Hanhou

After a heavy snowfall, Chang'an City was covered with a layer of silver.

In Weiyang Palace, Liu Che sat alone in the proclamation room, and the whole hall was brightly lit, reflecting the solemn face of the young emperor.

The low table was full of bamboo slips, but Liu Che didn't care to read them.At this moment, all he cared about was the Northern Expedition Army.

However, the roads were blocked by heavy snow and wind in winter, and the army has been on the expedition so far. Only a month ago, a battle report was sent back, saying that Wei Yue and Zhao Jia's troops came from Yunzhong County, Li Danghu and Cao Shifen led ten thousand people to support them, and divided into three groups Advance into Yinshan.Other than that, there is no news.

This expedition to the grasslands, Chang'an took a lot of risks.

As a result of the war, you can only win but not lose.If not, the previous advantage over the Huns will soon be wiped out, morale will be reduced, and the plan to sweep the grassland will inevitably be hindered.

"Why hasn't there been any news yet?"

The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became, Liu Che didn't care about dealing with government affairs, so he simply pushed aside the bamboo slips, got up and paced the room.With his hands behind his back, the word Chuan was twisted out of his sword eyebrows.

If Han Yan was by Liu Che's side and encountered a similar situation, she could still try to reassure him.Even if he can't be relieved, he can divert part of his attention.Reluctantly, Han Yan went out with the army, and there are many other servants who are extremely intelligent, but they are less flexible, and none of them have his exquisite thoughts.

Apart from Han Yan, Chen Jiao was the only one who could make Liu Che relax a bit.

Unfortunately, after winter, Empress Dowager Dou's condition became worse day by day, Chen Jiao stayed in Changle Palace all day to serve her illness, and almost never returned to Jiaofang Palace.Every time Liu Che wanted to see her, he had to go to Changle Palace.After a few words in a hurry, Chen Jiao hurriedly summoned the doctor to serve the decoction for Empress Dou herself.

Xu Meiren was busy taking care of her daughter before, but now she has a little spare time, and goes to Changle Palace every day to serve Empress Dowager with Chen Jiao.

Empresses and concubines live in harmony and show filial piety to their elders, which is not only praised by the court, but also praised by the people.

It is a good thing that the harem is peaceful, but Liu Che is suffering and cannot tell.

The wives and concubines seem to have made an agreement, and they can't see each other all day long. He wants to talk to someone, and it is difficult to resolve his depression.

The family members in Yongxiang are thinking about it day and night, hoping to see Longyan.In order to have the opportunity to be lucky, all do their best.It's a pity that Liu Che couldn't arouse the slightest interest. His delicate face and slender figure seemed to lose their attractiveness overnight.

The singing and dancing that he enjoys on weekdays only makes him feel boring at this moment.

Depression and irritability could not be resolved, Liu Che stopped pacing, summoned the eunuchs waiting outside the palace, and decided to abandon government affairs and drive Changle Palace.Anyway, half of them are the above-mentioned forms of greetings from the princes and kings.

"I'm going to visit the Empress Dowager."

"Respect!"

Liu Che was thinking about the condition of Empress Dowager Dou, and thinking about what the doctor said earlier, anxiety arose in his heart, and he unconsciously quickened his pace.In the middle of the journey, I suddenly met a palace official kneeling by the roadside, lying down in the snow and weeping, begging the emperor for mercy, allowing the doctor to enter Yongxiang.

"What's going on?" Liu Che frowned.

The eunuch's heart skipped a beat, and he waved his hand behind his back. Immediately, two little yellow men ran forward, grabbed the palace maid's arm, and were about to drag her away.

I don't know what the palace servants have eaten so hard, they struggled endlessly, and continued to shout: "Your Majesty, Young Envoy Wei is about to give birth, and the servant reported to Jiaofang Palace, but the doctor didn't arrive for a long time! Your Majesty, what the servant said is absolutely true , Young Envoy Wei is pregnant with a dragon son, so he can't... woo!"

Serving by the emperor's side all year round, which one is not a human being.

Seeing that the palace people were getting more and more outrageous, the eunuch took a careful look at Liu Che, and found that the emperor's eyes were slightly dark, but his anger was obviously not directed at Jiaofangdian, so he immediately felt confident and waved his hand to Xiaohuangmen: "Hurry up and drag him away."

Unexpectedly, Liu Che suddenly said, "Whiplash."

