Empress Chu

"The biggest feeling I have come back this time, does your lord know what it is?" Chu Zhao said.

Deng Yi said: "Life is like a dream?"

Chu Zhao laughed again: "Lord Deng, don't always tell jokes."

"Didn't you say the joke I said?" Deng Yi said, "After going through life and death, don't you feel that life is like a dream?"

Chu Zhao smiled and nodded: "That's true." Then he patted the table lightly to blame, "Master Deng, don't interrupt, listen to me."

Deng Yi pursed his lips, didn't speak any more, and stretched out his hand as a gesture of invitation.

Chu Zhao corrected his figure and said, "I want to be a queen."

Deng Yi chuckled, and said, "I said that life is like a dream, but Ms. Azhao said I was joking. Aren't you a queen in your dream? Then wake up."

Chu Zhao didn't hold back either, and smiled: "I asked the first emperor for the queen's position, but it was actually for the safety of my father and myself. I didn't think too much about other things."

In order to make up for regrets, to prevent Xiao Xun from becoming emperor, etc., everything is to prevent the fate of that life from happening again.

She even thought that after seeing her father off, making up for her regrets, and making the country stable, she would leave the imperial city and go to the border county to live freely.

"But after experiencing this life and death, I understand that if you want to be free, you must have strength."

She looked at Deng Yi, her eyes were shining brightly under the palace lantern.

"It is the status of queen that gives me strength and allows me to do what I want to do."

Deng Yi said with a half smile but not a smile: "Also, the empress also experienced the wonderful feeling after things are done."

Chu Zhao looked at him and nodded, "Yes."

Although she has nothing to worry about, there are so many people who care about her.

Whether it's Xie Yanfang's asking for tea, Zhang Gu's offering tea, or the female companions' congratulatory tea.

It doesn't matter if someone hates her, blames her, guards against her, or respects her and pleases her.

She, Chu Zhao, has been seen and remembered by others in this life, and no one can ignore her.

Deng Yi looked at the girl in front of him, this was the first time he looked at her seriously after returning.

Previously, whether it was the court of the Great Court or the meeting of the Small Court, the empress and the emperor were just listening to the government, so he didn't need to be distracted to look at her more.

He also knew that there were many people who wanted to look at her more, and Xie Yanfang would definitely not let her go, and those women in the capital, or the dignitaries of aristocratic families hiding behind the women, would also want to look at her.

At this moment, it seems that no wonder they all look at her, it is indeed different from before.

Experienced a life and death, a murderous aura.

This girl has always been fierce, he knew it from the first time he saw her, but fierceness is on guard.

Murderous Qi is different.

To kill is to take the initiative to attack.

Deng Yi smiled: "Your Majesty, don't think too much about it. From that moment on, it's not up to you to decide whether or not to be a queen." He poured another cup of tea, "Of course, it's better if you want to be a queen." gone."

"I think, it's actually because it's the first time I realized how happy it is to have something I've never had before." Chu Zhao said with a smile again.

Deng Yi didn't speak, he offered her a cup of tea, and the girl asked again.

"Master Deng, why do you want to be a high-ranking official?"

Deng Yi said: "Why can it be, of course it is just like the empress, to experience the happiness that I have never had before."

Chu Zhao smiled, took the tea he pushed, and touched the teacup in front of him.

"So, don't worry about who listens or not, who believes or not, Mr. Deng, you and I are the same people, and we have to do the same things. Let us work together to do things together."

Deng Yi smiled, picked up his teacup and drank it down in one gulp.

……

……

In addition to expressing their concerted efforts, before Chu Zhao left, he turned around and said one more thing to Deng Yi.

"When I went out of the palace to see my father before, the adults thought I was doing useless things." She said, "Although I did not save my father's life this time, I was able to accompany my father on the last journey. After seeing him, my heart is not in a daze and has nowhere to go, but I have never felt more firm and down-to-earth."

