"Shizifei, Housekeeper Zhu has sent the account books over."
Nangong Yue just woke up from her afternoon nap when Bai He entered the room with a large stack of account books.
Although the accounts are generally only checked at the end of the year, the accounts at the end of last year were really chaotic. In the past six months, Nangong Yue also spent some effort to rectify them, thinking that she should also look at the accounts in the middle of the year.
Moreover, Xiao Yi needs a large amount of money to raise soldiers, so she has to see where she can get some money.
"Take it to my study."
Nangong Yue ordered casually, and asked Baihui to tie a homely bun for herself, wearing only a few pearl flowers casually, and went to the small study.
Nangong Yue looked at the account books on the desk and asked casually, "Is that all?"
Bai He replied: "Butler Zhu said that there are still some that haven't been delivered. The new steward just left and didn't have time to sort out the old accounts. They will send them over in a few days."
Nangong Yue nodded, asked her to prepare tea and snacks for herself, and looked carefully.
The original account books were all burned by Nangong Yue, and all the accounts were re-recorded, so each of these account books only has a few thin pages. Although it is small, it is much clearer than the original random records.
only…
"I still don't have any money." Nangong Yue sighed depressingly.
It took a lot of money for the rectification of these properties that were finally recovered. At least until next year to see some profits. This year, the government's expenses may have to rely on the shipyard and the bank in the south of the Yangtze River. If it is just to support the whole family, the money is more than enough, but it is not enough to support an army.
And last time Xiao Yi also mentioned that the two cities of Fuzhong and Kailian in Southern Xinjiang had already been forcibly occupied by him from King Zhennan. Both cities suffered great damage during the Nanman invasion, and Xiao Yi made the decision to exempt them from taxes for two years. However, money is needed for city reconstruction, and with Zhennan Wang's temperament, I am afraid that he will not provide Xiao Yi's city with a little money.
Nangong Yue has a headache. In the past few months, the amount of silver that has been sent to southern Xinjiang has already reached 70,000 taels. It should be fine for a few months, but...
"No... I won't show you..."
Suddenly there was a soft laugh from outside, and Baihui who was serving in the study couldn't help but frowned, and was about to go out to remind her, but Nangong Yue simply put down the account book and said loudly, "Come in."
The door of the study opened, and Lily and Que'er walked in awkwardly.
Baihui stared at Baihe, but it was not convenient to reprimand her in front of Nangong Yue, but Nangong Yue suddenly noticed that Baihe's cheeks were slightly red.
Lily's carefree temper actually blush
Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows, and suddenly said amusedly: "Lily, take it out and let me have a look."
Lily's complexion froze, she turned her head to stare at Que'er, then she walked up to Nangong Yue slowly, and spread her right hand. I saw a wooden hairpin lying in her palm. There is nothing special about this hairpin, but it looks a bit rough, as if the craftsman who made this hairpin is still a novice.
Looking at Lily's reddish pretty face, a thought suddenly flashed in Nangong Yue's mind, and she deliberately said: "This hairpin is of average workmanship, and I really can't wear it. I'll give you a better one. Don't want this one." .”
Bai He quickly withdrew her hand, shook her head hastily, and said, "Concubine Shi Zi, I, I like this."
"Who sent it?" Nangong Yue's sudden words made Bai He blurt out before her brain could react, "It's Alan." As soon as she finished speaking, she knew she had said the wrong thing. He quickly covered his lips with his hand, and looked at Nangong Yue eagerly.
Straight-tempered people are prone to clichés! However, I didn't expect that Lily would actually get along with Alan... Obviously the two of them made it very unpleasant when they first met, and later on, Lily looked down on Alan everywhere. Now it seems It turned out to be a happy couple.
Baihui was also dumbfounded, and looked at her cousin with wide eyes, thinking: This little girl, is she hiding such a big matter from herself?!
"It turned out to be Alan." Nangong Yue nodded her head pretending to be contemplative, and seeing Baihe looking at him nervously, she suddenly laughed and said, "Let Alan come to propose marriage in a few days."
Lily smiled immediately, and nodded happily, without any twitching, but with a bit of heartiness like a son and daughter of the world.
