Chapter 113 That year, the late emperor proposed to the late queen today.

Su Changan frowned and asked, "Then what should I call the two elders?"

Hearing this, Xia Fengxiang rolled his eyes at Su Changan and said, "You are the most annoying!"

Although she said she was annoyed, the girl dressed as a man still became shy in front of the person she liked.

Thinking in my heart

Calling you mother and father is so affectionate!

But think about it.

When he was offering sacrifices today, he also called her "Mom". Thinking about it, Xia Fengxiang felt embarrassed and glared at Su Changan.

Then he thought of his father, the emperor, and his mother.

It seems like my mother would like this person.

My eldest brother will like it too because he is good at studying.

I would also like what my second brother said, after all, he is a very reasonable person.

But my father will definitely not like it!

Su Changan looked at Xia Fengxiang, wondering what had just happened to him, but as he thought about it, Su Changan decided to just forget it.

It was all my fault that I stumbled like a little child into the arms of this girl who loved to be unreasonable with me, and never recovered from that.

What a bad fate~~

After a while, the madam came again, bringing wine and food. She also said that if Liu Baishi was about to appear, there would be a big commotion outside, so Su Changan and Xia Fengxiang should not be anxious.

As for what people say in other places like finding a girl to keep you company, the brothel owner would never dare to say that.

However, the brothel owner was able to take a closer look at Xia Fengxiang and found that he was indeed similar to the elegant young man from that year.

But the madam didn't dare to ask, and left quickly after putting down the wine and food.

The cat naturally checked the food and wine, and after making sure they were not poisonous, it ran to the window.

But the cat didn't say anything.

But Su Changan saw disappointment on the girl's face.

I was a little disappointed that there was no poison in the food and wine.

but

As Maomao was sitting by the window and looking outside, Su Changan knew what she was looking at.

After all, at that location, even though it was pitch black outside, one should be able to vaguely see "my former home".

Yan Ruyu went out for a while during the trip.

When he came back, he told Xia Fengxiang that Xun Kuang was also on the second floor, as well as the Deputy Protector General of the Imperial Guards Zhao Xiaojia and his subordinates, Yang Yunzhong, the son of the Minister of Works Yang Guofu, and some sons of court officials. Xia Zhixu and Meng Shaoan were next to Yang Yunzhong's table. In addition, there were some children of dukes and marquises, as well as the sons of some wealthy businessmen.

As for the first floor, Yan Ruyu did not report much, but just mentioned some names, including a captain of the Xuanjia Army who came back with Zhu Huang.

Xia Fengxiang laughed when he heard the name of Guiyu, the soldier from the Black Armor Army.

He also told Su Changan that this man named Guiyu was bitten by a dog when he was a child while fighting with it. Unexpectedly, he caught the dog and bit it to death the next day, so he was kept by Zhu Huang.

When Su Changan heard this, he suddenly remembered the saying: If a dog bites a person, it is not a big deal. But if a person bites a dog and kills it, that is a big deal.

Xia Fengxiang didn't care about Xun Kuang being here, but when he heard Yan Ruyu say that Xun Kuang must have known that Xia Fengxiang, Su Changan and the others were here.

After hearing this, Xia Fengxiang smiled and said nothing.

But Su Changan knew that Xun Kuang was going to bleed a little.

But I don’t feel sorry for Xun Kuang. He knew that his wife was here but he didn’t come to visit her. He deserved it.

On Zhao Xiaojia's side, Xia Fengxiang didn't explain much to Su Changan. He just smiled and said to himself, "He seems to be rich enough to come and see the courtesan."

As for the others, they were not worth mentioning to Xia Fengxiang, so he didn't say much.

However, Xia Fengxiang asked Yan Ruyu to check how much these people had spent tonight, especially how much they had bid in the secret bid.

After watching Yan Ruyu leave, Su Changan asked curiously, "Secret bid?"

Xia Fengxiang looked at Su Changan in surprise, but thinking that although this man was smooth-talking, he had never been to such a romantic place, he explained, "It's just buying an Oiran."

As he spoke, he took a sip of tea. However, he saw Su Changan put some food on his plate for him, so he ate it with a sweet taste. Then he continued, "In the red-light district, Liu Baishi, who is famous in the capital, and who won the competition held among the major red-light districts, is the champion. Liu Baishi won not long ago, but was overshadowed by a certain Miss Changan. However, Liu Baishi's reputation has spread."

