"Mr. Guo must have a girl in his heart!"
The maidservant cautiously consoled him, "Otherwise, he wouldn't be willing to redeem you, wouldn't help with your funeral, and certainly wouldn't have given up his studies to come to Qinzhou."
Tian Susu clenched her fists, filled with regret. "Alas, I advised him not to rush to Qinzhou! If he had listened, I could have kept my mother's coffin in the temple and transported it back home for burial on a later date. But he insisted on leaving in such a hurry, and look, something bad happened!"
"No, no—it's not a problem?" The maid curled her lips. "We just bought someone. Yang Lian'er is far less beautiful than you. I just looked at her carefully. She has a small nose, small eyes, and a small body. She's timid and can't say a word for a long time. She's like a mute or a wooden man."
Tian Susu, however, sensed a deep sense of danger. She paced restlessly in the upper room of the inn, fretting, "What do you know? We met by chance in this vast sea of people, and she was able to quickly win Hongxuan's heart. She must have something extraordinary about her. We can't underestimate her. She's sixteen? Humph, much younger than me."
"Isn't the girl still young? Why are you afraid of a yellow-haired girl?"
Tian Susu sighed, stroking her face, which she carefully maintained day and night. "I look young now, but a woman's youth is like a flower, and its blooming period is short. Everyone says that 'time is merciless'. I'm afraid that in a few years, my face will be old. By then, I will be old and ugly, and how can I compare to a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl?"
The maid agreed in her heart, but flattered her: "Young lady, you worry too much. You are the most beautiful courtesan, with stunning looks and proficiency in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Master Guo likes both your looks and your talent, and he will surely dote on you for the rest of your life!"
"A lifetime?" Tian Susu sighed, her eyes cold. "Silly girl, what are our backgrounds? How much have we heard, witnessed, and experienced in the brothel? Aren't there many men in the world who abandon us after having sex? Beauty fades, love fades, this is inevitable. I never dared to expect Hongxuan's lifelong love. I just want us to stay together for a few years before he gets married and give birth to a son as soon as possible. A son is a woman's eternal support."
"Ah? But didn't Master Guo personally promise to marry you?"
Tian Susu glanced at him and said calmly, "Silly girl, when a man is in love with her, he can make any promise, but words and deeds are two different things. I come from a poor family and have a bad reputation. The Guo family will never allow Hongxuan to marry an Oiran. Only a pure and innocent daughter of a wealthy family is qualified to be the 'Fourth Wife'. I hope the Bodhisattva will bless me and give me a son soon. For a girl from a brothel, being a concubine is already a very good fate."
That's right. The maid nodded and was about to scold the newly bought Yang Lian'er when footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.
"Hush!" Tian Susu said firmly, "It's Hongxuan, he's back."
Sure enough, Guo Hongxuan gently pushed the door open and walked in. When he looked up, he found that the courtesan and her servant were looking at him. He paused, his face looked quite uncomfortable, and a feeling of guilt surged up in his heart.
"Hongxuan, you're back." Tian Susu smiled instantly and hurried to greet him. She took the robe he had taken off and asked with concern, "Have you settled Miss Yang? I was going to go downstairs to check on her, but thinking that she was exhausted and needed to rest, and with you taking care of her, I decided to visit her tomorrow morning."
Guo Hongxuan observed the courtesan's expression and saw that she was acting as usual. He relaxed a little, stretched himself, yawned, and replied tiredly, "She's settled in. Call her Xiaolian. Alas, her mother died young, and her father died of illness. Her family was so poor that she had to sell herself to bury her father. It's pitiful, truly pitiful!"
Oh, it's only been half a day, and you're already calling her Xiaolian affectionately? Tian Susu felt choked up, but she didn't show any displeasure. She sighed with pity, "Ah, it sounds like she's a miserable person."
"Yes, almost the same as you." After the maid helped him to wash up, Guo Hongxuan went to wash his face.
What? So in your opinion, that little bitch is just like me? Tian Susu bit her lip, feeling even more choked up. She took a deep breath, hung her outer robe on the rack, and asked tentatively, "Thanks to my help, my mother's funeral is over. We're going back to Heqin the day after tomorrow. What about Xiaolian?"
Guo Hongxuan took the handkerchief, wiped his face, and replied with a sympathetic sigh, "She had no relatives to turn to in Qinzhou, and was left alone and helpless, forced to sell herself to bury her father. Just now, I asked her carefully, and she said: After burying her father, she is willing to become a slave to repay the kindness."
"So," Tian Susu held her breath, "you plan to take her back to Heqin?"
Guo Hongxuan nodded. "She's a weak woman. If I refuse to take her in, I'd seem too cold-blooded."
Yes, you are enthusiastic and passionate! Tian Susu became more and more angry, frowned, and reminded: "The imperial examination is about to begin. If you delay your trip because of Miss Yang's father's funeral, you may miss the exam. In addition, after bringing Heqin back, how will you settle her down?"
