The Regent is not dead yet

Zhuhe originally wanted to move Lou Cang's place, fearing that it would be inconvenient for him to come to the Prince Regent's Mansion, so he specially ordered someone to send a message to the East Palace and dismiss Yan Rong.

In the end, five days later, the little prince did not come, but General Lou did not come again either.

The noble regent not only failed to try the function with General Zhen Guo, but stayed at home alone for a long time. During this period, he didn't even have to go out because he didn't have to go to court before the New Year's Eve.

Zhuhe couldn't think of any other way to be a demon, so he could only spend five days eating, sleeping and watching alpacas, teasing Kayan'er and bullying Dezhuang in his free time.

But in Zhu He's view, Kayan'er is a good girl after all, and he has no plans to live with her for the time being.

Although Kayan'er has a good and gentle personality, and is still a great beauty, he can't be too teased, so he has to stop at the right time, and he doesn't even dare to play too much fun.

After staying like this until the night before New Year's Eve, Zhu He breathed a sigh of relief, and his heart was filled with unspeakable joy.

According to the practice of the Dali calendar, it is held every year on the first day of the new year.It is not only necessary to hold a banquet in the palace to invite the ministers, but also a sacrificial ceremony with the participation of those in power in person.

All successive emperors would go to Yueshan Mountain on the outskirts of Yandu on this day, and climb to the summit to pray for the prosperity of the country and the people, a good harvest and good weather in the new year.

It is a pity that the first emperor died early, and in the first year, only the regent could replace the first emperor to attend the sacrifice.

In the next year, the regent felt that climbing the mountain was hard and tiring, so he entrusted the job to the little prince, and he waited at the foot of the mountain to finish the job.

Zhuhe felt that this approach was very spiritual, and immediately learned it.

Therefore, people from the Prince Regent's Mansion went to the East Palace two days earlier to announce that the ceremony would be led by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which included climbing the mountain in court clothes, burning incense and praying. In short, the Prince Regent was only responsible for attending the palace banquet at night.

Moreover, Zhu He specially named a palace banquet menu by himself, and confidently requested that the palace banquet will be served according to this.

However, it was early in the morning on the first day.

The noble regent was sleeping soundly under the quilt.

De Zhuang knocked on the door tremblingly: "Prince Regent... are you awake? General Lou is here to pick you up."

Zhuhe: "?"

Zhu He opened one eye, and asked again in a daze: "Who?"

De Zhuang said bitterly: "The regent is General Lou Cang."

Zhu He: "..."

Although the regent hasn't sharpened a human stick recently, the low air pressure at this time

It still made De Zhuang a little scared, and he added cautiously: "My lord, I have asked General Lou... General Lou said that His Royal Highness visited him last night, and His Highness felt that the New Year's Day sacrifice ceremony happens every year, and the common people would like to visit him again." Go to Mount Yue to see the beauty of the sky, such an important occasion, the regent should attend..."

"Fuck! That brat has learned to sue?!"

Zhuhe turned himself over, opened the other eye, and said angrily, "It's because the king gave him too little homework!"

Dezhuang: "..."

Zhu He sat up startled in his dying illness, and rubbed his hair sleepily: "Where is Lou Cang?"

De Zhuang hurriedly said: "I have been waiting outside for a long time. The general said that he was worried that the prince would get up late, so he didn't let the carriage come over. He said that if the prince is willing, he will ride with you and send you to Yueshan."

Zhu He: "..."

It has to be said that male creatures have extremely sufficient endurance for prey that has not yet been obtained.

Although Zhuhe was already very upset, but seeing Lou Cang's face, he still forcibly endured it, and he settled the bill with Yan Rong, and said: "Got it, go and prepare clothes for me, my king." That's it."

The calendar is rich in ceremony and content.

Even though the court clothes worn by the Regent when he went to court on weekdays were already extremely extravagant and redundant, the court clothes for such grand ceremonies at the top of the summit were several layers more than the clothes when he went to court.

