A Thousand Hills

Chapter 93

Xie Moru likes Jiang Xingyun's exuberant vitality and unrestrained lifestyle. Jiang Xingyun has always advocated the free and easy way of enjoying yourself in time and singing while drunk. However, Jiang Xingyun also said that her freedom is limited to her own home. Need to converge one or two.

Xie Moru has always been self-aware, knowing that she is not a big tree, but even though she has always been thinking hard and planning everything, she still appreciates Jiang Xingyun who is so willful.

It was almost evening when Xie Moru returned home, Mrs. Xie smiled, "If you don't come back, I will send someone to pick you up."

"Xingyun has trained a group of new dancers, they are quite outstanding."

Girls of this age always have secret words in their boudoirs, and it is even rarer for Xie Moru to make friends, Mrs. Xie smiled, "You guys are happy, go and wash up." Send Xie Moru back to the Dujuan courtyard.

Many years later, when Xie Moru recalled this period of time, she still felt sad and unbearable. She felt that she was fully prepared to meet the arrangement of fate, but at that time, on that day, she did not know how cruel fate was. .

Dongmu, Emperor Taizong's 30th year, winter.

The visit of the Ximan mission to the court was a major event in the Dongmu Dynasty, and Xie Bai was able to bring Princess Yi'an back to the imperial capital because of escorting the mission.Regardless of major events in the court and China, the Xie family and his family are all beaming with joy.

Princess Yi'an went back to the imperial capital without stopping her horses and horses to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Hu. Xie Bai, as an official sent out, could not return home first, he had to enter the palace to face the saint.The family waited from morning to afternoon, and from afternoon to dark. This winter is extremely cold. The wind blows fine snow slag, and rustling can be heard in the house.Mrs. Xie ordered, "Get the warm sedan chair ready, and come when the master and Abo go home and let them sit in the sedan chair." She added, "It's a very cold day."

Yes, it's a cold day.

Xie Moru looked out the window, except for the occasional sound of the north wind blowing snowdrops and beating the window paper, it was pitch black.The room is brightly lit, warm as a spring day, and the daffodils are in full bloom, making the room fragrant.

Xie Moyou relieved Mrs. Xie carefully, and said, "Grandmother, don't worry, it's dark outside, and it's snowing. The road is wet and slippery. I wish grandpa, uncle, and the others slow down and be safe."

Mrs. Xie leaned her body against the small square table on the couch, smiled, "That's true too." Anyway, she has already returned.

Mrs. Xie was almost hopeless, so she looked forward to the return of her second son. There was a greeting between mother and son, the family talked to each other, had a feast and wine, and after a lot of fun, they went back to their respective courtyards.Xie Bai lived at home today, he and Xie Moru said, holding an umbrella to send Xie Moru off, the snow was already a bit heavy, and the servants had no time to sweep it, there was a creaking sound when stepping on it, the snow covered the sky and the ground, reflecting the dim light of the night, The way is clearer than ever.

Xie Moru said, "Second uncle, there must be a big change in Ximan."

The joy of returning home on Xie Bai's face turned into a slight frown, and he said, "Akshin, the fifth son of Aslan, king of the Western Barbarians, joined forces with the eighth son Hader, and the No. 11 son Su Sen to kill the eldest prince and the second son. The prince, the sixth prince, the seventh prince, and several cousins, now Akshin has become the king in the capital. This time the mission was sent by Akshin." This situation is of course not in the interests of Dongmu, Mu Emperor Yuan hoped that Ximan would return to division.

"If everything goes as I expected, then it will be just around the corner for me to unify Beiliang, Ximan, and Nanyue." Xie Moru sarcastically said, "Second uncle, why worry? There is a way, but he is not a god. The foundation of the Ximan king for decades can really make people collapse in three to five years, so he is not worthy of his famous name as the king of the Ximan."

Xie Bai smiled, "Is this comforting me?"

"This is the truth." Xie Moru said, "The seventh son of King Jingjiang came to the capital to pay his respects to His Majesty on behalf of his father."

Xie Bai said, "I know about it."

"Internal troubles are not settled, and external troubles are even more difficult to get rid of." Xie Moru felt sorry for Xie Bai, "Second Uncle came back too early."

Xie Bai smiled, "It's not all fruitless."

Xie Moru pretended to be listening attentively, but Xie Bo refused to say anything more, Xie Moru smiled and did not ask further questions.But if the result is a matter of the new king Akeshen condemning his sister to be a concubine, Xie Moru would not comment.

