Jiaochu

Chapter 49 Discussing High and Low at the Celebration Banquet ([-])
Su Shi also came to visit in the afternoon. He couldn't help but be surprised to see Ye Lingxi, and he couldn't help but feel worried when he saw Yan Fei lying unconscious on the bed.

When they entered the palace for the banquet in the evening, Su Shi was picked up by a carriage sent by the Su Mansion, and Ye Lingxi also took the carriage from the Banquet Mansion back to the palace.During this period, General Yan repeatedly urged Ye Lingxi to return to the palace, but she was so determined that she hugged the bedpost and refused to let go until the last moment.

At the celebration banquet in the evening, General Yan still rode on horseback. Yancheng and his wife, Yan Chu, Chu, Yan Heng and his brother and sister rode in a carriage. Yan Jiang, who had not yet married, rode in a carriage alone. Ye Lingxi hid in this carriage. Except for General Yan and Yan Jiang, no one else knew that there was an extra person in the carriage.

Not long after the group left, another carriage entered through the side door, with a green gauze bamboo curtain and only a lantern hanging, making it look very plain.

When the carriage arrived at the palace gate, the sun had completely set, twilight fell, and the earth seemed to be covered with a misty veil.

Ye Lingxi quietly opened a corner of the car curtain and looked at the sky outside. There was still some light, hoping that Hehe and Lingdang could calm down and not expose their secrets.

After sneaking out of the carriage, Ye Lingxi slipped all the way into the Imperial Garden. She was suddenly stopped by someone from behind. She turned around and saw that it was Xiao Anzi. She was in a hurry to go back and had no time to chat, so Xiao Anzi just said hello. Well, it didn't take much time.

Bell lingered on the stone steps outside the library, stretching her neck to look out from time to time. Finally she saw Ye Lingxi's figure, and she hurriedly ran to meet him.

After the master and servant reunited, they rushed back to Weiyang Palace without stopping.

As soon as the two of them slipped into the palace gate, Hehe hurried over.

"Princess, you are finally back. I have already asked my servants several times. Your Majesty is hosting a banquet in the palace tonight, and Eunuch De will pick you up first."

"When did the concubine leave?"

"The empress has been away for a while, and she told the slave to let the princess eat early and go to bed early when she comes back."

"Mother concubine didn't suspect anything, did she?"

"The empress sent my slave to visit the library twice. The slave said that princess, you have been studying in the library all the time. The empress also asked the slave to send you some snacks and told you to take care of your body and not be too tired."

"Princess, since you were not here, He He and I shared the snacks."

"well done."

"..."

While talking, the three of them entered the hall.Hehe and Lingdang brought dinner, and Ye Lingxi hurriedly filled his stomach and slipped out with Hehe and Lingdang.

A quarter of an hour later, the master and servant hid behind a screen surrounding Baohua Hall.Ye Lingxi poked out a pair of eyes and quietly looked at the civil and military officials and their families sitting behind the screen.

Sitting on the left and right of Ye Lanchen are Concubine Xiao, Concubine Rong and Concubine Lan. Next are the three princes Ye Qingran, Ye Lanchen and Ye Xingye.

"Princess, let's go back. It will be bad if we are discovered." He He persuaded in a very low voice.

Ye Lingxi just raised his hand and made a shushing gesture, but was discovered the next second.

"Who is there!"

Commander Wu stared at the screen where Ye Lingxi was hiding with his sharp and vigilant eyes. He immediately made a gesture and the two guards drew their swords and approached the screen.The officials at the table closest to him thought he was an assassin. They were all so frightened that they couldn't sit still. They were all huddled together, and some of them thought they were hugging each other for warmth.

Ye Lingxi was in a good mood and slowly moved out from behind the screen. Her innocent big eyes were full of crystal tears. She pursed her little cherry mouth in extreme grievance. She was so scared that she almost cried. When the guard knew Ye Lingxi's identity, he immediately put away his sword and knelt down to apologize.

The officials huddled together were quite embarrassed. They never thought that the "assassin" would be a little princess!
Under the attention of all the civil and military officials, Eunuch De hurriedly came over and led Ye Lingxi up. Hehe and Lingdang followed behind with their heads lowered, really afraid that the emperor would be angry.

