Chapter 28 Traveling Together
Zhi Xiang's cheek was pinched and gently tugged by Liu Xi, causing Zhi Xiang to whimper twice.
"The princess always makes fun of me!"
Liu Xi stopped, took a pastry from the plate, and brought it to Zhi Xiang's lips.
"I'm already used to seeing Liu Yan stumble, but I feel there's something fishy about the He family not wanting His Majesty to transfer grain from Yinzhou for disaster relief."
The border pass that Yinzhou is backed by is guarded by the Dingyuan Army. At first glance, He Qing's court's words did not seem to have any flaws, but Liu Xi's keen sixth sense told her that Yinzhou's granaries had run out of rice for disaster relief.
"Zhixiang, please pass on a message to Xia Xia, saying that I wish to see General Huo."
"It seems that the princess and I are of one mind."
Huo Lin's voice suddenly reached Liu Xi's ears. She looked in the direction the voice came from and saw Xia, disguised as a eunuch, leading people into the courtyard.
"General Huo, what a coincidence."
Zhi Xiang quickly stood up, offered her seat to Huo Lin, and went to prepare fresh tea.
"I suppose the princess already knows what happened in court this morning, which is why she wants to see me."
Liu Xi waved the secret letter in her hand, "Of course I will read General Huo's letter as soon as possible."
"Let's not fool around with the general for now, but I have something to discuss with you."
Huo Lin sat down opposite Liu Xi, adopting a serious and earnest expression.
Just as Liu Xi was about to speak, she looked up and met Huo Lin's suddenly cold face, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"General Huo, are you prepared to listen to the prisoner's confession of his crimes?"
Huo Lin's expression changed abruptly. "No, no, Your Highness, I meant no disrespect..."
Liu Xi then casually picked up some snacks from the table and stuffed them into Huo Lin's mouth. She found that having some food on the tea table was quite useful; it was incredibly amusing to use it to amuse people.
"Alright, I was just joking."
"Getting back to the main topic, I think it's necessary to make a trip to Yinzhou."
Huo Lin quickly began chewing, covering his mouth with his right hand. He spoke with a whimper because his mouth was stuffed with something.
"That's what I think too. It seems the princess has already guessed why He Qing refused the Ministry of Revenue's request to transfer disaster relief grain from Yinzhou."
"General Huo seems quite certain that there's something fishy going on behind this?"
"Does Your Highness still remember the Flying Tigers that I mentioned to you last year?"
Seeing Liu Xi nod quickly, Huo Lin hurriedly continued.
"Just as the princess predicted. The Flying Tiger Army was ostensibly disbanded, but half of its troops were hidden by He Qing."
"I tried to search for relevant clues, but He Qing, that old fox, did it so perfectly that he even registered a false destination for every soldier in the Flying Tiger Army who was on record."
Liu Xi pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked.
"With such a large army, He Qing would never use the He family's private accounts to support them, but he also can't openly embezzle under His Majesty's nose..."
"Perhaps Yinzhou, which is located on the frontier, is the perfect place for him to embezzle grain and fodder."
Thinking about it this way, it all seems to make sense.
Liu Xi popped a pastry into her mouth this time, and she rested her forehead on one hand, lost in thought.
"He Qing estimates that everyone will be on guard for a while. General, why don't we wait a month or two until the disaster relief is over and Liu Yan returns to the capital with his troops, then we can find a way to go to Yinzhou to find out the situation?"
Huo Lin was somewhat taken aback. "Does the princess intend to go to Yinzhou herself?"
"Anyway, I'm quite bored staying in the harem, so I might as well go out of the palace and find something important to do."
Liu Xi sighed, "Speaking of which, I was planning to leave the palace today while it's still light out and take a trip to the capital."
She didn't explicitly say that she wanted to go to Hongxiangyuan to see Wang Zhimeng, but Huo Lin had already seen through Liu Xi's little scheme.
Huo Lin looked up at the position of the sun, "It's too dangerous for the princess to leave the palace without permission, perhaps..."
"Why don't we wait until General Huo finishes his duties and leaves the palace to return home, then secretly take me out with him on his way?"
"This princess rarely asks for favors. General Huo won't refuse to give me face, will he?"
Huo Lin smiled shyly and murmured something under his breath.
"Your Highness, this is hardly a request for help."
Liu Xi didn't hear clearly and asked again, but Huo Lin didn't repeat the sentence as she wished.
"Why doesn't Your Highness change into something more comfortable to wear outside the palace and leave with me now?"
"General, you are truly decisive! I like it!"
As she spoke, Liu Xi immediately jumped up from her seat and ran into the inner hall.
Her cheerful voice floated in the air.
"General Huo, please sit down and have some tea. I'll be right back."
"Zhixiang, quickly find the men's clothing that I asked you to prepare earlier."
“*&#…（#@……”
The faint sound of Liu Xi's chattering could still be heard from inside the hall. Huo Lin picked up his teacup, took a sip, and drank it along with the green tea leaves floating on the surface.
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Liu Xi's attire was completely transformed.
She specially sent someone to buy her the most fashionable men's clothing in Kyoto at the moment, paired with the same high ponytail hairstyle as Huo Lin.
Liu Xi's makeup was washed off, but even without makeup, the allure of a woman on her face could not be hidden, so she specially prepared a hat with a long veil.
