After winter, the weather suddenly turned cold, with gusts of cold wind, although November in southern Xinjiang was a little warmer than in the capital, and the people began to put on thin jackets one after another.
A green-covered carriage was driving on a flat and wide official road, and the driver was an expressionless young man in gray, whose face was even more severe than this early winter.
In the carriage, two young men with different appearances and temperaments sat facing each other. One was gentle and elegant, sitting upright, wearing a thick cloak trimmed with mink fur; the other was unrestrained, lazily leaning against the window Beside him, a pair of pitch-black eyes were shining brightly, with a radiant look.
"Cough cough cough..."
The frail young man suddenly let out a suppressed cough, and the galloping carriage gradually slowed down...
Even if they didn't witness it with their own eyes, the two people in the car could still imagine Xiao Si's ugly face outside.
After Guan Yubai came over a bit later, he asked, "Xiao Si, how far is it from Luoyue City?"
After a moment of silence, Xiao Si's stiff voice came from outside: "Fifteen miles."
At the same time, the speed of the wheel rotation began to increase again.
Now the sun is setting, as long as you catch up, you can go to the city when the sun is completely setting, avoiding the night wind at night. For Xiaosi, Guan Yubai's body was the most important thing, so it was self-evident how to choose.
Guan Yubai gathered his cloak and met Xiao Yi's playful eyes, Xiao Yi shook his head and sighed, "Sometimes I really sympathize with Xiao Si..." With such a careless master like Xiao Bai, Xiao Si would not easy.
The next moment, Xiao Si snorted coldly, as if saying that he didn't need Xiao Yi to sympathize with him!
Besides, it would be even more unlucky to have a master like Xiao Yi!
Guan Yubai curled up the corners of his mouth with a broken smile, feeling his throat was a little itchy again, picked up the teacup, and moistened his throat.
"Xiao Bai," Xiao Yi seemed to notice something, frowned and stared at the shadows under Guan Yubai's eyes, "Did you cough again and didn't sleep well last night?"
The winter in Nanliang is cold and wet, and it can be said to be the worst weather for Guan Yubai who is physically weak, so when Xiao Yi left Wuli City in July, he told Guan Yubai to return to Luoyue City before winter, However, Nanliang was initially settled, and there were many trivial matters. For example, at the beginning of October, this autumn's taxes came up. Under the leadership of Guan Yubai, the taxes were collected from the people and used by the people. He greatly reduced Nanliang's military supplies and increased them. In mid-October, an earth dragon turned over in the western border of Nanliang, causing thousands of deaths and injuries. Guan Yubai specially allocated a sum of money and manpower for disaster relief.
During a disaster period, if the superiors do not handle it well and the people have no way out, riots will easily occur and the situation will be turbulent. This time, there is an official named Bai who sits in Nanliang, from appropriating funds for disaster relief, healing the wounded, and resettling the people. The series of measures were effective, and the situation was brought under control as quickly as possible. Compared to the previous Nanliang, where officials raped and exploited layers upon layers, this time, the waves have calmed down before they even stirred up...
After busying with such a series of things, Guan Yubai stayed in Wuli City after autumn. Xiao Yi sent three letters to Feige, but they all came to nothing. Bai, the big Buddha, was invited back to southern Xinjiang.
"I'm fine." Guan Yubai smiled nonchalantly, "It's just that it's cold, so it's inevitable to cough a few times."
"Xiaobai, it's not up to you to decide what to say!"
Xiao Yi shook his head disapprovingly, fortunately he made this trip, otherwise, with Xiaobai's stubbornness, he might not lie down on the sick bed, but insist that he is fine.
The carriage was speeding all the way, and the sky gradually became dim. As the carriage got closer and closer to Luoyue City, the outside became lively and full of people's voices.
The green-covered carriage slowed down a little at the gate of the city, then continued to gallop towards the city, and soon arrived at Zhennan Wangfu.
The news that Shi Ziye and An Yihou returned together caused commotion in the whole palace, and the servants were busy.
Although Guan Yubai was not in the palace during this period of time, there were still servants cleaning Qingyunwu, and the inside was kept clean. Nangong Yue knew that Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai would probably return to Luoyue City in the next few days, so she ordered people to prepare silver frost charcoal in Qingyunwu.
After a few pots of silver frost charcoal were lit, the room was as warm as spring. Compared with the cold wind outside, it seemed like another world.
Xiao Si hurriedly took off the cloak for Guan Yubai, and seeing Guan Yubai's slightly rosy cheeks after entering the room, Xiao Si's cold and resolute mouth curled up slightly.
As soon as Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai sat down in the study, Baihui came after hearing the news, holding a red lacquered wooden food box in her hand.
