first minister

Seeing Dongfang Bai's solemn attitude, Concubine De smiled and said, "Why are you being so polite to your mother? Just say what you have to say!"

Dongfang Bai looked at his mother's smile, and a trace of unbearability flashed in his heart, but he still made up his mind and said seriously: "Mother, in this critical situation, at this critical moment of life and death, I have figured out many things. I want to go to the world. Take a look around and see that it would be too boring and regrettable if life ended like this."

Concubine De looked at her precious son's expression, and after confirming that he was not joking, she frowned slightly, "Now that the four parties have initially decided, there are even sporadic rebellions. If you go on a tour of all parties, I'm afraid safety will be a problem. Why? For safety reasons, it is better to stay in Zhongjing.”

Dongfang Bai opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Concubine De continued: "But then again, just because the four directions have been decided, you, as the emperor, go on inspection tour, and you may be able to have a huge impact on subduing people's hearts and appeasing the border areas. It’s good to go out for a walk and see what the world under your rule is like and what the lives of the people are like. It will also be of great benefit to you in your future self-government."

She pondered for a moment and said, "Let Marquis Xing'an take three thousand and five thousand troops to accompany him. In this case, safety can be guaranteed. As for the affairs of the court, my mother will help you take care of it for the time being. What do you think?"

Dongfang Bai lowered his head slightly, as if he didn't dare to face his mother's eyes, and said softly: "Mother, given the current situation of my son and ministers, and the distance between the four seas and borders, I have been traveling for only three to five years, I'm afraid It is difficult to return to the capital. Is there any emperor in the world who has not been in the capital for several years?"

Concubine De blinked her beautiful eyes slightly at first, seeming to be stunned for a moment. Then after understanding Dongfang Bai's hidden meaning, her face suddenly changed and her voice suddenly rose, "What are you talking about?! Who taught this? your!"

After all, Dongfang Bai was still a child, and had grown up in his mother's education since he was a child. Facing his mother's anger, he couldn't help but feel weak, but he still had the courage to reply: "Who dares to say anything about such a big matter? This is what I really think."

"I won't let you say such words again! No!"

Concubine De was so excited that she almost screamed when she spoke. She even ignored the cry of the awakened baby, and just stared at Dongfang Bai with her scorching eyes.

Dongfang Bai was helpless, looking at the helpless and crying baby, and weakly reminded: "Mother, my brother is crying."

Fortunately, Concubine De, who has experienced many years of turmoil in the palace, is not an ordinary person after all. She can even hold back her easily fluctuating emotions after giving birth. She took a deep breath, calmed down slowly, and pushed Nanny Yuan out of the door. He called her in and handed His Highness to her for comfort. At the same time, he ordered: "Keep everyone out of Changle Palace. You personally guard the palace gate and don't let anyone approach the palace."

Upon hearing such instructions, Nanny Yuan immediately nodded solemnly, bowed towards Dongfang Bai, and left with His Highness in her arms.

After a period of breathless silence, Concubine De slowly reached out her hand. Amidst Dongfang Bai's nervousness, she gently stroked his still immature face, and tremblingly asked the question she was most afraid of. , "Xie'er, is it your uncle who told you this?"

Dongfang Bai shook his head. At this moment, he didn't know the deep meaning behind his mother's words, so he said: "How could uncle tell me this? He is still promising me a future of a holy king and an emperor for eternity. .These are all my own thoughts."

He said softly: "Rather than sitting in this palace, I prefer to take a good look at the world, the beauty of the south of the Yangtze River, the heroism of the north of the Great Wall, the towering mountains, surging rivers, snow-capped mountains, huge waves, yellow sand, and red leaves. Then, try to see behind the world, the roots and mysteries that drive them. Queen, do you know? If we know why birds can fly, maybe we can also fly into the sky; if we know why fish If we can swim in the water, maybe we can also build a big boat like a fish; why are the thunders of the Nine Heavens so invincible and harmful, and why are the earthquakes of the earth so powerful?"

Looking at Dongfang Bai's high-spirited look, Concubine De felt a little at ease. She took a deep breath again, stabilized her mind, and asked seriously and slowly: "Do you know how many people have dreamed of this position throughout the ages? How many great talents and heroes in the world have ambitions that cannot be achieved even in their lifetime? You are too young to understand its value. Maybe you will really understand it when you grow up."

