cloud temple phoenix hairpin

Chapter 83

Chapter 73

Near noon, Xie Nanjin arrived at Dingwumen.The city guard recognized him and rushed to the gate of the city to greet him. A group of people swept into the gate like a storm and headed for Yingtian Gate.

Because he was dressed lightly, but only brought ten iron guards from Xie's family, so his colleagues in the court did not know that he entered the city today.Arriving at General Zhaowu's mansion, Gao Xian, one of the iron guards behind him, got off his horse and went to knock on the door.The housekeeper, Lu Da, heard the sound and rushed to greet him. He was very surprised to see the master and dozens of horsemen parked at the door.

"Where is the drunken bridge?"

Xie Nanjin got off his horse and strode away, asking questions right away.

Lu Da followed him in, and said: "The garrison camp is busy today, and the young master has not returned there."

Xie Nanjin stopped, frowned and remained silent.

Lu Da has been in Xie's house for decades, although he is used to his seriousness, but seeing his unkind expression at this moment, his heart still skips a beat.He also grew up watching Xie Zuiqiao, and he loves the young master very much. Seeing the master coming back, he seemed to want to find fault with him, so he hurriedly said: "Master, the son returned to Beijing a few years ago. After being sent by the emperor to the garrison camp, except for Xiu Mu, he went out early and returned late every day, extremely diligent and conscientious..."

Xie Nanjin interrupted him, and said impatiently: "You only see him leaving early and returning late, so you don't know what he's doing behind his back!"

Lu Da heard the anger in his words, and vaguely guessed that he must be angry at the fact that the General's Mansion and Jiangnan Rongyintang formed a son and daughter family, which was widely rumored in Beijing.Although he is old in the mansion, he has never heard of such a thing before, let alone the acquiescence of the master, so he dare not speak up now.

Xie Nanjin pondered for a while, and then asked: "How is Jingzhu? I have been running around since she went south, but I couldn't find the time to visit her. There is also the girl in the second room who received a letter years ago. She said she was going to Beijing to be elected, how is she doing now?"

Hearing that he changed the subject, Lu Da heaved a sigh of relief, and hurriedly responded: "Miss Rou has been living with the girl in the mansion since she arrived in Beijing. She was accepted into the palace just the day before yesterday to wait for election. At this moment, Miss Yu is alone at home. The girl is in good health now, master rest assured. The girl is still taking a nap at this hour, or should I send someone to call her to see the master? I am afraid that the master will not recognize the girl when he sees her now."

Xie Nanjin's face softened a little, and after thinking for a while, he said: "Just tell her to rest. Since I'm back, it doesn't matter if I see you later, it's important to enter the palace first."

According to the regulations, the first thing the foreign general has to do when he returns to Beijing is to enter the palace for an audience, Lu Tianran knew it and hurriedly nodded in agreement.Xie Nanjin changed into the court clothes and went to the palace. At this time, the court had already left. After waiting for a while in the imperial study, he saw the great eunuch Feng Gonggong beside Zhengde coming over with a smile on his face. The emperor was meditating in Penglai Palace, and ordered him to meet him.

This Penglai Palace was specially built by Zhengde for Li Tongfu a few years ago. The ground is paved with black gold and the steps are made of white jade. Needless to say, it is luxurious.Xie Nanjin arrived and waited for a while, only to see the palace gate opened a crack, and a small path came out, saying: "The emperor invites the general to enter."

Xie Nanjin pushed open the thick and rich door, and went all the way into the main hall.Seeing the Buddha orange curtains falling to the ground on both sides, the ganoderma lucidum fairy gossip pattern painted on the wall corridor, the statue of Sanqing on the south wall, the cigarettes curling up in the main hall, dressed as a Taoist Zhengde, sitting cross-legged on a tall futon with eyes closed, Standing beside him was a Taoist in his fifties, wearing a black gold-inlaid Taoist uniform, holding a dust whisk in his hand, with a fairy-like appearance. It was Li Tongfu.Seeing Xie Nanjin looking towards him, he waved his fly whisk, saluted him, and said with a smile: "General Xie, the poor are being polite."

