Daning.
"Spare me... Your Highness... spare me..."
Intermittent sounds rang out, and Perrin spoke with a pained expression, praying for Jing Zhao's soft heart.
But Jing Zhao revealed a cruel smile, "That Qingyi, is she your old flame?"
Pei Lan's delicate body trembled violently. How could Jing Zhao know about Qingyi?
"They're searching the whole capital for me, saying I kidnapped his wife." Jing Zhao said, lifting Pei Lan's chin. "You're his wife?"
"laugh--"
Jing Zhao completely ignored Pei Lan's answer and instead spoke to himself, "But he's already dead."
"What?" Perrin's incredulous voice rang out, and the next second, Jing Zhao reached out and grabbed Perrin's neck.
"Sure enough, you and he have been having an affair for a long time."
"What a pity. Your lover was captured by Gu Lin and subjected to every imaginable torture. Let me think, if Gu Lin's men haven't come knocking on our door yet..."
Jing Zhao deliberately drew out his words, "Then he must have been unwilling to reveal your information, even at the cost of his life, which caused Gu Lin's patience to completely run out, and that's why he was killed."
"ah--"
Pei Lan struggled desperately to break free from Jing Zhao's grasp, letting out a shrill scream.
"It's a pity that the person behind you has no intention of saving you at all; only that fool is single-mindedly looking for you." Jing Zhao seemed to enjoy seeing Pei Lan's pained expression, and even curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.
Only after seeing Pei Lan completely break down did Jing Zhao reluctantly leave the room.
"Your Highness, another group of our men has been exposed."
Jing Zhao's expression instantly turned gloomy. "So many years have passed, but Gu Lin is still not to be underestimated."
They quickly stabilized the hearts and minds of the court officials and the people of Da Ning, and then swiftly and decisively tracked down his whereabouts.
"Tell our people to be on high alert lately, so they don't get caught by Gu Lin again."
Inside the room, Pei Lan lay on the bed in despair; Qing Yi was dead...
The woman in green died saving her...
Pei Lan lay there blankly for a full hour, shedding all her tears, before slowly sitting up with a terrifying smile on her face. "Qingyi, you wait, I will avenge you."
......
"drive--"
A woman rode a fine horse, galloping along the pipeline towards Lingzhou.
Bai Qian gripped the reins tightly, a royal edict in her arms, which the Emperor had ordered her to deliver to Lingzhou.
She knew that the Emperor and the Empress wanted her to see Jiang He, and she herself missed Jiang He very much.
Therefore, she dared not stop for a moment and hurried to Lingzhou.
But when she stood outside Lingzhou City, only inches away from Jiang He, she hesitated.
"Did you hear that? Tomorrow, the Marquis will be hosting wealthy merchants from several cities around Lingzhou."
As Bai Qian entered Lingzhou City, she heard the people talking about Jiang He, and involuntarily slowed her pace.
"These past few days, the cosmetics shops have almost sold out. I heard that all the wealthy businessmen are bringing their daughters to this banquet. Tsk... what do you think...?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? The Marquis is a man from the capital, the Emperor's maternal uncle. Even if he were to get married, it would require the Emperor's decree. How could he just take a fancy to any girl?"
"Tch, heroes have always found it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. I think the girls around here are all quite pretty!"
Everyone chimed in, one after another. Bai Qian's eyelashes fluttered slightly. "Jiang He... did you invite the daughters of various families along with the wealthy businessman?"
For a moment, the atmosphere around Bai Qian seemed to drop.
Bai Qian gradually abandoned her original plan to go directly to Jiang He. She looked up and saw an inn nearby. She pursed her lips and went inside.
"Waiter, I need a room."
Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Jiang He was intently studying the military treatise in his hands.
"My lord, everything is ready for tomorrow's banquet. We're just waiting for those people to arrive."
The subordinate's voice made Jiang He stop turning the pages of his book, and a smile appeared on his lips. "Lingzhou is famous for its jade. The jade shops in Lingzhou City must have made quite a bit of money these past few days."
"Your Excellency is wise. Lingzhou has not been this lively in a long time."
Jiang He's smile widened. Lingzhou had fallen into disrepair after the war, and Jiang He was trying his best to revitalize the businesses of Lingzhou's shops.
They finally came up with this method.
"It's better to have a lively atmosphere."
Jiang He put down the military treatise in his hand. "Tomorrow, I, the Marquis, will personally entertain these distinguished guests who have come from afar."
For some reason, Jiang He suddenly had a bad feeling, which made him frown subconsciously.
He always felt that he had missed something important.
"My lord, there is something..."
Just as the subordinate was about to speak, he saw Jiang He wave his hand, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat listless, "Leave the rest to you."
The subordinate opened his mouth, but ultimately accepted the order and took his leave.
I was just about to tell you, Lord Marquis, that the busiest place in Lingzhou this time wasn't the jade shops you thought it was, but rather the cosmetics shops.
However, this doesn't seem to be a big deal.
The subordinate shook his head and quickly left the residence.
......
The next morning, Lingzhou City was bustling with activity.
Jiang He was completely awakened by the lively commotion outside the courtyard, but he was listless and his lips were somewhat pale.
"My lord, are you feeling unwell?"
"It's alright."
Jiang He allowed his subordinates to dress him in robes befitting a marquis, then straightened his hair ornaments and said, "Open the gates to welcome our guests."
These people are the gods of wealth for his Lingzhou City.
But when Jiang He stepped into the banquet and saw the guests, he almost tripped over his own feet. Why were there so many female guests?
Seeing Jiang He's questioning gaze, the subordinate's eyes flickered as he touched the tip of his nose, as if to say: "My lord, I was going to report this to you..."
Jiang He forced a smile, but the presence of so many women made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
After a few rounds of drinks, these wealthy businessmen who had come from afar began to get restless.
"My lord, you are of marriageable age. The girls here are all as beautiful as flowers. Have you taken a fancy to any of them?"
Once one person spoke, others chimed in, and before long, all the women present lowered their heads in embarrassment.
Only Jiang He's lips twitched incessantly. He had considered that the wealthy businessmen might bring their wives, but he never imagined that they would bring their daughters instead of their wives.
Suddenly, Jiang He's gaze fixed on a young man.
The boy was small in stature, but the more you looked at his features, the more familiar he seemed...
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