Linzhi

Mrs. Gao has been taciturn since she was rescued, Xue Tan was not in the mood to ask her, and handed him over to Gu Yu directly.

When Gu Yu saw her, she frowned: "Madam Gao may still be injured, why don't you find a medical lady to take a look?"

Xue Tan touched his nose: "It's not easy to find a medical girl in this city, is it?"

Mrs. Gao said: "I don't need a doctor girl anymore, I'm fine, thank you."

Gu Yu glared at Xue Tan: "When I felt her pulse just now, I found that she suffered internal injuries. Didn't Shaoqing ask you to take care of her?"

Xue Tan surrendered: "Okay, I'll go find it!"

After the medical girl came to help Mrs. Gao see the injury, and Gu Yu prescribed the medicine, He Rong and He Rong came back.

Xue Tan wondered, "Come back so soon?"

He Zhan: "Is it possible to leave a meal before returning? Are you afraid that we will disturb your solitude with that tall lady?"

Xue Tan smiled wryly: "Don't make fun of me, I was also soft-hearted for a while, who would have brought back a trouble."

He Zhan: "What? Could it be that she has a fake background?"

Xue Tan said depressedly: "How do I know her life experience? After she arrived at the post house, she refused to say a word, like a gourd with a mouthful of mouth."

He Rong: "You call her over."

Gao Shi was quickly called over.

After washing, she changed her clothes. Although her face was still bruised, she looked much cleaner and tidier.

He Rong said: "Tell me all about your life experience."

She curtsied and saluted, and she did not say a word like she did when facing Xue Tan.

Mrs. Gao is not from the local area. She was born in poverty and has forgotten who her parents are. She was sold to the Zhang family as a child bride-in-law when she was very young. .

But Gao's mother-in-law, that is, Pu, the middle-aged woman who led people to chase Gao, looked at Gao from left to right, and looked for opportunities to make things difficult. Last year, Pu's youngest son, who was going to marry Gao The young man fell ill and eventually passed away. Mrs. Pu believed that Mrs. Gao had forced her son to do so, and made things worse. She always asked Mrs. Gao to do this and that, and later wanted to remarry Mrs. Gao, but Mrs. Gao refused to obey him. The two sides have stalemate until now, the Pu clan has no patience, he doesn't know what benefits he promised the Zhang clan, the clan actually sent people to help, and wanted to tie the Gao clan directly to the man's house.

All the men present were men, and they had never experienced the fighting methods between women in the inner house. Xue Tan asked, "You were abused in the Zhang family, and you didn't know your parents, so you couldn't go back to your mother's house. If you can remarry, wouldn't you be free from the sea of ​​suffering?"

Gao said indifferently: "Dowry, they want to sell me for another sum of money. I would rather go to the temple to be an aunt, but they refuse."

If she hadn't been born in a noble family and was well-loved, the fate of her daughter's family would have been like floating weeds, and it all depended on God's favor or not.

Obviously, Gao Shi is not in this lucky range.

He Rong: "Whether what you said is true or not, I will send someone to verify it."

Gao: "Everything my concubine said is true, and there is absolutely no falsehood!"

He Rong: "Then what are your plans now?"

Kneeling and kowtowing, Mrs. Gao said, "My concubine can't repay your kindness for saving my life. I'm willing to follow my husband and be like an ox or a horse."

He Zhan couldn't help raising his eyebrows: "You feel unbearable when you are a cow and a horse in the Zhang family, why are you willing to be a cow and a horse by our side?"

Mrs. Gao: "My concubine has never lived with these gentlemen, but you are willing to act out of righteousness. It can be seen that there is a world of difference with the Pu family. I know that even doing the most humble work by the side of several gentlemen is better than staying in the Zhang family. good."

He Zhan smiled: "You are a sensible person!"

Mrs. Gao didn't seem to understand He Zhan's sarcasm: "If you come back to my lord, my concubine is not afraid of death. As early as when her fiancé died of illness, my concubine wanted to follow her away. It was Mrs. Pu who refused to let me. I am afraid that I would die even if I wanted to. It's worse than death."

He Rong suddenly asked: "Have you ever read?"

Finally, a trace of mourning appeared on Gao's face: "My fiancé has studied ethnology, and sometimes he would teach my concubine how to read and write in private. As time goes by, my concubine also has a little proficiency in writing."

He Rong hummed: "Think about it, if you want to follow me, it may be more dangerous than being a cow and a horse, and it will be too late for you to regret it at that time."

