The night was getting darker, and there was silence in the Tianji Pavilion.

When Liu Xunyi, who had hurriedly washed up, came to the study, Zhao Yuan was sitting behind the bookcase and closed his eyes and meditated. Facing Liu Xunyi's push door, he turned a deaf ear and remained motionless like a clay statue.

"Meet Master Hou!"

Liu Xunyi tiptoed to the desk and carefully knelt on the ground.

"Sit down!"

Zhao Yuan's voice sounded a little hoarse and very tired.

"Subordinates don't dare to ......"

"There are only you and me in the study tonight, so you don't have to be formal. ”

Zhao Yuan slowly opened his eyes, and fine wrinkles appeared on his forehead when he raised his eyes, and the spirit of the whole person was much weaker and decayed than at the beginning, as if he was dozens of years old all of a sudden, which surprised Liu Xunyi.

"Sit down!"

"Master Xie. ”

Under Zhao Yuan's repeated urging, Liu Xunyi did not dare to be stubborn, and hurriedly sat down in a hurry.

"Looking for clothes, I haven't seen you for a few months, and you have lost a lot of weight. Zhao Yuanmu looked at the anxious Liu Xunyi without squinting, and said with a smile, "What's the matter? After living in the Xianwang Mansion for two years, I am not used to returning to the Heavenly Machine Pavilion?"

"Of course not. Liu Xunyi hurriedly explained, "Since I came back, I have been introspecting in the room, so I ......."

"I heard that after you got drunk several times, you lost your mouth and shouted the names of these people, 'Xu Heng, Ling Qing'. And he was unmoved by the people who called you 'Lord Yanagi'. Zhao Yuan didn't care about Liu Xunyi's explanation, and said to himself, "Are you used to doing 'Liu Zhi Fan' and forgetting how to do 'Lord Liu'?"

"Master Hou, I ......"

"Don't be nervous, these are human nature, Ben Hou won't blame you. Without waiting for Liu Xunyi to get up and make amends, Zhao Yuan waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "But Ben Hou hopes that you can cheer up as soon as possible, although there are no other errands at the moment, but ...... You can teach newcomers not to get drunk all day long. ”

"Subordinates remember. ”

After saying that, Liu Xunyi glanced at Zhao Yuan's expression, and saw that his face was tired and his complexion was weak, so he couldn't help but be secretly worried, and said tentatively: "Master Hou, I heard...... The emperor was quite dissatisfied with the errand we had done in Luoyang, and even ordered the Tianji Pavilion to be stopped to run an errand to see the aftermath?"

Zhao Yuan frowned slightly, and said absent-mindedly: "The emperor is just angry for a while, you don't have to worry about this matter." ”

"Yes. ”

Although Zhao Yuan said lightly, Liu Xunyi could feel a strong sadness and helplessness in his tone.

"Ben Hou is looking for you tonight to tell you three things. Two bad things, one good thing, which one do you want to hear first?"

"I ......" Liu Xunyi was worried and hesitated, "I am willing to follow the orders of the Hou Ye." ”

"That's good, Ben Hou will report the worries first, and then the good news. Zhao Yuan didn't shirk it, and got straight to the point, "The first bad thing, there have been many people in Lin'an City who have made trouble recently, you should have heard of it?"

"Yes. ”

"These rabble, who don't know the height of the sky, have tossed almost all the mansions and mansions in Lin'an City, just to coerce the court to hand you over. Zhao Yuan's words were solemn, and his tone became more and more gloomy, "Last night, a group of thieves who ate the bear's heart and leopard gall dared to break into the forbidden place of the palace at night, not only were the words of coercion written all over the palace, but also on the jade couch of the concubine...... Leave a sharp blade behind. ”

"Hiss!" Liu Xunyi's heart was beating when he heard it, like sitting on pins and needles. After all, this matter started because of him.

"They dared to leave a sharp blade on the concubine's jade couch, which was clearly a provocation to the emperor. Zhao Yuan said in a deep voice, "The Ouchi guards pursued and killed three people on the spot, but there are still two people on the run. The concubine was sick in bed because she was frightened, and the holy dragon was furious, and this morning he beheaded all the thirty-two guards of the concubine palace to set an example. At the same time, an additional 3,000 Imperial Forest troops were stationed around the palace to meet the needs of the time. ”

"This ......" Liu Xunyi was shocked and speechless.

"Today, the emperor summoned me and the prime minister, do you know what the saint said to us?"

