On the thirteenth day of the eighth month, the government and the opposition ushered in another storm. The emperor formally issued an imperial edict, appointing the fifth son of the emperor, Han Lingfan, as the crown prince.
Some of the procedures for the establishment of the crown prince have been roughly completed in the past two years, and now only the prosecution of the Taimiao and the final canonization ceremony are left.
On August 14th, after the early court, the Minister of Rites and Qin Tianjian came to the imperial study to ask to see the emperor. Qin Tianjian selected three auspicious days for the emperor to choose to tell the temple.
In the imperial study room, after the booklet was handed over, there was silence.
The emperor looked at the three dates written on the booklet with a sinking face, and remained silent all the time. He held the pen with his right hand for a while, put it down again for a while, and then held the pen again for a while.
The emperor didn't make a sound, and the Minister of Rites and Qin Tianjian didn't dare to make a sound, so the monarch and his subjects were speechless.
As time passed, the silence made the air gradually heavy, and the Minister of Rites and Qin Tianjian secretly exchanged eyes, anxious.
At this moment, there was a rush of footsteps from outside the imperial study, and after a while, a small servant came in hurriedly and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, Jingzhou is here to report, and the prince of Zhennan led three Thousands of cavalry are heading north, have passed Jiangkou City, and are heading all the way to the capital."
Hearing this, the emperor's complexion changed drastically after the imperial case. He shook his right hand holding the imperial pen, and the ink from the tip of the pen dripped down. It happened to land on the paper on the imperial case. A drop of finger-sized ink stained the off-white paper. Come on, it's blindingly black!
The emperor raised his head, frowned, and blurted out: "What does King Zhennan want to do? Does he want to use 3,000 people to demonstrate against me?! Boldly rebel! It seems that their Zhennan Palace is really planning to rebel!"
The more the emperor talked, the more angry he became, and the fire surged up.
Minister of Rites and Qin Tianjian didn't dare to answer the emperor's words, they both looked down at the tip of their shoes and kept silent.
"Snapped!"
The emperor threw down the imperial pen angrily, and ordered in a loud voice: "Give me a quick call for the cabinet to have an audience!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The little servant hurriedly responded, came in a hurry, and left in a hurry, leaving the room full of silence and anger.
After more than half an hour, several cabinet ministers hurried to the imperial study.
During this period of waiting, the emperor's anger not only did not subside, but instead rose layer by layer. After waiting for all the ministers to salute, the emperor couldn't wait to say to the minister of the Ministry of War: "Chen Yuanzhou, you should immediately send troops to encircle and suppress Xiao Yi alive. !"
The extremely angry emperor gritted his teeth, his eyes were red.
Several cabinet ministers secretly sighed in their hearts, but they were all silent.
An awkward silence spread, which itself was a silent objection.
Seeing several cabinet ministers bowing their heads and not daring to look at him, the emperor felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and his anger was instantly extinguished. He took a few deep breaths and gradually began to calm down.
"No!" The emperor changed his words thoughtfully. He slowly turned the jade wrench finger in his hand, and his thoughts turned quickly.
Since the King of Zhennan was able to conquer the three kingdoms of Baiyue, Nanliang and Xiye, he is not a fool. He sent Xiao Yi to the north, but let him take only 3,000 people. It must be a trick.
As we all know, the king of Zhennan has always disliked Xiao Yi, the eldest son, so he kept Xiao Yi in the capital for many years as a hostage. is proof of this.
The emperor murmured thoughtfully: "The king of Zhennan is waiting for me to send troops."
If he really sent troops, he would hit Zhennan King's arms, and then Zhennan King could lead his army to the Northern Expedition in the name of avenging his son.
As long as the teacher is well-known, the king of Zhennan is not afraid of ruining his reputation, and he is not afraid of being infamous for thousands of years in the future!
Throughout history, such things can be said to abound.
At this moment, all the monarchs and ministers in the imperial study room wanted to go to a place, and they all had expressions on their faces.
The more this is the case, the more cautious they must act, and they must never give Zhennan King any chance or any excuse to launch troops.
The emperor once again looked at Cheng Dongyang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, with expectant eyes.
After pondering for a while, Cheng Dongyang suggested implicitly: "Your Majesty, it is a great pleasure to have friends coming from afar. The son of the Prince of Zhennan has come from afar. Dayu is a state of etiquette, so we should send someone to greet him."
"Welcome" is an excuse on the surface, and the real purpose is to contact and test Xiao Yi's intention to come to the capital.
The emperor squinted his eyes and thought for a while, and immediately agreed.
Now that things are up to now, we can only take a step first and take a look!
On the same day, Uncle Xuan Ping left the royal capital by the emperor's order and went all the way south.
However, the emperor couldn't let go of his heart because of this, and even as time passed, his heart became higher and higher, and he couldn't sleep for several days.
