Beiliang, the first year of Fengxiang, the ninth day of November.

The first snow in the Ming capital was sprinkled one after another, dyeing the entire palace city plain white, and the palace people wore green and ochre winter clothes, silently sweeping the snow on the palace road.

The long palace road extends to the Gongchen Hall of the ministers facing His Majesty, and the other end is the center of gravity of the forbidden power, the Lizhu Palace where the Queen Mother is located. Things in the palace must be favored by the masters, for example, the queen mother's dormitory naturally has to be cleaned, and the slightest snow can't float in, but the Yuheng Palace is very leisurely today.

Su Huan walked under the tree on the broken ice ballast and found that someone was waiting for him not far away.

It was a richly dressed girl, fifteen or sixteen years old, surrounded in the center of a group of maids, with cheeks like hibiscus and a body like willows, it was Yuwen Jiayuan, the youngest granddaughter of the Zuo Xiang family. Even in winter, she only wore a slightly thin goose yellow palace skirt, with a fluffy silver fox fur on the outside, and the straps were loosely tied, making her more and more slender waist and graceful posture.

"Brother Xià!"

The fresh and melodious voice came into his ears in the face of Feixue, Su Huan stopped his steps and smiled slightly: "It's Qingyi, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

The broken ice and snow on the road slowly melted under his feet, and the cold was to the bone, but his thin lips were holding the March spring breeze: "The county lord is also going to visit the queen mother?"

Yuwen Jiayuan looked at him, his white face as white as porcelain climbed a little red, and said softly: "Yes, my aunt has been in poor health recently, Sister Anyang is angry with her, and my grandfather asked me to come to see her more." ”

Su Huan put his fist to his mouth and coughed lightly, "The weather is so cold, the county lord is still young, you should wear more to avoid getting cold." ”

Yuwen Jiayuan couldn't help but take a step forward, "Brother Xià, is your illness better? What are those imperial doctors doing in the Imperial Hospital! I'll let my aunt teach them a lesson!"

Su Huan shook his head and said, "No need." I heard that the left minister ......"

"My grandfather's health has not been very good since the beginning of winter, and the imperial doctors have been in the house several times, but they are still like that. ”

Su Huan walked forward and sighed: "Zuo Xiang has worked hard for the country, if I lose my arm, I really don't know what to do." ”

In the evening, the Separation Pearl Palace is lit up with lights, and a few stars of crimson and light gold are faintly floating on the snow curtain, like a gorgeous foam splashed by wine into a crystal cup.

Su Huan stood at the main entrance for a while, his hands in his sleeves clasped together, and the numb feeling seemed as if all his blood and skin had turned into ice cubes. His back was extremely straight, but his body was as if it wasn't his, and it was cold to the bone.

In the wind and snow, a slender black shadow was pulled out on the jade steps, humble and gentlemanly, gentle as jade, and the deep gaze of the gatekeeper palace stayed on his robe of the same color as the snow, he was tucked into the invisible hand between his sleeves, and his elegant and calm, expressionless face.

Yuwen Jiayuan shouted crisply: "Don't you subordinates understand the rules? This county is mainly to see the Queen Mother's aunt, why don't you lead the way quickly!"

The palace was warm and prosperous, Yuwen Jiayuan took off the fox fur and ran to the warm pavilion with her skirt first, snuggled up to the queen mother obediently, shook her arm and whispered: "Auntie......"

The Empress Dowager Yu Wenming is over forty years old, but the imposing beauty has not disappeared from her well-maintained countenance. She is wearing a large-sleeved shirt with autumn fragrance, a red Luo long skirt, a crown of green clouds, and a golden dragon on the collar, which makes the moth eyebrows and phoenix eyes more bright and majestic.

The Queen Mother took Yuwen Jiayuan's hand and patted it, and said loudly: "Come in when your majesty comes, why did the mourning family stop your majesty outside the curtain? Don't let others see the joke." ”

In the middle of the night, the two palace maids opened the bead curtain, and Su Huan strode in and knelt on the carpet in front of the seat.

"The sons see the queen mother. Recently, Mobei is in a hurry, so I only came to leave the Pearl Palace today, hoping that the queen mother will forgive the crime of unfilial piety. The queen mother is unwell, and it is difficult for the ministers to sleep and eat,"

Yuwen Jiayuan dumped Su Huan and ran in first, which was a big crime, but she knew in her heart that if she didn't come in first, I was afraid that this silent emperor's cousin would stay outside until the snow stopped.

