Huaigui

The mid-winter of the 21st year of Jingming was extremely cold. Emperor Gao Pei, who had been ill for several years, fell ill from overwork and neglected medicine and stones. He died in the Mingtang bedroom of Ziwei City at the age of 45.

Gao Pei came to the throne at a young age and reigned for 34 years. When he was young, the Queen Mother's family controlled the court and took back the government. In the middle of 21 years, he reformed the administration of officials, reorganized the scientific examination, and promoted the poor scholars to fight against the aristocratic families.Inheriting the behest of his father and ancestors, conquering the southern Chu and unifying the country, his literary and martial arts will surely go down in history, but there is no holiday.

He seemed to have sensed that night, first issued the final decree to the concubine and important ministers, and summoned the prince in the snowstorm.

After a few words, Gao Jing silently exited the hall, settled down in a side hall and waited silently.No one knew what Gao Jing was thinking at this moment, maybe he was just in a daze.

The person who accompanied the emperor to the end of his life was his youngest brother Gao Qian. When it was daylight, he walked out of the Mingtang bedroom, wearing only a thin single garment, clutching his hands.After he took two steps, his legs suddenly went limp, and he couldn't stand still even being supported by the servant next to him. He scratched the void with his fingers in vain, and then fell to his knees.

Gao Jing walked out the door as if feeling something, the snow suddenly became heavier and swept across the sky, blurring his vision.When he saw the people kneeling under the eaves, it seemed that the backbone had also been taken away.

Gao Jing's lips moved, before he could say "Uncle Wang", all the lights in the bright hall were turned on.

The old eunuch's voice came out from Mingtang, reached all the ears of Ziwei City, and passed through more mouths to the streets and alleys of Luoyang, and spread all over the north and south of the river.

"Your Majesty, I'm dead—"

The emperor passed away, but everything continued in an orderly manner.After dawn, Crown Prince Gao Jing ascended the throne, granted the posthumous title of "Xiaowu" to the first emperor, and announced that the first month would be changed to Yuan Tianxing.

The new emperor enthroned and pardoned the world, but he did not go to Beijing to meet the princes and kings of the fiefdoms as announced in the past.

Fifteen days after the end of the first court meeting at the beginning of the first lunar month, the late emperor stopped the pagoda. Counting from the time of his death, it took seven to seven forty-nine eminent monks to save him before he moved to the imperial mausoleum in Pingcheng.Because of the national funeral, the banquet was not as luxurious as in previous years, and even the expenses were reduced by 49%. In comparison, the shabby residence of the new emperor is nothing.

As the night fell, there was a faint chatter of wine and wine in the Penglai Pavilion not far from Mingtang, but the new emperor left the venue early.Dugu, who has become the empress dowager, is alone, looking at the empty seat at the top, thoughtful.

The cold incense was lit in the Ming hall, and Gao Jing propped his chin, nestled in the side hall in a daze.

The door leading to the courtyard is wide open, revealing the exquisitely arranged rockery and artificial water. No matter the ripples in the pond or the branches of flowers and plants fluttering in the wind, there is no difference in Gao Jingyan's eyes, just a gray shadow.

Aman walked up to him with a medicined knee in his hand: "Your Majesty, it's time to take medicine."

She changed her address, Gao Jing was startled, and it took a while to realize that she was calling herself—he was always in a trance these days, his father passed away, Uncle Wang was seriously ill, and he left a lot of affairs to deal with.

Gao Jing felt powerless, and all his emotions were transferred to the resentment towards the eye disease.

His night blindness did not get better with the passage of time. On the contrary, it became more and more serious. When he was a child, he only appeared in the middle of the night. After that serious illness, he could not see clearly at dusk.Now that no one is in charge of him, Gao Jing still dare not let the courtiers know the secret.

He took the medicine bowl, drank it with the bitter taste of the incense, and put it aside casually: "Go and rest first, I want to stay by myself for a while."

Aman hesitated to speak, and finally said: "My servant will help you close the door."

After finishing these things, she quietly exited the side hall, straightened up, put on her shoes, and was about to leave, when she just recited them, she was startled: "Ouch!"

There was a girl standing in front of her, with a heavy golden longevity lock hanging around her neck, and the slightly baggy dress seemed inappropriate on her body.She raised her head and stared at A-Mang, her dark eyes were more beautiful than fine black pearls, her thin lips were drawn into a line, and the dim lights in the corridor reflected her skin into a snow color.

Amang stroked his chest and said softly: "Your Highness, shouldn't you be sleeping now? What are you doing in Mingtang? ... Where did the person who took care of the princess go?"

