Late at night.

Jia Xu sat alone in the stone pavilion, and a servant brought in the wine, and Jia Xu held the ear cup full of wine, but he didn't drink it for a long time.

Gently shaking the glass, the pear wine swirls in the glass, forming a slight whirlpool. Jia Xu stared intently at the whirlpool, his thoughts drifting away, returning to the same quiet night three days ago.

The carriage walked slowly on the stone road in the palace, and Jia Xu lifted the curtain of the car to look out, and the towering palace walls on both sides stood tall and solemn in the dark night. The chariot of the Son of Heaven in front of him was still walking unhurriedly, and Jia Xu's carriage followed behind him, looking at the direction they were going, it seemed to be the Deyang Hall of the North Palace.

When the carriage came to a stop in front of the Deyang Gate, Jia Xu hurriedly stepped down from the carriage and walked quickly to Liu Wei's chariot to stand. As a courtier, it is impossible for the emperor to get out of the car and wait for you first.

Liu Wei got out of the car, patted Jia Xu on the shoulder, and motioned for him to follow him into Deyang Gate.

Between the Deyang Hall and the Deyang Gate are the east and west pavilions on both sides. The Deyang Hall on the front came into their eyes, and its majesty and grandeur could still be seen even in the dark night.

"Deyang Hall was built in the Ming Emperor period when the North Palace was built, and it is the main hall of the North Palace, and it is also the largest building. It is seven zhang wide from north to south, and 37.4 zhang long from east to west. The steps are two zhang high, make the altar with patterned stones, build each other with white jade, and lead Luo water to pour into His Royal Highness. The people of the time once praised 'the bead curtain jade household is like the Gui Palace'. ”

Liu Wei introduced the Deyang Hall to Jia Xu in a voice that could be heard by both of them as he walked, and the way he spoke was unique, giving people a feeling that it was indescribable, just like Liu Wei used to often introduce the palace to people and make a living from it.

Jia Xu has heard of the history of Deyang Palace, and if someone can explain it like this when he appreciates it, it will also be interesting. But if the person who explains is the emperor, it can only make people feel weird.

The two climbed the stairs and entered the Deyang Palace. After Liu Wei finished talking about the history and characteristics of Deyang Palace, he breathed a sigh of relief and said to himself: "I haven't done this for a long time. I think I didn't do it long when I was in a travel agency before I was fired. ”

Liu Bian's words made Jia Xu a little incomprehensible, but usually Liu Bian would always say some strange hungry words, and Jia Xu would have the meaning of exploration at first, but later found that he really couldn't understand it, so he gave up and became accustomed to Liu Bian's strange behavior.

Liu Wei shook his head in boredom and asked Jia Xu: "Wenhe is the first time here." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Jia Xu nodded and said.

"I haven't been here a few times, actually. However, there is something interesting for Wen He to see. ”

Liu Wei seemed to smile happily, as if he was hiding some huge secret.

The guards and waiters on the left and right were retreated, and only Liu Wei and Jia Xu came to the dormitory behind.

After stopping at a low couch, Liu asked Jia Xu to work with him to remove the couch, revealing the bluestone slab underneath. Liu Wei squatted down and groped for the slate, and suddenly pressed hard, and a slate was easily lifted and thrown aside.

There was a copper ring under the stone slab, and two people pulled the copper ring up together. There was a dull thud under their feet, and a stone door more than a meter wide was pulled up, and a secret passage appeared in front of them.

There is a stone staircase in the dark passage that leads to the bottom. It was very deep, and Jia Xu couldn't see the bottom of the stone staircase on it, but it was not dark inside, and there was a lantern hanging on the wall next to the stone staircase every few steps.

"Your Majesty, this is ......"

"Secret Passage!" Liu replied succinctly.

Liu Wei led Jia Xu into the secret passage, down the spiraling stone staircase, Liu Wei said to Jia Xu as he walked: "This secret passage extends all the way to the Beibi Mountain outside the city, and there is no evidence when it was built, but it is certain that it was still used during the period of the first emperor." ”

It was a matter of royal secrets, and Jia Xu didn't dare to respond, wondering why the Son of Heaven would bring him here, and silently followed Liu Wei to the bottom of the tunnel.

