Shadow Guard stand-in

"I am really suffering."

Qi Lezhi was dragged out of the warm military tent by He Jue, took two jars of wine on the grassy hillside, and took a big gulp against the cold wind, while the Southern Tang monarch next to him was crying.

"What's the matter, Your Majesty?" Qi Lezhi shrank and hid his body under the heavy cloak. He stayed in the King Ming Altar for more than half a month, and his body was tortured to become thinner. Can't stand the cold wind at all.

When He Jue brought up the sad matter, he couldn't help taking another sip of strong wine, and said, "Jin Jiuye is a stick!"

When Qi Lezhi heard this, he suddenly wanted to laugh, but he held back, "What did Lord Shadow Guard do?"

"Heh, he just doesn't know how to do anything, that's why I'm so sad." He Jue sighed, and then gave Qi Lezhi a sideways look, "You don't want to hang around him in the future. If my relationship doesn't go well, there will be you too." for the sake of

Qi Lezhi understood, this is another rebuff at Lord Shadow Guard, "But I don't see that Lord Shadow Guard has any barriers to His Majesty. Could it be that His Majesty misunderstood you?"

"Don't laugh!" He Jue gave Qi Lezhi a hard look, and Qi Lezhi hurriedly said, "I dare not."

"I saw the corner of your mouth raised, how dare you deny it?" He Jue was so angry that he punched Qi Lezhi hard, and Qi Lezhi immediately begged for mercy.

He Jue sighed, picked up the wine jar and took another sip, "It's too difficult."

Hearing this, Qi Lezhi tried to explain: "Master Yingwei has always been indifferent to his feelings, perhaps because he stayed in the life and death camp since he was a child. His Majesty just needs to be patient. What's more, Lord Yingwei obeys His Majesty's words and has a wholehearted heart. Put it on His Majesty, how can His Majesty be dissatisfied?"

"But he doesn't think I have him in my heart!" He Jue paused, "I'm not afraid of making fun of you if I say it out loud. He has treated me like a master and servant so far. He obeys whatever I want without a trace of resistance. There is no emotion. Le Zhi, do you think if A Yao treats you like this, you will feel better?"

Qi Lezhi was silent, he changed his mind and realized that he was no better than He Jue.The word love makes people toss and turn the most. Even if they understand all the truths, they can't help themselves.

"But now that the Lord Shadow Guard is by His Majesty's side, it will be a long, long life. Thinking about it this way, it is not much different from ordinary couples."

"I originally thought so too..." He Jue drank wine, looked up at the vast sky, layers of clouds covered the sunlight, he smiled wryly, "But people's hearts are not enough, obviously it's your love and my wish, but in this heart But it's extremely awkward. I want him to treat me like I treat him, what can I do for Le Zhi?"

Qi Lezhi pondered for a long time, but did not speak.

He Jue could only sigh, "It's time to accept fate."

Qi Lezhi said: "Why don't you find some way to make Lord Shadow Guard jealous?"

"Will he be jealous?" He Jue's eyes widened. "You've got a stick in your head? He'll just take it seriously! Then there will be a misunderstanding, and I will have another heartache. Anyway, he won't be hurt if he doesn't have a heart."

"It's really pitiful to hear His Majesty say that." Qi Lezhi couldn't help it either.

He Jue let it go, and brought up another topic, "After returning to Beijing, I thought about finalizing the affairs of the book first. Maybe the old man didn't have to spend so much time on that side. Let the rest of the aristocratic families make trouble, and one day it will stop. .”

"I'm afraid the disturbance will be even bigger than last year, and the issue of establishing an heir will be involved in the future." Qi Lezhi is not optimistic about this.

He Jue glanced at him and said lightly, "Isn't your son about to give birth?"

Qi Lezhi immediately became nervous, "Your Majesty, don't make such an idea!"

He Jue was happy, and said deliberately: "Who told you to marry A Yao, my only cousin, as a member of the clan, you must make some contributions to the emperor, such as donating a son?"

"Your Majesty is going too far." Qi Lezhi said aggrievedly, "Didn't you say you let the Shadow Guard live?"

He Jue really made such a joke, but when Qi Lezhi used it to block him, he choked for a long time before saying, "What can such a big man produce? You want to see my joke!"

"Forget it, let's wait until we get back to Xijing to talk about these things, and leave when Jin Jiuye recovers from his injuries."

Qi Lezhi nodded, he was almost drunk, he didn't mention the incident just now, and only talked about some trifles.

