（20）

The moment Yan Xilan returned to the Qianyuan Palace, he fell into an embrace.

The door of the hall was closed with a "squeak", and Ji Jincheng picked him up horizontally without saying anything and walked towards the bath. Yan Xilan was indeed a little tired, pillowed his chest and closed his eyes to recuperate, this action made Ji Jincheng flattered, he thought that the young man would stop his behavior, and even prepared to have a dead face. He didn't dare to speak, for fear that after the young man reacted, he would take back all this qiē, leaving him alone in the same place as if he had just woken up from a big dream.

But the heart is always excited, and the hairy boy who first met the taste of love hugged his docile sweetheart, happy as if he had the whole world.

Yan Xilan frowned, closed his eyes and moved his head away from his left chest, and reached out to pat the young man's heart lightly, "It's too noisy." ”

Ji Jincheng couldn't help but bow his head and kiss him, alone in that Zhile. He stripped the young man naked and carried him into the bath, let him lean his back against him, and meticulously cleaned him. Yan Xilan was soaked in hot water, and he was lazy and didn't want to move, so he let him go. For the first time in his life, the boy served someone, although his movements were jerky, but he was enthusiastic and patient, and he tried his best to be gentle with someone.

The young man unconsciously relaxed his mind and leaned on him and fell asleep quietly.

The water flowed across the shoulders of the person in front of him, giving the red marks all over the body a layer of moist luster, which looked particularly ambiguous. Ji Jincheng's eyes darkened, recalling the feeling of being haunted by the red wave not long ago, and faintly burst into flames again. He lingered on the back of the young man's neck and shoulders, pecked and kissed carefully, and then reluctantly straightened up, cleared the beast that was about to go out of the gate, and no longer jumped a step into the thunder pool.

At the age of strong blood, patience is undoubtedly painful for young people, and sitting still is testing their willpower, but the little emperor has done it.

Looking back on the past, the old things are vivid, the tension when they first met, the companionship of cohabitation year after year, the beginning of love, the deverie of contemplation, all kinds of eagerness to encounter the cold rain and watering the flowers, his loss and frustration, his trapped beast still fighting, and now after a long wait, the moon is bright, the tide of desire gradually recedes, and Ji Jincheng is only left in his heart with the watery tenderness of three thousand red dust.

He wrapped the young man in his robe, carefully placed the man on the bed in his arms, lay down on the side and took him into his arms.

"It's lonely who is too rash and affects you. Ji Jincheng whispered: "Not next time, I won't let you regret it." ”

As the night deepened, there was silence in the dormitory.

Yan Xilan opened his eyes, stared at the sleeping young emperor with complicated eyes, and sighed for a long time: "If I do it, I won't regret it." ”

In the seventh year of Chengzhi, on the twenty-first day of December, it snowed heavily.

Chu Wang Ji Liuguang colluded with the envoys of Beidi to bribe the people in the palace gate to plot to assassinate the current saint, causing His Majesty to be seriously injured and fall into a coma, and quit the dynasty to recuperate. As soon as the news came out, the government and the opposition were shaken, and all parties sent people into the palace to investigate, and they all returned. Everyone in Changning Palace was secretive, and when they mentioned it slightly, they shook their heads and waved their hands in horror, and hurriedly got out under the pretext of excuses. In this way, it is even more confirmed by this news.

The only one who can be unimpeded in the Forbidden Palace is the imperial historian Lin Minzhi. He was ordered to supervise the government during the day, and at night he took care of the sick emperor in bed, and told the world who was really the one who had received the holy will. This is tantamount to slapping the face of Li Sheng, who thought he could rely on the noblewoman, and after three years of scenery, he once became a laughing stock after tea and dinner.

Just when the direction of the rumors was completely chaotic, everyone speculated about Ji Liuguang, speculated about the emperor's injury, and speculated whether Lin Minzhi had really been on the dragon bed, and the latter ordered Ji Liuguang to go to Beijing to confront him in court. It is said that the king of Chu has always been a virtuous person, and if it is tried publicly, it will not only give him a chance to confess, but also give the people of the world an explanation.

In fact, it is just a different way of coercion, if you come, you are throwing yourself into the net, and if you don't come, it means that there is a ghost in your heart.