The Queen Mother picked up the medicine cup and smiled gracefully, stretched out her hand and said, "Get up quickly." His Majesty was worried about the Turkic disturbance of the border all night, and he chose a day to see the mourning family, who was already very grateful, how could he blame His Majesty? Today, it happened that His Majesty was free, and the Mourning family wanted to discuss a happy event with His Majesty. ”

Before Yuwen Jiayuan remembered it suddenly, his grandfather said earnestly: "Now that you are crowned, the court should have worried about the big wedding a long time ago, you go to the Empress Dowager's palace this time, and obey her arrangement." ”

The daughter of a noble family can't make her own decisions in this life, let alone marriage?

Su Huan didn't get up, and continued to kneel there and said: "There is another matter to ask the queen mother for forgiveness, Li Ke, who collided with Zuo Xiang's sedan chair in Dongshi last month, has committed suicide in the edict prison, and the Suppression Division has not had time to let him be detained, nor has he been able to ask the mastermind behind the scenes. The minister actually put this matter behind him and neglected to inquire about it, which really shouldn't be. ”

The Queen Mother paused in the air with one of her plain hands, and slowly exhaled a breath for a while, and said:

"This man is arrogant and insane, and there is no escaping the death penalty, and since he has committed suicide in fear of sin, the matter is settled. Get up and sit here. ”

He turned his head to Yuwen Jiayuan and smiled: "You see, our emperor is strict, and the mourning family is sick and wants to hear something good, but he seriously told the mourning family about this disappointment." ”

Su Huan stood up, leaned over to the Queen Mother and said, "It's because the minister doesn't understand the queen mother's mind." Speaking of happy events, Chen Zheng remembered that there was indeed - Concubine Le had a body, and the imperial doctor only said good to me yesterday. ”

As soon as the words fell, Yuwen Jiayuan's face suddenly turned pale, and the Queen Mother stroked her niece's hand, and looked at Su Huan with fierce phoenix eyes. Yesterday's joy, today I reported to myself to come, a good time!

Su Huan smiled faintly: "Is the queen mother happy?"

Yuwen Jiayuan glanced at the Queen Mother aggrievedly.

My aunt wrote a while ago to tell her that she has rarely set foot in the harem since she ascended the throne, and the concubines who are fortunate are not of high grade, plus the Yuwen family has a queen mother, if she marries into the palace, no one can shake her position as the queen. But she can't allow the man she wants to marry to have children with other women, at least before she marries, before she has her own prince.

He did it on purpose.

Yuwen Jiayuan suddenly realized something, pinched his knuckles tightly, and stabilized his voice: "Concubine congratulations to Brother Xià, then I'll go to Concubine Le to have a look later, it's rare to enter the palace once, I must give her some gifts." ”

Su Huan didn't sit down, and said first: "Then I will thank the county lord." ”

The Queen Mother, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly stood up from the chair, covered her cherry lips with her wide sleeves and laughed a few times, and took Yuwen Jiayuan's hand and said:

"What kind of gift? Are you the girl's sister or sister? ”

Yuwen Jiayuan, who said a few words, blushed again, "Auntie......"

The Queen Mother walked up to Su Huan, looked directly at him and said, "Last night, the first emperor entrusted a dream to the mourning family, saying that His Majesty was twenty years old, and he should have become a family a long time ago." Although you are not born in the mourning family, the mourning family has also regarded you as their own in these years, and this important matter still has to be asked of you. I don't know if there is a candidate in my heart? Last time I hunted in the autumn, I told you to pay attention to all the ladies. ”

Su Huan looked at him and said: "Erchen doesn't know anything about these things, but he depends on the arrangement of the queen mother. ”

The Queen Mother sighed and said, "You are like this, it seems that I am forcing you." She rubbed her hand over Yuwen Jiayuan's silky hair, "I think about it with your uncle, you have seen a lot of those young ladies and girls, but you are not familiar with them." It is necessary to know that this long-term couple, whether it is a folk or a heavenly family, must first talk about the word understanding. Jiayuan, this girl has been studying with Her Majesty since she was a child, I grew up watching her, and her temperament and appearance are the first-rate in the capital, what do you think?"

Su Huan looked at Yuwen Jiayuan with a smile and said, "The county lord of Qingyi is very good. It's just that I am busy with government affairs, and I am worried that the county lord will be lonely in the palace. The palace is different from the Prime Minister's Mansion, there are many rules, can the county lord stand it?"

The smile on the corner of his lips was extremely gentle and indulgent, and Yuwen Jiayuan's heart jumped, almost forgetting that he even let other concubines have children. The phrase "very good" echoed in her ears over and over again, and she remembered the time when she was a child and called her brother after him, and the picture in her mind coincided with the young man in front of her, with a long body and clear eyebrows, and buried her head in her aunt's arms shyly.

