long friend

The West Hall of Taiji was the living place of the emperors of the Nanliang Dynasty, and occasionally important ministers discussed their affairs in the Nuan Pavilion next to the West Hall.It was not the first time for Zhong Mi to visit, but after entering the warm pavilion, he was secretly surprised to find that Liu Wenyuan was the only one besides him.

Liu Wenyuan was a successor personally selected by the former commander of the dark guards. She had no father or mother, nor was she from aristocratic background. Her background was a clean slate, so she was especially valued.After the former commander left the imperial city, he took over the secret guard logically, and became a lingering shadow behind Xiao Yan.

And only the courtiers whom Xiao Yan attached great importance to—such as Zhong Mi, Xie Ke, and Wang Di—knew that Liu Wenyuan was not just a secret guard, and that he had been frequently involved in government affairs under Xiao Yan's instruction.Now that Xiao Yan is fifty and seven, many things are beyond his control, the East Palace is still undecided, and many chores are actually carried out by Liu Wenyuan.

Seeing Zhong Mi coming, Liu Wenyuan smiled slightly: "I have seen Lord Sikong."

He is too deep and unfathomable, Zhong Mi seldom communicated with him, so he just nodded and replied: "Master Liu is also here."

Usually when Zhong Mi came to the Nuan Pavilion, there must be other important ministers, but today it was only him. If he hadn't touched Xiao Yan's backlash without knowing it, then he must have had more important matters to discuss with him in private.

Zhong Mi is old but still active and courageous. He heard Xiao Yan say: "Ai Qing, I invite you to come here today. I suddenly thought of something that needs to be discussed with someone-after Mr. Xie left, I have no choice but to ask you to decide on this important matter in the court."

Zhong Mi hurriedly said: "I dare not, Your Majesty, what is this... why?"

When Xiao Yan expressed his meaning slowly and calmly, Zhong Mi's heart sank, and he didn't know how to react for a moment.The man listened silently, and was secretly submerged by the huge waves.

Xiao Yan felt that he was getting old and it was time to consider his heir.Among the important officials in the court, Xie Ke was gone, and the newly appointed prime minister, Chen Youyou, was not trusted by Xiao Yan, and was recommended by Xiao Qiyu, so he could not be regarded as a confidant.But Wang Di had gotten too close to Xiao Qiyu in the past two years, and his position was very clear, so naturally it was not within his consideration.

Only Zhong Mi has the ability and talent. What's more, Zhong Mi took the lead to support Xiao Yan to succeed to the throne. Since then, he has never surpassed him for decades. He has set his position very precisely, without asking a question. redundant words.In Xiao Yan's heart, such a person is a good minister and a confidant.

After hearing this, Zhong Mi asked cautiously: "Thanks to Your Majesty's love, I have a word... Your Majesty is so cautious, isn't it true that you are partial to His Highness King Zhao?"

Xiao Yan didn't answer but asked instead: "In Qing's opinion, which one do I prefer the most?"

Zhong Mi thought about it, and answered carefully: "I think that each of your Highnesses has its own merits. His Highness Zhao Wang has been familiar with government affairs in recent years, and he has a lot of ambitions to expand the territory. It is very similar to His Majesty back then. His Sixth Highness was silent and pragmatic, and cared about people's livelihood. Even if he can't achieve hegemony, he is still a wise king. However, if you want to choose an emperor among several highnesses, His Highness King Chu is still the best choice."

After hearing his slick answer, Xiao Yan couldn't help laughing out: "You old fox! If Qiping has good ears and eyes, it's your turn to worry about it here!"

After he finished laughing, a trace of sadness appeared on his face, and he shook his head again: "It's God's will to trick people... What a pity for my Pinger!"

Zhong Mi waited for him to relieve himself for a while, and then said: "The matter of the East Palace is not only a national matter, but also a family matter of His Majesty. Why don't you ask His Highness the King of Chu? Maybe he has other opinions?"

"Qi Ping returned to the palace the day before yesterday, and I saw him." Xiao Yan waved his hand, "He is no longer what he used to be. What's more, he has finally recovered from his injuries, how could I be willing to poke his scars."

Zhong Mi hesitated and said: "Then, His Royal Highness King Zhao..."

"Qiyu? It's not that I don't like him, but that he's too impatient and superficial. He hasn't made any progress in these years. He thinks about fighting and killing all day long. After a hundred years, when the world falls into his hands, it is inevitable that his life will be ruined." At that time, under the Nine Springs, how can I go to see my ancestors?" After Xiao Yan finished speaking, he coughed a few times, and Liu Wenyuan next to him calmly poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Xiao Yan after hearing the words.

