"How is it, Lord Hou? Do you have any clues?"
Seeing that Marquis Pingyang returned alone, the third princess's heart sank. She vaguely knew the answer, but she still asked with a glimmer of hope.
really-
"His Royal Highness, the third princess, I have not found any clues to the third son-in-law due to His Royal Highness's entrustment." Pingyang Hou said solemnly, clasping his fists.
Although she was mentally prepared, the third princess still felt as if she had been hit by a heavy hammer, her delicate body trembled slightly, and her pretty face turned pale.
She asked helplessly, "Master Hou, what should we do next?"
Marquis Pingyang clenched his fists tightly and sighed helplessly: "Your Highness, for the current plan, I can only go back to the capital to ask for another imperial decree." Since this Marquis has no imperial decree and refuses to tell Ben Hou Baiyue’s military situation, if this continues, it will be difficult for Ben Marquis to move forward in southern Xinjiang... and that Marquis of An Yi, who sticks to the rules and doesn’t know how to adapt, is wasting the emperor’s high hopes for him!"
During the time when he left Luoyue City, Pingyanghou repeatedly pondered what King Zhennan said, and always felt that the old fox's secretive attitude must be to hide some dark mystery.
There must be fraud in this!
When Marquis Pingyang mentioned Marquis An Yi, the three princesses seemed to think of something, a trace of hesitation appeared on her gentle face, and her cherry lips moved.
Marquis Pingyang keenly sensed that the third princess's expression was not right, so he asked, "Your Highness, what's the matter?"
The third princess pondered for a while, and replied: "Master Hou, a few days ago, Madam Qiao, the eldest sister of King Zhennan, visited me and talked to me about Marquis An Yi..."
Pingyanghou's face straightened, and he asked eagerly, "Your Highness, what did Mrs. Qiao say?"
The third princess frowned slightly, and said solemnly: "Mrs. Qiao said that when Xiao Yi, the prince of Zhennan, fought Nanliang last year, Guan Yubai, the Marquis of An Yi, also led his troops to Yanding City alone, and he did not go to Yanding City for several months. Back. At that time, Mrs. Qiao’s eldest son was also practicing in Yanding City. He found that Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai’s words and deeds were very close, and even..." The third princess became more and more impatient as she spoke, "Even, Xiao Yi once made Yanding The military power of the city has been handed over to Guan Yubai!"
What? ! Marquis Pingyang couldn't believe his ears, he is a military marquis, of course he understands that as a general, he would never hand over military power to others easily, either because of helplessness, such as orders from Shangfeng or imperial decree; or—
trust!
Xiao Yi trusts Guan Yubai? !
How can it be? ! Although Xiao Yi has been in the royal capital for many years, he has never had any contact with Guan Yubai. Moreover, these two people are completely different in character and behavior, so how could they possibly get together!
Interests, and only interests can tie them together firmly, then, what kind of agreement did Zhennan Wang and his son reach with An Yihou, or in other words, what benefits did Zhennan Wang and his son promise An Yihou
The more Pingyang Hou thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong, his complexion sank, and his eyes were filled with dark clouds.
Originally, he felt that the current situation in southern Xinjiang exceeded his expectations, and the news revealed by the third princess added fuel to the fire and made his heart sink to the bottom. Now he thinks about the conversation between him and Guan Yubai in Qingyunwu that day , He suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment.
No wonder Guan Yubai, like Xiao Yi, uses the loss of the imperial decree as an excuse to perfuse himself!
No wonder Guan Yubai refused to tell him about the military situation of Baiyue!
It turned out that they had already made a nest of snakes and rats!
If my guess is correct, then I am really helpless...
Marquis Pingyang's face changed several times, but he was used to seeing big scenes after all. After a while, he calmed down and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, we are too passive now, and we can only try to turn passive into active..."
The third princess was startled, stroked her sleeves and asked, "What does Lord Hou mean..."
"This Marquis thinks it's better for the Third Princess to go to Zhennan Palace to meet the First Concubine for a while, to try it out." Pingyanghou suggested.
