Funing Hall

Kaixi five years.

As soon as the new year began, snow fell in Kaifeng Mansion and the surrounding Jingdong East and West Roads.

Not only Zhao Cong, but the common people were also excited about it.

This is really Ruixue.

Since three years ago, Kaifeng Mansion and Jingdong Road have experienced a severe drought. In the past three years, there have been only a few rains, severe drought, and locust plagues.Originally because of Zhao Cong's personal administration, the rice and other things that were ordered to be planted locally had just started to improve, but they were all eaten up by locusts.Locusts are hard to get rid of, and at this time, it is not as good as later generations. Airplanes can be used to spray pesticides on the fields.

At this time, the locusts are basically removed by manpower, and sulfur is said to be effective, but sulfur is harmful after all, and Zhao Cong dare not act rashly.These places already had a lot of land but little green plants. After Zhao Cong took office, he was already wary of locust plagues. He ordered people to plant more green plants and dig more ponds in the fields, but he was no match for the drought and the coming of locusts.

Fortunately, during the past three years, there were only locusts in the fields in these few places, and the treasury was still full, so there was no major famine in the end.

However, Zhao Cong had already exhausted a lot of effort. As a novice emperor, Zhao Cong was officially in charge. He had just changed his title, and it was only over a year before he faced such a scene.He was really at a loss what to do at the time, it seemed like a plague of locusts, but too many things and people were involved, and many of his original plans were disrupted. Under such circumstances, he had to appease the people.At that time, some people even took the opportunity to make trouble, saying that he, the emperor, was ominous, and so on, all of which were complicated.

But things can always be resolved, and after this incident, he looks more and more like a real emperor.

Now even people who are close to him, such as Rantao and Fulu, dare not look at him, and they are not as daring to joke with him as before.

This snow, from the beginning of the new year to the seventh day of the first month, is still falling intermittently.

Fu Lu came back from the outside, stood on the porch and patted the snow on his shoulders, and asked the little maid waiting by the door while patting: "Is Your Majesty inside?"

"Yes, Your Majesty is reading in there, and just now the servant girl went in to refill tea." The little maid said crisply.

Fu Lu smiled: "It's cold outside, you go in and stand."

The little maid also laughed: "Your Majesty also said so, but we are on shifts, and each of us stands for two hours. The maid just came from Sister Chaxi's place, and she is not cold at all!"

"It's because His Majesty loves you and is afraid that you will be frozen, so he arranged it like this."

The little maid smiled: "Yes, Your Majesty loves us."

After Fu Lu was joking, he wanted to go in, but when he turned around, the smile on his face disappeared, and instead he looked respectful.

He opened the heavy curtain of the inner room and walked in softly.

A curtain separates the inside from the outside.

As cold as it is outside, it is as warm as it is indoors. It is both warm and fragrant, and the fragrance of wintersweet is lingering.

The people inside are a bit cold.

Sitting cross-legged on the couch behind the window is a gentleman, dressed in a concubine-colored gown, leaning on a large pillow behind his back, with a large woolen blanket covering his knees.He held a book in one hand and a hand stove in the other.He read carefully, flipping the pages of the book lightly with his fingers, his fingers were smoother than white jade.

He is only a profile, so that people can't help but shut up when they see it, and dare not speak again.

This is the 21-year-old Zhao Cong five years later.

Fulu took another breath and walked to the side of the couch.

Zhao Cong waited to read another page before casually asking: "All sent away?"

Fu Lu bent down and said, "Your Majesty, the young one and Xie Liulang sent the envoys of various countries out of the city gate ten miles away."

"Where's Li Liangcheng?"

"He was still reluctant to leave at first, saying he wanted to see you before he left. Later, Xie Liulang persuaded him for a while before he got on the horse."

"Wen Rui is an honest man who has remained unchanged for thousands of years."

Fu Lu frowned, but finally said: "This third prince is too courageous."

Zhao Cong nodded, he was very courageous, he dared to secretly come to Song Dynasty disguised as an envoy, and made a point of revealing his identity when he came to see him.Fulu was there at the time, and I was really afraid that Li Liangcheng would assassinate him, and the guards wished they could kill him on the spot.However, he was a prince from a neighboring country, and he couldn't be killed, so he died in the Song Dynasty like this, and it was not easy to give an explanation.

Five years ago, Li Liangcheng was still calm. In the past few years, it is said that the Xixia Emperor's health is getting worse and worse. His elder brother has gradually come to power. Move your mind.

Li Liangcheng was probably in a hurry, and he didn't know what method he used to sneak out and come to Song Dynasty.

