"The prince knows that this person is very deep in the city, and he can't be trusted, so why should he be entrusted with a heavy task?" When the two of them walked to the front yard, the leader finally couldn't help but ask. With the talent of the prince, even if the 100,000 army is stubborn and untamable, in time, it will definitely become a good general, and it is really impossible to risk handing over the military power to Duan Nantian, and beware of him having different intentions every day. Could it be that it was because he was pitiful that he lost his son when he was old?

"He has always fought for power and profit, but in the end it is just for the benefit of future generations, and now he is alone, and he doesn't have to be like this anymore......" An Ruiqi sighed and continued: "I did this, it has nothing to do with others, it's just out of selfishness......" Qinghui cage clothes, night breeze full sleeves, a slight chill penetrated the bottom of his heart, An Ruiqi trembled slightly, but felt that his whole body was hot and his headache was unbearable.

The leader seemed to understand An Ruiqi's words, but when he found that An Ruiqi's steps were vain and unsteady, he didn't care about the deep meaning and hurriedly stepped forward to help. An Ruiqi wanted to thank him, but he couldn't speak anyway, and the fear of being contaminated with the breath of death suddenly rose in his heart. I can't die yet...... He gritted his teeth and said silently.

After closing his eyes and recuperating in the carriage, An Ruiqi finally recovered some of his spirits. "Go to the palace." He commanded softly.

"It's getting late, the prince should go back to his house and rest." The leader anxiously persuaded.

An Ruiqi shook his head and whispered, "If you don't go at this time, it'll be too late." ”

Although the leader did not know why, he also heard that the situation was urgent and did not dare to delay, so he ordered the carriage and horses to turn around and turn in the direction of the palace.

Listening to the eunuch in charge, the emperor was eating in the imperial study, An Ruiqi smiled lightly, and slowly followed him to the deep palace. In order to save money, the uninhabited places in the palace are not in charge of the lamp, all the way to the look, there are only a few sporadic lights in the huge palace, if it is not for the accompanying two palace people holding the palace lamp in front of the way, I am afraid they can not even see the road in front of them. The humane emperor is diligent and thrifty, and the harem is empty, and it is true. When the group came to the imperial study, without waiting for the eunuch to pass the message, the guards respectfully opened the door. A warm breeze mixed with a faint fragrance rushed to his face, which lifted An Ruiqi's spirits. After leading An Ruiqi to the inner room, the eunuch quietly retreated, and An Ruiqi and the emperor were the only ones left in the room. It is not as good as the royal study like gold carving and jade, solemn and grand, the layout here is elegant and chic, but it is not like all in the palace. A coffee table, two high-backed chairs, and a couch are all made of ebony. The chairs and couches are covered with purple satin embroidered gold dragon cushions, which are simple and luxurious. The haphazardly lifted ivory futon half-concealed a few scrolls, the yellowed pages of which looked like they were old, but they were so well preserved that they were not even half wrinkled. Other than that, there are no other things in the room.

Not long ago, he was still as warm as jade, but now his cheeks are slightly concave, and he has a few more edges and corners. The flushing on his face, the black halo under his eyes, and the paleness between his lips all indicate that he is sick, only those dark eyes, Octavia as before. What was it about the disease that tortured him like this? The emperor had already put down the dishes and chopsticks, looked at An Ruiqi with meaningful eyes, and when he saw that he turned his head to look at him, he raised his hand and motioned for him to sit down.

"Has the royal brother ever had dinner?" The emperor asked gently with a smile in his eyes.

"I haven't ......" An Ruiqi glanced at a bowl of rice and three dishes of home-cooked side dishes on the coffee table without a trace, sighed in his heart, and arched his hand: "Disturbing the emperor's meal, the minister is guilty......"

"The emperor's words are serious. It's better to meet by chance, if the royal brother doesn't give up, why don't you accompany me to have a meal? Seeing An Ruiqi nodding in agreement, the emperor summoned the eunuch in charge and asked him to serve a few more dishes. There is also bird's nest porridge. Seeing that the eunuch was about to withdraw from the screen, the emperor said slowly.

After a while, the palace maids in plain short jackets rushed in, standing aside with hot meals, and waited for the eunuch in charge to call his subordinates to set up the tables and chairs brought from outside, and then they presented more than a dozen delicacies in order.

Faced with a table full of delicacies, the emperor quietly removed the displeasure and helplessness in his eyes, personally scooped a bowl of bird's nest porridge for An Ruiqi, and said with a smile: "My brother, no need to be formal, eat." Then he picked up the bowl of rice and ate it leisurely.

The bird's nest porridge is as sweet and delicious as elixir, moistening An Ruiqi's thirsty tongue, and the agarwood chips burned in the incense burner have the effect of calming the mind and calming the nerves, and the two complement each other and make him wake up from his trance.

"Your Majesty, the minister is asking to see you today for the sake of the fief." After the meal, An Ruiqi was sitting down.

Are you so impatient? After hearing this, the emperor said sarcastically in his heart. "Yes, I was negligent. The hereditary territory of the Protector is the three counties in the south of the Yangtze River, and I will give it to you tomorrow. As for the mansion, it still uses the Protectorate Mansion. After I send someone to repair it for a while, it will not be too late for the emperor's brother to move in again. The emperor raised the corners of his mouth and said lightly, unable to find a trace of annoyance in his expression.

"The minister is brave, I implore the emperor to give the minister the three mansions in the north, and the minister is willing to lead the army to guard the border!" After speaking, An Ruiqi flicked his clothes and knelt down on his knees.

The emperor couldn't help but be shocked when he heard this. Jiangnan is rich in people, the climate is pleasant, and there are not a few princes who are interested in this place, just because of the last emperor's will, so they can't ask for it. The peace and glory of a life are obviously at your fingertips, but this king of prayer does not appreciate it, but asks to go to the bitter cold land in the north, which is really incomprehensible. What's more, at the beginning of the Song-Yue war, the turmoil in the north has not been settled, the internal and external troubles have not been eliminated for a day, and the people's hearts have not been at peace for a day. Although the emperor couldn't understand An Ruiqi's thoughts, he never believed that he was doing this for the well-being of the people and the people. However, since he is willing to take on the important task alone, the emperor is also happy to see it.

"Is the imperial brother really determined to do this?" The emperor put away his smile and asked in a deep voice.

"Ask the emperor to fulfill it." An Ruiqi leaned over and replied.

"The emperor's brother has great ambitions, how can I not allow it." The emperor stretched out his hand to help An Ruiqi up, and a little approval appeared in his eyes. "I intend to transfer part of the new soldiers and horses recruited every year to enrich the army under the command of the emperor's brother for a period of five years, until 200,000, I don't know what the emperor's brother wants?"

The emperor's move was far from what An Ruiqi had expected. thought that the emperor would assign the An Jiajun to him to command, after all, he had a deep relationship with the An Jiajun, and it was understandable that the emperor was suspicious of him.

Seeing that he hesitated, the emperor spoke again: "The capital cannot be without an army, and I am no different." ”

When An Ruiqi heard this, he immediately understood, and hurriedly bowed down and replied: "Minister, thank you!" ”

The emperor patted him on the shoulder and smiled with satisfaction.

"In this way, everything is finally ......" Back in the carriage, An Ruiqi groaned for a while, and finally couldn't resist the invasion of sleepiness, and fell into a deep sleep.