The imperial decree brought by An Yihou gave Zhennan King a headache for a long time. In just five days, he even got his confidantes to discuss privately several times. If you plan to rebel, you still have to listen to the emperor.
The King of Zhennan really didn't want to fight with Baiyue anymore, and he was afraid of it. Fortunately, Tang Qinghong understood the subtleties and took the initiative to advise the King of Zhennan, suggesting that he use Nanliang as the starting point...
After hearing Tang Qinghong's good strategy, the king of Zhennan immediately lifted his spirits and took it seriously. He hurriedly invited Guan Yubai to come and explained it righteously. Quite a few, and it still hurts their vitality; for example, the battle with Nanliang is still stalemate, and the troops in Southern Xinjiang are not enough, and they are really unable to fight with Baiyue; In a situation where there are no soldiers to adjust...
The essence of every sentence is one word—drag!
To be honest, King Zhennan was really unsure, wondering if Guan Yubai would take the opportunity to embarrass himself, write a letter to the emperor, and refer to himself.
Unexpectedly—
"What the prince said is true." Guan Yubai stroked his sleeves with his slender fingers, looked at Zhennan Wangdao with a smile, "dispersing troops is definitely not what a wise man does."
Guan Yubai's understanding made Zhennan Wang very pleased, and he thought: After all, Guan Yubai is a general's son, who has been on the battlefield, unlike those civil servants who obviously don't know how to fight, and still want to point fingers in the court!
The king of Zhennan breathed a sigh of relief, and said enthusiastically: "Master Hou can live in the palace with peace of mind, as long as you like!"
Guan Yubai leaned back and said, "Thank you, my lord." After a pause, he said, "Your lord, the thousand elite soldiers brought by the Marquis on this trip are stationed outside the boundaries of Southern Border. I wonder if your lord will allow them to come to Luoyue City?"
The King of Zhennan hesitated for a moment, but he thought that after all, the emperor asked Guan Yubai to bring those thousand elite soldiers. If they were not allowed to enter the southern border, the emperor might have doubts... and Guan Yubai called Luoyue City In the end, everything he did was reasonable, and he shouldn't embarrass him in such trivial matters.
It's just a thousand elite soldiers, but what kind of storm can they cause in southern Xinjiang!
Zhennan Wang made a decision in his heart and agreed.
Marquis An Yi came all the way from the royal capital and lived in the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, and word spread quickly in Luoyue City. All the mansions couldn't help but speculate about his purpose, and some even mentioned that it was for Zhennan King's fourth son. It's my tenth birthday. There were also mansions close to Bixiaotang who came to test it out, but still found nothing. The only thing they knew was that the Crown Princess was planning to go to the Great Buddha Temple to pray for the Crown Prince and the people on the southeast border.
Prayer is a good thing!
So, as soon as the ladies returned to the mansion, they got ready and went to pray for blessings.
But think about it, if it is cheeky and insists to go with the concubine, or it would be too pretentious to run to meet the concubine that day, I am afraid that the concubine will look down on her, so they plan to go after the concubine comes back to express their love sincerity.
Unknowingly, all the big and small mansions in Luoyue City began to get busy praying for blessings, especially the Zhennan Prince's Mansion who took the lead.
The fifty sets of monk's robes offered were completed in a hurry.
The released carp is ready.
The vegetarian dishes for Bu have been ordered and are being purchased.
Even the "Tripitaka" copied by the girls and princes in Nangong Yue's mansion has been completed in sevens and eighties, especially Xiao Fei, who took the copying as a calligraphy practice, was the first to complete it, and couldn't wait to finish it with her. The "Tripitaka" came.
Xiao Fei has always been concentrating on doing things without any distractions, so her scriptures are naturally copied extremely neatly.
"Sister Fei, your lower script has improved again." Nangong Yue praised sincerely, "When you start your brush, you don't show your sharpness, and you hide your edge, and hide your edge; when you close your brush, your stippling is perfect and round, and your strokes are flexible."
Xiao Fei smiled lightly. In order to copy the "Ksitigarbha Sutra" well, she worked hard.
Xiao Fei picked up another copy and handed it to Nangong Yue, "Sister-in-law, this is copied by the second brother."
Nangong Yue casually turned a page, was startled, and said with a look of surprise on her face, "Second Uncle's lowercase script is very good." Xiao Fei used a hidden brush, and Xiao Luan used a square brush, which has edges and corners. , written well, can give people a sense of majesty, strength, and calmness. Of course, Xiao Luan is still far behind, but the font is already well written.
