27Chapter 27 Hot Potato

The Three Feudatories War was bound to start sooner or later. The so-called timing of Emperor Hongzheng was not yet right only because there was no reasonable reason. The mere fact of forcibly seizing civilian men was not enough to propose the withdrawal of the feudal fiefdom. In the previous life, it was because Jing Shao was in danger in the battle in Yunnan and Tibet, and Emperor Hongzheng ordered the King of Southwest to send troops to reinforce him. Unexpectedly, the King of Southwest asked the court to pay for food and grass before sending troops on the grounds that the southwest was in trouble and encountered natural disasters, which angered the emperor and ordered the withdrawal of the feudal fiefdom. At that time, Jing Shao, who had just destroyed the Nanman with great effort, had not returned to the capital, but he received an order to march south again and attack the southwest fiefdom directly.

In this life, he no longer had to quell the Nanman rebellion, which was thankless, so the Three Feudatories War should start as soon as possible. Jing Shao was thinking on horseback, and when he came to his senses, Xiao Hei had already walked to the Second Prince's Mansion.

"You kid, you're still thinking about the fresh fodder in your brother's house." Jing Shao pulled Xiao Hei's ear with amusement. He would definitely be suspicious if he entered the second prince's house right after coming out of the palace. Just as he was about to turn his horse around, he met Jing Chen who was back from work.

"What are you doing standing in front of the door? Why don't you go in?" When Jing Chen got off the sedan chair, he saw his younger brother pulling the horse's ears out of boredom in front of the door. The embarrassed brother couldn't help but frowned. In the capital, only his troublesome younger brother dared to ride a horse in the street. Now he was in a daze in front of his own door. Did he get into trouble again?

Jing Shao got off the horse and scratched his head, saying, "I wanted to find someone to drink with, and I walked to my brother's door without realizing it."

Jing Chen glared at him, "You're so old, but you always want to ride horses and drink. How can you be so decent!"

Jing Shao smiled, handed the horse to his brother's servant, and walked side by side with his brother, "Let's go to Huiwei Tower, it's the closest to here."

Jing Chen rubbed his forehead, asked the sedan bearers to go back to the house, and walked towards Huiwei Tower with Jing Shao on foot.

It was not yet time for dinner, and there were not many people in Huiwei Tower. Jing Shao asked Mr. Zhou, who was dressed in dark red silk, for a private room.

"Do you know who this Zhou Jin is?" Jing Chen couldn't help frowning when he saw that the two of them were very familiar with each other.

"Of course I know," Jing Shao poured a cup of tea for his brother, "Xiao Yuan is a clean person, but he is not rigid. Brother can try to win him over."

"Just be sensible. Jing Chen nodded. Today, an official from the Ministry of Rites said that Princess Cheng was very close to the wife of Minister Xiao. He thought that Prince Cheng and Xiao Yuan must have something to do with each other. Seeing that his brother understood the pros and cons, he did not intend to intervene.

Since he had met his brother, he simply told him what happened in the palace so that his brother would have an idea. As for Ge Ruoyi's matter, Jing Shao was a little troubled. His father meant that the overall situation should be given priority. This matter was not enough to constitute a reason for attacking the southeast. Even if it was publicized when the war started in the future, it would only be icing on the cake. Moreover, if it was not handled properly, the people would think that the court did not care about the lives of the people and was weak and incompetent. As for how to deal with this woman, it was fully handed over to him.

"If it is not convenient for you, send her to my house for your sister-in-law to control. "Jing Chen suggested, because the Princess of Cheng is a man and cannot be watched all the time, and the concubine of the King of Cheng was demoted. Although the Second Prince's wife is not gentle and considerate, she is indeed good at managing the inner house.

Jing Shao frowned. Ge Ruoyi is the key to pacifying the southeast. He snatched her away because he didn't want the Fourth Prince to delay her time to kill the King of Southeast so that he could fight fewer years. But he couldn't explain it to his brother, so he shook his head and said, "This person is still useful. I will go back and discuss it with Jun Qing."

