atypical prostitute

Chapter 279

When spring arrives, all things come back to life, the heaven and earth are beautiful, and in the depths of beautiful trees, birds sing.

Fu Lici sat on the imperial concubine's couch, admiring the jade bottle presented by the female official.

The two-foot-high plum vase is carved out of Kunlun mutton fat jade. The body of the vase is variegated, and it is carved by skilled craftsmen into plum blossoms.

"The Turkic Khan gave the queen mother a birthday gift, does the mother like it?"

Seeing that his mother couldn't put it down, the young monarch who just finished reading a memorial raised his head and asked respectfully.

Fu Lici said with a smile: "It doesn't matter what kind of gift Turkic gives, what is important is that his surrender to us has not changed."

After all, he put the plum vase aside and signaled the female officer to take it down.

"The child is taught."

Ye Chang nodded, stood up, and presented the memorial on his left with both hands.

"This is?" Fu Lici took the memorial with one hand, with a strange expression on his face.

"Yang Yongjin pleaded guilty last night, and his son wants to know how his mother plans to deal with it."

"He... really pleaded guilty." Fu Lici murmured, and after a little silence, he said slowly, "Kill!"

Ye Chang was puzzled, and said: "But my father once said to me that the Ye family can win the world, and Yang Yongjin's contribution is indispensable. Now that my father's body is not cold, my mother wants to kill Yang Yongjin, it is inevitable—"

Speaking of this, seeing his mother's gloomy expression, Ye Chang had no choice but to swallow the second half.He remembered that when the deposed emperor was in power, Yang Yongjin had conspired to use his mother's life and his own life as bait to lure Xiao Zhicheng into the urn.Although she was happy to be executed in the end, and the queen mother and herself were safe and sound, but the experience of those two nights and one day was shocking every step of the way.

"Mother still resents his ruthlessness?"

He asked tentatively. Regarding his son's misunderstanding, Fu Lici smiled and explained: "Emperor, you are wrong. I must kill Yang Yongjin, but it's not because he disrespected me. I really hated him, hated him." He is vicious and inhuman. But in all fairness, he is indeed a capable minister. Although the schemes he formulated, although they were criticized for being too vicious, they actually minimized the possible sacrifices!"

"Since he is a capable minister, why does the queen mother insist on killing him?" Ye Chang was puzzled.

Seeing that his son still refused to understand the key point, Fu Lici stepped back and said, "Is Shang Yang a capable minister? Is the reform he presided over a great thing for Qin to benefit the country and the people?"

"Yes."

"Then why did Lord Qin Huiwen want to kill Shang Yang after Qin Xiaogong's death? If Shang Yang's law was wrong, why was the new law not abolished after Shang Yang's death?"

"Shang Yang rebelled, and the new king will naturally kill him! But Shang's law is indeed beneficial to the country, so it must be preserved."

Fu Lici laughed.

"Actually, whether or not Shang Yang rebelled, he is sure to die. Any change that can bring great benefits to the country will require bloodshed. While Shang Yang's reform made Qin prosperous and strong, it also violated the interests of the old nobles of Qin. Qin Xiaogong was strong enough, so he protected Shang Yang. But the new king couldn’t do it. He had just ascended the throne, and the throne was unstable. If he wanted to insist on implementing Shang Yang’s law, he had to give the old nobles a chance to vent. Shang Yang’s car cracked , Chao Cuo cut in half, it's all the same reason."

Speaking of this, she paused for a moment: "I sent someone to persuade him to write Yang Yongjin's confession."

"But before the father died, he asked me to—"

Fu Lici knew that his son couldn't bear it, but he was the king of a country and had to learn to be cruel.

"The words your father said to you are not asking you to keep Yang Yongzhen even if you disobey the important ministers after you ascend the throne. He just hopes that you can understand that Yang Yongzhen is so kind to Ye Shi and kill him. People are enough, don't implicate his relatives."

"...Son...Understood..."

Ye Chang sighed lowly. He actually understood what his mother said, and he also knew that although Yang Yongjin was talented but weak-tempered, he treated him harshly. , but most of them are true.It's just that Yang Yongjin was the courtier whom his father cared most about, and as a child, he couldn't bear to disobey his father's wishes.

