Chapter 183 Chapter 183 is the only genuine version...
Gu Yican planned to conquer the Northern Di in one or two years while they had not yet recovered.
The national strength of the Great Qi Dynasty is such that it is impossible to go to war with both sides at the same time. If the court allocates all its resources to the Zhenbei Army, it will not be possible to go to war with the Liang Kingdom again within five years.
Therefore, this condition is not so much a transaction as it is a "step forward to retreat".
"Jiang Wu said," Gu Zhizhuo's eyes dimmed as he slowly repeated Jiang Wu's words to his brother, "Duoleng and the Emperor agreed that Daqi would hand over my father to him for elimination, and Xiliang would not invade again for ten years."
"Oh."
A faint laugh escaped from her lips: "Now it can be considered as tit for tat."
As if sensing her depressed mood, the cat put its two paws on her shoulders and rubbed its furry little head against her face.
Gu Zhizhuo held it in his arms.
"Meow."
Gu Yican: "Will Prince Liang agree?" His voice lacked the usual high spirits.
He went to Xiliang with his father, and finally let his father be buried there alone.
"meeting."
Xie Yingchen smiled and explained gently, "Firstly, the Prince of Liang has long wanted to get rid of Duoleng, but due to Liang tradition, he can't do so. After all, he inherited the throne from his brother, and his queen is Duoleng's mother. Killing with a borrowed knife, using Daqi to get rid of Duoleng, this offer will only play into his hands."
"Secondly, Liang suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of my father-in-law. Like the Northern Di, it will take three to five years to recover. I had Jiang Youzheng station troops on the border, pretending to declare war. Over the past month, they've launched several fierce attacks, taking advantage of the chaos to capture three border cities. The King of Liang is probably unsure of Daqi's military strength and intentions. If the letter is worded strongly, he'll be afraid."
"For King Liang, giving up Duolingo bought him time to recuperate."
"Just like our emperor, who gave up his father-in-law, got rid of a great worry, and was able to get the Liang Kingdom to surrender. Why not do it?"
Gu Yican nodded silently.
In the final analysis, the two countries are like sitting at a poker table. Three years ago, Daddy was the bargaining chip, but now, the bargaining chip has become more multifaceted.
Well, let Duoleng sacrifice the knife first.
"Cancan, go to Western Xinjiang and welcome Xie Jing's bride." Xie Yingchen took the memorial and slammed it down on the stone table. "Take the Western Xinjiang troops to scare Western Liang, and then take my letter to the King of Liang."
Gu Yican followed his father to fight against the Liang Kingdom, and the people of Liang Kingdom knew about his reputation and feared him.
Gu Yican agreed.
"Remember to bring him back to the capital alive. Duoleng is a 'VIP', so don't get too impatient on the way." Xie Yingchen spoke in the gentlest tone, yet with the coldest words, "Once this is done, Duoleng will be a birthday gift for Yaoyao and you. You can do whatever you want with him."
Gu Yican was delighted when he heard this: "It's a deal."
The two of them raised their hands and high-fived, and Gu Zhizhuo also nodded.
"Then when should I go?"
"I will issue an order later today. We will set off within three days."
"no problem."
Gu Yican rubbed his hands together and pressed his fingers together.
He had fought against this great prince Duo Leng before when he was in the Western Frontier.
Xie Yingchen asked Huai Jingzhi to go back first, and Huai Jingzhi naturally understood how to tell Lord Cheng'en.
Gu Zhizhuo grabbed the cat's claws and waved at him.
"Your Majesty."
Nanny Zhu stood outside the pavilion at a distance until Qingmei came over to bring her in. She then said, "Madam Tai asked me to ask when dinner would be served."
"Have someone serve the meal," Gu Zhizhuo offered. "We'll be there soon. Are Cousin Danling and Cousin Xing still at Ronghe Hall?"
"Yes." Nanny Zhu said respectfully, "I'm talking to the Madam."
She said happily, "Let's go, let's go. I wonder what delicious food grandma has prepared for me."
It was a rare sight that the entire Ronghetang family had arrived. The lady loved the hustle and bustle and was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling.
Xie Danling was so comfortable living outside that she didn't want to return to the palace even after dinner. She acted like a spoiled child and stayed at the Zhenbei Palace with Gu Zhizhuo. The lady-in-waiting liked her the most and readily agreed, "Little Princess, you can stay as long as you want."
So, after dinner, only Xie Yingchen and Wang Xing went back.
"What are your plans for the future, cousin?"
Wang Xing pretended not to understand what he meant and said with a smile, "Does Princess Shang count?"
The Ji family was not allowed to enter the officialdom by Emperor Taizu.
But the Wang family was unwilling to enter the officialdom.
The reason why the Wang family has survived several dynasties is that they are cautious.
The previous emperor wanted to promote the Wang family and married both of their daughters to the capital, but the Wang family remained dormant.
Xie Yingchen took the initiative to invite, "Cousin, would you like to come to my house and have a seat?"
