The time in the pavilion seemed to stand still for a moment, only the happy chirping of the double eagles could be heard endlessly.
After an unknown amount of time, there was a sound of brisk footsteps not far away, and soon a slender figure in military uniform was quickly walking towards this side.
The footsteps of the visitor suddenly stopped for a moment, and he turned his pleasantly surprised eyes to Gray Eagle and White Eagle hovering in mid-air, with a smile on his face, he blurted out: "Xiao Hui is here!"
As he said that, the young man trotted forward, and with a baby face, he clasped his fists at Guan Yubai in the pavilion and asked, "Master Hou, has your letter come?"
Fu Yunhe naturally knew about Xiao Yi's liking to use Xiaohui as a messenger.
Guan Yubai handed Xiao Yi's letter directly to Fu Yunhe. Fu Yunhe was overjoyed and honored. He was about to praise Xiao Yu a few times, but then remembered the business of his trip, and changed his words:
"Master Hou, the three cities around Xihe have already been taken!"
In just a few words, they speak loudly.
"Okay." Guan Yubai only gave one word, but Fu Yunhe seemed to have received a great compliment.
They all know that the Southern Border Army has taken a crucial step, like a meticulously traced meticulous painting that has finally finished its manuscript, and this game is only now taking shape!
The Xihe River is a vital barrier in the southern border of Xiye. It crosses the three states in the south of Xiye. As long as they break through the Xihe River, they can enter the hinterland of Xiye, and even attack the capital of Xiye in one fell swoop...
Thinking about it, Fu Yunhe's blood was boiling. Although he had not rested for a day and a night, he was still full of energy.
Fu Yunhe was quickly sent down to rest, and the three of them were left in the pavilion. Guan Yubai looked at the messy game on the chessboard and asked, "Si Lin, do you want to continue?"
What Guan Yubai asked was "Can we continue" rather than "whether we want to play another game?" Si Lin was stunned, feeling the subtle difference, then laughed, and met Guan Yubai's eyes.
It seems that Yubai already has a plan in mind, whether it's the chess game between the two of them, or Xiye's game...
After you sing, I will appear on the stage, and both sides have their own plans, but only one side can predict the enemy's opportunity first and defeat the enemy to win.
This is destined to be a battle to the death!
From Xijiang to Xiye, there is wind and dust, and the yellow sand in the sky is already full of murderous threats. In contrast, the golden autumn wind and sun in southern Xinjiang are beautiful, and the fragrance of chrysanthemums is permeating everywhere in Bixiao Hall.
In the small study room, a fat little baby was sleeping soundly on the beauty's couch, smelling the fragrance of flowers, and tightly clutching a golden golden chrysanthemum in her chubby little hand.
Nangong Yue and Xiao Fei were both sitting beside the beauty's couch, their eyes couldn't help being attracted by the little guy, but they kept half of their minds listening to Baihui's report of Zhu Xing's investigation results in the past few days.
Sure enough, Zhu Xing confirmed that Xiao Fei and Ji Li had a woman with a non-Southern Xinjiang accent who inquired about the news near the Beining residence in the other courtyard. Judging from the woman's description, it was most likely the maid Lorna who put on clothes. Afterwards, Lorna went to other courtyards several times to deliver news to the third princess' maid...
After Baihui finished reporting, the small study room became quiet. Nangong Yue carefully tucked the quilt for Xiao Yu, her eyes flashed, and she thought: Bai Yi really came to Nanjiang, and she also intends to use Xiao Fang To manipulate Xiao Fei to plot wrongdoing.
"Sister Fei," Nangong Yue looked up at Xiao Fei and asked, "Why do you think the third princess cooperates with Bai Yi?"
Xiao Fei understood that Nangong Yue was trying to teach her, so she thought about it as if she was studying, and after a while, she replied: "The third princess is Kui Lang's official wife..."
