Linzhi

During Gao's two years in Western Turkic, her skin tone became darker, but she did not conceal her original beautiful outline. Looking closely, she was not bad in appearance.

Moreover, after Xue Tan's on-the-spot training before going to Western Turks, her speech and behavior are no longer like ordinary Xiaojiabiyu. If it is said that she is from a wealthy family, some people will believe it.

Gao's family background is humble, her parents died, and she was a servant in other people's family. Naturally, with such an identity, it is impossible for her to be the emperor's concubine, but if He Rong likes it, take her into the house, or report to the emperor and make her a side concubine. It is still possible to take credit for Gao's achievements.

Everyone looked at He Rong, then at Gao Shi, and quickly imagined a scene where a lonely man and a widow lived and died together outside the Great Wall, and the lovers finally got married, with tacit smiles on their faces.

He Rong was at a loss: "What? Is it inconvenient?"

Pei smiled and said, "No, I've already sent people to clean and arrange. Let's have dinner first. If Mrs. Gao needs to do anything else, just tell me."

Gao Shi understood somewhat, but he didn't tell the truth, so he couldn't take the initiative to bring it up.

She couldn't help but glanced at He Rong, feeling a little uneasy in her heart, forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Princess."

Feeling more and more that her guess was right, Mrs. Pei took Mrs. Gao's hand, and said kindly: "You are welcome, Saburo did not treat you as an outsider, and we will not treat you as an outsider. From now on, this Lu Palace will be your home. Just be casual, I will send two maidservants over later, if you are not satisfied, please tell me."

They chattered about the women's housework in the back, but He Rong didn't pay attention, and went in with his brothers for dinner.

He Zhan was going to have dinner after washing up, but he didn't know that the sleepiness suddenly appeared. He didn't even dry his hair, and fell asleep with his head wet, thinking that he would be able to catch up with the banquet when he woke up after a short nap. Who knows that this sleep will make people and affairs unknown.

When he woke up and saw the bright sky outside the house, he thought it was evening, and called the maid to ask, only to find out that it was already the second day.

He Zhan was very displeased: "Why didn't you wake me up?"

This maid entered the mansion one after another after He Tai became king. When she was assigned to serve He Zhan, she was envied by other maids, because they heard that Mr. Wulang of Lu Wang's family had made great achievements at a young age and was not yet married. If you can get blue eyes and live in the house, you are really lucky.

When He Zhan returned home yesterday, how many people were secretly moved by his heroic body that could not be covered by dust. Although in terms of appearance, Mr. He Sanlang is even better, but he has a leg and foot disease. Compared with He Wu A little weak, when a young girl's heart sprouts, she prefers a heroic man like He Wu.

This maid entered the mansion not long ago, and she didn't dare to have any other thoughts. She just asked not to offend the master, and food and clothing are enough for the day. Hearing this, she cautiously said: "I saw that you were sleeping soundly yesterday, so the maid will return it. Mistress Said that you are tired from the journey, let you continue to sleep, and Mr. Sanlang will come to see you later."

He Zhan's displeasure eased slightly: "Third Brother, did you leave a message?"

The maid felt that the pressure had suddenly disappeared, and finished her sentence in one breath: "Mr. Sanlang said that if you go to bed early, you must wake up early. Let the maid instruct the small kitchen to make breakfast for you first, and you don't have to wait for everyone else to get up to eat together. Mr. Sanlang also said that you might not be able to stay idle today, so you ran to Beiya, and if you don't get up after Maoshi, I will wake you up."

He Zhan showed a smile: "The third brother knows me best, and breakfast is ready?"

"Yes, the servant girl will present it right away, sir, wait a moment."

Seeing his smiling face, the maid breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly turned around to go out to get breakfast, thinking that Mr. Wulang looked friendly, but when he was serious, he was still scary. Those who wanted to climb high branches didn't know what they were thinking. As her, I would rather marry a down-to-earth and hard-working man, and have an ordinary life.

However, after He Rong, He Zhan and others returned to Beijing, it took two full days to stretch out their clothes and open their mouths for meals. Everyone was used to being busy, either on the road or fighting, and they were not used to being idle all of a sudden.

