Chapter 3:

Summer nights always come late, but they can't hold back the time. Xiao Youning walked out of the alley where he was hiding from another direction and found that the sky was already dark.
"Girl, where are we going?"
Yuanguo held her arm, her round eyes swept around blankly.
I just heard that the Hou Mansion was sealed, and the Li family was discouraged, and there was really nowhere to go right now.
Xiao Youning stood under the wall, half of her body was trapped in the dark, and she was also in a trance.
The street was very lively, lanterns hung under the eaves of the shops, and the people who came and went hurriedly underfoot, and some walked into various shops calmly in the voice of Xiaoer. But no matter what their status is, they have goals on this street.
Xiao Youning stood here, but she had no goal, no home, so out of place.
Yuanguo didn't hear her talking, she lowered her head and wrinkled her brows for unknown reasons. After a long time, she raised her head and asked tentatively, "Girl, or we can go to the second master..."
Xiao Youning did not answer this.
The second elder of the Xiao family was her step-uncle, who was born after her grandmother passed away and his grandfather married. When her grandfather married her step-grandmother, her father was an enlightened young boy. Hearing from his father, the step-grandmother had been cold to him since he was a child. Later, his father became an adult and made meritorious services. After his grandfather passed away, he inherited the title and was completely separated from the second room.
In her impression, even under the same roof, the long house and the second house are quite distinct, and they don't sit together for the New Year. So after her father and brother's accident, Mrs. Li said that she was unhappy.
She has no one to rely on now, she can only rely on herself.
Xiao Youning began to turn over his purse and sleeves, without turning over anything, finally remembering something, raised his hand to touch the bun, and his eyes brightened when he touched the golden hairpin.
She pulled out the hairpin and said, "This hairpin is solid, with gems on it, so it should be able to be used as some silver. Find a pawnshop, and then we will find an inn to stay temporarily."
"Stay in an inn?"
Yuanguo feels that the inn is not safe. What if the poisonous woman from the Li family finds it again?
The maid put her thoughts on her face, Xiao Youning clenched the hairpin, and said in her heart: "At this time, no one will come to trouble us except the one in the palace. The inn is very safe."
I just had a fight at the door of Li's house, and the dowry was not returned to her, the head of the Li family still had the brain, and it was impossible to let anyone in the Li family trouble her at this time.
In the eyes of these hypocritical people, her reputation is worth tens of thousands of dollars, and she is not worthy of destroying the Great Wall for her orphan who does not know tomorrow.
Xiao Youning made the decision and was going to be a hairpin first.
She finds a place to stay, and then finds a way to find out the situation of her father and elder brother is the main thing. She has just taken a step, but is caught by Yuanguo.
She turned her head, her eyes puzzled.
Yuanguo patted her chest, lowered her voice, and said mysteriously: "Girl, don't be a golden hairpin! I sewed a silver ticket in my clothes."
As he said, he pointed at her.
"One thousand and two!"
Xiao Youning opened her mouth for a while, then slapped her tongue and asked, "How do you sew the bank notes on your body?"
It's still two thousand taels, not a decimal, where did it come from?
Yuanguo chuckled: "I heard an old mother say that when a woman enters her in-law's house, she has to hide some of her self, and she can't expose her family's wealth to others, so she can save money and worry about it. Two thousand Two, I wrote to my lord a long time ago to tell the master that the accountant paid me directly, thinking about telling the girl today."
Xiao Youning stared at Yuanguo's closed mouth and suddenly smiled: "Our family Yuanguo is clever."
Two thousand taels is a charcoal in the snow, and even a beam of light, which radiates a lot of the haze that surrounds her.
Yuanguo saw a smile on her girl's face, and then smiled brightly with raised eyebrows.
But I don't want to hear Xiao Youning say: "I still used the golden hairpin."
"what?"
"The money is not revealed, the one thousand taels of silver notes are too attractive to exchange. Moreover, the money should be used on the blade."
In this capital city, she has to make money in everything, not to mention she wants to inquire about father and brother.

In the palace road under the night, the lamp holders on both sides lit up early. But the palace is deep and long, and the rows of lights are only half-bright and half-dark.
Ye Shen walked across the palace road with a lantern in one hand, and was followed by the young guard who had just accompanied by the sedan chair. Like the dark night behind him, he stepped closer to follow him.
The two walked in silence for a long time, and the roof of the hall where the stone-carved beasts stood in the distance slowly became clear. The young guard stared at the light at his feet, and suddenly raised his head and asked: "Are you going to your Majesty's side for a return?"
"What fate is restored."
He asked rhetorically.
The young guard was dumbfounded by the question, opened his mouth and said a moment later: "You didn't leave the palace to Li's house because of your Majesty's words?"
So this is to go with the task, otherwise?
Ye Shen still walked slowly, with his thumb slightly hard to press the mahogany stick in his hand to pick the lamp.
He really went to Li's house because of the emperor's word.
He has been by the emperor's side this afternoon, approaching the dinner point, an urgent report was passed into the palace.
