The Daming Palace at night is particularly quiet, the Taiye Pool is covered with a thick layer of ice, like a huge white jade plate, the ice surface is shrouded in a thin layer of light mist, the sky is full of stars, the starlight is ten thousand points, and the white jade plate on the ground reflects each other.

Zhang Huan and Li Chuanyun walked briskly by the Taiye Pool, the road under their feet was clearly recognizable, it meandered forward, countless branches leading to the palaces, the grass and trees were green, and the palaces looked faint in the bright starlight.

Compared with last year, Daming Palace seems to be more deserted, he walked all the way for two miles, but not a single palace person did not see, and there was no festive atmosphere of the New Year, only a wisp of flute faintly traveled between the palaces.

Li Chuanyun seemed to understand Zhang Huan's thoughts, smiled and explained: "Last year, the Queen Mother moved many of the widows of the first emperor to Taiji Palace, taking away more than half of the eunuchs and palace maids, and there were not many palace people in Daming Palace, but now it seems to be even less, and the Queen Mother is in a bad mood during this time, so she doesn't want to spend any New Year." ”

"Oh! I see. Zhang Huan responded with a smile, and asked Li Chuanyun again: "Why is the Queen Mother in a bad mood?" ”

Li Chuanyun smiled bitterly and said lightly: "Do you still need to ask?" originally thought that Cui Xiangguo was seriously ill and might be able to change the situation of the Queen Mother, but in fact, the Queen Mother was still just an ornament. ”

After Cui Yuan fell from a stroke, Pei Jun, who had high hopes, did not bring the long-awaited new atmosphere of the court situation, although he also intended to discuss some major military affairs with Cui Xiaofu, but he still could not change Cui Xiaofu's status as a subordinate to decision-making, and Cui Xiaofu's opinion could not change the final decision of these major military affairs.

The family government has been implemented for fifteen years, has been gradually finalized, the only change during this period is the rotation of the authorities, the imperial power has no such power to change the system itself, and to change this status quo, there is only one way, that is, to break this system from the outside, such as Zhu rebellion, of course. If Zhu's rebellion succeeds, it will only be a burning of jade. Neither the family nor Cui Xiaofu hoped that he would come that far.

In addition, those who are free from the political structure of the family and have a certain strength. There are only two people, one is Duan Xiushi, the envoy of Shuofang Jiedu, and the other is Zhang Huan, the envoy of Xinlong's right section.

Come to think of this. Li Chuanyun glanced at her younger brother meaningfully, she very much hoped that Zhang Huan would be able to form an alliance with Cui Xiaofu again.

Because it was late at night, Li Chuanyun did not lead Zhang Huan to the Linde Palace, but directly entered Cui Xiaofu's bedroom, Cui Xiaofu had already gotten up, she painted light makeup, and also put on formal court clothes, and the meeting place was set in Cui Xiaofu's study in the side hall of the dormitory.

This study is where Cui Xiaofu usually reads and writes, as early as when she was the queen, and she rarely deals with government affairs here. At this time, the light in the study was soft, and more than a dozen little eunuchs were busy for a while, before they used a charcoal basin to warm the already cold room again, and the room was filled with a faint fragrance of lilies, Cui Xiaofu sat behind the desk, absentmindedly looking at Sima Qian's "Historical Records".

As Li Fanyun thought, Cui Xiaofu was very interested in Zhang Huandi's late-night visit, but her interest was not in the 100,000 urgent things that Zhang Huan said. It's about whether they can reunite again through his late-night visit.

"Queen Mother, Zhang Yuanjun has arrived!" A eunuch whispered.

"Bring him in!" Cui Xiaofu sat up straight, smiling and waiting for Zhang Huan's arrival, for a moment. Outside the house, there was the sound of fast footsteps. Zhang Huan followed the old eunuch who led the way into the study, and Li Chuanyun followed behind him.

As soon as you enter the room. A warm breath rushed to his face, Zhang Huan saw Cui Xiaofu at a glance, she hadn't seen her for a year, she had hardly changed, just as graceful and luxurious as before.

Zhang Huan didn't dare to look at it more, he stepped forward quickly, bowed and bowed deeply, "Minister Zhang Huan saw the Queen Mother, disturbed the Queen Mother's rest late at night, and the minister was terrified." ”

"Aiqing is exempt!" Cui Xiaofu looked at Zhang Huan with interest, he tied a black collar, inside was a neat military uniform, knee-length riding boots lined his figure straight and slender, his skin was still the same dark, slightly rougher than last year, but it was this rough skin and a black beard that made him look more mature.

