Chapter 267 Qi Yanzhou Meets Song Jingning
Qi Yanzhou certainly believed in a substitute who was willing to risk his life for him.
And he would not have the slightest doubt towards Ye Chutang.
"Never mind. As long as no one knows that the person with you is a substitute, your reputation won't be ruined."
Ye Chutang patted Qi Yanzhou's shoulder and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Those who achieve great things don't care about small details. Change your appearance."
After Qi Yanzhou and his stand-in exchanged clothes, Lan Yue helped them change their appearance.
Two quarters of an hour passed.
The substitute became Qi Yanzhou.
Qi Yanzhou turned into a middle-aged man with ordinary features, his face was a little pale and he looked sick.
He asked Nan Xiao to pack a bag for him and then mounted his horse.
"Atang, see you in Ningzhou City!"
Ye Chutang raised his head and warned, "Be careful, save the people, but don't force it."
"Okay, I understand."
After Qi Yanzhou finished speaking, he whipped his horse whip and galloped away.
After he left, Ye Chutang explained the details to the stand-in.
"What's your name?"
When they were alone, she couldn't always call out for someone else.
The man said respectfully, "Madam, my name is Zhou Ying."
Homophonic to "Zhouying".
Qi Yanzhou's shadow.
After Ye Chutang wrote down the name, he immediately got into character.
"We've been out for quite a while, we need to find a reason to stay out longer."
Zhou Ying pointed at the wild vegetables on the ground and said, "Madam, how about digging some wild vegetables?"
The wild vegetables are nourished by the spring water and grow fat and tender.
Ye Chutang nodded, "Well, dig some."
As soon as she finished speaking, Nan Xiao asked his men to start digging wild vegetables.
In a short while, the group of people dug a lot.
Just as Ye Chutang was about to reach out to take it, Zhou Ying said, "Atang, let me do it."
As soon as these words came out, Ye Chutang raised his eyebrows in approval.
"Yes, it looks a lot like Azhou."
Zhou Ying made a thin rope out of grass and tied up the wild vegetables.
When he was about to return to the village with Ye Chutang, the Saker Falcon that had gone to deliver a letter to Ma Weiyuan flew back.
It was the first time that Ye Chutang saw a living gyrfalcon.
She had only seen it on TV before.
After all, this animal is a second-level protected animal in modern times and is not allowed to be raised privately.
Ye Chutang watched the Saker Falcon land steadily on Nan Xiao's arm and let out a sharp cry.
She asked, "Can I use it to return the Saker Falcon? This letter should have come from Wuhai County, right?"
Nan Xiao nodded, took the secret letter from Hai Dongqing's feet and handed it to Ye Chutang.
"Madam, please take a look."
The master said that the lady should be treated the same way as he was treated.
Ye Chutang took the rolled-up letter without hesitation and opened it.
Ma Weiyuan's reply was simple.
He will lead his troops to Ningzhou City to help Qi Yanzhou suppress the rebellious Ningzhou garrison.
But if he wanted to take enough people away, he had to come up with a pretext, which would take time.
In other words, Ma Weiyuan might not be able to reach Ningzhou City within five days.
Ye Chutang returned the letter to Nan Xiao.
"Let Hai Dongqing pass the message to Qi Yanzhou and let him decide whether to change the time for the exile team to enter Ningzhou City."
After reading the letter, Nan Xiao rolled it up and put it back on Haidongqing's legs.
He fed the Saker Falcon some water and food.
"Go find your master. He has just left. Go north and you will see him galloping on his horse."
The Saker Falcon is a very intelligent bird that can understand human language.
It cried out again in a high-pitched voice, then flapped its wings and flew high to the north.
Not long after Qi Yanzhou left the back mountain, he was soon caught up by Haidongqing.
After reading Ma Weiyuan's reply, he wrote four words with charcoal.
“The plan remains unchanged.”
The later they entered Ningzhou City, the more perfect Su Chengzong's layout became, which was actually disadvantageous to him.
He stuffed the letter back into the bamboo tube and touched Haidongqing's head.
"Fly back, thank you for your hard work."
Ye Chutang waited for about a cup of tea, and the Saker Falcon flew back.
She was not surprised at all to see Qi Yanzhou's decision.
"Zhou Ying and I will go back first."
After saying that, the two of them went back to the village one after the other.
Seeing the two of them coming back, she asked with concern: "Why did you go out for so long? Are you too hot?"
Ever since she discovered the mutiny and the massacre in the village, she has always felt uneasy.
They are worried that people who go out may run into these ruthless "robbers" and get into trouble.
