No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 740: Da Lang's Attack [Ask for monthly tickets! ]

Inside the gate of Xunyang Palace, there were many people busy.

The three hundred White Tiger Guards led by Li Congshan and Miao Zhen are gathering and preparing to evacuate.

Li Dalang watched the luxurious carriage that Ye Weilai was riding in leave, was silent for a moment, then turned around and walked back to the mansion.

"Brother, what's going on outside?"

Li Guoer's voice came from behind him. Li Dalang turned around and was stunned:

"Sister, why are you here? Didn't you go back to the yard to clean up?..."

Li Guoer came over with Cai Shou and other maids, looked around, and answered casually:
"I'm going to go see mother and Sister Xie. I'm mainly worried that mother will not be able to resist arguing with that Lady Miaozhen again, which will waste time. Sister Xie can't persuade them, so I have to do it... At this critical juncture, it's better to have less disputes."

"I see. Mother really can't control her temper."

Li Guoer changed the subject: "Brother, you haven't told me what happened just now. I heard that Ouyang Lianghan's family came to visit."

Li Dalang pointed behind him:

"It was Miss Ye from Tan Lang's room. She brought Miss Xiu Niang here to look for Tan Lang. It seemed that Miss Xiu Niang was worried that something might happen to Tan Lang."

"What could possibly happen in our palace? Why would they come here? We should be more careful when going to the celebration. But Ouyang Lianghan should know his limits. From what he told us, we can tell that he would not go there unless he was fully prepared. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall."

At this point, Li Guoer paused, and curled his lips as if he was thinking of something:

"But it's normal. They just had tea yesterday and after we left the dinner, they must have spent the whole night together. This morning, Ouyang Lianghan was called over by us, interrupting their lingering love. Naturally, I miss him very much, so I followed my husband and wife and came to check on him."

The little girl with plum blossom makeup nodded when she said this.

But she found that her brother didn't seem to speak, so she couldn't help but look at him:
"Brother, why are you looking at me like that?"

Li Dalang stared for a while and then looked away.

"Nothing, I just noticed that when it comes to Tan Lang's affairs, whether it involves Miss Xie or Miss Xiu Niang, my sister seems to talk a little too much... Usually, my sister doesn't talk much about such topics."

Before Li Guoer could raise her eyebrows, Li Dalang had already changed the subject and suddenly asked:

"Sister, we knew the identity and sect of that embroidered lady when we were in Dragon City. Do you think... does Tan Lang know?"

Li Guoer didn't know whether she was angry because of the topic just now or because of her brother's stupid words.

She said angrily:
"Nonsense, how could Ouyang Lianghan not know about this? He is the most cunning person in the whole Jiangzhou. It is impossible for him to be hiding something. He is just playing dumb. He is the best at playing dumb. Sister Xie was even fooled by him."

Li Dalang seemed to be thinking of something, and his face was melancholy, and his voice was a little low:

"So, sister, do you think that they can end up together? As for Miss Xiu Niang's sect... those sisters with different personalities..."

Li Guoer waved his hand and said:
"You should worry about her senior sisters instead of Ouyang Lianghan. Do you think he is your brother?"

Li Dalang fell silent and stood there, feeling a little lonely.

Li Guoer vaguely sensed that her brother was in a low mood, pursed her lips, took a rare step forward, stood on tiptoe, patted his shoulder, and a carefree look appeared on her pretty face:

"Okay, relax. It's not that you are not responsible, but everyone's situation is different. Miss Xiu Niang may shoulder the responsibility, but Ouyang Lianghan is different from you. He was not born to shoulder a heavy burden that he cannot get rid of. He has achieved everything through his own efforts. He can make his own decisions and go his own way as long as he is responsible.

"But you are different. You have Taizong's blood in you, so some responsibilities are engraved in your bones. Your enemies, friends, and relatives are determined at the moment you are born. There are good and bad things, but in the end, there are more good things. Everyone has their own destiny, including that young lady from the Wei family. Maybe she knows it better than you..."

Li Dalang suddenly interrupted:
"Then why does she invite me over so many times?"

"You go if you are invited, but will you drink the poisoned wine?"

Li Dalang was silent for a moment and shook his head:
"But Tan Lang later brought me information about the invitation to the Guanyin Temple in Hukou County. She was indeed going back to Beijing and was passing by the Guanyin Temple to pay respects to the Buddha. The invitation I rejected was almost certainly harmless. She probably just wanted to see me again."

