In the thirtieth year of Kaiyuan, the emperor personally led a large army to attack the ancient Khan, suffered a defeat, killed 300,000 soldiers, shocked the Dajing Dynasty, the atmosphere in the capital was even more tense, and the officials were all in danger, just because the emperor was old, and they were afraid that the emperor would die after hearing about the defeat, and the prince had not moved to the East Palace at this time.

This year, King Xiao Wei and Ping An were one year old.

In the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng meditated under the tree, the earth spirit tree was already one zhang high, but the leaves were not lush enough, and now it could only give birth to a faint aura, but it was also a good sign.

Not far away, Xiao Ping'an rode around on a white dragon, chasing after Qingku, playing games.

Although Xiao Ping'an was born with a mental defect, but the talent of muscles and bones is really amazing, one year old he already has the strength of a four- or five-year-old child, can run and jump, in the Longqi Temple, he is already recognized as a martial arts wizard.

A figure walked briskly from outside the courtyard, it was Chen Li, his face was worried, he came to Jiang Changsheng, and said in a low voice: "Changsheng, something is wrong, the second prince is missing." ”

Jiang Changsheng didn't open his eyes, and said, "If you are missing, you will be missing, didn't your Chen family take refuge in the Seventh Prince?" ”

Chen Li said: "The second prince is missing, and the Hong family is afraid that they will rebel, but it just so happens that His Majesty has suffered a defeat in the north, and the capital will rebel at that time, and the situation will be in danger." ”

Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes at this time.

Jiang Yuan's life before the age of sixty was absolutely brilliant, but it was a pity that he reigned for too long, and when he was old, he personally led the army and suffered a big defeat, and his prestige in the hearts of the people was greatly reduced, and even the civil and military officials were no longer so afraid of him.

The Hong family's army was stationed outside the capital to protect the capital, but now it has become a threat.

Jiang Changsheng said helplessly: "If the Hong family wants to rebel, what's the use of you telling me?" ”

Chen Li said: "Naturally, it is to remind you, once the chaos starts, how can you Longqiguan protect yourself, and in recent days, hurry up and stock up on grain, even if the Hong family does not target Longqiguan, the city will be in chaos, and Longqiguan will inevitably be isolated, because the mountain is too suitable for Tibetans." ”

Jiang Changsheng nodded and said, "I know." ”

Chen Li sat down, and didn't care about Qingqu beside him, after all, they were also acquaintances, and Jiang Changsheng had been friends with him for eighteen years.

Eighteen years have passed, Chen Li is no longer a high-spirited champion, and now he is also middle-aged.

Before you know it, time flies by so fast.

Jiang Changsheng looked at Chen Li's vicissitudes of life, and sighed in his heart.

Not only Chen Li, but also the older disciples in Guannei are gradually entering middle age, including senior sister Meng Qiushuang.

Jiang Changsheng refined a total of three Zhuyan Pills, one was taken by himself, one was given to the queen by the emperor, and the remaining one he let Hua Jianxin take, no matter what, Hua Jianxin gave birth to a son for him, and it was also his wife, so he naturally had to preference.

He didn't want to interfere with the life, old age, sickness and death of others, but his youth gradually made his disciples have a higher respect for him.

The Taoist is really a Taoist.

Chen Li said: "The prince has the help of the Yang family, and there are two provinces and two Shangshu, and the right to speak in the court is extremely high, but it is a pity that he has no military power, and the masters under his hands are not as good as the seven princes, I suddenly feel that His Majesty is deliberately leaving Beijing, let the prince and the second prince fight, how can the second prince fight the prince, and so the second prince sacrifices, the Hong family will rebel, vowing to kill the prince, and when the prince is dead, the seven princes will be able to justifiably crusade against the Hong family, and then make great achievements, the emperor's heart is really terrible." ”

Jiang Changsheng felt that it made sense, it was indeed very possible, anyway, he knew that the prince was going to die.

After knowing the fate of the prince, Jiang Changsheng's hatred for him was gone, and he didn't even pay attention to him, speaking of which, the prince was also a poor person, he was born at the mercy of others, and when the Yang family knew the truth, the prince was really isolated and abandoned by the whole world.