Although the big maids who follow the hostess usually stay until they are eighteen or even in their twenties, but for the few maids around her, Nangong Yue naturally hopes for their well-being. There is nothing wrong with marrying early.
It's a pity for Yimei... Thinking of Yimei, Nangong Yue's expression darkened slightly, but she soon cheered up and started teasing Lily.
While talking and joking, there were footsteps outside the door, and then Xiao Yi pushed the door and walked in. Seeing that Nangong Yue was in a good mood, he asked, "Is there any happy event today?"
Nangong Yue got up to greet her. After all, Lily was a girl. When she heard the word "happy event", she couldn't help but blushed, saluted hurriedly, and dragged her cousin and magpie out of the house in a hurry.
Xiao Yi was confused, Nangong Yue said with a smile: "You are right, our family is going to have a wedding soon." Then he told about Baihe and Alan.
Xiao Yi was delighted when he heard it, and said: "That boy Alan is really good, and Lily is worthy to marry him."
Nangong Yue responded, "I think so too."
She saw Ah Lan's temperament and character, and she was considered a good match, so she agreed.
Xiao Yi pulled her to sit together on the beauty's couch, passed by the desk, and noticed a stack of account books on top, and asked casually: "... These are the newly delivered account books?"
Nangong Yue nodded, and said with her fingers: "I roughly calculated, and I can move another ten thousand taels of silver for the time being. However, we can't do it by moving around. I thought about it, and I still have to be small. The only thing is to get the silver out of Shi's hands, I don't know where she got all the silver... It's too late, I'm afraid I can't rely on the emperor this time."
Xiao Yi had been listening with a smile all the time, at this moment, a sly gleam flashed in his eyes, and he said: "Speaking of which, the last time my father asked me to give half of the property to Xiao Luan, we just divided it."
"You mean..." Nangong Yue's mind flashed, "That's good!"
How much property the old prince has left behind is naturally Xiao Yi's decision. Since Xiao Fang dares to say that over the years, Xiao Yi's property has only earned six thousand taels of silver, so they can also say that the old prince There are only two shops left.
Repay the person with the way of the person.
Xiao Fang's family wanted to give Xiao Luan more property, so they would definitely not give up. As long as she dared to make trouble, the Xiao family clan would come forward at that time.
After all, the Xiaofang family has taken up the status of a "mother". Everyone in the world values filial piety. For Nangong Yue, it is worthwhile to spend a little more effort to prevent Xiao Yi's reputation from being hindered.
"Calculating the time, the imperial decree should have arrived in southern Xinjiang..." Nangong Yue couldn't wait.
Speaking of southern Xinjiang, at this time, in the southern border thousands of miles away, in the camp of Luoyue City, the soldiers in the camp are still practicing.
Only the sound of soldiers' footsteps, shouts, and weapons clashing could be heard from the direction of the martial arts field from time to time... one after another, it was endless.
At the gate of the barracks, two tall and strong soldiers were guarding both sides of the entrance, one of them with a square face saw no one around, so he quietly called out "San Shu." He called his companion over and whispered something in his ear .
"What?! The princess has seized the property of the son of the world?! Qian Dazhuang, you are not joking!" Another black-faced man exclaimed in disbelief, and Qian Dazhuang hurriedly looked around. Look, he glared at his companion and motioned him to keep his voice down.
Qian Dazhuang continued: "That's still false! My mother-in-law came to see me in the camp yesterday, and told me that the news had already spread. Why do you think the princess was sent to the Ming and Qing Temple? Was it because she was sent to the Ming and Qing Temple? I'm punished!"
They naturally don't know why the princess went to the Ming and Qing Temple to "pray for blessings", but since it is said so now, it must be true!
Chen Sanshu was almost dumbfounded when he heard it, and after a while he sighed "tsk tsk": "The princess is too courageous, hey, do you think it is actually..." As he spoke, he lowered his voice, winked and pointed his finger Write a quick "Wang" character in mid-air.
Qian Dazhuang immediately understood, and said in a low voice: "I heard from my mother-in-law that many people say that now, saying that if you have a stepmother, you will have a stepfather. The son of the world is really pitiful..."