Xie Moru didn't know until a few days later that the mission came to the imperial capital and also brought the sister of Ximan King Akeshen. Akeshen obviously wanted to make peace with Dongmu. Not only did he send his sister, but he also wanted to marry Princess Dongmu.

Xie Moyou said, "I heard that all Western barbarians are dead fathers. When a son inherits his father's family business, he will also inherit his father's concubine."

Mrs. Xie shook her head greatly.

A savage is a savage.

Xie Moyou quietly asked her grandmother, "Will Your Majesty really marry the princess to the Western Man King?"

Mrs. Xie sighed, "How do we know that?" Let's see which noble lady is unlucky, in Ximan, I heard that there is no rice, and they eat beef and mutton all day long, how can they bear it.

The king of Ximan was very sincere in condemning the envoy this time, even the princesses were sent, and the imperial court could not return them. As for whether to condemn the princess to marry, Emperor Mu Yuan was really in a dilemma.Although they belong to the royal family, there is really no comparison between the old Mu family and Ximan. The old Ximan king could have more than [-] sons and more than a dozen daughters. Man, a coup can kill several princes. In Dongmu, I really can't stand such a trick.

As far as Emperor Mu Yuan himself is concerned, he is barely considered an only son, and he has a younger sister, Princess Wenkang, but the royal family is really short of people. Even Princess Yi'an, who is raised under the Empress Dowager Hu's knees, can break the rules in the end. A princess, isn't it because there are so few people?Even Emperor Mu Yuan, who now has seven princes and five princesses, doesn't think he has too many children.

The eldest daughter and the second daughter are already engaged, and they are about to get married. The third princess is thirteen this year, but... Emperor Mu Yuan is reluctant.Not to mention that Empress Dowager Hu burst into tears when she found out about this, and she could not agree to let her granddaughter marry to Ximan, which would annoy Emperor Mu Yuan...

The emperor is worried about the humiliation of his ministers, and the emperor is worried. Naturally, there are ministers who will relieve his worries. Your Majesty is reluctant to kiss a daughter, and the daughter of a vassal king is also unacceptable. The ready-made Jingjiang princess is in the imperial capital. He is seventeen years old.Emperor Mu Yuan was still undecided, but Empress Dowager Hu was well informed, and said to Emperor Mu Yuan, "Jingjiang was in the palace when she was a child, and I watched her grow up, from the size of a pillow to such a big girl, you are willing to marry her To a barbarian?"

Emperor Mu Yuan ordered Princess Wenkang to persuade Empress Dowager Hu, and Princess Wenkang was really tired. Her mother really sat in the Palace of Mercy by accident, and she was completely unqualified in terms of political quality. I miss Princess Ningping.If Aunt Ning Ping was here, her mother would not dare to mess around like this again.

Princess Ningrong said to Princess Jingjiang, "If you don't want to go to Ximan, you can personally petition the queen mother and say that you want to marry."

Princess Jingjiang was dumbfounded, "The court has asked me to marry you." If she still said that she wanted to marry, wouldn't she really want to marry in Ximan.

"So, you should put the overall situation first and voluntarily make a marriage." Princess Ningrong smiled lightly, and tapped her fingers covered with Kou Dan lightly on the table, "Don't worry, Your Majesty has always been suspicious of the Jingjiang Palace. It will make you get married, and he is afraid that the Jingjiang Palace will collude with Ximan."

Princess Jingjiang's heart is at ease, but she can't help but condense a sense of gloom in her heart. Speaking of which, she also grew up in the Palace of Mercy since she was a child, and now it seems that she is indeed inferior.

Eldest Princess Ningrong left Mu Qi and Princess Jingjiang for dinner at the Princess Mansion, and when Mu Qi and Princess Jingjiang bid farewell and left, in the afternoon Eldest Princess Ningrong invited Marquis Nanan to come, Eldest Princess Ningrong was furious. He said, "In the past when you were in Nan'an Pass, our mother and son could not see each other as adults, but now you come back and live in another house, you are busy with work, and you can't see each other all day long."

The Marquis of Nan'an has always been stern, and when he heard the words, he just said, "Mother calls, how dare my son not come."

Princess Ning Rong motioned her son to sit down, ordered the maid to hold a cup of ginger tea, said, "It's cold outside, you don't like to ride in a sedan chair, go to the cold." Then said, "Mother and son, why do we need to see outsiders like this. I haven't seen you for a long time, so I'm panicking, there is fresh venison today, and I ordered the chef to cook it, you can try it."

Of course, the Marquis of Nan'an's mansion would not lack venison, but the Marquis of Nan'an listened to what his mother said.Princess Ningrong asked about Nan'anhou's affairs in the Ministry of War, but Nan'anhou was always reticent, saying, "It's going well." Then he said nothing else.

