Crossing the East Palace

On the fourth day of December in the 28th year of Tianyuan, night.

The night at the northern border is always extraordinarily cold.Especially now, the soldiers of Datang have moved the national border in the north of Datang to the north by thousands of miles, so it is naturally colder.

Tang Luojin walked out of the tent, stood on the cold and dry grassland, looked at the scattered stars in the sky, and narrowed her eyes slightly.

In the blink of an eye, it has been nine months since the death of the father.

In nine months, before he even had time to grieve, he led the soldiers of Datang to flatten half of the Turkic Khanate, drove the Turks thousands of miles away, and killed more than [-] Turkic prisoners.

The Turkic people were already tough, even though they were driven thousands of miles away, the Turkic people still remained fierce, as if they would continue to fight Datang.

Fortunately, Ning Junyuan was brave and captured the Turkic Khan in front of Tang Luojin. Tang Luojin beheaded him with a sword, hung the head of the Turkic Khan on the city wall for ten days, and killed many prisoners. People seem to have just come to their senses——

One emperor and one courtier.They forgot that Datang's emperor had already been replaced by a new one.

And this young emperor, obviously male and female, is extremely brave and good at fighting, and he is assisted by Ning Junchi, who is a natural general. Consciously surrender and admit defeat, then, the next thing, I am afraid that the Turkic Khanate will face the danger of subjugation.

The Turkic Khanate had no choice but to temporarily elect a khan who was as young as Tang Luojin, bowed his head to Tang Luojin and signed an agreement, and Datang verbally agreed not to send troops again.

And whether this agreement is good or Datang's verbal promise, both Datang and Turkic understand that this is only a temporary truce-the Turkic Khan is too young, although he is as "orthodox" as Tang Luojin. "Origin, but the Turkic people don't recognize this, they recognize whether the superior is heroic or not.The young Khan didn't even have the spirit to fight Tang Luojin, he just wanted to use his spare energy to fight against his uncles and brothers.

As far as Tang Luojin was concerned, even though he was in the frontier and the Legend of the First Emperor was located in him, there were still many people in Chang'an who simply refused to believe this matter.Some people even said that this matter is inconsistent with reason and system, so it should not be counted.Although Tang Luojin didn't care much about it, it was obvious that the emperor of his Datang was not the general of Datang, and it was time for him to return to Chang'an.

Tang Luojin was looking up at the stars in the sky, and was in a trance, when he suddenly felt his body sink, and someone was wearing a big bag on his body.

"It's cool, don't get sick by the wind." Ning Junchi's voice came from behind, with a little warmth and a little nervousness.

Tang Luojin turned around and looked at Ning Junchi.

Now he is 21 years old, and this man happens to be 30 years old.

30 years old.

Tang Luojin suddenly reached out and touched this stern, sharp-edged man.

Ning Junchi was slightly taken aback, and immediately seized the opportunity to put his hand on Tang Luojin's.

The two were stunned at the same time.

Ning Junchi's hands had extremely thick callouses, but they were warm, as if they could warm his heart; Tang Luojin's hands, because they had been at the border for a long time, were not as smooth as before, but compared to Ning Jun Much better late.But Tang Luojin's hand was cold.Like snowflakes falling in winter.

One cold and one hot, between touching, the two were slightly startled.

Tang Luojin bowed her head silently, wanting to pull out her hand.

During these nine months, he spent a lot of time with Ning Junchi.They see each other every day, in the military tent, on the school field, on the battlefield, and on the march, they are always by each other's side.

During the nine months, Tang Luojin was in danger several times, and Ning Junchi rescued him desperately, and was seriously injured in the middle; similarly, Ning Junchi also encountered danger on the battlefield, and Tang Luojin also saved him. Bow archery saved Ning Junchi.

On the vast grassland, the two used to sleep together; in the long snow, Ning Junchi carried Tang Luojin with an injured leg on his back, and he never frowned; on the battlefield, Ning Junchi's horse was injured, and Tang Luojin Jin stretched out his hand and took Ning Junchi to his horse, and the two rode together, supporting them until the end of the war...