"Miss Bai is still pregnant. It might be inconvenient if she wants to go back to Xijing with His Majesty. In recent days, I saw her worrying too much, and the maid who served her told me twice that she couldn't even eat, and she was always in bed. Wipe the tears in the house."

He Jue tore at the neckline, exposing the smell of alcohol all over his body, revealing the ambiguous red marks on his neck.When Qi Lezhi saw it, he secretly despised him, why did this guy complain to him, he was obviously enjoying the happiness in the gentle village, and now he came to show off in front of him.

He is lonely and single, and his beautiful wife is thousands of miles away, and these two people are taking advantage of their wounds, saying that they are suffering in their hearts, bitterness!Qi Lezhi complained about He Jue in secret, wrapped his cloak tightly and made up his mind that he would never trust this guy again.

"At the moment when the political turmoil in Northern Qi is at its most severe, it is uncertain whether her lover will survive, and it is inevitable to be sad." When He Jue said this, he showed the usual indifference of politicians. He also learned from those battles. Those who climb out can understand the power of it without carefully inquiring.

The monarch of the Northern Qi Dynasty stopped doing business more than ten years ago, lingering in the harem, and the prince Lang Yao has always been in charge of political affairs, but Lang Yao has more than a dozen brothers and countless sisters, and last year he added a little prince. The battle is fierce, and Lang Qing's sword is taking the lead. I am afraid that the winner will be determined in less than two years.

In the Southern Tang Dynasty, they only need to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. In the future, they will not violate the river water with the new king, and they will live in peace with each other.

"The minister was at the Ming King Altar a few days ago and found that the so-called wolf smoke cavalry is not invincible. Lang Qing is a young woman, and preparing for a new wolf smoke cavalry is not as unstoppable as it was decades ago. This time The invasion of Yushiguan, including last year's embassy to Xijing, and the massacre of the Yang family, were all aimed at the seventeenth prince, Lang Wan."

"It seems that Lang Wan has really grasped the lifeblood of the Sun Moon Temple and the Eighth Prince." He Jue shook the wine jar and found that he had run out of wine, and looked at Qi Lezhi with a little dissatisfaction, "You finished yours too? "

Qi Lezhi still had half a jar left, so he poured some for He Jue, "This time, Wolf Smoke Rider stumbled here, and the Prince of Northern Qi will also recover from it."

He Jue pondered, "It would be better if Lang Yao came to the throne, at least Lang Wan would be on his team, and Bai Zhilan's situation would be much better."

"It's not certain. Lang Yao has been in power for many years, but he is still held hostage by the eighth prince. It can be seen that it is dark under the lamp." Qi Lezhi mentioned this with a serious expression, "There is also the matter of Yang Guogong, what does your majesty want?"

"Yang Guogong once fought bloody battles for the Southern Tang Dynasty. No matter who he is, his meritorious service is indelible. The man has passed away, so there is no need to find out other truths, so as not to embarrass the students."

"That's true." Qi Lezhi was thankful that He Jue was a just, selfless and benevolent king, "Yang Guogong's family died tragically, and he himself was heartbroken, which just shows that he never betrayed Nantang in the end."

He Jue hummed, "As for the matter of the Yang family, when I return to Xijing, I will ask them for an explanation."

"Then Lang Xiao and Lang Di, are they going to be put back too?" Qi Lezhi asked.

"Let's let these two go first, maybe it can help Bai Zhilan. After all, she has the royal blood of the Northern Qi Dynasty. If the Eight Princes' Party wins, I must have someone famous to find a way out for her and that child." He Jue thinks far ahead and is very considerate.

Qi Lezhi didn't say anything anymore, the two of them looked at the sky calmly, the vast and boundless wasteland, and the cold wind whistling past.

Looking in this direction, it is the only way to go through Calabash Valley, where countless wars have occurred and countless loyal bones have been buried.Yushiguan is like a hero's tomb. The general died in a hundred battles and returned home to Tie Yihan.

"Lezhi, I want to reverse the case for General Zhen Guo."

"General Zhen Guo?" Qi Lezhi suddenly heard this name, and was confused for a moment, "Is it General Jin Lie?"

"Yes." He Jue said, "If the case is overturned for the general, the crimes of the former emperor must be involved, and that would be a disgrace to the royal family."

Qi Lezhi was even more confused, "What crime did the late emperor commit?"

