"Why does General Ji insist on seeing my mother? She is just an ordinary woman."
Based on her memories, her mother, Du Caiyue, was merely a maidservant who accompanied the First Madam, Liu. How could she possibly be involved with someone as prestigious as Ji Shaocheng? Perhaps he had mistaken her for someone else.
"I wonder if the Crown Princess's mother had any other name?"
"I haven't heard of it."
Hai Ling shook her head. She had never heard her mother mention any other name for her. However, as soon as she finished speaking, Ji Shaocheng's beautiful face turned frosty, and his eyes darkened. He reached out, picked up the tea beside him, and took a sip, looking very disappointed.
Hai Ling glanced at him, understanding in her heart that Ji Shaocheng must have mistaken her mother for someone else. If nothing unexpected happened, the person he was looking for was related to the Zhenlong Chess. Perhaps he thought that the person who could solve the Zhenlong Chess puzzle must be the person he was looking for. Unfortunately, he was wrong. This time, he lost the Zhenlong Chess, which was worth a thousand gold pieces, for nothing.
Silence reigned behind the screen until the shopkeeper entered carrying a pile of calligraphy and paintings, and began to speak in rapid succession.
"I have kept Your Highness the Crown Princess waiting. I deserve to die. I deserve to die."
Hai Ling didn't blame him. She was a very gentle person and wouldn't easily lose her temper unless provoked. She smiled and shook her head, then reached for the calligraphy and paintings on the table to look at.
The shopkeeper wasn't lying to her; these paintings and calligraphy were indeed quite good and very valuable.
Behind the screen, Hailing was looking at calligraphy and paintings. Ji Shaocheng finished a cup of tea and quietly observed her without saying a word. His spirit of not giving up until he achieved his goal resurfaced. Although the Crown Princess's mother's name was not his stepmother's name, since she had left the Ji family and married Jiang Batian, she certainly did not want others to find her. Therefore, it was normal and not surprising that she had changed her name. Thinking this, hope rose in his heart again.
Hai Ling flipped through the calligraphy and paintings without looking up as she spoke.
"If General Ji is bored, he may go and attend to his own business."
"I would like to meet the Crown Princess's mother."
Ji Shaocheng repeated it again, and this time it was Hailing's turn to be taken aback. She had already said her mother's name, but this man still wouldn't let up. It seemed that he was someone who wouldn't give up until he achieved his goal. She looked up at Ji Shaocheng and saw that his dark pupils were filled with a deep luster, with a hint of doting. She actually saw doting in this man's eyes. Hailing wondered if she was seeing things, so she closed her eyes tightly. When she looked again, Ji Shaocheng had already looked away and continued to drink his tea.
Hai Ling breathed a sigh of relief. She must have imagined it just now, and she didn't take it to heart. However, she was afraid that Ji Shaocheng would need to get her mother's consent to see her.
"Let me go back and ask my mother about this."
"good."
Ji Shaocheng wasn't in a hurry. Besides finding his second mother and sister, he had other business in Da Zhou. He was acting on the orders of the Emperor of Bei Lu, who wanted to form an alliance with Da Zhou. Therefore, he wouldn't be leaving Da Zhou for the time being.
Originally, the four great powers of the world were stable and peaceful, and the smaller countries did not dare to act arrogantly. However, the Southern Dynasty destroyed Shaoyi, and now the world is out of balance. The Northern Lu can only resist the Southern Dynasty by forming an alliance with the Great Zhou. If the two sides are at odds, it will only hasten their demise. The Southern Dynasty has ambitions to unify the world.
While talking to Ji Shaocheng, Hai Ling casually picked out a piece of calligraphy and painting from the pile, glanced at it, rolled it up, and asked the shopkeeper about it.
How much is this painting?
"Since it is the Crown Princess who wants to buy it, I dare not charge more than the cost price, one thousand taels will suffice."
The manager of Baohezhai dared not charge the Crown Princess more money; he only charged a symbolic price for the cost. If it came down to a real price, the painting would not have been taken away for less than two thousand taels, but he dared not charge more.
However, Hai Ling didn't need the shopkeeper to save her money, because the money wasn't coming from her, but from the people in the General's Mansion. Moreover, her purpose in buying this calligraphy and painting was to make Liu Shi feel the pinch. You see, this calligraphy and painting was a gift for His Highness the Crown Prince. Even if Liu Shi felt the pinch, she wouldn't dare to say anything openly.
