"Ha ha ha … …" Zhu Houzhao held the report in his hand and laughed loudly.
"Shh, be a bit gentler, you've woken Daren up." Tang Yixian turned around and rolled her eyes at him, feeling a bit unhappy.
"Oh? Oh, oh! " Emperor Zhengde's smile disappeared in a flash, he tiptoed over. As soon as he saw the little baby lying in the rocking chair, with a pair of tender little hands holding his head, still sleeping very sweetly, he couldn't help but nod his head in satisfaction and said, "Mmm, mmm, it's better to let go of his hands. Zhen saw Younger Sister tying Daren's hands while sleeping, I felt uncomfortable all over. Look at how good this is, Daren is giving zhen face. Hehe, zhen is laughing like this and yet he doesn't wake up. "
"That's right, what are you so happy about? Didn't you say that the chaos in Shandong's Qingzhou has already been quelled? " Tang Yixian used her finger to play with the small hand of the Yang Family's Little Marquis. Although he was asleep, the little fellow still very naturally held onto her finger.
Tang Yixian was held tightly by him and didn't dare to move. She asked without turning her head.
"Not yet, Minister Yang isn't here so zhen handed this matter over to Liu Jin. Other than Minister Yang, only he can make zhen feel at ease!"
"Your Majesty, you are the ruler of the world, you should take care of everything yourself."
"Yixian, zhen feels that what Minister Yang said is right. It is precisely because I am the ruler of the world that zhen cannot do everything personally. Otherwise zhen will die of exhaustion and the world will not be able to be governed properly. The people will not appreciate it. Zhen needs to be able to recognize people and use them to be able to be a wise ruler.
Look at zhen handing over foreign affairs to Minister Yang. From the north to the south, we swept through the eight wastelands. Zhen has only succeeded the throne for a year, how many emperors can compare to this kind of outstanding martial arts? The internal affairs are decided by Liu Jin and he is also doing a very good job. These days of continuous wars, the national treasury is empty and the Ministry of Revenue can only complain about being poor. Only Liu Jin can share zhen's worries and think of many ingenious strategies to solve the big problems. With this kind of right hand man, zhen can relax a bit. "
Tang YiXian wanted to say something but hesitated and muttered, "You are just too playful. I asked you to sit in the imperial court and manage government affairs, but you can't do it, and still find so many excuses!"
Tang YiXian had also occasionally heard of Liu Jin's lawlessness. It was not that she did not want to admonish him, but regardless of whether the official was loyal or treacherous, it had always been a taboo for a woman to interfere in politics. Moreover, Yang Ling and Liu Jin's circumstances and power were similar. No matter if she spoke bluntly or tactfully admonished him, asking Zhengde to restrict and distribute power to Liu Jin would most likely insinuate the awkwardness of Yang Ling. Tang YiXian could only keep it in her heart.
Zhengde leaned over with a drooling face and held her other hand, "If you had agreed to marry me earlier, wouldn't I have changed my mind? Every day, I wake up early and go to court. After I finish my work, I come back to accompany you. We play the zither and flute together, recite poems and paint. We work hard to be a little baby together … "
Tang YiXian's heart was originally filled with sweetness but when she heard the last sentence, she could not help but blush. She withdrew her hand and lightly hit his arm.
There was a moment of silence in the room. Tang YiXian gently stroked the little fellow's face. Under Zhengde's gaze, her heart became more and more flustered. Her eyes moved and saw the memorial in Zhengde's hand. She quickly changed the topic, "You haven't said it yet. What is it that makes you so happy?"
"Oh! It's the matter of Sichuan Xuzhou. The rebellion has been quelled! It seems that zhen has to offer sacrifices to the ancestors again. The heads of the three bandits have already been sent to the capital. Ming Destiny's great achievement that the late Emperor could not accomplish has now been accomplished by zhen's hands. Don't you think zhen is happy? "
"Oh? Then Mr Yang should be back in the capital by now right? " Tang YiXian suddenly raised her voice and said in surprise. Then she quickly shook her head, "Good baby, continue to sleep. Auntie is not calling you, auntie is calling your father …"
When she said this, she laughed and rolled her eyes at Zhengde. She said angrily, "What kind of name did you give me? I still feel awkward."
"What's there to be awkward about?" Zhengde proudly stood up and said, "My godson is one level higher than the officials. With this name, no matter if he is a King or Marquis, anyone who sees him has to call him Daren. And they have to call him willingly. Hehe, isn't that right, Daren?"
The child had already woken up. His clear eyes were wide open and he was enjoying Tang YiXian's gentle touch. Zhengde approached with a mischievous smile. The child suddenly burst into tears.
