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Chapter 52 Why Cocoon
The little maid of Kunning Palace was stopped outside by the guards, and everyone dispersed, so she opened the door and entered the main hall apprehensively.
As soon as he stepped through the door, he smelled a strong smell of blood, and then he yelled as if lost his soul: "Blood, blood, so much blood! Killed!"
A small knife was thrown beside Empress Jiang, the knife was curled up, soaked in a pool of blood, dripping with blood, looking up, Empress Jiang was beyond recognition, with knife marks all over her body.
The little palace maid covered her mouth and rushed into the yard impatiently, leaning on the screen wall, and vomited violently.
After Emperor Tianxi learned about it, he did not send a funeral, but first drew up an imperial edict, abolishing Empress Jiang and reducing Jiang to concubine on the charge of sitting together.
After the decree came down, the funeral was announced, saying that Concubine Jiang had an epidemic and her body could not stay for long, and the funeral affairs were scribbled according to the rituals of ordinary concubines.
Not many days later, Emperor Tianxi issued a decree to posthumously confer the title of Empress Chunjia on the former imperial concubine, and the title of Yan Xi, the seventh son of the emperor, King Qin.
Yan Xu, the sixth son of the Jin Emperor, became the King of Chu, Yan Ran, the fourth son of the Emperor, became the King of Yuzhang, and Yan Tao, the fifth son of the Emperor, became the King of Liangzhou.
So far, the surviving princes of Da Jing have all been crowned kings, two princes, and two county kings.
At the same time, a certain speculation that had been simmering since the fall of the Jiang family finally surfaced——Song Dashuai is going to enter the capital.
Longyu Palace.
Yan Xu dared not leave the palace after receiving the imperial decree to become the King of Chu.
He didn't even dare to turn off the lights at night, he hadn't slept for two days in a row, his eyes were black and blue, and he was in a state of mind.
On this day, his Longyu Palace was locked again early, but in the middle of the night someone pushed open the door of his bedroom.
Yan Xu was staring at him, but when he heard the voice, he sat up and saw that Yan Zhener had already walked to his bed, looking at him softly.
Yan Xu hugged Yan Zhener's waist as if he had been pardoned, and said in panic, "You're finally here."
Yan Zhener said: "I'm here, Xiaoxu, don't be afraid."
Yan Xu hugged Yan Zhener tightly: "Can you think of a way to stop me from being the King of Chu?"
Yan Zhener rubbed the top of his hair and said, "Isn't it your long-cherished wish to be a prince?"
Yan Xu's face was buried in Yan Zhener's lower abdomen: "There are still people in front of me, it's a good thing for me to be a prince. But now that my eldest brother and third brother are gone, and Xiao Qi is in Laizhou again, how dare I be this prince."
Yan Zhener comforted: "There are two princes."
Yan Xi looked up at Yan Zhener: "Xiaoqi's mother and concubine chased after him to become the queen, and he is now the son of the eldest son, so it is reasonable to be named King Qin. But I am not the eldest son, but I was named the prince! I was given the word "Chu", Western Chu destroyed Qin, this is putting me on fire."
Yan Zhener comforted her softly: "The present is different from the past. Now that there is no Jiang family, it is time for everyone to rely on their own abilities. It is a good thing that Xiaoxu named the prince."
Yan Xu shook his head: "But I have nothing outstanding. In terms of birth, I am no more noble than Xiaoqi, Fourth Brother, and Fifth Brother. Moreover, Fourth Brother can read well, and Fifth Brother can wield guns and swords. I have no skills at all."It's even more incomparable with Xiaoqi. He has a favored mother and concubine. He used to be a prince, but now he stays out of it and sits back and relax. I am worthless. To fight for that position is to kill myself. It is not good to let me be an idle king?"
Yan Zhener squatted down, supported Yan Xu's shoulders and said, "The only ones left in the Xiao family are you and me. And I am a princess, so I can only fight for you."
