Chapter 13: The Past

Qian Hongzuo found Wen Minghui, the commander of the forbidden army, and instructed him to select two competent officers of the forbidden army, carry the dragon card of the forbidden army, and follow Xie Xiangcun to Taizhou to find relatives. He also ordered Wen Minghui to investigate in detail the situation of Ma Datong and Ma Dahe, the minions of the first king and the latter after the abolition.

Not long after Xie Xiangcun left for Taizhou, Wen Minghui wrote the resumes of Ma Datong and Ma Dahe that he had investigated and presented them to Qian Hongzuo.

Although Ma Datong and Ma Dahe's surname are Ma, they are not relatives of the Ma family after the dethronement of the first king, and the two are not blood brothers. The two of them were originally a pair of brothers who were monks since childhood, and they learned good martial arts from Southern Shaolin. When he grew up, he was unwilling to leave the family, envied the prosperity of Hongchen, and escaped from the temple together. At the beginning, he worked as a guard in General Ma's mansion, his mother's house after the abolition of the first king, and in order to show his loyalty, he took the surname Ma. Later, because of his strong martial arts, he was recommended to the forbidden army by General Ma, and was specifically responsible for being a personal escort for Empress Ma's two biological sons, Qian Hongxu and Qian Hongliang, when they went out. At that time, Qian Hongxu was the son of Wu Yueguo, and the two were highly valued in the forbidden army, and because of their meritorious service in saving the prince, they were specially promoted and became the generals of the forbidden army. After a period of rich and noble life. But soon, because the queen of the horse was abolished and convicted, the current generalissimo Dai Yun, who was ordered to cut off the forces of foreign relatives, was ruthless, and many people who followed the queen of the horse were dead without a body, but because of Ma Datong, Ma Da and the merits of saving the prince, the first king not only spared death, but also allowed them to return to the Buddhist temple and cultivate the next life. But because the two love to drink, they would rather choose to work as official slaves in Fangli Villa, and did not re-enter Buddhism. After arriving at Fangli Villa, I did some rough work in the kitchen and firewood room, and I never caused any trouble again.

After Qian Hongzuo watched the recital, he felt that although Erma was a faction of the queen of horses, there was no specific crime, and the meaning of punishment was greater. And the two of them have rescued Brother Wang's brother Qian Hongxuan, at least they have merit. Erma's experience is like a Buddhist who strayed into the red dust, lost in it and unable to extricate himself, and hurriedly dreamed of empty joy and wealth. Although Xie Xiangcun learned martial arts from them, the power of the queen of the horse had dispersed at that time, and it really couldn't be said to be related to the faction of the queen of the horse. Qian Hongzuo had already intended to use Xie Xiangcun, and after reading this recital, he felt that he was sure to persuade Empress Dowager Xu.

When Qian Hongzuo solemnly told the Empress Dowager Xu that he wanted Xie Xiangcun to be his personal guard, the Empress Dowager Xu did not show much surprise. This is actually the first time that Qian Hongzuo has used his favorite minister, and Empress Dowager Xu did not directly say that it was the first time he summoned his subjects like the last time Qian Hongzuo summoned Xie Xiangcun, but said calmly: "He is not suitable." ”

Qian Hongzuo explained the situation of Ma Datong and Ma Dahe to the Empress Dowager Xu one by one, and then said: "Queen Mother, I know that you hate the Empress Dowager very much, but Xiao Xie is really not from her faction. ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Holy Lord, the mourning family believes that Xiao Xie has nothing to do with the abolition of the queen. Moreover, I have a personal enmity with the abolished Ma, and personal enmity cannot interfere with official affairs. If he Xie Xiangcun is useful to Wu Yueguo and to the saint, the mourning family has no objection to using him. ”

Qian Hongzuo was surprised: "Then why do you still think he is not suitable?" ”

Empress Dowager Xu said inconveniently, and said implicitly: "Holy Lord, your personal guards must be selected from among the inner guards, Xie Xiangcun can't even stay in the palace, how can he be a personal guard?" ”

Qian Hongzuo is young and has not married, in his eyes, Xie Xiangcun is no different from the inner servant, but as soon as Empress Dowager Xu said it, he immediately understood the reason. Fortunately, Empress Dowager Xu did not object to the use of Xie Xiangcun, which had already made Qian Hongzuo very happy, so she asked: "What kind of errand does the queen mother think is suitable for arranging him to be arranged?" ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Is it good to be a guard with a knife in front of the palace?" ”

Qian Hongzuo thought for a while and said truthfully: "I go to court every day, and I never notice these palace guards, and I can't call the names of any of them. Xiao Xie is very alert, since the assassination, the child has been anxious for a long time, and at that time I hoped that Xiao Xie could sit and lie with me, always by my side. ”

