The wind passes, the clouds move.
In front of the gate of the far-reaching palace, the Royal Forest Guards stood with spears in their hands. When they saw Queen Ling who had just returned to Tiandu, they almost unanimously shuddered, cleaned up the army, and saluted at the same time.
Ye Tianling's eyebrows twitched slightly, and it was fleeting, he only raised his hand, and was not in a hurry to enter the palace, but stood quietly in front of the palace gate for a while. Fang Zhuo, who is now the commander of the Royal Forest Army, is patrolling here. He walked over quickly, and bowed forward with his sword: "I have seen Your Highness!"
The surroundings are quiet, and no one is coming and going in the entire Forbidden Palace at this time. The white jade corridor is wide and solemn, and the majestic hall is stacked and undulating.
Ye Tianling lowered his eyes to look at Fang Zhuo, but didn't even say "Excuse me", just put his hands behind his back and stared at him.
There was a kind of pressure in that gaze, Fang Zhuo couldn't understand it, looked up, Ye Tianling's eyes moved, and he looked around: "The Yulin Army is very good, I didn't disappoint this king."
Although the Imperial Forest Army is no longer in the charge of King Ling, those days in the hands of King Ling are unforgettable for every guard, Fang Zhuo said: "Your Highness's teachings, we will always remember them in our hearts."
Ye Tianling's eyes suddenly sharpened, the corners of his lips were slightly cold, and he walked towards the palace. When he turned around, Fang Zhuo heard a sentence: "Then don't forget, once the imperial guards enter the Forbidden Palace, they only worship the emperor. !"
The corner of the snow-colored robe was slightly raised, as if a sharp lightning flashed silently. Fang Zhuo suddenly realized that there was something wrong in front of him, and said in a low voice: "The last general is negligent!" He immediately backed away.
At this moment, a rush of horseshoes sounded far away, and they approached the palace gate in an instant. Ye Tianling, who had already walked a few steps, turned back when he heard the sound. His eyesight was excellent, and he saw the person coming soon after passing through the deep doorway, and his heart trembled uncontrollably. .
His eyes are as bright as stars, his figure is chic, he looks like Shi Shi very much! But who dares to gallop wildly in front of the Forbidden Palace, except for the unruly Twelve Prince Ye Tianli
The black steed was like the wind, and in the blink of an eye he was already approaching. Twelve kicked off his horse, threw the whip to the guards, and strode forward, dressed in black and black robes, sharp.
Ye Tianling stood still on the spot, he walked up to Ye Tianling and stopped, staring at him and asking, "Where's Brother Eleven?"
Ye Tianling's dark pupils shrank tightly, and he asked again, "Where's Brother Eleven?"
Ye Tianling's face turned pale, and after a while, he said slowly: "It was clearly written in the memorial three months ago, and I don't want to say it a second time."
Twelve pairs of fists were clenched tightly, his throat trembling slightly with excitement, and after looking at Ye Tianling for a long time, he asked again in a hoarse voice: "Okay, I just want to know, is it Brother Seven?"
Ye Tianling looked at him calmly, like an extremely deep night, hiding all the emotions under the sky, or, there was no emotion at all: "No."
This answer was obviously beyond Twelve's expectations. He was stunned under Ye Tianling's gaze, which seemed to pour a bucket of cold water on people's hearts, extinguishing the burning flames. He frowned, "What the hell is that?" Someone killed Brother Eleven?"
Ye Tianling's tone was still calm: "Tongda was killed in the rebellious army, Shiluo sacrificed my battle flag to destroy the Turks, Shi Zhonghou has already died, and Shao Xiubing and others are now in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. If you must investigate , you can blame me."
The frown between Twelve's eyebrows became tighter and tighter, but his clenched fists relaxed. Later, he apologized slightly: "Fourth brother, I'm sorry, I didn't come to blame you."
Ye Tianling said lightly: "I know." He turned and walked towards the Zhiyuan Hall, Twelve followed from behind: "Why do you want to excuse Seventh Brother?"
