The dark night passed and morning came quietly. The sky just showed the color of fish belly. Qingrong had already woken up, washed and dressed up, and was ready to go.
She left the inn and got on her big maroon horse. The sun had already risen, but the morning wind was still cool, making her nose red. She squinted and looked into the distance.
This is Yunzhou, thousands of miles away from the capital. The scenery is very different from that of Yongcheng. Large tracts of grassland come into view, vast and boundless. When you leave this city, you have to pass by the foot of Qi Mountain...that is again
Another view.
Looking at this strange and open scenery, she felt happy, but she couldn't help but feel a little more uneasy and worried, until Xue Chang and Azhen turned to face her, looking at these familiar faces, she
My heart was just a little more at ease.
Not long after the group of people drove out, a barbarian man chased after him on horseback, shouting: "Lady, stay!"
Qing Rong looked back and saw that she had never seen this person before. He was dressed in Hu clothes, had curly hair and brown eyes. He had a deep outline and was extremely handsome. He looked young, but his whole person exuded a shrewd energy.
Xue Chang first recognized the team leader from yesterday and stepped forward to greet him.
Qingrong was wearing a veil, with only a pair of eyes exposed. An Qilang paused for a moment, then recovered and smiled. He stepped forward and greeted with a smile: "A certain surname is An, who was the leader of yesterday's caravan. Thank you for your help yesterday."
, I was in such a hurry yesterday that I didn’t prepare a thank-you gift for my wife, so I came here early this morning, hoping that my wife would accept it happily."
After saying that, someone handed over a heavy black box. Qingrong bent her eyes and said with a smile: "It's a small effort, Mr. Anlang, don't take it to heart. I appreciate your kindness, but there is really no need to spend so much money."
An Qilang said with a smile: "I think the lady's conversation and behavior are very good. She is like a lady from an official family. She is naturally well-informed, but she doesn't look down on such vulgar things?"
Qingrong shook his head and said: "Anlangjun is too polite. They are all people who are traveling outside. But when they see people in trouble, they reach out to help and want to build a good relationship. Don't take it to heart, Anlangjun."
Seeing this, An Qilang had no choice but to have his things taken back. Qingrong said again: "If we are destined, maybe we will meet again in Xizhou."
His eyes lit up, and he took Qingrong's words and said: "I heard that my wife is also going to Xizhou on this trip, and she happens to be traveling with us. We still have a month to go, so it's better to go together so that we can take care of each other."
Yesterday, he heard that Qingrong lived in the inn, and he made a plan in his mind. Not everyone can live in this inn. The people in it are all officials and family members with status, and their status is naturally extraordinary. He followed his family
The elders have been doing business in Yongcheng and the Western Regions for many years, and they are very familiar with people. Today, they saw that Qingrong's behavior was not like ordinary people, so they thought about making friends. For businessmen like them, if they can get to know noble people,
, there are more ways to make a fortune, who wouldn’t want to?
Xue Chang looked at him and felt something was wrong for a moment. He couldn't help but cursed in his heart, who is taking care of whom? Don't cause trouble for them!
Unexpectedly, Qingrong actually agreed, and An Qilang followed Qingrong on the pretext of being on the way, talking non-stop with Qingrong about the customs and customs of Xizhou. Qingrong knew that Hu Shang was responsible for this
What a calculation, but considering that I was also new to a strange place and unfamiliar with the place, I wanted to make more preparations, so I was happy to go with him.
"This is my first time to Xizhou, so you must not know much about Xizhou. My family has been doing business in Xizhou for generations. If you want to know anything, just ask me."
Qingrong smiled warmly, "Then I will be disrespectful. When I first came here, I saw that Mr. Anlang spoke Chinese quite fluently. He must have been well-informed. I wonder if Mr. Anlang thinks this is Xizhou, Qiuci
Where is better?"
An Qilang thought for a while and said: "Which is the best? It's hard to say. The Western Region is vast and each has its own characteristics."
"Where...where are the largest number of Han people?"
"The Hu wind is the strongest in Qiuci, and there are fewer Han people. Xizhou has the most merchants and travelers from all three religions and nine schools, and they are a mixed bag. The climate in Tingzhou is not good, but it is the place with the most Han people. I don't know where my wife likes it more, but these few days
The places are all very close, and the journey back and forth only takes a few days at most. If you have time, you can go and have a look."
Qingrong smiled and nodded, "That's it. Thank you so much, Mr. Anlang."
The two started chatting along this topic, and Qingrong was actually very interested. After asking about this and that, he also asked about the local customs and customs.
Xue Chang saw this scene in his eyes from behind. An Qilang was a well-spoken and handsome man. He also deliberately tried to get close to his wife from time to time, and she was so kind and smiling... He suddenly remembered
Yesterday when I went to help, I heard something someone in the motorcade said jokingly, and my alarm went off for a moment!
After traveling westward for more than four hundred miles from Yuncheng, we arrived in the northwest region. We had traveled almost half a month.
"Madam, look!" A-Zhen sat in front of the carriage and quickly called Qing Rong, who was riding the horse. There was surprise in her voice.
Qingrong followed the side and back pointed by Azhen, and was suddenly stunned. It was hard to describe the scene in front of her: the mountains stretched for hundreds of miles, layer upon layer, under such a clean blue sky, reflecting the light of the sun, magnificent and upright.
That's outrageous! She remembered that Lin Quzi had passed by this place when he mentioned traveling to the Western Regions. She was momentarily lost in thought and looked into the distance for a long time before saying, "It turns out such a scenery!"
An Qilang also rode over at this time. Seeing Qingrong looking lost, he smiled and said: "How is this scenery? Madam has been in Yongcheng for many years. I wonder if she has ever seen such a scenery?"
