Just after the second watch, Yige City, which was noisy during the day, quieted down, and the bustle faded away.
The two brightly lit lanterns in front of King Ling's Mansion in Shangjiufang illuminate the stone lions at the entrance, and the snow on the roadside is also glowing red.
The Qingshi road is long, and the night sky is a bit rare clear, with a few stars shining down, which seem to match the snow shadow, adding a bit of coolness.
A carriage quietly stopped at the back door of Prince Ling's Mansion. When the curtain of the carriage moved, a man got out, wrapped in a blue cloak, and his face could not be seen clearly. Someone came forward at the door and said in a low voice, "Princess!"
Qing Chen pulled off the hood on the cloak, revealing a plain and plain face. She looked at the man through the light in front of the door, a little surprised, and smiled: "It's you?"
That person was Han Qing, the young man she and Ye Tianling rescued on the street that day. At this time, he was dressed as a door attendant and gave her a big gift: "After that day, I have never had a chance to thank the princess for saving my life. Please accept the princess's favor." Han Qing bows!"
Qing Chen looked at Han Qing and saw that he was neither humble nor overbearing, polite, well-spoken, and well-behaved. It was a pity to be a door attendant, so he asked, "Did the Fourth Highness order you to be a door attendant in the palace?"
Han Qing said: "Yes."
"Why?"
"Your Highness didn't say anything."
A slight smile flashed in Qing Chen's eyes, and he asked again: "I heard from the Fourth Highness that you are not only able to read and write, but also write well. Do you feel wronged or hard to do such an errand? If so, I can talk to him. "
Han Qing shook his head and said: "As a human being, he started to accept people and treat things. Han Qing doesn't think it's hard work, even if it's hard work, he can hone his mind. Thank you Princess for taking care of me."
Qing Chen nodded, and when he reached the inner courtyard of the palace, Han Qing stopped in his tracks: "There are rules in the palace. We are not allowed to enter the place where His Highness reads books and discusses affairs without being summoned. Princess, please come in."
Qing Chen entered the inner courtyard by himself, Yan Xi was already there, he brought Qing Chen to Ye Tianling's study, Qing Chen lowered his head and entered the room along the drawn brocade curtain.
In the study room, there are a few simple old wooden bookcases standing in front of them, full of books and documents, a young man wearing a scholar's turban is holding a book and looking through it, and Ye Tianling is sitting and talking with a few people beside him.
Qing Chen glanced at it, and apart from Mo Buping, he also recognized one of them as Chu Yuanjing, the imperial censor of Taiyuan. He was released as a foreign official for two years at a young age, and then transferred back to Beijing to be promoted to Yushitai. He is also the son-in-law of the general Feng Si. At this time, Mo Buping and Chu Yuanjing saw her, got up and said, "I have seen the princess."
The young scholar next to the bookcase heard the words and threw the book away, and when he turned his head, he saw a faint ink and wash face facing him under the green clothes, but there was a trace of seductive Gaohua, a pair of sharp and calm eyes with a faint cry The luster that people dare not look at is like a bright black gemstone under the sun. People are stunned. After being dumbfounded, they stepped forward to salute: "This is Princess Qingping?"
Qing Chen smiled slightly, lightly pulled back his skirt to return the salute, and said generously: "Mr. Mo and Master Chu have met before, dare to ask these two..."
Ye Tian Ling Qingjun's eyes lingered on Qing Chen's face for a moment, with a happy expression: "I said earlier that there are a few talents I want to introduce to you." Pointing to the young scholar: "Jiangnan Lu Qian."
Qing Chen was stunned: "But Lu Qian, who is famous all over the south of the Yangtze River for his poems at the age of five, is known as the world's most talented man?"
Lu Qian smiled and said: "The princess is joking, it's just a joke when I was a child. Brother Chu and Du are here. How dare Lu Qian be called a genius?"
Qing Chen's pretty eyes lit up, and he looked at the person beside Chu Yuanjing: "So, is this the 'crazy number one scholar' Du Junshu?"
Du Junshu laughed, with an unruly attitude, and he was really a bit crazy: "Du Junshu is now just a small staff member in the residence of the Fourth Highness, where did he come from?"
This Du Junshu was the number one scholar in the Golden Division hand-picked by the Emperor of Heaven in the eighteenth year of Shengwu. The Emperor of Heaven reprimanded him, but he actually took up his post and left, vowing that he would never serve as an official in the court in this life.
Qing Chen looked at Ye Tianling with a smile, wondering how he managed to recruit such a wild character under his command. These two people in Tiandu in the south of the Yangtze River are the top literati today. Like Chu Yuanjing, they are both outstanding figures who encourage innovation and reform. They are exactly what Ye Tianling needs, and they are bound to do something in the future.
Qing Chen said: "I've heard about these two great names for a long time, and I'm finally lucky enough to meet them today."