In nine months, Datang repelled the Turks thousands of miles away; the pain and sorrow brought about by the death of the late emperor gradually faded from Tang Luojin's heart; and Ning Junchi and him became more tacit and intimate.

Tang Luojin came back to her senses, and continued to exert force, trying to pull her hand back.

But Ning Junchi didn't let go, but kept Tang Luojin's hand in his hand, and said in a low voice: "Xiaoqi, you haven't said how long uncle will stay here before going back to accompany you."

Tang Luojin remained silent.

Ning Junchi said again: "Then, what about Your Majesty? How long does Your Majesty think, I have to stay at the border before I can disarm and return to the fields?"

Tang Luojin was silent for a long time before she opened her mouth and said, "Uncle has a very high prestige in the army. Besides, although the border is temporarily stable, it still needs to be guarded by good generals, so that the Turks dare not act presumptuously. Waiting for Datang to recuperate, three years later, I will I am determined to fight the Turks again, so that they will be completely divided into Eastern and Western Turks, and one will be divided into two, then I will definitely need my uncle to sit on the battlefield. Uncle will not leave for three years."

When Ning Junchi knew that Tang Luojin was trying to make a move to make the Turkic prince who is not very prestigious now crowned as Khan, he guessed Tang Luojin's intention to divide Turkic.It's just that he guessed that Ning Junchi didn't want to stay on the battlefield anymore.

"Must be so?"

"It must be so."

Ning Junchi let go of the young emperor's hand, sighed softly, and said, "I understand."

Tang Luojin took two steps back slightly, raised her head halfway, and looked at the man.

This person was his uncle, a man he had used, relied on, and even liked a little.

If it's just the difference between monarch and minister, Tang Luojin thought, even if the father is still there, he still has to object. If he likes it very much, if he really insists, the father will probably follow his wish; but, between him and Ning Junchi, There is another Ning family next to him.

As a queen, Ning can naturally be confined in the palace, just like a deposed queen; however, as a queen, Ning can only be enshrined.

Filial piety comes first, so Tang Luojin must respect and praise her.

However, how could Tang Luojin respect such a person?How to be filial to her?

Tang Luojin didn't consider herself a saint, so she couldn't do this at all.

"Three years later, if uncle wants to leave..." Tang Luojin touched the wrench in his hand, and said, "Uncle can leave of course. The Ning family ordered the whole family to take risks and save the sixteenth brother for me. Thanks to the Ning family, I will remember it firmly. If that son grows up safely and wants to earn military merits, I will agree."

He took another step back slowly: "It's cold at night, uncle should go back to rest earlier."

After Tang Luojin finished speaking, she turned around and was about to leave.

Ning Junchi suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm.

Tang Luojin stopped.

Ning Junchi said: "There is a full 30 troops on the border." After a short pause, he said, "Xiao Qizhi is splitting the Turks. Then, after three years, if the border comes, there will be at least 40 troops."

Tang Luojin turned around and looked at Ning Junchi with cold eyes.

"My uncle was in charge of an army of 40 at that time." Ning Junchi looked at Tang Luojin with heavy eyes, "Xiaoqi, will you be at ease when the time comes? Or Xiaoqi thinks that when the time comes, Xiaoqi Let uncle let go of the military power in his hands, will uncle definitely let go?"

Tang Luojin said lightly: "Then, will uncle let go when the time comes?"

Then he started to stare at Ning Junchi with no intention in his eyes.

Ning Junchi looked back, the two watched for a long time, Ning Junchi finally sighed: "If Xiao Qi speaks, then uncle will let go."

Tang Luojin remained silent, her eyes lowered slightly.

Ning Jun took a few steps forward, stopped a step away from Tang Luojin, and then stopped, sighing softly: "But Xiaoqi, you can't keep bullying uncle like this."

Tang Luojin raised her eyes and opened her mouth, as if she wanted to explain, but she couldn't explain anything.

Ning Junchi continued to walk forward, and Tang Luojin was almost face to face.

