It was snowing heavily, but it was warm inside. The brazier was burning, and when it calmed down, Ning Shun'er didn't feel cold, but fell asleep in Han Jian's arms.

For her, she has no vision for the future, only the present. Even if she didn't admire Han Jian as Ning Yuan said, she still relied on a man who could protect her. Han Jian woke up in the middle of the night, and he hadn't slept much in the past two years, because too often he didn't have so much time to rest.

Ning Shun'er slept very sweetly, Han Jian didn't bother her, got up and got dressed and came out, but she didn't know what time it was.

It was a snowy night outside, and after coming out, Han Jian couldn't help but shudder, looking at the snow all over the courtyard, he also felt a little lost. Although I have a family in this world and there are many women around me, I still can't let my heart settle down after all, just like the kind of dazed when I first came.

"Master." Ning Xiuyan didn't know when she stood up to Han Fitness, and called softly.

"Embroidered words."

Han Jian turned around and took Ning Xiuyan, who was very tightly wrapped, into his arms, and Ning Xiuyan smiled lightly on his face: "The master also said that he wanted to have dinner, but he didn't come out." But now the master is hungry? The concubine asked people to warm the meal for the master. ”

Han Jian couldn't help but feel a little warm in his heart, even in the middle of the night, Ning Xiuyan was still waiting for him to have dinner together. Just got Ning Shun'er, in Ning Xiuyan's heart, he should + also be very aggrieved.

Entering the room with Ning Xiuyan, Ning Xiuyan asked the maid to bring the food, it was still hot, Han Jian ate a few bites, and then looked at Ning Xiuyan and said, "Have you eaten?" ”

"Look at what the master said, is it difficult for the concubine to wait stupidly? On the county lord's side, he knew that the master welcomed people into the door again today. I seem to be very angry at dinner, or ...... The master is going to comfort him? ”

Han Jian sighed, Yang Xiuxiu's side was not that he didn't want to go, but he really didn't want to touch his head. His relationship with Yang Xiuxiu is still a little estranged, and he can only use time to resolve the knots in Yang Xiuxiu's heart.

Eaten. Han Jian said: "If it's okay, Xiuyan you go back and rest first." ”

"Is the master going back too?" Ning Xiuyan got up and went back to the room and asked casually.

"I'm not in a hurry to leave, I'll try to have as much time as possible in the past two days." Han Jian put down the dishes and chopsticks and said, "Shun'er, you should take care of it more, she just left home, I'm afraid it will take a long time for her to get used to it." ”

"Hmm." Ning Xiuyan nodded, but her expression was also a little gloomy. Apparently thinking about when I first arrived. How lost and helpless I feel in my heart, but there is no one to comfort me on weekdays, so I can only cry secretly. By now that she has adapted to it, and she doesn't feel how wronged she is, but she has her own little niece and her own fate, all of which are canaries in a cage.

Han Jian sat alone in the hall, and many things that he hadn't thought about clearly before, he was also sorting them out little by little.

Sitting alone. The sense of loneliness is very strong, and Han Jian doesn't feel it when he is busy on weekdays. But when you really get to a person, you will also feel lost and helpless.

Han Jian thought about Yang Rui and Yang Xi the two siblings the most, and how he stood in the court. With power in hand, the best way to stand up is to usurp power and stand on his own, but for him. But it's a little difficult. He didn't want to make the people around him suffer because of this, especially Yang Rui, who was now pregnant with his flesh and blood, he would rather let Yang Rui continue to take care of the government, but Yang Xi's return. The balance has been upset.

By dawn, Han Jian returned to Shun'er's room, Shun'er hadn't gotten up yet, Xiao Nizi's body was tossed a lot last night, not to mention the girl's age of snooze, even if Han Jian wanted to wake her up, she kept spoiling Han Jian in the bed, and refused to get up. It wasn't until Ning Xiuyan arrived that Shun'er had to get out of the quilt and dress up and have breakfast together.

After all, when he entered the mansion, Han Jian also hoped to enhance some exchanges through the way the guò family ate together. However, Yang Xiuxiu seemed to have a grudge and did not come out.

After breakfast, Han Jian left, but instead of going back to Dongwangfu, he went to Shangshutai. As soon as he arrived at the place, Gu Weipan handed over the detailed roster to Han Jian, and the list on it was all the celebrities and ladies who were selected by Yang Xi.

Gu Weipan said: "The Ministry of Rites makes judgments based on Shuyuan's virtues, and these are selected. If there is any addition, King Laodong will personally present it to His Majesty. ”

Han Jian nodded, what Gu Weipan said was no different from what Yang Rui mentioned before, if Yang Xi chose the concubine, the most important reference criterion was virtue, and beauty was not considered.

