At about three o'clock, Xiao Ziqing, the secretary and supervisor, the general of the Chinese army, and the king of Luling, rushed to the edge of Tianyuan Pond, and Shao Shengzhi had already arranged a ferry in Zhoudu to send Xiao Ziqing to the imperial boat.

Xiao Ziqing stood at the bow of the boat, listening to the sound of instrumental music and singing from the imperial boat two miles away, wondering about his father's summons to him today.

When the messenger came, he was chatting with the princess Jiang, and he had planned to go to Zhongshan to hunt and relax after the heat eased a little, but he didn't expect to receive the emperor's summons, so he hurriedly took a car to Jiankang Palace. On the way, he asked about the news of the emperor's meeting, but he did not get any useful information.

。。。。。。

"Your Majesty, the King of Luling has arrived, do you want to announce it?" Shao Shengzhi stood by the window, and after seeing Xiao Ziqing outside the door from a distance, he walked in front of Xiao Zhen and said

"Announce it!" Xiao Xun said and waved at the female musician. The music and singing in the boat room, the dancing posture all stopped for a while, and the female musicians withdrew from the boat room together after the sweaty song and dance ceremony, and stood in line after greeting Xiao Ziqing outside the boat, waiting for the emperor's orders under the scorching sun.

After Shao Shengzhi came out and introduced Xiao Ziqing into the boat room, Wang Yan and Xie Yan stood up together in surprise. Just now, when the emperor asked Shao Shengzhi to pass on the edict to Xiao Ziqing, they were far apart, and Xiao Zhen spoke softly, so they didn't hear it.

"The servant, the secretary, the general of the Chinese army, the minister, see Your Majesty!"

"King Luling and rise up"

After Xiao Ziqing got up, Wang Yan and Xie Xuan stepped forward to salute, and Xiao Ziqing also returned the salute one by one.

After Xiao Ziqing and Wang Xie Li finished their gifts, Xiao Zhen stood up, picked up the sparse table on the table, flipped it over, and said, "I passed on you today, it is for the northern envoy." As he spoke, he handed the table in his hand to Xiao Ziqing and said: "This Pei Zhaoming table, I have read it several times, and now I look at Zhaoming's statement, saying that he is exploring in the north, and the second son and mother of the master of the captives are the daughter and grandson of Zhang Yan, the assassin of Shi Qinghe in Eastern Xuzhou, who was captured by the first dynasty. I didn't pay attention to this verse before I saw it, and that's why I called you here. ”

Wang Xie and Xiao Ziqing listened to Emperor Xiao Zhen's words, and their faces suddenly became surprised.

Xiao Zhenguan looked at the three of them with different faces, and then said: "Yun Chang (Xiao Ziqing), Er's mother is also from the Qinghe Zhang family, and the preface is the nephew of Zhang Yan's family. In the past, the captives invaded the four states of Huaibei in the south, and it was difficult for Ermu to return to her homeland after being displaced from Yanzhou. At that time, the first emperor was ordered by Emperor Song and Ming, out of the town of Huaiyin, convened the chaos, Er's mother went to Huaiyin to entrust himself in the first emperor, and then the first emperor gave me to Er's mother, more than 20 years now. Speaking of this, Xiao Zhen's eyes were slightly red, as if he was feeling the first emperor Xiao Daocheng.

Xiao Zhenfu sat down, looked at the weeping willows by the Tianyuan Pond slightly, and said in silence for a moment: "Er's mother is about to be forty years old, and last year, she was resounded by the Shuren (Xiao) son......"

Xiao Zhen walked to the window, looked at the scenery outside the window, and said: "It is worthy of being a father and a concubine, but it is a loss for a mother." Since August last year, my mother has been sad and has caused old diseases several times, and she has received and not used the things that her father has bestowed. ”

Wang Yan and Xie Xuan looked at the emperor Xiao Zhen and felt very uncomfortable, knowing that the emperor was still difficult to let go of the matter of giving death to the late Baling King Xiao Zixiang, and wanted to resign, but felt that it was too deliberate.

