Gui Yuan

Chapter 65 The Northern Expedition

Feng Yu and the guards were in a mess, Zhu Yu sent someone to the imperial doctor, and hurried forward to support Emperor Xiangfeng: "Father, how are you?"

Emperor Xiangfeng wanted to speak, but when he opened his mouth, there was another mouthful of thick blood. The first mouthful of blood was red, but this time it was a little black, which looked like he was poisoned.He stared at Ding Chongan: "You did it!"

When they came earlier, the crown prince and palace people were all there, so they didn't think about it, it turned out that they were negligent here.

"What poison did you poison? How did you poison it?"

When the imperial doctor arrives, he must prescribe the right medicine. Ning Qing thought it would be good if he could come up with some words, but he also knew that Ding and Lin had worked hard for many years in order to kill Zhu Qin. They will never let go of this opportunity.

Ding Chongan was really overjoyed, he only stared at the dying Emperor Xiangfeng, who barely took advantage of his body, and said: "There is no cure, this is a severe poison in northern Xinjiang, it takes two hours for the poison to develop, he just talked with me for a long time, the poison follows The tea got into his body, and then he became anxious, which aggravated the poisoning and made it impossible for the imperial doctor to come."

When Feng Yu heard this, he knelt down and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, I don't know about this slave!"

Ding Chong'an continued: "He really didn't know, the poison was poured into the hot water, and when he made the tea, he silently mixed the poison into the tea."

Feng Yu buried his face extremely low, weeping in a low voice, not knowing what to say.Zhu Qin tried his best to yank him. Although he didn't say anything like that, everyone still understood his meaning: drag him out and beat him to death.

As Ding Chongan said, Zhu Qin couldn't stand up soon, and fell on the dragon chair, exhaling more air than inhaling, his eyes were already a little loose, and Zhu Yu silently wept beside him.

Emperor Xiangfeng forced himself to open his mouth, the voice seemed to be clogged in his throat with thick phlegm that had not been removed for many years, making it uncomfortable to hear.

"Wei, Wei Yao."

Wei Yao knelt down: "The minister is here."

"Assist, assist the prince, clean, clean the former court..." He couldn't even speak clearly.

Wei Yao understood what he meant: "I will definitely assist His Highness the Crown Prince to the fullest, and swear to protect Wei Taiping to the death."

Emperor Xiangfeng finally closed his eyes in relief, all the people in the hall and the imperial physician who had just arrived outside the hall knelt down and cried.

After all, Ding Chongan and Lin Suiqiong still succeeded in taking revenge. It is difficult for outsiders to understand their feelings at the moment. They know that what awaits them is death, but they don't seem to care about it. It seems that this life is for revenge. Don't want to implicate many people, don't care about the reputation and rights that you have loved for many years, and your status is honorable.

Emperor Xiangfeng died suddenly, suddenly and dishonorably, the queen pressed the matter down, and only said to the outside world that he was suffering from a long illness and did not survive it.The crown prince and queen were busy with Emperor Xiangfeng's funeral, and they temporarily imprisoned Ding Chong'an and others. Later, after the national funeral, it was decided that Wei Yao and Ning Qing would interrogate him.In fact, they had revealed most of the truth in the hall that day, and the rest were just details.

Wei Yao didn't embarrass them too much, he just handcuffed them.

Ning Qing told the outside world expressionlessly: "The spiritual seat of the late emperor has entered the Taimiao, and his posthumous title is Ren."

Ding Chongan sneered: "He deserves it too, this posthumous title is really ironic."

"You still have to have the face you deserve."

Ning Qing looked at him and Lin Suiqiong, with mixed feelings in his heart, they did a lot of bad things and hurt many people, it is true that they deserved to die, but at the end of the day, people could not hate them, instead they felt a little disappointed.

"Tomorrow will be the execution, do you have any last words to say?" Wei Yao asked.

Ding Chong'an thought for a while, and was about to speak when someone shouted outside: "The emperor is here."

Ning Qing and Wei Yao looked at each other, obviously they didn't know why Zhu Yu came here suddenly.

Zhu Yu was wearing a dark purple brocade robe, more calm than before.He sat down on the upper seat, his cold eyes wandered between Ding Chong'an and Lin Suiqiong.

