Chapter 50: Traitorous Minister
Thinking back to when he was above the heavens, Xiao Yan had also read many novels. Women like Yao Niang seemed to be very similar to a certain attribute - they had a halo of favorability and a golden finger, similar to the Mary Sue group pet novels that everyone loved. After all, this was not a method that existed in this world.
Xiao Yan had something in mind, but he didn't rush to tell Emperor Xiaozhi about it. Although he was now on Emperor Xiaozhi's side, he still felt a bit annoyed with him about the Fifth Prince's affairs. He needed to make more plans before the situation became clear.
Furthermore, that Yao Niang did not kill anyone, and the matter seems quite innocent. We will make a decision after the matter is fully investigated.
Inside the palace, upon hearing the purpose of the visit, Emperor Xiaozhi had a complicated expression.
He undoubtedly admired Xiao Yan's talent, but the matter of the fifth prince... made him a little annoyed.
It felt like a glamorous facade being ripped apart. After all, as time passed, Jin Changzai had become more and more beautiful in his heart. Now he was telling him that it was all an illusion. She didn't want a relationship with him at all; she was after his throne! He had no charm at all!
This feeling made him very angry and embarrassed!
It is really a disgrace to the emperor that he was deceived by such evil people!
Now Emperor Xiaozhi admired his talent, but when he saw Xiao Yan he would think of his shameful stupidity, and he had a complicated feeling of not wanting to eat him but wanting to throw him away.
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's self-recommendation, requesting to go to southern Xinjiang for investigation, Emperor Xiaozhi hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing. However, Xiao Yan's rank was too low, so he could only accompany him and had no significant authority.
"My dear Lord Xiao, you have done so much for me. You are my right-hand man. How can you bear to leave me?" Emperor Xiaozhi changed the name of the deceased and pretended to keep him in a very hypocritical way.
Xiao Yan also pretended to be moved, tears in his eyes, and was reluctant to leave. "Your Majesty is a wise ruler throughout history. You work hard for the people of the world without complaint. You ignore your own health and are still busy with state affairs despite your illness. I really can't bear to see Your Majesty so busy!"
"Your Majesty! You are the heaven of your people, the parents of the people, and the will of the nation! Only when you are well, will the people of the world be well!"
Xiao Yan clenched his fists. "Your Majesty, there's no need to persuade me. Although this journey is full of dangers and hardships, for Your Majesty and for the stability of our two countries, I, a humble minister, may not have great ambitions, but I do have a sincere heart! Who else but me?"
Emperor Xiaozhi patted Xiao Yan's back with satisfaction, "Great, great! With an official like you, why should we worry about the prosperity of our country?!"
The two men were hypocritically exchanging business praises. Before leaving, Xiao Yan received an additional secret order - to investigate whether the chieftains of various parties had any intention of rebellion. At the same time, this was also a test for Xiao Yan to begin his entry into the Black Feather Army and to become the knife in his hand.
Xiao Yan had already had this intention, so he just went along with it.
When Xiao Chen heard that Xiao Yan was going to Southern Xinjiang, he was struck by lightning. He immediately protested, "Brother, I'm going too!"
Xiao Yan shook his head, "You stay in the capital, I have other things to arrange..."
Three days later, Xiao Yan set out with the team. Among those traveling with him was Princess Yongfu's father, Prince Cheng, who accompanied the imperial envoy and the admiral.
Prince Cheng represents the royal family, the Queen's party, and is also the face of the royal family. After all, the chieftains of various local ethnic groups have great power, especially in the southern Xinjiang where they are under their jurisdiction. Their power is supreme and they have the power of life and death over the local area. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are local emperors.
Sending a super-rank prince forward can demonstrate how much Emperor Xiaozhi values Southern Xinjiang and even his "sincerity". At least it has to appear acceptable on the surface, so as not to let the ethnic groups in Southern Xinjiang feel that the court despises them. Even if Prince Cheng is an unambitious fool, his status and position can already make everything clear.
The governor-general was a member of the emperor's faction, and when it came to commanding troops, Emperor Xiaozhi could not trust anyone else, only his own people. The imperial envoy was a second-rank civil servant, constrained by the Empress Dowager and the emperor's faction. Someone like Xiao Yan, who initially had some fame but later became marginalized, was not taken seriously.
only……
"Master, they are too bullying! After all, you are an accompanying official, but they gave you such a carriage. It is obvious that they intend to humiliate you!" Bi Mo, the younger brother of the twin brothers among the servants, was a little indignant.
The eldest brother, Bi Qing, was more composed. He whispered, "Bi Mo, be careful with your words!"
Bi Mo also knew that this was not a good thing to say, but anyone who was assigned to such a simple carriage and was humiliated in the name of training young people under the pretext of His Majesty's usual frugality would be dissatisfied.
