I was a salted fish in ancient times

Although Concubine Lan thought so, facing her father, she helped him up as soon as she was shocked, holding back the panic in her heart and asking in a low voice: "Father, what happened?"

Gu Yan wiped away his tears, looked at Jiang Shi who was standing aside blankly with a face of not knowing what had happened, his expression was hesitant to speak.

Jiang was very puzzled, and couldn't help why he looked at her so much.

Come to think of it, she hasn't done anything stupid recently.

Concubine Lan looked at Mrs. Jiang and then at Gu Yan, and became anxious: "Father, mother, daughter has limited time to go home, what happened, you guys can tell me." Not to mention, the palace people over there urged to return to the palace , At that time, I wanted to say that there was no time.

Seeing her getting anxious, Jiang couldn't help but panic: "I don't know." All she knew was that Gu Yan desperately wanted to see Concubine Lan, and when she didn't receive the news of the meeting, she was always in anxiety, and couldn't sleep well at night. In his own yard, he was frowning with worry every day.

Seeing that he was worried all day long, Jiang was very worried, but when asked the reason, Gu Yan didn't say a word, just showed a bitter face.

Jiang always thought that Gu Yan was worried about their future after the separation of their house and the big house, and she really didn't know what he had committed, and needed to ask Concubine Lan for help.

Seeing that Mrs. Jiang really didn't know, Concubine Lan turned her attention to Gu Yan, her eyes were full of worry.

Up until now, Gu Yan had nothing to hide, so he told what was hidden in his heart.

He cried and regretted and said a lot of sad and regretful things. To sum it up in one sentence, Mr. Gu should probably be angry with him, and he has always regretted it in his heart.

Concubine Lan and Shi Jiang were dumbfounded when they heard this, and Jiang Shi's legs went limp and he fell down on the chair.

Concubine Lan widened her eyes and murmured: "How could this be?" In her impression, Gu Yan was in awe of Mr. Gu, and he didn't even dare to say harsh words. two.

How could you get mad at people?

Gu Yan glanced at Concubine Lan, then at Mrs. Jiang, with a look of shame and uneasiness: "Isn't it because I drank some wine that day and thought of some unhappy things and told the old man what was in my heart..."

Concubine Lan's eyes turned red anxiously: "What unhappy matter deserves your grandfather's troubles?"

Gu Yan drooped his head and whispered, "I just heard someone gossip..."

It's not like this kind of thing happened before, thinking about their Gu family, Gu Xuan's daughter is the queen, and his daughter is Lan Fei.At first everyone envied the two brothers, saying that they were glorious.

But gradually everyone's eyes were on Gu Xuan, because the emperor valued the prince Xiao Jin, and because Gu Xuan was the prince's grandfather.

Compared with concubines in the harem and a prince named Li Wang, the queen and the orthodox prince are always more popular and sought after.

From then on, Mr. Gu also often reminded Gu Yan that he should not deceive Concubine Lan and Xiao Shan to compete for that position.

In fact, Gu Yan didn't want Concubine Lan to fight for anything, even if it wasn't for the empress dowager's intention, he never thought of letting Concubine Lan enter the palace at all.

Concubine Lan is too soft-tempered, entering the palace is a trivial matter, but whether she can survive is a major matter.

Later Concubine Lan entered the palace. Fortunately, she was protected by the queen mother and empress. She lived a happy life and even gave birth to the third prince Xiao Shan.Regarding Xiao Shan's arrival, Gu Yan and Jiang Shi didn't think too much about it. After all, Concubine Lan and Xiao Shan had the Empress and Xiao Jin above them.

But since then, everyone seems to be afraid that they will go the wrong way, that they will fight against Gu Xuan and split the Gu family in two, that the queen will turn against Concubine Lan, and most fear that Xiao Shan will compete with Xiao Jin for the crown prince.

Every time Gu Yan thinks of these things, he feels wronged, and he doesn't want to go on the wrong path, why should everyone be on guard against him.Besides, even if he had the heart, Lan Fei didn't have the guts, and Xiao Shan didn't have the intention either.

Old man Gu was afraid that he would not be able to figure it out, so he often told him that the emperor stepped on blood to get to that position, and he had a heart-to-heart with his son fighting for the throne.As long as the prince does not commit stupidity and commit suicide by himself, the position of the prince will not be shaken, and the emperor will not forgive anyone who touches the prince at this time.

The empress and Concubine Lan came out of the Gu family together, Xiao Jin and Xiao Shan have a good relationship, and the crown prince's ascension to the throne is a good thing for everyone.

In the eyes of old man Gu, Gu Yan is really not as stable as Gu Xuan, and it would be nice if he can calm down and be praised less.

But to be honest, Gu Yan is not a saint, who is not jealous yet.

