The look on Fourth Master Jiang's face was that of a loser after a contest with himself.
"I trust that you have your own measure. If you really want to go, go."
"Like what your mother said, we'll go tomorrow." He asked worriedly, "Take Jiang Ping and the guards."
Before Jiang Rao came, she had planned to kneel down and beg her parents for a kiss. She didn't expect to get what she wanted with just a few words. Her eyes were full of joy, as if her pockets were full of stars, "Daddy, thank you you."
When she was gone, Jiang Siye's hand, which was knocking on the table, rested on his temple, his face looked a little tired.
"Really annoying."
Jiang Qinshi knew in her heart that the result would be like this.
She came back to him and comforted him softly, "Every son and daughter have their own blessings, what's the trouble?"
"She knows that I pamper her, so there is always a kind of confidence in her body-the courage to dare to be willful. This is the temper that I condone, but I can't help her. I am happy and sad for being kind."
"She knows that someone is protecting her, so she won't let herself be wronged or bullied." Jiang Siye opened the window of the room with a wooden stick, and looked at his daughter's figure in the distance, feeling a little dazed, "But if in the future How sad it is for her to have no one to indulge her like I do."
The sunlight covered the entire window sill, and the sweet-scented osmanthus in the yard was as bright as gold, and the clusters bloomed just right, and the fragrance jumped over the window lattice and diffused in.
Osmanthus fragrans is a very delicate flower, and it can't stand the cold, otherwise it will wither.
It rained a few days ago, Jiang Siye ordered people to move the sweet-scented osmanthus into the warm pavilion, the rain stopped for two days and the sun was shining during the day, so he moved the sweet-scented osmanthus out again.
A seedling that he has worked so hard to take care of, even the slightest bit of wind and rain is not willing to let her suffer, how can he bear to push her to others to suffer
"Even if it's not Pei Songyu, it can't be the prince and grandson." Fourth Master Jiang's eyes were cloudy, annoyed at himself, "Why can't I just keep her at home?"
Jiang Qinshi's hand fell softly on his shoulder, "Relax a bit, you haven't had a good night's sleep for a long time because of your annual marriage. If you continue like this, your body will collapse."
Outside the house, a figure stopped outside the door, stayed for a while, and left silently.
…
Ming Shao heard the news that Jiang Xingzhou had allowed Jiang Rao to go to Yunling Mountain, so she didn't have the energy to pack her luggage. When she saw Jiang Rao's figure appearing at the Moon Gate, she went up to meet her and said sadly: "Girl, Yunling There are many mountains and ridges on the side, which is more complicated than the mountains on the other side of Yecheng, and now the plank road is being built, the road must be difficult, do you have to go there and suffer?"
Jiang Rao's steps were heavy, her face was gray, and when she passed Ming Shao, she said in a dull voice, "I won't go."
Ming Shao: "You stay in Jinling, stay in Jinling, look at flowers, taste tea, go to a banquet from time to time, how leisurely you are...won't you go?"
Ming Shao was stunned.
Jiang Rao nodded and walked into the house, Ming Shao caught up with her, "Girl, are you really not going?"
"I'm not going."
The autumn wind swept down the fallen leaves from the sycamore tree in the yard, and they swirled and fell to Jiang Rao's feet.
When she stepped on it, there was a crisp sound from the soles of her feet. The color of the fallen leaves was not much different from her gloomy face. Seeing that Ming Shao seemed to have something to ask, Jiang Rao said, "Daddy hasn't been sleeping well recently, you can find someone else in a while." Maid, go to Dr. Li and tell him to ask for a medicinal recipe to make up for Daddy's health."
After Ming Shao left, Jiang Rao buried her head in the pillow on the beauty's couch.
not happy.
Why isn't there a way to have both ends, so that she can see Rong Ting whenever she wants, and her father won't stop her
It seems that since the uncle's incident, Dad's prejudice against the prince has become deeper.
It would be fine if her father had no prejudice against Rong Ting.
If he had no prejudice, maybe he wouldn't think Pei Songyu was so good.
