On November 2, the 23rd year of Dayong Wuwei (the first year of Southern Chu Zhihua), King Yong returned to the dynasty victoriously, and Zhao Jia, the lord of Southern Chu, the prince, the concubines, and the royal family were in front, and the hundreds of officials of Liewen and Wu were behind, and the Taimiao was sacrificed.

"Yongshi Taizong Benji"

I didn't see the grand occasion of King Yong being greeted by hundreds of officials and entering the city gate, because my current status is easy to say that he is a guest, and the ugly way of saying is that he is a prisoner, and I have neither been captured by Yaxing of Taimiao, nor this honor, so I rode into the city with Gou Lian long after the army entered the city. Passing through the Mingde Gate, I opened the window of the carriage I was riding, and saw a forty zhang wide Yujie Avenue on both sides, planted with two rows of locust trees, but it was already winter, and I could no longer see the green trees, there were drainage ditches as wide as small rivers on both sides of the road, and at the intersection of the drainage ditches of other main roads, stone bridges were paved.

I whispered: "Mountains and rivers are thousands of miles away, and the city is a nine-fold gate." Don't see the emperor's palace, and know the son of heaven. ”

Gou Lian said with a smile: "Qinzhong since the ancient imperial state, Chang'an cultural relics gathered, the terrain is dangerous, there are Qinling Mountains in the south, the middle of the Qinling Mountains is stacked, there are mountains in the north, and the Qinling Mountains echo in the distance, Jing, Wei and other eight rivers surround Chang'an, eight hundred miles of Qinchuan has been the capital of the emperor since ancient times, Dayong according to Chang'an as the capital, it is the king's weather, Dayong dominates the world, its momentum is unstoppable, Southern Chu built the capital of Jianye, Jianye Tianzi is insufficient, the capital is built in Yan, often a generation and decline. ”

I didn't say a word, I know very well the weakness of Nanchu, and I also know the strength of Dayong, but this is not the reason why I have to take refuge in King Yong. A trace of confusion flashed in Gou Lian's eyes, he had never had such a headache, no matter how he persuaded him, this young man either agreed, or smiled silently, but he could not let him agree to join King Yong, Gou Lian felt that he was too anxious, but if he could not be convinced, if King Yong could not bear it, decided to execute this person, wouldn't it be a pity, Gou Lian once proposed to put Jiang Zhe under temporary house arrest and slowly persuade him, but unfortunately King Yong just smiled bitterly, it seems that time is very urgent, what is this for?

I pointed out the window and said to Xiao Shunzi: "You see, this is Suzaku Street, the first long street that runs through the north and south of Chang'an City, and at the end of the north end of Suzaku Street, it is the palace city and the imperial city, which is the residence of the Dayong royal family, and the official offices of the six departments in Chang'an City are also in the palace city, and the location where we are now is called Guocheng, Chang'an Guocheng guards the palace city and the imperial city from the left, right and south three sides. Chang'an Guocheng has a total of 11 streets in the north and south and 14 streets in the east and west, which are divided into 110 squares in a criss-crossing manner. Among them, the three north-south streets and three east-west streets that run through the city gate constitute the main traffic trunk in Chang'an City, and the Suzaku Street where we are now is the most central street in Chang'an. At the end of Suzaku Street is the Suzaku Gate, from where you can enter Miyagi. ”

Gou Lian smiled: "Hearing Mr. Jiang say this, I feel as if Your Excellency is the landlord of Chang'an?" ”

I said lightly: "If you talk about the situation of Jianye, I'm afraid that Brother Yongquan knows better than below." Gou Lian smiled bitterly again.

I looked out the window at the bustling crowd, the prosperity here is a little better than Jianye, but Jianye is so drunk and golden, scholars and ladies, here are impassioned Confucianism, majestic warriors, everywhere exudes the atmosphere of prosperity. I smiled, this is a real joy, although Jiangnan is good, and it is my hometown, but I won't dislike it here, Nanchu, that's what I remember.

