Chang'an, the palace where Zhang Ning lived in the imperial city.

Zhang Ning held a scroll of Jian Ce and watched silently, and suddenly, a maid quietly walked over, "Marquis Meiyang, Duke Qin asks to see you." ”

"Let him in." Zhang Ning said without looking back.

After a while, a sound of footsteps came, accompanied by Ma Chao's voice, "The child meets his mother." ”

Hearing this, Zhang Ning turned to look at Ma Chao, who was kneeling on one knee and making a big salute, and suddenly smiled helplessly, "Meng Qi, didn't I say it?" You don't have to do this kind of gift every time, and you don't have to be told when you come in. It seems like we're very unfamiliar with it. ”

"This ......" Hearing this, Ma Chao opened his face but didn't know how to answer, and his face showed a panicked look.

"You kid......" Zhang Ning walked up to Ma Chao, stretched out his hand and doted on his head, then helped him up and smiled, "Remember?" I'm going to be angry next time~"

"Remember, child!" Ma Chao hurriedly responded when he heard this.

"Hmm...... How's it going? Zhang Ning nodded when he heard this, and then asked about business.

"It's going well, those scholars don't have any suspicions, especially those scholars who are obedient on the surface but still support the Han family, and they are even more excited about the birth of the prince......" Ma Chao kept saying, and at the end, he couldn't help but show a mocking smile.

"Oh? Didn't Fu Shou show any horses' feet? Zhang Ning asked lightly when he heard this.

"No, although it is a little strange that Fu Shou just hugged the prince and didn't say a word the whole time, those scholars didn't seem to be very suspicious. And for some reason, although Na Fushou is usually like a walking corpse and goes crazy from time to time, when he holds the child, he looks very gentle and kind. And from the mouths of the maids who served her, she seemed to really regard that child as Liu Xie's short-lived ghost and her child......" Ma Chao said at the end, with a hint of incredulity in his tone.

"Hehe, it's just some means of Zhu Yuzhi's technique. It's a pity that I'm just rough and fur, otherwise ......" Zhang Ning said at the end, shook his head and didn't say any more. At the same time, her expression became a little lonely, but she didn't know what she was thinking.

"Zhu Yu's technique?" Ma Chao muttered in his heart when he heard this, but after seeing Zhang Ning's expression, he didn't dare to ask more, so he had to stand aside and wait respectfully.

After a long while, Zhang Ning recovered from his loneliness, looked at Ma Chao and said lightly, "Since the goal has been achieved, you can find an opportunity to turn that child and Fu Shou into the results, and then send your and Jun Qi's children to the palace to replace them." ”

"No!" Hearing this, Ma Chao did not hesitate and responded directly.

Seeing that Ma Chao agreed so simply, Zhang Ning suddenly couldn't help but laugh, "I thought you would hesitate more or less Meng Qi, after all, that kid is also your blood and bones." ”

The mother laughed, the child was just to realize the mother's plan, and the child let Na Fushou conceive. And at the very beginning, it was already decided to bring it to fruition after the goal had been achieved. So although he is the blood and blood of the child, how can the child have any feelings for him? Ma Chao said respectfully.

"Hehe, that's right." Zhang Ning smiled faintly when he heard this, and then waved his hand. Seeing this, Ma Chao bowed to Zhang Ning and then retreated.

Not long after, Ma Chao came to the palace where Fu Shou was, and immediately saw Fu Shou holding the child, shaking it softly while whispering something. Seeing that Fu Shou didn't find out, Ma Chao immediately quietly walked to her side and listened.

"Good boy...... Sleep well...... Grow up quickly......" Fu Shou kept humming a little song that was neither in tune nor audible, looking at the baby in his arms with a loving face, even if Ma Chao was already standing beside her at this time, she didn't notice anything. It was as if at this time in her world, only she and the baby in her arms were left.

Suddenly, she felt only a pain in her chest, and when she lowered her head, she saw a sharp sword appear in front of her chest, and at the same time, it also pierced the head of the baby in her arms. For a moment, Fu Shou screamed frantically, "Kid...... Child...... My baby...... Oh my child!! At the same time, I wanted to run out with the child in my arms.

She didn't seem to know that her heart had been pierced, and she didn't understand why she was running out, she just wanted to get out of here.

Seeing this, Ma Chao stretched out his hand and wanted to drag Fu Shou back, but he didn't expect that Fu Shou's strength was so great at this time that Ma Chao didn't hold it. It's just that despite this, Fu Shou didn't run far, and soon, she staggered and fell to the ground, and the baby in her hand fell out directly.

