bastard returns

"The homes of so many ordinary people were flooded, and there was no place to move to the east of the city to take refuge. You let the army stop here? Who gave you this right? Didn't you see that there are still many old people and children! You are such a fucking bastard, get out of the way!" Ning Zhongkun was aggressive, and sprayed Han Tao's face with saliva, and the guards behind him were all filled with righteous indignation, staring at the guards in front of him as if Staring like a bandit.

For Ning Zhongkun's sudden appearance, Han Tao was simply inexplicable, and his face was very ugly. If he hadn't been concerned about Ning Zhongkun's identity and the group of guards behind him, he would have detained him like the previous rioters, "Ning Zhongkun Young Master, I am currently performing official duties, so you should not point fingers too much, otherwise, if I send someone to inform Ning Guogong, the old man knows what you are doing now, and he doesn't know what he will think."

In fact, Ning Zhongkun didn't want to brave the heavy rain to stand out for a group of ordinary people, but Ning Yuan didn't let him do this. He also felt that gaining a good reputation among ordinary people would help him get a son The position is helpful, even if it is embarrassing, he still came. He originally only wanted to put on a show, but when he got here, he saw that the person in command of the Imperial Guard was Han Tao, and Han Tao was the brother-in-law of that kid Lin Chong. Ning Zhongkun has no reason to put on a good face for someone related to Lin Chong, not to mention that Han Tao also has friendship with his uncle, who is the biggest obstacle to his getting the position of son - Ning Huayang, the bastard son of Ning Guogong , So there was no agreement in a few words, and the fake show became real, and Ning Zhongkun pointed at Han Tao's nose and cursed.

Seeing that Han Tao not only refused to give way, but also teased himself with such words, Ning Zhongkun almost threw his fist at Han Tao's face, but in the blink of an eye, he saw Jing Zhaoyin and a group of followers surrounded by Sikong Yue. Coming here, Ning Zhongkun rolled his eyes, put away his anger, and said in a serious tone: "Who ordered you to let the imperial guards block you here so unscrupulously? The emperor is not in Beijing, so I don't believe His Royal Highness would issue such absurd order!"

"The imperial guards have the right to deal with any situation according to the circumstances. Today's situation is urgent and there is no need for orders." Han Tao looked down at Ning Zhongkun with a sarcastic expression, as if he was looking at some clown, and said in his heart that if I don't get stuck Here, let these ordinary people disturb the peace of the nobles in the east of the city. If those nobles trouble me, where will I go to reason.

What's more, his father-in-law Pang Song has just incorporated the Hanlin Academy, which is equivalent to controlling half of the Confucian scholars. When he is in power, he has already promised him that he will find an opportunity to let him leave the commander he has been for several years and be promoted to a higher level. General, as long as I can please the nobles again, my official career will be smoother in the future.

"Mr. Ning, if I were you in such a heavy rain, I would go back and take a bath and sleep obediently. I wouldn't come here to join in the fun, which is not something you can afford." Han Tao said: "Or you want me to Send someone to inform Ning Guogong, let him take you home?"

But just after Han Tao finished speaking, he saw Ning Zhongkun looking at him with a mocking expression. He was inexplicable, and suddenly heard a cold voice behind him saying: "Commander Han, you said just now that you don't need orders, so just give me an order." Have the right to deal with any situation?"

Han Tao's back stiffened, and he immediately turned around. When he saw the person behind him, his face turned even paler. Without thinking, he knelt down on one knee, "See... Your Highness!"

Sikong Yue's face was so ugly that water dripped out. What Han Tao said just now obviously didn't pay attention to him, the eldest prince who was ordered by the emperor to sit in the capital, and his tone couldn't help being even more sneering, "I don't know It turns out that the father gave you such rights as Commander Han. In this way, it is superfluous for the main hall to stay in this capital, why not simply go to Liangshan and give the entire capital to you Commander Han?"

Han Tao was stunned by Si Kongyue's words, and hastily kowtowed, "His Royal Highness, I have absolutely no intention of doing this. I am just worried that so many refugees will flood into the east of the city, there will be unruly people... "Han Tao defended himself, and looked at Jing Zhaoyin next to Sikong Yue as if asking for help. He came out to block these people after listening to Jing Zhaoyin's words. Why should Jing Zhaoyin say a few words for himself? However, Jing Zhaoyin avoided his eyes with an expression that had nothing to do with him.

In fact, after Jing Zhaoyin saw this scene, he had already scolded Han Tao as a reckless man in his heart. He just asked Han Tao to be careful not to let the refugees riot in the east of the city, instead of letting him all Everyone is blocking here, this guy is stupid and wants to drag himself into the water, how is it possible!

