Ajiu

Chapter 119 Half Step Away
Princess Ningshou was terrified when she heard this, "There is such a thing?" If this little girl from the Pei family was really taken away by the "insider of the draft", what happened afterwards is simply unimaginable.Princess Fushou was also dumbfounded, "These scoundrels are so courageous!" The prefect's daughter also dared to grab it, so arrogant.

King Wei snorted, "Those daring villains should be quartered by five horses and hacked into pieces! Beheading them for public display is really taking advantage of them. Brother, I have been angry for a long time, but my father forbids me to mess around and ordered me to write Got it right."

Human life is at stake, and all death sentences are not finally decided by local officials, and must be reported layer by layer, all the way to the emperor.Although the emperor could not scrutinize every death penalty case carefully, he had to read it and approve it before it could be implemented.Now that the emperor is old, he can no longer review the memorials in person, and most of them are represented by King Wei.Of course King Wei knew about this.

The prince's eyes flickered, "Xiao Shi, you are so devoted." It would be too cheap for them to beheaded for public display, Xiao Shi, how much hatred is in your heart.

Princess Ningshou and Princess Fushou felt that the atmosphere in the room seemed a bit heavy, so they interrupted with a smile, "Isn't that true, our little ten has no other preferences, but likes all kinds of strange stones. As for why we like all kinds of strange stones, everyone knows it well." It’s clear, isn’t it?” Joking with King Wei, he turned the topic back to Empress Zhang’s Qianqiu Festival, “Not only Xiao Shi is worried about the birthday gift, but we are also worried about it. I feel that nothing is worthy of my mother.” Empress Zhang has been Standing on the sidelines, listening to the two daughters' coquettish words, he smiled slightly, "Look, Xiao Shi, it's all because of you, and your two older sisters also want to blame birthday gifts." King Wei laughed at the two older sisters, "Okay, don't learn, Learn from bad ones!" Talking and laughing, the five mother and son enjoyed themselves happily.

The emperor's servant came, "His Royal Highness King Wei is called to see you." King Wei stood up helplessly, "Brother is back, is the hard work still mine? I go to the Qianqing Palace every day, and I can't understand what Dad said. , I was bored writing the first word word by word, extremely boring. I can’t be lazy, or else, dad will change to Xiao Shi.” Queen Zhang coaxed him, brothers and sisters persuaded him, but he was reluctant went.

Both Empress Zhang and the crown prince had serious expressions on their faces. Princess Ningshou left early on the pretext of having something to do at home.Princess Fushou followed closely behind, "Brother Xing is making a fuss, seeing that I won't go home, you should cry."

The youngest son left, and the two daughters also left. Empress Zhang sighed quietly, "I don't know what he thinks, you are back, or should Xiao Shi do everything for you? Could it be that he can't trust you so much. "

"He is reluctant to let go of power." The prince said briefly: "As long as he lives for a day, the empire will be firmly controlled by him, and no one else will be allowed to get involved."

Not even his own son, even his eldest son and heir.

As long as he lives for a day, he, the crown prince and prince, can only be a decoration.

"You don't want to have a quarrel with Xiao Shi." Queen Zhang said with some anxiety.Both of them are her own sons, and the palms and backs of their hands are full of flesh. If the elder son misunderstands the younger son, it will be terrible.

"No." The prince smiled, "Xiao Shi is just a spoiled child."

If Xiao Shi had ambitions, why did he mention in anger just now that he would be divided into quarters and cut into pieces by thousands of knives?He should follow his own words and angrily condemn those villains who "pretend to be servants".

Xiao Shi just didn't hide his thoughts at all. He just likes and cares about Junior Sister. He hates those who want to snatch Junior Sister away.Xiao Shi, he is still the same as when he was a child, clear and pure, it can be seen at a glance, he has not learned to hide his emotions.

Empress Zhang was very relieved, "As long as you and Xiao Shi are well, it will be fine."

