"What's the hurry?" Teng Yuyi closed her eyes and said, "First, ask Cheng Bo to inquire about the famous Taoist temples and Taoist priests in Chang'an City. If there is no result, it will not be too late to prepare the cart tomorrow morning."

Saying that, he yawned, "I'll go to sleep first, and when Uncle Cheng comes, remember to call me."

Chunrong and Biluo responded and stepped out.

Teng Yuyi had been running around for days, she was already exhausted, her eyelids drooped, and she soon fell asleep.

Perhaps it was because the Jade Sword had lost its spiritual power, and when he fell asleep, the long-lost ghost and ghost came to him again.

When she opened her eyes again, she suddenly found herself back in the Teng Mansion.

The blue window is bright and the moon is shining, the horn lamp is burning faintly in the room, and a piece of letter paper is quietly spread on the table in front of the window.

Teng Yuyi looked around in a daze, and looked down to see that she was dressed in plain clothes. Judging from this dress, it was the time when her aunt had just passed away.

It seems that I have dreamed of my previous life again, so clearly, it is really not like a dream.

Teng Yuyi raised her hand and touched it, there were still wet tears on her cheeks, her heart was full of pain, and she had just cried.

The letter on the table just started: "Meet me, grandpa. I learned that the concubine of the East Palace has recently been selected, and my son is also selected. I wonder if this is true?"

Teng Yuyi just glanced at it and was shocked. Why didn't she remember that she wrote a letter to her father in her previous life?

Since A-Niang passed away, her relationship with her father has been frosty, not to mention writing letters to her father, not even reading the letters sent by her father.

She read the letter upside down three times, and finally remembered that it was the early winter of the eighteenth year of Longyuan. At that time, it was only two months before she was killed. There were rumors in the capital that she was one of the candidates for the crown princess, and her father It also seems to have acquiesced to this.

I remember that she was frightened and angry at the time, and the words on the letter were like knives.

"Grandpa forced his wife to death back then, but now even his daughter will be harmed?"

After receiving the letter, Grandpa did not reply, but immediately set off to rush back to Chang'an. He was too hasty to sleep in the rough, and when he entered the door, his robes were covered with dust.

"This matter is still undecided. If you don't want it, grandpa thinks it's okay to shirk it." Teng Shao took off the cloak and handed it to Uncle Cheng behind him, waving his hand to let the people down.

Teng Yuyi sneered: "Why did Grandpa never ask his daughter's wishes before deciding on his daughter's marriage?"

Teng Shao was silent, then unfastened the saber from his waist and hung it on the wall: "What happened to Duan Ningyuan a while ago, Grandpa knows that you are wronged, and he has long since made up his mind to find a husband for you who is hundreds of times stronger than Duan Ningyuan. Son-in-law, it happened that the Queen and Princess Cheng held a flower viewing banquet a while ago. Grandpa thought that this would be a good opportunity to choose a good son-in-law, so he decided to do it for you. To be honest, the Queen was the one who treated you. You have a good impression, so this time when the crown princess is selected, a minister will add you to the selection list."

Teng Yuyi was stunned for a while, but that time it was Grandpa who arranged for her to see Lang Jun.

That is, at the flower viewing banquet, she met the prince and the prince.

The prince's appearance followed the saint's, with thick eyebrows and thick lips, and a naturally friendly face.

Become a prince...

Hmph, Prince Cheng said to her portrait, "Don't marry".

This matter is her lifelong shame, she glared at her father: "So grandpa wanted to marry his daughter into the clan?"

"It's Grandpa's fault that he didn't discuss it with you beforehand." Teng Shao smiled lightly and sat on the low couch by the window, "But Grandpa still has a good view of the prince's character. When the prince was trained with the army, it was Grandpa who The leader of the army, Congling is such a lonely and dangerous place. If you change it to the children of the princes next to you, you will not be able to endure it for a month or two, but the prince is never afraid of hardships. Exactly like a saint."

"I advise Grandpa to give up as soon as possible." Teng Yuyi said coldly, "My daughter will not marry the imperial family even if she dies."

The father and daughter broke up like this, Teng Yuyi thought that this matter was completely put on hold, but who knew that not long after, the queen suddenly summoned her.

Teng Yuyi was apprehensive and dressed up according to her uniform. After arriving at the Daming Palace, she waited for orders in front of Dan Chi.