"Every courtesan will not easily accompany customers, especially those like Liu Baishi who only sell their art but not their bodies. If you want her to accompany you for a drink or something, there are a lot of rules. There will be professional bodyguards in the brothel. But even so, there are still many people willing to spend a lot of money to buy her. This is bidding."

"But the reason why it's called a secret bid is that after the courtesan says she wants to accompany a customer, the news will be spread by the brothel. If someone wants to buy her, they will write down the price and give it to the brothel. No one except the people in the brothel knows what the price is. In the end, the one who bids the highest price will naturally win."

"However, Liu Baishi seemed to say that this year, in addition to the money, a poem must be attached, and then she can choose it herself, so the price should not be that important. What is important should be the poem."

When he said this, Xia Fengxiang looked at Su Changan and said, "Liu Baishi is one of the many people who admire you, especially your poem "Dian Jiang Lip: Gui Si". I heard that she even embroidered it on her clothes. Why don't you write a poem and send it to her? If it were you, I'm afraid that even if you only bid one penny, she would probably be willing to accompany you, the famous Miss Changan."

Su Changan looked at Xia Fengxiang, thought for a moment, then immediately stood up and looked at Xia Fengxiang: "Xia Qingge, let's be reasonable. When have I ever written a poem for anyone other than you?"

Xia Fengxiang looked at Su Changan: "Su Linhan? Li Xingyue?"

Upon hearing this, Su Changan immediately said: "Linhan is my sister, and what I wrote is poetry about reading! Xingyue is just a sentence."

Xia Fengxiang said: "You can make someone look better with just one sentence. You are indeed a talented woman, Su Changan. And at the palace banquet yesterday, someone gave mooncakes to that Li Dazhentou. He was so happy and smiling."

While speaking, Xia Fengxiang stared at Su Changan.

Su Changan pursed his lips, thought for a moment and then asked, "No, that's not right. Tell me first why you know so much about brothels. Have you ever been here secretly?"

Xia Fengxiang was stunned for a moment, then angrily stretched out his hand and twisted Su Changan: "Okay, you have learned to use this trick on me, right! I talked to you about this, but you said this. And why do I know about brothels? Why do you think I know about it? How can I not know about the things in Luoan City!"

Su Changan couldn't help but shout out in pain: "I was wrong, I was wrong."

Xia Fengxiang let go of Su Changan and snorted, but when he saw Su Changan rubbing his arm, he felt a little distressed.

But this time he didn't help rub it right away, instead he asked, "You really know you're wrong, right?"

Su Changan smiled bitterly but nodded.

Xia Fengxiang rolled his eyes at Su Changan, then reached out to help Su Changan rub the area that had just been twisted: "Does it still hurt?"

Su Changan nodded.

Xia Fengxiang used less strength and his movements were gentler.

But as he was rubbing, he raised his eyes and saw Su Changan looking at him with a smile.

After a moment of shock, he immediately returned to his seat, coughed and said, "Behave yourself! And don't even think about writing poems for Liu Baishi. Don't even think about it, understand?"

Su Changan smiled bitterly: "I don't have such an idea either."

Xia Fengxiang turned her head. She knew of course that Su Changan had no such idea, but she had to find a way to save face.

Su Changan didn't think anything of it, but when he looked outside, he found it was a bit noisy, but he didn't think anything of it.

After all, if we start, we can see it clearly from the window.

But as he listened to this, Su Changan couldn't help but frown.

Instead, Xia Fengxiang looked at Su Changan and said, "You are so silly. You don't even realize how many people are following you. The people outside must have followed you because you are good-looking."

Su Changan frowned.

It’s not that he didn’t know how good-looking he was, but he didn’t expect that someone would actually stare at him and come looking for him!

I am a man!

This plot is so weird!

Xia Fengxiang looked at Su Changan and said with a smile: "Don't worry about it, there are people outside who will take care of them, and they have already taken care of a lot of them today."

Su Changan was even more speechless.

After a while, someone came in to report the matter.

It was said that the visitor was Yang Guofu's son Yang Yunzhong, and several other children of officials.

