In the fourteenth year of Yuanjing, Xu Haozhi, the Yongyi Marquis, successfully annihilated several bandit dens that had long been entrenched on the official roads in the southwest, and completely cleared the main road from Kyoto to the important towns on the southwest frontier.
On the day when Xu Haozhi's master returned to court, Xiao Yi held a banquet in the palace to welcome him.
During the banquet, the Qingyan Hall was brightly lit, singing and dancing were performed, and the music and sheng were played in a lively and popular manner. During the banquet, people drank and drank, and the emperor and his ministers were in great joy.
Xu Haozhi found an excuse to sneak out. He stood in a small garden outside the palace, pulled open his clothes and let out the dry smell of wine.
"I heard that you were hit by an arrow in the chest this time. The injury hasn't fully healed yet, so don't drink too much." A familiar voice sounded from behind.
Xu Haozhi looked back and saw that it was Qu Moran.
"Brother, why did you come out too?" Xu Haozhi said.
"I saw you coming out, so I came to take a look." Qu Moran stepped forward and stood side by side with Xu Haozhi, "I think you are not in high spirits when you come back this time, but what are you worried about?"
Xu Haozhi raised his head, looked at the moon in the sky, and said nothing for a long time. Only the sound of wind passed between them.
After a long silence, Xu Haozhi said slowly: "Brother, I want to leave."
Qu Moran's heart suddenly twisted.
Xu Haozhi said: "I think back then, the three of us clapped hands in the bamboo forest and swore that you and I would help the second brother ascend to the throne of God and unify the ancient continent. The second brother promised us to make everyone in the world well fed and clothed. Now. Now When the world is finally settled, it can be said that we have all achieved our wishes."
"I was born in the wilderness, and I really can't bear the twists and turns of calculations in court. I want to go home. Buy two or three acres of thin land, raise horses, and farm."
Qu Moran said in a deep voice: "Who put a stumbling block behind your back during this bandit suppression? The Lin family?"
Xu Hao paused and turned to look at Qu Moran. Sure enough, he couldn't hide anything from his elder brother.
He couldn't help but recall the scene of his earlier meeting with Lin Feifeng in the Royal Garden.
"Third brother succeeded in suppressing the bandits this time, which is another great achievement. Come on, my little sister, I salute you." Lin Feifeng poured him a glass of wine with a smile.
Xu Haozhi happily took the glass and drank it in one gulp.
"Third brother, don't you have anything to say to me when you come back this time?" Lin Feifeng continued to pour the wine with a smile.
Only then did Xu Haozhi realize something was wrong, and he put down his wine glass.
"What does this mean, Fourth Sister?"
"I heard that someone saw the prince in the southwest."
Lin Feifeng still had a smile on her face, but her eyes were fixed on Xu Haozhi.
It turned out that this was what he wanted to ask, and Xu Haozhi's heart sank.
"Fourth sister, second sister-in-law, have I ever felt sorry for you?" Xu Haozhi asked.
"Third brother, you have to know who wins and loses. Now, I am your second sister-in-law." Lin Feifeng put down the wine bottle and said calmly.
"He is dead, the queen is yours, and Xiao Shitou has left the palace for several years and his life and death are unknown. What else are you dissatisfied with?" Xu Haozhi really didn't understand.
"No matter how far he runs, he is still the prince." Lin Feifeng said every word.
A flash of light suddenly struck Xu Haozhi's mind, and he glared at Lin Feifeng: "So the convoy transporting grain and grass was burned, and Huang Shude colluded with the bandits inside and outside. It was you who arranged it? Do you think the prince is in my team?!"
Suddenly, Xu Haozhi figured out many of the key points of this bandit suppression.
Lin Feifeng said nothing.
Xu Haozhi and Lin Feifeng looked at each other in silence for a long time, with no one speaking.
After a long time, Xu Haozhi stood up slowly and bowed: "My dearest lady, I will take my leave."
The sound of "Empress" made Lin Feifeng's heart twitch. This was the first time Xu Haozhi called her Empress. The third brother who used to drink and talk and play tricks to make her happy finally drifted away from her.
Xu Hao offered to resign, but Xiao Yi rejected it twice. When the offer was made for the third time, Xiao Yi agreed.
This caused quite a shock in the court. Some people thought that Xiao Yi wanted to consolidate the imperial power and take back his military power, so he killed the donkey. Some people also think that Xu Haozhi was afraid that his great achievements would shock his master, so he left early and had a good life.
Actually, it’s both. But there was also a more secret reason. Xu Haozhi didn't tell anyone. Qu Moran guessed it, but he didn't ask.
Xu Haozhi was rich in gold and silver and had packed all his belongings, but he found that he could not leave the city!
Xu Haozhi didn't understand. He had handed over the military talisman and resigned from the official position, but he was not allowed to leave the city. What did this mean?
He thought about it but couldn't figure it out. In the end, he had no choice but to ask Jiang Ning.
"Eunuch Jiang, what do you mean by this?"
Xu Haozhi hired the most luxurious restaurant in Kyoto to treat Jiang Ning alone and ordered Jiang Ning's favorite steamed seabass.
Jiang Ning picked up the belly of the fish with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth and chewed it slowly. After finishing the whole fish, he wiped his hands and said, "Your Majesty won't let Mr. Hou leave the city, so he can't take any of the meat away with him." s things."
"Ah?!" Xu Haozhi was a little confused.
You have handed over everything you should hand over, and the rest are your own belongings. In order to facilitate travel, most of the items have been exchanged for banknotes. Is there anything else that cannot be taken away?
Xu Haozhi thought about it carefully from the beginning, but still had no clue. So, he looked at Jiang Ning for help: "I hope Eunuch Jiang can give me some advice."
