The twilight of the year is easy to cold, at this time, the rivers and mountains of the Northern Wei Dynasty are surrounded by wolf smoke, wind and rain. Empress Dowager Hu trapped herself in Jiafu Hall every day to discuss the matter of quelling the chaos with Yuan Yong, Xu Su, and Zheng Yan, but Nanliang had just taken advantage of the chaos to capture the three passes of Pingping, Muling, and Yinshan in the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Empress Dowager Hu looked at the mountains of battle reports and the dense rebel signs on the map, and asked, "King Gaoyang, is Erzhu Rong still credible now?" ”

Yuan Yong and Xu Su glanced at each other and replied, "In the rebellion of the six towns, when Er Zhurong was quelling the rebellion, he collected and surrendered troops, and recently recruited a group of military talents in the rebel army. As far as the minister knows, there are Gao Huan, He Bayue and Hou Jing and others. Especially this Gao Huan should not be underestimated, this person was originally a broken child, but he was lucky to be taken by the granddaughter of Zhending Hou Louti, not only committed to marrying, but also gave him a rich dowry to help him make friends with people from all walks of life. This person is good at management, and has worked under the rebel Du Luo Zhou and Ge Rong, although he has the talent to conquer the city, but he has no loyalty, and now he has returned to Er Zhurong to help him attack Ge Rong. ”

Zheng Yan answered, "Gao Huan is a scheming person, but he is generous, and he is righteous and squandering money. I had a relationship with this person in Huaishuo, and that time was his wedding day, because he married Lou Zhaojun, the daughter of a famous family, and he paraded through the streets to welcome his relatives. Lou Neigan loved this woman deeply, the dowry was really rich, and at the same time set up a porridge shed to help the displaced people. On that day, I saw from a distance that this person was dignified and heroic, but he was kind-hearted. It is precisely because he marries a good wife that he can guard the city gate from a lowly city, scatter wealth and gain people's hearts. ”

Yuan Yong saw that Zheng Yan had been praising Gao Huan, and couldn't help but be dissatisfied, "If this guy is as kind as you say, can he change the master again and again?" first followed the six Han Baling, then followed Du Luo Zhou, then Ge Rong, and now defected to Er Zhurong. It's just a hypocrite who forgets his righteousness for the sake of profit and deliberately flaunts benevolence, righteousness and morality, that is, a lowly identity, so that he can do such a thing. ”

When Empress Dowager Hu saw them, you said this Gao Huan word by word, but Xu Su didn't say a word, she looked at Xu Su and said slowly, "Teacher, do you have something to say?" ”

Xu Su saw that Empress Dowager Hu called his teacher again, and he understood Empress Dowager Hu's thoughts, he actually pinched his fingers when Yuan Yong Zheng Yan discussed Gao Huan, but he didn't dare to explain the result, so he could only say vaguely, "In the past, Cao Mengde said, 'Although I want to be loyal, Xin Gong will return to his Chu', it can be seen that Xiaoxiong also had a loyal heart, but the destiny of heaven is changeable." Those who want to achieve their great cause like to show others with benevolence and righteousness, and do things that buy people's hearts, are all lowly themselves, so they push themselves and others. Using one's own preferences to figure out the minds of others naturally leads people to attach. It's just that now Ge Rong, who the Queen Mother is thinking about, is already in decline, but Er Zhurong is becoming more and more prosperous, and the soldiers and generals he has received have not been registered in the military register, and his heart is suspicious. ”

Empress Dowager Hu stared thoughtfully at the location of Yecheng on the map, looking at the distance to the capital of Luoyang, "Teacher, are you still thinking about that proverb?" What Master Zhao Hu said that day was 'high and then high, and the four stars shine together.' The river lacks yin, and it ends in glory. 'Once the mourning family also thought about changing this fate, but what was the result? The mourning family still entered the palace, Queen Yu died, Gao Ying also died, the mourning family's mother is the world, this life can't be changed, the more you want to change, the more you follow it. King Qinghe is dead, and the mourning family has also figured it out, the end of the mourning family is just sooner or later, and it ends in glory, whether it is a name or glory, it doesn't matter. The only thing that the mourning family can't rest assured is the emperor, and Er Zhurong should go to Beijing to give an explanation to the mourning family. ”

While the four of them were talking, Bai Cheng looked outside in a panic, and Xiao Xizi saw it and hurriedly went out. I saw Bai Cheng whispering something in Xiao Xizi's ear, and Xiao Xizi was so frightened that he crawled into the palace and reported, "Queen Mother, the queen is gone." ”

