When Li Jianting arrived, the imperial physician in the hall fell to the ground in fear. Aunt Liuhang knelt on the side of the couch, holding the Queen Mother's hand, and whispered, "The prince is here."
The Empress Dowager breathed slightly, rolled her eyes, and saw Li Jianting. She was sweating profusely, and there were some wrinkles on her face without makeup, and finally she showed an old state, and she was so angry: "Aijia... I want to talk to His Highness..."
Aunt Liuhang stood up and stepped back with her left and right.
The hanging curtains in the hall are divided, the shrine produces incense, and the smoke of the scorpion covers the Buddha statue, and the color of compassion becomes blurred. Li Jianting bent down to pick up the string of Buddha beads that had fallen between the bamboos, and smelled the rich sandalwood incense.
"You set a banquet to kill Han Cheng," the Queen Mother tilted her head, "Aijia knows...you can't tolerate it...Aijia."
"Although I have the heart, I am powerless." Li Jianting turned the Buddha beads, "Fuman is so anxious, it can be seen that the Queen Mother's heart has been dissipated, and it has come to an end."
The Empress Dowager's chest twitched, but she smiled reluctantly. She looked through Li Jianting and said, "You really are... the daughter of Emperor Guangcheng... It's ridiculous you Li... If you were a man..."
"If I were a man, I would definitely not live today," Li Jianting sat on the edge of the bed holding the string of Buddhist beads, "You have killed all of Li's sons."
The empress dowager's wet hair was stuck to her cheeks, and she could see the peerless elegance of the year from the eyebrows. Her lips moved: "Who would have thought that he would be so cruel, he would rather incest, but also leave a disaster for Aijia..." She A smile filled his eyes, "King Qin... but he was forced to die by himself..."
Li Jianting looked at the queen mother and said: "You killed your husband and killed your son to come here, you could have been an unprecedented king, but you handed over your authority to someone else. Trust the eunuch and let the eunuchs mess up the government; Yan... Sheji is dying, you can't blame me."
The smile in the empress dowager's eyes faded, and she stared at Li Jianting: "The heights are so cold... You don't understand... I'm like duckweed with nowhere to go..."
"I'm like duckweed with nowhere to go." Li Jianting repeated this sentence, and there was no sorrow or smile on her young face. She turned her eyes away, followed the hanging curtain, saw the queen mother's dressing table, stared at the bright yellow bronze mirror, and said, "If you don't have the courage to go all out, why bother with this storm."
"You are also a woman," said the queen mother, "why don't you understand me."
"I am neither a woman nor a man," Li Jianting looked at the Queen Mother again, his eyes clear, "I am Li Jianting."
The queen mother was disappointed. After a while, she said, "I see you, and I know how handsome the king of the Li family is... But you are also controlled by others."
"The chessboard is not in anyone's hands, but in the mountains and rivers." Li Jianting said softly, "Those who think they are playing chess just came in later than others."
The Queen Mother's breathing became lighter, and her voice became lighter: "...Poor Xue Xiuzhuo's organization..." She opened her eyes slightly and murmured, "...heshan..."
The afterglow outside the hall disappeared, and a few birds crossed the sky. The peony that was not firmly inserted fell off and landed on the dressing table. It was pushed by the wind and left.
* * *
The news of Qidu was rushed to Qidong, and the horse's hoof broke through the lonely night and arrived at Bianjun a few days later. Hua Xiangyi hadn't rested yet, when she saw the post newspaper coming, she smiled and asked, "Did your aunt's letter come too?"
Qi Wei looked strange and hesitated at the door.
As if feeling something, Hua Xiangyi slowly got up and said, "Are you ill?"
Qi Wei avoided her gaze, bowed her head and said, "Reporting to the madam... The queen mother died."
Hua Xiangyi immediately took a step back, and Hongying quickly supported her. She stared at Qi Wei in a daze, and after a while, tears started flowing. She supported Hongying's arm, took a few steps out, and said in a hoarse voice, "...Don't lie to me."
Qi Wei was silent.
Hua Xiangyi hurriedly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and gradually choked up: "How... how could it be..."
Before Qi Wei could answer, she heard Hongying shout, "Madam!"
Hua Xiangyi's body slipped and she fainted.
* * *
The tent was lit with incense to calm the nerves and help sleep. When Hua Xiangyi woke up, Qi Zhuyin was sitting in the chair beside the bed peeling apples. When she noticed that she was awake, she put it on the small case beside her, wiped her hands and touched her On his forehead, he said, "I don't know if I'm sick."
Hua Xiangyi's lips turned white, she didn't open her eyes, and the pillow was wet.
Qi Zhuyin was not good at comforting people. Seeing her crying sadly, she quickly wiped it with a handkerchief. After wiping it, she remembered that it was the handkerchief she had just used to wipe her hands. Hua Xiangyi curled up her knees with her back and sobbed. She cried until she was tired, so she fell asleep again, and when she woke up, Qi Zhuyin was still sitting in the chair.