"My subordinates don't know. ”

"The emperor said, 'In troubled times, traitors are in charge, so that etiquette collapses, and the gang is often lost, and righteousness does not exist. As it has been, sooner or later, the country will not be a country, the monarch will not be a king, and the ministers will not be a minister!'" Zhao Yuan's tone was full of shame and indignation, and his eyes couldn't help but be a little ruddy, "The emperor also said, 'The down-and-out phoenix is not as good as a chicken. In the prosperous and prosperous era, who dares to make a mistake in front of the Son of Heaven? Now that the troubled times are turbulent, even snakes, insects, rats, ants, and small people dare to go to the forbidden place of the palace to do evil. This is an unprecedented anecdote in all dynasties, and it is an unprecedented humiliation since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty. The emperor's words were heart-wrenching, which made Ben Hou and the prime minister feel like ten thousand arrows piercing their hearts, and the pain was unbearable. ”

At this time, Liu Xun's face was like white ash, and he was in a trance, and he didn't know how to answer.

"The emperor ordered that this matter arose because of our unfavorable affairs, so the Dongfu tried to end it. Zhao Yuan said bitterly, "The emperor only gave the prime minister a one-month period, if he can't calm the chaos in Lin'an City, from the prime minister downwards...... No, including the Prime Minister, all the officials in Lin'an in the Eastern Mansion were demoted to three levels in a row and fined three years. ”

"This ......" Liu Xunyi looked at Zhao Yuan, who was pale, in disbelief, and hesitated, "I don't know how the Prime Minister plans to deal with it?"

"What does the prime minister mean...... Wipe out all those involved in the trouble. ”

"I'm afraid of this...... It's hard to climb. Liu Xunyi said worriedly, "Now the troublemakers are definitely not one or two people, nor one or two forces, but the entire Central Plains martial arts." If you want to kill the Central Plains martial arts, and it is within a month, with all due respect...... It's impossible. ”

Zhao Yuan raised his eyebrows, and asked meaningfully, "That...... What do you think you want to do?"

"I ...... it" Liu Xunyi no longer hesitated, and truthfully said the long-brewing thoughts in his heart, "I will come forward to calm this turmoil that should not have happened." ”

"You come forward?" Zhao Yuanhu said suspiciously, "What do you mean...... Let the court hand you over?"

"Yes......"

"Bastard!"

"Bang!"

Before Liu Xunyi's words fell, Zhao Yuan was furious, took the case, angrily pointed at the panicked Liu Xunyi, and scolded: "Do you think that it is your business now? This matter is related to the dignity of the country and the majesty of the court, how can you be whimsical and act recklessly? The more aggressive they are, the more the court cannot take a step back, this is the emperor's will, and no one can disobey it." ”

"Master Hou is angry, his subordinates know their mistakes!"

Liu Xunyi hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Zhao Yuan to apologize.

"Such nonsense, I will not mention it again in the future!"

"Yes. ”

"If they dare to trespass into the palace, it is no longer just against you, but at the entire court. The prime minister's worries are indeed right, the Central Plains martial arts seem to be a group of rabble, but in fact, there are great variables. If it can be used by me, it can turn decay into magic, and become a sharp sword for the imperial court to defend against foreign enemies. If it is not used by me, it may become a source of chaos that threatens the world. At present, it seems that Cheng is quite a proverb, and the rivers and lakes are endangering the temple. Zhao Yuan was full of sorrow, but he was full of helplessness. Suddenly, the conversation changed, and he said, "This is just the first thing that makes the emperor unhappy." In addition to this, there is a second bad thing. ”

"Dare to ask Master Hou to show me. ”

Zhao Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked, "You once revealed that Jin Fuyu was hiding tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in Hengshanzhai and wanted to rebel, didn't you?"

"Yes. Liu Xunyi's eyes changed, and he said in astonishment, "Could it be that this matter has changed?"

"It's not that there is a change, it's fake!" Zhao Yuan regretted, "The loss of the Hou trusts you very much, and he even guarantees you with his life in front of the prime minister." But I never expected that this news was pure fiction and ridiculous. ”

"What?" Liu Xunyi was flustered and at a loss, "This ...... How is that possible?"

"The emperor sent the minister to Yongzhou to make a secret visit, and thoroughly investigated the inside and outside of Hengshan Cottage three times, and he couldn't dig three feet into the ground, but he didn't even find a single soldier, where did the tens of thousands of soldiers and horses come from?" Zhao Yuan said unhappily, "This matter made the emperor very dissatisfied, and today he even denounced the prime minister for believing rumors in front of hundreds of civil and military officials, which is absurd and stupid." made the prime minister lose face in the court and find it difficult to deal with himself. ”

"Impossible!" Liu Xunyi defended, "Jin Fuyu is plotting against him, this matter is true......

"Xunyi, you honestly tell Ben Hou that Jin Fuyu is hiding tens of thousands of troops, but you saw it with your own eyes?"

"This ......" Liu Xunyi couldn't help but be speechless for a while, "The subordinates didn't see it with their own eyes, but listened to ......"

