Sui Heng did not accept Tian Que’s arrangement.
Recently, he has been sleeping very little and even has some hatred for sleep. He will never forget the scene of waking up to the empty and tidy blanket around him that day.
It’s all his fault for sleeping too deeply and losing him.
Whenever he returned to that room, he would almost obsessively think that if he had not drunk or slept so soundly that day, he would not have missed the scene of him getting up and picking flowers for him.
He could almost imagine how he elegantly put on his outer robe, tied up his jade belt, got off the bed lightly for fear of disturbing him, then walked to the edge of the bed, pushed open the window, and reached out to fold the plum blossom.
Perhaps he secretly kissed him before sending flowers.
After all, the night before, he had just told him that he liked him.
Sui Heng inserted the plum blossom into the vase, and no one was allowed to touch it, nor did Ji An touch anything in the room. Even the books that Jiang Yun had read before, the things he had eaten, the utensils he had used, and the places he had visited must be kept intact.
He wants to leave all traces that can prove his existence—to prove that he really existed before. The beauty and warmth of the past were not his own illusions.
Sui Heng strolled around the streets of the Qi capital with Xu Qiao.
Although he was strolling, his gaze keenly searched for every person in the crowd, especially those wearing green clothes.
Tian Que could only lead a few Qi ministers to accompany him behind.
As he approached a small vendor selling machine birds, Sui Heng suddenly stopped.
Sui Heng’s gaze fell on a green mechanism bird. He extended his finger and played with its wings.
The old man standing behind the shelf immediately asked cautiously, “Does the Young Master want to buy a machine bird?”
The other person is extraordinary, dressed in luxurious attire, wearing black iron wrists guard on his arms, carrying a heavy sword at his waist, and also possessing a pair of narrow and sharp phoenix eyes. The old man was intimidated when he first saw such a handsome and bold young aristocratic man, like a wild leopard.
“En.”
Sui Heng held the mechanism bird in his palm.
The Qi capital’s mechanism bird was indeed well-known, and Xu Qiao was pleased. He thought that after coming out, Sui Heng had a much broader mind and finally became interested in things beyond “finding his beloved concubine.”
He quickly asked, “Does Your Highness want to buy it back and enjoy it?”
Sui Heng glanced at him.
He said: “Gu bought it for Gu’s future son.”
“He promised to give birth to one for Gu.”
Xu Qiao: “……”
Xu Qiao is in despair.
Well, not only is it not good, but it’s even more serious.
Tian Que was puzzled by the situation and thought that Sui Heng really had other concubines in the Sui capital. He agreed, “This kind of mechanism bird is delicate and small, and it won’t hurt people. It is really suitable for young children to play with. If Your Highness likes it, I will have someone send some more exquisite ones to the post office tomorrow for Your Highness to choose from.”
Sui Heng said there was no need.
After paying, he put the mechanism bird into his sleeve and continued to move forward.
When Qi Ziqi finished lighting the prayer lamp and returned, there was no trace of Jiang Yun in the carriage.
He couldn’t say whether he was more disappointed or worried, so he immediately asked the old man to find a way to help him find him.
The old man advised, “Perhaps he really has something important to attend to. He has already left the Qi capital. Why must the Young Master be so persistent?”
“It’s impossible. He’s still injured and surrounded by enemies. How could he leave the city easily? It’s impossible to say, he’s maybe already in danger now.”
Qi Ziqi is going to personally find the person with the guards.
The old man couldn’t resist persuasion, and in a stalemate, a refined voice came: “Who are you going to find?”
It was Marquis Duan who finished playing the welcome divine song and came down from the Phoenix Terrace.
Qi Ziqi instinctively covered his mouth and didn’t know whether to say it or not.
The old man reported first, “Answer the Marquis, it was the Young Master who picked up an injured bird halfway and accidentally lost it. He is in a hurry to find it.”
“Then just send a few people to help him find it.”
“Yes.”
Sui Heng was still folding his hands and leisurely strolling around.
The sound of the zither on the high platform has stopped, and the people gathered under the city gate have begun to disperse one after another, flowing back to various streets, walking on the road shoulder to shoulder, rubbing against each other’s clothes.