Yan Xu's nerves were aroused by the words of the Xiao family. He became angry and raised his voice: "My surname is Yan! Not Xiao! Didn't the Xiao family see what happened to the Jiang family? How dare they think about it!"
Yan Zhener looked at Yan Xu noncommittally.
The more Yan Xu spoke, the more urgent he became: "Zhen'er, because you are the only 'daughter' of the late emperor, and you are the son of the legitimate daughter of the Zheng branch of the Xiao family, with noble and pure blood, my father and the imperial court respect you very much.Naturally, I have to treat you preferentially. And my mother and concubine are just the daughter of a side branch of the Xiao family, and I left early, and I have always had no ambitions. How has the Xiao family ever looked at me? Now I think of me?”
Yan Zhener said: "The time has come, now that you are the champion, the rest is nothing to fear."
"There's nothing to be afraid of..." Yan Xu smacked the words and suddenly realized something, "What do you mean?"
Yan Zhener said solemnly: "Xiaoxu, I don't want to lie to you, don't ask."
Yan Xu's face gradually turned cold, he slowly let go of Yan Zhener, and looked at each other under the dim light: "Second brother and third brother temporarily staying in Prince Jiang's mansion was secretly agreed by Empress Jiang, and it was not placed on the table.On the stage, it was said that only a few people in the palace knew about it. How could it be such a coincidence that day, students and common people bumped into the second brother and the third brother in Miaoyintang. You worked hard in the middle, didn’t you?”
Yan Zhener's expression darkened under his gaze, and he said, "Xiao Xu, don't do this."
Yan Xu stood up and stared at Yan Zhener at a very close distance: "How can you! The second brother and the third brother also call you the imperial aunt! Even if you are not particularly friendly with them, you have been with them for many years. How do youCan you be cruel, can you let go?"
Yan Zhener held his shoulder: "Be more rational."
Yan Xu said: "I'm stupid, I still have illusions, thinking that you don't like the Jiang family, you don't like the temperament of the third brother, at least you have some affection for other brothers. But now, you want to attack the fourth and fifth brothers!Brother Fifth Brother respects you on weekdays, and remembers you on New Year's Day, how can you be so cruel!"
Yan Zhener disapproved and said: "This is a life-and-death struggle, and the merciful hand will lose the upper hand. Xiaoxu, you were born in the emperor's family, how can you be so naive?"
Yan Xu shook his head excitedly: "Is it my choice to be born in? I don't want that position! I just want to be the idle king. Are you fighting for yourself or for me? If it's really for me, I willI'm telling you now, I don't want to fight, can you do what I want?"
Yan Zhener strengthened his hands, held Yan Xu down and said, "who understands the times is a hero, you have no choice right now, Xiao Xu, you have to face the reality."
Yan Xu grabbed Yan Zhener's skirt, shook him and said, "Zhener, wake up, unless the father has no more children, it won't be your turn."
Yan Zhener was silent.
Yan Xu's eyes widened in disbelief: "You... really think that way?"
Yan Zhener's face was gloomy: "You don't ask any more."
Yan Xu said urgently: "Can you hold back? Father will not give up all the princes. Even if everyone in Beijing is dead, there is still Xiao Qi. Father used to love Xiao Qi the most, and now he chases after his motherThe concubine is the empress, even if Xiao Qi is disfigured, as long as the father thinks about it, there are many ways to push him up."
Yan Zhener groaned and did not speak.
When Yan Xu mentioned Yan Xi, there was a yearning smile on his face: "How great it is for Xiao Qi to go up, if he goes up, I can hang out with him like before."
Yan Zhener corrected seriously: "If he goes up, you will have no way to survive."
Yan Xu immediately retorted: "No, Xiao Qi would not treat me like that."
Yan Zhener sighed: "You are still too naive."
