A light rain drenched Chang'an.
In the early morning, Jiang Fengqing opened the door and walked out of the room with a wave of moisture hitting her face.
A slightly thin figure trotted over in the courtyard.
"Uncle Li!" Jiang Fengqing shouted.
Li An came to Jiang Fengqing, handed him the two buns wrapped in paper in his arms, and said, "The eldest prince still wakes up so early. Come, eat while it's hot, freshly baked. These are mine Bought it from Majia Baozi Shop in Xishi, you loved eating here since you were a kid."
Jiang Fengqing took the bun and said with a smile, "You still have such a good memory."
"Oh, I'm getting old. I can't remember many things. You are going to the palace to meet your mother."
"Well... I came back... late yesterday, so I didn't go to the palace." Jiang Fengqing said vaguely while eating steamed buns.
"Haha, eat slowly, don't be in a hurry." Li An looked at Jiang Fengqing kindly, "Are you eating there at noon?"
"Yes, I haven't tasted my mother's cooking for a long time. I have been busy dealing with the floods in the Yellow River during this period, which made me exhausted." Jiang Fengqing hurriedly finished the buns, "I will try your cooking when I come back in the evening. I'm leaving first. Ah, my mother is still waiting for me."
Li An looked at Jiang Fengqing's hurried away figure with a smile.
Jiang Fengqing is the eldest son of Queen Li Qinxi, and Li An was originally the manager of the Li Mansion. His wife died of illness early in his life and refused to renew their relationship, so he took care of Jiang Fengqing as his own son. Jiang Fengqing also had a deep relationship with him and respected him very much.
Qinxin Palace.
Li Qinxi is playing with the magnolia tree in the courtyard.
"It's already February, why hasn't this magnolia bloomed yet?"
As Li Qinxi muttered, the magnolia flowers on the tree had just bloomed into purple flowers. The dew wetted the flower bones. Li Qinxi stretched out her hand and touched it gently. A cold feeling ran along her fingertips and reached her heart.
"Your Majesty, the eldest prince is here!" The palace maid came to announce.
Li Qinxi's hand shook and she accidentally knocked off the flower bone.
"Amitabha, this is the number of days. Let him wait for me in the inner hall."
As Li Qinxi spoke, she carefully buried the flower bones in the soil.
In the inner hall.
Jiang Fengqing respectfully lit three sticks of incense in front of the Buddha statue.
"You understand me best. Your father and brother will never respect these Buddhas."
Li Qinxi wiped her hands on the silk scarf handed by the palace maid and slowly walked into the inner hall.
"I sincerely worship the Buddha, and I just want it to keep our family safe."
Li Qinxi knelt on the futon in front of the Buddha statue again and bowed respectfully.
The maids then brought several plates of pastries and placed them on the table in front of Jiang Fengqing.
"Eat some. I know you only like to eat steamed buns in the morning. I made these specially."
Jiang Fengqing smiled and said, "My mother is really good at predicting things." After saying that, she picked up a green dumpling and started eating it.
"Why is this youth group so soft, Queen Mother?"
Li Qinxi sat opposite Jiang Fengqing and also picked up a Qingtuan ball and looked at it, "Your brother Ting'er said he wanted to come and say good morning to me today, so I made the Qingtuan ball yesterday. I didn't want you to come back. It was a little early, and he also said that he would come to see me this morning. He sent someone to tell me last night that he would come and have dinner with you at my place today at noon. Alas, you two children, one of you has to eat hard Some, one of them needs to be softer. They are all so picky."
"There's nothing we can do, why do we have a mother to pamper us?" Jiang Fengqing said with a smile.
"You, you are the only one who can talk. Tell me, how did you go to control the floods in the Yellow River this time?"
"The flood in the Yellow River is actually a fifth-grade tortoise causing trouble in the upper reaches. I led the Red Guards and invited the Taoist priests from Qingcheng Mountain to lay a trap and ensconced it for more than two months before catching it and getting rid of it. Once this monster is eliminated, the floods in the Yellow River will disappear instantly."
"It's so easy to say that I'm afraid I've suffered a lot. This time I can go home and replenish my health. It's just a pity that your father was still complaining about not seeing you before he died."
Li Qinxi couldn't help but blush, and Jiang Fengqing couldn't help but sigh.
After Jiang Nanchu completely pacified the remnants of the demon clan in the southern and northern campaigns, he established the Jiang Dynasty, divided the nine states, and made Li Qinxi, the younger sister of Yuzhou governor Li Muzhi, the queen. Until five years ago, after Jiang Xianfeng turned one year old, Jiang Nanchu began to travel around Jiuzhou with Master Kuhai of Putuo Mountain, the best master in the world, in search of immortality. He left all the affairs of the court to Prime Minister Wang Daofan, and had little communication with his children. He didn't come back until a few days ago. After he came back, he remained silent and stayed in Qintian Prison. Unexpectedly, not long after, he suddenly fell into a coma, and even Sun Zhining, the disciple of Yaoxian who had finally been invited, was at a loss. After lying on the bed, he died not long after opening his eyes.
