"Your... Your Majesty?"
Seeing his sudden change of expression, Mr. Zhang Lin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "If you want to see the eldest princess, then..."
"No." Lowering his eyes, Jiang Xuanjin said coldly, "I saw what she did."
So what's your reaction? Mr. Zhang Lin was panicked. A man who had a calm expression just now turned dark in an instant. If it wasn't because of the eldest princess, could it be that he didn't greet well
Looking left and right, Mr. Changlin said in a low voice: "My lord Ziyang, you are not ignorant of my land of Changlin. There are many taxes and miscellaneous taxes. It is really not rich. If there is any negligence, please forgive me."
"Mr. Changlin's words are serious." Jiang Xuanjin cupped his hands, "All the way here, everywhere in Changlin, you can see the folk customs are simple and the people live in peace."
"That's because the old man is holding the sky up, and the sky didn't fall on their heads." Mr. Changlin sighed, "Since His Majesty took office, the supervision and taxation of fiefdoms have become increasingly strict. The salt tax has been raised to 30%. The envoys came to inspect and said that the taste of my long forest is bland, huh... if salt is cheap, who likes bland taste?"
Jiang Xuanjin twitched the corner of her mouth as she listened.
It is a common thing to collect taxes from fiefdoms. If he hadn't invited him to Ziyang to discuss matters last time and made it clear that he wanted to protect Danyang against the capital, this person would definitely not have said these things to him today.
The monarchs who were drinking and chatting below also glanced at him from the corner of their eyes. Jiang Xuanjin knew very well that he came here today. He would definitely be pushed up by them as a shield against the emperor, but he still came.
Those who have no advantage will go forward, and those who have advantage will avoid it. He is like a fool again at this birthday banquet.
With a low laugh, Jiang Xuanjin met Chang Lin Jun's earnest gaze, and said what he wanted to hear most: "Since there are too many taxes, why don't you discuss it with other monarchs and report it to the emperor?"
As soon as these words came out, the inner hall of the birthday banquet, which was still noisy just now, suddenly became serious.
"I've lived in the feudal land for many years, and I don't know the situation in the capital. I don't know the emperor's thoughts." Lord Pingling said in a low voice, "I ask Lord Ziyang for advice on how to perform this performance."
"Yes, I heard that there is great chaos in the court. His Majesty sent dozens of ministers to prison some time ago." Mr. Guangping shook his head, "If this memorial is not written well, the tax reduction will fail, and it will bring disaster to the people everywhere."
After all, I just want Jiang Xuanjin to take the lead, which will benefit everyone, and he will stand up for things.
Sitting at the table and watching, Wu felt that the gentleman in front of him seemed different from the one in front of His Highness.
In front of His Highness, his seriousness seemed to be faking, and there was always a little childish light in those dark eyes. But now, standing among so many lords, he raised his chin lightly, with a half-smile, still the same handsome face, but with a completely different aura, as if no one could break his defense, Can't see his mind.
"It's not difficult to write a memorial." Jiang Xuanjin said, "If you have any demands, you might as well tell me all of them, and I will organize them one by one and submit them to the emperor."
So generous? Changlin Jun and the others exchanged glances, feeling a little happy in their hearts. The rumor that Mr. Ziyang is easy to deceive turns out to be true, and this set is accurate.
With him as the leader, they will not be polite, and they will talk about how much tax cuts will be made, and some words will make even Wu feel frightened.
Jiang Xuanjin asked Chengxu to remember it all, and didn't refute at all.
"Where is the land of Ziyang?" He asked, "There is nothing to say?"
Just Wu regained his composure, cupped his hands and sneered: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
Danyang's tax revenue has never been returned to the national treasury, it has always been in the pocket of the eldest princess. What's more, His Majesty has issued a sea arrest document, and obviously does not recognize the eldest princess as the lord of Danyang, so what is there to say to him
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at him, and said to Mr. Chang Lin, "This gentleman and this governor are old friends. I would like to take a few steps to say a few words, Mr. Chang Lin, would you mind?"
Thinking about tax cuts, Mr. Chang Lin was smiling happily, so why would he care about anything? Immediately waved his hand: "Please, Your Majesty."
