Zhan Doudou got up from the collapse, and Si Lili put a gray-black cloak on him. Walking to the entrance of the hall, looking at the snowflakes blowing outside the hall, the supreme ruler of the Northern Qi Dynasty fell into deep thought.
The Northern Qi Dynasty inherited the Great Wei Dynasty, and he likes black and green and other austere and upright colors. This thousand-year-old palace built on the mountain is like this. The clothes he is wearing today are basically these two colors. His bare feet are covered in warm In the fleece shoes, I don't know if it was ever warm.
Snowflakes drifted through his slightly squinted eyes and landed on the quiet ground. This hall is deep in the imperial palace, not far from the Empress Dowager's Palace, and not far from the small pavilion behind the mountain, it is very quiet, without His Majesty's approval, no one else can approach it. The number of eunuchs and palace ladies serving around this palace is extremely small, they are all nurses and slaves brought up by the queen mother, so there is no need to worry about the biggest secret of Northern Qi being leaked.
However, even in such a safe situation, the Northern Qi Emperor still looked directly at the snow with his hands behind his back, calmly, without showing a trace of weakness at all. Perhaps for her, disguising herself as a man is no longer something that needs to be done carefully, something that needs to be concealed, but she has already regarded herself as a man, an emperor, and this kind of atmosphere has already penetrated into her flesh and blood cannot be separated.
"After Chen Pingping's death, there are only three people left in this world who are qualified to have a son." A complicated expression appeared on her face. Feeling a bit fierce, "I never thought that Chen Pingping would play such a game in the end..."
The Northern Qi Emperor frowned, breathed a cold breath, and said, "Now I understand why the national teacher cared so much about Chen Pingping's life before he left. It turned out that he had already spotted it and wanted to force Fan Xian to take advantage of him. The father turned his face, and only Chen Pingping took the initiative to choose in the end."
"I don't understand why Chen Pingping did this, what kind of hatred can make him do it like this?" She sneered and said, "I guess it has something to do with that woman back then."
Si Lili slowly walked to her side, looked at her worriedly, passed the small heater in his hand, and asked softly, "Fan Xian is also included among the three?"
She is the granddaughter of the former prince of Nanqing, but now she is the only Concubine Li who is favored in the Northern Qi Palace. The relationship between her and the Northern Qi Emperor is closer than many people guessed. They are partners and have been together since childhood. The partners who grew up are also the objects of mutual confiding. Previously, the Northern Qi Emperor said that after Chen Pingping died, there were only three people who were still eligible to marry in the world. If Fan Xian was among those three...
"Of course Fan Xian is qualified." The Northern Qi Emperor lightly stroked the slightly hot stove, sighed and said, "He has a good mother, and he is ruthless enough to himself, which is why he has the power he has now... Don't underestimate him." There are good things hidden in Dongyi City."
"At least right now, Emperor Qing doesn't want to drive him to a dead end, but wants to subdue him. Because subduing Fan Xian's lineage is far more beneficial to Nan Qing than eliminating him." The Northern Qi Emperor said quietly: " This alone proves the power in Fan Xian's hands, and made Emperor Qing fearful."
"It's freezing cold, don't stand at the entrance of the hall." Si Lili carefully looked at the emperor's face, and the corner of his eyes brushed the belly wrapped in the big cloak imperceptibly.
The emperor is such an intelligent and sensitive person, he immediately noticed her gaze, and a trace of disgust appeared on his face, his cheeks were slightly tightened, as if he was clenching his teeth tightly, suppressing his anger.
Seeing the emperor's expression, Si Lili groaned and couldn't help laughing out loud: "I don't know what Master Xiao Fan would think if he knew about His Majesty's situation at this time."
"That guy is very ruthless, but... he is a rotten Confucian at heart." The Northern Qi Emperor mercilessly criticized the man in the south, and said with a sneer: "What you have done in the past few months is so naive and naive! So far, he still expects to solve the problem within Nanqing, and wants to bring this matter to an end with fewer deaths... After all, he underestimated Emperor Qing, even if his emperor Laozi is not a great master, How can these little hands and feet of his shake the status?"
