Qiao Qixin was speechless, not knowing what to say.
Liu Zhan waved his hand and said, "When we enter Lin'an City later, remember to stay with me at all times and don't get lost."
"Okay." Qiao Qixin nodded.
She looked outside through the car window, thinking a lot in her mind.
I always feel that this will be a dangerous journey...
When the sun was about to set, the carriage finally arrived at Lin'an City.
"Qixin, wake up, we are here."
Qiao Qixin woke up from her sleep in a daze.
She rubbed her eyes and looked outside. There was an unfamiliar street outside.
"Come down." Liu Zhan had already gotten off the carriage first. He turned around to face the carriage and handed his hand to Qiao Qixin, who had not yet gotten off.
Qiao Qixin yawned, took Liu Zhan's hand and jumped out of the carriage.
After getting off the car, Qiao Qixin turned her head left and right and found that the street was dilapidated, as if it had experienced war. Compared to the city, Nomura was more suitable for this place.
"Is this really Lin'an City?" Qiao Qixin tugged on Liu Zhan's sleeve and asked in a low voice.
Liu Zhan said, "Yes, that's it."
"Then where should we go now? Directly to the Lord's Palace of Lin'an City?" Qiao Qixin asked.
"No," Liu Zhan shook his head, "We have to find someone first."
"who?"
"He who asks for help."
——
Under the leadership of Liu Zhan, the two walked through the dilapidated streets and came to an even more dilapidated courtyard.
"Will anyone really live here?"
Qiao Qixin looked at the courtyard in front of her, which was very leaky, and hesitated.
"Follow me." Liu Zhan did not explain, but just entered the courtyard first.
Qiao Qixin looked at the deserted streets, a little scared, and followed Liu Zhan's footsteps.
Squeak——
The rickety wooden door was pushed open, and a sour smell mixed with moldy smell hit his face.
Qiao Qixin subconsciously covered her mouth and nose.
Liu Zhan stood in front, hands behind his back, and said calmly, "Who among you is Jiang Ai?"
Before he finished speaking, the debris piled up in various corners of the yard gradually became commotion.
Qiao Qixin was startled, and then she saw several people walking out of the "heap of debris".
It turned out that it was not a heap of debris, but just a few beggars gathered together, and the clothes were in ruins, so it looked like a heap of debris from a distance.
Qiao Qixin walked silently behind Liu Zhan and carefully grabbed the hem of his clothes.
Although Qiao Qixin was not from a wealthy family, she had never been in a beggar sect, so she felt somewhat uneasy in her heart at the moment.
Liu Zhan patted her hand to signal not to panic.
There was still a commotion among the beggars. After a while, a beggar was pushed out from the crowd.
"Sir, sir, he, he is Jiang Ai." After finishing speaking, the beggar who was responsible for pushing Jiang Ai out slipped into the group of beggars, as if Liu Zhan would eat him.
"Are you Jiang Ai?" Liu Zhan said calmly.
The beggar knelt down and said, "Sir, that's right."
"Do you know who I am?" Liu Zhan lowered his eyes and looked at Jiang Ai who was kneeling on the ground.
Hearing this, Jiang Ai raised his head and glanced at Liu Zhan, then lowered his head and said, "Sir, I don't know."
Liu Zhan nodded, "It's okay if you don't know. Come out with me."
After that, Liu Zhan turned around and left the small courtyard, and Qiao Qixin hurriedly followed.
Jiang Ai hesitated for a moment, and finally followed him out.
After Jiang Ai left, the beggars immediately exploded.
"That pair of men and women are so impressive. What are they doing with Jiang Ai?"
"It's probably City Lord Jiang's business," an old beggar deliberately lowered his voice. "City Lord Jiang has been greedy for so many things. Even though he is dead, those officials will definitely not let his descendants go."
"Then they are nothing anymore. Jiang Ai has become a beggar." A young beggar who had a good relationship with Jiang Ai said to express his disapproval.
The old beggar hit the little beggar on the calf with his cane and cursed, "You little beast, you weren't exploited by that person named Jiang, were you? You even helped them speak up!"
The little beggar hugged his sore leg and whispered aggrievedly, "Jiang Ai told me that his father didn't do anything bad. His father is a good official."
"Bah!" the old beggar took a sip on the ground and cursed, "There is not a word of truth in an official's mouth! He talks about falsehoods! You actually believe it! You really deserve to be a beggar!"
The little beggar got angry and said, "If you don't believe it, you are also a beggar!"
"I, I will beat you to death, you little beast!"
The old beggar held up the wooden stick used as a crutch and chased the little beggar across the yard.
outside the hospital
Jiang Ai stood respectfully in front of Liu Zhan and Qiao Qi.
He bent down and saluted, "I wonder why you two are looking for me?"
Liu Zhan took out the token of the Young Minister of Dali Temple and said directly, "I am the successor of the Young Minister of Dali Temple, Liu Zhan. I am here because of your entrustment."
Jiang Ai's body trembled obviously. He seemed to want to confirm the authenticity of Liu Zhan's token, but he held back.
"Young Master, please don't make fun of me. I have never issued any commissions." Jiang Ai smiled sarcastically, "I am sincerely repentant and have never been dissatisfied with City Lord Ling's decision."
