The Shen family is full of joy, it seems that it is back to the excitement of the Spring Festival, everyone is full of smiles, the spring in the garden seems to be infected, one day is better than a day, the wicker buds, the flowers and trees are budding, the red and green posture is dense and dense, just wait for a gust of wind to come, blowing the spring of the garden. Hue.

The news of the return of the eldest son of the Shen family spread far and wide, and the Jiang family came to visit the next day-

said that it was a family, but in fact, it was the Jiang Ruhui brothers and the Wei family, as well as the aunt. Jiang Wenying returned to the government office after fifteen, but Meng Yingque was still staying here, so they came to visit his nephew together.

Brother Jiang Ruhui had a close relationship with Shen Ming in his early years, and this time he was naturally overjoyed.

The family hadn't left yet, and Zhu Yun also brought his parents to visit, surrounding Shen Ming.

The carriages and horses in front of the Shen Mansion came and went, and it was lively for a while, and even Dong Shujin, a person who didn't have much friendship with Shen Ming, rushed over, not to mention the old friends with Shen Ping and Shen Ming, one after another, until the maid who poured tea was busy with soreness in her waist and knees, and weak legs and feet.

However, these people came and went, and whenever Shen Ming was asked about his experience in the past nine years, Shen Ming always smiled and said nothing, or he was vague.

He is no longer the elegant young man Langjun he used to be, and now although he greets him with a smile, there is always some restraint in his smile, as if he always has to stand outside the crowd, as if he is on guard.

Shen Yu was secretly observing from the side, and she couldn't help but feel sad in her heart.

In the past few days after Shen Ming returned, his father and mother also asked him about his experience over the years, but Shen Ming only said the beginning and the end, but omitted to mention the things in between. Shen Ping and his wife could see the changes in him, and naturally they could guess that he had suffered a lot over the years, but it was a blessing that his son could return, since he refused to say, and he seemed to be involved with King Duan, the couple did not force him, but just said it in private, and felt distressed and sad.

The husband and wife didn't know, but Shen Yu could guess some hidden secrets.

She will always remember the fire in Zheng Xun's study, and the moment she lifted the thin gold mask, the cold face that greeted her eyes. I also remember that day when I took a break in the Lingering Garden, I saw him when I was hazy and awake, and he fled in a panic, and I remember that day she happily stepped forward, but he knocked her unconscious decisively.

From a mediocre scholar to a secret shadow under Xu Yan's hands, how much torture does it have to endure to transform into what he is today?

My brother refuses to talk about these things at the moment, and I'm afraid I can only ask Xu Yan in the future.

Thinking of Xu Yan, Shen Yu couldn't help but be a little distracted - after all, he was entangled in many affairs, and he was in a hurry to leave this time, and he should not have time to return to Luling before the wedding. Now that the spring is getting better, if he is still in Luling, it is also very interesting to go to the suburbs together when he has time.

In the capital, Xu Yan stood in front of the imperial case and reported the recent events one by one.

The Wulin Sect was eradicated in one fell swoop, which was a great merit, and Emperor Huiping was also very happy, but this matter involved Qin Xiong, a military and political official, and Qin Xiong dared to abscond outside, which made Emperor Huiping a little unhappy.

But this is also a matter of no way, the evidence that Xu Yan presented before is conclusive, and the people of the Qin Mansion are also sent to prison for interrogation, if Qin Xiong obediently obeys, maybe Emperor Huiping can still have a trace of kindness, but he dares to abscond without a king, the nature is different.

Putting the music in his hand on the desk, Emperor Huiping raised his eyes and looked at Xu Yan, his eyes were dim, "Since these are all found out by you, why don't you be responsible for this matter, and when Qin Xiong returns to the case, he will be tried together with the three divisions, how about it?" ”

Xu Yan is not sluggish, he can't figure out the temperament of this brother, but he can also grasp five or six points, and immediately said: "The imperial brother has a life, and the subordinate brother should serve himself." It's just that the marriage date of the younger brother is approaching, and there are still many things that have not been prepared, and everything in the palace is still messy, can the royal brother bear it? ”

Emperor Huiping couldn't help but laugh and said: "Why can't you bear it, the wedding is prepared by the Ministry of Etiquette, your Duanwang Mansion is usually empty, there is the Changshi Division there, and you will send the Division to assist when you go back, are you afraid that the preparations will not be complete?" ”

"Those people only know dignified and dignified, and they may not be to my liking." Xu Yan's tone was relaxed, with a bit of the closeness of his brother's speech, "The younger brother only marries this princess, and he should prepare carefully." Qin Xiong's affairs are naturally arranged by the imperial brother and investigated by the division, so the imperial brother will allow the younger brother to be lazy. ”

"You." Emperor Huiping was helpless, and his heart was somewhat relaxed, and that little doubt was gone, and he couldn't help leaning back on the back of the dragon chair, "That being the case, you can prepare for the wedding." It's just that although the Wulin Sect is a bandit, in the end, it disturbs the place, and you have a lot of credit this time, so you should still reward you with something. ”

"Sharing the worries of the royal brother is within the responsibility of the courtiers, how dare you be rewarded again." Xu Yan's words were sincere.

After talking about this important matter, Emperor Huiping mentioned another matter, "How is Wei Meng's side?" ”

"The younger brother also visited carefully, but he didn't find any clues. However, since someone could find out the letter between him and Jiang Xun, the younger brother did not dare to say that there was no such thing, so it was better to detain Wei Meng into Beijing and have the imperial brother personally cut it. ”

"I also feel that this matter is strange," Emperor Huiping rarely confided his thoughts, "Jiang Ge's character, after all, I am clear, but at that time, there were all the human and material evidence, so I had to investigate." When Wei Meng goes to Beijing, I will personally interrogate this case, and I must find out! ”

"There is a royal brother who asks about this matter, and the merits will naturally be decided, so that no one will be wronged."

