Chapter 79
On the way out of Prince Rui's Mansion, Shen Jin told Chu Xiuming what Princess Rui said, and then ignored it. She felt that these incomprehensible words were what Princess Rui wanted to tell Chu Xiuming. The carriage that Shen Jin and Dongdong were riding in was specially modified and padded with thick bedding to make Shen Jin and the child more comfortable. After all, Dongdong was too young and needed special attention.
After leaving the capital, Chu Xiuming got on a carriage. As Shen Xi was going out for the first time, he still rode a horse outside. Chu Xiuming asked Yue Wenhu to stay beside Shen Xi, and the little one ran beside Shen Xi's horse. It hadn't run like this for a long time, so it was unwilling to get on the carriage to rest.
In the carriage, Shen Jin was holding Dongdong in her arms and chewing on honey-glazed dried meat in her other hand. She hadn't had the chance to eat these during her long confinement period. During the forty days of confinement, Shen Jin kept muttering to herself. Nanny Zhao had already started preparing for it, and since the ban was lifted, Shen Jin almost never let go of it.
When Chu Xiuming got in the car, he saw Shen Jin eating. Dongdong lay obediently in Shen Jin's arms, his eyes following the dried meat in Shen Jin's hand, and his little mouth moving constantly. After Shen Jin finished eating a piece of dried meat, he would use cotton to wipe the saliva from the corner of Dongdong's mouth.
Looking at the mother and son, Chu Xiuming laughed and reached out to take Dongdong. Shen Jin smiled and said, "Husband."
Chu Xiuming responded and used a piece of fine cotton cloth to carefully wipe his son's saliva. Even in Chu Xiuming's arms, Dongdong would twist his little head and stare at Shen Jin. Shen Jin ate two more pieces and then stopped. Although this thing tasted good, eating too much would easily cause irritability. She still needed to feed the child, so naturally she couldn't eat too much. It was just because she saw how cute her son looked that she ate slowly and amused him.
"Husband, how long do you think your brother can last without getting on the carriage?" Shen Jin wiped his hands, then gently tapped his son's cheek with his fingers and asked.
Chu Xiuming calculated and said, "Two or three days."
Shen Jin nodded, "Do you need to send him medicine tonight?"
"Yes." Chu Xiuming looked at Shen Jin and said, "Ask the doctor to check your and Dongdong's pulse every night."
"I understand." Shen Jin nodded.
Chu Xiuming looked at his son who was about to sleep with his eyes closed, and shook him to wake him up. It was not time for him to sleep yet. If he fell asleep now, he would make a fuss at night.
Dongdong opened his eyes and said, "Ahhh!"
Chu Xiuming lowered his head and gently nuzzled his son and said, "You can't sleep."
In fact, it is very boring to travel. This time, they did not stop to have fun as often as when they came here. Now most of the time is spent on the road. Even the rest is on time. After the initial novelty wore off, Shen Xi returned to the carriage to rest. Sometimes he would come to Shen Jin to ask Chu Xiuming about some things.
Chu Xiuming was not shy about sharing his experiences with Shen Xi. Occasionally, the child would be left in the care of Nanny Zhao, while Chu Xiuming would take Shen Jin out for horseback riding to relax.
When Emperor Cheng found out that Prince Rui had followed Chu Xiuming, he immediately called Prince Rui over and scolded him. Prince Rui kept his head down and listened to Emperor Cheng's scolding. Emperor Cheng angrily asked, "What on earth are you thinking?"
"I just want Xi'er to get some military merit." Prince Rui was even more aggrieved than Emperor Cheng, saying, "Xuan'er is the crown prince, but Xi'er doesn't even have a title yet."
Emperor Cheng was so angry that he laughed, "Don't you know that the border town is dangerous?"
"I wrote a letter to Shaoyang." Prince Rui said truthfully, "How about you write a letter to Shaoyang as well? You must not let my Xier go to the battlefield."
