Hotaru [The Tale of Genji]

The author has something to say: the content of the vines was completed in the previous chapter, and the content of this chapter is new.

Sadness is born before happiness...

Zhuqueyuan was built according to the specifications of the imperial palace, and it is the place where the rulers of the past dynasties cultivated and lived after abdication.The extravagance here is even worse than Zichen Yudi.The retreating lords of the past dynasties have decorated and embellished this place. They are all discerning people, and everything left behind is a rare treasure.

And they lay in this magnificent hall, walking to the end of their lives.As a result, when the commander-in-chief walked on the corridor of the audience, he felt a gloomy chill.

The maid who led the way brought Yinggong back, and retreated quietly.He looked up and saw Suzaku sitting next to Tonghuyuan, bending his upper body slightly, listening to something.The burning incense can no longer cover the strong smell of medicine here, which makes the scalp tingle with irritation.

From the corner of her eyes, Suzaku noticed Shuai Gong coming down, and signaled him to come forward with her eyes.Yingying didn't dare to hesitate, and sat down beside Suzaku lightly and quickly.He called out in a low voice: "Father."

Kiritsuboin, who was emotionally ups and downs after meeting Mr. Genji just now, is very tired now.To see people, you can only raise your eyelids and open them a little.It's just that he can't bear to maintain such a powerless demeanor now.This man is eager to step into another world, so there is a lot to explain quickly.

So Tonghuyuan struggled violently, or trembled.There was a whimpering indistinct cry from his mouth.His Majesty heard a few indistinct syllables from his mouth.Without much hesitation, he picked up a bowl of ginseng soup next to him and carefully fed it to Tonghuyuan.Not long after coming here, Tonghuyuan's face turned rosy, and his eyes became brighter.

"Hey, I wanted to call you here alone, but God didn't come with me, so let's just say these last few words."

Neither Suzaku nor Yingying were the kind of people with flowers blooming on their mouths, they both sat upright and listened attentively to their father's final instructions.

Tonghuyuan first looked at His Majesty the handsome palace. This His Royal Highness, who is in his prime, has a physique and charm that is different from that of the royal family.This made Tong Huyuan very envious.This is a very strange emotion, his princes have more or less inherited his father's gentle character.Only Yinggong is upright and decisive, not to be manipulated by others.

Fortunately, the prince has no intention of fighting for power.If he really showed a little ambition, with the power of the mother clan behind him, it might be hard to say what the court structure is at this time.

"Firefly...you have always been a child who reassures me." Tong Huyuan commented on Shuai Gongxia, "You have been calmly observing the people and things around you, and made your own correct judgment. This may be an inheritance take advantage of your mother."

"My son is ashamed."

"I'm always relieved to let you do things. Your mother taught you very well."

Mentioning the female emperor of Chengxiang Palace, Tong Huyuan felt a little emotional.The relationship between this female emperor and her is not close, and the entanglement is not deep.After giving birth, neither of them had much contact with each other.It's rare to get along like ordinary friends.

"From now on, please also take good care of your imperial brother. Whether it's Suzaku or Guang, they are people who were very close to you when you were young. As a minister, you must help them a lot."

"Yes, Erchen keep in mind."

"Ah, and the East Palace... That child likes you very much." The corners of Tonghuyuan's mouth twitched twice, showing a little smile, "I thought light was enough. Now it seems that I will let you help teach Quan , is also an excellent arrangement.”

Shuai Gongxia nodded, with a very serious expression, "My son will certainly assist Dong Gongxia well."

With these two promises, Tonghuyuan felt relieved of Shuaigong.After thinking about it again, I found that there was nothing to say.This child has always reassured him the most, whether it is status or power, there is nothing to worry about.So he nodded, took a deep breath and looked at Suzaku.

Seeing that Tonghuyuan seemed to have something important to explain, Shuai Gong half-closed his eyes and did not leave as usual.His eyes met with Suzaku's in mid-air for a moment, then he lowered his head and continued to sit there quietly.

Tong Huyuan looked at his eldest son who had been in charge of the government for many years, the complex emotions hidden in his eyes, I am afraid that even he himself could not distinguish clearly.At the beginning, I insisted on abdicating the position and threw the heavy burden to Suzaku, without considering whether he could take over the heavy responsibility.In other words, he knew that Suzaku could not calmly face the treacherous turmoil of the previous dynasty.

However, he didn't worry about it.At that time, Tonghuyuan left the Imperial Palace with a feeling of satisfaction and self-abandonment.I just feel that everything is indifferent and has nothing to do with myself.It doesn't matter if Suzaku suffers after being forced into that position, it's just the inevitable process of being a king.

And isn't there the Right Minister and Honghui Hall?

Suzaku has the blood of the family running through her body, if she can no longer hold on, she can ask them for help.No matter from which point of view, these two people will definitely help.

At that time, the Yuanjun left with such an idea, pursuing the romance he yearned for.But what he didn't expect was that Suzaku survived.With the help of Yinggong, although walking on thin ice and struggling every step of the way, he still shouldered this heavy burden.Moreover, he did many things that he wanted to do but couldn't do, many things he didn't dare to do at all.

