A Thousand Hills

Chapter 151

The journey to the imperial capital was smooth and steady. Although the fifth prince was not yet safe, he strongly demanded to go all the way with his father to the palace to visit his mother. He was very worried and wondered if his mother was getting better.

Xie Moru ordered Su Shi and Yu Shi to take the children back to the palace first, and she followed the fifth prince into the palace.

When entering the palace, there was a strong smell of acetic acid. It is said that this method can prevent plague.Concubine Su's condition is not bad, her back is leaning on a big pillow of broken lotus, covered with a brocade quilt, she is still coughing, she is very happy to see her son and daughter-in-law, she let them sit down, and said, "I count these days as time." , I think it should be here in a few days." Xie Moru asked the prince to help bring back the letter, which was in the hands of Concubine Su. Concubine Su looked at her son and then at her daughter-in-law, and said, "It's better to lose weight, the fifth one His complexion is not good either."

The fifth prince sat beside his mother's bed, and smiled, "I'm much better now, my wife takes care of me every day, so I'm tired and thin."

"I'm in a hurry to take care of you. I've found all the other princes, but you don't have any news, which makes people anxious." Xie Moru smiled, "Fortunately, I'm safe, and I was in a hurry all those days. "

Concubine Su had a smile in her eyes, turned her head away, and coughed a few times, Xie Moru took the herbal tea brought by the Dagong and handed it to Concubine Su, Concubine Su sipped the tea and said, "Yes, this sudden movement, I am here It’s nothing, I’m just thinking about you outside. I won’t be at ease until your daughter-in-law’s letter arrives, saying that your Majesty and you are safe and found, and I’ll be at ease.” He asked again, “Tell me, how did you get trapped? Living?"

The fifth prince told Xie Moru that he was just making fun of it, let alone his mother who was suffering from the same disease.The Fifth Prince talked about picking wild fruits, "Chestnuts, hazelnuts, and pine nuts, there are many such things that fell on the ground. Once I picked up a bag, I felt that someone was patting me. When I turned around , saw that it was a hairy monkey, and then lightened his arms, and another monkey snatched a bag of wild fruits. It is strange that people say that a person has too many eyes, and they would say that this person is a "monkey spirit". The words really make sense. There are some unfamiliar fruits on the tree, which are sweet and sour. It made my tongue astringent, and I couldn’t feel the taste for two days. There are often tuckahoes under the roots of pine trees, so big and big pieces of tuckahoes. My father and I found a spring in a place where there are many tuckahoes. It is sweet and clear. The water we often eat must be delicious. I said that the water must be good for making tea, but my father said that this water tastes good when eaten alone, but not necessarily good for making tea."

Concubine Su smiled, "That's true. Some water is good, but not necessarily suitable for making tea. Some water tastes nothing special on its own, but it is excellent for making tea."

The fifth prince said a lot about being trapped in the Lost Valley. Concubine Su listened with a smile, and asked him if the injury on his wrist was better. The fifth prince touched the gauze around his wrist and said, "It's much better, I just feel that it's better." The wrist is weak."

"Don't worry about this. You were injured by Yinhuan. If you can save your life, it is the blessing of your ancestors. If you hurt your muscles and bones for a hundred days, these are still traumatic injuries. Although you are not injured by your muscles and bones, it is better to hurt your muscles and bones." It's more severe to move the bones..." Concubine Su coughed again, the fifth prince hurriedly stroked his mother's back, Concubine Su took another sip of tea, and said, "I'm also suffering from an old illness." The prince said, "If there is no danger, if you are alive, you are protected by your ancestors. Don't worry about your injury, so you can take care of it."

The five princes agreed.

The Fifth Prince hadn't recovered from his serious illness, and Concubine Su was also sickly. The mother and son met and said something to reassure each other. Concubine Su sent her son and daughter-in-law back to the mansion, and ordered some medicinal materials to be packed. Xie Moru said, "Now our manor There are all kinds of tonics in it."

"This is different." Concubine Su pointed to a bag of playthings and said, "This is for Ling Xiao. I know you can't treat her badly. This is what I want as a mother."

Xie Moru ordered Luluo to pick it up. On the way back to the residence, the fifth prince said in the car, "It's a pity that Ling Xiao is not a man, otherwise he could earn a duke."

Xie Moru said, "Although she can't be a duke, could it be that her son can't be a duke?"

The fifth prince was shocked, "She has a son?" Well, isn't this Ling Xiao his family's maid.

Xie Moru glanced at the fifth prince, "I'm not married yet, I mean, in the future, after she gets married, if she has a parent-child, she can bestow this title on Ling Xiao's son, how about it?"