"Qing'er, what level of cultivation have you reached now?" Li Qinxi asked.
"It's the fourth grade, and now I can touch the threshold of the fifth grade. Why does the queen suddenly ask this?" Jiang Fengqing asked curiously.
"You must listen to the Queen Mother's advice and practice slowly. Your father said before his death that all Ninth Levels will die, and there are no immortals in the world. Although the Queen Mother doesn't quite understand this sentence, but all Ninth Levels will die...you My father is the ninth grade." Li Qinxi put down the Qingtuan ball in his hand, picked up the handkerchief and wiped his eyes again.
"Queen mother, please relax, it will become more difficult to practice as time goes by. After so many years, there are not many ninth-level people in this world. It is not so easy to practice in the ninth-level, not to mention that I am only in the fourth level now." Jiang Fengqing consoled her. .
"My mother just said a few words, and she just wants you brothers to live in peace. No matter whether it is ninth grade or fourth grade, the word peace is not important to my mother." Li Qinxi sighed, Said, "Okay, after eating the pastries, go to your father's house and kneel down early. But be careful, you have to be careful when leaving Qinxin Palace. There are many rules in the palace. And if you have time, go to the Huo family. Go for a walk and spend more time with Xue Min. At noon, Ting'er and I will have lunch in my mother's harem early."
"Okay. Goodbye, mother!" Jiang Fengqing stood up and left.
Li Qinxi packed up the remaining dishes and came to the courtyard again. The sky was still gloomy.
Royal Medical Workshop.
Sun Zhining skillfully poured out the boiled ointment from the medicine jar, put it into the medicine box, and told a little girl on the side, "There are two sets of medicine in it. The upper one should be sent to the residence of Mr. Li, the Minister of War in the West City, and the lower one should be sent to the West City. Send it to Room 3, Tianzi, Donglai Inn in Dongshi, remember, don’t make a mistake.”
The little girl looked to be no more than ten years old and looked very thin. Holding a large medicine box in both hands, just as she was about to step out of the imperial doctor's office, a hurried imperial doctor walked in from the door and kicked her medicine box. The little girl fell outside the door with the medicine box. on the stone steps.
The imperial doctor glanced back and saw that it was a little girl. He didn't say much and continued to do his own business.
It took the little girl a long time to get up. Regardless of the burning pain in her head and calves, she quickly checked the medicine box.
"Fortunately, Dr. Sun covered it tightly and the ointment didn't spill out, otherwise I would have lost all my money this month. Hiss~ It hurts so much!"
The little girl rolled up her trouser legs carefully, and a large piece of skin fell off her fair calf. A drop of rain hit the red wound impartially, causing another heartbreaking pain.
"Why did the little girl fall so hard!"
A tall figure came to her.
She raised her head and looked at the person. The person who came was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties or fifties. He was wearing a black peacock official uniform and had a warm smile on his slightly dark face. This smile seemed to make the gloomy weather gentle.
"I...I accidentally fell it. I just need to rest for two days and it will be fine."
"Why didn't you apply some medicine after you fell so hard? Come on, I still have some gold healing medicine. Apply it and it will heal quickly." The person squatted down, took out a small jade medicine bottle from his arms, and opened it. He gently held the little girl's ankle with his hand. But the little girl immediately covered her wound with her hands.
"This medicine is too...too expensive. I...I don't have the money."
"It's okay, I don't charge for this medicine, just treat it as a gift to you." The man smiled.
The little girl slowly retracted her hand.
"What's the name of the little girl? How old is she this year?" the man asked in a leisurely manner. The medicine bottle in his hand shook as he shook it, and white medicine powder spread out.
"My name is Yin Xiaolian, I am twelve years old this year." Yin Xiaolian said softly.
"Where do you live?"
"I... don't have a home." Yin Xiaolian lowered her head, "I deliver medicine in the imperial doctor's office during the day, and clean... the restaurant at night, so I sleep in the restaurant."
The man was startled, then put away the medicine bottle, slowly helped her put down her trousers, looked at Yin Xiaolian's slightly gloomy face with a smile and said, "It doesn't hurt now."
Yin Xiaolian slowly stood up and took two steps on the steps, "It really doesn't hurt anymore!"
"Lord He!"
Sun Zhining didn't know when he stood at the door. Yin Xiaolian quickly picked up the medicine box next to her and saluted He Shengbai again, "Thank you for the medicine, sir. I have to rush to deliver it." After saying that, he trotted away, and He Shengbai looked at her with a smile. Back view.
