Gui Yuan

Chapter 11

In the main hall, Feng Yu shook off the floating dust, and said as usual: "Start playing if there is something to do, and leave the court if there is nothing to do."

The minister standing below was already ready to move his feet, Wei Yao stepped forward with a slanted sword: "I have something to do."

Emperor Xiangfeng took a closer look: "Hey, Lord An, what are you talking about?"

"Yesterday, I met a prisoner in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. The prisoner's name is Fei Tian. He was imprisoned for theft."

Huang Jun was terrified when he heard the punishment from the bottom, so he had to lower his head even more.Emperor Xiangfeng wondered: "Since the crime is known, it can be dealt with impartially. What's the problem?"

"The problem is that Fei Tian originally lived in Xingchuan. According to him, since the severe drought five years ago, most of the people in Xingchuan have been in dire straits, without food and clothing. It is precisely because he can't survive in Xingchuan that he went north to seek a way out of."

As soon as these words came out, there was a moment of silence in the hall, and even the gasps of the officials could be heard clearly.

Liu Ping, Minister of the Household Department, hurriedly knelt down and complained: "Your Majesty! Every year, the grain and grass sent to Xingchuan are released on time. Your Majesty loves the people like a child, and cares about the suffering of the people in the frontier. The minister also decides to release them a few days earlier. These household departments have It is recorded that there are officials and soldiers who delivered food and grass, His Majesty can go and interrogate them. I don’t know what An Guogong means by this, but the minister is innocent, and I hope His Majesty will investigate clearly.”

After finishing speaking, Liu Ping gave Wei Yao a hard look, even if his back was turned to him, he couldn't see it at all.

Ding Chong'an stood up to smooth things over: "Master An is just mentioning what Mr. Liu is so nervous about."

Emperor Xiangfeng then said: "Exactly, but Wei Yao, what do you want to tell me?"

Wei Yao smiled faintly, turned his head to Liu Ping, Liu Ping didn't dare to be presumptuous for a moment.

"Master Liu has gone too far, I have no intention of doubting Master Liu." He turned to Emperor Xiangfeng, "Because it is a matter of great importance to the society, the minister said it in the court, so that all the adults can think about what is going on. Mr. Liu also said just now that the grain and grass of the household department are distributed on time every year. As far as I know, there are quite a lot of them. However, Fei Tian, ​​as a citizen of Xingchuan, said that the grain is far from enough. They are sold in grain shops, and they are all sold at high prices, and the common people already have meager income due to the severe drought, so how can they afford it?"

Ning Kecheng also echoed: "Your Majesty, the amount of food and grass sent to Xingchuan is huge, and it is even more amazing in the past five years."

Zhu Yu frowned, and came out to speak: "Father, my son thought that if such a thing happened in Xingchuan, how could there be no news at all? Whether it is really as serious as An Guogong said is still unknown, but On the contrary, if it is true, there must be something wrong with the officials at the bottom who can hide it from the world for five years, I hope the emperor will thoroughly investigate this matter."

When Emperor Xiangfeng heard it, he knew that what the crown prince said was reasonable, so he said: "That's right, if someone is so bold and reckless, I will not tolerate it."

Emperor Xiangfeng thought for a while: "Liu Ping, you will send some people to Xingchuan, and you must check it out."

Liu Ping was about to take orders, but Zhu Yu said: "Father, there is no need for Lord Liu to go, my son requests to go."

Emperor Xiangfeng was surprised at first. The crown prince is the only son of him and the empress. He has been deeply loved by him since he was a child. How about a just in case.

"I hope the prince will be more careful." Prime Minister Right urged.Ding Chong'an's hair was slightly white, and he looked good-natured, and he couldn't bear to refuse his persuasion.

Emperor Xiangfeng nodded his head and said euphemistically: "The household department will take over this matter, the crown prince doesn't need to bother."

Zhu Yu has never been a soft-hearted person, the more difficult he is, the more he will face it.

"The state of the country is not easy to come by, it doesn't matter which is more important, and Xingchuan is the fortress of our Great Wei." Zhu Yu looked at Emperor Xiangfeng with burning eyes and deep friendship, "Father used to drive himself to conquer, and he lived and died with the soldiers, and all difficulties were overcome. The country has just been laid down. The son-in-law has been well-clothed and well-fed since he was a child, and he was protected by his father and queen mother. Now the son-in-law has already reached the crown, married a wife and started a family. It is time to share the worries for the country, the people, and the father. .”

Emperor Xiangfeng couldn't help but be moved by such words. The crown prince has been extremely intelligent since he was a child. He has attainments in terms of talent, appearance, literary skills, and martial arts. The choice of him as the crown prince is partly because of his love, but more because of his ability , stands out among the many princes, making people inseparable.What the prince said was right. He was the one who brought down Wei from horseback. Now that Guozuo is still unstable and four enemies are invading, the prince, as the heir, needs more experience.

"Okay, the prince is worthy of my heart, so let you go."

Yes, yes, yes, after all, it is the prince who is going on a trip, so he must not be careless, Emperor Xiangfeng thought for a while: "Duke An is responsible for leading the troops to escort the prince."

It was unexpected for Emperor Xiangfeng to do so, but thinking about it carefully, after all, he is the crown prince of a country, so it is reasonable to need some escorts.

Wei Yao was not a person who could take root, so naturally he would go wherever the emperor needed him, so he accepted this errand.

Wei Yao remembered something, and replied: "I would like to ask Your Majesty for a favor."

"Oh, what's the matter?"

"It was a misunderstanding that Fei Tian was arrested in the Ministry of Criminal Justice. Although he made some mistakes in the past, they were harmless and he wanted to make a living. It is better to give him a chance to make up for his mistakes. He is from Xingchuan, so he must be useful."