Xiao Fei took a sip of hot tea and complained: "Sister-in-law, that's because you haven't seen what the second brother copied the first time. I went to his study a few days ago and found that he wrote crookedly, and even I made a typo, so I asked him to copy it again... I went to see it later, and found that he has improved a lot. At first, the second brother refused to say it mysteriously. I asked him again and again, and he said he was looking for Marquis An Yi pointed it out." As she said that, Xiao Fei's expression was a bit weird, to be honest, when she heard her second brother say that, she could hardly believe her ears.
However, the second elder brother still has plausible words, so he has nothing to say. He thinks that An Yihou is gentle and elegant, with an outstanding temperament, and his handwriting must be excellent, so he doesn't know what is wrong.
However, An Yihou is really worthy of being An Yihou, even the rotten wood of the second brother can be trained.
Nangong Yue couldn't hide her surprise, Xiao Luan really... made her not know what to say.
At this time, Huamei came into the room and reported that the second girl was here.
After a while, Xiao Rongxuan, who was dressed in four-color light and single-color willow pattern slacks, came into the room under the guidance of the maid. Her eyes first fell on Xiao Fei, and then she saw the two volumes of handwritten scriptures on the desk. , just froze for a moment, secretly regretting that he was a step late, but luckily...
A smug glint flashed in Xiao Rongxuan's eyes, she continued to move forward as if nothing had happened, and bowed to Nan Gongyue and Xiao Feifu: "I have met my sister-in-law, my eldest sister."
After she sat down on the armchair opposite Xiao Fei, she said: "Sister-in-law, I specially sent the copied scriptures here today." After saying that, she asked the personal servant girl to present two things.
At the same time, Xiao Rongxuan continued: "Sister-in-law, I also drew a picture of Avalokitesvara, please ask sister-in-law to enshrine it together."
Nangong Yue casually flipped through the scriptures copied by Xiao Rongxuan, not to mention Xiao Rongxuan's character, she did write well in small script with hairpin flowers. A whole scripture was copied neatly and cleanly.
And her Avalokitesvara statue is obviously also worked hard. The Avalokitesvara is painted with kind eyebrows and kind eyes, with one hand gently holding the jade vase, and the other gently holding the willow. , with a peaceful and kind expression.
It's just that it looks a little familiar...
Nangong Yue smiled slightly, and said: "Second sister's portrait of Guanyin is painted with dignity and dignity, and the lower script with hairpin flowers in one hand is elegant and graceful, clear and flexible. The calligraphy is good, and the painting is also good."
"As long as sister-in-law likes it." Xiao Rongxuan was very proud of being praised by Nangong Yue. In terms of talent and learning, she would not lose to her elder sister!
Xiao Rongxuan smiled like a spring flower, and said: "Sister-in-law, I painted this Guanyin statue after the portrait left by my mother and concubine in the ancestral hall."
In the current Zhennan Prince's Mansion, the late Dafang is the only one who can be honored as a "mother and concubine".
Nangong Yue was startled, she had also seen the portrait of Dafang, no wonder when she saw the face of this Guanyin portrait, she felt a little familiar, she sighed in her heart: This Xiao Rongxuan really has a lot of eyes.
"Second sister has a heart." Nangong Yue said lightly.
"Sister-in-law is over the award." Xiao Rongxuan showed joy, thinking that this time she would be able to leave a good impression on sister-in-law by doing what she likes.
There was a flash of embarrassment in her eyes. There have been many wives from the mansion coming to the palace in the past few days. It must be that the sister-in-law is proposing a kiss to the elder sister. She is about the same age as the elder sister. It's up to me.
What my aunt said was that in the palace now, the madam is no longer useful, and even the elder sister who has always pretended to be noble is busy trying to please the elder sister-in-law for the sake of her future, so I can't be confused!
In the next few days, other people's scriptures were copied one after another.
Nangong Yue was surprised that although the third girl Xiao Ni was young, her handwriting was very beautiful and fluent. The scriptures on each page were written in one go. Discipline is quite severe.
As for the other books, it is useless.
On August 31st, the weather was fine and cloudless.
Early in the morning, Nangong Yue took a few maidservants and four or five palace guards and set off from the gate of the East Street. Although there were not many people accompanying her, they were still fully dressed for the monk's robes that were going to be offered to the monks, the carps that were released, etc. took several carriages,
The Great Buddha Temple is located at the foot of Litong Mountain, seven or eight miles outside Luoyue City. It is the largest Buddhist temple near Luoyue City. Although many people in southern Xinjiang believe in Mazu, there are also many who believe in Buddhism. The Great Buddha Temple is full of incense every day.
At Chen Shi, the group arrived at the Great Buddha Temple.
