Broken Iron Clothes

=====================

The stone was obviously still firmly on the back of the hand, and with a quick turn of the hand, the stone was thrown up again and landed in Lu Sheng's palm, only two were bounced out and rolled to the side.

At the same time, a piece of tile in Lan Wangfu slammed into the ground, turned into fragments and scattered all over the place, as silent as a pool of stagnant water.

"Gao Liu's Jing Weng Fu!"

The robes were raised from the roof on the east side of Prince Lan's Mansion to the north, and the undressed clothes were swaying in the wind, accompanied by three soul-calling sounds, mournful.

The sound fell, and the robe fell in the depression of the courtyard, and the life was over.

-

In Wei Xu's palace, Lu Sheng squatted on the ground counting the stones on the back of Jiang Shiqing's hand, and said with a smile, "I haven't seen you in a year, your palm is much bigger, and Dad won't be able to take advantage of it in the future!"

Lu Sheng has a muscular body, tall and burly, and squatting on the ground to play with stones seems out of order. When Chong Jiang Shiqing smiled, it made people feel that there was tenderness in that iron frame.

"Father, thank you." Jiang Shiqing replied in a low voice, but he couldn't bear the praise anymore, and even lowered his head and scratched his face, and a violet color slipped out of his sleeve inadvertently following his movements.

Lu Sheng looked at it and frowned: "Xianfeng, where did you get the bruise on your wrist?"

Jiang Shiqing hurriedly withdrew his hands, his eyes flickered, and his voice was weak: "No... I touched it by accident."

Lu Sheng saw that he was guilty and wanted to ask a few more questions, but the steward came in to salute, and reported in a low voice: "My lord, Prince Lan is dead."

Hearing this, Lu Sheng nodded slightly to the steward, his face suddenly darkened a lot, he bowed his head in silence for a moment, then turned his head and stroked the top of Fujiang Shiqing's head, and said, "Xianfeng, daddy has something to do, you go back to your room to rest first .”

Jiang Shiqing covered his wrists in panic, nodded and hurriedly hid back in the bedroom.

The afterglow of the setting sun faded away, the startled magpie jumped off the branch, the moonlight gradually brightened, and it was already night.Princess Lifang came back from Prince Lan's Mansion, and she was exhausted and could not care about sadness.

"Brother Wang has been weak for the past two years, and there is no one to take care of him. When I visited him a few days ago, he took my hand and explained a lot of funeral affairs," Princess Li Fang sighed. "Today's matter, I'm already prepared."

Lv Sheng pinched her shoulder and had no choice but to pat her lightly to comfort her.The eldest princess turned around and took his hand, she couldn't hide the worry on her face: "It's just that the prince has only been back for a few days, and he has to be busy all day long, so you must take care of your health."

Lu Sheng brushed the broken hair on the forehead for the eldest princess, then moved to sit beside her, and said: "Earlier, I heard that there was a lot of trouble in the court because of the disclosure of the secret guard, so your majesty ordered to disclose the identity of the secret guard." According to the decree of the prince, the prince fell into the river on the way to inspect the grain road, and there was no bones left. His majesty was too worried about it and could not afford to be ill for a long time. But Haoxun lost his younger brother and sister, and it was difficult to come back when he moved to Yuzhouying for a long time. I wanted to visit His Majesty, but King Lan..."

"Now we are really at this age, and we will inevitably have to go through a few life and death. We just have bad luck in the past few years, and we have lost many people." The princess paused before asking, "I wonder if Yingzhou is still safe?" ?”

Lu Xianyun and Lu Xianhong are still in Yingzhou, and now they haven't returned home for a year. The eldest princess misses them both, and thought that they could see each other this time, but she didn't expect that only Lu Sheng came back.She was afraid that if she asked directly, Lu Sheng would feel that she was blaming her, so she could only insinuate and ask about the recent situation of the two of them.

Lu Sheng understood what she was thinking, so he explained: "Da Mo is about to make a move recently, and I decided to let Xian Yun Xianhong stay in Yingzhou on my own, so don't blame me."

The eldest princess shook her head: "They have already passed the weak crown, and they have followed the Qinghui army for many years, it is time for you to shoulder some of the burdens of the family and the country."

Lu Sheng took a closer look at the person in front of him, but the wind and sand in the past year had blown his eyes out, and now he still couldn't see him clearly by candlelight.He raised his callused palm, lightly placed it on the back of the eldest princess's hand, and said: "Yingzhou is still relatively peaceful, but I'm sorry that you are alone in the city, and you have to manage the trivial matters of the palace. It's hard work. "

The eldest princess smiled slightly and lowered her eyes, then she held those big hands in turn and said, "How long can the prince stay here this time?"

