break the way [comprehension]

Just as the female officer was about to leave, Concubine Ming suddenly paused, and turned around with a smile as if remembering something: "By the way, Madam, I also received a reply from my brother a few days ago, saying that my sister-in-law is about to give birth, and the war in the Northwest is peaceful." , if there are no accidents, brother may also want to see his eldest son born in the capital with his own eyes, hehe."

Concubine Ming's elder brother?

The ministers in the field were all startled.

Only the queen's face suddenly changed.

Immediately, everyone realized that Concubine Ming... seemed to be surnamed Shen, and Northwest... the Generalissimo with 30 soldiers and horses in the Northwest seemed to be surnamed Shen too!

Not to mention that Marshal Shen, who was cut off from his family, was led by ordinary junior officers who fought the enemy bravely for more than ten years and rose steadily. The present is very trustworthy, if such a great general of the country really has any relationship with the concubine, the present is not such a faint-hearted generation, how can he just sit and watch the court and the harem collude without taking any action?Concubine Ming's sentence "brother" really caused several question marks.

Even so, the message revealed in Concubine Ming's words still caused the ministers to think hard. Marshal Shen was stationed in the northwest well, even if Mrs. Shen was about to give birth...it should be in the northwest, how could it be in the capital?It is even more absurd for Marshal Shen to see that his eldest son was born in the capital. A general like him can affect his whole body with a single stroke. One bad thing would be the collapse of the entire empire. Without the emperor's order, how could he be easily transferred?Taking ten thousand steps back, it means that he has the heart of disobedience. The appearance of such signs on the emperor was just yesterday. How could the northwestern king predict it in advance and set off?

Concubine Ming, is this news true or false?

But the enchanting concubine dropped the heavy news and left with a giggle, ignoring the expressions of the empress's officials and others behind her. Looking at her, it seemed that she was worried because she had brought endless troubles to the people at the top of the empire. Very proud of it.

One of the cabinet ministers immediately said in a deep voice: "If Marshal Shen has really changed... This is by no means a trivial matter. I will investigate it immediately."

The second cabinet minister nodded but said worriedly: "Even to verify, it is impossible for the news to exchange within half a month. If there is really any movement, His Majesty is in such a situation now..."

Everyone was silent. If the Northwest Army really had an abnormal mobilization, such as a slogan such as Qingjun's side, then they, the group of guys who were ordered to flex their muscles when they were in danger, would become paper tigers, and they would all become a joke.

Liu Yelan frowned. While the cabinets were discussing the next thing, he looked at Eunuch Deng who was quietly retreating, and his heart moved, and he also quietly retreated to the side, chasing after the eunuch Deng. and go.

Arriving at a secluded place, Eunuch Deng couldn't help turning around and said helplessly: "Master, what else can I order?"

Liu Yelan looked at the eunuch in front of him without saying a word, until he suddenly said, "What did Your Majesty do to Marshal Shen?"

Eunuch Deng calmly said, "My lord, the national teacher, the slaves and servants are only serving His Majesty, so how would they know? Why don't you ask those lords..."

But Liu Yelan interrupted him: "I watched the stars all night before, which caused disasters to the northwest and the capital. The capital has its own guards to strengthen the defense. Everything is under His Majesty's nose. Nothing can go wrong, but the northwest is out of reach. , His Majesty trusts him a lot...but it's been two years since His Majesty saw Tianyan, right? Can Your Majesty rest assured?"

Eunuch Deng lowered his head and said, "This servant dare not speculate on the Holy Will."

Liu Yelan only sneered at Eunuch Deng's submissive and loyal words and said: "It seems that you really don't know the seriousness of the situation." He paused before saying: "I have seen a patient with the same symptoms as His Majesty more than ten years ago. people."

Eunuch Deng's lowered eyes suddenly burst into a fierce light, which made people dare not look directly at him for a while.