It was winter, and Chang'an ushered in the first snow.

The wind was rising, and the fine snow rolled and floated under the porch. She was wearing scarlet deer and muntjac boots on her feet, and after standing for a while, her toes felt cold.

Fortunately, the queen didn't let her wait long, and the palace servant came out to lead her in.

There was a fire in the hall, and the warm fragrance came out. In the warm pavilion, there are many juniors talking with the queen.

"So, Big Brother A agrees to this marriage?"

"How come, Chengyou just promised to meet Mrs. Xu, who is not driving in Shangzhou. I heard that Mrs. Xu lived in Yangzhou when she was a child. She came back to Chang'an for a banquet and accidentally saved Chengyou's life. Her nickname is A Gu. Chengyou has been looking for the female doll for many years, and when she found it, she is inevitably a little curious."

In Teng Yuyi's mind, it sounded like a string being plucked.

There is such a coincidence in the world. When A-Niang just passed away, she felt lonely and lonely, and once called herself "A Gu".

Moreover, she returned to Chang'an with her grandfather when she was a child. At that time, my grandmother had just passed away. She was depressed and unhappy all day. Once grandpa was not at home, the steward took her to a banquet. After she came back, she contracted the cold, and the high fever persisted, and she was sick for two months.

When I woke up occasionally during this period, I only remembered Grandpa's bloodshot eyes. When she was almost healed, Grandpa took her back to Yangzhou. She couldn't remember a single thing about what happened in Chang'an at that time.

However, she was somewhat impressed by what they said about Mrs. Xu. She had seen Mrs. Xu once at the flower viewing banquet held by Yu Zhennuguan a while ago.

Madam Xu's appearance was not outstanding, but because she was fair and delicate, she had an air of tranquility and beauty. At that time, Lin Chengyou was walking through the garden with a bow and arrow on her back. Madam Xu had watched him for a long time. Afterwards, Madam Xu asked about Lin Chengyou intentionally or not. When I got close, I heard a few words.

Just as Teng Yuyi was thinking about it, the palace servant reported, "Niangniang, Mrs. Teng is here."

The hall quieted down, and dozens of eyes fell on her. Teng Yu walked forward and bowed her head on the ground: "My servant Teng, see the queen."

The queen's voice was calm: "You go down first, and Ben Gong speaks to Madam Teng."

After rejecting the crowd, the queen called her to come forward: "Good boy, come and let me see."

Teng Yuyi stood up in response, taking every step carefully.

The queen smiled kindly, held Teng Yuyi's hand and said, "Bengong saw your auntie once, your auntie is a rare beauty, but I didn't expect you to be better than your auntie. Bengong doesn't make any detours anymore, I'm summoning you today. You came because I heard that your grandfather wanted to discuss a marriage for you recently, but you said that you have to choose your own husband, and said, 'My husband, I am the only one in my life, and I am the most important thing in everything'?"

Teng Yuyi felt a chill behind her back. She said this when she was angry, but she didn't expect it to reach the Queen's ears. It seemed that the matter of the prince's choice of a concubine was imminent, and she decided to reject the matter, wondering if it would annoy the queen.

However, it was better for the empress to go straight in like this than Xu and Wei She, so she had to say truthfully: "I dare not deceive the lady, the minister did say this, the stupid and stupid words made the lady laugh."

The queen smiled and said, "Your grandfather also rejected the saint in the same way, and the answer has been righteous, and it has already spread to the inside and outside."

Teng Yuyi was stunned for a moment, it turned out that Grandpa had already expressed his attitude on her behalf, and she said bluntly: "This is what the minister's daughter and Grandpa said when they were chatting, the minister's daughter is young and shallow, and she speaks freely, so please don't blame my mother. responsibility."

The queen said: "Your father and daughter are chatting at home, and what you say is entirely up to your heart. I just found it interesting, how could I blame you. I called you today to ask again face to face, you are not allowed to accept Lang Jun. Concubine, this proposition has never changed."

When the Empress said this, her voice increased slightly, Teng Yuyi thought that she was the only two in the hall, and she spoke so loudly, as if she wanted to speak to a third person.

She moved her eyes slightly, and caught a glimpse of a black object hidden under a six-curved screen with black lacquer on the right. She realized that it was a man's black leather six-seam boots, and hurriedly looked away.

I don't know who that person is, but he can openly enter and exit the queen's bedroom, and I think it is either a saint or a prince.

