Dressed as Su Peisheng

Kangxi 49 years

February 27, Sichuan

Nian Gengyao took the letter from his subordinates, unfolded it, and gradually frowned.

Hu Qiheng stood aside, waited for a moment, and asked cautiously, "Is there any order from Beijing? Or something happened?"

Nian Gengyao lowered his brows and flicked his hand on the letter, "My lord asked me to send someone to secretly sneak into Tibet to see if Tsewang Allah Butan intends to invade Tibet. He suspects that Junggar's invasion of Hami this time is actually Xiangzhuang Sword dancing is aimed at Peigong."

"Well," Hu Qiheng hesitated for a moment, "Didn't my brother have such doubts before? It's just that we entered Tibet rashly, and if people with ulterior motives find out, we may have endless troubles."

"My lord said that the situation is urgent, and I can't take care of that much now." Nian Gengyao walked to the back of the desk and handed the letter to Hu Qiheng. "Look at the tone of the letter, it's almost certain that Junggar has already taken action."

Hu Qiheng unfolded the letter paper, read it carefully, and expressed doubts, "The capital is thousands of miles away from the border. Where can the prince get the news. Could it be from Funing'an?"

Nian Gengyao shook his head, "Fun Ning'an is a key general at the border. If he has news, he can send someone to inquire directly, so there's no need to come around to me."

"Then according to brother," Hu Qiheng hesitated for a moment, "The prince is at the border, does he have other eyes?"

Nian Gengyao paused slightly while picking up the pen, "I heard that the son of the Yue family just received a transfer order from the capital these few days."

"Yue Zhongqi?" Hu Qiheng's complexion changed, "This family has meritorious service. I asked my brother for a transfer before, but my brother didn't accept it. Why are you going to Beijing directly now?"

"Not only did he go to Beijing, but he got what he wanted," Nian Gengyao wrote an order letter to his subordinates at the border and stuffed it into an envelope, "Although he was just doing a guerrilla in the Chinese army in Songpan Town, he has finally entered a real job. As long as there is a war at the border, with Yue Shenglong's influence back then, it will be a matter of time before he will be reused."

Hu Qiheng's face became serious, he pondered for a moment, then raised his head and said, "If such a person is really the one in Beijing who puts him next to us on purpose, then brother should pay more attention. As you said before, Prince Yong is a A person who takes one step and thinks about a hundred steps, with such deep thoughts, brother must think more about himself and the future of the Nian family."

On the first day of March, Beijing

In the box at the deepest part of Rongfeng Restaurant, Elundai smiled and pushed a sandalwood brocade box in front of Gashtu, the former Shanxi chief envoy who came to Beijing to report on his duties.

"Your Majesty Tong is too polite." Gashtu is nearly half a century old, with a thin body and a goatee. When he smiles, his eyes shrink to the size of a sesame seed. "You and I are officials in the same dynasty. How can I accept you at will What about the gift?"

"Hey," Elundai raised his hand and patted Gashtu's shoulder, and lifted the lid of the box for him. A box of huge and round pearls glowed white, and Gashtu's old face became moist.

"How can such a big gift be given by me?" Orondai smiled slightly, "This is Babeile's special gift for you after returning to Beijing after thinking about the hard work of Lord Gashtu. .”

"Hey," Gashtu stretched out his hand to pick up a pearl in the box and rubbed it carefully, "Master Belle is really considerate and has a good intention. Don't worry, Mr. Tong, I will do my best to do things for Lord Belle, and I will never give up. Live up to Lord Baylor's trust."

"That's natural. Lord Belle relies heavily on Mr. Gashtu." Elundai picked up the teapot and poured a cup of hot tea for Gashtu. Whenever there is a war at the border, it can be said that he holds a lot of power. Lord Baylor is eager to establish a foothold in the border, but most of the people in the army do not know how to be flexible, and there has been no much progress. Fortunately, Lord Gashtu is sensible and understanding, and there will be more in the future I'm counting on you."

"It's easy to say, easy to say," Gashtu replied twice, but the pearl in his hand fell back into the box, "Actually, it is not difficult to open the situation at the border. I have been the chief envoy of Shanxi for several years, and the people in the army also There are many contacts. The soldiers are all rough men. When the battle starts, their heads are pinned to their belts. What they ask for and think about are only two things, one is military merit, and the other is money."

Elundai looked at Gashtu and tapped on the sandalwood brocade box pointingly, then the corner of his mouth curved, "Your Excellency, don't worry about the matter of silver, Lord Belle is the proud son of heaven, and is deeply supported by all the officials. As long as your lord Seriously work for Lord Belle, as much money as you want."

In the early spring of March, it was still a bit chilly in Beijing, and the Empress Dowager was not feeling well, so Lord Kangxi specially sent the Empress Dowager to Changchun Garden to recuperate.

All the princes from the capital also followed to the outskirts of Beijing. The Old Summer Palace has always been taken care of by Xiao Yingzi, so there is no need to prepare anything.

The fourth elder brother brought the female family members from the backyard and a group of children to the Old Summer Palace. Su Wei stayed in Beijing for the time being because he was busy with business with Qingfeng Division.

