Xu Xun has been gone for three years, and when he left, he was just an eight-year-old child, all he thought about was how to have fun, and when he came back, he was already an eleven-year-old young man, with modest manners and elegant words, and he couldn't see the slightest bit of wildness.

Zhang Shiqing hugged her son and cried bitterly, she had to complain about her husband almost every day in the past few years, and the moment she saw her son, all the complaints came to naught.

Feng Juniang frowned slightly, turned her head and whispered to her husband: "Come back a little gentleman, I don't know if our daughter likes it or not......

Tian Jiang laughed.

Xu Xun went home to save his relatives, he could only stay for three days, after seeing everyone and distributing gifts, he came to the study with his parents to talk about his experience over the years, Xu Ji forbade his son to write a letter back, so many things were heard for the first time.

Zhang Shiqing listened to it with relish, and felt that every little thing was worth listening to, but Xu Ji didn't show much interest, listening while reading a book, and occasionally interjecting a sentence.

Ma Shi did not come back with him, he is now a trusted guard by the prince's side, and he has been appointed in the forbidden army, so he can't come down for a vacation.

Under the guidance of Xu Ji, Ma Shi used his real name in the capital, and did not shy away from the identity of the son of King Liang, King Liang died of persecution by Bao Dun and King Ning, and had no enmity with Great Chu, but deeply felt his kindness, Ma Shi was a military general without much ambition, so he was not afraid of the emperor.

said that it was the prince's attendant, in fact, there were not many opportunities to see the prince, especially the young noblemen, the attendant was just a title, most of the time they were studying and practicing martial arts, Xu Xun was protected by Queen Ma, his life was particularly superior, and he met the prince many times, and he was full of praise for the prince in front of his parents.

Zhang Shiqing compared his life when he was a child, and always felt that his son was having a hard time, so he kept sighing, looked at his indifferent husband, and almost complained again.

Xu Xun talked about the affairs of the court again, and the coherence was quite clear, Xu Ji still did not show interest, but Zhang Shiqing was full of smiles, as if he had seen the day when his son was the marquis and paid homage to the prime minister.

In the past three years, the biggest thing in the capital is the decline of Changsha Marquis Guo Shifeng and the Yizhou Tiejia, before the move, the emperor showed great trust in the prime minister, every time he went out on patrol and expedition, he would inevitably designate Guo Shifeng to stay in the auxiliary government, and the queen and the prince just watched.

The emperor claimed to send troops to attack Liangzhou, and summoned the soldiers of various states to gather in Xijing, and the Tie brothers were summoned to Qi Zhi, and they were captured alive as soon as they entered the army, and they were accused of secretly colluding with the prime minister and having a heart of disobedience.

Almost at the same time, the queen Ma and the palace guards of the crown prince broke into the prime minister's mansion, took Guo Shifeng, and Ma Shi saw him on the spot, saying that Guo Shifeng saw the soldiers of the East Palace, threw his pen on the ground, sighed, and did not make any resistance, without the rumors of anger and then fear and kneeling to beg for mercy.

Guo Shifeng had long corresponded with the Tie family brothers, and wrote constantly, including quite a few complaints, especially in the letters in the early years, talking about the unformed plan to replace the king of Chu.

These letters should have been destroyed, Guo Shifeng's mansion really couldn't find a letter, but the Tie family in Jindu City found a lot, and the emperor acted quickly, arresting people here, and searching the mansion there, and the Tie family didn't have time to destroy it.

It is said that the Tie family brothers wanted to destroy the letter for a long time, but the two ladies disagreed, thinking that these letters might one day be used to warn the prime minister, but they didn't expect that this was also their own "criminal evidence".

The emperor was magnanimous, remembering the merits of Guo and Tie, and the conspiracy involved was all more than ten years ago, although there were complaints in the recent letters, but there was no major fault, so the two families were pardoned for capital crimes, and the iron kite and the iron eagle cut the lord as an uncle, and the whole family moved to Guangzhou.

As for the king of Shu in Yizhou, he immediately wrote to ask for guilt, and even claimed that he was not a descendant of the Gan family and was not qualified to be the king.