Li Guoer narrowed his eyes and asked:

"What does Dalang mean? Did he see Ouyang Lianghan and Miss Xiu Niang and want to learn from them? Should he take action and try his best?"

Li Dalang shook his head:
"I didn't mean that. This matter has passed. There is no point in bringing it up again. Besides, she is leaving today, leaving Xunyang and returning to the capital... Sister, I have read recently and understood some things. Some things are missed once they are missed. If you don't grasp them at the time, it is useless to regret later. Once you miss them, you can't go back."

He lowered his head and murmured:
"I have rejected her time and again before, so she should know what I mean... At least she understands the vigilance shown by this move, so why is she saying so much...

"Sister, not everyone has the good luck and courage like Tan Lang and Xiu Niang. They can seize the opportunity, run towards each other, care about each other, and know that the other party cares about themselves. They are both fearless and selfless and come together. Not everyone can encounter such a marriage."

"I don't agree with this. If you want something, once you've made up your mind, just go for it. It doesn't matter if she cares or not, as long as you care. It doesn't matter if she likes it, as long as you like it. It doesn't matter if she thinks it's meaningful, as long as you think it's meaningful.

"Why do you care so much about the other person's attitude and feelings about what you are going to do and your youth? Is this your reason for not doing it? No, this is your excuse for stopping and hesitating. Brother, what I am talking about today is not just about you and Wei Anhui. I am talking about many things in the world. It is the same."

Li Guoer shouted in a clear voice. The maids around, led by Cai Shou, had already temporarily retreated and did not dare to listen. Her words were like a sharp sword, piercing Li Dalang's heart:
"Let me ask you, if Ouyang Lianghan hadn't shown her determination, would she not have tried her best to fight for it? If Ouyang Lianghan hadn't shown her determination, would she not have tried her best to fight for it?
"Although I'm not sure, you can go and ask them, are they like prophets, seeing each other's intentions in advance, knowing that there is a great hope for success, so they are so confident and assured to approach each other?

"That's not the case. You were there when the Longcheng incident happened, and you saw it. As a child bride abandoned by Ouyang Lianghan's family, this embroiderer came here again and again on her own initiative. Ouyang Lianghan didn't even know her, and she didn't want him to know at the time.

"See? This is how many things are in this world. It's not about exchanging sincerity for sincerity, but only sincerity deserves sincerity. It's definitely not an exchange of 'waiting for a price'. How is this different from a transaction?
"If that's the case, it's a bit too cheap. Although I prefer a straightforward exchange of benefits, I also know that feelings are different. If one day I encounter such a thing, I don't care whether the other party is willing or not, as long as I am willing. I do what I want to do, and my love has nothing to do with the other party. Even if the other party disappoints me, there is no need to feel sorry or pressure. Those are just what I am willing to give, not to 'exchange' with him, and I don't want to exchange them. What I want is someone who can match this heart."

Li Guoer said the latter part, pointing her index finger at her heart and holding her head high with pride.

As Li Dalang listened, he stood there in a daze as if his soul had left his body.

"A-mei..."

He swallowed and felt that A-mei's figure today was extremely cool.

Li Guoer waved her hand and said with some disdain:
"Okay, I've said so much, I really want to scold you to wake you up. How many people in the world are troubled by the matter of men and women, and can't figure it out for their entire lives, and in the end they are all complaining. How ridiculous is that?
"As your sister, I just don't want you to be so vulgar. This fruitless encounter should be regarded as a lesson. Didn't you just say that things have come to this point and there is no need to turn back? From now on, you should be more alert. You are the son of the Li family and the great-grandson of Emperor Taizong. How can you be so fussy?"

After saying this in a crisp voice, Li Guer walked away, raising her hand to signal the maids behind her to leave together.

She walked like the wind, passed by Li Dalang, and her figure disappeared into the distance.

Li Dalang stood there in a daze. After a while, many maids and stewards passed by without even looking at anyone. At this moment, he slowly raised his hand, patted his face, came back to his senses, turned around and left.

Li Dalang was still murmuring:
"It's not about sincerity for sincerity...it's about sincerity being worthy of sincerity. If it's not worthy, then so what...yes, so what..."

After walking aimlessly for a while, Li Dalang came to his senses and looked around. He found that he was very close to the study.

