Du Laosi waved his hand, signaling his sister to step away from the entourage. The siblings walked to the side. He glared at them, pretending to be ferocious, and demanded, "We have no relationship with Pei Zhizhou. Who do you think you are to him if you go to visit him?"
"I..." Du Feiyan blushed and was speechless.
Du Laosi sighed in disappointment, unable to bear it any longer. He decisively said, "My sister seems to be possessed by a ghost and won't listen to reason. I'm at my wit's end. I dare not let you wander the streets every day. I can only send you to Chujie County and ask my eldest brother to decide whether he wants to discipline you personally or just send someone to take you home to my parents. This will prevent you from acting recklessly outside and causing trouble."
"No"
"I, I just got out not long ago. I don't want to go home for the time being, nor do I want to go to Chujie County. Why are you chasing me away?" Du Feiyan stomped her feet anxiously.
Du Laosi hardened his heart, set his face stern, and replied without allowing any argument, "It's settled. Go back and pack your things immediately and leave tomorrow morning. Humph, instead of rushing to visit Pei Zhizhou, it's better to visit my dear brother. If anything happens to you, I won't be able to explain to my family."
"I'm not leaving"
Du Feiyan was full of resistance, her eyes were full of anger, and she said, "I'm fine, what happened? Fourth brother clearly doesn't like me and is deliberately chasing me away."
"Whatever you say, you must obey me on this matter. You are now obsessed with Pei Zhizhou. If something really goes wrong, your reputation will be ruined and I, as your brother, will be blamed." After saying this, Du Lao Si became completely impatient. He quickly stuffed his sister into the carriage and ordered "Go back."
"Yes." The followers pretended to know nothing. Those who wanted to ride got on their horses, and those who wanted to drive the carriage drove on.
"Gee!" Du Laosi spurred his horse, the wheels rumbled, and the group left the government office and returned to the Longshun Escort Agency branch.
Du Feiyan had never been treated so harshly by her brother. She was immediately furious. She lifted the curtain and was about to jump out of the car. She was really like a madman. She was eager to visit the seriously injured Pei Wenfeng. She shouted angrily, "Hey, fourth brother, fourth brother, you are so annoying. If you want to leave, just leave. I told you, I have something important to do." When she lowered her head to get out of the car, she suddenly felt a dull pain in the back of her neck, her eyes went black, and she fell down limply.
"Hmph, little girl, I can't deal with you anymore. If you keep acting up, I'll tie you up with a rope."
Du Lao Si put his hands down, his mouth grumbling, but he supported his sister with his hands as she leaned against the bench, and reminded her, "Hey, drive slowly. If this girl falls and gets hurt, she will definitely complain to someone later, and I won't be bothered to help her then."
"I understand, I understand." The followers tried to suppress their laughter, fearing that they would offend the boss's spoiled daughter. They drove the carriage steadily, gradually moving away from the government office.
The next morning, Du Laosi was determined and ignored his sister's crying and pleading. He even used a rope to force her into the carriage. He repeatedly gave instructions and ordered his men to send her to Chujie County properly and hand her over to his eldest brother for disposal.
At the same time, the government office
At noon, the newly renovated pavilions and towers smelled of paint, and a strong medicinal aroma wafted from one of the rooms.
In May, the weather is getting hotter.
Pei Wenfeng suffered several stab wounds and internal injuries from the beatings, but fortunately, he survived thanks to timely medical treatment. Although he suffered no broken bones, he had lost a great deal of blood, and his naturally fair complexion had turned a pale white. His lips were chapped from the high fever he had developed the previous night, and he lay flat on his back, looking extremely haggard.
Two doctors sat in front of the couch, one taking the pulse and the other lifting the thin blanket to check the wound.
Seeing this, Jiang Yushu lowered her head and took two steps back. Guo Honglei remained calm and stepped forward to block her.
Ji Xuelian, the prefect of Yongzhou, bent over and looked at the man for a long time, then asked with concern, "How is it?"
"The pulse is weak but stable," one doctor replied, and another doctor added, "Fortunately, the fever subsided before dawn."
Ji Xuelian nodded happily, "Good, very good. Doctors, please take good care of him. Wen Feng is young and promising, and he has always performed his duties conscientiously. This is why he incurred the resentment of the fugitive and was injured in the line of duty."
The two doctors replied cautiously, "We will do our best."
"No matter what precious medicinal materials you need, please report them in time. This government cannot guarantee that we can get them, but we will definitely do our best to arrange them," Ji Xuelian solemnly instructed.
