Fan Li squatted outside the tent, looking east and west, this way and that.

Inside the tent,

Si Niang, A Ming, and Xue San sat around, with the letter placed in the middle of them.

The letter, of course, had already been opened.

The devils wouldn't be polite or restrained; it would be foolish to guard the letter without reading it.

But,

the contents of the letter…

A Ming, while clipping his nails with nail clippers, said:

"Alright, let's discuss what to do next."

Si Niang opened her mouth and said, "The lord once said that when he was at Tianhu Mountain next to Li Tian City, he promised to make a set of fish-scale armor for the Jingnan King's Pixiu, just like his own Pixiu's.

The Jingnan King's reply at the time was:

Okay, let it come find you.

Plus, during the day outside the city, the lord's conversation with the Jingnan King seemed to hint at the same thing.

There's a saying, 'ma ge guo shi' (wrapped in horse hide after death), right?

Whether it'll be wrapped in a corpse or not, I don't know, but in all likelihood, this Pixiu will return.

Which means,

originally, we should have waited until the Jingnan King went on an expedition, or something happened to him, something like that;

under this premise, or rather, afterward,

this Pixiu would,

all alone, return

and deliver this letter to the lord."

Xue San chuckled and said:

"So, we've essentially intercepted it in advance?"

"Yeah." A Ming blew on his nails and said, "It's like accepting a quest from the old man at the village entrance, promising to give you a letter after you defeat the monster;

but you haven't even fought the monster yet, you haven't even left the village, and you've already stolen the letter from the old man's pocket.

The problem now is that since the Jingnan King made this arrangement, he obviously had his own plans, his own reasons. Your preemptive move, San'er, looks awkward right now. If the lord finds out, it'll be even more awkward."

"Oh, so you're saying we shouldn't let the lord see this letter yet?" Xue San retorted.

A Ming shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Si Niang said, "The problem now is that since this letter came from inside the Jingnan King's mount, it must have been placed there by the Jingnan King himself.

To some extent, the contents of this letter must have been verified by the Jingnan King himself.

That person,

is the mastermind behind Du Juan's death.

Think about it,

if the lord sees this letter now, what will he do?"

"So, are we going to show it to the lord or not, Si Niang? Give us a straight answer. Blind man isn't here right now, so the three of us need to make a decision quickly."

The strategist wasn't here, and they were encountering this kind of unexpected situation; it was truly a headache.

As for Sun Ying, he could be considered half a strategist, but he wasn't qualified to get involved in this matter.

A Ming reached out and pointed at the letter in front of him.

He said:

"Alright, let's try to imitate Blind man's way of thinking. Whether we do something or not, it all comes down to weighing the pros and cons.

Let's start with the cons.

I think,

giving this letter to the lord now will only put him in a dilemma;

and,

haven't you guys noticed that the lord's tendency to flip the table for the sake of a quick and easy solution has been catching up lately, and may even be surpassing us?

If the lord doesn't act, he'll feel stifled;

if the lord does act and decides to take action against that person, let's not even mention whether the Jidong Marquisate can be preserved. Right now, we're in the capital!

That's all for the cons. What about the pros?"

Hearing this, Xue San smiled and said:

"I don't see any pros in giving this letter to the lord right now. It's just that A Li and I triggered the quest early, but that doesn't prevent us from giving it to the lord when the time is right.

At least,

we can wait until we return to the Marquisate before deciding, even though it will be more difficult to kill that person after we return."

At this moment,

A Ming and Xue San both turned their gazes to Si Niang.

The two of them had already cast their dissenting votes; it was up to Si Niang now.

In this situation, it wasn't a democratic decision. A Li was excluded first, and they'd go through the process of two against one.

In fact, as long as one devil disagreed, the votes of the others wouldn't be valid.

Firstly, because they couldn't kill anyone to silence them;

secondly, because no one could play the good guy alone while the other two played the bad guys.

"I agree with what A Ming just said. Giving this letter to the lord now would definitely be detrimental to our overall situation, but…"

A Ming immediately said:

"There's no need to mention reasons like human rights, freedom, trust."

Xue San also chimed in:

"There's no need to mention reasons like bonds, beliefs, and comrades."

Si Niang nodded and said:

"But, I think that ever since the lord accompanied the Jingnan King to Tianhu Mountain that day, the lord has been very, very close to breaking through to the sixth rank. It might happen soon."

A Ming and Xue San's gazes almost simultaneously sharpened.