At first, Pei Songyu and Jiang Rao would remain indifferent no matter how many times, but if it was Rong Ting, her white ears were suddenly stained with pink, she turned over and sat up, her cheeks were also pink, and she glanced into the yard, seeing those who helped her The maid who packed the luggage was moving things out, opened the window, and said to them: "Don't move it back."
A second-class maid replied: "Girl, Sister Ming Shao said, you are not going to Yunling anymore, let us move these back."
"I'm not going. But if I'm not going, things can still be delivered." Jiang Rao opened her head to the window, pointed at her fingers, and said, "Sleeve stove, charcoal fire, and incense."
It's cold, if you don't bring some heating, it's so cold on the mountain, you'll get sick easily.
Jiang Rao lay by the window and looked at the maidservants, "I can't miss anything, I have to send them over."
…
At the foot of Yunling Mountain, at the end of the village, there are several temporary houses for the officials who came to supervise the work.
At this moment, it's midnight in the west building, the moon is cold and the stars are cold, the sky is as dark as a crow's feather, and it's dark in the corner.
Huai Qing hurriedly knocked on the door of the west wing room which was still lit, "Your Highness, Mr. Chen is here again."
As soon as he finished the report, Chen Bing's hearty laughter spread to the courtyard, "Your Highness Ninth, I'm here to talk to you."
Although Chen Bing is a civil servant, his face is rough, and half of his beard is shaved off on weekdays, so nothing can be seen. Busy with the construction of the Yunling plank road these days, he didn't have the time to take care of himself, so he had stubble on his face.
The wind and sun for many days made his face darken a lot. If he took off his official uniform, he would be no different from the farmer rolling in the crop field here.
He didn't have any official airs, and after only a few days, he became intimate with the local people.
Chen Bing strode into Rong Ting's room, and put the two baskets of eggs in his hands on the table, "The Tuesday family in the east of the village gave them to me. I brought two baskets and distributed them to Your Highness."
"Your Majesty's idea is really good. Since you told the people that they can walk along the plank road, there are not many people who oppose it." Chen Bing sat down and said with emotion, "But your move has cut off many people's money. Now the pass for the plank road is meaningless, and the officials in charge of this area in the yamen have no money to fish, and they probably have a grudge against you, and the person who threw rotten eggs at you this morning is probably related to them."
Rong Ting said lightly: "It's okay."
Chen Bing saw that there was not even the slightest bit of anger on his face, and he was still holding the knife in his hand, carefully carving the model in his hand, his eyes were attracted, and he said, "Your model is exquisitely made."
"The troublemakers are suppressed, it's time to discuss how to repair the plank road."
Seeing that Rong Ting was talking about business, Chen Bing got serious, and said: "Yunling Mountain is not steep, but there are many rocks on the mountain, and there are cliffs in the middle. If a plank road is built, the iron cables connecting the plank road between the two peaks will be easily damaged. Falling rocks and smashing, this is the most difficult part, if the plank road is not built well, I will have no face to go back to see the Holy One."
"I can think of a way to lure the falling rock away." Rong Ting pointed to the blueprints he laid on the table.
Chen Bing became a little interested and said, "Let me see."
He picked up the piece of paper, frowned and looked at it for a long time, pinched his thigh with his fingers, and said bitterly, "Why didn't I think of it?"
Rong Ting glanced at Chen Bing, and saw where Chen Bing was looking, "The corridor pavilion is to protect the wooden piles and planks on the plank road from rain erosion, not to resist falling rocks. Master Chen is wrong. My solution is to change one." road."
Chen Bing blushed, "It's a good idea."
He took the blueprint in his hand, and looked at the prototype model in Rong Ting's hand, "Then when the model is ready, can you lend it to the lower officials?"
After receiving Rong Ting's answer, he put the blueprint back on the table and said, "The next day, I will ask someone to pick it up."
There was a wind at night, and the mica paper pasted on the windows was blown like some kind of musical instrument, playing whimpering music, as if it was about to die in the next second, and was torn into pieces by the night wind.
Chen Bing stood here for a while, frowning dissatisfiedly, "I asked His Highness to live with me before, but His Highness refused. Now that the weather has suddenly turned cold, has His Highness still not changed his mind? I have a cook, a maid, and my daughter I often send some snacks made by her here, and the room is spacious and bright, and it is much more comfortable to live in, no worse than you in the palace. The emperor entrusted you to me, and I cannot let you suffer."