The two doctors nodded repeatedly.
On the couch, Pei Wenfeng forced himself to cheer up and said weakly, "I am incompetent and have troubled you, sir."
"Alas, it's not that you're incompetent, it's actually me who's incompetent and can't control Yongzhou." Ji Xuelian bent over and sighed bitterly. "The fugitives are completely devoid of conscience. They not only resent you, but also resent me, and they're so desperate to murder my family. Wenfeng, it's thanks to you that you stepped forward, and my wife and children were spared."
Now that it was mentioned, Pei Wenfeng asked, "I wonder if your madam and the others are feeling better now?"
"Thank you for your concern. Compared to you, their injuries aren't even flesh wounds," Ji Xuelian explained with a pleasant expression. "If my wife hadn't sprained her ankle, I would definitely come to visit you."
Pei Wenfeng shook his head slightly. "She was frightened yesterday. Please let her rest well. I will go and pay my respects to her when I am well again."
"Rest assured and recuperate. Put your official duties aside for now. Healing your injuries is the most important thing." Ji Xuelian promised solemnly, "What happened yesterday was appalling. Rest assured, this government is working to seek justice for you and will also see if we can commend you for your courageous act."
Pei Wenfeng was too exhausted to respond and replied weakly, "Thank you for your hard work. I'm afraid I won't be able to work for a while."
"Don't worry, take a rest. We have arranged for someone to take your place temporarily."
Pei Wenfeng's ears were buzzing, and he felt weak all over. Suddenly he remembered something and muttered in a hoarse voice, "My, my two little, little coughs..."
Guo Honglei understood and stepped forward to say, "Don't worry, your two servants are not in danger of death. They are recovering in the next yard."
"Hmm." Pei Wenfeng sighed, glanced around, and when he saw Jiang Yushu, his eyes froze for a moment. After a while, he closed his eyes and warned, "Yongzhou is actually a bit chaotic right now. When you go out in the future, remember to bring a few more people with you, just in case."
Although he did not specify it, everyone present understood that he was reminding Jiang Yushu.
Jiang Yushu hurried forward and replied, "I know. I will bring more people. You have been working so hard for a while, and it is time for my cousin to rest. Take your medicine on time and stay in bed. If there is anything we can help with, please speak up as soon as possible."
You will never be able to help me in this lifetime. Pei Wenfeng lost too much blood and felt dizzy from time to time. When everyone thought the injured person had fallen into a coma, he suddenly opened his eyes, stared at Guo Honglei, and asked calmly, "I was so busy that I didn't have time to ask you. What was the difficult matter you mentioned yesterday that needed my help?"
Guo Honglei replied briefly, "I have been ordered to enter the city specifically to recruit soldiers."
"Recruiting soldiers" Pei Wenfeng was stunned. He forced himself to think for a moment and immediately realized something was wrong. He frowned and asked, "You Tuning Guards, are you planning to rob our men?"
Manpower, Yongzhou is currently short of manpower everywhere. Jiang Yushu knows this very well.
Guo Honglei remained calm and answered earnestly, "How dare we snatch them? We came here with sincerity to recruit you."
"The government office is having a headache and has been trying every possible way to recruit refugees. How can you cough, cough, cough, cough?" Pei Wenfeng coughed a few times.
Everyone hurriedly persuaded him, "Wen Feng, you take a rest. I will discuss this matter with Captain Guo."
"Don't disturb Brother Pei's rest. We will come to see you tomorrow."
"Take a rest, cousin, don't worry."
Pei Wenfeng was indeed tired. After taking the medicine, he fell into a deep sleep.
After a moment, the group tiptoed away and walked towards the conference room to discuss official business as agreed.
Ji Xuelian put his hands behind his back, walked with his head held high, twirled his beard and thought for a moment, then turned to look at Guo Honglei, then at Jiang Yushu, and couldn't help but sigh, and said with a wry smile, "You two, one is in charge of the people and the other is in charge of the food supply for this government, you are really, really a couple with the same mind, quite a match."
Jiang Yushu suddenly felt embarrassed and cleared her throat. "Actually, we are just following orders."
Guo Honglei always loved to hear people praise the couple as "a perfect match." He smiled and explained sincerely, "We are short of troops right now. The county can't recruit many people. I have no choice but to come to the capital to try. I hope you will be accommodating."