The queen didn't wait for Teng Yuyi's answer for a long time, thinking she was afraid, so she comforted: "You don't have to be restrained in front of this palace, just say whatever you want."

Teng Yuyi blushed and said, "Returning to Empress's words has never changed."

The queen smiled meaningfully and said softly, "I have called you to talk for a long time. You should be cold too. Warm up with a cup of hot wine and come back."

He rewarded Teng Yuyi with a sachet and asked the palace servant to lead her out.

Teng Yuyi returned to the mansion, and the more she thought about it, the more strange it became. In the evening, her father returned to the mansion and asked Cheng Bo to call her to the study.

"Tell me in detail what happened in the palace today to Grandpa."

Teng Yuyi also knew that this matter was important, so he explained everything about the day.

Teng Shao listened quietly, with a face full of joy and anger: "Grandpa, let me ask you, if the sage had already set the rule that the prince should not marry the concubine, would you still insist on not marrying the imperial family?"

Teng Yuyi asked curiously, "Why doesn't the prince accept the side concubine? In order to pass on Zuo Wujue, there is a rule of righteousness and four sides in the opening of the dynasty."

Teng Shao said: "Don't forget, the saint is a ready-made example. Because of the unfortunate experience of the deceased mother, the saint vowed not to expand the inner palace."

Teng Yuyi was stunned. No wonder the empress' smile was so intriguing today. The sage never married a concubine. He heard that the sage was the eldest son of the late emperor. It took several twists and turns to recognize the ancestors.

The sage and the queen had known each other for a while, and the two had been in love with each other. Since the succession to the throne, the sage has indeed only loved the queen for many years.

She remembered the boots on the screen: "Could that be the prince?"

Teng Shao thought to himself, if it was the prince, he stayed behind the screen and listened to Yuyi's answer, was it the queen's intention, or the prince's own?

He pondered: "Your name is still on the selection list of the crown prince, if you act recklessly, you may offend the palace, but you don't need to worry, the selection of the crown prince is related to the foundation of the society, and it affects the whole body. You’re not the only one, as long as it’s not settled, you can’t do it one day. Grandpa will try his best to deal with it, and there will be news in a few days.”

Teng Yuyi waited patiently for two days. On the day of the winter solstice, the plum blossoms in the palace garden bloomed overnight. The queen held a banquet in the palace to appreciate the plum blossoms, and once again ordered Teng Yuyi to enter the palace.

Because of the recent chaos in Huaixi, Teng Shao was frequently ordered to enter the palace.

Teng Yuyi didn't have time to send a message to his father, so he hurriedly took Duanfu out of the palace. After arriving there, he ordered Duanfu to wait outside the palace, and he entered the palace under the guidance of his inner servant.

The snow was so heavy that overnight, Bei Que Pearl Palace seemed to stand in the world of glazed glass. A large piece of red, when you look closer, it is actually a red plum forest outside the Daming Palace. Thousands of trees and red plums are swaying on the branches, raising a kind of Penglai fairyland.

Teng Yuyi walked through the plum forest with the servant, and when he turned to a secluded pavilion, he suddenly saw a group of people guarding under the tree.

"Little princess, little princess, come down quickly, if there is a mistake, the slaves can only apologize with death."

"Big brother, when I was drinking on the tree just now, why didn't I see you making a noise?"

"The prince can fly over the eaves and walk the walls, and a mere plum tree is nothing to him. The slaves don't worry about the prince falling on themselves, so naturally they don't need to make a noise."

"Crack." A huge plum suddenly flew from the treetop, and it just hit the palace servant.

The palace servant sighed, covered his forehead and bent down.

"I don't know how to do it lightly, but I know how to use hidden weapons. If you want to talk more, I'll smash ten or eight drums on your head."

Another girl said, "Azhi, you are very strong now. When Brother A broke down that Mrs. Xu, why didn't you see you smashing her with plums?"

The one named Azhi said, "With my brother here, is it my turn to take action?"

"That's right." The other girl seemed to be a little older, "I thought Big Brother A finally agreed to kiss this time, but I didn't expect this A Gu to be fake."

"Brother said, repaying kindness is repaying kindness, and discussing relatives is probation. He won't marry a woman inexplicably just because of repayment of kindness. But my brother didn't expect that someone would dare to pretend to be the old man."