Just Wu frowned, he had never had a good impression of Ziyang Jun, he was not so much an old friend as an old enemy, he really didn't want to go out with him. But looking at the seat he was sitting on now, Wu endured it, got up and followed him out.
"Real disease or fake disease?"
The night outside was as cold as water, and Jiang Xuanjin was standing under the corridor, so he asked this question.
Just Wu was startled, and realizing that he was asking his Highness, his expression became strange: "Your Majesty has been in the officialdom for many years, and you still can't tell the truth from the scene?"
With them taking care of him, what serious illness could His Highness have? In the past two months, shopkeeper Lu stuffed all the good supplements he could find into her stomach, and her originally weak body was forcibly restored.
Jiang Xuanjin's face became even more ugly, and he said, "If she comes today, it will be beneficial and harmless."
Everyone knows this, but she really came, maybe something happened. Thinking of His Highness's belly that was as big as a skin drum, Wu hooked his lips: "Don't worry about Your Highness's affairs, Your Highness should just think about how to write a memorial, don't let Ziyang get involved , and it will affect my Danyang."
He could see the thoughts of those monarchs inside, and he didn't know why this person agreed. Once the emperor is angered, Ziyang will inevitably be killed to warn the monkeys.
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at him, and his dark eyes were filled with coldness: "If your Highness knew what I did, he would definitely not say such things."
What's the meaning? Wu was puzzled.
Jiang Xuanjin didn't explain much, turned around and went back to the birthday banquet. Just Wu stood in the porch and thought for a long time before deciding to go back and ask His Highness.
After Changlin Lord's banquet, Wu was the first to ride back on horseback. The rest of the monarchs discussed with Ziyang Lord for two days and then left one after another.
Mr. Du Ziyang stayed to the end, standing in the garden of Mr. Changlin's mansion, staring blankly at the fish in the pond.
"Your Majesty..." Mr. Changlin asked anxiously, "There is a mountain spring in Changlin, the water is clear. Fish swim in it as if flying in the sky. Would you like to go and see it?"
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head.
"Then...there is a new dancer at the house, and she has arranged a very beautiful dance. Would you like to appreciate it?"
Jiang Xuanjin still shook his head.
Mr. Changlin pondered for a long time, then hesitatingly said: "I have some old friendship with Mr. Nandu, and he asked me to pay a visit to Princess Chang. Do you want to go back to Ziyang, or go with me?"
Jiang Xuanjin finally turned around and asked him, "Is there something wrong if I go with Mr. Chang Lin?"
A light flashed in his mind, Changlin Jun raised his eyebrows. Immediately said: "Very appropriate, very appropriate! Mr. Nandu has a lot of things that I want to donate, and I don't know the eldest princess very well, so it is a bit embarrassing to go alone. If Your Majesty can accompany you to rescue the siege, I will be grateful!"
Eyebrows relaxed, Jiang Xuanjin raised his chin: "I don't want to go to the land of Danyang, and it will be another trouble to get news from the capital."
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm hiding it for you, and I just say that you are visiting the mountains and rivers in my long forest!"
Jiang Xuanjin nodded reluctantly: "If that's the case, then it's better to be respectful than obey orders."
Chengxu and Yufeng heard the corners of their mouths twitching from behind, and wanted to step forward to remind him: Your Majesty, Mr. Lu is still carrying Ziyang, you can go back as soon as you say you want to go, how can you go around to Danyang!
But looking at his master's attitude towards Mr. Chang Lin who suddenly softened, Chengxu knew very well that it was useless, it was useless to say anything, and since he hadn't seen him for more than two months, the master couldn't help it.
It was okay at first, the eldest princess left by herself. The master persisted for more than a month with a burst of anger, but how long can anger last? Once it dissipates, how can the thoughts in my heart be suppressed
It's also Yufeng's fault, he was fine at first, but he secretly removed the box containing his wife's old things from the master's room, saying that he didn't want him to see him sad. I thought the master didn't pay attention, but he noticed it as soon as he entered the house, and asked them to move the box back in a cold voice, and even opened it for inspection.
After this inspection, he saw a handkerchief.
