After Wei Qi and the others went out of the house to see Granny Qing, Hu Jing took two guards into Monk Ran's house. Ran was reciting the scriptures, and after seeing Hu Jing enter the door, he quietly put down the scriptures and did not speak. Hu Jing gestured with his chin to the two guards, who exited the room and closed the door.

Hu Jing walked to the opposite side and sat down, took the teacup, poured a cup of tea, and put it in front of Hu Jing. Hu Jing stared at him and said, "According to the rules, I should call you a senior." ”

Ran said indifferently: "Don't dare to be, I have no impression of the master." ”

Hu Jing said: "That's natural, when you were the head of the Dormitory Security Department, I was just a head of the Supervision Department, the Five Princes Rebellion, the Inspection Department suffered heavy casualties, and the officials and seniors of the year were basically gone." ”

Ran said: "The inspection department guards the emperor, the emperor and the queen are martyred, and we, the chief officials, should have died a long time ago." ”

Hu Jingdao: "It's easy to die, like you to protect the prince and escape, and guard for nearly 20 years, worthy of the emperor, the queen, and worthy of the inspection department, I pay tribute to you." After speaking, he stood up and bowed to Ran Shen.

He didn't get up, folded his palms and saluted, and said, "The past is over, and my heart is at peace." It's just a duty, and I don't dare to be a compliment from the master. ”

Hu Jing sat down again and said: "The details of His Royal Highness Qi in the past ten years have been asked and recorded a few days ago, and today I want to ask my seniors again, is there anything missing?" ”

Ran said: "I have already said everything about His Highness. ”

Hu Jing said: "What about things other than His Highness?" ”

Ran raised his eyes to look at Hu Jing and asked, "Something other than His Highness?" Please make it clear. ”

Hu Jing said: "What do the predecessors know about the Five Princes Rebellion? ”

He said: "After so many years, the imperial court's investigation of the Five Princes Rebellion should be very detailed, I don't know what Hu Zhangsi still doesn't know?" ”

Hu Jingdao: "Most of the important personnel of the Inner Province, especially the Inspection Department, were martyred, and the predecessors were the head of the Guards Department back then, and during the siege of the Imperial City by the rebels, they should know some important things, right?" After speaking, a cold light flashed in those small eyes, and he stared at Ran tightly.

Knowing that he was calm, he met Hu Jing's gaze and said: "Our guard office and the Yulin Army guarded the walls of the imperial city together, and for a whole day and night, I was under the command of the former enemy, and I did not leave the front line. In the end, His Majesty Hongji summoned me back, and together with the empress, he ordered me to protect the prince and Guixiang from the palace secretly. I know the whole war, I don't know what Hu Zhangsi wants to know? ”

Hu Jing's face was still gloomy: "Seniors should know that our inspection department is a dog that watches the house for the emperor, and we only have the emperor in our hearts, and we will do anything for the emperor's safety." ”

He said: "Although I am already a monk, I have served in the Inspection Department, and I am still willing to do anything for the sake of the emperor and the prince." ”

Hu Jing's tone softened a little, but he still revealed a cold air: "The predecessors and the female official Guixiang have been hiding from His Royal Highness for nearly twenty years, which is not only the entrustment of Empress Huixian, but also really good to His Highness. ”

A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth and said, "I don't know what Hu Zhangsi is worried about." Originally, His Royal Highness could live the life of an ordinary person in peace and security according to Empress Huixian's wishes, but due to the will of God, His Royal Highness will return to the royal family after all, whether it is a blessing or a curse is not something that mortals like us can predict. But from this moment on, my mission has ended, and the prince of Qi has returned to the royal family, and he has the emperor's care, and the guard is also the duty of Hu Zhangsi. I should have followed His Majesty Hongzhi and Empress Huixian underground, please rest assured. ”

Hu Jing finally smiled and said: "The seniors are serious, all for the sake of the royal family and the good of the emperor." But why do the predecessors need to be like this, the emperor will reward the meritorious ministers. ”

He said calmly: "The rest of the people, how dare you expect anything else, for Prince Qi, I am already a useless person, I will give Hu Zhangsi an explanation." ”

Hu Jingdao: "The predecessors never thought about it, if you insist on going your own way, what will His Royal Highness think, what will the emperor think?" ”

He hesitated: "What does Hu Zhangsi mean?" ”

Hu Jing said: "My predecessors have been monks for many years, but because His Highness is not stable, he is still trying his best to protect him. Now that His Royal Highness has returned to the royal family, the seniors can also practice with complete confidence. ”

