Shao Xu clenched the reins, the horse stopped in place with a long neigh, he slowly looked back, who was chasing?

After nearly a month's journey, Shao Xu finally returned to the imperial capital, which was the most haunting place in his heart, and now all this may only appear in a dream. Shao Xi, who was beside him, got off the horse, and a group of servants immediately greeted him and led the horse away. This is the Xingguo Mansion, the servants saw the return of the eldest prince and the third prince, all with smiling faces, one of the housekeeper-like people leaned over and said: "The eldest prince, the third prince, you have worked hard all the way, go in quickly, the lord is waiting for you in the main hall." The butler looked at the girls standing behind them, and then asked, "The eldest son, the third prince, are these girls with you?" ”

Only then did Shao Xu remember that Yang Yingkey and they were still behind, and it turned out that the people who were chasing were the four of Yang Yingkey's master and servant. Shao Xu was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly replied: "Exactly, Steward Qin, you go and help them lead the horses, get the luggage, and then arrange some side rooms, remember to be tidy." ”

Steward Qin hurriedly responded, raised his hand and ordered the family and servants to get up, while Shao Xu and Shao Xi entered the door first, passed through several stone and wood arches and corridors, and passed through the courtyard to the main hall.

"Father, I'm back with my third brother." Shao Xi walked into the main hall and bowed to Shao Hu and said.

"The child visits his father." Shao Xu followed Shao Xi and bowed together.

"Xi'er, Xu'er, you're tired all the way, hurry back to the room to bathe and change clothes, and rest early."

"Father, the boy is gone." After thanking their father, the two brothers withdrew from the door and went to their own house.

Shao Xi remembered his wife and children in his heart, and walked straight back when he went out. Shao Xu thought of Yang Yingkey, so he went to Steward Qin to ask where she was placed, and after learning about it, he searched for it. When he got to the door, he had no time to call and knock on the door, and the door opened. Yang Yingjian was also uneasy and wanted to go out to find Shao Xu, but the two came to face each other.

"Hmm... Miss Haunting, I'm just relieved to see how you're doing... If it's okay, you can rest early. Shao Xu was a little overwhelmed and said slowly.

"Young Master Shao, I... I'm afraid I'll be exposed, and not only will I not be able to help you, but I'll make things worse..."

The corners of Shao Xu's mouth moved slightly, smiled, arched his hand and said: "Miss Haunting Key, regardless of her own reputation, is willing to help me with this, I Shao Xu don't know how to repay it." Don't worry, Miss Key, tomorrow you just need to follow what you said before, and the rest doesn't need to be bothered by Miss Key. ”

"I understand, Shao Gongzi, no, Xulang, don't worry, I will act according to what you say."

"In this way, then Miss Lingering Key, you should rest early, then I will go back first." Shao Xu said respectfully.

Yang Yingji said: "That Shao... Suro, I'm in the house. He gently closed the door and window.

Shao Xu stood in front of the door for a long time before turning around and leaving. He thought a lot along the way, this haunting girl was originally an innocent and lively straight person, but in the past few months, she has suddenly changed a lot. No, it should have started from the night before he went to the barracks, but he didn't expect that a few words from his unintentional words could make her change so much, and he didn't dare to think about it anymore, otherwise he wouldn't be able to hold on... Thinking of this, Shao Xu gave himself a slap in the face.

In the afternoon of the next day, Shao Hu, Shao Xu, and Shao Xi discussed in the Cuihua Pavilion. Shao Hu sat upright in front of the bookcase, holding some files in his hands and reading, and Shao Xu and Shao Xi sat on both sides. After a while, Shao Hu put down the file in his hand, raised his eyes slightly and looked at Shao Xu and said, "Xu'er, this morning, Your Majesty asked about your marriage to the county lord, I don't know what you think. ”

Shao Xu got up from his seat and replied: "Father, the child has been engaged to someone for life, the woman is now in the house, this time it is brought back to the father to know, she is kind to the child, the child has to repay this kindness, hope that the father will understand." ”

Shao Hu paused and said, "My father is asking you what you think about the marriage with the county lord. ”

Shao Xu looked at his father's serious expression that had not changed for many years, and couldn't help but feel stunned, and hurriedly replied: "The child no, you can't marry the county lord, the child already has a sweetheart." ”

Shao Hu's expression remained unchanged after hearing this, he was still so serious, but his hands were clenched into fists and placed on the table.

