Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 109 Fighting Wits and Chatting
The long night finally passed, the sky was still gray-blue, and dawn gradually dawned, the earth was hazy, like a silver-gray veil, in the silence, suddenly there was a bird's call, piercing the sky. The silence of dawn.

After a while, the eastern sky became white, and the earth gradually became brighter. She was knocked to pieces by the horse, and Ma Min'er hugged the horse's head tightly. If her stomach was not empty, she could vomit it all out. .

"Find an inn to hit the top."

"Yes, son."

Hearing the stop, the listless Ma Min'er regained her spirits immediately, turned her head and looked around, looking for an opportunity to escape.

"Don't look, you can't escape."

Ma Min'er turned her head resentfully, "Liu Zaili, I want to sue you for robbing women."

"Haha..." Liu Zaili laughed again, "Go ahead and tell the emperor, maybe the emperor thinks I'm young, so it's okay to have a romantic relationship."

"you……"

No matter what Ma Min'er said, it could always be easily resolved by Liu Zaili. She was already unable to talk back to him, and she thought to herself, run away, find a chance to escape.

After getting off the horse, her legs felt weak, Liu Zaili reached out to help her, but she avoided her, "I can walk by myself."

Looking at the little woman who resisted and walked away, Liu Zaili smiled slightly, and habitually looked back. The guard gave him a calm look. A person like him should be careful wherever he goes. If he doesn't pay attention, he is not an enemy. , even if the opponent comes up, it's like walking on ice.

The small inn is not big, but it's not simple either. After entering, the shopkeeper immediately approached him attentively, "Guest officer, what do you want to order?"

The entourage stepped forward, "Choose the best one from your place."

"Okay, guest officer, just wait a moment, the food will be on the table soon."

"Here are two light ones." Liu Zaili said.

The shop clerk turned his head and said, "Okay, my lord, please wait a moment." After speaking, he glanced at the haggard little lady, "Would you like to wash up, little lady?"

Ma Min'er looked at Liu Zaili, what a chance to be alone, agree, agree quickly.

"Okay." Liu Zaili nodded, sitting on the stool by the table, his posture was indescribably elegant, his thin lips curled slightly, "If you dare to escape, I'll take the lady proprietress of this inn."

"You..." Ma Min'er's eyes widened, this method was too vicious.

The man staggered on the spot when he was frightened by the words of the young master: "Your...noble..."

The wind was light and the clouds were calm, and he grabbed Ma Min'er's weakness, Liu Zaili said again, "Go and buy some clothes, before the second lady washes up."

"Yes, son."

Ma Min'er stood in front of Liu Zaili, looked down at him condescendingly, and stared at him with eyes that wished she could step forward and kick her.

King Yancheng looked at the angry little lady with raised eyebrows, with a sense of superiority that everything was under his brother's control, and he didn't think that the little lady would kick him.

Ma Min'er really didn't dare to speculate. Seeing his smiling face, she turned her head suddenly angrily, "Second brother, I want to wash up and lead the way."

The shop clerk didn't dare to move, and looked towards the noble young master.

"Go ahead, take good care of me, and give me the best treatment."

"Yes, yes, my lord."

After the little lady left, the staff stepped forward, "My lord, I'm afraid it will only be a few days, don't you..."

Liu Zaili squinted his eyes, "This county knows it well."

"Oh." The staff did not dare to say more.

Xia Zhen led his subordinates all the way to the south and chased after him. The shocked guards kept sending news, "General Jing, from Yunshui to here, there is no trace of King Yancheng staying here."

Mr. Tian didn't follow, but Zhuang Hao followed, frowning: "Impossible, it's already noon now, it's impossible for them not to stop and shoot?"

"Sir, but our men have not explored."

Xia Zhen was sitting on a tall horse. The brown horse's back was scorched bright and hot by the sun in early June. The horse was so exhausted that it refused to run. The guards were making it drink water to replenish its energy.

Xiaowen also handed the sheepskin bag to the owner: "My lord, moisten your throat quickly."

