Chapter 31 The Story of the Hosta
evening.
It was raining heavily and a spring thunder was heard from the horizon. Inside the ochre-red palace wall, a man was hurrying towards the Funing Palace.
In the pouring rain, the man in the straw hat and raincoat slowed down his pace, glanced at the hall in the dark and stormy weather, paused, and bowed: "Thank you for your translation, Your Majesty!"
Behind the heavy rain, the eunuch outside the Funing Palace took a look at the people in the rain, turned around and walked into the palace with small steps.
After a while, the eunuch walked out of the hall, holding an umbrella and walked to Xie Yi's side: "Fourth Master Xie, His Majesty invites you in."
Xie Yi took off his straw raincoat and bamboo hat and walked into the main hall.
The hall was empty and silent. The emperor, high up in the throne, sat diagonally on the dragon throne, rubbing his temples with one hand, seemingly disgusted by the sound of rain outside.
Ever since the court decided today not to negotiate with the Jin people, there has been a huge uproar throughout the court.
Civil and military officials each analyzed the pros and cons.
Finally, Emperor Ren De shouted angrily and suppressed the officials' arguments.
The court has always been treacherous and unpredictable, and a country's border defense is even more cautious. How could Emperor Ren De not understand that the civil and military officials' different opinions were a struggle between civil and military officials and a struggle for military power in Dayin?
"Your Majesty, your humble servant greets you." Xie Yi knelt on the ground and said respectfully.
Emperor Rende lowered his eyes to focus on Xie Yi who was standing in the center of the palace. His expression was as gloomy as water as he asked, "Do you know why I allowed you to enter the palace?"
Xie Yi said calmly, "I would venture to guess that it's because of the war at the border."
Emperor Ren De thought about Xie Yi's insistence on going to the border, and his eyes darkened. He also knew that blindly negotiating with the Jin people was not a long-term solution, and would only make the Jin people become more aggressive.
"Do you think my decision in the court today was right or wrong?"
Xie Yi's eyes darkened as he said, "Your Majesty's decision not to negotiate with the Jin people is naturally a decision made after careful consideration, but I and the Dayin soldiers will never let your Majesty's decision fail."
The ambiguous answer at least relieved the gloom in Emperor Ren De's heart.
"The situation at the border is urgent. I will let you lead the troops." Emperor Ren De leaned back on the dragon throne, rubbing his temples with one hand, and said in a dull tone, "I'm sorry for the injustice you have suffered over the years."
Xie Yi lowered his eyes. The only person in the world who could tell Xie Yi that he was wronged was that person, apart from the emperor in this high position.
"I understand that you are willing to fight for the future of the Xie family." Emperor Ren De said this while his eyes were fixed on the dim area outside the palace. "I am also willing to give you some opportunities."
It is to give Xie Yi some opportunities, not some opportunities for the Xie family.
Xie Yi frowned and said, "Your Majesty, I have requested permission to go to war this time simply because I want to contribute my heart and soul to the land of Dayin, and secondly, to earn a comfortable living for my son."
When Emperor Rende heard the word 'son', his expression changed slightly. He chuckled, "With your Xie family's wealth, I can ensure your son has plenty of food and clothing for several lifetimes."
Xie Yi raised his eyes and met Emperor Ren De's gaze. "What I mean is that I want to fight for my son's freedom from constraints and a life of worry-free food and clothing."
These words made Emperor Ren De's eyes even darker.
'A person who is not bound by constraints and has no worries about food and clothing' contains so many meanings.
Emperor Rende's gaze lingered on Xie Yi for a long time, and after a moment's silence, he said in a serious tone, "I will issue an order tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow you will lead the troops to the border."
"I obey your command!" Xie Yi said in a loud voice.
Emperor Rende took a deep breath and said, "Your son should stay in Bianjing."
Xie Yi suddenly raised his eyes and stared at the emperor sitting on the high seat without blinking.
This is probably the reason why he was allowed to enter the palace at this time.
"Yes." Xie Yi said calmly.
"Leave the palace."
Another flash of lightning crossed the horizon, and the rain grew heavier.
After Xie Yi left the hall, the hall returned to its quiet and empty state.
Emperor Ren De leaned back and began to rub his solar plexus with one hand. He naturally agreed with the Xie family's intention to go to war. After all, the court's lack of money was a real matter.
If someone from the Xie family gets involved, it will only benefit Emperor Ren De and not harm him.
A country's border defense is more important than Mount Tai. Even though nine years have passed, Emperor Ren De has not yet completely resolved the mess left by the previous emperor.
The national treasury was empty, many noble families in Bianliang were corrupt, and there were constant wars on the border.
Since Emperor Ren De took over the throne of Dayin, it has been plagued by internal and external troubles.
Later, the complicated things were sorted out and solved one by one.
The war at the border had only ceased for two or three years when the Jin people began to stir again. Emperor Ren De naturally wanted to negotiate, which would not cost money or military manpower.
However, Emperor Ren De knew better what the Jin people’s ambitions were.