He was obviously a child who grew up in the palace, but he didn't seem to be able to enjoy the blessings. A table and a bed were all the furnishings in the West Wing where he was currently living. An official from a poor family would feel shabby.
Rong Ting laughed.
Even if he doesn't smile, his face can be seen by others, and the first word that pops up in his mind is "beautiful".
Smiling is even more terrible, softening the cold and cruel lines of the corners of the eyes, melting the frost and snow on the body, the coldness and hostility in the eyes are covered by the drooping eyelashes, but giving birth to a bit of purity and innocence.
Such a well-behaved smile will make people feel that no matter what others ask him, he will do it.
Bewitched by such a smile, Chen Bing thought that Rong Ting was overjoyed after finally listening to him, and before Rong Ting could answer him, he said, "Your Majesty, I will find someone to clean up the house for you now."
"No need, thank you Master Chen." Rong Ting turned the wheelchair, grasped the embroidery knife on the table, flicked away the sawdust on the table with the handle of the knife, and separated from Chen Bing on both sides of the small room, as if separated Looking at the Chu-Han River boundary, the two shadows cast on the wall are far apart, "I'm here, I'm used to living here, don't bother Mr. Chen."
Chen Bing choked up and raised his hands, "What do you want here? It's nothing. How could you get used to it..."
He didn't seem like Rong Ting would change his mind, and he was rejected three times, so he knew that this matter was hopeless, Chen Bing's eyes darkened slightly, he took another look at Rong Ting, and said: "The night is getting late , I will take my leave first."
Wu Que sees the guests out, and when she comes back, she bumps into Huai Qing who came out with two baskets before she got close to the small courtyard.
Take a closer look—
"Isn't this the egg Master Chen sent?"
Huai Qing stopped and returned to him, "His Royal Highness said, let me find a place to throw it away."
Wu Que took the basket from Huaiqing, weighed it, and said with a look of pity, "Throw it away if you say so."
"Master Chen really takes good care of His Highness the Ninth Highness. I sent him back just now. Along the way, he kept asking His Highness the Ninth Highness if he could eat well and live well. Just throw away his whole heart, okay..."
"His Royal Highness is like this."
Huai Qing sighed, not surprised, "After all, there are people who want his life everywhere."
Huai Qing said to Wu Que: "Remember, the only one who can make His Highness the Ninth Highness have no grievances is the fourth girl from the Ning'an House. Didn't you see it? The carriage from the Ning'an House sent you off during the day. How happy was Your Highness the Ninth Prince when you came?"
Wu Que rubbed his head, and went to throw eggs with Huaiqing, but he was still reluctant to throw them all, so he kept a few and planned to feed them to the dogs the next day. When he came back to report, he saw Rong Ting holding a sleeve stove with plum blossoms in his hand.
The copper of the sleeve stove is even and clean, there is no charcoal fire inside, no incense is lit, it is just a lifeless object, which can be held comfortably, and there is full joy in the pupils, charcoal fire, sleeve stove, incense, and sweet-scented osmanthus sugar, He arranged them in a neat row and placed them on the table.
Today's carriage from Ning'an Bo's mansion was greeted by Wu Que. He naturally recognized that those were all sent by Jiang Rao.
This is a neat row, you can see it as soon as you enter the door, and it looks like you are thinking about others. Compared with the situation of those thrown away eggs, it is a world of difference.
After Wu Que went back, he touched Huai Qing with his shoulder in a convincing manner, and said to him: "You are right."
…
A month passed quickly, and it was late September in a blink of an eye.
Seeing that Jiang Rao still couldn't go to Yunling Mountain in the end, Hu Tang often came to Ning'an Bo's mansion to accompany her and relieve her boredom.
She was obviously not that happy in the middle of September, but after the end of September, she clearly saw that this little beauty who had been as cold as ice for almost a month became happy in the last few days, her eyes brightened, her face The make-up is also well drawn and looks radiant.
Hu Tang: It's tricky.
But she didn't figure out what the tricks were until one day when she came back to find Jiang Rao, she ran into Jiang Jinxing talking to Jiang Rao in Jiang Rao's room.