But Liu Yelan calmly said as if he hadn't seen them: "It's just that the fate of those people was not very good. They became monsters chasing blood only by instinct. They were neither alive nor dead. If the curse hadn't been unraveled in the end, I don't know how it would end. "

Eunuch Deng said coldly: "My lord, have you forgotten that if it weren't for the support of the Supreme Emperor and His Majesty, you are now just a poor white-clothed scholar in the imperial capital who has achieved nothing. How did you get your status today!"

Liu Yelan said indifferently: "Of course I know, but the one who doesn't know seems to be you, Eunuch Deng. Maybe you still think that you can hide something to preserve your so-called loyalty to His Majesty, but let me tell you, if His Majesty really has something Unexpectedly, you are to blame for concealing all kinds of things today."

Eunuch Deng couldn't help frowning, Liu Yelan's words obviously wanted to push everything that happened to the emperor on him?However, when he observed carefully, the expression on Liu Yelan's brows was unpredictable, but there was no exaggeration or alarmism in the slightest. Could it be... this matter really affected this?

After weighing it for a while, he said in a low voice: "Your Majesty previously ordered the hidden guards to escort Mrs. Shen to Beijing..."

The voice was as low as a mosquito, and it came out of his mouth and into Liu Yelan's ears. Evidently, eunuch Deng had made up his mind. Although he told Liu Yelan about this matter, he would never admit that he said it afterwards.

And Liu Yelan was puzzled at first, taking Mrs. Shen to Beijing?In the early years, he and Shen Tianyun met in Xitu Town. Afterwards, they separated from each other. He quickly ascended to the position of national teacher by taking advantage of Qintian shortcut. The kings of the past dynasties were taboo, and he never thought of using the events of the past to build a friendship with Shen Tianyun. Keeping a distance is a good thing for the two who have already climbed to the top of the empire at this time. Generally keep a tacit distance.

Shen Tianyun's wife, Sheng Qing, was the number one brothel in the imperial capital in the early years. Liu Yelan had heard Tong Qing vaguely mention it after the accident at the creek that year. I don't know if it was because of this. In the past many years, even if Shen Tianyun went to Beijing to report on his work, he had never seen her. He was traveling with his wife, and Mrs. Shen had always been in the northwest, and she was also a distant existence among the circle of noble ladies in the imperial capital.

Why is it so sudden that the emperor will ask the secret guards to escort her to Beijing?And if what Concubine Ming said is true, Mrs. Shen is pregnant, and she shouldn't be tired after a long journey. Everything sounds so unreasonable.

But what kind of person is the eunuch Deng in front of him, he will not talk nonsense for no reason at such a critical moment of life as the emperor.

In an instant, Liu Yelan suddenly understood everything, and his face turned ashen immediately: "Could it be that His Majesty is suspicious of Northwest...?!"

Eunuch Deng took a deep look at Liu Yelan, then lowered his eyes and said meaningfully: "My lord, what is the truth, shouldn't you know the most about it?"

At this time, Liu Yelan really hated the so-called emperor's mind. Previously, because of his stargazing, Shen Tianyun had held an army of 30 troops for too long, and his prestige in the Northwest Army was too great... ... I don't know which factor was the last straw that crushed the emperor's trust in the Northwest.

Mrs. Shen was pregnant but was sent to Beijing... Maybe the emperor took a fancy to her pregnancy.

It would be child's play to say that the general of the country like Shen Tianyun was dismissed because of the turmoil of the national teacher watching the sky at night, so the emperor thought of this trick: using Shen Tianyun's wife and children as hostages, if the pregnant Mrs. "Please come" to the middle of the capital, Shen Tianyun is not confused that only such a woman whom he loves so much can save such a little bit of blood and flesh.

No wonder Concubine Ming spoke so eccentrically today.

If she really has some kind of relationship with Shen Tianyun, it is normal for Shen Tianyun to have resentment towards the emperor's hand, or Shen Tianyun wants to go to Beijing to visit Mrs. Shen's mother and child... It can't be regarded as complete nonsense.