"Change the dynasty if you want to reduce the number of deaths? It's ridiculous to the extreme." The Northern Qi Emperor narrowed his eyes, did not listen to Si Lili's words, left the gate of the palace where the snow had just started, and said coldly: "If I don't help him this time, Dongyi City is facing Yanjing Daying, regardless of the outcome of the two sides, I want to see how he can still pretend to be a wealthy idler in the capital."
"Does Your Majesty really just want to help him defend Dongyi City?" Si Lili turned his eyes slightly and asked softly.
The Northern Qi Emperor froze slightly, as if he hadn't thought that Si Lili could see his other plans at a glance. After a moment of silence, he said: "I am the Lord of the Northern Qi, how can I hurt my Sergeant of Qi just because of a man... Help him Just help yourself, Nanqing will not be chaotic, Daqi is under too much pressure. Besides, Emperor Qing has always had the idea of the Northern Expedition, and now General Uesugi is guarding the south. It will be easier."
"I'm just a little worried about Uesugi Tiger." Si Lili responded with lowered eyebrows. In fact, it was not up to a concubine in the harem to say this, but she, Concubine Li, was actually similar to the Northern Qi Emperor's adviser in many cases.
"Foreign enemies are strong, even if Tiger Uesugi remembers the fact that I teamed up with Fan Xian to kill Xiao En..." The Northern Qi Emperor frowned slightly, "However, if Nanqing doesn't stop thinking about the north invasion, General Uesugi will not forget the world because of personal enmity... I am so The same is true of General Uesugi.”
"It's just that Mr. Fan is in a difficult situation in the south right now. Once the people of the Nanqing court see that General Uesugi's dispatch of troops... the relationship with Dongyi City..." A trace of worry flashed across Si Lili's brows, and he couldn't help but Worried for Fan Xian. The three women related to Fan Xian in Shangjing City, with begonias blooming far away on the grassland, the emperor in the palace, His Majesty, is ruthless and ruthless. I'm afraid he doesn't care much about Fan Xian's life and death, but Si Lili does. I couldn't help worrying about that man who was sometimes gentle and sometimes cruel.
"I've never worried that the southerners will see the real purpose of going south this time. This can't be hidden from many people. At least those who know the real situation between the Nanqing court and Dongyi City will definitely be able to guess." Northern Qi Emperor He said indifferently: "Wang Zhikun of Yanjing must have guessed it first... What are you afraid of if you guess it? Even if it gets out, you won't be afraid. Colluding with Daqi, I think it's a crime that Fan Xian can't afford."
When Si Lili heard this, he couldn't help sighing, and said: "It turns out that His Majesty has never given up the idea of forcing him to go to the capital... but if he really gets to that point, will he survive?"
The wind and snow made people feel cold and flushed, the Northern Qi Emperor looked at the wind and snow, and said slowly: "If he is alive but refuses to come, what is the difference between me and you, and being dead? "
"Duo Duo probably doesn't know about this." Si Lili looked up at her.
"Little Senior Aunt is on the grassland, and everyone on Xiliang Road has died again. It is inconvenient to contact her." The Northern Qi Emperor lowered his head, looked at his toes, and remained silent for a long time. His right hand suddenly raised and trembled slightly, as if he wanted to caress his abdomen, but he didn't make this movement for a long time. However, the fingertips were slightly raised, finally revealing a feminine look.
"Your Majesty, the military report has arrived, and all the ministers are waiting for you at the Helan Pavilion." An old eunuch outside the hall hurriedly reported that the south is now fighting with the Qing people, and the military situation is tense. No one dares to make mistakes. And the Northern Qi people discovered their own army for the first time, and finally bravely launched the offensive first, and their mood was very different from before.
