Come on, Your Highness

Early in the morning, all the people in Prince Ying's mansion were busy, Xinrui came over with two glowing red apples, and stuffed one for each of Xiao Hong and He Xichao.

"This was enshrined before the Buddha. It is safe to eat. Your Highness, Master Xichao, you all have to finish eating."

That is to eat, two men eat an apple and it is only a cup of tea time, Xiao Hong asked at the end: "Then what about the fruit core, should I also eat it, is it too unpalatable?"

"Your Highness is here again." Xinrui took two apple cores and put them on a tray, "The leftover cores must be buried in the front yard, which means that you will go back and forth from wherever you came from, and you will return when your Highness finishes curing the water." In the mansion."

Eunuch Chang came in and reported: "Your Highness, the salute has been loaded and ready."

"Okay, it's getting late, let's go."

Xiao Hong got up and took He Xichao out of the house.

The majestic gate of King Ying's Mansion was opened, and there was a long line of carriages at the gate, each of which had three or four large boxes in the back. Seeing this, Xiao Hong twitched his lips and said to He Xichao: "Why do I feel like there are more and more boxes?" Come on, darling, there must be thirty or forty mouthfuls, there are really so many things that can be packed?"

"Didn't you notice that there are a lot less things in the house?" He Xichao asked.

"This mighty one is too eye-catching."

"Don't worry, I asked Xiaodunzi to mark, clothes and bedding, and a few necessary daily necessities. In addition, I streamlined out five carriages, and left everything else."

He Xichao gestured to Xiaodunzi, who nodded and asked the driver to change direction.

Seeing this situation, Nanny Shen and Xinrui, who came out with their servants to see him off, suddenly became anxious, "Your Highness!"

He Xichao said: "Nurse, aunt, Fu Guogong, Yuetinghou, Yongyihou, and Yongchangbo's sons will all go with them. They are all young masters who can't bear the hardships. If they also dress up like His Highness With more than a dozen carriages, how can we go on the road? I am afraid that if we reach the east of the river, the floods will pass, so why should we cure the floods?"

Xinrui said: "But this is what His Highness is used to. If it is missing or short, wouldn't it be a grievance?"

He Xichao said with a smile: "Auntie, the sage Yun Tian is in charge of all people. He must first work hard on his mind, exhaust his muscles and bones, and starve his body and skin before he can achieve great things. Besides, when you are away from home, you can do things cheaply. Your Highness doesn't think it is hard. Why do you two worry too much, how about sending His Highness out happily and welcoming him back with joy?"

As He Xichao spoke, he glanced at Eunuch Chang, who came over and said, "It means that His Highness has a good temper, and he should reason with the young master. If there is another master, Mother Shen, Xinrui, who goes against the master's will now, he should be punished. "

Xiao Hong stood aside, waved his hands, and said calmly: "It's all for the good of this king, I know it in my heart, but too much interference really annoys me."

As soon as these words came out, Shen Momo and Xinrui's heart shuddered, and they hurriedly knelt down, "I know I was wrong."

Xiao Hong helped the two of them up, "After I leave, I have to invite the three of you to take care of the palace. No matter what happens, the palace is the most important thing. Wait for me when I come back."

The three hurriedly took orders: "Yes."

All the personnel were already in place, 12 people in twos and a carriage, plus He Xichao's servants, and Xiao Hong's servants, there were quite a few of them.

After all, Emperor Tiangan was worried about his son, so he dispatched a team of imperial guards to follow him. In this way, including the guards of the palace led by Lu Feng, it was enough to maintain safety on the road.

Xiao Hong rode on his horse, raised his hand and waved slightly, the wheels of the cart turned, and the horse's hooves sounded, and the team went to the gate of the city.

The young masters of the four mansions were waiting at the door, and He Xichao had greeted them in advance, keeping everything simple, so they didn't bring all their belongings with them, and the number of waiters and guards was not too many.

However, even if it is simplified, the four directions are superimposed, and the Yingwang Mansion's own horses and horses are added, they still gather into a mighty team.

After leaving the city gate, this is the real journey to Jiangdong.

The journey was long and the carriage bumped, all the way from the north to the south of the Yangtze River. After more than a month of driving, they finally entered the border of Jiangdong.

The majestic buildings are also gradually changing to graceful and refined. After crossing the flat river and the rushing river, it slowly extends to the mountain roads and streams and lakes with lingering waves.

The legendary land of fish and rice, the magnificent and prosperous Jiangnan area is slowly unfolding before everyone's eyes.

The hot and dry air is full of humidity, but it always makes people feel stuffy.

