In the middle of summer, there was not a trace of wind in the blue sky, even the air seemed to freeze, and the leaves of the treetops had long been rolled into thin strips, hanging listlessly. The scorching sun was scorching, and there was not a single pedestrian on the official road outside Chang'an City, and the long loess road seemed to be sunburned, silently extending into the distance.

"Da Da Da!" As the sound of horses' hooves came from far and near, breaking the silence of the official road, the dust raised was dispersed in the sun, and a green tent troika galloped away in the direction of Ganquan Palace.

"Your Majesty, please see you outside the Prince's Palace!" In the purple hall, Liu Che was enjoying the joy of family with his youngest son Liu Fuling, and Huangmen Su Wen bowed down and went inside.

Liu Che was stunned when he heard this, and said, "How did the prince come here?" After that, he frowned and said, "Xuan!" ”

"No!" Su Wen received the order and retreated, and Liu Che said to Zhao Yan on the side: "Yan'er, you take Fuling down first!" ”

"No!" Zhao Yan responded respectfully, stretched out her hand and said to Liu Fuling: "Fuling, come, my mother will take you to play elsewhere first, okay?" ”

"Don't, don't!" The little one, who had just learned to walk, said inarticulately, "I want to be with my father!" After saying that, his little hand grabbed Liu Che's clothes, and he was reluctant to leave.

"Fring! Come here! Zhao Yan coaxed in a good voice, "Father still has something to do, Fu Ling and wait for another time?" ”

"Woo... No! No matter how Zhao Yan coaxed, Liu Fuling just didn't want to leave Liu Che's arms, Liu Che patted his young son lovingly when he saw this, and said softly: "Okay, okay, let's be here, Fuling is good, go to the side hall with your mother first, and my father will accompany you later, okay?" ”

"Okay..."The little guy replied vaguely, obediently let go of the little hand, and Zhao Yan carried him to the side hall.

"Erchen has seen his father!" As soon as Zhao Yan left, Liu Yi was led into the hall by Su Wen, and when he saw Liu Che, he leaned over and saluted: "Father Emperor Changle Weiyang!" ”

"Excuse me!" Liu Che nodded slowly, although there were a lot of white threads in his sideburns, he was still kind and majestic, "Sit down!" ”

"No!" Liu responded respectfully and knelt down on the mat on his left hand.

"The prince is here today, but what's the matter?" Liu Che looked at his eldest son and asked gently.

Liu put his hand on his forehead and said respectfully: "Back to the father, the child does have something important to do to play the father!" ”

"Say it! What is it that can make the prince rush to Ganquan Palace like this. A trace of doubt appeared in Liu Che's eyes.

"No!" Liu Zhiwei groaned and said: "Father, the Tingwei Mansion issued a document saying that Li Ling and Li Duwei collaborated with the enemy and razed the three clans, and now Li Duwei's family and clansmen have all been imprisoned and waiting to be beheaded..."

Liu Che's face changed when he heard this, but he didn't say a word, and listened to Liu Ju continue, "Father, Li Duwei is the grandson of the old general Li Guang, who has always been loyal to the monarch and patriotic. Now Li Duwei was captured by the Huns, his life and death are unknown, but his people have to bear the name of collaborating with the enemy and face beheading. How can you be embarrassed? ”

"Humph!" After listening to this, Liu Che said coldly, "What a loyal and patriotic Li Duwei? How can a good love be embarrassed? ”

"Prince!" Liu Che's face suddenly sank, and he said sharply: "Do you know who you are?" So what is Li Ling's identity? ”

Liu Che continued: "In the battle of Junji Mountain, it is true that Li Ling has fewer enemies, but why can't he die generously after the defeat, but he should be captured by the Huns? Isn't it a fear of death? ”

"But Father... In that case, maybe Li Duwei doesn't even have life and death in his own hands..."Liu explained in a good voice.

"Joke! At that time, the life and death of the captured were not under control, and after that, couldn't you make your will clear with death? If you want to die, there are many ways to live, and if you want to live, there is only one way, and that is to surrender the enemy! Liu Che said heavily.

