In the evening of the next day, Xiao Rui rushed into the capital just before the city gate closed.

When he returned to the General Zhuguo Mansion, he was very low-key, did not alarm too many people, and did not go to see his aunt or his mother-in-law in the back house, but only went to his father's study. Xiao Mingde was not there, so he honestly sat there and waited. As long as he said that this was his father's order, the little maid waiting in the study would not dare to stop him, and would bring him tea and snacks. He simply ate a few pieces of dim sum to satisfy his hunger, and he didn't even bother with dinner.

An hour later, Xiao Mingde came back and put a foot-long brocade box on the table: "This is what you want." The Third Highness said that it was all inside, I didn't open it and read it, you can see if there is anything missing. ”

Xiao Rui actually didn't know very well what objects had been exchanged between the three princes and Zhao Ying, but he still stepped forward to open the brocade box and found that there were indeed two embroideries inside, both of which were one foot square in size, and the embroidery was very exquisite.

Xiao Rui has never seen these two embroideries, presumably they are what the third prince asked for in the name of the queen mother and the queen after he first met Zhao Ying. At that time, most of the people who accompanied the three princes to see Zhao Ying were Zhao Ying's brothers, and their brothers and sisters were confused by the three princes, thinking that he really came by order, so the meeting was still above board. Later, the third prince had a private meeting with Zhao Ying outside, so he brought Xiao Rui with him. So Xiao Rui really didn't know that the third prince used that reason to deceive Zhao Ying's two embroideries, he would only think that it was really the queen mother and the queen who wanted to see the needlework of the future crown princess.

But this is nothing, and it can't threaten Zhao Ying at all. Zhao Ying was so panicked, naturally it couldn't be just for these two embroideries.

There is also something placed underneath the embroidery. Xiao Rui opened the embroidery and saw the two envelopes below, and secretly said in his heart that it was not surprising.

These two envelopes are smaller and more delicate than ordinary envelopes, with an elegant faint fragrance on them, and the six words "Cherishing the Spring Pavilion Lord Jingqi" are written on the cover, and there is no payment.

"The Lord of the Cherished Spring Pavilion" is a new nickname given by the three princes last spring, but it is never used in front of anyone. If it weren't for the fact that Xiao Rui was often by his side during that time, and I happened to see him use this number to settle the payment when he wrote a letter, I don't know who this refers to. But obviously, the third prince told Zhao Ying this number, and the two used this to cover up when they exchanged letters, even if the letter fell into the hands of outsiders, it was not so easy to reveal the identities of the writer and the recipient.

Zhao Ying's handwriting is elegant and elegant, without much boudoir fat powder, which is quite rare. Xiao Rui could see which famous artist's calligraphy she was used to copying, because his aunt Li Yaozhi learned calligraphy, and she copied the same famous artist. Xiao Rui sometimes saw his aunt copying Buddhist scriptures to pray for the blessing of the deceased old master, and he couldn't bear to see her working too hard, so he would help copy it, so he was very familiar with this font. It is said that the old owner who waited for my aunt when she was young, Xiao Mingzhu, the eldest lady of the Xiao family, liked to copy this font the most.

Xiao Rui didn't open the letter to read it. He didn't plan to peek into the privacy between the third prince and Zhao Ying. He just looked at these two letters, and secretly calculated in his heart the number of days the three princes and Zhao Ying had known each other and the time they met, and estimated that there were not many opportunities for the two of them to communicate, and Zhao Ying could write two letters to the three princes, which should be about the same. Xiao Mingde is out of the horse, and the third prince should not deduct one and a half pieces, and then go to Zhao Ying for trouble.

Xiao Rui took out the two letters, hid them closely, sorted out only the two embroideries, and re-covered the lid of the brocade box.

Xiao Mingde saw his movements: "What did you do when you took that letter away?" ”

Xiao Rui replied: "Zhao Ying said that he only has two embroideries at the Third Highness, so I will send these two embroideries to Ma Yurong, so as not to make Ma Yurong suspect that Zhao Ying is lying." As for these two letters, I will find another way to quietly return them to Zhao Ying. When the time comes, whether things will be destroyed or left behind, she will have the final say. If she burned it with her own hands, she would probably be more at ease. "Whether the third prince has deducted something, it is estimated that only Zhao Ying himself knows best.

Xiao Mingde frowned and shook his head: "Then the Zhao family acted rashly herself, but you were thoughtful for her!" ”

Xiao Rui replied: "My son really doesn't want any troubles left in this matter. This is not only related to the life and death of Zhao Ying, but also to the noble concubine in the palace. The son also hopes that Zhao Ying can give a word of approval, so that I know if the Third Highness still has a back hand. ”

Xiao Mingde sneered: "What can he keep behind?" I have already warned him that if he goes against my will, he will not blame me for ignoring my uncle and nephew in the future! ”

Xiao Rui was right to think about it, so he said respectfully: "Father is right, and his son is too careful. ”

Xiao Mingde slowed down his expression: "Be careful, there's nothing wrong with it." Go ahead. Tomorrow I will accompany your aunt at home for a day, and it will not be too late to return to Jinshanwei the day after tomorrow. I have prepared the official documents that need to be replied to, and you can pick them up in my study before leaving. ”

Xiao Rui hurriedly responded.

Xiao Mingde said again: "Don't think about the transfer to the north for the time being. I heard a news in the palace today, the Tao is that Changhuaiwei is vacant, if you go, you can directly receive a job of a hundred households, isn't it better than going to the border army to suffer? Don't think that Chang Huaiwei's life must be good, the commander there is also a strict person who governs the army, and he won't be merciful to you! It's just that there, you don't have to worry about anyone stopping you. That commander, even if the prince and princess send a letter, will not give affection. Changhuaiwei is always closer to the capital, and if you want to go home to visit your aunt, it is cheaper than in the north. Besides, our hometown is not far from Changhuai, and I will send your aunt back to her hometown when you need it, and it is convenient for you to go and see her. ”

Xiao Rui was very surprised, but he was also a little moved, and hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you, father!" ”

Xiao Mingde helped him up, and said with a somewhat uncomfortable expression: "I know that you are ambitious, and you also want to go to the north to compete for military merits, and you don't want to stay at home all day to enjoy peace." It's just that your aunt only has one son, and you have to think more about her. Although I have some friendship with King Yan, I am ...... in my selfish heart I don't want you to have much to do with him. After a pause, "He didn't become my brother-in-law after all, and now he has a very close relationship with the princess." It's embarrassing for someone in our family to come to the door. ”

Xiao Rui was suspicious in his heart, but he didn't show any strangeness on his face, and only responded respectfully.

When he left his father's study with the brocade box and planned to see his aunt, he was still thinking in his heart: his father seemed unwilling to let him go to the north, why? In the past, my father never said that he didn't want him to have anything to do with Yanwangfu. But the aunt clearly asked him to get closer to King Yan, and even asked him to work for King Yan many times.

Is there any secret between my father and my aunt?

Xiao Rui was thinking about it, and he couldn't help but see his sister-in-law Xiao Lin appear at the end of the verandah in front of him, and when he saw him, he was surprised: "Second brother? Why are you here? When will you return to Beijing?! ”

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