long friend

Tongning 36 years, July and a half.

"Great victory in the northern border—! The general of Fuguo defeated the Turkic army fifty miles north of Yunmen Pass, captured the general Ashina alive, and sent him to Beijing at a certain date. The army is about to triumph!"

This news ignited a lifeless journey, and when it was introduced into the Taiji Hall, the humerus of the country who was silent like a cicada was immediately radiant with a shot in the arm, and they all recovered from the disheveled faces by coincidence, and looked at the dragon chair in unison The unfathomable emperor.This is tantamount to a provocation to the withdrawal of Tiger Talisman two years ago——

Don't you want military power?Then I'll give it to you, without the Tiger Talisman, I'll still beat the Turks to pieces!

Chen Youyou, the prime minister who was standing at the bottom, suddenly felt that although the Fuguo General had a much better temper than his father, the blood of the Su family really flowed in his bones.

He looked at the Son of Heaven tremblingly. Xiao Yan showed no expression on his face. He couldn't tell whether he was approving or embarrassed. He just said indifferently: "The triumphant army must be supported... How much did our army lose this time?"

The messenger ordered the forbidden army to kneel down: "There are eight hundred guards on the cavalry, and the foreign army in Youzhou has lost 5000 people."

Xiao Yan couldn't maintain his calm any longer, and lost his voice: "What?!"

The order to the forbidden army repeated: "Except for the [-] Xiao cavalry guards in the northern border, there are only [-] Youzhou foreign troops who share the same hatred with them. The general has no tiger charms, and can't mobilize the rest of the states and counties. He can only fight with his back. The general did not meet the enemy head-on, but led his troops around to the flanks, and made a surprise attack from outside the Turkic infantry formation, tearing apart the defensive line, winning more with fewer, and attacking the central army. people."

He succinctly repeated the situation of the battle, which made the courtiers tremble with fear, and no one said anything for a long time after he finished speaking.

Even if the main force of the foreign army in Youzhou is completely wiped out, the significance of this victory is still quite significant.

After Su Yan was robbed of the Tiger Talisman and returned to Yanmen Pass, many courtiers—headed by Guangluqing and Yushi—occasionally wrote a letter to explain the pros and cons of the matter, but they were shelved too many times and then nothing was done.Since then, the Turkic Khan has never given up on the south, and there are several times every year that he is ready to move. Yanmen Pass is guarded by the general guard, and the terrain is steep without any major troubles.

The situation at Yunmen Pass is quite different from that at Yanmen Pass, as it is always being contested.

In the past two years, the Yunmen Pass in Youzhou was lost three times and was recaptured three times. There were almost no people living in the hundreds of miles around.Huyantu seemed to have heard about the emperor's reduction of troops, and attacked the city like crazy. The cavalry guards couldn't stand it, so the Youzhou foreign army had to come to support it.

In the imperial city, Xiao Yan did not stand idly by, and Xiao Yan promoted Da Sikong Shi Yu from Tingwei, and asked him to issue a troop transfer order, and distributed power to Su Yan in this way.But Su Yan never asked for reinforcements once, as if he was silently competing with the imperial city, Shi Yu couldn't stand it anymore, secretly signed two transfer orders to Su Yan, and relieved him of the siege.

After coming and going, Shi Yu and Su Yan actually established a little friendship in private.

In the eyes of most people, there have been conflicts in the northern border for the past two years, and Youzhou was once in danger.At this time, a great victory justly shattered the rumors that Nanliang was getting weaker by the day.

No one expressed any congratulations, but the expectation of victory has been written on the face - since the 33rd year of Tongning, Huyantu was sent back to the royal court to inherit the position of Turkic Khan. In the past, the two sides are evenly matched and you come and go, but delaying it is still not an option.

Nanliang established the country with military force and ruled the country with culture.If we are tired of fighting the Turks for a long time, the pace of domestic ambitions will also be slowed down, and there will be nonsense. On the contrary, it will not be as powerful as the reforms of the first emperor, but they ended without a problem.

