Tang Dynasty, Liquan Mansion.
On a vast plain, Jiuwei Mountain is located in the center, with nine mountain ranges extending in all directions.
The mountain shape is majestic and has an imperial atmosphere. It should be the emperor's palace!
At the foot of the mountain, the sound of clanging can be heard endlessly.
The construction of imperial tombs has always been a labor-intensive task, often requiring tens of thousands of laborers to be built continuously for several years before completion.
The construction of Li Shimin's imperial mausoleum took an even longer time. According to the current progress, it may not be completed in ten years.
This is not because Li Er is extravagant and wasteful. He wants the house he will live in after his death to be extremely luxurious, surpassing that of previous emperors.
On the contrary, he cherishes the power of the people.
Normally an emperor would mobilize 100,000 corvees to build a mausoleum, but he reduced this by half and used 50,000 people to build it.
Usually, emperors spend a large part of their fiscal revenue to build imperial mausoleums, but he tried to reduce this expenditure as much as possible so as not to affect the operation of the court.
In Li Shimin's view, Datang is now in a period of rapid development, and every copper coin can quickly become two, three, or five!
At this time, allowing money to be used as much as possible for people's livelihood will obviously make Datang more prosperous.
As for the grave?
Fix it slowly! Anyway, he probably won't die so early. He can just complete the cultivation before he dies. How big a deal is that?
As a result, progress naturally slowed down.
…
At the foot of the mountain, inside a simple wooden house.
"Daddy, come have breakfast!"
Wu Erya brought a bowl of hot wheat porridge to Xu Fenglei.
Xu Fenglei had just gotten up not long ago and rubbed his sleepy eyes.
The bed was extremely messy, with several books scattered around.
He fell asleep just reading a book yesterday.
"ha……"
"Erya, you're so early today."
Xu Fenglei stretched and said,
"I'm getting up late now, so you don't have to make breakfast for me, I'll just have lunch!"
"This can directly save a meal, how good is it?"
Wu Erya wrinkled his nose.
"Daddy, you are too lazy!"
She put her hands on her hips and said,
"Three meals a day, you can't miss one! You don't even bother to eat now."
"Get up! Get up, get up!"
"You're going to be in bad shape if you stay in bed like this!"
With that said, Wu Erya threw herself on Xu Fenglei's bed, picked up the book and spanked him on the butt.
Bang bang!
"Ouch! Erya, are you serious?"
Xu Fenglei screamed in pain, covered his buttocks, and shouted,
"Okay, okay, I'm afraid of you, get up, get up!"
"You really... I don't have anything to do when I get up? Those craftsmen are all very well-behaved, and no one dares to cheat."
Muttering in his mouth, he slowly got up and reached the table.
Now in my life, I really have as much free time as I want.
It's basically like being exiled.
The only thing better than being exiled is that Jiuwei Mountain is still in Shaanxi, so he can adapt to the climate and environment.
"Then you have to get up early. Don't you want to practice?"
Wu Erya picked up his chopsticks and took a sip of porridge and said,
"A place like this is very conducive to cultivating Taoism!"
"Godfather, you said you wanted to practice cultivation, weren't you lying?"
Xu Fenglei: "..."
He was speechless for a moment and took a sip of porridge.
"Eat breakfast, have breakfast. Children, don't keep asking about adults."
Wu Erya snorted lightly, looking quite proud.
She just likes to choke her godfather, which gives her a sense of accomplishment.
Chi-li-chi-liu.
Xu Fenglei was drinking porridge and suddenly said:
"Erya, it's boring for you to follow me, right?"
"You have to wash and cook for me every day. There is no fun here. I see you are often in a daze."
"Are you bored? If you are, I'll arrange for someone to take you back, so you don't have to suffer in a place like this."
He meant what he said.
Jiuyi Mountain might be boring to him, but to Wu Erya, it was a kind of devastation.
A young girl should enjoy the bustle and prosperity in Chang'an City, and should not suffer in such a place where birds don't shit.
"It's not boring."
Wu Erya finished the porridge in three gulps, wiped his mouth and said,
"At least for now, I still think it's quite interesting."
"Yesterday I went to the mountains to pick fruits. I came across many beautiful mushrooms. I picked a few back. Do you want to see if you can eat them?"
With that said, she got up and ran out of the house.
After a while, a basket of mushrooms was placed in front of Xu Fenglei.
