Chapter 081: Journey to Jinan

  The autumn wind is rustling, yellow leaves are drifting down, withered grass is desolate, and people are on the high ridge.

  A white-shirted girl as beautiful as snow and a nun wearing a moon-white cassock, somewhat gaunt in figure, stood on the ridge. Not far behind the ridge, on the slope of the mountain, was a solitary temple, very small and desolate.

  The girl looked disheartened, while the nun beside her gently twirled her rosary, a hint of serene smile on her lips.

  "Qiqi, do you really like that man?" The nun asked with a smile. Her face had shallow wrinkles, but the remnants of her youthful beauty could still be seen.

  The girl was indeed Peng Ziqi, who had changed back into women's clothing. She responded listlessly with a "Mm..."

  "You said... he has already been engaged in his hometown, and it's to the prestigious Wu Yi Xie family that has flourished for over ten generations?"

  Peng Ziqi's lips were pursed tightly shut and he didn't say another word.

  The nun turned around, staring at her and said: "In that case, why do you argue with others? Even if he likes you, you can't be his wife, don't you understand? Even if he didn't have a fiancée in his hometown, considering the family background, he is a wealthy and noble scholar, not someone who would marry a woman like you who dances with knives and guns every day, do you understand?"

  "I..."

  "I know he's not the real Yang Xu, his name is Xia Jiu, and his actual background is even lower than yours, isn't it? You must let go of this idea, he is now Yang Xu, no matter what his past background was like. If you can't get through this point, then that's just self-inflicted trouble!"

  Peng Ziqi lowered his head and quietly drew circles with his toes, no longer speaking.

  The nun slowed down her tone and said softly, "Alas! It's all because of your grandfather and those uncles who are no good. You're a girl, but what did they teach you from a young age? What kind of things did they tell you? Do you want to be a heroic concubine rather than an ordinary wife? Is being a heroic concubine that easy? And what's so heroic about this Xia Yu?"

  "Come on, what's wrong with that? Heroes don't care about their background. Who says a great hero must have extraordinary martial arts skills? He has a sense of responsibility, is loyal and righteous, and has a strong sense of justice. For the sake of Xiao Di, that little servant girl, he can give up his easily attainable wealth, fame, and success. For Sun Xuelian and her mother, two women who have nothing to do with him, he's willing to risk his reputation and ruin his own life..."

  "Alright, alright," the nun said with a smile: "Look at you, Auntie only said one sentence that wasn't right, and your little mouth started arguing nonstop. This is the first time I've seen you defend someone like this."

  Peng Ziqi's face turned red and he became somewhat flustered: "Aunt..."

  The nun turned around, gazing at the road to the west, and softly sighed, murmuring: "But... Qi Qi, that's still being a concubine, this is a matter of your whole life, do you understand? But have you thought about how difficult it is? Marrying as a concubine, would your parents agree? Would your grandfather agree? Would the old master agree?"

  Peng Ziqi's eyes rolled around, recalling the tricks that Xia Jie had used to tease Cui Yuanlie, and his confidence immediately swelled up. He puffed out his chest and said: "I don't have a way, but he must have a way. With just one roll of his eyes, he comes up with a plan!"

  The nun cried and laughed, scolding: "You little girl, good! Even if he has a way to make our Peng family nod, don't forget that his legitimate wife is a woman from a prominent aristocratic family of several generations. Although they have declined now, a dead camel is still bigger than a horse, she must be a very proper lady. And you, rough and careless, not paying attention to details, can you bear her constraints in the future?"

  "He...he won't bully me..."

  "Huh?"

  Peng Ziqi puffed out her chest and said confidently, "I believe that as long as he likes me, he won't bully me, nor will he let others bully me!"

  The nun shook her head, shaking it gently: "Why do you only think of the good side? This road is not easy to walk, it's definitely not easy to walk..."

  Peng Ziqi said discontentedly: "Aunt, do you say that choosing a good man you like is important or going after that position is important? You are someone's formally married wife, are you happy?"

  The nun's pale face suddenly flushed with blood, then turned as white as paper, followed by a sheet of iron blue. The veins on her forehead bulged one by one. Peng Ziqi saw that she had touched the deepest wound in her heart and couldn't help but regret his words. He hastily said, "Auntie, I'm sorry, I..." The nun suddenly waved her hand and turned around, her fists clenched, her chest heaving. After a long time, she asked in a low voice, "Have you made up your mind to follow him?"

  Peng Ziqi said timidly: "Others... others have grown up to this age, and they just take a fancy to such a man..."

  The nun suddenly turned around, raised an eyebrow and said loudly: "If that's the case, what are you waiting for?"

  This time, Peng Ziqi was stunned and hesitated: "What is Auntie saying?"

  The nun said, "Men can be so persistent and unscrupulous when they see a woman they like, until they get her. We women are born to be bullied by men, but if we meet a man who is kind and suitable for us, why can't we try our best to win him over?"

  "Pei Ziqi said with a twisted expression: 'He...he didn't even say if he likes me or not, I said the assassin is dead and I should go home, but he didn't...say a word to keep me from leaving. What can I do? I'm just a girl.'"

