The orange lights are bright and bright, reflecting the two figures standing hugging each other on the window. One is heroic and the other is beautiful, like a fairy.
Chen Xiao stood up, with a slim and soft figure. He gently lifted the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea. A look of doubt appeared on his cold and jade face, and asked: "As you told Shi Ding earlier, when you arrive in the capital,
, can we still send troops to Qinghai?"
Jia Heng thought for a while and said: "Actually, it will be difficult for a big man to fight again, but if we can win this battle, it will be more cost-effective overall."
Chen Xiaoqing's eyes flickered and he said: "That's good. Comparing the two, the civil and military officials of the government and the public will definitely respect you more."
If some things are delayed for a long time, the effect may be weakened, and revenge will not last overnight.
Jia Heng said: "That's not the reason. Now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Gushi Khan, the Khan of Heshuote Mongolia, is currently on an expedition to Tibet."
After a while, Li Shu, the commander of Jia Heng's royal guards, entered the hall and said warmly: "Captain, the hot water is ready."
Jia Heng put down the tea cup, walked closer, and said to Li Shu, "Go down."
After the guards of the Jinyi Palace left the wing, Jia Heng came closer, put his hands around Chen Xiao's waist, and said softly: "Xiaoxiao, we have also taken a bath, let's go to bed early."
He and Xiaoxiao also got married in a church, and they were a serious legal couple.
Chen Xiaoyu's face was so shy that she couldn't hide it. There was a trace of annoyance in her clear eyes. Her voice was as cold and clear as ice melting: "Don't touch me today."
Jia Heng said: "..."
What, relatives are coming?
Jia Heng said in a low voice: "The journey has been non-stop, and we don't have time to be intimate together. We just have time today."
Chen Xiao glanced at Jia Heng, sneered, and a hint of sarcasm appeared on the corner of his brightly curved mouth, and said: "Whoever set the fire, you ask to put it out."
"It's a new fire now. It's up to you to put it out." Jia Heng whispered in the beauty's ear.
After all, unable to hold back Jia Heng's pleas in her ears, the girl cast a glare at the young man with her bright eyes, and followed Jia Heng to the inner room.
The couple took a calm bath in the tub, put on light silk clothes, and returned to the bed, ready to rest.
Chen Xiao turned around, looked at the young man with clear eyes, and said softly: "Let's go back tomorrow. How are we going to get back? Should we take a boat or ride a horse?"
Jia Heng thought for a while and said: "It's better to ride a fast horse over there. I guess Jingzhong must be in a hurry now."
Queen Song's return trip by boat would actually be slower, but it was impossible for him to return to Beijing with Queen Song.
Jia Heng suddenly remembered something, pulled Chen Xiao over and asked, "Xiaoxiao, you said she didn't recognize you just now, right?"
"She only had you in her eyes just now, how could she recognize me?" Chen Xiao's cold jade face had a rose-like blush rising slightly. She quickly pressed down the hand that was picking at the grass and snorted softly,
Said sarcastically.
Jia Heng said: "You are talking nonsense again."
However, Empress Song had indeed focused her attention on him just now, her eyes fixed on him, but more importantly, she wanted to force him to make concessions.
…
…
Inside the palace, among the luxuriously decorated and solemn palaces, the crane-shaped palace lanterns and candlelight were bright and brilliant, making the jeweled palace shine brightly.
Empress Song was lying on a bed with vermilion curtains that reached to the floor. Her peach-cheeked and willow-browed face looked charming in the light of the lamp. Under the willow-leaf slender eyebrows, her pair of beautiful eyes that were as clear as water were fixedly looking at the direction.
The candles on the desks were quietly lost in thought.
The little fox never said anything about supporting Ran'er for Dong Gong, but the conversation just now was not useless, at least it let the young man know her thoughts.
Next time, he won't dare to give her the wrong look.
"Your Majesty, it's night." The female official came forward, holding a basin of steaming warm water, and whispered to Empress Song.
Empress Song also felt sleepy at this moment. She stretched out her delicate hands to cover her mouth, yawned and said softly: "Well, let's rest."
After the palace maid helped the beauty wash her feet, Queen Song lay quietly on the bed. For a while, her thoughts inevitably started to wander again.
