard and had to make arrangements to prepare a banquet and call back several children who were in private school.
"Just keep it simple. I have official business to attend to. There's no need to bother you, mother." Bai Kang waved his hand. Mrs. Bai listened and said "oh" awkwardly.
Speechless for a moment.
The atmosphere was tense, and Mrs. Bai asked a few more questions about Bai Kang's recent situation. After a few pleasantries, Bai Kang saw that it was getting late and stood up to leave. "It's getting late, I'll be leaving now. I'll come back to see mother when I have the chance."
After saying that, Bai Kang turned and left. Just as he was about to push the door open and leave, Mrs. Bai suddenly stood up and shouted at his back, "Bao Kang!"
Bai Kang was stunned.
"Bai Kang," Mrs. Bai said, choosing her words carefully. "I shouldn't have interfered with your affairs. Bai Kang, although I'm not your biological mother, you're in the capital. If you have any difficulties, you can talk to your mother."
"Although I can't help you, I can still listen." Mrs. Bai said, and when she saw that Bai Kang didn't turn around, she rubbed her handkerchief anxiously, "I know you have a grudge against us, but..."
Before she could finish, Bai Kang smiled and turned back to sit down beside her again. "Mother, what are you talking about? I've always known that you've been taking care of me. Everything is really going well for me in the capital. Xiaofu, Xiaojian and the others saw it all when they went there last time. It's my fault as a son. When I have the chance, I will definitely take you and father to stay at my house for a while."
Hearing the words "wait for an opportunity", Mrs. Bai rubbed her handkerchief again.
"You're a good child." Mrs. Bai smiled awkwardly. "We're just worried that you won't be safe in the capital, with all its violence. We're worried that you'll end up like you did the year after we first arrived..."
"Mother, you're worrying too much." Bai Kang's smile faded a little.
Want to leave.
I want to leave even more.
Bai Kang sighed inwardly, afraid to alarm Mrs. Bai, so he could only chat with her for a while longer. Before leaving, Mrs. Bai finally brought up the question she wanted to ask most today: "Bao Kang, when can you bring your wife home?"
"Next time I come back, I'll definitely take him with me." Bai Kang himself wasn't sure if he could find Lianzhi. Mrs. Bai said, "I heard he's from a foreign race, an actor? Bai Kang, it's okay if you like foreigners, but boys are not desirable after all. It's better to find a girl to accompany you. I know a few ladies who have girls of the right age who would be a good match for our family..."
"My marriage was personally arranged by the Emperor, so how can I marry someone else? Since my mother reminded me to be cautious, I should also be careful with my words." When he said this, Bai Kang waved his hand impatiently.
Mrs. Bai's face turned pale and she whispered, "You're right. If you must marry a girl from another race, the one closest to you will also be fine."
"I already told you not to remarry..." Bai Kang's expression was about to break. "What one?"
"Haven't you been going to the inn frequently to look for a girl from the North Sea recently?" Mrs. Bai was afraid that she would say something wrong and looked like she was about to cry.
Girl from the North Sea, what the hell is this?
Are you talking about the princess's maid? Oh my God, who is spreading rumors?
Bai Kang could no longer stay and hurriedly excused himself, leaving the Bai residence. He had deliberately chosen a detour, returning through the downtown area so he could visit his younger siblings at the private school. Two attendants and two officials from the Ministry of Rites followed behind, secretly glancing up at Bai Kang's back.
Master Bai seems angry. That's not right. How can he take out his anger after just one trip home?
"Is it in front..."
"My lord, forgive me!"
Bai Kang was about to ask if there were people gathered in front of them watching something, but when he heard this, he turned around calmly and asked, "What?"
The two looked at him tremblingly.
"Tell me what you did. I'm not angry." There was no expression on Bai Kang's face.
They looked at each other and talked about the recent speculation about why Bai Kang always went to the post house to look for someone. Hearing this topic again, Bai Kang no longer had any temper. He wanted to say that he was indeed there to inquire about the whereabouts of the princess, but he was afraid that if he explained it, it would make things worse.