"How does he know that the man is not Gu's?"

"I want to know too." Azhi said angrily, "but my brother wouldn't tell me."

The palace servant coughed heavily, and approached bravely: "This servant has seen Princess Changyi and Princess Jingde."

The treetops rustled softly, and the person on the top looked down: "Hey, Eunuch Liu, who is she, and is she here for the banquet?"

The palace servant bowed and said, "This is General Teng's daughter. She is going to Daming Palace to see her at the will of the Empress."

Teng Yuyi looked up, the plum branches and leaves were sparse, and he could not see the heads and faces of the people on the trees, but he could see the magnificent and ingenious crony that hung down.

She bowed her knees under the tree: "Teng Yuyi, the minister's daughter, greets the two Highnesses."

"Where are you from? Why haven't I seen you before?"

Teng Yuyi raised her head and replied, "I lived in Yangzhou before and returned to Chang'an less than a year ago. I seldom came to the palace to walk around in the past. It's not surprising that His Highness has never seen me."

When Azhi heard the word "Yangzhou", her reaction seemed strange: "Ah, why are there so many little ladies from Yangzhou all of a sudden recently. Don't tell me your nickname is also A Gu."

Teng Yuyi thought to herself that it was right to call Ah Gu for a while, but it was her self-proclaimed name, and she had never mentioned it to outsiders in her mind, she was the only one who knew about it.

"If I go back to His Highness, my nickname is Ayu, and my grandfather and mother have called me that since I was born."

Princess Changyi seemed to be relieved: "Okay, it's not A Gu, you are very smart and very interesting, I want to get to know you well, you let me go, I'm coming down."

Azhi also hurriedly said, "Wait for me, I'll go down too."

There was another rustling noise, and the palace people under the tree were running around to change their positions, and they were all in a mess.

Teng Yuyi dodged and hid far away, the palace people exclaimed and jumped down first.

Teng Yuyi looked over, the girl was eleven or twelve years old, smiling very kindly, her eyes were big and round, and her appearance was extremely beautiful.

After a while, the other one came down. This figure seemed to have some martial arts foundation. It fell to the ground and only stumbled a bit, and soon stood firm. This age is younger, and his stature is also shorter and fatter, with watery eyes and a charming and innocent face.

The jade hairpins and jade hairpins of the two girls are the same color, and their every move is indescribably expensive.

The older girl approached and looked at Teng Yuyi: "Yes, yes, although they are all from Yangzhou, but you are much more pleasing to the eye than that Mrs. Xu who pretended to be A Gu."

Teng Yuyi listened to her and knew that she was Princess Changyi.

Another source is Lin Chengyou's younger sister. Although she is young, she has a clear skin and a beautiful face. At first glance, you can tell that she is a beautiful embryo. Her eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar to her brother Lin Chengyou. She also smiled before saying a word.

"Did the two of you just look for a magpie nest in a tree?"

Princess Changyi's eyes widened slightly: "How do you know that we are looking for a magpie nest? These stupid maids just think we are picking flowers, and you are the only one who guesses that we are looking for a bird nest."

Azhi was still young, and tilted his head and asked, "Yes, yes, how did you know?"

Teng Yuyi smiled inwardly. What's the point of picking flowers? When she was lonely when she was a child, she often climbed trees to find bird nests, and threw leftover cakes in, making the chicks chatter.

"The plum forest in the palace has a long-standing reputation. The two princes wanted to enjoy plum blossoms. They had their own palace staff cut them and sent them to the bedroom. The weather was freezing cold, and it was not worth climbing the tree. Apart from plum blossoms, there were only birds left on the tree. nest."

Chang Yi thought for a while: "Hey, it seems to make sense. Seeing that you are quiet and gentle, you actually understand this. Oh, I see, you must have been digging bird's nests before."

Before Teng Yuyi could answer, someone suddenly said with a smile, "Changyi, do you think everyone is as naughty as you are?"

Teng Yuyi turned his head to look, and a young man strode over at the other end. This man wore a golden crown and a crown, with a sturdy stature and a jade fish bag hanging from his waist.

Teng Yuyi recognized that it was the prince and hurriedly retreated to the side.

The palace people were startled, and Wu Yangyang knelt on the ground: "His Royal Highness."

The prince's face was a little square, but his facial features were very handsome. He said warmly, "Get up."

Azhi and Changyi couldn't hold back and ran towards the prince: "Brother Prince."

