The New Year has not yet passed, but the weather is getting colder.
The winter this year was not easy for Da Qi, and it was even harder for Danqiu. They stationed troops at Juhan Pass and had conflicts of varying sizes with the Yongzhou army of Da Qi, and they also frequently harassed other important towns.
The two parties officially broke their alliance, Danqiu carried out extremely frantic burning, killing and looting on the border, and the court officials of Da Qi held meetings under the chairmanship of the prime ministers of the two governments.
Palace Attendant Censor Ding Jin and Han Lin Attendant Scholar Zheng Jian and others insisted on promoting peace talks. In their view, Danqiu's fierce offensive was simply because this winter was difficult. The Danqiu Hu people did not have enough pasture, and their cattle and sheep froze to death in herds. If Da Qi reopened the northwest horse market and allowed the two countries to exchange what they had, it would certainly alleviate Danqiu's winter difficulties to a certain extent and could also temporarily delay the war.
Official exchange money is about to replace private exchange money, and Emperor Zhengyuan has not yet seen the benefits of it. If military spending is increased at this time, he will definitely be unwilling to do so.
The officials who did not want to fight spoke to the heart of Emperor Zhengyuan. Even among the New Party, there were many people who did not want to fight. At this time when the old and new parties were fighting fiercely over the issue of succession, as the prime minister of the East Palace, Meng Yunxian had a hard time taking every step. He could not even say much on the matter.
"Reopening the horse market can indeed temporarily slow down the war, but once the horse market is opened, where will the national prestige be?" This was the only reason why Emperor Zhengyuan did not agree to this matter in the court.
There were also peace advocates in the court who opposed the reopening of the horse market. Their reason for opposition was the same as that of Emperor Zhengyuan. They were concerned that reopening the horse market would increase the prestige of the barbarians and destroy the prestige of the Great Qi.
"Your Majesty, I think that in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures should be used. If we open the horse market, the war will be delayed. If we don't open the horse market, the war will be intensified and the military expenditure will be heavier," Meng Yunxian stood outside the curtain with his head lowered. "We can discuss the future later. We might as well spend this winter with Danqiu first."
The favorable war situation in Yongzhou could not change the mind of an emperor. Even if it was Meng Yunxian, he still wanted to fight with Danqiu in his heart, but now he could only hide his thoughts for the time being.
When talking about military expenditure, Emperor Zhengyuan was silent. There was no movement behind the curtain for a long time. Meng Yunxian stood quietly. There were a few coughs inside. Liang Shenfu, the eunuch who went in, served a bowl of hot tea. Emperor Zhengyuan drank two sips, and his dry throat felt better. Then he said slowly, "Mr. Meng is right."
"Liang Shenfu, show Meng Qing the things from Tongzhou."
"yes."
When he heard the word "Tongzhou", Meng Yunxian's eyebrows jumped. Liang Shenfu lifted the curtain and came out, handing him a book. Meng Yunxian raised his hand to take it.
After just one page unfolded, Meng Yunxian's expression suddenly changed.
"I have really underestimated Yong Geng over the years."
Emperor Zhengyuan's voice came from behind the curtain with a hint of smile, but Meng Yunxian felt even more chilled down his spine.
The book in his hand is a book for all nations.
The names of the people of Tongzhou were covered in cinnabar on the inner pages, and written at the end of the pages were all the things that Prince Jia had done for the people in Tongzhou over the years.
A few years ago, Prince Jia submitted a petition requesting to personally renovate the sand fields and reed fields in Tongzhou. However, the prince lived with the laborers at the construction site for many years. To date, Prince Jia and the people of Tongzhou have renovated more than two million acres of arable land.
Princess Jia also had a miscarriage during the renovation of the Shatin reed farm. Since then, Princess Jia has been in poor health.
In the past two years, Prince Jia used his own family funds to build roads for the people instead of the national treasury money. Prince Jia never reported these to the emperor, but the prefect of Tongzhou reported them every year.
Emperor Zhengyuan was not unaware of this.
Just the year before last, he was commended by the Prince of Jia for his contributions in the Shatin reed field.
Nothing in the book of all peoples is false.
But at this moment, this book was not a good way to save Prince Jia, but a knife to kill Prince Jia. Meng Yunxian knew very well that for Emperor Zhengyuan, every name in the Book of Ten Thousand People was a sign that an adopted son had dared to surpass him, the emperor, and won the hearts of the people.
"Officials."
