Day, in Chang'an's various restaurants and teahouses began to circulate a saying, the beginning of collusion with Hui Hui, deceived the emperor to drive the expedition and was trapped in the west of the surrender city, said well-founded, Zhang San immediately thought that in the end it was indeed Cui Yuan's profit, he patted his head and suddenly realized, turned around and told Li Si of his analysis, and added some oil and vinegar, as if he was the worm in Cui Yuan's stomach.

Maybe Li Si has relatives who are Shaoqing or Langzhong, so his political consciousness is quite high, Li Si felt that he was shouldering the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty, so he told Wang Wu, Li Liu, and Zhao Qi about it in one breath, and swore that he patted his chest and promised that he had seen this matter with his own eyes, and there was no lie.

The news spread more and more, and more and more theories were derived, and some people even said that Cui Yuan was originally a descendant of the Hu people, and on a morning when the wind and snow first stopped, he was picked up by the Cui family on the steps of Cui's house; But one of the most widely circulated theories is that Cui Yuan wanted to murder the current emperor and usurp the throne himself.

Many people are keenly aware that behind this news, there may really be something going on.

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Dozens of fast horses through the white fog of the early morning, over the bare fields, galloping towards Taiyuan City, Zhang Potian's face was grim, his eyes were full of anxiety, he had just gotten the news, the head of the family's illness deteriorated, and ordered him to rush back to Taiyuan Sect with 100,000 fires, he galloped in the starry night, the original ten days of the journey, was shortened to six days, everyone rushed up a dirt slope, the magnificent city wall of Taiyuan City has been in sight.

This is Zhang Potian's second return to Taiyuan in half a month, the first time, that is, shortly after Zhang Huan left Taiyuan, he returned to Benzong to pay homage to the ancestral tablet, which can be regarded as an official return to the Zhang family. But his biggest regret is that Zhang Huan did not become the heir to the head of the family, and there are signs of leaving the Zhang family, but Zhang Ruohao told him that things were not as bad as he thought, and asked him to let Zhang Huan go by himself.

Since the last family meeting, Taiyuan Zhangfu has gradually returned to calm, Zhang Ruohao is seriously ill, to a large extent, he is only a kind of spiritual sustenance for the Zhang family. Most of the trivial matters of the clan were handed over to Zhang Can, the heir of the head of the family, and only when he encountered major matters would he express his opinion.

On this morning, Zhang Ruohao was half-lying on the sickbed listening to Zhang Can's report, his vitality had become weaker and weaker, almost the oil was close to the lamp, and he was even in a semi-coma at night, and only in the morning did he have a slight trace of sanity.

"The head of the family, the copy of the ministry has arrived, and Yin Zhang Xuan is the county magistrate of Yuxiang County."

Zhang Can sighed secretly. He is the viscount of Yuxiang, but Zhang Xuan is the county magistrate of Yuxiang. This is obviously against himself, and the officials are controlled by Cui Yuan, it can be seen that he is not dead set on the Zhang family, as long as he encounters an opportunity, he will still attack the Zhang family, thinking of this, Zhang Can feels very heavy pressure in his heart.

In terms of ability, Zhang Can belongs to the old and steady, focusing on keeping the success, and lacking in pioneering, such as after the Zhang family meeting. He was slow to make up his mind about the Zhang family's request for an increase in the monthly rule, which left a rift in the unprecedented unity of the Zhang family, and the concubines generally resented him. But the concubines didn't appreciate it, they hoped to divide the Zhang family's grange to everyone, and the concubines had a good situation of reconciliation. In his hesitation, he let it go.

But there is one thing Zhang Can is not ambiguous, that is, the allegiance to the Son of Heaven of the Tang Dynasty, the next day after Zhang Huan left, Li Department secretly met with him, personally poured tea and water for him, and rewarded him with the jade pendant he had worn for fifteen years, and allowed him to see the Son of Heaven not to worship, and wrote a secret decree on the spot, sealing him as the Duke of Yu Guo, Taiyuan Stay, Hedong Jiedu Envoy, the emperor's favor moved him, Zhang Can then officially classified himself as the Conglong faction, but he did not tell Zhang Ruohao about this matter, he already knew, Zhang Ruohao and Zhang Potian have actually submitted to the emperor, otherwise how could they send millions of stone grain and 800,000 yuan to Duan Xiushi in Anbei every year, he is just continuing the consistent position of the Zhang family.

Zhang Can waited for a long time, but did not see the answer of the head of the house, he glanced inside from the crack in the curtain, only to see Zhang Ruohao closed his eyes tightly, his face was like gold paper, and he was already thin like a skeleton, so he quietly wanted to withdraw.

