The seventh day of the summer month got this amazing news after the afternoon of the third day of the eighth month.

On the first day of August, the soldiers and civilians of Beijing were still "picking up the crown and wearing the plains", and the matter that His Royal Highness the King of Jin was going to go to southern Xinjiang again was finalized. On the third day of the eighth month, an official document drawn up with a blue pen flew out of the military department, and after the approval of Emperor Zhu, it finally fell into the hands of Zhao Zhu.

As a result, the Jin Palace, which had been cold in front of the door for a long time, became lively again.

The heart of the emperor is unfathomable. The heart of King Jin is even more unpredictable.

Even though the ministers had doubts, no one answered them.

No one knows what happened between the two uncles and nephews, but the officials have a keen sense of smell, and overnight, it seems that everyone has felt it, since the night when the abandoned deserted hall of the cold palace caught fire, the feelings of the uncle and nephew have become delicate. Regardless of internal or external affairs, Zhao Mianze is no longer taboo against Zhao Zhu, and Zhao Zhu no longer shirks the government, and takes the lead in giving advice to Zhao Mianze, as if he is a good minister of the country.

Zhao Mianze agreed with a high profile, and everyone thought that the King of Jin, who had lost his amnesia, would refuse this thankless errand, but he also agreed.

Xu Longwen brought it up, and everyone thought that Zhao Mianze would not let Zhao Zhu lead the army and go into battle in armor at this bone joint, but he agreed.

But no one dared to mention it before, why? Just because everyone knows the "embarrassment".

In terms of strategy, experience, and affinity, Zhao Zhu is a well-deserved general of the Southern Expedition.

Discussed and discussed, avoided and avoided, and finally Xu Wenlong, the Duke of Liang, pointed his name to Zhao Zhu's head.

However, the advice, good words, and false words were disturbed one after another, but they could not find a suitable general who could clear the chaos in southern Xinjiang. For the first time since Emperor Jianzhang succeeded to the throne, Dayan entered a state of intense combat readiness. But over the years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there have been frequent wars in Dayan, and those heroes and good generals who followed Emperor Hongtai from birth to death have either died in political struggles or died in imperial suspicion, but there are not too many generals who can really lead the troops to deploy the formation.

For half a month, the palace gate was under martial law, the imperial city was blocked, and the number of soldiers in the capital city exceeded the number of ordinary people walking in the streets. In addition to serving the mourning of the Empress Dowager, Zhao Mianze repaired the imperial mausoleum and supervised the Beijing army, which was very busy. Every day, he served in the side hall of Fengtian Temple, and discussed with his ministers the measures to pacify the chaos in southern Xinjiang.

Especially coinciding with the invasion of the Una countries, the people of Jingshi are more like being involved in a pot of hot water, and there are endless topics every day, mourning the country, mourning the people, mourning life, everyone is waiting for the development of the situation, and everyone can smell the bloody smell in the sky.

The funeral is also a lively event.

After the funeral, the royal family and nobles had to fast at home, and the ministers and officials of various ministries and institutes had to perform a collective fasting ceremony in the Yamen, and the rest of the idle officials in Beijing gathered outside the Fengtian Gate to fast and were not allowed to go home.

The funeral of the Empress Dowager passed in a solemn atmosphere. At the end of July, the feudal kings who were divided into various places, including King Ning, King An, King Xiang, King Wu, etc., entered the court one after another, and entered the imperial city after kneeling and bowing at the Fengtian Gate, keeping filial piety for the Empress Dowager.

~

He didn't answer, and Dongfang Qingxuan didn't ask anymore, but just smiled and sighed tacitly, and said an ambiguous and extremely difficult to understand sentence, "No matter what, you stopped Zhao Zhu and calmed down the situation." Otherwise, how many people would have to fall into the abyss with him, and there would be no way out. ”

Like the wind, it was as if it didn't hear.

"You've always been, but you've never been there."

Dongfang Qingxuan smiled lightly, turned his head little by little, his gentle gaze fell on Rufeng's hand, his narrow eyes narrowed, and in that sight, there was no disappointment, no sadness, no sadness, and no understanding.

"The subordinates have always been there."

There is no emotion on Rufeng's face, his eyes are cold, and his voice is cold.

Rufeng hurriedly helped him and didn't say a word. He sighed and laughed to himself, "I'm glad to have you." ”

Dongfang Qingxuan walked with a smile, but stumbled under his feet.

"Yes." Like the wind on his wrist.

"Like the wind, help this seat to pass!"