Your Majesty is so calm. After vomiting blood and fainting this time, what if the dragon's body is damaged and the country is not established? What will happen to the ancestral foundation of the ancestors?
What's wrong with letting Ran'er become the East Palace?
After so many years of husband and wife relationship, she and her sister gave birth to three sons and one daughter for His Majesty. How could he treat the Song family so poorly?
The beauty felt a sense of resentment in her heart, and then she thought about the young man.
After the great defeat in the northwest, His Majesty will definitely think more highly of Zi Yu, and if Zi Yu says that Ran'er is a wise man born from heaven, I think His Majesty will consider it carefully.
Well, something is wrong?
No, His Majesty vomited blood and fainted, how could she think about these messy things? She should pray for His Majesty...
With this thought, the beauty's snow-skinned face turned red and white, and I felt a great sense of shame welling up deep in my heart.
She just asked Zi Yu if she seemed... a bad woman who was too cold and cold?
The beauty lowered her eyes slightly, but her heart was in a mess.
No, that little fox is not a good bird either. How could he stare at her with that look? When she didn't know that it was a man's burning desire?
The beauty frowned, wondering if a plan suddenly came up deep in her heart when her mind was in turmoil.
If we catch the little fox's lustful nature, can we threaten him and make him help Ran'er?
With such random thoughts, the beauty suddenly felt tired, her beautiful eyes closed slightly, and she gradually fell asleep.
The next day, the sky was bright and the eastern morning rays shone in the courtyard. Jia Heng looked at the girl lying next to him. Chen Xiao in his sleep had a quiet and cold temperament. His face was white and slightly red, and his eyes were quiet and beautiful.
The touching charm remains after yesterday's fun.
Jia Heng stood up gently, pushed aside the lotus-rooted arms and slender straight arms that were wrapped around him, and heard a "嘤咛" in his ears.
Chen Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of embarrassment appeared on his bright jade cheeks, and said, "What time is it?"
Jia Heng said softly: "It's midnight, get up quickly, let's go together."
Chen Xiao responded softly. He just stood up and felt the discomfort in his body. He glanced at Jia Heng angrily and said, "You really don't want to go with that queen?"
Jia Heng was silent for a moment and said: "Go back early. The palace is probably anxious now."
With that said, he got up and put on his shoes and socks.
Behind him, Chen Xiao also rolled up his clothes rustlingly. He turned to look at the washed sheets behind him, secretly spat and rolled them up.
Jia Heng said in surprise: "What are you doing with that?"
Chen Xiao said shyly and angrily: "I want you to take care of it."
This guy is really a bastard, he has a way of being a jerk.
Jia Heng glanced at the sheets, and there was something strange on his face.
Well, I did Xiaoxiao once last night.
I don’t know if it has awakened my childhood memories that were sleeping in the shallow layers. Xiaoxiao also fell endlessly under the trees, and the incontinent Yangtze River rolled in.
Jia Heng calmed down, went out of the inner compartment, called Jinyi Mansion guard Li Shu to prepare a basin of warm water, and began to wash up.
"Commander, the Queen has sent the eunuch to call you over for breakfast." Li Shu said in a low voice.
Compared to Jia Heng, Empress Song got up earlier in the morning. She ordered people to prepare the boat early in the morning and planned to board the boat to Shenjing after having breakfast.
Jia Heng's expression paused, he composed himself, and said, "Just say that I have already set off on a fast horse."
Empress Song invited him to have breakfast together? It sounded unusual, so she'd better avoid it.
Well, becoming an eagle is not something that happens overnight.
…
…
Shenjing City, Palace Garden, Funing Palace
The sky above was almost completely gray, and raindrops fell on the glazed tiles and jade steps of the palace. Emperor Chongping sat on a Taishi chair, looking at the thick rain curtain outside the palace in trance.
The middle-aged emperor's complexion looked better after these days of recuperation, but his sunken cheeks and depressed eyes seemed to indicate a severe deficiency of energy and blood.
"Dai Quan, where is Duke Wei?" Emperor Chongping asked suddenly.
Dai Quan leaned forward and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, according to the time, the Duke of Wei should also be here. I will send the palace servants to investigate outside the city again?"
"Go." Emperor Chongping looked at the sky in a daze, and couldn't help but sigh.