He nodded and said, "Hu Zhangsi is reasonable, for the sake of all of us to feel at ease, please ask Hu Zhangsi to arrange a place for me." ”

Hu Jing said: "Wutai Mountain is a royal temple, where the master can practice with confidence. ”

Ran clasped his hands together and said: "Good, good, thank you Hu." ”

Hu Jing said: "The master doesn't have to be polite. What did Your Highness say there? ”

He said: "I will explain my mind to His Highness, and I have nothing to do with others." ”

Hu Jing said: "In this way, His Royal Highness is good to everyone, then I will leave." ”

In the Shiyun Xingtai where the Qing family lived, everyone had already had lunch, and Granny Qing was still holding Wei Qi and Ye Qi's hands and sitting on the kang to talk. At this time, someone announced: "Xue Jiabi, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, please see." ”

Granny Qing said strangely: "He is a secretary of the Ministry of Rites, what did he do when he saw me, didn't you ask?" ”

The humane of the proclamation: "He said that the ancestor was a good order of the imperial court, and he heard that the prince of Qi was here, so he should visit him." ”

Wei Qidao: "Xue Jiabi is Xue Xiangyun's uncle, and he is also the master of Mao Xiang's brother-in-law, and I heard that the official reputation is also good. ”

Granny Qing said: "Then let's meet, let the three heads go out to greet them." The one who bowed and withdrew.

After a while, Xue Jiabi, who was dressed in official clothes, was introduced into the living room by Ye Qi's father, and Granny Qing and Wei Qi had already stood up. Xue Jiabi bowed to his mother-in-law and Wei Qishen and said, "Xue Jiabi, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, meet Mrs. Qing and meet Your Highness." ”

Please ask your mother-in-law to return the courtesy: "Being on the side of the guest, and being a homely person talking, there is no official service to greet you, Xue Shangshu should not be surprised." Please sit down and serve tea. ”

Xue Jiabi sat down and said: "I shouldn't have bothered when I learned that His Highness was seeing my grandmother today, but I had to tell His Highness and Mrs. Qing that I had to take the liberty of it." ”

Granny Qing said: "Xue Shangshu has an excellent official reputation, and my granddaughter is taken care of by the Xue family brothers and sisters in Xiangyang, so I take this opportunity to thank you." ”

Xue Jiabi said: "My nephew told me that he would have contacts with the Qing family in Hexi, and he was also an old acquaintance and good friend, so please don't be polite to Mrs. ”

Granny Qing said: "Xue Shangshu has something to say, I don't know if it's for the old body or my grandson?" ”

Xue Jiabi said: "We all have to tell together." ”

Granny Qing said, "Please speak." ”

Xue Jiabi said: "We have to get up and go back to the capital as soon as possible." ”

Granny Qing said with a cold face: "I haven't seen my grandson for nearly twenty years, can't I talk more?" I'm going to take him back to Shu County to live for a while. ”

Xue Jiabi said: "Don't misunderstand, Mrs. Qing, the lower officials are not preventing you from talking to His Royal Highness. His Royal Highness has been living in the people for nearly 20 years and has suffered hardships, and now that he is fortunate to meet again, he will naturally have endless words. But Xia Guan had some heartfelt words, hoping that His Royal Highness and Mrs. Qing would listen to one or two. ”

Wei Qidao: "Lord Xue, please speak." ”

Xue Jiabi said: "In recent years, I have been worried about internal and external troubles, not to mention, the most urgent thing is the stability of the country. The emperor is old, the heir is gone, and in the past five years, the people in the court have been unstable, the court situation has been turbulent, and people with ulterior motives have secretly manipulated it. The emperor has been looking forward to His Royal Highness in recent years, and this time, according to His Royal Highness's requirements, he quickly sent me to Xi'an to clarify His Royal Highness's identity. Now His Royal Highness is responsible for the fortune of the country, and he should put the world first, return to the capital as soon as possible, and help the emperor stabilize the situation and reorganize the country. ”

Wei Qidao: "It's not bad for these days, right?" ”

Xue Jiabi said: "Your Royal Highness, a few days ago, a courtier wrote a letter to recommend Wei Zong, the son of the king of Jinling, as the crown prince, and now there is a nursery rhyme in the capital, saying that the king of Jinling, the king of kings, will be the king sooner or later." ”

Wei Qi asked attentively, "How did Your Majesty deal with it?" ”

