Xiao Yu saw Xiao Yuwan again on the evening of the second day after seeing off Princess Xiao Yurong of Jincheng.
He originally planned to go find Yang Hua, but as soon as he stepped out of the second entrance gate, he saw a brand new van parked in front of him.
When the car door opened, Xiao Yu saw Xiao Yuwan, but her pretty face looked a little tired.
She also saw Xiao Yu, and a moment of astonishment immediately appeared on her face, but soon a warm smile bloomed on her face, and there seemed to be some kind of different emotion in her peaceful eyes like clear water.
Xiao Yuwan slowly got out of the car with the help of her maid. Her thin shoulders looked tired and weak, which made people feel pitiful.
Xiao Yu raised his arm and cupped his hand. This violent movement caused tearing pain in his left shoulder. His wound has not yet healed.
Xiao Yuwan's beautiful eyebrows were slightly raised. She stepped forward to hold Xiao Yu's arm and said: "Brother Yu's injury has not healed, so why do you need such red tape."
Xiao Yu had no choice but to say yes.
The two walked side by side under the setting sun. The afterglow of the setting sun lengthened their figures a lot, and unknowingly they came to the lakeside pavilion again.
Xiao Yu told Xiao Yuwan about his previous encounter with Princess Jincheng, and also stated his concerns to her one by one.
Xiao Yuwan looked at the center of the lake, her eyes moving.
"Zhibai (Yang Hua's cousin) is very thoughtful! Maybe he just thinks that he is a surrendered general of the Northern Dynasty, so he has concerns about his status in our dynasty, but he ignores Jiuhuangmei's true love for him Yep, and His Majesty’s regard for him.”
"When two people are in love, they will be happy only after they get married. The melon is not sweet if it is forced. Does the eldest princess know what Yang Hua is thinking?"
"I think... he should like Jiuhuangmei. Every time Jiuhuangmei comes to my house to meet Zhibai, Zhibai is full of joy. I have observed Zhibai for many days, and he has an upright personality, not that kind of crooked one. Those who want to please."
"What's Yang Hua's temperament like?"
"Calm and restrained, pure and desireless, I don't like to make friends with others."
This may be the reason why the person sitting on the throne thinks highly of him and wants to win over him!
Xiao Yu thought so, and he turned his head to look at the sparkling lake on one side and the small pavilion on the lake.
"I've been recuperating here these days, and I often see Yang Hua alone in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, looking to the north, seemingly preoccupied."
"Oh? Is this possible?" Xiao Yuwan was surprised.
"Well, this reminds me of the day when I first met Yang Hua at my house. It was close to the curfew that day, and he was in a hurry to leave the house. He happened to meet me and the Prince Consort, and he He seems to have said something about someone coming from his hometown, and I wonder if his recent heavy thoughts are related to that person coming from his hometown."
Xiao Yuwan frowned: "Could it be... No, how is that possible? Although Zhibai is a surrendered general, he is not a grass on the wall and a villain."
"Those who value love and righteousness must take care of their parents and brothers. I heard that Yang Hua's father is still alive, and his father Yang Dayan was a famous general in the Northern Dynasty. I think Yang Hua's family must have been punished for defecting. If..."
"Brother Yu, there is no need to say any more. This is a court matter and you are not the only one who can speak nonsense."
Seeing the anger in Xiao Yuwan's tone, Xiao Yu stopped talking.
But Xiao Yu still knew something about Yang Hua in history. He knew that even at the end of his life, Yang Hua never set foot on an inch of land in the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Seeing that Xiao Yu stopped talking, Xiao Yuwan felt that her tone was too harsh, so she slowed down a lot.
"Brother Yu, your majesty has tacitly approved the matter between Yang Hua and Princess Jincheng. They will get married next month. At that time, your majesty will appoint Yang Hua as Guanglu doctor and Sanqi regular attendant to lead the army and be responsible for guarding the capital. This is a certainty. It’s over, but it hasn’t been announced to the public yet, for fear of arousing criticism from the courtiers. As for the emotions mentioned by Yudi... I, the daughter of the royal family, will take into account the woman’s feelings in any marriage, but it is just for political plotting, and it is not the same as earlier Compared with those princesses who got married in 2010, Jiuhuangmei is happy. At least she is married to the one she loves, and there is no need to say more about the rest of Yudi."
