Three thousand miles in exile

When Liu Mingcong returned to Wuyuan County for the winter, he brought back two letters from home, one was Liu Zhan's greeting, and the other was a letter from his family.

"Are we breaking up?" Liu Xueli yelled strangely.

The three brothers were talking in the hall, Liu Xueli's strange cry attracted the attention of the maids and servants.

"There is no need to wait here, you go out first." Liu Xueyuan dispatched his servants.

Liu Xueyi said it again. "Zhan'er means to pick us up to live in Jinyang, and buy another mansion for you and me."

"Isn't this just separation!" Liu Xueli came up angrily.

Liu Xueyuan hurriedly said in a good voice: "In the future, the new general's mansion will also be used to handle official business, so it is inconvenient for us to live together. Zhan'er said that, in addition, we will compensate 10 acres of fertile land, three shops, and Liu Kee a share of dividends. A congratulatory gift of [-] taels of silver will be given."

These family properties are already astronomical figures for ordinary people. Of course, if you want to compare it with General Qi Yun who owns the northern border, it is naturally incomparable.

But some people just can't figure it out.

"The whole northern Xinjiang belongs to Zhan'er, so what if we give us a random township? Five hundred acres of land? Is it as big as a village?" Liu Xueli said angrily.

"Also! The second brother is appointed as the dean of Yunzhong Academy, and he will return the official position of the seventh rank. What about me?"

"Third brother!" Liu Xueyuan's expression darkened. "Do you know how much the land of a village is? Pure nonsense!"

These years, Liu Xueyi has been taking care of the upper and lower affairs of Yunzhong Academy. After Liu Zhan established the country, it was inconvenient for Liu Xueyuan, who was the Supreme King, to be the dean again. It was reasonable for Liu Xueyi to take this position.

As for Song Yijun, he was a serious Jinshi, and Liu Zhan planned to give him the official position of a bachelor and be responsible for presiding over the imperial examination.

On the other hand, Liu Xueli has been idle all these years, and he would help out in the academy in the early years. After the Liu family became richer, he stopped working.

None of the female family members knew about it, but Liu Xueyuan knew very well that he also kept two outhouses outside, had five children, and he didn't know who he was hanging out with all day long.

"How can I talk nonsense! Others say that, I am his third uncle, what's wrong with giving me a township?" Liu Xueli was confident.

"Why send you a township? Didn't you drink flower wine and make your brain stupid." Liu Xueyi spoke frankly and didn't give any face at this time.

"If you have the ability to speak like this, why didn't you go to the battlefield with you back then? If you fought it yourself, let alone a township, a county would be given to you." Liu Xueyi cocked his legs and sneered.

These words made Liu Xueli so angry that he hopped back and scolded him. "You will be very prestigious if you get an official. It would be shameless for me to go out in vain. What's wrong with being more important!"

Liu Xueyuan had a headache when he heard that, his third brother is not too young, and he likes to yell about everything.

"Okay, let's do this, I'll give you another two hundred acres of land in private." Liu Xueyuan's spirit is to calm things down.

As a result, Liu Xueli became even more popular when he heard it. "What do you all think of me! So what if the second brother has a position for me! Last time, I suggested that the juniors in the family go to the yamen to study, but I was rejected. Zhan'er is sincerely pushing me away!"

Liu Xueyi was in a bad mood. "You still have the face to mention this matter. You did this without telling me and brought my name. Fortunately, Zhan'er didn't care."

The voice of the dispute in the hall attracted the juniors in the family, Liu Xueyuan and Liu Xueyi didn't want to say any more.

"Okay, I'll go find my mother!" Liu Xueli got angry and went out of the hall to the backyard.

After leaving the hall, Liu Xueli rushed to find the old lady.

"mother!"

"Zhan'er wants to separate!"

The old lady was dozing off on the kang when Liu Xueli's voice woke her up.

"How can you separate the family while you are still alive? Zhan'er just gave me such a little thing, and didn't even give me an official position, so I was separated like this?" Liu Xueli vented his dissatisfaction like bamboo beans.

"Mom, why don't you talk?"

The old lady was leaning on a soft pillow, her head was full of silver threads, but her eyes were as bright as black pearls.

Now her eldest grandson has more and more power in her hands. Not only does she have a huge Qi Yun army, but the feudal town covers the north of Huangchuan, and there is also Liu Ji Trading Company, which was earning money like water in those days.

All of this is the family property of the big family, and the second and third bedrooms have been enough for these years, and some things should be clearly divided as soon as possible, so that she, the old woman, will not be more confused when she goes.

"It's good to divide."

"What? Mother?" Liu Xueli was stunned.

