Lian Po also sent a letter, severely scolding Zhu Xiang and Ying Xiaozheng and telling them not to go to dangerous places in the future.
After Lian Po gained a foothold in Qin, his two sons had already arrived in Qin.
The youngest son Lian Pi is now guarding the northern border, and is eager to make great achievements with his own abilities. However, Lian Po advises Lian Pi not to become the next Zhao Kuo, which makes Lian Pi so angry that he hasn't written to Lian Po for a year.
The eldest son Lian Fu stayed with Lian Po to take care of his elderly father and help Lian Po with miscellaneous matters.
When Lian Po was writing the letter, Lian Fu tactfully reminded his father that Ying Xiaozheng was now the crown prince and it would not be appropriate to reprimand him directly.
Lian Fu tactfully used the late King Xiaocheng of Zhao as an example, saying that even if a child has grown up, he should be treated with caution when he holds a high position.
Lian Po glanced at his son and said, "Since you have this insight, I won't have to worry about my family affairs after I die."
After he affirmed his son's opinion, he continued to scold Prince Zheng of Qin in his letter, and said that if he were in front of Prince Zheng, he would definitely spank Prince Zheng's butt so hard that he would not dare to mess around again.
Lian Po also gave Li Mu a letter, cursing him even more harshly, and directly said in the letter that he would pick up his sword and stab Li Mu with several bloody holes.
Lian Fu couldn't help but sigh.
He thought his father's temper had improved a lot after experiencing so many misfortunes, but it turned out that he was overthinking it.
Lian Fu and Lian Pi had a very bad relationship with Lian Po. Especially after their mother passed away, it was lucky for these two sons to write to Lian Po once a year.
It’s not that Lian Fu and Lian Pi don’t want to be filial sons, it’s really because of Lian Po’s temper. His son is almost forty years old, but he still beats his son with a stick like a child. He is a super tyrant at home.
Lian Fu and Lian Pi ran far away and only wrote a letter to Lian Po. When Lian Po received the letter, he would definitely scold them harshly.
The two brothers thought that their father might miss them if they had less contact with him. As a result, one day, they did not contact Lian Po for two years, and then they went to see Lian Po with a lot of bags. Lian Po asked them "who are you?", but after learning their identities, his face did not show any missing.
After more than ten years of testing, the two brothers realized that it was best to pretend that this father did not exist.
If Lian Po had not fled to Qin and led his troops to beat up the Zhao army that went to "mediate" the dispute in Chu, the brothers would have been ashamed to stay in Zhao and would not have returned to Lian Po.
Lian Fu and Lian Pi had no friendship with Zhu Xiang. They rarely went home, and Zhu Xiang's status was indeed very low at the beginning, and he had no ability to show, so it was difficult for scholars to humble themselves and befriend him.
Lin Xiangru loved Zhu Xiang so much that among his children and grandchildren, only his rebellious youngest son Lin Zhi was Zhu Xiang's friend.
Now the commoner Zhu Xiang, whom they looked down upon, had become Lord Zhu Xiang of Changping. Even though they wanted to make friends with him, they felt embarrassed.
Lian Fu and Lian Pi tactfully asked their old father if he could make an introduction. Lian Po gave them a mocking look and told them to have some shame.
Lian Fu and Lian Pi wanted to go to their mother's tablet to ask if they were picked up.
After Lian Po finished writing the abusive letter, he wrote another piece of letter, praising Zhu Xiang and Ying Xiaozheng for their bravery, saying that the cured meat and pickled vegetables sent by Zhu Xiang were delicious, and asking whether the craftsmen he gave to Zhu Xiang were useful and whether there was anything else he wanted.
When delivering the letter, Lian Po took out two sets of leather armor from his own storeroom and had them delivered to Zhu Xiang and Ying Xiaozheng to congratulate them on their military achievements.
The leather armor worn by Qin generals had undergone multiple processing steps, was covered with thick lacquer, and was polished like a mirror. It was very tough and very expensive.
Generally, generals would only give their treasured armor to their sons to represent the meaning of "inheritance".
Lian Fu and Lian Pi obviously did not receive the armor given by their old father.
When Lian Po gave away the armor, he sighed, "Finally, it's been sent away. Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er have grown up. In the blink of an eye, I have really grown old."
Lian Fu: “…”
He thought he should find something to do instead of taking care of his old father, because his old father probably didn't treat him as a son.
His son was Zhu Xiang, Lord of Changping, and his grandson was Ying Zheng, Crown Prince of Qin.
Who are Lian Fu and Lian Pi? I don't know!