Xue Jiabi said: "The government hall has ordered that it is forbidden to write on the matter of the national prince. ”

Wei Qi said thoughtfully: "I have been in the people for many years, and I am no stranger to state affairs and the court situation, and this time I returned to the clan, I only hope to be able to do my filial piety in front of the emperor's uncle, and I have no other thoughts." ”

Xue Jiabi said: "Your Royal Highness has this filial piety, which is enough to comfort the emperor and make all the people admire." The minister only hoped that His Royal Highness would order him to return to the capital as soon as possible. ”

Wei Qi said: "Lord Xue's golden jade good words, Qi has been taught. Please go back and prepare first, and tomorrow we will leave for Beijing. ”

Xue Jiabi walked excitedly to the middle of the living room, knelt down and kowtowed to Wei Qi respectfully, and said, "His Royal Highness has ordered." Then he got up and said goodbye to Granny Qing, and hurriedly went out.

After Granny Qing waited for Xue Jiabi to leave, she asked Wei Qidao: "You have thought about it, I don't know if you can turn back after this trip." ”

Wei Qi said firmly: "Grandma, I have decided. Although my mother wants me to live my life in peace, but today's state affairs, as well as the blood shed on my body, do not allow me to do this, if I only want to be stable myself, I am even more sorry for my martyred parents. ”

Granny Qing said: "What Xue Jiabi said just now, you also heard it, you are not the only one with the surname Wei, the King of Jinling is your father's younger brother, he has been a prince for decades, he is powerful and powerful, you are alone, empty-handed, this is extremely dangerous." ”

Wei Qidao: "Do my best to obey the mandate of heaven, I am not for the throne, for the foundation of the three generations of Dasui, for the people of the world, I am worthy of my heart." ”

Granny Qing took Wei Qi's hand, couldn't help but reach out and stroke his face again, and said, "You really look like your father." ”

Wei Qidao: "Grandma, tell me about the emperor's uncle." ”

Granny Qing thought for a while and said, "Your uncle is more than ten years older than your father, and his biological mother is a palace maid who died of illness shortly after he was born. Your grandmother is the queen and has personally raised him since he was a child and has been very good to him. He is also a person who knows how to repay kindness, and he has taken great care of your father since he was a child, and after your father succeeded to the throne, he was also loyal. He was a military commander who fought in battle as a young man, helping your father pacify the four northern counties and defeat the Tatars and Uighurs. Before the Wugong Rebellion, your father ordered him to lead his army north to defend against the Tatar invasion, and after the rebellion, he personally rushed back to the capital with elite soldiers, but unfortunately he was one step late. Afterwards, he wiped out all the clans involved in the rebellion, and he avenged your parents. ”

Wei Qidao: "What about politics? ”

Granny Qing said: "Your father's reform during the Hongzhi period, he did not change much, but the policy of the family has been restored, and the privileges of shadow raiding and taxation are still retained. In addition, he is more severe than your father, for example, the inspection department began to supervise the outside world in the hands of your father, and the scope is only in the capital. ”

Wei Qi asked tentatively again, "How many sons does my uncle have?" ”

Granny Qing sighed and lowered her voice: "His three sons all died of illness inexplicably after they became adults, and it is said that after careful investigation, there is indeed no conspiracy means. This hit your uncle hard, and since then, his health has been getting worse and worse. ”

Wei Qi asked: "Then before I appeared, didn't my uncle consider the sons of King Jinling?" ”

Granny Qing said: "I don't know about this, it is said that your uncle is also very good to this younger brother." So even if you go to the capital, you don't know whose position the crown prince is? ”

Wei Qi smiled: "If that's the case, I'll try to return to Shu County." ”

Granny Qing shook her head with a wry smile and said, "Good grandson, don't be gullible, like your father, think that others are as kind as you. ”

Wei Qidao: "Don't worry, grandma, I have been living carefully with Aunt Gui all these years, and I know the truth that the heart of defense is indispensable." ”

Granny Qing suddenly asked, "Where are the seven girls?" Why didn't you come back for so long. ”

The old woman serving next to her said: "Xiaohong came to say just now, the seventh girl is not feeling well, so she won't come." ”

Granny Qing complained: "This girl, she must have heard that you are leaving tomorrow, and she is not happy." ”

Wei Qi said: "I'll go see my sister." ”

Granny Qing said: "It's okay, you can talk again, and we will have dinner together." Once you're done eating, it's time to go back. ”

Wei Qi came to Ye Qi's residence, the door was closed, Xiaohong stood outside the door, seeing that Wei Qi was just about to speak, Wei Qi made a gesture, Xiaohong pursed her lips and smiled, turned to leave.

