The time to visit relatives for the New Year has not yet arrived, so there are almost no pedestrians on the road, and the carriage carrying Rong Chengjiao and Su Jinan is walking unhurriedly. Su Jin'an, who hadn't slept all night, relaxed at the moment and was a little drowsy in the swaying carriage, her body swayed slightly with the shaking of the body, and her head dozed little by little, looking like a little milk cat who was about to fall asleep but wanted to hold on.

In Meifu, the snow in the yard has been cleaned, the masters have just had breakfast, the little maid and the rough envoy should have gone to the kitchen to eat, and there is silence in the courtyard. There is an independent small courtyard in the outer courtyard, and a plaque is hung on the door, with three big characters written on it: idler's residence. This is where Master Mei usually reads, and now there are only Master Mei and Su Mu inside, the two are sitting on the low couch of yellow rosewood playing against each other, there are not many pieces on the chessboard, and there is no fierce fight, at this moment Master Mei is holding a sunspot in his hand to play, there is no intention to fall at all, he frowned lightly as if thinking about something.

"This matter can be big or small, the key depends on whose perspective the second prince stands on." Old Man Mei stared at the chess pieces and said to Su Mu.

Su Mu explained the movement in the courtyard last night to Master Mei, and by the way, listened to Master Mei's opinion on this matter. After hearing Master Mei's point of view, Su Mu nodded approvingly: "Yes, my son-in-law thinks so too." ”

"There is something I haven't told you before, five years ago, the emperor asked the second prince to go to Huailing to practice, and it happened to run into Nanyuan to sneak into the city, when the lady led the children to hide, and was scattered on the way, at that time Qing'er and An'er met the injured second prince, and it was An'er who saved him at that time. After that, the second prince stayed in Huailing for more than a year, and had some friendship with several children, I think since the second prince let An'er enter the palace as a man, it can be regarded as standing in An'er's point of view. ”

"Oh? What else is going on? Five years ago, An'er was only nine years old. Master Mei was a little surprised.

"Yes, I couldn't believe it was An'er who saved people at that time, but it was. Because no one knew about An'er's existence at that time, the matter was concealed together, and outsiders thought that the second prince took a fancy to Qing'er, but in fact, his attitude towards An'er was not much different from that of Qing'er, and only Qing'er and An'er called the second prince 'Rongcheng' in the name of their surnames. Su Mu briefly told Master Mei about the events of the year.

Master Mei listened to Su Mu's words and touched the gray beard on his chin: "It seems that there is such a life-saving grace, it is not difficult for An'er to come back safely." ”

"Su Mu, you've been back in Beijing for three months, right?" Master Mei suddenly changed the subject.

"Yes, three months and twelve days." Su Mu replied.

"You still have the position of 'deputy envoy to the town', right?"

"Yes, although I was ordered to return to Beijing at the beginning of last year, but it was already April after returning to Beijing after the long journey, and the vacancy of the military department Zuo Sima who was originally asked me to make up after the debriefing has not come down, so I took leave to go back to pick up my wife and children, no, it is already the end of the year when I come back, and there has been no new order."

"That Zuo Sima is estimated to have run away, a few years ago, Xu Er had a friend who knew the fourth son of the Changting Hou Mansion, saying that his brother-in-law had been out for some years, and he should come back this year, the Changting Hou Mansion and the military department Shangshu are world friends, and the position of the Changting Hou is estimated to be fighting for his son-in-law." Master Mei's words were said very slowly, and Su Mu's brows furrowed after hearing this.

Without waiting for Su Mu to speak, Master Mei then said to Su Mu: "Your ancestors are all civil officials, and they don't deal much with military generals, and your father almost never interacts with military generals. You don't have to worry too much, you've been out for ten years, and you're definitely on the top of the rankings in terms of qualifications, but you're a little worse in terms of connections, but listening to what you said today, I think things may turn around. ”

"Father-in-law is talking about the second prince ......" Su Mu felt that it was unlikely, the second prince should not interfere in his career because An'er was kind to him, after all, it is taboo for the prince to make friends with ministers, let alone directly interfere in the distribution of official positions.

"No, I'm talking about the Emperor." Master Mei said.

"Emperor? I also ask my father-in-law for advice. Su Mu simply put down the chess pieces in his hand and prepared to listen.

