The Crisis in the Narrow Cabin

Xiao Meiniang frowned and said, "This seems unreasonable. The Shixing Royal Mansion is under the control of Uncle Joe, so why did a three or four year old girl escape?"

Xiao Mohe said: "This girl's nickname is A Yue, the most loved by the Shixing King, specially invited a Zhang zither master to teach A Yue. According to the royal nurse confessed, this guqin master was previously a jianghu wanderer, the King of Shixing in the street to listen to its guqin when invited back to the house, I do not know what is the origin of the way. The night of the incident, the Shixing King's house, only this guqin master and A Yue do not know where to go, I did not pursue, to the full execution of the king's house back to the Lord. A few months later, my lord summoned me to the palace and told me that some palace staff had found A Yue on a ship in the Yangtze River. My lord rebuked me for deceiving the king, and secretly ordered me to catch A Yue within 30 days to return to the case ...."

Hearing this, Li Jing couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in this Chen monarch. This kind of thing is not uncommon in the royal family, but it is usually limited to male children. The emperor of the Chen Dynasty even ordered the general to personally capture a girl, it is not possible to lose the measure.

Zhang Ke said, "It is also really difficult for the Great General."

Xiao Mohe sighed, ''The Lord hates the Shixing King to the bone, but he is worried about his subjects' disapproval, thus he secretly ordered me to track down A Yue's whereabouts. Since I was ordered, I have been unable to sleep at night and have been searching with dozens of my men in disguise. Today in the mouth of Moo Shu received a report that there are three or four year old children on top of this ship, but I did not expect it to be the princess medicine boy ..."

Xiao Meiniang said, "There is no need to be anxious, great-uncle, I think this A Yue might still be in Jiankang City."

Xiao Mohe was dumbfounded, "How can you see that, Princess?"

Xiao Meiniang said: ''The most dangerous place is perhaps the safest place. That qin master is only benefited by the Shixing King, it's hard to lay down his life for him, he's just hiding in the city with A Yue. Besides, a three or four year old girl, what can she do? Even if she grows up, she will not be able to avenge her father's death, and at most, she will only carry an empty grudge."

Xiao Mohe nodded in agreement and got up to take his leave. After walking a few steps, he turned back again, "I still ask the princess to show me the way, how should I check on A Yue? If I can't fulfil my mission, not only will my position be difficult to protect, I'm afraid I'll lose my life ..."

Xiao Meiniang rolled her eyes and asked, "Has the Emperor of the Kingdom of Chen met A Yue?"

Xiao Mohe responded, "The Lord has not seen ... However, there is a vermilion sand mole on the back of A Yue's neck that Nurse mentioned, and I have also explained ... to the Lord."

Xiao Meiniang said, "Does a severed head have a vermilion mole?"

Xiao Mohe was surprised. Then he saluted solemnly and took large steps. The sound of heavy footsteps shook the cabin boards with a thud.

After Xiao Mohe left, Li Jing helped Alone Star sit up straight and straightened his torn clothes. A false alarm finally came to an end, but Li Jing's heart is even more alarmed - Xiao Meiniang for Xiao Mohe pointed out the "clear way", three or four-year-old Alone Star does not understand, but he understands, that is, Xiao Mohe looking for a similar age of the girl to kill, pretending to be A Yue to deliver!

Xiao Meiniang asked her uncle to sit down, looked askance at Li Jing and said, "Does Brother Mu have a better idea?"

Li Jing shook his head and said, "Sister's method is good, but it is too cruel."

Xiao Meiniang laughed and said, "Brother Mu is a man, how can he be a woman's man? Chen Shuling's family was executed, A Yue was in danger of being killed, and she was able to escape under heavy siege, this zither player must be excellent, how could Xiao Mohe find her? But if he can't find her and faces punishment, he can only kill a girl to make up the number, is there any other way?"

Zhang Ke sighed, "Imperial orders are hard to disobey, so it seems that we have no choice but to do so."

Li Jing pondered for a moment and said, "I think that A Yue, I think that she's on the boat!"

All the people were stunned. Xiao Meiniang's eyes flashed, "Brother Mu, let's hear it."

Li Jing said, "That shipowner Xie came straight to us, of course it was the shipowner or his men who saw us boarding the ship. However, he came to inform us just after we had stayed, clearly having the intention of luring General Xiao here."

Xiao Meiniang laughed, "It seems somewhat reasonable. But what's wrong with a shipowner who, in order to avoid suspicion, lures Xiao Mohe to come and arrest someone?"

Li Jing said: ''It seems like common sense, but there are some anomalies. Imagine if Lord Zhang was the owner of the ship, he would naturally assist in checking on the people after General Xiao had revealed his identity, but why didn't he come with General Xiao? Instead, he informed us first? There is also the point that Boat Owner Xie had met Duke Zhang in Jiangling and knew that Duke Zhang was Liang's uncle, and possibly knew that General Xiao was originally a Liang clansman, which is why he lured General Xiao to come."

Zhang Ke said, "Brother Mu has a point. At that time, Boat Master Xie whispered in my ear that a Chen general had come to capture the child, and told me to try to evade."