Emperor Cheng looked at Prince Rui, and his guesses were reduced. "Then how do we get military merits?"
King Rui stopped talking, lowered his head and started to act like a coward again.
Emperor Cheng said, "Get out."
Prince Rui obediently left and went to the Queen Mother's palace to find his mother. In fact, Prince Rui had asked the Queen Mother that day what he should say if Emperor Cheng asked about Shen Xi. What he said today was what the Queen Mother taught him.
When Emperor Cheng found out about it, he didn't say anything. He turned over Concubine Lan's name card at night. Recently, because of the things happening in Shu, Emperor Cheng was exhausted every day. Every night he just wanted to lie in bed and have a good rest. He was not in the mood to do anything else. Concubine Lan was the most understanding and would not ask too many questions. Even if he told her something, she would keep her mouth shut.
After all, Concubine Lan cannot have children, so she can only rely on herself. Others who have children will inevitably have more selfish concerns for their children, and those who don't have children are eager to conceive a dragon seed as soon as possible.
"This Prince Rui is simply a rotten wood that cannot be carved." Emperor Cheng said as he hugged Concubine Lan, kneading her body wantonly with his hands.
Concubine Lan lowered her eyes slightly and said in an unsteady voice, "Your Majesty..."
"Hahaha." Emperor Cheng pinched Concubine Lan's chest hard, then stopped teasing her and said, "My beloved concubine, you have something to say."
Concubine Lan took a breath in pain, and then said, "I think the prince trusts your majesty, so he speaks so frankly."
Emperor Cheng snorted upon hearing this, "He has no ability at all, can't help me, and always causes trouble for me."
Concubine Lan didn't say anything. If Prince Rui was really capable, he would probably not be alive today.
"But what my beloved concubine said makes sense." Emperor Cheng said.
Concubine Lan had no relatives outside the palace. She was originally a palace maid, and was valued by Emperor Cheng because of her outstanding appearance. So she spoke without hesitation at this time and said, "Your Highness is better than those people with evil intentions."
Emperor Cheng was so angry when he thought about the events in Shuzhong that he said, "I know why those people were vying to go to Shuzhong, but it was useless. Even my second prince has been humiliated by those rebels."
"Your Majesty, please calm down." Concubine Lan said softly, "The Second Prince is blessed with great fortune, so he will be fine."
Emperor Cheng did not tell the court officials about the Prince of England. He was afraid that people's hearts would be unstable, and Duke Cheng'en could not enter the palace often. The Queen would cry whenever she saw him because of her son's affairs, and the Queen Mother was praying to Buddha all day and was not a talkative person. Emperor Cheng could not help but whispered, "My beloved concubine, you don't know, but the Prince of England is involved..."
Concubine Lan exclaimed, "Is the Second Prince in danger? Your Majesty must be very worried."
His words were full of worry for Emperor Cheng. Emperor Cheng snorted and said, "This time I got the news and made arrangements early. I will definitely not be like..." The previous emperor was so incompetent and let the enemy besiege the city.
Emperor Cheng did not say the rest of the words. Concubine Lan heard it and said, "Your Majesty is well-informed."
Emperor Cheng was about to speak when he suddenly remembered that this matter was not discovered by his people, but by the Queen's family, Duke Cheng'en. He didn't even get the news, but Duke Cheng'en's Mansion got it. Emperor Cheng felt uncomfortable when he thought of what his mother said that day. He narrowed his eyes and stood up and said, "My beloved concubine, please rest first. I remember that I still have some official business to do."
"Then I will serve Your Majesty." Concubine Lan did not try to persuade him to stay, but stood up as well. Because she was going to bed, she was only wearing a turmeric-colored cloth bag and light-colored trousers. After she put her hair up with her hands, she asked the palace maid to get clothes and put them on Emperor Cheng. Finally, she knelt on the ground to put on Emperor Cheng's boots.
