This was said in an understatement, and could even be said to be courteous. However, when it fell in Zhu Yi's ears, a trace of cold sweat could not help but break out on his forehead.
He was not a fool, how could he not hear the emotion hidden in these words.
Secretly saying something bad, Zhu Yi forced a smile, stepped forward, cupped her hands, and said.
"My father-in-law, this is how I want to defeat Zhu. The names of officials and nobles are all given by your majesty. Officials and subjects all work for your majesty. There is no need to talk about status or status. In front of your majesty, the Duke Zhu may not have a father-in-law." This admiral of Dongchang is very important!"
Having said that, with Zhu Yi's current status, he put himself and Shu Liang, a eunuch, in the status of people who serve the emperor, which naturally gave people a very good feeling. Ironed.
Seeing that the fake smile on Shu Liang's face faded slightly, Zhu Yi felt slightly relieved and continued to explain.
"What I just said is really out of necessity. In front of nobles like Zhang Shi, if Zhu appears to be too close to my father-in-law, it may make people suspicious. There are many offenses in his words, so please forgive me."
This time, Shu Liang didn't just listen but didn't speak like he did just now. Instead, he smiled and said in return.
"We are just joking, why should the Duke be nervous?"
Seeing this situation, Zhu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to invite someone into the study, but saw Shu Liang change the subject and say again.
"But having said that, the Duke is right. Our family is just a dog under the feet of the Emperor. Whatever the Emperor says, it will be whatever he says. He will bite whoever the Emperor tells him to bite!"
"But in this world, there are so many people who want to be dogs. Does the Duke think it is embarrassing to be the prince's dog?"
To be fair, this was very offensive.
Although it is not stated explicitly, the implication is actually self-evident.
After Zhu Yi heard this, he was stunned for a moment, then his face turned red and he didn't speak for a long time.
Shu Liang didn't rush him, he just stood in the distance and looked at him quietly until a moment later, Zhu Yifang said with some difficulty.
"Of course...no shame."
"My father-in-law is right, being your Majesty's dog is a blessing that many people dream of..."
At this time, Shu Liang's complexion completely improved, he cupped his hands and said.
"There is a saying that thunder, rain, and dew are all due to the kindness of the emperor. The honor of the emperor can be taken either by life or death."
"The principles are the same. However, we don't have enough ink in our stomachs to say those nice things. If there is any offense or disrespect, I will forgive you."
"The words are rough, but they are not rough. If you think about it carefully, I think you will understand what we mean."
Zhu Yi cupped her hands, put a smile on her face, and said.
"It's natural!"
"Well, thank you for your magnanimity, Your Majesty. Our family has been delayed outside for a long time. It's time to return to the palace to report to His Majesty. We say goodbye."
Shu Liang's goal was achieved, so he naturally didn't stay much. He raised his hand in return and planned to leave.
Zhu Yi felt complicated at the same time, but he still couldn't lose the courtesy of face. Seeing that Shu Liang was leaving, he spoke.
"It's already noon. My father-in-law must have been working hard all the way. He might as well have a meal at my house as a way of saying thank you."
These words were purely polite. Even if we put aside the unpleasantness just now, as Shu Liang, it was not suitable for him to have a banquet at Chengguo Duke's Mansion.
After all, he came here in a low-key manner and could avoid people by taking a small side door along the way. But when he got to the banquet, there were so many people watching when he was serving that it was inevitable that there would be distractions.
Both parties understood this, so Zhu Yi really just said a few polite words.
However, what he didn't expect was that Shu Liang actually turned around and said.
"It is true that our family has never tasted the banquet at the Duke's Mansion. If we have the opportunity, we will naturally try it, but I'm afraid it won't be possible today. Our family has been suffering from gastrointestinal problems in the past few days, such as roasted meat and braised carp. This kind of food is too greasy, I'm afraid it won't be able to be cured, so I won't bother the Duke."
After that, without waiting for Zhu Yi to react, he walked out of the yard.
Qingfeng sent the person out, and Zhu Yi stood in the courtyard, frowning, and asked the old housekeeper beside him.
"Did you tell Eunuch Shu about the dishes Madam ordered us to cook today?"
The old housekeeper shook his head and said.
"Back to Young Master, according to your instructions, the old slave only listened to Eunuch Shu's instructions and did not take the initiative to say anything to him. He did not ask any questions along the way."
After hesitating for a moment, the old housekeeper seemed to realize something, and said with a flash of worry in his eyes.
"Master, the dishes prepared by our kitchen today do not include roasted meat at all. Madam just ordered her servants to cook them after she arrived in the backyard."
