Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 516 The eldest princess’s retreat

In Changle Palace,

The Supreme Emperor was also in a good mood, not because the three princes left the palace and built a mansion, but because Marquis Luo Yun treated his nobles, especially the Jia family. After all, they were his close descendants, so how could he treat them so harshly.

"Your Majesty, there are indeed three girls under the old lady's knees, including the daughter of the eldest and second eldest daughter of the Rongguo Mansion, and the young lady of the Ningguo Mansion, who are also together. As for why there is no mention of marriage, I don't know. "

Xia Shouzhong remembered it clearly, and he also said that the daughters of Rongguo Mansion were well raised, especially Yuanchun who entered the palace. He was well-educated and well-established, but the old lady asked people to come to him again and again to ask whether Jia Yuanchun could There is hope.

Although he agreed, even though the Supreme Emperor had already made arrangements in his heart, there was still no movement. Xia Shouzhong was also puzzled. He didn't know why the Supreme Emperor was acting like this. Rumors of the title of concubine were about to spread outside.

"Hmph, I haven't thought about it well. I'm afraid I just haven't thought about it. All my thoughts are on Jia Yunchun in the palace. They shouldn't think about it. Marquis Luo Yun has just started the rebellion now. He doesn't try to win over him. He thinks about other things every day. I think I’ve run out of ideas.”

The Supreme Emperor couldn't see clearly what the Rongguo Mansion was thinking. Although this matter was inevitable, he couldn't ignore the other nobles because of their superiority and inferiority, especially Marquis Luo Yun. He was simply a genius. With him in the imperial court, he would shock the world and lead to a prosperous age. , who would have thought that the Jia family was so short-sighted, not thinking about marriage, and even trying to steal the bride from him, it was simply unsightly. By the way, thinking of Ningguo Mansion, the Supreme Emperor asked again,

"Also, how is Jia Zhen of Ningguo Mansion doing now? There has been no news about him for a long time."

Xia Shouzhong was still thinking about when Jia Yunchun would be granted the title of concubine. Suddenly, the Supreme Emperor asked him about Ningguo Mansion. He paused and then said,

"Back to the Supreme Emperor, Jia Zhen from the Ningguo Mansion has been able to stay at home and become much more stable since the last time she paid back the money owed to the Ministry of Revenue. Later, I heard that I found an alchemist somewhere, a Taoist contemporary. Lord, please be my guide. Now I am practicing Taoism in my house. I meditate and eat fast every day. I also practice elixirs, which can be regarded as cultivating my body and mind."

Xia Shouzhong didn't dare to hide it, so he could only say good things and was worried about Ningguo Mansion. However, the Supreme Emperor's face looked a little strange. Jia Zhen had practiced Taoism and made elixirs. How could it be possible? Is there something wrong with the Feng Shui of Ningguo Mansion? , Jia Jing seems to have no other heirs, and Jia Zhen seems to have no other heirs. It is really inappropriate for the Nuo Da Duke's Mansion to be passed down from one generation to the next.

"Is it true, as you said, that Jia Zhen is cultivating Taoism at home and has also practiced elixirs?"

"Back to the Supreme Emperor, everything my slave said is true. I will never lie to you."

Xia Shouzhong was so frightened that he quickly fell to his knees and swore a promise.

The Supreme Emperor put down the tea bowl and looked into the distance, thinking of Jia Zhen's father, Jia Jing, the Bingchenke Jinshi, who was also an amazingly talented person. Unfortunately, he was the prince's companion, and the Jia family was also implicated. What happened? It's nonsense, but now it can only be about cultivating. The Jia family still has their eyes on it. Now the military power has disappeared from the Jia family. Only Jia Lian can't stir up trouble. As for the direct descendants of Ning Guofu, then He did.

"Get up, let the matter be up to them, father and son, no need to be harsh,"

"Yes, Your Majesty, practicing Taoism is not a bad thing after all. It is better to practice Taoism with peace of mind at home, once the door is closed, than to rush around and cause trouble outside."

