After a winter rain, the weather suddenly turned cold, and the cool wind swirled around the Chongzheng Hall, making a whistling sound. Under the veranda of the hall, more than a dozen servants were busy cleaning up the water marks and footprints left on the ground.
As the head of the chamberlain, Yantuo did not follow the imperial court, but stood aside and stared with a stern expression, as if this was a very important matter.
Half an hour ago, when Prime Minister Zhao Pu came to Chongzheng Hall to perform an important task, he slipped on the sole of his foot in the corridor and fell. After all, Zhao Pu was over sixty years old and had old arms and legs, so he couldn't get up immediately.
As soon as this incident came out, Zhao Pu was able to go home to recuperate, but Emperor Liu was a little angry. The prime minister's mistake was not a good sign, and Xiang Yantuo was furious and couldn't even clean the ground.
Accountability was a matter for later. After receiving this lesson, Yantuo no longer bothered to serve in front of the imperial court. He personally led people to clean all the road steps in front of Chongzheng Hall, not even leaving some water diversions remaining on the beams and pillars. Pass.
Yantuo watched in person, and his requirements were naturally higher. He not only had to sweep, but also wiped and dried until it was shiny enough to shine. Yantuo had reason to be angry. It had been how long since he had been reprimanded by Emperor Liu, and he was actually because of How can I be in a good mood when this trivial matter has led to official criticism due to the negligence of the subordinates?
With a gloomy face, while staring at the servants working, Yantuo secretly felt fierce in his heart, and he must deal with this idiot well. If he can't even clean the floor well, what use can he have?
The sound of armor leaves rubbing and colliding came softly. Yan Tuo turned his head subconsciously at the tip of his ears. He saw a young man wearing bright armor and silver clothing walking slowly, followed by a young man wearing a thick fur robe.
Seeing the two of them, Yan Tuo's expression changed very quickly, his gloom disappeared completely, and he regained his kind look. He stepped forward a few steps and saluted: "I have met your two highnesses!"
"Sir Yan, is dad in the palace?" the young man asked directly.
"Back to Your Highness, the officials are discussing matters with Prime Minister Liu Shu, Han Shangshu, and General Tian!" Yan Tuo responded.
"It's about countering the rebellion in the northwest! I want to hear it too!" After hearing this, the young man's eyes suddenly lit up and he said slightly excitedly. He also urged Yantuo: "Senior Yan, go and report it!"
"Your Highness, wait for a moment, I will go and report to the officials!" Yantuo smiled, turned around and walked towards the palace.
Looking at Yantuo's back, the young man couldn't help but said to the young man who was following him: "We are father's sons. If we want to see him, we have to report him first. There is such a principle in the world!"
The young man and the young man are naturally the two princes of Emperor Liu, thirteenth-year-old Liu Ye and fourteenth-year-old Liu Xin. The two brothers have always been close since they were young, and Liu Xin almost grew up right behind Liu Ye. .
In the Tian family, blood ties are often rare, and Emperor Liu's family is no exception. However, these two brothers may not be so close to the other princes, but they are still brothers and sisters. Liu Xin admires Liu Xin. Ye, Liu Ye always defended Liu Xin, and always thought of him when he had good things.
Hearing Liu Ye's muttering, Liu Xin's green face showed a helpless smile: "Brother Thirteen, in addition to being father's sons, we are also his subjects. We must not break the etiquette, but father has always paid attention to rules! "
"In front of dad, have I ever neglected etiquette or broken any rules?" Liu Ye said, "Don't these rules separate the emperor from his ministers and give those in the middle an opportunity to fish in troubled waters and get their hands on them, if there are some evil spirits?"
Liu Xin became a little anxious as he listened to Liu Ye's words becoming more and more arrogant. She quickly reached out to cover his mouth and warned Liu Ye sternly: "Brother Thirteen, don't talk nonsense like this. If Officer Yan hears it, it will inevitably cause trouble." !”
Liu Ye pulled Liu Xin's hand from his mouth and glanced sharply around, especially at the eunuchs who were immersed in their work. He smiled and said, "You're right, It’s my brother, Meng Lang!”
After saying that, his eyes were full of inquiry and he said to Liu Xin in a playful tone: "My fourteenth brother, at such a young age, your tone of voice now looks more and more like the academic scholar from Wenhua Palace!"
Liu Xin shrugged her shoulders, spread her hands, and sighed in a low voice: "It's not that I want to learn, it's just that there are too many disputes in this palace, and my mother is still the thirteenth brother, free-spirited, open-minded and magnanimous, which I envy and It’s unattainable!”