The fifth prince thought for a while, and nodded, "It's okay. I was sorry for her. Because of men and women, it may be difficult to bestow the title." Alas, his wife is really smart.

Xie Moru smiled, "Rewards for meritorious service, how can we repeat it? What's more, it was the Empress Dowager's decree at the time, and it was a clear order for the world, so this matter should not be hasty. It is Ling Xiao. In the past, it was good to just look at her. This time she has made great contributions, we want more. Plan for her. She looks good, and people understand it, but it's just the same. The eyes of the world are mostly snobbish. After all, Ling Xiao was born in the palace. When she gets married, the rich and powerful will choose her. I am afraid that I will offend her. In this way, I will make this matter clear when discussing merit in the future. Although there is no precedent for granting a duke to a woman, Ling Xiao can't be a duke, but in the future when she gets married and has children, the duke will be given to her Parents and children. With this will, any kind of good family can be found."

The Fifth Prince deeply agreed.

Xie Moru said softly, "Although this method is good, there is only one obstacle." He quietly told the fifth prince that Ling Xiao's background was different from the records in the palace files.

The fifth prince was a little surprised, "Is there such a thing?"

"His Royal Highness keep it in mind first, it seems that she has some difficulties, so go back and ask her."

Arriving at the mansion, there was another burst of sour vinegar smell, the fifth prince felt that his nose was going to be sore and blind, and Xie Moru muttered, "It's okay to use less vinegar."

Xie Moru said, "Preparation is safe. Smoke some vinegar, it will be reassuring."

The three side concubines all brought their children out to meet them. The Fifth Prince was in the car all the way, and said these things in the palace. He was a little tired, and said, "It's all hard work, you guys should go back and rest."

The three of them agreed softly, and took the children down without mentioning it.

Xie Moru helped the fifth prince into the room to rest, the fifth prince said, "I have to sleep for a while, you should also take a rest."

Xie Moru ordered the maid to change the fifth prince into soft clothes, and helped him to bed before he went out to manage affairs.

Wisteria stayed in the mansion to look after the house. Xie Moru asked Ling Xiao and Zhou Zhang to sit down and asked them about the affairs of the mansion. Seeing that they were in good health, she was relieved.

There is no major event in the mansion, it is nothing more than a few houses where the servants live are not strong during the earthquake, and some utensils were damaged during the earthquake, Xie Moru ordered Wisteria to record them one by one, Xie Moru said, "Your Highness still Before Da'an, there are many people who are sick outside, so don't go out if you can. Let's talk about it after this period of time." Said to Lu Luo, "Give Ling Xiao what the concubine mother rewarded."

Ling Xiao thanked him for accepting it.

Xie Moru said to Lu Luo, "Clean up the East guest courtyard, and prepare four big maids, six young maids, and eight women to serve in the courtyard. Clean it up, come and talk to me."

Luluo took the order and responded.

Xie Moru really worried a lot these days, after sorting out trivial matters, he sent everyone to rest.

After Mrs. Xie heard the news that the five princes were safe, they all recited a Buddha. After the emperor returned to the capital, Mrs. Xie came to the prince's mansion the next day. Seeing that Xie Moru was fine, Mrs. Xie was relieved, and said to Xie Moru, "The Bodhisattvas in Xishan Temple are indeed very effective." Her old man has invited Bodhisattvas into the mansion now, and she has been burning incense and worshiping Buddha these days, not only for Xie Moru, the fifth prince, but also for the noble concubine, daughter, and prince's grandson. Fortunately, everyone is safe It can be seen that the Bodhisattva is indeed effective.

Xie Moru invited Mrs. Xie to sit down and asked, "How is the family?"

Mrs. Xie said, "Our family is fine, but Azhi's wife is gone." She sighed.Xie Zhi is not married yet, but after Xie Zhi became a scholar, her marriage has been settled. She is the third daughter of Wu Guogong's brother's brother's family, and her father is also a member of the party. It is a very good marriage.Xie Zhi was thinking about this subject, Qiu Wei, to give it a go, no matter whether he wins or not, after Qiu Wei, he will get married.As a result, after catching up with the earthquake, and now there is another epidemic, Qiu Wei was also cancelled, and his fiancée unfortunately died in the earthquake.

Xie Moru couldn't help being silent, Xie Zhi was also in his weaker years, the Xie family's children were always married late, this is not surprising, Xie Bai was also married after the weaker.Xie Zhi's aptitude is not as good as that of his uncle Xie Bai, but he is also a top-notch scholar, which can be regarded as an upper-middle aptitude.It's just that I didn't expect that the marriage was a bit unsatisfactory.Xie Moru said, "This is something that can't be helped, maybe it's just a way of doing nothing."