Yan Xu stared at Yan Zhener, he was thinking hard, and suddenly thought of something, he pulled out his voice and said: "You don't mean——no! I beg you, don't touch Xiaoqi. Don't youI found out that my father sent Xiao Qi out to protect him. If you touch Xiao Qi, my father will definitely not let it go. Your plans over the years will be exposed and all come to naught."
Yan Zhener said in a deep voice, "Don't worry about it."
Yan Xu was so anxious that she was about to cry: "I beg you. Stop it."
April 23rd.
It has been seven days since Yan Xi came out of Beiyuan Palace.
Yan Xi said he didn't see him, so he pretended he really didn't.
When met Song Beiming in the early court, didn't squint, as if didn't know him.
After the court was over, he did not go with Song Beiming either.
Fang Xun, who came to pick him up every day, ignored him, he didn't use the green woolen carriage of Beiyuan Palace, and he didn't even wear the scarlet official robe that he wore back that day.
Yan Xi was on duty this day, went back to Xuanzhai for a walk, then went to Guanshu Lane.
Because Shang Baiheng's official position is the fifth rank, he did not enter the Fengtian Palace in the early court, but Yan Xi wanted to enter the palace, it was not uncommon for Yan Xi to meet Shang Baiheng in the early court.
But if they didn't meet each other for a few days, Yan Xi couldn't feel anything was right.
After asking Wei Chifeng, Wei Chifeng hesitantly said that Mr. Shang was ill.
Upon hearing this, Yan Xi decided to come and have a look today no matter what.
In order to avoid people's eyes and ears, he jumped directly into the courtyard of the commercial house.
Afraid that the sudden appearance would startle the teacher, he landed on the ground and deliberately made some noise, and then Shang Baiheng heard him calling: "Is it Wei Yu? Come in."
Yan Xi pushed the door open and went in, and saw Shang Baiheng drawing something at his desk.
The newly lit candles illuminated Shang Baiheng's slightly haggard face, but Yan Xi's gaze was first fixed by Shang Baiheng's hair.
He froze for a moment, as if he couldn't understand. He approached and looked again, and found that the intertwined hair was really white hair. He said sadly like a child discovering that his parents were sick: "Teacher, yous hair……"
"A few days ago, I accidentally got caught in the rain, drank some wine greedily, and didn't take it seriously when I went back to the house. As a result, I fell seriously ill." Shang Baiheng said calmly, "It's rare to get sick, and once you get sick, it hurts your breath."It's bloody, but luckily it's just some gray hair, everything else is fine. Bei Ye said that if you take care of it carefully, maybe you can get it back in vain, it doesn't matter."
Yan Xi stood dumbly, her eyes were a little red.
"Wei Yu, when you were fourteen years old, you put life and death aside, now you are nineteen, why are you still a mother-in-law?" Shang Baiheng looked directly at Yan Xi, with the sternness of a teacher in his tone.
During those days when he was entangled in his mind, he never dared to look directly at Yan Xi.
The drinking in the drizzle brought him back to his original position, he became extraordinarily open-minded, and he didn't have to have a word in his mind before he dared to speak, he was already able to get along with Yan Xi calmly.
Yan Xi's eyes were slightly lowered by Shang Baiheng's words, but he was still sad and opened his mouth to say something.
"As a teacher, you have your own opinions. Don't worry about it." Shang Baiheng interrupted Yanxi, and turned his eyes to the drawing paper spread out on the table. When he saw this painting, his eyes burned, and he couldn't help it.Greeting Yan Xi excitedly, he said, "I've always wanted to draw a map of the Da Jing border, but I've always been obsessed with trivial matters. I just have time to recuperate at home these few days."
Yan Xi saw a six-foot-square painting, on the left side was written "Da Jing Huangyu Panorama Map", the mountains, rivers, and frontier fortresses on the painting were exquisitely and exquisitely drawn, which was breathtaking.It takes seven days to draw such a map of the emperor, it must be a painstaking effort and forgetting to eat and sleep.Yan Xi was even more worried when he thought that Shang Baiheng was painting due to illness.