Chen Sanshu's complexion changed suddenly, and he said firmly: "Old Qian, since you have suffered from the wind and cold, you should go and tell the centurion..."
Qian Dazhuang was confused by what he said, "When will I..." Seeing that his companion kept winking at him, he finally realized that something was wrong, and turned around stiffly, only to see a middle-aged man in armor He was looking at them not far away with sharp eyes.
The two soldiers hurriedly knelt down on one knee and saluted: "I have seen General Song!" Oops! I don't know how much General Song heard what they said just now.
Song Xiaojie strode up to the two soldiers, and said coldly: "Do your job well, don't chat!" Then he strode out of the camp.
The two soldiers were so frightened that they were shaking their legs. They thought that this time they would be punished with 30 army sticks, but they didn't expect that General Song would turn a blind eye and let them go. The two looked at each other and let out a long sigh of relief.
After Song Xiaojie got out of the camp, he immediately jumped onto a black horse and galloped all the way towards Luoyue City.
His eyes were heavy and his mind was full of thoughts. What the two soldiers said just now was just the tip of the iceberg. What worries him the most is what the generals in the army and the people in southern Xinjiang think of Zhennan King!
If this continues, the morale of the army and the people will inevitably be unstable.
It seems that the prince should be mentioned... Song Xiaojie thought to himself.
After arriving at Zhennan Wangfu in Luoyue City, Song Xiaojie first reported the military situation to Zhennan Wang. After dealing with the serious matter, he hesitated to say: "My lord, there is one last thing that I don't know whether I should mention it or not?"
Zhennan Wang straightened his face and said in a deep voice, "Xiaojie, what can't we say between you and me?"
Song Xiaojie straightened out his thoughts, and said, "My lord, do you know the most popular new play in the city recently?"
Zhennan Wang was startled, confused.
In the past, Princess Xiaofang liked to watch operas, and there would be babbling and singing opera sounds in the mansion from time to time, but since Xiaofang went to Qingming Temple, the mansion became much quieter. Why did Song Xiaojie suddenly bring up opera singing again? Little Fang interceding
After all, they have been married for more than ten years, if Song Xiaojie really came to love, he might as well go down the steps...
The King of Zhennan was thinking about it when he heard Song Xiaojie continue: "A few days ago, the theater troupe in the city put on a new play called "Miss Shi Teaching Her Husband". This play is about a certain general surnamed Shi from the previous dynasty , who has been fighting outside all the year round, and the family is handed over to his step-wife, Wang Shi, who is married again. Over time, General Shi disliked his eldest daughter very much. On the contrary, he loved the children born to his stepmother. When Miss Shi reached the age, General Shi hurriedly chose a marriage for her. Miss Shi With a bad reputation, the reputation of the man she married is naturally not very good, but no one expected that Miss Shi used evil to control evil, and she actually trained her dandy husband into a weapon. He was admitted to Jinshi a few years later. After that, the city Rumors gradually spread in the village, saying that Miss Shi's stepmother was unkind, and Miss Shi tarnished her reputation in order to protect herself, and that Mrs. Wang had a sinister heart, not only intentionally flattered and killed Miss Shi, but also took away the dowry left by her original wife... "
"Absurd! It's really absurd!" Hearing this, King Zhennan finally couldn't suppress the indignation in his heart and interrupted him.
What General Shi? What Wang
This play is clearly alluding to himself, the king of Zhennan and his concubine Xiaofang!
These rascals are really brave!
Zhennan Wang's complexion was dark, and he said angrily: "Which troupe dares to be so bold?" How dare he criticize the palace so much!
Song Xiaojie sighed in his heart because of King Zhennan's concern. In an instant, many pictures flashed in his mind. Now the news has spread in the cities and the army in southern Xinjiang. Probably only the prince, the man in the game, does nothing. knew.
He gritted his teeth, and simply made his words clear: "My lord, it's not just those troupes, but now the people in southern Xinjiang are saying that the princess has seized the son's property and won't return it..."