Ye Chutang pulled Zhou Ying behind him.
"Mom, Ah Zhou and I went to the back mountain and saw a lot of fresh wild vegetables, so we dug some and brought them back to eat cold at noon."
"Okay, come on in, it's hot outside."
Aunt Xu quickly took the wild vegetables from Zhou Ying's hand.
"Second Young Master, leave this kind of rough work to me from now on."
Zhou Ying knew how Qi Yanzhou treated everyone in the Qi family.
He said nonchalantly, "It's just a simple matter. Why should Auntie make another trip?"
Aunt Xu smiled and said, "I'll go next time."
Upon hearing this, Ye Chutang joked, "Auntie, even if this wild vegetable is delicious, you can't eat it every day."
"I found some bacon in the granary and wanted to chop it up and make dumplings with wild vegetables."
"That's fine. I'll take you there when the sun sets."
"good."
The family sat together picking wild vegetables, and no one noticed that Zhou Ying was not Qi Yanzhou.
Lunch consisted of rice, a few fried vegetables, and the last bit of dried venison.
Zhou Ying had been living in the open air all the time and hadn't eaten such delicious food for a long time.
He wanted to eat another bowl, but he held back.
Ye Chutang saw this and said, "Azhou, you've worked hard digging wild vegetables. Eat more."
Madam Qi gave Zhou Ying all the rice in the pot without waiting for him to refuse.
"Eat it, don't waste it."
Zhou Ying looked at the full bowl of rice and said helplessly, "Mom, you are so kind to me."
"Eat quickly, you're talking too much!"
After dinner, Ye Chutang and Zhou Ying walked around the house to digest the food.
Then went back to the room.
The villagers' rooms are simple and have plain furniture.
A wooden bed, a wooden table, a wardrobe, and two large wooden boxes for storing bedding.
In summer, the wooden box is placed on the earthen kang.
In winter, the wooden box is placed on the wooden bed.
Zhou Ying stacked up the wooden boxes and tidied up the earthen kang.
"Madam, no one should break into the room without permission. I sleep on the kang and I don't snore, so I won't disturb your rest."
Ye Chutang nodded, "Okay, go to sleep."
After saying that, she went to bed, not minding at all that there was a strange man in the room.
Zhou Ying had never been alone with a woman before, and his previous calmness was all fake.
He was tense all over, fearing that any mistake would bring disgrace upon the Qi family's training of him over the years.
Glancing at Ye Chutang who had his back to him, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and got on the earthen kang.
***
Qi Yanzhou arrived at Ningzhou City two hours later.
He did not ride his horse directly into the city, but handed the horse to his men who were supporting him outside the city and walked into the city.
Ningzhou City has been placed under martial law, and identity and pass verification is required for entry and exit.
Before the exile, Qi Yanzhou got a travel pass for everyone, just in case.
His travel permit was from Liangzhou.
He is a small trader who resells highland barley wine.
The city gate was crowded with people and noisy.
"What? The entrance fee is fifty cents? Damn it, are you going to let me live?"
"My daughter is in the city. I'm here to visit her. Why don't you let me in?"
"I want to go back to Wuhai County. What should I do if Ningzhou City won't let me go?"
"We are both from Bingzhou, so why can he enter? Why can't I enter?"
"Anyone coming from the capital? Run away! You will be thrown into jail if you are discovered!"
Qi Yanzhou stood outside the crowd and listened for a while, and discovered that the soldiers guarding the city allowed outsiders to enter the city.
Anyone who is willing to spend money can be allowed into the city.
Besides the familiar local faces, there were also people who looked wealthy.
In other words, for the sake of money, Su Chengzong not only robbed everywhere, but also set his sights on the powerful and wealthy businessmen passing by.
It just so happened that Qi Yanzhou’s pass was very suitable for entering the city.
He struggled to get to the front.
When handing the pass to the soldiers guarding the city, he also stuffed five taels of silver into their hands.
"Ahem, sir, I caught a cold on the road and need medical help urgently. Please be accommodating, ahem..."
The soldiers guarding the city looked at the pass of the "sick" man as if he were a lamb to be slaughtered.
"Liangzhou City is far away from Ningzhou City. Are you here alone to sell barley wine?"
"Sir, we usually hire escorts to transport wine, which is safer."
It was common for bodyguards to escort goods away, so the soldiers guarding the city did not ask any more questions and let Qi Yanzhou enter the city.
Patrolling officers and soldiers can be seen everywhere in the city.
People on the street were walking hurriedly, and even the vendors had stopped shouting their wares.
