Huaibi

Ping Huaizhen almost forgot how to get out of the Hall of Heshou.

Several layers of curtains, two thresholds, and several stone steps are like passing through hell.At every step, there are turbulent waves in his mind, and the person on the top of the waves is Li Qingjuan, whom he regards as his lifeblood.

Jiang Chang followed behind him step by step. At one point, he saw Ping Huaizhen's feet suddenly stopped, frowning and staring into the distance.And the dull place where the palace wall blocked off the bustling Vientiane, is just as silent as in the past, maintaining its original appearance year after year.

Jiang Chang didn't know what Ping Huaizhen saw in his eyes, he only knew that the emperor was very different from usual, this seriousness must be thinking about some important event, either it was related to the alien race in the north, or it was inseparable from the situation in the hall.

However, both are wrong. At that time, Ping Huaizhen was only thinking about it alone, and finally made a deep decision before he left the courtyard—whether it is this time to turn the water into a dragon to calm the huge waves, or to make a black dragon roll an ark No matter what, as an emperor, no matter who he is, he must keep Li Qingjue safe and sound, even his respected father will never do anything to him.

As the evening wind blows, half of the fallen petals fall to the top of the hair, leaning lightly and delicately on the side of the imperial crown.

Ping Huaizhen went back to the palace for dinner, took a bath and changed clothes, and watched until the moon rose in the dark, and took Jiang Chang out of the palace to leave Beijing, to the farmyard in the suburbs of Beijing that he hadn't visited for several days.

At that time, Li Qingjue was about to take a rest, bowed his head and blew out the lamp and heard the wooden door knocking for a moment. He thought it was Li Ruining who was looking for him, and went to open the door in unlined clothes.Unexpectedly, after the door opened, a person stepped in without waiting for a moment, hugging him and walking forward a few steps.

The room is not too spacious, and when he reached the table in two or three steps, Ping Huaizhen pushed him against the table and kissed him lightly.

Li Qingjue looked over his shoulder at the carriage parked outside the courtyard, thinking that he couldn't hear the slightest sound just now, it must be because this person wanted to disturb the people in the main house on the other side, and asked, "Why did you come here suddenly?" ?”

"I've wanted to come here a long time ago," Ping Huaizhen hugged him tightly, "Recently you and I have been very busy, I didn't look for you, and you didn't come to look for me, so why don't I miss you."

Li Qingjue could hear the traces of complaints that seemed to be absent in his words, and with a slight smile on his lips, he patted his shoulder with his palm.

"It's hard to take care of yourself when you're busy. If you don't come in the future, I'll look for you." Li Qingjue rarely spoke softly like this. Ping Huaizhen was coaxed to feel at ease right away, so she let him go and turned to close the door. close.

The quiet moonlight was blocked outside, and the light in front of him became even more dim. Li Qingjue lit the candle again, and asked, "Can you return to the palace tonight?"

"Be back before dawn."

In this way, it is considered to be staying here.

Li Qingjue refused to persuade him, and walked to a corner to get a copper basin to fetch water for him to freshen up.Seeing this, Ping Huaizhen stepped forward to stop him, took the copper basin and put it back to its original place, then looked at his single clothes and said: "I have bathed in the palace. You can rest early tonight, if you are tired So I went to rest on the couch, and I just had a few words with you."

Li Qingjue nodded and did not refute, but it was not because he was tired that he planned to rest early tonight, but he had nothing to do, since he thought he had something to say, it would be okay to say a few more words.

So the candle was extinguished again, and the two of them shared the same couch.

Ping Huaizhen embraced him in the deep darkness, said he wanted to say something but couldn't speak for a long time, Li Qingjue gradually felt that something was unusual, but he didn't urge him, just waited patiently and calmly, after waiting for a long time, he finally heard He sighed: "Perhaps I am worrying unnecessarily... Today in the Palace of Harmony and Longevity, Father asked about the official sale of the forbidden house, and said he wanted to see you."

Li Qingjue smiled slightly.

"Does the Supreme Emperor want to meet someone who is so bold that he dared to eat He's house in the court?"

Ping Huaizhen's chest tightness could not be relieved: "I told you this matter, not to ask you to see him."

"But I actually expected it a long time ago." It's not that the Supreme Emperor will name him, but that he has made all preparations early in the morning to meet the rumors and assassinations in the middle of the court. Let's meet each other."

The strength in Ping Huaizhen's hand was uncontrollable, Li Qingjue only felt that after saying this, the whole palm pressed behind his back was as heavy as a rock.

"I didn't come here today to ask you to see him." Ping Huaizhen repeated what he said just now, "Qingjue, I am the king now, and no one can force you to do anything. I let you know about this to ask you to be more vigilant , there is no lack of people in the imperial court who are obedient and vicious, and the father and emperor can listen to such gossip even if he does not leave the Heshou Hall all day long, so there must be someone who is not kind to you."