"It's so cold, what are you doing in the woods if you don't go back to the bedroom?"

"Azhi and I were looking for a magpie's nest in a tree, but this Ayu came. I saw that she was interested and wanted to make friends with her." Changyi said, turning around and pointing at Teng Yuyi.

Teng Yuyi felt two eyes swept towards her and lowered her head.

The prince quietly looked at Teng Yuyi and asked Azhi and Changyi, "What did you guys talk about?"

Azhi said: "Ayu said that although she came from Yangzhou, her name was not Agu, and she guessed that we were looking for a magpie nest as soon as she opened her mouth."

The prince turned to Teng Yuyi and asked, "Are you from Yangzhou?"

Teng Yuyi looked left and right, realized that the prince was talking to her, and hurriedly said: "If you go back to His Highness, although the ministers and daughters have lived in Yangzhou for a long time, the father and mother are from Guanlong."

The prince smiled: "Is your grandfather Teng Shao?"

Teng Yuyi said, "Exactly."

"When I went to war with the army, I practiced under General Teng. No wonder I thought you looked familiar when I saw you. You look a bit like your grandfather."

Chang Yi asked curiously, "Brother, do you want to chat with Ayu too?"

The prince coughed: "How long have you been nesting in a tree with your hands so cold? How did you serve, the princess didn't even bring a hand stove?"

The palace people hurried to send the heater.

The prince said: "The two of you are fooling around here, and the people are also scared and scared. A-niang sent someone to look for you. You two hide in the tree and don't make a sound. Next time you are so naughty, don't expect me to cover up for you, let's go. , I will catch a cold if I stay any longer, so I am going to say goodbye to A-Niang and take you back to the palace by the way."

Azhi asked, "Brother Prince, have you seen my big brother?"

The prince patiently said: "He shoots arrows with people outside for fun. He is too nervous about being detained on such a day, so why would he want to come to the inner garden."

The three of them walked while talking, and a group of servants followed behind.

Chang Yi took two steps, loosened the prince's hand, ran to Teng Yuyi and said, "How old are you?"

"If you go back to His Highness, the servant girl will be fifteen."

Chang Yi counted with his fingers, "Four years older than me and five years older than Azhi, we've already known each other, and I'll call you Ayu from now on."

Then he lowered his voice and his eyes were bright: "I know you have dug out the magpie's nest, and I will see you next time."

Teng Yuyi blinked: "I haven't pulled it out for a long time, and my hand has long since been born. Besides, the northern land is different from the southern land. If you don't find it, Your Highness can't blame me."

Chang Yi was stunned for a while, then giggled, "Don't call me the princess, call me Chang Yi."

Azhi rushed over and said, "What are you whispering about? Ayu, we will play with you after the banquet, so don't walk around."

The two returned to the prince's side, and the group walked forward again.

The prince turned his head and glanced at Teng Yuyi, then stopped and said in a gentle tone, "It's rare that both Changyi and Azhi like you, so you can often walk around the palace in the future."

Teng Yu thought so, when he lowered his head and swept to the prince's feet, his heart skipped a beat, and suddenly remembered that behind the screen in the queen's bedroom that day, the man was also wearing such black leather six-seam boots.

Because it was the Great Meeting of the Winter Solstice, this time was different from the previous one alone, and all the wives of the Manchu Dynasty came.

The queen called Teng Yuyi to ask a few words, and rewarded her with two spices in public.

The spice is white like a cocoon, and the faint fragrance is refreshing.

Everyone in the hall was a little surprised, and Teng Yuyi was also stunned. Yangzhou is the capital of Tongyi. She has been in Yangzhou for all these years, and she has seen a lot of Hu people from different places and exotic places. Phase, can be called unparalleled in the world.

The queen said: "This is Jiebala incense, known as the 'Crown of a Hundred Medicines'. It was offered by the Poli Kingdom last year. There are only eight in the palace. I heard that you contracted a cough after returning to Chang'an. , this incense has the effect of repelling cold and dampness, and it may be able to treat your illness."

Teng Yuyi said in fear: "This fragrance is truly extraordinary, and the empress should use this fragrance to protect the phoenix body. The ministers and daughters have weak virtues and freshness, and they absolutely dare not accept them."

