A Thousand Hills

Chapter 302

Prosperity must decline.

Everyone understands this truth.Of course Xie Moru also understood.

However, the fifth prince is now just a vassal king with some military exploits. He is considered a top among the vassal kings, but there are still two peaks above his head, the East Palace and the Emperor, so he is really not very prosperous.It's just that it's so difficult for a person to take a step up. Before your step up, there are many villains trying to stop you.The reason is also easy to explain. In this world, no matter noble or humble, the more you go up, you will find that there are only a few places on the top, one carrot and one pit.The fifth prince wants to take the position, and some people don't want to step down, so it is natural to cause some trouble for the fifth prince. Of course, if the fifth prince can be troubled to death, that is what many people would like to see.

The fifth prince was about to return home with a reputation, and if no one would give him a trick, Xie Moru would have to worry about whether there would be an assassin on the way to physically destroy the fifth prince.Well, I'm afraid assassins are also indispensable.

Xie Moru looked like he was holding the pearls of wisdom and said that there must be something wrong, the sixth prince and concubine heaved a sigh of relief for no reason, and said, "Don't worry, fifth sister-in-law, although I can't understand the affairs, I will talk to my highness when I get home, don't ask him to do it for you." Deceived by traitors." In her life, the sixth concubine is good at everything, she comes from a famous family, and her own qualities are also first-class, but she is not good at all, and she has never met a good husband. His wife's problems have changed, but the two of them have never been too temperamental.It's just that between husband and wife, one prospers and one loses both. The sixth prince and concubine felt that she would not be able to be a widow for a while, so she had to take good care of the sixth prince and not make him confused.Moreover, if the husband is not capable, he has to stand in line, otherwise, how will he live in the future?
Xie Moru was very polite, "There are six siblings."

The sixth prince and concubine laughed, "There is always justice between right and wrong, and justice is in the hearts of the people." Knowing that Mo Ru must have something to deal with, she got up and said goodbye.

Xiao Tang hurriedly went to see his aunt, Xiao Tang, you said he was careless, but in fact he was quite serious.While sending each other off, he did not forget to ask his aunt, "Our Highness hasn't come back yet, there are rumors. Eldest sister, if you want to go back to your mother's house, you have to tell your father-in-law. I'm a bit busy now, wait for someday When I have time, I will go over and talk to my father-in-law again, don't let my father-in-law fall into the ghost of those rumors."

The sixth prince and concubine smiled softly, "Okay, you can rest assured that it's your job."

Xiao Tang responded, and exaggerated that the sauce crab recipe of his aunt's house was good, and he flattered his aunt a lot, and sent her to the car until he thought of the important things in his life, and said, "Sister, you and your daughter-in-law Said, when my father comes back, we will do the marriage, tell her to wait, don't worry." Hearing these words, the maids and nuns beside the Sixth Prince's concubine were all happy.The sixth concubine slapped him on the forehead and said angrily, "The more you speak out." The marriage is not yet married, who is your wife?However, the sixth concubine was also happy for her younger sister, she smiled slightly, and ordered the maid to put down the curtain of the car and go in the car.

Xiao Tang looked at Eldest Sister's car going far away, turned back here, and said to Princess Xie, "I told Eldest Sister, let her inform father-in-law, don't tell father-in-law to be deceived."

Xie Moru and Xiao Tang said, "You should go to the Wendao Hall for a few days."

Xiao Tang said, "Why don't I ask the ancestor to say something." Xiao Tang didn't resist asking for help at all, he was naturally thick-skinned, so he didn't feel embarrassed.Xie Moru said, "Mr. Beiling never pays attention to official affairs, he would not say such a sentence."

Thinking about the master's temper, Xiao Tang was very convinced of Princess Xie's judgment, but he still said, "I'll hit the bell first, if the master wants to die and beg Bai Lai to refuse to speak, then I won't say anything. I'll go again Just ask Junior Martial Uncle Ouyang, he's not a dead-brained person like Grandmaster."

Xie Moru nodded, "Let's do it this way. If there is any trouble, just come back and talk to me."

Xiao Tang nodded in response.