Today's Li Liangcheng is not like what he was five years ago, as soon as he revealed his identity, he put on an innocent appearance, would come into the palace every day, and said that he admired him.Zhao Cong sneered, admire?I'm afraid I didn't pretend to be a fool to trick him into taking the bait so that I could help him win the throne.

He's not stupid, but with such a clumsy trick, he still wants to deceive him?

In the early years, there was an opportunity to cooperate, Li Liangcheng took Qiao, and now he wanted Zhao Cong to help, he had to bring out the benefits first.

Because of the Chinese New Year, the officials have already taken a bath, so he is rarely at leisure. After all, he was relieved after being depressed for a long time. He asked casually, "Why do you think he pretends to be stupid like that?"

Why do you want to do that?

Li Liangcheng is counting on becoming the emperor of Xixia, and counting on His Majesty to support him, and Fulu said, this Li Liangcheng is a young man who learned from the past!The whole world knows that His Majesty loves and dotes on Mr. Xiaolang very much. Now His Majesty has been in power for five years, but has no son. People often say that His Majesty was so poor back then, that he might choose Mr. Zhao Shishi as his successor. .

In the past five years, Wei Junwang's mansion has deteriorated day by day, and everyone believes in this rumor even more.

This Li Liangcheng was only two years older than Xiao Langjun, and he really looked like Xiao Langjun in his eyes.I don't know who taught him how to do it, but he actually imitated what Xiao Langjun used to look like, and he really learned [-]% of his character.

It's a pity that their young master's nature is like this, and this Li Liangcheng's wolfish ambition is purely pretending!

Besides, their little lord has no dissent towards His Majesty, what is in this man's mind, do they really think they are so stupid that they can't see it? !

Fu Lu thought so in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it.

Because, Mr. Xiao Lang is dead, he died five years ago.

Mr. Xiao Lang is His Majesty's taboo, no one dares to mention it, and no one can mention it.

It's not good for this Li Liangcheng to learn from anyone, but to learn from Xiao Langjun.I don't know where his self-confidence comes from.

He didn't speak, Zhao Cong didn't force it, he didn't need an answer, he just asked again: "What else?"

"It is true that there is one more thing, Wei Junwang asks to see."

Zhao Cong's originally peaceful expression immediately froze, and the hand holding the book tightened, and he changed it to a grasp, and then sneered.

People are colder.

Fu Lu knew that His Majesty did not intend to meet King Wei Jun yet.But King Wei came to see him, so he had to report it.

He lowered his head and hurriedly picked up the happy things and said: "In the past few days, Xue Jianxiao, all kinds of jugglers have gathered in Yujie, and it is very lively now. There are also many mountain sheds built on the street. When I came back from outside, I couldn’t help but be infected by the common people, everyone wore new clothes, so it’s very festive!”

Zhao Cong knew that Fu Lu was trying to make him happy, but after hearing this, he was indeed relieved.

In the first two or three years, there was a plague of locusts, and everyone was not very interested. Even in the first month, the Kaifeng mansion was not lively.As an emperor, he took the lead in frugality.This year it finally snowed, and it seems to be a good year, so it is natural to have a good time.

On the day of the Shangyuan Festival, he will also go to the Xuande Tower in person to have fun with the people.

It was originally a banquet for officials, but he canceled it. It was too exhausting to talk and joke with people.

In the past five years, You Qian Yuemo helped him recuperate his body, although he has improved a little, but he is extraordinarily diligent, attends the court every day, and meets officials at the Chongzheng Hall at any time, but his body is still difficult to completely heal.

No one can stop him, no one dares to stop him, and too many things have indeed happened in the past few years, all the people are looking at the emperor.

Zhao Cong didn't want to stop himself, after all, he didn't know what else he could do other than attending the court, meeting officials, and dealing with political affairs.Now even the Empress Dowager Sun has fallen silent, at most she tossed back and forth with Qian Yuemo a few times.Qian Yuemo is in charge of all affairs in the harem, and Qian Yuemo is a good hand in managing affairs.Even Aunt Wang is much more honest.

He wanted to find out who was behind Aunt Wang, but he couldn't find a chance.

Not one troublemaker.

The palace is very cold.

He also wanted it to be warmer, but he couldn't, so how could it be warmer.

He put down the book, stared blankly at the charcoal basin in the corner, the tip of his nose was full of the fragrance of plum blossoms.

Before he knew it, he said, "This year's Lantern Festival, I want to watch the lanterns with the princess."

Fu Lu was shocked and immediately looked up at him.

Zhao Cong twitched the corners of his mouth and forced a smile: "He is 16 years old this year, and that day is his birthday."

The 16th birthday of the ancients was a very important day.