"Wa wa wa, this is terrible. Quickly go find his mother. Zhen will coax him first. Quick, quick, quick!" When Zhengde saw this, he hurriedly said.
Tang YiXian was amused and annoyed at the same time. She quickly got up and ran outside.
Zhengde was currently learning how to wrap diapers. Carrying a child was not a problem. He carefully carried the child in his arms and gently shook him as he begged, "Mr Yang is good. Mr Yang is the best. Give zhen face and don't cry, okay?"
Lord Yang didn't give him any face at all. He cried even louder.
Tang YiXian ran out of the courtyard and happened to see Gao Wenxin passing by. Seeing her in a hurry, Gao Wenxin smiled and asked, "Yixian, why are you in such a hurry?"
Tang YiXian laughed and said, "I'm going to find sister Young-niang. Daren is awake and crying. He probably wants to drink milk."
"Oh …"
"Ah! That's right. Sichuan has a great victory. Mr Yang should be returning to the capital soon. "Tang YiXian said as she ran. She hurriedly reported the good news and disappeared after turning a corner.
Gao Wenxin was knocked down by this news. She was so happy that her legs were shaking.
"He's coming back?" Gao Wenxin had been counting the days. The closer it was to October, the more anxious she felt. After not seeing him for a few months, her dreams were filled with his figure. He hugged her waist tightly on the small boat. Under the cover of the lotus flowers, that intoxicating kiss.
Especially when she saw her young mother holding the little life that she had personally delivered, with a face full of happiness as a mother, she felt her heart ache. She hadn't even enjoyed the happiness of being a wife, a mother, and being loved by someone. That heartless Official Yang had cruelly left behind a sentence and ran to the south. He hadn't even brought her a word for a few months. She heard that not only did he bring Dai Lou Er with him every day in the south, he even wanted a beauty from Frang Ji Country.
Sigh! I can't learn Sister Qiyun's charm, but can I not compare to a foreign woman? It's not like I haven't seen Westerners. Nana and Liuliu often come to my house. Westerners … have high noses and deep eyes, and they are green. It's okay to look at them, but if they sleep on the pillow and open their eyes in the middle of the night, won't they be scared to death?
Gao Wenxin was thinking sourly when she heard Emperor Zhengde's wail not far away, "Someone come quickly, Mr Yang peed all over me again!"
※ ※ ※
Yang Ling was also homesick. He missed his beloved wife and beautiful concubines, as well as a pair of children.
The trip to Sichuan was more daunting than dangerous. The secret of the gold brick had been discovered, and the rebellion had nothing to do with the King of Shu's faction. Therefore, there was no danger for him in Sichuan. He could set off for the capital in two days …
Yang Ling was full of joy as he thought. He slowly walked into the Qingyang Palace accompanied by the Zhu brothers.
It was not until he was near the Fighting Grandmother Palace that Yang Ling, who was at ease, suddenly thought of the figures in the bamboo forest in the Bamboo Gazing Stream, as well as the assassin who was discovered outside the Tranquil Pavilion of the Qingyang Palace. A shadow quietly shrouded his heart. If the King of Shu has no intention of rebelling, then who is plotting against me? From the moment I entered the Shu territory, he has been targeting me. Who is that person? After suppressing the bandits in Xuzhou for so long, that person has not revealed his whereabouts. Has he already given up?
Yang Ling thought about this mysterious person that he had been looking forward to for a long time. He turned to the third stage in the backyard with the Zhu brothers. The news of the victory in Xuzhou and the safety of the Crown Prince had been reported to the King of Shu. However, due to the winding route of the army, it was difficult to determine the itinerary. It was only said that they would return to Chengdu in a few days, but there was no specific date. Therefore, when the three of them walked to the Father's Reincarnation Stage, they were discovered by Yang Ling's bodyguards.
As soon as they saw Yang Ling appear, the two bodyguards with sabers exclaimed in surprise, "Your Excellency is back!" As they spoke, they rushed forward and kowtowed. Yang Ling was also very excited to see his own bodyguards. He hurriedly went forward to help the two up.
At that moment, the other guards also noticed Yang Ling, and they all ran over excitedly. From afar, they could hear Liu Bangchui's loud roar, "Really? How dare you lie to me. See if Father will beat you to death! "
As he spoke, his tall figure appeared on the steps. As soon as he saw Yang Ling, he immediately let go of the bodyguard's collar in his right hand and ran forward with a big smile. He said joyfully, "Your Excellency is indeed back. Your humble servant greets Your Excellency."