The scholars in the carriage lifted the curtains, opened the doors, and kept fanning out several gusts of sultry wind with folding fans in their hands, but they couldn't bring any coolness.

On both sides of the not-so-spacious road, you can see rice fields already hung with golden ears, and many farmers are tending the fields. However, it is obviously a scene of prosperity, which makes people carelessly appreciate it.

It's almost evening, why is it still so hot that people can become immortals?

In the other four carriages, the four young masters stretched out their limbs at the same time, lying in the carriage covered with mats, their clothes were opened and the servants at the side kept fanning them. It looks like it's going to die of heat.

Some of them wanted to ride a horse, but under the bright sun, they lay flat in the carriage without hesitation, with only half a cup of tea.

It is suffocated inside, and it is strong to be sunburned, even if you wear a straw hat on your head.

Xiao Hong was originally in the same carriage as He Xichao, but putting two people in the narrow space would only make it hotter, and he was born into a stove, so seeing the fine sweat dripping from He Xichao's forehead, he finally went out to ride a horse.

He met a few old straw hat sellers near the official road of the post station, and without a word, he put on a hat for every guard and groom driving a carriage, so that they could take some damage at least.

He Xichao opened the curtains, the sun's rays hanging slantingly in the sky could no longer shine into the carriage, he looked at Xiao Hong who was riding beside him and asked, "Cousin, do you want some water?"

Xiao Hong clamped the horse's belly between his legs, took a rein, and approached the carriage, reached out to take the water bag He Xichao handed over, took a big gulp, then wiped his mouth heroically, and said with emotion: "It's true!" It's hot, I thought Jiangnan would be cooler than Beijing."

He Xichao looked up at the other side of the sun in the sky, "It feels like it's going to rain."

Xiao Hong raised his head, and often the west side was still shining with heat, while the east side on the other side had already gathered clouds, the color changed from white to gray, with an aura of rain coming, "It's really evil."

Lu Feng rode back from the front and came to Xiao Hong's side and said, "Your Highness, the guide said that it is estimated that it will rain soon, and there is still half an hour away from the inn in front, should you hurry up?"

He Xichao looked at the rice fields on both sides and asked, "Have you arrived in Luozi County?"

Lu Feng replied: "Yes, in front, this station is in Luozi County."

"There are many thunderstorms in summer, if you are caught by heavy rain, you will be in trouble."

After He Xichao finished speaking, Xiao Hong said, "I will pass on the king's order, and the whole team should hurry up."

The carriages of this era did not have a good shock absorbing method. The faster the speed and the potholes on the road, the more severe the carriage bumped.

The sun had already set, but the humidity and heat remained undiminished. Looking at the sky again, the dark clouds continued to press down, and the sky quickly became dark, as if a shower storm was brewing right above the head.

Bright purple lightning flashed through the clouds, but after a long while thunderous thunder blasted in the sky, and then the ground was rammed with yellowish-brown raindrops one after another...

"It's raining, hurry up!"

"Hurry up, the station is just ahead!"

The sound of the whip broke through the air, and the sound of horseshoes became more and more intensive, as if they were competing for time with the raindrops falling faster and faster.

The post officer held a lantern and led the people standing in front of the post house, waving non-stop, and finally the long line entered the post house before the heavy rain poured down.

Xiao Hong got off his horse, lifted his straw hat, and hurried to the carriage, "Xi Chao, we're here."

There was a muffled response from inside, and Xiao Hong felt that something was wrong, so he simply drove the coachman off and got into the carriage by himself.

Opening the door of the carriage, He Xi Chaozheng looked at him with a sullen face, as if he was weak.

The clothes on Xiao Hong's body were already half wet. He lifted his straw hat, and there were water stains on his forehead. He didn't know if it was rain or sweat, but he didn't care about these, he just looked at He Xichao worriedly and asked: "Xi Chao, are you okay?" ?”

There was the sound of heavy rain, heavy and loud, but even under such noise, there were still a few sounds of vomiting. It was the scholar who had got off the carriage and was lying on the eaves to express his body. The ups and downs.

He Xichao's complexion suddenly changed, he rushed out of the carriage, with the strength he didn't know where he came from, he pushed Xiao Hong aside, lying on the driver's seat, the nausea that had been brewing for a long time and still couldn't be suppressed was overturned come out.

Xiao Hong came behind him and walked along his back with distressed eyes.

"His Royal Highness, Your Highness..." Ah Fu's voice came from behind, and I saw this young man with a water bag in his hand, looking at him at a loss.

"Give me the water, and find clean clothes for your young master, and tell the post officer to prepare hot water, and take a bath and change later."

