General, there is a demon [Rebirth]

Yong'an City, Spring Longevity Festival.

The turmoil in Great Yin has not stopped yet, and now the Holy Majesty's Longevity Festival is approaching quietly, and the palace is decorated with lanterns and festoons. It seems that the tension and danger in the air a few days ago seemed like a dream, but now it is reality.

All the ministers brought their families into the palace to celebrate the emperor's birthday. For a while, there were crowds of people inside and outside the palace gates, so it was very lively.

Before the banquet started, the maids and servants in the hall were very busy, and everyone had faint smiles on their faces.The same is true for the ministers who survived the purge a few days ago. They smiled and said hello to each other.But no matter whether it is the court ladies, the eunuchs or the courtiers, there is a terrified thought hidden behind the smiling faces-their majesty the emperor may not survive this summer.

As night falls, the banquet begins.

Fire trees and silver flowers, silk and bamboo dance and music, the gorgeous skirts of the slim dancers flashed cheerful streamers in the melting moonlight, and the delicacies were served on the table, and the ministers were toasting and smiling.

Looking around, the hall is very lively, but the first two seats are vacant, which are the seats of the emperor and empress. Looking down, the prince and others are sitting next to the first seat and toasting each other with the ministers next to them , even the third prince, who hadn't been seen for a long time, sat obediently on one side, with a dull expression, as if he was only concentrating on the dishes on his plate. In the row, only a small room was opened nearer to the queen's position, with bead curtains hanging down, making it difficult to see the situation inside.

Because they were far away from their superiors, and they could take advantage of the sound of music in the hall, the officials behind started whispering while pushing cups and changing cups.

"How does the third prince look at..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted, "Don't talk about it, Lao Li. Although Prime Minister Nie was imprisoned and Nie's family fell, who knows what the people above think, maybe he will be back in office in two days." The person who spoke looked around, leaned closer and said in a low voice: "Speakers in the palace must know what can be said, what can't be said, and what should be said loudly."

The person who was interrupted was a little embarrassed, he smiled and started another topic: "Hey, I'm looking at which noble lady is sitting in that small room, can you sit beside the empress with such respect?"

One person answered curiously and asked, "Could it be the future princess?"

"Keep your voice down, don't talk nonsense," the man before said in a low voice, "The Great General Changfeng and his fiancée, Mrs. Chang, set up bead curtains because Mrs. Chang hadn't really left the cabinet."

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was in an uproar. They had all heard of the prestige of General Changfeng. Whether it was the great military exploits or the matter of purging the court in the past few days, if there was something deep in their hearts, they would be able to see something "" The way of "power minister".

"That's not going to be behind the queen..."

"Near ministers, close ministers, isn't it just that they are close?" Everyone laughed when they heard the words, and then gave up.

A face-to-face official sitting at the end of the official seat just smiled when he heard what they said. He didn't care about the romance between General Changfeng and his fiancée, but lowered his voice and asked the people around him who had been drinking quietly.

"Will His Majesty show up today?" He smiled sheepishly, "I've never been to Yong'an, and I didn't expect to catch up with His Majesty's birthday when I came here, but luck is really good."

Hearing this, the man put down the wine cup and glanced at the people around him, thinking that after all, he had stayed in a small place for a long time, and he really looked like he had never seen the world, but he still kindly reminded: "At the Tianjia banquet, don't talk nonsense."

After saying that, he didn't want to communicate with that person any more. What he could survive in the court purge was to be cautious in his words and deeds. When it didn't matter, he would show kindness to others.Now that most of the acquaintances around him have withdrawn, I don't know how long His Majesty can last. Thinking of him, he sighed, and felt that it was his turn to worry about the important affairs of the court, so it would be better to drink a few more sips of this fine wine in time Have fun, laugh at yourself, continue to drink and pour yourself.

