Golden Stage

This year is destined not to be peaceful.Towards the end of the year, following the murder case of the Eastern Tatar mission that shocked the government and the public, another rumor about the commander of Beiyan quietly spread among the dignitaries in the capital with the momentum of a single spark——

The Marquis of Jingning, Fu Shen, was fond of Longyang, and had a habit of breaking his sleeves.

This news appeared strange, but when you think about it carefully, there are quite some things to consider.Moreover, people are always willing to use the most obscene speculation to try to complete the "truth".It didn't take long for Fu Shen's love history since he joined the army to spread vividly and vividly throughout the Duke's noble family, and even became a topic of conversation for some people after dinner.

In Dazhou, liking masculinity is not a particularly special thing, and the world is very tolerant of it.But when this kind of thing happens to a general who holds military power, it is not just as simple as a "hobby".

The country name of the former dynasty was "Yue", and the country had existed for more than a hundred years. Among them, there was an eternally famous emperor with the temple name Suzong.

Emperor Suzong favored a beautiful woman surnamed Han when he was buried in the mansion. After he ascended the throne, he not only made Han a noble concubine, but also all her father, brother and younger brother.Concubine Han's younger brother is named Han Cang. According to historical records, he is "beautiful in appearance, looks like a good girl, and has the quality of a pearl and jade".Han Cang entered Luan Yiwei because of his sister, and showed his face in front of the emperor during an escorting trip.Suzong fell in love with him at first sight, and he couldn't forget him after returning to the palace. He even ignored the secular ethics and welcomed Han Cang into the palace. "Jun", compared to the noble concubine, so that the two brothers and sisters serve the same monarch.

There has never been such a precedent in the Dayue Dynasty. From the court to the common people, everyone was shocked. The civil and military officials were bitterly admonished, wishing they could line up and kowtow to death in front of the palace.

Although Su Zong was an astonishing lover, but regardless of his identity, he was first and foremost an emperor, the lord of a country.He couldn't bear to be dictated by a group of idiots who were salty and worried about some personal matters.In a fit of rage, the cunning emperor actually issued a decree, allowing public officials, scholars and bureaucrats to take male concubines, and officials of the sixth rank and above and noble clans can marry male wives, just like regular wives.

What is good at the top will be worse at the bottom.As soon as this example was opened, most of the people in the court were on the sidelines, but many literati regarded the broken sleeve as an elegant thing, so the folks followed suit one after another, and the south wind has been prosperous ever since.Suzong has been in power for nearly 30 years, but none of the ministers dared to ask for the abolition of this order.

It was not until the former dynasty was weakening that the reigning Xuanzong felt that the south wind was prevailing, which violated the laws of nature and ethics, resulting in a poor population, a sharp decline in the young and strong, and difficult farming. Then he issued a decree to prohibit civil marriage between men and men, and ordered to let male concubines go home. , give the deed of return, and re-naturalize and register the household.However, male wives have not been completely abolished in fact. Xuanzong not only allowed men who have the status of regular wives to stay in their husband's family, but also specially left a decree: Anyone who is a sixth-rank official and above, a prince, a noble, and a royal family, has a voluntary marriage. For a man who is a regular wife, think of his affection as a pity, allow him to play the role of the emperor, and give him a marriage.

This decree of grace became Xuanzong's trump card to check and balance powerful officials and relatives.Especially for those nobles with hereditary titles, marrying a male wife means that they have no legitimate sons, no one to inherit the title, and it will be taken back by the court after death.

After the demise of Dai Viet, this soft knife, which can kill without blood, has been used to this day because of its outstanding effect.Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, more than a dozen ministers have been given marriages by the emperor, and all of them are high-ranking and influential people who disturb the situation.

The commander in chief of the Northern Yan Army, the Marquis of Jingning, and the eldest son of Ying Guogong, no matter what his status is, the word "broken sleeve" is what he fears most.

How many people stared at him eagerly, the emperor was worried that he had no excuse to gather the military power in his hands, so why did rumors spread at this juncture?

Fu Shen lives at home and doesn't go out with relatives and friends, so he naturally has no way of knowing these rumors; his subordinates have heard too many unreliable rumors about Jingning Hou, and there are all kinds of monsters and ghosts, so they have long been familiar with these rumors. Strange.

As long as they are a little bit politically sensitive, they shouldn't let rumors spread so unscrupulously.

The planners are sharpening their knives, but the people in the game are closed and know nothing.

When Yan Xiaohan, who was a little more vigilant, heard this rumor from Fei Longwei, he felt a "thump" in his heart, feeling that something was going to go wrong.

He didn't wait for Fu Shen's answer that night. No matter how tough a person is, no matter how tough he is, he should be shaken.Yan Xiaohan had the upper hand, but unfortunately he was not happy.

Emperor Yuantai did not hand over the case of the attack on the Eastern Tartar Mission to Fei Longwei, so Yan Xiaohan could only choose to investigate privately.The doubts in his heart did not disappear. Although Fu Shen said that he thought too highly of himself, a person who could survive the battlefield fell into an ambush, just like a duck drowned in The water tank is just as weird.

Fu Shen's attitude made him suspect that there might be something hidden in this case, and Yan Xiaohan needed the truth behind it.

It has nothing to do with justice, nor is it for morality, but because he holds a unparalleled sharp demon sword for the emperor.He had to see clearly the turbulent undercurrent hidden under the water surface, so that he could control the direction of the blade, so as not to be swallowed back by it or swept away by the undercurrent.