Although Xiao Yuwan's explanation was not really satisfactory, Xiao Yu had nothing to say.
But for some reason, Xiao Yu still felt a lingering haze above his head. It seemed that he was worried about Princess Xiao Yurong of Jincheng!
Xiao Yuwan breathed a long sigh of relief, and a faint smile appeared on her tired face.
"What's wrong with us? We finally came back from Taicheng, and now we've been talking about Princess Jincheng and Yang Hua. Brother Yu saved my life, and I haven't said thank you properly yet!"
"To say thank you... would be disrespectful. I only save my relatives when necessary."
Xiao Yu's answer made a flash of surprise appear on Xiao Yuwan's tired face.
Born in this imperial family, the most rare thing is family love.
She smiled lightly, the smile was warm and gentle, and there seemed to be tears in her watery eyes.
"Have you ever thought about being an official and assisting His Majesty one day?"
"Being an official? I think I don't want it anymore." Xiao Yu waved his hand quickly, "They say I am mentally ill and stupid. How can a fool like me be an official? Official positions are reserved for those who are capable and enterprising. All the talented people in my heart! As for me, it’s better to be my little prince Taiping peacefully.”
"Is this really what Yudi is thinking?" Xiao Yuwan had a hint of doubt in her eyes.
Xiao Yu imitated what he thought Liu Chan would be like and said, "That's right, I can't be happier here than thinking about Shu!"
This made Xiao Yuwan laugh. She covered her mouth and almost laughed so hard that she had long forgotten the majesty of the eldest princess.
A little bit of afterglow falls on the lake, adding a touch of warm color to the beautiful scenery of the lakeside.
…
In Jilong Mountain, dozens of miles away.
Under the afterglow, an elegant man wearing a beige cloak was standing on the top of the mountain, looking at the big city that was vaguely visible in the distance.
At this time, a well-dressed man walked over from the dense forest behind him and raised his hand: "Sir, Liu Changshi is back."
The elegant man frowned, as if he was worried.
"Where is Liu Changshi?"
"Rest in the thatched cottage of Mr. Fan Yunfan in the middle of the mountain."
"Oh, let's go! Go meet Liu Changshi!" The elegant man said, turning around and walking down the mountain.
The big man suddenly shouted.
"Master!"
The elegant man tilted his head: "Old Ma, is there something wrong?"
The big man hesitated to speak and hesitated.
The elegant man stood still and said: "Old Ma, you are an old man in my family. You joined the army at the age of 14, accompanied my father on expeditions north and south, and saved my father's life several times. What can't you say in front of me? You have to be in front of me. Such coquettishness."
The big man named Lao Ma seemed to be holding back his energy, and he said in a bamboo-like voice: "I, Lao Ma, just feel that Liu Changshi and I are not the same people, especially after he met that Xiao Dalang , the whole person's thoughts are not on the young master's side. What if one day, he breaks away from the envoy and the young master and goes to his master? If a person as capable as him cannot be used by the envoy and the young master, then what will happen to him? It’s best to kill him to avoid further trouble!”
The elegant man smiled bitterly in his heart. He pretended to be angry and said: "Ma Fo Nian! Have you eaten too much wine and are talking nonsense here?"
The big man named Ma Fo Nian clasped his fists and knelt down: "Master, your envoy is very kind to me. I only recognize you and your son. I feel that the uneasy and kind-hearted man named Liu is not the same." It's been two days, and his mind is not on me at all, Jingxiang? Besides, didn't Xiao Laozhongshu also say it in his letter to you? That Liu Boxuan turned into a dragon when he entered the clouds, not a thing in the pond. We have to be on guard. If he can truly obey someone's orders, it is not our Yongzhou Governor Xiao, but the Jiangxia King Xiao Ziqian."
The elegant man's sword-shaped eyebrows gathered together, and two rays of cold light burst out from his sharp eyes.
Ma Fo thought and couldn't help but shuddered and kowtowed quickly.
"Ma Fo Nian, how do you know the content of the letter?"
Ma Funian hurriedly explained: "Before leaving, Secretary Xiao said a few words to his subordinates. I, Ma, thought that those words must be the content of this letter."