Others' houses may not be magnificent, but at least they are very peaceful. They are nothing like theirs, which has a leaky roof, tattered door curtains, and even the horses pulling the carriages are thinner than others!
If this isn't intentional humiliation, what is?
Xiao Yan understood the truth and knew that the Queen Mother's men were deliberately trying to trip him up in order to avenge the navy.
Although the Empress Dowager did not dare to do anything to Xiao Yan openly, after all, her official position was still there, and no matter how low an official was, he was still an official. Since ancient times, the harem was not allowed to interfere in government affairs, so the Empress Dowager naturally did not give herself up to criticism.
Moreover, as the Queen Mother of a country, there is no need for her to deal with a small sixth-rank official personally, because it would be a loss of dignity and she would not take him seriously at all.
After all, everyone knows that Xiao Yan's article was just a criticism. The person who really wanted to deal with the empress dowager was actually Emperor Xiaozhi. As long as he wanted, even if there was no Xiao Yan, there would be Xiao One, Xiao Two, and Xiao Three. It was just a matter of time.
But... since Xiao Yan dared to offend her, the Queen Mother is not a good person, so she can secretly negotiate with him.
Therefore, Xiao Yan's accommodation and transportation on this trip were the worst, but he couldn't say anything. After all, Emperor Xiaozhi advocated diligence and thrift, and he was a member of the emperor's party.
If he dared to say anything, wouldn't that go against Emperor Xiaozhi's ideals? Extravagance and waste were minor matters; the biggest worry was that someone would seize the opportunity to stir up trouble, blow it out of proportion, and accuse him of disrespect!
However... Xiao Yan didn't take it to heart, due to his status and rank. Rather than being angry, he preferred to wait until the situation was strong enough to settle accounts one by one, otherwise he would only be helpless and furious forever.
The weather was clear and not too hot, but the sun was at its zenith and it was still a little dazzling.
After Bi Qingxun finished training Mo, he put a soft pillow under Xiao Yan, feeling a little worried.
"Master, are you feeling unwell? Would you like some shortbread?"
This pastry was made by the cook in the mansion of Bi Qing and Bi Mo's biological mother. It is filled with almonds, melon seeds, walnuts and other dried fruit crumbs. It is very durable and nutritious.
Xiao Yan looked frail, but he wasn't actually weak. He appreciated Bi Qing's kindness, but he took the pastry and was about to eat it when a sudden commotion erupted from the front.
The carriage stopped and Bi Mo jumped out. He came back after a while with a pale face.
"Young Master, it's bad, there are bandits ahead!"
The Bi family were servants bought by Xiao Chen from a human trafficking ring. Their family suffered from drought in their early years, and they fled here to escape famine. In order to make a living, they had to sell themselves into slavery.
They worked efficiently, but they were a little unlucky. No matter which house they went to, the owner would either suffer a sudden misfortune or the family would be destroyed. Over time, few people would buy from them. Only Xiao Yan and Xiao Chen, who did not believe in fate, dared to buy them back.
In order to better protect their eldest brother, Xiao Chen even sent the two brothers to learn martial arts. However, before they could complete their studies, Xiao Yan went south. If Xiao Chen had not been truly concerned about Xiao Yan being alone, the two brothers would not have been sent abroad to serve together.
After all, Bi Qing and Bi Mo were only teenagers who had just turned eighteen. Even though they had learned some skills, they had always lived in a peaceful place and had never seen real swords and guns, or even bandits.
This group of people, either wearing official uniforms or soft armor, are obviously members of the imperial court. Now the bandits know that they are from the imperial court, but they still dare to come. What does this mean? It means that these bandits are either under the orders of others, or they don't take the imperial court seriously at all!
Either way, it's a disaster for them!
At this moment, Bi Mo's face was pale, but he still took out his dagger for self-defense and blocked in front of Xiao Yan, gritting his teeth and saying, "Master, don't be afraid! With Bi Mo here, I will definitely not let anything happen to you!"
Bi Qing also looked unhappy. "It's obvious these people came prepared! Young Master, please change your clothes and don't let yourself be hurt by these treacherous people!"
Bi Qing meant that if they were really no match for the enemy, they should let Xiao Yan change into his clothes and leave in the chaos.
Xiao Yan: “…”
Xiao Yan was somewhat helpless, "I really..."
Before he could finish his words, the sound of fighting had already started in the front. There was no "pre-war questioning" at all, and the fight started directly.
When he was young, Prince Cheng was an unlearned and unskillful playboy. Even in his old age, he was still a playboy who enjoyed life. Unlike other deceased princes, he was not able to ride a horse and kill the enemy. Due to his status, no one dared to cause him any harm.
