The devil is coming

Chapter 546 Dragon Body
Yanjing,
royal palace;
Lingxiang took the initiative to step forward and help Xiao Liuzi put on his court clothes.
She had just lost her virginity, and she had a watery aura floating around her body, and there seemed to be just the right amount of spring water brewing between her brows and eyes.
Xiao Liuzi half-closed his eyes and stretched his arms, looking like he was enjoying this moment.
"Grandma's birthday is coming soon, right?"
The old grandmother, Mrs. Fengxin of the Lu family, was once His Majesty's nanny.
One of his sons, Lu Bing, although he was just a low-profile official in the Liubu Yamen, it seemed that His Majesty was in the dark because of his brother-in-law friendship.
But actually...
Xiao Liuzi knew that in the hands of his father, there was not only the Secret Intelligence Department on the surface, but also a more loyal and pure Shenshui Yamen hidden under the Secret Intelligence Department.
The person in charge of that yamen was probably his father's nanny.
When they got married, He Sisi was placed by Ji Chengjue in the Lu family to temporarily take over her natal family. The Lu family gave her enough face, prepared a dowry, and a group of servants and maids. This Lingxiang was once the personal maid of Mrs. Feng Xin. , was given to He Sisi as a personal slave. After entering the family, He Sisi gave birth to Ji Chuanye, and was taken over by Ji Chengjue.
"Yes, Your Highness, it will be the eighth day of next month. My sister had already discussed with me the day before yesterday about buying a birthday gift."
In a high-ranking family, the real family friends are held by the masters from time to time. In a close family, the brothers walk around each other or the women in the back house talk to each other.
The more common ones, that is, the most common ones, are handled by the family. According to the favors on the gift list, the person does not need to go, but the courtesy must be returned.
It is not easy to live in a big country, which actually refers to this "ritual".
The Lu family is He Sisi's other "mother's family", so she will naturally take notice.
Ji Chengjue nodded after hearing this.
After getting dressed, he went to the back house and looked at his son first. His son had woken up and was doing somersaults by himself in his bellyband. He Sisi, who was slightly plump after giving birth, was watching her son happily. With.
The more the mother laughs, the harder the son rolls.
"son."
Ji Chengjue bent down, picked up his son, pressed his face against his, and kissed him several times.
The son seemed to be resisting him and kept kicking his face.
Ji Laoliu was not angry and put his son back on the crib with a smile.
"There is no need to be extravagant as a birthday gift to the new wife. Nowadays, the imperial court has deployed troops all over the country, and life is difficult."
"Yes, husband." He Sisi nodded, indicating that she understood.
"There is no need to wait for next month. You can choose to take your son to the Lu family to see the old lady in the next two days. You can talk to the old lady more. Just like what I said, the old lady has a longer life than Nanshan. She is blessed with all the blessings. If you want to ask for a few things for my brother, please take whatever the old lady gives you, don't refuse."
"Yes, I understand."
"Ah."
Ji Chengjue nodded, walked out, got on the carriage driven by Eunuch Zhang, and headed for the palace.
On the way, the carriage stopped.
"Master, this is the carriage of His Royal Highness the Fourth."
Ji Chengjue sat in the carriage, holding his chin.
After a while, there was movement outside the carriage, and the curtain was opened.
"I knew there was ice on your car, Liu!"
Inside the carriage, there was an ice basin with a large piece of ice on it, still emitting white steam.
After the fourth prince sat down, he opened his collar. It was obvious that he was too hot.
Ji Chengjue reached out, picked up the sour plum ice drink that he had taken two sips before, and handed it to the fourth prince Ji Chengfeng.
The fourth prince took it, not caring whether it was drunk by others, and took several big sips, chewing ice cubes, and then came over happily.
"Do you think it's strange? This summer is extremely hot and very long."
Hearing this, Ji Chengjue nodded and said, "According to Qin Tianjian, when this happens, if it's hot and dry here, there will be another side where it will rain non-stop."
"Ugh."
The fourth prince was not interested in Qintian Prison or anything like that. He just pointed at the ice basin in front of him and said:
"Lao Liu, my father stopped all the ice cubes that were sent to the prince's residence every day in summer in previous years. Brother, I am really unbearably hot these days. Can you do it here?"
"Go back and dig an ice cellar by yourself. When winter comes this year, go to the Huxin Pavilion to knock ice and store it. It will be ready for use next summer."
"Am I going to dig as much as I can in the prince's mansion?"