Sui Heng was also hit several times, but he didn’t realize it.
Before long, Tian Que’s attendants came to report, “Sir, Marquis Duan has already boarded the carriage and is ready to return to the mansion.”
Tian Que was granted amnesty and first apologized to Sui Heng, saying that he needed to temporarily leave for something important, leaving other ministers to accompany Sui Heng. He immediately rushed in the direction where Marquis Duan’s carriage was.
The rules of Marquis Duan Mansion are very strict. When Marquis Duan returns to the mansion, he can only seek approval for this matter tomorrow at the earliest.
Jiang Yun had already reversed the crowd of people and left the city just before the gate of the Qi capital was closed.
He had many scars on his body, and his sleeves had been cut off several times. Although he was a bit embarrassed, it did not affect his movements. The person who was entangled with him this time was the assassins of Qingque Terrain, not an ordinary assassin or tail. The other party could not recognize him. He intercepted one person halfway and only then found out that the other party treated him as a Kunjun who had recently escaped.
Fortunately, there were not many people on the other side, so he had more strength to handle it. If he had alarmed the entire Qingque tomorrow, he might not have been able to escape so easily.
Jiang Yun turned his head and glanced at the towering city gate of the Qi capital, as well as the towering platform standing next to him in the darkness.
Tonight, he could listen to the song he wanted to listen to and unexpectedly saw him again, which was quite rewarding. This trip is not in vain.
He should also go back to his own place.
Jiang Yun took out a beautiful and delicate green mechanism bird from his sleeve, gently flicked its wings, and then placed the bird on his lips. He gently kissed it, the corner of his mouth fluttered, and leisurely headed south.
Tian Que stood in front of Marquis Duan’s carriage and respectfully reported on the arrival of Sui Heng to the Qi capital through the carriage window.
After listening, Marquis Duan pondered and said, “Since it involves diplomatic relations between the two countries, it is best for you to go to the palace to seek the opinion of the King. Today, the King should undergo a bath and recuperation in Yuquan Palace.”
Tian Que answered yes and immediately rushed to the palace again.
Marquis Duan’s carriage returned to the mansion, and the servant opened the door and lit the lanterns to greet him. Suddenly, the guard saw a piece of paper lying on the carriage shaft and quickly picked it up, handing it to Marquis Duan, saying, “It seems that it was just left by Tian Daren.”
Marquis Duan took it and glanced at it. His fingertips suddenly paused, and he asked, “What is this?”
Qi Ziqi got off the carriage from behind and leaned over to watch the commotion. He saw the portrait painted on the paper and looked surprised. “Isn’t this Chu Yan?”
“Chu Yan?”
“Yes, it’s the friend I mentioned to Father about meeting in the Sui Empire.”
Marquis Duan fell silent for a moment.
“Is the out-of-town scholar who came to see you last night also him?”
“Yes.”
Qi Ziqi held back for a whole night and finally couldn’t help but say, “Not only last night, but what this son was looking for was actually not a bird, but him. He was being chased by his enemy and injured. Can Father help him?”
Marquis Duan’s gaze swept towards the old man behind him.
The old man felt guilty and lowered his head.
Entering the mansion, when Qi Ziqi returned to his room to sleep, Marquis Duan entered the main hall alone and sat down.
The old man knelt on the ground.
Marquis Duan was hidden in the darkness and asked, “Why don’t you tell this Marquis that he has come before?”
The old man trembled as he looked up and said, “This old servant doesn’t want the Marquis to remember those things from before. This old servant acted recklessly and is willing to be punished severely.”
“Where is he now?”
“The servant heard that he was staying in an inn in the city, or maybe he had already left the city.”
Marquis Duan remained silent for a long time and waved his hand to ask him to step down.
The next morning, the King of Qi held a grand banquet in the palace to entertain Sui Heng.
Qi people are naturally tall, and the King of Qi is no exception. Even at the age of nearly fifty, he is still strong and fond of horseback riding, archery, and various hunting activities.
Although he was somewhat dissatisfied with Sui Heng shooting Tian Meng, he was also curious about the young Crown Prince of Sui, who was known for his war-torn and bloodthirsty nature in the northern regions of the Yangtze River and singlehandedly founded the Qinglang Battalion, which was also known as Blood Slaughter.