Xia Shouzhong wiped his sweat secretly, then stood up and looked at the Supreme Emperor watching from a distance, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Yes, cultivating Taoism is indeed not a bad thing. It is better than those people who claim to serve the court, but are actually ambitious people. Send more people and continue to keep an eye on the Four Kings and see what they are doing. As for Marquis Luo Yun, just leave someone to watch his whereabouts."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

Ouchi,

At the palace gate, accompanied by the sound of drums and horns, Queen Jiang sent the three princes out of the palace gate. She was unwilling to leave for a long time. Chun He beside her walked over and said softly,

"Your Majesty, the three princes have gone far away. Isn't it time to go back?"

Empress Jiang knew that the three princes had gone far away, and even though she felt extremely reluctant to let go, she also knew that things would eventually come to an end, and it would be up to them to rely on themselves from now on. She sighed,

"Yes, it's time to go back. Now that your wings have hardened, it's time to fly out and have a look."

Even if there were thousands of words, Empress Jiang could not tell her at this time. She suddenly thought of Zhang Jinyu, the Marquis of Luoyun. Where had this person gone? Why haven't she seen him yet?

"By the way, Marquis Luo Yun was busy with something else, why didn't he see anyone again?"

"Back to the empress, my servant asked Ji Qianhu. Ji Qianhu said that the Marquis was busy investigating the case these days, so he didn't have time to come here to pick up the three princes. However, Ji Baihu said that the three princes would be theirs. The city's guards will escort you all the way, so everything will be absolutely perfect."

Chunhe was anxious to explain to the Marquis that the empress had been busy with this matter these days, and it would be bad if she was in a bad mood and took out her anger on the Marquis.

Empress Jiang was obviously unhappy. She said that within three days, the prince had entered the palace. What could be more important than this? Those corrupt officials should have been killed long ago.

"Yes, they are all very busy. No one listened to what I said. I immediately sent someone to let Marquis Luo Yun enter the palace. I still have something to ask him. Let's see what he is busy with. "

"This, yes, empress."

Chunhe had no choice but to send the eunuch in charge to the Hou Mansion immediately. It seemed that the empress was angry, but then she thought about it, the palace's eyes must be staring at this place now. The empress' move was inappropriate, so she advised her,

"Your Majesty, we really need to summon Marquis Luo Yun. Now that the three princes have just left the palace, I'm afraid there will be too many people in the palace and it will be difficult to do anything. Otherwise, we should change the time, or summon the Lord of Chang'an County to the palace for a talk. , let the servant arrange it, and let the Marquis find a way to enter the palace to ask for an audience."

Chunhe's consolation also made Queen Jiang realize that she had been a little reckless just now.

"You're right about this. I haven't seen the girl from the County Lord for a long time. It's been so long now and I haven't seen her come into the palace to talk to me. You should go there in person to see how to arrange it, and inform me Marquis Luo Yun, ask him to find a way to enter the palace, and you will tell him that I have something to ask about in Kunning Palace."

"It's your Majesty. This slave will go right away. However, your Majesty, you have to pay attention to the matters in the harem. I heard from my informants that Concubine Wu has many concubines in the harem now, and she doesn't know what her plans are. In addition, the Queen Mother, I am going to Jing'an Temple to offer incense, and I heard that someone was sent to notify Princess Yueru to accompany me. I don't know why the Queen Mother is acting like this."

"What, when did it happen?"

Queen Jiang suddenly widened her eyes and looked over in disbelief, it turned out to be her! Princess Yueru, Zhou Xiangxue, I haven’t heard this name for a long time.

It stands to reason that after the eldest princess was driven out of the capital, she had been living in seclusion at the foot of Jing'an Temple. In the early years, her husband was the former prince's minister. In order to finally cover the former prince's breakout, he led the army to fight against the Beijing camp, in the east city. The disciples blocked the pursuers for three hours, and after all the casualties were exhausted, he committed suicide. He was a loyal minister after all. Unfortunately, the eldest princess had just married into the family, and she suffered this disaster before she could have a family. Since then, she has lived in seclusion at the foot of Jing'an Temple. Now she has For more than ten years, she has been a miserable and miserable woman.

