The road from Xiaochuncheng to Dingjing is long and high, and it takes half a year to travel thousands of miles. Shen Xin set off on the road on the second day after receiving the imperial edict. There were also Luo Ling and Luo Tan.
Luo Ling was sent by Luo Sui. As the eldest grandson of the Luo family, Luo Ling would support the entire Luo family in the future. Luo Sui meant to let Luo Ling follow him to Dingjing for training, and to understand the current situation of Ming Qi by the way. Luo Sa had to stay in Xiaochun City to continue training the Luo Family Army with the elders.
Luo Tan and Luo Qian could not have gone with them originally, but who knew that Luo Tan secretly climbed into the carriage, hid in the box behind the carriage, and then suddenly got out halfway along the way. At that time, it was too late to drive her away, so they had to send a letter back and take Luo Tan to the Ding capital.
Luo Tan was full of yearning for the Ding capital and repeatedly assured that no trouble would be caused, and finally walked with Shen Miao and the others.
In addition to the front of the Shen family army that he brought back, this time Shen Xin also brought some members of the Luo family army. This part of the people was personally trained by Shen Xin and Shen Qiu, and they were also the most elite people. Each of them could be counted as a small head in other teams. This one is not much in essence, it was cultivated by Shen Xin himself and followed by his side in the name of guard.
Starting from the spring, until the late autumn season, the green trees along the way have turned into dead leaves, swaying along the wind and falling into the soil. When the group started to add clothes, they were about to reach the Ding capital.
The sky was getting dark, and the group rested in the inn outside the city. Shen Qiu said, "We will enter the city tomorrow morning, and Jieshi will find a house to live in first."
When he left, the Shen family was still divided, so it was naturally impossible to return to the Shen residence.
When they were in the Luo family before, Luo Xueyan had told Luo Sui about the separation of the family, and Luo Ling and Luo Tan were not surprised. Luo Tan raised her cheeks and said yearningly, "Auntie and Uncle, shall we find a lively place to live? I've never been to the Ding capital. If you find a house, it will be lively as soon as you go out, that's great. "
Luo Xueyan smiled and said, "It used to be the busiest place in the east of the city, but we haven't been back for two years. I don't know if it's changed now."
"Is it easy?" Luo Tan asked the little Er who was serving the food, "This little brother, do you know where the busiest place in Ding capital is?"
The young man didn't know the identity of their group, but he just saw that they were carrying so many people and wearing fine clothes, especially the little girl sitting in the middle, who was young but had a great bearing. The lady of the noble man's house. He did not dare to neglect immediately, and replied enthusiastically: "Miss, there are many lively places in Dingjing. The east and south of the city are very lively. There are many shops in the east of the city, and it is convenient for the girl to buy some rouge gouache. If you want something to eat, go to the south of the city."
Luo Tan was obviously not satisfied with this answer, she wrinkled her nose and said, "That's it?"
Afraid of making her unhappy, Xiao Er thought about it, and then said: "If the girl really wants to be lively, she should go to the south of the city. Recently, people from the Qin State and the Great Liang Dynasty came, and the emperor gave them Yanqing Lane in the south of the city. I live in the mansion. Yanqing Lane is just south of the city."
"What is Yanqing Lane?" Luo Tan asked.
"Yanqing Lane is the most expensive piece of land in the Ding capital," Shen Qiu explained, "It's a good place that no royal family can live in. Even a few princes have never lived in that place when they left the palace. , only the old uncle lived in Yanqing Lane for a while."
Luo Tan was surprised at first: "This Yanqing Lane is so expensive." Then she was a little disappointed: "But it's so expensive, we can't afford to buy a house there."
The little Er was shocked when he heard the words, and looked at Luo Tan carefully. This place in Yanqing Lane is not to mention buying a house, even if they live in it for a few days, they are all phoenix hair water chestnut. bumpkin.
“It doesn’t matter,” Shen Miao said, “There is a street next to Yanqing Lane, adjacent to the restaurant, it is outside the alley, the price is not so expensive, one can afford it. It is not far from Yanqing Lane, retreat It’s good to have a second request.”