The emperor tried his best to disagree with the public, thinking that the king of Shu was not guilty, as for the origin, there was no evidence, and he could still be called the king, but there were many ministers in Yizhou, and the king of Shu should not be in it for a long time, so he could move to Kyoto.

Yizhou was pacified, the world was shaken, and Yang Mengjun, the king of Liang, sent an envoy to ask for guilt, and then personally went to Xijing to hand over the king's title.

The emperor forgave Yang's various sins and refused to take back the title of King Liang, but Yang Mengjun was extremely persistent, and pleaded for more than ten days to clarify his mind, and finally handed over the title of Wang, and only kept the official of Liangzhou.

The Yang family also sent protons to the capital, two years older than Xu Xun.

"Who was born to the son of the Yang family? What is your name? Zhang Shiqing immediately became interested, and when she heard that the Tie family had been moved to the south, she just sighed and didn't ask too much.

Xu Xun didn't know why, and replied: "Of course, it was born to Mrs. Mushou, and the concubine was a hostage, and the court couldn't agree to it." His name is Yang Mi, the Mi of Amitabha Buddha. ”

Yang Shiqing glanced at her husband, and then smiled at her son: "You are wrong, that is Maitreya's Mi." How is he? Are the two of you friends? ”

Xu Xun was even more confused, shook his head and said: "We are not friends, Yang Mi is proud of himself and often bullies his colleagues. ”

Hearing his son say the word "colleague" at a young age, Yang Shiqing smiled again, "The son of the Yang family must be tall, but you don't have to be afraid of him, Yang Mi bullies people again, you just say ......"

Xu Ji turned his head and looked at it, thinking that his wife was going to have a bad idea, but Zhang Shiqing said: "You just say that Ma Shi is your brother, and Yang Mi is no more tall than Ma Shi, right?" ”

Xu Xun said: "Yang Mi has never bullied me, even if there is, I can deal with it myself, and I don't need my brother to come forward." ”

"This is my son." Zhang Shiqing praised.

After saying a lot of words, Zhang Shiqing let his son leave, "The carriage and horses are tired, rest well, and talk again tomorrow." ”

Xu Xun walked out of the study and walked to his bedroom, and suddenly saw a girl of the same age as him coming towards him, and immediately stopped and bowed.

Feng Juniang's daughter Tian Shu is also eleven years old, she grows up faster, and she is a little taller than Xu Xun.

Xu Xun was stunned, and he didn't even say anything when he stood there.

After walking more than ten steps, Tian Shu suddenly stopped and turned around, and asked, "Did you bring me a gift?" ”

Xu Xun nodded immediately and approached quickly, "One piece has been handed over to Aunt Feng, and the other one is ......" Xu Xun took out a small bag from his arms and opened it gently, "This is the clay man in the capital that you asked for three years ago." ”

The clay figure is in the shape of a female baby, with bright colors and cute appearance, Tian Shu held it in his hand, and a smile appeared on his face.

In the study, Zhang Shiqing sighed: "One is back, but the other is far away in Yuyang, and I don't know when the two brothers will be able to reunite." ”

"There are many opportunities in the future." Xu Jidao said that a year ago, he sent his youngest son Xu Chi to Yuyang to serve as an attendant to the king of Yuyang, and he was also not allowed to write a letter home.

"Why are you upset when your son comes back?"

Xu Ji put down the book, "Happy, but can't be revealed." ”

"Hmph, do you want to do the same for your own son?"

Three days later, Xu Xun had to go back to Beijing on the road, the mother and son were reluctant, Xu Ji personally saw him off, and he was sent to Yecheng before he said goodbye, and said a few words, nothing else.

Xu Ji rarely entered the city, this time, one is to see off, and the other is to see Tan Wu, the king of Yecheng, he has already received an invitation, and has been making excuses for not coming.

Three years ago, Tan Wufu listened to Xu Ji's advice, first asked himself to attack Liaodong, and after the defeat, he went to Beijing to ask for his guilt, and was willing to atone for his sins with the title of king, but he was not allowed, so he asked to cut half of the fief, and exempted his eldest son from the title of "Wang Shizi", thinking that his son was useless and could not be called king.

As Xu Ji expected, after this move, the emperor was much less afraid of King Yecheng, but after the King of Shu moved to Beijing and King Liang was exempted, Tan Wuwei was a little afraid.