Regardless of which party they belong to, if something happens to the prince, the household registration books of those present will probably be lost!
Therefore, the majority of the guards protecting Prince Cheng were guards, followed by the Imperial Envoy. As for the Admiral, he was originally a military officer, unlike the civilians who lacked the ability to protect themselves.
Xiao Yan...
It's so funny. Even the admiral doesn't need protection, so who would care about a man who offended the empress dowager? There are many first- and second-rank officials in the capital, and he has no name at all. I wonder if there will be sixth-rank officials in the future?
In this way, Xiao Yan was ignored, but fortunately the guards who were also royalists still remembered him.
"Uh..." The guard didn't seem to know his name, but with this outstanding face, he was undoubtedly the top scorer of this year's exam. After all, among the people accompanying him, there was no one else who was so young and had such an outstanding appearance.
The situation was urgent, so the guards didn't care about the address and addressed everyone as "Sir".
"Sir, please retreat to the rear and don't get hurt by mistake!"
The guards were experienced and knew that more people wasn't always better, especially since Prince Cheng was the most dangerous. It was obvious that these criminals were coming for Prince Cheng and the Imperial Envoy, and if they approached rashly, it would be even more dangerous.
Xiao Yan originally wanted to show off his skills and improve the environment in his future journey, but others always felt that he was sick and weak and did not believe him at all.
"My Lord, before the Second Lord leaves, he asked us to protect you at all costs. Please don't make things difficult for me." Bi Qing rejected Xiao Yan's proposal to go into battle and kill the enemy.
Bi Mo also shook his head and refused, "Young Master, if you want to have everything, you will only hurt yourself! You are already so perfect, you need to give others a chance to survive."
Xiao Yan: “…”
He blushed when he heard this, and he didn't know where Bi Mo learned these flattering words from.
There was no other way, so Xiao Yan could only push away from the rear with Bi Qing and Bi Mo.
There were many of them, but there were even more bad guys, and they used despicable techniques, attacking people from all three directions, which was simply disgusting to watch.
The most fatal thing was that these people came prepared and were very familiar with the weaknesses of the military camp, and the situation was almost one-sided.
"When will the reinforcements arrive?" asked the imperial envoy with a frown.
This place is close to southern Xinjiang. It has been about half an hour since the criminals attacked. If reinforcements don't arrive, I'm afraid they will be in great danger!
It wouldn't matter if he died, but he was worried that his mother, wife, and daughter would be implicated. After all, these criminals knew them so well, there must be a traitor among them! If the criminals succeeded in their evil plan, who knew what kind of crime they would fabricate afterwards!
The imperial envoy wished he could have a "telepath" so that he could convey the message to Emperor Xiaozhi from afar - there is a traitor, and the transaction is prohibited!
"Your Excellency, this place is close to the provincial capital, and the fastest journey takes about an hour. If we go back and forth... I'm afraid we won't make it in time!" The minor official next to him was heartbroken.
The Imperial Envoy slumped onto the stool, his face pale and despairing, with a hint of resignation in his eyes. "Where is Lord Yi? Where is Lord Yi?"
"The Admiral blocked an arrow for the prince and is now unconscious. The imperial physician said the wound is dark purple, and I'm afraid the arrow was smeared with poison!"
"Sir! It's time to make plans as soon as possible!" A hint of determination flashed in the eyes of the minor official.
The only way to preserve the household register now is to send elite guards to protect Prince Cheng from breaking out, and for everyone to stay behind to delay the criminals.
In just a few breaths, the imperial envoy recalled most of his life.
From learning to speak, to learning to read and write, to leaving home to study, until he lived up to the high expectations of his parents and fellow villagers, successfully passed the imperial examination and entered the officialdom, and then became a member of the court who worked hard...
Becoming a powerful person in the eyes of others and an adult in the eyes of the people, he completely forgot his original intention and ambition.
The imperial envoy felt ashamed, closed his eyes and then opened them, and saw a flash of cold light. He dodged in shock, but his arm was still cut.
"You, you, you! It's you!" The imperial envoy looked at the minor official in disbelief.
The humble official completely lost his previous fear. His eyes were obscure and complex. "My lord, I have told you to make plans as soon as possible. I have given you several chances, but you still miss the Yan Dynasty. Don't blame me for being ruthless to you."
"Who are you?!" The imperial envoy was shocked.
Those who keep talking about the Yan Dynasty, I'm afraid they are just the remnants of the previous dynasty!
The official looked at the Imperial Envoy with a smile, "Since your Excellency has already made up his mind, why are you asking so many questions?"
"Don't worry, sir. I will make sure you die a happy death for all your years of kindness."