"It's a ruthless one. Ji Liuguang, who was leaning on the carriage and sitting softly, straightened up and snorted, "He wants to completely confirm the reputation of the king for rebellion." ”

Yan Zhichun knelt in front of him, frowned and said: "This time, I only brought two thousand elite soldiers to hide in the dark...... Your Highness, will this city enter or not?"

Ji Liuguang glanced at him: "Do you think that if we can't enter, we won't be able to enter?" ”

Yan Zhichun was silent and stopped talking, and Ji Liuguang didn't care about him, and continued: "If we go back now, it is equivalent to telling everyone that we have a problem." At that time, even if the battle is won with sufficient manpower, it will be a chaotic minister and thief, and he will set up a name for others to be a target. When Ji Liuguang said this, there was sarcasm in his eyes: "You say that my good brothers are honest and dutiful? The Lin family also knew very well in his heart, so he wanted to cook this king more and more neatly. ”

He knows very well that the other party is a tooth for a tooth, as the so-called division is famous, and the strong attack is the next, especially in the matter of fighting for the world, on the bright side, he must stand on the moral high ground, so as to be a long-term plan, otherwise even if he is quick for a while, he will be used as a stepping stone to step on by the people who go to the Central Plains to succeed him. It's like "obeying the Son of Heaven to order not to obey" and "coercing the Son of Heaven to order the princes", the difference between them is simply a thousand miles wrong.

But the commanding heights are just like this, everyone wants everyone to grab it, and the battle is naturally fierce.

"But ...... over there," Yan Zhichun hesitated, "Lin Minzhi suddenly fought back so hard, it seems a little hasty in the end, can't the injury be true?"

There is no rumor in the Changning Palace, the truth is confusing, and everyone is subjectively guessed by some clues, and they can't sleep at night without knowing the taste of food.

For those who are uncertain, Ji Jincheng's life and death will not know that they will fall into the dilemma of choice, and in the face of those who already have different intentions, this is undoubtedly a good thing.

Ji Liuguang groaned, the first thing he thought of was Emperor Wen, behind Lin Minzhi's blatant-for-tat, there must be something to rely on, and this reliance ...... His face changed slightly, and he chuckled lowly, a chill in his voice.

"Go to Yong'an. Ji Liuguang retracted the curvature of the corners of his lips little by little, and said lightly: "Lin Minzhi must die." ”

December 24, Chinese New Year's Eve, Loei.

With a crisp sound, the teacup was thrown to the ground and shattered. The fragments were scattered with the hot tea, splashing Li Shu's Luo skirt and leaving stains. She stood silently beside Yun Niang, protecting the person behind her.

Li Sheng, who was still in a state of anger after dropping the teacup, sat in the main seat, panting with his chest constantly rising and falling.

A flash of joy flashed in Chen's eyes, and he hurriedly stepped forward and patted his chest to smooth him, and said, "Master, don't be angry with those two white-eyed wolves who are not well raised, it is too worthless to be angry." After that, he turned his head and reprimanded with a cold face: "There is nothing to do! Bai has a good face, and he can't even do this little thing, now that you are satisfied, our Li family can become the laughing stock of Yong'an, where do you let your father's face go?"

After she finished speaking, she was not addicted, and grabbed Yun Niang aggressively: "Look at the good daughter you gave birth to, you two came to my Li family to collect debts? You have a grudge against the master and me, so you can use the reputation of the Li family to waste it casually? The master has worked hard for decades to have today's Xuanhe, as his concubine, you are not satisfied with the husband and children of the back house, but you do some things to self-destruct the door and wall, but you are still from a scholarly family, so ignorant of the general situation, no wonder you want to decline." ”

Yun Niang was so angry that she trembled: "You, you don't want to spew blood!"

Chen glared, sneered, and said, "Why, don't like to listen? It's also a fact that you don't like to listen, and you really think that you are a golden lady, you can't say anything and you can't listen to anything." ”

Li Shu stopped Yun Niang, who was about to refute, swallowed the depressed breath, looked at Chen calmly, and said: "Auntie, this is none of my mother's business, I have failed my father's expectations, and I will bear all the punishments." ”

Chen choked, "You bear it, can you bear it......?"

Li Sheng was so noisy that his temples ached, and he couldn't bear to stop it: "Shut up for me, what is the noise like." There was an instant silence in the flower hall. He looked at Li Shu and asked, "How has His Majesty treated you in the past three years?"