"Even if it's not kind, it's just the jealousy of ordinary people." Li Qingjue chuckled, patted his arm, and let the palms on his back relax a little, "The emperor can't hear it, and the minister is now everyone's mouth. The 'favorite'."

Ping Huai felt angry from his heart, but he couldn't find any words to refute for a while.

"Even if I was cautious when I first entered the court, I can't match my selfishness this time. You do everything right, but if you make one mistake, you are a 'sycophant'."

"Qing Jue."

Li Qingjue didn't listen to his persuasion: "Does the emperor want the minister to resign, or is he more like a courtier?"

Ping Huaizhen was left speechless by his question.

"Actually, I am more open-minded than before, but I will follow the path of my wish, so I will enter the palace tomorrow to meet the Supreme Emperor."

From then on, Ping Huaizhen understood and couldn't persuade her anymore.

He closed his eyes and held Li Qingjuan tightly in his arms in the dull darkness. After a long time, knowing that Li Qingjue hadn't slept yet, he said "OK" on top of his hair.

Li Qingjue didn't turn over for half a day all night. After dawn the next day, he opened his eyes and caressed the cold bed beside him, got up to wash himself up, and went to the imperial city alone.

Ping Huaizhen had stayed in the Heshou Palace for a while, but she still refused to leave, she seemed to be focused on doing her filial piety, but in fact she was somewhat absent-minded.

Jiang Chang was puzzled at first, and he went in a few times with Chengyaogong people, but came out again after receiving half a word of instructions, waiting in the corridor as before.Until a certain time when I heard the movement, I saw a small palace man running up the steps cautiously, and before entering the hall, I respectfully informed him: "Mr. .”

Jiang Chang's whole head became clear: "What sir?"

"Lord Li," the little palace man said again carefully, and raised his hands to present a post, "Master Li, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, asked for an audience. He submitted the post early in the morning, and the emperor personally approved it."

Jiang Chang couldn't believe it, he didn't get the slightest bit of news from Ping Huaizhen's mouth in advance, he took the post and looked at it intently, it was indeed Ping Huaizhen's imperial criticism.He believed it right away, returned the letter to the little palace man, hurriedly went down the steps, went outside to welcome the person into the courtyard.

The little palace man scratched his head, looked at his back and hesitated for a moment, and still held the post and went to the palace to report.

When Jiang Chang invited Li Qingjue out of the corridor, the door of the palace had already opened two doors to greet each other, and then the palace servant leaned over to lead the way and invited Li Qingjue into the room.Jiang Chang didn't dare to take it lightly, followed closely behind, seeing Ping Huaizhen coming out of the inner room, he stopped immediately, not knowing whether he should go forward.

Ping Huaizhen narrowed his eyes and stared deeply at Li Qingjue for a moment, retreated all the idlers in the hall, and then did not leave, and sat down on the Four Seasons sandalwood chair not far from the curtain. Losing his alertness, he immediately turned around and closed the palace door.

The light in the room was much darker, Li Qingjue no longer looked at him, picked up the curtain and went inside, and slowly approached and kowtowed: "My minister Li Qingjue, see the Supreme Emperor."

There were slight movements in twos and threes in the couch, but there was only one elderly palace official outside the couch.

Wang Gonggong listened to the instructions in the tent, then raised the curtain, helped the emperor sit up, put a bright yellow cushion on his back, turned his head according to his gesture, and said: "Master Li, please."

Li Qingjue thanked En and stood up, raised his head calmly, and looked at him calmly. He hadn't seen him for many years. What he saw now was no longer the cruel and indifferent monarch of the past, but only an elderly and seriously ill person.

The Supreme Emperor also looked at him at that time, his eyes closed, and he was puzzled by the familiarity of not knowing where he came from.

"You are Li Shilang?"

"That's right," Li Qingjue gave himself a surname, writing slowly, "My humble minister Li Qingjue."

The Taishanghuang never felt that this name was familiar, and for some reason, he felt suffocated when he heard it, he frowned, and it was difficult to see his appearance more clearly when he closed his eyes.

"Come closer."

Li Qingjue took a few steps forward.

Every foot closer, there seems to be a vast mist of past events rising under the feet. The emperor does not know why, but feels that this person is not what he has heard and expected, and he does not appear to be half lucky, let alone cowardly. I was inexplicably uncomfortable when it was approaching step by step...

Closer, closer, until suddenly stopped.

Li Qingjue didn't say a word, and stood in the same place with downcast eyes respectfully, but under the respectful appearance, it was clear that he didn't care, as if the person on the couch was definitely not the former emperor, but it was empty.