  The nun was so excited that she waved her fists and seemed to lose control of her emotions, loudly provoking her niece: "Then go after him and let him know you like him. If there's a woman competing with you, what's the point of learning martial arts? Just kick her away! If that little rascal surnamed Xia doesn't like you, then take him back by force! Cook unripe rice into ripe rice and see if he likes it or not. If he still doesn't like it, call out all your over thirty brothers and I'll see if he's asking for a beating!"

  Peng Ziqi's face turned red as he exclaimed in surprise: "This... is this also okay?"

  "What's wrong with it?"

  The nun's face turned red and her neck thickened as she said, "At first, my father read a few rotten books and thought he was superior. Can you eat or wear it? They all became beggars with an air of superiority. My mother brought him back to get married, but he was unwilling. Now we have a full house, a loving couple, I'm telling you, Qi Qi, the men in this world are not good, they're all inferior, and the more polite you are, the more they bully you!"

  Looking at her with a stern expression and an air of authority, the fiery new bride who had beaten up her husband, mother-in-law, elder brother-in-law, and younger sister-in-law in the past seemed to have revealed her true nature as a tyrannical dragon.

  Peng Ziqi's face turned bright red with a mix of shyness and fear: "Aunt, is...is this really okay?"

  "You like him, don't you? If you do, then go for it! If not, go home and practice your sword skills. Don't come crying to me with a long face, it's annoying! Let me tell you, if a man likes you, he'll shed blood and risk his life for you without batting an eyelid. But don't expect him to wait for you indefinitely, men are less patient than a donkey! If you hesitate, he'll be gone to someone else."

  Peng Ziqi nodded hastily: "Oh, oh, what should I do then?"

  It was as if a great man was pointing out the revolutionary path to the masses, and the nun waved her hand forward with a majestic momentum: "Catch up! Catch up to Yanggu County, lonely men and women, day and night together, dry firewood and fierce fire, I don't believe he is Liu Xiahui!"

  Peng Ziqi worriedly asked: "What if I chase after him and he still doesn't like me?"

  The nun shouted in a bad temper: "What are you asking about? Are you chasing men, or is it my aunt, the ruthless nun, who is chasing men?"

  "I get it! I understand!"

  Peng Ziqi hastily retreated in disarray...

  Xia Yu's first stop was Jinan, not Yanggu.

  Ximen Qing sent him a letter and arranged to meet in Jinan Prefecture. Xia Chao settled his family affairs immediately and went to report to King Qi before setting out on the road.

  At home, Xiao Guan is needed to sit and take charge of things. He is the most trusted person, and matters related to property transfer and post-disaster relief can be entrusted to him with peace of mind. As for Xiaodong, who is still young and in the midst of physical growth and development, he has also invited a famous doctor from Qingzhou to carefully take care of him, and his body is rapidly recovering. Now he can already get out of bed and do some simple activities.

  Looking at the situation, in about two months, Xiao Qi will be fully recovered, so Xia Xun can leave with peace of mind. By the time he returns, Xiao Qi will have regained her lively and mischievous appearance.

  Xia Liu this time to Jinan, after meeting with Ximen Qing will directly rush to Beiping, the letter specifically instructed him to try to hide his identity, and in the mansion except for Xiao Guanshi who can't leave, other servants do not know that the master is engaged in smuggling, so Xia Liu did not bring any followers.

  All the way without a word, they arrived in Jinan and found Ximen Qing's residence "Four Seas Inn". As soon as Xia Lian entered the door, he saw Ximen Qing leaning on the counter, flirting with the landlady inside, and didn't even notice him approaching.

  Xia Jiang was both angry and amused, and just as he was about to speak, Ximen Qing turned his head and saw him, immediately calling out: "Ah, Yang brother has finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for many days. Come on, come quickly and register the shop's history. Let's go out and drink wine and chat."

  Xiaolian took out the proof of his identity as a scholar, and had the old lady register it. They arrived at Ximen Qing's rental place, put down their luggage, and after a few simple words, they left the inn together to find a large hotel, where they booked a luxurious room.

  The wine and dishes were served, the door was closed, and Ximen Qing said: "Yang brother, the connection in Beiping has been arranged, I have arranged for vehicles to go north one after another. This matter is not trivial, we cannot expose our true identity, in order to cover up, I have already found someone to get us two fake road permits, when the time comes, we will take the long-distance bus from Jinan to Beiping."

  Xia Fu nodded and said: "Good, I'm an outsider, everything will be decided by Brother Xi Men."

  Ximen Qing laughed and said: "Once our household registration is settled, don't call me Brother Ximen again. My alias has already been chosen, it's Gao Sheng."

  "Promotion?"

  "Right, you also need a pseudonym. It's necessary for the road permit. After we've used it at the wine banquet, I'll hand over the name. Younger brother, what name are you prepared to use?"

  "What's your name?"

  Xia Liu's eyes suddenly flashed a bright and shiny thing, Ximen Qing hadn't seen clearly, he smiled and said seriously: "Xia Liu! I'll just call you Xia Liu, the 'Xia' of summer, the 'Liu' of Liu Yang Jiang Tou Ye Song Ke!"