Linzhi

There stood a girl.

Her appearance is enough to make everything around her a foil.

But He Zhan was not fascinated by the beauty, on the contrary, his face was ugly.

He pulled He Rong to go, but found that there were more and more people on the street, so that the escape routes on the left and right sides were also blocked. If you want to go, you have to go from the front. Don't get past obstacles.

Li Suian was looking down at the colorful silk tassels on the stall, not paying attention to his surroundings.

Seeing that the girl was dressed luxuriously, the seller showed interest again, and hurriedly blew up a small five-color silk tassel.

Li Suian was amused to hear it: "How do you sell these tassels?"

The seller showed a palm: "Little lady, one piece is fifty dollars."

Li Suian: "Then give me ten!"

The seller is overjoyed, this is a big customer, usually others buy one or two, how can anyone buy ten?

He Zhan was pulling He Rong to pass behind Li Suian, and while she was shopping with her head down, she planned to leave without seeing anything.

The last time she helped Song Yun "frame" He Rong, He Zhan had a very bad impression of her, but good men don't fight with women, if they meet on the street, they will inevitably quarrel, although He Zhan is not afraid, he also feels that he has lost his place , it would be better to beat up Song Yun a few more times.

He Rong also thought the same way, the two brothers had a tacit understanding and reached a consensus without saying a word.

Unexpectedly, at this time, there was a commotion among the crowd. I don't know who fell and pushed the people in front. As a result, one after another, they fell to the ground. There was also a little girl beside him who had no time to escape, and was also killed. Knocked down, immediately burst into tears.

The chaos happened suddenly, directly blocking the road ahead, and the two brothers of the He family couldn't walk anymore, so they had to be pushed aside along with the crowd, leaning as far as possible to the side of the street, so as not to be knocked over and fall down.

The little girl who was hit didn't know if she was separated from her family. She cried for a long time but didn't see her elders come to look for her. her attention.

Sure enough, the girl stopped crying, and her eyes followed the tassels. Li Suian simply handed the tassels to her and asked her to play with them.

A middle-aged woman was found very quickly. When the girl saw her, she immediately broke away from Li Suian's maidservant's arms, and rushed towards the other's open arms. The middle-aged woman hugged her and wept with joy, and thanked Li Suian repeatedly. The latter questioned her carefully. They only let them go after confirming her identity and relationship with the girl.

The He family brothers witnessed this scene from beginning to end. Although He Zhan didn't like her, he couldn't help but admit: "She doesn't look bad."

He Rong didn't answer.

He Zhan took the initiative to continue: "It's just too overbearing."

Coincidentally, Li Suian watched the grandparents and grandchildren off, and when he turned his head, he saw He Zhan and He Rong who were about to leave.

"Stop!" she shouted.

How could He Zhan care about him? He pulled He Rong without looking back, but Li Suian directly ordered the left and right servants who came out with him: "Stop them!"

The last time she came out, she only brought her maidservant, but this time she behaved well, and besides the maidservant, she also brought two servants with her. Although He Zhan was not afraid, it was impossible for her to take her third brother away in the crowd.

"Is this the plague god?" He frowned and complained to He Rong.

He Zhan was a little impatient, he was not interested in wasting time with a little girl, although the beauty was pleasing to the eye, but like Li Suian, he really didn't appreciate it.

He Rong: "Just now you said that she is a nice person."

He Zhan was a little annoyed: "I'm blind."

He Rong wanted to laugh.

Li Suian walked in front of them and sneered, "Where do we meet at the end of the world!"

He Zhan was not in a hurry to leave, and folded his arms: "How are you doing?"

Li Suian was taken aback by their question. She was simply arrogant and subconsciously stopped him, but she didn't think about what would happen after she was stopped.

If the other party is an ordinary person, she may have been beaten into a pig's head before, but she already knows that this lame man and the other are both the sons of Lu Guogong, the grandson of the emperor, and they beat the emperor's grandson in the street. , even if she is the granddaughter of Princess Yiyang, it is estimated that she will inevitably be punished.

Li Suian bit his lower lip, he was in a dilemma because he couldn't keep his figure.

The servant girl tugged on her sleeve and said in a low voice: "Lady, the adults in the family have told you not to cause trouble, otherwise you will be imprisoned when you go back. This time, the master is not joking!"