Fu Lu's eyes were sour, and the eye sockets quickly filled with tears. He lowered his head and did not speak.In the past five years, no one dared to mention Mr. Xiao Lang in front of His Majesty. Since no body was found, His Majesty still did not believe that Mr. Xiao Lang was dead.There was a palace banquet before, and a gentleman in Weijun Wangfu mentioned the death of Mr. Xiaolang, and his words were disrespectful.His Majesty disregarded others' pleadings and directly expelled him from the Zhao family and demoted him to a commoner. From then on, no one from Weijun's palace was allowed to enter the palace.

Today is the first time His Majesty mentioned Mr. Xiao Lang.

Fu Lu thought to himself, is His Majesty coming out soon?

Since Mr. Xiao Lang left, His Majesty's temperament has gradually changed. He who loves to laugh so much in the past, no longer smiles.It would be great if His Majesty could come out.After all, those who have left have already left, and those who are still should live well.

Zhao Cong closed his eyes tiredly, embraced the stove with both hands, and said softly: "Go out, let someone go to the princess mansion and tell her that all her playmates can go with her."

"Yes!" Fulu wiped his eyes, turned and went out.

In the yard, Ji Li has been feeding pigeons for five years.

Fu Lu was in a good mood at this time, so he asked him, "Have all the pigeons come back today?"

Ji Li shook his head.

"How many are missing?"

Ji Li wanted to count on his fingers again, but Fu Lu walked out with a smile.

Ji Li murmured: "The carrier pigeon flew out again today, I have to report to His Majesty." He touched his sleeve, turned and went into the inner room, begging to see Zhao Cong.

On the day of Lantern Festival, Zhao Cong took Qian Yuemo and other concubines to the Xuande Building, and Zhao Zongning was naturally also upstairs.In order to have fun with the people, Zhao Cong also invited many clans and ministers to climb the tower together. After Zhao Cong said some words of blessing, he let everyone go to entertain themselves.It is a great gift to be taken to Xuande Tower by the emperor, whether it is the clan or the officials, they are all very excited.

In the lighting room downstairs, there are various performances, all of which are very exciting, including acrobatics, singing and dancing, and Cuju.It should be a pleasure to watch them sit upstairs, eat and talk, and watch them.

But Zhao Cong sat in the middle with no expression on his face.

Who dares to be happy?

Zhao Cong also knew this, and after sitting for a while, he got up and left.

Zhao Zongning got up together, and even Zhao Shu'an and other young ladies who had a good relationship with her also stood up, and they planned to go to see the lantern.

Qian Yuemo caught a glimpse of Zhao Zongning getting up from the corner of her eye, and her hand holding the handkerchief tightened.In the end, she couldn't help it, she looked back, Zhao Zongning and Zhao Shu'an didn't know what to say, their faces were pressed together and they smiled.

Zhao Zongning has already reached the age of Ji, and she is no longer the one who combed double snails and wore golden pearl flowers in the past.

Now she is wearing a high bun, with phoenix golden step rocks inserted in her hair, and small red treasures on the tassels, shining brightly when shaking.She even wore a red dress with a phoenix embroidered on it. Such a flowery look, a princess shouldn't be wearing it.But she wore it anyway, and His Majesty didn't speak, so what can others say?

Moreover, Princess Baoning is often in the Chongzheng Hall, discussing political affairs with her majesty and ministers.

She is even wearing a big fur cloak, the edges and corners are all patterned with golden hooks, it is extremely dazzling and beautiful.The whole body is full of big gold and red, but this color, only Zhao Zongning can hold it up, other people wear it is gorgeous or vulgar, her upper body is noble and gorgeous.

She and Zhao Shu'an had a hearty talk, Zhao Shu'an was always elegant, he covered his mouth with a veil and smiled.Zhao Zongning's ear pads were pressed against Zhao Shu'an's face, Zhao Shu'an gently teased them away, she smiled back, and then the two walked downstairs hand in hand.

Qian Yuemo was still watching, she was really afraid of Princess Baoning, but she couldn't help being envious.

"Lady." Piaoshu called her in a low voice.

She came to her senses.

"My lady, you can't go to see the lantern together. There are so many ladies here, so you need to accompany me."

Qian Yuemo nodded, she knew that she was in charge of the harem, she was also His Majesty's "favorite concubine", and she was currently the highest-ranking concubine, so naturally she had to be honest.

Seeing that she was lonely, Piaoshu chose other things to say: "Lady, the princess's clothes are always so beautiful." She saw that their lady looked at the princess for a long time, thinking that she liked the princess's attire.

Qian Yuemo said softly: "Princess's things are naturally different from ours."

Piao Shu deeply agrees: "It's not."

How many princesses can go to court and discuss political affairs?Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there has been only one such person.