The King of Qi specially summoned all the famous generals of Qi and invited them to accompany Sui Heng to a banquet.
Sui Heng had an astonishing capacity for drinking, he could drink a thousand cups, and every move he made had a sharp and imposing aura that ordinary generals could not match. Even the King of Qi, who was sitting high on the throne, was somewhat captured by the invisible, sharp edge.
The King of Qi squinted his eyes and thought, With this son present, no wonder the Sui Empire was able to dominate the north and subdue all the kingdoms in Jiangbei. I did not make a mistake in this move towards building a friendship with the Sui Empire.
Although Qi’s national strength is not weak and its fierce generals are like clouds with a strong army in hand, but if they can avoid the fight, they won’t fight. Compared to war, he prefers pleasure.
After a few perfunctory sentences, Sui Heng got straight to the point and asked the King of Qi to help find the person.
The King of Qi had already heard from Tian Meng about this matter. Regardless of whether someone was in the territory of Qi or not, he was also willing to help. He asked, “Does Your Highness have a portrait of your noble concubine? Let Guaren take a look?”
Sui Heng had already personally painted countless portraits, causing the Dali Court to spread everywhere.
When he came to the Qi capital, he naturally brought a thick stack with him. He wanted to verify one more thing in his heart, so he instructed Xu Qiao, “Present the portrait to the King of Qi.”
Xu Qiao answered yes.
There was some inexplicable concern in his heart because, when he left early in the morning, he felt that Sui Heng’s emotions were not right and his gaze was not good. In the past, only during fierce battles would Sui Heng show such a murderous gaze.
Xu Qiao wanted to go, but apart from accidentally losing his newly purchased mechanism bird when he returned to the inn last night, His Highness seemed to have encountered nothing else.
Xu Qiao handed the portrait to the personal palace attendant of the King of Qi, and the attendant then transferred the portrait to the King of Qi.
The King of Qi raised his cup and smiled, took the portrait, lowered his eyes, and scanned it. His eyes slightly shrank, almost losing the wine cup in his hand, and he even showed a hint of fear. Sui Heng stared at his every move and said, “What’s wrong? The king recognize Gu’s little concubine?”
The King of Qi had regained his composure and smiled, saying, “Your Highness is joking. How can Guaren recognize the person next to Your Highness’s pillow? Guaren just suddenly remembered that Your Highness had rejected the two Kunjun that Guaren had sent to the capital of Sui last time. What? Maybe because their looks are too poor to catch Your Highness’s eye?”
Sui Heng lazily said no.
“I am a single-minded person and don’t like to flirt from one person to another.”
The King of Qi laughed loudly.
“Your Highness is really interesting. As the saying goes, ‘heroes match beauties’. How can a young hero like Your Highness be an unmerited advantage to just one person? Naturally, more and better beauties are needed to match.”
As soon as he clapped his palm, two rows of young men in snow robes rushed in and kneeled respectfully in the hall.
The King of Qi said, “These are all carefully nurtured by Guaren with the finest things. Guaren makes them live a more prosperous and comfortable life than the noble men and women in the capital city of Qi. Guaren doesn’t let them do any dirty or heavy work and their skins, and bones are all of the best quality. Your Highness can choose whatever you want, and even if Your Highness couldn’t find that noble concubine in the end, isn’t this trip worth it?”
Sui Heng felt a wave of unease in his heart and was about to speak when the palace attendant reported Marquis Duan’s arrival.
The King of Qi beams with joy and is busy ordering the announcement.
Sui Heng’s eyes narrowed, and when he raised his eyes, he saw a dark figure walking in.
He is a very gentle and elegant man, dressed in luxurious ink clothes with orchid patterns embroidered on the hem with silver thread.
Marquis Duan of Qi, who has a beautiful appearance that makes the mountains stand still, is said that some people have been bewildered by the unauthorized gaze at the immortal face.
Marquis Duan saluted and looked directly at Sui Heng, saying, “The person Your Highness is looking for, this Marquis should be able to inform Your Highness of some information.”
“He’s already dead.”
Marquis Duan ordered someone to lift the corpse in.
