Sleep
Qin Lan almost died from the pain after being pushed by Tao Yu.
But because Jiang Nian and Xiao Yingzhu were still in front of the table, Qin Lan couldn't lose face in front of outsiders, so he forced himself to sit down.
"Nothing, nothing, Master Tao is right."
The little episode passed in a flash, and Qin Lan straightened his expression again and looked across the table.
"So, once Miss Jiang has finished dealing with Meng Zheng, she can leave Cang County with Xiao Yingzhu immediately."
"How is it, Miss Jiang?"
"..." Being looked at by Qin Lan's earnest gaze, Jiang Nian smiled and replied, "Yeah."
"I'm very happy."
There's nothing you can do about it, this is what it's like to be a henpecked husband.
—
What happened afterwards had nothing to do with Jiang Nian. During the break in the conversation, even if Jiang Nian felt that she could withdraw from the conversation, the subsequent content should have nothing to do with her.
But there was still one thing she should talk to Xiao Yingzhu about.
After walking out of the side hall and standing on the corridor, Jiang Nian looked around, and then, in the hazy moonlight, he saw Xiao Yingzhu again in the flower garden where he had seen Xiao Yingzhu in the afternoon.
Thinking about the map, Jiang Nian walked towards Xiao Yingzhu.
The sound of feet stepping on the grass made a slight noise, which easily attracted Xiao Yingzhu's attention.
The cold moonlight shone on the land for a thousand years as it had every day. Jiang Nian came with the full moonlight in his eyes and stopped in front of him. He said seriously, "I have something else to discuss with you about the mine."
Seeing that Jiang Nian didn't look playful, Xiao Yingzhu raised his eyes and glanced at the side hall.
Qin Lan and Tao Yu were still talking in the side hall. They hadn't seen each other for a long time, and even if they didn't say it verbally, they missed each other.
So even though they had argued for an entire afternoon, now that Tao Yu's anger had subsided, they gathered together again to talk about things that must not be known to outsiders.
No one was around to eavesdrop on what Jiang Nian was about to say. Xiao Yingzhu withdrew her gaze and looked at Jiang Nian seriously, "Go ahead."
"that is--"
Jiang Nian didn't have a map at hand, so he had to draw something in the air.
"You should have a map of Cang County, right?"
"You also know that I come from somewhere else, so I will know some things before you."
“…”
Xiao Yingzhu lowered her eyelashes, feeling his gaze lightly falling on her face. Jiang Nian slightly shifted her gaze, and the hesitation in her heart dissipated. She whispered:
"Some areas of Huandu now overlap with the terrain of where I live. Therefore... there are some mines that haven't been discovered yet, but I know about them. I can circle them out and let the secret guards or the troops take a look."
Even if we find the location of the mine, it will still take a lot of effort to mine it.
The war between Huandu and Donglan is about to break out. Who can be 100% sure that there will be no war before these mines are dug up?
This is where Jiang Nian hesitated. When she knew that minerals were in short supply, the war was not far away. What's more, the time now was even more urgent for the war.
Xiao Yingzhu was silent for a moment. He must have had a reaction, but it was hidden under his eyelashes.
The inexplicable chirping of cicadas disturbed the momentary silence in the conversation. He nodded and replied, "Well, I'll explain to Qin Lan."
Looking back, before Cang County, Xiao Yingzhu once said that there was a shortage of minerals in Huandu, but now it seems that there is no urgent need.
Jiang Nian's gaze moved slightly when he looked at him, as if he had thought of something, but before he could confirm it, Xiao Yingzhu stopped him from speaking.
"The minerals left in the mines of Qixia Mountain are far more abundant than we imagined, enough to make up for the temporary military shortfall."
"Your Majesty has also issued orders for the remaining mines to be mined during this period. There is no need to worry about a shortage of supplies for the war later."
“…”
Jiang Nian was awakened by Xiao Yingzhu's words, and then came back to his senses.
"So... there were actually enough minerals, and resolving the Seven Gorges Mountain mine issue was just a side issue."
"Because the Wu Mi people are about to cause an epidemic, you're turning your attention to the place where the herbs that can cure the epidemic grow, as Miss Tao mentioned, right?"
Xiao Yingzhu was silent for a moment, and a smile suddenly appeared on his indifferent brows.
Jiang Nian ignored the half-smile in front of him and continued with his own thoughts: "So, in other words, you can give me the minerals I need to make the insect repellent formula?"
“…”
He wanted to say something more, but halfway through, Jiang Nian suddenly stopped talking.
Did Xiao Yingzhu go to so much trouble to bring her here so that he could let her deal with matters related to the mine, and then prove to the people around him that the mineral was not for his personal use, but something he had gained and could give it to her with good reason?
After all, she intervened in this way and sought minerals. Even if this reason was understandable to Xiao Yingzhu, it might be misunderstood as other intentions in the eyes of those who were not in the know.
Then, even if she developed an anti-parasitic formula, it would be criticized by people with ulterior motives.
And now, she has completed a very important official business in Cang County alone, so even if outsiders are dissatisfied, because of what she has done, they will keep their mouths shut and not publicize it to avoid being refuted by others.