Meng Yunxian calmed down and said, "The sand fields and reed fields renovated in Tongzhou have brought more than two million mu of good farmland to our Great Qi, which can be used to establish rent and taxes and supplement military rations... It can be seen that the imperial decree issued by the government at that time was really a good thing that benefited the people and would benefit future generations. Without the government's foresight, how could there be this edict for the people today?"
"From what I have read in the letters from the people, the people of Tongzhou are all expressing their gratitude to the emperor. What Prince Jia has done is what the emperor and his father hope for. The people regard Prince Jia as an envoy sent by the emperor to Yongzhou to benefit the people. Naturally, they believe that the emperor and Prince Jia are close father and son and cannot be separated."
The people just think that Prince Jia is your close son, and they are afraid that there will be some misunderstanding between you and your son, which will hurt your family relationship.
Meng Yunxian never mentioned how much contribution Prince Jia made in this matter.
After leaving the Qinghe Hall, Meng Yunxian felt the cold wind and realized that there was a thin layer of sweat on his back. He did not return to the Council Hall, but took a carriage outside the Yongding Gate to return home.
It was dark when Jiang Shao saw Meng Yunxian coming back. She took off his cloak and looked at him carefully, saying, "Why do you look so bad?"
"It's not easy for General Tongchuan and Qin to stay in Yongzhou, but I can't make up my mind to go to war. This time, I will teach them to be disappointed."
Meng Yunxian's brows were filled with fatigue.
"The emperor doesn't want to go to war. No matter how hard you subordinates try, it will be of no use." There was no maid left in the room. Jiang Shao poured him a bowl of hot tea herself.
"If we don't open the horse market now, I think the government will start to think about official exchange. It's better to delay it for a while." Meng Yunxian knew very well that what Zhang Jing said when the court discussed changing private exchange to official exchange would eventually come true.
If there is no capital, it will damage the foundation of the country.
If the horse market is not opened at this time, the government will definitely consider opening the official exchange in order to reduce the burden on the national treasury, and the Duke of Lu and his ilk will definitely consider opening the official exchange in order to reduce the losses of the royal family.
The capital provisions were insufficient, and the amount of Jiaozi was increased without limit, which made goods more expensive and disrupted people's livelihood.
Although it may not be obvious for the time being, it will cause endless harm.
"Yun Xian."
Jiang Shao was not ignorant of state affairs. She loved reading when she was young. She and Meng Yunxian had been married for many years and were also friends of gentlemen. "Are you tired?"
At this time, she asked him if he was tired.
"I see these things are almost bending your back."
As husband and wife, they know each other best.
"tired,"
Meng Yunxian smiled and said, "But I can't retreat."
Jiang Shao also laughed and reached out to touch his shoulder. "My children and grandchildren are not in Yunjing. I told Yi'er early in the morning that they will have to figure out their own future fortunes and misfortunes. When we come back here, the worst that can happen is two thin coffins. Didn't we prepare them long ago when we come back?"
Yi'er is Meng Bian, the eldest son of Meng Yunxian and Jiang Shao, and his courtesy name is Ren Yi.
Meng Yunxian's throat tightened, and he clenched his wife's hand: "A Shao..."
"Don't tell me that I shouldn't follow you. We have been together for so many years, can you leave me?" Jiang Shao glared at him.
"I'm sorry."
Meng Yunxian held her hand all the time and sighed sadly.
"Is His Royal Highness Prince Jia okay?"
Jiang Shao ignored him and sat down next to him and asked.
"I don't know yet,"
Meng Yunxian frowned even more tightly. "Today, the emperor showed me a letter from the people of Tongzhou. Prince Jia is kind and generous by nature, and has benefited the people in Tongzhou. It is not surprising that there is such a petition from the people. But the only thing that should not be done is the people who took advantage of these simple public opinions."
"What a vicious plan."
Jiang Shao's face showed a cold expression, "It seems that you are using this to plead for His Royal Highness Prince Jia, but in fact, it makes the emperor more wary of His Royal Highness Prince Jia."
Isn't the letter to the people a reminder to the emperor that the emperor and father are still alive? How come Prince Jia is so popular among the people?
"But the emperor asked you to come back to promote the new policy, in fact, to use you to stop those greedy people from having excessive thoughts. The emperor did not ask you about the war between Danqiu and Daqi, so you can't intervene rashly. The emperor did not ask about the matter of the succession, and you still can't do anything too much in the court. What should you do about His Royal Highness Prince Jia?"
