Treasure Exchange Banquet (1)

"Huh?"

Why don't you lower your head?

"Aren't you afraid?"

Although Han Fei apologized to the passersby on behalf of Hong Lian, it is common knowledge that one should not take everything said by those in power too seriously, especially apologies. Therefore, with the idea that it is better to avoid trouble than to offend them, the passersby did not raise their heads but hurriedly left the scene.

This makes Ye Qingcang stand out.

It instantly caught Hong Lian's attention.

However, Hong Lian is not actually lacking in emotional intelligence.

Seeing this handsome young man riding alongside his ninth brother, and as his ninth brother dismounted, he also jumped off another warhorse. His ninth brother was quite at ease, and the two were relatively close. In addition, the young man, who looked to be about the same age as him, had a scholarly air about him and was dressed appropriately. Immediately, some guesses began to form in his mind.

For example, this could be your older brother's classmate.

Therefore, it is impossible for a lady to be a lady.

But you still need to be polite.

His tone became much softer.

Curiosity overcame his previous imperious attitude.

"Uh... this is..." Han Fei glanced at Ye Qingcang, who was just pulling out a Jade Seal Machine from his robes, and changed the subject, implying, "Never mind, let him tell you himself!"

Actually, even without Han Fei's introduction...

The moment Ye Qingcang took out the Jade Seal Machine.

Hong Lian's brain had already shut down.

It seems they've come to understand something.

But I didn't fully understand.

The Jade Seal Machine is very special. Although jade plaques existed during the Warring States period, and there were jade plaques without any carvings, such as the so-called "nothingness plaque," only the Jade Seal Machine can activate them by striking them, automatically displaying lines of ethereal characters like ink.

At least in Hong Lian's understanding.

Among all the jade artifacts she had seen since childhood.

Only the Jade Seal Machine is special.

It was through the Jade Seal Machine that she made friends.

Now, her Jade Seal Machine still lies Jing Jing in the sachet at her waist, while another Jade Seal Machine appears in the hand of this boy of the same age before her. What this signifies is self-evident.

However, what truly brought her back to her senses was the vibration of the sachet at her waist.

"Buzz~~~"

In modern times, this might make people overthink things.

It makes people suspect that you are carrying some kind of electronic toy.

But in ancient times, or in this very moment.

There was absolutely no problem with that; no one thought much of it except Ye Qingcang.

Of course.

Thinking a lot is one thing.

It doesn't affect his ability to send messages to Hong Lian.

Hong Lian finally came to her senses and hurriedly untied the sachet at her waist. She took out a jade pendant that was exactly the same as the Jade Seal Machine in Ye Qingcang's hand. It was about the size of a normal person's palm. Her fingers habitually slid upwards, and then she skillfully unlocked the combination lock. A message immediately jumped into her eyes.

"Princess Crimson Lotus?"

Ye Qingcang raised the Jade Seal Machine.

It was placed in front of Hong Lian and waved.

He read aloud the message he had sent.

This caused Hong Lian's face to flush bright red instantly. She raised her other hand to cover her face and said weakly, "No, it's you... You didn't even say you were coming, and you came with my brother. Were you deliberately trying to make a fool of me?"

"Oh?"

"There's a story between you two..."

Han Fei leaned over with a grin.

He glanced at the markings on Ye Qingcang Jade Seal Machine.

The one that uses a watercolor-style eagle as its profile picture is obviously obvious.

It must be Ye Qingcang.

There were no signs below; it was completely blank.

But the other profile picture, with its peach branches full of flowers, is quite interesting. The label below this profile picture is "One of the Qin's Moon Star System, Nine Songs of the Moving Heavens, Han Kingdom, and an Unknown Fated Girl".

Han Fei had to read the long handwriting three times before he could confirm it.

This has also led to many speculations about Han Fei.

However, Han Fei was generally satisfied with this title, at least it proved that Ye Qingcang was not coming to contact his sister with some unspeakable secret.

However, when he turned his head away with a grin.

He glanced at the notes on the Jade Seal Machine in Hong Lian's hand.

The smile vanished from his face at an instant.

Because of the Jade Seal Machine in his sister's hands.

Beneath that ink-wash style eagle head.

The label given was extremely ridiculous.

It's only three words, but its destructive power is almost off the charts.

Big Dumb Eagle!

Yes.

Hong Lian gave Ye Qingcang the nickname "Big Dumb Eagle".

Han Fei swore an oath with his own name.

He was definitely not seeing things; he wasn't mistaken.