Zhong Mi reminded "Take care of the dragon's body", and his mind raced quickly.

According to Xiao Yan's meaning, he must choose between Xiao Qiyu and Xiao Qichen, and his dissatisfaction with Xiao Qiyu was everywhere in his words. Could it be that he summoned himself today because of Xiao Qichen?

Thinking of the private conversations he had with Xiao Qichen at first, Zhong Mi couldn't restrain his excitement.

Sure enough, the next moment, Xiao Yan asked him: "I didn't think it was good to have children around my knees before, but now I realize that I really can't escape the vicious circle of thin children——Ai Qing, what do you think of Qi Chen?"

Zhong Mi heard a "Crack" in his head, as if a string had snapped.

But he didn't dare to act rashly, so he just twirled his beard and said slowly: "Your Highness the Sixth? He was indeed very accomplished in the early years, and he could see some ambitions, but he was too silent, and recently he liked to go along with His Highness King Zhao... His Highness the Sixth Highness himself The problem is more serious, Your Majesty, I think so."

"What Aiqing thinks is not what I think." Xiao Yan sighed, "You may be wondering why I didn't make Qichen king for so long? Qichen is too much like the emperor's brother, I'm afraid of him..."

There were only three people in the Nuan Pavilion, Xiao Yan's voice became lower and lower, but Zhong Mi's voice sounded like thunder in his ears.

The elder brother he mentioned of course refers to the late emperor Xiao Ze who died young, the former crown prince, a very intelligent man, although he was born but not the eldest son. He was inconspicuous behind him, but somehow he persuaded the emperor to make him the crown prince, and succeeded to the throne smoothly after the emperor died.

However, Xiao Ze seemed to have changed after he ascended the throne. The gentleness and cowardice he had when he lived in the East Palace disappeared, and he gradually became iron-blooded and ruthless.He first suppressed his elder brother's rebellion involuntarily, captured him alive and starved him to death in a cold palace in the north of Taicheng.After three years in power, Xiao Ze unexpectedly re-supported the Xiaoqiwei, and then made a plan for how Nanliang would expand its territory in the next ten years.

It's a pity that the first emperor worked so hard that he passed away at a young age. The interval between the illness and his death was only three months. Not to mention his heirs, he didn't even leave behind a concubine.

At that time, there were different opinions, and there were countless speculations about his life, with mixed praise and praise.

Xiao Yan suddenly compared Xiao Qichen with Xiao Ze, even Zhong Mi couldn't help being stunned, and blurted out: "Your Majesty said that His Highness Six is ​​like the late Emperor?"

Xiao Yan didn't answer, but looked at him meaningfully.

He didn't feel it when he didn't say it, but when Xiao Yan mentioned it, Zhong Mi couldn't restrain himself from comparing the two.

Except that Xiao Qichen's background is much worse than Xiao Ze's, the rest of the places are really very similar - especially he has contacted Xiao Qichen in private, and heard him say "Xiao Qiyu is dead, and the officials have no choice", so he couldn't help being shocked. Covered in cold sweat, this person has murderous thoughts about Xiao Qiyu in his heart!

When he was a prince, he restrained himself and returned to the courtesy, so he couldn't find any major faults, but he wasn't outstanding either.Succession?It's not impossible, but who can guarantee that Xiao Qichen won't be too repressed and backfire?

Zhong Mi thought about his position secretly, he had no choice but to take a gamble.

"Actually..." Zhong Mi frowned and said anxiously, "Your Majesty's words are indeed quite serious, but in my eyes, His Majesty the Sixth Highness and the late Emperor are not very comparable."

Xiao Yan asked with great interest: "What do you think of Ai Qing?"

Zhong Mi said: "The Sixth Highness lost his mother when he was young, and he didn't go to the Imperial College for three days. Didn't His Majesty have a headache for a long time because of this? It can be seen that His Highness's current shy character has something to do with what happened when he was young. But in other matters , His Highness is still very filial...Compared with the late emperor, is Your Majesty worrying too much?"

Although his words did not face Xiao Qichen on the bright side, they were pleading for him between the lines. Xiao Yan didn't know what he was thinking through these few words, and sighed: "I just think Qichen is too filial, and never let me worry."

