Chapter 71:

Chaowu Temple.
Cheng Qianye frowned and looked at Cheng Feng: "Where did you say they ran? Song State? Is that Song State where Chu Ye is located?"
Cheng Feng said with a sullen face: "It was a humble duty and negligence. We found out too late. When we caught up, they had escaped from Bianzhou all the way. Judging from the clues of the general manager, they should have fled to Song State."
Cheng Feng is now commanding Miyagi's defense, and he consciously neglected his duty when he escaped from the palace.
"How can you be blamed?" Cheng Qianye waved his hand. "The two of them live in the outer courtyard separated by a wall from the palace gate. I ordered him not to restrict his personal freedom. He wants to leave, how can you prevent it?"
"Nevertheless, in the opinion of the minister, there is something suspicious about this matter," Cheng Feng said. "The two of them are penniless. Judging from the records of going out of the city, they are sitting in a carriage. Not only is the direction clear, but also The speed is very fast. Humble suspicion, it is very likely that someone will arrange to respond."
Cheng Qianye was lost in thought.
It seems that they wanted to escape after planning, but Zhou Zixi probably hadn't had this plan a few days ago.
Since he left this draft to himself, it is a sense of guilt in his heart. If he had this idea a few days ago, Cheng Qianye's strange pupil should be able to find the color of guilt in his light.
That was the decision he made when Cheng Qianye closed the different pupil in the past two days.
So the problem is likely to lie with the maid named Ayang.
When I first saw it, Cheng Qianye felt that Ayang was hiding something from him.
Now think about a handmaid who can directly break into the palace gate, without fear of herself, and being able to talk freely, is very suspicious.
But because Ayang didn't show malicious emotions towards Zhou Zixi and herself, Cheng Qianye didn't care about her own secrets.
I'm a little too dependent on my abilities. I can't even detect such obvious flaws. Cheng Qianye thought.
Even these few days, I didn't pay attention to this humble maid at all.
Who would have thought that her secret turned out to be Zhou Zixi's escape.
Yao Tianxiang sat next to Cheng Qianye, flipping through the tax draft left by Zhou Zixi: "In just a few days, he was still injured and he was able to draw up such a detailed draft. All aspects were considered. , It's really talented."
"This thing can be considered as a dedication, he probably wants to use it to repay your kindness." Yao Tianxiang read the thick pile of letter paper carefully, straightened it, and handed it to Cheng Qianye.
"I understand you. Now, Zhang Fu went to Haojing, and Xiao Jin was transferred back to Jiangcheng by you. There is a shortage of such talents beside you. It so happened that you found one. I was happy. Who knows? Run away. No wonder you are so angry."
Cheng Qianye gave her a white look, raised his hand and smashed the table, pulled a sapphire handle on the table, and turned it over in his hand impatiently.
Mo Qiaosheng clasped his fists in both hands: "If the lord is not upset, the minister will lead a person to sneak into the Song Dynasty, and capture this person back. Let the lord send down."
Cheng Feng opened the mouth and said: "Qiaosheng cannot be impulsive. According to our current inquiries, it is very likely that Song Dynasty's Prince Ang will pick up this person. The details have to be confirmed by our spy personnel in Song Dynasty."
"Prince Ang? Who is that?" Cheng Qianye asked.
"This person, I know him." Yao Tianxiang pulled Cheng Qianye's sleeve.
"The Lord of the Song Dynasty, Song Xianggong Ji Yuan, is a weak person, but his son Ji Ang is not like a father. This man has a deep heart and a lot of strategy. He has recruited many capable people and strangers. Thousands of followers. I heard that he also adopted a group of young people, all of whom were regarded as sons and daughters, and trained as dead men. My brother once said that his ambitions are not small, and he must be careful about his neighbors."
"The Song Kingdom is rich in waters and fertile land. It is a country full of fertile land. The people like to talk and are not good at martial arts. Even the army is not good at fighting, but their country has a tradition that they like to use women to marry neighboring countries. Mine. His mother, Mrs. Ji Tai, is the daughter of the Song royal family."
Everyone listened. No one in the room was more familiar with these royal affairs than Yao Tianxiang.
"Before the state of Wei where Zhou Zixi belonged, he had frequent marriages with the State of Song, and the State of Wei had many Song girls. After the break of the state, I heard that Ji Ang sent some people to pick up some of the women and relatives who married abroad from Song and returned to China for refuge He was praised a lot for this. Maybe Zhou Zixi went to Ji Ang because of this."
