Empress Dowager Han has always been strong, and what she proposed in the past, the courtiers almost dared to oppose it. However, this time, the Empress Dowager Han hit a nail. The courtiers were almost unanimous in opposing Empress Dowager Han's proposal.

Since the Beiban made peace with Daqin, Changning and his relatives went to the Beiban, although the Beiban did not send troops to attack Zhenshan Pass, but the harassment of the small force did not completely end.

In addition, Beiban also used Changning as an excuse several times to ask Daqin for east and west.

Now that the northern tuntian has achieved initial results, there is grain in the grain depot, but I am afraid that the northern barbarians are red. If Empress Dowager Han proposed to Beiban at this time that Changning should return to the province, Beiban would definitely take the opportunity to open his mouth.

The courtiers have a clear account in their hearts, Changning is a woman who is married out, and she spills basin water. Wanting Changning to return to the province just satisfies the selfishness of the Empress Dowager Han alone, but it requires the court and the people to pay a great price.

And the reason why many courtiers disagreed with Empress Dowager Han's proposal was because they guessed the true purpose of Empress Dowager Han.

It is a fake to want Changning to return to the province, and it is the ultimate goal of the Empress Dowager Han to take Changning back and not go to the North Barbarians.

And if the Empress Dowager Han is allowed to do this, then there will be a resurgence of smoke between Great Qin and the Northern Barbarians.

The courtiers cherished the peace that was not easy to obtain, and were unwilling to drag the entire Great Qin into the war again for the sake of Changning and the selfish interests of the Empress Dowager Han.

This is the first time since the death of the first emperor and the accession of Emperor Longqing to the throne that the Empress Dowager Han has encountered such great resistance.

This time, the court meeting ended early, and the Empress Dowager Han brushed her sleeves away.

Therefore. Qin Zhen also returned to King An's Mansion earlier than usual and went to the upper room of Xuchun Hall to see Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang saw that Qin Zhen was back, so he got up from the couch. stepped forward to personally help Qin Zhen take off his court clothes, and personally handed the wet face towel to Qin Zhen's hand.

Although Qin Zhen felt very sorry for Ji Xiaotang, he was also happy to let Ji Xiaotang do such a small thing of personal service for him, which made him feel closer to Ji Xiaotang.

"Why did the prince come back so early today?" Ji Xiaotang asked casually.

"Naturally, there is a reason." Qin Zhen told Ji Xiaotang about Empress Dowager Han's request for Changning to return to the province, as well as the reaction of the courtiers.

Qin Zhen freshened up, changed into a homely robe, and sat on the couch with Ji Xiaotang.

"The Queen Mother actually has such a plan?" Ji Xiaotang listened to Qin Zhen's words. I was slightly surprised. "She's a little too anxious."

If Daqin has fully recovered now, then Empress Dowager Han should not encounter such great resistance if she wants to take Changning back.

Subjective emotions aside. Just from the perspective of objective conditions, it is very unwise to take Changning back now.

"The Queen Mother is getting older, and she is like that with Your Majesty. So I miss Changning very much. Qin Zhen said slowly.

Empress Dowager Han only gave birth to one son and one daughter in her life. Although Emperor Longqing obeyed her. But he was extremely estranged from her in his heart, and there seemed to be a moat between mother and son.

And because of several conflicts in recent years, and Emperor Longqing's health is getting worse and worse, the mother and son can hardly even maintain the superficial mother and son filial piety.

In this case, it is reasonable that Empress Dowager Han misses Changning more and more.

"But the Queen Mother is not a person who loves children. Doesn't she know that our current situation does not have the conditions to take Changning back at all? Ji Xiaotang frowned slightly.

Qin Zhen sneered twice.

"Although the Queen Mother has a firm grasp of authority. When it comes to this military event, she may not really understand. "And. In the opinion of Empress Dowager Han, Daqin has been slowly recovering, especially she has almost blind trust in Qi Younian in Zhenshan Pass, in her opinion, now taking back Changning, even if it conflicts with the Northern Barbarians, Qi Younian can deal with it.

Moreover, if Changning stays in Beiman for one more day, he will suffer one more day. In such a wild place, Changning has been pampered since childhood, who knows when something will happen.

"The Queen Mother wants to take Changning back, there should be another reason." Ji Xiaotang thought about it and said.

"Why?" Qin Zhen asked.

"Your Majesty's body, I'm afraid it's even worse than it looks." Ji Xiaotang lowered his voice slightly.

Qin Zhen was silent, just nodded lightly.

While the two were talking, someone outside came to report that Han Ge Lao Han Yi was visiting.

