The sixteenth year of Yonghe is a busy year.

At the beginning of spring, when the imperial court was still in the period of sealing the pen, a large area of the southwest Sandao region suffered a heavy snowfall disaster once in a century, and the people were not able to make a living.

Fortunately, the nearby Huguang Road and Jianghu Road have sufficient reserves, and cotton and grain are dispatched in time for disaster relief, so that starvation will not be everywhere.

However, the ready-made relief is only a drop in the bucket after all. The consequences of delaying spring plowing are far worse than snow disasters, which will not only affect the autumn harvest, but also make people's livelihoods unsustainable this year, and even worse next year and the year after.

Emperor Yonghe's exhaustion, coupled with his advanced age and physical deterioration, finally suddenly caused a serious illness in mid-March, and his life hung by a thread.

When the society was in crisis, in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of Emperor Wu Zongrui, the courtiers debated the choice of the prince.

But this disease came fiercely, and it went quickly. As soon as the courtier's nomination was submitted, and the final candidate for the prince had not yet been decided, he recovered again. So the matter of Lichu was put on hold again.

The time turned to the end of March, and the new "flower god" was elected at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, and then the holy oracle was appointed as the second princess.

The imperial court finally ushered in the first great event of the year.

Throughout April, Kyoto was immersed in the joy of the first prince of the dynasty.

But I didn't want to, in mid-May, disaster broke out. The southern barbarians invaded the territory, the southwestern border of Jokhang fell with the trend of landslide, and the situation in Yunguidao was urgent.

Emperor Yonghe made a decision immediately, ordered the transfer of troops to the south, and appointed the three princes to worship the deputy marshal of the king's division before the battle.

Inspired by their enthusiasm and pride, nearly half of the children of the various gate clans who gathered in Kyoto because of the joy of the two princes joined the army and participated in the battle to defend the country.

In June, the imperial army was launched.

It took only four months for the Xiongshi to regain all the lost territory, expel the Nanban, suppress the mob, and restore local order.

The good news was sent back to Kyoto first.

The officials and people of Kyoto rushed to tell each other, and the whole world celebrated. Public opinion vigorously proclaimed that since Emperor Wu Zongrui, the Jokhang royal family has produced another brave and warlike god of war.

Almost everyone thought that with this military exploit, the prince who had always been difficult to determine in Emperor Yonghe's heart was none other than the three princes.

However, at this time, Emperor Yonghe suddenly showed an extraordinary preference for the second prince. not only issued a decree to supervise the marriage and make a small decision before the class returned to the court, but also appointed the second prince as the special envoy of the holy car to go out of the city on behalf of the Son of Heaven.

According to this pattern, it is still necessary to establish the prince with the eldest and youngest.

However, as the saying goes, there are unforeseen circumstances in the sky, and people have good and bad luck.

Just when the people were glad that the second prince, who was born weak and sick since childhood, and finally survived to the age of a weak crown, the second prince fell off his horse and died on the way out of the city to sacrifice the army.

With such an absurd accident, the sixteenth year of Yonghe, which was full of disasters and difficulties, came to an end hastily......

Xu Ruliang, who was really only eight years old at the time, didn't know that so many things had happened in the outside world this year. After she became queen, she dug it out from the annals, rumors, and the codex left to her by her eldest aunt.

Among them, there is no record of Emperor Yonghe's sudden illness this time, and the eldest aunt's codex only writes "for the reason", and does not specify the "why".

The truth was mentioned by Mu Lianxuan when she showed her that the courtiers recommended the prince.

At that time, she was very surprised and asked, "Did the emperor ever be sick?" ”

Mu Lianxuan didn't answer her.

It can be seen that there is something strange......

However, whether it is strange or not, national political events have not had a direct impact on her at the moment.

But it is not completely without effect - the emperor is sick, and the prince must return to the palace to serve the sick.

In other words, Mu Lianxuan may leave Pingyang Wangfu at any time.

As for the emperor after recovering from his illness, in order to avoid suspicion, he probably will not come to Pingyang Palace.

Xu Ruliang thought about it, walked out of the wing, and shouted to the two people in the main room: "Mu Lianxuan, stop!" ”

Mu Lianxuan suddenly became distracted, his chest opened wide, he punched a strong fist in the middle of his heart, and took a few steps back.