Amang yelled a few words, and not long after, an older female official ran over. Seeing the little girl, she hastily slapped herself twice: "My servant pleaded guilty, my servant did not take good care of Your Highness."

A'man frowned and said, "Your Highness can't speak, you should have more minds."

The female officer repeatedly admitted her mistake, but Amang had no choice but to wave her hand and ask her to take him to rest.Unexpectedly, as soon as the female officer grabbed Gao Sichan, the girl threw her away abruptly.

"This..." The female officer looked at A-Mang in embarrassment, "You saw it too..."

The closed door was suddenly pushed open from the inside, and Gao Jing stood there wearing a coat: "What does it look like to be noisy?"

The palace man knelt down to plead guilty, Gao Sichan looked left and right for a while, awkwardly stepped over the steps and hugged Gao Jing's leg, raised his face to look at him, and didn't make a sound.Gao Jing wanted her to go away, so she persistently hugged her even tighter.

"Bad boy." Gao Jing flicked her little bun, bowed and hugged her, and said to the interlocutor, "Tell her to stay with me for a night, don't worry."

After hearing this sentence, Gao Sichan, who had been expressionless all this time, smiled, hugged Gao Jing's neck and kissed him hard on the face.Gao Jing wiped his face and patted her: "Don't touch me randomly, or I'll throw you into the moat."

Gao Sichan was not afraid of his threats at all, and twisted her body to lie on Gao Jing's shoulder.

Seeing this, Amon said yes, and went to make arrangements.

The bedroom in the Mingtang was lit again, and the female officials who usually took care of the princess filed in and out, and the hall, which had been lonely for a long time, finally gained popularity.Gao Jing didn't like such excitement, so he sat down by himself, closing his eyes as if he couldn't bear to be disturbed by the light.

Counting the time, the flags and drums in the Penglai Pavilion should die down, he thought so, and someone immediately sent a message: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Highness is asking to see you."

It was only a few days since he ascended the throne, and he did not have time to reward the other princes of the late emperor, so they still use the old titles.When Gao Jing heard that he seemed to have found a rescuer, he straightened up: "Let brother Cheng come quickly."

The sound of footsteps came along with the voice: "Brother Huang, why do you light so many lamps——"

Gao Sheng's face was slightly drunk, and before Gao Jing could speak when he walked in, he saw the little girl sitting on the other side with his legs crossed, and suddenly smiled: "Ms. Chan, hurry up, let me give you a hug! "

Gao Sichan smiled and opened her hands towards him.

Seeing him coaxing the child familiarly, Gao Jing asked tiredly: "Everyone has dispersed?"

"Huh?" Gao Sheng thought for a while, and was caught off guard when his finger was bitten. He didn't cry out for pain or pulled it out, and asked inappropriately, "Sister Huang came back from Pingcheng and said that she would leave in a few days...Brother Huang, she is waiting again..." Not happy."

"I didn't intend to please her, so feel free. Where's Uncle Wang?"

Gao Sheng said: "Uncle Wang seems to be drunk. Not long after Brother Huang left, he lay down on the table and didn't speak, and others didn't want to touch him. Sister Aqiu asked someone to put Uncle Wang next to the Penglai Pavilion... ..."

"Then I'll go see him tomorrow morning." Gao Jing thought with a headache, since Gao Qian's father had left, Gao Qian had been out of his mind all day long, and he was already in poor health, so he insisted on persuading him.Seeing Gao Sheng and Sichan having a good time, he couldn't help smiling: "You still have to be patient, I get very annoyed when I see her."

"Ms. Chan likes the emperor, why bother?" Gao Sheng asked inexplicably, without Gao Jing answering, his attention was first drawn away, "Ah, Mrs. Chan, my saliva is dripping out! Brother Huang , she looks so cute when she smiles. Poor little girl, do you miss your concubine mother? I forgot, and you can’t speak, so if you think about it, just nod, okay?”

Gao Sichan thought for a while, shook her head, and continued to hug Gao Sheng's fingers and gnaw.

Gao Sheng smiled: "Little heartless, I miss my mother for three days, and I miss you for several years..."

What he said was unintentional, but Gao Jing's face suddenly darkened.

In the past three years, he has had a difficult life, and people around him have had accidents one after another.

Not long after Concubine Yang gave birth to Sichan, she went to the Royal Garden to relax. She was holding the baby, and everything seemed normal.So when Yang Fuqu said that the palace maid should carry Sichan and go to Lanxiuxuan to enjoy the coolness first, no one took this sentence to heart.After the servant girl left, she stood by Fengchi for a while and threw herself into the lake.