Baihui helped Nangong Yue get out of a green-covered carriage, and saw that there were many monks standing at the gate of the temple—in order to offer monk clothes, Nangong Yue sent someone to come to Dafo Temple to tailor clothes for monks in the name of Xiao Mansion ten days ago, so The host had known that Mrs. Xiao was going to come to the temple today to pray for blessings, give alms, and make offerings to monks, so she personally took the monks out of the temple to greet her early in the morning.
The presiding officer wore a scarlet-bottomed flat gold embroidered cassock, held a gold-plated two-strand six-ring Zen staff in one hand, and stroked his gray beard with the other. He walked down the stairs and greeted him.
After meeting each other, the host personally led Nangong Yue and his party to the Palace of Heavenly Kings.
The Great Buddha Temple is really a big temple. Many pilgrims came to offer incense early in the morning, and the incense was lingering inside. From time to time, pilgrims and monks came forward to salute the presiding officer.
Passing the Sanlu Sankong Stone Bridge all the way to the north, and then bypassing a majestic Shuanglong Zhaobi, it is the Temple of Heavenly Kings.
In the center of the hall is enshrined a huge gilt-bronze Maitreya Buddha statue, and the four heavenly kings are enshrined on the left and right. As soon as you enter the hall, you will be greeted by a solemn atmosphere of treasures.
Nangong Yue followed the host into the main hall from the left side of the gate, without squinting, showing reverence and respect. She walked slowly to a futon, first bowed three times, then knelt on the futon, put her hands together, and closed her eyes to pray.
The hall was quiet, only Nangong Yue and a few female pilgrims prayed devoutly to the Buddha...
After worshiping the Buddha, I donated money for sesame oil, and offered monk clothes to the monks...
The commotion here was so loud that it attracted many people who worshiped the Buddha in the temple to watch and talk about it.
A chicken-skinned and white-haired old woman sighed: "It is immeasurable merit to offer monks robes to monks."
"Yes, yes!" A middle-aged woman beside the old woman folded her palms together and said reverently, "If you make offerings to the monk's robes, you will have a dignified, strong, and pure body. There will be blessings in the next life." Then, he recited Amitabha Buddha again.
While the two were talking, a male voice behind him interjected curiously and asked, "Eldest sister, do you know which family this is? It's such a big deal that they donate monk robes to all the monks in the temple!"
The middle-aged woman turned her head curiously, and saw a tall young man with dark skin and a not-so-good-looking face, but he seemed to be quite energetic.
The middle-aged woman is also kind to others on weekdays, and said kindly: "I heard from the monks in the temple that it looks like a family with the surname Xiao."
Then, the old woman also said: "I heard that their family is praying in the temple today, and they will also donate vegetarian food later. Brother, if you have time, you might as well stay a little longer. The vegetarian food in the Great Buddha Temple is also famous. Yes, if you want to eat vegetarian food on weekdays, you have to donate incense money... "
"Thank you, big sister." The young man said sweetly, "Then I will stay in the temple for a while."
The old woman and the middle-aged woman left quickly talking and laughing, but there were still a lot of idle people around, lingering. The young man stared at Nangong Yue who was not far away from the crowd for a long time, and then took a silent step Stepping back, stepping back from the crowd without a trace,
There is a hundred-year-old tree in the back that can only be embraced by three or four people. The young man hastily walked around behind the big tree, and said in a low voice to the bearded man wearing a bamboo hat hiding behind the tree: "Lieutenant general, don't worry, I made no mistake this time! It must be the princess of Zhennan Prince." In fact, in the morning, their people watched the carriage drive out of the palace, but Deputy General Tashi Dorji was worried...
Tashi Dorji narrowed his sharp eyes, nodded, and walked away briskly, leaving only the young man standing behind the tree, staring at Nangong Yue from a distance.
At this time, the crowd gradually dispersed, and Nan Gongyue and his party, led by a seven or eight-year-old novice monk, went west around the Heavenly King Hall.
The little novice led Nangong Yue to wander around the temple, Dabei Pavilion, Mani Hall, Zhuanlunzang Pavilion...
Unknowingly, it was half past time, and the sun was rising higher and higher, scorching hot and dazzling.
The Great Buddha Temple is a hundred-year-old temple, and the temple is shaded by big trees. Walking under the shade of the trees is quite shady.
While leading the way, the little novice introduced the scenery of the temple to everyone pretending to be mature and prudent. For example, there is a bamboo forest in the southwest; A statue of Avalokitesvara, many pilgrims will come here to pray for a child...