"Zhang Potian is coming today, bring him to see me immediately." Just as Zhang Can was about to retreat to the door, Zhang Ruohao suddenly whispered a word.

Zhang Can was stunned, he was about to agree, but there was a sound of hurried footsteps behind him, "Young family master, Zhang Potian is back and wants to see the family master." ”

Zhang Can glared at the housekeeper fiercely, "Is Zhang Shangshu's name something you can call?" In the future, I will call him the second master! ”

The housekeeper agreed in a panic, Zhang Can glanced at the room again, and said in a low voice: "The family wants to see him, bring him in!" ”

After a while, Zhang Potian hurriedly entered Zhang Ruohao's room, the room was dimly lit, twilight, and full of the breath of death, he walked lightly to the head of the house's couch, put away the tent, Zhang Ruohao opened his eyes slightly, his dry lips showed a smile, he turned his gaze, and glanced at Zhang Can behind him, Zhang Can understood, and he immediately withdrew from the room.

"I'm afraid I'm dying." Zhang Ruoho smiled bitterly.

Zhang Potian silently stared at this enemy who had been an enemy for more than ten years, and now it was his eldest brother, he held Zhang Ruohao's hand and nodded gently, "If the eldest brother has anything to say, just tell me!" ”

Zhang Ruohao trembled his hands, took out a key from his personal body, he pointed to a copper box at the head of the bed, Zhang Potian understood, took the key and opened the box, the box only had some old clothes, and there was a cylindrical leather bag in the corner of the box, Zhang Potian took out the leather bag and signaled to him, Zhang Ruohao nodded slightly, "You help me sit up!" ”

He sat up with difficulty, panting slightly: "You should guess that Zhang Huan is not a child of our Zhang family." ”

"Yes! I've already guessed a little. ”

At this time, Zhang Ruohao's eyes became brighter, and a touch of blush appeared on his sallow face, and he pointed to the skin bag and said: "There is the will left by the former prince Yu, ordering our Zhang family to help his son regain the throne." ”

"What!" sheet

Taken aback, "Could it be that Zhang Huan is.

Zhang Ruoho nodded slowly, "Yes, this is the real reason why I want to make Zhang Huan the heir of the head of the family, it is not a year or two to regain the throne." I'm afraid that you and I won't be able to see that day, only by letting him master the Zhang family's financial resources and territory, will he have the strength to compete for the big position. ”

"But if he fails, the risk of our Zhang family?"

Zhang Ruohao glanced at him and said coldly: "If the Zhang family doesn't do this risky move, at the latest ten years, Hedong will be the meat in Cui and Pei's territory." ”

Zhang Potian was silent, although the head of the family made sense, but the risk was too great, so he would bet on the entire Zhang family. A slight negligence, the Zhang family is the disaster of annihilation, and he really disapproves in his heart.

Zhang Ruohao seemed to see his hesitation, and couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart, even Zhang Potian couldn't convince him, so who would approve, he patted his hand lightly, and persuaded again: "I have observed Zhang Huan since he was a child, if he is a swinger, or a mediocre person." I wouldn't think so, but he was a man who did great things. Even you call him one of the three Hedong Zhang, don't you believe him now? ”

Zhang Potian's brows were twisted, of course he knew that Zhang Huan was a person who could make great achievements, but he always positioned Zhang Huan as the head of the Zhongxing family to revitalize the Zhang family in Hedong, and never thought of letting Zhang Huan compete for the supreme throne.

He was so confused that he sighed and said, "This matter makes me think about it again." ”

"Okay!" The brilliance on Zhang Ruohao's face slowly faded, he lay down weakly, handed the skin to Zhang Potian and said, "I don't have much time, so I'll call you." ”

Zhang Potian took it and carefully put it away. He whispered to Zhang Ruoho again: "Please rest assured, eldest brother, I will defend the interests of the Zhang family to the death and never let Cui and Pei interfere in Hedong." ”

Jang Ruoho closed his eyes and said nothing more. Zhang Potian slowly exited the room, he stood in front of the door, his eyes full of worry. After a long time, he took the yellowed will in his skin, slowly tore it to shreds, and muttered, "Big brother! I'm sorry, our Zhang family must not use the price of the Nine Clans as a bet. ”

Chang'an Qujiang Pond, the day is short, the twilight has quietly fallen, has entered the mid-autumn, the wind is strong at night, there are few visitors on the side of Qujiang Pond, and occasionally there are one or two pairs of lovers who refuse to return.