Soon she was rescued by passing guards, but it was too late, and she still went after a day and a night.Sichan was young, and the affairs of Gao Jingjian were complicated, so Empress Dugu was in charge of the funeral affairs, and it took a long time before she was granted another title.

Yang Fuqu hurried through the world like morning dew. No one knew why she was in despair, was it because of gossip, or was it because she was disheartened?

Ziwei City is still fortified and dignified, never changing for a person's life or death.

Gao Jing wasn't too moved by this, when he heard the news, he just said lightly: "Comfort your family, don't let Gu hear nonsense."

Some people privately said that the prince was too indifferent, but when he thought about it carefully, he and Yang Fuqu had no relationship at all.

Then came Sichan.

At the turn of winter and spring after Gao Sichan was half a year old, she suffered a serious illness and burned her ears——she was very ill, and Gao Jing didn’t want to make others suffer anymore—it dragged on for almost a whole year, and when she recovered, she had already missed learning to speak. best time.Since then, Sichan has never made a sound, and has become an out-and-out little mute.

In Gao Jing's view, these are all his own retribution. He is dedicated to his duties, muddled, and doesn't care or care.When Empress Dugu mentioned Nafei again, he had a quarrel with his mother, and he didn't even step into the North Hall.

It was not until he ascended the throne that the relationship between mother and child had a chance to ease.

On the contrary, Gao Sheng, since Gao Yu's death, the two brothers have been a little dependent on each other.After Helan Mingyue was gone, Gao Jing cared more about him.

And Gao Sheng is innocent and pure in mind, more sensitive than ordinary people, he is very happy to notice his closeness, and often plays in the East Palace.And he didn't know why he was also interested in Sichan. The 17-year-old boy ran around with a little girl all day long, and the occasional conversations were not like elders and juniors, but like brothers and sisters.

It's just... Yuzhou was in serious trouble, and Gao Jing had to think more about his father's words before his death.

Thinking of Sichan, Gao Jing looked at the one big and one who were still playing around, and suddenly said, "Brother Cheng, did brother-in-law come to Penglai Pavilion today?" Gao Sheng nodded, and he said, "I just want to take Chan Mother entrusted him."

"Ah?" Gao Sheng was dumbfounded, and the cup in his hand almost hit Sichan's head.

Gao Jingben didn't ask for his opinion. He looked at the dark sky and said to himself: "If there is anyone in the court who can believe it, he is the only one left... Tomorrow, tomorrow I will call my brother-in-law over."

Gao Sheng was enlightened all of a sudden: "Brother! Do you want Sichan to leave here?"

Gao Jingdao: "Not only her, I want you to go too."

Princess Pingcheng returned to the fief two years ago after listening to her son-in-law's words. Now the imperial mausoleum is located in the old capital of Daning, and she used the excuse of the former emperor's spirit to send people away... If Luoyang changes, at least Yuanying and Gao Lejun can survive alone.

Gao Sheng looked like he was about to cry: "I'm not leaving! What's wrong?"

"Play games." Gao Jing coaxed him, "Let brother-in-law accompany you so you don't have to be afraid of Huang Jie, you go to Pingcheng to play for a while, and come back to Luoyang after autumn, okay?"

Gao Sheng shouted: "No, no! Miss Huang doesn't like me at all!"

Gao Jing was a little annoying to him, and said coldly: "If you don't go, won't you feel sorry for Channiang when she gets bullied in Pingcheng? She can't speak, so can others really take good care of her?"

After Gao Sheng heard this sentence, he didn't speak for a long time. The girl sitting beside him had no one to play with, so it was boring. He rubbed his foot against Gao Sheng's back and kept his mouth shut.

There was a moment of silence in the bedroom, Gao Sheng pinched the corner of his clothes and asked carefully: "Just playing games?"

Gao Jing responded and stood up: "I'm going to rest. If you want to spend more time with her, ask Amang to clean it up in the side hall. Sleep well at night and don't catch a cold."

"En!" He held Sichan's hand and said excitedly, "Ms. Chan, I can tell a long story tonight, do you want to listen?"

Sichan tilted her head and shook her fingers following Gao Sheng's strength, but her eyes were always glued to Gao Jing's back.

Gao Jing didn't sleep well, so he got up and went to Penglai Pavilion at dawn the next day.The Nuan Pavilion here is the only palace that can burn earth dragons in the entire Mingtang. In the past, the emperor loved to play chess with Gao Qian in winter, and Gao Qian's cold was unbearable, so the emperor specially burned the earth dragon here to make him feel more comfortable.