Just now, they were all ordinary soldiers. Now that the leader of the bodyguards had come over, he also had a condescending expression. He only cared about greeting him and completely ignored the two princes beside him. Yang Ling felt slightly embarrassed. He had not seen the Crown Prince Zhu Rangxu before, but he had seen Zhu Rangjin before. Why did none of them know how to behave?
The two princes had good tempers and no one was angry. They only smiled and watched from the side as they revealed their true feelings. With a smile on his face, Yang Ling turned around. Just as he was about to call the two princes in, Zhu Rangjin's expression suddenly changed. Like a whirlwind, his body rose up from the ground. One of the bodyguards' waist was empty and his saber had been snatched away by Zhu Rangjin.
This movement was very fast. Fortunately, Yang Ling had practiced swordsmanship for many days and his eyesight was very sharp. He was actually able to clearly see each of Zhu Rangjin's movements. He saw Zhu Rangjin become one with his saber and shot straight towards a bush. He shouted, "Come out!"
When the saber touched the branches and leaves, Zhu Rangjin suddenly spun on the ground. With a 'boom' sound, the branches and leaves of a shrub were chopped into the air by his saber. The green branches and green leaves fluttered in the air. The narrow saber pierced straight through the broken branches and leaves, barely touching the tip of the nose of a man who was dumbstruck with fear before it stopped abruptly. The saber's wind caused the man's hair to fly up.
"Such vigorous skills, such a sharp murderous aura. This saber technique … tsk tsk tsk, I don't know if Wu Hanchao can withstand it!" Yang Ling exclaimed in his heart. He shamelessly shifted Zhu Rangjin's imaginary enemy to Wu Hanchao.
The branches and leaves fell from the sky. At this time, the person's appearance could be clearly seen. Zhu Rangjin was shocked and cried out, "It's you?"
Zhu Rangjin was also stunned and asked in surprise, "Xiang 'er, what are you hiding here for?"
Only then did Yang Ling retract his gaze from the tip of his blade. He looked toward the shrub and saw a petite lady, wearing a lake-green, narrow-sleeved blouse with a pointed collar. Her blouse was buttoned with a small golden button at her chest, revealing a pair of soft breasts that looked like they were about to go through puberty, as though they could be grasped easily.
She was wearing an emerald green dress. A belt of the same color was tightly wrapped around her narrow but fleshy waist, revealing a very attractive and slender curve. Because she was so scared that she was sitting on the ground, and the bush in front of her had been cut clean by the 'Zhu Rangjin Brand Lawn Mower', he could vaguely see the light yellow silk dress and white satin boots under the dress.
"This girl should only be thirteen or fourteen years old." Yang Ling made this judgment from the curves of her young shoulders and waist. For an older girl, no matter how slender she was, the formation of subcutaneous fat made her shoulders and waist less fleshy. There was always a considerable difference between her and a real girl.
The girl's face was very pale, and her lips were also white. A drop of sweat slowly dripped down from the tip of her straight and delicate nose, and dripped onto the tip of the saber. Her eyes were fixed on the tip of the saber, and her eyes had already become cross-eyed.
"If this cross-eyed girl's face was not as frightened as a ghost, she must be a great little beauty." Yang Ling made another judgment. Then he saw the girl's eyes roll back and her eyeballs also turned white … …
* * *
The little princess fainted before they even saw the weak and fainting King of Shu. Fortunately, Zhu Rangjin reacted quickly. When he saw his little sister's pale face and her body falling backward, he quickly stepped forward to support her. He quickly dropped the saber and carried her out of the bush.
Zhu Rangxu was relieved when he saw that his little sister was not injured. However, he still grumbled, "You are too rash. There are many guards from Mr Yang here. How could there be an assassin here? Although Xiang 'er was not hurt, she must have been frightened."
Zhu Rangjin's forehead was also sweating. He did not dare to talk back to his brother. He hurriedly checked Zhu Xiang 'er's pulse and then pressed twice on her body without any worries.
Zhu Xiang 'er slowly woke up. When she saw her eldest and second brothers, she burst into tears. Then, she began to sob and tell how Liu Bangchao and his soldiers had tortured her. They did not allow her to take a step out of the backyard of Qingyang Palace and treated her like a prisoner …
From her repeated failed escapes, it seemed that today was another "prison break" by the princess, Zhu Xiang 'er, but … she had failed again.
If it was Yang Ling who had just set off for Xuzhou, he would not have cared about what she said. He had instructed Liu Bangchao to tightly control Qingyang Palace. On the surface, he had made it sound like he was afraid that someone would assassinate the King and that the news would affect the King's condition. In fact, his original intention was to put them under house arrest. The reason was already far-fetched, but for his own safety, he could not care less. Now that he knew that the King of Shu had no intention of rebelling, Yang Ling did not know whether to laugh or cry when he heard the victim complain about her grievances.