Xia Zhen didn't reach out to take it, but said: "Liu Zaili is not an ignorant clan king. He walks among the forbidden army all year round and has the ability to counter-detect. He must let his subordinates erase the traces he left behind." Lost."

"My lord, then shall we..." the dark guard asked worriedly.

"Follow me, I don't believe I can't catch him."

"Yes, son."

Zhuang Hao wanted to remind the little master that Shao Youliang, who had escaped, was still here, but he only saw the back of the little master galloping, so he had to ride his horse to keep up. Since they set off at midnight last night, they have not only drank water and eaten dry biscuits, but even There is no tipping, it is really more bitter than marching!

Mr. Tian didn't dare to stay in the little general's mansion. He was afraid that he would reveal the general's affairs by accident. When Xia Zhen left, he returned to the camp. After returning, he wanted to close his eyes and sleep for a while, and wait for him to return When I was in the sky, it was already dawn, and I went to the drill ground to watch the morning exercises of the soldiers of each battalion. After watching, I had a simple breakfast.

Just about to go out, the old general came: "Old general, why are you here?"

"Zian isn't here, let me take a look."

"Old general, you are not in good health, don't work too hard."

Xia Shiyong glanced at Mr. Tian, ​​"You are..."

"Oh, I'm going to go home." Mr. Tian's eyes flickered.

"Don't go back yet, I have something to ask you."

Mr. Tian was startled, and quickly covered up his gaffe, "Yes, old general."

The two of them returned to the place where the chief of the camp was doing business, "Tell me honestly, why did Zian go?"

"Old General—"

"I don't think it's because of Shao Youliang."

Mr. Tian sighed, "Old General, you guessed right."

"For whom?"

"Old General, you must have heard."

"you say--"

"Yes, old general," Mr. Tian replied: "The granddaughter of the former Shaofu was forcibly taken back to the capital by King Yancheng, and the young general went after her."

"Is that Ma Erniang?"

"Yes." Mr. Tian nodded.

The old general's face was gloomy and he didn't speak. It took a while before he said, "A concubine, Zi'an likes it, so let's take it as a concubine."

"Old general, the young general gave her the jade water drops."

"What?" Xia Shiyong looked at Tian Yangguang in shock, "Zian actually wants to marry her as his wife?"

Mr. Tian nodded.

Xia Shiyong pursed his lips tightly, with a sad expression on his face, "What kind of crime did this do? Tao'er did the same thing back then. Without our consent, she put jade water droplets on that woman's neck. We recognized it and married that woman, but You see, since Tao'er left, she seems to have lost her soul, she doesn't even care about Zi'an, what's the use of her, what's the use of her..."

"Old general, this shows that the general's husband and wife are deeply in love."

"Love is deep, a family like ours has a lot of responsibilities besides husband and wife, she...she..." Xia Shiyong was so angry that he thumped the table, "If it's Ma Erniang, it's the same as this woman. Even if Yu Shuidrop is given to her, I firmly disagree with Zi'an marrying her."

Mr. Tian understood, and said: "Old General, don't worry about this. Er Niang is different from the General's wife. She can not only take care of things, but also solve them."

Xia Shiyong looked at Mr. Tian in disbelief.

Mr. Tian nodded, "A few days ago, the military camp almost mutinied, and Shao Youliang surfaced, all related to Ma Erniang."

"How could it be related to her?"

Mr. Tian told the old general everything that Ma Erniang had done in the barracks, "Old general, in the past, the big general was gone, and you were in Fucheng again. The young general was too young to frighten these soldiers. If he said something wrong, he whipped and beat people. In war, those who disobeyed orders killed many soldiers who disobeyed. However, as the little general got older day by day, the people in the barracks no longer understood him. When you are young, even some caring veterans think that the young general's New Year's Eve is rough and bloody in training and fighting."

