Ning Chen Ling Xiao

Being bored in the mansion for a long time, Ling Xiao went to Lan Cui Xuan when the family had nothing to do during the new year. The business of the two Lan Cui Xuan is still booming. Seeing that it was Ling Xiao who came, the person in charge hurriedly welcomed him to the inner room to serve tea. Showed Ling Xiao this month's account book, bowed and smiled: "Business is very good this month. During this festival, the ladies and ladies have made a lot of money. Our side is doing well, but the semicolon side is not doing well because of it. It is next to Jingtou and Huali alleys, and the people living there are all nobles, and they were sold out at the end of the year, so they transferred a lot from us."

"Well..." Ling Xiao finished flipping through an account in a short while, and ordered lightly, "Business will definitely be good on the fifteenth, so prepare the goods in advance."

The principal quickly responded, Ling Xiao put down the account book, took a sip of tea: "Has Qin Long been here recently?"

"I've been here." The chief nodded, "I still put something in that box, locked it and left."

Ling Xiao put down the teacup, knowing the master, bowed out.

Ling Xiao went to open the big box. Inside were just some large copper and tin decorations. Ling Xiao lightly pressed the side of the box wall, and a hidden compartment popped up. Ling Xiao took a small key with him and opened the hidden compartment. Taking out a few pieces of letter paper inside, Ling Xiao looked at it by the dim candlelight, closed his eyes and tried to remember everything on it, opened the letter paper again and read it again to make sure he remembered it, then took off the lampshade He moved the letter paper to the candle flame and waited until the flames licked the letter paper clean before turning and leaving.

There is nothing to do in the first month. Ling Xiao just spends time with Mrs. Shi, Ling Yi, and chatting about family affairs every day, or plays chess and eats dried fruits with Lord Ling. After dinner this day, Lord Ling left Ling Xiao again. chess.

Literati and refined scholars all love to play chess. They sit facing each other holding black and white pieces, and with a pot of famous tea, they are full of elegance without saying a word.

But Lord Ling Hou and Ling Xiao have always played chess with each other in a box of dried fruit. Although they eat well, they are not very elegant when compared to each other.

Fortunately, the chess skills of the two are excellent, and they don't care much about the dried fruit and thin skins floating on the board. Every game is worthy of evaluation.

"Are you still investigating Zhang Ji's affairs?" Master Ling took two walnuts, and with a skillful hand, he peeled out two whole walnut kernels. Master Ling put them in his mouth and smiled, "You If I win this game of chess, I will tell you, lest you waste your time like a headless chicken."

Ling Xiao regained his energy when he heard the words, and spent a long time thinking, but in the end he still lost the three sons.

Ling Xiao smiled lightly, and Lord Ling looked at his expression, and said with satisfaction: "Not bad, neither arrogant nor impatient."

Ling Xiao poured a cup of tea for Lord Linghou, who sighed and said, "The Zhang family has made great achievements for generations, who would have thought that it would be Zhang Ji's here... Sigh..."

"That's why my grandson wondered why General Zhang raised his troops and rebelled. What's even more strange is that after the court calmed down the matter, he didn't go into it..." Although it's been almost half a year since he came back from the north, Ling Xiao's doubts are still there. , "This is really unreasonable."

"You know, when the princes were fighting for the crown in the early years, the princess loved you and the pheasant so much that they would avoid seeing you for many years, which shows how fierce the battle for the crown is." Linghou said lightly, "At that time, the dignitaries in the court had some thoughts. They were all standing in line, and this was nothing more than a betting matter. At that time, the prince... was King Jing, who valued General Zhang very much, but...General Zhang never responded to King Jing's kindness, and even sent King Jing to The treasures that came to his mansion were directly transported to the court in the early court, that's how it is when water and fire are incompatible."

Bring a treasure that a prince gave him to the court to sue the emperor... Ling Xiao laughed, how much does Zhang Ji hate the prince?