Dongfang Qingxuan didn't look up, only saw a pair of white soap boots on the ground. He put his hands on his knees, hesitated for a long time, and then straightened up, stretched out a slender and white hand, and smiled calmly and calmly.

A towel that was also white was handed over.

"The Grand Duke!"

He suddenly closed his eyes, slashed at his throat, and spat out with a "wow", an irrepressible feeling of vomiting hit his stomach.

Heaven and earth, quietly, it seems that he is the only one left. He pursed his throat and pursed his mouth to wipe the blood from his body, but no matter how much he wiped it, it was still a piercing scarlet.

Under the moonlit night, he took a breath and looked up at the sky.

In the sky, the moon is shining.

Dongfang Qingxuan was the last person to leave the Deserted Palace, and he looked at the direction of Zhao Mianze's departure from a distance, his posture motionless. It wasn't until the beam behind him was burned to the ground that he swept out.

"In this way, I am at ease."

Zhao Mianze nodded, glanced at the raging firelight, and his pale face seemed to have recovered a trace of blood. He let out a long breath, and the uneasy emotion in his chest was settled.

"Let's go back, the ministers are in a hurry."

Outside the one-leaf lattice window on the side of the hall, Jiao Yu shouted "Your Majesty" in a low voice, trembling to support Zhao Mianze, who was watching from the sidelines, his mind was chaotic, and he had not yet recovered from the frightened scene in the previous deserted hall.

Without looking at the child who was slowly devoured in the fire, Zhao Zhu turned around, straightened his back, strode away, startled the jackdaw, stepped on the wild grass, and did not hesitate for a moment, and the filial piety clothes that were laid out contrasted with the bright red sea of fire showed an extremely strange color.

"Farewell!"

"I don't dare to forget."

Dongfang Qingxuan chuckled lightly and did not stop it. Zhao Zhu didn't give any explanation, but in the spreading firelight, he glanced at Dongfang Qingxuan, and said lightly, "Don't forget that on the day of the king's wedding, carry a sedan chair for the king." ”

"The sixth master said that this seat is crazy, it seems that you are the crazy person!"

But in an instant, the spark spread.

The wind fuels the fire, and the fire burns with it.

"You don't have to." Zhao Bottle said coldly, walked over and picked up the fire candle that was still burning on the desk, gently raised it, and threw it on the curtain scattered on the ground with a "poof".

"Then you came, did you take her away?"

Looking at the ruthlessness in his eyes, Dongfang Qingxuan smiled gently.

Zhao Bottle snorted coldly, and glanced at him, "Probably this is the tradition of the Zhao family." Where there is a father, there is a son. ”

Dongfang Qingxuan looked at him intently, and only smiled for a long time, "The sixth master still knows how to intercede, but your father said that he died well, which is wonderful." Tiger poison does not eat children, the nineteenth master has forgotten the past, and even the virtue of human nature has forgotten? ”

Zhao Tsun glanced at the familiar swaddling clothes, and his throat tightened slightly, "Each of you said that she was my child, and Miss Seven also said that he was my child." But this king has long been unable to remember those pasts, so he can't do anything. And what if she's my child? As the Metropolitan Governor said, there are many sufferings in the world, so it is better to go with a knife and suffer less pain, which is also her blessing. ”

Dongfang Qingxuan laughed, "Who else can you deceive with this?" ”

Zhao Jun sneered, "He's not my child." ”

Dongfang Qingxuan smiled again, "Your child is dead." ”

Zhao Jun asked rhetorically, "Why should this king be sad?" ”

Dongfang Qingxuan was stunned for a moment, then laughed "sneer", aimed at the baby's corpse, as if he had never heard the sharp scream of the kitten before, and walked towards the man with light steps, "The ruthless person should be His Royal Highness the King of Jin." Seeing such a situation, why is this seat sad not to see you? ”

Two people and one sentence are said in a paradoxical way.

"Yes, so you're talented."

"It's not easy to eat these days, hehe."

"How can I see you so inhuman if you don't come?"

Dongfang Qingxuan smiled, "I shouldn't be here." ”

The man said, "But here I am." ”

"You shouldn't have come."

Dongfang Qingxuan raised his eyebrows slightly, glanced at the man with his brows furrowed tightly, and there was a touch of luster in his bewitching eyes, but his breathing was slow, and his speech speed was extremely slow.

"If you kill someone, you can still laugh so happily, in the whole world, only the governor has one ear."

