A year after leaving Chang'an, Yang Hao returned to this metropolis that was both familiar and unfamiliar. The Tang Dynasty is irretrievably declining, and the prosperity and liveliness of a city cannot cover the bleak evening scene of the prosperous era drifting away with the wind. Yang Hao, now known as Zhang Wu, was a merchant who ran a leather business with the Uighurs. The purpose of this trip to Chang'an is to fulfill a promise made a year ago.

At the beginning of March, when the dragon tail was lined with green willows and the fragrant wind was intoxicating, Yang Hao rented a small courtyard in a high-end inn in Dongshi. After nightfall, he asked Guan Suo to meet someone, a stranger who had lived and died side by side with him - Jin Wuwei Zuo Si Ge Yang Kai. Yang Kai was seriously injured and recuperated at home during the chaos in Daming Palace, and was implicated but saved his life, and soon after he was included in Jin Wuwei's banner, and succeeded Yang Hao as Jin Wuwei's Zuo Sige in Xingqing Palace.

Guan Suo went for a long time to come back, and Yang Hao was a little unhappy when he saw him coming back alone. Guan Suo explained with a smile on his face: "Lord Yang led me to see Miss Jin Taoyin, Her Royal Highness the Princess was originally going to come in person, but she was temporarily called by the Empress Dowager Guo, and she couldn't get out, so she asked me to meet you tomorrow in Xiangguo Temple." ”

At the end, Guan Suo said: "Her Royal Highness the princess specially instructed that the barbecue in the Western Regions of this inn tastes good, and your lord can ask for some to try." Yang Hao smiled when he heard this: "Actually, the best thing in this inn is the singer from the Western Regions, and her appearance and dancing posture are rare. Would you like to see it? Guan Suo smiled: "To have this blessing, I naturally can't ask for it." Yang Hao laughed. Nothing was said all night.

Early in the morning of the second day, the gate of Shengye Fang had just opened, and Yang Hao rushed to Xiangguo Temple. A little novice was waiting at the door, bringing Yang Hao into the backyard meditation hall with snacks, just waiting for the arrival of Princess Li Qing of Yichun.

At the end of the day, a team of Jinwu guards entered the temple to investigate, and drove out all the suspicious people. Yang Hao finally met Yang Kai. Looking at the armor he had worn before, he couldn't help but feel a little ridiculous. Yang Kai said succinctly: "Your Highness will come over later, you speak quietly, and Empress Dowager Guo will send someone to follow behind." ”

At two o'clock, a team of flower guards entered the backyard meditation hall. He drove all the guards of Jin Wuwei out of the courtyard. Princess Li Qing of Yichun, accompanied by Jin Taoyin and others, walked into the backyard lazily and boredly. When he entered the door, Yang Kai asked as usual, "When will Your Highness return to the palace?" Li Qing said: "The palace is tired, take a nap and then leave." Jin Taoyin took over and said, "When to drive, I will inform you in advance." Just keep the door. Yang Kai and the other guards responded in unison, "Yes."

The gate of the backyard had just been closed, Li Qing suddenly seemed to be a different person, pulled the skirt up, and hurriedly ran inside, Jin Taoyin hurriedly grabbed her and persuaded: "Your Highness, there are outsiders besides him." When Li Qing heard this, she coughed hurriedly, made a graceful and generous appearance, and helped Jin Taoyin's hand through the full moon gate in the courtyard. Yang Hao stayed in front of the full moon gate, and after not seeing her for a year, Li Qing changed, reducing the greenness between her eyebrows, and adding a girl's agility and charm. The moment she stepped into the full moon gate, Yang Hao was stunned and didn't speak.

"Ahem," Jin Taoyin coughed softly.

"Weichen Yang Hao see the princess." Yang Hao was just about to bend down and salute. Li Qing grinned, bent down to grab Yang Hao's hand, and said, "It's still so old-fashioned, don't do it." Jin Taoyin coughed and said to the female guards on the left and right: "You all go outside to guard, no one is allowed to come in without the call of His Highness." After the girls withdrew, Jin Taoyin gave Guan Suo behind Yang Hao another look, Guan Suo was stunned, and couldn't pay attention to her for a while. Jin Taoyin said unceremoniously: "Which country are you a courtier, don't you know how to avoid it when you see the princess?" ”

Guan Suo's face was flushed with shame for a while, and he hurriedly retreated with her.