Xie Nanjin frowned slightly, ignored him, went straight to Zhengde and knelt down in front of Zhengde.Zhengde opened his eyes and called Pingshen, with a look of joy on his face, he said: "I never expected Xie Qing to enter the capital so quickly. I am very relieved to receive your good news the month before last. There is a strong general like Xie Qing in town The frontier, my world can be pacified."

Xie Nanjin said: "It's just that I have done my duty as a subject. Besides, in this world, it is the thousands of soldiers in the army who really guard the frontier for the emperor. I dare not take this praise."

Zhengde said with a smile: "Xie Qing doesn't have to be so self-effacing..." After a pause, he suddenly said, "This spring is the time for the selection of beautiful women. I was interested in that woman, Concubine Yan also mentioned it several times in front of me. Later, I found out that your son Zuiqiao and that woman were engaged in a verbal marriage contract by two old people, and both parents had to approve it. Is there such a thing?"

Xie Nanjin only knew that Zhengde was going to marry his son to the daughter of the Ruan family who suddenly appeared in Rongyin Hall, but he didn't know that the third prince was also involved, so he only heard about it at this time.When Zhengde was speaking, he saw that although he had a smile on his face, but his eyes were a little playful, his heart skipped a beat, but he didn't dare to show it on his face, and said: "This is indeed the case."

Zhengde let out an oh, and was silent for a moment.

Xie Nanjin is forty this year, and Zhengde is nearly fifty.He has followed the emperor on his seat for 20 years.In the past few years, although Zhengde has disregarded the admonitions of the direct ministers in the court, indulged in the way of immortality, and is not as diligent in government affairs as before, Xie Nanjin is sometimes disappointed, but he still remembers his imperial demeanor in the past.After ascending to the throne in his prime, he was determined to reform and work hard to govern. However, in just over 20 years, he reversed the decadent trend of the Jokhang Dynasty since the previous emperor, repelled his neighbors and enemies, and regained the land that had been occupied by the Western Court for decades. In the land of Hexi, the people's livelihood in the country is stable, creating a new prosperous age since the founding of the Jokhang Dynasty.

Like a sick tiger taking a nap, although the emperor in front of him has lost the killing spirit of the past, Xie Nanjin, as a courtier, still feels the oppressiveness in the eyes of the sitting emperor at this moment, and his heart is pounding , There is already a thin layer of sweat on the back.

He already felt that the emperor on the seat should actually know something.But now he has no way out.

If he doesn't want to incur the crime of deceiving the emperor, he can only stand with his son to deceive the emperor, even though he is very unwilling in his heart.

There was an unbearable silence, and Zhengde suddenly laughed, nodded and said: "I know that your Xie family is full of loyalty and bravery. For decades, Xie Qing has been regarded as my right-hand man, and you have lived up to my wishes. I just wanted to reward you with a good life. Since your family has a marriage contract with Rongyintang, taking this opportunity, I will return to Yuelao and marry your family with a reward of one thousand taels, and the inner court will issue a marriage order tomorrow."

Seeing that Zhengde had finished speaking, Xie Nanjin looked at himself with twinkling eyes, and immediately understood the meaning of his actions just now.It's just that I know that your Xie family is deceiving the emperor, but I don't want to pursue it. I hope you and your Xie family father and son will do it well, and in the future, you will use ten times the loyalty to make up for it.

Xie Nanjin hastily kowtowed again and expressed his loyalty again. Hearing Zhengde laughed, he took a deep breath, but he had already scolded his daring son several times in his heart.

Zhengde changed the subject and asked a few more questions about Hexi.Xie Nanjin told the facts one by one, Zhengde seemed to be in a good mood, and praised a few more words.At this time, Li Tongfu who had been standing by the side suddenly said: "Your Majesty, it's time to breathe out."

Seeing Zhengde smiling at him, Xie Nanjin knew what he meant, so he saluted and left. Zhengde nodded, suddenly seemed to remember, and said with a smile: "I know that you have been fighting all year round and have no time to take care of your family. This time the situation in Hexi is established, but you can stay in Beijing for a long time." , Your son’s marriage is also an important matter, so don’t be careless. Although the Rongyin Hall is a merchant’s house, its family style is also upright, and I stayed there a few years ago.”

Xie Nanjin thanked Tian En again, and then withdrew.As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, his face fell down, and he walked towards the general's mansion.