"Let's divide up." The old lady waved her hand. "I'm tired, you go down." After speaking, he ignored Liu Xueli.

After leaving the old lady's yard, Liu Xueli had a sullen look on his face.

"What's the matter? I heard that the family is going to be separated?" The third wife Fang's face is full of joy. After the separation, she can be the master of the family, which is a good thing.

"I've decided!" Liu Xueli gritted his teeth. "Let's go back to the old house in the imperial capital. You write a letter to your father-in-law, asking him to find me an errand in the capital."

The three ladies were all stunned. "Back to the imperial capital?"

"Father-in-law is now king, so it's not difficult to find me an official position? Zhan'er excludes my third uncle, what am I still doing here!" What Liu Xueli thinks about is what makes him feel more and more that he should go back to the imperial capital .

The whole family was shocked for a while.

"Third brother, are you serious?" Liu Xueyi was full of disbelief, and at the same time looked at him like a fool.

Liu Xueli snorted coldly and didn't answer.

"You can't see why Zhan'er divided us up? Are you really stupid or fake?" Liu Xueyi caught him, his expression turned serious. "Zhan'er wants to be self-reliant! You don't need to separate your family, how can you live in someone else's palace?"

It has spread throughout northern Xinjiang. The mansion in Jinyang City occupies the entire Phoenix Hill. The foundation is so huge that it looks like an unusual mansion.

"So what if you know!" Liu Xueli shook off him. "My Yue's family is also the king, and they are all looking at their faces to make life better. It's better to go back to the ancestral house in the imperial capital to feel comfortable."

Liu Xueyi knew that he was fighting.

"Zhan'er is king, and his identity must not be concealed. Are you going to die when you return to the imperial capital?" Liu Xueyi was very puzzled.

Liu Xueli really didn't think about this question.

But he didn't turn back when he opened the bow, and he couldn't get down after making such a big commotion.

Liu Xueli stiffened his neck. "So what, I'm Fang's son-in-law, can you still kill me?"

This is a plan to go all the way to the dark, Liu Xueyi's face is full of incomprehension and he is too lazy to persuade. "Okay, don't regret it."

Liu Xueli snorted coldly. "Ask Zhan'er to convert the land property mansion into a bank note and give it to me! We will leave in the spring of next year!"

Naturally, Liu Zhan couldn't hide such a big commotion in the family. Butler Liu hurriedly asked his son Liu Cheng to go to Jinyang to tell Liu Zhan before the heavy snow closed the mountains.

They don't go out in winter, Liu Zhan and Song Fenglin are either cats on the kang every day, or go to the meeting hall to deal with some idle affairs in the city.

It was snowing heavily outside the house, and a brazier was burning in the meeting hall to keep the room warm.

Song Fenglin was reading, and Liu Zhan was drinking tea and chatting.

The small table in the middle of the Arhat couch was removed, and Liu Zhan was holding Song Fenglin in his arms. The two shared a blanket to cover their legs. They didn't know what Liu Zhan's hands were doing, but Song Fenglin kicked him.

"General, Mr. Song, I have something to see." Liu Cheng's voice came from outside the curtain.

"Come in." Song Fenglin quickly sat up straight.

Liu Zhan leaned lazily aside. "It's only been a few days since I went back, why are you back again?"

Steward Liu is also getting old, so Liu Zhan granted him permission to go back to spend the winter with his old father.

It was helpless to talk about it, and Liu Cheng didn't dare to hide it from Liu Zhan, repeating the family affairs in detail.

"The third master was dissatisfied with the separation of the family, and clamored to move back to the old residence of the Liu Mansion in the imperial capital. He said that the five hundred acres of land and the three shops would be converted into silver and given to him. He was unwilling to stay under the fence of the northern Xinjiang."

These were Liu Xueli's original words, and Liu Cheng did not change a word.

The previous dynasty pardoned the Liu family long ago, and now the new dynasty does not talk about old affairs, so it is not impossible for Liu Xueli to return to the imperial capital to settle down, but Liu Zhan is about to become self-reliant, and Liu Xueli is too uncertain.

Song Fenglin didn't speak, waiting for Liu Zhan to make up his mind.

"Let him go if he wants to go." Liu Zhan sneered.

"What did the old lady say?" Song Fenglin asked again.

"The old lady means to let the third master make his own decision." Liu Cheng said respectfully.

Song Fenglin pondered. "There have been rumors in the imperial capital that you are the son of the Liu family, but there is no real evidence. When you ascend the throne and canonize your family, you will not be able to hide this matter."

Liu Zhan had already written to Liu Tongxin asking him to make a choice about this matter, so as not to be angered by Emperor Liang. If he moved his family to northern Xinjiang, he would be prepared for titles and official positions.