"Besides, if Xiao Qi promised uncle, uncle can ask you three requests." Ning Junchi said, "The first request is that uncle will come to the border to join the army, and Xiao Qi complied; the second request, unless Xiao Qi meets When it comes to the person you like, otherwise you can't perform Zhou Gong's rituals with others, this matter... Xiaoqi also did it."

The second request was made by Ning Junchi before leaving Chang'an.He originally thought that for the sake of his heirs, Tang Luojin might not obey, and might deceive him.Although he knew in his heart that Tang Luojin really liked him a little bit.However, how many of those likes are there?Will it be so long that Tang Luojin fulfills that request for him?

After all, the request he said at that time did not stop Tang Luojin from touching other people, but said that if the other person was not the person he liked, then Tang Luojin would not be able to touch him.

However, the mountains are high and the waters are far away. In order to avoid suspicion of what the Ning family did back then, the Ning family dared not and could not place people in the East Palace. How would they know if Tang Luojin had done it?

But when Tang Luojin came and looked at him, Ning Junchi knew that Tang Luojin had kept his promise.

"Xiao Qi is willing to keep his promise," Ning Junchi murmured, "Does that mean that those people in Xiao Qi's heart are not Xiao Qi's lovers? Does that mean that in Xiao Qi's heart," he said Stretch out your hand and put it on Tang Luojin's heart, "There is still a place for uncle."

Tang Luojin was still rational, he told himself that he should retreat.Or there is no need to retreat, as long as he reprimands Ning Junchi as an emperor, Ning Junchi will inevitably retreat.

However, he was reluctant.

He was worried that if the identities of the monarch and his subjects were separated, then Ning Junchi would have no reason to be patient—maybe Ning Junchi would continue to like him, but Ning Junchi would never continue to pester him again.

Tang Luojin was reluctant.

The word love is really unpredictable.

Some people fall in love at first sight and cannot extricate themselves;

Tang Luojin was not sure how much she liked Ning Junchi.

But obviously, from the very beginning, he began to silently leave a retreat for him and Ning Junchi.

He could have refused to promise those three requests, but directly let Ning Junchi be promoted to the rank - even though it was not what Ning Junchi asked for, but at least he repaid Ning Junchi's kindness to him, didn't he?If Ning Junchi likes it, what does it matter?

However, he still promised.

So solemnly promised.

When his father and grandmother urged him to have an heir, Tang Luojin also withstood the pressure and never wavered.

At that time, he probably understood that he might like Ning Junchi more than he originally thought.

Then, if Ning Junchi's third request is not to pardon the Ning family...then, should he agree?

"The third request." Ning Junchi looked around and saw that there was no one else around, so he hugged Tang Luojin in his arms and said in a low voice, "If Xiao Qi also likes uncle, then don't worry about it." Others, uncle, have always been here. Unless you marry a wife again and have children, otherwise, uncle, have always been here."

After Ning Junchi finished speaking, he let go of his hand suddenly, turned and left.

What he didn't say was that even if Tang Luojin had children and married a wife, he would still be here, continue to like Tang Luojin, and would not make do with others.

It's just that - if this is the case, then between him and Tang Luojin, there is only one person who likes him. From now on, there will be nothing but monarchs and ministers between them.

Tang Luojin was wearing a fashionable dress and stood there, in a daze.

"Your Majesty, it's the second watch, why are you still outside?" Emperor Tianyuan is gone, Xu Youwei originally wanted to follow Emperor Tianyuan, but Emperor Tianyuan gave him two orders, Xu Youwei To not die, but to continue to live.But he has served Emperor Tianyuan all his life, and in this life, he knows nothing but serving others, so he simply continued to serve Tang Luojin, and only waited to return to Chang'an before leaving the palace and going to the house he bought Pension.

"There are two canals in the path, why didn't you follow His Majesty?" Xu Youwei muttered a few words, saw the direction Tang Luojin was looking at, opened his mouth, said nothing more, just lowered his head deeply , I don’t know what to think about.

Tang Luojin looked at Xu Youwei, feeling a little guilty, but didn't notice Xu Youwei's eyes when he lowered his head, and said, "I'm going back to rest now."

