The short three days passed quickly, and finally came the day when Xiao Yi entered the king's capital to offer his captives.
This early in the morning, the capital was very lively, with people coming and going in the streets and alleys, and all the people were beaming with joy. Xiao Yi, the eldest son of Zhennan Prince, defeated Nanman and even captured the eldest prince of Nanman alive. The news that he was going to enter the capital today to offer a captive has already spread throughout the capital.
Before dawn, a group of people who went out of the city to welcome Xiao Yi back to the capital had already waited outside the Sanli Pavilion outside the capital. The fifth prince was ordered by the emperor to lead many important officials in the court to wait here. Thinking of the significance represented by this sacrifice of prisoners, everyone's backs are straight.
Nangong Xin took the initiative to ask Ying to accompany the fifth prince to meet Xiao Yi today. He had already looked through the autumn waters, and knew that Xiao Yi was still nearly half an hour away, but he still couldn't help stretching his neck and looking at the south.
I don't know how much time has passed, he didn't wait for Xiao Yi, but Yuan Lingbai did.
"It's a good thing I'm not late." Yuan Lingbai wiped off his sweat and jumped off the horse neatly.
Nangong Xin blinked in surprise, "Xiao Bai, I thought you wouldn't be able to come today."
Yuan Lingbai galloped all the way here, fearing that he would be too late, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, and said: "Brother and little crane have returned triumphantly, how can I not come to admire their heroic appearance!" His tone was filled with joy , with a hint of envy. Little Crane is doing well this time, I went to southern Xinjiang with my eldest brother to see the world, so it doesn't look like him...
Yuan Lingbai was feeling a little depressed, and one of the guards who went to investigate came back on horseback, shouting, "We're almost there! We're almost there! The Shizi's men are less than five miles away!"
Hearing this, all the people waiting around the Sanli Pavilion were refreshed, and they all followed Nangong Xin to look towards the south.
Time passed little by little, and in the eyes of the couples looking forward to it, a team of thousands of people appeared on the southern horizon, bathed in the sunshine of the first day, as if they were coated with a layer of gold. In the army, several wooden prison cars are particularly eye-catching, and each prison car holds several dark-skinned and ragged southern barbarians.
"It's Big Brother!...and Little Crane!" Yuan Lingbai shouted in surprise, jumped on the horse, then clamped the horse's belly, and galloped towards Xiao Yi and the others.
After a while, Xiao Yi and his party finally arrived at Sanliting. Xiao Yi, Fu Yunhe, Qian Moyang and others hurriedly got off their horses, strode forward, and bowed to the fifth prince: "I have seen His Royal Highness the fifth prince!" After a few days After resting, they have already recharged their batteries, and everyone seems to be full of energy and radiant.
"Brother Yi, Cousin He, you are finally back." The fifth prince stepped forward with a smile and clasped his fists in joy, "I came here to welcome you back in triumph at the order of my father."
If Sister Yue and Auntie saw Xiao Yi and Fu Yunhe coming back safely, they would be so happy. If it weren't for the Meridian Gate offering prisoners today, the fifth prince would have wanted to bring them along.
However, it's good when the person comes back, and there is no rush.
The Fifth Prince settled down, the corners of his mouth slightly hooked.
To be honest, Xiao Yi and Fu Yunhe were a little surprised that the person who greeted them was the fifth prince. The two exchanged a look. It seems that during their absence, the emperor obviously paid more and more attention to the fifth prince. up.
Still, that's not a bad thing.
Although several people have a lot of things to say in their hearts, today is an important day to present prisoners to the emperor's Meridian Gate. The auspicious time is approaching, and there is no room for delay. A group of people immediately set foot on the way back to the capital. return trip...
At the same time, the people in the capital are also eagerly looking forward to it.
As Fu Yunyan said before, the main street leading from the south gate of the capital to the imperial palace was cleaned up by the Imperial Forest Army in black armor early in the morning. Qi seems to be saying, idlers get out of the way.
Today, if you want to watch the prince of Zhennan escort the Nanman captives into the city, you can only obediently squeeze behind the cordon set by the Imperial Forest Army. Even so, both sides of the road are still crowded with people who came to watch. The streets were so crowded that it was almost impossible to insert a needle.
