Chapter 55

After the heavyweights left, the annual banquet really became a place for drinking and chatting.

Xie Jingshan did not stay long. After saying goodbye to his colleagues, he returned to his residence. Master Xie had not slept yet, and was obviously waiting for news from him.

"Dad, it really started a fight."

Master Xie poured him a glass of water and said, "Slow down, speak slowly."

Xie Jingshan recounted what happened in the palace today. "I never expected that the first person to jump out would be Zheng Yushi from the Censorate? I never paid attention to this person before."

"This is different from what we investigated. There was no concubine standing behind Censor Zheng. His coming forward must have nothing to do with Concubine Chu framing the Seventh Prince. You said he came forward because he really couldn't stand the Marquis killing people?"

"You are still a three-year-old child. Even if you really don't like it, you won't say it at the annual banquet. The people in the Censorate are the ones who submit memorials first and then criticize others. This is what they believe in: courtesy before force."

Grand Tutor Xie thought for a while and said, "I don't know who Censor Zheng is, but this Censor of the Ministry of Justice... it's just too coincidental that he started a conversation with me."

The Six Ministries' Censor-in-Chief was a low-ranking official with great power, and he was in charge of supervising the department, so his position was also crucial.

Xie Jingshan said: "He has some relationship with Concubine Lan's mother's family."

Grand Tutor Xie pondered: "Is it Concubine Lan who is behind Concubine Chu's actions?..."

-

Purple Palace.

Emperor Chongzhao went to the West Warm Pavilion and said, "Please give Marquis Xu a seat."

Xu Jin and Prince Ming both sat on chairs, and Eunuch Yu served them milk tea.

Emperor Chongzhao: "It's a fresh drink, Lord Xu, please have a taste."

Xu Jin didn't care and took a bite.

What a milky taste, all that noise, wine is better.

"It was Xiao Qi who came up with this. He has a lot of weird ideas in his little head."

Xu Jin tasted it carefully and found it very interesting: "It's quite good."

Emperor Chongzhao: "Marquis Xu came to see me alone, what is he doing here?"

Xu Jin sat very steady: "I know that His Majesty is afraid of me, so I came to hand over the power."

"puff--"

Prince Ming spat out a mouthful of tea, patted his chest repeatedly, stood up and said, "Brother Royal, I suddenly remembered that I have some unfinished business at home, so I will leave first. No need to see me off."

Is this what he can hear?

Emperor Chongzhao: "Be steady and sit down!"

"Why do you say that, Lord Xu? You are still my father-in-law, we are all family, how could I be afraid of you?"

Xu Jin was silent for a while. "Yueqing is dead. I don't have a daughter anymore. I didn't even see her for the last time. If it weren't for this damned——"

"Xu Jin!" Emperor Chongzhao's face turned cold, "Watch your words."

Xu Jin's voice suddenly rose: "If it weren't for His Majesty insisting on Yueqing entering the palace, if it weren't for this damn Northern Frontier military power, if it weren't for the importance of the country and family, how could I, Xu Jin, have sent my beloved daughter to hell? Why would my wife have to go to all the Buddhist temples and pray to all the gods and Buddhas, but still not get a single bit of peace!"

Emperor Chongzhao: "Enough!"

Eunuch Yu's heart began to beat fast.

"I killed the assassin just to vent my anger. Your Majesty should know this very well. You and I are both father-in-law and son-in-law, and monarch and subject. We know each other's personalities. Your Majesty wants to check and balance the military power of the Northern Frontier, so why bother hiding it! Put all the chips on the table, and let's talk it over directly!"

"The late emperor dared to place all the military power of the Northern Frontier in my hands. Now that it has come to Your Majesty, you dare not even discuss it!"

Emperor Chongzhao clenched the teacup and threw it to the ground, breaking it into pieces. He was extremely angry: "I have said enough!"

All of their thoughts were completely torn apart and laid out in the open. Prince Ming covered his heart and held his breath as his brother's angry panting sounded.

Normally, even if there are tests and concessions between a monarch and his subjects, they are all hidden in subtle conversations. No matter how many calculations are hidden in their minds, at least they appear calm on the surface.

This kind of hard-core negotiation, where both parties are fighting each other, is the first time that Prince Ming has ever seen it in his life.

Xu Jin suddenly stood up, then squatted down suddenly. The gray-haired man held his head and cried loudly.

"I don't have a daughter anymore... I don't have a daughter anymore..."

"Who will compensate me if my daughter is gone? Who will compensate me..."

"I, Xu Jin, have saved so many people in the border area. Who will save my daughter?"

