Chapter 258 Tongzhou, here I come (two chapters in one)
Zhao Shiqing was stunned.
"So that person lay dormant for a year, finally got the chance, and kidnapped the two children from the prefect's family?
Alas, this man was too kind and ended up losing his life.
First there was one corpse and three lives, and then he himself, a total of four lives."
Zhao Shiqing shook his head, feeling emotional.
Xiao Zhen was silent and did not continue the topic.
The closer we got to Tongzhou, the clearer the sky became. Because of the change in itinerary, we would have to camp outdoors in the suburbs tonight. Fortunately, Zhao Shiqing and her team had the least outdoor experience among the group, and it was normal for the guards to sleep outdoors.
I brought plenty of things with me when I left Beijing, but when I was preparing to take my shift and sleep, I didn't see Xiao Zhen.
A moment later, Xiao Zhen came back with a handful of wild grass in his hand and said to Zhao Shiqing, "This wild grass can repel mosquitoes. Light it up before you go to sleep."
Xiao Zhen handed the weeds to Ling Bo and went to the side. Xiu Xiu made faces at Zhao Shiqing and imitated Xiao Zhen's tone of voice: "This weed can repel mosquitoes. Light it up before you go to sleep."
Zhao Shiqing glared at her and was about to fight back, but she saw Chen Guanyue running over, also holding a bunch of weeds in her hand, but this bunch of weeds was not for Zhao Shiqing, but for Xiuxiu.
"Guardian Xia asked me to give this to you. Hehehe, I'm telling you, who would give weeds to a girl? Picking a few wild flowers will do, Sister Xiuxiu, isn't that right? Don't glare at me, I'm just an errand boy. It's because I'm young that you all bully me."
Before Xiuxiu could reach out to cover his mouth, Chen Guanyue dropped the bunch of weeds and ran away.
Xiuxiu's face felt a little hot, and she was at a loss as to what to do with the bunch of weeds. When she looked up, she saw Zhao Shiqing looking at her with a gossipy look on his face.
"Guardian Xia is Xia Dachuan, right? He's my man. Tell me the truth. What's going on between you and him? If you don't tell the truth, I'll order him back to Liangdi and we'll have you two go your separate ways."
Xiuxiu blushed and defended herself, "There's nothing wrong between him and me. Brother Xia is a kind-hearted person. He just picked some weeds for me."
Zhao Shiqing didn't believe it: "Then why didn't he help Lingbo and me pick it? He is my bodyguard. Right, Lingbo."
Ling Bo nodded vigorously: "Yes, what the Second Miss said is absolutely right. I really misjudged him. Guard Xia looked a little dull, but I didn't expect him to be so meticulous."
Zhao Shiqing: "Being as meticulous as a hair depends on who you are dealing with. To me, the Second Young Miss, you must be careless. But to our Miss Xiuxiu, you are really as meticulous as a hair."
Xiuxiu stamped her feet anxiously: "Really not, really not, he didn't say anything to me, really."
Zhao Shiqing: "Oh, I see. Guard Xia is too annoying. Even Miss Xiuxiu is getting anxious."
Xiuxiu covered her face in shame and refused to answer.
Ling Bo smiled and took the wild grass from her hand, put it together with the one Xiao Zhen gave her and lit it. The air was filled with the special fragrance of the wild grass. After a tiring day, Zhao Shiqing fell asleep quickly.
After all, they were in the wild, so Zhao Shiqing didn't sleep well and woke up in the middle of the night.
Xiuxiu and Lingbo were beside her, both sleeping soundly. Xiuxiu had a shy smile on her lips. She probably thought that her brother Xia finally confessed to her in her dream.
Zhao Shiqing stood up on tiptoe, only to see a tall figure standing not far away.
It’s Xiao Zhen.
She brought guards with her, and Xiao Zhen was also accompanied by Da Zhuang, Jiang Ping and others, so there was no need for him to be on duty at night himself.
He is here to protect her.
A sweet feeling welled up in Zhao Shiqing's heart. She did not disturb Xiao Zhen. Continuing to sleep was the best way to repay Xiao Zhen.
Zhao Shiqing slept until dawn, washed with the clean water in the water bag, ate the dry food he brought, and then everyone continued on their journey.
If there are no accidents on the road, we will be able to reach Tongzhou tonight.
Xiao Zhen was walking in front. Looking at the figure on horseback, Zhao Shiqing couldn't help but recall the scene when he first met Xiao Zhen two years ago.
Everything must be experienced personally. Facts have proved that if you meet a guy who is three parts human and seven parts ghost, don't rush to throw him away. Raise him for two years and he will become a handsome young man with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes and a graceful appearance.
Zhao Shiqing kicked his horse's belly and rushed after Xiao Zhen: "You stayed by my side all night last night?"