An old man hurriedly walked on the official road leading to Chang'an in Qujiangchi, his hair was gray, his face was full of vicissitudes, and his back was slightly rickety, he was a dumb uncle who took care of Zhang Huan's life since he was a child, he just came to Qujiangchi to pay homage to his mother's home, Zhang Huan in order to protect his mother's safety, and did not tell him that his mother was in Qiushuiguan, but simply told him that his mother was a monk near Qujiangchi.

Therefore, every day to visit Qujiangchi has become the only spiritual sustenance of his life, which is a habit he has developed in Taiyuan for more than ten years, and today, as usual, he rushed back to Chang'an after visiting the east.

The official road was very quiet, a gust of autumn wind swept up a few fallen leaves on the ground, swirling and following at the feet of the dumb uncle, he suddenly felt a little cold, so he wrapped his clothes a little tighter, and his back looked even more stiff.

Suddenly, a black shadow sprang out from behind the tree, and a stick struck him on the back of the head, and the dumb uncle fell limply, and then three men in black jumped down from the tree, and the four of them quickly put him into a sack, and carried him to the bushes by the roadside.

They had just run into the woods, but they froze, and saw that their horses were dead in the woods, and that the other companion who had answered them was also facing the sky, and had been dead for a long time.

A whistle sounded, and more than a hundred black-clothed men suddenly appeared around them, all holding sabers in their hands, staring at them coldly, like a group of ghosts wandering in the night.

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The night was deeper, and at the moment when the Chang'an City Gate was about to close, several horses galloped into the Mingde Gate, and they seemed to be swept through Suzaku Street like a whirlwind, and rushed straight to Xuanyangfang.

In a moment, these knights have arrived in front of Cui Yuan's mansion, jumped off their horses and galloped up the steps, in the mansion, Cui Yuan walked around the study with his hands behind his back, his face was gloomy, and his eyes were full of anger, these days, Cui Yuan has been irritable to the extreme, he has heard rumors about him in the past two days, although there is no evidence, but the three of them become tigers, these rumors will ruin his reputation, and more importantly, someone has already started to do it, who this person is unknown, and what the purpose is not clear, but one thing is certain, There must be a huge conspiracy hidden behind this matter.

This was the reason for his irritability, and he still couldn't see what this conspiracy was.

By the wall, Cui Xiong knelt straight and straight, not daring to move, and Cui Yuan glanced at him. I was even more annoyed in my heart, I couldn't bear Cui Qinggong's repeated begging, so I handed over the kidnapping of Zhang Huan's old servant to Cui Xiong, the old servant had to go out of the city every day to visit Qujiang Pond, kidnapping him was already too simple to do, but it was this little thing, he Cui Xiong couldn't do it, and he hadn't come back yet, needless to say, there must have been an accident.

"You say. Who did you tell about this? ”

Cui Xiong was extremely depressed, because it was too simple, he didn't take this matter to heart at all, but there was an accident, although he gambled, but he was still a little weak in his heart, he was drunk in Cuiyunju at noon, and he really didn't know if he had said anything, although it was so, but he couldn't say it. He said in trepidation: "My nephew dared to swear a curse, and he never told anyone about it. I don't know what's going on? ”

"Humph! Are you gambling curses? "Don't tarnish my ears here."

Suddenly, the butler came running and reported urgently at the door, "Master, the people who went to check the fang outside the city have returned, and they have brought news." ”

Cui Yuan's spirits perked up, "Quick! Let them in. ”

Soon, a knight strode in. He half-knelt down and saluted Cui Yuan, "The subordinates found the corpses of the five of them in the woods, and there were traces of a fight at the scene

The footprints on the other side show that there are as many as 100 people. ”

Cui Yuan was stunned for a moment, there were as many as a hundred people. The other party actually spent so much money for this matter, his original intention was to get some information about Zhang Huan from Zhang Huan's old servant, but someone actually used as many as 100 people to snatch this old servant. Could it be that there is still some secret hidden in this old servant? Also, who is behind this? Could it be that Pei Jun can't do it again?

He suddenly remembered the rumor again, is there any relationship between these two things?

.

'Wow! A bucket of water was poured on the dumb uncle's body, and he gradually woke up, only to feel a splitting headache, a burst of sweetness in his throat, his hands and feet were firmly tied, and slowly, his eyes adjusted to the gloomy environment, and he looked to both sides, it seemed to be a stone house for horses, full of hay, and the room was filled with the smell of horses.

And beside him stood two extremely strong women, women, and he could see clearly, two women of seven feet in height, with fleshy faces, their hands crossed over their breasts, and their arms thicker than the calves of ordinary men.

"Awake?" The dumb uncle only heard them muttering vaguely, and then his body was light, and he was carried out of the room by them.