The space below was extremely large, with many wooden boxes placed on the walls, and some of the lids were turned open, and the inside was already empty.

"Do you know what this place was used for when the first emperor was in the past?"

Without waiting for Jia Xu to answer, Liu Wei then said: "The first emperor hid a large amount of treasure into this tunnel, if the previous dynasty was in danger, he could escape into the tunnel, escape with the treasure and become a rich man." Hahaha......"

Liu Wei laughed, but his laughter was extremely cold.

"People say that the three holes of the cunning rabbit are cunning, do you think the first emperor is very smart?"

Jia Xu's face was as ugly as eating Xiang, and he didn't know how to answer Liu Wei, so he had to bow his head and continue to be silent.

Liu Wei laughed for a while and stopped, and the two continued to walk towards the depths of the secret passage, and Liu Wei then asked Jia Xu: "Wenhe is also forty and eight this year, right?" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I'm also an elder."

"I don't dare."

"Time flies like a white horse, fleeting. I once heard that it was necessary to be famous as soon as possible, and Zhiwenhe also became famous as a teenager, I don't know what his ambitions were when he was young? Liu Wei looked at Jia Xu with a curious expression.

"The young man is mediocre and has no ambition to speak of." Jia Xu said modestly.

Liu Wei shook his head and said in disbelief: "How can people have no ambitions, everyone has a goal he wants to achieve in the world." The ambition of the first emperor was to be a rich man. At first, I just wanted to live in the world, but after I succeeded to the throne, I wanted to change the fate of this country and this nation, and create a prosperous era for ten thousand years! ”

Liu Wei's words were bold and dry, which made Jia Xu feel a little enthusiastic. He has seen Liu Wei's big plan, which is the action plan for Liu Wei's government in the future, and if the political reform involved is successful, it will be a bit exaggerated to live in a prosperous era, but the Han Empire should continue for a few hundred years without pressure.

Liu Wei led him through a doorway to a room in the tunnel. Jia Xu found that Empress Tang was sitting inside, expressionless. He wears a temple dress with a bright red pattern, which is a formal dress that can only be worn during sacrifices and coronations.

This scene is extremely weird, Queen Tang is sitting in the tunnel with an expressionless face, fortunately Jia Xu is a little mentally prepared, if she sees it coldly, she will have to be frightened.

Jia Xu stepped forward to greet Empress Tang, but Empress Tang didn't say anything, just simply bowed to Liu Wei, and continued to sit on the chair in a dignified posture.

Jia Xu realized that Empress Tang seemed to be angry about something.

Liu Wei showed a wry smile slightly, and continued the topic just now: "If you have a goal, you must work hard for it. Emperor Guangwu exclaimed, 'Shi Eun is regarded as the ruling Jinwu', and for this dream, he went through difficulties in the future, and his achievements finally far exceeded the original goal. I have set the goal of opening the foundation of eternity, and I will also shed blood and sweat for it. Lu counterattacked, I will not retreat, even if I am really defeated and die in the end, I am worthy of heaven. But ......"

Liu Wei paused.

"Wenhe is different. The dream in Wen He's heart, the talent of his body, should not stay here and face the danger of being burned. Therefore, I hope that if the city is really broken, Wenhe will be able to use this secret passage to escape. ”

"Your Majesty." Liu Wei stayed by himself, and it turned out to be this what he meant, which made Jia Xu unable to close his mouth in surprise.

"I don't mean to look down on Wen He, nor do I doubt you. It's just that I once promised Wenhe to create a great achievement with you, so that Wenhe's talent can be displayed and he can leave a name in history. It's just that now that Dahan has suffered this catastrophe, for Wenhe, I don't want your talent to be buried. ”

Liu Wei's words were sincere, and Jia Xu was in a complicated mood and was silent.

For a long time, although Liu Wei has always been concerned about him, Jia Xu has never had a sense of belonging. For Liu Wei, he is just a migrant worker. He will not give his life to anyone, but only in his own hands. This is due to his natural self-protective character.

For him, those who are in high positions in history, or in reality, whether it is Corporal Lixian, or whether they push food and undress, to put it bluntly, they just want others to work for him. The so-called henchman humerus is just a modifier of the way of maneuvering.

