Tang Chen had heard people say before that the pipa was one of the most difficult traditional Chinese instruments, but she hadn't expected it to take so long to master. With her ADHD-like personality that day, there was no way she could learn all that. "Um, well, I'd better keep it. I'll give it to someone I'm destined for. It's just gathering dust in my hands."
After Tang Chen put the pipa in a cotton bag and found a place to put it, Zhong Qin had already gone in and out of the study room countless times this morning. "I see Zhong Qin has been running back and forth several times today. Is there any new intelligence from the southern border?"
Wang Yanzhou said calmly, "There's not much to worry about in the Southern Territory, but the Black Crows are a bit interesting."
Tang Chen's eye twitched. Speaking of which, Black Crow had been gone for quite some time. Xihe had been in hibernation recently, sleeping like a baby with no desire for life. "He wouldn't be missing again, would he?"
Wang Yanzhou said, "No, he's fine. It's Su Zhirou who's missing this time."
Tang Chen turned his head slightly to look at Wang Yanzhou, and for a moment he didn't react to what he was saying: "What?"
Wang Yanzhou tapped Tang Chen's head lightly with the book in his hand, then explained, omitting some details: "Zhao Wentao was addicted to gambling, and ended up losing his life and property. The Zhao family's mansion near the capital was also destroyed in a fire. Currently, Su Zhirou is missing with the items she found in the Su family's old house in Jiangdu."
Tang Chen was stunned. Didn’t he hear from Chen Xin that Qingliang Valley’s intelligence agency was a chain brand opened on the black market? “…Even Qingliang Valley can’t do anything?”
"Yes, there's nothing we can do." After saying that, Wang Yanzhou was afraid that Tang Chen would worry, so he added: "Don't think too much. You treat her as a confidant, but she may not treat you as a friend. Just treat her affairs as gossip."
Tang Chen sighed slightly. It wasn't that she didn't feel what Wang Yanzhou said. She had put a lot of effort into getting Su Zhirou to join the group, not to mention that Su Zhirou later found a job while she was still living a mediocre life on Yan Shaoqing's "compensation." And, to be honest, she wasn't a saint. When she was having a good time, she would forget about Su Zhirou. So, their relationship wasn't as close as she had imagined.
"Alas, after all, we were too different at the time and couldn't talk to each other. I guess I was just being awkward."
Wang Yanzhou rarely heard Tang Chen say such things, and he couldn't help but express some surprise: "I didn't expect you to be so self-aware."
Tang Chen rolled his eyes at Wang Yanzhou. Is there something wrong with this guy's brain sometimes? "I was talking about me and Su Zhirou, not me and you."
Wang Yanzhou said with a smile: "Not too different."
At this point, Tang Chen suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Her relationship with Su Zhirou was already such a mess, yet Wang Yanzhou was so eager to have someone monitor her every move. Judging from his tone, it seemed unlikely he was following her because she cared. Hmm, very suspicious, very suspicious. "By the way, why are you investigating her? She's not even close to you."
Wang Yanzhou looked around and said something else: "There are quails in the kitchen today. Do you want to try some?"
"Okay, okay," Quail sounded very exciting, but who is Tang Chen? She is a meticulous social person, "Don't try to change the subject."
"Ahem," Wang Yanzhou coughed dryly a few times, then continued drinking tea to avoid speaking. It's said that even heroes can't resist the temptation of beauty. Although he wasn't a great figure who could be recorded in history, he was still a man of some influence in the martial arts world. He had never expected that he would be stopped by a question from a little woman.
Tang Chen looked at the pot of tea that was almost finished for him and shook his head helplessly: "Tsk, if you don't tell me, I won't be happy to hear it."
Wang Yanzhou saw that Tang Chen had relented, put down his teacup and breathed a sigh of relief: "You're so good!"
Tang Chen looked at Wang Yanzhou and smiled, saying, "I'll go straight to Jiangdu tomorrow and see for myself."
Wang Yanzhou held his forehead with his hand. This little girl, is she itching for trouble? "...Hei Ya knows much more about this matter than we do. How about we report it together when he comes back?"
Tang Chen thought about it and thought that when Hei Ya left, he was heading for the Su Mansion. It might be the case: "This is possible. Remember my quail."
In the palace, the daily life of firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea, poetry, songs, tea, wine and flowers is peaceful and ordinary. In contrast, the southern border is in a state of panic and preparation for the enemy because of the sudden invasion of Nanyue on New Year's Eve.
The first thing Prince Zhong Yaoji did when he arrived in the southern border was to find all the generals of high rank, listen to their opinions and express his own views. Although he was busy every day, he also learned a lot.
In less than half a month, the 20,000 soldiers brought by Prince Zhong were orderly deployed to guard the southern border, and the supplies sponsored by Wang Yanzhou were also stored and distributed in an orderly manner.
That day, after the meeting, Yao Ji was standing alone in front of the sandbox, studying the terrain and trying to figure out the enemy's intentions. Deputy General Sun Xiao, the third-in-command in charge of guarding the southern border, came to report: "Your Highness, all the supplies have been distributed."
Prince Zhong asked casually, "What is the current situation of the enemy troops stationed outside the city?"
Sun Xiao said, "Ever since the massive invasion of the Southern Territory on New Year's Eve, there have been no major movements. Although they occasionally come to the Southern Territory to cause minor trouble, they are relatively peaceful."
Prince Zhong frowned. Nanyue's actions this time were truly puzzling. They had come with such a strong momentum on New Year's Eve, yet now they were just making such a small fuss. "Any news from Yan Chongmao?"
Sun Xiao said, "Spies reported that Yan Chongmao quietly returned to South Vietnam not long ago, but whether he took his troops with him is still under investigation."
Prince Zhong frowned, thought for a moment, and then said that the immediate priority was to quickly readjust the deployment to prevent Yan Chongmao from exploiting any loopholes. He had already discussed the matter with the soldiers over the past few days, and once he reviewed the original deployment, a new one should be ready. "Never mind, let's put this matter aside for now. I just sent someone to get the deployment map from Lin Er, but why haven't I seen it yet?"
Sun Xiao asked with some difficulty, "The defense map is in the hands of Lieutenant General Lin. I've already sent someone to get it, but..."
Prince Zhong slammed the table and said angrily, "How dare you! Do you really want me to go find him?"
Sun Xiao quickly knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. Lieutenant General Lin, sigh..."
"Lead the way. This time I will go in person."
The Lin Er mentioned by Yao Ji was the son of Duke Lin, whose full name was Lin Min and whose nickname was Lin Er. This "Er" could be interpreted in many ways. Since the martial law was imposed on the southern border, Lin Er's behavior had remained the same as before, spending his days in dissipation and idleness. For various reasons, the people under him dared not speak out.
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