Once magnificent, now brilliant

The battle is imminent, various arrangements are intensive, and the capital is also slightly chaotic.Guards have been strengthened in the city, but a curfew has not yet been set, which is also worried about the floating of people's hearts.

The courtyard house is located in a deep alley, so you can't feel the hustle and bustle of the street, but it is clean for Qi Xiang.

That evening, Shi Zhou brought news.

"Has Master eaten yet?" Qi Xiang asked.

"No. The news is urgent, let them eat first, and I will come and tell you first." Que Shizhou sat down and said.

These people under them have also stayed in Beijing for a long time. No matter how to check the news, there is a private and secret channel, and it is easy to follow and squat. They are very familiar with the alleys and alleys in Beijing.

Qi Xiang said, "Let's talk while eating over there."

But Shi Zhou waved his hand, "It's not too late, I'll finish talking to you first, you think about what to do next."

Qi Xiang is not hungry at the moment, and the news is important, so he said: "That's good."

But Shi Zhou will find out one by one, "That 'Brother Cao' Cao Guangming is not difficult to find out, he is a distant relative of He Li, Minister of the Ministry of household affairs, and He Li arranged for him to enter Ziying. Jinziying is usually fine. You only need to tap a Mao to go home, this Cao Guangming doesn’t go to He Li’s place very often, but in recent days he’s gone frequently, he’s going through the back door, obviously he doesn’t want others to see him.”

Qi Xiang nodded and didn't interrupt.

But Shizhou continued: "He Li has been going to the third prince's mansion every day for the past few days, and all he goes to and from is through the back door. He wears ordinary coarse clothes, not the silk and satin that officials usually wear, and he doesn't even have a hair crown. Dai. As for what he discussed with the third prince, it is not clear. The third prince's residence is strictly guarded, and it is difficult for our people to approach."

"In addition, a little later yesterday, two girls came out of the He Mansion, one was dressed luxuriously, and the two got into the carriage and went to the Third Prince's Mansion. The carriage returned at dawn today. The people under my command didn't know who the girl was Who, but come back and tell me, I guess it might be the lady from the He family."

Qi Xiang frowned, "Why do you see that?"

"The He family's female family members are few, and they can come out dressed so well, and they are about the same age. This girl goes in and out of the third prince's residence. I don't know how Bai Junyu will react when she finds out." But Shi Zhou looked a little gloating, I didn't see the stability of the elders at all.

Shi Zhou already knew about Bai Junyu's intentions for He Yuen. Now that He Yuen was staying overnight at the Third Prince's Mansion, if nothing happened, he would not believe it.Now it's obvious that He Yuen didn't take a fancy to Bai Junyu at all, but wanted to cling to Gao Zhi, and the third prince didn't have a concubine yet. Thinking about it this way, it's normal for He Yuen to have some schemes.

"It seems that He Li is in the third prince's faction. He Yuen will dress up and go to the third prince's mansion in a high-profile manner, and he will definitely be a good man. If the third prince promises to marry He Yuen, it will indeed make He Li work better for him. As for this service The result is whether the two sides are happy or become an abandoned son, it is not a loss for the third prince." In addition to the fact that he accidentally ran into him before, Qi Xiang can already be sure that it is impossible for He Yuen to marry Bai Junyu.

This was a blow and embarrassment to Bai Junyu, but Qi Xiang felt very good about it.It was impossible for him to let He Yuen marry Bai Junyu in the first place, but now He Yuen chose it himself, which saved him a lot of trouble.It's just that Bai Junyu's side, he can't talk about it, he can only wait for Bai Junyu to find out by himself, and it can be regarded as saving face for Bai Junyu.

"So what are you going to do next?" Que Shizhou asked with his elbows on the table.His apprentice has always been right-minded, and hardly needs his brains.

Qi Xiang thought for a while, and said: "Now that the prince has grown up, the situation in Beijing has already begun to become tense. Now that the third prince has been reprimanded, and the fourth prince has shown his talents, although he is trying his best to pretend to be dull, but the emperor will follow this, and the third prince may not Eat. Now that the fourth prince is going to fight again, this seems to be a good opportunity to claim merit, but if he wins, the emperor will be afraid, and if he loses, his life will be in danger. Prime Minister Zuo is the grandfather of the third prince, so he didn't ask for a fight for the third prince, so I'm afraid he thought of this layer."

"The third prince has colluded with the household department, and the household department will also contribute to the arrangement of food and grass during the war. They have been in frequent exchanges these days, how do you know that there is no conspiracy on this?"

