Chapter 280 Inviting Xiao Lan to South City
Yun Qiao stayed in the general's mansion, accompanying Chen Jingyan to deal with matters in South City.
Gao Zhan is quite smart. He carries out many of the things Chen Jingyan assigns him, and he does a good job of it. Therefore, Chen Jingyan also has time to spend more time with Yun Qiao.
But if he wants to help Xiao Lan take the throne of the emperor of Manchuria, a battle is inevitable. Xiao Lan wants Chen Jingyan to go to Manchuria to help him, not Gao Zhan. But Chen Jingyan suspects that Xiao Lan will set a trap in Manchuria.
Therefore, he agreed to let Xiao Lan go to Manchuria to help him on the condition that Gao Zhan go. He could stay in Nancheng as support, but he would never go to Manchuria in person.
If Gao Zhan was detained in Manchuria, he had the ability to bring Gao Zhan back.
If Chen Jingyan was detained in Manchuria, Gao Zhan would probably not be able to bring him back.
For this negotiation, Chen Jingyan also specially invited Xiao Lan to come to Nancheng.
Yun Qiao thought that Xiao Lan might not be willing to come.
Chen Jingyan is cautious, and Xiao Lan is also extremely cautious.
But unexpectedly, Xiao Lan came with a woman in red.
The woman had beautiful eyes and eyebrows, and was also very elegant. She had her long hair combed up, held a spear in her hand, wore a red dress, and wore black boots. She followed Xiao Lan and came with him.
Chen Jingyan invited Xiao Lan to negotiate and treated him with courtesy, so he naturally prepared food to entertain him.
After Xiao Lan arrived, his eyes fell on Yun Qiao, who was dressed in white and standing beside Chen Jingyan. She exuded laziness. Although her clothes were ordinary and not as flamboyant as Hongying's, his eyes still showed praise and appreciation without hesitation.
Chen Jingyan didn't like the way Xiao Lan stared at Yun Qiao nakedly.
"General Xiao, please take a seat."
Xiao Lan raised the corner of his mouth slightly, with a hint of sneer, "I just took a look. She has been your woman for a long time and even gave birth to your child. Why, you won't even let me see her?"
"Since General Xiao already has a beautiful woman by his side, why bother staring at someone else's wife?"
Chen Jingyan's words were sarcastic, saying that he was targeting other people's wives, which was not what a gentleman should do.
But Xiao Lan, who was born in the royal family but raised among the common people, simply disdains to be a gentleman.
"I prefer to watch."
He said this on purpose.
Chen Jingyan was so angry that his teeth were itching. He had never seen such a shameless person...
Yun Qiao took Chen Jingyan's hand and held his big hand with her small hand. "My Lord, why are you so angry? Aren't people born to be looked down upon?"
"It won't hurt to take a look. Let him take a look."
Although he said this, Chen Jingyan still felt uncomfortable, but he would remember this grudge.
In order to prevent Yun Qiao from being seen by Xiao Lan again, Chen Jingyan asked Yun Qiao to take the woman in red to the backyard, and he and Xiao Lan talked alone.
The garden of the South City General's Mansion is quite exquisite, but it is slightly inferior to Xiao Lan's palace.
The woman in red had no intention of appreciating these so-called beautiful views.
Ever since she saw Yun Qiao, her eyes, like Xiao Lan's, were fixed on her.
"This time, I've given up hope. I've always wanted to know what kind of woman Xiao Lan likes. I, Ye Hongying, have a good figure, are beautiful, and can fight in battles. I originally thought he liked gentle and delicate women, and I even deliberately imitated them for a while. But that poor little white flower, I pretended to be so disgusting that he turned around and walked away when he saw me."
Ye Hongying started laughing as she spoke.
"I originally wanted to give up on him, but I was quite unwilling to do so. That's why I insisted on coming along, just to see you."
"There's nothing special about you, is there?"
Yun Qiao knew what Ye Hongying said. She was a straightforward person. Although she was a Manchu, she had no ill will towards her.
She spoke to Ye Hongying in a gentle tone, "I'm an ordinary woman. Xiao Lan doesn't like me. He just misses the past."
"When did it happen?" Ye Hongying obviously didn't know that before Xiao Lan returned to the Manchu royal family, he had been hiding in the Great Zhou like a rat in the dark.
He is now of noble status, so naturally he is even more reluctant to mention it.
"It happened a long time ago."
"Miss Ye, I'm not some supernatural being. I'm just a woman who is willing to stay by her husband's side and take care of his children."
Well, when you go out, you give yourself an identity and create your own image.
Ye Hongying nodded. "I can see that you are indeed a woman without any ambitions. But I still can't understand why Xiao Lan fell in love with you. I am no worse than you."