Seeing his brother Gu Xuan's official position getting higher and higher because of the relationship between the queen and the prince, he gained more and more power, but he couldn't jump around and tried to be hidden behind Gu Xuan's figure as much as possible.

Seeing this situation, Gu Yan felt uncomfortable from time to time.

Sometimes when he was drunk, he would mutter that he was also Concubine Lan's biological father, that the third prince was his grandson, and that he was also an upright relative of the emperor.

Mr. Gu also knew that they had an affair, and tried to make up for him in other aspects.

But to make up for it, to make up for it, he was still a fifth-rank official, and his two sons were sent to a bitter cold place to become a county magistrate.Gu Xuan was a high-ranking member, while his son Waifang went to Jiangnan, the richest place in the Great Zhou Dynasty, to become the magistrate.

Whenever interests are involved, this jealousy inevitably arises, and from time to time some sparks are added to it because of some things.

If there are too many sparks added, there will always be a day when it will burn.

No, some time ago, Xie Chen suddenly became an earl, and rumors spread in the capital.

A blind man was made an earl, this is a rare event that may not be seen in a hundred years.

There was unavoidable discussion in their house.

It's just that talking about Xie Chen is talking about Xie Chen, and for some reason, some servants began to privately change the topic from Xie Chen to their Gu family.

They mentioned the title of duke on Mr. Gu.

They said in private that Mr. Gu has already written a letter requesting that the title of duke be passed on to Uncle Gu. The queen's daughter, the prince's grandson.

Some people sighed and said that after Mr. Gu's hundred years, the house of Mr. Gu might not be able to catch up with Mr. Gu again.

This is the same as the father.

Gu Yan felt dizzy when he heard this.

At that time, he was both angry and hated. He drank a few sips of wine in a sullen mood that day, and took advantage of his gallbladder to find Mr. Gu.

Talking about this for some reason, Gu Yan cried like a child, saying that Mr. Gu only had Gu Xuan in his heart, and he was too partial.

The high-ranking officials didn't let him do it, let him put the queen and prince first in everything, and he couldn't even bear to leave him a title.

In the end, he also said that Mr. Gu deliberately saw that his house was defeated, just to pave the way for Gu Xuan, and if his dead mother was around, he would never treat him like this.

The angry old man's hands were shaking all the time, he was panting so fast that his face turned pale.

Gu Yan didn't see it well, and was so frightened that he became sober from the wine, and quickly took out the heart-saving pills from Old Master Gu's body and fed it to him.

When old man Gu calmed down, he left in despair.

Unexpectedly, not long after he left, Mr. Gu didn't come up in one breath, and he disappeared.

These days, Gu Yan is really afraid.He was afraid that Mr. Gu would be really mad at him, and he was also afraid that others would find out about it. From now on, he would be charged with patricide.

This is the biggest crime of treason, and all children and grandchildren will be affected.

And I don't know if there is a ghost in his mind who is thinking too much, he always feels that the way Gu Xuan looks at him these days is as cold as a knife in his mouth.

Now Gu Yan can't regret it anymore, if he knew that things would turn out like this, he wouldn't say those stupid things at all.Now as long as old man Gu is alive, he is willing to become an ordinary person.

Gu Yan said these things tremblingly.

In the end, he cried in fright.

After listening to it, Mrs. Jiang took a long time to recover. She hated iron and steel: "How can you listen to the words of those villains? They muttered in private, maybe they are trying to deliberately provoke you and your father." relation."

Speaking of this, she said bitterly: "The backyard of our house has always been clean, and the servants have never dared to talk about the master's affairs casually." When she said this, she looked a little hesitant: "The servants in the inner courtyard are all run by sister-in-law. I don't care, could it be that my sister-in-law asked someone to tell you on purpose?"

Gu Yan: "Impossible, my father's heart has always been with my elder brother and sister-in-law. What good is it good for my sister-in-law to make people do such a thankless thing? At this time, don't think too much about grabbing and biting people. A servant is also a human being. Naturally, they don’t dare to talk too much on the surface, but they see a lot of things on weekdays, so how could they not discuss it in private. But I just happened to overhear them when they talked about it that time.”

Jiang thought for a while: "That's right." Then she said angrily: "You have a clear mind now, and you can understand everything. Why did you go to find your father?"

Gu Yan moaned sadly: "Stop talking about these useless things, tell me what to do now?"

Jiang always felt that this was a coincidence, but she also knew that Yun really had no reason to do so.She couldn't produce evidence either, so she had to put the matter aside first, and then looked at Concubine Lan.

After all, the result of the matter has already been caused, and the focus should be on how to solve this matter first.

Gu Yan also looked at Concubine Lan.

Concubine Lan, who was watched by them, was under a lot of pressure and panicked. If Mr. Gu was really left by Gu Yan, what should he do?

