Prince Consort

Princess Yan Ning saw two mirrors on the dressing table early in the morning.

One side is relatively large, with engraved silver borders on the outside, as if a whirling plum tree is holding up the whole mirror.Even the brackets at the back are made into coiled branches, all of which are delicate when viewed carefully.

The other side is small and is a hand mirror that can be worn on the body. It is round and has a carved cover that can be closed, which is very beautiful.

Of course, the most important thing is that it is bright and clear, and even a few messy hairs can be clearly illuminated.

Princess Yan Ning knew very well who was the one who could put things in without a sound, but her heart still beat a few beats inexplicably.

Such an idea was not something her brother could have come up with.And there is only one person around her brother who has the most ideas, and that is Xie Sanlang.

Princess Yan Ning reached out and touched the plum tree, feeling a little fond of it.She paused, looked at herself in the glasses, suddenly felt that her face was a little paler, her lips were a little blue, and her eyebrows weren't pretty enough...

It was something she had never noticed before.

Princess Yan Ning stepped back and opened the makeup box.She picked out several kinds of rouge back and forth, chose a lighter color to cover up her pale face, and then licked a trace of blush on her lips, her whole complexion looked much better.

Princess Yan Ning stared at the mirror in a daze, and suddenly heard "Your Majesty is here", she suddenly came back to her senses, and turned to greet her.

Zhao Ying noticed that Princess Yan Ning was sitting in front of the dressing table, looked up, and saw the mirror on the table at a glance.Rao, as the king of a country, was still very surprised to see such a novel thing.

Zhao Yingmai stepped forward, took a look in the mirror, and looked at Princess Yanning with a smile: "Did Chongzhao find it?"

Princess Yanning nodded.

Zhao Ying carefully looked at Princess Yan Ning's face, and thought to himself, "It's really a girl who can't stay in the university", and then he thought that Princess Yan Ning was weak and sick, and he might not be able to wait until the day of "not staying", and he felt a little uncomfortable.He is not a real sage, he has loved this daughter so much for so many years, if he really wants to make black hair for nothing, he will feel no less pain than an ordinary father.

Zhao Ying said: "Today you can invite anyone to the palace to accompany you on your birthday. If you like excitement, you can find a few more. If you don't like excitement, then just find three or two people who are close."

Princess Yanning felt warm in her heart, and said, "Thank you dad."

Zhao Ying had just finished her morning court and hadn't eaten yet, so she deliberately stayed in Princess Yanning's palace to have breakfast with her.

When Zhao Chongzhao ran over, he saw the picture of their father and daughter enjoying themselves together. His nose was sore, and he ran up shyly and shouted, "Father."

Zhao Ying saw Zhao Chongzhao looking at her carefully, looking like he wanted to get close but didn't dare to get close, and inexplicably thought of what Xie Ze'an said, "He really hopes to get your approval".

Zhao Ying remembered that he was not favored back then, and he was away fighting all the year round.The former king had many sons and daughters, how could he remember his son?Later, he got acquainted with the former son-in-law, and gradually became friends with his younger sister, Aman. Aman was like a name, charming and charming, and was very popular with the late king.The former son-in-law asked Ah Man to mention him in front of the late king from time to time, and helped him build momentum in the capital, so he had the capital to win the heir.

Otherwise, there would be too many people who hoped to inherit the throne at that time.

Zhao Ying paused, and showed a rare kindness to Zhao Chongzhao: "Sit down and eat together."

Surprised and delighted, Zhao Chongzhao ran over on short legs and happily sat beside Zhao Ying.

After sitting down, Zhao Chongzhao remembered his purpose of coming here. He asked Princess Yan Ning: "Ning'er, have you seen the mirror I found for you? Do you like it?"

Princess Yanning said, "I like it very much."

Zhao Chongzhao said: "That's good!" He didn't take all the credit, "Let me tell you, this mirror and frame are all made by Saburo. I was surprised when I saw it, it's so beautiful—— The craftsmen praised Saburo for his wonderful design!"

Upon hearing the expected answer, Princess Yan Ning did not show any surprise on her face.She said to Zhao Chongzhao: "You have to help me thank Sanlang."

Zhao Chongzhao immediately agreed: "No problem!"

With Zhao Ying around, the siblings didn't say much, just ate the porridge obediently.Zhao Ying tested Zhao Chongzhao's few sentences and found that Zhao Chongzhao had indeed studied hard. After nodding in satisfaction, he got up and went back to the imperial study to deal with government affairs.

