Hanhou

After receiving the news from Wang Zhi from the palace, Wang Xin hesitated again and again, saying he was sick and did not go to see him.

"My dear, are you really not going to see the queen?" Wang Xin's wife is of ordinary background and doesn't know much about politics. Basically, she listens to what Wang Xin says.Only when others threaten her husband and children, will this woman from the North show her fierce side.

"I can't go." Wang Xin sat by the couch with a sad look on his face.

The turmoil of being a marquis had scared him half to death before, and in his eyes, a good thing that others couldn't ask for was no different from a reminder.

He didn't know what Queen Wang wanted to do, he could only vaguely guess that it was related to the affairs in the palace.

According to his idea, Liu Che was named the crown prince, and Wang Zhi became the empress from a beauty.If you don't know how to cherish blessings and do unnecessary things, you are going to die by yourself.

"But what about the queen? Do you want to keep complaining?"

"It can't be done, it can only be like this." Wang Xin said with a wry smile, "I'm not Tian Fu, I don't have his courage and ambition. People in Nancheng are discussing that Changle Palace summoned the daughters of the princes, and most likely they intend to choose a concubine for the crown prince. I think So, at this time, I'd better avoid it, if I can see it, I won't see it."

"Yes!" Mrs. Wang sat down beside her husband, held his hand, and said in support, "The queen is a smart person, we are not as smart as her, we can't do everything by taking a step and watching a few steps, we can hide if we can."

Wang Xin nodded, since he wanted to pretend to be sick, he just pretended to be a little more serious. From today onwards, he closed the door to thank guests. Apart from his own family, he didn't even see his relatives.

"If Tian Sheng comes again, you will block it for me. Others will also block it, saying that I am seriously ill and can't see people."

"Bah! No one cursed himself like that!" Mrs. Wang spat quickly and patted Wang Xin hard.

Wang Xin leaned on the couch, first laughed for a while, and then said in a deep voice: "If the Queen sends someone again, I will be really sick."

"Don't care about anything?"

"It doesn't matter." Wang Xin crossed his hands behind his head and raised his legs, "I understand that the farther we are from the queen, the more stable the crown prince's position will be. I haven't read any books, and I don't know how to lead troops to fight. Not to mention Wei Qihou, even Tian Fu is inferior. If you want to live in peace until the crown prince ascends the throne, you have to be an idler honestly."

"What about this."

"Isn't it? Tian Fu was a doctor of the Taizhong before. How did it turn out? I almost didn't die at the hands of Liu She and Dou Ying! I don't have his ability, and I don't want to make money. It's best to be mediocre."

Taking a step back, he is the prince's uncle after all, as long as he doesn't make big mistakes, he will be able to live comfortably in the rest of his life.Educate the children well, don't ask them to make progress, as long as they don't cause trouble, the rich and the rich will not be a problem.

Mrs. Wang didn't speak, she patted Wang Xin's arm lightly, got up and left the room.

Since the beloved doesn't want to be granted the title of Marquis or Prime Minister, it's better to stay a little far away from the Jiaofang Palace.

She doesn't have great wisdom, but she also understands what Wang Xin said.Those who are far away are like the Lu family, and those who are close are like the Bo family. The lessons learned from the past are not far away, and they still jump into it with one mind.

"Mistress, there are people in the palace again." A maid came to Mrs. Wang's side and said in a low voice.

"Didn't you say that the Patriarch is sick?" Mrs. Wang frowned.

"Someone brought a doctor here," said the maid.

"Healer?" Madam Wang raised her brows immediately and snorted, "No! Just say that there is a doctor in the family, so the queen doesn't need to worry about it!"

"promise."

"Wait, I'll go in person." Mrs. Wang suppressed her anger.It is always a person sent by the queen, and it is unreasonable to be dismissed by a servant girl.

Wang Xin said he was sick and avoided seeing the queen. Tian Fu was anxious and angry when he heard the news. He wanted to see the queen, but the queen refused to see him!

When Emperor Jing heard the news, he didn't say much. After dealing with the government affairs, he was about to go to Cheng Ji's residence when he suddenly remembered the message sent by the empress dowager a few days ago.

In the Changle Palace, Empress Dowager Dou is sitting high on the throne, with Chen Jiao accompanying her.Opposite Chen Jiao, there are several girls from the family of Bai Zhihou and Wu Qianghou.

Amidst the brisk music, a comedian with an excellent voice imitated the birdsong, which was lifelike, and the dwarf performed funny movements, attracting crisp laughter from the girls.

The cheerful atmosphere seemed to have infected Queen Dowager Dou, who smiled and ordered the eunuchs to fetch silk and copper coins and give them to comedians and dwarfs in the palace.

