Lin Xiaoniang obviously didn't dare to touch Xu Xingxia's gaze, as if she had something wrong. She lowered her head and said hesitantly, "I...... She...... I ......"

The beautiful young woman beside her stepped up, bent down slightly, saluted Xu Xingxia, and then said with a smile: "Presumably, this is the world-famous Xu Xingxia Xu Gongzi, right?" Sure enough, he is a wise and martial artist, a talent. Our little lady was able to meet Xu Gongzi, but I really don't know the blessings that I have cultivated in several lifetimes. Little lady, don't you think about Xu Gongzi every day? Why did you suddenly see it, but you didn't know what to do? In front of Xu Gongzi, what is there to be shy? ”

The people around Xu Xingxia couldn't help frowning. This beautiful young woman is a bit of a big deal. She actually called Xu Xingxia's name directly. She is not called Chairman Xu Xingxia. It seems that no one has called Xu Xingxia that way for a long time. I don't know if she did it on purpose, or if she didn't know the rules at all. However, she looks like a very smart woman, how can she not even understand such a trick?

What's even more strange is that this beautiful young woman, in front of Xu Xingxia, actually has no stage fright at all. You listen to the tone of her voice, how natural it is, there is no panicked look at all. Due to Xu Xingxia's special identity, he is generally a little nervous in front of Xu Xingxia. Especially after Xu Xingxia cleaned up Mo Yuegen and Lin Dan Khan, it was even more so. The greater Xu Xingxia's power and prestige, the greater the pressure on people. However, this beautiful young woman did not feel any nervousness at all.

If you listen carefully, you can still feel that the tone of her speech has a vaguely condescending tone. This is not the condescending kind of predecessors and juniors, but ...... Differences in status. It seems that her status is higher than Xu Xingxia. Or, her previous status was higher than Xu Xingxia's. This is a ridiculous thing to do. On the ground controlled by the White Army, who else has a higher identity than Xu Xingxia?

Xu Xingxia didn't notice much about the abnormalities of the beautiful young woman. He didn't feel the hostility of this woman, and believed that she was not harmful to him, so naturally he didn't need to be vigilant. He nodded casually and said kindly: "Yes, I am Xu Xingxia." You're a relative of Xiaoniang, right? I don't know if you're ......."

Lin Xiaoniang said a little nervously: "She is my ......"

The beautiful young woman said with a smile: "I am the distant aunt of the little lady. Xu Gongzi, if you are not polite, you can also call me an aunt. In the past, our family and my mother's family moved around too little, if there are some sorry places, please bear with me. This time, when my little lady came to our house, I greeted us warmly and thoughtfully. ”

As soon as she said this, Xu Xingxia couldn't say anything. Originally, he heard Lin Xiaoniang talk about it, saying that she had no relatives, and she was naturally not very affectionate with this so-called distant aunt who suddenly appeared. You didn't recognize Xiaoniang as a relative before, why should I recognize you now. However, since she said it, Xu Xingxia couldn't have any mustard. It is very common for people to be warm and cold, and the world is hot and cold. You can't expect everyone to be so loving. Knowing that mistakes can be corrected, and good is great.

It was Lin Xiaoniang, who was said by a beautiful young woman, and her expression was very strange. Her face was blue and white, as if she was fighting fiercely in her heart. She seemed to want to say something to Xu Xingxia, but she didn't have the courage to say it. Because, when the beautiful young woman speaks, there is always a ray of afterglow in her eyes. As a result, every time she touched such a gaze, she immediately became obedient, lowered her head, and never dared to speak out again.

It's a pity that Xu Xingxia was careless and didn't notice the strange eyes of the beautiful young woman. He also thought that Lin Xiaoniang was indeed shy. Originally, Lin Xiaoniang was a docile and empathetic girl, hard-working, obedient, and most liked by his mother. As a result, during the time that Lin Xiaoniang was not at home, his mother Wang was seriously unaccustomed to it, and often talked about when Xiaoniang was. Now, Lin Xiaoniang's performance is also reasonable. It's okay, after going back this time, just forget about the round house, so as not to worry about my mother.