Those with a little more money simply took another shortcut and sat in the teahouses and restaurants on both sides of the street. As a result, just after dawn, the shops on both sides of South Street were already overcrowded.
Nangong Yue and Fu Yunyan had the foresight to arrive at the Laiyun teahouse they had booked three days ago, accompanied by Baihui and Baihe.
Fu Yunyan showed Xiaoer the wooden signboard for booking an elegant seat, but he didn't expect that Xiaoer to say cheekily: "Excuse me, guests, there are a lot of guests in the teahouse today, so I have to wrong you to share that elegant seat with other guests." ?” His words were extremely polite, but there was a touch of arrogance in his demeanor, as if he was saying: Anyway, there are many guests today, do you want to come
Fu Yunyan frowned, although the practice of the teahouse is not incomprehensible, it's just that they made reservations three days in advance, this business requires integrity, how can it be so up for grabs!
Nangong Yue was also displeased, but today was a great day for Xiao Yi to come back, she really didn't want to lose her interest for such a trivial matter. Fortunately, today she and Fu Yunyan both changed into men's clothing for the sake of convenience, and shared a private seat with others, which is actually nothing.
Nangong Yue took Fu Yunyan's hand, and signaled with her eyes: Forget it.
Fu Yunyan didn't want to delay their plans for today because of this, so she could only hold back her breath, her lips pursed into a straight line.
Baihe got Nangong Yue's wink, so she took a step forward and said: "Then ask the second brother to take our young master to the elegant seat."
Hearing this, Xiao Er suddenly laughed very warmly, and stretched out his hand to make a petition: "No problem, please invite some masters and children!" He walked in the front, walked up the stairs briskly, Nangong Yue and the others hurriedly followed up.
This teahouse was supposed to be a quiet and elegant place, and the private seats on the second and third floors were particularly remote and quiet on weekdays, but today it was different, as soon as I walked up the stairs, I heard a commotion.
Xiaoer led Nangong Yue and the others to the private room on the second floor where they had been before. Last time, there was only a table and a few chairs in this private room, but today it was not too crowded. There are two tables, two tables are by the window, and the other two tables are by the wall. This shabby way looks more like an elegant teahouse than a street stall for listening to books.
At this moment, all three tables have customers, leaving only the one by the window.
When Nangong Yue and the others entered the room, there was a moment of silence in the private seat, they all looked at them, and then chatted on their own.
Xiaoer led Nangong Yue and the others to the table by the window, and flatteringly said: "Guest officers, please sit down. You have reserved private seats in advance, so I specially reserved a seat by the window for you."
Lily was a little speechless for a while, but this little girl could speak, and gave someone else the private seat they reserved, and now she is ashamed to ask for credit.
Nangong Yue and Fu Yunyan sat down across the table, and heard the young scholar at the other table next to him say: "It's already halfway through the hour, count the time... the prince of Zhennan is coming soon."
The middle-aged scholar opposite him said excitedly: "Since General Guan left, I, Dayu, have not fought such a hearty victory for a long time! This Xiao Shizi is indeed a general! It's a pity that I waited for nothing It is a great pity in life not to be able to watch the offering of prisoners at the Meridian Gate!"
An old man at the other table couldn't help interjecting: "The old man heard that His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince went to Sanliting personally to meet Xiao Shizi at the Emperor's order today. The old man has lived to this age and has never seen an honorable prince. How can he today?" Take a look here from a distance, this life is worth it!"
"His Royal Highness Fifth Prince, that is the son of the queen, the emperor's son! Maybe he will be the future prince!"
"It seems that the emperor really attaches great importance to this offering of prisoners at the Meridian Gate!"
"..."
The people at the other tables around also sighed in agreement, and suddenly, a middle-aged businessman said: "Have you heard about the Nanban saint?"
"What Nanman saintess?" Others looked at each other in blank dismay. Most of the people here were from Wangdu, and their impression of Nanman was just word of mouth, or an accidental stroke in history books and geography. They don't know anything about what kind of place Nanman is, its composition and folk customs.