"The news is going slowly," Qi Zhuyin said, "...the new emperor will ascend to the throne soon, and I will take you back."
"Since there is no aunt, there is no place I want to go back to." Hua Xiangyi blinked her red and swollen eyes, "When we parted, my aunt was in good health, but after two months, she died of illness."
Qi Zhuyin was silent for a while: "...I promised you not to let her die."
"The commander is far away in the border county, and it is beyond his reach." Hua Xiangyi said, "The deep palace is not the former dynasty, the sword is invisible, and Yuan Fu is beyond the reach of the whip."
Qi Zhuyin thought Hua Xiangyi was going to say something, but she stopped and stood up.
"Commander is busy with military affairs," Hua Xiangyi said, "let me be alone."
Hua Xiangyi's wrists were dipped in the lingering moonlight, and her gaze was haggard with her eyes down. Qi Zhuyin couldn't sit any longer, so she took out a small sachet from her sleeve and placed it on her knee.
"Hongying is waiting at the door," Qi Zhuyin got up, "I'm in the side hall."
At this time, the night was coming to an end, and when Hongyingmao heard Hua Xiangyi's call, she sent someone to the kitchen to get food, and went in first.
Hua Xiangyi said, "Bring me my suitcase."
Hongying went to the cabinet and took Hua Xiangyi's small box, Hua Xiangyi unlocked the lock, ordered Hongying to bring in the copper basin, and then burned the account book in the box.
"What is Madam doing?" Hongying hurried to block, "This is all calculated by Madam with all her hard work."
"The prince promised the commander not to kill his aunt." Hua Xiangyi loosened her fingers and watched the account book gradually being swallowed up by fire, "If she didn't do it, she was incompetent; if she did it, she was untrustworthy. "
The breeze turned the pages of the paper open, and scattered dust in the sound of "crashing".
* * *
It was a cool night in Duanzhou, the garden was deep with flowers and trees, and there were many mosquitoes. Fei Sheng lit incense in the newly built pergola. Shen Zechuan stirred the ice cubes in the bowl with a spoon, while watching Xiao Chiye lead Xiao Xun to draw a bow, while listening to Fei Sheng's report on the matter of Qidu.
"If Xue Da wants to be in charge of the warehouse, he has to deal with the eunuch. The eunuch in the palace likes the seafood from Yongyi Port, so Qingqing prepares it for him."
"Qingqing said that he is ready. After the new emperor ascends the throne, he will surely give amnesty to the world. When Xue Da has the opportunity, it will be time to come forward." Fei Sheng said, "There is also the death of the empress dowager, and the family is in jeopardy. Grain, the cabinet may open the door."
"If Helianhou could think of raising food, he was driven to a dead end. He had to cut the flesh and make a new man," Shen Zechuan said, "I gave him the food, and it is considered to be the best of humanity and righteousness."
The grains produced and bought by the sellers of Helianhou were all obtained from Youtan, the capital of Liuzhou Prefecture in Juexi. When Yan Heru said that he would build a new port, Shen Zechuan agreed, and Liuzhou Youtan was Juexi Neiying. This state government has the same name as him, and he is especially greedy. As long as he has enough money, he will dare to do any business that loses his head. Otherwise, he will not deal with Yan Heru under Jiang Qingshan's eyes.
"Xue Xiuzhuo is too aggressive. If the battle between Zhongbo is not over, Kong Qiu and Cen Yu can still agree, but now I am free," Shen Zechuan's eyes reflected Liu Ying, "Of course they don't want to fight with the noble family to the death or the death, work together. Attacking the enemy is the most important task, as long as the prince is not stupid, Helianhou will be pardoned."
"Then let's give Helianhou food?"
Shen Zechuan asked You Tan to give Helianhou this batch of grain not only at a fair price, but also all good rice.
"Of course we have to give the relief food," Shen Zechuan looked at Fei Sheng, "It would be nice to let You Tan tell the truth."
Fei Sheng had an epiphany and laughed: "Master is wise!"
Over there, Xiao Chiye released his fingers, the sharp arrow hit the bullseye, and Chen Yang and other guards cheered in unison.
Fei Sheng said with emotion: "Second Master's arm strength."
Shen Zechuan looked at Xiao Chiye for a long time, and said to Fei Sheng, "Elder Yin's funeral has been done, and the rest of his things, you are the son, you are the master."
"He doesn't have anything decent... Throw away all the ragged mats and quilts. Burn them to him. I'm afraid he will scold me," Fei Sheng raised his hand to hold the knife on his waist, "I'll just keep this. This knife is nameless. , he is also anonymous."
Shen Zechuan said: "Yin is always a hero, this knife should have a name."
"He and I are following the master," Fei Sheng held the knife, "I also ask the master to give me a name."
