After refusing kisses and hugs and kicking her boyfriend out of the restaurant, Qi Qi peeked around to make sure no one noticed.
I have to say, the feeling of secretly having dealings with your own people behind your back is really exciting.
That evening, Gu Siyan returned from the city lord's mansion and called everyone to a room for a meeting. Qi Qi straightened his clothes, feeling that he was not of any use, and sat at the back, leaning against a pillar, feeling a little drowsy.
Gu Siyan glanced at him briefly before looking away. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke, "Wu Fugui greatly admires me and has invited me to stay at the City Lord's Mansion. What do you all think?"
Mr. Gao: "Wu Fugui wants you to be his advisor?"
Gu Siyan nodded: "He has more information than I thought. I could tell from his words that the court is going to send troops over, and he has been busy recruiting talent for his subordinates these days."
The middle-aged man next to Mr. Gao also said, "That's right. These days, the head steward has been having his men thoroughly trained. It doesn't look like they're preparing for war; it looks like they're about to run away."
The crowd discussed this extensively, and Mr. Gao added, "He can't leave. If he leaves, he'll just go to some mountain and continue being a king, harming the people. It's better for him to stay in Sifang City and fight the court like dogs."
"If that's the case, wouldn't things be even more difficult for the people in the city?"
Mr. Gao asked, "Do you know how many people live within a hundred miles of Sifang City?"
"The imperial court may already have its eye on Sifang City. This matter should be addressed sooner rather than later. General, you must make a decision quickly."
"Can……"
"..."
After making the first move, Gu Siyan sat quietly to the side drinking tea. He did not intend to make any decisions personally. These people were all talented, and now was the time to use them. He would have even more to do in the future, and it would be impossible for him to do everything personally.
While listening, her eyes unconsciously drifted towards the back door. She saw Qi Laibao leaning against the pillar, yawning repeatedly, looking like he was about to fall asleep. She couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly.
Mr. Gao was having a lively conversation when he turned his head and saw that even the leader was laughing, so he got even more excited: "...That's exactly how it should be, you can't go wrong by listening to me..."
...
Someone lightly patted my head.
"Hmm, hmm? The meeting is over?"
Qi Qi squinted and looked up. Seeing that most of the people around had dispersed, Gu Siyan was standing in front of him: "It's over. Let's go. I have something to say to you alone."
Qi Qi looked at him blankly: "What's wrong?"
Gu Siyan couldn't help but tap him on the head: "Serves you right for not listening earlier. City Lord Wu invited me to work for him. I'll be going to his mansion tomorrow. I'm worried about you being alone in the restaurant, so I'll have someone..."
"I'll go, I'll go, I'll go!" Qi Qi responded eagerly before he could finish speaking, "Don't worry, I'll definitely disguise myself well and stay by your side so that no one will notice anything amiss!"
Seeing that he had misunderstood, Gu Siyan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Aren't you afraid that someone will find out and take us both out?"
Qi Qi smiled and said, "How could that be, General? You're so capable, everything is already under your control. A mere city lord's mansion, how could it possibly outmaneuver you?"
Gu Siyan's gaze fell on his lips, which were opening and closing.
Did you put on rouge? Why is it so red?
Qi Qi, oblivious to his gaze, casually asked, "I think I just heard you say that the imperial court is sending someone... Do you know who it is? There are only so many of us in the city, so we have to be careful!"
Gu Siyan said, "We don't know who it is yet. We only know that this person is very cautious and has a secretive identity. We need to investigate further at the City Lord's Mansion."
Qi Qi: "Oh, oh... It's alright, there's definitely no problem. Those good-for-nothings in the imperial court will never escape your eagle eyes!"
Gu Siyan smiled: "That's not entirely true. As far as I know, the Seventh Prince and the Ninth Prince are quite good, one excelling in literature and the other in martial arts."
Qi Qi's heart skipped a beat, suspecting that Gu Siyan's people had already infiltrated...
"The two of them combined are not as good as you alone, so why bother with them?"
When Gu Siyan noticed that the prince's reaction was a fraction slower when the topic turned to the Ninth Prince, his eyes darkened, and Gu Siyan said, "Alright, go to sleep. A carriage will come to pick us up tomorrow."
Qi Qi: "Yes."
...
Besides Qi Qi and Gu Siyan, there was also Mr. Gao, a servant, and an old woman disguised as a maid who knew martial arts. The five of them were arranged to stay in a nearby courtyard. Qi Qi brought a maid, and Lord Wu also sent two maids to serve him.
Qi Qi naturally refused; wouldn't it be discovered if she served him personally? He simply said he was used to the people around him and didn't need a new maid.
Men can discuss matters, and so can women. Lord Wu has dealt with the women of the former city lord, so it was Lord Wu's women who invited Qi Qi to the backyard to admire the flowers.
With the idea of "trying to catch fish even if there aren't any," Qi Qi accepted their invitation and followed a group of aunts to the back garden of the city lord's mansion to enjoy the flowers and drink tea.
Upon arriving at the location, Qi Qi took a deep breath. This Lord Wu was really something; a pile of cow dung was causing so much trouble for so many flowers.
"Oh, little sister, you're here! I'd heard you were a beauty, but I didn't expect you to be this gorgeous... Come on, don't be shy, chat with your older sisters~"
Qi Qi said softly, "Hello, sisters~"
Qi Qi was pulled over.
After a while, Qi Qi regretted it. What? Lord Wu doesn't even discuss private matters with people in the backyard? He secretly asked around for a long time but couldn't find out anything!
The thought had barely formed in her mind when someone pinched her cheek again: "Oh, little sister, your face is so tender! You have to tell your big sister what skincare products you use!"
Qi Qi immediately smiled again: "This is my family's secret recipe! I'll teach you. You have to pick the tenderest first buds of spring roses, dry them, and mix them with winter snow water..."
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