Let me eat a soft meal

This year's winter seems to be extraordinarily long. Because of the snowstorm and the front-line war, this year's Lantern Festival was not held in the palace. There were even concubines who wore too gorgeous clothes and were reprimanded by the queen mother, although there was no demotion. She didn't fall into the cold palace, but the queen mother asked Zhao An to put down the sign of this concubine. There were too many concubines in the harem, and the emperor didn't even notice.

For a while, the palace didn’t even dare to hang more red cloths, fearing that it would be a big taboo. Instead of competing for splendor in previous years, the concubines wore plain clothes, and copying Buddhist scriptures to pray for disaster-stricken areas and frontline soldiers became the mainstream at the beginning of this year.

Until the army went out, the imperial court and the harem were relieved, thinking that the matter would pass like this, but they never expected that the relief was too early, and this was the beginning of this year.

Ye Xuan wanted to find out about the former queen, so she disclosed it to Xie Yushu on the city wall.

Although Xie Yushu was surprised, she didn't ask any further questions, and just told what she knew, "The former empress was the eldest princess of the royal family of Bohai Sea, and she was a very famous woman. She passed away early, but there are rumors about her among the people. There are also quite a few. It is said that she is both civil and military, and has a good strategy. When the King of Bohai was seriously ill in his later years, the government was controlled by powerful ministers. She has been on the battlefield and killed the rebels, she is the female general of the Bohai family who protects the country."

"The new king of Bohai is too young, and there are frequent civil strife in Bohai. After all, the eldest princess can't support her alone. After the king of Bohai was assassinated several times and nearly died, she chose to get married and use my great national strength to suppress the rebellion. It is the current emperor, and later the eldest princess became the crown princess."

"It's a pity that she probably worked too hard, and she didn't take good care of her after the miscarriage. She fell ill and passed away within a few years of being a queen."

Xie Yushu hid the content of the fight in the harem, and only picked what Ye Xuan wanted to know.

Marriage not only brought the Bohai clan's military suppression in Daliang, but also opened up the trade road with Daliang. Generally speaking, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Because of the first queen, the emperor granted Bohai many exemptions from taxation, conscription, corvee, etc. Privileges, after the first queen died of illness, the emperor intentionally or unintentionally changed the preferential regulations for the Bohai family. The king of Bohai panicked and sent the princess to get married again—that is, the current concubine Xian.

After many years of trade, the Bohai clan has basically been Sinicized. They are said to be kings, but they are actually like a continent in Daliang. The only difference is that they have a higher degree of autonomy within the continent. This led to several civil strife among the Bohai royal family.

There are two factions in the royal family. One is the Baohe faction headed by the King of Bohai and the eldest princess, who advocates pro-Liang and seeks common ground while reserving differences based on the situation of the vassal states; Step on the Daliang Dynasty with the left, kick the nomads of the Beirong, and be the lord of the world in this continent.

The slogans of the main combat faction are, "The ancestors and the Liang ancestors fought together. His Ye family can be called emperor, why can't our Bohai family not?" Such slogans also inspired many militant generals and young people.

"As long as the Bohai clan has a little more strength, the eldest princess will not be a peace-keeping faction." Xie Yushu occasionally heard Prime Minister Xie mention the former queen, and there was too much regret and reverence in his words, so when Xie Yushu talked about this, It is inevitable to keep up with his father's way of thinking.

This is the first time Ye Xuan heard this version, and she was surprised and suspicious, "According to your description, Yushu, this strange woman must be a heroine, and I am not surprised to use marriage as a diplomatic means, but why did she personally ..."

Ye Xuan didn't finish what he said, but Xie Yushu already understood that this was actually a problem he had all along.

He also has a few guesses about this: First, he was plotted by the main battle faction; the relationship between the second eldest princess and the King of Bohai may not be as harmonious as the rumors say, the eldest princess is too powerful; there are no other relatives in the third Bohai line.

Ye Xuan naturally thought of it too, but his first reaction was to rule out the last point, the concubine Xian and the eldest princess are not much different in age, and the eldest princess doesn't need to sacrifice herself to get married, which doesn't make sense.

As for the other two options, Xie Yushu prefers the first option, and Ye Xuan prefers the second option. Of course, these are different opinions held by each of them with different experiences, so no further analysis is necessary.

Ye Xuan asked Tai'an to collect information for a few days, but found that the former empress had been dead for too many years, and the eunuchs and maidservants in the palace were also consumables. It was really difficult to find useful information after a few years with a new face.