However, what does the mother mean? The prayers at Jing'an Temple have been arranged a long time ago. The concubines of the harem and the imperial concubine will go there together to pray for the imperial court. Why do you think of looking for her? Could it be that the blessings are fake? To meet the princess?

Although Princess Zhou Xiangxue of Dawu Chang lived in seclusion, her husband Su Yuankui, Marquis of Jingnan, was a general in Jingnan during the Taishang Emperor's period. He had more than 60,000 troops stationed in Linshan County. Unfortunately, after Jingnan's death, the soldiers under his command were in disarray. Everyone in the top generals was in danger, and the White Lotus Sect was in chaos in the south of Beijing. Without Su Yuankui to guard them, the nearly 60,000 soldiers in the south of Beijing disappeared into thin air overnight. It is not known whether they surrendered, died in battle, or disappeared. Even after His Majesty ascended the throne, he had no explanation.

For a moment, Empress Jiang thought a lot, but in the end she had no clue. The palace was no better than before. There were undercurrents in the harem, but it was okay with the Queen Mother and the old concubine pressing them down. However, I don’t know whether it was intentional or unintentional. Dinghai Shenzhen suddenly turned a blind eye, but other concubines saw the opportunity, jumped up and down, and frequently caused trouble, especially the dispute between Wu Guifei and Zhou Guiren. Everyone in the harem knew about it, and now it even led to the eldest princess, who didn't know. Who is behind the scenes.

Looking at his confidant Chun He, he couldn't help but asked with some worry,

"Chunhe, in the harem, did anyone from the eldest princess come here a few days ago, or was it to deliver a message?"

"Returning to your Majesty, this servant has not noticed that this matter was not mentioned by others, but was overheard from Concubine Wu. However, according to rumors, this matter was the intention of the Queen Mother, and the old Concubine did not intervene in it, and her attitude was ambiguous. , the intention is unclear.”

Chun He explained in a low voice, and thought about it carefully, now that the harem is full of forces, it is impossible to be clear about everything, so it can only be spread widely.

"Yes, I understand. This matter must not be spread casually. Try to find out how Concubine Wu knew about it. Someone still instructed her to make things mysterious. As for the eldest princess, she has not been in Beijing for so long. Things have changed. , if she comes back again, I’m afraid her seat will be gone too,”

Empress Jiang couldn't help but mutter to herself, but she still felt uneasy. Had the people in the capital really forgotten her, that stunningly beautiful person Zhou Xiangxue?

The eldest princess didn’t know how she had spent the past ten years. Not to mention being a widow and living in seclusion for ten years. How could she not have any complaints in her heart? And the Jingnan Marquis Mansion. I remember that when the Supreme Emperor sent people to ransack the house, they had already gone there. The building was empty, and not long after, the soldiers and horses were waved down, as if the entire army was wiped out, and there was no news. At first, they thought it was the White Lotus Sect that had been wiped out, but now that I think about it, I am afraid that they have escaped long ago.

Nowadays, the people in the south of Beijing are in chaos. Is the Jingnan Marquis Mansion involved in it? Is the former prince Zhou Yongxiao still alive?

After thinking so much, a thought suddenly appeared in the bottom of my heart, Dawu was afraid of causing trouble again. Thinking of this, Queen Jiang Yuqing took a long breath, looked to the north incomprehensibly, and remained silent for a while.

Jing'an Temple,

At the foot of Beishan, there is a pure bamboo forest. Behind the bamboo forest is a quiet and comfortable palace, and behind it is a clear stream.

Full of tranquility and escapism, this is the secluded place of the eldest princess, the summer palace of Jing'an Temple.

The interior of the hall is even more unpretentious, with simple decorations all around. There is nothing luxurious at all, but there is a soft atmosphere brewing in it. "Your Highness, I received a letter from the capital saying that arrangements have been made. The Queen Mother also agrees and will definitely come here to offer incense at the agreed time."