"Actually...Yang Yongjin actually knows everything. He knows that after the death of his father, he must die. For the sake of the Ye family, he has offended too many people. If I don't kill him, my throne cannot be consolidated! "

"Since the emperor understands the plan, he has already made a decision in his heart, so why ask me again?"

Fu Lici smiled softly. The regime transition between the Xiao family and the Ye family was not as smooth as recorded by the historian. Although he made a promise to treat the Xiao family well, he also named the deposed emperor Xiao Baoyin as the Xiaoyao King and the eldest princess of Linchuan. She was raised in the Anle Palace, but the restoration conspiracy of the old Xiao Dynasty never stopped.

For the sake of perpetuating the country, Yang Yongwen was ordered by the emperor to fabricate unjust prisons many times, and murdered those old royal families of the Xiao family who had rebellious hearts but could not be dealt with publicly by various means.This time the new king came to the throne, in order to appease the interests of the old royal family of the Xiao family and the great nobles who were hurt by Yang Yongjin's harsh laws, he had to be sacrificed.

"But I always feel a little unbearable."

Ye Chang smiled helplessly, and finally picked up the ink pen, and gave Yang Yongxuan's instructions on cutting in half.

After this matter was over, the atmosphere in the hall immediately relaxed a lot. Ye Chang casually picked up a memorial and said, "Teacher Jun asks to return home, what does the Queen think?"

Fu Lici heard the words, half-closed his eyes and said: "He is a phoenix in the sky, playing in the world. Since he is tired and wants to leave, let him go."

"But--"

Ye Chang hesitates to speak, although he has been familiar with Jun Fengxi since he was a child, he doesn't have much affection for Jun Fengxi, always his perfection seems to be fake, there is no real emotion in his smiling eyes, he is long-sleeved and good at dancing, but always lying.

Just like his looks.

Ever since I can remember, Jun Fengxi's face has always been the same, gentle and plain, nothing special can be seen, but after a few more glances, it feels too enchanting to look directly at.

"Mr. Jun is really a cultivator who knows the art of longevity?"

Ye Chang asked curiously, although the way of longevity is absurd, it is also the tireless pursuit of the monarchs of all dynasties.

Fu Lici shook his head and said: "The way of longevity may really exist, but it is impossible to live forever if you want to eat a few golden pills. The truth in the world has always been that if you gain something, you will lose it. The more you have, the more you will lose. Mr. Jun's appearance is always enviable, but the emperor must not indulge in Huang Lao's theory and neglect political affairs. You must know that everything has a definite number. ..."

"Boy understands. Mr. Jun's resignation must be due to the same concerns."

Ye Chang said bluntly, Fu Lici knew that he had abnormal thoughts about Jun Fengxi, and he was unhappy to let Jun Fengxi go, but he could reluctantly agree, which shows that he has made some progress after all.

"...I used to be like the emperor, believing that as long as I worked hard enough, I could even change the established outcome. But this is not the case. The destiny is always crueler than you can imagine. The first time I knew this truth, it was a snowy In the dusk, I wish I could use my life to keep a person, but my life and my tears can't change anything. The only thing I can do is to bear the sin of killing him, and the blood brought to him by his blood. My responsibility. That day was when I really began to know the cruelty of the world."

"——Chang'er, you were born with things that many people can't get in their entire lives. But relatively, you must pay the same price for your possession. You have everything and are poor at the same time, and you have nothing that belongs to you exchange precious things for immortality and eternity."

The words were a bit cruel, but the truth was not wrong. Ye Chang understood what his mother meant, and also knew that he was indeed penniless.

It's just that when his mother talked about eternity, he couldn't help but think of Xiao Baoyin, the king of Xiaoyao, so he took out the memorial and handed it to his mother.

"Lihua has added another princess to Xiaoyao Wangfu, and she has written to ask for a name."

"Yeah, that's a really good thing."

Fu Lici smiled politely, Xiao Baoyin is a man who knows the times, he just turned 15 years old and married Ye Lihua with the queen's ceremony, abdicated as Queen Xiaoyao, and obeyed Princess Xiaoyao everywhere.And his wife, Ye Lihua—different from her ambitious father—is a gentle and pleasant woman, and her marriage to Xiao Baoyin is a rare harmony between the royal family and princes.After only five years of marriage, she has already given birth to three princesses, but she is the only mistress in the backyard of Xiaoyao Palace.