It is also pure black, and the six gold thread dragons embroidered on it are more delicate than the court clothes. Even the inner lining of the inner garment is patterned with gold threads. The waist is tied with a wide belt, and the outer cover is covered with a wide sleeve of dragons. The body lines move with the steps. looming.

The crown worn on the head is a total of 72 screens of pearls and emeralds, and the hanging jade handle covers most of Zhuhe's face, so that Zhuhe almost performed a flat fall when he stepped out of the threshold.

Zhu He: "..."

In order to establish a stable and friendly gourd relationship with General Lou, He He worked very hard.

The mornings in Yandu are still a bit chilly, especially when the depths of winter are approaching. Even though they are wearing a fox fur, Zhuhe still feels terribly cold.

But the man waiting in front of the Prince Regent's Mansion is like a straight green pine tree, firm and upright, wearing an official robe of the second grade, his shoulders and waist appear wider, and the five fingers holding the rein are strong and slender, and he can tell at a glance Should be very useful.

Zhu He: "..."

Zhuhe shivered.

Lou Cang took off a black cloak that was thicker than fox fur from the horse's back, walked a few steps and put it on Zhuhe's body, then lowered his head to help him fasten the belt, then frowned: "How cold is it in Yandu?" Can't compare to southern Xinjiang

, How can you still be so chilly? "

The cloak was probably facing the horse's back all the way, and it still carried a little bit of warmth, wrapping it around the body successfully relieved a little bit of the coldness.

Zhu He shrank his neck and said in a vicissitudes of life: "I am old and useless."

"It's messing around again."

Along with the general, there was his war horse waiting outside the Prince Regent's mansion. This horse was snow white. It was said that the unparalleled horse could travel thousands of miles in one day, and would accompany Lou Cang every time he fought.

Lou Cang gestured to the horse, and the horse obediently came over and stopped beside Zhuhe.

Zhuhe wished he could shrink himself into a fluffy ball in the bitter cold wind, watching the horse's back habitually acting like a monster: "It's so cold to ride a horse, I don't want to go to that kind of sacrifice."

Lou Cang said helplessly: "My lord sits at the front, and the minister is behind me to protect my lord from the wind, okay?"

That's okay.

Zhu He was too lazy to grab the reins in the cold wind: "This king forgot how to get on the horse."

Lou Cang: "..."

Lou Cang sighed softly, jumped onto the horse's back lightly, then stretched out a hand, wrapped around the cranes and pulled him closer: "The Prince Regent, sit still."

"Steady, steady!"

Zhuhe, who was ready to drive without using hands or legs, finally pulled the cloak tighter on his body in satisfaction, leaned back happily, and galloped away from Lou Cang all the way to Yueshan.

The preparations for New Year's sacrifices in the Dali calendar often start from Maoshi, and when the time comes, the emperor will start to climb Yueshan himself.

The people who came to pray for blessings got up earlier, in order to admire the holy face, and also to be happy. Under normal circumstances, people from Yandu and surrounding towns would come to the foot of Yueshan before Yinshi.

Although the reputation of the regent's tyranny has spread throughout the Dali, such auspicious days usually do not see blood.

In addition, this custom has a long history, so although many people know that in addition to the well-known prince Yan Rong and the unpopular Zhuhe, the people who come to pray for blessings are still crowded.

Thanks to General Lou Cang, the least expected Prince Regent still caught up with the sacrifice on time, and when he got off his horse with the hand supporting Lou Cang, he saw the little accuser standing aside——His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Ah!

The plaintiff was obviously more prepared than the regent, and he didn't have the thick dark circles around Zhuhe's eyes, nor did Zhuhe's fox fur and thick cloak.

Wearing a light gold and white prince's official suit, with light purple patterns embroidered on the bottom, the dragon, phoenix and auspicious beast looked solemn and grand.

and too

His Highness Zi himself has a gentlemanly appearance, with outstanding facial features and a gentle smile, successfully attracting the attention of a large number of girls outside the sacrificial site.

