Emperor Que Shaohua

Since the beginning of its establishment, the purpose of the Jingyu Guard was to deal with the invasion of the rivers and lakes by foreign barbarians. Therefore, for several years, people have been deployed on the border to monitor the movements of the Liao, Jin and Wu people.Since King Ning took over the guard, the attention and requirements in this area have been greatly increased, and the investment is far more than before.It should be said that the supervision is effective. Although the border information received by Luo Pingyuan is not as fast and rigorous as that of Langhuan, it is much faster than other channels.

After meeting Luo Xuening in the palace for a few days, a letter was delivered to him: The third prince of the Northern Liao Dynasty, Yelu Shibao, will lead his troops to leave in the near future. Another purpose of the contract is to marry Princess Danyang.

King Ning couldn't help being sullen, the one who lost this battle was Beiliao, and he should have sent their princess to Yuzhou to get married, but now he dares to covet the imperial sister, it's really shameless.

He was a little annoyed immediately, Yuzhou had the upper hand in this reconciliation, and he expected that Emperor Tianyi would definitely refuse, but it would still cause trouble for Lin Chen and Xue Ning's marriage.He couldn't help but be annoyed by Lin Chen. Could it be that he heard some rumors at the border, and he thought of retreating before he could do anything. He was so lacking in ambition.If this is the case, Xue Ning must have misjudged him.

But when he calmed down, he felt that things were not that simple.A peace treaty is no joke. Beiliao knows that it will be rejected, so why do they still ask for self-indulgence? Did they prepare some bargaining chips in exchange?And if Lin Chen is really a cowardly and easy to give up person, then don't say that he would go to the northern border and stay to join the battle, not to mention that he would go to the front in the battle.What Lin Chen said in the letter was true. He felt that he was no longer worthy to propose to the princess. This seemed to have nothing to do with whether Beiliao came to propose.

Usually encountering this level of trouble, he couldn't help but go to the emperor brother for details.But now Luo Yanhua is either taking medicine every day, or sleeping peacefully after taking medicine.After finally waking up, Xi Minghua had to perform acupuncture to straighten out his pulse.Luo Pingyuan went to Lancang Residence every night, and he was lucky to be able to chat a few words.

Not to mention just hearing some rumors, it's hard to say whether it's true, even if Beiliao has already brought the dowry to Luo City, Luo Pingyuan can't disturb the convalescent care that Brother Huang finally got.He could only keep the matter in his heart calmly, so that his subordinates could not let it out and continue to inquire.

After a few days, he unconsciously moved the time back to the mansion earlier every day, and he didn't know whether it was to reassure the people in the mansion or to make himself more secure.

Everyone in Prince Jing's Mansion was cautious.Guan Ling could no longer show the master the hidden weapon he designed and improved, so she had to show the copybooks of the servants practicing calligraphy; Manager Yang sometimes came to report, and the biggest thing he asked for instructions was that the servants in the mansion should make winter clothes , do you want to change to a brighter color this year?Qin Shuang was the most pitiful, because most of the contacts deployed by Lang Huan were made through him, which was the easiest way for King Jing to spend his mind and thoughts, so he was especially frightened.Every time he came to greet him, Master Xi Gu's eyes were sharp like a knife, and Qin Shuang hurriedly resigned after failing to say a few homely words, making Luo Yanhua speechless and funny.

Once Luo Pingyuan happened to be by the side, seeing several subordinates replying and leaving in a hurry, Jing Wang was silent for a while, as if thinking, he smiled and said: "Brother Huang, what are you thinking? If it is the color of winter clothes, I think how about changing to bright blue? It’s more angry than before.”

Luo Yanhua looked at his younger brother who was joking with him attentively, and sighed: "Three times a day, I was thinking about myself, although I have experienced some things in these years, in fact, I have always been very self-willed."

Everyone is so solemn, as if they are facing a big enemy, because they have been worried for a long time.I have chosen the current path, which means that many people will accompany me along the way.Vaguely, he saw the burden on the hearts of his younger brother, friends and subordinates.

Fortunately, the possibility of an accident in the near future is very small, and twelve days pass by in a flash.As for the future, and the future, along the chosen path to the end goal and destination, everything is so clear, why do you still get confused occasionally?He didn't want to think about it any further. A short rest and ease was terrifying, and it would make people involuntarily realize the nostalgia deep in their hearts, and then give birth to selfish and weak thoughts.