Unexpectedly, Du Junshu stood up and bowed to Qing Chen with his head in his pocket: "Although Du has never met the princess by fate, I have heard that the Fourth Highness often mentions that he admires the princess very much. Please be respected by Du."
Qing Chen was taken aback, and quickly turned sideways and said, "I'm ashamed to accept it." However, since Ye Tianling could often mention himself to Du Junshu, he knew that this person was his confidant and adviser, so he couldn't help but look at Du Junshu a little more. But seeing that although he behaved indistinctly, he seemed to be insane in his common clothes and long gown, but he couldn't hide the roughness in his chest. Compared with Mo Buping's deep and steady thoughts, he was more suave and mad. And that Jiangnan Luqian, who has a poetic spirit in his stomach, is young, but his eyes are shining brightly, and he is also a resourceful person. He turned his head and smiled at Ye Tianling.
Ye Tianling met her eyes, and raised his eyebrows: "This crazy number one scholar didn't get his name for nothing, you will know it after a while, so don't pay attention to him."
Du Junshu insisted on paying homage: "A year ago, during the great epidemic, the princess rescued tens of thousands of people in Beijing, and Muyuantang did good deeds every day. Du's worship is to thank the princess on behalf of the people."
Qing Chen said with a smile: "If you want to thank, His Highness Xie Si is the right way. He paid for the money of Muyuan Hall, and most of the people were recommended by him, just like Zhang Dingshui, the old genius doctor. How can I ask for it? "
Du Jun said: "Du has already given up his heart to His Highness, and now Mr. Mo and the princess are helping each other, so why worry about the uncertainty of the world?"
Mo Buping stroked the five willow beards: "There is still a dangerous road in the court, Princess, now the Emperor of Heaven has abolished the crown prince, do you have any plans?"
The jade face reflected by the lights was as quiet as still water, and Qing Chen said indifferently: "Although the Emperor of Heaven has abolished the prince, he still has only one prince in his heart. When a person is old, it is inevitable that he will not be vigilant in his position. Serve with sincerity, filial piety, and love for brothers. It's the way."
Lu Qian said: "This is the reason to stop with silence. Today, His Highness is pleading for the prince, which is the right step."
Qing Chen took a look at Ye Tianling, his steep face was hidden by the candlelight, casting a faint shadow of arrogance, only the corners of his lips were sharp like a blade, clearly visible.
Now Ye Tianling's life experience is only known to her and Mo Buping. Sincere filial piety to his father, friendship and brotherhood are just a few words for others, but for him there is a chasm and abyss. Is it possible to pass in one step. These days in the court hall and palace, he has hidden himself so deeply, his words and deeds are as if nothing happened, how much grief and hatred is suppressed in his heart under the words, kneeling in the heavy snow outside the Zhiyuan Palace, what is he thinking
In the shadow of the lamp, Ye Tianling moved slightly, his deep eyes seemed to end the night without end, and he said coldly: "Sooner or later there will be chaos in northern Xinjiang, how can I allow the elder brother to go far to Zhuozhou, just to see the expression on the face of the Marquis of Bei Yan?" , wasted a suit of culture."
Chu Yuanjing frowned and said, "It's just that King Zhan is unexpected."
Du Jun said: "King Zhan has long been famous as a courteous and corporal among officials and scribes. Now that Empress Yin is by his side, he is still married to Jin's family. His power cannot be underestimated."
But Lu Qian suddenly laughed and said, "It's too high. The clearer you act, the higher you go, the more you will cause trouble." Qing Chen glanced at him when he heard the words, and he was really clear. people.
Mo Buping nodded and said: "King Zhan is in the Ming Dynasty, but His Royal Highness the Ninth Prince is very deep. This time, the prince's matter has been secretly raised several times. I am afraid that there will be some calculations in the future. There is also King Ji, he and His Highness Ninth Prince are both relatives of Queen Mincheng According to the theory of elder and younger, he is still the head of the kings."
Chu Yuanjing said: "King Ji is brave, but impatient, and the emperor once said that it is difficult for him to become a handsome talent. Since he has such a judgment, how can he be handed over to Sheji?"
Du Junshu went on to say: "His Royal Highness Nine manages the business in many ways, but the biggest bargaining chip in his hand is the Feng family." After finishing speaking, he looked at Qing Chen.
Originally, Qing Chen only listened to their discussion, but when he saw Du Junshu's opinion, he smiled slightly: "It's bright or dark, it's just a layer of separation. Since he wants to be in the dark, if you push him to a higher place, it will naturally become clear."
"I would like to hear the details." Du Jun said.
Qing Chen's phoenix eyes were clear, and a faint brilliance flashed across: "The position of the crown prince will not be vacant for a long time. After a while, the emperor of heaven will definitely ask all the ministers to re-establish the crown. At that time, I will elect the Ninth Highness together. I am not afraid of the crowd. Ninth Highness They won’t let go of such a good opportunity, so far it’s still unclear.”
