Chapter 109: One hundred and nine

Fireworks across the city lit up the night sky and mirrored the map of Chu. Just like this relationship, no one has ever fallen behind by half a point.
They kissed quietly under the fireworks, feeling the brightness and tranquility of the moonlight falling on them. Every time I think about it later, Wei Lan feels that this is the warmest and brightest moment in her life.
She never thought that one day, there would be such a person standing beside her, walking hand in hand with her.
She has never been so grateful to come to this world for a moment, because only here can she meet this man named Xie Zichen.
At night, the two of them held hands and went back together. In order not to attract attention, they both put on masks. They walked under the bluestone slab shining in the moonlight, talking and laughing. On the way, I met the girl who Wei Lan gave the rabbit lamp. She and A teenager walked side by side, and the girl said: "I just asked the boss. The boss said that a big man told them to turn off the lights at that hour. They were notified from house to house. What is mind, this is mind! You and others study!"
"What are you studying..." The boy sighed, "I'm not a big shot, am I?"
The two of them passed by Wei Lan while talking. Wei Lan turned her gaze on the rabbit lamp. Xie Zichen noticed, but said: "You gave her the rabbit lamp, do you like her very much?"
"Why?" Wei Lan smiled: "In Daliang, Sister Rabbit is also a curse."
Xie Zichen: "..."
"I molested you in front of me, didn't trouble him, and just didn't care because she was a little girl. Do you really treat me as magnanimous?"
Wei Lan put her hands in her sleeves, she was wearing a woman's dress, but she was wearing a man's demeanor. Xie Zichen couldn't help saying: "I think you still seem to be more suitable for men's clothing."
Wei Lan was taken aback for a moment, and then smiled: "I'm used to it, but I can't change it for a while."
"You said you are not generous, if I take a concubine, what shall you do?"
Xie Zichen thought, but he asked such a question. Wei Lan turned her face and smiled a little bit coldly: "Of course I stopped you and killed her."
Xie Zichen: "..."
So ruthless.
"Why," Wei Lan raised her eyebrows: "Do you still want to take a concubine?"
"No." Xie Zichen said immediately, replying extremely quickly: "Absolutely not, I will just ask casually."
"There is no best," Wei Lan turned to look at Long Road, and said indifferently: "What if I accept the servant?"
Although I don't understand what Shijun means, Xie Zichen also knows that this must be an existence similar to a servant, so he decisively said: "Captive you and kill him."
"Oh?" Wei Lan rolled her eyes, but said: "Zichen didn't want to give me up?"
"Stop you, let you jump everywhere?" Xie Zichen smiled coldly: "I want to be beautiful!"
Wei Lan couldn't help laughing, stretched out her hand to hold him, and said softly: "Don't worry, there is a minister, how dare I?"
After the two of them finished the Chinese Valentine's Day, the next day, the story of Xie Zichen lighting up the city to please his wife spread all over the court. Su Bai heard about this, and found Xie Zichen and curiously said: "How did you do it?"
Xie Zichen smiled: "I did it with my heart."
While the two were playing around, the reform was carried out all the way. That winter, the Patriarch Xie passed away and the position of Patriarch was vacated. According to the past practice, it should be the main concubine directly on top, but now there is a Xie Zichen here, and no one dares to say that Xie Yulan sits as the head of the house.
But no one dared to tell Xie Zichen to be the head of the house, because Xie Zichen had no children.
There is no heir, but a man is married. Let such a person be the patriarch, this matter will be a joke in any family. So the Xie family avoided this topic, and no one had the courage to bring up the position of the head of the family.
Naturally, Wei Lan knew about this and brought Xie Zichen to discuss: "What do you think about the position of the Xie family?"
"No idea," Xie Zichen said indifferently: "I am not the head of the family, is there any impact now?"
The bloodline fetters are there, just like Xie Zichen can never be against the Xie family in his life, because the Xie family is his family. If he abandons his family before the Xie family does anything unusual, his reputation will be completely destroyed. Up.