Xiao Baoyin sticks to the chastity of men, does not take concubines, and does not raise concubines.

"Xiao Baoyin is honest and kind, why doesn't mother let them go back to the fiefdom? They are always stuck in the capital, so it is inevitable that there will be some gossip—"

"My son blames me for being harsh on the Xiao family?"

"I dare not. It's just that compared with the Liu family and the Bai family, my mother's treatment of Xiaoyao Wangfu is indeed a bit—"

Because the Ye family was chosen at the very beginning, Ye Chuan ascended the throne as the empress, both Liu and Bai became dukes, Liu Erlang and Duan Qing'er and his wife were even more noble, and even the sharp blade of a reckless background was also recognized in the court. With the status of Marquis, Bai Fu was made an equal wife, and his son inherited the Bai family. Everyone was very happy.

On the other hand, Xiao Baoyin, although he is the prince of Xiaoyao, has generous support, but because he was once the emperor, although the Ye family does not make things difficult, he is inevitably restrained.For this matter, Princess Ye Lihua went to the palace to beg more than once, but all failed because the Queen Mother refused.

This time, with the birth of their daughter, they brought the matter of returning to the fief to the table.

Fu Lici glanced at his son. He seemed very dissatisfied with his mother's harsh treatment of Mrs. Xiao, so he said, "I know you feel wronged for your cousin Lihua. But if Xiao Baoyin wasn't the Prince Xiaoyao who lived under someone else's fence, how could she have the current Happiness? Men love the new and dislike the old, and no matter how deep their feelings are, they can't match the fact that they are old-fashioned. I am so harsh on Xiao Baoyin, and it is because of her."

"...so mother...let father die early?"

With a sneer, Ye Chang asked back.

These words were more serious than the son's duty, and all the female officers who served by the side turned pale, but the Queen Mother's face was still gentle and smiling.

Half a year ago, the founding emperor passed away from an illness, and the crown prince Ye Chang ascended the throne, and Empress Fu Li resigned as Empress Dowager Duanyi.However, the emperor's illness came so suddenly and the attack was so intense that there were always rumors in the palace that His Majesty died young and the Empress was guilty of ignorance.

"It's very strange. Knowing that my son thinks of me like this, I don't think it's strange at all. Maybe, because I'm a woman, and you are a man after all. Men don't understand women's harshness to exclusive love. Jealous ? How many ups and downs I have gone through together with him, and finally shared the glory and wealth, but..."

"Father didn't establish a harem until his death."

"But the emperor must have the Sangong and Six Courtyards, and the Ye family's sons are weak. Even if he can refuse temporarily, it is impossible for him to refuse all the time."

"...the queen mother...for..."

His youthful face was filled with suspicion and amazement.

Fu Lici narrowed his eyes and said with a smile: "Everything I do is for you. It is difficult for a woman to have children after her forty, but a man can conceive a woman after he is sixty. The mother is strong and the son is weak , the dictatorship of powerful ministers is a precursor to chaos. Besides, the fact that the elders of the Xiao family can reluctantly accept the present is also related to the blood of the Xiao family in your veins. Even if it is just to stabilize the country, I must make you the new emperor .As for the thing you suspect...I never had any intention of killing him...I love him so much, how could..."

"Mother...you..."

Ye Chang said distressedly, he knew his mother well, and he also knew about his father's death, and his mother indeed had an inescapable responsibility.But he accepted her explanation.Because he is a man, he understands men's curiosity about young and fresh flowers, and indeed sees that although his father still respects and favors his mother, occasionally he will inevitably show admiration for a young girl in her youth.

Nine palaces, overlooking the end of the world, above the solemn palace, there are only emperors and empresses, no husband and wife.

Just like my mother said inadvertently, I believe in love, but not in eternity.

"But my mother was only a little short of getting eternity. I heard a name mentioned by the nuns. The surname is Bai. She is a beautiful person."

He said tentatively, this time Fu Lici finally smiled like a girl, she stood up gently, and said: "In my life, there was indeed such a person, I believe he will be with me forever. But Unfortunately, when you mentioned him just now, I found that I had forgotten what he looked like."

