I do research in ancient times

A flying horse hit the horse into the city and ran straight to the palace. The sound of galloping horseshoes awakened the sleeping Dingfeng City.

Before the riders reached the gate of the palace, the aristocratic families in the city received the news. Tu Yuanan led his troops to fight Hu Qi outside the city of Changzhou. ,lost heavily.

"Ha, this is called overestimation!"

Patriarch Peng sneered, and exchanged glances with the several aristocratic patriarchs sitting in front of him, and they all found gloating in each other's eyes.

For a miser who likes to save money, there is nothing more important in the world than making money.Emperor Guangtong has found reasons to increase war taxes eighteen times this year, plus Xihaibu, who had to be donated to the palace in order to keep his concubine's position, all of these made Patriarch Peng unable to sleep peacefully day and night .

The more he thinks about it now, the more he feels that sending a girl into the palace is a loss-making business. The third girl guards a name in the palace, and she doesn't see any benefits. Instead, she has become a bottomless pit for swallowing money.The fifth girl fooled around with Sima Ye, seeing that she couldn't even earn a title, and the female leader of Hualou still charged money for buying music, she really lost her wife and lost her army.

If I knew this earlier, I wouldn't have married someone and gone to the border town.Now the people's family is well developed, not only occupying the Wuzhi River, but also tightly controlling the Bailukou, opening up the fields to dry salt, what a great benefit!

Thinking of this, Patriarch Peng was so uncomfortable that he couldn't sleep.Coupled with the fact that the emperor forced all the families to donate military funds because of the attack on Changzhou, Patriarch Peng has not had a good night's sleep for many days, and his hair, which was not thick before, has become thinner, and he has aged a lot.

Hearing that the war was blocked, he felt very relieved.

"It's just tossing around, isn't it good to stick to Dingfeng City?! You can reach the pier within a day and go down the river into the sea. Where can the barbarians go to arrest people?"

Patriarch He Yue spoke first.

His brother He Yue Jingsheng became disabled because of the Battle of Bailukou, and He Yue's family's fleet also suffered heavy losses.As a result, after the incident, instead of giving compensation, the emperor used this to add nails to He Yue's boat workshop, so that the He Yue family was outraged.

It's just that the anger turned to anger, and the injured He Yue family didn't dare to fight the emperor head-on, for fear that Sima Ye would mess up and find an excuse to toss his family, and let the Shi family take advantage of it for nothing.

This tone has been held back until today, until Sima Ye "acted against the law" and became the public enemy of all the aristocratic families before he dared to speak out.

For the family to do this, Patriarch He Yue felt that he was useless.Helplessly, all the Xianyun fleet was damaged, which is not a minor injury to He Yue's family. Now that the world is changing, those who lack confidence can only dormant.

"But if Tu Yuan'an is really defeated, most of the barbarians in Changzhou City will take advantage of the situation and move eastward. I'm afraid our place will be in danger."

Patriarch Shi said worriedly.

Guang unified the court, only the Shi family's territory was the farthest to the west.Although it does not border Hengshou and Changzhou, if Hu Qi comes over, the Shi family will definitely bear the brunt, so he is not in a hurry.

Hearing what he said, Patriarch He Yue sneered.

"Brother Shi is really worrying too much."

"Whether Tu Yuan'an can hold Changzhou or not, Heyang of your Shi family is an important defensive area of ​​the imperial court, and the gate of Dingfeng City, there must be no difference. Don't confuse the two things."

"Longquan Jianfang and Changzhou Mine are good, but what does it have to do with us? Sima Ye is so arrogant now, if there is an iron workshop to supply knives and guns, I'm afraid he will wipe out all the aristocratic families like me!"

These words were quite treasonous, Patriarch Shi frowned slightly upon hearing this.

