Offering prisoners has been a major event since ancient times, and it is also a happy event to show the emperor's martial arts.

This dynasty was founded for several generations, except for the first emperor who held a sacrifice of prisoners to the temple, there was no longer a sacrifice of prisoners. Needless to say, the first emperor will be on the throne for more than ten years, such as the northwest such a great victory is only once, even when General Lu defeated the Japanese in Fujian, the number of people killed was only five or six hundred, compared to the northwest this time there were 3,000 prisoners, it is really not enough.

When the news reached the capital, it was a sensation. Although the Beiban has not been able to fight in the capital in recent years, the people of the capital have heard a lot of news about the Beiban, and now they have killed tens of thousands of people, and they can't help but be excited.

"Sister Tao-" Lu Ying came back from Fengyi Palace, her face full of joy, "Northwest victory, Northwest victory!" I heard that tens of thousands of northern barbarians were killed. King Anjun hacked down a Zuoxian King, which was the first great achievement! "Sister Tao has been depressed these days, and now there is finally good news.

Taohua lost a lot of weight, and her belly was very big in six months, and when she heard Lu Ying's words, she blurted out and asked, "Is the prince injured?" What's going on now? ”

This Lu Ying didn't know: "This ...... I haven't heard of it, but I said that I will return to Beijing soon, and King Anjun is the leader, so I think it's going to be fine. "If you are seriously injured like the Marquis of Dingbei, then how can you return to Beijing?

"Dingbei Hou is seriously injured?" Taohua stood up with a sigh of relief, and Lu Ying was so frightened that she hurriedly went over to help her: "You slow down!" I still have a baby in my belly! "It's been six months, and she still has morning sickness and poor appetite, but fortunately, the fetal gas is still stable, otherwise she would have to worry about dying.

Taohua was really shocked when she heard that Dingbeihou was seriously injured, but this time she stood up and was sober, and waved her hand and said, "I'm fine." What happened to Dingbei Hou? ”

Lu Ying said it for a while, and she couldn't help but hesitate at this moment. She heard the news in Fengyi Palace today, the queen talked about Shen Shu's meritorious service, naturally she was not angry, but when she said that the Marquis of Dingbei was seriously injured and was about to die, she was quite gloating, but what did she tell Taohua?

However, no matter how much she knew that she couldn't say it, Lu Ying couldn't resist Taohua's questioning, and finally said it in a hurry, and hurriedly added: "This is all what the queen said, but it may not be accurate." The queen naturally hoped that Dingbei Hou would not be good, so she ...... "So it is very possible to exaggerate."

At this moment when Lu Ying spoke, Taohua had already calmed down. Indeed, the news that the queen got may not be true, if the Marquis of Dingbei is not seriously injured and is still controlling the Northwest Army, the Yu family may not dare to act rashly, so this news is very likely to be a cover, just like the rumors outside that she has died violently.

However, what worries her is that the Yu family is not a fool, if the Marquis of Dingbei is seriously injured on the battlefield for no reason, Yu Ge Lao may not believe it. So there are two possibilities: the first is that Dingbei Hou was indeed injured, and then took the opportunity to disguise and deceive the Yu family, and the second is that the Yu family wanted to take the opportunity to assassinate Dingbei Hou, and Dingbei Hou took advantage of the situation.

Regardless of which of these two possibilities is true, Dingbei Hou must have been very dangerous at that time. If it is the former, the injury itself must not be light, otherwise it will be difficult to deceive people even if it is disguised. If it was the latter, the people sent by the Yu family would definitely be ruthless, and Dingbei Hou didn't know what kind of shot it was at that time.

The worst thing is that there are two scenarios: the Yu family assassinated Dingbeihou and succeeded. If this is the case, then even if the Marquis of Dingbei is not seriously injured and will die as the queen said at this moment, I am afraid that this injury is not light.

However, with Yu Langzhong, if it is only a traumatic injury, it should be fine.

Although she has thought about all kinds of possibilities, Taohua is still not sure. However, now she couldn't do anything, so she had to put aside the question and ask, "When will the prisoners be sacrificed?" "Shen Shu returned to Beijing, it should be the time for the poor dagger to see it.

