After the carriage left the city, Xiao Yi brazenly hid in the carriage on the pretext that he didn't want to entertain some ignorant people anymore.
The poor Baihui and Lily's two sisters were naturally kicked out, Baihe rode Xiao Yi's horse, and Baihui simply sat in front of the carriage side by side with the coachman Zhou Dacheng.
In the carriage, Nangong Yue and Xiao Yi were sitting by the window, talking while opening the curtains to look at the scenery in the suburbs.
There was a smile in Nangong Yue's eyes, and the corners of her mouth were raised high. Of course, Xiao Yi also found that she was in a good mood. When Nangong Yue was really happy, her eyes would shine brightly like stars.
Xiao Yi thought proudly in his heart: no one knows his stinky girl like him, right? Even if there is a slight change on the stinky girl's face, he can be keenly aware of the subtle changes in her mood!
Xiao Yi held Nangong Yue's hand and said with a smile: "Smelly girl, if you like to go out, now that I'm back, we can come out to play often. Is there any place you want to go?" After coming back, I haven't been with Yuan Lingbai and the others yet, maybe in a few days, I can meet Fu Yunhe brothers and sisters, Yuan Lingbai brothers and sisters out for an outing and have fun.
Nangong Yue just smiled and said nothing, she leaned her head on his shoulder, said with crooked eyebrows: "What if I want to go to Xijiang? I read it in "Dayu Kyushu" before, and I heard that Xihe in Xijiang The scenery of the plateau is peculiar, and the people there live together in cave dwellings, which is very spectacular. Would you like to accompany me?"
"Of course you want to go, no problem." Xiao Yi responded hastily, "I will take you wherever you want, and we can travel all over the mountains and rivers of Dayu together. Whether it is the west or the north, we can go outside the territory , to Nanyang, to many places!" Xiao Yi never thought that a woman could only stay in the small square world of the inner house, he would take her away from the narrow place of the royal capital, where the sea and the sky are vast, and she can gallop freely.
The smile on Nangong Yue's face widened again, and she couldn't help showing a trace of yearning.
Xiao Yi took Nangong Yue's hand, and said solemnly: "So, stinky girl, you must take good care of yourself! Let's live to be a hundred years together!" In fear, his biological mother, his grandfather, and those who loved him all left him early. What about the stinky girl? Will the stinky girl also...
Nangong Yue also felt the change in his expression and tone, and said with a light smile: "One hundred years old, I don't want to be an old monster!" She raised her small chin, pretending to be considerate, "It's good to be eighty years old, Ah Yi, let's live together until we are eighty years old!"
Xiao Yi held her in his arms, and after a while, a vague and choked-up sentence came from above her head: "Stinky girl, I will try my best to live one more day than you."
"good."
The carriage fell silent, and the two of them just leaned against each other.
I don't know how long it took before Lily's joyful voice came from outside: "Master, Concubine, Liuhe Village has arrived."
As the speed of the car gradually slowed down, Nangong Yue opened the curtain and looked out.
The last two times she came to Liuhezhuang were in autumn and winter, and it was the first time she came here in spring when everything was recovering. The outside was full of greenery, birds were singing and flowers were fragrant, and the clear river was sparkling in the warm sunshine. Wave light... It seems to be another completely different place.
After the carriage stopped, Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue got out of the carriage one after the other. The accompanying Zhu Xing, Ren Zinan, Chu Dawei and others also dismounted one after another.
Guanshi Feng has already brought many of Zhuangzi's servants, and dozens of disabled veterans are waiting there. The team seems to be very large, and all eyes are on Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue. Of course, more people are Xiao Yi. Yi. It was the first time for those dozens of veterans to see Xiao Yi, and they couldn't help examining him... even wanting to find the shadow of the old Zhennan King from him.
It's a pity that Xiao Yi's appearance is completely different from that rough and dark old Zhennan Wang, and he can't even find a trace of him.
Guanshi Feng was about to go forward to salute, but he heard a child's sharp cry from behind: "Here we come! The prince and concubine are here!"
Following the sound, I saw a six or seven-year-old boy running towards the village. While running, he shouted at the top of his voice, and in the blink of an eye, he attracted many farmers in the field and villagers in the village towards him. Looking over here, some of them couldn't wait to come over, wanting to see what the eldest son Xiao Yi looks like.