After she finished speaking, she felt that it was more than that, and frowned: It should be said that the reason why Baiyi found the third princess was because the third princess was Kui Lang's official wife, but the sister-in-law's focus was on "the third princess".
"Sister Fei, although the third princess is Kui Lang's official wife, but now that Kui Lang is dead, the third princess has no heirs, and Kui Lang's original heirs in Baiyue also died in the palace change in Baiyue... Even your eldest brother Taking Baiyue by order will not benefit the third princess." Nangong Yue analyzed it unhurriedly, guiding Xiao Fei to think for herself.
During the speech, the little guy on the beauty's couch suddenly made a movement, which immediately attracted the attention of the two of them. He closed his eyes and kicked in the quilt restlessly, and his right fist that was holding the chrysanthemum loosened. After a while, Nangong Yue took the opportunity to take out the chrysanthemum in his fist.
Looking at the golden chrysanthemum that was almost wilted by her little nephew, Xiao Fei thoughtfully took the remaining flower from Nangong Yue.
When a woman loses her husband, it is like a flower that has lost its branch, and can no longer grow fruit...
Now there is no connection between the third princess and Baiyue, what about Baiyue, and what does it have to do with the third princess? The third princess, who lost her husband and had no children, would never go to Baiyue alone. If she went, she would be a sheep in the mouth of a tiger and be slaughtered by others!
Nangong Yue looked at Xiao Fei's pensive eyes with a smile, and was not in a hurry, drinking tea slowly.
It was noon at the moment, outside the window, the breeze with the fragrance of chrysanthemum was blowing the flowers and trees in the yard, the branches and leaves were swaying and rustling.
Suddenly, Xiao Fei's body trembled, she raised her head abruptly, and blurted out: "Benefits... Sister-in-law, it's benefits!"
Promoting the three princesses and Bai Yi to cooperate, there must be a promotion of interests.
Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows slightly, her smile deepened, she didn't speak, she just encouraged Xiao Fei with her eyes to continue talking.
Xiao Fei turned the golden chrysanthemum in her hand, her eyes flickered.
Benefits are nothing more than money, status, power, reputation... even beauty.
But what can impress the three princesses
Xiao Fei frowned slightly, looked at Nangong Yue uncertainly and asked, "Sister-in-law... Could it be that Baiyue is willing to cede the land?"
Ceding the land is an extremely huge benefit, and it can expand Dayu's territory. This is probably a benefit that even the emperor would be tempted by.
Nangong Yue shook her head, she couldn't help but think of the fact that Kui Lang and Nuhar were competing to give the land to Xiao Yi, she couldn't help but smile a little, but Xiao Fei could think that the land was good...
Nangong Yue put down the celadon teacup in her hand, and said, "Sister Fei, only the king can cede land. This is not an idea and a benefit that can be accepted by Baiyue." After all, he is not a prince who can take power.
This must be a huge benefit that the three princesses cannot refuse and are willing to take risks.
Nangong Yue squinted her eyes, and continued, "Sister Fei, if I'm not mistaken, Kui Lang might have heirs in the capital..."
Hearing this, Xiao Fei's eyes lit up, she nodded eagerly and said: "Sister-in-law, it must be like this!"
Only in this way can the purpose of the cooperation between the three princesses and Bai Yi be explained.
As long as Kui Lang has heirs, the third princess, who is Kui Lang's official wife, is a legitimate aunt. With Dayu as her backer, it is only logical that she will become the queen mother of Baiyue in the future.
That child should have been born after Kui Lang arrived in the capital, so the child must be young. Once the third princess becomes the Queen Mother of Baiyue, it is not impossible to listen to the government behind the curtain!
In this way, not only will the third princess not become Dayu's abandoned son, but she will also become the queen mother of a country with power.
For the three princesses who had already fallen to the bottom, this was a chance to turn around and a chance to skyrocket.
This benefit may not only make San Gong active, but also enough to drive her crazy.