Emperor Cheng looked down at Concubine Lan's humble appearance, and suddenly thought of the woman who had always been high and mighty. He doted on Concubine Lan so much, not only because of Concubine Lan's appearance, but also because Concubine Lan was somewhat similar to that woman. At that time, that woman was the next queen by default in the harem, and he was just an unfavored prince, and his biological mother was even more lowly. In the eyes of the late emperor, they were not mother and son at all. Thinking of this, Emperor Cheng suddenly got angry. When Concubine Lan helped him put on his boots and was about to get up, he suddenly held her head and made her kneel between his legs...
Li Fu took all the palace servants out and yawned away from others. Jingxi looked at the door worriedly, and finally lowered her head and said nothing.
After all, they were carrying a child, so even if Chu Xiuming wanted to hurry, he could not travel fast, especially when Dongdong suddenly had a fever on the way, which delayed them a lot of time. When they finally arrived at the border town, it was almost July. On the way, they received a letter from the Rui Palace, saying that Shen Qi had safely given birth to a daughter, which was also a happy event. Unfortunately, they had not yet understood what was happening in Shu. I'm afraid no one would have thought that the rebels with less than a thousand people would make it difficult for the court's 50,000 troops to conquer them, and even suffered heavy losses. Food and fodder could not be sent to Shu to feed the army.
In fact, it was no one else's fault that the war in Shu had dragged on for so long. The rebels had the Second Prince in their hands, and the court had many concerns. In particular, Emperor Cheng had ordered that the Second Prince must be rescued intact, which increased the difficulty and casualties.
The Prince of Yongle and several other sons of powerful and wealthy people who were on good terms with him did not move forward, so there was no danger. However, they could not return to the capital either, and it was of no use even if they were anxious.
Chu Xiuyuan personally brought people to pick up Chu Xiuming and his friends when they returned. After not seeing Chu Xiuyuan for a year, Chu Xiuyuan had grown a lot taller and was much tanned. When he saw Chu Xiuming, he quickly walked over and called out, "Brother, sister-in-law."
"You've grown stronger." Chu Xiuming said, putting his arm around his brother.
Chu Xiuyuan also hugged Chu Xiuming tightly before saying, "Brother, sister-in-law will be back soon. I have asked someone to pack everything up."
Shen Jin looked Chu Xiuyuan up and down, and directly put the child in his arms into his hands, "You haven't met your nephew yet, hurry up and get intimate with him, Xidi, please help."
Chu Xiuyuan was at a loss as he held his nephew in his arms, looking at Chu Xiuming for help, but Chu Xiuming took his wife's hand and walked towards the mansion. Shen Xi couldn't bear to see it, so he whispered a few words of advice, and then let Chu Xiuyuan hold the child, "Thank you."
Along the way, Shen Xi saw how Chu Xiuming spoiled Shen Jin. Not only that, Shen Jin was also particularly confused. Sometimes when she left early in the morning, Chu Xiuming would wrap her in a cloak and send her to the carriage. Shen Xi felt that if it weren't for Chu Xiuming, her brother-in-law, she wouldn't know how her third sister got lost. "My third sister really makes me worry."
"My nephew is so small and soft, I can't hold him at all." Although Chu Xiuyuan was holding Dongdong, he didn't dare to move. He looked at Shen Xi and said, "Brother, please take the child over quickly."
"I don't know how to do that either!" Shen Xi scratched his head and said, "Madame Zhao, An Ning, hurry up and take the child away."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Zhao said without moving, "Young General and Second Young Master, you should go inside. I think the general won't be able to see the young general for a while..."
Chu Xiuyuan said, "What if he falls?"
Aunt Zhao said with a smile in her eyes, "Madam will cry."
As soon as these words came out, Chu Xiuyuan's face changed again and again. If his sister-in-law cried, and his brother... it would be a waste of his joy to think that his brother and sister-in-law had returned and his support had returned. This couldn't be more heartbreaking.