Ling Xiao said: "Later, when King Jing came to power, he didn't even deal with Zhang Ji... Zhang Ji and the prince had a grudge, and the sage could let him hold the army? Or is this incident planned by the prince?!" Ling Xiao The more I think about it, the more I can't figure it out. How chaotic were the princes when they were earning money?

"Hehe, the crown prince is the crown prince, but it is not so easy to kill a general who has made great achievements for generations." Ling Hou said with a smile, "It is impossible to say that the crown prince planned it. The world will be his from now on. In order to get rid of a person who had made enemies with me in the early years, he almost provoked a war with the Xiongnu, which is impossible."

"As for why the Holy Majesty dared to use Zhang Ji, hey...the Holy Majesty has always believed in Zhang Ji's loyalty. He thought that when the dragon's body was really bad, he would recruit Zhang Ji back and reward him with a idle job for the rest of his life. After all, it was a step too late. ..."

"That's why Zhang Ji raised his troops?" Ling Xiao followed his own train of thought, "At that time, the holy dragon was ill, and Zhang Ji was afraid that the crown prince's succession would be bad for him, so he turned against him?" Ling Xiao faintly felt This is not right, and there seems to be an even greater mystery behind it.

"People in the court who know about this now think so. This is related to some obscure things that the prince used to fight for the reserve, which is inconvenient to tell outsiders, so I try to suppress it as much as possible." Lord Ling sighed, "Once A thorough investigation will uncover remarks that are unfavorable to the prince, now that the major event has been decided, and Zhang Ji has committed suicide, it is useless to say more."

Ling Xiao nodded and agreed. He knew that Lord Ling was afraid that the prince would be furious if he found out that he had investigated his early years, but Ling Xiao had a faint thought in his heart. It seemed that it would be good to dig out some things that were not good for the prince...

Lord Ling looked at Ling Xiao and couldn't help but think of what he said to the old emperor the night before the army returned...

"Old brother, this is the title I proposed for Feng'er, what do you think?" The old emperor's face turned pale due to his serious illness.Lord Ling received the imperial decree, frowned and said: "The second emperor's grandson has made great military achievements, but now he is crowned king..."

"What's the matter?" The old emperor smiled, "He can't afford it?"

Lord Ling bowed and said: "Of course I can afford it, but please think twice, my lord, King Hui is the most talented among the four grandsons, and he is also the eldest son. Wang, although it is to show off the military exploits of the second emperor and grandson, but this will always give people some basis for speculation, and they will think that you disagree with the crown prince on the matter of setting up a heir in the future."

"The prince suffered a lot in the early years of fighting for the heir. It can be seen from the fact that the four grandsons are born under the princess's knees. The prince hopes that the princes and grandchildren will be harmonious in the future." Ling Hou looked at the old emperor's face that was gradually cooling down. Without any fear, he continued, "Now the sage wants to promote the second emperor's grandson to the lower position. When the emperor's grandsons start to focus on the position reserve, the hidden dangers buried now will be revealed. I am afraid that I will not be able to see it because I am old. , just worried about the future turmoil in the court.”

The implication is that you will be fine when you die, and the decisions you make now will harm future generations.

The old emperor laughed: "Forget it... Only you dare to talk to me like this, Chunqiu... I know that you were very dissatisfied when I was not in a hurry to establish a crown prince. I understand that you hope for harmony between the court and China, and avoid fighting." Okay, but... the court is getting more and more harmonious, will the Chu Dynasty still be harmonious? I just want to choose the best emperor for the world, and I also want my descendants to be harmonious, but now I don’t think about danger in times of peace. In the future, the enemy will come from outside Calling in, can it be handled peacefully?"

"I didn't like Feng'er before, I have no brain..." The old emperor smiled, "But it's different now. That day when Xiao'er knelt outside the council hall, I figured it out. Think about it when I raised an incident back then. When did you ever have a brain? It was just because of a momentary anger, and didn't you rely on the support of your old brothers? It was only later that I gradually understood these things. From this point of view, Feng'er may not be able to do this well. .”