Ye Tianling walked slowly: "I'm not interested in making excuses for others."
Twelve said: "Isn't it because the reinforcements came late that you were trapped in Yanliang?"
Ye Tianling said: "If it were me, I might not be able to arrive a moment earlier in that situation. The seventh brother tried his best."
Twelve hates said: "Since the Yin family has made a move, how can he stay out of it?"
Ye Tianling said: "Sometimes a Yin family is not the whole of Prince Zhan's mansion."
Twelve Yi's reckless eyes showed a chill like ice: "But I will never let the Yin family go."
Ye Tianling stepped up the jade steps on the last floor of the main hall, and suddenly stopped. The thin clouds parted and the sun gradually shone. Standing on a high place where the breeze was blowing, he turned to look at Twelve: "Twelve Brothers, don't let the Su family get involved in anything."
Twelve glanced at him, and suddenly smiled: "Fourth Brother, since the day Eleventh Brother and you were inseparable, the Su family has stood behind you, don't you know? Father has long acquiesced to this , don't you know?"
Ye Tianling's expression was indifferent, and he was never shocked by these words: "I know, but I don't need it." After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked away with long strides. in the hall.
Walking along the two rows of flying dragons soaring into the clouds, the breeze moves slowly, and the layers of quietly hanging golden curtains occasionally reveal complicated and delicate embroidery patterns. As it became quieter, it seemed that the ever-burning lamps on the nine-branched beaded pedestals on both sides gradually brightened.
Sun Shi stepped forward and bowed to salute, Ye Tianling nodded slightly, and stepped into the announcement room, a slender shadow appeared on the smooth black jade floor.
"Son, see father."
On the couch in front of Yunlong Jinyu, the Emperor of Heaven closed his eyes and half leaned back, "Ling'er, it's you who came back?"
Ye Tianling said: "Yes, father."
"I'm back." The Heavenly Emperor seemed to sigh and asked, "Did you go to Lianchi Palace to meet your mother and concubine?"
Sun Shi was startled, and couldn't help but look towards King Ling. A clean figure is reflected on the ground, with black boots and white clothes, and above that is a blurred expression, as if hidden behind layers of water mist, which cannot be seen clearly or penetrated.
But I heard Ye Tianling's calm voice: "Go back to the emperor, at three o'clock today, the son escorted the coffin of the mother and concubine to move into the Dongling, and the report of the Ministry of Rites has been submitted to the imperial court."
The unwavering answer seemed to be in the correct format of the monarch and his ministers. As soon as the words fell, there was a breathless silence in the hall. After a long time, I heard the Emperor of Heaven say: "Oh... I forgot, Lian Er It's gone."
The Emperor of Heaven sat up and slowly stretched out his hand to push away the half-hanging clouds. Sun Shi hurriedly stepped forward to help him. The Emperor of Heaven looked at Ye Tianling's plain white robe and handsome and cold eyes. After a while, he said slowly: "Ling'er, You are very much like your mother and concubine, you are born with a cold temper, very stubborn, and you should change it." He stood up, waved Sun Shi away, and stepped off the dragon couch.
Ye Tianling said quietly: "I would like to follow the teachings of my father."
The Emperor of Heaven walked in front of him, his eyes fell on his expressionless face, "You are very much like me." He put his hand on Ye Tianling's shoulder, expressing emotion.
Ye Tianling felt a little surprised, subconsciously raised his eyes, his heart trembled uncontrollably. He never thought that his father was so old, and he was a different person from half a year ago. His eyes, which were always majestic and divine, seemed to be blocked by an inexplicable emptiness, slow and lifeless. The deep scars reveal the traces of time, and the hands supporting his shoulders are weak, and it almost depends on his strength to support them.
Originally, even if he was a prince, he couldn't stand side by side with the Emperor of Heaven like this, but Ye Tianling felt that as long as he lost this support, the Emperor of Heaven might fall down at any time, so he just lowered his eyes slightly: "Father Emperor."
