This year is not destined to be peaceful. Towards the end of the year, following the ambush of the Eastern Tartar mission, which shocked the court and the opposition, another rumor about the commander-in-chief of Beiyan quietly spread among the dignitaries in the capital—
Jingning Hou Fushen is fond of Longyang, and has the habit of splitting his sleeves.
This news is strange, but when you think about it, there are quite a few things that can be scrutinized. Moreover, people are always afraid to use the most obscene speculation to complete the "truth". It didn't take long for Fu Shen's love history since he joined the army to spread vividly throughout the family of Duke Hou Xungui, and even became a topic of conversation for some people after dinner.
In Da Zhou, liking male style is not a particularly extraordinary thing, and the world is also very tolerant of this. But this kind of thing happens to a general who holds military power, and it is not just a simple "hobby".
In the previous dynasty, the name of the country was "Yue", and the country lasted for more than a hundred years. Among them, there was an emperor who was famous for the ages, and the temple name was Suzong.
Emperor Suzong favored a beauty surnamed Han when he was sneaking into the mansion. After he ascended the throne, he not only made Han a noble concubine, but also her father, brother and younger brother. Concubine Han's younger brother was named Han Cang, and history records her "beautiful appearance, like a good girl, with the quality of a pearl and jade". Han Cang entered Luan Yiwei because of his sister, and showed his face in front of the emperor during a trip with his car. Suzong fell in love with him at first sight. After returning to the palace, he could not forget it for a long time. He even disregarded the worldly ethics and welcomed Han Cang into the palace. Your Majesty", a noble concubine, so that two sisters and younger sisters serve the same monarch.
There has never been such a precedent in the Dayue Dynasty. Up to the court, down to the common people, all of them were shaken. Civil and military officials were incessantly admonishing them.
Although Suzong was a world-shattering lover, aside from this heavy identity, he was first and foremost an emperor and the head of a country. He couldn't bear to be pointed at by a group of rice buckets who were worried about a little bit of private affairs. In a fit of anger, the skilled emperor issued a central decree, permitting public officials, scholars and officials to take male concubines, and officials above the sixth rank and noble clansmen to marry male wives, the same as regular wives.
What is good above, must be worse below. As soon as this case was opened, most of the people in the court were watching, but many literati regarded the cutting of sleeves as an elegant thing, so the folks followed suit. During the nearly thirty years of Emperor Suzong's reign, none of the ministers dared to petition for the abolition of this order.
It was not until the previous dynasty became increasingly weak that Xuanzong, who was in power at the time, felt that the south wind prevailed, which violated the laws of nature and ethics, resulting in a poor population, a sharp decline in the population, and difficulties in harvesting. Only then did he decree to prohibit civil male-male marriages, and ordered male concubines to return home. , to return the deed, and re-register the account. However, male wives have not been completely abolished. Xuanzong not only allowed men with the status of regular wives to stay in the husband's family, but also specially left a decree: anyone who is a six-rank official and above, a prince, a nobleman, and a royal family, who are willing to marry If a man is the right wife, he can be proud of his affection, and he will be honored as the Son of Heaven and given a marriage match.
This decree became Xuanzong's trump card to check and balance powerful officials and nobles. Especially for those nobles with hereditary titles, marrying a male wife means that there is no direct son, no one inherits the title, and will be taken back by the court after death.
After the demise of Dai Viet, this soft knife that kills without blood is still in use today because of its outstanding effect. Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there have been more than a dozen ministers who have been given marriage by the emperor, all of whom are high-ranking people who have troubled the situation.
The commander-in-chief of the Beiyan Army, the Marquis of Jingning, and the eldest son of Duke Ying, no matter who they are, are most afraid of the word "broken sleeve".
How many people are staring at him, the emperor is worried that he has no excuse to consolidate the military power in his hands, how can rumors spread at this juncture
Fu Shen lives at home and does not walk around with his relatives and friends. Naturally, he has no way of learning about these rumors. His subordinates have heard too many unreliable rumors about the Duke of Jingning. Strange.
If they are a little politically sensitive, they shouldn't let rumors spread like this.
The planners sharpened their knives, while the people in the game were blinded and ignorant.
When Yan Xiaohan, who was a little more alert, heard this rumor from Feilongwei, his heart suddenly thumped, and his intuition was going to be bad.
He didn't wait for Fu Shen's answer that night. Even the toughest person should be shaken. Yan Xiaohan had the upper hand, but unfortunately he was not happy.
The case of the attack on the Eastern Tartar mission was not handed over to Feilongwei by Emperor Yuan Tai, so Yan Xiaohan could only choose to investigate privately. The doubts lingering in his heart have not disappeared. Although Fu Shen said that he thinks of himself too high, a man who can retreat from the battlefield is planted in an ambush, like a duck drowned in Weird as in the tank.
Fu Shen's attitude made him suspect that this case might have other hidden meanings, and Yan Xiaohan needed the truth behind it.
It has nothing to do with justice, nor for morality, but because he holds a sharp and unparalleled sword for the emperor. He has to see the turbulent undercurrent hidden under the water, so that he can control the direction of the blade and not be devoured by it or swept away by the undercurrent.