A Ming put away the nail clippers

and placed his left hand over his heart:

"I don't think we have the right to deprive the lord of his right to know."

Xue San plunged his dagger into the ground in front of him.

He said:

"No matter what, we must believe in the power of bonds!"

Fan Li, who had been squatting at the door for half the day and hadn't been allowed to participate in the voting or see the contents of the letter,

shook his head

at the starry sky

and said,

"Morons."

…

"Hmm, what's this letter smell like?"

Marquis Zheng asked with some distaste as he took the letter.

At this time,

Si Niang was inside the tent, delivering the letter;

the other three were all outside.

"Lord, this is a letter that San'er extracted from the Jingnan King's Pixiu."

"Hmm?" Zheng Fan blinked, subconsciously asking, "What did San'er do to that Pixiu?"

"..." Xue San outside the tent.

"Lord, Xue San found it in the Pixiu's excrement." After a pause, Si Niang added, "San'er said he wouldn't give up any clue in any corner."

Xue San outside the tent clenched his fist. "Yes!"

At this moment,

Fan Li called out:

"I'm the one who squatted!"

Zheng Fan smiled

and said:

"Alright, come on in, all of you."

Soon,

A Ming, Xue San, and Fan Li all came in.

Zheng Fan understood

that a letter

that could make four devils come together to deliver it must contain extremely important content.

Zheng Fan didn't rush to open the black-wrapped letter.

Instead, he first took out his iron box,

pulled out a cigarette,

put it in his mouth,

and Si Niang took out a fire starter to light it for him.

After taking two puffs,

Zheng Fan ground his teeth

and finally

opened the letter.

After a short while,

Zheng Fan closed his eyes and folded the letter.

Inside the tent,

there was silence.

The devils were waiting for the lord to make a decision. Not to mention that Blind man wasn't here; even if Blind man were here, the final decision would still be made by the lord himself.

After waiting for a long time,

Zheng Fan slowly opened his eyes.

In his eyes,

there were frightening blood streaks.

But Zheng Fan didn't roar in anger,

nor did he shout hysterically.

Instead, he tapped

the cigarette, which was mostly burned,

on the ground

and said:

"Understood."

…

The next day,

the court meeting was canceled;

His Majesty the Yan Emperor, who had returned to the palace, didn't seem to be in a hurry to summon his ministers to formally announce his return through a court meeting.

And in the military camp outside the city,

neither the Jingnan King nor the Pingxi Marquis had entered the capital.

But this kind of standstill created an extremely terrifying pressure on the court and the public.

On the third day,

an imperial decree was issued, summoning the Jingnan King and the Pingxi Marquis to enter the capital and return to their residences.

As a king with a different surname and a marquis with military merits of Great Yan, it would be somewhat inappropriate not to have their own residences in the capital.

People emphasized a root following a home;

if your home wasn't in the center of the court, but in other places, how could you be expected to be forever loyal to the court?

Even the Zhenbei King actually had his own residence in the capital.

Earlier, when the Princess entered the capital, she temporarily resided in the Rear Garden. Later, when His Majesty wanted to enter the Rear Garden to recuperate, the Princess moved out of the Rear Garden and returned to her own residence in the capital.

The Jingnan King's mansion and the Pingxi Marquis's mansion were next to each other.

This point

pleased Zheng Fan very much.

Returning to their residences was just a formality because they didn't plan to live there, so they didn't put much effort into it.

The purpose of this imperial decree was still to fulfill a formality, meaning that continuing to stay in the military camp outside the city was somewhat inappropriate or inconvenient. They still had to return to the city.

Marquis Zheng took a bath in his new home, changed his clothes, and Si Niang and the others were responsible for settling some people in this residence. He himself, at the invitation of the Sixth Prince, took the Sword Saint to Quan De Lou for an appointment.

The Peking duck at Quan De Lou in Yanjing was getting harder to eat and more expensive,

but its reputation

was getting bigger and bigger.

As the former owner, Ji Lao Liu could return at any time, and now he was no longer the prince who was suppressed everywhere. The Ministry of Revenue used to constantly take over and suppress his surface industries, but now he was the real head of the Ministry of Revenue. What should be his was still his.

This Quan De Lou on Tao Ran Street was the main store, and today, it was chartered and closed to the public.

When Zheng Fan entered, he found that it lacked the usual hustle and bustle and greasiness. Instead, it had been fumigated with incense.