"Does my uncle think so too?" The elegant man's anger gradually subsided.
"Exactly!"
The elegant man looked slightly disappointed. He stood with his hands behind his back, his cloak rustling in the night wind behind him.
"My father is kind and generous. When Liu Changshi killed Zhang Maode, he was accused by the court and was hunted by eagles and dogs. My father risked losing his official position and title and brought him into the shogunate as an honored guest. Liu Changshi is a loyal man. How can people make assumptions like you and have two minds? Furthermore, Liu Changshi and I have been teachers and friends for many years. How can I not see clearly what kind of person he is? If we part ways, Liu Changshi It must be a smooth journey."
As the elegant man said this, he suddenly heard a burst of applause from the forest not far away.
Ma Funian stood up quickly. His eyes were sharp and his broad body stood in front of the elegant man.
A ghost-like voice has come from the forest.
"It is said that Master Mo is as good as jade, and the young master is unparalleled in the world. When I think about the peerless young master, most people in the world refer to the likes of Chu Yuan and Pan Duo, but I think the only one who deserves the title of unparalleled young master is Jing Xiang Xiao Deshi."
The elegant man raised his brows, cupped his hands and said, "I am Xiao Tong, but I don't know who you are?"
I saw a frail man wearing a hood walking through the forest, being supported by a child.
Xiao Tong looked at the man and saw that his face was as pale as paper, his eyes were full of red threads, and there was no beard around his mouth. He looked like he had some kind of serious illness that would not last long.
"Our family's surname is Mei. When we were young, our family was poor, and my grandpa didn't give me a good name. In order to facilitate childbirth, I named her Chong'er."
"You are... you are Mei Chong'er! A rebel wanted by the court!" Xiao Tong exclaimed.
Ma Fo was shocked when he heard Xiao Tong's words, and shouted out the word "anti-thief", so he thought that the person coming was evil.
Without waiting for Xiao Tong's order, he stood up, drew out the sword from his waist, and stabbed the rebel who looked half-dead in the chest.
At this fatal moment, Mei Chong'er showed unusual calmness. He remained unhurried and stood sickly on the spot while being supported by others.
Just when Ma Fo was thinking and wondering, he saw two gusts of wind coming towards him, and two ghostly masked men in black, one tall and one short, suddenly flew out from the dense forest behind Mei Chong'er.
The short man held the dagger in his hand and guarded Mei Chong'er closely after landing on the ground; while the tall man raised his ring-headed knife and faced Ma Fo Nian.
"Dangdangdangdang..."
The metal collided intensively, and sparks flew everywhere. Two big men known for their fierceness attacked and defended, and I defended and you attacked. After several rounds of competition, no one took advantage, and the battle became tense.
Xiao Tong looked calm on the surface, but he already felt the danger approaching, and his right hand was already on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
He was not from the military and knew that he did not have the ability to discern murderous intentions. He did not know what happened to Ma Funian and why he suddenly attacked.
Looking back, Ma Funian was able to fight with swords and spears on the battlefield. He was always better at predicting danger. His ability to take action only meant that the opponent had murderous intentions.
Just when the two big men were fighting until it was impossible to tell the winner, Mei Chong'er seemed to have lost his patience, and he suddenly gave the short man a look.
The short masked man understood and jumped out on the spot like a shooting star, holding the dagger in his hand directly at Na Ma Fo Nian's throat.
Ma Funian was horrified when he saw this. His hands were all messed up. He resisted for a few times and then stepped back.
No matter how he retreated, he could not escape the attack range of the dagger in the hand of the short man in black.
"Okay, stop it!"
Mei Chong'er's feeble voice echoed in the mountains.
When the two men in black heard this, they no longer wanted to fight, and both retreated into the shadows behind the dense forest.
I saw Mei Chong'er throw away the child who was supporting her, and tremblingly bowed her hands to Xiao Tong.
"There must have been some misunderstanding just now, which made that general have murderous intentions. It is purely a coincidence that you and I met here this time. Our family has never planned to be an enemy of Jingxiang Xiao Governor."
Xiao Tong just rubbed his nose and felt completely disgraceful, but he was very good at cultivating qi, and he would not put his personal emotions on his face, no matter good or bad.
