Chapter 289 Where the Heart Is (Finale) It was rare for Xue Lin to talk so much. Even if it was to comfort her, Mingyi pretended not to know and just listened quietly, her heart slowly calming down in his voice and his outline of the future. At this moment, a cry from the servant Xu came from the palace, "Your Majesty..." The two of them paused, looked at each other, and then turned to look in the direction of the main hall, their eyes darkening involuntarily. The solemn and heavy bell rang, one after another, until it struck forty-five times. On the second day of the twelfth lunar month of that year, Emperor Chongning left in great numbers. The dragon drove the guests and passed down his only son. The prince of the East Palace became the emperor, that is, Emperor Longfeng. Emperor Daxing made a special request before leaving that the funeral should be simple. In the end, the new emperor overcame all objections and decided that both the late emperor and the former crown princess, who was posthumously named Empress Xianzhen, would be buried within seven days. Mausoleum. After the funeral, Chu Yanze returned to the prime minister's house in plain clothes. When he walked into the house, his steps couldn't help but sluggish. He dragged himself all the way to the study, his eyes filled with cold loneliness. In this huge prime minister's house, except for the servants, now , he was the only one left. Before the death of the late emperor, he left an edict to deal with Chu Zhiyu, deprived him of his official position, sent him to the imperial mausoleum to guard him, and kept him under constant guard. He was not allowed to leave the imperial mausoleum for the rest of his life. For Chu Yanze, this was a sign of gratitude. . In addition, the new emperor did not vent his anger on him, and even entrusted him with important tasks. After his country was in mourning, he was appointed as a minister in the Ministry of Personnel. When he heard the news, he was stunned for a while. When he went to thank him today, the new emperor said a few words to him and said that it was recommended by Governor Xue... Chu Yanze still remembered the words Xue Lin gave when he persuaded him to switch sides. Conditions, but at that time, all he wanted was to preserve the Chu family, and he never expected such grace. "How's it going? Has the post been delivered? What did Governor Xue and Princess Yun'an say?" When he arrived at the study door, he saw the boy waiting at the door. He asked as he stepped into the study. Before leaving the palace just now, he wrote a post and asked the servant to send it to the Prince of Jiyang's Mansion, thinking of inviting Xue Lin and his wife to have a meal together and express his thanks in person. Before coming back, he made a special trip to the restaurant to book a table before coming back. Since the boy was back, the post must have been delivered. "The post has been delivered, but everyone in the Prince of Jiyang's palace is busy preparing carriages and horses. It is said that Governor Xue has informed His Majesty that Anxi has important matters and he must rush back immediately. Prince Jiyang, Princess, and Yun'an The princess is going with her," the boy replied.
"Today?" Chu Yanze knew they were leaving, but he didn't expect it to be so soon. The boy nodded, "When I left, the carriages and horses were all ready. Now I have no choice but to go outside the city. Do you want to see me off, sir? I'll rush to the west gate now. Maybe there's still time." ” Chu Yanze, however, lowered his eyes to hide the undercurrent in his eyes, shook his head slightly and said, "No need! Go and open the warehouse, select some Cheng Yi with the manager, and send them to the city gate for me!" The boy was a little surprised, but he didn't dare to say anything. After saying "yes", he turned around and left. Chu Yanze turned his head and looked at the wall to the right, where there was a hanging hat. The long veil, although carefully cared for, was eventually covered in dust with the passage of time. The owner of the curtain hat may have forgotten it long ago, but day after day he regards such a long-forgotten curtain hat as a treasure. He didn't understand why he didn't throw it away before, but now he understands, he just feels ridiculous and wants to throw it away, but he is afraid that he won't even think about seeing the thing and missing the person. Suddenly, he remembered the half-crazy and half-serious words Wei Xunzhi said to him on the way out of the palace that day, "...She said I fell in love with her face, maybe...the first time I met her, I just thought, such a clean and beautiful little girl is so kind, as clean as a piece of white paper, so clean that she and I seem to be from two different worlds, so far away... I don’t know if I will be infected. What would it look like if she was colored? After many years, I finally saw her again. She had long forgotten me, but I never forgot her. I snatched her away without thinking. When I get to my side, I can dye her color in my own way. Maybe then, we will be the same person..." Wei Xuanzhi's words