Ci Jinzhi

Looking at the young man lying on the table, King Xiu and Kong Rui looked at each other, smiling and shaking their heads: "I didn't expect Xin Daizhao's drinking capacity to be so light."

Kong Rui stood up and said, "Thank you so much for your hospitality today, His Highness King Xiu. It's getting late so I won't bother you anymore. I'll be sending cousin Xin back just in time."

 Cousin Xin—

King Xiu heard Kong Rui's name for Xin You, his eyes flashed slightly, and he smiled and said: "Xin Daizhao came to my place as a guest. It's natural for someone from the palace to send him back, so why bother my cousin."

"What's the matter? I had to go back and see him off on the way." Kong Rui insisted.

 “Then I’ll bother my cousin.”

　　Personally he sent the two of them out of the second door and watched Xin You and Kong Rui get into the same car. Then Xiu Wang turned around and walked back.

 “Mr. Zhang, what do you think?”

The sky has just turned dark, and the lights in Prince Xiu’s palace are brightly lit.

Mr. Zhang, who is walking next to King Xiu, is a staff member of the royal family and is serving as a drinker at today’s dinner.

After hearing King Xiu's question, Mr. Zhang considered it and said: "Xin Taizhao seems to have no ill intentions towards His Highness, so we have to wait and see. On the other hand, Marquis Jing'an, I can see that he has some scruples about His Highness, and seems to be worried that you will treat Xin Taizhao." unfavorable."

King Xiu smiled: "It's normal for him to have this worry. I've heard since I was a child that my aunt has a deep love for the late queen's sister-in-law. My aunt loves her house as much as she loves her. Kong Rui naturally does the same."

In the light night, Mr. Zhang looked at Xiu Wang Junyi's face and advised: "Your Highness, don't take it to heart, let alone show dissatisfaction with Xin Taizhao because of this."

"I know." Xiu Wang raised the corner of his mouth, "I haven't had enough time to get close to Xin Daizhao, how can I be dissatisfied?"

Mr. Zhang took a deep look at Prince Xiu, and was a little confused about the prince he had known for many years.

In the carriage hung with lanterns from Prince Xiu's Mansion, Xin You leaned against Kong Rui, looking like he had drunk too much.

Kong Rui remained quiet until the carriage stopped at the door of Yuci's house, and then he said: "Cousin, we're here."

Xin You fluttered her eyelashes, as if trying to open her eyes.

 “Cousin—”

Just when Kong Rui was about to help the person down, Xin You opened his eyes: "Where is this?"

 “This is in the carriage. We’re already home. I’ll help you get out.”

Kong Rui helped Xinyou get out of the carriage and insisted on walking her into the yard. When saying goodbye, he solemnly warned: "Cousin, you are a light drinker. You should drink less in the future."

“Oh.” Xinyou nodded vaguely.

Kong Rui saw that she was still not awake and knew that it would be useless to talk too much. He gave a few words to the servants in the house and then left.

Xinyou entered the room, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes.

　　Today's meeting with Mr. He is going to be missed.

She was naturally not drunk, but there was no one of her own in the house, so it was a little risky to go out quietly.

 Fortunately, there must be someone on Mr. He's side keeping an eye on this place and understanding the reason why she didn't go.

He Qingxiao not only quickly received the news that Xin Daizhao was drunk in Prince Xiu's Mansion, but also reported it when Emperor Xingyuan asked about it the next day.

Emperor Xingyuan frowned slightly.

 Just drink, why are you still drunk?

 “I understand, let’s go get busy.”

 “Wei Chen retires.”

He Qingxiao left the palace. On the road, a subordinate in casual clothes came to report: "Sir, Xin Daizhao went to Jifeo Street..."

 This day is the tenth day of the sixth lunar month, the day when officials take a rest.

He Qingxiao nodded slightly, indicating that he understood, and his men retreated quietly.

