Return of the Swallow

Hearing the sound, Pang Xiao opened the car door and asked with a smile: "This father-in-law should be someone who serves the emperor, right?"

He had many opportunities to go in and out of the palace, but the only people he could notice were the people around Li Qitian. He didn't know much about Qiu Min, but he looked familiar.

"Lord Lao, remember, this is the slave." Qiu Min saluted with a smile on his face. Regardless of whether Pang Xiao recognized him or not, just knowing that he was someone close to the emperor was enough of a compliment.

Pang Xiao then smiled and said, "The Holy One sent Master Ma here?"

"Yes." Qiu Min walked forward with a smile and said respectfully, "The Holy Father said that the weather is fine and the construction of the imperial mausoleum will continue. The matter of escorting the Tatar Khan will be left to Mr. Ma to handle it. In this way, the prince With Uncle Zhongyi, we can focus on building the imperial mausoleum without any distractions."

Pang Xiao looked towards the capital with a moved expression and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration."

The queen on the other carriage also raised the curtain, "Does your Majesty have any instructions for me?"

Qiu Min hurriedly turned around and saluted the queen, "Your Majesty, Jin An. The Holy One has ordered the servants to serve the Queen, and asks the Queen to follow Lord Ma and the Tatar Khan back to the capital."

When the queen heard this, she only smiled and nodded, but her heart felt like needles pricking her.

She had to go back after the Holy One made the decree, but she couldn't bear to leave this place, couldn't bear the freedom of Xian Yun Yehe, and couldn't bear to leave Pang Xiao. No matter how well she hides her thoughts, it would still be good if she could spend more time with Pang Xiao.

But now, what else can she do besides thanking her?

"I understand. I will definitely act according to the Holy Emperor's instructions." After saying this, the queen lowered the curtain of the car.

That's all, that's all, there are some things she can never do, and there are some people she can never get. Since there is no hope, why bother herself?

Pang Xiao then ordered his men to welcome Qiu Min into the team, and they rushed back to Huichuan County together.

When Lu Heng saw Pang Xiao escorting the queen back, he naturally wanted to welcome him with his family. He held a banquet in another courtyard that day. The queen said: "I will do my best to do what the emperor has ordered. I will leave for the capital tomorrow. I don't know Prince Zhongshun." How do you agree with Zhongyi Boyi?"

Pang Xiao and Lu Heng both shook their heads and smiled to express their obedience to the Queen's instructions.

Ma Shilang smiled and said: "The Empress Dowager is approaching the end of the century. Your Majesty means to ask the empress to preside over the harem. It is best to go back as soon as possible."

The queen nodded obediently.

After the banquet, Ma Shilang went to the posthouse in person to inform the Tatar party that they would set off tomorrow.

Everyone was busy that night, and no one could sleep well.

The next morning, Qin Yining got up early to dress up, had a hasty breakfast with Pang Xiao, and then hurried to the city gate to see off the Queen and Si Qin and their entourage.

The Tatar tribute team was lined up outside the city, and Siqin and Ketun had already boarded the carriage.

The queen also got on the carriage, and sat in it with a dignified expression, while the concubine Zhuang got on the carriage behind.

Qin Yining and Bian Ruohan stepped forward to salute respectfully, one on the left and the other on the right.

"My wife, I send you my concubine."

The queen lowered her eyes and looked at Qin Yining and Bian Ruohan under the carriage.

Qin Yining looked calm and calm, but Bian Ruohan looked patient, as if someone owed her something.

The queen's mind changed and she realized that Bian Ruohan still remembered what happened in the past.

At that time, she could confidently keep Qin Yining by her side and accuse Lu Heng of how unbearable his behavior was as a bystander.

But now after passing through the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, she had other thoughts, and her mentality naturally changed. She understands what is right and what is wrong, but she also understands how difficult things like feelings can be to control. She still wanted to stick to her identity and rules, but she understood what happened between Lu Heng and Qin Yining.

Maybe Lu Heng has feelings for Qin Yining, but Qin Yining only really loves Pang Xiao.

Or maybe Qin Yining and Lu Heng have already known each other. But all this is a private matter between them, and it is their mutual consent. She is just an outsider, so what reason does she have to interfere? Even if she is a queen, she will still do things for herself like this. Who can handle the housework clearly?

The queen just pretended not to see Bian Ruohan's sad and angry face, and turned to tell Zhuang Bin, "Maybe Mrs. Zhongyi is reluctant to let you be her sister. Why don't I ask the team to wait for a while to give you time to meet Uncle Zhongyi?" Madam, do you want to say goodbye?"

Ever since the last time she realized that she had angered the queen, Zhuang Bin had been acting cautiously and not daring to make the slightest mistake. Now that the queen was urging her to do so, she really could no longer be as confident and confident as before. She hurriedly and respectfully said: "The queen, my dear." Concubine is very grateful for your love. However, if the auspicious time of returning to Beijing is delayed due to the matter between me and my cousin, I will be really uneasy, so I have to obey my mother's orders in everything."

Zhuang Bin said this, which meant that she had a relationship with Bian Ruohan.

Bian Ruohan originally had a glimmer of hope. The queen gave Zhuang Concubine the right to speak, and Zhuang Concubine was able to stand up on the spot and accuse Qin Yining of being wantonly.

But now, Zhuang Concubine didn't think about her at all, and told her with a cold smile, "Behave yourself."

