General Goshawk Jin will send back a letter from Li Zhongqian every two days.
The letter was written by him in a few words, saying where he had gone and which way he would go next.
On this day, Yaoying finished her work, took the letter and compared the map, snorted, and turned to ask Tanmaraga.
He sat back to back with her, and the desk in front of him was also piled with letters. He glanced at the map, and he could tell the name and customs of the local tribe wherever she pointed.
Yaoying lay back on her desk, picked up a pen and wrote a letter, saying that she was ill recently and that she missed Li Zhongqian very much.
The letter was sent, and a few days later, Li Zhongqian replied, but there were only a few words in the letter, and she did not mention her illness.
Yaoying rolled up the parchment, frowning slightly.
…
two months later.
Chang'an.
The sky is vast, the Milky Way is bright with stars, the lights in the market are brilliant, the night market is full of lights, fire trees and silver flowers, like the silhouette reflections of the stars sprinkled on the ground.
Li De, the emperor of the Wei Dynasty, was standing in front of the hall, dressed in a red-yellow round-neck uniform, with frost on the temples, dense wrinkles, and a pair of eyes that were still deep and clear, looking westward.
The night was quiet, but the storm was about to come.
He coughed a few times.
The waiter anxiously advised: "Saint, you have just taken the medicine, there is no wind, and the night is dewy, so you should go back to the temple earlier."
Li De waved his hand.
The waiter stepped back respectfully.
The guard with his head wrapped around his head trotted forward, clasped his fists and said, "Sage, the edict has been sent to Hexi, Gaochang and other places, and there is no reply from Gaochang, Lin, Chen, Yu, and Wang's family are overwhelmed with fear, and they will send it on another day. The children go to the capital for the princess to choose."
Li De's face was as usual.
Losing Hexi, the Central Plains Dynasty is tantamount to being strangled by the throat, destined to be controlled by others. Hexi and the Western Regions were restored, and the merit was in the society and benefited his descendants. He was happier than anyone else. If the Wei Dynasty wanted to have long-term stability, it must regain the horse farm and strengthen its armaments.
But the West Army is now in the hands of Li Yaoying, which has become another hidden worry for him.
Li Yaoying, a weak woman living in the war-torn Western Regions, was able to survive and continue to grow, which was beyond his expectations. Li Yaoying and Li Zhongqian hated him to the bone, and sooner or later they would rebel, and he couldn't keep this pair of children.
Another force must be nurtured before their foundations are firm enough to let the snipe and mussels compete, and the court can take the opportunity to control the situation.
"Who is watching over the palace?"
"Saints, everything has been arranged properly. The Li Palace is guarded by the general of Zuo Xiaowei, Sun Qin. Queen Xie is hard to fly. The one guarding the Chongxuan Gate in the north of the palace city is the general of Youxiaowei, Pei Yanzhi. General, all the squares have been cleaned up, and they are all from the Yulin Army."
"Where are the soldiers and horses of the East Palace?"
"According to the instructions of the sage, the soldiers and horses of the East Palace were transferred to Luoyang, and now the East Palace is guarded by Jin Wuwei. The Crown Princess Zheng is keeping her own and teaching her grandson wholeheartedly every day. Only sent a few ordinary birthday gifts."
Li De nodded.
The Zheng family is worthy of being the nephew of the prime minister. She will judge the situation and know when to protect herself. She is the mother of the grandson.
A Jinwu Guard quickly climbed the stone steps: "Your Majesty, Lu Bu's good news, the flying cavalry team has returned from Nanchu and has reached the boundary of Jingzhaofu!"
The waiters looked happy.
Previously, the crown prince Li Xuanzhen led troops away, but he did not return for a long time, and even traveled thousands of miles to the Western Regions. The emperor sent several groups of people to persuade the crown prince to return to Chang'an. A few months ago, the prince led his army south to attack Southern Chu, unexpectedly flooded the capital of Southern Chu, and defeated the Chu army.
The world is unified, the prince returns to the capital, who doesn't like to smile
The servants rolled their eyes and scrambled to flatter Li De. They talked about how the storytellers praised the prince's bravery and martial arts. They were talking lively when the sound of hurried footsteps came, and the two Yulin guards hurried up the stone steps.
"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has not been summoned to return to Beijing, and the people have already arrived outside the palace gate!"
The front of the stairs was quiet, and the waiter was dumbfounded.
The flying cavalry team has just entered the Jingzhao Mansion. As a general, why is the prince already outside the palace gate? As the prince, he trespassed in the forbidden palace, did he intend to do something wrong
The wind blew, and everyone present was horrified.
Li De's expression did not change, as if he had expected this for a long time, and asked, "How many people did he bring?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, His Highness only brought a few entourages back to Beijing, the others went back to the East Palace, and the Crown Prince entered the palace alone."