Shen Xi also thought of this, and exchanged glances with Chu Xiuyuan, "Go inside carefully, I'll continue from below."
Chu Xiuyuan nodded when he heard it. There was no other way. Fortunately, Dongdong fell asleep and didn't like to move, otherwise Chu Xiuyuan would never walk around with such a soft baby in his arms. Shen Xi was indeed bent over with his hands raised underneath. If Chu Xiuyuan was not careful, he could catch them in time. The two brothers looked at each other and walked inside with stiff and awkward postures.
Nanny Zhao followed behind, and An Ning stood beside her and watched carefully. Looking at the expressions of Chu Xiuyuan and Shen Xi, Nanny Zhao chuckled in her heart, thinking that only her own wife would dare to use such a method. Looking at the two people who had gone from strangers to close in a short period of time, she slowly followed them into the yard.
There were quite a few servants in the general's mansion, and they had prepared everything. When Chu Xiuming and Shen Jin came out after changing their clothes and washing up, they saw Chu Xiuyuan, who was stiff all over and holding something, and Shen Xi, who was so tired that he was lying on a chair without moving. From the gate to here, Shen Xi had been walking with a bent back. The distance was not long, but the posture was too tiring.
Shen Jin looked at them and suddenly lay on Chu Xiuming and laughed, "Brother Yuan looks so silly."
Chu Xiuming hugged his wife, glanced at his brother's resentful eyes and said, "Yeah."
"Third sister, you're going too far." Shen Xi said weakly, "Hurry up and take Dongdong away."
Shen Jin laughed non-stop, but Chu Xiuming nodded to Aunt Zhao, and Aunt Zhao went over to take Dongdong from Chu Xiuyuan's arms. Chu Xiuyuan quickly stood up and stretched himself, "Sister-in-law, this is more tiring than practicing martial arts for a whole day."
"It's not heavy." Shen Jin retorted after laughing enough.
Chu Xiuyuan said helplessly, "It's because it's too light and soft. I don't think I can hold it."
Chu Xiuming patted his wife's hand, then looked at Shen Xi and said, "This is your sister-in-law's younger brother, you can just call him Brother Xi."
Shen Xi smiled at Chu Xiuyuan, and Chu Xiuyuan said, "Brother Xi, I'll take you around the border town some other day. Although it's not as prosperous as the capital, there are many fun places here."
"Okay." Shen Xi agreed with a smile, "Actually, you can just call me Shen Er or Shen Xi."
"Great." Chu Xiuyuan felt a little awkward and said, "Then I'll call you Shen Er, and you can call me Chu Er."
"No problem." Shen Xi and Chu Xiuyuan were of similar age, and because they had just shared hardships, they quickly reached a consensus.
Shen Jin looked at these two people. If Shen Xi made Chu Xiuyuan stupid, she didn't know if her husband would blame her?
Chu Xiuming waited for them to finish speaking before saying, "Just arrange for Shen Xi to stay in Xiuyuan's courtyard."
Chu Xiuyuan agreed immediately, and Chu Xiuming continued, "We are all tired today, go back and rest, we can talk about it tomorrow if there is anything else."
"Yes." Chu Xiuyuan and Shen Xi both agreed, and when they saw that Chu Xiuming had nothing else to do, they left together.
Shen Jin took his son from Nanny Zhao's arms and said, "I'll take Dongdong to rest first."
"Yeah." Chu Xiuyuan agreed. He had just returned and still had some things to deal with. At least he had to meet Manager Wang and the others.
After returning to the General's Mansion, Chu Xiuming, Shen Jin, and Madam Zhao all felt much more relaxed. They inevitably looked a little tired. When they returned to the room, Shen Jin said, "Madam, you guys go and rest first. Let the other maids take care of you for the next few days."
Madam Zhao did not try to be stubborn and said, "Thank you, Madam."