If it's another thing, Wang Yan and Xie Yan think that they can still persuade a few words, but about the father killing his son, can you still say that "the killing is good"? The two of them had to look at their noses and noses, pretending not to see or hear anything.

"Today, the northern envoy has arrived in Jingyi, and I have sent the prince to greet him, and plan to set up a banquet in the Qianguang Palace tomorrow to pay the northern envoy, and Yun Chang can go to Er's mother to report it. Er's mother is far away from her homeland, and the northern envoy is coming now, you can set up a small banquet in Ningshou Hall to invite each other, one can not lose the old gift, and the other is also a little more homesick for Er's mother. ”

Xiao Ziqing saw that his father Xiao Zhen had finished his instructions, and he didn't have time to digest the news that he suddenly had a new "relative", so he bowed down and promised to leave the boat room after returning the table. He had to digest the sudden news, and he had to go to see his mother after making a draft.

"Your Majesty, do you want to continue watching the dance?"

"Excuse me, go to the Secret Pavilion!"

。。。。。。

Xiao Ziqing went out of Hualin Garden and went to his biological mother Zhang Shufei alone to live in Ningshou Palace. It has been two or three months since the news of the northern envoy's appointment was spread in Jiankang, because it was much later than the previous envoy's visit, and he was not in charge of it, so he didn't care. Unexpectedly, on the way to Taicheng today, I heard about Xiao Changmao welcoming the northern envoy. Now I didn't expect that the mother of the northern envoy would still be related to his mother.

For Jiankang Shishu, the Zhang family is only a local powerhouse, and its power is never in Jiangzuo, so the Zhang family is not well-known in Jiankang. Since the fall of the four states of Huaibei, among the Qingqi tyrants who have fled back to the south of the Yangtze River, there are only a dozen people in the Zhang family, although the imperial court has settled them, they can only give them some fields and houses to ensure their basic survival, but in the official career, they can not take care of them. Jiangzuo was originally a gathering place for the northern and southern scholars, and the competition among the families was fierce, and those who crossed the river in the south of Yongjia were despised, not to mention the Qingqi heroes like the Zhang family, who had only crossed the river in recent years? If they want to develop, they can only rely on themselves. Xiao Ziqing and Xiao Zixiang were also after being sealed and opened the mansion, and they each recruited a decent Zhang clan, one of them was killed last year because Xiao Zixiang was killed in the disobedience of Jingzhou, and the other was also dismissed by Xiao Ziqing afterwards, it can be said that the Qinghe Zhang family is now extremely weak in the Southern Dynasty.

Located behind the Taiji Palace, the Ningshou Hall in the northwest of the harem area in front of Hualin Garden is the sleeping hall of Xiao Ziqing, the third son of the emperor Xiao Ziqing and the fourth son Xiao Zixiang, as well as the fourth princess Yongjia princess Xiao Lingyuan's biological mother Zhang Shufei.

It's just that at this time, the Lingshou Hall seems to be a lot less popular, since the fourth son born to Concubine Zhang Shu was given to die, few people will come here to visit, although it is not so far as the door, but it is also very deserted, when Xiao Ziqing arrived, there were only two little eunuchs outside the door who were sprinkled between the walls.

"Your Highness!"

"Auntie is in the hall?"

"Lady Concubine, the princess and the two highnesses are in the palace. The little slave will go to the court. ”

"No, just go alone"

After entering the hall and asking a few palace maids, Xiao Ziqing came to the side hall where his mother and sister were, and saw that his mother was making a white silk wedding dress for his sister by the window, and his thirteen-year-old sister was practicing calligraphy at the table, and there were a few maids on the side.

"Mother!"

Because Xiao Zhen's concubine Pei died when she was the crown princess, it has been ten years since now, and there has been no queen in the palace, so Xiao Ziqing privately called Concubine Zhang Shu "Mother".