Until Zhao Ying walked away, Zhao Chongzhao was still in high spirits.He excitedly said to Princess Yan Ning: "Ning'er, the emperor was very satisfied with me just now, right? He kept nodding and didn't scold me!"

Princess Yan Ning saw the innocent joy on Zhao Chongzhao's face, and felt a little sour in her heart. Zhao Ying was very strict with Zhao Chongzhao since she was a child. Zhao Ying's love was very common for her, but for Zhao Chongzhao Very rare.

If Zhao Ying praised Zhao Chongzhao, Zhao Chongzhao might be happy for half a month.

The brother and sister chatted for a long time, until Xu Juncheng was about to start giving lectures, and Zhao Chongzhao rushed over.

Knowing that today is Princess Yanning's birthday, Xu Juncheng didn't say anything, and let Zhao Chongzhao sit down directly.

Xie Ze'an asked in a low voice: "Does the princess like the gift from His Highness?"

Zhao Chongzhao said: "Of course I like it!"

Seeing Xu Juncheng looking over, both Xie Ze'an and Zhao Chongzhao were silent and began to listen to Xu Juncheng's explanation.

Qin Ruliu was the best learner among the four, and Xie Zean hoped that Zhao Chongzhao could establish a good relationship with the Qin family, so he dragged Zhao Chongzhao to ask Qin Ruliu for advice during "class break".When Qin Ruliu first explained to them, she was still a little jerky, but after getting used to it for this period of time, she has already looked good, and sometimes even Yan Lin would lean over to listen.

Under Xie Ze'an's mediation, Zhao Chongzhao gradually let go of his prejudice against Qin Ruliu, and the four of them got along happily.

After Xu Juncheng finished his lecture, they each returned home. Yan Lin stopped Xie Ze'an in front of the palace gate: "Sanlang, my brother is going to the west, and he left you a letter."

Yan Chong's going to the west was not a temporary idea. He had already proposed to Zhao Ying after he found a candidate to replace him in command.The north is guarded by Prince Gong, and there has been no war for many years, and the south is mostly chaotic, only the west has some bad momentum.To the west is Xixia, which occupies a fertile prairie. The horses are strong and strong, and they are a formidable enemy that cannot be ignored.In recent years, Xixia has changed its new owner, and the annual tribute has become less and less, and it has not even arrived this year.

Guarding Xijiang was the eldest son of General Changsun. At the end of the year, this "little grandson" was attacked and killed, which dealt a great blow to the morale of Xijiang.Zhao Ying originally wanted to keep Yan Chong, but Yan Chong knelt in front of the imperial study for three days and three nights, and Zhao Ying finally let go.

Yan Chong got the edict and left Beijing immediately, not even for a year.

Xie Ze'an heard these things from other people, because Yan Chong left without even having time to say goodbye to him.

Unexpectedly, Yan Chong left a letter for himself, and Xie Ze'an quickly took it.He asked: "Brother Yan, how is it?"

Yan Lin pursed her lips.

In the past, his eyes had always been on the northern border, thinking that the strong enemy was there.But when he heard the news of the "little eldest grandson"'s death, he realized that the Daqing Dynasty was surrounded by dangers, and what they had to face was not only the danger in the north.

In fact, it's not that the enemy has become stronger, but that Zhao Ying's sword has been put away for too long, and many people have forgotten the original lesson.

They all felt that Zhao Ying was getting old, and that the Daqing Dynasty had returned to the weak and deceitful Daqing Dynasty.

In the eyes of foreign enemies, a weak ruler means a weak country.

Before leaving, Yan Chong told Yan Lin to listen carefully to Xu Juncheng's teachings. He had to learn great knowledge and learn to do great things. If he didn't have an overall perspective, going to the frontier would only add heads to the enemy.

Yan Lin glanced at Xie Ze'an who made Yan Chong look at him differently, and said, "I haven't arrived in Western Xinjiang yet." He was quiet for a while, and then added, "Brother Changsun's coffin has returned to the capital, and they said they met the second brother on the way." , the second brother must be rushing over there non-stop. The second brother and the eldest grandson grew up together and have a very good relationship, and he didn't even wait to see the eldest grandson's burial."

Xie Zean's little heart twitched inexplicably.

He suddenly remembered that Yan Chong had said that he was like one of his friends when they met not long ago, and that tone was very familiar.It was probably because he was similar to that friend in a certain way that Yan Chong always took good care of him.

Now it seems that Yan Chong's friend is probably this "little eldest grandson".

For such close friends, it doesn't matter whether they see the other party's burial or not.What Yan Chong wanted to do was to rush to Xijiang as soon as possible and stabilize the situation as soon as possible, so that the opponent's years of hard work guarding Xijiang would not be ruined.

