Outside, late autumn. The moonlight was bright, but there was a constant cold wind blowing into the mourning hall.

Gao Yang was still young, and he fell asleep after kneeling for a while, and when Gao Cheng saw it, he got up and said:

"If you're tired, sleep for a while, and I'll get you a bed and quilt."

Gao Yang watched him walk away, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Gao Cheng walked to the cloister, and bumped into Yuan Jiyan with two thin quilts over.

"It's cold, I'm worried about your brother's cold."

Yuan Jiyan smiled, and her eyes narrowed into the shape of a crescent moon.

Gao Cheng took the two quilts and said:

"Thank you Auntie for your concern."

was about to leave, and then turned around and thanked again:

"Thank you Auntie for adding a quilt to me last night."

When Yuan Jiyan heard this, she hurriedly waved her hand and said:

"It's me who should thank you, if it weren't for you, Rui'er and I would never see each other again."

Gao Cheng looked at the little aunt in front of him, she was very young, and her youth was a little too much.

She married Gao Chen at the age of fourteen, but she was widowed when she gave birth to a son, and now she is only sixteen.

In another time and space, Gao Rui was taken away by Gao Huan just after the full moon and handed over to the concubine You to raise, until he was four years old, and outsiders leaked his mouth and learned that he was not the son of You.

begged Gao Huan hard, and was able to make an exception to let Yuan Jiyan come to the Bohai Palace, so that their mother and son could meet.

But it was just an exception, Yuan Jiyan suffered and waited for ten years in loneliness, and died at the age of twenty-six.

Out of sympathy for this little aunt's tragic experience, Gao Cheng chose to help her keep Gao Rui yesterday.

"If Auntie has any difficulties in the future, even if she sends someone to tell Cheng what she can, Cheng will not refuse."

Gao Cheng smiled at her.

"In the future, I can raise Rui'er with peace of mind, although I am an orphan and a widow, there is a high king and..."

Yuan Jiyan paused, lowered her head, looked at her toes and continued:

"With Zihui's care, no one will be embarrassed."

"Naturally, I will protect my aunt."

Seeing that Yuan Jiyan's clothes were thin, Gao Cheng persuaded:

"The weather is cold and the night is deep, so my aunt should go back to the house early and sleep peacefully."

Yuan Jiyan said goodbye to him according to his words.

When Gao Cheng hugged the quilt and returned to the mourning hall, Gao Yang seemed to have fallen asleep.

Adding a quilt to Gao Yang, his eyelids twitched slightly.

Gao Cheng didn't notice it, and he continued to kneel in the mourning hall to keep vigil.

After a while, there was a sound of footsteps in the courtyard, Gao Cheng thought it was Yuan Jiyan, but he followed the prestige, but it was his father Gao Huan who walked in.

Gao Huan sat down next to Gao Cheng, reminisced with him about Gao Chen's childhood, and when he talked about his emotion, he always bowed his head and wiped his tears with his sleeves.

After talking a lot and talking for a long time, Gao Huan looked at Gao Yang, who was lying on the ground with his back to them, and admonished Gao Cheng:

"I killed your uncle by mistake for my father, and now my heart is in pain, my liver and intestines are broken, and I am deeply afraid that I will be questioned by my father under Jiuquan.

"Ah Hui, you must take me as a warning, and you must not repeat the mistakes of being a father."

Gao Cheng also expressed his attitude to Gao Huan:

"The child will take care of his younger brothers, and the father should not worry."

People's state of mind will always change with some major changes.

After killing Gao Chen by mistake, Gao Huan paid more and more attention to the relationship between his children and heirs.

He is not blind, Gao Cheng and Gao Yang's estrangement is in his eyes, and he thinks he understands the reason, which is nothing more than suspicion.

That's why I came to the mourning hall tonight to reminisce with Gao Cheng about the past.

After talking to Gao Cheng for a long time, Gao Huan got up and left, and Gao Cheng accompanied him.

Sent outside the gate of the mansion, Gao Huan suddenly asked the guards to retreat and said to Gao Cheng:

"Jin Yangle is actually very smart."

