Chapter 275: Empress Dowager Cao's ingenious plan
Tianbo Yang Mansion has been sealed.
Looking at the two white sealing papers at the door, Mu Guiying sighed softly.
Some neighbors nearby saw her and wanted to come closer, but they didn't dare to, for fear of attracting the police and arresting Marshal Mu.
But in fact, the court did not issue any arrest warrant to hunt down the Yang family, and did not even mention the Yang family leaving.
The imperial court also has to save face. The Yang family has become like this, with only lonely old widows in the family. What else can they do?
With a light leap, Mu Guiying jumped over the wall and entered the yard.
Because I had been away for two years, the yard was filled with fallen leaves and a lot of weeds.
She walked around casually and finally came to the hall. Some of the spirit tablets placed here had been packed up and taken to Hangzhou. On the bottom wall of the hall, there was still some black smoke from incense and candles.
Although the ancestral tablets were no longer there, Mu Guiying still clasped her hands together, closed her eyes and murmured, "The ancestors of the Yang family, and Zongbao. Guiying is going to fight the Xixia people again. This time, the court seems to really want to destroy Xixia, and it is also a rare opportunity. The most important thing is that the leader this time is our Yang family's son-in-law, Sen'er. He is a very good person, very good to Jinhua and the Yang family. But I can see that he has a deep resentment towards the barbarians. If nothing unexpected happens, the Xixia people should not be able to get any good this time. I also hope that the ancestors can protect Sen'er so that he can avenge our Yang family men and women and avenge their blood feud!"
At this time, Mu Guiying's expression was very pious and focused.
At the same time, Lu Sen was sitting in the study of Prince Runan, with Grand Tutor Pang and Bao Zheng sitting opposite him.
Lu Sen took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "I am really honored to trouble you two superiors to make this trip."
This sounds normal to other people, but when Lu Sen said it, it sounded a bit weird.
The Prince of Runan, who was sitting next to him and was in charge of making tea, grinned and seemed to find it somewhat funny.
"If you keep talking like that, don't blame me for calling Mei'er back home instead of sending her to Hangzhou."
Lu Sen was not afraid at all: "A daughter who is married off is like water that has been poured out. Mei'er is already a member of my Lu family. Master Pang, you can't take her away."
Master Pang rolled his eyes helplessly.
The Pang family has quite a few sons-in-law, and his daughters and granddaughters almost all marry into noble families. But even so, no son-in-law dares to refute him like this, except for Lu Sen.
Bao Zheng smiled and said, "Master Lu, thank you so much for coming back to the court this time."
"I didn't agree to be an official in the capital." Lu Sen shook his head: "I just want to talk to the Xixia people."
"If you really achieve what you want, wouldn't you be willing to return to the court to accept the congratulations of all officials and the admiration of the people?" Bao Zheng couldn't help asking.
Lu Sen smiled at this time: "Am I not respected by the people now?"
If others were to brag like this, Bao Zheng and Master Pang would have to laugh out loud. He is admired by all the people, who would dare to be so shameless!
But after hearing what Lu Sen said, they really had no way to refute it.
Let’s not talk about the weird things that happened to Lu Sen. Some people believe them while others just listen to them as stories.
But with the matter of Immortal Rice, Lu Sen really did gain a lot of "reputation" in the entire Central Plains.
No matter how talented you are, no matter how intoxicating your poems are, no matter how great your military achievements are, no matter how respected and feared you are by the world, they are not as good as the fairy rice that Lu Sen casually gave away.
The yield per mu is more than 1,000 kilograms. You can enjoy the coolness under the rice and put some fish fry into the paddy field. In the autumn harvest, you can also harvest delicious rice-flavored fish.
Poor people are reluctant to eat these fish, so they sell them to dignitaries. One fish is worth five ordinary fat river fish.
The felled rice stalks are thick and solid, and can be used as firewood. They are truly treasures from head to toe.
It can be said that once the giant rice appears, there will be no more suffering from famine in the Central Plains.
In fact, if Lu Sen was not so young, some people would probably have called him a saint.
In addition, Lu Senyu said that the Immortal Rice was not "created" by him, but was the result of the life's work of an old man named Yuan. Therefore, many farmers in the folk have now erected ancestral tablets with the name "Yuan's Saint".
And Lu Sen was naturally also among their gratitude.
Now Lu Sen is the only one in the world who can grow fairy rice. Everyone who gets the rice seeds will be grateful to him.
Bao Zheng sighed and said, "It is understandable that Master Lu is unwilling to associate with ordinary people like us."
"Prefect Bao, please don't say that." Lu Sen waved his hand and said, "You are not ordinary people. You civil officials all have great ambitions in your hearts. I am just an ordinary person who only knows how to eat, drink, have fun and love beautiful women. I can't compare with you."
