The Ugly Empress

Teng Yun and his party arrived at the fief and rested for a day. On the second day, Xue Changjing came to entertain Teng Yun and Teng Shang as a landlord.

The three of He Zhong were supposed to go to the banquet with Teng Yun, but He Zhong said: "We vulgar people are not used to your sour language and fake vinegar."

Xue Changjing had just become Lord Marquis, so he was naturally very talkative. Teng Yun had already told them how to speak the night before, and He Zhong said again: "If Lord Hou doesn't mind, can the generals come to the barracks to observe?"

Xue Changjing naturally agreed. Anyway, He Zhong and the other three looked big and rough, and they were not good-looking.

So Xue Changjing asked a long follower to take his small seal, and took He Zhong and the others to the barracks, while he took Teng Yun and his party to the banquet.

The banquet was very grand, Xue Changjing didn't do much, it was prepared by the other sons of Marquis Zheng'an early on, but because Xue Changjing was the eldest son of the legitimate son, he naturally inherited the title, at first he modestly let Teng Yun sit on the table, but Teng Yun refused for a while. Suddenly, Xue Changjing really sat in the upper hand position.

The other brothers were given more military power than Xue Changjing, because they were not as famous as him, so they couldn't sit on the main seat, so naturally they would not be happy.

These people have long heard that Teng Yun is the famous Marquis of Teng Nan and at the same time King Xue's new noble concubine, and thinking of Xue Changjing's masculinity, they will naturally think about something, and the look in Teng Yun's eyes has no deep meaning up.

Teng Yun knew what they meant, pretending he didn't see it, and said with a smile: "When I was in the capital, I often heard that Marquis Zheng'an was strict in governing the army, and he was diligent and thrifty. King Xue often used Marquis Zheng'an as an example for all the officials to learn from."

Xue Changjing thought that Teng Yun was speaking politely, and even said a few words of modesty, which made the faces of the other people at the banquet table turn blue, but in fact Teng Yun was laughing at their pomp and circumstance.

Teng Yundao: "King Xue has always attached great importance to brotherhood. When I set off, the king asked me to bring a message so that you brothers can live in harmony, so as not to make people laugh."

Several people nodded hastily, but in fact they didn't like anyone in their hearts.

Everyone had just drank two glasses of wine when one of Xue Changjing's followers hurried in. Seeing his recklessness, Xue Changjing shouted: "I offended you, my lords, be careful of your head!"

Chang Sui knelt down and kowtowed, looking anxious, then whispered a few words in Xue Changjing's ear, Xue Changjing's face also changed.

He cupped his hands and said with a smile: "I'm really sorry, there's something wrong at home, you guys have a drink first, I'll take a look."

After he finished speaking, he took his long suit and hurried away.

Seeing that Xue Changjing had left, several other people couldn't help teasing, "Did the wonderful man from my brother's family cause some trouble again?"

Teng Yun pretended to find it interesting, and said along the way: "Could it be that the princess has something to look for, maybe it's because the climate is unacceptable."

The man sneered, "What kind of princess, to tell you the truth, my brother's family has raised a lot of male relatives, so you will know what kind of adults you are, and there are a few who rely on your brother's favor and are lawless all day long, making the Hou Mansion a mess. ...The Princess is here to marry, hehe, I'm afraid I'm going to be angry."

Teng Yun pretended not to take it seriously and said, "Don't talk nonsense about these things."

It's just that he knew in his heart that Xue Changjing was in such a hurry to go back, maybe it was because of these problems.

Xue Changjing didn't come back after drinking three rounds of wine. Everyone ate and drank a lot, so they were about to leave the banquet. Teng Yun said: "It's still early, why don't you go to the barracks and see how the Marquis of Zheng'an is doing?" The strategy of soldiers."

After Teng Yun had spoken, everyone did not dare to refuse, so they led Teng Yun and Teng Shang to the barracks.

As soon as they arrived at the gate of the barracks, there were only two soldiers guarding the gate. The soldiers were a little frightened when they saw Teng Yun and his party.

Teng Yun smiled and said, "It's so lively inside."

The soldiers replied: "The envoys from the capital came to the camp just now. The soldiers are going to compete with the envoys. They are inside."

A few people walked in, and there were indeed a lot of people in the training field. A tall figure on the middle platform was undoubtedly He Zhong. Throwing off the stage, there was a sound of sighs and cheers.

He Zhong hadn't stretched out his hands and feet for a long time, and he was happy to practice at this time, he stretched out his hand to wipe his sweat, and when he looked up, he saw Teng Yun and Teng Shang under the table.

Teng Yun walked over first, and said with a smile: "It seems that you and the soldiers here are pretty hit-and-miss."

He Zhong came here to feel the bottom of the barracks, now that Teng Yun came over, someone must take Teng Yun around to see the whole camp.

Although there were not many soldiers in the battalion, they were well-mannered and well-fed, and Teng Yun silently wrote them down.

After going back, Teng Shang said: "If you want to take back the military power, it may not be easy, and you have to start with the discord between the Zheng'anhou brothers."

Teng Yun nodded and said, "I think so too."

While talking, someone came over, it was a spy sent by Teng Yun, and reported that the reason why Zheng'an Hou hurried back to the mansion from the banquet was indeed because of the princess' affairs.

In Xue Changjing's mansion, there are a few favored male favorites. Although they have no status, they can be regarded as covering the sky with one hand on weekdays. Since the old Hou Ye became seriously ill, he became even more lawless. It's a big wedding in the capital, and it's still a princess, so naturally it's not happy.

When the princess first arrived at the Hou's mansion, Xue Changjing was too busy to entertain the envoys, so he forgot to beat a few people to tell them to be careful with the princess.