There is no need to wait for the emperor to formally confer the title, everyone knows that He Rong and the others will be rewarded generously this time, and they are all moved upon hearing the news. He Rong was so disturbed by the invitation from the aristocratic family that he didn't see anyone at all, he just claimed to be sick and stayed behind closed doors, while He Zhan went out early and returned late every day, spending time in the Beiya, and the other party couldn't go to the imperial city to find him , and finally can only block other people.

As one of the accompanying officials, Xue Tan was a poor little unknown before leaving Beijing, but now he is famous in the capital, and he is no less popular than He Rong and the others.

He used to live alone as a separate family, but now he has an advantage in choosing a son-in-law for a family with a daughter, because Xue Tan's mother died young, and he doesn't live with his parents, which means that he doesn't have to wait for him after he gets married. In-laws, old and young couples live behind closed doors.

Besides, Xue's father did not publicly claim to drive his son out of the house. If Xue Tan wanted to go back, he could still go back.

He Rong and He Zhan are the grandsons of the emperor, and the emperor and the king of Lu are in the marriage, so others can't point fingers, but Xue Tan is different. He has a bright future like him. The sons of noble families who rely on the shadow of their ancestors to become officials are more capable and have a more stable foothold.

I just feel sorry for Xue Tan, he has to face countless matchmakers as soon as he returns home, and some even start from his father, persuade Xue Tan's father to come over and persuade him to get married.

Xue Tan is a person who pursues life a little bit. He doesn't want to be forced into a wife for no reason, and he can't slap the table with his father and quarrel with his eyes. For this reason, he has to hide in the yamen, or even stay overnight in Honglu Once he was wandering around the Honglu Temple in the middle of the night, the guards at the gate thought he was a thief, and chased him several times with a knife.

These are all things for later, let's talk about that after three days after everyone came back, they entered the palace to see His Majesty according to the regulations, and all the hundred guards who accompanied him that day, all had to see the face of the sky and be rewarded by the emperor.

The emperor did not ask the Minister of Rites to confer the title with the imperial decree when they returned to Beijing. Many people privately speculated that the emperor might increase the reward standard, and He Rong, who deserved the most credit, even if he was conferred the title of King Lu’s son on business, It's not impossible. After all, the six sons of Prince Lu are all concubines. Although He Mu is the eldest son, he is not outstanding.

But there are also people who bring up the past, taking the Bingshen rebellion case as an example, thinking that He Rong's biological mother was charged with crimes until her death, and that the old things involved the former prince. This is the emperor's rebellion. Excellent, the credit is inferior after all, maybe it is not as good as He Zhan when it was canonized.

Such discussions abound, and even He Mu has heard some rumors. After the joy of reunion after a long absence fades away, looking at He Rong again, I feel a little uncomfortable.

But Emperor Wende was never an emperor who would obediently follow other people's guesses.

Soon, the canonization of He Rong and others spread from the palace.

He Rong named An Guogong, gave him a mansion, and entered the court to discuss government affairs.He Zhan was granted the title of Marquis of Xingguo, bestowed upon him by the government, promoted General Yulin Qianniu, and led the guards of Yulin.Xue Tanqian's minister of rites, doctor Jiayin Qing Guanglu, and his biological mother who died early also received a five-rank imperial order.Chen Qian promoted Yubayashi Zhonglang General, Jia Zhongwu General, and Assistant Leader Yubayashi Wei.

Everyone else also has their own rewards.

Many people were astonished. They never expected that the emperor would be so generous. He canonized one duke and one marquis at a time, and sent two houses out.

But when they looked back, they found that they were restricted by their inherent thinking. They felt that He Rong and He Zhan could only be confined to the Lu Palace, and that He Rong's biological mother had been guilty so far, and the emperor would definitely not reuse him. Unexpectedly, he did not follow the old pattern, and opened up another way out.

He Rong and He Zhan are both princes and have their own residence. Even if they get married and have children in the future, they don't have to be trapped in the King of Lu. Internally, He Mu suddenly lost two potential competitors. From the outside, with the two sons He Rong and He Zhan escorting the King of Lu, as long as the King of Lu does not cause any rebellious disasters, the throne will be as stable as Mount Tai, and it is even possible to go further.