He smiled calmly and said, "Mr. Mei is indeed very capable. The young man in the family was reckless just now. I am here to apologize to Mr. Mei on his behalf."
"It's okay for juniors to compete in martial arts, but juniors, don't be so violent and always hurt others. That's not good."
Xiao Tong smiled warmly: "General Manager Mei is elegant and generous. This junior has learned it here. I wonder why General Manager Mei appears on Jilong Mountain?"
"The scenery here is beautiful, and it's good to come here to see the evening view. Our family comes here to pay homage to an old friend, whose grave is at the foot of the mountain."
"I wonder which old friend he is. Does my father recognize him?"
"It's just a tomb." Mei Chong'er sighed, "I don't know why Mr. Xiao has been lingering in this mountain for several days."
"As ordered by my father, I came here to attend an invitation."
Mei Chong'er's eyes were sinister: "What I see are some big shots. The scribes from the West Residence under King Jingling must have come here. Although Wang Xie's family does not have Wang Rong and Xie Tiao, the elites of the younger generation have also come and gone. Quite a few, and Tao Hongjing, who has long since stopped caring about political affairs and is devoted to pursuing immortality and cultivating Taoism, what is Governor Xiao doing?"
"Mr. Mei, what do you mean by this?"
"I wonder how many Jiangzuo talents are willing to go back to Xiangyang with you?"
Xiao Tong's face darkened: "Manager Mei, be careful what you say!"
"I am a remnant of the previous dynasty, so what should I fear?" Mei Chong'er smiled sadly, "The big tree attracts the wind, what your father Xiao Yan is doing, the man in Taicheng must know, he just hasn't done anything yet. "
"What's the meaning?"
"Your father is too ostentatious, recruiting troops and winning people's hearts. This is not what the man in Taicheng wants to see. If the late emperor was alive, he would have already convicted you and his son."
Xiao Tong coldly cupped his hands and said, "Please give me some advice from Manager Mei."
"Xiao Yuheng doesn't understand the art of the emperor, and his eyes are full of killing. He sees that the Daqi State is about to be destroyed. Does Xiao Governor really have no other plans?"
"What's the plan?"
"According to the late emperor's imperial edict, we led the troops of Jingxiang and marched eastward along the Yangtze River to correct people's hearts and defeat the unjust, so as to proclaim ourselves emperor!"
Xiao Tong's whole body swayed slightly, and a thunderbolt seemed to flash in his mind.
"Mr. Mei, don't talk nonsense. My father and I were born as ministers of Qi and died as ghosts of Qi. How can we have the heart to rebel. You and I have different ways. There is no need to go on. Let's say goodbye. If we meet again someday, I will be with you. For the sake of Qi Chen, I will not spare you."
Mei Chong'er smiled sadly: "Haha... If I hadn't persuaded the late emperor to let your uncle Xiao Yi go, your father would have taken the opportunity to raise troops. I heard that your father has been sinking wood at the bottom of the river for many years. His purpose of sinking wood Do you know what it is!"
Xiao Tong sneered: "It's extremely ridiculous and unheard of."
"Then you can pay attention when you return to Jingxiang."
Xiao Tongtong handed over his hand: "I have learned a lesson."
"Xiao Langjun, when you return to Jingxiang one day, you can tell Governor Xiao what happened in Jilong Mountain today. The Qi family is declining now, just like it was twenty years ago. If Governor Xiao still has the heart to transform into a dragon, he can still fight. Last time."
"I will report it to my father at my discretion." Xiao Tong suddenly thought of something when he said this, and he continued, "I heard that twenty years ago, Donghun Hou Xiao Baojuan burned himself in Deqing Palace, and all his minions were He has been executed, but General Manager Mei is nowhere to be found. I think those who stirred up the current situation in the past few years are inseparable from General Manager Mei's handiwork. Think about the rebellion in Shidao that day, the Huaihe River burst and flooded the fields, and the Jiankang fire a few days ago?"
Mei Chong'er snorted coldly: "Someone wants Xiao Yuwan's life, but it's not me. Although I am an eunuch, I know how not to embarrass women. Only the truly mean ones want the life of a female child."
