The mother and son entered the side hall on the other side. This was originally a small study room, but now it is used as an accounting room for the palace stewards who are responsible for organizing weddings.
Seeing Xie Yan coming over, the three stewards who were busy in the study quickly stood up to greet him.
Xie Yan waved his hand and motioned for them to go out first. Naturally, the three stewards did not dare to ask any more questions and quickly bowed and left.
But when she saw Princess Mu coming in behind Xie Yan, she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
Princess Mu's appearance, even though she is obviously no longer a woman of her prime, is still stunning.
"What's the matter? Just say it." Xie Yan sat down on the main seat and said calmly.
Seeing this, Princess Mu frowned slightly, her expression a bit sad, "Zhifei, are you still angry? Do you have to be like this?"
After all, she is also a mother. Although she has almost never fulfilled her responsibilities as a mother, she still feels sad when she sees her son being so indifferent and rude to her.
Xie Yan didn't answer.
Everyone in the study was dismissed by him, and no one even served tea. Of course, the two of them didn't care whether there was tea at this time.
Princess Mu looked at Xie Yan and whispered: "Mother, I know...it's been our fault these years, but...Zhifei, you can't do this to your father. After all, he is your biological father..."
"What did I do to him?" Xie Yan asked, "Did he be treated harshly by his second brother and his wife, and he was bedridden without medical treatment, or was he bullied by his servants and made life worse than death?"
"No..." Although Prince Mu'an and his wife didn't want to see their biological father, they didn't dare to treat her so harshly. As for her, they were even more polite, and their daily life was even a little better than before.
Xie Yan said: "In that case, there is no need to say it."
"But..." Princess Mu was a little anxious.
A faint smile suddenly appeared on Xie Yan's lips. He looked at the woman in front of him with a half-smile, "Mother."
For some reason, Princess Mu suddenly couldn't help but tremble.
Just listen to Xie Yan say: "You have such a bad memory, why can't you forget to trouble me for him?"
Princess Mu said: "I don't want to cause trouble for you, I just..."
Xie Yan didn't want to hear her explanation, "Since you have a bad memory, then... I'll say it now. I hope you won't forget it at least before tomorrow."
"What?" Princess Mu was stunned.
Xie Yan said: "If anything happens to him or anyone around him during tomorrow's wedding, your family will go live in Jinshui Village outside the city and never return to Shangyong in this life."
"No!" Princess Mu shouted in confusion as if she had heard something terrible.
Xie Yan looked at her calmly, his usually deep eyes looking dull.
Jinshui Village is not an ordinary royal courtyard, but a courtyard built in the middle of a lake dozens of miles away from Shangyong.
The only thing that can be seen around is the lake and the mountains in the distance. The island in the center of the lake is not large, and the Zhuangzi on the island is not as majestic or grand as the ordinary royal courtyard, or elegant and exquisite, just a few ordinary ones.
If there is anything special about the courtyard, it is that the walls are extremely high.
It was originally a place where the royal family imprisoned members of the royal family who had committed serious crimes but were not worthy of death or were inconvenient to be killed.
In order to prevent the imprisoned people from escaping, there were armed guards stationed around the place, which was heavily guarded. It was not easy for even experts to get in and out, let alone those pampered nobles of the clan.
Princess Mu and King Mu happened to be one of the very few people who were lucky enough to go to Jinshui Village and still come back.
Many years ago, some of Gaozu's enemies were imprisoned there, and they followed Gaozu and the Empress Dowager to the island.
Princess Mu still remembers that the small courtyard was not as big as her bedroom, and the high walls were mottled and old. Because of the high walls, the entire courtyard was almost light-tight except for some light from above the courtyard.
.
So even though it was sunny outside, the yard was still dark and gloomy.
It was midsummer when they went there, and the courtyard was not only dark and gloomy, but also so hot and stuffy that it made people breathless.
All these left a deep impression on Princess Mu, who had been pampered and had never suffered any hardship since she was a child.
Xie Yan said: "If you don't want to go, just remember what I said."
Princess Mu's face turned pale, and she looked at the tall and handsome man in front of her tremblingly, "Zhifei, you can't do this, we..."
"I know who you are, no need to say anything more." Xie Yan stood up and said calmly: "Remember what I said."
After saying that, he ignored Princess Mu and walked past her.
Princess Mu slumped down in her chair helplessly, watching helplessly as Xie Yan left without stopping.
I don't know how long it took before another figure appeared at the door.
Princess Mu thought it was Xie Yan who had left and returned. She looked up with some joy, but then quickly lowered her head in disappointment.
The person who came in was not Xie Yan, but the palace chief Shi Zhu Siming.
