Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 54 Inference

It took about a stick of incense, and the snow outside was getting heavier and heavier, and the cold wind was blowing into the flower hall, making everyone shivering from the cold.

Mei Lin and Mei Zhu quickly ran out and brought back a dozen or so charcoal basins, and placed them at everyone's feet one by one. There were even three placed next to Xue Ruitian, a patient with severe chills. Not only that, but Mei Lin stuffed them into his arms Even so, Xue Ruitian still felt unbearably cold, and regretted that he did not choose the warm pavilion with doors and windows, but chose the flower hall with no doors and only windows, but with an excellent view.

"What is self-inflicted?" Xia Jiu got up from Xue Ruitian's lap, reached out and patted his cousin, and said with a slight sarcasm, "This is self-inflicted, obviously afraid of the cold, so I insisted on choosing such a place. I have to freeze myself half to death. Hey, the cold wind is blowing on my face, and the icy cold feeling is really good, cousin!"

"Go away, I'm not a god, how could I know that there is such a heavy snowfall in a short time!" Xue Ruitian stood up, carrying two heaters, and walked to the door of the flower hall, "Auspicious snow heralds a good year, Good meaning, just hope that good meaning doesn't turn into a disaster in the end."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. After the winter, we have put up notices several times to remind the people in the city to pay attention to the cold, and we will send people to check on people's homes from time to time. There will be no major accidents." Jin Jing also stood He got up and walked to the door, and asked in a low voice, "Master Hou, what do you think about your Majesty's matter? My subordinates always feel that it is not as simple as we thought."

"What did the military master want to say?" Xue Ruitian tilted his head to look at Jin Jing with an enigmatic face, "Do you think he did it on purpose?"

"It was intentional, or...premeditated for a long time. I have a few questions. If we can solve them, maybe we can know what His Majesty means by doing this." Jin Jing rubbed her chin and looked at the fluttering people outside. Xue Hua said, "As the New Year approaches, Xijing's city defense is the most stringent in a year, and the investigation is also the most intensive. No matter who enters the city or leaves the city, if there is any doubt, they will never be released from the city. It is true that His Majesty has rich experience in playing hide-and-seek with his subjects. It is not difficult to sneak out of the palace walls, but it is not so easy to escape from the capital. Unless..."

"Unless there is someone to help." Xue Ruitian nodded, "I'm also thinking about this question. Although that kid Bai Meng is a bit extreme in his behavior, he has a deep affection for His Majesty and is extremely loyal. Because of His Majesty's extreme trust in him, Since he led the Imperial Army and patrol battalion, there has been no trouble from the palace wall to the city wall. Everyone's evaluation of Commander Bai has always been that he is dedicated to his duties and dedicated to his work."

"The evaluation is indeed very high. I don't know if it includes the Duke and Lord Hou? As far as my subordinates know, your relationship is not very good!"

"Could it be that the military adviser is provoking trouble by saying this?" Xue Ruitian raised his eyebrows, "Master military adviser, you have to make it clear that it is Xiaobai who has always been hostile to us, not us. Xijing is indeed a bit overqualified, but there is no one like him around His Majesty, and those of us who are leading troops abroad are not very relieved. However, the military adviser is right. Commander Bai, who has never made a big mistake, even Letting His Majesty slip away under his nose is too inconsistent with his usual style, and it is really unreasonable."

"So, my subordinate has a guess. Although it's a bit scary, it's reasonable to calculate based on this guess."

"The military adviser wants to say... Commander Bai was coerced by His Majesty, so he had no choice but to accompany His Majesty out of the city?" Seeing Jin Jing nodding, Xue Ruitian sighed heavily, "It seems that the military adviser and the Marquis wanted to go together, and the Marshal probably did the same I thought about it, otherwise I wouldn't be so calm. Think about it, if there is no Bai Meng to accompany, even if His Majesty is under the banner of royal family and nobles, it is impossible to run out of Xijing at this time. If Bai Meng With Meng on the side, the soldiers checking at the city gate will not be so strict, and they will definitely let them go."

"What Hou Ye said is that this explanation is the only one that makes sense after all the subordinates have thought about it. Otherwise, the empress dowager would not be the one who reported the letter first."

"What both of you said makes sense. Cha'er and I also discussed it, and we came to the same conclusion as the two of you. What is certain now is that Commander Bai Mengbai should be by His Majesty's side at this time. Therefore, Your Majesty We can rest assured of his safety. With Commander Bai by his side, His Majesty will not act too recklessly, otherwise, Xiao Baizi will use his trump card."

Shen Haolin did not know when he appeared behind Xue Ruitian and Jin Jing, Xue Ruitian frowned slightly, and gave Shen Haolin one of the stoves.

"You have not recovered from your serious illness, why did you come to the wind? You are not afraid of being blown up again!" Xue Ruitian took Shen Haolin's arm and dragged him to the side, "Hey, if you don't tell me, I almost forgot, Our little baizi still has a trump card! But he is also stupid enough, this trump card should be used before His Majesty leaves the city, not after His Majesty leaves the city!"