Seeing his father like this, Shao Xi hurriedly got up and said before Shao Xu: "Father, I have also seen the third brother's sweetheart, and I also came with us this time." She and her third brother met in danger when it was more than a year, and the third brother had long lost his mind about other people. ”

After listening to Shao Xu, he hurriedly followed Shao Xi's words and said: "I hope my father will be fulfilled, my father taught his children to be polite and trustworthy since he was a child, and he will repay his kindness, and the child cannot live up to the key." ”

After Shao Hu listened, he spread out his palms and pressed them on the table, his expression seemed to be a little relieved, and he slowly said to Shao Xu: "This matter is not the master of the father, and tomorrow you will go to the palace with the father and play Your Majesty." Shao Hu thought about it for a while and said again: "If the woman is in the house now, I will invite her to come here and let her father see her." ”

Shao Xu immediately bowed down and said, "Everything is according to the father's arrangement, and the child will go and call the key to come." Whoever said it said goodbye to his father first, walked out of the attic and went to Yang Yingkey's residence.

Shao Hu saw Shao Xu leaving, so he asked Shao Xi: "Before coming back this time, your third brother had any trouble. ”

Shao Xi straightened up and replied: "I haven't made any trouble, the third brother didn't show anything unusual about Concubine Pan, he only had objections to the matter of marrying the county lord, and I think the third brother cares about this girl very much." ”

"Well, for the Father's knowledge." Shao Hu said indifferently, and at this time, his hands were naturally leaning lightly on the table. After a while, there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs, and Shao Xu stepped lightly, step by step, step by step, followed by a woman. ”

Shao Xu bowed down and bowed to Shao Hu: "Father, the child is here with the key." Key'er, come and see your father. ”

Yang Yingkey panicked suddenly, and didn't know what to say, so he bent over slightly and put his hands on his waist and saluted: "Yingkey has seen Master Shao." After only getting out of this sentence, he was stunned.

Shao Xu hurriedly took a step forward when Shao Hu wanted to speak: "The first time I saw my father today, I thought I was nervous, and I hope that my father will not blame her." ”

Shao Hu got up and walked to a place about five feet away from Shao Xu, suddenly stopped, and asked Yang Yingkey: "What is the girl's name and surname, where is she from, and what is Ling Zun's origin." ”

Yang Yingjian was shocked, and only replied tremblingly: "My surname is Yang, and my name is Yingkey..."

Shao Xu said for her on the side: "Jian'er is a Han from the north, and his family is doing business on the border. Father, no matter what the child's background is, he will not think about it except for the key child in this life.

Shao Hu turned around and slowly walked to the table, still sitting in front of the table, and said to Shao Xu with his lips lightly: "My father knows, I will make plans for these things after I see Your Majesty tomorrow, you can wait and go back." ”

"Father, the boy is gone." Shao Xi and Shao Xu said in unison.

The three of them slowly walked out of the attic, Shao Xu breathed a long sigh of relief, he was afraid of his father since he was a child, and there was rarely a smile on his serious face, Shao Xu had never tried to deceive his father like this, and he was uneasy in his heart. Now that I've finally dealt with it, how can I break free from this thing in front of His Majesty tomorrow?

Shao Xi wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with his hand, and said slowly: "We still have to act in this play." Brother Wei was really afraid that he would say something wrong just now, rather than this, it would be better for the two of you to really get married, wouldn't it be a matter of course. ”

Shao Xu was just silent after hearing this, and Yang Yingkey's face flushed. The weather is approaching winter, and the oncoming wind is also a little chilly. Shao Xi saw that the two of them didn't say a word, he knew the reason as soon as he thought about it, and walked forward knowingly, and disappeared after a while.

Shao Xu and Yang Yingji walked almost side by side, although the two were close, they rarely said anything along the way. At this time, Shao Xu remembered in his heart that he had promised to take her to see the most prosperous and lively street market in the imperial capital, and now it was better to fulfill it.

"Key... No, lingering key, how about I take you to the market, it's okay now, and there is still a long time before sunset, so why don't you go and see the excitement. Shao Xu said slowly, which made people sound a little deliberate, and he himself felt as uncomfortable as if he was blocked in his chest. Yang Yingji was overwhelmed by this sudden remark, and stopped and froze in place.

"Young Master Shao, I, I'm ....."

"Miss Lingering Key, I know that I want you to help me act in this play, I have wronged you, this kindness, I Shao Xu will not be able to repay it in this life!"

Yang Yingkey was a little moved when he heard this, and said lightly: "Yingjian respects Shao Gongzi as a gentleman, and if he can help Gongzi, Yingjian is willing." ”

Shao Xu was silent for a long time, and the noisy street market and noisy voices did not break his thoughts in the slightest. Yang Yingkey walked in the lively street market, a long-lost smile appeared on his face, and the lively energy on his body returned, leaning over in front of the stall where the sugar was boiling, like a child.

"Young Master Shao, this Jian'an City is even more prosperous and lively than rumored, there is everything in the market, and there is no place in the north that can compare to this." Yang Yingji took a sip of the sugar cube in his hand and said.

Shao Xu said with some surprise: "It seems that Miss Haunting Key has been to a lot of places in the north, could it be that the girl is..."