Princess Mu didn't know Zhu Siming, and Zhu Siming didn't care. He walked up to Princess Mu and placed an inconspicuous medicine bottle in front of Princess Mu.
Only then did Princess Mu look at him twice, and Zhu Siming said politely: "Mother Princess, our prince said that he does not want to see Prince Mu tomorrow."
Princess Mu looked at the medicine bottle on the table in shock, then looked at Zhu Siming, shocked and angry, "You...what do you want to do?!"
Did Zhifei actually want her to poison the prince? How could he, how dare he?!
Zhu Siming was neither impatient nor angry, and said: "Don't worry, Princess, this is not a bad thing, it won't kill anyone."
"He, he wants me..." Princess Mu opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
Her son really wanted her to drug her husband, but he still told her in such an open and aboveboard way. He didn't even discuss it with her privately, so he wasn't afraid of her...
Zhu Siming smiled gently and courteously, "If the concubine doesn't like this, she can think of other ways. In short, the prince will not be able to step out of the Mu'an Palace for the whole day tomorrow. After all, the prince is the only son of the concubine, and the concubine also
You have to hurt him. Tomorrow is the prince’s big day. If you make him unhappy, the consequences..." It will be very serious.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Princess Mu instantly remembered Xie Yan's words before, her face turned pale and she said nothing.
Zhu Siming stopped persuading and just said: "Concubine, please think about it carefully. If you want to go back, I will send someone to take you back. In addition..."
Zhu Siming hesitated for a moment and hesitated to speak.
Princess Mu looked at him with a cold face, as if to say: What else do you want to say?
Zhu Siming laughed and said: "Someone asked me to give the princess a warning. In fact... right now is the most beneficial situation for the princess. The more stable our prince's power and position is, the better it will be for the princess. In the future, the prince
What, isn't it all your decision? As long as the prince is alive, no one will dare to do anything to you. So... What good will it do to the concubine to displease the prince?"
Princess Mu's face changed slightly, and her slender jade-like fingers involuntarily clenched her sleeves, "You...what do you know, I..."
Zhu Siming's smile was still gentle, but it was vaguely sarcastic. He said lightly: "Of course I don't understand, but... the concubine has been understanding for decades, so it's useless? You might as well try another method."
After saying this, Zhu Siming ignored Princess Mu, bowed her hands respectfully and left.
Princess Mu leaned slumped in her chair, her face a little pale.
She stared intently at the small medicine bottle at her hand, but she seemed a little crazy.
Zhu Siming left the courtyard and when passing by the garden, he saw Luo Jinyan standing in the newly renovated rockery pavilion with his hands behind his hands.
There are various kinds of flowers placed outside the pavilion, which makes it look like they are blooming in spring.
Zhu Siming walked up, bowed his hands respectfully and said, "Mr. Luo."
Luo Jinyan looked back at him and said: "The Prince Regent's Palace is really powerful. In less than half a month, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Palace has completely changed its appearance."
Zhu Siming said with a smile: "Young Master is ridiculous. After all, there is not enough time. I just added some color. What will happen in the future... I have to trouble the princess."
Luo Jinyan raised his hand and touched a pot of chrysanthemums in front of him and said, "In this season, it is not easy to find so many flowers in the imperial city at once."
Shangyong naturally also has various flowers specially cultivated for the rich and powerful to enjoy in autumn and winter, but it is not an easy task to supply so many at once.
Zhu Siming nodded and smiled: "Indeed, fortunately, the generosity of the masters at Huguo Zen Temple has solved our urgent need."
Luo Jinyan nodded and did not continue to ask.
Zhu Siming didn't say anything more. He only glanced at Luo Jinyan for a few times and then quickly lowered his eyes, hiding the caution in his eyes.
The eldest son of the Luo family...it is better to say that he is a military commander and has the potential to become a powerful minister.
He originally just came to the Prince Regent's Mansion to see how the arrangements were going. Just because he accidentally saw Princess Mu passing by in the garden, he was able to come up with such a sinister plan to restrain King Mu and Princess Mu in the blink of an eye.
Zhu Siming even felt that he didn't think carefully at all and just said it casually.
Thinking of this, Zhu Siming couldn't help but ask: "Young Master, do you really think that Concubine Mu will...act according to Young Master's ideas?"
Luo Jinyan glanced at him sideways, smiled calmly and said, "Concubine Mu is a paranoid person."
"What do you mean?" Zhu Siming was confused.
Luo Jinyan said: "If you can't get what you want, you will never live in peace for the rest of your life. But... I don't know how the Yao family taught their daughter back then. She seemed to regard love as her only thing. She disdained conspiracy and relied on her own infatuation.
It can move people."