Yang Hao peeked at Li Qing's body, and sighed unconsciously. Li Qing smiled: "After going out for two years, you have become bolder." Now you dare to stare at me. Yang Hao hurriedly defended: "I haven't seen the princess for a long time, and I really miss it in my heart." If you are disrespectful, please forgive the princess. Li Qing sighed when she heard this, and a trace of sorrow added to her eyebrows.

"The days go by so fast, and they all grow up in the blink of an eye." Yang Hao was shocked when he heard this, in his impression, these words should not come from Li Qing's mouth. is still the little princess who is rude and careless, and is more in line with her usual imagination. But in just one year, everything has changed. Yang Hao stared at Li Qing's face, trying to find a familiar shadow in it. But what was once familiar has become too old to be true.

"Her Royal Highness the Princess......" Yang Hao wanted to go straight to the topic, but as soon as the words came to his mouth, he suddenly changed his mind again.

"Hmm," Li Qing agreed softly, her tone gentle and restrained.

"May I ask His Highness a question?"

"You ask," Li Qing sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, looking at Yang Hao, who was a little at a loss, with a smile.

"Does Your Highness still have him in your heart?"

"Who?" Li Qing was slightly stunned, and immediately understood, with a trace of tenderness in her eyes.

"It's rare that you remember me. Maybe that's what makes me struggling. I don't know that the golden girl went to find you, otherwise I wouldn't have let her go. It's annoying enough, so why bother you. ”

Yang Hao was stunned for a while, and hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Your Highness doesn't have to feel guilty, this is what I should do." ”

Li Qing saw that Yang Hao was a little distracted, so she asked, "What's wrong with you, are you uncomfortable?"

Yang Hao hurriedly smiled: "Nothing, I don't know Miss Jin...... With Your Highness, have you reported the minister's idea? Li Qing smiled: "You, don't talk so much." She told me your idea, but I don't understand, why do you want to see Xie Bozhi? Is there any meaning in this? ”

Yang Hao said with a smile: "Xie Bozhi is an old minister of Shuofang, and Wang Chongwen is his right-hand man." I made an appointment with him to let Qiu Shiliang know that letting the princess marry Shuo Fang not only can't win over the Wang family to balance Xia Sui and Fengzhou, but also may let the three families unite to oppose him because of the princess. As long as he is suspicious, he will naturally let His Majesty take back his life. ”

When Yang Hao said this, he saw Li Qing's brows tightly locked, and he seemed to be listening to himself without intention, so he asked carefully: "Does Your Highness think that this is inappropriate?" ”

Li Qing was suddenly startled, and hurriedly said: "No, I, I'm thinking, even if he doesn't force me anymore, but ......" Her words were not finished, but the meaning couldn't be clearer. Yang Kai was born in a poor family, just an ordinary Jin Wuwei officer, in the Tang Dynasty, which paid attention to the background of the gate valve, it was undoubtedly difficult for the princess to marry the children of the poor family. Yang Hao had to comfort her: "Everything and step by step, Brother Yang is young and promising, with His Royal Highness secretly helping, it is not difficult to get ahead." ”

Li Qing sighed and said, "I don't know this truth, but I ...... I can't let go of this heart, and every time I think about it in the dead of night, I feel extremely annoyed, and every moment is tormenting. I hated myself why I didn't dare to tell him, if I did, wouldn't it be different? I found myself getting more and more useless, if I had gone to tell the Queen Mother, if I had told His Majesty earlier, or if I had simply gone with him...... Where do these troubles come from? If it goes on like this, when will it be a head......"

Yang Hao was speechless, he was also wondering, with her straightforward and daring character, she shouldn't bury her hopes deep in her heart. What kind of torment is it for her to stay with the people she loves every day, but she can't see hope? Yang Hao looked up at Li Qing, who was looking at him in a chaotic manner, and a thought suddenly popped up in his heart, a bold and novel idea.

"The minister has a plan that may relieve His Highness's worries."

"Ah, you, what's your plan?" Li Qing's eyes were flustered, as if she was afraid that she would miss it accidentally.

"Let Brother Yang go to the border with his ministers." Yang Hao said his thoughts, "The border pass is wide and wide, and there is a lot to be done. ”

"This ......" Yang Hao didn't expect Li Qing to hesitate, she seemed to be poured cold water on her head, "If you want him to go to the border with him, does it have to be like this?" ”

"If you stay in the capital, when he gets out, I'm afraid that His Highness's hair will be gray." Yang Hao had to ruthlessly stab the dumb riddle. This sentence seemed to hurt Li Qing, and she didn't speak for a long time.

