Jiuxi

Chapter 341 Chapter 339 [Princes of Da Qi]

Yongjia North Gate is under martial law today.

The people in the city did not panic, because the government had posted a notice two days ago that the border army general and Shanyang Marquis Lu Chen would return in triumph today with the spoils of the Northern Expedition, and the imperial court would send important ministers to greet him outside the north gate.

At this moment, important ministers gathered near the north gate. Except for the emperor who took pity on the old age of the left prime minister and specially allowed him to rest in the palace, all the others were present.

Led by Privy Envoy Guo Congyi, Right Prime Minister Xue Nanting, and General Wang Yan, civil and military officials gathered here.

However, the protagonists today are not them, but three young people sitting under the pavilion beside the road.

They all wore dark yellow robes, and their identities were self-evident.

Sitting in the middle is the eldest prince, King Chen Li Zongchao.

As the eldest son of Li Duan and Queen Xu, although he is not yet the crown prince, Li Zongchao's status in the hearts of some civil servants is very stable, because he very much meets the standards of a benevolent king, with a gentle and tolerant temperament and caring for the common people, unlike the two. The prince is too chic and elegant, and he doesn't have the arrogant and domineering habits of the third prince.

In today's solemn and solemn occasion, the eldest prince was particularly calm and steady. On the contrary, the third prince sitting on his right seemed restless, tilting his body for a while and looking around.

"Third brother, don't be impatient."

After Li Zongchao endured it for a long time, he finally couldn't help but remind him.

The third prince was named Li Zongjian, but I don't know if he got the name wrong. He was not easy at all when he was a child, and he would cause some troubles every now and then.

The winter before last, because he stood up for Li Sanlang Li Yunyi, he publicly bullied Lu Chen in Jingshui Tower. Although there was no big trouble, he was still banned for half a year by the angry emperor.

When the confinement order was just lifted, Li Zongjian was honest for more than half a month, but he soon returned to his old ways, wandering around all day long, looking like a ridiculous prince.

Hearing the eldest prince's admonition, Li Zongjian couldn't help curling his lips and said: "Brother, if it weren't for the emperor father's decree, I really wouldn't be interested in welcoming that guy. And to be honest, if you really want to choose a prince to welcome him, let me be the one to greet him. It’s enough for the incompetent one to come here, but how can the eldest brother and the second brother of labor come to each other in person? Is he worthy?"

There was no one around, and Li Zongjian did not raise his voice deliberately, so only the three brothers could hear what he said.

The eldest prince frowned slightly and said, "Don't talk nonsense. If your father hears it, you will definitely be grounded for two or three years."

Li Zongjian said lazily: "I'm not stupid, how could I say this in front of my father, unless someone informs me."

The second prince and Prime Minister Li Zongben, who had been leisurely lost in thought before, heard this and chuckled: "Third brother, who do you think will inform?"

"do not know."

Li Zongjian shook his head and said rather bachelorly: "It won't be the eldest brother anyway."

The eldest prince sighed helplessly.

It's not that he can't show off his eldest brother's dignity, but the relationship between the princes is already very sensitive. In addition, the third child is very fond of the queen, and he usually has the kind of careless temperament that makes it clear that he has no intention of competing for the throne. , It is really a piece of meat that is not stingy.

If he is too harsh on him, there will be criticism from both the government and the public.

The second prince seemed to have long been accustomed to the third brother's unabashed words, and said calmly: "Since the third brother said so, I will go to the palace later to see my father and tell him exactly what the third brother said."

Li Zongjian choked, then smiled and said, "Second brother, I was just joking."

The second prince Feng Qingyun smiled lightly: "Me too."

The eldest prince, who was sitting in the middle, sighed in his heart, this was probably just tofu cooked in brine.

The second prince, Li Zongben, was the son of Concubine Liu Shu, and Li Zongjian, like him, was the Queen's biological child. However, Li Zongben respected him as the eldest son, while Li Zongjian, who was from the same mother, was always wanton and wanton in front of him.

And Li Zongben could suppress Li Zongjian easily and freely. This is the weird relationship between the three princes.

