28 Chapter 28
◎Two chapters in one◎
Pei Shuo and Zheng Wuheng were also talking to Li Heng. Pei Shuo was now a brave and brave general under Zheng Fang. He was young and was talking about the difficulties in Jizhou: "We, the Zheng family army, have to listen to the prime minister and share half of our troops to defend the capital, and we also have to resist the troops of the King of Wei. The Marquis has not been in good health recently. Alas, it is really raining cats and dogs."
In this kind of occasion, Zheng Wuheng was still young and just played an accompanying role. He had actually met the King of Wei, who was about the same age as the Crown Prince, but was as mature as an adult and was also very polite to him.
Unlike the prince who always thinks he is calm and composed.
Furthermore, according to Zheng Wuheng's own judgment, his sister married a vassal king, and even the love between the King of Huaiyin and his sister was not as loving as that between the Crown Prince and his eldest sister. But judging from her clothes, his sister was just the princess of a county, with pearls and jades surrounding her head, wearing a brocade fur robe, and golden silk shoes on her feet.
However, the gift was secondary. The most important thing was that she was his biological sister. His elder sister had treated him badly in the past and even wanted to bring her mother, Xu, back home. If his family helped her, wouldn't that be aiding and abetting the evil? Besides, the prince himself depended on the He family, so he had nothing to give to the Zheng family.
The prince's brother-in-law personally taught him kung fu and archery. He even said that Xuzhou was prosperous and the people were thriving, and the area south of the Yangtze River was even more prosperous. His sister also secretly told him that Xuzhou was able to be conquered smoothly because many of the lands were once the fiefdom of King Wu, and many of the prince's brother-in-law's troops were his former troops, and later he even recruited some soldiers and horses.
It is definitely powerful.
Pei Shuo also thought so, and his thoughts were deeper than Zheng Wuheng's. Don't listen to Li Heng's words about the loss of lips and teeth. Now even Lu Wei didn't make a move, and he had lost so many people for nothing. It was simply that he had made enemies with the King of Wei for no reason. Now that neither of them helped each other, wasn't that good enough?
Li Heng said again: "The Prince of Wei has evil ambitions. Although he is my father's younger brother and has been touring the south of the Yangtze River on behalf of the imperial court, he is now stretching his hands further and further. He has already taken Qingzhou, and I am afraid that Jizhou will also become his possession in the future."
"Yes, although the King of Wei is also married to my family, the hearts of us in Jizhou are with the court." Pei Shuo said, and after he finished speaking, he glanced at his younger brother Zheng Wuheng.
Zheng Wuheng also quickly came out to express his position.
Li Heng found out that he was wrong. He originally thought that marrying the eldest daughter of the Zheng family would have many advantages. After all, the status of the eldest daughter in every family is different, but Zheng Deyin seemed to have no status in the family.
As the East Palace, they have already hinted at this, but they are still unmoved. Aren't they afraid of revenge after he ascends to the throne? Or has the Zheng family already defected to another family?
Originally, he chose the daughter of Zheng family because he saw that Zheng Fang was brave and valiant, and only he could kill Lu Wei. Lu Wei's power made it difficult for the royal family to breathe, and it seemed that the Zheng family was doomed.
It is said that Pei Shuo is Zheng Fang's adopted son. Zheng Fang values him the most. To some extent, he can also represent Zheng Fang. I am afraid that Zheng Liangdi will not be able to do that.
As expected, Zheng Fangzheng and Zheng Deyin said, "What are you doing, Liang Di? You are a woman from the royal family, how can you kneel before me?"
Zheng Deyin looked at Zheng Fang and said, "Father, please help me this time. The prince is destined to be the crown prince, and helping the crown prince is the right thing to do. When the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, won't you be a royal relative?"
Zheng Fang was able to stand firm only because of his bravery. Seeing her crying like this, he just said, "Why are you forcing my father?"
After saying that, he actually threw his sleeves and walked out. Zheng Deyin was a weak woman after all, how could she possibly stop Zheng Fang? She could only watch Zheng Fang walk out and she fell to the ground. She didn't understand why her father didn't listen to her and didn't care about her at all?