As soon as these words came out, Xiao Er was stunned again, and subconsciously said: "This lady is right, it is true."
"Jiaojiao also wants to watch the fun?" Shen Xin asked. Shen Miao is naturally not a person who likes to join in the fun, but saying this today seems to be somewhat interested.
“It feels a little fresh.” Shen Miao smiled.
“Okay, okay.” Luo Tan looked at Shen Miao with bright eyes: “Little cousin, you are the best!” She thought that Shen Miao said this deliberately for her sake, and she was very grateful to Shen Miao.
Shen Miao raised her eyes to look at Dian Xiaoer: "Have the people from Qin and Liang Chao arrived?"
From the very beginning, Xiao Er never looked away from the youngest looking girl. She always felt that even the chair had become golden when she was sitting there. Hearing Shen Miao’s question, she immediately replied respectfully, “Yes. Just a few days after Ming Qi’s tribute, Qin and Great Liang sent people to congratulate them. Now these people are arranged to live in the mansion in Yanqing Lane.”
“Who did Qin State and Great Liang send here?” Shen Miao asked.
Xiao Er scratched his head: "The Qin country is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Ming An, and the Great Liang is Emperor Yongle's younger brother, His Royal Highness Prince Rui."
Shen Miao lowered her eyes and said, "Thank you."
After the second child left, Luo Ling asked, "What does my cousin think about the people from Qin and Great Liang?"
Shen Miao smiled, "It's nothing, I just think it's a little strange."
Luo Tan said with a smile: "No matter what, tomorrow we arrive at the Ding capital, and we can take a good look at the excitement."
…
In the palace of the Ding capital, the emperor's bedroom, the strong smell of medicine permeates the entire bedroom, and the incense lit in the incense burner makes people feel a kind of depression in their hearts.
On the dragon bed, Emperor Wen Hui was leaning on the couch with his eyes half closed, and the beauties in palace costumes beside him moved gently, feeding medicine spoon by spoon into his mouth. This person is none other than Concubine Dong Shu.
She fed it very patiently and carefully. Emperor Wen Hui could only eat a small spoonful of it at a time, so she blew a small spoonful of it cold, and after trying it was not hot, she slowly fed it into Emperor Wen Hui's mouth. While feeding, he lightly patted Emperor Wen Hui's back, making his breathing easier.
After finally bending over to finish feeding, Concubine Dong Shu picked out a candied fruit from the enamel bowl on one side and stuffed it into Emperor Wen Hui's mouth. Emperor Wen Hui frowned, and after swallowing the last trace of bitterness in his mouth, he said, "It's hard for you to remember this."
"Your Majesty is not afraid of hardship, it's your concubine who is afraid of hardship," Concubine Dong Shu smiled softly, "Your Majesty, just look at your concubine's face and eat a little of this fruit."
Emperor Wen Hui was amused by her, his eyes softened a bit, and he said, "In this palace, you still understand my heart the most."
In two years, a lot can change. No matter how fierce Emperor Wen Hui was, he was still no match for the erosion of time. What's more, he has so many younger, stronger and more ambitious sons than him. Internally and externally, the situation was critical. He was much older, and his body was gradually becoming more ill.
The crown prince's condition is also in jeopardy, and the prince's faction is gradually lost. Zhou Wangjing Wang is aggressive, Xuan Wangli is covetous, and even taking Emperor Wenhui to see the women in the harem is very tired. At this time, the indisputable Concubine Dong Shu and Prince Ding Fu Xiu Yi caught his eye.
The emperor is most at ease with such unambitious sons and women. When Emperor Wen Hui was ill, Concubine Dong Shu was the one who most loved to summon him to serve him. Under such a holy family, Concubine Dong Shu was still as cautious as usual, and she would not take the initiative to talk to Emperor Wen Hui about the king's affairs. Emperor Wen Hui was even more satisfied. Occasionally, she would talk to Concubine Dong Shu about some unpleasant things in the courtroom.