So when Xie Yi asked for permission to go to the war, he was surprised but more relieved, because he knew that the Xie family was loyal to him and Dayin.
As long as the soldiers at the border can solve the problems of hunger and military pay, Emperor Ren De does not worry too much.
As for the fact that it was Xie Yi who went on this expedition, I think all kinds of voices will appear in the court tomorrow.
It seems that the situation in Bianjing needs to be reorganized.
——
The next day.
When attending court, Emperor Ren De asked someone around him to read out the imperial edict ordering the four sons of the Xie family to go to the border, which shocked the prince's party and the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion.
The noisy criticism was as loud as a boiling oil pan.
When Emperor Ren De was willing to negotiate peace, the prince's party argued with the King of Wei's faction that this war must be fought.
After Emperor Ren De decided not to negotiate yesterday, the Crown Prince and his party discussed the issue of going to war overnight.
I didn't expect that Emperor Ren De would decide on the candidates for the expedition so quickly.
"Your Majesty, this matter is of no trivial importance, and Xie Yi has no precedent of leading troops into battle. Please revoke your order, father." The prince stepped out and said loudly.
In an instant, the dark light of a blade appeared in the solemn and dignified hall.
Those court officials who originally wanted to refute the prince clearly felt that the emperor on the high position was angry, and they all stood where they were. His Royal Highness the Prince was obviously questioning the emperor's decision.
Xie Jing lowered his head, his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, as if what Emperor Ren De said had nothing to do with him.
Xie Yi, who was kneeling in the center, said respectfully, "I obey your command!"
The prince's eyes turned cold.
Qin Junyi, who was standing at the end, had an extremely dark look in his eyes. His hands holding the tablet were bloodless due to the force. If it was Xie Yi who went to the battle this time, what would he do?
Emperor Rende glanced at the court officials and asked, "Marquis Yongyi has asked for leave?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Qin Junyi.
After Qin Junyi came back to his senses, he stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, my father is taking two days off."
Emperor Ren De raised his eyebrows, and the eunuch beside him bent down to tell him why Marquis Yong Yi wanted to take leave. Upon hearing this, something seemed to flash across Emperor Ren De's shrewd eyes.
He said, "This time, Marquis Yongyi will serve as deputy general and go on the expedition with Xie Yi."
One word can cause a thousand ripples.
Does the emperor mean that he will reuse Marquis Yongyi and the Xie family?
Qin Junyi immediately knelt down and said, "I, your humble servant, am also willing to go to war with my father! I beg for your permission, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Rende looked at Qin Junyi, who was kneeling proudly, and said calmly, "You are newlyweds, so I will not break up your relationship. You should stay by the Crown Prince's side and do your job well."
Qin Junyi gripped the tablet tighter, his eyes fixed firmly on the front, and he gritted his teeth and said, "I obey your command."
He finally understood that talking too much would only lead to more mistakes. He could have followed his father and left Bian Jing quietly, but he insisted on asking for permission to go. Now that the emperor had said this, if he followed his father and left Bian Jing quietly, he would be disobeying the emperor's order.
"Okay, let's adjourn the court." Emperor Ren De said and started rubbing his solar plexus again.
——
By the time the news of Xie Yi leading the army to war reached the east courtyard of the Yongyi Marquis's mansion, it was already the end of the Wei hour.
"So, the Hu family didn't accept the money?" Xie Rongying looked at the banknotes on the table, then her eyes drifted to Gu Xun. "I heard that Jiang Yin's body has turned into a pool of mud?"
Gu Xun nodded.
Xie Rongying sat in the main seat in a very good mood and slowly picked up the teacup: "It seems that the Hu family has vented all the resentment they have had over the years."
"Master." Gu Xun shouted.
Xie Rongying looked up and saw worry on Gu Xun's face: "What do you want to ask?"
"What do you mean by deliberately keeping Jiang Yin's jade hairpin?" Gu Xun didn't understand Xie Rongying's behavior.
"Provocation." Xie Rongying took a sip of tea and continued, "It's not that I'm arrogant, but I just want Jiang Ling to know that Jiang Yin's death is related to me."
"Why is this necessary?" Gu Xun didn't understand.
Xie Rongying snorted and laughed: "You don't know the mistress of the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion, but I know her too well."
Jiang Ling certainly has his own methods and is also very cunning.
But she likes to plan everything in secret, and even if she has a falling out with her, she still pretends to be a loving mother and a filial son on the surface.
Jiang cared about her reputation, her family's interests, and her status in the circle of ladies in the city of Bianjing.
The more Jiang cares about something, the more Xie Rongying will tear apart Jiang's hypocritical side.
Jiang Yin's jade hairpin was the beginning of Jiang Shi and Jiang Yin's collaboration to plot against her.
I still have to end with this hosta.
She wanted to make Jiang want to kill her completely, and she wanted to make everything that Jiang cared about and managed disappear from Jiang's hands.
After all, Xie Rongying knew better than anyone that the more Jiang lost her composure, the more mistakes she would make. Only if she made mistakes would she have the opportunity to destroy the Yongyi Marquis Mansion.