The eldest prince didn't want to listen to the nonsense of his two younger brothers. Thinking of Li Zongjian's previous words, he reminded him seriously: "Third brother, when the border troops arrive in Beijing, you must not embarrass them, otherwise my father will never spare you." ."

Li Zongjian said angrily: "Brother, I'm not that stupid. Having said that, I didn't deliberately bury Lu Chen. I really don't understand why my father values ​​him so much. I know that he made great contributions in the Northern Expedition, but today What kind of battle is it? In addition to the emperor father and the left prime minister, all the dignitaries in the capital are gathered here. Does Lu Chen really have such dignity? "

The eldest prince explained patiently: "My father is not only giving Lu Chen dignity. Duke Rong Guo has to stay in the frontier and is not allowed to return to the capital. The other generals in the frontier army are not qualified. Lu Chen is returning to the capital on behalf of hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the frontier army. Father. The reason why we and the princes of the court are here to greet us is to commend all the frontier soldiers for their service, not just Lu Chen."

Li Zongjian smacked his lips and finally stopped complaining.

The second prince on the other side looked into the distance and said leisurely: "Here he comes."

On the official road to the north, more than ten riders came galloping towards the pavilion. They were still more than twenty feet away from the pergola, so they dismounted and walked. When they came closer, they bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, the border army's convoy has arrived five miles away and is about to arrive." arrival!"

"understood."

The eldest prince responded lightly, then stood up and said to the two younger brothers: "Let's go forward to greet them."

The second prince stood up with a smile on his face. Li Zongjian shrugged and followed reluctantly.

The three princes went first, with Xue Nanting and Guo Congyi lined up on the left and right. The other officials stood in order according to their civil and military distinctions and ranks. Everyone walked forward slowly on the official road to show the emperor's courtesy to the meritorious soldiers of the border army.

When the first row of frontier cavalry appeared in sight, the third prince Li Zongjian narrowed his eyes slightly, and a cold light flashed deep in his eyes.

The eldest prince sighed in his heart. The appearance of the soldiers of the border army was indeed different from that of the Beijing army. Even if he couldn't see clearly from a distance, he could still feel the fierce and murderous aura. Immediately afterwards, all the frontier cavalry dismounted. As the distance between the two sides became closer and closer, the three princes saw the vigorous posture of the young general leading the horse.

When they were still more than twenty feet apart, the frontier cavalry stopped in unison, and the huge convoy behind them also gradually stopped. Then they saw the young general bowing and saying loudly: "Your Majesty, Lu Chen. My Emperor’s Holy Peace!”

The second prince saw this and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

The three of them continued to move forward, followed only by Xue Nanting and more than a dozen important ministers, while the other officials stopped where they were.

When he got closer, the young general still maintained his bowing posture.

The eldest prince calmed down his mind and said loudly: "On the order of my father, I, the king, took my two royal brothers and the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty out of the city to welcome the soldiers of the border army who have served the country and made many meritorious deeds! Today's glory is a reward for the country and the court. Your achievements should be praised all over the world and envoys should hear about them!"

Lu Chen saluted again and said, "On behalf of the officers and soldiers of the border army, I would like to thank your Majesty for your grace!"

The eldest prince slowly stepped forward, supported Lu Chen's arms with his own hands, and said warmly: "I have heard about Shanyang Marquis's various deeds for a long time. When I saw him today, I realized that there are no deceitful people under his great reputation. He is indeed a talented person and very handsome."

Lu Chen felt a soft yet tough force hold up his hands, and couldn't help but feel his heart move slightly. He responded calmly: "Your Highness is so complimentary that I am extremely frightened."

This eldest prince seems to be inconspicuous, but he actually has strong martial arts.

What made Lu Chen even more surprised was that the other party didn't hide it at all and revealed this little secret to him in just a simple contact.

The eldest prince smiled lightly, retracted his hands very naturally, and said: "No need to be too modest, Marquis Shanyang. You were able to face tens of thousands of Jing's troops at the border with ease, and destroyed the enemy in the midst of laughter and laughter. How could you do it because of my words?" Afraid? If it spreads out, wouldn’t it be easy for the world to misunderstand that this king intends to bully the great hero of the country? "

His words were naturally a joke, and only with his status could he joke on such an occasion.