Since Li Heng did not get the support of the Zheng family, he knew that Zheng Deyin was useless and that his pampering of Zheng Deyin all those days was ineffective.
The war was about to break out. Li Cheng received a report from the frontline at home, saying that the Crown Prince Li Heng was leading the He family's army. He felt relieved. In other words, the Lu family and the Zheng family did not help. It would be difficult for the He family to conquer Qingzhou.
Because of this, Li Cheng was in a very happy mood, and his behavior became much more cheerful when he came to Huiyin's place.
"Huiyin, why didn't you go out for a walk today?" He noticed that his wife would go out for a walk at about this time every day, but he didn't expect that she was still at home at this time.
Huiyin laughed and said, "You are such a forgetful person. Today is the day when the wet nurses come to the mansion. I have just talked to them and asked the doctor to check their pulses. They said they are all in good health and have no infectious diseases. So I dare to use them."
Li Cheng slapped his head and said, "I really forgot."
"It just so happens that all the work has been done. I thought we should have dinner under the flower shed today. There is a breeze there and the weather is fresh and pleasant, which is better than staying in the house." Huiyin stood up and put her arm around his, fearing that he would disagree.
Of course Li Cheng let her do what she wanted. He was very willing to indulge his woman in such small matters.
Since she laid off those parasites, she had saved two or three thousand taels in more than half a year. Huiyin simply took one thousand taels to make jewelry for herself and had someone make clothes for her. She would not really live frugally. If she did not use the money herself, it would eventually be used by other women, which would be the stupidest thing to do.
Some men love it when you don't want his money. They appear generous on the surface, but they are actually scheming.
Fortunately, Li Cheng is not that kind of person. He didn't even blink when he saw Huiyin making jewelry, clothes and even spending money on ornaments, which made Huiyin's liking for him even higher.
She went out today wearing new clothes, just in time for spring. The light green top was matched with a turquoise pleated long skirt in a gradient color. She wore a scallion yellow pearl satin belt around her waist, and a phoenix-patterned jade pendant hung around her waist. The front of the jade pendant was engraved with a single phoenix cloud pattern, and the back was engraved with a ruyi cloud pattern. The pendants jingled when she moved.
Originally, she loved to wear a scarf, but she gave it up because she was afraid it would make her trip. It wasn't because she loved beauty, but because she felt that it was a way to show off her status.
"What delicious food do you have today?" Li Cheng helped her sit down, very curious.
Because every day when he comes back, he eats different dishes, and there is always a dish that he finds interesting.
Huiyin thought for a moment, "Today is a full lotus feast, with lotus leaf chicken and lotus crisps, lotus leaf glutinous rice ribs, lotus leaf steamed pork, and lotus root soup and lotus leaf rice. After we finish eating, there will also be a lotus seed soup to calm your inner heat, which is so strong."
She couldn't help but giggle at the end.
Li Cheng naturally knew what she was talking about. He had asked her for help in the morning, and he felt a little shy and itchy.
Huiyin was usually afraid of itching and ghosts. Seeing him pretending to itch, she shrank back. Li Cheng hugged her again and said, "I won't tease you anymore. Don't trip yourself."
The two of them laughed, and Yun Hui's eyes dimmed not far away.
The maid started serving the dishes. As long as there were no customers, Huiyin would eat the dishes according to her own preferences and would not make a big fuss.
However, when the couple was enjoying their meal, they heard that someone outside had handed a visiting card to Li Cheng. Li Cheng took it and turned it upside down on the table, asking Yun Hui to invite the person in first.
"Whose post is this?" Huiyin and Li Cheng are more familiar with each other now, so she can ask casually.
Li Cheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "It was a post from a woman."
In fact, Li Cheng never looked down on any woman. He even thought that women were just as capable as men and deserved more respect.
Huiyin looked at him: "Is she in any trouble?"
Li Cheng said, "This girl's surname is Jiang. She is the only daughter of a salt merchant in Taizhou. Her parents died one after another, and the family business was almost lost. When I was fighting in the war and there was a shortage of military supplies, I helped her so that she could inherit the family business smoothly. She also agreed and prepared military supplies for me."