At this moment, a long figure slowly paced into the temple. He pursed his lips tightly, glanced at the small corpse on the chair, and his eyes shot at Dongfang Qingxuan like a sharp arrow, as if he wanted to turn into a blade and pierce his body.

In the air, there was chaos.

He pulled the corners of his lips and smiled, as if he couldn't smell the pungent smell of blood, carelessly took out the white towel, and carefully wiped his brain-stained embroidered spring knife with blood, until the knife body once again turned into a cold and shining metallic color, as clean as if he had never killed anyone, he still didn't stop wiping, but glanced at the child's clear and tearful eyes.

No, there was another person, or a corpse.

The night breeze was blowing slowly, and in the desolate hall, only Dongfang Qingxuan was alone.

A group of Praetorian Guards who had come with him also dispersed.

But he eventually left, without taking the child with him.

Faintly, there was the sound of Zhao Kai vomiting outside the hall.

"Hehe......" Dongfang Qingxuan smiled.

Zhao Kai couldn't answer, looking at the blood stains that couldn't be concealed, he raised his hand, stroked his chest in iron armor, his eyes were half-squinted, and he felt that the gurgling blood was extremely dazzling, and the food in his stomach was churning out, and finally he couldn't help but "vomit" and strode out.

In the strong smell of blood, Dongfang Qingxuan gently wrapped the swaddling clothes, held the child's small body tightly with pity, put it on the chair beside him, and pointed at her, the smile on his face faintly swept a touch of sadness, "The sixth master can take it away." You don't have to blame yourself. Everyone is going to die, and she is lucky to have left this ugly world before she has experienced pain. ”

"The embroidered spring knife in this seat is very fast, and she has no pain."

It is the nature of people to protect young calves, and Zhao Kai has also killed people, and he has killed a lot. But he has never killed a child, let alone seen who can kill as beautiful, so glamorous, and so demonic as Dongfang Qingxuan when he is killing. It was as if he wasn't killing people at all, just a kind of appeasement to stop crying.

He didn't dare to look at Dongfang Qingxuan's smiling face.

Zhao Kai closed his eyes tightly.

Appalling.

But Zhao Kai knew that this was not an illusion. Because with that short hum, a line of blood rushed out to the sky, and the sharp embroidered spring knife split the child's brain, not only destroying her facial features, but also the mixture of brains and blood that spurted out fell on Dongfang Qingxuan's white filial piety clothes.

It's so fast that it seems like it's just an illusion at all.

It's so fast that it doesn't seem to have happened at all.

Dongfang Qingxuan's speed of killing is too fast.

Raising his eyebrows, Dongfang Qingxuan didn't wait for Zhao Kai to answer, his hand raised the knife and fell, and he heard a miserable scream of "whoop". It was short, it was low, like a kitten swallowing softly, and the baby's crying stopped.

"Alas! Looking at the appearance of the sixth master, he is also untouchable. The bad things in the world have been done, and this one is not bad. Let's do this here. ”

Zhao Kai's throat seemed to be sealed, and he couldn't speak.

"I ......"

"Could it be that the sixth master wants to grab this opportunity to be loyal to His Majesty with this seat and do it himself?" Dongfang Qingxuan's face melted into the dim light, as if he was smiling, but he didn't smile at all.

"Dadu Governor ......" saw that he raised the embroidered spring knife in his hand again, Zhao Kai's hand on the handle of the knife tightened, tightened and tightened, but his steps weighed more than a thousand catties, and his heart was like hemp rope.

"Sixth Master stand on the side, don't get bloody. The Empress Dowager was in mourning, unlucky. ”

His low voice, with a bit of coquettishness, didn't sound bloody, but Zhao Kai felt that the blood on his body had coagulated in an instant, and he involuntarily took two steps back, but Dongfang Qingxuan took a step forward and flicked his shoulder lightly.

Dongfang Qingxuan smiled again: "If people don't do it for themselves, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed." Could it be that the sixth master wants to exchange his life for her life? Oh, no. Even if the sixth master throws his own life, he can't change her life. After a pause, he said, "Because, this seat will not give the sixth master such a chance." ”

Zhao Kai's footsteps paused slightly.