Thinking about it, Xiao Fei's eyes shone brightly, and she looked at Nangong Yue with reverence. The sister-in-law can deduce so much without leaving home, she really knows the subtleties. I am still far from it!
Nangong Yue lowered her eyes, and picked up the teacup again. Looking at the tea leaves in the teacup, she was thinking more than Xiao Fei...
In the capital, Kui Lang is Dayu's son-in-law. According to Dayu's system, unless the son-in-law is forty and has no heirs, the son-in-law is not allowed to take concubines, so where did Kui Lang's children come from
Moreover, the third princess has known about Kui Lang's death for some time, but she has been acting out of order until Bai Yi came. Does this mean that the three princesses did not know that Kui Lang had a child at first, that is to say, the origin of this child is definitely not fair...
Kui Lang is not a lustful person, with his heart, the status of the third princess' consort can allow him to get Dayu's support, so he shouldn't be so short-sighted, and at this time, he should have an illegitimate child, unless, this can bring greater benefits.
interest
This question is interesting after all.
The corners of Nangong Yue's mouth curled up slightly, she took a sip of the hot tea, and said, "Baihui, go and ask Zhu Xing to sort out the flying pigeons about Kuilang."
From time to time, Wangdu would receive letters from Feige from Wangdu. When Xiao Yi was in Bixiao Hall, he would pick up some interesting things as gossip and gossip with her. Therefore, she knew a little about the situation in Wangdu. But rather sporadic…
"Yes, Shizifei." Baihui took the order and left.
She went out on her front foot, and Que'er came in on her back foot, and said crisply: "Concubine Shizi, everything is ready for tomorrow's trip."
Tomorrow Nangong Yue and Xiao Fei will go to the Great Buddha Temple together to give alms, donate clothes and porridge, and pray for the soldiers who marched south.
Nangong Yue responded, and looked down at Xiao Yu, who was so asleep that she didn't know what year it was today.
Do you want to take him with you tomorrow
With him, she was worried that there would be too many people and things to do in the Great Buddha tomorrow, and she would not care about him; but if she didn't take him, it meant that she would not be able to see him for a long time, just thinking about it, Nangong Yue felt a little bit reluctant...
The little guy seemed to know that he was about to be abandoned by his mother, so he squirmed a bit, then raised his fist and rubbed his eyes, while moaning "嘿嘿", he opened his mouth like a spot of paint. Eyes, black and white eyeballs glanced around, and quickly passed over Xiao Fei, Nangong Yue and Que'er, as if feeling a little disappointed, she yelled: "Father... Father..."
Nangong Yue hurriedly carried the little guy out of the bed, patted his back lightly and said, "Brother Yu, mother is here."
The little guy yelled for a long time, but the person who would take him to "fly" didn't show up. He felt as if he had been abandoned. He felt so wronged, his eyes became wet like a deer, and he looked at his mother pitifully. .
Nangong Yue's heart softened when he saw it, and she felt a little funny.
Although A Yi dislikes brother Yu on weekdays, he often takes him to play, and plays various tricks. In this huge Bixiaotang, only Ah Yi can go to the world, go to the house to Jiewa and take Brother Yu to chase cats, throw Brother Yu into the air to "fly", and throw rattan balls. Play eighteen tricks...
Little Xiao Yu is really a fun age, besides eating, drinking and sleeping, he just thinks about playing.
The past few days my father has disappeared, the more I play, the more boring I am, when I think of it, I look for my father everywhere, but I can't find it at all...
The little guy looked around again, but he still couldn't find anyone, so he raised his right fist and tried to grab his finger out of habit. Seeing this, Xiao Fei hurriedly held down his little fleshy hand, which made the little guy even more aggrieved Yes, the pink mouth is deflated, and the eyes are full of tears...
Seeing that her little nephew was about to cry, Xiao Fei had a flash of inspiration and stuffed the golden chrysanthemum into his hand again.