"What you said in the hall before, I asked a few old officials who had been with the late emperor, and it is true. It's just that even if there is a reason for the incident, it is always true that you hurt innocent people. This crime is too serious to be erased. I killed you It is not for you to clear up the remnants of the previous dynasty, but for you to take the blame."

After Zhu Yu finished speaking, they didn't show any expressions, as they had already guessed it.

He continued: "But I will not listen to what the late emperor said at the end of his life, and kill all the people in the previous dynasty. I will abide by the promise made by the first emperor to Emperor Daxiang, and treat his descendants generously. Although I can't rectify Fei Tian's name, I will He has a title and no real power, but he doesn't have to worry about being rich and honored in his lower body."

Hearing this, Lin Suiqiong looked up at him in surprise, not understanding why he would do this.

Zhu Yu got up and said: "You have planned for half your life for nothing more than this. I have met Fei Tian before, and he is not a good person. I am willing to treat him favorably."

After all, he wanted to leave.

Ding Chong'an said: "You are different from Zhu Qin, you will be a wise king."

Zhu Yu was startled, glanced at him, and quickly left the prison.

Zhu Yu didn't mention this decision to Ning Qing and the others in advance, Ning Qing was secretly relieved that these days Zhu Yu is not as friendly as before, always with a cold face, but his heart is still the prince's highness.After the matter was over, the jailer wanted to take him back to the prison, but Ding Chong'an suddenly turned around and looked at Ning Qing and said, "Lord Ning knew about me before, but I went to Ning's mansion to threaten him, now that I think about it, it's not right. Hold on, apologize to Master Ning for me."

What, his father knew about this in advance?How could he conceal it with his father's loyalty?

"What did you threaten him with?"

Ding Chongan looked at him, and slowly uttered a word: "You."

Ning Qing was taken aback for a moment, he didn't understand what was in him that could be used to blackmail his father, and it could have such an effect.

He still wanted to ask, but Ding Chong'an didn't want to. He turned around and walked towards the cell: "There are some things that I don't feel comfortable talking about. You can ask your father yourself."

Ding Chongan's words kept lingering in Ning Qing's mind. He thought about not seeing his father for a long time before, and after the national funeral, they were busy with their own affairs, so they didn't have time to say a few words.

Thinking of this, he took Wei Yao and went to Ning Mansion with some snacks.

"Father has been so haggard recently, I'm afraid he's too tired, I bought your favorite peach blossom cake, let's try it together?" Ning Qing said with a smile.

Ning Kecheng curled the corners of his mouth and smiled perfunctorily. He asked his servants to bring some snacks, and said to Wei Yao, "I have something to tell Ning Qing, my father-in-law should go to the yard first."

This is to drive people away, it seems that my father does have something to hide from himself.Ning Qing turned to Wei Yao and said, "Zhao Zhuo, go ahead, I'll call you when we have dinner later."

After Wei Yao left, Ning Curriculum took him to the study room. Since the last fire and reconstruction, he hadn't come in a few times.

He thought his father was going to talk in the study, but he went straight to a shelf, turned a bottle, and the door of the dark room opened.

Last time when there was a fire, he saw a dark room in the study, but he didn't ask if his father didn't tell him. He didn't expect his father to ask him to go in now.

The darkroom is not big, but everything is neatly arranged, and there is a table and two chairs in the middle.Ning Kecheng took out a scroll and said to him: "I know why you came, and today I don't want to hide it from you anymore."

Ning Qing took the painting blankly, opened it, and found that it was the portrait of the woman she saw in the Nanman Palace that day, exactly the same.

"Father, is this?"

Ning Kecheng sat down and said: "I discovered Ding Chong'an's evidence earlier, and I wanted to tell the late emperor, but I didn't expect Ding Chong'an to come and give me this painting, so I understood."

"Understand what?" Ning Qing didn't understand what he was referring to, but had a vague premonition.

"The person in the painting is your mother."

"What?" Ning Qing never knew that his mother had worked as a traveling doctor. In his impression, his mother had always lived in the Ning Mansion, just like the wives of all wealthy and noble families.