The Supreme Emperor laughed when he saw it, and wanted to see through him, but it was a pity that it was in vain for a long time. He almost forgot to pass on the purpose of this person's seeing him, and asked bluntly after thinking about it: "I heard that Li Shilang bought a new house recently, and I want to ask you. Do you know that you are the only one doing this?"

"I know."

"Then Master Li, do you know what 'avoid suspicion' is?"

"The minister also knows."

"Since that's the case, why did Master Li go sideways?"

Li Qingjue answered one by one: "I don't think so. I think this is not a bypass and there is no need to avoid suspicion. Compared with avoiding suspicion, I believe in being upright and not afraid of shadows. To be an official in the court is to assist the emperor, seek people's livelihood, and develop ambitions." , there is no need to shrink back, and there is no need to be suspicious. A minister is a minister and also the people, so there is no need to avoid suspicion when buying a house."

The Supreme Emperor heard more and more anger from his words, finally laughed out loud, and asked: "'Chasing wind and shadow', are you scolding me?"

Li Qingjue lifted his robe and bent his knees: "I'm terrified, I'm just talking about people and ministers, how dare I talk about people and kings."

"You're so eloquent." The Supreme Emperor heard him say that he was panicked, but he couldn't see even half of it, and asked again, "What if I insist on you avoiding suspicion?"

"The minister had no choice but to sell the house again."

The Taishang Emperor's eyes were slightly cold, and he said with a sneer without emotion: "Get up, come closer."

No matter how close Li Qingjue got up, the Supreme Emperor glanced at him in a daze, and felt a shadow flash in his mind.

"I...have met Mr. Li before?"

Li Qingjue didn't answer, and the expression on his face became increasingly difficult to hold. The closer he got, the more difficult it was to stop the hatred floating in his eyes.

The Supreme Emperor couldn't think of the reason, and when he was puzzled, the curtain of the inner room was suddenly lifted, and Ping Huaizhen stepped forward, preventing the two from talking.

"Father, it's time to take the medicine."

Jiang Chang came forward with a bowl, and waited for Ping Huaizhen to come and serve the medicine on the tray. He cleverly placed Li Qingjue behind him, covering most of his body.

The Supreme Emperor closed his eyes and waved his hands. The emperor's act of protecting the people was too obvious. He is old and not blind. Since it is difficult to talk, it is better to stop here and send people away.

After Li Qingjue left, Ping Huaizhen did not deliberately mention him, and patiently fed and drank the soup in his hand. He wanted to leave when the medicine was exhausted, but he didn't avoid it when the bowl was about to bottom out. He heard the Supreme Emperor take the initiative to ask: "The emperor thought, this person How about Li Shilang?"

Ping Huaizhen was helpless, but from the bottom of his heart: "He is a good minister who is dedicated to his duties and quick in thinking."

"Talent comes second, and loyalty is fundamental. Emperor, this person cannot be kept."

Ping Huaizhen didn't stop his movements, he finished feeding the last half spoonful of soup, put the bowl back on Jiang Changcheng's tray, and then replied: "Master Li's loyalty is beyond doubt."

The Supreme Emperor heard the objection in his words, and was already angry and dissatisfied: "Smart tongue, out of line behavior, I can't see where his loyalty lies."

"I can see," Ping Huaizhen gave up the title of father and son with him and called me in front of his eyes, which surprised him, "I don't want to lose this good minister, and I will not lose this good minister."

The room was full of silence, Jiang Chang and Wang Gonggong had already heard the cold sweat on their backs, and they dared not say anything about it.

Ping Huaizhen didn't make any concessions, the filial piety in her eyes was still there, but she was crazily spreading the emperor's dragon prestige that was not shown in front of the Supreme Emperor before.The Supreme Emperor was in a daze for a long time, and never really realized since he was in Zen that the power of life and death and the plan of the world were no longer in his hands at that moment.

Today, the surname Ping in the world is only the Ping of Ping Huaizhen. Even if he is the father of the Son of Heaven, he can only be a father and not a king.

Not what it used to be.

All the anger just now disappeared suddenly, the Taishang Emperor didn't feel the coldness, he knew that Ping Huai was filial, so he didn't need to feel the coldness secretly, so he just felt that the sun and the moon are fleeting and fleeting.

"Forget it..."

There was a sigh in the empty room.

Ping Huaizhen felt ashamed in his heart, but he didn't regret it at all. Before answering the question, the Supreme Emperor asked: "In the eyes of the emperor, what have I done or missed in my life?"

"Father Emperor I's famous name has never been wrong."

The Supreme Emperor smiled inexplicably, and pulled off the bed curtain with his hands, and there was no wind or waves today.