Xiao Tang is an out-of-the-ordinary person. Anyone who knows him has such opinions, but in reality, Xiao Tang does things quite methodically.Take the matter of asking for help, Xiao Tang always buys gifts first, and then visits the door.Moreover, Xiao Tang is also very particular about gifts. What he gave to his master Jiang Beiling was a set of out-of-print books "Snow Mountain Collection", which was annotated by Zhao Shishan, a great scholar of the Dafeng Dynasty. This book is very old, so hold it in your hand Li Xiaotang was afraid of being broken, so he hurriedly found a proper box and put it away.I gave him a box of Overseas Ginseng and a box of Ganoderma lucidum for Uncle Ouyang.Jiang Beiling was in his eighties. He was a great man when he was young, and he developed towards a saint when he was old.Xiao Tang has already figured it out, if his master can really attain the Tao, then he will follow suit.Xiao Tang came over with a generous gift, Jiang Beiling glanced at the book, his old eyes lit up immediately, he ordered someone to fetch warm water first, after cleaning his hands, he ordered someone to take his own gloves made of silkworm silk, put them on, and square his hands He took out this "Snow Mountain Collection" with great care, opened it carefully, and was about to read it.Xiao Tang said anxiously, "Master, Master, don't worry about reading, I have something to ask."

How could Jiang Beiling pay any attention to him, and said, "Hey, my eyes are not good. Just take advantage of the bright sky and take a look. When the sun moves westward, I can't see clearly."

"Alright then." Xiao Tang rolled his eyes and said, "If you can't see clearly, I'll read it to you."

Jiang Beiling waved his hand, "I don't need you, go ahead, I don't need to come here today." Jiang Beiling has always seen good books and read them all in one go. He couldn't eat well or sleep well.Of course, his reading speed is not average, and his memory is excellent, and he has a photographic memory, which is a compliment to others, but it is a factual description to Jiangbeiling.When I was young, my family was poor and couldn’t afford books, so I lived by reading books from my classmates or reading free books in bookstores. It is said that Jiang Beiling could read a set of "Historical Records" by Tai Shigong in 20 days after reading it silently. Ninety percent of the text.So, don’t think that great Confucianism is easy to do. Great Confucianism depends on the knowledge in your stomach to support you.Jiang Beiling was in a hurry to read the book, and Xiaotang's business was still unfinished, so he went to find Jiang Beiling's new closed disciple, Ouyang Junior Martial Uncle. Ouyang Junior Martial Uncle came from a famous family. , I would like to emphasize the origin of Junior Uncle Ouyang here because, if he were not from a famous family, he might not be able to survive today.Why did Xiao Tang prepare ginseng and ganoderma? Isn’t it because little master Ouyang has been a medicine jar since he was a child? From childhood to adulthood, he took more medicine than rice. A serious illness... If it wasn't for being from a famous family, I really couldn't afford it.Younger uncle Ouyang was born in the Ouyang family in Ludi, and they are neighbors with Kong Sheng’s family. Ouyang’s family is a rich family in Ludi. Younger uncle Ouyang came to the imperial capital to study... Then, he was preparing for the imperial examination... However, it was just little teacher Ouyang. Xiao Tang felt that the uncle was so strong that in a place like the Gongyuan, he would have to confess in three days.

Xiao Tang is in good health, so all the medicinal materials on hand are sent to Junior Martial Aunt Ouyang. He is a quiet person, but he likes Junior Nephew Tang. When Xiao Tang came, he saw Junior Uncle Ouyang sitting on the porch drinking medicine.Xiao Tang went to sit on the porch together, gave the gift to the young uncle's close book boy, and handed a plate of candied fruit to the young uncle Tian Tianzui, the young uncle swept half of the plate in one go, and said to Xiao Tang "My body doesn't make much difference whether I take medicine or not. Don't always give me those tonics." The little uncle is really young. He is 25 this year and only one year older than Xiaotang. He grew up all his life, and because of his poor health since childhood, he spent most of his time recuperating in the house, so that my uncle didn't have many friends in his short 25 years of life.When I went to the imperial capital, I met Xiao Tang. Although Xiao Tang's nephew was younger, they were about the same age, so they could be regarded as the same age, so they could talk together.