Mrs. Xie sighed again, "I thought he would get married, and I also have a helper. Now that the daughter of the Wu family is gone, our family is a family of poems and books. No matter what, we have to wait for a year before discussing marriage."

"Yes." Xie Moru said, "After all, they are engaged, so it's good to keep them for a year."

Mrs. Xie said, "I also said that even if Miss Wu is in mourning, A Zhi will be sent to see her off. After all, there is an engagement."

Xie Morufang asked, "Didn't Miss Wu fall during the earthquake?" How many days have passed since the earthquake.

Mrs. Xie said, "I fell down during the earthquake and fell into a coma these days. I also ate two thousand-year-old ginseng plants, but I couldn't save him."

Mrs. Xie lamented the short life of her granddaughter-in-law who had no chance, and asked about the fifth prince's injury. Xie Moru said, "I have been treated by an imperial doctor, but my body is fine, but my wrist is injured, and it will not heal for a while."

Mrs. Xie asked quickly, and found out that she had been bitten by a poisonous snake, and her right wrist could not be stretched. Mrs. Xie was not a doctor, and there was no other way to do it, so she had to comfort Xie Moru, "As the saying goes, a disease comes like a mountain, and goes away like a silk thread. What's more, it has been poisoned by snakes, so it needs to be taken care of slowly."

The grandfather and grandson were talking, and they heard that it was Ling Xiao who led people to save Emperor Mu Yuan and the fifth prince. Mrs. Xie praised, "This is a blessed one." Talking for a while, fortunately, the fifth prince is safe, Xie Moru also With the crisis of widowhood gone, Mrs. Xie left without leaving a meal.

The fifth prince also said, "Why didn't the old lady stay for dinner?"

Xie Moru said, "Grandmother is not in the mood." He told about the passing of Xie Zhi's fiancée, Miss Wu.

The fifth prince didn't say anything else, but said, "When the epidemic is over, let's donate some money to the temple and do some rituals to save the dead."

Thank you Moru.

The two finished their lunch, the fifth prince took medicine and went to take a nap, but Xie Moru was too busy to touch the ground, so he called Mrs. Xu to speak, expressed condolences to Mrs. Xu again, and praised Mrs. Xu who stayed in the mansion during the epidemic. With a fearless spirit, Mrs. Xu smiled politely, "Sister Su has to take care of the children, and since my sister is young and the mother is not around, we have to keep someone in our house. Besides, there may not be anything. It is not worthy of the mother's praise."

Xie Moru ordered Ziluo to bring out a box to reward Mrs. Xu, Mrs. Xu thanked her, Xie Moru said a few words, and sent Mrs. Xu away.After dismissing Mrs. Xu, he called Ling Xiao again, and first talked to Ling Xiao about the title, Xie Moru said, "It's a pity to be a female officer by my side with your talent. I have discussed with His Highness, and no woman has ever done it. For the duke, how about leaving this title to your own son?"

Ling Xiao didn't expect this, she thought that the court rewarded her with something and it was over.Ling Xiao fell silent, Xie Moru said, "If you are worried about your identity, I will ask His Highness to explain to His Majesty."

The corners of Ling Xiao's lips curled up, and he said softly, "I've always wanted to taste what it's like to be a master, but I don't really feel anything special. It's no better than me being your maidservant." Ling Xiao obviously wanted to laugh , but two lines of tears flowed from the eyes.

Xie Moru knew that she had something to do, and said, "If you have any difficulties, just tell me." "Your Majesty, let me think about it."

Xie Moru let her back down.

Before Ling Xiao could figure it out, the palace gave a lot of things, most of them were for the fifth prince, and one of them was for Ling Xiao. On the list was a pair of mandarin ducks, a set of head and face jewelry, and palace satin of various colors. Twenty horses.

Xie Moru understood the meaning of Emperor Mu Yuan as soon as he heard the reward, exchanged glances with the fifth prince, obviously the fifth prince also sensed it.Xie Moru sent the servant Yu who was presenting the reward to go down to have tea, thought for a while, and said to Ling Xiao, "I'm afraid there is no place to put these things in your room. It’s just for you to live in, so you can move to the East Guest House.” I originally thought that Ling Xiao would no longer be suitable to be a maid by her side after making such a great contribution, so I ordered someone to clean up the East Guest House, but I didn’t expect it Emperor Mu Yuan actually meant this... It seems that there is no need to mention the matter of the title.

