It was already dusk when he returned to Chang'an, the guards brought Wu Xiuniang back to the palace, Li Qi also returned to his Yongwang Mansion, and Zhang Huan came directly to his Zichen Pavilion Imperial Study, today is not in the court for a day, should have accumulated a lot of twists and turns, just walked to the door, the eunuch An Zhong hurriedly stepped forward to report: "Your Majesty, the Korean princess is back." ”

"Korean princess?" The sudden news made Zhang Huan stunned, he didn't get any news in advance, "Where is she now?" What about Pei Mingyuan? Is he back too? ”

Surprised, he asked three questions in a row, and An Zhongshun hurriedly replied: "Back to Your Majesty, the Korean princess has been admitted to the palace by the queen's mother, and Dr. Pei has also returned, and he came to see His Majesty in the morning." ”

"Announce that he has come to see me." Without waiting for An Zhongshun to finish speaking, Zhang Huan interrupted his words, and urgently ordered Pei Mingyuan to see him, he walked back to the imperial study and sat down, his excited mood calmed down slightly, half a month ago he already knew that there was indeed an internal strife in the country, the loyal Khan died, Jiegangas was proclaimed as the new Khan, nearly a thousand people loyal to the original Khan were killed, and Zhang Huan's worried Korean princess and Pei Mingyuan did not know the whereabouts, although the news came that the Tang envoy did not have an accident, but it still made him worry for half a month, Today, Pei Mingyuan and Li Su can return smoothly, which really makes him feel very gratified, Pei Mingyuan is his confidant, and the head of the Pei family, and he will be the person he will reuse in the future, this time he can take the princess to escape successfully, which also shows that he has a very good emergency response ability.

About half an hour later, Pei Mingyuan was led into the imperial study, compared with the Han Ear Bali, he was obviously thin, a month of difficult return made him extremely tired, not long after leaving Han Er Bali they were pursued by the Hui army, the critical moment was Yao Luo Geling's clansmen rescued them, about three hundred miles away from the west of the surrender city, they were once again attacked by thousands of Hui Bian troops, nearly two hundred Tang troops were killed. It was the desperate protection of the Tang army that they were finally able to return to the Tang Dynasty.

"Minister Pei Mingyuan see Your Majesty." Pei Mingyuan stepped forward and gave Zhang Huanshen a salute.

Zhang Huan saw that he was dark and thin, and the tired look on his face was difficult to hide, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart, he personally poured Pei Mingyuan a cup of tea. Said: "I am also well aware of the risks and difficulties involved in this trip back to Hui, you and the princess can return safely, I am very happy, sit down quickly, and tell me about the experience of returning to Hui." ”

Pei Mingyuan sat down, and he asked how Hui Zhongzhen Khan wanted to attack Beiting, and then how he suddenly made a big turn, and he was impatient to marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty. And how he died violently on the eve of the wedding, and how Yao Luo Geling tried his best to help them get out of danger, told Zhang Huan in detail, and finally he asked with some concern: "Your Majesty." Since the princess has returned to the Tang Dynasty, what should she do with her marriage contract with Huifudi? ”

"Presumably you also know that the new Khan of Hui has completely canceled the agreement signed with Datang, and the marriage will naturally be stopped, and the million stone grain we promised to return to Hui does not need to be mentioned." Speaking of this, Zhang Huan smiled slightly and said: "Since this Jiegan is one of the three major forces that oppose the Tang Dynasty, the Sogdians, the Mojiao, and the Hui military have come to power, he naturally has to show something, but if he wants to immediately send troops to attack the Tang Dynasty." I forgive him for not having the guts. ”

"Why?" Pei Mingyuan blurted out, and he immediately reacted again, "Your Majesty is talking about the Quegasians?" ”

"That's right, it's the Qiangsi people, with them, the Hui people don't dare to really go south, I just saw this, so I let them go to internal strife, it's best to kill each other. It also saves me from sending troops to clean them up. ”

Pei Mingyuan nodded understandingly. Suddenly, he remembered something again. Then he said to Zhang Huan: "When Yao Luo Geling said goodbye to his ministers, he mentioned that several of their tribes had the idea of moving south. Now the anti-Tang faction in the country has an absolute advantage. Their situation is also precarious. As His Majesty said. It is very likely that the Hui will have a momentum of division. Why didn't Your Majesty follow the trend. Woo the pro-Tang faction. What about completely allowing the Hui to go to division? ”

