princess

Chapter 85

Life in the Northwest was not easy, even Xiao Yuanmin didn't have his favorite food on weekdays, as long as most people could eat enough, it was enough.

It was getting colder, Xiao Yuanmin was wearing a padded jacket with a concubine-colored collar and cuffs and snow-white rabbit fur. He tapped the sand table and said, "Is it true that General Lin can't send troops?"

Her voice was a little hoarse. A few days ago, because she was not used to the weather in the northwest, Xiao Yuanmin had a serious illness. Rijin was still not recovering. Lin Duan sat on the chair and looked up at Xiao Yuanmin when she heard the question, "It's too cold No, not enough food and grass."

The last spy incident caused Lin Duan to recruit a group of cronies to go in. Xiao Yuanmin took the opportunity to seize some power. Although it did not make Lin Duan slump, it also hurt his bones, especially the interruption of cooperation with the barbarians made Lin Duan After all, there are a lot of evidence in the hands of the barbarians. As long as it falls into the hands of the eldest princess, it will not only be myself, but the entire Lin family will be ruined.

Xiao Yuanmin didn't speak, Murong Xi touched the teacup with his finger, got up and changed the cold one, and poured warm water.

"Little General Murong has become more meticulous in his work." Lin Duan said with a smile.

"A letter came from the capital today." Xiao Yuanmin ignored Lin Duan's words at all, took a sip of warm water, moistened his throat and continued, "Concubine Lin Gui wrote a letter and dragged me to deliver it to General Lin." He pulled out a letter from one side, and Murong Xi took it and handed it to Lin Duan.

"Trouble the princess." Lin Duan's face remained unchanged, but he was shocked in his heart. He knew that people from the capital today had sent the princess a lot of food, and even some high-quality furniture. The letter was probably delivered together, but if Lin Guifei really sent the letter, she would not need the eldest princess to hand it over. The eldest princess chose this time... It was also a kind of warning to him.

Warn him, Concubine Lin Gui is still in the palace, if there is any change in Lin Duan, it may be not only Concubine Lin Gui, but also the Lin family in the capital...

"Well, I'm afraid General Lin is anxious to read the letter, so let's go back first." Xiao Yuanmin put down his teacup, pursed his lips and smiled, "I'm afraid Concubine Lin also has a lot to say to General Lin."

"Yes." Lin Duan retreated with the letter and stood on the street, looking up at the plaque of the mansion. When returning to his hand, Lin Duan closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, there were no waves.

"It's time for medicine." Murong Xi put away all the sand table maps, took the medicine from outside, and said.

Xiao Yuanmin leaned on the chair, and said with a little fatigue, "I'm afraid Lin Duan won't let go easily."

Murong Xi handed the medicine bowl to Xiao Yuanmin, and said with a smile, "It's not that easy, so don't be too impatient."

Xiao Yuanmin took the medicine and drank it in one gulp. Murong Xi took the empty bowl with one hand and candied fruit with the other. Xiao Yuanmin pinched a piece and put it in his mouth before saying, "My brother...had a few losses."

This was not what Xiao Yuzuo said, but what Madam Tang and the others said when they passed on the letter. Although Emperor Xuanhe loved Xiao Yuzuo, the women in the harem had endless tricks. It was hard for Xiao Yuzuo not to suffer from the secret alliance of these people. Thanks to Xiao Yuanmin, Yao Shengqin and the others did not come with them. With them, Xiao Yuanmin felt more at ease.

After hearing this, Murong Xi raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Xuanxuan, you are thinking too much." This title can only be called privately, with a little pampering, and it has a completely different feeling from Emperor Xuanhe, "The prince is at a disadvantage now. , is also a good thing."

In fact, Xiao Yuanmin's concern is chaotic. After being reminded by Murong Xi, he also understood. Indeed, Xiao Yuzuo is the heir that Emperor Xuanhe favored. Seeing Xiao Yuzuo suffer, even if he doesn't express it clearly, how can he not know what's going on in private In Emperor Xuanhe's view, with him watching, those people dared to set up a trap to make the prince suffer, which is also a kind of contempt for him.

Without Xiao Yuzuo or Xiao Yuanmin's actions, Emperor Xuanhe will take action.

Murong Xi walked behind Xiao Yuanmin, stretched out his hand to gently rub her head, "The matter of the barbarians didn't happen overnight, it's just Lin Duan..."