"It's not easy for my Zi'an, it's not easy for him." Xia Shiyong sighed again and again, "My health has never been very good, and his father... is young, and he commands nearly 20 soldiers. , rely more on him."

"So during this mutiny, Ma Erniang was by the little general's side, and solved it without bloodshed in a woman's delicate and gentle way."

"If that's the case, it's better than his grandmother."

It was not easy for Mr. Tian to answer these words, so he didn't say anything.

"You mentioned just now that she asked Zi'an to recite the Analects of Confucius to suppress her temper?"

"Yes, old general."

Xia Shiyong nodded, "I want to meet her and see if she is as smart and generous as you said."

Mr. Tian smiled slightly and pursed his lips. How many times did he think about the matter of the general, but he still dared not say it out loud. Could it be that he really wants to get a peasant household registration?
Ma Min'er glanced at the clothes sent in by the shop owner, it turned out to be men's clothes, heh, this guy is really planning to drag himself into the capital!He glanced at the woman across from him.

The proprietress was terrified by her look, "Little lady, I heard what Ah San said, you don't want to run away, if you run away, my life will be in danger."

Ma Min'er grinned, "That's possible!"

The proprietress breathed a sigh of relief, "Let's just say, that noble young man looks like a beautiful tree, if you follow him, you are guaranteed to enjoy prosperity and wealth for the rest of your life."

Ma Min'er shrunk her shoulders, "If I don't follow him, I can live a lifetime of glory and wealth." Rely on yourself, be a little landlady, don't be too comfortable, men, especially powerful men in ancient times, are the most unreliable, okay?

"Ah, could it be that you were born into a wealthy family, little lady?" The proprietress was surprised when she heard this.

"Yes."

"Then why...?"

"He became greedy when he saw the color, and arrested me, lady boss, can you help me report to the police?"

"Report..." The proprietress was so frightened that she turned around and walked outside, "The current officials can't control the nobleman, I don't dare." She said as she left the room.

Ma Min'er wants to scold people, what is wrong with the world, is there no one who will stand up for justice?Sure enough, at some point he could only rely on himself, sitting in the room, and silently went through the events before and after.

Liu Zaili seemed to be smiling, but in fact he was very cunning, and he didn't have a chance to find it. Wait, didn't he say he was investigating the disturbance in the military camp last time? Could it be that Mr. Tian and the others caught the troublemaker?

But yesterday she went to the barracks to look for Mr. Tian, ​​and she didn't feel any signs of being caught. Is it not convenient to tell this little lady like me, or the person was not caught. If he was not caught, why did he go back to Beijing?
Ma Min'er never believed that Liu Zaili would go back to Beijing for his beauty, so why did he go back to Beijing, and he could even get rid of himself along the way!She felt that the key to her now was to find out why he wanted to go to Beijing.

Thinking of this, Ma Miner's heart settled down, and she said to herself, don't be afraid, we haven't seen any scenes before, isn't it because we were liked by the ancient dignitaries, although his likes belong to the domineering president style, but I, Cinderella, will definitely run away the palm of his hand.

With a calm face, Ma Min'er entered the lobby and found that Liu Zaili hadn't moved his chopsticks, as if he was waiting for him, and he didn't know if he was being affectionate.

"See if there is anything you like. If not, I'll let them make it again." Seeing Ma Erniang, who was disguised as a man, Liu Zaili twitched her mouth slightly, smiling, and looked at her with gentle eyes.

Really waiting for me, Ma Miner smiled back, "Thank you, Prince, we are rough people, easy to feed, not picky eaters."

Liu Zaili raised his eyebrows, watching her sitting like a young man with the corners of her robes lifted, she looked pretty, and even smiled, and unconsciously stretched out her hand to help her hold the chopsticks and set the bowl, "Are you hungry?" !"

"Yeah." Ma Min'er nodded, "I'm really hungry."

A man and a woman, once again fighting, one lowered his posture, was gentle and small, and took good care of the little lady. He was really a good man.

