Yao Xu and Qin Ting returned to the imperial capital just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival. They met the imperial envoy team headed by Li Shangshu in Jizhou and were invited to have dinner together at Governor Chen's mansion in the evening. Because the two consorts and Li Shangshu were still on the road the next day,
Everyone only drank plain wine and talked during the dinner.
The weather is the best in August. Governor Chen did not hold a big banquet, but set up a small table in the open pavilion of the mansion. The stars and moon in the sky and the bright lights outside the pavilion were reflected in the lake, and everyone's laughter rippled in the water.
ripples away.
Governor Chen mainly asked the two princes-in-law if they had seen their nephew Chen Jian in Xinyi. Qin Ting was eating two pieces of crispy lotus root. Yao Xu was in charge of the diplomatic affairs. Yao Xu said, "Young Master Chen is very good.
He is respected by His Highness the Third Highness."
Governor Chen asked, "How are you doing?"
"It's well-known."
"I think so." Governor Chen was convinced, and he raised his thin eyelids with emotion, "When his father and I were young, we ate at the same table and slept in the bed, and his cousin asked him to be sent home.
"The Chen family are all good-looking. Strictly speaking, the facial features of Chen Jian and Governor Chen are quite similar. However, Governor Chen has a cheerful and friendly smile, while Chen Jian has always been as cold as ice. At this moment, Governor Chen's Maitreya Buddha
His face suddenly cooled down, and the coldness and ridicule was even stronger than Chen Jian's. Governor Chen sneered, "He is really a promising man who kills relatives for justice!"
Li Shangshu was also full of worries and advised Governor Chen to look away, "The child is still young, and when I was young, everyone was jealous of evil. When I was young, let alone my uncle who committed crimes, even if my own father broke the law, I would be unselfish."
Yao and Qin: Li Shangshu is really blue!!!
Governor Chen, "Who doesn't know that you are a posthumous son?" Your father had already died when you were born, and I heard that your father was a famous prodigal when he was still alive, the kind of person that no one will miss at all.
Yao and Qin:...
"That's what it means." Li Shangshu filled Governor Chen's glass with wine, "Someone in your clan really committed a crime, what can you do if you call the child? Do you think it's just an elder in my clan?"
"How could I be so ignorant? You don't know, his clan uncle went to him to intercede. It's hard to explain, but that's all. But what did that bastard do? He coaxed his clan uncle to say everything was fine.
He had the skills to do something secretly, and on the first night when he arrested someone, he invited his uncle to have a drink and talk about his relationship with his nephew. As a result, he turned against him the next day and threw him in jail. The evidence is overwhelming!"
Governor Chen gritted his teeth angrily, "What is this! When he was a child, his clan uncle took him hunting on horseback in the countryside! Now in the blink of an eye, he treated his clan uncle as prey."
Li Shangshu really sympathized with Governor Chen, thinking that if the Bodhisattva bless His Highness the Third Highness, Chen Zhuangyuan would definitely be the head of the Chen family in the future. With his viciousness, ordinary people could not defeat him.
"When children grow up, they each have their own thoughts." Li Shangshu sighed with emotion.
Governor Chen picked up his wine cup and walked away with Li Shangshu, sighing deeply, "Who says it's not the case?"
Governor Chen asked Li Shangshu about his brother's lawsuit. Li Shangshu's eyes wandered past the two princes-in-law, "They are not outsiders. I, Lao Li, can tell the truth in private. King Pingjiang has served as a minister in the Ministry of Punishment."
How can the lawsuit be based on facts? King Pingjiang knows better than us. Mr. Chen’s case and file are all written in four words, and the evidence is as solid as a mountain."
"This is not my nephew, this is a wolf." Governor Chen poured wine for Li Shangshu, his eyes moist and sad, "That day, the officers and soldiers of Northern Xinjiang escorted my cousin back to the imperial capital. When I passed through Jizhou, I went to visit. Everyone was there.
He is so haggard, and he doesn’t even have a pair of good shoes on his feet. I don’t dare to cry out for him, but my heart is broken.”
The two of them took the wine and another one left. Li Shangshu said in his heart, Old Chen, Old Chen, you are really worthy of Chen Zhuangyuan, his uncle. I see Chen Zhuangyuan’s ability to pretend to fool people. I can’t believe that he is just telling you. Look at you.