Liu Yelan thought about everything back and forth in his mind: "The top priority is to stabilize the situation in the northwest. The current situation in the imperial capital is already too complicated, and the northwest must not be chaotic."

Eunuch Deng also silently agreed with Liu Yelan's judgment, but the news about Shen Tianyun is a top secret even in the eyes of the emperor, and must not be disclosed to the cabinet ministers outside, even if it is the queen... it is not appropriate to know this thing.

Liu Yelan quickly asked: "Where is the person? Have you arrived in the capital? Has someone been sent to take care of him?"

Whether it was to stabilize the situation in the northwest, or to preserve the old friendship, Liu Yelan felt that he should protect Shen Tianyun's wife and children.

Eunuch Deng smiled bitterly: "If there is no accident, I am afraid that I should go to Beijing today, but how to deal with it... I was waiting for His Majesty to decide... Now..."

Liu Yelan frowned, and suddenly thought of Mrs. Shen's great reputation in the past, and it was hard to guarantee that someone in Beijing would know about it, and then there would be troubles, so he said decisively: "That's it, Eunuch Deng, you can arrange the people and horses, and you can place people in my mansion. I will make my wife fully cooperate with you!"

This has to be said to be a compromise. The National Teacher's Mansion is Liu Yelan's territory. If the people are completely handed over to him, it is clear that all Shen Tianyun's weaknesses are handed over to Liu Yelan. This is completely contrary to the emperor's intention that day. , Eunuch Deng will never agree; but if all the decisions are made by Eunuch Deng, he is just loyal to the emperor. At this time, the emperor has not made a decision, so how would he know what to do?

This is the best way now, the caregiver is under the command of eunuch Deng, but they are in the territory of the National Teacher's Mansion. The two restrain each other, which can be regarded as barely stabilizing the situation, not only keeping Mrs. Shen safe, but also preventing the situation from getting out of control.

After the matter was decided, Liu Yelan let out a sigh of relief, at least one hidden danger was subsided.

Eunuch Deng couldn't help asking: "You mentioned that you have seen people with symptoms similar to His Majesty..."

This is also a very headache for Liu Yelan. Back in Xitu Town, in the out-of-control Shen's ancestral hall, he did see those members of the Shen's clan who were bewitched by evil things, just like the current emperor. They became stronger and stronger, then their breathing became short of breath, they became more and more excited, and finally they lost their minds and turned into monsters who only knew how to chase flesh and blood. A monster, but now the emperor is gradually changing in his lethargy...

That evil thing... Liu Yelan shuddered when he thought of the passage that Shen Tianyun had cut off, and the creek that had become a deserted land. Disappeared in the world, still lingering secretly, but now waiting for a chance of resurrection?

The monster exists in the world by virtue of the sacrificial agreement with human beings, and the respectable water shirt is the proof of the agreement. The respectable water shirt has been completely burned, and there is no longer any basis for the existence of the monster, but how could it suddenly appear in this world?

Liu Yelan only thought about the ominous omens of the Northwest and the imperial capital that appeared in the astrology back then... Could it be that this matter should be dealt with?

But who is it that brought this evil thing into the world?

He originally thought that all this had something to do with the emperor's actions in the northwest, but now it seems that although sending Mrs. Shen to the capital is indeed a shady means of domination, but it does not involve any evil spirits, how come Will it attract this evil thing inexplicably?

Over the past ten years, as the practice of spiritual awareness has become more and more refined, not only has everything he encountered in Xitu not gone away, but it has become clearer in his heart day by day. It is rumored that the scholar who came to deal with such ghosts and gods, in recent years, under the guidance of the former national teacher, remotely sensed the astrology, meditated and cultivated Qi, his cognition of all the things in this world that are difficult to guess with common sense has already surpassed the world With all the cognitions he has, he has long understood that there are rules behind those seemingly incomprehensible strange things.

