Chapter 76 076

Yuan Cixian looked back at him, his eyes flickered for a moment.

Lu Shiqing continued to explain: “Nanzhao’s domestic political situation is turbulent, and Xiju has not been able to secure the position of prince. Because of this, he devoted himself to conquest, trying to conquer southern Yunnan, to achieve the goal of subduing subjects internally and deterring neighboring countries externally. But from When you were fourteen years old, he planned to marry you. Until now, Nanzhao has never succeeded. Not only did the war not make Xiju stable as the crown prince, but it caused him to be frequently impeached by his ministers. Complain. So now, he decided to change his strategy and turn his enemy into a friend with Da Zhou.”

Perhaps it was the piece of uncut jade that the second prince of Nanzhao used to curry favor with Da Zhou who reminded Xiju, or perhaps it was the peace talks between Lu Shiqing and him in January that gave him inspiration, and he realized that it is indeed not to contend with Da Zhou at the moment. best time.

“His top priority is to use the power of my Great Zhou to stabilize the domestic political situation. But obviously, compared to him who frequently wages wars, our saint prefers his second brother who knows how to be courteous. In case one day, his second brother wins my Great Zhou To support and replace him, he must establish a deep enough friendship with us as soon as possible. Marriage is one of the ways.”

“Originally, under such circumstances, the court’s willingness to send the clan daughter to go to Nanzhao is considered a kindness. There is absolutely no reason for agreeing to marry the first princess, but our sage values ​​profits. If Xiju can come up with enough exchange conditions to make him tempted, He would not choose to keep his daughter. What’s more, Shaohe is married for the second time after all. Therefore, she naturally became Xiju’s first choice.”

A concubine who married into the Marquis at the age of sixteen and has been widowed for five years has lost her price somewhat.

“But if the first choice is not the first choice, there is a second choice. Apart from Shaohe, who was born in the first place, your status is also very special. If you are the only daughter of the king of southern Yunnan and you marry Xiju, in the eyes of his subjects, he, the prince, controls the southern Yunnan. It will be a matter of time. Therefore, you can also make Xiju establish a strong prestige in the country. He didn’t attack you this time because of my hindrance. If now, I don’t hesitate to throw away my armor and armor in order to protect Shaohe , lost the Sacred Heart, and was even relegated, and next, when Xiju stretches out his hand to you, who can protect you?”

For a person like Lu Shiqing who doesn’t like to show it, after saying this, the hand holding Yuan Cixian couldn’t help trembling, as if he was afraid of something.

As if aware of his helplessness and struggle, Yuan Cixian endured the soreness of her nose, pulled out the hand that was held in his palm, and then held him instead.

Such a trade-off, she knew that it was more difficult for him than her.

Lu Shiqing’s heart was shocked, and he pulled her into his arms, lowered his head and rested his chin on her shoulder, and said after a long silence: “Yuan Cixian, there is only one Lu Shiqing, and I can only worry about you.”

Yuan Cixian nodded and did not speak, but shed hot tears in the blink of an eye.

In the Zichen Palace, Xiju is throwing his bait to Emperor Huining: “First, Nanzhao will resume regular tribute to the Great Zhou, and will no longer send tribute to Chang’an directly through the hands of the King of Southern Yunnan.”

In the past, when paying tribute in Nanzhao, the tribute was first presented to Yuan Yizhi, and then sent to Emperor Huining, which actually showed that he valued the king of southern Yunnan and despised him. After such a change, the old emperor’s heart naturally became clear and comfortable.

This straight-to-the-point one is to untie each other’s knots first.

Xiju continued: “Secondly, Nanzhao will resume the trade with Dazhou that has been cut off for three years, and promise to unilaterally reduce or exempt 40% of the commercial tax, and allow merchants from Pyu and other neighboring countries to flow into Dazhou through our Nanzhao gate. Within the territory of Zhou, open its trade with Da Zhou.”

Emperor Huining froze slightly.

This mutual market is not only a matter of money and materials, but also allows Dazhou to open up business and even political affairs in the south of Nanzhao without any effort. It is really a rare opportunity.