This commotion broke the originally tense atmosphere.
Feng Guanshi suddenly showed embarrassment, bowed his head and said: "Let the son and the concubine laugh."
The veterans behind him all knelt down on one knee and saluted Xiao Yi: "I have met the son and the concubine."
Although they are old, their voices can no longer hide their hoarseness, but at this moment when their voices are so neatly overlapped, they appear so resonant, and the rigor and sternness of being soldiers is released in an instant. The hearts of those who watched were all shocked, and they couldn't help but become serious.
Due to the matter of the steward Niu before, the veterans still have mixed feelings about this son, but no matter what kind of person the son is, at least this time he led the army to drive the nasty southern barbarian out of Dayu in one fell swoop. In the territory, the former lost city was recaptured, and countless people who died under the hands of the Nanmanzi were avenged. From these points of view, the Shizi could afford their gift no matter what.
"Excuse me." Xiao Yi took a few steps forward and helped one person up, and then the other veterans got up one after another, and Ren Zinan also helped up a veteran with handicapped legs.
"Old Chu! Ah Lan!"
When the veterans saw David Chu, Ren Zinan and his son who had reunited after a long absence, they were very affectionate, and gathered around to talk.
Even if Chu Dawei and Ren Zinan didn't say anything, they could see that the father and son should be living well in the palace, not to mention their clothes and dresses are better than before, just look at their energetic appearance, especially Ren Zinan In the past, when I was in Liuhezhuang, I always felt that the anger of the young people was missing, as if they had entered old age with the old guys... But now Ren Zinan has the spirit of the young.
This young man, as expected, he still can't be with these old fellows all day long.
Looking at the current Ren Zinan, even the always serious Lao Min smiled faintly.
"Go in and talk." With Xiao Yi's words, everyone surrounded him and Nangong Yue into Zhuangzi.
After everyone entered the main hall under the guidance of Feng Guanshi, the originally not too big main hall seemed overcrowded, and the original armchairs in the main hall were simply not enough for them to sit on, so Feng Guanshi hurriedly ordered people to move a lot of stools.
After they sat down in the main hall one by one, the atmosphere became awkward and quiet. In the end, Nangong Yue said with a smile: "I've been busy these days, and I haven't had time to come over to take a look. Are you still used to living here?"
"Accustomed to it! Very used to it!" a tall old soldier said harshly. Looking at him in his early fifties, his face was flushed. If he hadn't lost his left hand, he would have looked like an ordinary farmer.
"Of course he's used to it." Another veteran next to him couldn't help but tease, "He just married his wife after the Chinese New Year, and now he doesn't want to leave. Even if he is sent back to southern Xinjiang, he doesn't want to go back."
What he said made the veterans in the room burst into laughter, but everyone was beaming, obviously they were really happy for their comrades.
Guanshi Feng explained it in a low voice, and Nangong Yue realized that this veteran was called Ye Shi. Last year, the widow Liu's family in the nearby village hired him to help build a house. Check it out. The widow Liu's son had already married and did not object, so they got married after the New Year.
"This is a happy event." Nangong Yue narrowed her eyes with a smile, "Guard Feng, you should have told me earlier, so that I can send you a congratulatory gift." I was also happy for this veteran named Ye Shi. It can be regarded as a real home in Liuhezhuang. For these disabled veterans like duckweed, this is probably the greatest happiness in life.
"No, there's no need..." Ye Shi waved his hands hastily, a little at a loss, "Master, Concubine, you two have done enough for us old fellows!" Neither of them are greedy people, Originally, I only hoped to spend the rest of my life in peace and stability, and it was an unexpected surprise to actually settle down in Liuhezhuang.
Xiao Yi suddenly interrupted with a smile: "In this way, I am also a matchmaker! I should ask you for a matchmaker gift!"
Everyone in the hall did not expect Xiao Yi to say such a sentence, the hall was quiet for a moment, and Ye Shi was the first to laugh out loud: "What the son said is that my mother-in-law is very good at brewing wine, and I will fetch some jars later , give the son a taste."