Liu Xin is only sixteen years old now, and will have her first birthday in a short time. However, she is not very old, but she is a bit old-fashioned. Liu Ye can't help but feel withdrawn.
Liu Xin's mother, Concubine Yelu, was not favored. This was a well-known fact in the palace. As for her complete fall from favor, it probably happened around the time of Kaibao's Northern Expedition. If Concubine Zhou Shu was beautiful and unlucky, then even though Concubine Yelu was still alive, , but life is worse than death, guarding the Qing Palace alone all year round, like being in a prison.
In the past, when Liu Xin was a child, she could still be taken with her and accompany her all the time. But when Liu Xin got older and was separated and arranged to live and study independently, it would be even more sad and lonely.
Today's Concubine Yelu no longer looks forward to Emperor Liu's favor. She only looks forward to Liu Xin's visit every month. Liu Ye naturally understands the situation of the mother and son, and even has some guesses about the reasons why Concubine Yelu fell out of favor. .
Seeing Liu Xin's youthful and mature appearance, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He raised his hand and patted his shoulder, and stopped teasing him about this matter.
In comparison, Liu Ye's mother, Concubine Xiang, was much favored and her life was much easier. How the concubines and princes were treated depended entirely on the emperor's likes and dislikes.
Liu Ye has been good at expressing himself since he was a child. Especially in front of Emperor Liu, he profoundly explained the principle of "children who cry will get milk". Therefore, Emperor Liu still loved this thirteenth son.
As for Liu Xin, no matter what the factors are, he always has a peaceful temperament, whether he is tolerant or weak. When he was young, he was ignorant and could still be free. But as he gets older, he learns and knows how to be polite, and he becomes a person. He became more low-key and restrained, completely indifferent to the world.
This time, if Liu Ye hadn't screamed, Liu Xin wouldn't have even dared to come to see Emperor Liu. In Liu Xin's mind, there were still some memories from his childhood. At that time, Emperor Liu was tall and majestic. Although he was majestic, he had no respect for him. Still very gentle.
At that time, Emperor Liu's embrace was strong and warm, and he dared to touch Emperor Liu's legs. Although Emperor Liu's beard was prickly at that time, he always gave people a friendly feeling.
Of course, as Liu Xin grew older, her childhood memories gradually became blurred, and she even felt that the images remaining in her mind were all hallucinations, just an imagination driven by admiration, and an unrealistic extravagant hope.
Of course, Emperor Liu treated all the princes equally. Therefore, although Liu Xin and her son were questioned and looked down upon, there was no ridiculous story of evil slaves bullying their masters.
If there is, it must be a way to die. The majesty of the Tian family cannot be offended. With Emperor Liu's increasingly strong attribute of protecting calves, he has always been the only one who can punish and deal with concubines and princes. Anyone else who dares to go beyond the limits will definitely be punished.
Desolate, of course, to this day, no one dares to go beyond it. The exception is the ruler of Wenhua and Wuying Hall, but it also has the decree of Emperor Liu attached to it.
"Fourteenth brother, to fight the rebellion in the northwest, are you willing to come with me? Life in the palace is too boring, so we should go out to relax and see the world outside!" Seeing Liu Xin's depression, Liu Ye's heart was touched.
, said involuntarily.
Feeling his brother's love and care, Liu Xin shook his head and said: "Brother Thirteen, fighting is not a child's play, so I won't cause trouble. Besides, it can't affect you. What if dad doesn't agree and won't let you go?"
Liu Ye came here, of course, to suppress the rebellion in the northwest. The armor he was wearing was because he won the first prize during hunting last autumn. Emperor Liu ordered people to select the armor from the arsenal and reward it to Liu Ye.
Hearing what Liu Xin said, Liu Ye immediately said: "If you don't take the initiative to request, how can dad send you if he doesn't understand your intentions? As for me, as long as I ask dad for a fight, he will definitely agree!"
"If you don't agree, I will go secretly," Liu Ye couldn't help but add.
While the two brothers were chatting, Yantuo had already walked out of the palace, with a signature smile on his face, and bowed: "Your Highnesses, the officials have summoned you!"
Liu Ye suddenly felt energetic, and his thoughts came back. He subconsciously arranged his clothes, took off the saber from his waist, handed it to the guards on duty outside the palace, and entered the palace together with Liu Xin, who was a little worried.
Obviously, Liu Ye had some criticisms about various etiquette and rules, but he was extremely proficient in doing it himself and never did anything that went beyond taboos. This is the basic quality of a promising prince.
After all, not everyone likes to be stupid as much as Lao Jiu.