Shen Zechuan turned the porcelain bowl, saw the moonlight cut across the side of the bowl, and it was bright, and said, "The flag and flags will be cut off by 100,000 people, just take the last three characters."
Fei Sheng lifted his robe and knelt down and said loudly, "This sword will definitely live up to its name!"
* * *
After the death of the queen mother, it was no longer inconvenient for the crown prince to ascend the throne. The cabinet drafted the charter, and the time was set in early August. Immediately after the funeral, the era name was "Sheng Yin".
When Xiao Chiye heard this, he said, "Your Majesty has courage."
In early August, Kong Qiu led a hundred officials to worship the new emperor in front of Mingli Hall, and Li Jianting became a veritable emperor of Da Zhou.
"Guess what the new emperor wants to do with the commander," Shen Zechuan kept teasing Xiao Xun in the room all day long, and when there was Xiao Chiye, he teased Xiao Chiye, "If you guess correctly, you will get a prize."
"What's the award?" Xiao Chiye looked at the military affairs and let Lan Zhou press down on his back, "You have to have enough luck."
Shen Zechuan used the folding fan to draw wherever he saw, feeling that it was quite comfortable to press Xiao Chiye like this, and said, "Anything will do."
"Marquis," Xiao Chiye grabbed Shen Zechuan's hand and turned over the palm to see the scar, "With the Libei King Huxiao Mountains and Rivers in front of him, Qi will not seal another Qidong King."
Both Lu Pingyan of Bian County are uncles of Bian County, and Qi Zhuyin is the military commander of the five counties. However, since the Yongyi year, Dazhou has only two different surnamed Wangs, one is Libei Wang Xiao Fangxu, and the other is Jianxing Wang Shenwei. Qi Zhuyin's military exploits were not as good as Qi Shiyu's, and he couldn't speak to officials, so it was difficult to seal it up. Two-phase balance, Fenghou is more suitable.
"Then I'll guess a king," Shen Zechuan whispered, "If you win, you have to reward me."
* * *
Fuman changed into a new robe, and when he walked to Mingli Hall, the eunuch Gong E along the way had to salute. He was complacent, but he didn't lose his sense here. When he saw the ministers in the court, he would retreat, and he looked even more humble.
When Fuman arrived at Mingli Hall, the little eunuch who was waiting at the door whispered, "The emperor has just woken up and is looking for his ancestors."
Fuman patted his sleeve, stepped into the door, took the tea from the maid, and presented it to Li Jianting himself, saying, "Your Majesty."
Li Jianting often couldn't sleep well. He pinched his brows, took a sip from Fuman's tea, and said, "What did Yuan Fu say?"
"This is Yuan Fu's ticket, take a look," Fuman took out the cabinet's ticket from his sleeve and presented it to the imperial case, "If the emperor agrees, it can be issued tonight."
Li Jianting looked at Kong Qiu's proposed bill, thought for a while, and said, "Lu Pingyan in front is also a marquis, and then making Qi Zhuyin a marquis, I'm afraid it will make Qidong unhappy."
Li Jianting often talked about government affairs to Fuman, and Fuman did not shy away from it. He added a little polish to what he heard in the Cabinet Office and said: "Lu Guangbai defected, and if Lu Pingyan was taken into the capital, he would have to deprive him of his title. The uncles over there are no longer counted. The emperor is the new emperor, the commander is the new minister, and you have made her a marquis, which is a great favor."
"You're right," Li Jianting put the ticket on the table, "then—"
Before Li Jianting could finish his words, Fuman was about to grind when he heard someone outside the hall reporting that it was Kong Qiu. Li Jianting was interrupted by this, so he put the matter aside and let Kong Qiujin come in.
Kong Qiu's face was ashen, he lifted his robes and knelt down. After kowtowing in greeting, he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, there is a problem with the relief food sent to Yongcheng. Juexi's Zhezi has just come in, so the minister dare not delay!"
Fu Man immediately came to pick up the book and forward it to Li Jianting's case.
When Li Jianting opened it, he immediately sank.
"Nowadays, rumors are spreading in Yongcheng, all of which are said to be the help of Zhongbo Shen Zechuan secretly, and the words are eloquent and uproar." Kong Qiu said, "If you let it go, I'm afraid it will..."
"If the distribution of relief food is stopped at this moment, it will be confirmed that this food has something to do with Shen Zechuan."
Qidu had no food, and this batch of food was the only one that could relieve the drought in Yongcheng. Li Jianting could not let the people of Yongcheng starve to death. But as Kong Qiu said, let it go, the three of them become tigers, and Shen Zechuan took advantage of the court and became Yongcheng's benefactor.
This hand is both sinister and cruel.
Li Jianting finally got the lesson.
The author has something to say: ①: The original sentence "Go to Quantai to recruit 100,000 flags of the old ministry to kill Yama." - Chen Yi, "Three Chapters of Meiling"