"Not only the garrison, but also outside the city are short of manpower." Ji Xuelian, with gray hair, hit the palm of his left hand with the back of his right hand, and said seriously, "Renovation of city walls, government offices, rivers, etc., logging, quarrying, various craftsmen, etc., the most important thing is farming, up and down, which one does not require a large number of manpower?" He glanced at Jiang Yushu and teased Guo Honglei.
"If Captain Guo recruits all the able-bodied men, who will farm the land? Without anyone to till it, the fertile fields will go to waste, and we won't be able to harvest food, and we won't be able to pay the grain reserves. How will we report to Special Envoy Jiang then? You should at least consider this for her."
Wei Xu and his entourage of minor officials all lowered their heads and tried to suppress their laughter.
In public, Jiang Yushu's face flushed with the teasing. She quickly interrupted and said sternly, "Master Ji's ability is obvious to all. I believe that in time, Yongzhou will become prosperous. Allocating some able-bodied men to the Tuning Guards to ensure peace on the border is very worthwhile."
As they climbed the steep stairs, Guo Honglei naturally gave her a hand and said, "Don't worry, I only need to recruit a thousand people."
"Thousand" is only
Ji Xuelian shook his head repeatedly, his brow furrowed into deep wrinkles. He answered worriedly, "If it were in a crowded place, thirty-five thousand wouldn't be a big deal, let alone a thousand. But Yongzhou is in ruins right now, and we're particularly short of manpower. Besides, if we start, if Tu Ning comes to recruit today, and the other three guards come tomorrow, wouldn't it be difficult for me?"
Guo Honglei replied apologetically, "I'm really sorry for putting you in a difficult position."
Pan Rui was also present today. He patted Guo Honglei's arm familiarly and said, "Let's go sit down in the hall and talk. Let's work it out."
Ji Xuelian had no choice but to nod.
Jiang Yushu and Wei Xu were whispering and discussing as they walked, worrying about their own food storage duties; Guo Honglei was silently calculating. He had already ordered his men to go out and investigate, and decided to post a recruitment notice as soon as he got permission.
A few days later, the morning light was bright
"Madam, go slower." The maids supported her on both sides. "How do you feel? Are your feet still hurting?"
The wife of the Yongzhou prefect dressed neatly, slowly stood up, tentatively twisted her ankle, and took a few steps. "It hurts a little, but it's okay. I can walk now."
"Congratulations, Madam."
The next moment, Ji Yingyue stepped into the bedroom. The swelling on her cheek from being slapped by the robber had subsided. She had willow eyebrows, almond eyes, red lips and white teeth, and was elegant and refined. She took a few quick steps, supported her mother and asked with concern, "Is mother feeling better today?"
"I'm well now." After a few days of recuperation, Ji's mother was full of energy. She adjusted her crimson headband and said, "Mother, I have to go see Lord Pei. That poor kid was seriously injured by those damned robbers. If he hadn't sprained his ankle, I should have visited him in person a long time ago. He and Captain Guo are both our benefactors."
Ji Yingyue nodded immediately and agreed, "We should definitely go visit."
Ji's mother was supported by her maid as she walked out, and Ji Yingyue followed subconsciously.
"Xiaoyue," Ji's mother stepped out of the door, suddenly stopped, turned her head and looked at her daughter, "Where is your brother?"
Ji Yingyue stopped and met her mother's gaze, feeling awkward. She lowered her head and replied, "I'm studying in the study."
"Tell him to come with mother and thank Lord Pei properly." The implication was that she would not bring her daughter with her.
Ji Yingyue understood immediately, and her smile froze, but she replied obediently, "Yes, my daughter will be there soon."
"Just go and call them." Mother Ji said with a smile, "Pick out some ginseng and bird's nests we brought from home and prepare a gift box as a thank you gift as soon as possible."
Ji Yingyue pursed her lips and smiled faintly, "Okay, daughter will do it right away."
A moment later, Ji Yingyue was in the room, meticulously tying the ribbon on the gift box with her own hands.
The maid came over hurriedly with a large food box in her hand and asked, "Miss, please take a look. Which snacks should I choose?"
"It's light and easy to digest." Ji Yingyue, lightly powdered, her cheeks flushed. She examined them carefully, pointed at a few items with her index finger, and urged, "Use a smaller lunch box. This big one is so heavy."
"yes."
"This yam cake was made by the young lady early this morning for you, would you like to keep it?"
Ji Yingyue said angrily, "Now we are preparing a thank you gift. How dare we give stale food to the injured Xiao Mo? I will make it later." After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and arranged the cakes neatly, wishing she could arrange them into a flower.
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