"It's good that both the silver and the goods are returned." Huiyin would not think of anything bad at first.
Li Cheng shook his head: "You don't know that she is being targeted by someone, the one targeting her is the brother-in-law of the King of Wei, and she wants to seek my protection."
The wife of Prince Wei was surnamed Huo, and was also from a famous family in Jiangnan. Although Prince Wei seemed to be very good to Li Cheng, in fact, the important places occupied by Prince Wei were almost all given to his cousins or uncles. The only place, Xuzhou, was conquered by Li Cheng himself.
Huiyin looked at Li Cheng and said, "This young woman is the head of the household. She is like a child showing off with gold ingots. No wonder she is being targeted."
Li Cheng nodded: "Yes."
He was mainly afraid that Huiyin would feel uncomfortable. At that time, Guo Changshi and other confidants naturally advised him to marry Jiang. This would not only provide Jiang with protection, but also guarantee his military supplies. This was killing two birds with one stone. After all, it was common for a man to have three wives and four concubines.
But Li Cheng didn't like selling himself for these things. Yes, he could kill two birds with one stone by taking a concubine, but a real man still has to rely on himself.
But Jiang's situation was precarious, and she said she only wanted a position of protection, not actual entry.
Outside the palace
A young woman in a dark green shirt sat in the black-covered carriage. She sighed softly, "I am the only daughter of my parents, and they are both gone. Now General Huo wants me to be his concubine, so I can only ask the young prince for help."
The woman was young and beautiful, with golden bracelets on her hands. After half-lifting the curtain, she looked like a career official.
The old maid sitting next to her said, "Miss, this is like entering a deep sea. Although the young prince is a very good person, young and handsome, I heard that he has married Zheng, the daughter of Zhaojie Marquis Zheng Fang. If you really become his wife, I'm afraid there will be a tiger's den in front of you and a wolf's den behind you."