The veil was found by Yufeng from under the bed, presumably the wife had not had time to give it to the master. The words "Dear Husband" are crookedly embroidered on it. To be honest, the embroidery work is really unsatisfactory and the characters are ugly, but for some reason, the master is jealous.
He has always disliked such explicit words, and Chengxu thought it was used by the wife to tease the master, who knew that he rummaged through the bottom of the box and found a framed picture.
The character is known by virtue of the imaginary, it is the master's handwriting. It says "Kiss Your Wife".
The master just glanced at it, and didn't dare to look any more. He closed the box, fastened it, and put it back in its original place.
Neither Chengxu nor Yufeng knew when the word was written, nor why they wrote it, but judging by the master's reaction, neither of them dared to ask more.
That's all, just take advantage of the emptiness and think about it, just go if you want to go, it's rare for the master to be willful.
The dry and cold weather in the first-tier cities makes people very uncomfortable, and Jiang Shen can't adapt to it when he arrives. Had a high fever. The servant Shuang Tian who accompanied him advised him to rest in the inn, but he refused and went to the princess mansion in a daze.
Li Huaiyu was watching Xu Chuniong embroidering small clothes for the child in her belly, when she heard Qing Xian leaning against the door and shouting: "Your Highness, there is a potter at the door, no matter how hard you chase him, he won't leave."
His eyes lit up, and Huaiyu became interested: "Is there anyone else who is so brave enough to touch porcelain at my door? Let's go, take me to see!"
"Wait." Xu Chunyong held her back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "You still run around with such a big belly?"
"It's rare that Lu Jingxing isn't here today, so hurry up and get some air." Huaiyu said aggrievedly, "Let me rest all day, I'm so bored!"
Xu Chuniang looked puzzled, thought for a while, took off the tiger skin cloak on the screen and wrapped it around her, and while tying the straps for her, looked at the color of the cloak: "How did you make something like this..."
"Lu Jingxing asked me if I wanted tiger fur or fox fur. I think tiger fur is more domineering." After putting on the cloak and twirling around in front of her, Huaiyu raised her chin very proudly, "Doesn't it look good?"
Good-looking is good-looking, but it is a bit like a king of the mountain.
Looking at the sky outside, Xu Chunian was still not at ease: "You grab me, I'll help you over there."
Qing Xian, who reported the letter, paused, and said with a complicated expression: "Ms. Xu is afraid of the cold, isn't she? Just stay in the room, and we will help His Highness down."
"How can you be as careful as I am? You went for a walk with Huaiyu the day before yesterday, didn't you almost let her fall?"
"... That's because His Highness is going to climb a rockery." Qing Xian had a headache, "As long as His Highness walks well, we can support him."
Hearing this, Huaiyu was unhappy, patted his belly and said: "I just have a big belly, do you think I'm lame or something? That's fine, don't argue, I'll go by myself."
After all, cross the threshold and leave.
"Your Highness!" Qing Xian and Xu Chu Nong were both in a hurry, and chased them out quickly without caring much.
Li Huaiyu's feet are very stable, even with a big belly, he walks with the wind, coupled with that majestic tiger skin, Jiang Shen at the door watched from afar, and asked in a daze: "Is there a tiger rushing over?"
Shuangtian shook his head: "Master, that's a person."
Whose family looks like a tiger? Jiang Shen's eyes were full of confusion, he watched the tiger approaching, looked at him in surprise, immediately turned back to block him, and said to the back: "Chu Niang, can you bring me a cloak?"
Xu Chuniang was inexplicable: "Aren't you wearing clothes?"
Patting his forehead, Huaiyu smiled dryly: "I'm the one who is stupid, so what, just go get a cup of tea."
In winter, if someone pours tea from the house to the door, it will be too cold? Qing Xian wiped his face, he could understand what His Highness wanted to do, but this excuse was really unjustifiable.
No matter how dull Xu Chuniong was, he sensed something was wrong, and wanted to look behind her.
However, when she moved to the left, Huaiyu blocked it to the left. She moves to the right. Huaiyu moved to the right to block.
So Xu Chuniang understood: "Is someone from the Jiang family here?"
Li Huaiyu scratched his chin: "Why are you so smart all of a sudden?"