It's just a small person, Emperor Xiangfeng only said that Wei Yao will handle it all.

After leaving the court, the officials squeezed their shoulders and beat their legs, accompanied by complaints. Wei Yao walked in front, and Ning Kecheng stopped him: "Grandpa, please stay."

When Wei Yao saw it was him, his cold face softened a little, and he called out, "Father-in-law."

Although he and Ning Qing were married, he and Ning Kecheng hadn't been in contact a few times. No matter what, they were always the father-in-law in the face, and they had to follow the etiquette.

Ning Kecheng felt very awkward when he heard his address, but he still didn't show it. He walked with Wei Yao and said, "My lord is constantly on errands, I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of the mansion."

Ning Kecheng's words were euphemistic, Wei Yao couldn't hear the meaning behind the words.He couldn't help laughing, as for Ning Qing, who can find a lot of things to entertain himself even if he's fine, what's wrong with him.

"Father-in-law Lao is worried. There are not many affairs in the mansion, and Lan Yu can go out of the mansion often, so that he won't be bored in the mansion."

How could Ning Kecheng not know Ning Qing's style of work, how could a place like An Guogong's mansion be entrusted to him to manage, it would be good to keep it as it was before.After Wei Yao got married, one thing happened after another, thinking about it, he didn't have time to take care of Ning Qing.

"That's good." Ning Kecheng and Wei Yao had nothing to say except that they could talk about Ning Qing, so they walked to the gate of the palace without a word, took their leave and boarded the car.

During the meal, Wei Yao and Ning Qing said this: "I'm going to Xingchuan in a few days."

"Because of what Fei Tian said?" Ning Qing wondered, "But that's not up to you, right?"

While eating, Wei Yao said calmly, "The prince is going, I'm just responsible for protecting him."

Ning Qing already had a general idea in his heart, and secretly regretted: "It's a pity, Wei Yao may take a month to go back and forth to the far southern border, and he is the only one in Anguo Gong's mansion with those soldiers staring at each other." Eyes, really boring.Ning Qing shook his head and took a sip of the soup, then thought about it, why not...

"Grandpa, shall we discuss something?" Ning Qing blinked at him with that pretty face, no matter how you look at it, it seems that the purpose is not pure.

Wei Yao didn't look at him: "What's the matter?"

Ning Qing pulled the stool closer to him: "Will you go to Nanjiang and bring me with you?"

Wei Yao only glanced at him now, but the look in his eyes was not very friendly, if Ning Qing hadn't asked him for something, he wouldn't have looked at his face.

"You're supposed to go on a tour? I have a mission, what can you do with me?" Wei Yao looked him around unkindly, "Is it possible that you, a son who is too tired to ride a horse, can count on you?" As a guard?"

Ning Qing frowned and squinted: "Grandpa, you are underestimating me. I'm just too tired and I can't do it. Why can't I ride a horse when necessary? Besides, I can't help the third prince's guard this time." ?"

This is true, it is not difficult to bring someone along, Ning Qing has nothing else, it is still possible to relieve boredom.Wei Yao remained indifferent on the face.

"I used to be a prince's attendant, and now he is married to my sister. How boring the journey will be. Can't I chat with him to relieve boredom?"

Ning Qing stared at him for a long time, with the look of 'if you don't agree, I'll stare until the end of time', Wei Yao then let go: "Follow if you want."

Ning Qingcan smiled and moved the stool back to its original place: "Thank you, Lord."

-

Tao Ji has stayed in the imperial capital for a few more days, and now that the matter is over, he should go back to Beidi. On the day of his departure, Wei Yao and Ning Qing came to see him off together.

Ning Qing and him replayed the reluctance that day, and Ning Qing joked: "It should be fine this time, otherwise I would never dare to see the prince off again."

Tao Ji smiled indifferently: "Needless to say, Lan Yu, you and I hit it off, if we are lucky enough to meet again in the future, we must have a good talk about him all night."

Ning Qing nodded and said, "That's natural."

The third prince's car drove farther and farther on the official road, the car was still the same car, but there were two people less than before.

Wei Yao turned around and got on his horse without hesitation. Before leaving, he did not forget to say, "I'm going to the school grounds, you can do whatever you want, but I don't know what's the point of you going to the teahouse to drink tea every day."

Ning Qing got into the carriage, glanced at him, and said with a smile: "There are many interesting things, I won't drink tea today, I'll go for an outing."

Before he could speak, Ning Qing got into the carriage and ordered, "Lin Rong, let's go."

Lin Rong glanced at Wei Yao, dared not say more, and drove to the outskirts of the city in a carriage.

Wei Yao sneered and rode away.

On the north slope outside the city, it was early spring, the imperial capital had already melted away from the cold weather, and unknown wild flowers in the outskirts of the city were dotted on the small grassy slopes. Everywhere you looked was green, and it was full of spring.

The carriage was parked next to a chic Zhuangzi, Lin Rong wanted to get a footstool for Ning Qing, but he directly opened the curtain and jumped off the carriage: "Hey, I don't want to use that thing for anything in the city."

Lin Rong thought whether it depends on your mood, so he silently put the footstool back.

"You wait for me here, I'll come back when I go." Ning Qing ordered.

Zhuangzi looked quite old, and there were a lot of fruit trees planted around, which had just sprouted.Ning Qing entered through the secret passage, the entrance was hidden behind a small bush, so it was hard to find.

Coming out of the secret passage is the study room filled with the fragrance of books, and there is a person standing in the study room, writing with his back facing him.Ning Qing approached with a smile: "We meet again, it's less than half an hour away."

"Is it so, Prince?"

Tao Ji turned to look at him, with a faint smile on his lips: "Lan Yu."