"Of course, I'm not saying that I'm going to pay attention to Feng'er, I just don't want to let Jin'er be the reserve position in the future." The old emperor smiled at Lord Ling, "What are you afraid of? The iron scroll of the founding of the country is to protect your descendants. Xiaoer will not be wrong in this life. I have to explain everything that can happen in the future. As for the future, it depends on the fortune of the children and grandchildren Bar."

……

"Grandpa?" Seeing Lord Ling in a daze, Ling Xiao called out in confusion, "Grandpa, what's the matter?"

Master Ling came back to his senses, smiled and said: "It's okay, it's getting late, you have to enter the palace tomorrow, you should rest early."

The next day Ling Xiao went to pay New Year's greetings to the Crown Princess, and when he arrived, he saw Wei Qinglan and Wei Qingyu were already there, and everyone sat down in order.

"Qingyu seldom comes this year, come here..." The princess looked at her little nephew and smiled, "Let my aunt see...he has grown a lot taller." She hugged him for a while and asked again : "Can you go to school?"

Wei Qingyu smiled: "I have also studied with Master for a few years, so-so."

"Hehe, the men of the Wei family are all generals on horseback. How many of them are as civilized as your brother?" The princess thought for a while, then smiled, "It's better to come to the palace to talk to Yan'er and the others since they have entered school. Let’s learn, your elder brother Xiao’er is not young anymore, I don’t need to say that the crown prince wants him to go to court in less than a year, and he will have to find a companion to study at that time.”

Wei Qingyu turned to look at Ling Xiao when he heard the words, Ling Xiao put down his tea and said with a smile: "Auntie is worrying too much, I'm not in a hurry, I can spend a few more years with the fourth grandson."

The concubine caressed the concubine's bun, and smiled lovingly: "I know you are the most filial, and I am relieved to have you taking care of Yan'er, but I can't delay you too much. After the new year, you are already nineteen. One big event after another, you have already taken on several positions, the Holy Majesty has long intended to let you enter the court, and if I detain you in the Faxinyuan, I will delay you."

Ling Xiao had thought of these things a long time ago, and nodded and smiled.

"Go back and tell your parents, just say that what your aunt said is that she wants you to come into the palace to study with the fourth emperor's grandson, and ask your parents what they mean." Qinglan said, "If he can't explain clearly, you can help to tell brother and sister-in-law."

Wei Qinglan quickly agreed: "Thank you, Auntie, for your kindness."

Although it was said that she wanted to go back and ask Wei Zhengfu what she meant, but the princess also knew that her brother would not refuse such a good thing. The princess loved Gu's natal family very much. It can be seen from the fact that the palace is the emperor's grandson's companion, the princess is doing her best to pave the way for the children of her natal family.

The Crown Princess smiled at Wei Qinglan again: "You won't be able to escape this year. Speaking of which, you are half a year older than Xiao'er. Last year, your father and I asked you to enter the imperial court and you just refused. How are you doing now?"

Wei Qinglan smiled indifferently: "My aunt knows me. She is the most impatient about those official affairs, so she can stay clean by hiding in the letter courtyard. If my aunt loves me, at least let me stay until the king of England is weak. I will enter the court with the King of England."

The concubine also knew the temperament of her nephew, so she smiled at him helplessly.

The concubine said to the female official again: "Go, call Yan'er, Xiao'er and people from the grandfather's family are here to pay New Year's greetings, let him come and see."

The female officer responded.

Ling Xiao lowered his head and smiled, feeling that this scene was extremely familiar.

Not long after, Chu Yiyan came, followed by Chu Yifeng who hurried over after hearing the news.