Hai Ling smiled and said cheerfully, "Two thousand taels it is. This calligraphy and painting is to be given to His Highness the Crown Prince. The amount of money is too small, so as not to make the Crown Prince lose face."
This time, not only the shopkeeper's jaw dropped, but Ji Shaocheng's jaw also dropped. He almost spat out his tea. This girl is so interesting. She can give away a thousand taels of silver with just one word, without batting an eye. He had specially sent someone to inquire about her last night and knew that she was not favored in the General's Mansion. What she is doing now is clearly a deliberate attempt to mess with the people in the General's Mansion, and she is the kind of person who is left speechless and unable to say anything.
Ji Shaocheng stared at Hai Ling with bright eyes, admiring her in his heart. "What a clever girl. No wonder she was able to solve the Zhenlong Chess Game."
Hai Ling had no idea what Ji Shaocheng was thinking. She simply gave instructions to the shopkeeper and then took the rolled-up scroll and walked out. Yan Zhi quickly followed her mistress, but thinking about how she could get back at Liu Shi, a smile appeared on Yan Zhi's lips.
Both master and servant were in high spirits. Outside the screen door, Agu's lips twitched violently.
He had been waiting outside and naturally overheard the Crown Princess's words. Thinking of the thousand taels she had given to the shopkeeper for nothing, he realized why the shopkeeper was overjoyed and sent her out as if she were a god of wealth, his face full of flattery.
However, they spoke softly, so they weren't worried about being overheard by the female guests outside.
The moment the female guests saw Ji Shaocheng appear, their faces lit up with infatuation, their eyes gleaming as they stared intently at him, as if he were their prey.
When Hailing saw these women, she remembered that Ji Shaocheng was still following behind her, so she quickly stopped and turned around to look at Ji Shaocheng.
"General Ji, farewell."
"May Your Highness the Crown Princess rest in peace."
Ji Shaocheng didn't pester her. He knew he would meet her sooner or later anyway. On the contrary, he was afraid of meeting her too soon. If the Crown Princess's mother wasn't his stepmother, then his hopes would be dashed, and his father's hopes would also be dashed.
Moreover, he lost his father's most treasured treasure, the Zhenlong Chess. How could he explain this to his father?
Ji Shaocheng clasped his hands in a fist salute and watched Hai Ling walk out the door. Agu and the others followed closely behind her.
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves rang out in front of Baohezhai, dust billowed, and screams erupted.
Once the dust had settled, several distinguished and outstanding individuals entered through the gate. Leading them was none other than Feng Zixiao, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Feng Zixiao wore a bright yellow brocade robe, a belt embroidered with gold dragons around his waist, and a precious white jade pendant. He walked in with a calm and domineering air. His handsome features were complemented by snow-white skin, bright red lips, and a pair of dark eyes that shimmered like the ripples of a clear lake. The bright yellow golden crown on his head proclaimed his unique identity.
His attire was very formal, indicating that he had just returned from the palace and rushed over without even having time to change his clothes.
Behind him followed the Left Prime Minister Xi Lingfeng, dressed in white brocade robes, and the Young General Bai Ye.
The moment the three men appeared in front of Baohezhai, the world seemed to lose its color. Only these four incredibly handsome men made everyone who saw them pale in comparison, and the women stared at them in a daze, forgetting to react.
Crown Prince Feng Zixiao's long, narrow phoenix eyes swept across the shop, passing over Hai Ling and landing directly on Ji Shaocheng, the junior general of the Northern Dynasty.
When Hai Ling saw these people appear, she understood what had happened. She couldn't help but turn around and glare fiercely at Agu. Needless to say, Agu had sent someone to deliver a message to Feng Zixiao, informing him that General Ji Shaocheng of the Northern Dynasty had appeared on the territory of the Great Zhou.
As the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Feng Zixiao would absolutely not sit idly by.
As Hai Ling was thinking, she heard Feng Zixiao's deep and cold voice: "I didn't expect General Ji to have come to the border of my Great Zhou Kingdom. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."
Crown Prince Feng Zixiao personally came to Baohezhai to welcome Ji Shaocheng, which was a sign of respect for the Northern Dynasty. At present, the Great Zhou Dynasty is beset by internal and external troubles. The originally peaceful and stable four kingdoms have now become a three-way standoff. The balance of power among the three kingdoms has been disrupted. The Southern Dynasty has annexed Shaoyi and has naturally become much stronger. At present, they are recuperating. Once they recover, they will probably start plotting to annex the Great Zhou and Northern Lu. Therefore, it is the best policy for the two countries to form an alliance as soon as possible.