Xu Youwei's old face turned into a smile, and said: "Hey, that's it. Although Your Majesty is young, but this border land is very cold, it's better to rest early and take care of yourself. The late emperor lived If you get old age, Your Majesty can live well and live to be [-] years old!"

Tang Luojin only slightly pulled the corners of her lips.

He felt that he probably had to do something.

Otherwise, if you really forget about each other with your uncle.He thought he would regret it.

On the ninth day of December, everything on the border is over.

After Turkic New Khan arranged the Turkic affairs, he also followed Emperor Datang to Chang'an and formally paid his respects.

——This was one of Tang Luojin's original requirements for withdrawing troops.Therefore, no matter how worried the new Khan was about his throne in Turks, the new Khan could only follow the new emperor of Datang to Chang'an City.

Naturally, Tang Luojin didn't care whether the new Khan realized that he was doing this on purpose, intending to divide the Turks, split them up or even destroy them.He took all the people to settle the Turkic affairs, and then he took a hundred thousand soldiers and planned to return to Chang'an.

Tang Luojin took away 20 soldiers, so there were only [-] soldiers left under Ning Junchi's men.Although it is not enough to attack the Turks again, it is enough just for defense and defensive resistance.

"These 12 soldiers," Tang Luojin said after a pause, "When I return to Chang'an, I will send back at least 3 soldiers, and there will be an increase of about [-] soldiers every year. At that time, all kinds of supplies will also be escorted over. .”

Ning Junchi nodded slightly, and continued to look at Tang Luojin.

Tang Luojin said: "Three years later, I'll be waiting for good news from my uncle. Uncle, take care."

After all, I will get on the horse.

Ning Junchi stretched out his hand to help Tang Luojin get on the horse.

Tang Luojin paused, but still put her hand on Ning Junchi's.

"In three years, uncle will bring the good news to Xiaoqi." Ning Junchi grabbed Tang Luojin's hand, and didn't want to let it go. "It's just that after three years, uncle will also wait for news from Xiaoqi."

Tang Luojin exerted a little force, trying to pull his hand out.

Ning Junchi didn't let go, he just stared at Tang Luojin without blinking.

The warmth on the back of his hand made Tang Luojin's sanity flicker slightly, and then he nodded unobtrusively: "You are not joking, what I say never counts."

So... the promise he made, the request Ning Junchi made, he will also fulfill.

After Tang Luojin finished speaking, he rode his horse and left.

Ning Junchi's smile grew warmer.After waiting for so many years, he finally got such a sentence.He finally had the courage and confidence to continue waiting.

Even if it is another three years.

Although the Turkic border is difficult, it is more about tactics and the force of the soldiers than Datang.Tang Luojin's position in the hearts of the border soldiers became more and more stable.

In Chang'an City, following the death of Emperor Tianyuan, the imperial edict to inherit the crown prince was issued. Although Chang'an City was a little chaotic at that time, everyone recognized it—what else is there to deny?The crown prince is the crown prince. Emperor Tianyuan always favored him. He knew that he was going to die, but he had to give him all the dragon robes in front of all the soldiers. What else could the other princes think about?

It's just that the battle between Datang and the Turks was really long and lasted for nine months.

In the city of Chang'an, for nine months, there had never been an emperor or a prince sitting in town. Even though the former empress dowager and the current empress dowager came out of the mountain, the sixth prince, etc. together with Ningshan temporarily suppressed many people, but there were also many Once a person's mind is moved, it will never be annihilated unless it is killed.

It's a pity that even so, the time since Emperor Xiandi and Tang Luojin left was really too long, so long that some people who didn't have any thoughts at first gradually began to have the kind of thoughts that they shouldn't have.

"The empress who is holding Mingshui Palace hostage... oh, it's the empress dowager?" Hearing this, one person suddenly got up, "No, this is absolutely impossible!"

