Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 71 Find a new way
The servants in the Gu family have been busy packing their luggage recently because Gu Jizu is preparing to go to Jusai City.

In fact, the court was already recruiting Gu Beiming to return to the court to serve as an official. He had no reason to go to the border at this time, but he was so eager to recuperate and heal his leg that he only said, "I miss my old friends in the army, and I'm afraid we shall never meet again in the future." He then scheduled the trip for seven days later and told Gu Jingnian to take leave and go with him.

Such behavior is bound to arouse suspicion and inevitably implicate others.

Gu Jingnian was not yet prepared to deal with Mei Chengzong and was caught off guard. He once again deeply felt Gu Jizu's selfishness, although he had long known that Gu Jizu could sacrifice everyone in the Gu family at any time in order to treat his leg.

He returned to the Gu family and discussed the matter with Gu Jizu, but all he got was a nonchalant response.

"If Mei Chengzong asks you, tell him to come find me."

Gu Jingnian could only sneer in response.

Just after coming out of Gu Jizu's yard, he saw Xing'er looking around curiously. When she saw him, she came forward and said, "Madam asked you to come over."

It seems that this matter has reached Gu Caiwei's ears.

"it is good."

Gu Jingnian glanced at Xing'er and asked, "Why are you sneaking around?"

"Yes? No."

Xing'er just saw that it was Miao Chunniang who sent Gu Jingnian out again, and she had some other thoughts in her mind. She didn't expect that she would show it so obviously, and she immediately felt guilty and acted shy, more embarrassed than the person who was having an affair.

When they arrived at Lu's residence, Gu Caiwei was walking while holding her belly. She was about to give birth, and her body became increasingly clumsy.

"I heard that my eldest brother was planning to go to the border. Why would he do that when it's almost New Year's Day?"

Gu Jingnian said: "He wanted to meet his old friends in the army, and was worried that he would not be able to meet them after his father was transferred."

"That's an excuse." Gu Caiwei waved away the others and asked with concern, "But your affair with Miao was known to your elder brother. Is he so disheartened that he wants to leave?"

Since she gave such a reason, Gu Jingnian did not deny it, so as to avoid being asked more questions and making her worry.

"Don't worry, sister. I will go with my eldest brother. If there is any misunderstanding, I will explain it to him."

"You have been so sensible since you were a child."

Gu Caiwei was deeply moved and increasingly believed that it was Miao Chunniang who seduced her brother.

Gu Jingnian had something else to ask Lu Yanning, so he asked, "Brother-in-law isn't here today, too?"

"He said he would be back in the next two days. He has already asked for leave to accompany me during the birth."

"Then I'll go to the Imperial Army to look for my brother-in-law. I'm leaving soon, and there are some things I need to tell him before I can feel at ease."

"He is calm and steady in his work, so there is no need for you to explain."

Having said that, Gu Caiwei still sent a servant to take Gu Jingnian to the Imperial Army Office.

When leaving the house, it was Xing'er who still sent Gu Jingnian off. When she mentioned Lu Yanning, she seemed to want to say something but stopped herself several times.

"Just say whatever you want to say."

"How do you know that Xing'er has something to say?"

“It’s all written on your face.”

"what."

Xing'er quickly covered her face with her hands, turned her head and looked around. Seeing that there was no one around, she tiptoed to Gu Jingnian's ear and whispered.

"Speaking of my son-in-law, he hasn't been home lately, and we all think it's not right."

"What's wrong?"

"The servants in the outer courtyard said that he might have a mistress outside, which is why he doesn't see her for half a month. We are afraid that these words will spread to Si Niang's ears."

"Don't talk nonsense, my brother-in-law is not that kind of person. I will go ask him."

The Imperial Army was divided into two yamen, the left yamen and the right yamen. The left yamen was located to the west of the palace, adjacent to the Forbidden Garden. It covered a vast area and was heavily guarded.

When Gu Jingnian arrived, he was stopped. After asking the guard to pass the message, he waited for a long time before he was finally taken to see Lu Yanning.

As soon as they met, he knew that Lu Yanning did not have a mistress as Xing'er said, because his face was clearly haggard and worried, and his hair and beard were unkempt and messy.

"Why are you here?" Lu Yanning asked the first thing he said, "What happened?"

"Don't worry, brother-in-law, nothing happened."

Gu Jingnian didn't want to involve Lu Yanning in those things anymore, so he said, "I just came to see you. Also, I met the Third Prince in the suburbs last time. I was disrespectful to him, so please introduce him to me, brother-in-law."

He wanted to meet Wei Xie and try to get him to take him to Zhaowen Pavilion for a look.

"This is not like your style." Lu Yanning said.

"When you grow up, you have to change."

"That's right." Lu Yanning rubbed his forehead and said, "It's not convenient for me to take you to see His Highness these days. How about a few days later?"

"Brother-in-law, can you give me a token and tell me where to meet him?"

"it is good."

Lu Yanning thought about it, took off the pendant from his neck and threw it to Gu Jingnian.

It was a small bone, but it was unclear whether it came from a human or an animal.

"This is?"

"It is the Third Prince's finger bone. After it was cut off, there were two sections. He wore one section and gave the other to me."

Lu Yanning trusted Gu Jingnian very much and knew that he would not do anything out of line when he went to see Wei Xie, so he said, "You don't have to go to the palace to ask for an audience. There are too many eyes and ears there, and it's not convenient to talk. Go to the West Nine Mansion in Qingfeng Lane. That's his private residence. The guards will recognize this token."

