"Yu—" Zhao Yijing stopped his horse and looked at the familiar street in front of him, his face hard to hide his excitement.
Counting the days, it has been six years since he left the capital and home.
"What's wrong?" Xing Xiaoya asked as she lifted the curtain.
"After this street, it's my house." Zhao Yijing took a deep breath as he controlled the horse.
"Well." Xing Xiaoya looked apprehensive.
"Don't worry," Zhao Yijing understood her mood, and he comforted him: "My father is a very easy-going person, he will definitely not embarrass you."
Xing Xiaoya bit the corner of her lips, her eyes flashing slightly: "What about your mother?"
The smile on Zhao Yijing's face instantly faded a bit. At a celebration banquet two years ago, he learned his true identity from Zhao Lingwu.
He only said: "My mother has always been very kind to me, what I like, she will like."
Xing Xiaoya understood, she lowered the curtain.
"Let's go." Zhao Yijing shouted, "Drive—"
The driver listened, and with a flick of the whip in his hand, the wheel of the car turned.
Song Guogong's mansion, the middle door is wide open.
The housekeeper Qiao Renyuan and a group of maids and servants waited at the door. Firecrackers were hung on both sides of the road, and they were lit together only when Meng Zezhi came back from the horse parade.
Qiao Renyuan waited left and right, but did not wait for Meng Zezhi to come back. Instead, he waited for a horse and three carriages, and the big thorn stopped at the main entrance.
Qiao Renyuan frowned slightly, just as he was about to approach him to talk, the leader immediately jumped down, dropped the reins, and walked over in three steps.
When the people approached and saw his appearance clearly, Qiao Renyuan's complexion changed dramatically.
"Grandpa, Madam..."
In the Muyuan Hall, Zhao Lingwu and Xiao Shi were restless, looking forward to it.
Hearing the little servant's voice from a distance, the two of them smiled in unison.
Sure enough, the little servant rushed in in a hurry, panting and said, "Grandpa, Madam... I'm back, I'm back."
Zhao Lingwu stood up abruptly.
But I didn't want the little servant to raise his voice and continued: "The prince is back!"
Xiao Shi's expression froze, his hands trembled, and with a snap, the tea cup in his hand fell to the ground, and the porcelain pieces shattered on the ground.
As soon as he entered the door, with a plop, Zhao Yijing knelt down: "Father, mother, the child is back."
Zhao Lingwu was so excited that he was almost speechless. With his mouth trembling, he picked up Zhao Yijing and said repeatedly, "Just come back, just come back..."
Xiao Shi directly hugged Zhao Yijing with tears in her eyes: "My son, you are suffering, hurry up, hurry up and let your mother see..."
Zhao Yijing's body froze, and he reluctantly pretended to be a mother and a filial son. He said with red eyes: "The child is not filial, and the mother is worried."
Xiao Shi looked in his eyes and sneered.
At this moment, another young servant rushed in and shouted: "Come back, the grandfather, the madam, the ninth young master is back—"
As soon as the voice fell, firecrackers were set off outside.
Zhao Lingwu's face froze when he reacted, Xiao Shi stopped the tears, and the two looked at each other.
Just a month ago at the examination celebration banquet, Zhao Lingwu had promised Meng Zezhi that when he was admitted to the top scholar, he would invite him to be the heir.
At this time, Zhao Yijing came back alive.
Intuitive atmosphere was a little wrong, Zhao Yijing asked, "By the way, father, mother, I see that there is such a big battle at the door, is there any happy event in the mansion today?"
Meng Zezhi never imagined that he would see Zhao Yijing again one day.
He thought that after learning the truth, the Xiao family would choose to seize business opportunities, and then torture Zhao Yijing and Xing Xiaoya like Zhao Yijing in a dream, telling them that life would be better than death. In the end, he poisoned Zhao Lingwu, told him the truth of the matter before he died, and angered him to death.
This is the safest and easiest way to relieve your anger.
But now, Zhao Yijing is back.
Meng Zezhi suddenly couldn't guess Xiao Shi's thoughts.
He suppressed the doubts in his heart, bowed and saluted: "Father, mother."
Arriving at Zhao Yijing's place, Meng Zezhi's expression was a little complicated, and even his tone was a little lighter: "Big brother."