Jiang Changsheng opened his mouth and said, "Let's talk about the things on the rivers and lakes." ”

Hua Jianxin guarded King Xiao Wei day and night, and occasionally told Jiang Changsheng about the affairs of the court, so Jiang Changsheng didn't care.

Jiang Changsheng's only concern for the court is that King Xiao Wei ascends the throne, but he is still young and far away from ascending the throne, before that, as long as Dajing does not die, King Xiao Wei is fine, no matter how those people toss, and his goal is to cultivate.

Chen Li shook his head and said, "How can I have time to pay attention to the rivers and lakes now, oh, by the way, do you remember your senior brother Li Changqing?" ”

Jiang Changsheng nodded and said, "Naturally, I remember." ”

Li Changqing betrayed Longqiguan when he was young, and because of this, he let the Qingxu Dao Changshen be poisoned by the Demon Gate.

Chen Li sighed: "He entered the demon gate for a woman, last year, the woman died, he also went crazy, and now he kills people when he sees them on the rivers and lakes, and the murder is famous, and the eighteen sects are joining forces to hunt him down, I'm afraid he won't live long." ”

Jiang Changsheng was silent.

Chen Li said with relief: "Don't think about it, that is the path he chose by himself, don't get involved, the eighteen sects work together, even if it is the supreme martial arts, it may not be able to retreat." ”

Jiang Changsheng said with a smile: "Brother Chen, you are too worried, I won't go down the mountain." ”

Chen Li smiled, and then talked about other things.

Li Changqing's experience really made Jiang Changsheng's heart ripple, after all, it was an old acquaintance.

He thought of Qingxu Daoist again, and he didn't know where the master had gone.

……

Half a year later, Chen Li guessed that it was right, the Hong family really mutinied, and the general Hong Lie broke into the capital with 100,000 iron horsemen and went straight to the palace.

The sound of fighting echoed in the capital.

Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes, sighed, and got up.

After all, I can't let go.

Jiang Changsheng said a few words to the white dragon and turned into a sparrow and flew towards the palace.

At the same time, in the palace, the iron horses were crisscrossed, and the maids and eunuchs all knelt on the ground, trembling.

Hong Lie was wearing heavy black armor and riding a strong black horse, slowly advancing, holding a large knife in one hand and a fierce look in his eyes.

"Seal off the palace and find the crown prince!"

A general shouted with his sword raised, and the soldiers took the order and dispersed to search.

A concubine ran over, came to Hong Lie's side, and cried: "Big brother, you have to avenge Ming'er!" ”

Hong Lie glanced at her and said, "Don't worry, sister, the prince will die today." ”

The concubine wiped her tears and asked, "Where is Ming'er, have you sent someone to investigate?" ”

Hong Lie said: "My soldier found a corpse outside the city, it was Ming'er's, and the eldest brother couldn't bear to tell you." ”

Hearing this, the concubine sat directly on the ground as if she had been struck by lightning.

Hong Lie shook his head and moved forward, his face became unruly, his eyes stared at the Jinluan Hall high in the distance, and muttered: "Brother Jiang, you have been sitting in this country for thirty years, and it should be my brother's turn to sit down." ”

On the other side, inside the Queen's Bedroom.

Prince Jiang Qian's hair was scattered, sitting at the table, extremely decadent.

The queen mother walked in from outside the door, closed the door, and said, "No, Hong Lie has already come in, and the palace can't ask the Yang family for help." ”

Jiang Qian smiled bitterly: "Queen Mother, how could the Yang family not hear such a big movement from Hong Lie?" Before the second brother disappeared, I noticed that the Yang family's attitude was wrong, and the uncles' attitude towards me was not as enthusiastic as before, and even ......"

Even a little disgusted!

Jiang Qian didn't say this, he couldn't understand it in his heart, in his opinion, all the courtiers could turn their backs on him, but the Yang family shouldn't.

