The Legend of the Loved One

Chapter 11

Chu Lin finished talking about the past calmly, like a person who stayed out of it.

Qin Mu, who was listening on the sidelines, had already sighed repeatedly, his heart was ups and downs.

When Yue's family had an accident, he was still guarding the northern border, and when he received the bad news, it was time for the imperial court to transfer him back to the capital a month later.

After Qin Mu was shocked and heartbroken, he sent his confidantes to inquire for many times, and finally learned a piece of news that made him slightly relieved. The wreckage found at the foot of Yingyue Mountain at that time was not very sure that it belonged to Yue Wen. Maybe Yue Wen hadn't die.

With this extremely weak hope in mind, Qin Mu has been sending people to search for it for many years, but there is no result. Until eight years later, at the emperor's birthday banquet, he almost identified the woman next to King Heng as his sister-in-law Chu Rong. Then thinking of the marriage between Chu Mansion and Hengwang Mansion, he made a bold guess.

Until now, this guess has been verified by Chu Lin himself.

Facing Chu Lin, Qin Mu was once again ashamed of his misunderstanding, and knelt down to thank him again. After Chu Lin helped him up, he said bluntly: "What Chu did was all out of blood relationship. Friendship is truly admirable. Now that the general knows all about it, Xueer...that is, Wenwen, I hope you will take care of me in the future!"

Qin Mu sighed when he heard the words: "After going around for a while, Wenwen actually went to King Heng's side now, what a pity! If you want to protect Wenwen, you must first protect King Heng. My lord understands what I mean, don't worry!"

One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, the crown prince and Heng Wang, no matter which one ascends the throne in the future, the other will not have good results.After decades of official career, Chu Lin is very clear, so since he accepted King Heng's marriage proposal, he has made up his mind to support King Heng. He believes in Qin Mu's friendship with the Yue family, and also believes in the character of this iron man, so When Qin Mu came to ask, he told the truth without any concealment, the purpose was to make Qin Mu also return to King Heng.

Of course, Qin Mu also understands the current situation of the court. In the past, he didn't really care about the open and secret struggles between the princes, and he didn't care much about who will inherit the world in the future. Because of the tragic death of his righteous brother Yue Lan, he has already chilled the power holders. .But starting today, he has rekindled his hope and fighting spirit. Now that Wenwen has been found, fully supporting Heng Wang is the most important thing he will do next.

The two exchanged their hearts with each other and discussed many important matters in secret. Two hours later, Qin Mu left the Chu residence as quietly as when he came.

There are still a few days to go back to Yanzhou. Before leaving Beijing, Concubine Heng Xu Jinhe wanted to go back to her mother's home, Duke Pei's Mansion. As compensation for her failure to attend the palace banquet, Song Chen specially accompanied her there.

Before going out, Song Chen thought for a while, and said to Chu Xue who was dressing him, "It's been a few months since you've been in the mansion, and you haven't been back to your mother's house. Take advantage of today, go back and have a look, wait until you come back." Yanzhou is far away."

In fact, Chu Xue has long wanted to go back to visit her parents. As Song Chen said, although they are not far away in the capital, as a side concubine, if she wants to go back, she must first ask Xu Jinhe for permission. I went to beg her, so I endured it all the time, but now Song Chen took the initiative to speak so thoughtfully, which made her sincerely happy, and she saluted Song Chen with surprise, "Thank you, my lord!"

Song Chen smiled, and gently pinched her smooth face, "Is that so happy?"

She bit her lip and nodded embarrassingly.

Song Chen was full of tenderness, and added another sweet word, "Since this is the case, don't worry, come back after dinner."

"Yes."

She saluted again and smiled even sweeter.

So on this day, she was finally able to go back to her mother's house.

The mother had already learned about her participation in the palace banquet from her father, and she was both relieved and worried because of her being favored, so she took her hand and asked, "Did Princess Heng make things difficult for you?"

She smiled and shook her head, "No, don't worry, mother."

She concealed the fact that she went to Funing Palace to copy prayers because she really didn't want her parents to worry about her.

"If you don't have it now, it doesn't mean you won't have it in the future. When you go to Yanzhou, we won't be by your side. You need to be more careful."

My mother has lived for decades. Even if she has not experienced it herself, she has heard a lot about the struggles between wives and concubines in other wealthy families over the years. How can a girl in her teens know so many things?Mother's concerns were not without reason.

But what others don't know is that since she woke up from a coma last time, she already has the memory of two lives. Although she is not good at history more than 1000 years later, she has watched a lot of Gongdou dramas. What lives in it is no longer a simple soul like a blank sheet of paper.

This time, since God arranged for her to come back, she can no longer suffer in the Xu family's hands for nothing.

"Don't worry, mother. I understand. Besides, there are Yanling and Ruyue. Both of them can help me a lot." She softly comforted this tolerant and loving aunt. Her aunt is raising her. In the past, when she had nightmares, she had to lie in her aunt's arms to sleep peacefully. The love her aunt gave her was no less than that of the elder brother of the Chu family, let alone the deceased sister Xue'er. The aunt was already her mother.