After waiting anxiously for seven or eight days, Uncle Xuan Ping returned to the capital on August 20th. He traveled fast all the way, day and night. Naturally, he lost a lot of weight and haggard, but the emperor looked even more tired than him.
After bowing to the emperor, Uncle Xuan Ping respectfully said: "Your Majesty, I saw Prince Xiao and Marquis An Yi in Huaxu City."
An Yihou? ! The emperor was stunned, and before he could react, he heard Xuan Pingbo continue: "The two of them said that the king came to welcome the generals and the family of officials this time."
After speaking, Xuan Pingbo's voice was a little stiff.
All the members of this official family are dead except for Guan Yubai, so of course what Guan Yubai came to greet this time was the coffins of his relatives.
Hearing this, the emperor was dumbfounded.
The answer brought by Uncle Xuan Ping was completely beyond the emperor's expectations. Instead of letting out a sigh of relief, the emperor sank.
It turned out that Xiao Yi came here with Guan Yubai, and it turned out that they were already a nest of snakes and rats!
Thinking about it, the blue veins on the emperor's forehead twitched a few times.
Three years ago, Guan Yubai went south according to the order. At first, news came from the capital from time to time, but gradually, there was no more movement.
In just a few years, the Zhennan Prince's Mansion conquered Baiyue, Nanliang and Xiye, but Guan Yubai did not send a single word back to the capital. How could the emperor not be suspicious of Guan Yubai!
After all, there are only two possibilities, either Guan Yubai was killed by Zhennan King, or Guan Yubai was bought by Zhennan King and betrayed the court!
Now it seems that it must be the latter!
Well you official language white!
A sharp cold light shot out from the emperor's eyes.
He thought he was not mean to the official language, not only washed away the grievances of the official family for him, but also named him the second-class Marquis of An Yi who had been hereditary for three generations, but he didn't expect that he would be ungrateful and be bought by Zhennan King so easily!
Such an unfaithful and unrighteous person came out of the official family!
It seems that Guan Yubai has been holding a grudge over the years of Guan Ruyan and the official family, and once he finds an opportunity, he immediately plots evil..
The emperor squinted his eyes, and the anger in his heart burned even more.
Even if he accidentally wronged the official back then, so what? !
Didn't he vindicate their officials
Hasn't he tried his best to make up for it
There is a saying: Thunder, rain and dew are all the grace of the king. The emperor is ordered by the sky, and the minister is ordered by the emperor. As a courtier, officials should be grateful and respectful, and they should follow the way of being a minister.
But Guan Yubai, a rebellious minister, still dares to remember and hate the Tian family, and even dares to collude with the Zhennan Palace and betray the court!
What a waste of his trust in Guan Yubai, entrusting him with a heavy responsibility!
The emperor almost broke the jade wrench finger in his hand, his chest was churning with anger, and a twisted sneer curled up at the corner of his mouth.
From this point of view, he was not wronged by the officials back then!
After all, even if the officials didn't have the intention of treason for the time being, what about the future? !
Once they feel dissatisfied with the imperial court, will they be dissatisfied
For example, the current official language, such as the current Zhennan Wangfu
"Come here!" The emperor took a deep breath and ordered decisively, "call the cabinet for an audience"
As soon as the emperor gave an order, a group of cabinet ministers gathered in the imperial study as quickly as possible.
Under the emperor's signal, Uncle Xuan Ping briefly recounted what he saw and heard during his trip to the south, and then the emperor asked several cabinet ministers the question in a deep voice: "Look, what should we do now? "
The emperor's voice sounded calm, but in fact, the suppressed anger was about to erupt like a volcanic eruption.
This point, as the emperor's close ministers, several cabinet ministers are well aware of it.
After all the ministers discussed together, Cheng Dongyang stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, according to my opinion, Marquis An Yi and Prince Xiao went thousands of miles to the capital just to bring back the bones of Ruyan, a mere official. Small matters are not harmful to Dayu, so what's the problem even if they are fulfilled?" After a pause, Cheng Dongyang considered his words and said, "Your Majesty, be cautious, and don't give Zhennan King any excuse for the Northern Expedition!"
Several other ministers also bowed their heads to show their agreement.
In the imperial study room, it became quiet. The emperor looked at the few cabinet ministers standing directly in front of him with heavy eyes, and his face was so gloomy that he was about to drip ink.
He is a majestic king of a country, but he was forced to this point by a few courtiers. What is the point of what he does as an emperor? !
The emperor felt as if there were countless beasts roaring, roaring, and struggling in his heart, and his body couldn't help trembling slightly
However, no matter how reluctant the emperor was, the situation was stronger than others, and he had to make a choice and make a compromise after all.
The future is long, since he is the emperor of Dayu, he must take Dayu as the most important thing!