"First of all, your qualifications are sufficient, this is the foundation, and then you have accumulated a lot of military merits in the past few years in the foreign garrison, especially the temptation in Nanyuan five years ago, you fought back beautifully, although the big head is on the side of the second prince, but you and the town envoy Yumin are also indispensable, and you also supervised the construction of the defense of Huailing after that, since the emperor summoned you back, it must have a plan. Coupled with the matter of Jin'an, she not only helped the second prince, but also helped the emperor, if you know that the second prince is the emperor's son, Concubine Rong is the emperor's concubine, and the emperor will remember you if you don't need the second prince to do anything, so you don't need to do anything these days, the more low-key the better, and your position should be able to be settled when the sixth day of the first lunar month begins. ”

"Thank you father-in-law for mentioning it, my son-in-law understands." Listening to Master Mei's words, Su Mumao suddenly opened, and he hurriedly went down to the ground and saluted Master Mei.

"Get up, you don't have to be so polite, it's all a family, you can be good Ru'er, and my grandchildren can be good." Master Mei smiled and asked Su Mu to get up.

"Father-in-law, don't worry, my wife has suffered a lot with me over the years, and now that I have returned to the capital, I will definitely make up for my wife." Su Mu felt a little guilty about Mei Ru.

"I know, you treated Ru'er very well, I can see that I didn't misjudge you back then."

Master Mei put the sunspots in his hand on the chessboard, ate a few of Su Mu's whites and said: "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this, let's finish this game of chess with me first, although your chess is still as stinky as before, but now there is no one else in the house to accompany me, make do with it." ”

"Yes, then please be merciful to my father-in-law."

"Hahaha, it's easy to say."

The study returned to its former quietness, and occasionally there was a laughing and scolding of Master Mei who disliked Su Mu's chess skills.

On the other side, Mrs. Mei was a little surprised when she heard her daughter talk about Su Jin'an last night: "Ru'er, An'er's medical skills are so sophisticated?" Can the second prince come overnight? ”

"Indeed, An'er likes medical books since she was a child, and her literacy started from medical classics, and in recent years, Qing'er's body has been conditioned by An'er, and we have a headache and brain fever with An'er's prescription is always better and faster. Moreover, An'er saved the second prince once by chance before, maybe because of this, the second prince believed in An'er more. Mei replied.

"I see, since there is the grace of salvation, then presumably the second prince should take care of An'er." Old Madam Mei was a little worried that Su Jin'an had no one to take care of her in the palace.

"The second prince took a fancy to Qing'er, and the husband said that it would be fine, I think it should be fine, but I can't always be down-to-earth in my heart." Although Mei was comforted by Su Mu and her sons, she was still a little uneasy.

"Ru'er! I ask you something, and you must tell me the truth. Old Madam Mei seemed to have suddenly thought of something, and asked Mei very solemnly.

"Mother, what's the matter, you say." Mei was thinking about her daughter in her heart, and was shocked by Mrs. Mei's question.

"You said that Jin'an saved the second prince, I remember that the second prince stayed with Annan for a long time, so ...... they" Old Madam Mei didn't continue, but her meaning was already obvious.

"No, you thought of it, Jin An was only nine years old when they first met, and she was still a child, and the second prince just regarded An'er as a little sister at most." Mei couldn't laugh or cry.

"Ru'er, you can't be careless about this, you think An'er is still young, but the second prince doesn't necessarily think so, men and women have different opinions. An'er has fourteen this year, and it will be in time for another year, and it will not be small, in case he falls in love with Jin'an, then we can't stop it. Mrs. Su said very seriously.

Mei was a little unsure of what Mrs. Su said, she hesitated: "Mother, it shouldn't be, I see that they are all very polite, and every time the second prince goes to Su Mansion, he basically goes to find Qing'er." Mei Shi seemed to convince herself again, she no longer hesitated and continued: "Take a step back and say, even if he really likes An'er, if An'er is willing, with the second prince's character, appearance, status, talent and knowledge, I, as a mother, have no position to oppose it." ”

"Silly boy, do you think that the second prince has taken a fancy to Jin'an, and she will be able to be the princess? I'm telling you, if this is true, then I can't agree to it. Old Madam Mei patted Mei Ru's hand and said.

"Why is that?" Mei was puzzled.