These are the foundations for Liu Yelan to firmly sit on the position of the national teacher, make the whole empire run smoothly, and win the trust of two generations of emperors.

Now, looking back at the evil thing painted on the creek that day, Liu Yelan has to feel terrified, because the other party's evil is powerful, and today, Liu Yelan can feel it more personally. It takes a little courage to confront the opponent regardless.

The current Liu Yelan no longer has the determination and courage to kill the opponent that day. All he wants is to make this evil thing lose its support in the world. Without that support, the opponent can only wander between the world and the earth. You can't show yourself in the world, and you can't make any waves.

But this point seems to be very slim right now.

Even the king of a country was affected by the evil spirit of the other party, but he, the national teacher, couldn't see where the problem was... Liu Yelan had to smile bitterly, but he thought of the old man who used to fight cocks and horses in the national teacher's mansion, but now he only likes to think about the countryside With the leisurely figure of Peng Chu's matter, Liu Yelan suddenly felt a burst of courage in his heart. Behind him are not only the emperor and the people, but also the one he loves to protect with all his strength. No matter what, even if he dies, he will still protect him in this life.

In just a moment, Eunuch Deng felt that the spirit of the national teacher in front of him was no longer the same, as if he had cleared the fog and saw the sun through the clouds, his bright eyes made people dare not look directly at him.

Liu Yelan pondered for a while, and then he simply lifted up his clothes and sat cross-legged on the ground. He then said to Eunuch Deng: "Before I left the palace, Your Majesty had no signs of evil spirits. You will tell me what happened after I left the palace, in every detail. Come on, I want to see where that evil creature took advantage of the loophole!"

The sharpness between the brows made Eunuch Deng feel a kind of cold killing intent from this gentle and elegant national teacher - that is only felt by Shen Tianyun, a general who kills people like hemp on the battlefield. It's been monstrous and murderous.

Since he, Liu Yelan, is the national teacher of the empire, he can't guard the border with his body like Shen Tianyun, so he naturally has to use his ability as a national teacher... Now all the crux of the matter is that the emperor is in a state of evil and it is difficult to wake up, so let's start from here!

But Liu Yelan, who looked a little scary like this, made eunuch Deng feel inexplicably at ease. He had never seen such a powerful side of the national teacher, and now he knew why the other party was trusted by two emperors. The question the national teacher asked was related to the emperor. Because of Sheng Gong's abnormality, Eunuch Deng didn't care too much about the taboos that should be observed in the court, and carefully reviewed everything on the Longevity Day.

Since it is a holy birthday, congratulations from the emperor and ministers are naturally indispensable. All the concubines and concubines in the palace, without exception, have all congratulated the emperor. There were many people and things on that day, and it was thanks to eunuch Deng who was able to control all the facts in the palace. , To be able to recount the situation of that night, the seats of the people, and the order of the congratulations one by one.

Liu Yelan listened and asked questions from time to time, but his heart became more and more heavy. The emperor had contact with too many people that day, and it was extremely difficult for him to discern useful clues from them for a while, so he just wrote down the list silently. Later, he discovered that if he really wanted to investigate one by one... I am afraid that there is not one of the major families in the entire empire who is not among them.

The amount of work and the time it took... Even if the clues can be found, the emperor at that time may not even be able to reverse the mutation, and the dishes will be completely cold, Liu Yelan thought with a wry smile.

Eunuch Deng didn't know what was going on in Liu Yelan's mind, and he was still seriously thinking about the events of that day: "...After the feast for the ministers that day, His Majesty was going to go to the Empress's Palace of Peace, as usual in the palace. The imperial concubine did not know what she said to His Majesty, His Majesty was so excited that she went to sit in her Zhuyan Palace for a while, but she didn't stay for a long time, and later she rested alone in the sleeping hall. After reporting to the empress, the empress and empress made an agreement... and invited you into the palace as well."

Concubine Ming?Liu Yelan's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be that Concubine Ming told His Majesty about her pregnancy?"

