The west wind rises, the sun is closed, the candles are shaking, and the figures are heavy.

The brass lamp is carved as a treasure lotus, Cui Jiu took a look, the lotus is the lotus of Khotan, and there is an inexplicable difference with the lotus of the Central Plains.

The candle flame gave off a strong aroma, which also made him a little unaccustomed.

At this time, the woman by the lamp glanced over, and the light in her eyes, like a clear breeze and bright moon, and the scarlet official uniform on her body blended into an elegant calmness, soothing the anxiety in his heart.

He bowed according to the salute and asked, "The Lu envoy summoned the lower officials, I don't know what to order?" ”

When Lu Zijin saw that everyone had arrived, he put the letter in his hand on the table and said straight to the point: "The news from Beijing is that the prince has ascended the throne on the eighth day of the fourth month!" ”

Everyone in the room did not change color.

On the eighth day of the fourth month, it was not even two months since they left Beijing, and the sky in Beijing had changed!

Although most of the missions to Kangju were close to or even loyal to the new emperor, there were exceptions.

For example, at this time, Yao Wenju in the house was the protégé of Bohai Gong.

Lu Zijin glanced at Yao Wenju and said: "The new emperor ascended the throne, we are far away in Khotan, and we can't worship, so we should give the new emperor a small gift to show loyalty." ”

Yao Wenju's eyes lit up, and he nodded again and again: "What Lu Envoy said is extremely true!" ”

Cui Jiu smiled slightly and asked, "What does Lu Envoy mean?" ”

Lu Zijin said: "We have been in Khotan for seven days, the king of Khotan treated us politely at first, three days ago, the attitude changed abruptly, not only avoided it, but also did not let us leave, after the county lord Guo discussed with me, he suspected that there was a Turkic envoy to arrive, causing the king of Khotan to waver!" ”

Guo Liang, the county lord of Guzang, was the most Turkic sensitive of the group on the orders of the crown prince, and her suspicions were convincing.

But some people are not convinced: "Won't it be too sensitive?" ”

The one who questioned was Lang General Deng Wei, who had been to the Western Regions with Chi Changting, and was also recommended to Lu Zijin by Chi Changting.

Lu Zijin was about to speak, when a report suddenly came from outside the door: "The Prime Minister is visiting!" ”

No matter where you are, uninvited guests are uninvited.

The prime minister of Khotan not only came rudely, but also said even more rude: "I heard that the envoy has a horse, and my king begged to sacrifice to the sky." ”

The horse is Lu Zijin's mount, and it is so rude that he asks for the guest's belongings, which makes the left and right followers change color.

Lu Zijin only smiled slightly, and said, "The Turkic envoy has been here for a few days, where is he now?" ”

She asked too suddenly, and the prime minister of Khotan was stunned for a moment, and then stumbled and said: "What, what Turkic-" Before the prevarication was finished, Guo Liang's knife was on his neck.

"In, in the West Palace......" changed the words of the Khotanese minister.

Lu Zijin smiled and glanced at Guo Liang.

Guo Liang nodded, his hand raised and fell, and the corpse was separated.

Before everyone could react, Guo Liang's personal soldiers killed all the people brought by the Khotanese prime minister.

The bloody anger made Deng Wei excited, and he said angrily: "Why is Lu Envoy so reckless!" ”

Lu Zijin looked at the corpses all over the ground: "Chihou once said that the countries of the Western Regions should be the first to fight and then salute. ”

Deng Wei smiled contemptuously: "Chihou Yongguan three armies, if you want to be polite, if you want to be a soldier, who can do anything?" "And Lu Zijin is just a weak woman.

Lu Zijin was about to speak, but was preempted by a person beside him-

"Chi Hou Yongguan three armies, so what about General Deng Lang? Chi Hou recommended that you have ever looked away? Cui Jiu looked at him lightly.

Deng Wei choked.

Now is not the time for infighting, Lu Zijin did not argue with Deng Wei anymore, and directly ordered: "County Lord Guo and General Deng Lang, immediately lead the guards to break into the West Palace and kill the Turkic envoys!" ”

Guo Liang immediately responded, but Deng Wei still looked at him questioning.