"Lord He is very generous. One hundred taels of gold medicine is just to treat a little girl's skin injury." Sun Zhining slowly walked towards He Shengbai, "As expected of the Minister of Dali Temple, he really loves the people like his own son. .”
"It makes you laugh." He Shengbai stood up and said, "Any new discoveries?"
"I checked the emperor's body again yesterday, and there was still nothing abnormal." Sun Zhining said lightly.
"Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Sun." He Shengbai frowned, "Then it seems that the emperor's death is really related to the last words of 'All ninth graders will die'."
"Master He, if there is nothing else, I will go back and get busy first," Sun Zhining said.
"Okay, then I won't disturb Dr. Sun's business." He Shengbai turned and left.
In front of the ice coffin.
Jiang Ruoting and Jiang Fengqing have been kneeling for more than an hour. Prime Minister Wang Daofan leaned on the railing outside the palace and watched them quietly. He is already sixty-five years old. Although the higher the warrior's cultivation level, the longer he will live, this mortal will eventually die.
Seeing that Emperor Jiang, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, was now lying in the ice coffin, Wang Daofan sighed and murmured, "Are there really no immortals in the world? I want to see if you are really dead or fake..."
At this time, Zhang Wenling, the chief steward of the palace, came over, bowed and said, "Prime Minister, Liangzhou Prefecture, Yuzhou Prefecture, and Qingzhou Prefecture are all waiting outside the city. Do you want to let them in when? ?”
"They came quite quickly." Wang Daofan stroked his beard and said, "Take a few people to bring them in."
"yes."
Wang Daofan looked back at the two princes who were still kneeling, smiled and turned to leave.
West Market.
Jiang Zhiyuan and Jiang Xianfeng were buying candied haws. Because the emperor was mourning, gatherings and making noise were prohibited in Chang'an. So although there are people coming and going on this street, it is also much deserted.
"When will grandpa arrive? My legs are sore from waiting." Jiang Xianfeng took a bite of a red fruit and said.
"How long has it been? You've asked me several times. Even eating can't stop your mouth, right? Do you still want a parrot?" Jiang Zhiyuan glared at him angrily and said, "I've already said it. Grandpa has already arrived outside the city, but he is a state shepherd and needs the emperor's permission to enter Chang'an. Unfortunately, Manager Zhang and others have sealed the west gate, so we can't go there."
"But isn't my father dead?" Jiang Xianfeng asked curiously.
"Then the Prime Minister is here, isn't it?" Jiang Zhiyuan patted his head, "Why do you want to know so many things with your brain? Go and eat your candied haws."
Jiang Xianfeng pouted and ate the candied haws in his hand honestly.
Zhou Ruoxiao and Yan Mo rode horses and led a large number of Yan Guards towards the west gate. Pedestrians on the street gave way.
"Brother Zhou!" Jiang Zhiyuan waved happily to Zhou Ruoxiao.
"Third Princess, Fourth Prince!"
Zhou Ruoxiao stopped with a smile and said hello to Jiang Zhiyuan.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Zhiyuan asked, while carefully glancing at Yan Mo, who looked unkind. She has been afraid of this taciturn uncle since she was a child, because he looks very fierce.
"Aren't all the Zhou Mu adults outside the city? General Yan is going to be responsible for escorting them into the palace. I'm just bored, so I followed over to see the excitement."
"If you want to watch the fun, please hurry up, Prince Zhou. Manager Zhang has been waiting over there for a long time." Yan Mo said, "Third princess, fourth prince. We are busy with official duties, so we can't talk more. I'm sorry."
After saying that, Yan Mo rode on his horse and continued moving forward. Zhou Ruoxiao made a helpless gesture towards Jiang Zhiyuan and said, "Then I'll leave first. I'll chat with the princess next time I have a chance."
Jiang Zhiyuan looked at Zhou Ruoxiao's leaving figure and sighed, "Brother Zhou is better, he is handsome and gentle."
Jiang Xianfeng said, "Sister, do you want to chase him? I heard from the guard sister that if you like someone, you should chase him. Many women in Chang'an City are chasing him. Although I don't understand why I want to chase him. He is alone. A grown man must be able to run faster than those women, and those women have never practiced martial arts, how could they possibly catch him."
Jiang Xianfeng looked at Jiang Zhiyuan again and said, "Sister, you are different. If you have practiced martial arts, you can definitely catch him."
Jiang Zhiyuan slapped him on the butt, "You little brat, you don't learn well every day, you just listen to stuff like this, right?"
Jiang Xianfeng rubbed his butt with one hand and grabbed the candied haws with the other, and said with a sad face, "This is what the guard sister told me."