However, there seemed to be an extraordinary energy hidden in his sunken eyes, sometimes bursting with fiery vitality, sometimes deep and cold.

Sitting in front of the majestic Zhang Huan, Cui Xiaofu actually had a feeling of being oppressed, and she immediately waved her hand, "Give me a seat!" ”

The two palace maids quickly spread soft fine wool cushions in front of Zhang Huan, "Empress Dowager Xie!" Zhang Huan saluted again and sat down.

Cui Xiaofu looked at Zhang Huan and smiled slightly: "I heard that you are a father, congratulations!" ”

"Thank you Queen Mother for your concern." At the mention of his son, Zhang Huan's face showed a trace of warmth, and he smiled: "That little guy cried, the voice was not ordinary, it was a headache." ”

"But why don't I think you don't look like a headache, but like a distressed heart." Speaking of this, Cui Xiaofu laughed softly, and the restrained atmosphere in the study was swept away.

She took out a silk sac and handed it to Zhang Huandao: "This is the colorful mother and child beads of the Silla tribute land, which is very rare, and it can be regarded as a little heart I gave to your wife and children." ”

Zhang Huan took it and thanked him repeatedly, Cui Xiaofu squinted her eyes and smiled, and entered today's topic, "Since the mourning family entered the Daming Palace for more than a year, it is the first time to meet the minister late at night, what is Zhang Yuanjun's 100,000 urgent affairs?" ”

Zhang Huan bowed apologetically and said: "Weichen just arrived in Chang'an this morning, and he planned to come back in two days to thank the Queen Mother for her grace, but things have changed, and the minister will leave Chang'an early tomorrow morning." ”

"Leaving Chang'an?" Cui Xiaofu and Li Chuanyun glanced at each other, and they both showed surprised looks, could it really be that something big happened? Cui Xiaofu immediately asked, "Please Aiqing make it clear, what happened?" ”

Zhang Huan looked at the palace maids next to him, but he just smiled and didn't answer, Cui Xiaofu immediately ordered: "You all go out!" ”

Several palace maids slowly retreated, Li Chuanyun hesitated, she was just about to leave, but Zhang Huan stretched out his hand to stop her, "The stakes are very high, the eldest sister might as well stay and discuss together." ”

Hearing Zhang Huan's use of the word consultation, Cui Xiaofu's heart couldn't help but move slightly, and she said quietly: "You talk about it first." Why are you leaving Chang'an tomorrow? What does this have to do with you coming to the mourning family late at night? ”

Zhang Huan did not answer this question directly, but smiled and said to Li Chuanyun: "At the end of the year before last, I went to Kaiyang County to negotiate with Wei Ge. happened to meet the eldest sister entrusted by the Queen Mother to go to Lingwu County to appease Duan Xiushi, that night you said that the Queen Mother asked you to tell me, my real opponent in the future is the family. She is the same, our interests are the same at this point, and whether I join the Pei family or the Cui family, she will not care about these, and said that she knows that I will cooperate with her again sooner or later, right! ”

Li Chuanyun looked at Zhang Huan deeply, and she nodded slowly, "Yes!" That's what I said, and that's not bad at all. ”

Although Zhang Huan was talking about the past to Li Chuanyun. But Cui Xiaofu's eyes on the side became brighter, she couldn't hide the joy in her eyes, Zhang Huan finally took refuge in herself.

At this time, Zhang Huan's expression slowly became serious, he turned his head to stare at Cui Xiaofu and said: "No matter where I go in the future, I will always respect you as the queen mother, if you swear for this, heaven and man will kill together!" ”

As soon as these words came out, Li Chuanyun shook violently, not bad. This is indeed a hurdle that cannot be bypassed between them, originally thought that the alliance between them would avoid talking about this matter, but Zhang Huan said it so frankly, thinking of this, Li Chuanyun looked at Cui Xiaofu nervously.

But Cui Xiaofu was not surprised at all. Opposite. She nodded slowly and said, "You are so honest, which shows your sincerity. The mourning family accepts your vow, but the mourning family also tells you clearly that the mourning family will not give you any promises in the future. ”

Zhang Huan smiled faintly, the matter was originally to seek common ground while reserving differences, but if the words were not clarified in advance, then there would always be suspicion of each other between them, thus destroying the foundation of cooperation between them.

"I left Chang'an early tomorrow morning because I was secretly ordered by Pei Xiangguo to take down Fengxiang and force Cui Yuan to give way!"