The pretense is really impressive. I am also worried to death. Northern Xinjiang is so popular, but we are all making a living in the imperial capital. Whoever calls me will not worry!
Li Shangshu drank the plain wine with sadness and sighed with Governor Chen.
Fortunately, Governor Chen did not sigh all night. He was still looking after the two consorts, especially Qin. Seeing that the big day was coming, Governor Chen smiled, "A few days ago, an official ship from the Department of Internal Affairs heading south arrived at Tongzhou Port.
On the other side of the river, people are buying dowries for the eldest princess. On the day of your wedding, Prince Consort of Qin, I will ask your majesty to see if I can return to the imperial capital to enjoy the wedding banquet between you and the eldest princess."
Qin Ting also had a hint of joy on his face, "It's an honor for me and the princess to come, sir."
"The prince-in-law is being polite."
Qin Ting Yao Xu returned to the imperial capital and brought back first-hand and most direct information about Northern Xinjiang. However, in fact, the two consorts could not provide much useful information because most of them were public events.
Empress Dowager Lan gave a banquet in the palace, and the most asked questions were about Mu Anzhi and his wife, and about the twins. Qin Ting was taciturn, and Yao Xu was as gentle as a spring breeze, "It's a coincidence, the day we arrived in Xinyi, it was exactly
When the third sister-in-law gave birth, the third brother was so worried that he kept waiting in the courtyard. Around noon, the third sister-in-law gave birth safely. The two children were born exactly the same. If they wore the same clothes, except for the third brother and the third sister-in-law,
, Anyway, Brother Qin and I can’t tell which one is Dalang and which one is Erlang.”
Queen Mother Lan laughed out loud, "How is the child? Is he fat and white?"
"When I was washing the third brother, I looked at him. It's so big, smaller than a pillow." Yao Xu gestured to the size, "You can see that he looks more like the third brother in the charm. Don't you don't like to hear what I say, the emperor's grandmother only watched it when he was born
She showed some charm and glow, but her eyelids were still swollen, she had no eyebrows, and there were wrinkles on her forehead. When she was waiting for the full moon wine, my God, she had completely changed, her double eyelids were all out, and her cheeks were bulging.
His eyes are bulging, his eyes are clear in black and white, and the wrinkles on his forehead are gone, which is particularly painful."
"Children are all like this. It was like this when Ayu was first born. The prince said that he looked like a little old man. In the blink of an eye, when the moon was full, the child immediately became beautiful." Queen Mother Lan touched her great-grandson's head. Mu Yu was the prince.
The eldest son of Empress Dowager Lan and the first of the great-grandsons of Empress Dowager Lan. Empress Dowager Lan still dislikes Empress Lu, but she treats this great-grandson with special regard. Mu Yu is now older but has not yet reached the age to go to school.
Every day, she would come with the Crown Princess to pay her respects to her great-grandmother, and the Crown Princess would handle palace affairs. Queen Mother Lan would play with the little guy, teach him some words, and tell him stories. But on occasions like palace banquets, she always brought Mu Yu with her.
Empress Delu said to the Crown Princess sourly, "You are more blessed than me. When I gave birth to the Crown Prince, neither of us would have been in the eyes of Ci'en Palace."
In fact, this is not fair. Empress Dowager Lan has always disliked the Lu family. The prince is also the eldest grandson of the emperor. The prince was often left in Ci'en Palace when he was a child, and he was very popular with Empress Dowager Lan. Therefore, the prince and Lan
The relationship with the Queen Mother has always been good.
But later Empress Liu passed away, and Empress Dowager Lan took Mu Anzhi back to the palace and let Mu Anzhi live in the palace directly. It was impossible to say that Empress Lu had no objection in her heart. However, Empress Dowager Lan did not alienate the prince because of this.
He is also his grandson. Even when Mu An fought for the throne, the prince could not find fault with Ci'en Palace.
What's more, now, even the palace affairs Queen Mother Lan is slowly letting the Crown Princess take over. Even if the Crown Prince is asked to say it, the Crown Prince can only say that his mother and his grandmother were not destined to be together.