The top priority at the moment is to completely defeat Huyantu, but right now the various factions in the imperial court are in chaos, and no one can take on this important task.

After the court was over, other major events were introduced to the palaces one after another.In Chenglan Palace, Xiao Qichen suddenly stood up after hearing the news of the great victory in the Northern Territory: "Ayan is coming back?"

His focus has never been the same as that of others. Xie Hui has become used to it, and sighed: "Your Highness, you should pay attention to national affairs at least. Now that the northern border has won a great victory, His Majesty the Military Power still does not let go. Severely reprimanded, what kind of thing is this..."

"It's not been a day or two since the left and right fathers have strictly controlled the military power." Xiao Qichen said nonchalantly, his eyes turned, and there was a flash of light in it, "Ayan really wants to come back? He hasn't been back to Jinling for almost two years, right?" ?”

It seemed that it was impossible to discuss political affairs with him, Xie Hui sighed secretly, and had no choice but to follow Xiao Qichen's approval.

In the past two years, Xiao Qichen seemed to lose interest in government affairs overnight. When he went to the Tai Chi Hall to discuss politics, he fished for three days and dried the net for two days. So, let the adults go to embarrassment.

Grand Tutor Zeng Xu died of illness a year ago, before leaving, he said something that touched Xiao Yan, and entrusted the Imperial Academy to Xiao Qichen.The newly appointed Taifu is also a great Confucian, over fifty years old, full of poetry and books.

With him around, Xiao Qichen doesn't need to give lectures, all he does is sort out the books and talk to the new family children who come every year.

As long as Xiao Qichen is willing, no one will dislike him.

After a long time, the children of the aristocratic families who were similar to his age and younger than him were all impressed by His Royal Highness's charm. They talked a lot when they went home, and even the ministers of the court heard the news, wondering if it was true Was on the wrong team from the start.

Apart from his bad background, His Royal Highness the Sixth Highness seemed to be able to find no faults.Having not been crowned king for so many years, he still looks pitiful and peaceful, as if he doesn't care at all, and if there is a reward, he will follow. It is really a clear stream in the big city of Taitai.

There were so many disturbances that even Shi Yu asked Xie Hui on the sidelines, why Xiao Yan didn't want to see him because Xiao Qichen was so likable and didn't cause trouble.

Xie Hui thought: "What can I say? I don't know anything either."

The Xiao Qichen he saw was just flipping through the history books of the previous dynasties in the Imperial College day after day, annotating and writing thick four or five volumes, summarizing the political theory and the people's livelihood by category, and taking the trouble to make sense of it. Part of it was excerpted, and it seemed to be immersed in this peaceful busyness.

Xie Hui sometimes thinks it's good to be like this, but what Xiao Qichen does is not like an idle prince.

Thinking of this, Xie Hui couldn't help asking: "Your Highness, King Zhao mentioned you today, but His Majesty didn't say anything. Could it be that you have given up and stopped thinking about Jiangshan?"

Xiao Qichen raised a finger and shook it: "I'm different from him. Father has spent several years cultivating him carefully, once after Brother Ping's accident, and again in the past two years, but Xiao Qiyu hasn't improved at all. , now he will be the one to blame for the end."

Xie Hui couldn't help answering, "What about you?"

Xiao Qichen said: "Father doesn't want me to show my talent too much. He knows that once I show talents that King Zhao doesn't have, many ministers will object to making Xiao Qiming the heir..."

Xie Hui sneered and teased him: "You are too confident, Your Highness?"

Xiao Qichen only looked at him, and explained with crooked lips: "These adults still hope that the father will not mess around, and leave two adult princes alone, and let a group succeed him? Speaking of which, Chen Xiang only came to the Imperial College a few days ago Send me a volume of "Four Seasons Yunmeng Picture Scroll" by a famous artist in the former dynasty, but not Brother Huang—he may have changed his mind too."

Xie Hui was stunned by the newly appointed Zhongshu: "...When did you still have friendship with Chen Xiang!"