The Queen Mother teased with satisfaction: "Is the county lord able to stand it or not?"

Yuwen Jiayuan raised his eyelashes and said softly: "I can stand it, the concubine is not lonely, and the concubine will accompany His Majesty." ”

Su Huan took out a delicately carved jade hairpin from his sleeve, personally supported her forehead, inserted it into the thick cloud-like bun, and said with a smile:

"After the documents of the Ministry of Rites have been approved, the county lord will wait for the dowry with peace of mind. I didn't bring anything good today, so this hairpin can be regarded as a wronged county lord. ”

Yuwen Jiayuan couldn't help but raise his hand to touch the hairpin, which happened to touch Su Huan's fingers. The temperature made her tremble for a moment, and then said with a smile on her face:

"How can you be wronged, the things that your majesty's brother gave to the concubine, the concubine has always been in the room!"

After all, she is still a girl who has never been in the world, she thought about it, took out a small Xiupa, held it in Su Huan's eyes, "The book says ......" she turned her head away in surprise, "Give each other peonies." ”

The handkerchief was embroidered with a goose-yellow peony, sinuous leaves, turquoise stems, and two fluttering butterflies.

The Queen Mother covered her chest and laughed, and called the maid: "Look at this child, how can you still have a little girl's meaning?

She ordered someone to put the medicine bowl aside, "Your Majesty is interested in this child, the mourning family can already see it, if you don't like it, why are so many girls who accompany you to Jiayuan a county lord?"

Su Huan was just about to speak, when a violent cough interrupted his voice.

*

"The minister's father has been in the matter for seventeen years, has not been involved in selfishness, and admonished him not to be loyal to the first emperor and His Majesty, and now he has been wrongfully imprisoned, his ears have not heard, his eyes have not seen, his hands cannot be moved, his feet cannot be moved, and there is still a little breath in his throat. If His Majesty remembers his loyalty, the minister ......"

Su Huan handed the secret fold to the blind and dumb courtier, "Burn it." ”

At night, the huge Yuheng Hall finally had no palace people coming and going, and Helanjin, the third son of General Jinwu of this dynasty, stood in front of the table dressed in black, watching Jinshang burn the fold he had just handed to ashes.

Su Huan sighed: "His father is dead, let him stop working hard to open the joints." Helan, since you are a Qingliu faction, don't get involved. ”

Last month, Yu Zhen scolded Zuo Xiang on the street in front of the people, and he was a traitor and misled the country, and even the Empress Dowager Yuwen and the eldest princess of Anyang were not spared. Su Huan rushed to put Yu under the edict before the queen mother's decree, and the Zhenfu Division took the first step and tortured people half-dead, and the secret guard wanted to try to find a chance to get people out, but he could only feed him a pill and send him to the western sky. Yu Zhen has been the mainstay of the Han clan over the years, and this death, even a handful of people, Qingliu will hurt his vitality again.

The candle flame was stretched on the wall, and Helanjin unbuttoned a button and changed the subject: "I heard that the Queen Mother plans to give Zuo Xiangfeng Xuanping?"

Su Huan's hand trembled, and the cinnabar pen was finally thrown on the paper.

"Whoever is a minister will be crowned a marquis...... I'm being constrained everywhere now, and the next step is to make this big beam—"

Helan Jin frowned and said, "Your Majesty should be quieter." ”

Su Huan didn't have the heart to criticize the folds anymore, "What do I think in my heart, don't they know? I entered Muyuan to study at the age of five, Taifu taught a lesson I still remember vividly, Yuan Feng to the early years of the Taichu to see the five, the rest of the people sit in the law and die in the country, but even now I and the first emperor combined, it is difficult for them to sit! The royal family withered, relatives interfered in politics, and the internal and external dynasties obeyed the orders of the Yuwen family, and I couldn't sleep at night. ”

Helan Jin's peach blossom eyes burned like obsidian in the dim light, "Your Majesty has to think about the good." The envoy of Nanqi is on the way, but Chen guesses that the letter has arrived, right?"

Su Huan held his forehead, "The Queen Mother intends to marry Qi State, Anyang has run to Qi State now, Helan, did you deliberately make her angry?"

