Linzhi

"Shilang, Yushen, during the banquet just now, the female relatives of several families inquired about you, if you see the right way, you can also tell me, don't be cautious."

After the banquet, Princess Pei called He Xi and Xue Tan over and said the same to them.

Xue Tan said honestly: "Thank you for your kindness, my concubine. I just saw a few young ladies from afar. They are all beautiful in appearance, but I don't know what their temperament is. Let the concubine decide everything."

He is old enough to start a family, but if he is left to his father or stepmother, Xue Tan can't guarantee that they will marry him a shrew who has a crooked nose and a cracked mouth, or who will fight when she disagrees with her. Now that Concubine Pei is willing to help, that is naturally the best.

Xue Tan also understood very well that Princess Pei was all looking at He Rong's face.

Princess Pei smiled when she heard the words: "Okay then, I will help you look at it first, and if there is something suitable, I will let Saburo tell you."

Xue Tan cupped his hands: "I'm here to thank you, Princess, I am very grateful."

Princess Pei smiled and said: "Actually, a son-in-law like you is more popular than those princes and grandchildren. Just now, to snatch you, two female family members almost quarreled!"

There is no mother-in-law to control her, and there is no concubine in the house to worry about it. Who wouldn't want to recruit Xue Tan as a son-in-law?

Not to mention Xue Tan, even He Rong, who has already married a ghost marriage, has a bunch of people rushing to become his successor.

In the He family, it was He Xi who was more troubled.

He Shilang's reputation is not obvious outside, but he didn't have any notoriety at first. It's not difficult to marry a woman of the right family when facing the Prince Lu's mansion. He begged the old Taoist leader inside to accept him as a disciple, saying that he would become a monk to learn Taoism.If Xuandu Guan is a righteous one who can’t help marrying, it’s fine, but it’s the Quanzhen way of being a vegetarian and prohibiting marriage. If the other party dares to accept the emperor’s grandson as a disciple, he will immediately send someone to report to the Lu Palace and ask them to give him away. Take it back.

With this announcement, everyone in Beijing knew about He Xi's desire to become a Taoist priest.

In fact, many people nowadays have a fairy dream in their hearts, and they have thought about the good things of practicing Taoism and ascending in the daytime, but at most everyone just talks about Xuanxuan at home, or closes the door to practice alchemy, and no one can do it. Like He Xi, he really wants to go to become a monk.

For a while, He Silang's reputation as an "idiot" spread far and wide. Although wanting to become a monk is not as shy as a man who likes to visit brothels and is a good man, it is still a small defect after all, and He Si himself is not like him. The other brothers are so talented, Princess Pei searched for a long time, and just selected a niece of Zhang Tao, Marquis of Wuwei.

Concubine Pei said to He Xi: "You also know the elder brother of that niece of Marquis Wuwei, he is your fifth brother's friend Zhang Ze. Although Zhang is a concubine, I heard that he and Zhang Ze have a very deep brother and sister relationship. She is also a person of character, if you are worried, you can find a chance and ask Zhang Ze first."

He Xi doesn't have the thick skin of his older brothers. Princess Pei, who is not more than two years older than himself, really can't call his mother. He said with a bitter face: "I, I... don't want to get married yet, I haven't made achievements like the third brother ,Not in a hurry!"

Concubine Pei's smile remained unchanged: "There are many people who start a family first and then start a career. Those who can become famous at a young age like Saburo Goro, and become a prince. How many do you think there are in this dynasty? Besides, this matter was entrusted to me by His Highness." , if you don't want to get married, you can tell His Majesty, but I can't make the decision."

Just as he was talking, He Tai came.

Concubine Pei stood up to greet her, Xue Tan bowed first and left first, He Xi shrank his neck, not wanting to be scolded by his father, and left with Xue Tan without courage.

He Tai: "Just now I saw that Shiro looked sneaky, but what trouble did he cause?"

Princess Pei smiled: "Si Lang just told me that he hoped not to get married so soon."

He Tai snorted: "That's up to him!"

Princess Pei euphemistically said: "I think what Shiro means is that he is indeed not very interested in getting married. It's better for him to take his time with this marriage. Haste makes waste. If it makes him feel disgusted, it will also hinder the marriage of the couple. emotion."

