The Prodigal Son

Xiaotangshan is located northwest of the Imperial City, in the outer city.

Xiaotangshan is neither high nor large, but it is one of the few mountains in the capital city.

Despite having lived in the capital for so many years, Qin Yu has actually rarely been to Xiaotangshan.

For Qin Yu in the past, such a remote place was really not fun.

Instead of wasting time here, you might as well go to a brothel or a gambling den.

Instead of taking a carriage, they chose to travel on horseback.

Qin Yu used the excuse that Luo Qingyi's riding skills were not good enough to make Luo Qingyi ride with him, which made Xu Wan secretly complain in her heart.

They make it sound like he's an amazing horseman!

Has he forgotten how pathetic he was when he went to Chenzhou so quickly?

"Young Master Qin! Young Lady Luo!"

Just as they were about to leave the inner city, a surprised voice suddenly rang in their ears.

The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a bright and beautiful woman standing in front of a jade shop on the side of the street, waving at them.

Ginger porcelain!

Qin Yu recognized Jiang Ci at a glance and immediately reined in his horse.

With Qin Yu's help, Luo Qingyi jumped off her horse and greeted Jiang Ci, who was walking up to her, with a smile, "Sister Jiang, what a coincidence."

"What a coincidence!"

Jiang Ci nodded and greeted Nan Que'er and the others, asking, "Where are you all going?"

Luo Qingyi smiled and said, "Let's go sightseeing in the outer city."

"oh!"

Jiang Ci smiled knowingly, "I was just saying I'd buy two pieces of jewelry from this jade shop for you and Que'er, and I didn't expect to run into you here! How about I take up a little of your time? You can go inside and choose the jewelry you like, and I'll pay?"

"How could I possibly accept this?"

Luo Qingyi quickly refused, "We appreciate your kindness, but we cannot accept your gift."

She understood that Jiang Ci wanted to facilitate cooperation between them.

In fact, she had already decided to collaborate with Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci didn't need to do that at all.

"Why are you being so formal!"

Jiang Ci held Luo Qingyi's hand and said, "I know you must have plenty of expensive jewelry! I can't afford to give you such expensive jewelry, so I'm just giving you a small gift to express my feelings."

"Really, you don't need to."

Luo Qingyi patted Jiang Ci's hand, "You said you'd give us a gift, and then we'd have to think of what to give you in return. That's so troublesome! Let's not give each other gifts, and just keep in touch whenever we have time."

"this……"

Seeing that Luo Qingyi was determined to refuse, Jiang Ci didn't insist any further and said with a light laugh, "Alright then, I won't stand on ceremony with you! Since you're still going to have fun, I'll have to keep you company for now. See you later."

Luo Qingyi smiled sweetly, subconsciously wanting to invite Jiang Ci to travel with them, but she suddenly stopped herself from saying it.

The people they went out to visit today were all people they were close to.

Although she and Jiang Ci got along quite well, Jiang Ci was basically a stranger to Qin Yu and the others.

Since Qin Yu didn't invite Jiang Ci, it seems inappropriate for her to extend the invitation on her own.

With this in mind, Luo Qingyi nodded and smiled, "Alright, then see you later."

"Um!"

Jiang Ci gave them a graceful smile and waved goodbye.

Luo Qingyi climbed onto the horse and waved to Jiang Ci.

Qin Yu and his group nodded slightly to Jiang Ci and rode away.

Watching their retreating figures, a hint of disappointment flashed in Jiang Ci's eyes.

Xu Wan rode her horse to Qin Yu's side, looking at him with a mischievous grin. "I'm telling you, Jiang Ci is a real beauty. Judging from what she said earlier, she probably wants to come travel with us. Why didn't you invite her?"

"Just because she's a great beauty doesn't mean I'll invite her!"

Qin Yu glared at her. "Why didn't you let me invite His Majesty?"

What are you talking about!

He may be a womanizer, but he doesn't take every pretty girl he sees to his house.

He hasn't even gotten Luo Qingyi into his stomach yet, so what is he thinking about Jiang Ci?

Hearing Qin Yu's words, Luo Qingyi couldn't help but feel secretly fortunate.

Luckily, I didn't invite Jiang Ci.

Even if she invited Jiang Ci, Qin Yu probably wouldn't say anything, but from another perspective, it's just being inconsiderate.

"Return His Majesty?"

Xu Wan pursed her lips, "If you have the lustful thoughts, you'd better have the guts!"

Ah!

I actually do!

Would you expect me to tell you that I openly flirted with that person last night?

Qin Yu scoffed inwardly, then asked Xu Wan, "You know Jiang Ci too?"

"So the Treasure Mirror Division is really that useless in your eyes?"

Xu Wan was speechless. "Jiang Ci is quite a celebrity in the capital. How useless must I be to not know her?"

The Jiang family was originally a prominent family in the capital. When Jiang Ci encountered a misfortune, she not only successfully regained power, but also single-handedly pulled the Jiang family out of the mire.

As one of the four military envoys of the Treasure Mirror Bureau, how could she not know Jiang Ci?

They chatted and joked along the way, and finally arrived at Xiaotangshan.

Last night's rain was very heavy.

There are flowing streams everywhere near Xiaotangshan.

The heavy rain also washed away the prolonged heat, making the mountains cooler.

As soon as they entered Xiaotangshan, they discovered a series of footprints.

"Looks like someone else came here before us!"

Xu Wan looked away from the ground and smiled as she spoke to the group.

Who cares!

Qin Yu smiled casually, "Let others enjoy their own scenery, we'll enjoy ours! Since there are already people ahead, let's go this way and not bother each other."

Qin Yu pointed to the right of the footprints.

None of the three women had any objections to this.

Qin Yu didn't want to be disturbed, and of course, they didn't want to be disturbed either.

Soon, they found a mountain stream by following the sound of flowing water.

Qin Yu asked Qi Dachui to find some dry firewood, while he and the three women found some large leaves to wrap the chickens and cover them with a thick layer of mud.

After they finished all the preparations, Qi Dachui returned with firewood, and it seemed he was also holding a bird in his hand.

Seeing this, Nan Que'er couldn't help but tease, "Big Hammer, we prepared four chickens, are you worried it won't be enough? You even hunted some prey!"

Normally, two chickens should be enough for the five of them.

They prepared four chickens precisely because they considered Qi Dachui's appetite.

Qi Dachui chuckled, "I happened to come across this injured pigeon while I was looking for firewood. I figured it wouldn't make it, so I brought it back with me."

Hearing Qi Dachui's words, the others couldn't help but chuckle.

He's really lucky!

In this desolate place like Xiaotangshan, you can still find prey.

As they were talking, Qi Dachui came over and put the firewood on the ground.

Just as Qi Dachui was about to pluck the pigeon's feathers and roast it to eat, Xu Wan's pupils suddenly contracted.

"etc!"

Xu Wan called out to Qi Dachui and snatched the dying pigeon from his hand.

Qi Dachui paused for a moment, then reached for the pigeon again. "Miss Xu, you can just sit here. Let me handle it!"

"Don't move!"

Xu Wan withdrew her hand, held the pigeon for a while, and then suddenly looked up.

"This is a carrier pigeon!"