The sky was dim, and when Feng Lingsu opened his eyes, there was nothing around him!
She raised her hand to feel the ice-cold place where Yan Huai had slept, and her heart felt cold in an instant.
Feng Lingsu withdrew her hand and raised her eyes to look at the bed curtain. After a while, she made a sound. The servants who had been waiting for a long time came in to wait on her.
Baodie stepped forward and said softly, "Mother, the emperor left here in the morning, and when he heard that Concubine Wan was ill, he sent someone to send the top-quality blood swallow that was brought in this time. That thing is usually sent to you .”
Feng Lingsu frowned, and sneered after a while, "What is Lao Ba doing recently?"
Baodie snorted and said, "To study with the Master together with the Ninth Prince, the master of the Imperial College said that the Eighth Prince's aptitude is dull, not as intelligent as the young Ninth Prince."
Feng Lingsu narrowed her eyes slightly, Baodie's words hit her sore spot again.
After her, there were only two people in the entire palace who were particularly favored, one was the dead Concubine Jin, and the other was Concubine Wan of the Duke of Song's mansion. The Eighth Prince was born, but compared to Concubine Jin, Concubine Wan came from a family. She is smart and knows how to survive in the palace for a longer time. After so many years, even if she has won a prince, she will never stand out in the palace...
But Concubine Jin is different, she is younger than Concubine Wan, and more favored by the emperor than Concubine Wan.
The emperor treated her as if he treated him when he was still in the palace.
From the bottom of Feng Lingsu's heart, no matter what, she couldn't swallow this breath!
"Send it as soon as it's delivered, this little thing doesn't need to be brought to Ben Gong!"
Feng Lingsu's tone was speculative, Baodie was determined and dared not speak too much, her master's temperament was really unpredictable, if she didn't tell her that she knew about it, she would definitely be held accountable, why didn't she report it, but if she said it, she would be disgusted talkative.
Baodie will be full of thoughts, Feng Lingsu suddenly narrowed his eyes and said, "You mean, Lao Jiu is very smart?"
Baodie nodded, "Yes, that's what the masters of the Imperial College said."
Feng Lingsu had a half-smile, "On weekdays, he looks like a boring gourd with a sawed-off mouth, and he can't say a whole sentence for a long time, but he didn't expect to know how to hide it at a young age. It's a pity, he will What's the use of being smart?"
Baodie laughed and said, "That's right, Concubine Jin is gone, so the Empress Dowager will take care of him."
When Feng Lingsu heard the word "Concubine Jin", she felt flustered. For so many years, she is indeed the most favored concubine in the palace, but... Feng Lingsu pursed her lips, "What is King Cheng doing?" ?”
Baodie hurriedly said, "His Royal Highness Cheng Wang has been investigating the case of Prince Jin's Mansion these days, very busy."
Feng Lingsu waved his hand, "Go ahead and call Shen Bi in, I have something to tell her."
Bao Die hurried away, Feng Lingsu was playing with Dan Kou on her nails, and when she closed her eyes, she thought of the cold brocade quilt around her.
…
…
When the imperial decree arrived at Prince Gong's mansion, Yan Li hadn't reacted for a while. After learning about the imperial decree, Yan Li hurriedly said, "The concubine mother is still in the Buddhist hall, so I'll go invite her—"
Yuan Qing hurriedly said, "Your Highness, you don't need to bother the concubine. Your Highness can accept the imperial decree. The canonization is scheduled for three days later. Because it is to add a prince, the Ministry of Rituals has prepared a small ceremony. When the time comes, you and His Highness Chi King."
Yan Li accepted the imperial edict and nodded, "Yes, I understand."
Yuan Qing said with a smile, "Your Highness, you must remember to enter the palace to thank you. This time it is the grace of the emperor and empress."
Yan Li smiled and thanked again very sincerely, Yuan Qing walked away with a smile on hearing this.
As soon as Yuan Qing left, Yan Li held the black imperial decree in a daze for a moment before turning around. He walked along the quiet path in the mansion towards the small Buddhist hall. The sackcloth robe is copying scriptures.