Jing Chen nodded. He was very satisfied with the younger brother Xu who had just married. He was well-educated and humble, and he could help Jing Shao who was not good at tactics.

As he was talking, a noise downstairs interrupted their conversation.

"Two gentlemen, let's talk it out! "The waiter was so anxious that he tried to persuade them, but the two men who were fighting refused to listen.

Jing Shao opened the door and took a look. He saw two men in luxurious clothes fighting in the hall. They were not very good at martial arts and had no manners at all. The taller man seemed to have the upper hand and knocked the other man to the ground.

Jing Shao looked at the man who fell to the ground and felt familiar. He looked carefully and found that it was Mu Lingbao whom he had seen a few days ago. One of his eyes was still blue. As for the other one...

"Prince of Duke Mao," Jing Chen reminded him when he saw that he was not sure, "The queen spread the word the day before yesterday that she would choose a wife for the fourth prince. Duke Mao and Beiwei Houfu both have unmarried daughters.

Jing Shao understood immediately after hearing this. He couldn't help but laugh out loud. The Marquis of Beiwei and his family had a good plan, but it was a pity that in the previous life, he was attracted by the young lady from the Duke of Mao Kingdom. In the end, he was unjustly imprisoned. The fourth prince's My father-in-law is indispensable.

"If the Marquis of Beiwei marries his successor, you will be more distant from their family in the future, and you will talk less about court matters in front of your younger brother Xu." Jingchen closed the door to prevent people downstairs from seeing Jingshao. After all, his brother-in-law He was being held down and beaten, but this brother-in-law didn't help, saying it wouldn't look good when exposed.

Jing Shao felt a little uncomfortable when he heard his brother's words. In his opinion, Jun Qing was more worthy of his trust than anyone else, but his brother also did it for his own good, so he snorted coldly: "Mu Lingbao's biological sister, He was as virtuous as he was spoiled by Mrs. Beiweihou. Even if he wanted to win over Beiweihou again, he probably wouldn't want Jingyu to marry such a woman.

After hearing this, Jingchen muttered: "If Miss Mu is really as you said, it's not as good as us..."

"Brother! Jing Shao immediately interrupted his brother's words, "Although Beiwei Hou's military power is not as good as Mao Guogong's, his military power is in the northwest, and he is now preparing to sell horses in the northwest, which is much more useful than Mao Guogong."

"Really?" After hearing this, Jingchen frowned and thought for a moment, "In that case, I will let someone reveal Miss Mu's condition to the Queen."

Hearing this, Jing Shao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He believed in Jun Qing, but he couldn't explain it to his brother. It is already difficult for Jun Qing to do anything in that family. If the fourth prince marries the Marquis of Beiwei, how will a person as careful as Jun Qing handle himself when the two sides confront each other in the future?

When we returned to the other courtyard, it was already dark.

Jing Shao walked into the bedroom and saw Mu Hanzhang wearing plain casual clothes, leaning on the couch and reading quietly, with the soft candlelight shining on his face, making him feel so peaceful and beautiful. He couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips. When he saw this person, he felt that all the turmoil in the court and the conspiracies and intrigues in the court had disappeared.

Slowly walked over, buried his face on his princess's chest, and took a deep breath of his faint fragrance. Jing Shao relaxed his body and slowly closed his eyes. He was reborn in a life filled with blood and blood. Only by his side would he feel peaceful. . This person is the only salvation God has given him.

"What's wrong? Are you being punished by your father?" Mu Hanzhang touched the big head on his chest.

"No, I'm just a little tired after running all day." Jing Shao looked up at him. Such a gentle and handsome appearance was completely different from the round-faced Mu Lingbao with one blue eye. He suddenly remembered that he was in Beiweihou on the day he returned home. The painting I saw in the study room, "Jun Qing, are all your family named after the nine ancient artifacts?"

"The lineage of our family is like this. Our three brothers and sisters are named after the Three Treasure Swords." Mu Hanzhang said warmly. His father loved famous weapons so much that he even named his children this way.

Nine ancient weapons, three swords, one is called Lingbao, the second is called Hanzhang, and the third is called quality.