Ye Xuan also asked Nanny Chen, who had the most seniority in Luohua Palace, but Nanny Chen had only heard rumors that Concubine Shu was related to the death of the former empress, and said, "When I entered the palace with my mother, the former empress died. Been dead for years."

It can be regarded as returning without success.

Ye Xuan frowned and thought for a whole night, and finally gave up the route of the former empress and the concubine Shu, Defei and Xianfei, who were more likely to startle the snake, and chose to start from the direction of the second prince first.

After changing directions, Ye Xuan really knew something.

On this day when the Imperial College was over from school, Ye Xuan helped Xie Yushu tidy up his textbooks, and casually chatted about the second prince.

Pei Cheng, who was bored because the snow hadn't melted yet and couldn't kick the ball, packed his things until the end. When he was about to go out, he suddenly heard their conversation with sharp ears, and immediately moved over, lying between the two of them with bright eyes. , blinking his eyes.

"Ask me what you want to know, I'm not bragging, don't care about the court and harem, there is nothing I don't know about gossip and rumors!"

Ye Xuan frowned, "Oh? How much do you know about the former queen?"

"The first queen?" Pei Cheng frowned, realizing that the matter was not simple, and his nerves awakened in an instant, raised his head and asked tentatively, "Why are you asking her all of a sudden? It turns out that the fourth prince is too arrogant, what are you going to do?" Move Concubine Shu down?"

"Then you shouldn't ask the first queen! How many years have passed since that incident, and the criminal department has been investigating secretly for so long but there is no news, just the three of us—oh, plus your little eunuch who is flying over the walls, four of us, too. It's useless. If there is any evidence, it would have been destroyed a long time ago." Pei Sheng said with presence.

Xie Yushu hesitated, "The Ministry of Criminal Justice has investigated this matter? Why haven't I heard about it?"

Xie Dalang was originally an official of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. After marrying Boyang Princess, he fell into Ren Shaoqing of Dali Temple. Xie Yushu was interested in many old cases. With Xie Dalang's convenience, it can be said that within the scope of not violating the court laws After reading most of the dossiers, he has no impression of the former empress.

Pei Cheng waved his hand, "It's normal if you haven't heard of it, otherwise, why would you call it a secret investigation? Don't forget that there is Xu Guogong standing behind Concubine Shu."

The Xu family is full of honor and loyalty, and Xu Guogong is the teacher of the emperor. Concubine Xu Shu is the only child under Xu Guogong's knees. Even if he commits a capital crime, the emperor can't really kill them all, let alone the emperor was just enthroned and his position in the court was unstable. We still have to rely on the Xu family and the Gao family.

Even if the death of the former empress had something to do with Concubine Shu, the emperor could not put it on the bright side. He had to collect evidence secretly and wait for the right time to attack—but obviously, the Xu family and Concubine Shu have been fine for so many years. It should have found nothing.

After the blow, Pei Cheng showed a smiling face again, unable to suppress the excitement of making troubles at the corners of his eyes and brows, and whispered, "Let me help you guys fight Concubine Shu!"

"Do you think I will believe you?" Ye Xuan raised his eyebrows and looked at him with a half-smile.

Pei Sheng didn't hide his thoughts at all, "I don't care if you believe me or not? Hurry up and fight. I want to watch the fun. I can't do this or that recently. I'm almost bored to death."

"Fight and fight!" he whispered.

Xie Yushu: "..." Under Pei Liulang's playful skin, is there such a low-key style?

"It's so noisy." Ye Xuan pushed his face away in a frenzy, with an undisguised disgust on his face.

Pei Cheng exploded immediately, saying that he was not allowed to get closer, but he still wanted to move forward, holding Ye Xuan's arm tightly but did not let go, and deliberately rubbed his cheek up like a disgusting person, and after rubbing his left cheek, he rubbed his right cheek .

Ye Xuan raised his eyebrows, his smile was sinister, and he sneered, "Pei Liulang is so old, so he still likes to act like a baby?"

"Hey, fuck, who is being coquettish? You are the one who is being coquettish! Who is disgusting!" Pei Cheng shuddered, and instantly moved away from Ye Xuan.

He sat cross-legged on the table, turned his head and saw a familiar porcelain bottle wrapped in cloth, his eyes lit up, and he hooked it into his palm, "Hey, brother little pig left his milk bottle here? Let me see See if there is any left in it—hey, there really isn’t a single drop left!”