Li Jing said, "That's it. Imagine, this ship has hundreds of passenger cabins, even if we use a hundred people to look for them, it is not an easy task. The fact that he warned in the front foot and General Xiao came in the back foot is enough to show that Boat Owner Xie intended for General Xiao to come to this room and found that there was indeed a child, but not the one he was looking for, A Yue."

Xiao Meiniang's eyes flowed and stared so hard that Li Jing didn't dare to look at her. She asked with a smile, "In that case, this Boat Master Xie is using the strategy of sounding out the east and striking the west?"

Li Jing said, "I'm afraid that's the case. Otherwise, how could the ship owner be so conflicted - cooperating with General Chen in his investigation of the people, but at the same time leaving the people being investigated unharmed?"

Xiao Meiniang smiled even sweeter, "There is only one explanation - Boat Master Xie knows where A Yue is hiding."

The room was suddenly quiet. After a long time, Zhang Ke said, "Meiniang, Brother Mu, we only hope to arrive at Jiangling safely and do not want to cause more trouble. Since there is nothing to worry about, the two little brothers should return to their rooms with me."

Li Jing was about to get up, but Xiao Meiniang said, "Not busy. I don't think Xiao Mohe is someone who is easy to fool. Although he has left, the ship has not yet docked and will still be searching on board. If he returns again and finds us different, he will be suspicious."

Zhang Ke thought it was reasonable and went to his room Alone.

Li Jing had expected Xiao Meiniang to continue talking. However, as soon as Zhang Ke left, both Meiniang and Qingni were silent again. Li Jing could only recline with his clothes on. This time he was unable to sleep, with Xiao Meiniang breathing evenly in his ears, but the scene that had just happened made Li Jing realise one more thing about the beauty beside him - underneath that delicate face, there seemed to be more calculated shrewd and less kindness.

Just then, there was a knocking sound. Li Jing hurriedly got up and opened the door to see that it was that ship owner Xie, carrying a grey cloth bag in his hand, standing by the cabin door with a smile.

Xiao Meiniang's body rose and said, "May I ask what your honour has to do?"

Boat owner Xie performed the salute of obeisance, "I, Xie Kangtu, am the owner of this boat, and have specially come to pay my respects to the princess."

Xiao Meiniang could only invite him inside. Xie Kangtu closed the hatch and placed the bag in his hand on the floor. Li Jing thought that the ship's owner had brought a gift to deliver to the princess, but he saw Xie Kangtu unwrap the cloth bag and carry out a girl from it! Qing Ni, who hadn't said anything, covered her mouth to avoid screaming.

The girl's head was in a bun, black hair and white skin, pupils like lacquer, grey cloth clothes wrinkled, about three or four years old, although her face and clothes were stained with dust and mud, but her expression was quite calm. Xiao Meiniang's face flashed with a trace of astonishment and said, "If I'm not wrong, this girl's name is A Yue."

Xie Kangtu nodded, "Exactly. At this time, Great General Xiao is inspecting the lower level cabins, and as long as the princess shouts out, it will be difficult for this child to survive."

Xiao Meiniang said calmly, "Shipmaster Xie thinks that I will not inform Great General Xiao?"

Xie Kangtou said, "I can't judge, it's all in the princess's mind."

Xiao Meiniang pondered for a moment and said, "What does the shipowner want by sending A Yue here?"

Xie Kangtou said, "I know that the princess believes in Buddhism, I only ask that the princess remembers my Buddha's mercy and saves two lives."

Li Jing froze. If Meiniang took Yue in, she might be able to live, but Yue was only one person, so how could there be two lives?

Xiao Meiniang said, "Don't worry shipowner Xie, even if Great General Xiao finds out that you've hidden A Yue, for the sake of you being the shipowner, there may be a chastisement, but not to the point of taking your life."

Xie Kangtou said, "The life of a small person is like a mole cricket, not enough to die. The villain refers to this young master ..." said and raised his hand to point to the Alone Star on the couch.

Li Jing and Xiao Meiniang were shocked at the same time.

Xie Kangtu continued, "The situation is urgent, and there are already strong men on board tracking down this young master. For the sake of today's plan, we can only hand this young master over to the me, to be taken care of for the time being."

Li Jing was apprehensive, not knowing what to do for a moment. Xiao Meiniang said, "Xie Shipowner, this little brother came with Brother Wood, whether to leave or stay, we still need Brother Wood to make up his mind."

Xie Kangtu reached into his pocket and took out a piece of cloth napkin and handed it to Li Jing. Li Jing took it and unfolded it, on which was written:

Shipowner credible Han Zhong

Han Zhong is Han Qinhu close guards, has always been loyal, usually have time to learn calligraphy with Li Jing, so although the handwriting is scribbled, but Li Jing immediately recognised that it is the handwriting of Han Zhong. He immediately bowed to Xie Kangtu, turned back to Little Alone Star's ear and whispered a few words. Little Alone Star understood and rolled over to get off the couch. Xie Kangtu picked him up, put him into a cloth bag, tied the mouth of the bag, then turned back to pick up A Yue, placed her on the couch, whispered a few words, then bowed to Xiao Meiniang, carried the cloth bag and went out.

