PFC Chapter 349: It’s almost the New Year’s Eve Banquet, I hope nothing goes wrong
Chapter 349: It’s almost the New Year’s Eve Banquet, I hope nothing goes wrong
Caught off guard, Xu Xinyue was startled for a moment.
Then he realized that it was Qin Yuechuan who came back.
Pretending to be angry, "It's so late, where have you been sleeping with prostitutes? Are you planning to sneak back and pretend nothing happened while I'm asleep?"
"Ok?"
The last word was spoken softly and gently, with an upturned ending, like a cluster of fine feathers brushing across the tip of Qin Yuechuan's heart, making Qin Yuechuan feel itchy.
Qin Yuechuan rubbed her cheek: "What are you talking about, Yueyue, I just went to deal with a little trouble."
Xu Xinyue stopped playing around and turned to face him: "What's wrong? What happened?"
Qin Yuechuan wondered whether he should tell her the truth.
He lowered his eyes to look at her sparkling eyes that were eager for the truth, and said simply: "In the future, Yueyue, be careful of Qin Liexing."
"Prince Su?"
"Well, even if he is physically ill, he should not be as indifferent and harmless as he looks."
Although Xu Xinyue didn't know how Qin Yuechuan came to this conclusion, seeing that he looked serious and didn't seem to be joking, she nodded seriously and said, "I understand. I'll keep an eye on it."
Qin Yuechuan smiled gently, embraced Xu Xinyue again, and walked towards the bed with her in his arms: "Yueyue must have been worried for a long time. I am also tired after going out. Let's rest for a while."
"Eh? It's already this late, shouldn't you be getting ready for the court meeting?"
"I have already asked for leave. Today's court meeting is for He Xuehuai, so I don't need to go."
"Uncle's home court?"
*
He Xuehuai rushed back from the imperial mausoleum overnight.
Without taking a rest, he returned to the Duke's Mansion, changed into court clothes, and hurried to the palace for the court meeting.
As in the past, after the emperor had submitted his report, he would ask, "Do you have anything else to report? If not, I..."
"Your Majesty, I have something to report."
The emperor glanced sideways and saw that it was Qin Chuanji.
In the past, he would mostly argue with Qin Yuechuan, but today it was rare for him to have anything serious to report.
"explain."
"Your Majesty, I have recently reported to you that a group of bandits were found in the suburbs of Beijing. They have gathered together and are quite powerful. They have been robbing houses and causing great resentment among the people of Beijing and the surrounding areas. I have specially reported this to you, your father, and I ask you to send people to suppress the bandits."
The emperor was puzzled, and all the civil and military officials were also surprised and puzzled:
"Bandits?"
Didn't Qin Yuechuan just suppress the bandits some time ago? Why did he appear again?
"I have never heard of bandits in the suburbs of Beijing."
Qin Chuanji spoke fiercely, with a hint of indignation: "Father is very busy, and this matter is probably not a big deal for him."
"I have investigated and found that it is near the New Year. The government just wants to make a big deal out of a small matter and to keep it a secret until after the New Year. So they just cover it up."
"If I hadn't discovered it accidentally, I don't know how long this matter would have been concealed."
The emperor asked again: "Where is the suburb of Beijing?"
Qin Chuanji said seriously: "North side of the suburbs of Beijing."
Hearing the reply, the emperor felt no emotion, while Qin Liexing below heaved a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, although it is in the suburbs of Beijing, it is not Yueshan.
When Qin Chuanji mentioned the suppression of bandits in the suburbs of Beijing, Qin Liexing's first reaction was whether the imperial tombs in the suburbs of Beijing had been exposed.
It's no wonder that he was so nervous. Qin Zhaolie handled the matter very carefully, and Qin Liexing was also secretly helping to cover it up.
In a sense, everything in the Prince Qi's Mansion is closely connected with Qin Zhaolie and Qin Liexing. We must not be careless and make mistakes.
Fortunately, the imperial tomb is located south of the capital, on the northern foot of Yueshan Mountain.
This place is still thirty kilometers away from the Kyoto Imperial City, and there is a mountain between it and the "bandit's den", so it should not be discovered.
The emperor above said again: "If that's the case, then send Rong..."
The emperor turned his head and glanced at where Qin Yuechuan usually stood, then he remembered that he seemed to have taken leave today.
Is it such a coincidence?
Qin Chuanji seemed to have seen through the emperor's plan.
He said bluntly, "Father, why does your Majesty have to rely on Prince Rong to intervene in everything? Is there no other general in the palace during the court meeting today?"
Next to it?
The emperor stroked his short beard.
It seems to be true, and Qin Yuechuan is not necessarily the only one who can do this.
Qin Chuanji continued, "Since returning, the Duke of Zhenguo has been unemployed. It would be feasible to hand this matter over to the Duke of Zhenguo."
He Xuehuai heard this, stepped forward, bowed and saluted: "I am willing to share your worries, Your Majesty, and personally lead the troops to suppress the bandits."