Dongfang Bai was not shaken by this, but asked a question that made Concubine De silent, "But, was the former father happy? Is the current queen happy?"

He looked at the speechless mother and said softly: "Since childhood, the child has been working hard to be an obedient and sensible child for the mother's expectations. But now, after experiencing this life and death situation, the child knows, This life is too short, and we don’t know when it will end, so I want to be selfish and live for myself just once, is that okay?”

Postpartum women are already full of emotions. When Concubine De heard this, her nose felt sour. She recalled the child in front of her who had been smart and sensible since childhood, and her eyes could not help but fill with tears.

"Silly boy, do you know what it means to give up this position? Moreover, if you regret it when you grow up, you won't be able to do it again."

Dongfang Bai nodded, "I know, but in this palace, facing complicated government affairs, and the treacherous human heart, being a so-called supreme is actually not my true intention."

"No, you are too young and your decision is not mature enough. You will regret it in the future."

"Mother, in fact, the child has had such an idea a long time ago. The child has never longed for this position."

Concubine De fell silent again.

Although their conversation did not mention the candidate for the successor, there was no suspense about this candidate.

And it was this choice that made Concubine De fall into greater hesitation.

After a long battle between heaven and man in her heart, she finally made up her mind and spoke slowly, "Since you said so, my mother has something to confess to you. After listening to this, you can make a decision."

Dongfang Bai said softly: "Is it about Adi's life experience? All children know it."

Concubine De's face instantly showed uncontrollable horror, her pupils trembled, and she looked at Dongfang Bai in disbelief.

Dongfang Bai explained: "That's nothing. The child doesn't think the mother has done anything wrong. The mother entered the palace at the age of 10, and she had no relatives, and she was afraid, walking on thin ice for many years, and at the critical moment of life and death, she was lonely and helpless. In this life, You have to have some time to live for yourself.”

He looked at Concubine De, "The child has known since he was a child that the Tian family is ruthless. Even if the child doesn't like his father, he must try his best to please and flatter him. He must try his best to please him every time he is with him. Come to think of it. This is especially true for my mother. How can such days and such moods be expected of a normal person? "

He smiled self-deprecatingly, "Normally speaking, I should be very angry, angry with my mother, angry with my uncle, but in fact, the child didn't have much anger in his heart at the beginning. The child even thought about what would have happened if the mother had not entered the marriage. Gong, what kind of story will this be? Will you two meet again? You will probably be very happy, right?"

Concubine De stared blankly at Dongfang Bai, slowly digesting the news that shocked her beyond measure.

When she calmed down a little, she was endlessly moved by Dongfang Bai's tenderness. He could obviously wait for her to take the initiative to speak out those unbearable things, but he chose to take the initiative to speak out and even take the initiative to explain, thus avoiding his own embarrassment.

This kid is so precocious and sensible that it makes people feel sad.

She murmured: "In that case, why are you still willing to make such a decision?"

Dongfang Bai smiled calmly, "Mother, do you still remember how your children escaped when your father was killed and the prince ascended the throne?"

Concubine De didn't know how this question was related to hers, but she still answered, "The Queen Mother remembers that Su Yuanshang asked Gongsun Jing to pick you up from Tushan in advance and send you to the bamboo forest."

Dongfang Bai nodded, "During those days of hiding in the bamboo forest, Erchen and Jiang Yuhu had some time alone. At that time, Erchen couldn't help but ask Jiang Yuhu a question he had always wanted to ask. "

Concubine De guessed the question, but didn't say much. She just waited quietly for Dongfang Bai to tell.

"My son asked him, why didn't the Jiang family take the throne? Considering the situation of the old military god at that time, he was so powerful that he said that he wanted to change the dynasty. It was really just a matter of words. No one inside or outside the court dared to say no."

He looked at Concubine De, "Does the Queen Mother know how Jiang Yuhu answered his son?"

Concubine De shook her head, feeling a little curious.