The dagger in the official's hand flashed with cold light as he stabbed the imperial envoy fiercely. However, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his shoulder blade and fell to the ground due to inertia. The sharp arrow that had originally penetrated his shoulder blade hit the ground and retracted a little.
The pain made his face pale, and he no longer had the disguise he had before.
Despite the severe pain, he remained conscious because no vital parts were injured. It could be said that he was in a state of being unable to live or die.
The Imperial Envoy originally thought he was going to be killed. He was thinking about how to leave a secret signal to the court before his death, but he only heard a gentle voice, "Sir, are you okay?"
——He was saved!
The imperial envoy was overjoyed to have survived the disaster. He looked in the direction of the voice and was met with an elegant and distinguished face.
Imperial Envoy: “???”
“Why is it you!?”
The Imperial Commissioner found this matter rather bizarre. How could the person who saved him be Xiao Yan, the Imperial Academy editor known for his weakness and apparent sickness? Not to mention that he had deliberately made things difficult for him before!
That's right! He was a member of the Queen Mother's faction, and he was under the Queen Mother's will. At the same time, he didn't think much of such people who were just trying to attract attention, so he deliberately made things difficult for them several times.
Unexpectedly, the other party saved him regardless of past grudges!
This is really... The imperial envoy felt a mixture of emotions in his heart!
But now, the imperial envoy had no time to talk to Xiao Yan. He hurriedly shouted to the guards who came over after hearing the news: "Quick! Go to the prince! Go to the prince!"
Since he has spies on his side, one can imagine what the situation is like on Prince Cheng's side! I'm afraid it will be even more dangerous than his side!
The guard looked at his arm, which was almost bleeding, and hesitated to speak, "Sir, your wound..."
The imperial envoy glanced at the wound on his arm. The dagger was extremely sharp and directly cut a huge gash, revealing the flesh and blood inside. The white bones underneath could be vaguely seen.
Perhaps it was due to excessive blood loss, but the Imperial Envoy would have been fine if he hadn't looked at the wound. As soon as he did, he felt tinnitus and dizziness. However, he still managed to say, "Don't worry about me! Your Highness, Your Highness! Go to your uncle! There's a spy!"
Guard: “…”
The guard looked at Xiao Yan, then at the imperial envoy, and said, "Your Excellency, the criminals have been subdued by Lord Xiao, each with a single arrow, and each arrow has avoided the vital points. The prince is safe and sound, and the criminals and spies have been captured."
He earnestly advised: "Sir, you should worry about yourself first! The prince is fine!"
The guards were really worried that if they delayed any further, the imperial envoy might die from excessive blood loss.
Coincidentally, the imperial envoy also wondered if he was seriously injured, otherwise how could he hear such an outrageous thing?
You have to know that they came well prepared. Even the guards who had trained hard for years could not resist them. How could they be subdued by this weak civil servant?
Even though he admitted that Xiao Yan had indeed saved him, that didn't mean he alone could subdue all the criminals! After all, this was too far-fetched! Even a fabricated story wouldn't dare to write this!
Just as he finished his thought, a plump man in a round-necked prince's robe walked over. Although he was panting heavily with every step, it was hard to stop his passion for Xiao Yan.
"Lord Xiao, Lord Xiao!" Prince Cheng took a casual glance and saw the imperial envoy, and forgot his purpose of coming.
Upon seeing the bloody wound, Prince Cheng covered his eyes with his sleeve and exclaimed, "Oh! Lord Lin, how could you be so careless?"
He leaned out and said, "Someone, come quickly, help bandage Lord Lin! If you are any slower, I will be unable to breathe!"
Imperial Commissioner "..."
Logically speaking, he was the one who was injured, but he hadn't fainted yet. Instead, it was Prince Cheng who was gasping for breath...
This is truly… worthy of being a dandy among princes! His ability as a waste is truly unmatched! No wonder such a small place allows him to live.
As soon as the commander of the Southern Xinjiang city heard the news, he rushed over without stopping.
He had originally prepared himself to see countless casualties and a fight with the criminals, but when he arrived, he saw only guards either guarding the criminals or bandaging and cleaning up the battlefield...
Who told him that the situation was very bad???
Just...are you really not just making fun of him?
However, the captain arrived just in time, bringing replacement personnel to work with the only imperial envoy who could still stand to handle all matters. There was also a doctor and herbs for healing.
The imperial envoy had no choice. If there was really no one around, he would have wanted to rest for a while.
After all, Prince Cheng was just a clueless idiot who needed protection and care. The other imperial envoy was even weaker than him, too frail to handle anything. The mere sight of the bloody scene had already frightened him to the point of fainting. As for the admiral, he was still seriously injured and unconscious, so he could only grit his teeth and persevere.