李遂安忽然一股恶气上涌，心想我就算揍了又怎样，她素来是父亲不让做什么，就偏要做什么，因此在家中虽然多得祖母喜爱，却并不得父亲青眼。

He Zhan saw the other party's thoughts from her uncertain expression, and couldn't help sneering: "You can think about it, although I don't beat women, it doesn't include your servants, you beat my third brother again and again I can't make it through, even if your family sues His Majesty, I'm afraid you won't be able to please!"

Although Li Suian is unruly, he is not a fool. Naturally, he knew what the other party said was reasonable, but he lost his momentum and refused to give in verbally: "What do you mean by having trouble with your third brother? If he hadn't bumped into my aunt's carriage at the gate of Hongfu Temple , who wants to pay attention to your crippled third brother!"

He Zhan was about to get angry, but He Rong said: "We have apologized again and again for the matter of Hongfu Temple. The servant who spoke rudely has already been severely punished by us after he went back. Let me tell you one more thing, the two sides are even. that is."

Li Suian was taken aback.

He Rong: "A tassel can be bought for at most [-] yuan, you paid too much just now."

The stall owner who sold the tassels next to him gave up and yelled: "My lord, you can't say that. My tassels are exquisitely woven and I use good silk threads. How expensive are they!"

He Rong: "Others have a tassel worth ten renminbi. If you sell it for [-] or [-] renminbi, I won't expose you. In the end, you opened your mouth and sold it for [-] renminbi. You can't blame me for being greedy enough. who?"

Li Suian immediately turned his anger on the stall owner: "So you think I have been taken advantage of?!"

The stall owner complained, but He Rong took He Zhan away, and Li Suian couldn't care about them anymore.

He Zhan gave He Rong a thumbs up: "Third brother, your trick of misfortune is really high!"

He Rong: "I saw that she was kind to the boy just now, and she kindly pointed out just now, otherwise I would change another method."

He Zhan was curious: "Beat him up?"

He Rong taught him: "It's a pleasure to beat someone up, but we are also wronged afterwards. We can not be hurt, and we can take advantage of it afterwards. It is the best policy to surrender without fighting. Your art of war is in vain. gone?"

He Zhan was taught humbly: "What method is that?"

He Rong: "I can flop, and then say that she bullies the lame. There are so many people on the street, how dare she do it again? No matter how powerful the Li family is, it doesn't need us to bully the emperor's grandson on the street, or the emperor's grandson with a disability." File a complaint, and the next day's imperial censor's impeachment report will drown them, and they will be the ones who will come to apologize at that time."

He Zhan almost choked on his saliva: "Third brother, your method is too, too..."

Too much damage.

He Rong glanced at him.

He Zhan immediately said: "Too wise!"

He Rong: "..."

He Zhan smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother San, for teaching me. How about treating you to sweet-scented osmanthus? Go to Sanrongzhai."

He Rong frowned: "Sanrongzhai doesn't put enough sweet-scented osmanthus, I want to eat sweet-scented osmanthus cake from Jinling Tower."

The corner of He Zhan's mouth twitched, and he said to himself that you really know the goods, a plate of sweet-scented osmanthus cake is dozens of dollars more expensive than sweet-scented osmanthus candy.

"Third brother, when I find out, you will change your ways to take money out of my pocket."

He Rong: "You don't have a sweetheart now, what are you saving so much money for, you have to enjoy yourself in time in life, like Song Yun, although I don't like his dandyism, but he also has his own experience when it comes to having fun."

He Zhan: "Do you want me to go to Nanlufang to buy Xiao Meiniang's first night like him?"

He Rong: "If you can afford it, I won't stop you."

The sun was not shining in early summer, and the two walked along the bustling crowd.

The world is full of fireworks, and my heart is warm and lazy.

……

After the summer solstice, everything is the same as before. The He family went to school, and those on duty. He Tai's errands in the Ministry of Industry gradually got on the right track. He was finally able to barely deal with those cumbersome paperwork, so he wouldn't be so overwhelmed. .

The position of Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry is currently vacant. The two ministers had been fighting openly and secretly for the position of Shangshu. Although He Tai was not a Shangshu, the emperor suddenly sent him to the Ministry of Industry. The meaning is undoubtedly very clear.

