“My lord, please have a seat. I’ll make you a pot of tea.” Xian said.
Seeing that Duke of Mu still ignored him, Xian retreated.
What happened in the Blossoming Peach before letting Xian know that this Duke of Mu was a ruthless man. Now, the Young Master hadn’t come yet. He was going to tell the girls in the Blossoming Peach not to go to the front yard.
After giving that order, Xian walked out of the backyard and went to inform Yang Zijin.
In the mansion of Marquis Shuo.
Yang Zijin had just gotten up and was yawning. Jiang Wei was combing her hair.
Only to hear the guard outside said, “Master Yang, a man outside who called Xian said that he had something urgent to find you.”
“Got it. I’m on my way.” Yang Zijin replied.
There was something urgent to find her early in the morning? Was there something wrong?
Thinking about this, she ordered Jiang Wei to tuck her hair quickly.
”Master, hurry up and go. The Duke of Mu is waiting for you in the Blossoming Peach! It doesn’t look good.” Seeing Yang Zijin came out, Xian hurriedly walked up to him and whispered.
She couldn’t help but wonder. This Duck of Mu had stopped for a while, and what was he doing this time? She asked Xian, “Did he come here for any reason?”
“No, he just sat under the peach tree in the front yard and said to wait for you.” Xian scratched his head.
Yang Zijin nodded, “I know. Let’s go.”
In the Blossoming Peach.
”Hey, what brings Duke of Mu here? My shop is too small to accommodate you.” Before entering the door, Yang Zijin said loudly.
Duke of Mu was supposed to be asking for Yang Zijin’s errors. When he heard this, he was even angrier, “Anyone who comes here is a guest. Is this how Master Yang treats his guests?”
Yang Zijin sneered, “I don’t know if the Duke of Mu has ever heard of a saying. The guest must accord to the host what he likes….”
“You… you unfilial….” Duke of Mu looked at Xian, on the side, and didn’t say anything with his little reason.
Then he said, “Can I talk to Master Yang alone?”
Yang Zijin pondered for a moment and walked towards the backyard. Duke of Mu followed behind her.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of Duke of Mu. It was that if Duke of Mu accidentally said something, she was worried that Duke of Mu wouldn’t let go of anyone who heard it.
In the backyard of the Blossoming Peach.
“Zijin, as a father, I haven’t done my duty. If you don’t want to go back now, I will accept it. But can you stop doing this business? If you need money, I will give you.” Duke of Mu said with a different attitude.
Yang Zijin replied, even without thinking, “No way!”
“You…”
Duke of Mu was about to lose his temper again. He tried to calm himself down and said in a softer tone, “You are a girl. You can’t just keep showing your face in public like this, right?”
“I’d love to!” Yang Zijin replied simply.
At this time, Duke of Mu couldn’t stand it anymore, “Yang Zijin, don’t overdo it. The shop you’ve opened sells some vulgar things. It corrupts social values!”
“I corrupt social values? It is none of your business!” Yang Zijin said dismissively.
The reason why he found her early in the morning was still afraid of losing his face.
At this moment, the Duke of Mu’s face turned red, “None of my business? Don’t forget who you are. Now, the Empress Dowager has already known who you are. It’s not up to you to return to the mansion of Duke Mu or not!”
“It won’t bother you, my lord.” She still said indifferently.
Seeing that Yang Zijin was still like this, Duke of Mu was burned up, “You… you… you are not worth to be taught!”
Neither of them wanted to compromise. The conflict was aggravated sharply, and they broke up again.
Walking out of the Blossoming Peach, Duke of Mu felt guilty again. Did he speak too much just now? After all, Yang Zijin was a businessman since she was a child, so, it was definitely unacceptable for her to give up the business.
But on second thought, Duke of Mu felt that he was doing the right thing. There were no parents who didn’t love their child. Now he had found his child, and he just wanted her to go back. He didn’t want her to struggle to make a living and to show up in public. He tried to make up for Yang Zijin.
But because of the place where Yang Zijin used to live, if she were to regain her identity, there would be a discussion about it. Not only the mansion of Duke Mu, but also she would be a laughingstock. Why did Yang Zijin not understand his painstaking efforts?
Along the way, Duke of Mu didn’t know how he got back to his home.
Seeing Duke of Mu in a sick appearance, Li Mingzi hurried forward to hold him, “My lord, what’s wrong with you? Qiuju, find the doctor quickly.”
“Don’t bother. I’m fine.” He shook off Li Mingzi’s hand and walked towards the study.
Looking at the Duke of Mu walking away, Li Mingzi called out, “My lord…”
Duke of Mu walked even without looking back!
Since what happened in Mu Yunong, Duke of Mu had rarely come to her room. And, just now, he had shaken her hands off in front of servants. Did he really hate her so much now? Li Mingzi’s eyes were overshadowed.
She couldn’t help but blame Yang Zijin for all this. If it weren’t for her, how could she be so aggrieved? She was the wife of the Lord Protector. Thinking of this, Li Mingzi couldn’t help but clench her fists. There was a hint of murder flashing in her eyes. She muttered, “Yang Zijin, you’d better not fall into my hands!”