After a brief rest, everyone set out on their journey again. After all, it was obvious the criminals were well prepared. If the person behind the scenes learned they hadn't succeeded, who knew if they would send a second wave of assassins? If that were the case, the situation would be extremely dangerous. Therefore, reaching the provincial capital quickly was the top priority.
When the news was sent back to the capital via secret report, Xiao Zhichen was furious.
Even the imperial court was infiltrated by the remnants of the previous dynasty. One can imagine how long they have been planning and how rampant they are!
But... there was also a pleasant surprise.
He never expected that Xiao Yan was both civil and military!
Emperor Xiaozhi immediately summoned Xiao Chen to meet him.
His smile was kind and friendly, like a wolf grandmother with ulterior motives. "Lord Xiao, has it been some time since you entered the Hanlin Academy?"
Xiao Chen had been staying in the Imperial Academy for a while now, and without any source of information, he had no idea that something major had happened in Southern Xinjiang. Hearing this, he felt that Emperor Xiaozhi must have something to say that was inconvenient to speak directly, and was only able to speak in a roundabout way.
"Your Majesty, it is true."
"Lord Xiao, are you feeling unwell in the Hanlin Academy?"
Facing the sudden greeting from his boss, Xiao Chen wasn't stupid enough to dislike his boss's company. He shook his head and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. The colleagues who support me are very kind. I don't feel uncomfortable at all."
Emperor Xiaozhi was not satisfied with this answer. He lowered his voice and said, "There are no outsiders here. My dear minister, just speak frankly."
He tried to offer some advice. "For example, Grand Scholar Mo has always been pedantic and stubborn. Did he give you any trouble? Or Grand Scholar Peng likes to take advantage of small opportunities. Did he take your tea? For another example..."
Xiao Chen: “…”
As an emperor, isn't it a bit damaging to your dignity to talk about your subordinates behind their backs???
There are some things that the emperor can say but his subjects cannot, no matter how friendly the other party appears to be. Xiao Chen naturally understands this.
He said righteously: "Your Majesty, this is not what a gentleman does!"
"As the saying goes, no one is perfect, so how can we demand perfection from others? A gentleman should restrain himself and not care about the right or wrong of others. Even if there are some flaws, as long as they do not violate the law, they are not a big deal!"
Emperor Xiaozhi: "..."
Emperor Xiaozhi suddenly missed Xiao Yan and the days when they were in perfect harmony as monarch and subject. Although he still disliked him somewhat, Xiao Yan's outstanding abilities could make up for all his shortcomings!
Compared to civil officials, he lacked military officers even more! Especially those from his own faction! Although he already had a great general who led troops in battle, he was simply inflexible! Officials like Xiao Yan, who were both civil and military, both wise and brave, were naturally the more the better!
Emperor Xiaozhi thought of Xiao Yan for a moment, then stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "My question is, do you, my dear Xiao, have any intention of pursuing a military career?"
Xiao Chen pointed at his thin arms and legs and asked incredulously, "Your Majesty, I am a civil servant!"
Isn't it a bit too much to ask a civil official to transfer to a military officer? Even if he is the emperor, it can't be so outrageous!
Emperor Xiaozhi was very patient. "I know you are a civil official, but I want to ask you, do you want to become a military officer?"
Emperor Xiaozhi still firmly believed that if his elder brother could do it, his younger brother could do it too!
They were born from the same mother. Although Xiao Yan looked frail, he was actually as strong as ten. No, he was as strong as a hundred!
Xiao Chen is stronger than his brother. Even if he isn't better than his brother, he at least has half the ability, right?
His requirements weren't high. He didn't need one for a hundred, just half. Half meant one for fifty! Really, his requirements weren't high at all!
In response, Xiao Chen refused three times in a row, "Your Majesty, I don't want to, I can't do it, thank you for your kindness!"
Emperor Xiaozhi was still unwilling to give in. "You really don't want to consider it?"
He deliberately let out a hint, saying vaguely, "The court is strong in literature but weak in military. I am really short of people."
This hint indicates that he will use military officers in the future.
However, Xiao Chen still shook his head, "I am really powerless!"
Emperor Xiaozhi hesitated to speak, but could not force them, so he could only regretfully reward them with some money and property to show the outside world that he was about to reuse the two brothers of the Xiao family.
Instead, Xiao Chen thought of his brother who had been away from home for a long time, and also thought of Lord Lin who had made things difficult for his brother before he left.
He carefully flattered Emperor Xiaozhi. After all, people were deliberately making things difficult for his brother, so he couldn't be blamed for flattering him!
Besides, he also knows his limits.
Emperor Xiaozhi did not show goodwill early or late, but showed goodwill when his brother went south. He has not made any great achievements recently. It can only be said that his brother must have done something that made Emperor Xiaozhi use him as well.