Jiang Jinxing's head grew wildly like a willow leaf, but even so, he was still small, but he lost a lot of weight. When he rushed over to hug Jiang Rao, he finally no longer seemed to have glued a ball to Jiang Rao. .
He arched in Jiang Rao's arms, shouting "Sister, Sister", "Isn't His Highness the Ninth Prince coming back soon? I want to see His Highness the Ninth Prince."
Jiang Jinxing was studying in the academy, and he was terrified of his gentlemen, but Mr. Wu was fine, seeing Mr. Wen almost killed him. When Rong Ting was around, he could teach him to do his homework. His life at Mr. Wen's place was easy, but this time when Rong Ting went to Yunling, Jiang Jinxing's life was not easy.
He pulled his cheek towards Jiang Rao, tearing his little face into a cake, "Look, how thin I have become."
Jiang Rao touched his head, "I also want to see His Highness Ninth Prince."
"Together!"
"Cough cough." Hu Tang knocked on the door with her fingers, and after Jiang Rao agreed, she stepped in and put a small box with colorful patterns in front of Jiang Rao, "Here you are, floral rouge, dab it on your lips." It looks good on both cheeks and cheeks."
Jiang Rao took it and smelled it, "Don't you like to visit rouge shops?"
"I don't like shopping, and I don't use rouge. But you can use it. When I think of these things, you look good with them, I want to buy them, and I like to go to rouge shops." Hu Tang took the rouge from Jiang Rao's hand again The small box of rouge was brought over, unscrewed the rouge, pressed it with fingertips, and touched Jiang Rao's cheek, "It's so beautiful."
While looking at Jiang Rao, she said, "I'm definitely going to have a daughter in the future. It's great to dress up my daughter beautifully."
Jiang Rao laughed, "What if your daughter is like you?"
Hu Tang hissed, "Forget it, raising a monkey is better than raising me."
Jiang Jinxing parroted his tongue, "Raising a monkey is better than raising me."
Hu Tang: "..."
She lifted Jiang Jinxing from Jiang Rao's arms with one hand, put her on the ground, and gave him her whip, "Hey, go play somewhere else."
Jiang Jinxing took the new toy and ran away.
As soon as Jiang Jinxing left, Hu Tang looked at Jiang Rao with a bit of ridicule on his face, "When will the Ninth Prince come back?"
Jiang Rao lowered her head, holding a small mirror, looking at her rouged face, not noticing the teasing in Hu Tang's expression, she said, "It's only been a few days."
Hu Tang snickered, took away the small mirror from Jiang Rao's hand, poked Jiang Rao's hand, and said with a rising voice, "You were unhappy before, was it because of the Ninth Prince?"
Jiang Rao's hand was empty, and finally met Hu Tang's interested eyes.
Of course it is.
But she looked at the familiar expression on Hu Tang's face, and instantly recalled that she had seen such an expression on the old doctor in Yecheng.
The old doctor persisted in thinking that she and Rong Ting were a fiancée, but he didn't change it in the end.
Jiang Rao: "..."
She decided to hide it from Hu Tang, but Hu Tang beat her one step ahead, "You didn't deny it immediately, but you admitted it."
"Ninth Prince..." Hu Tang thought about Rong Ting's appearance.
She is good-looking, prettier than a woman, and not overly feminine.
Unfortunately, however, it is a disability.
Hu Tang frowned, and said worriedly: "If it's his words, will your parents agree?"
"I don't agree."
Hu Tang's face was very sad, and he said with emotion: "Mandarin ducks are miserable."
Jiang Rao: "..."
She explained to her, "It's not what you think. I have nothing to do with him. I helped him and he helped me. There is mutual kindness."
Hu Tang stared at Jiang Rao's face, "Don't lie to yourself."
Hu Tang's eye sockets are deep, as if he has blood from the Western Regions, his eyes are deep and bright, as if he can see through people, "Just say that he left, are you sad, and are you happy that he is coming back?"
Jiang Rao was at a loss for words for a moment, and after a while, she said slowly: "If my brother is far away from me, I will also be worried and sad. If he comes back, I will be happy too."