Han Yi is not only an important minister of the imperial court, but also Qin Zhen's cousin. However, he was not very close to Qin Zhen, and he rarely came to King An's Mansion before. After Ji Xiaotang married into King An's Mansion, he held several very elegant banquets, and the old man knew about it, and asked someone to pay a tactful greeting, so Ji Xiaotang and Qin Zhen sent him a post.

Han Yi came to King An's Mansion twice, and then occasionally came to the door to chat with Qin Zhen, or to play chess with Ji Xiaotang.

No matter who looks at it, they will feel that Han Ge Lao is more like Ji Xiaotang's cousin than Qin Zhen's cousin.

And Qin Zhen's attitude towards this cousin is also quite intriguing.

Hearing that it was Han Yi who came, Qin Zhen did not speak immediately, but looked at Ji Xiaotang.

"The Queen Mother mentioned that Changning should return to the province, did Han Ge Lao say anything?" Ji Xiaotang asked Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen shook his head, and Han Ge Lao did not express any opinions in the court. But when it comes to Han Yi's status, many words no longer need him to say them personally.

Han Yi's meaning, naturally, his henchmen will say it for him.

"It seems that Elder Han Ge does not agree with Empress Dowager Han's proposal." Ji Xiaotang pondered.

"I guess so." Qin Zhen nodded.

So now Han Ge is coming to Anwangfu for what.

Han Yi seems to like the banquet held by Ji Xiaotang very much, and he has special respect for Ji Xiaotang's "Qushui Liuzhen" arranged according to the biography of the ancients. However, Ji Xiaotang would not think that Han Yi came to King An's Mansion just because he liked the ingenious party banquet of King An's Mansion, and she would not think that Han Yi would come to play against her because he regarded her as a simple chess friend.

In any case, the arrival of such a figure cannot be turned away.

"Please come to Duofuxuan to speak." Qin Zhen ordered to go down, and asked Ji Xiaotang at the same time. "Xiaotang, how about coming with me to meet Elder Han Ge?"

"Okay." Ji Xiaotang nodded happily and agreed.

Because the person who came to report just now knew that Han Yi was wearing his usual clothes at home. Therefore, Qin Zhen and Ji Xiaotang did not change their clothes, so they went out of Xuchun Hall hand in hand and came to Duofuxuan.

Entering Duofuxuan, Han Yi was already waiting in his seat.

Han Yi stood up and greeted Qin Zhen and Ji Xiaotang.

Qin Zhen and Ji Xiaotang were both busy returning the courtesy. On the public, Han Yi is the auxiliary minister left by the first emperor, the first assistant of the current dynasty, and the private. He is also the elder of the two.

After the two sides saluted, the guests and hosts were seated.

Han Yi is also in a wide robe with big sleeves, and his attitude is very comfortable. It's like you're at home.

"I have some leisure today, I wanted to go to Jing'an Temple to have a cup of tea, but when I walked near King An's Mansion, I suddenly changed my mind. I want to see the prince and the princess. If it is convenient for the princess, it will be better if she can talk to the princess for a game. Han Yi said with a smile.

He is over the age of sixteen, but he has a childish face, and his voice is slightly low when he speaks, but it is very soft, which makes people listen to it like a spring breeze.

It's just that these words are a little polite. It can even be said to be hypocritical.

Ji Xiaotang knew in his heart that Han Yi had come to King An's Mansion on purpose. But what to say about Jing'an Temple is obviously a bit deliberate, even hypocritical.

Han Yi shouldn't have been such a person, but I don't know why, he was always like this in front of Qin Zhen.

"It's rare for the old man to have leisure, and to be able to come to King An's mansion, our husband and wife are welcome." Qin Zhen said with a smile, but there was no warmth in his smile and tone.

"The elder is not disgusted, he is willing to teach me chess skills, and the younger generation can't ask for it." Ji Xiaotang's attitude towards Han Yi was much better.

Han Yi has good looks, good demeanor, and is erudite and talented, and his conversation is even more first-class, Ji Xiaotang likes this old man a little.

"The old man also brought a pack of big red robes, if there is snow and water, it is the most suitable." As Han Yi spoke, he really took out a delicate and small cloisonné enamel tea pot from his sleeve.

This is going to play against Ji Xiaotang for tea.

Ji Xiaotang couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

As soon as Qin Zhen gave the order, someone prepared Hetian Yu's chessboard chess pieces and came up, and the three of them moved from the main hall to the flower hall on the side. Ji Xiaotang and Han Yi sat opposite each other, and Qin Zhen sat next to Ji Xiaotang. The plum snow water on the small red clay stove next to it was already boiling softly.