Anping and Anning looked at each other, and Anping said, "I and Anning will take turns to rest. It will be inconvenient if Madam doesn't have someone familiar around her."
Shen Jin looked at the two of them and said, "Is it okay?"
Anping smiled and said, "Don't worry, Madam."
An Ning also said, "I will stay by your side and serve Madam first."
Shen Jin nodded, and Nanny Zhao took Anping to pack up. An Ning stayed beside Shen Jin to serve him. Shen Jin asked An Ning to look after Dongdong first. She was taken care of so well by Nanny Zhao and a few others, and she had plenty of milk. Dongdong could not finish it all by herself, and some had to be squeezed out from time to time.
Chu Xiuming didn't stay in the study room for long. He came back to the room to have dinner with Shen Jin. Dongdong seemed to be uncomfortable in a strange place. After waking up, he kept asking Shen Jin to hold him. He cried non-stop when he was put on the bed. Shen Jin kept holding Dongdong and coaxing him softly. When Chu Xiuming came back, she looked at him aggrievedly and said, "Husband, Dongdong is crying."
After taking his son from Shen Jin's arms, Dongdong, who was originally sleeping, opened his eyes, as if he recognized Chu Xiuming, and hummed twice. When he first started crying, even though he was in Shen Jin's arms, it took a long time to coax him to stop crying. Now he is much better.
"It's okay." Chu Xiuming said this to Dongdong and Shen Jin.
Shen Jin smiled and responded. Soon the maid had the food ready. Chu Xiuming had to hold Dongdong, so he ate with one hand. Shen Jin served the soup to Chu Xiuming and placed it next to him. "Hey, Dongdong, do you want to eat?"
Chu Xiuming also looked down, and saw Dongdong's eyes were wide open and his mouth was moving, as if he was eating something, and his saliva was flowing out. Shen Jin took a piece of fine cotton cloth to wipe off his saliva and said, "You can't eat it." Shen Jin laughed with a strong sense of gloating.
"Yeah." Dongdong looked at his mother innocently, "Yeah yeah yeah."
"You can't eat it." Shen Jin tapped Dongdong's little nose and sat back in his seat with a smile.
Dongdong twisted his little head, "Eh?"
Chu Xiuming was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He gently shook his son and continued to eat. Dongdong kept squirming with his mouth open, but because he was in Chu Xiuming's arms, he did not cry anymore. He just cried out in grievance from time to time.
By the time Chu Xiuming and Shen Jin finished their meal, Dongdong had fallen asleep again.
Because they were back in the border town, even Chu Xiuming relaxed a lot. He selected a wet nurse to help Shen Jin take care of the child, so that Shen Jin could finally get a good night's sleep. However, because they had gotten used to it during this period of time, both Chu Xiuming and Shen Jin woke up several times at night before gradually recovering.
Compared with Chu Xiuming and Shen Jin, the situation in Shuzhong is much more serious, and those anti-people demands are getting higher and higher. They even demand that Emperor Cheng make the leader of the anti-people a king, and that Shuzhong be their fiefdom, not subject to the rule of the Tianqi Dynasty. They openly demand the establishment of a country within a country. Now even the ministers can't help it, and have written countless letters demanding severe punishment. Many people even cursed in their hearts that if the second prince really had some backbone, it would be better for him to commit suicide.
Many things are inconvenient in the capital, and even Chu Xiuming is not well-informed about the news. After arriving in the border town, he might know some news before Emperor Cheng.
In the study of the General's Mansion, Chu Xiuming looked at Chief Steward Wang and Steward Zhao and said, "I am going to lead the troops to patrol the border again, and I will take Xiuyuan with me this time."
"What's going on in that border town..." Manager Wang asked with a frown. If Chu Xiuming and Chu Xiuyuan were not in the border town, there would be no one to make the decision.
