...

At dusk, a caravan came from northwest to Wuzhong.

Several carriages in the caravan were tied with bulging goods, and more than a dozen grooms and helpers were accompanied. They looked dark-faced, dressed and accented by people from Wu and Yue. The police guarding the city gate asked a few questions and let them go.

After entering the city, the caravan headed straight to Xiang Mansion.

"Brother Zhongli is finally back. What's going on?" After the caravan entered Xiang's mansion, Xiang Bo, who was anxiously waiting every day, hurried over and grabbed Zhonglimei, who had put on makeup and became a coachman, and asked.

"Brother Xiang, everything goes well. The Ji brothers were ambushed successfully at Hangu Pass. Someone personally shot Qinghe Hou and arranged for someone to investigate in Xianyang for half a month. They learned that Qinghe Hou had been seriously injured and died of poison at this time..." Zhong Limei replied in a low voice with a serious expression.

"Haha, it's fine if the Marquis of Qinghe died. Hurry up and go to the study to explain in detail!" Zhong Limei was a little reluctant to speak, but Xiang Bo laughed happily and pulled Zhong Limei to the backyard.

But after a moment, there were screams and rage in the study, and soon several Xiang clan members were summoned.

After hearing Xiang Bo's words, the Xiang family's tribes' faces turned pale, and each of them showed extremely frightened expressions.

Because Zhonglimei brought back a news that made them feel the collapse of the sky, Xiang Yu and his sisters actually learned about the Xiang family and the Ji brothers assassinating Qinghe Hou, and pursued all the way to Langya, and then went their separate ways to chase Zhonglimei and the other to chase Qinghe Hou.

"Brother Xiang, don't worry too much. I arranged for someone to secretly follow Qinghe Hou to Langya all the way, and then turn to Xianyang. Although Qinghe Hou stayed in Langya County for more than a month, he did not find Jing'er to appear, but..." Zhong Limei suddenly stopped when he said this.

"But what?" Xiang Bo asked nervously.

"But something might happen to Jing'er. I heard from the person who followed the inquirer that there were many missing girls in Langya County, which happened to be the incident during the arrival of Qinghehou in Langya..." Zhong Limei hesitated and said, touching the bearded man on his face.

Xiang Bo's face was pitch black and he said gritted his teeth: "How can you die like this evil son? Only when the Xiang family died, I, the Xiang family, have the chance to restore the Great Chu. I, Xiang family, planned this for a long time, and almost destroyed it in the hands of the two of them. It would be fine if I died!"

"Brother Xiang, it's not the time to get angry. We have successfully ambushed at Hangu Pass. Jing'er must have never seen Qinghe Hou in Langya. The news must have not been leaked yet. Otherwise, we can't speak here safely. Qinghe Hou was poisoned and arrowed. We returned along the way and there were soldiers searching for Brother Ji Bu. If someone around Ji Bu was arrested, the planning of this time might involve Brother Xiang and me. Therefore, we need to plan an uprising as soon as possible to avoid long nights and dreams. If Wuzhong can be captured, once it spreads, other counties will inevitably respond. Brother Ji Bu will also raise an army near Guanzhong to respond, and the great event of rebellion against Qin and Chu is expected!"

"We have already made arrangements for this matter. I heard that the police officers in the county government have been frequently transferred in recent days. I am afraid that the matter will be exposed, so I need to inquire and make a decision. Brother Zhongli returned home and was exhausted. Please go and rest for a while and discuss the uprising matter carefully tomorrow..."

Xiang Bo stood up and sent Zhonglimei out of the study, and then arranged for the servants to send out some letters. When night fell, he prepared to go out to a quiet garden.

Chusheng Garden, a Quyuan opened by a merchant in Wuzhong, is actually the secret manipulator of the Xiang family, which contains countless young and beautiful women from the Chuyue land. They usually invite some gentry officials to have banquets and entertainment. The purpose is naturally to corrupt and win over some officials in Wuzhong. In fact, it is similar to some secret commercial clubs in later generations, and only receives fixed people and is not open to the public.

When Xiang Bo arrived at Chusheng Garden, there were already seven or eight carriages inside. In a luxuriously decorated attic, more than ten young women in thin gauze skirts were drinking and having fun with a few casually dressed officials and gentry. These officials hugged the woman in their arms and touched, pinched, drank and laughed. Everyone was dressed in disheveled clothes, mixed with the woman's laughter and coquettishness, filled with a strong lewd atmosphere.

"Mr. Xiang is here!" Seeing Xiang Bo stepping in with a relaxed look, several officials and a group of women all stood up to greet him.

"Haha, you don't need to be polite!" Xiang Bo laughed and walked to a desk table to sit down. Immediately, two tempting women knelt on both sides, pouring wine and tea on both sides.

Xiang Bo hugged a woman in his arms, and he was familiar with her hands and penetrated into the woman's thin dress. He kneaded her and said with a smile: "I was busy a few days ago and I haven't been together with you for a long time. Today I have free time. I hope you can enjoy it!"

"Haha, thank you Mr. Xiang for your kind hospitality. I was really busy a few days ago. In May, Mr. Xu came to disturb me. Then the emperor's parade was also collected and dealt with. Alas, I've been very busy recently..." A middle-aged official smiled and shook his head.

Speaking of Mr. Xu, the room suddenly became quiet.

"Don't blame Mr. Xiang, it seems that someone said the wrong thing!" The middle-aged official apologized with a little embarrassment when he woke up.

"Haha, don't use it, the chief clerk tells the truth. The last time my nephew hit Mr. Xu, it was indeed embarrassing, but it has been several months since the incident, so don't mention it. Xiang has embarrassed the elders of Jiangdong!" Uncle Xiang waved his hand without any offense.