In this case, even if Emperor Xiaozhi knew that he was deliberately trying to deceive Lord Lin, he would not be angry about it. He might even go along with it.
He is such an ordinary genius!
Xiao Chen remained calm and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that you are frugal and do not like extravagance. Lord Lin will follow your lead. However... my family is poor, and my brother has always been frail. If I have offended Your Majesty in any way, please forgive me."
Emperor Xiaozhi was somewhat embarrassed, and he also understood the implication of Xiao Chen's words. He was not unaware of what Lord Lin had done, but he still turned a blind eye, because this was also part of the test.
After all, if you can't even handle such a small matter, how can you be entrusted with important tasks in the future?
Now that Xiao Yan has given him a great surprise, Emperor Xiaozhi will naturally treat it with a different attitude.
That's a subordinate who can defeat a hundred with one! With such ability, why worry about the prosperity of the country? Why worry about the expansion of the territory?
What emperor hasn't dreamed of expanding his territory? He's done it before, and he'll do it again! With such a capable person, expanding his territory is just around the corner!
Emperor Xiaozhi's smile was more genuine this time. "My dear minister, you are worried and confused. With Xiao Xiuzhu's ability, how could he be troubled by such a small matter?"
He patted Xiao Chen's shoulder and said, "Xiao Xiuzhuan is like a divine soldier sent from heaven to me! I'm afraid that the mighty General Shen can be compared to him!"
He said earnestly, "My dear, don't worry about Xiao Xiuzhuan. He's fine!"
Xiao Chen: “???”
Like a divine army descending from the sky? Comparable to the mighty generals of the gods?
Putting aside the outrageous term "divine soldiers," let's just talk about the mighty and powerful General. He was the one who single-handedly saved an entire city! Even though he was Xiao Yan's younger brother, he wouldn't dare utter such words! What could have given Emperor Xiaozhi such an illusion? Could it be that His Majesty had just drunk some fake wine today? Otherwise, how could he have said something that would make him blush?
Ah, his weak and vulnerable brother, today is another day to worry about him!
Xiao Yan did not know that Emperor Xiaozhi had already poached people from the Hanlin Academy, and they had already arrived in the capital of southern Xinjiang.
Southern Xinjiang is very vast, with the provincial capital as its center. It is surrounded by high mountains, deep forests, swamps, poisonous insects, wild beasts, and miasma, making it extremely dangerous.
The local garrison is composed of people from the imperial court, but influenced by local customs and folkways, the main city is full of unique ethnic cultural customs.
In the streets and alleys, people coming and going were dressed differently and spoke dialects that they could not understand. They had no hostility towards outsiders, nor did they have any enthusiasm or curiosity.
The restrictions on women here are not as strict as those in the capital. For example, there is no saying that a woman without talent is virtuous, or that women should stay at home and not go out of the front door or back door. There is also no rule that a woman must take her husband's surname after getting married.
Young and old, women and men did not need to cover their faces and went out on the streets openly. Even Xiao Yan and his men saw women wearing skirts, short-sleeved tops and other clothes.
On the contrary, as long as a woman has money, she can have three husbands and four men, and no one will say anything about it. But if she uses the rules of the Central Plains to say that it is disrespectful, or preaches about women's virtues, she will be beaten out.
Moreover, almost everyone here knows martial arts, and even women carry daggers or machetes on their waists. The folk customs are very tough. But even so, there are no fights or quarrels, and the society is very harmonious.
"Since life is stable, why do you still need to carry a knife? Isn't this a contradiction?" Xiao Yan was a little puzzled.
The servant who was showing them around explained, "This is because there are many wild animals in the mountains and forests, and bandits often appear there."
"The government doesn't care?" Prince Cheng asked curiously.
"Your Highness, you may not know that these bandits are constantly on the move and have no fixed base. Furthermore, the mountains are high and the forests are deep. Even if we wipe out this wave, they will come back again. Fortunately, the people here can protect themselves."
He added: "Of course, the government will often carry out crackdowns, but there are always places they cannot reach."
"Where did these bandits come from?"
Xiao Yan knew the answer to this question.
"Since ancient times, there have been more places where criminals have been exiled than southern Xinjiang. I'm afraid these bandits are escaped criminals. Generation after generation, children born into bandit dens are influenced by what they see and hear, and naturally follow suit."
If a prisoner escapes, he will be wanted. Without his identity documents, his children will also become refugees. They cannot live a normal life and will learn bad habits. Naturally, they can only make a living by robbing houses.
"Have you ever thought about how to resolve this? Isn't there a saying that misfortune shouldn't reach the family? The parents are guilty, but the child is innocent. We can't just keep repeating the same mistakes, can we?"
