Chapter 182: The Clear and Refreshing Autumn Weather (Two Chapters Combined into One)
When Zhao Shiqing came back from the palace yesterday, Deng Zheng and others were with him, so he had no chance to discuss what happened in the palace with Xiao Zhen. Therefore, early this morning, Zhao Shiqing didn't even have breakfast, and took Lingbo, Niuqiu, Xiuxiu and Shen Wangxing to Ruyi Fang.
The reason why we all went together was because there was an open space by the Ruyifang Lake, which was very suitable for flying kites. The autumn weather was clear and cool, which was the perfect time for flying kites.
Xiao Zhen didn't expect that so many people would come so early in the morning. Hearing that they were all still hungry, he asked Dazhuang to buy breakfast.
Zhao Shiqing: "No, no, we brought it with us. We'll borrow your kitchen to use."
The Ruyi Boat was so big, but only Xiao Zhen, Da Zhuang, Jiang Ping and others lived there. There were only six people in total, including the master and servants.
As for the chefs, except Xiao Zhen, they are all chefs. As for the taste, it’s fine as long as it doesn’t kill people.
If you say you brought it yourself, then you really brought it.
Da Zhuang stared with his eyes wide open, seeing several people busy moving things from the car, including oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, whole pieces of bacon, sausages, steamed buns, and even a jar of pickles and a jar of salted duck eggs.
All these things were moved into the kitchen. Today's head chef was Lingbo, the second chef was Xiuxiu, Niqiu was responsible for lighting the fire, and Chen Wangxing was responsible for reading the storybook to them.
Da Zhuang opened his mouth for a long time before he could utter a complete sentence: "Do you usually cook like this?"
Ling Bo: "There is a cook at home."
Xiuxiu: "And Aunt Ji."
Loach: "And Aunt Ruyi."
Shen Wangxing: "They don't let us into the kitchen."
Da Zhuang understood, which means that these people usually wouldn't even get close to the stove.
Zhao Shiqing was talking to Xiao Zhen about what she and the three little ones saw in the palace yesterday.
Zhao Shiqing said, "What will happen to Princess Huiming? She won't die, right?"
Xiao Zhen shook his head. "As long as she doesn't commit suicide, the royal family won't execute her. Her fate will probably be Zizhu Monastery or Ci'en Temple. Princess Jiarou often goes to Zizhu Monastery, so Huiming will most likely go to Ci'en Temple. Life there is much harder than Zizhu Monastery."
Zhao Shiqing knew without guessing that most of the concubines who left the palace in recent years went to Zizhu Temple. In addition, with the presence of Princess Jiarou, Zizhu Temple received far more royal offerings than Ci'en Temple.
If Princess Huiming went to Ci'en Temple, she would have truly suffered.
Zhao Shiqing sighed. "We both grew up in the palace, but Zhao Tingluo is as cunning as a 10-year-old, while Princess Huiming is no better than a ten-year-old."
Xiao Zhen said calmly: "People are different."
Zhao Shiqing could see that Xiao Zhen had no sympathy for the two princesses Huixin and Huiming. This might be related to what Concubine Sun had done back then.
Zhao Shiqing said, "The next step will be to depose the crown prince."
Xiao Zhen nodded. "Even if the Crown Prince and Huiming's affair became known to the world, the court would not depose the Crown Prince. They would most likely let him resign on his own initiative."
Zhao Shiqing didn't know much about court affairs, but she believed in Xiao Zhen's judgment because she also felt that the purpose of this incident was to make the emperor determined to depose the prince. Now that the emperor had made up his mind, someone would naturally hand him a pillow.
The two chatted for a while, and naturally talked about Yang Shengqiu. Xiao Zhen said, "Yang Shengqiu wants to marry Feng Yalan."
Thinking that Zhao Shiqing might not know Feng Yalan, Xiao Zhen explained, "She is Feng Jiahe's sister and Feng Ke's concubine's daughter. Although she is a concubine's daughter, she is very valued by Feng Ke. However, her luck in that life was not very good."
Zhao Shiqing asked hurriedly: "What's wrong?"
"In that life, she married a Jinshi..." Xiao Zhen stopped talking here.
Zhao Shiqing looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Zhen took a deep breath and said slowly: "I seem to have overlooked one thing."
Zhao Shiqing asked: "What's the matter? Is it important?"
Xiao Zhen: "It wasn't important before, but it is very important now."
He smiled and continued, "Feng Yalan's husband's surname is Lang, and his name is Lang Qiubai. He is the nephew of Lang Jing. Lang Jing was the former governor of Hancheng. His father-in-law was an old friend of Feng Ke, and after being transferred to the capital, he also became a disciple of Feng Ke. His nephew Lang Qiubai was a second-class Jinshi that year and married Feng Ke's concubine, Feng Yalan."
After Xiao Zhen said this, there was nothing Zhao Shiqing didn't understand.
