Chapter 994 Daughter Slave
As princes from all over the country came to the capital, the post stations in the capital became bustling. When Hu Baoxian, the Prince of Beiling, and people from various tribes in the western border arrived in the capital, the joy in the entire capital was even greater as the New Year approached.
In previous years, Beiling plundered the Wei Dynasty, and there were also disturbances in the Western Frontier. Although the Wei Dynasty occasionally received envoys, it was always at a disadvantage. Instead, the envoys were arrogant. However, this year they entered the capital as subjects. The people in the capital could not hide their excitement when they saw the low-key envoys from other countries.
However, the fact that Wei kept a low profile did not mean that these people would behave themselves among themselves.
The people of Western Xinjiang resented Beiling for causing them to fall into war and be forced to become a vassal of the Wei Dynasty. They mocked Beiling for losing their country and their families. The people of Beiling also resented Western Xinjiang for colluding with Xiahou Ling but then turning against them at the last minute. If they had not joined forces with Southern Qi to keep the Emperor of Wei in the south, Beiling would not have suffered such a disastrous defeat.
The posthouse was filled with smoke, and the people from the Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites were busy and terrified. This atmosphere lasted until the arrival of the people from Southern Qi.
When they saw Emperor Nie Xuan of Qi following the Southern Qi delegation into the capital with his arm in a sling, Beiling and Xijiang shared a common hatred for the enemy and almost started a fight with the Southern Qi people who had betrayed them and negotiated peace with the Wei Dynasty and harmed them.
When Prince Ji rushed into the palace in a panic, Xiao Yan was wiping his daughter's saliva with a handkerchief.
Prince Ji talked a lot, then looked up and saw that the emperor and empress opposite him were living a peaceful life. Xiao Yan even took the time to considerately pour a cup of hot drink for Tang Ning and placed it in front of her, then turned around and skillfully took the child from her arms and said, "Don't tire your hands."
He almost choked.
"Your Majesty!" Prince Ji glared, "Did you hear what I just said?"
"I'm not deaf, please keep your voice down."
Xiao Yan glanced at him unhappily, lowered his head and pulled the swaddling clothes for his daughter. Seeing that the little girl's eyes were round and not frightened by the noise just now, he raised his head and said:
"Uncle Ji, you're already quite old, why don't you be more steady? You're so jumpy that it makes people think the sky is falling."
Prince Ji was furious when he heard this: "Your Majesty, you know that I am quite old and that I am your uncle. With so many people in the court, can't you just find someone else to deal with?"
He admitted that he had indeed entertained thoughts and done things he shouldn't have done, but hadn't he pulled back from the brink? He had helped the Queen clean up the court, helped her scheme against the aristocratic families, helped her stabilize the court and the rear, and even took the initiative to escort food and fodder to protect Xiao Yan's narrow escape on his journey to the north.
He felt that even if his contributions weren't extraordinary, his merits should have been balanced out, right? But Xiao Yan, on the other hand, pushed all the dirty and disgusting things onto his head after returning to the capital.
Prince Ji suppressed his anger and said, "There's been chaos at the post station. Those venomous people from Western Xinjiang almost drowned Nie Xuan. And those people from Beiling saw Guaishun secretly tripping up the Southern Qi delegation and nearly beat them to death. And that Hu Baoxian actually looks innocent."
"Your Majesty, these people have always been at odds with each other, and now they've come together to try to tear down the posthouse. Even if Nie Xuan is a bad guy, he's still the Emperor of Southern Qi. If anything goes wrong while he's leading his envoys to Wei, it will only bring shame to our Wei!"
Xiao Yan held the child and rocked him gently: "It's damaged, so what? How much is your face worth?"
Prince Ji: "Your face is worthless, but what about your Majesty? Are you going to let people do whatever they want to you?"
"Jump, if they dare."
"His Majesty!"
As Prince Ji listened to Xiao Yan's slow words, the anger in his heart suddenly rose and sparks appeared in his eyes.