Jin Yangle is Gao Yang's milk name, Gao Cheng knows it in his heart, and evoking his milk name at this time is to talk about Gao Yang from the perspective of his father and brother.

"The child understands."

Gao Huan looked at Gao Cheng and said:

"He can help you in the future, a brother is more trustworthy than an outsider."

Gao Cheng met Gao Huan's gaze and did not flinch:

"The child will guard against him, but not against him."

"My father has given you a lot, Ah Hui's position as the son of the world is unshakable, you don't need to be suspicious of Jin Yangle."

"My father won't give it, but Cheng is worried that he will take it for himself."

Gao Cheng replied.

"With the weight of Ah Hui's power, why worry about it."

"Although the power is heavy, for Jin Yangle, only one assassin is enough."

Under the moonlight, Gao Huan was silent for a long time, he didn't expect Gao Cheng's suspicion to reach such a point, but he was also pleased that Gao Cheng was honest with himself.

"Remember the words of the day, and do not harm his life."

Throwing down these words, Gao Huan summoned guards to escort him away.

Back at the Bohai Palace, Gao Huan did not go back to the room to rest as soon as possible, but just took a letter and spread it out, the content of which was to give Gao Yang a knighthood.

Loose cavalry attendant, hussar general, Yitong three divisions, Zuo Guanglu doctor, Taiyuan County founding duke.

Such a reward cannot be compared with Gao Cheng's beginnings as a servant.

But today, Gao Cheng's words made him have to write another letter, leaving only the title of the founding duke of Taiyuan County.

Gao Huan knew that such a disposition was very unfair to Gao Yang, but he had no choice.

Gao Cheng has already made clear his fear of Gao Yang, is he going to wantonly seal Gao Yang, deepen the contradictions between their brothers, just wait for his own death in the future, and let them fight in front of the spirit.

Or depose his own good helper, Gao Cheng, who is growing in his wings, does not hesitate to provoke internal turmoil and help Gao Yang to ascend to the top.

Abolish the growth and establish the young, and let the other heirs think about it.

Gao Huan sealed the new watch, looked at the moon outside the window, and said to himself:

"Ah Hui could have been deceived, but he told him bluntly, what he said today must be from the bottom of his heart, and it may be a blessing for Jinyang to be a rich idler."

The next day, with the flow of people, Gao Chen's coffin was sent out of Jinyang City and he was buried, and the funeral was over.

Gao Cheng stayed in Jinyang for two more days before he said goodbye to Gao Huan.

The reason for the delay was naturally that Gao Huan temporarily changed his mind and took the two-year-old Gao Jun and Gao Yan with him.

On the day of parting, Wang and Mu looked at the young son in the nurse's arms and wept silently.

But Gao Huan was resolute, he believed that the reason why Gao Cheng was suspicious of Gao Yang was that the two brothers had not seen each other for a long time, and there was not much brotherhood between them.

Gao Huan was reluctant to make the same mistake a second time.

Outside the Bohai Palace, Gao Cheng and Gao Yang visited their parents and said goodbye to the people who saw them off, including Yuan Jiyan who held Gao Rui in his arms.

"I will chant Buddhist scriptures in Jinyang and pray for Zihui."

Yuan Jiyan said softly.

Gao Cheng smiled:

"If the Buddha has a spirit, I'm afraid that he will punish me first."

Although under the banner of Yuan Shanjian, the destruction of Buddha is indeed led by himself.

"You purge the demons for the Buddha, and the Buddha will never blame him."

Yuan Jiyan also knew about Gao Cheng's destruction of the Buddha, and she said seriously.

At the age of sixteen, she had to be widowed, and she had to find something to do, chanting and chanting Buddha was not a bad thing for Yuan Jiyan, but Gao Cheng still persuaded her not to learn from Liang people to eat fast.

Yuan Jiyan took a bite.

Gao Cheng immediately turned to Chen Yuankang, who had red eyes, and said goodbye to him.

After a long time, the convoy set off for the south under the escort of Wang Sizheng.