Ling Xiao suddenly said, "Your Majesty, this servant has something to report to your Majesty and Your Highness in detail."

Xie Moru gave a wink, Wisteria and the maids all retreated, Xie Moru said, "You tell me."

Ling Xiao said, "Your Majesty, if the servant had the heart to climb the dragon and the phoenix, he would have had a chance in the palace back then. The servant, the servant did not have that kind of thought."

Xie Moru said, "Back then you were just a palace servant, even if you were lucky for His Majesty, you wouldn't have a high rank. Now that you have the merit of saving your family, His Majesty will definitely not wrong you."

Ling Xiao bit his lower lip, "The servant is unwilling."

The fifth prince was already dumbfounded. After thinking for a while, he quickly brought out his father's merits and said, "Well, my father was born well, and he is a better person."

Ling Xiao was silent, the fifth prince was dying of anxiety, and said, "Look, the mandarin duck pendant is given to you, how can you say you don't want it? This, this, this is not allowed!"

Xie Moru said, "The Supreme Being under Heaven is not what everyone wants."

The fifth prince glared at her. How could this be a hindrance? Then she heard her daughter-in-law say again, "But, with your Majesty, we can't afford to offend you. If Your Majesty has such thoughts, who would dare to marry you? It's the mansion. You are also afraid that you will not be able to stay."

Ling Xiao was silent for a long time, and said, "I don't want to die, but I also don't want to enter the palace. If I have to enter the palace, I can go to the palace, and my servant will say that the person I like is His Highness Fifth."

Ling Xiao made this big move suddenly, and the fifth prince almost fell from the chair to the ground. The fifth prince stuttered in fright, and said repeatedly, "This, this, this is not nonsense!" The point is, he doesn't mean that to Ling Xiao!

Xie Moru said to Ling Xiao, "Go down first, I will discuss this matter with His Highness."

Ling Xiao saluted and withdrew.

The Fifth Prince said to his wife, "This is absolutely impossible!"

The husband and wife went to talk in the small hall outside the bedroom, Xie Moru said, "His Highness's rescue work this time, I'm afraid it will be ruined in one fell swoop."

The fifth prince sighed, "Tell me, who are we offending? Ling Xiao, she couldn't see that she was such a person before." Nima, she is really good at blackmailing people, right?The point is that Ling Xiao's humanity cannot be destroyed yet, not to mention that his father has already taken a fancy to Ling Xiao and cannot do anything.Even the fifth prince himself can't do this.

The fifth prince said, "If I really fell in love with her, I wouldn't be in vain for nothing. There is no such thing, and I still have to bear this name? I am too wronged."

Xie Moru said in a deep voice, "Back in the palace, I watched the princes being found one after another, but His Highness had no news. At that time, I swore in my heart that if someone could find His Highness for me, what price would I pay?" are willing to give.”

"Here, here, I'd better go into the palace and explain something to my father..."

"Tell Your Majesty, Ling Xiao is not willing at all?"

"Well, to be honest."

"Whether she is willing or not, His Majesty will always have a way to get her into the palace, but you and I will have a great enmity with her." Xie Moru said, "I said that the Duke will be awarded to her son in the future, and she is not much moved. She This temperament is not like a reasonable person, once she succeeds, it will inevitably bring about many disasters. What's more, if she enters the palace, she will say something, and it will even create a rift between father and son."

The fifth prince said, "Check her details first."

"I'm afraid it's too late, I think His Majesty will send someone over soon."

The fifth prince was unlucky, and there was no need to check Ling Xiao's details at all, she said it herself, as she said, "I have nothing to love."

If you want to kill or cut, people are not afraid!The fifth prince said straightly in private, "This woman is more ruthless than a man when she plays a bachelor."

The fifth prince complained once, thought for a while with a sullen face, and said, "I don't care about whether I can save you or not. Father is my own father, but if there is a danger, I will naturally stand in front of father. But, Father and son are born for Ling Xiao, a woman I don't even know well..." The fifth prince didn't say the rest, but just sighed.

"Do you want to hear my analysis, Your Highness?"

"You said so."

