Ning Yuan thought that he was an indispensable figure in the court, but he was also in civil politics, so he never thought that he would be able to lead the troops one day. If Han Jian still wants him to lead the troops to the south, there is only one explanation, Han Jian wants to send him to the battlefield to die, so as to keep him away from Luoyang officialdom.

Ning Yuan hurriedly got up and saluted: "Back to Your Majesty, the old minister knows that he is old and frail, and he is not allowed to march to attack the city, and I also ask Your Majesty to withdraw his fate, so that the old minister can live for the rest of his life." The old minister is willing to step down from his official position as soon as possible, just to enjoy his old age in peace. ”

Han Jian smiled and said, "Why did Taishi Ning suddenly talk about resigning, it seems that I want to force you to step down." This time, I really don't have any other candidates to lead the troops, so I have to grieve Ning Taishi you, if Ning Taishi is in difficulty, you can discuss it as appropriate. ”

Han Jian just said that he was willing to "discuss as appropriate", and did not directly withdraw his fate, Ning Yuan was a little anxious in his heart, and then suddenly saw the look on Yang Rui's face that seemed to be smiling or not, he was suddenly alert in his heart, could it be that this was a trap set by Yang Rui for him to retaliate for his purge of the old party of the Wei Dynasty? You must know that as Han Jian's aunt and Han Song, who was also the former number one person in the Dongwang Mansion, after the purging incident, he has not been forgiven by Han Jian until now, but he can sit in the seat of the Taishi and command the ministers, this is already an unreasonable situation, and he is not the one who is close to Han Jian.

This time, Ning Yuan knelt directly on the ground and asked: "The old minister can't reach it, and I hope Your Majesty will be gracious." ”

Han Jian didn't say anything, Ning Yuan's strong refusal to lead troops was actually what he expected. Ning Yuan's home field is the officialdom of Luoyang, a first minister, and there are countless civil officials who listen to his orders, but if he goes to the battlefield, it is nothing. Even if Han Jian thinks about it from Ning Yuan's position. will not choose to go to the battlefield and give up the comfortable rear.

Han Jian said: "Since Master Ning insists on doing so, then forget it." However, I had made some arrangements before, all of which were based on the fact that Ning Taishi could lead the troops south for me, even if Ning Taishi was unwilling to lead the troops this time, I decided to let Ning Taishi accompany me and go to Jiangdu with me. During the war, I set up a rear yamen in Jiangdu. I also want Master Ning to manage it on my behalf. ”

Ning Yuan was still stunned in his heart, before he entered the palace, he was already very sure that Han Jian would keep him in Luoyang, who knew that something had happened. In his thoughts, this may be because when he rewarded Han Jian for his personal expedition to the north, he secretly colluded with Han Song's clan in the rear to purge dissidents, and this time Han Jian did not plan to risk letting him stay in the rear and do misdeeds, as for the yamen of Jiangdu, it is not as real as the great appointment of the Luoyang court. Although he didn't want to accept it. But Han Jian proposed to let him accompany him, since he was a courtier, he had no reason to refuse, unless he really resigned from the office, and then Han Jian just announced to the public that if he resigned because he didn't want to accompany him, his reputation in the court would basically be lost.

"Old minister...... Ning Yuan said helplessly, "Obey." ”

At this time, Ning Yuan also knew that it was not Su Tingxia who Han Jian was going to attack, but him. After all, Han Jian was still two days away from leaving for Jiangdu. Luoyang, as the rear of the imperial court, is what Han Jian attaches the most importance to. Su Tingxia's problem must be solved, and his problem must also be solved.

Han Jian said: "Taishi Ning got up and spoke, and I will also pass on the news to other ministers." There are also important matters to be discussed. ”

Ning Yuan seemed to be much older, slowly stood up from the ground, stood aside, and followed the rest of the ministers in. Ning Yuan's gaze also fell on these people. Although many of them were obedient to him, they dared to jointly play the impeachment of him, which is also a sign of fearlessness.

Ning Yuan was so preoccupied that he didn't pay attention to what Han Jian said later, only knowing that it was Su Tingxia's matter that was being discussed. That night, Su Tingxia would enter the city overnight. The arrangement of Su Tingxia and Su Tingxia's subordinates was the only thing to be discussed that night. In the end, Han Jian confessed to the officials of the Ministry of War, sent people to the west gate of Luoyang to receive Su Tingxia into the city, and at the same time read out the holy decree, and did not allow Su Tingxia to enter the city, but sent Su Tingxia to lead the troops directly to the Yuzhou defense line, so that Su Tingxia was temporarily responsible for the defense of Yuzhou.