Back then when Yunzhong Academy was able to be established, and there were still a few times to plan for official positions, Liu Tongxin made great efforts, and Liu Zhan always remembered it in his heart.

As for Zhao Jizhang, Liu Zhan also wrote the letter, but after all, the Zhao family is only a foreign family, and it is a consensus among the family that the crime should not implicate the foreign family.

If Liu Xueli went to the imperial capital this time, as long as Liu Zhan became king, he would be no different from going to die. He could only bet that he was Fang's son-in-law and would be spared.

Liu Zhan doesn't care, some people just don't know how to be afraid when they don't die.

"Liu Cheng, this time you go back and tell the family directly about the canonization. You only talk about my father and second uncle's titles, and the third uncle's will be exempted." Liu Zhan snorted coldly.

General Liu's heart is like a rock, but Mr. Song's heart has softened after all.

"Notify the Dijing Branch, if there is a change, take the person out in advance."

Liu Cheng understood Song Fenglin's intentions, and hurriedly agreed to leave for Cangyun Town immediately.

"My daughter-in-law has a cold face and a warm heart." Liu Zhan put his arms around her, with a smile on his face.

Song Fenglin was clear and cold, and continued to read with his head down.

The hand under the blanket was restless, Song Fenglin had no choice but to hold the big hand to keep him from moving.

Two days later, Liu Cheng hurried back to the Liu Mansion in Cangyun Town.

Liu Xueyuan sat on the chair dully. "Zhan'er really wants to be king?"

This exact news shocked everyone in the Liu family, and soon all the family members who heard the news gathered in the hall, even the old lady came.

When everyone was together, Liu Cheng explained the specific arrangements in detail.

"The palace is built in Fenghuanggang. The foundation and framework of the palace have been set up, and we are waiting for the start of construction in the spring of the next year. It is expected to be completed before October."

The materials for the construction of the palace are all obtained locally in northern Xinjiang. Those thick beams and pillars are all taken from the big trees on Qiyun Mountain.

Liu Zhan didn't care about needing any expensive wood, so the progress of the project was very fast.

Liu Cheng said respectfully. "Mr. Song set the rules. The Eldest Master canonize the Supreme King, the Young Master canonize the Taishuang, the old lady canonize the Queen Mother, the eldest lady canonize the Queen Mother, and the young master's wife canonize the Taidi Concubine. If the young master is born, he can be canonized as the grandson .”

Unexpectedly, even the unborn child has already been assigned a birthright. For a moment, everyone's eyes are on Song Fengxi's belly. This baby is really precious.

"What about me?" Liu Xueyi blurted out.

"Second Master is the Duke." Liu Cheng replied, and finally said again. "Master Song is also a Duke."

"I knew that Zhan'er would not lose his second uncle!" Liu Xueyi was overjoyed when he heard that.

Over there, Liu Mingche stomped his feet with joy, Liu Xueyi was the only son, and he was definitely the heir of the royal family.

For a while, the hall was as lively as New Year's Eve, the women's relatives surrounded the old lady and the wife to congratulate, and Liu Mingcong sat beside his daughter-in-law and chatted in full swing.

Liu Xueyuan suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked. "You would rather have arrangements?"

"The general means according to the prince's specifications." Liu Cheng replied with a smile.

The title of a prince alone is higher than that of a knighthood, and Liu Zhan did not deny his status because he is an adopted son.

Liu Xueyuan also felt that this arrangement was reasonable.

Over there, Liu Mingdan finally couldn't sit still, and spoke cheekily. "What about my father?"

How to arrange the three-bedroom family is the focus of Liu Cheng's trip.

Liu Cheng handed over a box and respectfully placed it on the side coffee table. "The general has converted all the property into bank notes according to the third master's intention, and the 10 taels that were fixed for the housewarming are also here."

The originally noisy hall was instantly quiet.

Liu Mingdan blushed from holding back.

Sanfang said he wanted to leave, but Liu Zhan really let them go, simply and neatly.

Liu Xueli and his wife were anxiously waiting for the news in the backyard, looking forward to what kind of title Liu Zhan would give, thinking that as long as he had a title, he could barely stay, so he would not care about Liu Zhan.

But he didn't want Liu Ming to rush back angrily and smash the tea set on the table as soon as he came back.

"Everyone has been canonized, but our family has not! The elder brother gave you the money, are you satisfied now!" Liu Mingtan was very angry, and after he was angry, he covered his face and cried again.

Liu Xueli was stunned.

"This, is this really letting us go?" The third lady only felt that her mind was in chaos.

On the one hand, she thought it would be good to go back to the Imperial Capital. Her father made him a king, and she would look good when she went back. On the other hand, she missed the title, and she was angry with Liu Xueli for being too impulsive.