Zhennan Wang's face was even more ugly, and he almost didn't complain, "How did this get out?!"
How did that happen
After the imperial decree arrived last time, he had already ordered Xiao Fang to return the property and money, and even silenced his servants. This matter should have been revealed quietly, how could it have spread? And it has spread so that the whole southern border knows about it
Although it was Xiao Fang who was at fault, but he, the king of Zhennan, could not escape the reputation of lax family management!
Song Xiaojie sighed in his heart: This is the prince's family matter after all, how did he know how it got out
But his face remained calm, and he replied respectfully: "My lord, in the teahouses and restaurants in the city, those scholars are talking and criticizing. He is an enemy, that's why he didn't send troops to reinforce him at the beginning, and even the prince took down the Fuzhong and Kailian cities, and the prince insisted on robbing the prince's achievements. Some people even suspect that the prince's move was behind the prince's instigation... "
All in all, it means that the king of Zhennan was coaxed around by the princess, and he was so confused that he couldn't see his son's future; he lamented that his son was pitiful. without dyeing.
Following Song Xiaojie's statements, Zhennan King was furious and said: "It's a bunch of nonsense! How can this king still covet the little money from that rebellious son!"
"Of course the prince won't." Song Xiaojie hurriedly said, "The problem is that outsiders don't understand the truth!"
Song Xiaojie secretly sighed in his heart.
In fact, it is not surprising that some people say that about the prince. Since the prince returned to southern Xinjiang last year, his bravery is obvious to all. The middle and the bottom are watching, but the prince disappointed the soldiers time and time again, so that he gradually lost the morale of the army and the people.
In contrast, the prestige of the eldest son in southern Xinjiang is now at its peak. I don't know how many people are secretly envious of the two cities of Fuzhong and Kailian, which can be controlled by the eldest son. And the people in the two cities are looking forward to the prince's leadership, high fighting spirit, high morale, the reconstruction of the two cities is orderly, and the people have a faint momentum of "only knowing that there is a prince, but not a prince"! But they themselves can't tell the prince .
The prince wouldn't listen to it, Song Xiaojie couldn't help but sigh secretly, thinking that the prince, in order to get angry with the eldest son, refuted the money needed for the reconstruction of the Fuchu and Kailian, isn't this intentional to give people something to talk about
No wonder the two cities are now loyal to Shi Ziye.
Song Xiaojie hesitated to speak, and finally had to say implicitly: "My lord, the rumors are getting more and more serious now, for the sake of the reputation of the lord and the palace, I would like to ask the lord to 'persuade' the princess to show something..." Only by letting Xiao Fang Only by coming out and admitting mistakes can the people's hearts in southern Xinjiang be stabilized.
But what Song Xiaojie said later, King Zhennan couldn't listen at all, he was so angry that the veins on his forehead were throbbing, and he murmured: "It's unreasonable, it's unreasonable!" I just feel that the whole southern border is watching my joke now , laughed at him for being confused, laughed at him for being blind to gold and jade, laughed at him for being led by the nose by a woman...
The more King Zhennan thought about it, the more angry he felt, he suddenly felt that his breath was suffocated, and he raised his hand to cover his chest, his face was pale, even faintly blue, his mouth was panting heavily, and even his eyes turned white...
Song Xiaojie felt that something was wrong with King Zhennan, and exclaimed, "My lord!"
Before the words fell, King Zhennan had already collapsed on the ground, Song Xiaojie hurried up, supported Zhennan King, and shouted loudly: "Please come quickly, the doctor! The prince has fainted..."
The news of King Zhennan's fainting instantly spread throughout the palace. Some servants went to invite the doctor, some went into the study to help move King Zhennan to the bed in the main courtyard room, and some rushed to inform The chief concubine Wei and several young masters and girls.
Not long after, Doctor Wang, the mansion doctor in the palace, arrived with a medicine box in sweat. Immediately afterwards, the concubines Wei, Xiao Luan and Xiao Fei rushed over after hearing the news.
While Dr. Wang was giving Zhennan Wang an injection, Wei turned his head to look at Song Xiaojie and said, "General Song, I heard that the general was there when the prince fainted in the study. What happened?" His voice was soft and polite, and there was deep worry in his eyes, but he didn't have a hint of questioning.
