Hello Chang’an

 Chapter 74: Trying to live up to expectations but short-lived

As the three masters and servants of Chang Sui Ning approached, the sound of the flute stopped.

The person playing the flute also turned sideways subconsciously.

It was the face of a very young man, only in his early twenties.

It was already spring, but he was still wearing a thick fox fur cloak. Even so, he still felt thin and thin.

His handsome face was too fair, and his lips were a little lighter than those of ordinary people.

An attendant stood beside him. Seeing Chang Sui Ning Lai, he whispered in his ear: "Your Majesty, this is Mrs. Chang..."

Chang Sui Ning didn't know what the attendant said, but when she saw him standing by the river, she couldn't pretend not to see him, so she stopped five or six steps away and raised her hand -

"Prince Rong."

The young man had a look of surprise on his face when he heard this: "Do you recognize me?"

Chang Suining shook his head: "I guess."

After the other party was stunned for a moment, it suddenly became clear: "Yes."

He smiled, as if with a trace of self-mockery: "There will never be another clan member as sick and weak as me in the capital."

This is actually true.

But Chang Sui Ning was able to recognize him for another reason - his facial features were very similar to his father, King Rong, and no one believed him even if he said he was not his biological son.

Thinking of Prince Rong, his former elder, Chang Suining asked, "I heard that Crown Prince Rong was frightened and fell ill before. I wonder if he is feeling better now?"

Speaking of which, this matter has something to do with her.

That day, she saw Crown Prince Rong on the list given by Yu Zeng, so she asked Xi'er more about Crown Prince Rong Li Lu. However, she heard Xi'er say that Prince Rong was sick and was praying for blessings. On the day of the ceremony, for those who were frightened and sick—

In other words, she, the unlucky person who was attacked by the elephant that day, was not frightened, but she frightened Prince Rong and made him sick.

It's an unforeseen disaster.

"It's no problem..." Li Lu looked a little uncomfortable when he heard her mention this: "Ms. Chang is laughing."

Chang Sui Ning didn't take it seriously: "It's a matter of luck, nothing to laugh about."

She is bold, but she does not look down on those who are timid.

Those who are in good health are not in a position to laugh at the sick and weak - just as someone who is lucky enough to ridicule someone who is unlucky will really look stupid.

Li Lu was a little stunned when he saw that the girl had taken the female envoy to the river to fetch water.

When he saw her deftly filling two buckets of water and lifting them up easily, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

Watching the pair of masters and servants walk away, the surprise on Li Lu's face still remained: "A few days ago, I heard that the crown prince Ying Guogong was beaten by Mrs. Chang. I didn't believe it at first..."

But now, he couldn't help but worry about the injury of Prince Yingguo.

"Isn't it... the water is really real." The attendant couldn't help but sigh: "She is indeed the girl from General Chang's palace."

Li Lu nodded: "Yes."

The girl in General Chang's residence - he repeated in his heart.

"Your Majesty, it's windy here, why not go back."

"There's no rush." ​​Li Lu looked at the green mountains on the other side of the river: "The scenery here is very beautiful, I feel like I can breathe easier..."

As he spoke, he held the flute in his hand and brought it to his lips again.

Listening to the quiet flute sound that sounded again behind him, Chang Suining did not stop.

King Rong is the youngest concubine of the late emperor—

The first emperor refers to the first emperor's father, the late husband of Emperor Shengce, Emperor Hongxiao.

Shortly after the death of Emperor Hongxiao, the former prince who was supposed to inherit the throne also died of illness. Amid the panic, under the discussion of the former Ming Dynasty Emperor Shengce and a group of ministers, he established the only emperor at that time. The remaining seventh prince Li Bing became the new emperor.

However, after Li Bing ascended the throne, he showed his debauchery and obscenity, and his rule was unethical. Later, he suffered from unexplainable spring diseases, which made him suffer from illness. His temperament gradually became violent, and there were many complaints in the court -

Three years later, when Dasheng was victorious in the battle against Beidi, Xuance's army returned to the court. After many suggestions from ministers, the Empress Dowager of the Ming Dynasty advocated deposing Li Bing's throne.

Not long after he was deposed, Li Bing died of illness and was buried with the courtesy of a county king. Therefore, people did not refer to him as an emperor. When talking about the late emperor, they still refer to Emperor Hongxiao.

Prince Rong was the last concubine among Emperor Hongxiao's peers and the youngest uncle of the former prince.

King Rong, who is now the governor of Yizhou, has an only son like Li Lu.

Because Li Lu was weak, he stayed in Beijing to recuperate.

It's meant to recuperate, but in reality it's more like a proton.