"Well... let's take it one step at a time and see what happens next! Things in the world are unpredictable, there's no need to think too far ahead." As the exam date approached, Guo Hongxuan became anxious when he heard the word "imperial examination". When he folded his handkerchief, a roll of paper fell out of his sleeve.
"Huh?"
Tian Susu knew that the other party hated talking about the scientific expedition, so she squatted down to pick up the paper and interrupted him, "What is this?"
"Xiao Lian's indenture." Guo Hongxuan suddenly had an idea and suggested, "Well, I'll buy her as a good deed. I originally wanted to have her work as a maid in my home, but after thinking it over, I realize my mother might object. She's been mad at me lately. How about this: let her serve you?"
"Serve me?" Tian Susu was stunned, and her heart suddenly felt relieved. Her maid also breathed a sigh of relief when she heard this.
Guo Hongxuan did not allow any refusal and thrust the indenture into the other party's hands. "Haha, let's just settle this matter! You're just a maid anyway, not enough."
"Is this arrangement okay?"
"What's wrong?"
Tian Susu said softly, "Xiao Lian's benefactor is a young master, not a slave. I wonder if she is willing..."
"Hey, what's there to be unwilling about? My maid is your maid." Guo Hongxuan didn't care at all. He lowered his head to untie his belt and prepared to go to bed. Seeing this, the maid tactfully excused herself and left silently, closing the door.
After hearing this, Tian Susu smiled brightly, as if the sky had cleared up after a rainstorm. "In that case, I'll listen to you and let Xiaolian follow me." She moved closer to help him untie his belt, then paused as she fumbled with it. "Hey? Where's your jade pendant?"
Guo Hongxuan fell headfirst onto the bed, touched his nose, and replied awkwardly, "Ahem, I've pawned it."
"Yes?"
Guo Hongxuan sighed in distress, "Alas, I only have two hundred taels of silver for my trip, which is not enough. I had no choice but to pawn my jade pendant and give Xiaolian some money to take care of her father's funeral."
That little bitch sold herself to bury her father, and you pawned your jade pendant to save the beauty? Oh, aren't you afraid of being laughed at? Tian Susu despised it in her heart and felt choked up. For the sake of the future, she chose to endure it. She immediately opened the bag and rummaged through it, saying angrily: "Why didn't you tell me you were short of money? Here, this is all my savings, just go ahead-"
“No, no, no!”
"How can a real man spend a woman's money? You silly girl, you only have so little money, keep it for yourself." Guo Hongxuan was very moved. He sat up and carried her to the bed. They had already slept in the same bed.
Tian Susu suppressed her displeasure, her eyes were as charming as silk, and she said softly: "My money is your money, why are you so formal?"
"You are such a fool." Guo Hongxuan turned over and pressed her down, and it was another night of endless spring.
At this moment, at the foot of Tuningsang Mountain in Yongzhou
After dinner, Jiang Yushu washed up and felt drowsy, but she had to sit by the window to dry her hair. After a long time, her hair was dried by the wind, and she went to bed.
It was windy and rainy, and the night was chilly. She curled up in the warm quilt and fell asleep almost as soon as she touched the pillow.
But after only half an hour of sleep, the door suddenly slammed "bang bang bang!" The guards and yamen runners outside anxiously reported, "Sir?"
"Madam, wake up!"
"Something's happened, get up and make a decision!"
…
Jiang Yushu was awakened from her extreme sleepiness. She suddenly opened her eyes, feeling dizzy and her heart pounding. She forced herself to get up, threw off the quilt and got off the bed. She quickly put on her clothes and asked in surprise, "What happened?"
Li Qigong answered loudly, "A villager's hunting dog brought back a quiver shaped like a northern ape from somewhere!"
"Northern Ape style?"
Jiang Yushu's face suddenly became serious. She stopped tying her belt, and the sleepiness instantly disappeared. "Could it be that some enemy soldiers have sneaked in and are doing something?"
"We only have one quiver at the moment, and with few clues, we can't be sure if any enemy soldiers have infiltrated." Li Qigong, having grown up in the borderlands, knew the ruthlessness of the Northern Qi people and was anxious. "But I believe this matter is of grave importance and must not be neglected."
Soon, the door was opened. Jiang Yushu, with her hair simply tied up and wrapped in a half-dry thin cloak, asked seriously, "Where's the quiver? Where's the hunting dog? Take me to see it immediately!"
"yes."
"Please."
In a short while, the group entered the main hall of the village head's house. Li Chang was squatting on the ground soothing his dog. When he saw Jiang Yushu, he was eager to kowtow and greet her, "You humble servant—"
"No need to be polite!" Jiang Yushu raised her hand to stop him. She swiftly took a seat at the head of the table and examined him. "Li Chang?"