He Tai has not been in contact with government affairs for a long time, and he was inevitably in a hurry when he first took office. The people under him did not think that the eldest son of the emperor could do a good job, and they secretly thought of watching a joke. After the last conversation, He Tai was really motivated to fight. He gritted his teeth and insisted on getting through the most difficult period at the beginning. Some people who follow the wind, or those who don't want to get involved in the game between the two servants, They also took the opportunity to get closer to the eldest son of the emperor. Now in the Ministry of Industry, He Tai has at least a few people who are willing to obey orders, and it is no longer as difficult as before.

This is indeed a good thing for the He family. No matter how capable He Mu and the others are, it is impossible for them to replace their father to run errands. Since his father is reliable, everyone can breathe a sigh of relief and stop worrying.

During this period, He Tai was rewarded and appreciated by the emperor for his two suggestions of strengthening the defense of the capital city wall and repairing the suburban palaces to the emperor, saying that he "does his work with sincerity and is diligent."

Song Yun made trouble for He Zhan several times in the imperial army, He Zhen also fought with He Mu and the others in the Chongwen Museum, but the emperor knew about it, not only lightly exposed it, but also asked Song Zhaoyi to remind the Song family and let them teach them well My son, please abide by the rules in the army.Afterwards, not only did the Song family not dare to trouble Duke Lu's mansion, Song Yun's father, Duke Qiao, had to bring Song Yun to the door to apologize in person.

Only then did Li Suian understand the deep meaning of what my aunt said at the gate of Hongfu Temple that day: If you don’t look at the face of the monk, you must also look at the face of the Buddha. However, even if she is the granddaughter of Princess Yiyang, she will still be scolded mercilessly, and will be used by the emperor as the "chicken" to "kill" chickens and monkeys.

Duke Lu gradually gained a firm foothold in the capital. No matter what everyone thought behind their backs, no one dared to challenge him face to face.

However, for He Tai himself, this year may be a good year, but not for the imperial court.

Shortly after Xiao Yu sent someone to submit the letter of credence, he married the sister of the Eastern Turkic Fu Nian Khan, and the two sides formed a marriage alliance.

When the news came, He Rong knew that the time was right for him to go to the Western Turks.

Sure enough, two days later, Ma Hong personally went to Duke Lu's mansion to announce the decree, summoning He to integrate into the palace.

……

This time entering the palace was already psychologically prepared, unlike last time when it was completely bottomless, He Rong was much calmer in his heart.

The emperor's face was indiscriminate, appearing to be deeper than last time, but He Rong knew it was not because of himself.

When he stepped into the Zichen Palace, the emperor was concentrating on reviewing the memorials, and he was moving his pen very fast. Ma Hong didn't dare to disturb him. The two of them just stood like this for half an hour, until the emperor raised his head: "Why didn't you say anything when you came?"

Ma Hong hurriedly asked the palace servants to come over to change the tea, he held it up and said: "I'm afraid I'll disturb you, Your Majesty, take a break."

The emperor pointed He Rong with his finger: "Give me a seat."

Then he said to Ma Hong: "Serve Saburo with tea too."

He Rong saluted and took his seat, waiting for the emperor to ask questions.

The emperor's eyes lingered on the bamboo stick he put down for a moment before moving away: "How sure are you about forming an alliance with the Western Turks?"

He Rong: "Reporting to Your Majesty, to be honest, I'm not even half sure, but I will do my best."

The emperor smiled slightly: "You are sincere."

When He Rong came up with this idea at first, the emperor felt that his eyes were bright, but he didn't take it too seriously, but as the situation changed, this idea became more and more feasible.

Xiao Yu is full of ambitions, and Fu Nian Khan is even more inconvenient. The marriage of the two, needless to say, is definitely aimed at the Central Plains.Maybe Fu Nian agreed to Xiao Yu's conditions in private, to help him open the border, disperse the court's troops and so on.

The emperor couldn't sit still anymore, it was too late to mention the matter of marriage now, and it was even more impossible for the court to recognize the legitimacy of Xiao Yu's regime.

To fight, or not to fight, there are only two ways.

It's not that the imperial court can't afford to fight now, but if it wants to win, it must be a disastrous victory that will drain the treasury. The emperor is unwilling to sit back and watch Xiao Yu grow stronger, so He Rong's proposal is put on the table again.

More and more people feel that this whimsical idea is actually not so whimsical.

Emperor: "These days, I have also sent people to collect news from Western Turks. Princess Zhending does have a certain status over there, and she is the only Ketun of Moli Khan. However, Moli is old, and the internal affairs of Western Turks Among them, Luji and Jialuo are the most powerful competitors. Even if we form an alliance with Moli, if Moli dies soon, such an alliance will not be reliable."