The Prince of Runan wanted to laugh even more. When he poured tea for Master Pang, he almost spilled the tea.
Master Pang was depressed. He waved his sleeves and said, "Sen'er, I know you have complaints about the court, so let's not say these offensive words. Tell us the bottom line. If you want to deal with Xixia, how far do you want to go?"
“Do as much as you can!”
Master Pang and Bao Zheng looked at each other and nodded at the same time.
Finally, Bao Zheng picked up a cup of tea, raised it up and said, "Master Lu, I'm offering tea instead of wine. I wish you a successful start and great martial arts achievements."
"I also wish you to sweep through the enemy lines and bring more vigor and vitality to the people of the Song Dynasty!" Master Pang also raised his glass.
Although the civil service group has been suppressing the military, they actually understand that this opportunity is rare, extremely rare. If they miss it, a thousand years later, people will scold them as stupid as pigs and cows.
Therefore, Bao Zheng and Master Pang tried their best to make this happen.
That afternoon, the two aircraft left Bianliang and flew northwest.
The Prince of Runan stayed at home, drinking tea and wine, and watching the dancing at home. He was very happy.
Then I heard someone outside report that Uncle Cao wanted to see me.
"Yesterday he invited our son-in-law, and today he invites me again?" The Prince of Runan County snorted, "I think it must be bad news. He said that I am suffering from a stroke and it is inconvenient for me to see guests."
The butler nodded and went out. Not long after, he came back in. At this time, his expression was a little panicked: "Your Highness, besides Uncle Cao, there are a few women outside the door. Judging from their attire, they look like women from the palace. They are surrounding a woman who looks very noble. I think her identity is very..."
The butler pointed his finger toward the sky.
The Prince of Runan County immediately understood what the butler meant. He couldn't help but take a breath and said, "Then quietly invite the person in."
Not long after, the Prince of Runan met Uncle Cao and... the current Queen Mother Cao in his study.
Empress Dowager Cao had her face covered, which meant that she had no intention of revealing her identity and was meeting the Prince of Runan in a purely private capacity.
The Prince of Runan looked at Uncle Cao with a wry smile and said, "Old Cao, I don't usually see you coming to drink with me, but now you've caused me so much trouble."
Cao Yi could only smile bitterly in helplessness.
The masked Empress Dowager Cao snorted and said, "It turns out that in the eyes of the Prince of Runan, I am just a nuisance."
"If the Queen Mother can summon me in the palace, it won't be a problem." The Prince of Runan County said to Queen Mother Cao nonchalantly. He is also a member of the Zhao family, so who is afraid of whom? "But here, I'm afraid that if some news gets out, it will be all melon fields and plum trees."
Queen Mother Cao snorted again: "With me here, my brother here, and you, the Prince of Runan, the three of us working together, who dares to gossip about us!"
Cao Yi smiled bitterly. He could only smile bitterly now.
My sister has become the queen and the empress dowager, but now she is not as smart as she was when she was young.
The Prince of Runan sighed and said, "Then please tell me your purpose, Queen Mother. The longer you stay, the more uneasy I will feel."
"You look a lot younger." Empress Dowager Cao snorted, "You have a good son-in-law, which is really enviable."
The Prince of Runan smiled, feeling quite pleased with himself.
More than three years ago, when he wanted to send Bilian to the Yang family as a dowry maid, many people in his family were actually against it.
Although Bilian had no "title", everyone knew that she was the most beloved daughter of the Prince of Runan, no doubt about it.
If such a person is given to others as a concubine, will the Zhao family still have any reputation?
But he ignored everyone's objections and sent Bilian over anyway. Now that this matter has been brought forward, everyone, whether family members or outsiders, will say that the Prince of Runan really has good vision.
Seeing his expression, Empress Dowager Cao snorted and said, "Princess Fukang is already thirteen years old , it's time for her to get engaged. But now that she has lost her father, as her uncle, why don't you find a good match for her?"
"This is easy to handle..." The Prince of Runan was a little surprised why Empress Dowager Cao came to talk about this matter. In theory, Princess Fukang would not have trouble finding a husband.
As for Princess Fukang, the Prince of Runan had also seen her. She was indeed very beautiful. The Zhao family would not produce ugly people.
The Prince of Runan was also a handsome man when he was young, and all of his sons and daughters were beautiful.
The same is true for the Zhao family.
Princess Fukang was beautiful, but she had the arrogance typical of royal children, which was not very obvious. However, if her husband could not suppress her in terms of his aura, their marriage would be difficult in the future.
If you can suppress it, then you can live in harmony!
"Prince of Runan, let me tell you what Princess Fukang wants in a husband."
"Please say."
