The look on Jiang Siye's face was the look of losing after a competition with himself.

"I trust you to have your own measure. If you really want to go, go for it."

"Like your mother said, go tomorrow." He instructed anxiously, "Take Jiang Ping, and take your guard."

Before Jiang Rao came, she was ready to kneel down and beg her father and mother, but she got what she wanted with just a few words, her eyes were full of excitement, as if her pockets were full of stars, "Dad, Thank you."

When she was gone, Fourth Master Jiang tapped his hand on the table and put it on his temple, looking a little tired.

"Really annoying."

Jiang Qin's heart had long known that the result would be like this.

She came back to him and comforted her softly, "Every child has their own blessings, why bother?"

"She knows that I indulge her, so she always has the confidence to dare to be willful. This is the temper that I indulge, but I can't help her. I am happy and sad."

"She knows that someone is protecting her, so she won't let herself be wronged or bullied." Jiang Siye opened the window of the room with a wooden stick, and looked at his daughter's disappearing figure, and felt a little lost, "But if in the future She is so sad that there is no one like me who is trolling her."

The sun covered the entire window sill, the osmanthus in the yard was as yellow as gold, and the clusters bloomed just right, and the fragrance jumped over the window lattice and diffused in.

Osmanthus flowers are very delicate and can't stand the cold at all, otherwise they will wither.

It rained a few days ago, and Fourth Master Jiang ordered people to move the sweet-scented osmanthus to the warm pavilion. The rain stopped for the past two days, and the sun was shining during the day, so he moved the sweet-scented osmanthus out again.

A seedling that he took great care of and cared for, even the slightest bit of wind and rain would not let her suffer, how could he have the heart to push her to suffer and suffer with others?

"Even if it's not Pei Songyu, it can't be the prince and the grandson." Jiang Siye's eyes were cloudy, and he hated himself, "Why can't I be ruthless and keep her at home?"

Jiang Qinshi's hand fell softly on his shoulder, "Relax your heart. You haven't slept well for a long time because of your marriage every year. If you continue like this, your body will collapse."

Outside the house, a figure stopped outside the door, stayed for a while, and left silently.

...

Ming Shao heard the news that Jiang Xingzhou had allowed Jiang Rao to go to Yunling Mountain, so she didn't have the energy to pack her luggage. When she saw Jiang Rao's figure appearing at the Moon Gate, she went up to her and said sadly, "Girl, Yunling's There are many mountains and mountains on the sides, and the terrain is more complicated than the mountains on the other side of Yecheng, and now the plank road is being built, the road must be difficult to walk, do you have to go there to suffer?"

Jiang Rao's steps were very heavy, her face was gray, and when she passed Ming Shao, she said a dull sentence, "Don't go."

Ming Shao: "You stay in Jinling, stay in Jinling, look at flowers, drink tea, go to a banquet from time to time, how leisurely you are... Why don't you go?"

Ming Shao was stunned.

Jiang Rao nodded and walked into the house, Ming Shao caught up with her, "Girl, are you really not going?"

"I'm not going."

The autumn wind swept the leaves from the plane trees in the yard, and fell to Jiang Rao's feet in a whirl.

When she stepped on, there was a crisp sound from the soles of her feet. The color of the fallen leaves was not much different from her sullen face. Seeing that Mingshao seemed to have something to ask, Jiang Rao said: "Daddy hasn't slept well recently, you can find someone later. Maid, go to Doctor Li and ask him for a medicated recipe to make up for Daddy's body."

After Ming Shao left, Jiang Rao buried her head in the pillow on the beauty's couch.

Not happy.

Why wasn't there a way of doing both, so that she could see Rong Ting whenever she wanted, and her father wouldn't stop her?

It seems that since the uncle's incident, Daddy's prejudice against the prince has become deeper.

If only her father had no prejudice against Rong Ting.

If he didn't have prejudice, maybe he wouldn't think Pei Songyu was so good.

How many times she thought about it, Jiang Rao was indifferent, but if it was Rong Ting, the tips of her fair ears suddenly became pink, she rolled over and sat up with pink cheeks, and glanced into the yard to see those who helped her The maid who packed the luggage was moving things out, opened the window, and said to them, "Don't move back."