"Your Majesty Xiang is elegant, it's better not to say it. Today, you are invited by You. We will drink and have fun. Since You are here, let's have a drink together!" A big man with a rough face raised his glass.

"It's right. Don't talk about disappointment today, drink and drink!" The other people raised their glasses in their hands.

After drinking one cup, the atmosphere in the room became easy and lively. These people usually hang out with Xiang, so when they hugged the woman and touched and squeezed the wine, they began to talk about some hearsay news stories.

"I heard that the Marquis of Qinghe was assassinated in Hangu at the end of July. The bandit leader was Kunzhong, the Ji family of Guanzhong. I wonder what the follow-up?" As the wine was being mixed, Xiang Bo asked while drinking.

The room instantly calmed down again, and everyone's faces became a little solemn.

"This matter is not clear. Although this news has been published in the Daqin Metropolis Daily, no news has been heard later. My Wuzhong is too far from Xianyang, but it may be known in the past few days!" An official shook his head.

"Ji is simply lawless. He dared to ambush Qinghe Marquis at the gates and kill the niece of the county magistrate. A delicate and beautiful little lady died like this, which is regrettable!" Someone put down his wine glass and sighed.

"Is that little lady named Chu Yue not Mr. Xu's fiancée? For some reason, she was with Qinghe Hou and blocked a poisonous arrow for him. Could it be..." The speaker suddenly shook his body and looked at the others with a panic look on his face.

"Is it something?" someone asked.

"Did Brother Wang guess that Mr. Xu is the Marquis of Qinghe?" The other person suddenly looked stunned.

"However, don't you think this matter is very coincidental and weird?" The official surnamed Wang nodded with a serious expression.

The noisy and lively room was extremely strange and quiet, and even the dozen or so women laughed exclaimed, covering their mouths and terrified faces.

The name of Qinghe Marquis is everywhere. If Mr. Xu is the Marquis of Qinghe, wouldn’t the Marquis of Xiang offend Qinghe?

Uncle Xiang's face twitched a few times, but his expression was still on his face and shook his head and said with a smile: "Hey, Brother Wang must have guessed wrong. Why did the Marquis of Qinghe suddenly run to Wuzhong for no reason? What's more, Ji'er hit Mr. Xu when he was really a Marquis of Qinghe, as long as he showed his identity at that time, I, Xiang, would have to kneel down and beg for mercy. Why bother to the end? Today I finally have the time to have a banquet and entertain together, don't scare me!"

"Huh~~" A few exhaled sounds instantly in the room, and the expressions of a group of people also became relaxed in an instant.

"Mr. Xiang Gong is right. Brother Wang, don't talk nonsense. Mr. Xu must not be the Marquis of Qinghe. Mr. Xu is already familiar with Marquis of Qinghe. He heard that he usually hang out together in Xianyang and drinks and plays in Cuju. On the way, he just went back to Xianyang. When the bandit attacked Marquis of Qinghe, he was just a disaster!"

"Not bad. I heard that the Queen Qinghe accompanied the emperor to Mount Tai and left. She must have gone elsewhere. Later, she happened to meet Mr. Xu and others who also returned to Xianyang, so she walked together. This matter would definitely not be wrong..."

Several people made their own speculations based on Xiang Bo's words, and this speculation was reasonable. Therefore, the atmosphere in the room quickly became active again, and instantly threw away the worries that Mr. Xu and Hou Qinghe were alone.

The banquet continued, and the topic was messy, but the most talked about the attack on Qinghe Hou, because this incident was indeed a news that shocked the world.

"A few days ago, a merchant returned from the northwest. He heard that bandits were being arrested everywhere in the Central Plains and Guanzhong, which had affected countless famous heroes and raids. In a few days, Guanzhong captured thousands of misconducted idle men. In Sanchuan and Hedong counties gathered to attack the county government for rebellion. I heard that many people were killed. It is estimated that this incident will soon affect Wuzhong!" A gentry suddenly said.

"This matter is indeed true. Yesterday, an order was sent to the County Magistrate's Mansion!" The County Magistrate Dai Sheng, who had not spoken much, nodded and said.

"Do you know the details of Brother Dai?" Xiang Bo's heart tightened slightly.

"I naturally knew that hundreds of bandits who ambushed Qinghe Hou in Hangu that day, but were almost killed by Qinghe Hou's guards with Taiyi God Musket and Taiyi God Thunder. The bandit leader Ji Xin was bombed to death on the spot. However, the bandits were well planned and ambushed again at the entrance of the valley. Qinghe Hou was shot by poisonous arrows. The emperor was furious and killed dozens of soldiers and officials who had affair with the bandits in Hangu Pass. At the same time, he ordered the search for the bandit leader Ji Bu in the world. Yesterday's order had been passed to Wuzhong!"

"No wonder today the county magistrate summoned the county magistrate, police chief and others to discuss secretly. We were all stopped outside the government office. It turned out that it was because of this!" Some officials suddenly realized and nodded.

"Don't worry, Ji Bu is just a wanderer, how can he fight against the emperor? Besides, Guanzhong is thousands of miles away from my Wuzhong, so he will definitely not escape here. The county magistrate is just preparing for the future. This matter has nothing to do with us. Come and drink!" Daisheng raised his wine glass.

Xiang Bo was relieved, but he still said uneasy: "I have many leisurely knights in Wuzhong. I wonder if I will be implicated?"

"Haha, even if you don't worry, Mr. Xiang is there when the county magistrate arranged the matter today, but he was just pretending. In a few days, the police officers and soldiers will inevitably relax. However, Mr. Xiang still tried his best to restrain the children and familiar people in the clan, so as not to be arrested by the police officers as bandits!" Dai Sheng said with a smile.
Chapter completed!