A few people thought that Lord Hou didn't care about the princess at all, and since Fengguo was so far away, there were only two or three maidservants around the princess, and they didn't rely on them, so they became presumptuous, and ridicule and stumbling were indispensable.

And the princess was raised pampered and spoiled in Fengguo, and Jiugong held the military power, so no one dared to show embarrassment to Jiugong's daughter.

Now that the princess was being bullied, she immediately became furious, and heard about her husband's previous actions, how could she bear such anger, and even secretly ran away with her maid.

Xue Changjing ran back to the mansion just to find the princess, and he couldn't do this kind of thing with great fanfare. If Teng Yun found out and sued Xue Junliang, wouldn't it be a great crime for him.

Hearing the spy's reply, Teng Yun and Teng Shang couldn't help but glanced at each other, feeling that something was wrong in their hearts. The reason why Feng Ming married the princess must have put people around him so that he could find an opportunity to send troops. After all, sending troops must be justified. It's just that everyone must have never thought that the princess could not bear it so much and ran away as soon as she got married.

Teng Yun couldn't sit still now, and wanted to go back to Beijing to report the news, but the military power of the Marquis of Zheng'an must be taken up. Feng is also a big country, and if there is a war, it will definitely need a lot of troops. If you try your best, fighting in the nest will be difficult.

Seeing his thoughts, Teng Shang couldn't help shaking his head, sighed that Xue Junliang had such great ability, and said: "It doesn't matter if I am alone in the matter of withdrawing troops. You have also seen these two days, Xue Changjing doesn't have much prestige."

Teng Yun did not speak, Teng Shang paused, and continued: "If King Xue sends you to Mingshui, you can recommend Teng Xin as the vanguard. Teng Xin has been under house arrest in the suburbs of Beijing since he was captured. He is a man with great ambitions. , as long as you are entrusted with a heavy responsibility, you will definitely do your best."

Teng Yun nodded, "I entrusted this place to my uncle."

Teng Shang said: "I'm not in a hurry to leave now. If you get up and leave, Xue Changjing will become suspicious and let people pretend that King Xue is calling you back urgently, so you can leave sooner."

Teng Yun complied, and Xue Changjing came over in the afternoon to be courteous, saying that he wanted to make amends, but in fact he was trying to appease Teng Yun so that Teng Yun would not become suspicious, but unfortunately Teng Yun already knew about it.

At this time, a guard came over, knelt on the ground and said that there was an urgent matter in Beijing, and asked Teng Nanhou to return to Beijing to deal with it.

Xue Changjing was eager for him to leave, and he didn't suspect anything, so he immediately ordered troops for Teng Yun, and prepared a pile of gold and silver to please Teng Yun.

Naturally, Teng Yun accepted it correctly, and asked his subordinates to seal the box and send it back as food and salary.

A group of people hurried to the capital. As they approached the capital, Teng Yun suddenly remembered Teng Shang's words. If the two countries go to war, Xue Guo will not lack counselors and capable men, but the only thing missing is generals who can play the vanguard.

Although the three of the He family are brave and good at fighting, they are irritable and not suitable for pioneers. Teng Xin is different. Teng Xin has always been calm and decisive. If King Teng did not force him to die, he might be an honest prince for the rest of his life.

Although Teng Yun and Teng Xin were not born of the same mother, and their friendship was not too deep, they knew Teng Xin's character and ability well.

As soon as Teng Yun's team approached the capital, Xue Junliang got the news. He didn't expect Teng Yun to come back so soon, but the person who reported said that Teng Nanhou seemed to be in a hurry and dressed lightly.

Xue Junliang immediately guessed seven or eight points. He himself ordered people to go out of the city to pick up Teng Yun, but soon someone came to report that Teng Nanhou suddenly changed his direction ten miles away from the capital and went southeast.

There is a courtyard in the southeast of the outskirts. At first, it was a hunting and traveling garden for King Xue, but later a better one was built, and this place was abandoned, and then gradually became a place of confinement.

There are many high-ranking ministers who cannot be beheaded, and they will be locked up here. Teng Xin has been living in Xingyuan since King Teng surrendered.

Although there were many guards in Xingyuan, they didn't prevent people from entering. Teng Yun entered the gate smoothly when he arrived.

The yard was a bit depressed, because there were very few servants serving here. It was just after noon and the sun was very warm. Teng Yun didn't need to ask anyone where Teng Xin was, but he saw a person sitting on a wicker chair with his eyes closed. , basking in the sun in the yard.

There was no one in the yard at this time, and a small teapot and two cups were placed on the small table, both filled with water.

Teng Xin said with a smile: "The Marquis of Teng Nan is here, the place is shabby, don't be surprised."

Teng Yun walked over and sat down opposite him. The rattan chair was very hard and the workmanship was very rough. Teng Xin opened his eyes and pushed the teacup on the table to signal Teng Yun to drink tea.

Teng Yun picked up the teacup, the tea was obviously cold, and said, "You knew I would come?"

"I don't know."

Teng Xin said bluntly: "It's just that I have been waiting for Lord Hou."

He paused, stood up, and said: "Although the life here is very leisurely, except for eating and sleeping, it's just that this is not what I expected."

"Then what do you expect?"

"Leading soldiers, training soldiers..."

Teng Yun nodded and said, "If this is your wish, I will recommend you to try it."

A gleam of light suddenly flashed in Teng Xin's indifferent eyes, and said: "If Teng Xin can still get out of this other courtyard, he will remember the great kindness of Lord Marquis."

Before Teng Yun could say anything more, someone laughed and said, "There's no need to make a recommendation, it's just decided like this."

A group of people came in from the hanging flower gate in the courtyard, and Xue Jun was the leader.