Mountains and rivers pray for peace

Before going to Suiyang, Huo Qi had a lot to do. He had to arrange his official duties for the next few months in advance with his subordinates, and he also had to find time to say goodbye to Luo Rou and the others. Finally, we have to plan how to sneak away from Suiyang to Jiangyang and find Wang Shouli's whereabouts.

The years are passing by, and it’s already the beginning of autumn in a blink of an eye.

The night before departure, the lights were like beans, and Huo Qi was packing his luggage at Lanfangzhai.

A black Gebu was spread out on the round table in the center of the room. It was rough and old. There were scattered objects on it, including a dagger inlaid with opal, an easy-to-carry Sinan, two white porcelain vials, and a thick stick. Hemp rope, four or five pieces of daily attire, all green.

Huo Qi went around the table and counted the things on the table like a military parade.

These are all the good things she has tried her best to collect from everywhere during this period. Going to Suiyang this time may not be as dangerous as she imagined, but it was always right for her not to fight an unprepared battle and to prepare more items for self-defense and survival.

Just as he was thinking about it, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Huo Qi pinched the two corners of Gebu, wrapped the things in twos and twos, tied a knot, and then unbolted the door.

Opening the door, there was a girl with a round face and big eyes standing at the door. Who was that girl if not Usluo?

Huo Qi looked at her pink face, raised his eyebrows and said, "What, have you discovered anything?"

Usnea's eyes lit up: "Nothing can be hidden from adults' eyes."

Huo Qi stepped aside and said, "Come in."

This was the first time Usnea came to Mr. Huo's residence. She followed the instructions and went into the room to sit down. She was so nervous that she didn't know where to put her hands.

After Huo Qi bolted the door, Usnea whispered: "Last night, my slave found that Zitan went to Changle Palace. When she came back, she had an extra jade bracelet on her wrist."

Huo Qi tapped his fingers on the table: "Oh?"

It seems that Zitan has taken advantage of Concubine Shu.

In fact, since she joined the Shangyi Bureau, Zitan has always been conscientious and loyal in front of her. It can be said that she has been perfectly disguised.

Unfortunately, when arranging the location of the concubine's birthday banquet that day, she deliberately sought Zitan's opinion, but Zitan unabashedly asked her to arrange Liu Tiangang and Lu Xingping together. This has been completely exposed - Zitan Ding and Changle Palace People are involved.

She lives in Lanfangzhai, far away from the residence of the palace maids, while Usnea lives next to Zitan. She is young and careless, so it is not easy to attract Zitan's attention, so it is most suitable for her to help keep an eye on her. But he didn't expect that the fox's tail would be exposed so quickly.

Usnea glanced in the direction of the door, took two steps closer, and whispered in Huo Qi's ear: "In addition, I found... something in Zitan's room."

Usnea pinned Huo Qi's face, and Huo Qi glanced at Usnea's ears from the corner of his eye and said, "What?"

"The second prince's jade pendant."

"Did you see clearly?"

Usnea was startled when she saw it, and now her palms are still sweating when she talks about it: "You can't be wrong. Although I have been in the palace not long ago, I also know that each of the princes in the palace has a dragon-patterned jade pendant given by His Majesty. The other jade pendants are the same, but the colors are different. That jade pendant is purple, and it belongs to the dead... second prince."

Huo Qi stood up suddenly, made a fist with his right hand, and struck the heart of his left hand time and time again.

In the flash of lightning, he finally remembered what he had missed.

It turned out to be her, it turned out to be her - the one who handed the portrait of Concubine Jing to the second prince and helped him frame Huo Xian in Baotan Temple. Yes, Zitan was also an old man in Shoukang Palace. So, Zitan knew that the second prince's death was related to her, so she turned around and climbed onto Concubine Shu's lap to take revenge on her?

Thinking of this, Huo Qi looked at Usnea: "Remember, you can't mention this to anyone. Just pretend you don't know. Do you understand?"

Usnea nodded hurriedly.

Although she didn't know Huo Qi's intention, she also understood that the matter was serious. The second prince was deposed by His Majesty, but Zitan had the second prince's personal jade pendant, so the relationship must be extraordinary.

She looked at Huo Qi's expression, and Nuonuo said, "Sir, will you take Sister Zitan with you to Suiyang this time?"

"Of course I have to bring it. Maybe she will bring us unexpected surprises."

※※※

The next day, it was bright and clear, and Shangyi Bureau was already very busy.

In the house, Huo Qi took the gift book and did the final counting, and told Zitan: "The incense and candle tributes can be made according to the previous regulations in the palace. It's just that from Suiyang back to Beijing, the road is mountainous, it's cold in the morning and evening, and it's dry at noon. You have to panic. In addition to the palace clothes, the princess must prepare at least twenty sets of regular clothes according to thickness when she returns to the palace, and order them again before departure. As for the princess’s jewelry..."