"Heh, the sixth master is kind-hearted." Dongfang Qingxuan chuckled, gently wrapped the child in the crook of his arm, glanced at Zhao Kai without waves, and said slowly in a very small voice, "Don't blame this seat for not reminding you, she is Zhao Zhu's child, and in this world, she can't be tolerated." If she doesn't die, many people will die. Including the sixth master - you. ”

Zhao Kai's heart jumped, his footsteps got closer and closer, and the tip of the knife in his hand was getting closer and closer to him, "No matter whose child it is, this king can't bear to let him die." ”

"Shameless!" Zhao Kai said "swish", pointed at him with a knife, and approached step by step. But Dongfang Qingxuan was not afraid, and in a pair of smiling eyes, he inexplicably showed a touch of pity to him, and smiled lightly and mocked, "Sixth Master, do you know whose child this is in the hands of this seat?" ”

"Didn't the sixth master hear, Your Majesty said, the child is at my disposal?" Dongfang Qingxuan smiled, his eyes looked at Zhao Kai's somewhat uncontrollable face, "If I were the sixth master, I wouldn't interfere in such a thankless task." Everyone spares their lives, but those who deserve to die have to die. ”

"It's okay if you want to think like that."

"Is the sixth master trying to threaten me?"

"Do you give or not?"

"You ......" Listening to the heart-rending cry of the little baby, Ren is a ruthless person like Zhao Kai, and his heart seems to be scalded by boiling water, and he is so uncomfortable that a stream of blood swells up, and he draws out the knife with a "whoosh".

"What does the life of others have to do with this seat?"

Holding back the earth-shaking emotions in his heart, Zhao Kai said calmly, and slowly took another step closer, wanting to take back people from Dongfang Qingxuan. But Dongfang Qingxuan seemed to have already sensed his intentions, and the smile in his pale amber eyes permeated his delicate face, making him look like a messenger sent from heaven, soft to the extreme, and charming to the extreme.

"This king......" Zhao Kai gritted his teeth, the palm on the waist knife tightened and tightened, his eyes stared at him, and he only felt that the wetness in his palm was condensed in his heart, "Why should the Metropolitan Governor of the East be like this?" Isn't it good to leave a glimmer of life for her? ”

"Sixth Master, you are the crazy person."

"Dongfang Qingxuan, you're crazy!" Zhao Kai was stunned for a moment, and quickly dodged over, wanting to snatch back the child in his hand. Dongfang Qingxuan swayed and easily avoided him, with a touch of contempt spreading on his face.

"Sixth master, don't worry, what this seat is talking about...... The body is yours. ”

Zhao Kai breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to reach out to pick it up, but he didn't expect that the embroidered spring knife that Dongfang Qingxuan pulled out was gently placed on the child's neck, gesturing one by one, with a soft smile on his face that had never changed, as if taking a person's life, but it was just a trivial matter like eating and drinking.

"Thank you, Grand Governor—"

"When did the sixth master become so compassionate? I'm not used to it. Looking down at the crying baby, Dongfang Qingxuan patted her little body coaxing and smiled, "However, since the sixth master has opened his mouth, then this seat will sell you a favor." ”

Zhao Kai clenched his fists and stared at Dongfang Qingxuan with a glittering gaze, "Metropolitan Governor, no matter what happens, the child is innocent in the end." Why don't you give her to me? How is it? ”

The dusty tables and chairs, the web-clapping spiders, are all gloomy.

In the flickering lights, no one spoke. Except for the occasional "crackling" sound from the candle flame, in the huge space, only the newborn baby who didn't know the danger was still crying "wah-wow-wow-la-la".

With that, he strode out of the desolate hall.

"You watch the processing."

Zhao Mianze didn't look back, only whispered.

"Your Majesty!" This time, the person who shouted Zhao Mianze was Dongfang Qingxuan. The handle of the embroidered spring knife in his hand was still shining with a faint cold light, and his flower-like bewitching face had the same smile as always, but the coldness in his tone was difficult to hide, "What should I do with this child?" ”

"Yes." The military situation was urgent, He Chengan replied cautiously, bowed down and walked in front of Zhao Mianze, and hurriedly ran out of the hall.

"Command the ministers and ascend to the heavenly temple."

"The minions are here!" He Chengan stepped forward carelessly.

"He Cheng'an."

His mind sank, and he frowned.

Soon after Zhao Mianze ascended the throne, it was at a time when the people were at peace and the state was seeking stability, and the resumption of war on the frontier would only weaken his power and cause his ruling power to decline rapidly, which was by no means a good thing.

If the previous water seepage in the imperial tomb was shocking, then this time it is a real shock. The relationship with the countries of Una has been peaceful for a long time since Zhao Zhu's soldiers arrived in Una three years ago and fought against the bloody battle of more than 100,000 soldiers. Why are they suddenly attacking in a big way?