Fu Shou struggled to crawl towards the baby little by little, not paying attention to the injury in his chest from beginning to end. Seeing this, Ma Chao walked over expressionlessly and picked up the baby. At this time, Fu Shou's gaze also moved up a little bit with Ma Chao's movements, her vision had begun to blur, and her voice became smaller and smaller. But she kept shouting, "Give the child back to me......

Ma Chao glanced at the baby who had already been alive for a long time, squatted down and handed him back to Fu Shou. I don't know where the strength came from, Fu Shou suddenly braced up after the baby approached her, reached out and grabbed it, and hugged it in his arms. She knelt on the ground and hugged the child tightly, repeating in a trembling tone, "Don't be afraid, child...... Don't be afraid...... Don't ......"

Ma Chao just squatted on the ground and watched this scene silently, until his Fushou no longer made any sound, he still didn't have any movement. I don't know how long it took, Ma Chao shook his head and sighed, "If you want to blame, blame you for joining the emperor's family." Hopefully, in the next life, you can live a good life. ”

Then, Ma Chao stood up and shouted, "Someone! ”

"Duke Qin." Several maids rushed over when they heard the sound, took a look at the situation in the house, and although they were a little surprised and panicked, they still stood calmly and waited for Ma Chao's order.

"Wash Fu Shou and this child, change into gorgeous clothes, and bury them in the imperial mausoleum." Ma Chao said lightly, and when he spoke, his eyes remained on Fushou's mother and son.

Hearing this, those maids hurriedly responded, and then stepped forward to prepare to clean, but after only two strokes, they looked at Ma Chao in a bit of a panic and said, "Gong Qin, the child can't take it down." ”

"Really?" Hearing this, Ma Chao glanced at Fu Shou's hands holding the child, then waved his hand and sighed, "Then don't separate, just let her hold it." Wipe the blood off and bury it. So saying, he turned and left.

Walking out of the palace and looking at the sky that had already fallen into the night, Ma Chao didn't know why, and suddenly felt a little cold. "Heh, I didn't expect that I would have such a woman's kindness......" Ma Chao suddenly smiled self-deprecatingly, and then strode towards Zhang Ning's palace.

At the end of February, news came from the palace that Fu Shou died of illness on the grounds that he had injured his vitality when he gave birth to the prince, and although he had recuperated after that, he had not been able to recover.

At the beginning of March, news came from the palace again that the current emperor Liu Xie died of illness, the reason was that he was already seriously ill, and he finally died of illness because of the grief of Fu Shou's death. Both of these points have been confirmed by the imperial physician and the palace ladies.

Of course, no one saw the bodies of Liu Xie and Fu Shou. When the scholars and doctors arrived at the palace, all they saw were the coffins that were quietly placed there.

Smell a rat? There must be, but the only thought in their hearts was that both of them were killed by Zhang Ning. As for the rest, there is not much thought.

In mid-March, Zhang Ning held a grand funeral for Liu Xie and Fu Shou, and at the same time, it was spread to the world, and the prince Liu Ping succeeded him and changed the Yuan to Jian'an.

"This Zhang Ning is really unscrupulous...... Li Yi couldn't help but sigh after listening to Guo Jia's report.

Although there is no evidence that Liu Xie and Fu Shou were killed by Zhang Ning, it is obvious that for Li Yi, no matter whether the real situation of the matter is like this or not, Zhang Ning has to bear this charge. Because only then is it best for him. And this point, not only Li Yi understands, Xun Yu and others also understand.

It's just that, despite this, no one suggested that Li Yi immediately send troops to Chang'an. Because they all know very well that only after everything is ready, is the best time to attack Chang'an. If you act hastily, you will only fall into passivity.

However, although he did not send troops immediately, Li Yi still printed a large number of various unfavorable remarks against Zhang Ning through the newspapers under his command. Speaking of which, Wang Ling originally planned to tell the people directly that the person who killed Liu Xie and Fu Shou was Zhang Ning, but this proposal was vetoed by Li Yi.

Although Li Yi didn't like to watch the news much in his previous life, the bombardment of various self-media obviously made him understand a writing style called ambiguity. At Li Yi's suggestion, although there was nothing in the newspaper about Liu Xie and Fu Shou being killed by Zhang Ning. But anyone who sees the newspaper will automatically put this matter on Zhang Ning's head.