"This red mushroom is so beautiful!"
“It should be delicious!”
Wu Erya was picking and choosing inside, seeming very interested.
Xu Fenglei glanced at it and almost lost his composure.
"Ahem! Erya, you have touched a mushroom with your hands. Do not put it in your mouth or wipe your eyes, otherwise you will be poisoned! This is a poisonous mushroom!"
He said hurriedly,
"Listen to your godfather and remember this formula -"
"Red umbrella, white pole, let's lie down together after eating."
"This red umbrella and white stem is extremely poisonous. If you eat it, you will die! There is no medicine to cure it!"
"Ah?!" Wu Erya was startled after hearing this. He quickly took his hand back and squeezed his palm, not knowing where to put it!
"Go wash up."
Xu Fenglei smiled and said,
"It'll be fine once it's cleaned. Don't pick mushrooms randomly in the future. Most of the beautiful mushrooms are poisonous."
"You, don't run around all over the mountains and plains. It's very dangerous! If you encounter a wild animal, you, with your skinny arms and legs, won't let anyone squeeze your teeth!"
"Did you hear that? Starting from today, I will read at home honestly."
Wu Erya pouted.
"Oh well……"
"But reading is very boring. Those classics can be understood after reading them once, and they don't give me the feeling of always reading them."
"If you don't go out and play...it would be boring!"
She has a lively nature and loves to hang out outside.
As for the danger?
What are the dangers? She, Wu Erya, has never been afraid of danger!
"That's right...you have such a high level of understanding. You can understand something just by looking at it, so naturally you don't bother to look at it more."
Xu Fenglei spread his hands and said,
"So I told you to go back to Chang'an."
"When you return to Chang'an, you can continue to go to school and have a group of peers to play with, as well as your parents and elders. How nice is that?"
"It is really wronging our girl to stay in this barren land with her godfather."
He exhorted again.
However, Wu Erya didn't buy it.
"That won't work. If I go back, who will take care of your sloppy father?"
Wu Erya raised his head and said,
"I'm here to serve you, and you're like this. If I leave, will you become a savage?"
"I can't worry about you, so... if you're bored, just be bored. If you really can't stay any longer, I'll tell you!"
"When have I ever been polite to you? If you really want to leave, then I'll pat my butt and leave!"
Xu Fenglei laughed.
The relationship between him and Wu Erya has long been extremely close.
Even more cordial than Cheng Qian, Li Zhi and other disciples.
Xu Fenglei really regarded Wu Erya as his daughter, and Wu Erya also treated Xu Fenglei as his biological father.
Therefore, there is no need to be polite when speaking with your hands. You can say whatever comes to your mind without any reservations.
"Okay! You are really my godfather's little cotton-padded jacket... I didn't expect that I would be able to have a little cotton-padded jacket before I got married. This is really a blessing in life!"
Xu Fenglei pinched Wu Erya's cheek and said with a smile,
"Don't worry, I will find something for you to do, and I will never make you really bored!"
"Then it's best to give me something difficult and challenging." Wu Erya nodded and said proudly.
Xu Fenglei rubbed her head.
The two of them were talking when they heard the neighing of a war horse coming from outside the house!
"Hush!"
A loud voice came and fell into Xu Fenglei's ears, immediately attracting his attention.
This voice sounds a bit familiar!
"Let's go and have a look."
Xu Fenglei wiped his mouth, stood up and left the cabin.
But at this moment, a whirlwind rushed up!
Before Xu Fenglei could react, the figure had already bumped into him and gave him a firm hug!
"Brother!"
"I finally see you, I miss you so much!"
Xue Rengui hugged his eldest brother, tears suddenly appeared in the corners of his eyes. At this moment, he was as excited as a child weighing three hundred pounds!
Xu Fenglei: "?!"
"Huh? Rengui?!"
Hearing this familiar voice, he was surprised and said,
"Why are you here, kid?"
"Okay, okay, let me go first, my neck is almost broken by your hold!"
This brat is so powerful that even the New Year Pig can't break away from him!
"Uh uh... I'm sorry, brother, I'm too excited!"
Xue Rengui also reacted quickly, quickly let go of his arm, scratched his head, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"It's Uncle Xue!"
"And this one...Is this...from the palace?"
Wu Erya greeted him openly and looked behind him again.
Behind Xue Rengui, there was another person.
"Eh?"
