It was already dusk when King Xingji of Beijing came out of the palace.
The sunset covered the magnificent palace with a hazy golden-red gauze. He glanced back and withdrew his gaze. The entourage waiting outside the palace came up to him and whispered a few words.
The master and servant got on their horses and went to the inn where Xing Yusheng had booked.
Ever since the investigation into the iron ore smuggling case began last year, rumors have persisted that King Beijing was the mastermind.
Today, Wang He's family in Beijing suddenly entered Beijing, causing many forces in the capital to be confused because the mastermind of the iron ore smuggling case has not yet been announced.
If it were Xing Ji, wouldn't he be risking his own life if he brought his whole family to the capital?
If it weren't for him, it would be even more intriguing that he suddenly moved his family to Beijing.
Among them, the actions of Qin Guogong, the in-law of Beijing Palace, have always attracted attention.
Although neither Mr. Qin nor Duke Qin Kang came forward, the eldest grandson of the Qin family accompanied Xing Yusheng to settle down the Xing family and pay homage to Mrs. Xing, but many people saw it.
Xing Ji entered the inn and went straight to Mrs. Xing's residence.
The two young masters of Qin both went home first. Xing Yusheng was having dinner with his grandmother. There was a medicinal meal on the table. It was the recipe that Su Liang had given him earlier and was specially prepared by the cook of the Qin family.
"mother."
There was the sound of the door opening, followed by Xing Ji's voice, and the sound of footsteps walking in.
The smile on Xing Yusheng's face disappeared with her back to the door. She stood up from the wheelchair and saluted Xing Ji, "Father."
Xing Ji lowered his gaze, glanced at Xing Yusheng's legs, and nodded, "It seems like you are living a good life in your maternal grandfather's house."
Xing Ji and Xing Yusheng, father and son, have very similar looks. Xing Ji is an unsmiling middle-aged man with an old scar on his left cheek, which was left from fighting in his youth.
The reason why among the three vassal kings, King Xing Ji of Beijing was considered the most likely to rebel is because he had a very restless temper when he was young, not internally, but externally.
One year, a neighboring country from the north invaded, and the Prince of Beijing had no military power, and the royal family did not allow him to intervene. However, the northern army of Qian Kingdom was retreating steadily, and it was about to attack the territory of Prince Beijing.
Xing Ji and his two followers sneaked into the enemy camp without fear of death, captured the enemy general alive, assisted the Qianguo army in driving the enemy out of the border, and captured three cities in a row.
That time, Xing Ji became famous in one battle.
Although he made great achievements, his strength was also exposed, which made the court very jealous, and then he was given a marriage to the eldest daughter of the Duke of Qin.
The deterioration of the father-son relationship between Xing Ji and Xing Yusheng began when Xing Yusheng's mother Qin Xiang passed away. The trigger was that Qin Xiang's body was still cold, so Xing Ji helped his concubine upright.
At this moment, the father and son met again after a long time, and there was no warmth at all.
"The emperor will issue a decree and confer me the title of Marquis of Zhongxin, and grant me a palace." Xing Ji said to Mrs. Xing.
Old Mrs.
Being demoted from a king with a different surname to a marquis is a lower level than the status of the Duke of the State, but at least the hurdle of cutting down the vassal can be considered passed. Otherwise, if the emperor takes action first, the result will be difficult to say.
Mrs. Xing asked Xing Ji to visit his father-in-law at the Duke of Qin's mansion, and Xing Ji agreed.
"Yu'er, you stay with your father." Mrs. Xing said.
Xing Yusheng was silent for a moment before saying "hmm".
The father and son left the inn, Xing Ji rode a horse, Xing Yusheng took a car, and went to Qin's house.
Although Mr. Qin did not like his son-in-law because of his daughter's death, he did not embarrass Xing Ji for his grandson's sake.
At nightfall, news spread that King Beijing came to Beijing and asked to give up his throne and fiefdom, leaving his family to stay in the capital.
The holy edict was delivered to Xing Ji the next day. The Qian Kingdom lost King Beijing and gained a loyal and trustworthy prince.
And the Zhongxinhou Mansion given by the emperor turned out to be the Gu family mansion of Changxinhou Mansion, which was once executed for rebellion and rebellion...
The Gu Mansion was raided last year and sealed, and the absconding Crown Prince Gu Ling of Changxin Hou is still on the list of the most wanted persons in the Qian Kingdom.
Anyone with a discerning eye would not think that the emperor's gift to the Xing family was a coincidence. It was clearly an attempt to make Xing Ji calm down, otherwise he would end up with the same fate as the Gu family.
Xing Yusheng, who was still living in the Duke of Qin's mansion last night, was stunned when he received the news and learned where his new home was, "The original Gu family?"
Qi Yan nodded, "Yes! The Marquis has asked my father to bring people over to clean up, and we will move in in three days. Master, do you want to live there?"
Xing Yusheng thought for a while and said, "Now that I am the loyal prince, my residence should be where Gu Ling originally lived?"
Qi Jun nodded, "It stands to reason."
Xing Yusheng sighed, "Gu Ling saved my mother, but I don't know where he is now or if he is well."
"Master, don't think too much, no news is good news." Qi Jun said.
Xing Yusheng nodded, "The current result is already very good. Ning Jing and Su Liang will probably arrive soon. You go and see if there is a house suitable for them. It doesn't have to be too big, it should be quiet and elegant, and it should have a garden."