After so many years, Yan Li was actually waiting for this day. When the imperial decree arrived, he was still a little inexplicably excited. However, seeing Prince Gong's calm look, he almost blurted out the words. was suppressed by her.
Princess Gong heard Yan Li's voice, but she stopped writing after writing that sentence, and raised her head, "What's wrong?"
After she finished speaking, she saw the imperial decree in Yan Li's hand after a moment of delay.
She has not seen this kind of thing for twenty years. The last time she saw it seemed to be the imperial decree when they were escorted back to Beijing from Luozhou after Prince Gong's defeat. Since then, she has lived in Prince Gong's mansion Staying at home, until Yan Lin passed away a few days ago, she just walked out of this small house for the first time.
"Mother Concubine—" Yan Li signaled the imperial decree in his hand, "The Emperor is going to let me take over the title."
Princess Gong's fingertips holding the pen trembled, but her gaze became a little dazed. Soon, her pupils trembled slightly, and she looked at Yan Li hesitantly. Yan Li came to tell Gong Qin Wangfei, just looked at her attitude, seeing that she had something to say at this moment, she waited impatiently, and after a while, Prince Gong's mansion lowered its eyelashes, and sighed very low.
"Since the imperial decree has been issued, then follow his will."
Yan Li pursed his lips, always felt that Princess Gong's demeanor was a bit strange, but he didn't know why, these years, Princess Gong stayed at home to worship the Buddha, not to mention that outsiders didn't know what Princess Gong was thinking, it was his son Unable to understand her thoughts, Yan Li only said, "This time, Brother Seven and I are together. We will attack the noble together, and there will be a ceremony in three days."
Princess Gong lowered her eyes, and her expression quickly returned to normal, but her eyes fell on the scriptures, but the pen did not move. After a while, she said, "Last time you said... Yan Chi, is engaged to the nine girls of the Qin family." ?”
Yan Li nodded, "Yes, she is now Princess Yongci."
Princess Gong said "Yes", "Understood."
With such a word, Princess Gong had nothing else to say. Yan Li held the imperial decree tightly, and said as if she couldn't pay attention for a while, "Mother and concubine think, what does the emperor mean by this? Why did you suddenly let me become the prince?"
Prince Gong raised his eyes and glanced at Yan Li. After a long time, there was an indifferent and slight smile on the corner of his lips, "It's just a title. The imperial decree has been issued, so what can you and I do? Having an extra title may not be a good thing, right? "
Princess Gong seemed to be talking to Yan Li, but also seemed to be talking to herself.
For a moment, Yan Li felt that the imperial decree in his hands was inexplicably heavy, and soon, Princess Gong began to write the scriptures again. The room was surrounded by bookshelves, and on the bookshelves were volumes of scriptures that had been enshrined to the Buddha. These were written by Princess Gong herself over the years, and it seems to have become her only obsession in the world. Yan Li knew about the rebellion of his father and king, and also knew that many people died in that battle. His mother and concubine, It seems to be atoning for the dead father...
"I know, it won't change much if you become a prince. I know what the concubine mother means."
Princess Gong paused at the tip of her pen, and then said "huh" and stopped talking.
It was already late autumn, and the small Buddhist hall seemed extremely cold and lonely. Yan Li turned around and came out, only instructing the old nanny beside Princess Gong to add a stove to the Buddhist hall, and he went out after the nanny responded. In autumn, when it was particularly withered and decadent, he was a little confused for a while holding the heavy imperial edict.
…
…
No one thought that the emperor would let both Yan Chi and Yan Li become nobles at once.
Especially Yan Li, everyone thought that there would never be another Prince Gong in this world.
When Prince Gong rebelled, it was treasonous in itself. The current Emperor Yan Huai was even rescued from the dead. It is said that Yan Huai was seriously injured in dozens of places at that time. The imperial doctor had to save his life for two months before saving his life. Later, he was able to walk on the ground after raising him for more than half a year. After such a catastrophe, one can imagine Yan Huai's hatred for Prince Gong's lineage. The whole line was indeed cut off, Prince Gong's Fu's line and those who participated in the rebellion did not end well, only Princess Gong and Yan Li's orphan and widow survived.