Zhu Xiang 'er's tearful complaints made the Zhu brothers' faces turn red. Zhu Rangxu did not know the original intention of Yang Ling's visit to Sichuan. He only felt that the mess in Sichuan had been cleaned up by the Imperial Envoy. His life could also be said to have been indirectly saved by Yang Ling. Perhaps Yang Ling's actions were a little overboard. Although it was ingenious, it was also out of good intentions. The King of Shu was a benefactor to his family. His little sister's rebuke to his face made the King of Shu's family seem unkind.
Zhu Rangjin was smarter than others. Especially in the Great King's Hall, when he saw the strange expression on Yang Ling's face when he saw the gold bricks, he had already guessed Yang Ling's intentions. He knew that Yang Ling must have heard the news of someone buying gold bricks privately. That was why he had come to investigate. His original intention was to help his father. In that case, it was not surprising that he had taken the opportunity to put his father under house arrest.
Now that the misunderstanding had been resolved, everyone could only feign ignorance. However, once his little sister opened her mouth, she could not stop chattering. He did not even have a chance to interrupt and could only let her speak.
Zhu Xiang 'er finally finished venting her frustrations. Only then did she see an irritating fellow squeezed together with her big brother and second brother. He was smiling as he listened to her complaints. She could not help but stare at him and asked, "Who are you?"
Yang Ling smiled and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Princess. I am the Imperial Envoy Yang Ling, who deserves to die a thousand deaths, whom the Princess spoke of."
Zhu Xiang 'er's little mouth opened so wide that an egg could be stuffed in. She was stunned for a moment before she struggled out of her second brother's embrace. She gave a heavy snort and walked towards Jingxin pavilion without looking back.
Inside Jingxin pavilion, the King of Shu, Zhu Binhan's complexion was very good. There was a rare flush on his face. He draped a robe over his shoulders and sat on a chair. He smiled at Yang Ling and said, "Thanks to the Imperial Envoy, you managed to resolve the great turmoil in Ba and Shu."
He sighed softly. "These two days, the chieftains from all over Ba and Shu have sent letters of congratulations. Their attitudes are respectful and cautious. They are very different from their arrogant and domineering manner in the past. It seems that there is something wrong with my strategy to govern Shu.
This time, the Imperial Envoy has done a great service to Ba and Shu by completely quelling the disaster of the Barbarians. You have done me a great favor by saving my son Rangxu. Mr Yang, I should really thank you properly. "
"Not at all. Your Highness is too courteous. In order to issue an order so that it would be easier to command the army in battle, and also to prevent Your Highness from being harassed, this lowly official's guards have caused Your Highness and your family a lot of inconvenience. Please forgive us, Your Highness. "
He realized that the King of Shu was indeed strict in governing his household. Ever since the two sons of the King entered the household, they were like completely different people. When the King of Shu spoke to him, the two brothers did not say a word. They sat there quietly and respectfully, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Not to mention the brothers Zhu Rangxu and Zhu Rangjin, even the unruly little princess was quite good at acting. At this moment, her sitting posture was very elegant. Her chest was straight and her back was straight. She was very meticulous. Her tightly closed legs were slightly tilted to the side. Her slender hands were placed flat on her knees. She was obedient and quiet. She was definitely a cultured little lady.
Crown Prince Zhu Rangxu looked mature and serious. However, after interacting with him privately, Yang Ling realized that he was not a stiff and dull bookworm. There was a hint of mischief in him. Looking at Zhu Rangjin and Zhu Xiang 'er's well-behaved behavior in front of the King of Shu, Yang Ling could not help but snicker. "There are policies and countermeasures. These three treasures of the King of Shu's household are quite good at acting. I'm afraid the King of Shu would never imagine that these two sons and daughter are so different from how they are in front of him."
The King of Shu chuckled and said, "The weather is getting colder. I have been recuperating and my illness has improved. I intend to move back to the King's Residence in the next few days. At that time, I will hold a banquet to celebrate Your Highness' success. At the same time, I would like to thank Your Highness on behalf of my son. Please be sure to attend the banquet."
Yang Ling was slightly taken aback. After thinking for a while, he said, "This … since Your Highness has invited me, I will definitely attend. Hehe, to be honest, Your Highness, I have been away from the capital for a long time and I am very worried. Moreover, it is already the tenth month. Although the weather here is still pleasant, the north is gradually getting colder. I had intended to present Your Highness with the policy to appease the barbarians for Your Highness's consideration. I will return to the capital today. "
"Policy to appease the barbarians?" The King of Shu asked curiously.