Shi Zhou nodded.

"Master, let people keep an eye on the person in charge of food and grass and Cao Guangming. He Li is also on the side. Tell me if you have anything to do." Qi Xiang's expression was serious.If he guessed correctly, Bai Junyu might be in danger. If he was just paranoid, then he couldn't do much.

"Okay, I'll go back and make arrangements." But Shizhou got up to leave.

"Master, let's go after eating here." Qi Xiang felt that there was no need to be in such a hurry, and nothing could be done for a while.

But Shizhou said with a smile: "The preparations for this time's dispatch of troops are in a hurry, so don't keep an eye on them for fear of missing something. I have food left, so I won't starve you, Master."

Qi Xiang also smiled, "Then master, go slowly."

But Shi Zhou came out of the room, stopped again, and asked, "Would you like to send Bai Junyu off?"

Qi Xiang said without hesitation: "I won't go. It is estimated that He Yuen still has to do all the acting, and he will definitely go to see her off. When I quarrel with her again, it will not be good for my reputation."

But Shi Zhou laughed even wider, "Okay, as long as you are happy."

Qi Xiang was not going to send Bai Junyu off, but Bai Junyu came to look for him the night before the expedition.

When Bai Junyu came this time, he brought the books, tableware, etc. that he agreed to give him last time, and Bai Ru carried them over.

"Is it okay for you to come out now?" Qi Xiang thought that at this time, Bai Junyu should stay with the soldiers on the expedition.

Bai Junyu smiled and said: "It's okay. I was originally asked to go home and listen to my parents. It's not the first time I've gone out to war. My father just reminded me a few words."

Qi Xiang led Bai Junyu into the room and asked Pan Butler to serve tea, "I heard from Xianxuan that you are going to go out with the fourth prince this time, so you have to be more careful. The fourth prince's expedition seems to be a good thing, but the danger involved is immeasurable .”

"I understand." Bai Junyu felt comfortable with Qi Xiang's exhortations, and friends should have such exhortations, "I am going out this time, as short as two months, there is no fixed number, and the fourth prince is not here, so you have to be extra special when you go out." Be careful."

He came this time to instruct Qi Xiang on this matter.

Qi Xiang smiled and said, "Don't you know me yet? I won't go out for half a month for nothing, don't worry."

"It's not because I'm afraid that you will cause trouble, but because I'm afraid that others will trouble you. I have already told my parents that if you are in trouble, you can go directly to the Fengbei General's Mansion and stay there. If my grandmother and uncle make trouble for you, you don’t have to worry about it. I’m afraid that other people will get into trouble, and you won’t be able to guard against it. It’s not convenient for me to arrange people to follow you, it’s too conspicuous, and you have to take care of everything.”

It is self-evident what Bai Junyu is worried about, he is not here, but the Minister of the Household Department is here.

Bai Junyu's concern for Qi Xiang was naturally appreciated, and he also comforted him: "You don't have to worry, I will go to the Taifu first if there is something to do. If the Taifu can't handle it, then bother General Fengbei. But strengthening the guards in Beijing should help By the end of the war, there will be so many soldiers patrolling the city, and all parties will be restrained, and it will not be easy for someone to make trouble out of it."

What's more, he is not a fish to be slaughtered. If someone really comes to make trouble, he can only let people come in vertically and go out horizontally.

"Having said that, it's always right to be extra careful."

"Understood. I wear the peace talisman you asked for, and it will definitely keep me safe."

Bai Junyu smiled, "I hope so. The army will set off before dawn tomorrow, so you don't have to come see me off."

Qi Xiang didn't want to go, but he couldn't say that in front of Bai Junyu, "Then when you come back, I'll serve you a celebration drink."

"Okay." Bai Junyu looked at Qi Xiang, and couldn't move his eyes. The candlelight in the room was not very bright, which illuminated Qi Xiang more softly, and even the scars faded a lot. His eyes were like bright stars, and his face was like beautiful jade. It was the same as usual Different gentleness, also don't have some elegance.

Early the next morning, the army set off.

But Shizhou also temporarily moved to the courtyard.He was also worried, the fourth prince and Bai Junyu were not in the capital, and he was also afraid that someone would take the opportunity to make trouble for Qi Xiang.Although Qi Xiang can handle one or two, it is safer to have him around.

