HLnovel Chapter 218 Return to the Palace
Chapter 218 Return to the Palace
Zhuzi's father was a little embarrassed and nodded quickly in response:
"Yes, yes, yes, I'm dizzy. Tianming, although family disgrace should not be made public, I really have no choice."
"You don't know, I don't know what's wrong with Erxi lately. He keeps asking me for the gold particles I found. The few gold particles that Xiaogouzi and I found were all snatched away by him. I asked him but he wouldn't tell me."
As he spoke, Zhuzi's father said with embarrassment:
"He's been going out at night lately, and I haven't seen any gambling houses in this valley. I really can't figure it out, and I'm worried he's gotten into trouble, so I'd like you to help take care of it."
Lu Tianming looked at Zhuzi's father deeply, and then said:
"I'm not trying to shirk responsibility, but Erxi isn't a child anymore. His son is already this grown up. How can I take care of him?"
After hearing this, Zhuzi's father looked even more embarrassed:
"Well, what should I do? I secretly searched his bedding and luggage, but I didn't find any gold particles. Tianming, do you think there's some place in this valley where you can spend money that we don't know about?"
Lu Shuhe, who was following behind, silently added in his heart:
"Your precious son is planning to find you a daughter-in-law, but that's going to cost a lot of money!"
Lu Tianming did not trust Zhuzi's father, so it was impossible for him to tell him about Erxi.
If he knew about this, he would probably make a fuss.
After thinking for a while, Lu Tianming said:
"There are no other shops in this valley except for the grocer and the tavern. Since you feel that Erxi is spending money recklessly, it would be better to hand over the gold grains in time and exchange them for some silver to keep with you."
After hearing this, Zhuzi's father had no choice but to nod and pull the little dog next to him back to eat.
------Here is the dividing line of time------
As the saying goes, the autumn heat is as hot as a furnace!
People who had been complaining about why it was still so hot even though it was the beginning of autumn, began to miss the previous temperature after the temperature dropped rapidly.
The temperature has dropped significantly in recent days, and it is now very cold for people to stand in the river to pan for gold.
But during these days, Lu Qingqing and her group have not found a safe escape route.
During this period, several people tried to escape, but without exception, they were caught and tortured to death by the officials.
Although Lu Qingqing and others were anxious, they were even more afraid to take risks.
But these days are not without gains.
Lu Tianming accidentally got in touch with Wang Defa and found that this man was also looking for a way to escape.
In addition to the several roads they have explored, Wang Defa also knows a small road with only one checkpoint.
But that road requires climbing over a steep mountain wall, and not long after that, you will encounter that checkpoint.
There are more than twenty officers stationed at the checkpoint.
Wang Defa didn't dare to leave because there were so few people.
What he was waiting for was a team large enough to kill those officers.
Although there were many men in Lu Tianming's team, there were also many women, children and elderly people.
They simply didn't have the strength to climb that part of the mountain, so the plan had to be shelved.
Wang Defa was a man with a plan for success. Even if he failed, he would still warn Lu Tianming and his group to be cautious and not to escape easily.
In addition, Lu Qingqing followed Li Xiangwan to the outermost edge of the official's yard.
But the defense there is so tight that it’s hard to get in easily.
While following Li Xiangwan several times, he accidentally discovered another secret.
It turns out that He Baotou is also Li Xiangwan's lover!
Every month, there would be one or two days when He Baotou would secretly come to the tavern and stay at Li Xiangwan's place.
That night, He Baotou secretly went to the tavern again.
Thinking that if she couldn't eavesdrop from Lord Jiang's place, she could probably eavesdrop from Captain He, Lu Qingqing climbed over the wall and followed him in.
Risking getting stye, she squatted at the door and eavesdropped, hoping to hear some useful information.
After a while of unbroadcasting noises, He Baotou said to Li Xiangwan with a lazy tone:
"Wanwan, we'll be returning to the palace in less than two weeks. Come with me then. I'll buy you a courtyard and hire a few servants. From now on, you can just live a life of luxury. Don't suffer here anymore. You're just a budding flower, wasting your prime years here!"
Li Xiangwan's soft voice sounded:
"Master, I will always remember how kind you have been to me. But I'm afraid Master Jiang won't let me go easily."
He Baotou hurriedly comforted him:
"Don't worry, I'll discuss this with Mr. Jiang. I'll just give him some extra benefits."
The two of them talked in a sweet way again, which gave Lu Qingqing goosebumps.
Fortunately, the two of them were talking about useful things again after a while.
"The gold we're transporting back this time is more than double what we carried in the first half of the year. Lord Jiang plans to dispatch most of the remaining officers to accompany the convoy. They're all equipped with broadswords and muskets. Their weapons and equipment are better than those of the imperial army. You don't have to worry about their safety. The bandits and refugees on the road would have already run away when they saw the convoy. How could they have the guts to rob them?"
After He finished speaking, Li Xiangwan complimented him:
"Yes, with the Qi Palace's flag hoisted, even without muskets, how could the refugees and bandits along the way dare to offend?"
When He Baotou heard her praising the Prince Qi's Mansion, he felt as if he was praising himself, and said proudly:
"That's right. Our Prince Qi is a man of great ambition. If the bandits dare to provoke us, the tens of thousands of soldiers in the palace will not tolerate it!"
Lu Qingqing outside the door was a little confused. She remembered that the princes in the late Ming Dynasty seemed not allowed to privately raise armies.
The King of Qi actually dared to maintain an army of tens of thousands, and he also secretly opened a gold mine. I'm afraid he is planning a rebellion!
While Lu Qingqing was thinking, the two people in the room were already talking about what happened before departure.
"If I follow you, I'm afraid this tavern will have to close. What will we do if miners come to eat?"
He Baotou understood the meaning of Li Xiangwan's words and said with a smile:
"You're going to follow me, how can I let you starve? Don't worry, I've been in Jingou for so long, and the gold I've saved is enough for you, a delicate girl, to eat and drink for several lifetimes! As for your tavern, by the time most of the miners are gone, how many people will come here to drink?"
Li Xiangwan was startled when she heard this, but she still said softly:
"I don't quite understand what you mean?"
He put his head around her with a smile, and then continued:
"Lord Jiang is going to withdraw most of the officials. By then, the number of miners in the valley will far outnumber the soldiers. In this situation, the untouchables will easily riot and flee. You also know that the news of our gold mine cannot be leaked."
"Then we'll just have to lay off a bunch of miners. They're just eating for free during the winter anyway. By next year, the plague will be over, and it'll be much easier to recruit people."
Li Xiangwan was frightened and screamed:
"So many miners, are you going to kill them in the valley?"
He Baotou smiled and said:
"That won't work. Each foreman needs to keep some experienced men under his command so that we can resume work after the spring of next year! Of course, we'll trick those men out with an excuse and then kill them. We can't let the miners inside know!"
When Lu Qingqing outside the door heard the news, she was extremely angry, but her mind became calmer.
This means that they must escape from the valley within half a month!
No, escape within ten days!
Soon, voices were heard again in the room, but they were all useless and sticky words.
But for fear of missing out on useful information, Lu Qingqing stayed in the room until she heard snoring, then quietly walked out.