The Emperor of Heaven seemed to be scrutinizing him, and continued: "Lian'er won't forgive me after all, but she left you to me, that's fine."
The corners of Ye Tianling's lips were holding the invisible sharpness, like a trace of thin ice on the lake in early winter, slightly cold. However, his voice was still steady: "This time, my son has let my father down."
The Emperor of Heaven sat down with the support of Sun Shi: "Anlan in the middle of Shu, the four vassals were pacified, and Mobei expanded for three thousand miles. You have done a good job."
Ye Tianling was silent for a moment, "I'm so ashamed to mobilize people so much but not complete the effort."
The Emperor of Heaven only waved his hand to stop him from blaming himself, but asked, "Have you ever been to Riguo City?"
Ye Tianling said: "My son has been there."
"En." The Emperor of Heaven closed his eyes lightly, and said slowly, "I remember that Riguo City is a beautiful place."
Ye Tianling said, "Yes."
The Emperor of Heaven stopped talking, and seemed to be trapped in a very distant memory.
The light gauze flying to the sky is a trace of smoke like a cloud in the green shadows of the jungle, the singing is like a spring, and the silver bells are tinkling.
The setting sun in the ancient city, the sound of corners and horns, and the battle flags are unfurling, and I saw the gaze looking back at the wind, snow-clothed and plain, ethereal in the long yellow sand sky.
There is a stack of unread chapters on the long case, and the top one is the memorial presented by the Ministry of Rites not long ago. Through the long carved windows, the shadow of the setting sun is reflected on the ground little by little, the dust shadow is floating, and the time is turning and passing in the silent years.
"Your Majesty." After an unknown amount of time, Sun Shi cautiously asked, "Prime Minister Feng and Prime Minister Wei are already here, do you still see us today?"
The Emperor of Heaven opened his eyes, and Sun Shi said again: "It is said that there is a military report."
"Let them in."
Feng Yan and Wei Zongping were somewhat surprised to see King Ling was there at this time, and Yin Jianzheng was naturally more deliberate. Sun Shi received the battle report from the Ministry of War, and the Heavenly Emperor paused on it, "Ling'er."
Sun Shi had served the Emperor of Heaven for decades, and when he heard the sound, he knew what he meant, and turned around to hand the battle report to King Ling. Yin Jianzheng frowned.
Ye Tianling turned a blind eye to everyone's expressions, and after reading the battle report, he said simply: "Father, the Western Turks are dead."
It's a good news, King Zhan's army won consecutive battles and defeated the capital of the Western Turkic King. The Turkic clan has been in Mobei for decades, and has suffered thousands of deaths and injuries, almost completely destroyed. The few surviving people have gone far into the depths of the desert, exiled for thousands of miles, and have been devastated ever since. The iron cavalry of the Celestial Dynasty drank the vast sea of horses and galloped in Mobei, and there was no rival in sight.
There was no slight fluctuation in Ye Tianling's voice, he seemed to have expected the result, and the Emperor of Heaven did the same, but the few ministers present followed Gong Song's words.
"Well," the Emperor of Heaven nodded and pondered for a moment: "The war has been going on for a long time, and it's time to withdraw the troops."
The short number has caused people with different thoughts to speculate. The movement of the army is related to whether the military power will stay or not. Wei Zongping and Yin Jianzheng secretly exchanged a look. The food and grass consumed by the army every month has already strained the national treasury, so the emperor's grace and the refraining from fighting are truly a wise move."
Yin Jianzheng went on to say: "Your Majesty, we are worried about the lack of food, grass and military supplies, and the state has what we need. How dare the ministers not do their best to share your worries!"
Wei Zongping also said respectfully: "Northern Xinjiang is initially settled, and people's hearts are floating. Your Majesty, is it too early to withdraw the troops at this time?"