When she asked this, Xiao Zhen guessed that she must have woken up halfway last night.
"No, I never slept much. After I woke up, I couldn't fall asleep, so I stood for a while."
Zhao Shiqing pursed her lips. This guy is so stupid. Even if you give him a chance, he won't take advantage of it. Shouldn't he say, "I'm worried about you and can't sleep, so I'm on duty for you myself. Seeing your beautiful sleeping face is my greatest happiness."
Unfortunately, Xiao Zhen didn’t say anything.
The two walked side by side, with smiles on their faces, but neither of them spoke.
In the evening, they finally arrived outside Tongzhou City.
Just as Li Xi and Xu Le wrote in their letters, the weather in Tongzhou is sunny and hot.
They sent the horses to the post station outside the city, where Li Xi and Xu Le were already waiting.
Both of them were very excited to see Xiao Zhen. They had been waiting here for three days.
Xiao Zhen asked, "Is there anything unusual in the city?"
Li Xi said, "Since yesterday, the Tongzhou City Gate has increased the number of yamen runners checking people. No matter if they are men or women, young or old, locals or outsiders, as long as they enter the city, they must not only check their travel permits, but also their belongings. Anyone carrying weapons will not only be prohibited from entering the city, but may also be arrested and imprisoned. Today, a craftsman with a hatchet was also taken away."
Xiao Zhen sneered: "This is because we received news that the Fourth Prince is coming to Tongzhou, so we are strictly guarding the city to prevent assassins from sneaking into the city."
They all carried weapons for self-defense. Even Xiuxiu, who didn't know martial arts, hid a pair of brass scissors on her body.
Since neither hatchets nor axes work, scissors are also dangerous.
Xiao Zhen said, "In that case, let's do as the Romans do. We should live outside the city, go into the city empty-handed during the day, and return before the city gates close at night."
The danger is unpredictable, and it is impossible to make them give up their weapons.
The best way to have the best of both worlds is to live outside the city.
The inspection in Tongzhou is very strict now. With so many people in their group, they definitely cannot stay in the official post even if they stay outside the city. They can only stay in the inn in batches.
There are only two inns at the gate of Tongzhou City, both of which are located next to the official road. Li Xi and Xu Le had inquired in advance and found out that the two inns are actually one. When the old man passed away and the family was divided, the eldest son inherited the ancestral home and land, and the two inns were given to the other two sons respectively, the one on the east side of the road to the second son, and the one on the west side of the road to the third son.
Although they were brothers, the two inns often fought over customers and even went to the government office.
As soon as they arrived at the door of the inn, they saw two women arguing with each other.
Zhao Shiqing was extremely surprised, as if he had discovered a new world.
The reason is that the women in Tongzhou are very unique in their street swearing and fighting.
They first jumped up and down, slapping their faces, then slapping their buttocks and legs, muttering something. Unfortunately, they spoke in dialect, and Zhao Shiqing couldn't understand. However, the expressions of the two were very appropriate, showing anger, contempt, and disgust to the fullest.
The two women were cursing with all their might when they suddenly lost their focus and saw the people who were watching the fun.
Outsider?
guest?
Where to stay?
The two women immediately put aside their personal grudges, ran over, and smiled like two morning glories.
After a fierce competition, the three girls in the team were snatched away by Jixiang Inn first.
Xiao Zhen and Shen Guanyue, who were obviously young men from wealthy families, were kidnapped by Ruyi Inn.
The two women shouted, and several half-grown children, both boys and girls, immediately ran out of the inn. The women tried to pull the three little girls, and although the boys didn't dare to get close, they semi-surrounded Xiao Zhen and the other two.
These people were sent to the inn, and there was another fight. Finally, the people at the back were also divided. When everyone gathered in their respective inns, they still felt dizzy and as if they were dreaming.
Although I am quite knowledgeable, this is the first time that I have been fought over like an object.
The aunt from the Jixiang Inn finally returned triumphantly. Zhao Shiqing, Lingbo and Xiuxiu put their luggage in the room and went down to the lobby. They saw that Niu Qiu and Shen Wangxing had also been brought here, and they actually felt excited about seeing each other after a long separation.
At this moment, several guards came in from outside, and Xia Dachuan was among them.
Zhao Shiqing said to Xiuxiu, "I guess Guard Xia must have been snatched away by that lady on purpose."
Xiuxiu's cheeks flushed and she didn't dare to look in the direction of Xia Dachuan.
The auntie was fiercely scolding the group of half-grown children: "Why didn't you leave earlier and let me fight Yang Cuihua alone? If you had left earlier, we would have beaten Yang Cuihua to the ground and made her cry out in pain today."
Suddenly, the aunt looked up and saw Zhao Shiqing looking at them curiously.