This is an era in which both filial piety and integrity can join the officialdom. Family destiny and personal destiny are inseparable. The Xie family enjoys power when Xie Zichen gains power, so after he loses power, it is difficult to completely preserve it, so both parties can only choose to hold each other. Stumbling, the tighter the hug.
Therefore, when you are not the head of the family, the Xie family will be the arm of Xie Zichen, and Xie Zichen will also be the pioneer of the Xie family.
However, Xie Jue obviously did not think so. Seeing that the day when the head of the Xie family went to the funeral was approaching, after the funeral, one must be selected. Xie Jue was so anxious that he came to Xie Zichen's residence several times, and Xie Zichen was unbearable. He moved directly into the Changxinhou Mansion.
Xie Jue and Wei Shao didn't agree with each other. Xie Zichen lived in the Changxinhou Mansion, Xie Jue came to the door, and Wei Shao stopped him directly. Xie Jue jumped his feet with anger, so he went to wait for Xie Zichen in the next dynasty, and chased Xie Zichen up in the next direction. Xie Zichen saw his father jogging up, quickly speeded up his pace, and went to Wei Lan's side.
Xie Jue finally caught up with Xie Zichen, and when he saw Wei Lan, all the words were held in his chest.
He can't say to Xie Zichen in front of Wei Lan—son, take a concubine. After taking a concubine, you can be the head of the house.
Just give the Xie family a little hope that Xie Zichen will have heirs, and Xie Zichen will sit firmly in the position of the head of the Xie family.
However, Xie Zichen also knew Xie Jue's thoughts, so he didn't see him altogether. Xie Zichen was so anxious that Xie Zichen gritted his teeth and went to Wei Lan.
When Xie Zichen went out to talk with people, Wei Lan heard Xie Jue come to her, she thought about it for a moment, and was busy asking Xie Jue to come in.
She and Xie Zichen did not respect tea and return to the province like ordinary couples. They didn't know how to call Xie Jue for a while, but Xie Jue was completely unfamiliar. They came in and said, "Alan, I'll discuss a major event with you." ."
When Wei Lan heard Xie Jue's name, she knew that this was about Xie Zichen, so she sat down and cried respectfully: "Father, you say it."
With that, she added tea to Xie Jue. Xie Jue was a little anxious, and solemnly said: "Alan knows that now the position of Xie Family Patriarch is empty, Zichen is the most promising person to become Patriarch, right?"
Naturally, Wei Lan knew about this, nodded, and pushed the tea to Xie Jue.
Xie Jue didn’t drink tea, and sighed,
I’m actually here to beg Alan. Now you are all past the weak crown. Most people as big as you already have Ji concubine. Children, you are all men, and it is impossible for you to have no children in your entire life. Sooner or later, you are going to take a concubine, and that son...it is impossible to have no children. In that case, you might as well advance the time..."
With that said, Xie Jue glanced at Wei Lan. Wei Lan's face was calm and there was no joy or anger. Xie Jue couldn't help being bolder. Then he said: "I know that you are just together, so I must not be very happy about this in my heart, but this matter is related to the future of the child, and I hope you can think about it."
"Why didn't the father-in-law talk to Zichen about this?" Wei Lan took a sip of tea, and there was nothing to see on her face. Xie Jue felt a little worried. After all, Wei Lan was also a figure calling for rain in the court, so she cautiously said: " Naturally, I want to talk to him, but I wanted to get a bottom line with you before that. After all, you are now married to him. I will talk to you about this matter first..."
Wei Lan nodded and said calmly: "I will discuss this matter with my subordinates. Can the father-in-law have anything to do with him?"
"Naturally no more." Xie Jue shook her head, Wei Lan stood up and said to Xie Jue: "There is still official business here, so let's send her father-in-law to leave. When Xie Zichen returns, I will discuss this with him."
"Good, good." Xie Jue nodded hurriedly: "Alan understands righteousness, this couldn't be better."
Wei Lan nodded and said nothing, gave Ranmo a look, and let Ranmo send the person out.
After sending off Xie Jue, Wei Lan sneered and turned back to the house. Ranmo sent Xie Jue back, and said anxiously: "Shizi, what shall we do?"