Xu Fenglei also noticed that person and said in surprise,
"It's Eunuch Gao! Why did you come to Jiufei Mountain too?"
The person who came was wearing a purple robe, and it was Eunuch Gao, the eunuch who delivered the order!
"Your Majesty misses you, so naturally this servant will come to convey His Majesty's feelings of missing you."
"It just so happens that Colonel Xue is also coming to Jiuwei Mountain, and I happen to be here with him."
Eunuch Gao turned over and dismounted, smiled and saluted with his hands raised,
"Grand Master, you are well."
Xu Fenglei's smile faded slightly.
"You're welcome and safe."
"Erya, go take out the tea leaves at home and make tea!"
He ordered Wu Erya.
Wu Erya was about to enter the door, but saw Eunuch Gao shaking his head.
"Don't dare to disturb the Grand Master. I have a letter here written by His Majesty. Please accept it."
Eunuch Gao took out a letter from his arms, presented it with both hands, and then said sincerely,
"Grand Master, His Majesty is sincere to you, and he sincerely hopes that you can return."
"After all, this Jiuwei Mountain is not a good place. How can a noble person like you stay in a place like this?"
"I also hope that you will return to Chang'an as soon as possible. Not only is His Majesty looking forward to you, but many of your colleagues and old friends, as well as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Princess Changle, are also looking forward to your return..."
Xu Fenglei took the letter and looked slightly touched.
As for Li Shimin asking him to go back, he didn't feel anything.
But my colleagues and old friends, as well as Cheng Qian Li Zhi and the others... I really miss them a little bit in my heart.
"Thank you very much, Eunuch Gao for your hard work."
Xu Fenglei asked,
"I don't have much money in my hand. If you don't mind, why don't you come in and have a cup of tea?"
Eunuch Gao smiled and waved his hand.
"No, Grand Master, I still have something to do, so I won't bother you."
"You have to take a good look at His Majesty's letter. He has been writing it for a long time... I am leaving."
After that, he got on his horse, raised his whip, and rode away.
When he went on a business trip to such a wilderness, he didn't want to stay for a moment longer, he just wanted to go back to the palace!
Besides, with his status, he is not qualified to drink tea and chat with Xu Fenglei. Those who are slaves must have the consciousness to correct their posture in front of the real superior.
Da da! Da da!
The sound of horse hooves gradually faded away. Xu Fenglei held the letter in his hand but was not in a hurry to open it.
"Zu Rengui, we haven't seen each other for some time."
"Drink tea inside and let's chat. By the way, I also want to ask you something about Chang'an... There is one disadvantage here. The news is blocked and I can't receive any news..."
He hugged Xue Rengui and entered the wooden house.
Wu Erya brought two cups of hot tea.
"Brother, I think... you should read the letter from His Majesty to you first."
Xue Rengui took a sip of tea and said,
"After all, it was written by His Majesty himself. Take a look first..."
"There's no rush for us to chat. If you want to chat, I can always stay with you."
Xu Fenglei was silent.
He didn't object and opened the envelope gently.
Wow.
The letter paper fell apart.
"Ting Ming, how are you doing in Jiuwei Mountain? I...miss you a little."
"Some things and some people are like this. You can't feel it when you are around. But if he leaves, your heart will become empty, as if a piece is missing. I feel this way now...my heart, There’s a piece missing.”
"That piece is you."
Wu Erya rubbed his arms.
"Eh - so disgusting!"
"Is this really written by His Majesty to your godfather? Can a letter written by a man to a man be so disgusting?"
She hissed, getting goosebumps.
Xue Rengui also wanted to see it, but in the end he suppressed his curiosity and did not turn his head away.
It was offensive to read someone's mail without permission... He couldn't do that.
As for why Wu Erya can...the relationship between them is father and daughter, which is different.
"Your Majesty is like this, very emotional."
Xu Fenglei raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said,
"If ordinary ministers read these words, they will be moved to death."
"But, your godfather won't do this."
After all, he was still stable enough after two lifetimes, and he would not be moved to death just because the emperor said a few disgusting words.
He continued reading:
"About the Queen, I wrongly blamed you, and I apologize to you..."
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. Can you forgive me for my recklessness? The situation at that time was really because the Queen was in danger and I lost my mind for a while, so I did such a thing..."
"Of course, I'm not looking for excuses. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. If I'm wrong, just admit it. I'm wrong. Please forgive me!"