The middle-aged businessman was a little proud, and said: "I have been to southern Xinjiang several times before, and I still know a little about Nanman..." He vividly told all kinds of rumors about this Nanman saint, and emphasized that she is What an extraordinary woman. In the end, he said the key point mysteriously, "I heard that this time the Nanman saintess will also go to the capital with the son of Zhennan Prince!"
The last sentence caused a commotion in this small private seat, and everyone's eyes lit up. The young scholar couldn't help but ask: "Then the king of the Nanman sent that holy girl here... What does it mean?"
"I still don't understand!" The middle-aged scholar gave his companion a disdainful look, with a meaningful expression on his face, as if to say: You are a man, you know everything!
The young scholar sighed with emotion: "This son of the Zhennan Prince is really blessed!"
"That's natural. The same people have different fates!" The middle-aged merchant said with a bit of sourness, "The Nanman saintess is a bit stunning in the world..."
"Have you said enough!" Fu Yunyan finally couldn't bear it anymore and slammed the cup on the table heavily, making a "pop" sound, "The son of the Zhennan Prince went to the battlefield to fight back the Nanman, but you people are like It’s shameful not to be ashamed to speculate behind the back like a gossip, whether a Taoist is right or wrong!”
Saying that, Fu Yunyan looked at Nangong Yue on the opposite side with some worry, lest she would be upset by these people, but unexpectedly Nangong Yue's face did not have the slightest bit of grievance, only with a relaxed and happy smile, he said: "I am very happy today!" , there is no need to get angry about these insignificant things."
These rumors in the market are often only one part true and nine parts exaggerated, so she will not be so stupid as to become suspicious because of such rumors. What's more, she believed in Xiao Yi.
Fu Yunyan also calmed down, and thought: That's right, with his third brother Fu Yunhe watching, Xiao Yi shouldn't be so courageous!
The middle-aged merchant saw that Fu Yunyan and Nangong Yue were just two thirteen or fourteen-year-old hairless teenagers talking to an elder like himself, he couldn't help feeling a little annoyed, and shouted in a rough voice: "We say ours, What does it matter to you? You can plug your ears if you can’t listen to it!”
The young scholar on the side was also displeased, and said in a bad mood: "Little brother, we said ours and didn't mess with you. It's too..."
Before he finished speaking, he heard a noise coming from outside the window, and soon, excited shouts came in one after another: "Here we come! It is His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince and Prince Zhennan who are here!"
"Look, people are already outside the city gate."
"Is that His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince?"
"..."
The noise of people outside the teahouse made everyone in the private seats forget the discord just now, they all flocked to the window impatiently, stretched their necks and looked towards the direction of the city gate.
At this moment, both sides of the South Street, which is facing the city gate, are boiling like hot water. The people who have been waiting there for a long time are all excited and eagerly waiting. If there is no Imperial Forest Army below to maintain order, those people may It has been surrounded to the gate of the city.
Walking in the front was a young man and a teenager, each of them rode a tall horse, and passed through the city gate side by side, followed by more knights and official carriages, and after that, each of them wore The black-armored soldiers lined up neatly in square formation, valiantly and vigorously. Seeing that they walked neatly and looked indifferent, it was obvious that they had been on the battlefield and had seen blood on their hands. These soldiers are just walking like this, which makes people feel shocked, and even those people in the private seats of the teahouse are also in awe.
In the end, their gazes were all scorchingly on the young man and young man at the front. Seeing that the young man was wearing the prince's boa robes, he knew that he must be His Royal Highness the fifth prince, and the young man beside him was wearing a silver-white armor. Tall and slender, with a bronze long sword hanging from his waist, behind him is a silver-white cloak that flutters in the breeze. Under the warm sunshine in early spring, his whole body seems to be shining with silver light, like the god of war descending on the world, handsome and handsome , Holy and noble, people almost dare not look at him.
"This... this is the prince of Zhennan!" In the private seat, someone sighed with emotion.
Everyone was looking at Xiao Yi, but Fu Yunyan was looking at Fu Yunhe who was behind Xiao Yi, the corners of his mouth could not help curling up, and he murmured: "It seems that the third brother is not missing any arms or legs, very good!"
She just murmured softly, but the young scholar next to her had very sharp ears. After being startled, she asked, "Little brother, your elder brother also went to the southern border battlefield with Xiao Shizi?"