The queen mother frowned and said, "Did you really kill your second brother?" ”

When Jiang Qian heard this, he suddenly became anxious, gritted his teeth and said, "How is it possible!" The dispute between me and my second brother is that he wants to fight with me, the queen mother, after so many years, I haven't endured it again and again? Why forbearance, isn't it just thinking of brotherly affection? I never thought of killing my second brother, and even if I were killed by my second brother, I wouldn't be able to kill my own brothers! ”

Although he is the crown prince, from childhood to adulthood, the emperor and empress's attitude towards him is sometimes cold and sometimes hot, which causes him to cherish his brotherly feelings, because when he was a child, his younger brothers needed him and respected him, and he always wanted to protect his younger brothers, otherwise the dispute between him and the second prince would not last for several years.

He is the crown prince, he holds the power of the court, and how easy it is to deal with the second prince!

He could even ask the emperor to send Jiang Ming to the frontier.

The queen mother sighed, and her gaze at Jiang Qian was extremely complicated.

Jiang Qian was in a state of panic, fear, and anger at the moment, and did not notice her eyes.

Outside the hall, the sound of horses' hooves and footsteps was heard, and a large number of soldiers were approaching.

"Your fourth brother followed your father to the battle, otherwise with him and Zong Tianwu here, you can still be saved." The queen said helplessly.

Jiang Qian gritted his teeth, stood up, and said: "Queen Mother, don't come out, if I go out alone, the big deal is death, why did my Jiang family live and die!" ”

After that, he walked to the gate without hesitation, pushed the door out, and the courtyard outside was full of black soldiers, and Hong Lie rode a horse on the corridor outside the courtyard, looking at him from afar.

Jiang Qian took a deep breath, straightened his hair, stepped forward, and said in a loud voice: "General Hong, if you don't believe that the second brother is not harmed by His Royal Highness, His Royal Highness has nothing to say. ”

The soldiers were silent and did not leave immediately, waiting for General Hong to speak.

Jiang Qian followed: "General Hong, even if the second brother is really dead, what's the use of you being so angry?" You are the Lahong family to accompany the funeral, and the Hong family only has one prince to rely on! ”

Hong Lie leaned forward and smiled contemptuously: "Since there is no prince to rely on, the general will be dressed in the imperial robe, I don't know what His Highness thinks?" ”

"You ......"

Jiang Gan's eyes widened, trembling with anger, and he suddenly brightened.

Could it be that Jiang Ming's disappearance is related to Hong Lie?

The soldiers laughed and shouted Long live Emperor Hong.

Jiang Qian was furious and rushed towards Hong Lie, he had never practiced martial arts, just like a scholar, he was directly kicked over by a soldier, a sword pierced his body, and blood was sprinkled on the ground.

Jiang Gan's mouth was full of blood, staring at the soldiers in front of him, there was no fear in his eyes, only anger.

"Presumptuous! Hong Lie, don't you really miss the old love? ”

The queen's voice came, and her words were cold, and she only heard her walk out of the hall.

Hong Lie laughed and said, "Sister-in-law, I didn't expect that after decades, you are still beautiful, and I don't know what treasures Your Majesty has fed you, I have come this far, do you think I still have a way out?" ”

"Someone, capture the queen for me and escort her to the general...... My palace, hahaha! ”

Hong Lie laughed wildly, and even changed his words directly, he was already crazy, because in his opinion, the throne was in front of him.

The soldiers immediately stepped forward, and Jiang Qian raised his hand and cursed: "Hong Lie, you are not human!" You don't have to die well! ”

The soldier who pressed him immediately cut his throat, he covered his throat with both hands, unable to speak, blood gushing out, and he could not stop at all.

The queen mother was so frightened that she retreated one after another, leaning against the door.

At this moment, a voice fell lightly:

"A dog in Dajing, also delusional about the imperial robe? Arrogant, I don't know how thick the sky is, today, you will die a miserable death. ”

Everyone looked up, only to see a figure appear on the eaves of the queen's bedroom, this person was wearing a shabby black robe, a wooden mask on his face, and no weapon in his hand, but he stood there with a feeling of extreme danger.