"What do you do?" Wei Lan looked at the document and said calmly, dyeing ink anxiously: "My uncle is going to take a concubine."
"Uncle Shizi, your name is really messy." Wei Lan avoided the question, frowning as she watched the document. Seeing her calm and unhurried, Ran Mo changed directions and forced Wei Lan to look at her and said, "Shizi, don't change the subject, let's not make some preparations?"
"What are you going to prepare?" Wei Lan was a little helpless: "This kind of trivial matter will be solved by the minister. I don't like to deal with this kind of problem in the back home. If there is a woman who grabs it, then grab it. Now even a woman. There is no shadow, what are you nervous about? I have a lot of things here, so just leave it alone."
Wei Lan's words made dye ink suffocated.
Is this still a small matter?
Your father-in-law forced your husband to take a concubine!
Then, since Wei Lan had spoken, the ink dyeing could not continue, she could only sigh and walk out.
At night, when Xie Zichen returned from talking about official business, he saw Wei Lan waiting for him in the house. Xie Zichen handed the Greatcloak to Xie Tong. After taking a bath, he changed into his nightgown and came out, and hugged the person who was still reading the paperwork from behind Wei Lan. , Rubbed her face and said, "I haven't finished reading yet?"
"Wei Xiong wants to conscript. Now Jingzhou and Qingzhou are in the hands of the Wei family. Eighty thousand soldiers are indeed too few. Wei Xiong wants to expand to 200,000. But the conscription requires money, the money left by Sucheng, Two hundred thousand, I’m afraid it’s not enough to last a year."
Wei Lan frowned, seemingly distressed. Xie Zichen took the papers from her hand and said calmly: "You are not a long-term solution. You do not intend to become a king. There is absolutely no reason to raise your own troops."
"Your Majesty won't let the Wei family really become a first-class family." Wei Lan nestled in his arms, a little tired, Xie Zichen raised her hand to help her rub her temples, and calmly said: "You didn't plan to change the emperor for three years. ?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Lan chuckled softly: "Mo Ruo Zichen who knows me."
"You raise soldiers by yourself, why is there any reason to raise them for a lifetime? You are just dragging Su Bai. Now that the treasury is full after the reform, your majesty won't give you money, what else can you do besides grabbing?"
Xie Zichen spoke indifferently, planning for her: "However, this matter cannot be rushed. Your Majesty was also orthodox ascended to the throne. There is nothing out of the ordinary. There is also the protection of the Queen Jiang and the royal concubine and Wang family.
"I can't do it now," Wei Lan opened her eyes: "I will never do it myself."
Hearing this, Xie Zichen let go of his heart and thought for a while, he said: "If you must do it, I will come."
"No." Wei Lan's expression was indifferent: "I can't make this step yet, let's watch it first."
Xie Zichen answered. At this time Wei Lan remembered: "Speaking of one thing at the moment, your father came to me today and said that you are taking a concubine..."
"This is impossible!" Xie Zichen said decisively: "Alan, I don't have this kind of thinking."
"Yeah." Wei Lan nodded: "Then you tell your father, I will save him face."
Xie Zichen responded, "I will talk to him tomorrow."
Wei Lan didn't get too entangled in this matter.
On the second day, after Xie Jue went to court, Xie Zichen took the initiative to go to Xie's Mansion. When Xie Zichen came to the door, everyone in the second room came to join in the fun. Now the second room relies on Xie Zichen to eat, and he doesn't dare to say anything.
A table of meals was eaten quietly. After the meal, Xie Zichen took the initiative to say to Xie Jue: "Yesterday my father went to find Alan, and Alan told me that he was too busy these days to reply to his father in time. It belongs to the son. No. I came here today to make it clear to my father. My son said at the wedding banquet that he will be a couple with Alan for life, and there will be no more people."
"You are a child!" Xie Jue said immediately: "Everyone thinks that you are marrying a woman. It's okay to say that. But the Xie family knows exactly who you are marrying. If you don't take a concubine, which family will Let a person without an heir be the head of the house? Zichen, it's no big deal to be with a man, but if this delays the inheritance of the heirs, then it is a great thing to be sorry for the ancestor!"
