Ye Bin was the last chess piece left by Xia and Shang in Suzhou.
The plan to go to the capital needs to be started.
Going to the capital is not just a matter of going directly to the capital. Xia Shang needed an identity and a reason to directly enter the circle of power struggles in the capital in the name of "Xia Hui" without arousing suspicion.
Before there was a clear method, Xia Shang temporarily stayed in Changzhou and asked beggars in Changzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou and other places to inquire about the information, trying to find out what could be used.
The beggar is very efficient in gathering information, but the quality of the information is very low. Some say that Mr. Chen is married to someone from the 13th house, some say that Mr. Liu committed adultery with the young widow, and some say that Boss Zhang was caught for being a murderer...
…
Things big and small that happened in various places were spread to Xia and Shang, but most of them were useless.
But there are really two big things in this.
The third prince Li Shou was attacked on his way to Suzhou. He was stabbed three times and his life was hanging by a thread. He still has no sign of waking up.
This matter has been reported to the court. I wonder what the emperor will do when he hears the news?
The second prince returned to the capital at some unknown time without any movement. Now the troops stationed near Suzhou have also withdrawn.
There are many stories behind these two incidents, but they have nothing to do with Xia Shang going to the capital.
It was not until three days later that someone came to report that Li Youlan, the youngest daughter of Li Yi, the admiral of the Jingzhou Shukou Division on the Yangtze River, was coming to Beijing.
This Li Youlan is also the adopted daughter of Jia Shangjie, the Minister of Household Affairs in the capital. It is said that she came to the capital this time to study etiquette with the prince and grandson of the capital.
This matter is a bit strange. Why did a girl who was far away in Changzhou go to the capital to study etiquette? And why did she go to the capital to learn etiquette? And why did she go with Mr. Wang Sun?
Some people also heard that Jia Shangjie, the Minister of Household Affairs, spent a lot of effort to get this quota for Li Youlan.
What is even stranger is that someone heard that Li Youlan was crying every day at home. Her sister Li Youruo got angry several times and beat up all the non-commissioned officers accompanying her father.
However, this incident ended with Li Youlan being escorted into Beijing by her father's sergeant.
Li Yi has two daughters, Youruo and Youlan.
Youruo is eighteen, youlan is sixteen.
Both are famous beauties in Changzhou City, but the two sisters have completely opposite temperaments. Li Youruo has a fierce temperament, and is good at both civil and military affairs. Although she does not behave like an unruly young lady, she has the heroic spirit and chivalry of a military family.
Li Youlan, on the other hand, has a weak personality and likes calligraphy, painting and poetry. It is said that she was born with symptoms of qi deficiency and anemia, and is a bit sick. But this girl is a kind-hearted girl who has adopted many wild cats and dogs. She never treats others harshly and encounters poverty on the road.
Everyone would lend a hand to help, so there are always people who deceive this kind-hearted girl. She was once defrauded of a thousand taels of silver by a liar who pretended to be five different poor people. Later, she was not allowed to go out alone.
This time Li Youlan is going to the capital, and the scammers in Changzhou are reluctant to part with her in every possible way.
After Xia Shang understood everything, Li Youlan's team had already set off from Changzhou to the official road by Taihu Lake.
…
There are many thieves on the edge of Taihu Lake, but no one dares to provoke Che Jiao who is escorted by officers and soldiers.
Those who escorted Li Youlan were all Li Yi's cronies. These soldiers who had followed Li Yi for many years also knew that Miss Li Er was weak and could not bear the bumps, so she walked very slowly along the way and did not leave Taihu Lake for a whole day.
Seeing that dusk was approaching, the leading general drove his horse back to the side of the carriage in the middle of the team: "Second Miss, dusk is approaching, how about resting here tonight?"
The elegant white car curtain opened, revealing a pale and delicate face: "General Wei, today's journey is not far, why not take another journey? You are dragging Youlan away so slowly, I don't know how old it is.
When will we arrive in the capital, I don’t know when you will be able to return to Changzhou."
General Wei smiled heartily: "Haha, the second lady said something serious. It is my duty to escort the second lady. General Li has repeatedly warned that the second lady should not be bumped. It doesn't matter if you go slow, we are not in a hurry."
At that moment, General Wei made a decision and shouted: "Stop the team, camp here tonight, and ask a few brothers to catch fish for the second lady to eat."
The people in the car were a little shy and said hurriedly: "General Wei, there is no need to trouble the soldiers."
"It's not troublesome, it's not troublesome. The second lady has weak bones, and the fish in Taihu Lake are good for her."
When Li Youlan wanted to say something else, another girl in the car pulled her: "Miss, Ping'er wants to eat fish."
Li Youlan frowned and wanted to go back to say something, but found that General Wei had already left.
Ping'er is a twelve-year-old girl who is very lively. She was very excited when she heard that she was going to the capital with her.
She has lived in Li Yi's Mansion in Changzhou since she was a child and has never left the city. Today, it is rare to see Taihu Lake. She can smell the wind of Taihu Lake as soon as she opens the curtain, and the little girl suddenly becomes more energetic.
"Miss, you've been bored at home all day, why don't you go out and get some fresh air?"
Li Youlan was not in a high mood, but she didn't want to dampen the maid's interest, so she frowned and stepped out of the car.
As soon as we got out of the carriage, we were greeted by the river breeze at dusk, which brought with it the smell of Taihu Lake's water and earth. It was cool and pleasant. There was also the endless lake surface and the half-circle of setting sun hanging under the lake surface. The golden rays of the sun shone on the sparkling lake surface.
, think of a layer of golden sand floating on the water, and occasionally fish turning over the waves to reveal their whites. The quiet Taihu Lake seems full of life. There are layers of reeds beside the lake. I don’t know the depth, let alone what scenery is hidden behind the reeds.
, I only saw the green wind blowing the reeds like countless dancing elves.
The little maid Ping'er was so excited that she shouted: "Wow! What a big river! Miss, have you seen it?"
Li Youlan shook her head. She had never seen such a scenery before. She couldn't help but walk to the lake. Her heart had already been integrated into this poetic picture, and she seemed to have left her troubles behind.
At this moment, there were four soldiers taking off their clothes by the lake, preparing to go down to the river to catch fish.
Li Youlan happened to bump into him and turned around in surprise, covering her eyes tightly.
When General Wei found out, he was so angry that his hair exploded. He rushed up and kicked each of the four people in the buttocks, and they were all kicked into the lake.
"You idiots, are you looking for death? Do you dare to take off your clothes in front of the second lady?"
The four people in the lake were extremely aggrieved: "General, we just went to catch fish."
"Go down with your clothes on. If you dare to offend the second lady, I will skin you."
Li Youlan wanted to say something, but Ping'er pulled her into the reed marsh next to her: "Miss, let's go quickly and don't talk to those rough guys. It's really embarrassing."
Being among the reeds was another experience. Li Youlan also felt it was very strange, so she stood inside and gently played with the reeds.
At this moment, someone outside suddenly shouted: "Look! Someone is drowning over there!" (To be continued)