Unlike a few days ago, Kui Lang, who hadn't seen the sun for a few days, looked more and more haggard and dispirited, and the arrogance in his eyes was gradually worn away by the sleepless nights of the past few days.
Ever since he met the sixth emperor's younger brother Carrero, Kui Lang knew that Xiao Yi was already full-fledged, while Baiyue, on the contrary, was declining.
In the past two years, I was imprisoned like a trapped beast in the capital of Dayu King, but Xiao Yi grew up rapidly when he, Han Lingfu, and even the Emperor Dayu didn't know about it, and made Southern Xinjiang Hold it firmly in your hands, and eradicate Baiyue's lurking forces in the southern border bit by bit...
The more Kui Lang thought about it, the more dignified his mood became.
Xiao Yi sat down with his robe lifted, looked at Kui Lang who was completely different from the past, and said casually: "Third son-in-law, I heard that you are going to talk, so go ahead."
Kui Lang stared complicatedly at Xiao Yi in front of him and Guan Yubai next to him. These two are rare generals in a hundred years. If they join forces, it's no wonder that Nanliang was defeated, and Baiyue is also in jeopardy...
I'm afraid no one can stop Xiao Yi from rising up in southern Xinjiang!
Kui Lang and Xiao Yi looked straight at each other, and said: "Xiao Shizi, the matter of the Fang family is already a matter of the previous generation, and the third house of the Fang family has also paid the price... Why should Xiao Shizi be so sad that it has affected you and me?" cooperation!"
Xiao Yi picked out his ears, stood up suddenly, and said mockingly: "Third Consort, I thought you were ready, but it seems that you haven't figured it out yet!"
"Wait! I said." Kui Lang hurriedly called Xiao Yi to stop.
Since Xiao Yi wants to know how Fang's third house colluded with Baiyue secretly, it's okay to tell him, since the old man is dead anyway...
A faint light flashed in Kui Lang's eyes, and he said slowly—
More than 20 years ago, ever since Mrs. Fang's eldest daughter, Da Fang's family, married into the Zhennan Palace, Kuilang's queen mother, Ayimu, has cast her coveted eyes on the Fang family. She is a person of upright character, and the eldest room is watertight, so Ayimu chose the third room of the Fang family, who has no distinction between his son and concubine and is ambitious, as her partner for cooperation.
She asked An's family to help build a bridge, and finally the three parties sat together and reached an agreement. Baiyue helped Xiaofang's family marry into the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, and then let Xiaofang's fourth brother Fang Chengling adopt Fang's family to inherit the long family's Wanguan family wealth On the other hand, after the matter is completed, the Xiao Fang family and the third house of the Fang family will naturally give Bai Yuexing some "convenience" accordingly...
Kui Lang spoke quickly and calmly, as if he was talking about something irrelevant to him, and that was exactly what he thought in his heart. The old affairs of the Fang family and the An family were all done by his queen mother, Ayimu. Both Dafang and Xiaofang are gone, and all Xiao Yi can get is the truth.
Following Kui Lang's narration, Xiao Yi's eyes were as cold as frost. He originally thought that the concubine mother was unlucky, and she was murdered after hearing about the collusion between the Xiaofang family and Baiyue. "!"
After talking about the Fang family's affairs, Kui Lang eagerly said again: "Shizi Xiao, as long as you are willing to help me regain the Baiyue throne, in addition to the original conditions, I am willing to increase the bargaining chip." He gritted his teeth and said cruelly. , "In the future, Baiyue is willing to pay tribute to the southern border every year... Even, in the future, when Prince Xiao wants to make a northern expedition, Baiyue is willing to help with all his strength."
Kui Lang stared at Xiao Yi without blinking. How could a person like Xiao Yi have no ambitions, and how could he be willing to let Emperor Dayu take advantage of him? This condition of mine would definitely satisfy his appetite!
Xiao Yi smiled, the smile didn't reach his eyes, and said: "Third son-in-law, do you know what condition Lingdi Nuhar has set?"
Kui Lang was startled, his brows were furrowed, he felt that he had already made the biggest concession, what else could Nuhar offer? ! It's impossible to hand over the whole Baiyue to Xiao Yi, right? … etc!
Kui Lang instantly thought of a possibility. Could it be that Nuhar is willing to serve Xiao Yi as the master and make Baiyue a vassal of Southern Xinjiang? !
Xiao Yi seemed to see what Kui Lang was thinking, and nodded with a smile.
It really is! Kui Lang felt so angry that he almost couldn't catch his breath, and angrily said: "How dare you, Nuhar, how dare you betray the country!" cut!
Then, Kui Lang looked at Xiao Yi again with sharp eyes, "Xiao Shizi, I respect you as a person, so I sincerely cooperate with you, but you are so dishonest and double-faced, it is really disgusting!"