Both of them were silent. This person is really hateful. With the salary of the Jin Dynasty, he enjoys the luxurious life provided by the people, but he does things that are inferior to pigs and dogs. In order to ensure the prosperity and wealth of his family, he does not care about the life and death of the people.

"Lin Duan..." If Xiao Yuanmin wanted to kill all the barbarians, then he wanted to make Lin Duan feel ashamed.

Murong Xi sighed, "It's still important for you to maintain your health."

"Yeah." Xiao Yuanmin didn't know why, and closed his eyes, "You go to train."

In that incident, Xiao Yuanmin took the opportunity to seize many rights from Lin Duan, and divided the Northwest Army into three parts, one of which was handed over to Murong Xi, but the people were under Murong Xi's control, but the morale of the army was not under Xiao Yuanmin's control.

Murong Xi didn't know this, and nodded when he heard the words, those people needed him to spend more time gathering them together, and among them was unknown how many people arranged by Lin Duan.

After Murong Xi left, Xiao Yuanmin stood up and went back to the inner room to look at the letter. It was written by Concubine Ning. She guessed that Emperor Xuanhe was in poor health.

It's just that this news was kept from Emperor Xuanhe, and Concubine Ning was not sure. In contrast, the imperial concubine Xu didn't hear any news. Xiao Yuanmin thought about it and burned the letter.

No one knows Emperor Xuanhe better than Xiao Yuanmin. If he is really unwell, he will hide it from everyone, and no one will find out, or he will directly announce it to the world, but this kind of concealment has been quietly The news that came out was probably done on purpose by Emperor Xuanhe.

Xiao Yuanmin didn't know who the purpose was, but he couldn't get rid of those people.

Xiao Yuanmin's year in the northwest was destined to be unsettled, because just after the second day of junior high, news spread from the palace that the fourth prince Xiao Chengde died of a sudden illness.

Xiao Chengde's death was very simple, but Concubine Shu told Xiao Chengde after finding out the news about Emperor Xuanhe's appointment soon. Xiao Chengde colluded with some people in an attempt to force the palace, but was finally caught by Emperor Xuanhe and bestowed on him to death.

When Xiao Yuanmin heard the news, she responded and let people go down. Only Murong Xi noticed the tiredness in her eyes.

"Don't think too much." Murong Xi poured a cup of tea, "He's to blame."

Xiao Yuanmin pursed his lips and smiled, "I know, it's just the winner and the loser." His finger brushed lightly on the edge of the teacup, "If it's us who lose, the end will be the same." So there must be no defeat, Xiao Yuanmin's eyes flashed With a stern look, "Have you found any evidence?"

"Not enough." Murong Xi frowned, "Lin Duan is very cautious."

"The matter of the barbarians..." Xiao Yuanmin narrowed his eyes slightly, "It will proceed as planned."

"It's too risky." Murong Xi disagreed, "Those barbarians..."

Xiao Yuanmin said in a deep voice, "Three years."

"Yuan Min, go back to the palace." Murong Xi pursed his lips and said.

"I won't go back." Xiao Yuanmin smiled softly, she stood up, the skirt embroidered with landscape pictures fluttered slightly, with a slight sway, the smile on her face was calm and graceful.

Murong Xi stretched out his hand, took Xiao Yuanmin's hand, and interlocked his fingers, "I'll accompany you."

Not only would Xiao Yuanmin not be able to live a peaceful year, but everyone in the Northwest might not be able to live this year well, because every time the New Year is approaching, when it is the coldest time in the Northwest, the barbarians will always be ready to move, and I don't know how many comrades will die in the The men of the barbarians.

Therefore, in the northwest city, every new year, people are frightened.

Xiao Yuanmin was wearing a dark shawl, with long hair gathered on the top, braided into a round bun, the root of the bun was tied with a ribbon, and only a silver bracelet was on his wrist. He watched the few vendors on the street and the people hurrying along the road. people, there is always a sense of disobedience.

You know, every time in the capital city is always lively and lively, whether it is rich or poor people are happy, let alone in the palace.

No matter how much unhappiness and intrigue there are in the palace, during the Chinese New Year, everyone gathers together to watch lanterns, watch songs and dances, eat wine and chat.