After a general look, Han Jian nodded and said: "I bother Mrs. Gu to inform all families, and there is also a list of filial daughters submitted by the locality, all of which will be sent to the palace tomorrow for His Majesty to choose." ”

"Okay." Gu Weipan is more serious in his work, and what Han Jian said is basically what he thinks, "But the filial daughters in Luzhou and other places have not yet arrived in Luoyang, do you need to wait?" ”

"No need, Your Majesty is a little anxious, just send the people from Luoyang to the palace now, if there is any increase or decrease in the future, it will be sent from the palace."

After sorting out the detailed roster, Han Jian went into the palace to see Yang Rui. After the primary election of the Ministry of Rites, there are more than 60 people left to choose from, most of them are from Luoyang, most of them are famous ladies, and there are also some women from ordinary people's families, all of whom have been recommended by the local government. Now what he wants to do is to be a middleman, and hand over what is sorted out below to Yang Rui, as for how Yang Rui chooses and decides, whether it is to win over the powerful in Luoyang and engage in a political marriage, or as she said, it is all for Yang Xi to get out of the shadows as soon as possible, and only choose the right one and not the noble one, it is not within Han Jian's consideration.

took the roster after the primary election to Yang Rui, and Yang Rui was very satisfied.

After reading it, Yang Rui said: "Can you send people to the palace today?" ”

Han Jian originally thought that he would enter the palace a little early the next day, but he didn't expect Yang Rui to be more anxious than him, after all, he was Yang Rui's younger brother, and Yang Xi was extremely important in Yang Rui's eyes, so much so that he couldn't even wait for a day.

"Shang Shutai has been informed that he will be sent to the palace tomorrow. However, the filial daughter who is far away from Luoyang cannot be reached. ”

Yang Rui nodded and said, "Don't worry, as long as you can choose it early, you can treat it as a stone in your heart." Suddenly, he glared at Han Jian again, "You won't intercept anyone from it and let Xi'er choose the rest of the soup for you, right?" ”

Han Jian sighed, to say that he didn't get ahead of the curve. That was impossible, after all, Ning Yuan had sent his little granddaughter to him. But Ning Shun'er is just a little yellow-haired girl, far from the standard deviation of Yang Rui's choice of concubine for Yang Xi, and there is no conflict between the two.

"What wind did you hear again?" Han Jian asked rhetorically.

Yang Rui glanced at Han Jian, but he also sighed: "Now that I'm the emperor, how can I still have the majesty of the past." But that's it. Since this is the case, I also admit it, I only hope that you will not fail me. ”

After Han Jian cut off Yang Rui's henchmen last time, Yang Rui can now be regarded as a real loner. The people of the internal government system of the Prudent Criminal Division were once checked by Han Jian, and now Yi Die is still imprisoned by Han Jian, as for the others, although most of them are also free, they can no longer get in touch with Yang Rui. In other words, the current Yang Rui is similar to Ning Xiuyan, she is a caged bird, but the cage in which she is held is a little bigger, and it is a palace. The situation outside the palace, Yang Rui couldn't know more. This is also the reason why she is more concerned about Yang Xi's concubine, she hopes that Yang Xi can come out of the shadows as soon as possible and have a balance on the Dongwang Mansion in the court situation.

talked about the details of Yang Xi's selection of concubines. Yang Rui suddenly asked, "Is there something going on tomorrow?" ”

"The northern soldiers have been out for a long time, and now the Xianbei people have retreated north. Beiguan has been fully recovered, and there are many things about Beichuan City. Han Jian said.

Yang Rui said: "Even if there are many things, try to enter the palace as much as possible, and choose a concubine for Xi'er tomorrow, why should you be there." ”

Han Jian didn't sound right. Yang Xi chose a concubine, what does he mean by being there?

"I'm afraid it's not appropriate, right?" Han Jian said.

"What's wrong? I also want you to check it, although it is to choose a concubine with both ability and political integrity for Xi'er, but in terms of appearance, you can't be too sloppy. You're there. I'm reassured. ”

Han Jianxin said that I'm afraid it's not that simple, Yang Rui has always been worried about him going to get close to these famous ladies, how can he sincerely let him go with him this time? Are you really afraid that he will "take the lead", leave the good ones behind, and recommend the bad ones to Yang Xi?

Or is it that Yang Rui is ready to let him go, but he can only watch but not eat, which makes him look "greedy"?

"There's not much time, so I still won't enter the palace." Han Jian refused.

Yang Rui frowned lightly and said, "I must come, just as I am the emperor's order to you." If you can, bring Li'er into the palace with me, I haven't seen her for a while, and I miss her a little. ”

Han Jian saw that Yang Rui's expression was slightly gloomy, and he knew that Yang Rui was a little sorry for Yang Li'er in his heart.