Although he was smiling, his face was full of unconcealable sadness. Ye Chang was startled and apologized: "My son said the wrong thing."

"You are right. We just overestimate ourselves. We always think that we can hold on to eternity, and always blame others for their forgetfulness. In fact, no one can hold on to eternity. The so-called eternity is just a fleeting flower, gorgeous, Eye-catching, so gorgeous that you think you can remember it for a lifetime."

She laughed at herself, tears streaming down her face silently.

So Ye Chang understood that he had done a wrong thing.Bai Yinmei is the softest part of her mother's heart that she never wants to be touched. She may have really forgotten his appearance, but she will never forget that there was once such a person who loved her like life.

So he stood up and apologized: "The child is wrong."

"No, it's because I'm old, and I babbled and said a lot of meaningless things."

Smiling softly, Fu Lici stood up, pushed open the door of the imperial study, looked at the bright spring, and said, "I'm sleepy, and I'm going back to the palace to rest. It's about the imperial court. The emperor can decide for himself."

"The son sent the mother off respectfully."

Fu Lici nodded and walked into the spring.

……

……

The spring breeze dyed with peach blossoms blew on her body, making her feel a bit cold. When she passed by, she saw a familiar yet unfamiliar face.

"Mr. Jun."

She spoke gracefully, and took the initiative to bow and salute.

Jun Fengxi smiled back and said, "The Queen Mother is well."

"Mr. Jun really doesn't want to stay?"

She spoke harmoniously, raised her head, and looked straight at Jun Fengxi.

His pupils used to be as charming as autumn water, but now, these pupils have lost their brilliance, and under the sunlight, they glow inorganically.

After pondering for a moment, he slowly said: "There is nothing I want here anymore."

"But you stayed for a hope that barely existed. Couldn't you stay for... me again?"

"Why stay? What can you get by staying? You are no longer you, and I am no longer me. You and I are two straight lines, destined to meet only once and then go our separate ways."

Fu Lici was silent, Jun Fengxi's words were ruthless, but they were indisputable facts.

The world thinks that she is superior and has everything a woman can get in this world, but who knows how much she has paid to get these things that may not be what she really wants?

"It has been almost 30 years since we first met. The ignorant girl back then has turned into a woman with white hair on the sideburns, but the appearance of the husband is still the same as when we first met."

She laughed at herself: "There is really nothing you want here, maybe there used to be, but it's dead."

Because of Fu Lici's self-mockery, the corners of Jun Fengxi's eyes showed a little kindness, and he said softly: "No one can truly never change. You are already amazing to be able to get to where you are today."

"But no matter how amazing it is, my life and yours are also two straight lines. We meet once and then separate completely."

Fu Lici said calmly that she loved Bai Yinmei, but she also had love for this very handsome man.It was a contradictory and painful feeling. He knew that he was hypocritical, his whole body was covered in poison, and he would die if he drank it, but he couldn't help being tempted.Perhaps every woman will encounter a similar turmoil when she is young, but she has been a human being for two lives, and she was caught in the abyss of the trap when she first came here.

However, the desire that has been restrained for too long has the urge to explode at the moment when all that can be obtained is obtained.

Looking at Jun Fengxi's half-smile expression, there is a kind of desire just around the corner.

"If... I mean if, if I were the one you're looking for, would you take me away?"

Jun Fengxi smiled and said nothing.

Fu Lici immediately understood that she didn't believe in eternity, and Jun Fengxi didn't believe in if either.His world only has happened and will happen, there is no possibility to happen but not happen.

Even if everything can be done again, Fu Lici can only be Fu Lici, and will not become anyone else.

"Thank you for giving me a clear answer in the end."

With a chuckle, she turned around, embraced by the female officer, and walked into the depths of the imperial city, taking every step firmly.

This is the path she chose, paved with the blood and bones of those she loved and hated, she can't escape, and she doesn't want to escape, just walk down endlessly like this, and one day she will be swallowed by deep desires, Be a part of the endless maze.

Looking at her resolute back, Jun Fengxi, who stayed where she was, smiled. He took out a peach blossom folding fan from his sleeve, unfolded it, and smiled with a graceful demeanor that no one could imitate. He turned around, walked out of the imperial city, and disappeared into the vast crowd...

(End of this chapter)