He Jue looked at Qi Lezhi, and said lightly: "I didn't want you to know, but to be the pillar of a country, you must go through life and death. It's not enough to be too smooth and naive. I will hand over this case to you." Go and investigate, Xuanyi Division will fully cooperate with you."

"Even if the majesty of the emperor is damaged, I will not hesitate." He Jue's voice came from the ethereal wind, "Loyal bones cannot be buried in the ground with injustice."

"Yes." Qi Lezhi took the order.

This is the second time he has heard dissatisfaction with the late emperor from His Majesty, or an evaluation that is diametrically opposed to many people.After experiencing many things, he no longer dared to jump to conclusions. Although the general of Zhen Guo had been accused of being a traitor and traitor for decades, if there was grievance in it, what if the general did not treason?

Obviously, what His Majesty wants now is the innocence of the General.

After the two of them drank enough wine outside and sat quietly for a while, He Jue was ready to go back.He was only temporarily depressed by Jin Jiuye's oolong, but after drinking and chatting with Qi Lezhi, he felt much better, and nothing happened.

Back in the military tent, he didn't see the familiar man in black. He was puzzled, and went out to look for it again, only to see the man standing quietly at the gate of the city.

"It's windy outside, what are you doing here?" He Jue grabbed the man's arm and pulled it behind him, protecting him from the wind.

Jin Jiuye shook his head, "Nothing."

His expression didn't change at all, as usual, and He Jue didn't have any doubts, just holding the man's hand to help him warm up.

The two walked back hand in hand, when they met some soldiers on the way, Jin Jiuye wanted to pull his hand back, but He Jue refused, so he had to drag them.

Jin Jiuye could only whisper: "Master, there are many people outside."

He Jue said: "So what if they see it?"

Jin Jiuye was silent, lowered his eyes slightly, and suddenly saw the red mark on He Jue's neck, which was bitten by him, he helped the master's collar with his hands, and quickly covered it.

You have been together with Mr. Qi for so long just now, but you didn't pay attention at all, did you all see it?

"What are you pulling my collar for?" He Jue felt uncomfortable and wanted to tear it off again, Jin Jiuye quickly said: "Master, fasten the collar tighter, it looks better."

After hearing this, He Jue didn't move, just smiled, "So Brother Ye also knows whether it looks good or not."

Jin Jiuye didn't answer, and seemed more silent than ever.

He Jue grabbed the man's hand, brought him to her side, lowered his voice and said to the man, "Brother Ye still owes me a kiss today, why don't you pay it back now."

"Here?" Jin Jiuye was shocked, the cold and indifferent expression on his face seemed to be cracked.

He Jue smiled happily, "It's right here, okay?"

"Master, don't do this." Jin Jiuye begged in a low voice.

He Jue shook his head, with a smile on his face, "No, you are my legitimate concubine. Isn't it normal to do some legitimate things? If it hinders the eyes of others, they should retreat..."

"Master..." Jin Jiuye took He Jue's hand and walked quickly to their military tent, "I'll kiss you when I get back."

He Jue laughed, but he didn't really treat Jin Jiuye in public, because he finally found out that Jin Jiuye had some emotions.

It turns out that Brother Ye is also shy.

After another half a month, Jin Jiuye's injury healed a lot, and even his appetite returned to before.There was news from Northern Qi that the crown prince Lang Yao had passed away, and the eighth prince Lang Yun had been canonized as the heir apparent. The battle for royal power had now been settled, but the aged Northern Qi monarch was still enjoying himself.

As the saying goes, winners and losers, Lang Wan did not escape the fate of being executed, but it has been several days since the news actually reached Yushi Pass.

The news was not hidden from Bai Zhilan, and she fainted immediately after hearing the news, and then suffered a hemorrhage, and the child was born prematurely.

"Mother and child are safe, it is a baby boy, Your Majesty." The medical officer brought Mrs. Wen to report.

He Jue confessed: "You must take good care of her, and use the best for everything. If you need to find Pei Xingge or Qi Lezhi, you can tell me directly if you are in trouble."

The two of them should take their leave, and then Pei Xingge came to report: "Your Majesty, Northern Qi sent a letter of envoy, eighth prince, no, it is the Prince of Northern Qi who wants to come to Yushi Pass to see you."

"Is there an explanation?" He Jue took the letter from Pei Xingge and glanced it hastily. Pei Xingge said from the side, "It seems to be here for peace talks. Regarding the previous incident of Wolf Smoke Cavalry's invasion of Yushi Pass, I heard that the Ninth Princess of the Northern Qi Dynasty was imprisoned."