A relaxed expression, what are you afraid of, my sister is not a real 13-year-old girl, my sister is already 33 years old, still afraid of the trap of tenderness, and worried that I won't be able to escape?Jokes, the first move is to wait for work with ease.

Why not use a beauty trap?Go, go, what a beauty trick, the man on the opposite side is more beautiful than yourself, don't use the beauty trick, it won't work, just put yourself in it.ah oh...

Before washing up, the two of them drew their swords and stood up, no... To be precise, it was Ma Miner who drew out his sword and stood up. Unexpectedly, after washing up, they changed into youth clothes, changed their appearance, and sat with their own county king. Eat at the same table, like good brothers.

Brothers?The corner of the staff's mouth twitched, and he quickly looked away, eating his own food.

Tired and hungry, after taking a bath, I figured out some things. At this moment, Ma Min'er is like a starving ghost reincarnated. Too much.

After eating, he reached out and took the cloth towel from the corner of the table to wipe his mouth, "Hey, son, hurry up and eat, eat well, hurry up!"

"Eat and drink enough, then paralyze me, and take the opportunity to escape?" Liu Zaili ate slowly, as if he was traveling, and he was not in a hurry.

"Yes, the king of the county, that's right."

The corners of Liu Zaili's eyes twitched unconsciously, "Then you try."

"I'm definitely going to try. It's just the king of the county. You're going back to Beijing. It's so slow to eat a meal. When will you be able to return to Beijing!" Ma Min'er rolled her lips and glanced at the slow noble young master.

Liu Zaili put down his chopsticks, reached out to take the cloth towel, and slowly wiped the corners of his mouth, "Want to inquire about my return to Beijing?"

"Of course, if you don't know who you are, how can you escape smoothly." Since the purpose of the question has been seen through by this fellow, Ma Min'er said calmly without hiding it.

If it wasn't inconvenient, Liu Zaili would be able to raise his head and laugh out loud. He could imagine that the days ahead would be extremely interesting, so he stood up and stretched out his hand——

"What are you doing?" Ma Min'er instinctively put her hands behind her back and stepped out of the inn first.

Liu Zaili glanced at the empty hand, pulled his mouth slightly, withdrew his hand, and left the inn with his hands behind his back.

Outside the inn, it was past noon and it was not evening yet. The heat was still strong and hot. The guard brought two bamboo hats over, and Liu Zaili reached out to take one, "Min'er——"

Ma Min'er pretended she didn't hear, and continued to walk forward.

"Ma Miner—"

The surname is added, the tone is a little heavy, this is angry, hum, your son, pretending to be a gentleman, uncle, this is the second voice, this is the virtue, do it, I am a good guy, Ma Miner Turning his head and baring his teeth, he smirked, "My lord, did you call me?"

"Is there anyone else called Ma Erniang here?"

"No."

Liu Zaili just looked at her like that.

Ma Min'er lowered her head and rubbed her feet, turned around and strode in front of him, "Dear young master, I'm here."

"Hehe..." Liu Zaili stretched out his hand to put on a bamboo hat for Ma Miner, and smiled dotingly like an obedient kitten, "You're the only naughty one!"

With the bamboo hat on his head, Ma Min'er moved the bamboo hat a few steps away from him with both hands, "My lord, hurry up while the weather is not hot."

Liu Zaili couldn't see the little lady's little actions, and he hooked his lips, as long as you are by my side, one day you will fall in love with the king of this county, and even be inseparable from the king of this county.

More than a dozen horses walked away in the dust and disappeared into the small town.

Seeing that it was getting late and Xia Zhen still hadn't caught up with Liu Zaili, Zhuang Hao said, "My lord, if you run any further, you will reach Nanshui. When you arrive at Nanshui, there are two roads to the capital, water and land. , if we try to chase it again, it will be a waste of time.”

It was getting late, the setting sun burned the last ray of light, submerged under the horizon, the gray sky, the moon did not appear, and it was not bright. Xia Zhen sat on the horse and looked into the distance, and said firmly: "I'm sure, Liu Zai Li will never go by water.”

