Chasing King

Feng Ye ordered Xiao Liu to send Yan Sikong back to the city, while he rushed to Jingshan camp.

When Yan Sikong wandered over the carriage, he suddenly felt that what happened in the past two days was like a dream. He didn't really wake up until the magnificent imperial city was reflected in his eyes and became clearer and more magnificent.

At the foot of the emperor, how many shadows are hidden under the ostentatious appearance? They are like monsters shuttling through the earth, gnawing at the foundation of this dynasty.

Back home, Yan Sikong didn't have a moment to rest. She called ah Li to the study, prepared the paper and ink, wrote down a few words, and then handed the pen to ah Li: "write these words again."

Ali waved his hand.

"It's OK. Write it."

A Li had to take over the pen, draw the ladle according to the pattern, and write down the words. Although they are crooked, they are not difficult to recognize.

Yan Sikong picked up the paper and gazed at the handwriting on it like a snake in spring: new history, 11 volumes and 9 chapters

then he folded the paper, but after a pause, he spread it out again, crudely gathered the paper into a ball and handed it to Ali, and said seriously, "Ali, I need you to do something now. You have to go in person. You can't fake other people's hands."

Ali nodded.

"Disguise yourself and go to Qingyang to make sure that this paper will be seen by the censor Cai Zhongfan. It must be done in a blind way. " Yan Sikong stared deeply into Ali's eyes, "can you do it?"

Ah Li nodded again and beat his chest with his fist.

"Take more silver, go back quickly, if..." Yan Sikong breathed out a sigh, "if someone finds out, take the silver and fly away, don't come back."

A trace of sadness flashed over ah Li's ugly face, and his facial features were twisted together. He put the paper into his arms, knelt down on the ground, kowtowed heavily to Yan Sikong, and then got up and left.

Yan Si sat motionlessly in the chair, with a pair of eyes fixed on the void, showing a deep chill.

The day before the birthday ceremony, Yan Sikong went to the palace as usual to give a lecture to the crown prince.

As soon as he arrived at the East Palace, he saw several big boxes of sandalwood and red paint placed outside the palace. The crown prince was discussing with his mother and his concubine, and the maid in charge was waiting on him.

"Empress, your highness." Yan Sikong comes forward to say hello.

"Sir." The prince was very happy to see Yan Sikong, so he came up and held him, "you're just in time. Please advise me. What kind of gift should I present to my father tomorrow?"

Yan Sikong went to have a look, and there was a rare treasure in each box: "Your Highness, these Where did they all come from? "

Before being appointed as the crown prince, Chen Shu was neglected in the palace. Even the annual annual gift to each prince was deducted by all means. His mother and concubine were never favored. Although she had a eldest prince, she was only a Zhaoyi for many years. After she was appointed as the crown prince, her mother was given the title of huifei by virtue of her expensive son. They could not get such a reward.

There's only one possibility. It's from the minister.

Sure enough, Chen said, "this Hepu pearl belt was given by Lord Yin of Tianfu. This pair of Yaobian Tianmu tea bowls was given by Chen Taifu. This Taihu Lake stone was transported from Suzhou by Lord song. It's a rare treasure in the shape of longevity."

"Your Highness." Yan Sikong interrupted him, "Your Highness is going to choose one from it and give it to the emperor?"

Chen Bi nodded: "I don't know what my father likes. I'm discussing with my mother."

Huifei came over and said, "yes, Mr. Yan, you are a smart man. You can help her choose one."

That huifei was just a little maid of honor. She was quite beautiful, but she was just like wild flowers on the roadside. Although she was bright, she was all over the mountains and valleys, so she was not very impressive. After drinking, Emperor Zhaowu felt lucky for her. He didn't know whether her life was good or bad, so he gave birth to the eldest prince. He had been bullied in the palace for more than ten years and lived a cautious life. Therefore, he was also submissive and had little opinion.

Yan Sikong bowed to Princess Hui, and then said to Chen Kai, "Your Highness, in my opinion, these are not good."

Chen suddenly lost: "if it's true, it's not valuable enough, but there's nothing more valuable in the east palace..."

"No, that's not what I mean." Yan Sikong said, "these gifts are the wishes of my ministers. You should remember them, but don't take them to heart. Just remember them."

Chen Bi blinked: "what do you mean, sir?"

"Your Highness, let's go in and talk."

