People who think I'm ugly are so sweet

The queen passed away, and the whole country mourned.In Beijing, it is forbidden to slaughter for 49 days, sacrifice for a hundred days, marry and celebrate birthdays, and enjoy music with silk and bamboo.Except for the ministers of civil and military affairs, the common people should also wear plain clothes and observe filial piety for Empress Daxing for three months.

The first empress was born in a scholarly family, dignified and steady, virtuous and virtuous, never fighting for favors, nor treating her mother's family differently like Queen Mother Shen.Although Song Yanche doesn't like his wife, he respects him a lot.After learning of the Queen's death, Song Yanche was only silent for a moment, and said, "Let Prince Duan and the Ministry of Rites handle the Queen's funeral together."

In Xu's mansion, the steward was instructing his servants to hang white cloths on the beams. Mrs. Xie walked by wearing plain clothes, and said worriedly: "Things are really one after another. Previously, it was Mrs. Zhang, and now it is Empress Daxing. His white cloth has been hung up for the past few months, and An Ning's marriage has to be postponed."

Zhaohua comforted her: "Now our young master is very useful in the previous court. The third lady's health is getting better every day. Madam, are you afraid that no good people will come to propose marriage?"

Mrs. Xie nodded, "I hope so——is the young master back?"

"Not yet, the Ministry of War has a lot of things to do recently, Xing Nong said that the young master only returns after midnight every day."

The last time Mrs. Xie saw her son was three days ago.Xu Xilu is busy with official duties, leaving early and returning late every day, and he has lost a lot of weight.Thinking of this, Mrs. Xie warned: "You let the kitchen stew some bird's nest ginseng soup every night, put it on the fire and let him drink some when the young master comes back."

The king of Beiliang sent his troops to the south this time, which was different from the small disturbances in the past. It seemed that he had the determination to win, and he captured several cities in the northern border like a bamboo.For several days in the early court, Prince Duan was discussing this matter with his ministers.

Military officers are always full of enthusiasm, eager to go to the battlefield immediately to have a good time, General Zhenyuan has played several times, and took the initiative to invite Ying to go north; while the new household minister Yao Min and other civil officials think that this matter needs to be discussed in the long term. "After autumn, it is winter. At this time, the northern border is already a world of ice and snow, let alone Beiliang in the north. In the past, at this time every year, the army from Beiliang would come to harass me towards the border and snatch the cotton-padded clothes for the winter. And food, although the battle is bigger this year, the nature will not change, so I won't make such a big move." Yao Min said, "What's more, Queen Daxing passed away, and a lot of money has been spent on her funeral. If we really want to fight, don’t worry about laboring the people, I’m afraid the money in the treasury can’t be spent..."

Yu Rongbei refused to accept, "Could it be possible that we just watched the people in the northern border being bullied by the northern barbarians and did nothing?"

Yao Min said calmly, "I just said that Beiliang's plans are nothing more than food and clothing. As long as we are willing to donate some, the king of Beiliang will definitely come to negotiate peace."

Xu Xilu secretly thought that it was a good thing that the Minister of the Household Department cared about money, but some money cannot be saved no matter what.Instead of giving the silver to Beiliang, it might as well be used for the Northern Expedition.He collected himself and was about to start his first speech in the morning court in months when Xie Qingsu, who was standing in front, came out.He first bowed to Song Yanqing, and said to Yao Min: "Master Yao wants to spend money and eliminate disasters this year, what about next year, and the year after?" "There are many spies in Beiliang in our dynasty. I'm afraid they already know that the Holy Majesty is ill, and the news of the former queen's death may have already been known to them."

Xu Xilu said: "Beiliang sent troops south at this time, I'm afraid it's not as simple as just wanting to rob."

Xie Qingsu glanced at Xu Xilu and nodded to him.

Song Yanqing was dressed in filial piety, with his back to the courtiers, standing with hands behind his back. He listened to what the courtiers said, but didn't respond much.Only Xu Xilu moved slightly after speaking, and said, "Master Yao."

Yao Min walked out of the queue, "The minister is here."

"As for the money, you go and handle it."

Yao Min was stunned for a while, "My lord?"

