The old servant heard it clearly and told Xue Xiang: "Master, he said Xiao Zhaoling, could it be that someone?"
Xue Xiang stepped back in disbelief, his eyes almost black. "No, impossible. The wife my student said he was going to marry was named Xiao Zhaoling. Could it be that there is another girl in the Xiao family?"
The old servant said, "There is still an unmarried girl in the Duke of Changguo's mansion, but she will not marry Master Lin in the name of the Regent! I think there is something wrong here. The Regent will never marry. It's good enough that he doesn't take what he likes by force. Then, sir, why don't we go in and ask Master Lin?"
Xue Xiang raised his hand: "I'll take my time."
He sat back in the carriage, recalling how Xiao Fu had taken good care of Lin Zikui. He originally thought that Xiao Fu was just appreciating talent, but now he thought that he had ulterior motives.
However, Prime Minister Xue still couldn't figure out what was going on. Xiao Fu was going to marry Lin Zikui?
The neighbors were too enthusiastic and wanted to see the bride, but they were quickly driven away by Jinzun.
Instead, the Prime Minister came to visit: "Huaifu, I see you are getting married? Congratulations, why didn't you send an invitation to an old man like me?"
Lin Zikui was immediately embarrassed: "Teacher, my wedding date coincides with a national mourning, so it's not convenient to hold a grand ceremony." Besides, the bride hasn't arrived yet.
This made sense, and Prime Minister Xue agreed with it and asked his servants to take out all the gifts and carry them inside.
"Teacher, you absolutely can't do that!" Lin Zikui tried to stop him, but Xue Xiang grabbed his wrist and said, "Hey, it's just a small gift. You became my disciple, and I haven't given you a gift yet. You're getting married soon, so as a teacher, how can I not show some appreciation? There's nothing expensive, just some common things that you can use. Although it's a box, most of them are books, pens, inkstones, and so on."
There were only a few jade artifacts and gold ingots, placed at the very bottom.
Prime Minister Xue was an honest man throughout his life and was not a wealthy man.
After much persuasion, Lin Zikui finally accepted it and quickly invited the teacher to come in and take a seat. Xue Xiang asked in a roundabout way, "Hey? Where's your bride?"
"He hasn't gotten married yet. He..." Lin Zikui panicked. He wanted to hide it but didn't know how. He hesitated and said, "He has some things to do. He hasn't come to Fengtai County yet. He told me that we would get married on the 15th. If he doesn't come back in the 10th, I will postpone it for a few days."
"You met in Jinling?"
"yes……"
"Surname Xiao?"
"yes……"
"Xiao Zhaoling? He married you?"
Lin Zikui lowered his head and admitted: "... Yeah."
Xue Xiang put the teacup down heavily, his heart was filled with turmoil. That bastard Xiao Zhaoling! Xue Xiang clenched his fists under his sleeves.
Xue Xiang could accept that he was a homosexual, but he could not accept that he ruined his good student!
Lin Zikui raised his head slightly: "Teacher, don't be angry. It's my fault that I didn't send you an invitation."
"Teacher is not angry about this," Xue Xiang stared at him, "Huaifu, have you thought about it? He is not suitable."
Lin Zikui whispered, "I've thought it over. I promised to marry him, so I'm going to marry him. A promise is worth a thousand gold."
"Being so loyal and righteous about everything will only hurt you! Has he ever told you the truth, saying that he really likes you and is willing to marry you?"
"As I said...we are in love with each other."
"We both love each other, okay!" Xue Xiang saw that he had made up his mind, and although his voice was not loud, it was firm. He sighed and cursed Xiao Fu to death in his heart!
If Xiao Fu didn't marry Lin Zikui, there was no way he would let him go. His student was just a scholar who had never entered the official career. How could he defeat a thousand-year-old fox? Xiao Fu is arrogant and powerful, and he is bound to help Lin Zikui rise rapidly in his career and let his talents shine like a rising star.
All the things that were not completed during his reign, such as amending laws, reducing taxes, developing water conservancy, and rectifying the kingly way... could be handed over to Lin Zikui, and there was no need to worry about anyone in the court or the public getting in the way.
Xue Xiang was only worried about people like Xiao Fu, and he didn't like Lin Zikui that much. He was afraid that he would get carried away and hurt Lin Zikui in the future. What if Huai Fu was so affectionate and sincere...
Prime Minister Xue stayed there. Anyway, he had nothing to do. He would sit in Fengtai County and wait for Xiao Zhaoling to come and catch him to question him!
The news of the new emperor's ascension to the throne gradually spread to all prefectures and counties.
"The new emperor is young, and the regent is the Empress Dowager's younger brother. I'm afraid he wants to usurp the throne."
"No matter what, the death of Emperor Wentai is a great thing!"
Yuwen Duo had long lost the support of the people, and few people were sad about his death. Just after one month, all prefectures except Nanjing began to hold weddings as normal, with singing and dancing in the red-light districts.