When Chang Suining had free time in the past two days, she asked Chang Kuo or Qiao Yubai about court affairs. Qiao Yubai told her yesterday that it was said that after the Holy Emperor ascended the throne, he selected a prince from among the descendants of the clan to inherit the throne in the future. , originally thought about making Li Lu the crown prince, but King Rong and many ministers thought that Li Lu was too weak to take on such a big responsibility, so they gave up.

Therefore, this Prince Rong had just missed the opportunity to be crown prince.

Fortunately, we just passed by.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to hear the sound of the flute at this time.

From the current affairs of the Pei family, it is not difficult to see that the so-called return of power after the Ming Dynasty was just to stabilize people's hearts -

The struggle for power always tightens step by step.

Just as the Ming Dynasty had already aspired to be emperor before, but still recommended Li Bing as the new monarch, the three years when the new monarch was in a state of confusion were also the three years when she took the opportunity to seize power and win people's hearts.

When some family officials secretly spurned the Ming Dynasty, they would often ridicule her greatest talent for giving birth to a pair of short-lived good children.

When these two children were alive, they won honor and favor for her.

When these two children died, the timing was just right, and they also achieved the greatest benefit for her.

—Enough to live up to expectations, but short-lived enough.

Chang Suining tightened his fingers on the barrel and looked at the bluestone path ahead.

At this time, a dark green figure walking from the side road broke into her sight.

It's Cui Jing.

"Little Ah Li, you are indeed here!" A Dian walked quickly behind Cui Jing, stepped forward and snatched the bucket from Chang Suining's hand: "Let me help you!"

Although he came to Dayun Temple to see Chang Sui Ning, he was still a man and was not suitable to be by her side all the time, so he was placed in the Xuance Army by Cui Jing.

Chang Sui Ning had not seen Cui Jing in the past few days. When he met Cui Jing, he thought of what happened that day and said, "Thank you very much, Governor Cui, for what happened that day."

"Thank me for what I did." Cui Jing said expressionlessly, "I have never done anything to help you."

The implication is that he didn't help beat the person.

Seeing that he was also going back to the temple, Chang Sui Ning walked forward together, saying as he walked: "I mean to publicize the fact that I beat Ming Jin -"

Cui Jing paused slightly: "Why do you think it was me?"

Chang Suining: "I guess."

After that, he added: "It's easy to guess."

Cui Jing: "..."

Why does it seem to make him look like a fool when he asks the question?

"It's just convenient." He didn't deny it anymore.

Chang Suining then asked: "Why would Governor Cui help me publicize this matter?"

"Now that everyone knows it, Ming Jin can be a little wary in the future."

Chang Suining nodded, just as she guessed.

She asked again: "Then why did Governor Cui help me?"

"Little Ah Li, do you still need to ask?" Ah, who was walking at the front, nodded and said without replying: "Of course it's because we are all a family." Cui Jing was noncommittal: "It's because of the seniors that Mrs. Chang There was a conflict with Ming Jin—the senior is from the Xuance Mansion, and I should have stepped in to resolve the matter."

Chang Sui Ning knew it was because of this.

"But Ah Dian is also my friend and family." She said, "This is what I should do."

"What's there to argue about?" A Dian suddenly put down the bucket, turned back to the two of them, and first grabbed Chang Suining's arm: "Little A Li, you and I are family members -"

Then, he grabbed Cui Jing's arm again: "Xiao Jing, you are also my family!"

As he spoke, he suddenly took Chang Suining's hand and pressed it on the back of Cui Jing's hand: "So, the three of us, oh, and Uncle Chang... the entire Xuance Mansion is one family!"

Chang Suining: "..."

Cui Jing: "..."

A Dian looked forward to it: "Am I right?"

Yuan Xiang on the side looked at the hands that were forcibly pressed together with a complicated expression.

He never expected that the first time the governor touched a woman's hand, it would be like this.

And General A Dian is famous for his strength...

This is like asking forcefully - are you moved?

The only answer to this situation is - I don't dare to move, I can't move.

Suppressed by external forces and expecting in their eyes, the two men could only nod.

Cui Jing: "Yeah."

Chang Suining: "That's right."

A Dian laughed "Hey" and then let go with satisfaction.

Chang Suining shook his painful wrist.

Cui Jing silently held her hand behind her back and looked forward as if nothing happened.

A Dian happily picked up the water again and walked forward.

"Then Ming Jin is used to being arrogant. Even if he has scruples, he won't be too much." Cui Jing continued the topic just now and said: "You need to be more careful in the future."

Chang Suining nodded.

She has heard these words countless times in recent days, which shows that Ming Jin's behavior is indeed rampant.

"If you encounter trouble in the city, if you have time, you can go to the nearest Xuance Army for help." Cui Jing was afraid that she would not understand, so he explained: "During the day, there will be Xuance Army patrolling the city."

Chang Suining subconsciously said: "But they don't recognize me, so they may not believe my words easily, right?"

Xuance's army was strict in running the army, but he did not follow an approachable approach.

