Chapter 42: The Prince Arrives, Distinguished Guests Arrive
There wasn't much rain today, and the rain stopped halfway as Shang Yuwan and his men were riding horses.
The horse's hooves trampled the ground, splashing mud and grass everywhere.
"Where's the evidence you said you'd show me?"
Shang Yuwan and Xiao Qinggu rode the same black horse. Xiao Qinggu put his arms around her waist, rested his chin on her shoulder, and blew hot air from his mouth onto her collarbone.
"Princess, don't you believe it? Wouldn't it be better to see it with your own eyes?"
Shang Yuwan held the reins in his hands, squinting his eyes and looking straight ahead.
"Song Pingsheng is a rare talent. Princess, you must personally make him voluntarily submit to you."
Xiao Qinggu looked at Shang Yuwan's profile and thought deeply.
Xiaoman was riding another horse, and her eyes were always on the two of them.
This person...is quite concerned about the princess.
Shang Yuwan saw that they were almost there and shouted, "Deputy Building Master, please protect us in secret. The three of us will be enough."
There are too many people and the targets are bigger, making it difficult to get things done.
"Don't worry, we are all behind you!"
Lu Heying and the other guests disappeared into the darkness.
"Young Master."
In the City Lord's Mansion, a man in black appeared in front of Zhao Xiang and Liu Que.
He knelt on one knee and reported the latest news.
"The city lord has returned and will be here soon. But the prince is not with the city lord. He has gone to Nianlian Village. The people from Baijialou have also gone to Nianlian Village."
"Nianlian Village?"
Zhao Xiang stroked his chin and thought to himself, "It's almost dark, what are these people doing outside?"
"Let's go and join in the fun."
Liu Que and the man in black replied, "Yes."
On the other side, Xiao Qingji had already brought people to find Song Pingsheng's residence.
Song Pingsheng moved into Nianlian Village five years ago and has a very low sense of presence.
It was said that he rarely spoke to others, spending most of his time alone, and disliked others making a big show of themselves in front of him. Not wanting to cause trouble, Xiao Qingji changed into ordinary clothes and went to look for him. He also had everyone else follow him secretly, with only Mingshu following behind.
Xiao Qingji had applied medicine on her face and put on makeup, so there was no trace of it.
Song Pingsheng lived in a very ordinary, even somewhat simple bamboo house.
When Xiao Qingji came, he had just delivered puppies for the white female dog in his family.
"Mr. Song is such a kind man. It's rare to find a man willing to deliver an animal."
He hadn't seen such a small puppy in a long time.
Xiao Qingji was so absorbed in watching that his features softened in a rare way.
Song Pingsheng was squatting to feed the bitch. When he heard the sound, he looked up and saw at a glance the nobleness of Xiao Qingji that could not be concealed by his ordinary clothes.
He stood up and said, "She is a family member, her name is Xiaohua, not an animal... What is the important matter that you are looking for me, sir?"
After hearing this, Xiao Qingji felt less resistant to this simple place, and the look he gave Song Pingsheng became a little kinder.
"I made a mistake in speaking, please don't blame me, sir."
Mingshu spoke up beside him and reminded, "This is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Song Pingsheng was startled and knelt down to pay his respects: "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."
Xiao Qingji immediately reached out to stop him, "Mr. Song must have put a lot of effort into helping Xiaohua deliver the baby. You are a kind-hearted person, so there is no need to be so polite."
Song Pingsheng was surprised that the prince Xiao Qingji would come to visit him in person, but he was not overwhelmed by the situation. He asked him to sit down in the house and served him tea.
"I wonder what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to see me about?"
Xiao Qingji did not hide it, "I came to see you because I do have something I need your help with."
Song Pingsheng had a premonition and asked, "Is it about the flood in Luzhou City?"
Xiao Qingji nodded, "Yes."
Song Pingsheng was stunned for a moment and asked, "Is the Lord of Luzhou City still Gao Zhu?"
Xiao Qingji continued to nod.
Song Pingsheng pursed his lips and refused: "Your Highness, there is no need to persuade me. I will not go back."
"Why?"
Song Pingsheng didn't intend to explain.
"No reason."
"Mr. Song, the people of Luzhou City are suffering from floods. Are you really going to be so stubborn?"