After Xiao Fu was busy with the enthronement of the new emperor, he had no time to take care of the government affairs, so he let Empress Dowager Xiao rule the country from behind the curtain. Yuwen Xuan still had a lot to learn and he had no time to teach, so he chose a Hanlin to be his teacher. Yuwen Xuan asked in return: "Father, where is Master Lin whom I met by the Qinhuai River last time?"
Xiao Fu looked at him: "Master Lin? Why does your majesty ask this?"
Yuwen Xuan wore a small imperial robe that fitted him well: "I like Master Lin, and I want him to be my teacher."
He knew that the Regent valued Master Lin very much, so he said that to win over Master Lin was to win over the Emperor's father.
And Master Lin himself also made Yuwen Xuan feel that he was easier to get along with than those old men in the Hanlin Academy.
"Last time Master Lin wanted to recruit students, did he say who he would recruit as his disciple?"
Xiao Fu shook his head: "He likes all four of you. He can't choose."
Yuwen Xuan's eyes lit up, and he said in a clear voice, "Then how about letting him be my son's teacher?"
"Okay, let's put this off for later. The Emperor has to leave the capital for something. During this time, you will follow Empress Dowager Xiao to learn how to govern the country. When the Emperor comes back, he will test you."
Xiao Fu thought of a good excuse to leave the capital. He said that he was deeply saddened by the death of Emperor Wen Tai and had no interest in state affairs, so he stayed in vigil for him for a while.
No civil or military officials could find fault with him. Xiao Fu left the capital that night without even taking a carriage. He traveled light, one man and one horse. The horse he used was a top-notch Ferghana horse. He rode at full speed in two and a half days and arrived at Fengtai County.
This place is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the Lin residence is built on trees. Xiao Fu rode a horse and asked along the way to find it. Through the green tiles and white walls, he saw peach blossoms in full bloom and pink clouds filling the air on the other side of the wall.
"Whoa..." Xiao Fu slowly reined in his horse and dismounted. He was wearing a straight brocade top which was convenient for riding and traveling. It was of an ordinary style and a fiery color, which highlighted his tall figure with broad shoulders and narrow hips, complementing the spring scenery.
After tying the horse to the jujube tree outside the door, Xiao Fu pushed the door open and saw Lin Zikui with one eye covered with a cloth. He only opened his right eye and raised his head to smell the fragrance of peach petals.
There was a basket on the ground, filled to the brim with pink petals.
Xue Xiang was wearing a hat, holding a book in one hand and playing chess with Jin Zun in the other, trying to do two things at once.
"This should be enough, sir." Mo Liu lifted the bamboo basket under the sun. "If we pick more, the peach blossoms in our yard will all be bare. It won't look good if Miss Xiao comes and sees them."
Lin Zikui looked down at the bamboo basket and said, "Then let's pick this much first. I should be able to make some peach blossom wine."
Xue Xiang raised his eyes and glanced at Lin Zikui, hating Xiao Zhaoling even more: "You actually brewed wine for him yourself, and Xiao Zhaoling is really just sitting back and enjoying the fruits of his labor! How could he be so worthy of this?"
Lin Zikui smiled and said, "This wine is brewed for everyone. The teacher drinks it too."
Xue Xiang snorted: "They are about to get married, and he hasn't come to Fengtai County yet!"
Of course, Prime Minister Xue knew why he didn't come. National affairs came first and love affairs could be put aside. But even so, he couldn't neglect his students! At least don't come, ask someone to bring a message!
Just as he finished speaking, there was the sound of door knocker knocking on the wooden door.
Xiao Fu coughed lightly: "Who said I wouldn't come? Isn't this me?"
When Lin Zikui heard the voice, he immediately turned around from under the peach tree.
"Zhao Ling!" He smiled brightly, "How did you know my home is here?"
"I've been asking along the way, and I've finally got here. You're Lin Jieyuan, very famous." Seeing Xue Xiang was there, Xiao Fu restrained himself a little, strode over to take his hand, and rubbed it against his nose: "Lin Lang, are you picking flowers and brewing wine for me? Let me smell your hand to see if it smells good."
Of course, he couldn't smell it at all, but he could really feel the soft fragrance coming to his nose, which made Lin Zikui blush and pull his hand back: "The teacher is here, don't do this."
"But I haven't seen Lin Lang for a long time, and I can't control myself." Xiao Fu raised his eyes, his eyelashes were thick and long, and his black pupils sparkled like stars.
Mo Liu rubbed his arms and suddenly realized something: "Hey, why does the bride have stubble on her face?"
Xiao Fu had been on the road without sleeping, and he was exhausted, so of course he had no time to take care of his face.
Xue Xiang's beard was crooked with anger, and he pointed at Xiao Fu: "Xiao Zhaoling, come here! Come here!"
Under normal circumstances, Xiao Fu would definitely be impatient and tell him to get lost.
He didn't dare to do that with Lin Zikui in front of him.
"Why did the Prime Minister call me over here?"
"I have something to tell you!" Xue Xiang tried to hold back, but couldn't help grabbing his ear with one hand, "Come into the house!"
Jinzun saw the marquis being pulled on the ear, so he stood up and slowly sat back down.