Yan Rong's gaze paused for a moment on the hand that Zhuhe held with Lou Cang when he got off the horse, and his lips slightly raised: "The time has come, the emperor's uncle came just in time, we can set off."

Zhu He: "..."

The ritual officer rang the bell and drum of Chenshi.

Zhuhe glanced at the endless stone steps in front of him, and felt the weight of the crown on his head and the sound of his robe scraping on the ground.

Hehe can fly obviously, but these people insist on walking with Hehe's feet!

These people just want to harm Hehe!

In the sacrificial ceremony, the prince and the regent should have walked side by side.

Most likely because Zhu He hadn't moved for a long time, Yan Rong also stopped.

He looked at Zhuhe, and said softly: "The people are all watching the first part of the road, so I can't carry the emperor's uncle on my back."

Yan Rong paused for a moment, then stretched out a hand from the sleeve of his robe, "If Uncle Huang finds it hard, you might as well use Fugu's hand to help you relax."

Zhu He: "..."

Pooh!Small complainer!

If you hadn't sued me, you wouldn't have been brought here by Lou Cang yourself!

Zhu He scolded Yan Rong a hundred words in his heart.

Then in the next second, he took Yan Rong's hand.

He unceremoniously leaned over half of his weight, and said to the little prince hypocritically: "I didn't expect Ziyang to be so considerate of the emperor's uncle. Think carefully, it has been a few months since your trip to Jiangbei. Alas, during these days, Uncle Huang really misses Ziyang very much."

The weight on the left hand and arm was not too heavy for Yan Rong, at least not unbearable, probably because the owner of the body was very thin.

And almost simultaneously.

Yan Rong found that before she left Yandu, she had blushed because of Zhuhe's provocative and seductive words, but now...but she didn't know it was because she hadn't heard it for a long time, or because she was used to it.

He no longer felt that these words were shameless, but found that these words were like a passing feather, rubbing against his skin, causing an indescribable itch.

It’s like… wanting this person to say more.

keep saying.

The mountain roads are always rugged, and although the palace staff have been arranged to repair them several times before the sacrifice, it is still difficult to walk.

Yan Rong once also felt that this road was difficult to walk, but after the trip to Jiangbei, he no longer thought so - all good and righteous things in this world are difficult, and the difficulty lies in practice, because he was once blinded by one leaf.

week

He was quiet, and his footsteps were extremely steady, so he could hear the increasingly uneven breathing of the regent beside him.

First he inhaled in small mouthfuls, then took a big mouthful, and then opened his mouth slightly, the bright red lips opened and closed, as if he seemed aggrieved.

The itchiness caused by the feather just now didn't mean to be smoothed at all, but became more violent.

Yan Rong's five fingers tightly clasped Zhu He's hand bones without any trace, and after a long time, he replied softly: "In the days in Jiangbei, I also miss... Uncle Huang."

Zhu He: "..."

Zhu He had long forgotten what he said before dozens of steps. He took a breath, and was about to support the crown on the top of his head, but the other hand helped him straighten the crown first.

Yan Rong looked at him: "If the emperor is tired, we can take a rest."

Zhuhe glanced at the top of the mountain with blank eyes.

Fortunately, the mountain is not too high, the two of them have already walked more than half, and they can vaguely see the outline of a mountain top.

At any rate, Zhu He has heard of people who get angry and then decline. He was afraid that he would have no future after a break, so he immediately shook his head: "No need, I don't think it's far away, let's go straight up."

Yan Rong didn't refuse, he lowered his eyes, took Zhu He's hand again, and said softly, "Uncle Huang is sweating."

More than just sweating, you might even lose your hair!

Zhu He didn't notice that his hand was being held by Yan Rong again, let alone heeded the little prince's words, and prepared to bravely climb the peak with his last breath.