"But can he? He's never been on the battlefield. ”

"Your Highness should trust your own vision. The minister is willing to help the horse master. ”

"Nonsense, you're getting bold! Believe it or not, I'll punish you. After saying it for so long, this sentence is the most familiar to Yang Hao.

Li Qing raised her little hand: "Do you slap your own mouth or do I come?" Yang Hao slapped himself twice. Li Qing laughed: "Then I'll hand him over to you, you have to treat him well." Her face was filled with the shyness, happiness and longing of a girl in love.

"Don't worry, we're good brothers who have lived and died together. The future master of the horse, I don't have time to stammer. Yang Haotian flattered his face, but he didn't feel ashamed in his heart. However, Li Qing is still Li Qing in the end, and she has changed a lot in a year, but it has not yet reached the point of being reborn, she quickly lowered her face and said half-truthfully: "If he makes a mistake, I will skin you!" ”

Yang Hao suddenly shuddered in his heart, and he suddenly regretted his recklessness: if Yang Kai really made a mistake because of himself, how would he face her?

Li Qing, who was immersed in joy, did not forget the purpose of Yang Hao's trip. She asked Yang Hao: "What kind of assassin history are you talking about?" Is he in Chang'an? ”

"Lingzhou Thorn Shi Xie Bozhi. At the moment, he is working in the ministry. ”

"Golden girl!" Li Qing shouted out of the door with a bright voice, and Jin Taoyin rushed in in a panic.

"Go, call Shuofang's assassin Xie Bozhi. Tell him to ride a horse to hurry up. ”

"Are you here?" Jin Taoyin was a little embarrassed, "Is there someone staring outside?" ”

"Don't be verbose, go quickly."

Li Qing shouted, and Jin Taoyin ran away early. Li Qing seemed to have done a big thing, and asked Yang Hao with a comfortable smile: "You have helped me so much, what should I reward you?" ”

"It is a blessing for a minister to be able to serve His Royal Highness, how dare you ask for a reward from the princess."

"Vulgar! Say it, if only I could do it. ”

"I really don't want any reward, Your Highness once saved the minister, but I should only repay the minister."

"More vulgar!"

"The Venerable One gave it, and the minister did not dare to shirk it...... Your Highness has whatever you have, just give you both. ”

"Are you impatient? Think I'm vulgar? ”

"The minister would never dare."

"I don't dare."

The two looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

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The news of Yang Hao's secret conversation with Xie Bozhi soon reached Wu Chen's ears. Wu Chen is still the judge of the Shence Left Army, and unlike a year ago, he has now become the great steward of the Shence Army. The Southern and Northern Divisions, which control the fate of the country, are now actually in the hands of Qiu Shiliang, and the Shence Army is the mainstay supporting his position as prime minister, but he can't spare more time to ask about the details of the army.

Wu Chen naturally filled this gap. Qiu Shiliang still trusted him as always. For all matters in the army, Wu Chen will submit his opinion to Qiu Shiliang for the final decision. Qiu Shiliang never looked at these official documents, he would let the little eunuch directly use the seal and then issue an order to implement it.

Qiu Shiliang has moved to Daming Palace, and he never leaves the palace unless he has urgent official business. In addition to not leaving the palace himself, Emperor Wenzong has not left the Daming Palace for more than a year. The relationship between him and Qiu Shiliang is somewhat similar to the relationship between Qiu Shiliang and Wu Chen, after all the performances handled by Qiu Shiliang were reported to the Taiji Palace, Li Ang also directly asked the eunuch to use the treasure, and then issued an order to be implemented.

Li Ang is still meeting with the prime ministers of Nanya as before, as the Son of Heaven he still has a very wide range of power, and he can make his own decisions about many things, of course, provided that Qiu Shiliang doesn't care about these things.

The difference between Qiu Shiliang and Wang Shoucheng is that Wang likes to help his master do everything, and he will never allow others to leave his beak. Qiu only cares about what he is interested in, and leaves the rest to the emperor and ministers. As long as he does not threaten himself, he can give the emperor maximum freedom.

In terms of relations with his subordinates, Wang Shoucheng regarded his subordinates as nephews and slaves, and his authority was not allowed to be infringed upon. Qiu Shiliang regarded his subordinates as friends and colleagues, and his subordinates could give him suggestions and express their thoughts. He is willing to share some power with people he trusts.

Although it was already the fourth watch, Wu Chen still decided to enter the palace to report to Qiu Shiliang about the meeting between Yang Hao and Xie Bozhi, at this time, any wind and grass may affect the plan that he has been brewing for a long time.