auspicious time has come

Chapter 225 I Had a Best Friend When I was Young
The subordinate next to the man said: "Ye Hu can't underestimate him. Nutqin died at the hands of this man two years ago..."

A fierce light flashed in the eyes of the bearded man: "Of course I remember this! I must avenge Anu's revenge!"

He took another sip of wine, and glanced at the hundreds of officials at the banquet: "The sweat is afraid of war, and once Anu died, he asked for peace... Sooner or later, I will trample all these greedy rich people under my feet!"

While speaking, his gaze landed on a certain place, and he slightly narrowed his fierce eyes: "I heard that is Xiao Mu's mother?"

"It's her." The subordinate said: "I heard that Xiao Mu has not married a wife yet, and grew up with his mother as a child, and there is only such a mother left in the family."

A sneer flashed in the man's eyes when he heard the words, and he sneered brazenly in a Turkic language that people around him couldn't understand: "So she's a widow!"

The subordinate also laughed.

"Wait and see, sooner or later I will let him taste the taste of his relatives being slaughtered!" The man put down the wine bowl with a "bang", and ordered Gong'e with lame grandeur: "Pour us wine!"

Heng Yu frowned slightly and looked at the two Turks who were drinking from the big bowl opposite.

"My cat can understand what they are talking about?" Princess Yongyang next to her put down her silver chopsticks and asked.

Heng Yu nodded slightly: "I can generally understand."

When she was young, she traveled around with A Weng, and because of her ability to read and memorize, she knew a thing or two about the languages ​​of various places.

Moreover, the two men clearly mentioned "Xiao Mu" in their words, and with their demeanor and eyes, even if it is a guess, one can guess that it must not be a good word.

Princess Yongyang also looked at the Turkic envoy who was drinking with a flushed face: "If I remember correctly, this person's name is Jiaque, and his younger brother Ganu led troops to invade our Dasheng territory two years ago. The city gate of Xindu was broken in no time. At that time, envoy Xiao Jie led Lu Long's army to rush to help, beheaded Ganu with his own hands, drove the Turkic army out of Yanmen, and forced the new Khan to ask Dasheng for peace—"

She said, sighing as if there was nothing there: "Although the war is over, the hatred and greed in people's hearts will not dissipate easily. The so-called peace is just a temporary appearance under check and balance."

Heng Yu looked at the two Turkic people who were arrogant: "Even if it's the appearance, I just want it to last longer."

"This is the meaning of generals guarding the border." Princess Yongyang said with a smile: "With him, the peace in the northern border will last longer."

At this time, a small figure came over and called out with a smile: "Aunt Yongyang, teacher—"

"Yi'er can sit upright today." Princess Yongyang said with a smile, "However, she sat until now and hasn't run out yet."

Princess Jiayi smiled embarrassedly: "It's really boring, and the father is gone too... Yi'er wants to take the teacher to see something to relieve boredom."

"Just go." Princess Yongyang said: "If your mother asks later, my aunt will block it for you."

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Princess Jiayi smiled happily and winked at Hengyu.

Heng Yu stood up with a smile, took the girl's hand, and the two quietly left the table together.

"Where is the chief of the county going, and what is there to see?" Heng Yu asked after leaving the main hall.

"Uncle Shaoling brought a few copies into the palace today, among those birthday gifts." Princess Jiayi was in high spirits and couldn't wait to say: "Teacher, let's go and have a look first!"

Heng Yu smiled and nodded.

On the other side, Xiao Mu followed the servant to the Prince's study and was raising his hand to salute.

"Xiao Jie envoys don't need to be too polite." When the prince got up to greet him, his tone was gentle and somewhat apologetic, and he said frankly: "There are too many people at the table, and in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, I can only leave the table with an excuse first, It would be really impolite for someone to secretly invite the envoy Xiao to come."

"Your Highness is serious." Xiao Mu said, "Your Highness is the crown prince, and the minister is a military commander. In order to stop rumors, you should treat them with caution."

The prince smiled when he heard the words: "If it wasn't for that, I should have invited Jieshi Xiao to talk alone. I have not found the right time, so I can only take advantage of today—"

As he spoke, he raised his hand to signal Xiao Mu to sit down: "There is no one else here, and it's boring to sit, how about talking while playing chess?"

Looking at the prepared chessboard, Xiao Mu said, "I'm not good at chess, I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany Your Highness."

The crown prince smiled: "Emissary Xiao, please don't be overly modest. I've heard from Mr. Ji that when we were in Yingzhou, the envoy Xiao Jie often played chess with Mrs. Ji! Lady Ji's chess skills are definitely beyond the reach of ordinary people. .”

Xiao Mu narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a little smile.

This is testing him, and even lying about his words——

He didn't answer directly, but said: "If Your Highness doesn't mind it, then I can only make a fool of myself."

The prince smiled and said, "Master Xiao please sit down quickly."