The third princess straightened her waist and reminded reservedly: "Master Hou, this palace is a majestic princess with golden branches and jade leaves, and Nangong Yue is just the concubine of Prince Zhennan..."
There is no reason for her to condescend to pay respects to Nangong Yue!
They are royals with royal dignity.
If it weren't for the third princess still relying on Pingyanghou now, she would almost have sent Pingyanghou away.
"Your Highness, at this time, the overall situation should be the most important thing." Pingyanghou persuaded patiently, "The Prince of Zhennan and his son are as cunning as foxes, and they speak and act impeccably. In front of the princess, her status is already inferior. As long as His Highness exerts a little pressure, she can always ask one or two questions. Although it is related to military affairs, the Crown Princess is not qualified to interfere, but with her status, at least she will know better than Mrs. Qiao It's better than we are running around like headless chickens. Your Highness, please think deeply!"
Pingyanghou clasped his fists and looked at the third princess cautiously.
He came all the way to southern Xinjiang, of course he didn't want to return without success.
Now that the king of Shunjun is weak, he has to find a way to handle this errand to win over Kui Lang. Once Kuilang is restored, he and the king of Shunjun will naturally have an extra boost.
The third princess's eyelids were half drooped, and her pupils flickered. She also knew that Marquis Pingyang was right, they were alone now, and the capital was thousands of miles away, they could wait for the imperial decree, but the third son-in-law couldn't wait...
If the third son-in-law can't be found, then I will ruin my father's plan. With my father's temper, I am afraid that I will become an abandoned son...
How could she let herself be reduced to a situation where everyone could step on her feet!
The third princess bit her lower lip slightly, feeling extremely aggrieved, and couldn't help but think of the past when she went to Zhennan Palace in the capital to teach Xiao Fei but was stopped by Nangongyue.
She said to herself, anyway, she and Nangong Yue don't have any enmity, so what's the harm in going to see her
She took a deep breath, finally nodded, and replied generally: "What Hou Ye said is true. Then I will go there myself."
Marquis Pingyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, cupped his fists and said, "Then it will bother Your Highness."
Marquis Pingyang withdrew, while the third princess ordered the maid who served her personally to change her clothes and make up for her. She changed into a bright red beige covered with gold, tied a peony bun again, and inserted a phoenix hairpin with a red gold title and a ruby. , when walking, the tassels made of pearls smaller than rice grains swayed slightly, looking graceful and charming.
Half an hour later, the carriage of the third princess set off from the station...
When her car arrived at Bixiao Hall, Nangong Yue and Xiao Fei were sitting on the Arhat bed together.
Nangong Yue bowed her head and inspected a delicate apron carefully. The bright red silk apron was rolled with bright yellow piping, and the wishful pattern was embroidered in the middle. It was not particularly outstanding, but it was suitable for men and women.
"Sister Fei, your female celebrity has improved again." Nangong Yue praised.
Xiao Fei has only studied female celebrities for so many years, but in fact, her embroidery skills are just correct, but as the eldest daughter of the palace, she doesn't need to compete with the embroiderer, as long as female celebrities can do it well.
Xiao Fei showed her face and said: "Thank you, sister-in-law. I was a little raw before, and it will be much faster when I do the next one..."
The two were chatting happily, Baihui walked into the East room through the curtain, and said: "Concubine Shizi, eldest girl, the third princess is here."
Xiao Fei frowned slightly, as if she hadn't heard from her sister-in-law that the three princesses were coming to visit today.
She looked at Nangong Yue suspiciously, but Nangong Yue showed a meaningful smile. The third princess came here so recklessly without sending a greeting card first, it seemed that they couldn't wait any longer.
With a flash of light in Nangong Yue's eyes, she handed the little bellyband in her hand to the thrush at the side to put it away, and said lightly, "Please bring the person over."
Baihui responded, and went to welcome the third princess in person.
As soon as the third princess entered the room, she saw Xiao Fei sitting next to Nangong Yue, her face froze for a moment, many images flashed in her mind, thinking of Wen Yu, thinking of Xiao Fei's humiliation to her, thinking of...
