On the morning of the third day, behind a hillside in the Three Arrows Land outside Lulong Pass, the crowd began to get busy. White snow was shoveled into the pot and it was steaming. Dried wild vegetables and dried meat were thrown into the pot, and the vegetable and meat porridge began to smell fragrant.
taste.
Shiribari held a snowball in his hand and a piece of cheese. While chewing, he found Dai Yubin and said, "An Da, this is really fucking weird. Didn't we agree on the deal last night? Why wasn't there in Guancheng?"
Send a signal to clear the level? You can bring a few people over later to find out what's going on."
Dai Yubin said: "Okay, sir, don't be too anxious. There is no news of changes in Lakshen, so nothing will happen. They want more than a hundred trucks of goods at a time. It must be difficult to raise vehicles. It will delay time. I will go there in a moment.
Take a look."
Xireba said: "Well, it's not okay to delay for too long. We brought so many goods because we thought we could trade when we came here, but we only brought two tents, and most of us could only sleep in the snow nest.
In the house, even if you just hang out together all night, you will get sick from the cold after a long time."
Just as he was talking, the tall Mao Yihan came over with a shoulder covered with frost flowers: "Sir, that old guy Xirigoulige is suffering from frostbite. After all, he is old, a little feverish, and lacks energy.
What do you think we should do?”
Xireba Ri frowned and said: "Have we brought medicine? He will never make any mistakes. The palace is very complicated, not to mention the secret passages. I don't know how many changes King Yan Zhu Di has made since he moved in. If the palace has
The only difference is that he can still recognize the road, but if we draw a map, we can't find it."
Mao Yihan said: "There are medicinal materials to prevent cold and heat. I just made him a bowl of medicinal soup to drink, but the old guy is weak, and the illness may not be cured immediately."
Xireba shook his head and said, "Move him into my tent first. This man will be of great use. He cannot be too sick to get up."
He turned around and said to Dai Yubin: "I'm really afraid of what's going to happen, it's his grandma's. By the way, is there any problem with the gunpowder buried in the secret passage? It's of great use."
Dai Yubin said: "Even without gunpowder, the tung oil is enough to create a sensation in the world."
Shirebari gritted his teeth and said: "Otherwise, if the tung oil fire starts, Zhu Di may escape. I will blow him up in the palace and blow his whole family to pieces. His death will be the most inspiring to our Meng soldiers."
military spirit."
Dai Yubin smiled and said: "Only Xi Rigourige has entered the secret passage. I don't know how the gunpowder is stored. However, I heard from Xi Rigourige that the military gunpowder is packed very tightly, and there are several layers of waterproof and moisture-proof outside the barrels.
It’s made of oil paper and sealed with a layer of wax. It’s estimated that it won’t lose moisture due to moisture even after being stored for 180 years.”
Xireba said happily: "That's good."
While the two were talking, Mao Yihan brought two people and came over with Xi Rigoulige on his back. Seeing that Xi Rigoulige's face was flushed and he was breathing hard, Shiri Bari frowned and said: "It only took one night.
Why is he so sick? Come on, hurry up, help him into the tent to rest, and keep an eye on the medicine. It’s really bad. If we are trading tonight, and I force him to take him there, won’t it arouse suspicion? "
They planned to buy some daily necessities as an excuse to recruit some people who participated in the plan in the past. Xirizigoulige was an indispensable person among them. But he was old, and there were so many young people who were not used by everyone. They had to bring an old and seventy-year-old with him.
If a person like this passes by, Ming people will be suspicious, so they plan to make Xi Rigoulige look younger and add a black beard, so that they can barely see clearly in the night.
But now he is so ill. If everyone is busy moving goods, but there is a person here who is weak and unable to move, and finally wants to take him into the customs, how can people not be suspicious? Although they may not be spoiled by this suspicion.
It was a major event for them, but this matter was so important that Shireba had to personally take charge of the matter, so there was no room for any delay.
Dai Yubin frowned, and suddenly he got a plan on his mind and said, "Sir, there is no need to worry about this. I suddenly thought of a good way to let Xi Rigoulige get through."
Xireba hurriedly asked: "What can we do?"
Dai Yubin said: "If his condition is not good at the time of the transaction, then there is no need for him to pretend to be older. He can simply pretend to be older and say that he is an elder of the clan who is seriously ill and wants to go to Dadu.
Seek medical advice."
Shiriba was overjoyed: "Okay! This is a good excuse, and it is indeed perfect. Hahaha, An Da, just say he is your father when the time comes. A filial son takes me there for treatment. This excuse is really good, haha."