"Commander Han, let me tell you that you are too courageous!" Ning Zhongkun also threw insults at Han Tao at this time, "I came here because of His Royal Highness's order to appease and help Chengxi. The people in distress went to the east of the city to take refuge! His Highness is generous and sympathetic to the suffering of the people, but you, an idiot, actually led the imperial guards who were supposed to protect the people in the city to fight against the people who wanted to take refuge. You can't rebel if you want to!"

Han Tao was stunned by Ning Zhongkun's words, he was already stunned, and there was only one thought in his mind, since you came here under the order of the prince, why didn't you say it earlier?

But Ning Zhongkun didn't have any orders from the prince, he just followed what Ning Yuan told him, in order to step on Han Tao's foot while quietly holding a Sikong axe.And it's extremely useful to hold and stomp, because although Si Kongyue is still angry, he still gave Ning Zhongkun a look of approval.

Even though Sikong Yue is not smart, he has been with the emperor for a long time, so he naturally knows how much the emperor attaches importance to the matter of observing the sufferings of the people. When the west of the city was flooded, the people affected by the disaster were prevented from going to the east of the city to seek refuge. There were complaints aroused in the middle, if the emperor knew about it, he would not have to peel off his own skin.Han Tao is a martial artist, he only knows how to flatter nobles for fame and fortune, he doesn't know the threat to the superiors from the mouth of the world, but fortunately, that Ning Zhongkun is a bit clever, which can be regarded as saving him a little face.

What Ning Zhongkun said, in the eyes of the common people, it was not Sikongyue's intention that these imperial guards would block them from taking refuge, but Han Tao's doing it himself, and by the way, he gave Sikongyue a hat of worrying about the people , which made him feel extremely comfortable.

The next thing was extremely simple. After being scolded by Sikong Yue, Han Tao didn't have the courage to continue to stop him. With the withdrawal of the imperial guards, the people finally had a place to stay.

However, although the people affected by the disaster settled down temporarily, new problems appeared immediately after.

So many people want to eat, where is the food?

Because the whole west of the city is soaked in water, it is too late for people to drag their children and children when they run out, so how can they care about the food, even though Si Kongyue ordered Jing Zhaoyin to quickly go to the major grain stores that are still open to get food , but because of the flood in the city, people were rushing to grab supplies, and soon the remaining food in the capital was sold out. As for the new arrivals... In fact, there will be no new arrivals for the time being, Hua The most important commercial and trade hub in Beijing is the Jianghua Canal, and food is also shipped by shipping. But now that the flood is like this, and the embankment has burst, shipping has stopped. If you want to wait for land transportation of food, it will take at least half a month.

With so many victims, if they had no food and they were in a place like the capital, once the riots would be serious, when Sikong Yue was devastated by this matter, Ning Zhongkun actually moved out of the cart like a juggler The grain in the cart solved Sikong Yue's urgent need.

At this time, Ning Zhongkun realized how wise he was to listen to Ning Yuan's advice to stockpile food. Although he was also very puzzled, why Ning Yuan could know this in advance? Could it be that he asked Is the "He Xiangu" who came here really so powerful?

But no matter what, relying on spitting on Han Tao's face and providing a large amount of food to fill the stomachs of the victims, Ning Zhongkun made a big face in front of Sikongyue, but Ning Zhongkun also knows how to be good at being good. Everyone said that everything he did was ordered by Sikong Yue, and he put all the credit on the head of the eldest prince. For a while, the disaster victims who had food and shelter felt very sorry for Sikong Yue. The prince was full of praise and praised him as the benefactor of the people.

Such a big event in the capital naturally spread to the ears of the Liangshan Emperor. A few days later, when the rain gradually stopped and the water in the city began to recede, an imperial decree came back from Liangshan to Huajing.The content of the imperial decree is very simple. The emperor greatly praised Si Kongyue, saying that he handled this crisis very well, lived up to his status as the eldest prince, and set a good example for other princes. The commander of the imperial guards, but he acted privately and almost caused chaos. Thinking of his past achievements, he was demoted to a later examination, and changed from the orthodox commander to the deputy commander.

It's just that the official was demoted to one level but not dismissed, which was the result of Pang Song's exhortation to Liangshan overnight to plead for mercy.

On the night when the emperor's imperial decree came, Ning Yuan and that "He Xiangu" were invited into the prince's mansion by Sikong Yue.

Even if Sikong Yue didn't believe it anymore, facts speak louder than words. That day He Xiangu couldn't tell him that there must be a bad omen ten miles west of Banyue City. Now that he wants to come ten miles west of the city, isn't it the place where the Jianghua Canal broke its embankment!In addition, Ning Zhongkun also told him frankly that the reason why he had such preparations was also what Ning Yuan told him. What Ning Yuan said might be what He Xiangu said. The fluttering He Xiangu was in awe and felt that she couldn't miss this living fairy anymore, so she immediately invited him back.