Qi Yanzhou knew that someone was watching him, so he went to the pharmacy and got some medicine for treating colds.
Then he stayed in the inn closest to the Qianjin Casino.
The officers and soldiers who were watching Qi Yanzhou left after they knew where he was going.
Qi Yanzhou, who was standing by the window, saw this and climbed through the window to the Qianjin Casino.
His martial arts skills were very good, and the thugs from the gambling house didn't notice anything unusual.
But when he landed silently in the backyard and entered the sight of the people in the gambling house, he attracted a lot of attention because of his unfamiliar face.
Qi Yanzhou didn't waste time looking for someone and went straight to the kitchen.
Before he reached the door, he was stopped by the guards.
"Sir, the kitchen contains confidential recipes, and only kitchen staff are allowed to enter."
Qi Yanzhou looked at the man with a stern face and said, "I'm looking for Sun Chu. Tell him that my last name is Qi."
After saying that, he turned around and stood under the big apricot tree in the yard.
Seeing that Qi Yanzhou didn't seem like someone who would cause trouble, the guards immediately went to the front room on the fourth floor to look for Sun Chu.
When Sun Chu heard the word "surname Qi", he guessed it was Qi Yanzhou.
He immediately went downstairs to the backyard.
Looking at the completely strange man, he felt that he might have been fooled.
Qi Yanzhou saw anger rising in Sun Chu's eyes and uttered the word "Ye".
Sun Chu looked at Qi Yanzhou, who had changed so much, in disbelief and clicked his tongue twice.
"It's been such a short time since we last met, and you've grown so ugly."
"No match for Master Sun, who is becoming more and more handsome."
Sun Chu hooked his arm around Qi Yanzhou's shoulders and smiled brightly.
"Since you are so good at talking, you can play in the casino. If you lose, it's mine, and if you win, it's yours. How about that?"
Qi Yanzhou knew that Sun Chu didn't really want him to gamble, he just wanted to appear familiar in front of outsiders.
"Not interested. It's almost noon. Let's eat first."
Sun Chu nodded and said to the kitchen, "Prepare a table of your specialty dishes and send them to my room."
After saying that, he took Qi Yanzhou to the luxurious front building.
Due to the martial law in Ningzhou City, the casino's business today is not as good as usual, but there is still a crowd of people.
Every gambler's face flushed with excitement and they shouted wildly.
A few people think of heaven, while most people fall into hell.
Qi Yanzhou looked at the various gambling methods and asked Sun Chu curiously.
"In addition to studying military tactics, the Wuji Sect also studies gambling techniques?"
Sun Chu made up a story, "The art of war is a trick. The art of gambling is actually similar."
"Why do you say that?"
"High-end players are fighting a psychological war, while low-end players are just being slaughtered. It's like using troops. When the strong meet, they fight with strategy and courage. When the strong meet the weak, it's a one-sided massacre."
Although this made sense, Qi Yanzhou felt that Sun Chu was not telling the truth.
He did not ask further, and asked: "Not everyone can open a gambling house. What terms did you reach with the prefect?"
"Thirty percent of the profit."
As they were talking, the two of them arrived at the room on the fourth floor.
The room is magnificent, exquisite and luxurious, comparable to a palace.
Sun Chu poured a cup of tea for Qi Yanzhou, "Top-grade cloud tea, try it."
He sat down at the table, stared at Qi Yanzhou's face, and asked, "Your disguise technique is quite impressive. It doesn't look out of place at all. Did you do it yourself?"
Qi Yanzhou looked at the clear light green tea and took a sip.
"I have a subordinate who can disguise himself."
Sun Chu looked at Qi Yanzhou eagerly, "Introduce him to me if you have a chance. I want to learn from him."
With this skill, even if you become a wanted criminal, you can still escape with honor!
Qi Yanzhou put down the teacup and said, "Help me rescue Song Jingning, and I will agree to it."
"Okay, I'll try. Su Chengzong is keeping a close eye on Song Jingning, so it's highly likely that I won't succeed."
"Try it first. If you can't save the person, you have to see him."
Sun Chu poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp.
"Song Jingning is under house arrest in Hua Ting Academy. It's not difficult to see him."
Huating Academy has branches in every state and county.
Although the area is not as large as that of the capital, and the knowledge taught is not as comprehensive, there are still many students.
Su Chengzong surrounded Huating Academy on the grounds that it spread remarks that were opposed to imperial power.
Some influential students were also sent to prison.
Among them were two brothers and sisters from the Cui family in Liangzhou.
