The Bamboo Horse Dressed as the Emperor

Roast lamb.

Song Jiao smiled embarrassedly, and explained to the old man: "Grandpa took me to eat roast lamb at noon today, and I came here without changing clothes, it may have a little smell."

Gongyixiu smiled, but didn't speak.

Song Jiao thought for a while, got up and pulled Xie Chen over, and asked, "Then Mrs. Tai, what does he smell like?"

Xie Chen stood in front of Gongyixiu, he grabbed Song Jiao's hand, trying to stop him, but Song Jiao wanted to know the answer to this question very much, so he grabbed him and refused to let him go.

Gongyixiu thought for a moment, and said, "It's the smell of ice and snow, gunpowder smoke, and spirits."

Song Jiao was shocked: "Why am I a roast sheep? He is gunpowder?"

"It was the smell when I met it for the first time, so I will remember it."

Song Jiao regretted it very much, regretted that she went to eat roast lamb at noon today instead of bathing and burning incense.

It was getting late, Song Jiao served Gongyixiu to sleep as if he was serving his grandfather, covered him with a quilt, put away Mrs. Tang, and was about to go out with Xie Chen.

Before leaving, Gongyixiu asked him, "How is your grandfather doing these years?"

Song Jiao nodded: "Well, he is doing well. With me serving him, how can he be doing well?" His tone was brisk: "Teacher Tai, go to bed quickly, and I have to see His Majesty tomorrow."

"it is good."

Song Jiao waved to him: "Mr. Tai, good night."

"Hmm..." Gongyixiu purred uniquely to the elderly, like an old cat.

After Song Jiao closed the door, Gong Yixiu closed his eyes.

Back in the room, Song Jiao continued to do his homework, Xie Chen tactfully stopped teasing him, and sat on the side, his eyes following the tip of his pen.

But Song Jiao was obviously preoccupied, and after writing a few strokes, his wrist was hanging in the air, and the tip of the pen was hanging on the paper.

He propped his head up and sighed: "Qingguo is really... how can he send a 90-year-old old man to another country?"

Xie Chen said: "Only he can suppress your grandfather."

"But he doesn't seem to be suppressing my grandfather at all. He just wants to take that Li Xu back." Song Jiao sighed again, "But Li Xu is not the gentleman he expected, he will be very disappointed."

Xie Chen didn't speak any more, just held his hand.

From the standpoint of Qi State, they certainly cannot expect Li Xu to be a wise king.

The next day, Song Jiao got up early on purpose to prepare breakfast for Teacher Tai.

When he went in, Gong Yixiu was still asleep, Song Jiao went over to push him, and said softly, "Teacher Tai, get up and have breakfast, I'm going to see Your Majesty later."

But Gong Yixiu didn't wake up, Song Jiao tried to push him again, and finally tried his forehead, only to find that his forehead was very hot.

Song Jiao was startled, and hurried out to call the doctor.

Gong Yixiu, the envoy of the Qing Dynasty, was not acclimatized, and fell ill in the middle of the winter, so the meeting with the Emperor of Qi had to be postponed.

Song Jiao was very guilty, and felt that he hadn't discovered it early. When Teacher Tai came, he also forgot to drink ginger soup and take some preventive medicine for him.

He originally wanted to stay and take care of him, but Gongyixiu said that his studies were important, so he asked him to go back to Taixue to attend classes.

Song Jiao was reluctant, so Grandpa Song sent a special car to pick him up, take him to school during the day, and pick him up at night.In this way, Song Jiao could have a few words with Gong Yixiu when he left during the day and when he came back at night.

Xie Chen has not returned to Pipazhou, and there is nothing to do in Fengxiang City, so Mr. Xie put him in Taixue and let him study.

Xie Chen had no objection to this, but he was a little dissatisfied with the new clothes that Grandpa had prepared for him.

If grandpa doesn't prepare new ones for him, he can wear Song Jiao's clothes!

