Chapter 215
The Xie family affairs were settled. Lin Shuge was on duty every day. After work, he went home to eat and drink with Xie Chen and others. He lived a very comfortable life.
Today was a day off, and he was alone at home with nothing to do. Xie Chen had something to do in the army, so Xie Ning took Lin Xuan to a banquet. Ever since Lin Xuan saved a group of noble ladies and wives in the capital during the palace coup, she had become the most popular girl in Yandu, with invitations pouring in. Lin Xuan attended banquets every day and was very busy.
Lin Shuge considered himself to be an open-minded parent. It was just a gathering with friends, so he would not interfere. Xie Ning and others were there most of the time anyway, so he did not have to worry about any danger.
Besides, even if there is, Lin Xuan can handle it herself.
As for Lin Qingyuan, he knocked Zhang Lingcheng unconscious that day. Afterwards, Lin Shuge brought his younger brother to apologize. Zhang Lingcheng was praised by Emperor Yongyuan and naturally did not take the matter to heart. However, Lin Qingyuan was an honest child. He felt guilty about it, so he went to visit every day. He actually became friends with Xiang Ligu and others and focused on researching gunpowder and other weapons.
Lin Shuge was lying drowsily on the chair. Xiaobai was beside him, using his claws to hook a long line on his sleeve. Lin Shuge had no choice but to hold it in his arms, stroking its soft belly, and enjoying the finally free time.
However, things did not go as planned. There was a sound of footsteps outside the house, and the servant said, "Sir, a distinguished guest has arrived."
Who would come to the door at this time? Lin Shuge put Xiaobai on the cushion, tidied his appearance a little, and walked out.
"Who's visiting?" Lin Shuge asked.
"It seems to be His Royal Highness Prince Liang." The servant had seen Prince Liang once when he followed Lin Shuge out, so he had some impression of him.
What does King Liang want from me? Lin Shuge was confused and followed the servants to the lobby.
In the lobby, a young man was standing with his hands behind his back, staring at a place in a daze. Lin Shuge quickly stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Greetings, His Royal Highness Prince Liang."
King Liang turned around and raised his hand and said, "Doctor Lin, there is no need to be so polite. I am bothering you today with something. I hope Doctor Lin will not find me annoying." He had a gentle temperament, as if he was still a minor official following Yin Hongan to farm the land.
The two exchanged pleasantries, and King Liang got straight to the point: "I heard that Doctor Lin suggested that my brother open up the border area of Nanjun, so I came here to ask Doctor Lin for advice."
Seeing that Lin Shuge still had a look of doubt on his face, King Liang smiled and said, "This king wants to go to the south to help the counties open up border areas."
"Your Highness, you can't do that. There is a lot of malaria in the south. When the generals of the previous dynasty went to the south, countless soldiers were infected. Your Highness's status is precious, so you must not take risks alone." Lin Shuge never thought that his highness would have such thoughts. If something really happened, he, the "instigator", would be in trouble.
Prince Liang chuckled, "Doctor Lin is too cautious. I don't want to go now. As for malaria, my brother has already recruited doctors to carefully study the prevention prescription, but I think Doctor Lin may have a good prescription."
“Your Highness, thank you for your praise. I am not familiar with medicine. I have only heard that Changshan and Artemisia annua may be effective, but I don’t know how effective they are. I can only say that if Your Highness really wants to go, you must take precautions, boil drinking water as much as possible, and wear mugwort to prevent mosquitoes on a daily basis.” Lin Shuge recalled the prevention and treatment of malaria and schistosomiasis in later generations, but it is almost impossible to completely cure them with the current medical level. The only thing he could do was to pay attention to his food, clothing and daily expenses.
King Liang thought carefully about what he said, "I will tell the doctors about this and let them listen to it. But I would like to ask Doctor Lin, can the cotton and potatoes brought from the northwest be grown in the south?"
"Of course, although potatoes prefer drought, they can also be grown in the south, but we need to pay attention to issues such as light and soil. As for cotton, it is suitable for planting in the south. Perhaps after it is widely planted in the south, Your Highness will see a different picture."
Lin Shuge thought about the fact that the cotton textile industry in the south would be very developed in the future and the abundant cotton cloth produced could be supplied to the whole country. He suddenly realized that this might be a good time to introduce cotton to the south.
"Oh? Doctor Lin means that it can also be grown in the south, and even better?" Prince Liang's eyes lit up and he looked at Lin Shuge expectantly.
Lin Shuge nodded. "In addition to geographical conditions, the south has well-developed waterways, so we should build water conservancy projects to facilitate commercial exchanges and trade. In addition, the south has good water and heat conditions, which is more conducive to grain production. If it is properly developed, it will be a land of fish and rice."
"Great, no wonder the master asked me to come to you. Today's conversation really opened my eyes." Liang Wang said happily, "By the way, the master asked me to tell Doctor Lin that the spring ploughing in Yuelin Garden will start this year. The master wants Doctor Lin to go over and take a look."
Lin Shuge was speechless. Lord Yin was going to make him a non-staff member and even sent Prince Liang as a lobbyist. He didn't dare to refuse the emperor's brother.
He gritted his teeth in his heart but still had a smile on his face, saying that he would go there when he had time. He also warned King Liang not to go there rashly before the southern border counties were developed.
Prince Liang agreed and went back to ask Emperor Yongyuan for instructions, saying that as a member of the royal family, he should do his part for the people, and now the development of the border areas is what he wants to do his best.
Emperor Yongyuan naturally disagreed. Prince Liang was usually gentle and kind, and he had never been seen in conflict with anyone. But this time he went against his own will and insisted on going, resulting in a stalemate with Emperor Yongyuan.