"The common people are here."
"So it was your hunting dog that discovered the quiver?"
"Yes." Li Chang squatted down and touched the dog. "That's it. Dahei brought it back."
Li Qigong presented the quiver, "Please take a look, sir."
Jiang Yushu took it, moved closer to the candlestick, looked closely, and nodded, saying, "Yes, this is indeed the style of Beiqi."
"Have you seen it?"
Jiang Yushu drew out a sharp arrow, examined it for a moment, then examined the interior of her quiver. She spoke frankly, "During the fall of Yongzhou, I was exiled to Xicang and settled in Liu Village, Yuehu Town. During those years of war and chaos, enemy soldiers would sneak across the Cang River and sneak into the village, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities. Therefore, I know the appearance and clothing characteristics of the Beijiao people."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
It was late at night and everyone should have been sleeping soundly, but now everyone was in a panic. No one dared to close their eyes, for fear of being killed by the enemy in their sleep.
Li Chang hugged the hunting dog and couldn't help but tell him, "Sir, there is a cowhide map in the quiver!"
"Oh?" Jiang Yushu hurriedly urged: "Let me see it quickly."
Do you want me to talk too much? Li Qigong was displeased and secretly glared at Li Chang. He took out a map from his pocket and said, "Look, it should be the topography of Tuning. Fortunately, it is wrapped in oil paper, otherwise the ink would be soaked and blurred by rain."
Jiang Yushu unfolded it, held the hide, and examined it for a moment. Her heart began to hang in the air, her brow furrowed. She picked up the sharp arrow and pointed at the tip, saying, "Look, this arrowhead is brand new and sharp, with no trace of rust at all. It's clearly been recently sharpened. The customs of our two countries are different. Our arrowheads in Dagan don't look like this." After she finished speaking, she turned her head and asked:
"Li Chang, in your opinion, from what distance did the hunting dogs discover the quiver?"
Li Chang thought for a moment and answered in detail, "I and two other villagers are responsible for taking care of the government horses. After nightfall today, we pushed a cart and went door to door, asking for fodder. Just then, my three hunting dogs followed me out and went off to play somewhere. Two of them returned first, but Big Black was slow and just returned, holding his quiver. I suspect the dogs wouldn't have gone too far in the rain at night. They usually wandered around the village, and at most, they ran to the village entrance."
"Think about it carefully," Li Qigong stared at his enemy, "this is by no means a trivial matter!"
Back then, Li Chang had nearly died from a lynching and beating. He hated the Dianshi deeply and said sternly, "Every word I say is true. If you can trust me, I can ask Dahei to lead the way to where the quiver was found."
"Your Excellency, what should we do now?" Everyone was worried, fearing that they would encounter enemy soldiers.
Jiang Yushu thought for a moment and then decisively ordered, "This matter cannot be ignored! Divide the troops into two groups. The registrar takes his quiver and selects a few men familiar with the route. He will immediately report to the garrison and request that the border troops deal with the enemy. Village head, you will immediately arrange for personnel to notify every household to be alert. In case the enemy enters the village and burns, kills, and loots, tell the people to flee to the mountains. Saving your lives is paramount."
The clerks nodded, each feeling uneasy, "Yes."
Jiang Yushu took a deep breath and instructed, "Li Chang, follow the headman and go door to door reporting the news. Take your dog with you and explore the place where the quiver was found. Bring plenty of strong men with you. Be very cautious. If it's too far away, give up and come back to make a long-term plan."
Li Chang nodded vigorously, patted his dog's head, followed the village head, and hurried out in the rain.
Meanwhile, dense forest
"idiot!"
"They're more likely to cause trouble than to accomplish anything. They're absolutely stupid!" The Beijiao leader was furious. He punched his subordinate, knocking him backward and demanding, "Where on earth did you drop your quiver?"
The man who had been beaten climbed to his knees, his face mournful, and answered in the language of the elk: "I, I really don't know. I don't know when the belt broke. Maybe a branch caught it while we were scurrying through the woods, and the quiver fell off."
"Are you dead?" the little leader kicked. "Your quiver fell off, and you didn't even notice?"
The man who had been beaten huddled up, his hands covering his head. "I was hurrying along in the rain, with all the noise and commotion going on around me, and I honestly, honestly didn't notice the quiver I was carrying was missing."
The leader glared angrily, kicked again, and then drew his sword with a "swish"!
The others hurriedly tried to dissuade him, "Calm down, calm down."
"This is not our grassland. It's not too late to punish him when we get back."
The leader gnashed his teeth, his eyes fierce, and said coldly, "Hmph, let him live first. We have worked so hard to come to Tunin, it would be incompetent if we return empty-handed. Listen, follow me, charge into the village, and try to get something back home."
"Okay!" The others couldn't hide their excitement and drew their swords.
The leader then took up his sword and led his men into the village quietly.
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