Zhu Siming looked at Luo Jinyan in surprise. He had never heard of such a statement.
But...it's not strange for a girl's family to look down on relationships. To put it aside, didn't the second girl of the Luo family give in too much earlier?
But one obsession lasts for thirty years. Is this a natural infatuation?
Luo Jinyan glanced sideways at him, with a hint of a smile on his lips.
Zhu Siming couldn't help but feel excited, and he quickly secretly apologized in his heart for arranging the princess.
Luo Jinyan quickly withdrew his gaze and continued: "She has been obsessed with it for more than thirty years. Is she really so infatuated or is she used to it or refuses to admit her failure? If you give her another way at this time, how do you know she won't?
Walk?"
Zhu Siming frowned and said: "But the young master just said that she is not... unwilling to use conspiracy and tricks."
Luo Jinyan smiled and said: "Is the current King Mu the same as before? Is the current Princess Mu the same as before? Even if she doesn't think so, she has the upper hand in the current situation. And people... once they find out that they are the one
The one with a stronger background and a tougher background would find it difficult not to vent out all the grievances she had suffered. Perhaps, she would soon find that the person she had been obsessed with her whole life was not worth her efforts at all, and she
It’s not as infatuated as she thought.”
"So what?" Zhu Siming said.
Luo Jinyan said: "Either torture King Mu, or torture herself, at least... there is a high probability that they will not have time to torment others."
"..." Zhu Siming was silent for a long time before he couldn't help but sigh: "Why is Mrs. Mu so infatuated with King Mu, even ignoring her only son?"
Whether they are common people or noble women, most of them actually regard their sons as more important than their husbands. It does not mean that they have no feelings for their husbands, but their husbands may belong to others, but their sons are always theirs. Their husbands may not be reliable, but their sons will be theirs.
rely on.
After all, unforgivable sins such as rebelliousness and unfilial piety are almost reserved for children and grandchildren, but there is no law that stipulates that a husband must be devoted to his wife.
"Then who knows?" Luo Jinyan chuckled, turned around and walked out of the pavilion and walked down the rockery.
Standing on the rockery, Zhu Siming heard Luo Jinyan's voice coming from the bottom of the mountain, "Just looking back at you makes me miss you in the morning and evening. My soul will follow you and I will never regret it. I miss you endlessly..."
It was obviously a poem of love and affection, but when he read it, it always had a cold meaning.
"..." Mr. Luo, you actually still read this kind of poetry?
Xie Yan didn't have time to pay attention to what Princess Mu would do after she returned. Naturally, what Zhu Siming did and said to Princess Mu couldn't be hidden from Xie Yan.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! In fact, Zhu Siming got Xie Yan's consent to meet Princess Mu.
Tomorrow is the wedding day, and Xie Yan doesn't have that much time to take care of the people in Prince Mu's Mansion. Even if Luo Jinyan does nothing, he still won't let Prince Mu step out of Prince Mu's Mansion tomorrow.
At this time, sitting in front of Xie Yan was Wei Changting, who looked disheveled.
Although Prince Wei was still well-dressed and elegant, there were dark shadows visible to the naked eye under his eyes, and he was a bit thinner than before.
Seeing his appearance, Xie Yan felt a little apologetic, "I just returned to Beijing and I'm not resting at home. What are you doing out here?"
Wei Changting sneered, "If I come back a few days later, will I have to catch up with the prince and princess to congratulate Lin'er?"
Xie Yan said: "It happened suddenly."
Of course Wei Changting knew that something unexpected happened, but as a man who was ordered to travel all the way to Jiazhou to work hard, he couldn't help but feel a little irritable.
This trip was not about traveling with a beautiful lady. Before they arrived in Jiazhou, they received news that His Highness the Regent was about to get married.
Looking at the distance to Jiazhou, Prince Wei felt that he couldn't make the trip in vain, so he hurried to get the things and hurried back all the way without stopping.
The road alternated between land and water, and the rush was such that Prince Wei was afraid of missing Xie Yan's wedding.
Even when he was marching on the battlefield, he had never been so hard.
Xie Yan said: "Thank you for your hard work."
Wei Changting snorted softly before giving up, gently knocking on the long wooden box on the table, and asked: "This...it seems that it is no longer needed now. I heard that the Yangxin Gu family took the initiative to come to help.
?”
Xie Yan nodded slightly.
Wei Changting raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "The Qi family of Jiazhou took the initiative to send Liuguang Brocade, and the Gu family of Yangxin took the initiative to come to the house to make wedding clothes for the future princess. These people... have they finally remembered their family's inheritance or are they going to carry it forward?"
