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The couple should not have thought of changing the subject, after all, children speak without restraint, and the baby in their arms was less than two months old. But they both thought of the age difference between Zheng Hong and Yuan Shu: six years old, exactly the same as them.
Yuan Cixian glanced at Lu Shiqing, and her eyes revealed: When you were six years old, did you feel excited because you held me in your arms when I was full-term
The answer on Lu Shiqing's face was a little vague: Maybe we have to go back to eighteen years ago to try and find out...
But the two of them couldn't hesitate too long. Seeing Zheng Hong waiting with his arms outstretched and the Queen also standing beside him, Yuan Cixian smiled and winked at Jianzhi, signaling her to go forward.
Adults should not focus their attention on children. A six-year-old is still a child and doesn't understand anything.
Zheng Hong really couldn't have any ideas. He had just held a little brother like Juye, but never a little sister. Seeing this, he carefully reached out and put Lu Yuanshu in his arms.
Bend down to pick up a branch and support it from below.
Lu Yuanshu's unguarded temper has been around for a long time. Yuan Cihan thought that the child would at least be a little unfamiliar in a completely unfamiliar place, but unexpectedly, she was clearly not asleep either. As soon as Zheng Hong took her, she rolled over and put her face on his small chest, then snuggled up to him and closed her eyes comfortably.
"Wow." Zheng Hong couldn't help but exclaimed, probably because he had never seen anyone so well behaved before.
Yuan Cixian wanted to hold her forehead. Yuan Shu was so easy to take care of. It would be great if she had half the energy of Yuan Zhen.
Lu Shiqing was also very distressed. Although he knew that the child was innocent, he felt that it was inappropriate to protect him, so he said, "Yuan Shu is not light, Your Highness, please don't tire yourself out."
Zheng Hong's eyes sparkled, indicating that he was not tired at all. But the Queen understood what Lu Shiqing meant, and smiled and asked Jianzhi to take the person away.
Only then did he reluctantly let go, and then he kept looking at the branches with greedy eyes.
The queen looked like a loving mother. She chatted with Yuan Cixian about family matters, including her parents who lived far away in Yaozhou, and happily teased the three children back and forth.
But Yuan Cixian felt that she was not in a very good spirits today. She looked much more haggard than when she received Jiahu a few days ago. Even the thickest makeup could not hide her tiredness.
The harem has its own polish and calculations, and it's not easy for anyone. Yuan Cixian didn't delve too deeply into it, and talked to her warmly to deal with the situation. Lu Shiqing also accompanied her at first, but was later assigned by the Queen to teach Zheng Hong.
He thought it was a good idea, so that the boy wouldn't look like a curious cat and always look at Yuan Shu.
Zheng Hong learned an article from him, and seemed a little bored. He started talking about something else and asked hesitantly, "Minister Lu, how is my sister?"
This question was quite irrelevant. Lu Shiqing was not in Nanzhao, so how could he know whether Shaohe was doing well or not.
In the past, he would have just answered "I don't know" to get away with it, but after having a child, his temper had become much softer, and he patiently said, "I don't know, Your Highness, why are you suddenly asking this?"
After he asked this question, he clearly felt that the other side had become quiet. The Queen and Yuan Cixian stopped talking and seemed to be listening to his answer.
Lu Shiqing smiled and understood. The Queen's real intention was not to ask him and Yuan Cixian to bring the child, but to inquire about the news of Nanzhao. She must have hit a wall with the Emperor, and because there were spies everywhere in the palace, it was inconvenient to talk to the court officials privately, so as not to cause fear. So she asked through Zheng Hong's mouth, and was afraid that the child would not be able to convey the message clearly, so she just listened from the side.
It's a pity that the queen of a country has to be so roundabout in caring for her daughter.
Zheng Hong replied, "I dreamed about my elder sister last night. She cried in the dream and said she was in pain."
Lu Shiqing frowned slightly. Then this dream must not have been dreamed by Zheng Hong, but by the Queen. It is said that there is a subtle connection between mothers and their children. He did not know this before, but since Yuan Cixian realized that the child was fake, he also felt that this kind of bond was quite mysterious.
Seeing Zheng Hong's earnest eyes, he said truthfully: "I only know that a few days ago, the new emperor of Nanzhao ascended the throne and the princess was conferred a title. I have not heard your majesty mention anything else. It was just a dream. Your Highness, please be at ease."
After Lu Shiqing finished speaking, he felt that the Queen's roundabout method was a good idea, but she was still not smart at heart.
Not to mention that he really didn't know about it, even if he really got some inside information, there was no way he would reveal it to her.