Zhong Mi smiled and said: "Isn't this very good? His Highness the Sixth Highness will be more than enough to be a virtuous king and assist the monarch in the future."

Xiao Yan didn't answer him directly, but turned to Liu Wenyuan and said, "What does Wen Yuan think?"

Liu Wenyuan had never courted in the Taiji Hall openly, and it was rare for Zhong Mi to listen to him discussing political affairs, so he immediately pricked up his ears and listened carefully.Liu Wenyuan, who was standing beside him, said: "Lord Zhong's point of view is pertinent, and I also think that His Highness Sixth Highness is not a troublemaker, although the personality is not very cheerful, but the Lord of the East Palace needs to think carefully. Your Majesty listens to the opinions of the minister and Lord Zhong. In fact, you don't have to take it too seriously. You have a prince you like, so just cultivate it with all your heart."

Zhong Mi deeply agreed: "Your Majesty, both His Highness the Sixth Highness and the Seventh Highness are still young, but you can take it slowly, don't worry."

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan only smiled and shook his head: "Time waits for me."

There was a hint of ominousness in the words, Zhong Mi didn't dare to think deeply, and hurriedly said something about taking care of his body.Xiao Yan didn't need his comfort, he waved his hand to signal that he understood, then chatted about other government affairs, and let Zhong Mi go.

He walked out of Tai Chi West Hall, heaved a sigh of relief, and wiped the sweat from his brow again. Just as he was about to escape, a voice that was so calm and creepy suddenly sounded behind him:

"Master Zhong, is it convenient for me to take a step to speak?"

Zhong Mi turned back dumbfounded, and the person leaning against the white marble steps was actually Liu Wenyuan in a black robe.

"I have to go to Prince Zhao's Mansion in the afternoon. Xiao Qiyu has been looking for me many times, and he can't always say that he is sick." Xiao Qichen wore a belt and stood in front of Su Yan with his robe in his hands, letting him Organize yourself.

Su Yan helped him fasten the belt, and patted his back: "Go, I'll go home and have dinner with my parents."

Xiao Qichen said something vaguely, Su Yan frowned and asked him: "What are you mumbling about?"

"When will you go back to Yanmen?" Xiao Qichen said, and hurriedly added, "I'm not trying to drive you away, but just asking, so that I won't be unhappy if you leave suddenly after a long time."

Su Yan got up, spread the thin quilt, and said normally: "I can't say, about a year ago, I always have to go back, Yannan sent an urgent letter in three days, asking if my injury has improved, as long as I can If you can draw a bow while riding a horse, it should be good. Didn’t you touch it with your own hands? The scar is almost healed.”

Xiao Qichen pushed him with a palm: "Who asked you this! I still say the same thing, wait until the imperial doctor sees it and says it's okay. Before that, even if you go back to Yanmen, you can't act rashly!"

Su Yan promised well. This person seems to have no temper, but he often obeys others and doesn't take other people's suggestions seriously.Xiao Qichen snorted, seeing that the appointment time with Xiao Qiyu was approaching, so he had no choice but to go first.

Prince Zhao's Mansion was in Jinling City again, and Xiao Qichen brought a blessing——Tianhui returned to the palace to report on his duties—and rushed there in a hurry.When he arrived, he was still relaxed, and when he saw Xiao Qiyu, Xiao Qichen clearly felt that this person's state was not right today. Although he usually looked arrogant, he was especially irritable now.

Xiao Qichen didn't even have time to take a sip of water, so Xiao Qiyu pressed his shoulders and asked: "What should I do now! Father asked Xiao Qiping to enter the palace, do you think he wants to disregard the ancestral law and still think about Xiao Qiping?!"

Being dizzy from being shaken by him for a while, Xiao Qichen took a lot of effort to break away from Xiao Qiyu, a thought quickly flashed in his mind: "He doesn't know that I drank at Brother Ping's yesterday."

"What are you panicking about?" Xiao Qichen took the time to smooth out the clothes that had been crumpled by him just now, "Even if the emperor wants to stand up, is there any precedent in my dynasty? Not even in the previous dynasty. There are many people who speak for you, I would rather believe Father wants to establish Xiao Qiming."

Xiao Qiyu's heart was ashamed and he said: "But Xiao Qiping and Xiao Qiming are brothers of the same mother. If the emperor wants him to supervise the country? Regent? When Xiao Qiping turns [-] next year, he can be in charge. Xiao Qiping hates me to the bone... ..."