"Father, Xie's family is Ding Xing. It's nothing short of me."
"But you want to be the owner of the Patriarch!" Xie Jue slapped the table and said angrily: "How many years has the big house pressed us? Now that we finally have such a chance to come forward, you are going to let it go for nothing?"
"Father," Xie Zichen said calmly, "I don't need that position."
He needs to thank the family, but that doesn't mean that he has to be the head of the family.
Xie Jue was gasping for breath. He knew that Xie Zichen was highly powerful, but the head of the family meant the right to speak in the family. He hoped that his son could be in his own position. However, looking at Xie Zichen's indecision, he also Reluctantly, I could only change the topic and said: "Okay, then you don't want to take a concubine, you always have a child, right? Your brother's child, you choose one to adopt."
"No need." Xie Zichen said indifferently: "Father, my children don't need you to worry about. I just came to tell you that the position of the head of the family, if the family needs me, I will take it. No need, I don't care if I don't. "
"I won't take a concubine," Xie Zichen stood up: "In my whole life, there will be only Wei Lan. You don't need to care about my other affairs, just take care of yourself."
"That's how you talked to your father?!" Xie Jue was furious and shouted angrily: "For a man, you dare to stand up to your father?!"
Xie Zichen didn't say a word, his eyes were mocking.
He rolled up his sleeves, and his usual vigor in the court suddenly appeared, and everyone in the room couldn't breathe.
"I am here today because you are my father. I will come this time. Next time if there is such a thing, I will not come again."
"I'll give you a face," Xie Zichen said coldly: "You just put it away, don't really wait for me to tear off a layer of skin for you!"
After speaking, Xie Jue's face changed, but he couldn't answer a word. Xie Zichen bowed, turned and left.
When he left, Xie Jue slapped the table with a slap, and said angrily: "Nizi...this Nizi!"
"Father, this is not my brother's disobedience," Xie Xue, who had just finished meeting, was reluctant to accept that the pillar of the second room was such a person who had no affection for the second room. She used to have little contact with Xie Zichen and was a little more sensible. Xie Zichen was already a man of the world. She had always admired Xie Zichen and secretly regarded this brother as proud. Even if Xie Zichen never ignored her, she was also Xie Zichen's number one fan. Seeing Xie Jue scolding Xie Zichen now, she immediately said: "It must be Wei Lan who forbids her brother to be a concubine and stepchild! She is afraid that her brother will become the head of the Xie family, and the power will completely overwhelm her."
"Yes," Lin came up to help, she couldn't really let Xie Jue go to Xie Zichen's fire, and incited: "Zichen has a plan. Why don't you really want the position of Patriarch? It must be that Wei Lan. Not willing."
"Okay..." Xie Jue gritted his teeth: "This Wei Lan...I want to show her some color, she really thinks she is lawless? Her Wei family is now hiding from your Majesty to increase troops in Qingzhou, she thought she could hide it for a lifetime Is it? I'm going to tell your majesty..."
"Father!" When Xie Zichun heard this, he held down Xie Jue and said hurriedly: "Are you going to kill me?!"
The news of Wei Lan's increase in troops was seen in the study when Xie Zichun went to find Xie Zichen. He has a good relationship with Xie Zichen, and Xie Zichen has never been very defensive against him. He never thought about telling Xie Jue. As a result, he drank too much wine that day. If Xie Jue did this, the first one who was unlucky would be him. !
Hearing this, Xie Jue calmed down, but was still a little angry: "Could it be that?"
"Forget it..." Xie Zichun sighed: "Since the fourth brother doesn't want this seat, don't force him, he must have his own plan."
Xie Zichun and Xie Jue discussed, Xie Xue snorted, turned and walked out.
She hates Wei Lan's broken sleeves. It is because of this person that her perfect brother has shortcomings.
Xie Xue thought for a while, let someone send news to the palace, and decided to visit Concubine Xie in the palace. Concubine Xie had a good relationship with her before she got married. After receiving the news, she invited her into the palace the next day.