When Mu Yu heard his great-grandmother say that he looked like an old man when he was just born, he quickly stretched out his chubby hands to touch his forehead, stared at his round eyes and said seriously, "Ancestor, I have no wrinkles!" Everyone laughed.
stand up.
Queen Mother Lan held him in her arms and laughed, "No, no, our Ayu is the most beautiful."
Children all like to be praised. When Mu Yu heard his great-grandmother complimenting him on his beauty, he was immediately happy and amused.
The palace banquet ended in a lively manner. The two princes-in-law took their leave from the palace and went back to their respective homes. Yao Xu Qianqian carefully held the hand of his daughter-in-law, Princess Jiayue. Princess Jiayue's stomach looked like it was nine months old, and her waist was like an inverted buckle.
Even though the palace road was flat, Yao Xu was frightened.
The two of them went to Concubine Hui's palace to sit for a while. After Yao Xu went to Northern Xinjiang for a foreign mission, Concubine Hui asked Empress Dowager Lan to take her daughter to the palace to have the baby. Empress Dowager Lan also meant the same thing. Princess Jiayue was young and had a headache.
For the first time, the concubine was not around, so it would be better to go back to the palace. Now that the concubine is back, Concubine Hui wanted to keep her daughter and continue to live in the palace, but seeing the affection between the couple's eyebrows, she smiled and said, "I'll go back with the concubine now."
Right. It’s just that the Princess Mansion has been unoccupied for several months, and it’s too late to clean it now.”
Yao Xu said, "Don't worry, concubine. Jiaxiang and I will go home first. We will live in the grandmother's courtyard."
Thinking of Mrs. Yao, Concubine Hui felt a little sorry. She thought that Mrs. Yao was also very old and her descendants were all in Bei'anguan. Only this little grandson stayed in the imperial capital to serve the old man. In the end, the royal family sent such a long-distance traveler.
Concubine Hui told her daughter, "That's fine. Just don't disturb the old lady too much. The old lady will be happy when you come back, Ah Xu. When you go to Northern Xinjiang, the old lady often comes to the palace to talk to the Queen Mother. She is in extremely poor health."
Tough, I have some high-quality bird's nests here. You can take them back to the old lady for use." When the grandson goes on a business trip, he must follow the folk rules. Naturally, the grandson's daughter-in-law will serve the old man at home, but the grandson's daughter-in-law of the Yao family is a princess, even if Princess Jiayue is not favored.
Princess Ruo Jiaxiang, but Emperor Mu Xuan only had two adult daughters, and he cherished them very much. It was rare for Mrs. Yao to be so sensible and generous. The royal family took her daughter back to the palace to have a baby, but the old man never said "no" and often went to the palace.
During the visit to the palace, Queen Lu admired Mrs. Yao's character and often said that she only wished Mrs. Qin could be as generous as Mrs. Yao.
Concubine Hui's life-long worries were over because of her daughter's successful marriage. Her body, which was not very healthy in the past, has gradually improved in the past two years. When Concubine Hui wanted to give her something, Yao Xu did not refuse and said with a smile, "Then I won't
You’re polite to my mother and concubine.”
"You kid, why are you so polite?" Concubine Hui walked the young couple to the gate of the palace. Her daughter and her son-in-law left. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She stood in the evening breeze for a while, and the palace man smiled and said, "More
In one month, your Majesty will be a grandmother. Your Majesty, you asked your servant to look for some good materials. I found some good materials. Your Majesty took a look at them to see if they are suitable for making clothes for the young man."
"Come on, let's take a look." Concubine Hui held the palace man's hand and went into the house to pick out the ingredients.
To make clothes for children, it doesn’t have to be close-fitting and soft. Concubine Hui chose it, but she still felt that the newly purchased Baijia cloth from the Department of Internal Affairs was softer, more close-fitting, and had a fine texture. “As for this material, Baijia cloth is better.”
It’s also countable.”
"Yes, our princess also likes to use Baijia cloth as lining, saying it is comfortable to wear."
Concubine Hui said, "Then we will also use Baijia cloth for the lining, and grape brocade for the outside. This year's new grape brocade is used. This bright red material is also good, or sky blue. Such a bright color is just right for my brother." My daughter.
The imperial doctor diagnosed the fetus as a boy. Even though she was a princess, Concubine Hui hoped that her daughter would have a boy at one stroke.