Su Tingxia was originally a general who led the troops abroad, and Han Jian handed over the military and political power of Yuzhou to Su Tingxia, on the one hand, it showed that Han Jian attached great importance to Su Tingxia, and more importantly, he kept Su Tingxia away from the sensitive area of Luoyang, so as to stabilize the situation around Luoyang. If Han Jian went out on patrol to Jiangdu, and Su Tingxia and Chen Bing were in Luoyang, it would be strange if Han Jian could rest assured.

The summons of Ye'an Pavilion lasted for a short time before it was dissolved, and the hundred officials went out of the palace overnight to go home, because the list of escorts had not yet been announced, and most of the ministers in the court did not know whether they would go to Jiangdu with the holy driver at this time, and some ministers also wanted to come to Ningyuan to explore the situation when they left the palace.

What Ning Yuan wanted to question most was those ministers who wanted to talk about him in the joint concert, but when he left the palace, he didn't meet any of them, and these people seemed to be deliberately avoiding him.

"Master Ning, what Your Majesty said before, let you accompany you on patrol, I don't know if there is such a thing?" An old minister came over, it was He Shu, the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites.

Ning Yuan glanced at He Shu and said, "Is He Shilang still afraid of being recruited by His Majesty to accompany him?" ”

He Shu smiled: "That's not it, how can an old bone endure the fatigue of the journey, Your Majesty should not let this old bone bear the hardship of the journey." It's just that I can't accompany the driver, I can't avoid being upset, and I can't see the holy face often, so I ask Taishi Ning to remind His Majesty on the road to take national affairs first. ”

Ning Yuan listened to the anger in his heart, this He Shu was born from a pedant, and he was on the same path as him at all. Just as he was about to have a seizure, he suddenly remembered that he was originally from the Ministry of Rites, and he was also an academic, but after the changes in the imperial court in the past few years, and his fortunes also fluctuated, and now he himself has almost forgotten that the past is similar to this He Shu, but he can say some high-sounding words and will not do practical things.

"Thank you He Shilang for reminding me." Ning Yuan swallowed his breath, although his face was still gloomy, he didn't pay attention to the others, and instead went out of the palace by straight road, and took a sedan chair to go back to the house.

Everyone left, but only Han Jian and Yang Rui were left in the Ye'an Pavilion. Han Jian took Ning Yuan on patrol to Jiangdu, fundamentally preventing Ning Yuan from playing ghosts behind his back, but in fact, he also meant to support Yang Rui. Yang Rui has refused to forgive him until now, on the one hand, because Yang Rui was not very willing to do the matter of the Zen position, and on the other hand, because of the oppression of the royal family by Ning Yuan and Han Song.

"So you're always satisfied? Ning Yuan accompanied him on patrol, and Luoyang was less of him to make waves. There shouldn't be any problems, right? Han Jian looked at Yang Rui and said.

Yang Rui was still sitting there, but her original seat was occupied by Han Jian, and the place where she was sitting was just a temporary seat, as if Han Jian was the seat when he was the king of the East and the regent, or she was not as good as Han Jian in the past. Because she has no right to govern the affairs of the court after she abdicates now.

Yang Rui said: "You take Ning Lao'er away, who will be in charge of the Luoyang Imperial Court, or let you be Erniang?" ”

Han Jian sighed: "How is it possible. I'm afraid that Ning Yuan will make waves, and I'm even more afraid that Erniang will call for wind and rain, compared to Ning Yuan, Erniang's connections in Jiangdu are more extensive, if she stays in Luoyang, I'm afraid that the court will be restless. This time, I asked Ruier to come over, in fact, I also want to discuss. I want King Kang to come out to preside over the government, and when you and I are both in the south, come out to supervise the country. ”

Yang Rui reacted for a moment, and then thought that "King Kang" was talking about Yang Xi, who had been deposed as the crown prince and could only live in the palace in Luoyang City for the time being. When she reacted, she looked at Han Jian with a very incomprehensible gaze and said, "What does this mean?" ”

"What do you mean? It's not interesting, King Kang, your brother, my brother-in-law. is still the former crown prince and the former prince of the Wei Dynasty. In the past, you always said that he lacked experience, but now it is not good to have such an opportunity, I will arrange for some new officials to come out to assist him, so that he can exercise more in Luoyang, and when we come back, maybe he will be able to take charge on his own. ”

Yang Rui stared at Han Jian's face. Said viciously: "Do you want to make Xi'er stumbling and find some people to instigate him to rebel, so that you can cut down the grass and eradicate the roots?" ”

Han Jian frowned and said, "How did you say this, I said it from your mouth with good intentions." It's as if I've been planning for a long time to kill him. If I want to kill him, I will find a random excuse to give him a cup of poisoned wine, and who will cry out to him when he dies? ”

Yang Rui turned his head to the side and said, "If you think of it, you will definitely be able to do it." ”

Han Jian was a little helpless in her heart, and Yang Rui's temper was uncertain at the moment, probably because she was no longer confident in her heart. In the past, Yang Rui always felt that he was close to the imperial power, but now after the imperial power falls, Yang Rui is always worried that the Yang family will be wiped out, mainly because there is a gap in age between the two, and Yang Rui will be cranky when his thoughts are uncertain.