After hearing this, Lin Shuge was completely confused. Is this prince so rebellious? He clearly gave me many warnings.
He sighed in the room. Xie Chen, who was doing nothing beside him, looked at him and said with a smile, "Brother, are you worried about the affairs of His Royal Highness Prince Liang?"
"Yes, what do you think this prince wants to do? The malaria in the south is no joke." Lin Shuge took off the book covering his face and said to Xie Chen.
Xie Chen didn't say anything, and after a moment he said, "Brother, based on your observations since coming to Yandu, what do you think of the relationship between His Majesty and King Liang?"
How is the relationship? According to Lin Shuge, Prince Liang and Emperor Yongyuan respected each other more than they were close. Otherwise, as the only living brother of Emperor Yongyuan, Prince Liang would not have followed Yin Hongan to farm the land all day long.
Although King Liang needed to temporarily avoid the limelight because of Ding Yanhe in the past, now that the Ding family has been destroyed, King Liang wants to go to the south. Is that possible?
"It's just as my brother thought. Prince Liang and Your Majesty are not from the same mother. Back then, because Your Majesty was older and his mother's family was not prominent, Ding Yanhe supported Your Majesty to ascend the throne. In order to protect himself, Prince Liang had to be cautious and avoid participating in political affairs. He dealt with farmers all day long. Many people in the court only knew Prince Liang but had never seen what he looked like." Xie Chen told the story.
"Now that your Majesty has all the power, with the wisdom of Prince Liang, he must dispel your Majesty's suspicion. If you are not careful, people will accuse you of interfering with military achievements in the northwestern border counties. The southern border counties are different. There are many mountains and dense forests, and there are also dangers of malaria. No minister in the court wants to go there. He must have thought of these and decided to go to the southern border counties."
After Xie Chen finished speaking, he looked at Lin Shuge's expression, saying with a smile, "The imperial family is the most ruthless. The previous emperor had seven or eight sons, and now only the current emperor and Prince Liang are left. But there can only be one master of the Great Yan. But your majesty is still young, and he has defeated his biggest enemy. The little prince is also growing up safely. He will not do anything to a brother who poses no threat."
But if there is a threat, the result will be different, Lin Shuge added this sentence in his mind.
"Is it because of Ding Yanhe that His Royal Highness Prince Liang has not yet been enfeoffed?" Lin Shuge asked. Since Taizu, Dayan has had the rule of enfeoffed princes. Prince Liang is still too old to go to his fiefdom, so it can only be that the Ding family did not let him become a fief. Could it be that Ding Yanhe also wanted to establish Prince Liang?
Xie Chen nodded. "After the death of the previous emperor, the most important issue at the time was which prince to appoint as the heir. Several older princes whose mothers were prominent and who were already adults were excluded early on. The youngest were Your Majesty and Prince Liang. Some officials of the Ding Party also recommended Prince Liang. Later, Ding Yanhe made the final decision and chose Your Majesty. Later, when Your Majesty took power, he competed with Ding Yanhe, and some people proposed to depose Your Majesty and appoint Prince Liang as the heir."
Lin Shuge suddenly opened his eyes wide, and suddenly realized: "So that's it."
If he were the Prince of Liang, he might as well go to his fiefdom early and live comfortably. Now that Your Majesty holds great power, but has not yet asked the Prince of Liang to go to his fiefdom, the Prince of Liang can only plan for himself. What does it matter if he lives in the southern border counties? He should first eliminate his brother's suspicion.
"So Your Majesty will definitely agree to Prince Liang's request in the end, right?" Lin Shuge said again.
Xie Chen stood up and walked over, took the book from his hand and placed it on the table, looking at him with sharp eyes. Lin Shuge felt uneasy when he looked at him, "We should be talking properly, what are you doing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Chen picked him up and walked straight towards the bed, "It's still daytime, you..."
Xie Chen lowered his head to cover his mouth, and after a while he said, "Ayuan and Axuan are not here, who else is so tactless to disturb us." As he spoke, his hands were not honest, "Brother, I haven't touched you for a long time, don't you miss me?"
Lin Shuge's face turned red, and he said stubbornly, "I don't want to, but it's not like we live apart and you're always under my nose."
Xie Chen pushed him heavily on the bed, pressing his whole body on Lin Shuge, and his fingers moved down inch by inch along his clothes. Because they were in the inner room, Lin Shuge was only wearing a thin outer shirt. Xie Chen could feel the warmth of the body under his palms through the clothes, and his eyes gradually became hot.
Suddenly, he seemed to have discovered something, "Brother, you are lying. You obviously miss me too."
Lin Shuge was so ashamed that he accidentally clamped his hand with his legs, "Don't move."
"Okay, I won't move. How about you kiss me first, brother?" After Xie Chen said that, he lay on his side next to Lin Shuge and really didn't move.
Lin Shuge was aroused, and seeing that this man looked calm and composed, he suddenly pounced on him and kissed the corner of his lips.
Xie Chen felt his random kiss and endured it again and again before turning over and kissing him back. For a moment, the only sounds in the room were the sounds of lips entangled and panting.
Just when the two were distracted and ready to do something bad, a shout came from outside the door: "Sir, the palace has summoned you, urgent news from the northwest."
What? Lin Shuge felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured down on him in the summer. He quickly pushed away Xie Chen who was still pressing on him, and asked as he straightened his clothes, "What on earth is going on?"
"I don't know either. Someone from the palace is very anxious and asked the two adults to enter the palace immediately without delay."
Are the Huns making another move? Lin Shuge looked at Xie Chen, "Let's go into the palace quickly."
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