When Xia Fengxiang heard that it was Yang Guofu's son and some other young masters from the Taifu's family, he was a little surprised, but he immediately smiled knowingly, and then directly ordered to break both legs of each of them and send them to the prison of the Chixia Army.

And they told every household that their sons had been locked up for coveting the queen.

After receiving the order, the man naturally left respectfully.

Xia Fengxiang looked at Su Changan and said, "Don't ask, I will handle it."

Su Changan nodded.

He believed that Xia Fengxiang would handle it.

But I just can't help it, why am I so good-looking.

When Yan Ruyu came back, she had the secret bidding list in her hand.

Xia Fengxiang took it directly.

Su Changan naturally leaned over to take a look.

But when he looked over, he was shocked because he saw that the highest bid was from Zhao Xiaojia, eight thousand taels of silver.

And the unfortunate son of Yang Guofu, who had just been sent to jail, also invested more than five thousand taels.

As for the others, there are hundreds and even thousands.

It's just to drink with you and sit for a while, but the price is so high.

Su Changan didn't know what to say. Thinking about the coolies working hard all day and only earning a few dozen coins, Su Changan sighed.

But I don’t think it’s a big deal, after all, she is good-looking and famous.

In addition to the bidding price, there is also poetry.

but

Su Changan was not interested in those poems.

Because right at the end of the list, he saw Xia Zhixu's name.

The price was one tael of silver.

There is no poem, but there is a sentence.

"This prince can give Miss Baishi and Miss Chang'an's calligraphy, which is a complete poem."

Xia Fengxiang naturally saw this as well. He smiled and put the list away and said, "Ruyu, go call Xia Zhixu over and tell him that I called him."

…

Zhu Huang's house is located in Zhong'anfang in the east of the city. The house is not as big as Su's mansion, and it is just an ordinary mansion with two entrances and two exits.

The size is actually not suitable for Zhu Huang's status, but this was given to Zhu Huang by the previous emperor when he was alive, so Zhu Huang was reluctant to move away.

In his own words, he is not often in Luoan City, so having a house is enough. The size is not important, as long as he can use it to sleep and have fun.

but

Sitting at the table in the middle of the small courtyard were the Great Xia Grand Tutor Su Wenqing, the Supreme Pillar of the State and the Great General Meng Wu, and Zhu Huang.

But looking over the wall, you can still see Yan Yunxiao sitting on the wall in a very casual manner.

but

In fact, Zhu Huang was not sitting, but lying down.

Zhu Huang picked up the wine glass and took a sip, then said, "The wine brewed by Su's sister-in-law is still the best. Alas, it's a pity."

Meng Qin glanced at Zhu Huang and frowned, then looked at Su Wenqing.

Su Wenqing smiled and shook his head, "Madam also said that you, Zhu Huang, are the one who understands her wine best."

Zhu Huang looked up and grinned.

Su Wenqing smiled and said, "Have you arranged the show at Shihua Pavilion tonight?"

Zhu Huang nodded and wanted to reach for the wine jug, but it was inconvenient to lie down. Meng Wu helped him pour the wine. Zhu Huang thanked Meng Qin and said, "Let Gui Yu go. He's very capable."

After saying that, he looked at Meng Qin and said, "But, old general, how can I say that Meng Wu can be controlled? Or should I just keep Gui Yu? This kid is even crazier than when he was a child."

Meng Qin shook his head: "If you can't even suppress a cavalry battalion, get out of the Meng family."

Zhu Huang nodded: "Okay, then I won't be in charge of this matter. I can't stay for too long. I think Xiao Shisan in Shuchuan will know I'm gone in a couple of days, and then he might secretly expand his troops. I have to go back to guard it."

Su Wenqing and Meng Qin nodded.

The late emperor suddenly fell critically ill that year, and asked Zhu Huang to take people to Shu in order to keep an eye on the King of Shu.

Zhu Huang moved his body to make himself more comfortable, then took a bite of a mooncake and said, "Your Majesty is going to start killing people for our Queen, so he called me back. Although I won't stay long, I will kill all those who should be killed. I am not afraid of the reputation of killing. But the most important ones cannot be killed at the moment, otherwise it will be bad for your Majesty's reputation. In addition, those Jiedushi of Yizhou are also in collusion with them, so you will have to deal with them."