Now among the three kings, He Tai came from behind, the father is more valuable than the son, and he faintly became the hottest candidate for the throne.

This result, I am afraid that He Tai, who was living in Fangzhou and only wanted to save his life, did not expect it.

There is no vacant Duke's mansion in the capital now, but there are two that are not regulated by the Duke. One is said to have lived in the natal family of a favored concubine of the last emperor of the previous dynasty. The rebels swarmed into Miyagi and ravaged the emperor's concubine to death. Her family was also captured and beaten to death by rioters.

The other one is on the opposite side. The first owner was a prime minister in the middle of the previous dynasty. Later, several owners were changed. At the end of the previous dynasty, when the dynasty changed, it was occupied by a rebel general. As a result, one night Suddenly a fire broke out, and the family of the rebel general was burned to death inside.

Since then, these two houses have been called haunted houses. Although that street is full of homes of princes and nobles, those two places have been abandoned for a long time, no one cares about them, and their status is low. Tall, even if he was given a place to live, he wouldn't want to live there.

However, the emperor granted these two mansions to He Rong and He Zhan, and he had to order people to renovate before they could move in. Before that, He Rong and the others still lived in Lu Wangfu.

The excitement at the initial return was gradually calmed down, and everyone returned to the peaceful days before. After the Western Turkic envoys met, the two sides exchanged documents and greeted each other, and the other party returned with the rich property bestowed by the emperor.

He Rong also paid out of his own pocket, and asked people to buy a lot of hairpins, flowers, rouge, and even kites and tops for children to play with, and asked the envoys to take them back to Princess Zhending.The things are worthless, but He Rong knows that for Princess Zhending, even a single stitch from Chang'an is enough to make her feel nostalgic.

Although He Rong has now returned to the capital, achieved success and got what he wanted, he doesn't have to worry about whether Princess Zhending is doing well in West Turkic and whether she will be homesick, but He Rong is still willing to do something for her. Do what you can, instead of crossing rivers and tearing down bridges, killing donkeys - if he treats others like this, then one day someone will treat him like this.

As for the silkworm workers, carpenters and others that Princess Zhending asked for, the emperor has already initially agreed. How to arrange the Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple in the future, such an important matter, the emperor will not ignore it. This is beyond He Rong's ability to ask. .

Although he now has the approval of the emperor, enters the court to discuss politics, and becomes No.1 among the emperor's grandchildren, but in fact he has no specific position other than the title, and he is also a newcomer among the civil and military ministers in the early dynasty. He listens more and speaks less The emperor almost never asks his opinion. He Rong is like a transparent existence every day. He silently follows his father to the court and returns silently. He listens more and talks less. The family will not take the initiative to bring up government affairs.

On He Zhan's side, it was another scene.

"Well, my father is talking about me all the time now, saying that I don't make progress. I wish I had known that I would go to Turkic with you. Now, maybe I can come back with military exploits like Lin Miao and the others..."

"You can't bear that hardship." He Zhan said, tearing off his hand hanging on his shoulder, "Whether you stand or not, sit or not, is this your attitude towards Shangguan?"

Zhang Ze bared his teeth: "There are no outsiders here, don't put on airs, okay, I don't know you yet! When you went to Yang Jun's shop yesterday, you were even boneless than me, and you sat down and leaned on third brother!"

"That's drinking too much!" He Zhan couldn't hold back his expression, and laughed, "Okay, look at you, you hate to stay in Beiya, why don't you stay at home now Stop, but still running over here, have you changed your sex?"

There seems to be no change in Zhang Ze in the past two years. He is still the lazy dude with no ambitions. If there is a change, it may be that the Zhang family married a wife for Zhang Ze last year. Now he He is also a man with a family, but unfortunately this wife seems to be unable to control Zhang Ze, he still runs out every day, and he also goes to the Qin Lou Chu Pavilion.

In fact, nowadays, there are many high-ranking disciples like Zhang Ze. At least Zhang Ze didn't cause any major disasters, and he honestly went to the Imperial Army to work every day. He was already very law-abiding.