When Xu Xingxia thought of this, he said gently: "Little lady, you go back with me!" I am now living in the Qin Palace. Or, you go back with me now. Or, you will come to the Qin Palace's mansion to find me in a while. I have already sent someone to pick up my mother and Niuniu, Da Nan, Xiao Nan, and Dongzi. We spent the New Year in Xi'an. My mother misses you so much! ”

Lin Xiaoniang lowered her head and did not respond at all, as if she had not heard Xu Xingxia's words. However, her body trembled visibly violently, and she didn't know whether it was because of excitement or panic. Anyway, Xu Xingxia subconsciously felt that it was the former. He felt that Lin Xiaoniang had lived in the Xu family for so long, and she should have some feelings. Every time I see her and Wang together, I look very happy!

The beautiful young woman said slightly apologetically: "Young Master Xu, I will personally send the little lady to the palace in a while." We still have some things at home that we need my mother to help deal with. Xu Gongzi, you have also seen that Xiao Niang's life experience is actually not very good. Her father and mother have passed away for so long, and she has never had the opportunity to go back to her hometown to visit, and she is sad in her heart, so she doesn't know what to say. You're a man, but don't blame her for that. ”

Xu Xingxia nodded and said casually: "Of course not." How can I blame such a filial thing? The little lady is very filial. Hehe, then I'll have to worry about my aunt's arrangement. If you need help, you can all come to me. ”

The beautiful young woman said, "I'm delaying Gongzi Xu's time." Little lady, let's go. ”

As he spoke, he gently pulled Lin Xiaoniang, who was a little overwhelmed, and passed past Xu Xingxia's side. Lin Xiaoniang's body was obviously a little stiff, and she was almost dragged away by the beautiful young woman. The basket she was holding was obviously tilted, and the contents almost fell out. Fortunately, the beautiful young woman was not slow, and hurriedly took the basket and held it herself. The other hand dragged Lin Xiaoniang all the way forward.

Xu Xingxia looked back at the two of them and disappeared around the bend of the road before slowly retracting his gaze. Accidentally met Lin Xiaoniang here, which made Xu Xingxia feel that his luck was really good. Unexpectedly, the little lady is beautiful, and her aunt is also beautiful. I don't know what her aunt's identity is? Her reaction just now can be described as down-to-earth and generous, and her response is decent, and it doesn't seem like she was from a small family. Perhaps, it is a big family in Xi'an?

Suddenly, he vaguely felt that the voice of the beautiful young woman seemed to be somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere. He was sure that he must have had a close conversation with this beautiful young woman. At that time, his impression should still be very profound. Her voice is a little different from that of ordinary women, and the difference is still obvious.

"That's right, it must be like that!" The more Xu Xingxia thought about it, the more sure he became. There had definitely been a conversation between him and this beautiful young woman before. However, the worst thing is that I can't remember the details for a while. In desperation, I had to give up. The next time you have a chance, ask in person. Since she is Lin Xiaoniang's relative, she will naturally have to come and go in the future.

…… North Zhili, Jingshi, Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

As an official place for the emperor and courtiers, the Qianqing Palace was supposed to be one of the liveliest buildings in the Forbidden City. The general court meeting in the Ming Dynasty was held once every three days. Every morning meeting is basically a morning. If you encounter something particularly eventful, it may even extend into the afternoon. Or maybe it's two days in a row. Zhu Yuanzhang, Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Youzhen, Emperor Chongzhen, were the two activists who held the court meeting.

Generally speaking, at least fifty or more ministers attend each court meeting. Including the scholars of each palace, the six Shangshu, the squire, the nine qing, the five military governors' offices, the various departments to give the matter, the imperial history of the Metropolitan Inspectorate, etc. If something important is encountered, it is not impossible to expand the meeting, and it is not impossible to have two hundred ministers standing in the Qianqing Palace at the same time. The ministers were fighting with each other, quoting scriptures, fists facing each other, spitting everywhere, and they couldn't help but be lively.

However, since the Yongle Emperor, no emperor in the Ming Dynasty has been as active as their ancestors. The three-day court meeting is often changed to be held only once every five or ten days, or even once every half a month or a month. By the time of Emperor Zhengde, the court meeting was not scheduled at all. No one knows when the court meeting will be held. Emperor Zhengde was greedy for fun, and basically when he was forced to do so, he would have no choice but to convene a court meeting. This absurd emperor has no intention of dealing with political affairs at all, so even if the court meeting is held, it will be hastily concluded.