"Dig it, your nephews will be grateful to you in the future."
"Haha, if I really dare to dig, the imperial censor will immediately accuse me of digging cellars, forging weapons, and raising dead soldiers in the prince's residence!"
"will not."
Ji Chengjue shook his head and said firmly:
"Because Wang Rui from Yushitai is mine."
"..." The fourth prince.
The carriage continues to move forward.
The fourth prince continued to sip the ice drink, while Ji Chengjue continued to hold his chin.
a long time,
The fourth prince spoke again: "Is the household department under a lot of pressure right now?"
"The Ministry of War is not idle, right?" Ji Chengjue asked.
The fourth prince still has a little influence in the Ministry of War, but because of the collapse of the Deng family, now there is really only a little influence left.
"To the east, how long will the fight last? Isn't there a definite number? The young and strong are sent there in batches, and the money and food are pulled there piece by piece. How much does our Dayan family have? It's not like we don't count it. How can we? Can you withstand such torture?"
"You can talk to your father when you see him later."
"I can not."
The fourth prince said very honestly:
"My father has already made a decree that no one can comment on the attack on Chu."
"Then you still say it?" Ji Chengjue asked.
"Didn't I just tell you that my surname is Ji after all? It's okay for us two brothers to talk in private, right?"
Ji Chengjue picked up a towel, threw it into the ice basin and soaked it, squeezed it, then picked it up and applied it on his face.
Road:
"It's useless to say it. It's better not to say it. Yesterday, a military intelligence report came over, saying that Dongshan Fort and Xishan Fort have been captured by Dayan. Next, we will clear out the remaining military forts and go to Zhennan for real. closed."
"Well, brother, I estimate that this battle, that is, taking Zhennanguan will be the end. At most, after taking Zhennanguan, they can send troops into Chu to plunder. How much population can be filled in money and food? It's a matter of conversation.
If you want to destroy Chu in one go, I'm afraid it won't work. "
Ji Chengjue nodded. He knew that in terms of military matters, his fourth brother was still capable.
But in Ji Laoliu's hands, there were secret letters that Uncle Zheng would send to him every once in a while.
"After conquering Zhennanguan, attacking Chu is actually considered a success."
The fourth prince narrowed his eyes, a little surprised.
Ji Chengjue took off the warm towel on his face, breathed a long sigh of relief, and said:
"With Zhennan Pass in my hands, Dayan, the Chu people will lose their northern gateway. At that time, my Dayan cavalry can go south to Chu State whenever they want. As soon as they leave Shanggu County, the road will be smooth.
Furthermore, the Chu people will not give up Zhennanguan easily. If Zhennanguan is captured, it means that the elite border troops of Chu will suffer heavy losses, both people and land will be lost, and the vitality of Chu will be greatly damaged. This piece of meat will wait for us in the future. If you keep it up and nibble it slowly, it will be nothing more than another Qian country, and it is still a Qian country without three important towns. "
"Yes Yes."
The fourth prince silently reached out and took the towel from Ji Chengjue's hand, threw it into the ice basin, washed it, squeezed it dry, and wiped his face.
Originally, the prince's residence was quite lively.
but now,
The boss and the sixth opened the mansion.
The second child is in the East Palace,
The third child defended his father from a knife and died;
Lao Wu went to Wangjiang to repair the river.
He was the only one left in the huge prince's mansion.
"Lao Liu, do you know that every day in the prince's mansion, my brother and I feel empty in my heart? Doesn't this obviously tell me that I am the most useless one among the brothers?"
Ji Laoliu leaned back and said nothing.
"why do not you talk."
Ji Chengjue smiled and said,
Road:
"Usually if I make a mistake, I will interrupt and correct it."
"you………"
Ji Chengjue took out his favorite bergamot and cabbage snuff bottle and said while smoking;
"Want to go out?"
"think."
The fourth prince did not make any attempt to cover up.
"Where do you want to go?"
"You can go anywhere. This capital city will be left to you and your brother to fight, and I won't get involved."
At this stage of seizing the heir, the situation has become white-hot and clear.
If Emperor Yan still wanted to strike a balance, he would probably bring together another family to form a three-legged alliance.
The Fourth Prince was originally waiting for this day. Even if he was pulled up to make up the numbers, it meant that he still had a chance.
But the attack on Chu had reached this stage, and it seemed that the father had no such plan at all. Instead, he just ignored him in the prince's mansion.