The official who had just been transferred from the local area saw a soft nail, touched his nose embarrassingly in his heart and muttered: "I don't know if Ma'am has seen the empress or not."

Who would have thought that the person who ignored him would suddenly ask: "Your Madam has also entered the palace today?"

"Yes, yes," the little official was taken aback, not knowing why, and said, "Just as I was about to go out on my front foot, a letter came from the palace on my back foot saying that the empress invited all the officials and family members to enter the palace, but my mother-in-law was very happy. ,Is there a problem?"

The official shook his head slowly, took a drink from the wine cup, looked at the empty first seat from a distance, and always felt something strange in his heart, but he had no wife and no children, and it was nothing to be alone. worried.

The little official who was transferred wanted to ask something, when he heard a few loud bangs of "bang bang—" several sparse sparks shot up into the sky, and suddenly exploded into thousands of silver flowers, which were dazzling and radiant, instantly killing him. The attention of the other people who were talking in a low voice was taken away, and they applauded repeatedly.

Music was playing everywhere, candle shadows were flickering, and the main character of the banquet was long overdue.

Empress Wang helped the emperor to appear and sat on the first seat that had been vacant for a long time. At the end of spring, when he could have been dressed alone, the emperor was still wearing a thick and heavy cloak. Although he was energetic, he could still see weakness and exhaustion from his eyes.

The music stopped, and the noisy banquet fell silent.

"Today, today is my birthday!" The emperor only said a few words, and felt chest tightness and shortness of breath. He took a few steady breaths before turning to look at the prince and said, "I have been ill for a long time, and I am not feeling well. , the prince has done a good job during this time!"

He looked at the prince with some relief in his eyes, "Seeing the prince now looks like I did back then!"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone's hearts were shocked. If it was not an accident, the words would almost indicate that the crown prince would be the heir to the emperor's throne after a hundred years. What's the matter with the concubine.

Ever since her elder brother was imprisoned, the people in the harem treated her respectfully but laughed and sneered behind her back. Adding insult to injury is almost a common measure used by people in the harem, but she also has a son who is not up to date, and the imperial doctor said that he is gradually recovering, so she I still have some luck in my heart.

She looked to the side of the prince, her unbelievable son was still eating the food on the plate with a smile on his face, clapping his hands like a three-year-old child, it didn't seem like the doctor said he was gradually recovering, she thought it must be the old people in the hospital The man watched her natal family fall and she fell out of favor, so he must have cheated on her.

Hearing His Majesty's words again today, her heart was burning with anger, as if she could no longer bear to swallow her up, her gilt and slender fingernails sank deep into her palm, and the expression hidden in her eyes under the finely drawn curly eyelashes was A desperate decision.

"Father loves you," the prince hurriedly got up and respectfully said, "This is all a matter of my son and minister."

The emperor wanted to say something with kindness in his eyes, but suddenly he felt a thick phlegm stuck in his throat, his face turned pale and he coughed violently, his body was crooked and he could hardly stand still.

"Father!" "Your Majesty!"

Prince Xiao Duo and others wanted to help, but the queen raised her hand to stop him. She quickly supported the emperor's hand and patted him on the back to comfort him. Seeing the blood coughed up in the brocade, the queen took the The hand holding the brocade handkerchief trembled slightly but hurriedly held the handkerchief to avoid being seen by others.

But the emperor's complexion was very bad, and he thought it was impossible to continue the banquet with his officials, so the queen hurriedly said to everyone: "Your Majesty is not feeling well, the palace banquet will continue, and the prince will preside over it for the time being."

The prince respectfully said "yes", but his eyes were worried, and he had no intention of feasting. He watched the queen and Eunuch Sun help the emperor to leave.

And at the moment when Queen Wang put away the handkerchief, the sharp-eyed Concubine Nie saw this scene. The blood-stained handkerchief hurt the Queen's heart, but in her eyes, it was like the trumpet of victory being blown. When she got close, she only heard that the emperor was seriously ill in the palace, but she never thought that it was true as the rumors said—the time was running out.