Another veteran boldly echoed: "Lao Ye is right. The wine brewed by my sister-in-law is really good!"
When it came to wine, these people opened their voices and talked about it. Later, everyone talked about their own situation... From the words of these people, Nangong Yue learned that these veterans are now living a very fulfilling life For a while, I helped the villagers build houses; for a while, they helped Zhuangzi build canals;
Bitter land! Nangong Yue remembered the saline-alkali land in the back of the village, and asked, "Has the bittern land been irrigated?"
Guanshi Feng hurriedly reported: "Yes, Shizifei. The canal was repaired last month, and the river in front was brought in to irrigate the brine a few days ago. It's a pity that we in the north plow once a year, and this year's spring plowing will not be able to catch up."
Ye Shi interjected, "Although the spring plowing can't catch up, you can still grow some vegetables."
Naturally, Xiao Yi had also heard Nangong Yue mention the matter of the halogen land, and now he became interested and said: "Let's go to the back mountain to have a look."
As soon as the words came out, everyone responded one after another, so they went to the back mountain together.
With so many people passing by the village, they naturally attracted many people from the village to join the team, but these people naturally did not want to see the back mountain, but to watch Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue.
Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue didn't care about other people's eyes at all, both of them were calm and composed, Xiao Yi even held Nangong Yue's hand in front of everyone, and walked towards the back mountain together, biting their ears from time to time, looking at each other and smiling .
For a moment, the village women and little girls who followed behind were whispering to each other with envy in their eyes. Not only did the prince and concubine look as good-looking as the people in the painting, but they also had such a good relationship, they were just like a couple of gods. Couple like.
After passing through the village, it suddenly became clear, and a large field that had been reclaimed came into their eyes.
This piece of land that used to be called the "back mountain wasteland" is very different now. When Nangong Yue came here for the last time last year, the land was only half reclaimed, and it was covered with white crystals. Now after spring After being irrigated with river water, the original color of the soil has appeared.
Nangong Yue can almost imagine that in the spring of next year, the land will be filled with seedlings, and the land will be densely green... During the autumn harvest, it will turn into a golden ocean.
After Houshan came back, Xiao Yi called Lao Min alone and asked him about the letter.
"This is given to me by the old prince three years before his death, so I will keep it safe." Lao Min recalled, "Since then, this letter has never left my side." He paused, somewhat He said in embarrassment, "Master, a few years ago, I heard that you were useless and reckless. I used to think that this letter from the old prince would never see the light of day. I just didn't expect that you have suffered so much. The old prince is still alive, so he will definitely feel distressed."
Xiao Yi's eyes dimmed, but then he smiled freely, "If my grandfather is still alive, I'm afraid I'll be angry that I'm so useless, and I was coaxed so casually, leaving only countless infamy. ... Your business is my fault. Missed."
"Master." Old Min said sincerely, "You have a good wife."
If it wasn't for the concubine, I'm afraid they would hate the concubine until they die, and mistakenly regard the concubine as a good person.
If it weren't for the concubine, the notoriety of the son might not be cleansed.
If it weren't for the concubine, all the veterans would not have a good life now.
Xiao Yi was proud, and said as a matter of course: "Of course! She is better than anyone else!" There was no slightest hesitation in his tone.
Lao Min couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "The old prince will be very happy."
Xiao Yi showed a trace of nostalgia.
Until the age of six, Xiao Yi lived with his grandfather, learning to write, learn martial arts, and learn the art of war... And according to what Lao Min said, when he was three years old, his grandfather gave the letter to Lao Min for safekeeping. Those properties are said to have passed into his name one after another after that.
Xiao Yi secretly wondered what happened when he was three years old that made his grandfather make such a determination...
On the way back to Wangdu, Xiao Yi told Nangong Yue the details of the conversation with Lao Min, and finally said: "Stinky girl, even if Lao Min doesn't tell you, I know you are the best!" Yes! I like you the most!"
Nangong Yue was not as thick-skinned as him, she blushed by the phrase "most favorite", the shame on her face made Xiao Yi's heart flutter, and she couldn't help sneaking a quick kiss.
At the same time, the news that the Nanman envoys had entered the capital had spread, and everyone in the capital was discussing this topic.