"Jiang Yuhu said, what's so good about the throne? It's hard work and it's like a prison. It seems that life and death are controlled, but in fact it's targeted and calculated by everyone. If you do it well, you will be exhausted in this life. If you don't do it well, hundreds of people will be killed. They have been notorious for many years. The Jiang family only wants to protect the country and the people, and guard the peace of the surrounding areas. If they are pure and simple, they will live a much more comfortable life."

"At that time, Erchen asked him again. Is it that simple? Jiang Yuhu said, you little brat, you can't understand even if I explain it deeply. But Erchen pestered him to ask questions, and he said a few more words."

Dongfang Bai's face showed a look of reminiscence, and he said slowly: "He said, whose world belongs to him? Does it belong to the emperor? Does it belong to the Dongfang family? In fact, it is neither. The world is the world for the people of the world, and it belongs to the world. The world belongs to all people. If you sit in that position and enjoy the support of all people in the world, you must be responsible for all people in the world. The Jiang family does not want to take that responsibility, and cannot afford that responsibility. Therefore, the Jiang family will not sit in that position, but will only Do what you can do. If the descendants of the Jiang family don’t have military talents, they won’t be able to serve as an army, and there is no need for the Jiang family to be in charge.”

He looked at Concubine De and said, "I think the same thing now. As long as the people of the world can live well, it is not so important who sits in this position. The Dongfang family has been in the country for more than three hundred years, and in the later period, there were frequent bad kings." , the people are in dire straits, even when my father was there, and once the old military god left, war was everywhere. Now at least I can still have a name, and it’s pretty good."

De Fei was silent. In fact, there were many mistakes and omissions in Dongfang Bai's words, and his understanding of some principles was still superficial. But after all, he was only an eight or nine-year-old child, and he could no longer ask for more from him.

Concubine De said slowly: "How can you guarantee that he is a good choice?"

Dongfang Bai smiled and said, "All I am sure of is that I don't want to live in such a life. As for the future, this court is actually run by the queen mother and uncle. Who is sitting on the throne? At least in the future. Fourteen or five years are not that important. I believe that as long as my uncle is here and my mother is here, everything will be fine."

Concubine De slowly calmed down and said, "Let me think about it, you are not so impatient that you have to leave immediately. Now that the central leaders Wan Wenbi and Yan Songwen have fallen, there must be big disturbances in the court. Wait until these things are over, the Queen Mother Let’s wait until your body recovers a bit, okay?”

Dongfang Bai also knew that this matter could not be forced, and today's discussion had achieved preliminary results, so he nodded, talked with Concubine De for a while, and then left.

After Dongfang Bai left, Concubine De sat on the bed and looked out the window dimly.

As one of the people who knew Xia Jingyun's abilities best, there were some things that she simply didn't dare or didn't want to think about.

But at this moment, she couldn't help but think:

Is this also part of your calculation?

If it is true, when did this idea originate?

She couldn't help but shiver, grabbed the brocade quilt and wrapped it around her body, curled up at the head of the bed.

In this extremely luxurious palace, at this moment, she was as lonely and weak as a helpless little girl.
-

On the outskirts of the capital, in a mountain, there is an Orion's small house.

Yu Chihong, the Sanxing embroidery envoy who was in charge of the Southern Dynasty branch of the Beiliang Embroidery Bureau, was sitting in his room, writing a top-secret letter on paper by the skylight.

[In the Southern Dynasties, Wan and Yan were in decline, and Xia Xingquan was in power, so there was going to be a big disturbance in the court; the Jiuhe King, Xifenglu, and Sixiang Yin families were about to be exterminated, and the local wealthy people in the Southern Dynasties were panicked; the Southern Emperor's leg injury was difficult to heal, but Make a fuss. Please tell me how to proceed with the above three points. 】

After he finished writing, he compared it with the code book, wrote it into encrypted words, and filled it on a piece of paper. Then he carefully burned the original manuscript, stuffed the paper into a small bamboo tube, and tied it to the leg of the carrier pigeon. .

Watching the carrier pigeon flutter its wings, fly into the sky and gradually disappear, Yuchihong looked in the direction of Zhongjing City and smiled proudly.

In this round, they were unscathed, but it caused chaos in the Southern Dynasty. They made a lot of money and recovered some of their military losses.