"Ping Yuan, I'm a little sleepy, so don't stay with me anymore. You've been tired all day, you'd better go back and rest early." He said softly.If you can't get too much, you will covet more, which will only harm everyone close to you.

On the ninth day of November, Mrs. Gu's [-]th birthday, the mansion of Shi Gu Hongsheng, President of the Imperial Academy, was crowded with crowns and guests.

When Luo Pingyuan went there, he saw a stream of carriages and horses passing by in front of the Gu residence, and the carriages bearing the marks of each family and residence were lined up endlessly.Gu's family is King Yun's natal family, although he had already expected that there must be a lot of people coming to pay birthday respects, but the grand occasion in front of him still exceeded his expectations.

When King Ning came, Gu Changshi personally greeted him out of the mansion, accompanied him to the main hall to talk, and all the guests also came forward to pay respects.

Gu Hongsheng has served in the Imperial Academy for many years, and he can be said to be a representative figure in the Qingliu. On that day, the Ministry of Household Affairs proposed to increase the Shaoan tax, and he was one of the civil servants who opposed it most fiercely.It is said that when he married his daughter, Gu Changshi hesitated for a while because he was worried that he would be criticized for clinging to the prince.

Luo Pingyuan raised his eyes and saw that the most civil servants came to congratulate him, and even the Minister of Rites also came to have a birthday banquet.He glanced around, and sure enough, he saw Zhao Mian and Chen Yuanfu who had just been selected as editors of the Imperial Academy not long ago.There are also some military generals here, and the two servants from the Ministry of War are obviously due to the relationship of the fourth prince, and they are also clan relatives.

The prince now rarely has time to go to this kind of family banquet. King An would not come to save Luo Linpian's face even if he died.

Mrs. Gu has a royal order, the palace has issued rewards as usual, and Concubine Lian also sent her servants to bring birthday gifts.The presence of King Ning was like flowers blooming, and the atmosphere became very warm.

More than half an hour before leaving the banquet, Luo Pingyuan socialized for a while, thinking that staying in the main hall would be too noisy, so he got up and said: "I should also go to see Mrs. Gu, Mr. Gu is busy today, so I just need to send someone to lead the way." That's good, don't bother to greet me."

He has been in command of Jing Yuwei for half a year, even when speaking with a smile, his demeanor is naturally undeniable.Gu Hongsheng hurriedly called the second son over, asking him to accompany the fifth prince to the back garden.

Mrs. Gu is a well-known good fortune, rich and noble, full of children and grandchildren.When Luo Pingyuan went to the Ci'an Hall to meet the ceremony, he saw an old lady wearing a sable fur to wipe her forehead and wearing a smoky purple brocade gown with flowers, her eyes were very kind, and it could be seen that she must have been quite upright and beautiful when she was young. .

The elderly mainly look at the appearance of the younger generation, and they don't care so much about their status. When Mrs. Gu saw Luo Pingyuan, she immediately fell in love with something: "What a handsome boy." She asked him to sit next to him and asked his age and birthday with a smile , "Is it possible to discuss a marriage? I don't know whose girl will have such a blessing in the future."

As he spoke, he sighed: "Linpian is also a good boy, but it's a pity that my direct granddaughter's fortune is so poor that she can't handle it, leaving him alone. I only hope that in the future, I will find someone close to me who knows the cold and the hot to accompany me." let's go."

Second Young Master Gu saw his grandmother chattering and pulling King Ning to talk, his hands were really sweating, and finally found a gap to insert: "Grandmother, when I came just now, my father asked me to take care of it." You rest, you are tired from watching." Then he told the two servant girls next to him: "Before the banquet is set, help the old lady in to rest for a while, so that you will be energetic in the second half of the day."

Mrs. Gu did not refuse either, she got up with a smile, and gave Luo Pingyuan another sugar purse: "I will have a daughter-in-law in the future, so I will bring it to the old man to see when I have free time, and let's talk together."

"Grandmother is getting old, so it's inevitable that she loves to talk too much. Don't take it to heart, Your Highness Fifth." Second Young Master Gu sent off Mrs. Tai, and half-explained and half-apologies to King Ning, complaining in his heart that grandma was too out of touch. He is a prince. How can it be like treating your own grandchildren.

