Zhao Wei went to the study to write a prayer post, Zhao Xiu hurriedly picked the garlic and handed it to Lu's mother, and chased after him.

Zhao Wei sat down and spread out the blank paper, and when he saw his sister coming, he couldn't help but wonder: "Why is my sister here?" But what else did Grandmother command? ”

Zhao Xiu shook his head and said with a flattering smile: "Does my brother want to send a letter to the palace?" Can I put a letter in it and you can send it to me? ”

Zhao Wei knew who she wanted to write to without asking, and flatly refused: "No!" ”

Zhao Xiu's eyes widened: "Why?" That's where it comes in. ”

Zhao Wei said depressedly: "Do you want to write to the prince?" Sister, there is a difference between men and women, you are not young anymore, so you will gossip. ”

Zhao Xiu said confidently: "Why do others gossip? I was honest and honest to send a letter to my brother, why was it gossiped about? Besides, our two families knew each other very well, and I never saw anyone gossip, and my brother didn't stop me from interacting with the son. It's only been a few days? You say that there is a difference between men and women. ”

Zhao Wei said with a bitter face: "It's different now than then!" ”

"What's the difference?" Zhao Xiu really wanted to know why he said this. It has been less than half a month since they left the hot spring Zhuangzi of the Guangping Palace.

How could Zhao Wei tell his sister about the palace's proposal? I can only vaguely say: "Anyway, it just doesn't work." Good sister, don't embarrass me, if your grandmother knows that I helped you carry a letter to the son, she will definitely reproach me for not fulfilling my brotherly responsibilities. ”

Zhao Xiu muttered a strange sigh in a low voice, and looked at him pitifully: "Is it really not good?" I'm just saying hello. Previously, in Zhuangzi, our family was treated well by the prince and the prince, but now that they are back, can't I ask if I can't say hello? Or...... I don't write to the prince, how about writing to the prince? I'll also send a post to say hello to the prince? ”

Zhao Wei couldn't help her, King Guangping couldn't see it, and the letter he wrote to him wasn't someone else reading it to him? If Gao Zhen is by his father's side, he is usually the person who reads the letter, and even if the letter is not addressed to him, it is no different from writing it to him. But in case of bad luck, Gao Zhen is not by the side of King Guangping, and it is replaced by another scribe to read a letter to King Guangping, and the words written in Zhao Xiu's letter can be seen by others, even if the clerk has a tight mouth and lets King Guangping know, it is no wonder that he is embarrassed.

Zhao Wei could only say: "If you must write a letter, you can do it, but you need to let me look at it first." If I think I can, I'll bring it for you. ”

Isn't this a violation? Zhao Xiu glared at his brother for a while, and saw that the expression on his face showed no intention of backing down, knowing that he couldn't make him change his mind, so he reluctantly said, "Okay." Then I will send a letter directly to the prince, and when my brother greets the prince, I will say it for me by the way. ”

Zhao Wei was speechless, and nodded weakly in agreement. Zhao Xiu asked her mother-in-law to fetch warm water, and asked for chrysanthemum balm, and planned to wash her hands well before writing a letter. Otherwise, the smell of garlic in her body, if it is stained with letter paper, so that Gao Zhen smells it, isn't it very embarrassing?

Zhao Wei suddenly felt his heart congested. My sister just smeared garlic juice on him, and I just wrote a letter to Gao Zhen, but I was afraid that there would be a little garlic on the letterhead, and the difference was too obvious. Zhao Wei began to feel that he seemed to be too active in promoting his sister's relationship with Gao Zhen, but in fact, it was not necessary, anyway, his sister's family background and appearance were not bad, so there was no need to worry that she would not be able to get married.

Zhao Xiu didn't know anything about his brother's thoughts. She cleaned her hands, smelled no more garlic on them, and then came back to get pen and paper to write a letter. In fact, she really didn't plan to write any private words, just to simply greet her, ask Gao Zhen how she is doing these days, how the prince is recovering, and then talk about her recent situation - in fact, there is nothing to mention, that is, tomorrow Laba will pickle garlic, and the birthday of the fifth girl of the Fang family, and invite her to participate in the poetry meeting.

Originally, Zhao Xiu wanted to ask Gao Zhen, the second day of the first lunar month is his birthday, what birthday gift does he want? But then she thought about it, and felt that with the result of her intentionally or unintentionally probing her grandmother's tone in the past few days, she wanted to send things to the Guangping Palace as she did before, but she was afraid that it would not be as easy as before. The big wool cloak she made had been ready to be sent back, but she didn't know when she would be able to send it out, so she simply used this cloak to make a birthday gift for Gao Zhen. Give the son of the world a birthday gift, and the Zhang family will not stop it. Since it was a birthday present, it was certainly a surprise. It's better for her not to mention it. Thinking so, Zhao Xiu quickly ended the letter, and finally signed his own.