had no beginning and no end, and even sounded a bit wrong to Chu Yanze, but Chu Yanze clearly remembered the madness in his eyes at that time. However, no matter what Wei Xuazhi's method was, he tried and failed, but he didn't even try because he knew there was no hope, so he pretended to be open-minded and let go, but he didn't know who of the two of them was more pathetic. But he didn't want to put himself into an even worse situation, and he didn't want to drag her along with him. Let's just let her go and let him go, or maybe one day, after many years, he could throw away that dusty hat. Live your own life, a life that will no longer be affected by her. Outside the West City Gate, Li Fengjiao was holding Mingyi's hand tightly, "...We agreed that I will go to Anxi to find you in a while. The sky is huge and I want to see it too." Mingyi smiled and nodded, "As long as Her Royal Highness the Princess is at ease, I will send someone to pick you up." "Why should my mother be worried if I go to you? Besides...she probably can't take care of me right now." Li Fengjiao muttered. Li Zhi didn't know what was wrong with him, and Anxi didn't come back either. While circling in front of their mother and daughter, Li Fengjiao was still able to dodge, but the eldest princess could not. Mingyi smiled slightly as she listened. She had now completely separated herself from Li Fengjiao. Although she had feelings for Li Zhi, she did not reject him at the beginning. Besides, it was not her fault that she did not forgive him. "Okay! Then when you want to come, write to me, and I...I will send Yuan Tuo to pick you up." Mingyi said with a smile. Li Fengjiao's ears suddenly turned red, she raised her eyes and glared at Mingyi, "You are such a narrow-minded person, why are you still interested in teasing me?" "Why did I tease you? Did I say anything? The one you know best in the Anxi Army is Yuan Tuo. Wouldn't it be perfect to send him to pick you up?" Mingyi blinked and looked at Li Fengjiao with a smile. Li Fengjiao pursed her lips and stopped talking, otherwise she would fall into Mingyi's trap accidentally. This Mingyi was becoming more and more naughty now, "Okay, don't say anything anymore. You can leave quickly. Your Governor Xue is here." The other end is almost starry-eyed!” Mingyi turned around and saw Xue Lin reining in her horse and looking back. Although she didn't look forward to it, her eyes were still earnest. It was indeed getting late and it was time for them to set off. Mingyi patted Li Fengjiao's hand, "Take care and remember to write to me." Li Fengjiao nodded and waved her hand impatiently, "Stop whining, walk quickly!" As she said that, she turned away and raised her hand to wipe her eyes quickly.
Mingyi smiled slightly and took one step back. After a few steps, she suddenly turned around and strode towards Xue Lin. His other hand was still holding the reins of another horse. Seeing Mingyi passing by, he handed it over. Mingyi reached out to take it, climbed onto the horse's back neatly, looked over from a distance, and said in a loud voice, "Gillian, I Waiting for you in Anxi!” "Okay!" Li Fengjiao replied crisply, shaking her arm vigorously towards Mingyi, "Wait for me!" Mingyi nodded and rode with Xue Lin. After walking for a while, she turned around and looked over. Li Fengjiao had blurred into a small dot, but she was still waving her arms vigorously towards her. Behind her, that The city that gave birth to her has become a shadow. "Let's go!" Mingyi suddenly pulled the reins and galloped, leaving the past behind her. In front of her was the direction of home and her future. Although it is unknown, I yearn for it, and it is where my heart belongs. Cold came and summer came, winter passed and spring came, and in the spring of the third year, Li Fengjiao, who said she wanted to come to Anxi, arrived belatedly. After Mingyi received the news that the person had arrived at Changfengyi, he went to the city gate to wait for him early in the morning. It was not until noon that he waited for the person. "Mingyi!" With a call, Li Fengjiao jumped off the carriage and rushed towards Mingyi. After not seeing each other for more than a year, this girl seemed to have changed a bit, becoming more beautiful, but also more bright. Mingyi couldn't help but laugh when she saw the smell. However, Li Fengjiao spread her arms and was about to run over to hug Mingyi. Xue Lin, who was wearing a black robe next to her, had already stepped sideways in front of Mingyi. Li Fengjiao also suddenly stopped and stuck out her tongue and said, " I almost forgot, you are so valuable now that you can’t just touch it.” Mingyi raised her hand and patted Xue Lin's hard arm, giving him an angry look. Xue Lin touched her nose and took a step back silently. Mingyi immediately smiled and stretched out her hand to Li Fengjiao. The latter happily held her hand, but looked her up and down with curiosity. He saw that she was not only wearing a loose dress, but also a little plumper. , but there was no change in the side, "Why can't you see it yet?" "It's only been three months, so