Some time ago, Chu Xiuming was in the capital, and everyone assisted Chu Xiuyuan in handling affairs. Although they did more things, some difficult things were sent to the capital urgently for Chu Xiuming to make a decision. However, after all, someone was needed to be in charge, as if there was an extra backbone.
"I'm going to hand it over to Madam." Chu Xiuming said what he had already thought of, "You guys come and assist Madam."
Manager Zhao heard this and said, "Okay."
Manager Wang thought of Shen Jin's performance when the barbarians besieged the city, hesitated for a moment and nodded. Chu Xiuming looked at the two people and said, "I will leave next month, so make some arrangements during this time."
This was Shen Xi's first time in a place like Border Town. He was born and raised in Beijing, and had never seen such scenery. When he went out with Chu Xiuyuan for the first time, he saw the people coming and going on the street, and their seemingly casual but respectful attitude towards Chu Xiuyuan. He was shocked, "No wonder people in Beijing say that the people in Border Town are tough."
Chu Xiuyuan smiled when he heard this, "Because you have to be tough. My sister-in-law likes the wontons here very much. You should try some too."
Shen Xi had never used anything in a place like this, but he also knew the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" and was well taught by Princess Rui, so he said, "Okay."
Chu Xiuyuan took Shen Xi to find an empty seat and sat down. He ordered two bowls of wontons skillfully. "We have to eat when we get home later. Just try some."
Shen Xi nodded. The boss also knew Chu Xiuyuan and quickly brought their wontons up. Seeing Shen Xi, he smiled and said, "Is this Madam's brother? He's so handsome."
Chu Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Yes, I brought him to your place specially to try it."
"Hahaha, the madam loves to eat the wontons from my family. I wonder how the young master is doing?" the boss said happily.
Chu Xiuyuan said, "My sister-in-law has been talking about it these days, but because the child is too young to leave, she couldn't come out."
Upon hearing this, the boss said, "I will prepare some wontons and soup base for Madam in a while. Major General, take it back and you can eat it when it's cooked."
"I'll ask someone from the mansion to get it later. I didn't bring anyone out today." Chu Xiuyuan said with a smile. The boss agreed and went back to work without delaying their meal.
Looking at Shen Xi's shocked eyes, Chu Xiuyuan explained, "Sister-in-law is also very familiar with these people."
Shen Xi nodded and said, "It's more comfortable here." If there were no threat from the barbarians, he would have wanted to bring his mother and sister over.
The two men didn't say anything else and just lowered their heads to eat. When they went back, the boss didn't take the money and repeatedly reminded Chu Xiuyuan to remember to ask someone to pick up the food.
On the way back, Chu Xiuyuan said, "In fact, the reason why the atmosphere here is like this is because when a real war breaks out, everyone, regardless of gender or age, will have to kill the enemy."
Shen Xi felt as if all his cognitions over the past decade had been overturned. Chu Xiuyuan said, "Do you know why these people like my sister-in-law so much?"
"I don't know." Shen Xi also discovered that when they saw them, people would often ask about Shen Jin, and the respect and closeness in their eyes could not be faked.
Chu Xiuyuan whispered, "I'm afraid my sister-in-law hasn't told you. That was when my sister-in-law had just married me. My brother was leading troops outside. The barbarians besieged the city. We resisted for a long time. Almost all the soldiers defending the city were killed or wounded. All the people in the city went up to kill the enemy. I was seriously injured... It was my sister-in-law who stood up at that time." Chu Xiuyuan pointed to the city wall in the distance, "She stood there. Later, we all thought that we would not be able to wait for my brother. There was a refuge in the mansion, so my sister-in-law let the children in the city hide in it, and gave the children her seal and other tokens..."
These things happened not long ago, so they are still vivid in my mind. Chu Xiuyuan's tone was not full of ups and downs, he just narrated it very straightforwardly, but Shen Xi was stunned, he couldn't imagine the danger at that time and Shen Jin's appearance. Chu Xiuyuan continued, "At that time, there was not much food in the city, and those that were easy to swallow were left for the wounded. My sister-in-law ate bran and other things with us, and took care of the wounded every day... In the end, she managed to hold on until my brother came back."