"Oh, he is really willing to break his own arm." He Jue said coldly, "Maybe he will come to kill the grass and root out the roots. I heard that none of Lang Yao's heirs are left behind."

Qi Lezhi also came to discuss this matter with He Jue. He Jue showed the letter to the other party and asked, "What do you think?"

"If you want to save that child, you must make some concessions with Lang Yun." Qi Lezhi said, "But Lang Yun is so cruel that he can even abandon the nine princesses who have been following him, which shows that he is not a good person."

"Wolf smoke riding may not be done by Lang Qing alone, but this incident is too bad for reputation. If Lang Yun wants to become a popular prince, he must clean up the stains on his body. All the crimes can only be planted on Lang Qing. Fortunately, Lang Qing is willing to bear the burden for him."

When He Jue heard this, he snorted coldly with disdain: "Nowadays, things like crossing rivers and demolishing bridges are not new. Lang Qing has to be willing if she doesn't want to."

While talking, Wen Po, who had just been revived and a girl, ran over in a hurry, but was stopped by Pei Xingge at the door, "What's the matter?"

The girl said anxiously: "Your Majesty, Miss Bai will kill herself as soon as she wakes up. The medical officer snatched her breath back, but she can't live long. She only said that she wanted to see Your Majesty."

Through a curtain, He Jue also heard the girl's words, so he and Qi Lezhi went to see Bai Zhilan.Bai Zhilan's residence still smelled of blood, but it had been cleaned by the subordinates. As soon as He Jue entered the door, he saw Bai Zhilan lying on the couch with a pale face. Her neck was wrapped in thick gauze. She should have taken a sharp weapon. cut throat.

The medical officer was waiting by the side, writing the prescription with a pen, talking non-stop, trying to persuade her to prescribe more.

Bai Zhilan stared blankly at the sky, didn't hear a word at all, and only recovered after the medical officer saluted He Jue, struggling to get up, but couldn't get up.

"No, it's good to lie down." He Jue said warmly, "Think about your child and live strong. He has no relatives in this world except you, his mother."

Bai Zhilan burst into tears, "Your Majesty, please help me..."

"Don't worry." He Jue comforted.

When Bai Zhilan heard this, her tears became more and more violent, "I know this child has a special status, but Your Majesty, he can't go back to Northern Qi..."

"Then what do you want?" He Jue asked.

Bai Zhilan wiped away her tears, her voice choked up, "Let him go with my courtiers, so that Bei Qi's thoughts will be broken, and he won't have to suffer all his life, and he will be able to meet his father whom he has never met before, so that our family can be reunited .”

He Jue was silent and did not speak.

Bai Zhilan was still crying and begging, and after a long time, He Jue replied: "Okay, I will answer you."

Just these few words finally made the frail mother show a faint smile, and the gauze around her neck was soaked with blood little by little. The medical officer asked the apprentice to bring the medicine quickly, and the room was busy again for a while.

He Jue and Qi Lezhi went out of the house, and Qi Lezhi asked puzzledly: "How can Your Majesty respond to her, that is a newborn child, how innocent is a child?"

"But there is blood that shouldn't be flowing in him, so his fate was doomed early on." He Jue sighed, remembering something, and his tone was a little sad.

"I have no reason to prevent Bei Qi from bringing back their prince, especially since his mother is already in critical condition. If Bai Zhilan has no will to die, I will naturally do my best."

Qi Lezhi frowned, unable to understand what He Jue was doing, and was about to say a few more words, when He Jue patted him on the shoulder and said solemnly: "From today on, that child will die of dystocia."

"That's what Lang Yun said when he came." Qi Lezhi suddenly understood.

He Jue nodded in relief.

In less than two hours, the medical officer sent news that Bai Zhilan had died.He Jue was at the nurse's place, looking at the baby in the swaddle, staring at it for a long, long time. The child was as thin as a kitten, his whole body was red and wrinkled, his eyes were tightly closed, as if he didn't know anything.

"In this world, you have no parents, no brothers and relatives, and you were born alone." He Jue carefully picked up the child and said softly, "I pity you."

He wrapped the child tightly under his cloak, and carried him to Jin Jiuye's residence.

As the cold wind came in, Jin Jiuye was cleaning his eagle-patterned dagger, the door curtain was lifted, and He Jue strode in with a cold air.

Jin Jiuye raised his eyes, and the young king across from him suddenly smiled at him.

"Brother Ye, it's time for you to give me a baby."