Xiao Yi seemed to have heard some joke, and sneered, "The prisoner still wants to negotiate terms?... And he still uses something that doesn't belong to him as a bargaining chip. The third son-in-law wants to do business without capital!"
Kui Lang choked for a moment, and flew into a rage, "Xiao Yi, you're teasing me..." He was half-spoken, and suddenly fell silent, trying to understand what Xiao Yi meant.
If Nuhar had already dedicated Baiyue to Xiao Yi, what happened to the military newspaper sent from southern Xinjiang to the capital
Could it be...
Kui Lang looked up at Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai in front of him were sitting there calmly, as if everything was under their control...
For a moment, Kui Lang seemed to be blessed to his heart, and he figured out one thing.
Oops, I'm in a trap!
From the moment he left the capital, it was tantamount to throwing himself into this trap that had been set up!
"Xiao Yi," Kui Lang's unwilling eyes wandered between Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai, feeling that he had lost too much, "When did you and Guan Yubai team up?"
How could the two of them be so close in just over a year? !
Could it be that Kui Lang thought of a certain possibility that the two had hooked up when they were in the capital... What's more, Guan Yubai's coming to southern Xinjiang was also planned by the two of them
impossible!
Kui Lang instinctively wanted to deny that it was Emperor Dayu's will that Guan Yubai would come to southern Xinjiang, but this was not the case for his trip, but he fell into the trap that Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai had already set up.
Could it be that all of this is the calculation of the two of them
Being thousands of miles away in southern Xinjiang, he was able to foretell the affairs of the king's capital with subtlety and subtly push his hands. This must be the masterpiece of this resourceful general!
Kui Lang finally figured it out, and at the same time was shrouded in despair, and his heart sank to the bottom instantly.
I see!
He always thought that his only enemy in Baiyue was Xiao Yi, the son of Prince Zhennan, but he didn't know that the ambitious Xiao Yi had already made a move. Xiao Yi had never been alone, and Guan Yubai was still hidden beside him!
That's why I lost, completely lost!
Although he is confident that he can endure those physical pains, he can endure those shameful humiliations, he can patiently lie dormant for ten years, or even twenty years... But the problem is that Xiao Yi's ruthless nature may not give him any way out!
However, even if he dies here, it doesn't mean he lost, as long as his blood is passed on, his descendants will definitely avenge him!
Just like Xiao Yi avenges his mother now...
and-
He can't make Xiao Yi so happy!
Kui Lang suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed, his deep eyes burst into a strange look, and he said loudly: "I am convinced that I lost to two people like this!"
As he said that, he shot his sharp gaze at the two of them again, and said with a sneer: "Hou An Yi, you are also a hero, are you willing to bow your knees under Xiao Yi?! You Dayu has a saying: 'The cunning rabbit dies, the running dog Cook', when Xiao Yi proclaims himself king, you may be the first person whose life is in danger!"
There was a silence in the dungeon, and a soldier on the side couldn't help but say: "Presumptuous, how dare you..."
Xiao Yi raised his hand to signal the soldiers to keep silent, then turned his head to Guan Yubai with a smile and said: "Xiao Bai, look, he wants to provoke our relationship!"
Guan Yubai just smiled lightly.
Xiao Yi sighed and said again: "Some people like to judge others by themselves. If they are black-hearted, they think that others are also black-hearted; if they want to be emperor, they think that others also want to be emperor..."
Kui Lang showed disdain on his face. He thought Xiao Yi was a hero, but he didn't expect it to be so. After reaching this point, he still refuses to admit his ambition... Or, is Xiao Yi afraid of the official language? ! That's right, two tigers can't fit in one mountain, and these two people only come together because of temporary interests, and sooner or later they will kill you to the death!
Xiao Yi didn't look at Kui Lang at all, and continued meaningfully: "For example, our emperor, for example, Han Lingfu, the king of Gongjun, for example..."
Halfway through the talk, he stopped abruptly and stopped talking, but Kui Lang's eyes widened, he didn't understand why Xiao Yi mentioned Han Lingfu, did he know something...
He looked at Xiao Yi in amazement, but Xiao Yi didn't intend to pay any attention to Kui Lang anymore, anyway, he already knew what he should know.
Xiao Yi said lightly: "Xiao Bai, let's go."
Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai turned around and left, leaving Kui Lang staring at Xiao Yi's back. He wanted to ask, but he didn't dare to ask, because he was afraid that if he said too much, he would be lost...
"Boom!"
The dungeon door slammed shut.
The dungeon is pitch black no matter day or night, as if day and night have lost their meaning in it, Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai walked out of the dungeon of Bixiaotang without any haste, the outside is dim, and the setting sun has mostly set , it was dusk at this time.