Zhao Yijing didn't move like a mountain, because he knew it well, not to mention that he was the son of the Xiao family in name, no matter how much the Xiao family loved Meng Zezhi, it couldn't surpass him. Even if Meng Zezhi became the heir apparent, as long as he still had a long character, Meng Zezhi would not be able to shake his position in the imperial palace, not to mention that the title of the prince was still well placed on his head!
That being the case, Zhao Yijing didn't mind giving this promising younger brother a little face. He smiled and said, "Congratulations to the ninth brother, Liuyuan Jidi, and the Duke's Mansion is honored."
Meng Zezhi said politely: "Where, I can't compare to the eldest brother who has made great achievements in the north and raised my country's prestige."
Xiao Shi interrupted the awkward atmosphere between the two in time. She looked at Xing Xiaoya with a puzzled expression: "Jing'er, I don't know who this girl is?"
Only then did Zhao Yijing think of Xing Xiaoya, and he said quickly, "Father, mother, this is Xing Xiaoya, my savior..."
He briefly recounted the time that happened in the past few months, and finally added: "Xiaoya and I are in love, and I plan to marry her."
Saying that, Xing Xiaoya tightened her clothes, pretending to be generous, and blessed her body: "Xiaoya has seen her uncle and aunt."
Xiao Shi reacted and almost blurted out: "What did you say, you want to marry a village girl?"
Hearing this, Meng Zezhi inadvertently looked at Xing Xiaoya, and as expected, Xing Xiaoya's face turned green.
Zhao Yijing's face sank: "Mother, no matter what, Xiaoya is my savior..."
"But you forgot..."
"Okay." Zhao Lingwu frowned slightly and interrupted Xiao's words: "How can today be a good day for Lao Jiu, and the guests will arrive soon. If there is anything, we will talk about it tomorrow."
Only then did Xiao Shi remember the business, and she subconsciously looked at Meng Zezhi with a look of guilt.
That night, probably with the intention of making up for it, Zhao Lingwu ordered four big boxes of things and 10,000 taels of silver notes to be delivered.
Meng Zezhi accepted it without any psychological pressure.
On the other side, in the wing of Yingxue Pavilion.
Under the bright candlelight, Xing Xiaoya's eyes fell on the exquisite antique ornaments around, recalling the magnificent and magnificent pavilions and pavilions during the day, her heart was surging.
This is the government's mansion, and this is where the dignitaries live.
In her last life, she was just a little-known outdoor anchor with no power and power. The little money she earned by pleasing the audience was only enough to fill her stomach. It was a fantasy to buy a house and a car on her own.
She has fantasized more than once that she can marry into a wealthy family like those big stars and Internet celebrities, or that local tyrants will spend a lot of money for her.
Until she crossed in a confused way, facing a large group of high-quality relatives, Xing Xiaoya had high fighting spirit.
She felt that no matter how bad her current situation was, with the advanced knowledge in her head, it was an easy thing to make a fortune in this poor and white dynasty.
But the reality gave her a slap in the face. Soaps, matches, underwear... are all available on the market, and both the craftsmanship and the packaging are hundreds of times stronger than what she made.
She suspected that someone in the world had crossed into this world before her.
She also didn't dare to sell the recipes of these things casually, she was afraid of becoming a victim of rich businessmen vying for profits.
Fortunately, she can still go into the mountains to pick wild grapes to make wine, sell recipes, and open restaurants... Barely, she has made a fortune.
Then, under the pressure of public opinion, marrying someone with a generous dowry
Marry a scholar
People with fame and fame don't look down on her, even if they are willing to marry her, they are also interested in her family wealth. When he gets ahead, the first thing he will take care of is to take a few concubines.
Without fame, to put it bluntly, she has no ability, and she doesn't like it.
Marry a rich businessman
Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, merchants are cheap, and they can't stand up from generation to generation.
Or marry a farmer
How can this make her reconciled.
At this time, she picked up Zhao Yijing by the Yellow River, and looked at the silk and satin he was wearing, Xing Xiaoya knew that her chance had come.
As it turns out, her vision is as precise as ever.
Xing Xiaoya couldn't help but reached out and touched the smooth and delicate satin quilt under her body, her emotions surging.