"Son—"

"The Holy Majesty's body is against harmony, so he can't help being in a hurry."

"Yes, son, I understand."

There was another commotion, and a dozen or so horses disappeared into the night.

The eldest son was not at home, and neither was the younger son. There was only a nine-year-old daughter. Ma Qifeng didn't know how to resolve the panic and helplessness in his heart. In a panic, he went to the room of the injured Xia Zetao.

"Big... have you finished eating?"

Xia Zetao was half lying on the bed resting his mind, when he heard the voice, he opened his eyes, "So it's Master Ma."

"Big...you are too polite." Ma Qifeng didn't dare to address him, "Is the wound okay?"

"Thank you for your good care, much better."

"It's...it's okay, it should be...it should be."

"If you want to sit down, just sit down."

"Oh." Ma Qifeng replied subconsciously, and when he woke up, he quickly waved his hands, "No...no, you can rest."

"Sit down."

"Oh." Ma Qifeng closed the door casually.

"I asked the servant, and he said that Zhen'er chased him, didn't he?" Xia Zetao asked.

Ma Qifeng nodded, "I'm really worried. I went to the city during the day, and they told me that the little general chased after me. Yes... I'm sorry, you should let your father...reunite..."

Xia Zetao waved his hand immediately to stop him, "No one knows who I am except your father and daughter and Mr. Tian. You can call me Lao Yu. If anyone asks my name, you can call me Yu Duo back."

"Oh oh oh..."

"The doctor who changed the dressing said that I was the hero of your Ma family. There were robbers who wanted to rob your family's money, but I stopped them. As a result, I was injured. They still took Ma Erniang away."

"Oh..." Ma Qifeng put his head in his hands, "This story was passed on by Fu's grandson. He said it would be good for you and Er Niang."

"Sure enough, heroes come out of youth, we... are all old!"

"Yeah, I... I'm not as good as a child. When Erniang disappeared, I knew I was flustered. As a result, Min'er became famous... How will she marry in the future... I... bastard..."

Xia Zetao, who was stuck in the swamp of life, did not expect to hear the voice of a weak man, and comforted him, "Fortunately, your servant is clever and helped you get over it."

Ma Qifeng looked listless: "Right now, Xiaoyou is taking care of everything outside, I... I'm like a walking dead, I... I'm useless... I'm incompetent..."

"But I think your family business is not bad, it's just a momentary carelessness."

"No...no..., this family business, and Xiaoyou, Du Min'er bought it. She knows how to know and employ people. I don't know anything..."

When Xia Zetao heard that the place was managed by his future daughter-in-law inside and out, he felt very relieved, and exclaimed: "Then your life is really good, and you gave birth to a capable daughter."

"Yes, that's what everyone said, that I gave birth to a capable daughter." Ma Qifeng, who was sad and self-blame, felt better when he heard people praise his daughter, "You know, your irritable son, in My daughter is as docile as a rabbit in front of her."

"Really?"

Ma Qifeng nodded, "Yeah." After clicking, he realized that what he said was wrong, "That...not really, when the little general glared, my daughter was frightened like something, and why did she just let her go immediately?" what."

Xia Zetao smiled, remembering the scene in the backyard of the county town, the brat was staring like a coward in front of his little wife, and the little wife stared at him almost the same.

On such a quiet rural night, under such dim lights, the two men, chatting about their children, or talking about the past, actually calmed down their uneasy hearts.

Under the same starry sky, in the same quiet village, Liu Zaili received a secret letter from Beijing as usual, flipped through it a few times, and frowned, "Why is there no letter from that person?"

"That's right, I've also checked the little one, and there is indeed no secret letter from King Jin."

"How did this happen?" Liu Zaili frowned deeply, "Quickly ask someone to find out what happened."

"Yes, the king of the county."

Outside the thatched cottage, Ma Min'er was talking to the old lady, "Ma'am, take it and eat it, and pay me back for my craftsmanship."