He straightened his clothes and prepared to go to the study to find his father.

Just then, two shouts suddenly came from behind.

"Da Lang?"

"Prince?"

Li Dalang looked back and saw two familiar figures walking towards him quickly.

"Liu Lang, Lu... Taoist Priest Lu? What are you doing?"

Yan Liulang was accompanied by Lu Ya, whom he had not seen for many days.

Li Dalang saw that Yan Liulang had a serious expression on his face and was a little out of breath, as if he had just run back without stopping.

Lu Ya was much calmer, or rather, he had a expressionless face and no emotion could be seen. However, his hair was greasy, and the hair on his Taoist hat was messed up by the river wind, and he looked a little tired.

"Da Lang, you are here just in time. Taoist Lu is back. You take him to see the prince and Miss Xie. Taoist Lu said he has something important to tell the prince in secret. It seems to be about Hukou County."

Yan Liulang waved his hands hastily, handed Lu Ya to Li Dalang, and turned to leave. Li Dalang subconsciously called out to him:

"Wait, leave it to me? What is Rokuro going to do?"

Yan Liulang looked bitter, looked around, took out a handwritten letter from Ouyang Rong that had been stamped that morning, and whispered:

"I'm busy. I went to the Jiangzhou Hall this morning to convey the order from the prefect. The city is under martial law today. People are only allowed to leave but not enter. Unless you have the seal of the prefect or the prince, you will be killed without mercy... This is the strict order issued by the prefect before he left the city this morning.

"But I still have to go to Xunyang Ferry and issue a warrant. The ferry has a large flow of ships and people, so it must be blocked. No ships are allowed to dock. All ships at the ferry must enter the port... Just like the city gate, only exits are allowed at the ferry today, but no entry is allowed...

"Xunyang Ferry is under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Trade Department, an official directly appointed by the court with great power. I need to go there in person. I have already gathered the people and they are waiting outside. I will take them over to seal the ferry..."

Yan Liulang pointed at the expressionless Lu Ya below, and spoke like a string of beans:

"I just met Taoist Lu on the road and escorted him here. Prince, please take Taoist Lu in. I can't stay here for long, so I'm leaving first..."

After saying this, without waiting for Li Dalang to react, Yan Liulang ran away quickly, leaving Lu Ya behind.

Li Dalang turned to look at Lu Ya, who had a serious expression:
"Sir, where are the prince and princess? Please take me there immediately."

Li Dalang nodded, stepped aside, and gestured with his hands:
"Okay, Taoist Priest, please come this way."

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

"Ah."

Lu Ya slowed down a step and followed Li Dalang to the study together.

The atmosphere on the road was silent.

Lu Ya is a taciturn person, while Li Dalang is always serious and docile in front of outsiders and doesn't talk much, except in front of good friends like Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang, when he becomes active and relaxed.

As for Lu Ya, Li Dalang had not had much contact with him, but he knew that this Taoist priest from Shangqing and A'mei Li Gu'er were quite close, as were the forces from the Sanqing Taoist sect.

Also, this Taoist priest Lu had obviously brought back some information, but he didn't tell him first, but waited for his father and sister to arrive...

Although, when Tan Lang was not around, A-mei and father were indeed the ones in charge of the family, and sometimes A-mei's words were even more effective than father's.

But it still reflects the difference in closeness and distance. However, Li Dalang did not mind at all. Instead, he was a little worried that these Taoist priests of the Three Pure Ones sect wanted to coax A Mei to practice Taoism in the future. It was not without royal princesses of Daqian and Dazhou who went to the temple to practice Taoism. In fact, there were quite a lot of them, and they were bestowed with a lot of honorable Taoist titles by the emperor.

Li Dalang was reluctant to let her go, but in his heart he still hoped that Ah Mei would marry a good family, have a son soon, and visit her uncle's house often, instead of becoming a vegetarian in a monastery or practicing asceticism...

Approaching the study, Li Dalang, who had been silent all the way, took the initiative to talk:

"By the way, does Taoist Lu know about the pirate incident in Hukou County?"

Lu Ya shook his head in confusion:

"what's up?"

Without waiting for Li Dalang to speak, he asked back:
"Just now, I got off the boat at Xunyang Ferry and saw Princess Anhui's carriage entering the dock. It seemed that she was going to leave by boat. Is she going back to Beijing?