Xie Ze'an asked Yan Lin: "I wonder if I can go to worship at that time?"

Yan Lin said: "Of course it is possible. Back then, your grandmother and General Changsun had a very good relationship. You should go there because of love and reason."

Xie Ze'an didn't expect this level, and said, "Then I will definitely go there then."

Yan Lin nodded.

The two walked side by side, walked out of Zhuque Street and turned a corner, and saw the Jinyu Tower built by the water.Yan Lin and Xie Ze'an were not in the mood to drink or eat. They wanted to go home directly, but they heard commotion ahead, as if something was going wrong in the Jinyu Tower.

Xie Ze'an and Yan Lin looked at each other and stepped forward quickly.

As soon as he stepped into the Jinyu Building, Xie Ze'an saw a young man in white standing among the wreckage of tables and chairs.The boy looked about the same age as him, and he was only nine or ten years old. His eyebrows and eyes were more beautiful than a girl's, but he spoke very bluntly: "I only want that Shaochun!"

Yan Lin paused, and quickly stepped forward: "Er... Lang."

The boy turned his head and saw that Yan Lin was coming, he clenched his fist and said, "Yan Lin, why are you here?"

Yan Lin said: "Heard the movement, come in and take a look."

The boy stuck there and stopped talking.

Someone recognized Xie Ze'an, and as if he was pardoned, he came up to him and said, "Sanlang, this little brother insists on buying Shaochun. Today's quantity has been sold out, and he is so young..."

Xie Ze'an ordered in a low voice: "You send a pot to the second floor." After speaking, he extended an invitation to Yan Lin and the young man, "Go to the second floor."

The young man looked at Xie Ze'an suspiciously, then turned his head to look at Yan Lin.

Yan Lin nodded slightly, and led the boy upstairs.

Xie Ze'an followed behind them, looking at the boy's back.Although the ten-year-old boy may not have developed, according to his judgment, this guy is clearly a girl.

Yan Lin's "Erlang" probably meant to call him "Erniang", right?

After Xie Ze'an sent someone to send Shaochun, he sent out all the mistresses.

The boy smelled the burning spring and looked at Xie Ze'an in surprise.But at this moment, she didn't have extra curiosity, she lowered her eyelashes after just one glance, and directly filled the glass in front of her.

All in one drink.

Yan Lin said: "This wine is too strong, Erlang, don't drink too much."

After drinking a glass of wine, the boy did not pass out.She said coldly, "Yan Qi, when did you become so talkative?"

The more I know the "peers" of this era, the more Xie Ze'an feels that he is not outstanding among these people at all!Not to mention Princess Yan Ning, the little girl in front of her doesn't look like a girl her age at all, look at her free and easy drinking, sharp words, and heroic eyes, she really doesn't lose to a boy .

No wonder no one saw through her in men's clothing.

It's just that this girl has too much pain between her brows, far beyond what she can bear at her age.

That's why she insisted on buying Shaochun, right?

Xie Ze'an asked, "Do you really want to get drunk?"

The boy paused and said, "I really want to get drunk."

Xie Ze'an said, "Then I'll drink with you."

The young man looked at Xie Ze'an in a daze, and said, "Okay."

Xie Ze'an poured himself a full glass and toasted the boy across the table.

The two of you drank the wine one at a time, the young man passed out quickly, and Xie Ze'an was not much better.

Yan Lin stayed by the side all the time, frowned after the boy got down on the ground, and called a waiter to let someone inform the boy's family.

Seeing that Xie Ze'an had also collapsed, Xiao Er immediately brought him sobering tea.

Xie Ze'an got drunk quickly and woke up quickly. After drinking a cup of hangover tea, his consciousness quickly became clear.

Seeing that the young man was unconscious, Xie Ze'an asked, "Whose family does she belong to?"

Yan Lin hesitated for a moment, then spit out the answer Xie Zean expected: "The eldest grandson's family."

No wonder then.

Xie Ze'an and Yan Lin waited for people from the eldest grandson's family to come and pick up "Second Mother" before parting.

As soon as he got home, Xie Ze'an was found in the study.In the study, there were already Xie Hui, Liang Jian, Xie Jiyu and Xie Dalang, as well as two new faces that Xie Zean had never seen before.

And in the middle of them is a huge sand table. Take a closer look, the terrain on the sand table is actually the border area between Xijiang and Xixia!

Xie Zean's heart shivered, and he stepped forward quickly: "I'm back."