"The court didn't send any reinforcements?" Shen Xi couldn't help but ask.
Chu Xiuyuan smiled and didn't say anything. During the time that Chu Xiuming was away, Chu Xiuyuan had also grown a lot.
Seeing this, Shen Xi thought of Princess Rui's words and resisted the urge to ask any more questions. When he returned to the gate of the general's mansion, he saw a servant waiting. He said, "Young General, the general asks you to come over."
Chu Xiuyuan nodded, "I'll go find my brother first, you..."
"I'm going to see my third sister." Shen Xi looked up at the three words "General's Mansion". His mind was in a mess, and Chu Xiuming obviously had something to do, so the only person he could find now was Shen Jin.
Chu Xiuyuan agreed, waved his hand, told someone to go to the wonton stall to get the things, and then left.
When Shen Xi saw Shen Jin, he saw Shen Jin looking at Little Bit and Dong Dong lying on the stall. Little Bit's tail was facing Dong Dong, and when Dong Dong reached out to grab it, Little Bit shook it so that Dong Dong could not grab it. Shen Jin laughed non-stop, and even Madam Zhao and the others did not stop him. Instead, they made some suggestions, such as tying a bell on Little Bit's tail.
Looking at Shen Jin like this, Shen Xi always felt that he couldn't be compared with the Shen Jin described by Chu Xiuyuan.
Shen Jin also saw Shen Xi and said with a smile, "Brother Xi, come and see, it's fun."
Shen Xi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Aunt Zhao saw that Shen Xi was in trouble, so she took the initiative to say, "Madam, the young master must be tired. I will carry him back to rest for a while."
"Okay." Shen Jin agreed with a smile.
Aunt Zhao picked Dongdong up, and Shen Jin patted the little dog's head and said, "Okay, I'll tell the kitchen to cook you a beef bone tomorrow."
"Awooo." The little one called out, wagged his tail, and left.
Shen Xi then said, "Third sister, I have something to ask you."
"Okay." Shen Jin helped An Ping stand up, then put on his shoes and said, "Let's go sit outside for a while? It's a bit hot in the room."
Shen Xi nodded, and the two walked to the pavilion outside. After they sat down, An Ping brought tea and cakes. Shen Jin asked, "What's the matter?"
"My mother told me to ask my third sister and brother-in-law if I have any questions or don't understand anything." Shen Xi said.
Shen Jin took a sip of the iced sour plum soup and said, "Well, ask."
Shen Xi didn't know where to start, and only asked after he finished a cup of sour plum soup, "Didn't the imperial court send reinforcements?"
Shen Jin was stunned for a moment and looked at Shen Xi with some confusion. Seeing this, Shen Xi said, "It was not long after my third sister got married that the barbarians besieged the city."
"Oh." Shen Jin thought about it, "No."
Shen Xi asked, "Why?"
"Because His Majesty doesn't want to save us." Shen Jin answered as a matter of course.
But such an answer made Shen Xi stunned. He actually had a vague guess about this, but he didn't expect Shen Jin to answer so directly. His face turned pale, and he said with some disbelief, "But isn't this the border of Tianqi? If the city is really broken, it means that those barbarians will be wiped out."
"Yes." Shen Jin poured another cup of sour plum soup for Shen Xi and said, "Don't be afraid, it's over."
Shen Xi wanted to say that he was not afraid, but he didn't know how to say it. He drank the sour plum soup in one gulp and said, "I'm afraid that in your majesty's mind, getting rid of your husband is more important than the barbarians breaking into the city."
"Is it really okay for you to tell me so bluntly?" Shen Xi didn't know what to say and asked after a long time.
