Don't underestimate the soldiers because they are small. After crossing the river, if they are used well, they can become a great help to your subordinates.
"Someone come!"
Just as the painter was about to leave, he heard Xiahou Qing calling for someone. He left without even looking back and reminded, "The Pavilion Master has summoned you, why don't you go quickly?"
After the painter entered the room, he bowed his head and said, "I wonder what instructions the Pavilion Master has."
Xiahou Qing closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and ordered, "Find me a few gifts from the treasury. I want to go to the Duke of Liang's mansion in person."
"yes."
...In the mansion of Duke Liang, Duke Liang and Marquis Wen retired early. After the morning sun shone through the courtyard, two old men appeared on the lounge chairs in the yard, closing their eyes while feeling the tiny spots of light shining through the shade of the trees and bickering with each other.
It has been a few days since the butler ran around the Duke's Mansion without caring about his image. As soon as he started running, everyone would involuntarily stop what they were doing and start worrying whether there was any bad news coming back; or if someone was causing trouble in the Forbidden Palace again.
The housekeeper ran all the way from the main gate to the inner courtyard. When he saw Duke Liang and Marquis Wen, he shouted without hesitation: "Master, it's bad, Master!"
Duke Liang turned his head to glance at the sweaty butler and said, "What's going on? The palace is here again? As usual, tell them I'm unwell. If it's nothing serious, don't look for me."
The housekeeper said that if it was a eunuch from the palace, he could send him away, but the key point was that the person who came today was much more difficult to deal with than the eunuchs: "It's not a eunuch from the palace, it's someone from Tianshu Tower!"
Wen Hou waved his hand and said leisurely: "Come if you want, just send them away casually, just like before."
"Master, this..." When the butler was about to tell them that the person who came was not a small fry but the master of Tianshu Tower, Xiahou Qing, Xiahou Qing rushed in with a gift.
"The Duke and the Marquis really don't give me any respect at all."
After hearing this unpleasant voice, Duke Liang slowly sat up straight, his face changed, and he said, "Butler, please go down first. You have nothing to do here."
"yes."
Wen Hou, still lying on a rattan chair as before, greeted him, "Oh, who was that? It's Lord Xia Hou. It's truly a day of privilege. What brings Lord Xia Hou, who's so busy with his affairs, here?"
Xiahou Qing put down the gift in his hand, bowed, and said respectfully to the two people in front of him, "This humble official never comes to the palace for no reason. I believe you two elders are aware of the current situation in Liang State. To be on the safe side, I actually want to take you two gentlemen to stay in the palace for a while today."
Duke Liang refused righteously, "There's no need for a short stay. We're all used to the carefree life out there, but we can't get used to the cumbersome formalities of the palace."
Wen Hou also asked very bluntly: "Lord Xiahou came alone today. Did he have thugs prepared outside, or are you confident that you can take us both out on your own?"
Xiahou Qing then apologized with a smile, "You two elders are joking. I cannot do such a thing as robbing innocent people."
"Then Lord Xiahou, please return." What puzzled Duke Liang and Marquis Wen was that despite the expulsion order, Xiahou Qing hadn't gotten into any trouble and actually intended to leave. "Since Lord Duke and Lord Marquis are unwilling to follow me into the palace, I won't force them. By the way, I heard that Lord Duke's son-in-law is also in the capital these days. I wonder if I could have the chance to meet him?"
Wen Hou said impatiently, "Chen Xin is busy helping Qingliang Valley with work, so I'm afraid he won't have the chance to see Pavilion Master Xiahou. I'll convey Pavilion Master Xiahou's thoughts to him. If there's nothing else, Pavilion Master can leave. We two old men still need to bask in the sun."
This made Duke Liang unhappy: "What do you mean you just passed it on? He's my son-in-law!"
Wen Hou smacked his lips and said, "Isn't this almost the same?"
"It's much worse, okay!"
Xiahou Qing didn't want to just stand there. Since the host had already ordered them to leave, it would seem rude if he didn't leave. "...In that case, I won't bother you anymore. I hope the Duke and Marquis don't mind these gifts."
"Don't mind. Since it's a gift, we will naturally accept it. If anything happens in the palace and requires us old bones to help, just ask, Master." After saying that, Duke Liang waved his hand and called the maid Liu Xu who was serving on the side, and asked her to take all the gifts brought by Xiahou Qing to the kitchen.
Xiahou Qing bowed his head and said, "Then I would like to thank you, Lord Marquis, in advance."
...After Xiahou Qing left, Wen Hou, who had been so relaxed just now, suddenly became serious. The atmosphere between the two people who were originally arguing and arguing fiercely suddenly cooled down: "What do you think he came here for today?"
"Anyway, it's definitely not to confirm whether the two of us have really knocked each other out. I really can't figure out the specific intention this time. But what he sent is definitely not a good thing. It's better to throw it into the earthen stove in the kitchen as soon as possible and cook a meal for my family." Duke Liang said this lightly, but he was still a little nervous and uneasy in his heart.
Wen Hou said, "They left so easily. I always feel there's something fishy going on."
Duke Liang had no idea whether this was a deception or not. He only knew that anything and anyone related to Xiahou Qing must not remain in his mansion. They should be thrown away or destroyed. To better deduce the purpose of Xiahou Qing's visit, Duke Liang called the butler over, hoping to find some clues. "Butler."
"master."
Wen Hou asked first, "When Xia Hou Qing came, was he followed by anyone?"
The housekeeper replied, "His carriage and entourage are all outside the palace. He is the only one who has entered the palace."
Duke Liang and Marquis Wen exchanged a glance before ordering, "Guard the gates carefully to prevent anyone from taking advantage. And when he sends you something, watch over it and personally throw it into the fire."
"Master, don't worry. I understand everything and will definitely not let anything happen in our house."
There's a saying that goes, "Don't set a flag too early, otherwise it will become a dream come true!" The housekeeper had just said this solemnly in front of Duke Liang and Marquis Wen during the day, and that evening, there was some noise in the Duke's Mansion.
The noise wasn't loud; two guards, on their night patrol, spotted a maid who looked unwell and appeared to have eaten something bad. That maid was none other than Liu Xu, who had handled Xia Houqing's gift that day.
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