No, girl, let's be honest, what did Ye Qingcang do to offend you that made you give him such a nickname?

That's the problem.

But that's not the whole story.

The bigger problem is that Hong Lian is changing its labeling.

In front of Ye Qingcang.

It was also in front of Han Fei.

The label for that ink-wash style eagle was changed from "Big Dumb Eagle" to "Eagle Young Master."

Han Fei was so excited by what he saw that he couldn't contain himself.

Girl.

That's what we're saying.

It has been confirmed that it has been verified offline.

There's no need to try so hard to cover it up and salvage the situation.

Although Hong Lian was unaware of these things, she gritted her teeth and finished correcting the annotations. After confirming that everything was correct, she raised her head and looked at Ye Qingcang with evasive eyes, which made the atmosphere awkward for a moment.

nonsense.

It would be strange if it weren't embarrassing.

Hong Lian's actions were both cowardly and reckless.

Let alone Ye Qingcang.

Even Han Fei.

Based on his intelligence.

For a moment, we couldn't find any topics to talk about.

Therefore, Han Fei, who always liked to use unconventional methods, did not follow the usual path. With a single sentence, he immediately shut down the already bewildered Hong Lian: "Sister, who is this Big Dumb Eagle on your thing?"

"Cough cough cough..."

Ye Qingcang coughed, a rare occurrence, and choked on his own saliva.

He had considered that Han Fei might help him break the deadlock.

But bro, are you really that brave?

Why do you think Hong Lian changed her nickname?

Isn't it because the young lady is shy?

Even if you are her biological father, saying this in front of me, who is barely an outsider, could easily provoke Hong Lian to the point of getting a fever. Not to mention that you are just Hong Lian's half-brother. No matter how good your relationship is, it is not enough to guarantee that Hong Lian will not get a fever under such stimulation.

Indeed, the facts were just as Ye Qingcang had analyzed.

The Hong Lian immediately turned warm red.

He shouted "Brother!" in a very loud voice.

Then he realized that shouting would easily expose his guilty conscience, so he lowered his voice, but it still couldn't hide the guilt in his tone. "What nonsense are you talking about, bro? Are you seeing things?"

"Uh... okay, okay, let's just say I misjudged..." Han Fei scratched the back of his head and muttered in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, "How could my brother-in-law possibly be a Big Dumb Eagle?"

"Elder brother!!!"

Poor Hong Lian.

He was completely manipulated by his elder brother, Han Fei.

Emotions were completely controlled.

Of course, Han Fei had finished his teasing, and Ye Qingcang didn't refuse. He took over the topic and reassured him, "A name is just a label, created to make it easier for people to address you. Besides, you should know what kind of person your brother is, so don't let him bother you, lest he watch the drama unfold and find amusement in it... Okay, let's get back to the point. Please allow me to introduce myself: My name is Ye Qingcang. Ye is the 'leaf' in 'tree leaf,' and Qingcang is another name for eagle, derived from a not-so-famous poem. So, although my name is Ye Qingcang, you can also call me Ye Ying. With Ye Qingcang as the primary name, Ying is just a nickname, so you can also call me A Ying. But if Ye Ying is the primary name, then Qingcang is my courtesy name."

In ancient times, there was a custom of having a given name and a courtesy name.

Like Li Bai.

His surname was Li, his given name was Bai, and his courtesy name was Taibai.

So, if someone calls him Li Taibai, they are actually referring to him.

However, Ye Qingcang is a modern person.

Aside from the surname, which has some significance.

It cannot be replaced.

The rest of the given name and courtesy name can be reversed at will.

Such a detailed self-introduction can be considered as giving Hong Lian a way out.

Hong Lian naturally followed suit.

After all, the two had been chatting on the Jade Seal Machine for six or seven years.

This level of understanding can be cultivated.

In addition, perhaps because her own unreliable older brother had exposed her secrets, Hong Lian became much more open. Although there was still a strong sense of "what's the use of trying" in her, it didn't stop her from introducing herself. "My name is Hong Lian, the same as my title... I can't help it, unlike my brother, I don't have a formal name, and I haven't been given a maiden name either. My father calls me by my title, and my brother calls me that too... So, if you don't mind, just call me Hong Lian, don't call me Princess."

"Alright, Hong Lian."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ye Qingcang nodded, without shaking hands.

Because people in this day and age still value propriety.

It's like a woman's body can only be seen by her husband.

Showing even a leg is considered indecent and not respectable.

Not to mention the swimsuit shows we see in later generations.