Thinking of this, Concubine Nie almost burst out laughing.

"Sister Concubine, what are you laughing at?" The unfavorable concubine next to her saw that the Emperor's body was ill, and wiped her tears with a handkerchief, but turned her head to see the smile on the corner of Concubine Nie's lips, and was puzzled.

She was able to enter the palace by relying on some relatives with the Nie family. After entering the palace, she learned that the emperor was seriously ill and would not favor the harem. She had no choice but to take refuge in Concubine Nie, who had a very bad reputation. The Nie family, which is in full swing, can't do it anymore. She really depends on the mountains and the water.

Thinking of her situation, she shed tears.

"Why are you crying?!" Concubine Nie couldn't help but roll her eyes impatiently at the weak appearance of this little girl crying: "The emperor is not showing anyone your hypocritical appearance."

Hearing this, the little concubine forced herself to hold back her weeping, but her heart was a little bit more bitter.

"Okay, okay," Concubine Nie became even more impatient seeing her like this, she looked at the guard not far away and suddenly sneered: "Just wait, there will be a good show."

"What, what?" The little concubine was terrified by Concubine Nie's laughter, and asked stammeringly, "Yes, which theater troupe is coming?"

"Stupid as a pig!" Concubine Nie squinted at her fiercely, picked up chopsticks and threw them into her plate, and scolded, "I can't stop you from eating!"

The banquet continued, and the dance and music played, but the people were not very interested at first, and now there is only one or two points left. Looking at the gorgeous singing and dancing and the delicacies on the table, they feel like sitting on pins and needles, wishing that this tortured banquet will end soon .

Behind the small bead curtain.

Huo Changying looked at the empty seat above the first one in a daze. It was the first time he saw them appearing at the same time after learning of his life experience. Father, mother and brother... He didn't know how he felt in his heart, he just felt that they were strange And familiar.

He couldn't help looking at it for a while, and suddenly, the light in front of his eyes was blocked, and a big hand blocked his eyes.

He was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly came back to his senses and turned his head to look at the man, wondering whether to laugh or cry: "What is the general doing?"

Xiao Duo withdrew his hand, his expression was a bit embarrassing, he didn't look at Huo Changying but said firmly: "Don't look too much."

Huo Changying was puzzled, followed his line of sight just now, and found that it was the crown prince's seat, and now that the crown prince was out of illness, Xuan Lang Lang really looked like a crown prince, he suddenly thought, if It seems that he and the prince are not as similar as the other twins, in appearance he is more like the queen, and the prince is more like your majesty.

Thinking like this, Huo Changying's eyes darkened again, and the palms covering his eyes were warm.

He laughed, raised his hand and pulled down the man's palm, held it in the palm of his hand, and looked at the man teasingly.

After a while, Xiao Duo's ears turned red when he saw him, and he uncomfortably picked up chopsticks vegetables for Huo Changying, and his subordinates also got busy peeling the shrimp shells for Changying, "Eat vegetables."

"Okay." Huo Changying accepted the man's feeding with a smile, and the discomfort in his heart dissipated in the interruption of Xiao Duo's jealousy.

The banquet was still going on, and after a while, the Queen returned to the banquet. With a decent and noble smile on her face, she greeted all the ministers and concubines cordially, as if nothing had happened just now, but only Huo Changying noticed her The tired look in the eyes, and the fatigue that appeared from time to time.

Her health is not good either.

Singing, playing, singing and dancing, noisy and laughing, the hall where people come and go, and because of the accident just now, almost no one noticed that a small servant left silently in the seat of the concubine, and quietly returned to the seat of the concubine, leaning over the seat of the concubine who was drinking slowly. Concubine Nie whispered something in her ear.

The imperial concubine showed joy, her golden nails tapped twice on the table, her red lips slightly moved and said two words: "Do it."