Zhang Ze sighed: "You saw it with your own eyes last time, right? The wife my father married for me, to put it mildly, is three obediences and four virtues; to put it bluntly, she is like a piece of wood. You told me to face her as soon as I got home. Such a person, let me die!"

"Then why didn't I see you die!" He Zhan gave him a white look, "Look at Song Yun, he didn't go to the Western Regions with me, but he has been steady in the past two years, and now he has been promoted two times in a row. Level, you have Zhang Hou here, you won't start lower than him."

Zhang Ze flattened his mouth: "But my ambition is not here, and you also know that I am not expected to join the army!"

He Zhan: "Then where is your ambition? Do you eat, drink, prostitute and gamble?"

Zhang Ze shouted for injustice: "He Wulang, if you insult me ​​like this again, I will fight you desperately!"

He Zhan sneered: "You can't beat me again."

"..." Zhang Ze was depressed for a while, "Actually, I think Yang Jun is very good like that. Now he not only runs a rouge shop but also sells tea, and his business is booming. I also want to go into business with him. What a wonderful thing to travel around the mountains and rivers by the way!"

He Zhan was originally casually writing his practice experience, but he stopped writing and frowned when he heard the words, and looked at Zhang Ze until his whole body trembled.

"Why are you looking at me like this, I can tell you, I don't want to break my sleeves and share the peach!"

He Zhan was a Marquis, and took over the Habayashi Guard. Those who used to be his equals in the Beiya now all look up to him. Even Song Yun, who used to find him unhappy everywhere, dare not do anything wrong when he sees him now. , You have to practice etiquette honestly, the two sides separated at once, and the original contempt or jealousy disappeared, replaced by an unattainable distance.

Among all the people, only Zhang Ze's attitude has not changed at all, as always, gags, although his dandy appearance makes one's teeth itch, but because of this, He Zhan treats him the same as before.

Seeing that he was unrestrained, He Zhan said helplessly: "Yang Hengyu has known us for several years, and because of him, I don't mean to despise merchants, but the world is like this, there are many people in the Duke's family who let the servants' subordinates go to business, but never If you don’t do it yourself and become a businessman yourself, if you really run away with Yang Jun, Zhang Hou will be the first to use family law against you.”

Zhang Ze was dejected: "Oh, I understand what you said. In fact, sometimes I really envy Yang Jun. At least he can do whatever he wants. He doesn't have to be like me. Someone reminds me from time to time not to lose face of the Zhang family." , you can’t do things that insult the family, and you can’t even make your own decisions about marrying a wife.”

He Zhan smiled: "You envy Yang Jun, and Yang Jun still envies you. His father is not his own, and the Yang family guarded him everywhere, so he had to set up another family and rely on himself. You only see the good of others. Why don’t you see their suffering?”

Zhang Ze opened his eyes wide: "Really? Then who are his parents? I saw that he was always smiling, and I thought he had nothing to worry about."

He Zhan briefly talked about Yang Jun's life experience, and finally told him: "I also heard what my third brother said, so don't go shouting in front of others."

Zhang Ze was angry: "I see, do I look like someone with such a big mouth!"

He Zhanxin said that I look alike.

Zhang Ze leaned over again: "So, every family has their own hard-to-read scriptures. During the time you came home, nothing happened, right?"

He Zhan was puzzled: "What can happen to me, don't give me a crow's mouth!"

Zhang Ze: "Hey, I'm not talking about you! King Lu married a new princess a while ago, and I went to have a wedding with my elders. It is said that he is going to be unlucky and may be revoked his title. It is said that the Pei family followed his uncle into the palace to face the saint. "

He Zhan: "I've only met my aunt a few times since I came back, and she does seem to be an organized person."

Zhang Ze looked mysterious: "That's not what I'm going to talk about. You know, there was a strange thing on the day of the wedding ceremony. The two red candles were half-burned, and suddenly they all came together. Qi was broken, and many people saw it with their own eyes at that time, and I saw King Lu's expression changed on the spot."

He Zhan didn't know there was such an episode, so he asked in surprise, "Then what happened afterwards?"

Zhang Ze spread his hands: "I went back after drinking the wedding wine, but I heard a lot of rumors."