"What else can I do? If I want to stay in this position more securely, I have to let the emperor see my value from time to time," Meng Yunxian laughed meaninglessly, "But before that, the matter of Prince Jia can't be delayed any longer. I have to communicate with the deputy envoy of the Night Division. We can't always be so passive."
Speaking of Zhou Ting, the deputy envoy of the Night Division, Meng Yunxian suddenly thought of someone, "I remember a few days ago, he mentioned to me that Miss Ni, Ashao. The young lady told him in person that Master Ni was an old member of the Jing'an Army. Han Qing also mentioned this in the secret letter he sent me."
The words "old man from the Jing'an Army" made Jiang Shao stunned.
After a while, she said, "To be honest, I just want to meet her."
"Her brother was killed by Wu Dai's son, but now for the sake of justice, she is willing to go deep into the tiger's den to treat the father of her enemy. This woman should make us ashamed."
The three words "Xu Jing'an" represent the blood of 30,000 soldiers and the blood of a General Yujie. Whenever Meng Yunxian thought of them, he was filled with sadness.
Meng Yunxian raised his head and said, "I'll write a handwritten letter to Zhou Ting right now."
It was another day of heavy snow and freezing cold.
Emperor Zhengyuan was not feeling well, and the imperial concubine wanted to go to Qinghe Palace to accompany him, but Emperor Zhengyuan refused. He even ordered the chief eunuch to reprimand the palace servants serving the imperial concubine, blaming them for not taking good care of her health and allowing her to go out in the heavy snow.
The imperial concubine returned to her bedroom and was helped by the maids to take off her three outer cloaks. The maids who served her closely saw that the imperial concubine looked unhappy and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, the emperor is worried that you will get frostbite."
The emperor did not reprimand the imperial concubine, and asked Liang Shenfu to convey a few kind words on his behalf, but there was still a hint of sadness between the imperial concubine's long brows.
She lowered her eyes to look at her belly, which was already showing.
"What if this isn't a son?"
Would the emperor still treat her so kindly? Would he still keep the honor of the Wu family?
After staying with the emperor for many years, the imperial concubine still couldn't figure out the emperor's mood swings.
"Your Majesty..." The maid cried out in surprise, then bowed her head, "The child is not yet born, Your Majesty should not think too much about it."
The imperial concubine said nothing, rubbed her forehead, and leaned back on the couch.
How could she not think about it? The Wu family was so weak. When her father got into trouble before, the relatives tried to avoid him as much as possible. Now, both she and her father were counting on the child in her belly.
The glory of the family and the prosperity of the rest of your life are all here.
The palace maid was about to serve a bowl of fragrant tea when a young eunuch hurried in, bowed and greeted outside the curtain. His clothes and hat were covered with snow, and his face was red from the cold.
"how?"
The imperial concubine took a sip of the fragrant tea and looked at him lazily behind the curtain with her eyelids raised.
"Your Highness, I have checked carefully. The Duke of Lu's Mansion did send a batch of medicinal herbs to Rongjiang Prefecture a few days ago." The eunuch bowed his head and panted respectfully. "I heard that there were several carts. It was said that my son-in-law's relatives were doing medicinal herbs business in Rongjiang Prefecture and asked people from the Duke's Mansion to escort them."
"The people at the posthouse said that the wheel tracks looked deep. I guess they are not medicinal herbs."
He often went out of the palace to visit the old master in the mansion on behalf of the imperial concubine, and he also stayed in teahouses outside. He heard about the matter of the Duke of Lu's son-in-law by accident.
After returning to report to the empress, he has been busy investigating the matter these days.
"What relatives?"
The imperial concubine sat up straight behind the curtain.
"this……"
The eunuch bowed and said, "I don't know. I'm afraid I won't know until I go to Rongjiang Prefecture."
"I'll wait till you're gone," the imperial concubine sneered, placing the tea bowl heavily on the table, "the tea is completely cold!"
"There is a Yao County in Rongjiang Prefecture,"
The imperial concubine's voice tightened, "If the people from the Duke's Mansion didn't send medicinal herbs, then nine times out of ten, those things were sent to Yao County."
All this time has passed. What can she find out if she investigates carefully?
The Duke of Lu's legitimate son served as an official in a foreign country in his early years and was killed by the rebellious peasant uprising army. He now has only one useless illegitimate son born to a concubine, and several daughters.
What is there in Keyao County?
There was a county magistrate named Zhao.
The county magistrate was a descendant of Taizu. After Taizong ascended the throne, under the suppression of successive emperors, Taizu's lineage no longer had any titles to inherit.