"It's... Because my father was a well-known businessman in the Northland, and he traveled from south to north, I naturally knew it after listening to it a lot. ”

Shao Xu nodded, who was the girl in front of him, he had doubts in his heart, but the most important thing at the moment was to meet His Majesty tomorrow and conclude the marriage with the county lord.

Shao Xu thought for a while, and when he saw that the sky was getting dark, he said to Yang Yingkey: "Miss Yingkey, it's not too early, we should go home." ”

Yang Yingji stopped the step he had just taken forward, nodded and replied, "Okay, Young Master Shao, then let's go back." ”

The night of winter is getting colder, and the lights of the Xingguo Mansion are gradually extinguished.

The next day, as soon as the sky was bright, there was a cold air in all directions, Shao Hu took Shao Xi and Shao Xu out of the door together, got into the carriage and went to the palace. The carriage stopped when it reached the Mingde Gate after passing through the three city gates, Shao Hu lifted the sedan curtain and stepped out of the carriage, Shao Xi and Shao Xu also slowly got off the carriage, and the father and son walked to the gate. Entering the door, Shao Hu turned sideways and said to Shao Xu: "Here you go in and enter the Zhengyang Gate, in front of you is the Zhengyang Palace, you are not a court official, you are waiting here, waiting for the early dynasty, for the father to explain this matter to His Majesty, and when His Majesty announces to you, you will enter again." ”

Shao Xu bowed down and said, "Father, the child knows, and the child is waiting here." ”

Shao Hu went inside after hearing this, and a group of courtiers also walked in one after another, Shao Xu stood in place and couldn't help but feel a little chill coming, and he also put cotton in his clothes, but he still couldn't stop shivering, cold, cold.

At this time, all the courtiers above the court shouted long live, and Emperor Jing sat on the main hall. "Zhongqing is flat." As soon as Emperor Jing finished speaking, a eunuch-like person beside him hurriedly shouted: "Do something!" ”

As soon as the words fell, Tian Yi got up and bowed forward and knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the minister has the courage to thank Your Majesty for the grace of marriage for your courtiers." The courtiers are immoral and incompetent, and they are fortunate to be gifted by His Majesty, Princess Yan Ning is married, and the ministers thank His Majesty for his great kindness. ”

Emperor Jing waved his hand slightly, and the eunuch beside him hurriedly walked towards Tian Yi, and when he arrived at him, he stretched out his hand to help him. At this time, Emperor Jing said slowly: "Tian Aiqing, get up, your son Tian Hong has been in Yingzhou for two years, and he has made countless military exploits, and he is worthy of being a famous family, and his talent and appearance match Yan Ning." That's why I gave him a marriage to show his merits. ”

Tian Yi said yes again and again, knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, Emperor Jing's expression was happy, and all the courtiers were attached to Tian Yi and began to "sing praises of virtue".

At this time, Emperor Jing wanted to retreat from the court, but when he looked around, he saw Shao Hu standing in place, so he asked, "Shao Aiqing, do you have something to play?" ”

Shao Hu hurriedly straightened his waist, slowly bowed down, and bowed to Emperor Jing with the jade festival in his hand: "The minister has nothing important, the courtier Shao Xu was ordered to return to Beijing to report on his work, and he wants to thank His Majesty for his grace in person, and he is now waiting outside the Zhengyang Gate." The minister originally wanted to be after His Majesty's retirement from the court, and after His Majesty retired from the court, he wanted to show His Majesty. ”

Emperor Jing smiled indifferently, thinking that this old man was still like this. The eunuch on the side shouted, "Retreat!" All the courtiers said goodbye one by one, and Emperor Jing also moved to the imperial study, and Shao Hu came with him. After a while, Shao Xu was led by the eunuch just now to the door.

"Your Majesty, the Gongzi of Xingguo is already here for his orders." The eunuch called out slowly.

"Xuan!" The door of the imperial study opened, and the eunuch led Shao Xu in. Shao Hu and Shao Xu both knelt down in front of them, and Emperor Jing said to the eunuchs on the side: "Feng Qian, you stay, and the rest of the people will retreat." ”

Feng Qian gave a look, and the little eunuchs on the side retreated one by one. Emperor Jing then faced Shao Hu, and Shao Xu said, "Get up." ”

Shao Hu got up at this time, bowed down and said, "Your Majesty, the minister has something to ask for, I hope Your Majesty will fulfill it." ”

"What's the matter, Yiming, you can tell me about it."