Cheng Qianye played with the blue gem and was lost in thought.
Mo Qiaosheng looked at the white fingers, repeatedly turning and rubbing the azure handle. Suddenly remembering what the hands had done to me, a suspicious blush fluttered across his face.
Cheng Qianye glanced at him and almost laughed out loud.
She put the stone into her sleeve, and said with a serious face: "Song Guo hides behind us, relying on my Bianzhou as a barrier to resist the dog. This time our country wants to send troops to Zhengzhou to fight the dog. There is insufficient food and grass. He Song Xianggong should also contribute something."
"Qiaosheng, I'll give you 20,000 horses. Chen Bing is on the border of Song State, so he can borrow some military rations from Song Xianggong. By the way, bring that person back to me."
"Cheng Feng, you are going to Song Kingdom for me. In addition to borrowing military rations, you tell Song Xianggong that I have a fugitive slave, and when he arrives at his land, let him return the man to me. You can sell it to me. The price cannot exceed five sheepskins."
Suiyang, the capital of Song Dynasty.
Zhou Zixi was sitting in front of the bed, holding a medicine bowl, and feeding an elderly lady some medicine.
The lady was gray-haired, described as sluggish, her eyes distracted, and she could not recognize the person in front of her.
This person is Zhou Zixi's mother.
Her family is undergoing great changes. Her husband, eldest son, and young daughter all died tragically in front of her. Unable to bear it for a while, his mind collapsed and became a foolish person.
Even now, the youngest son Zhou Zixi rushed to his side to take care of him personally, and he did not see any improvement.
Ayang came in from the outer room, reaching out to take the medicine bowl: "My son, let the slaves come."
Zhou Zixi shook her head, avoiding her hand.
He patiently fed his mother the medicine, carefully served her lying down, and carefully covered the bedding.
He just stood up, but ignored Ayang and walked out silently.
"My son." Ayang called him, "Do you know everything?"
Zhou Zixi paused and didn't look back. A soft sentence came from the gentle back: "Are you from His Highness Ang?"
These words were very light, but they shattered Ayang's final fantasy and revealed her greatest secret.
"I have been a dead man of His Highness since I was a child, and it was His Highness who ordered me to stay by his side."
Ayang lowered her head. She was an orphan. She grew up in harsh and even cruel training. From a young age, she was instilled in her mind that she was only loyal to His Royal Highness.
But now think about it, the years that accompanied the son is the happiest time in her life.
At that time, the prince always smiled politely, never beat or scolded her, and allowed or even indulged her to play with the maids in the compound, go to frolic, put paper kites, grab the bones of the sheep, and dress up. For a while, she even thought she could lead a normal life like an ordinary girl.
"Although I deceived the son, the prince really respects the son." Ayang said more and more quietly, "he ordered me to find the son and bring him to Suiyang."
"If he really respected me, he would have taken me to Suiyang long ago." Zhou Zixi turned his face to the side, "but he has to watch my broken spine before he is willing to help me. He is grateful and dedicated to doing things for him."
"Even if I have reached this point, he still doesn't worry, he must find his mother first, and hold it in his hands. If I hadn't happened to be bought by Jin Yuehou, he might not want to shoot so soon."
Ayang lowered her head, and she tightened her hand hanging beside her.
She was ordered to follow the son in secret all the time and saw him encounter inhuman abuse and bullying countless times.
She couldn't help but want to shoot.
But she dare not.
The lessons engraved in her bones since she was a child reminded her of what would happen if she violated the master's order.
"How did you know?"
"Ayang." Zhou Zixi turned around, with a trace of sadness, looking at the girl in front of him, "Do you know that you were my only light."
"When I was trapped in the abyss of despair, you appeared in front of me, persuading me to persevere, encouraging me to wait. Therefore, even though you have exposed many flaws, I have never doubted you."
"Until I arrived at Jinyuehou's mansion, you suddenly appeared. Urgently persuaded me to leave that very gentle and generous adult. You, who couldn't even collect a single amount of money, were ready for the carriage in just a few days. , Travel expenses. At a speed that surpassed your ability, I quickly escaped to Song Kingdom." Zhou Zixi stared at the girl in front of him, his eyes red for a moment, "Although I believe in you, I am not a fool."