"The tribute is about to begin." Emperor Wen Hui sighed: "The messenger said that Shen Xin will return to Beijing in the next few days. I expelled him two years ago, I'm afraid he still has resentment in his heart. It's urgent, I will never lead a wolf into the room."
"Your Majesty," said Concubine Dong Shu with a smile, "General Shen is your subject, and naturally he wants to do things for you. You can do whatever you want him to do. Why does Your Majesty torture yourself?"
"Cofficiary?" Emperor Wen Hui sneered: "This subject is more prestigious than I, how can I believe that he wants to be a subject. The same is true for Xie Ding back then, but he lost his son, and now the Xie family is vulnerable. I'm not too lazy to kill them all. This Shen family, once the tribute has passed, still... I always feel uneasy."
Concubine Dong Shu didn't speak anymore. At this time, if she spoke, it would be possible for the harem to interfere in politics. So he lowered his head and said nothing, just fiddling with the enamel bowl.
In the Shufang Palace of Concubine Dong Shu, there is also one person standing at the moment. That person was dressed in splendid clothes and with a high crown, and he was born with a stern and splendid appearance. It was Fu Xiu Yi. Compared with two years ago, he seemed more stable and mature, with an indescribable demeanor.
"Shen Xin is resting outside the city today, and will enter the capital tomorrow morning." The guard in front of him bowed and whispered to him.
Fu Xiu Yi clenched the cup in his hand and didn't know what he was thinking. After a while, he suddenly showed a smile: "Mr. Pei has a clever plan, he is right, he will be in Beijing tomorrow..." He said, "Go on, the city gate guards will listen to the order. Now, when Shen Xin returns to Beijing, he will be greeted all over the city."
The guards bowed their hands and said yes, and hurriedly withdrew.
Fu Xiu Yi stood with his hands behind his back, a hint of deepness flashed across his face. Two years ago, the Shen family took a stab at the bottom of the pot, disrupting all his plans. Now that he was back in Dingjing, Fu Xiu Yi had a feeling that this was also a move planned by the Shen family. Perhaps Shen Xin knew long ago that he would return to Beijing, so he was so dashing and decisive when he left that day.
That being the case, how about roasting the Shen family on the red fire again? How about letting the Shen family be a target, and letting Emperor Wen Hui, Zhou Wang's faction, Li Wang's faction, and even Qin Guo and Great Liang keep their eyes on Shen Xin's fat? He is always a very vengeful person, and he hates being played with and applauded.
If they dared to plot against him, Fu Xiu Yi, the Shen family would have to pay the price.
…
Early the next morning, Shen Xin and his party set off again. Starting from this inn, you can reach the Ding capital before noon. Since we still have to find a house, the sooner the better.
When they arrived at the city gate of Ding capital, the guards who guarded the city gate saw Shen Xin's waist badge, and immediately became awe-inspiring, "So it's General Shen!"
Luo Tan said, "Uncle, they seem to respect you very much. It seems that Uncle has a great official position."
Shen Qiu and Shen Miao frowned at the same time. When they left the Ding capital that day, the guards looked at people with cold eyes, eager to get into trouble. The enthusiasm now is definitely not just because he needs to come back to deter those people in Qin. It's about... at the direction of someone.
Luo Tan lifted the curtain of the car and looked out, exclaiming, "This is the Ding capital, it's so lively and lively, there are many more people than Xiaochuncheng. Ah, little cousin, the girls here are so beautiful, how can they be so smart? My God, even the son and brother are in vain | tender and tender."
She was so noisy that people close to her heard it and turned to look this way. I don't care, I exclaimed when I saw it: "It's General Shen, General Shen is back!"
General Shen is back!
Shen Xin was already well-known among the people of Ming Qi. In the past two years, the Xie family had an accident and the Shen family had also moved out, which really gave life a sadness of a hero's end. Even when the people of Qin and Great Liang came to Dingjing, they would suddenly feel a sense of inferiority that could not protect themselves. And the appearance of Shen Xin at this time undoubtedly gave the people a backbone, and more and more people gathered around, exclaiming, "General Shen is back!"