The scholar's words attracted everyone's attention to Fu Yunyan, with a hint of respect and a hint of enlightenment in his eyes.
No wonder this little brother was so indignant when they talked about Xiao Shizi behind his back just now, presumably his elder brother went to the battlefield with Xiao Shizi, so he felt a little empathy.
Although the middle-aged merchant always prided himself on being thick-skinned, he felt a little embarrassed at the moment, and clasped his fists at Fu Yunyan and said, "I'm sorry, little brother, I was talking nonsense just now, please don't take it to heart."
Fu Yunyan was originally worried about Nangong Yue, otherwise she wouldn't bother to argue with these strangers who knew how to gossip. Now that the other party apologized, she waved her hand boldly and didn't care about him.
The middle-aged merchant heaved a sigh of relief, and couldn't help looking at Xiao Yi out of the window again, saying, "I've heard that the prince of Zhennan has a stubborn nature and is a useless 'second son', who knows how to cause trouble every day. ... It doesn't look like it today!" The middle-aged merchant has seen a little bit of the world, and he has seen all kinds of people in all walks of life.
"I remember Xiao Shizi is already married. With Xiao Shizi's appearance, I don't know who is worthy..." The young scholar stared at Xiao Yi below and sighed complicatedly. This really compares people to people, and it makes people mad. Some people are born with good backgrounds, good looks, and then they have talents that make people wonder whether they should be envied or envied.
While the scholar was talking, Fu Yunyan glanced at Nangong Yue with a smile. It's thanks to Ah Yue's pretty looks, otherwise the emperor's gift of marriage would really be a disaster rather than a blessing! Her Ah Xin is better, she looks just right!
Nangong Yue didn't care about Fu Yunyan's teasing eyes, nor did she care about what other people said. At this moment, the hustle and bustle outside has gone away from her, and only Xiao Yi below her eyes.
She looked at him for a moment, although she had met Xiao Yi a few days ago and knew that he was all right, but at this moment, she watched him enter the city amidst the cheers of the people, and saw his heroic appearance... the corner of her mouth Can't help but be evoked, and my heart is full of satisfaction: A Yi is really back!
Suddenly, Xiao Yi, who was walking slowly below, seemed to feel something, and turned his head to look at the second floor of the tea house. Vigorous, it makes people feel like spring breeze.
He raised his right hand, waved it vigorously at Nangong Yue, moved his lips slightly, and said silently: "Smelly girl, I'm back!"
Nangong Yue couldn't help but smiled even more heartily, and was about to wave her hands, when she heard a silly voice beside her say, "Look, Shizi is waving to me!"
"No, follow me!"
"it's me!"
"..."
Not only the few people in the elegant seats, but also the people in the restaurant next door and the common people on the street outside became commotion because of Xiao Yi's waving action. He raised his hand and smiled happily.
Until Xiao Yi and his team left, the atmosphere here hadn't cooled down yet.
Several people in the private seat returned to their seats, and the middle-aged scholar said with emotion: "The rumors are really unbelievable! I think this Xiao Shizi is really a hero from a young age!"
"That's right, that's right!" The old man also nodded his head in agreement, "I think the son of the world is simply a martial arts star descending from the sky!"
The young scholar suddenly looked at Fu Yunyan and said: "Brother, since your elder brother went to war with Shizi Xiao, you must know a little about Shizi Xiao, can you tell us..."
Fu Yunyan's eyeballs rolled around, and was aroused, and he talked to them about the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, and Baihe also added a few words from time to time... Everyone felt that "there is a stepmother" in their hearts. There is a stepfather" The rough truth is still the same even in the majestic feudal prince's mansion, and some people sighed that they heard that Zhennan Princess seized the stepson's property before. They thought it was just a rumor, but they didn't expect it to be true. ah!
When Nangong Yue came back to her senses, she saw a group of people talking about Xiao Yi with both sympathy and admiration, and they almost described him as an inspirational example--father doesn't love mother or mother, but she doesn't go astray and work hard up!
Nangong Yue was originally feeling a little bit disappointed because she could no longer see Xiao Yiyuan's back, but now she completely disappeared. She looked at Fu Yunyan and Baihe with a smile and said they had a good time, and they left Laiyun Tea House.