Next, it depends on how the court arranges it.
-

When Xia Jingyun woke up from bed, it was already a full day and two nights later.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar room, a familiar bed, and a familiar person beside the bed. Seeing Xia Jingyun wake up, Su Yanyan immediately threw herself into his arms excitedly, while Qin Li picked up a bowl of porridge with many precious tonics added. Feng Xiuyun turned around and whispered to his servants to prepare hot water.

Xia Jingyun smiled slightly and patted Su Yanyan's back gently, "Okay, okay, I'm fine, but if you keep pressing me, something might happen."

When Su Yanyan heard the sound, he jumped up like an electric shock. He wiped the corners of his eyes and looked at him worriedly.

Xia Jingyun slowly stood up and leaned against the bed, "I'm just kidding, I'm just a little tired. I'll be fine if I get enough rest!"

Looking at Xia Jingyun's pale face and haggard expression, Su Yanyan turned to look at Qin Li, "Let's go back to the building to sleep these days!"

Qin Li blushed and nodded. Xia Jingyun took a moment to react and then understood. He looked at Su Yanyan in surprise. I came all the way back. You don't want to cross the road to greet me. I just want to reciprocate with you. You have to unite them. Is it appropriate to close our doors together?

"Ahem, actually, the harmony of yin and yang is the great way."

Su Yanyan snorted, "It's full of nonsense! Go and reconcile with your prairie pearl!"

Xia Jingyun was stunned. He knew everything about this. He rolled his eyes and said weakly: "Hey, I'm still very tired. I'll sleep a little longer."

Qin Li chuckled and said speechlessly: "Okay, sister, don't scare him, get up quickly, eat something, and take a shower first, it stinks!"

"Just protect him! You will be happy when he comes back with the baby one day!"

As he spoke, Su Yanyan pinched his waist bitterly, punished him symbolically, and then stopped talking.

Xia Jingyun didn't pretend to be dead anymore. After finishing his porridge, he went to Haosheng to take a bath.

After taking a shower, combing his hair, and putting on clean clothes, the handsome young master reappeared in front of everyone. Except that he was a little thinner and more haggard, he was no different from before.

He first went to report to his parents that he was safe, and then returned to his residence, looking at the three beloved women, "I really have nothing to do with Miss Yelu. This is purely a hole dug for me by that old guy King Dingxi. We were all aboveboard all the way, and there was absolutely nothing between us!"

Su Yanyan snorted, Qin Li looked up at the sky, Feng Xiuyun smiled and said nothing, obviously they were very clear about the character of the man in front of them.

After all, how he fell was still fresh in his memory!

"What expressions are you looking at? Look, I didn't have anything to do with Miss Ye back then, right? I'm not a stallion, so I can still fall in love with someone I see!"

Su Yanyan immediately said to Qin Li and Feng Xiuyun: "Look, let me tell you! He really cares about me!"

Xia Jingyun:.

Seeing his hopeless look, Feng Xiuyun said with a smile: "Stop teasing him. He is low on energy right now. I'm afraid he can't think of any excuses. Be careful to ask about other things later and make yourself angry. "

In fact, Su Yanyan didn't really care. With her knowledge, how could she not understand that Yelu Caiqi's matter was not only about the relationship between men and women, but also involved the overall situation of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. It was not that simple.

Today's words and deeds were just to vent a little jealousy over the long separation after the wedding and the knowledge that the other party was traveling with his beauty.

"Since Sister Feng also said it, I won't argue with you." Su Yanyan slowed down her tone and helped him straighten his clothes. "I don't know how to take good care of myself when I go out. I'm so thin. I must bring it with me next time I go out. Get on one of us.”

Xia Jingyun showed off the skills of a high-end scumbag, and immediately whispered with a serious look: "I won't go out again anytime soon. If I go out, this storm will almost engulf us all."

As soon as these words came out, the three of them really didn't care about that, and immediately asked with concern: "Are your Majesty and the Queen Mother okay? Is the court still safe?"

