C35

Xiao Yi had a troubled expression on his face. "The general has gone to attend the assembly."

Qu Ling curled his lips, and did not say anything else. He turned around and walked towards the front of the hall.

Xiao Yi did not immediately follow him. Instead, he sneaked over to find a person to stand guard at the entrance of the palace to inform Xiao Jingyue.

The current Villa Master of Murong Villa had a total of two children and a woman. The eldest was Murong Qing, the second was Murong Shan, and the third was Murong Yan.

Even though Qu Ling had known Murong Villa for many years, he had never been to Murong Villa, nor had he ever heard Murong Yan talk about the matter of Murong Villa.

Other than knowing that it was a woman, Murong Yan's older sister, and half of her Junior Sister, she knew nothing about Murong Shan.

When the green-gowned woman heard the footsteps in the hall, she turned her head, revealing a face that was 70% similar to Murong Yan's.

Murong Shan sized Qu Ling up from head to toe, and a strange expression quickly flashed across his eyes. "You're Big Brother Xiao's new wife?"

Qu Ling smiled but did not speak. She grinded her teeth in her heart as she scolded Xiao Jingyue from head to toe.

Murong Shan looked at Qu Ling's smiling face, and thick jealousy rose in his heart, as he said in an almost unkind manner: "I even thought Brother Xiao had married a very special woman, it seems you are only so-so."

Qu Ling's eyelids jumped, but he did not say a word.

Xiao Yi, who had returned to look for Qu Ling just happened to hear this sentence, his heart skipped a beat. He ignored his etiquette and peeked his head in, surprised to see that Qu Ling did not flip out.

His wife usually acted like she wasn't afraid of the heavens or the earth, going against the general. If she was angry, no one would dare talk back, but now … Since when did Madam's temper become so good?

How could Xiao Yi know that it wasn't that Qu Ling's temper had improved, she just didn't want to cause any trouble with him.

She had always believed in one thing: she would rather offend a villain than a woman.

In addition, this woman was Murong Yan's older sister. Murong Yan had been treating her well all these years, so there was no need for her to get along with Murong Shan just because of him.

Seeing that Qu Ling still did not say anything, Murong Shan felt bored, "Forget it, I'm too lazy to waste my breath on you, I'm going to look for Brother Xiao!"

As soon as they left, Xiao Yi ran in. Seeing Qu Ling's expression, he carefully called out: "Madam?"

Qu Ling stood up and walked out as if nothing had happened, "Alright, I've seen the person before, don't disturb me if you have nothing to do."

Xiao Yi looked at Qu Ling's back, wanting to say something.

After the assembly, Xiao Jingyue asked the Prime Minister Jiang to bring him to the Miao Boundary.

Prime Minister Jiang frowned, "What business do you have with this trip to the Miao Boundary?"

Although his daughter-in-law and granddaughter were born in the Miao Boundary, they were still born in a place that had stolen the lives of their sons and daughter-in-law.

Xiao Jingyue avoided the issue and said lightly: "There are some things that I need to go to the Miao Boundary to investigate, and I cannot speak of the specific matters for the time being, I hope that Lord Jiang can forgive me."

Chen Linye, who was standing behind Xiao Jingyue, felt an ache in his stomach when he heard the two of them talking.

They were already a family, yet the General Xiao came to Lord Jiang with courtesy, as if he did not see him as his own family.

Prime Minister Jiang knew that he could not persuade Xiao Jingyue, and also understood that his granddaughter who had been married off would not be under his control. He sighed and said: "I only have a granddaughter like Ah Ling, and I only hope that she will be alright.

Xiao Jingyue cupped his hands towards the Prime Minister Jiang, "Lord Jiang, please be at ease."

After the Prime Minister Jiang left, Chen Linye immediately went over to his side and winked at him with malicious intent: "Prime Minister Jiang is your wife's grandfather after all, why are you still calling him Lord Jiang so courteously?"

Xiao Jingyue glanced at him, ignored him, and turned towards the direction of the Imperial Study.