Ha ha……"
Dai Yubin's face froze, and his smile was a little bitter: "Getting a eunuch to be your father? Haha, haha..."
"What? They are actually the Seventh Brother's people? Because the money for building the palace has stopped, the Seventh Brother is doing some business to make money? This... is nonsense! What a nonsense!"
King Yan sat down and said, "A noble prince actually does these businessmen's things that compete with the people for profit. That's fine, but he still directly interferes with things that are prohibited by the court. What is that man's name?"
Concubine Xu said softly: "Shihong has just cross-examined them. The public identities of those two people are Xia Xun and Gao Sheng, and their real identities are Yang Xu and Ximen Qing. One is a student from Qingzhou and the other is a doctor from Yanggu County.
.”
King Yan shook his head repeatedly: "Absurd, seventh brother is really absurd."
Concubine Xu said: "Your Majesty, since you are the disciple of the seventh brother, you have to give me this face. Not to mention the several sweeps of the North, the seventh brother has helped you a lot. Just talking about brotherhood, you can't do it for such a small thing.
They want to make enemies. Anyway, the customs clearance transaction is something we want to hide, so let them go."
King Yan said: "Hmm? What should I do with Ming'er? Isn't the little guy annoyed?"
Concubine Xu smiled and said: "That girl Ming'er doesn't know how to hold grudges. Talking about what happened that night, she was very excited along the way. She regarded it as a very interesting thing and told it to your daughters as soon as she got home.
Listen, they are showing off very much. Last night, when those two brave boys were huddled in the cage and freezing and miserable, she actually stupidly sent them blankets. She doesn't care about this."
King Yan breathed a sigh of relief and said: "That's good, let's ask Shihong to take them out. This matter has caused such a fuss that the seventh brother is really... alas!"
The Shihong he was talking about was named Zhu Minneng. He was from Huaiyuan, Anhui. He inherited his father's position as deputy Qianhu of the Yanshan Guard and was responsible for guarding the Yan Palace. After Xia Xun and Ximen Qing were brought back to the palace, he was the one who conducted the trial.
Concubine Xu added: "They are the people of King Qi. Because of a misunderstanding, we captured them and suffered a lot on the way. As the saying goes, when beating a dog, it depends on the owner, so we sent them out again like this.
The Seventh King's brother has an ugly face, and you don't know his temper. Among the brothers, he is the one with the best face."
King Yan glared and said, "What should we do? Do you want me to send them out with drums and gongs?"
Concubine Xu covered her mouth and said: "That's not necessary. What they did is not very honorable. Naturally, it is inconvenient for you to come forward."
She thought for a while and said, "Ask Gao Chi to send them out. Having Prince Yan come forward will give them enough face. King Qi knows about it and can't say anything else."
Zhu Di nodded and said, "That's fine, just ask Gao Chi to send these two difficult brats away."
Xia Xun and Ximen Qing have been moved from the firewood shed to a side hall. Although it is still empty inside and there is no fire or brazier. In addition, the side hall is in disrepair for a long time and is a bit desolate and dusty. It's much warmer than that woodshed with drafts everywhere.
Ximen Qing stamped his feet and walked around the room: "We have all revealed our true identities. It stands to reason that His Highness King Yan will not make things difficult for us anymore, right? Why don't you let us go?"
Xia Xun said firmly: "Don't worry, even if Xu Guogong's daughter refuses to give up, our lives will not be in danger."
Ximen Qing said: "That little girl named Ming'er? Haha, that's okay. The little girl has a good heart. Didn't you see that she gave us a blanket yesterday?"
Xia Xun said quietly: "Yes, I gave you a blanket, a blanket for the little princess. It's such a small blanket. At first you said it would be half for each person, and you wrapped it around yourself desperately when you fell asleep. I just Squeeze one foot in."
Ximen Qing smiled and said: "This... hahaha, this is what I looked like when I fell asleep..."
While the two people were talking, the palace door creaked and the sound of unlocking was heard. The two people immediately stood together and looked at the door of the palace intently.
As soon as the palace door opened, four palace guards came in first. They stood there and stood with their swords pressed majestically. Then a big fat man appeared at the door. Two tall and powerful chamberlains supported him and walked over the high threshold. Come into the palace.
This big fat man is wearing an indigo Confucian robe and a Confucian scarf. Judging from his appearance, he has big ears and a very graceful demeanor. However, his figure is really too fat. Looking at the tall man, he is in his early twenties. , but the fat robe seemed unable to support his fat figure, and he had to be supported by two tall and powerful chamberlains.
Xia Xun thought to himself: "I remember that the literature records said that Zhu Di's eldest son suffered from obesity. He had been obese since he was a child. Could it be that he is this person?"