"My lord, son." Baihui bowed her knees respectfully to salute the two, "The concubine ordered my slaves to bring you some cold medicine."
Although Guan Yubai came here by horse-drawn carriage, he traveled all the way from Wuli City to Luoyue City, and the weather has been cold recently. Guan Yubai's body is weak and it is easy to catch the cold.
Baihui quickly opened the food box, and the strong medicinal fragrance rose with wisps of white air, permeating the small study.
"My lord, please drink while it's hot."
Baihui presented a large steaming celadon bowl to the table next to Guan Yubai, then walked up to Xiao Yi, took out a few pieces of tissue paper from his sleeve, and said, "My lord, this is a recent Flying pigeons from the king's capital pass on the letter..."
Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, took the stack of letter papers, and read them quickly, while Guan Yubai was quietly drinking the soup.
There was no sound in the study, only the rustling of bamboo leaves blown by the cold wind...
Xiaosi watched with his own eyes that after Guan Yubai drank the soup, he put his right hand on the window, jumped out lightly, and then climbed up to the eaves, where he was no longer seen.
After a while, Xiao Yi read the letters at a glance, handed them to Guan Yubai casually, and said with a half-smile: "Xiao Bai, our 'guest' has finally set off."
Kui Lang is coming!
Guan Yubai smiled at the corners of his mouth, a flash of light flashed in his eyes, and quickly scanned the letters... After a while, he put the pieces of tissue paper on the table, and said slowly: "Calculate the days, Kui Kui at the end of this month Lang should be able to reach southern Xinjiang."
Xiao Yi twitched the corners of his mouth mockingly, "Our emperor really 'lived up to what was entrusted'." Finally the person was sent!
As he said that, Xiao Yi's eyes fell on the top letter paper, paused for a moment on the words "Fifth Prince", and snorted coldly.
So what if the Fifth Prince speaks for the Zhennan Palace
The emperor would rather "believe" that wolfish and ambitious Kui Lang, and would rather return the tiger to the mountain, and check and balance the Zhennan Palace...
The heart of an emperor!
Thinking about it, Xiao Yi's eyes were slightly cold, and he said again: "Let the fifth prince read more books, and don't get involved in political affairs, Xiaobai, do you think the emperor is training the prince, or is he a nerd who doesn't listen to things outside the window?"
The emperor is really getting more and more confused, he can't even tolerate the heir whom he has chosen...
He is so narrow-minded, it is conceivable, how can he allow the Zhennan Palace to dominate? !
Xiao Yi's eyes flashed, and his eyes became more determined.
Guan Yubai didn't say anything, probably the official family has the deepest understanding of the emperor's heart... Otherwise, how could the official family be destroyed
Guan Yubai still had a faint smile on his face and his face was normal, but there was a bit of bitterness at the corner of his mouth.
The room was silent for a while, followed by Xiao Yi, dusted his robe, stood up, and said, "Xiao Bai, you are resting tonight, and tomorrow I will ask Lin's grandfather to come over and show you."
As soon as the words were finished, there was an extra head outside the window, and Xiao Si looked in with a golden hook upside down. His burning eyes forced Guan Yubai to swallow back the "no need" that was about to blurt out.
That's it! Xiao Yi gave Guan Yubai a wink with a smile, and walked away triumphantly.
Guan Yubai looked at his back and couldn't help laughing, his heart that had already been riddled with holes settled down...
At this time, the sky outside was mostly dark, Xiao Yi walked briskly towards the Bixiao Hall, walking faster and faster, until he almost started trotting.
After walking for more than half a month, he couldn't wait to see his Ah Yue and his little girl.
As soon as he walked into their yard, Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment, and saw that the yard was full of wooden boxes, leaving almost no room for walking.
What's going on here? ! Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows and continued walking forward.
A few octagonal palace lanterns were lit in the Dongji room, and the lights were as bright as day, and the room was also full of things, such as muslin, satin, brocade...all kinds of fabrics were piled up in open boxes, on the desk, and in the box. superior…
Nangong Yue was sitting on the Arhat bed. She was wearing a simple bra, and she didn't wear any jewelry. She was wearing a plum red silk beige with engraved gold buttons and peony patterns. The loose dress couldn't hide her bulge. In the abdomen, under the dim light, her skin was white and moist, radiant and radiant, so Xiao Yi couldn't move his eyes away.
His Ah Yue is getting better and better!
A few servant girls were looking at the materials together beside Nangong Yue, seeing Xiao Yi looking at Nangong Yue with burning eyes, Huamei exchanged a look with a smile, and then retreated a few steps tactfully, so that the masters could talk.