The Marquis was bullied, but it was Mr. Xue who did it.
He hesitated. Let me think about it and decide not to stand up for the Marquis.
Xiao Fu frowned, but did not resist. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lin Zikui chasing after him and shouting, "Teacher..."
Xue Xiang said to Lin Zikui: "He has thick skin and tough flesh, don't feel bad for him."
Xiao Fu: "I am weak and delicate, please don't bully me, sir."
Xue Xiang: “…………”
Xue Xiang snorted coldly and locked Lin Zikui outside the door. Only he and Xiao Zhaoling were left in the room. Xiao Zhaoling's original expression faded, and he turned his head away, tidied his messy hair, stood up straight, and looked down at him: "What are you doing, Lord Xiang? What are you doing in Lin Zikui's house?"
"What do I do? If I don't come, how can I know the good things you have done?"
"Since you know it's a good thing, don't try to break up my marriage."
"I'm breaking up your marriage?" Xue Xiang was furious. "Which eye of yours saw me breaking up your marriage? If I do, won't you kill me?"
Xiao Fu said "hmm", a ray of light fell on his ears and cheeks, and the shadows cast by his eyelashes and eye sockets made him look very deep. "It's good for you to know, Prime Minister. I always use my hands instead of my mouth. Even if I respect you, you can't destroy the relationship between me and Zikui. It just so happens that since you are here, you can be a witness, and other things have nothing to do with you."
"Xiao Zhaoling, I don't care how capable you are now, and I don't care what's going on between you and him...you two men! If you treat Lin Zikui insincerely, I will..." He pointed at Xiao Fu, his finger trembling slightly, "I will find the Duke of Changguo and the King of Yunnan and have a good talk."
"How could I treat him insincerely? Wear your tiara and polish it." Xiao Fu glanced at his eyes and said calmly, "I have achieved this, with a road as vast as the sky, precisely for his path to success and his pure heart."
"You..." Xue Xiang knew that he understood Xiao Fu somewhat. He knew that he was eccentric, crazy, casual, and had ugly handwriting, but he didn't know there was such a side to him.
Xiao Fu changed his tone and said with a smile, "How about being the host of my and Zikui's wedding, Mr. Xue?"
Mr. Xue: “…”
"Forget it, forget it. Let's just leave it at that. My words are useless anyway. You are the regent, and I am just an old prime minister who has retired. Can I stop you from doing anything you want? But listen to me. Huaifu is a good boy, and he is an orphan. In this case, I am your teacher for a day and a father for life. If you treat him..."
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Fu shouted cheerfully, "Okay, Dad."
Prime Minister Xue was stunned and speechless.
"You, you'd better stop it and just call me teacher!"
"Okay, teacher," Xiao Fu said word by word, "You are not allowed to drink the wine that Zikui brewed for me." It was all his.
Xue Xiang: “…………”
Lin Zikui didn't know what the two people talked about inside. He didn't have the bad habit of eavesdropping. Only Mo Liu was squatting on the ground and was about to eavesdrop when he was caught by Jinzun.
Mo Liu shouted, "I'll die if you let me hear this!"
Jin Zun shook his head with a straight face: "I can't listen to it."
Inside the house, after Xue Xiang finished talking to him, he saw Xiao Fu reaching out his hand and rubbing his own ear vigorously, pinching the tip of his ear, which was originally just a little pink, until it turned red enough to bleed.
Xue Xiang was confused, not knowing what he was going to do. Then he saw Xiao Fu push the door open and walk out. His tone was happy but also a little aggrieved: "Lin Lang, Lin Lang, I begged the teacher for a long time, and the teacher finally agreed to our marriage."
"Really?" Lin Zikui smiled, "Thank you, teacher, for your help!"
He bowed deeply to Prime Minister Xue, who nodded helplessly.
Lin Zikui's eyesight was not very good, so Xiao Fu deliberately moved closer to him and tilted his head towards him. Lin Zikui just saw the color of his ears and was stunned: "Your ears, this..."
Was this caused by the teacher?
Xiao Fu didn't say anything, just stared at him.
I think so.
Lin Zikui couldn't say anything wrong about the teacher, let alone blame him. He just felt distressed: "Zhao Ling, does it hurt?"
Xiao Fu shook his head and said it didn't hurt. Then, regardless of what the people around him thought, he grabbed Lin Zikui's hand and pulled him into the room: "Zikui, is this your bedroom? Is this our wedding room?"
"Yes..." He nodded and said quickly, "It's not ready yet! Don't look at it yet."
"I won't look." Xiao Fu withdrew his gaze and only noticed a red wedding character pasted on the window inside. The light in the room was dim and there was dust floating in the air.
"Actually, I still feel a little pain. Prime Minister Xue thinks I'm not worthy of you, so he got angry." Xiao Fu squatted slightly, tilted his head to show him his red ears, and said softly, "Blow them for me."
There was no one in the room. Although Lin Zikui was embarrassed and pursed his lips tightly, he still did as he was told. He took a deep breath and leaned forward: "Hu, hu..."
The author has something to say:
Xue Xiang: I am numb
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