In the largest guest house to the east of Honglu Temple, Xie Jingchen was sitting above the guest room, holding a cup of tea and looking at it carefully. His eyes were empty and full of worry.
Counting the days, it’s time for little Zhizhi to enter Beijing.
Uncle Xie Liu and Li Shiyao on the side looked at him gloomily, not knowing what the prince was thinking.
After pondering for a long time, Uncle Xie Liu couldn't bear the loneliness in the hall and said dissatisfiedly: "Our Baiyu delegation has been in Beijing for seven or eight days, and the emperor of the Dahe Empire neither summoned nor sent anyone to discuss peace talks.
What's the point of this?"
Hearing Uncle Xie Liu's complaint, Xie Jingchen finally raised his head and replied with a smile: "It's them who should be anxious, we just need to wait patiently."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a noise outside the guest house.
Several people immediately stood up and saw Ji Cen'an leading a group of sergeants in with a solemn expression.
"Commander Ji, what does this mean?"
Uncle Xie Liu watched the people coming in with vigilance.
"Prince Xie, I'm offended."
Ji Cen'an cupped his hands and said: "Someone has reported that your country has sent spies to disturb the borders of our empire and incite civil strife in our country. Your Majesty has ordered that, as a precaution, the returning envoys are requested to stay in Honglu Temple temporarily and not to go out at will.
"
"What, that doesn't make sense."
Xie Liushu said angrily: "I, the Crown Prince, personally came to your country for peace talks in Kyoto, how could I do such an unjust thing again and land myself in jail?"
After a pause, he looked at Ji Cen'an angrily and yelled rudely: "Which traitor wants to trap me, which is unjust? Please make it clear to Commander Ji."
"Your Highness, there is no need to panic. I have already mentioned this matter. It is just a temporary measure."
Ji Cen'an glanced at Xie Jingchen casually and knew that he had some evil thoughts towards Chu Nanzhi. After all, his brother-in-law had advised him on this matter, so he said clearly:
"To be honest, the chaos in Changning County has spread to several counties. According to reports from the Malays, your army has also gathered at the border. King Pingning was ordered to go to conquer, so Princess Pingning personally reported to His Majesty to suspend the peace talks."
"Princess Pingning?"
"Little Zhizhi?"
Everyone looked surprised.
Xie Jingchen shook his head in disbelief and said: "Impossible. Princess Pingning knows the basics best. How could she suggest stopping the peace talks at this juncture?"
"What's impossible?"
Li Shiyao's eyes were full of anger: "This woman is a wolf-hearted person. How could she remember His Highness the Prince half well?"
"Don't talk nonsense."
Xie Jingchen immediately stopped Li Shiyao, looked at Ji Cen'an with warm eyes, and said warmly: "May I ask Commander Ji where Princess Pingning is at the moment? I know that you have always had a good relationship with Prince Pingning. If peace talks cannot be reached now,
The situation in Pingning Prefecture is not optimistic either. Commander Ji should be well aware of this. How could Princess Pingning come up with such a strategy?"
Although he had already guessed in his heart that little Zhizhi wanted to prevent his father from sending troops by detaining him, he still did not believe that little Zhizhi would use him so ruthlessly.
Moreover, her sincerity in the peace talks was evident. She came to Jinling City in person, so naturally she would not play any dirty tricks. She should not be so distrustful of herself.
Seeing that he did not give up, Ji Cen'an smiled coldly and said: "Prince Xie, Princess Pingning did this for the safety of you and your country's mission. I heard that your brother did not agree with the peace talks. This is the only way.
, so that the emperor of your country can make the right decision and protect the safety of Prince Xie."
After hearing this, Xie Jingchen looked at the dense crowd of sergeants outside the courtyard and had no choice but to sit down.
"This damn woman."
Uncle Xie Liu was so angry that he gritted his teeth and secretly clenched his fists.
Fortunately, he took people to Haikang County to rescue her.
It's just that I have already arrived in Jingling City, and now I have no choice but to be manipulated by others.
As night fell, in Zhaochun Palace, Chu Nanzhi led Sang Qi to the sleeping place prepared by Yin Enci for their master and servant.
The ancestor was so happy about the quadruplets that he left the little ones in his bedroom after dinner.
Taking advantage of the fact that there were only two masters and servants in the inner room, Chu Nanzhi asked Sang Qi directly about what Sang Kun had told her to do and said, "Sang Qi, your brother said that if we encounter difficulties when we arrive in the capital,
I can look for you, are you really so powerful?"
"Master is joking. How can this slave be so capable?"
Sang Qi smiled and replied: "Brother is a sensible person. The master is pregnant now. He should have stayed in Luyan Port to enjoy family happiness with the master, your highness, and the princesses. But at this time, he chose to go to Beijing. There must be something wrong with him.
A last resort."
"That Menghulu understands me very well."
Thinking of Sang Kun's calm and reserved handsome appearance, Chu Nanzhi felt extremely at ease.
Sang Qi added with a smile: "Although this servant is stupid, I can guess what the master and brother are thinking. The situation in Pingning Prefecture is difficult now. The master must have come to the capital to help the emperor and ancestors stabilize the situation in the capital."
"So what your brother said should be to deal with King Qinghe for me, right?"
Chu Nanzhi looked directly at her with firm eyes.
Sang Qi was grateful and respectful to this woman from the bottom of her heart, and replied without any concealment: "If the master needs it, I will do my best to do it."
"It seems that you brothers and sisters are really not ordinary people."
Chu Nanzhi sat up, pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed, and asked with a smile: "My good Sangqi, so you are ready to reveal your identity as brother and sister to me now, right?"
Sang Qi's eyes darkened and she nodded heavily: "Master, although my brother and I have concealed some things from you, it is true that as we said when we met you, we have been living in the Dahe Empire since we were children."
The green pupils blinked slightly, and Sang Qi said attentively:
"Back then, I accompanied my mother and concubine back to my grandmother's house to visit relatives. On the way back, I was ambushed and assassinated by Sang Yan, the only son of my father's favorite concubine Longliang. My mother and concubine died tragically under Sang Yan's horse's hoofs to save me. I luckily escaped back to the tribal palace.
I wanted to identify my enemy, but not only did I not gain the trust of my father, but I was framed by Longliang's mother and son, and almost died. It was my brother and the wet nurse next to his mother who sneaked into Longliang's tent at night, killed the thief, and took me
He was rescued secretly."
"I see."
Chu Nanzhi felt sad for a while.
I didn't expect Sang Kun to be so courageous.
At that time, their siblings, who were only a few years old, could actually avenge their mother.
"What happened next?"
Chu Nanzhi stared at her and asked impatiently.
"Later, the nurse took us brother and sister and fled all the way to the Dahe Empire."
Sang Qi smiled bitterly and sighed: "Not long after arriving in the Dahe Empire, the wet nurse died of illness. My brother and I depended on each other for more than ten years. We were trafficked and turned around by people for more than ten years. It was not until we met the master that we lived a stable life.
days."
"As long as I am here, I will never let you and Sang Kun be kidnapped again in the future."
Chu Nanzhi hugged her tightly and comforted her softly: "Now your lord is no longer the little county magistrate he was when we first met. When we return to Luyan Port, I will ask him to give you two brothers and sisters a betrothal document.
If you want to stay in the Dahe Empire in the future, you don’t have to hide anymore, I will give you two brothers and sisters a share of the family property."
When the master first mentioned this matter, Sang Qi was quite moved.
Having served so many masters, I have never met someone as kind-hearted as her. She not only gives them generous money every month, but also buys property for their brothers and sisters.
It is truly a blessing to meet such a master, but I no longer have this blessing.