Gao Shi: "Yes, my concubine understands."

He Rong waved her hand and told her to go down to rest and recuperate.

He Zhan was very puzzled: "Third brother, why is this woman worthy of you keeping her?"

Xue Tan chuckled: "You are young, no wonder you don't understand, this Gao family, although his nose is bruised and his face is swollen, he doesn't look good now, but when his face recovers from the injury, he should be pretty, so it's not a good thing to be around. Maid?"

He Rong glanced at him: "In your eyes, am I such a womanizer?"

Xue Tan: "It doesn't look like it."

He deliberately paused, "But as the saying goes, a man with a beast's face is a gentle scum."

He Rong picked up the bamboo stick at hand and was about to beat him, but Xue Tan stepped aside and shouted, "He Shaoqing, you are abusing your subordinates!"

As soon as he finished speaking, He Zhan slapped him on the waist. Xue Tan screamed in pain, supported his waist and said in aggrieved way: "If you don't wear such a thing, you will bully the weak in partnership..."

He Zhan smirked: "Just you, who is five big and three thick, with a waist bigger than my third brother, and still weak?"

He Rong: "Okay, stop making trouble, Goro, tell Yu Shen what we found out at the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce."

Regarding the internal situation of the Western Turks, it is actually difficult for anyone to say clearly, but at this time in the past, Moli Khan's Ke Dun and Princess Zhending would let the caravans bring the most famous rouge powder in the Central Plains to the royal court. Send people to buy, but this year, the caravan did not see the people sent by Princess Zhending, and naturally lost a lot of income.

This situation is of course unusual, so many people have various speculations. Some say that Princess Zhending has fallen out of favor, and some say that Moli Khan may be in poor health, which makes Princess Zhending care less about dressing up. It is also said that Princess Zhending offended Khan and was executed.

"In this way, our plan to seek an interview with Moli Khan as an official mission may have to be changed." He Rong said.

Xue Tan: "As early as the time when the previous dynasty perished, Princess Zhending was worthless and should have been the easiest to be abandoned, but not only was she safe and sound, she also defeated all the other women around Moli Khan, so I don’t think anything will happen to Princess Zhending, she has been married to Turkic for decades, if she doesn’t even have this ability, her grave will be several feet high.”

He Rong: "After Yang Jun opened the 'Moshangxiang' that sells rouge and gouache, I realized that rouge and gouache, hairpin and silk flowers are indispensable for women. Women want to please themselves. No man says she is beautiful, but these things are always in the hearts of women. She must not only be a woman, but also a princess of a country. She loves beauty more than ordinary women, so she will let the businessmen in the Central Plains pass every year. Carrying rouge for her for decades, but suddenly cut off this year, if there were no internal changes in West Turkic, it really cannot be explained."

Xue Tan: "What do you want to do?"

He Rong: "From the previous dynasty to the present, there are not many palace maids who have survived, but it is not impossible. Some even continue to serve the nobles in this dynasty. Before I left, I asked Your Majesty to find several palace maids from the previous dynasty. One of them used to serve the nobles. Princess Zhending and her older sister, Princess Xiangyang."

Xue Tan: "You want someone to pretend to be that palace man..."

He suddenly thought of Gao Shi just now, and suddenly said: "Is this the purpose of you keeping Gao Shi?"

He Zhan: "No! Judging by his age, Mrs. Gao can't pretend to be that palace man."

He Rong: "The palace man never married and died in the palace in the end, but Princess Zhending didn't know this, because that palace man hadn't reached the age when she married outside the Great Wall, so Gao could pretend to be the other party's wife. Descendants also serve as errands in the palace."

He Zhan frowned: "Third brother, we only met Gao Shi for the first time today, and we don't know her details at all. Even if what she said is true, what about a woman who grew up in a border town and has no knowledge?" Are you qualified for this job? Western Turkic is not an ordinary place, if someone finds out, it will be troublesome for us!"

He Rong: "Originally, if Wen Jiang could come with us, she would be the most suitable candidate, but now, we have changed our plan and have to hold Buddha's feet temporarily. Gao has experienced life and death, and she is more courageous than ordinary women , if she can't finish it, others can't, then I can only think of other ways."

Gao dared to ask them for help, took the initiative to attack, responded fluently, and had subtle observation skills. More importantly, she had the courage to die and live later. Only those who have survived the most dangerous and difficult moments can understand. From then on, as long as you can move forward step by step, you don't have to look back, there is nothing to be timid about.