"I said that I was already on my way back to Beijing, probably in early March. This is a big deal, and the Ministry of Rites has already begun to prepare. "A rare sacrifice of prisoners, of course, the Ministry of Rites would like to take this opportunity to desperately sing praises and slap the emperor's ass, so naturally they want to make a big show.

"The beginning of March......" Momoka muttered, looking out the window. At that time, the peach blossoms should also bloom. Last year, she told Brother Xu that when the peach blossoms bloomed in front of the window, Shen Shu would come back, and now it has come true. It's just that when he comes back, Brother Xu is afraid that he won't know him. Don't talk about Shen Shu, it's her mother, Brother Xu doesn't necessarily recognize it or not.

She has now been living in the apse of the Autumn Cool Palace, and there is a special room for her to hang the portrait of Brother Xu. This is the emperor specially sent a painter to paint a portrait of Xu Ge'er every once in a while and send it in. In nearly half a year, the person in the painting has gradually lengthened from a chubby little meat ball.

On those portraits, there is the appearance of Brother Xu bowing his head and playing with a cloth tiger, the appearance of him sitting on the ground grinning and crying, and the scene of Jiang Bohua playing with him with literacy cards, and Jiang Xi carrying his grandson around his neck, and the two grandparents laughing together. Brother Xu grew up slowly in this portrait. Without these portraits, Taohua doesn't know if she can survive it.

"Peach blossoms bloom quickly......" There were a thousand words in his chest, but in the end, Taohua could only say this sentence.

Although the victory in the northwest is a happy event, for some people, it is not so happy, such as Zhao Shangshu's family.

"Dingbei Hou is seriously injured?" When Mrs. Zhao heard the news, she was also shocked, and said after a while, "Then, there is also the prince of Dingbei!" "The backer behind King Anjun is the Marquis of Dingbei, if there is no Marquis of Dingbei and he loses control of the Northwest Army, how much money is King Anjun worth?

"The prince of Dingbei Hou is still young, not to mention that the Hou of Dingbei is in the prime of life, and he never thought about pushing the prince up, but now it has suddenly changed, the prince of Dingbei Hou can't hold his generals, and the prince wants to return to Beijing to offer prisoners, I heard that now there are some dragons in the Northwest Army without a leader, and the Dingbei Hou Mansion has no good way to ......"

Zhao Shangshu sighed as he spoke. In this battle of the northwest, he simply tried his best in the military department, what food and ordnance, what he wanted to give, and he looked forward to the great victory of Dingbei Hou in the first battle to regain his reputation and once again bring the military power in his hands. Who knew that this painstaking effort ended up being seriously injured and dying, which simply made his plan completely frustrated.

"What does the emperor mean?" At this point, Mrs. Zhao also didn't know where to go.

"Your Majesty...... I'm afraid I can't wait to ......," Zhao Shangshu replied a little bitterly. As an emperor, how can anyone be willing to lose his military power?

"Then ......" Mrs. Zhao didn't know what to say for a long time, "Could it be that the emperor obeyed the Yu family again?" ”

"No, it won't!" Zhao Shangshu immediately raised his voice, "The emperor will never do it!" "If the emperor submits to his family again, what will he do?

Mrs. Zhao was a little depressed. Over the years, how she didn't understand her husband and raised her voice like this is a manifestation of doubts in her heart, not so much denying it, but not daring to admit it.

The husband and wife were silent for a long time, and Mrs. Zhao walked out slowly, leaving Zhao Shangshu to sit in the room by herself, and a thought slowly floated from her heart-if he re-threw himself into Yu Ge Lao now, would it be too late?

On the eighth day of the first month of March, Daji, it is appropriate to worship the ancestors in the temple and promote the emperor's martial arts. The city gate is set for noon today.

"The emperor has a decree, and the king of Anjun has made great contributions, and he will lead the team to see him at noon. The rest of the meritorious generals accompanied the team, and the rest of the soldiers and soldiers were not allowed to enter the city, so as not to disturb the people. ”

It was the eunuch Du who came to deliver the message. After he issued the holy decree, he bowed to Shen Shu, showing a little sadness appropriately: "The emperor said that Xiao Shizi has been living in Jiang Yaoshi's house these days, and the prince has returned to the capital, and he just took Xiao Shizi back to the house to take care of it. ”

"Shizi?" Shen Shu asked rhetorically. Generally, there are lords, even if you invite the prince, after the eldest son reaches the age of ten, Brother Xu is still far from being ten years old.

