Chapter 067 Ruan Xiaoyue gets engaged
As soon as he finished speaking, the tent curtain was opened, and Qian Yunxi walked in with food. When he saw the two people hugging each other, it was too late: "I am abrupt, please don't be offended, sir and madam."
"Don't...be nervous." Before Ruan Qinghuan could finish her words, the person had already left.
Qian Yunxi hurried out of the tent, subconsciously wanting to leave quickly. In a daze, she bumped into Jiang Ming who was coming back from feeding the horses. The mud under her feet was slippery, and there was a small puddle. Qian Yunxi lost her balance and fell on Jiang Ming...
"Hahaha...hahaha...what is Lord Jiang doing?"
The craftsmen and soldiers who were having dinner not far away saw this scene and couldn't help but make a noise. Some soldiers recognized Jiang Ming and made some jokes.
"What nonsense are you talking about? This was an accident." Jiang Mingchao shouted at them.
He helped Qian Yunxi up and asked, "Miss Qian, are you okay?"
Qian Yunxi shook her head, her face flushed, and she didn't know where to look with her anxious eyes: "I'm sorry, Guard Jiang, I didn't mean it."
"It's okay, just change your clothes, Miss Qian, go and get busy."
Seeing Jiang Ming's back covered in mud, Qian Yunxi felt that he couldn't just leave like this: "How about you go to the tent and change into dry clothes first, and I'll wash this for you."
Jiang Ming was about to refuse, but Qian Yunxi had already led her to the tent next door.
On the other side, He An sat next to Ruan Qing Huan like a young wife who had done something wrong: "I usually eat outside with everyone. Today you came, so I just returned to the tent. I didn't expect Miss Qian to bring the food over."
Ruan Qinghuan said coldly: "Your Excellency does not need to explain."
He'an didn't want to explain, but if he didn't explain he was afraid she would think too much, and if he explained he would appear guilty. It was really difficult.
Looking at his rich complexion, Ruan Qinghuan couldn't help laughing out loud: "Okay, I'm not thinking about anything. This time I came here to discuss the matter of Prefect Bao with you."
Pushing He'an to the wooden table to eat first, Ruan Qinghuan said to himself, "Since General Ji returned to Lucheng, Bao Zhixian has come here twice, both times to inquire about the news. I'm worried that Wu Quan asked him to come."
"It's possible." He An broke off a piece of steamed bread and put it to her mouth: "Life is hard here, Madam has suffered."
The two of them were eating a steamed bun. He An didn't want her to take any more risks. "Stay here for a few days, then go back to Lucheng. By then, Ji Lingchuan's people should have entered the city. After the dike construction is completed, we will pretend to leave Lucheng, but actually encircle and suppress Xifengya."
Ruan Qinghuan nodded, but he was still suspicious: "Is there any news from the capital?"
He An raised his eyes.
Judging from his expression, he had some new information. It was different from what she thought. Ruan Qinghuan asked, "Was it sent from the palace?"
He An nodded: "More than that."
After finishing the last sip of soup, he called Jiang Ming to send the bowls and chopsticks out. He An took out a letter from the box in the corner, but he was not in a hurry to give it to Ruan Qinghuan. Instead, he put it behind his back and said, "There is indeed a letter from the palace. As for the content, I'm sure Madam has guessed it."
"This matter has been kept secret, which shows that the emperor still wants to give the second prince a chance."
He An sighed, she guessed right.
Concubine Qi Guifei was the emperor's most favored concubine. The second prince was her son. The emperor loved her and was very partial to her, but this preference was based on the premise that he would not endanger the destiny of the Dongzhao Kingdom.
The matter of private soldiers had already touched the emperor's ire, so he secretly issued an order to suppress the bandits. Even in the name of suppressing bandits, it showed that the emperor still couldn't bear to convict him.
Ruan Qinghuan had guessed this result long ago, but still felt disappointed. The way of heaven is clear, but it cannot reveal all darkness. This has been the case since ancient times.
