This shadow guard, you are enlightened

The palace garden of the imperial city, with golden tiles and red walls, towering ancient trees, and six beasts guarding the roofs of each hall, are majestic and luxurious.

Along the Qingshi Avenue all the way to the depths of the imperial city, through the imperial garden, on the south side of the Chengyang Hall where the emperor lived, there is a very simple palace. The door can be entered and exited, and the sound is blocked by the high wall, even if you are outside the door, you can't hear it.

This place is not like other palaces where there are maids and eunuchs serving, it looks clear and cold.Everyone in the imperial city knows that trespassing is not allowed in this place, and they are not even allowed to approach it at will. Only on the narrow gate, the first emperor wrote the words "Mingying Palace" in his own handwriting, highlighting its status in the imperial city.

At noon, the little eunuch in a purple robe hurriedly walked into Mingying Palace. Several shadow guards who were practicing martial arts in the courtyard knew him, so they didn't stop him.

The person who came was the eunuch Xiao Anzi who was serving by the current Holy Master. He trotted all the way to a secluded dormitory in Dongyuan. He raised his hand and was about to knock on the door, but a cold voice came from inside: "What's the matter?"

Xiao Anzi withdrew his hand, and rubbed his nose a little nervously: "Master Zhuo, Eunuch Yan sent a message to ask if you can be on duty at Xuanming Hall earlier today?"

There was no movement in the room, Xiao Anzi didn't know whether to say anything more, the door in front of him was opened from the inside while hesitating.

The man wears a silver half face, and his delicate eyebrows can only be peeked through the eye holes on the half face. The lean muscles cultivated by long-term martial arts are now hidden under the dark black clothes, making him look neat And slender.

"But what happened to the Holy Majesty?" Yan Qing, the chief internal officer, has always been cautious in doing things. He is an old man who has been by his side to serve the Holy Majesty since he was a child. Shadow rest.

Forced by the cold air emanating from his body, Xiao Anzi took a step back instinctively, and it took him a while to realize that the other party was asking a question, and hurriedly replied: "Yes...it is the Holy One who lost his temper today. The meal was not used, and everything that could be smashed in Xuanming Palace was smashed, Eunuch Yan really had no choice, so he thought of inviting you, my lord."

"I'll go with you now." Zhuo Ying said no more, turned around and closed the door, and followed Xiao Anzi out.

According to the rules of Ran Ying Kingdom, each monarch will train a group of shadow guards of his own. These shadow guards are distributed in every corner of the palace and are responsible for guarding the safety of the monarch.

The commander of the shadow guard must have established a deep trust with the prince since the time of the prince, and the prince will personally select and appoint him. According to the rules of Ran Ying, if the monarch dies unexpectedly, the commander of the shadow guard will be divided by five horses.

And if the monarch is dying, the commander of the shadow guard needs to be buried in the same cave and continue to escort the monarch on the road to death.

It is also because the commander of the shadow guard is a trusted confidant of the monarch of Ranying Kingdom, and he deliberately imitated it to prevent rape. The previous commanders did not show their faces to others. When walking in the palace, they need to wear a sterling silver mask specially made by a special person. Only the monarch himself can see his face.

And Zhuo Ying is the commander of this shadow guard.

# # #

"Who did the Holy Majesty meet today?" Little Anzi trembled all the way and dared not speak, but when the two of them approached Xuanming Hall, Zhuo Ying took the initiative to ask.

Theoretically, the whereabouts of the Holy Majesty must not be disclosed, but firstly, what Zhuo Ying asked was not a secret, all the guards and female officials in Xuanming Palace had seen it, and secondly, Zhuo Ying had a special status, and everyone with eyes in the palace knew about him Status before the Holy One.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Anzi said truthfully: "I met Mr. Chen from the household department, it seems to be... a matter of choosing a concubine."

Zhuo Ying's footsteps paused slightly, and before Xiao Anzi noticed it, she quickly returned to normal.

choose concubine...