Song Yanqing turned around and looked at him with a half-smile, "I believe that you will find a way."

Yao Min didn't dare to disobey his order, so he could only say: "My minister obeys the order."

Song Yanqing decided to make the Northern Expedition, and the Ministry of War was busier than before.Xu Xilu was the servant of the Ministry of War, in charge of food, grass and weapons, and devoted himself to military affairs. He used to be able to go back to his home to sleep, but now he didn't even have time to eat, let alone sleep.The two servants of the Ministry of War and Shang Shu have been staying in the Hall of Qinzheng, discussing the Northern Expedition with General Zhenyuan, the Captain of the Governor and others.The soldiers and horses did not move, but the food and grass went first.Xu Xilu first checked the amount of grain and grass needed for the Northern Expedition, and then preliminarily determined the route for transporting grain and grass.

Zhu Neiguan led a few eunuchs in and said with a smile: "My lords have worked hard, the lord ordered this old slave to bring some food to pad the adults' stomachs."

Minister of the Ministry of War hurriedly said: "Thank you, my lord."

Yu Rongbei, whose stomach was already growling and protesting, was touched and said, "The little prince is still thinking about us."

At this time, it has been five or six hours since they ate last time. Since they were still in the filial period of the former empress, the eunuchs brought some vegetarian dishes and worries, but for them who were already hungry, they were simply delicacies from mountains and seas. .

The little eunuch took them out and put them away one by one. Everyone put down their official duties and surrounded them one after another. Only Xu Xilu was still sitting in front of the case, thinking about the map of the northern border.Neiguan Zhu stepped forward and asked him, "Why doesn't Master Xiao Xu eat?"

Xu Xilu smiled, "I'm not hungry." He was already too hungry, but he didn't have any appetite.

"Use some if you're not hungry," Neiguan Zhu kindly advised, "otherwise you'll starve to death." Prince Duan, don't feel sorry for him.

"Then I'll use it later." After Xu Xilu finished speaking, his eyes returned to the map. Zhu Neiguan sighed and said no more.

In the main hall of Qinzheng Palace, Song Yanqing frowned tightly after hearing the report from Neiguan Zhu, "He won't eat? How could he not eat?" When I saw him in the morning court these days, he was so thin that his chin pointed out. Yes, the waist seems to be a lot thinner, which really makes people feel distressed.

Zhu Neiguan truthfully reported: "Master Xiao Xu said, I will eat it later."

Song Yanqing waved his hand, "Then you go and watch him, and tell me when he eats."

The ministers in the side hall used some things, regained some energy, and continued to work.Right now, many places in the northern border are blocked by heavy snow, and the transportation route of grain and grass must take this into consideration.Xu Xilu directly crumpled up the results of a hard day's labor and threw them away, "Then let's start over."

Song Yanqing, who was in the main hall, was a little absent-minded. Every half an hour, he would call for Neiguan Zhu and ask Xu Xilu if he had eaten.In the end, Officer Zhu felt a little helpless, "My lord, General Yu and the others are discussing matters, this old slave is watching, Mr. Xu may not have time to eat for a while."

Song Yanqing was so angry with Xu Xilu that she couldn't help it.While talking, the imperial dining room also brought him today's dinner, five dishes, one soup, and some snacks.Song Yanqing glanced at it, but felt that he had no appetite, and said simply: "You bring Xu Xilu to this king."

The last time Song Yanche directly asked him for someone, he didn't agree or disagree.Later, Song Yanche fell into a coma one after another for a period of time. Recently, he seldom was awake and mostly comatose. The two tacitly did not bring up this matter again.But every time Song Yanqing sees his elder brother who is physically and mentally ill, he always feels inexplicably guilty in his heart.He felt that he had reached a gentleman's agreement with the emperor's brother in silence. He could not give Xu Xilu to others, nor could he grab him and tie him to him—he could not let the emperor see anything he didn't want to see. thing.He endured it for so long and was so tired, but in the end it was just because his sweetheart didn't want to eat well, so he was about to fail.Thinking of this, he forced himself to build up his mind, but it was nothing more than rewarding him with a meal. At worst, being indifferent to him, or simply not looking him in the eye, would not be considered a breach of contract.