Emperor Huiping nodded and remained silent.

This matter was exposed by the King of Wei, and the King of Linjiang was foreshadowed first, involving the first assistant of the dynasty and the general of the border pass.

After the affairs of the court and politics were finished, Emperor Huiping looked at Xu Yan's outfit that had not yet been removed, and was somewhat relieved. This younger brother was raised by him personally, and he was more dedicated than his own son, and now he is no longer the timid appearance he was when he was a child, and it is really rare to be able to take charge alone.

"You have been working hard for the past few months, and you still deserve a reward." Emperor Huiping reiterated the old words, "What do you want?" ”

This is not a polite word, Xu Yan can't always refuse the favor of the imperial brother, and after a turn of his mind, he smiled and said: "If the imperial brother has to be rewarded, the younger brother wants to ask for the same, but I am afraid that the imperial brother will not allow it." ”

"It's rare that you want it, tell me about it."

"The younger brother wants to go south with the team of Nazheng and personally marry Shen Yu into Beijing."

"This ......" Emperor Huiping was surprised, and his face hesitated.

According to folk customs, the last procedure of the six rites is to welcome the bride in person, and indeed the groom should personally go to the woman's house to marry the bride. The people also attach great importance to this, where the groom does not greet him in person when he gets married, and when he unfortunately dies one day, the woman can also remarry. If the groom dies after welcoming him, then the bride can only accept her fate and start from the beginning.

This custom applies to the common people, to the Houmen Mansion, but not to the prince.

The prince's wedding has another set of regulations, the royal concubine is comparable to the ordinary marriage of the people, according to the ritual, the prince does not have to welcome in person, in order to show the majesty of the heavenly family.

Although Xu Yan's marriage was decided, Shen Yan's background was mediocre, after all, Concubine Cui and some idle imperial historians had some complaints. If Xu Yan went all the way to Luling again this time and personally married Shen Yu to Beijing, those people would not pile up the folds into a mountain!

The royal historians can't control the affairs of ordinary people, but Xu Yan is a prince, and every move can involve the face of the court and the royal prestige.

Emperor Huiping was a little embarrassed, if he refused, he had to be rewarded for his sworn oath just now, but if he agreed, he would have a headache when he thought of those imperial historians.

Could it be that for the marriage of this precious brother, I have to spend some more time in the Lama Temple?

Xu Yan at the bottom looked innocent, as if he didn't know that he was in trouble.

After a long time, Emperor Huiping reluctantly agreed, "I am allowed here, but the concubine is there, I can't help you talk anymore." ”

"Thank you, Brother Huang, great grace!" Xu Yan was overjoyed.

Fame, fortune, money, and titles, he does not lack these, and he does not need to be rewarded. Shen Ming has a great merit in the affairs of the Wulin Sect, and since Emperor Huiping wants to reward it, he will give it to the Shen family.

Shen Yu came from a mediocre background, and she would inevitably be despised after entering Beijing, so she didn't have to be wronged in vain.

What he wants to do is just to tell everyone in the capital that he likes Shen Yu and regards her as the treasure of his heart! For the sake of Shen Fei, he was willingly impeached by the imperial historians for not complying with the wedding ceremony, if anyone dares to offend Shen Fei in the future, it is not looking for death?

Emperor Huiping guessed this, and Concubine Cui naturally guessed it, so when she heard the news that Xu Yan was going to greet her, Concubine Cui's face immediately darkened.

"What are you trying to do? Hold her up to the sky, as a star, as the moon! The old man was still thinking about the last time Xu Yan said without authorization, "The concubine has no objections", looked at Xu Yan, and snorted angrily, "You like her, just marry and pet her in the house, why make such a big deal and provoke criticism!" ”

Speaking of provoking criticism, Concubine Cui was even more annoyed, "How many impeachments have you suffered over the years?" Go and count with your royal brother yourself! It's okay to be flamboyant and be labeled as a cold and fierce god, but this time it's good, do you still want to change the rules of your ancestors? ”

Xu Yan knelt in front of the concubine, tilted his head, and didn't say a word.

Concubine Cui was still angry, there were only two mother and son in the hall, and she could understand what she spoke, she lowered her voice, "Don't you know your situation?" Yes? How many people are staring at you, hoping that you will be alienated by your royal brother on a business trip! It's good for you, you are leading troops to fight again, and you are going south to suppress bandits, just leave those things to the crown prince King Wei, what are you bothering about! ”

"What a great character that Shen Fei can be! By doing this, you are impeaching yourself, and even more so scolding your imperial brother! Is there a courtier like you who has nothing to do and causes trouble for the emperor? Concubine Cui took a sip of tea indignantly, and her breath was not calm.

Xu Yan opened his mouth after all, "But the imperial brother agreed." ”

He is willing to help bear the spittle of those imperial histories, because the imperial brother knows what it is like to love someone deeply. He loved the imperial concubine so much back then, and now he is facing the snowflakes of the imperial history every day, and he also wants to build a nine-story platform, isn't it just for the obsession with the imperial concubine?

In comparison, he just wants to be like a simple husband and wife among the people, and go through the six ceremonies in a proper manner, how much wrong can he be?

"The royal brother has agreed, and you are also ...... concubine Don't be angry, right? Xu Yan whispered, not the cold killing god who shocked thousands of troops, not the noble and majestic prince in the court, just a child who prayed for his mother's understanding.

Concubine Cui was choked by him, looking at the demeanor and tone, her heart softened and she was stubborn.

"That's it, you can do whatever you like!" In the end, she was a little angry, Concubine Cui got up and ignored him anymore.