Lu Sheng shook his head and said, "It's hard to say, but I guess we won't be able to stay for long. It's a pity that there are fewer and fewer old friends. Every time I visit this city, it looks different."

It has been a long time since Lu Sheng experienced such a long night of silence and stability, and now that many old people have passed away, it is difficult for him to sigh patiently and recall the past.

"I think back when His Majesty was still the prince, the Balang and Wusen tribes were raging in the north, and the northern border was in chaos all the year round. Your Majesty was good at martial arts, so he got mixed up in the army all day long. At that time, Hao Xun and I were still young, and we acted like tigers. We talked about the difference between superiority and inferiority, so we got to know His Majesty. The three of us are brothers and sisters. We were born and died together. We made a lot of contributions and finally defended the northern border of Dali. Because of the friendship in those years, His Majesty will Make an exception and make me and Haoxun princes. At that time, this proposal was opposed by many ministers, and His Majesty knew it well. The ministers were worried that two princes with different surnames would share the military power. Sooner or later, Da Li would change his surname. Hao Xun is a life-and-death friend, bluntly saying that the relationship between the three of us has long since surpassed worldly interests, so he still gave us a reward."

Speaking of this, he bowed his head and sighed: "However, Hao Xun and I have enjoyed the treatment of a prince for more than [-] years, and we rely on military exploits to show our loyalty, but we are still terrified. If we win, others will covet us for being too powerful Threatening the royal family, if we lose, someone will question our loyalty, and it will also hurt the soldiers and the people. My brother and sister did not have a sudden change last year. When I rushed back to see Haoxun, I felt that he had lost weight. Thinking about it again, my brother and sister knew clearly I just recovered not long ago, so how can there be such a thing as a death. But if this matter is investigated, I'm afraid I will be in trouble day and night when I don't see you and Xianfeng."

The eldest princess understood what Lu Sheng meant. He was suspecting that there was something hidden behind Wen Yu's death.

There have been too many people targeting him and Yuan Haoxun in these years, but Yuan Haoxun did not pursue such a calamity in the Jingping Palace, which showed that the other party was someone he could not afford to offend, so he saw Yuan Haoxun grieved, feeling uncomfortable and worried The safety of the eldest princess and Lu Xianfeng in the city.

"The friendship between the three of us can't stand up to other people's calculations. Now that the crown prince has an accident again, only my Weixu Palace is still safe." Lu Sheng continued to say to the double-shadowed candle, " But these days are still different, and I think it won't be long before the imperial court will have sleepless nights over the establishment of a reserve."

Not long ago there was the incident of Liu Zhaoye falling into the river. Now that the funeral is over, the court mourns the loss of the most virtuous and popular prince, but no one can give an accurate explanation. It is unbelievable to spread this matter, and it is even more confusing for people to discern the facts.

The eldest princess also had some doubts about this matter, so she said to Lu Sheng: "Talking about how the prince's fall into the river happened, I have heard several explanations, but I can't understand it."

Lu Sheng said: "The grain road from Jacheng to Yuzhou has just been repaired not long ago. His Majesty originally wanted the fifth prince to go north for a tour, and then stop by the Yuzhou camp to condolences to the Xuanhe army. Who would have expected the fifth prince to go to the Yuzhou camp a few days before departure?" The prince was sick, so the prince went for him. When the appointed time came, the prince went north as usual. When the team passed the Bianwu River, a group of frightened horses suddenly rushed out and dispersed the team. The prince got off the horse and rushed straight to the river. When panicked, the horse's hooves suddenly stepped on a void, and they fell into the river with the prince. Later, the horse's body was washed downstream for people to pick up, but the prince was alone. In those few days, Hao Xun also sent people there No one can be found no matter how hard it is to salvage, even Grand Master Jiang in the accompanying team has disappeared."

"So did you find anything?" the eldest princess asked.

Lu Sheng replied: "I only know that the horses' food and grass have been tampered with, and the group of frightened horses should have been deliberately done by someone, but the person who went to the north to patrol should be the Fifth Prince, and I don't know who did it. who."

The eldest princess said sadly: "In the end, we still can't escape the disputes over political power."

"I just hope," Lu Sheng held the eldest princess's hand, "don't change again."

-

It was dark outside, and Uncle Ding stepped into the firewood room with a pile of chopped firewood, but was startled by Jiang Shiqing who was guarding the candlestick.