As soon as he saw Xu Ji, Tan Wuxuan said excitedly: "The court has done it, the court has done it......"

"The second brother has exchanged letters with Guo Xiang?"

"No, how could I ...... He is the prime minister, I am a prince, and there is always an exchange of official documents. Tan meaninglessly changed his rhetoric halfway, "What should I do?" Shouldn't I learn from King Liang to hand over the king's name? Now I am the only one left in the king with a different surname......"

"King Liang has refused to obey the edict several times, and he is guilty of going to the king, what is the crime of the second brother, and he wants to hand over the king's title?"

"I don't want to hand it over, but ......"

"And there is a king with a different surname, and there is a king of Shu."

"The king of Shu moved to the capital, and he is no different from a puppet."

"The second brother wants to learn, it is better to learn from the king of Shu."

Tan Wuxian was stunned for a moment and asked, "Fourth brother doesn't have any other ideas?" ”

Xu Ji shook his head.

"Let me think about it, I really can't do it, so I have to use this trick."

Xu Ji said goodbye and returned to the valley to Zhang Shiqing: "King Yecheng is afraid that it will be rare for a long time. ”

Zhang Shiqing was taken aback, "Let's think about Gu Duo and get the protection of King Yecheng, can't you give him an idea?" ”

"The king of Yecheng won the king with military merits, and he was arrogant and unwilling to go to the capital to endure the humiliation for a while. The Son of Heaven is still good when he is here, once the Son of Heaven is not prepared, he must get rid of the King of Yecheng first. ”

"In this way, before the emperor, it is the luck of the king of Yecheng?"

Tan's senseless "luck" was not so good, he really didn't go to the capital, but wrote again, hoping to hand over the king's title, and after being reprimanded by the emperor in the edict, he didn't mention the matter again.

Two years later, the emperor fell ill, and in order to be happy, he sent a princess to Yecheng to marry one of Tan Wuwu's sons, which was a long-established family affair, because the two were young and dragged on to this day.

The team to send relatives was extremely large, and there were groups of noble relatives, Tan took his son and ministers out of the city to greet him, but he was taken down by the accompanying forbidden army and sent directly to the capital, and the family affairs were carried out as usual.

Tan Wuwu's encounter in the capital was controversial, and two years later, when Xu Xun went home for the second time to save his relatives, he brought some reliable news.

Tan needlessly entered Beijing, the court claimed to the outside world that it was the king of Yecheng who heard that the emperor was seriously ill and voluntarily came to serve, in the capital, Tan needlessly lived in the palace that had been arranged, and entered the palace several times, what the monarch and ministers said to each other, outsiders do not know.

The emperor did fall seriously ill, dragged on for five months, and died, and on the night of the news that the news broke, King Yecheng killed himself, leaving his last words, claiming that he wanted to follow His Majesty.

The crown prince ascended the throne, thanked Tan for his senseless loyalty, and authorized his eldest son to succeed as the king of Yecheng, and then cut the king to the marquis after the third generation.

Xu Xun is fifteen years old this year, because he has accompanied the prince in the East Palace since he was a child, and has obtained an official position.

Xu Xun also brought a reminder to his father: "The new emperor is filial piety, and he does everything to the queen mother, the queen mother has been jealous and hated for a long time towards Concubine Zhang and the king of Yuyang, and the second brother is in Yuyang, I hope my father cares a lot." ”

Xu Ji said: "When you first went to the capital, how did I explain to you?" ”

"Don't be nosy."

"Well, my confession hasn't changed now."

In the autumn of the following year, it was the day of marriage, Xu Xun was busy with his ministry and had to take leave to return to his hometown, so Zhang Shiqing and Tian Jiang, Feng Juniang and his wife sent Tian Shu to Beijing, which was also the first time they left Siguo Valley for many years.

More than half of the people in the valley followed into Beijing, and only Xu Ji stayed behind, taking a few children to continue studying, and did not even write a letter.

Over the years, the population of the valley has increased year by year, reaching nearly 100 people, and most of them suddenly left, and immediately became much quieter.

Xu Ji's life has not changed, in addition to teaching children to write and read, he goes to clean the graves of Fan Shu and the old servant every two or three days.