Concubine Zhang Shufei and Princess Yongjia Lingyuan raised their heads slightly, and saw that it was Xiao Ziqing, Princess Yongjia got up and pulled Xiao Ziqing's sleeve and said happily: "Brother, come and see my handwriting, I have been learning this handwriting for five days." ”

Xiao Ziqing walked to the table with a smile, and saw that in addition to the calligraphy practiced by his sister on the table, there was also an excerpt of the "Sandu Fu" by Zuosi of the former Jin Dynasty. Looking at my sister's words again, I can only say that I have a slight appearance, which looks a little awkward.

"Do you want Brother to tell the truth, or is it a lie?" Xiao Ziqing said with a smile

"I am telling the truth, and my mother has said all the falsehoods, saying that I can't write well." Princess Yongjia said and looked back for Concubine Zhang Shu, and then said, "Brother, tell me, okay?" ”

Didn't you force me to say that she wrote well! Xiao Ziqing couldn't cry or laugh in her heart.

"Brother Wei has already told you, Mrs. Wang Huiji (Ning Zhi) has an elegant font, more like her uncle, even if it is a man. Moreover, the words are like their people, Ah Mei is a childish person, and she is a delicate daughter, so she is very different from Mrs. Wang, how can she learn well? ”

"Humph!" Princess Yongjia threw off her brother's sleeve, didn't say a word, sat down again, and no longer paid attention to Xiao Ziqing.

"Brother Wei recently got a pair of Queen Wang Anxi's stickers, and I'll bring them to you tomorrow, okay?" Xiao Ziqing saw that her sister was angry, so she hurriedly stepped forward and coaxed.

Princess Yongjia was born in the year of the establishment of the Southern Qi Dynasty, that is, when Xiao Ziqing was twelve years old, Xiao Ziqing began to go to Jingzhou when Princess Yongjia was three years old, and did not come back until five years later, and lived outside the palace when she was in Jiankang, so she loved this only half-sister very much.

Concubine Zhang Shufei saw her daughter coquettish, her coquettish posture was very gratifying, and the depression in her heart was slightly relieved. guessed that Xiao Ziqing should have something to do here, and asked, "Why did my son come to my mother's place?" ”

"So that my mother will know that it is a happy event to inform my mother!" Xiao Ziqing straightened his figure and replied

"Happy event? Could it be that the princess is pregnant? Concubine Zhang Shufei asked in surprise, even Princess Yongjia was no longer angry, and looked at her brother Xiao Ziqing.

Xiao Ziqing was quite embarrassed, he married the princess Yu at the age of sixteen, and this year he is twenty-three or four, and he only has three daughters but no sons.

"The matter of the heir, the son has an opinion, and these days I want to go to the Zen Ling Temple with the princess to pray for incense. Please also ask my mother to be relieved. ”

Zhang Shufei was dissatisfied: "The incense has been on it many times, but it has not been effective, and this matter still needs to be ...... between you and the princess" Looking at her daughter who was staring at her beside Xiao Ziqing, Concubine Zhang Shufei swallowed the rest of the words back.

Xiao Ziqing was relieved to see that her mother was no longer talking. Fortunately, there is a sister here, so it is difficult for the mother to ask any more.

"It's not that the princess is pregnant, so what's the joy?" Concubine Zhang Shufei put down the white silk wedding dress in her hand and asked.

"Does my mother know about the envoy Jiankang sent by the northern country?"

Concubine Zhang Shufei thought for a while and said, "I don't know this, my mother lives here in seclusion, and I haven't heard anyone talk about it for a few months." Speaking of this, thinking of Xiao Ziqing's words of "happy event", he exclaimed: "The happy event you are talking about, is it that the northern captives came to ask for relatives, and Your Majesty wants to send Lingyuan to kiss?" ”

Princess Yongjia was also frightened by her mother's words, she is now at an age where she knows little about people, and sometimes she has her own vision for marriage, but she never thought that she would marry far away to a foreign country.

She had already heard in the palace that the Northern Envoy was the second son of the Northern Emperor, and he was the same age as her.

Did the North send him for this purpose? Why have you never heard of it?

In his heart, he looked at Xiao Ziqing, afraid that his brother would nod and say yes.