In Gao Shi, he seemed to see his former self.

If Gao Shi has that ability, he doesn't mind helping the other party.

The three of them agreed to do what they said, so He Zhan went directly to Zhangye's county magistrate, and after a search, he found out that what the Gao family said was indeed true, and the Zhang family was indeed one of the best surnames in the city, that's why the Pu family was able to bring so many people. The Zhang family chased after the Gao family.

The family Pu wanted Gao to marry to, although the family was well-off, the owner's temper was not very good. It is said that they often abused their maidservants and concubines at home. If Mrs. Gao married that day, her fate would be even worse than now. No wonder she worked so hard to ask He Rong and the others to keep her.

That day Pu family and Zhang family children were beaten up by He Zhan, and the more people went back, the more they thought about it, the more they became annoyed. Judging from the accent, He Rong and the others were foreigners, so they planned to go back and recruit people to settle accounts with them. Who knew that after inquiring, they found out that He Rong Rong and his group are of extraordinary status, they are actually members of the official family, they are not something they can easily provoke.But Mrs. Pu refused to give up, and even sued the county government, saying that He Rong and the others had robbed the women.

Back then, Gao's fiancé was seriously ill and knew that his life was not long, so he stole Gao's deed of sale from his mother and quietly handed it over to Gao for safekeeping. , unable to prove that she was her own servant, and because there was no marriage certificate between the Gao family and the Zhang family, there was no way to prove the relationship. He was severely beaten by the county magistrate.

These are all later stories.

He Rong called Gao Shi over, straight to the point, revealed her identity, and said what she needed to do, and finally said: "Princess Zhending is the most important person in our trip, your every word and deed , will be directly related to whether she trusts us, and it is related to the safety of our group. If you can't do it, dare not do it, say it now, I won't let you go back to Zhang's house, I will let the governor of Ganzhou arrange it for you A proper shelter, you can also go south with the caravan to find a temple and Taoist temple, and be your Taoist nun, without being disturbed by the world."

Gao was silent for a while, and said: "Thank you, sir, I am willing to do my best, and please give me a chance."

Her tone was soft but firm.

He Rong raised his eyebrows: "Even if you don't have to go back to Zhang's house, you still want to take risks with us? Just to repay your kindness?"

Mrs. Gao: "Lang Jun's enlightenment is not only for repaying kindness, but also for oneself. If it is all for repaying kindness, Lang Jun will definitely laugh at my hypocrisy. I have been lonely and homeless since I was a child, all because I can't be my own master. Now I am lucky enough to meet a few people. Sir, just now I saw a glimmer of hope for change, so I am willing to work hard to do what you have asked me to do."

He Rong said lightly: "It's a good thing that you are self-motivated, but don't turn self-motivation into unrealistic ambitions. Especially for this errand, you won't be allowed to make any mistakes. If in the end, we can return safely and finish On an errand, I will take you back to Chang'an, ask for credit for you in front of His Majesty, and give you gold, silver and a mansion, so that those who once regarded you as cheap mud will know that even if you were once a slave, you may not be able to have your own. the day of its birth."

Gao kowtowed deeply: "Yes!"

……

Now that this matter has been settled, all that remains is to train Gao.

This "glorious and great" task was handed over to Xue Tan.

He Rong left early and returned late every day, either to visit the caravan returning from the Western Regions, or to meet the governor Liang Yu, but he refused to stay in the post house, and even pretended to leave a quiet place for Xue Tan and the others.

He Zhan followed the third brother in and out, or took the hundred guards for morning and evening exercises, and the days were also full.

After a few days, Xue Tan finally couldn't help protesting: "He Shaoqing, can you spare a few days and come to help?"

He Rong was surprised: "Ms. Gao is a weak woman who has no strength to restrain a chicken. You can't train her well?"

Xue Tan smiled wryly: "Gao's comprehension is good, and she can basically remember the things I told her, but I still feel that it is not enough. After all, this is related to the success or failure of our trip. But I’m so worried that I almost quit drinking!”

He Rong: "I'm almost quitting, that is, I haven't quit completely, and I think it's okay."

Xue Tan's face twitched, and if he was told to quit drinking completely, what fun would there be in life?

He Rong: "Do you think I've been playing around these days? I've already inquired and made contact. There is a caravan that is going to the Western Turkic Court next month. We happen to be with them. To the outside world, I will pretend to be Gao's." Brother, you are the merchant from Chang'an who wants to bring the earthen ceremony to Princess Zhending, and I have prepared everything for you."