He'an knew that she was unhappy with the result, but court affairs could not be viewed in black and white, and some things could not be resolved overnight.
In order to interrupt her thoughts, he waved the letter in his hand in front of her eyes.
Looking at the familiar handwriting on the envelope, Ruan Qinghuan's depressed mood improved a lot: "It's a letter from my mother."
He snatched the letter and took it out impatiently. The first part was fine, talking about the situation at home. The letter also briefly mentioned the misunderstanding between Qingzhou and Wei Mingxi. Fortunately, it was just a misunderstanding and nothing serious.
What Ruan Qinghuan didn't expect was that Ruan Xiaoyue was actually engaged to the Pei family. Her expression, which had just relaxed a little, became solemn again. She warned her repeatedly at the banquet at the Prince's Mansion not to trust the Pei family, but it seemed that she fell on deaf ears.
He An put away the letter and said, "The Second Prince will be under house arrest for another month. During this month, we must build the dam and suppress the bandits."
"So, the reason why the Pei family proposed marriage at this time is because they thought we can't go back?"
"Probably not. Regardless of whether we can go back or not, the Ruan family should have been included in their plan a long time ago. As long as Lucheng doesn't leak the news, the private soldiers will never take the risk of acting rashly."
This mission was a matter of life and death. It would be a lie to say that they were not worried at all. Fortunately, they had made a thorough plan. Ruan Qingyun received a letter: "I have arranged for Master Xie to draw a map of the terrain on the West Wind Cliff, and General Ji has also found the location of the Wu family's grain storage. Everything is ready, only the east wind is missing."
He An held her in his arms and gently stroked her back: "Don't be nervous, when we need it, the east wind will be there."
**
Troubles occurred one after another in Lucheng. Chu Li couldn't find Ji Lingchuan anywhere until two days later when he found out that he was at Wu's house. He immediately went to their house with his guards.
Ji Lingchuan was drinking with Wu Quan when he heard the servant come to report. Ji Lingchuan frowned and said, "Just say that I'm not here."
The servants left, and Ji Lingchuan complained, "It's so annoying."
Wu Quan smiled and said, "Since ancient times, beauties love heroes. This is also human nature. Not to mention Miss Chu, even I, Wu, deeply admire the fact that the general and the prime minister went to Lucheng in person to build the dike."
Ji Lingchuan snorted coldly: "Brother Wu, you don't know that after returning to Beijing, all the credit will go to He'an, and all the efforts will be made by my brothers. I originally escaped from my relatives and was very free, but I didn't expect He'an to plot against me."
He became angrier and angrier as he spoke, and glared at Wu Quan: "In the final analysis, it is because your Wucheng population is too small. All the men added together are less than 200, and most of them are old and weak. Otherwise, you would not have been able to stop this general."
Wu Quan: "This is all caused by the disaster. Many people died while building dams in recent years, and many were injured and killed in disasters. The rest fled to other places to find a way out."
"You have a point. I can only say that I was unlucky to have taken this shortcut." He picked up the wine cup and drank it all, saying unwillingly, "I was tricked by He An. I am really angry."
Then he glanced at Wu Quan and said, "I heard that the rice and grain they eat are all supplied?"
"Ms. Qian is kindhearted and feels sorry for the people affected by the disaster. I don't want to see her sad. Fortunately, I have some food stored in my food business over the years, which can help solve the urgent problem."
"Mr. Wu is indeed a kind-hearted person, much better than Chu Li's cousin. The grain shipped from Jiangnan was purchased by the court at a high price, but you donated it to the disaster victims without taking a penny. There is no need to say more about your righteousness. After returning to the capital, I will report this matter to the emperor, and the emperor will surely reward you greatly."
"Thank you for your kindness, General. However, I don't dare to take credit for it, so let it go."
As they drank, Ji Lingchuan got drunk and fell on the table. Wu Quan called him twice but got no response. Then he called the servants with a cold face and said, "Send him to the guest room."