This was the first time Chen Xiaomu had seen this situation. He said hurriedly: "Everyone, please get up quickly. The ground is too cold. Don't get sick from the cold."
The fat official clasped his fists and bowed in obeisance: "Your Majesty, Prince Consort Chen, please pay homage to little Zhou Quan." The thin official quickly followed, "Prince Consort Chen, please pay homage to young Dong Chao."
Chen Xiaomu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said helplessly: "If you don't get up, I will be angry!"
After hearing this, everyone stood up from the ground one after another. At this time, a dark-faced man walked out of the crowd, bowed to Chen Xiaomu and said with cupped hands: "Prince-in-law, I am Zhang Bao, the head of the village who supports me, and I would like to invite the prince-in-law." I'll go to my little house and enjoy some country wine and food."
Chen Xiaomu waved his hands when he heard this and said, "Thank you very much, Zhang Lichang, for your kindness. There is no need to eat. I will visit Taoist Tongshou's alchemy place later. I have important things to do and rush back to the capital."
"This..." Zhang Bao was stunned and looked a little embarrassed. He quietly turned his head and winked at the old man.
The old Taoist didn't want to be troublesome at first, but thinking that he often went to the village chief's house to eat and drink, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and smiled dryly at Chen Xiaomu: "Hey, Prince Consort, you see it's almost noon, we are in a mountain village, even though we are in In a remote rural area, the cooking skills of the eldest brother and sister are no worse than those of the chefs in restaurants in the capital!"
Chen Xiaomu smiled, nodded and said: "Okay, since the Taoist priest has said so, let's bother Zhang Lichang once. However, paying for meals is a matter of course. Please ask Zhang Lichang not to give up the meal money." Decline!" Then he said to the two officers: "I heard that the two officers made several trips to deal with the Taoist priest. It was really hard. Let's drink two glasses of wine together at noon to relieve our fatigue."
The two servants were immediately flattered and said, "I don't dare, I don't dare!" Before he finished speaking, Zhang Bao said excitedly: "Prince-in-law, you have risked your life and death to protect the people of Zheng State from being ruined. Today, the common people will treat you to a simple meal. To show your sincerity, but you still have to pay for the meal, I’m afraid this can’t be justified at all, right?”
Chen Xiaomu didn't want to dwell on this trivial matter, so he followed Zhang Bao's words and said, "Well, since Zhang Li is so insistent, I won't be polite anymore."
When Zhang Bao heard this, he was filled with joy. He stretched out his hand and patted the back of the head of the boy next to him, "Shanzhu, run and tell your mother that we have a distinguished guest today and ask her to bring out all the good wine and food at home." Hospitality.”
"Hey, Dad." The young man agreed, turned around and ran towards the village like a rabbit. In the blink of an eye, the figure disappeared at the end of the village.
The crowd then surrounded Chen Xiaomu and walked towards the village. A group of people were walking and chatting. When they reached the door of Zhang Bao's house, they saw the half-grown boy who had just run away, standing with a handkerchief on his head and an apron around his waist. In front of the middle-aged woman, waiting at the door, Zhang Bao saw this and quickly introduced to Chen Xiaomu: "Prince-in-law, this is a lowly Lianghua."
Liang Hua immediately came to wish Chen Xiaomu a blessing, and said crisply: "Liang Hua, a commoner girl, has met the prince-in-law."
Chen Xiaomu cupped his hands and said, "You are causing trouble to Madam-in-law!"
Liang Hua smiled and said, "The Prince Consort is right. The Prince Consort can condescend to dine at a daughter's home. It is a blessing that a daughter has earned over several lifetimes."
Chen Xiaomu smiled and said: "Madam, you are so polite!"
After a polite greeting at the door, Chen Xiaomu was let into the living room, and Liang Hua made tea quickly. At this time, the two businessmen had quietly slipped away, probably back to the county government to report the news.