But the moment he saw Xu Xilu, the truth that he had honed in his heart became nonsense in an instant.He saw Xu Xilu bowing his head to him in salute, his eyelashes drooping quietly and obediently, covering his dark and bright eyes.

"Free, free."

Hearing these words, Xu Xilu raised his head - they haven't spoken a word since that night, and even if they met in the palace, they turned their heads away.

Song Yanqing looked at him silently, and after a long time, the tip of his throat moved slightly, "Come here."

Xu Xilu hesitated for a moment, then walked up to Song Yanqing.Song Yanqing raised her hand, as if with strong entanglement and hesitation, she wanted to touch Xu Xilu's cheek, but when she was about to touch it, Xu Xilu took a step back, "What's your order?"

Song Yanqing was taken aback, as if waking up from a dream, the tenderness in his eyes gradually dissipated, and he raised his expressionless face in the early morning, "How did you discuss the delivery of grain and grass?"

Xu Xilu briefly talked about the general situation, and Song Yanqing kept staring at his lips, not paying attention to what he said at all.Xu Xilu also posted this point, deliberately made a few mistakes, and asked, "What do you think, my lord?"

"Well," Song Yanqing said solemnly, "Just do as you say."

Xu Xilu was a little helpless, "If the prince has nothing else to do, I will retire first."

"Wait," Song Yanqing called to stop him, "You accompany the king to finish your meal before leaving." He sat down on his own, picked up his chopsticks, and saw Xu Xilu looking at him with an inscrutable expression on his face , suddenly felt a little guilty, and made up a random reason, "This king is not used to eating alone."

Xu Xilu raised his eyebrows, "I'm eating with the prince now, am I going to serve the emperor tomorrow?"

Song Yanqing's face sank, "What did you say?"

"Don't you think so?" Xu Xilu thought of Song Yanqing's deliberate estrangement and indifference to him these days, and even until some words came out to punish him, he couldn't help but said meanly: "I won't go to the emperor. , so I can’t stay in front of the prince, it’s only fair, isn’t it? Then today I’m with the prince, to be fair, I should also accompany the emperor, right?”

Song Yanqing put down the chopsticks with a snap, her eyes were red, she gritted her teeth and said, "Xu Xilu, do you have to take revenge on me like this?"

Xu Xilu chuckled, "I don't dare." Song Yanqing couldn't bear his cold appearance, and his veins burst out of anxiety, "Do you think I want this! He is my own brother, what can I do?" A solution! If it wasn't for you, I would have given up a long time ago!"

Xu Xilu raised his eyebrows even higher, "For me? The prince did this just to make himself feel better."

It was the first time that Song Yanqing discovered that this person was normally personable, but once his mouth became poisonous, he felt ashamed.His chest rose and fell violently, and he didn't want to care about anything else, he stretched out his hand and grasped the waist of the person in front of him, leaned down, blocked the only sharp weapon in his body, and held his lips almost fiercely.

Forced to bear his kiss, Xu Xilu tried to struggle, but found that his waist was being hugged even tighter, so he simply closed his eyes and responded to Song Yanqing.

The few times the two of them had had intimacy, they were more or less reluctant. This was the first time Song Yanqing received Xu Xilu's response, and unexpectedly found that Xu Xilu was not as unkind as he thought. Song Yanqing's tongue is as nimble as a dragon, wrapping around his own, and sucking lightly or hard. Compared with him, Song Yanqing's kissing skills are just like a child's play.

After all, it was at the young age, Song Yanqing was teased by Xu Xilu, her whole body was extremely hot, and her handsome face was also stained with a layer of blush.On the other hand, Xu Xilu put his arms around Song Yanqing's neck, his heartbeat was steady and he was able to do anything with ease. When the two separated, he bit his lip and said with a smile, "Is the prince kissing enough?"

Thinking that Xu Xilu might have learned these ways of romance from others, Song Yanqing couldn't help but feel sad, but he didn't want to dwell on the past, so he said with a stinky face, "Eat."

Xu Xilu nodded, "Yes, after eating, I will go to accompany the emperor after eating."

