Improper stepping stone for men

The original owner's grandfather, Rong Tianhua, is over seventy years old, and he retired five years ago. Now the ruler of Rong Guogong's mansion is his uncle Rong Junmao. Very enthusiastic about him.

Unlike Rong Yinhua, the Rong family knew everything, knowing that the crown prince was the backing of their family's prosperity.

After exchanging simple greetings, Yang Yan suddenly said: "I heard that my lord has got an authentic handicraft of Master Zhang from the previous dynasty, and he came here uninvited, just to see it."

Rong Junmao was slightly taken aback, never heard that the crown prince also liked Mr. Zhang's paintings before?

Before he could say anything, Rong Tianhua had already understood it and said: "This old minister got this painting by accident. If His Highness likes it, he should send it to the palace. I hope His Highness will forgive me."

"What's the matter, my lord?" Yang Yan said with a smile, "A gentleman doesn't take what others like, as long as he has the honor to watch it, but he dare not tell his lord to cut off his love."

"Thank you for your sympathy," Elder Rong got up and said, "If Your Highness doesn't mind, please follow me to the study room to have a look?"

"Zhenghe Guyi." Yang Yan smiled lightly, stood up leisurely and walked side by side with him, and the two soon came to Rongfu's study.

Rong Tianhua rushed his servants to the door, and personally picked up a new painting and unfolded it in front of the table. It was the original work of Master Zhang, but at this time, neither of the two people at the table was interested in admiring it.

"Your Highness, just give orders," said Elder Rong, stroking the scroll with one hand, "This place is absolutely safe."

"Your Majesty is wise," Yang Yan said directly without being overly polite with him, "I just want to know about the past of the abolished prince."

"This—" Rong Tianhua was stunned, and subconsciously said, "Since it is already a matter of the past, why bother His Highness?"

He had already started to think about the reason why he suddenly brought up the abolished prince, and he was just curious that he didn't believe it. Could it be that the prince had noticed something and was worried that he would follow in the same footsteps?

However, the emperor has always loved His Highness very much, so it would not cause him such a crisis.

"Gu is just here because of his interest, and I hope that the boss can solve Gu's confusion." Yang Yan looked at him lightly, his tone was not serious, but he didn't allow him to evade.

Rong Tianhua hesitated for a while, but finally told what he knew.

Shao Yuqi, the deposed prince of the former dynasty, was the fifth son of the late emperor. His mother, the empress benevolent, came from a prominent background, and had a strong relationship with the late emperor's young husband and wife. The third son, that is, Shao Yuqi, died of a blood collapse afterwards.

The first emperor was in grief at that time, Lian Shao Yuqi lost his mother since he was young, so he took him by his side to raise him personally, and when he was three years old, he couldn't wait to make him a prince, which shows his love.

Shao Yuqi lived up to his high expectations. He was intelligent and studious since he was a child. His performance is not bad, and he is quite famous both inside and outside the court, which to a certain extent relieved the burden of the first emperor. (Note: 1)

However, the good times didn't last long, the first emperor lived too long, and his heirs were also the largest number of emperors in the Dalin Dynasty, and all of them were intelligent and capable, which brought great pressure to Shao Yuqi.

He gradually became restless, his temperament became more and more violent, his control over his subordinates weakened, and under the joint attack of a group of brothers, he made many mistakes.

The first emperor gradually lost his tolerance for him, and he reprimanded him for something for the last time, and after he talked back without remorse, the relationship between the father and son broke down.

When the prince fell, the most excited thing was his brothers, jumping up and down in an attempt to replace him. Unfortunately, those princes who participated in the seizure of the heir apparent did not end well.

Except for the two princes who were dedicated to learning and had no interest in political affairs, the princes who were ranked fifteenth before were all imprisoned for life, and they were not released one after another until they ascended the throne today.

However, many years of confinement had already ruined these princes, and most of them died of depression within a few years. No one thought that the fifteen princes who had not shown themselves before became the final winners.

The first emperor imprisoned the deposed prince for five years and died. Before he died, he told the new emperor to treat him kindly. Unfortunately, shortly after Emperor Zhengrui ascended the throne, he died of illness in the confinement. Identity buried.

What he said was only known to everyone on the surface, Yang Yan was not angry after hearing it, and just asked lightly: "Did the abolished prince really die of illness?"

"Your Highness doesn't know something," Rong Tianhua replied calmly, "The environment of the confinement place is harsh. As far as I know, the deposed prince fell ill from time to time shortly after he was imprisoned. I went to the imperial physician to treat him attentively, but it didn’t get better over and over again, and it was reasonable to die after a few years.”

"If it's really kind, why would you cruelly lock up your son who has been in pain for many years to a place with a bad environment?" Yang Yan shook his head and sighed, "The waste prince is also pitiful, and he will end up like this. That's all."