But the few people present did not mean to shy away from him.The Shi family is not an idiot, and they have been squeezed a few layers during this period, not to mention, the wife and family of the head of the Shi family were sent to prison for reselling rice.It is said that Patriarch Shi personally entered the palace to intercede with Sima Ye, and he didn't even give Sima Ye any face, and also chopped off his brother-in-law's head.

Said that he has no hatred or resentment in his heart, and he can still be of one mind with Emperor Guangtong, just dream!

"A Li! Didn't you forget how Ah Yu lived and died?!"

A middle-aged man sitting next to him wiped his face, his voice choked with sobs.

"He, Sima Ye, came to power, and our two families also contributed money and people. What happened? He didn't turn his back on him, but he just sold some rice grains. What a big deal?! Why did it cost Ayu's life!"

This person is the patriarch of the second-class Li family in Dingfeng City. The Li family is the wife of Patriarch Shi. The "Ayu" that patriarch Li said is Patriarch Shi's unlucky brother-in-law whose head was beheaded.The two are cousins ​​who grew up together and have a close personal relationship.

The decapitation of the direct branch of the family is a great shame to the Li family, and it also embarrasses Patriarch Shi.

"Cousin, Ayu didn't die because of the grain and money. He was the target of Sima Ye who made a fool of our family. He is using Ayu to make a name for himself!"

Patriarch Shi stopped talking when he thought of his cousin who had become a headless corpse.

He lowered his head, the expression on his face relaxed.

Seeing this scene, Patriarch He Yue and Patriarch Peng glanced at each other, knowing that the plan to bring this suffering master had succeeded.

The Li family was unwilling to be humiliated, but they were not strong enough, so they had no choice but to push the Shi family to stand up for them.

It is much more useful for Li's family to say that than for them to end in person.

"Ash is right."

Patriarch Peng was beating the side drums.

"Ayu and I grew up together. Everyone knows his character. He is not a person who is greedy for money. There must be fraud in it. I only hate that Sima Ye didn't listen to our excuses, and he punished Ayu without investigating the truth. , How can there be such a reason for adjudicating cases in the world!"

"This is clearly a demonstration to us, warning us that if we don't listen to his order, Ayu will be the fate of you and my clan!"

Hearing what he said, Patriarch He Yue also helped.

"A Li, this is not a crisis for the family, but a catastrophe for the family!"

"My family and the royal family have coexisted for hundreds of years, and they have always lived in peace. It is Sima Ye who broke the rules! He wants to wipe out all of us, so that he can dominate the world and completely wipe out the family tree!"

Having said that, he paused for a moment, and observed Patriarch Shi's expression again.

"A Li, it's okay if you don't want to participate, it's just that you've ruined my big business."

"My family and I are all of the same spirit, and it's harmless for everyone to quarrel, but when it comes to matters of life and death, A Li, you must not be confused!"

When he said this, Patriarch Shi was silent for a while, then suddenly raised his eyes.

"How are you going to plan?"

Seeing that he seemed to let go, Patriarch He Yue and Patriarch Peng took another step forward, Patriarch Peng lowered his voice.

"Although Tu Yuan'an's army was defeated first, it has an army of [-], which is much more than the barbarians in Changzhou. There will be no victory or defeat in a day or two, and the consumption of food and grass for people to eat and horses will keep up with it." Well, Sima Ye probably wants to squeeze me to donate food and materials. Donate to donate, as long as the quantity is enough, things can still be manipulated a little.

"Heyang is the closest to the front line. The food and supplies of the army must be spent in Heyang. If you can think of a way to delay a little, why do you want to give Tu Yuan'an so much support!"

"It's not that you really broke the frontline army. It's just a little delay. Don't let Sima Ye win so smoothly. We people are still looking forward to the Dongshan Army's victory after all. Although Sima Ye is arrogant and tyrannical, we always It’s better than the barbarian pressing on the head, it’s just to show off.”

Even though he said this, Patriarch Shi still felt uneasy in his heart.