However, what Liu Wei did subverted his outlook on life and worldview, and he taught Jiang Qicai to take the initiative to reduce the punishment when the court was employing people, but he didn't expect that Liu Wei could take all the blame on himself. In the event of a crisis, other bosses all hope that their subordinates can be in the same boat and share weal and woe, but Liu Bian's first thought is to let himself escape safely......

He didn't think that Liu Wei was the kind of character of a good old man, he felt that the reason why Liu Wei would do that was because in his heart he did not regard himself as a subordinate, but ......

There is no word "comrade" in his mind, but he can intuitively feel that Liu Wei does regard him as a collaborator who works together to realize his big plan.

In Jia Xu's heart, the fortress of self-protection that had accumulated for decades, cracks finally began to appear at this moment.

"Your Majesty......"

"I have one more request for Wenhe." Liu Wei didn't wait for Jia Xu to speak, and said to him with a pleading face.

He stretched out his hand to Empress Tang, Empress Tang came over with an expressionless face, he took Empress Tang's hand and said to Jia Xu: "If there is a city break, I hope that Wen He can escort the Empress away." ”

Liu Wei's face showed the sincerity of entrusting the most important things in his life to others, and then he made a move to Jia Xu that made him panic.

Liu Wei bowed deeply to Jia Xu.

"Please."

Jia Xu prostrated himself on the ground in a panic, claiming to be a capital crime. However, at this time, Empress Tang said resolutely on the side: "Your Majesty, the concubines will not leave Your Majesty." ”

Liu Wei was slightly stunned, showing a puzzled and embarrassed expression.

"We're not...... Is it okay? ”

Empress Tang suddenly burst into tears and said sadly: "The concubine on the city tower did promise Your Majesty that day. But Your Majesty has also said that you will protect me for the rest of my life! ”

"It's not that I want to leave you, but the thief Lu is powerful, and I don't want Sister Tang to be in any danger!"

"But I have His Majesty's child!" Empress Tang suddenly howled.

Empress Tang's words seemed to make Liu Wei stunned on the spot like a lightning strike, and he was a little overwhelmed for a while.

"This morning, the concubine felt slightly unwell, so she invited a doctor from the Tai Hospital to come for diagnosis and treatment, and only then did she find out that the concubine had been pregnant for two months." Empress Tang said silently.

Liu Wei opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say. The joy and nervousness of being a first-time father, the worry about the child's future under the danger of war, all kinds of emotions come up together, complex and indescribable.

Empress Tang continued to cry and said to Liu Wei: "Your Majesty is the heaven of the concubines, and it is also the heaven of the entire Han Dynasty. His Majesty said that he wanted to calm the troubled times, and the concubines also believed that only His Majesty could do it. If there is no Your Majesty, there will be no heaven for the concubines, and this great man will also be reduced to a troubled world. The concubines and the flesh and blood in the womb can't survive in the troubled times, Your Majesty don't drive the concubines away anymore, just let the concubines stay? ”

Empress Tang's tears have always been the softest part of Liu Wei's heart. Liu Wei took her hand sadly, and wiped her face with the other hand, but she couldn't wipe away the **** tears.

"Your Majesty, the concubine has long sworn to live and die with Your Majesty. Even if he leaves, if anything happens to His Majesty, the concubine will not live alone. ”

Empress Tang usually has a gentle personality, but in fact she is soft on the outside and rigid on the inside, although she pleads with Liu Wei at this time, but what is reflected in the words is the firmness that has no concessions.

Liu Wei sighed heavily, and wrapped his arms around Empress Tang.

"Sister Tang, what are you...... Alas. ”

He knew that he could no longer persuade Empress Tang, and his heart was sad, but more of a heavy sense of responsibility arose.

He is already going to be a father, and he definitely wants to defeat Lu Bu and survive.

Jia Xu had quietly left at this time, leaving the Deyang Hall to Liu Wei and Empress Tang.

The night sky outside the Deyang Hall is full of stars, and the Milky Way is bright. He has seen this kind of starry sky more than a thousand times, but today he feels that it is different from the past. The vast universe is endless, and my heart seems to be filled with something, and I have a feeling of not vomiting and unhappy.

Without taking the carriage, Jia Xu walked briskly between the corridors in the palace. When he was a teenager, he also walked under the stars like this, and made a grand ambition with enthusiasm. I don't know when it began, the edges and corners of the youth have all been smoothed out by the years, and only the barriers of self-protection have accumulated on the body.