Little Xiao Yu was immediately attracted attention, staring at the golden chrysanthemum, suddenly remembered.
Yes, this is his flower!
"Yeah!" He waved the residual flower in his hand, grinning happily again.
Xiao Fei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but then her expression became subtle again, and she asked, "Sister-in-law, does Brother Yu still only know that word?" He poked lightly at the dimple at the corner of Xiao Xiaoyu's mouth, and murmured in his heart: It's obvious that my sister-in-law spends more time with Brother Yu, so why did Brother Yu learn to say "Daddy" first!
After the words were finished, Xiao Fei felt that the atmosphere in the room was a little weird.
Nangong Yue and Que'er looked at each other, with a strange smile on the corners of their mouths, Que'er couldn't help but said: "Miss, yesterday, the little grandson learned another word."
Since the day when Shizi went to war, Xiao Xiaoyu learned to call him father. After that, the whole Bixiaotang was shaken. Everyone praised Xiaoshisun for being smart, but who would have thought that after a few days, Xiaoshisun didn't I learned to say mother, but I didn't learn to say anything else until last night...
Xiao Fei raised her eyebrows and was about to ask, but heard a familiar "meow". She looked up and saw a furry orange head poking out half of its head from the window. It was indeed her own little head. orange.
As soon as Xiaoju saw that Xiao Yu was also in the room, she turned around and wanted to slip away, but Xiao Fei stopped her:
"Little Orange..."
"Meow!"
The two voices coincided with each other, Xiao Fei was taken aback, thought of something, and looked down at the little guy in Nangong Yue's arms, as if to verify her thoughts, the little guy waved the chrysanthemum in his hand at Mao Xiaoju, The milky voice yelled again: "Meow!"
Xiao Fei was a little dumbfounded. It turns out that the second word Xiao Yu learned was this...
Xiao Fei was just a flash, and Xiaoju, who was hesitating at the window, ran away with a "swish", poor little Xiaoyu watched Xiaoju run away helplessly, and was so wronged that she flattened her mouth and nestled in the softness of her mother. Rubbing back and forth against her chest, Nangong Yue and Xiao Fei's hearts were about to melt into water at that cute and pitiful look.
The clever magpie hurriedly turned the rattle to coax the little grandson, and the regular drumbeat quickly turned the little guy's mood from cloudy to sunny, and he grinned.
"Giggle..."
This day passed again amid Xiao Xiaoyu's crisp laughter...
In the early morning of the next day, a group of chariots and horses drove out from the gate of the East Street in a mighty manner, heading for the Great Buddha Temple outside the city.
The fifth day of October is Bodhidharma's Christmas. Patriarch Bodhidharma is the first ancestor of Zen Buddhism in the Central Plains. There are all moving heads, and the temple is full of cigarettes, solemn and solemn.
After getting off the carriage, Nangong Yue suddenly found that most of today's pilgrims seemed to be young men, and raised her eyebrows slightly in doubt.
Xiao Fei said with a smile on the side: "Sister-in-law, do you know the story of Bodhidharma crossing the river with a reed? Every year on Bodhidharma's Christmas, the monks of the Great Buddha Temple will distribute ninety-nine and eighty-one reed sticks to pilgrims..."
When Xiao Fei said this, Nangong Yue already understood.
When the reeds grow, they are connected into pieces, and the sound is the same as "Lianke", which means that the imperial examination "connects all the way", so so many young people come here to seek auspiciousness.
At this time, a little novice who was welcoming the guests came forward to salute and led them to the gate of the temple.
When he got to the gate of the temple, the monk who handed out the reed happened to have the last one in his hand. When Xiao Yu saw it, he imitated the people in front of him and stretched out his hand to grab it...
The monk gave the little guy the reed that was as long as the pen, and said auspicious words: "I wish the little benefactor a smooth journey in the future."