Xu Chuniang chuckled: "I've been by your side for so long, I have to learn something... Don't stop me, I have nothing to do with the Jiang family, I don't care who comes."
"No...but this person..."
Xu Chuyong smiled, stepped up the steps and helped her to the side.
So in the next moment, she met Jiang Shen's misty peach blossom eyes.
Bitter wind poured in from the door, blowing people's whole body cool.
Xu Chuniang stared at him stiffly for a while, then lowered his eyes and saluted: "Second Young Master."
It's been a long time since I saw this person, and her life didn't seem as sad as he thought, at least she was dressed in a lot of silk and satin, her complexion was rosy, and she wasn't thin.
Jiang Shen chuckled and asked her, "You don't care who comes?"
Xu Chuyong was silent, his back was tense, and his face gradually turned pale.
It would be a lie to say that I don't care. After all, I used to like someone, but also a divorced couple. When I see you again for a while, I feel a little strange in my heart. But she didn't cry with red eyes like before. After sorting out her emotions, she spoke very calmly:
"The second son came from a long way, but what's the matter?"
Distant attitude, as if he was just an ordinary visitor.
Jiang Shen sneered: "The way of hospitality in the princess' mansion is to stand at the door and ask questions?"
Li Huaiyu's eyes were not very friendly, he dragged Xu Chuning behind him, stared at him and said, "My house has never treated guests well, and if you get in a hurry, you may be beaten up, do you want to try?"
Shuangtian in the back blocked it warily as soon as she heard it, Jiang Shen coughed twice, and was about to say something, when her eyes were attracted by her round belly.
"This..." He was taken aback for a moment, then his eyes widened, "Could it be..."
Oh no! Everyone was startled, but Qing Xian's reaction was quick, she directly pulled people into the door, pushed them together with Shuang Tian into the courtyard, and then closed the door.
Now that I saw it, I couldn't let him go.
Jiang Shen staggered two steps, already dizzy, and now he was about to lose his footing. Xu Chuniong watched, hesitated for a while, and then reached out to help him.
If you don't touch it, you don't know, but when you touch it, you will find that this person is hot.
"You..." Xu Chuniong frowned, "Are you sick?"
Jiang Shen snorted softly and coughed twice.
Li Huaiyu sighed: "This is really for touching porcelain."
Originally, she planned to teach the people who touched porcelain a lesson, but the current situation is a bit embarrassing. Do it, he is still sick, don't do it, is it possible to really serve him like a guest
Just as he was hesitating, Chi Jin's voice suddenly sounded from behind: "Why are you all standing here?"
Xu Chuniang turned around and saw him holding her cloak in his hand, as if he didn't see Jiang Shen, he went straight to her and said, "Why don't you wear more when you come out?"
His body was already a little stiff from the cold, Xu Chuniang smiled gratefully at him, took the cloak and wrapped it up: "Go in a hurry."
"Let's go back to Nuan Pavilion with His Highness first." Chi Jin said. "Leave the rest to me."
This was said in an intimate way, as if the two had been a husband and wife for many years. Jiang Shen looked at Xu Chuniang with a dark face, but the latter did not refuse, but nodded obediently.
what is this
With a sneer, Jiang Shen stopped, suddenly felt as if someone had stabbed his heart, and the cold wind poured straight into it with thorns.
What is he doing here? He is fine at all, he is the only one who has trouble.
Huaiyu dragged Xu Chuniang back to the house, seeing her serious expression, she asked, "Still can't let go?"
"No." Xu Chuning raised his eyes to look at her, "I was wondering if he saw your belly, would he go back and tell Jun Shang?"
Nonsense, for sure! Huaiyu lay down on the soft couch, feeling a little embarrassed. According to the rules of the Northern Wei Dynasty, as long as the children born after marriage, regardless of gender, should belong to the man. It's okay if Jiang Xuanjin doesn't know, but once she knows, if she comes to snatch the child from her, she might not be able to win.
Quite irritated, he nodded his belly. Huaiyu said: "It's all my fault for eating too much recently, otherwise my stomach wouldn't be so big."
"The doctor said that the belly will grow if you nourish well." Xu Chuniong shook his head, "You still have to eat what you should eat."