By the time of Jiajing and Wanli, the court meeting almost did not exist. These two emperors resisted the court meeting even more than Zhengde. Because of all kinds of reasons, they are basically working against hundreds of civil and military officials. Every court meeting is a game between the emperor and the civil and military officials. The emperor, who is outnumbered, naturally can't do the civil and military officials with a large number of people. In desperation, he had to hide in the deep palace and completely cancel the court meeting. As a result, the Qianqing Palace, which should have been the most lively, has become the most deserted building in the Forbidden City, and it is about to be forgotten.

Fortunately, in the last few days of the forty-fifth year of Wanli, the Qianqing Palace was lively again. Because Xu Xingxia led the army to march to Xi'an Mansion, there was a lot of uproar, and there was a situation of dividing the world, and Emperor Wanli, who was hiding in the deep palace, had to be found out, held a court meeting, and discussed countermeasures. The people who participated in the court meeting were basically all substantive Beijing officials with five grades or more. In addition to a few important ministers, there were also many new ministers.

Emperor Wanli's face was very bad. He sat on the dragon chair and felt drowsy. If it weren't for the eunuch Wang An quietly taking care of him, I was afraid that he would fall asleep on the spot. His body was getting worse and worse, and he couldn't support it for too long. However, his poor health is not for busy political affairs, but for pills.

Like Emperor Jiajing in his later years, Emperor Wanli cherished his surname more and more. He also fantasizes about immortality and continues to hold on to power. How can we live forever? The Taoists said that there is an elixir. As a result, Emperor Wanli kept eating elixir. However, in the world, how can there be an elixir of immortality? It's just a trick of the Taoists to cheat money. It's mercury and the like, and after eating a lot, it stases in the stomach, and the body can't think badly.

After the eunuch Wang Tiqian announced the start of the court meeting, Luo Sigong, the commander of the Jinyi Guard, stood up and began to describe the urgent information sent by the Shaanxi side with an expressionless face: "Eight hundred miles is urgent...... Xu reversed his march to Xi'an...... The defenders of Xi'an Mansion have been dispersed......"

The Jingguan present basically knew the news. In the late Ming Dynasty, there was a strange phenomenon, that is, the transmission of civil news was often faster than the official news. Luo Sigong only mentioned here that Xi'an Mansion was attacked, and the results are not known for the time being. However, news from the people has reached the capital, saying that the white-clothed army has taken Xi'an City. Now, the entire Shaanxi Province, except for Hanzhong Mansion, has fallen into the clutches of the white-clothed army.

This situation, of course, is impossible. Dongchang and Jinyiwei, after all, are not eating dry rice. The way they deliver information is much faster than that of the people. The reason why there will be faster civil news is, of course, because of the news blockade of the government. Many things have long been known to the high-level management, but they have just hidden them and not let the people below know about them. It wasn't until I couldn't hide it anymore that a little bit of wind would be revealed. This is true regardless of the dynasty or generation.

After Luo Sigong finished descripting, the entire Qianqing Palace was silent. They all knew that the purpose of this court meeting was to discuss how to deal with Xu Xingxia and how to clean up the mess in Shaanxi. No matter what, it is impossible for the imperial court to watch a thief take the entire northwest of the empire into his own pocket. If such a rebellious behavior is not severely punished, I am afraid that the other military towns will all be chaotic.

However, every official present also understands that this mess in the Great Northwest is not easy to clean up. Xu Xingxia is quite difficult to deal with. If you speak out, you may become a bird and be attacked by others. Now that the government is in chaos, who knows what the final result will be? Self-preservation is the key. If you lose your official hat because of the rebellion in the northwest, it will be too wronged.

Seeing that no one was silent, and the court meeting was about to be cold, Fang Congzhe, the first minister, had no choice but to say bluntly: "For the current situation in Shaanxi, what is the good strategy of the Ministry of War?" ”

Zhou Jiamo said indifferently: "No money, no food, no soldiers, what good strategy can the military department have?" If it really didn't work, the old man had to go into battle in person. Let Xu Wei compete with the old man to see who can kill whom. ”

(To be continued)