Mother nodded and hugged her into her arms like a child, but tears welled up in her eyes.

God took her daughter away, but sent her another daughter. For eight years, this well-behaved, sensible, suffering but strong child in her arms has already become her own flesh and blood. Seeing her daughter go to a distant place to bear the burden Unknown danger, how can she rest assured?
Chu Xue in her arms endured and endured, and then held back her tears.

After all, my home is relaxed. From noon to evening, a few hours passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was time for dinner. The father who had finished his work cleared all the servants in the dining room, and Fang asked her, "This time, I will leave the dining room. When you go to Yanzhou, you must be careful in everything, especially what happened back then, and you must not reveal any flaws to make people suspicious."

Chu Lin knew very well that after King Shen was drunk at the palace banquet a few days ago, everyone present at that time probably had noticed Xue Er, since Qin Mu could come to find him because of her appearance, Xu Jilin would most likely be suspicious, It is also very likely that Xu Jinhe will test her. Although she has no flaws to follow, it is not a bad thing to be careful.

She understood what her father meant, nodded and said: "Father, don't worry, I understand all these, and I will pay attention to it."

After eating for a while, the scene of the palace banquet came back to her mind, she suddenly remembered something, and asked her father: "Daughter has a doubt, where did Uncle Xiaocheng go?"

Chu Lin sighed when he heard the words, "Back then he sent you off and left. A few days later, there was news that Yingyue Mountain got off the car and killed people. There has been no news of him for so many years, so whether he is alive or dead now is really unpredictable."

She also secretly sighed in her heart, if it wasn't for Uncle Xiaocheng, she would have died at the hands of Xu Jilin, she hoped that Uncle Xiaocheng was still alive, but where is he?Thinking of the manager that night for a moment, she immediately denied this possibility, the voice and appearance did not match at all, maybe it was just a coincidence.

Seeing her in a daze, her mother called her softly, and she hurried back to her senses, dispelling the worry in her mother's eyes with a smile.

After dinner, it's really time to go, and as for the next time I return to Beijing, I don't know when it will be.She reluctantly bid farewell to her parents, put on her thick clothes and was about to go out, but saw the housekeeper hurriedly entering the hall.

"Master and Madam, His Royal Highness King Heng has personally picked up Miss, and she will be at the gate of the mansion soon."

The three people in the hall were all surprised, and hurried out to greet them.

Just at the door, just as the carriage that King Heng was riding in stopped, Chu Xue watched Song Chen, who was dressed in a blue and gray brocade robe with silver clouds edge, slowly get down from the carriage, his movements were calm and elegant, just as he saw The smile on her handsome face.

For some reason, her heart moved without warning, as if being pulled by something instantly.

"I don't know His Highness, but the minister is far away, and I ask His Highness to come down."

Following his father's bow, everyone in the house saluted one after another.

"Excuse me, my lord. This king is here to take Xue'er back to the residence, so I couldn't say hello in advance. I hope your residence will forgive me for being in such a hurry." Song Chen hurriedly stepped forward to help Chu Lin up.

When everyone was flat, he looked at Chu Xue at the side, and said softly: "I even put on thick clothes, are you planning to go back?"

Chu Xue nodded and smiled, "Just as I was about to go out, I heard you were here."

"In this case, I won't go into the mansion to bother you. I will take Xue'er back to the mansion first. It's cold. Please come back with your lord and madam."

"Yes."

After Song Chen said goodbye to Chu Lin, he took Chu Xue's hand very naturally and got into the carriage.

The voices of everyone in the Chu Mansion sounded from behind, "Respectfully send off the prince."

Looking at the carriage that was drifting away from Prince Heng's Mansion, Mother Wang comforted his wife, "Your Highness is so kind to Miss, Madam, you can be at ease."

It is the same thing to hear, but it is more relieved to see it with my own eyes. Madam nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

In the carriage, Chu Xue looked at Song Chen curiously, "Did the lord come directly from Peiguo's mansion?"

"No way, I'll be back home in the afternoon." Song Chen looked back at her.

"Then why did you make a special trip again? I came here in a carriage, so naturally there is a car to take me back." Chu Xue was puzzled.

Song Chen looked at her with something in his eyes, "I'm used to seeing you as soon as I return home. I think you're thinking too much when you're gone, so I have to come out to pick you up in person, and I can see you sooner."

He didn't blush when he said such nice words, who would believe that this is the majestic and dignified King Heng.

With warmth in her heart, she bent her mouth and leaned into his arms. He also embraced her hand and sighed softly on top of her head, "I regret it a little, I shouldn't have let you stay after dinner, so I didn't even Eat well."

She chuckled softly, raised her face and coaxed: "Then when I go back to the mansion, I will have another meal with the prince?"