As the saying goes, a biting dog never barks. She wants to make Jiang and the entire Yongyi Marquis Mansion bark non-stop.
"That's right. Jiang has used that kind of shady trick on the master, so a little provocation is not a big deal." Gu Xun understood.
At this time, Yunniang came in trotting.
"girl,"
Xie Rongying glanced at Gu Xun, and Gu Xun tactfully retreated.
Yunniang walked in, exchanged glances with Gu Xun, and then walked towards Xie Rongying: "Just now, someone from the Fourth Master said that the Emperor has ordered the Fourth Master to lead the troops to the border the day after tomorrow."
Xie Rongying raised her eyebrows. It was half a month faster than in her previous life. It seemed that some trajectories had changed.
"The master asked you if you want to go back tomorrow." Yunniang said again.
Xie Rongying smiled faintly: "Of course I have to go home."
Yunniang was also in a very good mood: "I will go and make arrangements for returning home tomorrow."
Xie Rongying added, "There's no need to tell Madam that I'm going home. After all, Madam is still at the Jiang family and should still be immersed in grief."
"yes."
Xie Rongying also warned: "When you return home, don't tell your father about what happened recently."
"Yes." Yunniang didn't understand her master's thoughts. After all, with the support of the master and the Xie family, who would dare to do anything to the young lady?
——
Gui Lane.
In a courtyard with four entrances, with the return of the male owner, the maids in the main house retreated one after another.
Qin Junyi stared at the ground with a dejected face, not knowing what he was thinking.
On the other side, the woman reclining on the beauty bed was wearing a long-sleeved blue outer shirt with an extremely plain white skirt underneath. Her long black hair was loose, and her unmade-up facial features were bright and beautiful. She frowned and stared at the dejected man.
"If it really doesn't work, then you can welcome me into the Marquis's Mansion. Now your mother and Xie Rongying are on the verge of falling out, so what's wrong with me going in as a co-wife?" Shangguan Yao actually preferred to enter the Marquis Yongyi's Mansion. She also wanted to meet Xie Rongying, who had caused Jiang to suffer defeat time and time again.
Qin Junyi raised his eyes and stared at Shangguan Yao distressedly: "I don't want you to suffer any more injustices."
"But now that things have come to this, do you have any other solutions?" Shangguan Yao stood up and walked towards Qin Junyi. She walked to his side and sat down in his arms. "As long as your heart is with me, what does this little grievance mean to me?"
Qin Junyi looked at the woman who always cared about him and gently put his arm around her waist. "Your father wants you to return to Longxi as soon as possible, and I don't want to disobey your father."
"Things aren't going as we expected, so I'm the only one who can enter the mansion." Shangguan Yao saw the distress in Qin Junyi's eyes and raised an eyebrow. "Or should I go back to Longxi by myself, and you stay in Bianjing and live happily with your wife forever?"
"What are you talking about?" Qin Junyi tightened his grip around Shangguan Yao's waist. "I, Qin Junyi, only have you as my wife in this life. As for the one in the Marquis' Mansion, she was only married to the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion by my mother. When I told you about this, you told me to think more about my mother. Now you're saying this to anger me?"
Shangguan Yao loved seeing the man in front of her with eyes only for her. She covered her mouth and chuckled softly, "Look, you won't agree to my going back to Longxi by myself, and you can't proceed according to our plan. Is there any other solution?"
"I know the best solution right now is for me to marry you, but I haven't even been married to Xie Rongying for a month, and my parents wouldn't agree to marry you again for the sake of the reputation of the Yongyi Marquisate." Qin Junyi frowned, his large hand caressing Shangguan Yao's belly again. He whispered, "Didn't you tell me to go to the border when you went to see the Emperor?"
"Can I say that?" Shangguan Yao gently patted Qin Junyi and said coquettishly, "Even if the emperor feels guilty towards our family, can I still express my feelings? I only said that it is not easy to negotiate at the border. This is not worthy of the sacrifices made by our Shangguan family back then."
Qin Junyi sighed, hugged Shangguan Yao and blamed himself, "What should I do now? I don't want you to follow me without a name or status, and I don't want our child to be without an identity."
"Junyi." Shangguan Yao held Qin Junyi's chin with both hands and said seriously, "Have you ever thought about paving a future for our child?"
"What do you mean?" Qin Junyi asked seriously.
Shangguan Yao's quiet eyes were filled with ambition. She said, "You are the eldest son of the Yongyi Marquis's mansion, and you are also the young marquis. From now on, the Yongyi Marquis will be you. Whatever status you have in the future will be the status of our child. Do you really want to leave Bianjing and become a country bumpkin? Do you really want our child to have nothing, and give your brother what should be yours?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Junyi stared deeply at the woman who was so close to him.
"I know what you're worried about." Shangguan Yao coaxed, "Take me to see your mother. Believe me, she will let me into the Marquis' Mansion."
As if she was afraid that Qin Junyi might still be worried, she added, "As a co-wife."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