A second-class maid replied, "Miss, Sister Mingshao said, if you don't go to Yunling anymore, let us move these back."

"I'm not going. But if I'm not going, things can be sent in exchange." Jiang Rao hit the window with her head exposed, and pointed at her fingers, "sleeve stove, charcoal fire, and incense."

It's cold, if you don't bring some heaters, it's so cold on the mountain, you'll get sick easily.

Jiang Rao leaned on the window and looked at the maids, "I can't miss any of them, I have to send them over."

...

At the foot of Yunling Mountain, at the end of the village, there are several temporary houses for the officials who came to supervise the work.

At this moment, in the middle of the night in the West Building, the moon is cold, the sky is as dark as crow feathers, and the corner is dark.

Huai Qing's footsteps are in a hurry, knocking

The door of the west wing with the lights on, "Your Highness, Lord Chen is here again."

As soon as he finished the report, Chen Bing's hearty laughter spread into the courtyard, "His Royal Highness, I'm here to talk to you."

Although Chen Bing is a civil official, his face is rough, and half of the beard on his face is shaved off on weekdays, so he can't see anything. These days, I have been busy with the construction of the Yunling Plank Road, and I have no time to take care of myself, so I have stubble on my face.

The wind and sun for many days made his face darker a lot. If he took off his official uniform, he would be no different from the farmer rolling in the crops here.

Others don't have any official airs, and they have only been here for a few days, and they have become very close to the local people.

Chen Bing strode into Rong Ting's room and put the two baskets of eggs in his hands on the table, "This is from the family on Tuesday in the east of the village.

"Your Highness's idea is really good. Since I told the people that they can walk along the plank road, there are not many people who oppose it." Chen Bing sat down and said with emotion, "But your move has cut off many people's fortunes. Now that the pass for the plank road is meaningless, the officials in charge of this area in the yamen have nothing to do, so I guess they are hating you, and the people who threw rotten eggs on you this morning are 80% related to them.”

Rong Ting said in a low voice, "It doesn't matter."

Chen Bing saw that there was no anger in his face. He still held the knife in his hand and carefully carved the model in his hand. His eyes were also attracted, and he said, "Your model is exquisitely done."

"The troublesome people are suppressed. It's time to discuss how to repair the plank road."

Seeing that Rong Ting was talking about business, Chen Bing also got upright. He said, "The mountain Yunling Mountain is not steep, but there are many falling rocks on the mountain, and there are cliffs in the middle. If a plank road is built, the iron cable connecting the two mountain peaks will easily be blocked. Falling stones break, this is the most difficult place, if the plank road is not built well, this official will have no face to go back to see the saint."

"I can find a way to lure the falling rocks away." Rong Ting pointed to the blueprint he laid on the table.

Chen Bing became a little interested and said, "I'll take a look."

He picked up the piece of paper, frowned at it for a long time, pinched his thigh with his fingers, and said bitterly, "Why didn't I think of it."

Rong Ting glanced at Chen Bing and saw the place Chen Bing could see, "The corridor pavilion is to protect the wooden piles and planks on the plank road from rain erosion, not to resist falling rocks. Mr. Chen is wrong. My method is to change one. road."

Chen Bing blushed, "It's a good idea."

He took the blueprint in his hand, and looked at Rong Ting's hand just now.

A prototype model, "When this model is ready, can it be lent to the next official?"

After getting Rong Ting's answer, he put the drawing back on the table and said, "The next day the lower official will call someone to fetch it."

It was windy at night, and the mica paper stuck on the window was blown like some kind of musical instrument, playing whimpering music, as if it was about to run out of breath in the next second and was torn to shreds by the night wind.

Chen Bing stood here for a while, frowning dissatisfiedly, "I asked His Highness to live with me before, but His Highness refused, but now the weather is suddenly cold, has His Highness not changed his mind? I have a cook, a maid, and my daughter. In exchange, I often send some snacks she made here. The room is bright and bright, and it is much more comfortable to live in. It is not worse than when you are in the palace. The emperor handed you over to me, and I can't let you suffer. "

He was obviously a child who grew up in the palace, but he didn't seem to be able to enjoy the blessings. A table and a bed were all the furnishings in the west wing where he lived now. Even an official from a poor family felt shabby.

