The Blood Crown

Yan Sikong drove through the city in a carriage. It was already dusk and there were fewer pedestrians on the street, but there were still many people who saw this abnormal scene.

The servants of Yan Mansion have been following behind.

When they arrived at Prince Jingyuan's mansion, the carriage stopped, Yan Sikong was already stiff from the cold, his tongue was trembling and he said: "Shi, Shizi, we're here."

Feng Ye got out of the carriage, looked at his pale face, frowned, and reproached him in a low voice: "You don't even wear clothes, are you stupid?"

Yan Sikong smiled wryly, and said in a low voice: "You have to hold back your strength just now." Although it was discussed in advance, Feng Ye's kick is not something ordinary people can resist, and he was a little worried about Ali.

"Don't worry." Feng Ye jumped out of the carriage and taunted loudly, "Yan Consort's car is really stable, I'm afraid it's a waste of talent to be only a concubine."

Yan Sikong also got out of the car, turned and left without looking back.

The servants rushed over and put thick clothes on him, and he made a staggering appearance, which was half true—he was so cold that he almost couldn't feel his legs.

He was helped into the carriage, and a warm charcoal fire was burning in the carriage. He huddled beside the brazier, feeling that his hands and feet were gradually gaining consciousness, and he let out a breath slowly.

With today's show, can you fool Yeli, can you fool Xie Zhongren?Time is so short, they can only do this, he guessed that Xie Zhongren was also anxious, wanting to grasp a "reason" that can rectify Feng Jianping, otherwise Feng Jianping's world-renowned meritorious service would be regarded as The emperor didn't dare to act rashly, and Jingcha is the only feasible name right now.

Yan Zilian is also desperate. If he can take this opportunity to eradicate the vacillating Liu An, firstly, it can kill Xie Zhongren's prestige, and secondly, it can shatter their plot to use the Beijing police to frame Feng Jianping. Maybe this is a matter of reducing armaments. , there is no need to go to the step of using force.

Although Yan Sikong was so cold that his blood was almost solidified, his brain was unusually sober, thinking over and over all possible consequences, he had to be sober, in this perilous court, if he was a bit confused, he might lose his fortune life.

-

When Yan Sikong returned to the mansion, it was already late at night.Most of the guests have left, only Zhou Mixing, Yeli and Liang Sui are still waiting for him.

Yan Sikong's face was full of disappointment. When he saw them, he bowed apologetically: "Not only did my younger brother fail to be a landlord, but he also ruined everyone's happiness. I'm really ashamed, so ashamed."

"Oh, Sikong, don't let anyone out of your sight." Zhou Mixing pulled him to sit down, and was taken aback by his cold hands, "Look at you, don't be so cold."

Ye Li quickly poured a cup of hot tea, let Yan Sikong hold it in his hand, and said softly, "Master Yan, your body is important."

Yan Sikong waved his hands, his voice revealing humiliation: "Today, I will let you all see a joke."

"This Prince Jingyuan's son is too deceitful." Liang Sui jumped his feet angrily, "You were friends before, and you fought in Jingzhou together, but he is so ruthless because of the difference in family status!"

Zhou Mixing also frowned and said: "The son...is he so good? Heroes don't ask where they come from, and you are a person with an unlimited future. Why does he care about family status so much?"

Yan Sikong sighed: "Actually... it's actually more than that."

Yeli's eyebrows trembled slightly.

"I said there must be something hidden!" Liang Sui rolled his eyes, his expression a little embarrassed, "it won't be as rumored outside, you and him are..."

Yan Sikong waved his hand with a wry smile: "That's pure nonsense. The conflict between me and him mainly lies in the battle against King Liang."

"Oh? Could it be because of merit?" Zhou Mixing immediately reacted. In order to grab a head on the battlefield, soldiers would secretly fight among themselves. After all, it is a lot of money, and the generals disputed each other for promotion and rewards. , has been common since ancient times.

Yan Sikong nodded solemnly: "I, Yan, regard you all as my best friends, so I confide my thoughts that I have been holding back for a long time. I hope you will keep it a secret for me."