Cui Jing stopped.

He took off a copper talisman from his waist. The fish-shaped copper talisman was exquisitely designed and split into two parts in his hand.

Cui Jing handed half of it to Chang Sui Ning: "If you hold this, if you are in danger, you can always find the Xuance Army nearby, and they will definitely help."

Yuan Xiang was shocked.

Although this talisman is not a military talisman to mobilize Xuance's army, it is still a personal belonging to the governor. Seeing it in the army is like seeing the governor. Why did the governor suddenly give half of it to Mrs. Chang at this time?

Could it be that the Governor lost himself in the noise of his family?

Sigh... In the final analysis, it's all the fault of the Cui family for treating the governor so coldly that these few words outside actually caused the governor to take offense!

It can be seen from this that how much the governor longs for the warmth of his family in his heart?

Thinking of this, Yuan Xiang almost burst into tears on the spot.

Why is Mrs. Chang still standing there? Take it now!

The governor finally opened his heart. If he was rejected, his heart would probably be locked from now on!

Chang Sui Ning originally asked casually, but unexpectedly Cui Jing gave him this thing, which was unavoidable for a moment.

A Dian urged: "Little A Li, take it! Don't let your family see anyone else!"

Seeing that Cui Jing was not being polite, but was really there, Chang Suining stretched out his hand and took it: "Thank you, Governor Cui."

Cui Jing then continued to walk forward: "No need to thank you, it's better than nothing-"

"..." Chang Suining looked at the bronze talisman in his hand.

Xi'er almost couldn't stand listening.

better than nothing?

The personal bronze talisman of the dignified leader of the Xuance Army and the eldest grandson of the Cui family... If this is called "liao", then she really has nothing!

Cui Jing hasn't finished her words yet: "You still have to seek happiness for yourself."

Chang Suining nodded and said, "Don't worry, Commander Cui, I'm good at this."

After this period of running-in with this body, as she understood the situation, she found her homeland under her feet, and her old friends beside her. Except for the fact that her father was a little too close, which made her a little confused - now she could also let go. I put down some precautions and gradually became more relaxed.

During those three years in Beidi, she had almost forgotten how the "self" she once lived and how she spoke.

Now, she seems to be slowly finding herself again.

Hearing these "arrogant words", Cui Jing turned his head and glanced at the girl beside him.

She was looking ahead, her eyes particularly bright.

Cui Jing returned to the temple and went about business, while Chang Sui Ning took the empty bucket and went to the back mountain to fetch water again.

After four repeated trips back and forth, the sun gradually rose. Prince Rong, who was sitting on a boulder by the river, couldn't help but ask: "Isn't Madam Chang tired?"

"This is the last trip." Chang Suining wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand and asked casually, "Isn't Prince Rong going back yet?"

Li Luhan smiled and said, "I'm about to go back."

He said, looking at the green mountains on the other side again: "The scenery here is very beautiful, but it's a pity that we have to leave the temple tomorrow."

"Will the nobles leave the temple tomorrow?" The young novice not far away looked at Master Chang Sui Ning and couldn't help but whispered: "It's such a pity..."

There is no one to help them with their work.

The older monk on the side scolded the younger brother in a low voice: "...How can you be lazy?"

The young novice monk was stunned for a moment: "I just say it's a pity. How do you know, senior brother, what I regret?"

oh! He knows!

Unless senior brother has the same idea as him!

The young novice stared at his senior brother with the eyes of someone trying to catch a thief. The monk's face turned red and he chanted Amitabha several times.

Finally, I thought about my experience yesterday when I listened to the abbot and abbot’s sermon, and tried to reconcile with myself and accept my true heart.

This is human nature...

After all, who wouldn’t like a hard-working and down-to-earth donor?

Amitabha, accidentally accepted it too thoroughly, and even began to look forward to the next prayer ceremony.

…

After seven days of praying, the holy driver set off back to Beijing.

After returning from the quiet mountain temple to the noisy court hall, the surging waves also changed from dark to bright.

In the morning court the next day, the disposition of the Pei family was finally decided.

Pei Min is dead. Anyone involved will be punished as a crime and his property will be confiscated. Those who are found not to be involved in the crime will not be implicated -

For a time, the Pei clan members were either imprisoned or exiled and demoted. Even the remaining survivors, regardless of their grief and sentimentality, hurriedly left the capital with their families.

As Jingshanfang, where the Pei family lived in the past, was raided and evacuated, the Pei family, which had been prosperous for a long time, declined and dispersed.

A spring rain fell, and a woman's sharp voice could be heard from time to time in the Jingye Temple outside the capital.

Thank you all for your monthly votes and rewards. The double monthly votes are coming to an end soon. How cost-effective is it to vote for one and get two? Right, right? (crazy hint)

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(End of chapter)