Her concern is these two sons.

"When you come back, I can fall asleep." Empress Zhang looked tired, "When you were far away in Nanjing, I was really afraid that if something happened to him and you were far away, I don't know what would happen. Besides, when people get old, they tend to get confused, I am afraid that he will get confused, very afraid..."

It's not that he hasn't been confused.When he doted on a beauty, he wished he could pamper her to the top of his head, wished he could give her all the good things.Didn't he ever want to confer the title of imperial concubine on the Qiu family?If that was the case, there would be an extra queen in the palace, and that queen would have three biological children, so it would be strange if she could be too mediocre.

Empress Zhang was really afraid that the emperor would fall in love with someone again one day, so she tried her best to praise her, or revived her old love for Concubine Qiu, and then praised Concubine Qiu to the sky.A noble concubine who gave birth to three sons in a row is really too threatening and makes people worry too much.

The prince said gently: "Mother, don't be afraid, everything depends on me."

Empress Zhang nodded with tears in her eyes.

The army of the Northern Expedition fought successive victories in the northwest, and their morale was high.Among them, the frontier soldiers led by Chen Zhuang, the commander-in-chief of Ningxia, were particularly tough. They performed extraordinary feats. They not only wiped out the cavalry of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, but also captured the King Han and King Shan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty and hundreds of officials, and sent them to the capital.

These captives arrived in the suburbs of Beijing before Empress Zhang's Thousand Autumn Festival, and were grandly welcomed by the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, and the Governor's Mansion.The Ministry of War and the Governor's Mansion are of course proud of this victory, and the Ministry of Rites is also very happy. These prisoners came at the right time.How auspicious and festive it is when the Queen's Qianqiu Festival is approaching.

It was a tall young general with sharp eyes who escorted the prisoners to Beijing.He is Chen Lingyun, a military general under Chen Zhuang, and his own nephew. "The son of the general family, he has the style of his ancestors!" When the people from the Ministry of War and the Dudu's Mansion saw Chen Lingyun, they all smiled and praised him.

He who brings good news is always welcome.

Chen Lingyun's grandfather was the commander-in-chief of the army, but his father, Chen Yong, was raised by his mother-in-law, the wife, and never went to the battlefield.Therefore, if these adults and gentlemen want to praise Chen Lingyun, they can only say that he is like a grandfather, not that he is like a father.His father is completely a noble son of a noble family, and he will only be romantic in his life.

Chen Lingyun has followed Chen Zhuang in the army over the years, and his words are very fluent, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, and the Governor's Mansion are perfunctory, "Thanks to the great blessing of the emperor, and thanks to the blessings of all adults, I can only capture him alive." King Han and King Shan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty." He said modestly.

Knowing that the Kings of Han and Shan in the Northern Yuan Dynasty were all captured by Chen Lingyun himself, the officials in the capital were even more amazed, "Young heroes, young heroes!" All the kings of the Northern Yuan Dynasty grew up on horseback. Skilled in swords and horses, he was able to personally capture the prince of Beiyuan, which shows his extraordinary courage.

After the grand ceremony of presenting the prisoners, Chen Lingyun returned to the Marquis of Linjiang.Arriving in front of the Hou's Mansion, Chen Lingyun rode on a black steed, staring at the vermilion lacquered gate, his heart fluttering.Father is not here, mother is not here, but my sister is still...

After Chen Lingyun returned to Beijing, he made a special trip to thank Mr. Pei, "Without my uncle's help back then, Lingyun would have died without a place to bury him." Mr. Pei smiled, "Where, where." It was a move made after judging the situation and after careful consideration, but in Chen Lingyun's eyes, the two of them were saints with a bodhisattva heart who never thought of old evil.

"The past is over, don't worry about it." Second Master Pei said gently, "Ling Yun, look ahead."

Chen Lingyun said in a low voice: "How can you not think too much? Uncle, since I was a child, you have helped me too many times."