Han Jian said: "Say whatever you want." Anyway, this matter will be decreed tomorrow, and King Kang will be promoted to the prince, and he can temporarily live in the palace and take charge of Luoyang government affairs. You haven't seen this brother for about two months, and he's doing much better than before, I've seen him once before, and at least after stepping down as prince, he's been much more cheerful. ”

Yang Rui didn't speak angrily, hearing Han Jian's words behind her so frankly, she didn't quite believe that Han Jian asked Yang Xi to come out of the prison country to frame her, but she couldn't help her temper just now, and now she couldn't pull her face when she apologized. Yang Rui is different from Yang Li'er's female dependents in the palace, most of the women on Han Jian's side regard Han Jian as the only reliance, whether it is from a wife to a husband or a minister to a monarch, they all obey Han Jian's words, but only Yang Rui, because she was the supreme empress, and Han Jian was also her courtier, so she has always been in Han Jian to maintain the dignity that should not exist.

Han Jian said: "It's almost time to go back and rest." Su Tingxia's matter will also come to an end for the time being, I believe that after sending someone to deliver the decree, with Su Tingxia's intelligence, he should know what is going on, and he will not forcibly break into the city again. The day after tomorrow, the car will be ready, and you will have to leave early in the morning, and you will be ready for anything, whether the mother and daughter will set off together, or you will go alone, it is also up to you to decide. ”

After speaking, Han Jian walked to the door, waved his hand and asked the little eunuch to come in for the final cleanup, and at the same time asked Yang Rui to send Yang Rui back to the dormitory to rest. After all, Han Jian was going to stay at Gu Xin'er's place that night, Han Jian came out in a hurry, Gu Xin'er and Wen'er didn't know before they came out, so they were worried that something would happen, and it was time for him to go back, so as not to worry about the two women for him.

Yang Rui got up with the support of the palace maid, walked out of the door without saying anything, but seemed to be walking very quickly and almost fell, Han Jian knew that Yang Rui's body bones had always been bad, even if she learned martial arts, she also needed to take tonic because of her perennial weakness, and after giving birth to her daughter, because of the Zen position, plus she was moved to the cold palace later, this series of things made Yang Rui between illness and weakness this winter.

Han Jian personally went up to help him, and it was not until he passed the door of the inner garden of the palace that Han Jian asked the little palace maid to send Yang Rui back, and when Yang Rui was far away, Han Jian turned around and walked in the direction of the main palace Andian. At this time, it was already the second watch, and the inner courtyard of the palace was quiet, and there were no guards passing by.

Han Jian glanced at the little palace maid holding a lantern next to him, the little palace maid was still a little timid, obviously a show girl who had just entered the palace. Now that the palace people have been appointed, there are less than a hundred small palace maids in the entire palace, and dozens of them are show girls who have just entered the palace.

"Lead the way." Han Jian said to the palace maid.

The little palace maid led the way, walking very slowly, Han Jian followed behind the light, thinking about things along the way, and after walking for a long time, he suddenly felt that this section of the road seemed to be very long, and he didn't reach the end after walking for a long time. Just when he felt a little doubtful, the little palace maid also stopped, and looked in private as if she herself was lost.

"What's going on?" Han Jian looked around, but it was not a remote place, not far away was the pool where he used to have frequent trysts with Yang Rui. In the past, Han Jian came to the palace to find Yang Rui, and the two went to bathe in the pool, and Han Jian often sneaked around and waited for Yang Rui to set off before going there. It's been almost two years, and now even his and Yang Rui's daughter is more than a year old.

The little palace maid was a little frightened, and as soon as she threw the lantern, she knelt down and kowtowed, and said in fear: "Back to Your Majesty...... The slave maid had just entered the palace and did not know the way, so she asked His Majesty to spare her life. ”

Han Jian sighed: "It's just the wrong way, do you think I'm a demon and kill people casually?" ”

Because Han Jian's reputation among the people is similar to that of killing gods, it is no wonder that the little palace maid is afraid when she sees him. This is also related to the prestige that Han Jian has established in the military in recent years, and in many people's descriptions, Han Jian is a rough man who only recognizes war and does not recognize it.

"Get up, do you know the way back?"

The little maid stood up and picked up the lantern as well, but shook her head timidly, as if she was still afraid.

Han Jian took the lantern over, lifted her chin with the other hand, and used the lantern to illuminate her face, but he also felt that it was a delicate and lovely little girl, in addition to being afraid, there was also a kind of timid and pitiful touching.

"Let's go." Han Jian smiled, "Go back with me." (To be continued......)