The third prince's concubine followed her husband and became the vassal queen. There were few mentions of the third prince's concubine in the palace. But Hui Concubine felt that the third prince's concubine was really a very blessed woman. Although there was no news in the few years before her marriage, there was something like this.
Pregnancy means twins, and it is extremely rare for the royal family to have twins. Sometimes even if you are pregnant with twins, or the birth is difficult, or the children are not as strong as singles when they are born, today, listening to the words of the son-in-law, the two of the three princes and concubines
Both sons are healthy, which is a rare blessing, not to mention that I had such an auspicious pregnancy dream.
Whether it is the dream of the crown princess swallowing the sun when she gives birth to a child, or the dream of the third prince's concubine dreaming of Lin, they are all excellent omens. But when two strong men meet, one of them will be injured.
Fortunately, he has no children and only has a daughter, who is generally unconventional.
Those who can be at peace are blessed.
Concubine Hui and her daughter were very happy to see their son-in-law return.
At this time, Princess Jiaxiang was losing her temper in the middle palace. The palace servants brought honey water, but Princess Jiaxiang just glanced at it and said, "Just put it aside!"
"What's wrong with you?" Queen Lu naturally asked when seeing her daughter's displeasure.
But it should be noted that people who have anger in their hearts will find a way to vent their anger if they don't ask. Princess Jiaxiang twisted her handkerchief and muttered, "Is Qin Ting mute? Look at today, the emperor and the emperor have questions.
He was like a mute, he didn't say a word, it was Brother-in-law Yao who was talking."
"I'm not talking to you. My son-in-law is a man of few words, and military commanders don't talk much."
"That can't be like this. I'm marrying a prince-in-law. This can neither be said nor explained. What's the difference between him and a piece of wood?" Princess Jiaxiang added in a low voice, "The one she was born with is still so ugly."
"What are you talking about? My son-in-law is a serious fourth-grade military general and a talented young man. How can he be compared to ordinary people?" Empress Lu took her daughter's hand and slowly comforted her, "It is natural to choose a man to marry.
He is capable. The son-in-law has the advantages of the prince-in-law, but the son-in-law is the pillar of the country. In terms of official position and real power, there is nothing better than the prince-in-law. You have always wanted to be strong, why should you choose those idle people who only know how to sing the wind and the moon?"
"Every day I am either in power or an official. No wonder I want Princess Shang? Maybe Lord Shang is also doing it to take a step further!"
"Your son-in-law is your husband, you don't want him to go any further?"
"Of course it's good to have a high official position, but what's the point of marrying such a person?" Princess Jiaxiang said, "It's strange that you can't even make me happy."
Just as he was talking, Aunt Liu asked for an audience. Empress Lu was talking to her daughter. Aunt Liu was mainly serving in the East Palace now. After hearing this, she asked, "What are you doing here?"
The palace man replied, "Our consort is talking to the prince in the East Palace. It is the filial piety brought by the prince from northern Xinjiang for the empress and the gift for the princess. The prince sent Aunt Liu to deliver it." This palace man is obviously an old man.
That's right, Queen Lu said without waiting, "Mama Liu just sent over the portion of Ci'en Palace."
Queen Lu looked at her daughter angrily, and Princess Duanxiang was also a little embarrassed. She just said that she was inconsiderate, but in the blink of an eye she sent the gift. Queen Lu ordered, "Let grandma come in and talk."
Aunt Liu brought two boxes. Although they were both filled with jade, jewelry, and silk, and the Queen and her daughter also had many of these, the ones given by Qin Ting were naturally different. The palace servants presented them, and Queen Lu took out a box from the brocade box.
The whole body of mutton-fat jade is moist and white, and he praised the bracelet. "I see that among the jade bracelets presented by the Department of Internal Affairs this year, there are very few of them of such good quality."
Princess Jiaxiang had a smile on her face, but her words were still mean, "Is this what Queen Mother still lacks?"
"Of course I have a lot of them. Firstly, this is my son-in-law's wish. Secondly, how did you know that in the palace now, your sisters and I are just paying it off. Concubine Hui doesn't have such a good bracelet this year."
The queen put the bracelet back into the brocade box and told the palace attendants, "Take it out tomorrow and I'll wear this."
