Chapter 152 Looking for Flaws

Chapter 152 Looking for Flaws

Chapter 152 Looking for Flaws
Although the emperor deliberately concealed Xiao Xia's deeds in Tuyuhun, such things could be hidden from ordinary court officials, but not from Crown Prince Yang Yong.

The foreign affairs of the Sui Dynasty were not under the jurisdiction of the crown prince, but were handled personally by the emperor. Therefore, Yang Yong did not participate in this mission to Tuyuhun from beginning to end.

But Yang Yong still got some information from the deputy envoy Yu Renxiao. There were two important pieces of news. First, Xiao Xia's participation in the mission to Tuyuhun was arranged by the emperor, and secondly, Xiao Xia was the biggest contributor to the success of this mission to Tuyuhun.

Yang Yong was really uneasy these two days. He regarded Yang Guang as his biggest competitor. He had finally demoted Yang Guang, but he did not expect that Yang Guang would rise again five years later.

Moreover, he was very powerful when he returned. He directly used the Yun Shitai case to bring down Zhang Guo, the Minister of Dali Temple, and used the Imperial College corruption case to break the secret plan he was preparing to deal with Dou Yan.

In the past few months, Yang Guang has firmly controlled the criminal law of the Sui Dynasty in his hands. Now Yang Guang has a very powerful son who is deeply loved by his grandfather. Yang Yong feels a huge crisis.

In the study, Zhang Yunqiu, an aide to Yang Yong, said, "Your Highness, Xiao Xia is an illegitimate child after all. No matter how capable he is, he cannot be compared with other imperial grandchildren. I think it is unnecessary for Your Highness to take him too seriously."

Yang Yong shook his head. "That's because you don't understand the situation. None of my father's dozen grandsons are both civil and military. But on the Lantern Festival, Xiao Xia's archery skills were superb. Not only did he take away my father's three hundred taels of gold, but it is said that he also took first place in the poetry writing competition. That's why my father decided to send him to Tuyuhun. Once there is a first, there will be a second. Once there is a second, there will be a third. The next step is likely to be to send him to participate in the war. If he takes control of the military power step by step, he will eventually become the second son's strongest support."

Zhang Yunqiu frowned and said, "But I heard that he was in the Imperial College and didn't study hard at all. His calligraphy is not good either. How could he win first place in poetry? It's impossible. Could it be that someone is helping him behind the scenes, or that he plagiarized other people's works? If Your Highness wants to deal with Xiao Xia, the best way is to find out and falsify his facts. As long as he is proven to have cheated once, he will be completely finished in the eyes of the Emperor."

What Zhang Yunqiu said was indeed very reasonable and feasible. It was indeed a good way to nip Xiao Xia in the bud. Yang Yong nodded and said, "I haven't seen the poem he wrote, but I can find a way to find someone to copy it from the palace."

Xiao Xia returned to his own house. He knocked on the doorknob. Not long after, Old Tiantou opened the door. Seeing that it was the owner, he was immediately surprised and delighted and said, "The young master is back!"

Xiao Xia nodded, handed the horse to him and asked with a smile: "Is everyone okay?"

"All good! All good!"

Old Tiantou quickly took the horse. Xiao Xia walked into the house and saw two little girls jumping rope in the open space.

The younger one suddenly saw Xiao Xia and was so scared that she quickly hid behind her sister.

Sister Achu hurriedly stepped forward with a smile, "Young Master is back, let me help you carry your bag!"

Xiao Xia handed her the bag and asked, "Where's your mother?"

"Mom is cooking in the kitchen. Master, I guess you haven't eaten yet!"

Xiao Xia was indeed a little hungry, but was too lazy to go out, so she nodded, "Give me another bowl of noodles!"

A Chu gave his sister a few instructions, and the little girl ran to the kitchen.

Xiao Xia walked towards the back house carrying weapons, and A Chu followed behind him carrying a bag.

Walking into the backyard, Xiao Xia's eyes lit up. The originally bare mud ground was now covered with green grass. This was the task Xiao Xia gave to the mother and daughter, to plant grass and flowers for him. It happened to be spring, and the grass seeds and flower seeds were sown, and tender green grass grew.

Moreover, the trees are planted so densely that you can hardly see the mud. There is also a row of bamboos planted against the wall, which is green, pleasing to the eye and quite elegant.

"Very good!" Xiao Xia praised sincerely.

Seeing the master exaggerating, Ah Chu was very happy in his heart, a little embarrassed and said: "Mother said that building a plum blossom pavilion in the corner, with the surrounding bamboo, would be more elegant."

Xiao Xia happily said, "Wait a few days! I'll buy a ready-made pavilion and install it directly."