In short, although he didn't care about other people's opinions, he had to consider his friend Hong Lian's feelings, so he just gave a rough bow and put it down, then steered the conversation to Han Fei: "Brother Han and I met on the road, purely by chance. However, since Brother Han knew about the Jade Seal Machine, I casually mentioned it, and Brother Han remembered it. Then, by following the clues and comparing the accounts, he knew your identity... Also, since Brother Han and I were both heading to Xinzheng, I came to seek refuge with you while he went home, so we traveled together, it was on the way anyway... As for the person sitting in the carriage, he's a dangerous person. By chance, I captured him, because releasing him would easily expose my identity, so I've been keeping him with me... So, seeking refuge with you shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"That's actually a bit difficult..."

Hong Lian retrieves the Jade Seal Machine.

Put the sachet back on.

He thought for a moment while answering.

His tone was slightly hesitant.

Before Han Fei could even understand...

In Han Fei's mind, making arrangements for Ye Qingcang was too easy; he didn't understand why his younger sister said it was a bit difficult.

But the next second, he understood.

A mouthful of wine spurted out.

It spilled onto the ground nearby.

Hong Lian's words still echoed in my ears, filled with blasphemous disrespect. "It will be difficult for you to enter the palace without being castrated, because the palace is full of either concubines or eunuchs. Even a Neko will be castrated. Moreover, there are many guards in the palace. If you are not skilled enough, it will indeed be risky for me to take you in..."

no.

younger sister.

Do you know what you're saying?

Bringing men into the Inner Palace?

You really have a wild idea!

It's very difficult for us, the emperor's own sons, to enter the Inner Palace.

Especially after his mother's death.

There was even less reason for him to enter the palace.

So, just because of Ye Qingcang's words, you're planning to place him in the palace? Aren't you really afraid that he'll cause chaos in the Inner Palace, cuckold our father, and leave behind some shameful legacy?

I was wondering why you answered that it was difficult!

Go with your idea.

Even the powerful general Ji Wuye.

He will still have a difficult time.

"Don't worry, don't worry, it's not that bad." Ye Qingcang knew why Han Fei was frightened, because Hong Lian's thought process was indeed a bit straightforward. However, when he asked Hong Lian for help, he didn't mean for Hong Lian to help him enter the palace unharmed. Instead, he said, "Hong Lian, I'm new to Xinzheng and don't know much about the situation here. So, if possible, I hope you can help me find a quiet courtyard as my place to stay, at least for the next Fifth Secret... Wait a minute, let me calculate... After we finish the first four rounds, we'll leave the fifth round to Shrek and Sun Moon Empire to compete for. The sixth round is irrelevant to me; I'm too old to participate." "Seven is the academy tournament, so there's no rush to play. The roster is twenty people, with seven to ten starters. The remaining ten substitutes will just sit on the bench. At worst, I, the captain, can be a substitute; it won't affect the prize money after winning. As for the Eighth and Ninth Secrets, that's even more obvious. The Ninth Secret are somewhat interesting, but counting from the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, it'll be at least three months... meaning I can stay here for more than three months before considering leaving. I'll come back intermittently afterward, so I still need a place to stay... Can you recommend some suitable ones?"

"Looking for a place to live?"

"That's easy!"

Hong Lian confidently assured me, "I have quite a bit of property under my control, all given to me by my father and many of my mother's wives. At worst, I'll just clear out a shop. Anyway, you'll definitely have a place to live!"

Han Fei also breathed a sigh of relief.

Check into Xinzheng.

It is indeed a bit difficult for the average person.

One reason is the household registration system.

You can't just buy a house in Xinzheng if you want to.

You need to have a clean identity.

Leaving aside other things.

Let's just talk about this one level.

It can kill 99% of people.

On the other hand, it lies in wealth.

Xinzheng, as the current capital of the Han Kingdom, is not exactly a land of immense value. If you want to buy a house here, the price is calculated in gold, not silver or copper coins. Although turning stone into gold is a piece of cake for Ye Qingcang and money is not a problem, finding a suitable place is not easy. Inevitably, some shady methods will be used.

It's fair to say that one person ruins another.

There's almost no space for you to crouch down.

But for Hong Lian, and even for him, these were indeed trivial matters.

It's just that his identity is rather sensitive.

At that moment, many people were watching him.

It's inconvenient for him to take action.

But Hong Lian didn't have so many concerns.

You don't even need to ask anyone for a favor.

Once an order is given, the people under my command will naturally carry it out.