Hu Tang looks smart, but she is actually only one year older than Jiang Rao. She thought about what Jiang Rao said, but she couldn't find anything to refute, but she felt that it was not like what Jiang Rao said, "He is the prince. You can't see him as your brother, can you?"
"Not brother."
It's golden thighs...
But how can you say such things to Hu Tang
"Stop talking about that."
Jiang Rao couldn't resist Hu Tang's continuous questioning, so she changed the subject, "Are you free tomorrow, and accompany me to Sanqing Temple?"
"What are you doing there?"
"One wish."
She had begged in front of the Buddha, that His Highness the Ninth Highness be safe and come back on time, and now it has come true, she should have to go to the Buddha who helped her wish come true.
Unexpectedly, on the day when Rong Ting was supposed to come back, she was looking in the direction of the city gate from a restaurant with a wide view near the city gate. Wait until night falls. A whole day passed, but there was no sign of Rong Ting at all.
Jiang Jinxing finally woke up rubbing his eyes, his soft and waxy voice was drowsy, "Sister, why hasn't he come back yet?"
Jiang Rao looked down at him, "I've ordered someone to inquire, just wait."
Jiang Jinxing's face collapsed, looking at the moon and stars hanging in the sky, "It's almost time for the curfew, the city gate will be closed soon, if he hasn't come back, nothing will happen, right?"
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Jiang Rao immediately tightened her fingers holding him, and retorted without thinking, "No way."
Cracks appeared on her calm expression, showing panic, but she insisted, "No."
Jiang Jinxing had never seen his sister look so serious, he pursed his lips, "Sister, it hurts."
It was only then that Jiang Rao realized that she had unconsciously clenched her fingers just now, pinching her younger brother's stomach.
She hurriedly let go of her hand. At this time, Yu'er, who she sent out to inquire about the news, came back, bowed in front of Jiang Rao, and said, "His Royal Highness has not come back, and he is still in Yunling. Although a month has come, but he Please stay here, and say that you will not come back until the plank road is built."
Jiang Rao covered her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
so far so good.
Nothing happened.
She almost scolded Buddha just now.
But she felt a little empty in her heart.
Perhaps it was because he had waited for too long and believed that he would come back today, but he did not wait for his figure.
If he wanted to stay in Yunling until the plank road was repaired before returning, how long would he have
"When will the plank road be repaired, have you found out?" Jiang Rao asked Yu'er.
Yu'er replied: "No one knows. People outside say that there are many rocks and rain in Yunling Mountain. It is impossible to build plank roads. Many people in the previous dynasty have never done it. They want to build plank roads." Just wishful thinking."
At the same time, in the Splendid Palace.
"He said he would wait until the plank road is repaired before returning?"
Jiahe Empress raised her voice, her face full of disbelief.
The palace man picked lychees for her and the queen, and replied politely, "Yes."
Empress Jiahe ate a lychee, smiling indifferently and complacently, "What an idiot, he swears like this, if the plank road can't be repaired, wouldn't he have to come back?"
"It's fine not to come back."
When the Seventeenth Prince heard that Rong Ting would not come back, his expression revealed a bit of excitement, but he asked with some concern: "Mother, is it really not easy to build the plank road?"
"Of course it is, otherwise, why would the emperor send Chen Bing over there? With Chen Bing's ability, spending a few months to build a simple plank road is really overkill."
The seventeenth prince's heart fell back into his heart, and he said: "It's such a difficult thing, why force it, let those caravans take a long way, otherwise they will spend so much manpower and material resources, and in the end they can only fetch water from a bamboo basket." Nothing."
"That's exactly the reason." Jiahe Empress smiled, "I insist on building plank roads, which is convenient for those who run caravans, but it offends the good things of other road guards. If there is no plank road, they can pass caravans there." , Those who want to take the pass order from them will inevitably have to bribe them to please them. The plank road is 10% and no one will bribe them, so they are naturally not happy. Have you heard? When he first arrived at the foot of Yunling Mountain, he was thrown Rotten eggs all over."
The Seventeenth Prince couldn't hide the joy in his heart, a smile climbed to his face, and he said with a sneer: "It's really like a mantis is like a car, and he is beyond his control. He seeks profit for those who run the business route, and he is confused. , Those who do business are all inferior untouchables, how can we get the most benefits by helping them do things?"