This moment is actually quiet and beautiful.

This is not the first time that such a scene has been in King An's Mansion.

Han Yi was very slow to play chess, and it seemed that most of his mind was not on the chessboard. Ji Xiaotang also followed Han Yi's rhythm, and occasionally whispered a few words with Qin Zhen, and the three of them tasted tea on the one hand, and gossiped without a word on the other.

"Xiaotang's chess skills have improved again." Han Yi saw that Ji Xiaotang had fallen, so he said with a smile.

"The elder of the pavilion has won the award, and if the younger generation has improved in chess skills, it is thanks to the recent guidance of the elder of the pavilion." Ji Xiaotang responded with a smile.

When the princess said this, the old man didn't dare to be. The old man once pointed out the princess, and it was true that he always came to disturb the princess. ”

"Playing chess with the younger generation is the guidance of the younger generation."

Elder Han Ge raised his eyes, glanced at Ji Xiaotang quickly, and then lowered his eyelids again, but his dark eyes were full of smiles.

Regarding Ji Xiaotang's words about his guidance to her, this time he neither denied nor admitted it.

"I almost forgot to say hello to the princess," Han Ge Lao suddenly said again, "I heard that Mrs. Shunyi Bo is pregnant and has been taken to Xinhuatang to raise a baby, the princess and Mrs. Shunyi Bo have a deep sisterhood, and everyone in the capital is envious." ”

"Thank you, Elder." Ji Xiaotang's eyes turned slightly, and he also replied with a smile, "The younger brother in the family is still young, and my sister and I support each other, and we can also reassure our parents at home." ”

"Good, very good." Han Ge nodded again and again, approving Ji Xiaotang's words, but his gaze swept over Qin Zhen intentionally or unintentionally. "Brotherhood is precious, so we should always come and go, support each other, and it is the right way."

At the end of the first game, Ji Xiaotang actually won Han Ge Lao with a slight advantage of half a son.

"The elder of the pavilion has conceded." Ji Xiaotang said with a smile.

"The old man is old, and he is willing to bow down." Han Ge Lao didn't feel stunned at all, it seemed that losing to Ji Xiaotang was a happy thing. "The old man once talked a few words with Master Ji, and the princess said that the chess master was inherited from Master Ji. The old man's chess path of the princess is completely different from that of Master Ji, and the blue is better than the blue. ”

By the time the attendants had finished the game, it was already getting late.

Elder Han Ge got up and said goodbye.

Ji Xiaotang raised his eyebrows slightly. looked at Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen received Ji Xiaotang's gaze, paused slightly, and said that he wanted to stay with Han Ge for dinner.

“…… There is a good daughter red. If the elder doesn't dislike it, he will stay and have a few drinks with the prince. Ji Xiaotang also said kindly.

Elder Han Ge seemed to hesitate a little, but finally shook his head.

"It's been a long time since the old man came out today, and he promised his wife to go back to eat with her. The old man understood the intentions of the prince and the princess, and came to the door another day to disturb him. ”

Everybody knows that. Han Ge Lao has a very close relationship with his original wife, and there are even some rumors that Hang Ge Lao is very afraid of his old wife. That is, a wife is strict.

Now that he has said this, it is not easy for Qin Zhen and Ji Xiaotang to force him to stay.

After sending off Han Ge Lao, Ji Xiaotang and Qin Zhen returned to Xuchun Hall and had a simple dinner. Qin Zhen accompanied Ji Xiaotang to the back garden for a walk.

Autumn leaves flutter in the garden. It's already full of autumn scenery.

The two walked all the way, and Qin Zhen took Ji Xiaotang's hand.

Such a walk is still the order of the imperial physician. Ji Xiaotang is now ~ pregnant for several months, so naturally she can't exercise vigorously, but walking a few more steps every day is very beneficial to the fetus in her womb and her future production.

Qin Zhen listened to the words of the imperial doctor, no matter how busy he was every day. will take ~ out for a while to accompany Ji Xiaotang for a walk. Moreover, because he was afraid that Ji Xiaotang would accidentally fall. Qin Zhen also insisted on holding Ji Xiaotang's hand throughout the whole process.

At first, Ji Xiaotang still refused, but Qin Zhen was very persistent, and slowly she got used to it.

After walking for a while, Ji Xiaotang saw that Qin Zhen was in a good mood, so he tentatively spoke.

"Is there any knot between the prince and Han Ge Lao?" Ji Xiaotang's question was a bit direct, because of their current relationship, and because of the question itself.

If he asks it around the corner, I am afraid that it will disgust Qin Zhen.

"Why did Xiaotang say that?" Qin Zhen didn't answer the rhetorical question.