The two sat down on the left and right sides of the chessboard, and the prince raised his hand to let the white son out: "Xiao Jie envoy is a guest, so he should go first."

Xiao Mu didn't refuse, and took the white chess piece.

The crown prince also smiled and let go of the first son, and said: "I have always been clear about Xiao Jieshi's heart...In recent years, the suspicion of the father and the emperor is obvious to all."

Xiao Mu's fingers holding the chess paused slightly, only to hear the prince continue to say: "Since ancient times, looking at the predecessors, we can know that those who are on the throne, nine out of ten are suspicious... However, this has not always been the case since ancient times. For right."

The two settled their sons one after another, the prince's voice was like chatting: "Emissary Xiao Jie came to the capital, does he have any plans?"

Xiao Mu didn't raise his eyes, his eyes fell on the chessboard, and he said bluntly: "I have a plan, in order to eliminate the suspicion of the emperor, I hope that the king and his ministers will be in peace, so as to seek long-term peace in the north."

The prince looked at him, with a deeper smile in his eyes: "I guess it's the same."

Immediately said: "This should have been a concern of the imperial court, but it was Xiao Jieshi's wish to risk his life. This is the fault of the imperial court. I must also thank Xiao Jieshi for his righteousness."

"This is a minister's job." Xiao Mu didn't say much.

"Over the years, the envoy Xiao Jie has been stationed in the north and has made great achievements many times. It is a great fortune. I have always admired it." , What happened in the past will never happen again in the future.”

Xiao Mu said: "I am very grateful to have His Highness's trust."

The prince smiled when he heard the words: "However, the envoy Xiao Jie treated me with deep precautions. Since entering here, the answers are all just a few numbers."

"I have always been bad at words, I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

"It doesn't matter." The prince smiled and said: "What I said, it sounds like the meaning of wooing Huairou is very clear, it is indeed too straightforward...Even if Xiao Jie feels abrupt, it is also human nature."

After a while, Xiao Mu said: "Your Highness is sincere and frank, it is rare and precious."

"No." The prince smiled and shook his head: "I am not always like this."

Xiao Mu raised his head slightly and looked at him.

"I have been the crown prince for many years. If I say that I have no scheming, even if Xiao Jie is willing to believe it, I will not believe it myself." The prince also looked at Xiao Mu and said: "But Xiao Jie is different. I am the first The first time I saw Xiao Jieshi from a distance, I felt a sense of déjà vu, not like a stranger—”

Xiao Mu never showed any strange attitude, but only smiled slightly.

"When I was young, I had a close friend." The prince continued to talk, hiding the slight ups and downs in his eyes when he mentioned the old man: "He and Xiao Jieshi are similar in age."

As he spoke, he smiled: "But the temperament is completely different."

"He has a bit of a flamboyant temper." Speaking of his old friend, the prince always had a faint smile on his face: "He is also the one who speaks the most among us. He is a general's son. He has practiced martial arts since he was a child. He is good at swordsmanship, riding and shooting. Seven or eight When he was young, he went to the battlefield with his father and lived in the barracks for a long time."

The prince's voice became lower and lower: "He always loves to study the art of war very much. If he were here today, he would pester Xiao Jie envoy to ask non-stop."

Xiao Mu didn't change his expression, he just asked, "I don't know where this dear friend of Your Highness is now?"

"He... was gone in his early years."

Xiao Mu's movement slowed down by half a beat, and fell silent.

People who are not good at speaking always end in silence when they touch on topics that should not be touched.

"The crime of collaborating with the enemy..." The prince's voice was calm, with a trace of trembling that was extremely difficult to detect: "It happened suddenly back then, and I was too young to be able to protect him and his family members, but I always knew , they were framed."

Xiao Mu moved his eyelashes slightly, and said, "Did Your Highness find any evidence clues?"

"Not yet." The crown prince shook his head: "I don't need evidence, I also believe it."

With a soft "Pa Pa", Xiao Mu settled down.

"So, when the envoy of the Xiao Festival came to Beijing this time, I always thought that I must not let the past happen again." The prince's voice seemed to be making a promise to himself: "Don't repeat the same mistakes again."

After a while, Xiao Mu said: "Since I came to the capital, Your Highness has been taking care of you in secret, and you are all deeply impressed. Your Highness has never betrayed the word Renming."

"Renming..." the crown prince smiled and said, "These two words are too heavy, and I don't think I can afford them."

"But as time goes on, I hope that one day I can be worthy of this word." He looked at Xiao Mu: "How about asking Jieshi Xiao to be a witness?"

Looking at each other, Xiao Mu smiled and said, "I am willing to take this position."

The prince couldn't help laughing twice, then looked at the completely different chess game from his memory, and said thoughtfully: "It is said that the chess board is like a battlefield, but Xiao Jieshi focuses on defense and does not attack, it doesn't seem like it was recovered in three years The Wind of the Five Cities...could it be deliberately giving way to me?"