The west city gate slowly opened. Zhang Wenling stood on the top of the city and said loudly, "I would like to welcome you three, Liangzhou Prefect, Liang Chuang, Yuzhou Prefect, Li Muzhi, Qingzhou Prefect, and Liu Jingxing. Please follow me to the palace. The Prime Minister has been waiting for a long time."
Liu Jingxing, who was wearing a green robe, looked at Liang Chuang and said, "Brother Liang, you are the most senior among us, so please go first."
Liang Chuang took off his red cloak and laughed, "Then I'd rather be respectful than obey your orders."
Li Muzhi patted the yellow gown on his body, looked at the city head and sighed, "I haven't seen Chang'an City for a long time. I don't know if there have been any changes."
"How can this city change? Could it possibly collapse?" Liang Chuang said with a smile.
The three of them rode into the city gate while chatting. The accompanying men also followed.
"I've met a few adults." Zhou Ruoxiao said with a smile, "The grace of these adults is still the same as before."
"No matter what, we are all old. Today's world is still the world of you young people." Liang Chuang looked at Zhou Ruoxiao with admiration and said.
"King Xiaoyao can be regarded as one of the most influential figures in Chang'an City today." Li Muzhi said with a smile, "As far as I know, Mr. Zhou is not married yet. I wonder if there is someone he likes?"
"Yes, yes, it's not easy for us to come to Chang'an. If you have a girl we like, it would be a bit of a shame for us to go and propose marriage to you." Liu Jingxing was also teasing Zhou Ruo from the side. Xiao.
"The adults here are quite lively. They made fun of our Mr. Zhou as soon as they arrived." Zhang Wenling walked down from the city wall, "After meeting the Prime Minister first, let Mr. Zhou host a banquet to welcome the adults. "
"Okay! I haven't had a drink with Xiao Zhou for a long time." Liang Chuang said with a smile, "I'm going to have a good drink today."
"That will definitely not disappoint Uncle Liang." Zhou Ruoxiao replied, "Xiao Zhou will always remember your kindness in supporting me."
Everyone around me praised him. Liang Chuang and Zhou Ruoxiao were both in Jiang Nanchu's army at the beginning. Liang Chuang was already Jiang Nanchu's deputy general at that time, but he always valued and cultivated Zhou Ruoxiao, who was still an unknown soldier. It can be said that without his promotion, there would be no Zhou Ruoxiao today. Xiao.
Yan Mo led the Yan Guards to clear the way at the front of the team, followed by Zhang Wenling and Liang Chuang walking side by side.
"Chang'an really has long-term peace and stability. It's just a pity that the emperor has conquered such a good land but he can no longer see it." Liang Chuang said with regret while looking at the prosperity on the street.
"If we want to protect this country, we will have to rely on several state shepherds to assist the princes in the future." Zhang Wenling said. The two looked at each other and smiled.
"Grandpa!" Jiang Zhiyuan and Jiang Xianfeng shouted from the side.
Liu Jingxing smiled and said, "Why are you two kids here to pick them up?"
The soldiers on the side made way to let them in.
"Don't you want to see grandpa sooner?" Jiang Zhiyuan said coquettishly, "By the way, where is the good horse that grandpa said in his letter last time?"
"And my big parrot!" Jiang Xianfeng said with his red mouth open.
"Look, a big girl is in such a hurry." Liu Jingxing said with a smile, "And you, your mouth is full of brown sugar. Both of you are carrying it!" With a wave of his hand, the two men behind him were holding a horse. A tall man came over carrying a birdcage containing a parrot.
The two siblings immediately came forward to greet them.
"I see, these two kids are not here to pick you up, they are here to pick up the things you sent." Li Muzhi said with a smile.
"It's okay. I'm happy to see the children happy too." Liu Jingxing said with a smile, "But this horse has a strong temperament, so Zhi Yuan needs to be careful and let someone who knows horses lead you to train it."
Jiang Zhiyuan looked at Zhou Ruoxiao, blinked and said, "I'll go find Brother Zhou to help me train the horse then, how about that?"
"Of course." Zhou Ruoxiao said gently, "I will definitely protect the princess."
A ray of sunlight cut off Zhou Ruoxiao's profile and impressed Jiang Zhiyuan's eyes. Maybe it was the sunshine that burned her face, which made her blush. She turned around and said, "Grandpa, don't you have something to do in the palace? Why don't you go quickly? I'll go home for dinner first." After saying that, he immediately pulled the horse away. Jiang Xianfeng ran away after sizing up the parrot.
Everyone laughed.
"It seems that our King Xiaoyao has won the hearts of women. Even the princess can't help but blush." Li Muzhi said with a smile.
"I originally came to see the excitement, but now I have become the excitement." Zhou Ruoxiao laughed at himself.
The weather in early spring always changes at a moment's notice. A moment ago it was gloomy, with a few drizzles, but now it's sunny again, just like a girl's thoughts.
