The back half of the main hall is divided into several small palaces, each of which is magnificently decorated. A silver chandelier from the West hangs in the middle, and skilled craftsmen from the East have inlaid it with luminous pearls and gems. Under the candlelight
Under the illumination of the chandelier, the gems on the chandelier are dazzling and magnificent.
Every corner around the palace is placed with exquisite porcelain, vases, or containers. Each porcelain is as ice-like as jade, and its jade-like crystal smoothness flows under the light. The palace is paved with thick bos
Carpet, with two ivory couches in the middle, covered with brocade cushions.
At this time, under the radiance of bright gems, Empress Xiao of the Sui Empire was pacing back and forth with her hands behind her back. Her hair was combed into a half-moon bun, with gems dotted between her black hair and a long jasper hairpin in her bun. Her face was slender and pretty.
, apply a light layer of powder.
She wore a very well-fitting yellow brocade dress, with a picture of birds approaching the phoenix embroidered with gold thread on the dress. Although she was in her mid-thirties and had given birth to three children, she maintained her figure very well.
Slender and tall, with undulating curves, she looks graceful and graceful, and her whole body is filled with the unique charm of a mature woman.
Empress Xiao and Emperor Yang Guang had already arrived for half an hour. Because Yang Guang was tired, he went to the palace next door to take a nap, while Empress Xiao came to the palace and paced back and forth, thinking about something on her mind.
About a month ago, Yang Yuanqing saved the life of Emperor Yang Guang in Renshou Palace. Empress Xiao had always been very grateful to him. When Yang Yuanqing did not receive the reward, Empress Xiao continued to criticize Yang Guang and complained about her husband.
Not repaying a favor, it was Empress Xiao who kept mentioning this matter that finally prompted Yang Guang to decide to follow his father's example and give Yang Yuanqing a sword.
But for a woman, her husband is not the most important thing. The most important thing in her heart is her children. Empress Xiao gave birth to two sons and one daughter. Among them, she loved her second son Yang Lai the most. Not only was Yang Lai smart and cute since he was a child, he also grew up.
He is handsome and handsome, and more importantly, Yang* looks exactly like her father.
Everyone said that Yang Lai looked like his father, but Empress Xiao knew that her second son actually looked exactly like her father, Xiao Kui, the Xiliang Xiaoming Emperor.
Although Empress Xiao had a difficult life when she was young, she was a Chinese princess after all, and she had a special feeling for her motherland. However, she also knew that her motherland was like the moon in the water and could not be returned, so she expressed her longing for her motherland.
He placed his trust in his son and doted on his second son.
Yang Lai was like a wild horse running wild, becoming more and more unruly, and eventually became the culprit in the capital. But even so, Empress Xiao still loved him very much. Instead of reprimanding him for the evil deeds he committed, Yang Lai covered up and suppressed him.
, no one was allowed to mention these things to the Holy One. It was his mother's connivance and support that made Yang* even more unscrupulous and dared to break into houses and rob people in broad daylight.
It can be said that Empress Xiao was Yang Lai's backstage supporter. After Yang Lai cried to her mother, Empress Xiao's impression of Yang Yuanqing changed. It was no longer a feeling of affection, but a kind of disgust and hatred.
At this time, Yang* was kneeling at his mother's feet, tears streaming out of the corners of his eyes and rolling on the carpet. He had been crying since he was a child and knew very well how to deal with his mother.
"Mother, Yang Yuanqing took his father's sword and preached everywhere, saying that his father rewarded him because he had saved the emperor in Renshou Palace. The child felt that his words were inappropriate, so he scolded him for being arrogant in public, and he became angry with shame.
He actually used this sword to force the child to kneel down. Because it is his father's sword, the child has to kneel down. The child has suffered great shame and humiliation. Please ask your mother to make the decision for the child."
Empress Xiao glanced at her son, and her son's tears made her extremely distressed. At the same time, she also felt a kind of hatred that iron cannot become steel.
"He is just a viscount and a small general. You are a prince and the son of the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty. How can you still not deal with him? You still have to ask for help from my mother. You are really worthless and make my mother feel ashamed.
"
"But mother, that is my father's Emperor's Sword!" Yang* cried. "My child dare not! The child collided with his father's sword. If the censor saw it, he would be accused of defying his father and replacing his elder brother.
The ambition of the mother will bring troubles to the mother. The mother is feared by people. It is precisely because she is a prince that the child lives a more miserable life than others. Sometimes, the child also hates... "What do you hate?" Empress Xiao
Huo Di turned her head and looked at her son. She felt the sadness in his voice.
Yang*'s big tears rolled down on the carpet, and his voice trembled frequently, "I hate it too...I hate that I was born in an emperor's family." "My son!"
Tears welled up in Empress Xiao's eyes. She thought of the pain she had suffered when she was young. She could no longer restrain her inner sadness, and she hugged her son and cried.
Empress Xiao never expected that while her son was crying like rain, there would be a trace of imperceptible pride on his lips. Yang Lai knew very well that he had succeeded again.
Yang* quickly glanced at the eunuch next to him from the corner of his eye. The two exchanged glances and understood each other.
Yang * wiped away his tears and helped his mother up. He pressed his chest and said, "Mom, my heart hurts a little. I want to take a rest."
Empress Xiao also knew that her son had this problem. Every time he cried, her heart hurt. Sometimes she suspected that her son was faking it, but after all, it was her heartache, so she convinced herself to believe it.
"Then you go to the side hall and take a rest."