Not too impulsive.

If Liu Zhan wanted to establish himself as a king, the family members of his direct relatives would naturally be canonized. Liu Xueli only saw the money from the land and yelled to vent his dissatisfaction.

This time I really lost the watermelon for the sesame seeds.

When he came back to his senses, Liu Xueli's face was flushed with anger, but he didn't admit his mistake, instead he insisted on going his own way, pointing at the sky and cursing. "Let's go! Let's go now!"

Now that the mountain has not been covered by heavy snow, there is still time to get out of Qiyun Mountain.

Under Liu Xueli's insistence and scolding, Sanfang hurriedly started packing his luggage and arranging a carriage.

Liu Xueyuan heard the news and came to persuade him, but Liu Xueli was going to leave immediately anyway.

When the Sanfang family gathered in front of the gate and prepared to board the car, Mrs. Zhao came with the help of the old lady, accompanied by Liu Xueyuan and Liu Xueyi.

The snow in front of the door was already as high as steps, and the mountain would be blocked by heavy snow a few days later.

The old lady pointed at Liu Mingdan. "Tan'er and his wife and children stay here, and you husband and wife can leave if you want."

"Mother?" Liu Xueli was astonished.

The old lady looked stern. "I dote on you so much, I dote on you so much that you don't know how high you are! You go to the Imperial Capital, and Tan'er's family must stay!"

Unexpectedly, even the old lady would not help him, Liu Xueli looked ashamed and angry. "Is Tan'er's family here to live with others?"

"How could you live under someone else's fence!" the old lady shouted angrily, trembling with anger. "Why did Zhan'er treat you so poorly? Thousands of taels of silver are used to support you every month. How can you be dissatisfied with this master's rich life!"

How much does her youngest son weigh? The old lady knows in her heart that if Liu Xueli is not allowed to know how powerful he is today, when Liu Zhan ascends the throne in the future, he does not know what tricks he will come up with.

Today Liu Xueli dares to ask for a township, and in the future he will dare to ask for more.

The old lady was determined to teach Liu Xueli a lesson. "Even if I'm an old woman, I'll go all out and ask for a place for Dan'er. As for you! You're going to be the emperor's son-in-law, so let me go now!"

Hearing that the old lady wanted to take care of him, Liu Mingdan cried out covering his face, and hurriedly brought his wife and children back home without looking back.

As for the troublesome father, he really didn't want to care about it.

"Close the door!" The old lady turned her head and left.

The heavy door of the Liu Mansion was slowly closed.

It wasn't until this time that the old lady stopped and almost fell down, holding her forehead and unable to get up, so frightened that Liu Xueyuan and Liu Xueyi hurriedly carried the old mother into the room to call for a doctor.

The turmoil of the separation of Liu's family finally ended with the intervention of the old lady.

Liu Xueli also set foot on the imperial city that he had been thinking about.

Such a big thing happened at home again, so naturally Liu Zhan had to be notified, and it was Liu Cheng who made the trip again.

"Is the old lady in serious health problems?" Liu Zhan asked immediately.

"It's not a serious problem. I recovered after returning to the house." Liu Cheng's face was exhausted. He had been running back and forth for the past few days, which was too much trouble.

Naturally, Liu Zhan couldn't really make the old lady ask for it, and immediately promised to give Liu Mingdan the title of Earl.

"Don't ride a horse when you go back, I'll send you a carriage." After finishing speaking, Song Fenglin summoned Li Ah San to make arrangements.

In order to go back to deliver the letter before the heavy snow closed the mountain, Liu Cheng set off immediately after completing the task.

"After all, it's the difference in vision. The old lady has a long-term view." Song Fenglin sighed.

Without outsiders, Liu Zhan lay on the kang lazily with his legs pillowed on his head. "My grandmother has never been ambiguous in major matters. Seeing that she knows our affairs and doesn't interfere with her seniority, you can know my grandmother's heart."

It's okay not to mention this, Song Fenglin pinched his face angrily. "It's not what you said, how could the family know."

"You want to marry me anyway." Liu Zhan smiled.

Song Fenglin had heard these words a lot, and he pretended not to hear them in the past, but today he answered him somehow. "I don't want to marry like a woman."

Liu Zhan immediately stood up.

"I promise I won't let you marry like a woman." With bright eyes, he solemnly promised.

Song Fenglin was stunned for a moment.

Seeing that he didn't answer again, Liu Zhan was very helpless, and pulled him into his arms and rubbed him. "Why are you so stubborn, huh?"

Not long after, Song Fenglin's laughter could be faintly heard in the room.

The winter is heavy, and the snow outside the window is getting heavier.