This little girl is just like the young man that Yang Cuihua took away. At first glance, she is the leader of these people. Don't ask me how I can tell that. This is a secret skill that cannot be passed on.
The aunt walked up to Zhao Shiqing with a smile and said, "Miss, have you been to the room? Are you satisfied?"
Zhao Shiqing: "Not bad."
She lived a simple life and was not picky about food, clothing, housing and transportation. The reason she only said "okay" was because the room was filled with incense, and it was a very strong scent that her sensitive nose did not like.
The aunt didn't care whether it worked or not. She had obviously snatched more people today than Yang Cuihua, so she was excited at the moment.
Zhao Shiqing added a handful of firewood at the right time and complimented the aunt: "Aunt, you are really amazing. That young wife can't compare to you."
The aunt raised her eyebrows proudly: "That Yang Cuihua relies on her family's family being in the government office, doing bad things all day long, and she even wants to steal my customers, dream on!"
When Zhao Shiqing heard the word "yamen", she asked, "Is it true that Yang Cuihua's entire family works for the yamen? And the women too?"
"Of course she is. Her mother and sister-in-law both work in the government office, looking after prisoners in the women's prison. Just yesterday, she came back from her parents' home, and she was like a chicken with blood injected, standing at the door to grab customers. Tsk tsk tsk tsk, if you knew she was the boss's wife, you would think she was a streetwalker."
Zhao Shiqing was stunned: "Didn't you stand at the door to attract customers before?"
The aunt said: "That's not called soliciting customers, it's called welcoming customers. When the waiters have nothing to do, they welcome customers at the door. Whether it's our house or theirs, the waiters usually greet customers at the door.
Besides, Yang Cuihua is lazy and greedy. She wouldn't even bother to help if her oil bottle fell over. When has she ever greeted guests? I don't know what's wrong with her, but when she comes back from her parents' home, she comes out to greet guests herself. When the guests see a woman greeting them, they get curious and run over to her house. Since yesterday, I don't know how many guests she has stolen. Today, I was so angry that I went to scold her, and I just happened to run into you distinguished guests."
Zhao Shiqing was startled. Combined with the information obtained by Li Xi and others, the government already knew that the Fourth Prince and his entourage would come to the capital, but the Fourth Prince would not stay in an inn outside the city. Who could be this guest that Yang Cuihua personally welcomed?
Loach went out for a walk and came back to quietly tell Zhao Shiqing that the proprietress of the inn opposite was welcoming guests at the door again.
After a day's journey, everyone was very tired. Zhao Shiqing asked Niu Qiu to go upstairs to rest, and she sent Xiao Yao and Dapang out.
In fact, these two people don’t need to be sent out specially. Every night, as soon as the lights are turned off, their day officially begins.
Zhao Shiqing slept in bed, and Xiao Yao came back to tell her that a new group of guests had arrived. This time, no one was fighting for the place, and all of them were welcomed by Yang Cuihua to Ruyi Inn.
Moreover, unlike before, this time Yang Cuihua never came out after the guests went in.
Zhao Shiqing inquired carefully and learned that those guests were just like them, carrying long packages on their backs. It was obvious that they came with weapons. Perhaps they did not want to throw away their weapons, just like they did, so they chose to live outside the city.
Xiao Yao and Dapang didn't know exactly how many people there were. They only knew that there were a lot of them, and they were all men.
Zhao Shiqing said to Xiao Yao, "I'll write a note and you give it to Xiao Zhen."
A moment later, Xiao Zhen, who had already fallen asleep, was woken up by Xiao Yao. He took the note from Xiao Yao's neck, read it, then changed into night clothes and quietly went out.
Fortunately, he hid well and only found out after he left the house that the entire inn was under surveillance.
Both the hall and the stairs were guarded. Obviously, these were the group of people Zhao Shiqing mentioned.
These people are obviously not the Fourth Prince's men, and their origins are unknown.
The inn was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Xiao Zhen hid on the roof and waited for a long time. Finally, someone came out of a room and said a few words to the people standing outside. Both sides spoke in dialect, which Xiao Zhen could not understand, but he could recognize that it was the accent of Changchi area.
The next morning, Xiao Zhen and others left the inn in several groups. Three people were left behind to guard the weapons, and the others followed Xiao Zhen into the city.
They left quite late, and by this time, the defenses from last night had been removed, and the inn had returned to its usual bustle.
The people who moved in yesterday haven't left yet.
With doubts, Xiao Zhen and others made an appointment with Zhao Shiqing to meet in the city, and then they lined up separately to enter the city.
Just as Li Xi and Xu Le said, there was a long queue at the city gate, and not only were their passes checked, but they also had to be searched.
Zhao Shiqing took Xiuxiu and Lingbo to stand in the women's team. Not far ahead, two sturdy female yamen runners were checking the pass.
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