it's normal not to show your pregnancy." Mingyi said, pulling her towards the city, "Let's go together Walking around will give you a good look at the charm of Beiguan City, and you can also tell me what you see along the way." Li Fengjiao had no objection, and the two of them walked into the city hand in hand. In the past year or so, there had been civil strife in Beidi, and Xue Lin had found some things for Tubo to do. Both countries had too much to take care of themselves, and in addition to the previous instigation by Xue Lin, Over the past year or so, I have become a lot more honest. After Anxi settled down, Xue Lin seized the opportunity to build canals, divert water for irrigation, and develop farming in several states with a pleasant climate in the south. In the north, there are racecourses and commerce. Not to mention the caravan sent by Mingyi to the Central Plains, there are frequent visits and fruitful harvests, and it has gradually become stable. The most impressive thing is the one sent to the Western Regions. The small countries in the Western Regions are actually eager for the porcelain from the Central Plains. After a piece of porcelain arrives in the Western Regions, the price will often increase several times, which is a huge profit. Xue Lin rushed back to Anxi for this reason. Now, both Beiguan and Lanzhou have opened official kilns in the name of the government. All porcelain for merchants in the Western Regions must come out of the official kilns and must be stamped with the red seal of the government before they can be released. . Even so, the merchants were still queuing up to get goods from the official kilns. Now the two official kilns were in short supply, and Xue Lin was already preparing to build a third official kiln. The racecourse in Lanzhou was also made popular by Hu Jinyue, so Xue Lin took advantage of the situation and opened a second racecourse. Now, the first racecourse is fully managed by Luo Suhe, and Hu Jinyue has gone to the new racecourse to continue to expand territory. The cultivation of cotton and the weaving of cotton cloth have also achieved preliminary results. In short, the entire business in Anxi was stimulated. However, in just a short period of time, Mingyi felt that Beiguan had changed so much that it was unbelievable. What’s more, Li Fengjiao, who was here for the first time, looked at it all the way. They all marveled, "They say Anxi is barren, but on my way to the west, although the cities I passed were not as rich as those big cities in the Central Plains, they were not much different. There was a prosperous scene everywhere, especially It’s the smiles on people’s faces, just like the days…” "There is hope!" Mingyi answered with a smile. Li Fengjiao clapped her hands, "Yes, there is hope. In short, although the wind and sand are stronger and the sun is hotter, the smiles on the faces of the people here make people happy, and staying in these places makes people feel comfortable. , No wonder you are reluctant to leave as soon as you come." Mingyi smiled and glanced at someone following them, with a smile in her eyes, "Yes, this place makes people happy, and the people in this place also make people happy. I don't know that you won't want to leave after you come." What? It's okay if you don't want to leave, you just want to stay with me." Mingyi glanced at Yuan Tuo, who was only a few steps behind them, not to make it too obvious. Li Fengjiao's face suddenly turned red, but she glanced at Yuan Tuo and then glared at Mingyi, but she didn't deny it as usual. Mingyi's eyes lit up when she saw that there was something going on, "Tell me, what happened between you guys along the way?" "Please keep your voice down. How embarrassing is it for others to hear you?" Li Fengjiao hurriedly grabbed her, and then lowered her voice, "This matter cannot be explained in one or two sentences. Let's wait for another day. I will tell you another day when I have time." Mingyi's ambiguous smile became even more serious, "It seems that this story is quite interesting in a roundabout way. It doesn't matter. We can sleep together and talk by candlelight at night." "You want to talk to me at night?" Li Fengjiao hummed. She glanced at Xue Lin, who was walking beside Mingyi and had been protecting her calmly. She raised her eyebrows and said, "I'm afraid Governor Xue will be alone." Are you asleep?" Mingyi glanced at Xue Lin, raised the corner of her mouth slightly, and rarely said anything back. Li Fengjiao's eyes sparkled, she held Mingyi's arm tightly, and asked softly, "Isn't Governor Xue very happy that you are pregnant?" Mingyi glanced at Xue Lin, but without lowering her voice, she said with a certain air of dignity, "He is naturally happy to have a son when he is old!" Li Fengjiao almost laughed out loud, but she saw Xue Lin, who was always expressionless, looking at Mingyi, but his eyes were filled with helpless doting. She was happy for Mingyi in her heart, so she smiled and said, "You, that's Xue Lin" Grand Governor, I am getting used to you now, and I am becoming more and more out of character."
