Chapter 173 Chapter 173 is the only genuine version...
Good luck!
Some people didn't believe it at first, but when they saw the Minister of Rites with a bitter face, staying up late to look through ancient books and trying to find out what the regulations were for the Crown Prince's wedding to bring good luck, they finally all believed it.
“…”
They were all dumbfounded.
Someone said with a sour tone, "Prince Chen is truly a man who endures humiliation. Haha, for the sake of the Gu family's military power, he's even willing to celebrate a wedding."
No one paid any attention to these words.
However, they all remembered another thing. The third prince Xie Jing also held a banquet to take a concubine on the tenth day of September. The concubine he took was the girl destined by heaven, Ji Nan Ke, the former pearl of the capital.
The invitations to the Third Prince have all been sent out. Could it be that Prince Chen deliberately chose the same day?
More people scoffed at this statement. Prince Chen was not crazy. Why did he have to compete with the Third Prince for a concubine?
Although the marriage between the two families was decided long ago, they were indeed a little anxious about the betrothal, and various voices were heard constantly.
Xie Yingchen had guessed this would happen, so he was very frank about the idea of "rushing for happiness" and made no secret of it, so as to avoid anyone making dirty criticisms of him.
He was completely preoccupied with his own marriage.
Xie Yingchen compared the list of betrothal gifts and was still not satisfied with the wooden goose as a gift.
In Daqi, wild geese are presented as gifts when proposing marriage and welcoming the bride.
Live geese are hard to come by, and even harder to find at this time of year.
Xie Yingchen bent his knuckles and tapped lightly on the desk.
Do we have to use wooden geese first and then prepare live geese when we welcome the bride?
"Young Master."
Huai Jingzhi knew that he wanted to do everything perfectly, so he reminded him, "The East Factory might have live geese. Next month is the Emperor's Birthday Festival, and the inner court should also have prepared a hundred birds."
Xie Yingchen raised his eyebrows, that’s right!
This was the suggestion made by the Imperial Preceptor during the reign of Emperor Taizu.
On the day of Wanshou Festival, hundreds of birds are released to pray for peace and prosperity for the country and the people.
"Get ready, let's go to the palace first."
Xie Yingchen solemnly put away the list of betrothal gifts, got up and left.
It is now September, and Xie Yingchen can't stand the cold and needs a cloak when going out.
He got on the carriage and drove straight to the palace.
Prince Li was right. His current status was too embarrassing and he was not worthy of Yaoyao.
Prince Chen's Mansion is in the inner city, not far from the imperial palace.
There were more students in front of the Meridian Gate. When they saw the carriage from Prince Chen's Mansion coming, they stopped talking and followed the carriage with their eyes.
"Do you think Prince Chen can become the master of the Eastern Palace?"
A young student said in a low voice.
This sentence caused a moment of silence around.
The Duke of Wei had also mentioned this on the Meridian Gate Tower, but the emperor was furious and must have been unwilling to do so.
"The Crown Prince is legitimate."
"If the Emperor does not respond, he will be disobeying the late Emperor's decree."
Yes, yes.
"The Emperor hasn't even appointed a crown prince yet. Perhaps the late Emperor already left a will."
These were the words Xie Jing heard when he rode past, and he felt very sad.
When the previous emperor was alive, he had allowed students to discuss politics. No matter how unhappy Xie Jing was, he couldn't drive them away. He kicked his horse's belly, and the horse ran faster, passing Xie Yingchen in front and entering the palace gate first.
After being forced to rehabilitate the deposed crown prince, perhaps fearing that he would be forced to appoint a crown prince again, the emperor did not attend the morning court for the past few days. He stayed in Hanzhang Palace all day and ignored all the letters of greeting.
Xie Yingchen was used to this.
It would be better if the emperor didn't come out, so he could take the initiative to find him.
"Meow!"
A familiar cat meow came from the direction above his head. Shen Mao stood on the yellow tiles of the palace wall, looking down at him condescendingly, with his unicorn tail raised high, looking extremely proud.
"Where's your master?"
Xie Yingchen asked with a smile, originally just teasing the cat casually, but just as he finished speaking, a fiery red figure walked over from the bluestone path to the side. His long sleeves hung naturally, and he glanced over. The arrogance and impatience on his face were exactly the same as Shen Mao's.