"Seeing is believing, hearing is false. Since you haven't seen it with your own eyes, how can you talk about it?" Zhao Yuan waved his hand and said, "Unless the Qincha sent by the emperor and all the officials up and down Yongzhou are all blind, otherwise the 'true and true' in your mouth is a strong word." ”

"This ......"

"Because of this incident, the emperor wanted to cure you for the crime of spreading rumors and making trouble, and demagoguery. But fortunately, the prime minister tried his best to maneuver, and the emperor remembered that you had made a meritorious contribution to quelling the rebellion, so he was extra gracious and spared you once. ”

Although Liu Xunyi was full of suspicions, he didn't dare to quibble, so he could only nod his head and apologize.

If he insists on justifying, not only will he not be able to change the status quo, but he will cause a lot of unnecessary trouble, and even set up new political enemies for Dongfu, Prime Minister and Zhao Yuan.

A series of two bad news made Liu Xunyi disheartened and at a loss. He really couldn't think of any good news that Zhao Yuan could bring him in such an unfavorable situation?

"That's it!" Zhao Yuan took a deep breath and said softly, "After reporting the worries, it's time to report the good news." ”

Liu Xunyi's eyelids twitched, and his eyes were full of anxiety when he looked at Zhao Yuan.

"Looking for clothes, Ben Hou once said that as soon as Luo Tianjin died, you made great contributions. Zhao Yuan said unhurriedly, "Ben Hou will not break his promise. Today, the prime minister and Ben Hou jointly asked for your merit in front of the emperor, although the emperor was dissatisfied with your lying news, but the merit is clear, the rewards and punishments are ranked, and your merits will not be erased because of your mistakes. The saint remembered that you were loyal to the imperial court, and did not hesitate to hide in the folk style to sleep in the open air, and worked hard, so he decreed that you would be promoted to the rank of four-grade captain, rewarded with one hundred taels of gold, and gave a royal horse. ”

"Thank you for the emperor's grace!" Liu Xunyi looked expression, and hurriedly bowed his head.

"Originally, you were expected to be promoted to two levels, but the emperor was depressed and uncomfortable due to the many miscellaneous things that have happened recently, so he only promoted you to one level, I hope you don't have any guilt. ”

"The subordinates don't dare!"

"Looking for clothes, although this errand has been completed, the fault is not yours, you have a meritorious role in quelling the rebellion, so you don't have to worry. Zhao Yuan said with relief, "Ben Hou knows that you lick blood from the knife edge of the people, and you will die for a lifetime, and it is not easy to live." Therefore, you can ask for anything you want, whether it is gold or silver, acres of land, or a house...... As long as Ben Hou can do his best, he will try his best to satisfy you. ”

"Thank you Lord Hou for your great kindness, my subordinates are grateful. Liu Xunyi said sincerely, "It is the duty of subordinates to do errands for the imperial court, how dare they covet rewards? As for gold and silver, acres of land, and houses...... The subordinates dare not expect extravagance. ”

As for this, Liu Xunyi's tone suddenly stagnated, and his solemn eyes stared at Zhao Yuan, who was speechless, and hesitated again and again, before he mustered up his courage and pleaded sincerely: "If the Hou Ye does not give up, his subordinates will be brave...... Please fulfill your original promise. If you can do this, you will be grateful to Dade and never forget. ”

"What promise?" Zhao Yuan frowned and hesitated, "What are you talking about......"

"Hou Ye promised his subordinates, when I return to Tianji Pavilion, Hou Ye is willing to work with the Prime Minister to be a matchmaker in front of the emperor......"

"Shhh

Before Liu Xunyi's words fell, Zhao Yuan suddenly gasped, and suddenly realized: "You don't want gold and silver fields, it turns out that you want people?"

"Yes!" At this point, Liu Xunyi no longer had the slightest timidity, and admitted stubbornly, "Your subordinates can do without anything, even the official position of the emperor." I only want Lord Xinde, and nothing else. ”

"This ......" Liu Xunyi's resoluteness made Zhao Yuan's face change, and his expression became more and more twisted.

"Master Hou, is it because I failed to recruit An Luo Tianjin, so it is inconvenient for you and the Prime Minister to be matchmakers in front of the emperor?"

"This ...... Looking for clothes, Ben Hou can promise you everything else, but this one ......" Zhao Yuan looked embarrassed, and he couldn't say why.

Liu Xunyi was anxious and said bluntly: "If it is inconvenient for the Hou Ye to propose to the Holy Lord, the subordinates are willing to say it themselves, and only ask the Hou Ye to help me introduce me to the palace......"

"Looking for clothes!" Suddenly, Zhao Yuan's expression was full, and the entanglement in his eyes gradually turned into bitterness, and he said helplessly, "You...... Let's forget about Zhao Xin!"

......