897 Wife and Concubine (2)
Uncle Tang said with a smile, “I originally thought that Madam wouldn’t accept the invitation, but I didn’t expect you to accept it. Madam, you’re so bold. I’m impressed.” Ordinary people would always be a little afraid when they were in a completely unfamiliar place.
“I’m just going to have a tea talk.” Shen Miao said casually, “Why should I be afraid?”
Uncle Tang nodded. “That’s right, that’s right.” He looked at Shen Miao with admiration and said a few more words before leaving.
Shen Miao looked at Ba Jiao. She was standing very upright and was smiling at her. Her expression was a little silly, but it made her look very cute. Today, Shen Miao was going to attend the Summer Banquet. It was indeed difficult for her to navigate her way without someone to guide her. If there was someone familiar with this place, it would save a lot of effort. Xie Jingxing was thoughtful. Suddenly, Shen Miao thought of something and looked at Ba Jiao. She asked, “I heard that there are no maids in this mansion. You…”
Apart from a few female cooks and nannies, there were only servants and guards in Prince Rui’s mansion. Therefore, Jingzhe, Gu Yu, and the others Shen Miao brought were very popular in the mansion.
Ba Jiao smiled. “I’m not a maid from Prince Yu’s mansion. I’m from the Black Feather Army and was specially transferred here to accompany Madam.”
“Black Feather Army?” Shen Miao was stunned. She had once heard Xie Jingxing mention it vaguely. When they were in Ming Qi, this army had helped Xie Jingxing do many things. It seemed to be an army that Xie Jingxing had privately established. It seemed to be extremely powerful. However, since Xie Jingxing dared to use the people of Black Feather Army so openly, Emperor Yong Le should know something about it.
She asked, “Do you know martial arts?”
“I know how to kill people,” Ba Jiao replied with a smile. Hearing this, Jingzhe and Gu Yu gasped. This girl, who was smiling innocently, was actually a trained assassin.
Shen Miao was satisfied. At least, with Ba Jiao around, she wouldn’t be in danger at the banquet.
Shen Miao said, “In that case, follow me. Jingzhe, you stay in the mansion and clean up the storeroom with Bai Lu, Shuang Jiang, and the others. Gu Yu, you and Ba Jiao will set off with me.”
Jingzhe had already prepared to go with Shen Miao, but she was suddenly told that she could not go. She felt very aggrieved and was quite unhappy with Ba Jiao, but she was afraid that Ba Jiao would kill her in a fit of anger, so she reluctantly reminded Ba Jiao to take good care of Shen Miao before leaving.
When everything was ready, Shen Miao got into the carriage and rushed to the Lu mansion where the banquet was held.
Long Ye was different from the capital. The Daliang Dynasty was closer to the east and had more sun. Even winter was not as cold as the capital, let alone summer. During May, the capital was still in spring, but in Long Ye, it was already early summer.
As the carriage drove, Shen Miao and Gu Yu lifted the curtain a little and looked out. They saw that the street was really crowded and lively.