The soldiers who drove all the way knelt before the emperor, saying that the father and son of the Xiao family had made a big mistake. Now the life and death are unknown, and the border is in chaos.
The emperor fell the tea bowl, and after careful questioning, he looked at the battle report written by the lieutenant and looked very ugly.
After that, why did his eyes fall on him, and he said unclearly: "Your eldest brother-in-law's family and Xiao's family are married, right? Today is the big wedding? Why didn't you join in the fun."
So he went out of the palace.
He has been by the emperor's side for many years and said to understand the emperor, he has some understanding, but there are also cases where he can't guess what he said like today.
Therefore, he didn't know what purpose he was going out of the palace to Li's house.
He has always acted only for the desired result, but today he made an exception and got out of the palace in a daze. He was also calculated by the little girl from the Xiao family.
But what he didn't expect was that Li Jiaxiu abandoned Xiao Youning, which could be regarded as opening his eyes.
A little girl, the Xiao family's father and son had an accident, and the emperor didn't even order the Xiao family to sit around, so the Li family took care of themselves and swept them out. A little girl was not worth mentioning in the eyes of the emperor. Even if her father became a criminal minister, she would not really embarrass her.
He felt that the Li family was stupid, so he turned around and left. As a result, he also made himself a slapstick because of the Li family's stupidity.
That little girl from the Xiao family... Ye Shen frowned rarely, and a gust of wind blew by, and the flames in front of him flickered, like the calculated light in Xiao Youning's eyes at the door of Li's house just now.
She probably didn't know, she had already been seen cunningly by him when she started to calculate.
"There is no need to go back to life, but your majesty casually cares."
With his fingers bent slightly, he handed the lantern to the young guard, and then put his hands in his sleeves to speed up his pace.
Well, a disappointed little girl, for the sake of future life, what kind of means is this. It was the Li family, he and the Li family were in a relationship, and it is normal to be joined together.
The young guard took the light and was busy keeping up with him. He remembered something and said before him: "The last time, the investigator has returned..."

Xiao Youning was awakened by the sound of shops opening in the street.
Opening her swollen eyelids, she stared at the unfamiliar dark blue tent, her eyes blank.
There was another bang outside, and then the voice of the woman cursing.
"Why did I marry a slacker like you? I don't even want to heat up a pan! It's a thousand knives..."
There was a long list of curses behind, Xiao Youning ignored it directly, and sat up slowly, with clearer eyes.
She took the golden hairpin last night. For safety, she found an inn next to the street, which was patrolled by soldiers and horses at night.
"Girl, why did you wake up so early."
Yuanguo was awakened by her sitting up, rubbing her eyes and then sitting up.
Last night, their girl cried for a long time under the quilt. Although she was trying hard not to make a sound, she was so close, she had some martial arts, and her ears and eyes were sharper than ordinary people. How could she not know.
For a little girl who has just reached the end of her life, it is not easy to carry this kind of thing in front of outsiders.
Their girls have been grown up in the palm of their hands by the masters and young masters since childhood.
Yuan Guo got out of bed and took her coat over and put it on her.
It was bought after the gold hairpin last night. The wedding dress is not suitable for wearing again, but this dress is still bright red.
Yuanguo probably understood her mood.
As long as there is no news from the father and son, the girl will not believe that the two of them really died on the battlefield with the soldiers, so she will not wear plain clothes for fear of adding bad luck.
Is a stubborn one.
"Yuanguo, let Xiao Er get some hot water and breakfast, we have to go out."
Xiao Youning put on the robe by herself, got out of bed and walked to the dressing table, and began to comb her hair.
Yuanguo screamed.
After breakfast was used for freshening up, Xiao Youning got up and went out and started looking for people who had known his father and brother before.
"Our master didn't come back last night, I'm really embarrassed, Miss Xiao."
With a bang, Xiao Youning can't remember how many doors opened and closed in front of him from early morning until now.
"these people!"
Yuanguo flushed with rage beside her, her hands trembling.
What is meant by indifference and indifference, they read it all today.
Xiao Youning looked very calm on her face, and slowly turned around from the closed door.
She had been prepared for all sorts of excuses, so there was nothing to scold others with hypocrisy.
"Let's go to another house again."
The sun pinned her shadow under her feet, and she stomped on her feet, thinking that there was nothing to pass.
After taking two steps like this, there was a flower in front of her, her feet were soft, and she almost fell over.
Yuanguo was shocked by her, and quickly helped the swaying little girl aside: "Girl, why are you uncomfortable, let's go back to the inn first."
Otherwise, if the helper is not found, he will make himself ill first.
Xiao Youning's ears buzzed, not reluctantly, nodded, and Yuanguo slowly supported herself to walk back.
Only when she walked to the street, Yuanguo wanted to hire a carriage to go back, and a surprised voice came from behind: "You Ning! Finally found you!"
The master and servant looked back and saw the person who came, surprised and surprised.
The person who came was a man with a face of less than forty, walking towards them with a smile on his face.
"Second Uncle." Xiao Youning shouted when the man walked up to her.
This person is the step-uncle who basically doesn't interact with their family.