A man from Ran Ying can get married when he is sixteen. When Xing Chenmu turned sixteen, the late emperor was still alive, and he had thought about choosing a crown princess. It was the empress at that time, who is now the empress dowager, who dissuaded him, so the matter was let go.

At the beginning of Xing Chenmu's ascension to the throne, the Ministry of Households once again mentioned the matter of choosing a concubine, thinking that even if they were not married, there should be someone who served the bed in the harem, but Xing Chenmu rejected the selection of a concubine on the grounds of "keeping filial piety".

Now that the three-year filial piety period has expired, Xing Chenmu will also be crowned. If he refuses to accept the concubine again, it may be more than a hundred officials, and the Empress Dowager alone will not be able to easily pass through.

Zhuo Ying had been mentally prepared for a long time, but he understood that when this day really came, he was still a little at a loss.

"Yeah." He replied, at this moment he had to thank the mask he was wearing, which allowed him to hide all the emotions he shouldn't have, "You just stay here and watch, I'll go in and take a look."

Leaving Xiao Anzi outside the hall, Zhuo Ying tapped twice on the open hall door, and stepped in without waiting for a response from inside.

"Didn't you tell me not to bother me?"

The angry scolding sound came from the inside, but Zhuo Ying turned a deaf ear to it, and walked into the inner room stepping on a pile of broken porcelain.

"Bold! You—" Xing Chenmu was obviously very angry at the trespasser. He was about to question him, but when he raised his eyes and saw the person coming, he swallowed back what he was about to say, and only sighed, "Why are you here?"

"See the Holy One."

Zhuo Ying wanted to salute, but before he lifted up his clothes, before he could kneel down, the man on the main seat had already stood up and walked up to him to support him: "The ground is full of debris, don't you know it's dangerous? I still have to kneel down."

"Since the Holy Majesty knows that the fragments are dangerous, why didn't you send someone to clean them up earlier. If the dragon's body is really hurt, the people below have a few heads and are not enough to take responsibility." Zhuo Ying's tone was flat, but Xing Chenmu listened to it for some reason. I was a little unhappy.

"I really should ask the Ministry of Households to give you a double salary." Xing Chenmu let go of his hand, and rubbed his forehead wearily, "Zhuo Ying, are you also here to persuade me to accept my concubine?"

Zhuo Ying bowed his head, considering the overall situation, he should persuade the sage to accept the concubine, but facing Xing Chenmu at this moment, he really couldn't say such words against his will, after a while of silence, he said: "No, this subordinate is afraid of your anger. Broken body."

Only then did Xing Chenmu's expression soften a little, and he called for someone to clean up the debris on the ground.

When the palace servants withdrew again, Xing Chenmu smiled self-deprecatingly: "People in the world always think that they can do whatever they want when they reach the pinnacle of power, but who would know that it's really hard to be involuntary when you really sit on this seat."

"It's not difficult to do whatever you want, but the sage is a wise king, so he wronged himself for the sake of the overall situation."

"Mingjun...When did Lord Zhuo learn these deceptive words?" Xing Chenmu chuckled, raised Zhuo Ying's head with his hand, looked into his eyes and said, "I can speak in front of all the ministers." Taking the overall situation into consideration, I am willing to sacrifice something for the people of Li and the world, but at least with you, can I be less worried and do what I want to do."

Zhuo Ying froze for a moment, the dry and warm touch of his jaw, as well as the overly intimate words, were like a stone falling on the lake of his heart, causing ripples immediately.

He was worried that Xing Chenmu would sense his rapid heartbeat due to skin contact, so he took a step back in panic, and seemed to be afraid that the other party would misunderstand, and said anxiously: "In front of the subordinates, the Holy Majesty naturally doesn't have to have any scruples."

Xing Chenmu looked at his ear tips that were still red despite trying his best to restrain himself, and finally his mood improved a lot: "Really? Then you can have lunch with me."