She suppressed her disgust and continued to walk forward as if nothing had happened.
"See Your Highness the Third Princess." Xiao Fei got up and saluted the Third Princess.
"Miss Xiao is free." The third princess nodded slightly, her eyes moved to the left calmly, and looked at Nangong Yue who was beside Xiao Fei.
Nangong Yue wore an elegant pink and purple trousers, her figure was still slender, but her abdomen bulged high under the loose dress. There is a warm smile on her lips and the corners of her eyes, and her almond eyes are shining brightly. No makeup is applied on her cheeks, but her cheeks are naturally rosy like peach blossoms, as delicate and beautiful as flowers.
Nangong Yue was originally a beauty, but in the past two years, she has become even more beautiful.
The third princess still remembers that her biological mother Ye Jieyu once said with emotion when she was alive that a woman needs someone to water and fertilize like a flower in order to bloom the most beautiful brilliance.
Nangong Yue's change must have come from Xiao Yi's love!
Obviously, she spent the past two years in southern Xinjiang extremely comfortably!
Unlike her cousin Bai Muxiao, and unlike herself, after leaving the cabinet, they all seem to fade away like flowers short of water...
A haze flashed in the eyes of the third princess, and she waited patiently for Nangong Yue to salute her, but Nangong Yue did not move, she just greeted the deep eyes of the third princess with a smile, and said: "Your Highness, don't come here without any problems, Please forgive my wife who is too heavy to salute His Highness."
The third princess stared slightly, and the corners of her mouth stiffened revealed the displeasure in her heart.
A wife is more precious than her husband.
Now Nangong Yue dared to be so rude to her majestic princess because she and the third son-in-law wanted something from Xiao Yi!
The third princess squinted her eyes, suppressing her anger.
She raised her chin and said in a gentle voice: "Concubine Shizi, even if you are heavy and I have come to Luoyue City, shouldn't Concubine Shizi send someone to greet me?"
There was always a gentle smile on the corner of the third princess's mouth, but her tone couldn't hide the arrogance.
Nangong Yue did not change her smile, and said calmly: "My wife has grown up recently, and she has been staying at home in the mansion, but I don't know that the princess is here, why didn't your highness send someone to talk to my wife?" Say?"
Put on a show! The third princess thought secretly, clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves, knowing that Nangong Yue was perfunctory herself, but she couldn't refute it.
She barely showed a warm smile, so she had to find a step for herself: "The imperial concubine looks like she is not young, so she should be giving birth soon, right?" She said as she sat down on the mahogany armchair beside her.
Thrush quickly served hot tea and snacks to the third princess.
The third princess pretended to use the tea cover to brush off the tea leaves floating on the tea, put the tea cup close to her mouth, then put it down again, and then said: "This palace is new here, and I don't know much about the affairs of southern Xinjiang. Since you are a landlord, how about talking to me about it?"
Of course Nangong Yue knew what the third princess was asking, so she intentionally answered the wrong question: "Speaking of which, it is just right for Your Highness to come to Southern Xinjiang at this time. In summer, Southern Xinjiang is scorching hot. Your Highness may not be used to it since he grew up in the capital, and he is prone to heatstroke; It's winter now, but it's much warmer than the capital, and the courtier's wife started burning silver frost charcoal in the house only this month. Although Luoyue City is not as prosperous as the capital, it is quite lively, with good food, clothing, housing and transportation. It's rare for His Highness to come here, but it will be worthwhile to stay here for a while..."
"enough!"
Following Nangong Yue's narration, the third princess' face became more and more ugly. When her anger reached the highest point, she finally couldn't help interrupting Nangong Yue.
The sound of "dong" was particularly harsh in the Dongci room, and even the tea cup on the table seemed to tremble slightly.
The third princess stared at Nangong Yue fiercely, this woman is so courageous, she pretended to be crazy and stupid to herself!