"Yang Shengqiu was the teacher of Lang Jing's mansion when he was in Hancheng. He came to Beijing with Lang Jing's family. He also had a daughter named Lang Yuyu.
Do you suspect that Lang Qiubai is Yang Shengqiu?"
Xiao Zhen nodded: "Unfortunately, I didn't meet Lang Qiubai in my previous life, so I don't know what he looks like."
He continued, "One year, there was a flood in the four regions of Tongzhou, and Emperor Yongjia sent the Fifth Prince to provide disaster relief. At that time, the Fifth Prince and the Third Prince were best brothers, and the Third Prince specifically asked his brother-in-law, Lang Qiubai, to accompany him. Lang Qiubai was in the Ministry of Works at the time, and he accompanied him as an official of the Ministry of Works.
There were many mistakes and omissions in that disaster relief, and the funds could not be used to manage the river and resettle the victims. The Fifth Prince was completely sidelined, and he was the one who took the blame in the end. Tens of thousands of people were killed or injured in the disaster, including Lang Qiubai. The Fifth Prince failed to provide disaster relief, so he was stripped of his royal status, demoted to a commoner, and committed suicide in his mansion.
After Lang Qiubai's death, Feng Yalan became a widow at a young age, which was pitiful enough. But to make matters worse, her only son was abducted by kidnappers. She was disheartened and shut herself in her house from then on. There was no news of her afterwards.
Zhao Shiqing was shocked. It would have been fine if Lang Qiubai was Yang Shengqiu, but this Lang Qiubai died in the line of duty.
"Did you pay attention to this matter in that life?" Zhao Shiqing asked.
Xiao Zhen said, "I played a role in the Fifth Prince's demotion."
"What about Lang Qiubai? Is he really dead?" Zhao Shiqing asked again.
Xiao Zhen was stunned and shook his head: "In that life, he was just a nobody, just like in this life, if he wasn't the grandson of Doctor Yang, he would also be a nobody to me."
What's more, in his previous life, Lang Qiubai was not even the top scholar, and he married a concubine's daughter of the Feng family. He went to the Ministry of Works, the least respected of the six ministries, and was only a fifth-rank official until his death. A person like him would not only be ignored by Xiao Zhen, but also by others.
Xiao Zhen said, "The reason I still remember him is because of his son. Back then, his son's abduction caused a huge uproar in the capital. The capital has always had good security, and child abduction is rare, not to mention that the child was Feng Ke's grandson.
Feng Yalan took her child to Baiyun Temple to burn incense, but the child disappeared in a blink of an eye. She searched the entire Baiyun Temple but could not find any trace of the child.
Rumors spread quickly, including one about using children's entrails to make wine. Everyone in the capital was worried, and during that time, you couldn't even see children playing on the streets.
Zhao Shiqing's eyes flickered. "In that life, you didn't pay attention to Lang Qiubai. So now imagine, if Lang Qiubai is Yang Shengqiu, then why are the two lives different? In this life, he didn't become Lang Jing's nephew, and in the previous life, Lang Qiubai didn't become the top scholar. Think about it, why are they different?"
Xiao Zhen's gaze fell on Zhao Shiqing's face. Compared to when she was in Wu, the girl's facial features had grown a little more. She looked less immature and more bright.
"The variable between the last life and this life is you."
"In the previous life, you hadn't appeared. The Liang Palace was gone, and my home was gone too. Yang Shengqiu, hiding in the dark, saw crisis and slaughter. He was afraid, so he found a backer for himself, the Lang family.
I heard a piece of news that the main reason why Yang Shengqiu was able to work as a tutor in the Lang Mansion at the young age in this life was because he saved Lang Jing's son.
I think Lang Qiubai was the same in his previous life.
Although Lang Jing did not hold a high official position, at that time, whether it was Lang Qiubai or Yang Shengqiu, Lang Jing was the thickest thigh they could hold.
In my previous life, my parents were murdered, the Liang Palace was in crisis, and the war between the Liang Palace and the Xiao family all happened before and after the imperial examination. Therefore, Lang Qiubai in that life was very cautious and even tried to hide his edge during the imperial examination. He only scored second place and became a Jinshi, but he did not attract attention.
In this life, Yang Shengqiu has lofty ambitions. He is not satisfied with taking advantage of the opportunity of being a teacher to get close to Lang Jing and inherit the incense for Lang Jing's younger brother who died young. His goal is to be in the capital, the place he was forced to leave when he was young but never forgot.
So, there was Lang Qiubai, who hid his identity in his previous life, and Yang Shengqiu, the top scholar in this life."
Zhao Shiqing gave Xiao Zhen a thumbs up, he was indeed the one she liked.
As the thought came to her mind, the tips of the little girl's ears turned red again. Oh my, who would like him with a fake face? Who would like him?
The compliment changed its tone when it reached his lips: "As expected of my uncle, you are really awesome!"