Wei Qi came to the door, tapped a few times and said, "Seventh sister, are you feeling better?" There was no sound inside the door, and he reached out and pushed it, and the bolt closed.

Wei Qiyang begged: "Good sister, you open the door, and I will say a few words to you." There was still no movement inside the door.

Wei Qi whispered: "Good sister, I know that you are very worried when I go to the capital, but you know my distress best, and I also understand your thoughts." If I evade my responsibility, I will not only be sorry for my parents who were killed, but I will also feel sorry for you for taking the risk to save me, and I will feel that I am not worthy of you. I really want to be with you, to be with my grandmother and uncle, or just the two of us, just like in Luchuan, carefree and living a fairy-like life. But now that I know a lot of things, I feel that my father and mother are watching me from heaven, and if I don't do those things, they will still be burning in a fire, and my heart will be very painful, and I will not be at peace for the rest of my life. ”

The door suddenly opened, Ye Qi stood inside the door with tears on his face and said, "You don't have to tell me this, you know my mind clearly, you should know that I also know your heart." I'm just worried about grandma, for more than ten years, for the death of my aunt and uncle, grandma has been blaming herself, blaming herself for forcing my uncle to swear a poisonous oath in the Tianshen Temple. Now grandma's health is getting worse and worse, this time for you, regardless of everyone's persuasion, I have to come and pick you up in person. Now that you're going to the capital, how can grandma stand it. ”

Wei Qi was dumbfounded and slowly lowered his head.

Ye Qi continued: "In the Qing family, grandma hurts me the most, she hopes that I can take her place, just like Aunt Hope back then, if I don't go back to the Qing family, what will grandma do!" ”

Wei Qi raised his head and said, "Seventh sister, I understand." You have to go back to Shu County, my mother disappointed my grandmother, you must not be like this again. Later, I will come and tell my grandmother, you wash your face first, let's go to dinner together, don't let grandma see it and worry the elderly. ”

Ye Qi nodded, turned around and went into the house to clean up, Wei Qi stood outside the door, looking down and thinking about it. After a while, Ye Qi dressed up and went out, washed away his tears, and lightly wiped some rouge, his eyes flowed, and he was delicate. Wei Qi looked at her stunned, Ye Qi patted him angrily and said, "Idiot, let's go." ”

When the two came to the guest hall, the banquet had been set up, and Granny Qing saw the two walking side by side, her eyes narrowed into a slit with a smile. Coupled with Ye Qi's father, the four of them sat down at the banquet, and Granny Qing said: "Tomorrow my grandson will go to the capital, and today will be practiced for you." ”

Wei Qidao: "My grandson is not filial, and I will leave as soon as we meet, please forgive my grandmother and uncle." ”

Granny Qing said: "Don't say that, I didn't see you before, I thought that you had been lonely for 20 years, I don't know what it would become, but now that I see you, my grandmother is relieved." A good man is ambitious in all directions, there is no reason to stay at home and revolve around his daughter-in-law, and his grandmother is not a person who can't let go, but now there are few reliable people around you, I want Xiaoxi to follow you, he was specially picked by me, I dare not say anything else, it is absolutely no problem to be loyal to you. ”

Xiao Xi next to him immediately knelt down and said to Wei Qi: "Xiao Xi is willing to follow the young master and be loyal for the rest of his life." ”

Xiaohong pouted and said, "I want to call Your Highness." ”

Xiao Xi immediately changed his words and said, "Yes, Your Highness, Young Master." The crowd laughed.

Wei Qi pulled up Xiaoxi, and then said to Granny Qing: "Grandma, Aunt Gui has suffered for half her life, you can take her back to Shu County and live a stable life for a few days." ”

Guixiang was shocked, knelt down and cried: "Young master, you can't say that, Miss asked me to guard you, I will die by your side." ”

Wei Qi hurriedly helped Aunt Gui up and said, "Aunt Gui, I didn't drive you away, I wanted you to go to the Qing family to enjoy happiness." ”。

Aunt Gui didn't get up and said, "As long as I am by the young master's side, it will be my blessing, please young master, don't drive me away." ”

Wei Qi sighed and said, "Okay, okay, Aunt Gui, get up, let's go to the capital together." Only then did Aunt Gui wipe her tears and stand up.