outside the imperial city

A man and a woman walked into the inn.The woman didn't wear makeup, her looks were average.The man looks good, but his skin is too dark.

"We want a room." The man put the money on the counter.

The shopkeeper said proudly, "I'm sorry, we only accommodate guests who are going to celebrate Mrs. Wang's birthday."

The man took out the invitation card from his arms: "We are also going to the banquet."

The shopkeeper glanced at the invitation, and took out a piece of paper with a blank expression: "Please leave your name here, and then mortgage an item that can prove your identity."

"Does this mean you don't believe us?" The man smiled, with a hint of unhappiness.

Only then did the shopkeeper have an expression, and said with an apologetic smile: "Where is it, we are also doing this to ensure the safety of the participants. After all, the guests in this inn will be taken directly to Madam Wang."

Looks like this is the last hurdle.The man took the pen and paper and seemed to hesitate for a while before writing his name.

"Lu Shaoheng".

The woman glanced at the name, frowned, and took out a few gold ingots from her bosom.

When the shopkeeper saw the ingot, his eyes straightened, and he hurriedly greeted the waiter, "Come on, take the two of you to the guest room on the top floor."

"It seems that the room is allocated according to the financial resources and status of the guests." The man sat on the bed.

The woman walked over, and replied in a low voice: "Yes."

The man lowered his head and whispered to the woman: "Since you know the disguise technique, why did you let me blindfold you in Zhongyue? Didn't you believe me at that time? Want to keep your strength?"

This man and woman are exactly Jing Lishuo and Yao Zanglan.

"Where." Yao Fanglan smiled, "It's too time-consuming to change appearance, we just go to the government for a while, there's no need to spend so much trouble. If I can't change appearance, how can it be possible that no one has seen me for so many years?"

"Besides that, there is another reason." Yao Zanglan leaned into Jing Lishuo's ear and said, "Tricking you."

The two were afraid that the wall had ears, so they kept their voices down all the time, but always keeping silent would also attract suspicion.

"This time, let Xiang Gong spend money." Yao Fanglan's voice was suppressed weak and soft, and it really sounded like a woman.

It would be great if he called "Xianggong" with his original voice, Jing Shuo regretted in his heart while saying: "It's good that you are happy. It's getting late, I'm so sleepy on the road, go to sleep."

Jing Lingshuo blew out the candle lamp, and the two faced each other and lay on their sides on the bed.

"Zi Shuo," Yao Zanglan moved his lips soundlessly, "Do you know what I did that trick at the gate of the city for?"

"I want to see me in women's clothing." Jing Lingshuo rolled his eyes at him.

"I don't deny it, this is a very important reason." Yao Fanglan laughed.

Jing Lingshuo asked: "Then why did you change it now?"

"First, as you said, husbands are generally taller than wives. Second," Yao Zanglan raised his chin, "You are so beautiful, why am I willing to show it to others?"

"Stop messing around." Jing Shuo took his fingers away, "Playing with fire is easy."

"..." Yao Fanglan quickly withdrew her finger, and said, "There are other reasons, think again?"

Jing Lingshuo thought for a while: "If you dress like that, not only will others not dare to come forward to talk to you, but the guards will also be more relaxed in checking. Because white clothes give people a sense of oppression."

"En." Yao Fanglan said, "There are more."

Jing Yanshuo shook his head.

"I suspect that the city lord has something to do with that woman, and he wears white clothes to distract them." Yao Fanglan said, "I said that the woman wanted the Holy Pill, so she kept looking for me. But she will transplant the Holy Pill, Only the Patriarch of the Yao family, I don't know what she wants to use it for."

Jing Lingshuo held his hand: "I will protect you."

"I know." Yao Fanglan held his hand instead, "But you must listen to me when you enter the castellan's house. No matter what happens."

"Do you want to take risks again?" Jing Lingshuo's hand slammed hard.

Yao Fanglan said seriously: "I won't take risks, but it's inevitable that they won't find me. Anyway, promise me."

Jing Lingshuo sighed silently and nodded.

"I wasted a few gold ingots of yours this time." Yao Zanglan wanted to ease Jing Shuosuo's nervousness, and teased.

"A few gold ingots are nothing," Jing Shuo said, "I still have a lot of money, enough to support you for a lifetime."

"Okay, okay, okay." Yao Fanglan let go of her hand and shrank into Jing Shuo's arms, "It's going to be a fierce battle from tomorrow, I'm going to recharge my batteries tonight and get a good sleep, you have to protect me."

"En." Jing Lingshuo hugged him tightly, "Definitely."

Only when Jing Lingshuo is beside him can Yao Fanglan fall asleep peacefully.

boom--

A loud noise brought the two of them together.

"Bai Ri," Yao Fanglan rubbed her eyes, thinking she had misread, "Fireworks?"

The voice of the waiter came from outside the door: "Master and Madam, please get up and wash up. Gather in the lobby in an hour, and we will escort you to Mrs. Wang's home."

"Understood." Jing Lingshuo replied.