"Sikong, don't worry."

Ye Li said emotionally: "Master Yan does not dislike my daughter's lowliness. My daughter is grateful and will never reveal a word."

"Miss Yeli is Brother Zhou's beloved, and in my heart, she is naturally not an outsider." Yan Sikong and Chen Zhong said, "Actually, it's not a big deal, and it's been a long time, but I don't want it to reach General Zhao Fuyi's ears. "

"Oh?"

Yan Sikong said with emotion: "At that time, Feng Ye and I went out with General Zhao. I sent an envoy to Kuizhou to persuade the rebels to surrender, and then planned to attack Qingxu Valley and bypass the rear of King Liang. I dare not claim to have made great achievements. But General Zhao praised me a lot, and regarded me in a high regard, it seemed...it seemed to be more important than the son of a prince."

"This is also reasonable." Liang Sui said, "If it weren't for Sikong, you persuaded the rebels to surrender with your mouth, the outcome of this battle is still a matter of opinion. In the fight against the rebellion, your credit is above Fengye."

"Yes." Zhou Mixing echoed, "Although on the battlefield, there is no difference between civil and military combat, but if you hadn't won Kuizhou, if you hadn't made a strange move, no matter how brave the little wolf king is, It’s impossible for one person to kill the rebels alone.”

Ye Li said quietly: "My son is indeed narrow-minded."

"Since then, he treated me differently than before." Yan Sikong shook his head, "After His Majesty bestowed the marriage, he became even worse. I endured it, but he..." At the end, his tone With obvious resentment.

"It's too deceitful." Zhou Mixing frowned, "He thinks too much of himself, and he won't buy it from anyone in Beijing. If he wasn't the son of King Jingyuan, how could he be so arrogant."

Liang Sui said angrily: "That's right, last time, last time Brother Zhou set up a game with good intentions to let you settle your suspicions, but he actually humiliated Sikong in public, and he didn't even give Brother Zhou any face."

Thinking of what happened last time, Zhou Mixing is also a little ugly. Although he has no official position, as the eldest son of Shuntian Prefecture, everyone respects him in Beijing, and no one has swept him like this before. Since then, he has said bad things about Feng Ye in private.

At this point, several people angrily criticized Feng Ye's many bad deeds, but at the end, Yan Sikong couldn't help sighing: "But no matter how unwilling I am, I can only swallow my anger, he is King Jingyuan's son after all. My son, don't offend me."

The room was silent for a while.

"I heard rumors that His Majesty wants to reduce Datong's armaments." Liang Sui looked at Yan Sikong with a probing tone, "Sikong, the teacher values ​​you the most, you should know a thing or two."

Yan Sikong stared, and quickly waved his hands: "This matter must not be said, must not be said."

Ye Li narrowed his eyes slightly.

Several people comforted Yan Sikong again, but after all, the other party was Prince Jingyuan's son, just like what Yan Sikong said, after a few curses to vent his anger, he could only swallow his anger.

After finally seeing off Zhou Mixing and others, Yan Sikong was exhausted.He braced his tired body and went to see Ali. There was nothing serious about Ali, but his chest was bruised and purple, and the blood he spit out was also fake, but he had to pretend to be in bed for a while.

Only then did Yan Sikong feel relieved, returned to the bedroom, and fell asleep right away.

-

The farce in front of the Yan Mansion quickly spread throughout the capital. When Yan Sikong went to the yamen, his colleagues all expressed sympathy for him. On the one hand, it can be seen that he is actually deeply humiliated and full of resentment.

This game has officially started, just waiting for Xie Zhongren to take the bait.

A few days later, Yan Sikong had just finished his lecture to Chen Kui and was about to go home when he was stopped by an eunuch and asked Yan Sikong to go with him.

The little eunuch who led the way for Yan Sikong was a little hesitant: "Master Yan finished his lesson, this servant should send you out of the palace immediately."

The eunuch rolled his eyes and said in a low voice: "I have obeyed Xie Gonggong's order, it's not your turn to talk, so why go."