Deng Yi snorted, with a dull expression: "It's as long as the empress is happy."

Chu Zhao smiled at him: "It's meaningless, but it can make people happy."

……

……

The night was dark, the lights of the previous court were dimmed, the drums were beating, and the gates of the imperial city were about to be locked.

After Deng Yi got up to see Chu Zhao off, he didn't turn back to the Grand Tutor's Hall, but stood on the porch watching the night.

"The empress knows that the Tai Tuo has helped her, and this is to thank the Tai Tuo." The little official laughed.

If it wasn't for Deng Yi's imperial decree, how could Empress Chu have negotiated with the King of Zhongshan? At this moment, she has died in the palace of the King of Zhongshan, and there won't be a rain of petals in the city to greet her, but she can pay homage to her all over the city.

Deng Yi didn't speak.

"The queen sees the importance of helping the Taifu." The official continued, "Come to form an alliance with the Taifu."

Although Deng Yi alone is powerful enough, it is always good to have one more ally, and she is also the queen.

And now the queen is indeed very powerful.

Deng Yi still didn't speak, and suddenly raised his foot forward.

The little official hurriedly caught up: "My lord, what are you?"

"I'll go home." Deng Yi said.

The little official didn't realize for a moment that Deng Yi still had a home - maybe he could go back once or twice a month, the Taifu's mansion was almost just a warehouse for receiving gifts.

The little official hurriedly followed and called the imperial guards to prepare the streets of Maqing.

Deng Yi's return caused the sleeping Taifu's mansion to become flustered, mixed with exclamations.

"Second Master! Why are you back! Have you been dismissed? Lost power? Is this mansion going to be raided?"

In the confusion, another woman spoke hastily.

"Ah Er, it has been raining for several times, your father's and your brother's graves need to be repaired."

"Mom, I'm not busy these days, so I'll fix it myself."

……

……

After Chu Zhao washed and changed his clothes, he walked gently into the bedroom. It was quiet inside and out, and the night lights were dim.

She let Ale and Xiaoman go to rest, while she walked to the sleeping couch in the side hall.

Previously, when Xiao Yu was frightened at night, she always asked her to sleep with her. This time, Eunuch Qi told her that Xiao Yu was able to fall asleep by himself.

But she came back in a hurry, and hadn't decided which palace to move to, so she was still living here for the time being.

After walking a few steps, there were soft footsteps in the inner room, and the figure swayed. Xiao Yu looked out and called softly, "Sister."

Chu Zhao was startled: "Did I wake you up?"

Xiao Yu hugged the bamboo tube and shook his head: "Sister, are you done with your work? I haven't slept yet, I'm waiting for you."

She went to see Deng Yi only after she put Xiao Yu to sleep after supper, but she didn't expect that the child didn't sleep at all.

"You actually learned how to lie." Chu Zhao walked over and poked his forehead with his hand.

Xiao Yu giggled.

Chu Zhao hurriedly covered his mouth and hissed: "If you don't sleep in the middle of the night, the emperor will also be admonished."

Sure enough, Xiao Yu fell silent, covered his mouth with one hand and nodded with a smile.

Chu Zhao's eyes fell on the bamboo tube he held in his arms - he said he could sleep by himself, but in fact, this child was the one who lied to Eunuch Qi and the others.

She sighed softly in her heart, wrapped her arms around Xiao Yu's shoulders and turned inward.

"Let's go, let's go to sleep, otherwise, if we don't wake up tomorrow morning, we will be laughed at by civil and military officials." She said in a low voice, "and the Taifu will seize the opportunity to scold you."

Xiao Yu covered his mouth with his hands and nodded with a smile.

Lying on the wide and soft dragon bed, Chu Zhao let out a long breath.

"It's been a long time since I slept on such a soft bed." She turned to look at Xiao Yu, "Ah Yu, we can all sleep soundly from now on."