"Your mother, Qin Yan, was my childhood sweetheart. When she was young, she liked to travel. She always said that the world is so big that you should go for a walk, and she doesn't want to be trapped in one world." When Ning Kecheng talked about her, there was a smile on the corner of her mouth. .

Ning Qing had never heard his father and mother talk about their past, but it was new to hear it today.

"After visiting the mountains and rivers of the Great Wei, your mother also went to the surrounding four countries. She drank tea with Mu Jing in Dongyi and was introduced to Nanman by him. At that time, the Nanman fever broke out, and she stayed there for a few months. , to produce an antidote, which has been highly praised in Nanban."

This is consistent with what Sun Xuan said, but at that time Ning Qing didn't know that the doctor girl in the painting was his mother.

"Later she went to Xirong, and then went to Beidi along the border." Ning Kecheng said this, her expression lightened, "I met a man there, and your mother fell in love with him."

Ning Qing thought with horror, why did his father tell him about his mother's love history?

"She fell in love with that man and stayed in Beidi for a few months. Later, she found out that the man had concealed his identity. He was actually the son of Beidi, and he already had a wife and concubine at home. When your mother found out that she had been cheated, she returned to Beidi sadly. Big Wei."

This, Ning Qing did not expect such a development.Wait a minute, wasn't the prince of Beidi back then...

"Not long after Qin Yan came back, the former king of Beidi passed away, and the son ascended the throne. He is now the king of Beidi."

Ning Qing was speechless in shock, his mother had a relationship with King Beidi?

wrong.

Ning Qing thought of Tao Ji, and the ominous premonition in his heart became stronger.Tao Ji is the prince of Beidi, and his biological mother is a maidservant of the Ningfu, but his father said that his mother had a relationship with the king of Beidi, could it be...

"Later, your mother found out that she was pregnant." Ning Kecheng looked up at him, "She wanted to give birth to a child, so I married her."

Ning Qing stared at him blankly, and it took him a long time to say anything: "Could it be that Tao Ji was born to his mother?"

Ning Kecheng was taken aback for a moment, she didn't expect him to think of this level, and hurriedly said: "Tao Ji was indeed born to a maidservant in the mansion. In the mansion, after she gave birth to Tao Ji, she became your mother's personal maid."

So he was indeed born of his mother.

"Father, you mean, I am..." Ning Qing couldn't believe it, "But if it was me, why was Tao Ji the one who went to Beidi?"

Ning Kecheng sighed: "You were already eleven at that time, I don't know where the king of Beidi got the news that he knew you were his son, and sent someone to take you back. Naturally, your mother refused, but the king of Beidi knew that you were his son. It is inevitable, and you can do it by robbing people. Tao Ji's mother was seriously ill at that time, and she remembered your mother's kindness and voluntarily let her son go to Beidi instead of you."

Ning Qing's mind has exploded, and she can't figure out anything.

"So, what about Tao Ji, did he do it voluntarily?"

Ning Kecheng nodded: "He feels like a brother to you, and he volunteered to go for you. You will know later, after his mother died, Tao Ji went to Beidi."

Ning Qing sat paralyzed on the chair, resting his right hand on his forehead. Ning Ke knew that he couldn't accept it, but there were still important matters at the moment, so he still had to say: "Ding Chong'an has a close relationship with King Beidi, and he suddenly gave me this scroll , it should be the matter of King Beidi."

Ning Qing was startled, looked at him in disbelief, and only heard him say: "He should already know that Tao Ji is not his son."

"What! Then Tao Ji's situation must be dangerous, why did you tell me now?"

"So what, you plan to kill Beidi by yourself?" Ning Kecheng looked at him quite seriously, "I read the letter Tao Ji sent you, and he told you not to act rashly."

"What letter?"

"The letter from Mu Yuan in your house arrived a few days ago. I was worried about Tao Ji's safety, so I took a look at it in case he was in a hurry."

"It's over." Ning Qing took a step back, "Zhao Zhuo..."

Wei Yao will definitely go to his bedroom.

He turned around and ran out of the dark room, running on the long corridor, and when he returned to the dormitory, he saw Wei Yao sitting on a chair, looking at him without saying a word, in front of him was the wooden kite and the torn letter.

"Zhao Zhuo..." Ning Qing didn't care about anything else, went into the room, and walked up to Wei Yao step by step.