"I heard that Chang Xin... our Zhongxin Marquis Mansion is very big. We can invite Young Master Ning and Miss Su to live in the Marquis Mansion. Anyway, they all know the name of the master that Mr. Ning got in the first examination and are friends with the master." Qi Yan said.
Xing Yusheng shook his head, "Ningjing definitely doesn't want to live with me."
Qi Jun coughed lightly, "Master Ning is now the head of the Ning family, so he must have made arrangements in advance, right?"
"That's his business. I want to give Su Liang a house. What if she doesn't want to live with Ning Jing?" Xing Yusheng said.
Qi Yan looked happy, "That's it! Let's go find it right now!"
…
Three days later, the plaque of Zhongxinhou Mansion was hung on the original gate of Changxinhou Mansion, and the Xing family officially moved in.
Xing Yusheng also moved there, mainly to make his grandmother happy.
Qi Yan and Qi Jun traveled all over the capital and bought a house not far from the Zhongxin Hou Mansion. It was not very big, but there were many trees planted in the house and it was very quiet. Xing Yusheng went to see it and thought Su Liang would like it.
When the Xing family returned to the capital, the truth about the iron ore smuggling case was finally revealed. The real mastermind was not the King of Beijing, but the King of Nanping.
And the war that is about to break out in the south now is also because the King of Nanping colluded with the enemy to rebel.
When the emperor sent Nian Jincheng and Lin Bojun south, he gave them a secret order to take the head of King Nanping.
As for the one in the west who has never had any sense of existence and has made no action so far, the emperor issued an order to summon the Western Liang King and his family to Beijing.
But the King of Xi Liang has missed the good opportunity to show his loyalty. Even if he comes next, no one knows whether he can reach the capital safely. If he does not come within the limited time, it will be a rebellion.
…
Ning Jing and Su Liang, who were on their way to the capital, also received news about the three vassal kings one after another.
"It seems that Xing Yusheng's father is still very smart." Su Liang commented.
The one in the south must die, and the emperor must choose at least one of the kings of Beijing and Xiliang to stay, so as not to be criticized for not being able to accommodate the founder of the country.
There may only be one chance to survive, and whoever grabs it first will be his.
Although King Beijing's high-profile behavior when he was young aroused fear in the court, it also made those in power feel that he did not have much scheming.
Showing strength on the surface is nothing, but those who pretend to be just waiting to die and are doing things behind the scenes are even more scary.
…
The journey was not slow. Ning Jing and Su Liang arrived at the capital of Qian Kingdom in the evening on the day before the Lantern Festival.
Today it was Su Liang's turn to drive. She was dressed in men's clothing, wearing a straw hat knitted by Ning Jing himself, and looked curiously at the capital of the Qian Kingdom.
Compared with here, not only Bei'an County, but also Pingbeicheng is in the countryside.
As soon as you enter the city, you will be greeted by the bustle and excitement of the city.
The two of them did not go to Duanmu Chen or Xing Yusheng, but went directly to the teahouse opened by the Ning family in the capital.
The chief manager of the Ning family in the capital had already received the news that the family was coming, so he packed up a yard and came out. Their luggage had been transported ahead of time and was placed here.
"Miss Wan's family came yesterday and said that the head of the family would let him know when he arrived." The steward said respectfully.
"Where do they live?" Ning Jing asked.
The steward told him the address, and Ning Jing asked him to leave.
Dinner was bought from the largest restaurant in the capital. After the two of them had eaten, they changed their clothes and left the teahouse on foot, intending to go see Zheng'er first.
They didn't expect to meet Xing Yusheng halfway, and Xing Yusheng was also very surprised. At first, Qi Yan said he saw Ning Jing and Su Liang, and he thought he was being deceived.
After confirming that it was Su Liang, Xing Yusheng looked happy, "When did you arrive?"
He went out so late because he heard that Mr. Qin suddenly fell ill and wanted to visit the Qin family.
Su Liang looked at Xing Yusheng, nodded and smiled, "She looks good."
From Prince Beijing to Prince Zhongxin, there is no need to pretend to be weak anymore.
Xing Yusheng smiled broadly, "It's all thanks to you. I really don't know how to thank you. My grandmother must be very happy to know that you have arrived. She was still talking about you just now!"
"I'm going to visit the old lady another day. I haven't thanked her for the medical book she gave me yet." Su Liang smiled.
Qi Jun whispered in Xing Yusheng's ear, "Why don't you invite Miss Su to the Qin Mansion..."
Xing Yusheng nodded, looked at Su Liang and asked, "Where are you going? If you are free, could you please come with me to the Duke's Mansion? My grandpa is sick."
Su Liang looked at Ning Jing, "You go find Zheng'er first, I'll go there later."
Xing Yusheng smiled and said, "Master Ning, go and do your own business. I will take Miss Su to where she wants to go afterwards."
Ningjing looked calm and said, "I'm not busy."
"Then let's go together." Su Liang nodded, "Prince Xing will lead the way."
"Thank you so much." Xing Yusheng said, "We are friends. Don't be so outspoken. Just call me by my name."
Su Liang smiled and said, "You are still the heir, so I will not change my words."
"It's up to you." Xing Yusheng nodded, asked Su Liang and Ning Jing to get in the car, and went to the Duke of Qin's Mansion together.