The air in the imperial study room was so dull that it was almost breathless, and it was the same outside. The midsummer in the royal capital was hot and stuffy, with constant thunderstorms, which cast a layer of cloud over the hearts of the whole court.
In this oppressive atmosphere, a few days passed in the blink of an eye. On August 28, Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai led the Three Thousand Youqi Battalion to the outskirts of the capital.
The emperor who got the news immediately sent Han Lingfan and Han Lingfu out of the city, and the two county kings led hundreds of Yulin soldiers to meet them in person at the Shili Pavilion outside the city.
At this time, half of the crimson sun had set, and the sky was still bright. It was approaching evening, and the weather in the suburbs was as warm as spring, with a gentle breeze.
Soon, the sound of rumbling horseshoes came from far away, like thunder, like drums of war, shaking the world.
The sound of horseshoes became louder and closer, and the ground under everyone's feet seemed to tremble slightly.
A hundred feet ahead, a group of black-armored knights galloped towards us like dark clouds. At the front were two handsome young men, one in a red robe and the other in a white robe; one was flamboyant and the other gentle, like the sun and moon Together, they can't help but attract everyone's attention.
Han Lingfan and Han Lingfu naturally recognized these two people at a glance—
Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai!
Han Lingfan looked at the peerless and handsome two people from a distance, his eyes were in a daze for a moment.
He still clearly remembered the defeat of Baiyue in Southern Xinjiang more than four years ago, Xiao Yi, the son of Zhennan Prince, was ordered to bring Kui Lang back to the capital to offer him prisoners. At that time, he was the one who came out of the city to welcome Xiao Yi into the city.
At that time, the emperor and his ministers were united and celebrated together, so how could he have expected that in just a few years, Dayu and Nanjiang would come to the point where they are running counter to each other today!
There is also official language white
Guan Yubai, the invincible Guan Yubai who once garrisoned the western border for Dayu, could have become two peerless swords guarding Dayu's frontier, but now they are
Why-
A faint sigh resounded in Han Lingfan's heart, whether it was disappointment or embarrassment, and only he himself knew
"Tap Tat Tat"
Amidst the deafening sound of horseshoes, Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai got closer and closer, and the descriptions of the two were clearly reflected in the vision of Han Lingfan and Han Lingfu.
Han Lingfu stared at Xiao Yi with scorching eyes, at his black hair flying in the wind, at his red dress, his fresh clothes and angry horse, flamboyant as fire.
This Xiao Yi still hasn't changed, just as flamboyant as when he was in the capital!
However, a mere playboy, and now he wants his majestic Prince Dayu to greet him in person!
Thinking of this, Han Lingfu couldn't help feeling ups and downs, but it didn't show on his face, with a smile on his mouth and gentle eyes.
With the sound of "Woo", Xiao Yi, Guan Yubai and his party stopped their horseshoes ten feet away, but the dust flying all around was still pervasive like a gray mist, jumping and jumping.
The dark cloud under Xiao Yi's crotch was snorting and stomping on the snow, as if he hadn't fully enjoyed himself yet.
"Who is blocking my son's way here?" Xiao Yi asked casually.
Han Lingfu clamped the horse's belly, drove the white horse under his crotch forward a few steps, and said to Xiao Yi and Guanyu Bailang in front of him: "Xiao Shizi, Marquis An Yi, the emperor heard that the two came from thousands of miles away, and ordered this king to come with you." The Fifth Emperor is here to welcome you."
Han Lingfan also drove his horse forward, stood side by side with Han Lingfu, and said, "Master Xiao, Marquis An Yi, I haven't seen you for a few years, don't come here!"
Xiao Yi's eyes flicked across Han Lingfu's body, and landed on Han Lingfan's body, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
"The five emperors are wrong, it's time to be called King Jingjun." Xiao Yi cupped his hands casually at Han Lingfan as a greeting.
The same is true for Guan Yubai, who just smiled lightly: "Jingjun Wang, don't come here without any problems."
Seeing that these two people were clearly ignoring him, Han Lingfu's eyes darkened, and he subconsciously clenched the horse rope in his hand, thinking: How unreasonable! A son of a vassal king, a second-rank military lord, seeing himself as a majestic county king and prince, was so negligent, even ignoring himself! It is extremely rampant!
It's really a villain's success! Han Lingfu said bitterly in his heart.
Although Han Lingfu wanted to throw up his sleeves and leave, he was still somewhat sensible. If he leaves at this time, then the credit for this errand will completely belong to the Fifth Emperor, and maybe it will cause Father Emperor's displeasure
Han Lingfu gritted his teeth secretly, calmed down a little, and said to Han Lingfan, "Five emperors, son Xiao and Lord Hou came from a long distance, it must have been a long journey, and there is still time to reminisce about the old days."
As he said that, he looked at Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai, "It's better for me and the fifth emperor to take Shizi Xiao and Lord Hou to the inn to settle down and have a rest."