Emperor Chongzhao was stunned.

The boiling anger was like a bucket of cold water poured over my head.

He put his hands on the armrests of the chair and slowly sat down, supporting his still throbbing forehead with one hand.

For a moment, there was only crying and silence in the West Warm Pavilion.

for a long time.

Emperor Chongzhao propped up his head and said in a hoarse voice, "I don't want to say more about Yueqing's affairs. I know you think the Astronomy Department may have intervened in this matter, but I watched Zhang Fanming for two years and found nothing unusual."

"You can kill Zhang Shiming if you want. Whether it's to vent your anger or to show your suspicion, I will just pretend I haven't heard of this matter. The Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple are just going through the motions."

He spoke slowly.

Xu Jin sat cross-legged on the ground with his back to the emperor. He took out the military token from his arms and threw it in the direction of Prince Ming.

Prince Ming caught it, not daring to breathe in this strange atmosphere, and carefully placed the military token next to Emperor Chongzhao.

The military talisman is a two-headed tiger, with two pieces, the upper and the lower, which can be combined into one to mobilize soldiers from the northern border.

Originally, one portion was held by the emperor or the military supervisor, and one by the general of the northern border. In order to suppress unrest and improve efficiency during the reign of the previous emperor, the system was directly changed, with the commander-in-chief of the northern border controlling the power and dispatch of troops.

Later, after the unrest subsided, Fang Hechuan, the commander-in-chief of the Five Armies and the Minister of War, abdicated, and only Marquis Chijian was stationed in the northern border to resist the covetous eyes over there.

He gradually became a major concern for Emperor Chongzhao.

Today, the military token is placed before him.

Emperor Chongzhao did not reach out to take it. Prince Ming looked left and right and felt like he was about to suffocate. He was really not suitable for this depressing atmosphere.

"Father?" Qu Dubian quietly poked his head out from outside, "Can I come in?"

Prince Ming was as if he had been pardoned: "Nephew? Come in, come in!"

Xu Jin, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground crying, quickly covered his face and listened to the child's brisk footsteps running past him.

Qu Dubian resisted the urge to look at his grandfather, trotted over to Emperor Chongzhao, and poked his calf, "Why don't you go to bed? You haven't reviewed any memorials yet. I'm waiting for you."

He came out wearing a thick cloak, wearing sandals, and holding only a small pillow.

He was waiting so anxiously. God knows he couldn't sit still when he vaguely heard the quarrel over here.

He felt that his grandfather was a man with a stubborn temper. He was not sure about the situation in Northern Xinjiang, nor about the relationship between his grandfather and his stepfather. He was worried that his stepfather would be killed all of a sudden.

So when there was no movement here, he ran over.

Of course, he was just a child at that time and knew nothing, so he couldn't speak to his grandfather openly.

Emperor Chongzhao took a breath and patted his head. "Father is dealing with something. You go back and have some sleep. I will be back soon."

"Yu Decai, take the Seventh Prince back and don't let him get caught in the wind."

"yes."

Eunuch Yu bent down and took Qu Dubian's hand, "Your Highness, shall we go?"

Qu Watanabe: "Then hurry up and come back before I fall asleep."

Emperor Chongzhao nodded.

Qu Dubian then left, but when he walked to Xu Jin's side, he caught a glimpse of the wet tear marks on the face of the aging marquis.

He covered his face and sat cross-legged, like a silent and huge stone.

Qu Dubian paused and could not move any further.

In one second, he told himself countless times that it was not appropriate to stop, but his feet still did not move forward obediently.

Qu Dubian sighed in his heart and broke free from Eunuch Yu's hand.

The child squatted in front of the big guy, and seemed curious, asking: "Why don't you look at me? Are you shy?"

Xu Jin moved his fingers slightly, revealing a gap between his fingers. His bloodshot eyes finally saw the child left behind by his daughter. His little grandson.

After seeing this, he could no longer hold back his tears, but he still covered his face, which would scare children.

I cried silently, but my tears flowed like a mountain collapsing.

Yes, very similar.

This child looks so much like his mother when she was a child, especially his eyes.

Through this face, he was crying for his child.

Xu Jin covered his face with one hand and stretched out the other hand, wanting to touch but not daring to.

Emotions can sometimes spread and infect others. Qu Duanbian felt his chest was blocked and painful. He lowered his head to hide his expression for a second, then held up his little pillow.

"Do you want this? But my father said that this was given to me by my grandmother and asked me to cherish it. I can't give it to you."

"No, I don't want this," Xu Jin said hoarsely, waving his hands quickly, "Excuse me... I'm just sick and don't feel well."