After the song ended, the musicians stepped back, and immediately some palace servants removed the hot soup and brought honey water and steamed cakes.In front of the girls, there is a low table, on which there are new dim sum patterns made by the chef in the palace.

"How is Bai Zhihou?" Queen Mother Dou drank half a cup of honey water and asked the girl beside her.

"Back to the Empress Dowager, the family master caught wind and cold last month, and has not recovered. He is not in court recently, and is recuperating at home." The girl who spoke was pink-faced and her voice was soft, with a sense of pity.

She is the third daughter of Bozhi Hou Xuchang, born delicate and weak, but has a very bright temperament, and she gets along very well with Chen Jiao.At the same time, she is also one of the candidates for the crown princess selected by Empress Dowager Dou.

As the concubine's daughter of a prince, her great-grandfather was Xu Wen, the founding hero, and her father was an official. No matter her family background or her appearance, Xu Ling was more than enough to be a crown prince and concubine.The only fly in the ointment is that she is four years older than the prince.

"Changes in the weather are the most important thing to be careful about. I remember that Liang Wang sent some good medicines, Jiaojiao, and asked someone to fetch them."

"promise."

Chen Jiao got up and walked to the front of the hall, and gave some instructions to an eunuch.The latter immediately bowed and exited the hall, and brought back two square lacquer boxes in a short time.

"Thank you Queen Mother for the reward!"

Xu Ling stood up, thanked Queen Mother Dou first, and then solemnly took the lacquer box.

The performances of the girls sitting with her were different, some showed envy, some showed jealousy, and some were not aware of it, still thinking about the comedian's performance just now.

Chen Jiao sat at the head of Empress Dowager Dou and had a panoramic view of the performance of several people.When Xu Ling returned to his original position, the two looked at each other and smiled, as if they could understand what the other was thinking.

After using honey water and steamed cakes, and chatting a few words, Empress Dowager Dou appeared a little tired, and the girls left the palace, and the palace people led them out of the palace.

When the gate of the palace was closed, Chen Jiao unfolded the "Tao Te Ching", and was about to start to recite it when she suddenly heard Empress Dowager Dou say, "Jiaojiao, what do you think?"

"Delicate and dull, I don't know what the big mother is referring to."

"Jiaofangdian." Empress Dowager Dou closed her eyes slightly, "Maybe you can guess the queen's true intention?"

"I don't quite understand." Chen Jiao said softly.

"I really don't understand?"

"I had some ideas before, but I felt that it was wrong." Chen Jiao said.

"Wang Zhi is not stupid, on the contrary, she is very smart. She has long expected Wang Xin's reaction, and this move is for the emperor and prince to see." Queen Mother Dou laughed.

Chen Jiao put down the bamboo slips, with a pensive look on her face: "What's the point of doing this?"

"Show weakness." Empress Dowager Dou sneered, "I don't care about the emperor for the time being. The prince seldom goes to the Jiaofang Palace recently. Even if he does, he won't stay for long. If things go on like this, the mother and child may separate. , even if the crown prince can't change his mind immediately, he won't be on guard against her as before."

"Auntie, will this really work?"

"Yes." Empress Dowager Dou said solemnly, "They are mother and son. No matter how smart the prince is, he is only eight years old after all."

There is another sentence, Empress Dowager Dou didn't say it, so she can be safe for a while by calculating her son like this, but in the future, once the accumulated conflicts break out, there will be no room for change between them.

Empress Dowager Dou would be angry with Emperor Jing, and seemed aggressive and unreasonable in the matter of Li Liang Wang being the prince, but she had never calculated Emperor Jing like this.Therefore, the mother and son will have disputes, and there will be short-term quarrels, but they never really sever the relationship.

Chen Jiao was thinking about Queen Mother Dou's words, and her fingers holding the bamboo slips gradually tightened.

"What's the matter?" Seeing that Chen Jiao had been silent for a long time, Empress Dowager Dou covered her hair with her hands.

"Auntie, I'm afraid."

"Don't be afraid, with the eldest mother here, Jiaojiao doesn't need to be afraid." Empress Dowager Dou held Chen Jiao in her arms and said softly, "When the crown princess is selected, I will be engaged to Jiaojiao. What kind of husband does Jiaojiao want? ?”

"Auntie really wants me to tell you?"

"Tell me."

"The appearance is better than Song Yu, and the talent is better than Liuhou."

Empress Dowager Dou burst out laughing immediately: "It's easier than Song Yu's appearance, but it's hard to be better than Liu Hou!"

"Then I won't marry and will stay with my aunt all the time."

Empress Dowager Dou smiled while stroking Chen Jiao's hair, and said, "Okay, I'll stay with auntie!"

When Emperor Jing walked into the palace, he happened to see this scene, and asked curiously, "Mum, what's the matter?"