Pei Cheng pouted angrily, but carefully placed the porcelain bottle on his clothes, intending to drop by to deliver it later, and did not move again.

Ye Xuan took out his bottle of milk tea and shook it, the liquid inside made a crashing sound.

Pei Cheng's eyes lit up, he stretched out his hand subconsciously, quickly took it back, and looked at him suspiciously, "Why are you so kind today?"

"Of course it's not for nothing. I want to ask you a few questions."

Hearing that it was an exchange of equal value, Pei Cheng heaved a sigh of relief, snapped his fingers, and nodded proudly, "Okay, you can ask, and it's convenient for me to tell you, my young master will definitely not hide it."

Although Pei Cheng is a little willful and cautious, he has a straightforward personality and is very knowledgeable about current affairs. For example, when talking to people who are smarter than him, he will never play unnecessary tricks, but is straightforward and forthright.

Ye Xuan nodded, and said as soon as he opened his mouth, "How much do you know about the second prince?"

Pei Cheng thought he would ask Concubine Shu, but he didn't expect to ask the second prince irrelevantly. He couldn't help but be surprised: "Ye Entropy? He is like a transparent person inside and outside the palace. Why do you ask him? "

Ye Xuan didn't answer, raised his eyebrows and made a nasal sound, Pei Cheng immediately waved his hands clearly, "Cheng Chengcheng, I don't even bother to know about the dirty things between you princes, pretend I didn't ask."

He paused for a moment, holding his head up against a few cases to think carefully, and said while thinking, "He has no sense of existence, is in poor health and comes from a low family background, he is not favored by His Majesty, and has nothing to do with the aristocratic family, and he will be crowned soon , but not even a single concubine, let alone side concubines."

"Hmm... If there is anything worthy of attention about him, then there is only his birth mother? The birth mother, Yu Shi, came from a lowly family background and was a maidservant who washed clothes. She had no status and gave birth to the second prince and died of dystocia."

On the surface, it was said that she died of dystocia, but everyone knew that she had lost her mother and kept her son.

"I know all of this," Ye Xuan tapped his fingers on the table, "Tell me something we don't know."

"Oh, I'm just thinking, don't rush!" Pei Sheng was furious, tapped his fingers on his knees, thought for a long time, and suddenly said "ah", "I'm listening to my father and brother One thing was said, but I don't know if it's true."

"The first empress died early because she didn't take good care of her body after the miscarriage, and the former empress and Concubine De had miscarriages. It is widely rumored that it was the hands of Concubine Shu..."

Ye Xuan reminded him, "Please tell me something I don't know."

"I'm just about to say it, I won't say it again if you do this again!" Pei Cheng snorted.

Without saying a word, Ye Xuan picked up the porcelain vase on the table, and pulled Xie Yushu to leave.

Pei Cheng hurriedly stopped, and said angrily, "Tell me, just say it! As long as you have half the patience for Xie San to me, we won't be bored with each other!"

Ye Xuan glanced at him in a leisurely manner, the corners of his lips curled up, obviously he didn't speak, but Pei Cheng's mind automatically made up his mocking tone, and spit out two words: Just you?

Pei Cheng was overwhelmed by his brain, rolled his big eyes, and said in his heart: Forget it, I'm so pure, beautiful, mighty and handsome, with such a big heart, I don't want to be with these two die!break!sleeve!Care about!It's still two super bad-hearted Duanxiu!Can't play can't play.

At that time, Pei Cheng was just complaining in his heart, not knowing at all that what he had said was a prophecy, which could break the truth.

"I heard that concubine Shu framed the former empress through the hands of her personal servant girl. The prince at that time, that is, His Majesty, was very furious. Many people were killed with a stick, and those who survived were directly beaten into low status, but there has been no one." There is no evidence, so it is not certain whether the murderer is really dead."

"Later, Empress Xian died suddenly and got involved with Concubine Shu, coupled with Concubine De's abnormal attitude, although it was not recorded in the case file, everyone agreed that this matter was done by Concubine Shu. The same group of people who had a miscarriage back then included Mrs. Yu."

Xie Yushu took a breath and couldn't help asking, "Is it really Yu Shi?"

Pei Cheng shrugged, "I don't know, there is no file and no evidence, so I just listened to it. Maybe it's just a guess, maybe it's true. Anyway, people are dead, and there is no evidence for death."

As soon as the words "dead without proof" come out, it makes people feel cold for no reason.