Shao Hu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, the minister wants to ask Your Majesty to withdraw the order of marrying the county lord of Nancheng. ”

With a "bang", Emperor Jing's right hand slapped on the table, and shouted angrily: "Presumptuous! Marriage is child's play! ”

Shao Hu hurriedly leaned over and knelt down and said: "Your Majesty is angry, and the minister Chu also angrily reprimanded the third son of the minister, Shao Xu, but this son said that he had a marriage contract when he was in Yingzhou. Although the woman was the daughter of a merchant, the minister saw that she had a good appearance and a soft temperament, and the third son of the minister loved her very much, and could not bear to be demolished, so she begged His Majesty to be merciful! ”

Only then did Emperor Jing calm his anger, cough clearly, and said, "Even so, I don't force it. It's just that this king of Nancheng is my royal brother, fortunately, this matter has not yet been reported, but you have to come to the door to apologize to him in person. ”

Shao Hu and Shao Xu both knelt down to thank him, Shao Xu had never seen such a scene, and he was uneasy in his heart.

Emperor Jing said calmly: "Get up!" Shao Xu got up slowly, and Emperor Jing looked Shao Xu up and down carefully, and suddenly said to Shao Xu: "You were born so tall and handsome, to the point that you have a little bit of your father's appearance when he was young, I want to see such a handsome young man, what kind of woman can fascinate you, I will set up your house tomorrow to meet that woman." ”

Shao Xu was suddenly asked, and he didn't know what to do, so he could only freeze in place, and only said one sentence in his mouth: "Your Majesty..."

Seeing this, Shao Hu hurriedly took over and said: "The third son of the minister has been at the border for a long time, and when he sees His Majesty for the first time today, he will inevitably be a little panicked, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"It's okay, it's okay, it's weird if you're as old-fashioned. Yiming, I will go to your house for lunch tomorrow, you can prepare it, and there is no need to make a big fuss. Alright, all of you stand down! ”

After Shao Hu said goodbye to Emperor Jing, he led Shao Xu out of the door. Outside the Mingde Gate, Shao Xi was already waiting here, and the Shao family, father and son, took a carriage back to the house together. Shao Xu was wondering all the way why Emperor Jing was able to respond to Shao Hu's needs, and his father was not the one who had the least voice in the court. Take this time as an example, Emperor Jing, who was angry, was dissipated by his father's words, and when there was no one in private, Emperor Jing treated his father as close as a brother, and this time it was so smooth, which he never expected.

The carriage stopped at the Xingguo Mansion, Shao Hu got off the carriage first, Shao Xi, and Shao Xu got off the carriage after him. As soon as Shao Hu entered the mansion, he ordered people to prepare all the utensils and food, and the people up and down the mansion were mobilized, and all parts of the mansion were swept by themselves, until it was almost dark, and the cleaning was finally completed.

The next day, Emperor Jing quietly came to the Xingguo Mansion, and the Shao family was lined up at the gate of the mansion to greet Emperor Jing's royal car. Shao Xi, Shao Ke, Shao Xu, and Shao Po stood next to Shao Hu in turn. After a while, Feng Qian and three little eunuchs led the way, and another scholar-like person followed behind him, and Emperor Jing was accompanied by a young girl in civilian clothes, although she was only wearing a light blue cotton shawl, but she still couldn't hide her fairy-like appearance in the sky. Shao Xu couldn't help but raise his head and peek at it, his face changed suddenly, his internal organs were "churning", and he whispered to himself: "Pian'er, it's really Pian'er." ”

Shao Hu and the Shao family knelt on the ground together, Shao Hu raised his head slightly and said: "Minister Shao Hu, bring the old and young in the family to meet Your Majesty and Niangniang, please Your Majesty and Niangniang go to the main hall to rest for a while, the minister has ordered someone to prepare a luncheon." ”

"Yiming, why are you doing this? Today is a private visit, and I will be like ordinary brothers with you, and we don't need to be polite. Emperor Jing and Yan Yuese said slowly.

"Your Majesty, let the courtier Shao Xi lead the way for you and Niangniang, and the minister will go to see how the dishes are prepared first."

Shao Xi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Niangniang, please go this way." ”

After a while, Emperor Jing had arrived in the main hall, Shao Xi welcomed Emperor Jing to the main seat in the center, Pan Li'er sat on the seat beside Emperor Jing, and Feng Qian stood beside him. When Emperor Jing saw Shao Xu on the side, he said to him: "Shao Xu, today I want to see your "beauty", she is here!" I want to see what kind of woman can compare to my imperial niece! Pan Li'er, who was beside her, showed surprise on her face and immediately retreated, and sat upright with a calm expression.

Shao Xu was stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly replied: "Back to Your Majesty, the key is already in the side hall." Key'er has been on the border since he was a child, and he doesn't know any rules, so he is afraid that he will sweep away His Majesty's Yaxing. ”

Emperor Jing said lightly: "Let's go and summon it." Feng Qian, who was on the side, saw Shao Xu move, and hurriedly whispered: "Young Master Shao, Your Majesty told you to go quickly!" ”

Shao Xu came to his senses at this time, and hurriedly walked out.