As soon as he entered the door, Gao Jing was sweating from the excessive heat.He took off his cloak, told Amang to stay on guard outside, and turned into the inner room by himself. Seeing that Gao Qian was really awake, he was lying on the couch with his eyes open.

Gao Jing called "Uncle Wang", sat down on the side of the couch, and poured himself a cup of hot tea.

The other party glanced at him lightly, Gao Jing said to himself: "I decided to listen to you and send Sichan to Pingcheng. Take her away when Yuanying leaves after the festival, so as not to have long nights and dreams."

"It's the Son of Heaven, you have to follow the rules of the Son of Heaven, it doesn't matter in front of this king, don't always be 'I' ah 'I' when you go out." Gao Qian coughed violently, and the person beside the couch helped him up, took the cushion Lean on him.

The untouched hot tea was handed over, Gao Qian took it, and took a sip: "Although you seem to have no feelings for her, but after all, she is that person's child, and I will treat her like you will not let her go."

Gao Jing shook his head: "She looks more and more like... she looks like Mingyue. Sooner or later there will be some rumors that something is wrong if she stays in the palace. As long as I know that she is alive and well, I can rest assured. My brother-in-law treats me well, and now I am in Pingcheng. It's fair to say, the couple has no children, so they will definitely teach Sichan with all their heart."

Gao Qian forced a smile: "You are very considerate, did you have the intention to win over Yuanying back then?"

"Just leave yourself a way out." Gao Jing said, "Yuan Ying is a humble person. She is more tolerant of small things and looks useless, but she is never ambiguous about big things."

Hearing this, Gao Qian looked at him appreciatively: "You have never made a mistake in knowing people."

Gao Jingdao: "I also know that Uncle Wang won't harm me."

"What do you plan to do with King Yu?" Gao Qian handed him the tea, "I'll listen to you first."

"Receive his Yuzhou Army Soldier Talisman, and then put him under house arrest."

"If you only target him, it will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the courtiers." After thinking for a while, Gao Qian said, "Take this opportunity and ask Yu Wenhua to go back to Zicheng, but you need to contact him at any time."

Gao Jing knew that he was secretly reminding himself: "I understand. Uncle Wang, I actually... want King Yu to send Rouran as an envoy."

Gao Qian raised his eyebrows: "You guarantee that Yu Jiulu will trap him?"

Gao Jingdao: "There is a [-]% to [-]% certainty that Ah Luo has become a khan. After King Yu goes, he should stay outside the Great Wall for the rest of his life. Before his death, the father asked me to beware of him. Now I can't kill him, so let him go farther away."

After the two looked at each other for a long time, Gao Qian covered his mouth and coughed a few times: "Then do this—this king should do his best for the emperor's last wish, but after all, this king is just an idle prince, and all these things are still important." Listen to you."

Gao Jing nodded: "Thank you, Uncle Wang."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Gao Jing left.Walking out of the Nuan Pavilion, a gust of cold wind hits his face, Gao Jing's eyes twitched, and suddenly something hung from his heart and he fell rapidly.

Amon greeted him with two secret letters in his hand: "Your Majesty, the matter you are investigating has come to fruition."

"Go ahead."

"The whereabouts of Mei Gong, who encouraged the king of Longxi to rebel and took the lead in besieging the city, has been found. Captain Lin Wei sent a letter saying that he is in a small town near Yuzhou." Aman sent the secret letter, "There is one more thing that you have to keep an eye on before. Doctor Qin of the medical center, on New Year's Eve, he went to the post station to pick up a box of New Year's goods sent from Yinzhou."

Gao Jing gave his hand a pause when he opened the secret letter: "Yinzhou?"

"Yes, that person named Xie Bi should be in Yinzhou City now."

He nodded: "Keep staring."

The green grass in front of the hall saluted Gao Jing and said, "Your Majesty, there is an old Taoist priest who wants to see you outside the Wende Gate before dawn today. He claims to be the former commander of Si Tianjian. Look...?"

The expression on the emperor's face when he talked about the prophecy a long time ago is still vivid in his memory, Gao Jing hesitated for a moment: "Did he say anything?"

"Yes, I want to share with you the hexagram in the Jianyuan period."

Gao Jing tucked the secret letter into his sleeve: "Tell him to Zichen Palace."

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

The third volume has been opened, and I wish all friends who read the article a happy new year and all the best (′?ω?`). Please continue to love me in the new year.

The new year will be suspended for two days, and it will continue on the evening of the third day of junior high school. The timeline is after the prologue