Value peace

Chapter 96

"...The king judges that the girl staying overnight is a real princess!" Gu Xiyan laughed at herself as the story ended.

She felt uncomfortable falling asleep with a single pea under the twelve-floor mat, but she made herself half dead with a steamed bun.

Qi Maosheng stared at Gu Xiyan obsessively, with burning emotions rolling in his eyes!
If you didn't like it, how could you show such a look.

Gu Xiyan felt a little embarrassed.

Could it be because I like this man so much, so everything looks like wishful thinking?
She turned her head sideways, avoiding Qi Maosheng's gaze, and found a safe topic: "What are you doing here?"

Qi Maosheng gave a very soft "ah", which became a sigh in Gu Xiyan's ears.

Yes, what are you doing here?

There are so many things waiting to be decided by myself.But I sat beside Gu Xiyan and listened to her telling stories like a child!
Qi Maosheng smiled wryly.

Let him admit his miss in front of Gu Xiyan, he really can't say it!
Gu Xiyan looked at the uneasiness flashing across Qi Maosheng's face, and thought of seeing that Liu Meier suddenly today, and her attitude towards herself in Xiaoaozhai...

The expression on her face gradually became rigid.

It's winter, wearing so little, Qi Xiao was not surprised when she saw it...

Could it be Qi Maosheng's fiancée, or a concubine...

Gu Xiyan felt as if she had seen a little bit of light in the mist, and she felt suddenly enlightened.

That's why I act like I don't know myself in front of outsiders!

The bitter taste rushed into the throat all at once.

She swallowed hard, as if she could hide the bitterness in her heart.

After a long time, she was able to adopt a polite attitude towards friends, and asked Qi Maosheng as if she was entertaining: "I heard that you were robbed by bandits in Jindi and your whereabouts are unknown. Now it seems that those are all rumors!"

Qi Maosheng breathed a sigh of relief.

He was really afraid that Gu Xiyan would continue to struggle with the question of "why come", and how to answer it at that time, he would really be in a dilemma.Now that Gu Xiyan took the initiative to change a topic, he naturally wouldn't be stupid enough to stop answering, let Gu Xiyan's mind turn to other aspects, and ask more questions that he couldn't answer.What's more, this topic is also a topic that he is relatively good at answering.

Qi Maosheng said with a smile: "What is real is empty, and what is empty is real!"

Gu Xiyan still had the issue of Liu Meier's identity in her heart, and she was a little absent-minded, so she naturally didn't go into Qi Maosheng's answer, so she let out a restless "Oh", a little absent-minded.

Seeing that Gu Xiyan seemed to be preoccupied, Qi Maosheng wanted to get her to talk, so he said with a smile: "Even you would think of using bandits to kill me, of course Shi Jiping would think of it too."

Gu Xiyan said "oh" again, and said perfunctorily, "Shi Jiping, who is it?"

"Xizhao Fengguo General, Chief Governor of the Five Armies Governor's Mansion, and Right Minister of the Ministry of War."

Gu Xiyan didn't want to use her brain to think about the mess, so she smiled as if she was dealing with it.

Qi Maosheng's speech has always been very short, even Qi Xiao, who grew up with him, sometimes complained that he "cherished words like gold", was cold and difficult to get along with.

Seeing Gu Xiyan's smile, he knew that she didn't understand him at all. If it was someone else, he would naturally try to figure out his thoughts.But Qi Maosheng felt a little uncomfortable when he thought that Gu Xiyan would try to figure out his thoughts and speak according to his ideas like everyone else.

"I don't understand this kind of thing." Gu Xiyan said indifferently, ready to end the conversation, and everyone went to rest.

Qi Maosheng was really taken aback when he heard such straightforward words.

That's right, like Xiyan, no matter who he is, he can do whatever he should. Isn't that why I feel natural and comfortable when I'm with her.

Qi Maosheng explained to Gu Xiyan: "Shi Jiping is the empress dowager's favorite minister, and also the empress dowager's biggest supporter in the army. He has always been in charge of Xizhao's military. As you said, this time I sent troops to Gaochang privately. It lasted two years, but the court didn't know anything about it beforehand, which is tantamount to slapping the court in the face. Although we negotiated with each other afterwards, I am willing to bring a million gold and silk to the Shengjing court in person to show my sincerity. To show favor by not pursuing my overstepping behavior, but this is all superficial articles. Everyone knows in their hearts that once I return to Yandi, I will let the tiger go back to the mountain, so the court will definitely find a way to prevent me from returning to Yandi. Because Jindi failed to report the battle to the court in time during the battle between Yandi and Gaochang, it will definitely be questioned by the court, and in order to plead guilty, it may cooperate with the court to encircle me in the jurisdiction."

"Oh." Gu Xiyan became a little interested.

Qi Maosheng saw that she was a little interested, so he said in more detail: "Twenty years ago, the court used the excuse of Liang Guogong's marriage to openly interfere in Liang's affairs and broke the "Mingdao Agreement". The Duke of Shu is the enemy of Kai, especially in the land of Shu, where the Taichu Dynasty was founded. The Shen family of the Shu Kingdom’s mansion is also a trustworthy minister of the Taichu Dynasty. They have a very lethal musket camp. I have always been very jealous. So this time, my treatment can only be kept secret. I have arranged scouts all the way in Jindi, just to prevent the court from robbing and killing me in the name of bandits..."

