one
Mr. Min's health was getting worse and worse, but even so, he still took Zi Jin and the two brothers of the Chu family on a long journey.
After Xia Yue sent them back to the house, she saw Zi Jin's piece of high-quality jade lying quietly on her bed. She didn't know when he had quietly put it there. As her father and his family went on more and more frequent trips, she spent more and more time keeping this thing for Zi Jin.
She didn't know what was wrong with Zi Jin's attitude towards her recently.
Xia Yue had nothing to do, so she went to Qi An again.
"Isn't this great? Remember what I said about tolerance that day? Maybe for some reason he was forced to be a good boy who is loved by everyone at home and in the private school. Now that he suddenly has a temper, it means that his heart is no longer pretended in front of you, but is open to you." Qi An said.
Xia Yue blinked. She had thought about it as well, but not as thoroughly as Qi An explained.
"Mr. Qi is already thirty years old, why haven't you married yet?"
She suddenly changed the subject, and the sudden question caught Qi An off guard: "I..." He groaned, "I just feel that it is easy to get a lot of money, but it is hard to find a true friend."
"I originally thought Mr. Qi wanted to stay in seclusion, but I didn't expect him to write such a sharp article in public."
"But seeing that my country might eventually be ruined by these people, I can't help but complain a little. Speaking of that, I also want to thank Master Min for taking care of things for me in the state prison."
"It's still useless. If it weren't for the Emperor's words, there might be no way to save it."
Qi An smiled and said: "I am alone and have no ties. It is not a pity for me to die."
Xia Yue shook her head: "For a mere Wang Kui, how can it not be a pity."
As Xia Yue took a step forward, a young girl walked in. The girl was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a single name of Lan. She lived next door to Qi An and often came to the private school to play since she was a child. Qi An always treated her as a younger sister.
Qi An looked at Xia Yue's receding back and thought, "She is a very special person, as smart and daring as a man."
"She is Mr. Min's sister?" A Lan has always secretly liked Zi Jin, and Qi An also knows this.
"Alan..." Qi An looked at the little girl meaningfully, wanting to say something but stopping himself. He vaguely felt that this love would end in failure.
After a while, Xia Yue came back. She smiled shyly and said, "I forgot the chess manual I just bought here, sir."
The servant immediately went to look for her. When she was leaving, Qi An stopped her and said, "I am going out too. I will give you a ride on the way."
Their departure left an uninvited guest empty-handed.
A green sedan chair with two bearers stopped outside the private school.
The person in the sedan lifted a corner of the curtain and said to a burly man following the sedan: "Just say that you came here from the capital because you admired Qi An." The voice was neither high nor low, and occasionally one or two words had a lazy and deep nasal tone. It sounded like a warm spring breeze, but there was a hint of heaviness in the transition between words, which made people curious.
Unfortunately, the light inside was too dim and the servant boy could not see clearly. He only saw a mutton-fat white jade ring on the man's slender and powerful hand.
The burly man in tight clothes responded respectfully and went to inquire.
The servant bowed back and said, "I'm very sorry, my master just went out with a friend."
"When can you come back?" the big man asked anxiously.
The servant boy glanced at him warily and said, "I don't know." Then he closed the door and refused to come out.
The man in the sedan said with regret: "Hongwu, what a pity! I finally got the chance to sneak out for a few days."
The big man called Hongwu said anxiously, "Sir, let's go back first and talk about it another day, okay?"
"No way." The man threw out two words bluntly, and the tone at the end took a turn in his mouth, full of a joking tone.
“Then…” Hongwu was helpless.
"I've heard that Jin Luo's wine is good and his girls are beautiful. Let's go listen to some music and have some drinks first, and then come back to see him." The man made a plan.
"But… "
"Just ride away at sunset. We will definitely catch up with them. Don't worry."
Hongwu sighed and had no choice but to do so.
When they reached the street corner, people were coming and going, and it was hard to tell which way was which. Hongwu finally found someone and asked, "Miss, excuse me, but where is the best restaurant in Jinluo?"
The person he stopped was none other than Xia Yue.
She thought for a moment and said, "The word 'best' has many meanings. Are you looking for the most expensive one, or the one that tastes the best?"
Hongwu was stunned by her question.