Although the emperor issued the imperial edict, no one knew what he was thinking. The enthronement ceremony has not been held until now, as if he had forgotten it and could pretend it never happened.
Therefore, Xie Yingchen did not live in the so-called East Palace now, but still lived in Prince Chen's Mansion, and he did not even change the plaque.
When he entered the room, Xie Yingchen saw Xie Jing pacing back and forth at the door, neither knocking nor leaving.
Lord Cheng'en had been waiting in the flower hall for several hours, accompanied by Huai Jingzhi the whole time. When he saw Xie Yingchen come in, he quickly stood up and glanced at Wang Xing, who was walking half a step behind him.
"Grandson."
He greeted them politely and said, "I have come to see you regarding the marriage between His Royal Highness the Third Prince and the Princess of Liang."
"I was just about to discuss this matter with the Duke."
Xie Yingchen walked past him and sat on the main chair.
When he glanced at him, Lord Cheng'en inexplicably seemed to be a head shorter.
Duke Cheng'en had originally wanted to ask what the Jiang Wu he had sent today meant, but then he thought, if he brought this up openly, wouldn't that immediately lead to a falling out with Xie Yingchen? He had originally intended to ask the Prince of Jin, but it was all because of the Prince's strange and mysterious ways that he hadn't even had time to ask the most important questions.
Xie Yingchen looked at his hesitant eyes and did not say anything.
Soon after, Prince Li, Prime Minister Song, the Minister of War, the Minister of Rites and others were summoned one after another. When it was almost three o'clock in the morning, Xie Yingchen issued an order, ordering Prince Zhenbei Gu Yican to go to Liang State to welcome the bride, and to set off that day.
After hearing this order, Xie Jing got drunk.
However, even Duke Cheng'en ignored his frustration and cheerfully prepared for his trip, repeatedly admonishing him, "The Crown Prince has no good intentions in sending Gu Yican to the wedding. He might want to ruin the marriage, or perhaps he wants Gu Yican to seduce the Princess of Liang on the way. Then the Crown Prince can claim they're in love and marry the Princess of Liang to Gu Yican, thus cutting off our escape route."
"The Crown Prince is a sinister and cunning man. Your Highness must be on guard."
"I finally persuaded him to let you go with me to welcome the bride. Your Highness, please don't make any mistakes."
Duke Cheng'en repeatedly persuaded the drunken Xie Jing until he grumbled irritably. Before leaving, he couldn't help but admonish him, "You can just keep Ke'er. Don't argue with the Princess of Liang over her. If you really like her, you can even make her a concubine in the future."
Xie Jing: “…”
No more.
He drank cup after cup until he collapsed on the table, mumbling incoherently.
Xie Jing drank himself intolerable alcohol for three days. On the day he left Beijing, he still reeked of alcohol as he staggered into the carriage, causing many court officials to frown.
The wedding procession set out from the capital, and Xie Yingchen and Gu Zhizhuo personally sent them to Sanliting.
Xie Jing looked at the beautiful figure standing side by side with Xie Yingchen from afar, and couldn't help but wonder in his heart, if Xie Yingchen hadn't taken advantage of the situation, would he be standing there now?
This thought lingered in my mind countless times, like a raging fire burning wantonly.
Gu Yican got on his horse and said to his sister, "I'm leaving."
After saying this, he clasped his fists in a pretentious manner and said, "I will definitely live up to your trust."
Xie Yingchen had already hidden the letter to the King of Liang in his secret pocket. After saying goodbye to his sister, he kicked his horse and went to the front of the team.
"Set off!"
After watching them leave, Xie Yingchen and Gu Zhizhuo returned to the capital. Duke Cheng'en was the most ostentatious, jumping up and down. Under the pretext that Xie Jing's marriage was a peace treaty, he insisted on making the wedding a grand affair. For several days, he tested the waters step by step, repeatedly raising the bar, almost forcing the Crown Prince's wedding to take place.
Many people in the court were secretly watching and guessing how Xie Yingchen would respond. As a result, in the blink of an eye, Xie Yingchen issued another decree, conferring the title of Fu'an on the daughter of Yin from Yongzhou and granting her a county lord's mansion.
The sudden appearance of the county lord stunned everyone.
Isn't this too unconventional?
Originally, they were all wondering whether the Crown Prince would regard Xie Jing as a threat and suppress him, but who knew that the Crown Prince didn't take the Third Prince seriously at all?
Although confused, many people began to inquire about who this newly appointed county lord was.
Upon hearing this, some people naturally thought of the Yin family of Yongzhou, who had been rehabilitated not long ago.
It turned out to be this girl from the Yin family.
The Yin family was wrongly convicted of being horse bandits, and nearly all of them perished, leaving only this orphan girl behind. It's truly sympathetic. But to be granted the title of County Lady, isn't that a bit too much of a favor?
So, letter after letter flew in, and Xie Yingchen instructed the Imperial Household Department to suppress them without even looking at them.