Zhang Huan suddenly smiled. He glanced at Pei Mingyuan meaningfully. Unhurriedly, he said, "How do you know that I didn't follow the trend?" I played a total of five moves against the Hui people in Mobei. Interlocking. Supporting the people of the Gaz is the first step. Allowing the Hui people to fight among themselves and oppose the Tang Dynasty is the second step. Just now, you said that I have already sent someone to do it by wooing Yao Luo Geling and other pro-Tang factions. This is the third step. Now I have the fourth and fifth steps. Mingyuan might as well guess. ”

Let Pei Mingyuan guess. Zhang Huan didn't give him time. As soon as he changed the topic, he smiled apologetically: "Mingyuan just went home." I called him. Delaying your reunion with your child. I'm so guilty. ”

Pei Mingyuan hurriedly got up and bowed. "Your Majesty is serious. On the contrary, the minister wants to thank the queen for taking care of her daughter for the minister. Your Majesty and the Empress are kind to the courtiers. The minister is remembered

"That's it! All right! We don't have to be so polite to each other. Zhang Huan waved his hand and smiled: "The queen is your sister." Who does she not take care of? It's you! I want you to go to the local area to hone your urgent year. Are you prepared? ”

Place! Pei Mingyuan was secretly stunned. He didn't understand what Zhang Huandi meant for a while. Before going back to Hui. He served as the superintendent of land. He has been serving in Changzhou. As the head of the Pei family. Pei Jiadi clan affairs, he has almost left it alone. It has caused dissatisfaction among many in the family. It's easy to expire in four years. He resigned and returned to Chang'an. But he also served as a wedding envoy to return to Hui. Normally. After he comes back, he should directly enter the court as an official. How did he go to a local post again. What is the emperor's intention? He looked at Zhang Huan suspiciously. I hope to give myself a clear answer.

Zhang Huan didn't clearly answer his doubts, he pondered for a long time, and only smiled faintly: "I have decided to appoint you as the envoy of Yizhou Assassin and Jiannan Jiedu, and I will officially go to Yizhou in five days." ”

After Pei Mingyuan left, Zhang Huan paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, last year due to the outbreak of the Battle of Broken Leaves, many of his planned things were temporarily put on hold, especially the personnel changes at the top level, which have basically not been moved in the past four years, and with the end of the war, the structure of power should be restructured.

In December last year, the former prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, Cui Yuan, who had controlled the imperial court for ten years, unfortunately passed away, his death was certainly a big loss for the Tang Dynasty, but it meant the end of an era, the head of the seven families of the year, Cui Yuan, Pei Jun, Wei Ge, Zhang Ruohao, Wang Ang, Yang, Chu Xingshui. And Wei Ge also died of illness the year before last, and now except for Chu Xingshui who is still a high-ranking official in the court, the other six people are no longer alive.

Zhang Huan slowly walked to the window and stared at a crescent moon in the distance. It seemed to be as lonely as himself in the boundless blue sky, and he suddenly had a feeling of being overwhelmed by the cold, and without political enemies, there seemed to be something missing in his life, and perhaps sometimes the enemy was also a special friend, and then he suddenly thought of a person, an enemy far away in Baghdad.

Today's harem is very lively, first the Korean princess returned to Chang'an. In the afternoon, Zhang Huan invited the light-looking Wu Xiuniang into the palace, and Zhang Huan's wives and concubines were so excited that their husbands did not return to the palace for a long time. No one paid attention to it, but there was only one person who was worried today, and that was Cui Ning, who waited from morning to night, waiting for her husband to return.

The reason for her anxiety was that she received a shocking news early in the morning, her nephew Cui Yao was actually captured by the Great Cannibal and taken to Baghdad, and he did not know whether he was alive or dead, which made Cui Ning feel as if he had been struck by lightning.

Cui Yao is his father's most difficult eldest grandson. Before his father died, he took his hand and repeatedly instructed him that he must cultivate Cui Yao to become the pillar of the Cui family, but now his father's advice has not yet dispersed in his ears, but the news that Cui Yao was captured and sent to Baghdad came out, how can this not make Cui Ning anxious, if Cui Yao has three strengths and two weaknesses, how can he explain to his deceased father.