The waiter was Eunuch Zhang. When he saw Zheng Fan, he immediately bowed:

"This servant greets the Pingxi Marquis. May the Marquis be blessed."

After bowing to Zheng Fan, Eunuch Zhang bowed to the Sword Saint:

"Greetings, Lord."

Logically speaking,

it wasn't very appropriate to see the prince at this time; it was easy to cause controversy.

But the premise of clear observers was that the observers had to be at a high enough level.

For Zheng Fan,

spending two days with the Jingnan King in the military camp outside the city was like already having the freshly fried dough sticks being drained of oil; it was clean enough.

His political attitude was already clear in the eyes of those who cared.

So, coming to see Little Liu Zi at this time was just out of past personal friendship.

After all, they couldn't stay out of touch forever.

Furthermore,

the emperor had granted you a residence,

meaning

that you could enter the city. With a new residence, you naturally had to entertain guests. If you were too lazy to host a banquet, you could just visit, which was the same.

Of course, the root cause was still because today was different from the past. As Lao Tian said when eating in Li Tian City, he was no longer starving, so his mentality was naturally different.

Zheng Fan and the Sword Saint were led to the second floor by Eunuch Zhang.

After sitting down by a window,

Eunuch Zhang helped pour tea and placed a plate of dried tofu, a plate of boiled peanuts, and a plate of yunpian cake (thin white slices of rice cake). Then, he retreated.

Zheng Fan reached out, picked up a slice of yunpian cake, put it in his mouth, and looked at the scenery on the street outside the window while chewing.

This capital city

was still lively and bustling.

The Sword Saint picked up his teacup and took a sip.

…

In the back kitchen, by the oven, Little Liu Zi was holding a roasted duck and slicing it.

Eunuch Zhang came in and said, "Master."

"Have they arrived?"

"Yes, they're upstairs drinking tea."

"Hmm."

Ji Lao Liu wasn't angry; he just smiled and continued to slice the duck seriously.

There were many things to pay attention to when eating Peking duck at Quan De Lou, but most of the things to pay attention to were what he, Ji Lao Liu, had messed around with.

But if you wanted to make this duck delicious, it had to be a meticulous task.

After finishing,

Ji Lao Liu asked Eunuch Zhang to help plate it. Then, he didn't carry it himself, but had Eunuch Zhang carry it, and he took off his two sleeve pockets, swinging them as he left the oven room and went upstairs.

When he came up,

Zheng Fan turned to look over here as well.

"This isn't good; the speed of serving the dishes is too slow. We're almost full from eating tea snacks."

"Oh, please bear with me, sir. Look, isn't it here?"

Ji Lao Liu signaled Eunuch Zhang to put all the duck's accoutrements on the table. He himself sat down on another chair.

The Sword Saint stood up,

and Ji Lao Liu immediately said:

"Sword Saint, please don't be polite. Just sit and eat. Today, we won't talk about politics."

The Sword Saint sat back down.

Zheng Fan picked up a piece of pancake, wrapped the duck, added some condiments, and finally dipped it in the sauce before putting it in his mouth.

"How is it?" Ji Lao Liu asked.

"It's alright, so-so."

"Your mouth is getting pickier and pickier."

"Yeah." Zheng Fan picked up the teapot, opened a teacup, and poured a cup of tea for Ji Chengjue as well.

"Ah, it was better before; everything tasted good before."

"Oh ho, there's a hidden meaning in these words."

Ji Chengjue shook his head and said, "No, I'm just simply sighing. Back then, when I couldn't afford cornbread, I'd run to the palace to mooch some wine and meat from those eunuchs. That was also very delicious.

Now, there are three more little mouths in the family. As soon as I open my eyes, I feel like I owe a day's worth of debt and have to work for them."

He Sisi and Ling Xiang had both given birth. He Sisi had given birth to another son, and Ling Xiang had given birth to a daughter.

So,

Ji Lao Liu was now the father of three children.

"These days don't last."

I still remember in front of the Zhenbei Marquis's residence, Ji Lao Liu brought a few female entertainers. Although it had a meaning of deliberately emptying his body and disgracing himself, but who could deny that that time was carefree and easy?

Zheng Fan at that time was the same, a second-rate, insignificant little military officer, and everyone wearing brocade had to be called "Master."

"Zheng Fan, don't laugh at me. I used to think that I would never grow old and couldn't imagine what I would look like when I was really old.