Seeing that He Rong was listening seriously, he asked, "What are your plans after you go?"

He Rong thought for a while: "Princess Zhending must have thought of what the court thought of. No matter who becomes the new khan, it is related to her future life and future. Princess Zhending should have someone she supports. If she can get along with Zhending When the princess comes into contact with her, let's see what she means first, and then plan other things."

The emperor nodded secretly, it was a good thing that He Rong did not aim too high.

The imperial court had no official contacts with the Turks for a long time, and knew very little about the Western Turks. Many things had to go there to adapt to the situation, and it was useless to say more.

Emperor: "If you are allowed to go, what request do you have?"

He Rong said: "I implore Your Majesty to send some people to accompany you."

The emperor nodded: "Of course, I will send a hundred forbidden troops to accompany you. There are many winds and sands outside the Great Wall, and you have traveled thousands of miles, so it is inevitable that you will not be acclimatized. A formal official position can only be learned from a famous teacher, and there is still a vacant position of Shaoqing in Honglu Temple, how about going from the fourth rank to the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple?"

Coincidentally, Xue Tan was working in Honglu Temple, and now He Rong descended from the sky and became his immediate boss, he could take people away directly, and there was no need to ask for instructions.

He Rong: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

In fact, no matter how high the official position is, how high the official position is, for him at the moment, it is just a status that can legitimately deal with the Western Turks. Now even if he is named king and duke, it will be useless if he dies and comes back.

Emperor: "There are many variables in this trip. I will give you the right to act cheaply. You can also appoint the deputy envoy. But you must remember what you said before. Your surname is He. No matter what, no matter when and where, Don't do things that insult the imperial court and the country and the country."

He Rong cupped his hands: "Yes."

The emperor raised his hand, and Ma Hong stepped forward with his sword.

He Rong took the sword with both hands. The scabbard looked unpretentious at first glance, but it was made of high-quality shark skin. He pulled out a portion of the sword, but saw the word "Yu" engraved on the sharp sword.

The emperor said: "Yu, it's my name. This sword is called the Hanguang Sword. It was used by me in my early years. Now I borrow it from you so that you can protect yourself and prove your identity when necessary."

He Rong understood that the emperor gave this sword with another purpose, which was to let him cut it off when he had to, so as not to insult the reputation of the Tian family and the court.

"The minister should lean on the sword and reflect on himself, and live up to the grace of my emperor." He said in a deep voice.

The emperor watched him deeply.

Not all of the emperor's impressions of his grandchildren were deep. He Zhen, the son of King Qi, had often entered the palace since he was a child. He was seven to eight points like King Qi, not bad, but he was not the best in the emperor's mind. .

Before He Tai's family entered Beijing, he did not pay much attention to the emperor's grandchildren, but when He Tai's sons stood in front of him, the emperor suddenly discovered that these years of suffering not only made the eldest son grow up Well, even the eldest son He Mu and the others are more stable than the other grandsons who grew up in honey pots.

It is not so much that the children of the poor can start a family early, it is better to say that suffering can make a person grow faster.

He Rong is very smart, he knows the elegance of the stringed songs, and he has enough courage to take action, no matter whether the result is successful or not, at least it will not be reduced to empty talk, the emperor thought so.

If the prince...

The emperor sighed slightly and silently, and his tone became much softer, like a real grandfather talking to his grandson: "I remember, your birthday is in July?"

He Rong: "Yes."

Emperor: "I'm afraid you're still on the road on the day of your birthday. This year's crowning ceremony should be held earlier. Has your father made a sign for you?"

He Rong: "Go back to Your Majesty, not yet."

Emperor: "Then how about I make one for you?"

Ma Hong was slightly moved.Among the emperor's grandsons, so far no one has been able to get the emperor's bestowal.

Among the emperors and grandchildren, only He Rong has this honor. Of course, this is also the reason why he is about to travel far, and this trip is full of dangers.

Naturally, He Rong had no objection: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The emperor picked up the pen, and Ma Hong hurriedly stepped forward to study the ink, but seeing the emperor thought for a moment, he swiped the brush.

"I have drawn up two watch characters for you, you can choose one."

Ma Hong held two wet papers in front of He Rong.

The emperor: "The one who is in harmony, is harmonious, helps each other, and the world is peaceful. This is the way of a gentleman, and it is also the way of being a human being."

