Linzhi

He Rong opened the invitation, his eyes fell on the last signature first, his expression was slightly startled, then he closed the invitation, and said to Wen Jiang: "You send someone to write back, just say that I will not be in the mansion for a few days, and it is inconvenient to receive distinguished guests. .”

Wen Jiang hesitated to speak, and finally said nothing, took the invitation and left in response.

Xue Tan stretched his neck at the side, but he didn't see the name written on the invitation card clearly. Seeing that the master and servant were mysterious, he couldn't help being curious, and guessed: "Could it be the lady of the Li family? The one who is about to become Ji Princess Li Suian?"

He Rong ignored him, but when Wen Jiang passed by, he nodded slightly to Xue Tan, and Xue Tan immediately understood.

"Hey, it's really hard for a beauty to be a hero. It's a pity that good luck tricks people. Otherwise, it would be a good match, a golden and jade marriage between a man and a woman!"

"Did you drink before going out today?" He Rong asked suddenly.

"No, I drank it yesterday. I rinsed my mouth carefully before going out. Is the breath still heavy?" Xue Tan covered his mouth with his hands and breathed.

He Rong said coldly: "I think it's because I haven't sobered up completely, otherwise why are you still talking nonsense?"

Although he was very powerful when he sneered, but because he had been in front of Xue Tan a lot, he was not afraid of him at all, and he was smiling all over his face.

"Okay, okay, I'm not going to say it, but it's just a pity. You said that this lady of the Li family, apart from being a bit unruly and self-willed, is actually not bad in temperament. At least she's not like her father, who wears at least thirty layers of skin. Peel off layer by layer, and no one can see what is hidden underneath."

Xue Tan changed the subject: "However, since the Holy Majesty has given you a marriage, and you are about to travel far away, maybe the little lady of the Li family just wants to come to say goodbye to you. From now on, you will be uncles and sisters-in-law. Not so good, if someone says something in front of King Ji, it will inevitably affect the brotherhood between you and King Ji."

He Rong looked down at the book case, and said calmly: "There is Li Kuan between me and her, just like thousands of mountains and rivers, no matter how we go, we can only go on different roads in the end. Conspiracy with each other. On this side, what is the difference between seeing and not seeing?"

Xue Tan sighed with a smile: "You are too clear-headed and calm, many things were originally a mess, but in your hands, it is good for you, and you saved the time to untangle them one by one, just stretched out your hand and chopped them all off. "

He Rong raised his eyes and stared at him, those eyes were extremely quiet, but seemed to hide countless waves.

Xue Tan's heart moved, and for some reason, he suddenly had an illusion that the goddess actually had a dream, and King Xiang might not be unintentional.

"Speaking of it in detail, Miss Li is also a poor person. She was born in a princely family and has a prominent status, but she is not loved by her father. I heard that because of this marriage, she went on a hunger strike at home. For some reason, she couldn't hold back Li Kuan in the end. , chose to compromise. Li Kuan and Ji Wang became in-laws because they felt that their daughter had no hope of becoming a princess, so they made the next best thing. I am afraid that from then on, the court will not be peaceful. The grandson of the princess is just a pawn in his father's hands."

He Rong said coldly: "You seem to have a special affection for Miss Li?"

Xue Tan almost choked on his own saliva: "Your Highness, you can't talk nonsense. I already have a wife, and I will never dare to covet Princess Ji. I'm just discussing the facts!"

He Rong: "Everyone has their own last resort. Is it possible that everyone in the world has to sympathize with him because of his last resort? I admit that in this world, women have a harder life than men, but if you want to compare it this way, myself, How can it be easier than others? If you don’t want to be a pawn, you have to play games with others and with the sky.”

He sighed softly: "Whether the woman next to me is Gao Changning or Wen Jiang, who is not born with a rough fate, who is not struggling hard, and is not regarded as a pawn of fate?"

Xue Tan's eyes fell on Wang An's legs covered by his clothes, and then he silently looked back.

"I made a slip of the tongue, Your Highness."

He Rong waved his hands, and after a while, he seemed to have calmed down, and said, "Let's get down to business."

"Yes." Xue Tan's complexion changed at first, and then he couldn't help laughing out loud, "I just said that the situation is about to rise, but I didn't expect it to appear so soon. According to the news from the palace, yesterday Ji Wang Entering the palace to see His Majesty, wept for half an hour in front of His Majesty, crying until His Majesty softened his heart, let him get married in peace of mind first, and not rush to fief the land."