But Xiju said something more unexpected: “Third, I would like to promise that on the day of enthronement, I will send my eldest son to Chang’an to study Sinology for a period of three years. If he fails to complete his studies, he will not be allowed to return.”

These words seem to be implicit, but they actually mean that as long as he succeeds in ascending the throne, he will send his eldest son to be a proton for Da Zhou for three years. This is tantamount to giving the old emperor a reassurance, which means that at least in the first three years when Xiju was in power, Nanzhao would not be able to make waves, and even if Dazhou was careful to restrain him, he could benefit countlessly during these three years. In addition, the political significance of this matter itself is immeasurable.

“The above three items, one is for Shaohe Princess to marry me, the other is for Dazhou to provide Nanzhao’s scarce medicinal materials in the mutual market, and the third is for His Majesty to sever contact with my second brother and support me as the leader. I don’t know what your Majesty wants. how?”

Emperor Huining’s heart was shaken, but he quickly replied indifferently: “I understand the sincerity of the prince, but this matter is of great importance, and I still need to allow me to consider it.”

Xiju nodded: “That’s natural. But if His Majesty Gu Jishao and the princess want it, I have a coup.”

Emperor Huining slightly raised his eyebrows, motioning for him to speak.

Xiju twitched the corners of his mouth: “I heard that your lord once fell in love with Lu Shilang, if Lu Shilang got married as soon as possible, wouldn’t your lord completely stop thinking about him?”

Although Emperor Huining did not immediately announce the result of his consideration, the news that Prince Xiju asked to marry Princess Shaohe quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys of Chang’an City.

In the early morning of the next day, Yuan Cixian heard that Lu Shuangyu had come to visit her as soon as she finished her breakfast. She wondered in her heart that Lu Shiqing still had to let her younger sister do some things that Lu Shiqing could not be ashamed of. When she met someone in the main hall, she saw that Lu Shuangyu was very anxious. “Master, please show mercy and help Princess Shaohe!”

It seemed that Lu Shuangyu was full of respectful names because she wanted something from others. Yuan Cixian choked, and asked after a long silence, “Does your elder brother know that you are looking for me?”

Lu Shuangyu buried her head and twisted her fingers secretly, shaking her head: “Brother won’t help, so I want to ask the magistrate to persuade him.” After she finished speaking, as if she was afraid that Yuan Cixian would have a grudge against Shaohe, she hurriedly explained, “Although your lord liked my brother in the past, he didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. I told you that they were in love with each other, but it was a lie…don’t worry about her, okay?”

This girl probably thought that Lu Shiqing’s refusal to help was because she was afraid that Yuan Cixian would be unhappy.

Yuan Cixian sighed: “What time is it, the county lord, the county lord, you, you, can you call me sister-in-law?” After finishing speaking, she pulled her to sit aside.

Lu Shuangyu curled her lips and dropped the honorifics: “Will you help me if I call ‘sister-in-law’?” Seeing that Yuan Cixian didn’t answer, she played the sympathy card again, “Sister-in-law, your lord is so pitiful. Not long after marrying into the Marquis’s Mansion, she lost her husband, and after being a widow for three years, she finally had the chance to remarry, but was rejected by my elder brother, and because of this, her temperament changed drastically…”

She was interrupted by Yuan Cixian before she finished speaking: “What a big change in temperament, why haven’t I heard of this?”

Lu Shuangyu looked a little embarrassed. She shouldn’t be gossiping behind people’s backs, but right now she has no choice but to say: “Sister-in-law, do you still remember saving me at Luqiao? That time, your lord invited me to travel and asked me about brother Xinyi, after I told the truth, she had no interest in playing and wanted to go back to the city. Unexpectedly, the accident you saw happened when passing Luqiao. After falling into the water, your lord caught the wind and cold, and it took a long time. I will see her again At that time, I felt that she seemed to have changed.”

Yuan Cixian frowned: “How?”