"There's something outsiders don't know, but your father once told me that I'm not sure, but I'm sure it's true." Old Madam Mei motioned for Mei to come over before whispering: "The second prince has a marriage contract. ”

"What!" Mei was very surprised, "This, how can it be?" I've never heard the wind, which lady is it? ”

"She is the daughter of Luo Zhihan, the general of Zhenguo, and the second lady of the Luo family, Luo Peining. There are indeed few people who know about this, and this matter was not made public at that time, and the reason why your father knew about it was because your father was the emperor's teacher, and the emperor asked him to testify. The Luo family made a contribution when the emperor ascended the throne, and then the emperor wanted to get rid of the maladministration, and the Luo family also supported it, and the second prince was born in the second year of the throne and the second lady of the Luo family who was born in the same year, and exchanged tokens, but for some reason neither the royal nor the Luo family kept silent about this matter. Old Madam Mei briefly told Mei about the matter, and then instructed: "You know this matter in your heart, don't spread it, otherwise I am afraid that you will be blamed by the royal family." ”

"Don't worry, mother, how can I spread it, but in this way, if the second prince falls in love with An'er, then wouldn't she want to be a side concubine, how different is this from the concubine?" Mei said with a frown.

"That's why I said I wouldn't agree, not to mention the intrigue in the royal family, we can't agree to this title alone, so you must pay attention to whether there is a relationship between men and women." Mrs. Mei reminded her daughter.

"Okay, when An'er comes back, I'll talk to her." Mei originally came to tell her mother about the situation last night and then comfort her mother, but she didn't expect to worry about what she said.

Looking at her daughter's worried face, Mrs. Mei was a little unbearable, and said in a somewhat relaxed tone: "I think An'er is a good child who knows books and etiquette, you teach her very well, not the kind of woman who loves vanity, so you don't have to worry too much, we are talking about the worst situation, maybe between them is like you said, the second prince only treats her as a little sister?" ”

"Ahh

Su Jinan glanced at Rong Chengan, and found that he was sitting on the side with his eyes closed, and he didn't know if he was asleep, Rong Chengjiao, who was closed his eyes, made Su Jinan look very pleasing to the eye, and she found that Rong Chengjiao was actually quite handsome, with three-dimensional facial features, slanted eyebrows and sideburns, a nose like a hanging gall, and perfect lips. It's just that when people first see him, they tend to be caught by his red eyes, thus ignoring his own appearance.

"Is it pretty?" Rong Chengjiao asked faintly with his eyes closed.

"Okay—huh?" Su Jin'an was about to answer, but the person who suddenly reacted and asked was Rong Chengjiao, and quickly opened the topic: "It turns out that the prince is awake, seeing that the prince's face seems to be a little haggard, I don't know how the poison was cleared the day before yesterday, do you need the little girl to give you a pulse?" ”

"What do you say 'good'?" Rong Chengjiao opened his eyes and looked at Su Jin'an, and he didn't mean to change the topic.

"Huh? Yes! Good...... It looks like it's almost there. Su Jinan rubbed her hands slightly embarrassed.

Rong Chengan didn't speak, his eyes kept looking at Su Jin'an, Su Jinan was a little uncomfortable staring, but he still pretended to be okay and looked at Rong Cheng'an. Rong Chengyan slowly raised his hand and stretched out to Su Jin'an, Su Jin'an watched his slender left hand get closer and closer to him, and just as Su Jin'an was about to step back, the hand stopped a little in front of the tip of her nose, Su Jin'an tilted his head and looked at him suspiciously.

"Aren't you going to take the pulse?" Su Jinan actually felt that she heard the banter in Cheng Cheng's cold tone, and she felt that she must have heard it wrong.

"Yes, yes, take the pulse." Saying that, Su Jinan put her hand on Rong Chengyan's pulse.

Su Jin'an's hands were cold, like ice cubes, as if her hand would take away his temperature as soon as she put it up, but Rong Chengyan didn't mind. Looking at Su Jin'an, who returned to normal as soon as he took a pulse, Rong Chengjiao felt that this woman was quite interesting, compared to the current serious appearance, he still felt that the expression like a little fool just now was suitable for her.

"The prince's body has improved, and he will be completely cured by soaking in the medicinal bath for a few days according to the prescription prescribed the day before yesterday, and there will be no sequelae." Su Jin'an let go of Rong Cheng'an's hand.

"Hmm." Rong Chengjiao withdrew his hand and said simply.

Su Jinan pinched the fingertips that were warmed by Rong Chengyan and said: I didn't expect this person to look cold, and his hands were quite warm.

After a strange silence, the coachman's voice came: "Lord Wang, it's here." ”

Su Jin'an thought that she was finally relieved, got up and saluted Rong Chengzhen and said, "Prince Lao sent it off, and the courtiers were grateful, so they took their leave." Then he turned and got out of the carriage.