Gao Cheng lifted the curtains, poked his head out and waved goodbye to everyone, until he couldn't see it anymore, and then retracted into the carriage.

For Gao Cheng, leaving Jinyang means that the leisurely days have passed.

On the seventh day of the first month of October, the despicable and shameless thief had just crossed the river bridge, and Luoyang, which had been rainy for several days, also cleared.

The capital of the Eastern Wei Dynasty finally welcomed back its supreme little high king.

Gao Cheng greeted him early, so that everyone didn't have to greet each other, but Jianchun's door was still crowded with Gao's henchmen.

greeted everyone one by one, and when he walked in front of Zhao Yanshen, Gao Cheng just said a few ordinary polite words, but the approval in his eyes was revealed.

Zhao Yanshen did a good job in Yunyang Valley, not only ensuring that Liu Lisheng died at the hands of his generals, but also letting them kill Liu Lisheng's heirs.

led the group back to the Bohai Palace, and Gao Cheng ordered the servants and slaves to set up a banquet and drink with everyone.

During the banquet, he ordered someone to summon Gao Yang, Gao Jun, and Gao Yan to introduce their three younger brothers to everyone.

There are some things that father and son can say bluntly in private, but in front of outsiders, they have to do enough superficial work.

Just like that night, Gao Huan had to deliberately retreat the guards before talking to Gao Cheng.

Gao Yang's reward has already been awarded, but he was named the Duke of Taiyuan County and has no official position.

Everyone guessed that Gao Yang was not valued by Gao Huan, and few people took him to heart.

After the banquet, Gao Cheng sent the guests away, and found a good courtyard for Gao Yang, Gao Jun, and Gao Yan in the mansion and settled down.

He did not rush to Shangshu Province to deal with government affairs, but first worried about Gao Yang's studies.

Gao Huan just asked him to go south to be taught by Gao Cheng on the grounds that he had no time to take care of Gao Yang.

It doesn't matter who the teacher is, what he teaches is the key.

After arranging for Gao Yang to enter the palace to thank him, Gao Cheng collected a bunch of moral books, and found a famous Confucian from Luoyang City, pointed to the books on the table and said:

"You Confucianism often says that people have three immortals, virtue, meritorious service, and speech.

"I have entrusted my brother to you to teach, and I do not ask him to make meritorious deeds or words in the future, but his virtue will not be criticized.

"You should know what to teach."

The Confucian scholar was a clever man, and immediately said that he would educate Gao Yang as a moral gentleman.

Gao Cheng said:

"If so, I will ensure that you will be rich for the rest of your life."

Let the Confucian scholar start teaching in the Gaoyang Academy tomorrow, and send him away.

After finishing this, I called the maidservant girl to inquire carefully, and finally put my mind at ease and went back to the backyard to meet the concubines.

"Xiaguan Gao Cheng pays a visit to Her Royal Highness the Queen."

Before entering the door, Gao Cheng bowed and saluted.

Er Zhu Ying'e deliberately said with a cold face:

"Aiqing entered the house early, but she only came to see her at this time, but where did she delay the time."

Gao Cheng hurriedly shouted grievances, saying that after he feasted and drank with the guests, he was busy looking for a good teacher for Gao Yang.

Although Xiao Erzhu was also a queen, this kind of drama between the queen and the subordinate officials is unique to Gao Cheng and Erzhu Ying'e.

After exchanging lovesickness with Erzhu Ying'e, Erzhu Ying'e asked her mother, the eldest princess of Beixiang, and her two younger brothers, who got up in Jinyang.

Gao Cheng didn't see them on this trip, but he didn't delay him from talking nonsense.

After coaxing Erzhu Ying'e with a few words, she walked to Xiao Erzhu's room.

Goodbye Xiao Erzhu, Gao Cheng, who had just attended Gao Chen's funeral, couldn't help but sigh.

At the beginning, he was lucky, thinking that Xiao Erzhu came to Luoyang and could save Gao Chen's life, but he still didn't control himself after all.

hugged Xiao Erzhu in his arms and said love words for a while.

Xiao Erzhu also asked about the recent situation of his family in Jinyang.