The Emperor of Heaven closed his eyes and didn't look at them. He just listened to these words, as if he was waiting for something else. Everyone fell silent, Ye Tianling returned the battle report in his hand to Sun Shi, and Fang Xuxu said: "Father, my son thinks that Northern Xinjiang must take this opportunity to rectify the Western Regions, otherwise it will be a chance for Tubo to become big. That Chi Lang Lun Zanfei is something in the pool, he will not be willing to stay under others for a long time, if he is allowed to unite with the countries of the Western Regions, it is difficult to guarantee that he will not be the second Turkic."
As soon as this remark came out, even Feng Yan couldn't help looking at him, and Wei Zongping couldn't hide his surprise even more. Ye Tianling let go of such a good opportunity to check and balance the military power, and the big words they had already thought up fell through.
The sword is out of the sheath, and suddenly loses the opponent. After a while of relaxation, Yin Jianzheng is not happy but worried. Isn't it the most terrifying opponent who can't figure out the invisible opponent
But no matter what, if he can firmly hold the military power in his hands, and King Zhan's civil and military prowess can be fully displayed in the world, it will be expected by everyone.
At this time, the Emperor's eyes fell on Ye Tianling's solemn expression, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face, and the wrinkles on the corners of his lips became more and more deep, "You mean to take soldiers from the Western Regions?"
"Yes, soldiers. Taking advantage of this victory, the troops cross the border to demonstrate their military might and warn the countries in the Western Regions not to act rashly, otherwise the Turks will set a precedent."
"Bingzhe, it's a bit tougher, stationed in Ganzhou, let King Zhan go on an envoy." The Emperor closed his eyes again: "Do you have any objections?"
"The minister seconded the proposal!"
"The minister seconded the proposal."
"Sir, second."
After a moment of silence in the hall, the Heavenly Emperor raised his hand, Sun Shi bowed slightly, and everyone knelt down and left the announcement room one by one.
Standing on the steps of Zhiyuan Hall, Feng Yan watched Ling Wang Xiu Ting's back calmly going away in the golden light of the setting sun, and there was a little thought in his eyes that were always flattered. After decades of ups and downs, he knows the Emperor of Heaven very well, but after that, will he be able to grasp King Ling's mind like he understands the Emperor of Heaven
"Let King Zhan continue to command the military power and deter the Western Regions?" The slow and soft voice echoed slightly in the quiet room of Prince Xi's mansion. It didn't seem to require too much effort, but it made people feel as if they were stuffed into a handful of ice and snow. After a long time, there is still a trace of coolness, condensed and lingering.
Hu Sanniang leaned lazily nearby, with red silk around her waist and long silk stretching across the ground, outlining a graceful figure, with a pair of deep and beautiful eyes like silk, she looked at her quietly. The person who spoke was sitting opposite to King Xi, dressed in clean gray clothes, with a thin figure, and there was no emotion between his words and deeds. He seemed to have a calm expression no matter what he talked about. Compared with this However, the hand on the case is more able to express the true thoughts of the owner.
The white and smooth hands are well maintained. At this time, the slender middle finger is slowly touching the table, but the index finger is slightly bent and pressed against the thumb. Due to the force, the originally soft joints are slightly protruding, which means that the owner of the hand is Think about a difficult problem.
After a while, the man in gray raised his eyes slightly, a pair of narrow and seductive eyes flashed, the surging bright light was almost dazzling, although it was fleeting, it made the originally plain face instantly The appearance is very different, giving birth to seductive temptation. Hu Sanniang was stunned for a moment, and the hand that had been rubbing the shoulders for King Xi stopped involuntarily, feeling a chill in her heart. If these eyes were born on a woman, I don’t know how many men can be turned upside down, how many souls can be seduced, but it’s just born on such a man, it always makes people feel uneasy, it’s too bewitching, even she, who is used to the wind and the moon, is a bit afraid Can't stand it!
"Your Highness," the man spoke again, clearly as a counselor, without any respect for the Lord in his tone, "Could it be that you want to compete with King Ling for the military power?"