When the two sisters were talking and laughing, Su Bai happened to visit Concubine Xie. Now that Concubine Wang is pregnant, and the queen is too boring, Su Bai has been here for Concubine Xie for a long time. Xie Xue has seen the emperor for a long time. Not being cautious, the three chatted for a while, and Xie Xue said innocently: "Your Majesty, there is one thing that is very curious about the people's daughter, and I hope your majesty can answer it."
"Huh?" Su Bai was a little curious. Xie Xue had always been a stranger, and she didn't know what she wanted to ask.
However, Xie Xue smiled, but said: "Your Majesty, the people's daughter heard that Wei Xiong in Qingzhou is now conscripting troops. The people's daughter remembers that one of the current reforms is to streamline officials and reduce all expenses in the government. The money after the reform is To raise Qingzhou?"
Hearing this, Su Bai's expression instantly changed.
He knew that Wei Lan would not be idle when he took Jingzhou and Qingzhou, but he thought she was only planning to maintain her original appearance. After all, if Qingzhou conscripts, the expenses are all Wei Lan's own expenses, she will not hollow out Chang Xinhou. Government, go to subsidize the army? If she really emptied the Hou Mansion to train an army, what was her mind? !
And where did she get the money to raise 30,000 soldiers and horses while also conscripting foreign troops? !
Su Bai's heart was surging for a while, and he couldn't wait to find Wei Lan into the palace immediately.
Seeing Su Bai's face changed drastically, Xie Xue couldn't help but smiled, took a sip from his teacup.
Su Bai couldn't sit down a bit, chatted with the sisters casually, and left in a hurry. After she left, Xie Xue smiled happily. Before she could say goodbye, she heard Xie Guifei say: "Kneel down!"
Xie Xue was stunned. Concubine Xie gave a look, and the court lady next to him rushed up and pressed Xie Xue directly. Xie Xue was shocked and listened to Concubine Xie coldly saying: "You came to me today because of this? "
"Sixth sister, you misunderstood..."
"I'm not blind yet!" Guifei Xie furiously: "Now that the two families of Wei and Xie are close, what do you want to do with this kind of thing?! If you can't give me an explanation today, I will never forgive you!"
"Sixth sister, don't be angry! I was wrong, I was really wrong!" Xie Xue quickly begged for mercy. She couldn't explain to Concubine Xie, it was their selfishness to let Xie Zichen be the head of the house, and it was her selfishness to teach Wei Lan, how could she say it?
Concubine Xie sneered and said angrily: "Plap the mouth."
The maids picked up the board and started to draw directly. Concubine Xie stood in front of Xie Xue, condescendingly said: "I am not clear about your careful thoughts. You prefer your fourth brother, and always think that Wei Xiang ruined him, but you never asked whether this is the fourth brother's own request. What? And, you only saw your fourth brother calling for the wind and rain in the court, but did you think that he was struggling? He is the leader of the district. If you ruin the friendship between your fourth brother and Wei Xiang, do you know what this is called? This is self-destruction. Great Wall!"
"Why do you think the Wang family never moves now? Why do you think I am like a fish in the palace now? How do you think the glory of the Xie family comes from? If Wei Xiang turns around and joins forces with the Wang family, you will try it in the future?!"
"You Erfang are really a group of people..."
Concubine Xie became very angry, took the board from the side, and pulled it by herself. Angrily said: "Why do I have a stupid girl like you?!"
"I was wrong... Sister Six, I was wrong..."
Xie Xue burst into tears, Concubine Xie's heart softened, thinking that Xie Xue was such a temperament, sighed, threw the board, and said with some fatigue: "Tie her up and send it to Wei Xiang."
"Niang," a court lady said: "Is this bad? Now your Majesty already knows that Wei Xiang must be extremely annoyed. She can't guess who did it now. Let's... forget it?"
Concubine Xie did not speak, but after thinking about it, she sighed and said helplessly: "Fine, take her down, and give Zichen a message."
"Just say," Concubine Xie pursed her lips: "Your Majesty knows about Wei Lan's enlistment. Let him prepare early."