According to her personality, even if she complained to Mr. Gu, she would find Gu Xuan and tell him that someone was talking nonsense in the backyard.

Now that Gu Yan has a guilty conscience and has missed the best opportunity, it is useless to say these things.

Concubine Lan seriously thought about it and said: "How about I talk to the empress..."

"No." Gu Yan said hastily: "My father and I have a quarrel, in the eyes of others, it is a rivalry between brothers. If the empress and the crown prince know about it, the elder brother will know about it too, and they will think we have two hearts. At that time, big brother and I will have a rift, it's not a big deal, but it's a big excuse, I'm afraid it will implicate you and the third prince."

Jiang Shi also said: "Your father is right, you must never mention this matter to others." Having said that, she looked at Gu Yan again: "When you left, was father still sober?"

Gu Yan nodded: "I'm quite sober, and even scolded me and told me to get out."

Jiang said with a sigh of relief: "You are at fault, but your father was fine when you left, how can you say that it is entirely your fault? What if your father is not angry because of your words but because of something else? .”

Gu Yan: "...There is really a possibility."

It's just that when Mr. Gu left, no one was there at all, and no one knew when he got sick.What if he collapsed as soon as he left?

He regretted it, because he was so jealous that he messed up everything.

Seeing Jiang Shi and Gu Yan's appearance, Concubine Lan suddenly covered her mouth and cried out, "Father, Mother, it's the daughter who is unfilial." If she were the queen, then Gu Yan and Jiang Shi would be the ones who would be envied. It is others who give in step by step.

Gu Yan would not complain to Mr. Gu because he felt aggrieved, and Mr. Gu's sudden death would not happen.

When Concubine Lan cried, Gu Yan and Jiang Shi stopped talking.

All three began to cry.

***

When Concubine Lan was talking to Gu Yan and Jiang Shi alone, Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui were feeding the fish in the water pavilion in the middle of Gu's pond.

Randomly throw a handful of fish food and sprinkle it in the pond, and the fish in the water will scramble to the place where there is fish food, densely packed in a large area, regardless of whether they can eat the fish food or not.

Some fish will be squeezed out of the water because of this, so frightened that they will use all their strength to dive into the water, and the tail will keep beating and splashing, and the splashing water will occasionally fall on people.

Xie Zhui saw that Xiao Shan casually threw a handful of fish food into the pond again, and said: "The prince is feeding like this, the fish will be full."

Xiao Shan looked back at the small bucket in his hand, only to see that there was still a shallow layer of fish food inside.

He smiled, put down the keg and said, "I've fed so much."

Xie Zhui patted the remaining fish food on his hands and said, "My lord's mind is not on the fish, so it's fine not to feed it."

According to Xiao Shan's peeing behavior in the past, after hearing this, he would definitely reply with a molesting word to him.

But thinking that this is Gu's mansion, Mr. Gu had just passed away, and he couldn't say anything molesting, so he said straightforwardly: "I was a little absent-minded just now."

Xie Zhui looked at him: "Would you like to talk about it, my lord?"

Xiao Shan: "It's not that I don't want to say it, it's just that I feel a little emotional for a while." Looking at the pile of fish, I suddenly felt that these princes are like these fish, and the throne is fish food.

The fish are desperately crowded, but the fish food is fixed.

Some fish will be squeezed out of the water if they are squeezed. They can look for other places without the fish food thrown by others, but if they are out of the water, they will die.

But he is a good fish, instead of crowding around here, he might as well swim elsewhere to find natural food.

After all, you can eat and drink enough to not be hungry.

Seeing his expression, Xie Zhui could fully figure out what he was thinking, so he said in a low voice: "My lord is open-minded, but I think everything has a cause and effect, so you don't have to care too much about it."

Xiao Shan nodded: "That's right, people's fate is destined. If you don't think about it, think about it too much, and you will have a headache. Let's go and wash your hands, the time is almost up."

Xiao Shan has an independent nature and never likes to be approached by others.

His habit is known to the Gu family, so there are no other people around the two of them to serve.

The two came out of the water pavilion to wash their hands, and then went to see Gu Xuan again.

Gu Xuan is a well-rounded person, otherwise he wouldn't be able to get along so well in court.

He knew Xiao Shan's temperament, so he had a conversation with Xie Zhui.

They didn't talk for a long time, and it was time for Concubine Lan to return to the palace.

Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui also left with Lan Fei's Yijia.

After Concubine Lan left, Yun felt a little puzzled, Mrs. An had always wanted to find someone from the capital to marry her child.Concubine Lan is here. On this occasion, even though she was ill, she didn't let the juniors of the An family show their face in front of Concubine Lan. It's really strange.

The old woman beside Yun said with a smile: "What's so strange about that, with Madam here, why worry about my aunt?"

Yun picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, then glanced at her: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

However, he did not refute this.