Shang Baiheng's eyes glowed, and he pointed to the upper right of Huang Tutu: "Look at the north and west."
Seeing Shang Baiheng's excited look, Yan Xi knew that this was what could make Shang Baiheng happy, so he didn't worry too much, and followed him: "The northwest border is separated by Niangzi Mountain, and Beiyuan passes through Niangziguan to the west border.The hinterland, within a hundred miles, can be reached overnight by a quick march."
Shang Baiheng nodded: "So, do you understand why His Majesty called Marshal Song back to Beijing this time?"
Yan Xi pondered: "Want to hand over Jiang Xijun to the Song family?"
Shang Baiheng said: "This matter has to be resolved in reverse. We only called Marshal Song, which means that the Xiao family is already out. But whether to give Marshal Song, how many soldiers and the sidelines, depends on the opportunity."
"Marshal Song won't be able to eat the huge Jiang Xi army for a while. I don't think the emperor will just hand over Jiang Xi army to the Song family, because Da Jing's border defense has been stuck in the hands of the powerful for too many years." Yan Xi followed Shang Baiheng's train of thought,"What is the chance that the teacher said?"
Shang Baiheng said: "Your Majesty has suffered from the powerful and powerful for a long time, and the four surnames bear the brunt of it, but the Song family is also a powerful one. Your Majesty finally overthrew the Jiang family, and it is impossible for the Song family to become bigger. The Song family's current advantage is that it is noble, and its foundation isHe was promoted from a poor family, but the Song family is still named Song after all."
Yan Xi realized something, and stared at Shang Baiheng.
Shang Baiheng pointed out: "If Your Majesty really cares about you, he will definitely find ways to get the soldiers into your hands."
Yan Xi said: "The artillery of the Haiyan was sent to Beiyuan, and the military craftsmen in Beiyuan inspected it and said it was good for use. The money received was placed in the money pile, and the tax money that Xuan Qi asked people to bring was also thrown in.Father’s private treasury was also opened. A few days ago, Ying Zhu and Zhou Ci brought news from Queen Jiang’s private treasury that ten million taels of silver were dug out from the bottom of the lake in Prince Jiang’s mansion. The money hidden by Jiang XijunNot settled yet, but the money in hand is enough right now. The head office of Heqing Qian Zhuang Jingdu is running smoothly. After Shen Qian has been busy for a while, he will go to Beiyuan and Donghai to open semicolons. Next, what I want is also Bing.”
Shang Baiheng heard that Yan Xi deliberately bypassed someone, so he deliberately asked nonsensically, "Who did you receive the money from? Why didn't you say it?"
Yan Xi didn't dare to make up lies in front of Shang Baiheng, swallowed and said, "Song Beiming."
Shang Baiheng's expression changed to serious: "Wei Yu, you always do things in your own way, and you seldom ambiguously speak, but you suddenly keep secret about Song Beiming's name, why?"
A little red appeared on Yan Xi's face.
There is the embarrassment of being scolded by the teacher, and the discomfort when Song Beiming's name is mentioned.
"Wei Yu," Shang Baiheng sighed, "people are not plants, so how can you be ruthless. Self-restraint and independence are good, but you are young, so why bother to learn the way of dying? Life is short,Carpe diem, you are only nineteen years old, why treat yourself so harshly?"
Yan Xi's eyes widened abruptly.
Not only was he shocked that Shang Baiheng knew about it, but he was also shocked that Shang Baiheng didn't criticize him.He opened his mouth, with all kinds of emotions in his heart, but he didn't know where to start.
Shang Baiheng patted his student on the shoulder candidly and said: "Masculinity has long been uncommon in Da Jing, and you are not the kind of stubborn person. Why do you force yourself to such an extent? Like it or not?, You have to deal with it to know. You trapped yourself in a cocoon and pushed people far away, what are you afraid of?"