He Zhan: "What rumors?"

Zhang Ze was in a dilemma: "After all, it's about King Lu's business. It's not appropriate for me to say it. Why don't you find out by yourself."

He Zhan was impatient: "Just say what you want, what are you talking about, you told me so much just now, now you know how to avoid it?"

Zhang Ze had no choice but to say: "Actually, it's all nonsense, either because the omens are bad, or that Princess Pei's life is hard, or that someone in your mansion is doing things secretly, deliberately making life difficult for Princess Pei after she gets married. .”

He Zhan frowned and remained silent.

Zhang Ze: "According to me, Your Majesty's marriage is really not appropriate. Even the elders in my family are saying that I don't know what His Majesty's consideration is."

In fact, He Zhan thought about this question after he came back, and even asked He Rong in private.

At that time, He Rong explained to him that His Majesty may have several intentions. One is that Pei's natal family withered, his father died in battle, his mother died young, and his title was inherited by his uncle. It has nothing to do with her. Such a person is not easy to cause trouble , and he is not very good at instigating his husband to cause trouble. For his father He Tai, it is best to do as much as you can, and not to do too much.Another reason is that although his father, He Tai, was awarded the title of King of Lu, he had already had two concubines before him, and his children had grown up. Generally, famous families are unwilling to marry the prostitutes of Mood for Love, who are of lower status. He is also not worthy of He Tai, so Pei's status is neither high nor low, just right. Being a princess is an honor, but being a second concubine does not make her too high.

Zhang Ze put his arms around his shoulders: "Hey, don't make such an expression, I'm actually just reminding you, but you're going to move out soon anyway, these things have nothing to do with you!"

How can it be okay?Thinking of another matter, He Zhan was a little annoyed.

Because of the conversation with Zhang Ze, He Zhan originally wanted to finish writing the official document at hand, but he lost his mood. After sending Zhang Ze back, he also left Beiya.

When he returned to Prince Lu’s mansion, he went to He Rong’s courtyard first. Wen Jiang was instructing two maids to collect the books that had been drying for a day. He looked up and saw him, and was about to come up to him. He Zhan waved his hand: “You are busy, third brother Can it be inside?"

Wen Jiangdao: "Mr. Lang took Mrs. Gao out."

He Zhan: "Did you say where to go?"

Wen Jiang: "I seem to be looking for Yang Langjun."

He Zhan was bored and a little bored, so he got up and went to He Rong's room, Wen Jiang didn't stop him, He Zhan has never been here freely, she is used to it.

There is a bamboo couch in He Rong's study room, and there is a soft pillow and quilt prepared by Wen Jiang on it, so that he can take a nap at any time when he is tired of reading.

He Zhan fell up, rolled over on the soft pillow, and buried his head in the thin quilt. When He Rong came in, he saw him lying there staring at the beams in a daze.

He Rong: "Wen Jiang said you were in my study, I thought you were reading, but you just came to lie down somewhere else?"

"Third brother, you're back!" He Zhan got up from the couch and finally regained his energy. "I went to Beiya today, don't let me take a rest when I come back!"

He Rong sat down beside him: "Tell me, what's the matter?"

He Zhan smiled and said, "Can't I come to see you if I have nothing to do?"

He Rong: "There are only two words written on your face. The left side is annoying, and the right side is irritable."

He Zhan twitched the corner of his mouth: "..."

He Rong pushed him away, and lightly reprimanded him: "Sit up straight, you don't look like a general!"

He Zhan made a grimace: "There are no outsiders here!"

He didn't realize at all that the conversation he had with the third brother was a replay of him and Zhang Ze.

The author has something to say:

Small theater unrelated to the main text:

Zhang Ze: (Gentle resentment) Why do you treat me differently from your third brother?

He Zhan: Because he is my third brother, and you are not my third brother.

Zhang Ze: (heartache) We love each other as brothers, and you still distinguish between thick and thin!

He Zhan: In fact, it is not a blood relationship, there is another very important reason.

Zhang Ze:? ? ?

He Zhan: The third brother is a hundred times more handsome than you. Our He family is all handsome, and you are seriously not up to standard.

Zhang Ze: ...