Everyone sang the same tune, and the matter was resolved smoothly without the emperor having to think too much about it.
It wasn't a big deal, but since someone agreed, it couldn't be better. The emperor waved his hand and said, "Then let the Duke of Zhenguo go and solve it before the end of the year. Let's make a quick decision."
"Your Majesty, I have no troops, please send them..."
"Aren't you Yuhe..."
The emperor wanted to ask, "Don't you still have the He family army in your hands?"
He suddenly recalled that since the day He Xue Huai returned to Beijing, he had handed over all the military power, and now he has no soldiers at all.
"Forget it. I will assign some people from the Ministry of War to you. Let's finish the job quickly."
This was exactly what He Xuehuai wanted. He said calmly, "Yes, I will obey your command."
There is nothing wrong with this development and it can be said to be reasonable.
He Xuehuai has returned to the capital for some time, and it seems that he has had little interaction with any of the princes. This time, he was probably just forced to accept the order.
Qin Liexing couldn't find any flaws for a while.
But for some reason, he always had an indescribable strange feeling in his heart.
After the court meeting, Qin Liexing fell behind a few steps intentionally or unintentionally, and his eyes glanced at He Xuehuai who was striding behind him.
When He Xuehuai was only a few steps away from him, he tilted his head casually as if unintentionally and said, "Duke Zhenguo, congratulations."
He Xuehuai's brows were cold and he didn't smile. "Your Highness Prince Su, where does your happiness come from?"
Qin Liexing showed his usual warm smile and said in an approachable manner: "The emperor has entrusted this matter to you, which is the first step to thaw the relationship with the Duke of Zhenguo. In the future, the Duke of Zhenguo will surely gain more and more trust from the emperor."
He Xuehuai just nodded slightly after hearing this, without a trace of joy on his face, and he did not want to say much to Qin Liexing, and only replied: "Thanks for the good words, Prince Su."
Qin Liexing was not annoyed, and continued to ask tentatively: "I wonder if the Duke of Zhenguo knows where the bandit's lair is?"
Before He Xuehuai could speak, Qin Chuanji suddenly appeared and interrupted, "When did my eldest brother become so concerned about the affairs of the military commanders?"
Qin Liexing said with a smile: "You and I both share the worries of our father, so there is no difference between civil officials and military generals."
Qin Chuanji said: "I know this matter best. I know where the bandits' lair is and how many people are gathered. My eldest brother is not in good health, so I will leave this matter to my younger brother. You don't need to worry about it."
"I still have some details to discuss with the Duke of Zhenguo, so I won't talk to my eldest brother."
After saying that, he didn't give Qin Liexing a chance to speak, and walked away with He Xuehuai.
Qin Liexing put away his gentle smile and his expression instantly turned cold.
His already pale and expressionless face made him look as gray as a death, like a hard stone statue with cold and sharp lines, standing proudly but without any life.
I stared silently at the two people's backs as they gradually disappeared from my sight.
Although he was the eldest among all the princes and was born to the Empress, he was born with a weak constitution. If he had not been born into the royal family, with top-notch imperial physicians to treat him and precious resources to nourish him, he would have died long ago.
Because of the rumor that he was born with a short life, the current emperor had many children and seemed to have been excluded from the candidates for the throne by default, and it seemed that none of his brothers really took him seriously.
Even the emperor often sighed.
Qin Liexing had no choice but to accept his fate.
But now, things are different.
This matter has both advantages and disadvantages. He actually feels that with this cover-up, certain things will not be easily noticed by others.
In any case, we still have to send someone to keep a close eye on the imperial tomb to feel at ease.
Here, Qin Chuanji and He Xuehuai left the palace.
Qin Chuanji received a message from Qin Yuechuan, saying that today's battle was all for the He family army in the imperial mausoleum.
It was just to pave the way for He Xuehuai and lower Qin Zhaolie's vigilance.
Qin Chuanji did not say much to He Xuehuai. Before getting on his carriage, he whispered, "Duke Zhenguo, you'd better be careful of the eldest brother. This is what the third brother specifically asked me to remind you of."
He Xuehuai knew the actual relationship between him and Qin Yuechuan, thanked him for his kindness, nodded imperceptibly, turned around and set out on the road back to the Duke's Mansion.
Qin Zhaolie was also full of doubts when he heard his subordinates report this: "Suppressing bandits? How come I have never heard of it..."
He considered for a moment the distance between the imperial mausoleum and the place where the bandits were suppressed. They were in opposite directions, so there shouldn't be too much of a problem.
...It was quite far away from Yueshan, and he was confident that he was well hidden, so no one should have discovered him.
If they had been discovered, they would have reported it to His Majesty long ago, and we would not be living in peace today.
"Tell the people inside to behave themselves these days and not cause any trouble. We will make plans after He Xuehuai returns from suppressing the bandits."
"It's the New Year's Eve dinner, I hope nothing goes wrong."