The big fat man had a gentle smile on his face, not showing a trace of arrogance because of the low status of these two people. Before the guard could announce the news, he had already cupped his hands and said with a smile: "I am Zhu Gaochi, the Crown Prince of Yan. My mother led the guards to hunt at Lulong Pass. Seeing that you two were secretly traveling, she mistook you for bandits, so she ordered the guards to find out your identities. The guards were a bit reckless, and they took you by force without finding out your identities. People have caused so many misunderstandings. The two of you have suffered along the way. This is the fault of Prince Yan’s Palace. Gao Chi apologizes to you."
As he spoke, he bent down very hard.
Xia Xun thought to himself: "I have long heard that among the three sons of King Yan, the eldest son Gao Chi is the most generous and kind, sincere in treating others, elegant and benevolent. In order to seize the throne, his younger brother repeatedly slandered him in front of Zhu Di, and even secretly treated him badly. He still He treats his brothers quite well and defends them in front of his father. Now that we have only met him once, I feel that the rumors are true. As the noble son of Prince Yan, if he is not kind-hearted by nature, there is really no need to be so polite to us."
Xia Xun and Ximen Qing hurriedly stepped forward to return the gift. Zhu Gaochi was the eldest son of King Yan and the future King of Yan. According to the ritual ceremony, he was the same as the prince. On formal occasions, even high-ranking officials in the court had to kowtow with courtesy, let alone their two eldest sons.
They were just junior students, so the two of them hurriedly came forward to kowtow and said, "Your Majesty, please don't be so polite. There is something wrong with us, otherwise the princess will not be suspicious."
Zhu Gaochi said hurriedly: "No ceremony, no ceremony, you two don't need any big ceremony to see me."
He chuckled again and said: "Zhu Qianhu has just asked about your identity. If I have offended you, please forgive me. Gao Chi is here to apologize, and secondly, he wants to send you two out of the house.
If you two don't mind, please come with me."
Just as Zhu Gaochi turned around with difficulty, he saw a little girl in white running in, followed by two guards. When he saw Xia Xun and Ximen Qing, he shouted: "Okay, it turns out you are the King of Qi."
My disciple, no wonder you are so bold, can Prince Qi’s disciples bully me?"
As soon as Zhu Gaochi saw her coming, he quickly stood up, clasped his hands in his fists, bent over his big belly with great difficulty, and solemnly saluted Xu Ming'er: "Nephew Gaochi, I have met Aunt Ming."
The little girl dodged and floated past him. Zhu Gaochi had a hard time holding up his belly. When he looked up, his aunt had disappeared. Zhu Gaochi turned around awkwardly and saw Xu Ming'er standing next to Xia Xun.
In front of him and Ximen Qing, with their hands behind their backs, they were looking at them with their heads bent.
Zhu Gaochi had already heard what happened, but he thought that his aunt would still make things difficult for these two people, so he hurried over and reminded: "Aunt Ming, this matter is all a misunderstanding. Father and mother have asked Gao Chi to do it."
Send them out of the house."
The little girl waved her hands grandly and said: "I know, I know, you go out first, I have something to say to them."
Zhu Gaochi said in embarrassment: "Aunt Ming..."
Xu Ming'er turned around and pushed him impatiently: "Get out, get out. I said I won't embarrass them. I, Xu Ming'er, stick to my word and will never break my promise."
Zhu Gaochi's body is like a mountain of flesh. Xu Ming'er can't push it. But Zhu Gaochi is an extremely upright gentleman and pays great attention to the order of elders and young children. No matter how young Xu Ming'er is, she is still his aunt and his elder.
, Zhu Gaochi did not dare to disobey her, so he had to follow her wishes and slowly moved out of the side hall with the support of two chamberlains.
"Hey hey hey..."
Pushing her fat nephew out of the palace door, Xu Ming'er shouted and closed the door, then turned around and looked at Xia Xun and Ximen Qing. She didn't know if she had learned the image of a traitorous minister from some drama.
One shoulder is high, one shoulder is low, two beautiful big eyes narrowed deliberately, he chuckled twice, and looked at the two men threateningly.
Xia Xun and Ximen Qing didn't feel scared after seeing her appearance, which was a bit funny. However, they shrank their necks smartly and showed a timid look. Xu Ming'er was very satisfied with the intimidation caused by her appearance to them.
He straightened his waist, pointed at Xia Xun and said, "Why do you want to arrest me?"
Xia Xun looked at her with a confused look on his face: "Little Princess, he is the one who arrested you. Why did the Princess identify me as the chief envoy?"