He Tai was not angry: "He has always been mediocre, no more competitive than Saburo and the others, but he always thinks of doing unexpected things to attract others' attention, you don't have to listen to his nonsense, you can do whatever you want, he is used to lawlessness! "

In all fairness, among He Tai's sons, He Xi is the most like his father, but the other sons are too competitive, which makes He Xi even more mediocre.But for He Tai, since he already has so many outstanding sons, when he sees He Xi again, he will naturally hate him, and he will not be partial to He Xi just because he is the most like him.

People are always stricter with others and more lenient than self-discipline, and He Tai is no exception.

But Princess Pei just smiled slightly and did not refute.

On the contrary, He Tai took the initiative to bring up the conversation with the eldest son just now, and finally said: "Da Lang is a little anxious, I want to ask him to be crowned son, what do you think?"

Princess Pei shook her head: "No."

Meeting He Tai's puzzled look, she said: "I haven't had time to tell Your Highness yet, yesterday I entered the palace to greet the noble concubine, and the noble concubine told me that Your Highness is fine recently, and try not to run out when you are on business. Read more books at home to cultivate your temperament."

He Taiqi said: "What does the imperial concubine mean by saying that?"

Princess Pei pondered: "I guess the meaning of the concubine may be that there is something going on with your majesty. The concubine knows a little bit, but it's hard to explain too clearly, so let your highness keep a low profile in everything, and don't get ahead easily. This is a matter of establishing a son. It’s better to take it easy.”

He Tai chewed the words of Concubine Yin Gui and Concubine Pei several times in his mouth, and then he tasted a little taste, and his heart beat faster: "Could it be... Your Majesty is going to establish a crown prince?"

Princess Pei shook her head: "The noble concubine didn't say so clearly."

He Tai said anxiously: "Of course it's hard for her to say it clearly, but in your opinion, does that mean it?"

Princess Pei didn't say yes or no, she just said: "Everything depends on Your Majesty, but the emperor's heart is unpredictable, so I told His Highness not to act rashly, otherwise, even if Your Majesty will not misunderstand your every move, you will not be able to understand it." It is inevitable that someone with a heart will use it to make a fuss."

He Tai: "I'll save it, what the imperial concubine says, I'll just do it."

Although the words were spoken calmly, the joy still couldn't help revealing a little bit from the face.

Thinking back to when the family was suffering in Fangzhou, He Tai felt that as long as he had enough food and clothing to save his life, it was enough to save his life. When he returned to Beijing from Fangzhou, He Tai thought that it would be enough to die in the capital, and he did not expect more. People always go up step by step, and their desires are always unsatisfied. Now that he is King Lu, he has become the head of all the princes in one leap. If He Tai doesn't want to go further, it is completely impossible, don't Speaking of He Tai, King Qi and King Wei also looked up to the throne for a long time.

Who doesn't want to rule the world and rank ninety-five?

Princess Pei reminded: "At this time, Your Highness must be more cautious in words and deeds."

He Tai waved his hand: "Don't worry, since the imperial concubine has already said so, at worst, I won't go anywhere after my daily errands. But I'm afraid I have to find an opportunity to talk to him about Da Lang's matter." Say, let him be calm."

Concubine Pei: "Da Lang has always been reasonable, so he will definitely understand His Highness."

He Tai laughed and said: "Just now when Dalang learned that you wanted to recognize him under his name, he was so grateful. I told him that it was all because of your mother's virtuous understanding."

Concubine Pei smiled: "Your Highness, thank you."

After a few gossips between the husband and wife, He Tai got up and went to the concubine Ruan's.

Princess Pei is good in everything, except that her personality is too calm, not gentle enough, and most men prefer women who can be coquettish and understanding. Or helping out with ideas, etc., can be called a virtuous wife, what's more, she is still the bridge between Yin Guifei and the He family, so He Tai values ​​her more and more, but this kind of importance brings a bit of respect and distance.

Speaking of it, the relationship between He Tai and his three concubines is similar. He himself prefers the gentle and playful Xiaojiabiyu. Unfortunately, no one who can manage the family alone will have such a temperament. The relationship between Princess Ren is mediocre, and it is impossible to be gluey.

But Princess Pei didn't care, she even took the initiative to accept two concubines from innocent families for He Tai. He Tai was grateful, and only respected Pei more and more.

After He Tai left, Princess Pei felt a little hungry, so she asked the maid next to her to serve some pastries.