At this time, Zhang Ke entered the cabin and listened to Meiniang's brief description, his brows knitted into a ball. Qing Ni, who had not said anything, could not hold back any longer: "If I say so, what does all this have to do with us? It's better to stay out of trouble!"

Li Jing was at a loss since Little Alone Star was taken away by Boat Master Xie, and his heart was empty. However, seeing Han Zhong's handwriting, he also guessed that his uncle was ultimately uneasy and sent Han Zhong to secretly protect him, perhaps on top of this big ship. Thinking of this, Li Jing's spirit lifted and said, "We brothers travelled all the way here, and we are deeply sorry for dragging you all down."

Xiao Meiniang touched Qingni: ''Little girl, the trouble is already here, why are you so upset? When we encountered the water bandits earlier, if it wasn't for Brother Mu's rescue, we would have been ghosts long ago. Qing Ni, one cannot forget one's favour, don't you dare say that again!"

Qingni shut up at this and turned her head to look out the porthole. Instead, she saw a tall tower outside the cabin, with premises looming below it, and the boat slowed down.

Zhang Ke approached the window, took a look at the scenery outside, and let out a deep breath, saying, "Finally, we've docked."

Li Jing turned back to look at that A Yue, only to see her clear gaze staring at herself, her small mouth opening and closing. Li Jing squatted down and asked in a low voice, "Are you hungry?" A Yue nodded her little head three times. Li Jing hurriedly broke open his uneaten hu cake and stuffed it in her hand. Little A Yue lowered her head and ate the cake. Due to her hasty eating, she even hiccupped. Li Jing hurriedly took out the sheepskin water bag, unplugged it, and brought it to her mouth. At the same time, Li Jing saw a soybean-sized vermilion mole on the back of her neck when she was drinking water.

A long whining sound was heard from the ship, and then the big ship was released to anchor and moor. Li Jing's cabin was located on the port side, and he could see that there were soldiers guarding the shore, checking the guests getting on and off the ship. As the ship's building was very high, and the weather was cloudy, he could only see an approximation and could not recognise the faces of the crowd.

It was at this time that the sound of knocking came again. Li Jing opened the door, and a tall, thin man with a basil coat and black hat, snake eyes and mouse whiskers stood in the doorway like a bamboo pole. When he saw Li Jing, without saying a word, he pushed his palm to him. Li Jing could only feel the strong wind forcing him to fall down, and he could not help but follow the force of the other party's palm. The man reached out to A Yue on the couch and grabbed her. A Yue was so shocked that she cried out at once.

Xiao Meiniang said angrily, "Put down the child! Who are you?"

The man did not even look at Xiao Meiniang, his right hand carried A Yue, his left hand ripped open the lapel. When he saw that it was a girl, he let out an "eek" and put A Yue back on the couch, ignoring Xiao Meiniang's anger and looking around. The cabin is only nine feet square, there is no cupboard, only two short couches.

The man put up his two fingers together and crouched down to knock on the side of the short couch. After knocking on the two couches, he did not seem to be satisfied, and suddenly drew his short sword and poked it into the couch.

Qing Ni was so scared that she hid straight towards the corner of the house. Li Jing hugged A Yue and gently patted her back. Yue stopped crying and sobbed quietly. Xiao Meiniang couldn't stand it any longer and shouted, "What kind of thieves are these? How dare you be rude to this princess!"

The man laughed coldly, "What does it matter if you do your princess and I do mine?"

Qing Ni couldn't help but take two steps forward and pointedly said, "This is the territory of the Chen Kingdom, and Great General Xiao has just come to pay his respects to the princess! Why don't you back off!"

That person's snake eyes rolled, reached out and gave Qing Ni a slap. Immediately, Qing Ni's pretty little face swelled up, and she couldn't help but cry out with a "wow" sound, covering her face and looking at her master. The man's voice was like a snake's, hissing: "Chen Guo Liang Guo, in my eyes is like shit! If you dare to nag me again, you will not be able to save your life!"

Xiao Meiniang saw that this person was ruthless, and hurriedly put on a smiling face: "This official, have a good conversation. Hurting a woman is not what a hero does."

The man snorted coldly, "I know that Xiao Mohe came here, but he is shaped like a withered bone in my eyes, so you don't say that name." He looked at Li Jing again and asked, "Little waif, did you see a three or four year old boy on the boat?"

"Saw it." Li Jing calmly replied, "When I boarded the ship at Moo Shu Kou, an old man carrying a guqin pulled a child of three or four years old, and dined at a wine shop, but I don t seem to have seen it on board ... the ship."

The man stretched out his withered hand like a chicken's claw, choking Li Jing's throat, and said in a cold voice, "Kid, if you dare to say half a word of falsehood to me, I'll tear you in half!"

Li Jing's eyes were glowing from his pinch, but his gaze remained firm and he just couldn't stop nodding.

At that moment the ship's horn sounded, and it looked like it was about to sail again.

The man threw Li Jing onto the couch and turned around, his figure as swift as a ghost.