Others did not expect that Prince Cheng, who was always known as a fool, could actually say such words, and their opinions of him changed a lot.
The servant smiled bitterly and said, "The government has issued this decree, but it's just free robbery. It's always faster than earning through hard work, and there's no need to pay. Therefore, only a very small number of the descendants of the prisoners are willing to come down the mountain..."
"Also, the bandits have their own rules. If anyone defected, they would be assassinated. Previously, there were still some people willing to leave the mountain, but now no one is willing to leave the mountain at all."
Prince Cheng didn't know what to say about this. People who don't learn well themselves and don't want others to learn well are really disgusting.
"Your Highness, Master Miao invites you."
Lord Miao is the prefect of Southern Xinjiang.
Southern Xinjiang is quite special. Unlike other places, in addition to the chieftains, it also established provincial capitals to facilitate communication with the imperial court.
The prefect here is different from the prefects in other places. He has powers equivalent to those of the chieftains and is used to restrain and convey the imperial court's will.
Xiao Yan followed Prince Cheng to the Miao Mansion.
Perhaps in order to better integrate the family, Mr. Miao married a local woman - Ning/Gong, etc.
Yes, at the beginning, Lord Miao wanted to integrate into this place so that he could govern it, and the other party also wanted to show goodwill to the court, so the marriage was a perfect match.
Unexpectedly, the other tribes were unwilling to accept the proposal and also requested marriage alliances. Marital fidelity was not valued here, and after much negotiation, Lord Miao married nearly ten wives, each of whom was his principal wife.
It would be more accurate to say that he married several ancestors rather than a wife. He was not treated as a husband, but had to worship them. It is said that Lord Miao and his wives still perform the Zhou Gong rituals, but live in the same house as husband and wife.
It has to be said that Lord Miao and his wives have made great sacrifices for the peace and stability of southern Xinjiang, even sacrificing their marriages.
Lord Miao is just over forty years old this year. He is short and has a face that shows that he is a very shrewd and smooth guy.
"I am the prefect of Southern Xinjiang. Miao has submitted his opinion to His Majesty."
Prince Cheng would naturally not put on airs on someone else's territory, and he was not the kind of person who would bully others by taking advantage of his power.
Perhaps because he had been instructed by the royal family before leaving, Prince Cheng seemed unusually approachable. He personally stepped forward and lifted up Lord Miao.
"Master Miao is an important official of the court. There is no need to be so polite."
After the two sides complimented each other, Prince Cheng did not forget his purpose.
"I wonder where Yao Niang is?"
Lord Miao paused, attracting everyone's attention.
Everyone was thinking, could it be that Lord Miao had also fallen under the spell of this woman?
Just as he was thinking about it, Master Miao defended himself: "How could I be such a frivolous person? The beauties in the world are nothing but dry bones in my eyes!"
Everyone heard this and thought about it, and it was indeed true. If someone else said this, they might not believe it, but when Master Miao said this, they would definitely believe it.
The reason was simple. Recently, they had accidentally met Lord Miao's wives on the street. Each of them was very beautiful. Southern Xinjiang has always appreciated beautiful things. Both men and women pay attention to appearance. Even if they are not good-looking, they will naturally be more pleasing to the eye than in other places if they dress up carefully.
Lord Miao was young and promising. He entered the officialdom early and has been an official here for decades. But even so, he has never been seen close to other women. People even wonder if he has some disability or is a Buddhist.
So they will definitely believe what Lord Miao says.
only……
The matter of Yao Niang was described in such a mysterious way that even the chieftains of various ethnic groups ignored the pros and cons and wanted to fight over it. It is hard to justify saying that there is nothing strange about it.
"How did Lord Miao resist this evil magic?" someone asked.
Lord Miao shook his head. "I don't know either. Others say that when they see this woman, they unconsciously have a liking for her, but when I saw her, I just felt... she was just ordinary."
He glanced over and accidentally saw Xiao Yan. "In my opinion, this colleague is the one with the better looks. If there's anything special about that other colleague, it's probably that he's too tall and has a rough voice. Other than that, there's nothing special about him."
“But that’s the problem!”
Master Miao's expression was serious. "Miao also asked the servant, and he said that Yao Niang gave him the feeling of a biological mother, very kind and tolerant. Miao also asked others, and some said she was like an older sister, some said she was like a younger sister, and even brought up her biological father and grandfather. It's really weird!"
"That's why I hesitated so much..."
When he said this, he looked especially at Prince Cheng. After all, Prince Cheng was a member of the royal family. If Prince Cheng felt that Yao Niang looked like his deceased father, wouldn't that be disrespectful to the former royal family?
