The painting Shen Lie mentioned was the irregular mural hanging above the cave's head.
On the way back to Hengxiang after leaving the cave, Shen Lie carried Xia Zhaoyi on his back while recalling the content of the painting with Zhao Gong.
It had previously been confirmed to be a cemetery, and except for the word "ancient" in its date, it was unclear exactly which century it was.
Zhao Gong proposed a deal. As long as he could find out about all the secrets in the cave, Shen Lie would have to help Zheng Bei when he was in trouble.
I thought Shen Lie would refuse or make some conditions, but Shen Lie readily agreed and agreed to the deal.
The Qu family has a large collection of books, although Mrs. Qu may not have finished reading ten of them.
The huge book collection attic is divided into three floors: upper, middle and lower floors. Zhao Qi has been here once before, so his memory is still fresh. This is why he wants to return to Qu Mansion now.
Those strange paintings are all in Shen Lie's place.
The treasure map that Zhao Hui'en carried all the way is in Zhao Xun's hands.
Mrs. Qu sent an aunt in her thirties and two servants to find books for Zhao Yu. Apart from them, Zhao Yu only took Ji Sheng and Zhao Lai with him.
Zhao Qi tried his best to restore the mural on paper, focusing on the ancient river in the painting and the funerary objects.
Tired of staying in the library attic, Zhao Yun took Ji Sheng out for a walk. They slept outdoors for a few days, but the most uncomfortable thing for him was his fingers.
While walking in the garden of Qufu, the jade fractured fan in his hand was turning back and forth on his fingertips, opening and closing.
Unknowingly, I walked to Lantingxuan.
The two maids who brought the food before probably wanted to talk to him more and make friends. They searched for topics and let slip that Shen Lie's brother Shen Xu and his master were being imprisoned in Lantingxuan at this time.
Zhao Xun looked at the distant pavilion and saw that it was indeed heavily guarded, and they were all soldiers of the Xia family.
Suddenly, Zhao Qi smiled softly, handsome and elegant.
"Your Majesty, why are you laughing?" Ji Sheng asked.
"I actually recognize two of them," Zhao Yu opened the folding fan and shook it lightly, saying calmly, "In the blink of an eye in ten years, the dynasty has changed, and old friends have disappeared. Uncle Xia is such a kind and generous person... Sigh."
Ji Sheng raised his eyebrows and sighed softly.
Thinking of the pieces of paper he brought back from the cave with the three characters "Xia Zhaoyi" written on them, Ji Sheng couldn't help but sigh again.
Ji Sheng has been with Zhao Yu for at least eighteen years. He has grown up with Zhao Yu and has already seen clearly his emotions and preferences.
The world knows that the eldest son of his family is cynical, but they don't know that the eldest son of his family was once infatuated and then foolish. Now he is still full of delusion and is a complete idiot.
Counting back and forth, I could not see twenty scenes with Mrs. Xia, and many of them were with them at the teahouses on the corners of the streets, watching eagerly as she led her horse leisurely and walked out of the Duke's Mansion.
The prince, who was bold and ambitious, dared not think or do anything, but he did not dare to go downstairs to have a chance encounter. He always said that he wanted to try, but in the end he just watched her go away.
Occasionally, the scoundrel shamelessly followed Mr. Xia, and finally ended up sharing a table with Madam Xia. His face was calm and composed, but he didn't even dare to look at her, and only dared to glance at her quietly.
He loved to hear anecdotes about her.
He loved to think about her preferences and preferences.
As the festive season approaches, he visits the Second Young Master Xia more frequently. He hides his secrets in his words and quietly asks when the only daughter of the Xia family will return home.
In the twelfth lunar month of the 22nd year of Xuanyan, Mrs. Xia suddenly passed away. The news of her tragic death at Rongtang Gorge was sent to the imperial court via a secret letter on a fast horse. It not only shocked the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty and the people of Kyoto, Ji Sheng also witnessed the optimism of his family with his own eyes.
The prince, who is open-minded, loves to laugh and make trouble, is crazy.
That day he returned home calmly, drank tea calmly, and wrote calmly. Suddenly, he overturned everything on the desk and began to cry miserably.
In the next few days, the prince fell seriously ill. It was not until the second son of Xia, who was only half alive, was escorted back to the capital from the north that he had to cheer up, get up and rush to the Duke Dingguo's mansion to take care of him.
