Escorted by Xu Lianshan, Sheng Weiqiao and Juli went to the place where Master Wu and her followers rested. They ran into Madam Feng's sister on their way when she was feeding sparrows in the winding corridor. Knowing where Sheng Weiqiao was going, Madam Feng's sister said, "I'll go with you!"
Sheng Weiqiao waited for her aunt to go back and change a proper dress. Then, they reached Master Wu's place hand in hand. When they entered the room, they happened to see Master Wu wiping her sword around her waist carefully with a silk handkerchief.
The handle and scabbard of the sword looked threadbare. It was apparent that the sword was old and had a complex history.
However, its blade was still clear and shiny. One could be frightened by its sharp edge even a few steps away.
Sheng Weiqiao said inwardly, "This sword and Xu Baomo's sharp soft sword bestowed by the emperor, which one is better? Even if Master Wu's sword is not as goo
A person's fame was like a shadow following him.Though Huan Guanlan had been missing for about a generation, he was still an insurmountable barrier for the imperial court of Country Mu.Even the three brothers of the Meng Family, who managed to make the obscure Meng Family become a well-known wealthy family throughout the whole country, subconsciously felt their scalps tingling at the mention of Huan Guanlan.Wuan Marquis first thought about the worst situation. He said, "Eldest Brother, is the little prince born by the cousin of Deposed Empress Wen truly dead?"After all, Huan Guanlan was still alive but reclusive, so there must be a reason for him not to appear.Then the most probable reason was that he was cultivating the future Crown Prince in secret.That was unacceptable to the Meng Family!Chengyang Marquis's face was also clouded. He said, "Shall we kill Mizhen at all costs? Ir
While Rong Shuihe was giving Sheng Weiqiao a lesson, Meng Jiaqian gradually awoke from his coma in a village not far from the inn.Seeing this, Meng Jiaqian's subordinates felt a sense of relief and were about to ask about his health. However, Meng Jiaqian first asked hoarsely, "How is everything going now?""General, we haven't met any other people after that night, so everything remains unchanged." one of his subordinates said. As Meng Jiaqian had just been in a stable condition, the subordinate was afraid that he would get worse again at the mention of their heavy losses. Therefore, he said with deliberation, "How do you feel now? Any discomfort?"Meng Jiaqian remained in silence for a while. Any discomfort?In fact, he felt uncomfortable all over!Thinking of the unexpected attack from the enemies, the incredibly crushing defeat they had suffered, his bleak prospect, and the predictable anger of his seniors,
Rong Shuihe shook his head and said, "The Jishan Bandit hasn't completely surrendered to us. We still need Master Wu. If we kill her now, we will offer the Meng Family an opportunity to sow discord, won't we? Though my teacher had a deep relationship with the Jishan Bandit, he didn't tell me much about that. Thus, I'm not sure how deep their relationship was. I can only try to sound them out in developing a relationship with them. Besides, it's not bad for Master Wu to have a conscience."He said slightly, "We can take advantage of her conscience to cheat her. It's easier to cope with a person of high principles."Rong Shuihe was still defensive about the Jishan Bandit due to his suspicion of Huan Guanlan. Even though Master Wu was a woman and would abdicate after the surrender, he could not rest assured completely. Therefore, he was not angry with Master Wu for leaving abruptly. He thought for a moment and said to Gongsun Xi, "You go and tell her th
After the nominal welcome banquet, which was a banquet for Master Wu's selection of her husband in nature, Rong Shuihe and his people continued on their journey after a short stay in the town. "Meng Jiaqian has drawn over Ni Jidao and the other two people to his side." Gongsun Xi said.When they had a rest after walking for two days, Gongsun Xi found Rong Shuihe, who was making an inspection tour in the procession. Gongsun Xi said to him in a low voice, "The scout reports that Meng Jiaqian has decided the marriages of three of his sisters. Ni Jidao, Dai Gulian, and Lou Peng can have a daughter of the Meng Family respectively to be their daughter-in-law or granddaughter-in-law."Hearing the news, Rong Shuihe laughed, "General Meng does inherit his family tradition! The Meng Family depended on the Empress Dowager to rise. Though they have been powerful at the imperial court, they don't get rid of the bad habit of using girls to break a path. Fortunatel
Meng Jiaqian suddenly came back to earth. Sitting in the wheelchair, he apologized with arched hands, "I'm sorry, Your Highness. You’re about the same age as my sister, and you have similar temperaments. So, when I see you, I feel as if I saw my sister. Please forgive my rudeness!"Hearing that, Sheng Weiqiao glanced at Meng Jiaqian curiously and said, "General Meng, do you mean Miss Shuangxiao? She is very well in Chang'an. You don't have to worry about her."Meng Jiaqian nodded gracefully and said, "Your Highness, thank you for letting me know that! Shuangxiao is my younger sister. She used to be the closest to me when we were in Beijiang. But we haven't seen each other for many years now. So, I often look at those girls about her age so as to try to figure out what she looks like now."Sheng Weiqiao and Meng Shuangxiao did share somewhat similar temperaments because they were pampered by their families and brought up in easy circumsta
Meng Jiaqian and his people managed to give away the knotty matter of disaster relief. Though they failed to make Rong Shuihe take this responsibility, his wife Sheng Weiqiao, the owner of a large dowry, undertook it. A husband and his wife were an integral whole. Thus, if Sheng Weiqiao failed to handle this matter properly, they could also get Rong Shuihe implicated or even blame him for not regulating his wife well.Meng Jiaqian had achieved their purpose. Besides, he had scruples about Rong Shuihe's power and needed to rest because of his severe injury. Therefore, he soon asked to leave with the excuse that he could not hold his drink. Then, since Meng Jiaqian had left, Ni Jidao and others did not dare to stay there. Then, they also asked to leave.Finally, the welcome banquet ended hastily. Rong Shuihe and his people continued on their way. Madam Feng's sister invited Sheng Weiqiao and Master Wu to take the carriage together.After g
"It is not a good excuse. Ultimately, you're unsophisticated and have a narrow outlook. You want to get those victims settled because you want to help Mizhen out." Said Madam Feng's sister.She took a sip of her tea and continued with a half-smile, "But have you ever thought about one thing? You can solve this matter in this way now. But if Meng Jiaqian's people cause more natural or man-made disasters in the future, can you force those prestigious people in Xijiang to donate money by right of your identity as a Princess every time? Even though those families want to fawn on you, they can't bear that later if things go on like this. What can you do at that time? Do you plan to rely on yourself? You must have realized that those people want to make you and Mizhen broke by this means, right?"Sheng Weiqiao said, "I know that. You mean that if we take this opportunity to do some business, we can win over those prestigious people who can donate money. Be
Sheng Weiqiao freshened up and got to know that Rong Shuihe was dealing with official affairs in the antechamber. Then, she went to her aunt's yard to discuss with her about sending invitations to those prestigious people. Madam Feng's sister said, "We're new here. How can we know who we should invite? We'd better consult Master Wu."However, the maid they dispatched failed to find Master Wu. After a while, she returned and reported, "Master Wu and her subordinates are not there. Others say they go out of the city to welcome the counselor."Hearing that, Madam Feng's sister raised her eyebrows and said, "It seems that the counselor of the Jishan Bandit has the last word. Otherwise, why does Master Wu go to welcome him personally?"Sheng Weiqiao said, "The counselor is of the same generation as Master Wu’s father. It was probably thanks to his support that Master Wu, as a woman, managed to succeed to her father's post. Thus, it's natural