Early the next morning, He Xiangxu went to Chui Gong Hall as usual to assist Emperor Wei in approving the seal.
To be fair, he didn't really approve of the matter between his grandson He Xinxian and Princess Yulong. After all, as far as he knew, Princess Yulong's concubine Xiao Shu'ai was a woman who had left a grudge in the emperor's heart. Judging from Princess Yulong's behavior in the palace these years
Since she was not favored, she knew that the emperor had a grudge against Xiao Shuai and even the Xiao family.
The He family married Princess Yulong. Isn't this asking for trouble?
However, due to his grandson's pleading, He Xiangxu had no choice, so he kept looking for opportunities while in Chui Gong Hall to test the emperor's tone to see if the matter could finally be accomplished.
He Xiangxu selected the more sensitive ones from the many chapters and submitted them to the Long Case. He was wondering how to speak to the emperor.
Unexpectedly, when the emperor saw him standing next to the dragon case for a long time without returning to his seat, he was also puzzled. He smiled and joked: "He Xiangxu, why do I see you so distracted today? Why, do you know the destiny?"
Hearing the emperor's joke, He Xiangxu smiled: "I'm an old man, maybe I can survive for a few more years."
"Haha." The emperor laughed, obviously realizing that this confidant minister wanted to talk to him about something, so he pushed the seal on the dragon case and stretched heartily to relieve the pain after sitting for a long time.
"Ahem... Your Majesty, don't lose your Long Yi." The eunuch Tong Xian reminded him in a low voice. After all, as the emperor, it is not appropriate to show such stretching behavior in front of his ministers. To be more serious, this
It's called losing the emperor's etiquette.
You must know that the two eunuchs who served as ministers to the eunuchs behind Tong Xian would record the emperor's daily words and deeds, and may write them into official history as a consideration for future generations to evaluate the king. Therefore, they must be treated seriously.
"You want me to relax my muscles and bones?" Emperor Wei glanced at Tong Xian angrily and cursed with a smile.
I have to admit that the Emperor of Wei was definitely an enlightened monarch.
Tong Xian laughed bitterly a few times, and He Xiangxu also laughed twice.
After stretching his muscles and bones, Emperor Wei obviously felt much more comfortable. He smiled and asked He Xiangxu, "Tell me, what's the matter?"
"That's it..." He Xiangxu thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty knows that I have a grandson..."
"He Xinxian." Emperor Wei interrupted He Xiangxu's words and said with a smile: "I know him, he came third in the new examination... Speaking of which, I still remember your grandson's literary talents... Xiangxu,
Don’t blame me for giving the number one and number two prize to others.”
He Xiangxu heard the words and replied with a smile: "Your Majesty intends to improve the enthusiasm of the poor people to serve the imperial court. He has good intentions, how can the veteran dare to complain?... After all, the Wei Dynasty is not entirely supported by the ability of aristocratic families. It is indeed necessary to improve the poor people.
I also have read the article about Kou Zheng and Luo Yao, and my grandson is not a little bit behind them."
"Well." The Emperor nodded with satisfaction and said, "That's good if you think so... In a few days, I will promote He Xinxian to the Sixth Department. You can just inform Mei and congratulate me. I will agree to this!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." He Xiangxu bowed his hand and declined politely: "But the old minister's grandson intends to take the exam again in three years and will definitely win the top spot."
"Oh?" Emperor Wei was a little surprised when he heard this. He nodded in approval and said, "You are ambitious! You are worthy of being our young hero!" At this point, the emperor was suddenly stunned and asked curiously: "Just now, what did you say happened to your grandson?
?”
"It's like this. Sun Xinxian is already ten and eighty years old. The old minister is very concerned about his marriage. However, the boy actually said that he already has a woman he admires..."
"Hoho." Emperor Wei smiled: "Interesting...Which family's daughter does he like? I'll make the decision for him."
"It's...a princess." He Xiangxu replied bravely.
"Oh?" Emperor Wei's expression became weird, with a hint of smile in the weirdness: "Have you seen my daughter? It won't be at the Wende Hall on the Dragon Boat Festival, right?"
"This veteran doesn't know either." He Xiangxu apologized twice, but seeing that the emperor did not object, he felt a little relieved. He said in his heart: As expected, my He family is qualified to marry the princess.
"He Xinxian... Well, this guy is pretty good." The emperor nodded and asked, "Which daughter of mine is she?"
"It's Princess Yulong." He Xiangxu whispered.
From the side, the eunuch Tong Xian looked at He Xiangsu in shock after hearing this.
And Emperor Wei's expression gradually darkened.
"Your Majesty?" Seeing that the emperor had not spoken for a long time, He Xiangxu was puzzled. He quietly raised his head, but suddenly caught a glimpse of the emperor looking at him with a blue face. He was suddenly shocked.
"Yulong...Yulong..." The emperor tapped his fingers on the dragon case and looked at He Xiangxu with sharp eyes. There was a hint of chill in his calm words: "Xiangxu, what did you learn?"
Got it?
He Xiangxu was startled, and with a bit of fear and uneasiness, he quickly said: "I don't know what your Majesty means by these words."
"..." The emperor looked at He Xiangxu coldly, and saw that although his face was frightened and uneasy, there was indeed a puzzled look in his eyes, so he said lightly: "I will think about it, and you can go back to your seat."