Li De's face sank: "Let him in."
Yu Linwei responded and went to the palace gate to deliver a letter, the servants, look at me, I will look at you, sweat is pouring, and the atmosphere is not afraid to let out a sound.
After a while, the lights flickered in the distance, and heavy footsteps sounded under the steps.
A tall figure walked up the stairs quickly in the night, and before it got close, a waiter had already seen the cold light reflected by the blade, and his whole body was trembling with fright.
Li De looked at the person who came, and said nothing.
Under the starlight, before the servant could come up with a countermeasure, Li Xuanzhen had already rushed into the corridor, her armor still not taken off, her face was full of stubble, her white robe was stained gray with blood and dust, and her long and narrow phoenix eyes flickered. Furious.
"What about the Chen family?"
He walked up to the emperor and asked directly.
Li De waved his hand, motioned for the servant to step down, and said indifferently: "You left the flying cavalry team and entered the palace alone, just for the sake of a few Chen family members?"
Li Xuanzhen sneered: "I just sent someone to rescue the Chen family, but you robbed them. Where are they? I'm going to take them away today."
Li De was expressionless: "Nan Chu Chen's family, what is it with you?"
After a pause, his tone suddenly sharpened, "Is it because of Qiniang? You actually have feelings for her?"
Li Xuanzhen was silent.
Li De laughed in anger, and two rays of light shot out from his eyes: "Fool! Who is she? If you save the Chen family for her, she will be grateful to you? Since you know her background, you should arrest her. Live in the Chen family, use this as a handle, and let her cast the mouse! Instead of saving people and sending them to Gaochang, she will not take your love!"
Li Xuanzhen looked at him with indifferent eyes, "Let the Chen family go."
Li De smiled: "Today, Li Yaoying hasn't spoken yet. You entered the palace alone for her blood relatives and asked me to ask for someone. In the future, as long as she asks you, will you give up the throne?"
The cold questioning voice echoed in the night.
Li Xuanzhen stood in front of the steps, his face condensed and motionless, the cool wind blew, and the smell of blood on his body dissipated.
Li De's face became more and more gloomy: "You are the prince, and you will be the emperor in the future. It's easy to have any woman you want. No matter what your surname is, as long as you say a word, she will enter the palace to serve you. Jumping clowns toying with?"
"She didn't take me for a clown."
Li Xuanzhen said coldly.
The clown jumping beam can still make her smile, she doesn't take him seriously at all.
"I like her, no matter how shameless it is in the eyes of others, I won't hide it anymore..."
Li Xuanzhen's eyes reflected the deep night sky, "This matter has nothing to do with her, she will not use me!"
"You have been taught by me for so many years, yet you are so naive!" Li De was furious, flicking his robe sleeves, causing a cold wind, "Li Zhongqian and Li Yaoying have become my confidants, you and Taisun will die at their hands sooner or later. Come on, my will has been decided."
"Even if there is no personal resentment, for the stability of the country, I must cut the grass and root!"
Li Xuanzhen clenched his fists, his veins burst out, and pulled out the short knife around his waist.
Yu Linwei rushed forward.
Li Xuanzhen clenched his fingers, and with a puff, the short knife pierced into his chest, and blood spurted out.
The crowd shouted in unison.
Li Xuanzhen said word by word: "Qiniang cares about the people and will restrain Li Zhongqian. If you dare to hurt her, kill me first!"
Li De watched the blood gushing out from his chest, and he was furious, and his eyes were blue, "You are simply unreasonable! For a woman who doesn't treat you as a human being, even her life is lost! Qiniang and your country, Which is lighter or which is heavier?"
Li Xuanzhen smiled mockingly.
"Aye, I'm not as good as you compared to when you were."
Hearing his sarcasm, Li De widened his eyes and became furious, his body trembled a few times, and his face was hideous.
The attendant next to him was startled and hurried over to help.
Li De waved his hand and shook off the servant, who fell to the ground, got up and stepped aside.
"It is true that I do not recognize six relatives, are mean and unkind, and are ruthless and unrighteous."
"I am the emperor, and I must not allow any hidden dangers in the court!" He glared at Li Xuanzhen, "I tell you, you are already late, I want to do something, no one can stop me!"
Li Xuanzhen snorted, "What did you do?"
Li De restrained his anger and said lightly: "I sent someone to write a letter to Li Zhongqian, telling him that Li Yaoying should either give up the Western Army or find a husband among the vassals in the East Palace. , Do you think that with Li Zhongqian's temperament, will he return to Beijing? Li Zhongqian has always wanted to assassinate me. If I catch him, will Li Yaoying die? I won't kill her. If I kill her, the Western Army will be in chaos. , the King Tanmo of the royal court is not easy to explain, I have a way to make her fall into the trap!"