Piao Shu said again: "Lady, the princess is not here, you can relax a bit." She knew that their ladies were always a little afraid of the princess.

Qian Yue silently breathed a sigh of relief, but she wasn't relieved, as long as Zhao Zongning was around, she always felt like she couldn't sit or stand.

"Your Majesty is also going to appreciate the lanterns today. I'm afraid he is in a good mood. Tomorrow, my lady can take advantage of His Majesty's good mood to cook some soup and send it to Funing Hall." Piao Shu is still making suggestions for her, but he can't speak well. Too straightforward.Everyone treats their wives as their favorites, but the wives can't give birth to children. Although the queen mother doesn't care about things now, she doesn't come here on occasions like this, but she likes to ask her wives to ask questions.

The Empress Dowager did not dare to do anything to Her Majesty, so she knew how to stab their wife and always stab her with the child.

Piaoshu felt sad, outsiders looked at the beautiful flowers, how could they know that the lady is still a virgin now!She also stayed in Funing Hall, but the ladies all slept on the couch.

Your Majesty has always been in poor health, he cultivated his character, when he was young, the Empress Dowager did not appoint anyone to guide others, it is right to be careless in this matter, after all life is the most important thing, but their wives are not in a hurry at all!

In this palace, there is no child around, what should I do?

Speaking of this, she couldn't help but think of the rumors in the palace in the past few years. It is said that because of his poor health, His Majesty wanted to enter the palace in the early years because of the successor of the little eleventh prince of Wei Junwang's mansion. early.Regardless of his death, His Majesty's temperament has changed a bit. How easy-going His Majesty used to be.

She couldn't help but said softly again: "Lady, today is that little man's birthday."

Qian Yuemo frowned and said, "Shut up!"

"It's the servant girl's mistake!" Piaoshu immediately realized that she had said something wrong, but she couldn't kneel down, so many people were there.

"What should be said and what should not be said, you have also entered the palace with me for nearly six years, so you should know."

"Yes." Piao Shu blamed himself very much.She was so relaxed that she even dared to mention this person.

Qian Yuemo's brows couldn't be loosened anymore, and it was snowing outside again, holding the hand stove in her hand, staring at the snowflakes under the lamp in a trance.

Although there is no physical relationship with His Majesty, the two are already close friends.

She also hopes that His Majesty can come out of that matter sooner.

Xiao Langjun left too suddenly at the beginning, not only her, but even His Majesty, he would come back at night.

In the end, he failed to come back, only a blue and blood-stained belt, and the news that the boat had capsized.

His Majesty had just been in charge at that time, and had not been able to rest well for more than a month. When he heard the news, he couldn't stand still, and immediately fell back, knocked his head directly on the couch, and passed out immediately.

The guards in the palace searched the Bianhe River for three full months before they found a corpse, but it was only the corpse of a servant of Weijun Wangfu.The rest of the servants, as well as the bodies of Mr. Xiao Lang, Mrs. Shan and the maid, were never found.

His Majesty said, "When you are born, you need to see people, and when you die, you need to see corpses."

But five years have passed, the person is long gone, and the body has never been found.

His Majesty has always firmly believed that Mr. Xiao Lang is not dead.

As long as anyone dares to say that Xiao Langjun is dead, if His Majesty hears about it, he will either be demoted or die.

Your Majesty, that is self-deception.

They all knew that the person had long since disappeared, otherwise why would they have searched for so long and failed to find it.The Bian River is so wide, so long, and so deep. In previous years, some people died in it, and how many people were salvaged?

I can't find them all.

After that, for more than a year, His Majesty could not fall asleep, so she stayed in Funing Hall, and had to massage the acupoints for His Majesty every night, so that he could save a few hours of sleep.

It wasn't until the princess was injured while riding a horse, and there was another drought and locust plague, that His Majesty recovered again, and ordered not to search on the Bian River again.Called back the guard team that specialized in searching.

But after recovering, he seemed to be a different person, not like the former His Majesty, but more like a real emperor.In the past, she often chatted and laughed with His Majesty, but now, she is also afraid of His Majesty.

It is such an emperor who has been majestic since he was in power, but he also thinks about the people in everything.So far, the only outrageous thing that has been done is to insist on mobilizing the palace guards to search for the person who may never be found in the Bian River, and search for more than a year.

Qian Yuemo looked at the snowflakes and sighed leisurely. It is a good thing that His Majesty is willing to look at the lantern today.

I only hope that after today, the past can really return.

The author has something to say: That's right, my friends, the little heartless man fled to death back then, and he no longer wants to be the throne.After going completely, he didn't care about any follow-up, because he didn't think about coming back.Zhao Cong is also more blind because of his "death".So when it is necessary to come back because of some things, a lot of joy will happen.