Drunk King and Minister

It was November when Chen Qian summoned Han Zigao to return to Beijing. After Han Zigao had arranged everything and made arrangements for the Red Iron Army, it was just in time for the Chinese New Year.

This is the first time that Han Zigao returned to Jiankang for the past five years after leaving Jiankang.

The news that Han Zigao, the prefect of Dongyang and the regular servant of Sanqi returned to the capital and was promoted to the right guard general spread all over the capital. The meaning behind it may or may not be known to everyone, but they all chose to keep silent— —Anyone can feel the recent undercurrent.

In such a situation, it is the clearest way to protect yourself wisely.

But what puzzled many people is that the seventh year of Tianjia was extremely lively. The emperor ordered a hundred tables for a feast outside the Chengde Hall, and dug several channels outside the hall. The water in the pool is used as a guide to let the officials have fun, imitating the feast of the flowing water of the famous men and women in the Western Jin Dynasty.

In the past Chinese New Year, although the emperor also held a state banquet, it was not as grand and lively as this year's banquet.All the clans and ministers gathered together, if it was held in the past two years, it could be called a happy reunion, but in this year, it makes people somewhat confused about what the emperor is thinking.

The undercurrent of this bustle is surging, but it is surging even more violently.

Han Zigao sat on the top seat, on the left was General Zuowei, Zhou Wenyu's son Zhou Wenbao, and on the right was Ancheng King Chen Xu, who had replaced Sikong of Andu.

This position is ingenious, using himself to test the attitudes and reactions of Chen Xu and Zhou Wenbao.

Chen Qian, Han Zi is higher than you, after all, he is a courtier who can be used.This... is actually a good thing.

Thoughts turned in his mind, Han Zigao remained calm, watching the singing and dancing in front of him, occasionally chewing vegetables with a chopstick.

Han Zigao was wearing a white gown today, and his long black hair was tied behind his head with a jade hairpin, most of which fell down.He doesn't look like a general who conquers all directions at all, but like an elegant and famous person.

The calmness of his gestures, coupled with his stunning face, and his extraordinary status, he is really a bright pearl that cannot hide the light, attracting most of the eyes.

Among these gazes, there are amazement, envy, obsession, and contempt.

There is a gaze, but it is intermittent, very close, mixed with inconspicuous but real hostility.

Han Zigao played with the wine bottle in his hand and smiled slightly.

This smile shocked the clouds and broke the sun, making everyone who looked at him gasp.

"General Youwei only played with this wine bottle but didn't take a sip, but he doesn't like the taste of this wine?"

Han Zigao slowly turned his head.

"My lord was joking. The taste of this imperial wine is very good, but it's a pity that Han is so poor that he can't drink it."

Chen Xu narrowed his eyes, a trace of hatred flashed in his eyes.

What is he hating?

Asking himself, Han Zigao didn't feel that he had done anything to hurt Chen Xu, but in this man's eyes, there was clearly a hatred comparable to the hatred of killing his wife and father.

Resisting the urge to sigh, even though Chen Xu and Chen Qian are brothers, they still lacked some of Chen Qian's uprightness—Chen Qian would not be hypocritical to someone she hated.

"So that's the case. Hasn't General Youwei ever drank alcohol?" Chen Xu shook the wine bottle in his hand lightly, "It's a pity that I still want General Youwei to drink..."

The unfinished sigh lingered on the tip of his tongue, as if urging Han Zigao to accept the glass of wine.

A trace of guilt gradually appeared on Han Zigao's face: "That's right...it's a pity."

Chen Xu was taken aback.At this moment, shouldn't this person take over what he said and have a drink to make things right?

No, the man did pick up the conversation, but turned the meaning to the other side.

Is it because he doesn't know how to deal with people, or is it intentional?

Annoyance flashed quickly in Chen Xu's eyes, and when he came back to his senses, he saw that the man had already picked up a piece of pastry and tasted it carefully.

His movements are naturally noble, and his face is uncannily beautiful. This man... is indeed a rare stunner.

That's why the eldest brother will protect him regardless of his own request!That's why Yanmei's heart and eyes are all about him!That's why I lost my love and was alone and lonely! It hurts my heart!

Soon after the year, it was the day of Chunsou.

