The Jiugong Pond has not lost its color in autumn. The landscape around the Jiugong Pond is unique, with rockeries and forests surrounding it, and stars surrounding Yaju in the middle.
Even in the Shenhou Mansion, such a scenery can still make people relax, but Prince Yu is obviously in a bad mood now. This rather wise prince of the Northern Han Dynasty is obviously worried about the safety of his family, and his eyes are twitching.
"I know what you want to do." Prince Yu said calmly: "You want to exchange the safety of my family for the map of the world."
Qi Ning nodded and said: "Your Majesty is wise. Your Majesty should know that there are spies from our Chu Kingdom lurking in Luoyang. If you plan carefully and go all out, I believe it will not be difficult to bring your important family members out of Luoyang. If If the prince is willing, I can guarantee that it won’t be long before the prince can be reunited with his family in Jianye Capital City.”
"Jin Yihou, you seem to have forgotten my identity." Prince Yu sneered: "I belong to the Han royal family. Do you think I will agree to your terms?"
"The Han Dynasty is just a piece of land. A few decades ago, the surname was Beitang." Qi Ning stared into Prince Yu's eyes: "Maybe it won't be long before that piece of land will be replaced by another surname, but the prince's family will be related to him. The prince is connected by blood. The prince planned hard, and he did not hesitate to become a prisoner of my great Chu to protect his family. It can be seen that he is a man who values love and justice." After saying this, he suddenly stood up, cupped his hands and said: "This is just a suggestion from a junior. , Your Majesty does not need to make a decision so quickly, you can consider it carefully, but I cannot guarantee when Beitangfeng and Qu Yuangu will invade Tongguan."
Prince Yu was silent and Qining didn't say much, turned around and left.
After leaving Jiugongchi, Yan Lingxian was waiting outside. When he saw Qi Ning, he said: "My lord, the second senior brother has just sent someone to say that a banquet will be held at Shenhou Mansion at noon. Please stay for a meal, little junior sister." … Madam wants to ask the Duke what he means.”
"Zhan Ying grew up here, and this is half of her natal family. Since the second senior brother asked us to stay, we're going to bother you." Qi Ning said with a smile: "It's an honor to have a meal at the Shenhou Mansion. "
"The Duke has agreed, then I will send someone to invite Senior Brother Han to come over now." Yan Lingxian said.
"Senior Brother Han?" Qi Ning was startled: "Senior Brother Han is not in the Shenhou Mansion?"
Yan Lingxian said: "Senior Brother Han also has his own residence. He has an old mother to support. Naturally, it is not easy for her to live in the Shenhou Mansion. So when he took his mother over, the Shenhou specially arranged a place for him. Senior Brother Han goes there to rest for a few nights every month. Early this morning, Senior Brother Han sent someone over to say that he was not feeling well and it was his turn to be on duty today. He said he would come later, but no one has arrived yet. Senior brother means that if the Duke is willing to stay, he must invite Senior Brother Han back to have a meal with him."
"Senior Brother Han is not feeling well?" Qining was a little surprised: "When I went to welcome the bride yesterday, wasn't he still fine? Did he ask for a doctor?"
Yan Lingxian shook his head and said: "I don't know what's wrong with me, but Senior Brother Han himself has some knowledge of medical science, so it shouldn't be anything serious."
"When did Senior Brother Han go back yesterday?" Qining asked.
Yan Lingxian thought for a while and then said: "I happened to be on duty at Shenhou Mansion last night. At midnight, I saw him leaving Shenhou Mansion in a hurry. Yes, his face was a little pale at that time. He must have been feeling uncomfortable at that time. Well, I didn’t ask any more questions, he left Shenhou Mansion at Zishi.”
"He hasn't rested yet?" Qi Ning frowned and said, "At that time, most people in the capital were already asleep. How old is Senior Brother Han's mother?"
"They are both over sixty years old." Yan Lingxian didn't know why Qining was suddenly interested in Han Tianxiao.