Cui Yunchen and Cui Shuyue were sent by the Cui family to study abroad with Song Jingning.
Over the past three months, the two have made great progress, their articles are getting better and better, and they have become somewhat famous.
Su Chengzong put these people in jail to threaten Song Jingning to obey him.
In other words, even if he could save Song Jingning, he probably wouldn't leave.
Huating Academy is still offering classes today, but the control over admitted students is extremely strict.
Sun Chu gave Su Chengzong 10,000 taels of silver, so he still had some face in front of him. It was not difficult for him to take a servant to find "Master Haoyue" for instruction and answer his questions.
After hearing what Sun Chu said, Qi Yanzhou raised his eyebrows slightly.
"You gave money to Su Chengzong because you knew the 'ghost thief' would rob him of everything, right?"
Sun Chu gave a thumbs up.
"You guessed it right. He was so happy that it was just temporarily stored with him."
Having said that, he got down to business.
"In the next two days, I will find an opportunity to test Su Chengzong and see how he plans to deal with the exile team that is about to pass through Ningzhou City."
If you can’t ask directly, then ask after you’re drunk!
Qi Yanzhou shook his head and denied Sun Chu's idea.
"Su Chengzong is very nervous right now. He won't be easily persuaded. Don't take any risks."
"Okay, I'll see what happens then."
As soon as Sun Chu finished speaking, there was a knock on the door.
"Sir, the food is served."
"Come in!"
After the food was served, Sun Chu pointed to his face.
"Ningzhou City keeps a close eye on outsiders. Your face has already been revealed. It's probably not appropriate for you to follow me to meet Song Jingning."
Qi Yanzhou picked up the bowl and picked up a piece of stewed beef brisket.
"Don't worry, Master Qi. I can soften the makeup cream on my face with a special potion and change my appearance."
"Amazing! I must learn this disguise technique!"
"Okay, as long as I can meet Song Jingning, I'll let Lan Yue teach you."
"It's a deal!"
The food in the gambling house was delicious, and Qi Yanzhou ate two bowls.
He put down his chopsticks and said, "I live on the third floor of Yuelai Inn, in a corner room near Qianjin Casino. If Mr. Sun has set a time to meet Song Jingning, just throw a stone into the window."
"Okay, I'll go find Su Chengzong with some good wine and food. After I get his letter, I'll come find you."
After the negotiation, Qi Yanzhou returned to the inn along the same route.
In order to perform the whole act, he even paid the waiter to make medicine for him.
He waited until after 3 p.m. before a small stone flew in through the window and rolled a few times on the floor.
Qi Yanzhou, who was lying on the bed, immediately stood up and looked towards the window.
Outside the inn, Sun Chu pointed in the direction of the gambling house. Qi Yanzhou went to meet up at the gambling house and then set off.
After making sure Qi Yanzhou saw the hint, he left.
In order to avoid staying too long and arousing suspicion from patrolling officers and soldiers.
Qi Yanzhou immediately applied medicine to his easily discolored cheeks.
After the disguise cream was ready for shaping, he pinched the face he had just seen in front of the mirror.
So much so that when he landed in the backyard of the gambling house, he scared the guards.
“You…you…”
Sun Chu was waiting for Qi Yanzhou in the backyard.
After seeing his appearance, he immediately covered the guard's mouth.
"Don't shout. Go to your room and stay there. Don't go anywhere until I come back."
"Yes, Mr. Sun."
The guard was still confused until he entered the room.
Sun Chu gave Qi Yanzhou a thumbs up again.
"High! Really high!"
If he disguised himself as a stranger, he would be closely watched by Su Chengzong's soldiers.
It’s most appropriate to be a “stand-in” for a familiar face.
Sun Chu asked the kitchen to make some afternoon tea and took it to Huating Academy.
He had Su Chengzong's handwritten letter, and the soldiers at the gate of the academy read it and let him go.
Song Jingning is giving a lecture to students who come here to listen to his lecture.
The servant informed him that Su Chengzong had sent someone to visit.
He did not dare to offend Su Chengzong, and said, "Please wait for a moment, I will be there soon."
"Yes, Fifth Young Master."
Song Jingning is the fifth child in the Song family, and people in the academy have always called him that.
Qi Yanzhou and Sun Chu waited for about an incense stick of time, and Song Jingning came in a hurry.
He looked at the two strangers, doubts arose in his mind, and he bowed and saluted.
"I wonder why the two distinguished guests came to the academy?"
No matter how you look at it, these two people don't seem to be Su Chengzong's lackeys.