Rong Ting laughed.

Even if he doesn't smile, his face can be seen, and the first word that pops up in his mind is "beautiful".

It was even more incredible to laugh, softening the cold lines at the corners of his eyes, melting the frost and snow on his body, the coldness and cruelty in his eyes were blocked by the drooping eyelashes, but instead gave birth to a bit of purity and innocence.

Such a well-behaved smile will make people feel that no matter what others ask him, he will do it.

Chen Bing was bewitched by such a smile. He thought that Rong Ting finally heard what he said, and was overjoyed. Before Rong Ting could answer him, he said, "Xiaguan, I will find someone to clean up the house for you now."

"No need, thank you Lord Chen." Rong Ting turned the wheelchair, grabbed the embroidered knife on the table, and flicked the sawdust off the table with the handle of the knife. He and Chen Bing were separated from Chen Bing on both sides of this small room, as if separated from each other. The shadows of the two on the wall were far apart, "I'm used to living here, so I don't need to trouble Master Chen."

Chen Bing choked and put his hands together, "What do you want here, it's nothing, how can you get used to it..."

He saw that Rong Ting didn't look like he would change his mind. He had been rejected three times, and he knew that this matter was hopeless. Chen Bing's eyes darkened slightly, and he glanced at Rong Ting one more time and said, "It's getting late. , I'll take my leave first."

Wu Que saw the guest out, and when he came back, he ran into Huaiqing who came out with two baskets before he even got close to the courtyard.

take a closer look

"Isn't this the egg sent by Lord Chen?"

Huai Qing stopped,

Back to him, "His Royal Highness said, let me find a place to throw it away."

Wu Que took a basket from Huai Qing and weighed it, with a pity on his face, "If you say throw it, throw it away."

"Master Chen really took care of His Highness the Ninth Highness. I sent him back just now. On the way, he kept asking His Highness Ninth if he could eat and live well. Just throw away all of his thoughts. It's not good..."

"His Royal Highness is such a temperament."

Huai Qing sighed, not surprised, "After all, there are people who want his life everywhere."

Huaiqing said to Wu Que: "You remember, the only one who can make the Ninth Highness have no grudges is the fourth girl from Ning'anbo Mansion. Didn't you see it? The carriage from Ning'anbo Mansion delivered it in the daytime today. How happy was your ninth highness when you came?"

Wu Que touched his head and went to throw eggs with Huai Qing. He was reluctant to throw them all, so he kept a few and planned to feed the dogs the next day. When he came back to report, he saw that Rong Ting was holding a sleeve stove with plum blossoms wrapped around branches.

The copper quality of the sleeve furnace is even, there is no charcoal fire inside, and incense is lit. It is just a lifeless object. It can be held by Rong Ting, and there is full joy in the pupils. It was arranged in a row by him and placed on the table.

Today, the carriage that came from Ning An Bo's Mansion was greeted by Wu Que. He naturally recognized that those were things that Jiang Rao sent over.

This is neatly lined up, and you can see it as soon as you enter the door. Compared with the situation of the eggs that were thrown away, it was a world of difference.

After Wu Que returned, he touched Huaiqing with his shoulder and said to him, "What you said is true."

...

A month passed quickly, and it was late September in the blink of an eye.

Seeing that Jiang Rao finally failed to go to Yunling Mountain, Hutang often came to Ning Anbo's house to accompany her and relieve her boredom.

Obviously, it was not so happy to change in the middle of September, but after the end of September, she clearly saw that this little beauty who had been cold for almost a month, became happy in the last few days, her eyes were bright, her face was bright The makeup is also well done, and it looks radiant.

Hu Tang: There are tricks.

But she didn't figure out what the trick was, until when she came back to find Jiang Rao, she met Jiang Jinxing talking to Jiang Rao in Jiang Rao's house.