Xiao Jingyue did not tell the emperor the truth about going to the Miao Boundary, he only said that the Murong Villa would be hosting the 70th birthday, and that he was going to attend the birthday banquet.

The Emperor did not say whether he was certain or not, and instead brought up another matter. "I heard that a few days ago, a female merchant died at the General Mansion's gate?"

Xiao Jingyue suddenly thought of the secret decree that he had received. He lowered his eyes and replied solemnly, "Yes."

Without waiting for the emperor to ask, Xiao Jingyue took the initiative and said: "That merchant woman had been infected by the poison Gu for some reason, and had come back from death after drinking the Crane Head Red and suddenly changed her identity two days ago. She came to the palace to seek this official's wife for help with dispelling the poison, I don't want her to disappear right after leaving the manor."

The Emperor raised his eyebrows, put down the paper in his hand, and then asked, "Yesterday, two people from the Miao Boundary died in the brothel, and I heard that Qu Ling was there at the time?"

"…" Xiao Jingyue secretly sighed, he then cupped his hands and said: "This subject shall guarantee with my life, this matter definitely has nothing to do with her."

When the emperor heard this, he revealed a meaningful expression. "I've watched the granddaughter of my beloved official grow up, so I naturally understand that girl's personality …" "It's been more than half a year since I've seen that girl. Take her to the palace before you set out and let me and the empress have a good look."

Xiao Jingyue cupped his hands: "This subject obeys."

The emperor once again picked up the paper roll and waved his hand.

Xiao Jingyue took a few steps back and turned to leave the royal study.

As the footsteps outside grew further and further away, the emperor suddenly asked Eunuch Xi, "Are you done making arrangements?"

Eunuch Xi said, "Reporting to the emperor, everything has been properly arranged. General Xiao definitely won't be aware of it."

The emperor lightly nodded and didn't say anything else. The study returned to its previous tranquility.

The moment Xiao Jingyue walked out of the palace gates, the guards sent by Xiao Sect immediately came to greet him. "General."

He frowned slightly. "What is it?"

The guard said, "The young miss of the Murong Villa has come to your residence."

Xiao Jingyue frowned, he took the horse from Xiao Er's hands, jumped on it, and rode it back to his residence.

Returning to the General Mansion entrance, just in time to bump into Murong Shan, who was about to go out of the Palace and look for him.

When Murong Shan saw Xiao Jingyue, his eyes immediately lit up, "Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Jingyue asked indifferently: What's the matter?

Murong Shan's expression instantly dimmed. He looked at Xiao Jingyue with an injured face, and asked with a muffled voice: "Big Brother Xiao, are you that unwilling to see me?"

He didn't answer and only said, "If there is nothing else, you can go back."

With that, he ignored the lady in front of him and passed the horse to Xiao Er, then quickly entered the residence.

Murong Shan stared at Xiao Jingyue's back in dissatisfaction, and asked Xiao Er who was walking past: "Other than that woman's pretty appearance, in the end, what is better than me!"

Xiao Er pretended not to hear.

Murong Shan was even angrier now, he stomped his feet in anger and chased after her.

Xiao Jingyue did not return to his study, but instead went to the Clearwind Institution.

Aunt Tao who was fiddling with the flowers in the courtyard saw him and quickly stood up. "General!"

"Where's Madame?"

"Miss just went out, and said that she wanted to return to Prime Minister Mansion to look for something."

Xiao Jingyue frowned.

Aunt Tao probed: "Do you want this old servant to call young miss back?"

The man flicked his sleeves and turned around. "There's no need."

On the way back to the study room, Xiao Jingyue saw Murong Shan chasing after him.

Seeing that, Murong Shan went forward with his thick skin, "Brother Xiao, next month is my grandfather's birthday celebration. I believe you already received the invitation, will you be going this year?"

Xiao Jingyue said calmly: "Go."

Hearing that, Murong Shan's eyes lit up.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard him say again, "I will bring Madam with me to the Murong Villa."

Murong Shan's smile stiffened, he could no longer smile, and sour bubbles uncontrollably rose in his heart. He was angry and jealous.