Zitan held the paper and pen and wrote them down one by one, and said with a smile: "Your Excellency is still thoughtful." After speaking, she pointed to the bundle packed by Huo Qi's desk and said with a smile: "Your Majesty's luggage is too simple. On weekdays, it is casual, but it will take at least two months to go back and forth. It is better for the slave to find a cage for the master, and add some clothes, rouge, lipstick and other things, which will be more convenient along the way. "

It was a black cloth bag that looked unremarkable, even a little shabby.

Huo Qiwu sat down in front of the case, glanced at the cloth bag, and rubbed his temples: "These clothes are enough."

After saying that, he started to sort out the remaining official documents.

Seeing her persistence, Zitan stopped trying to persuade her and had to retreat angrily.

As noon approached, Usnea hurriedly walked in from outside the house and said, "Sir, the time has come. Everything is ready. It's time for us to set off. Rosewood is already waiting outside."

Huo Qi put the cloth bag on his shoulder and stood up: "Let's go."

I went to Suiyang to meet Princess De'an. I don't know whether it was to avoid the officials talking about the princess being too extravagant, or because of other considerations, but in the end I decided to drive lightly all the way. The accompanying imperial guards were led by their own imperial guards, but Huo Qi was only allowed to bring two palace maids with him, so Huo Qi deliberately ordered usnea and rosewood.

By the time Huo Qi and the two of them arrived at the west door, the palace door was already wide open.

There was a carriage parked at the door. The carriage was made of black nanmu. It was elegant and simple. Compared with the ordinary and luxurious carriages, it was not eye-catching. Those at the head and at the back are all Imperial Guards, majestic and solemn. There is a young man sitting astride a horse in the front, wearing a dark blue brocade robe with gold patterns. He is as gentle as jade and a gentleman, it is Yuan Shao.

There is a close guard beside Yuan Shao. He has a long and fair face and is also handsome. He is dressed differently from other guards. He should be a close subordinate of Yuan Shao.

Huo Qi squinted his eyes.

She had seen this guard-looking man named Ma Fei, who had been with Yuan Shao since he was a child. This person usually walks around Zhenyuan Hou Mansion and doesn't know many people. But whether it was the previous life or this life, Ma Fei was a familiar face to her. On her birthday that year, Yuan Shao came to give her Phoenix tail bamboo, and this was the person who followed him.

Yuan Shao seemed to be aware of it and glanced sideways. He got off his horse and walked over.

When Rosewood and Usnea saw this, they both blessed Fu Shen, and said in unison: "I have met the Crown Prince."

Yuan Shao waved his hand and asked the two of them to stand up, but his eyes fell on Huo Qi.

Huo Qi did not wear official clothes today, but only ordinary women's clothes. She did not apply makeup, and her charming eyes, square eyebrows, and fair face were revealed without any modification.

Such Huo Qi neither looked like the eldest daughter of Duke Ningguo's mansion who was knowledgeable and courteous, nor did she look like an inviolable female official. To Yuan Shao, this was a completely unfamiliar face.

A ridiculous idea suddenly came to Yuan Shao's mind. It seemed that he had never really known Huo Qi.

He suppressed his inner gaze and smiled warmly: "Huo... Sir, the road to Suiyang is not easy. I'm afraid you will suffer a little."

Huo Qi didn't show any emotion, and just nodded slightly: "It's all within my job, it can't be said to be hard work."

After saying that, he quickly got on the carriage at the back, with Rosewood and Usnea following closely behind.

Yuan Shao's always gentle and smiling face became stiff for a moment.

In the carriage, Usnea clutched the hem of her clothes and blushed: "Sir, this is the first time this slave has left the palace after entering the palace."

Huo Qi patted her shoulder: "This time I go to Suiyang. Although there are guards accompanying me, we still can't be too ostentatious, so as not to cause trouble. After leaving the palace, there will be no adults here."

Usnea was stunned for a moment, then smiled sweetly: "Yes, girl."

Zitan had always wanted to get closer to Huo Qi, so she also shouted after hearing this: "Girl." After a pause, she smiled again: "In addition to the girl, the ceremony officer who went to pick up the princess this time was the Marquis of Zhenyuan. The Crown Prince. I heard that the Crown Prince has always been gentle in temperament, and he and the girl are old acquaintances. We think we won’t be in trouble when we leave the palace this time."

Usnea looked at Huo Qi, but stopped talking.

These days, she slowly heard some rumors. The newly deceased eldest concubine of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion was Mr. Huo's cousin, but the eldest and the second wife of the Huo family had stopped interacting with each other for a long time. Therefore, the relationship between Huo Qi and the prince must be very awkward.

There was a moment of silence in the car. Zitan finally realized what was happening and said hurriedly: "My dear, please forgive me. I said the wrong thing."

Huo Qi seemed to be smiling but not smiling: "It doesn't matter if you occasionally say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, as long as your heart is on the right path."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sound of urging horses outside the car, and the wheels rolled forward.

Thank you to the book friend who gave me the monthly ticket. Although I don’t know what the use is, I still thank you hahaha ()