"Surrender?" Liu Ju was taken aback, then shook his head and said, "Captain Li is definitely not this kind of person!" ”

"Not that kind of person?" Liu Che's tone was mocking, and he said, "The crown prince has only been in charge of the country for a few years, does he know Li Ling so well?" ”

Liu said angrily: "The three generations of the Li family are loyal and patriotic, in the past, the old general Li Guang has always been jealous of the Huns, calling him the general of the Han Fei, Li Duwei is known as the style of the ancestors, and has the enmity of the family and country against the Huns, although this battle was defeated by the Huns, but how can it surrender to the enemy?" ”

"Humph!" Liu Che sneered again, "The crime of destroying his three clans is not that he surrendered to the enemy, but that he Li Ling collaborated with the enemy!" ”

"Collaboration?" Liu Ju was shocked again, "What does my father mean by this?" ”

"After Li Ling was captured by the Huns, not only did he have no integrity and surrendered to the enemy, but I also received a secret report that Li Ling, in order to seek wealth and nobility, actually helped the Huns to train troops to attack our Han Dynasty, how can I tolerate such treasonous behavior with the enemy?" Liu Che said angrily.

"Collaborators... Treason..."Liu was speechless in disbelief, pondered for a moment and said, "Has my father ever verified this matter?" ”

"I don't need to find out!" Liu Che stood up and glared angrily at Liu Ju, "Li Ling's surrender to the enemy is beyond my endurance, why does the prince want to intercede for such people!" ”

Seeing this, Liu got up hurriedly, bowed to the ground and kowtowed: "Father is angry!" It's just that Erchen thinks that this matter has not been verified, can Li Ling's crime of collaborating with the enemy not implicate his people for the time being, after all, destroying his three clans is also a tragedy in the world! ”

"Alas..."Liu Che shook his head and sighed again and again, disappointed: "As my eldest son and the crown prince, why don't you look like me at all?" I am decisive in killing and killing, only then can I have the situation of my Han today, you act so kindly as a woman, how can I rest assured that the foundation of the Han Dynasty will be handed over to you in the future? ”

"Father..."Liu burst into tears when he heard this, and kowtowed again and again: "Worrying my father, it's all the unfilial piety of his sons!" ”

"You go down..."Liu Che waved his hand weakly and sat down, at this time he was no longer an emperor who ruled the world, but more like an old father who broke his heart for his unsuccessful children.

"Father..."Liu wanted to say something to redeem his father's disappointment in him, but after thinking about it for a long time, he never knew what to say, and finally could only bow his head in a gloomy manner.

"Let's go down..."Liu Che's tone was filled with deep frustration, "You don't care about this matter anymore..."

"No!" Liu Yi wiped his tears, lowered his body and slowly withdrew from the hall. Huangmen Su Wen, who was on duty outside the hall, saw Liu Zhi walking away with tears on his face, and his heart was happy for no reason, and a sneer floated on his lips.

----

"Your Majesty, don't be angry, beware of hurting the Holy Communion!" Zhao Yan, who would listen to the words in the side hall in the future, walked out with Liu Fuling in his arms after Liu Zhi left, and comforted Liu Che with a good voice.

"Alas..."Liu Che sighed, his disappointment overflowing, "This son is not like himself!" Not like yourself! ”

"Father..."The little man in Zhao Yan's arms shouted, "Hug!" ”

Seeing the young son in front of him, Liu Che's face improved, "Come on!" My good son! Liu Che stretched out his hand and hugged Liu Fuling from Zhao Yan's arms, holding this little son Liu Che's eyes were full of doting, the haze just now seemed to no longer exist, and there were just endless smiles and favors.

Zhao Yan looked at the scene in front of her, and Jiang Chong's words from earlier came to mind again.

"Yan'er, now that you have a little prince, it's no longer enough to have Your Majesty's favor, you still have to plan for the future of the little prince!"

"Yan'er, you were fourteen months pregnant and gave birth to a little prince, Your Majesty has regarded you as Yao's mother, do you know what Yao's mother means? Emperor Yao, the ancient sage, Your Majesty calls you Yao's mother, what do you mean..."

At this moment, Jiang Chong's words were like a bright light, and suddenly they shone into Zhao Yan's heart, and there was no moment like this at this time, which made her clearly and profoundly understand how she should go in the future.

----

From Ganquan Palace back to Chang'an, Liu was deeply concerned and bowed his head all the way without saying a word. Not long ago, his mother Wei Zifu had a long talk with him, reminding him to act more cautiously and cater more to his father's wishes.