Xia Jingyun stretched out, "The problem is not big anymore, but there are a lot of troubles. The conviction and trial of Wan Wenbi and Yan Songwen, the screening and purging of factions in the court, the selection and appointment of new officials, the three families of Wang, Yin and Lu The investigation and punishment. The combination of kindness and power to the local big families, the implementation of the New Deal, this matter has a real impact, there are so many things, I have a lot to do. "

He looked at the three women, whose expressions also became serious, and said with a smile: "But fortunately, now that Wan Wenbi and Yan Songwen have been dealt with, those daring local aristocratic families have also been rounded up, and the obstacles between the government and the public have finally been reduced. No need to waste your energy with them."

Qin Li blinked, "Are you just saying this to divert our minds and make us forget the topic just now?"

Xia Jingyun:? ? ?

You are so smart, why don't people live?

Forget it, let’s just enlarge the move!

He smiled and said, "Nothing. During the two or three months in Lieyang Pass and Yuyan Prefecture, my husband was thinking about you all the time. If it weren't for the fact that there were so many things to do, I would have gone back to Beijing long ago."

Su Yanyan snorted, "If you don't say this, you can say whatever you want."

"How can I just say it casually? My husband once fell in love with a scene in Yuyan State and filled out a series of long and short sentences. I originally planned to send it back to you, but after thinking about it, it is better to give it to you in person."

With that said, he stood up and walked to the desk.

Su Yanyan and Qin Li, who were complaining, immediately helped the red sleeves to add fragrance, and then carefully looked at the words written by Xia Jingyun on the paper.

When he finished writing the two lines, Su Yanyan read softly: "Standing in the dangerous building, the breeze is soft, looking at the spring sorrow, and the sky is gloomy."

The soft wind threatens the building, and I am alone, looking to the far end of the world, feeling sad in spring.

Traveling far away is not what he wants, and being far away from the one he loves is still not what he wants, but the world is helpless, and he can only look far into the distance, giving birth to endless spring sorrow.

Even though she had long known how powerful her husband was, after experiencing it personally again, she still couldn't help but feel an amazing pleasure.

This sentence alone almost made the dissatisfaction in her heart disappear.

"In the grass-colored smoke and the lingering light, there is no words to say. Who can ignore it?"

Qin Li looked at the paper and read softly, and then her heart couldn't help but tremble slightly.

The sky has faded, and there is no one to express my deep feelings.

The spring grass is like grass, like smoke and mist, and even more like the endless and psychedelic thoughts and sorrows.

Seeing this, Qin Li couldn't help but feel guilty that although she and Su Yanyan were just playing around with her husband, they were both a bit excessive and inappropriate.

Seeing that both women were lost in thought, Feng Xiuyun took over and read the third sentence.

"I want to get drunk with the madness, and sing to the wine, and the strong music is still tasteless."

In order to relieve the sorrow, I just try to get drunk, but the wine will enter the heart of the sorrow, and it will be tasteless after all.

This female official, who had always buried the love between her children deeply in her heart, also realized the deep and throbbing love.

However, after the last sentence was written, all these exciting emotions were completely transformed into deep shock, and finally turned into boundless emotion.

[The belt is getting wider and wider, but I don’t regret it anymore. I feel haggard because of Yi’s disappearance. 】

Looking at Xia Jingyun's appearance, which was much thinner and haggard than before setting off, the three women finally couldn't help it. Su Yanyan and Qin Li fell into Xia Jingyun's arms like birds flying into the forest, while Feng Xiuyun stood there, looking towards Xia Jingyun's eyes were full of deep affection that could not be dissolved.

Even though this feeling is shared by four people, the love is so deep that there is nothing more to ask for.

Xia Jingyun patted the two girls' backs gently, smiled affectionately at Feng Xiuyun, and secretly breathed a long sigh of relief.

Good guy, I almost can't explain it, but with such a killer move, no matter what kind of resentment or jealousy, it's all a matter of "the medicine will cure the disease".

After all, a good poem is countless times more lethal than simple love words or love songs.

In this peaceful and affectionate atmosphere, a respectful call from the concierge came from outside the door.

"master?"

Xia Jingyun hummed, "What's the matter?"

"There is a girl visiting from outside the house with several followers, claiming to be the Princess of Beiliang."

???

!!!

Xia Jingyun looked at Su Yanyan and Qin Li who stood up instantly and changed their expressions, and blinked his innocent eyes.

"Ahem, if I said, I don't know, would you believe me?" (End of Chapter)