Those are my wife's clothes!

After knowing what he was thinking, Song Jiao looked him up and down, and said, "Don't even think about it, you will tear my clothes."

Xie Chen has been growing taller these past few years, and is already half a head ahead of Song Jiao.

So Song Jiao has been lying on the bed and kicking her legs every night recently, trying to grow taller quickly.

That night, the carriage stopped in front of the post house, Song Jiao jumped out of the carriage with her schoolbag in her arms, and trotted in.

"Teacher, I'm back!"

Gong Yixiu hadn't slept yet, and was leaning on the pillow, drinking medicine from a medicine bowl, when he heard his voice, he couldn't help laughing: "You're back?"

"Yes, Teacher Tai hasn't taken the medicine yet?"

"waiting for you."

Song Jiao smiled, handed the schoolbag to the attendant, took off the cloak she was wearing, and jumped around on the spot. After the fire warmed her body, she walked forward and sat down beside the bed.

Gong Yixiu drank the medicine by shaking the medicine bowl, Song Jiao reached out to touch the bowl, felt it was warm, and felt relieved.

Gong Yixiu was four or five generations older than Song Jiao, and the two of them could actually talk, mainly because Song Jiao told him about things in the Imperial Academy.

"I was praised by the teacher today, because the article was well written, and it was the one that Teacher Tai pointed out to me."

"I almost got into a fight with Brother Shen again today, because he stuffed his hand into my collar while I was taking a nap."

"The third grandpa asked me to bring some supplements to Teacher Tai. The third grandfather should also be a student of Teacher Tai, right?"

Gongyixiu just smiled and listened to him, occasionally answering his questions: "Third Grandpa?"

"It's the former No. [-] Confucian in Jiangbei, Mr. Liu."

"Liu Juanyun?"

"Ah."

"He is also my student. He is just a few years older than your grandfather. He is your grandfather's senior brother. At that time, they were studying in the Imperial Academy of Qing Dynasty, and they were called the Imperial Academy Shuangbi."

Song Jiao smiled and said, "Teacher Tai has taught a generation of literati."

"Don't dare."

The two chatted for a while, and Gong Yixiu also finished the soup in the bowl.

He put the medicine bowl on the table accurately, reached out and took a piece of candied fruit that Song Jiao brought him, and put it in his mouth: "Maomao."

"Ah."

"Teacher Tai, can I ask you if something happened to the Seventh Prince?"

"Ah?" Song Jiao was puzzled, "Why does Teacher Tai think so?"

"No, it's just that I haven't seen the Seventh Prince since I've been in Fengxiang City for a few days, so I'm a little worried. If His Majesty allows, I hope to meet the Seventh Prince."

Song Jiao paused for a moment: "Of course...of course, Li Xu should be very happy to go back to Qing Kingdom, then I'll go talk to Grandpa Xie tomorrow."

"Okay, then thank you."

Song Jiao thought for a while, but asked, "Teacher Tai, what do you want Li Xu to be like?"

Gong Yixiu also thought about it: "I don't expect him to be smart, I just hope that he can endure and be strong, upright and calm after so many years in Qi."

Too bad, Li Xu has nothing to do with these words.

Song Jiao pursed the corners of her lips and wanted to tell Teacher Tai what kind of person Li Xu was, but she was afraid that Teacher Tai might misunderstand that he was trying to sow discord.

After thinking about it, he finally said, just to be on the safe side: "Teacher Tai, he...is not as good as you expected."

Song Jiao saw that the expression on Teacher Tai's face was frozen, so he didn't continue talking. He stood up and helped the teacher to lie down: "Teacher, please rest."

Gongyixiu "looked" at him with bright eyes, as if to comfort himself: "No, you are such a good child, and the people around you must be very good. It doesn't matter, he will definitely be much better than the other princes of the Qing Kingdom."

Song Jiao didn't speak, but just covered him with a quilt: "Then I will arrange for Teacher Tai to meet him tomorrow."