Hearing these words, the Northern Qi Emperor suddenly raised his head, and the softness in his eyes had already turned into a cold calmness. Si Lili hurriedly tied a gold and jade belt around the waist of her black cloak. She walked towards the outside of the hall, her steps were steady, and she was full of imperial demeanor. After leaving the deep hall, Master Langtao and Taoist He were already waiting outside.
※※※
In the tenth year of Qingli, Dongyi City nominally surrendered to Nanqing, and the general situation of the world seemed to have undergone irreversible changes. However, a rain in Kyoto in early autumn brought the situation back. Regardless of whether Fan Xian, who was in the middle of the vortex, really had such foresight in the first place, at least the current Dongyi City is actually under the control of him and His Royal Highness.
It has to be said that at this moment, Si Gu Jian's will truly exerted its most powerful effect. The thirteen sons of Jian Hut, except for Yun Zhilan who was the lord of Dongyi City, the other twelve and the masters of those grandchildren all gathered under Fan Xian's command. Coupled with the four thousand black cavalry left by Chen Pingping to Fan Xian, as long as the cooperation between Fan Xian and the eldest prince is not hindered, Dongyi City has once again become a separate force.
No matter from which point of view, the trust and cooperation between Fan Xian and the First Prince are not so easily broken. This point was perfectly reflected in the Kyoto rebellion three years ago.
After Si Gu Jian's death, Dongyi City still maintained its independence. Presumably the soul of this great master after his death will also be gratified.
Of course, the key to achieving the current situation, apart from Dongyi City's own strength, is actually the most critical, or the autumn offensive suddenly launched by the Northern Qi military in the late autumn of the tenth year of Qingli. This time the inbound offensive caused the Northern Qi court to lose a lot of power and supplies, and in the end it was just that Uesugi Tiger won the state city at the corner by chance. It seems that the Northern Qi people really lost more than they gained.
Immediately afterwards, the entire territory of Beibei was mobilized, making the appearance of going southward in an all-round way, forcing Nanqing to prepare for the battle with all its strength. A big battle seemed to break out in the spring of next year.
And this, at least for Dongyi City, gave Fan Xian half a year of buffer time.
No matter how the Northern Qi emperor who disguised herself as a man concealed her inner thoughts in front of Si Lili, saying that she only put the interests of the Northern Qi court and the people first, she could not convince herself that everything she did was To a large extent, it was because of that man in Nanqing, who had been playing games with her for several years, cooperating with her, and fighting for several years, and finally became her first and only man once he was in front of the palace.
…
…
When the news of the war in the central and northern parts of the mainland reached Kyoto, it was early winter. The weather in Kyoto this year was a bit abnormal. The autumn rain seemed to squeeze out all the moisture in the sky. After winter, the sky was cloudless, just blindly It is bleak and cold, but there is no snow.
Without the Overwatch Council, Baoyuelou's information was only marginal information after all. Fan Xian didn't know the true inside story of the battle in the north, but this did not prevent him from analyzing it to a judgment close to the truth. Contrary to Zhan Doudou's expectations, the outbreak of the war did not make Fan Xian angry, because he was not a real saint after all, but just an ordinary person. He knew that the female emperor in the north was helping him, so it was difficult If he was angry or anything, he was just a little gloomy.
The reason for the gloom between his brows was very complicated. Perhaps he realized that he had no way to influence the thinking of the Northern Qi royal family. Even if he had the biggest handle on the other party, the other party was a king after all and would have her own thoughts. Another reason is the attitude of the palace after this matter.
Northern Qi invaded, retreated, refused to accept, and prepared for war. This series of four attacks was actually to share the pressure for Dongyi City. But all sharp-eyed big shots can understand this, so some people also know that Fan Xian is here. role played here. Although not many people knew about this, and it did not affect the people of Qing, the silence in the palace still made Fan Xian somewhat unexpected.