"Yes. Although it is difficult to pacify the barbarians by force, it is even more difficult to pacify the unruly hearts of the barbarians. I have been discussing with the local officials in Xuzhou and have come up with a few post-war policies to appease the barbarians. The main policy is to build the city walls, station the troops, eliminate the key points, raise the militia, pave the roads, establish a school, sympathize with the people in need, reduce taxes, relocate the people and expand commerce. There are a total of ten policies. The imperial court has now appointed an Inspector in Xuzhou. However, these policies still require the support of the King of Shu before they can be successfully implemented."
The King of Shu softly recited a few policies before shaking his head. With a faint smile, he said, "This matter … you can discuss it with Rangjin during the banquet. My illness is difficult to recover from. I am afraid I will not be able to worry about these matters in the future." As he spoke, his tone was somewhat desolate.
Yang Ling replied with a smile, "Yes, your humble servant obeys. Your Highness only needs to focus on recuperating."
As soon as he finished speaking, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. Although the King of Shu often delegated tasks to the Crown Prince, it was mainly when it was inconvenient for him to go out and patrol. However, it was usually necessary for the King of Shu to be present. Now that he was in front of him and the discussion was about the situation in Bashu that the King of Shu was most concerned about, how could the King of Shu just wash his hands of this matter and directly ask him to look for the Crown Prince?
Yang Ling seemed to have understood something. He quietly shifted his gaze towards the Zhu brothers. The two brothers were still sitting respectfully and did not speak a word. However, their expressions were different. It was obvious that they had understood the underlying meaning of the King of Shu's words.
Zhu Rangxu's face was slightly red and he seemed to be somewhat agitated. However, he did not dare to speak. He pursed his lips and lowered his gaze. Zhu Rangjin, however, stole a glance at his elder brother before looking away again.
"The King of Shu wants to abdicate the throne!" This thought leaped into Yang Ling's mind. It seemed that the King of Shu knew that it was difficult for him to recover from his illness. In addition, after the recent extermination of the Barbarian rebellion, he had also reflected on the various shortcomings in his administration. He had decided to abdicate as the Crown Prince.
It was no wonder that the King of Shu, a dignified King of Shu, wanted to hold a celebration for him at the Banquet of Wang Da Pai. The celebration was along the way. Perhaps his true motive was to announce the abdication of the throne to the civil and military officials of Shu.
This matter was, of course, not difficult. The Crown Prince was originally the legal successor. Now that the King of Shu was unable to recover from his illness and wanted to abdicate the throne in advance, all he had to do was announce it and request an edict from the Emperor. Then, the Crown Prince would officially ascend the throne. However, he did not know how this Crown Prince, Zhu Rangxu, would compare to his father and Zhu Rangjin …
Yang Ling quickly digested the hint from the King of Shu. Suddenly, he felt a pair of eyes staring at him. He blinked and saw that it was Zhu Xiang 'er. The little girl bit her pink cherry lips, her small chest rising and falling slightly. A pair of big black and white eyes flashed. She was looking at him.
When she saw Yang Ling looking at her, Zhu Xiang 'er immediately twitched her mouth imperceptibly. Her chin moved slightly to the side. Although it was inconvenient for her to make too much movement in front of her father, the disdain on her face was clearly expressed through the rich expression on her face.
Yang Ling could not help but smile. "Hmm, I haven't even planted my chili seeds and a little Sichuan chili has already grown here …"
* * *
When Yang Ling returned to Chengdu, he was even busier than when he was in Xuzhou. For two consecutive days, officials from all over the country came to welcome him and held banquets to entertain him. On the third day, Yang Ling could not endure the continuous days of wine and meat. He said that he was not feeling well and stayed at the Temporary Residence to rest.
In the morning, he practiced his Qi for a while and practiced swordplay with Wu Hanchao. Yang Ling remembered the amazing swordplay that Zhu Rangjin had displayed the other day and mentioned it to Wu Hanchao. Wu Hanchao was a martial artist by nature and paid special attention to people of the same profession. He carefully asked Zhu Rangjin about the process of fighting.
Yang Ling became excited as he spoke. He demonstrated the beautiful sweeping and stabbing movements in one breath and described the power of his swordplay. Wu Hanchao thought for a while and said, "Such an imposing and fierce swordplay does not seem like the martial arts of the Central Plains. There are also many swordsmen in the martial arts sects of Bashu.