Wei Yao's eyes were full of displeasure: "When Ding Chong'an said in the hall before that the tiger pattern was stamped with the ancient characters of Beidi, I wondered, how do you know the meaning of that word? Only after reading this letter today did I understand it. You and Tao Ji have a good friendship."

"Zhaozhuo, you heard me, I, I just heard some words from my father, and I am confused and confused." He was thinking about how to explain, when he suddenly remembered what his father said, and quickly picked up the letter.

Tao Jixin said that Buna originally wanted Su Changyuan to make firearms, but it was expected that he tampered with the production, and the firearm failed. Buna was furious and locked Su Changyuan away.Tao Ji also mentioned that Buna's attitude towards him is a little strange recently, as if he knew something, and to avoid suspicion, he will not be able to communicate with him for a period of time.In the end, Tao Ji told him not to act rashly no matter what happened.

Tao Ji must have guessed that Buna found out the truth, Ning Qing closed his eyes, feeling very uncomfortable.

Seeing him like this, Wei Yao was a little puzzled, when he was about to go forward, Ning Kecheng came in from the outside and said, "If you want to save Tao Ji, you might as well tell Wei Yao about it, he has been in northern Xinjiang for many years, maybe he has some ideas. "

Wei Yao looked at him suspiciously.

After understanding the whole story, Wei Yao also found it ridiculous, but it was the truth.

In this way, Tao Ji is wholeheartedly for Ning Qing and Da Wei, and he is in a dangerous situation right now, if he doesn't save him, Ning Qing will definitely feel guilty for the rest of his life.

Wei Yao took Ning Qing's hand: "I have placed a secret operation in the Beidi Palace. I will ask him about the current situation first. Don't worry."

The letter was sent out, but there was no response for three or five days. Wei Yao thought that maybe this secret work was also targeted by King Beidi.The most terrible thing now is that they don't know what Beidi is like now, and the new emperor has just ascended the throne, so they can't act rashly.

In the past few days, Ning Qing was often lost in thought in the Duke's mansion, and even Fei Tian and Lin Rong would only smile lightly when they teased him, so more often the three of them sat together without saying a word, Fei Tian and Lin Rong Looking at each other, I don't know how to solve this dilemma.

They were sitting in the pavilion that day when they saw Zhao Min rushing in from the gate, it seemed that there was something urgent.Ning Qing frowned, got up and walked into the hall, Fei Tian and Lin Rong followed in a daze.

When Ning Qing arrived, Zhao Min was talking to Wei Yao, both of them looked very heavy.

"What happened?"

Wei Yao signaled Zhao Min to say it's okay, and he said, "This morning, Beidi suddenly led an army to attack the northern border. I don't know what method they used. In short, the momentum is overwhelming, and three cities have already been captured."

There must be a reason for Beidi's sudden attack.

Wei Yao came up to him and said, "I have to go to the palace."

Ning Qing nodded.

As soon as Wei Yao left, Ning Qing sat in the room from noon to dark, restless.Lin Rong came in from the outside and said, "My lord, Xiangye has sent a message to ask you to go back to the mansion."

It must be something urgent for his father to look for him at this time, Ning Qing didn't delay for a moment, and immediately went to the Ning Mansion.

Ning Kecheng first gave him a letter: "A letter from Mu Yuan."

Ning Qing wondered if Tao Ji had found an opportunity to tip off the news?But judging by his father's expression, it doesn't look like a good thing.

The handwriting on the letter was not Tao Ji's. It said: You come to Beidi and spare him to live alone.

It was written by Buna, using Tao Ji's wooden kite, which means that Tao Ji's current situation is even more dangerous.Ning Ke Cheng said: "Wei Yao has gone to the palace, right? What should be discussed is the matter of the war. Beidi is coming in a menacing way. I'm afraid it won't be so easy to be kind."

Now Ning Kecheng is not well informed about the news in the palace, after the new emperor ascended the throne, he handed over the letter of appointment, Zhu Yu tried to persuade him to stay but did not waver his intention to leave.Others couldn't understand, his son-in-law became the emperor, just when he was gaining power, why didn't he quit at this time?But Ning Qing understood his intentions, his father was guilty of watching the late emperor being murdered, and his conscience was disturbed.