Ye Tianxi was fiddling with a black scabbard dagger seemingly carelessly, "Mr. Zhuang doesn't know what the weight of military power is?"
Zhuang Sanliu seemed to sneer, without a smile on his face, and even the slightly mocking cold voice could not be heard clearly, "I have already warned His Highness, don't take the idea of taking military power from King Ling, don't say it is You alone, even if all the people add up, are no match for King Ling."
"Oh?" Ye Tianxi seemed to be familiar with Zhuang Sanliu's attitude, but didn't care too much: "Isn't this statement exaggerated?"
Zhuang Sanliu's eyes drooped slightly, and the coquettish edge of a blade disappeared instantly: "Ye Tianling is an invincible god in the eyes of the soldiers of the Celestial Dynasty, and the military soul they worship and follow. What is in front of you is nothing more than a piece of paper inlaid with gold, and a piece of carved stone that looks better. Knowing yourself and the enemy can win every battle, so does your Highness still know so little about your opponent?"
Ye Tianxi frowned: "Could it be that you just watch the military power fall and remain indifferent?"
Zhuang Sanliu's face was expressionless, and his face was as quiet as stagnant water. What he couldn't suppress was a bit of mockery in his eyes: "What do you want to do, Your Highness? In terms of military achievements, you are not as good as King Ling, and only Jingji Wei can still be used in your hands; Prestige, you are not as good as King Zhan, and you have no influence on the official family; in terms of background alone, you are not as good as King Ji, and the empress Ding has been in the palace for 30 years. Up to now, he is still only a talented person. It is not your Highness's turn to seize the military power, unless King Ling and King Zhan are both injured, your Highness, you have no chance to be that superior."
With such straightforward and merciless words, Ye Tianxi suddenly raised his eyes, piercing straight like a sword. Zhuang Sanliu still didn't change his expression, but the strangeness in his eyes became more and more sinister.
Ye Tianxi's palm holding the dagger gradually tightened, and a blue vein on his forehead twitched slightly, but in just a short moment, his expression returned to calm, "If that's the case, didn't you find the wrong person?"
Zhuang Sanliu looked coldly at Ye Tianxi restraining his anger, and said in a nonchalant tone: "Since I found Your Highness, I have my reasons. At least Your Highness, you are smarter than King Ji, and you are more ruthless than King Zhan. You secretly win Nagato Gang and Bixuege gangs colluded with the Turks, framed Chi Shu, threatened Shi Zhonghou, instigated a conflict between the Gyeonggi Division and the Yulin Army, and then made trouble for the prince, and used the case of Tianwu Zuifang to impeach King Zhan. Your Highness has done these things seamlessly and brilliantly! But if you want to deal with King Ling, I have already said that no one can beat the sword in his hand when you mount a horse and enter the court, and no one can gain a bit more advantage than him when you dismount. Your Highness may wish to write down my words, there is no other way to deal with King Ling except to use extraordinary means."
Hearing Zhuang Sanliu's past events clearly, the depths of Ye Tianxi's pupils slowly tightened, and a murderous intent loomed in them. It's just that the more angry he got, he brought a smile on his face: "Extraordinary means? For example, Concubine Lian?"
"Concubine Lian?" Zhuang Sanliu's gloomy words were chilling: "Concubine Lian is at most just stopping King Ling's footsteps for a moment. It is unknown whether she can provoke him to fight with King Zhan. Don't blame me for not reminding Your Highness. That imperial doctor has a lot of dreams in the night, and with King Ling's methods, he will notice something strange sooner or later, it's better to act first!"