As for the people here, I'm afraid they haven't lived a happy year at all, and the children... Although they are not yellow and thin, fear and sadness appear prematurely on their immature faces.

"It will be fine." Murong Xi couldn't see Xiao Yuanmin's emotions, and comforted him in a low voice, "It will be fine." When he came to Northwest and saw these for the first time, he felt uncomfortable, even now It's the same when it arrives, but it's better than Xiao Yuanmin after all.

One must know that no matter how strong Xiao Yuanmin is, she is still a girl with a naturally soft heart.

In fact, it's not that the people in the northwest have never thought about moving their families, but here also need someone to cultivate land and raise livestock, so Lin Duan gave his life, and the five families were divided into groups. If anyone in this group escaped, then This group of people will be executed.

Emperor Xuanhe also knew about these things, and even acquiesced. After all, it is impossible to leave only the defenders in the northwest. In that case, the military needs will increase, and the pressure on the country will also increase.

"En." Xiao Yuanmin's voice was very soft, and he stopped in front of a small stall. The vendor turned out to be a seven or eight-year-old boy.

The boy didn't recognize his birth, and when he saw someone approaching, he said, "This is carved by my grandfather, do you want it?"

Xiao Yuanmin squatted down, picked up one and looked at it. It was just an ordinary wood carving, but it could be seen that the sculptor was very serious, and there was not even a single wood thorn. "How much is one?"

The boy's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face, "One for two, and three for you."

In fact, this woodcarving is useless at all. If it were in other places, someone might buy it cheaply for their children to play with, but here in Northwest... picked a few at random, Murong Xi paid the bill, and looked at the smiling faces of the children. , Xiao Yuanmin also became interested in talking, "How old are you? Why are you here?"

The boy carefully put away the money, his eyes darkened when he heard this, "I'm eleven, my parents are gone, my sister and I live with grandpa."

Xiao Yuanmin pursed his lower lip. Judging from the child's stature, he couldn't tell that he was eleven, "Your grandfather carved this?"

There are many such things in Northwest, Xiao Yuanmin had no choice but to change the subject.

"Yes." The boy did not restrain himself, but took out a few more wooden carvings and placed them on the stall, and tidied them up, "My grandpa is very powerful."

"En." Xiao Yuanmin touched the eagle woodcarving in his hand. The wood is very poor, but the eagle is alive and well, which is good. "Does your grandpa know how to carve anything else?"

When the boy heard that there was already a business, he nodded quickly, "As long as it looks like it, my grandfather can carve it out."

Xiao Yuanmin was asking casually, but at this moment, he squinted his eyes and thought about it, "That's really amazing." After finishing speaking, Xiao Yuanmin stood up and smiled.

As soon as Xiao Yuanmin returned to the mansion, he ordered the hidden guards to investigate the matter between the boy and his grandfather. Murong Xi waited for Xiao Yuanmin to finish his orders before asking, "But what are your plans?"

"Isn't Lin Duan cautious?" Xiao Yuanmin had lost all his patience, "If we can't catch his tricks, we will create some tricks."

Even if Murong Xi had already guessed Xiao Yuanmin's plan, it was too bold to praise him at this time. You must know that the private engraving of the soldier talisman official seal was intended to punish the nine clans. But looking at the devastated northwest, Murong Xi fell silent.

Xiao Yuanmin seemed to know his scruples, "I will mention it to my father and younger brother." Others are afraid of Zhu Jiuzu, but Xiao Yuanmin is not afraid, who let her have a father who is the emperor and a younger brother who is the prince, Zhu Jiuzu... That is not to kill all the royal relatives.

"Where's the person at that moment?" Murong Xi asked suddenly, this was agreeing to Xiao Yuanmin's method, but at the same time, he was also afraid that Xiao Yuanmin's heart would soften, even if Xiao Yuanmin was the eldest princess, if people knew about this matter, he might not be able to forgive him lightly. .

Xiao Yuanmin pursed her lips, "Naturally, the most appropriate way is to kill people to silence them." She stood up, and she had changed back into the skirt, "It's just... if the skills are good, I'll tie them up and take them to the secret room blindfolded. Don't let anyone see you, and send it out when the matter is over." Xiao Yuanmin didn't say where to go, and Murong Xi arranged for these, "I'll cripple that person's hand."

(End of this chapter)