This kind of development is beyond the expectations of Tonghuyuan.He was a little surprised and a little annoyed.An idea came to mind, if he abdicated later, maybe he could reach this point.Holding such a muddleheaded, vague idea.The Lord Yuan couldn't help but want to go back to the former dynasty that he hated so much.However, it's clear that many tiny actions fail.

He felt the irrefutable toughness of the always gentle eldest son.Disappointed, Yuanjun pinned all his hopes on Dong Gong.Perhaps, in his lifetime, he could still train a generation of monarchs.Sooner or later, Suzaku's legacy will reach Quan, and that will be the time when he gets his wish.

Tonghuyuan's feelings for the eldest son are complicated.He hates the other half of his identity, and envies that Suzaku can get rid of the cage that he can't get rid of.He is proud of the child's ability to govern the world, but also secretly jealous.

All the emotions mixed together into one long sigh—

"You did very well……"

Sensing the different meaning hidden in this sentence, Suzaku's heart was slightly shaken.But he was no longer that innocent young man who showed his emotions, and now he was only looking at his father with a little admiration in his eyes.

"I have always been worried about entrusting everything to you. But now it seems that what you have done is already very surprising." Speaking of this, Tonghuyuan stopped.

Both Suzaku and Hotaru had a premonition that there were some very frightening words behind him.Such panic made Madam Shuai feel very bad.He obviously frowned, and an impulse surged in his heart: he really wanted to reach out and cover Tonghuyuan's mouth, preventing him from continuing.

Suzaku felt the anxiety emanating from Ying Gong.Covered by her body and the loose robe, she stretched out her hand and caressed Yinggong's lower back comfortingly.Then the fingers were immediately entangled by Shuai Gong, and the arms of the two hung down.Ten fingers intertwined in the sleeve, caressed, and then clasped tightly together.

Tonghuyuan didn't notice the small movements of the two of them.Maybe it's because I'm tired, or maybe I'm distracted by something.He was silent for a while, then moved his head to look at Suzaku with difficulty.

At this time, there was a clear disapproval in his eyes, which was very obvious even under the dim candlelight.The uneasy and tense atmosphere became more and more obvious, Shuai Gong held Suzaku's hand so hard that it was painful.

"only……"

"Father!" Shuai Gong couldn't help but let out a low voice, almost standing up.Suzaku ruthlessly pulled Shuai Gong's wrist, stopping his eager movement.

Tonghuyuan turned a deaf ear to the voice just now, and there was a kind of cruel coldness in the weak tone, "You have not made a concubine up to now, which makes Weifu and all the nobles very dissatisfied!"

The tense and uneasy mood suddenly disappeared with such a sentence.It was like lighting a fire and burning them all.

Instead, there is a sense of oppression that makes people feel scared.This is a confrontation between the two sides.In the hidden corner, under the handsome palace, his eyes were red, like an evil Shura ghost.

His Majesty Suzaku closed his eyes with difficulty, his eyelashes trembling like a fragile butterfly.His throat rolled, as if a thousand words were swallowed back at that moment.

He bent down, bowed with a straight but stiff waist, "This matter...is my son's negligence."

"This is disrespectful!"

No matter in terms of words or tone, this sentence can be called the most severe.Tonghuyuan stared, with two sickly blushes appearing on both cheeks, and sternly reprimanded the young lord, "It is your responsibility as a lord to accept a concubine and leave an heir! Suzaku, this is not If you are negligent, you can deal with it casually."

"Father..."

"I heard that you have kept all the memorials on the invitation to establish the harem and failed to publish them."

"……Yes."

"Is this really your negligence..."

"Brother Huang has been working hard on state affairs, such small things really..." "Isn't it a small thing to leave a blood lineage for the royal family?" The anxious words could not dispel Tonghuyuan's doubts, on the contrary It got worse, "Yingying, you have been assisting Suzaku. It is so important, don't you know how to advise?"

Neither Suzaku nor Hotaru could refute the accusations from their parents.This is exactly the situation that is compelling, no matter from what angle, the two of them have no way to make a struggle.What Tonghuyuan said is correct, this matter is indeed the responsibility of a gentleman.As long as Suzaku is in power, he will never be able to avoid this matter.

"Ministers, in fact, you have already visited me. Let me explain to you more about this matter."

Tong Huyuan sighed, more or less he could understand Suzaku's reluctance to open a harem now - he didn't want to let himself fall from one cage to another.

Therefore, he withstood some pressure for Suzaku behind his back.However, now that I am about to go to the other side, there is no way to ease the dissatisfaction of the various families.

Suzaku and Hotaru knelt down obstinately and silently, revealing some poignant sadness from their straight spines.Although they couldn't see their expressions, Tonghuyuan felt a little sad.He scolded himself in his heart, why bother him.He has already done a good job, is he so harsh on him just to satisfy his boring arrogance?

In the end, the long-ill man finally showed his reluctance to his two children.He stretched out his hand and patted Suzaku's clenched right hand, "Go back... After I'm gone, when everything is over, you can welcome the daughters of a few aristocratic families into the palace."

After a long time, the three present heard Suzaku's hoarse and floating answer——

"……Yes, I understand."