Dunei bowed and said, "Exactly." The emperor has decreed that the eldest son will be the prince of the county. "The prince, compared to the son of the county king, the identity is more valuable, and there are also the same as the title, and the like, before waiting for the seal, it will be sealed first, which can be regarded as a favor.

Shen Shu didn't say anything more, but Zhou Qian, who was behind, secretly sneered. Such an honor, I'm afraid that the princess of Anjun in the palace asked for it, right? In the future, Brother Xu will no longer be able to call her a mother, and giving her the position of a son will be regarded as compensation. But the woman's knowledge is not in this way. If you don't seal the prince, maybe the future generations can tolerate one or two, and now that Brother Xu occupies the position of the prince, I am afraid that the princess behind will also regard the front as a thorn in her side for the sake of her children.

However, the emperor really loves Princess Anjun, it seems that even if it is for the face of Princess Anjun, the title of King Anjun can be kept, and it will have to be passed on to his son in the future. And I heard that the emperor is preparing for this year's draft, which is obviously to take the opportunity of the draft to officially change the princess of Anjun and enter the palace as a concubine.

Of course, these Zhou Qian will not say it now, seeing that Du Neijian and Du Jianjun went to their uncle and nephew to catch up, he accompanied Shen Shu to the camp tent, and said in a low voice: "Congratulations to the prince." ”

Shen Shu sneered: "I can't afford the emperor's affection!" ”

As soon as Zhou Qian heard it, he understood, and everyone knew in their hearts that this was not the emperor's grace, but someone else's request, so he sighed and said: "It is always a happy event to crown the prince, even if it is good for the prince." ”

"Not necessarily." Shen Shu glanced back at the dark gray wall of the capital, "Whether you are a prince or not, Brother Xu is not rare!"

Mr. Zhou Qian glanced at him beside him, feeling that Shen Shu's eyes were full of desire, and couldn't help but sneer secretly - is it really the Yu family that wants to arch him to the throne, Shen Xu is not a prince, is he going to be a prince? Well, let him have this dream for a while.

"Then does the prince want to go into the city to offer victory?" Zhou Qian was more afraid that Shen Shu would not enter the city, if he was still in the army, it would not be easy to do this. Besides, if you don't enter the city, you will resist the decree, and I am afraid that the emperor will be suspicious, after all, at this time, the emperor and Shen Shu should be together.

After Shen Shu heard what he said, he said lightly: "Naturally, I want to enter the city." After the ceremony, I have to go and see Brother Xu immediately. He is not good in my father-in-law's house after all, and I still have to take people to the county king's mansion to rest assured. ”

Mr. Zhou Qian naturally fell into the middle of the heart: "It's still the prince who is thoughtful, but the lower officials didn't think of it." Xiao Shizi is important, even if the prince goes, he will have his own arrangements for the next official. ”

"But the two battalions are eyeing each other......," Shen Shu frowned slightly, "Your Majesty, this is on guard." ”

There are tens of thousands of people in the Northwest Army who returned to Beijing to offer prisoners, and there must be a place to station, and the camping place arranged in the capital is between the two battalions, and if there is any change, the two battalions can trap these 10,000 people from both sides.

Mr. Zhou Qian smiled slightly: "Don't worry, although the emperor is on guard, the elder of the pavilion also has arrangements." "When the time comes, divide Shen Shu and the emperor's part of the army on both sides to fight against the two battalions, and the people he leads can directly take the city gate, although there are not many people at that time, as long as the city is closed, the palace will be in the bag!

Shen Shu glanced at him and nodded: "In this way, I am relieved." ”

Since the news of the death of Princess Anjun came out, Jiang Xi's family has been closed, except for Jiang Bohua who also went to study in the academy, and the family has to go out to buy, no one in the family has gone out, of course, no one has come to visit except for Mrs. Jiang - everyone knows that Princess Anjun died strangely, where will she go to the nest of right and wrong?

"Brother Xu has grown taller again." Old lady Jiang sat at the window, looking at Brother Xu, who was playing hide and seek with Jiang Baihua outside, and sighed. In the past six months, he has obviously aged again, and although his spirit is fine, his eyes have become cloudy, and he is no longer the full appearance of before.