The two of them were chatting and laughing as they walked through the lively long street and headed straight towards the Governor's Mansion. In the private room on the second floor of the street teahouse, a pair of eyes flashed across, with a faint fire in their eyes. They looked at the man who was drinking tea slowly and gracefully by the window, and said fiercely, "That's the one you said just now." Are you waiting for someone else?” "Yes!" The man by the window took a sip of tea, raised his eyes, and twitched the corner of his mouth. He had a face as gorgeous as a woman's, but his sinister eyes contrasted with the scar on his left cheek that almost ran through the entire cheek. , particularly ferocious and terrifying, "Everything is ready now. All we need to do is capture the two of them together and ask your most powerful witch to cast a spell. The evil spirits in Yun'an County will definitely be driven away. By then, , the real Princess Yun'an comes back, and the Khan will be satisfied." "Are you sure she is indeed possessed by an evil spirit?" The man called Khan still frowned hesitantly. "Sure! Doesn't Khan find it strange too? She has changed so much from before, she is not the same person at all!" "Damn it!" The man smashed a porcelain cup fiercely, "She actually dared to lie to Ben Khan! Ben Khan said that something was wrong, and he must let the great witch do it to drive away the evil ghost." The man by the window didn't speak, he just picked up the tea cup and took a sip. Then he raised his eyes and looked through the crack in the window at the backs of the people who had reached the end of the street. His eyes fell on the two women holding hands in front of them, and they looked at each other slightly. After a while, Li Fengjiao, I said, I will not let you go. I'm back! Mingyi felt a chill on her back for no reason. She suddenly stopped and turned around to look back. The smile on her face had long since disappeared. Xue Lin then looked over and glanced left and right. Yang Li immediately realized what was going on and looked around. He also entered the teahouse. The room in Keya was already empty. For more than a year, Xue Lin never gave up looking for Wei Xunzhi, but there was still no whereabouts. Even so, they did not dare to take it lightly. During such a long period of calm, Mingyi wanted to convince herself that he must be dead. But he didn't dare to bear that eventuality and didn't dare to relax, and the same was true for Xue Lin. Although he had never mentioned the words Wei Xuazhi said before falling off the cliff, they had become a nightmare in his mind. They could always echo in his mind over and over again when he couldn't sleep at night. Xue Lin felt something was wrong with the empty elegant room, so he immediately whispered to Yang Li and made arrangements. Then he temporarily suppressed his thoughts and returned to the Governor's Mansion with Mingyi and others. However, there was the little episode just now. , seemed to cast a shadow on their relaxation. Although they talked all the way, they lacked the pure happiness just now. As soon as they arrived at the gate of the Governor's Mansion, Feng Yu and Wei Yu came out with smiles and said, "Captain, Madam, come and see! The peach tree in our mansion has finally borne fruit!" The group of people hurriedly walked to the courtyard and looked up among the dense branches and leaves of the peach tree. After being guided by Feng Yu and the light rain, they actually found a half-hidden among the branches and leaves, no bigger than the size of the belly of a thumb. fruit. But this is really good news for this peach tree that has not produced fruit for many years. "It seems like you have a little lucky star in your belly!" Mingyi didn't speak, she raised her eyebrows and smiled. Xue Lin walked to her side, looked at her flat belly with her, and smiled at each other. A gust of wind blew away all the gloom just now, and the sound of laughter was carried out of the small courtyard by the wind and floated far away. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, no matter how many obstacles and bumps there are in the future, as long as they are together, they can enjoy the morning sun, bear the wind and rain together, hold hands hand in hand, and walk the same road! This time, it's not a short circuit, it's a lifetime.