After saying that, he looked at Yan Yunxiao and said with a smile: "For those in the martial arts world, I will have to trouble Commander Yan."

Yan Yunxiao glanced at Zhu Huang: "Do you want me to tell you?"

Zhu Huang chuckled.

Su Wenqing looked at Zhu Huang: "Did Prince Yong have a fight with the Queen Mother?"

Zhu Huang nodded: "Prince Yong came back and told me that they had a quarrel. Damn it, that old woman did so many things in the name of her son's reputation, and now her own son directly exposed her to her face and said that she was just taking revenge on the late emperor and venting her anger. I guess she was furious!"

"But Prince Yong told me that after meeting His Majesty and the Empress, he would take the Princess back and would never come to the capital again. I don't believe it anyway, but it doesn't matter. There are many ways to deal with him, so you don't have to worry."

At this point, Zhu Huang was silent for a moment, and looked at Su Wenqing: "As for the Queen Mother, we can just deal with it step by step. What about Yang Shanchang? That old guy is not as easy to deal with as the Queen Mother's old woman."

Su Wenqing glanced at the osmanthus planted in the yard and said softly, "Winter family."

Zhu Huang was stunned for a moment, then he immediately realized: "Your Majesty, have you made all the plans?"

Su Wenqing nodded: "Well, Yang Shanchang's plan has already begun, and our Majesty is best at overt conspiracy, so he is not afraid of Yang Shanchang seeing through it. When the time comes, he will have to join the game. As for the result, have you noticed who has been invited to this Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet?"

Zhu Huang thought for a moment and asked, "All at once?"

Su Wenqing nodded.

Zhu Huang immediately said: "What a big deal! If this thing succeeds, it will be more impressive than what Your Majesty did back then."

After saying that, Zhu Huang had a happy look on his face: "Damn, I have come this far step by step. I am really worthy of being a girl who has so many tricks that I have cheated her many times."

But after saying this, Zhu Huang slapped himself in the face: "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, hehe."

Zhu Huang is such a person, so everyone just smiled.

Meng Qin looked at Zhu Huang and said, "You have seen everything, right?"

Zhu Huang naturally understood what Meng Qin said and nodded immediately: "What a ruthless guy! Damn it! If we had thought of such a thing back then, it would have been terrible! Is our queen really a village girl from the border of Yan? What kind of brain is this? Let's not talk about the poems she made, how could she invent cannons and muskets?"

"Let's not talk about the cannons for now, they're tough guys! As for the muskets, according to those people in the Shen Ce Mansion, they're not of perfect quality, but if they really come out, I think even a sixth-grade expert can't block a single shot. If tens of thousands of people each take one, even if they're slow to load bullets, they can still form several teams, and once one person is done, they can immediately switch to another. It's more effective than bows and arrows."

Meng Qin nodded: "Yes, that's right, but we can't rely on it completely in war, but if used well, we can win a great victory. Take everything you should take before you leave this time. Shuchuan is a place that is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If the King of Shu really wants to rebel, you will need it."

Zhu Huang nodded, "It's settled. Twenty-six guns have been built and shipped to me in batches. But the Eighth Prince needs the old general to look after them, so I left six guns and asked them to hurry up and make them. It's a pity that Zong Ze can't move there, otherwise it would be best if he went there."

Meng Qin said sternly: "The soldiers on the border must not move. This is the order of the late emperor. We have to figure out the internal affairs ourselves. Otherwise, why would the late emperor leave us here!!"

Zhu Huang was about to speak when he heard this, but after thinking for a while, he said, "Old General, Brother Su, please don't think I'm foul-mouthed. For the past three years, I have been listening to your Majesty being so aggrieved. I actually want to come back, but the late emperor gave me a death order. If your Majesty hadn't taken the initiative to summon me, I would not be able to come back even if I died in Shu."

"But there's not a day that I don't want to come back. Damn Yang Shanchang, what an ungrateful guy. If the late emperor hadn't promoted him, would he have achieved what he has now? And if the late emperor hadn't stopped his son, I would have killed Yang Guofu long ago. How could he just be blinded in one eye? And Yang Shanchang, the late emperor asked him to help His Majesty, but he turned around and started to covet power for me!"

