I am neither beautiful nor crazy

Jiang Qi didn't know who to listen to, the first thing he did after assuming the throne was an imperial decree to call Xiao Xiangling back to Beijing.

Because there was news from northern Xinjiang that Xiao Xiangling was recruiting troops there and hoarding a large amount of food and grass, and the people and the army even wholeheartedly supported the general.

Jiang Qi had just ascended the throne, so he didn't feel at ease handing over such a large military power to someone who didn't care about the imperial court at all.

After all, the fact that Xiao Xiangling left Beijing privately for northern Xinjiang was still a big account in everyone's mind.

"Seventh brother." In the court hall, Jiang Qi asked from the dragon seat, "You have also traveled to northern Xinjiang before, and in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, you probably have the closest relationship with General Xiao. Seventh brother thinks, should General Xiao return? What about Jing?"

Xia Zhixing on the side frowned.

Now that Xiao Xiangling holds the military power in the northern border, the officials are worried that he has the intention of treason, and if someone else fights with Xiao Xiangling at this time, it is very likely that they will be labeled as "accomplices" in private discussions.

On the other hand, probably due to Jiang Yu's outstanding appearance, and Xiao Xiangling's young and promising career, and the relationship between the two seemed extremely complicated, there were always some inexplicable taboo rumors about the two that had been circulating in the palace for a long time.

In any case, Jiang Yu could not openly say anything that favored Xiao Xiangling.

And it was precisely because of this that Jiang Qi dared to ask openly.

And after Jiang Yu replied "should go back to the capital", the other party will definitely use "you two get along very well" as an excuse to ask Jiang Yu to write a letter to ask Xiao Xiangling to come back.

But everyone knew in their hearts that the relationship between the two was far from that good.This is nothing more than a disguised form of sowing dissension and taking power with a knife.

But he didn't want Jiang Yu to play his cards according to common sense.

"My younger brother thinks that General Xiao can stay in the northern border with peace of mind."

Ignoring the disapproving eyes around him, he continued, "I have no personal relationship with General Xiao, so I don't know what the general is like. We can only judge based on objective conditions and past battle results."

"No one can completely rehabilitate the war in northern Xinjiang for more than ten years, but General Xiao can; a few days ago, the northern bandits rebelled and no one could suppress it, even two elder brothers died because of it, but after General Xiao went, although he has not completely suppressed it, But it can maintain a state of stalemate and balance. We don’t lose a single soldier, we recruit troops to expand our military strength, and hoard food and grass for emergencies, so why should Your Majesty worry about it?”

Everyone's face turned blue and red, but they really couldn't find a reason to refute Jiang Yu, so they could only give up for the time being.

"What did you think about it after that?"

Sure enough, Xia Zhixing came to his house again to ask about this matter.

"Can you have any ideas?" Jiang Yu said helplessly, "I can't ask him to come back."

"But we can't just let him stay in northern Xinjiang. It's because wolves can't change their vegetarianism. He can stop for a few years now, but after a few years, when he becomes stronger and stronger, can he reach the level where he can compete with the imperial court?"

"But why do I feel that Master Xia's intention is not to worry about him contending with the court, but to worry that he will single-mindedly target me." Jiang Yu frowned, "Is there something you are hiding from me?"

"I have nothing to hide from you!" Xia Zhixing was so angry that he almost knocked on Jiang Yu's head, "Just say how many times you have tripped him up during the time you have known each other, he pretends to be good-looking on the surface, Can you remember it in your heart? If you don't say anything else, can he remember the time you pretended to be him and sent him to prison and almost lost his life!"

"..."

"Has he said from the beginning to the end that he will stand by your side? When Jiang Chibin plotted against you before, was he facing you? It's nothing more than those interests, so it's not a disaster."

Jiang Yu sighed, sank half of his body on the roof, covered his eyes with a forearm, and said softly after a long time, "Wild wolves are naturally not well-fed. It's a disaster. I know it well."

"But before he takes actual action, I still don't agree with deliberately targeting him."

"How do you..."

"I can not do it."

Xia Zhixing stared at him for a long time, then frowned and said, "Jiang Yu, are you treating him..."

Jiang Yu slumped on the bed and did not speak.

"But there is one thing I can guarantee." Jiang Yu suddenly said softly.

"If one day we are forced to fight each other, I will not show any mercy. The sword that stabs out will not deliberately withdraw a little force."

More than ten days later, the ice and snow tended to melt, and it was the beginning of spring. The princes were invited to enjoy the spring flowers in the imperial garden, together with Xia Zhixing and other powerful officials.

The cold spring is expected, and the wind that hits the face is still a bit chilly, but the imperial garden is already in full bloom.

Everyone sat in the outdoor pavilion to watch the flowers and drink.

"This is the best sweet-scented osmanthus wine." While the maid was pouring the wine, Jiang Qi said with a smile, "This jar of sweet-scented osmanthus wine is known as the best in the world, you must try it."

Slowly pour the sake into the silver cup, only half a cup, there is a strong aroma of wine and flowers, it is indeed a good wine.

But the moment he heard "Osmanthus brewing", Jiang Yu's hand holding the cup paused slightly.

He has never drank much, and now he just takes a few sips in the spring breeze.

"how is the taste?"

"That's great." Jiang Yu replied with a smile, as if a spring breeze was blooming in the corners of his pale eyes, and the whole garden was in full bloom, and it was not half as beautiful as this smile.

It is not good.Jiang Yu put down his cup softly, thinking to himself.

