The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 289 Such good news from Changan beyond the Great Wall

It was still sunset, and there were still people coming and going on the streets. Liuli's eyes fell on the streets shrouded in twilight, and she slowed down unknowingly.

The road in front of us is flat and wide, and the houses on both sides have white walls and black tiles. Most of the men wearing turbans and round-collared robes walk calmly, but there are many women wearing short jackets and long skirts who appear to move briskly. Those with rich colors under their cloaks. Pomegranate skirts or green gauze skirts swayed in the wind, forming a landscape. Occasionally, two jokes and whispers came to my ears, which were standard Heluo Mandarin... If it weren't for the two rows of bare trees on the roadside, they would be shorter after all. All of this can almost overlap with the Chang'an in her memory.

A worried voice came from beside her, "Madam? Madam, what's wrong with you?" Then a pair of hands came up to help her.

Liuli came back to her senses, smiled and turned to look at Xiaomi, who was staring at her face with a worried face, and then at her waist and abdomen where nothing could be seen yet. Liuli couldn't help but laugh. He stood up and said, "Do you want to go and see what Chang'an is like?"

Xiaomi was startled for a moment, then smiled with a twinkling, "Of course I want to see it! I heard that Chang'an is the most prosperous and bustling place in the world. The trees along the road are so precious that they are wrapped in silk!"

Liuli couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Who did you listen to? There are some ordinary locust trees along the road in Chang'an, but they are taller and neater. But in spring, when the locust flowers are in full bloom, the city is really filled with fragrance... The silk-wrapped tree you mentioned, It was an old story many years ago. It was just a joke to show off wealth. It is not worth mentioning!" She had heard of this matter. In the early years, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty made people laugh in order to show off the celestial power in front of foreign envoys. The silk cloth was wrapped around the locust tree on the roadside, but the foreigners were not fooled. They were surprised when they saw it, but they only asked the emperor, why do some people in your country have no clothes to protect them from the cold, but they can wrap the tree with cloth? It made an international joke, but unexpectedly it was used as a show off by future generations.

Xiaomi stuck out her tongue in embarrassment, "Anyway, it's better than here, isn't it? My servant heard that people from Chang'an only complained about the wind, frost, bitter cold, and the remoteness here, and they also talked about how Chang'an is so popular and rich," she said. A look of yearning could not help but appear on his face.

Liuli thought for a moment and shook her head sadly, "Do you believe their nonsense? In terms of luxury and prosperity, Chang'an is probably the best in the world, whether it is Tingzhou or Xizhou, I'm afraid they are not even as high as one hundred in terms of population and location, but There is a lot of wealth and a lot of right and wrong. If I could choose, I would rather never go back." Just at the beginning of this year, news came from Chang'an that Shangguan Yi and his son were beheaded for treason, and their family members were exiled to Yeting and executed at the same time. , and there was actually Wang Fusheng. When the news came, although Pei Xingjian didn't say much, he remained silent for a long time. She was even more depressed. After a few days of depression, she couldn't help but go to the temple and donate some merit, which made her feel better. Now that I think about it, it may not be the dead who can find liberation in front of the Buddha, but the helpless living...

 Xiaomi nodded as if she understood, then paused for a moment and suddenly asked in surprise, "Could it be that Alang is going back to Chang'an?"

Liuli smiled and said, "That's not the case. I just feel that the streets and alleys in Tingzhou look more and more like Chang'an." She really wants to live in Xijiang forever, but unfortunately, they will go back sooner or later...

Xiaomi looked around with a smile, "My maid also heard that Tingzhou City today is Little Chang'an outside Yumen Pass!"

 Little Chang'an? Liuli shook his head and smiled, but remained silent. It took two years for the city in front of me to become what it is today. Pei Xingjian, the deputy governor of Jinshan, the first thing he did when he took office was to repair the city. In addition to reinforcing the rammed outer city wall, he built a solid sheep and horse city in the north of the city and dug trenches along the outside of the city. Water was diverted and a large-scale moat was built. If it weren't for the towering snow-covered Tianshan Mountains in the background, and the thousands of miles of green meadows with windswept grass all around, this city, surrounded by water and with regular walls and buildings, would look almost the same as an important city in the Central Plains at first glance. . The hundreds of new households who were demoted and border residents from Chang'an, Shazhou and other places in the past two years have made almost everyone in Tingzhou City wear Central Plains clothes. Chang'an Mandarin can be heard everywhere, and Liuli often talks about it while walking. In a daze, I felt like I was back on the road from my uncle's house to the West Market.

Xiaomi was still nagging in shock, "It's better to go back to Chang'an. My wife's body can't even go to Xizhou now, how can she withstand such a bumpy situation!" The arm holding Liuli couldn't help but tighten even more.

Liuli was immediately confused about whether to laugh or cry. She couldn't help but take a look at the courtyard with a tall gatehouse and neat walls not far away. It was the Qu Mansion built behind the Imperial Palace. It's just that the front door is deserted and the stone steps are covered in dust. Qu Zhizhan, the nominal Protector of Jinshan, has never set foot in this city, let alone stayed here. His serious illness never recovered, and he was not suitable for traveling far. After autumn this year, he became bedridden. A few days ago, Qu Chongyu sent someone to deliver an urgent letter, and Pei Xingjian left overnight. She was a little worried. Yi also wanted to follow, but was flatly rejected by Pei Xingjian without hesitation. I don’t know what the situation is like over there now...

 A few steps further, he turned into an inconspicuous alley. At the end of the alley was Liuli's current home. A three-entry courtyard with a small garden comfortably accommodates dozens of people from the Pei family. As soon as they arrived at the door, the concierge greeted her with a smile, "My wife is back, Alang has already asked me twice!"