"No!" The eunuch lowered his head and glanced at the palace servants out of the corner of his eyes, as if looking at a dead person.

The emperor said flogging, but he didn't say how much flogging, it was clearly for this person's life.

It's no wonder that other people can only say that she wanted to die herself, knowing that she shouldn't do it, but she wanted to take a big offense.Whether you receive money or be deceived or threatened by others, in short, you have to bear the consequences of what you do.

The queen is benevolent and filial, serving the empress dowager with her clothes untidy, and the emperor is grateful and respectful, and everyone in the court knows it.

In a few words, he wanted to provoke the relationship between the emperor and the empress, and poured dirty water on the Jiaofang Hall.

And the Young Envoy Wei she mentioned, since he was sent back to the side hall, he should see his status clearly.Still bouncing about life and death, do you really think that being pregnant with a dragon can save you from death?

I don't even think about where this is!

From Emperor Gaozu down, let alone conceived sons, even if they gave birth to princes and princesses, how many concubines were punished?

"Call the attendant doctor to Yongxiang, Young Master Wei died after giving birth, and the son was sent to Jiaofang Palace." Liu Che's voice was cold, without the slightest emotion.

"promise!"

The eunuch bowed deeply, cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck, and he didn't dare to blink his eyelids.

The palace servants were dragged away, and the eunuch who executed the execution brought the thorns, and did not hold back his hands when they fell.

She seemed to have known that she would end up like this, with the thorns on her body, she didn't cry and struggle, but just clenched her hands, bit her lips, and swore in her heart that she would exchange her own life for the lives of her family members, if the Queen Mother and Doctor Zhong couldn't fulfill it Promise, even if they are ghosts, she will not let them go!

The scene that happened in front of Weiyang Palace was soon reported to the Queen Mother.

Wang Zhi was drinking tea soup, when he heard the words, he paused, put the lacquer cup back on the table heavily, frowned and looked at Tian Fu opposite, and questioned: "Didn't you say that things can be done, now that people are dead, what should we do?"

"Sister, don't worry, if you can't do it once, you can do it twice or three times. There will always be a time for success." Tian Fu drank a cup of tea soup and wiped his mouth with a cloth towel with a smile on his face.The action was unhurried, and the dissatisfaction with the Queen Mother was not taken to heart at all.

"Why am I not in a hurry?" The Queen Mother was furious, she pushed back the palace officials, and said in a deep voice, "Could it be that you didn't hear that Chen Jiao is not only fine, but also benefited!"

From the crown princess to the queen, Chen Jiao has been childless since she married Liu Che.Now there are three more princesses in the palace, and Wei Zifu is about to give birth, but Chen Jiao's stomach still hasn't moved.

无子的皇后本就少几分底气。如果窦太后薨逝，她搬进长乐宫，一个孝字就能压得陈娇低头。届时，田蚡在前朝动作，使天子对窦、陈两家失去信任，要让宫内多一个废后，算不上什么难事。

Now it's good, Tian Fu's plan failed, instead of being suspicious of the queen, the emperor went to his mother to keep the child, and gave Wei Zifu's child to Chen Jiao.If it's a princess, forget it, if it's a prince, the kindness is not weaker than the kindness, it's not so easy to abolish Chen Jiao!

"I know the Son of Heaven, he clearly doesn't want Chen Jiao to have a son, how can he do it now?"

"Sister, be careful." Tian Fu's voice finally showed a bit of tension. Seeing that the queen mother realized that she had slipped her words, she lowered her voice and said, "Sister, whether the matter is successful or not is not harmful to you or me. On the contrary, the queen's side has no harm." The law is good."

"so?"

"Master Wei envoys the following family members into the palace. His mother used to be a child of the Marquis of Pingyang. She seems to be inferior, but in fact she has a great brother who has made many military exploits by the side of the infantry captain Zhao Jia."

Wang Zhi didn't make a sound, and motioned Tian Fu to continue.

"Wei Qing is also in the army this time when the army marches north. The emperor appointed Zhao Jia as a general, so how could he not support his own people? Let's see, if the army wins, Wei Qing will definitely have credit. death, the queen takes her son, what will you think?"

"If you don't want to be shameless, what if you think you can climb a high branch?" The Queen Mother sneered.

"That way, it will be more beneficial to the Queen Mother." Tian Fu laughed.

"Benefits?" The Queen Mother said angrily, "I think you are confused!"