Yan Rong followed Zhu He's footsteps, walking blushing and breathless: "Uncle Huang hasn't asked about the situation in Jiangbei alone."

Zhu He: "..."

Zhu He couldn't bear it anymore, and shook Yan Rong's hand away: "What do you want this king to ask? Why did you drag yourself into the Jiangbei Governor's Mansion for two full months, and almost folded yourself in? Or about your lack of experience with Shen Muzhi?" Go hastily, if not for this king who will send people later, the two of you would have almost caused a catastrophe?"

The atmosphere froze immediately.

Naturally, the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty also climbed the mountain together behind the Regent and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Just now the two of them spoke very quietly, so naturally no one knew what they were talking about.

But now Zhuhe was annoyed, he couldn't control his voice for a while, and blurted out every sentence of accusation in front of the courtiers. Except for the people at the foot of the mountain, all the ministers present heard it clearly.

Yan Rong was startled, and his face froze instantly.

Zhuhe has always been pampered, and has not been angry for hundreds of years. This morning, he held back his anger all the way, and finally vented: "I have never been to the prince once."

The folks were stumbled by a little Jiangbei governor.Manchu civil and military, you can kill whoever blocks your way, you don’t know how to do this, but you have learned to complain to Lou Cang? ! "

Yan Rong's face was pale, and he opened his mouth, but didn't say a word.

No one in the world knows that Yan Rong, the crown prince of Dali, has been extremely intelligent since he was a child. He can read at the age of one, compose poetry at the age of four, and was considered a great virtue by his master at the age of six.

Coupled with the beautiful appearance, all the facial features are beautiful, and it is even more unparalleled in the world.

After decades of growing up, the strategies, strategies, and methods of political performance produced during the period are all praised by others.

He has never been to the public before, and just a few days after his 16th birthday, he overturned his car alone in Jiangbei.

The atmosphere present was silent.

The few ministers who were following in the front row couldn't see it, so they mustered up their courage to step forward and said: "The Regent, calm down, the Regent, calm down! His Royal Highness is still young, and there are indeed still some shortcomings at this time... But today is the day of the sacrificial ceremony." Today, I hope the regent will consider the general situation..."

"Yes, yes, the regent, don't get angry, after all, His Royal Highness has never been to the people."

"The final settlement of the Jiangbei matter is considered appropriate. The regent Gao Yi, might as well let this matter go..."

"..."

Everyone tried their best to try to persuade him, but Zhuhe's expression did not improve much.

Yan Rong, who had stood aside for a long time, shook his head in the direction of the ministers, and walked to Zhu He's side after everyone was quiet.

Yan Rong pursed her lips, and half-bent in front of Zhu He.

Then he opened his mouth and said: "It's Gu who provoked the emperor's uncle to be angry. For the rest of the way, Gu carried the emperor's uncle up. The emperor will not be angry anymore, okay?"

Zhu He: "..."

Zhuhe's anger usually comes and goes quickly, especially when he presses the right button along his fur, it is usually easy to coax him.

For example, when Yan Rong carried him up the mountain, his anger almost subsided.

On the top of the mountain, there are also people from Yandu who climbed up early the night before.

Naturally, Zhu He didn't want to be seen by the people being carried up the mountain by Yan Rong, so he jumped off his back a few steps ahead of time, tidied up, and then curled his lips and glanced at Yan Rong.

Climbing the mountain with a person on his back is a lot of work, and Yan Rong's forehead has a few beads of sweat, which makes his facial features look more beautiful.

He looked at Zhu He: "Uncle Huang calmed down?"

Zhu He clicked his tongue, pushed his nose up and said, "As long as Fan Ziyang saves the emperor's mind, I won't be angry."

Yan Rong said softly: "From then on, Gu Ding will redouble his efforts to satisfy the emperor.

. "

Zhu He: "..."

Zhu He was stunned for a second, then subconsciously looked at Yan Rong from the beginning to the end.