However, Xiao Fei shook her head and said solemnly: "Brother Yu, you don't need to take the number one examination in the future..." The Zhennan Prince's Mansion is a hereditary vassal king, and his nephew was born noble, so there is no need for an imperial examination.
Little Xiao Yu couldn't understand his aunt's teachings at all, he only felt that he had a new toy, and grinned happily.
That bright smile made Xiao Fei speechless...
Several people entered the temple under the leadership of the little novice, and the maids and women began to prepare for almsgiving outside the temple.
There is a solemn and solemn atmosphere in the temple, the sound of chanting Buddhist scriptures echoes in the air, and the faint scent of sandalwood permeates the surroundings, making people awe-inspiring.
Nangong Yue and the others went to the Hall of Heavenly Kings to worship the Buddha and donated money for sesame oil. By the time they came out of the hall, it was past time.
At a glance, she saw a few pilgrims walking towards the Heavenly King Hall not far ahead, and the leading woman looked familiar.
It was a slightly plump middle-aged woman in her early forties, wearing a ochre-red pomegranate silk beanie, her hair was neatly combed into a bun, and a flying swallow hairpin with eight treasures holding pearls was inserted. luxury.
The other party also recognized Nangong Yue, his steps slowed down, and his face was a little stiff, but then he stepped forward as if nothing had happened, saluted, and then said: "Concubine Shizi, I just saw someone giving alms outside the temple. My concubine and Miss Xiao. You two are so kind, I feel ashamed." The five or six girls and women behind her also bowed their knees respectfully.
Nangong Yue said with a smile, "Mrs. Yan is too much for the prize. Today's donation is to pray for the blessings of my soldiers who are going out in southern Xinjiang."
While speaking, Nangong Yue glanced casually over Mrs. Yan and the others, and paused for a moment on the woman on Mrs. Yan's right who was wearing a rust-colored embroidered six-group flower bezel and a red gold bead hairpin. The other party didn't look like an ordinary nun in her clothes, but she seemed to be more respectful and even humble than the servants.
The thoughts just passed by in a flash, and Nangong Yue didn't pay much attention to it.
Mrs. Yan was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled, "Concubine Shizi, it's a coincidence. The concubine came here today to pray for the dog's brother Jun who went to war..." As she spoke, she deliberately turned to the man on the right. The woman in the rust-colored gown took a look, "Brother Jun's aunt still plans to stay in the temple to chant scriptures and pray for Brother Jun."
Mrs. Yan looked at the woman with a touch of contempt in her eyes. The concubine Shizi didn't give her face, she didn't dare to do anything, and she couldn't interfere with Yan Xijun's future, but a mere aunt was allowed to be squeezed in her hands, and she was justified!
The woman responded with a terrified blessing, "It's Madam who thinks highly of slaves."
"It's Aunt Sun's blessing to be able to share my worries for my wife and pray for my third brother." A thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl in Cuiyi on Madam Yan's left also nodded and said.
Hearing that this Aunt Sun was Yan Xijun's aunt, Nangong Yue took a second look at her. The other party looked less than forty, with fair skin and beautiful appearance. It can be imagined that she must have been extremely beautiful when she was young, but because she bowed her body for many years, Her demeanor seemed a bit submissive.
As Nangong Yue, she naturally wouldn't greet an aunt, she said flatly, "Since Mrs. Yan is here to pray for blessings, please do what you want." She dismissed Mrs. Yan casually.
"The concubine will not bother the concubine and Miss Xiao." Madam Yan blessed her back again, and walked away with her head held high, supported by the girl in Cuiyi and surrounded by the servants.
Nangong Yue and Xiao Fei carried Xiao Xiao Yu in their arms and went back the same way, walking towards the gate of the Great Buddha Temple.
As Que'er was walking, he couldn't help but glanced at the direction Mrs. Yan was leaving, and then sighed in a low voice: "Concubine Shizi, I have long heard that the first wife of the Yan family is very strict with the concubine's room... It is really famous. Why don't we meet!"