It was like a substantial gaze that enveloped Li Shu entirely, and even made her feel a sense of crisis that she had nothing to hide. She concentrated, lowered her eyes, and replied obediently: "Gentle and considerate, and well cared for." ”

Li Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at her. Li Shu suddenly felt a sudden increase in pressure on her body.

"Did you ever say anything like that?"

Li Shu was dazed for a while, and after a while, she turned into a shy and sad expression, and replied softly: "No, but Ah Shu still thinks that His Majesty is ......" The unfinished words are all in the words.

Li Sheng's face became ugly, and he understood that he had been tricked. was a yellow-haired boy who was more than half his age younger.

Chen knew that there was a play when he saw his expression, and immediately said to the two women standing opposite him in high spirits: "There are no rules, there is no circle, the punishment is still punished, Li Shu has lost the face of the Li family, Yun Niang's godson has no way, from today onwards, it is no longer my Li family's people, come here, send guests!"

Li Shu helped Yun Niang, who was anxious and angry, and walked out slowly, halfway through, turned her head, and looked past the servants who were urging them to go faster, and landed on Li Sheng, who was sitting on the main seat. I saw that the man was indifferent, and he didn't want to give the slightest attention to this parting.

She withdrew her gaze, her steps becoming more determined.

The bleak wind carried the snowflakes in the face, faintly mixed with a hint of the cold fragrance of winter plums.

At night, Baili Xi stepped on the moon, and he still held a plum blossom in his hand.

He put the flower into the vase in Li Sheng's study, and smiled and waved to people: "See Lord Li." ”

Li Sheng personally stepped forward to hold his hand and stopped him from bowing down again, "No courtesy." ”

Baili Xi didn't squirm, just got up and went straight to the topic: "My lord, the matter has come to this point, why don't you give it a go with Your Highness?"

（21）

When Zhao Huaiyuan went back to the house to sleep, there was a person lying on the bed. The man also waved at him quite leisurely: "General Zhao, the villain has been waiting for you for a long time, why don't you sleep tonight and talk about Bashan." ”

Zhao Huaiyuan turned around and left, Baili Xi hurriedly sat up and said, "General, general, don't go, the villain has something important to do." ”

Zhao Huaiyuan turned around and said expressionlessly: "Come down." ”

Baili Xi obediently climbed out of bed, stood in front of him, and saw that the person's face finally eased slightly, and immediately began to heal the scar and forget the pain. "Isn't it true that the general has never shared a bed with anyone?"

Zhao Huaiyuan didn't talk nonsense with him, raised his hand and pointed out the door, "Go out." ”

Baili Xi finally stopped, straightened his expression, and said: "Your Highness will arrive in Yong'an the day after tomorrow, and you will need the general to help me wait at that time, after the matter is completed, Your Highness will never forget the kindness of General Jì." ”

Zhao Huaiyuan hummed lightly, walked past him to the bed, bent down and dusted off the wrinkled place where Baili Xi was lying down.

Bailixi: ......

"What does the general think?" he asked.

Zhao Huaiyuan frowned: "Didn't I answer you?" ”

Bailixi: "No. ”

Zhao Huaiyuan: ......

Baili Xi blinked and said innocently: "The villain hasn't finished talking yet." ”

Zhao Huaiyuan: "Then you can talk quickly." ”

Next, Baili Xi told Zhao Huaiyuan about what he was going to do on the twenty-sixth day, probably because he needed to lead five thousand elite soldiers to join the two thousand soldiers and horses led by Yan Zhichun after Ji Liuguang entered the palace gate. Next, be sure to arrive at Changning Palace as soon as possible. Although the people under Wei Wei are diligent in training and are also known as elite soldiers, after all, staying in a comfortable environment for a long time is better than an iron-blooded veteran who has really been on the battlefield and has been on the verge of life and death all year round, not to mention that this veteran is still Zhao Huaiyuan's person.

This battle needs to be fast and accurate, and when the scene is controlled, it is Ji Liuguang's world. At that time, Li Sheng will lead his faction's men and horses to defect, and the scene will fall into chaos, and more people will choose to watch in order to protect themselves, which is not a good thing for Lin Minzhi, and his situation will become worse and worse. Ji Jincheng was sick and lying in the Qianyuan Palace, he was difficult to support alone, and with Ji Liuguang's temperament, he must have taken advantage of his illness to kill him.