A female historian in navy blue palace clothes was holding a secret letter in the hall, telling news from the capital. On the high seat, the eldest princess's red lips were slightly parted, her eyes were like stars, her skin was like snow, and her appearance was absolutely beautiful. Wearing a light blue robe, with a luxurious black jade belt tied around her waist, she held an exquisite jade pen in her hand, writing something in front of the desk.

"Oh, the Queen Mother actually agreed. This is amazing. She didn't agree for so many years. Why did she agree now?"

Zhou Xiangxue's eyes moved slightly, and she was quite puzzled. In her early years, she wanted to seek justice for her husband and made a big fuss in the palace and clan mansion. However, both her father and the Queen Mother refused to see her. In the end, they even sent someone to send this place to their palace. Giving it to myself is nothing more than trying to drive myself out of the capital.

Marquis Jingnan’s matter ended without any resolution, and he had no choice but to leave and live in seclusion here. Over the years, many former members of Marquis Jingnan’s mansion came to find him, and they had considerable strength. Some things and words should be settled. never mind.

"Your Highness, this servant doesn't know, but the informant came to report that the Queen Mother has been acting abnormally recently. She is also sending spies to investigate in private. It is really difficult to investigate."

Liu Yue, the trusted confidant, was at his side carefully. Nowadays, there are undercurrents surging in the capital, and there are many informants, so there are many things that are hard to do.

"What else can I check? Of course it's the prince's whereabouts. I guess I have some clues."

Zhou Xiangxue suddenly thought that the Queen Mother was not so famous back then. If the Crown Prince had not made a mistake, she would not have the position of the Holy Emperor today. Her husband was also with the wrong person. Why did it happen that night? Why did the people in Ning Rong's second house not He will fight back, and there will be a fog everywhere.

Nowadays, the capital is in a turmoil, and people from all walks of life are gathered together, especially the 48,000 nobles and princes from various places, who are ready to make a move. Even I can't let go of my obsession, and my good eldest brother, the former prince Zhou Yongxiao,

"In the early years, in the south of the Yangtze River, didn't the spies of the Hou Mansion say that they saw the prince's old headquarters in Yangzhou? Why has there been no news for so many years?"

"Going back to Your Highness, Jiangnan is full of remnants of the East Prince's Mansion. There are also the Supreme Emperor and His Majesty's secret guards who are watching. It's not easy for the Prince's Mansion to do things well. As for those people, I have only seen them once and haven't heard from them since. I think so. If he escaped, the court must be pursuing him too closely."

Zhou Xiangxue stared at the incense in the hall. Above the incense burner, there was smoke surrounding it. It was so thin that it was hard to see where it was drifting. Just like those people, they had been shrewd all their lives. Why did they act recklessly and lose their position? It was hard to figure out!

"No, I feel that they are still there. You must know that Jiangnan is where the world's richest people are. Although there are many informants, they are hidden in the city. If my eldest brother is not dead, he must be recuperating in Jiangnan. There must be manpower, but After so many years, there has been no news from my eldest brother, and I don’t know if he is still alive, hey.”

For a time,

The palace is quiet!

"Report, Your Highness, General Yue wants to see you."

While he was deep in thought, his confidant Shi Wei Shuyun came in from outside the palace and made a respectful report.

"Please."

The eldest princess suddenly raised her head and looked outside the door.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Then Wei Liang, the captain of the guard, brought in Yue Feng, the former member of the southern Beijing army. He saw that the person who came was strong and had a scar mark on his face. He was a middle-aged veteran with a cold expression. He knelt down and bowed as soon as he entered the room.

"The last general, Yue Feng, meets the eldest princess."

"General Yue, please wake up. What are you here for?"

Zhou Xiangxue quickly asked the old general to get up and asked what he wanted to do here.

"Back to Your Highness, the civil uprising in the south of Jingnan has caused a catastrophe. The informants of the Jingnan Marquis Mansion have come to report. Except for the two northern cities, Linshan County and City are still intact. All other cities have been lost. Now The time is ripe, so I came here to ask His Highness whether our old troops will go south."