Sichuan is the gateway to the Western Region. People from the Western Region often come and go. The Shu King's Mansion is rich and powerful. They also come into contact with many outstanding people from the Western Region. Second Prince's martial arts and swordplay are most likely learned from the swordsmen of the Western Region. "
Yang Ling smiled and said, "Then can you deal with him with your martial arts?"
Wu Hanchao smiled modestly and said, "There's always someone better than you out there. Hanchao doesn't dare to boast without fighting. But in the Western Region, the desert grasslands are vast and the sky is high. The swordplay there is also powerful and domineering, forming its own style. It is most suitable for fighting on the battlefield. It can sweep away a large area and is invincible. "
Yang Ling laughed and said, "Boy, you want to say that he is not as good as you. But you still have to beat around the bush. Second Prince's swordplay is suitable for killing enemies on the battlefield. Does that mean that in a one-on-one fight, he is inferior to you in terms of swordplay and martial arts?"
Wu Hanchao chuckled and said, "We each have our own strengths."
As the two were chatting and laughing, Liu Bangchao ran over. Yang Ling pointed at Big Bangchao and said, "But you are right. There is a difference between the level of martial arts and the level of fighting on the battlefield. Big Bangchao's martial arts are far inferior to yours. If the two of you fight, he can at most fight for five rounds. But if the two of you kill people on the battlefield at the same time, Big Bangchao will definitely kill more people than you after the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. "
Big Bangchao did not know what the two were talking about. But he had fought with Wu Hanchao before. Whether it was bare-handed or with a weapon, he was not a match for Wu Hanchao. So he was most convinced by Wu Hanchao. Now that he heard Marshal praise him for killing more people on the battlefield than Wu Hanchao, he could not help grinning foolishly.
Yang Ling asked, "What's the matter so early in the morning?"
Big Bangchao hurriedly said, "Oh, just now the doorman handed in an invitation, saying …"
Before he could finish, Yang Ling interrupted, "Just say that I am not feeling well and will not be seeing any guests today."
"Oh, hehe, I should have given her the cold shoulder. When Marshal was not in Chengdu, she was still bragging to me, saying that Marshal would kneel down and lick her toes. Now that Marshal is back, she is rushing to treat us to a meal …"
Yang Ling hurriedly stopped the mumbling Liu Big Stick and asked, "Who is it? Who is so bold as to ask me to lick his toes?! "
Liu Bangchao turned around and shouted, "It's that little princess. I won't let her go out …"
"Alright, alright. Just say that I am not feeling well and will not be seeing guests for the time being. Be more polite when you speak." A beautiful woman could be forgiven, and a beautiful woman's feet were not that annoying. As for a verbal loss … being at a disadvantage was taking advantage of him. Mr. Yang magnanimously decided not to pursue the matter.
But after he finished speaking, he suddenly thought, "Why did that little princess come looking for me? The King of Shu had just moved back to his residence yesterday. Even if he were to treat today, it would not be the princess' turn to do so. " Yang Ling hurriedly asked, "Did she come alone?"
"No, there is also the Second Prince. The siblings came together."
Yang Ling broke out in a sweat and hurriedly said, "Invite them into the living room to serve tea. I will go after changing my clothes."
Yang Ling changed his clothes and hurried to the living room. He saw the siblings sitting in the living room. Yang Ling glanced around and saw that Zhu Rangjin was calmly drinking tea, while the little princess, Zhu Xiang 'er, had her hands on her knees and was motionless.
Yang Ling had changed into a scholar's robe, tied his hair into a scholar's scarf, and wore a pair of black boots. He hurried into the living room, cupped his hands and smiled, "Greetings to the Second Prince and Your Highness. I am not feeling well and have failed to welcome you. Please forgive me, forgive me."
Zhu Rangjin put down the teacup, stood up and laughed, "Your Excellency is not feeling well, but your stomach? Hehe, don't worry. The two of us are not here to treat you to a sumptuous meal. "
Yang Ling also laughed and invited Zhu Rangjin to take a seat. He sat down on the chair opposite and said, "I heard that Your Highness has moved back to the residence yesterday. How is Your Highness?"
"Father is well. Thank you for your concern. Father has sent out invitations and will invite the Junwang and other members of the royal family as well as the civil and military officials of Chengdu to congratulate you on quelling the Barbarian rebellion and to celebrate your achievements. "
Zhu Rangjin said as he took out a gilded red invitation card from his sleeve and gently placed it on the table. Yang Ling hurriedly thanked him and accepted it. Zhu Rangjin smiled again, "When I arrived at the door, I heard that Your Excellency is not feeling well and will not see any guests today. I knew that Your Excellency is afraid of socializing.