Helan Jin picked up a clean floor tile and sat down, picking up the blades of grass that fell from him on the ground, "The minister really didn't mean it, as soon as he saw the eldest princess like that, the minister couldn't help but want to say something." ”

"According to the ministers, if the Qi country asks for marriage, the empress dowager will not agree, Yuwen's face refuses, and the back must be happy, and the army of Qi welcomes the rebel daughter to the border pass and knocks, and it is done. ”

He said it lightly, and Su Huan smiled bitterly and was speechless, "You said that you want to think about the good." ”

Helan Jin said inexplicably: "Qi Guo begged for marriage, His Majesty had to agree, but the Queen Mother wanted to marry Anyang, it would be even more difficult! Who dared to ask for Anyang, it is rumored that Sheng Yunyi knows the art of a hundred schools and forbids it, presumably his brain is normal, and if he is a normal man, he will not marry her as his own chess, if you take a step, she will eat you." ”

Su Huan tugged at the corners of his mouth and said, "There are also rumors that the first emperor wanted to establish the imperial concubine when I was the crown prince." ”

Helan Jin bent up on one long leg, "Yichen looks, Your Majesty can endure for a while, and when the army led by the Yuwen clan returns to Beijing after suffering a defeat in the north, there will be a chance to mention it in the court." First, His Majesty still has to stabilize the left phase, and the right phase originally wanted to beg for bones in the future, but His Majesty could not allow it. Second, this Qi envoy from the south, His Majesty only needs to call him to talk, if Anyang marries him, it will represent the Su family instead of the Yuwen family, and the water spilled by the married daughter is unbearable, but His Majesty, who is a brother, does not have the reason to hurt his sister in state affairs. Third, His Majesty forgave the ministers for courage, the Southern Qi will make waves, and civil strife will arise, is the envoy's document written by the lord of the country? The minister speculated that if they really went to war, a large number of iron and horses would have to be bought from the grassland and our beams, and at the beginning of spring, the Qi army helped the Western Turks defeat the Eastern Turks, and the horses were enough, but this pig iron ...... So the minister wants to know, Sheng Yunyi's attitude towards the Yuwen clan is not very good, right?"

Su Huan said solemnly: "When the first emperor was alive, the power of salt and iron was controlled in the hands of the Su family, and although the right to sell salt gradually flowed to big merchants, mining and smelting iron, he still tried to avoid the minions of his relatives. If Qi Guo wanted to buy a large amount of iron, it would be easy for me to reply in the paperwork, and the Queen Mother was helpless. ”

The snow particles outside the window were swept by the wind and hit the wall, and the clanging of iron horses was particularly loud in the silent night.

"Helan, the Yuwen clan is leading your family's soldiers, and the casualties are also counted on your father's head. ”

Helanjin squinted at him and smiled: "I don't lead the troops, I'm a Wenchen." He looked at the faint candle flame, "Don't talk about this, is the Empress Dowager getting better?"

Su Huan tirelessly sorted out the books on the table, and his tone softened a lot, "Grandmother is very kind to me, but I see that she is not as good as day by day. I only went to visit her at dinner yesterday, she lay on the couch for a month, and the close grandmother said that she still couldn't sleep well, had nightmares, and missed the child. ”

Helan Jin was stunned for a moment, "That kid ?...... It's called Su Huihui, and he lived in our house for a few days when he was a child. Quiet, tendony, unobnoxious. ”

Su Huan said: "She and Anyang are obviously grandmothers, but they grew up in Yuxiao Mountain, and I don't know if she was raised well in the mountains." If her parents have spirits in heaven, don't let her come back. I remember my grandmother once said that she sent someone to enclose her in that area, and it has been more than ten years, and I haven't heard from her, and the Yuwen clan is lazy, which is fine. ”

He Lanjin shrugged his shoulders and said, "The Empress Dowager just wants to, and she is afraid that she will not be summoned back." I remembered that when I was five years old, I fell into the ice pool, and she called someone to save her, right? ”

Su Huan also remembered something, and her voice was warm: "She was very young at that time, and she always called me brother." His eyes turned cold and fell on the handkerchief embroidered with peony on the table, "Later, Qingyi also followed her by calling that." ”

Helan Jin touched his chin, "Yuwen Jiayuan...... This is also a difficult thing to mess with, in short, be careful. His Majesty agreed to the Queen Mother's matchmaking, and he should be even more cautious after marrying her. ”

Su Huan sneered: "I will never forget the way she waved and drank to the king of Anding, exactly the same as her people. ”

The king of Anding, the biological father of the present, had been buried the year before last, but the present could not attend his funeral. This is the son of the first emperor Empress Yuwen, the son of heaven personally selected by the Empress Dowager.

Helan Jin watched the young gentleman put the delicate handkerchief into the brazier like a burnt fold, the goose-yellow peony petals rolled, the butterfly's wings were raised, and half of the handkerchief turned into ashes.

The sparks splashed on Su Huan's plain soft robe, and he raised his face in the red firelight, with a sad and forbearant expression, but he still smiled slightly.

He said softly, "Helan, you haven't congratulated me yet." ”