…
He Xiangxu's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly understood: Not only did the emperor not feel relieved, but the grudge in his heart was probably even deeper.
As for why this happened, he really couldn't figure it out.
Because in his opinion, even if the emperor has a prejudice against Xiao Shuai, more than ten years have passed, and the hatred has probably faded, and he should not be able to turn his anger on Princess Yulong.
But He Xiangxu saw from the emperor's cold eyes that Princess Yulong seemed to be a taboo.
That day, He Xiangxu didn't know how he got home in such a state of confusion, but the first thing he did when he got home was to call his grandson He Xinxian to the study.
"Xinxian, you can no longer have anything to do with Princess Yulong!"
He Xinxian, who was originally feeling mixed emotions, felt his heart suddenly freeze when he heard these words.
He immediately realized that the news that the eighth prince Zhao Hongrun had learned might not be groundless.
After one night, He Xinxian arrived at the Hanlin Office worriedly. He had made an appointment with the eighth prince Zhao Hongrun and would give him news today and tomorrow.
Around noon, Zhao Hongrun led the Zongwei to the Hanlin Office and met with He Xinxian.
"Your Highness, the Eighth Highness, my ancestor came home yesterday and sternly told me to cut off contact with Princess Yulong. Look at this..."
It seemed that He Xiangxu had hit a wall with his father, and maybe he had discovered something... From this point of view, the marriage was not a fiction.
Zhao Hongrun frowned and thought.
Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, He Xinxian became even more confused and said eagerly: "Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince, you should think of a way."
"I think?" Zhao Hongrun glanced at He Xinxian in astonishment, and said angrily and funny: "You should be the one who thinks about it!"
"I...I think?"
"That's right." Zhao Hongrun took a long breath and said calmly: "From this point of view, the marriage proposal should be true. Now there are only two ways in front of you...either fight for it or give up."
"Give up..." He Xinxian wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked with difficulty: "How do you say give up? How do you say strive for it?"
Hearing this, Zhao Hongrun glanced at He Xiangxu and said calmly: "What's the explanation for giving up? It's nothing more than cutting off the relationship. As for fighting for it... the worst result is that you take the imperial sister away and fly away."
"How...how did this happen?" He Xinxian's eyes widened in shock, and he said in panic: "If I did such a disgraceful thing, wouldn't it affect my family?"
"What's disgraceful?" Zhao Hongrun looked at He Xinxian coldly.
He Xinxian was shocked when he heard this and knew that he had made a mistake. He quickly said: "Your Highness, please don't take offense. I am just worried that Your Majesty will blame the family. I have no other intention..." After that, he said with a pleading face: "Your Highness, can't you
Do you want to ask for mercy from His Majesty?"
Zhao Hongrun glanced at He Xinxian indifferently and said coldly: "Why do you think I asked you to invite Mr. He to test it? I suspect that my father blocked the news to prevent me from learning about this matter... Believe it or not, as long as I go
If you ask Chuigongdian carefully about this matter, you will most likely be imprisoned."
"This..." He Xinxian's face was full of disappointment.
Looking at his expression, Zhao Hongrun was also disappointed. He threw something to him and said lightly: "After you have thought about it, come to the palace to find me... If you give up, ask someone to give this thing to you."
Just bring it back to me."
After saying that, Zhao Hongrun turned around and left with the clan guards.
He Xinxian looked down and realized that what Zhao Hongrun threw to him was a token that could be used in the palace.
The days passed, and He Xinxian was distracted every day, always struggling with this matter.
It is undeniable that he has a deep affection for Princess Yulong, but for this feeling, if his family is implicated, what should he do?
About seven or eight days later, news spread throughout Daliang, the capital of Chen, that an envoy from Chu State had arrived at Yongqiu and would soon meet with the Emperor of Wei to present his credentials.
Both the government and the public were baffled by this. After all, in their minds, who did not know the truth, Wei and Chu had been at war with each other for many years. How could Chu send envoys to meet Emperor Wei?
After hearing the news, He Xinxian finally couldn't sit still. With the token lent to him by Zhao Hongrun, he entered the palace and came to Wenzhao Pavilion.
"Think clearly?"
When Zhao Hongrun saw him, he had no other nonsense.
"Yes." He Xinxian nodded solemnly and said in a deep voice: "I believe that even if His Majesty is blamed in the future, His Highness the Eighth Prince will deal with my He family and not make my He family suffer. As for me... I have already prepared to be punished.
I am preparing to be expelled from the He family."
Pretty smart...
Zhao Hongrun glanced at He Xinxian with some surprise.
"Your Highness, what should we do next?" He Xinxian asked solemnly.
Zhao Hongrun smiled slightly: "The next step is my business... Tonight, at Shiliting in the southern suburbs. If the imperial sister is willing to go with you... then!" As he said, he threw a token away.
To He Xinxian.
He Xinxian took the token and took a closer look, only to find that the front of the token was engraved with King Yong, and the reverse was engraved with the words "City Entrance and Exit".
Unlike Zhao Hongrun, who had already taken back the inscription on the token indicating the entrance and exit of the palace.
Obviously, this is a pass token that allows free entry and exit of Chendu Daliang, the token of King Yong.
"Thank you!"
He Xinxian took a deep breath and solemnly hid it close to his body.