"Meow~"
Cat Shen easily swung its unicorn tail and greeted its owner.
Xie Yingchen originally planned to look for him after coming out of Hanzhang Palace, so it wouldn't hurt to meet him in advance.
Xie Yingchen took the initiative to walk towards him, took out a red gold-sprinkled card from his sleeve pocket, and handed it to him with both hands.
Chen Xu lowered his eyes and took a look, then raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, "You invited me?" The invitation was a thin piece of paper, but it felt heavy in his hand.
"Are you sure?"
A sneer escaped from Shen Xu's lips, and the corners of his eyes raised with a hint of inquiry and mockery.
"Your Highness Prince Chen, aren't you afraid of people's gossip? For the sake of the throne, you're willing to lower yourself to curry favor with a sycophant like me?"
Xie Yingchen's smile did not fade: "If the governor wants to be a female guest, it is also possible to attend the banquet at the Zhenbei Palace."
Chen Xu: “…I’ll go when I’m free.”
He put away the invitation, and Xie Yingchen asked again, "Master, are there any wild geese among the hundred birds this year? Could you give me two as a gift?"
"I have never seen anyone rushing to ask for a gift."
Xie Yingchen didn't care about his sarcastic tone at all: "Pick the two that are the fattest and have the most beautiful fur."
Chen Xu sneered repeatedly: "Do you want me to have someone bring you a basket, and you can take your time to choose?"
Xie Yingchen was not polite at all and bowed in thanks.
snort.
Chen Xu snorted coldly, neither responding nor refusing, and continued walking forward on his own. Judging from the direction he was heading, he was also heading to Hanzhang Palace. Xie Yingchen was walking with him.
The tabby cat circled around his feet, meowing affectionately, which made Xie Yingchen look at it a few more times.
Seeing Xie Yingchen looking at the cat, Shen Xu's gaze also shifted over.
Asking for a goose is not enough, you also want to ask him for a cat?
Just as he thought of this, Xie Yingchen said, "Master, please lend me Shen Mao for a few days."
Chen Xu: “…”
Xie Yingchen's attitude was natural, as if he and he were old friends, and he didn't beat around the bush: "Yaoyao is a little bored living in the temple, let Chen Mao go and play with her for a few days."
Chen Xu stopped and asked: "Is it really a wedding?"
Xie Yingchen nodded.
The Yin siblings were deeply involved with Tianming, so Xie Yingchen did not hide it and told everything he could.
Chen Xu couldn't help but recall the last time they were in the carriage, when Gu Zhizhuo had said with a smile that her soul might be scattered and it would be difficult for her to enter the reincarnation cycle. At that time, Chen Xu didn't understand what she meant. It wasn't until he met his sister and she told him something that he finally understood.
There is a price to pay for not accepting your fate.
Shen Xu leaned over and picked up the cat.
Just as Shen Mao was about to raise his head to rub his chin, the whole cat flew up and fell into the arms of another person.
When the cat turned its head and saw that it was Xie Yingchen, it immediately meowed angrily and bared its teeth and claws.
"Shall I take you to play with Yaoyao?"
"Meow?"
The paw paused before pressing against his face, and the cat licked it awkwardly.
Immediately afterwards, another ebony box was thrown over.
Chen Xu: "Gift."
Xie Yingchen took it again, put the cat on his shoulder and opened the box.
The box was only the size of a palm, and inside it was half an ink stick. Judging from the golden words on the ink stick, it was the birthday gift that the emperor had presented to the previous emperor.
Xie Yingchen only knew that there was such an ink stick before. Prince Jin used it to threaten the emperor, but he had never seen it with his own eyes.
He closed the box silently and sighed softly, "This gift is indeed a bit heavy."
"Thank you, Lord Governor."
Chen Xu snorted indifferently.
Hanzhang Palace was just ahead. Xie Yingchen said the last thing he had planned to discuss with him: "Governor, the epidemic in Qingzhou has spread quite severely, affecting three or four provinces."
After Xie Yingchen became regent, he did not seize power. Memorials from the localities still had to go through the Imperial Household Department first. Therefore, Shen Xu also knew this.
This epidemic originated from Wujiang Prefecture, and the villages and towns near Wujiang Prefecture were the most severely affected. With the scattered refugees, other provinces in Qingzhou were not spared.