With the first experience, He Xiangu can be said to be like a fish in water when she enters the Prince's Mansion again. She speaks eloquently about Sikong Yue being stunned for a while. In the prince's mansion, he said that he wanted to ask more questions about the "True Dragon Son of Heaven". In the end, only Ning Yuan and Ning Zhongkun, who was accompanying him, were sent out.

"If such an expert is recommended by His Royal Highness to the Queen Mother and makes the Queen Mother happy, it will be a good thing for us." Standing outside the Prince's Mansion, Ning Zhongkun spoke to Ning Yuan for the first time. , even though he still looks down on Ning Yuan a bit, but the arrogant attitude from before is still hidden.

This time, because of Ning Yuan's persuasion, not only did Sikong Yue have a fondness for Ning Zhongkun, but even Ning Guogong praised him for hoarding food to help the victims.Since Ning Zhongkun became an adult, he has rarely been praised by Ning Guogong. He regards this as a sign that he is about to become the son of the world. Once Sikong Yue gains power again, relying on his achievements today, his future will be impossible. Limited.

"I'm no longer a candidate, and I can't pass the imperial examination to become an official. In the future, I will have to rely more on my cousin." Ning Yuan also said with a smile.

"Don't worry, I see that you are quite a sensible person. When I inherit the title of Ning Guogong in the future, I will give you an official position." Ning Zhongkun patted Ning Yuan on the shoulder and brought With the smell of alcohol in his mouth, he was helped back by the servants.

Ning Yuan didn't go home. Long before the west of the city was flooded, he had moved out with his whole family and lived in an inn in the east of the city.Now it's time for dinner, and the smoke from every house is rising. Ning Yuan came to the junction of the west and east of the city. Here, several simple tents have been set up with bamboo poles and linen, and each tent is built with bricks and stones. There is a stove, a pot, and hot mixed vegetable porridge in the pot, and the people who are temporarily placed here, waiting for the flood to recede, line up with bowls, waiting for dinner.

Under one of the tents, Tang and Shu were covering their faces with gauze, busy around the cauldron, Zhou Shi and Bai's sisters were maintaining order, and even the young Ning Xin'er was helping to pass the bowl.

Tang shi and Shu shi volunteered to help. After all, they lived in the west of the city for so long, and when they suddenly saw something happened to their neighbors, they always wanted to help as much as they could.During this period of time, because the food reserves are sufficient and the weather is not hot, although people can only squeeze into the street, they have lived in peace, nothing went wrong, and there is no news of casualties, which is considered a blessing among misfortunes But what they don't know is that in the memory of Ning Yuan's previous life, the same time, the same place, and the same flood caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries.

In that memory, the Jianghua Canal broke its embankment due to years of disrepair and heavy rain, and the west of the city was flooded. However, due to the sudden incident, the food reserves in the city were insufficient, and the surging flood blocked the waterway, and land transportation was time-consuming. The food from outside could not be brought in, which caused a famine among the refugees, and finally triggered a riot. The hungry victims wanted to rush into the mansions of the nobles to grab food, but they were violently suppressed by the Imperial Guards, and many people died. If the treatment was not timely, the air was humid, which led to the plague, and more people died because of it. At that time, Ning Yuan was still in Jiangzhou with Sikong Xu, and he just listened to the description of the scene of corpses strewn all over the field by the people who escaped from the capital. They all feel horrible.

Let's do it again now, even if the canal's embankment break is unstoppable, at least it can be remedied from other places. At the same time, take this opportunity to win the trust of Yu Ning Zhongkun and Sikong Yue, and send the witch to the Queen Mother, and everything will be smooth. .

Today, when the concubine Yue is in full swing, it is not an easy matter to restore the Shu family, and the empress dowager is the most critical link.

"Master, you are here." Seeing Ning Yuan appear, Zhou Shi stopped what he was doing, and approached him and said, "Brother Huyan is here, and he has been waiting for the young master."

Ning Yuan nodded, he would come directly, it was Huyan Yuanchen who asked Xue Lihong to send him a letter, but he was not seen around now, Ning Yuan walked in for a while, only to see Huyan Yuanchen changed into casual clothes , standing next to another cauldron, and beside him was a noble young master, the two were distributing food while talking in a low voice, and the atmosphere seemed quite lively.

But that noble son is also an acquaintance of Ning Yuan, Meng Zhifan.

Seeing the two people chatting happily, Ning Yuan felt inexplicably displeased, and stopped in his tracks, thinking about whether he should go up to disturb him, but he didn't let him think too much, but Meng Zhifan seemed to see him first, full of emotion. He waved to him warmly.

Meng Zhifan smiled very frankly, "It's really a coincidence that I can meet Brother Ning here."