Seeing the change of Li Mingzi, the maids on the side couldn’t help but lower their heads in fear.
In the Blossoming Peach, Yang Zijin sneezed for no reason.
After Lien Sheng rushed out the production these days, it was almost over. Yang Zijin asked Xian to publicize in downtown like last time. On the opening day, it was so lively!
The annual imperial examination would be held next month. Some students had already arrived in Jing City these days. At that time, the price of the inn in Jing City had doubled several times. The poor students could only sleep on the street.
Seeing this, Yang Zijin felt sympathetic. She thought that they had a family when they were studying for the college entrance examination. And they only needed to focus on the review, and the pressure was still so great!
So, she sorted out the empty rooms in the Blossoming Peach and let these students stay.
The students were grateful.
It was a rough trip. Shuo Ling and Mo Li finally reached the frontier. They disguised themselves and moved on.
On the way, they came across a caravan and pretended to ask for directions.
Luo He, the eldest brother of the caravan, looked up and down at them. He asked Mo Li, who looked more friendly, “How did you come to the frontier?”
“This brother, we have a relative who came to this place in his early years. Some time ago, we received a letter from him, saying that he was seriously ill and wanted to see us before he died.” Mo Li replied.
Hearing about this, Luo He admired the two people and kindly reminded them, “You are really good friends. But did you know that the frontier is not peaceful recently?”
“Not peaceful?” Mo Li pretended to be surprised!
Luo He continued, “It seems that you don’t know this. Recently, people often disappear inexplicably here, not knowing where to go.”
“None of the missing people has been found?” Mo Li was surprised.
“People who have been caught are never back again. It panics people! Even our caravan walks at night in fear. We’ll report the number of people in a short time.” Saying that, Luo He shook his head helplessly.
Then he said, “It is said that the wizards used witchcraft to recruit the souls. And these people who have lost souls have been attracted at night by their own souls. It is also said that these witches use human blood to refine pills for longevity!”
“Do you have any basis for these rumors?” Shuo Ling, who hadn’t spoken until now, asked.
Luo He smiled and said, “It’s just according to legend. No one has really seen it, but these people are all missing at night. So, it’s better for you to go to the frontier with us. Just don’t leave the team alone at night.”
Mo Li looked at Shuo Ling.
“Ok, it’s good.” Shuo Ling replied.
The night was getting dark. After having walked all day, the caravan found an empty place to rest.
Luo He took out his dry rations and water bottle and walked over to them.
After looking at Shuo Ling, Luo He finally handed the dry rations to Mo Li, who looked more friendly, “Our caravan all eat this. There are no other good things. I hope you don’t mind!”
“How could it be! It is enough trouble for you to follow your caravan.” Hearing what Luo He said, Mo Li replied.
Luo He smiled and said, “It’s just a little thing. Don’t worry about it, my brother. And don’t call me master. It sounds strange and doesn’t suit me. I’m just a rough fellow. Just call me Luo He.”
“So, it’s Brother Luo. My surname is Mo, and the other word is Li.” Mo Li also introduced himself.
Luo He looked at the people of the caravan and continued, “Then, Brother Mo, you guys eat this. I’ll go check out other guys.”
“Go ahead, Brother Luo. You don’t have to look after us too much.” Mo Li replied.
After Luo He left, Mo Li handed a pastry to Shuo Ling, “My lord, just eat something and fill your stomach first.”
Shuo Ling took the pastry thoughtfully. This person who called himself Luo He said that most of the people were missing at night. So, he could take the opportunity to be the bait and lure those people out.
Thinking of this, Shuo Ling informed Mo Li.
Mo Li certainly wouldn’t let Shuo Ling take this risk. So, he whispered to Shuo Ling, “My lord, let me be this bait.”
“I have my own decision.” Shuo Ling replied.
Hearing what the marquis said, Mo Li no longer argued. He knew the nature of the marquis.
While the caravan was sleeping, Shuo Ling quietly left and walked far enough away from the caravan. For three consecutive days, they didn’t meet anything, not to mention people.
However, since all these people had disappeared during the night, Shuo Ling felt that perhaps those people were deliberately tempted them.
As he expected, on the fourth night, Shuo Ling had just crossed his legs and sat down in the middle of nowhere. And he heard a rustling sound behind him.
He was instantly alerted, and only to feel a puff of smoke blowing towards him. He hurriedly held his breath and fainted. He decided to go into the nest to find out.
At this moment, he heard someone said, “I thought it was the bait from the government! I had scouted for several days.”
“Stop it. Hurry up and drag the man away. He has already delayed us quite a bit.” Another person said.
The two people carried him for a long time. In fact, they were detouring.
Shuo Ling found that the two people carried him into a village.
The two men sent Shuo Ling to the wizard.
The wizard Zhan You looked at Shuo Ling, who was lying on the ground and couldn’t help but rejoice, “It seems that this person’s physique is very good. If it succeeds, you two will get the first prize.”
“It is our pleasure to serve you.” The two men said in unison.