The queen smiled and said, "You will accept it if you are rewarded by this palace. Everything is about fate, and the same is true of giving gifts. These children in the palace do not like to use incense, and it is also abusive to give them. If you take it back and use it, come back and tell this palace. "

Teng Yuyi had to kowtow to thank her, and the queen took out a few pieces of silk and smiled as a reward to the noble daughter who came with Teng Yuyi.

Teng Yuyi was sitting on the left, the granddaughter of Deng Zhiyao, a member of the Zhongshu Sheren, and on the right was the second daughter of the imperial censor, Wu Ruyun. Perhaps it was because the empress praised her Jieburaoxiang in public. When eating, she could always feel the eyes cast from all directions.

After the banquet, Teng Yuyi went out of the palace along the same road, but she never saw Princess Azhi and Princess Changyi come to her. Thinking about it, she was still a child, so she turned her head and forgot what she said.

After returning to the mansion, Teng Yuyi put the spices on the table and insisted on waiting for his father to return to the mansion.

Teng Shao didn't show up until the middle of the night, and as soon as he arrived, he ordered Cheng Bo to ask Teng Yuyi to go to the front yard.

When Teng Yuyi arrived at the study, Teng Shao lightly draped his robe and was sitting on the couch wiping his knife.

She went in with the spices, and her father would wipe off his armor and treasured sword every time he set out on the expedition.

"The queen gave me two Jiebala incense today." Teng Yuyi put the tray on the table and said lightly.

Teng Shao put the knife back into the scabbard: "The queen also summoned Deng Zhiyao's granddaughter and Wu Ruyun's daughter into the palace today. What's the reward for them?"

"Each of them is eight strands of silk."

Teng Shao was silent: "Those two are also on the list of the crown princess. The queen called the three of you into the palace, but only gave you the Kabhara incense, Ayu, do you know what this means?"

Teng Yuyi sneered: "Grandpa promised me that I will decide the marriage."

Teng Shao was in a frenzy, got up and paced back and forth: "Ayu, this matter is very involved. Grandpa will tell you in detail, and you will know why the queen did this after listening to it."

He frowned and said slowly: "You should know that the feudal towns in various places have been in chaos for a long time, and after the sage ascended the throne, he was determined to cut down the vassal and reinvigorate the dynasty. First, he wiped out Liu Cheng of Jiannan Road, and then suppressed the vassal in Guizhou. Wei Wenmao, who was in chaos in the Middle Road, but Huaixi Road and Shandong Road refused to hand over his troops to the imperial court, and a large number of troops have been stationed behind the scenes in recent years, which has become a problem for the imperial court."

Teng Yuyi said, "My daughter has heard about it, but what does this have to do with today's events?"

Teng Shao sighed deeply: "Last month, Peng Zhen, the Jiedushi envoy of Huaixi Road, sent troops to invade the neighbors, and some people secretly played to the court. The sage was furious when he heard the thunder, and immediately ordered a crusade against Huaixi Road, but some ministers in the court opposed it. , said that in these years the imperial court has been swept away from the east and the west, and the teachers and soldiers have long been exhausted.

"The other faction advocates continuing to cut Tibetans."

Teng Yuyi said: "Grandpa naturally advocates continuing to cut the clan."

Teng Shao nodded: "Peng Zhen's wolf ambitions have a tendency to occupy the Central Plains. Huaixi Road and Hebei and Shandong Roads are linked to each other, sooner or later, one side will be in chaos. Use troops as soon as possible, otherwise it will cause carbuncles and cause problems.

"Now the two factions in the DPRK and China are holding on to their own opinions, and the sages are rushing to call me back to Chang'an. I replied: If Peng Zhen's rebels can be defeated in one fell swoop, the Hebei and Shandong provinces will be swept away. There are many benefits but no harm. I hope the sage will use his troops as soon as possible.

"The sage listened to Dayue and asked me to preside over the crusade against Huaixi Road, but several senior officials in the court obstructed it. The most violent ones were Deng Zhiyao, a member of the Zhongshu She, and Wu Ruyun, the imperial censor."

Teng Yuyi suddenly realized: "Deng Zhiyao's granddaughter and Wu Ruyun's daughter are also on the list of prince concubines, and the queen treats me alone in front of them with Jiebala incense, which probably means a saint."

Teng Shao said: "The sage's move is to use the queen's hand to intimidate the two old ministers: first, to show his attitude, it is imperative to cut the vassal; secondly, he is also beating the two, if he stops it again, he will choose another minister's daughter. Princess."