"In this way, what if he is really established?" Lu Qian asked.
The jade face is calm, Qing Chen's cherry lips are shallow, and a beautiful arc is swept under the light and shadow: "How can it be easy for King Zhan? The Ninth Highness adds a stroke here, and the two sides will compete impartially. What's more, immediately If they don’t stand up, who will stand up, after all, it’s only in the heart of the Heavenly Emperor, what will the Heavenly Emperor think about them?”
Several people were silent, Ye Tianling kept silent under the lights, thoughtful. Raising his eyes by chance, he met Qing Chen who was also looking at him. His eyes were finely lacquered with autumn water-like clarity, which made his heart move slightly, and he had the illusion of being soft to the bone. There was also a clearness in the eyes, a bit gentle and gentle, with sword eyebrows flying, just looking at the beautiful woman under the clear candle with a serious smile.
Du Junshu and Lu Qian looked at each other, and said: "Snipes and clams are fighting each other, but the key to doing things is still in the Feng family. Since the founding of the country, the Feng family has been married to the royal family for generations, and it is the head of the official family. When the Emperor of Heaven came to the throne, it was the Feng family." Li Bao, if he leans to either side, even the Emperor of Heaven will be unable to restrain his power. Prime Minister Feng's words and actions are of great importance, Empress Mincheng is the cousin of Feng Xianggu, and His Highness Ninth Prince is the son-in-law of Empress Mincheng and also the son-in-law of Feng Xiang. May the Lord give Du a word?"
Qing Chen raised his eyes, and the lights flickered in his eyes. No matter what he said, she was still from the Feng family.
However, Feng's family is like a bottomless pool of deep water. She and Feng Yan, the "father and daughter", tried and weighed each other, but neither of them could figure out the other. How can she give this sentence
Reluctantly raising her eyebrows, she didn't know how to answer Du Junshu, but Ye Tianling said, "I have my own concerns with Prime Minister Feng." It seemed that she was protected from Feng's house, so there was less embarrassment.
Qing Chen smiled: "It doesn't matter. The Feng family has relied on marriage for generations. Xianwu is dead, and Luan Fei is also gone. If I guess right, the Feng family will wait and see for a while. After all, in Feng Yan's view , in this matter, he only has one pawn in his hand."
Du Junshu and Lu Qian were surprised when Qing Chen called Xiang Xiang by his name, but the meaning in Qing Chen's words was very clear.
Ye Tianling's heart was moved slightly by these words, and he said: "Although the power of the official family is powerful for a while, there is also a prosperity and a decline. Now the matter of the crown prince is nothing to say, but the four feudal clans must be vigilant. When the center moves, the four feudal clans must watch Chaos due to opportunity is a good opportunity to withdraw the vassals. After cutting the four vassals, the Central Plains will be unified without any worries, and only then can we let go of the rectification of foreign invasions and completely eliminate the years of military troubles."
In one word, he put his eyes on the long-term, and the Baishi foundation was outlined in front of him, and he dismissed the reserve position that everyone was focusing on at this time. The profound self-confidence between the brows seems to be in the palm of your hand, and the point of the finger is already thousands of miles away.
Mo Buping nodded and said: "What Your Highness said is that the four feudal clans are not without constant troubles, and sooner or later this reserve position will be like an empty title."
Chu Yuanjing thought to himself, this remark also showed that the official family must decline. Most of the civil servants in this dynasty came from the families of nobles and nobles, and they were hereditary. Since King Ling took charge of the military department, he only talked about military merits, regardless of family background, and promoted a large number of poor families. The official family has been in power for a long time, and sooner or later there will be another four vassals. With Ling Wang just cold and sharp, how can they be allowed to sit big? This also made him and some new civil servants willing to follow him, because the master in front of him was different from other princes, and he had already had a majestic attitude of wielding a sword and a lofty ambition to innovate and rule. He surrenders.
There was no sound, and the night was getting darker. Ye Tianling looked out of the dark window and said, "Do as the Princess said."
Several people understood, and they all said flatly: "Your Highness, it's already the third watch, and I should go back later." They raised their eyes at Lu Qian and said goodbye together.
Before Du Junshu left, he took a deep look at Qingchen, remembering that a few years ago, he was wildly criticizing the women in the world with King Ling after drinking, and no one could catch his eyes. At that time, did you ever think that there is such a woman in the world who makes people's hearts admirable? Now Ling Wang is deeply in love, and the fate is so delicate that it is indescribable. Thinking of this, I feel refreshed, put my hand on Lu Qian's shoulder and said: "Brother Lu, life is happy, if you don't get drunk tonight, you won't return!"
Lu Qian had long been used to his casualness, so he chuckled and said, "Brother, please accompany me." He went side by side with him.