The winter without sunshine was chilly, with gusts of cold wind, and Xiao Siyan quickly put a thick cloak on Guan Yubai, while Xiao Yi was still wearing the thin brocade robe. He looked up at the faint moon in the sky, heaved a sigh of relief, and his stiff body relaxed.
"Xiao Bai, Marquis of Pingyang has already sent someone back to the capital to ask for an order." Xiao Yi said casually.
Guan Yubai gathered his cloak and nodded slightly: "It seems that Wangdu can have a 'lively' good year." The corners of his mouth were slightly hooked, and he smiled meaningfully.
But it is! Xiao Yi also laughed, and sighed: "It's going to be Chinese New Year so soon."
The two chatted without saying a word, and after walking two small paths together, they parted ways, Guan Yubai went back to Qingyunwu in the palace, Xiao Yi naturally went to his and Nangong Yue's yard.
Nangong Yue was waiting for him in Dongci Room, and she also knew why he went to see Kui Lang, so she was unavoidably worried, but the moment she saw Xiao Yi, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The maids immediately withdrew tactfully.
Xiao Yi also sat on Luohan's bed, gently embraced Nangong Yue in his arms, and then told her everything that happened in the dungeon just now.
The atmosphere was a bit solemn at first, but when she heard that Kui Lang was trying to provoke Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai beyond his control, Nangong Yue almost didn't laugh.
Facing Nangong Yue's uncontrollably handsome eyes, Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows and deliberately teased her: "Ah Yue, do you think he is thick-skinned? A tall and thick man is ashamed to call himself a 'cunning rabbit', even a little rabbit I am so wronged!"
This time, Nangong Yue couldn't help but burst out laughing, Kui Lang's rough appearance was indeed far from that of a rabbit.
Seeing her being teased, Xiao Yi triumphantly bowed his head and kissed the corner of her mouth as if he had accomplished a great deal.
Nangong Yue cleared her throat and got down to business: "Ayi, in the past few days, only the wives of three or four mansions have visited the third princess. I guess she might be in a hurry. Maybe she will come back in a few days." Come to Bixiaotang again…”
"She's coming, are we going to see each other?" Xiao Yi wrinkled his nose, snorted coldly, then touched Nangong Yue's abdomen and said, "Ah Yue, you still raise your baby obediently now, those irrelevant people , just ignore it."
Nangong Yue responded obediently, but she was not interested in seeing the third princess either.
Xiao Yi's big palm stuck to her stomach for a while, as if thinking of something, he quickly took out a randomly folded piece of paper from his cuff, spread it out, and handed it to Nangong Yue, expressing his merit: "Ah Yue, look!"
After Nangong Yue glanced at it, her eyes lit up.
There are several sketches of jade pendants drawn on this creased paper, some of which have been randomly scratched out with a pen, and there are only two styles left.
The first one is an eagle, with an eagle engraved on the round jade pendant in the center, holding the ring pendant engraved with cloud patterns in its beak; the second one is a cat, with a big cat on the outer circle encircling the center and curling up in a ball kitten.
Both jade pendants are designed as ring pendants between mother and child.
Xiao Yi had mentioned that he would engrave a pair of mother-child rings for him and his daughter, and the father and daughter would each wear one, but Nangong Yue thought he was just mentioning it casually, but she didn't expect that he had already taken it to heart.
Xiao Yi naturally saw Nangong Yue's surprise, and pouted in dissatisfaction, as if to say, did he ever break his promise about her and Nannan
Thanks to his good looks, even if he made such a childish expression, it wasn't too awkward. Nangong Yue thought to herself, and hurriedly raised her hand to stroke the top of his jet-black hair to appease him, and then immediately diverted his attention: "A Yi, I think we can change this cat's jade pendant... ah! "
The words ended with her low cry, Xiao Yi easily picked her up and carried her to the small study.
He put her on the armchair behind the desk, took care of the pen and ink himself, spread the paper, ground the ink, took the Langhao pen from the pen holder and handed it to her, and rubbed it tenderly on her tender palm and fingertips, just now He stepped back and looked at her eagerly.
Nangong Yue already had a plan in mind, and after adjusting the gesture of holding the pen, the tip of the pen was stained with ink, and she began to draw.
Both Xiao Yi and she are very familiar with the cats at home, so with just a few strokes, the essence was captured. After a while, she finished a new pair of jade pendants, which were still two sleeping cats. , It's just that the two cats sleep in a shape similar to a half circle, one Yin and one Yang, forming a pattern similar to Yin Yang and Eight Diagrams.
After Nangong Yue put away her pen, she said with a smile: "Ayi, I remember that you have a piece of Tian Huangshi, and I also have white marble here..."