Xie Moru said solemnly, "Since Your Majesty and Your Highness returned safely, the situation in this imperial capital has changed. In the past, the second prince was registered as the crown prince as the direct prince. Your Majesty has a lot of trust in the prince, and the prince is also diligent. The situation in this court is natural. It is stable. But, it is different now. Your Highness and His Majesty have shared weal and woe, which is exceptional among the princes. However, Your Highness and the Eastern Palace have always been close, so if you want to come to the Eastern Palace, you will not be suspicious of your Highness. The Eastern Palace is now The thorn in my side is the eldest prince. This imperial capital was originally handed over to the crown prince by His Majesty before the autumn hunting. But after the earthquake, the disease spread, and it was the eldest prince who returned to the imperial capital without fear of his life. He is now presiding over the comfort after the earthquake. , and the prevention and control of the epidemic is still the eldest prince. The great achievements of the eldest prince, in the hearts of His Majesty and the hearts of all officials, must be different from the past."

The fifth prince couldn't care less about Ling Xiao's affairs anymore, and said, "Brother is indeed meritorious, but the prince can't say that he is wrong, right? The safety of the world depends on the father, and the prince is also worried about the father, so he came to the palace to rescue him what."

"However, the people who rescued His Majesty were not the prince's people, but the people sent by our mansion. And the situation in the imperial capital is so corrupt, it is directly related to the prince leaving the imperial capital and no one is in charge of the overall situation. The prince is right, but what is the prince?" There are no credits at all, but there are two great achievements today, one is from our family, and the other is the eldest prince." Xie Moru said, "The mother of the eldest prince is the respected concubine and the leader of all the princes. Your Majesty always values ​​greatness. Prince, although the eldest prince was a little unstable in the past, but in the face of a crisis, it was the eldest prince who stepped forward and returned to the imperial capital, and sent all the princes, princesses, grandsons, granddaughters, and princess heirs out of the imperial capital, and then left behind Presiding over a dangerous situation. After this incident, the eldest prince will be given more important positions."

"The eldest prince has high merit, but the crown prince has no merit. At this time, I also hope that His Highness will temporarily avoid the limelight."

"I will not fight with the prince." The fifth prince said.

"Your Highness will not fight, but the Crown Prince will not let His Highness go. Because His Highness also made great contributions in this earthquake. If the East Palace wants to maintain its status, it must not make the princes too popular. Both the Eldest Prince and His Highness have to separate Look at each other, as long as you fight, the East Palace will be able to sit back and watch the tigers fight, and will naturally benefit. If Your Highness does not follow the wishes of the East Palace, then the relationship between our family and the East Palace will be alienated, offending the Crown Prince, and there will be no good days What's more, the First Prince also has staff and advisers, once they realize that we are alienated from the East Palace, they will try their best to keep us alienated, and it is best to turn against each other, which is in the interests of the First Prince." Xie Moru said, "It's not that we won't We won’t, we won’t, someone forces us to.”

The Fifth Prince hesitated, "Could it really be..."

"Yes, accepting Ling Xiao, one is as she wished, we have repaid her previous kindness to His Highness. Two, His Highness has offended His Majesty because of this. His Highness's favor in front of His Majesty has decreased, and he has lost the equal status of the First Prince. qualifications, the prince will naturally not be jealous of His Highness' status in front of the imperial court."

"The prince doesn't seem so narrow-minded, does he?"

"If the crown prince is broad-minded, how could he confront the eldest prince tit for tat? These two years, the two of them have already given up on each other, right?"

This is true.The fifth prince pondered for a moment, and said, "I'm afraid I'm going to hurt my concubine."

"There is no one who is always smooth. Besides, I thought, but if there is a chance, it's better to do it earlier."

"That's good too." The fifth prince said, "It's far away, but it's still clean. Earlier, I served my mother and concubine as a vassal, and we went to live our little days."

The fifth prince sighed, "Tell me, more than ten years have passed when my father didn't value me very much. Now, when I think of losing my father's favor, I feel a little worried about gains and losses. People think too much, because It's because I want too much. In fact, just think about it briefly, Ling Xiao saved my life, she didn't want me to pay it back with my life, so I was so hesitant, how can I be a man."

Xie Moru smiled, "I don't know what manhood is, but I am hesitant when I think of His Highness being wronged like this."

The fifth prince finally sighed, "I didn't think about what you were thinking. This time, what the elder brother did was indeed beautiful and admirable. But let me tell you, the prince doesn't have to worry about his position being unstable. The son of a daughter, Not to mention, the crown prince is the crown prince of a country, and he will know how to employ people in the future. There is no way to have both ends in everything. Just make the right decision. We will all be vassal kings in the future. , I think they don’t trust us. Between brothers, it’s boring to do this.”

The fifth prince sighed back, and said to Xie Moru, "Once we retreat, I'm afraid the prince will directly confront the elder brother."

Xie Moru said lightly, "This has nothing to do with you and me, it's His Majesty's business."

(End of this chapter)