The carriage soon arrived at the Suzaku Gate, Gou Lian lifted the curtain, and in his hand was a token of the Yongwang Mansion, the forbidden army guarding the door glanced at it, and retreated respectfully, and Gou Lian was about to order to continue to move forward. A hearty laugh came from the front: "Mr. Gou, inside the car is the royal brother's distinguished guest." Gou Lian looked up, but saw a luxurious carriage driving in front of him, the curtains were embroidered with brocade of the golden dragon, behind the tall curtain, a handsome young man was half-leaning and half-sitting under the service of two delicate concubines, and was waving to him. Gou Lian was greatly surprised and said, "His Royal Highness King Qi, why didn't you go to the celebration banquet, but went out of the city?" ”

Li Xian walked out of the carriage with the support of his concubine, and said: "The celebration banquet, it hasn't started yet, I have to wait for my father to pay tribute to the Taimiao, this king has already been sick, I heard that the second brother brought a distinguished guest back, thinking that it should be the king's old acquaintance, how can I come to greet it, but Lord Jiang?" This king is Li Xian. ”

I was a little helpless, although I knew that this person would come to stir up the situation, but such urgency was still beyond my expectations, I poked my head out and smiled: "It turned out to be His Royal Highness King Qi, how can you laugh at me, a prisoner under the ranks?" ”

Li Xian walked closer and said loudly: "What's the matter, Lord Jiang is a peerless talent, don't talk about the imperial brother, even my father will not let the adult be trapped, although the fold presented by the imperial brother has the name of the adult in it, but after the father saw it, he crossed out the name of the adult, and said that let the imperial brother treat the adult well, don't be lazy, after a while, the father still wants to summon the adult." However, I have asked my father for his will, and if Lord Jiang is willing, my Qi Palace's Mansion is waiting for Lord Jiang to come to the door. ”

Gou Lian frowned, thinking, no wonder His Highness has a hard time, it turned out that he knew that someone would rob His Highness of people, and hurriedly said: "Your Highness, His Royal Highness King Yong has already had a decree, and he ordered the late life to receive it well, and King Qi can't rush to be the master." ”

Li Xian said arrogantly: "Even if the royal brother is here, he will not be embarrassed by this king, Lord Jiang, in the past, in Nanchu, you were ordered to entertain this king, this time it is the turn of this king to be the landlord." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and pulled it to me. Then Li Xian felt that his wrist was held by a cold hand, and then he saw Xiao Shunzi's cold smile. Li Xian withdrew his hand with interest and said briskly: "Since Mr. Gou insists like this, this king has no choice but to forget it." After a few days, Lord Jiang must go to this king's mansion to live. ”

I smiled slightly, nodded and said, "If there is a chance, I will naturally bother." Gou Lian looked at me worriedly, and stopped talking.

At this moment, the golden palace of Dayong is a scene of a group of monarchs and ministers rejoicing, after the sacrifice of the Taimiao, Li Yuan completed the dust-sweeping, amnesty, acceptance of the worship of hundreds of officials, military parades and other red tape in accordance with the celebration formulated by the Ministry of Rites, and finally when it came to the celebration of the Golden Palace, Li Yuan after the banquet, Zhao Jia and Princess Changle were edicted to go to the palace, Li Yuan just said a few words lightly to Zhao Jia, who kept asking for sin, "Between Weng and son-in-law, the affection is deep, and there will be no more guilt", so Zhao Jia went to the post house to live temporarily, as for Princess Changle, Li Yuan burst into tears when he saw it, and after Changle saluted, he took Changle's hand, looked up and down, and saw that his daughter's face was clear, not like the innocent appearance at the beginning, and it was even more heartbroken, and said to Changle: "Emperor, you have suffered, your father is sorry for you, your mother and they are waiting for you in the harem, you go to see you first, and my father will go to see you later." "Princess Changle went to the harem surrounded by a palace maid and eunuch.

Li Yuan raised his wine glass and said loudly: "Today, King Yong returned victorious, although I am happy that King Yong has made meritorious contributions, but I am even more pleased that he has taken back his beloved daughter Changle, I am not strong enough to drink, and the ministers can pay tribute to King Yong a few more cups on my behalf. "The ministers on the hall shouted long live, with the golden cup, smiling, Yongwang Li Zhen has washed away the dust, on the prince Li An's next chief seat to receive the toast of the hundred officials, although Li An who sat on the top of the laughter continued, but the cold light in his eyes was flashing again and again, he hated it in his heart, originally arranged for Li Xian, the king of Qi, to go to the Southern Chu, who knew that the loss of the army was broken, and he had no choice but to let the Yongwang Li Zhen gnaw this hard bone, but the Yongwang sneak attack Jianye, and took back the Southern Chu monarchs, so that Li Yuan was ecstatic, but Li An was angry.