"Of course I know. I used to be disdainful of it, but think about it, the young prince has stood up for me once, and now he will be troubled by Huo Qi again in the future. What should I do? Nanny Lin, why is a woman's life so difficult?" Jiang Bibo was also at her wit's end.
The clan members coveted her family's huge wealth, and the King of Wei's brother-in-law also coveted it outside. She had no choice.
林嬷嬷想着小姐本來是招贅的，但是招贅時無人敢替她操持，那些族人都恨不得她死了，逼着她只允許嫁族裏那些族老的親戚，否則錢財就被外人拿去了。
從前父母在的時候她是何等的恣意，她甚至還作男人裝扮和她爹去過臨安府，甚至還去過京城呢。
她正踟蹰時，見淮陰王府過來一位管事姑姑，她笑道：“江姑娘，我們王爺請您先進去小廳歇息片刻。”
江碧波心情忐忑的跟随雲慧進來，雲慧心想拿鄭氏耗費大氣力把荀柔趕走了，哪裏知曉現在又來了個江碧波。
江碧波也是頭一次過來徐州的淮陰王府，當年她只去過一次建業的王爺送過賀禮給吳太妃。
“多謝。”她拿了一個荷包遞給雲慧。
雲慧笑道：“怎好要姑娘的荷包，實在是不必。”
江碧波道：“是我要勞煩管事姑姑，還請您收下吧。”這等也屬于人情世故，作為商戶女，江碧波很懂這些。
如此，雲慧便收下了。
等她收下之後，江碧波便問道：“此時小王爺是否還有事情？”
雲慧道：“小王爺正和王妃一起用飯呢。”
“倒是我的不是了。”江碧波立馬道。
恰逢其會的是殷麗儀此時也過來了，殷麗儀是想跟李澄打聽前方戰況的，只是沒想到在這裏遇到了江碧波。
二人在建業的吳太妃壽辰上見過一次面，殷麗儀知曉江碧波此人是女富翁，她還相當崇拜她，畢竟她做生意可不算太行。
“诶，怎地在此遇到你了？”她其實是通家之好，若是以前就直接進去了，但現下殷麗儀和鄭氏不太熟悉，所以也坐在花廳等候，還和江碧波搭起話來。
江碧波一看是殷麗儀，趕緊起身行禮：“民女拜見謝夫人。”
殷麗儀趕忙道：“快起來快起來。我也是上門有事情找小王爺打聽的，你也是找小王爺嗎？”
江碧波點頭。
趁着上茶的功夫，雲慧悄悄附在殷麗儀耳旁說了緣由，殷麗儀一聽就氣道：“又是霍起？那人雖然有個将軍名頭，其實是個貪財好利到極致的貨色，聽聞建業北街有個賣生藥鋪的，因為生意太好，那家鋪子就被他敲詐了。”
殷麗儀的姐姐殷次妃常常和她說起不少事情，說霍正妃如何手頭寬綽，魏王去他那兒都是拿名貴的食物招待雲雲，說魏王很受用，然而這些銀錢幾乎都是來自于民脂民膏。
江碧波原本就心沉了一下，然而現在聽殷麗儀說了更是臉色煞白。
“謝夫人，這可如何是好呢？”
殷麗儀笑道：“你這不已經求到淮陰王府了麽？既然已經求到王府了，那還怕什麽。如今能夠遏制霍家的也只有淮陰王了，他是魏王的侄子，地位可不一般吶。”
雲慧聽了這話覺得有些不對，殷麗儀這不是幫小王爺攬事嗎？無論如何，魏王是很尊重正妻的，小王爺好歹有一寸之地，若是得罪了霍家，現在是沒事，将來被針對怎麽辦？連娶妻這樣的大事，魏王可是直接替小王爺作主的。
雖說她也想看鄭氏多了位情敵，但不能夠危害到小王爺才是啊。
卻說徽音正聽李澄說下文，李澄卻閉嘴不談了。
“我總覺得你有話沒說完，不妨你說出來，我也不是不能給你出主意的。”徽音笑道。
李澄看了徽音的肚子一眼，還是有點不太敢說。
徽音特意繞過去坐在他身邊，晃着他的胳膊搖來搖去：“說嘛，不要有任何的顧忌，你我是夫妻，我什麽秘密都告訴你了，你卻瞞着我。那我就不和你好了？”
見他不說，徽音佯裝生氣了。
李澄就直說了：“江姑娘的意思是讓我給她一個名分，請你不要誤會，只是一個名分。她只是個商戶女，地位也并不會高，長史官建議我就給一個名分庇護于她，不讓她一個弱女子受到霍起之危害。但我肯定不會同意的，所以我就不願意提了。”
“長史官怎麽會讓你納一個商戶女為妾？”徽音其實明白了，但故意逗他。
李澄七尺男兒，素來說話擲地有聲的，主要是他這個年紀，其實臉皮還薄，聽徽音問起，支支吾吾道：“也是為了軍需着想。”
有時候打勝仗，靠的就是兵肥馬壯，然而這些都是要錢養着的。
魏王幾乎就娶了不少大族女子聯姻，就獲得多方支持。
他說完又急忙對徽音道：“但你放心，我絕對不會因為圖女人什麽就賣身的，我可不是那種人，我的地盤要靠我自己打。”
徽音見他說的着急，連忙遞上帕子：“擦擦汗，我知道你的心意了。”
“你不吃醋嗎？”李澄見徽音神情很是平靜的樣子。
徽音拿着帕子替他一邊擦汗，一邊道：“我若是吃飛醋，那整個孕期就不消停了，你的通房，你的表妹我一個個都吃不完了。試問，天下哪個女子願意和別人分享丈夫，就像你，難道願意和別人分享我嗎？就是別人觊觎我，你會開心嗎？”
李澄脫口而出：“當然不會。”
甚至李澄想着若是有個男子，只是名義上說和徽音有關系，他都恨不得剝了人家的皮，拆了他的骨頭才行。