Jiang Jinxing's avatar has grown like a willow leaf, but even so, his stature was small, but he lost a lot of weight. When he rushed over and hugged Jiang Rao, he finally stopped sticking one on Jiang Rao's body. ball.

He arched and arched in Jiang Rao's arms, shouting "Ah

Sister, "Isn't His Highness Ninth coming back soon? I want to see the Ninth Highness. "

Jiang Jinxing was studying in the academy, and he was very afraid of his gentlemen. Mr. Wu had replaced him. When he saw Mr. Wen, it seemed that he could kill him. When Rong Ting was there, he could teach him to do his homework. He had a better life with Mr. Wen. This time Rong Ting went to Yunling, and Jiang Jinxing had a better life.

He tugged at Jiang Rao's cheek, turning his little face into a pie, "Look at how thin I am."

Jiang Rao touched his head, "I also want to see His Highness Ninth."

"Together!"

"Cough cough." Hutang knocked on the door with her finger, and after receiving Jiang Rao's consent, she stepped in and put a small box in front of Jiang Rao, "For you, flower dew rouge, put it on your lips It looks good on the top and cheeks."

Jiang Rao took it and smelled it, "Don't you like to go to the rouge shop?"

"I don't like to go shopping, and I don't need rouge. But you use it. When I think of these things that you put on them well, I want to buy them, and I like to go to the rouge shop." Hutang took Jiang Rao's hand again. He took the rouge box, unscrewed the rouge, pressed his fingertips, and touched Jiang Rao's cheek, "It's so beautiful."

Looking at Jiang Rao, she said, "I will definitely have a daughter in the future. It's nice to dress up my daughter beautifully."

Jiang Rao laughed, "What if your daughter was like you?"

Hutang "hiss", "That's fine, it's better to raise a monkey than me."

Jiang Jinxing parroted his tongue, "It's better to raise a monkey than me."

Hu Tang: "..."

She lifted Jiang Jinxing from Jiang Rao's arms with one hand, put it on the ground, and gave him her whip, "Honey, go play elsewhere."

Jiang Jinxing took the new toy and ran away.

As soon as Jiang Jinxing left, Hutang's face was ridiculed, looking at Jiang Rao: "When will the ninth prince come back?"

Jiang Rao lowered her head, held a small mirror, and looked at her face, which had been rouge, but did not notice the ridicule in Hutang's expression, she said, "It's just the past few days."

Hutang snickered, took away the small mirror in Jiang Rao's hand, poked Jiang Rao's hand, and raised her voice, "You are not happy before, is it because of the Ninth Prince."

Jiang Rao's hands were empty, and finally she met Hu Tang's interested gaze.

Of course yes.

But she looked at the familiar expression on Hu Tang's face, and instantly recalled that she had seen such an expression on the old doctor in Yecheng.

The old doctor insisted that she and Rong Ting were fiancées, and he didn't change it in the end.

Jiang Rao: "..."

She decided to hide it from Hutang, but who expected Hutang to take a step ahead of her, "You didn't deny it immediately, you admitted it."

"Ninth Prince..." Hu Tang thought about Rong Ting's appearance.

He is good-looking, prettier than a woman, and not too feminine.

However, unfortunately it is a disability.

Hutang frowned and said worriedly: "It's his words, can your parents agree?"

"I don't agree."

Hutang looked very sad, and said with emotion: "The mandarin ducks are suffering."

Jiang Rao: "..."

She explained to her, "It's not what you think. I have nothing to do with him. I have helped him, and he has helped me. We are kind to each other."

Hutang stared at Jiang Rao's face, "Don't lie to yourself."

Hutang has deep eye sockets, as if he has the blood of the Western Regions, his eyes are deep and bright, as if he can see through people, "You said that he left, are you sad? He is coming back, are you happy?"

Jiang Rao was speechless for a while, and after a while, he said slowly, "If my brother is far away from me, I will be worried and sad, and I will be happy if he comes back."

Hutang looks smart, but she is only one year older than Jiang Rao. She thought about Jiang Rao's words, but she couldn't find a place to refute them, but she felt that it was not like Jiang Rao said, "He is a prince, You can't think of him as a brother, can you?"