Although the little prince was responsive to his requests before he went to Jiangbei, he basically gritted his teeth and could not hide the hatred in his eyes.

But after Jiang Bei came back, the emotions that were originally revealed between his brows and eyes seemed to be put away properly, and he seemed quite willing.

If he didn't know how much the little prince hated him, Zhu He would have almost thought that the two were really uncles and nephews and had a good relationship.

The content of the sacrificial ceremony is nothing more than some traditional methods. First climb to the top, and there is a large altar used by more than a dozen emperors on the top of the mountain.

The regent and the crown prince cleaned their hands respectively, burned incense, inserted the incense into the altar, and read a few words.

The location of the altar on the top of Yueshan Mountain was obviously chosen on purpose.

From Zhuhe's point of view, he and Lou Cang are standing in a position where they can see the common people who come to worship and sacrifice on the top of the mountain, and they can also look down and see the common people standing at the bottom of the mountain praying together. .

The ceremony is over.

The people on the mountain and the people below the mountain knelt down in unison, deafening: "The Regent and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will last forever!"

Yan Rong gently bowed his hands to all the people: "May the Dali calendar be smooth, the people will be safe and healthy, and the harvest will continue year after year."

As soon as this sentence came out, the voice became louder.

Standing behind Yan Rong, Zhu He didn't act like a monster, which was extremely rare. He waited until Yan Rong turned around before curling his lips: "It's over? Let's go then."

The high platform used for sacrifice on the top of the mountain can only be used by the regent and the prince. The steps are all made of white jade, with a total of 49 steps.

The rest of the courtiers waited under the high platform, looking from a distance, only the regent and the prince could be seen walking side by side, slowly approaching.

Yan Rong followed Zhuhe and walked a few more steps. She seemed to have remembered something and said, "When the lonely father married the queen, he also worshiped here."

Zhuhe can understand this sentence.

It is a big event for the emperor to welcome the queen into the palace, so naturally he needs to pray to God for auspicious omen.

Zhuhe had already lost his temper once today, so he temporarily lost his anger, so he snorted casually.

Yan Rong smiled: "I've just read the history books in the palace... After the worship ceremony for the emperor father and the empress mother, the people also wished them this sentence - forever and ever."

Zhu He: "..."

Zhuhe stopped for a while, and suddenly said: "There is nothing that lasts forever."

The words were spoken quickly and in a low voice.

Yan Rong didn't hear clearly for a moment, subconsciously said: "Uncle Huang?"

However, Zhu He had already misplaced the topic, curled the corner of his lips at Yan Rong, and said teasingly, "What's the matter? A Rong also wants to come here to worship with the emperor's uncle in the future, so that the common people wish us a happy marriage for a hundred years? That's ok, The emperor likes it very much!"

Yan Rong: "..."

Yan Rong actually didn't think about it, but Zhu He suddenly changed his angle.

He paused, but couldn't help but glance behind him.

The black people were still kneeling on the ground.

Yan Rong looked at Zhuhe again, seemed to hesitate for a long time before saying, "Uncle Emperor, Father Emperor and you..."

Standing on the white jade steps, Zhuhe saw Lou Cang standing in front of the courtiers from a long distance away.

He was still thinking about Lou Cang's fast and stable horse, and he didn't look very cold when he ran over like before.

Zhuhe dealt with Yan Rong twice perfunctorily, didn't even listen to what he said afterwards, went down the stone steps, and was about to walk towards Lou Cang when Yan Rong grabbed his sleeve.

Yan Rong's voice this time did not hesitate: "I heard that the emperor's uncle has a close relationship with General Lou recently...but is it true?"

Really?

Lou Cang didn't even touch him, so there's no reason for that.

Zhu He speculated about the word: "No."

Yan Rong looked at Zhuhe, and said softly, "Then the emperor is going to look for him now?"

Zhuhe said briskly: "Yes, I didn't bring a carriage, so I rode back on his horse."