What especially made Li An hate was that he finally got the attachment of Liang Wan, the person in charge of the Nanchu secret spy intelligence network, and Liang Wan came back as an idiot, and his efforts in Nanchu came to naught, which didn't make Li An depressed and resentful. Looking at Li Zhen who was proud of the spring breeze, Li An thought viciously: "If this king can't get the throne, don't think about your Li Zhen." ”

When Li An gritted his teeth and hated, there was also chaos in the harem, Queen Dou was the biological mother of Prince Li An, the eldest grandson Guifei was the biological mother of Princess Changle, and the biological mother of King Qi Yan Guifei, and Ji Guifei The four of them gathered in the queen's palace. The eldest grandson concubine has almost cried tears over the years, several sons have not been kept, and the only daughter is married to Nanchu, this time I heard that King Yong took back his daughter, the eldest grandson concubine has long been restless, not long after, there were hurried footsteps outside the door, several eunuchs and palace maids came in to report, the princess has been waiting outside the palace. Queen Dou hurriedly said: "What are you waiting for, don't let the child come in." ”

But for a moment, the plain Princess Changle walked in, endured tears to see the queen, and then went to the arms of the mother concubine and cried, the eldest grandson Guifei cried even more, she looked at the haggard face of Princess Changle, and said sadly: "My Zhen'er, you married Nanchu at the age of fifteen, and for six years, my mother and mother have burned incense and prayed, hoping for the harmony of my son's husband and wife, but also worried that the war between the two countries will affect the child, and now you have finally returned safely, and the mother's heart has settled down, Zhen'er, you can rest assured, your father promised to choose another son-in-law for you, This time, my mother is in charge of you, and I always have to find a satisfactory husband for you. ”

Queen Dou also said while crying: "Good boy, you are suffering in Nanchu, and the mourning family is also difficult for you to sleep and eat, this time the mourning family has already told the emperor that you have sacrificed a lot for Dayong, and no one is allowed to make up your mind on you again, if you fancy someone this time, the mourning family will be the master for you." ”

Princess Changle hid her face and said: "Niangniang, mother, Changle obeyed the emperor's order to marry Nanchu, although he is back now, but he is always the queen of Nanchu, the child is no longer shameless, how can the husband remarry someone else while he is still there, and ask a few mothers to be the masters of the child, let the child stay with the mother, stay quietly for a few years, and be filial to the father and the princess." ”

Several mothers looked at each other, and it was really embarrassing to think about it, no matter what their own people said, Changle was married to the lord of Southern Chu after all, so he couldn't be arranged to remarry like this, the eldest grandson and concubine remembered the two princes who died one after another, and the only daughter was so miserable, and she cried even more. At this time, Concubine Ji Guifei walked to Changle's side and comforted her softly: "The princess doesn't have to be sad, the emperor will naturally arrange it properly and never embarrass the princess." "Several mothers know that Concubine Ji has always participated in military affairs, and when they saw her say this, they were all relieved, several mothers were harem women, and they had never seen anything cruel and vicious, since the emperor had a heart, then Zhao Jia would naturally live for a short time. Princess Changle couldn't help but feel soft in her heart when she heard this, although she had no affection for Zhao Jia, but Zhao Jia had always been respectful to her, and now that she had reached this point, she had become a vicious woman who framed her husband, and she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Ji Guifei's surname was cheerful, and she laughed again and again, finally letting Princess Changle eliminate her sadness, and the eldest grandson Guifei also said with a smile on her face: "Zhen'er, my mother has already re-taken care of the Cuiluan Palace where you used to live, come, kneel down with the queen and a few mothers, let's go and see where you live." ”

The queen and the others also smiled and asked the eldest grandson Guifei to settle Changle quickly, Ji Guifei said: "Oh, let my sister be alone, it seems that we don't care about Changle, sister, I'm young, let me go and fight." ”

Ji Guifei was originally the most arrogant, seeing that she deliberately flattered, the eldest grandson Guifei naturally would not refuse, the three of them said goodbye to the queen and walked towards the Cuiluan Palace, this Cuiluan Palace has been completely renewed, the palace maid eunuch personally selected by the eldest grandson Guifei has long been waiting for the arrival of the master, Princess Changle's outfit has already moved over, and the right-hand woman who accompanied Princess Changle in Nanchu has also placed everything, Princess Changle helped the eldest grandson Guifei, listening to her mother's nagging and explaining things, and the mother and daughter shared the joy of family. Concubine Ji was also on the side, and from time to time she comforted her, she was good at words, but she didn't make the mother and daughter feel uncomfortable with outsiders on their side.