Princess Ningrong sighed, "Jingjiang came over today and told me that she is willing to go to Ximan for marriage on behalf of the princess."

Nan'anhou said, "The imperial court will never allow the Princess to get married. If Jingjiang is willing, the Empress Dowager will accept her as a righteous daughter, make her a princess, and then make her marry."

Princess Ning Rong choked, not knowing whether her son was really stupid or just pretending to be stupid, she sighed, "I know what you mean, and you don't want me to pay too much attention to these things, but after all Jingjiang is your uncle's daughter, I see her grow up, it's really difficult Abandon."

Nan'an Hou frowned slightly, and finally said, "Let's wait for His Majesty to judge."

Princess Ning Rong choked to death.

The Marquis of Nan'an ate two bowls of venison and went back to his mansion.Princess Ning Rong didn't eat a few mouthfuls.

The imperial court has not yet decided which noble daughter will marry Fanbang, and the Queen Mother Hu in the palace has fallen ill from grief.Princess Wenkang went to the palace to serve her illness, Princess Ningrong visited the palace several times, and old lady Shou'an also went to the palace to see her daughter. It's the same for a court lady, or a daughter of a courtier's family."

As soon as Mrs. Shou'an said this, Empress Dowager Hu's illness immediately recovered without any medicine. After all, the old lady spent most of her life in the palace. That girl from the Xie family is pretty good!"

Mrs. Shou'an remained silent. After a while, she was a little worried, "The whole emperor knows about the slap in the face of our old Hu's family. If you tell me about it, it's obviously my idea."

Empress Dowager Hu patted her mother's hand and smiled, "It was my mother who reminded me."

The old lady Shou'an was also choked, she, what she meant was that she didn't want the Hu family to get involved in this matter!

Empress Dowager Hu couldn't keep things going. When her mother left and her son came to say hello, she told the emperor's son.Empress Dowager Hu's complexion is now rosy, and her spirits are also very good. There is a mutton fat white jade phoenix hairpin in her hair, and the phoenix body is reclining on the warm couch. The mother and child are so troubled, today the Ai family got a wonderful method, which can definitely relieve the emperor's troubles."

Seeing that his mother's energy and blood had recovered, Emperor Mu Yuan was also in a good mood. He sat by the couch and listened attentively.Empress Dowager Hu laughed and said, "This is nothing more than wanting a noble daughter of royal blood to marry Ximan. The granddaughters mourn their families and are reluctant to bear it. The emperor also thought about it. Since the time of the late emperor, our royal blood has been weak. Brothers of the late emperor One person, Yi'an's father is just a distant cousin. When you come to your place, you and Wenkang brothers and sisters are the only ones. I only have a few granddaughters. How can I be willing? The emperor is cutting my flesh." Queen Mother Hu said Tears fell, and Emperor Mu Yuan wiped his mother's tears with a handkerchief. Not to mention his mother, he was also a little bit reluctant to part with his daughter.

Empress Dowager Hu wiped away her tears, and continued, "Jingjiang is considered sensible, but she is the daughter of King Jingjiang, and she is the same generation as the emperor. Our two countries are a country of father and son. , you should be a dwarf emperor, otherwise those stubborn ministers will have to talk too much."

"Actually, King Jingjiang's lineage is only in the honor of Empress Dowager Cheng, so he was crowned king and became the clan." Empress Dowager Hu changed the conversation, "When it comes to royal blood, apart from the imperial line, the truly noble one is Ning Ping Da. The eldest princess is in the same line. The eldest princess Ningping, that is the eldest princess with the same father and mother as your father. You should know her style when she was alive. In the past, the British government was convicted. The princess's face has not affected Mrs. Wei Guo. How has the royal family treated Mrs. Wei Guo these years? She has not come to the palace to greet the Ai family for many years, and regards the Ai family as nothing. Has the Ai family ever said that she is not a word. The daughter of Mrs. Wei, Miss Xie, the emperors all know that she is smart and capable, not a light-saving lamp." The last sentence missed some thoughts, and Empress Dowager Hu immediately added, "If you want to marry the king of the Western Man as the queen, you must find a capable person. Is it right? Our girls grew up in the palace. They are as delicate as soft jade. They are not as good as Miss Xie when it comes to eloquence. Think about it, the emperor thinks that Ximan needs such a person to be useful. She goes Now, let her mother continue to raise her honorably. Your Majesty will be promoted to the imperial order of Mrs. Wei, and it will not hinder you. Even her seniority is also appropriate. Your Majesty accepts the girl as a righteous daughter, makes her a princess, and marry Ximan as well. , as soon as she goes, she will be the queen, how can other women have such a life as the mother of the country."