If the tree is moved, it will die, and if the person is moved, it will live. The same is true for the prince.
He couldn't really live in the prince's mansion forever. He thought to himself that it was disrespectful to say that if he lived in the prince's mansion until his father died and his brother ascended the throne, he might not even be able to get a palace!
"You should talk to your second brother about this matter. He is the prince."
"I didn't want to look for the second child, so I came to find you. I know that you also helped arrange the arrangement for the boss. Otherwise, with the boss's temperament, it would have been impossible for him to bump into the pillars of the hall without agreeing.
What I care about most,
It was when we were drinking with the third child that night,
Prince, he didn't come. "
inside the carriage,
fell into silence.
Ji Chengjue played with the snuff bottle and licked his lips.
The fourth prince looked at Ji Laoliu and said: "Brothers, we are noisy, noisy, noisy, noisy, noisy, believe it or not, I have no interest in that position, unless you pull your hips in the future, Lao Liu, and give me a chance. , otherwise I would never think about it.
We don't want to imitate a bunch of fools from the Chu State and start making trouble together even though we know they are not the opponents of the Regent of the Chu State. Why bother? "
"Beifeng County, you can't go. The son-in-law originally recognized by Zhenbei Marquis is the second brother. If you go, Zhenbei Marquis will be unhappy. Before the second brother ascends the throne, Beifeng County cannot accommodate the second prince.
You can't go to Nanwang City, where my eldest brother is in charge. If you go, you can only serve as a counselor beside him, and you won't be able to lead troops, or even go to the battlefield, because if you make a mistake, it will be difficult for your eldest brother to behave. It would also be difficult for me to be a human being.
It's not possible to follow Fifth Brother to build rivers and manage the people. Since ancient times, there have been countless examples of people working on rivers gathering to rebel. You are different from Fifth Brother. If you go there, Zhao Jiulang and the other ministers will not agree. of.
so………"
"It's okay to go to the battlefield to attack Chu!"
"Ugh………"
Ji Chengjue tapped his leg lightly with his hand and said:
"That's the problem. Others may be polite to the prince, but King Jingnan will not. Fourth brother, if you go, you will easily die in battle. Even if you die in battle, no one will cry out for you. , will also beat gongs and drums to celebrate, the ancient custom of celebrating the death of my son named Ji for the great justice of the country has returned."
Everyone knows how the third child was abolished in the first place.
It was abolished the day before Jingnan Hou committed suicide and destroyed his whole family.
The Ji family feels guilty towards King Jingnan;
A third prince may, probably, indeed, not be able to fill the gap.
Even if another prince is added, with King Jingnan's current achievements, no one will feel it is unfair.
The most important thing is that no one in this world can control what King Nan will do except his father.
"Then where can I go?"
The fourth prince was completely stunned.
It's funny to say,
He is a dignified prince, and he is also knowledgeable in military matters.
As a result, the world is so big that there is no place for oneself?
"There is a place that would be quite suitable for you."
"Where? Lao Liu, please tell me quickly and don't show off."
Ji Chengjue stretched out his hand and pointed downwards,
road;
"The capital."
"..." The fourth prince.
"Don't think wrongly. Li Liangshen's route will have to be moved sooner or later. He should go to Yincheng to support his elder brother or to facilitate his entry into Jin Dynasty. It is too wasteful to keep it outside the capital. It is still a town after all. Northern Army cavalry.
After Li Liangshen leaves, the capital camp still needs a chief officer. We, Dayan, have always had a tradition of princes taking charge of the capital camp.
In the early years, the eldest brother was in charge of the Tiancheng County Army, and the second brother was nominally in charge of the capital's imperial army.
Fourth brother, you are actually suitable for this position. "
"Leave the safety of the capital to me?"
The fourth prince seemed to have heard a big joke.
"Who should I leave it to? To my second brother? Or to me? That's right, I'll leave it to you. I'll leave it to you. Father, don't worry."
Ji Chengjue bent down again,
The fourth prince handed over the towel,
Ji Chengjue didn't pick it up, but took out a new one.
"Uh..." The fourth prince.
Soaked in ice water,
He handed the chilled towel to the fourth prince again.
The fourth prince took it over,
Ji Chengjue said;
"It's quite appropriate. I will fight with my second brother, and you will be the referee."
"Can it be done?"
"I will arrange a deal tomorrow. You don't have to do anything. It depends on what the father wants. No matter what, you are also my father's son after all."
"Yes, he is my father's son after all."