Zhao Wei read his sister's letter and felt that this letter was written so openly, which really surprised him. He couldn't help but ask, "Is that enough?" You don't have anything else to write? ”

Zhao Xiu looked at him strangely: "That's fine, I used to communicate with the prince, and I almost wrote this kind of thing." Isn't that what happens between friends? ”

Zhao Wei couldn't help but be happy, thinking that this was a fortunate thing, maybe her sister hadn't opened her mind at all? He took the letter cheerfully, put it in the post, changed his clothes and went out to the palace.

He didn't go by chance, King Guangping and Gao Zhen were still in the palace and didn't come back. The head of the palace said to him: "The prince and the prince have been gone for more than a month, and they have only returned to the city today, and this time they have entered the palace, I am afraid that they will not come back so soon, and the queen mother will definitely stay for dinner, and it will be at least after dark to return to the palace." The little marquis may wish to leave the post. When the prince and the prince come back, the little one immediately reported to the prince and the prince, saying that you have been here. ”

Zhao Wei handed over the box to the housekeeper, saying that he would come again tomorrow, and turned around to leave.

When he walked out of the gate of the palace, he saw a sergeant coming over in the dust, and he only felt a little kind, but he couldn't remember where he had seen the other party, so he couldn't help but stop.

The sergeant came to the porter, showed him a sign, and whispered a few words. The porter hurriedly said: "The prince and the prince have entered the palace, and they are not in the palace. The little one will go to report to the general manager and ask the military master to wait. Then he hurriedly turned around and went into the house to report the news. As if relieved, the sergeant raised his arm to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Zhao Wei noticed that in this cold winter, this sergeant was actually sweating, I was afraid that he was in a hurry, and he didn't know why he came.

He glanced at the other party a few more times, and the sergeant noticed it instantly, turned his head to look at him a few times vigilantly, then was stunned for a moment, and then smiled: "Are you ...... Xiao Jiannanhou? ”

Zhao Wei hurriedly said: "Exactly, Your Excellency is ......"

The man grinned: "Little Hou Ye doesn't remember, the last time I saw you, you were still a child, how old are you?" Five-year-old? Or four-year-old? He smiled and added, "I am General Fan's personal soldier." ”

Zhao Wei suddenly realized, and immediately remembered: "That year, Lord Fan Benzhang sent someone to escort my grandmother and me back to Fengxian's old mansion, and you were one of them, right?" He was really surprised and delighted, "I remembered, at that time I was not fully ill, and the weather was cold, and I only felt chills on my body from time to time." You also gave me a few ginger candies to eat. ”

The man smiled: "Yes, my surname is Gong, my hometown is rich in ginger candy, and I like to carry a few on my body on weekdays." At that time, it was also a coincidence, I would not coax the child the most, except for giving candy, what else could I do? He looked Zhao Wei up and down a few times, and sighed: "The little marquis has grown up, and now he is an adult." ”

Zhao Wei relaxed and smiled warmly: "Where have you been all these years?" Did you follow General Fan to Liaodong? ”

Sergeant Gong nodded: "When General Fan leaves the palace, he always has to bring a few people with him. I didn't want to do things with others anymore, so I went to Liaodong with the general. TOEFL, I've fought a few battles over the years, and I've survived. ”

Zhao Wei hurriedly asked: "How is Liaodong now?" I heard that there were a few fights with the Qing soldiers some time ago? ”

"It's just a few Qing generals who are unwilling to admit defeat and have bad intentions." Sergeant Gong said disapprerovingly, "We have all won, and we have also warned the envoys of the Qing Kingdom. Let people come over and make trouble, their king's most valued brother and only sister-in-law are still guests in our capital, don't you want them to live? The envoy immediately withered and reported to the king of the Qing Dynasty, who took the initiative to cut down the few Qing generals who provoked trouble, and sent the heads to us as an apology. I heard that for this matter, he also gave away the title of his eldest son, and it is rumored that this kid is doing ghosts, and wants to borrow our Da Chu's knife to kill his younger brother, so that he can sit on the throne instead. He sighed a few times, shook his head, and smiled at Zhao Wei and said, "Our general has already reported this matter, if the little marquis wants to know, just find someone to inquire, it's not a secret." ”

Zhao Wei smiled: "I'm just an idler, as long as I know that the frontier is safe, I will be at ease." He remembered that this Sergeant Gong was Fan Benzhang's personal soldier, so he naturally would not return to Beijing without incident, and he went to the Guangping Palace, so he was a little curious, and wanted to ask him why he came, but he was worried that he would violate the other party's taboo, so he stopped talking.