It was just a birthday party, but it was so exaggerated.Where the hell is this Mrs. Wang?Moreover, Qianyuan fell into the hands of an unknown lady, why didn't the court get any news?Or, did this happen after they left Jingyang?

Both of them slept in their clothes last night, and it didn't take much time to wash and groom, so they went down to the lobby early.

Someone arrived earlier than them, gathering in twos and threes to discuss something.Jing Shuo just wanted to stay by Yao Fanglan's side, so he led him to sit in the corner.

Yao Zanglan originally wanted to ask Jing Shuo to inquire about the news, but she couldn't bear to be too demanding on him, so she pressed his head and let him lean on her shoulder.

After changing his face, but the scent of herbs on his body was still there, Jing Shuo narrowed his eyes in enjoyment.

"You and your wife have a really good relationship." A hearty voice sounded, and Jing Lingshuo opened his eyes displeased.

The person who came was about the same age as Jing Lingshuo and the others, and was followed by a smeared woman.

"Nice meeting," the person in front of him greeted happily as if he didn't see his displeasure, "My name is Xu Haocheng."

Jing Yanshuo rolled his eyelids: "Lu Shaoheng."

"I saw it when you handed over the gold ingot to the shopkeeper yesterday." Xu Haocheng said, "You are so rich, what are you doing here?"

Jing Shuo became interested: "Could it be that everyone is here for money?"

"Almost." Xu Haocheng looked around, "Most of the people here are declining nobles, without money, what's the use of status?"

"Then we are just the opposite." Jing Lingshuo replied eloquently, "In the eyes of others, you are just a businessman who smells like money."

"That's right." Xu Haocheng turned his gaze to Yao Fanglan, "Your wife, you can't tell from a distance, but from here, the facial features are really exquisite. It's a pity that you don't like to talk."

Dude, do you have a problem with your eyes?I deliberately picked the ugliest face.Yao Fanglan looked back with almost pity eyes, which made Xu Haocheng confused.

"Where, it's far worse than Brother Xu's wife." Jing Lingshuo pushed Yao Zanglan behind without any trace.

"This one." Xu Haocheng pointed to the woman, "This is not my wife, but I specially found it for the birthday party."

"Okay, everyone is here," the shopkeeper shouted, "now I will take everyone to the banquet."

Jing Shuo took Yao Fanglan's hand and followed at the end of the crowd, crossing the bustling street.

"Now I think there is a benefit to this." Jing Shuo suddenly said softly.

Yao Fanglan was thinking deeply, when she heard his voice, she raised her head to look at him.

Jing Lingshuo smiled brightly, and raised the hands they overlapped: "In this way, we can hold hands no matter where we go."

Indeed, if it is two men, it is not easy to hold hands in the street.

Yao Fanglan's ears turned red, and he mouthed: "Nonsense."

Now he felt that Jing Lingshuo was becoming more and more stupid.Since being with him, this person has given himself all the things that need to use his brain, and he has become less and less concerned about serious things.

Inexplicably, she became a concubine, but fortunately Jing Lishuo was not the emperor, otherwise she would be a sinner who made a foolish emperor through the ages.

Speaking of which, Yao Fanglan looked at the crowd walking in front.There are only a few couples holding hands like them, and most of them are probably like Xu Haocheng, who found a temporary female companion for the banquet.

"Here we are." The shopkeeper pointed to the building in front of him, "This is Mrs. Wang's house."

"Hmph," Jing Lishuo said in a voice that only Yao Zanglan could hear, "It's actually more luxurious than Jinyuan Palace."

In front of him was a five-storey building with carved jade railings, mahogany doorposts, and golden cornices. Guests were amazed.

Several maids took out name cards, and a middle-aged man with the appearance of a butler stood at the door and said, "Please find your name, and then go to the corresponding room. We are preparing dinner."

Overnight, the rooms were arranged according to the names left by the guests in the inn.The spirits of the guests increased.

Yao Zanglan took advantage of Jing Lingshuo's search for a name, and wrote down the layout of the rooms in this building.

"We're still on the top floor." Jing Lingshuo returned the name card to the maid, "Let's go."

The scenery on the top floor is good, overlooking the entire Qianyuan City.

The maid served the food and tea, and retreated again.

Jing Lishuo was afraid that it was poisoned, so he didn't touch it.Yao Zanglan picked up a piece of pastry, sniffed it, took a small bite, and then frowned.

"What's wrong?" Jing Shuo said, "Isn't it delicious?"

In fact, the question is "is it poisonous?"

Yao Fanglan shook his head.This pastry only puts the simplest medicine primer, but what is the use of only medicine medicine?Moreover, he never knew that medicine primer could be used before medicine itself.

Jing Lingshuo looked at the sky and said, "There is still some time before the dinner, what do you think we will do?"

As soon as the words fell, there were one after another bed calls in the building.

A dazed expression appeared on Yao Zanglan's face, and Jing Lishuo made a sudden move, ripped off his skirt, and threw it on the ground casually.Then, he put the person on the bed and covered him up, enclosing his whole body under him.