Shipin Dalizheng

Chapter 265 Ready to go

Rong Tang signaled that they could stop. From this angle, they could already see the Fish Viewing Pavilion. It seemed that Concubine Xie had to avoid being seen if she wanted to do anything.

He walked over alone, and without entering the pavilion, he bowed outside, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Concubine Xie looked back at him with such charm that both of them were stunned.

It was an indescribable feeling, as if there was a century-old bond and a blood connection. Rong Tang felt completely wrong.

Concubine Xie was stunned for a moment before straightening her expression. In that instant, Rong Tang even felt that her charming demeanor had disappeared. She said in a rather dry tone, "Marquis Jian'an, the last time you went to the Imperial Tutor's Mansion, I wanted to ask you about someone."

"who is it?"

Concubine Xie said, "It's my cousin, Xie Wan."

Rong Tang had a feeling that she lied when she mentioned Xie Wan, because he saw guilt and pretense in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, I have already answered the Grand Tutor last time. Xie Wan is dead. She only has one daughter who is still alive."

Concubine Xie seemed to be in a trance for a moment, and murmured, "Is he still alive?"

Rong Tang's eyes narrowed.

Concubine Xie quickly came to her senses, "Marquis Jian'an, I have something to ask you for help. Can you go to Jiangnan and bring my cousin's daughter here?"

Rong Tang looked straight at her, "What does your Majesty want Feng Xiaoliu for?"

"What else can I do? Of course I will take her in and take good care of her."

Rong Tang felt it was quite ironic for a moment. No one remembered Feng Xiaoliu until her death in the Jiangnan Marquis' Mansion, but now her aunt from her mother's family came to take care of her, but it was too late.

"If Her Majesty wants to entrust something to you, she should ask the Xie family for help. I, an outsider, don't have much ability and may not be able to help."

Concubine Xie's eyes flickered, and she didn't seem to have any intention of forcing him. She waved her hand and asked him to leave. The senior palace maid beside her looked a little strange, but said nothing and asked the younger palace maid to send Rong Tang away.

The conversation in the pavilion was faintly heard on the wind, "My Lady, why didn't you..."

"You do not understand……"

Rong Tang didn't hear clearly what he said. He didn't do anything and didn't understand anything. At this moment, he had a hundred questions in his mind and was eager to go to Jiangnan to find out.

After leaving the palace, Rong Tang immediately rushed to the entertainment center and met Rong Yi and Rong Er.

"Number Eight said you guys are taking on the mission of gathering information?"

Rong Yi and Rong Er were very excited. "Does the boss have any work for us?"

Working as a waiter here, they can have enough to eat, but they only get 500 coins a month, which is a waste of their skills.

"Yes, you will be my assistants during the day and help me investigate someone at night. I will pay you an extra 500 coins per month. If you find the result, I will reward you with 100 taels of silver."

Rong Yi and Rong Er were very excited. "Boss, it's done. Who are you investigating?"

"Noble Concubine Xie from the palace."

Rong Tang said, "I don't ask you to investigate her situation in the palace. That's too risky. I want to know everything that happened before she entered the palace. From childhood to adulthood, no matter how big or small."

This isn't a difficult task, but it's troublesome and won't be accomplished overnight. After completing the task, Rong Tang went to the Xianfei Villa and found Aunt Cailan.

"Aunt, next time you enter the palace, please ask me about Concubine Xie's situation, such as when she entered the palace, her age, and her personality traits."

Aunt Cailan was very confused. "Why is Uncle asking her? She's just a sly woman trying to win favor."

Hearing the word "foxie", Rong Tang felt irritated for no reason and his hands clenched unconsciously.

Aunt Cailan didn't ask any more questions. "I know. Master, the other day you said the mansion was looking for a head nanny. I've already asked the virtuous concubine. She used to help the empress dowager, a nanny named Jing, but she left the palace a few years ago to retire. She's already written to ask her to come back and help you for a few years. I'll have news in about a month."

Rong Tang also knew that this matter could not be rushed, but he certainly did not have time to wait for anyone to come.