This girl really knows how to tell the truth.
"As the saying goes, a strong man is afraid of a clingy woman. Miss Ye, if you work hard, I believe that one day your wish will come true."
Ye Hongying stared at Yun Qiao with suspicion, "Are you treating your own Marquis like this as well?"
"We both like each other, so it's a natural progression."
"Miss Ye has a straightforward personality. If you really like her, it's okay to take the initiative. However, if you take the initiative and Xiao Lan is still unwilling..."
Ye Hongying suddenly thought:
Even if he doesn't want to, I will sleep with him and get pregnant with his child. Only then can I secure my position as queen.
[My Ye family is counting on me.]
Yun Qiao's mouth twitched. She had never imagined how wild and unrestrained Ye Hongying's heart was.
It seems that Ye Hongying really likes Xiao Lan and really wants Xiao Lan's power.
This girl is very frank.
However, Yun Qiao thought that it was good to have Ye Hongying, this "troublesome" by Xiao Lan's side to keep him company. At least it saved him from thinking about fighting with Nancheng all day long.
"Miss Ye, life is short, so go after what you want."
Ye Hongying looked at Yun Qiao with warm eyes.
"I never thought that a gentle woman like you could say such bold words."
"I like you. If you were from Manchuria, we would definitely be good friends."
Yun Qiao smiled and replied, "We can be friends. I like you quite a bit too. Off the battlefield, we're friends, but on the battlefield, there's no distinction."
Ye Hongying smiled brightly.
"It's rare to meet someone as interesting as you."
Yun Qiao laughed.
If it weren't for teasing you, I wouldn't be so interesting.
But she didn't say this.
The banquet began, Yun Qiao and Ye Hongying were invited over, and the four of them sat together. Chen Jingyan took the opportunity to show his courtesy to Yun Qiao.
"My wife is pregnant now, so please eat more. You are eating for two people."
"Madam, eat some fish. This won't make you fat."
"This soup is also good, Madam, please have some..."
Xiao Lan's face was as dark as the bottom of the pot in the general's mansion. He lost his appetite halfway through the meal and got up to leave. Finally, he said, "Do as General Chen says."
This agreed with what Chen Jingyan said, and asked Gao Zhan to take people to Manchuria to help Xiao Lan.
Chen Jingyan stayed in the South City, waiting and watching. If an accident occurred, he would have to lead his troops to provide emergency assistance.
"Okay, everyone has left, so please stop acting, my lord."
Yun Qiao was very full after being forced to eat by him. Chen Jingyan looked at Yun Qiao, carefully examining her again and again, which made Yun Qiao feel uneasy.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"I just realized that after you became pregnant, your face has become even more delicate, radiant, and full of energy. Your whole body exudes an alluring aura..."
Yun Qiao, who was originally feeling complacent because of Chen Jingyan's words, became unhappy after hearing the latter part.
"What do you mean by that, my Lord? You are the one who seduces people."
"Get up, I'm full, I want to go for a walk."
Chen Jingyan hurriedly stood up, "I'll accompany you."
"The girl next to Xiao Lan today is quite good. She has a straightforward personality. If she is guided well, she will definitely be able to help the Marquis a lot."
Chen Jingyan looked at Yun Qiao and said, "Madam, you are quite thoughtful."
"I hope Madam won't use this thought on me."
Chen Jingyan was worried because he realized that his wife was good at using people around her to restrain others.
Now that he couldn't hear what she was thinking, Chen Jingyan was quite worried that Yun Qiao had second thoughts about him, and he didn't even know how she died in the end.
But he had nothing to say about dying at the hands of his own wife.
Yun Qiao chuckled, she naturally understood what Chen Jingyan was thinking.
"Then you have to be nice to me, otherwise..."
"What else?" he asked.
"Otherwise I won't have this child and will give it back to you."
She said this with a smile, and Chen Jingyan also smiled with her, but back to the topic, Xiao Lan went back to fight for the imperial power, Gao Zhan went to Manchuria to help Xiao Lan ascend the throne as emperor, and Chen Jingyan could not return to Mobei at this time.
As for Yun Qiao, Mobei naturally cannot do without her.
After Yun Qiao recovered and the fetus was stable, she was ready to leave Nancheng and return to Mobei.
After staying in Mobei for three months, the fetus was basically stable. She returned home in a carriage. However, Chen Jingyan was still worried and insisted on sending her back personally.
He said he also missed his three children at home.
The two returned to Mobei together.
He stayed in Mobei for a few days, and the three children were very happy.
Chen Jingyan accompanied them to play in Mobei for a few days, and Yun Qiao also went with them to the desert outside the Great Wall to watch the sunrise and sunset and eat barbecue in a place full of yellow sand.