For a while, the cheering crowd almost blocked the entire road ahead of the carriage. Luo Tan covered her mouth: "My God, my uncle has such a high reputation in the hearts of these people."
Luo Ling and others outside looked a little embarrassed. It is a good thing to be welcomed by someone, and it is not a bad thing to be sought after. Shen Xin always looks like this when he returns to Beijing triumphantly every year. But now Shen Xin didn't come back with a full body of merit, but was recalled by the emperor two years after he was expelled from Beijing. The louder the people's cheers, the louder the slap on the face of Emperor Wen Hui. This is not what he is doing to Emperor Wen Hui.
Inside the carriage, Luo Xueyan and Shen Miao also had a slightly gloomy expression. Especially Shen Miao, her eyes suddenly turned cold. Only Luo Tan didn't know what was going on, and was wholeheartedly rejoicing at Shen Xin's prestige.
The road was blocked like this, so Shen Xin had to ask the guards around him to explain to the people that, although the people heard the words, although they were still standing on both sides of the street to watch, they were not as excited as before, so they moved out of the way.
Mo Qing and A Zhi first rode their horses to find the house, just as Shen Miao said that there was a street next to Yanqing Lane in the south of the city and the house was not bad. Now Shen Xin spent a lot of money when he reorganized the Luo Family Army, and his money was not as rich as before. Even so, Shen Miao wanted to live in the house in the south of the city, but Shen Xin agreed without saying a word.
The carriage drove to the south of the city.
The closer you are to Yanqing Lane, the fewer people there are. Just because most of the people living around Yanqing Lane are high-ranking officials, either rich or expensive, ordinary people with flat heads cannot afford to live on that land. The people who had just come to greet them also dispersed a lot when they got here, and the carriage ran smoothly. Mo Qing and the others soon came back to report that they had found a house, and they should live in it first, and then talk about silver taels later. The original owner of the mansion, in the name of the newcomer Shen Xin, did not ask for much money to be mortgaged.
When there was only one wall away from Yanqing Lane, there was a sudden gust of wind outside, which was not biased and just happened to blow away the curtain of the carriage Shen Miao was sitting on, quickly blowing the curtain of the carriage, and then falling down very quickly.
Shen Miao's eyes narrowed slightly, Luo Tan saw this and asked, "What's wrong?"
Shen Miao glanced at the carriage curtain, shook her head and said, "It's nothing." But she was secretly alert, just for a moment, she actually felt that she was being watched. That kind of attention is very uncomfortable.
On a tall building in the distance, a young man and a woman holding a jade flute stood side by side. The girl was born like a flower like jade, a golden dress, big eyes and a small mouth, and a whole body of jewels. These vulgar jewelry did not feel ugly when she fell on her body, but made her a kind of delicate beauty. She glanced at the carriage in the distance, and said disdainfully, "Is this the Shen family of the mighty general? Such great prestige is nothing more than that."
The man beside her was in his early twenties, and he looked a bit like her. He was handsome, but because his nose was slightly hooked, the whole person was a little bit more hostile. He smiled: "It's not a simple thing that can make Ming Qi's royal family jealous."
"Brother Prince is joking again." The girl's brows were wide-eyed and she looked arrogant, "In the beginning, the Xie family of the Marquis of Lin'an was also lawless, and now it is not like a bereaved dog. Then Xie Jing Xing has not even left a whole corpse, be safe The Shen family is not allowed to be the second Xie family."
The man smiled, but did not continue what the woman said.
On the other side, someone was leaning on the top of the building, and the lush evergreen tree covered half of his figure, only revealing the horns of the golden robe on one side, and one hand held the tea cup in front of him. , the whole hand is like a good product carved out of jade. Holding the tea cup close to his mouth, he followed his beautifully shaped chin. The thin lips were slightly red, and they looked a bit moist because of the tea, but they were even more fascinating.