Empress Dowager Xu looked at her son with a calm face, and felt quite distressed, and said after a long time: "Shengshang, no matter how good Xiao Xie is, he can't serve you personally after all." And the guards with knives in front of the palace are also very important, do you know how they are selected? ”

Qian Hongzuo said: "I heard that it was selected by a competition. ”

Empress Dowager Xu explained in detail: "The soldiers of the forbidden army can only be served by good families in Hangzhou City, or children of the royal family's hometown. Only those who are loyal to the royal family and have strong martial arts can enter the Yulin Army. The Yulin Army conducts a competition every two years, and only those who enter the top 100 are qualified to be the sword guards in front of the palace, and they are all the bravest and most loyal warriors of Wu Yue Kingdom. Xiao Xie is not from Wu Yue, and he was born in Liyuan, you don't care about his family background, without selection, you directly let him be a guard with a knife in front of the palace, which is already an exceptional promotion. ”

Qian Hongzuo still felt that this errand was dispensable and not very important, so he hesitated and asked, "How many officials are the guards with knives in front of the palace?" ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Guarding with swords in front of the palace, winning with martial arts, is the most desirable position for young people who have just joined the forbidden army." But their grades are often very low, and when they are promoted to captains, most of them are also older, and they usually no longer serve as guards with knives in front of the palace, but go to Luocheng to lead the soldiers. When Xiao Xie first joined the forbidden army, he could only be awarded nine grades at most. ”

From the ninth grade to the grade, but he has obtained the status of an official, Qian Hongzuo secretly feels that the official position is too low.

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Actually, this is just a discussion between you and me, and the mourning family thinks that Xiao Xie may not want to join the forbidden army." ”

Qian Hongzuo said: "Last time he said that he wanted to be a famous singer and inherit the mantle of his master. But how can this servant be compared to being an official? ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "The three armies can win the commandery, but the horseman cannot win the ambition." Xiao Xie has a deep relationship with his master, and he dreams of performing on stage. was pardoned out of slavery, and refused to leave Fangli Villa and his master. From the perspective of the mourning family, although this child is simple, his beliefs are very firm, and he may not like to be an official. ”

Qian Hongzuo said: "Although he has a deep relationship with his master, but he ...... me and me" Qian Hongzuo's face turned red for a while, he couldn't find a suitable word to express it, and paused and said: "If I tell him, he will definitely agree." ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Even if he promises you, he will regret it in his heart after all, and he will feel ashamed of his master's cultivation." ”

Qian Hongzuo asked: "What does the queen mother mean?" ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "To solve the bell, you must tie the bell, let Qu Liuzhen persuade him to be the most suitable, and Qu Liuyu will inevitably agree." ”

Qian Hongzuo asked happily: "Are you saying that Qu Liuqing also hopes that Xiao Xie can become an official?" So that I can get rid of him. ”

Empress Dowager Xu said with a smile: "He may not like his apprentice to be an official, but he definitely doesn't want Xiao Xie to repeat his mistakes." ”

Qian Hongzuo was puzzled: "What did the queen mother say? ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Although Xiao Xie is handsome, he is far inferior to his master's demeanor back then. ”

Qian Hongzuo had seen Qu Liuyu and was unimpressed by his mother's words. In his eyes, Xie Xiangcun is obviously more delicate and moving than his master, but it is not easy to refute his mother.

Empress Dowager Xu faintly recalled: "When Qu Liuyu was popular, even the first king liked him very much, not to mention those ** women. When he entered the palace to perform, the palace maids were like a festival, and they had to be happy for many days. The music he sings is like a heavenly sound, which is fascinating and intoxicating. ”

It was the first time Qian Hongzuo heard his mother speak so emotionally, and thought: People who can make their mother so quiet are so intoxicated, presumably the Qu Liuyu when she was popular is indeed outstanding.

Empress Dowager Xu took out her thoughts from her memories and said regretfully: "It's a pity that such a person like an immortal is bullied because he is a lowly servant, and he has become a cripple in a good manner. Although the first king favored him, he did not seek justice for him, but let the murderers go unpunished. It's just that Qu Liuyu will stay in the imitation of Lishan Villa forever, and he will be supported by the official family, which is no better than those servants who are sold to rich and noble families as ordinary slaves and maids after they are old and decrepit. ”

Qian Hongzuo asked: "Is Qu Liuzhen a person who is injured and disabled?" ”

Empress Dowager Xu let out a long sigh, which was considered a tacit acquiescence.

Qian Hongzuo asked again: "Who is the murderer?" You said that my father liked him very much, so why did anyone dare to hurt him? ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Because the person who injured him is a military general that your father relies on." He relied on your father that he would not dare to be so presumptuous because of a servant who pursued him. ”

Qian Hongzuo asked, "Who is that person?" ”

Empress Dowager Xu said word by word: "It is the current generalissimo of Wu Yueguo's soldiers and horses - Dai Yun." ”