si-mexico Chapter 74 Letter from Uncle
Chapter 74 Letter from Uncle
Early in the morning, Jiang Zhi was dressing in front of the mirror.
Hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
"Stop!"
Lu Nianqiu came in from outside.
"Hmm?" Jiang Zhi asked, "Cousin, what brings you here?"
Lu Nianqiu rolled her eyes and smiled, "Of course I'm here to deliver a letter to you~"
Jiang Zhi looked at Lu Nianqiu, a hint of sadness flashing deep in his eyes.
Lu Nianqiu handed the letter to Jiang Zhi, saying, "Father wrote that he can come back in three months. Don't forget to write back to him."
"He thinks about you all the time."
Lu Nianqiu smiled gently, "I've already replied to my part."
Jiang Zhi took the letter, looked at its contents, and felt a lump in her throat as she recalled her uncle's tragic end.
My mother, Lu Wanzhong, was my maternal grandfather's only daughter.
Lu Pingsheng was a little beggar that his maternal grandfather found on a snowy day. At that time, he was skin and bones, squatting by the roadside shivering.
His maternal grandfather took pity on him and adopted him, treating him as his own son.
The mother had no ill intentions toward the newborn brother and was very friendly to him.
She was like a strong golden light, dispelling the murky darkness in his heart and illuminating the tears in his eyes.
He treated her sincerely.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long; not long after my mother and father got married...
My maternal grandfather contracted tuberculosis and passed away not long after. My maternal grandmother also passed away later.
At this point, only Lu Pingsheng and Lu Wanzhong, the siblings, remained in the main branch of the Lu family.
The Lu family members scattered and their conflicts intensified.
Lu Pingsheng was a loner from a young age, at odds with his family, and often ostracized, but he always listened to his mother.
At his mother's urging, he joined the army, which led to the Lu Pingsheng we know today.
In truth, Lu Pingsheng's life wasn't exactly lucky.
"Zhizhi, what are you thinking about?"
Jiang Zhi snapped out of her daze when Lu Nianqiu's words reached her ears.
She folded the letter, a slight smile curving her lips. "Cousin, has there been any news from the border? Did Uncle win the battle?"
Lu Nianqiu chuckled, "That's right."
"Father, you won this battle with only three thousand soldiers. His Majesty was overjoyed and bestowed many rewards upon you. If you return in three months, there will be even more rewards."
"You came back because your father was appointed a general, but you didn't even get to sit down properly before you went off to fight again. Now you're finally coming back."
Jiang Zhi chuckled, "Your uncle also dotes on you."
"Stop, stop." Lu Nianqiu's eyes flashed. "How is your relationship with the Prince of Liang?"
Jiang Zhi did not answer immediately.
She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Highness and I should be considered to treat each other with the utmost respect."
"Treating each other with the utmost respect" is probably the best phrase she can think of to describe their current relationship.
After all, she didn't marry him because she liked him.
"Stop! Stop!" Lu Nianqiu shouted suddenly.
Jiang Zhi was startled and quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
Lu Nianqiu leaned forward, her eyes wide, "This Prince Liang wouldn't be... no... um..."
Before she could say anything, Jiang Zhi covered her mouth.
"Cousin, be careful what you say."
Lu Nianqiu brushed Jiang Zhi's hand away, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Oh, I just want to know when I'll be able to become an aunt!"
Jiang Zhi gave a vague reply twice.
Lu Nianqiu, being sensible, did not linger at the Liang Prince's residence.
Jiang Zhi was filled with mixed emotions after seeing Lu Nianqiu off.
She held the teacup in her hand.
In his previous life, Gu Yuan's advisor was Min Xiang, the newly appointed top scholar in Yanjing, who was later appointed by the emperor to the Ministry of Revenue.
I just don't know why he became Gu Yuan's strategist.
I must seize the initiative in this lifetime.
However, the appearance of Prince Xuan yesterday proves that he is not far from requesting an imperial decree.
She put down her teacup and called Wu Shi, "Pack up, we need to go to Bai Xiaotang to find out some information and spread some news along the way."
He nodded at noon.
A crescent moon hangs in the sky.
Jiang Zhi's carriage slowly headed towards Bai Xiaotang's direction.
The carriage slowly traveled to the southernmost part of Yanjing. Bai Xiaotang was half-hidden in the bustling city, and the identity of the person behind him was difficult to discern.
Looking into the distance, bathed in moonlight, one can vaguely make out a pavilion with black walls and golden tiles.
The attic has about seven floors, each one extremely intricate and exuding an air of mystery.
Those who came to Bai Xiaotang to inquire about information were either from the martial arts world or from prominent and wealthy families.
The carriage came to a steady stop in front of Bai Xiaotang's door.
Jiang Zhi lifted the curtain and looked up. What came into view was an exquisite plaque with the three characters 'Bai Xiaotang' written on it.
Jiang Zhijin only knew Bai Xiaotang because of Gu Yuan.
By chance, she overheard a conversation between Gu Yuan and Min Xiang.
Gu Yuan's men could not obtain secret information from the Imperial City Guard.
Min then suggested that Gu Yuan consider Bai Xiaotang, saying that Bai Xiaotang in Yanjing and the Imperial City Guard were of the same nature, only under different jurisdictions.
Gu Yuan was suspicious and feared that the person behind Bai Xiaotang was unfathomable, so he rejected Min Xiang's suggestion.
Since he didn't believe it in her past life, she's going to see for herself in this one.
Jiang Zhi led Wu Shi into Bai Xiaotang.
The structure inside Bai Xiaotang Hall is extremely complex, with hidden mechanisms for transmitting intelligence in every corner.
Jiang Zhi looked around and saw several young men dressed in black organizing messages in a hidden compartment.
Before long, a man in gray clothes slowly walked down from the second-floor attic.
The man was around thirty or forty years old, and looked mature and steady. He must have been with Bai Xiaotang for many years.
His gaze fell on Jiang Zhi.
She wore her hair in a tassel bun and a light purple veil. She looked young, but her features were delicate and beautiful, and she exuded a sense of composure.
He walked over slowly and smiled, "Miss, have you come to gather information?"
"Did you bring enough money?"
Jiang Zhi smiled, "Since I'm here, I've made thorough preparations and brought enough things."
"I've heard that Bai Xiaotang knows everything in the world. I have a business deal with you. I wonder if you'd like to do it?"
The man glanced at Jiang Zhi, his eyes darkening. "What kind of business are you referring to, young lady?"
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "I need to discuss this deal with your hall master personally."
"After all, what I can offer is not just a few hundred taels of silver."
The man lowered his eyes, his deep gaze revealing a hint of inquiry.
This girl looks no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, yet she knows who the head of Bai Xiaotang is?
"To see our leader?"
“Yes,” Jiang Zhi affirmed.
The man chuckled softly, "Since you insist on seeing our leader, young lady, it must be something important."
"Please rest here for a moment, I will go up and report to our hall master."
At noon, he looked at Jiang Zhi with some doubt, "Your Highness, how do you know that Bai Xiaotang has a leader? Your Highness, you've only been back for a little over a month."
Jiang Zhi looked around and smiled, "Bai Xiaotang has been in Yanjing for at least one or two decades. Rumor has it that the head of Bai Xiaotang is a handsome man."
"Look at that guy from just now, we can rule him out just by looking at him."