But the person in the sedan chair sneered and asked, "What do you mean by the most expensive and best?"
Xia Yue replied: "Some people have a lot of money and like to find restaurants with good locations and nice views, so that they can look grand when eating and drinking. Some people are not particular about details and think that grandeur doesn't matter, as long as the food is delicious."
"Interesting." The man in the sedan couldn't help but laugh, "What kind of girl do you think I should look for?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Yue wanted to see the face of the person in the sedan chair, but she didn't expect Hongwu to take the lead and block the window of the sedan chair like a thief.
Xia Yue couldn't help but feel that the master and servant were really rude. How could she, a girl, eat a man in broad daylight
So she said unhappily, "Just walk along the street, turn right, and when you see the Cuiweilou sign, go in. It's definitely suitable for you. The restaurant is grand and luxurious, and the waiter smiles like a flower when he sees anyone. There are also several private rooms upstairs. In short, everything is good, except that the food is terrible."
As soon as she finished speaking, the man in the sedan chair couldn't help but laugh.
Xia Yue was too lazy to continue wasting her time talking, so she walked away.
The sedan chair moved a few steps, and the man suddenly remembered something. He lifted the curtain and said to Hongwu, "Hey - slow down. You haven't asked her where the girl is."
Hongwu's face turned black: "My Lord, I am a virgin!"
"You know she's a virgin, but you still stop her from leaving. You look honest, but you ask for directions from a pretty girl."
Hongwu: “…”
When the sun set, the sedan chair came back, but Qi An was still not there.
The man in the sedan chair could no longer persuade Hongwu and had to go back the same way.
After the sedan chair left Jinluo City, it changed horses and headed north.
As soon as the man got off the sedan chair, he let out a long sigh and said, "Hongwu, this sedan chair of yours almost suffocated me to death. You'll be in trouble when you go back." After that, he jumped on the horse.
The man had sharp eyebrows, a simple bun, and a narrow-sleeved blue shirt. Apart from a jade ring on his left hand, he did not wear any other ornaments, but the people around him were extremely respectful to him.
"This is for the sake of your safety. It's hard to guard against a hidden arrow. What if I alone can't protect you?" Hongwu followed on horseback.
"To protect me means that I have to sit in the sedan chair like a woman? Besides, in such a big city like Jinluo, I guess only Wang Kui recognizes me."
"We must be on guard." Hongwu said stubbornly.
The man looked up and saw the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains ahead. He pointed with the reins in hand and said with a smile, "I've heard that Jinluo has beautiful scenery. Why don't we go for a run?"
Hongwu was anxious. He looked around, then lowered his voice and called him pleadingly: "Your Majesty—"
"Hey, you're bullying me by calling me like that. Who has the final say, you or I?" Emperor Shang Rui said again, "Let's race around. If you catch up with me, I'll listen to you." As soon as he finished speaking, he rode his horse forward.
Hongwu was conflicted. If he won, he was afraid of angering the emperor; if he lost, they would keep wasting time outside like this, and if the empress dowager found out, he would be in big trouble.
While he was hesitating, Shang Rui had already left him far behind.
Poor guy, a grown man who was good at wielding swords and guns, thought twice before he gritted his teeth and followed.
two
Early in the morning of the next day, the carriage, which had been moving smoothly and steadily, suddenly stopped. Although it was very slow, Shang Rui, who was sleeping on the couch, still felt it keenly.
"Ming Lian." He rubbed his eyes and called in a deep voice.
Immediately, a young eunuch opened the curtain and got on the carriage: "Your Majesty, we will soon arrive in the capital, so General Hong asked us to stop for a while. I hope I didn't disturb your sleep, Your Majesty?"
Shang Rui seemed to have not yet woken up from his deep sleep. His eyes were a little hazy, his hair was a little messy, and a strand of hair hung unruly in front of his forehead, which set off his sharp eyebrows, making him look handsome in a different way than usual.
"How long have I slept?"
"It's less than two hours, and it's not even daybreak yet." Ming Lian knelt down to put on his shoes, and replied, "You and General Hong rode for so long last night, you must be tired, you should get some more sleep."
Shang Rui touched his forehead and said softly as if talking to himself: "I had a very long dream."