...In this way, she can leave a good impression here in the capital - on Meng Zheng and Yu He, and get extra minerals from the mine where the problem is solved as compensation for her desire to develop an insect repellent formula.
What a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
Jiang Nian's sudden temper subsided in an instant, and he felt inexplicably embarrassed.
She hurriedly turned away from the gaze that was glaring at Xiao Yingzhu, and said awkwardly, "Why don't you just tell me directly?"
At the beginning, Qin Lan made up a story that only she could recognize the herbs so convincingly that she didn't even realize that something was wrong and just followed him like that.
Xiao Yingzhu's joy had subsided at this moment, and she began to explain, "If we say it openly, we will have to explain some unnecessary things, which will easily lead to complications."
"as well as……"
"My cooperation with you requires more than just my consent."
"?"
What's the meaning.
Jiang Nian turned his head and looked at Xiao Yingzhu's face.
"You should know that Qin Lan and I are also in collusion."
"Since this is a conspiracy, if we want to add new candidates to this matter, we need to let them show their abilities and prove that they are capable of taking on this role."
Xiao Yingzhu spoke briefly and clearly, but it made Jiang Nian's thoughts pause for a moment.
She blinked subconsciously and felt the sound of cicadas all around her. Then she suddenly realized that she was still in the hot summer night and it was not some incomprehensible and chaotic dream with unknown reasons.
When Qin Lan suggested that she come to Cang County to handle the incident with them, was it actually a test that Qin Lan gave her?
Only after passing this level can it be considered true cooperation?
Xiao Yingzhu didn't give her much time to sort out her confused thoughts.
After answering her question, Qin Lan, who was chatting with Tao Yu in the distance, stretched out his arms for a long time, waved to them, and called them back.
Jiang Nian didn't intend to continue participating in the following conversation. He waved his hand to Xiao Yingzhu and said softly, "I'm going to go back and write a letter to Meng Zheng. You guys can continue talking."
Knowing that Jiang Nian is currently eager to return to Pingzhou, he wants to deal with the unresolved issues in Cang County in advance.
He didn't stay long. After a faint response, he turned and walked towards the bright light under the building.
—
There were no lights in the house.
Jiang Nian pushed open the lattice door, and the moonlight that followed poured over her open arms and shoulders, following her gaze and pouring onto the ground.
The treasure box was placed on the table. She reached into the box, took out the flint and struck out sparks, and used the tinder to light the candle wick.
The maid had placed the writing supplies on the table. The flickering flames reflected in Jiang Nian's light brown pupils. She lowered her eyes to the blank page on the table, and suddenly remembered Qin Lan's instructions.
Even if it is an exam, you should answer all the questions completely.
However, he was concerned about time constraints. He feared that if the insect repellent formula was not developed and His Majesty did not reward him, the reserve grain storage in Huandu would be depleted. Qin Lan decided to take on all subsequent tasks himself.
Jiang Nian smoothed the slightly warped paper, dipped the tip of his pen in ink, and then wrote a few lines on the letter page.
The truth about the Princess's case is nearly revealed, and the Bishop's method of poisoning will also be investigated. When will Your Highness return to the capital? If you need any assistance, please let me know.
Just asking this way should be enough.
Let Qin Lan and the others handle the trivial matters from now on.
She lifted the paper and held it against the half-open window beside her, waiting for the wind to dry it. Then she put the letter away and prepared to put it in the flower hall tomorrow and have someone deliver it to Meng Zheng.
After everything was done, she waited quietly for a reply, then packed up her things and returned to her unfinished work.
—
Even when it is late at night and everyone is asleep, and you have let down your guard against others, your thoughts will start to wander more frequently to things that you don't want to think about during the day.
Although the temperature in Cang County was cool at night, this room faced the sun and was stuffy with the heat after the midday sun. It was just right to cover herself with a thin blanket and hold Madam Zhu in her arms.
After telling Xiao Yingzhu and Qin Lan about the mine, she finally let go of the burden of worry. Now that she was in a safe place, she no longer needed to be paranoid.
The faces and noises of people hiding in the dark immediately emerged from the bottom of her dense memory. Jiang Nian's slightly closed eyes suddenly opened, and she saw that she was still in a courtyard of the Youguan Mansion. Her heart beat violently a few times, and her body suddenly contracted and ached. After a while, she slowly stretched her body and looked at the dim ceiling.
After escaping from Zuihualou that day, I never saw the people I had seen in Zuihualou again.
She was not surprised to hear about the goddess's fate from Xiao Yingzhu, but... she suddenly thought of the young man who often appeared beside the goddess in Zuihua Tower, and Jiang Nian's scattered thoughts suddenly stopped.
You's face appeared clearly in my mind again, and his gloomy eyebrows were extremely clear in my memory.
Was he captured by Commander Yu and his men?
The goddess wanted him to live, but Jiang Nian thought he would die with the goddess.
Yet he seemed to have unfinished business.
Thinking of the boy's extraordinary skills, if he didn't want to show up, I'm afraid no one else would notice him until those things were done.
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