Cui Ning stood on the steps and paced back and forth anxiously, she had already sent two eunuchs to inquire about the emperor's news. It's getting late now, why hasn't he come back for a long time?

"Mother, Your Majesty is back." The maid beside her suddenly pointed to a string of lanterns that appeared in the distance and shouted.

"He's back." Cui Ning picked up her skirt and ran down the steps, but after running a few steps, she was a little hesitant, and if she ran like this, others would not talk about her behind her back if they knew.

She thought about it, then plucked a hairpin from her head, handed it to the personal palace maid and said, "You go and hand it over to Your Majesty, don't say anything." ”

At the lantern is Zhang Huan's dragon chariot. He was out and about for a day. I was really tired, and I saw that it was late at night. returned to the palace to rest, crossed a bridge, An Zhongshun suddenly reported outside the car window, "Your Majesty, Concubine Yuan will send you a hairpin." "Hairpins? Zhang Huan was a little surprised, why did Ning'er send him a hairpin! He took it casually, and sure enough, it was Cui Ning's thing, he looked out the window again, and saw Cui Ning's personal maid standing outside the car, so he asked her, "Does Concubine Yuan have anything else you want to bring to me?" ”

The maid hurriedly bowed, "Niangniang didn't say anything." ”

Zhang Huan pondered for a moment, and slowly understood that Cui Ning asked him to go to her tonight! He smiled and said, "You go and tell Concubine Yuan, and I will say that I understand." ”

The maid answered, turned around and ran away in a panic, Zhang Huan kept watching her figure disappear, looked at the golden hairpin in his hand, shook his head gently, and a knowing smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, although Cui Ning used a small trick, but he liked it.

According to his usual habits, he always has to come to Pei Ying's place for dinner first, and then decide where to rest tonight, today is no exception, he walked into Pei Ying's bedroom, Pei Ying had already heard the news and greeted her, but behind her was followed by the Korean princess Li Su, she stepped forward to give a salute to Zhang Huanyingying, "Li Su see the imperial brother." ”

Zhang Huan waved his hand and said with a smile: "I am very happy to hear that you have returned safely, and I want to drink a little wine tonight to celebrate." ”

"The emperor is looking for an excuse to drink again." Pei Ying pretended to be unhappy, but she only pretended for a while, and she couldn't help laughing, "Then drink less, and the concubine will give the emperor hot wine." ”

"Wait a minute." Zhang Huan grabbed her and smiled: "Why don't you ask everyone to have a drink together?" ”

"Let's have a drink together tomorrow! Now they are all learning to weave appearance, and their interest is high, especially Pingping, that Wu Xiuniang and her are old acquaintances, and she has never been able to sit still, and she actually takes learning to weave lightly. Pei Ying shook her head and smiled.

"Then the little sister won't bother the royal brother to drink." Li Su saluted again and was about to leave.

"Imperial sister-in-law." Li Su's face suddenly turned red, and he whispered in Pei Ying's ear: "Don't say anything about that incident just now." ”

"I see, go ahead!" Pei Ying winked at her ambiguously, and Li Su turned around with a flushed face.

Zhang Huan smiled, but didn't ask deeply. He came to the dining hall and sat down, Pei Ying brought him a few dishes, warmed a pot of wine, and sat down beside him. Is her marriage to the Uighur still valid? ”

"When everyone dies, of course the marriage is canceled." Zhang Huan drank all the wine in the cup and said with a smile: "Mingyuan also asked me this question, how did you brothers and sisters think of going together." ”

"Did Mingyuan ask too?" Pei Ying was very interested, she suddenly seemed to be ten years younger, and leaned in front of Zhang Huan and asked excitedly: "Tell me, what is Mingyuan's expression when he mentions Li Su?" ”

Zhang Huan was so surprised that he stopped his glass and asked, "What do you mean by that?" ”

He suddenly remembered Li Su's shy appearance just now, and he realized something in his heart. smiled and said, "Do you want to be a matchmaker?" ”

Pei Ying didn't speak for a long time, and her brother didn't remarry after his wife died a few years ago. He only has a daughter under his knees, and he is the head of the Pei family, how can he have no heirs, for this matter, Pei Ying doesn't know how many times she persuaded her brother, even if she can take a concubine, but she is always politely rejected by him, it seems that there is only one dead wife in his heart, which has become the top priority of the Pei family. When chatting with Li Su today, she always knocked on Pei Mingyuan's situation, which aroused Pei Ying's suspicions, and under her reluctant questioning, there was really this sign between them, Pei Ying was very interested in it, but now her husband's words made Pei Ying feel like a basin of cold water had been poured on him, and he suddenly sobered up, yes. The key is Li Su's status as a princess, can his brother marry her? Will it affect the future of the Pei family and Mingyuan.