Teng Yuyi's face turned black: "If these two old officials still refuse to change their minds, wouldn't the sage decide me to be the crown princess?"

Teng Shao sneered: "Maybe they have changed their minds. When Grandpa returned to the mansion just now, Deng Zhiyao and Wu Ruyun were about to hand over the letter to the palace. The saint claimed to be resting and did not let them enter the palace. I guess tomorrow morning , Du Wu and the two will change their rhetoric euphemistically. The sage is afraid that there will be many dreams in the night, and as long as these old officials let go, he will immediately send his grandfather to lead his troops to attack."

Teng Yuyi glanced at the treasured knife that his father placed on the table, and wiped the armor in advance, because he knew he would go to war soon?

Teng Shao looked at his daughter: "Ayu, if the old ministers no longer object to sending troops tomorrow, the saint will keep the two daughters of Deng Wu on the roster in order to appease the hearts of the ministers."

Teng Yuyi nodded slowly: "Grandpa said so much to persuade me not to worry too much, because the monarch and the minister are secretly fighting, and since the sage wants to restrict several old ministers, he will not rashly appoint who is the crown prince at this time?"

Teng Shao showed his approval: "That's right. Since you told Grandpa that you don't want to marry into the clan, Grandpa will file a petition to reject the matter, but Grandpa has always been the faction in the court that supports cutting down the vassal the most. Your removal from the roster will certainly attract suspicion from both factions.

"So not only did the sage not agree to the grandfather, but also ordered the queen to deliberately promote you, but secretly told the grandfather: the children's marriage is up to them themselves, and when the war in Huaixi is settled, if you still refuse to marry the prince, he will Find a decent reason for you to drop out of the selection."

Teng Yuyi thought to himself, the sage's arrangement is far more wise and enlightened than he imagined. Only in this way, everything has to wait until the Huaixi Road battle is settled.

Teng Shao added: "There is another thing that I need to let you know. The prince also strongly advocates cutting down the clan. Although the empress rewarding you with Kabharaxiang means a saint, the prince at least knew and acquiesced."

Teng Yuyi's expression changed slightly.

Teng Shao raised his hand and pressed it down: "Deng and Wu were already on the roster, and they added you on a temporary basis, and they have nothing to do with the prince himself. The last time the Yuzhen girl was watching the flower banquet, the prince should be the first time to see you. You, but he has always been prudent. Even if he has a good impression of you at the moment, he will make a decision after careful consideration. You can rest assured that the prince is a rare benevolent gentleman. Love, everything will be discussed when Grandpa returns from Huaixi Road."

Teng Yuyi couldn't help but said, "Grandpa's expedition this time, how long will it take to return to Chang'an?"

"The shortest three months, the longest half a year, you can rest easy at home to recuperate. This time, Huaixi has been pacified, and all the military power in the world will be vested in the imperial court. Grandpa will report the illness and stay at home, and concentrate on helping you get married."

Teng Yuyi's heart skipped a beat. She hated her father deeply because of her mother's untimely death. What she said to her father over the years was not as much as tonight. If you go home sick.

Teng Shao turned around and walked to the shelf to take out something. There was deep exhaustion between his brows. The lamp shadow illuminated the white hair on his temples, and he suddenly became old.

"Peng Sishun, the father of the traitor Peng Zhen, used to be a minister of the DPRK and China. After Peng Sishun's death, there are still many old Peng family members in the Gyeonggi provinces. This time, many ministers in the DPRK and China opposed the crusade against Huaixi Road. The family's henchmen are very related. Unfortunately, the military situation is urgent, and it is too late to investigate the **** and ambush one by one."

As Teng Shao spoke, he slowly uncovered the brocade covering the thing, and when the thing was completely exposed to the shadow of the lamp, Teng Yuyi felt a stab in his heart.

It was a qin with glossy lacquer and luster inlaid on its head. It was exquisite and magnificent everywhere, making people fond of it.

This is the dowry of the mother. The mother was born in the Wang family of Taiyuan, and she was good at this way when she was young. The father fought all the year round, and the mother often relieved the pain of lovesickness by playing the qin.

Teng Shao gently pressed his fingers on the strings: "Since your grandma left, grandpa has not heard anyone play the piano for a long time. Grandpa is a little tired tonight. How about you play a song for grandpa?"