He Xiu's fiefdom is in Suzhou, which is not much worse than King Wei's, and it is a beautiful place in the south of the Yangtze River.But as the saying goes, one day away from Beijing is not as good as staying in Beijing for a year. No matter how good the place is, it is not as lively and prosperous as the emperor's feet, and it is not as attractive as the center of power a short distance away.

As soon as the prince made a move, he was extraordinary. First, he set up the left and right sides, separated powers and checks and balances, and then distributed the enfeoffment system, so that all the princes left the capital. A lot of difficulty.

This edict is not only aimed at He Xiu, but it can also be regarded as a precautionary measure.

Although the crown prince has his own selfish intentions, the imperial edict can only be implemented only if Emperor Jiayou has the same intentions.

He Rong understood what he meant, and chose to take the initiative to invite Ying, go far away from the bitter cold land, and take a step back to the sea and sky. Although Lingzhou is not as stable as Jiangnan, but the same, the emperor feels that he is in debt, so he will not be too harsh on him, and even let him go. He, the incoming governor of Lingzhou, has the authority to mobilize the troops of Lingzhou.

But He Xiu is not He Rong, if he is willing to be roundabout and tactful, and take the initiative to give in, then he is not He Xiu.

The more the prince is like this, the more he is stubborn to fight the prince to the end.

"Second brother is not like the kind of person who would show weakness in front of His Majesty. Someone should have taught him this crying move." He Rong said.

Who taught him to do this?The two know each other well.

Xue Tan said: "I heard that the crown prince was going to die of anger when he found out."

He Rong: "Of course, the big brother's move is mainly to restrict the second brother. But he forgot that he is not yet the emperor, but just the prince. With His Majesty around, there will be changes."

Just like the last time they came up with a way to separate the left and right prime ministers, the crown prince even united with the clan forces that had always been at odds to prevent Li Kuan from dominating alone, but he did not expect that Li Kuan would be the prime minister in the end.

This is called the world is unpredictable, and people's hearts are unpredictable.

He Rong: "Just wait, this is just the beginning, and the best show is yet to come."

Xue Tan: "In your opinion, who can sing to the end of this play?"

He Rong said honestly: "I don't know, I'm not a fortune teller in front of the temple fair."

Xue Tan: "Why don't you let me guess? If the crown prince fails with one move, there must be another way, and this time, King Ji will be unable to stand up and give up completely."

He Rong: "It's good if you can give up completely, but I'm afraid that the second brother will not give up, but will be aroused fiercely."

Xue Tan sighed: "Looking at it now, it is really wise for you to withdraw in time. Others think that Chang'an is beautiful, and only by staying here can one step up to the sky. Even if you are driven away, you will try to stay here, just like King Ji."

He Rong: "If you don't make it to the last step, who will know who the winner is? Maybe I was killed by the Turks as soon as I arrived in Lingzhou."

"Bah, bah, bah! Childish words!" Xue Tan was really eye-opening, "I've never seen someone cursing himself like that!"

He Rong raised his eyebrows: "Then, what made you give up the high position of the six ministers and go to Lingzhou with me?"

Xue Tan grinned: "I just think it's always right to follow you."

He Rong gave him a white look: "Tell the truth!"

Xue Tan rubbed his nose: "... I am really fed up with the splint of Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites. Trying to recruit scholars this time is like sharing snacks. One piece for you, one piece for me, and the crown prince is dissatisfied if there are more people from the family. There are more people from poor families, and the family is dissatisfied. As a result, I suffer from it. I am not a human being. Instead of shrinking here, it is better to follow you and fly far away. The sea and the sky are bright. Moreover, I am humble and virtuous. If you want to go with me, I think we will go together. It’s fine if you don’t come back in three to five years.”

He Rong smiled slightly: "In order to let her walk with you, you have to kneel down on the washboard, right?"

Xue Tan laughed dryly: "It's okay, it's okay, she's not this kind of person!"

This made me feel guilty.

"By the way, do you still remember Ma Hong?" Xue Tan asked suddenly.

He Rong: "Of course, who could not remember the capable celebrities in front of the late emperor?"

When the Qi Palace changed, Ma Hong searched for the jade seal everywhere, and trotted all the way to bring it over, but he didn't give it to Emperor Jiayou, who was still the King of Lu at that time, nor He Mu, but He Rong.