"I remember that the palace seemed to be quite concerned about the movements of the Wei family in Jiangzhou. So, did you know that the princess went out this morning, Your Highness, the Princess... and the Crown Prince?"

Li Dalang suddenly stopped where he was.

Lu Ya was puzzled: "What happened to the prince?"

He saw the young man who had paused in front of him continue to move forward, smiling and waving his hand:
"It's okay. In fact, I've heard about this before. She left this morning... She's almost here. Father is in the study. I'll go to the outer house to call my sister. The Taoist priest will go in first."

"Ah."

Li Dalang escorted Lu Ya into the study, then patiently poured a cup of tea for Lu Ya and Li Xian, who was happy to receive the guest, then turned around and quietly walked out.

About a quarter of an hour later, Li, Xie and Wei arrived and closed the door.

Li Guoer calmly reported to Li Xian:

"Father, Miaozhen and Li Congshan have left with 300 soldiers. Mother and I have checked and found that there are no more of them in the mansion. As for the other servants, Shunbo has found excuses to send them away. The inner house has been cleared out and they are not allowed to approach..."

"Good, good, good."

Li Xian said this three times and breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone saw him pick up the teacup and drink it all in one gulp.

Several women also exhaled, feeling as if they had broken free from the cage of surveillance and had a sense of freedom and a bright future.

Xie Lingjiang remembered something and asked the young man in Taoist robes with a paralyzed face:
"The latest news this morning is that Hukou County has been captured by pirates. Taoist Lu is back from there. Did you know?"

Lu Ya's face was filled with surprise, and he had already given the answer.

"Is there such a thing?"

Li Guoer observed his subtle expression, then shook her head slightly:
"Fortunately, you must have left a step ahead and didn't run into them... Those pirates have now hijacked the official ship and are heading south. They may reach Xun at any time. From now on, the waterway leading to Hukou County is very dangerous. You may run into the pirates' swords. It will be impossible to defeat them in a naval battle on the river. You will become a lamb to be slaughtered."

Wei Mei suddenly asked, "Doesn't that mean that our waterway to Longcheng County is also blocked? Longcheng County is also in the direction of Hukou County."

"That's right."

Li Xian said with admiration:

"No wonder when Tan Lang gave us instructions before leaving this morning, he didn't mention the water route to Longcheng at all, and directly told us to prepare ice for drinking."

Li Guo'er and Xie Lingjiang were both standing in front of a large map in the middle of the study, with their heads lowered, looking at each other.

Li Guoer slid down the river on the map with a slender finger, and paused between Xiushuifang, where Xunyang Palace was located, and Kuanglu Mountain. She exclaimed in a low voice:
"Thanks to him, he prepared for a rainy day and prepared a new route. Before he proposed expanding the ice cave and transporting ice, we thought it was unnecessary..."

Xie Lingjiang nodded heavily, and said in a clear and loud voice: "Big Brother never does useless work. Prince, now that the constraints of the palace have been lifted, let's continue the route arranged by Big Brother before leaving and go to drink ice..."

Everyone agreed and immediately started to go out. At this moment, Wei Mei, who was walking behind, looked around and suddenly asked:
"Wait, where's Dalang?"

Everyone stopped in front of the door, their faces stunned.

"Weren't you here just now?"

"Did you go to pour the tea?"

"Ask Uncle Shun if he saw it. He might have gone back to the yard to pack up his things..."

Everyone talked a lot, but after searching for a while without any results, they called Shun Bo and the managers to go and search.

After two quarters of an hour, there was still no clue and he was not in the inner house.

Li Xian frowned, and Wei Mei was anxiously twisting his eyebrows:

"At this critical moment, where is Dalang?!"

Li Guoer frowned, pondered for a moment, walked out in public, and whispered a few words to Shunbo.

Shun Bo had a surprised look on his face and went out as ordered. Not long after, the old butler came back trembling, bringing with him a stable manager.

The steward knelt on the ground with a plop, kowtowed heavily and said:
"The prince just ran to the stable and grabbed a fast horse to go out. He said he was going to Xunyang Ferry to stop a man and settle things. If he didn't go, he would regret it for a long time... The prince also told you, my lord and princess, don't worry, General Yan is there too, and he is not in any danger for the time being..."

Everyone looked at each other.

(End of this chapter)