Xiao Qichen secretly thought that you really have self-knowledge, but your face is still calm: "So what?"

The incoherent person stopped suddenly, Xiao Qiyu looked at Xiao Qichen strangely, and heard him say indifferently: "Father and emperor don't even pursue it. At this time, there is no witness or physical evidence. Does he still want to force it on you?"

The indifference on his face seemed to comfort Xiao Qiyu, and the other party calmed down, frowned and said: "It's not your business, of course you're fine..."

Xiao Qichen graciously decided not to be as knowledgeable as him. After all, it was rare to see Xiao Qiyu jumping up and down. After watching the excitement for a long time, he always wanted to continue to stir up trouble: "Brother Emperor, I heard from the courtiers that Father has been thinking about the East Palace recently."

Xiao Qiyu was shocked, the word "East Palace" was his most untouchable Achilles' heel.

Ever since he could remember, Xiao Qiyu felt that he was like the proud son of heaven. Later, with Xiao Qiping, the two never confronted each other on the surface, but secretly he caused each other a lot of stumbling blocks, even at the instigation of his mother and concubine. He used insidious methods.However, even so, he never approached the position of crown prince in the next ten years.

Xiao Yan cared too much about his future, which made Xiao Qiyu irritated again and again.

If he wasn't the eldest son, he would have given up his heart a long time ago, but fate likes to play tricks on people so much. He gave eight points of expectation, and then pinched the remaining two points, hanging on Xiao Qiyu's breath, making him uneasy for ten years. .

Xiao Qichen persuaded him a few words symbolically, and almost couldn't hold back his laughter many times.When leaving Prince Zhao's mansion, Xiao Qiyu said to him with pity: "In your opinion, how long will I have to wait?"

Xiao Qichen blinked innocently: "Don't let the emperor leave a will, the throne is naturally yours."

At that time, the sun was pouring down, and the golden crows slanting in the west stretched the shadows of passers-by. The leaves of the orange trees were still green, but the sycamore trees had turned golden, and they would fall down in the wind.

Xiao Qichen didn't take the car, and walked out of the city by himself.

Tianyou was holding the carriage next to him, and couldn't help but ask, "What do your Highness's words mean?"

"Tell it to me." Xiao Qichen said disapprovingly, "Xiao Qiyu is so stupid, he can't hear it. By the way, didn't Tianhui say that the time for debriefing is very short and he wants to meet us at Suzaku Avenue, what about others?"

Tianyou shook his head blankly, it was rare for him to take the initiative to say a word to Xiao Qichen.Xiao Qichen said helplessly: "You are fine with everything, but it's too boring, and I don't eat people."

Hearing this, Tianyou smiled so much that his eyes curled up like two slender crescents, but he remained silent.

They walked out of the city without a word, when suddenly the wind blew up, Xiao Qichen said "um", turned his head, before he could say "what kind of unhealthy wind is this", he saw Tianhui and another person standing not far away.

In the evening, the main street with people coming and going seemed to be emptied in an instant. Just by looking at that person like this, Xiao Qichen felt the coercion on him - this coercion originated from his own arrogance, and even more so. The murderous intent was awe-inspiring, making people's hair stand on end when they saw it, and they instinctively wanted to back away.

But Xiao Qichen didn't retreat after all, he turned to Tianhui, forcibly calmed down and said: "Tianhui, which adult is this, don't you want to introduce him?"

The man relaxed his palms away from the two short swords around his waist, and saluted: "The dark guard Liu Wenyuan, His Highness the Sixth Highness only eavesdropped on me outside the window that time, I'm afraid I haven't seen me yet, it's a pleasure to meet you. "

"Oh? Master Liu?" Xiao Qichen replied with a polite smile, "I have admired your name for a long time."

Liu Wenyuan was born with delicate features, and a smile seemed to grow on her face. She looked only 25 six, very young.But Xiao Qichen had calculated that this person should be over thirty.It was the first time he faced Liu Wenyuan, the legendary "shadow", and he couldn't help being a little nervous.

Why is he here?Did Tianhui meet her when she returned to the palace?Did he know something about me?

Impossible, there was no abnormality in the previous few times.

He thought to himself, but Liu Wenyuan said, "If it's convenient for Your Highness, why don't we go to Shanglin Garden? I have some personal questions, and I want to ask Your Highness."

The author has something to say: the old emperor is not so fast, he still has to do things (not simple.jpg

The common skill of the Su family brothers: tidy up the clothes for the daughter-in-law.