After all, it was all for him.

Ning Qing said: "Buna wants to see me, so I'll go see him."

"Can…"

Ning Qing smiled slightly: "I understand, but I can't always hide behind you, you have protected me for a long time."

Ning Kecheng had nothing to say, since the last time, there had been some estrangement between him and Ning Qing, and both of them couldn't let go.

When Ning Qing was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and said with a smile: "Father, don't worry, the kindness of nurturing cannot be faked. I only have you as a father in my life. You will wait for my return in the imperial capital with peace of mind."

Ning Kecheng's heart felt hot, she nodded and said, "Okay."

It wasn't until after he left that Ning Kecheng shed a line of tears.

When Ning Qing returned to the Duke's Mansion, Wei Yao had already returned, his face was full of exhaustion, and when he saw him, he smiled a little: "You came back from the Ning Mansion."

Ning Qing sat beside him in response, and paused: "When will the troops be dispatched?"

"Zhao Min and Tian Cheng have already gone to the school grounds to order [-] soldiers overnight, and they will set off at the beginning of tomorrow, and the remaining soldiers will be gathered on the road." Wei Yao looked at him, and subconsciously said softly, "I just came back to tell you, in a while just have to go."

"I'll go as well."

Just as Wei Yao was about to refuse, he heard him say, "Buna sent me a letter using Tao Ji's wooden kite, saying that as long as I go to Beidi, he will spare Tao Ji from death. No matter what, I must go."

Wei Yao thought for a while, and said: "I received a letter from Mr. Bei earlier, he knew that there would be a battle between Wei and Beidi, and begged me to find a way to save Tao Ji then."

Ning Qing said firmly, "Yes, we must save him. He has suffered for me for more than ten years. Now it's time to take him home."

After a moment of silence, Wei Yao answered him.

-

Beidi half a month ago.

Su Changyuan's tricks were discovered by Bu Na, and he was locked up, and Tao Ji couldn't see anyone.When he was thinking about how to intercede, Bu Na came to him on his own initiative.

The strange thing is that Bu Na didn't ask him to go to Baode Hall, but asked him to go to the Buddhist hall.

The candlelight flickered in the Buddhist hall, and it was silent. Bu Na stood in the center alone, and there were no palace people around him.

Tao Ji was a little puzzled, stepped forward to salute, and asked, "Why did the father think of the Buddhist hall today?"

"I remember your brother."

Tao Ji kept silent.

After a while, Bu Na sat down with him in the side hall and said, "Tao Ji, today the lone general and everyone in the palace withdrew, do you know why?"

Tao Ji shook his head.

Boona smiled: "You are a smart boy, you know that."

"Su Changyuan has a daughter named Su Yunyue. She seems to be in love with you. She even has a child. Why do you keep silent?" Bu Na glanced at him, "Since you like it, welcome to the palace." It is not difficult to get an official name."

Tao Ji knew that he would find out sooner or later, so he was not too surprised. He just said: "She is an ordinary woman, and she is not used to being in the palace."

"Tao Ji, Gu won't play tricks with you, let's just say it straight." Bu Na stared at him, and suddenly smiled, a smile that made one's heart palpitate, "Your identity is already known to Gu."

Tao Ji was shocked, and his face was at a loss. Buna must have grasped the truth when he said this, and it would not be wise to play tricks with him at this moment, so he knelt down and said, "My son..."

Bu Na smiled and asked him to get up: "Kneeling is not a good habit, sit down and talk."

"After all, Gu and you have had a father-son relationship for more than ten years. Even if you were not born alone, you can still be an adopted son. In the future, you will still be the same as before. Su Changyuan, then you don't have to worry. Gu will not embarrass you for your sake. his."

This person in front of him is really strange, when did Buna become such a generous person?The more he was like this, the more Tao Ji felt that he had other plans, and felt uneasy.

"But the development of firearms can't be done alone. He's getting old, and he doesn't really do things for himself, so let's change it." Bu Na looked at him with a smile, "Tomorrow, you bring Su Yunyue, and she is pregnant." She is pregnant and it is not easy to do it, so let her say it, and the rest can do it."