Xiao Tang saw that his face was as white as transparent, except for a faint pink on his lips, and said, "You are an amateur for saying that! Do you know, I heard from my master that the fate of different people is different. Some people If you eat bran-swallowed vegetables all your life, your life will be relatively poor. Like you, my uncle, who comes from ginseng and bird's nest, this is a rich life. We can't be discouraged just because of the precious medicinal materials we ate first. .Otherwise, I would be sorry for the money I spent earlier.”

Uncle Ouyang laughed, "You're talking nonsense again."

"This is all the truth." Xiao Tang said solemnly, "I figured it out on my own. It is said in the book that the body and skin are subject to parents and dare not insult them lightly. What is the deep meaning behind what you said, I I thought about it for a long time, and then I finally figured it out. Think about it, it takes a lot of energy and affection for our parents to raise us. Of course, there is also money spent from childhood to adulthood. We are about to die with a bang. , the parents will suffer a great loss. In the past, I often said about my father, if he cherishes me, I have something good and bad, and just this loss, I have to love him to death."

Little Martial Aunt Ouyang made Xiao Tang Nephew laugh again, and the book boy of Ouyang Junior Martial Aunt heard what Xiao Tang said, so dead, so dead, the veins on his forehead were throbbing, and Xiao Tang smelled the fragrant fragrance in the courtyard and said, " It's already October, and the sweet-scented osmanthus in your yard is still blooming so well."

"Well, the air in this courtyard is warm." Uncle Ouyang Xiaoshi said, "Wen Daotang is located in a good location, not only is there abundant groundwater, but also there are green hills nearby, accompanied by lakes and streams, it can be called a place of geomantic omen and culture." Ouyang The courtyard where the little master lived was even more unusual, it was the courtyard given to him by Jiangbeiling.

"I originally bought this place for my princess." Xiao Tang and You Rongyan were quite proud.

Junior Uncle Ouyang smiled slightly, "I've heard you say it eight times."

"Is there? I think it was said two or three times at most." The two were gossiping, and Xiao Tang said, "There is something, have you heard?"

"What's the matter? About Yuxi?" Don't look at the poor health, Ouyang's ears are still very good.

Xiao Tang said, "You also know?"

"Yeah, someone came to me yesterday to write a Fu on the Jade Seal of the Kingdom..."

"You didn't write it, did you?" Xiao Tang asked anxiously. Although Junior Uncle Ouyang has no fame, he is very famous for his writing.

"No, I'm not stupid, what can I do to join in the excitement." Junior Master Ouyang said, "Besides, the news may not be true or false."

"It's a fake!" Xiao Tang hurriedly said, "I heard about it yesterday, so I went back and told my princess. If you haven't returned to the imperial capital, there will be rumors made by villains, so what's the matter?"

Junior Uncle Ouyang was not as easy-going as he was when he was chatting when he was talking about business. He rubbed his thin finger bones on the extremely soft fox fur blanket covering his legs, thought for a while and said, "What did Princess Xie say?" ?”

"The concubine didn't say anything for a while, and I don't know who is so wicked to spread these rumors. I will come to the Wendao Hall first to have a look. Who knows that they are going to write poems and poems." Xiao Tang said to his junior uncle, "You are smarter than me, give me an idea."

Uncle Ouyang said, "Rumours are like water, it's better to block them than to keep them out. If someone talks about it, let them talk about it."

"How can this be done? I have said too much, and the fakes have come true. When His Royal Highness returns to court, everyone is eagerly waiting to see the jade seal. Where can His Royal Highness get it?"

Young Master Ouyang's long eyelashes trembled, his eyes were like black gemstones soaked in mercury, with an astonishing brilliance, his expression was still weak, and he told Xiao Tang carefully, "If you can't pass on the jade seal of the country, Resolving it is not a temporary matter. Press it down today, and when the king of Fujian returns to the imperial capital, you can still mention it again. If you want me to say that everything must be eradicated, if the root is not eradicated, there is a danger of a comeback.”

Xiao Tang asked, "How can we get rid of the roots?"

Little Uncle Ouyang was about to speak when his throat suddenly felt itchy. Don coughed a few times at the beginning, Xiao Tang quickly handed him the herbal tea at hand, and he took two sips slowly, saying, "You only know Some people are spreading this gossip, but do you know who it is? Who are the people who promised to write poems and fuss?"

Xiao Tang honestly shook his head, "I don't know."