Gao Cheng made up nonsense and coaxed her over.

In fact, the families of these two people have nothing to worry about.

Gao Huan raised them in Jinyang, thinking of Er Zhurong's kindness and friendship with Er Zhuzhao, no matter what, no one would bully them.

I don't have to worry about eating and drinking, but I don't have freedom.

Gao Cheng met Yuan Mingyue and Song Niangzi successively, and they had sweet words.

Gao Yang's days in Luoyang were very regular, and Gao Cheng, who was appointed as the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, followed up with the inspection of hidden households in various parts of the Kanto region, and also set his sights on the rule of officials.

The root cause of corruption in the early Northern Wei Dynasty was that the officials did not have money.

In the later period, the corruption of the government was the issuance of the suspension of the year, which cut off the possibility of officials relying on their political achievements for promotion.

Abolishing the suspension of the year and rebuilding the official promotion system is also Gao Huan's expectation of handing over the officials to Gao Cheng.

The Heyin Massacre, and the subsequent Luoyang Rebellion, the clan and the ministers were killed like mowing grass.

Most of the old vested interests have withered, and new vested interests have been formed.

They are the Xindu Yuancong who bypassed the suspension of the year and was quickly promoted.

For the high-ranking party dignitaries, the seniority requirements cannot restrain them, and the regulations on talent and political achievements can effectively protect their official positions.

At the same time, it prevents talented people from below from coming up and attacking their position.

He Liuhun wants to be a good person, but he also wants to reform the rule of officials, but what he wants to infringe on is the interests of his cronies and henchmen.

He knew very well that apart from himself, only Gao Cheng's identity as the heir could withstand the pressure of Gao Party's nobles and forcibly promote reforms.

This is also the reason why Gao Huan is willing to hand over the official book to Gao Cheng.

The original owner in history played a role as a thug, he charged in Yecheng, and Gao Huan sang red face in Jinyang:

'My son has grown up and has his own ideas, so you have to avoid them. ’

He and Zhu Yuanzhang, who wants to remove thorns for Zhu Biao regardless of his reputation, are two diametrically opposed attitudes.

But Gao Cheng also understood that without paying, why did Gao Huan give him so much power.

No matter how hard Gao Huan's childhood was, he was not as miserable as Zhu Yuanzhang who watched his relatives starve to death one by one, and naturally it was impossible to cherish Gao Cheng as he did with Zhu Biao.

Throwing away the resentment in his heart, Gao Cheng summoned Cui Xian and Cui Jishu and planned to redistribute the responsibilities of the two.

Although Cui Ang is known as one of the three cui, he just borrowed the light of his surname, and in Gao Cheng's heart, after all, he is a lot worse than Chen Yuankang, Yang Su, Cui Jishu, Zhao Yanshen, and Cui Xianam.

Now that Chen and Yang are not here, Gao Cheng can't rest assured that he will be handed over to others, at least in the short term, Zhao Yanshen will continue to preside over this matter for him.

"Cui Changshi, my father took Cheng as the secretary of the ministry, and asked Cheng to reform the governance of the officials, and the six Cao of the ministry of the officials are the most important in the examination, and Cheng intends to let you be the meritorious Cao Langzhong, you need to govern things with your heart."

As soon as these words came out, Cui Xian was overjoyed, but Cui Jishu looked gloomy.

Gao Cheng said again:

"Ji Lun is in a public office, naturally he can't serve in my shogunate, the post of Changshi will be taken over by Shu Zheng, although Yan Shen is the Sima of the shogunate, but he has to be distracted and listen to the division, and the metropolitan governor's mansion will be handed over to Shu Zheng for me."

Cui Jishu regained his strength and immediately thanked him.

Let Cui Xian go back and prepare to take over the official examination, Gao Cheng said to Cui Jishu:

"The examination of the officials is valuable, but when reforming the rule of officials, it is a job that offends people, and my uncle should understand my intentions."

------Off topic------

I woke up at two o'clock, and I slept for a while before I finished writing and went back to sleep.

Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, the two days of the exam, the update will not be interrupted, after the exam should be adjusted to the daytime update time.