Qi Ning said "Oh" and said: "It is easier for an old man in his sixties to go to bed early in this late autumn. If Senior Brother Han rushes back when he is young, won't it disturb the old man's rest?"
Yan Lingxian thought to himself, "If you don't bother me, what does it have to do with you?" and didn't say anything.
Returning to the hall, he saw that Qu Xiaocang was still talking to Ximen Zhanying. When Qi Ning came back, their conversation immediately stopped. Qu Xiaocang stood up and said, "Has the Duke met Prince Yu?"
"I saw it." Qi Ning said with a smile: "He is also the prince of the Northern Han Dynasty. The Northern Expedition is imminent. I want to see if I can get some useful information from him, so that it can also help the Northern Expedition."
Qu Xiaocang shook his head and smiled: "This Prince Yu is not an easy character to deal with. I have visited him several times, trying to get some information out of him, but every time I go there, he cherishes his words like gold. I No matter what he said, he pretended not to hear it, just like playing the piano to a cow."
"My lord, if it really doesn't work out, just hand him over to Senior Brother Han and let him torture him to extract a confession. I guarantee that he will reveal everything he knows within a day." Yan Lingxian said angrily: "A prisoner of the empire, Eating delicious food and drinking spicy food all day long is like worshiping a Bodhisattva in the Shenhou Mansion."
Qu Xiaocang frowned and said, "Old Qi, don't talk nonsense."
Qi Ning also smiled and said: "Brother Yan, although Prince Yu is a prisoner, he is indeed the prince of the Northern Han Dynasty. Different from ordinary people, the emperor has already made a decree to treat this prince well. Think about it, in the future Northern Expedition At that time, when Prince Yu was taken out, the people of the Northern Han Dynasty saw that although Prince Yu was a prisoner, he was kept fat and white by us. They must have felt that we treated the prisoners preferentially, and maybe many people would be dissatisfied by that time. Surrender in battle. If Prince Yu is really punished, the people of the Northern Han Dynasty will definitely resist to the end when they think that even our great Chu cannot treat the prince well, so how can we treat ordinary people well."
Yan Lingxian was startled, but Ximen Zhanying pursed his lips and smiled.
Qu Xiaocang has already said: "Don't worry, my lord, Prince Yu is staying at the Shenhou Mansion. We will treat him well and take care of him as a distinguished guest."
At noon, Qining and his wife were invited to the elegant hall of Shenhou Mansion. Most of the places in Shenhou Mansion were simple and solemn, full of a solemn atmosphere, but the surroundings of this elegant hall were very comfortable, and there was a small bamboo forest in the yard. ,Greenery.
According to Ximen Zhanying's explanation, this was the first place where Ximen Wuhen ate. Later, if Shenhou Mansion had any guests to entertain, they would be arranged here. However, Shenhou Mansion was a place that people avoided, and there were no Who is willing to stay and dine in Shenhou Mansion? The hospitality here is really rare. The dining room is also deliberately arranged in the current layout, simply because the name Shenhou Mansion makes people feel a little uncomfortable when they hear it. The current environment is also designed to make people forget that they are in Shenhou Mansion and have a good appetite.
Of course, there are very few people who are qualified to accompany Qining and his wife to dine. Apart from Qining and his wife, only Qu Xiaocang and Yan Lingxian are present. Although someone has been sent to invite Han Tianxiao, Han Tianxiao has not arrived yet.
Although there were not many people, the food and wine were quite abundant.
Ximen Zhanying said with a smile: "Second senior brother, when I was in Shenhou Mansion, I always thought about being able to eat here one day, but unfortunately I didn't have the qualifications. I didn't expect that my long-cherished wish would come true today."
Qu Xiaocang smiled and said: "Little junior sister, you have to thank the Duke for this. If you hadn't married the Duke, you would have had no hope in this life."
"Second Senior Brother...!" Ximen Zhanying said coquettishly.
Qu Xiaocang laughed loudly. At this time, he suddenly heard a cough. Several people looked around and saw Han Tianxiao walking in from the door. Qining and his wife immediately stood up. Han Tianxiao had already raised his hands and said: "My lord, Sorry for being late!"