Seeing Nephew Tang's lack of scheming, Junior Aunt Ouyang was worried for him, and said, "Don't worry, you often come to Wendaotang. Some people here come to learn, and some come to seek fame. Looking for a future. They write poems and fus just to make a name for themselves. If you go to the Wendao Hall now, someone will definitely ask you about the jade seal, so you just tell the truth."

"It's that simple?"

"If you tell the truth, there should be some people who will no longer join in the fun, but there will still be people who will continue to make a fuss about this matter. Please pay attention to who is the leader of these people."

Xiao Tang sincerely believed that it was Ouyang Junior Aunt who was resourceful, and with Ouyang Junior Aunt's guidance, he was simply enlightened.So, Xiao Tang clenched his fist fiercely and said, "Success! Capture the thief first and capture the king first! Jieshi catches the leader, and they will be honest!" Because Xiao Tang was born in a family of officials, he was also an official, big or small, and handled affairs. Still very bureaucratic.Junior Uncle Ouyang almost didn't choke on his words, he couldn't laugh or cry, "I just want you to be careful, don't touch these people for now. These are just young people."

Xiao Tang's patience has never been good, and he hurriedly said, "Then what should we do?"

"Just ask them to make a fuss, if it's just in the Wendao Hall, and this is not a government office, what can they do? If you have the time to make a fuss, it's better to write a few more articles, so that you can get a good reputation in the future." Ouyang Xiaoshi Uncle said, "Although this matter started among the people, it must have ended in the imperial court. Since it has been involved in Wen Daotang, if there is no end, Wen Daotang may get into trouble in the future."

"What's the matter?"

"I don't understand the affairs of the imperial court. But you don't have to worry about Wen Daotang, I'm here."

Hearing Ouyang's young master's words, Xiao Tang felt relieved, and said, "Then I will entrust everything to you."

Uncle Ouyang's little master's jaw.

Xiao Tang begged, "Can't you tell me in detail, so that I can learn from your wisdom." It's not good for smart people to be like this, and they love to show off.

Uncle Ouyang smiled, "I can't for the time being."

Xiao Tang said of him, "Not cute at all."

Little Uncle Ouyang rolled his eyes and said, "Before you came to my place, didn't you go to the master's place?"

"Go." Xiao Tang said even more depressed, "The old man is playing tricks. I gave the master a set of out-of-print "Snow Mountain Collection", which was annotated by Zhao Shishan, a famous Confucian in the Dafeng Dynasty. Before I said anything, he sent me out. Look, when I passed by in a while, he definitely said, I don’t care about this matter, and then returned the book to me. It seems like he confiscated my gift, who I don’t know that he has a photographic memory, when I pass by in the evening, he must have finished the book and memorized it in his stomach.”

Little Uncle Ouyang felt itchy when he heard that "Snow Mountain Collection" was annotated by Zhao Shishan, and said, "You should give me the book." He accepted the matter.

Xiao Tang doesn't like reading, and this is not his book, so he is quite generous, "I'll come to you later. You have to do things for me."

For the sake of "Snow Mountain Collection", Junior Martial Uncle Ouyang didn't care about Martial Nephew Xiao Tang doubting his ability.Uncle Ouyang asked, "Where did you get this book?"

"I want it from the princess." Xiao Tang also had his own wit, and deliberately told Ouyang Xiaoshishu, "The princess has a lot of books. You have never seen our princess's study. Others use a room to store books, but she uses a room to store books." The yard is used to store books, and the entire main room and side rooms of the yard are the princess's collection of books. If you want to read some books, I will take you there someday."

Junior Uncle Ouyang was quite moved, but he said, "Isn't that good?"

"It doesn't matter, the princess is very kind and easy to talk to. I told the princess that it will be all right." Xiao Tang took it all in, and said, "I think there must be many masters who haven't seen the princess. What about the book you have passed?"

Little Uncle Ouyang smiled, knowing that Xiao Tang was tempting him, he said, "Master Zong, I dare not say that I have read all the books in the world. Isn't it normal if I have read any books? Zhuangzi also said that my life has a limit, and Knowing is boundless."