The emperors of the past dynasties put a heavy emphasis on the forbidden army, and there were ten guards in the imperial city, including Jinwu, Luanyi, Jiumen, Xiaoqi, and Baotao, which were called "Nanya Ten Guards".There are six armies of Yulin, Shenshu, and Shenwu in the palace, which are specially in charge of guards, and are called "Six Armies of Beiya".In addition, another Feilongwei inspector and hundreds of officials were set up to patrol the four regions. The chief was the third-rank imperial inspector, and had the right to write secret reports directly before the imperial court.

All the generals of the Beiya army were appointed to Feilongwei, and Yan Xiaohan took the post of imperial inspector, ranking above all the generals, and he was already the commander of the Beiya Imperial Army in the true sense of power.

It was Wei Xuzhou, General of the Zuo Shenshu Army who passed the message to him. The Wei family has a large family and many in-laws, and they are related to most of the nobles in Beijing.General Wei was blessed by nature, there was no second man in the Imperial Army of the Northern Yamen who was more enthusiastic about protecting the media and spreading gossip than he was.

The disagreement between Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen is also well known in Feilongwei, Wei Xuzhou gloated and said, "This rumormonger is too disgusting, look at Jingning Hou's high-mindedness on weekdays, I thought he I have to live with my left and right hands for the rest of my life hahaha..."

Yan Xiaohan frowned deeply: "Where did this word come from?"

General Wei said: "My second aunt's natal sister's husband's cousin... is Mrs. Liu Enhou. There is a daughter in his family who is waiting for her husband. Doesn't this fall in love with Jingning Hou? I only found out after inquiring about it in private. There is such a secret."

Yan Xiaohan put his hand on his forehead, not wanting to talk to him at all.

"My lord," Wei Xuzhou circled him twice, wondering, "Marquis Jingning has such hobbies, and he hasn't worried about it yet, why did you worry about him first?"

Strange, too strange.

A person who hasn't memorized words for several years is suddenly so unlucky that his teeth are stuck in cold water—what did Fu Shen do, and how come all kinds of ghosts and snakes swarmed him to plot against him?

"This is not right...Brother Wei, please go and find out where the news of the Marquis of Jingning Duanxiu came from—" Before he could finish his sentence, a little eunuch in blue suddenly entered the outer hall, It was the apprentice of Eunuch Tian, ​​the eunuch who was serving in front of the imperial court, and the two hurriedly stopped talking and went forward to salute.The little eunuch said: "Your Majesty Xuan Yan will see you in the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

As soon as Wei Xuzhou heard that there was something to do, he would consciously avoid it, but Yan Xiaohan suddenly gestured to him behind his back, saying, "Eunuch, wait a moment, I have some business to explain to General Wei."

The little eunuch said impersonally: "This is an oracle from the Holy Master, does Lord Yan still want His Majesty to wait for you?"

Yan Xiaohan showed a vague smile on his lips, it was the kind of expression he used most often that was both gentle and ready to eat people.

"As the envoy of the Flying Dragon Guard, Yan, every move is done with respect. My father-in-law said that, but it's difficult for me to deal with."

The eunuch was bluffing at first, but when he smiled like this, he suddenly remembered the horror legend about Feilong Weiqin in the palace, his face changed, and finally calmed down, he backed down and said: "If that's the case, Lord Yan, please go ahead."

The inexplicable General Wei was dragged to the desk by him, Yan Xiaohan casually took a few files to prevaricate, and said in a low voice: "Go to the Jingning Hou Mansion for me, tell him the outside news, and tell Fu Shen to be sure Pay attention and prepare early. No matter what happens, press it first, and don't act rashly."

Wei Xuzhou's desire to gossip was aroused by him, but seeing that his expression was serious and did not look like a joke, he quickly nodded and said: "Don't worry, my lord, just leave it to me."

No matter how righteous Yan Xiaohan said, he couldn't keep the eunuch waiting for a long time, so he had to put this matter aside for the time being and hurried to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Bingbi eunuch Tian Tong and Fei Longwei have never dealt with each other, and the little eunuch and his master share the same hatred and refuse to reveal their words.It wasn't until Yan Xiaohan entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation that he discovered that besides Emperor Yuantai, the Crown Prince Sun Yunliang was also in the hall.

"The minister sees His Majesty, sees His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Aiqing is flat."

Emperor Yuantai was tall and majestic, with a slightly plump and loose face. There were two deep lines on the side of the nose, and the corners of the lips were slightly thin.This emperor can be called shrewd and capable. He has always been unsmiling and quite serious, but now he seems to be in a good mood, and there is even a smile on his face. After sweeping away the anger and gloom brought about by the mission case the day before, he appears to be much kinder.

It doesn't seem like a bad thing.Yan Xiaohan felt at ease, secretly thinking that he was really frightened by the successive tricks and tricks these days, and was a little taken aback.

The crown prince stood on the sidelines with a taut face, unfazed by favor or humiliation, Yan Xiaohan could feel his gaze falling on him, without malice, but with a kind of needle-like inquiry hidden.

"Prince, go back to the East Palace." Emperor Yuantai wanted to leave Yan Xiaohan to speak alone, after thinking about it, he gave the prince a rare encouragement, "You did a good job today."

The crown prince has received this compliment, and today's main purpose has been achieved, and he is no longer in love with the stack.He withdrew his gaze from Yan Xiaohan, even smiled at him, and bowed to leave.

There seemed to be indescribable mockery and pity in that smile, which made Yan Xiaohan suddenly feel ominous.