"No need, let's eat you. How can the food be as delicious as Xue'er? Xue'er is beautiful and delicious..." Looking at her sweet smile, he began to tease her in an unscrupulous manner, and his hands became unruly.

The original sweet and heart-warming atmosphere suddenly became extremely dangerous, Chu Xue immediately lowered her head, blushing and resolutely resisted.

In any case, it must never be like last time...

"My lord, don't be like this, concubine, I don't like being in the car..." she begged him in a low voice.

"Why don't you like it? I think it's good." He held her hand very easily, and then used his mouth.

"cold……"

She bowed her head to hide from him, while resisting the heat aroused by him and thinking hard, after a while she finally found a reason.

"There are quilts on the bed." He responded hoarsely.

"..."

Her hands were restrained, so she had no choice but to bury her face in his arms, try her best to avoid his lips, tongue and breath, and found a reason to push back again in a hurry, "No... I sweated a lot today, and I haven't bathed yet. Go back to the concubine and take a shower, okay?"

Hearing the word "bathing", Song Chen gradually stopped moving. The journey from Chu Mansion to Hengwang Mansion is indeed not enough to toss, and besides, I have already tasted the experience of being in a carriage last time. As for what she just mentioned "Bathing"...

I haven't really tried it.

So Chu Xue finally arrived at Hengwang Mansion in good condition and greeted Xu Jinhe, but half an hour after she returned to Wantang Garden, a large bathtub filled with hot water was set up in the bathroom. At the side is still waiting for a prince full of expectations...

Like a sheep in the mouth of a tiger, the beauty has nowhere to escape.

She was ashamed and remorseful, she really didn't know what the maids thought of her when they were carrying hot water for this large tub...

After the morning court one day before the princes left Beijing, the emperor specially summoned King Heng to the Imperial Study Room of Qianhua Hall.

After leaving the birthday banquet that night, the emperor heard about the episode of King Shen's drunkenness in Qingde Hall early in the morning of the second day. What high expectations, but the way the crown prince and Heng Wang handled things at that time, the emperor had his own evaluation in his heart earlier.

"I will see my father." Song Chen walked in and bowed solemnly.

"Let's get back on your feet." The emperor raised his hand and asked indifferently: "It's nothing else to ask you to come. I want to hear your opinion on the matter of asking for tax reduction and exemption in Weizhou that the household department played in the court today."

Song Chen bowed his head and said solemnly: "The Ministry of Households is thinking about the people of Weizhou. Please reduce their taxes, which is of course beneficial to the people's livelihood, but I think that just reducing taxes alone is not a good strategy for solving Weizhou's problems in the long run."

"Huh? In your opinion, what is a good strategy? Tell me." The emperor motioned him to continue.

"The land of Weizhou used to be rich, but it has gradually become poor in recent decades. The main reason is that the villagers have no harvest due to the annual spring drought. I believe that to solve the spring drought in Weizhou, we should dredge the silt. The Tongji Canal for many years is the best policy. In addition, Sizhou and other places in the southern section of the Tongji Canal are flooded every time. Once the Tongji Canal is dredged, the south water can be used to support the north fields, which can solve the flood in the south. , and can solve the spring drought in the north, it is really a good strategy that kills two birds with one stone."

After Song Chen finished speaking, he looked at his father.

Emperor Father thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement, "It is indeed a good idea, but as you said, the Tongji Canal has been silted up for many years, if you want to unblock it, it will take some effort, do you have a judgment in your heart?"

Song Chen also nodded to express his own thoughts, "Since it is blocked, it will save more effort than heavy chiseling. My son believes that the people's livelihood cannot be delayed for a long time. If we start from now, we can dredge the section from Weizhou to Jeju within half a year. To divert Jishui, after the next spring drought is resolved, continue to dredge southward, and it will take about one or two more years to fully penetrate. Once fully penetrated, it can not only solve the current perennial natural disasters, but also restart the water transport along the coast , it must not take much effort, not only Weizhou, but also the people along the Tongji Canal can benefit."

After thinking for a while, Emperor Jianhe showed a satisfied smile that is not often seen, "As you said, Weizhou is not far from your Yanzhou. You are responsible for this matter. I will inform the Ministry of Industry when I turn around. Next spring , I hope to see your results."

Song Chen paused, then said respectfully, "My son takes orders."

Weizhou belongs to the Zhili of the imperial court, and the states along the Tongji Canal are not within the scope of his Yanzhou. With this move, the emperor is already tilting the power of the central government to himself?
But no matter what this move means now, he will have a better chance of winning when he really sees results in the coming year.

After the father and son finished talking about the business, Emperor Jianhe said slowly: "We are leaving tomorrow, haven't we said goodbye to your mother yet? It just so happens that I also want to go for a walk, let's go to Funing Palace together."

"Yes."

Song Chen responded.

The father and son went to the Funing Palace where the concubine was respected.

(End of this chapter)