Li Xuanzhen glared angrily, and coolness shot up from the soles of her feet.
Li De waved his hand, and a Jin Wuwei stepped forward, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Wei, Li Zhongqian, left the Western Army a few days ago, and the starry night is flying, and he will be back in Beijing in two days."
Li Xuanzhen's pupils shrank and turned around abruptly.
Jin Wuwei quickly rushed up and surrounded him, with long swords and sharp swords pointed at him.
"Why do you think I want to arrest the Chen family? Just to force you to go back to Beijing!" Li De looked at his son, "Li Zhongqian will return to Beijing, and Li Yaoying will definitely come back. When she asks softly, you are bound to help Li Yaoying save people. Before solving the calamity for you, give me a good time to think about it behind closed doors!"
"Take the prince down! Strictly guard it, without my handwriting, you can't release it!"
Li Xuanzhen was taken down and imprisoned in the dungeon secret room.
The secret room was dimly lit. A woman in a linen gown and disheveled hair was squatting in the corner, with shackles on her feet. When she heard the sound, she raised her head, looked terrified, and shrank to the corner. Her eyes fell on Li Xuanzhen, her eyes slowly widened. He opened his mouth, and a pleasant humming sound came out of his throat, and he suddenly rushed up.
The shackles rattled, and she was pulled back and fell into the haystack, crawling forward, reaching for the corner of Li Xuanzhen's robe.
"Longevity... save me..."
Li Xuanzhen recognized her, froze, and turned around suddenly.
"Why is she here?"
The guard trembled with fright at his gaze, and said cautiously, "Your Highness, this is what the sage ordered. Lady Zhu married a Beirong nobleman. When the remnants of Beirong surrendered, she was presented to the court by the Beirong people, and she leaked the information to the court. Confidential, colluded with Beirong, the sage knew that you liked her very much before, and left her life. Lady Zhu had a bad time in Beirong, and she was like this when she came back. Pointing to the east, she would never dare to go west."
"The sage said, you really like Qiniang, he has a way to make Qiniang become as obedient and obedient as Mrs. Zhu, gentle and petty, respect you, your status is so noble, everything you want is as easy as the palm of your hand, why bother yourself Practice yourself?"
While they were talking, Zhu Luyun's eyes were sluggish, crawling forward, two lines of clear tears rolled out: "I am obedient, Your Royal Highness, I am more obedient than anyone else... I will never make trouble again... Save me... I will be fine. Serving you... I'll help you have a baby... Don't send me back to Beirong... They're a bunch of savages... I can't go back to that place if I die..."
She was lying at his feet, embarrassed, humiliated, begging for his mercy, without any dignity, but without a trace of embarrassment on her face.
Li Xuanzhen clucked her fists and turned her head away from her, "Let her go!"
After a pause, he said in a low voice, "Don't embarrass her."
The guard should be, dragging Zhu Luyun out in shackles. She shivered and cried his name, begging him to take her in.
Li Xuanzhen didn't look back, and when she could not hear her cries, she collapsed to the ground and froze for a while.
There was a sudden sound of shackles and chains in the depths of the dungeon. He regained his senses, wiped his face, and glanced around quickly.
He had to find a way to deliver a letter to Li Yaoying.
…
In front of the hall, Yuehua sprinkled frost and snow on the ground.
The servant came back to return and said, "Your Majesty, I have asked all the city gates. His Royal Highness did come back alone, and the flying cavalry team is still on the outskirts of the city."
Li De's face was sullen, and he didn't make a sound. Suddenly, he coughed violently, staggered, and fell backwards.
At the same time, the chambermaid rushed forward to support him, half-assisted and half-lifted, and sent him back to the couch in the inner hall, with skilled movements. He fell down, coughing and panting, his face pale and his lips blue, he took the pill handed over by the maid, put it on the base of his tongue, drank a sip of tea, and in a blink of an eye, sweat soaked his clothes.
After half an hour, Li De's complexion recovered a little, and he instructed the servant: "Let the princess go to see the prince, he hurt himself, bring two imperial doctors there."
After the news was sent out, two hours later, Xiao Huangmen, a confidant of the Crown Princess Zheng Biyu, held a letter asking for him.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness's wound has been bandaged and the bleeding has stopped. His Highness asked the Crown Princess to help him send a letter to Gaochang. The Crown Princess did not dare to pass on the news without permission, please take a look."
Li De took the letter, opened it and read it, remembering the scene when Li Xuanzhen stabbed him without hesitation, his face just recovered a little bit paler.
Li Xuanzhen really sent a letter to Li Yaoying, reminding her not to return to Chang'an, and also promised to do her best to save Li Zhongqian.