Prince Cheng: “…”
Prince Cheng didn't want to have another non-blood relative for no reason, so he stepped back and said, "That won't do. I only have one son and one daughter, but I don't have a daughter I've never met."
Others: “…”
The Imperial Envoy drank the blood-tonifying soup prepared by the servants in the palace and nodded, "Your Highness is absolutely right."
He also didn't want to wait until he returned to Beijing. Prince Cheng brought an extra woman who was regarded as the emperor's grandparents. Not to mention Emperor Xiaozhi, even the Empress Dowager would not let him go.
"So, where is that woman now?" Xiao Yan asked.
Master Miao coughed and said, "She was originally staying with the chieftain of the Ning clan. Later, other chieftains were afraid that Yao Niang would be neglected, so they asked her to stay at my house. But..."
"It's just that Mrs. Miao was curious, so she went to take a look. Now that they've sworn brotherhood, she figured they'd be discussing clothes and jewelry in the backyard at this hour."
Everyone: “…”
What kind of fantasy theme is this?
"It's better to do it today than today. Why don't you ask Miss Yao to come and see you?"
Lord Miao had the same idea, but he looked at everyone and hesitated, "How about sending some people first? I am afraid that the whole army will be wiped out."
Everyone was also intrigued by Master Miao's words. They looked at each other, and ultimately, some chose to stay while others left. Prince Cheng, needless to say, took the initiative and headed for the side courtyard.
"Please sit for a moment, I'll be back soon."
"Why not let a servant do it?" The imperial envoy had other questions to ask and suggested.
Master Miao pursed his lips and finally said, "You all may not know that Madam Miao has a very strong temper. If I were to ask someone else to do it for me, I'm afraid she would think that I am neglecting Madam Yao."
He just gave up, "Let's put it this way, sometimes you don't even give me face."
Everyone: “…”
The atmosphere was a bit awkward, but when I thought about Lord Miao's extremely complicated marriage relationship, I could immediately understand it.
Master Miao, this is difficult! You have sacrificed so much for the court!
About a quarter of an hour later, Lord Miao returned to the front hall in a somewhat embarrassed manner, followed by a woman who was more than two meters tall.
Lord Miao is short to begin with, and compared to the two children, his height is only up to his waist... It looks a bit like an adult leading a child.
This woman was as tall as Lord Miao said. She was wearing a very thick veil, and her appearance could not be seen at all. However, from the fact that she walked without difficulty, it could be seen that she did not want to cause trouble to others, which also made everyone change their views of her.
I'm not afraid of someone possessing evil magic, I'm just afraid of someone using it to harm others. It seems this Yao Niang doesn't have any intention of harming anyone, but whether she has other motives is still unknown.
She stepped forward and greeted everyone, her voice indeed as rough as Lord Miao had described.
"I am Yao Niang, a commoner. I wonder what important matter you gentlemen may have?" The other party was quite calm and unrestrained.
The Imperial Envoy didn't put on any airs. "Maybe that's a little offensive. I'm sure you already know why we're here. May I ask how you manage to make others feel good about you?"
Yao Niang shook her head. "I don't know. It seems I was born this way. I've been troubled by it before and have used a fence to hide it, but unfortunately, it can hide my appearance, but it can't stop others' curiosity."
The Imperial Envoy pondered for a moment, "Could you please take down the curtain?"
Yao Niang hesitated, "Do you really want to see it? This thing is extremely mysterious. Aside from Lord Miao, no one has been able to resist it. Please think twice before you act."
Master Miao nodded in agreement, "Indeed."
After many requests from everyone, Yao Niang finally took down the curtain.
Just...how to say it?
Just as Lord Miao said, her appearance is indeed ordinary, and even a little inconsistent with the current beauty.
Just now, Yao Niang's whole body was covered by the curtain, so it was not obvious. Now that the curtain has been removed, one can clearly see the bulging biceps and various muscles under her clothes.
Not only that, she had thick eyebrows, big eyes, a square face, a high nose and thick lips, and she looked a bit like a man...
Xiao Yan was just looking around when he saw the imperial envoy come forward and say with tears in his eyes, "I don't know why, but when I see you, I always think of my mother at home, who was also so kind and gentle!"
"Looking back, Officer Cheng is often busy out there, and I've never been with you all that time! I feel really guilty about this!"
Another official also wiped away tears, "You look very much like my late father! It's a pity that I have achieved some success in my career now, but I didn't get to see him again! Dad, I miss you!"
"If my child who died young could live to this day, he would probably be as old as you now. Maybe it's because I tend to be more sentimental when I get older, alas!"
Xiao Yan: “…”
Xiao Yan looked at the others who were crying and holding their heads in their hands, and suddenly fell silent.
If they hadn't come together and it was their first time seeing this woman, they would probably have suspected that they were acting!
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