"The pills Yaoyao made have all been sent to Qingzhou in batches. However, Qingzhou is now without someone to take charge, and chaos is rampant. The people below are very disobedient." Xie Yingchen was quite serious when talking about business. "I wonder if the governor is willing to make a trip?"
This is giving up power. Shen Xu has power, but it is limited to the capital.
If he accepted this task, it would be equivalent to Xie Yingchen handing Qingzhou over to him.
Is this person really not afraid of him taking over power? Shen Xu pondered.
Xie Yingchen said with a hint of meaning, "Master, this mission can be discussed with others."
Shen Xu's eyes were as sharp as a blade, but soon turned into annoyance in the face of Xie Yingchen's smile.
He didn't dare let his sister know that he was Chen Xu from the East Factory, who was feared, loathed and hated by everyone.
He didn't dare tell his sister how he had survived all these years.
The job in Qingzhou was more or less a serious job, and it was one that I could tell my sister about.
After entering Hanzhang Palace, Xie Yingchen did not rush him and said, "Wait a moment, we'll talk in detail after I come out."
Xie Yingchen pinched the ebony box in his sleeve pocket, asked the eunuch to pass on the message, and strode into the inner room.
Shen Xu did not follow.
He sat in the armchair by the window, and the eunuch quickly brought him his usual tea.
He sipped his tea carelessly, considering Xie Yingchen's proposal carefully.
Did Xie Yingchen really give up his power, or did he want to get rid of himself and take the opportunity to get rid of the East Factory?
"Xie Yingchen, you are so outrageous!"
A roar came from inside, "How dare you... threaten me!"
Then there was the sound of some heavy objects being swept down, clattering all over the floor.
"Would I be afraid of you?!"
Shen Xu took a sip of tea and turned a deaf ear.
He stroked the teacup and denied the latter.
Xie Yingchen would not be so stupid as to abandon himself before the dust settled.
"Qingzhou?"
Shen Xu murmured.
If I tell my sister that he is an imperial envoy going to Qingzhou to be responsible for disaster relief, will she feel relieved?
"Xie Yingchen!"
Boom!
The sound of something heavy falling interrupted his thoughts.
A trip to Qingzhou only takes ten days or half a month.
As long as I can make my sister feel at ease...
"roll!"
The cat jumped up in fright and buried its head in Shen Xu's arms.
Chen Xu frowned and threw the teacup back on the table in annoyance. The eunuchs serving on the side were as silent as a cicada.
"Xie Yingchen, you have ulterior motives!"
After a while, Xie Yingchen finally came out. He called a eunuch and said, "Go call the imperial physician. The emperor is not feeling well."
"Send it to Prince Li and the cabinet again. The Emperor wants to see him."
Chen Xu glanced over with a hint of curiosity: "Is it done?"
"Okay."
Xie Yingchen sat down on the armchair next to Shen Xu and said, "The emperor has lost his sight."
Forehead? !
"Maybe he's seriously ill."
"Maybe it's backlash."
Shen Xu chuckled, and a hint of joy appeared in his irritable peach blossom eyes.
Xie Yingchen picked up the teacup in front of him and toasted him.
Shen Xu hesitated for a moment, then returned the favor by offering tea and drinking half a cup in one breath.
"Xie Yingchen!"
Xie Jing rushed out from inside.
At first, he thought the person had left, so he rushed to the palace gate. However, he found Xie Yingchen sitting leisurely in an armchair, drinking tea. He stopped and walked towards Xie Yingchen.
He was standing and Xie Yingchen was sitting.
However, Xie Jing did not feel condescending. Instead, he could not help but avoid his gaze when he met his.
Xie Yingchen smiled and asked, "What's the matter?"
Remembering how he had threatened and intimidated the emperor just now, demanding the throne, Xie Jing was furious, with countless questions in his mind, and he hurriedly chased after him.
He caught up with him and called out to him.
He was timid. Xie Jing's lips moved for a long time before he finally said, "You coerced your father into taking the throne. In the final analysis, you are nothing but a traitor and a traitor..."
Xie Yingchen interrupted him calmly: "Cousin Jing, do you still remember the curse Changfeng made before his death?"
"You killed Changfeng with your own hands that day. Tell me, does the emperor think you were protecting him, or was he trying to silence him?"