Is it because the bed is soft?Xiao Yu didn't think that if the bed was soft, he could sleep soundly, but since Sister Chu came back, he could also sleep soundly.

He nodded and closed his eyes.

(End of this volume)

The fourth volume of mountains and rivers

Chapter 1 Year

(one year later)

Another cold winter passed, and spring came.

This year's Yunzhong County has had a lot of rain, watering the ground so that it is green and watery.

Even the frontier land where the horseshoes trampled back and forth was dotted with green. Standing on the hillside and looking at it, it looked like a broken emerald——

This is Xie Yanlai's thoughts.

Zhong Changrong didn't think so, and he had never seen a broken gem, but that didn't stop him from smiling.

"The dog thief Xiliang, these days have been like a turtle, the grass has grown." He said, "We didn't even get a good report."

Xie Yanlai said: "If there is no letter, it is a good news."

This is indeed the truth, Zhong Changrong looked into the distance, and then he went out of the Daxia Realm, and it did not belong to Xiliang, it was a designated place of no matter.

"This time the border must be redrawn!" He stretched out his finger and pointed ahead, "Did you see that a city can be built a hundred miles ahead, which is an excellent defense, and the land is fertile, which is most suitable for raising pastures. Many years ago Well, General Chu once said that it would be a pity to take this piece of land—" He swallowed the rest of the words, and immediately clenched his fists, full of pride, "This time, I must make the general's wish come true."

Expansion of borders is the dream of every soldier. Hearing this sentence, they will all agree with pride. It is a pity that Zhong Changrong brought Xie Yanlai today.

"Whether the wish can be fulfilled or not is not up to you, a warfighter, to make the decision." The young man beside him said lazily, "It depends on whether the non-warrior wants to be fulfilled."

Zhong Changrong suddenly lost his anger, his heart was blocked, he was so angry that he wanted to scold, but he couldn't.

In fact, the pity he said earlier was not a pity that General Chu passed away, nor was it a pity that General Chu had been abandoned for many years. In fact, when the general gained power, it was impossible to achieve his wish.

It was a pity that the brave emperor was addicted to the joy of victory and didn't want to take any more risks, so he stopped the offensive when the frontier army was at its peak.

Zhong Changrong turned his head and glared at Xie Yanlai. This kid is really annoying. If he doesn't speak, or if he says something nice, will he die?

"It's different today." He said angrily, pointing in the direction of the capital, "My lady—"

"Your lady is an empress, not an emperor." Xie Yanlai interrupted him, saying earnestly, "Uncle Zhong, you have been serving as a general for more than a year, can you be calmer in your speech and actions? Don't you want to be scolded and domineering like me?" Relatives?"

Zhong Changrong laughed angrily: "Who are you teaching!"

Xie Yanlai raised her eyebrows and didn't say a word, but replied with her eyes, of course he was teaching you a lesson.

"Of course I know that my lady is not in charge of the imperial court." Zhong Changrong snorted again, and gave him a sharp look, "And you, Mrs. Xie."

He looked forward again.

"But my young lady must also have such a wish, and will definitely work hard for it."

He turned to look at Xie Yanlai again.

"Also, expanding the territory is not a shameful thing. My lady is proud of doing this kind of thing, and she is not ashamed, let alone afraid of infamy."

Xie Yanlai snorted: "I wish you and General Zhong are invincible, serve the country and the people, and live forever."

Although the soldiers standing at the foot of the hill could not hear what they said clearly, it was almost time - the two of them would not spend more than a stick of incense together, and they were about to quarrel.

"General Zhong—" a lieutenant general shouted.

Zhong Changrong turned his head angrily: "Why are you shouting!"

The general stretched out his hand and pointed to the sky: "It's going to rain, general, let's go back to camp."

Zhong Changrong looked up, and saw that the originally clear sky turned into clouds in the blink of an eye, and a muggy rain was gathering.

"Return to the camp." He shouted loudly, ignored Xie Yanlai, and strode away.