Now I understand that people can't perceive themselves growing old. One look back, and there's no going back."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Zheng Fan's head hurt when he heard the keywords "middle-aged" and "children."

There was nothing wrong with his body, and there was nothing wrong with the women's health, but none of the three women were pregnant.

It was acceptable with Si Niang, but if the princess and Ru Qing were the same, that meant that there was a serious problem on his side as well.

"I heard that Lao Wu (Fifth Prince) specifically looked for you by the Wang River?"

"We bumped into each other."

"I know you two aren't that stupid. Did Lao Wu say anything to you?"

"Lao Wu wanted me to protect his life."

"Did you agree?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I'm not familiar with him."

"What about my family, the two women and three children?"

Zheng Fan nodded without hesitation

and said:

"I'll protect them."

Ji Lao Liu smiled, rolled a duck himself, and brought it to Zheng Fan's mouth:

"Come on, be good, open your mouth."

"Aren't you disgusted?"

Zheng Fan slapped Ji Lao Liu's hand away.

At this time,

there were footsteps on the stairs.

The person coming up was Li Liang Shen in plain clothes.

As soon as Li Liang Shen came up, his gaze directly passed over Zheng Fan and Ji Lao Liu and fell straight on the Sword Saint.

"You're here too."

Li Liang Shen greeted the Sword Saint.

The Sword Saint nodded slightly to Li Liang Shen

and said:

"Yes."

People who use swords tend to be direct and concise when communicating.

Li Liang Shen walked to the table and looked at the Dragon Abyss leaning against the chair,

and said:

"I didn't get a chance last time. Let me see it again this time."

People who use swords are all sword fanatics.

The Sword Saint didn't refuse

and said:

"As you wish."

Li Liang Shen reached out to pick up the Dragon Abyss,

at this moment,

Zheng Fan said:

"Li Liang Shen?"

Li Liang Shen turned his head to look at Marquis Zheng sitting there.

"When you see this Marquis, why don't you salute?"

Li Liang Shen nodded,

put down the Dragon Abyss sword,

took two steps back,

and knelt on one knee to Zheng Fan:

"This subordinate pays respects to the Pingxi Marquis. May the Pingxi Marquis be blessed!"

Immediately afterward,

he got up on his own,

reached out to take the Dragon Abyss sword.

"Did this Marquis tell you to get up?"

Li Liang Shen let go again,

stepped back,

and knelt on one knee.

"Salute His Highness the Sixth Prince."

"This subordinate pays respects to His Highness the Sixth Prince. May His Highness live a thousand years."

Li Liang Shen saluted and greeted very obediently, but there was a smile on the corner of his mouth.

"That's right." Marquis Zheng clapped his hands. "We martial artists can be more free, but the rules that should be followed must be followed. This Marquis doesn't care whether you salute this Marquis or not. After all, we are both military men and have never liked paying attention to these vulgar rituals.

But His Highness is, after all, a member of the imperial family, the bloodline of the Emperor. You must have the necessary respect for the imperial family.

Next time, when you meet this Marquis again, you don't need to salute, and you don't need to be so polite. This Marquis believes that even if King Zhenbei were here, he would be too lazy to fuss about these vulgar rituals.

The military up and down doesn't like that kind of thing that makes people kneel and ask for peace, too much trouble and too boring."

Ji Lao Liu laughed when he heard this.

The smile on Li Liang Shen's face gradually faded.

At this moment,

at the top of the stairs on the second floor,

a figure of a man with a strong back and a semi-white hair appeared,

next to him stood Qing Shuang.

"Good fellow, this is blocking this king's mouth in advance."

Today, King Zhenbei entered the city.

The court sent the Minister of Rites to preside over the reception, but obviously, King Zhenbei stood up the people and secretly came to Quan De Lou to eat duck first.

Ji Lao Liu stood up,

but Marquis Zheng was faster than him, walking straight over to support King Zhenbei.

Li Liang Shen was obviously here to scout the way.

The fact that he, a general stationed in the capital, suddenly appeared here was unusual in itself.

"How is Wu Jing?" Li Liangting asked.

"Not good."

Marquis Zheng's answer was very direct.

Li Liangting nodded

and smiled:

"Which of the three of us is doing well?"

——————

It’s not deliberately whetting your appetite and not saying what is in the letter here. It’s that Long Xin (author's pen name) has an overall design and arrangement for this big plot in Yanjing. Please be patient and continue to read on.

Also, please give me your monthly votes. I’m hugging everyone tightly!