Princess Jiaxiang took out a string of emerald necklaces. The jade beads were each the size of a thumb, and the emerald color was transparent. Under the sunset, it looked like a spring water rippling. Queen Lu said, "This emerald color is good, and it is suitable for you girls to wear."
Everyone in the palace praised it for its beauty, and Princess Jiaxiang said, "This pearl is quite good."
"Not only is it good, high-quality jadeite is even rarer than mutton-fat jade." Queen Lu saw that it was a complete set of jadeite jewelry, all of which were high-quality jadeite, so she knew it must be worth a lot of money. Queen Lu smiled and praised, "My son-in-law is serious."
With a smile on her face, Princess Jiaxiang asked Aunt Liu, "Why did General Qin go to the East Palace?"
"This old slave doesn't understand. I only know that the prince asked his consort to talk in the study, and asked the prince and his wife to prepare wine and food. The two of them will have wine in the evening." Mammy Liu smiled, "I heard what the waiter Xiao Tao said.
, what our consort and the prince said is speculative."
Princess Jiaxiang sighed, "Maybe she has more to say to her eldest brother."
Empress Lu couldn't help but laugh and slapped her arm, "You are not married yet, so it would be disrespectful if your consort starts chirping when he sees you."
However, Princess Jiaxiang was obviously very happy after receiving the gift. She said to the palace attendants, "Last time, I moved some of the good wine that my father saved at my mother's place. Don't let them drink too much. The wine is quite old."
Empress Lu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Now you're giving your father's things to your son-in-law. You are such an outgoing girl."
"I said the prince-in-law is not good, but you are not happy. If I give you something, you are not happy either. My mother-in-law is also difficult to take care of." Princess Jiaxiang has an unruly temperament. She always does what is good and what is bad, and even makes people laugh when she says some cunning things.
.
The next day, when Empress Lu told Emperor Mu Xuan that his daughter gave his consort his wine, Emperor Mu Xuan laughed, "I have always been worried that Jiaxiang would not like this marriage. She has been pampered since she was a child, but now it seems that it is quite good."
.”
"She has the temperament of a child. It's difficult for the prince-in-law to be a careful person. I just hope that the young couple can live in harmony, like Jiayue and Prince-in-law Yao." As long as the children go well, Empress Lu will be happy.
That night, Qin Ting and the prince talked a lot about Northern Xinjiang affairs.
Although Qin Ting spoke little, he was able to get to the point in every sentence. In the dusk, his facial features became more and more serious, "The New Yi Xun City Division has recruited a lot of people. I heard that it is because the tribes came to the royal city to pay their respects, so there are many people to patrol."
There are not enough people to recruit. These people are being trained by Huan Li. When we arrived, Huan Li led these people to inspect various parts of northern Xinjiang with the Tang pacification envoy to implement His Highness the Third Highness's new policy."
"Is Lao San's new policy a matter of the Department of Municipal Trade?"
"Yes. I heard that now, whether merchants or ordinary people, entering and leaving the city gates, those who walk with baskets do not need to pay the city entrance fee, and those who ride horses and drive cars also have a cap of thirty or fifty cents. If there is any exploitation, just report it to the government. If the local government does not care, report it to the new government.
Yi, Xin Yi must be in charge. For this reason, His Highness the Third Highness went from the government to the county and distributed money to each yamen, ranging from tens of thousands taels to more than three to five thousand taels. On the way back to the imperial capital, we also went to the Trade Department to see
Look, it’s a huge trading market, with everything from tea, horses, salt and iron to jewelry and jade, all the world’s commerce is complete.”
The prince praised, "Lao San's skills are really beautiful. If he concentrates trade in the Trade Department, he can draw a high commission from the commercial tax. Calculating, as long as there is no loss, he will definitely make money in the coming year."
"I heard that the commercial tax rate of the Municipal Trade Department is 50%, but the merchants are also willing. There are always patrols along the way, and we don't have to worry about government embezzlement on the way. I don't know how much trouble it saves." Qin Ting also showed appreciation in his eyes.
, "Especially His Highness the Third Highness's reputation as the King of Hell. I think all the yamen in Northern Xinjiang dare not provoke him. It seems that he has some prohibitions."