"Han Ge is the uncle of the prince, and it stands to reason that he should be very close to the prince. But I look at the relationship between the prince and the elder, but it is very delicate, if I have to find the right words to describe it, I only think of four words. ”

"What four words?"

"If you leave, if you leave."

The expression on Qin Zhen's face was slightly distorted, and he lowered his head to look at Ji Xiaotang.

"Xiaotang, you are very knowledgeable, these four words don't seem to be very suitable for me and Han Ge Lao."

It's not that it doesn't seem to be appropriate, it's very inappropriate.

Ji Xiaotang couldn't help laughing.

"I know. But apart from these four words, I really can't find any other suitable words. ”

Qin Zhen sighed lightly and glanced into the distance.

"I don't know how to describe my relationship with my uncle when you say that."

It was not the first time that Qin Zhen had called Han Ge Lao his uncle in front of Ji Xiaotang, but in front of Han Ge Lao, he had never called him that before.

Ji Xiaotang has always wondered why.

"When my mother gave birth to me, I was able to survive thanks to my uncle." Qin Zhen took Ji Xiaotang to a gazebo, and the two sat on the chairs in the gazebo, and Qin Zhen said slowly.

Ji Xiaotang's eyes widened slightly, this was the first time she had heard Qin Zhen talk about this matter.

Back then, after Qin Zhen was born, Empress Dowager Han actually wanted to be unfavorable to him!

"Yes, it was my uncle who specially entered the palace and asked the Queen Mother not to touch me." Qin Zhen seemed to see what Ji Xiaotang was thinking, nodded lightly, and told Ji Xiaotang that she was right, it was like that. "And when the mother concubine was framed and sent to the cold palace, the reason why she was able to save her life was also thanks to my uncle."

These things were told to Qin Zhen by the noble concubine.

Although the noble concubine never told Qin Zhen about the grievances between her and the Empress Dowager Han, she told Qin Zhen all these things.

"The meaning of the concubine is that I want to miss my uncle's good and be close to my uncle."

"The noble concubine is also thinking about the prince." Ji Xiaotang said immediately. Qin Zhen can get close to Han Yi, and the relationship between his uncle and nephew deepens, so Han Yi will also take more care and protection of Qin Zhen.

"Yes." Qin Zhen nodded.

"In that case, why is the prince still lukewarm to Han Ge Lao?" Ji Xiaotang asked with some puzzlement.

The estrangement between Qin Zhen and Han Ge Lao was not pretended to be for Empress Dowager Han, for this, Ji Xiaotang was very sure.

"Back then, I framed my mother and concubine to fall out of favor and enter the cold palace, and I couldn't do it with the power of Empress Dowager Han alone." Qin Zhen said coldly.

"The prince is talking about ......"

"Yes." Qin Zhen nodded again.

Back then, Empress Dowager Han successfully framed the concubine and replaced her, not only because she was good at calculation, but also because the concubine was defenseless, and Han Ge Lao was still in it~ to help.

Then it's no wonder that Qin Zhen has a grudge against him.

But just like this, it didn't seem to be able to fully explain Qin Zhen's attitude towards Han Ge Lao.

Ji Xiaotang was a little confused.

"Then there was something else that he ...... He is the person of the Queen Mother. Qin Zhen's words were a little hurried, obviously he didn't want to mention the things that followed.

Ji Xiaotang was keenly aware of Qin Zhen's emotional changes, so he didn't continue to ask.

If she needs to know, Qin Zhen will always tell her at the right time.

"In any case, Elder Han Ge came here today, and he has good intentions towards the prince." Ji Xiaotang talked about Han Gelao's visit today.

Han Yi came today to remind her and Qin Zhen of something.

"The Queen Mother should already know that her revenge on her father-in-law has failed." Qin Zhen just said.

"Yes." Ji Xiaotang nodded, "There is one more important thing." It's really time for the prince to go into the palace to see His Majesty. ”

Qin Zhen pondered for a long time before nodding.

"Elder Han Ge's kindness, we shouldn't let it down." Ji Xiaotang persuaded Qin Zhen that she had a good impression of Han Yi, and hoped that Qin Zhen could make good use of this help.

Qin Zhen let out a cold snort from his nose.

"The old fox is the most wind-wielding rudder. In the end, he was for himself and for the Han family. ”

"But no matter what, he insists on refusing to kill each other, and in the whirlpool of power, it is rare to be able to insist on this."

Qin Zhen's gaze fell on Ji Xiaotang's face again, and his expression gradually became gentle.

"Xiaotang, you have a kind heart." (To be continued.) )