The implication is that not many people knew that they had grilled meat today, so they would not have leaked it in advance.
Standing in the courtyard, Zhu Yi sighed, gently pinched the center of her eyebrows, and said leisurely.
"It seems that what Eunuch Shu said is not entirely false. The hereditary iron certificate of the Duke's mansion is really hard to get!"
How could he not see that Shu Liang's arrogant look just now was actually intentional.
After having dealt with this Dongchang Dajuan for so long, Zhu Yi had some understanding of his temperament.
It is true that this Eunuch Shu will retaliate for his anger, but he is even better at hiding his sword behind his smile.
It's not this kind of fake smile that can be seen at a glance, but a real smile in your face and a stab in the back.
Therefore, he must have done it intentionally when he was so domineering just now.
Its purpose is nothing more than to test whether his position and thoughts have changed after his restoration to the throne, just like Zhang Shi.
Seeing his young master's melancholy look, the old housekeeper asked cautiously.
"Master, would you like me to go and check? Qingfeng has been with you today and has not gone to the back house. If you want to check carefully, you should..."
"No need!"
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yi waved his hand and said.
"The investigation needs to be carried out, but now is not the time for the investigation. At this time, if we really do the investigation, it will be a bad thing, that's all, let him go..."
As she spoke, Zhu Yi shook her head slightly, as if to put all these troubles behind her, and walked towards the backyard.
However, after taking two steps, he seemed to remember something again, turned around and gave instructions to the housekeeper.
"Don't let Madam know about this matter. It's enough for me to worry about these things."
"yes……"
Time flies by day by day, and it falls into May in the blink of an eye.
The orange-red sunset sets heavily on the horizon, the wind and sand are rolling, and the flags are hunting.
On the scarred Xuanfu City, a young general stood with his sword in hand, looking into the distance. Beside him, a young man wearing a Confucian scholar's robe and a long body stood tall.
"Xiaojie, have you thought about it?"
Seeing the afterglow of the setting sun gradually dissipating, Yang Xin finally turned his eyes to the slightly thin young man beside him. There was a rare hint of worry on his usually resolute and tough face.
"The border is full of dangers, and the place you are going to is... You have always been in poor health. After you leave the gate of Xuanfu, I want to protect you, but I am beyond my reach."
"Now, your second brother has been exiled to Longmen Guards, and your third brother has been demoted to Guangxi. If you make any mistakes again, how should I, the eldest brother, explain to my uncle?"
A few days ago, Yang Jie arrived in Xuanfu City.
Before he arrived, Yang Jun received a letter from Yang Hong's family, and naturally, he knew Yang Jie's purpose.
Although the four brothers of the Yang family are not of the same mother, they have a good relationship.
As the saying goes, an elder brother is like a father. Although Yang Jun has not returned to Beijing many times in recent years, he loves his youngest brother more than the other two brothers.
It is precisely because of this that the two of them have been quarreling in the past few days since Yang Jie arrived in Xuanfu City.
The temperature difference between day and night on the border is very large. As soon as the sun sets, the chill starts, and the breeze blows, and the flags flutter.
Yang Jie couldn't help but coughed twice, and a flush appeared on his fair face.
This look made Yang Jun even more worried, but after hesitating for a moment, he still didn't speak again.
After a while, Yang Jie finally recovered, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he hit the nail on the head.
"My eldest brother has followed my father to guard the border for so many years and has experienced countless wars. Could it be said that my eldest brother can be sure of returning home safely before going to war?"
"you!"
Seeing Yang Jie's calm look, Yang Jun became furious and said.
"How can this be the same?"
However, Yang Jie shook his head and said.
"It's no different, eldest brother, second brother, third brother, and father. You have lived a life of licking blood on the battlefield. After decades of fighting on the battlefield, you have achieved the glory of the Yang family today. I How can we, the descendants of the Yang family, spend our lives doing nothing and being confined to a small place?"
The two of them have argued with each other countless times in the past few days.
However, no one can convince anyone. Yang Jie is stubborn and Yang Jun is equally stubborn.
Shaking his head firmly, Yang Jun still persisted and said.
"This is different!"
"Xiaojie, everyone is different. You are born with extraordinary resourcefulness. In a fame and fortune fair like the capital, you can be like a fish in water. This is your ability."
"Without your friendship and management in Beijing these years, how could my uncle and I be able to guard the border with peace of mind?"
"When the army goes out on an expedition, on the surface it's about victory or defeat on the battlefield, but in reality, it's about logistics. You are the backing of my Yang family. Do you still want me to tell you these truths?"