If Ziyu doesn't come back, the weather for this big man will never be clear again.
Concubine Duanrong was wearing a blue dress. She walked closer and looked at the slumped-looking middle-aged emperor. She took a bowl of gruel and said: "Your Majesty, this is a medicinal porridge prescribed by the Taiyuan Hospital to replenish qi and blood. Your Majesty takes it."
Bar."
Emperor Chongping sighed, took the bowl of porridge, and said: "In the past few days, I have listened to the Queen Mother's instructions and have not gone to the inner study."
In order to prevent Emperor Chongping from going to the inner study to work diligently, Empress Dowager Feng simply issued an edict to Emperor Chongping's palace servants and Concubine Duanrong. Anyone who allowed Emperor Chongping to go to the inner study again would be severely punished by her.
Concubine Duanrong said: "Your Majesty, state affairs are not a matter of a day or two, and cannot be rushed."
Emperor Chongping said: "Yes, but the memorials from Qinghai for help should be arriving like snowflakes in the past few days."
It is true that his body is not suitable for sleeping and eating anymore, but he cannot ignore it.
Concubine Duanrong said: "Your Majesty, Ziyu will be back in the next two days. With him here, these are nothing. When has he ever disappointed your Majesty?"
In the past few days, Concubine Rong had said similar words countless times to comfort Emperor Chongping.
Emperor Chongping sighed and said: "It's different this time. I, the Han Dynasty, have been defeated twice in a row. Although I haven't read the memorial, I know that the court must be full of rebellion in the past few days, and the voices of peace talks are everywhere.
Already."
After suffering two consecutive defeats, one small and one big, the officials of the Han Dynasty had long been afraid of the war in the northwest.
"Now we are waiting for Ziyu to come back. I want to hear his opinion." Emperor Chongping paused slightly and said softly: "If the northwest is defeated, will Jiangnan's new policy be affected?"
The more I think about it now, the more I realize that I was being smart in the first place. Why did I send Ziyu to the south of the Yangtze River and Nan'an to the northwest? The future of the New Deal that was originally implemented based on the victory of Ping'an Prefecture has once again become bleak.
Concubine Duanrong's clear eyes were full of worry, she pursed her pink lips and said softly: "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry too much."
Emperor Chongping whispered: "The national situation is difficult, how can I not worry?"
At this moment, Dai Quan ran from outside the palace with a happy face and reported: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Duke Wei has returned to the capital."
"What?" Emperor Chongping put down the porridge bowl in his hand and said in shock.
Dai Quan responded softly, with a hint of surprise on his face.
At this moment, in the sacred capital city, on the spacious official road, hundreds of horsemen wearing bamboo hats and raincoats were going back and forth with their whips raised and their horses galloping.
The muddy water half a man's height rose up on the official road, splashing towards the dark green grass on both sides.
Jia Heng and Chen Xiao entered the majestic Shenjing City. There were few pedestrians on the streets at this moment, and the waves of rain washed the bluestones spotlessly.
"Da da……"
The sound of horse hoofbeats caused some diners in the wine shop to look around in surprise.
And with the news coming from the captain of the city gate, the entire Shenjing City was in a state of commotion.
Duke Wei has returned to Beijing!
"Where should we go now?" Chen Xiao tightened the reins of the horse, controlled the speed, and asked the young man beside him, saying softly.
Jia Heng looked calm and said: "You lead people to Jinyi Mansion, and I will enter the palace through Anshun Gate."
At this time, Emperor Chongping was probably impatient to wait.
At this moment, as time passed, news of Jia Heng's return to Beijing quickly spread in the capital.
The civil and military ministers of the Han court could not help but feel happy that Duke Wei had finally returned.
No matter how many prejudices there are, the current situation in the northwest cannot be left to the decision of Duke Wei.
Palace Garden, Funing Palace
Jia Heng entered the palace from Anshun Gate, and under the guidance of the inner prisoner, walked to the harem on a corridor high on the vermilion palace wall. At this moment, the python suit under the bamboo hat and raincoat was gradually soaked by the rain.
Walk a few steps quickly, enter the hall, and stand under the eaves.
At this time, Concubine Duanrong was already greeted by several female officials. With the eyes of a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, she said: "Ziyu, you are back."