"It doesn't matter, Mrs. Tai is kind and Wen Xi is talking about human nature." Luo Pingyuan smiled and waved his hands.The empress dowager in the palace died young, and the concubines talked in a twist and turn. He rarely had the opportunity to feel this kind of normal concern.Are all grandmothers in ordinary families like this?He squeezed the sugar purse in his hand, feeling a little bit sweet.

Today's family banquet was not available at all, Jing Wang specifically mentioned that he had thought about whether there was any deep meaning, now it seems that maybe the emperor brother just asked himself to be a courtesy, and to relax by the way.

Luo Pingyuan asked Second Young Master Gu not to continue to accompany him, and said: "Master Gu will definitely need your help. I will walk around in the back garden and return to the main hall after a while."

Second Young Master Gu saw that he obviously wanted to be pure and didn't want to attract more attention, so he had to order a follower to lead the way for King Ning, so as not to misjudge the direction.

I heard earlier that Gu Hongsheng's mansion is an ancestral property. Three generations ago, the ancestors of the Gu family once lived in the first rank, served as assistant government officials, and were granted the title of Prince and Taifu, so that they could have such a large mansion in Los Angeles.The sound of gongs and drums could be faintly heard from the direction of the flower hall. It was an opera troupe invited by the mansion, and all the female family members who came today would gather there to watch an opera and drink tea.

Luo Pingyuan wanted to see if the back garden was really elegant, so he picked a secluded path and walked slowly.Withered vegetation in winter is not a good time to visit the garden. I didn’t meet many guests along the way, but I felt that there were many ordinary sights, but a few thick pine trees were lush and green, which added a bit of vitality.

The pond in the garden has been frozen, but a tree of wintersweet near the rockery is in bud, it is elegant and moving, Luo Pingyuan followed the faint scent and walked over, he thought, it would be worthwhile to stay for a while Turn around, and you can leave after drinking a glass of wine at the banquet.

At this moment, whispers came from the other side of the rockery, the voice was very soft, if not for his excellent hearing, it might be difficult to distinguish.

"Miss, it's too cold, let's go back to the hall to watch the show, don't get caught in the cold." The voice was delicate, and it should be a young girl, with a strong sense of anxiety in her tone.

There was a moment of silence, and the other party seemed to be silent.

"Unexpectedly, Princess Wanyu is so arrogant and bullying because of her clan status; Miss Wu's family looks gentle, but she speaks so viciously. I think it is because she is provoking from the sidelines that it attracts those ladies to disregard their dignity. Can't stop ridiculing in the open and in the dark." The girl should be a maid, and then said, her voice was a little angry.

The lady in her mouth still did not answer.Luo Pingyuan vaguely recalled that Princess Wanyu seemed to be born of a distant imperial aunt, and there were many cousins ​​in the clan who were far or near, and he didn't pay much attention to it; and Miss Wu, could it be that she came to congratulate her today? The daughter of Wu Shilang from the Ministry of Officials?These thoughts just passed by for a moment, and he immediately thought, what is it like for me to eavesdrop on the right and wrong between the boudoir girls in private.

Just as she was about to turn around and leave, the previous maid said again: "Miss, don't take it to heart, they are clearly jealous, because His Royal Highness King Ning..."

"Qin Hua, you've been talking like this for a long time, isn't that enough?" The young lady seemed unable to listen, and finally said, "It's becoming more and more difficult, what do they have to be jealous of?" Are you envious of my unlucky encounter with bandits, making my reputation unclear? Or are you jealous of how many palace satins I have been given? Well, the latter is still possible." The voice was mellow and clear, and there was no annoyance, but It was a bit of a helpless joke.

Luo Pingyuan suddenly stopped in his tracks, the girl was actually Du Tangli.

"Miss, of course they are so blatantly ostentatious for His Highness the Fifth Highness. Don't bully me for being stupid, Qin Hua is almost dying of anxiety." Qin Hua paused, "Miss, what to do, you have to pay attention to their sarcastic remarks. Let's go back Let's warm up, we've been out for half an hour."

"What happened today, His Highness King Ning can't stop talking about it." Du Tangli reprimanded softly, but she didn't sound angry, "It's rare to come out with my father, I don't like staying here The hall is boring, I want to walk around casually, don't keep urging me."