Song Xiaojie replied with a respectful expression: "Back to my side concubine, let's talk about this matter after the prince wakes up."
Wei frowned lightly, lowered his eyes, and didn't ask any more questions.
Xiao Luan on the side said dissatisfiedly: "General Song, my father is like this now, what else can we not tell us, why do we have to wait for my father to wake up? What if..."
Xiao Luan was about to scold, when a servant girl shouted in surprise: "My lord... My lord, wake up!"
Xiao Luan swallowed the words that came to his lips, turned his head to look, and saw Zhennan King on the bed really woke up, his complexion was still a little pale, his eyes were dull, he still looked like the majestic Zhennan King on weekdays .
"My lord, you're finally awake, but I'm worried that my concubine will die." The side concubine Wei was sitting on the edge of the bed attentively, greeting the king of Zhennan, "I know that my lord is always busy with work, but my lord still needs to take good care of me. The body is."
Seeing that King Zhennan woke up, Wei felt a little relieved. If King Zhennan was really seriously ill, she was not afraid of anything else, but she was afraid that she would give Princess Xiaofang an excuse to return to the palace.
Although the princess will come back sooner or later, Wei Shi still hopes to wait until he wins over the whole palace.
King Zhennan patted Wei Shi's hand lightly, indicating that he was fine, then looked around, and said weakly: "You all go out first, this king has something to say to General Song."
Wei Shi gave a few words of advice in a soft voice, and retreated with Xiao Luan and Xiao Fei brothers and sisters, thinking: I still need to find someone to ask what the prince and General Song really said...
When only he and Song Xiaojie were left in the room, King Zhennan said to Song Xiaojie with a stern face and a sharp expression: "Xiaojie, pass down this king's decree, and the entire southern border, if anyone dares to speak out about the right and wrong of the palace, stick Responsibility for 20 boards; if you commit the crime again, you will be sentenced to death!"
Song Xiaojie was shocked and said: "My lord, this..."
In his heart, he felt that King Zhennan was in a hurry and confused? If this order was issued, wouldn’t it prove the rumors to be true? I’m afraid there will be more people who suspect that everything is instigated by King Zhennan...
"Just do as the king says." Zhennan Wang said sharply.
Song Xiaojie sighed in his heart, "Yes."
Song Xiaojie withdrew. Although he was unwilling in every way, he could only follow Zhennan King's order.
After some severe punishments, no one dared to talk about this on the surface, but, just as Song Xiaojie worried, all the speculations of the people seemed to be confirmed because of the untimely order of King Zhennan. As a result, the fact that King Zhennan connived at his concubine's harsh treatment of his parents and children spread behind his back at a faster speed than before.
In just two days, even Xiao Fei, the eldest daughter of Zhennan Prince's Mansion, got the news. She frowned slightly and begged to see Zhennan King who was still on the sickbed, saying that she wanted to visit her mother and concubine at Mingqing Temple.
During the few days when King Zhennan was resting on his sickbed, he let his young servants go out to inquire every day. Sure enough, those troupes, storytellers, and scholars all settled down, and no one dared to discuss the privacy of the palace. I feel that my decision-making is really correct, and I should let them know their dignity when dealing with these gangsters.
The king of Zhennan was in a better mood and spirit, and even his illness seemed to be cured soon, so when Xiao Fei's request was mentioned, he readily agreed.
Xiao Fei got blessed and retreated. The King of Zhennan was about to ask the young man to take a book to read, when suddenly a messy footstep sounded outside, followed by a slightly anxious voice: "My lord, the angel is here, It’s here to preach the imperial decree!”
King Zhennan frowned suddenly, why is there another imperial decree!
He had some ominous premonition in his heart. Since the son came back last time, the emperor's decree has been almost endless, and the total number is more than the previous ten years, and there is no good thing.
But no matter how displeased he was, King Zhennan had no choice but to have someone serve him and change his robes, and then went to the front hall to meet the angel.
To Zhennan King's surprise, the imperial decree was originally for Princess Xiaofang!