Qingrong shook her head, and she couldn't help but sigh: "No, if I hadn't come here, I would never have the chance to see such a magnificent scene in my life."
For a moment, she thought of the reason why she had to come, and she couldn't help but feel that things in this world were really unpredictable and unexplainable. She looked back again, wondering how Li Yuanmin, who was passing by here a year ago, would feel when he saw this scene.
Did Xue Shao, who led the army on the expedition, miss such a scene because of his haste...
Seeing that Qingrong was deep in thought again, An Qilang asked from the side: "I want to ask a question, my wife went to Xizhou alone, and she often frowned on the road, but what difficulties did she encounter?"
Qingrong lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly without saying a word.
When An Qilang saw this, he said: "If the lady feels embarrassed and it is inconvenient to say it, just forget it."
"An Langjun misunderstood, I just don't know where to start." To be honest, An Langjun said, I do have something important to do when I go back to Xizhou. There used to be a girl in Choufu's family who was the son of an old friend.
My husband’s family was well-connected, but because she was dissatisfied with the engagement, she secretly took the engagement token and hid in Xizhou with the caravan. In order to preserve our reputation, we did not make this matter public. To put it bluntly, she was really confused.
Even if we want to help her break off the engagement, we still have to find this person and the token, don’t you think so, Mr. Anlang?"
An Qilang was surprised for a moment, "Then... the purpose of this trip is to get her back."
"Yes, and no. My husband also came to Xizhou on business this time. I couldn't bear to run around, so I followed him. I thought I would take this opportunity to find her back secretly. She is still young and is not sensible at the moment.
She acted impulsively, and my husband and I absolutely don’t want this matter to get out, ruining her reputation and making things difficult for the two families.” Qingrong looked worried and sighed softly: “My husband asked me about it today too.
I suddenly thought of her, and I knew that Mr. Anlang was trustworthy, so I said a few more words. I also hope that Mr. Anlang would not make this matter public or spread any rumors. I would like to thank you in advance.
It’s time to pass Mr. Anlang.”
An Qilang looked solemn, nodded, and said sternly: "Don't worry, Madam! Since Madam trusts so-and-so, he will naturally not talk too much and bring trouble to Madam and Mr. Lang. I am familiar with this area of the Western Region. If Madam wants to find someone,
, maybe I can help. There is a brother in my family who is in the business of selling female slaves. He has the widest connections and knows many people. Maybe he can help my wife?"
Qingrong was slightly stunned, yes, why didn't she expect that the surname An was a common surname in the Western Regions! She originally thought that he was just an ordinary merchant, but now it seems that he has an extraordinary status. "Then I would like to thank An Langjun for his kindness.
Maybe I will really ask Mr. Anlang for help someday. I didn’t know that Mr. Anlang is actually a family that has been doing business for generations. No wonder Mr. Anlang is so knowledgeable even though he is young."
An Qilang burst out laughing when he heard this, and hurriedly waved his hands and said: "My lady is so polite, I am too embarrassed to deserve it!"
Qingrong asked again: "What kind of business does An Langjun do?"
"I also opened a shop in the West Market, which specializes in jewelry and spices."
Qingrong had naturally heard of Anjia’s spice shop and jewelry shop, which were full of goods from the Western Regions, and there were many distinguished guests. She nodded, “It’s a coincidence that my sister and I are in Anjia’s shop in the Western City.
I have been there many times before, and it turned out that he was working for Mr. Anlang. So when Mr. Anlang returns to Xizhou, how long do you plan to stay before returning to Yongcheng?"
When asked about this, the handsome and cheerful Hu man suddenly blushed and lowered his head in embarrassment, "It's already August or September now, and it's probably winter in Xizhou. It won't be until spring next year... in Xizhou
The state has arranged the marriage."
Qingrong was stunned when he heard this, then he laughed and sincerely congratulated: "Then I would like to congratulate Mr. Anlang first! It's a coincidence that my sister is also getting married this year, and she has just been married. Since
Mr. Anlang is in the jewelry and spice business, and I wonder if he has any good products to recommend. I would like to pick some so that I can send them home to my sister."
An Qilang laughed: "That's easy to say. After arriving in Xizhou, I will personally select it and send it to my wife to see. Soon, after next spring, I will lead the team back to Yongcheng. Then I can make a special trip
I'll make a trip for you and personally deliver the things to your house. You don't know, but my family's business is not only in jewelry and spices. We also have cloth, silk, clothing, gold and silver utensils. There are many kinds. If you are interested, you can buy any of them.
Take your pick."
With these words, the two of them quickly became familiar with each other. An Qilang got a few sets of clothes from the Western Regions from somewhere and gave them to Qingrong, not to mention Qingrong, it was Yun Niang, Song Yue Ji
The people who followed the lady closely all had their own tricks, and they made Azhen smile and look at her. They also said a lot of praises for An Langjun, both overtly and secretly.
…
Xue Chang, however, was very disdainful of this little trick of winning people's hearts. His prejudice against An Qilang became even deeper, and he often ignored An Qilang. An Qilang was naturally aware of his hostility.
But he didn't take it to heart at all. After all, Qingrong and him might have to help each other when they settled down in Xizhou. He just wanted to take care of Qingrong's attitude.
Xue Chang looked at Azhen, who was overjoyed in front of him, and passed by inadvertently, saying: "A few sets of clothes, dresses and jewelry can buy someone off."
A-Zhen had sharp teeth and a sharp tongue, and she immediately retorted, "Humph! You are such an unpleasant person to talk to." As if he was born in the same mold as your husband, A-Zhen couldn't help but murmur, "That's An An
Mr. Lang has a heart and is generous with his actions. What do you, a rude person like you, know?"
Xue Chang was choked when he heard this. He turned his head and snorted, muttering to himself that he was not as knowledgeable as this girl!