"Okay, thank you brother-in-law."

Gu Jingnian was about to leave, but after thinking for a while, he turned around and asked, "Brother-in-law, has nothing happened to you recently?"

Lu Yanning was stunned, and finally his unshaven face showed a smile. "Don't worry, I'll take a leave and go home after I'm done with this busy period."

"That's good."

Gu Jingnian went to Qingfeng Lane with the token in his pocket and was surprised to find that Wei Xie's private residence looked very ordinary and was no different from the residences of ordinary people.

After knocking on the door, a middle-aged man with an elegant temperament came out. He looked like a high-ranking official, but was actually a doorman. He only took one look at the bone chain on Gu Jingnian's hand and a friendly smile appeared on his face.

"The master is not here today, you can come tomorrow evening."

"Thank you. I'll come back tomorrow."

Gu Jingnian left politely, thinking about how to convince Wei Xie to take him to Zhaowen Pavilion to view the "Fengwuzhi".

He held the bone in his hand and thought of what Lu Yanning said. Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind. He went to Kaipingsi and found Yi Yan.

As long as the court was still in session, it seemed that once the door was opened, one could see Yi Yan fiddling with the bottles and jars.

When she turned around and saw Gu Jingnian coming, she was a little happy and showed a pure smile.

"Are you here to study again?"

"Today I want to ask you for a favor." Gu Jingnian said, "I want to disguise myself as the Third Prince."

Yi Yan didn't even ask why, she just said, "I have never met the Third Prince."

"I will go to see him tomorrow evening. Can you go with me and help me disguise myself?"

After making this request, Gu Jingnian felt a little ashamed and didn't know what he could do in return to Yi Yan.

"it is good."

Yi Yan simply nodded and didn't take it as a big deal.

Instead, Gu Jingnian was more hypocritical and asked, "I want to pretend to be the Third Prince. Aren't you afraid of being implicated by me if something goes wrong?"

"Then be careful and don't get into trouble."

Gu Jingnian was stunned for a moment, then replied, "Okay."

There are very clear reasons why he interacts with others, such as recently becoming closer to Huang Hu, Ying Yao, Feng Niang, and Pei Nian.

Only Yi Yan was willing to help him for no reason. It was not for personal gain, nor because she liked him, she was just a simple and kind person.

There is actually such a hook in Kaipingsi.

The next day, Gu Jingnian went to Taipei first and told Feng Niang about his plan.

The two men left the theater and strolled to a place where there were no people or trees, chatting in low voices.

"I'm going to pretend to be Wei Yu and go to Zhaowen Pavilion to look at the map of your house. Do you have any inside information to tell me?"

"You're such a clever little kid."

Gu Jingnian frowned slightly and said, "I'm talking to you about serious matters, don't joke around."

Feng Niang stretched out her hand and pressed his forehead, teasing, "You are just younger than me."

She was satisfied only after she had irritated Gu Jingnian to the point of being speechless.

"Well, don't think that Zhaowen Pavilion is an ordinary place. The guards in the pavilion are actually stronger than those of ordinary people, and there are all kinds of traps. I don't know the details, but my bird can't fly into that place. If you go there disguised as Wei Xie, you won't be able to come back if you are exposed. You must be very careful."

"it is good."

"If you take Yi Yan to Wei Yu's house, remember to buy her a gift and let her hold it. Pay attention to the details."

"How do you know I'm taking Yi Yan with me?"

"Otherwise, can you disguise yourself?" Feng Niang smiled slightly, "I am well-informed, so just be thankful that you are on the same side as me."

"How can I find the map of Woye after finding Fengwuzhi?"

Feng Niang's smile faded slightly, she pursed her lips and said, "I don't know either..."

Gu Jingnian then went to Taipei City and bought an ancient painting as a gift.

In the evening, Yi Yan disguised herself as an unremarkable maid, holding an ancient painting, and followed Gu Jingnian into Qingfeng Lane.

"The young master is here, please come in."

Wei Xie's private residence looked ordinary from the outside, but it was a different world inside. A small banquet had been set up in the front yard with only two tables.

Gu Jingnian sat down, and soon Wei Xie came, accompanied by a pretty girl from a delicate family.

"You're welcome. Today is a private banquet." Wei Yu was cheerful and made a joke when they met. "Oh, this is the love of my life. Please don't let my wife know."

"Yes."

Gu Jingnian saw the woman pat Wei Xie shyly after hearing his words, just like an ordinary man and woman in love. No wonder he liked living in this private residence.

"I thought you were here to check on me." Wei Yu said, "But since you brought the token, I still treat you as one of my own. If you have anything to say, just tell me."

As he spoke, Gu Jingnian paid attention to his hands and saw that all ten fingers were intact. He couldn't help but wonder, wondering if Wei Xie was also a "Healer".

"Haha."

Noticing Gu Jingnian's gaze, Wei Yu raised his right hand, showing the scar on the side generously, and said: "I originally had six fingers on this hand, and Lu Yanning cut one off for me. There is no need to say more about my friendship with him. If you have anything to say, just say it."

Gu Jingnian saw another piece of bone hanging on Wei Xie's neck.

Actually, he had nothing to say. Fortunately, a lot of things had happened recently, so he just picked one to tell Wei Chen, and the first thing he did was to sell Chu Danqing.

"The Great Pharmacist is still alive, and I have found out who he is..."

(End of this chapter)