Jiang Xi also had a few more gray hairs on his sideburns: "The peach blossoms are about to bloom." Brother Xu has been chattering for the past few days, saying that the peach blossoms are blooming, and Daddy should come back. ”

"It's time to do the math." Old lady Jiang said lightly, "Isn't the auspicious day of Qin Tian's dedication today?" The hour was noon, and when he came to Jiang Xi early this morning, he saw that there were already people on the street going to the city gate, wanting to see the great gift with his own eyes. If it weren't for the news of Taohua's death just now, the Jiang family would have gone to the city gate to take a place at this time, so as to welcome Shen Shu.

"Yes." Jiang Xi was just about to be happy, and he was worried again, "But Sister Tao'er ......" Although he already knew that Taohua was just faking his death, everything will be calm in the future, Taohua has lived in the palace for many days after all, and it is inevitable that she will be discussed, right? It's just that others talk about it, and he's afraid that his son-in-law will too......

Old lady Jiang glanced at him: "Worry about it." "I thought that Sister Tao and King Anjun were ordinary couples, so I became suspicious of this kind of thing?

Jiang Xi scratched his head, and poured another cup of tea for Mrs. Jiang: "Uncle said so, I am relieved." ”

"Yes, you can rest assured......" Old Lady Jiang said leisurely, and suddenly said, "Brother Song is a kind child, he has opened his mind in the academy in the past few years, and he has a good father-in-law, although he will not be able to enter and exit in the future, he can also keep his life safe, I am not worried about him." Brother Nan, like his father, if he has the opportunity to donate an official in the future, there will probably be no big mistakes. It's Brother Yu'er's child, only a little smart, and he looks clever but actually confused, just like his fellow sisters! If anything happens to him in the future, for your nephew's sake, stretch out your hand. and Sister Dan and the two in the palace, let Sister Tao take care of one or two for the sake of the sisters. ”

Jiang Xi was stunned. Old lady Jiang said this as if she was explaining the aftermath, and it didn't sound right: "Why did Uncle suddenly say this......

Old lady Jiang picked up the teacup and took a sip: "It's just a matter of thinking about where to go." I'm also old, and I'm not in a safe place, so it's better to say some things first, otherwise I'll kick my legs one day, and I'm afraid I won't have time to say it. Your eldest brother is shrewd, but he is too keen on his career, and sometimes he will inevitably lose his human taste. As the saying goes, a virtuous wife has few misfortunes, but he is not a good wife. Fortunately, he was not bold enough to cause any murder, so he didn't have to worry about his son and brothers. ”

This is too harsh to say that his son is too harsh, Jiang Xi didn't dare to answer at all, and only said: "Big brother is not ......."

Old lady Jiang didn't argue with him either, and continued: "Your second brother is stronger than your eldest brother, and he married a sensible daughter-in-law, although he was born in a businessman, he has always had a good face, and he also knows the truth that one is prosperous and one is lost, and he also loves his children - speaking of which, this is better than your eldest brother!" ”

Jiang Xi couldn't help but admit this. Not to mention anything else, Jiang Jun is really ...... to his daughters

"You don't have to say it." Old lady Jiang glanced at Jiang Xi and sighed, "Others only see my two sons as officials and have a bright future, but they don't know that I only hate you and not my son." ”

Jiang Xi hurriedly said: "Uncle is no different from my father. ”

"After all, there are two things." Old Lady Jiang sighed, "There are some things I have never said, and I can't say it, just let it follow me into the ground." When I went to the ground, I went to make amends to my ancestors......"

Jiang Xi was inexplicable when he heard it, and felt a little bad, and was about to ask, but the old lady Jiang had already stood up and walked out: "I'll go play with Brother Xu for a while......" He didn't have a cane, but his back was already slightly hunched.