Ayang turned his face, not daring to look at his sight: "Then why are you still following me here?"
"You detained my mother. What can I do." Zhou Zixi smiled bitterly. "As you said, I am just a slave. If Jin Yuehou wants to detain me, I have no room to resist. He is a one The prince of the country, the more he values, the less likely it is to let him go to another country."
Zhou Zixi stretched out her hand and held Ayang, "Ayang, His Royal Highness Ang is deep-minded, mean-spirited and unkind. He is not a master who can serve for life. Let's find a chance to leave here together?"
Ayang was in a daze for a moment, suddenly remembering something, and suddenly withdrew her hand, she shook her head desperately.
"Impossible, I can't betray your Royal Highness. You can't go, son. Unlike Bianzhou, this place is heavily guarded. Not to mention the old lady, you can't escape by yourself. You still put your mind off. Serve your Royal Highness with all your heart."
Zhou Zixi sighed silently and withdrew his hand.
The next person came to report, and Song Dynasty Prince Ji Ang came to visit.
Not long after, Ji Ang strode forward, wearing a beautiful dragon-patterned robe, wide-clothes and wide belts, and many attendants behind him.
He embraced Zhou Zixi's shoulders affectionately and laughed, "I haven't seen Zixi for a few days, and my lonely heart is worried. But I don't know if the old lady's condition has improved recently?"
Zhou Zixi respectfully saluted, "His Royal Highness Duolao asked, the family's illness is the same as in the past, and there has been no increase or decrease."
Ji Ang sat down in the chair and avoided Zhou Zixi's gift.
He looked at Zhou Zixi for a while, and flicked the hem of his shirt, "Zixi, is it Gu where did not do a good job? You are always so polite to me, and there is a sense of alienation in politeness."
Zhou Zixi gave another ceremony: "Why does your Highness have such thoughts? His Highness is as kind to my mother and son as a mountain, and Zixi has only gratitude in his heart."
Ji Ang smiled on his face and squinted his eyes: "I heard that you were only a few days away from Jinyuehou, so he made various plans for him. Before leaving, he wrote a draft for him all night. But you came to me. It has been more than a month, but I have never seen you take the initiative to share the worries for me. Haha. But why am I not as good as Jinyuehou?"
Zhou Zixi was silent.
Ji Ang has always liked to act like a courteous corporal. Since he came here, he has always been able to win over him.
Saying this suddenly today is almost like tearing the fake skin of the past. I just don't know why.
Ji Ang looked at him without answering, and slumped his face: "Zixi, do you know that the hussar general Mo Qiaosheng, who was ordered by Jinyue to be his hustleman, led an army of 20,000 Jin, and he has already turned his head outside the border of our country."
Zhou Zixi was surprised and frowned.
Ji Ang looked at him: "Zixi has a good plan to help me?"
"In the next literati, how do you know military affairs? It's just that when I was in Bianzhou, I had seen Jin military exercises. It was indeed a tiger-wolf division that should not be underestimated. I hope your Highness will treat it with caution."
Ji Ang looked at him silently.
After a long while, he said slowly: "Today, an envoy of Jin Dynasty came here, that is, Cheng Feng, whom Jinyue Hou gave the country's surname. He asked my father to lend them 50,000 quintals of grain for the Jin Kingdom as a military salary."
"At the same time, he also said that Jin Yuehou would use five pieces of sheepskin worth in exchange for one of his escaped slaves, which is you."
Zhou Zixi looked up in surprise.
Ji Ang said: "Zixi, when I was studying in Wei State, it was easy for you to meet. Others may not know it, but I know very well that you are a rare talent, and I don't want to abandon you anyway. But Father does not. I am also very embarrassed to offend Jin."
Zhou Zixi smiled bitterly: "His Royal Highness needs to focus on the overall situation. How can it be a disaster for the country just because of me."
"Zixi, don't blame me. If you can't keep you by your side, I won't let the prince of another country get you." His eyes were cold, and he waved his hand. "Pick off his hamstrings and send him forward. temple."
Zhou Zixi was shocked: "I defected from the Jin country, and Jin Yuehou was angry. He wanted me to be bought back as a slave just to humiliate me. How can I reuse it again? Your Highness need not worry. Why be so cruel. Absolutely!"
Ji Ang looked at him indifferently, "Even so, I am not at ease. Don't blame me, your mother, I will take care of you. This time I will wrong you."