Empress Jiahe leisurely waved her fingernails dyed red, looking forward to a good show, "If the plank road can't be repaired, I don't know how disappointed your father will be."
Day after day passed.
The leaves on the tree gradually turned yellow, and the last autumn wind swept away all the faded leaves, leaving only the bare trunk.
There has never been any news from the side of the plank road. Some people are proud of it, while others are worried about it.
Jiang Rao hugged Xiao Fugui by the window, with a sad face.
Its bird feathers have thickened a lot after autumn, and there are more fluffs that feel soft to the touch.
Jiang Rao would hold it every day, waiting under the window for the servant girl to come back and report the news from Yunling.
There is no news in October, and there is no news in November. If we wait any longer, it seems that this winter will be over.
On the day Rong Ting was supposed to come back, she didn't get his person, but two days later, she got his letter.
The letter arrived a few days late because of the delay of the messenger, explaining why he had not returned.
Although there are rumors outside that the plank road cannot be repaired at all, and even if it is repaired, it will be smashed by falling rocks, but his letter is understated, and he does not complain or complain.
It's as simple as that...
"What time will you return."
Jiang Rao was really worried that as others said, the plank road could not be repaired well, and even more worried that he would not come back if the plank road could not be repaired as he said.
If both of these things come true, won't he never come back
Jiang Rao couldn't help shivering, and Xiao Fugui in her arms shivered too, and the bird feathers on her body trembled rapidly.
"If he doesn't come back, I'm really going to find him."
Jiang Rao lowered her head and said to Xiao Fugui.
Xiao Fugui was still shaking his feathers.
Jiang Rao's little temper came up, and she thought ferociously in her heart that when he came back, she would ignore him for a while.
"When will you come back?" She shook Xiao Fugui, almost annoyed and annoyed.
Ming Shao came in with a cup of hot tea, and held the hot tea in front of Jiang Rao, "Girl, the weather is dry, drink some tea to moisten your throat."
She took Xiao Fugui away from Jiang Rao's arms, tapped the bird's beak, "Other Mynahs can talk, but it happened that it first stayed with Pomegranate and learned to meow, meow, but not to talk to others. "
Jiang Rao drank half a cup of tea, her throat cleared up a lot, but she didn't answer.
Ever since she knew that Ming Shao would tell her father and Pei Songyu about her whereabouts, although she didn't train Ming Shao, she was not as trusting and friendly to Ming Shao as before.
Naturally, Ming Shao could feel Jiang Rao's neglect of her, and felt a little regretful.
After two or three months, she understood that no matter what she said, Jiang Rao would not change her mind and give Pei Songyu another look.
Her heart was all about the Ninth Prince.
Originally, she was a servant, with low status and low speech. If she hadn't relied on the indulgence of her master, she might not even have the chance to speak in front of the master.
Since she figured this out, she never mentioned Pei Songyu in front of Jiang Rao again, nor did she listen to Fourth Master Jiang's words to tell Pei Songyu where Jiang Rao was.
Even though Pei Songyu was still in and out of Ning An Bo's mansion as usual, he rarely ran into Jiang Rao by chance.
After retiring, Ming Shao began to think about how to make up for her previous mistakes.
She is the first-class maid in Jiang Rao's yard, and the one who has served Jiang Rao the longest. She has one of the highest status among the maids in the mansion. For the news from Yunling, if you come to tell me earlier, or tell the girl, I will reward you, and my hometown is in the Gyeonggi area, so you should go to your family to inquire more about it."
At the beginning of December, the dawn was late, and the branches were covered with thick frost. Jiang Rao was still asleep when she was suddenly shaken awake.
She rubbed her eyes, looked at Ming Shao's joyful and smiling face reflected by the lit lights, and then looked at the still dark sky outside, she didn't realize it for a moment, her voice was full of tiredness, and asked: "It's not dawn yet, what's the matter?"
Ming Shao said to her: "Girl, it's a good thing! A Liu who was in the kitchen to buy vegetables at the morning market came back and told me that His Highness Ninth Prince is back."