After a moment, a faint sigh came from the queen's mouth. Soon after, she said a few polite words and returned to Penglai Palace.
Yuan Cixian stood up, nodded, and watched the noble lady leave the hall. She thought sadly in her heart that if there was anyone in the royal family of the Great Zhou who truly cared about Shaohe, it would probably be the Queen and Zheng Hong.
The Queen had left, and Lu Shiqing was planning to return home. However, he was summoned by Emperor Huining before leaving. So he simply asked Yuan Cihan and the children to wait for him in Hanliang Palace.
Yuan Cixian took over Zheng Hong's lessons and taught him a few things. Suddenly, he heard him ask, "Master, do you know that there is a war in the west?"
When Zheng Hong addressed Lu Shiqing, since he did not hold the official position of the prince's teacher, and due to what his father said about "the difference between the monarch and his subjects", he could not address him too intimately and just called him "teacher". However, addressing Yuan Cihan was more casual.
Upon hearing this, she nodded and said she understood.
"Fighting is not good." Zheng Hong muttered to himself, "Sixth Brother said that I should learn more martial arts, but use them less."
"Do you think the Sixth Prince is right?" she asked.
Zheng Hong nodded solemnly: "Sixth Brother is telling me that I have to be able to fight so as not to be bullied, but I have to fight less and not bully others casually." He added, "We in the Great Zhou should do the same."
"Yes." Yuan Cixian smiled and touched his head. After that, he felt that he had grown braver, so he withdrew his hand and looked at the brightly blooming flowers in the bushes outside the palace and said seriously, "If you have seen bones exposed in the wild and the mountains filled with grief, you will definitely not want to take the initiative to start a war, unless..."
Zheng Hong tilted his head and asked, "Unless what?"
She pursed her lips and smiled, but didn't answer.
Unless the blood shed in this war is to prevent greater sacrifice.
*
Emperor Huining summoned Lu Shiqing for no urgent matter, just to talk about Prince Ping.
The old emperor has always known that this son is dangerous. Many years ago, in addition to Yuan Yizhi, there was another prince of a different surname in the court. His fiefdom was in Huainan and he was given the title of King of Huainan. Later, seeing that the power of Huainan threatened the court, the court went through many twists and turns to eliminate this prince of a different surname. In the end, the King Ping was transferred to Huainan to maintain the balance. But over the years, the King Ping has become the second King of Huainan. Although his surname is Zheng, he still covets the throne and has more legitimacy than the prince of a different surname.
But if every dangerous force could be eliminated as soon as it was identified, it would be too easy to be the emperor.
Emperor Huining did not want to pluck his son's wings, but he had never been able to do so. If the external threat was not eliminated, if there was a war within the Great Zhou, foreign tribes would definitely take advantage of the situation and invade. Huainan was not small and was an extremely rich place. He could not take risks unless it was absolutely necessary, so he had been pulling this dangerous thin line like flying a kite.
But not now.
Originally, he felt a little relieved because the Second Prince was fighting and pulling together. But now that the Second Prince is gone, Prince Ping has become extremely bold, as if he is openly demonstrating against his father. He is so nervous almost every day, afraid that one day when he opens his eyes, the kite string will break, and he will be faced with a "cleansing of the court".
It just so happened that King Ping had made a good plan. The Great Zhou sent troops to aid the Uighurs, which made the already fragile foundation even more vulnerable. The losses in the past six months were so severe that one could not even calculate them. He did not even have the confidence to take the initiative.
Emperor Huining had to admit reality occasionally. He was a very incompetent emperor.
Lu Shiqing comforted him with a few words, but did not give any substantive suggestions. He only said that the war with the Uighurs would be over soon. If this internal strife was inevitable, they would have to hurry up and recuperate and send more troops to Chang'an City.
The old emperor could only nod helplessly. Although he was wary of Lu Shiqing, he knew that he was definitely not on Prince Ping's side, so when it came to Prince Ping's affairs, he could still ask him with confidence.
When the conversation was almost over, Emperor Huining suddenly said quietly, "It seems that Yi Zhi is closer to my heart."
Lu Shiqing pursed his lips and smiled.
This is a comparison that reminds me of the good things about the Yuan family.
The old emperor was making a wishful calculation. He thought that although he was wary of Yuan Yizhi, Yuan Yizhi had not made any restless moves over the years. If the imperial court was in trouble, even though he was far away in southern Yunnan, he would not refuse to help.
But he didn't need to tell such things to irrelevant people. The reason he said this was to test the Yuan family's intentions through Lu Shiqing.