He originally thought that he had long forgotten the things that happened before he ascended the throne.
While having breakfast, I suddenly heard a loud noise outside the car.
Shang Rui was puzzled: "What's going on outside?"
A eunuch who had just brought in the meal replied, "Your Majesty, they are very excited to see the sunrise."
"Oh?" Shang Rui also became interested, stopped eating and said with a smile, "Then I'll go take a look too."
The autumn morning was chilly. As soon as I lifted the car curtain, I could feel the biting cold wind, which instantly separated me from the soft warmth inside the car hood.
I saw the top of Yishan Mountain in the east gradually turning white, while the sky in the west was still pitch black. The sky became lighter and lighter towards the east, turning blue, and it was already slightly bright at the end of the sky.
At the end, there was a fiery red cloud, as if there was something hot hiding behind Yishan Mountain. The purple-red clouds became thinner and thinner, lying across the sky.
In just a flash, a red-hot charcoal ball leaped out, making the magnificent imperial capital standing on the side of Yishan in the distance seem to be dyed with a layer of orange-red. The bright color quickly spread across the entire land in the blink of an eye.
Shang Rui stood on the hill with his hands behind his back and witnessed this scene. He was suddenly infected by an inexplicable and strong emotion.
When it was daybreak, Shang Rui went back to the car to rest for a while, and then went to Zimozhai.
Zimozhai is located in the southern garden of the imperial palace. It is built next to the imperial palace but can be accessed independently. Few people come here on weekdays. Shang Rui arrived in the capital early in the morning. He only brought a few confidants with him, left behind the large group of people escorting the emperor, and came to Zimozhai secretly. So everyone thought that the emperor was still on the way and was busy preparing to welcome him. No one in the palace knew, and King Shangxian of Wei naturally didn't get the news.
So when the King of Wei learned of Shang Rui's oral order, he asked Ming Lian, who came to announce the order, in surprise: "Excuse me, Eunuch Xiao, when did the emperor return to the capital?"
"This morning." After answering with these two words, Ming Lian said nothing more. The King of Wei knew the rules of the palace and it was inconvenient for him to inquire further.
After the King of Wei paid his respects and knelt down, Shang Rui looked at him and said, "I rushed back from Jinluo overnight for the King of Wei." Shang Rui was not wearing a dragon robe, but a simple casual dress. However, the plain robe and simple belt made his handsomeness even more prominent.
Before the King of Wei could answer, he suddenly asked, "How many years has it been since the King of Wei returned to the capital?"
"Almost ten years." The King of Wei lowered his head and replied.
"how so?"
"Because... Because..." The sweat on the King's forehead kept pouring out. He said "because" several times but couldn't finish the sentence. He and Shang Rui looked similar, but the panic expression on his face was a far cry from Shang Rui's calm and confident expression.
"Bang—" Shang Rui put the teacup down heavily, making a collision sound with the table, which frightened the King of Wei so much that his knees bent and he knelt down again.
Suddenly, the room became so quiet that one could almost hear the King of Wei's pounding heart.
"Let me say it for you. There is an imperial decree that all vassal kings must return to their fiefdoms from the day I ascend the throne. They are not allowed to leave their fiefdoms for the rest of their lives without an imperial decree, let alone return to the capital. But you chose not to stay put and rushed in rashly. King Wei, do you know that this is a capital crime?" Shang Rui said it in one breath with a harsh tone, which softened when he called him "King Wei" later, so the last two words "capital crime" seemed even more shocking.
The King of Wei put his hands on the ground and dared not breathe, completely forgetting the purpose of his trip.
But Shang Rui didn't say anything else. He only saw a few drops of tea spilling from the teacup. Then Shang Rui changed the subject and asked slowly, "Is mynah brother doing well in his fiefdom?"
It would be better not to ask this question, but once asked, it immediately aroused the infinite resentment of the King of Wei. The previous emperor originally had nine sons, but only five survived to adulthood. Later, the first prince was executed, and the remaining five brothers were given titles. On the surface, they were given titles as kings, but in fact, they were almost exiled. Most of the fiefs were sparsely populated and had little land. Moreover, they were also poor and barren lands on the border. How could these royal nobles, who were used to spending money lavishly, tolerate this
But all this was thanks to Shang Rui and Empress Dowager Xu. No matter how much he felt bitter, he couldn't pour it out here. He could only kowtow and say, "Thanks to the emperor's grace, everything is fine at home."