The wind and snow are flying, the ice is dry for thousands of miles, the palace wall is deep willows, dry and dilapidated and easy to break. Under the strange cold, several plum blossoms in the Jiafu Hall did not open a branch, and the lotus followed the old practice, covering the branches with red silk to offer the god of flowers. Hu Fanyi was poisoned to death by Zheng Ziwen, who was bought by Pan Wailian, with poisoned arrow wood mixed with head oil, and died with one corpse and two lives. After the incident, Pan Wailian escaped punishment because of pregnancy, so she could only punish the concubine, Empress Dowager Hu read the face of Princess Luo Yiyun of Qinghe, and Zheng Ziwen was also forced to kill, and she was beaten a hundred boards, leaving half of her life to atone for Hu Fanyi's soul. After this night's changes, Empress Dowager Hu suddenly seemed to feel that she was old, hugged the white crane and missed King Qinghe, and cried for a day and a night, and the concubines did not dare to persuade her, so she could only kneel outside the hall to ask the Queen Mother to mourn. Yi Lian couldn't bear to look at the concubines who were freezing outside, and boldly returned to the Queen Mother, who ordered all the concubines to return to the palace, leaving only Ying'e.

After Ying'e entered the palace, she looked at the grief-stricken Empress Dowager Hu, and didn't dare to say a word, Yilian brought a stool for her, she didn't dare to sit, and silently waited for the Empress Dowager to calm down.

Seeing her standing aside pitifully, Empress Dowager Hu beckoned her to sit down beside her, "The queen, this child grew up under the watchful eyes of the mourning family, and her temperament is really cowardly, and the mourning family can't take care of her everywhere all the time." Now that she is gone, the mourning family has realized that it was the mourning family who only thought about the glory of the Hu family, but gave her life. If she hadn't entered the palace and looked for an ordinary official child, after this winter, the child would have been born. Ying'e, you told the mourning family, did you also complain about the mourning family and let your father send you in? ”

Ying'e shook her head, "Queen Mother, how can Ying'e complain about the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother is very good to Ying'e, but Ying'e herself is not angry." The Queen Mother must not break her body because of sadness, Da Wei can't do without the Queen Mother. ”

Empress Dowager Hu wiped her tears with a handkerchief and looked at Ying'e's blue eyes, "Your eyes are very similar to your father, General Erzhu has made meritorious contributions to the country's rebellion, and the mourning family has always wanted him to enter Beijing to be rewarded, and also let your father and daughter meet, but now that the queen is gone, it can only be postponed." The six towns have been in turmoil, and it has also lost your father, if you want your father and mother, you can repair a letter and let the mourning family send it to you. ”

Ying'e nodded and said, "Thank you Queen Mother for remembering, Ying'e is also thinking of sending a letter to her father, the Queen Mother's kindness to Ying'e, if my father knows about it, he will be relieved." Now although the queen's funeral is jointly managed by the Ministry of Etiquette, the Ministry of God, and the Ministry of Ancestral Hall, Ying'e wants to do her best, and it is not in vain that the queen has treated Ying'e in vain. ”

Looking at Ying'e with a sincere face, Empress Dowager Hu didn't expect her to make such a request, Ying'e never competed for favor, and Hu Fanyi really took care of her precisely because of this, when allocating the monthly example, because the Pujia Palace is no different from the cold palace, it is inevitable that some young palace stewards will climb high and low, and Hu Fanyi will let Hu Mingxiang take care of one or two, and there will never be a shortage.

Empress Dowager Hu nodded, "The mourning family asked Bai Quan to assist you, he is an old man in the palace, you have to learn to use people." ”

Ying'e understood what Empress Dowager Hu meant, this white whole tends to be inflammatory, and sees the wind and rudder of the mouth, Empress Dowager Hu knows that this white whole does have something hateful, but just to protect herself, when the Empress Dowager Hu was imprisoned, although she avoided it, she never helped to harm it. This is also why after Empress Dowager Hu returned to the court, she did not dispose of him because of his dependence on Liu Teng, transferred him to Shaofu, gave him a fat difference, but no longer let him get close to him. The chief eunuch of Jiafu Hall was replaced by the loyal Xiao Xizi, and Yi Lian became the chief palace maid, which is also the way of employing people of Empress Dowager Hu.

In accordance with the instructions of the Queen Mother, Ying'e really handled Hu Fanyi's funeral in an orderly manner with the assistance of Bai Quan. It was precisely because of Hu Fanyi's funeral that Ying'e finally saw Yuan Ziyou, who had not been seen for a long time, from a distance, but across the crowd, the eyes of the two were difficult to intersect, and the thoughts in Ying'e's heart could finally cry out uncontrollably, her cry infected the other concubines, and the concubines cried together. Everyone thought that Ying'e and the queen had a deep relationship, and Hu Mingxiang had a good impression of her, only Yuan Ziyou heard the thoughts and complaints in her cry, because she sat on the ground and cried in her direction.