This storytelling stall was the most sensitive to news, and the storyteller kept talking about the Nanman king sending envoys to the capital to seek peace.
Obviously this storyteller has never been to Nanman, nor has he seen the Nanman king, but he vividly described how the Nanman king invited all the ministers to discuss, and how he chose the envoys to bring several stunning beauties to the capital. As if he had seen it with his own eyes and heard it with his own ears.
When the envoys entered the capital, the storyteller stopped abruptly and knocked on the gavel to order everyone to wait for the next chapter.
"This is the end?!" A middle-aged woman who was eating melon seeds yelled, "I just got to the key point, why is it over? Liu Sanzui, don't wait for such a fool! I'm a flower money."
The storyteller Liu Sanzui stroked his mustache in a mysterious manner, and said: "Hey, if you want to know the next chapter, come back tomorrow and you will know?"
The middle-aged woman was about to continue yelling, when a middle-aged man wearing a bunt couldn't help exposing Liu Sanzui's background: "Sister, don't listen to his nonsense. Isn't this going to be broken down next time?" ?I heard from one of my brothers guarding the city gate that the Nanban envoys just entered the royal capital yesterday, and now they haven’t even seen the emperor’s face yet!”
Another young man sighed with sympathy: "I guess our emperor will give this envoy a good rest."
"That's right." The middle-aged man echoed, "I heard that this damn Southern barbarian has slaughtered several cities in Dayu. There are at least tens of thousands of people who have died unjustly! Now they are beaten by the prince of Zhennan. Like a bereaved dog, it knows how to seek peace!"
"The damned southern barbarians should cede land and pay compensation, and pay tribute every year!"
"Hmph, I think it's cheaper for them this way!"
"In my opinion,...the princess has to get married!" A fat man yelled at the thought of Dayu's cowardly princess having kissed Xi Rong before. This time it's always their turn to show their majesty!
When he said this, the black and thin young man next to him pointedly elbowed him, "Didn't you hear that the Nanman sent all their saints? ... I also heard that the prince of Zhennan is The saint was transported to the capital in a prison van!"
"No way?" The fat man gasped in disbelief, "It's not that the holy woman is beautiful and beautiful, and the prince of Zhennan doesn't know how to pity her!"
The middle-aged woman curled her lips disapprovingly: "What's the use of being beautiful! You're not a barbarian! I heard that they all have body odor!"
Liu Sanzui smiled smugly from the audience, wishing that the Nanman envoy would stay in the capital as long as possible, so that his small stall could take advantage of the light and make some money.
In the eyes of the whole capital, the emperor finally made a decree the next day: three days later, a palace banquet will be held in the palace, all civil and military officials and female relatives with orders will be invited, and Xuan Nanman envoys will also enter the palace to participate in the palace banquet. .
The intention of the emperor's move is clear at a glance. To Dayu officials, this palace banquet is like a celebration banquet, but to this Southern barbarian envoy, it is a deterrent.
The emperor's edict naturally spread to Zhennan Palace.
After sending the palace people away, Nangong Yue only felt a headache. Going to the palace banquet had to wear heavy makeup, which was the most troublesome thing, but they still had to go. After all, Xiao Yi was also one of the protagonists of this palace banquet.
Que'er walked into the Martial Shouting Hall and asked, "Concubine Shizi, are you still going to 'Huayan' today?"
"Go, why don't you go?" Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows. The palace banquet is not today, so why bother to affect today's scheduled itinerary because of it.
"Yes, Concubine Shizi. This servant will go down to prepare the carriage." Que'er bowed and then stepped back.
Xiao Yi frowned and asked, "Smelly girl, are you going out today?"
Nangong Yue smiled and said: "Didn't I tell you a few days ago that I was going to sell my two shops in Wangdu? Yesterday I made an appointment with Zhongren to go to 'Huayan' today. I will meet you before lunch. back."
When it comes to selling the shop, Xiao Yi gets excited. When the shop is sold, he will be able to rely on the stinky girl to support him. Thinking about it, this day will be beautiful!
"I'll go with you!" Xiao Yi said enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling.
Nangong Yue naturally agreed.