He Rong looked away from "Jihe" and landed on another "Zhenguan".

The way of heaven and earth is also for those who watch the world.Chastity is persevering, and observation is enlightenment. Heaven and earth often hang down images to show people, so it is Zhenguan.

He lowered his eyes and had a choice in his mind: "Your Majesty, I want Zhenguan."

The emperor chewed for a while, then nodded slightly: "He Zhenguan, it's easy to say."

In fact, Huangsun's name is not commonly used. The elders usually call ranking, and outsiders generally dare not directly call their Biaozi, but for them, Biaozi is the meaning that accompanies a lifetime, as if it is also closely related to fate.

The emperor also thought that He Rong should choose "Zhenguan" instead of "Jihe", and was not surprised by his choice.

He nodded to Mahon, who immediately understood and brought another box.

The emperor opened it, took out a jade pendant from inside, got up and walked to He Rong, and put it on He Rong's waist himself.

"Every child of the royal family will have their own jade plaques, which represent your identities. After Lu Guogong resumed his status, Zongzheng Temple has already prepared your jade plaques. Your piece, I wanted to wait for you to crown it." I'll give it to you again when the ceremony is over."

The emperor patted He Rong on the shoulder. Although the latter had foot problems, he still stood up straight. This satisfied the emperor, but also felt a little regretful.

It's not regretting the other party's disability, but regretting that such a smart child is about to leave Beijing and go to a distant place where life and death are uncertain.

The emperor will not change his decision, but he will inevitably cherish his talents.

……

The news that He Rong was appointed as the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple and that he was about to go on an envoy to Western Turks quickly spread.

Many people were surprised, surprised that the emperor was really willing to let the emperor's grandson go out to die, and some people said that the Duke of Lu was not favored in the first place, and the envoy was a cripple who never grew up in the capital. He doesn't have any feelings of grandparents, so naturally it won't be a pity.

I heard that the emperor was going to send a hundred imperial troops to accompany him. Many people who had children serving in the imperial army were terrified. They wished they could immediately take their children home and hide them, but who the emperor wants to let go is a great grace of the emperor. Anyway, many people have no choice but to privately ask their juniors not to perform so well in the Imperial Army recently, so as not to be picked away, and it will be too late to cry.

But there was an episode during this period. Princess Qi's younger brother, Song Yun who often had trouble with He Zhan, actually took the initiative to ask the general in charge of the Imperial Army, Ji Zuo, to accompany the Western Turks, which scared his father Qiao. The Duke immediately approached Ji Cuo and told him not to report these words to His Majesty, as if he had never heard of these words. If His Majesty, Longyan Dayue, really agreed, then their Song family would be wiped out.

Qiao Guogong wanted his son to practice in the army, but he didn't want him to die. It is said that after Song Yun knew about it, the boss was unhappy and made a big fuss at home.

Besides, He Mu and the others were naturally worried about their younger brother when they received He Rong's mission.Hearing that it was cold outside the Great Wall, He Mu specially asked his wife to make many knee pads for He Rong to use on the road; He Xiu took out the furs he had hunted in the mountains before, and He Jia sewed a cloak for him. He Rong; even Qilang He Xi, who usually doesn't talk much, bought He Rong some long-lasting dried meat for him to eat on the road.

In fact, these imperial courts would make preparations, and the emperor would not be mean to his grandson, but He Rong still did not refuse the brothers' wishes, and accepted them one by one.

The most ridiculous thing is Shiro He Xi, who asked for various peace symbols in Buddhist temples and Taoist temples in the capital, and gave He Rong all his brains, saying that it would be more effective because of the blessings of the gods and Buddhas in the sky.

Half a month before departure, on a certain day, He Tai approached He Rong, with a serious expression on his face: "The imperial court has prepared everything for you, your majesty also told me about your crown ceremony, Although it was in advance, all matters were prepared by the Ministry of Rituals, which was extremely grand and regarded as a kindness. After thinking about it for my father, there is only one thing that I can't worry about."

He Rong was puzzled: "Please tell my father clearly."

He had a feeling of foreboding.

Sure enough, He Tai said: "Before in Zhushan, your marriage was delayed. Now that you go, it's not good if you don't stay behind. I found a marriage for you for your father. You can get married first before you leave. .”

He Rong: "..."

This is really a dear father, are you cursing him or doing it for his own good?