Song Yanqing really had nothing to do with Xu Xilu, so he said helplessly, "You are enough."

Everything should be done in moderation, and Xu Xilu didn't want to push Song Yanqing into a hurry, "It seems that the prince is going to give me to someone else?"

Song Yanqing held his hand and gave a small "hmm".

Xu Xilu sighed, leaned forward and kissed the corner of Song Yanqing's mouth, "Yanqing, there are so many things to ask for in this world, that's why, once you get it, don't let it go easily, okay?"

Song Yanqing hugged Xu Xilu tightly, as if she was afraid that he would run away, the strength of her arms almost suffocated Xu Xilu.Xu Xilu immediately hugged him too, with even greater strength.

After the two talked, Song Yanqing's heart knot was resolved, and naturally he didn't need to hide it anymore. He pressed Xu Xilu in front of the table and ordered: "Eat quickly."

Although Xu Xilu doesn't feel hungry, it's hard to please his little boyfriend's kindness now, "My lord will eat with me." His tone was the same as usual, but to Song Yanqing's ears, it sounded like he was acting like a baby. With a light cough, he said, "I really can't do anything about you."

When the two were eating, they mentioned the war in the northern border. They had seen Gu Chengguang's ability before, but they didn't expect that even he was forced to retreat to Cangzhou. It seems that the King of Beiliang really didn't just come to fight the tooth festival this time.

"I don't know if Princess Huiyang is okay?" Xu Xilu asked.

Song Yanqing said: "I heard that the king of Bei'an had no time to take care of his wife, and wanted to send Huiyang back to Beijing, but Huiyang refused."

"Princess Huiyang is very brave. She definitely wants to be by your husband's side." Xu Xilu glanced at Song Yanqing and said with a smile, "It's just like I want to be with the prince all the time."

Song Yanqing was a little dizzy from Xu Xilu's sudden enthusiasm, and said with a blushing face, "Why are you..." It seemed like a different person.

"What's wrong with me?"

Song Yanqing shook his head, he likes the current Xu Xilu very much, just looking at his bright smile, he can forget all the troubles.He used to think that Zhou Youwang's Fenghuo drama was ridiculous, but now that he thought about it, if he could see Xu Xilu's smiling face every day, maybe he would do some unimaginable things.

Beauty is a disaster...

Fortunately, this troublemaker was very conscious, and he took the initiative to leave after eating. Song Yanqing also knew that the war in the northern border should not be delayed, so he forced him to drink another bowl of soup before letting him go.

The soldiers were extremely fast, and in mid-September, the first batch of reinforcements led by Yu Rongbei rushed to the northern border.At this time, Gu Chengguang had been trapped in Cangzhou City for a whole month.The Beiliang army rushed down to the city, and they couldn't get out. Seeing that the food and grass in the city were getting less and less, they were about to fall into a situation of food shortage. The arrival of Yu Rongbei relieved their urgent need. From that day on, Reinforcements from all over the country arrived one after another, and a hundred thousand troops assembled, completely turning the tide of the war.

The good news spread frequently, and Song Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief for the time being, but winter was about to begin. Except for the generals under King Bei'an, a large part of the reinforcements had never seen the severe cold in the northern border, let alone killed the enemy in the snow on the battlefield.The people in Beiliang expected this, hibernated quietly, and waited patiently for the arrival of winter.

By the end of the year, the weather was getting colder and colder, and the war in the northern border was at a critical juncture.The [-]-day filial piety period for the former empress has passed, and all the houses and courtyards have taken off the white cloth, but the emperor's health is getting worse and worse. Last time, he fell asleep for three days before waking up. The first thing he did after waking up was , that is, a secret decree was proclaimed, and then King Ning's little grandson, Song Yunrong, was secretly taken into the palace and raised by Queen Mother Shen herself.

In the past six months, watching Song Yanche weaken little by little, Queen Mother Shen only wanted her son to be well, and couldn't wait any longer.Knowing what the emperor meant, she couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, although King Ning is the elder brother of the late Emperor, his grandson is separated from us. Even if Qing'er is unwilling, there are still Qing'er's children. Wait a few more years..."