"Are you sick?" Qu Dubian rummaged around in his pocket, took out a few candies and placed them in Xu Jin's palm.

"I'm often sick too. Whenever I feel bitter in my mouth, I eat this. I'm giving it to you. You're already a big, tall adult. Don't cry. I've never cried before."

Xu Jin pinched the candy: "Okay, okay..."

Seeing Qu Dubian's thin pajamas, he urged, "Go quickly, go back, it's so cold."

Qu Watanabe: "Bye!"

He asked Eunuch Yu to pick him up, curled up into a ball, and left the West Warm Pavilion. Lying in Eunuch Yu's arms, he turned around, put his head on Eunuch Yu's shoulder, and waved at Xu Jin.

Xu Jin also subconsciously raised his hand and waved.

He slowly withdrew his gaze until the child was out of sight.

Emperor Chongzhao: "He was originally a bold man, so you didn't need to cover your face at first. Eyes, look alike, don't they?"

Xu Jin said nothing.

Emperor Chongzhao: "Let's stop here for today. Now that we have laid it out, I will also tell you that the Northern Frontier still depends on you to hold it down, so you can't let go completely."

"But I already know your attitude. I will deal with it all at once when the court opens after the new year. What do you want from this incident and this outcome?"

Xu Jin stood up slowly. "From now on, the Seventh Prince can approach the Marquis' Mansion openly. Your Majesty, can you rest assured?"

Emperor Chongzhao was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I didn't intend to stop you."

Xu Jin: "Your Majesty, you have many children, and this is the only one left in the Xu family. My wife and I have both grown gray hair, and our house is deserted. During the New Year, let this child come over to accompany us."

Emperor Chongzhao took off half of the military token and threw it at Xu Jin.

Xu Jin caught it with his backhand.

Emperor Chongzhao: "I approve."

-

late at night.

Xu Mansion.

Xu Tingfeng lit a big iron pot in the yard. There was some oil floating in the fragrant chicken soup, and a bunch of messy and weird noodles were placed on the winnowing basket.

Xu Jin climbed over the wall.

Xu Tingfeng's ears twitched, and he stirred the pot with his extended chopsticks, shaking his head: "I knew it was right not to leave the front door for Uncle."

"I estimated the time and arrived just in time. The soup has just been prepared and the noodles are just being cooked."

Xu Jin stood with his hands behind his back and kicked the stone bench inside as he passed by the pavilion. The stone bench fell accurately opposite the iron pot with a bang.

He sat down slowly: "Bowl."

"Vulgar," Xu Tingfeng handed the bowl over while cooking the noodles, "We have to wait a while, add some chili at the end."

"Why don't you ask me if everything is going well?"

"Uncle is so leisurely, it must be going well. Uncle is in Peking University, and power sharing is inevitable. Instead of waiting for the emperor to take action, it is better to take the initiative."

Xu Jin: "How do you know that I returned to Beijing to resolve this matter? I didn't tell you in advance."

Xu Tingfeng smiled but said nothing.

When the noodles were cooked, he picked up a pair of chopsticks and served them to Xu Jinsheng.

"You are a man of love. If you return to the capital just to vent your anger or... you must take the Seventh Prince away in advance. You will never ignore Sister Qing's child."

Xu Jin didn't say anything, but slurped up a bowl of noodles. Suddenly, he said, "Imperial Censor Zheng is your man."

Xu Tingfeng didn't stop stirring the noodles and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Is it obvious?"

"What a wild guess. You're not in the officialdom and you've almost disappeared in the capital. Who would have thought it would be your man? But the words that Censor Zheng handed over were too easy to pick up. Other officials in the capital are as smart as ghosts. They wouldn't leave me such easy words to pick up. The timing was just right."

Xu Tingfeng sighed: "Okay, I'll pay attention next time."

The ugly noodles make people hungry, and when they slide into the stomach with a bowl of fragrant chicken soup, they are very satisfying.

"The young general in white robe, you conquered Wolf Mountain with one shot, and you calculated everything on the battlefield with your moves. You are not a scholar, but a Confucian scholar." Xu Jin said, "Ting Feng, do you want to go back to the Northern Frontier? Er Sen and Lang Qing are here, and the Ninth Battalion misses their young commander."

"In this situation, the capital, my aunt and my nephew need someone to watch over them in secret," Xu Tingfeng paused, rubbed his thigh lightly with his fingertips, and shrugged with an unchanged smile.

"And as you can see, uncle."

The chicken soup in the iron pot gurgles, and the heat spreads in the cold night.

“I enjoy cooking more now.”