Lu Zijin glanced at him and said, "Don't lose Chi Hou's face." ”

Deng Wei's face suddenly turned red.

After Guo Liang and Deng Wei left, Yao Wenju was also ordered to go down to set up a guard.

Lu Zijin finally looked at Cui Jiu.

Cui Jiu smiled at her: "What else does the Lu envoy command?" ”

Lu Zijin: "There is Deputy Envoy Lao Cui to protect the safety of Princess Kangju. ”

Cui Jiu didn't move: "Princess Kangju has her own guards, and there is a difference between men and women, so the lower officials won't go to join in the fun." ”

Lu Zijin smiled: "It turns out that I am not a woman in the eyes of Deputy Envoy Cui. ”

Cui Jiu also smiled.

He is one of the "Beijing Shuangbi" with Xiao Zhuo, and his appearance is not bad, this smile, Lu Zijin also felt a little dazzled.

"Tonight's plan is undoubtedly dangerous, isn't the envoy afraid of it?" Cui Jiu asked suddenly.

Lu Zijin smiled and said, "Without this plan, it is just as dangerous." ”

As soon as the Turkic envoys arrived, the king of Khotan changed his attitude, and all she did was to preemptively strike.

"Is the Lu envoy afraid of death?" He asked again.

This question seems to be asked a little deeper.

Lu Zijin glanced at him and smiled slightly: "I'm afraid." ”

Cui Jiu didn't expect her answer, was stunned, and joked: "What about Mr. Lu's bones?" I thought that Mr. should be righteous and awe-inspiring, sacrificing his life for righteousness! ”

Lu Zijin smiled: "It is human nature to be greedy for life and afraid of death, and it is necessary to be afraid of death, life and death, but between the trade-offs, sacrificing life for righteousness is also a trade-off, I am naturally afraid of death, but if I can reach the Western Regions, I will not hesitate to die," Wei Dun, "What about Deputy Envoy Cui?" How did you come up with the idea of going to the Western Regions? ”

Cui Jiu's self-invited envoy really surprised many people, and she remembered that Cui Jiu's father had changed his face at that time.

But she is not familiar with Cui Jiu, and she is not a person who likes to get to the bottom of things, as long as it does not affect the overall situation, she does not care about Cui Jiu's reason for going to the Western Regions.

Now I will ask, because Cui Jiu first asked her "Are you afraid of death", and the tone is like small talk.

It's a kind of temptation to get closer and closer to the world.

At the time of the danger, she didn't mind chatting with such a handsome young man to relieve the inevitable tension in her heart.

The candle flame in Cui Jiu's eyes jumped, and he said with a smile: "I just don't want others to say one sentence when they see my article, this son has a very good appearance." ”

Lu Zijin was surprised, and then said with a smile: "Deputy Envoy Cui entered Zhongshu Province in the seventeenth year, and when he was appointed as a Zhongshu Sheren, he was not yet crowned, even Chihou and Xiao Wu were not as good as him, and there are still people who doubt Vice Envoy Cui's talent?" ”

Cui Jiu smiled and suddenly asked, "Lu Envoy still remembers the first time you and I met?" ”

That's hard.

She didn't remember anything like that.

But being idle is also idle, so he recalled it seriously and said with a smile: "Remember!" It seems like your first day in office—"

It was six years ago, and her husband Zheng Yu was seriously ill, so she asked her to enter Beijing on his behalf to give lectures and explanations to the princes.

On the day she entered the palace, she was not in a good mood.

Zheng Yu's time is running out, and he may even leave at any time, but he is still planning to pave the way for her.

She couldn't refuse, because at this time, her ideal was also his fulfillment.

I didn't refuse, but I was still sad in my heart.

In contrast to her sadness, there was a bright spring color that day, and the spring breeze triumph that still flowed from the corners of his eyebrows and eyes under the subtlety and restraint of the young man in a brand-new official uniform.

Her temperament has always been a little cold, but that day she was squinted by the young man's pride, so she asked the waiter beside her: "Who is that Langjun?" ”