Sushuang couldn't help complaining: "Your Highness didn't even stay to have a meal with you!"

Princess Pei smiled: "I'm more at ease when he's not here. Is it possible that I can eat two more bowls with him?"

Su Shuang was amused: "You are really... hey!"

Princess Pei: "You are two years younger than me, and you sigh all the time, and sooner or later you will become a little old woman."

Sushuang felt sorry for her master's injustice in her heart, but she was afraid of making her more sad if she said it, so she hesitated and hesitated to speak.

Concubine Pei: "I know what you want to say. You think I have to accept a son who is older than myself, and you feel wronged?"

Since she mentioned it, Sushuang said: "The lady should have gotten better."

Princess Pei picked up a piece of pastry and put it into her mouth, drank another half cup of sour plum soup, and said: "What is better? Your Majesty has not deprived my father of his title, it is already a kindness. If he is convicted of seizing the title, I will not even deprive the prince of Lu Palace." You can’t even enter the door, and even the people who say you are afraid to come to the door. In the end, you can only be a concubine for others. You think it’s wronged for me to marry the King of Lu, and I think it’s even more wronged to be a concubine.”

Su Shuang worried: "Even so, He Mu is a bastard after all..."

Princess Pei: "He Mu is 24 this year. Even if I can give birth to a son within this year, even if my son grows up healthy, there is a full 24 years difference between him and He Mu. When he can do business for the King of Lu and accumulate strength, My son is still in his infancy and he can't even speak, so what can he use to fight with others?"

Su Shuang fell silent, she knew what the lady said was right.

Concubine Pei: "Whether I fight or not, He Mu has advantages that others can't match, because he is the eldest son, and because His Highness is also the eldest son, do you understand?"

Su Shuang nodded: "Understood."

In fact, Princess Pei is more willing to recognize He Rong or He Zhan as her name, but that is unrealistic. What will others think if she directly skips the eldest son and second son?Not to mention that He Tai disagreed, He Rong and the others would certainly not be willing, because in that case, there would be an inevitable rift between the brothers.

Princess Pei didn't want to be a villain who separated their brothers, so recognizing He Mu as her son was the most logical and straightforward way.

……

It was already a few days later when He Rong got the news that he was going to Luozhou with Ji Ling, the minister of the Ministry of Industry.

Ji Ling is a well-known minister capable of managing rivers. In fact, He Rong did not play a big role in this trip. He was only a symbol and representative of the imperial court, supervising the disaster relief of local officials to show that the imperial court attaches great importance to the disaster.

The emperor made the order in a hurry, and they set off in a hurry. Wen Jiang could only help He Rong pack a few pieces of clothing, and had to send He Rong away before he even had time to check them carefully.

He Rong took Wen Jiang with him, Ji Ling took two minor officials from the Ministry of Industry, and several people from the imperial army accompanied them. The three parties agreed to meet at the gate of the city and set off together.

Ji Ling didn't dare to be late, so he went there early, but He Rong arrived earlier than him, talking with a maid, and there was a carriage beside him.

"An Guogong." Ji Ling stepped forward to salute.

He Rong was wearing a plain robe and a jade hairpin. He turned around and bowed back, "Master Ji, wait for the people from the palace to come, and we can start our journey."

Seeing him with his maid and a carriage, Ji Ling thought that they would definitely go there in a carriage along the way, and he couldn't help sighing to himself, because he was devoted to governing the river, so he wished he could drive there with the stars and the moon, but taking a carriage would definitely be the way to go. It's slower than riding a horse, I'm afraid that when they rush over, the disaster will be more serious.

There was something in his heart, but it was not easy to say it clearly, Ji Ling felt a little uncomfortable.

Seeing him, He Rong asked, "Does Ji Shilang want to go to the toilet? You might as well go and come back, it's still early."

Ji Ling almost coughed, and hurriedly said: "I'm just wondering, the carriage bumps all the way, and it's a bit slower than riding a horse. Why doesn't Mr. An abandon the carriage and ride?"

He Rong was silent for a moment, then said sadly: "I fell off a horse when I was young, and I was disabled for life, so after that, I never ride a horse again."

Ji Ling groaned, he had heard about this before, and looking at the bamboo stick in He Rong's hand, he couldn't help but feel annoyed why he hadn't thought of this just now, and hurriedly said: "I'm lying, please don't blame An Guogong."