Haha, it is rare that you can pretend to be sick and seek leisure. Why do you have to sit around in the residence? There are many historical sites in Chengdu. Why don't you and I travel hand in hand? Your Excellency has been holding your cup for the past two days. I guess you do not know that there are more teahouses in Chengdu than taverns? Touring ancient temples, climbing tall buildings and tasting fragrant tea. Isn't that enjoyable? "
Yang Ling had a good impression of Zhu Rangjin and was moved by her words. He smiled and asked, "Sure. Is it just you and me? I have not seen Brother Yang Shen for a long time. Is he in Chengdu? "
Zhu Rangjin replied, "Yang Shen has returned to the old residence to wait for Grand Secretary Yang's letter. I believe that once there is news, he will come to see Your Excellency. Today is a quiet and leisurely day. I did not invite many friends. Only my younger sister and I will accompany Your Excellency."
"Oh?" Yang Ling was a little surprised. This little chili pepper is here to be a tour guide? How could she be so kind? Could it be that it was the King of Shu's order that she could not refuse?
As Yang Ling thought of this, he quickly glanced at Zhu Xiang 'er. As expected, the little girl rolled her eyes.
The light from Zhu Xiang 'er's hand attracted Yang Ling's attention. He saw that Zhu Xiang' er's fair hand was tapping impatiently on her knee. The noble young ladies of Shu liked to paste flower caltrops on their foreheads. Zhu Xiang 'er had pasted a finely carved pure gold caltrop on her wrist. The pure gold caltrop emitted a brilliant light as the back of her palm rose and fell.
There was no direct sunlight in the guest hall, so the golden light was not dazzling. The soft and bright golden light reflected on her fair and tender palm. It was transparent and slightly red, as tempting as a fresh preserved apricot.
Zhu Rangjin noticed the secret confrontation between the two. She quickly turned around and secretly glared at Xiang 'er. Then she smiled and said, "Your younger sister heard that Your Excellency has a female Zongbing under your command. She has many military achievements and is known as a heroine. I admire her very much and came along. Since Your Excellency is in charge of Your Excellency's safety, why don't you join us on a tour of Chengdu? Your younger sister would like to befriend you. "
Yang Ling changed his mind. Wu Wending was now an official in Chengdu and Song Ai would marry him sooner or later. If she could befriend the King of Shu, it would be beneficial for her. Yang Ling quickly smiled and replied, "Alright. Please take a seat. I will be right back."
Yang Ling hurriedly returned to the rear residence. He asked Wu Hanchao, Da Bangchao and the rest to gather a team of bodyguards. They changed into civilian clothes and accompanied him on a tour of Chengdu. Yang Ling did not forget that the whereabouts of the elusive assassin was still unknown. Although he had been away from Chengdu for more than a month, and logically speaking, no assassin would wait quietly in one place for so long. But without understanding the other party's purpose, it was difficult to determine the other party's actions. Therefore, Yang Ling still put on his soft armor and equipped his sleeve dart before coming out.
For the convenience of traveling, Song Ai also changed into a Han woman's dress. She also chose a jade-green dress. With this dress, she looked even more beautiful. Her body was well-proportioned and gentle. Most of the daughters of noble families were delicate and beautiful. Zhu Xiang 'er, on the other hand, was more forthright. But when Song Ai stood here, although her facial features were not as exquisite as Zhu Xiang' er's, her valiant and heroic bearing complemented her bright eyes and white teeth. She was seventy percent beautiful and thirty percent heroic. Even Zhu Xiang 'er was stunned by her beauty and kept praising her, causing Song Ai to feel embarrassed.
The group was only on a whim and did not have a fixed destination. Because there were women, the few of them simply took the sedan chair. Wen Shu Courtyard, Wu Hou Temple, Du Fu Cottage, Wang Jiang Tower. Every time they thought of a place, they would take the sedan chair and wander around. Every time they arrived at a place, they would first have the guards spread out and carefully keep a distance between them and the tourists. These people did not disturb the common people. They were free and unrestrained. Sure enough, it was a great joy.
When the officials came to visit the King of Shu, they talked about the suppression of the bandits. They mentioned many times that Song Ai had outsmarted Lingxiao City. The young Canton Princess heard it from behind the curtain and was very curious. She asked her handmaidens and bodyguards about it. Those people heard hearsay and the news was even more exaggerated and untrue. They told her about Song Ai's exploits, which were ten times more exaggerated and untrue. The young Canton Princess was full of admiration and followed her second brother to the imperial envoy's residence, wanting to meet the great hero in her heart.