Xie Zuiqiao got the news that Lu Da sent someone to send it to him in the camp. Master Dao has arrived in Beijing and returned to his residence. Gao Jun is about to return to the city.

After Gao Jun sent Ming Yu to the south according to his order, he just came back for only seven or eight days. Seeing the young master's expression of excitement at the moment, he was a little worried, so he secretly pulled him to the corner, and whispered: "Young master, can you?" Want me to go back with you?"

Xie Zuiqiao was startled, but quickly understood his intentions, touched his head, and smiled wryly: "Thank you, Uncle Gao. It's better for me to deal with what I have done by myself. With you by my side, I'm afraid my father will be even worse." Annoyed."

Gao Jun also knew Xie Nanjin's temper, and it was reasonable after thinking about it, and said: "Mo Ruo asked Lu Da to invite Mrs. An. With him here, I think the master will not really do anything to you."

Xie Zuiqiao shook his head and said, "I have disturbed my grandfather once before, how can I disturb him again this time? I know it myself."

Gao Jun saw that he was stubborn, his temper was exactly the same as that of his father and son, so there was nothing wrong with him, so he had to say: "Since that's the case, young master, be careful. If you can't do it, ask the master to whip it a few times and it will pass, don't talk back to him."

Xie Zuiqiao nodded in agreement, and hurried back to the city on horseback. Because of the long distance, it was already time to hold the lantern when he arrived at the General's Mansion. Lu Da who was waiting at the door picked up the lantern, ran over a few steps, grabbed his arm and said : "My lord, the master has always put on a tiger face when he came back from the palace, and now he is sitting in the clan house, telling the lord to go see him as soon as he comes back."

Although the ancestral tombs of the Xie family are in the old place of their ancestral home in Jiangzhou, the spirits of the ancestors were moved there after their death, but there is also a clan house in the mansion in Beijing, where the ancestors' spirit tablets are placed for sacrifices in the four seasons.

Seeing Lu Da's worried expression, Xie Zuiqiao knew that he was always kind to him, so he smiled at him, threw the reins to the boy, and walked in quickly.From a distance, I saw bright lights in the ancestral house, and the double doors were wide open. When I went in, my father had a black leather whip wrapped around his wrist, and he was dressed in ordinary clothes. The statue of the ancestor god in the python robe.

Xie Zuiqiao called out to his father, seeing him glaring at him, before he could speak, he walked up to the ancestral tablet, knelt down with a plop, and kowtowed: "The unfilial son Zuiqiao, today I confess my mistakes to all the ancestors in front of my father. .I know I was wrong, and I will never dare to do it again!"

Xie Nanjin didn't expect him to come out just like this, startled for a moment, and said angrily: "You know you're wrong, where is your mistake?"

Xie Zuiqiao stared straight at the portrait of his ancestor, and said loudly: "First, I shouldn't hide it from my father, and make my own decisions when my father is away; second, I shouldn't disturb my grandpa, and have the audacity to ask him to lie for me."

Xie Nanjin was extremely angry, his eyes were full of brilliance, and he cursed: "Little bastard! I also know that you really know where you are wrong! At this moment, you are still stubborn! Let me ask you, there are so many women in the world, how can the woman of the Ruan family be right? What ecstasy drug did you take, why are you so bold as to compete with His Highness the Third Highness? You even did not hesitate to bring out your grandfather to the imperial court to fabricate lies! If the Holy Majesty really wants to pursue this kind of crime of deceiving the king, you will count as ten people like me Dad, I can't keep your head! Fortunately, the Holy Father read my Xie family's loyalty for generations, so I let you go! Do you know it's a crime?"

Xie Zuiqiao said: "My son has confessed his crime, and he will never dare to do it again. It's just father, this matter is all son's fault. It was I who fell in love with her at first sight when I was in Jiangzhou, so I had the audacity to ignore her family's repeated attempts. Rejection, what I asked for, has nothing to do with the Ruan family, father, don't blame her."

Xie Nanjin saw that the son's words were all about protecting the woman's family, and at the end, not only did he have no regrets on his face, but he looked open-minded, let alone angry, nodded and said: "Okay, okay, I'm counting today." I have seen your ability! I have grown up, my wings have become hard, and I don’t pay attention to you at all! In this case, I have to ask a monk to come, and I don’t believe that I can’t cure you! Say it yourself, such a crime of disobedience, According to Article [-] of the family rules, how should we deal with it?"