Teng Yuyi said lightly, "I don't know how to play the piano."

Teng Shao smiled bitterly: "I heard Uncle Cheng say that you have been practicing the piano technique so hard over the years, and you have a lot of shadows from your aunt in your skills. ."

Teng Yuyi sneered in her heart, she is not good at this, she is just worried that there will be no traces of her mother in this world. She will do everything possible to keep everything related to her mother.

The only exception is this violin.

This qin once fell into the hands of his father's cousin named Wu Yingying. If she hadn't been desperate to let go when she was young, it would have been impossible to get it back.

After taking it back, she was disliked by Wu Yingying who played with it and refused to touch it again. Unexpectedly, her father kept it in the study.

Teng Shao fiddled with the strings by himself, and the melodious tune overflowed from his fingertips. He was not very skilled, but he could tell that it was the famous music of the Hu people, "Su Mu Zhe".

The more Teng Yuyi listened, the more ugly her face became. Not long before her mother died, she accidentally bumped into Wu Yingying and her father in a private meeting in the study. At that time, the Tubo attacked again, and the Helong area was in an emergency.

Wu Yingying gave this song as a gift, which was quite a farewell.

Teng Yuyi remembered that Wu Yingying was full of tears when she broke in.

And her good father was standing silently in front of the case watching Wu Yingying playing the piano.

Qu Zi swallowed sadly, and the two of them seemed to be a little stunned. After an unknown amount of time, Teng Shao turned to see Teng Yuyi, and a faint panic flashed across his face.

Teng Yuyi was only five years old at the time, but she could see that something was wrong between the two. This Wu Yingying was her father's cousin. She was brought home by her father half a year ago. Her father told her mother that her cousin's parents had passed away, and she was now lonely. But there is still half a year left before the date of marriage, and during this half year, she needs to live at home.

The mother put her father first in everything, so she naturally made promises, and immediately ordered someone to build a quiet courtyard and place Wu Yingying well.

At first, her mother often walked around with Wu Yingying. Wu Yingying was lively and clever, and she made up many gadgets to coax the young Teng Yuyi. Because she was good at winning people's hearts, even the people in the house had a good impression of Wu Yingying.

After a while, her mother began to alienate Wu Yingying for some reason. Sometimes Teng Yuyi wanted to go to Wu Yingying to play, but she would also be stopped by her mother.

It was from then on that my mother began to feel sick.

Later, Teng Yuyi came across that scene in the study. She didn't tell her mother about it, but her mother knew after all. The mother was already pregnant at the time, and she was so angry that she couldn't save the fetus, and her body completely collapsed.

Recalling this, she suddenly raised her head, the music of the piano in her ears was endless, and her father was immersed in the memories.

Teng Shao held down the strings and shouted, "Ayu!"

Teng Yuyi stopped and said sternly, "Grandpa always misses his mother, but he doesn't even know that grandma never played Hu music when she was alive! Only one person has played this "Su Muzhe", and grandpa used his mother's relics to play it. By playing this song, who are you insulting?"

Teng Shao seemed to be strangled by the throat.

Teng Yuyi's eyes were red: "Grandpa doesn't have to use this method to remind me that I will never touch this violin, and every time I listen to this song, I feel sick! I will never forget how A-Niang died, that woman is now She had a good life in Nanzhao, but A-Niang has become a pile of bones, and all this is thanks to Grandpa!"

Teng Shao's face was ashen, and he shouted, "Enough!"

Tears welled in Teng Yuyi's eyes. The night her mother died, the servants were busy dressing up the funeral. When she was young, she didn't know what happened, so she climbed into the coffin on her own, spread her arms and said to her mother, "A-Niang, A-Yu is good. Please get up and hug me."

But no matter how much she cried, A-Niang refused to pay attention to her.

Since that day, no one will put her to sleep every night, and no one will hold her and sing nursery rhymes under the flowers. No one smiled and brushed her hair, and no one taught her to write.

After A-Niang was buried, there were countless dark nights around her, and the only one who accompanied her was the puppet left by her mother.

She remembered her mother's smiling eyes, and she couldn't hold back her hatred for her father.

Teng Shao stood up while supporting the case, and as soon as he took a step, his body swayed.

"Grandpa is a rough person, he doesn't understand music theory, he doesn't know how to fight, and he didn't draw an eyebrow for your grandmother once.