Situ Xi visited Xuan'an City these days. Although on the surface he was just wandering around with nothing to do, in reality he was wandering around with nothing to do.

However, even meaningless things can still be rewarding. At least Situ Xi knows which streets in the city are more prosperous, which merchants are doing prosperous business, and which areas are prone to crowds gathering.

Collecting intelligence is the first step in doing business. Making money is never a simple matter, especially if you want to make big money. He can be said to be helpless in Chu State. With his status, he certainly cannot do business himself.

Therefore, although the needs are somewhat urgent now, we still need to consider the long term.

A strange thing happened earlier today. A rich woman came to knock on the door.

The woman was plump, wearing a luxurious silk skirt, with all kinds of jewelry hanging all over her body. Her face was a little over-painted, and she was followed by two maids in long skirts.

When Situ Xi opened the door for her, he saw her slightly covering her mouth and nose with a fan, as if she was a little disgusted by the smell of dust and earth in the courtyard.

Then she laughed happily for no reason, and then she became nervous when she found out that the person who opened the door was Situ Xi. When Situ Xi greeted her, she was even more shocked, and dropped a letter.

He left directly with his servants.

Every one of her actions makes people confused, more like she is mentally disturbed.

Later, after asking Zhongli Min, I found out that the woman was Duke Huaiming's third wife, and she was also their third concubine.

The third lady was a special existence in Duke Huaiming's house. She was the only concubine who did not give birth to an heir for Duke Huaiming, but she was especially favored by Duke Huaiming.

Qingyu hated this woman and said she must have used some tricks. Zhonglixin quickly closed the courtyard door and warned her not to criticize others behind their backs.

Situ Xi was not interested at all in the household affairs of Duke Huaiming and his wives and concubines. He just opened the letter at Zhongli's signal.

The content of the letter was also very simple. The couple should have returned home on the third day of their marriage, but now they have not gone. This is not etiquette, so the family asked them to go to the Duke Huaiming's Mansion before Jingzhe.

"Ms. sir, this is just a formality. You don't have to worry. There's still some time left before the awakening of insects. I don't know if my hair can grow a little longer..."

He didn't try to change Zhongli Min's view on the importance of hair. He knew that he was just worried about losing his face.

"These are all trivial matters, don't take it to heart. We're just going home, not going into a dragon's den or a tiger's den." Situ Xi smiled and told her not to worry too much.

"I think this small courtyard is much better than the mansion. At least the young lady has been smiling more these days. I always feel a little depressed in the mansion, making people feel... I feel like I can't breathe." Speaking of Duke Huaiming's mansion,

I felt short of breath just by whispering. The young lady's life in the house was terrible. She suffered a lot and had to look at the arrogant faces of those aunts for everything. It was really disgusting.

"You girl, you always speak bluntly." Situ Xi couldn't help but feel funny. In terms of age, she was already in her prime, one year older than Zhongli Xin; in terms of height, her legs were slender and could be regarded as...

He is rare and tall, but his character is far less mature than Zhongli's. I don't know whether he should be described as simple or exquisite.

"By the way, Qingyu, I asked you to buy some paper, ink, pens and inkstones this morning. Is it ready?" In ancient times, unlike later generations, writing skills were indispensable for getting things done. Situ Xi was going to start practicing calligraphy, and even if it was

In later generations, he also preferred paper and pen and ink that could be touched. Without the touch of books, he would always feel that there was a little less charm.

"I bought it a long time ago. I have already placed it on the table in the room."

"Speaking of going out in the morning, this slave also encountered an interesting thing!" Qingyu said this with a mysterious expression, showing off her secrets.

"Could it be that someone fell down on the road?" Situ Xi joked. He finally understood Qing Yu. Her "joy point" was a bit low and she found everything interesting.

"No way! My slave saw a veiled girl teaching several children to sing a song in an alley today. She was majestic and quite fluent!"

"I also secretly wrote it down and sang it, 'Silver armored knees, black hammered arms, a dark arrow shot into the clouds, heaven and earth moved to each other, and all the fights were separated.' What do you think, uncle? Isn't it nice to listen to?"

Qingyu raised her head to claim credit, but she found that the two people in front of her were already approaching, both of them had solemn expressions on their faces.

"Qingyu, in which alley did I hear this song?"

"This... is right in front of Jinsefang."

…

Good rain knows the season, when spring is here.

But the rain in Xuan'an seems to favor spring a little too much.

The soil outside the city is still wet, and before the weeds and green plants have had time to digest the remaining nectar from the previous two days, new raindrops have fallen.

The main gate of Xuan'an City is in the north, so it is called "Beixuan Gate". A slightly domineering precious beast is carved on the thick and wide bronze gate.

At this moment, the city gate is open, with two lines of honor guards on both sides replacing the generals guarding the gate. There are no guards stationed on the city wall because today is the day when the Li delegation is visiting.

A few miles away from the city gate, hundreds of soldiers wearing silver scale armor were guarding the envoys on the inside of the road.