"There is no limit, you are all people who like to read books, wouldn't it be nice if you could read your favorite book?" The reason in Xiao Tang's eyes is quite simple. ,

Little Martial Uncle Ouyang thought, it seems that this time things have to be done well, otherwise, it would be really hard to go to see Princess Xie's private collection.

Xiao Tang ate lunch at Junior Uncle Ouyang's place, and then, when Uncle Ouyang was going to take a nap, he went to Wen Dao Hall to refute the rumors.In the evening, he went to Jiangbeiling's place. Sure enough, as soon as Xiaotang told about the rumor, Jiangbeiling waved his hand and said solemnly, "I swore when I was young that I would only be a teacher and never hear about the officialdom. It’s nothing. Don’t ask me.” The book was returned to Xiao Tang, showing a face of not accepting the gift and not doing anything.

Xiao Tang looked at the returned book, and the corners of his lips twitched. Even if you returned the book, you still read it, old man.Xiao Tang refused to leave, sat beside his master and said, "Master, at least show me the way."

"Ming Lu." Although the gift was confiscated, after all, he had read his disciple's book, and Jiang Beiling did not want to show his disciple's face. He twitched his beard, sipped a sip of fragrant tea, and said slowly and vaguely, "Everything, If there is an effect, there must be a cause. What you see is mostly the effect. Where is the cause, you have to think more."

Xiao Tang still wanted to hear what he had to say, but it turned out that the old man had closed his eyes and pretended to be dead. Xiao Tang was also used to seeing his master ancestor put on such a nagging face, so he had no choice but to pack up the books and said, "Then I'm leaving." Turning around, he gave the book to Uncle Ouyang.

Xiao Tang thought that his intelligence was limited, so he went back to the mansion and told Princess Xie about the different responses of his master and uncle Ouyang, Princess Xie was still very satisfied with Xiao Tang's ability to handle affairs, "I see, you go and rest first. "

Xiao Tang thought that there was nothing to worry about, and said, "If little uncle Ouyang finishes the matter of Wen Daodang, ma'am, can you let him go and have a look in your study? I told my little uncle, you have a lot of good books in the yard." , but he is greedy enough." Xie Wangfei smiled and said, "With Xiaotang's face, even if your uncle wants to take a look at my study right now, it's okay."

Xiao Tang smiled happily, and felt that Princess Xie was very interesting, so he happily went back to his room to rest.

Concubine Xie is very relieved of Ouyang Jing's promise. Ouyang's junior uncle, named "Mirror", it is said that the night before Ouyang Jing was born, his family dreamed of a very dazzling mirror shining with seven colors of divine light, so they took it for him. the name.With the status of Jiangbeiling's closed disciple, after hearing about Daotang's business, Ouyang Jing can still handle it well.What Xie Moru thought about was Jiang Beiling's words, if there is an effect, there must be a cause, what does this cause refer to?No, it won't be the East Palace.Jiangbeiling was not so superficial.

But if it wasn't for the dispute with the East Palace, how could there be rumors?
Xie Moru believed that the rumors about the jade seal of the country must be related to the East Palace.But if this is not the cause, then where is the cause?
Jiang Beiling's words were not necessarily meant for Xiao Tang. Xiao Tang relied more on intuition and was not good at deep thinking.Jiang Beiling asked him to think more, Xie Moru thought about his thirty-odd years of life, but he didn't think that it had anything to do with Yuxi.

Imperial jade seal……

Xie Moru was blessed in an instant. Her thirty-odd years of life had nothing to do with Yuxi, but her mother's family was infinitely close to the imperial power.Could it be that Jiang Beiling was reminding her of the old things about her past assistant saints?Or is it an old affair of the Fang family?

Xie Moru figured out all the arrangements in an instant, why did he say that King Jingjiang had the Jade Seal of Chuanguo?Let's assume first, King Jingjiang does have the Jade Seal of Chuanguo?But how did Chuan Guo Yuxi come from?Did it flow out from the Fang family or the Fusheng Mansion?As the night fell, Xie Moru's eyes looked through the darkening layers of night, and he didn't know where to look. For a moment, he called Wisteria to come in and hold the lamp.

The candlelight dispelled the darkness and illuminated the whole room as bright as day, Xie Moru ordered, "Send someone to the Shangshu Mansion and tell him that when the old Shangshu is free, please come over."

Wisteria responded softly.

(End of this chapter)