Hanhou

In the second year of Yuanshou, autumn

In the middle of the night, a cold rain fell in Chang'an.

In the Weiyang Palace, the guards are dressed in iron armor and holding long daggers, standing under the stone steps, still motionless in the rain, majestic and majestic, like a mountain.

Several eunuchs walked with lanterns, climbed up the steps in front of the hall, removed the smocks that protected them from the rain, wiped off the water droplets on their faces, and rubbed their hands vigorously, trying to dispel the cold in late autumn.

The two little Huangmen came in a hurry and when they saw the eunuch on the stone steps, they immediately bowed to salute without wiping off the rain.

Knowing that they were serving in Mrs. Wang's Tongguang Palace, an eunuch stepped forward and asked, "Why are you here?"

The Wang family was born in Zhaodi. Yuanshuo entered the palace in the third year, got lucky in the fifth year, and gave birth to the prince Liu Hong in the sixth year, who was promoted from a beauty to his wife.Because of her beautiful appearance, she is good at playing the harp, and her temperament is soft and considerate, so she is very favored by the emperor, even surpassing Xu Meiren who gave birth to the emperor's eldest daughter.

In the spring of the second year of Yuanshou, Mrs. Wang became a concubine besides Empress Chen and Xu Meiren, who was handpicked by the emperor to accompany her in the suburbs, which shows the prosperity of honor and favor.

Liu Che has not established a crown prince so far. Although Liu Hong is younger than Liu Ju, he already looks intelligent.If Mrs. Wang's family is not prominent, and her father and brother are mediocre and talented, it is hard to guarantee that those who are dissatisfied with Dou Chen will not take the opportunity to make trouble.

Probably because Mrs. Wang was too favored and overwhelmed Xu Meiren to become the highest concubine in the palace under Empress Chen, which made her no longer cautious before, and began to be proud of her favor.

However, Liu Che was not neglected because of this, and the rewards were still like flowing water.

This made many people unable to understand, such as Mrs. Dou, and even faintly worried.

Only Chen Jiao was as stable as before. When she saw Liu whoring who entered the palace, instead of showing any worries, she smiled and comforted her: "Why is this so, Mother? What's the matter if your Majesty favors a few beauties?"

"She gave birth to a prince!" This was what worried Liu Xing the most.

"So what?" Chen Jiao chuckled, holding up her long sleeves, and turned on the copper lamps placed beside her.

"A-Jiao, are you really not worried at all?"

"Mum, I'm the queen." Chen Jiao turned her head, and under the light, her smile was a little hazy, "Wang's family background is not obvious, neither rich nor noble, and his son is still young, and now he is spreading wise words." , it’s too impatient. People like this don’t need to worry.”

Chen Jiao put down the copper stick, quite carelessly.

"Your Majesty is in the prime of his life, and there will be more princes in the future. If everyone is worried, how can they be worried?"

"But you have to be careful." Mrs. Dou insisted.

"I know." Chen Jiao comforted, "Aunt, you also know His Majesty's temper, not to mention nothing, even if there is a day, thinking too much, doing too much, is not a good thing. It’s not worth my worrying, it’s better to relax and watch it as a sideshow.”

"It's a good thing you can think that way." It really doesn't make sense, so Mrs. Dou can only shake her head helplessly.

Even with Chen Jiao's guarantee, Mrs. Dou was still uneasy.After returning home, he talked with Tang Yihou in detail, worried that Chen Jiao would not take things to heart.

"A pawn can kill a general, but a mouse can eat an elephant. What was Wang Zhi like, what was Li Ji like back then, what happened to Empress Bo, why can't Jiaojiao have snacks?"

"In my opinion, my daughter did the right thing." Chen Wu said.

"what?"

"You should know better than me what the temperament of today's son is. Don't say that the princes are still young. The emperor hasn't revealed his intention to establish a prince. Even if he reveals this intention, he shouldn't get involved easily. A little carelessness will bring trouble. , I will regret it later.”

"According to what you mean, is it really like Jiaojiao said that you don't listen to her, don't ask her, and don't do anything?"

"Yes." Chen Wu nodded and said, "The more you do, the more mistakes you make. It's best to wait and see."

After two dynasties and years of ups and downs in the officialdom, Chen Wu's perspective on issues is unique.On Mrs. Wang's matter, he and Chen Jiao had the same idea, and there was no need to do anything, just watch quietly.

If Mrs. Wang is really smart, she should be careful about dormant, and shouldn't be so ostentatious.However, she acted in such a hurry that people could see through it at a glance.