Xiao Shan sent Concubine Lan back to the palace.

Seeing that Concubine Lan was distracted frequently, he couldn't help but ask, "Concubine Mother, what's wrong with you? Is there something wrong with your grandparents?"

Concubine Lan shook her head: "It's nothing, it's just that I've been away from home for many years and went back again. I only feel that the scenery of the garden seems to be the same, but it's different everywhere. It's too sad to think about it for a while."

Seeing that her expression was the same as before, Xiao Shan didn't take it seriously.

After comforting Concubine Lan a few times, Xiao Shan came out of the palace.

After he left the palace, Concubine Lan buried herself in the quilt, thinking of Gu Yan and Jiang Shi, they obviously didn't blame her, but she felt so uncomfortable that she could hardly breathe out.

***

The capital seems to have been very lively these days.

The matter of Mr. Gu's death has not gone far, and the capital city was once again muddied by a book sent from the south of the Yangtze River.

Zhezi was sent to the capital by Wang Xin, the county magistrate of Su'an County, where Liangzhou belongs to Jiangnan.The book said that Liu Jingxuan, the magistrate of Liangzhou, covered the sky with one hand in Liangzhou, corrupted the law with corruption, and killed people wantonly.

Wang Xin's people sent the excerpt to the eldest prince Xiao Rong.

Because the Liu Jingxuan in his notebook is the direct brother of Liu Jingyi, the Crown Princess of the East Palace.

Not only that, Wang Xin was still crying blood in the notebook, Liu Jingxuan chased and killed the messenger along the way in order to avoid rumors of walking.

His letter was also sent into the capital under extremely careful circumstances, and it depends on whether he ordered to wait until the emperor's imperial envoy went to investigate the matter.

When Xiao Rong saw this excerpt, he changed from his past decadence and became excited.He went directly to the palace and handed the booklet to the emperor.

Xiao Rong could also speak this time, he said worriedly to the emperor: "Father, what Lord Wang said is of great importance, and I dare not hide it."

The emperor was furious when he saw the blood-stained Zhezi.

He immediately sent someone to call Xiao Jin over, and threw the fold on Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin knelt on the ground and picked up the booklet to look at it, his expression changed, and then he said seriously: "Father, if this matter is true, father should immediately send imperial envoys to Liangzhou to investigate clearly. False, father should also send someone to find out who is behind the false accusation. Liu Jingxuan is the elder brother of the crown princess, and in this case, my son asked to recuse himself."

When the emperor heard his words, his ugly expression eased a little, and he said: "In your opinion, who should be sent there?"

Xiao Jin: "I dare not speak nonsense, but I just feel that those who are related to Liu's family by marriage should be avoided."

Xiao Rong took the opportunity to speak: "Father, this Liu Jingxuan is the elder brother of the Crown Princess after all, and his status is extraordinary, ordinary people may not be able to suppress him. Father should send a person of high status to go."

He wished he could speak directly, let me go.

It's just that he didn't dare, so he could only suggest so.

Xiao Jin knelt on the ground without changing his face, as if he didn't care about Xiao Rong's hint at all.

The emperor looked at Xiao Rong, who couldn't hide his schadenfreude, and then at Xiao Jin, who looked calm.

Then he looked at Chang Le and said in a deep voice, "Go and find Xiao Shan for me."

Xiao Rong's face froze, a little disappointed.

It's such a time, the emperor doesn't think about him but Xiao Shan, this is not partiality.

Xiao Jin on the ground secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If the emperor sends Xiao Rong there, Xiao Jin is sure that Xiao Rong will make him admit what Liu Jingxuan committed, and he will take the opportunity to put Liu Jingxuan on what he didn't commit.

Fortunately, although the emperor was angry, he should be dubious about Liu Jingxuan's matter.

There is still room for finding Xiao Shan, and the emperor is not disappointed with him as the crown prince.

Xiao Shan came soon.

The emperor asked him to read the booklet and he read it. After reading it, the emperor asked: "The prince said that all in-laws should be avoided. Your elder brother said that someone with a noble status should be sent there. Who do you think should be sent?"

"Send no one but elder brother." Xiao Shan didn't even think about it.

The emperor didn't say a word, Xiao Rong couldn't help asking angrily: "Third brother, what do you mean by that? Are you saying in front of the emperor that I will deal with things unfairly?"

Xiao Shan raised his eyes, his face full of surprise: "Brother, how can you say that about yourself. I mean, this Liu Jing... Liu Jingxuan, right? He is the brother of the second sister-in-law, and you are the brother of the second brother. Rounding up, you are also related to him, isn't this something you have to avoid as a relative?"

Xiao Rong: "..."

The emperor's brows and eyes moved, and he said with a half-smile: "Then you are also a relative, so you can't go?"

This is a proposition, not easy to answer.