Lu Chen said calmly: "Your Highness is here today on behalf of Your Majesty. I dare not be rude in the slightest."

The eldest prince was a little disappointed. Although he was not very eager to make friends with generals, Lu Chen was too young. If nothing unexpected happened, he would become the minister of the next emperor of Da Qi. Therefore, he showed his goodwill one after another. However, this man had a bright future. Yuanda's frontier general seemed not to understand his intentions at all, which made him feel like he was playing the piano to a cow.

However, his palace was very deep and there was nothing unusual on his face. He immediately introduced Lu Chen: "He is my second brother, Prime Minister Li Zongben."

Lu Chen saluted and said, "I have met His Highness the Second Highness."

The second prince accepted the gift with ease and ease, then unexpectedly returned the gift and explained smoothly: "Don't be surprised, Marquis Shanyang. This gift from my king is a tribute to the soldiers of the border army who sacrificed their lives for the country."

Lu Chen glanced at him without trace. He had red lips, white teeth, and a suave person. He did not look like a noble prince from the Tian family, but rather like an aloof literary maniac.

The eldest prince did not give them a chance to talk, and said: "This is my third brother, King Jian Li Zongjian. You have had some misunderstandings before, which must have been revealed long ago. Why not take advantage of this good day to shake hands and make peace."

Li Zongjian tried his best to control it, but his face was still a little ugly.

Lu Chen then said: "Your Highness is serious, the general is a minister, how can he stand side by side with the prince? As for those past events... Your Highness, there are many, must have been forgotten a long time ago, right?"

Although his tone was sincere, it sounded sarcastic to Li Zongjian, saying that he, a majestic prince, could do nothing against a border general, and instead received a half-year ban himself.

"The Marquis of Shanyang is a person who has made great contributions to the country, and I will naturally respect him."

Li Zongjian said lightly, any normal person could hear his dissatisfaction, let alone these elite people here?

Fortunately, the free-spirited third prince finally understood what the occasion was today and did not act recklessly. His tone was just slightly discordant.

There was a vague undercurrent surging in the field, but the eldest prince seemed unaware and said with a smile: "Okay, you can talk some other time. Shanyang Hou, except for the left prime minister who is ill and has returned to the mansion to recuperate, all the ministers from the court are here today. My father made it clear that this is to reward the soldiers of the border army, and I hope you can understand the imperial court’s intentions.”

Lu Chen followed the sound, stopped for a moment while meeting Xue Nanting's eyes, and then looked over one by one, and then found a strange Wu Xun standing next to Liu Shouguang.

He had not seen this person the last time he came to the capital.

Upon seeing this, the eldest prince said: "This is the new general of Nanya, Hou Yu, the Marquis of Nan'an."

Lu Chen nodded slightly.

He already knew about this person's existence from Li Jingda's mouth. When he met him for the first time today, he felt that this person was not a simple-minded character like Li Jingda.

When Lu Chen and these important ministers greeted each other one after another, the eldest prince smiled and said: "Marquis Shanyang, please follow me into the city."

Lu Chen turned sideways and said, "Your Highness, please."

The officials waiting in the south lined up on both sides of the official road and watched the three princes and the young general walking towards Yongjia City with attention and salute.

Hou Yu walked at the end of those important ministers. After walking dozens of steps, he glanced to the side as if unintentionally.

Li Shizhi, the Minister of Justice, lowered his head and lowered his eyebrows. He didn't seem to notice Hou Yu's gaze. He just brushed the hem of his clothes lightly.

Hou Yu's face was as calm as ever, and it was difficult to see the change of expression on his dark face.

Noticing Li Shizhi's simple movements, he immediately turned back to look at the young people in front of him, and sneered quietly in his heart.

　Hello book friends, Doumiao has something to do today, so I got up in the morning to write these two chapters and send them out, but I didn’t finish them at night.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)