"What a shame. If you live in my house and give you money, then you can still eat your food. If I eat, aren't you not enough?"

"It's okay, ma'am, I cooked some more, take it."

"Oh." The old lady was really greedy by the smell of meat, and couldn't help but reach out to take it, "Then...then I won't be polite."

"Mother, don't be polite."

"Little lady, you have such a kind heart, you must be a very lucky person."

"Haha, thank you for your kind words."

The old lady happily carried the meat bowl into her small side room.

"Liu Zaili—" Ma Min'er knocked on the iron pot and shouted, "Hurry up and eat."

King Yancheng walked out, "I told you to call your name, you just yell like that!"

"Liu Zaili, come out to eat!" Ma Min'er held her body upright, pretending to be a lady, and repeated one.

Hey, Liu Zaili felt extremely awkward, "Come on, you can call it whatever you want."

The staff and entourage stood behind her. This little lady was really daring to call the county king by name, but the county king just let it go?If it was someone else, I'm afraid they would have committed the crime of 'offending the above' long ago, they are really a girl.

The farmhouse is simple, and it is an ancient farmhouse. It really doesn't even have a decent table. Ma Miner puts the rice on the top of the rice, like a rice bowl, and holds a big black bowl. On the side of the door, I started to eat.

On the only small square table with crooked legs, Liu Zaili was sitting, holding up the bowl, seeing the former Shaofu's concubine's granddaughter squatting on the ground to eat like a rude man, she frowned and stood up.

The entourage and aides also looked at the vulgar little lady, even though she was wearing men's clothes, they felt incredible, could it be that the exile lost even the aristocratic temperament?Everyone looked at their master, this is the little lady you like?

While eating, Ma Min'er thought about how to escape, when she suddenly felt someone's shadow blocking her, she raised her head, "Jun Wang, you haven't eaten yet?" After speaking, she glanced at the small square table with his crooked legs.

"Sit down at the table and eat."

"No, sit down, it's fine for me to squat here."

Liu Zaili turned and left without saying a word, while Ma Min'er continued to eat with her head down. The torch at the door, shining in the night, danced with the breeze and went out.

Liu Zaili stretched out his hand to move the table, and his attendants came over quickly, he set it up, and moved the small table himself.

The entourage looked at the little lady who lowered her head and planed rice. Apart from her watery appearance, what else could she have that could make the king of the county accommodate her so much.

Just as she was about to plan rice, she was taken aback by the corner of the table coming over, Ma Min'er stood up, "Jun Wang..."

"Sit down and eat." Liu Zaili smiled brightly, lifted the corner of his robe, and sat down at the table, "Let's eat together."

"Thank... thank you." Ma Min'er smiled back, put the bowl on the table, and lowered her head to plan the rice again, "I'm really starving to death."

Liu Zaili heard the voice and looked over, only saw the top of the head of the little girl Mao Rongrong, grinned, stretched out his left hand and rubbed it, before Ma Miner looked up in surprise, he had already lowered his head to eat, as if he had killed his head by touching his head not him.

She stretched out her hand and touched the touched head in embarrassment. Ma Min'er forgot that there was still food in her mouth. If Liu Zaili and Jin Hanlai only have a similar appearance and no overlap in other places, then what happened just now? Touching her head to kill her seemed to open the door to her memory. Once upon a time, Jin Han'er also liked to reach out and touch her head when eating, and said to her, "Don't worry, eat slowly and swallow carefully." '

Thinking of this, Ma Min'er's throat felt a little choked, it was too long, so long that she forgot that this big boy had been by her side for almost ten years, what made him stay by her side quietly?

Putting down the bowls and chopsticks, Ma Min'er passed through the bright color of the torch, and disappeared into the dark wind. She stroked her head with both hands, big boy, are you okay now?I'm about to marry 'myself', and I'm about to achieve my wish!
But... that's clearly not me!An indescribable feeling made Ma Min'er feel guilty and uneasy.

(End of this chapter)