It was the Empress Dowager's credit for keeping the two of them alive, and it was the new emperor's means in the name of benevolence. I thought that Yan Li would not live to be an adult, and that Prince Gong's mansion would disappear sooner or later. Unexpectedly, Yan Li not only After growing up safely, there is still a day to become a prince, Prince Gong! From now on, Yanli will be Prince Gong, won't the emperor respond when he hears these three words? !
When the news spread, most people were a little dazed after being surprised. Some said that the emperor was kind, some said that the queen mother was worried about Yan Li, and some even said that the emperor was getting older and soft-hearted... No matter what kind of explanation, this matter has shocked people. There was a turmoil inside and outside the court, only Zhao Shuhua was not surprised when he heard the imperial decree.
Sitting in the main hall of Kunning Palace, Yan Che frowned, "Forget about Yan Chi, it's justified, but Yan Li... Father Emperor went to Shoukang Palace last night, and issued an imperial edict without discussing with anyone this morning."
Zhao Shuhua sneered when she heard the words, she couldn't say she was angry, on the contrary, she had a kind of indifference that she had expected.
"You still don't know what kind of person your father is."
Yan Che was a little puzzled, "Empress Mother also feels that Emperor Father has softened his heart towards Yan Chi and Yan?"
"Softhearted?!" Zhao Shuhua asked back as if she had heard some joke, and she even laughed softly, "No, don't put these two words on him at all, and don't have such fantasies about him , your royal father, he is not a soft-hearted person, and he is not good to anyone, so the queen mother always wants you to hold on to what you have now."
Yan Che felt that Zhao Shuhua's hostility towards the emperor had become more and more serious recently, and she didn't know if she had discovered something, and then said, "Yan Chi attacked the prince, I'm afraid there will be more resistance from Shuoxi, now he still I don't know what to plan."
Zhao Shuhua squinted her eyes, "Let Shuoxi go for now."
Yan Che hesitated to speak, Zhang Qide has already returned, he is the best candidate, if he does not seize this opportunity, Shuoxi will fall into the hands of King Cheng, this is the last situation he wants to see.
Zhao Shuhua knew what he was thinking at a glance, "Don't fight for Shuoxi now, I know Yan Qi has already started to fight, but don't forget, who is the imperial envoy sent to Shuoxi to clean up the mess."
"Lin Xugui? And Yu Wenxian? And Ge Yang?"
The emperor sent several waves of people, including those from the Shuoxi Army, those who were transferred to Northwest Road, and those who went to deal with the aftermath. These people are now in Shuoxi, either in Liangzhou or in the Shuoxi Army. But these people all have one purpose, to maintain stability and control power, Yan Che's eyes shrank, "The queen mother said..."
Zhao Shuhua smiled coldly, "You can fight with King Cheng, but don't fight with your father for now."
Yan Che felt a chill in his heart. He couldn't understand what Zhao Shuhua said. He had been reprimanded by the emperor for recommending Zhang Qide before. However, although the emperor's intentions are somewhat speculative, he is not as sure as his mother.
"Yes, my son knows..."
Zhao Shuhua sighed, and sometimes, she even hoped that Yan Che would have more of Yan Qi's tricky and vicious vigor besides being calm, "Yan Qi hasn't given up on last year's matter, this is what we have to guard against. As for Shuoxi, let him fight for it, although your father let Yan Chi take over, it doesn't mean he will let Shuoxi go, whether it is good for Yanchi to take over or not, you don't need to think about it."
Squinting her eyes, Zhao Shuhua said, "After all, if something happens to your Uncle Wang, you can meet him but not ask for it."
Yan Che's eyebrows twitched suddenly, "Mother, you..."
Zhao Shuhua seemed to look at Yan Che, "Don't tell me you thought your Uncle Wang was being plotted to death because of his good behavior?"
Yan Che's face darkened slightly, and his brows were also frowned, "Normally, it's true, but..."