Every year in March, the royal family and all the generals, as well as the children of the family who practice martial arts, will conduct a spring search in the royal hunting ground outside Beijing.This spring search seems to be an entertainment activity, but it actually occupies an extremely important position.

First, this hunting ground is a small training ground, where some military theories can be well tested and improved. For example, in the face of a group of wild beasts that are about to appear or have already appeared, should you choose to attack frontally or take a detour? Outflanking or ambushing must be closely integrated with the actual situation.

Second, the competition between the royal family and the children of various families with the prey on the hunting ground is actually a contest between them.Those with good grades will win glory for the family, and those with poor grades will naturally lose the family's face. What's more, sometimes if you perform outstandingly in the hunting field and win the favor of a nobleman, it will definitely be a good way out.

Precisely because of its importance, every year, unless natural conditions do not allow or there are some special circumstances, this spring search is basically rain or shine.

So, even though Han Zigao didn't want Chen Qian to hold this spring search, he knew that he had to go to this spring search.

Han Zigao had mentioned this matter in front of Chen Qian more than once since he started preparing for the spring search in February.

"This spring search is really outside Beijing, and they are all armed with soldiers, horses and weapons. There are dangers everywhere, so why can't we not go?"

Chen Qian raised her head from the table and looked at Han Zigao playfully: "You have said this no less than three times. Why, this time you came to the palace specially to say it again."

Han Zigao lowered his head in silence.

How should he tell Chen Qian that he sat up in shock from his dream last night.

He dreamed...flying arrows, flames soaring into the sky, blood all over the ground, and pale familiar faces...

How should he express the fear engraved in his bones?

Han Zigao admitted that he was scared.Even though he thought he had completely cut off from the person in front of him, and warned himself over and over again that the two of them are just monarchs and ministers now, and they will only be monarchs and ministers in the future, he was still terrified by that dream all day long.

Han Zigao was afraid, the thing Han Zigao feared most in his life was the disappearance of the person in front of him forever.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. You...just guard the capital." Chen Qian silently looked at Han Zigao, her eyes seemed to contain thousands of words.

Han Zigao finally nodded lightly and backed out.

He should trust Chen Qian, he told himself every sentence, he had to trust him, nothing would happen.

The only thing Han Zigao can do, besides doing his own job of guarding the capital, is to strengthen the guards around the Chunsou hunting ground over and over again...

On March [-], the royal clan and ministers brought some family members to the hunting ground outside Beijing to hold the annual spring search.

Han Zigao had been standing on the highest point of the tower, watching the bright yellow figure of the man disappear little by little.

According to the past, the spring search will be held for a full ten days before it ends.

Han Zigao couldn't tell the reason for his uneasiness, he had to go up to the city tower once a day, looking at the sporadic double images of colorful flags faintly visible in the distance, so that he could feel a little more at ease.

One day, two days, three days... until the ninth day, nothing happened.

Han Zigao breathed a sigh of relief, he will be back tomorrow, maybe he was too anxious.

That night, Han Zigao patrolled the main road of the capital again, returned to the mansion, and was about to rest.

"My lord, someone came from the palace and said there is an urgent matter!" the butler reported.

Palace?Urgent?

Han Zigao frowned, his heart skipped a beat: "Bring it in quickly."

"Yes." The butler said, and hurried out.

The person who brought in was Deli, the eunuch next to the emperor.

"General! Your majesty is seriously injured and his life is in danger!" De Li knelt down and wept when he saw Han Zigao.

"What!" Han Zigao accidentally smashed the teacup and stood up abruptly.

Han Zigao, don't panic!Don't panic!calm!Be sure to calm down! !

"Tell me what's going on!"

"The emperor planned to rest for half a day today and return to Beijing tomorrow, but he happened to see a little wolf covered in snow. He thought it was rare and wanted to capture it alive. He was afraid that too many people would disturb the little wolf, so he only brought a few couples with him. But..." Durley's voice trembled, "but he was ambushed!"

His fingers trembled violently, and his jaw trembled violently.

Han Zigao couldn't believe it, those dreams, those days of uneasiness...

"Enter the palace!"

There was an eerie silence outside Yongzhao Hall.

Han Zigao hurried to the outside of the hall, his heart was in a mess, and he had a bad premonition, could it be that he...

impossible!Will not! !