There was a gentle smile on the corner of Han Lingfu's mouth, and he looked personable, like a considerate and thoughtful host.
He naturally has his own calculations in his heart.
Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai brought 3,000 soldiers and horses with them on this trip. It is not difficult for Dayu to take down these 3,000 soldiers and horses in one fell swoop. Yi can do whatever he wants, once these 3,000 people enter the capital, there will be too many changes!
Xiao Yi glanced at Han Lingfu with a half-smile, but couldn't see what the other person was thinking.
He raised his brows, shook his hands casually, and said with a smile: "It's still early, don't worry! The emperor really has a heart, and he is still thinking about this son, so he sent two princes to welcome him. It is said that this son and the emperor have been together for a few years. I haven't seen you," he said, shaking his head regretfully, "It's a pity, the emperor didn't come today!"
Xiao Yi's few words made Han Lingfu's face change several times. When he said the last sentence, the hundreds of imperial guards behind could not help but gasp.
What exactly did Xiao Yi mean by these words? !
Could it be that he wanted to take advantage of this topic to bring these three thousand people into the king's capital to meet his father
Or do you want the emperor to go out of the city to meet him in person? !
This is too crazy!
Han Lingfu frowned secretly guessing.
Han Lingfu took a deep breath, and was about to say something more, but saw Xiao Yi looking up at the sky, and casually said: "It seems to be raining today, please ask Prince Jing to take us to the post station first."
At this time, most of the setting sun had set, and the sky was half-bright and half-dark, which silently indicated that the dark night was coming. At first glance, I didn't know if it was cloudy or night.
The corners of Han Lingfu's mouth were a little stiff, and he really didn't understand what kind of tricks this Xiao Yi was playing, but since the other party was willing to cooperate to go to the station, it would be great!
"Shizi Xiao, Lord Hou, please."
After Han Lingfan made a gesture of invitation, the group moved and headed east in a mighty way, arriving at a post station five miles away.
The people at the station had already got the news, packed up the room, and greeted him at the door of the station.
With the arrival of these 3,000 people, there was commotion for several miles around. The soldiers of the Youqi Camp skillfully set up camp on a flat field near the post station. As for Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai, they were naturally welcomed in by the post office. In the station.
Han Lingfan and Han Lingfu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This errand was unexpectedly smooth!
They were only worried that Guan Yubai would want to go back to the Anyihou Mansion in the capital, after all, it was an old official residence. I didn't expect Guan Yubai to say nothing about it.
After the two brothers exchanged a look, they rode away with the hundreds of imperial forest troops, and returned to the king's capital to report to the emperor.
The sound of horseshoes goes from near to far, and the shadows of people go away
In a Tianzihao room of the post station, two pairs of jet-black eyes watched the imperial forest army leave in a mighty way by a window, and the owner of the eyes was drinking hot tea leisurely.
Xiao Yi withdrew his gaze, winked at Guan Yubai with a smile, "Xiaobai, let me count, the emperor may not be able to sleep again tonight!"
Guan Yubai drank the tea slowly, and in the white air rising from the tea, his eyes seemed unfathomable, and he said lightly, "If you have a ghost in your heart, you will be suspicious."
As he said that, Guan Yubai looked out the window, that was the direction where Han Lingfan and others left, that was the direction of the king's capital, and the old official house was there
He knew what the emperor was afraid of, but the emperor didn't know that he had no nostalgia for the capital and the so-called old mansion.
Now that everyone is gone, what is there to go to an old house that they haven't lived in for a few years!
As early as three years ago when he set off for southern Xinjiang, he had already taken away all the things that should be taken away from the house.
Now all it takes is to bring his father's bones to reunite with his mother.
The setting sun was setting little by little, leaving only a smear of red in the western sky, which made Guan Yubai's eyes red, like blood, and like a cluster of flames burning with life.
Xiao Yi followed Guan Yubai's gaze and looked at the direction of the setting sun, and suddenly stroked his palms and said, "Xiao Bai, well said." Xiao Yi smiled complacently, "It's no wonder I always sleep well!"
The implication of his words is to boast that he has a clear conscience in his life.
Hearing this, the corners of Xiaosi's eyes twitched speechlessly, while Guan Yubai smiled, with life in his pupils again, and his whole body's breath softened a lot.
well said.
Life is alive, a clear conscience is!
As for what the emperor thinks, what the courtiers think, what the people of the world think, they can't care about it!
They just need to guard their side of the "Southern Region"!
The two looked at each other and smiled, and both looked towards the south in unison.
I don't know how long it took before Guan Yubai's voice suddenly rang in Xiao Yi's ear: "Ah Yi, we will be able to go home soon!"
After he collects the bones for their father and the others, they can go home!
Xiao Yi responded with a bright smile on the corner of his mouth.
Yes, Southern Xinjiang is their home!