The county magistrate was a descendant of Taizu's fourth son. Although he was so poor that he could only hold the position of county magistrate, he had legitimate bloodline.
The imperial concubine was feeling very depressed and she knocked the tea bowl off the table with one hand.
Could it be that the Duke of Lu had other plans while conspiring with her?
…
Wu Mansion.
Doctor Wang washed his hands and gave acupuncture to Wu Dai, who was sitting on a folding-back chair behind a plain gauze screen. He held the extremely thin gold needle and suddenly turned his head to see the hazy figure of the young woman outside the plain gauze screen. Doctor Wang could feel her gaze on him.
He frowned, thinking about the woman's behavior in the past few days. After a moment, he solemnly gave Wu Dai a needle on the head as if to test her.
"Doctor Wang."
The woman behind the screen suddenly spoke. Doctor Wang's eyebrows jumped and he took out the needle, but she asked again, "May I come closer and take a look?"
Doctor Wang paused but said nothing.
"Although I have received the order from the Queen to treat the old master with you, I have not interfered with you these days because I heard from the old doctor Qin that your acupuncture skills are among the best in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Since I am a junior, I dare not change your treatment method rashly, but I also want to take a closer look at your acupuncture techniques."
As Ni Su was talking, she saw a figure walking in from the door. No one could see that person except her. He was holding a book in his hand, which was bound with crimson brocade. He didn't say anything when he came in, but just looked at her and nodded at her.
Ni Su immediately realized that he had received the gift list.
Xu Hexue sat down at the table and looked through the gift list with his eyes lowered.
"You actually don't know anything about acupuncture, right?" Doctor Wang said suddenly in a cold voice inside.
Ni Su was stunned for a moment, then hurried around the screen. Wu Dai, with gray hair on his temples, was dozing off in a chair, letting Doctor Wang fiddle with him.
"Doctor Wang..." Ni Su pursed her lips, a look of panic on her face.
"Well, you, a woman, really deceived the queen!"
Doctor Wang saw that she was panicking, and he became more certain of what he was thinking, "You said you dare not interfere with me, but you are totally ignorant! You can't even tell the depth of the acupuncture technique!"
These days, Ni Su did not make things difficult for him, so he used the excuse that his acupuncture was a unique skill and she was not allowed to peek, so he did not let her come close to see. From time to time, he asked her a few questions about pharmacology or acupuncture. Although she was well versed in pharmacology, she was hesitant and evasive when it came to acupuncture.
Doctor Wang became more suspicious.
Until today, he allowed the woman to stand outside the screen, just to test her strength with this needle.
"Doctor Wang, you also know that I avenged my brother, and the Empress's brother was executed because of this. Now I am just an orphan. If I want to be kind to the Empress and let her let me go, I have only this one way to go." Ni Su lowered her head, her voice trembling. "It is true that my family has a unique art of acupuncture with golden needles, but my father did not allow me to study medicine. He was even more cautious about me in this unique art, so that I could not learn the true art at all. Now I have the medical classics, but I really don't have time to study them in detail. If I don't do this, how can I save my life?"
"You mean, your family's unique skill of acupuncture with golden needles is indeed in your hands?"
Doctor Wang's heart moved.
"yes……"
Ni Su raised her eyes and said, "Please be merciful, Doctor Wang. I heard that you have put a lot of effort into acupuncture. If you are willing to keep this a secret for me, I will give it to you."
"Are you willing to hand over your family's medical skills to others?"
Doctor Wang was skeptical.
"It's just to seek a way to survive. Besides, medical skills are valuable only if they are put to use." Ni Su bowed his head and spoke earnestly.
"It would be best if Doctor Wang is willing to teach me."
Doctor Wang remained silent for a long time. He stroked his beard and looked at the woman in front of him.
"I can't bear to embarrass an orphan like you."
He said.
"Thank you, Doctor Wang."
Ni Su's eyes were full of joy.
Doctor Wang didn't ask her to leave again. Wu Dai's epilepsy didn't get better, and he still sat on the chair in a daze. Doctor Wang concentrated his mind and gave him acupuncture.
Ni Su watched coldly from the side.
The more she looked, the more certain she became that Doctor Wang was not treating her with all his heart.
Although it did not make Wu Dai's epilepsy worse, it did not show any signs of improvement. He was indeed an expert in using needles, but he did not intend to treat Wu Dai.
Doctor Wang stopped and saw Ni Su standing there with a bewildered look on his face.