Tang Ning was afraid that Xiao Yan would really anger him to the point of causing harm, so he quickly patted the person next to him to hush his mouth. Then he said to Prince Ji, "Uncle Prince Ji, calm down. Nie Xuan suddenly came to Wei to cause trouble. He should have known that Beiling and Xijiang would cause trouble with them."
"The Southern Qi Emperor cherishes his life the most. He won't take any risks. Don't worry, the commotion at the inn is just a test of His Majesty and the Great Wei's intentions. Not to mention Nie Xuan, even Hu Baoxian and the others know their limits. Nothing serious will happen."
Prince Ji frowned upon hearing this. "But it doesn't look to me like they're just messing around randomly. Besides, the posthouse is right in the city. It's fine if they're just messing around with each other, but now it's affecting others."
"Then let someone knock it down."
The little one in his arms started to stir, waving her hands as if trying to grab something. Xiao Yan casually shoved the emperor's private seal into her hand and, while teasing her chubby little hand, said calmly to Prince Ji, "I will have Wu Kui and Geng Ji go to the post station."
Prince Ji frowned. Wu Kui and Geng Ji were in charge of the Privy Council and the Black Armor Guard respectively. Could it be that asking them to go to the posthouse was to bring people to warn them? Prince Ji always felt that something was wrong with Xiao Yan's words, but Xiao Yan, the leader, was obviously no longer willing to continue talking about this matter, so Prince Ji had to hold back.
"Then your Majesty, please send someone away as soon as possible. The New Year's Eve celebration is just a few days away. It would be bad if there was a disturbance at the palace banquet."
Xiao Yan nodded: "Okay, I understand."
When Prince Ji was leaving, he suddenly remembered the beauties in the post house who had accompanied the envoys to the capital. He heard that not only was there the daughter of the newly appointed Prince of Beiling, Hu Baoxian, but also that Western Xinjiang and Southern Qi had each brought a "princess". It went without saying what these people's intentions were.
He originally wanted to report to Xiao Yan, but when he turned around, he saw Xiao Yan holding the child and squeezing next to the queen. Thinking of how busy he had been these days and how exhausted he was, while the emperor had a beautiful girl in his arms, a lovely wife and a young child, Prince Ji snorted coldly with an expressionless face, turned his head and left.
Tang Ning pushed Xiao Yan's head and asked, "Why are you so angry about King Ji?"
"Who's angry? He's the one making a fuss. Besides, don't underestimate him because he's so honest. He's got a dark side."
Xiao Yan pinched the little face of the child in her arms and sneered.
Although he was in the palace and did not go to the post station in person, he had ordered people to keep an eye on what was happening there. He had known for a long time that Nie Xuan had been bullied, and he was also clear about what Hu Baoxian and others had done. He even knew where the princes from all over the country had been and who they had met after coming to Beijing.
It is true that Prince Ji was extremely worried and it is also true that he went to the palace to file a complaint, but he may not have intended to take advantage of the situation to vent his anger.
Besides, if his uncle was really kind-hearted, why would he hide those beauties in the inn? Not only that, those restless members of the royal family have been thinking of letting those beauties enter the palace so that they can divide Tang Ning's favor and allow him to resume the selection of beauties to fill his harem.
Prince Ji indeed has no ambition to ascend to the throne now, but that doesn't stop him from waiting to see him make a fool of himself.
Xiao Yan said, "I see that Uncle Ji has been working hard lately. He's so angry because the mansion and the backyard are empty. How about we give him a few concubines? What do you think?"
Although Tang Ning didn't know why Xiao Yan suddenly said he wanted to reward Prince Ji, she felt that there was something sinister in her man's words. She glanced at him and said, "Take your time and be careful not to anger him too much and make him quit."
There are not many people like Prince Ji who are smart, capable, know their limits, and have the status and position to serve the royal family.
Xiao Yan nodded: "Don't worry, I know my limits."
…
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