"Your Highness, be careful." Rong Tianhua was frightened into a cold sweat, walked quickly to the door and looked around, and felt relieved when he saw nothing unusual. I became curious, but the old minister thinks that His Highness should learn from it and act in a way not to be publicized."

"I know." Yang Yan nodded, seemingly casually said, "Then how did the Xiao family get involved with the abolished prince, and ended up in exile?"

Rong Tianhua didn't think too much, and continued: "The person in charge of the Xiao family at that time and the old minister were old acquaintances. This person was always good at speculating. When the abolished prince was in power, he clung to him. Later, when the abolished prince fell, he quickly The ground drew a clear line and took refuge in the emperor."

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Yang Yan asked calmly, "Before the prince of the previous dynasty was abolished, there were many people who clinged to him. If it was just for this reason, there would be more than one Xiao family. I am afraid that half of the court would be cleaned up." empty."

"Your Highness is wise." Rong Tianhua smiled gratifiedly, and his gray beard and hair trembled with his opening, "The Xiao family is just clinging to them, but they should never help the deposed prince to do things that are not good for the emperor. So they deserved to end up like this.”

Yang Yan caught him by surprise and said: "The unfavorable thing that my lord said is about the second emperor's life experience?"

"Your Highness knows?" Rong Tianhua was startled, but after seeing his understanding expression, he quickly understood, "Your Highness lied to me!"

Yang Yan admitted it frankly, and said cheekily: "Since the boss has already said half of it, why don't you tell Gu everything!"

At this time, it's useless to hide it anymore, maybe it will cause the crown prince to have a problem with their Rong family. Rong Tianhua didn't want to see their biggest reliance separate from them, so he had to confess that he had been hiding it for nearly 20 years. the past.

It turned out that Xiao Qi, the head of the Xiao family, originally intended to marry Xiao Shi to the deposed prince as a side concubine. Heart.

The two had a verbal marriage contract, and the Xiao family often exchanged letters with her. The content, there must be some feelings of love and longing, and these letters later became a reminder for her and the Xiao family.

When Shao Yuqi fell from power, Xiao Qi regretted marrying his youngest daughter to the fifteen princes at that time as his side concubine. The Xiao family was the most beautiful in the capital, and even the former princes who had seen countless beauties fell in love with her. His appearance and talent are evident.

Shao Wenhao's concubine was still there at that time, and the current empress also entered the mansion, but they, together with all the women in the mansion, were no match for Mrs. Xiao. As soon as she entered the mansion, she was favored alone, and soon pregnant.

The queen was pregnant before she entered the mansion, otherwise the current crown prince Shaoyang Yan would not have existed.

Yang Yan knew the following things, the empress gave birth to the original owner one month first, then Shaoyang Ji was born, four years later the late emperor passed away, Shao Wenhao ascended the throne as emperor, and soon after the abolished prince died of illness.

In the second year, the court asked for a crown prince. At that time, the first empress had passed away, and the original lord and the second prince were the most vocal. Among them, Emperor Zhengrui was more inclined to Shaoyang Ji, who was born to his favorite concubine Xiao Gui.

It's a pity that Rong Tianhua got the correspondence between the deposed prince and Concubine Xiao, and stabbed it in front of the emperor.

As deep as the love in the past, now the hatred is as deep as it is. Therefore, the emperor copied the Xiao family and exiled their whole family.

"Then, is the second emperor's bloodline the father's or the deposed prince's?" Yang Yan asked curiously.

"To tell you the truth, Your Majesty, the old ministers don't know about this, and I'm afraid even the emperor doesn't know about it." Rong Tianhua said bluntly, "The timing of the second prince's birth is too coincidental."

"Eight months after the Xiao family entered the mansion, the second prince was born. It is possible to say that it is the blood of the abolished prince, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the emperor's own son."

"This is really confusing!" Yang Yan said with emotion, "I'm afraid only Concubine Xiao knows the best. Unfortunately, even if she said that the second brother belonged to the father, the father would not believe it."

"That's right." Rong Tianhua nodded, "It's fortunate that this happened, otherwise, given the emperor's preference for the Xiao family, the crown prince would most likely fall to the second prince."

Yang Yan understood, and immediately thanked: "I would like to thank the boss for taking care of Gu."

"Your Highness is serious," Rong Tianhua quickly saluted, "The old minister was planning for his own family at the beginning, Xiao Qi and the old minister had old grievances, if he gains power, it may not be beneficial to the old minister."

"Gu and Mr. Boss are originally a family. If they are too clearly separated, they have their own identities." Yang Yan said with a smile, "In short, Mr. Gu will always remember the friendship of Mr. Gu in his heart."

Rong Tianhua didn't even dare to say anything, and then he said with some worry: "Your Highness does not treat the old minister as an outsider, and the old minister also has something from the bottom of his heart. No matter what your highness is asking the old minister about the past, if it is not necessary, do not mention it in front of the emperor." .”

"It's worth it." Yang Yan nodded.