He Rong: "Those who don't know are innocent, we will work together in the future, Ji Shilang can just call me Saburo or He San, no need to be polite."

Ji Ling: "The name below is Jing Bing, and please ask Saburo to call me Bing."

Poking people's scars is not a gentleman's work, but Ji Lingfang really didn't think of this problem. He regretted his slip of the tongue while comforting himself. Let the carriage go slower.

The two were gossiping when a few casually dressed men came over leading their horses and saluted He Rong: "Lin Miao, Du Jing, and Cao Jin have met An Guogong!"

He Rong nodded slightly: "They are all old friends, so you don't need to be too polite. It's been a long time since I haven't seen you, and you guys have become more energetic."

It is indeed an old friend. Lin Miao and the others followed He Rong to the Western Turks. After returning, everyone has their own rewards, but after all, their identities are different, and it is impossible for them to meet He Rong often. This reunion, the three of them are very excited .

To a certain extent, He Rong can be called their benefactor. Without the bright road that He Rong pointed out for them that day, they would not be where they are today. Everyone is very grateful to He Rong.

Before He Zhan went to Luozhou to take up his post, he had already established a prestige in the Beiya Forbidden Army. He was worthy of his promise and obeyed every order. Once he left, Lin Miao and the others would inevitably miss him. Seeing He Rong this time, they became excited , In fact, there is also a sense of love for the house and the black.

Lin Miao hurriedly said, "You have won the prize, and we have brought all the horses you want."

horse?What horse?

Ji Ling saw that they were leading two horses alone, and he was a little surprised, but he couldn't help being dumbfounded when he saw He Rong nodding his thanks and flying onto the horse.

He Rong said to Ji Ling: "The horses of the imperial army are more durable than ordinary horses. I specially asked for a few horses to save any trouble on the road."

Ji Ling was dumbfounded: "But didn't you say you don't ride a horse?"

Wen Jiang couldn't help laughing, and quickly turned his head away.

He Rong: "Just said it casually, I didn't expect Jing Bing to believe it, just a little joke, don't mind."

Ji Ling: "..." You said it casually, as if it was true.

He Rong turned the horse's head easily, and his legs clamped the horse's belly slightly. The horse galloped forward for a few steps, and when he reined in, it stopped immediately.

He Rong couldn't help praising: "What a horse!"

Lin Miao smiled brightly: "This is the horse that Mr. Wu Lang is used to during the training of the Imperial Army!"

He Rong raised his hand: "Get on the horse, let's go!"

Even Wen Jiang, the maid who was underestimated by Ji Ling just now, moved neatly.

Not only that, Ji Ling didn't know until he arrived in Luozhou that he was worried that He Rong and his female relatives would drag down the team. Traveling day and night, I arrived half a day earlier than expected.

They thought they arrived early, and the Luozhou officials who came to greet them should have been unexpected, and they failed to wait on the official road outside the city in advance. Who would have thought that when they arrived outside the city, they saw a group of people waiting there, and the leader was the current Luozhou official. State Governor He Zhan.

He Zhan came out to welcome Ji Ling and others in person, which flattered Ji Ling and others, but they also knew that the other party was not here for themselves. After everyone exchanged greetings and saluted, they all fell behind in a tacit understanding, and asked He Zhan to hold He Rong's hand together into the city.

"I'm looking forward to it day and night, but I'm looking forward to it, my little brother wants to kill my third brother!" He Zhan smiled openly, no longer the majesty in front of everyone just now.

He Rong: "Do you miss me, or do you miss home?"

He Zhan: "Think about everything, father, are they okay?"

He Rong hummed: "Everything is fine. Before I left, His Majesty just named Jia Niang as Leping County Lord and granted her a marriage."

He Zhan was surprised: "Which family's son is it?"

He Rong: "Zhou Xiang's youngest son, Zhou Rong."

He Zhan said happily, "This is a good marriage. Prime Minister Zhou is the pillar of the country, and he is highly valued by His Majesty. It can be seen that His Majesty cares about my sister very much."

Having said that, he paused for a moment, and suddenly lowered his voice: "Could it be that His Majesty wants to make father the crown prince?"

He Rong glanced at him: "At least I'm not too stupid."

He Zhan took his hand and laughed: "I've been around Third Brother for so long, how can I not compete with Third Brother?"