Xiao Qingji sat in the main seat, not even glancing at the coarse tea in his hand, and patiently persuaded Song Pingsheng, who was dressed in coarse linen clothes, to help him solve the spring flood disaster.
"The people all saw your ability to control floods back then. Now that Luzhou City is in trouble, are you really going to stand by and watch?"
If Xiao Tong hadn't ordered not to harm civilians' lives at will and to treat talents like Song Pingsheng with courtesy, Xiao Qingji really didn't want to waste any more words. Wouldn't it be faster to just capture him and use threats and inducements?
Song Pingsheng stood opposite Xiao Qingji, his hair tied up with a rough cloth, his features giving off a sturdy look. He stood straight, but lowered his head and replied in a muffled voice, "Your Highness, there's no need to say more. I won't go with you."
Xiao Qingji didn't have much patience for others, but Xiao Tong had said so before. His previous intention to kill Xiao Qinggu had already displeased Xiao Tong, so he made a special plan and asked Xiaoman to go back to the City Lord's Mansion and slap him in the face before he gave up.
Mingshu, who was standing next to Xiao Qingji, glanced at Song Pingsheng at this time. Xiao Qingji understood that he had something to say and motioned him to speak.
"Sir, why did you refuse so decisively? Why don't you go back to Luzhou City with us first? You haven't been home for five years, so you must miss the people there very much."
Song Pingsheng replied calmly, "I no longer have any thoughts about Luzhou City, so why would I miss it?"
Ming Shu's face was wooden. "If you really have no attachment to Luzhou City, why would you live in this Lianlian Village?"
"The people of Nianlian are simple and honest, and I am drawn to them, so I am staying here."
"There are villages with simple folk customs everywhere, why pick the one closest to Luzhou City?"
Song Pingsheng's heart moved, but he didn't show it on his face.
"Everyone, there's no need to say anything more. I will not go with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Xiao Qingji was about to speak when a voice came from outside the house.
"Excuse me, is Mr. Song Pingsheng here?"
They are here.
Xiao Qingji's eyes turned cold, but Mingshu didn't react at all.
"Your Highness, a guest has arrived. I will take my leave now."
Song Pingsheng went out to greet them and saw three women.
"I wonder what the ladies want from me?"
Song Pingsheng could see that Shang Yuwan, Xiao Qinggu and Xiaoman had different temperaments from ordinary people, and he was extremely puzzled.
Why are there so many distinguished guests here tonight?
Shang Yuwan was dressed in a simple green outfit with two long swords hanging from her waist. She bowed and saluted: "My daughter Shang Yuwan, nice to meet Mr. Song."
Song Pingsheng's face changed drastically and he was shocked.
Shang Yuwan? The news that spread throughout Dayu last year... Shang family, Shang Yuwan?!
"Sir, please don't misunderstand me. I am only the princess's attendant, not the one from the Shang family."
When Shang Yuwan saw Song Pingsheng's expression, she knew what he was thinking.
Song Pingsheng: “?”
Why is there another princess?
Xiao Qingji came out upon hearing the sound, followed closely by Mingshu.
"Why is Fifth Sister here too?"
His words were directed at Xiao Qinggu, but his eyes fell directly on Shang Yuwan's face.
She looked completely different from the "Shang Yuwan" he had met before...
Xiao Qinggu squatted ten steps away from the female dog, afraid that the smell on his body would get on the puppies.
Xiaoman and Mingshu behind her made eye contact, then both looked away in tacit understanding.
Xiao Qinggu raised his head and waved at Xiao Qingji, calling out in a chuckle, "Hey, second brother, nice to see you again."
"How was it? Surprised? Unexpected?"
Listening to her tone, Xiao Qingji felt that this fifth sister was becoming more and more annoying.
Xiao Qinggu did it on purpose. She still remembered how Xiao Qingji had taken advantage of her.
"Greetings, Her Royal Highness..."
Xiao Qinggu waved her hand and said, "No need to be so polite. Mr. Song, what's the name of your puppy?"
"Her name is Xiaohua."
Xiao Qinggu said, "Isn't she fair? How come all the children she gave birth to are stained with ink?"
Xiao Qingji said directly: "Fifth sister, don't play around too much. The flood in Luzhou City is serious. Would you like my brother to send someone to take you back?"
Xiao Qinggu looked at Xiao Qingji, as if he could see through him.
"don't want."
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