Xiao Xia placed the weapons and bow and arrows in an empty room, and then returned to his study, which was spotlessly clean.

He turned around and took off his armor. Ah Chu hurried over and said, "I'll help you untie the belt, sir!"

Xiao Xia's armor is more complicated than the soldiers' armor. The straps are tied behind his back, so he needs someone to help him put it on and take it off.

After taking off the armor and putting on a robe, I felt relaxed all over.

Xiao Xia sat down, and A Chu went to get hot water for Xiao Xia to wash her face and hands. A Chu's father had been lying in bed for a whole year, and she had been taking care of her father inside and out, and her movements were very skillful.

At this time, my sister Ke'er walked in carefully carrying a food box, "Master, the noodles are here!"

"I come!"

Achu quickly took the lunch box and put it on the table. He opened the box and saw a big bowl of noodles on it. They were not noodles, but long strips, quite similar to the pulled noodles in Xinjiang today. There were also two poached eggs and a big spoonful of minced meat, sprinkled with a layer of green onions. It looked very delicious.

Below were two small dishes and a small pot of warm wine. Xiao Xia picked up the chopsticks and started eating. Ke Er stood aside with her eyes wide open. She suddenly thought of something and quickly took out a folded handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Xiao Xia, "Sir, this is clean. I haven't used it yet."

"Thank you!"

Xiao Xia wiped his mouth and asked with a smile: "Do you like it here?"

"I like it!" The little girl nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

"What do you usually do when you have nothing to do?"

"Mother taught us to read and write, and also taught us to sew. Last time my socks had a small hole, I sewed it myself."

"Not bad! Not bad! Ke'er is very capable. Go and have fun! Your sister will take the bowl over later."

"I'm leaving?"

"Go!"

The little girl jumped and ran away. Xiao Xia liked this little girl very much. She was well-behaved and only three years old, but she was very sensible.

After dinner, Ah Chu brought over a pot of hot tea, "Sir, have some tea!"

Xiao Xia nodded, "Go and ask your mother to come over. I want to have a few words with her."

Soon, my mother, Chen, came over and bowed, "Master, are you looking for me?"

Xiao Xia nodded, "Let me sign an employment contract with you!"

Chen lowered her head and whispered, "We are willing to sell ourselves to you, sir!"

She had long seen that her master was a kind and forgiving man, and that selling herself into slavery would provide more security, otherwise where would she go when her contract expired?

Xiao Xia understood her thoughts. She wanted to stay here with her two daughters for a long time. Xiao Xia smiled and said, "You can sign a long-term contract first, for example, ten years. When Ah Chu and Ke Er grow up, they will get married. If the son-in-law is good, you may want to live with your daughter and son-in-law. You are a well-educated person, and I believe you don't want yourself and your children to become someone else's slaves."

Chen asked again: "If the ten years are up, should I leave?"

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "If you want to start a small business, you can leave. If you don't want to leave, you can stay and then you can sign a lifelong contract."

"Where's Ah Chu? She wants to be the young master's maid."

Just now, Ah Chu was busy running around, serving me tea and water, so I guess he had this in mind.

"Yes, I do need a maid. How about this! I'll pay you five strings of cash a month as a big worker, and A-Chu three strings of cash a month. The bonus for her doesn't count. Ke'er is too young, so she doesn't need to do any work, but I'll also pay her one string of cash a month. Her food and clothing will be provided by the mansion. If you have any requests, ask now. There are some things I can't think of."

Chen whispered, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. Can we live in the third room on the west side?"

The third room on the west side of the outer house is a suite, with two rooms inside and outside, and a very small courtyard. It belongs to the housekeeper's room. There are three such housekeeper's rooms in the outer house. The old Tiantou couple lives in the one close to the gate for convenient doorkeeping.

Xiao Xia nodded and said, "You can live in the third room of the west, but I have to be frank. No outsiders can enter my mansion. If you want to get married, it is a special case and you can terminate the contract and leave at any time. But I am a conservative person and will never allow any scandal to happen in my mansion."

Chen blushed and nodded quickly, "Please rest assured, sir, I just want to raise the child, I don't care about anything else!"

"That's fine. I'll write a contract later, and then Ah Chu will stay with me during the day and go back at night. Of course, if she wants to live in the inner house, that's fine too. I won't force her. You and your daughter can decide for yourselves."

"I understand, thank you sir!"

Xiao Xia took out fifty taels of silver, handed it to her and said, "Nine taels of silver is your advance for one month's wages. You can use the rest to buy rice and vegetables. Ask me for more when you're done."

"That's enough! That's enough! I will pay you back on time."

Chen took the silver, thanked him profusely and left.

(End of this chapter)