She was immediately stunned.

Keep to yourself? Does this mean that she must put up with this matter completely?

Can she no longer rely on the clan to put pressure on Qin Yining and demand severe punishment?

Could it be that she was bullied and she could only endure it?

The wind messed up everyone's hair. Bian Ruohan looked dull and shocked, and her temples were messed up even more.

Grandma Sun and Master Ma communicated for a while, and the carriages and horses of the Queen and her entourage had already started to set off. Behind them was a long line of Tatars attacking, while Master Ma kept sitting on his horse talking to the queen.

Seeing that the Queen's team started off smoothly, Lu Heng saw this and pulled Bian Ruohan back, not letting her talk nonsense anymore.

Although Huichuan County is a large county with developed commerce, there are not many local people. But at this time, not many people gathered around. They already knew that the rain in Huichuan County had stopped precisely because the queen of the dynasty specially fasted and chanted Buddha's name to pray for them.

For such a kind mother of a country, the people all admired her. At this time, they all knelt down and said loudly, "My queen is a thousand years old and in good health."

When the queen heard the cry, she opened the window screen and looked back. At the city gate, many people were kneeling on their knees and shouting "A Thousand Years Old Queen!"

Such a scene would make even a hard-hearted person moved, let alone a woman with a soft heart like the Queen?

She is the queen and the emperor. Her words and deeds represent the royal family and her upbringing.

At this moment, in the farewell sounds of the people, the queen strengthened her bottom line in her heart. She was reluctant to leave this place because she couldn't bear to spend time with Pang Xiao, but they would definitely not have a good outcome. She should do it now Be more sensible, keep some things in your heart and they will be wonderful for the rest of your life. There is no need to rush for this moment.

The Queen, Si Qin and his party were escorted by Ma Shilang to leave Huichuan County.

It wasn't until the figure was no longer visible that the people discussed each other and went home.

Pang Xiao took Qin Yining's hand back to the carriage and ordered people to set off back to the house.

Lu Heng was too lazy to act like he was getting along well with Pang Xiao and his colleagues. He also ordered the servants in the mansion: "Help Madam get into the car and take her back to the mansion so that she can be well served."

Bian Ruohan's confinement has not yet been lifted, so being able to leave this time is the result of her hard work. She wanted to make a scene in front of the queen with her hands on her hips, but it was obvious that she had lost this opportunity.

Bian Ruohan was dying and didn't bother to argue with Lu Heng anymore, so he went home quietly.

At the palace, Qin Yining and Pang Xiao invited Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue to talk in the flower hall in the backyard.

Pang Xiao got straight to the point and said: "The Holy Lord's intention is that now that the rain has stopped, we must start building the imperial mausoleum. I am the supervisor, and I will be responsible for the success or failure of this matter in the future, so since The rain in Huichuan County has stopped, so we really have to start working on it.”

"That's what the prince said." Qin Yining narrowed his eyes and said, "Your Majesty must be anxious now, otherwise he wouldn't have kept Uncle Zhongyi. Didn't Uncle Zhongyi want Shangshu to thoroughly check the stones? We wouldn't be good when he checked the stones. It’s time to take action. It would be bad if it disrupts his progress.”

"Indeed. But this is just the first problem at the moment." Pang Xiao said with a smile.

Qin Yining raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Why, is there anything else I don't know about?"

"This is exactly what I want to say today." Pang Xiao went to the table and fetched a booklet.

"This is a record of the construction of imperial tombs one after another in the past few years."

Qin Yining took it and looked through it briefly, and realized that it recorded some things that happened when the people built the imperial mausoleum, such as how much silver they spent and how much food they ate, and what their reactions were at that time.

"Just judging from the booklet, the life of a common man should be much better than when he was at home. He can still have enough to eat when he comes to build the imperial mausoleum, but many people are reluctant to eat food in their hometown."

"Yes." Pang Xiao nodded, "But the weather has been clear for many days now. The civilians who Lu Heng and I set out to conquer when we left the capital have not arrived yet."

Qin Yining was stunned when he heard this.

Indeed, without the civilian workers arriving, the Holy Spirit's instructions to start construction as soon as possible could not be carried out. If the Holy Spirit blames you for delaying serious business, then it is really the fault of Pang Xiao.

After all, Pang Xiao was the governor-general responsible for building the imperial mausoleum, while Lu Heng was just the county magistrate. Although the county magistrate should cooperate with Pang Xiao, he does not need to bear the main responsibility. As for the previous magistrates who were unlucky, it was all because the supervisors could not get past the magistrates if they were greedy for money. The magistrates would be dragged into the water for various reasons.

"The civilian husband didn't arrive. Do you know the reason?" Xu Weizhi took the booklet from Qin Yining and looked through it.

Pang Xiao said: "This time, the local and surrounding counties have chosen to recruit civilian husbands. In addition to Huichuan County, the neighboring Danfu County is relatively wealthy and has more mature men. Forty people are selected from Danfu County, and the rest The people are from several other surrounding counties. Now these people seem to have made appointments, and no husband from any county has arrived."

Qin Yining said hesitantly: "This civilian matter is not a trivial matter. If they didn't come, they would be charged with defying the decree and disrespecting the decree. They all know the consequences of resisting the decree. Even so, they are unwilling to come. Among them, There must be something fishy."