"A man should be as handsome as Pan An, not too old, and already a fifth-rank official or above. He should also have great prestige among the people. He should be able to talk freely with the officials in the court, and be able to supervise the army on the frontier and make great contributions."
Hearing this, Prince Runan really wanted to say: You can just say that you want Princess Fukang to marry Lu Sen.
He understood Empress Dowager Cao's plan.
Lu Sen is a man of deep affection. Since both the Prince of Runan and the Pang family have received the peaches, he will not treat his relatives unfairly.
Although Princess Fukang was not the daughter of Empress Dowager Cao, in the palace, Princess Fukang called the Empress Dowager "Amu" and her biological mother "Auntie"!
This is the privilege of the mother of the harem.
So once Princess Fukang married Lu Sen, Empress Dowager Cao would be Lu Sen's mother-in-law. When Lu Sen distributes the peaches in the future, wouldn't he give one to her?
What a good idea, what a scheming mind!
Although he felt quite mocking in his heart, the Prince of Runan really had no way to directly refuse this matter.
After all, he is Zhao Zhen's cousin and Princess Fukang's uncle. Now that his niece is old enough, it is his duty as an elder to find a good match for her.
He thought for a while and said, "I understand. I will talk to him, but I can't guarantee that it will work."
"Princess Fukang is as beautiful as Xi Shi, no less beautiful than the young lady from the Pang family. I think Master Lu would agree."
"How to deal with the status?" The Prince of Runan thought for a moment and asked, "That man will never divorce his wife, but according to the laws of our Song Dynasty, when a princess marries, there is no such thing as a concubine."
"Special matters should be handled specially! It's okay to be a concubine." Queen Mother Cao said hastily: "That man is not an ordinary person, how can we constrain him with the rules of ordinary people."
The Prince of Runan suddenly felt a little troubled.
Putting aside the fact that Princess Fukang was of noble status and whether or not she was willing to be a concubine, if other civil officials knew about this, they would probably scold the Prince of Runan in the court.
Especially Bao Zheng and Master Pang, there is no one they are afraid of in the court now.
He was just an idle prince and had no way of confronting these two stubborn people.
"In fact, there is a solution." Cao Yi suddenly said, "Just find a reason and demote Princess Fukang to a commoner. Everyone will understand what happened and it will save face."
The Prince of Runan shook his head and sighed, "Old Cao, your method is too much. If Princess Fukang knew it was your idea, she would probably hate you for the rest of her life."
"Hate me, that's hard to say..."
At this time, Lu Sen had no idea that she had been targeted by Queen Mother Cao. In order to obtain the peaches and restore her youth and appearance, she had tried her best and came up with all kinds of messed up ideas.
Lu Sen, Yang Jinhua and Mu Guiying flew all the way to the northwest and arrived at Xingqing Prefecture at noon the next day.
At this time, Xingqing Prefecture was heavily guarded, and there were a large number of soldiers patrolling on the city walls.
Lu Sen flew directly into the city and landed in front of the government office.
Just after coming out of the aircraft, Di Qing had already trotted out. When he saw Lu Sen, he immediately clasped his fists and said with a smile, "Just now in the backyard, I saw a silver star passing through the sky, and I knew that Master Lu must have come. It turned out to be true."
Lu Sen looked at Di Qing, who looked in very good spirits.
It's just that Di Qing's dress was a little strange. He was wearing ordinary clothes with a "funny" emoticon embroidered on his white clothes.
Lu Sen was quite surprised when he saw it.
At this time, Di Qing clasped his fists towards Mu Guiying and said with a smile: "I knew that Marshal Mu would definitely invite him."
Mu Guiying clasped her fists and returned the greeting: "Greetings, General Di."
Lu Sen asked, "I wonder if General Di has received the order from the court?"
" I have received it." Di Qing's face straightened, he clasped his fists and bowed slightly and said, "Your humble servant Di Qing greets the Dangxi Grand Marshal, Xingqing Pacifier, and Xingqing Military Supervisor."
These titles are Lu Sen’s new official titles.
The Grand Marshal of Dangxi was a nominal position, similar to Mu Guiying's Grand Marshal of the Army of the World.
The Xingqing Pacifier was a position of real power, which meant that he could control all the internal affairs of Xingqing Prefecture , while the Xingqing Military Supervisor meant that he had the power to manage and command all the troops near Xingqing Prefecture.
"General Di, please forgive me for taking over the show."
"Please don't do that, Master Lu." Di Qing said seriously, "I have also figured it out recently. If a military officer has achieved what I have, if I go any further, my family will be destroyed. If I can get someone's blessing, I will have the opportunity to continue to kill enemies and serve my country. Therefore, I am very grateful to Master Lu. Please accept my greeting."
After saying this, Di Qing clasped his fists and bowed.