"Ah Yue, are you picking out materials to make clothes for your daughter?" Xiao Yi strode to Nangong Yue and sat down, asked enthusiastically, stretched his neck, and also looked at the pink roll beside her. cloth, nodding in satisfaction. The material is good, the color is bright, and their daughter-in-law must look great in it.
Seeing that the culprit was coming, Nangong Yue couldn't help but glared at him. It's all his fault, he still has the nerve to ask? !
He just came home and did nothing! Xiao Yi blinked innocently, as if to say, he is not at home for half a month, Ah Yue, shouldn't you welcome him warmly, give him a bright smile and a sweet hug
Seeing the pitiful look of the Shizi, the maids couldn't bear to look at each other, looked at each other again, and silently exited the Dongji room.
The corners of Nangong Yue's eyes twitched, and she said, "These are the materials 'you' bought in Jiangnan." He had completely forgotten what he had done.
Nangong Yue rubbed the center of her brows with a headache. These materials piled up in a yard, enough to open a cloth shop, and she didn't know how to deal with them. It's impossible for Nannan to wear it alone!
Xiao Yi was startled for a while, and then slowly remembered the last time he told Zhu Xing to go to the south of the Yangtze River to buy materials for his niece.
He looked around the various materials in the room, and said with a smile: "Ah Yue, let's choose materials for my daughter together." This time without Xiao Fei making trouble, he can properly choose some bright and bright materials for her daughter.
Xiao Yi excitedly picked up materials for her future daughter, Nangong Yue sighed silently in her heart, she could only take advantage of the spare time to pay attention to her son, as there was still time, she could make two more small clothes for male dolls...
The young couple had a lot of fun, until suddenly there was a sound of curtains being raised in the room, the two followed the sound, and Huamei came in with a post, and said: "Master, Concubine, the Qiao Mansion sent an invitation just now. .”
Huamei presented the post to Nangong Yue, Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows with great interest, and said without surprise: "Father is being moved by Eldest Aunt again?"
When Xiao Yi left Luoyue City, Qiao's Mansion was still under confinement. The King of Zhennan personally sent troops to guard outside the mansion. Have guests
It has to be said that his eldest aunt has a special way of "persuading" the father and king!
Nangong Yue smiled helplessly, and told the ins and outs of the matter one by one.
Not long after Xiao Yi left, Mrs. Qiao became "ill". She was not seriously ill and could not get out of bed for ten days. After Mrs. Qiao, she let go and withdrew the guards of Qiao's residence. Afterwards, Mrs. Qiao gradually recovered. A few days ago, she revealed to the outside world that she would choose a husband for her daughter Qiao Ruolan, so she posted widely.
As Nangong Yue spoke, she opened the post, took a look at it, and Xiao Yi quickly snatched it away.
"Father is so forgetful, forget the pain when the scar is healed." Xiao Yi closed the post with a smile, and blinked his right eye at Nangong Yue, with a naughty light in his pupil.
Seeing Xiao Yi like this, Nangong Yue silently shed tears of sympathy for King Zhennan. A Yi became ill-natured again.
Sure enough, the next moment Xiao Yi shook his head and sighed: "Hey, my father is really, you are such an adult, you still don't hit the south wall and don't look back. If you don't learn more, I'm afraid you still won't learn well..."
The corners of Thrush's eyes twitched, as if he didn't hear it.
Xiao Yi casually threw the post to Huamei, and said: "You went back to my eldest aunt, and said that Shi Zifei is heavy, so she won't go out."
Huamei caught the post in a hurry, and replied: "Yes, Shizi." After she saluted, she quickly stepped back.
In fact, Nangong Yue didn't plan to go to Qiao's Mansion either. She and Mrs. Qiao's mother and daughter had never talked much, so going there would also affect her good mood.
The less trouble, the better.
Besides, the banquet at the Qiao Mansion will be two days later, which happens to be...
"Ayi, it's just in time for you to come back." Nangong Yue pulled Xiao Yi's sleeve and said with a smile, "In two days, there will be a ceremony to pray for the baby in Anlan Palace. You can go with us."
Go with her and her daughter!
She touched her swollen abdomen subconsciously, and the child seemed to sense it too, and kicked her, as if responding to her.
Xiao Yi immediately noticed the subtle change in Nangong Yue's expression, his eyes lit up, and he said, "Ah Yue, did my daughter kick you again?"
Nangong Yue nodded. In the past half month, the fetal movement has become much more frequent than before. Sometimes, it would wake Nangong Yue up in the middle of the night, but she didn't feel disturbed, only happy.
As long as the baby is healthy and healthy in her womb!