After leaving the teahouse, Fu Yunyan and Nangong Yue parted ways, and went back to Yongyang Dachang Princess' mansion by herself. The Fu family was also waiting for Fu Yunhe's news, so she had to go back to the mansion to talk to them.
And Nangong Yue hurried back to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. Before Xiao Yi returned to the mansion, she still had a lot of preparations to do... Calculate the time, Xiao Yi will go to the Meridian Gate to offer prisoners, and the emperor will definitely recruit him after that Asked by the palace, she estimated that when Xiao Yi came out of the palace, it would be at least after Shen Shi, and there was still plenty of time.
It wasn't just Nangong Yue who left, but also the other people who were watching the excitement near the city gate gradually dispersed, and they still had something to say in their hearts.
The drama at the South City Gate has come to an end, but for Xiao Yi, today's prisoner offering ceremony has just begun.
Go straight down South Street from the South City Gate, and at the end of the road is the main gate of the Imperial Palace. After passing the palace gate, the Imperial Forest Army on both sides of the Royal Road becomes more and more dense. In front of the noon gate.
On the huge Meridian Gate Square, princes and ministers in court uniforms, civil and military officials have long been arranged in shifts as in the early court. The imperial seat has been set up on the Meridian Gate Tower, with a yellow cover under the eaves, and the halogen books are set up under the Meridian Gate Tower, all the way to the Duanmen.
The sun was getting higher and higher, and suddenly the golden bell on the Meridian Gate rang for a long time, followed by golden drums and cymbals. All the officials knelt down in the direction of the Meridian Gate and shouted long live.
After a while, surrounded by many servants and guards, the emperor in the bright yellow dragon robe appeared on the tall Meridian Gate tower like stars and rose to the throne.
Sitting on a high throne, the emperor looked down at the officials kneeling and bowing their heads, looking very energetic, as if he had the country in his hands and the world was his own.
The emperor raised his hand, and the music stopped, and the princes, ministers, civil and military officials stood up.
Following the Minister of Rites, he went out and shouted: "Present prisoners!"
Although his voice is high-pitched and clear, but the Meridian Gate Square is so big, his voice is like a small stone falling into the sea, it can't stir up a wave at all, but at the same time as he finished speaking, the imperial forest army closest to him immediately Zhi shouted: "Present prisoners!"
One pass two, two pass four, four pass eight... from Meridian Gate to Duanmen and then to the palace gate all the way to the past, until finally hundreds of imperial forest soldiers shouted in unison: "Present prisoners!"
The voices overlapped together, sounding like thunder, with a grand momentum, almost resounding through the sky.
Immediately afterwards, there was another masterpiece of drum music and the roar of salutes.
Under hundreds of scorching gazes, a young man in silver-white armor strode forward with his chest upright. He was clearly Xiao Yi, the son of the Prince of Zhennan. Behind him, a young man wearing a white prison uniform and a white rope around his neck walked into Meridian Gate Square under the escort of sixteen tall soldiers.
When he arrived at the bottom of the Meridian Gate tower, Xiao Yi knelt down on one knee, cupped his fists and saluted the emperor: "Your Majesty, I have ordered the pacification of southern Xinjiang, and captured the eldest prince of Nanman, Kui Lang, as a prisoner. I would like to present the palace, please."
While he was kneeling, Kui Lang, who was wearing a prison uniform, was forced to kneel down by the Dayu soldiers behind him, humbly lying on the ground——Since ancient times, the winner is the king, and the loser is the bandit.
The emperor looked at Xiao Yi below with a smile, and his heart was filled with joy. It is conceivable that today's scene will definitely be recorded in the annals of history.
The emperor ordered: "Transfer the prisoners of war to the Ministry of Punishment and the Lifan Yuan for joint discussion!"
After the emperor's decree, Kui Lang was forced to kowtow to the emperor again.
Immediately afterwards, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice ordered several officials of the Ministry of Justice to take over Kui Lang from Xiao Yi's soldiers and escort him down.
In addition to Kui Lang, there were also a group of Nanman surrendered generals who were also transferred to the Ministry of Punishment for disposal.