Chen Yi, kneeling down, calmed huifei and held back all her servants.

They went into the hall and sat in the place where they usually lecture. Yan Sikong looked at no one on the left and right. Then he looked into Chen's eyes and said, "I know that your Highness has been unfairly treated for many years. At this time, I also want to win the love of the emperor, but no matter how precious a gift you give me, I won't get what you want."

Chen Xiaoduan straightened his posture and looked at Yan Sikong with some vigilance and some apprehension.

From time to time, Yan thinks that Chen is a little like himself when he was a child. He is smart, sensitive and thoughtful. But because he is too young, he still can't hide his emotions well.Chen said with no expression: "as a minister, it's natural to please your father."

"Naturally, it can't be this way."

"Why?"

"When your highness becomes the prince, it doesn't mean that your past sufferings are over. From the moment you are registered, everything has just begun."

Chen took a deep breath and looked at Yan Sikong.

"Your Majesty is only 40 years old, strong and healthy. All the princes are not yet adults, far from the age of leaving the palace. As long as they are still in the capital, your Highness's crown prince will be unstable."

Chen Bi pursed his lips and nodded in silence.

"Your Majesty favors the second prince most. The power of the other princes and their relatives should not be underestimated, your highness With all due respect, your Highness has no advantage other than being the eldest son. "

Chen Bi clenched his fist: "why did Lord Yan suddenly say this to me today?"

The change of address made Yan Sikong realize that he was pressing hard. He pulled his forward body back: "it's your highness who asked me to give a congratulatory gift. Xu Shichen's transgression. I'm just here to give a lecture today." Then he took out the book from his pocket and spread it out in front of him.

Chen Yi grabbed his wrist and looked at him sharply with his eyes: "go on."

Yan Sikong gave a faint smile and a light cough, and said: "Your Highness, although he has only one advantage, he is better than all. What your highness needs to do now is, first, not to make mistakes; second, to guard against villains. If your highness gives any of those gifts to the emperor tomorrow, he will commit the first offence. "

"Why?"

"The emperor will know that you have begun to win over the courtiers and cultivate power. This seems like offering flowers to Buddha, but it's actually breaking the stone."

"But I didn't..."

Yan Sikong grasped Chen's hand and looked sternly: "it doesn't matter whether you have it or not. Your majesty thinks that you have it. Do you know how many years the ministers have been dragging their hands with your Majesty in order to get you registered? Your majesty has always wanted to support the second prince. You must not let him have such an idea or give him such an opportunity. "

Chen took a breath and looked at his face. It was like the rest of his life. He couldn't come back for a long time.

Yan Sikong patted Chen's hand and slowed down his voice: "Your Highness doesn't need to panic. If you have a minister, you should try your best to protect your highness."

Chen Bi suddenly stood up and arched his hand to Yan Sikong and said, "Mr. Xie."

Yan Si knelt down in a hurry: "Your Highness, I'm a little minister."

Chen Bi lifted Yan Sikong up and said, "in my opinion, what should I send to my father?"

"Just send a ode. Your majesty won't see it in his eyes, but it won't arouse his suspicion. What's more, it will let him see that his highness is diligent and successful in his studies. In the meantime, someone will give his highness good advice."

"Yes, sir."

Under the guidance of Yan Sikong, Chen wrote a long poem with gorgeous rhetoric and full praise. Yan Sikong changed all night, trying to match Chen's literary talent, but without any omission.

The world loves to satirize the past and the present. There must be a lot of people waiting to pick up Chen's mistakes. Even a careless word may be twisted into a deadly meaning. Otherwise, there would not be so many people suffering from literary inquisition in history. Therefore, they have to be knowledgeable about the past and the present and dare not take such a job. It just happens that Yan Sikong has it.

He can not only help Chen Shu write a perfect poem praising his merits, but also make use of the gratitude and resentment between the censor Cai Zhongfan of Qingyang and the second assistant King Shengsheng of the cabinet to attack Xie Zhongren for the first time.

In fact, he didn't plan to woo Chen so early. As he expected, the child was very vigilant, but although he wasn't the main writer of that chapter, he was reviewing the new history. It would certainly involve him and many people, big or small. He needs a strong ally to help him out of the crisis. Chen can't help him, but behind Chen, the conservative courtiers headed by Yan Zilian will help him.

Even if these people don't work, there's one person he can count on.