Lin Minzhi tore his face regardless of a qiē, and Ji Liuguang was also fighting against the water, both of them tried to use this hard fight to determine the outcome of the game, and they both wanted to win beautifully, which shows the anxiety and difficulty of the battle.

Baili Xi stroked his palms and exclaimed: "It's really rare and wonderful." ”

Zhao Huaiyuan didn't raise his eyes, looking like he was lacking in interest, "Are you finished?"

Baili Xi was aggrieved: "Doesn't the general have a little nostalgia for the villain?"

Zhao Huaiyuan: "It's good to go, but not to send." ”

In the seventh year of Chengzhi, on the twenty-sixth day of December, the snow stopped.

The sky was overcast, and the clammy cold in the air was better than when the snow was falling, and the nose was numb, and the breath was white mist.

Ji Liuguang sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain and looked at the surrounding scenery, his eyes showing nostalgia. However, today's Yong'an City is not peaceful. His carriage was surrounded by the Northern Army holding Jinwu, and in front of him was the Tiger Cavalry who was responsible for escorting him back to Beijing. After all, even if the virtuous king and the virtuous corporal treat the people kindly, it is not something that ordinary people can see casually, it all depends on luck.

Perhaps for the purpose of maintaining the royal face, or just to create an illusion, the current important minister of the prison state, Lin Minzhi, did not let Ji Liuguang sit in the prison car with shackles and be scrutinized by everyone, but chose a more decent way and put him under house arrest in the carriage. But Ji Liuguang obviously didn't appreciate his good intentions, and calmly smiled and nodded at the people who came over, as if he was not here to be tried when he returned to Beijing, but as if he was here for a banquet.

The onlookers couldn't help but wonder, didn't it say that the King of Chu had rebelled? This was too calm.

When the convoy arrived at the palace gate, a column of guards immediately poured out from inside to take over the escort. Ji Liuguangtai got out of the carriage leisurely and watched the Tiger Ben Army go away, leaving dozens of northern troops to fight with the head of the guard.

The leader of the Northern Army, a young man with a cunning eye, took out a document from the placket of his shirt and handed it to the guard chief, saying, "Lord Lin ordered us to accompany your army to send the King of Chu into the palace. ”

After confirming that it was correct, the guard chief handed him back the paperwork, clasped his fists and said with a smile: "Then work hard, brothers, and go down together." ”

"Wherever and wherever you are, you are doing things for Your Majesty, as it should be. ”

After the two of them finished politely, they discussed the distribution of soldiers, and then surrounded the three layers of Ji Liuguang and the outer three layers, and carefully walked all the way in the direction of the Qianyuan Palace. Ji Liuguang saw their nervous tension and a vigilant look, and couldn't help but say: "You don't have to be so nervous, so many people are watching, even if this king has wings, he can't escape." ”

The first two did not speak, and walked forward. However, after a long time, the Qianyuan Hall was already close at hand.

The civil and military officials in the Jingli Hall had been waiting for a long time, and when they saw that the main lord had finally arrived, they all turned sideways to make way for them. Yan Xilan stood in the first place facing the courtiers, his expression was as indifferent as a mountain. Ji Liuguang swept over the empty imperial throne above the high stairs, fell on the thin and tall young man, and said with a smile: "Lord Lin, I haven't seen you for a long time, don't come unharmed?"

After seven years, when they meet again, they are friends and foes, and this game of chess is destined to end in a way that the soul of the party will not die.

Yan Xilan smiled slightly: "King Lao Chu is worried, it's okay." "The posture is as beautiful as an epiphany blooming, and the atmosphere of this heavy and stagnant hall is bright.

The years have not left any traces on him, and his face is still as burning as when he was weak, and the time has settled in his dark pupils, making it look more profound and charming. If you don't smile, you are already the best in the world, and if you smile, you will be even more charming, and God's favor and favor for him can be seen.

Even Ji Liuguang couldn't help but sigh secretly, no wonder his father and son were so obsessed and unjust.

But he doesn't believe in evil, he is a person who wants to go against the sky after all, and all those who are loved by the way of heaven are destined to stand on the opposite side of him.