But according to the emperor's will, Zhennan King needs to listen to the order together.
Although he still didn't know what was in the imperial decree, King Zhennan's heart sank, and his ominous premonition grew stronger.
After King Zhennan ordered his servants to take care of it, he got into a red-topped carriage and personally accompanied several palace officials who delivered the decree to Mingqing Temple.
Three hours later, King Zhennan and Xiao Fang knelt together in the courtyard of Mingqing Temple to listen to the decree.
The little servant recited the imperial decree in a high-pitched voice, but after only listening to a sentence, Xiao Fang felt his ears ringing.
how can that be possible!
Is she dreaming
She is the dignified princess of Zhennan! How could the emperor take the imperial concubine's order from her
In the history of Dayu, it was the first time in history!
Xiao Fang froze, her first reaction was to jump up and slap the servant, wanting to tear up the imperial decree, wanting to treat all of this as a nightmare...
All kinds of thoughts flashed by, but she calmed down quickly.
It is an unchangeable fact that her imperial order has been taken away, but southern border is different from the capital of the king. Don't be afraid! Who would dare to disrespect her!
After Zhennan Wang ordered his servants to be sent out, Xiao Fang blinked, and a mist immediately appeared in his eyes, and looked at him with tears in his eyes, sobbing: "My lord, I have been wronged..."
She was so wronged that she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her cuffs, knelt down on the ground, sobbing and crying, she looked weak and lovely, but when her eyes met the cold eyes of Shang Zhennan Wang, her whole body suddenly fell into an ice cave .
As if something happened that she didn't know about
Zhennan Wang looked at her coldly, and said sharply, "Little Fang, what is going on?"
The imperial decree only mentions that Xiao Fang is unkind to his mother and treats his stepson Xiao Yi harshly, which is unworthy of the honor of a princess, but the King of Zhennan does not believe that just like this, the emperor will take away Xiao Fang's imperial order.
"My lord..." Xiao Fang's tears flowed down, her charming face was full of sadness, "I don't know how I came back, last time you asked me to return the money and property I kept for A Yi, my concubine I have already returned my body. But why... my lord, my concubine is really wronged."
Xiao Fang paid attention to Zhennan Wang's expression while crying, and said carefully: "Could it be that A Yi is still angry with my concubine? This concubine has always treated him like his own son. You know it, my lord. Unselfish…”
After more than ten years of husband and wife, how could King Zhennan have no affection for Xiaofang? A sense of resentment rose in his heart, and his eyes turned a little colder when he looked at Xiao Fang.
"Enough!" Zhennan Wang interrupted her impatiently, waved his hand wearily and said, "Xiao Fang, I don't care what stupid things you have done, anyway, I will embarrass you It's all over!"
"My lord..."
Xiao Fang stepped forward and wanted to grab Zhennan Wang's sleeve, but he threw it away.
The good reputation of the Zhennan Palace was ruined by this woman! Zhennan Wang looked disgusted, he took a deep breath, and coldly shook his sleeves: "The emperor's decree has been issued, and this king sees that the temple is still open." It's quite clean, why don't you just cultivate your body here!"
He turned around and was about to leave, Xiao Fang was startled and frightened, walked over on her knees, hurriedly grabbed his robe and said: "My lord, my concubine..."
In the past, Xiao Fang’s voice sounded like a warbler’s voice, but now it sounded like a sparrow. The King of Zhennan kicked him with his right foot... No matter what happened to Xiao Fang, he didn’t hesitate strode away.
Xiao Fang didn't pay attention, and was kicked violently by him, and fell to the cold stone floor with a "boom", bright red blood slid down from his fair forehead.
The servant girl looked at her nervously and asked, "Princess, are you alright?"
Xiao Fang's heart was so cold that he lost his mind for a moment. If the King of Zhennan really disliked her and let her stay in the Qingdeng Ancient Buddha in Mingqing Temple, what should she do
The blood flowing from her forehead made her face even paler.
Xiao Fang's body trembled like chaff, his whole body went limp, his eyes were full of despair...
She is not reconciled! Not reconciled!
There must be a way...