Second Master Pei didn't expect that Chen Lingyun could still remember all kinds of past events after so many years, he was a little surprised, "'Young Master is virtuous to others, I hope you will forget it', Ling Yun, I can't remember many things in the past. "

Chen Lingyun knew that Second Master Pei meant nothing in return, and was very moved. The always rebellious him, his eyes were moist, "You forgot, I can't forget. Uncle, if you have an assignment from now on, Ling Yun will never hesitate to die." .”

"If you really want to repay me, just go out and kill the enemy." Second Master Pei laughed.

Chen Lingyun raised his chest, "That's my dream all along." He never left his body with a knife since he was a child, and when he brought up the idea of ​​going into battle to kill the enemy, his blood boiled immediately.

Second Master Pei smiled approvingly and sent him out personally.

"Brother and friend." Before parting, Second Master Pei said with a smile.

Chen Lingyun bowed, "Yes, Uncle."

Before his father was alive, he had never been so obedient.In front of his uncle Chen Zhuang, he was more stubborn and less obedient, but in front of the gentle and refined Second Master Pei, Chen Lingyun looked like this.

Second Master Pei sent Chen Lingyun away, feeling quite emotional, "He is also a poor child." Lin Youhui agreed somewhat, "It is very pitiful to meet such parents. However, I remember that the eldest son of Linjiang Hou has a bad temper , loves to use knives." Lin Youhui has never forgotten the fact that Qiu Guifei threatened her to betroth Ajiu, and he has no good impression of the person involved, Chen Lingyun.

Second Master Pei smiled, "Let's see who you're going to use the knife with. Of course you can't do it with your family, but if you go to the battlefield and kill someone with a knife, that's a good thing."

Although Lin Youhui had a deep prejudice against Chen Lingyun, he also smiled, "That's true."

When you go to the battlefield, of course you want to kill the enemy. Could it be that it is not enough to talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality with the enemy?

Civil officials often looked down on military generals, thinking they were vulgar and illiterate, but the empire would not be successful without military generals.Without generals, who will guard the border?When Hu people went south, they couldn't have a group of literati recite the Four Books and Five Classics to them.

"Speaking of which, it's time for him to get married, right?" Second Master Pei asked suspiciously: "He is not young, and so is the girl from the Qiu family."

Marquis Linjiang's Mansion and Duke Xingguo's Mansion have made a marriage agreement, and now Chen Lingyun is twenty, and the girl from the Qiu family must be old enough.However, Second Master Pei did not follow up on the happy post.

The Pei family and the Marquis of Linjiang's mansion are relatives, and Lin Youhui knew something about the Marquis of Linjiang's mansion. He frowned and said, "The girl from the Qiu family is a concubine who is not to be favored, and the Chen family has been delaying her marriage all these years." , I heard that the girl fell ill because of this and was bedridden."

"Another poor child." Second Master Pei sighed.

"Who says it's not." Lin Youhui felt the same way.

It's fine for Erye Pei and his wife to say that, but they didn't take Chen Lingyun and his fiancée seriously.Chen Lingyun used to bring them troubles, but it was over.

On the Qianqiu Festival of Empress Zhang, as a rule, women of the fifth rank and above will enter the palace to congratulate them.Usually there is nothing for girls on this occasion, but this year is different, as long as there are girls aged 14 to 16 in the family, they will also be called into the palace.

"Do you want to choose the princess for the eleventh prince?"

"Do you want to choose another second concubine for His Royal Highness?"

Many people secretly speculated, to no avail.

On the day of Empress Zhang's Qianqiu Festival, Ajiu couldn't hide.That day she got up early, put on a red silk jacket, an emerald flower skirt, and a blue fox cloak on the outside, packed herself up, and went out with her grandmother, aunt, and mother.After entering the palace, the girls were alone in one place. Ajiu saw many people she knew, Mei Qiong, Chen Lingwei and others were all there.There was a rare shyness in Mei Qiong's expression, "Ajiu, you look really good-looking today." Ajiu smiled, "You too, and you are very beautiful today." joy.