Although Ye Tianxi hated Zhuang Sanliu's way of speaking, she never showed anything on that gentle face. It is good that the person in front of him is arrogant and domineering, but every sentence he said is the truth. The ugly and harsh truth is followed by insidious ideas. At least for now, King Ling has broken an arm, plus the pain of losing his mother... Falling against such a powerful enemy is like clearing the way forward. This Zhuang Sanliu obviously hated King Ling, he was very worried, and he knew it very well. Not only King Ling, but he is well aware of any disturbances in the situation in the court, and he reacts accordingly, and every time he gets a miraculous effect. The Zhuang family in Wuzhou had never heard of such a person. His thoughtful eyes could not help but fall on Zhuang Sanliu's rigid and ruthless face. It's a fine human skin mask, so lifelike, it's almost unreal, even if you look closely, you can't see it, but the mask is just to tell you, I don't want you to know who I am, so you don't have to be here A lot of thought on Zhang's face.
Zhuang Sanliu knew that Ye Tianxi was sizing him up, but he seemed confident and didn't take it seriously. He glanced at Hu Sanniang, and asked arrogantly, "Isn't that woman behind His Highness only able to squeeze her shoulders and beat her legs?"
When Hu Sanniang met his gaze, she felt as if a cold hand was approaching, it was unspeakably weird, she settled down, water snake twisted her waist, moved closer to King Xi, and said in a flattering voice : "Mr. Zhuang, if Sanniang hadn't recognized Mingyan's dead girl in Lianchi Palace, how could it be so easy for you to know the relationship between Queen Ling's mother and son?"
Zhuang Sanliu snorted coldly: "The matter that I wanted to find out from Lianchi Palace came to nothing, but Concubine Lian is already dead, and you have nothing to do with the one who is left alive. You can even deal with a woman who has no resistance. No, when His Highness got you out of the prison of the Gyeonggi Division, did you have such little expectations?"
Hu Sanniang's beautiful eyes stared slightly, and she was about to explode, but was caught by Ye Tianxi, and she held back. Zhuang Sanliu saw it in his eyes and turned a blind eye: "Although the Changmen Gang was destroyed in the hands of King Zhan, the Jade Blood Pavilion is intact. Your Highness must have understood the extraordinary means I mentioned?"
Ye Tianxi's eyes flashed brightly: "You mean..."
"The most relaxing opponent in this world is a dead person." Zhuang Sanliu left this sentence, got up and said, "Since your Highness understands what I mean, Zhuang will wait and see. But don't forget, Your Highness, no matter you What method should I use to not touch the woman next to King Ling, she is mine."
Ye Tianxi watched Zhuang Sanliu walk away, and after the arrogant figure disappeared completely, his eyes suddenly became fierce, and he waved his hand suddenly. With a sharp whistle, the dagger in his hand pierced through the exquisite flower window and hit the atrium directly, and entered without a handle on a tree with a thick bowl mouth. twitter.
Hu Sanniang was also taken aback, she came back to her senses and said softly: "I don't know who this Zhuang Sanliu is, and he doesn't know the heights of heaven and earth, so why should His Highness get angry with him?"
Ye Tianxi's face was gloomy, and he said fiercely: "No matter who he is, this king will let him die one day without a place to bury him!"
Hu Sanniang wrapped her soft and boneless hands around his neck, and exhaled like blue: "Your Highness, calm down. On the day of the Ninth Five-Year Plan, who will not be in His Highness's hands? At that time, Your Highness will let him die in the middle of the night." Even Yan Luo didn't dare to let him go until the fifth watch."
Ye Tianxi calmed down a little, and pinched her small chin with her backhand. Hu Sanniang closed her eyes to greet her, and offered a sweet kiss.
In the lingering spring, Ye Tianxi opened his eyes coldly, without showing any confusion of indulging in gentleness, his eyes were dark and frighteningly sober.
Military power, how could he give up willingly! Even if King Ling is eradicated by extraordinary means and usurped the throne, King Zhan who now holds a heavy army is always the most terrifying threat. Once he broke the boat and forced the imperial capital, how could the officials of the official clan sit idly by? The center is in chaos, what kind of situation will that be
However, it never occurred to him that this defiant Zhuang Sanliu wanted to stir up the muddy waters of the day for what? Is it just for the woman next to King Ling