He Zhan happened to come in from the outside. He was sweating profusely after the practice. Hearing what He Rong said, he asked casually, "What about me?"

He Rong: "You stay here."

He Zhan thought he was joking, but he didn't take it seriously, took the handkerchief from He Rong, wiped his sweat and said with a smile: "Everyone else is going, leave me to look after the house?"

Seeing this, Xue Tan gave He Rong a look: Why haven't you told him yet?

He Rong rubbed his brows, he hadn't figured out how to tell He Zhan yet.

He Zhan didn't wait for the third brother's answer, but saw the two of them exchange eyes, and his heart sank: "Third brother, were you joking just now?"

He Rong coughed lightly: "It's not a joke, not only will you not be taken, but the hundred guards, and Gu Yu, you all stay in Zhangye City, only me and Xue Tangao's three go."

He Zhan exploded immediately: "How can it be done! I don't agree!"

He was furious, so angry that even his usual smiling face turned into a gloomy face: "Third brother, I followed you all the way here, and you treat me like this? In your eyes, I am so afraid of death?"

He Rong took his hand: "Sit down first, I will talk to you slowly."

He Zhan shook off: "Long story short!"

Xue Tan was dumbfounded, he never expected that He Wulang, who usually obeyed his third brother's advice and followed suit, would look like the king of Hades.

He Rong: "Okay then, let Yushen talk to you."

Xue Tan: "..."

why me?Why me again?

Facing He Zhan's two eyes that were about to burn through his body, Xue Tan gave He Rong a resentful look, and said, "Actually, in the past two days, we have imagined what might happen to Western Turks now, and there are nothing more than two: one is real. Princess Ding still has a considerable status and identity in Western Turkic. You also know that the Queen of Western Turkic, that is, Ke Dun, can participate in politics. It’s not difficult for her to help us bridge the gap.”

"But there is another situation. It is very likely that Princess Zhending has encountered an accident, or has lost the corresponding power. Then we cannot directly find Princess Zhending. Your Majesty said that the interior of Western Turks is now the most likely The two successors to the position of Khan are Lu Ji and Jia Luo, if we encounter this situation, we have to adapt to the situation and seek a breakthrough from those two successors, no matter what, we will always find a suitable opportunity."

He Zhan didn't look at Xue Tan, but still stared at He Rong coldly: "What does that have to do with not letting me go?"

Seeing that He Rong didn't intend to answer, Xue Tan could only continue: "The Turkic people grew up on horseback. It is common for them to plunder and fight wars. We are going to mix in the caravan and bring you, or one of the guards." Any one of them will soon be noticed by the Turkic people, because your words and deeds are not like ordinary merchants, especially you."

He Zhan looked at Xue Tan suddenly, with a bit of fierceness in his eyes: "What's wrong with me?"

He Rong: "You have seen blood. Others may not be able to see the fierceness in your body, but how can the Turkic people who also live on the tip of their swords not be able to see it?"

He Zhan said in a low voice, "Master Gao can learn, so can I!"

He Rong said solemnly: "Wulang, it is impossible for us to bring all one hundred imperial troops with us, so we need someone to guard the city and respond. This person can only be you. Although Chen Qian is the deputy commander, his courage and identity are not enough. , you are the grandson of the emperor, more deterrent, you must practice every day, don't slacken your force, maybe one day we will need your help."

He Zhan only felt a slight lump in his throat, and could not speak a word.

He Rong: "Yushen, you go out first."

Xue Tan hurriedly got up and left.

Without outsiders, He Zhan pursed his mouth and said aggrievedly: "Third Brother, I don't want you to die... Ouch!"

His head was hit by He Rong: "Give me your crow's mouth."

But He Zhan couldn't laugh at all, he hugged He Rong, feeling very depressed: "Third brother!"

He Rong couldn't help but laugh, why did the more he lived, the more he went back?

But he still had to pat the other person on the back, coaxing: "You know now, I didn't mean to refuse to take you with you, it's a good thing you came with me, otherwise I wouldn't be at ease if someone else stayed behind. We had an accident over there, and we will have to rely on you to save us when the time comes, you must be mentally prepared."

He Zhan whimpered for a while, then let go of him, and wiped away the moisture from the corners of his eyes, a little embarrassed: "My eyes are probably blinded by the wind and sand outside."

He Rong said solemnly, "Well, this wind and sand is really big enough."