"If the Emperor finds out that Ji Shi was arranged by you, will he continue to treat you as his precious son, or will he be afraid of fulfilling Chang Feng's curse and give up your precious son first?"
All the questions Xie Jing wanted to ask were stuck in his throat.
He opened his mouth.
Xie Yingchen smiled more gently, like a cousin guiding his younger cousin.
"You can't even protect yourself, yet you still meddle in other people's affairs. No wonder the legitimate son of the Central Palace can't even get close to the Eastern Palace."
"I've been away from the capital for six years, and you couldn't even enter the Eastern Palace. Now that I'm back, don't even think about it."
Xie Jing: “…”
In Xie Jing's eyes, Xie Yingchen seemed to have torn off his long-standing disguise, revealing his bloody fangs.
"Jing'er!"
"Where are you, Jing'er!"
The emperor's hysterical shouts came from inside, and Xie Jing shuddered.
Yin Xin came out and said, "Your Highness, the Third Prince, the Emperor is calling you."
Xie Yingchen lowered his eyes and drank tea. Without those eyes staring at him, Xie Jing's tense back suddenly relaxed and he ran in with staggering steps.
After finishing his tea, Xie Yingchen put down the teacup and said, "If you have time, Governor, can you come back to Wenyuan Pavilion with me?"
Chen Xu stood up with his sleeves swung: "Let's go."
Chen Xu thought he was going to give him a transfer order to Qingzhou.
Unexpectedly, in addition to the transfer order, there was also an imperial edict, an edict to exonerate the Yin family.
Chen Xu held the imperial edict in his hand, remained silent for a long time, and walked out of Wenyuan Hall without looking back.
Chen Xu changed out of the extremely flamboyant red Qilin robe in the carriage and headed straight for Tianxi Tower.
Yin Xiyan still lived in the wing room in the small courtyard of Tianxi Building. She could not get up or move for the time being. She took the medicine prescribed by Gu Zhizhuo every day, and her complexion improved a lot.
She was the type of person who could take some time off, so Chen Xu had someone make her a small table that could be placed on the couch, and she leaned on the pillow to repair the incomplete score.
There are writing instruments and music scores on the table, and her pipa is at hand.
After repairing each section, she would test the sound.
The occasional sound of the pipa was like the gentlest breeze, soothing the restlessness in Shen Xu's heart.
Hearing the footsteps, Yin Xiyan looked up and smiled: "Brother Xian, you are here."
She put down her pipa and waved to him.
Chen Xu handed over the imperial edict and sat down on the round stool beside the couch. His hands were tense and his palms were a little wet. He wanted to take out a white towel to wipe his hands, but his fingers flexed again and again and he finally managed to hold it back.
Yin Xiyan opened the imperial edict and read it quickly, then her breathing suddenly stopped.
Then, she couldn't wait to watch it a second time, and a third time, and tears finally rolled down her eyes, soaking her fair face.
finally.
She waited.
She could no longer control herself, covered her face with her hands and sobbed.
The Yin family was accused of being horse bandits and all the members of the family were executed.
When she escaped from Blackwater Castle, her original goal was only to survive and redress the Yin family's injustice.
She didn't want her parents to bear this unbearable crime in the underworld.
She didn't want her and her brother to spend their whole lives hiding, hiding their identities, like rats in the gutter, unable to see the sun.
"The Yin family's property will also be returned to us."
In fact, all the family property had been divided up long ago.
But it doesn't matter. Whoever's pocket it's in will have his hand chopped off. There's nothing Shen Xu can't get if he wants it.
Yin Xiyan raised her face from the imperial edict, the corners of her eyes were bright red and bloodshot.
Tears continued to flow down her face, and she couldn't stop them. She held the imperial edict tightly against her chest.
Chen Xu imitated Gu Zhizhuo's coaxing manner, his peach blossom eyes clear and without a trace of haze: "Sister, you can take care of the Yin family's horse farm again in the future. Oh, by the way, Sister can restore her household registration. I will go and do it in a moment."
He smiled shyly, innocently and kindly: "Don't worry, it will be done quickly."
If the Jingzhao Yin dares to delay, chop him into pieces!
Yin Xiyan: “…”
Her eyes fell on his taut little finger.
He grew up under her nose since he was a child. Is there anything he does that she can't understand?
What secrets could he possibly hide from her?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