When Qi Ning saw Han Tianxiao's face, it turned out that he didn't look very good. When he welcomed the bride yesterday, he didn't pay much attention to Han Tianxiao's face at that time, but it seemed to be pretty good in his memory. However, Han Tianxiao's face was obviously a little pale now, and when he walked, he had obvious steps. It was a bit pretentious, but he was obviously trying his best to cover it up. Of course an ordinary person wouldn't be able to see any flaws, but it was really not easy to hide it from Qining.
"Third Senior Brother, we are all waiting for you." Ximen Zhanying said: "Senior Brother Yan said that you are not feeling well. Are you feeling better?"
Han Tianxiao glanced at Yan Lingxian, came over and sat down next to Qu Xiaocang, shook his head and said, "It's okay, there have been too many things recently, but I just didn't get a good rest."
"Third brother, if it really doesn't work, you should rest for a few days." Qu Xiaocang said, "Just leave it to me."
Han Tianxiao said: "Elder brother hasn't come back yet. There are a lot of things going on in Shenhou Mansion. Even if Old Seven helps you, you can't handle it. I don't have anything big to do." He took the wine jar and poured wine for Qining first. , Yan Lingxian hurriedly stretched out his hand to take the wine jar from Han Tianxiao, and poured it for everyone. Qu Xiaocang had just picked up the wine glass, but Qi Ning took the lead and stood up and said: "Senior brothers, I have been honored to entertain you today. I would like to toast this glass of wine." you."
Qu Xiaocang smiled and said: "There is no big or small thing in the three days of wedding. It would be rude of us if we haven't passed these three days. Your Majesty, we have brought up our little junior sister since she was a child. Although she is sometimes a bit arrogant, it takes a year and a half to You can also find some advantages."
Ximen Zhanying glared at Qu Xiaocang and said angrily: "Second senior brother, if you say that again, I won't bring you delicious food in the future."
Qu Xiaocang laughed, and everyone smiled and drank a drink together. After sitting down, Yan Lingxian poured wine for everyone very wisely. Although he had always admired Ximen Zhanying, now Ximen Zhanying is a woman. , and her husband is someone she can't afford to offend, so she doesn't dare to look at Ximen Zhanying from beginning to end, and Ximen Zhanying tries not to look at him as much as possible.
"It's a pity that senior brother couldn't catch up this time." Qining said: "When senior brother comes back, I will make up for him with a banquet."
Qu Xiaocang said: "When he comes back, don't rush to make up for the banquet. Junior sister, let's see what kind of gifts the senior brother will bring you. If the gift is heavy, you should make up for it with a banquet. If it is too light, Okay, just find a restaurant and deal with it."
"Second Senior Brother, I'm afraid that Senior Brother can't give you any generous gifts." Yan Lingxian said with a bitter face: "He spends all his monthly salary, and he has borrowed dozens of taels of silver from me in the past two years. , I haven’t paid it back yet, and I don’t know if there will be a day to pay it back. I’m just worried that he won’t have enough money when he comes back, and he will ask us to borrow money to prepare gifts.”
Qu Xiaocang sighed: "Old Qi, sometimes you are too honest and want to save some face. If you say this, won't the Duke know that we are all paupers?"
Qi Ning laughed and said: "Second Senior Brother and Third Senior Brother, if you are short of money in the future, just ask and borrow dozens of taels of silver from me, there won't be any problem." Xiang Ximen Zhanying said: "Senior brothers are so poor, why don't you You told me earlier, otherwise you should bring some banknotes over today and give each person a few."
Ximen Zhanying pursed his lips and smiled and said: "Everyone was afraid when they heard about the Shenhou Mansion, and no one dared to come and go around, so there is no one who can even honor the senior brothers. When they are really in trouble in the future, you should help them. "
Before a few people had time to laugh, Han Tianxiao suddenly tilted his body and fell down from the chair. Everything happened so unexpectedly that everyone was shocked and almost couldn't believe it.