"Third young master should go to rest in the room at this time, why are you in this firewood room?" Uncle Ding put the firewood, and hurriedly persuaded, "It's filthy here, if you step in, your clothes will be dirty."

Uncle Ding is also very old, he has been a servant in the Weixu Palace for more than ten years, he used to be a cook, but later he hurt his waist, he couldn't stand all day, so he could only do some chores.But his back is getting more and more bent now, and he can't straighten up no matter what.

He also grew up watching Jiang Shiqing grow up.Jiang Shiqing was handsome, and he liked to laugh when he was young, and he often went to the kitchen to find him to have fun, but for some reason Jiang Shiqing's personality has become more and more shy these years, and he dare not look up when he speaks, but this young man will still remember his back Old illness, come here to give him some plasters from time to time.

"I... don't feel dirty." Jiang Shiqing looked up at him hastily.

Uncle Ding bowed his body, took the candlestick, and led the person outside the house: "There are many people inside, the third young master should sit outside."

When he got outside the house, Uncle Ding found a piece of clean old cloth and spread it on the steps for Jiang Shiqing to sit on, while he moved down a step on purpose and sat directly on the ground.

The dark night concealed the sharpness of the sun, which made Jiang Shiqing relax a little.He hesitated for a while, picking at his fingers, and then summoned up the courage to speak: "Uncle Ding, can I not go to school tomorrow?"

Uncle Ding turned his head but still avoided his eyes. He only looked down at the pair of shoes on Jiang Shiqing's feet and said, "Why doesn't the third young master want to go to school? That's a place neither the eldest son nor the second son has ever been to. You The school I went to was specially opened for princes and sons, so it is very expensive."

Jiang Shiqing's eyes dimmed a lot: "Then why can't the eldest brother and the second brother go, but I can?"

Uncle Ding replied with a smile: "The eldest princess is of royal blood. The three sons can go to the Imperial College to enroll. It's just that the prince doesn't like to make publicity and wants to take the two sons to learn martial arts, so he let the two sons learn martial arts in the mansion. Young master Born the most handsome, and unlike the two sons who like to dance swords, it is the best to go to school."

The word "handsome" is not a blessing to Jiang Shiqing.In the past few years, because of these two words, he has attracted some evil spirits with teeth and claws.

Thinking about it, he couldn't help trembling again, only dared to look down at his boots, and shrank his feet back timidly.

"But I," Jiang Shiqing bit her lower lip, and lowered her voice, "I wasn't born by my mother."

"Bah, bah, bah," Uncle Ding said in relief, "Whoever said such things to our young master, don't worry about it."

It has been 13 years, and it is inevitable that there are some gossips in Wei Xu's palace. Jiang Shiqing has heard them and remembered them all in his heart. Later, what he heard in the Imperial College was even more unpleasant, but he just endured it silently and did not dare to tell anyone.He knew that Uncle Ding couldn't comfort him, but he still responded politely: "Yes."

Uncle Ding was about to turn around when he caught sight of Jiang Shiqing's clothes, and suddenly remembered that when Jiang Shiqing delivered medicine to him a few days ago, his arm was scratched. .But when he asked at that time, Jiang Shiqing only said that he accidentally tripped while walking.

I don't know if he had any medicine for his injury, so Uncle Ding asked a little more: "By the way, is the injury on the young master's hand more serious?"

Jiang Shiqing's heart tightened, and he suddenly grabbed his robe and hesitated, "No...it doesn't matter, Uncle Ding, please rest early, I'll go first."

After finishing speaking, Jiang Shiqing stepped down the steps in two steps at the same time, and walked into the night so quickly.

"Third young master, walk slowly, beware of stumbling." Uncle Ding felt strange when he saw him leaving in a hurry, but he couldn't ask further, so he stood up with his waist and closed the door of the firewood room, and turned his head to go I went to my room.

--------------------

The original name of King Lan was Liu Jingweng, and the funeral customs are referred to from "Scholar's Funeral Rituals"

Jiang Shiqing was called Lu Xianfeng at this time, but for the convenience of reading, the name Jiang Shiqing was chosen for the description

-

Characters in this chapter:

Lu Sheng: King Wei Xu.Adoptive father of Lu Xianfeng (Jiang Shiqing), husband of Princess Lifang.

Princess Lifang: Sister of Emperor Liu Yun, adoptive mother of Lu Xianfeng.

Uncle Ding: Servant of Wei Xu Palace