"What?"

"Yes." Zhao Kai said: "It is reported that since the country of Una was defeated by the King of Jin three years ago, it has ostensibly called Da Yan a tribute and is a country of my vassal, but secretly it has colluded with Ah Hu and Annan to communicate with each other. Half a month ago, I learned that there were several major cases in my country, and the relationship with Beidi was tense again, and war was about to start. Una's ambition was revived, and he contacted the Ahu and Annan ministries, and entangled hundreds of thousands of troops to invade our southern Xinjiang again. By the time the military information was transmitted to Beijing, the rebels of the Three Kingdoms had crossed the Lancang River, and Heqing, Dali, Chuxiong, Yuanjiang and other prefectures had fallen, and the rebels invaded the north on a large scale, plundering wealth and goods, and classifying the Yan people as slaves...... General Min Bohou received the news and led 100,000 troops stationed in the Yunnan border area, and fought fiercely with the traitor in the Nanpan area for five days, and the whole army was annihilated. General Min was martyred, and the elite of the border army was scattered into sand, and suffered heavy losses......"

"Say!" Zhao Mianze's face turned completely dark.

Zhao Kai lowered his head, his expression was slightly afraid, "The reason why the minister hesitated was because of this matter, compared with the aftermath of the Empress Dowager, it was more important. ”

"Yes. …… The minister is guilty. ”

"And?" Zhao Mianze paused, and when he looked back, his face was already a little ugly, "Sixth uncle, the aftermath of the imperial grandmother is the top priority in the court. What are you procrastinating here? If there is anything else, hurry up and tell me together. ”

"Your Majesty, wait a minute, there is one more thing ......"

But Zhao Kai choked up, but blocked him.

Before the Empress Dowager was buried, there were so many unusual things, coupled with the usual "prophecy", a mishandling will not only cause speculation among the ministers, but also make the people fearful, which is not conducive to the stability of national affairs. This kind of thing should not be underestimated, and Zhao Mianze must rush over because of reason.

"I'm going to take a look."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Mianze lost his color.

"And ......" Zhao Kai seemed to hesitate, his slightly clenched fingers rubbed uncomfortably, and his voice sank a lot, "Master Daochang said that the death of the Empress Dowager was caused by Miss Xia Qi's catastrophe, and the water seepage in the mausoleum is just a heavenly wrath, and it will not be a matter of fact, I am afraid that there are other heavenly warnings." As a result, the chamberlain found that the Azusa Palace, where the body of the Empress Dowager was placed, was damaged, and there were rats, insects and mosquitoes that had penetrated into it, and the funeral things were all damaged, not to mention that the summer was hot and humid, and her old man's body was also ruined......

"Water seepage?" Zhao Mianze was stunned for a moment, and then eased his expression, "It's still early before the day of the funeral, and it's still too late to notify the Ministry of Industry to send someone to repair it, and it won't be lost." What else? ”

Looking at this nephew who is becoming more and more imperial, Zhao Kai's expression was slightly nervous, and there was an inexplicable uneasiness, "The first thing, the Xiaoling guards came to report that the thunderstorm a few days ago caused the Empress Dowager's mausoleum to seep water, and I am afraid that after sending someone to repair it, I can only enter the burial." ”

"Whatever you want." Zhao Mianze frowned, as if displeased.

Zhao Kai ran in a hurry, panting and glancing at the little baby that Dongfang Qingxuan picked up in his hand, as if relieved, the hand that held the handle of the knife loosened, and he clenched his fists and shook it, before he whispered: "There are several important things, which one does Your Majesty want to listen to first?" ”

"Why is Uncle Six so flustered?"

What he means is that Zhao Kai is here, and it seems that it is not good to kill people. Zhao Mianze glanced at the embroidered spring knife he put into the tip of the knife, and did not say anything, but turned his head to look at Zhao Kai, who was sweating profusely.

"The sixth master is here!"

Disturbed by his frightened shout, Dongfang Qingxuan seemed to be stunned, deviated from the direction, and waved the embroidered spring knife, which happened to sweep the corner of the child's clothes. He didn't make up for it, just smiled and caught the baby crying with "wow" in the swaddling and swaddling clothes with one hand.

Behind him, there were countless Praetorian Guards.

In a low shout, there was a rush of footsteps outside the deserted hall, and the person who walked in with the exclamation of the jackdaw was Zhao Kai in a filial piety suit.

"Your Majesty, something is wrong!"