"No wonder the Yan army killed one hundred thousand bandits!" Gu Xiyan said, "Those people are all officers and soldiers of the court!"

"Yes." Qi Maosheng nodded, "Not only the officers and soldiers of the imperial court, but also the defense forces of Jin."

Speaking of this, he raised his jaw lightly, with a sense of hesitation and complacency: "Speaking of which, I would like to thank Shi Jiping this time. If he hadn't insisted on killing me, the queen mother would not have made up her mind to choose the Pingjiang went to war. The court not only lost three thousand dollars to itself, but also dragged the land of Jin into the water, giving us an excuse to send our troops south. It really kills three birds with one stone!"

That's right, if Qi Maosheng didn't pretend to be missing, what excuse would the Yan army use to send troops!Why did they occupy Pingjiang County?

Thinking of the refugees she saw in Songjiang, Gu Xiyan couldn't help saying softly: "You, this idea is too strong, it's just a bit hard for the people of Pingjiang County."

Qi Maosheng knew that women would not like to fight, so he didn't explain his behavior too much, but just said "survival of the fittest".

A war is not a game, it involves all aspects of affairs, and the far-reaching impact no one can predict.

Naturally, Gu Xiyan would not naively try to persuade Qi Maosheng not to fight anymore.

Now that Qi Maosheng is not in danger, she is more worried about her own safety now.

It's better to go back to Lingdao early, and spend a few days of leisure with Duanniang and Moju.

She thought about her itinerary: "When is this war expected to end?"

For the people of Yandi, without war, there would be no land, without land, there would be no food, and without food, they would not be able to survive, let alone fancy clothes and gourmet food... The strange thing is that all the women No one likes war, but all women like luxury.

Qi Maosheng was ready to speak to answer Gu Xiyan's question about his war, but Gu Xiyan did not play his cards according to common sense.Surprise flashed in his eyes, and he said sincerely: "I don't know either!"

Gu Xiyan couldn't help staring: "You are the initiator, and you don't know when it will end."

Qi Maosheng felt that Gu Xiyan's question was very strange: "There are many factors that contribute to the war, who can clearly know when it will start and when it will end!"

Gu Xiyan couldn't help retorting: "Is war a game? Soldiers, food and grass, and military pay are all indispensable. How much money do you have, how much food do you have, how many troops you have, and how much your daily consumption is... don't you even estimate it?" What? Do you know what you are doing? If you fail, the people of Yandi, well, let’s not talk about those that have nothing to do with you, just talk about your mother, your daughter, your family, what will happen to them You should be more aware of the situation than I am...you actually told me that you don't know when the war will end!"

Gu Xiyan simply didn't know whether to call him bold or reckless!
As she questioned each sentence, Qi Maosheng's bright eyes became sharper and sharper.He stared at Gu Xiyan: "In the two years of war with Gaochang, we have suffered countless losses. We are no longer able to fight with the imperial court. This is one of the reasons why I took the risk to go to Shengjing. This time going south is really a great opportunity If I don’t grasp it, I will regret it for the rest of my life. When I walked to Jiazhou, there was no movement at all. At that time, I was still thinking, if the court didn’t send officers and soldiers pretending to be bandits to encircle and suppress me, I would prepare myself and let Yan The army dressed as bandits came to encircle and suppress me, no matter what, this opportunity must not be lost..."

Gu Xiyan was once again dumbfounded by Qi Maosheng's boldness.

Qi Maosheng said: "Pingjiang County is under the jurisdiction of Xia's domestic grain. It has been known as the "Land of Fish and Rice" since ancient times. It can produce two rice crops every year. The grain of one Pingjiang County can equal the grain produced by our entire Yandi in two years. The grain produced in the year, you say, how could I let go of such an opportunity..."

"Chaoting is not a fool," Gu Xiyan said, "You are so poor that you dare to use troops against Gaochang, and now that you have Pingjiang County, wouldn't that be like a tiger..."

Qi Maosheng's mouth overflowed with a deep laugh: "Xi Yan, Xi Yan, Xi Yan..."

The voice was as mellow as old wine, with a little bit of relief, a little bit of pity, and a little bit of exclamation, like a lover's whisper, which made Gu Xiyan dazzled for a moment, unable to say anything.

She was wrapped in a quilt as if she was sitting in the corner of the kang, only her palm-sized face was exposed, and a pair of big black and white eyes stared at him in a daze... It was the uncontrollable emotion after being bewitched!

Just like the rainy night in Beyuan...

Qi Maosheng was in a happy mood.

In any case, apart from his status as Lord Yan, he is just an ordinary man, and he will feel vanity when he is admired by women.What's more, he met Gu Xiyan without knowing his identity, so Qi Mao felt that the emotion she showed unconsciously was purer, more shocking, and more precious.

Qi Maosheng was so happy that he couldn't help stretching out his hand to touch Gu Xiyan's black hair scattered on her shoulders.

Gu Xiyan was startled, and woke up from that confusion.She knocked off Qi Maosheng's hand: "What are you doing?"

Qi Maosheng actually grinned, and quickly stretched out his other hand to grab a lock of Gu Xiyan's hair, turned his wrist, and the hair was tightly wrapped around his index finger.

Qi Maosheng would pull a girl's braid like a naughty boy.

Gu Xiyan let out an "ah", her mouth became O-shaped, and she couldn't close it for a long time.

(End of this chapter)