"That's because I'm not in the capital. If I were, even if I was charged with murdering a high-ranking official, I would kill his entire family! At worst, I could go to see the late emperor a few years earlier and kowtow to him hundreds of times to beg for forgiveness."

"I won't say anything about Zong Ze and those people in Longxi. The late emperor issued an order that no matter how chaotic Daxia is, we cannot allow foreign races to invade and mess up our China! That's why we can't move!"

"But you two are just sitting here doing nothing, right?! You are just watching Yang Shanchang and that crazy woman forcing our emperor step by step, right? Marrying a wife and still being talked about? Damn it! She is the emperor! Just watching like that! I came to Beijing this time, one is to help our emperor kill people, and the other is to scold you two useless things!!"

"Don't tell me that I have my own reasons, that His Majesty doesn't trust me, so I can't do anything, that I can't stop that bastard Yang Shanchang, and that I can only secretly help His Majesty build up power, or some such bullshit!! And don't say anything like the late emperor asked you to watch what His Majesty does!! How can you bear to watch these people bully the girl I have watched grow up!"

"She was just a little girl three years ago!! She was all alone! Thanks to her great strength, she survived. If something really happened, how would you two face the late emperor! How would you face the late empress!!"

At the end, Zhu Huang stopped lying down and stood up, pointing at the two idiots, cursing them more and more dirty, with tears on his face.

"I'm in Shu, looking towards Luo'an every day, begging me to come back. Every ten days or so, I send a letter of greeting, hoping to ask me to come back to Beijing. This time, I got what I wanted. I was so excited that I rode my horse over here. My butt is so rotten! But what are you two doing?!"

"When I was talking to His Majesty yesterday, I felt so heartbroken when I saw her like that!"

Su Wenqing and Meng Qin lowered their heads, neither refutating nor saying anything extra.

There are difficulties.

But it cannot be used as an excuse.

I was so focused on protecting His Majesty's safety that I forgot some things.

It’s wrong, it’s wrong!

They have confessed their sins to His Majesty and apologized to him.

Now they are being scolded by Zhu Huang, they deserve it.

Bang!

At this time.

Yan Yunxiao jumped down from the wall and walked to the table. He picked up the pot of wine and smelled it: "Hmm, it smells good. Give me a pot some other day."

After saying that, he looked at Zhu Huang and said, "The late emperor said that if you bark like a dog and curse people when you return to the capital, let me tell you to be a good person and stop barking like a dog."

Zhu Huang looked at Yan Yunxiao.

Yan Yunxiao continued, "Also let me ask you, is this girl emperor powerful enough? Is she comparable to him back then? Do you accept it?"

After that, Yan Yunxiao took out another wine gourd: "I asked for this for you. The female doctor beside the queen is quite capable. Drinking this wine will make your butt heal faster."

After saying this, Yan Yunxiao found a stool and sat down, crossed his legs, and looked at Zhu Huang: "I was also left behind by the late emperor, so if you want to scold me, scold me too."

Zhu Huang wiped away his tears, looked at Yan Yunxiao and said with a smile: "How dare I scold you."

But he sobbed and looked at Yan Yunxiao and asked carefully: "Did our late emperor really ask me that?"

Yan Yunxiao replied: "Not only did I ask you, but we all asked you that."

Zhu Huang grinned, and without caring whether his butt hurt or not, he knelt down in the direction of the royal ancestral temple in the east, kowtowed three times, and said, "I surrender!"

Yan Yunxiao didn't say anything. He just took a sip of wine and looked at the osmanthus flowers above his head.

When did the late emperor ask me whether I was willing to protect His Majesty?

It was probably time to walk quickly.

Forget it, why think about these things? If something really happens, just take His Majesty and the Queen away.

And if something really happens, we will be the ones to blame.

but

Your Majesty and the Queen went to the Flower Garden, right?

Did you go to the Shihua Pavilion at the same time that year?

Is the courtesan from back then now the madam of that place?

Forgot.

but

It seems that the late emperor proposed to the late empress on that day. Hmm. It seemed to be the Mid-Autumn Festival of that year. But he was beaten by the late empress because she was too shy.

(End of this chapter)