Unless the emperor is determined to make Liu Hong his successor, otherwise, as Chen Jiao said, there is no need to worry too much, it will all be a sideshow.

The development of the matter was just as Chen Jiao expected, Jiao Fangdian didn't do anything, and Mrs. Wang became more and more delusional, and her behavior became more arrogant.

Just like that night, when the emperor stayed in the proclamation room, she actually sent Xiao Huangmen to ask the holy driver to move on the pretext that Liu Hong was unwell.

Such an approach is extremely stupid.

After hearing Xiao Huangmen's words, the eunuch frowned immediately.However, the prince had to report the matter, so he had to ask the visitor to wait, and went to the announcement room by himself, and asked those who read the book to report to the inside.

"How many times is this the first time?" Zhongshu Ye Zhe said in a deep voice, "You still pass the message on behalf of others, do you think you are living too comfortably?"

The eunuch's mouth was bitter.

He didn't want to, but Mrs. Wang used the prince as an excuse, could she really hide it?If the matter is true and delays the prince's illness, they will be unable to eat and walk around!

The Zhongshu reader also knew the seriousness, reprimanded him in a low voice, did not embarrass him anymore, and quickly entered the room to report.

Less than half a moment later, the door of the proclamation room opened, and the reader from Zhongshu walked up to the eunuch and shook his head at him.

"Elder, what does Your Majesty mean?"

"Order Xuan to serve the doctor. Also, the Tongguang Hall was closed for three months, and Prince Hong temporarily moved to the Feiyu Hall to be taken care of by Li Meiren."

"Hiss—" the eunuch gasped.

"Don't stand still, follow me to pass the decree." Zhongshu Ye Zhe said.

"No, promise." The eunuch followed quickly, thinking of Mrs. Wang's future life, he couldn't help shaking his head secretly.

Closing the palace door for three months is enough for the emperor to forget her.

In the early years, there were not many beauties who were favored in the palace. How did it turn out?As long as you act ostentatiously and cross the line, one counts as one, and they will soon disappear.If you are unlucky, you will be sent directly to Yongxiang, not to mention riches and glory, life will be suffering.

Mrs. Wang couldn't think about it.

Even if she is favored again, with her family background, being a wife is already the best.If you are not greedy enough, you still want to continue to improve, and you are undoubtedly making life difficult for yourself.

The emperor's eldest son's uncle is Guanneihou, and his cousin is Dashangzao. Both of them have made meritorious service in the battlefield, so they can be called upstarts in the court.If so, his biological mother was still imprisoned in Yongxiang, regardless of the former dynasty or the harem, it seemed that she was forgotten and never mentioned, even though she was still alive.

The eunuch thought as he walked, he didn't look at the road when he went down the stone steps, and almost fell down.Being reminded by the person beside him, he noticed that the book reader was squinting at him, his scalp was numb at the moment, and he quickly calmed down, not daring to think about it anymore.

Not to mention hearing the decree, Mrs. Wang was like a thunderbolt from the blue sky, how regretted it was, Liu Che finished handling the government affairs, and when thinking about the matter of enshrining Zen, he was both excited and a little restless.

"Go to the Jiaofang Palace."

Whenever he encountered troubles, Liu Che would subconsciously go to see Chen Jiao.

Over the past few years, he has long been aware of this habit of his own, and once thought about changing it, but after trying several times to no avail, he decided not to change it.Anyway, the two are husband and wife, no accidents, life will tie hair, death will be the same acupuncture point.

Chen Jiao is the only one who can let him relax and express his feelings.Although he said he was lonely, Liu Che didn't want to be truly alone, and even killed the last bit of warmth with his own hands.

Inside the Jiaofang Hall, Chen Jiao was leaning on the couch, unfolding the bamboo slips in her hands, on which was the record about Qin Shihuang enshrining Zen.

Liu Che didn't ask the palace people to make a sound, and walked directly into the hall. Because he didn't wear shoes, he deliberately walked lightly, and his steps were silent.She suddenly blocked the light and took away the brochure from Chen Jiao's hand, which really shocked her.

Seeing Chen Jiao's eyes widening, her red lips slightly parted, and her face full of astonishment, Liu Che couldn't help laughing loudly, just like when she was a teenager, she sat down on the ground and even slapped her thigh.

"Your Majesty!" Chen Jiao sat up, pretending to be angry, "You scared me!"

Liu Che laughed enough, wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingers, stretched out his long arms, and pulled Chen Jiao into his arms.

"It's not mine, sister Jiao, don't be angry."