Those big figures in Nanqing would be shocked by Fan Xian's influence and that he was able to get the people of Northern Qi to send troops to help. Liu Guogong, who was still there, talked with Fan Xian earnestly and earnestly all night that night.
He is Liu's biological father, and Fan Xian's ancestor. Fan Xian has always respected Guogong Lane in Beijing these years. Fan Xian was on the side, so although Fan Xian was silent about the other party's lesson, he did not refute it.
As a soldier of the Qing Dynasty, Liu Guogong was a little shocked and frightened by the hidden relationship between the Northern War and the Fan Mansion, but the matter could not be clarified, so the old man just went to the mansion to warn Fan Xian and remind him a few words.
Even Liu Guogong, who doesn't care about worldly affairs, is beginning to be afraid of the role Fan Xian might play. Why is the palace still so calm? Fan Xian didn't believe that the Emperor Lao Tzu would be shocked by the changes in the north, let alone that even if his Northern Qi reinforcements were exposed in front of the Emperor Lao Tzu, the Emperor Lao Tzu would feel a little jealous.
Your Majesty already needed a war, so why would he be afraid of the invasion of the Northern Qi people. It's just that this kind of quietness and silence is really unusual.
…
…
The cold air gradually condensed, and the first snow in Kyoto finally drifted down. At the beginning of winter, and at the winter solstice, dumplings start to be boiled in the big pots of houses in various places in Kyoto, and the business of slaughtering sheep in various places is extremely good, and the delicious mutton soup seems to rise in every corner of the streets and alleys.
Prince He's Mansion, which had been silent for a long time in the capital, opened its main gate today, and there were distinguished guests, but it was still not lively, because the people who came were always those few people. He and the imperial guards outside the Prince's Mansion are watching the movement everywhere with vigilant eyes. Now the role of these imperial guards is to guard the palace to a greater extent.
The eldest prince refused to return to Beijing against the holy will, this matter was not publicized, only a few ministers in the court knew about it. A prince who was leading the army abroad refused to obey the edict. This matter was extremely treasonous. It was just for the face of the imperial court and the Li family. When the Yanjing camp was unable to enter Dongyi City, the imperial court temporarily kept silent , but no one is willing to relax the guard on Prince He's Mansion.
Fan Xian took Shu Ning's little hand, walked into Prince He's mansion with a smile on his face, and walked side by side with the princess towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake. As soon as Lin Wan'er entered the mansion, she was dragged away by Ye Ling'er, and she didn't know what to say when she handed over the handkerchief.
"My lord Xiao Fan really does something astonishing every time." The princess and the concubine have no prestige, just blindly indifferent. The young man in the most delicate situation here was invited over.
Fan Xian and his wife, Ye Ling'er, Princess Roujia, together with Princess He and Concubine Wang Tong'er, are already the majority of the royal family in Qing Kingdom. Except for the third prince in the deep palace, Li Shi The younger generation of the royal family has already gathered in the palace, but these young people are in a very bad situation now.
"The eldest princess was joking." Fan Xian responded in harmony: "If you are talking about things outside Cangzhou city, I think you should know better than me that the little emperor in the north is not a role I can use. "
The concubine looked at him with a complicated expression, and said quietly: "Because I know the emperor's temperament, I don't understand how you can persuade him to send troops to help you."
"I don't think we need to mention this matter." Fan Xian replied with a smile: "At least it's a good thing for His Royal Highness who is far away in Dongyi City... It's just that you are alone in the capital now, my concubine. If there is any inconvenience, please forgive me." I say."
The concubine smiled slightly and saluted solemnly. Although the current situation is unpredictable, she knows that she made a mistake once in the past, and now she can never make such a mistake again. Her husband and the person in front of her The young people have already been tied together, tied up in Dongyi City.