Shang Rui said: "I also know the situation in the fiefdom. If you need anything in the future, just submit a memorial to me and tell me, I will do my best. I heard that my sister-in-law is pregnant with her second child, but I haven't met her yet. Is she okay?" Shang Rui was the youngest among the nine brothers, followed by the King of Wei.
The King of Wei felt warm in his heart and his eyes moistened when he heard this. He was deeply moved and kowtowed again: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Everything is fine for my humble concubine."
Shang Rui smiled and helped him up: "My dear, do you have something important to tell me in person?"
The King of Wei then remembered the important matter, looked around, restrained his expression and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, do you still remember the Gao Xin jade?" The King of Wei's words were very clever, with a double entendre, referring to both the jade and the person who carried the jade.
Shang Rui's expression froze: "Baoyu has been missing for many years, why bring it up again?" He didn't want to think about the events of ten years ago. He also dreamed about them last night in a daze in the bumpy carriage. Could it really be a coincidence
"Someone found it."
Shang Rui still just looked at his feet quietly.
"Your Majesty, who do you think is so reckless?" Prince Wei said to himself, "It's Prince Huai Shangren."
He thought that he would give the emperor a panic shock, but unexpectedly Shang Rui just smiled. The King of Wei was afraid that Shang Rui didn't understand, so he added: "The King of Huai must want to use the name of the first crown prince..."
Shang Rui raised his hand to interrupt him, and said with a relaxed smile: "Did anyone know that you went to the capital yesterday?"
"No, I stayed at a servant's house at night as ordered by the Emperor."
Shang Rui nodded: "Very good, you go back directly, I will let Hongwu take you back." King Wei came back very rashly. He was worried that if his move was known to the Xu family, he might not be able to protect him.
The King of Wei looked at Shang Rui with some disappointment, as if he had something to say but was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
Shang Rui understood and said, "I remember your boss' name is Ran Hong."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."
"He will be six years old this year. I will send him to Imperial College to study at the end of the year." Parents are so loving that the King of Wei risked his own life to tell him the news in person, and it was only for this reason.
As soon as the King of Wei went out, he found his clothes were soaked by the autumn wind. He couldn't help but sigh. When he left Beijing, Lao Jiu was still a child hiding in his mother, Concubine Xu's arms. In recent years, he heard that he indulged in fun and made no progress. But it seemed that it was not entirely true, otherwise how could he be tamed by the kindness and power just now.
After the King of Wei left, a man came out from the inner room. He was about forty years old, thin, and had the air of a scholar.
Shang Rui smiled and said, "Helan Xun, it's a pity that he hid it so well." Among the five princes in recent years, Prince Huai was the one who knew the current affairs best, so he was also the most favored by the Queen Mother and had the greatest power. "When the Queen Mother found out that the family dog had turned into a wolf, her expression must have been very interesting."
Helan Xun twirled his short beard and frowned, "But what about Baoyu?"
Shang Rui said: "It was unexpected that he could find Gao Xinyu."
Helan Xun asked, "Is the emperor worried that Prince Huai might have that thing and cause trouble?"
"You don't know that the jade hides some secrets." Shang Rui thought for a while after he finished speaking, but did not say anything else.
Helan Xun thought it was a royal secret that could not be told to outsiders, so he urged: "Your Majesty should leave the city as soon as possible, meet up with the imperial carriage, and then return to the palace."
Upon hearing the words "return to the palace", Shang Rui frowned unhappily: "I know."
Because of the sudden return to the capital, the emperor was not greeted with all the etiquette. Between the two rows of ceremonial processions, there was a child in brocade clothes with earlobes. When he saw Shang Rui getting off the carriage, he knelt down and kowtowed, saying in a clear voice: "Your son is here to welcome the emperor."
Seeing that he spoke in a very convincing manner, Shang Rui was delighted. He held his hand and walked with him. Suddenly he remembered something and said, "Jun'er, your eighth uncle's son is coming to study with you. You must study hard and don't let others outshine you."