As soon as Eunuch De led the people to the palace, Ye Lingxi looked at Ye Lanchen and Concubine Lan with a pair of big tearful eyes and said aggrievedly, "My father and mother are not here, so Lingxi is scared alone."

Ye Lanchen smiled and waved Ye Lingxi over, without any intention of getting angry.Hehe and Lingdang both breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

"Father, my mother and concubine told Lingxi to eat early and go to bed early. Both my father and concubine are not here, so Lingxi can't sleep." Ye Lingxi said coquettishly in a soft and waxy voice.

Ye Lanchen smiled fondly, and did not let Ye Lingxi go back. She asked her to sit next to Concubine Lan. Eunuch De immediately asked someone to put the dishes and chopsticks in place.

"Lingxi, you can't run around anymore in the future. It was so dangerous just now. It's not a joke if you get hurt." Xiao Guifei said empathetically.

"As long as my father is here, I'm not afraid." Ye Lingxi raised his little face and looked proud, "I have the support of my father and I'm not afraid of anything."

Concubine Xiao sneered in anger, and said to Ye Lanchen: "Your Majesty, Lingxi is still young, it will be bad if he catches a cold."

"Don't worry, Madam, I'm watching from the side." Eunuch De replied diligently.

Concubine Xiao nodded and said, "You are watching me, my virtuous father-in-law, and I will naturally feel at ease."

Ye Lingxi secretly observed Concubine Xiao and Eunuch De attentively, and for the time being did not see anything fishy between them.

After the civil and military officials first toasted with congratulations, Ye Lanchen toasted to Old General Yan and Yancheng's father and son alone. They had played a major role in wiping out the water bandits this time. Then he toasted to have a drink with Su Shangshu and Yan Jiang. I am grateful to the two of them for their hard work on their mission to Xiyan.

When the Yansu family was enjoying their prosperity, one person stood up and asked about the resettlement of the water bandits.

"Your Majesty, there are still more than 1 water bandits left. They are all willing to surrender. Why don't we integrate them into the military camp and use them for our own use."

Ye Lingxi's eyes were fixed on the middle-aged man speaking below, who was none other than the current Prime Minister Zhou Yi.

As soon as Prime Minister Zhou finished speaking, General Yan raised objections.

"Your Majesty, those bandits are mostly rabble-rousers. Incorporating them into military camps will only hinder our progress and waste food and salary."

Zhou Cheng asked instead: "Does the old general want to kill all these people?"

Seeing his old father's dark face, Yanjiang stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have a way, but I don't know if it's feasible or not."

"Tell me and listen." Ye Lanchen said.

Yan Jiang said: "These water bandits are a mixed bag, so why not organize an assessment first, keep those who can pass the test, and send those who can't pass to build river embankments to atone for their sins."

"Your Majesty, although these water bandits are a mixed bag, they are large in number, and most of them are young and strong men. They can get on the right track after a period of formal training. Your Majesty, this is a good opportunity to strengthen our army. If anything happens in the future, We will not be completely unprepared for unexpected changes," said Prime Minister Zhou.

Ye Lanchen knew what the accident that Prime Minister Zhou was referring to was. Xiyan had elite cavalry. Since the truce between the two countries five years ago, everything has been peaceful until now, but there will be a dispute in the future.

Su Shangshu reported: "Your Majesty, the heavy rain in Yuzhou the year before last year broke down the dams on both sides of the Yellow River, displacing tens of thousands of people, destroying thousands of acres of fertile farmland, and drowning countless livestock. If there is another heavy rain, the consequences will be disastrous."

Yang Qin, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, also reported: "Your Majesty, it will take about half a year to build the river embankment. After that, we need to dredge the water area and introduce the river water into the ocean current. If there is another heavy rain, it will not overflow. Your Majesty will hand over these 1 people to Weifang." Chen, Weichen promises that everything will be completed before the end of this year."

Zheng Mian, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, said: "Your Majesty, the military camp now has sufficient food and wages, and it is time to expand its troops. If your Majesty hands these 1 people to Weichen, Weichen guarantees that within two months, these people will be able to go into battle to kill the enemy."

Ye Lanchen thought for a moment and looked at Rong Liang, the Minister of Household Affairs, "Rong Aiqing, please tell me."

Rong Liang said: "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, it is better to cut each piece in half, so that it can fill the military camp without delaying the control of floods."

(End of this chapter)