A month later, someone sent a letter from the capital, the Queen Mother Bintian, Kyushu mourned, marriage was prohibited within a year, Xu Xun and Tian Shu's marriage had to be postponed, Zhang Shiqing and others did not want to go back and forth, so they had to live in the capital for a year.

Xu Jituo brought a message to this person, saying that he "knows", and there is nothing else to say.

In the early summer of the following year, two unexpected guests came to Siguo Valley.

One is Liu Youzhong, after so many years, he hasn't even gotten older, Xu Ji can't help but suspect that he really has a bit of immortality.

Liu Youzhong abandoned the king of Jin and went south, followed King Ning for a while, felt that it was not a long-term solution, quietly left, lived in seclusion in the mountains south of the Yangtze River, after the world was calm, he went out of the mountain again, still took the people as a profession, and his reputation was louder than before, and he wandered through the door of princes and nobles, and also accepted an apprentice.

The apprentice's surname is Zhou, his name is restored, and he claims to be Xu Ji's old friend, Xu Ji recognized it for a while before he suddenly remembered that this person was indeed an old friend, and blurted out: "Black-haired dog!" ”

Zhou Fushi was Zhou Lu, a classmate in the Temptation Hall back then, who survived the troubled times, but he couldn't be an official, and he learned physiognomy with Liu Youzhong, and he was quite successful, and said with a smile: "Back then, Mr. Xu still remembers, I also remember Mr. Xu's article, 'Use the people to time', what I have seen and heard over the years, I feel more and more that these four words seem to be simple and profound." ”

I can see the old man, Xu Ji Dayue, make an exception to drink, get drunk and rest, talk with Liu Youzhong and Zhou Fushi, but don't talk about current affairs, every time the two of them mention it, Xu Ji only listens to it and doesn't say it, and he is really asked, he said that he has not heard of the world for a long time, and he is not judgeable.

The master and apprentice lived in the valley for three days, said goodbye and left, and Xu Ji was sent outside the valley, knowing in his heart that he had passed the test of the new emperor.

In the early autumn, the second son Xu Chi rushed back from Yuyang, and he was recruited into Beijing as an official, and by the way, he was able to participate in his brother's marriage.

Xu Chi brought a special gift to his father, which was two books, one "Book of Songs" and one "Book of Songs", which were very ordinary but had unusual origins.

"When the first emperor and the king of Yecheng conquered Liaodong one after another, Tiancheng also had self-knowledge, went to the emperor's number, changed the country name to Liaocheng, and called the minister to Dachu, a tribute for three years, and the messenger had to pass through Yuyang every time. Last year, when the messenger passed by, he brought these two books, saying that they were gifts from his father's deceased, but the messenger did not mention the name of the deceased, which I thought was inappropriate, so I brought them this year. ”

Xu Ji took the two books, flipped through them for a while, and said with a smile: "It is indeed a gift from the old man, she wants to tell me that although she lives in the wilderness, she will not forget the poetry and books." ”

"This old man of my father has the dignity of a scholar." Xu Chi didn't know what he meant, and said: "I heard in Yuyang that the Queen Mother died quite strangely, and there are even rumors that arrangements were made before the death of the first emperor. The king of Yuyang was quite uneasy, worried about the safety of Concubine Zhang, and asked me to investigate in detail after entering Beijing, and my father thought ......"

"Use the people with the time." Xu Ji replied.

"Huh?" Xu Chi understood the meaning of these four words, but he didn't understand how it had to do with what he said.

"When you enter Beijing as an official, you must be questioned by the emperor, and you can't ask more about other things about 'using the people for time', let alone say more."

"Yes, father." Xu Chi didn't dare to ask more.

Xu Ji picked up the book sent by the old man, and his heart was as calm as water.

He knew that his two sons would inevitably be involved in many disputes when they entered Beijing, but he was not worried.

He knew that his wife would be able to come back before the winter, and Siguo Valley would be lively again.

He knew that Lord Huanyan had settled down, and he didn't have to worry about it anymore.

The world began over and over again, and each end was different, and he knew that his plan would never be used again.

(At the end of the book, there will be a postscript tomorrow, posted on Weibo, the full name is "Bing Linshenxia Weibo", please pay attention.) ）