"If you want to know his whereabouts, please ask Envoy Chunyu and Envoy Daxi. They are from the Northern Sea Territory. How dare they disobey us and the two envoys?" Yuan You revealed the hidden thoughts in Bai Kang's heart. "You went to such great lengths. We all guess that you went there for that girl."
They were right, Bo Kang admitted in his heart.
He always felt that the girl was Lianzhi.
Even though it was ridiculous, he would chase after her as long as there was any possibility.
He couldn't let Lianzhi go anymore.
Bai Kang didn't admit it, but he didn't refute it either. The crowd ahead was noisy, and when Bai Kang approached, he saw a small, local dog sprawled on the ground. Nearby, two old men were arguing, with a young woman between them, trying to break up the fight.
I can't meddle in other people's business anymore. How many times have I been defeated by meddling in other people's business? Bo Kang was about to leave, but when he saw the girl's attire, he turned back.
It's like a silver lining after a dark period. The person I've been looking for for several days is right here.
Across the crowd, the girl could sense Bo Kang's gaze. She pretended not to notice and continued shouting. Her Mandarin didn't seem to be very good; she spoke hurriedly, gesticulating.
Bai Kang listened for a moment and realized that both old men claimed the dog was theirs, and the dog was reacting to both of them. In Rongcheng, almost every household has a dog to guard the house. To the people of Rongcheng, dogs are like children. Just as Bai Kang was about to step forward to help, he heard the girl stamp her foot and shout, "I have an idea!"
Her voice was surprisingly loud, and the noisy crowd around them instantly quieted down. The girl said, "You can see who feeds it and see who feeds it."
"Girl, have you never raised a dog before?" The woman next to her shook her head. "This dog will eat whatever you give it. This method won't work."
The girl said nothing, holding out a few crumbs of bread and letting the two old men take them to feed the puppy. Strangely, given the same food, the puppy only ate from the left-hand man's hand. Seeing who was the master, the people around stopped watching. The old man thanked the girl profusely, wanting to return the favor. The girl waved her hand, pointed at her mouth, and quickly fled.
Before she could get far, a large, veiny hand grabbed her wrist, enveloping her entire palm. The girl looked up, and there stood Bo Kang behind her.
She pursed her lips. Bo Kang asked her, "Don't you speak Mandarin very well?"
The girl remained silent, and Bo Kang remained calm, staring suspiciously into her eyes. Although only her eyes were visible, they truly resembled lotus branches.
Just as he could easily distinguish those who resembled Chen Fenglian from Chen Fenglian, he could also distinguish others from Lianzhi.
The two stood facing each other, neither moving. Suddenly, Bo Kang reached for the other's veil, ready to lift it. The girl was one step faster than him, tugging the veil down. Bo Kang lowered his gaze, about to grab it, when he suddenly saw the girl's dress clearly.
Her arms and legs were exposed beneath the cloak, a style many little girls in the North Sea wore. But to Bo Kang, it looked as if she were wearing nothing at all. He quickly withdrew his hand and covered his eyes. "How disgraceful!"
He dressed like this on purpose because he knew how Bai Kang would react.
The girl smiled slyly: "Just now, brother, were you going to help? Brother is so enthusiastic."
Brother? Hearing this address, Bo Kang frowned, his hand still not lowered: "You know who the dog belongs to, why don't you just explain it directly?"
He had just noticed that the hair on the cuffs of the two old men was of different colors. It was obvious that the old man on the right had a black dog, not this one. As for what was in the broken cakes, as long as it was harmless to humans, Bo Kang would not care.
Seeing the girl quietly retreating, clearly trying to run, Bo Kang didn't care about anything else and grabbed her tightly. The crowd around them dispersed, leaving only a small stall not far away. The girl struggled a few times, but found that she couldn't run away. Suddenly, she tiptoed close to Bo Kang's ear and said, "Did you see? There's a special medicine from my Helan tribe mixed in there. Brother, you're really amazing."
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