"Not my brother."

It's golden thighs...

But how could you tell Hu Tang this kind of thing?

"Stop talking about that."

Jiang Rao couldn't resist Hutang's successive questions, and changed the subject, "Are you free tomorrow, come with me to Sanqing Temple?"

"What are you going to do there?"

"Change wishes."

She had begged in front of the Buddha, begging His Highness Ninth to be safe and to come back on time, but now it has come true, and she should have to change her wish to help the Buddha, who had her wish come true.

Unexpectedly, when Rong Ting was supposed to come back, she was looking at the direction of the city gate from a restaurant with a wide view near the city gate. Jiang Jinxing accompanied her. Until night falls. A whole day passed, but Rong Ting's figure did not wait at all.

Jiang Jinxing finally woke up rubbing his eyes, Ruannuo Tongyin was drowsy, "Sister, why didn't he come back?"

Jiang Rao looked down at him, "I have already instructed someone to inquire, you wait."

Jiang Jinxing's face collapsed, looking at the moon and stars hanging in the sky, "It's almost time for curfew, and the city gate will be closed soon. If he can't come back, nothing will happen, right?"

Jiang Rao immediately wrapped her fingers tightly around him, and without thinking, she retorted, "No way."

Her calm expression cracked, showing panic, but insisted, "No."

Jiang Jinxing had never seen his sister look so serious, he pouted, "Sister, it hurts."

Only then did Jiang Rao realize that she just unconsciously clenched her fingers tightly, just pinching her brother's stomach.

She hurriedly let go of her hand. At this time, Yu'er, who was sent by her to inquire about the news, came back, went to Jiang Rao, bowed and said, "His Royal Highness Ninth did not come back, so it's in Yunling, although it's been a month, but he Please stay and say that you will not come back until the plank road is built."

Jiang Rao covered her heart and breathed a sigh of relief.

Change it. Change it.

Nothing happened.

She almost scolded Buddha just now.

But she felt a little empty in her heart.

Maybe it's because he waited too long and decided that he could come back today, but he didn't wait for his figure.

If he wants to stay in Yunling until the plank road is repaired and then come back, when will he get it?

"When will the plank road be repaired, have you heard?" Jiang Rao asked Yu'er.

Yu'er replied: "No one knows, people outside say that there are many falling rocks and rain in Yunling Mountain, and it is impossible to practice the plank road at all. Many people have never done it before and want to build a plank road. Just wishful thinking."

At the same time, inside the Splendid Palace.

"He said he would wait until the plank road is repaired before coming back?"

Queen Jiahe raised her voice, her face full of disbelief.

The palace servant held lychees for her and the queen, and replied, "Yes."

Empress Jiahe sipped a lychee, smiling indifferently and proudly, "What an idiot, he made an oath like this, if the plank road is not repaired, wouldn't he not have to come back?"

"It's good not to come back."

When the seventeenth prince heard that Rong Ting would not come back, his expression also revealed a bit of excitement, but he asked worriedly: "Mother, is the plank road really not easy to repair?"

"Of course it is, otherwise, why did the emperor send Chen Bing over? With Chen Bing's ability, it took a few months to build a simple plank road, which is really overkill."

The seventeenth prince's heart fell back into his heart, and said, "It's so difficult to do things, why do you have to force them, let those caravans take a detour, otherwise, with so much manpower and material resources, in the end, you can only use bamboo baskets to fetch water. It's empty."

"That's the truth." Empress Jiahe smiled, "The plank road has to be built, which is convenient for those who run the caravan, but offends the good things of other road guards. If there is no plank road, they can pass the caravan there. , Those who want to get the pass from them will inevitably ask bribes to please them. If the plank road is 10%, and no one will give them bribes, they will naturally not be happy. Have you heard? When he first arrived at the foot of Yunling Mountain, he was thrown by someone. rotten eggs all over."

The seventeenth prince couldn't hide the joy in his heart, he climbed to the face with a smile, and sneered: "It's really a man's arm and a car, and he is not self-sufficient. He is making money for those who run the business road, which is simply confusing. , Those who do business are all inferior pariahs, how can they get the most benefits by helping them do things?"