But tonight, the strong barrier in the heart seemed to be pried open a crack, and gradually crumbled in the years to come.

When Jia Xu's old servant returned to the stone pavilion to see his master, he found that he had seen the big master since he was a child and had slept drunk in the pavilion.

The old servant was a little surprised, this was a scene that his master had never seen again in his adult life. Although the master is a good wine, he always maintains a vigilance, always careful and calculating, and has never let go of himself like today.

The old servant took a blanket and put it on Jia Xu's body, and when he heard Jia Xu muttering, he seemed to be saying: "For the peace of all generations, I, Jia Wenhe, am not a person who is afraid of death......"

************

After using the morning food, Liu Xie practiced his sword for a while in the garden of the mansion as usual. As his swordsmanship teacher, Wang Yue was silently pointing on the side.

Liu Xie danced his sword for a while, and Wang Yue stopped him.

"Your Highness, there is no distraction in swordsmanship. His Highness has something undecided in his heart, and it is not suitable to practice anymore. ”

Although Wang Yue usually treats Liu Xie with a respectful attitude, he is still extremely serious and strict in teaching swordsmanship.

Liu Xie put away the sword and said to Wang Yue embarrassedly: "Master Wang's lesson is right, it is this king who is distracted." ”

"Let it continue when His Highness is calm." Wang Yue sighed and said.

He was always a little absent-minded in the past few days, and knew that he was worried about the invasion of the Lu thief, but although Wang Yue's martial arts had reached the realm of a grandmaster, he didn't know anything about the government and military, and he couldn't help Liu Xie anything.

Liu Xie nodded, handed the sword to the servant and took it away. Kneeling at a low table with Wang Yue, they began to drink tea and chat.

Wang Yue originally thought that Liu Xie was talking to him about the Lu thief's attack, but Liu Xie's first sentence was to ask him about the rivers and lakes.

"There is nothing to do today, so it is better for Master Wang to talk about things on the rivers and lakes."

Wang Yue shook his head and replied: "On the rivers and lakes, there are mostly rangers who respect strength and are brave and ruthless, what is there to say." ”

Liu Xie blinked his eyes and said with a smile: "What Master Wang said is not the same as the things in the rivers and lakes that His Majesty has said." ”

Wang Yue frowned, the stories told by the Son of Heaven, such as "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "Xiao Li Flying Knife", were all relayed to him by Chen Liuwang and Liu Xie. In his opinion, the stories of the rivers and lakes in the mouth of the Son of Heaven are very absurd. The real rivers and lakes are so romantic and wonderful, more like a kind of life. Just as a farmer farms with a hoe, a ranger uses a sword to earn a living.

Most of the rangers are destitute people with no land or property, like the kind of knights in the story who wander around, eat in and out of restaurants, and have no regular income but never spend the money. Not to mention unheard of martial arts such as "Evil Sword Technique" and "Seventy-two Buddhist Stunts".

"The ranger in His Majesty's mouth should be a country anecdote." Out of respect for the imperial power, Wang Yue naturally couldn't accuse Liu Wei of nonsense, and could only explain it vaguely to Liu Xie.

Liu Xie didn't care too much about this matter, and then said: "Although it is an anecdote, the righteous spirit of the knights in the story is also worthy of admiration. ”

Wang Yue nodded approvingly and said, "My generation walks the rivers and lakes, and the most important thing is this righteous word. ”

"If someone leaves his brother to escape alone before the danger, what does Master Wang think?"

Liu Xie laughed secretly, as if there was something in his words, but Wang Yue didn't hear it, and said directly: "This kind of scum, the more contemptible it is!" ”

Belch? Liu Xie was slightly stunned, and then laughed.

"What Master Wang said is true...... Hahaha! ”

Liu Xie laughed, and tears seemed to flow out. After a while, Liu Xie wiped the corners of his eyes, and his expression became grim. It seems to have made some kind of determination.

"It's dangerous to say. This king is almost despised by the king. ”

"Your Highness?" Wang Yue was confused by Liu Xie.

Liu Xie turned his head to look at him, but his gaze was unprecedentedly firm.

(To be continued, stay tuned for the next chapter.) ）