In April, Shi Tao performed the crown ceremony, took the word Guangyuan, and left from Dadao College at the same time, officially leaving Li Yi. After testing Shi Tao's knowledge, Li Yi sent him to the party to assist Duan Xuan.

Of course, in addition to Shi Tao, there are also a large number of students who have left from the Great Dao Academy, but compared to Shi Tao, these people's talents are quite limited. But for them, Li Yi didn't have any contempt, because all kinds of ordinary officials in the township or county-level all need these people to serve as them, not to mention those branches of Dao Academy in various places.

"Maybe one day, there will really be a scene like the words of the lord in the past, even if it is a farmer who farms the land or a porter who carries water, he can also read the Four Books and the Five Classics by heart." Looking at these young students who left, Xun Yu said with a sigh.

"Haha, if that's the case, I'm afraid Wen Ruo won't even be able to be a county order. Well...... When the time comes, I'll fund you to open a Fangqu or anything? Guo Jia laughed when he heard this.

"Humph! I can't open a college? Why does it have to be a square song? Xun Yu snorted angrily when he heard this, but after speaking, he couldn't help laughing.

"Hehe, if you don't hear it, you can't hear it, you can't see it, you can't see it, you don't know it, you can't do it, you can't do it, you can't do it, you can't do it." Li Yi immediately smiled when he heard this, "One day, the people can also familiarize themselves with the Four Books and the Five Classics, but only by applying these to the things they encounter can they be called talents...... And the two, even at that time, are still the top talents in the world! ”

After saying this, Xun Yu immediately thanked him embarrassedly, but Guo Jia licked his face and smiled as he should be, "In this case, does the lord need to treat us talents?" ”

"You, yes! Today in Yichun Building, I have covered all your expenses! Li Yi shook his head and smiled bitterly when he heard this.

Hearing these words, Xun Yu, who wanted to open his mouth to scold Guo Jia for being too frivolous, immediately swallowed the words that came to his mouth back into his stomach, and at the same time turned his head to look at Li Yi with blazing eyes. And behind him, Xu Shu and others are the same.

"You guys...... Go ahead, I've got it! Li Yi sighed speechlessly.

"Thank you, my lord!" Hearing this, everyone responded loudly. Well...... It's much neater than usual.

In May, Qiao Xin and Diao Chan each gave birth to a son to Li Yi.

Speaking of which, Li Yi originally didn't want the two daughters to have another child, after all, the medical conditions in this era are not good, even if Hua Tuo and Zhang Ji are there, production is still a very high-risk thing.

And it's not just the risk, even if the production goes smoothly, it will consume a lot of vitality for women. I didn't pay much attention to it before, but it wasn't until Cai Yan gave birth to Li Can that because his body recovered a little slowly, Li Yi asked Hua Tuo and Zhang Ji to come for diagnosis and treatment, and after saying some diagnoses, Li Yi remembered this matter.

It's a pity that Qiao Xin and Diao Chan both thought that their sons were passed out, and they pestered Li Yi all day long to be reborn, and even played night raids for a while.

"Now, you two little girls can be satisfied, right?" Li Yi scratched the delicate little noses of the two girls and laughed.

"Well...... the two girls responded lazily, but their eyes kept on the newborn beside them.

July.

In Cai Yong's room, Sima Hui, Zheng Xuan, Xun Yu, Guo Jia and other masters of the Great Avenue Academy, as well as important ministers under Li Yi, sat or stood, quietly watching Cai Yong not far away. And beside the bed, there are two daughters, Li Yi, Cai Yan and Cai Qing.

"Zikang...... Oh in my heart...... I've always had an idea but didn't dare to say it...... Now I'm dying...... But it's not unpleasant......" Cai Yong took Li Yi's hand and said in a trembling voice.

"Uncle, please say, as long as the son-in-law can do it, he will do his best!" Li Yi hurriedly replied when he heard this.

"Zikang...... Fang is in chaos today...... The decline of the Han Dynasty...... Especially recently...... That Zhang Ning is the world's ...... Crowned king...... Later, he killed the saint and the queen...... Fear...... Ahem! Speaking of general, Cai Yong began to cough violently, and after calming down a little, he said intermittently.

"On martial arts...... You are the only one in the world who has the best hope of calming this troubled world...... Dissertation Governance ...... Zikang is not inferior to that Zhou Gong...... If one day...... Zikang must not hesitate...... Because there is not only the Li family behind you...... And the generals under your command...... and millions of people......"