Yan Rong smiled warmly: "Uncle Huang is afraid of the cold, so it is better not to ride a horse. Gu's carriage is outside, and there are braziers and snacks in the carriage. Uncle Huang might as well take the carriage back with Gu Yi."

Zhuhe: "!"

Carriage and horse.

Of course Hehe chose the former without hesitation.

It was exactly as what Yan Rong said, the brazier on the carriage was burning extremely hot, and the warm cushion was very soft, Zhu He even lazily slept for a while on the carriage, only to find himself leaning on Yan Rong's shoulder when he woke up.

No wonder it was such an uncomfortable sleep.

Wu Jinmu's carriage took the regent all the way to the gate of the palace.

Yan Rong handed the hand stove in the carriage to Zhu He, raised the bead curtain for him, and said softly, "Uncle Emperor, which one is more comfortable, the lonely carriage or General Lou's war horse?"

Zhuhe took the hand stove, covered his mouth and yawned: "Nonsense, of course the carriage."

Yan Rong smiled: "Then Gu and General Lou, who does the emperor like more?"

Zhu He: "..."

Zhu He was vigilant, and glanced at Yan Rong: "Where did you hear such nonsense?"

Yan Rong said: "It's just idle speculation by the people in the palace. Mr. Gu is worried and wants to ask the emperor himself."

What Zhu He never said for himself

Responsible, picked up the nice words and came casually: "Zi Yang doesn't need to listen to what other people say, this king and General Lou are innocent, besides, this king has admired Zi Yang for a long time, didn't you already know?"

"Is it."

Yan Rong's eyes darkened, and he said softly: "It's just that the emperor said that when Gu comes back, he will teach Gu joy in person. But it has been nearly ten days since Gu came back from Jiangbei, but the emperor still hasn't come."

Zhu He: "..."

Yan Rong said in a low voice: "I don't understand Gu. Is it because the emperor is willing to wait for Gu, or can't bear it, and has his eyes on others?"

Zhu He: "..."

Not to mention that Zhuhe had already found a probationary object for himself, even if he didn't find one, the little prince was not among his probationary objects.

A kid who is only 16 years old must not be able to use it.

Zhu He rolled his eyes for a long time before he smiled: "Did A Rong drink a whole bottle of vinegar? It smells so sour."

Yan Rong looked at Zhuhe, but didn't speak.

Zhuhe failed to change the subject, so he had to make another plan.

"Originally Uncle Huang wanted to give you more time, but since Arong can't wait any longer, Uncle Huang naturally doesn't want to wait either."

Zhu He stretched out his hand, sliding his slender fingers over Yan Rong's pretty face inch by inch, pretending to be an old driver, and said steadily, "Today's palace banquet may not be possible, tomorrow night, the emperor will personally let A Rong Be happy, okay?"

Although it was noon, the light inside the carriage was not very good.

Looking straight at Yan Rong, he could see the tear mole in the corner of Zhu He's eye, trembling with the crow's feather-like eyelashes, as if they were jumping every time.

The boy's body is extremely green.

He had no choice but to cover himself with the hem of his robe, his voice had been completely hoarse: "Okay...then, wait for Uncle Huang."

"Okay, tsk, good."

The boy really went back to the East Palace to wait, perhaps because he was looking forward to it too much, and even dreamed about the coming tomorrow during his lunch break.

In the dream, the person under him was thin and helpless, with tears in his eyes, and as he moved, the tears turned into teardrops and rolled down, smashing into the thin and soft silk brocade quilt.

His voice was full of tears, he begged every word, his body trembled slightly, and he couldn't tell whether it was pain or joy.

And just at the moment when it was about to arrive——

The young man tightly grabbed the man's waist and looked closely, only to see that the man's slender hand bones and ankles were bound with pure gold chains.

The golden color made his complexion whiter and more transparent, attracting Shen Lun.

The chain locks one side firmly