Emperor Mu Yuan was amazed at her mother saying such a sensible and reasonable statement, but Emperor Mu Yuan was still not in a hurry to draw conclusions.

The emperor's son was not in a hurry, so the Empress Dowager Hu directly called her daughter into the palace to discuss. Princess Wenkang disagreed and said, "One is that although Xie Moru is the queen of Aunt Ningping, she is not a clan after all; The Xie family should use his daughter to make a marriage, and Xie Jia'an is willing to take his daughter to make a marriage? Isn't this trying to frustrate a courtier's heart?"

Empress Dowager Hu said, "If you want to, just ask Concubine Xie."

Princess Wenkang said, "You always ask this in person, what do you call Concubine Xie Guifei? Xie Moru is not Concubine Xie's daughter, her mother is Cousin Fang, would Cousin Fang be willing?"

Empress Dowager Hu murmured, "Raise soldiers for a thousand days, and use them for a while. Mrs. Yipin Guo ordered a yearly salary to be several hundred taels of silver. When Mrs. Grace Wei Guo is using her to contribute to the country these years, she is not willing?"

Princess Wenkang didn't want her mother to get involved in these things, and tried to persuade her, "Mother, just rest assured, these important court affairs, there is the emperor, let the emperor decide."

Empress Dowager Hu seemed to be suffering from a stubborn illness, "The Ai family will never watch the third girl go to get married! Jingjiang will not do it either!"

The mother is unreasonable, and Princess Wenkang is so sad that she has no intention of preparing for her son's wedding.Empress Dowager Hu doesn't care, she is now the emperor's mother, and no one can do anything to her. Princess Wenkang's words are not to her liking, so she directly asks Princess Ningrong and Princess Yi'an to enter the palace to discuss ideas. Princess Ningrong smiled and said , "Sure enough, the empress has wisdom and foresight. I never imagined that this will not only solve the difficulties of your majesty, but also solve the difficulties of the court. It will kill two birds with one stone."

Empress Dowager Hu said, "Wen Kang said, I'm afraid the Xie family won't like it."

Princess Ningrong is such a slippery person, she looked at Princess Yi'an with her eyes, and said with a smile, "Well, just ask Yi'an, I think the Xie family has always been loyal."

Princess Yi'an said vaguely, "I don't quite understand this, it depends on the court's intention, right?"

Princess Ningrong smiled and said to Empress Dowager Hu, "Yi'an is a daughter-in-law after all, so how can she be in charge of this matter? Why don't you ask Concubine Xie first? If there is someone who can promote the relationship between the two countries like Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty Peace is also due to history."

Queen Mother Hu hurriedly said, "I also said the same."

Ask Concubine Xie what Concubine Xie can say, Concubine Xie said, "I still have to ask my father about this matter. The concubine has been in the palace for many years and is already a member of the royal family. It is not good to do the affairs of the master's family." After a little thought, thank you The noble concubine added, "The Xie family has always been loyal, but your Majesty has orders, so you should obey them."

Things have come to this point, the Xie family is really full of worries.

Mrs. Xie thought it was her own auditory hallucination when she knew this. Mrs. Xie looked at her husband in surprise, and said, "Our family, our family is not a clan? How can we ask Mo Ru to marry?" Although Mrs. Xie had never I like this granddaughter very much, but she and Xie Moru have gotten along well in the past few years, in other words, the relationship is average, and she doesn't want her granddaughter to go and kiss.

Xie Shangshu comforted his old wife first, "Don't worry, I will think of a way."

Mrs. Xie said, "Why don't I go into the palace and talk to the empress?"

Xie Shangshu thought for a moment and said, "Alright, if the Empress Dowager brings up this matter, you can push it on me."

Mrs. Xie sighed, since the eldest princess Ningping passed away, there are no more rules in the palace, and such things as marriages by courtiers' daughters can be done.They Xie family, have always been loyal to the court, good-natured and innocent, why don't they let their granddaughter marry thousands of miles away, and become wives for barbarians!
Mrs. Xie went to the palace to find the concubine and daughter to inquire about the inside story. She ordered to enter the palace and first went to the Palace of Mercy to report. In the past, Empress Dowager Hu didn't pay much attention to Mrs. Xie.This time, he asked Mrs. Xie, "I heard that the eldest girl in your family is really outstanding. I want to recognize her as a god-daughter. I wonder if you would like it?"