"In the past, Lord Lin said that Xiao Wang colluded with foreign envoys to murder the saint, Xiao Wang hereby entered Beijing to wash away his grievances, can he ask the adults to bring people up, Xiao Wang personally confronted him. Ji Liuguang arched his hand and said.

Yan Xilan whispered to Zhang Changshou on the side, who sighed and left in a hurry. After a short time, he entered the hall with three guards escorting the prisoners, and pressed the Beidi envoy and the two small yellow doors to their knees.

Ji Liuguang raised his eyebrows when he saw this person, ignored the two small yellow doors with small identities, turned to the Beidi envoy on tiptoe, and looked down at him with a smile, "Can the envoy Tiele recognize this king?"

The man lifted his eyelids and glanced up at him, "His Royal Highness the King of Chu." ”

Ji Liuguang bowed his head and continued to ask: "Now this is the first time you and I have met?"

The man nodded inexplicably.

Ji Liuguang said: "I only heard each other's names but didn't see each other before?"

The envoy of Beidi began to be a little impatient: "Yes, what does His Royal Highness the King of Chu want to say?"

Ji Liuguang smiled, turned to Yan Xilan and said, "May I ask Lord Lin to discuss this kind of disobedience with someone who has never met or even understood deeply? This is obviously a conspiracy of the Tiele tribe, intending to divide us, so that the internal disharmony of the Daqian will be lost, and they will watch the fire from the other side and reap the benefits of the fisherman. Speaking of this, he showed a worried look and said earnestly: "Its intentions are sinister and vicious, and we have to guard against it." ”

The man was furious: "You are shameless! Obviously, you sent someone to conspire with you first!"

Ji Liuguang ignored his roar, and instead stared at Yan Xilan. This trick was obviously to drag him into the water, Yan Xilan half-lowered his eyelids and said calmly: "Don't mention the hypothesis that it is false, it will not be helpful in this case, since His Royal Highness the King of Chu said that it was slander, then I don't know what His Highness thinks of these letters?"

"If he is not of my race, his heart will be different, and he will not destroy the evidence if he is on guard. The young man also said in a sincere tone: "So that in the event of an accident, you can use this to blackmail Your Highness." ”

Ji Liuguang's face did not change: "If everyone can break the lie, it will undoubtedly fail." ”

Yan Xilan did not move like a mountain: "The matter is serious, and I ask His Highness to show solid evidence to prove his innocence." ”

The two of them faced each other with needles, and they didn't give in to each other, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.

"Great, great, slaves and maids have something to do. ”

A trembling voice interjected, and the two of them looked for prestige, it was Li Zhong. Yan Xilan eased his expression and said with a pleasant face: "Speak." ”

Li Zhong, who had been imprisoned for a few days, looked a lot more depressed, his clothes were ragged and his hair was unkempt, and when he heard this, the whole person was a lot more vivid, and his eyes flashed with anticipation when he looked at the young man: "The slave maid can testify to His Royal Highness the King of Chu, the slave maid knew His Royal Highness seven years ago, and at that time, His Royal Highness secretly gave the slave maid a bag of silver taels, and he told the slave maid that as long as you do things well, not to mention gold and silver treasures, it is ...... Zhang Changshi's position is not unavoidable. Later, the words faded into silence.

Zhang Chang's eyes were sad, his lips trembled, and he turned his face away, revealing his pale sideburns.

Li Zhong gritted his teeth and continued: "My lord, he also sent someone to let the slave and maid drug His Majesty!"

Like a drop of cold water falling into a boiling oil pot, Li Zhong's words made everyone present explode.

"The slave didn't know what it was, and the man gave the medicine to the slave and maid and didn't let him ask, but only said that His Highness wants you to do it, and you can do it well, ask less and do more. Li Zhongbai fell to the ground and cried: "The slave and maid dare not hide anything from the adult, and please believe the slave and the maid." ”

Yan Xilan turned his head to look at Ji Liuguang, "What's the matter? ”

The latter's gaze wandered over Li Zhong, who didn't even dare to raise his head on the ground, and a cold light crossed his eyes. He turned his gaze and looked at Yan Xilan's expression with some indescribable strangeness.

The young man frowned, and just as he was about to say something, a sudden change occurred!