Hearing Liu Che call her "sister", Chen Jiao was in a trance for a moment, closed her eyes forcefully, opened them again, suppressed the sudden emotion, and said, "Your Majesty, have you finished handling the government affairs?"

Liu Che nodded, deliberately ignoring Chen Jiao's pause just now, picked up the bamboo slips that were put aside, read the records on it, and said, "Jiaojiao, next year's winter tour, do you want to go to the sea to see it?"

"Sea?" Chen Jiao asked in surprise.

"The governor of Mount Tai reported that a alchemist traveled to the sea and landed on the fairy island of Penglai."

"Penglai Immortal Island?" Chen Jiao murmured, "Is it the place where the previous dynasty searched for immortal medicine?"

"Of course."

"Your Majesty believes?"

Liu Che met Chen Jiao's eyes, and said with a smile, "Is it the land of the king in the whole world, and the four seas and eight barren lands are all Han territory. Even the immortals of the sea must submit to me. Only by seeing it with your own eyes can you tell the truth from the false. Xu Fu and his like from the previous dynasty used evil words to confuse the crowd, they must be executed!"

At the beginning of his ascension to the throne, Liu Che would never have been able to say such a thing.

It can only be said that Zhao Jia leveraged history and urged people from various families to gather in Chang'an. Mohists, Fang Jijia and other science and technology houses showed the power of "technology" to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, which made him change unconsciously.

Just imagine, a person can lift into the sky without wings, and a long pole can lead down thunder. All kinds of unexplainable phenomena that can only be attached by gods and ghosts can be simulated and restored with various tools and methods. , Not to mention subverting the three views, but also opening the door to a new world for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

In addition, the debate between Taoists and doctors directly made Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty realize that the so-called elixir may not really prolong life, and taking too much is almost like a poison.

In order to prove the truth of what he said, the doctors borrowed Mohist tools, crushed the so-called "elixir", separated the ingredients face to face, listed them one by one to the emperor, and explained them separately.

With such an experience, Liu Che would instinctively put a question mark when he heard people mention immortal alchemists.

The number of times has increased, and Liu Che can expose many scams by himself without the help of the big guys. He asked for immortals, obtained elixir, and was directly labeled as a big cross.

Taking a step back, if you can really find the Penglai fairy island and see the so-called immortals, the curious emperor will probably let the Mohists, Taoists and doctors jointly conduct experiments to analyze the specific ingredients of the immortals to see if they can truly live forever.

In the Han Dynasty, which was led astray by Zhao Jia, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty pointed out new skills, which seemed to have a scientific spirit of seeking truth from facts and delving into the truth.

Immortals themselves can't guarantee immortality, so it's just a joke to refine elixir for others.

100% are a group of liars, never believe it!

This kind of pragmatic spirit throughout the Han Dynasty made it difficult for many alchemists to survive.In the end, the big waves wash away the sand, discard the chaff and save the chaff, and those who can really stay are those with real skills.

In view of the fact that Liu Che's subsequent emperors of the Han Dynasty all hated immortals and elixirs, alchemists had to start changing careers, from studying immortality to being pragmatic.It was a flash of inspiration, and he joined the Taoist Mohists in the research and development of gunpowder and weapons. Through the improvement of black powder, a large number of hot weapons were produced, which shocked the world and became one of the gangster groups that can walk sideways in Chang'an City and can't be messed with. .

In September of the second year of Yuanshou, the division of the Western Expeditionary Army passed through the Western Regions, and met people in the road, eating pots of pulp.

In October of the following year, when the army arrived at Shuofang, the auxiliary soldiers were disbanded on the spot and returned to their families with their trophies.More than a dozen leaders and more than a hundred cronies were left behind. Because of their bravery in battle, they made great contributions during the Western Expedition. They were fortunate enough to enter Beijing to meet the emperor. If they were lucky, they might even tour the east with Shengjia.

As the news spread, the chosen one walked with the wind, wishing he could have his nostrils turned upside down.Those who were not selected gritted their teeth, their eyes were red with envy, and secretly made up their minds that if they met the army again, they would definitely rush to the front and win this honor no matter what.

In November of the third year of Yuanshou, Zhao Jia, Wei Yue and others explained the affairs of the county and rushed to Chang'an with their personal guards and thousands of generals.

In January of the same year, Shengjia set off for an east tour.

Empress Chen Jiao accompanied her, as did the eldest son Liu Ju and the eldest daughter Princess Eyi.

The team left Chang'an, traveled eastward all the way, and arrived at Mount Tai in April.

Looking from a distance, the mountain is majestic and magnificent.The top of the mountain is shrouded in clouds and mist, as if it reaches the sky and goes straight to the sky.