"Why not?" A middle-aged rich man retorted, "As long as the queen mother comes forward and says that the imperial edict is false, and denounces Tang Luojin for being vicious and cunning in the court hall, killing his father and brother, the Japanese kingdom and Goryeo attacked Datangdong at the same time. In front of them, the disaster victims broke through the gates of Chang'an City, and the former court Zhongliang waited for the opportunity to move, not worrying that the previous court would not have a chance."

The person who spoke first thought for a while, then looked at the middle-aged man suspiciously: "What good is this matter for you? If we win at the right time, what good will it be for you? You must know that you are a member of the Datang royal family. Once I return to the previous dynasty, you... even if our former master survives, your life will not be as comfortable as it is now."

The middle-aged man smiled grimly: "What does this king want? What does this king want, what does it have to do with you? You just need to remember that this is your only chance. You know, Tang Luojin... Heh, he looks at benevolent Filial piety and honesty, but in fact it is insidious and cunning, even killing the captives of the Turkic barbarians. Do you think that this kind of person will be able to bypass you when he becomes the emperor of Datang? He is not only insidious and cunning, but also intelligent Extraordinary, there is a mole of Guanyin on the forehead, which can deceive the world the most. At that time, he may not even need to try to split you, just stop there, you people who believe in Buddha Guanyin, don’t turn your head and start Don’t you believe in the restoration of the former dynasty?”

The other person's face immediately turned ugly.

The middle-aged man stood up and said: "Just wait and see. Anyway, you only have this chance, and this king... only has this chance."

After the middle-aged man left, the remaining people hesitated for a long time before finally getting up.

Let it go, although it is difficult, but even if it is impossible to restore the country, let Tang Luojin's biological mother scold Tang Luojin angrily, reprimanding her for being unworthy of the throne, and then toss other things for the new emperor. It can also make them feel more at ease.

The imperial palace, the Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager finished reading today's papers, counted the days, relaxed her brows slightly, and called someone to come with a smile: "Go and see how the Ning family is doing now? If it's good... let's say that the Ai family is going to see her today .By the way, Aijia asked you to prepare the wine before, are you ready?"

What the Empress Dowager asked was her aunt Cui who had served her since she was a child.

Aunt Cui lifted her spirits when she heard the words, and said solemnly: "Go back to the Empress Dowager, the slaves are all ready. I'm just waiting for your words."

The Empress Dowager said quietly: "Xiaoqi defeated the Turks at the border, drove the Turks thousands of miles away, killed the former Turkic Khan, and brought the current Turkic Khan to Chang'an, so that the new Khan, In front of all civil and military officials, bowing his head to Emperor Datang, Xiao Qi, well done, well done! Isn't it right that the late emperor liked Xiao Qi the most?"

Aunt Cui smiled and said, "What you said is that Your Majesty has been smart and filial since he was a child, and the Avalokitesvara mole on his forehead was also present when he was young. It is obvious that he was blessed by the Buddha Avalokitesvara. The late emperor chose His Majesty to be the emperor, which shows that he chose the right one. of."

The Empress Dowager laughed even more heartily when she heard the words, and after laughing for a while, the Empress Dowager stopped laughing again and sighed: "However, it is precisely because Xiaoqi is so suitable to be an emperor, and if he does so well, the Aijia wants to be an emperor." Help him out again! Ning Shi, you can't stay any longer!"

Aunt Cui lowered her eyes and said, "What the master said is true."

My master went from queen to queen mother, and then to the position of empress dowager.Naturally, she is most aware of how important the Queen Mother's position is.

The world values ​​filial piety, and to the world, the emperor is the son of the Ning family.The first emperor could imprison the Ning family because he didn't like her, but how could the emperor imprison his own mother?

But if the Ning family is released, how can Ning's heart be willing to become a powerless queen mother?

There are also the Ning family, the twelve princes, and official historian records, etc... The Empress Dowager lived in the harem for most of her life. Although she was not the late emperor's biological mother, she was always respected by the late emperor. It was obvious that she was a truly low-key smart person.

And what is smart about her now is that she knows that she wants to get rid of Ning Shi as soon as possible.

Before the new emperor came back, the Ning family was dealt with. In this way, the new emperor will go more and more smoothly in the future.