Neither of them like to mobilize the crowd, so after packing the whole suit casually, they set off from Zhennan Palace in half an hour.
"Hua Yan" is not too far away from the palace, when they arrived there it was not yet Si time, and there was still a stick of incense before the time they made an appointment with the middleman.
As soon as Yimei heard that Nangong Yue was coming, she quickly put down what she was doing and came out to greet her in person, but she didn't expect Xiao Yi to come too, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she hurriedly bowed to the two of them: "I have met Shi Ziye, Shi Zifei. "
Today they came here in plain clothes, if it was a normal day, Nangong Yue would tell Yimei not to pay too much attention to etiquette, but since she is so poor that she is going to sell her dowry, it is convenient to show her whereabouts.
Sure enough, Yimei's actions suddenly attracted strange looks from all around.
Yimei respectfully welcomed Nangong Yue and Xiao Yi into the inner room, the inner room was a bit messy, there were many account books on the desk and chairs.
"My lord, my concubine, there is some chaos here, don't be surprised." Yimei embarrassedly asked Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue to sit down.
Nangong Yue wants to invite middle-aged people to come and see "Huayan", but only Yimei knows about this shop. Naturally, this act was to be a complete set, and since she was going to sell the shop, Yimei simply pretended to organize "Huayan"'s account books.
Nangong Yue didn't take it seriously, and waved her hand casually, "It's okay, just have a place to sit."
Yimei quickly ordered people to serve tea and snacks, Nangong Yue took a sip of tea, and Lily, who was guarding outside, also entered the inner room at this time, and said: "Shizi Concubine, Miss Ye please see me." After a pause After a pause, she hurriedly added, "It's that Miss Ye from Huaiyuan County."
What happened in Liuhe Village, Huaiyuan County and Bailin Village, Nangong Yue told Xiao Yi one by one before, so when he heard about Huaiyuan County, Xiao Yi also knew which Miss Ye it was.
Nangong Yue glanced at Xiao Yi and said, "Let her in."
After a while, Lily led Ye Yili in. She didn't apply any makeup, her face was fair, her skin was delicate, she was wearing a plain blue dress, and she only wore two spring orchid silk flowers on her head. Such a simple dress, on her On the body, there is a kind of elegant and elegant temperament.
As soon as she entered the room, she quickly glanced around the room, fixed her eyes on Xiao Yi, her dark eyes showed surprise, but soon bowed her head slightly in a regular manner, and walked forward with lowered eyebrows. Liao Fushen said: "I have seen the son and the concubine."
Although it was the first time for her to see the prince of Zhennan, she had heard their descriptions of the prince from the "Huayan" people, and the fact that she could sit side by side with the concubine so intimately , there should be only the eldest brother of Shi Ziye and Shi Zifei.
Xiao Yi's appearance is naturally good, but he has no resemblance to Nangong Yue, so Ye Yili is almost 100% sure that the handsome young man in front of her is Xiao Yi, the son of Prince Zhennan.
After thinking it over, Ye Yili was a little annoyed. She pursed her lips and explained hastily: "Concubine Shizi, the daughter of the people heard that you are coming, so she came to greet you." Just now, she heard that Nangong Yue was coming from a helper in the shop, so she hurried over Greetings, but I don't want the eldest son Xiao Yi to come too.
Speaking of which, her behavior was still somewhat presumptuous, and she couldn't help frowning slightly.
Nangong Yue also saw some clues from Ye Yili's behavior, and said with a smile: "Miss Ye, you don't have to be cautious, just sit down."
After Ye Yili sat down, Nangong Yue said again: "Miss Ye, are you used to doing things here?"
"I'm used to it, of course I'm used to it." Ye Yili was sitting on her lapel, looking at Nangong Yue without squinting, and replied respectfully, "Shizi Concubine, Minnv has been taken care of by Sister Yimei a lot here, and now everything is safe at Minnv's home." Well, brother has gradually recovered..." She looked at Nangong Yue gratefully, "Second Concubine, in fact, even if the Concubine does not come today, the daughter of the people would like to go to the palace to see the Concubine Xie Encai some other day."
"Miss Ye, you are too polite..."