"But, but," the servant girl seemed to be very anxious, hesitated, and said as if she had made up her mind, "When I was serving tea just now, I met Princess Wanyu's maid who was whispering to her, saying that His Royal Highness is coming to the mansion. I have come to pay my respects to the two most honorable ladies in the hall. I haven’t figured out what kind of edict they are, and I have already sent someone to the front to invite him to come and talk for a while. Princess Wanyu and Miss Wu didn’t even look at each other. We, but suddenly challenged Miss. To make you unable to stay in the flower hall. Even Qin Hua can see it. They want to take the opportunity to move forward, and prevent His Royal Highness from seeing Miss, it is too deceitful." As she spoke, there was almost a hint of pleading in her voice, "So, if Miss still stays outside, wouldn't it be fulfilling their wish?"

"I understand the intention of the princess, but the thoughts of these noble ladies are really boring. How many things does His Royal Highness Ning have to do? Notice them for a short while, and then look at them differently? If he is this kind of person, even if His Majesty hasn't specified marriage, there should be several candidates for the side concubine and concubine room." Du Tangli said lightly, her voice was inaudible How many emotions did you express, "You girl, you are thinking about it, you can't kill me. What can I do if I stay in the flower hall, squeezed together with these messy ladies, and also hope that His Highness the Fifth Highness will come, and then Finally the people arrived, so I had no choice but to push away the noble ladies standing in front of him, and appeared in front of him with messy hair, and said with tears in my eyes, "Your Highness, do you still remember Tangli?" Your lady is really not This piece of material, let’s hide and be quiet.”

Luo Pingyuan: "..." If he hadn't heard it with his own ears, he would never have thought that his coming to pay homage to his birthday would cause waves among a group of female relatives who could be said to be strangers, and even affect Du Tangli who came to visit.He thought slightly, Brother Huang, is it for him to see Du Tangli?If he didn't go for a walk in the back garden, but just went to the flower hall where the female relatives gathered; if there were no other women's crowding out, he should see her normally.Thinking of King Jing's painstaking efforts, I felt an indescribable feeling in my heart.

Qin Hua over there said in a low voice: "The servant girl really didn't want Miss to be like this, but she was just too angry. They were too good, and every word was ridiculed. Just because they saw that our family has no power, they insinuated that Miss, Say you..." At this point, he suddenly choked up and couldn't continue.

"You say I'm from a low family background, I'm not innocent, and I still want to surpass myself, right?" Du Tangli continued for her, her voice still calm, "So you just hope that the Fifth Highness can see you I don't need to do anything, as long as he says hello, others may not be so talkative for a long time, but that's it?"

Qin Hua didn't make a sound, thinking she was nodding her head to wipe away her tears. Du Tangli sighed softly, and for the first time, there was more melancholy in her words: "These days, although my father and aunt have kept it from me, but the rumors outside are so How could I not know it. No matter how unbearable it is, today is still a good day. No wonder you are wronged, and you have been useless by my side."

She paused and said: "Never mind, our family is not a big family, there will be a lot of gossip, but it is because His Highness Ning Wang is involved. After a while, other people lose interest, and it will naturally subside. Besides, I don't want to Deliberately show up in front of him. You don't understand, being a prince also has a lot of hard work and has to do, and there are people everywhere who want to find faults in His Highness the Fifth Highness to reap the benefits; what happened last time was not a pleasant memory for him, why should we give it to him? add to the trouble."

"How can I understand these important matters," Qin Hua said in a low voice, "I shouldn't think too much and make the lady feel sad. But, don't you really want to take a look at the Fifth Highness from a distance? Others don't know, but Qin Hua does I understand, miss has always been, all... missed today, maybe it will be difficult to meet again in the future."

"That's enough, I've indulged you so much, I can't hold back my words at all times." Du Tangli reprimanded lightly, her always calm voice suddenly trembled.

There was a moment of silence behind the rockery, the maid did not dare to speak anymore, but Du Tangli seemed to be calming down, and after a while she said: "Just explain it to you. Qin Hua, do you know why I am not angry even if I am ridiculed by those boudoir daughters? It's just because the Prince Ning they saw was nothing more than appearance and identity; although my past experience was short, they might not be able to understand it in their lifetime. The fifth prince rescued him that day because of his noble nature; I have no choice but to fulfill my responsibilities. So you understand, I don’t have to look far away, and I’ve already got a lot, and I’m very satisfied. The status and status are very different. The only thing I can do is not To add trouble to him."

In the lonely winter day, the girl's voice was clear and soft. Apart from the worried maid Qin Hua, the ones who heard this narration were the Fifth Prince who had been mentioned countless times in just a moment.