"Your Majesty, this is not..." Although the shadow guard is a close friend of the Holy Majesty, in the end, he is only a bodyguard, and there is a difference in status. Guards are not allowed to eat with the Majesty, but Zhuo Ying said halfway, Thinking of what he said just now, he closed his mouth embarrassingly.

Sure enough, Xing Chenmu raised his eyebrows: "Master Zhuo said just now that I can do whatever I want, and you are coming to tell me the rules in a blink of an eye?"

"This subordinate doesn't dare." Zhuo Ying had no choice but to respond: "Subordinate, I will pass on the meal."

Zhuo Ying grew up in the palace since she was a child, and learned martial arts and palace rules from the former shadow guard commander, and even learned a very similar style of doing things.

But this is not the first time that Zhuo Ying has dinner with Xing Chenmu, no matter how much he refuses, Xing Chenmu always seems to have a way to make him compromise.

Knowing that Zhuo Ying was not used to having people staring at him when eating, Xing Chenmu waved them away after several young eunuchs served the food. Zhuo Ying carefully prepared dishes for Xing Chenmu with silver chopsticks, because Xing Chenmu was never in front of him. Without trying to hide it, he actually knows Xing Chenmu's tastes and preferences better than the eunuch who waits on him.

Xing Chenmu looked at him busy for a while, raised his hand to hold his wrist, and said with a smile: "I want you to eat with me, not to serve me, why don't you sit down?"

"Yes." Zhuo Ying then sat down, picked up her rice bowl and began to eat.

Neither of them opened their mouths during the meal. Zhuo Ying ate quickly, but it didn't make people feel like wolfing down. It was a very focused way of eating. Rather than enjoying the food, it was more like completing a task that had to be done. task.

But Xing Chenmu is different, as the son of heaven, he has his own set of etiquette rules when eating, even if no one is around to serve him, he still eats carefully.

Zhuo Ying quickly ran out, and got up consciously to serve Xing Chenmu again. Xing Chenmu glanced at him, seemingly helpless, but in the end he didn't say anything.

Not long after the meal, a servant came to report, saying that the queen mother had invited her, and Xing Chenmu also knew that this matter would inevitably alarm the queen mother, so it was not surprising, so the person replied that he would be in Zhengquan Palace after a while.

The messenger left, Xing Chenmu looked out of the window, thought of something, turned back to Zhuoying after a while and said, "Make arrangements, you accompany me to the queen mother's place."

# # #

The Queen Mother is Xing Chenmu's biological mother, and the mother and son always have something to say about themselves, so Xing Chenmu never likes to bring too many people with him when he goes to Zhengquan Palace.

Zhuo Ying handed over shifts to the shadow guard who was in charge of protecting Xing Chenmu in advance, and asked him to go back to rest earlier, and arranged guards along the way, while he followed Sheng Jia all the way to Zhengquan Palace.

The Empress Dowager invited Xing Chenmu to come here for the purpose of accepting the concubine, she turned away without talking for a few words, and her eyes fell on Zhuo Ying who was standing not far behind Xing Chenmu.

"The queen mother doesn't need to shy away from Zhuo Qing." Xing Chenmu stepped forward to hold the queen mother's hand, showing a bit of intimacy that can't be revealed when outsiders are around.

"Okay, Mu'er knows that Zhuo Ying's family trusts." The queen mother smiled, and with the support of Xing Chenmu, she sat back on the chair in the chair, "Before I heard people say that you didn't even eat lunch, Ai's family I was still worried, but when I asked people to inquire again, I heard that the meal had already been passed on, Aijia still thought, who is so capable to persuade us Mu'er, from this point of view, only Lord Zhuo is the only one."

"My son and minister are not filial, and the queen mother is worried."

"This is a trivial matter, but the Ai family also wants to know why Mu'er has been reluctant to accept the concubine for so long?" The queen mother put the hand on the back of Xing Chenmu's hand wearing a hollowed out pure gold finger guard. It seemed that it was just a chat between mother and child. No compulsion is intended.