Sun Chu said with a smile: "I am Sun Chu, the owner of Qianjin Casino. I have a little talent and came to ask Master Haoyue for advice."
After saying that, he turned his head and looked at Qi Yanzhou beside him.
"This is the guard of the gambling house. His wife is very fond of your writings and wants to ask for a poem written by you personally."
Sun Chu handed Su Chengzong's handwriting to Song Jingning.
"This is General Su's intention. Please don't refuse, sir."
These words were spoken to the officers and soldiers guarding outside the door.
Song Jingning didn't understand the deeper meaning of Sun Chu's words, ignored Su Chengzong's handwriting, and continued speaking.
"I wonder which poem this lady wants?"
Sun Chu picked out a poem that Ye Chutang had written to Eunuch De, secretly insulting him.
This poem is not widely circulated and most people have never heard of it.
You Song family members must know!
After listening to the poem, Song Jingning immediately realized that these two people were sent by Ye Chutang to see him.
He calmed himself down and looked at Qi Yanzhou.
"This poem is very good. Madam, you have great literary talent."
This means that he already knew the source of the poem and also knew Qi Yanzhou's identity.
He looked at the book boy beside him and said, "Go and prepare the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone."
"Yes, Fifth Young Master."
Sun Chu suggested: "Why don't we go to the inner room? This square tea table is too small and not suitable for writing poetry."
Song Jingning: "Please come in, both of you."
The officers and soldiers outside the door were strong in body but simple in mind. They were not interested in literary works and did not follow in.
There was no outsider in the inner room, so Song Jingning immediately looked at Qi Yanzhou.
"There are undercurrents in Ningzhou City. Master Qi shouldn't have come."
Qi Yanzhou was not in a position to reveal the relationship between Ye Chutang and Song Jingning in front of Sun Chu.
"Mr. Song is in trouble, I can't just sit back and watch."
"Emperor Su Chengzong only has 60,000 soldiers and horses, so he can't cause any trouble. Master Qi, don't worry about me."
There are more than 60,000 students in the world.
Su Chengzong only dared to threaten him but did not dare to touch him.
Moreover, Su Chengzong detained the students under the banner of the emperor.
This means that he was just testing whether he could control the Song and Qi families and help him change the dynasty.
Once he finds that the situation is not favorable to him, he will stop.
Qi Yanzhou also thought about what Song Jingning had considered.
"Although Su Chengzong has left himself some leeway, there is no guarantee that he will suddenly go crazy. After all, Ningzhou City is under his control. If he can accuse you of being a traitor who wants to overthrow the imperial power, he can execute you on the spot!"
No matter how many students there are, they can only take revenge afterwards.
What's the use?
Song Jingning is Ye Chutang's only close relative, and he must not be allowed to take any risks!
Qi Yanzhou's words left Song Jingning unable to refute.
When people are irrational, they will indeed do things that hurt the enemy by 800 and hurt themselves by 1,000.
"Master Qi came to me, but do you have a way to take down Su Chengzong?"
"I have mobilized troops, and it will take six or seven days to arrive."
Song Jingning was a little surprised. He moved closer to Qi Yanzhou and asked in a low voice.
"Is Master Qi preparing to rebel?"
This is something the Song family can accomplish!
But the timing is not right now.
It was a bit too early. The price to overthrow the imperial power was huge.
Just as Qi Yanzhou was about to shake his head, the servant brought in pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
He saw that the three of them had something to discuss, so he quickly said, "Fifth Master, I'll go make tea for the distinguished guest."
After saying that, he left.
Qi Yanzhou dripped tea into the Wild Goose Pagoda and picked up the ink stick to grind ink.
"Mr. Song, you are worrying too much. The soldiers who came to relieve the danger of Ningzhou City have nothing to do with me. The Beichen Kingdom cannot be in chaos now."
The implication is that someone will take the credit.
Song Jingning thought so too.
The world must be seized, but not now.
"Master Qi is thoughtful and considerate, which is a blessing for the people of the world. Before the troops arrive at the city, what do you need me to do?"
Qi Yanzhou took a sip of the juice brought by Sun Chu.
"Follow Su Chengzong and make those detained students admit their mistakes and write a letter of repentance."
Song Jingning sighed, "I tried, but Su Chengzong wouldn't let me go."
If it weren't for the need to protect those people in prison, he would have escaped long ago and joined Ye Chutang.
Qi Yanzhou's eyes suddenly became sharp and murderous.
"Then expose his rebellion and make it public."
Su Chengzong wants to be able to attack or defend? He’s dreaming!
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