Xiao Zhen: ...
While Xiao Zhen didn't fight back, Zhao Shiqing quickly changed the subject: "If Lang Qiubai is really Yang Shengqiu, I suspect that in that life, the Third Prince asked him to follow the Fifth Prince not to do anything, but to cause trouble. That huge loophole that happened must have something to do with him!
Think about it, isn't it?
Xiao Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Five people were found at the time. All of them had accompanied the Fifth Prince to Tongzhou. All five of them were involved. They concealed the truth, undermined the Fifth Prince, embezzled funds for repairs and disaster relief, and even killed two local officials. These five people were the Fifth Prince's confidants and people he trusted. They were all executed by slow slicing. Lang Qiubai, the only person who accompanied the Third Prince, died in the line of duty.
Looking back now, because he died in the line of duty, no one ever suspected him, let alone investigated him.
His death completely cleared himself.”
Zhao Shiqing sneered, "Perhaps he's not dead, but is just using death as an excuse to escape. And there's his son. Maybe the real kidnapper is him, or someone he sent."
Xiao Zhen thought so too, but he was puzzled: "Then why did he do all this? Was it for the Third Prince? But he is dead, whether it is real or fake, he is dead, unless he believes that he will be resurrected after the Third Prince ascends the throne. But until my death, the Third Prince has not ascended the throne, and the emperor is still alive and healthy.
Besides, if he really wanted to wait until the Third Prince ascended the throne, there was no need to take his son with him. His son would stay in the capital, and the Feng family would protect him. In any case, it would be much better than following him in hiding."
Zhao Shiqing was also puzzled. Yes, why did he try every possible means to take his son away?
Aren't you planning to come back?
When the third prince ascends the throne and rewards his merits, won’t he come back?
Zhao Shiqing couldn't figure it out. She thought of the letter that Dr. Yang left for his grandson and the strange map in the letter.
She knocked her head and said, "I'm still too stupid."
Xiao Zhen smiled and reached out to touch her head, but Ling Bo's voice rang out from outside the door: "Second Miss, dinner is ready!"
Zhao Shiqing suddenly became energetic. Lang Qiubai and Yang Shengqiu were not as important to Zhao Shiqing, who was still growing up.
The buns were fried until golden on both sides, and there was a pot of millet porridge with rice oil, accompanied by Wan Ruyi's pickled eight-treasure pickles. Zhao Shiqing ate it with great relish.
Xiao Zhen watched her eat, and for the first time he realized that watching others eat was also a kind of enjoyment.
"You seem to have grown taller again." Xiao Zhen said sincerely.
Zhao Shiqing's eyes lit up: "Really? Then I'll eat more. I want to grow taller, as tall as my sister."
People in Wu are generally not tall. Zhao Shiqing is considered tall in Wu, but she is still a little shorter than Zhao Yunnuan. In her opinion, it would be just right if she grew to her sister's height. Not only would she look good in clothes, but she would also look heroic on horseback. Unlike her, she is already an adult, but in the eyes of others, she is still a child.
Xiao Zhen chuckled. In his previous life, he was the same before he turned eighteen. He wanted to grow taller, to be majestic and to be the center of attention.
At that time, he could never have dreamed that after turning eighteen, what awaited him was a sea of blood and corpses.
His vigor and sharpness were all wiped out in the endless killing and fleeing. Even if he were to live again, he would never be the same as he was in his youth.
Looking at Zhao Shiqing and her friends, Xiao Zhen often couldn't help but say, "It's great to be young."
But he is actually only three years older than Zhao Shiqing.
He is still a teenager.
Zhao Shiqing finished her own meal and saw that Xiao Zhen hadn't touched his chopsticks. She asked, "Aren't you hungry?"
Xiao Zhen nodded: "Well, I had breakfast before you came."
Zhao Shiqing: "Why didn't you say so earlier!"
She took the food in front of Xiao Zhen and devoured it all in one whirlwind...
Except for a few pieces of bacon, the few people stuffed all the food they brought with them into their stomachs, and then ran to fly kites with their bulging stomachs.
Their laughter could be heard outside the window, occasionally mixed with a whistle or two.
Suddenly, a smiling face appeared from the window: "What are you doing hiding in the house? Come out quickly, I will teach you how to fly a kite!"
A white jade-like palm appeared in front of him. Xiao Zhen subconsciously stretched out his hand, but as soon as his hand was stretched out, it was grabbed by Zhao Shiqing, who pulled and pulled Xiao Zhen out of the window.
The autumn weather is clear and crisp, the sky is high and the clouds are light. The autumn wind blows, blowing down the leaves, blowing up the kites, and also blowing away the haze in my heart.
Xiao Zhen thought that he would always remember this autumn day, the day when he had enough to eat and drink, had friends, a kite, and a cute girl with red ears who insisted on calling him uncle.
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