She immediately ordered the maids on the left and right to help the highness go to rest. Several maids stepped forward and helped Yang Lai to the side hall. Empress Xiao's face was as dark as water, and she asked coldly: "Why doesn't Yang Yuanqing still?"
Come?"
"Reporting to the Queen, I have already gone to announce it. There are probably too many people, so I need to look for it."
"Send someone to hurry up again!"
"yes!"
A young eunuch rushed out. At this time, Zhao Jinxian, the confidant of the queen, came forward and said: "My queen, do you want to touch up your makeup?" Zhao Jinxian is in his fifties this year. He turned out to be an eunuch of the Xiliang Dynasty and has been serving as a minister.
He was the father of Empress Xiao. After Xiliang destroyed the country, he came to seek refuge with Empress Xiao, who was still the Princess of Jin at that time, and began to serve her. He was loyal to her for more than ten years and was Empress Xiao's most trusted person.
Just as Empress Xiao had to choose between her two sons, Zhao Jinxian also needed to choose between his two young masters. When he received a heavy bribe of one thousand taels of gold and five hundred hectares of fertile land from King Qi, he turned to Yang
*, often said good things about Yang Lai in front of Empress Xiao, but if Yang Zhao did anything inappropriate, he would immediately report it and exaggerate Yang Zhao's shortcomings.
Over time, under the influence of Hua, Empress Xiao also began to dislike her eldest son, and then doted on her second son even more.
Empress Xiao waved her hand, "Wait a moment! I'll touch up my makeup after meeting Yang Yuanqing."
"Madam, I dare to say that Yang Yuanqing must be with the King of Jin."
Empress Xiao nodded, "I think so. Zhaoer values this Yang Yuanqing very much."
"Your Majesty, I have something in my heart that I have always wanted to say, but I can never find a suitable opportunity."
"You just have to say it. In front of me, you can always say, what opportunity are you looking for?" Empress Xiao glanced at him, her tone a little dissatisfied.
Zhao Jinxian sighed and said: "The old slave watched the two little princes grow up. The old slave still clearly remembers the intimate scene of the two of them reading and writing together. The deep brotherhood left a deep impression on the old slave."
"Yes! I also remember that one time Laier fell down and his nose bleeds. Zhaoer picked him up, wiped his nosebleed with his sleeves, and persuaded him not to cry. But why have they become so indifferent now?
Is it just because I was born into an emperor’s family?”
Empress Xiao sighed, feeling very sad. The bad relationship between her two sons had always been a problem for her.
"My dear, blood is thicker than water, and brotherhood is deep. This is nature. The old slave feels that the discord between the two brothers is largely instigated by their subordinates, especially Yang Yuanqing. The old slave also heard from the eunuchs in the Jin Palace that he fought against
Thinking that he is the grandson of Yang Su, he often advises the King of Jin, how to seize the throne of the East Palace, and how to deal with the King of Qi?"
As expected of Empress Xiao's confidant, Zhao Jinxian knew Empress Xiao's thoughts very well. These few words were more effective than King Qi's cry. Every mother hopes that her children can be harmonious, friendly and supportive of each other.
Empress Xiao only has two sons. Of course she hopes that the eldest brother will love the younger brother and the younger brother will respect the elder brother. This is a mother's greatest wish. Although she also knows that there is a struggle for the throne between the brothers, this is her wish.
The two sons have a brotherly love, especially since she witnessed the fratricide between her husband and several brothers. She hopes that her children will not follow in the footsteps of their elders.
Zhao Jinxian's words made her face turn cold, her eyes burned with anger, and she could hardly restrain the extreme dissatisfaction with Yang Yuanqing in her heart. If Yang Lai's crying made Empress Xiao start to hate Yang Yuanqing, then the eunuch's words made her start to hate Yang Yuanqing.
Yang Yuanqing.
This is also a common problem for most women. No matter how smart or generous and gentle they are, once their children are involved, a woman's smartness will be obscured by family affection, and her generosity and gentleness will disappear.
But Empress Xiao is a queen after all. Different from ordinary women, she has her own way of doing things. She has to ask about everything herself. She will not believe it just because of Zhao Jinxian's few words. Besides, Yang Yuanqing went to the frontier to join the army for five years.
Years ago, he only came back in the past few months. If it was to provoke a relationship between their brothers, then there should be someone else there.
Moreover, Yang Yuanqing had saved her husband after all. It was this that kept Empress Xiao from losing her mind. She knew that Yang Su was her husband's most important minister and should not draw random conclusions.
Empress Xiao glanced at Zhao Jinxian and said calmly: "I know about this matter. Don't say any more, especially in front of the Holy Master. Do you remember?"
"Old slave, I remember."
At this time, a eunuch came in and reported, "Madam, General Yang is here. Wait outside."
"Where to find him?"
"I'm reporting back to you, I'm at His Highness the King of Jin." As expected, it was at the King of Jin's place. Empress Xiao's fists clenched. Zhao Jinxian was secretly proud. He didn't necessarily want to prove how Yang Yuanqing instigated the relationship between the King of Jin and the King of Qi. He had no evidence.
.
In fact, he only needs to cast a shadow in the Queen's heart. With the existence of this shadow, the conversation between the Queen and Yang Yuanqing will not go smoothly, and they will inevitably fall out. From this point of view, his plan...
After success, Empress Xiao already had a bad impression of Yang Yuanqing. He slowly stepped aside, and the rest had nothing to do with him.
Empress Xiao restrained her anger and ordered: "Shut him down!"
"The Queen has a decree to announce that Yang Yuanqing will be seen in the steamer!"!.