Otherwise, with the usual behavior today, no matter how much you dote on Concubine Ming, you will never go to Concubine Ming's Palace after sweeping the Queen's face on the Longevity Day.

How could the emperor not care about the issue of heirs, how could he really not care?

Even though the emperor was still young, no prince was born in the harem, and the empress gave birth to two daughters. Although His Majesty doted on him...but he could not inherit the great treasure after all. After drinking a few glasses of wine, and knowing such a happy event, it is inevitable that he would not do something biased in a moment of excitement... And because the concubine Ming was pregnant, he didn't stay in Zhu Yan Palace, so he returned to the bedroom, right?

After that, the emperor showed strange behavior in his deep sleep, thanks to the eunuch Deng who was on duty at night.With his current status and status, he seldom does such lowly things, but the emperor is really happy to have a few more drinks on his birthday. It is hard to guarantee that Mrs. Shen is not about to enter Beijing safely, and there is a hidden danger in her heart. Eunuch Deng is worried Those little eunuchs were afraid that they would return to their old jobs if they were not attentive enough to serve them, so they quickly discovered the abnormality of the emperor unexpectedly.

But it was too coincidental that such a thing happened just after going to Zhuyan Palace.

Liu Yelan and Eunuch Deng looked at each other, both of them looked solemn, if this is the case, I am afraid Concubine Ming...

"In the Palace of Zhuyan, can the father-in-law take care of you all the time?"

Eunuch Deng shook his head: "At that time, the imperial concubine Ming asked me to prepare hot soup with the palace maids to soothe your majesty..."

Thinking back now, it is really suspicious. How could Concubine Ming directly dispatch someone like Eunuch Deng?Taking advantage of the emperor's joy that day, Concubine Ming dismissed him with a coquettish joke. The preparation time for the hot soup could be long or short.

But Eunuch Deng sighed and said: "After all, the dragon's heir is still alive, even if you beat a mouse, you are afraid of hurting Yu Ping'er..."

Liu Yelan was silent, and had to explain that the concubine's arrogance at this time was really justified. Even though the emperor had something to do with her now, she was pregnant. If one was not good, she might be the emperor's eldest son in her womb. At that time, this child of unknown gender really meant too many things. Not to mention controlling her, even to really investigate her suspicion would cause a lot of trouble, which was really a headache.

Eunuch Deng only said: "Master, please don't worry, the slaves will definitely pay attention to the situation of Zhu Yandian everywhere in the palace, but if His Majesty wakes up one day earlier, all these will be solved, please do your best With all my strength..."

Liu Yelan nodded naturally, eunuch Deng didn't say that he would try his best to solve the current evil state of the emperor, but for some reason, he was always uneasy about Ming Concubine, and always felt that there was something extremely important He missed it... It seems that something serious is brewing.

After thinking for a long time without a solution, Liu Yelan had no choice but to put aside the ominous omen and concentrate on how to get rid of the evil spirit on the emperor. Today's Liu Yelan is naturally different from that of the past, and he is completely helpless against such evil spirits entering the body. After thinking about it, he also had some ideas.

When he asked Eunuch Deng to prepare the materials, he saw a young eunuch rushing over and whispered something into Eunuch Deng's ear. Immediately, Eunuch Deng nodded, arranged the things Liu Yelan needed, and went to Liu Yelan Ye Lan said: "I'm afraid those things need some work. This is the time... The national teacher had better go back to the mansion, and explain what needs to be explained."

Liu Yelan was startled, but then realized that Mrs. Shen had already arrived, so he didn't stay any longer, and only nodded to Eunuch Deng to make arrangements for him.

It's just that Liu Yelan never imagined that when he left, many things would be turned upside down, and the whole situation would rapidly change in a direction that no one could control, not just the emperor, the empress, the Shen couple... even him and Tong Qing, and even the whole family. The fate of the empire is slipping into an irreversible abyss.