可是……
“可你一點兒也不生氣。”李澄跟小孩兒似的，總沒有安全感。
徽音摸了摸自己的肚子：“那你總要做點什麽，才能讓我對你至死不渝吧，現下我都是你的桃花，各種桃花，你總得讓我對你有信心吧。”
李澄見她低着頭，不知怎麽心中有些微微一悸：“是我的不是。”
在他心目中這樁親事雖然是魏王替他求娶的，可是娶回來的人，他一點也不排斥。反而讓她總是受自己的苦，要不就是把她一個人丢在家裏，要不就是表妹和各路人馬，偏偏她卻是全心全意對待自己的人。
徽音心想，這個傻子怎麽這麽好騙啊，自己糊弄着把話題轉移，他倒還真的垂着頭，一幅受傷的樣子。想到這裏，她摟着他的胳膊道：“放心，我不可能讓你去做牛魔王，讓那個江姑娘做玉面狐貍。”
“什麽意思？”李澄一下沒反應過來。
徽音刮了一下他的鼻子：“傻瓜，難道你沒有看過《西游記》。玉面狐貍的爹萬歲狐王，那狐王死了，遺下一個女兒，叫做玉面公主。那公主有百萬家私，無人掌管，所以訪着牛魔王神通廣大，情願倒陪家私，招贅為夫。後來孫悟空冒充鐵扇公主請牛魔王從玉面公主這裏回去，人家就直接罵她送了鐵扇公主珠翠金銀，绫羅緞匹，年供柴，月供米。你想想這樣的事情怎麽能做呢？将來莫說是你，就是我恐怕也要看人臉色了。”
李澄想了想牛魔王的故事，好像還真的是這樣啊，他娘子果然還是有些博覽群書在身上的。
只不過，這如何解套呢？
“其實以我的名義能幫他一次，但我不能次次護着。畢竟你也知道霍起這個人豺狼心性，卻又是魏王叔的小舅子，說起來還是我的長輩。”李澄也不願意為了江氏和魏王妃一系鬧翻，他現在也沒這麽資本。
江家若是再徐州倒好，在建業那邊，難免鞭長莫及啊。
徽音拍了拍他的手：“山人自有妙計。”
“哦？王妃有什麽妙計。”李澄之前見徽音事事征求他的意見，非常尊重他，現在她有自己的法子，讓李澄也有些刮目相看。
“那就先請她過來，正好，咱們倆吃完飯了，也走去正房消消食。”徽音道。
……
江碧波懷着忐忑的心情進來了淮陰王妃鄭氏的正房，王府的教引嬷嬷引着她走路，一路上下人們屏氣斂聲，看起來極為肅穆。
進門正廳之後，見廳上端坐兩人，左手邊坐的是小王爺李澄，他正穿着常服，目不斜視，正專心致志的品茶。右手邊坐的則是一年輕的女子，但看起來氣勢竟然不輸小王爺，她望着自己只是一笑。
江碧波心中惴惴不安的行禮：“民女江碧波給小王爺和小王妃請安。”
只聽耳邊女子嬌聲道：“碧波？可是出自太白的‘欲将振五樓之金策，浮三湘之碧波。’”
江碧波連忙點頭：“是，這是家父當年游覽衡岳時，小女正逢其時，故而給小女取名如此。”
“好名字，那我就用王摩诘的‘舟行碧波上，人在畫中游。’祝你将來的日子能夠悠閑清靜，從此心曠神怡，如何？”徽音看着她道。
江碧波聽出來這是好話，但有些拿不準是什麽意思。
還是南媽媽出來道：“江姑娘，我們小王妃一見你就十分喜歡，想認你做個幹親，不知道你願不願意？”
江碧波沒想到小王妃願意認她做幹妹妹，好一個峰回路轉，她都各種羞恥以及複雜的心情進來了。
Huiyin smiled and said, "You know, the young prince is the nephew of the King of Wei after all, and Huo Qi is the brother-in-law of the King of Wei. You are such a good girl, you should have a bright life, how can you be someone else's concubine? Although I am not talented, my father is the Marquis of Zhaojie after all. You can rest assured to use our Zheng family's post. I will also assign ten personal soldiers to protect you. They are all useful people in the army of my Zheng family. I don't think Huo Qi would be so bold."
Now Zheng Fang remains neutral and is to some extent an ally of the King of Wei. If Huo Qi offends the Zheng family because of a trivial matter, the King of Wei will certainly not tolerate it.
Jiang Bibo bowed with gratitude and said, "Thank you, little princess. I will repay you for your kindness in the future." She still wanted to have a bright life, do business, and find someone she loves.