In the evening, Langyin Pavilion

Nian sat in front of the vanity mirror, staring at the newly dressed person in the mirror, but his heart seemed to have opened up a bottomless pit.

Since the snake encounter in Houhu, Nian stayed in his yard for several months.She couldn't forget all the scenes of that day, the way Si elder brother jumped off the back lake without the slightest hesitation, and Su Peisheng standing in front of her still said frankly that saving her was the duty of a slave.

Nian closed his eyes, but what came to his heart was a burst of sneer—slave?What an ironic sentence.

Ling Xi stood holding the handkerchief for a while, then walked forward hesitantly, and said in a low voice, "My lord, it's getting late, let's go there earlier, don't let the prince rest later."

Nian opened his eyes, pursed his red lips slightly, and slowly stood up while supporting the dressing table, but he didn't want to take a step forward, "Lingxi, do I have to go?"

A trace of distress flashed in Ling Xi's eyes, and he stepped forward to hold Nian's hand, "My lord, I know that you are suffering. But you also know what it means to send the second master's letter to Beijing in a hurry. The second master said Originally, his heart was wild, but now he has managed to get closer to the prince, if you don't let him calm down, he doesn't know what to do. At that time, won't the young master be in a dilemma?"

"Yes, you're right," Nian lowered his eyes, his nose slowly turned sour, "I've become hypocritical over the years. Originally, I married into Prince Yong's mansion because my father wanted to appease the prince and the second brother. Tools. I shouldn't be greedy so much, I shouldn't have had so many delusions..."

"My lord..." Ling Xi wanted to persuade her again, but was interrupted by Nian Shi shaking her head.

"Forget it, I'll keep it simple." Nian took a deep breath, turned and walked out, "For the sake of our Nian family's dedication to the prince, the prince should give me a child."

back on the lake

Xu'er walked slowly along the embankment with the dejected Shiyue, Xu'er tried her best to make her little master happy.Helpless, Shiyue seems to have no interest in anything.

"My lord, look at how clear the lake is," Xu'er shook Shiyue's arm, "Let's ask Eunuch Li to see if fishing is available in the lake."

"Forget it, don't cause trouble for others," Shiyue forced a smile at Xu'er, "It's not easy for us to come to Yuanmingyuan once, isn't such a big place enough for us to visit?"

"That's right, the servant girl will accompany the young master to the vegetable garden. I heard that there are vegetables grown by the prince himself..." Before Xu'er finished speaking, Nian and his party came with lanterns.

"It's Nian's side Fujin," Shiyue saw clearly the people in front of her, and took Xu'er to the side of the road. Just as she was about to salute, she was called out by Nian, "They are all sisters from my family, and there are no outsiders, so there is no need to be like this Courtesy."

"It's right to salute to Fujin," Shiyue raised her head with a smile, and noticed Nian's elaborate attire by the moonlight and dimly lit lights, "Where is Fujin going?"

"Go to the prince's place," Nian smiled slowly, "Is my sister going there too? Why don't we go on the same boat?"

"No, I just came out for a walk," Shiyue lowered her head, hiding the expression on her face, "Let's take a step ahead, don't keep the prince waiting."

Nian didn't say anything else, just nodded slightly, and supported Ling Xi's arm to go to the boat.

"My lord, why don't we go and have a look?" Seeing that everyone had left, Xu'er asked in a low voice.

Shiyue pursed her lips, a trace of hesitation appeared in her eyes, but was soon covered by the deep and thick fog, "Let's go, let's go back..."

Outside the Wutong Academy, the moon dew willows

Facing Nian Shi who was looking directly at him, Xiao Yingzi felt a drum in his chest, and after pondering over what to say for a long time, he still said cautiously, "Ce Fujin is still a bit late, the prince is a little tired today, so he went to bed early. "

"Nonsense!" Ling Xi stared, "It wasn't long before the big kitchen delivered food, how could the lord stop so early? You have taken the courage to become the manager of Yuanmingyuan, thinking that our master can't do anything to you Yes or no?"

"Hey, what is this saying?" Xiaoyingzi was really full of grievances and had nowhere to complain, so she turned her head to Nian and said, "Ci Fujin, you have to trust this slave. I will never dare to fool you casually, slave. They are all acting on orders. You said that the prince is resting now, if the servant lets you in—"

"Where's Zhang Bao?" Nian ignored Xiaoyingzi's long-winded words, and asked directly in a cold tone.

Xiaoyingzi was taken aback, and subconsciously made up a nonsense, "Eunuch Zhang Bao is asleep too, he is not in his shift tonight—"

"What about Zhang Qilin?" Nian frowned, "I dare not disturb the prince's rest, but I want to meet these two servants, can I?"

Xiaoyingzi was speechless for a while, and stood there for a long time without any response.

Nian looked at Xiaoyingzi for a moment, and he understood, "The prince is not in the garden, is he?"

Xiao Yingzi smacked his lips, and finally his heart sank, he lowered his head and said, "The prince has something to go out, and he doesn't want to disturb the masters. Don't worry, the prince will be back tomorrow morning."