The emperors of this dynasty were extremely heavy on the military, and there were ten guards in the imperial city, including Jinwu, Luanyi, Jiumen, Xiaoqi, and Baotao, which were called "Ten Guards of Nanya". In the palace, there are six armies of Yulin, Shenshu and Shenwu, which are dedicated to guarding and are called "Six Army of Beiya". In addition, there are also Feilongwei inspectors and hundreds of officials to patrol the four areas.
All the generals of the Beiya army had entered Feilongwei, and Yan Xiaohan was the commander of the Kipcha, ranking above the generals, and was already the commander of the Beiya forbidden army in the sense of real power.
The one who passed the message was Wei Xuzhou, the general of the Zuo Shenshu Army. The Wei family had a large family, many in-laws, and most of the nobles in Beijing were relatives. General Wei was blessed by nature, and there was no other gentleman in the Jeonbei Yap Imperial Army who was more keen on mediating and spreading gossip than him.
Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen are notorious for their incompatibility in Feilongwei, Wei Xuzhou gloated and said: "This rumor is too disgusting, you look at Jingning Hou's arrogance on weekdays, I thought he I have to live my life with my left and right hands, hahaha…”
Yan Xiaohan frowned deeply, "Where did these words come from?"
General Wei said: "My second aunt's maiden sister's husband's cousin... is Mrs. Liuenhou. His family has a daughter who is waiting for his wife. Isn't this a match for Jingninghou? I only found out after asking in private. And such secrets."
Yan Xiaohan put his hand on his forehead and did not want to talk to him at all.
"Sir," Wei Xuzhou said oddly, walking around him twice, "Marquis Jingning has such hobbies, he's not worried yet, why did you worry about him first?"
Weird, too strange.
People who haven't read the words for several years are suddenly so unlucky that they can't drink cold water. Fu Shen has done something that is outrageous, why is it that bulls, ghosts, snakes and gods have all kinds of tricks and swarms to plot against him
"This is not right... Brother Wei, please go and find out where the news of Jingning Hou Duanxiu came from—" Before he could finish speaking, a blue-clothed eunuch suddenly entered the outer hall. The apprentice of Eunuch Tian, the eunuch with a pen, who was serving in front of the royal family, stopped talking and went up to greet him. The little eunuch said, "Your Majesty, Lord Xuanyan, has an audience at the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
When Wei Xuzhou heard something, he had to consciously avoid it, but Yan Xiaohan suddenly gestured to him from behind and said, "Father-in-law, wait a moment, I need to explain a few official matters to General Wei."
The little eunuch said indifferently, "This is an edict from the Holy Spirit. Does Master Yan still want His Majesty to wait for you?"
There was a faint smile on Yan Xiaohan's lips, which was the kind of expression he used most on weekdays that was both gentle and like he wanted to eat people.
"Yan, as the envoy of the Flying Dragon Guard, is in the mood for every move. The father-in-law said this, but it's hard for me to wait."
The eunuch was originally bluffing, and when he smiled like this, he suddenly remembered the terrifying legend in the palace about the Flying Dragon Guards, and his expression changed. He finally stabilized his mind, and backed down: "In that case, Sir Yan, please do it."
The inexplicable General Wei was dragged to the desk by him, Yan Xiaohan grabbed a few files and said in a low voice, "You go to Jingning Hou's mansion for me, tell him the news from outside, and ask Fu Shen to take care of it. Be careful and prepare early. No matter what happens, press first, don't act rashly."
Wei Xuzhou's gossip heart was set on fire by him, but seeing that his expression was serious and not like a joke, he nodded quickly and said, "Don't worry, sir, just leave it to me."
No matter what Yan Xiaohan said, he couldn't keep the eunuch waiting for a long time, so he had to put aside this mess for a while and hurried to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The eunuch Tian Tong and Feilongwei never dealt with each other, and the little eunuch shared his hatred with his master and refused to reveal his words. It wasn't until Yan Xiaohan entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation that he discovered that in addition to Emperor Yuantai, the Crown Prince Yunliang was also in the hall.
"My minister sees His Majesty, sees His Royal Highness the Prince."
"Aiqing is flat."
Emperor Yuantai was tall and dignified, with a slightly plump and slack face, two deep lines on the side of his nose, and a slightly thin corner of his lips. This emperor can be called shrewd and strong, he has always been unsmiling, and quite serious, but now he seems to be in a good mood, and there is even a smile on his face. After sweeping away the anger and gloom caused by the case of the mission the day before yesterday, he appeared to be much kinder.
It doesn't seem like a bad thing. Yan Xiaohan felt a little at ease, secretly saying that he was really scared by the tricks and tricks that have been used these days, and was a little surprised.
The crown prince was sullen, and stood by the side without being humiliated. Yan Xiaohan could feel his gaze fell on her, not malicious, but hiding a needle-like inquiry.
"Prince, go back to the East Palace," Emperor Yuantai wanted to leave Yan Xiaohan to speak alone, and after thinking about it, he gave the prince a rare encouragement, "You did a good job today."
The prince received this compliment, and the main purpose of today has been achieved, no longer in love with the stack. He retracted his gaze from Yan Xiaohan, and even smiled at him before bowing to leave.
That smile seemed to contain indescribable mockery and pity, causing Yan Xiaohan to suddenly have an ominous premonition.