Lu Shiqing naturally heard it and said, "The King of Diannan seldom talked about government affairs with Cixian, so I am afraid I can't get anything out of her. But just from the fact that she seldom talked about it, I can tell that he is a sincere person."
Emperor Huining nodded and said, "In your opinion, if I really can't handle it, can I mobilize southern Yunnan?"
Lu Shiqing nodded and said, "It should be possible. But your majesty, don't forget that southern Yunnan is the barrier of the southwest of the Great Zhou. Once that end is empty, Nanzhao will have an opportunity to take advantage of it."
"Xi Ju won't be able to gain a firm foothold so quickly. Besides, isn't his son still here with me?"
Lu Shiqing smiled faintly, said nothing, and nodded.
After the old emperor finished asking about the serious matters, he said with emotion: "It has been nine years. I still remember that Yi Zhi went to southern Yunnan in March nine years ago."
He had not paid much attention to this false sentiment, but was slightly stunned after hearing it: "Your Majesty, are you saying that the King of Southern Yunnan left Beijing in March of that year?"
Emperor Huining looked at him strangely: "Yes, it was after you were selected as the third place in the imperial examination. I remember it very clearly. That day..."
Lu Shiqing could not hear clearly what the old emperor said afterwards. He waited until they left the Zichen Palace, went to the Hanliang Palace to pick up Yuan Cihan and the child, and sat in the carriage back to the palace, his face was black.
Yuan Cixian thought something had gone wrong in the court, but there were many eyes and ears in the palace, so she didn't dare to ask. When the children were carried to the carriage behind by two maids and she was alone with Lu Shiqing, she asked him, "What's wrong? You look so bad."
Lu Shiqing said nothing and looked straight ahead.
She felt even more puzzled, so she waved her snow-white palm in front of his eyes, pulled his sleeve and asked, "Who made you angry?"
Lu Shiqing could not resist her cautious tugging at his sleeves, so he at least spoke up and tilted his head, "Don't you know who provoked me?"
Yuan Cixian really didn't know, but she sensed a dangerous aura, and felt that it was related to her. She thought, no matter what it was, she should just smile first, after all, you shouldn't hit someone who smiles, so she curled her lips and said, "If I knew, I would have rolled up my sleeves and dealt with the person for you a long time ago, why would I be asking here calmly?"
Smooth talking!
Lu Shiqing suddenly leaned over, without warning, and punched the wall of the car, then asked, "When I was riding a horse through the streets nine years ago, you were still in the capital."
Yuan Cixian was shocked. Oh, she made a mistake.
Last time, she lied to him out of nervousness, saying that she had already gone to Yaozhou. But now that she thought about it, this lie was likely to be exposed, so it would be better to say that she stayed at home that day.
She smiled shamelessly: "Maybe I remembered it wrong last time, I definitely didn't mean to lie!" After saying that, she took his fist that was pressed against the wall and blew air into it, saying, "Why do scholars learn martial arts? Doesn't it hurt when you punch it?"
But the more she acted like this, the more guilty she seemed. Lu Shiqing had been able to easily see through her acting skills earlier, and now he knew her very well, which confirmed his suspicions.
If she hadn't done anything to offend him, why would she lie? Moreover, he remembered that the last time Xi Ju came to Chang'an, when everyone was competing in slingshot at Ziyu Pavilion, she was very good at it.
He snatched her hand back, not allowing her to change the subject, and pressed her right on top, saying, "Did you shoot with the slingshot?"
Yuan Cixian couldn't argue anymore. She stretched out her hand and stroked his chest while admitting her fault: "I hit him, I hit him. I was young and ignorant. You should not bear grudges... If, if I knew that you would interrogate me here as my husband nine years later, I would definitely not be so stubborn! But I have already hit him, and you have been afraid of dogs for nine years. We can't settle this account..."
Lu Shiqing really made her feel so angry that her body hurt.
Good, because she was afraid of dogs, she had been miserable for nine years, and her brother had to find fault with her several times and scare her with dogs. Yuan Cixian, or the Yuan family, was really unlucky for him!
He gritted his teeth and said, "Who said we can't settle the accounts?"
Yuan Cixian's mouth drooped: "If you can calculate, then calculate it."
As soon as she finished speaking, the carriage seemed to hit a pothole and jolted, causing both of them to rise and fall slightly.
Lu Shiqing seemed to have realized something from this ups and downs, and smiled slightly angrily: "You said it."
Before Yuan Cixian could react, he pushed her into the corner of the carriage.
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