Looking at the rare irritable Yang Jun in front of him, Yang Jie was very calm and smiled. His eyes were clear, and he looked up at the resolute face that had been beaten by wind and sand for many years. He sighed softly and said.
"Brother, the Yang family is a general. I don't need to explain what a general is, right?"
Yang Jun was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but use some strength to hold down the hilt of the sword.
So, Yang Jie took a step forward, stretched out his hands, and gently touched the battle-scarred city wall in front of him. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of sadness.
"I know that my father, my eldest brother, my second brother, and my third brother are all very good to me. Brother, in order to prevent others from misunderstanding that you have different intentions, you have been stationed in Xuan Mansion all year round and rarely return to the capital."
"The second brother is very brave. Although he is reckless and impulsive, he has always been loved by my father the most, but he has never said a bad word about me in front of my father."
"The last time I was sick, my aunt secretly bribed the people around my father and encouraged me to say that I was not in good health and could not afford the family business. The general at that time was beaten half to death by my second brother within two days."
"Because of this matter, the second brother refused to send a letter to my aunt for more than half a year."
"There is also the third brother. He has the best relationship with the second brother. However, this time I caused the second brother to go to jail, but he did not blame me at all. He did his best to help me with what I wanted to do, whether he approved or not."
Turning around, Yang Jie looked at Yang Jun quietly and said.
"Brother, I know all this."
"I also know that eldest brother stopped me for my own good, but eldest brother..."
"Everyone in the Yang family has made meritorious deeds on the battlefield!"
As he spoke, Yang Jie lowered his voice and repeated softly.
"It's all..."
"I am also a descendant of the Yang family..."
The voice was low, but after Yang Jun listened, he fell silent.
He looked at the stubborn young man in front of him, and for a moment, he felt that whatever he said would seem a little feeble at this moment.
Recalling his uncle's hesitant tone in the letter he received from home, he finally understood why his uncle would agree to Yang Jie's journey across mountains and rivers and take such a risk.
Taking a long breath, Yang Jun tried hard to suppress his sour emotions and spoke in a deep voice.
"the last time!"
His eyes fell on Yang Jie, and his tone was firm and he would not give in.
"Xiaojie, you have to promise me that after you come back this time, you will stay in the capital safely and serve your uncle. It's bitterly cold on the border. Just come here once is enough!"
"Thank you, brother!"
Yang Jie bowed his hand, but did not comment on Yang Jun's request.
"well……"
Sighing heavily, Yang Jun really had no way to deal with his stubborn brother.
After a while, Yang Jun was still worried and asked.
"When are you leaving? Do you want to go directly?"
"Leave tomorrow!"
Yang Jie answered quickly, obviously having already planned it.
"Brother, don't worry. I have not been idle these past few days in Xuan Mansion. The news that the son of Marquis Changping has arrived at Xuan Mansion and selected officers and soldiers should have spread by now."
"These days, I have been living in my eldest brother's house. Outsiders should not be able to enter. In addition, I asked the accompanying doctor to grab some medicine from the drug store one after another."
"If you are interested in investigating, you will see from the prescription that my 'wind-cold' syndrome has become more and more serious. Therefore, the eldest brother only needs to say that I am not accustomed to the local environment and my condition has worsened, and just thank the guests behind closed doors."
"As for the ceremonial guards, officers and soldiers, I will all stay in the Xuan Mansion. I will only take the royal guards and the caravan people with me, and go to Datong first, and then transfer to the grassland."
The plan was very mature, but what Yang Jun saw was...
"Can you bear such a trek?"
"Brother, don't worry, ahem, I'm not that weak, let alone..."
Yang Jie turned around and said.
"Although I am out of the capital this time to do something for His Majesty, in the end, I have to think about the Yang family. There are two people in Datong City that I need to see. Brother, the thing in your hand should also see the light of day. .”
"you want……"
Yang Jun subconsciously wanted to ask, but when the words came to his lips, he still didn't say them.
Some things, the fewer people know about them, the better.
So, the two brothers stood on top of the city, and neither of them spoke anymore.
A gust of breeze blew by, causing Yang Jie's clothes to fly. He just stood with his hands behind his hands, looking in the direction of the capital. He just received the letter in the afternoon, a letter from Duke Cheng Guo's restoration of his title, quietly. Lie inside the sleeves.
Young Master, no, I changed my name to Duke Guo. No wonder you had such an attitude outside the capital. It turns out... you had planned it for a long time.
But can you really get the title of Duke back in this way?
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