The empress dowager met the first emperor who left the palace in micro-clothes at the age of 16. She entered the palace as a concubine at 37 and gave birth to Xing Chenmu in the same year. Now she is only [-]. Because of the proper maintenance, every frown and smile are the unique gentleness of southern women.

Xing Chenmu's appearance follows his mother's gentleness and delicacy, and his temperament is not as flamboyant as the previous emperor. The courtiers always think that he is more than gentle and lacks vigor, but Zhuo Ying understands his strategizing hidden under the edge. Decisions are rarely influenced by others, even his biological mother is no exception.

Zhuo Ying stood obliquely behind Xing Chenmu, staring at the back of his head, and after a while, he said, "It's not the time yet."

"Mu'er, four years ago your father wanted to choose a concubine for you. You asked Aijia and said that you already had someone you liked, but Aijia shirked it for you. Aijia also told you at that time. As long as you like it, get married as soon as possible." The Queen Mother said with a sigh, and then said, "But now many years have passed, you have not yet married, and the Ai family has not even seen a person, is there really such a person you like, or Back then, you just made up an excuse to deceive Aijia?"

Xing Chenmu quickly got up and knelt down in front of the queen mother, only to hear him say in a deep voice: "I don't dare to lie to the queen mother, I always have someone I like in my heart, but the court is not stable, if I make him the queen at this time, it is inevitable that I will be punished." It is used as an excuse for some unruly people to send troops to the imperial city, and I don't want him to be infamous for no reason, so I have to wait a little longer."

"Really?" The Empress Dowager frowned, stood up and helped Xing Chenmu up, but she was still skeptical about what he said, "If this person really has such a big controversy, the Holy Majesty can be sure that no one will raise objections after the matter is over? What's more, 'those people' If you don't come for a day, you will have to wait another day. When will this be the first time? Instead of this, it is better to accept the concubine first, and choose one of the favorites from the daughters of princes and ministers. Conquer people's hearts and stabilize the court."

Since ancient times, the emperor's harem has not only been as simple as the love between men and women, but also used to balance the court, and it is also a means for the emperor to quickly win over courtiers.

Xing Chenmu naturally knew about this, but he didn't intend to do it.

He lowered his eyes and thought for a while, and quickly said to the queen mother: "Mother, I still remember hearing you talk about the relationship between my grandfather and my grandmother when I was young. My grandfather had only my grandmother all his life, and he didn't take concubines. I know that my mother also once Longing for such a lifetime of a pair of emotions."

"Life in the harem, apart from having no worries about food and clothing, is actually not as glamorous as it seems on the surface. I have been trapped in this imperial city all my life, observing complicated etiquette, and there are thousands of pairs of eyes staring at me all the time. I can't get out. Half a mistake, if you still have to worry about being persecuted by others and competing for favor with other concubines, you should know the feeling of it the most." Xing Chenmu paused, his eyes softened inexplicably, "The person in my heart does not covet glory and wealth, power is in He is also useless, and there is really not much I can give him. I only hope that when we get married, I can give him a quiet and dispute-free harem, and a lifetime of precious favors."

The queen mother was stunned for a long time, then said softly: "Mu'er is like a mourner, with deep affection, but I don't know whether this is good or bad for an emperor."

Xing Chenmu didn't seem to want to continue this topic, and soon became concerned about the Queen Mother's life, but Zhuo Ying had no time to distinguish what the two said.

There was only one thought echoing in his mind - "His Majesty...has someone in mind?"

The author has something to say: Happy New Year’s Day everyone, it’s a new year, I hope every little angel can have good luck and a good mood

All the comments in this chapter will send small red envelopes, which can be regarded as New Year’s Day gifts, (as of 1.3) Thank you for walking with me for another year

The biggest reward for me in writing articles is getting to know you guys. Every article written by Gu Dan is actually very tangled, but every time I read your comments, I feel that all the efforts are worthwhile. I will be more careful to you guys. Heart, 2019, let's move forward together~