"Maybe he forgot it before, or maybe His Majesty is better than him, which made him unable to use it for a while. Just as Bai Meng knows His Majesty deeply, His Majesty is also very familiar with Bai Meng. With a look and a movement, he knows what the other party is going to do." What." Shen Haolin looked at Xue Ruitian and then at Jin Jing, "This is the end of this matter, don't mention it any more, lest it should be accidentally leaked out and cause unnecessary panic."

"Yes." Xue Ruitian nodded, looked at the sky, and beckoned to Meizhu standing in the corner, "Let the dining room deliver lunch, Qiyun and Xiaojiu are going to patrol, look at the current posture, I’m afraid the snow won’t stop, and it’s probably going to get bigger and bigger. You tell the dining room to cook more ginger soup, at least enough for two bowls for each person.”

Mei Zhu agreed, left the flower hall and ran to the dining room.

As soon as Shen Haolin turned around, he met the eyes of Shen Cha who was looking over. He smiled lightly, and walked over with Xue Ruitian and Jin Jing.

"Seeing how relaxed your expression is, I think you have made an accurate judgment." Shen Haolin sat beside Shen Cha, leaned over to look at the things on the table, and waved to Xue Ruitian and Jin Jing, "Come and see Look at the fruit of the tea."

"Shiyuan, Kangding, Fengxing." Xue Ruitian took an apple, gnawed it, and said as he gnawed, "The signature of Shiyuan Town should be sauced meat, and every family has a different taste. Features. Kangding and Fengxing, one is famous for noodle soup, and the other is good at cooking all kinds of seafood. If these three towns have anything in common... they should be the most desirable places for food lovers. These three The towns are not too far away. If you take a carriage from one town to another, it takes no more than an hour. However, there are many food shops in each town. It may take a few days to eat from the beginning to the end. time."

"How can you be sure that His Majesty will definitely go to one of these three places?" Shen Haolin looked at Shen Cha, "He... tried every means and thought to run out of Xijing, is it just for one bite? This... this The idea is unreliable and not convincing enough.”

"I don't think so." Shen Cha shook his head, "Food is the most important thing for the people. Many, it’s just that we don’t care much about it. Xijing is prosperous, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, so eating has become a kind of enjoyment. His Majesty’s recent letters have mentioned these three places, fully expressing his thoughts. I am eager to take a look. That’s why I can infer his approximate location.”

"The general's deduction is also reasonable. Probably, His Majesty is thinking that Xiaonian is still a few days away, and he will go out to play while he is still free. After all, during the period from the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, other people can Rest, and he became the busiest person. First, there is the end-of-year ceremony, paying homage to the imperial mausoleum, and then there are celebrations one after another, and on the first day of the first lunar month, he will also meet all the relatives and ministers and accept their congratulations."

"More than that." Shen Cha tapped the table lightly, "There is another big event this year, the marriage between the princess and the third son of Prince Yihe's family."

"Not bad, not bad!" Shen Haolin nodded, "The marriage of the two families is set on the fifth day of the first lunar month, although His Majesty does not need any help, but after all, she is a married daughter of the royal family, and His Majesty must be present to show that he attaches great importance to this marriage. Looking at it this way, it turns out that there are only two days to spare."

"He's really good at finding opportunities." Xue Ruitian shook his head, "However, the princess is getting married, and foreigners will come to the wedding. Someone should be preparing to leave right now. Why is there no movement at all?"

"All countries are not peaceful now, and all have different degrees of internal and external troubles. These are enough for them to worry about. They should not be in the mood to attend the wedding." Jin Jing held a teacup, sighed, and said, "Important people don't kiss each other." In the past, at best, they would send envoys to congratulate the new year, and send congratulatory gifts to show their blessings. Even if Daxia is unhappy, they can’t say anything, after all, domestic affairs are the most important.”

"What the military adviser said is that this matter is not in our scope of consideration, as long as we guard the border and prevent suspicious people from taking advantage of it."

"Now that we have determined the scope of our search, let's inform the Shadow of Xijing to protect him secretly in the past, so there is no need to alarm His Majesty. If you think about it, he will not stay outside the city for too many days. Besides, Commander Bai is with him, and there is no need to alarm His Majesty. Guards and attendants are indispensable, safety is not a problem." Shen Cha looked at Xue Ruitian, "What we need to do now is to send a letter to the Empress Dowager in the palace to reassure her. Don't worry her because of His Majesty's whim, And then the phoenix is ​​ill."

"Then what do you see me doing?"

"It doesn't matter who you look at, I'll leave this matter to you." Shen Haolin patted Xue Ruitian on the shoulder, "You have always been sweet-talking and know how to make the elderly happy, and the Queen Mother likes you very much. I believe it. If I or Cha'er say it, the Empress Dowager will believe it, but nine times out of ten she will think that we are coaxing her, which will only aggravate her worries. What's more, this is your family affair, and you are duty bound! "

"It sounds reasonable." Xue Ruitian smiled helplessly, "Okay, I'll write this letter, but you have to promise me one request."

"what?"

"When you take revenge on that kid Song Jue, don't forget to take me with you."

"make a deal!"

(End of this chapter)