When Master Xiao Er saw her, he took a long breath, and even his smile seemed to become relaxed.
"I found you. I heard about the Li family in the morning, so I went out to find you and found it now. You go with my house first. I was inquiring about your father and brother yesterday. I originally wanted to go to the Li family to find you today. Li Jiaran did this."
Xiao Youning listened to him in a daze.
Master Xiao Er saw her still stunned, and his smile became a little helpless: "You Ning, I know you find it strange. In fact, many things are not what you think. Both my brother and I can't do it, no matter how we are all a family. , You go home with your second uncle first."
"Second Uncle, do you have any news from my father and brother?"
The stunned little girl finally spoke, but instead of agreeing to follow him back, she asked about her father's situation.
Master Xiao Er sighed and stared at her pale face: "There won't be news so soon. Datong is far away from here, and it's been a long time since the war report has been delivered in a hurry. I have sent someone to inquire in person, so I must wait. There are also people in the palace to keep an eye on the news."
Go to Datong to find out.
Xiao Youning suddenly raised her head, and her dim pupils burst out with a very bright light.
"Second Uncle, I'm going to your side, I'm afraid I can only cause trouble. I won't go."
"Youning..."
Master Xiao Er frowned and called her with a headache.
"But You Ning has something to trouble your second uncle for help." Xiao Youning felt that she had gone the wrong way, and her father and brother were not guilty of crimes, so who would help her a little girl.
Since Jingcheng couldn't find out the news, she went to Datong by herself!
Father and brother are there, birth is there, death is also there.
What use is she in the capital, better than the past!
"Second Uncle, I'm going to Datong, can you find someone to help me lead the way safely?" Xiao Youning's eyes were firmer than before.
Master Xiao Er was taken aback.
"You... are going to Datong?"
Two hours later, Xiao Youning wore a corset on her head and dressed up as a man, and bid her farewell to Master Xiao Er: "Today's second uncle’s help, You Ning will always keep in his heart, so let’s leave it temporarily. The things that have not happened to the Li family, also I'm bothering my uncle."
"You..." Master Xiao Er hesitantly wanted to say something, and sighed after only one word, "No matter, you take care of the big girl, but you must not let the refugees run into the girl."
There was a drought in the northwest last year. The people began to wander around for a living, and now there are refugees everywhere.
The six accompanying people should all be.
Xiao Youning thanked again, lowered the curtain of the carriage, and set off.
Yuanguo sat next to her, her brows tightened, and after a long time she whispered amidst the bumps: "Girl, how can you rest assured that you just leave the dowry to the second room..."
Even though Master Xiao Er is kind-hearted, the old lady and wife in Erfang are not friendly.
When the family was separated, the old lady actually suffered a dark loss.
Xiao Youning sat upright, the swaying curtain divided the light and shadow into the car. She stared at the chaotic light and said quietly: "There is nothing to worry about, as long as they help at this time, the dowry will be given to them. It doesn't matter."
Yuanguo closed her mouth and sat silently.
The carriage galloped all the way, arriving at the post station where it left before night fell.
The entourage took the master Xiao Er's famous post to stay, and Xiao Youning was quickly taken to a small wing on the first floor.
The clerk said with a smile on his face: "There are so many adults coming and going these days, it is not easy to vacate a room."
Xiao Youning nodded, and asked Yuanguo to give him a small silver sword.
The clerk smiled more flatteringly, bent over and said that he was going to prepare hot water and eat.
"There is no other room, just this one."
Xiao Youning was about to step into the house, and another clerk led the two young masters past them with an impatient voice.
One of the young men wore a bare face robe, because the light was dim and he couldn't see his entire face. However, Xiao Youning felt that he was a good-looking boy with his profile and the silhouette of his nose.
And she was treated worse than her.
The house he was taken to was next to the place where the kitchen sundries were kept. When she came just now, the handyman was telling her nonsense, saying that it was away from the kitchen for easy access. She also pointed out that the location of her house is actually very good, because there is the worst one next to her.
Xiao Youning glanced at that, and then entered the room and closed the door. Outside the door came two unconcealed voices of clerks.
"The nobles nowadays too, after hearing these Taoists' nonsense, they actually gave the famous post to live in the post. These pretending to be fools, so much money, and stingy!"
"In contrast, I was lucky."
When Xiao Youning heard this, she didn't need to think about knowing that the clerk who brought her here was showing off as a reward.
The Taoist priest next door was going to be angry.
However, the Taoist priest next door she had guessed looked indifferent, not at all unhappy. But the young man who followed him was a little excited, pointing to the next door and whispering: "Fifth Lord, this is not counted as Yuanjialuzhai."
When they were out of town today, they heard a lot of people on the road talking about how their fifth master helped the Li family bully the little girl, and now they actually ran into it and lived next door!
Even if she and her maid dressed up as teenagers, they were the people who had calculated their five masters. The first impression was too deep, and he would naturally recognize them at a glance. The author has something to say: Xiao Youning: I live next to a Taoist priest who is worse than me.
Ye Wuye: I live with a small friend next door.