In any case, this prince's wife, she is determined.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door in her ear.
When the door opened, it was not Zhao Yijing who came.
Xing Xiaoya pretended to be excited: "Yi Jing?"
Zhao Yijing took her into his arms and kissed the top of her hair: "don't be afraid, am I here?"
Xing Xiaoya bit the corner of her lips and looked worried: "Yijing, your mother doesn't seem to like me very much."
"Don't worry," Zhao Yijing said firmly: "I said I want to marry you, no matter how difficult it is, I will do it."
Xing Xiaoya was moved: "Yijing, you are so kind."
Saying that, she offered a sweet kiss.
Zhao Yijing's eyes darkened, and the hand around Xing Xiaoya's waist slowly tightened.
…
"No, I will never agree." Contrary to the gentleness of the past, Xiao's tone was particularly excited.
"Mother—" Zhao Yijing frowned.
"Jing'er, did you forget that you and Yuan'er still have a marriage contract, but she has been waiting for you for six years."
Yuan'er is Xiao Deren's youngest daughter.
"What?" Xing Xiaoya's face paled.
"Mother," Zhao Yijing took Xing Xiaoya's hand and knelt down directly: "I know I can't be sorry for my cousin, but mother, I really love Xiaoya, do you want to watch me guarding someone who doesn't love me? Have you ever lived a lifetime?"
"What do you love or not, when you and Yuan'er become relatives, after getting along for a long time, you will naturally have feelings." Xiao shi persuaded.
Zhao Yijing didn't speak anymore, just knelt on the ground silently, with a firm attitude.
Seeing that Xiao Shi could not move him, he could only look at Zhao Lingwu as if asking for help.
Zhao Lingwu closed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.
Seeing this, Mrs. Xiao gritted her teeth and said, "Okay, she can enter the gate of the Duke's Mansion if she wants."
Zhao Yijing's eyes lit up.
Only Xiao Shi continued to say, "But you can only be a concubine."
A flash of impatience flashed on Zhao Yijing's face: "Mother, Xiaoya is my savior."
Mrs Xiao took a deep breath: "If she only wants to be the savior of the Duke's Mansion, I would naturally be willing to treat her as a guest. But let me ask you, are you and her..."
Xiao Shi was a little hard to say.
Looking at the spring in the corner of Xing Xiaoya's eyes, she was afraid that she had just done that last night.
Fortunately, Zhao Yijing has also read the books of sages and sages for so many years, so he never thought that there are still several of his concubine sisters who have not left the pavilion in Yingxue Pavilion.
If this matter spreads out, his concubine sisters don't have to get married anymore, they just twist their hair and become a sister-in-law.
Thinking of this, Xiao Shi sneered in his heart.
Zhao Yijing defended: "Mother, it was just an accident, I was drunk..."
"This is not an excuse," Mrs. Xiao only said, "If you have no matchmaking, you are already at a loss. How can such a shameless person be the wife of the crown prince of our country's government? If this is in an ordinary family, it will be dipped in a pig cage. of."
The Xiao family only scolded Zhao Yijing and Xing Xiaoya as adulterers and prostitutes.
The veins on Zhao Yijing's forehead were bulging, and he resisted his anger: "Mother, I called you mother because I respect you and love you, but what you say now really hurts my heart."
Seeing that Zhao Yijing was really angry, Mrs. Xiao panicked and said repeatedly, "Jing'er, I-I'm here for your own good..."
"Enough." Zhao Lingwu interrupted Xiao's words. He opened his eyes and glanced at Xing Xiaoya, who was frightened and restless. For no reason, he thought of Su Niang and his messy first half of his life.
He sighed in his heart, met the gazes of the three superiors, and said, "Just do as Jing'er said."
Zhao Yijing's face relaxed.
Xiao Shi looked incredulous: "Grandpa?"
Zhao Lingwu sighed: "Anyway, this girl Xing is Jing'er's savior, we can't be ungrateful."
This is also thanks to Zhao Lingwu's ability to say it. He forgot that if it wasn't for her family, their mother and son would have died in the war long ago, so how could they have today's scenery.
But Xiao Shi still made an unacceptable expression.
Zhao Lingwu said: "The most important thing is that Jing'er is willing."