Nangong Yue pretended to look at the third princess in astonishment, while Xiao Fei frowned at the side. She couldn't help but think of the time when the other party came to the palace in the capital to accuse her and Wen Yu of giving and receiving privately. She shook her head inwardly: I haven't seen you for two years. Why is the third princess still as out of tune as before!
"Your Highness, Third Princess, please be careful with your words and deeds." Xiao Fei got up and blessed her, and said directly, "Since your Highness is visiting our Zhennan Palace as a guest, you should abide by the rules of guests. How can you be rude to your master at will!"
As she said that, Xiao Fei took a quick look at Nangong Yue's swollen belly, thinking: sister-in-law is used to big scenes, and the mere three princesses don't want to make her face moved... But sister-in-law is not alone now, if she is surprised by the pain in her belly Little niece, the third princess can't afford it!
"Presumptuous, Xiao Fei, how dare you be unreasonable to me!" The third princess had originally endured Xiao Fei, wanting to pretend that she hadn't seen her, seeing her dare to intervene, with new and old grudges.
Obviously Cousin Yu had already expressed his affection to him at the beginning, but then he suddenly became indifferent and kept avoiding him...it was Xiao Fei! Cousin Yu treats her hot and cold, it must be because of Xiao Fei!
The more the three princesses thought about it, the more they hated it. Shui Jian's eyes, which were originally black and white, were instantly covered with bloodshot eyes, which became ugly and distorted, in stark contrast to the previous gentle appearance.
Nangong Yue's eyes turned cold, and she bluntly said: "If Your Highness the Third Princess comes to visit my wife, then I have seen it, and my wife will not send it away." Then, she picked up the teacup and made a cup of tea. The appearance of serving tea to see off guests.
Is the other party trying to drive him away? ! The third princess looked at Nangong Yue in disbelief. This Nangong Yue was always gentle and courteous when she was in the capital, and she was praised by her father as "Hui Zhi Lan Xin". She never expected to become so strong and rude after arriving in Southern Xinjiang!
She is a majestic princess, how dare she be expelled by a prince and concubine? !
The third princess frowned, and this person's courage was naturally brought up day by day.
Presumably, Nangong Yue was used to being a "Prince Concubine" under one person and above ten thousand during the two years in Southern Xinjiang, that's why it happened!
It is conceivable how arrogant and domineering King Zhennan and his son are when they occupy land in southern Xinjiang on weekdays.
It's lawless!
The third princess was about to blurt out "You dare", but when the words came to her lips, her rationality reminded her that she didn't come here today to engage in a meaningless verbal dispute with Nangong Yue, she just wanted to give Nangong Yue a warning , Only when the other party is overwhelmed can he ask more questions.
You can't spoil the big thing by being angry for a while.
The third princess said to herself in her heart, calmed down again, and said meaningfully: "I heard that the prince treats An Yihou as a brother and sister, and makes him feel at home... Concubine, I just entered the house, and the concubine is about to see you off." Guest, what's the point?"
The corners of Nangong Yue's lips curled up slightly, knowing who the third princess was talking about, she responded calmly: "Your Highness, the third princess, please be careful, Marquis An Yi came here by order, representing the emperor."
The implication is that it is not An Yihou who they respect and are close to, but the emperor behind An Yihou.
But in the ears of the third princess, it was Nangong Yue who was mocking her for not having an imperial edict. The third princess was about to lose control again, she pursed her lips, and reminded gently but forcefully: "Concubine Shizi, I kindly remind you that if the Zhennan Palace commits troubles, you will not be able to please you! Don't make mistakes again and again. !"
Xiao Fei frowned again, could this third princess be crazy? Bite anyone you see!
She was about to speak out, but was soothed by Nangong Yue's eyes.
Nangong Yue put down the teacup in her hand, stared at the third princess with her clear eyes, and said slowly: "What is the meaning of this, Your Highness the third princess? Could it be that the emperor wants to search our Zhennan Palace? If so, dare to ask What crime did the Zhennan Palace commit? Your Highness's words represent the emperor?"
Nangong Yue's righteous questioning made the third princess dumbfounded. This Nangong Yue was simply not willing to accept anything, and she was wrong no matter what she said.