"My father hates to see his son sitting around and eating for free."
"..." The fourth prince.
"Master, Your Highness, we have arrived at the palace gate."
Ji Chengjue got off the carriage, followed closely by the fourth prince.
Originally, the fourth prince's carriage had been following Ji Chengjue's carriage, and his companion also trotted over to help straighten his collar.
"Do you regret it? Show up at the palace gate with me." Ji Chengjue asked with a smile.
"You and I are not on the same path, and I didn't wait for you on purpose." The fourth prince didn't take it seriously.
"Okay, fourth brother will go ahead, brother and I will follow. Li, we can't mess up."
"to make."
Today is a family dinner.
In fact, this family dinner is held once a year. The purpose is to remember the bitterness and sweetness, and to recall the difficulties of our ancestors in starting a business.
Originally, it was supposed to be held on a spring day, but there were a lot of things at the beginning of the year, and later it was delayed due to the attack on Chu, so it was chosen to be held on the day of rest.
The place to eat is in the imperial study.
Compared with previous years, there are much fewer people today.
Xiaoqi no longer had to be led by his grandma. Since he still lived in the palace, he was the first to arrive and sat in his seat obediently.
Ji Chengjue and the fourth prince also took their seats one after another.
After waiting for a while,
The prince is here and takes his seat.
The prince's face was much thinner than before, but he no longer had the desolate look he had at the beginning of the year. His whole person became more calm and capable.
After all the princes have arrived,
Emperor Yan walked out of the side hall behind the imperial study and sat down behind the imperial desk.
A group of eunuchs brought food, bran porridge, steamed buns, and pickles.
The emperor and the princes ate the same food.
"Let's eat."
Emperor Yan picked up the silver chopsticks.
"Thank you, Father."
"Thank you, Father."
All the princes began to eat.
The prince ate the most elegantly, while Ji Laoliu ate the most casually. In the middle of the meal, he even asked the eunuch to add a plate of pickles for him;
The fourth prince ate the most quietly, still thinking about things in the Beijing camp.
Xiaoqi had the most painful eating experience. Every bite he swallowed was a great torture for him.
But his father and brothers were all eating, so he didn't dare to be presumptuous and could only continue.
Suddenly,
When Emperor Yan was moving his chopsticks,
The chopsticks in his hand suddenly fell to the table.
There was a crisp sound under the silver chopsticks, which echoed in the imperial study room.
Emperor Yan lowered his head and looked at his right hand, which was trembling slightly.
There was anger in the depths of Emperor Yan's eyes.
This supreme being in the world can command millions of soldiers and civilians to open up territories for him. He can command the King of Jingnan to lead an expedition. He can command the Marquis of Zhenbei to defend the desert. He can command the officials of the Qian Kingdom to bow their heads. He can convince the little barbarian princes to recognize him. He is an uncle;
now,
But he couldn't control his right hand,
Pick up the chopsticks again.
For a time,
In the imperial study,
Everyone's hearts froze because of the sound of the chopsticks falling.
But soon,
The prince continued to pick up the pickles, put his left hand under his chin, lifted it into his mouth, and chewed it slowly, as if nothing had happened.
The fourth prince had a look of astonishment on his face. When he looked up and forward, his body trembled and he accidentally knocked over the porridge bowl next to him and dropped it to the ground.
immediately,
The fourth prince immediately left his seat and knelt on the ground, pressing his forehead against the blue brick of the imperial study.
Ji Chengjue sighed, put down the chopsticks in his hand, stood up, walked to Xiao Qi, took the chopsticks in Xiao Qi's hand, and put them on the table.
immediately,
He led Xiao Qi, who was ignorant of the situation, to the fourth prince's side, and knelt down with Xiao Qi.
The prince, who was continuing to eat, also put down his chopsticks.
Xiao Qi asked in a childlike voice: "Brother Six, what's wrong?"
"Father is angry." Ji Chengjue replied.
Xiao Qi raised his head in astonishment, looked at Emperor Yan sitting above him, and asked;
"Father, why are you angry?"
Ji Chengjue replied:
"Because we brothers are useless and cannot properly solve our father's worries in state affairs. We are just a bunch of idiots who only know how to eat. When my father saw us, he was so angry that he couldn't even eat anymore, so he threw his chopsticks. "
The prince stood up, left his seat, and knelt down.
immediately,
All the princes said in unison:
"My son is incompetent and has betrayed the divine grace. Please calm down my father!"
(End of this chapter)