"Uncle-" Jiang Xi hurriedly wanted to pick him up, and suddenly heard a faint sound from the city gate, listening carefully to the loud sound of gold and iron of the bronze dragon trombone, and the deeper and deeper voice of the bull horn, "This is, Xianjie's team has arrived?" ”

Old lady Jiang looked up at the sky: "It's almost noon." ”

It is said that it is the city gate to offer Jiejie, in fact, it should be to go to the temple to sacrifice to the ancestors of heaven and earth, but because there are thousands of Northern Barbarian captives, it is impossible to be escorted into the city, so show the results of the battle at the city gate, and then most of the captives will be left outside the city, and only those Northern Barbarian nobles will be escorted into the capital, directly to the temple, and their heads will be sacrificed.

Since there were only more than a dozen prisoners of war escorted into the capital, of course, there were very few people escorted into the capital by the Northwest Army, only about 100 people, but all of them made contributions to this battle, everyone was in good spirits, the armor was bright, and even the battle robes on their bodies were newly made.

Before the commander of Dingbei Hou arrived, Shen Shu was the first person, and he deserved it both in terms of identity and military exploits. At this moment, walking at the front of the team, wearing a big red county king's regular clothes, standing on top of a black horse, hanging a long knife at his waist, heroic and unusual, provoking the girls in the crowd who rushed to see the lively people's hearts were like deer, and they couldn't take their eyes off.

Thousands of captives were brought forward in strings of ropes. Along the way, the noble captives of the Northern Barbarians still had a prisoner cart to sit in, and these people could only walk on their feet. Those who were accustomed to riding horses, but not accustomed to walking on their feet, were all unkempt and ragged when they arrived here, and hundreds of people had died. In the past, they took the lives of the people in the gate and did not take their lives, but now it is their turn to know what it is like.

The Ministry of Rites Shangshu personally went out and unfolded a scroll of silk books in front of the city gate, and read a large number of them. Nearly sixty years old, he has to take a break in the middle of saying a word on weekdays, which is called nourishing qi, and today he actually shook the four fields, and the whole article was read without stopping, which was really surprising to teach people who knew him well.

For today's gift, the Ministry of Rites has been discussing these articles day and night for half a month. At the city gate, this article is mainly to preach the great victory in the northwest, as well as the martial arts of today's culture. When I got to the temple, I wanted to pay tribute to the ancestors and count the achievements of the emperors of this dynasty, and the article would only be more gorgeous and incomprehensible than this one.

But the people don't care if they can understand it, even if they don't understand, those dirty prisoners of war are all in front of them, look at the appearance that is not very similar to the people in Guanzhong, everyone understands. So the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites at the top was desperately reciting, and the people below were already discussing: "Look at these dirty ......"

"Being with cows and horses all day long, it's naturally dirty."

"Fierce and vicious ......"

"Killed a lot of us, but it's not a fierce god! This time, Dingbei Hou also killed tens of thousands of them, well killed! ”

"It's great that they won't dare to attack again for many years!"

Shen Shu sat on horseback, listening to the discussions of the people below, and only felt excited. Isn't it just to keep the border safe and make the enemy dare not attack? These words that I have heard today are the best reward for the soldiers.

After reading a volume of texts, the Ministry of Rites Shangshu only felt that his breath was almost exhausted, and he took two breaths before he said loudly: "Open the city gate!" Welcome to Victory! ”

The city gate was actually opened early in the morning, and now it was covered up in order to salute, and when he heard the order, the city gate army, which had been prepared for a long time, rushed over and pushed the huge and heavy city gate open. The bronze dragon trombone sounded again, Shen Shu lifted the reins of the horse, the black horse raised his head and snorted, raised his front hooves, and was the first to step into the city gate.

Inside the city gate, there were hundreds of civil and military officials who came to greet them, all dressed in court clothes, standing according to their ranks. Yu Ge Lao stood in the first place, dressed in a dark purple official uniform, wearing a seven-beam crown, and a green jade belt around his waist, and as soon as he raised his head, he met Shen Shu's gaze. The two looked at each other for a moment, and nodded slightly.

Zhao Shangshu stood not far from Yu Ge Lao, since Shen Shu entered the city gate, he stared intently, at this moment, although Shen Shu's jaw movements were subtle and imperceptible, he was still observed, and he suddenly felt a chill in his heart - what does King Anjun mean by this?

"Hundred officials welcome—" The Rite Department Shangshu shouted again, bowing down first, and then a cadre of officials also bent down like wheat blown down by the wind, and let the soldiers and the prisoner cart behind pass through them, and go straight in the direction of the temple......