Pei Xingjian is back? Then Lord Protector of Koji... Liuli hurriedly quickened her pace and walked inside. Xiaomi picked up her skirt and caught up, "Madam, walk slower!"

Liuli was a little anxious. Although her feet slowed down, she still didn't slow down completely. Just as she turned a corner, a figure flashed in front of her, and a pair of hands put her shoulders on her shoulders. "Why are you walking in such a hurry again? Be careful." "

Xiaomi was startled, and blurted out, "Alang," and hurriedly knelt down. He looked at Liuli with a look that said, "Madam, please wish yourself well," and quickly slipped away.

Liuli raised her head and met Pei Xingjian's frown, her nervous eyes, and she suddenly felt guilty. She smiled and said, "Just now, the concierge said you asked me twice, but what's the matter? Is Lord Commander Qu okay?"

Pei Xingjian's eyes darkened slightly, "On the second day after I arrived in Xizhou, Quduhu left, and he left very peacefully. Both Yulang and Mrs. Zhi were well prepared, and they arranged their funeral affairs quite calmly and decently." Although she had expected it, Liuli couldn't help but be stunned. In the past two years, she had only returned to Xizhou once half a year ago. Qu Zhizhan had already lost weight at that time. After a long illness, this was indeed a kind of Relieved, she just remembered the round, smiling middle-aged man at the foot of Xizhou City. She still felt unspeakable discomfort in her heart. She was stunned for a long time before saying, "Then Qu Yulang... wants to go back to Chang'an?"

Pei Xingjian nodded, gathered Liuli into his cloak, held her in his arms and walked back slowly, saying, "After Qiqi is over, Qu Yulang will carry the coffin back to his hometown and bury the guardian in Jincheng." Qu's ancestral tomb, according to the system of Jisi Prefecture in our dynasty, the position of Protector was originally succeeded by the son after the death of the father. However, Jinshan is different from Kunling, Hanhai and other places. Yulang will probably not return to Western Xinjiang after his filial piety period. I think Yun Niang has already made preparations. She only said that she would give him a ride before returning to the headquarters. She also said that she would come to see you when she returns and ask you to take good care of yourself. "

Liuli couldn't help but remain speechless. This matter had probably been decided when Yun Yi and Qu Chongyu were together. Although she had never approved of this matter, she couldn't be happy when she thought of Yun Yi's mood at the moment.

Pei Xingjian glanced at her and changed the subject, "I originally wanted to stay in Xizhou for a few more days and come back after I had made my debut, but I just received a message from Pegasus that the imperial court had appointed me, so I had no choice but to come back quickly... "

Liuli blurted out, "But you are asked to be the Anxi Protector-General of Nao Shizi?"

Pei Xingjian was startled, "How do you know?"

Liuli could only smile, "I guess no one else would dare to accept this appointment." She vaguely remembered that Pei Xingjian became the Protector of Anxi, but she didn't remember the time. It seems that the position of the Great Protector of Anxi was also evil. Three people were replaced in three years, and all of them died unexpectedly. Needless to say, Su Haizheng, the Gao Xian who succeeded Su Haizheng, that winter because of the Gong Yue tribe, Tibet invaded Khotan. He also used the strategy of besieging Wei and rescuing Zhao and led his troops to attack the base of the Gongyue tribe. However, he was hit by a stray arrow in front of the battle, and he disappeared in the following spring. Finally, the imperial court sent another official named Pi Lou Shiche, but he fell from his horse and died while hunting this autumn! In such an evil position, someone other than Pei Xingjian would probably be unable to control him.

Pei Xingjian couldn't help but laugh, "That's right." There was a bit of mockery in his eyes. He, a criminal who was sent to the Western Xinjiang, had skipped four levels in two years. If the previous time was considered to be Gaozong's failure to The compensation given for dealing with Su Haizheng, this time, is probably sending a clear signal. It seems that the conflict between the emperor and the empress in Chang'an has not really been resolved with the death of Shangguan Yi, but is instead undercurrent...

Liuli couldn't help but feel a sudden surprise when she saw his expression. She stretched out her hand and held his hand, "Keep your promise, what's wrong with this appointment?"

Pei Xingjian felt a little chilled in his heart, but his smile became gentler, "Speaking of which, although the Great Protector of Anxi has the title of second grade, he actually does not do much in the court, and it is just a title. It's probably like me. The name of Tiansha Lone Star is really loud, and people still remember it now. "

 The Lonely Star of Heavenly Evil? Liuli couldn't help but paused, "What are you talking nonsense about?"

Pei Xingjian turned to look at Liuli, with an indescribably complicated look in his eyes, "Then why don't you be more careful? You are always so irritable, and you dare to walk so fast in such a snowy and slippery season. What should I do if something goes wrong?”

Liuli looked at the ground. Where was the ice and snow? Since Han Si was diagnosed with Ximai pulse last month, Pei Xingjian's eyes have always looked at him as complicated and unspeakable as he did now. He doesn't have much joy. Instead, it seems as if he has suddenly transformed into a precious porcelain that will break into pieces if he is not careful. land. He was usually easy-going, but when he got nervous, everyone in the whole family became nervous along with him. The yard was always swept eight times a day, and he just had to sprinkle a layer of loess to prevent slipping. What a strange thing.

 Is this the case for all people who have children in old age? Liuli secretly cursed in her heart, thinking that she would probably have to move again, and she was a little worried. Suddenly she remembered something and raised her head seriously, "Keep our promise, if we can get a boy this time, I want to give him a name..."

Pei Xingjian was obviously startled, and his eyes suddenly became wary when he looked at her.

Hey, guess, why Pei Xingjian is so vigilant... There will be another update tomorrow. I will try to get more code points.

 (End of this chapter)