Yue Feng explained his purpose of coming, which was to inform His Highness that the civil unrest in the south of Beijing was probably another disaster caused by the White Lotus Sect. The Dawu court was becoming more and more outrageous. If the Marquis was still there, how could these things have happened.

When the eldest princess heard this, her brows furrowed. The civil unrest in the old area south of Beijing had started again, and it seemed to be unstoppable. If we intervene now, we might not get the upper hand. The imperial court would definitely go to quell the unrest, and the outcome would still be unknown.

As for the old troops of Jingnan Marquis Mansion, they still have remaining strength. Now they only have more than 30,000 people. They cannot influence the situation of the battle. It is better to wait for the opportunity and choose other methods.

"Old General, I mean to stay put for the time being. The area south of Beijing is in such chaos now. Anyone who goes there will be trapped. Since you know it, the court must also know that counterinsurgency is indispensable. If it is extinguished, If there is civil unrest, wouldn't the old general draw water from a bamboo basket in vain?"

"This."

Yue Feng was speechless for a moment. What His Highness said was not unreasonable, but it had taken so many years to avenge the Jingnan Marquis Mansion.

"By the way, old general, is there any movement in the capital?"

Zhou Xiangxue looked at the old general who was stunned there, and couldn't bear to talk anymore. Instead, he asked about the capital. Yue Feng knew His Highness's good intentions, and what he said made sense. He had 30,000 men scattered here for many years, and he might not be able to return on his way south. Road, that’s all.

"Back to Your Highness, the capital is quite lively at this time. After all, Enko is approaching, and there are so many scholars rushing to take the exam. Also, there are rumors that several large warehouses in the capital were burned down by fire dragons descending from the sky. Rumors spread everywhere. The Holy Emperor issued an order to let Shi Lang Shen We are investigating the case with Marquis Luo Yun, and there is also civil unrest in the south of Beijing. The capital is very lively now."

Speaking of this, Yue Feng actually felt a little gloating in his heart.

The eldest princess raised her head and muttered about Luo Yunhou,

"Marquis Luo Yun has returned to the capital?"

"Yes, Your Highness, Marquis Luo Yun has been back from the south of the Yangtze River for some time. The Holy Emperor has not allowed him to go back outside the Pass. It is really strange that his 10,000 elite troops are still stationed in the east camp of the capital."

When Yue Feng mentioned Marquis Luo Yun, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch. He was indeed a genius and extremely brave. No one had ever imagined that a Jurchen could be beaten like that.

Zhou Xiangxue picked up the royal pen and wrote the three characters "Luo Yunhou" on the rice paper on the writing desk. She was delicate and heroic, and it seemed that it was written by a woman at first sight.

"Your Highness, well written."

The female historian Wei Shuyun next to her praised him.

"It's not that I wrote well, it's that these three words have a murderous air. I don't know how this Luo Yunhou can gain a foothold outside the pass. General Yue, you said that under the command of this Luo Yunhou, he won the first army in the world." , but it’s really worthy of the name, and it’s still touted.”

Although Zhou Xiangxue does not understand the art of war, she has always been the best in civil and military affairs. Is she really that good at fighting? Quite disbelieving, he asked.

General Yue's face changed again and again in the hall, and he sighed,

"Back to Your Highness, you are indeed the best in the world. It is a bitter cold land outside the pass. The Jurchens are extremely brave. In the battle of Pingyang, they were beaten by Luo Yunhou and lost their armor. Signing an alliance under the city is really unbelievable. During the competition in the capital , the last general also went to see it, there are many banners, and the actions are consistent, there are few elites in the world, and the last general is not as good as him."

The eldest princess raised her eyes and glanced at Yue Feng. The old general never admitted defeat, but now he actually admitted that he was inferior to others.

"If the old general leads the 30,000 old troops of the Marquis Mansion, can he defeat Marquis Luo Yun and his 10,000 cavalry?"

Yue Feng's face turned red, full of shame.

"Go back to Your Highness, no. If we are in the mountains, we can still fight. If we are on the plains, we will be unable to fight back."

"so smart?"

(End of this chapter)