"I didn't expect you, an old bastard, to be a eunuch." A woman's 'quack! He laughed, and his voice was like that of a night owl, and it was creepy.

Uncle Dumb suddenly blood gushed on his face, he bit his lip tightly, silently, and soon he was carried to a corridor, it was still dark outside, the sky was full of stars, and next to it was a huge square, Uncle Dumb suddenly recognized this place, this was actually the Hunting Palace, the Pavilion Palace was the place where the palace maids lived and the sinners served, how could he be here?

The two huge women walked like a fly, and soon carried him to another empty room, in which there was an iron cage, and the two women threw him in, and then the iron door was slammed shut.

After a while, he faintly heard the voice of the voice, "Don't worry, the Queen Mother will never know about this matter, I am my father's personal soldier, and I am absolutely loyal to me." ”

"General Zhu does things, and the mourning family has always been at ease."

"The Queen Mother?" A burst of horror flashed in the dumb uncle's eyes, he instinctively stepped back, but in the iron cage, he had nowhere to hide, the door 'creaked' open, the footsteps were chaotic, and seven or eight people walked in, and the person at the head was the master of the Taiji Palace, the current Queen Mother Zhang Liang.

Since the official establishment of Li Miao as the crown prince, Zhang Liang has lost his role, was completely abandoned by Cui Yuan, and the hope of a comeback was once again cut off, Zhang Liang only had bitter hatred left in her heart, she hated all people, hated Cui Yuan who used her, hated the first emperor who had already turned into dirt, hated Cui Xiaofu who won the right to raise the prince, and hated Zhang Huan who rescued the Li family, but what she hated most was the current emperor Li family, it was because of his incompetence that today's imperial power declined, and it was precisely because he did not die in the city of Xishou that his dream of listening to the government was shattered.

Although she has lost everything, she will never be reconciled and will never give up.

Zhang Liang walked to the iron cage and looked at the person in the cage coldly, she suddenly smiled, "Sure enough, it's you, Han Yuantai, the deputy head of the East Palace back then, we haven't seen each other for sixteen years." ”

The dumb uncle had calmed down, he stared at this woman with resentment in his eyes, and suddenly two words burst out of his mouth with great difficulty: "Cheap.

As soon as he spoke, he was punched head-on by one of the fierce women, knocking him to the ground, and the dumb uncle slowly sat up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and still stared at the woman in front of him with bitter hatred.

"I heard sixteen years ago that that person had an illegitimate child outside, and I couldn't find him, it turned out that this fish that slipped through the net turned out to be Zhang Huan, the emperor's henchman, it's really wonderful!"

Zhang Liang couldn't help laughing, it was a great irony that the Li family actually let Li Yu's son guard the Daming Palace.

"Cheap.

"Let's find a way to save his life first!" Zhang Liang smiled coldly and turned around.

She walked on the corridor and smiled faintly at Zhu Jun who followed behind her: "General Zhu, I want to thank you for this matter." ”

Zhu Jun replied with a smile on his face: "It is an honor for my subordinates to do things for the Queen Mother, and I must not deserve the word 'thanks'." ”

After the assassination in Taiyuan, Zhu Zhu discovered that the Li family began to be extremely dissatisfied with Zhang Huan, and he keenly realized that this was an opportunity to avenge his father and provoke civil strife in the Tang Dynasty.

Of course, things are not as simple as he thinks, there must be a crowbar in the middle, use it step by step to achieve his goal, he has already had a belly case, this person is the master of the Taiji Palace he is responsible for, Empress Dowager Zhang.

Coincidentally, Zhang Liang had long taken a fancy to this Longwu army that controlled the Taiji Palace, and the two had a common enemy, so they hit it off, and the two quickly and secretly formed an alliance.

Hearing Zhu Zhu say the word 'thanks', Zhang Liang snorted and said, "You don't pretend to be loyal in front of me, we are just using each other." ”

She glanced to both sides, and saw that the palace maids accompanying her were following from a distance, so she lowered her voice and said, "I want to poke this matter to Daming Palace and let him know, what do you think?" ”

The sneer on Zhu Jun's face had disappeared without a trace, he pondered for a while, and then said coldly: "The reason why Zhang Huan escaped the catastrophe several times was because he was too soft and too early, and this time he simply made things bigger, making him the enemy of everyone, and leaving him with nowhere to stay!" ”

Zhang Liang nodded slightly, "Then tell me, how should we play chess next?" ”

"No hurry! Let's take our time and reel in the net little by little so that we can catch the big fish. ”

Zhang Liang's eyes narrowed into a slit, she and Zhu Jun glanced at each other, and both smiled tacitly.