"Aunt Cailan, I have been ordered by His Majesty to go on a long journey. During this time, I would like to ask you to help look after the Bo Mansion. Grandmother Tai can't handle it."

Cailan felt sorry for Rongxiu, but was also amazed at Rongtang's words, "Why are you going on such a long journey? Does the Concubine know?"

"She doesn't know yet, but she will find out soon. Don't make it public, it's not a big deal."

After leaving the villa, Rong Tang's expression became even more solemn. His original plan of setting off on horseback with a master, two servants and three others now seemed impossible.

Rong Zhan said, "Master, we have no other choice. Rong Shen and Rong Qianqi cannot stay. They must go with us."

Rong Tang sighed, "I know that, but I'm worried because there's no one guarding the capital. If I can't find the right person..."

Wait, he has the right guy.

"Gao Zhiyuan..."

Gao Zhiyuan was invited to the Bo's Mansion, and what he heard was that he was temporarily hired as the manager of the entertainment hall and worked part-time to protect the safety of the Bo's Mansion.

Gao Zhiyuan's eyes widened. "Is there going to be a war? No wonder I heard the Ministry of War is recruiting soldiers."

Rong Tang and Rong Zhan looked at each other. They had entered the palace early in the morning and had not heard about this matter yet. However, within a day or two, the news would spread throughout the entire Upper Capital. He tacitly agreed to the war.

Gao Zhiyuan was even more excited, "Once the Yangtze River passage is opened, our young master can go north."

As far as Rong Tang knew about Wu Ji, no one should be able to stop her if she wanted to cross the river and head north. The north that Gao Zhiyuan mentioned must be the northward movement of the entire black market force. By then, the situation in Shangjing will inevitably change again.

"How about it? Do you want to do it or not?"

Gao Zhiyuan slapped his thigh and said, "Let's do it. We also own 20% of the entertainment center, so I'm also the second owner anyway."

"Then go and hand over to Rong Qianqi now."

Then he tried to find a way to get Rong Shen away as well. He only regretted that time was too short and he had not yet developed more trusted men.

In the afternoon, people from Rongjia Village and Fuxinzhuang also got the news, and dozens of people rushed in at once.

Rong Wanli spread his hands and said, "Yesterday, I went to tell Uncle Xian that I would leave the capital within a few days. Uncle Xian insisted that you take all the fighting forces of Fu Xinzhuang with you."

The so-called entire combat force of Fuxinzhuang was the veterans who drowned Yang Liangui that day. They were lightly injured when they retreated, and now they thought they were still able to fight, so they had to follow to protect Rong Tang's safety.

There was also an old man named Tan, who had a broken leg. Some time ago, Zhang Pojun gave him a wooden leg and he could actually walk steadily. Now he would not tolerate anyone treating him as a disabled person.

Looking at this group of soldiers who had once been in despair but had quickly recovered, Rong Tang felt a pang of sadness in his nose. "Everyone, this is not a foreign war. The blood on our blades might be that of our compatriots. You might not be able to..."

"we can."

Youzi said loudly, "We don't know why the old uncle wants to get involved, but if the old uncle is still alive and His Majesty orders him to send troops, he must go. Since someone has to go, why can't it be us? At least we have all heard the old uncle's military orders not to kill innocent civilians."

Rong Xian said, "Young Master, there's no need to persuade them. They've all retired from the battlefield. Letting them live in Fuxin Village is worse than death. If they can achieve some meritorious deeds by following you, Young Master, it will also provide a little more security for Fuxin Village, and we useless people who are just eating and waiting to die will finally feel a little more at ease."

Rong Tang knew that nothing he said would dissuade them, and he was moved. To be honest, the veterans who retired from the battlefield were priceless treasures. Their combat experience was more than that of Rong Zhan and several other masters.

After looking around, I saw several villagers from Rongjia Village, led by Rong Dahai.

"Uncle Dahai, why are you here too?"

Rong Dahai patted his chest and said, "I wanted to follow the old uncle before, but my wife was sick and my children were weak, so I couldn't get away. Now it's better. She and her mother have shares in the winery, and I can still do some work. I can make some money, so I have no problem eating and wearing warm clothes. Please, young uncle, take me in and let me build a career."