"Yanjing Daying is pointing at Dongyi. I don't know how Wang Tong'er feels in the mansion." Seeing that Shu Ning beside him could not walk, Fan Xian picked her up and asked the princess. The little girl couldn't understand what the elders were saying, and opened her big eyes curiously, turning back and forth between Fan Xian's face and that of the princess.
"Although Tong'er's temperament is a bit arrogant, she is actually an innocent child, but she is a little bored. Sometimes I let her go to Yefu for a stroll, and she is so happy... By the way, she once thought about it." It's just that you know it's not convenient to go to Fan's residence."
"Understood." Fan Xian smiled slightly, looked at the princess and said, "At the beginning, I thought about it. Miss Wang's family should have no problem if the princess is in the mansion."
"This is not something you figured out at the beginning. By the way, Miss Ma Suo Suo still has no name, and she is getting old..." A trace of sadness flashed across the princess's brows. Now the eldest prince is far away in Dongyi, far away with The imperial court was divided into courts, and her life as a hostage in the capital was naturally extremely bleak, but there was also a child-like side concubine in the mansion, and a bearded girl who was straightforward but incomprehensible in the world, which made her feel a little embarrassed.
Fan Xian sighed and said, "Nowadays there is no need to care about these things. But even though I, the Zhengqing of Taichang Temple, was the one who created the monster, you and I know very well that it is only His Majesty's intention."
At this point, it was meaningless to say anything, and it happened that the two of them had already walked across the wooden bridge on the lake to the middle of the pavilion. All along the side of the pavilion are glass windows, which are light and airtight. There are several fireplaces, and the breath is like spring, which makes people feel comfortable. Fan Xian narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the four girls talking together in the corner of the pavilion, and couldn't help but sighed in his heart.
During the winter solstice of that year, Fan Xian was summoned into the palace as the consort of the princess. Under the icy gaze of the Queen Mother, he ate a meal of mutton soup with no interest. It seemed that it was still in that year when the eldest prince opened the mansion to treat guests. It was in this pavilion that all the young people from the Li family except the prince arrived, and the second prince also arrived.
Now the queen mother is dead, the second prince is dead, the crown prince is dead, everyone who deserves to die, and everyone who shouldn't die, are all dead, leaving only Fan Xian who is locked in the capital, the first prince who is separated from Dongyi, and who is secluded in the palace. The third prince in the middle, plus these five girls.
All the children are standing in the opposite of him, so is it easy for him? Fan Xian couldn't help but think of His Majesty the Emperor in the palace, standing in a daze at the entrance of the pavilion, he was speechless for a while.
The hot pot was brought in, but everyone ate the meal in silence today, probably thinking of something in their hearts. Fan Xian sat beside Roujia, asking for her health like a warm and amiable brother, helping her with the mutton in the bowl. Of the girls in the booth, Roujia was probably the most cowardly and pitiful, although the palace There were rumors that King Jingjun would return to the mansion in a few days, but Fan Xian couldn't help feeling sorry for a girl who had been living alone in the mansion of King Jingjun for several months.
There was no maid in the pavilion, and everyone seemed to speak more casually. Even Wang Tong'er, who was a little reserved, a little strange, and had interesting eyes, didn't feel left out. Fan Xian got up and went to the corner of the pavilion to pick up silver charcoal, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ye Ling'er following.
"I know you feel sorry for Wang Tong'er." Fan Xian stood up, looked at her and said softly. What kind of ending will Wang Tonger have in the future, will he become a young widow like Ye Linger? No one knows.
Ye Ling'er sighed, she was no longer the pretty girl who rode horses through the streets of the capital, and said, "Master, are you going to keep arguing with His Majesty like this?"
After a moment of silence, Fan Xian said: "You're asking me to death... But I'm afraid your majesty doesn't see me at all. In a few days, there may be news from the west. Please help me find out. Nothing happened."
"Father won't let me meddle in political affairs, and I'm not Sun Yan'er." Ye Ling'er cast a glance at him, then said with a dark complexion, "I don't know what you're doing, master, I just want to persuade you."