In order to cover up his sick appearance, the crown prince also put powder on his face that day. When the news spread to other princes, princes and grandsons, it became a matter of ridicule and disrespect to the heroes.
The three words "Xia Zhaoyi" have become a wound that will forever be engraved in the prince's heart. It cannot be healed, but can only coexist.
Ji Sheng still feels sad when he thinks of the heavy snowfalls that winter.
At this time, six people walked into the east courtyard, led by a slender figure who looked particularly thin in Mrs. Qu's comparison.
Ji Sheng and Zhao Yu paused and looked at the figure.
"It's Miss Ali." Ji Sheng said.
Xia Zhaoyi talked to Mrs. Qu as she walked, with a slight smile on her face, but it was obvious that she was not very interested.
"Why is this girl here?" Zhao Gong murmured.
Moreover, she seems to have lost weight. In just two days, her cheeks have become much paler.
"Master, shall we go there?" Ji Sheng asked.
Zhao Xi thought for a while, opened the folding fan and said, "Let's go."
"I've lost a lot of weight," Mrs. Qu said to Xia Zhaoyi distressedly, "but these eyes are getting bigger than before."
Xia Zhaoyi's eyes are not small, but they can't be called big. However, her eyes have always been very beautiful. They are like peach blossoms and are light and cool. They can be said to be beautiful or not, but they are not dull either. They are cold and bright, like stars.
It fell into the lake light.
"I have some things to do in the past few days. I will regain my complexion after I finish my work. Don't worry, Mrs. Qu." Xia Zhaoyi smiled lightly.
"Otherwise, how about you sleep here these days? My Qu Mansion is the most livable place in Hengxiang."
Xia Zhaoyi's smile became brighter: "Let's wait until you have some free time. The Qu Mansion is too big. I work all day long. People who come to see me may get lost when they enter the house."
Mrs. Qu said proudly: "If you are not afraid, then ride a horse. Everyone in my Qu family can step on your horse's hooves as you please!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Qu." Xia Zhaoyi said seriously.
Mrs. Qu is a person who knows boundaries. When she reached the foot of the stone steps, she stopped consciously and said to Xia Zhaoyi: "You just came from the Yamen, will you go to the Yamen later?"
"I don't know yet." Xia Zhaoyi said.
She went to the Yamen to ask General Xia Chuan to interrogate sisters Xiao Rong and Xiao Wu. By the way, she sent someone to the mansion next door to Nian Huazhai to search it again.
As soon as there are results, they will be sent there, but Xia Zhaoyi still needs to decide whether to go there again based on the results.
"Ahem." A cough sounded in the distance.
Xia Zhaoyi and Mrs. Qu turned to look.
Zhao Gong was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with majestic appearance, holding a jade fracture fan, and walked slowly with Ji Sheng.
As he walked, his beautiful eyes looked around here and there.
After getting closer, he smiled at Xia Zhaoyi: "What a coincidence, little girl."
"Didn't you just stand there for a while?" Mrs. Qu said unceremoniously.
"..."
After a pause, Zhao Xi smiled brightly and looked at Xia Zhaoyi: "Looking for Shen Lie's brother?"
Xia Zhaoyi nodded: "Yeah."
"I heard that you slept for a long time?"
Xia Zhaoyi nodded again: "Yes."
"In a bad mood?" Zhao Yu looked at her eyebrows.
Xia Zhaoyi thought for a while and said calmly: "It's not good or bad."
After saying that, she looked at Mrs. Qu: "Mrs. Qu, I'll go in first."
"okay."
Zhao Gong didn't know what Mrs. Qu knew, so he raised his heels.
As soon as he reached the steps, the soldiers of the Xia Family Army stretched out their arms to block him.
Zhao Xin half-smiled, waving his fan and said to them, "It's me."
The soldier said expressionlessly: "Prince Zhao, please stop."
"Ah Li!" Zhao Yu looked at Xia Zhaoyi.
Xia Zhaoyi tilted his head slightly: "Prince Zhao, the more you know about many things, the more likely you are to be killed."
"My eldest son is not afraid."
"It turns out that the prince is so courageous. Now he is no longer afraid," Mrs. Qu said with a smile. "Earlier, my huang kept barking at me. He was very angry because he recognized the territory and thought he could live alone.
The result was...ah, by the way, Ah Huang is a big yellow dog."
Zhao Xun raised his head and looked at the sky. Could it be that he couldn't get over it?
Xia Zhaoyi turned her back to them and smiled lightly, then stepped into the hall.