With just this one action, it is difficult for He Rong to forget him.

Xue Tan: "Ma Hong's mausoleum will be three years old. He asked someone to find me and wanted me to pass a message to you, saying that I can't come to see you off in person. It's a long way to Lingzhou. Please take care of yourself." , he will chant scriptures in front of the late emperor every day and pray for you."

He Rong couldn't help laughing: "This old fox obviously wants me not to forget him, and he put it so tactfully."

Xue Tan also laughed and said, "Old people who make a living in the palace, who doesn't have to make three detours in every sentence?"

He Rong: "Does he still want me to intercede in front of His Majesty, so that His Majesty will not forget to transfer him back to the palace?"

Xue Tan shook his head: "He has countless disciples and grandchildren in the palace. If any disciple finds an opportunity to open his mouth, His Majesty will think of him, and he returned to the palace just to find a job for a stable life, and there is no need to work for His Majesty." You. I guess he will ask someone to pass me a message, just to hint that even if His Highness is away from Beijing, he will help His Highness find out news from the palace."

He Rong glanced at him: "So you even know that the prince is angry, and it's because of Ma Hong, right?"

Xue Tan let out a hey, showing a smile of "you and I are silent".

The capital was originally a place of right and wrong, with the turmoil rising, He Rong didn't even intend to stay for a long time, and he didn't even intend to drink He Xiu's wedding wine. Departure to Lingzhou.

Accompanying He Rong was Xue Tan, Wen Jiang stayed in the capital to guard the palace, and Ji Ling continued to be his minister of the Ministry of Industry. This position is not as eye-catching as the Minister of Rites, but it has its own importance. Ji Ling stayed in the capital, With the background of the family as a cover, it is not conspicuous, but also can pass news from the capital to He Rong and the others from time to time, lest they be far away in Lingzhou and know nothing about the situation in Chang'an.

Since He Rong became the king, the palace has also raised a few staff and servants to help organize the documents, but in terms of heart-to-heart, those people are naturally not as good as Xue Tan and Ji Ling who have been hand-picked by themselves and have worked together in trouble.

For the sake of He Rong, Xue Tan abandoned his high position as a minister, and was willing to give in to a general with an empty title and no real power. He took his wife to follow He Rong, and traveled thousands of miles to Lingzhou to eat the wind and drink the rain. He Rong naturally felt this kind of love in his heart. , needless to say.

Before leaving, a person came galloping on a horse, narrowly bumped into the carriage, stopped hurriedly, panted and cupped his hands and said: "Your Highness, Your Highness, I'm late!"

The visitor was none other than Zhang Ze, the nephew of Marquis Zhang Tao of Wuwei who had befriended He Zhan in Beiya back then.

Everyone knows that his cousins, that is, Zhang Tao's sons, accompanied Ji Wang Hexiu to station in Ganzhou, and came back together. , still dawdling around in the Beiya.

Before King An and King Xing went to Nanyi, Zhang Ze didn't know what kind of muscle suddenly opened up, so he volunteered and wanted to go with him, but because his wife made a fuss at home, he still couldn't go.

When He Rong came back from Lingnan, he heard the news that Zhang Ze and his wife had reconciled. The two had no children, and his wife remarried.

The Zhang family's children are all promising, so naturally they can't understand Zhang Ze like this, and they often run against him, so this time when He Rong went to Lingzhou, he was sealed. peers.

With Wang An's gold medal for avoiding death, the rest of the Zhang family naturally couldn't say anything.

"I thought you were going to be late again today." He Rong said.

Zhang Ze made a bitter smile: "Your Highness's important matter, how dare I!"

He didn't know where he found out a suit of armor and put it on on his body, coupled with that white and tender face that couldn't bear the pain, Xue Tan wanted to laugh when he saw it.

"Let's go then."

A group of people rode horses in the front, followed by the carriage, and the wheels rolled across the bluestone slabs, passed the Mingde Gate they had entered when they returned from the Turks, and drove to the front where no one knew the good or bad.

"He San!"

Shouts came from behind, from far to near.

He Rong didn't turn his head back, and continued on his way.

"He San!" The other party also came galloping on horseback, desperately trying to avoid it, making everyone turn their heads back and look at He Rong again.

"Your Highness?" Xue Tan whispered.

He Rong sighed secretly, reined in the reins, stopped the horse, and let the other party run in front of him.