Xie Yan said: "It has been more than thirty years since the founding of Dasheng. If those people still want to hide their power and bide their time, I am afraid that there will really be no place for them in the future."
"That's true." Wei Changting nodded in agreement, "Take the silk industry as an example. The Gu family and the Qi family have become worse than before in recent years, but the new families in the south are quite willing to take their place."
Xie Yan said: "Silk has been a huge profit maker since ancient times, and most of those families have close relationships with people in power in the DPRK."
Wei Changting was startled, and after a long while he couldn't help but cursed in a low voice: "We were born and died on the battlefield, and they made a lot of money just sitting on the Yongdao. Those new students have the support of the powerful people in the court, so it's no wonder they are anxious.
.But...why did they come to you? They should know that even if you are willing to protect them, you will not help them suppress others."
Xie Yan said: "Because, the people they originally wanted to rely on only wanted to use them as gold and silver mountains that could be accessed at any time. Although these old clans with large amounts of wealth are not courageous, they are not fools."
Wei Changting thought for a while and smiled with some gloating: "No wonder Qi took the initiative to show his kindness to you. Think about it, the foundation of the new generation is shallow and it is even those people who are sponsoring it behind the scenes. Trees like the Qi family and the Gu family have deep roots.
On the contrary, it is difficult to control, so it would be more convenient to simply replace it."
Xie Yan said: "It seems that you don't know anything about this. You will report to the Ministry of Household Affairs in a few days."
Wei Changting was startled and almost jumped up from his chair, "Wait! Why should I go to the Ministry of Household Affairs?!" Does the person named Xie remember that he was a military general?
Xie Yan said: "Gu Jue is enough in the army and I don't need you. You have been back in the capital for so long and you can't just wander around all day without doing business. When you look back, the Marquis of Lingchuan still thinks that I have neglected you because of my restrictions."
Wei Changting pointed at Xie Yan and was speechless for a moment. He was just wandering around all day instead of doing anything serious?! He was almost exhausted, okay?
Xie Yan had no one to do all the trouble and left it to him, but he still had the nerve to say...huh?
Wei Changting suddenly became quiet, "If I take over the household affairs, will I no longer have to do chores?"
Anyway, it is impossible for Xie Yan to directly let him be the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. If there is any important matter, it will be done by a tall man, so he can have more leisure time.
Xie Yan glanced at him and said: "Of course, these days are just to familiarize you with the environment of the imperial city." He is not someone who orders his subordinates around without restraint.
"That's okay." Wei Changting was satisfied and said: "I'll go, what rank? I was originally a second-rank general, even if I give up martial arts and become civilized, it can't be too low, right?"
Xie Yan nodded and said: "The old gentleman from the Ministry of Revenue will retire early, and it has been decided that the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue will take over. You go and fill the vacancy he has vacated."
The right minister of the Ministry of Finance is also a second-rank official, and Wei Changting is quite satisfied, but...
"Didn't you say that the old man will work until next year?"
Xie Yan glanced at him without saying anything, but Wei Changting soon understood.
He couldn't help but clicked his tongue and said: "It seems that the old guy knew that there would be no peace in the future, so he just left early because he didn't want to get involved. He is also an old fox!"
Xie Yan said: "The person who is about to take office is from Prince Ning."
Wei Changting sighed, "I know that if good things happen, it won't be my turn. You want me to keep an eye on him?"
Xie Yan said: "I want you to control the housing department as much as possible."
Wei Changting said angrily: "He is a minister, from the first rank. I am a minister, from the second rank. He is a civil servant, and has been in the officialdom of Shangyong all year round. I am a military general, and I just came back from the battlefield. I can't even recognize the officials in the court.
.”
Although the difference is only half a level, is it a huge difference? What's more, he has Prince Ning as his backer, do you really think he is a soft persimmon?
Xie Yan said: "This is your problem. If you overthrow him, the position of Minister will be given to you."
"..." Wei Changting didn't know for a moment whether to thank the prince for the promotion or to scold Xie Yan, his uncle.
Xie Yan said solemnly: "Find out the true situation of the treasury as soon as possible."
Wei Changting was startled, and then he became more serious, "What happened?"
Xie Yan shook his head slightly and said: "It doesn't matter for the time being, but the treasury is empty after years of fighting, and Qin Tianjian told me that there may be a severe drought next year. We are not sure yet, he just reminded me privately."
Wei Changting looked solemn and pondered for a moment before nodding and saying: "I understand, don't worry."
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit solemn, Wei Changting said with a smile: "It's hard to say what will happen next year, but tomorrow will be your wedding. I wish the prince a happy marriage and a son soon, how about that?"
Xie Yan's eyes softened a little, and he nodded slightly: "Thank you."