"He...wouldn't have it." Song Yanche had difficulty even speaking, and Empress Dowager Shen burst into tears when she saw it, unable to make any more sense, so she could only let him go.

All the ministers kept secret about the current illness, but they all knew that the emperor was running out of fuel and the time was running out, and they might not survive the Chinese New Year.The concubines and concubines in the harem took turns guarding the meditation hall. The frontline battle was tense, and there was a famine in Sichuan. Song Yanqing was really at a loss, but no matter how late he was busy, he would come to the bedside and sit quietly with Song Yanche for a while.

It snowed for several days in a row, and on this day, the snow finally stopped.Song Yanche woke up in the morning, surprisingly refreshed, and took the initiative to drink a bowl of red rice porridge.When Song Yanqing heard the news, she rushed over excitedly, fed him the medicine herself, and talked to him for a long time. When mentioning the war in the northern border, she deliberately concealed the bad parts.

Song Yanche listened quietly, and reminded him: "The king of Bei'an is not surnamed Song after all, you have to be careful."

Song Yanqing said: "Gu Chengguang has always been very responsible, and he has never healed the rules of guarding the northern border. Now the northern border cannot be separated from him, but don't worry, brother emperor, I know this matter well." He held Song Yanche's hand, like Complained: "I've been exhausted for a while now, Brother Huang must get better soon."

Song Yanche patted his hand with a smile, "There are a lot of things to do in the past, so go get busy."

Song Yanqing nodded her head lightly, and said in a brisk tone, "Then I'll come and see Brother Huang later."

After Song Yanqing left, Song Yanche sat on the head of the bed, looked out the window at the branches bent by the snow, and suddenly said: "Jinzhong, today I want to wear the clothes I wore when I left the palace on the Moon Festival last year."

Liu Jinzhong's confidence sank, and he had a vague sense of foreboding. He didn't dare to think too much, and immediately ordered the maid to find the bright yellow clothes.Song Yanche put on the clothes with the help of the maid, but he had lost too much weight and the clothes didn't fit him anymore.

"You... go and ask Mr. Xu to come here," Song Yanche said, "Don't disturb Qing'er, just say, I have something to tell him."

Liu Jinzhong suppressed his choked sobs, "Slave...slave is going right now."

When Xu Xilu saw Song Yanche, he was sitting at the entrance of the Meditation Hall with his eyes closed, as if he had fallen asleep.The warm winter sun danced on his face, covering his gentle profile with a layer of fine waves of light.

Xu Xilu walked up to him gently, not wanting to disturb him, but he seemed to have sensed something, and slowly opened his eyes.

Song Yanche's bones were broken, his cheeks were thin, and he had only one pair of eyes, just like when they first met, with autumn water in their mouths, seeming to have infinite tenderness.When he saw Xu Xilu, he felt that the other person's expression was very sad, and he couldn't help being a little funny—this person, how could he be so sad for him?

"Your Majesty." Xu Xilu called softly.

"I have something that I want to return to you." Song Yanche glanced behind him, Liu Jinzhong stepped forward and handed Xu Xilu a brocade box.

Xu Xilu opened the brocade box, his eyes widened in astonishment, "This is..." Xu Anning's jade hairpin?

"In this way, it can be regarded as returning to the original owner." Song Yanche smiled lightly, "That day, when I first met you in Xunjiang, I thought it was golden wind and jade dew, but I didn't expect..."

Xu Xilu held Yuchai tightly, even though he had never been moved by Song Yanche, he couldn't help being moved by it at this moment.

Song Yanche closed his eyes, and continued: "I know that the time is not long, and I still want to provoke you. After knowing that Qing'er likes you, I want to get you even more. It seems like this, I can win him once."

Xu Xilu said: "Your Majesty, my lord has never thought of being compared with you."

Song Yanche looked at him, his eyes full of nostalgia and unwillingness, only reflecting him, "I thought earlier, even if I die, I will let you go to Huangquan Road to accompany me first..."

A chill climbed up Xu Xilu's back, but before he could say anything, Song Yanche smiled softly again, "But you are Qing'er's beloved, and also mine..." He paused, no After saying the rest, he only said: "After all, I still don't want to part with it."