From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 417

The sight was vast, the sky and the earth seemed to have no boundaries, but at the end of the far-reaching sight, the flames burned up.

The morning glow soon dyed half of the sky red, a red sun rose slowly, and under the morning breeze, the vast sea surged with waves.

The snow-white water splashes reflected the blood-red morning glow, like flames intertwined in the water, as if the whole world was burning.

It was the first time that Zhou Yuan appreciated such a magnificent sunrise.

He was barefoot, stepping on the solid deck, holding the fence with both hands, watching all this quietly, and there seemed to be huge waves surging in his heart.

Zhuang Xuansu walked out of the cabin. Because of seasickness, she only wore a pair of loose white socks on her feet.

Her face was a little pale, and her condition was very bad, but compared to the day she first boarded the ship, she was much better.

"Get up so early?"

She was wearing ordinary casual clothes, rubbed her eyes, came to Zhou Yuan's side, looked at the rising sun, and couldn't help saying: "The sunrise over the sea is really beautiful."

Zhou Yuan said: "It has been eight days since we set out from Leiden Port. We will dock in Jinling to replenish supplies. You can get off the boat and take a walk."

Zhuang Xuansu said: "What about you? You don't want to get off the boat?"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "The Jinyiwei and the official uniforms are wanted and arrested everywhere. How dare I get off the boat."

"Then I won't get off either."

Zhuang Xuansu said solemnly: "I'm afraid that as soon as I get off the boat, you will go with the boat. You want to abandon me."

Zhou Yuan shook his head and said: "I'm afraid that this cannot be called abandonment. You have your way and I have my way. You don't always think that you have to follow me."

Zhuang Xuansu said: "Your Majesty's order is to protect you until you are completely safe. Now is not the time to be completely safe."

"Completely safe ? "

Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and said: "Although I don't know what your majesty's specific plan is, judging from the current situation, it will take at least half a year, right?"

Zhuang Xuansu shook his head and said: "I don't know, but whether it is public or private, I should protect you."

"Zhou Yuan, you really don't have to exclude me so much. I really didn't monitor you. You see, I haven't contacted anyone in the past few days, except you."

Zhou Yuan tilted his head and looked at her, smiling: "Okay, I just have something to do in Jinling today, you wait for me on the boat."

Zhuang Xuansu said: "How can that be, I want to protect your safety personally."

"No need."

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said: "Actually... this ship was not arranged for me by Geng Qing, but just used the name of his Weiyuan Escort Agency."

"From the moment I got on the ship, I was safe."

As he spoke, a masked man in black walked out of the cabin and slowly came to Zhou Yuan's side.

Zhou Yuan said, "He will come ashore with me to protect my safety."

Zhuang Xuansu said anxiously, "Zhou Yuan, you... he may not be able to protect you. You should know that in addition to the Jinyiwei, there are also a large number of Jianghu masters who want to collect the reward money. My martial arts are very..."

Before he finished speaking, the man in black next to Zhou Yuan suddenly attacked and slapped Zhuang Xuansu with a palm.

Zhuang Xuansu was startled and immediately raised her palm to meet him. Her powerful demon-slaying internal force swept out and she slapped the man hard.

Then she took several steps back, feeling her blood boiling and her whole body extremely uncomfortable.

The man in black stood still like a mountain beside Zhou Yuan, with a fierce look in his eyes.

Zhuang Xuansu was shocked and said sternly: "Who are you! I must have heard of such a master!"

The man in black said calmly: "Master Zhuang, you should rest on the boat. I will protect you."

Zhuang Xuansu looked at Zhou Yuan. She felt that this man was hard to figure out. How many tricks did he have? Why did he have such a master under his command?

Has he anticipated everything? Has he already prepared a retreat?

...

In Jinling City, dozens of Jinyiwei Tiqi surrounded a carriage and came to a magnificent mansion.

An old man walked down the carriage slowly and said calmly: "Don't do anything without my order."

He walked up the steps and said with a smile: "Please inform that the Southern Governor wants to see Master Qu."

After a while, the old man was invited in and came to the main hall.

He did not dare to be arrogant, but bowed slightly and said: "I am Ye Mian, the subordinate, to meet Master Qu."

Qu Shuyuan, once the chief minister of the cabinet and the leader of the Qi Party, has now retired to the second line and is only a nominal tutor of the crown prince and the chief priest of the Jinling Academy.

But no one will ignore his political means and resources. Deng Bochi, the current second minister, is a student he brought up.

There are countless officials in the court who were promoted by him.

In reality, this legendary big man is just a skinny and short old man..

He stroked his beard and said calmly: "Master Ye, please don't be so reserved. I am not a superior. You are a man of business. Just speak directly when you come to visit me this time."

Ye Mian bowed and said: "Thank you for your understanding, Grand Master. I came here this time to ask Miss Qu Ling to go to the Southern Pacification Office to cooperate with the investigation."

Qu Shuyuan's expression did not change. He just narrowed his eyes and said: "Is it because of the traitor who killed the king?"

Ye Mian whispered: "Miss Qu Ling had a relationship with Zhou Yuan before. The court has been pressing for help recently, so we need her to cooperate in the investigation. "

"Don't worry, Grand Master, I just want to get some information. I won't force you to confess, and I won't torture you. It's far from that."

Qu Shuyuan waved his hand and said, "I know the limits, and I'm sure Ye Zhenfu knows it too. In an hour, Qu Ling will go to the South Zhenfu Division to find you."

He expressed a very clear attitude. People from the Qu family can go, but they must go on their own initiative, not be caught by your Jinyiwei.

Ye Mian naturally understood, so he smiled and said, "Then I'll take my leave. I'm really sorry for bothering you."

He walked out of the Qu Mansion slowly, looked at the sunny sky, and couldn't help but sighed, "Alas, it's not easy to be an official these days. I might as well go back to my hometown in Jiangxi."

...

An hour later, Qu Ling came to the South Zhenfu Division in a hurry.

She had a bad temper to begin with, and she had a lot of troubles recently. After Zhou Yuan's accident, she was worried every day.

It was originally a powder keg, and Ye Mian had to touch it, so Qu Ling naturally exploded.

"Mr. Ye! Where are you!"

As she walked inside, she shouted: "Didn't you want to see me? I'm here! If you have any fart, just say it boldly! Do you think I'm afraid of you!"

"An old dog, you came to my house to ask for someone. The Southern Governor is amazing. Don't forget how you got this fourth-rank official!"

Ye Mian was really scolded and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He hurried out and said with a wry smile: "Miss Qu, take a break. We are old friends. Why bother to quarrel."

"Bah!"

Qu Ling shouted: "Who is your friend! When I was in Lin'an Prefecture, you didn't cause me a lot of trouble. Now you think I'm easy to bully, don't you!"

"Do you think this is still Lin'an Prefecture, but Jinling? Don't force me to lose my temper!"

Ye Mian could only sigh. The girl had a bad temper and kept talking like a child. He had to endure it.

"Okay, okay."

Ye Mian said: "Miss Qu, let's go inside and talk. It's so noisy and indecent!"

"Okay! I want to see what shit and urine this old dog can spit out of his mouth!"

Qu Ling put her hands on her waist and walked into the room with a cold face, but suddenly froze.

Her body slowly became stiff, and all the words were stuck in her throat, only her long eyelashes trembled slightly.

Zhou Yuan put down the map in his hand and chuckled: "Ling'er, long time no see."

Qu Ling turned her head away, her nose was sour, and she pouted and choked: "Long time no see."