Xiao Qichen said innocently: "When he was still in the position of Shang Shuling, the emperor was acquainted with him, so I got on the line. Chen Xiang likes Danqing, and I quite hit it off. Besides, I help him all It's a little busy."

Xie Hui: "..."

Xiao Qichen: "Speaking of which, I have to thank Brother Huang, if he hadn't been too much in the limelight a few years ago, Emperor Father wouldn't have quickly shaved off the Zhao Wang Party who has a clear stand between the court and the middle. I feel sorry for those grown-ups who wholeheartedly serve him, I'm afraid I still don't know who I provoked..."

Xie Hui secretly slandered: "You must be included in the King Zhao's party! Many people are fooled by you into thinking that King Zhao's destiny belongs to them, and they are completely confused. Why are you pretending to be so confused now?"

But he didn't say anything, just cleared his throat, and signaled Xiao Qichen not to take advantage of it and act obediently: "What is your Highness planning? Could it be that after a while, you will replace Zhao Wang as the people's will?"

The implication is obvious, "Is it just to win their sympathy by pretending to be a poor person for so many years?"

Xiao Qichen smiled meaningfully: "Isn't it good? I won't talk to you about this, how long will Ayan be here?"

Now Xie Hui couldn't bear to roll his eyes: "I will go to Xuzhou to reorganize the army in three days, and I will enter Jinling as soon as the order is issued."

Xiao Qichen said so much just now, his mouth was dry, and he drank a sip of tea: "Okay, the army is triumphant, I should go to congratulate him, but it's a pity that it's not easy to sneak out of the palace now—Brother Zhongguang, how about a favor?"

Xie Hui said helplessly, "Do I dare to refuse?"

The military reward ceremony was held at the Nanyuan Camp, and the emperor did not show up. Tai Changqing personally opened the imperial decree and read the high-sounding nonsense. It was long and smelly, and Shen Chengjun almost yawned rebelliously.

After Tai Changqing finished reading, Shen Chengjun took the order to thank you, and the civil servant in the long robe and wide sleeves said slowly: "General Shen has worked hard all the way, why didn't you see the general today?"

Shen Chengjun smiled very appropriately: "The commander-in-chief's old injury has recurred and he is not feeling well. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

At this very moment, Su Yan, who had relapsed from his old injury, was passing through the Donghua Gate guarded by the Forbidden Army with a badge of Xiaoqiwei, and was walking towards the Imperial College.This place is not considered a deep palace, so the guards are not as strict as those behind the Tai Chi Hall.

Su Yan hadn't been here for a long time, and when he heard the sound of reading from a distance, he felt as if he had passed away.The closer he got, the more he could hear the content of the reading sound. A familiar voice was leading them to read sentence by sentence:

"Why don't you say that you have no clothes? You share the same robe with your son. Wang Yuxing's teacher, repair my spear, and share the hatred with your son!"

After the last sentence "Walk with me", Su Yan gently knocked on the wooden door to enter the school.The half-hidden door opened in response to the sound, and Su Yan looked over, Xiao Qichen was sitting unsteadily behind the desk at the front of the room, raising the scroll in his hand towards him.

Sitting side by side below are a few boys of short stature, visually estimated to be only five or six years old. When they saw him, they silently silently, and looked up and down with their eyes wide open—very few people in Taicheng are dressed in Hu uniforms. Without the clothes, he would be out of place, so Su Yan had to smile as gently as possible to make himself look kinder.

"Don't you guys want to see the Great General?" Xiao Qichen said, but instead of talking to Su Yan, he said to the group of children, "This is the Great General, how is it, is it just what you say?"

These words were like igniting the firecrackers of the Spring Festival, crackling, and the whole classroom was immediately filled with chatter.

Su Yan looked at Xiao Qichen blankly, and the other party explained: "Today the Taifu is sick, and I will teach him a class. You know, I am really not interested in those Four Books and Five Classics. Just when the army is triumphant, Tell them about "No Clothes" once, and I accidentally mentioned you just now."