After lunch, Qi Xiang stood in the courtyard, looked at the gloomy sky, and felt that this was not a good day for going out. If it rained, Bai Junyu would definitely catch up.

But Shizhou put the jar of medicine on the stove and said, "This man is getting older and less sleepy, so he wakes up early."

Qi Xiang was distracted by him, turned to look at Master, not knowing what Master was going to say.

But Shizhou went on to say: "So I had nothing to do, so I went to see the army going out. As you expected, that Miss He did go, crying pear blossoms with rain, and no emerald on her body. She looks very plain. It looked like he was worried about Bai Junyu and didn't care to clean it up. I almost believed it."

Qi Xiang laughed out loud, "Almost?"

"Yeah," but Shi Zhou seemed to be talking about drama, "then she went back to the mansion, and after I finished eating at the breakfast stand, I saw her go out in a beautiful way, with no haggard or worried look on her face. This girl should be a good hand in the harem."

Qi Xiang didn't know what to say, "That's fine, at least let Jun Yu finish the battle with peace of mind."

But Shizhou said with a smile: "Of course he can finish the battle with peace of mind. After all, you have made all the arrangements, haven't you?"

Raindrops fell and hit Qi Xiang's nose, "It's raining..."

But Shi Zhou urged him, "Go into the house quickly, don't get wet in the rain and get sick. Prepare some meat for roasting to eat at night. Wouldn't it be nice to have barbecue with a jug of wine on a rainy day?"

The army rushed to the border in a mighty way, and the rain was less when going north, and the weather was hot, so there was no need to pitch a tent when resting, and sleeping on the ground was common.

Freshly hunted roe deer, wild boar, etc. were roasted on the bonfire. There were not many of them, and they were extra meals for the soldiers.It will take some time for them to reach the border, and the food and grass they carry will have to eat at the border for at least two months, so if they can hunt some game on the way, they can save a lot of food.

Soldiers are motivated only when they are well fed.At this time, they were all sitting together in groups of three or four, chatting about things in their hometown, chatting about rumors on the battlefield, chatting about how to spend the rewards they won after winning battles, and waiting for the game to be cooked.

Bai Junyu didn't choose to sit with the soldiers. He and Rong Cang monopolized a fire, on which pheasants were roasted, and a beggar chicken was buried under the fire.

Rong Cang changed from the elegant and luxurious in Beijing, wearing refined armor, eating and sleeping with the soldiers, without complaining or disgusting, just like a veteran who has rolled many times on the battlefield.Rong Cang's easy-going attitude also made the soldiers feel good about it. They were going to fight, so naturally they didn't want an ancestor in the army to serve him after the battle, it would only make them see the difference between noble and humble.

Rong Cang drank a jug of wine, but he didn't dare to drink too much, for fear of delaying tomorrow's trip.

Bai Junyu looked at the fire and remained silent.

"What are you thinking about? You're so preoccupied." Rong Cang cut the pheasant on the wooden frame with a dagger, but it wasn't cooked through and had to be roasted for a while.

Bai Junyu returned to his senses, smiled lightly and said, "It's nothing. Seeing that His Highness is adapting to life in the army like this, I feel relieved."

Rong Cang took another drink and said with a smile, "Maybe it's because I've been in Beijing for a long time, and I'm tired of it. Now I'm free from the four walls."

"That's right. The battlefield is dangerous, but Beijing and China are not safe. It's all the same." They stayed away from the crowd, so they didn't have to be too cautious about speaking.

"That's right." Rong Cang switched legs, "You've been in a daze for the past few days, what's wrong?"

"No." Bai Junyu said, "I just miss my family."

For some reason in the past few days, he would think of Qi Xiang when he rested, think of Qi Xiang's sleeping face and his appearance by candlelight, and worry about how Qi Xiang is doing now.But he couldn't tell Rong Cang these things, and it was useless, so he made an excuse.

Rong Cang believed it. He also knew what happened to the Bai family before, and it was normal for Bai Junyu to be worried. "Actually, you don't have to worry too much. General Fengbei will be able to handle it well."

Bai Junyu nodded perfunctorily.

Bai Ru hurried over with a gloomy expression, looked around and saw that no one was paying attention, then knelt on one knee and tried to suppress his voice and said: "Your Highness, young master, something happened!"

Rong Cang was startled, and subconsciously looked at Bai Junyu.

Bai Junyu frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

Bai Ru gritted his teeth and said, "There are a lot of stones mixed into the grain and grass accompanying the army, which may not be enough to support the army until they reach the border."