Mrs. Xie was already prepared, and hurriedly said, "My mother's grace is the child's blessing, but the grandparents have been ruthless for many years. When I think that the child will stay away from the minister's wife, the minister's wife doesn't know whether she is willing or not? "

Empress Dowager Hu snorted, and said to Concubine Xie, "Speak to your mother, the word loyalty does not come from lip-to-mouth."

Concubine Xie replied softly, and the mother and daughter went to Linzhi Palace to talk.

The mother and daughter are now talking about Xie Moru, Mrs. Xie said, "Moru is the daughter of a foreign minister after all."

Concubine Xie Guifei said softly, "If you get married, you will naturally marry in the name of the princess."

Mrs. Xie's heart sank, "Ma'am?"

Concubine Xie was vague, "If there is no suitable person, Mo Ru's talent is enough to be appointed. If Your Majesty wants, mother..." She has never met her natal niece, but if Xie Moru can gain a foothold in Ximan, what will happen to the third prince in the future? Not without benefits.Every mother is selfish, let alone Xie Moru, Xie Moru always...

Mrs. Xie came and went with her mind full.

After returning home, Mrs. Xie sighed for a while, and Xie Bai said, "I entrusted the princess to pass in front of the queen mother on her behalf. Now it seems that the Palace of Mercy has made up its mind. Don't worry, mother, this matter is not a trivial matter. I have written to Your Majesty, and our family has nothing to worry about." It’s better than the meaning of adoption.”

Although Mrs. Xie was sad about Xie Moru, when she heard what her son said, she quickly grabbed his son's arm and said anxiously, "How can this happen? If His Majesty has already made up his mind, don't you want to offend me by rashly writing the letter?" His Majesty!"

"Mother, don't worry, I have my own measure." Xie Bo said firmly, Mrs. Xie was still apprehensive, and said to her husband at night, Xie Shangshu said, "It's good to write a letter privately, so that Abo can test His Majesty's intentions."

Xie Shangshu asked, "How about Mo Ru?"

Mrs. Xie sighed, "How dare I let her know." The implication is that Xie Moru is fine.

Xie Shangshu said, "She doesn't know yet?" This is unlikely, Xie Moru has been studying as a housekeeper for the past two years, and several stewards are quite respectful to her, such a major event, anyone with a little knowledge of the outside world will know , how could she not know?
"I thought, it's better not to talk to her yet."

Xie Shangshu decided to have a talk with Xie Moru, "I will arrange it."

It is still the inner study.

Because Xie Shangshu and Xie Moru would occasionally talk here, the servants cleaned it up very carefully. Hearing that the master wanted to use it, he quickly moved two pots of charcoal to warm the room, spread out thick cushions on the chairs and couches, and burned it in a copper incense pot. Set up a furnace of sandalwood.

Xie Shangshu asked, "Did you hear the rumors about wanting you to marry Ximan?"

Xie Moru held a small sapphire hand stove in both hands, nodded, "Probably this is a situation that even my grandfather can't control."

Xie Shangshu suddenly thought of Xie Moru's previous words, his heart trembled slightly.Xie Moru said, "Grandmother entered the palace today, and when she came back, her face was very ugly. I think the result is not very good."

"Your business has not yet been decided."

"Grandmother doesn't have to enter the palace anymore. The imperial concubine has the third prince under her knees, so she will inevitably have to think about the third prince. She will not tell the truth to grandma."

Xie Shangshu couldn't help arguing for his daughter, "The noble concubine also has difficulties in the palace." Doesn't the concubine want to live by the Queen Mother Hu's face?

"No, if she tells grandma that my matter is still undecided, grandma won't look like this when she comes home." Xie Moru has this kind of certainty, "As a noble concubine, she will not lie directly, but she uses words to hint and guide grandma , Grandma believed her words."

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Xie Shangshu's face, Xie Moru said, "It's true when you are in danger, the imperial concubine is too impatient, and she will make this mistake again in the future."

Xie Shangshu said, "So, you know it well." At this time, you still have the mood to care about the noble concubine, and the noble concubine too... just enjoy the honor and wealth in the palace, what can you do in such a hurry!

Xie Moru said, "It depends on His Majesty's will, it's not yet the time of life and death."

Xie Shangshu heaved a sigh of relief, "You just need to know it in your heart."

Xie Moru said lightly, "The worst thing is to go make a kiss, what are you afraid of!"

Xie Shangshu raised his breath just now.He is really not afraid of others making a kiss, if you want Xie Moru to make a kiss, Xie Moru is not afraid, he is afraid!
(End of this chapter)