"So a bad temper also has its advantages." The prince smiled, "Let's talk about the two wars in Northern Xinjiang."
"When we arrived, General Li, who suppressed the rebellion of the Sudimir tribe, returned in triumph. General Li was originally a general under the command of Marquis Lu. The Sudimir tribe occupies the best jade mine in northern Xinjiang. It is famous for its wealth. I heard that it is very close to the Duke's palace.
, and even Governor Chen of Chessboard City, who was in charge of Sudmir's tribe, was dismissed by His Highness the Third Highness. When we passed by Jizhou Prefecture on our way back to the imperial capital, Governor Chen entertained us and we heard him complaining about Chen Zhuangyuan's many words, saying that Chen Zhuangyuan himself had spoken out.
Magistrate Chen."
The prince did not comment, Qin Ting said, "I don't know much about General Li's battle. On the contrary, I think that the battle of Caiyun tribe is a bit exaggerated."
The prince's eyebrows twitched, and he touched the table with his plain white fingertips, "Tell me more about it."
"Xueshi Tang was not trusted by His Highness the Third Highness. He had to be sent as an envoy to compile the history of Northern Xinjiang. This time he was sent to the Caiyun Department. Although he was the chief envoy, the deputy envoy was Du Changshi. I heard that Xueshi Tang said that at that time on the way
Huan Li led his troops to the Trade Department, while General Ji went to the Tuoyhan tribe adjacent to the Caiyun tribe."
"The troops are divided?"
"Yes. Although the Tang scholar later testified that the war broke out only after they were attacked by the remnants of the Sudimir tribe under the command of the Caiyun tribe, the troops were already divided before the Caiyun tribe arrived. They were obviously well prepared," Qin Ting said, "There is one more thing.
According to what Xueshi Tang said, he and Du Changshi only brought a thousand people to the Caiyun tribe at that time. The two leading generals were not present. However, they first repelled the remnants of the Sudimir tribe who made a sneak attack, and then went directly to the Caiyun tribe to question the crime.
Another fierce battle ensued, and General Ji's reinforcements arrived. The Caiyun tribe was the bravest tribe in Northern Xinjiang, and its reputation was so great that it frightened Northern Xinjiang. The first sneak attack battle was still at night. In these two battles, the sneak attack battle against Xueshi Tang
I can’t remember clearly because of the chaos, but the second battle was commanded by Du Changshi. Your Highness, you know the bravery of the northern Xinjiang tribes."
"Du Changshi has always been a civil servant, and I don't think he has the ability to lead troops in battle. However, looking at the Caiyun Department as a whole, it would not be surprising if it was Lao San's plan from dividing the troops to putting down the rebellion.
"The prince has never underestimated the third prince.
"It would be better if everyone works together. If it is Lu Hou's plan, it is also good. If it is another person's plan, Your Highness, this means that the Third Highness already has a famous general in the world who is not inferior to Lu Hou."
There was not much fear on the prince's face. He said, "Are you talking about Du Changshi?"
"He has the greatest possibility." Qin Ting said, "Commanding on the battlefield is not an easy task. If he can still compete with the northern Xinjiang tribes, he is already an outstanding figure among middle-level military officers. Du Changshi was born as a civil servant, but he can command military affairs.
It can be seen that he is quite talented in martial arts. I also heard that when Huan Li was not in Xinyi, Du Changshi was in charge of the training of newly recruited patrol soldiers."
The number of people around Mu Anzhi is limited, and Mu Anzhi recruits new soldiers just because he does not want to rely on Lu Hou for everything and trains some of his own generals. Fortunately for Huan Li, his family has military generals for generations, and the Du family is completely a civil servant family. Thinking of the Du brothers, the prince also has to
He sighed, "God is really kind to the Du family."
However, the prince looked at Qin Ting and said, "I have A Ting, which shows that God treats orphans well."
Qin Ting bowed slightly and said, "I would never accept this as a minister."
"Don't be so rigid in private. You always call yourself a loner when you are outside, but whoever really wants to be a loner must have friends and brothers, so that life can be enjoyable." The prince smiled brilliantly, stood up and opened the window, and the moonlight poured in through the window with the autumn breeze.
After entering, the prince couldn't help but praise, "The wind is comfortable."
That night, the two men drank and feasted happily.