And Pan Wai took pity on the fetus in his womb, and continued to live in the Huiyin Hall without fear, Yuan Xu often visited, and the Empress Dowager Hu didn't want to stop it, after all, it was Yuan Xu's first child. On February 12, 528 AD, Pan Wailian gave birth to a daughter for Yuan Xu, but lied that he was the prince, Yuan Xu was overjoyed, named the crown prince, changed to Yuan Wutai, and granted amnesty to the world. This is the only thing that makes Empress Dowager Hu feel at ease, and she is very kind to Pan Wailian because of her grandson, and she restores her concubine. But after Pan Wailian gave birth, she never let the Empress Dowager Hu visit the prince, because she was planning a conspiracy, she understood that if the Empress Dowager Hu knew about this trick to steal the dragon and turn the phoenix, she would definitely die without a complete corpse, she wanted to strike first, she wanted to seek higher imperial power, and Yuan Xu became a stumbling block for her. A month later, Pan Wailian poisoned Yuan Xu, but the edict was announced to Er Zhurong, Empress Dowager Hu and Zheng Yan Xu Su conspired to poison Yuan Xu, and ordered Er Zhu Rongqin to enter Beijing, and soon the matter was revealed that Pan Wailian was killed by Empress Dowager Hu herself. And Er Zhurong was overjoyed when he received the secret edict, he could finally fulfill his oath that day, and the day he returned to Beijing was when he set foot in Luoyang, the woman he had in mind would eventually be his own woman.

Outside the city of Luoyang, Er Zhurong's army led the army down from Jinyang, pulled out several cities in succession, and soon approached the city with the momentum of destroying the withering and decaying. In the Jiafu Palace, the Empress Dowager Hu held the little emperor Yuan Zhao who had just ascended the throne in her arms, her face was calm, she was lightly wrapped in a spring bun, thinly applied powder, and teased Yuan Zhao with a small wooden horse.

Yuan Zhao held the wooden horse and smiled stupidly, and called childishly, "Ma Ma, I want Ma Ma." ”

Empress Dowager Hu taught word by word, "Emperor, if you want to talk about me, follow my grandmother and say that I want horses and horses." ”

Yuan Zhao followed Empress Dowager Hu in a milky voice and said, "I, I want horses." ”

Ying'e, who was kneeling outside, pleaded with Empress Dowager Hu because of the pressure of Er Zhurong's army, and was willing to persuade her father. Empress Dowager Hu looked at the rain outside, called the nurse to carry Yuanzhao down, led Yilian to Ying'e, signaled Yilian to cover her with an umbrella from the rain, and sighed deeply, "Your father's actions today are not something you can persuade or turn around." With such a heavy rain, I knelt here and caught a cold carefully, so go back and change my clothes. ”

Ying'e pushed away the umbrella above her head and kowtowed vigorously, "Queen Mother, my father rebelled, forced the palace by force, and let the Queen Mother abdicate." Ying'e can't escape the blame, please ask the Queen Mother to punish Ying'e. If the queen mother can't bear to surrender, Ying'e is willing to kill herself on the city tower when her father's soldiers are in the city, and persuade her father to retire with death. ”

Empress Dowager Hu didn't answer, took out a silk handkerchief, and gently wiped the rain on her face for her, "Silly child, you and the mourning family both know that your father's bow and arrow are not returned." He wants the mourners to know that this country is to take it, but they can't let the people suffer anymore. The mourning family has asked Bai Cheng to make arrangements and is ready to send you to Yaoguang Temple for temporary refuge. You are Xu'er's concubine, the mourning family can't justifiably let you out of the palace, on the way to Yaoguang Temple, follow your heart. The last decree of the mourning family is to abolish your concubine, which can be regarded as the mourning family fulfilling its promise, and the concubines of this harem will be preserved by you in the future. ”

When Ying'e heard that the Empress Dowager Hu was still remembering her promise to herself at this time, she was sad, wept bitterly, and pulled the queen mother's shirt and said, "Queen Mother, Ying'e won't leave, Bai Cheng will protect them, let Ying'e stay with the Queen Mother." ”

Empress Dowager Hu lovingly pulled her up, "Bai Cheng is a clever person, the mourning family has never reassured him, and he has kept him until now, but he still has a place to use." This person will not be loyal to anyone, but he is the most loyal to himself, you take him, the mourning family can really rest assured of these concubines. Ying'e, the mourning family knows that your mind is on Ziyou, that child is wrong for him in the current situation, and now it's okay, now you can follow your heart. It's not like a mourning family, and you can't even see the grave after death. Okay, kid, let's go, there's still a lot to do in the mourning family. ”

Ying'e looked at the figure of the Empress Dowager Hu turning back into the hall, her gait was light, and her waist posture was like a peony in the world, even if the wind and rain were difficult to make her bend her waist, where the rain hit, it was scorching, and the beauty was suffocating. When she is not exposed, if Chang'e stands in Qiongxuan, why should she frown and get drunk, but provoke Fengyue to be jealous. Ying'e knew that this might be the last time she would see this beautiful woman again, she was alone in the dangerous building, how she didn't let her eyebrows, Luo Yuan was light-hearted, and her anger was like Xiulan Fangju.