"As my eldest son and the crown prince, why don't you look like me at all? I am decisive in killing and killing, only then can I have the situation of my Han today, you act so kindly as a woman, how can I rest assured that the foundation of the Han Dynasty will be handed over to you in the future? The scene just now appeared in front of Liu Ju's eyes again, thinking of Liu Che's disappointment at that time, Liu Ju couldn't help but burst into tears, he has worked hard to play the role of the prince well for so many years, and tried to do everything well, but why did he still provoke the saint driver in the end and be disappointed? Why is that?

Liu couldn't stop blaming himself, reflecting, and being sad, and finally fell asleep in a daze with a burst of sadness.

Wake up again the carriage has arrived in the backyard of the palace, Liu Yi wiped away the tears and got off the carriage by the waiter, the sky is close to dark, but the evening breeze blowing still has a trace of heat, seeing the prince return to the palace, the housekeeper hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Prince, the queen has been waiting in the palace for a long time!" ”

"Mother is later?" Liu Ju was taken aback, and hurriedly tidied up his clothes, and then walked quickly towards the hall. The lamps on the bronze shelves in the hall have been lit, and the candle shadow is swaying, and the palace is gorgeous but looks cold, just like him, the prince, looking glorious and noble, but who can understand the loneliness in his heart?

"Queen Mother!" Seeing that his mother was waiting in the hall, Liu Ju hurriedly greeted him.

Wei Zifu heard this with a gentle smile and called, "According to the son! ”

"Queen Mother, why are you here? Why did the queen mother send someone to inform her son, why wait for a long time? Looking at the wrinkles at the corners of Wei Zifu's eyes and the white threads between his sideburns, Liu said distressedly.

"Come, sit down!" Wei Zifu beckoned to Liu Ju and said softly.

"No!" Liu responded and knelt down with his mother.

Wei Zifu looked at his son and said in a good voice: "According to my son, the queen mother heard that you went to Ganquan Palace to see your father and emperor early this morning, but is there anything wrong?" ”

"After returning to his mother, Erchen went to see his father today for the matter of Li Ling and Li Duwei..."Recalling his experience in Ganquan Palace during the day, Liu Ju couldn't help but feel sad in his heart, and his eyes began to flicker when he looked at his mother.

Wei Zifu bowed slightly, "The queen mother also heard that the Tingwei Mansion sent his close relatives and three clans to prison for the crime of treason against the enemy, and the son went to intercede for Li Duwei?" "Knowing a son is like a mother, even if Liu is vague, Wei Zifu knows what his son will do.

"Hmm..."Liu Ju nodded slightly.

"And what did your father say?" Wei Zifu's heart swelled with an inexplicable sadness, but he still asked without changing his face.

"Father...," Liu said in a low voice, "Father... severely reprimanded Erchen, saying that Erchen acted too much of a woman's kindness..."Speaking of this, Liu Ju's eyes couldn't help but moisten, and his head hung lower, and in the shadow of the candle, he didn't look like a prince who had been standing for a long time, but more like a child who had been wronged.

"According to the son..."Wei Zifu hugged Liu Ju with pity, and gently patted him on the back with his hand, "The queen mother knows that you have been wronged, you are a good boy, but your father has always been arbitrary, and his decisions cannot be ignored, and you just go against his will, how can he not reprimand you?" ”

Wei Zifu's eyes lowered, and he said slowly: "It's just that according to your son, no matter how your father reprimands you, he is your father after all, you must not be resentful, do you know?" ”

"Erchen knows that Erchen has never had a grudge against his father." Liu Yi relied on his mother and said slowly, "The son-in-law is sad because the son-in-law makes his father angry, and the father is very disappointed in his son-in-law. Thinking of his father's disappointed eyes, Liu Ju felt more sad in his heart than scolding him.

"According to my son, your father is a great king, and as the crown prince, he naturally demands more from you than others, even if there is some disappointment, it is inevitable." Wei Zifu comforted, "But no matter what, you are still the crown prince, blood is thicker than water, your father still loves you, and will still pin his hopes on you, you must not belittle yourself because of such a trivial matter, and you should think twice before acting in the future." ”

"Erchen understands..."Liu Ju nodded, got up and put his hand on his forehead, and said, "Thank you to the queen mother for guiding the child!" ”

Wei Zifu smiled and bowed her head gently, the loneliness and worry in her heart will be borne by her alone, she only hopes that her son can maintain his benevolent heart, and be a benevolent monarch in the future, Ze will be born by the world.