Jing Shao frowned: "Then Miss Mu's maiden name is 'Mu Su Xin'?"

Mu Hanzhang nodded: "Why do you suddenly think of asking this? Is the fourth prince going to choose a concubine?"

"I'm just curious," Jing Shao moved forward, "If your sister looks like Mu Lingbao, I'm afraid it will be difficult for her to marry."

"It's not that bad." He glared at the person who was talking nonsense, but thinking about Mu Lingbao's face turning into a woman, Mu Hanzhang couldn't help but laugh.

The next day, Jing Shao found Ge Ruoyi who was staying temporarily in the small courtyard.

I have to say that Ge Ruoyi is indeed very beautiful after a new look. You can imagine what kind of beauty the eldest son of Ge was who the Southeast King wanted to get even if he killed the entire Ge family.

"The current situation is like this. The Southeast King kills people in his own fiefdom, and the court cannot pay more attention to it. Even if he investigates this matter, if he casually accuses the Ge family of a big crime, it will be considered a tyranny at best." Jing Shao Sighed softly.

The hope in Ge Ruoyi's eyes dimmed instantly, and her slender and soft hands gradually turned white.

"There are some things you shouldn't say, but I can tell you that sooner or later the southeastern fiefdom will be taken back by the imperial court, but it will still take some time." Jing Shao looked at her like this and slowly clasped his hand on the short knife at his waist. He already knew the Southeast King's temperament, and it would be the same to find someone else for the assassination, although it would take some time. But if Ge Ruoyi doesn't know what to do, keeping her will be a disaster.

"Your Majesty is willing to work for the girls of the people, which is already a great kindness. The girls of the people also know that this revenge cannot be repaid overnight." Ge Ruoyi was silent for a long time, then suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to Jing Shao, "Thank you so much, Your Majesty. The days of care and kindness you have shown me will be repaid in return.”

Jing Shao slowly loosened his hand on the knife. Not only was this woman brave and resourceful, she also saw things more clearly than the average person. When he saw her covered in blood in the Southeast Palace, he became obsessed with this persistent woman. The woman sincerely admired her, which was why he didn't want to lie and take advantage, but told the truth. In the end, Ge Ruoyi was just like himself in the previous life. He tried his best but lost everything in the end.

"I will give you two ways. One, wait in the capital and don't make trouble. I will give you an explanation in a few years. Second, I will ask you to teach you the secret weapon technique and help you sneak into the Southeast Palace. You go and take revenge yourself." Jing Shao looked at Ge Ruoyi who was kneeling on the ground quietly, and said in a calm and solemn tone, "If you don't know how to make a decision, come to me after you figure it out."

"I choose the second path!" Ge Ruoyi answered almost immediately.

"You have to think clearly," Jing Shao frowned, "If you don't go, I can find a good family for you to marry."

"A common girl will never go back on her word, please let the prince do it!" Ge Ruoyi kowtowed three times to Jing Shao, fearing that Jing Shao would not give her this opportunity.

When Jing Shao came out of the small courtyard gate, he saw Mu Hanzhang waiting for him under the peach blossom tree.

"How did you expect that she would choose the second option?" Jing Shao asked. This statement was the result of discussions with his princess last night.

Mu Hanzhang smiled, picked a peach blossom and threw it into the water: "When a poplar enters the water, it is still a rootless tree. It is better to be like a wildfire, destroying yourself and burning out the enemy."

When Jing Shao heard this, he felt enlightened. For him, if he were to live a new life without the ties between Jun Qing and his brother, he would probably be like Ge Ruoyi, desperate to kill all his enemies, even if it meant overturning the country.

In the blink of an eye, in late April, the fourth prince's confinement finally ended. With the persuasion of his successor, Emperor Hongzheng also agreed to choose a concubine for the fourth prince.

Jing Shao, who was still copying books at home, responded to his brother's request by sending his beautiful Wang Ji over. It was considered as a gift to celebrate the lifting of the ban, but also as an apology for robbing my younger brother of his beauty.