Empress Jiahe leisurely shook her fingernails dyed red, looking forward to a good show, "If the plank road is not repaired, I don't know how disappointed your father will be."

Day after day passed.

The leaves on the tree gradually turned yellow, and the last autumn wind swept away the faded leaves, leaving only the bare trunk.

There has never been any news from the plank road. Some people are proud of it, and some people are worried about it.

Jiang Rao held Xiao Fugui by the window with a sad face.

Its bird feathers have thickened a lot after the fall, and there are more downy feathers that are soft to the touch.

Jiang Rao would hold it every day, waiting under the window for the maid to come back and report the news from Yunling.

There is no news in October, and no news in November. If you wait any longer, it seems that this winter will be over.

On the day Rong Ting was supposed to come back, she didn't wait for his person, but two days later, she waited for his letter.

The letter, which arrived a few days late because of the messenger's delay, explained why he had not returned.

Although there are rumors outside that the plank road cannot be repaired at all, and even if it is repaired, it will be smashed by falling rocks, but his letter is light, no complaints or complaints.

It's as simple as that...

"when will you be back."

Jiang Rao was really worried that the plank road could not be repaired as others said, and even more worried that he would not come back if the plank road was not repaired as he said.

If both of these things come true, wouldn't he never come back?

Jiang Rao couldn't help shivering, and the little Fugui in his arms also shivered, and the bird feathers on his body shook rapidly.

"If he doesn't come back, I'm really going to find him."

Jiang Rao lowered her head and said to Xiao Fugui.

Xiao Fugui is still shaking his feathers.

Jiang Rao's small temper came up,

Li thought fiercely that when he came back, she would ignore him for a while.

"When will you be back?" She shook Xiao Fugui, just angry and annoyed.

Ming Shao came in with a cup of hot tea, and held the hot tea in front of Jiang Rao, "Girl, the weather is dry, you drink tea to moisten your throat."

She took Xiao Fugui away from Jiang Rao's arms and nodded her beak, "Other mynaes can talk, but it was born with pomegranate at first, and learned to meow meow, but not to speak. "

Jiang Rao drank half a cup of tea and her throat became much clearer, but she didn't answer.

Ever since she knew that Ming Shao would tell her whereabouts to her father and Pei Songyu, although she did not discipline Ming Shao, she was no more trusting and kind to Ming Shao than before.

Ming Shao could naturally feel Jiang Rao's neglect of her, and felt a little remorse in her heart.

Two or three months have passed, and she can understand that no matter what she says, Jiang Rao will not change her mind and look at Pei Songyu more.

Her heart was attached to the ninth prince.

Originally, she was a slave, and she was a humble and light-hearted person. If it wasn't for her master's indifference to her, she might not even have a chance to speak in front of her master.

Since she figured this out, she never mentioned Pei Songyu in front of Jiang Rao again, nor did she listen to Jiang Siye again and tell Pei Songyu where Jiang Rao was.

Even though Pei Songyu still went in and out of Ning Anbo's mansion as usual, there were not many occasions when he ran into Jiang Rao.

After stepping back, Ming Shao began to think about how to make up for her past mistakes.

She is the first-class maid in Jiang Rao's yard, and she is the one who has served Jiang Rao the longest. She has the highest status among the maids in the house. The news from Yunling, come and tell me earlier, or tell the girl, I will be rewarded, and my hometown is in the Gyeonggi area, so I will ask more about it at home."

At the beginning of December, it was late, and thick frost hung on the branches. Jiang Raohuan was in her sleep when she was suddenly woken up by someone.

She rubbed her eyes and looked at Ming Shao's happy and smiling face illuminated by the lit lights, and then looked at the dark sky outside. She didn't respond for a while, her voice was full of tiredness, and asked: "It's not dawn, what's the matter?"

Ming Shao said to her: "Girl, it's a good thing! Aliu, who was in the kitchen in time for the morning market, came back and told me that His Royal Highness Ninth is back."