Jia Heng just put down his bamboo hat, untied his raincoat and said, "I've seen Concubine Rong."
Concubine Duanrong's cold eyes softened a bit, and she said: "Ziyu, it's been a hard journey."
After saying that, he took the handkerchief, handed it over, and said: "Wipe the rain off this face. The road is full of dust."
"Mother, I'm fine." Jia Heng did not take the veil, but asked: "Where is the Holy One?"
"I'm still in the palace now." Concubine Duanrong said softly.
Jia Heng put on a facelift and regained his composure, and walked quickly towards the palace.
"I have met my father. Long live my father. Long live my father." Jia Heng bowed his hands and greeted the middle-aged emperor on the soft couch covered with mattresses.
At this moment, Emperor Chongping looked with burning eyes at the young man who had come all the way in the rain, with an excited expression on his face and a dreamy murmur in his voice, and said: "Ziyu, you are here."
Jia Heng's heart skipped a beat, he walked a few steps quickly, approached, and said, "Father, I already know about the imperial court's presence in the northwest."
Emperor Chongping sighed and said in a clear voice: "One hundred thousand troops were completely wiped out, and 60,000 soldiers from the capital camp were all injured. My great man was so exhausted."
Jia Heng looked at him and said: "Father, the country's affairs are difficult, and my father's dragon body is important."
There was no way I could show any complacency at this moment.
Emperor Chongping stared at the young man with burning eyes and said: "Now the court is either war or peace, Ziyu, what do you stand for?"
At this time, Concubine Duanrong also came from not far away. With a hint of lightness in her beautiful face, she said: "Ziyu, tell your Majesty what you think."
Jia Heng did not answer hastily, but looked at the middle-aged emperor with burning eyes and asked: "Father, do you still want to fight?"
Emperor Chongping said: "I...I, the current national situation is difficult, the Beijing camp was defeated in the northwest, how can we fight again?"
If possible, he would naturally want to win and defeat Qinghai and Mongolia in one fell swoop, but is there still a chance now?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but cast his eyes on the young man and said: "If Father wants to fight, then we can fight again."
Emperor Chongping: "..."
After a moment of silence, he said: "The Lord must not raise an army out of anger. Now the court cannot bear the trouble."
Jia Heng said loudly: "The northwest frontier army was defeated first, and the army in the Beijing camp was defeated later. It is true that our Han Dynasty has lost two battles, but the Beijing camp still has the strength to fight."
Emperor Chongping's heart was pounding, he stared at the young man, his voice became hoarse, and he said: "Ziyu, what are your chances of winning?"
"The military situation is dangerous and it is related to military and national affairs. No one dares to say that it is 100% sure." Jia Heng said with a silent expression: "My son, this is a worry."
"Worried?" Emperor Chongping frowned and asked in a solemn voice.
Jia Heng said: "The Jurchens sent a prince to Qinghai Mongolia this time, and they secretly communicated with Heshuote Mongolia, and even tried to lure troops to ruin our army in the west. After this incident, the relationship between the two countries is bound to become more intense."
"Keep in mind, the Jurchens have just been defeated, and it is impossible to raise any more troops to invade. Once we, the Han people, have finished recuperating, we will face a two-sided attack from the northwest and Liaodong, and the situation will be even more difficult at that time."
Emperor Chongping was silent for a moment and said in deep thought: "What Zi Yu said is true. The Jurchens are trying to cause trouble in the northwest this time to attract the attention of my big man."
Concubine Duanrong gradually breathed a sigh of relief as she listened to the conversation between the two.
Ziyu indeed had a solution.
Emperor Chongping couldn't help but ask again: "Is there any chance of winning this battle? The Beijing camp... really can't stand the tossing. That Hongyi cannon..."
In the past few days, he asked Dai Quan to send people to inquire secretly. Some people in the capital said that Nan'an's defeat was because he did not carry the red barbarian cannon. However, the red barbarian cannon was inconvenient to carry and it was difficult to penetrate deep into the enemy's territory.
In fact, this statement was made by Concubine Nan'an after she was reprimanded by Empress Dowager Feng, and she discussed with Liu Fang's mother, Sun Shi, and others to avoid the important and ignore the important, in order to clear Nan'an's suspicion.