Jiuxi

Chapter 501 499 [Weiweihu]

Heluo City, western suburbs.

A dozen tall horses galloped through the mountains and fields, and in front of them was a frightened wild deer that fled.

The leading knight urged the horse to speed up. When it was close to a reasonable distance, she tightened the reins and slowed down. Then she picked up the long bow hanging on the horse's belly and took out a long arrow from the quiver on her back.

The bow is like the full moon, and the arrow is like a shooting star.

The wild deer fell down at the sound, and the long arrow hit it in the neck.

"Good archery!"

The fourth prince in the rear, Ali Hehaige, raised his hands in praise, and the guards next to him also showed admiration.

Qingyu Huaijin smiled slightly, turned around and said, "Your Highness is so complimentary."

One of the guards rode forward to pick up the prey. The others saw Qingyu Huaijin and the fourth prince moving forward slowly, and they knew it and fell behind.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for taking the time to accompany me out hunting."

The scenery in winter was desolate and cold. Although Qingyu Huaijin's tone was calm, he could hear a hint of uncommon fatigue.

The fourth prince was very aware of the martial arts skills of the women around him. After all, they had grown up together and were almost as old as each other, so they knew everything about them.

For Qingyu Huaijin, who has been taught by his father since he was a child and has extraordinary talent in martial arts, a mere hunt will never make him feel tired.

In fact, when they met her a few days ago, the fourth prince vaguely noticed that she was a little different from before.

No matter when or where in the past, even when Qingyu Huaijin had just experienced the humiliation of being captured and returned to the capital from Heluo City, the fourth prince did not see that obvious look of decadence on her body. A little more restrained than before.

When they met in Heluo City this time, the fourth prince found that her mood was very depressed, the kind of depression that could not be resolved at all, so he took the initiative to invite Qingyu Huaijin out of the city to hunt and relax.

Hearing her solemn thank you at this moment, the fourth prince said: "This word thank you is too foreign."

Qingyu Huaijin smiled and said, "That's right."

Although it was just two simple words, ripples suddenly appeared in the heart of the fourth prince.

When they were young, he, the prince, the third prince, and Qingyu Huaijin had a close relationship, but as they grew up, they inevitably became more and more distant.

The fourth prince could no longer remember the last time she was so gentle in front of him. He seemed to only have the respectful and honorable Princess Yongping in his memory.

He turned around and saw Qingyu Huaijin's black hair hanging casually behind her head, her profile like a crescent moon, and her bright eyes like the bright stars on the night sky.

"Is there any blind guy in most of the cities who has made you angry recently?"

The fourth prince suppressed the throbbing in his heart and asked with a smile.

Qingyu Huaijin lowered his head and eyebrows, shook his head and said: "How can there be such a fool who is not afraid of death?"

Her attitude became increasingly easy-going.

The fourth prince stopped probing and said bluntly: "Yongping, you and I grew up together and know each other's temperaments very well. I know that you must have something on your mind, and it seems to be troublesome. You might as well tell me what it is. Maybe I can help you solve it."

Qingyu Huaijin remained silent.

The fourth prince said anxiously: "Do you really not regard me as a friend now?"

Qingyu Huaijin denied: "Your Highness is serious. I have never had such thoughts."

The fourth prince sighed: "That's all, I know that in your heart, I can't compare to His Highness the Crown Prince and the Third Brother..."

"Your Highness!"

Qingyu Huaijin slightly emphasized his tone and said sternly: "Am I the kind of person who, in His Highness's eyes, takes advantage of the high and takes advantage of the low?"

The fourth prince was suffocated, and then said helplessly: "How could I look at you like that? I've never seen you so depressed before, so I really want to help you."

At this moment, Qingyu Huaijin felt a little hesitant - it was not the hesitation she pretended on her face. After a moment of silence, she said softly: "I can tell His Highness, but you have to promise me not to tell anyone about this."

The fourth prince said solemnly: "Definitely."

Qingyu Huaijin looked up at the sky and said slowly: "Not long ago, the Queen summoned me to the palace. She said she had found a match for me."

This sentence exploded in the mind of the fourth prince like thunder. He frowned and asked: "The queen wants to marry you? Who is the man?"

Qingyu Huaijin sighed softly: "Your Highness, of course I can only be the concubine."

The fourth prince could not help but fall into silence.

Although he had a simple temperament, he was born into an imperial family, and he quickly figured out that this matter had nothing to do with his mother, and must have been his father's instruction.

The reason why the father did this is not difficult to guess. Qingyu Huaijin will definitely get married. No matter who she marries, the Qingyu family will get a strong boost. And if she is promised to another prince, she will also have a strong influence on the prince. Nalan's position poses a threat.

Based on this calculation, her only destination is to be the crown prince's concubine, at least from the perspective of Emperor Jing, there is no other choice.

The fourth prince looked at Qingyu Huaijin's fair profile and summoned up the courage to ask, "Are you willing?"

Qingyu Huaijin laughed at himself and said, "Your Highness, my wishes are not important at all." The fourth prince insisted, "I just want to know, are you willing?"