Han Zigao almost ran into the Yongzhao Palace, he ran in a hurry without noticing that De Li behind him disappeared at some point.

"Squeak..." The door of the palace was pushed open abruptly, but it froze halfway there.

nobody?

Is there no one in the hall?

Han Zigao was stunned, and in a flash, he suddenly understood!I fell for it!

Deli!He actually betrayed Chen Qian!

With a sneer, he drew out the Blade Moon Sword. Han Zigao stood alone in the hall, gently raising his hand to stroke the broken hair on his shoulder.

"Your Excellency, please show up."

As soon as Han Zigao finished speaking, layers of guards armed with arrows emerged from the night and surrounded him.

Han Zigao has no doubts, as long as someone gives an order, those arrows can shoot him into a sieve, and he cannot avoid it!

"Papa papa!" There was a burst of high-five applause, "As expected of General Youwei, such a calmness is beyond my expectation."

One came through the guards.

With a boa robe added to the body, a neat jade crown, and high black hair, he is suave and suave. He is the king of Ancheng, Da Sikong, and Chen Xu.

"King Ancheng is very calculating, but it's a pity that outside the palace are all my Iron Red Army." Han Zigao raised his chin, suppressing the shock and uneasiness surging in his heart.

Why did Chen Xu appear here?Shouldn't he be at the hunting ground with Chen Qian?Where is Chen Qian now?Is there anything wrong?How should he communicate with him?

"Of course this king knows." Chen Xu chuckled, "This king knows that General Han's iron red army is invincible, and one is equal to ten. It is not inferior to the army of the emperor's third iron guard back then, but..."

Chen Xu raised his eyebrows, and there was an evil smile on his handsome face, which was a little like Chen Qian's.

"If their generals just serve the seriously ill emperor and serve him all night without taking off his clothes, do you think they will doubt it?"

Han Zigao's pupils shrank.

"Where is the emperor!"

"Smart." Chen Xu knocked on the folding fan in his hand, and an imperceptible pain flashed in his eyes, "My dear brother...is dead."

After he finished speaking, he raised his eyebrows and watched Han Zigao's reaction.Unexpectedly, he didn't break down and shout like he thought, nor did he tear his eyes open, nor did he burst into tears, but just looked at him quietly, as if... a dummy.

"You don't believe it?" Chen Xu sneered.

Han Zigao pursed his lips and said nothing.

This must be Chen Xu's trick!He can't believe it!He can't believe it!Chen Xu wanted to mess himself up!It must be so!

It must be so!

Chen Qian will not die!

He will not die!

He must not die! !

"This king is here to tell you how he died." Chen Xu said slowly, "De Li was right, but after the emperor was ambushed, he broke out in the wrong place, my dear brother , Breaking through to the cliff. Tsk tsk, it is Duantou Cliff, the highest cliff in the hunting ground. Presumably, General Han couldn't be more aware of the danger of that cliff."

Chen Xu sighed.

"This is also God's will. This king didn't intend to kill the emperor, but he just escaped to the cliff by himself and fell down. In this king's heart..." The expression on Chen Xu's face gradually became full of embarrassment. Pain, as if she was truly heartbroken over Chen Qian's death.

Han Zigao still didn't say a word, he stubbornly pursed his lips and stared at Chen Xu, not believing his words at all.

"Well, I can't help you if you don't believe me." Chen Xu shook his head helplessly, "But there is one thing you must remember. This king wants this throne because he wants you, the dignified General of the Right Guard, Han Zigao, Hold it in your hand!"

His voice became louder and louder, and finally he sneered.

Han Zigao's Adam's apple twitched a few times.

Why……

how so……

"It's weird..." Chen Xu narrowed his eyes, with a crazy look in his eyes, "Don't worry, this king will torture you so that you can remember...the reason..."

"Catch him!" He shouted coldly.

Han Zigao did not resist, he knew that even if he resisted, he would not be able to escape from the net, so instead of exhausting his strength, he should save it and see what Chen Xu's plan is!

Seeing that Han Zigao was robbed of his weapon and tied up without any resistance, a bloody smile flashed across Chen Xu's face, and he licked the corner of his lips lightly.

"It's smart..."

The night was bone-chillingly cold.

The author has something to say:

Chen Qian did fall off the cliff, but Chen Xu did not lie to Han Zigao.