As for how to keep Jiang Shen from speaking, she can think of a way.
Qing Xian and Chi Jin settled Jiang Shen in the guest room together. The Second Young Master Jiang kept his face dark, and he closed his eyes without saying a word when he lay on the bed.
Eyebrows moved slightly, Qing Xian suddenly asked Chi Jin: "Did you go to the food port today?"
Chi Jin shook his head: "The weather is cold recently, and the wind is strong there, so I won't go."
"Tsk, it's Miss Xu who is afraid of the cold. It's not you, why don't you go if she doesn't go?"
Nonsense, if Miss Xu doesn't go, the ration port won't release rations at all, so what is he going to do? Chi Jin gave him a blank look, turned around and was about to leave.
"Hey, you can go and bring a bowl of soup to Miss Xu to see how cold she is." Qing Xian said.
Without doubting him, Chi Jin stepped out of the guest room in response.
Qingxian's eyes were full of smiles, and he looked back at the Second Young Master Jiang who was still clenching his fists with his eyes closed, and clapped his hands in a good mood: "Is there anything you need. Tell the people outside."
After a pause, he added another sentence: "Although it may not be useful to say it, it is better than not to say it."
This kind of negligent attitude made Shuang Tian frown, and when Qing Xian left, he squatted beside the bed and said, "Young Master, why bother to come here to be angry?"
Jiang Shen closed his eyes and didn't answer, his mind was full of the cute appearance of Xu Chunian standing in front of Chi Jin just now.
What is jealousy? He thought it was ugly, so he never allowed the women in his backyard to have sex, and he drove away anyone who was jealous.
But now, he knew very clearly that he was jealous.
A deep sense of powerlessness and anxiety spread from my heart. It made him feel hot all over, dizzy, and even weak to lift a finger.
Dimly, he heard Xu Chuning's voice again, just like when he was sick a long time ago, whispering beside his bed: "Help him well, feed this bowl of medicine."
Guluan and Cuixue will come to accompany him when he is happy, linger with him, and make fun of him. And when he was unhappy or sick, most of the people by his side were Xu Chunian.
This inconspicuous person. Invaded his days in a way he didn't realize, laughter without her but bitter tears. He thought it was a good thing to leave the bitter tears, but who knew that it would be difficult for him to even smile after she left.
The back of his hand was probed, and he subconsciously grabbed the man with his backhand, and opened his eyes with difficulty.
dreamed of her again.
Looking at the face in front of him, Jiang Shen pursed his lips, and said in a hoarse voice: "The third brother is very bad."
Regardless of the reaction of the person in front of him, he murmured: "He is not happy, so he came to make things difficult for me. Let me write you a letter of divorce... Why didn't you come to me to question me when you got the letter of divorce? I thought you would Come on, you still have a lot of things with me, so you can’t give up all of them... At least take the dowry with you, there are several boxes... "
After a pause, he tilted his head: "The last box is empty, can you put me in it?"
The eyes, which were always romantic and affectionate, are now full of mist, and there is no focus in the pupils, and the tone sounds a little aggrieved.
Xu Chuning sat by the bed and looked at him in astonishment.
She has never seen such a second son, and he has never talked like this when he was drunk. His face was haggard, his lips were pale, and he looked seriously ill.
He twitched his hand, but found that he couldn't twitch, Xu Chuyong pursed his lips, suppressed his emotions, picked up the bowl with his other hand, and handed him the medicine.
Jiang Shen looked at it and shook his head: "Don't drink, you will leave after drinking."
"If Second Young Master doesn't want to drink, then I'll leave now."
Slightly flustered, Jiang Shen hurriedly took the bowl she was carrying, gulped down the medicine, and kept looking in her direction while drinking.
Xu Chuyong stared blankly at him for a while, then lowered his eyes: "You should rest."
Jiang Shen asked vaguely: "Will you come to my dream tomorrow?"
Unable to answer, Xu Chunian's eyes turned red.
She is the one who loves miserably, and she is also the one who is let down. Why is he acting like this now
"Come or not?" Jiang Shen seemed extremely sleepy, struggling to get an answer.
Xu Chuyong got up, gritted his teeth and answered him: "I will come."