Yun Qiao felt that such a good life was quite comfortable.
Not long after, Gao Zhan received a letter saying that there was trouble in the Manchu country and he wanted Chen Jingyan to go to Nancheng to take charge.
The fact that Gao Zhan wrote this in the letter shows that the civil unrest in Manchuria was quite serious.
I don’t know when I will be able to return from Nancheng this time. If it is fast, it will take three to five months to seize power. If it is long, it may take one or two years. Xiao Lan must seize power in the country.
Yun Qiao is in Mobei, focusing on both the economy and education.
However, Emperor Showa had very strict requirements for these rigorous examinations outside the Great Wall.
Although they are all citizens of the Great Zhou, they have very high requirements for the people in Mobei. They must have no ancestors who caused any riots or disturbances, and at least three generations must have been scholars.
This requirement is considered extremely strict in Mobei.
After all, the new generation of people who read good books have just started reading, and the longest time is only three years. It was Chen Jingyan who first proposed the implementation of reading education.
A large number of students came to the gate of the palace, wanting to see Her Royal Highness the Princess.
Yun Qiao was busy with business matters and when she suddenly learned about this, she thought it was unlikely.
When Wang Xiaodong came to tell Yun Qiao, she didn't believe it.
"Your Highness, is it possible that the Emperor is deliberately targeting Mobei? Does he not want the people of Mobei to gain power?"
Yun Qiao looked at Wang Xiaodong and said, "What you said is not impossible."
"Let them in first. I'll ask them. Oh, and please invite Mr. Zhou as well..."
The inspector newly sent by Lord Zhou was previously an official in Kyoto. He made a mistake and was demoted and exiled to Mobei City.
Although the position of the Inspector is not low, in the remote and remote area of Mobei, even a talented person would find it difficult to display his skills.
Mr. Zhou is thirty-five years old this year and has a beard. Because of the weather in Mobei, he looks much older than his actual age.
When Yun Qiao called him over, Zhou Shi bowed with both hands, which was quite respectful.
He naturally knew why Her Royal Highness the Princess had called him here.
"Your Highness, you may not know that the requirements for the imperial examinations vary from place to place. Because of the frequent riots in Mobei and the large number of thugs, the number of places for the imperial examinations is limited every year. Now there is no opportunity to study. I recommend one or two people to accompany you to take the exam. If you fail, you can return to Mobei."
"But in recent years, the prince has implemented new policies, giving local people many opportunities to study. More people are studying, and more people want to take the imperial examinations, but the number of places to take the exam in Beijing is still small."
“This is what caused the reluctance of those scholars.”
Yun Qiao finally understood after hearing what Zhou Shi said.
"The root of the problem lies in the policies in Kyoto, but we can't change them at the moment. So, Lord Zhou, let's hold an imperial examination in Mobei. The top three who pass will be recommended to Kyoto to take the exam."
"The rest, from the front, will line up. The top three will stay in the government office to work."
Zhou Shi asked, "What about the generals?"
"The military commanders are under the prince's jurisdiction. We will not be involved for the time being. Lord Zhou, do you think my proposal is acceptable? If you have any good suggestions, you can also put forward them."
Zhou Shi said, "I think your Highness's method is very practical for now."
"Then I'll trouble you, Master Zhou, to gather those students and talk to them properly."
"Mobei needs more scholars nowadays. After studying, one doesn't necessarily have to become an official. Lord Zhou, if there are any capable people in Mobei, you can recommend them to the palace. As long as they have skills and are good at something, we can recommend them."
Zhou Shi looked at Yun Qiao.
"I previously thought that Your Highness and the Prince would only stay here for a short while and then leave. I never thought that you would care so much about Mobei."
Yun Qiao smiled lightly, "Lord Zhou is also busy. Many people in Mobei praise Lord Zhou as a good official who cares about the people."
Speaking of this, Yun Qiao's smile faded and he continued, "I've also heard about your wife's affairs."
Zhou Shi had a childhood sweetheart. Back then, Zhou Shi said something wrong and offended the emperor, so he was exiled to the Mobei area, and his wife followed him.
During a riot, her wife was hacked to death by mobs who broke into her house.
His two children also died.
He only has a wife, and so far, he has no plans to remarry.
Zhou Shi said calmly: "It's all in the past."
After Zhou Shi left, Yun Qiao looked at his back and always felt that this man was a reliable man. He was an ancient man who married his childhood sweetheart and never married anyone else after marriage. He also had no concubines around him. Such a loving man was rare.
Especially during the Mobei riots, his wife and children died, but he still governed this land with all his heart.
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