Thinking of this, she looked at her husband tightly, hoping that he could give her a definite answer, is Pei Mingyuan okay?

The wife's expectant eyes were clear in Zhang Huan's heart, decades ago, the family disdained to marry with the Li clan, they always maintained a proud posture, or the family married each other, and now the family government has declined. But it is not to the point of extinction. Their local children control the place to a large extent, and they have an advantage that ordinary people cannot match. can cultivate a large number of outstanding talents, although he has tried his best to change this situation in terms of running schools and door shades, he also knows that it will take at least ten years to change this situation, if Pei Mingyuan marries Li Su, I am afraid that it is not himself who is anxious, but those stubborn forces who are still trying their best to protect the interests of the family.

"I won't interfere in this matter, and I won't ask about it." Zhang Huan's tone was unusually flat, he drank a glass of wine, and then said to Pei Ying slowly: "I have decided to transfer Mingyuan to be the envoy of Yizhou Assassin Shi and Jiannan Festival, and he will officially take up his post in five days." ”

After dinner, Zhang Huan got up and came to Cui Ningdi's dormitory, and as soon as he entered the door, he heard someone faintly announcing inside, "Niangniang, Your Majesty is here." Immediately afterwards, Cui Ning ran out quickly, but her eyes were not surprised and affectionate, but a kind of anxiety and even fear, yes! She looked like a doe who had lost her child.

"Ning'er, what's wrong?" Zhang Huan hurriedly supported her and asked in surprise.

Cui Ning grabbed Zhang Huan's hand tightly and said in a trembling voice: "Huan Lang, can Cui Yao still get it?" ”

"Who told you this?" Zhang Huan was a little unhappy in his heart, he learned about this matter from the urgent report sent by Broken Leaf at the beginning of the twelve, he was afraid that Cui Ning and the patient's ill Cui Yuan would know, and he had concealed it until now, and even Pei Ying didn't tell it, but he didn't expect Cui Ning to still know, who leaked this matter?

Zhang Huan glanced back coldly at An Zhongshun and the others, and several of them lowered their heads in fright, trembling and not daring to take a breath

"Huan Lang, don't ask who told me, the key is whether Cui Yao can save him back?" Cui Ning was already extremely worried, she wanted to ask Cui Yao if she was still alive, but she didn't dare to think about it, she looked at her husband with begging eyes, hoping that he could give her an acceptable answer.

Zhang Huan looked at Cui Ningdi's gaze had become gentle, he could feel the tension in Cui Ning's heart, Cui Yao was the only thing her father entrusted to her before he died, if Cui Yao had an accident, she would not be able to explain to her father, Zhang Huan patted her hand gently, "Let's go inside and talk about it!" ”

He took Cui Ning's hand and entered the inner room, Zhang Huan sat down, hugged her waist and said sincerely, "Do you know? When I heard that Cui Yao was captured, I was also very nervous, and I was also very worried that he would be killed, but later when I learned that he was taken to Baghdad by Agush, I knew that at least his life was saved, although I had not met their caliph, but he was the king of a great country, if he didn't even have the heart to accommodate a messenger, then he would not be able to control such a big land as the Great Eclipse, just like I didn't kill Agush and finally released him, Cui Yao would definitely be released, and when the war between the two countries was over, it would be time for political dialogueIn order to solve many remaining problems, including the exchange of prisoners of war in Dashi, the determination of temporary borders, etc., the issue of Cui Yao's release will inevitably arise in these negotiations, so you can rest assured, I will definitely exchange him back, he is not only the nephew of my concubine, but more importantly, he is an envoy of the Tang Dynasty, which is related to the dignity of the Tang Empire, if he does not come back, Bahan will not really obey me. ”