Empress Dowager Dou stopped laughing and told Emperor Jing what Chen Jiao said.

"Ah Qi heard it, can you find such a husband for Jiaojiao?"

Emperor Jing couldn't help laughing either.

As Empress Dowager Dou said before, it is not difficult to find someone whose appearance is better than Song Yu's. For example, the husbands of Gong Gaohou's family almost all have extraordinary looks.If you want to be able to win Liuhou, you may not be able to find it if you search all the counties of the Han Dynasty.If such a talent really existed, Emperor Jing had already called him into the court, so how could he have been allowed to stay among the people.

After laughing for a while, Empress Dowager Dou let go of Chen Jiao, and said to Emperor Jing, "Have you seen what the queen is doing?"

Emperor Jing nodded and took a sip of the hot soup.

"The crown prince is young after all, so you can't let Wang Zhi mess around." Empress Dowager Dou said in a deep voice.

"Mother, don't worry, the prince is smart, if you can't figure it out for a while, you will figure it out after a long time." Emperor Jing said.

Empress Dowager Dou nodded, and changed the topic: "Young lady from Baizhihou's family, what do you think?"

"Don't worry, I'll trouble Mom to take a closer look."

"Is there something wrong?" Queen Mother Dou frowned.

"I'm getting older." Emperor Jing said.

"Forget it, let's wait and see." Knowing that Emperor Jing didn't tell the real reason, Empress Dowager Dou didn't go into it, but followed Emperor Jing's words and temporarily revealed the matter.

In the Jiaofang Palace, Wang Zhi did not change his face after listening to the eunuch's report, but Yang Xin who was standing beside him stopped writing, showing dissatisfaction in his expression.

"Mum, uncle, how could this be the case!"

"Shut up, it's none of your business, keep copying books."

"Mother!"

"Okay, it's none of your business."

Wang Zhi's tone became impatient, Yang Xin bit his lip, not daring to make mistakes, so he could only continue copying "Zhuangzi".After all, I was so angry that I felt a lot heavier when I wrote.

Seeing that she didn't speak out anymore, Wang Zhi calmed down and thought about it. The thing has been done, and there is absolutely no room for regret.

Wang Xin is the first step, and Chen Jiao is the second step.If letting the prince marry Chen Jiao was just an excuse, now it is the only way for her to get out of trouble.

All obstacles lie in Changle Palace, and the only one who can make Changle Palace retreat is the emperor!

She knew that Empress Dowager Dou could decide her life and death with one word, what if it was Liu whoring who persuaded the emperor?Could she cruelly kill her own daughter?

Dou Shi, Chen Shi!

Wang Zhi tightened his fingers, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his smile was full of cruelty.

If things are done, she only needs to be angry for a few years, maybe not a few years at all, after all, the person in Changle Palace is very old, who knows how long she can live.

Yunzhong County

Zhao Jia woke up early, ate two steamed cakes and drank a bowl of millet porridge, then ordered Ji Bao and others to set off for Yunzhong City.

"The third son sent a letter yesterday, and the county will not arrest this Wuhuan businessman." Zhao Jia took the reins, and handed the caramel in his palm to the bay red horse's mouth, "Please trouble Uncle Hu to go and see those five people. If possible, I will Just buy them."

"Lang Jun really wants to buy them?" Uncle Hu disagreed.

For the people in Bianjun, these prairie savages are not Han people, and there is nothing wrong with the handling of the prefect's mansion.On the contrary, some frontier residents took pity on the savage earlier and took him home. As a result, all six members of the family were slaughtered and the house was burned.Although the thief was finally caught, the dead never came back to life.

There are many similar things, and no matter how soft the heart is, it will become cold and hard.

Therefore, most of the slaves transported by Hu merchants were also bought by Hu merchants.

When encountering Han Chinese buyers, either the caravans traveling between border counties and grasslands are extremely fierce and need such villains; There are special people to train them, no matter how fierce their temper is, they will become honest when the whip is whipped on them.

Zhao Jia did feel that the five teenagers were pitiful, but he would not show kindness indiscriminately.As long as Huber thinks it's impossible, he will turn around immediately, and will not put his family in danger for a moment of soft-heartedness.

A group of people left the village and met Wei Qingmo who was also going to the city on the way.

"Sister is going to the city too?" Zhao Jia stopped the horse and said to Wei Qing.

"I heard that Hu merchants came to buy horses, and the family is about to buy some." Wei Qing'e walked side by side with Zhao Jia, pointing to Wei Xia and Wei Qiu who were following behind, "Do you still remember them?"

"Remember." Zhao Jia nodded.

"After the spring ploughing, Mrs. Sun has free time. Can you let them go to the livestock farm for a few days and learn how to ride and shoot with Mrs. Sun?"