Let’s not talk about Chen Xiaomu’s side. Lanling, the capital of Qi State, has been snowing continuously for the past few days, and it gradually stopped until this morning. However, the sky is still overcast at the moment, and there are scattered small snowflakes from time to time. , on an avenue near the palace, a group of guards were patrolling along the street through the crunching snow. Suddenly, a man with disheveled hair like a beggar rushed out from behind a tree by the road, holding him while walking. The guard at the front of the queue shouted in a hissing voice: "Brother Xu Wang, take me to see the Holy Master quickly. I have something big to report!"
The guard was startled, and then he used a move called Zhanyi Shiba to throw the person away. The guards behind him immediately rushed up and surrounded him with their guns. Perhaps because his body was too weak, the person was thrown by Xu Wang. After he came out, he fell headlong on the snow and remained motionless. Seeing this, Xu Wang hurriedly stepped forward and stretched out his hand to check his breathing. Fortunately, he was still breathing slightly. When he lifted the hair covering this person's face, he couldn't help but be surprised. , the other party turned out to be Du Peng, his sworn brother who once kowtowed to the ground in the palace guard. However, Du Peng was transferred to the East Palace to protect the prince a year ago. For some unknown reason, he ended up like this. Looks like a beggar.
Now Xu Wang was in a dilemma. He didn't know whether to save him or not. Supposedly, being a guard in the East Palace Prince's house was a very well-paid job. To be able to get down to the point where he was like a beggar, he must have either offended His Highness the Crown Prince or committed a crime. It was a big mistake. If he rashly came to the rescue at this time, the news would reach the ears of the prince in the future, and he would be forced to walk away with nothing to eat, so don't save him! After all, this is his sworn brother, and he can't bear it in his heart. Besides, if word spreads, no one will be willing to date him! "
Just when Xu Wang was at a loss what to do, a guard seemed to see his difficulty and suggested: "Lieutenant Xu, why don't we rescue this man first, wait until he wakes up, ask him why, and then decide how to deal with it."
Seeing more and more people watching on the roadside, Xu Wang couldn't think of any other way for a while, so he had no choice but to nod and said: "Wang Chong, please carry him to my residence first, get him some hot soup to drink first, and wait." After I patrol this street with my brothers, I will go back and deal with it."
"Yes, deputy lieutenant." Wang Chong agreed, and then with the help of Xu Wang and others, he lifted Du Peng up from the snow, put it on his back, and walked back.
By the time Xu Wang came back from patrolling absentmindedly, Du Peng had already woken up after drinking a bowl of hot soup brought by Wang Chong. He was sitting on the bed in a daze. Wang Yun was talking to him next to him. He didn't say a word, just stayed silent. Sitting blankly, like a wooden man.
It wasn't until he saw Xu Wang pushing the door open that his dead fish eyes suddenly glowed with sparkle. He opened the quilt and was about to get off the bed. Xu Wang quickly stepped forward to hold him down and persuade him. He said: "Brother, you are weak, it is better to stay in bed."
Du Peng shook his head gently and said in a hoarse voice: "Brother, quickly find a way to lure brother into the palace. I have something big to do and I want to go to the palace to report to the emperor!"
Hearing this, Xu Wang's heart sank, and he thought to himself: "It seems that something big happened in the East Palace!" But what he couldn't figure out was that the East Palace was at most two or three miles away from the Imperial Palace. There were constant exchanges between the two palaces every day. If the East Palace was There was really something going on inside, and it was impossible for the Holy One not to know about it, so why bother asking one of his guards to stumble to his palace to report the news? "
Seeing that Xu Wang was still hesitating, Du Peng seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. He knew that with Xu Wang's temperament, he would not easily bring him into the palace to meet the Holy Emperor without explaining the matter clearly. At that moment, he sighed and said: " Alas, brother, let me tell you the truth! A few days ago, my brother secretly escorted the Crown Prince to the Sanqing Temple on Mangdang Mountain in the State of Zheng to visit His Royal Highness’s uncle who was the abbot in the temple. As a result, he went down the mountain to the State of Zheng on the second night. On the road to Xinjingcheng in the capital, we were surrounded by Zheng troops who were several times larger than ours. During the melee between the two sides, I was attacked from behind by a Zheng army sergeant. I was chopped down with a knife in the mud of a roadside pond. I fainted and was waiting for me in the middle of the night. When I woke up, I discovered that all of our people, including His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and His Royal Highness's uncle, had died in the battle. My brother wanted to commit suicide and follow the Crown Prince, but he also thought that if I died, no one would come back to report the message to His Majesty. Please send troops to avenge the prince!"