After a period of time, the eldest grandson concubine was a few years old, and she was too happy, she couldn't help but get tired, Princess Changle was worried about her mother's body and wanted to send her mother back to the palace, the eldest grandson concubine sympathized with her daughter's hard work, let her rest well, and went back to the palace to rest by herself, but Ji Guifei left under the pretext of staying, Princess Changle was a little puzzled, but she was in Nanchu for many years, although she lived in a simple place, but she raised and moved her body, and naturally she also had the demeanor of a mother, so she quietly waited for Ji Guifei to show her true feelings. Sure enough, not long after, Concubine Ji dismissed her subordinates and asked solemnly: "Princess, Liang Wan has served the princess for many years, why did she come back like this this time, my niece has been running around for many years and ended up like this, how can I not make the palace sad." ”

Princess Changle's heart moved, and the imperial brother Li Zhen asked herself about Liang Wan for a long time, she had long heard that this Concubine Ji was born in the rivers and lakes, and she vaguely knew that Liang Wan was recommended by Concubine Ji, so she didn't hide it, and told her experience.

Concubine Ji listened very carefully, and when she heard that Liang Wan attacked the man in black and was captured, she showed a strange look on her face and asked, "Princess, are you saying that Liang Wan has no room to fight back." ”

Princess Changle said apologetically: "This palace can't understand either, I just feel that the person restrained Sister Liang as soon as he stretched out his hand." ”

Ji Guifei asked, "Then what are the characteristics of this man in black?" ”

Princess Changle fell into memory, when she watched with trepidation Liang Wan being captured, and then one by one the secret agents were ordered to restrain their hands, the man in black walked in front of him, killed the maid who intended to assassinate him with a gesture, and stood in front of him, at that time he clenched the hairpin, ready to kill himself if this person offended a little, but heard the feminine voice said lightly: "Queen, don't worry, we are not from Nanchu, please follow us to a place, and we will send the queen to see King Yong afterwards." At that time, his eyes were full of the scene of the maid being killed, and the body of the daughter had not been touched by an irrelevant man, so he was very afraid, the voice sounded like a devil to himself, and he trembled and wanted to stab the golden hairpin into his throat, but was stopped by the man, and the man said helplessly: "The queen is relieved, the master of the house has no malice towards the queen, and I am a eunuch, and I will not blaspheme the queen's innocence." As he spoke, he clicked on his acupuncture point, blindfolded himself, and then lost consciousness. When he was under house arrest in the dark room, it was the man in black who came to take care of herself, and Princess Changle could be sure that that person was indeed a eunuch, and she could even know from his familiarity with etiquette that this person was a palace man from Nanchu. So she didn't believe that she could be free, until, that day, she saw the spies who protected her, they knelt on the ground and pleaded guilty to themselves, and beside them was Liang Wan, whose intelligence had become a child, and under their protection, she saw the imperial brother, and watched them commit suicide, and the blood stained the Golden Palace.

And she never knew what was going on, in the process of escorting herself, no matter how she asked, they just asked for guilt, gradually, she understood that their suicide must be the request of those men in black, and they agreed in order to protect themselves, it stands to reason that she should hate those men in black, but, strangely, she did not have a trace of hatred, because those people have never had the slightest contempt for themselves, and it is also a risky thing for them to leave their surnames, at least I have heard their voices, also knew that a person was a eunuch, but she didn't tell the imperial brother, because although the other party didn't have any requirements for her, she was finally blessed with the grace of not killing.

Concubine Ji Guifei was a little impatient when she saw that Princess Changle was thinking about it, but she knew that she might make the princess remember some things, so she waited patiently at will, and after a long time, the princess said in a dream-like voice: "This palace only remembers that they act in an orderly manner like a military brigade, are disciplined, and abide by etiquette to this palace, and there is nothing special about other things, the man in black is not tall, and his eyes are very cold, that's all." ”

Ji Guifei asked lightly: "Are those people Dayong or Southern Chu?" ”

Princess Changle glanced at Concubine Ji strangely and said, "They shouldn't be Dayong people, because the few people I saw were not as tall as Dayong people." ”

Concubine Ji showed a cold smile and said, "The princess has worked hard all the way, please rest well, the palace will leave first." ”

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