Many girls sitting in the middle are dressed in bright red, but Ajiu's clothes are not eye-catching.However, she has picturesque eyebrows and a calm demeanor. Among girls of the same age, she really stands out from the crowd and attracts attention.

Chen Lingwei intentionally sat next to Ajiu, complaining her grievances in a low voice, "...I want to pretend to be sick, Madam won't allow me, so I will definitely bring me here. Sister Ajiu, think about it, I am a concubine, even if I am choosing a concubine for the eleventh prince, No matter what, it's not my turn. If it's some concubine, bah, I'll go if I'm stupid!"

There are so many beauties in the Prince's Mansion, why can Chen Lingwei stand out when she goes?Besides, the prince is over 30, too old for Chen Lingwei.

Ajiu smiled, "You're not docile, so it's fine?" The second concubine is better than a concubine, after all, she is not the main wife, and such an identity must be a docile woman. You are so aggressive, you probably can't be picked Bar.

Chen Lingwei's eyes lit up, thoughtful.

Chen Lingwei wanted to ask more questions, but when she saw a servant walking this way with a smile on her face, she hurriedly stopped talking.She smiled at the servant, but the servant didn't even look at her, and smiled at Ajiu: "Miss Jiu, Concubine Qiu, please go and see her."

Ajiu looked at the waiter with a half-smile, and the waiter felt terrified when she saw it.

Mei Qiong gently pushed Ajiu, "Your Excellency has summoned you." Concubine Qiu Gui wants to see you, why do you just sit still?This is very rude.Chen Lingwei watched from the side, feeling a bad premonition in her heart.She sneaked a look around and saw that everyone's eyes were focused on Ajiu, so no one should pay attention to her.She wanted to sneak out quietly and report a letter to Lin Youhui, but she couldn't move, tried several times, but still couldn't move...

There was no makeup on Ajiu Huashuang Saixue's cheeks, nor any expression.The servant nodded and stood in front of her, his back began to sweat.

After a long time, Ah Jiu stood up slowly, "Please lead the way." The servant secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and bowed humbly, "Miss Nine, this way please, this way please."

After Ah Jiu left, Mei Qiong lowered her head and drank tea as if nothing had happened, while Chen Lingwei sat blankly, still unable to move her feet.If she was in other places, she could still wave for the maid and order the maid to do it for her, but this is the palace, and she is not allowed to bring the maid in at all... Chen Lingwei was very anxious, but there was nothing she could do.

The servant led the way, turned left and right, zigzag, and arrived in front of a courtyard.The scenery here is very beautiful, there are plum trees planted in the courtyard, the shadows are sparse and the fragrance is floating.

"Is Concubine Qiu Gui here?" Ajiu asked in a mocking tone.

The servant smiled awkwardly, "Yes, yes, Concubine Qiu is inside."

Ajiu smiled and walked slowly into the house.After she entered, the door was closed.

Aji didn't panic.

The room is elegantly furnished, like a study.There was a man standing with his back to her, just looking at his back, this man was tall and straight, dressed luxuriously, with flying dragons embroidered on his back and shoulders.

The man turned around slowly and looked at Ajiu with a smile.

Ajiu also looked at him quietly.

This man was in his 30s, tall and handsome, showing the restraint of a mature man, not ostentatious.He looked at Ajiu and smiled softly, "No wonder my brother is in love with you."

Not only beautiful, but also very calm.Encountering such a thing, he didn't scream and turned pale with fright.

"I'm here to tell you something." Ajiu looked straight into his eyes and said slowly, "Your Majesty is old and sick, and you are only half a step away from that throne. For this half step, you must If you go right, you will be the king of ten thousand vehicles, ruling the world; if you go wrong, you will fall into the abyss and be smashed to pieces."

(End of this chapter)