Xie Zuiqiao said: "One hundred lashes."

"Just know! Take off your clothes!"

Xie Nanjin yelled angrily, causing a burst of dust to fall from the beams and tiles of the roof.

Except for his shirt, Xie Zuiqiao showed his bare bronzed back.

"My lord! It's your first crime, please forgive me this time! How can I withstand a hundred lashes?"

Lu Da, who had rushed over early and was outside the door, was too frightened to stand up, and rushed over to plead for mercy.

Xie Nanjin said angrily: "Do you see that he has a hint of regret? Even if I beat him to death today, the ancestors would not blame me! This kind of disobedient son, keeping such a disobedient son is a future trouble!" As he said, it was already " With a bang, a whip lashed Xie Zuiqiao's back heavily, leaving a blood-red welt immediately.

Xie Nanjin was extremely angry in his heart, and naturally he did not strike lightly. The whip went like a snake, and in the blink of an eye, he whipped it down more than ten times. There were also more than ten bloodstains on Xie Zuiqiao's back. The undulating texture of the back slowly drips.

Lu Da was so distressed that he didn't care about committing the crime. He lifted Xie Nanjin's wrist and shouted at Xie Zuiqiao: "Young Master, Young Master, quickly beg for mercy and admit your mistake! If you continue to fight, it will really break you!"

Xie Nanjin also hesitated a bit, and thought that if he really begged for mercy, he would be fine with just a few more pumps.Glancing at his son, he saw that he was still kneeling there, with sweat on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent. His eyes were only looking straight at the ancestral tablet in front of him, and there was no regret on his face. Anger flared up again in his heart, he clenched the whip tightly, snorted coldly, flicked his wrist, and the whip lashed Xie Zuiqiao's back fiercely, his flesh was ripped apart and blood flowed out.

"Father! Please spare brother!"

Xie Nanjin drew twenty or thirty strokes, and heard a girl's voice behind her. It sounded a little strange, and she suddenly turned her head, only to see a teenage girl standing there, looking at herself with tears in her eyes, Dazed for a moment, just about to blurt out and ask who you are, suddenly remembering that she called her father just now, she already understood that it was her daughter who came.

His impression of Xie Jingzhu was still that of the thin eight or nine-year-old girl three or four years ago.Just now he came out of the palace, suffocating his stomach full of anger, and went straight here to wait for his son to come to the door, suddenly saw his daughter appeared, slim and graceful like a young girl, he was startled for a moment, and his hands eased down.

Xie Jingzhu used to be in awe of this father who got together seldom and left a lot, but just now hid outside, seeing the whip kept falling on his brother's back, heartbroken, couldn't help but rushed in and begged for mercy.He walked up to Xie Nanjin, knelt down, kowtowed, and said, "Father, don't hit brother. Brother knows he was wrong, and he will never make father angry again. The elder sister of the Ruan family is very good, not only brother likes it , I also like it very much. When I heard my brother said that she was going to be my sister-in-law, I was so happy that I didn’t fall asleep all night. Father, after my mother passed away, I lived in Jiangzhou for more than three years. I came to see me once. I know that my father is away all year round, so I don’t dare to blame him. It’s just that my sister Ruan’s family spends my birthday with me every year. With her, I feel as happy as my mother when I was young... , Sister Ruan's family is really nice, please stop punishing brother..." As he spoke, his sobs started to choke.

Xie Nanjin stared blankly at his daughter, guilt and self-blame surged in his heart, then turned his head to look at his son, and saw that he was still kneeling there with his back straight, and despite the blood flowing down his back, he was even more stubborn than when he was young Three minutes, finally let out a long sigh, threw the whip in his hand, stepped forward to help his daughter and went outside.

Xie Zuiqiao heard his heavy footsteps heading towards the door, held back the pain in his back, and hurriedly turned around and asked, "Father, when will you go south to propose marriage?"

Xie Nanjin stopped in his tracks, glanced at his daughter, and saw that she was looking up at him eagerly, her heart softened, and she turned around and said angrily, "Little bastard! I will leave when you recover from your injuries!"

(End of this chapter)