Jiang Ning thought of Xiao Yi's unpredictable gaze at the celebration banquet and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. He implicitly nodded at Xu Haozhi's waistband, where a dark blue embroidered purse hung.
Xu Haozhi looked at his purse in confusion. Could it be that no one in the harem made a purse for Xiao Yi? So he wants to steal this from him? ! Xu Haozhi was furious, how could he be so unreasonable! This was embroidered by his wife herself!
Seeing Xu Haozhi's expression change, Jiang Ning knew that Xu Haozhi had gone astray. She stamped her foot and said, "It's not this one, it's the one you brought with you at the celebration party!"
Xu Haozhi thought about it for a while, then looked at Jiang Ning with a shocked expression. Is it possible that there are not enough military talismans after the deal is made, so we still need to hand in amulets?
That purse is something Xu Haozhi must carry with him in battle. In the purse was a jade buckle of peace, which was an amulet that Shen Zhuo kowtowed step by step and knelt down three hundred steps before being consecrated by Zen Master Xuantian who was in retreat at the Huguo Temple.
Shen Zhuo asked for three amulets in total, one for each of his three brothers.
Ever since they put on this amulet, I don't know if it was a psychological effect or if it was really useful. Anyway, they suffered a lot of major and minor injuries on the battlefield, but they never suffered any fatal injuries. So whenever they go to war, they will take this amulet with them.
Xiao Yi wants to take this away? Xu Haozhi was really reluctant to give it.
"Master Hou, that belongs to Empress Shen." Jiang Ning reminded her nicely.
"Second sister-in-law gave it to me, it should be mine." Xu Haozhi glanced at Jiang Ning, then poured himself a glass of wine and drank it in one gulp.
This was the only thing Shen Zhuo left behind.
"Does the Marquis still want to leave the city?" Jiang Ning was helpless.
"Are you sure it's because of this?"
Xu Haozhi still couldn't believe it.
This safety buckle was obtained by Shen Zhuo from the three of them when they were on an expedition to Lingnan Cangyi Kingdom. At that time, she had not yet married Xiao Yi. It has been more than 20 years, why did Xiao Yi suddenly think of this? Besides, doesn’t Xiao Yi have one himself?
On the day of the celebration banquet, Xiao Yi glanced at Xu Haozhi from time to time. His eyes seemed to have hooks growing out of them. He stared straight at the faded old purse around Xu Haozhi's waist. There was a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes, and he wanted to snatch it away. desire. That look on Jiang Ning's face was unmistakable.
"This is what I have said. The Marquis can decide for himself."
Jiang Ning left.
Xu Haozhi went back to think about it all night, and the next morning he handed the post to the palace and asked for an interview.
"Wei Chen has been fighting everywhere these years, and has suffered a lot of illnesses. This time when I return to my hometown, I just want to buy a few acres of thin farmland and live a leisurely life. I really don't want to use swords or guns anymore."
"The safety buckle that the second sister-in-law bought for Wei Chen has no use anymore, so Wei Chen won't take it away." After saying that, Xu Haozhi handed over a very clean, white and faded old wallet.
Xiao Yi's eyebrows widened, with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. He smiled and said: "Since she gave it to the third brother, she wants to protect the safety of the third brother, so why should the third brother return it."
The corners of Xu Haozhi's eyes twitched and he threw the purse directly into Xiao Yi's arms: "I will retire and return to my hometown to take care of myself. I will be safe and sound."
"Oh, by the way, the hexagram book says that today is a good time to travel far. Your Majesty, can I leave today?"
"Yes." Xiao Yi nodded with satisfaction.
Well, that’s what it’s for!
Xu Haozhi couldn't figure out why Xiao Yi was making such a fuss! It was just a jade buckle, and it held him captive for more than half a month!
If Xiao Yi really wanted it, why not just tell him? You still have to let him guess! His eyes lit up when he really guessed it, and he still had to pretend to say no, what kind of virtue is this? !
Xu Haoyi shook his sleeves and walked away angrily.
Later in the evening, Xiao Yi returned to Cangwu Courtyard of Prince Duan's Mansion with his purse. He took out a wooden box and put the purse in it. At this time, there were two voices quarreling in Xiao Yi's mind.
A voice said: "Isn't it bad for you to take back what Jiaojiao sent out?"
Another voice said: "Why? My wife asked for this. If he wants it, let his wife ask for it."
The voice before was softer: "You act so forcefully, Jiaojiao will be unhappy..."
Xiao Yi hesitated for a moment when he put the purse in his hand. He felt uncomfortable holding the purse and murmured: "I didn't steal this, it was Hu Tou who returned it himself."
"He said he wanted to go home and become a rich man, and he no longer needed the Ping An button. These were all what he said himself!"
After speaking, he gently put the purse into the wooden box. The wooden box was very empty, with a few objects scattered here and there. There was a pair of white jade bracelets of good quality but rough workmanship, and a stack of letters.
Jiang Ning stood silently not far away, her eyes sore, fearing that His Majesty's madness would never be cured.
Xu Haozhi was finally able to leave the city and return to his hometown, and Qu Moran sent him ten miles and ten miles away.
Xu Haozhi told Qu Moran all about Xiao Yi's strange behavior and asked, "What do you think he is doing?"
Qu Moran touched his old purse in his sleeve and sighed slightly, what else could this be for? He's just a fool who realized it too late. What's the use of regretting later when everyone is gone?
Qu Moran patted Xu Haozhi on the shoulder and said meaningfully: "If you leave, don't come back again."
Xu Hao paused and replied for a long time: "Try your best."
On the third day after Xu Haozhi left, the secret guard of Longhu Camp reported to Xiao Yi: "My lord, there are three people following Mr. Xu."
"Kill them all, be clean and leave no traces."
"One of the teams is from Lord Qu."
"kill."