This county lord was not only concerned about the sufferings endured by the Yin family, but also about the sacrifices made by the Yin family's daughter for destiny.
As a reward, not only the county lady's mansion, but also all the properties of the Yin family were returned to Yin Xiyan.
Before leaving Beijing, Shen Xu instructed that the East Factory thoroughly investigate those who had embezzled the Yin family's assets.
Whether by coercion, bribery, or direct searches and arrests, everything that should be taken was taken back. As for the remaining items that could not be found, Xie Yingchen ordered people to open the emperor's inner treasury and make up for it at a discount.
right.
It’s the inner treasury.
As the crown prince, Xie Yingchen was not qualified to touch the emperor's treasury.
After hearing this order, the eunuch Zhong Fu, who was in charge of the Imperial Household Department, was stunned. After thinking about it again and again, he hurried to report Wu Shang.
When Wu Shang asked the reason, he said without thinking, "Open."
"ah?"
Wu Shang's face had been injured in his early years, so he couldn't make any unnecessary expressions. He tried desperately to force a smile, but it was creepy: "Give me more."
"Remember to pick the best. For example, silks, spices, pearls, jade, etc., make sure you pick the new tribute items that arrived this year. Don't use old goods."
"By the way, the ivory screen that Minzhou presented as tribute last month is quite nice, take that too. Also, the blue jade grape bonsai that was presented as tribute from Jiangnan during the Wanshou Festival is quite nice too..."
He listed several rare treasures in great detail, and Zhong Fu was almost dumbfounded.
After he finished speaking, Wu Shang warned again: "If anything goes wrong and it's not done well, you bring your head back, understand?"
"I know."
Although he was a little confused, Zhong Fuzhu was the one who was obedient.
Wu Shang was still worried after thinking about it.
He originally wanted to go and deliver the imperial edict himself, but then he thought that he had followed his master to Tianxi Tower, and he didn't know whether Miss Yin had seen him. If he made a mistake by accident, it would be all over.
So he called Zhong Fu back, gave him a good scolding, and asked him to convey the imperial edict.
The master has not made Miss Yin's identity public. It would be bad if the subordinates were not diligent and neglected Miss Yin.
He was very careful and gave instructions again and again, so when Zhong Fu arrived at Tianxi Tower, he didn't put on airs at all, but smiled as if it was a flower.
When Zhong Fu came, Gu Zhizhuo was there too, checking the scar on her chest.
"Go and receive the decree." Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyebrows and smiled, "It's a good thing."
The tabby cat was peeking out of the window, wagging its tail. Upon hearing what was said, it turned around and meowed, as if agreeing with Gu Zhizhuo.
A full month had passed since Yin Xiyan's injury, and she had recovered well, now able to walk around. Gu Zhizhuo had just examined the knife wound on her chest; it had healed well, leaving only a thin scar. After applying scar removal medicine for a few days, it would completely disappear.
As for the deficiency of soul, it cannot be properly taken care of, and she will inevitably be weak and sickly for the rest of her life.
Gu Zhizhuo pushed her out the door with a smile.
Zhong Fu finished reading the decree with a smile on his face, then personally helped Yin Xiyan up and shouted to the tactless eunuch, "Hurry up and bring a chair over so the county lady can sit down."
"Bring two!"
He did not forget that Miss Gu was there.
The young eunuch was stunned by the scolding. Not to mention that this was a county lady who had just been canonized and appeared out of nowhere, even to the princesses, Eunuch Zhong was never seen bowing and scraping like this.
Even though they couldn't figure it out, the young eunuch quickly brought two chairs, helped them sit down, and diligently served them tea and water.
Yin Xiyan stared silently at the decree in her hand, still unable to recover from her shock.
County Lady?
The most beautiful dream she had in the past ten years was that those who harmed the Yin family would pay with blood, and the Yin family could clear its name.
That's all.
By that time, she would have died with her eyes closed.
It was a blessing from heaven that I could see my brother again, but I never expected...
"County Lady, these are the properties of the Yin family that were confiscated back then. Please take a look."
Zhong Fu smiled kindly and handed over a booklet.
Yin Xiyan quickly looked through them. These were indeed all the Yin family's things. She had never forgotten them for a single day.
After the Yin family was convicted of being horse bandits, their huge fortune was confiscated by the imperial court. Before leaving Beijing, my younger brother said that he would return all the money.
Really, it's all back.
Yin Xiyan carefully stroked the booklet with her fingers, unable to control the trembling of her fingertips.
These are all the hard work of my father and mother, especially the horse farm, which is the ancestral property on which the Yin family relies.
Finally it returned to the hands of the siblings.
My brother will definitely be happy.
My brother’s favorite thing in the past was to go to the horse farm with her and ride a horse. He excitedly said that he wanted to be a hero and save the people with his own life.
She thought of the young man who was sitting on the horse, as bright as the moon and full of vigor.
Tears filled her eyes and unknowingly slid down Yin Xiyan's scarred cheeks.
Drop by drop, it fell on the booklet, blurring the word "horse farm" on it.
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