Both of them were straightforward and did not have the usual bashful temperament of ladies from noble families. After traveling half the city of Chengdu, they had already become close friends. She unceasingly asked Song Ai about fighting the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan and suppressing the bandits in Xuzhou. Although Song Ai's narration was not as profound as the Imperial Bodyguards' narration, it was much more vivid. Xiao Junzhu was like a little bum who followed her everywhere, practically treating Song Ai as a deity.
In her heart, the god was Song Ai, but in Song Ai's heart, the god was Yang Ling. Following Yang Ling into battle, there was no difficulty. Song Ai was full of admiration for him. Every time she mentioned a battle, she would not be tired of praising Yang Ling. Even in the Temple of Marquis Wu, she dared to boast and praise Yang Ling.
This time, Zhu Xiang 'er was very unconvinced and asked in detail about Yang Ling's' great achievements'. Zhu Xiang 'er pouted and walked for a while. Finally, she could not stand it anymore and ran to pull on Yang Ling's sleeve.
At this time, the group had already arrived at Zhao Jue Temple. Zhao Jue Temple was located at the Green Dragon Field outside the north gate. It was known as the 'First Jungle' in Western Sichuan. Since the temple was built during the reign of Zhen Guan, there were many eminent monks but the reputation of this place was obviously not as good as the Temple of Marquis Wu, Qingyang Palace and other places. In addition, October was the busy season for farmers and merchants, so there were not many pilgrims in the temple.
There were no accidents along the way. Yang Ling's wariness was greatly reduced. This kind of aimless wandering, even if there were assassins following them, it would be difficult to track them down and make preparations for the assassination. With their mood relaxed, Yang Ling and Zhu Rangjin chatted more happily.
He had just walked under the pillar when he felt someone tugging on his sleeve. He turned around and saw it was the young Canton Princess. He smiled and asked, "What is it?"
Zhu Xiang 'er rolled her eyes and asked, "Sweeping Lone Dragon Island and attacking Shuangyu Island in Jiangnan, was it really your plan?"
Yang Ling smiled and said, "That was a strategy planned by one of my strategists. Of course I was involved, but …"
Zhu Xiang 'er interrupted him and asked, "What about Man Latja? First using the Fire Boat Stratagem, then using the Wolf Pack Battle, the Water Thunder Battle, and at the same time using another surprise force to take down Man Latja? "
Zhu Rangjin saw that his little sister, who had always been prejudiced against Yang Ling, was asking him about the war with great interest. He thought that his little sister's target of worship had changed again. He could not wait for their relationship to improve, so he deliberately moved forward a little. Song Ai also took the opportunity to whisper a few words into Wu Hanchao's ear.
Yang Ling said with a smile, "Oh, about that, the Fire Boat Stratagem was an idea suggested by one of my battle generals. With that as the foundation, I researched it with the other generals of the navy, and decided to split it into three steps …"
Zhu Xiang 'er curled her lips and said proudly, "Hmph, so that's how it is. It was all someone else's idea. Now that you, General Yang, have taken it for yourself, I really thought you were so great."
Yang Ling blinked and said with a smile, "Their ability is of course my ability."
He pointed to the few tourists in the courtyard and the peddlers outside the temple gate and said, "Servants do not have to be all talented; as an official, you do not have to understand everything. Everyone has their strengths, it depends on whether you know how to use them.
Look, that person is good at pasting lanterns, that person is good at making sandalwood. I know what they are good at. I do not ask the sandalwood maker to paste lanterns, nor the lantern maker to make incense, but let them do their best. That is my ability. "
He rolled up his sleeves and said with a smile, "If I build a temple for the person who knows how to make sandalwood incense and prepare an incense burner, and a few hooks under the eaves for the person who knows how to make lanterns, then I will be called Bo Le. Make the best use of people and make the best use of everything. This is the most competent official, understand? "
Zhu Xiang 'er did not understand. She rolled her eyes and frowned slightly. "Are you playing mind games with me? In your opinion, how should I make the best use of people? "
"You?" Yang Ling looked at her from head to toe and said seriously, "Princess, you … are suitable for holding tea, grinding, burning incense and fanning …"
"Huh? You … you said that I am suitable to be a maid? "Zhu Xiang 'er suddenly reacted and said angrily.
Yang Ling said seriously, "Make the best use of people and make the best use of everything. This is good … there is no waste …"
"Haha, such a little beauty needs to be used to heat the pot and warm the bed. That would be the best use of her talents …" A green-robed scholar seemed to have heard the conversation between the two of them and could not help but interrupt and laugh. The two of them looked over and saw that the scholar was using his fan to cover his laughter as he turned his head away.
Zhu Xiang 'er was furious. Her face turned red and she said angrily, "Bastard, what did you say?" As she said that, she stepped through the door!
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