His love for Li Yaoying has reached this point.
Yingniang's son, love wants to live, evil wants to die.
Li De laughed at himself.
…
Crown Princess Zheng Biyu came out of the dungeon and went to the apse. Across the pond full of hanli, she saw her son in the grandson's dress sitting in front of the porch and studying with the lecturer from Hongwen Hall.
There were footsteps behind him, and the servant bowed and said, "Your Highness, the letter has been sent to the saint."
She hummed softly.
There was a burst of intermittent cries, and the servant pointed to Zhu Luyun, who was unkempt not far away, and said, "Your Highness, Alang instructed us to take care of Lady Zhu and find a place to live for her. The slave has gone to inquire, and Lady Zhu is from the north. The prisoner of Rong brought her up. It should have been placed in Hexi. The sage specially sent someone to retrieve her. She is a slave. She is doing rough labor in the palace. I heard that the situation is very poor. ?"
"Settling her up? Waiting for her kindness and revenge after she turns over?" Zheng Biyu took off a lotus leaf without even looking at Zhu Luyun, "Take care of the palace, even if it has been taken care of, don't worry about it, she will take care of herself. When the prince asks, he will Saying that the Holy One has spoken, you can't do anything about it."
The servant should be, and waved his hand in the distance.
Zhu Luyun survived a desperate situation, and she was able to follow Zheng Biyu out of the palace, but was dragged back again, with ups and downs, her face full of panic, she opened her mouth to call someone, but the palace servant was quick, covered her mouth, and dragged the person away.
Zheng Biyu lowered her head and smelled the slightly astringent and bitter fragrance emanating from the lotus leaves.
Li Zhongqian must have sneaked into the city, and the sage has set up a net to attract Li Yaoying through Li Zhongqian, but Li Xuanzhen will not sit back and watch.
Staying out of the way is the smartest thing to do.
She asked people to find out if Jin Wuwei had caught any suspicious people recently. The palace was calm and no news came out.
Li De knew that Li Zhongqian was looking for an opportunity to assassinate him and promulgated a decree that he would attend Qujiang's banquet on the sixth day of the new year.
Zheng Biyu told his son to stay away from Li De on the sixth day of the new year.
She counted the days, waiting for the father and son to decide the winner.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the crowd in Qujiang was surging and it was extraordinarily lively. Jin Wuwei cleared the way, surrounded by civil and military officials, Li De, dressed in a yellow round neck uniform, a hood, and black leather boots, appeared in the attic of Qujiang. The Jinwuwei was punched out a small gap.
Zheng Biyu hugged her son, absent-mindedly, looking around from time to time, her palms sweaty.
Suddenly, the fire soared into the sky, and the courtyard adjacent to the attic was swallowed up by a sea of flames in an instant. The crowd was quiet for a moment, then turned around and ran.
Zheng Biyu took his son out of the tent, and out of the corner of his eye he saw a tall figure with a sword pounced on where Li De was standing, and sighed.
This is a trap.
…
The open terrain of Qujiang Pond was not conducive to encirclement, but Jin Wuwei was well prepared and quickly quelled the riots that day.
The court kept secret who assassinated Li De, except that the leader of the thief had been caught. There are different opinions among the people. Some people guessed it was the remnants of the Southern Chu Dynasty, some people guessed that it was the dead man of the former Dynasty, and some people said that it was the Northern Rong people. Only officials in the DPRK and China knew that the familiar figure was clearly Li Zhongqian, who had been away from Beijing for several years.
Li De caught someone and immediately issued an edict asking Li Yaoying to go to Beijing.
Just after the edict was sent out, a message was sent back to Chang'an, and the whole dynasty was shocked.
Li Yaoying came back and asked to enter Beijing.
Li De thought that he had heard it wrong: Li Yaoying had no edict, how dare he return to Chang'an with great fanfare? She wants to save Li Zhongqian, shouldn't she come back secretly? And how did she come back so quickly? What about the monarch of the royal court
He questioned the officials of the Ministry of Rites. After the officials rummaged through the documents, they found that Li De had ordered the generals of the Western Army to return to Beijing last year, but she ignored it at the time. When she returned this time, she said that the Western Regions were far away, and only received the edict, so it was not considered as a no-brainer. Zhao, she must have concealed her identity on the way, the post house did not know that she was also among the generals, and did not notice it. As for the monarch of the royal court, there should be no companions, otherwise it is trespassing.
Li De was secretly shocked, he sent someone to intercept the news and blocked the level, but Li Yaoying was still unimpeded and came back so quickly!
Fortunately, this is all in his plan.
Li Yaoying really was eager to save her brother, and couldn't wait for King Tanmo to accompany her to return to court.