Just because this is also sweet-scented osmanthus stuffing.

Probably any sweet-scented osmanthus wine that I drink in the future will taste worse than the one I drank at the General's Mansion.

After a few sips, it feels dull.This wine is strong, it burns all the way down the throat, it seems to burn the heart and lungs, making people restless.

Jiang Yu greeted everyone and said he wanted to go for a walk in the garden by himself.

Most of the flowers in the garden are colorful and attract bees and butterflies, but for some reason, Jiang Yu doesn't like the delicate and graceful flowers.

He seemed to suddenly understand why Ruoyang only liked plum blossoms back then.

Plum blossoms are tall and proud of the cold, blooming in northern Xinjiang.If it can bloom in the capital, it will definitely be a thin and ancient color among the flowers.

The current northern Xinjiang must still be icy and snowy...

It seemed that the alcohol was strong, Jiang Yu felt a little dizzy, so he leaned sideways on the tree.

A poem suddenly came to mind.

——The year is covered with snow, but there is no rosy grass to add color;

What do you mean?

After thinking about it for a long time, it seems that the person who told him this poem didn't specify the meaning of this poem in the end.

He suddenly laughed softly.

"Your Highness, Your Highness Seventh." A small guard ran over, and was startled when he saw Jiang Yu leaning against a tree and smiling, with a look of joy.

"Huh?" Jiang Yu suppressed his smile and raised his eyebrows sideways.

I didn't pay attention just now, and a few petals fell on his spotless white clothes. Coupled with those somewhat blurred eyes, it is most suitable for painting.

"Your Highness, I have a letter for you."

"Mine?" Jiang Yu looked at the opponent's hand in surprise.

It was an oversized envelope, which obviously contained more than just letters, with a small piece bulging out of the middle, which looked oddly shaped and neither fish nor fowl.

"Yes, the post boy specifically asked to deliver it to His Highness himself."

Jiang Yu frowned and didn't reach out, "Who sent it?"

"It was... sent by General Xiao from Northern Xinjiang." The guard quietly glanced at Jiang Yu's expression, and seeing that he was not angry, he tentatively handed out the object in his hand.

"Thank you." Jiang Yu took it over.

The envelope was so light, not much heavier than a piece of paper.

He subconsciously wanted to use his habit to tear the letter paper horizontally, but suddenly remembered something, turned the letter paper over, and carefully opened it along the seal.

The objects inside appeared in front of his eyes, and Jiang Yu froze in place.

——It is a letter paper, and a red plum in bud.

The plum blossoms were cut neatly, as if cut with a sharp sword.The edge of the fracture is a little dry, but it is obvious that it has just been picked, and it was delivered by a fast horse.

He opened the letter paper again, and there were three large characters written on it

Spread the letter good.

A letter and a flower were scrutinized by Jiang Yu for a long time, and when he returned, the jar of wine was almost empty.

During the time he was away, everyone's topic seemed to have shifted from Chunhua to a girl named Chunhua, and then to Xia Zhixing's beautiful girl who had reached the age of marriage a year ago but had not yet been accused of marriage. .

When Jiang Yu came back, the conversation turned to Jiang Yu.

"I heard that my father had proposed to marry Miss Xia's family's daughter to my seventh brother before, so why didn't it happen in the end?" one person asked.

Xia Zhixing hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "This matter is not my fault. It is only because my daughter already has someone she likes in her heart, and her temperament is too willful. The old minister is afraid that he will disobey and offend His Highness in the future, so he refused this matter on his own initiative."

Jiang Yu turned the cup in his hand, watching Xia Zhixing's reaction.

Of all the people at the table, he was the only one who spent the longest time with Xia Zhixing. Others couldn't tell, but he could clearly feel that Xia Zhixing behaved very disobediently whenever it came to this marriage.

What's more, whenever Jiang Yu looks into his eyes at this time, he can see Ruoyang's image in it.

This matter has always puzzled him.

"Seventh brother has also reached the age to get married." Jiang Qi said, "If you like the daughter of a family, remember to tell your brother."

Jiang Yu smiled and jokingly said, "I will tell you the truth, Brother Huang, there is indeed such a person."

"Which young lady is she? How does she look? Can she play piano, chess, calligraphy and painting? What do you like to do? What do you eat?"

Xia Zhixing gave Jiang Yu a warning look.

Jiang Yu continued to make jokes, "It's a pity that this girl is very similar to Miss Xia, and she also has someone in her heart, and she doesn't want to be with me."

The other party laughed twice, "It seems that the girl who is destined to be with the seventh brother has someone else in her heart. Why don't you give me advice for you?"

"It's not urgent." Jiang Yu waved his hand, "Don't bother Brother Huang."

When Jiang Qi mentioned this, it was obvious that he had a suitable candidate in mind, but now that Jiang Yu repeatedly refuted it, his face finally turned ugly.

The atmosphere was a bit stalemate, so one person laughed twice to ease the atmosphere, and then changed the subject, "The Northern Xinjiang sergeant is indeed the most suitable leader of General Xiao. I heard that a few days ago, there was a double-sided attack on the Beikou Mountain Road, intending to sneak attack. They were caught off guard by General Xiao, but they were caught off guard."

This topic is actually not suitable for the occasion at this time, after all, this mountain road is very suitable for ambushes, and this is also the place where the crown prince died.

"Victory is victorious, but the military information sent back from Beijiang mentioned that General Xiao was injured."

"Injured?" Jiang Yu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly raised his head, "When did it happen?"

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