When Zhu Xiang was celebrating Ying Xiaozheng's fifteenth birthday, Zichu's edict and Lian Po's letter arrived.
Although Ying Xiaozheng had thought of a way to quibble, under the death gaze of his aunt, Ying Xiaozheng obediently did not eat any cakes with sugared osmanthus and osmanthus jam for three months.
Three whole months!
Ying Xiaozheng muttered: "I really didn't go to the battlefield."
Xue Ji hummed and said, "So your aunt didn't tell you not to eat osmanthus cake from now on."
Ying Xiaozheng was so angry that he hit his uncle with his head again: "Uncle! Do you think this is reasonable? Aunt is unreasonable!"
Zhu Xiang held the little calf Zheng'er's head against his. "In our family, your aunt is the one who is right! Do you understand? Be good and accept the punishment."
Ying Xiaozheng was furious and said, "This is not fair! Why isn't my uncle being punished?"
Zhu Xiang said happily: "Because I didn't swear. Who asked you to make a promise first? If you make a promise, you must keep it. Do you understand?"
Ying Xiaozheng suddenly realized. In order not to keep a promise, the key is not to make a promise? I learned it!
Li Mu, who was reading a book in the background, trembled his hands and gave the uncle and nephew a complicated look.
Zhu Xiang, oh Zhu Xiang, you are still asking who raised Zheng'er astray.
Are you embarrassed to ask
On Ying Xiaozheng’s birthday, he was finally able to eat osmanthus cake.
Zhu Xiang made ordinary osmanthus cake, osmanthus steamed cake, osmanthus fried cake, osmanthus sauce candied sweet potato, osmanthus steamed cake, and osmanthus sauce glutinous rice cake, so that Ying Xiaozheng, who had been released from the ban, could eat enough.
At this time, letters from Zichu and Lian Po arrived one after another.
Seeing Zichu's three overlapping edicts, Zhu Xiang cursed, "What's wrong with you? Why are you issuing three? It's freezing cold, aren't you afraid that Zheng'er will get sick on the way? Ignore him and leave in January."
Zhu Xiang threw the King of Qin's edict aside like throwing away garbage, and respectfully opened Lian Po's letter.
Zhu Xiang said happily: "I was scolded! Zheng'er, Lord Lian said he would spank you."
Ying Xiaozheng puffed up his cheeks: "I can't beat Lian Weng."
Zhu Xiang laughed at Li Mu: "Mr. Lian said he would stab you in the back with two bloody holes!"
The corner of Li Mu's mouth twitched slightly.
He knew that he would be scolded.
But if Lord Lian were here and saw such an opportunity, he would definitely take Zheng'er to the battlefield.
"Why didn't Cai Ze and Lin Li write to me individually?" Zhu Xiang said dissatisfiedly, "They are really not considerate."
Xue Ji said, "Maybe their letter is on the way."
Zhu Xiang said, "Send it together with the imperial edict of the King of Qin. Why did Xia Tong only send the imperial edict? Where is the letter?"
Ying Xiaozheng swallowed the cake in his mouth and said, "I'm writing, I'm starting to write."
Zhu Xiang scratched Ying Xiaozheng's nose and said, "When you go back, ask them carefully. Forget about the imperial edict, they didn't even write a letter. Are they still friends?"
Ying Xiaozheng said: "By the time I set out, the letters from my father and uncle will surely have arrived."
Xue Ji asked, "Are you really going to let Zheng'er go back?"
Zhu Xiang said: "Zheng'er should go back once a year and show his face in the Qin court."
He sighed and said, "Actually, I should go back with him, but there are many things to do in Southern Qin, and Guangling City needs to be rebuilt, so I can't leave."
Xue Ji thought for a moment and said, "I'll go back with Zheng'er. I miss Queen Mother Huayang and Cheng Jiao, too."
She thought of the letter that Queen Mother Huayang wrote to her, "Xue Ji! I protected Zheng'er!", and a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
Although there was a gap in age and status between them, Queen Dowager Huayang was her first friend.
Although Zhu Xiang was a little reluctant, he knew that Xue Ji had experienced Ying Xiaozheng's self-mutilation and the breakup with Chunhua, and chasing the Chu army to the Huai River. She felt extremely insecure and wanted to keep an eye on Ying Xiaozheng all the time, so he sighed and said, "That's good. You can watch Zheng'er to prevent him from doing anything wrong again."
Ying Xiaozheng originally thought that he would embark on the journey alone this time because his uncle would definitely be too busy.
This is the first time in his life that he has taken a long-distance trip by himself!
Ying Xiaozheng has already thought about what he will do on the road without the supervision of his elders.