He always felt that it was inappropriate to trip Sima Ye at this time, but he couldn't stand the repeated persuasion of his cousin and several others, so he finally agreed hesitantly.

It was not too early, and everyone left one after another.Patriarch Peng sent Shi and Li away. He just returned to the study and saw He Yue Jingping who turned around. After walking around outside the mansion, he quietly found him again. Obviously, he had something to talk to Patriarch Peng alone. .

"Brother He Yue, do you think the Shi family can do this?"

After the guests and hosts were seated again, Patriarch Peng asked in a low voice.

He Yue Jingping waved his fan.

"It doesn't matter whether it succeeds or not, the important thing is that you can do it, brother."

"I?"

Patriarch Peng pointed at himself.

"What can I do?"

"hey-hey."

He Yue Jingping smiled slightly.

"Old Shi is timid. Even if he really does what we say, he won't be able to do anything. The most important thing now is to deal with Sima Ye as soon as possible."

"Brother, you have also seen that this kid is determined not to let your family and my family bear his offspring. It is impossible for Sima Ye to be a foreign relative. It is better to make a decision as soon as possible."

Having said that, He Yue Jingping rubbed his fingers together and made a gesture of administering medicine.

Patriarch Peng was surprised.

"This……"

"A Yuan," He Yue Jingping lowered his voice, and began to play the emotional card.

"You and Jing Sheng are close friends. Now Jing Sheng is lying on the couch and has become a useless person. Of course, the Feng family is the culprit, but Sima Ye is also behind the scenes."

"If he didn't want Jing Sheng to seize Bailukou, why would Jing Sheng mess with those soldiers?"

"Just like I said before, the world is in chaos now, and if Sima Ye is allowed to grow his wings, we will be destroyed. Both of you and my family have daughters in the palace, near the water, and we should start in the next few days. If it continues, we will I'm afraid that Tu Yuan'an will really take down Changzhou City!"

Hearing what he said, Patriarch Peng showed a trace of fear on his face.

Cursing is swearing, but Sima Ye is the emperor after all, and regicide is no small matter.

The head of the Peng family is under Sima Yue's despotic power.Suffering from Sima Yi's despotic power.It is not without the idea of ​​resistance, but as long as he does it, he dare not.

"Let my family's third wife and fifth mother do it, so isn't your family trying to take advantage of it?"

Patriarch Peng glanced sideways at He Yue Jingping who was sitting opposite.

It's true that he and He Yue Jingsheng are good friends, but family interests cannot be sold as friendship. Besides, He Yue Jingsheng, the eldest brother, is not a good friend, and he might sell him out.

"You instigated the Shi family to block the army's food and grass, and let my Peng family poison me. Then what are you doing with the He Yue family? Your family also has a daughter in the palace, and the rank is higher than mine..."

He was interrupted by He Yue Jingping before he finished speaking.

"Of course I can't let your family contribute. You and my family will work together. It will be a good thing for any of the three girls to succeed."

"Don't worry about being implicated after the incident. You know that if Sima Ye is dead, Dingfeng City will be yours and mine. It's time to say whoever is the murderer. Don't forget that there is another Xue family in the palace." The remnants of his crimes, ready-made scapegoats."

"I've already contacted Concubine Xian, and I've been looking for an opportunity to do it in the past two days. But Concubine Guangxian is not reliable. After all, Sima Ye is on guard against her. It's not as close as your fifth mother."

When he said this, a look of unnaturalness flashed across Patriarch Peng's face.

The so-called intimacy, isn't it just sex without a matchmaker? This is too blatant...

Just listen to He Yue Jingsheng continue.

"As long as there is any movement in the palace, we will bring troops into the palace, and while the Shi family is outside raising food and grass, you and my two families will seize the capital, so there will be no mistakes."

At the same time, the Imperial Study Room of Dingfeng City Imperial Palace.

Sima Ye put down the military newspaper in his hand, kneaded his frown, and turned to look at the servant who stood silently beside him.