He slowly curved the corners of his lips.
…
The house Mo Qing was looking for was separated from Yanqing Lane by a street, and turned a hutong, where the most lively restaurants and shops in the south of the city were endless, and the location was very good. The owner was also very talkative, Luo Xueyan and Shen Xin were both straightforward people, and the price offered by the owner was fair, so he bought the land deed that night and changed the house to the owner.
As a result, this end had just settled down, and there was an eunuch in the palace with an imperial decree that Shen Xin should enter the palace to face the Holy Spirit the next day. Emperor Wen Hui was so impatient, it was obvious that the situation was really critical now. He received the imperial decree and was busy moving the things. It was already late. They all go to rest.
Shen Miao and Luo Tan lived in the adjacent courtyard. The house here is not as spacious as the General's Mansion, but it can be regarded as neat and clean, with a unique shape. It's just that Shen Xin and Shen Qiu felt a little regretful that they couldn't train in the yard. Luo Xueyan and Luo Tan were still extremely satisfied, Shen Miao didn't care about these, naturally there was no objection.
As a result, at night, Luo Tan slipped into Shen Miao's room again to speak.
Luo Tan sat on Shen Miao’s couch wrapped in a cloak and said, “Little cousin, I can’t sleep, please come and talk with me.”
“What do you want to say.” Shen Miao asked Jing Zhe and the others to withdraw, and cut the wick of the oil lamp a little bit shorter. At this moment, she had no intention of sleeping, so she casually found a book on the table and turned it over, but did not read it seriously.
"I didn't expect Dingjing to look like this." Luo Tan couldn't tell whether he was disappointed or happy: "I grew up in Xiaochun City, and I thought it was the same outside as Xiaochun City. It's even bigger and more lively. Little cousin, I'm still a little scared."
The lawless eldest lady of the Luo family would also have a day of fear, Shen Miao smiled, "What's so scary about this."
"Of course I'm afraid of being alone. Although Brother Ling is there, this is not the familiar Xiaochun City. Little cousin, have you ever felt this kind of fear? Back then, my aunt and uncle were in the northwest and left you alone. When you were in the Ding capital, were you afraid?"
“There is nothing to be afraid of.” Shen Miao replied lightly. It wasn't scary for her to stay in the Shen residence, because in her eyes, the people in the Shen residence were relatives who could be trusted. I don't know why I'm not afraid, just like Luo Tan said, I'm afraid because I'm alone... . Wasn't that true when he was in Qin State
Thinking of the Qin country, Shen Miao's eyes flashed and she suddenly thought of what Xiao Er said today. People from Qin and Great Liang came. At this time in her previous life, she met the Prince of Qin and the people of Great Liang when she was paying tribute. At that time, Great Liang had already had stupid ambitions, and the Ming Qi royal family had always been afraid. In order to check and balance Great Liang, Ming Qi and Qin State have been testing each other, until Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne, Qin State and Ming Qi formed an alliance and asked her, the queen, to go to Qin State as a hostage... . And the Prince of Qin, Huangfu Hao, is a very vicious and vicious person, and for some reason, he always likes to fight against her, and Princess Ming An is even more arrogant and terrifying. Many of her difficult and humiliating days in Qin were thanks to the two brothers and sisters.
As for Prince Rui of Great Liang... . Shen Miao frowned, when Ming Qi paid tribute, the envoy sent by the Great Liang Dynasty did not seem to be this Prince Rui. It was another royal relative. This Prince Rui's reputation had spread far and wide. He was the younger brother of Emperor Yongle, but he didn't show up much in the royal family, and the outside world knew nothing about him. Shen Miao was the Empress of Ming Qi in her previous life and knew very little about this Prince Rui, and Fu Xiu Yi did not mention this person much.
After all, something has changed.
Luo Tan did not notice Shen Miao's trance and said to herself, "I originally thought that if I go to the Ding capital in my lifetime, I must visit the young marquis of the Xie family of the Marquis of Lin'an in Ming Qi, I never thought about it. Now it's here, but I can't see it again." Speaking of this, there was a bit of sadness: "Why don't you know when I'm here to meet you?"