"Come with me." Zhao Shuhua suddenly got up, turned and went to the inner room.
Yan Che hurriedly followed, with a puzzled face, and saw Zhao Shuhua walked to her dressing table in the inner room, and then took out a letter from a very inconspicuous jewelry box, "This is your grandfather's letter a few days ago." Take a look at the letter you sent back."
Yan Che's pupils suddenly dilated, and then he took the envelope. He even looked back subconsciously, as if afraid that someone would break in. His maternal ancestor was the commander of the Beifu Army, and even if there was such a relationship, he and As a queen, Zhao Shuhua must not let the emperor know about her private correspondence, Yan Che opened the letter very quickly.
After reading the letter, Yan Che's expression suddenly changed, "How is this possible?!"
Zhao Shuhua squinted her eyes, "Before Yan Chi came back, the Rong people did not dare to take the initiative to attack. After the spring, there was discord among the Rong people, and the Chidan tribe and the Heishuihe tribe were in conflict. Later, the Chidan king won, and the Chidan king won Wang is the second son of the old King Rong, and the old King Rong relied on him very much, it was he who handed over the letter of peace to Prince Rui and gave him a lot of money."
The corners of Yan Che's lips were tightly pursed into a sharp straight line, "But... Uncle Prince Rui didn't report it to the imperial court."
Zhao Shuhua shook his head, "Because he knows that this is a ruse by the Rong people. The Rong people have made similar peace proposals many times. Their blood is inherently violent and bloodthirsty. Succeeding for peace has always been a tactic to delay troops. Before this, the people of Zhou had suffered the same thing, your Uncle Wang would not accept it, and the most sinister thing about them is that this letter of credence was not sent to the capital, but to Uncle Wang personally, if you Uncle Wang, are you going to report this letter or not?"
Yan Che was at a loss for words for a while, the court had never heard of this matter, and Yan Lin had commanded Shuoxi for many years, and indeed enjoyed the autonomy of the Shuoxi Army, if there was no war on weekdays, the capital and Shuoxi were thousands of miles apart, so they would not know What happened to Shuoxi.
The Rong people's letter of peace was not given to Yan Huai in the capital, but to Yan Lin, which means that in the eyes of the Rong people, Yan Lin is the king of the Great Zhou Dynasty, no matter whether the Rong people's desire for peace is true or not, This move is tantamount to putting Yan Lin in an extremely dangerous situation. If this matter is reported to the court, won't everyone know that the Rong people recognize Yan Lin as the King of Zhou? !
Yan Lin didn't trust the Rong people to seek peace, nor did he want the impact of this matter to expand, so he concealed it.
This letter of credence was sent in April, and in the following May, taking advantage of the internal strife among the Rong people, Yan Lin sent elites to kill more than ten thousand troops from the left of King Chidan, which was another heavy blow to the Rong people, but Apparently, Yan Huai knew about this matter that seemed to be covered up quietly...
This is simply a slap in the face of the emperor.
This is the simplest and stupidest provocation, but sitting in the position of the Ninth Five-Year Lord, even if he has an insight into the danger of the enemy, he will leave an indelible shadow in his heart. In addition, Yan Lin has become the controller of actual power, and the seeds of doubt have been buried long ago, and at this moment it will only grow wildly into a towering tree.
The impact of this incident was kept to a minimum, even few people in Shuoxi's army knew about it, but it seemed like a thorn had been pierced into the emperor's heart, how could this thorn be pulled out? !
Yan Che's complexion changed a few times, "So... so..."
Zhao Shuhua took the letter, lit the torch, and burned the letter to ashes under Yan Che's shocked gaze.
"From now on, forget about this letter. You just need to know your father's determination. Before you don't have enough strength, don't go head-to-head with him. The current Da Zhou is still his Da Zhou after all."
Zhao Shuhua explained in a gentle voice, this was the safest way she could think of, but inexplicably, Zhao Shuhua had a somewhat ominous premonition, as if with the coming of early winter, some danger was approaching her and Yan Che up.