Finally, the civil and military officials once again bowed three times and kowtowed to the emperor to congratulate the emperor. Until then, the prisoner offering ceremony was truly over.
Everyone else can leave, only Xiao Yi was called to the imperial study by the emperor.
The emperor graciously gave him a seat, ordered someone to serve tea, and asked about matters in southern Xinjiang as if gossiping.
Xiao Yi was not polite either, eating his snacks and drinking tea, he said: "... Uncle Emperor, you don't know, those southern barbarians have really angered the people in southern Xinjiang, and all the people are furious. Once you know, you will send me back Everyone is grateful for the fight against the southern barbarians. The common people are attacking them together, and there is no way they will not win this battle."
The emperor was in a good mood when he heard it, and Fuxu smiled even more happily.
Xiao Yi continued: "When my nephew was leaving, those people from southern borders saw each other off on the side of the road one after another, and asked my nephew to bring you back a Wanmin umbrella for you."
"Wanmin Umbrella?" The emperor's eyes lit up, and he said with interest, "Where is this Wanmin Umbrella, let me see."
"During the journey, my nephew was hugged by the close servant, and he didn't dare to let go of it.... Eunuch Liu, please go and get it."
Eunuch Liu knew that the emperor was in a good mood, so he responded with a smile: "I have never seen the Wanmin Umbrella before. Thanks to the emperor, this time, I may be able to broaden my horizons."
The emperor laughed and waved for Eunuch Liu to go quickly.
Speaking of it, the emperor has only heard of the Wanmin Umbrella in dramas. It is said that only when a clean and upright official leaves office, will the people spontaneously send a Wanmin Umbrella. I didn't expect that I would be able to receive it one day. This is really the wish of the people.
The emperor waited happily. After a while, Eunuch Liu came in with a mulberry umbrella. The emperor hurriedly asked him to open it, and saw that the umbrella was decorated with small silk strips. They all have a name written on them, as well as "May my emperor live long, long live, long live". Countless silk strips hang all over the mulberry umbrellas, and almost all of them overlap together. Some of the characters on it are straight, some are crooked, and each one has a different handwriting, so it's not fake at first glance.
The emperor was very satisfied, the smile on his face became wider and wider, he looked down the silk strips one by one with great interest, and suddenly raised his head and said: "A Yi, this is?" He was holding a silk strip in his hand , besides the name on this silk strip, there is also a bright red fingerprint. Looking carefully, there are quite a few silk strips like this in the Wanmin Umbrella.
Xiao Yi explained with a smile: "Many people are illiterate, but they also want to express their gratitude to you, Uncle Emperor, so they went to find a teacher, wrote a silk strip, and pressed their own fingerprints."
"I see… "
The emperor was very moved when he saw the simple names such as "Li Ergou", "Chen Dazhuang", "Zhang Ada" and so on. And what moved him even more was Xiao Yi, even though he was far away in the southern border, Xiao Yi never forgot himself... The emperor knew very well in his heart that if Xiao Yi hadn't deliberately preached it, how could the people far away in the southern border know of his wise decision.
The Zhennan Palace is a feudal lord. If someone else had said it, he would have already attributed the credit to himself and won the hearts of the people. Only Xiao Yi can be so sincere.
"Ayi, you have worked hard this time..." the emperor looked at him lovingly and said, "Relax in the mansion for a few days, and I will send you an errand again."
Xiao Yi grinned and said aggressively: "Uncle Emperor, you can give nephew a long vacation! Nephew hasn't seen his wife for a long time!"
The emperor readily agreed, "Then I will give you a month's leave, it should be enough!"
Xiao Yi happily thanked him, and then turned to the main topic, saying: "Uncle Emperor, this time when my nephew came back, he brought back envoys from the Southern Man. They said they were here to discuss peace."
The emperor frowned, "Envoy?" He didn't seem to see any envoy, "Where is the envoy?"
"It's with Kuilang. It seems that there is another woman who was locked in another prison car and was just handed over to the Ministry of Punishment.... She should be in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment now."
The emperor was dumbfounded and thought: Xiao Yi seems to have grown up a lot during this trip to southern Xinjiang, but he is still unreliable! How could he put an envoy in a prison cart...
-off topic-
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