Nangong Yue pressed her step by step: "The third princess said that she came here by order. Could it be that she brought the order to search our palace? Then please ask your highness to issue the imperial order, otherwise our palace will not dare to bear this crime." She After a pause, he said intentionally, "Or His Highness is making a false biography..."
The third princess couldn't bear the charge of falsely preaching the imperial decree, so she hurriedly interrupted Nangong Yue: "Concubine Shizi, it was my palace's slip of the tongue, don't take offense at concubine Shizi." She just gritted her teeth and apologized to Nangong Yue.
Nangong Yue picked up the teacup again, took a sip of tea slowly, and didn't answer.
Xiao Fei felt that Nangong Yue was right, and said with a straight face: "His Royal Highness, as a daughter of the royal family, you represent the royal family in words and deeds, so you should set an example. In the future, you must not rely on whims."
For the third princess, making her bow her head to Xiao Fei was more uncomfortable than slapping her, but at this moment, she could only write down this account temporarily.
Ten years is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge.
The three princesses grew up in the harem, and have seen a lot of secrets in the harem, so they naturally understand that those who know current affairs are heroes, rubbing their temples sadly and said: "Since the concubine disappeared, this palace has trouble sleeping and eating, and my mind is in a hurry." Restless, it made Shi Zifei and Miss Xiao laugh."
Xiao Fei said casually: "Since Your Highness is not feeling well, you should ask a doctor to have a look. There are many famous doctors in Luoyue City, although they are not as good as the imperial doctors in the palace, they must be able to prescribe a prescription for calming the mind."
The third princess responded casually, and she didn't speak speculatively, so she simply excused herself from being tired, got up and left.
The three princesses came here with great ambitions, but they returned in vain. For no reason, they were pissed off at Bixiaotang.
After returning to the inn, she could no longer maintain that gentle face, and complained to Pingyang Hou angrily: "Master Hou, you asked me to see the concubine, and I went too, but it was just for nothing. It’s just being humiliated! Since the Zhennan Prince’s toast does not eat fine wine, it’s the best policy for Hou Ye to send someone back to the capital to ask for the decree. According to this Palace, the Zhennan Prince’s father and son are ambitious and have evil plans, so we must guard against it!”
"The third princess is right." Marquis Pingyang also had this intention in his heart, but it was extremely time-consuming to ask for an order, and it was a bad idea, so he wondered if he could find another shortcut from Nangong Yue, but he didn't expect Nangong Yue to be so difficult.
Marquis Pingyang pondered for a while, and said again: "It seems that we can only gather information from Mrs. Qiao's mouth. If Your Highness is free, please invite Mrs. Qiao to come and walk more, and be more 'close and close'."
Now that I am Pingyanghou, I am also a grasshopper tied to a rope, and the three princesses responded with a sinking face.
After Pingyang Hou came out of the third princess's room, he immediately sent his cronies back to the capital to ask for an order, but even if he rushed on the horse, it would take at least one and a half months to go back and forth.
During this period, Pingyang Hou sent people to continue searching for Kui Lang's whereabouts, and at the same time ran several sets of Zhennan Palace to try to gather information. Although the King of Zhennan didn't know what Xiao Yi was doing, he knew that if some things were leaked out, the Prince of Zhennan's mansion would be in trouble, but that rebellious son didn't tell himself, so he could only continue to work hard to pretend to be unfathomable.
Another four days passed in the blink of an eye, and Kui Lang still disappeared. The exhausted Marquis of Pingyang almost gave up. After spending so much energy, he not only couldn't find anyone, but he couldn't even figure out who did it. Clue, as the days passed, Pingyang Hou became more and more irritable.
Originally, he came to Southern Border this time because he thought that after Kui Lang regained the throne of Baiyue, Kui Lang would accept his favor, and then he could give the second prince an extra boost. charges.
Isn't this thankless
Just when Pingyang Hou was restless, Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai met Kui Lang again in the dungeon of Bixiao Hall...