Xiao Ziqing was stunned by the imagination of her mother Zhang Shufei, and didn't dare to go around in circles, so she hurriedly said: "Mother don't think about it, there is no such thing." ”

Although the former dynasty had twice discussed marriage with the Northern Dynasty during the Yuanjia period, the first time had reached the eve of the appointment, but finally ended because of the sudden death of the princess. Now, although the two countries are not at war again, they will not be at the point of harmony.

Princess Yongjia listened to her brother's words, and her nervous mood improved, and she sat down easily. I was also curious about the happy events that my brother said.

According to Pei Zhaoming, the waiter of the Yellow Gate, Zhang Concubine, the biological mother of the second prince of the Northern Envoy, was the daughter and grandson of Zhang Yan, the assassin of Southern Xuzhou, and the eldest daughter of Zhang Jingbo. Because the father knew that his mother was nostalgic, he was ready to invite the northern envoy to the Ningshou Palace for a banquet tomorrow, so as to send his son to come to the mother. ”

Concubine Zhang Shufei listened to Xiao Ziqing's words and sat down in silence. Thoughts go back to more than 20 years away from home.

In that year, Xuzhou assassin Xue Andu was captured into the Kou, and the Northern Wei sent heavy troops to cross the river to Xuzhou, and after the big break to recover Xuzhou's Zhang Yongsuo, the Zhang family was worried that Xuzhou would not recover, and Qingqi would face a more severe situation, so they wanted to move part of their families to the vicinity of the Huai River to wait for the further development of the war, if the situation was not good, they would go to Jiankang, and if the situation improved, they would come back.

At that time, Concubine Zhang Shufei and a provincial aunt of the clan had not returned, and because of the chaos of the army, they did not get the news of their home, so they were anxious to return home, and when they reached the vicinity of the lower billet, they learned that the war was critical, and the road ahead had been blocked by the Wei army and could not be passed. Then he encountered the Wei army in Xiabil, but fortunately he was not captured, so he had no choice but to move south with his aunt and the displaced people.

When he arrived at the Huai River, Xiao Daocheng, who was then the vanguard of the Northern Expedition, took advantage of the fact that the Wei army had not arrived and ordered people to gather in exile in Huaibei, and Zhang Shufei and her aunt were pursued by the Wei army, so they went to Huaiyin. Later, when Xiao Daocheng was looking for the Huaibei tribe among the displaced people, he knew that Concubine Zhang Shufei's aunt and nephew were from the Zhang family of Qinghe, so he sent someone to send them to Jiankang and temporarily live in the Xiao family. After the complete fall of the four states of Huaibei and the hopelessness of recovery, Concubine Zhang Shufei was homeless and alone in Jiankang, so she had to marry Xiao Zhen as a concubine by her aunt.

Looking back on the experience of more than 20 years, it seems like a lifetime.

Concubine Zhang Shufei retracted her thoughts and chuckled: "Okay, my son will go to Your Majesty, and my mother will hold a banquet here tomorrow to receive the northern envoy." ”

Xiao Ziqing saw his mother smiling, and his heart became happy.

It has been a few years since my brother's death, and my mother can finally be a little relieved!

Xiao Ziqing is also worried that his mother's perennial worries will be difficult to solve, and finally turn against his father, and then he and Ah Mei will really have no choice.

Fortunately, there is a sister who often forgives her mother! After all, so much effort was not wasted.

"Son, I'm going to get back to my life!" Xiao Ziqing said happily, and after saluting, he left the side hall.

Princess Yongjia saw Xiao Ziqing out of the side hall, got up and hurriedly walked to her mother's side, took her mother's hands and sat beside her mother, and asked, "Mother, you never talk to your daughter about foreign affairs, you have to tell your daughter today." Can you know the mother of the prince of the northern kingdom? Is it the daughter or the other? ”

"You are still a generation older than him, his mother is nearly ten years younger than his mother, and when his mother left Xuzhou, she was still about two or three years ......old," Zhang Shufei replied, arranging Princess Yongjia's slightly messy hair.

…………