Jimao Street is a bit far away from the Imperial City and is a mixed place. Xin You felt very comfortable walking in such a splendid market. She wandered around until she noticed someone deliberately approaching.

 She looked sideways.

A man wearing a bamboo hat and Tsing Yi was only one step away from her. Xin You recognized him at a glance: "Master He."

 “Go over there and talk.”

It was an inconspicuous little shop, selling incense, candles, cinnabar and other items. The shopkeeper was an elderly woman.

He Qingxiao walked into the shop and took off his bamboo hat, and the dark and deserted shop suddenly became bright.

After entering the inner room and sitting down, Xinyou smiled and said, "No wonder Mr. He wears a hat when he comes to a place like this."

Growing up, He Qingxiao had heard compliments about his appearance so many times that he had long been indifferent. However, hearing Xin You’s ridicule made her face heat up inexplicably.

There was only a bowl of crude tea in front of him. He picked it up and took a sip. His expression returned to normal: "Can Xin Daizhao still adapt to the situation in the past two days?"

Xin You pulled up his sleeves and said with a smile, "I'm very adaptable."

 This is the outfit she is used to.

He Qingxiao couldn't help but take a closer look at Xin You.

He couldn't help but worry that her disguise as a man would expose her flaws, so he couldn't help but check again and again.

 Fortunately, there are no problems with words and deeds, and there are many young men aged fifteen or sixteen who are pretty and thin, and they don’t have Adam’s apple or beard.

He Qingxiao calmed down and got down to business: "After these days of investigation, a Beijing official named Dongsheng found three people."

"Three people?" Although Xin You had guessed that there might be progress after receiving the note from He Qingxiao, this progress was still a bit unexpected.

He Qingxiao’s next words surprised her even more: “Among these three people, you have met two.”

 “Master He, please speak quickly.”

 He Qingxiao paused.

 “Master He?” Xinyou was confused.

He Qingxiao took another sip of tea, drinking it a little urgently and coughing uncontrollably.

Xinyou silently handed over a handkerchief.

He Qingxiao hesitated for a moment, and then, facing those black and white eyes, he took the handkerchief by accident.

“Sorry.” He wiped the corners of his lips and could not return the soiled handkerchief, so he had to put it in his sleeve without changing his expression.

Xin You focused all his attention on the identity of "Dong Sheng": "Master He, who are those two people I have met?"

 “One is He Yushi.”

 “He Yushi?” Xin You was stunned.

He Yushi was known for his uprightness. Although he and He Qingxiao spent many days together during a trip to Dingbei, they always kept a distance.

 He Qingxiao looked a little strange when he mentioned He Yushi: "He Yushi often goes to Qingsong Bookstore recently."

 “Why did He Yushi go to the bookstore?”

"Reading—" He Qingxiao thought about the report from his subordinates, and his expression became more complicated, "He Yushi will go to Qingsong Bookstore to read the travel notes for a while."

After hearing this, Xin You looked at He Qingxiao deeply and asked seriously: "Master He, what do you think Yushi He means?"

He Qingxiao: "..." He knew it would be like this.

He often goes to Qingsong Bookstore to read travel notes because he likes these kinds of books. He buys every copy and his wallet can’t bear it. And He Yushi—oh, He Yushi is also very poor.

After reacting, He Qingxiao was silent and firmly believed that He Yushi was different from him: "He Yushi didn't seem to have a hobby of reading travel notes before. There must be a reason for the sudden change. Maybe it will become clear if you pay more attention."

Xin You nodded: "I'll change my identity as Miss Kou later and go to Qingsong Bookstore to ask Shopkeeper Hu and the others. Who is the other person?"

 “The other one is Xin Daizhao’s colleague, Hua Daizhao.”

 A painting awaiting an edict?

From the strange scenes he saw, he inferred that the painting had been transformed by the imperial edict. Xin You had already fallen in love with this person, but now that he heard it, his heart moved violently.