It just happens to be able to carve Xiaoju and Maoxiaobai respectively.
"Good idea!" Xiao Yi clapped his hands and praised, "I will wear one of them first, and when we have another child in the future, I will give it to him... Ah Yue, what do you think?" He looked at her eagerly. , with burning eyes. They prepared this pair of jade pendants together for their children. It feels so good!
Nangong Yue's small face was dyed red, and the water in her eyes rippled. This Ah Yi, the daughter is not born yet, he is already thinking about the second one!
However, she originally planned to have a second child. It would be best for the two children to be a girl and a boy.
Then, she and A Yi will be consummated!
After seeing Nangong Yue nodded shyly, Xiao Yi was satisfied, and said happily: "Ah Yue, you wait for me here, I'll go get Tian Huangshi." The bead chain on the lower curtain swayed endlessly, making a crisp sound.
The corners of Nangong Yue's mouth could not help but curl up, and she ordered Huamei and Que'er to open her private treasury to find a few pieces of white marble.
After a cup of tea, the young couple sat together and picked two pieces of moderate size from a pile of scattered jade stones. Xiao Yi took a pen to mark the draft on the jade stones, and then put down the pen in satisfaction.
"The new year is coming soon, I can rest for a few days, I just have time to carve this pair of jade pendants." Xiao Yi blinked at Nangong Yue confidently.
Nangong Yue also laughed. Yes, the Chinese New Year is coming soon, and this time, A Yi will accompany her to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment, but also thought of it, he changed seats, squeezed into a chair with Nangong Yue, and hugged her in his arms.
He and Ah Yue have been married for several years, but this is the first time to spend the New Year with Ah Yue.
"Ah Yue," Xiao Yi didn't apologize, but just kissed her on the temples, "This year the two of us celebrate the New Year together, and next year we will be three of us."
That's right, adding Nannan next year, there will be three people.
The young couple both smiled foolishly, their expressions surprisingly the same!
Bixiaotang is extremely warm, but not in the station.
As Nangong Yue expected, the third princess was really in a hurry.
Kui Lang has been missing for half a month, and there is still no news, so that she can't do anything with Pingyanghou now, and can only be trapped in the southern border.
Moreover, those people from southern Xinjiang are all unruly reckless men, and I don't know what they think. She has been here for so long, except Mrs. Qiao who comes to say hello from time to time, there are not many mansions to visit. She, as if the entire mansion in southern Xinjiang had forgotten her, she could only live aggrievedly in the small inn.
Calculating the time, the people sent by Marquis Pingyang will not be able to arrive at the capital until the Chinese New Year at least, and they will have to seal it with pens and seals. When the new imperial decree comes, it will probably be February next year. Could she just wait here
The third princess walked back and forth in the room of the inn restlessly.
At first, the third princess also thought that she could get something from Mrs. Qiao, but she found that Mrs. Qiao was the aunt of the Zhennan Palace in name, but she didn't know anything at all.
But now Mrs. Qiao is the only way for her to get news. She can only deal with Mrs. Qiao patiently again and again, but she doesn't expect to find out any news at all, wasting her energy to socialize with her.
In desperation, the third princess endured the humiliation and went to Zhennan Prince's Mansion again on December 13th, but this time, she didn't even enter the gate of Bixiao Hall, so she had to return without success.
The third princess was so angry that she almost lost her manners. She was a dignified princess, but Nangong Yue dared to reject her.
The third princess had no choice but to return to the post station. She had just sat down when she heard the maid say Mrs. Qiao was visiting. The third princess originally wanted the maid to drive her away, but after thinking about it, someone brought Mrs. Qiao in.
As soon as the other party entered the door, the third princess taunted unceremoniously: "Mrs. Qiao, I can't bear your courtesy!"
Mrs. Qiao, who was about to salute, froze, not knowing where she had offended Her Highness the Princess.
The third princess continued with a cold face: "Your Zhennan Prince's Mansion is already the emperor of the southern border. This palace is only a princess, how can it afford your grand gift, madam!"
Mrs. Qiao's heart sank, her face was not very good-looking.
It must be Nangong Yue!
This eldest concubine is acting more and more domineering. She offended the third princess, and she will only bring disaster to the Zhennan Palace!
Mrs. Qiao hurriedly said: "His Royal Highness, I am afraid that there is some misunderstanding about Zhennan Wangfu... Zhennan Wangfu has been loyal to Dayu since his father, and has guarded southern Xinjiang for decades. That is the concubine, ah... She has always been Willful, and can't listen to the advice of the elders, but she offended His Highness?"
Seeing Mrs. Qiao's loyal appearance, the corners of the three princesses' mouths suddenly turned up, revealing a gentle smile, which was meaningful.