This was the first time the two met after the new year, plus they were here to pay New Year's greetings, Ling Xiao straightened his clothes and bowed down, Chu Yifeng quickly helped Ling Xiao not to kneel down, Ling Xiao took his hand without any trace Chu Yifeng couldn't help but feel a little shy, thinking about the things Ling Xiao had told him to pay attention to outside, he took a step back and let Ling Xiao salute.

"Okay, it's all close relatives who don't have so much courtesy." As he spoke, Chu Yiyan stepped forward, hugged him and said with a smile, "Your cousin Xiao'er will enter the court almost this year, I know you like him, but you can't After delaying Xiao'er's official career, your mother picked you a good companion, Yu'er, you are also familiar, and you are the same age, so you can accompany you to the weak crown."

When Chu Yiyan heard that Ling Xiao could not be his companion, he was so wronged that he wanted to cry, but the princess coaxed him to say that it would be better if Wei Qingyu could be his companion, but there was still a little grievance, Ling Xiao smiled and said: "It didn't say that I should enter the court immediately, and even if I can no longer serve the emperor's grandson, it will be easy for me to meet in the future."

Chu Yiyan nodded, which was better.

After talking for a while, Chu Yifeng stayed Ling Xiao for a long time by asking Ling Xiao to have lunch in the Begonia Courtyard.

After entering the Begonia Courtyard, Ling Xiao let all the attendants go down, and as soon as he closed the door, he couldn't wait to hug his waist and kiss him. The two haven't seen each other for many days, but they feel as if they have been separated for a year, and they are full of longing Coming out, Ling Xiao hugged Chu Yifeng lovingly and kept stroking his body, and said softly: "Do you know what I was thinking just now..."

Chu Yifeng felt something in his heart: "Well... I think that when we met for the first time that year, it was similar to the situation just now..."

Ling Xiao chuckled, leaned on the couch with Chu Yifeng in his arms, and took his hand to let him touch the concentric jade pendant in his underwear. Without further words, the friendship of classmates since the first meeting, Haitang The tacit understanding of eating and sleeping at the same table in the courtyard, and the touch of sharing life and death on the battlefield gathered together. Ling Xiao buried his face in Chu Yifeng's cool hair, unknowingly, it has been so many years.

Ling Xiao lowered his head and kissed Chu Yifeng's forehead, and said softly, "Did you eat well these days?"

"Well... the candied haws you sent are delicious, and I ate them all. The more I eat, the easier I get hungry, and the more I eat." Chu Yifeng smiled naively, "I also use the hand stove you gave me, look Small but stays warmer longer than other hand stoves and is not as hot."

Ling Xiao smiled and didn't bother to explain the principle to him, so he rubbed his head: "When your hands are cold, remember to ask them to put carbon on you. This winter is very cold, so take care of yourself. I'll eat the one you like, and I'll eat it when I come back." Have someone bring it to you, and eat well." Chu Yifeng agreed, holding Ling Xiao in his arms, rubbing his ears together.

The two ate a meal affectionately before Ling Xiao wanted to go back. Before leaving, Ling Xiao saw that Chu Yifeng was still in love, afraid that he would feel uncomfortable, pinched his face, turned around and smiled, took off his robe, and changed his inner clothes Giving it to Chu Yifeng, it seems obscene, only Ling Xiao and Chu Yifeng know the meaning of it, Ling Xiao remembered that in Tingfeng Pavilion that year, he accidentally gave Chu Yifeng an underwear that he didn't wear, he would cherish it very much, went up He just put it on on the battlefield, and now he simply puts on what he is wearing now, which means that no matter how stupid his child is, he will understand it.

Chu Yifeng's heart warmed up, and he felt better when he thought that he would not be able to see each other for many days. Ling Xiao helped him put on his robe, hugged him again, and said softly, "Be obedient and eat well."

It would be inconvenient to leave the palace no matter how late it was, so Ling Xiao asked the Eunuch Zhang of the Begonia Courtyard to go after a few words.