There are fifty or sixty people in this envoy, each riding a horse. The leader of the envoy is slightly fat. He wears a broad robe, an official hat, and holds a bamboo stick. The two people on his left and right are slightly behind him by half a horse's length.

distance apart, each held a flag high and looked dignified.

The size of this mission was not too large. "Historical Records: Biography of Dawan" records that "the number of foreign envoys was several hundred for the big ones, and more than a hundred for the small ones. They were all under great control during the time of Hou Bowang."

However, the capital of the Han Dynasty was tens of thousands of miles away from Dawan, and Li State was a neighboring country of Chu State, thousands of miles away to the north. The two had frequent exchanges, and it was normal for a few people to come at one time.

Although there were only a few people, the carriage behind the delegation from Li State contained quite a lot of treasures.

The visit and reception of envoys is not a trivial matter, because the two parties in the exchange represent the will of the two countries, and both parties have their own strategic goals to achieve.

In fact, whether it is the sending country or the receiving country, both sides have written regulations and details on the regulations and details of the exchanges. This time, the Chu State used the highest etiquette to welcome this group of Li envoys.

This is best reflected by the officials wearing various official uniforms and lining up neatly on both sides of the official roads in the city.

The officials who were waiting quietly were quiet, there was no unnecessary noise on the long official road, and the advancing team of envoys were also solemn. Only the armors of the soldiers on both sides made the sound of metal collision due to their actions.

But no matter how serious the occasion is, there will always be some people with a relaxed attitude.

In the gorgeous carriage at the front of the Li delegation, a young man with slender limbs held a half-bitten scallion pancake in his right hand and burped. Then he patted his chest with his oil-stained hands. Opposite him, a man in gorgeous clothes

The young man shrank his head under the unkind gaze, and finally picked up the curtain on one side of the car window and wiped his hands.

"Sister Huang, we are finally approaching Xuan'an. We have been gone for almost a month. Didn't you say we can arrive in just ten days?"

The young man in gorgeous clothes opposite was actually a woman disguised as a man. She was sitting upright with her hands on her knees. After hearing this, she took out a handkerchief from her arms and handed it to the young man. She rolled her eyes and said:

"You ate non-stop all the way, and the mission had to stop and go. If I hadn't suggested leaving early, it might have been delayed."

"Hey, it's the imperial sister who has the foresight. Xuan'an is a city by the water, and there must be many pearls and emeralds that we don't have in Muli City." The young man smiled and began to look forward to the delicacies that were about to enter his belly tonight.

"My father asked you to go on this mission not only to let you complete your errand, but also to hope that you can gain something and increase your knowledge. If you only care about feasting, don't blame me for being ruthless when you return home."

Looking at the incompetent younger brother in front of her, Chen Zhisu felt quite resentful. In March, she was supposed to go on an outing in the imperial capital, but Emperor Li insisted on letting her accompany her younger brother on this trip.

suffered.

But since he had agreed, he didn't know that the boy would have to stop and search for delicious food in every city along the way. The officials couldn't resist him, so they had to give in, which in turn wasted a lot of time.

Moreover, this child eats day and night but never gains weight, which is even more annoying.

"Sister, don't be upset, Pu'er will take care of it naturally." The young man said with a flattering smile.

"It's better as you say."

Ignoring him anymore, Chen Zhisu closed his eyes and rested his mind.

…

In a government office in Xuan'an, an old man wearing a purple robe and a futou was sitting at a table drinking tea. Next to him, a middle-aged man in a green robe leaned over and stood on one side with his fists clasped.

People seem to be asking the right question.

"The mission has arrived?" The old man picked up the tea cup with his right hand, twisted the lid with his left hand, put the steaming tea close to his mouth and blew gently. After shaking the tea cup a few times, he took a sip with his mouth.

With an intoxicated look on his face, he took a deep breath and asked the middle-aged man a question.

"In return, Mr. Cao, the delegation has arrived outside the city. Except for the greeting staff from the Ministry of Rites, most of the officials below the fifth rank in the imperial capital are already waiting on the official road." The man in green robe bent even lower, folded his hands and bowed, truthfully.

replied.

After listening to the report, the old man nodded slightly, put the teacup on the table, rubbed the armrests of the huanghuali Zen chair next to him with both hands, and turned his head to the man and said:

"Have people check the accommodation and food prepared for the envoys again, and let the patrol officials in various places in the city strictly manage their own areas. It is said to be the arrangement of Mr. Fu Yin."

"In addition, I remember that there are many homeless beggars gathered in many alleys of Fenglu Street. Let's ask people to take them to some abandoned ancient temples outside the city. I, Da Chuxuan'an, don't have beggars. Do you understand?"

"I understand." After hearing this, the man in green robe respectfully accepted the order and saluted.

"Go down." The instructions were almost finished, and the old man felt a little tired, so he waved his hand for the man to leave.

When the man in green robe walked out of the room, the old man looked through the door to the gray sky above the yard.

Raindrops fell from the eaves and formed a bead curtain. After a long time, he sighed and sighed to himself:

"How difficult it is!"

I don't know what is bothering me.


Chapter completed!