She pondered for a while, and then said after deliberation: “Although your lord experienced the loss of her husband before, she didn’t seem to be affected much. Her temper is not particularly lively, but she can be said to be cheerful. But after that time, she became more reserved and dull. , the whole person seems… as if he has aged ten years all of a sudden, his eyes are different, his tone of speech is also different, and he looks very weird.”

Yuan Cixian frowned even deeper, and suddenly remembered something: “I heard that after your lord fell into the water, because of the imperial physician’s orders, he often went out on horseback trips with the nobles in Beijing to keep fit. Do you know about this?”

Lu Shuangyu sighed: “What is the doctor’s order? It’s your lord who wants to go out on a horse ride with everyone, but you don’t know, the young ladies in Beijing don’t like her very much secretly, and feel that they can’t get along with her. Get along with her Very tired, very awkward.”

“Since you said that she has a lot of introverted temperament, why does she suddenly want to go out with everyone?” Yuan Cixian asked.

“Because your lord said, maybe my brother likes this.” After she said that, she glanced at Yuan Cixian, “I didn’t believe it at first, and thought that my brother would definitely like gentle ladies, but now it seems that your lord still likes it.” You’re right.”

Yuan Cixian choked, got up suddenly and said: “I have something to do, you go back first.”

Lu Shuangyu also stood up: “Where are you going?”

“Princess Mansion.”

When Yuan Cixian arrived at Anxingfang Princess Mansion, Shao He was offering incense in the Buddhist hall in the mansion. Hearing her coming, he went to the main hall without hurrying, and smiled at her: “Why is the county lord here?” His tone was not flat, Asking does not seem to be asking.

Yuan Cixian remembered that yesterday at Ziyu Pavilion, she clearly saw Shaohe’s mood swings, but now she no longer sees the slightest.

She deliberated all the way, how to open her mouth to express the uncontrollable doubts in her heart, but now she was exhausted physically and mentally, and she felt that she couldn’t make a turn, and said bluntly: “Your lord accidentally fell into the water at Luqiao in early spring two years ago. Did you ever do anything after that?” Had weird dreams?”

Shao He seemed to be stagnant for a while, shaking his head and said: “The county lord thinks, what strange dream should I have?”

Yuan Cixian frowned, as if trying to tell whether her words were true or not, but she suddenly smiled and denied the previous answer: “Maybe it can be regarded as a dream.”

Yuan Cixian immediately asked Chi: “So in your dream, did Xiju propose to you?”

Shaohe smiled and shook his head.

She got stuck in her throat for a moment. Just at the moment of silence, I suddenly heard the report from the servant, saying that the imperial decree had arrived.

Shaohe seemed to be very calm, said “I see” and continued to talk to Yuan Cixian: “Last year in Zhongyuan, I asked the county magistrate if he believed in reincarnation. The county magistrate didn’t answer me at that time, what about now?”

Yuan Cixian was silent, raised his eyes and repeated what Shaohe had said before: “I believe in reincarnation, and I also believe in cause and effect.”

Shao He smiled: “But you are different from me. You believe in cause and effect, which is a kind of cause and effect, that rewards must be rewarded, and feelings must be responded to, but I believe in cause and effect… is fate.” After she finished speaking, she turned around. , it seems that he is ready to receive the order.

Yuan Cixian suddenly couldn’t help calling her: “Your lord.” When she stopped, she hesitated and said, “Those who believe in fate can only accept their fate, and those who don’t believe in fate can change their fate against the sky. Why don’t you try again?” ? If you don’t want to marry far away, maybe I can help you. The road to get married must go through southern Yunnan, so I can try to invite my dad…”

“No need.” Shaohe turned his head and smiled, “Why does the county lord take risks for me? For me, it doesn’t matter if I don’t marry him or anyone else. What I mean by ‘fate’ is not that I have to marry Xiju, but I will never be able to marry him.”

Resurrection for one life, guarding him for two lives, losing to her menacing force, and attacking the city once.

This is life.

After Shao He finished speaking, he walked towards the gate of the mansion step by step.

The morning sun shone on her rolled-up hair, revealing a dazzling white strand.