He lived most of his life, did wrong things for most of his life, and felt guilty for most of his life. He hopes that Zhao Yijing can get the stable life he can't get.
"As for the Xiao family, I will handle it."
Xiao opened his mouth and looked at Zhao Yijing who was kneeling on the ground, unable to speak for a while.
So it's settled.
When the three of Zhao Yijing left, the unwillingness and confusion on Xiao Shi's face receded like a tide. She took the tea bowl that Mammy Zheng offered, moistened her throat, and then said: "Go, get a vegetarian meal. Duan, I will make two official uniforms for An'er."
"Yes."
A lot happened in the next two months.
For example, Zhao Lingwu brought a generous gift to apologize to Xiao Deren, but was kicked out.
Xing Xiaoya recognized Mr. He, the left servant of the Ministry of War, as his adoptive father.
Zhao Yijing and Xing Xiaoya got married.
The matter of Zhao Yijing and Xing Xiaoya having an affair without a match was spread, and it became a topic of discussion for the people in the capital after a meal.
Xing Xiaoya was forced by the Xiao family to learn etiquette, copy scriptures, kneel at the ancestral hall...
Another example is that Xing Xiaoya had a miscarriage—
"Mother, tiger poison doesn't eat offspring..."
Before entering the door, Meng Zezhi heard a hysterical roar.
Hearing this, Xiao Shi staggered and took a step back, looking dazed.
Zhao Yijing's eyes were red: "Even if you don't like Xiaoya, the child in her belly is your grandson—"
There was hatred in his eyes, half because Xiao Shi killed his own mother, and half because Xiao Shi tried his best to spar with Xing Xiaoya.
Since Xiao's status made him restless, let her disappear.
"No, no..." Xiao Shi explained incoherently: "Jing'er, although I dislike her, I never thought of harming her..."
Zhao Yijing interrupted her and said word by word, "But the child in Xiaoya's belly is gone, and the child is only two months old..."
"Enough said isn't—"
Zhao Yijing choked in his throat, and when he looked back, his expression changed slightly.
"Mother." Meng Zezhi stepped forward to greet him with a livid face.
As if he had found the backbone, Xiao Shi's eyes lit up and hurriedly grabbed Meng Zezhi's hand: "An'er."
Meng Zezhi patted her hand to appease her, then turned to look at Zhao Yijing and said, "Brother is very imposing, brother, I have seen him."
Zhao Yijing took a deep breath, choked and said, "Ninth brother, your sister-in-law has a miscarriage."
"I heard it." Meng Zezhi's eyes were burning: "Brother, you are also a person who has read books, but do you know what it means to be a child without a mother?"
"More than two months pregnant? It's only been over a month since she married Xing's family, but I don't know where the pride in the elder brother's tone comes from."
"Zhao Yian." Zhao Yijing's face sank.
Meng Zezhi sneered and said: "Take ten thousand steps back, I have never heard of a woman who is more than two months pregnant and still doesn't know it. Brother, you can rush in indiscriminately. Mother's yard accused Xing of miscarriage, so I can also suspect that the whole thing was framed by Xing."
"You're bold—" Zhao Yijing's face turned green and white for a while.
In fact, because of Xing Xiaoya's poor health and irregular menstruation, she didn't realize that she was pregnant.
"I don't even believe my own mother," Meng Zezhi said coldly, "Brother, what you did today is really chilling!"
"Have you said enough?" Zhao Yijing gritted his teeth, Meng Zezhi was so powerful that he could hardly breathe.
"Okay, since eldest brother doesn't like listening to this, then I will ask eldest brother one last question," Meng Zezhi said with a blank expression, "Do you remember what day is today?"
Zhao Yijing was taken aback.
Xiao Shi looked at him blankly, disheartened.
Until his servant reminded him carefully: "Sir, today seems to be Madam's birthday."
Zhao Yijing's face was ashen, he was outside all year round, and after learning his true identity, he no longer cared about things related to the Xiao family.
He knew that he wanted to take advantage of the topic and then spread the news, and his plan to use public opinion to bring down the Xiao family was completely unsuccessful. Not only that, but he has to carry a reputation for being unfilial.
Stealing chickens does not lose rice, nothing more.