Shen Jin looked at Shen Xi in confusion, "But didn't you ask me? And since mother told you that, it meant that she didn't mean to hide it from you."
Shen Xi was stunned for a moment, thinking about what his mother said before she left, he seemed to understand something, but he still found it hard to accept.
"His achievements are so great that they threaten his master..." Shen Xi murmured.
Shen Jin smiled when he heard this but didn't say anything. In fact, Shen Jin always felt that using the excuse of Gao Zhenzhu to kill a meritorious official was a very cowardly act. It could also be because of Chu Xiuming, people's hearts are inevitably biased.
Shen Xi pursed her lips and said, "Then my third brother-in-law..." Shen Xi couldn't say the rest of the words.
Shen Jin understood and said with certainty, "No." Even if Chu Xiuming really did something, Shen Jin believed that someone from the Shen family would still sit on the throne in the end.
Shen Xi was relieved. He grew up in the Rui Palace and knew a few things. He would not ask why his third brother-in-law did not hand over the military power. If he really did, I am afraid that Emperor Cheng would not allow Chu Xiuming to survive. Besides, Shen Xi could not think of anyone else who could guard the border except Chu Xiuming. "By the way, where is cousin Ruyang?"
"Do you want to see them?" Shen Jin looked at Shen Xi and asked.
Shen Xi thought about it and nodded, "I want to meet them."
"Then I'll have someone take you there tomorrow." Shen Jin had no intention of stopping him.
Shen Xi responded. He was in a state of confusion and felt even more dizzy than when he came. Shen Jin looked at him for a long time and found that Shen Xi was in a daze. He looked at An Ning and said, "Find someone to watch over him. I have to go back to accompany Dongdong."
"Yes." An Ning responded.
Shen Jin no longer cared about Shen Xi. After all, a brother this old could not be as cute as his soft and cuddly son.
When Shen Xi came to his senses, Shen Jin was gone. However, he was in no mood to say anything. Instead, Shen Jin told Chu Xiuming about Shen Xi's situation at night. Chu Xiuming arranged for Yue Wen to take Shen Xi to meet Princess Zhaoyang and her group the next morning. After meeting Princess Zhaoyang and her group, Shen Xi locked himself in his room for several days. Then he went to see Shen Jin again and asked, "Third sister, do you know about the situation of cousin Zhaoyang and her group?"
"I know." Shen Jin didn't know why Shen Xi asked such a question, and said, "I told Brother Yuan to do this."
Shen Xi stared at his third sister in amazement, especially her almond-shaped eyes that were clearly asking him, is there any problem with this?
"This isn't a good idea." Shen Xi said after a moment of hesitation.
Shen Jin asked, "Why not?"
Shen Xi was at a loss for words, so Shen Jin asked again, "Those people, people send them food, clothes, and books every day. I heard that they have gained a lot of weight. Do they need anything else?"
Such a matter-of-fact attitude actually made Shen Xi feel that it would be too much for him to ask for anything more for them. Shen Xi took a deep breath and said, "I understand what mother means. Third sister, I have figured it out."
"Oh." Shen Jin was even more confused and had no idea what Shen Xi was thinking.
Shen Xi said, "Don't worry, Third Sister! I will never betray your husband! I will not tip off the capital, and I will not betray your trust in me."
Shen Jin blinked, "Oh, I've never worried about it."
Shen Xi said with a moved look on her face, "Third sister, I will go find my third brother-in-law right now. I am going to train with the soldiers."
"Oh." Shen Jin responded, and watched Shen Xi run away. He looked at Zhao Ma in confusion, "What on earth is Brother Xi doing here? But it would be good for him to go and practice more."
"Madam, have you really never been worried?" asked Madam Zhao.
Shen Jin nodded and said, "No, without my husband's consent, he would not be able to send the news to the capital. Why should he worry?"
Nanny Zhao let out a breath slowly. It turned out that some truths were better kept hidden.
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