Xu Rujing was not a villain who took advantage of people's danger to chase and fight, so he immediately stopped his hand, ran to his sister's side, and said with concern: "What's wrong?" What happened? ”

"It's not a big deal." Xu Ruliang disguised it: "It's just that I suddenly remembered that I saw an endgame from the book before, and I heard that the Third Highness has superb chess skills, and I want to ask the Third Highness for advice." You'll fight another day, let me finish the endgame first, okay? ”

In any case, you have to finish the game, and the promise of one thing is captured first.

Xu Rujing didn't know why, and said with a smile: "What kind of endgame? Brother can help you see, don't bother outsiders. ”

The word "outsider" is a bit harsh. Xu Ruliang was slightly stunned, Mu Lianxuan had already passed straight between the two brothers and sisters, and Mu Su and Yan Ming were about to leave.

The situation did not allow her to hesitate any longer, and hurriedly said: "Please stay with the Third Highness." ”

Someone looked back and smiled: "What? ”

"There is an endgame...... Xu Ruliang was a little weak-hearted, worried that he wouldn't buy it, and he didn't dare to say too much.

Mu Lianxuan glanced at Xu Rujing, who was secretly angry, and said meaningfully: "Brother Ling's chess skills are not bad." ”

I didn't buy it.

But what can I do with him?

Xu Ruliang could only say to Xu Rujing: "My father just allowed me to participate in the Hundred Flowers Banquet, my brother will go back to wash up first, change his clothes, and accompany me to greet my father later, okay?" ”

"Really? All right! ”

Xu Rujing is worried that her sister is getting older, but because of her stepmother's control, she has almost no friends. Knowing that she could go to the Hundred Flowers Banquet, I was very happy for her. At that moment, he put aside his personal temper and left with a sloppy voice.

Mu Lianxuan slowly raised his eyebrows.

Xu Ruliang ordered someone to move the chessboard in the bedroom, but heard a low sneer: "Duplicity!" ”

"Who did Wang Zisu say?"

Mu Su said casually: "Who else can there be?" Your brother. ”

"Behind the scenes, criticize others, but what a gentleman does?" Xu Ruliang was angry in his heart, no matter who the other party was, he put on a straight face.

Mu Su laughed and leaned over to look at her, "Let's make a bet." ”

"Bet on what?"

"Fifty times, I bet your brother will ask you to help him pass the word to the fifth princess, do you dare?"

With the current economic order of the Jokhang that 1,000 Wen and 5 Wen can buy a bucket of rice, the price of the rice in the year of the imperial court is only more than 100 yuan. Rao is Xu Rulianggui's eldest daughter of the palace, and the monthly allowance she receives from the public is only thirty wen.

As soon as Mu Su opened his mouth, he gambled fifty times......

It can be seen that there is a lot of confidence.

Xu Ruliang had never heard of her brother and the fifth princess intersecting before, and couldn't help but be suspicious, "Since you want to bet with me, you should always let me know what the situation is, otherwise I misjudged and lost, how can you win above board?" ”

"Your brother didn't tell you anything?" Mu Su said strangely: "It seems that he really doesn't have your sister in his heart." ”

"The prince said about him left and right, it can be seen that his heart is weak, I will not make this bet with you."

Xu Ruliang was about to go to the wisteria trellis to sit down.

Mu Su teased: "The fifth princess took the initiative to show favor to your brother several times, and your brother didn't care about others, pretending to be Liu Xia Hui." Actually, hmph, it's a lot of fun! ”

"Speak with evidence."

"Evidence? I heard just now that you were going to enter the palace, didn't you see that his mouth was grinning to the root of his ears? ”

"Brother, that's happy for me......"

As if hearing a joke, Mu Su smiled disdainfully: "Happy for you? Danyang little county lord, don't be stupid, your brother is a drunkard who doesn't mean to drink. ”

The words are endless, and the logic is messy, but the amount of information is a bit large.

Xu Ruliang digested silently.

Mu Su saw that she didn't speak for a long time, but she was jealous and secretly hurt herself, and mended the knife proudly: "Eh, you are still angry for him, what he thinks in his heart is not your sister." ”