"So..." Su Yan was about to make a few jokes when his eyes suddenly fell on a child in the corner, the second half of the words stuck in his throat, and his eyebrows frowned slightly.

The child seemed to be dressed more expensively than others, and his appearance was indescribably familiar.

Xiao Qichen realized this, and quickly said: "That's Qiming."

Su Yan said "Oh", and immediately knew where this sense of familiarity came from - Xiao Qiming and Xiao Qiping had the same mother and siblings, and they looked the same, and he suddenly remembered Xiao Qiping's youthful appearance.

After seeing the strangeness of the general, all the young masters who have been enthusiastic for three quarters started chatting again, like a group of sparrows who can't keep their mouths shut, with inexhaustible energy.Xiao Qichen was absent-minded, and hastily said the remaining two lines, and then said "you carry it yourself", dragged Su Yan and ran out of the school.

The winding corridors of the Imperial College, Xiao Qichen held Su Yan's wrist all the way, and led him through those winding corridors, until he stopped at a corner next to a courtyard.

He couldn't help but push Su Yan's back against the wall, and then kissed so passionately on the corner of his lips.

Xiao Qichen's eyelashes trembled uneasily, pressing against Su Yan's lips, not knowing what to do.When he was anxious about how to get closer, Su Yan held his hand instead, put the other hand on the back of Xiao Qichen's head, and covered his lips instead, then poked his tongue in and rolled it Suck hard through him.

His mind went blank, and Xiao Qichen pinched Su Yan's palm until he was enveloped by the sense of urgency that he couldn't breathe.The other party let him go immediately, and rubbed Xiao Qichen's ear again, panting equally violently.Both of them are like fish in a dry rut, wishing they could be in love with each other, they managed not to drown in a kiss.

Seeing that he seemed to want to say something, Su Yan pressed his finger on Xiao Qichen's lips, and confessed: "I have a wound on my left shoulder, so be careful not to touch it, other than that, everything is fine."

Xiao Qichen's worries were completely overwhelmed by him, so he could only say softly: "Last time I took advantage of Shi Yu's signing of the troop transfer order, mixed a letter in it, and sent Tianyou to the northern border, you take it..."

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Qichen looked away and said with a smile: "You actually keep it close to your body?"

Su Yan smiled, and slowly took out two fish-shaped thin wooden boards from his arms, with a piece of brocade intertwined and fastened in the middle.Su Yan nimbly tore apart the brocade with his fingers, and a thin piece of silk letter paper leaked out from the middle of the board.

He pinched the letter with two fingers, and his smile deepened: "Yu Chuanchisu...Your Highness, what a delicate thought."

The letter paper is snow-white, and it is still flat because of proper preservation, and the ink stains on a few lines are a little old.The handwriting is written in regular script, peaceful and elegant, with euphemistic and subtle strokes, which makes people think of romantic thoughts at a glance.

"Qingming has passed, and the bitter cold in Yanyun is still there, while the cherry blossoms in Jinling Mountain are flourishing. Cut the spring|color three points as a letter, and share a piece of Jiangnan with you. Soon after the summer solstice, lotus flowers bloom outside Luyun Pavilion, waiting for you to return."

In the remaining half of the blank space, a few strokes of mountains and rivers were drawn in ink and wash.He has painted ink plums before, but this time he has painted some crimson on the silk, which really looks like the Shili Mountain Cherry in Jiming Temple.

Signing a word "Chen" expresses infinite lovesickness.

Su Yan pressed against his ear, and every word was so clear: "Don't you want me to come back in summer? It's not the beginning of autumn, but it doesn't disappoint you."

The author has something to say: Sorry for being late>

The content of the letterhead is a poem written by hand before: "Red apricot branches are raining in the south of the Yangtze River, and the green hills are not old and young. Three quarters of spring|color cut a letter and send it to an old friend in the rivers and lakes." It was originally used in Beifeng, but it turned out... Hahahaha (Laughs stiffly.