Before Nangong Yue finished speaking, Que'er walked into the inner room through the curtain, looked at Ye Yili with some surprise, and said with a blessing body: "Concubine Shizi, the middleman is here."
Middleman? Ye Yili was stunned for a moment, and her first reaction was, why did Nangong Yue need to invite middlemen to "Huayan"? As far as she knew, the shop was well staffed, so there should be no need to recruit helpers for the time being. Could it be that…
She suddenly thought of a certain possibility, frowned slightly, and quickly glanced at Nangong Yue.
She felt a little uneasy in her heart, but she stood up resolutely, blessed Fushen and said: "Since the concubine has something to do, the daughter of the people will leave first."
Naturally, Nangong Yue did not keep her.
After Ye Yili stepped back, Nangong Yue stood up, planning to follow Que'er to meet the middleman. Xiao Yi also stood up, but was stopped by Nangong Yue: "Are you waiting for me here?"
Seeing the disappointment on Xiao Yi's face, she said with a smile: "It's too late!"
Xiao Yi sat back aggrieved.
Nangong Yue and Que'er went to the front together to meet the middle-aged man. The middle-aged woman was a middle-aged woman in her forties, dressed in honey-colored golden trousers all over the place, with a slightly plump figure and a chubby face. He is kind, but there is a gleam in his eyes, obviously he is a shrewd person.
As soon as they saw Nangong Yue come out, people in the middle knew that this little lady was either rich or noble. Although she was not dressed out of the ordinary, and was even intentionally low-key, her demeanor could not deceive anyone.
In fact, Chinese people have always been skeptical about the sale of the dowry shop by the prince and concubine of Zhennan. How can I say that the concubine is also the daughter of the Nangong Mansion, Princess Yaoguang appointed by the emperor, and married to the son of the Prince of Zhennan, and the ten-mile red makeup on the wedding day has been discussed in the capital for a long time. How could such a concubine be reduced to selling a dowry shop
The middleman even wondered for a moment whether it was the concubine's servant who deceived the master and secretly sold the dowry without telling the concubine, but he thought it would be okay to come and see, there is no reason not to do business, so he came here up.
Until now seeing Nangong Yue, she knew that this must be the real master.
It turns out that Zhennan Wang Shizi really wants to sell a dowry shop! This is big news!
I just heard that Shi Ziye is also here, where is he now
The middleman eagerly stretched his neck and looked back, hoping that the prince would show up too.
It's a pity that there is no one behind, it seems that the son is not going to show up.
That's right, don't hide from such a shameful thing as selling your daughter-in-law's dowry!
The middleman suppressed the excitement in his heart, and before Que'er could introduce Nangong Yue, he waved his handkerchief obsequiously to greet them, and saluted the two of them with passable etiquette.
Afterwards, after a few people walked around the shop, the middleman cleared his throat and asked uncertainly, "Concubine Shi Zi, are you really planning to sell the shop?"
Que'er put his hands on his hips, raised his chin and said, "Aunt Liu, don't you think we called you here today to make you happy?"
"Of course not!" the middleman said nervously, "I just want to confirm. Then... I don't know if Shi Zifei plans to sell only this shop, or the whole shop together?" After a pause, she explained , "Concubine Shizi, although the location of your shop is good, the price is not so much if you only sell the shop surface. But your 'Hua Yan' has already made a name for himself, if you combine the name of 'Hua Yan'..."
"You mean the prescription that is connected with 'Huayan'?" Que'er interjected with a half-smile. This middle man is really shrewd.
Nangong Yue showed a hint of hesitation at the right time...
The middleman felt that there was something interesting, so he quickly compared a number: "Concubine Shizi, if your 'Hua Yan' sells for this amount, even these people in your shop can also receive it." The middleman continued talking endlessly. Some kind words.
In the end, Que'er pretended to look at Nangong Yue's face, and then said to Zhong Ren: "We need to think about this matter carefully."
The middleman agreed repeatedly, and said a few more good words, and then reluctantly left under Que'er's hint, and he was already a little impatient in his heart.
She has to hurry up and find a good sister to tell the breaking news...
So, in just two days, the news that Zhennan Wang Shifei wanted to sell the dowry shop quietly spread in the capital.