When a young maid who accompanied her heard this, her eyes lit up immediately, she pulled Baihui's sleeves, and reminded in a low voice, "Sister Baihui, do you want to let Mrs. Shi... go to the Guanyin statue to pay respects?" The little maid said, While thinking, with the looks of the eldest son and the imperial concubine, the little elder son must look extremely cute in the future!
Although the little maid spoke in a low voice, Nangong Yue was a few feet away, so she couldn't hear her, and her fair face was blushed.
No need for Nangong Yue to speak, from her eyes, Bai Hui already knew what the master wanted, and said to the little novice with a smile: "Little master, please take us to the Guanyin Hall to worship."
"Yes, benefactor." The little novice agreed, and led them all the way to the northwest. A stone path meanders across a bamboo forest. Among the thick and sparse shadows.
After passing through the bamboo forest, the little novice pointed to the front and said, "Mrs. Xiao, the Guanyin Hall is in front of you."
When we arrived in front of the Guanyin Hall, there were obviously more pilgrims nearby, and most of them were young women. It seemed that they all came to ask for a child.
After the pilgrims in front came out, Nangong Yue followed the little monk into the hall. There were many colorful murals of Avalokitesvara painted in the Avalokitesvara Hall, and a huge colorful clay statue of Avalokitesvara was enshrined in the center. dignified. Under the willow eyebrows, a pair of wise eyes looked down slightly, embracing a child, with both hands making a delivery.
Nangong Yue straightened her back and knelt on the futon, praying with lowered eyes, her cheeks were so red that they were about to bleed.
In fact, it was a little early for her to ask for a child.
As a doctor, she understands that she is only fifteen years old, and it is not yet the best time to conceive a child...
only…
Someday they will still have their own baby.
A Yi said that he wanted a girl doll like himself!
She is more greedy, and also wants a boy doll like A Yi!
Whether it's a boy or a girl, it will be her and A Yi's sweetheart!
She said to herself in her heart that it is not good to hold Buddha's feet temporarily, and she should ask for it earlier, so that the Bodhisattva can know her piety.
Nangong Yue opened her eyes, and her obsidian-like pupils shone brightly, her heart was full of anticipation.
She was about to get up when she heard a soft female voice from beside her: "Thank you Bodhisattva for sending me Lin'er, and the believer is here to fulfill my wish..."
Nangong Yue followed the sound and saw a young woman in blue cloth kneeling on a futon next to her, clasping her palms together. The most striking thing was her round belly, which seemed to be at least six or seven months old. .
Nangong Yue stood up and walked out of the Guanyin Hall.
Most of the way down the temple, Nangong Yue was still in good spirits, and was about to ask the little novice to take them to the forest of steles again, when the pregnant woman in Tsing Yi also came out of the temple, but her gait seemed to be a little staggering, her body was swaying, as if Falling down at any time.
Just when the pregnant woman in Tsing Yi was about to pass by Nangong Yue, her body shook again and she fell limply to the ground.
Baihui stepped forward quickly, and grabbed the pregnant woman in Tsing Yi, "Sister-in-law, are you alright?"
The eyelashes of the pregnant woman in Tsing Yi trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her still somewhat confused eyes. She blinked, as if recalling something, rubbed her temples and said, "Thank you girl... I'm just a little dizzy."
Nangong Yue asked softly: "Can you go to the wing to rest for a while? I have some medical skills, and I can also check the pulse of my sister-in-law."
"No need, it's really hot today, I should have suffered from heatstroke." The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi shook her head and said weakly, "Ma'am, my mother-in-law is in a gazebo in front, if it's convenient for Madam , could you please give me a ride?" She pointed to a green and quiet bamboo forest in front of her right.
The little novice immediately said: "The gazebo is not far away, it's just behind the bamboo forest."
"Shizi Concubine." Huamei reminded with some embarrassment, "It's almost noon, it's time to give vegetarian food, why don't you let the slaves take this sister-in-law back."
The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi suddenly became a little nervous, and was about to speak, when Nangong Yue shook her head and said, "I'm afraid this sister-in-law will faint on the way, so let me see you off. Thrush, Yinger, take them along with the little master." Get ready Su Zhai, Bai Hui, Que Er, you two will send this sister-in-law there with me."
A few maidservants are blessed.
The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi thanked her repeatedly, and with Baihui's support, she walked slowly towards the bamboo forest.
The surrounding area of the bamboo forest is very clean, there are not many pilgrims, only the rustling of the bamboo leaves in the wind can be heard from time to time...
The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi was very grateful, and she took the initiative to chat with Nangong Yue along the way. She claimed to be surnamed Wang, and she had been married to her husband-in-law for five years, but she had no children. Mom came together to fulfill the wish.