Although Zhang Huan said it lightly, there was undoubtedly a thunder explosion in Cui Xiaofu's ears, she and Li Fanyun looked at each other, and the eyes of both of them were full of shock, this news was too sudden, on the surface, the court was calm, but I didn't expect the undercurrent to be turbulent, the contradiction between Cui and Pei Erxiang was so acute, so can I benefit from it? At this moment, Cui Xiaofu suddenly understood that the purpose of Zhang Huan's coming today was to let her take advantage of this opportunity.

Thinking of this, Cui Xiaofu's eyes eagerly looked at Zhang Huan, she knew that Zhang Huan must have a future.

Sure enough, Zhang Huan smiled slightly and said: "Now that Pei is strong and Cui is weak, the power structure of the imperial court is already in an unbalanced state, why doesn't the Queen Mother take advantage of this opportunity to fill this balance?" ”

"Why don't the mourners want to take advantage of this opportunity? It's just that there is a lack of an opportunity, so that the mourning family has nowhere to start. Cui Xiaofu asked Zhang Huan tentatively.

Zhang Huan took out a note from his arms and pushed it in front of Cui Xiaofu, "This is the residence of Zhu's brother Zhu Tao in Chang'an, he came to ask for peace with the imperial court, and he is still waiting, the queen mother can seize the initiative to solve the rebellion in Shuzhong in her hands, this is the best opportunity for the queen mother to enter the court." ”

Cui Xiaofu took the note a little dazed, although Zhang Huan's idea was very subtle, but with the dignity of the queen mother, how could she directly cross the court and contact the bandit leader? If it spreads, wouldn't it make the world suspect that she Cui Xiaofu and Zhu had colluded with interests.

Zhang Huan smiled and said implicitly: "Of course it's not for the Queen Mother to contact Zhu Tao directly, why doesn't the Queen Mother find a spokesperson in the cabinet, and let him come forward for the Queen Mother?" ”

At this time, Li Chuanyun next to her immediately understood Zhang Huan's intentions, she quietly stretched out a finger and wrote a word of encouragement on Cui Xiaofu's back.

Li Mian, let Li Mian, who is inclined to the empress dowager, become the third force in addition to Cui and Pei, this is Zhang Huan's real purpose, before he is strong enough, he must maintain the balance of the imperial court. An hour later, Zhang Huan left Cui Xiaofu's dormitory, accompanied by Li Chuanyun and walked in the direction of Chongxuanmen, the two palace maids each held an orange lantern to lead the way in front, Zhang Huan walked silently, when approaching a small bridge, Zhang Huan stopped, he leaned on the railing next to the bridge and looked at the liquid pool as white as silver, pondered for a long time and said to Li Fanyun: "Sister, I have something I want to ask you for." ”

Li Chuanyun walked up to him and smiled: "Just now I saw that you wanted to stop talking when you were leaving, so I knew that you still had something to say, say it!" What is it that you want me to help with? ”

"I have almost occupied the entire Guanlong, and now there is only one Lingwu County left, you can help me tell the Queen Mother, and let her persuade Duan Xiushi, either surrender to me, or go to the West to surrender to the city and continue to be the protector of his land and the north, I can't let him stay in Lingwu County for a long time."

Li Chuanyun thought for a while and said: "I estimate that your request is acceptable to the Queen Mother, but the problem is that Duan Xiucheng may not be willing to listen to the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother ordered him to go to Beijing to report on his work, but he refused because he was busy with official business, I am worried that I will not be able to help you with this favor." ”

"Big sister, don't worry!" Zhang Huan suddenly looked up to the sky and smiled: "It's just a Lingwu County, I don't have much trouble taking it, I'm just giving the Queen Mother a face." ”

After that, Zhang Huan strode onto the small bridge, he looked up at the starry sky and exhaled a long breath of white air, the vast and cold sky is still full of stars, as if countless gems are dotted on the blue and purple velvet, but at this moment it has become clearer and purer, suddenly, a huge and bright comet crossed the vast space, it stopped just above Zhang Huan, like a sharp sword showing off its white light among the countless twinkling stars.

Zhang Huan stared at the comet with all his attention, as if he felt that this comet and his vibrant, hopeful heart completely coincided.

Li Chuanyun stood three steps away from Zhang Huan, she didn't bother him, but looked at her younger brother gently, her heart was full of relief, he had inherited his father's legacy, and was moving towards the goal step by step, Li Chuanyun couldn't help but look up at the comet in the sky, and whispered: "Father, have you seen it?" My brother did not disappoint us, he is our pride, may you bless him in the spirit of heaven! Before she knew it, her eyes were filled with tears.