Qiao Qixin looked at Liu Zhan.
The latter calmly handed the token to Jiang Ai, "Do you see it clearly?"
Jiang Ai's eyes widened and his eyes were almost glued to the token.
It’s a real token! He is really the Shaoqing of Dali Temple!
Jiang Ai suddenly burst into tears.
He suppressed his inner excitement and immediately knelt down again.
"Sir, sir, may I ask the person who sent the message now..." Jiang Ai's voice was trembling.
Because Lord Ling was watching him, he could only ask one of his brothers to deliver a message to Dali Temple.
That brother is a beggar just like him.
Jiang Ai gave all his personal money to the brother to help him travel.
Now that someone has come to Dali Temple, it means that his brother has succeeded!
Now, he must be living a good life now, and he must not have to go begging from door to door! He must be...
"Dead." Liu Zhan said calmly.
Jiang Ai was startled, then raised his head and looked at Liu Zhan blankly.
Qiao Qixin was also startled when she heard this.
What news did she seem to have missed?
Liu Zhan looked directly at Jiang Ai and said again, "He is dead. He died in front of the Dali Temple."
"What, what?" Jiang Ai said stiffly.
Liu Zhan lowered his eyes.
The beggar was in tatters and had many abscesses on his body.
I entered the capital from nowhere, then walked around in circles until I arrived in front of the Dali Temple.
The guards thought he was some bad guy and wanted to drive him away, but he refused.
If pushed away, he will come back again.
After being driven away, he hid in a corner, and when no one was paying attention to him, he found an opportunity to run into Dali Temple again.
In this way, he dealt with the guards all morning, until in the afternoon, Kun Bai went out and saw him.
Kun Bai told him that he was the minister of Dali Temple and asked him what he wanted.
He handed the bamboo slips to Kun Bai and asked him to send people to Lin'an City to rescue everyone as soon as possible.
After Kun Bai agreed, he swayed and fell to the ground, dead.
Jiang Ai knelt on the ground, feeling as if his throat was being held by someone, making him unable to breathe.
"Really, seriously?" Jiang Ai said tremblingly.
Liu Zhan nodded, "I don't need to lie to you."
Jiang Ai's legs went weak and he collapsed on the ground.
"It was me who killed my brother..."
Liu Zhan was silent for a moment, then realized it later and asked Qiao Qixin in a low voice, "Should I not tell him this?"
Brother...you have finished talking, is it too late to react now...
Qiao Qixin was speechless.
After Jiang Ai's mood stabilized, Liu Zhan began to ask about the situation in Lin'an City.
Jiang Ai rubbed his hands and felt a little embarrassed, "Young master, you should have seen it all the way here. The situation in Lin'an City is very bad."
"It started two years ago. Not long after my father died, City Lord Ling... no, Ling An, came to power."
"After he became the lord of the city, he oppressed the people."
"Lin'an City is not rich to begin with, and because he was so oppressed and harshly criticized, the people in the city were miserable and many people have already escaped."
"Those who escaped are considered lucky. Like me, there are still some who have not escaped and have become beggars..."
Jiang Ai sighed.
"Why don't you run out secretly? You are already a beggar, so you can't be worse off, right?" Qiao Qixin asked from the side.
Jiang Ai shook his head, "Young lady, you don't know something. This Ling An, in order to defraud the imperial court of relief food, is holding the rest of us captive."
"Don't talk about us bastards. Even when ordinary people outside come in, they are detained and not allowed to leave."
"So arrogant?" Qiao Qixin frowned.
Jiang Ai sighed and said, "Ling An studied with me under my husband when I was young, but later on, his family declined and I lost contact with him."
"After my father died, he suddenly emerged and became the lord of Lin'an City."
"Are you classmates with him? Why did he force you to become a beggar?" Qiao Qixin really couldn't control her curiosity.
Jiang Ai shook his head, "I don't know either."
Liu Zhan on the side said, "Do you still have any doubts?"
Qiao Qixin shook her head, indicating that she had finished asking.
Liu Zhan nodded, then looked at Jiang Ai, "Do you know where Ling An lives?"
Just as Jiang Ai was about to answer, he heard a chuckle from behind.
"Haha, Young Master Liu wants to come to my house for a visit. Just tell me. Why bother asking such a lunatic?"
"Long time no see, Jiang Ai. How have you been recently?" Ling An smiled and waved to Jiang Ai.
Jiang Ai took a step back, then turned around and ran away in horror.
Qiao Qixin watched his figure getting smaller and smaller, and then as he passed an alley, an armored hand pulled him away.
Don't run around on other people's territory...
Qiao Qixin silently stood behind Liu Zhan and quietly grabbed the hem of Liu Zhan's clothes.
Liu Zhan patted the back of her hand, as if to reassure her.
"Haha, why did Mr. Liu come out to investigate the case and drag his family with him?" Ling An saw the two men's little actions and said with a smile not far away.
Qiao Qixin had a cold face, and Liu Zhan didn't answer.
Ling An was in a good mood, and it didn't matter to him if he didn't make the two of them angry.
"You two, can you come to my house to get together? Don't worry, I know what the beggar can tell you, and I know what the beggar can't tell you..."
Ling An's eyes dimmed slightly and the corners of his mouth raised slightly, "Of course I can tell you."