Shen Miao was stunned for a moment, but the figure that she seldom remembered in the past two years gradually became clear in her mind. Fang returned to the Ding capital to find a servant from the original house to talk about what happened in the past two years. The Marquis of Lin'an was one of the major events. Since the death of Xie Jingxing, the strength of the Xie family's army has been severely damaged, and Xie Ding has aged ten years overnight. Xie Ding originally asked Emperor Wenhui to resign, but Emperor Wenhui did not allow it. Although Xie Ding still maintains his official position, he has no fighting spirit at all, and he spends his days in a daze. On the other hand, his two concubines were both in official positions. Although they were not very good officials in the court, they had good reputation. In a few years, they would be able to become the best among the younger generation of Ming Qi. .
However, when the news of Xie Jing Xing's death came back to the Ding capital, Princess Rong Xin went to the Marquis of Lin'an to make a scene. He yelled at Xie Ding for being ruthless and unrighteous, a good mansion without Princess Yuqing and without Xie Jing Xing was really a man-eating devil's den. Princess Rongxin was crying and angry, and almost smashed the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion. Then he became more and more reclusive, and he didn't come out very much.
In the past two years, the Su family that has been friends with the Marquis of Lin'an has also declined more and more, not to mention Su Yu, even the son of the family who had a bright future has gradually become quiet. In general, the decline of the Xie family was accompanied by the fall of Xie Jing Xing, and the people felt regretful when they mentioned it.
A romantic young man, resolute and heroic, he was heroic and vigorous on the battlefield, but he died tragically in the end. No wonder the girls in Ming Qi cried when they heard the news of Xie Jing Xing's death.
Shen Miao looked at the throbbing flames and closed her eyes, but in a blink of an eye she saw that Luo Tan was already lying on the couch and fell asleep.
…
Luo Xueyan combed her long hair with a comb. Although she was already the mother of two children, her hair was still black and shiny, and there was not a single white hair, which was worthy of a twenty-eight girl.
Shen Xin took off his heavy armor and heard Luo Xueyan say, "When I enter the palace tomorrow, I always feel like I'm falling down."
"What are you afraid of?" Shen Xin walked behind her, held her shoulders, and said with relief, "It's not the first time we've entered the palace. Could it be that you're afraid of music? Don't be afraid, I'm still here."
"I'm not afraid of this." Luo Xueyan rolled his eyes at him: "We're back this time, you and I know it well. The person in the palace is afraid that there is something in his heart. I told my father about this before, and my father said, I'm afraid that His Majesty will tie up our Shen family with something."
Shen Xin frowned, "What does Madam mean by this?"
"Jiaojiao and Qiu'er aren't married yet." Luo Xueyan reminded: "If they had been in Xiaochuncheng for the past two years, it would be fine if the two of them got married, but after all, it was a concern. But I didn't expect the emperor's The imperial decree came so quickly, and now that our Shen family has regained power, I am afraid that many people in Beijing are watching closely, will the emperor make a fuss about Qiuer and Jiaojiao's marriage in order to tie the Shen family?"
Shen Xin was startled: "How can this be done? Nonsense!" In any case, Shen Qiu and Shen Miao's marriage would never allow selfishness to be involved in politics in Shen Xin's eyes. Not to mention the use of their marriage to place the Shen family in other forces.
"Qiu'er is nothing, but I think Jiaojiao can't wait." Luo Xueyan said, "Jiaojiao is now sixteen, let's not talk about Xiaochuncheng, in Dingjing, this age is the age to say kiss. Said that after two years of kissing and reaching eighteen, marriage is just right. We have to settle for Jiaojiao when there is no news in the palace. "
"In such a hurry?" Shen Xin hesitated: "How can there be any good people around here? Not to mention knowing the character of the other party."
"What do you think..." Luo Xueyan looked at him: "How about Brother Ling?"