"Sister, don't get angry. Think about it carefully. Empress Chen has Wei Qihou and Tang Yihou behind her, plus the powerful generals with outstanding military exploits. They are powerful enough to control the court. How can the emperor sit by and watch?"

The Queen Mother paused slightly.

"Wei Qing is Zhao Jia's personal soldier, and he was brought out from Bianjun. If he has a close relationship with Dou and Chen, how can Zhao Jia break away from it? It will definitely cause the emperor's dissatisfaction. At that time, it will be the time for the emperor to reuse the Tian family! "

Tian Fu's tone became more serious, and his ambition was clearly revealed.

Not only did he want Zhao Jia to die without a place to bury him, but he also wanted to pull Dou Ying and Chen Wu off the horse and replace them himself.

Things can't be done overnight, but he is patient, one time is not two times, two times is not three times, day after day, month after month, year after year, three people become tigers, the accumulation is destroyed, and sooner or later the emperor will meet the queen Alienation created a rift between Dou and Chen.

This time when the imperial court sent troops to the Northern Expedition, he deliberately made a move to make some fuss about Zhao Jia's luggage along the way by taking advantage of the relationship he had formed in the court.

It's a pity that the emperor decreed that all the food and grass for the army should come from Bianjun, and the horse gear and armor dispatched by Chang'an should be in charge of Tangyihou and Nangonghou.

Thinking of this, Tian Fu felt embarrassed.

Fortunately, there is more than one chance.

What's more, the higher Zhao Jia stands now, the harder he will fall when he falls!

In Changle Palace, Liu Che was sitting beside Empress Dowager Dou’s couch, looking at Empress Dowager Dou who was in poor spirits and described as getting older, who would have to cough for a long time after saying a few words. Thinking of all the support that Empress Dowager Dou had given since she ascended the throne, her heart was unavoidably sour , there is a feeling of emptiness.

"Mother, serving doctors is mediocre. I have ordered people to advertise to all the counties and kings to search for good doctors from the people and enter the palace to treat and treat my mother."

"I'm old, this is the limit set by God, why bother people and waste money." Queen Dowager Dou took two sips of warm water, speaking with a little difficulty, but her thinking was very clear.

"Long live the great mother, you must not say such words!" Liu Che held the hand of Empress Dowager Dou, showing his true feelings, and his eyes were slightly red.

"Emperor, listen to me." Empress Dowager Dou held Liu Che back, and said in a deep voice, "While I still understand, deal with the case of King Huainan as soon as possible. After all, it is the blood of Emperor Gaozu. Don't take his life if you don't really raise your troops, but It cannot be indulged lightly. The country should be seized, the common people should be demoted, the wings should be completely cut off, and the whole family should be moved out of the Huainan country."

"Auntie, I will take care of this matter."

"When it's broken, it's broken. There's no need to worry about the short-term reputation." Empress Dowager Dou pressed her fingers hard, and her voice became heavier, "I'm with the royal family, so you can do it at ease. Remember to do it quickly, otherwise, wait for me to go. Filial piety, it will take time for you to move him again. You need to know that there are long nights and many dreams!"

"Follow the teachings of the great mother."

Empress Dowager Dou smiled, put Chen Jiao's and Liu Che's hands together, patted them lightly, and said: "After I leave, you must work together, and don't create any quarrel over villains and ghosts."

"Big Mother..."

"I'm exhausted, I don't have much energy. It's rare for Jiaojiao to sleep well with me these days. Now that the emperor is here, why not go back together so we can talk."

"promise."

Empress Dowager Dou leaned against the low couch, and after the two saluted, she closed her eyes and fell asleep quickly.

After ordering the palace servants to take care of them, Liu Che and Chen Jiao withdrew from the hall and walked out of Changle Palace together.

Walking to the stone steps, the sky began to snow again.

Liu Che stopped in his tracks, took off his cloak and put it on Chen Jiao's shoulders, then took Chen Jiao's hand and interlocked his fingers.

"His Majesty?"

"Walk with me."

Under the black uniform, the young man's figure is tall and straight, like a sharp knife drawn from its sheath.But there seems to be a heavy burden on the shoulders, and it is no longer the publicity of the youth.

Staring at the hands they held, Chen Jiao didn't make a sound, and let Liu Che pull her forward step by step, leaving behind a long row of footprints, which were covered by snow in the wind and eventually became blurred.