The other party saw his hesitation, but confessed: "What's the matter?" Although the little marquis said, there is no need to worry. If I can't tell you, I know what to do. ”

Zhao Wei asked his doubts out of his mouth. Sergeant Gong smiled, "This is not a confidential matter. The emperor summoned our general back to Beijing to reward him, and I took the lead in coming back. Because I am from the Guangping Palace, I want to come back, so I naturally want to ask the prince for peace, and then inquire about the situation in Beijing for the general, so as not to know anything and commit the taboo of a nobleman. ”

Zhao Wei suddenly realized. At this time, the porter came back and saluted Sergeant Gong: "The chief manager has invited the military master." Sergeant Gong made a compilation to Zhao Wei: "I'll go first, and I'll visit the old lady and the little marquis another day." With that, he stepped into the gate of the palace.

Zhao Wei sighed as he returned home, told Zhang and Zhao Xiu about this incident, and sighed: "If he hadn't called me first, I'm afraid I wouldn't have remembered." It's hard to believe that after all these years, he can still recognize me. ”

Zhang thought for a while: "How old is this Sergeant Gong?" ”

"He described him as a little haggard, probably in a hurry, and he looked like a dusty man......," Zhao Wei recalled, "I think he is about twenty-five or sixteen years old." He paused, "So, he was fifteen or sixteen years old?" It's so young that he resolutely went to the frontier with Master Fan, which is really admirable! ”

"That's it." Zhang nodded, "I don't know which one you're talking about, but if you have ever given you ginger candy to eat and are young, it must be Gong Ziqiang." This name is said to have been given to him by the prince. He was an orphan, his parents died, and he was sold by his uncle to a wealthy merchant to work as a small servant. Unwilling, he escaped, was caught by his master's family, beaten half to death, and happened to meet General Fan. General Fan ransomed him and took him to the palace guard as a small soldier, and was his benefactor. At that time, he lived in our old house, and when I saw that he was young, I asked you Uncle Lu, how to find a child to be a soldier, it was your Uncle Lu who told me. He also said, don't look at that Gong Ziqiang is young, he is the most clever, good at riding, careful and careful, with an excellent memory, and it is rare that his temperament is also very firm, so at a young age, he has been reused by the prince. As soon as they were soldiers, they all treated him as a younger brother. ”

When Zhang talked about the past, he was also embarrassed, and said to his grandson: "Since you are so fateful, you can still recognize each other after many years, and when he finishes his business, if he has leisure, please come to our house and sit down." General Fan hasn't seen him for many years, and he doesn't know how he's doing in Liaodong. We have to say hello anyway. ”

Zhao Wei agreed, and Zhao Xiu interjected on the side: "According to what this Sergeant Gong said, General Fan is about to return to Beijing?" ”

Zhang nodded: "Presumably he came back to participate in the New Year's Dynasty, right?" Next year, the yuan will be changed, which is a major event after the new emperor ascends the throne. If there is a general like General Fan, who has made great achievements, to participate, the new emperor's face will also shine. ”

Zhao Wei also said: "I heard Sergeant Gong say that the border is quite peaceful, and the peace talks are going smoothly. With several other generals in charge, presumably General Fan will leave for a month, and there will be no problem. "Those generals also guarded the city for several years before General Fan came to Liaodong.

Zhao Xiu thought of another thing: "Sergeant Gong is dusty, he must have just entered the city, right?" If he doesn't go somewhere else, will he go to the Quang Binh Mansion first? ”

Zhang didn't understand: "What's this?" He was originally from the palace. ”

Zhao Wei's face changed slightly. He glanced at his sister and looked a little uneasy: "It shouldn't matter, right?" He grew up in the palace guards since he was a child, and his family is in the palace? ”

Zhao Xiu said: "But when he entered the door, he formally asked to see him through the porter. Besides, since he has changed from a personal guard in the palace to a personal soldier of General Fan Benzhang, where will he still settle his home in the palace? She looked at her brother Zhao Wei with a straight face: "He is just a small soldier, and he grew up in the palace, and when he returned to Beijing to report the news, he went to find the prince first, which is nothing." I'm afraid that General Fan didn't take precautions, and when he returned to Beijing, he went to see the prince first. Although I believe that the emperor has absolute trust in the prince, he can't stop others from thinking cranky! ”

Zhao Wei pursed his lips and fell into deep thought.