As Xiao Hong stretched out his hand, Ah Fu looked distressed and couldn't help but said: "Your Highness, why don't you come here?" No matter how beautiful his young master is usually, when he vomits, the smell is still unpleasant, and even his body smells bad. It may be contaminated with filth. Why bother the King of England to do this kind of dirty work.

However, Xiao Hong didn't care so much, and directly ordered: "Go as soon as you are told, there are so many nonsense, hurry up."

"Yes……"

Xiao Hong took the water bag, and seeing that He Xichao seemed to have emptied his stomach, he helped him turn around and lean against the carriage, opened the stopper, and passed the water bag over, "Xi Chao, rinse your mouth."

While He Xichao was drinking water, Xiao Hong took out the handkerchief from his arms, and wiped his clothes and the hair around his mouth.

Xiao Hong is not very careful in doing things, he is always rough and rough, but for He Xichao, he is serious and careful, carefully brushing away the filth left on the whitened mouth.

He Xichao looked at Xiao Hong who was so close at hand, the bit of unbearable pain between his brows seemed to disappear, and a sweetness filled his heart instead.

The corner of his mouth curled slightly, and he glanced at Xiao Hong's face, "Are you wet?"

"No, I'm wearing a hat, and my head is full of sweat." Xiao Hong put himself indifferent, raised his sleeves, wiped his forehead indiscriminately, and said, "How about you, are you feeling better?"

"Come back to life." Thinking of it, He Xichao gritted his teeth and said, "After I go back, I have to find a way to research the shock absorption system. If I do it again, my body will fall apart!"

Xiao Hong deeply felt the same, without him, He Xichao's body was no different from the dozens of literati behind him, very fragile.

Let him ride a horse, not only will he fall apart, but he will also wear his thighs, which is even more serious.

He Xichao said: "Don't stay here, it's a mess now, I'm not feeling well, I don't have the energy to take care of other things, you can arrange it, don't make mistakes in the chaos."

Xiao Hong said disapprovingly: "Lu Feng is here, and Xiaodunzi is watching. Where does this king need to take care of himself, I will help you down and go to the room to rest."

"This is Luozi County."

Xiao Hong was puzzled: "Yes, what's wrong?"

He Xichao said: "Tomorrow, the county magistrate of Luozi will come to see you early in the morning."

"That's for sure. I didn't cover my tracks when I went out, and I came here openly. I'm afraid he has been waiting for me for a long time."

Xiao Hong helped He Xichao get off the carriage and walked into the house.

Xiao Dunzi cooperated with Lu Feng to direct and arrange outside, and another eunuch, Xiao Xuanzi, was rearranging the house.

In the two rooms inside and outside, the mats and thin blankets on the bed were changed all over, even the mosquito nets were not left off.

The hot water has already been delivered, mixed with cold water, it is warm, just right for the frail scholar He Xichao to bathe.

Xiao Hong thoughtfully said: "Take a bath first, change into clean clothes, and then sleep. I'm afraid you don't have the appetite to eat now. I'll let you warm it on the stove and eat when you wake up."

He Xichao's whole body was sticky and greasy, and he really wanted to wash it off, but before that, he grabbed Xiao Hong and said, "When you settle down, let Master Tao, Master Fan, and a few other officials who are good at water conservancy come over. We need to discuss it together.”

"what's up?"

"On the way, in my spare time, I chatted with the two masters. The dam in Kuiliang County was repaired repeatedly, and it even alarmed the court. The officials who came to inspect it may not be one or two. It is obviously not a quality problem. But every time it is destroyed, I always feel that it is meaningless to repair it."

"Then what should we do, can't block it, can't we?"

He Xichao shook his head, "I don't know, but Master Fan mentioned it once before, the flooding in the lower reaches is probably the reason why the upper river is too narrow."

When He Xichao said this, Xiao Hong realized something, "Luozi County is upstream of Kuiliang County."

He Xichao nodded, "I've always wondered about one thing."

"Ok?"

"Kuiliang County has heard reports that the population is decreasing due to floods every year, and the fields have no harvest. However, looking at Luozi County today, there are bursts of rice fragrance and continuous golden yellow. It can be seen that a bumper harvest is imminent. Both They are close to each other, and there is too much difference between the upstream and downstream. Looking back at all the files, I didn’t see any suggestion to widen the upstream river channel, and there was not a single memorial. Even if it doesn’t work, it’s very strange.”

Xiao Hong asked: "Do you think the problem lies in Luozi County?"

He Xichao shook his head, "I have no basis, I just feel strange, let the masters come over later, let's discuss it first, then see the opinion of the Luozi county magistrate tomorrow, and finally go to Kuiliang County for field investigation, and we will be able to I know the difference."