"Ben, cough, I'm ready, Brother Huo, let's go."
Xia did not park the carriage outside Yihuai Pavilion, but instead discreetly parked it at the entrance of the Imperial City.
Liu Xi followed behind Huo Lin, and the two of them avoided the crowded palace road as much as possible, and successfully boarded the carriage.
Huo Lin showed his waist token to the guard, who bowed to Huo Lin.
"General Huo, you've worked hard."
The carriage left the imperial city smoothly and soon slowly entered the bustling streets of Kyoto.
Liu Xi peered excitedly through the carriage window, looking around with great curiosity about everything on the street.
Looking at her cute appearance, Huo Lin couldn't help but suggest, "Shall we go for a walk?"
Liu Xi immediately turned her little face towards her with expectant eyes.
"Hurrah!"
In the bustling market, vendors crowded both sides of the street.
Liu Xi weaved in and out of the shop, while Huo Lin followed behind her to settle the bill.
A short while later, Liu Xi emerged from the crowd with a sugar painting and candied hawthorn in one hand and a meat pie and sugar pastry in the other.
In her previous life, Liu Xi had almost no time for herself; she was constantly scheming and planning for Liu Yan.
This was the first time she had played so happily, and she was so engrossed in the game that she forgot her original purpose for leaving the palace that day.
"Brother Huo, you must try this sugar pastry, it's incredibly sweet!"
Liu Xi fed Huo Lin the food very naturally. Huo Lin took a bite of the sugar pastry with Liu Xi's help, and the sweet taste almost instantly filled his mouth and brain.
Although Liu Xi was having so much fun that she forgot all about it, Huo Lin remembered it very clearly for her.
He led Liu Xi on a stroll towards Hongxiang Garden. By the time Liu Xi had almost finished eating the candied hawthorn and meat pie in her hand, the two of them had already arrived at the entrance of Hongxiang Garden.
As Liu Xi looked up, the three large characters "Hongxiangyuan" appeared before her eyes.
"Brother Huo truly understands my heart!"
Liu Xi gave Huo Lin a thumbs-up, which was still a little oily.
Huo Lin took out a cloth from his pocket and wiped Liu Xi's face, then whispered something in her ear.
"Hongxiangyuan was not only a brothel, but also the most bustling and prosperous restaurant in the entire capital, so many ministers liked to gather here to drink and have fun."
"There are many people and eyes inside, Your Highness. Please put on your veil properly and refrain from speaking unless absolutely necessary."
Liu Xi let Huo Lin stretch out his arm to tie her veil, then pouted and muttered something.
"Brother Huo, you must have already guessed the purpose of my departure from the palace today, right?"
"As I said, Your Highness and I are of one mind."
After getting dressed, Liu Xi put her hands behind her back and, imitating the way those spoiled young masters acted, swaggered into Hongxiang Garden.
Watching Liu Xi's retreating figure, Huo Lin couldn't help but chuckle.
Inside Hongxiangyuan, many beautiful girls gathered at the entrance to solicit customers. Liu Xi had only walked through the entrance when her arms were touched countless times by different girls.
Liu Xi was laughing happily, but Huo Lin behind her was not so comfortable.
Compared to Liu Xi, a guest whose face was concealed, Huo Lin, an exceptionally handsome and upright gentleman, was clearly more popular.
Huo Lin took two steps when he was suddenly grabbed by many hands, staggered, and almost fell into the arms of the beauty.
Having no other choice, he had to ask Liu Xi for help.
"Ah, Xi, Brother Xi, Brother Xi?"
Liu Xi almost didn't realize that Huo Lin was calling her. She turned around and moved back to Huo Lin's side, putting her arm around his shoulder like a good brother, and barely managed to snatch him back from the girls.
"What 'Brother Xi'? That's awful."
Liu Xi made a low, accusatory statement.
Huo Lin chuckled awkwardly, "The situation was so urgent that I couldn't think of a suitable address."
He was much taller than Liu Xi, so when Liu Xi hooked him up like this, he could only bend over, which looked rather comical.
"No, Brother Xi, that sounds really strange. Why don't you just call me Brother? How about that?"
Huo Lin awkwardly showed a troubled expression, "Your Highness, you might as well just borrow my brother's name. When we're out, I'll just call you Ah Xun."
Liu Xi repeated it softly, then nodded, "Okay."
She lowered her voice to a very low hue and tried her best to laugh heartily three times, then patted Huo Lin's shoulder twice with the hand that was on his shoulder.
A slightly older, beautiful woman approached and asked in a gentle voice.
"Are you two here for drinks or to admire the flowers?"
Liu Xi pinched Huo Lin's palm, and Huo Lin immediately said something.
"Of course, it's a perfect combination of drinking and enjoying the flowers."
"The young masters are indeed in high spirits."
After saying that, the beautiful woman clapped her hands lightly, and several girls immediately appeared on both sides, taking Huo Lin and Liu Xi's hands one on each side.
"Young master, please come with me."
The girls led the two of them to a semi-enclosed room on the second floor. By pulling back the beaded curtain, they could clearly see the stage in the center of the first floor, where singing and dancing were taking place.
"Good wine and good meat are coming soon. Why don't you two gentlemen have some fun with me first?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