"The tactics of a strategist may not all apply to the chess game." Xiao Mu said, "I'm not good at chess. If I'm too aggressive, I'm afraid it will be faster to make a fool of myself in front of Your Highness."

The crown prince smiled, not sure whether he believed it or not, he just said: "You might as well finish this game before we talk, and we don't know who will make a fool of himself in the end, it's time for Xiao Jie to make a move..."

The chess piece in Xiao Mu's hand fell in response to the sound, making a crisp sound.

……

When Heng Yu turned back to the banquet alone, most of the people at the banquet had already left.

Seeing that Princess Yongyang was still there, she stepped forward and said, "Why hasn't Your Highness returned yet?"

"I am waiting for you." Princess Yongyang joked: "There are many people at the banquet, I am afraid you will cause some trouble, I am leaving, who will clean up the mess for you?"

Heng Yu smiled and helped her up from the seat: "Then you are really thoughtful."

However, I'm afraid it's fake to clean up the mess, and it's true that she meets someone like Hedong King again.

Princess Yongyang smiled and said: "There is no mess to clean up, so follow me back."

Heng Yu smiled and left the banquet with her. Before leaving the hall, she took a look at Mrs. Xiao's place and saw that it was empty, so she asked in a low voice: "Aunt Xiao has gone back?"

Princess Yongyang also looked over: "It should be, I haven't seen anyone for a while."

Seeing Hengyu looking at the men's seat again, she smiled and said: "Don't look, that one hasn't come back yet."

Heng Yu was not shy either, she nodded with a smile, and stepped out of the palace gate with the eldest princess.

At this time, a shaky burly figure came back from the outside and almost bumped into Hengyu.

Qizhen stood in front of Hengyu and Princess Chang, frowning slightly at the bearded Turkic man.

The upright man is the Turkic envoy named Jia Que.

He narrowed his eyes slightly to look at Hengyu and Princess Yongyang, forced a smile without a smile on his face, said a rare Turkic language, and returned to the palace.

"There must be nothing good to say." Qizhen said coldly, "It's hard to teach a rough and barbarian."

Heng Yu looked at the back of the person, and saw that the other person sat back on the seat again, whispered something to his companion, and then the two picked up the wine bowl and touched each other.

"Let's go." Princess Yongyang said.

Hengyu nodded.

Princess Yongyang was also allowed to take a sedan chair when she entered and exited the inner palace, Heng Yu did not sit in the sedan chair with her, she just walked beside the sedan chair with Zhen Zhen.

Outside the Forbidden Palace, all the servants and envoys of the wives of the officials are waiting there, waiting for their masters.

"Girl." Cui Huai stepped forward, facing Heng Yu.

Heng Yu looked at a female envoy behind her, and called out, "Spring rolls?"

Seeing that Hengyu called out to him, Chun Juan, who had always kept in mind his wife's confession and knew not to get too close to Mrs. Ji in front of outsiders, stepped forward to salute: "Ms. Ji."

"Has Aunt Xiao left the palace yet?" Heng Yu asked.

Chunjuan shook his head: "Never."

Heng Yu looked at the family members of the officials who came out in twos and threes from the palace gate, hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "I'll go back and have a look."

Princess Yongyang who got off the sedan chair heard this and didn't stop her, she just said to her: "I'm missing a pearl hairpin, I don't know if I left it on the mat, you go back with Xiao Yu'er to look for it."

Qizhen complied.

The carriages of various prefectures were waiting here, Heng Yu then said: "Then Your Highness, let's go to rest in the carriage first, I will go back when I go."

Princess Yongyang nodded lightly.

Heng Yu and Zhen went all the way back to the hall where the banquet was held, but they did not see Mrs. Xiao on the way, nor did they find anyone in the hall.

"Did you go to look for Jieshi Xiao?" Qizhen guessed.

"He...should have gone to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Heng Yu lowered his voice and said after deliberation: "Let me ask someone to ask."

Fortunately, this is the East Palace, and most of the palace people are familiar to her. She called a familiar maid to come forward and asked, "...Have you ever seen Mrs. Xiao in Dingbeihou's residence?"

Gong'e thought for a while, and said: "I saw Mrs. Xiao leave the table earlier, but she never came back."

Heng Yu asked: "At that time, Madam Xiao was accompanied by palace servants?"

Gong'e shook her head: "It seems not, Mrs. Xiao is alone."

If you are alone, you don't need to lead the way, but Aunt Xiao is not familiar with the East Palace...

While pondering in her heart, Heng Yu asked again: "How long has it been?"

"It should be less than half an hour."

Hearing this, Heng Yu suddenly felt uneasy.

It's been so long, and she hasn't left the palace, and she hasn't returned to the palace, where did Aunt Xiao go alone?
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(End of this chapter)