"Yunyue?" Tao Ji got up and said anxiously, "Although she follows Su Changyuan, she doesn't know about firearms!"

In desperation, his tone was a little anxious, but Buna didn't mind, but was surprised: "So you don't know? That's right, Gu also knew about it a few days ago."

"Although Su Changyuan has some skills, he really doesn't look like a person who makes such delicate things as wooden kites. I doubted this, so I asked someone to investigate, but I didn't expect to find anything. 'Mr. Bei' is not Su Changyuan, but Su Yunyue. "

Tao Ji obviously didn't believe it.

"If you don't believe me, just ask yourself."

So Tao Ji hurried out of the palace, and when he saw Su Yunyue, he hugged her: "Are you 'Mr. Bei'?"

Su Yunyue was not surprised, and asked, "I told you?"

"King Beidi."

Su Yunyue broke away from his embrace, pulled him into the inner room, opened a box, inside were some wooden products, like wooden kites, but different.

"I have been influenced by my grandfather since I was a child, and I like to tinker with things like gunpowder. I used to play with these things when I was bored. Later, I put gunpowder and magnets in the wooden bird, and it became a wooden kite." Su Yunyue Looking at him, "I haven't told you, my small print is Mengbei."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Everyone in the world thought 'Mr. Bei' was a man, so I thought it would be good to just play tricks, so I kept it a secret."

Tao Ji sat down, was silent for a long time, and suddenly said: "The king of Beidi is threatening me."

"What threat?"

Tao Ji told her what happened in the Buddhist hall, Su Yunyue was stunned for a while, and when she looked up, she saw Tao Ji's worried face, smiled sweetly, and hugged him: "Don't be afraid, Buna needs my skills, won't It's you who moved me, you should have made plans for yourself earlier, I'm afraid Buna's current situation is just a stopgap measure."

Tao Ji gently touched Su Yunyue's belly, she was already pregnant, and her belly was swollen.He closed his eyes and said, "After all, I dragged you down."

Su Yunyue smiled and said, "Husband and wife, what are you talking about is not a drag."

Soon her smile disappeared, and she hugged Tao Ji tightly, feeling astringent in her heart.

The next day, Bu Na sent people to block them in front of them, saying that they were invited to enter the palace, but in fact Tao Ji was imprisoned in a disguised form. Su Yunyue was in the military equipment station during the day with his stomach on his back, and went back to be with Tao Ji when it was dark .

-

In the Great Wei Dynasty, on the first day of the twelfth lunar month, there was a lot of snow.

Early in the morning, the sky was cold, but it couldn't stop the enthusiasm of the people to see off.

Wei Yao was dressed in military uniform and rode at the head of the team. Ning Qing was half a horse behind him, and was dressed in snow fur, which almost blended into the surrounding snow scene.

Both Fei Tian and Lin Rong came to see him off, but he didn't bring them this time.

Although Ning Qing said that Fei Tian has a title now and his status is very different, but he is not stupid, he knows that this trip is dangerous, Ning Qing and the others don't want to involve too many people.

"Brother Lan Yu, General, you must return home as soon as possible."

Fei Tian was a little sad, as if he was about to cry, but Lin Rong was crying uncontrollably, wiping his tears and calling out to you, but he didn't say a complete sentence.

"Okay, what does a big man look like crying!" Ning Qing smiled and said to Fei Tian, ​​"We are not in the imperial capital, and Lin Rong is bored by himself, so I will entrust it to you for the time being."

Fei Tian complied.

When Ning Qing turned her head, she saw Ning Ke Cheng staring at her, very worried.

He deliberately shouted in a funny way: "Father, the son will come back as soon as he goes."

Ning Kecheng was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and smiled.

Zhu Yu personally brought the officials to see him off, and said: "May the general have a smooth journey, recover the land for the Great Wei, and promote the style of our country."

Wei Yao said: "The minister takes orders."

The voice was so clear that it reached the ears of everyone present, and it was indescribably reassuring.

Wei Yao looked at Ning Qing and said, "It's time, let's go."

Ning Qing nodded.

Zhao Min shouted: "Let's go!"

The long line moved slowly.

The author has something to say: the next chapter will be over, I am so excited, I may not be able to finish writing tonight, so I will post it tomorrow.