This time it was Qingyu Huaijin's turn to be silent. After a long time, she shook her head and whispered: "I don't want to. It has nothing to do with His Royal Highness. I just don't want to get married for the time being. But I know that I can't say this reason, otherwise it will misunderstand the Queen. . My father can't refuse it. This is a favor given by His Majesty to the Qingyu family. I can't make things worse because of my willfulness. "

The fourth prince said slowly: "You are right, some things should not be too willful. After all, you are not just yourself, but you also have to take into account the situation of the prince and the Qingyu family."

He looked straight at the winding mountains and rivers ahead, his eyes extremely firm.

……

Early the next morning, Zhuoyuan.

Qingyu Huaijin had just finished washing when he heard the maid's announcement and hurried to the outer room of Lan Xuetang.

"Greetings to my father."

She looked at her father, who was dressed in regular clothes, with a hint of confusion on her face.

Qing Yugong nodded, walked to the table and sat down, and said calmly: "His Royal Highness the Fourth just found me and said that he had to go back to Dadu for urgent matters, and then he would immediately return north with more than ten soldiers."

Qingyu Huaijin bit her lips lightly.

Qing Yugong looked up at her and said warmly: "You guys went hunting together in the western suburbs yesterday, and he felt uneasy when he came back. Huaijin, what happened?"

Although he is in Heluo and does not know anything about Dadu's affairs, judging from the recent intelligence received, Dadu is calm and the government is stable and orderly.

Qingyu Huaijin sat down opposite him, first pushed away all the maids, and then said softly: "Father, I provoked him on purpose."

Qing Yugong's eyes narrowed slightly. After listening to her next narration, he couldn't help but sigh: "I'm busy with military affairs these days. Although I knew you were not in a good mood, I didn't pay too much attention to it. I didn't expect that to be the case. Huai. Jin, since you don’t want to accept His Majesty’s offer of marriage, why don’t you just tell me?”

Qingyu Huaijin didn't answer.

Qing Yugong then asked: "Do you think I will definitely accept His Majesty's will?"

Qingyu Huaijin said softly: "My daughter has never doubted her father's care, but this matter is just a marriage on the surface, but in fact it is related to... In short, my daughter does not want to embarrass her father, and does not want to see the Qingyu family fall into crisis. , but my daughter doesn’t want to marry the prince, so she can only try this method.”

"Silly boy."

Qing Yugong smiled helplessly.

Qing Yu Huaijin raised his head, his big eyes showing a hint of uneasiness.

Qing Yugong continued: "You deliberately let His Highness the Fourth know about this and asked him to go to Dadu to compete with His Majesty. This method cannot be said to be unsmart, but do you know what consequences it may lead to in the end?"

"I……"

"Originally it was just a simple rejection of marriage, but you turned it into a conflict between the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness. What do you think Your Majesty will think? Does he think this is Qing Yu's attempt to provoke conflict among the princes of the Tian family? ? Not to mention that the Fourth Highness is now with your father, and I watched him run back to Dadu to make trouble with His Majesty? "

Qingyu Huaijin was horrified and quickly stood up and said: "Father, I was wrong. I will go after the Fourth Highness right now."

"No need."

Qing Yugong shook his head and said calmly: "Although he is a distinguished prince, he is now a soldier under my command. He cannot leave the military camp without my permission. Just now I asked him what the big deal was, and he hesitated to say anything. I knew it was probably related to you, so I asked Shu Bulie to look at him, and I came to you to ask."

Qingyu Huaijin said guiltily: "Father, I have been thinking about this method for a long time..."

"Sit down and talk."

Qing Yugong raised his hand and pressed it softly, his expression becoming gentler: "I don't blame you. But I hope that no matter what difficulties you encounter next time, you can't hide it in your heart. You are not alone. You have me and your mother. Your elder brother and younger brothers have the support of so many people in the Qingyu family."

"Yes, Father."

Qing Yu Huaijin breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Then how should I deal with this matter?"

Qing Yugong smiled and said: "You are so firmly opposed to His Majesty's marriage. Do you have someone you like in your heart?"

Qingyu Huaijin shook his head and said resolutely: "No, I just don't want to get married for the time being. I want to stay at home for a few more years."

Qing Yugong pondered for a moment and said slowly: "If that's the case, then I won't marry."

"But what the Queen said was clearly His Majesty's instruction..."

"Huaijin, you have to remember that you don't ask for much as a father in this life. Firstly, there are successors to the Qingyu family's inheritance. Secondly, you and Zhong hope that they will be safe and happy. This is the root of my dedication to the court. "

Qing Yugong stood up and said calmly: "If you want to use your lifelong happiness in exchange for certain benefits, why should I plan so painstakingly? You don't have to worry about this. I will write a letter of polite refusal and send it to the emperor. Your Majesty will not veto it.”

There were tears in Qingyu Huaijin's eyes.

Qing Yugong smiled slightly, raised his hand to rub her hair, and then walked out.

"Since you don't want to go back to Dadu, just live in Zhuoyuan. Don't think nonsense. My father and brother will handle all troubles."

Qingyu Huaijin looked at his back and solemnly saluted: "Yes, father."

(End of this chapter)