Yang Rui has always regarded herself as a good sister in front of Yang Li'er, before Yang Li'er gave birth, she did not hesitate to be estranged by Gu Song's family and went to Dongwangfu to visit, after she became pregnant, Yang Li'er entered the palace She deliberately concealed the matter, and now that her pregnancy has been in the daylight, she is also afraid that Yang Li'er is angry with her. But judging from Han Jian's understanding, Yang Rui is purely unfounded, and Yang Li'er is now focused on her son, how can she have time to think about anything else? Even if Yang Rui's pregnancy was learned by Yang Li'er afterwards, Yang Li'er didn't mind at all, but was very happy, at least she felt that the family could be reunited, and there was no need to be as sneaky as before.

Han Jian returned to the Dongwang Mansion from the yamen of the military station in the afternoon and told Yang Li'er about the matter, Yang Li'er really smiled happily and said, "Okay, I haven't been in the palace to visit my sister for a few days." Xianggong, when will you enter the palace tomorrow? ”

"It's not too early, wait until the selection of a concubine for the crown prince is over. When you arrive, someone from the palace will come to pick you up. Han Jian said.

"Hmm. The concubine is ready to prepare, my sister is also pregnant with her first child, and she may not understand many things, so the concubine turned around and tidied up, and said to her sister. ”

Yang Li'er seemed very happy, and was also preparing to preach Yang Rui with the attitude of a "person who came over". After all, she also gave birth to a child, and now she is recovering well, according to her own words, she wants to conceive a second child at any time. She was very prepared to tell Yang Rui some of her personal experiences, but she didn't know that there were many experienced female officials in the palace, so why did she worry about these things?

Han Jian naturally won't expose it, after all, Yang Li'er is also a heart, and Yang Rui is also worried that Yang Li'er will have a grudge, and he also thinks too much.

Immediately, Shang Shutai presented the picture album of the celebrities who were sent to the palace the next day to the East Wangfu and showed it to Han Jian. I have also made portraits before, but they are not detailed, but this time they are very detailed, and after Han Jian saw it, he also felt that it was not very "realistic", after all, the portrait was not a sketch, and it could not be compared with a photo. Even if it is a photo, it is only a moment, and it cannot show the elegance of a woman, let alone a portrait?

"Jian'er, are these all the ladies sent to the palace?" Han Songshi entered the hall, also looked at the portrait, looked at Han Jian and asked.

"Yes." Han Jian nodded, "Tomorrow I will send everyone to the palace and choose for His Majesty." ”

"Hmph, thanks to your great contributions to the court, but when it comes to the heir, she still thinks about her younger brother, how could she ever think of you? I am afraid that even you and her heirs will not be able to inherit the throne in the future. Jian'er, you must know that the current prince is just a young eagle, and there is no threat to you, but what about the future? When he has his wings, he will regard you as a great enemy, and he will see you as a thorn in his side, and he will want to get rid of you as soon as possible. You're still helping him? ”

Han Jian didn't think about these things that Han Song said, but no matter how much he thought about it now, it was also in the future. At the moment, the matter has not been resolved, and thinking about it so long-term, even Han Jian himself will feel tired.

Even if Yang Xi will take an opposing position with him in the future? Originally, the court of the Wei Dynasty belonged to the Yang sisters and brothers, he was just Yang Rui's man, and it was also his responsibility to help Yang Rui maintain the orthodoxy of the Wei Dynasty. Now that he is thinking about how to usurp power and seize the throne, even he himself will feel a little gloomy.

"Erniang, if there is really that day, it's a big deal that we return to Jiangdu, and I will continue to be the king of the east and give you a few more grandchildren, wouldn't it be better?" Han Jian said with a smile.

"You're still laughing. Is there really a day when the Dongwang Mansion will be restless, and you will be able to return to Jiangdu? ”

After Han Songshi finished speaking, he didn't seem to want to say more, and left the hall directly.

Han Jian took the roster and thought about it for a long time, and there were some things that he couldn't do after all. However, at present, it is more secure to be a powerful minister who coerces the Son of Heaven to order the princes than to be a usurper emperor, and the stability of the north still needs the support of the orthodox banner of the Wei Dynasty and Yang Rui to convince the people. In any case, this notoriety cannot be borne by him personally.

On the second day, Han Jian went to the yamen of the military station first, and when Shangshutai had already asked each family to send the ladies to the palace, Han Jian also entered the palace.

From afar, he saw Ning Yuan waiting at the gate of the palace, and when he saw Han Jian, Ning Yuan walked up quickly and said, "His Royal Highness the East King, something is wrong." (To be continued......)