"Thanks to Madam's benevolence today, otherwise..." As she spoke, she stroked her lower abdomen with her hand, feeling a little lingering in fear.
"It's just a little effort." Nangong Yue said with a smile.
"Ma'am, the gazebo is just ahead." The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi pointed to the front, and saw a hexagonal gazebo looming among the dense bamboo groves. From this side, it was only a few hundred steps away, perhaps because she was about to arrive. Her steps couldn't help but become a little lighter.
However, Nangong Yue stopped and said, "Sister-in-law of the Wang family, you are feeling better."
The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi paused, "I'm still a little dizzy, but it should be fine."
"Since there is no problem, let's send it here." Nangong Yue said calmly, "Anyway, it's not far away. I think the sister-in-law of the Wang family can go there by herself."
"Madam, please stay." As soon as the pregnant woman in Tsing Yi spoke, her feet went limp and she was about to fall again, when she smiled weakly, "Madam, look at me now, it's really..."
Nangong Yue seemed to be a little hesitant. Before the pregnant woman in Tsing Yi could breathe a sigh of relief, she said, "Sister-in-law of the Wang family, let me check your pulse. You don't look like you have heatstroke, but maybe you have fetal gas."
"Don't bother Madam." The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi said with a smile, "My mother-in-law is right in front..."
"Sister-in-law of the Wang family." Nangong Yue looked at her with a soft voice, but with a kind of prestige that seemed to be inherent in her body, "Are you really pregnant?"
The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi was stunned, and asked with a puzzled look: "What do you mean by Ma'am?"
"Mothers should be most worried about the child in their womb. According to what you said, you will have this child after five years of marriage, so you should be even more nervous. But..." Nangong Yue paused deliberately, and said, "Once you come The month is not light, but your mother-in-law clearly came with you, but she is not by your side. Secondly, I said that you may have moved your fetus. Ordinary people are afraid that it is too late. You still don’t want me to check the pulse. Come on, my servant girl deliberately quickened her pace just now, but you can easily keep up, especially when you see the gazebo, you are a little faster... I think about it, there is probably only one reason for this, your baby is actually a fake !"
The pregnant woman in Tsing Yi's face froze for a moment, and thought: She was careless. Unexpectedly, the concubine of the Prince of Zhennan is so intelligent!
With a stern look on her face, she quickly took out a small copper whistle and put it on her lips, sending out a signal.
Immediately afterwards, her right hand grabbed Nangong Yue as fiercely as an eagle's claw, and a flash of "I must win" flashed in her eyes. Even if the arrangement is found out, so what, the Zhennan Prince's concubine can't escape now! Let her Alia take the lead in this operation!
Alia shot like the wind, she was only a few feet away from Nangong Yue in the blink of an eye, but someone moved faster than her, a blue figure flashed by the corner of her eyes, Baihui sneered, as fast as lightning, it struck the bright wrist of the pregnant woman in Tsing Yi …
Alia's face sank like water, she turned her claws into blades, and slashed at Baihui.
Baihui swept her legs and attacked Alia's lower body. At the same time, she took out a soft whip from her waist, raised her right wrist, and the whip struck like a long snake, forcing her to take several steps back.
Baihui didn't intend to get entangled with the other party, took Nangong Yue's hand with her left hand, and ran forward in a hurry, "Shi Zifei, go!" Que'er followed closely behind.
Alia stood firm, threw away the fake stomach in her abdomen, and was about to chase after her, when she heard the sound of messy footsteps behind her, followed by a deep voice, "Where's the person?"
Aliya turned her head and saw that the lieutenant had brought someone over, and quickly raised her finger to point forward, "The lieutenant is right in front!"
"Chase!"
Tashi Dorji gave an order, and a group of people jumped up and down and chased forward quickly.
The dense bamboo forest here, they originally thought it would not be so eye-catching, but at this moment, they feel that the dense bamboo forest is very inconvenient, and it will hide each other's figure from time to time. Fortunately, they are all masters out of a hundred, and finally they didn't chase anyone away. Moreover, as the distance between the two sides got closer, it was even more clear that Nangong Yue was stumbling under the support of her maid who knew kung fu. run forward.
Suddenly, Nangong Yue seemed to trip over something and fell to the ground.
After only delaying for a moment, Tashi Dorji and his party successfully approached.
"Shizifei." Tashi Dorji said triumphantly, "You can't run away anymore. Come with us."
"Yeah?"
Nangong Yue raised her head, and to Tashi Dorji's surprise, there was no panic on her face, instead she raised her lips and smiled, "I'll return this sentence to you, you can't run anymore..."