Who commits a crime without evidence?Is it really so easy to deal with the Queen's death?There is not even a record in the dossier.

Could it be——Xie Yushu quickly put an end to the rebellious thoughts in his heart.

Pei Cheng looked at the two of them in deep thought, smiled wickedly, and snapped his fingers, "I can guess what you are thinking, this matter is full of loopholes, and it is worth digging deeper, but this is a problem that can only be solved." The ultimate big secret that cannot be verified.”

Ye Xuan pondered, and unconsciously twirled his fingertips.

"Is there anything else you want to ask?" Pei Sheng's gaze fell on Milk Tea with covetous eyes, and he licked his lips, unspeakably greedy, "If not, can you give me the reward?"

"Get it yourself." Ye Xuan tidied up the books neatly, and pulled Xie Yushu out who hadn't reacted yet.

He seemed to be calm and unhurried, but in fact he arrived at the gate of the Imperial College in a blink of an eye.

Ye Xuan's speed was too fast, Xie Yushu struggled to follow, just about to ask why he was walking so fast, when he suddenly heard a roar behind him.

"Ye Xuan, you bastard, you actually lied to me by pouring water into it!"

"Let's go." Ye Xuan said in a low voice, and immediately pulled Xie Yushu to run.

Xie Yushu subconsciously looked back, only to see Pei Sheng who had chased him out at the entrance of the Imperial Prison, panting heavily, his hands on the door frame turned white with force, and he could feel his gloomy aura from a long distance away. To soaring anger.

"Ye Xuan, you wait for my master! Sooner or later, my master will come back with revenge!!!!"

Xie Yushu, who came to his senses, said, "...Pfft."

……

Pei Cheng did what he said, the next day he got up early the next morning furiously and prepared to arrest Ye Xuan for revenge, but when he learned that Concubine Liang was showing signs of miscarriage, Ye Xuan asked for three days off to serve her sick.

It happened to be Xie Yushu's class three days later, Pei Sheng still didn't believe that Ye Xuan would come.

So I waited for another three days, and finally waited until the Gyeongju plague broke out and the news of Huang Mang's rebellion.

Because of the emperor's words, the army changed its route and went to Qingzhou first, but Huang Mang refused. He was worried about the front-line war and proposed to take the vanguard battalion to the front line first, but was rejected by Jiang Zheng.

Huang Mang was outraged, so he faked the military order and ordered a thousand soldiers and horses to attack lightly in the middle of the night and ran away. Just as the second prince had a high fever in the middle of the night, he accompanied the eunuchs to invite a military doctor. Seeing this scene, he hurried back to report.The second prince didn't dare to delay, dragging his sick body to get up to chase alone, and asked the personal eunuch to report to the nearest chief general, Pei Chang.

From then on, the troops were divided into two groups. Pei Chang led five thousand light cavalry to pursue Huang Mang, while Jiang Zheng and Chen Sanping led the rest of the army to Qingzhou to pick up the eldest prince first.

However, after arriving in Gyeongju, I learned that this place was out of control as early as a month ago. The snowstorm caused hundreds of thousands of refugees to be homeless. , Prime Minister Xie’s methods of dealing with officials were too tough, which indeed deterred some of them, while the other part was vicious, knowing that the consequences would not be good, they turned evil to the sidelines, deliberately concealed the situation of the plague and did not report it, and even led the disaster relief team into the hardest-hit areas of the plague , besieging it.

In this way, the sky is high and the emperor is far away, they can use the plague as a reason to cover up the crime.

When the army arrived in Gyeongju, they happened to behead the county magistrate of Yongping County privately, and even said that the emperor ordered all the refugees to be driven to the plague area, and then set fire to the villages and counties, in the name of preventing the spread of the plague, and then The displaced people who were driven out and scolded turned back angrily.

When they saw the army entering the city, their first reaction was that they were sent by the imperial court to strangle them. It can be said that the crowd was outraged.

Chen Sanping also misunderstood at the beginning that the refugees rebelled and wanted to lead an attack. Jiang Zheng used his troops in a well-regulated manner and was always cautious. He suppressed the radical Chen Sanping and went to the peace talks in person first. The letter was urgently delivered to the capital.

At the same time, it was Huang Mang who took the second prince hostage and sent him to Beijing in a hurry.

"A bunch of bastards!" The emperor, who hadn't gone to court for a few days because of the wind and cold, was so angry that he vomited blood.