"There is no need for spring plowing, just now." Zhao Jia said with a smile.

"Is there enough staff at home?"

"I received a reward a few days ago. I hired more than a dozen servants, plus oxen and new plows. I will definitely not miss the farming time. The field of my sister's family can be entrusted to me, and it will be plowed and sowed within half a month."

"Good!" Wei Qing'er was not as polite as Zhao Jia, and decided the matter on the spot.

The two rode their horses side by side without slowing down, and soon came to the outside of Yunzhong City.

It coincides with spring plowing, and the military market is not as lively as before.The two teams got off their horses in front of the city, received wooden signs from the officials, and walked to the livestock trading area.

Wuhuan merchants brought a large number of cattle, sheep, horses and slaves, which were very conspicuous in the city and easy to find.

The servant guarding the cart saw Zhao Jia and immediately went to inform Wuheluo.The latter put aside the buyer who couldn't reach an agreement, and greeted Zhao Jia with a smile.

"The gentleman is here! What does this girl want to buy? Horses, cattle, sheep, slaves, I have them here!"

"According to the previous agreement, twenty horses and fifty bullocks. Ji Bao, go to the officials' office to register with them." Zhao Jia handed the wooden sign to the health servant, pointing to the horse brought out by the Wuhuan merchant. Ju said, "Ji Xiong, take a closer look, don't let anyone be sick or weak inside."

"How dare you deceive the gentleman!" Seeing Zhao Jia handing over the wooden sign, Wuheluo's eyes lit up, and he sent someone to follow Ji Bao to find the officials, and stayed by himself, continuing to recommend goods to Zhao Jia and Wei Qing'e, and also mentioned the previous Those five teenagers.

"Bring it here, let me, this old servant, take a look."

"No! Tu Mang!"

The Wuhuan businessman turned around and yelled a few words in Hu language, a guard immediately pulled back the veil, opened the railing of the carriage, and brought the five teenagers over.

Compared with the last meeting, the five of them looked a little cleaner, which also made the redness, swelling and bruises on their faces more eye-catching.

"Han people?" Seeing these five young men, Wei Qing'e clenched his horsewhip tightly and looked at the Wuhuan merchant with a very unfriendly expression.

Zhao Jia explained the matter in a low voice, and Wei Qingmo turned away his gaze, looked at the five teenagers carefully, and asked, "Aduo, do you really want to buy them?"

"We need to wait for Huber to see it."

When the two were talking, Hu Bo had already walked up to the young man and casually mentioned one.The latter struggled hard, let out a ferocious growl, and was soon grabbed by another teenager's wrist.

"Aru, be honest!"

The boy stopped struggling immediately, but still stared at Hu Bo with his eyes wide open.

"What's your name?" Huber put Alu down and looked at the boy who was talking.

"Return to the elder, my name is Lu Xin." The boy's cheeks were red and swollen, and his voice was still hoarse.He raised his head to look at Uncle Hu, then turned his gaze to Zhao Jia, and said word by word, "Mr. Han, if you buy us, we swear to give you our lives! I know you don't believe us, so you can tie our feet with a rope." , or cut off one of our hands, we can still work for you!"

"How did you get caught?"

"We were hunting wolves. Ah Man and I were injured and couldn't run fast. The three of us, A Lu, refused to leave us, so they caught us."

Hu Bo stared at the young man for a long time, then nodded to Zhao Jia and said, "Your Majesty, you can buy them."

Zhao Jia didn't say much, took out the wooden sign and handed it to Ji Bao who came back.The Wuhuan businessman eagerly wanted to get rid of these five hot potatoes, but he had no asking price at all, wishing he could give them to Zhao Jia for nothing.

The five of Lu Xin supported each other to stand up, taking care of the seriously injured as much as possible for those with minor injuries.Alu no longer bared his teeth at Huber, but lowered his head honestly, trying to support his companion's body.

When they got into the cart, Zhao Jia handed the five people a bag of steamed cakes and a water bag.

Although the steamed cakes are cold, they still have an irresistible aroma of wheat.The five teenagers were sitting in the car, holding steamed cakes, and their silly looks made Wei Qingmo laugh.

Amidst the girl's laughter, the boy began to bite the steamed cakes. What he tasted was not only the aroma of wheat, but also a salty taste, which wrapped in the steamed cakes and slid into his stomach.

After eating the whole steamed pancake and gulping down a big mouthful of water, Lu Xin wiped his chin with his backhand and looked at Zhao Jia in front with extremely firm eyes.

On the grassland, no one gave them a bite to eat, not even a bone!

From today onwards, this life belongs to the lord of the Han family. Whoever dares to be unfavorable to the lord will turn into a vicious hungry wolf and bite the throats of those people!