For example, he could sneak over to visit General Wang Jian, who is still young, and maybe he could get some safe military merit.
After Ying Xiaozheng returned from the Huai River, he swore in his heart that he would never take risks again. This little military achievement was enough for him.
But after being quiet for a while, the young man's desire to go to the battlefield and make achievements began to stir again.
When Ying Xiaozheng heard that his aunt was going with him, his face immediately fell: "I'm grown up now, I can go back alone."
Zhu Xiang immediately took action and pinched Ying Xiaozheng's droopy face: "Xue Ji, looking at Zheng'er's expression, you can tell that if he goes back alone, he will definitely sneak away on the road, and maybe even run to Wang Jian."
Ying Xiaozheng's narrow eyes with upturned tails suddenly widened: "Don't talk nonsense! I didn't!"
Can my uncle read minds
Xue Ji said calmly: "My dear, please rest assured and leave Zheng'er to me. I will take good care of him."
Ying Xiaozheng knocked away his uncle’s hand that was pinching his face and bumped his head into his uncle’s shoulder blade: “Ah, no!”
Li Mu couldn't help laughing.
Ying Xiaozheng is growing very fast, and has gradually developed the demeanor of a king who does not show his emotions on his face in front of others.
But in front of Zhu Xiang and Xue Ji, whatever Ying Xiaozheng was thinking was reflected on his face, as if it was a blank sheet of paper.
Although Zheng'er is already fifteen years old, he may be able to wear the cap in advance in some vassal states, but now Zheng'er looks only five or six years old, no more. Li Mu thought to himself, and smiled again as he thought about it.
On the first day of the first lunar month, Zhu Xiang sent Ying Xiaozheng's letter stating that he would postpone his return to Xianyang, along with a boatload of New Year goods, back to Xianyang. He also specifically instructed that the New Year goods for Xunzi and Lian Gong were special and that Xia Tong and Lin Li were not allowed to open them. He only trusted Cai Ze.
The King of Qin had already built a temporary palace in Hanzhong, and Zichu ordered people to repair the palace and expand the gardens, so that it could be used as a place to avoid the cold in autumn and winter and for hunting.
The Han River is connected to the Yangtze River. When Zhu Xiang's ship carrying New Year's goods arrived, Zichu and Lin Zhi had already been waiting at the port.
As for Cai Ze, as the prime minister, he had to stay in Xianyang.
Lin Zhi said in dissatisfaction: "What do you mean? What do you mean you are not allowed to tear it down with me? Your Majesty, please issue an edict immediately and we will tear it down! I don't believe that a mere Chang Ping Jun dares to disobey the King of Qin's edict!"
Zichu said: "Well said, I will issue an edict and you go and tear it down yourself!"
The king and his minister looked at each other, pretending that nothing had happened in this conversation, and continued reading the letter.
Lin Zhi was speechless: "Is Zheng'er so delicate? Can't he go in winter? He has to wait until January when spring comes."
Zichu said: "Zheng'er is strong, but Xueji is weak. I'm afraid she can't stand the cold wind on the river."
Lin Zhi sighed, "That's true. My sister has suffered too much. Now that her life is better, she is always suffering again."
Zichu nodded in agreement, and the two of them criticized Xue Ji's husband and children for causing Xue Ji so much trouble.
The faces of the attendants behind Zichu were frozen.
King Qin, do you still remember that the prince is your son
After complaining about Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er, Zichu and Lin Zhi laughed at Zhu Xiang's complaint that they did not write to him and threatened to break off the relationship.
They deliberately didn't write the letter, just waiting to see Zhu Xiang get anxious.
This was Lin Zhi's idea. Zhu Xiang must be waiting for their reaction so that he could continue to argue. They deliberately left Zhu Xiang hanging, making him guess blindly and unable to sleep or eat.
Cai Ze wanted to deliver the letter secretly, but was stopped by the two.
When Cai Ze's messenger was stopped by the King of Qin's guards, his face turned pale. At that time, there were rumors in Xianyang that Cai Ze was planning a rebellion, and that the King of Qin, Chu, and the Prime Minister had turned against each other.
"Wait until I see Zheng'er, then write a letter to Zhu Xiang." Zichu said with a smile, "Scare him once, and see if he dares to defend the city again in the future."
Lin Zhi said, "I heard that Li Mu no longer goes to Nanyue and stays with Zhu Xiang every day. It seems that he is afraid of Zhu Xiang."
Zichu and Lin Zhi laughed again, and the people around them were envious.
How can we not be enviable when seeing such a relationship between a monarch and his subjects
(End of this chapter)