"What time is it?"

"Your Majesty, it's already the third watch."

Sima Ye raised his head, and his eyes lingered on the delicate stewing pot not far away for a while.

"Who sent this?"

The waiter bowed his head.

"It's the wife of the Peng family."

"Concubine Liang invited Mrs. Peng into the palace today. Mrs. Peng heard that His Majesty is busy with government affairs, so she personally made nourishing ginseng soup and sent it. If Your Majesty..."

The so-called Mrs. Peng was the fifth mother of the Peng family, who would enter the palace from time to time. On the surface, it was said that it was a good concubine who invited her to talk about her sisterhood, but in fact she had a private meeting with the emperor.

Peng Wuniang would graciously bring over soup every few days, but Sima Ye never took a bite.

It is one thing for men and women to love each other, but trust is another. He can't trust a girl from an aristocratic family.

Sure enough, before the servant could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Sima Ye.

"You share the food."

He waved his hand, suddenly remembered something, and casually ordered the servant.

"You, go and call Concubine De."

When the servant arrived at Shuyu Palace, Xue Huiyue fell asleep early in the morning. She was pulled out of the quilt by the maid.

When she got up, Xue Huiyue looked blank.

She didn't understand why Emperor Guangtong suddenly summoned her to the imperial study in the middle of the night.

"Did Your Majesty say something?"

While changing her clothes, she asked the servant who came to summon her.

The servant shook his head, only saying that it was His Majesty's order, and refused to disclose any more information.

Xue Huiyue didn't dare to delay, and went all the way to the imperial study in anxiety.

She walked very lightly, and when Emperor Guangtong came in, he was writing a book, so she knelt at the door and did not dare to disturb him.

Sima Ye didn't even raise his head, he gave a casual order.

"You go out of the palace."

Xue Huiyue was taken aback.

She didn't understand what Emperor Guangtong's words meant, did she have to go out of the palace to do something?

"Why, don't you understand?"

Sima Ye glanced at her with a faint smile.

"Concubine De has not given birth to a child in the palace for several years. Virtue is unworthy and demoted to a commoner. You can go out of the palace and live on your own."

Xue Huiyue was shocked, fell to her knees, kept kowtowing upwards, and repeatedly confessed her crimes.

She suddenly felt flustered, always feeling that something was about to happen, but she was powerless to resist.

Now that the world outside is in such chaos, if His Majesty kicks her out of the palace, where can she go?

Sima Ye could naturally see her small thoughts.

But he didn't care.

Going anywhere is better than being stuck in Dingfeng City.

He treated this woman well for two days before, but he didn't expect her to be interested.

"You really don't know the whereabouts of Yuxi?"

Hearing his question, Xue Huiyue kowtowed again.

"I don't know! The concubine really doesn't know!"

"The concubine is not in the same line as the former empress at home. The family fights, and even if Yuxi really falls into the family, the concubine's identity will not be known."

Sima Ye nodded.

"Then you go out of the palace. Since I don't know the whereabouts of Yuxi, it's useless for me to support you, an idler."

"Now that your great enemy, Xue Yibian, has come down to the imperial power, there is no longer your mortal enemy in the world, so go back and live a good life."

As he spoke, he suddenly started coughing.

At first, it was just two soft beeps, and then it became more and more urgent.

Xue Huiyue wanted to step forward to caress his back, but suddenly thought that Sima Ye was a suspicious person by nature and would not let people get close easily.

If I lean over rashly, I'm afraid I will make him angry. .

Sima Ye casually took the handkerchief to cover his mouth, and waved his hand to signal Xue Huiyue to leave quickly.

Xue Huiyue didn't dare to disobey him, she could see anger in Sima Ye's eyes.

She thought for a while, kowtowed three more times, and then got up to leave.

But when she was about to leave, she saw a dark red faintly showing on the pure white silk handkerchief in Sima Ye's palm.

Your Majesty... Coughing up blood? !