"Okay." Gong Yixiu lay flat on the bed, pulling the quilt with his thin hands, and nodded.

Song Jiao blew out the candles, went out, and exchanged glances with Xie Chen who was waiting outside.

"You heard everything?"

"Well, it's not a big deal. I'll see you if you want to. I'll tell grandpa."

Song Jiao was a little frustrated: "Teacher Tai will be disappointed."

Early the next morning, Mr. Xie sent a carriage to take Li Xu from Ruomu Terrace to the post house.

Under the supervision of Xie Chen and Song Jiao, Li Xu and Gong Yixiu met.

Gong Yixiu got up with Song Jiao's support: "The old minister has met the Seventh Prince, and the Seventh Prince is a thousand years old."

Li Xu stood with his hands behind his back, accepting it calmly, and responded lightly.

Afterwards, Gong Yixiu leaned on the pillow and chatted with Li Xu. When talking about the process of returning to the Qing Kingdom, Li Xu was always indifferent, jumping out word by word.

"Yes."

Finally, Li Xu stood up before Gongyixiu was exhausted, "The smell of medicine in this room is a bit strong."

After saying this, he turned and left.

Song Jiao helped Teacher Tai lie down to rest, and then went out to catch up with Li Xu.

"You promised well when you came, and you will be treated normally."

Li Xu turned his head and put on a mocking expression: "Your Highness Song Jiao, he is our envoy of the Qing Kingdom, and I can treat him as I like. Why are you so interested in the envoys of the Qing Kingdom? He is your Grandpa?"

The next moment, Xie Chen came out from behind Song Jiao. He took a step forward and pressed the unsheathed knife against Li Xu's neck.

Xie Chen moved quickly, before Li Xu could react, he was restrained on the pillar.

Xie Chen gently pushed the handle of the knife with his fingers, and the blade slowly came out of its sheath, pressing on his neck, leaving a bloodstain.

His voice was cold and hard: "You are still in Qi State, anyway, no one in Qing State knows what you look like, I will kill you now, and it will be the same if you send someone else back, you'd better keep your tail and be a man, don't mess with me. "

Li Xu, who thought that Qing Guo would come to support him, never thought that there was such a layer. He was so frightened by his words that he didn't dare to move, he didn't even dare to vent his breath.

Xie Chen said again: "Apologize and make amends."

"Yes..." Li Xu looked at Song Jiao, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Your Highness, I was wrong, I'm a villain."

Xie Chen pressed the blade forward again, and then swiftly retracted the knife into its sheath.

Li Xu ran away in a frenzy, Xie Chen turned his head and looked at Song Jiao: "To deal with the villain, you must use the method of the villain. If there is a spies thing last time, I am in Fengxiang City, and he will be the first to die."

Song Jiao lowered his eyes: "I know."

Qingguo was in a hurry to urge them back, but Song Jiao blocked them all. Gong Yixiu had been recuperating in Fengxiang City for a few months, and spent a year in Fengxiang City.

For a few days during the New Year's Eve, Song Jiao accompanied him out to play. Although he couldn't see clearly, he could smell the sweet rice cakes and hear the sound of firecrackers and fireworks.

Earlier, Song Jiao took the time to go home and told his grandfather that Teacher Tai couldn't actually see him, so he could go and see Teacher Tai secretly.

Prime Minister Song hesitated for a long time before deciding to pass by the teacher on the day of the Lantern Festival, just to meet him like this.

In the shadow of the lamp, Prime Minister Song in plain clothes walked past Gongyixiu. When he walked past, Song Jiao clung to Gongyixiu's side and asked, "Teacher Tai, did you smell it?"

Gong Yixiu nodded with a smile, and when Prime Minister Song was about to leave, he held his hand precisely: "Wen Xue, you are my most proud student, you have been in the past, and you are still now. Qi Guo, don’t blame yourself, it’s not your fault.”

"The teacher is proud of you."