As soon as he heard Eunuch Xie, the little inner eunuch showed a look of fear, and left without saying a word.

The eunuch smiled and said, "Lord Yan, please."

Yan Sikong refused to move: "Eunuch, without a decree, foreign ministers can't walk in the harem without authorization, it's not right."

"Oh, I have Xie Gonggong's order, what more orders do I need, let's go."

Yan Sikong hesitated.

"Master Yan, let's go." The eunuch said with a heavy tone.

Yan Sikong followed helplessly.

The place where I met Xie Zhongren this time was different from the last time, Yan Sikong didn't know what it was, but it was very remote, and he hardly saw anyone along the way.

But the leader of the eunuch party was still the same as last time, with a gloomy appearance and a smile on his face.

"Thank you, father-in-law." Yan Sikong saluted, "Thank you, father-in-law, for the housewarming gift."

Xie Zhongren said "hehe" twice: "It's not a collection of early harvest and late harvest, you scholars are just hypocritical."

Yan Sikong didn't answer the words, he seemed very uneasy.

Xie Zhongren squinted at him: "Why, are you afraid of our family?"

"The younger generation... respects the father-in-law."

Xie Zhongren smiled sinisterly: "You are in awe of our family, but you don't want to have anything to do with our family, do you?"

Yan Sikong made a swallowing motion: "This junior thinks that I have made it clear to my father-in-law last time. After all, this junior is a student of Elder Yan Ge. Although I respect my father-in-law, but...but my teacher treats this junior very well. Should avoid suspicion."

"Our family understands." Xie Zhongren mocked, "You are stubborn and stubborn, our family is just talking to you, not to make you betray your teacher, why are you nervous?"

"... I don't know why the father-in-law is looking for the younger generation?"

"Our family is in the palace, so the news is unavoidable. I only heard about it yesterday. Then Prince Jingyuan made a big fuss in front of your new mansion?"

Yan Sikong's face changed slightly: "The rumors are exaggerated, the prince was only slightly unhappy because he was blocked by the carriage, and it has passed."

"Hehe." Xie Zhongren sneered, "But our family heard more than that. I heard that the little prince almost kicked to death your loyal servant who had been with you for many years, and even made you wear thin clothes to serve him on the twelfth lunar month. Leading a horse and driving a cart, but really?"

Yan Sikong pursed his lips, but did not speak.

Xie Zhongren's eyes flashed brightly: "It seems to be true."

"I don't know my father-in-law..."

"That little son is really deceiving people too much!" Xie Zhongren suddenly became filled with righteous indignation, "This matter has spread all over the capital, and many people have defended you. You are so humiliated and humiliated. Could it be that you just swallow your anger?"

Yan Sikong cautiously said: "That day, when the junior was entertaining guests, it was snowing heavily, and the concierge was not tidying up properly, which blocked the son's carriage. It was the junior who had done it before, and the junior dared not resent the son."

"Well, you really don't dare." Xie Zhongren mocked, "Even if the little prince rides on your neck to pee, you don't dare to fart."

Yan Sikong's complexion changed, and his body trembled slightly with anger: "Elder-in-law, why do you want to humiliate the junior like this? If the younger generation offends something, the father-in-law just say so."

"Did our family humiliate you?" Xie Zhongren turned up the volume, "The person who provokes and humiliates you one after another is Feng Ye."

Yan Sikong became angry from embarrassment: "Even if it is, so what? The younger generation thinks that we should treat others leniently and tolerate villains, so that we can become a gentleman."

"Master Yan, you are familiar with the sages anyway. Although our family has not read too many books, we also know that Confucius said, 'Repay grievances with virtue, how can you repay virtue?'"

Yan Sikong was speechless.

"What's down here?" Xie Zhongren raised his eyebrows and looked at Yan Sikong.

"...'Repay grievances with honesty, repay virtue with kindness'." Yan Sikong said in a deep voice, "What exactly does the father-in-law want to say to this junior?"

"Our family..." Xie Zhongren sneered twice, "I want to give you a chance to 'repay grievances with grievances'."