After finishing speaking, Xu Wang was stunned and murmured to himself: "No wonder I haven't seen the Crown Prince get out of the car and drive into the palace for a long time!"
"Brother, please take me into the palace quickly?" Du Peng asked again.
Xu Wang composed himself and said hesitantly: "Brother, you have to think clearly. Now His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was killed in Zheng State. According to the rules of the palace, all the guards who participated in the escort must be buried for the Crown Prince!"
Du Peng nodded calmly, "Brother knows that the reason why I didn't dare to return to the East Palace first was because I was afraid that I would be killed before I saw the Holy One."
Xu Wang waved his hand, "Brother, don't be anxious. Let me think of a solution that has both ends. It will not only allow my brother to meet the Holy Lord to state the details, but also save his head!"
"There's such a good thing!" Du Peng said in surprise: "Brother, think about it quickly, brother won't rush you anymore."
Xu Wang silently walked back and forth in the room twice with his hands behind his back. Suddenly he patted his head and shouted softly: "Okay, let's go to Mr. Li first and tell him that before His Majesty's death, he ordered you to try to save your life and come back to report the news." , please ask your Majesty to raise troops to destroy the small court of Zheng. Only by saying this can we save my brother’s head!"
"This...!" Du Peng asked doubtfully: "Will Mr. Li listen to our two brothers? Besides, the prince is still his nephew!"
Xu Wang patted his chest and said, "Brother, don't worry about this. It's precisely because the prince is Mr. Lu's nephew and the prince left his last words when he passed away that he will take them seriously. And I heard that he is usually an easy-going person and will never let you Die for His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Okay, then we have to risk our lives and give it a try!" Du Peng couldn't think of any other way, so he nodded in agreement.
Since he was recently promoted to the prime minister of Qi by Emperor Xiao Yan of Qi, Li Luo was in a good mood every day these days. No, after attending the morning court, as soon as the sedan dropped down in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion, he opened the curtain of the sedan and stepped out of the sedan. Coming out of the house, the nearly seventy-year-old man pushed aside the two maids who came up to help him, and walked into the Prime Minister's Mansion with vigorous steps. As soon as he entered the house, the second lady Zhong Wan came up to him and asked delicately: "Ouch, Prime Minister, looking at your cheerful face, it’s almost certain that something good happened to you today?”
Li Luo waved his hand and said with a laugh: "Haha, no, the prime minister is just happy for no reason!" Zhong Wan came up and took his arm, "whispered: Prime Minister, how are things going with the slave brothers?" "
Hearing this, Li Luo stretched out his hand and pinched her tender face gently, and said with a smile: "Tomorrow, ask your brother to go to the Ministry of Personnel to find Mr. Shen, and he will arrange for your brother to go to Mengshan County to take up the post of county magistrate."
"Oh, this is great!" When Zhong Wan heard this, he jumped up for joy, stretched out his cherry mouth, and kissed Li Luo hard on the face.
"Haha, you sultry little goblin." Li Luo laughed and grabbed Zhong Wan, who was about to run away, and whispered in her ear: "I have to serve the Prime Minister tonight. !”
Just as the two of them were kissing each other, a guard outside the door reported: "Master Prime Minister, there are two palace guards outside the Prime Minister's Mansion asking to see you?"