He couldn't help but sneer in his heart.
As expected, women practicing medicine are so mediocre.
Xu Hexue stood up, walked around the screen and came to Ni Su. Doctor Wang felt inexplicably a chill on his back, but he turned his head and looked into Ni Su's eyes. He said nothing and concentrated on the task at hand.
He thought he had something on this woman.
Xu Hexue tapped the gift list with his finger. Ni Su looked in the direction he pointed. She pinched his finger and then looked at Doctor Wang's back. "Doctor Wang, when I examined the old master's pulse, I found that he was deficient in Qi and blood, and his kidney Qi was damaged. Does he need to take some supplements?"
“It’s natural.”
Doctor Wang didn't need her to say anything.
When Ni Su saw that he had finished acupuncture, she took the initiative to step forward and grind the medicine. While listening to him, she wrote a prescription for him and then handed it to the internal medicine doctor.
Xu Hexue watched Neizhi go out. It was quite far from here to the warehouse, but Ni Su could not leave at this moment under the watchful eyes of Doctor Wang.
The eunuchs and servants in the mansion were also keeping an eye on her and on guard against her.
The imperial concubine asked Doctor Wang to diagnose her father together with her, and she also wanted Doctor Wang to keep a close eye on her.
"Don't worry."
Xu Hexue whispered to comfort Ni Su.
If he didn't show up, she would be the only one who could hear his voice.
Ni Su watched him walk out, she cracked her knuckles, and seeing Doctor Wang packing up his medicine box and preparing to leave, she turned around to pack her own things.
It was too cold outside, and Doctor Wang was walking very fast. However, Ni Su did not try to catch up with him today, but walked as slowly as possible.
Until that person came back to her.
She didn't say anything, but just looked up at his pale face.
After walking out of the gate of Wu's house, Ni Su took his hand and asked, "Is it done?"
"Um."
Xu Hexue responded softly.
When he returned to the clinic on Nanhuai Street, there were women waiting to see doctors in the main hall. Ni Su did not have time to rest. He examined them one by one before walking to the back.
Miss Zhang was cleaning the main hall when Qingqiong came out of the room. Ni Su then realized that Cai Chunxu had been there and left some food and daily necessities for her. She waited for a while but didn't see her come back before leaving.
"Miss Ni, should I still use this water to make tea?" Qingqiong was holding a jar of reed dew, somewhat undecided.
Since General Xu can't taste anything, do we still need to make tea for him?
"Cook it."
Ni Su smiled and said, "He can smell it."
"That's true."
Qingqiong suddenly came to his senses.
Ni Su walked to the corridor opposite and pushed open the door. Xu Hexue was sitting at the desk, writing something. When he saw her come in, he put down his pen and closed it.
"Have you changed your clothes?"
Ni Su saw that he was wearing a clean robe.
Xu Hexue nodded slightly, but before he could say anything, he saw her walk over and lift up his sleeve. He was caught off guard and his back hit the wall , "Ah Xi..."
The scratches on his arms destroyed the integrity of his skin texture, and they were blood-red and glaring.
Ni Su said nothing.
She suddenly lowered her head, and then a cool breeze blew across his wound, very lightly a few times, making him feel a little itchy.
Xu Hexue saw her raise her head.
In the cold light, her face was pale.
"Will this be better?"
She asked.
"……Um."
Xu Hexue responded lightly.
He calmly supported her lower back, fearing that she would bump into the corner of the table.
Ni Su didn't know how to relieve his pain, so she could only rub her cheek against his.
Xu Hexue had a cold expression, but couldn't help but kiss her eyelids because of her closeness.
Yingchen floats quietly.
"What would you like to eat tonight?"
He stroked her hair.
Ni Su was thinking about today's events and had no intention of thinking about this. She shook her head and said, "Anything is fine."
Before they had dinner and even before it got dark, someone from the palace came to invite Ni Su into the palace.
"The Queen wants to see you, you'd better hurry!"
The eunuch was cold and in a bad mood.
Ni Su said nothing, just nodded slightly, and immediately followed him.
The afterglow of dusk spread a light golden layer on the snow. With a wisp of light mist on her sleeve, Ni Su followed the eunuch into the imperial concubine's bedroom.
Doctor Wang was standing in the hall with his body hunched over. Ni Su glanced at him.
"I, a commoner, Ni Su, pay my respects to the queen."
Ni Su stepped forward and bowed.
"Ni Su, who prescribed the prescription today?"
The imperial concubine's voice was like a storm.