"It must be my daughter who knows I'm back and is greeting me." Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes with joy and said complacently, "As expected of my daughter, she has a good understanding with me." As he spoke, he touched his palm lightly. Nangong Yue's abdomen has only been seen for more than half a month, and her stomach has swollen a lot as if blown out, announcing that the child in her belly is growing healthily and vigorously...
so good!
Both the young couple sighed contentedly in their hearts.
In the next two days, all the Bixiao Hall was filled with vitality because of Xiao Yi's return.
The next day, Xiao Yi went to the Lin residence in person, and after inviting Lin Jingchen to give Guan Yubai a pulse diagnosis, he nestled in the Bixiao Hall and stuck to Nangong Yue all the time. The imperial concubine and the little girl who accompanied him in the house were actually hiding in the room and talking with Nangong Yue, listening to her belly, and picking out the ingredients.
Anyway, there are so many materials, the two of them not only picked materials for the child in their womb, but also selected materials for Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue's spring and summer next year, and gave some to the girls in the mansion. , Nangong Yue also deliberately left some plain materials for the filial Xiao Fei and Zhou Roujia.
One day passed in the blink of an eye, on the day of the Qiao Mansion's banquet, the young couple went to An Lan Palace together.
The winter morning is especially cold, the wind is howling, but the An Lan Palace is so lively that it seems that even the winter cold has been blown away.
Anlan Palace has always been full of incense, and today it is even more crowded with pilgrims.
Pregnant women like Nangong Yue and couples with babies all come here to pray for their children. People like Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue who are as beautiful as golden boys and jade girls naturally attracted a lot of surprises. gaze.
Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue have long been used to the gazes of others, they were both calm and composed, they lined up under the instructions of Miao Zhu, and then went into the main hall to pray for blessings.
When I came out of the main hall, the line outside was almost at the gate of the temple.
Originally, they planned to stay in Anlan Palace to eat some vegetarian food, but who would have thought that something happened suddenly, a pregnant woman with a belly of seven or eight months approached Nangong Yue and asked Nangong Yue to help her hairpin, saying It's a custom in her hometown that when she is pregnant, she finds a lucky person to wear hairpins, and the child in her womb will be as blessed as that person. She sees Nangong Yue's good-looking birth, and hopes that the child in her womb will also be so good-looking.
Nangong Yue heard that it was interesting, so she made hairpins for the other party. Unexpectedly, other pregnant women came to her for hairpins after she got the hairpin. After more than a dozen people got hairpins, Xiao Yi looked at more people Walking towards them, she hurriedly dragged Nangong Yue away.
Since vegetarian food was not available, the two of them found a restaurant to eat something casually, and then went back home.
The carriage moved forward steadily without any bumps, Xiao Yi hugged Nangong Yue, suddenly kissed her on the cheek, and said with a smile: "They are quite discerning!"
Nangong Yue didn't react for a while, but in the next moment, she saw a pink plum in Xiao Yi's hand. He carefully put the pink plum on Nangong Yue's temple, and then looked at her with satisfaction, his eyes seemed to say —
No, his Ah Yue is the luckiest woman in southern Xinjiang!
Nangong Yue smiled brightly, raised her head and kissed the corner of Xiao Yi's mouth.
Xiao Yi's eyes suddenly became deep and deep, and the arms around her waist tightened slightly, and just as he was about to bow his head, the speed of the carriage slowed down...
Bixiaotang has arrived!
Xiao Yi let out a sigh of regret, and helplessly helped Nangong Yue get off the carriage.
At this time, we have just arrived at the end of the century, and the warm winter sun shines on people very comfortably.
"My lord, my concubine." Que'er hurried over to greet her, and after saluting, he reported that King Zhennan had returned from Qiao's mansion.
Nangong Yue was stunned for a moment, she didn't expect King Zhennan to come back so early.
When she looked at Que'er again, she immediately found that Que'er's expression was intriguing, so she asked casually, "What happened?"
Seeing Que'er's schadenfreude look, it was obvious that he had found out something interesting.
"Back to the concubine, the maidservant also felt strange, so I asked the servant who accompanied the prince today," Que'er replied with a very tangled expression, "That's why I found out that the prince invited An Yihou to Qiao's mansion together today." Going to dinner..."
Xiao Yi didn't pay attention at first, but when he heard the words, he also looked at Que'er and raised his eyebrows.
Que'er continued: "I don't know why, Miss Qiaobiao ran to the table of male guests in the outer court, and openly told Marquis An Yi that she admired Lord Hou and wanted to marry him in front of all the guests! "
Que'er finished speaking vigorously, and the surroundings were instantly silent.
Huamei's jaw almost dropped in shock, Miss Qiaobiao must be too courageous!