"I haven't seen Brother Meng for a long time. Why is Brother Meng here?" As a last resort, Ning Yuan stepped forward and responded politely.Ever since what happened in Chunwei, Meng Zhifan has not contacted him, and for some reason he suddenly appeared again.

"I originally went to the posthouse to look for Prince Yongyi. I happened to see him going out, so I came here together. I thought that the prince was going somewhere to have a good time. Who knew that he came here to give alms to the victims." Meng Zhifan said, On the one hand, he put his hand on Huyan Yuanchen's shoulder and patted it familiarly, and Huyan Yuanchen was wearing a mask, Ning Yuan couldn't see his expression, only the corners of his mouth curled up, as if he was smiling by default.

"It seems that the relationship between Brother Meng and the prince seems to be very good." Ning Yuan flicked his sleeves, his tone was lukewarm.

"Brother Ning knows that my hobby is playing the piano, and I only occasionally heard people say that the prince has a roll of music scores that I have been looking for all along, so I specifically wanted to ask the prince for verification. What we were talking about just now is exactly that. Regarding the score, if brother Ning is interested, why not listen to it together?" Meng Zhifan asked.

"No need, I have other things to deal with." Ning Yuan glanced at the two of them lightly, returned to Tang and Shu, and began to help them.After a while, Yan Fei pushed through the crowd and quietly came to Ning Yuan, pretending to be cleaning up the dishes with him, but whispered: "Mr. Ning, the young master asked me to send you a message that Mr. Meng is here today. It's inconvenient to talk, so don't be angry."

"Really." Ning Yuan stopped his hands and raised his eyebrows, "It's not convenient to talk to me, but it's very convenient to talk to Mr. Meng." After speaking, he shook the chopsticks in his hand and walked away.

Yan Fei was splashed on the face by a few water stars, but he still maintained the expression just now, without even blinking his eyes, staring blankly at the direction Ning Yuan left.

No, in his impression, Mr. Ning has always been gentle and refined, even speaking softly and calmly. How could he smell... a sour smell when he was so harsh?

Turning his head to look at Meng Zhifan who was still talking enthusiastically with Hu Yanyuanchen not far away, Yan Fei felt his forehead itchy, and a drop of cold sweat trickled down his temples.

He seemed to understand something.

******

This year's Queen Mother's birthday, because it is the [-]th birthday, so the emperor pays special attention to it, and it must be a big event.

As the most honorable woman in the palace, the Empress Dowager once made indelible contributions to the emperor's ascension to the throne, and she was once a master of palace fighting. Although she is now the empress dowager, theoretically no one would compete with her anymore. But she is still unwilling to be peaceful, and always likes to point fingers at the emperor's harem, and out of filial piety to the queen mother, as long as she is a woman who the queen mother dislikes, no matter how much the emperor likes it, she is not qualified to appear in the harem.

So over time, an indelible belief appeared in the hearts of the concubines in the harem. If they want to stand tall in the palace, or even skyrocket, the emperor's favor is one thing, and whether they can win the favor of the queen mother is another. .

As for this, Yuegui concubine Lu family has a deep understanding.She used to be too proud because of being too pampered, which made the queen mother dissatisfied, and the queen liked to chew her tongue in front of the queen mother, which almost caused a catastrophe, but fortunately she understood early and came to a place dedicated to the king at the right time. The trick of life can save the day.

Therefore, both she and her titular son Sikong Xu attach great importance to this Queen Mother's birthday. After returning from the summer vacation in Liangshan, they immediately began to search for all kinds of rare gifts. compare.

Si Kongxu seemed very disapproving of Yuebi's positive attitude, because he felt that he had already found an excellent congratulatory gift.

"You really don't want to tell me?" Yuebi knew that Sikong Xu had prepared a gift, so she summoned her to the palace to inquire, but unfortunately Sikongxu kept pretending to be secretive and didn't say anything, which made Yuebi very angry. Annoyed, "I heard that the Empress is also helping Sikong Yue prepare the gift. We managed to get Sikong Yue down, but because of the flood in the capital, he has already turned around. If they get the gift from the Queen Mother this time Aren’t the favors going to come to us again?”

"Don't worry, with my elder brother's brain, what else can I prepare for the gift, but it's just some red coral and jade wishful." Sikong Xu was very disapproving of Yue's concubine's worries, "Send those vulgar things up, even if you say no It will go wrong, but it will definitely not bring you anything good, unlike my gift, the Queen Mother will definitely like it."

Sikong Xu insisted not to say anything, and the concubine Yue was helpless, so she simply ignored it and devoted herself to serving the emperor. She was not reconciled to the position of a noble concubine, and the position of concubine Hui in the palace had been vacant for a long time. She had a hunch, As long as I put in more effort, after the queen mother's birthday, the concubine position will be just around the corner and within reach.