That palm was about to hit Li Yu's face. Xiao Zhouhou stopped her hand abruptly and said sadly: "You... your heart can only think of these things."
Li Yu said calmly: "I...how can you blame me for having such an idea? If it weren't for this reason, why would Yang Hao be willing to take extraordinary risks to save you and me? I think that Zhao Guan's family did such a despicable thing regardless of their dignity, Yang Hao...
…How much better could it be?”
Xiao Zhouhou slowly shook his head and said firmly: "I don't know, since I was fifteen years old, I entered the palace, and the only things I came into contact with all day long were needlework women, poems, songs and dances, and important court affairs. I am not a female prostitute.
It is beyond the comprehension of this generation. Why Yang Hao saved us may not be out of righteous indignation, but it is definitely not as unbearable as you think."
Li Yu said jealously: "How did you know?"
Xiao Zhouhou said: "Because there are countless beautiful women in the world, and you have seen the looks of several wives and concubines around Yang Hao. Even if Yang Hao is greedy for women, he is not a person who is obsessed with sex and has no regard for the consequences. Because,
These days I often go to Qianjin Yixiao Tower to meet his people. If he is malicious to me, he can have me kidnapped. Why go to all this trouble? Because the loss of a Zhou Nuying in Bianliang City is not a big deal.
It's an earth-shattering event, but the loss of a Longxi County Duke will shock the government and the public so much that even an idiot can understand it. Why does he insist on bringing you and Zhong Yu with him? He can just bring our whole family, and he
Why do we need to bring Xu Xuan, Xiao Yan, and as many people as possible who are loyal to the Tang Dynasty? Can such a thing be done by a person who is greedy for women? "
Li Yu frowned slightly. Although he ignored political affairs and indulged in poetry and entertainment all day long, after all, he had been the king of a country and had handled many national affairs. Moreover, Lin Huzi was an unparalleled loyal minister, because
He fell into the trap of such a simple strategy as a portrait and was killed. This person can be said to be extremely suspicious.
Just now, he was just jealous, and all he could think about was that he was going to be a cuckold again. After being accused by Xiao Zhou, he remembered that many of the doubtful points were indeed worthy of scrutiny. He pondered for a long time, and his eyes gradually started to shine.
He came and said in surprise: "Yang Hao has a counter-intention!"
"What did you say?"
"That must be it!"
The more Li Yu thought about it, the more he was right, and he said with certainty: "Yang Hao was appointed as the governor of Hengshan, and he was sitting in a state in the northwest, crisscrossing the vassals. The officials were beyond the reach of Li Guangrui, Yang Chongxun, and Zhe Yuxun.
His name is Song Chen, but he is actually a prince along the way. How could Yang Hao not think of it and follow suit? Even if he has no intention of seizing the Central Plains, he must have the ambition to separate the Western Regions. He wanted to save me and let me leave with him.
As a minister who is loyal to the Tang Dynasty, could it be that...could he want to help me restore the throne and revitalize the Tang Dynasty?"
The more Li Yu thought about it, the more excited he became: "Now there are people in Shu who have gathered 100,000 troops to raise flags to rebel, and the court's encirclement and suppression is very laborious. At this time, if I can call on the old troops to make a comeback, then Shu will be in chaos, and Jiangnan will also be in chaos. Yang
Hao can be relaxed and show off his talents in the northwest, he wants to use me, he wants to save our family and leave because of me..."
Xiao Zhouhou stammered: "Yang...Yang Hao...has such a big ambition?"
Li Yu was overjoyed and said: "It must be like this, it must be like this? He wants to use me, why can't I use him. Hey, once I leave this prison, maybe I really have a chance to regain the Tang Kingdom and become the emperor again."
At this point, he began to worry about gain and loss again. He looked at Xiaohou Zhou nervously and said: "Nvying, you said... he... is he really sure to send us away from Bianliang City? He is far away in the northwest now, and he has soldiers.
Earth, once the matter is revealed, the worst possible outcome is to publicly fall out with the officials, but if the matter is exposed, we will die without a burial place."
Xiao Zhou Hou said bitterly: "Then we will stay in Bianliang honestly? Are you willing to let me suffer the humiliation of Zhao Guangyi?"
"Of course I won't!" When Li Yu thought that he had the opportunity to be the emperor again, Li Yu's legs swayed with excitement. The emperor's dignity also recovered a little, and he immediately said without hesitation, but then he became worried: "But... you said that I
Is there still a chance? There are not many old officials left who are willing to follow me. Jiangnan has been occupied by the Song army. I...I..."
When he said this, he suddenly burst into tears and choked up: "I only hate that I didn't distinguish between loyal and traitorous people at the time, and favored Zhang Ji, Huangfu Jixun and others, and accidentally killed Lin Renzhao, Pan You, Li Ping and other loyal and virtuous ministers. If it had been the case back then.
When the soldiers of the Song Dynasty came to the city, I listened to Chen Qiao's advice and defended Jinling City with 60,000 elite soldiers. I could use twenty years of food reserves to wait for King Qin's troops. The people who were loyal to the king responded in droves. How could we end up like this? Now I think about it again.
Recruiting the old team, I’m afraid the road ahead will be full of obstacles and it will be difficult to succeed..."
Li Yu burst into tears, and the more he thought about it, the sadder he became. However, Xiao Hou opened her eyes in surprise. Li Yu's sentimental and moody personality, which was different from ordinary people, was also beautified in her heart when it was covered with a layer of imperial gauze.
I just feel that this is an emperor who is different from all the emperors in the past and present. He is a man of temperament. Now it seems that it is infuriating. He is timid and timid. How can he have any heroic spirit? A great opportunity is right in front of him.
I'm actually thinking..., it's really different from ordinary people.
The veins on Xiao Zhouhou's forehead jumped a few times, and he gritted his teeth and said, "I just ask you, are you leaving or not?"
Li Yu hesitated for a long time, stamped his foot hard, and said fiercely: "Now life is worse than death, what fun is there? Just risk it and leave."
Xiao Zhou Hou said happily: "Okay, then you listen to my plan, let's do this, in the name of inviting Xu Xuan, Xiao Yan and his family to have a banquet at the house, and other old ministers can also be invited, but... if there are any
If you are unreliable in the slightest, you must not call them, lest you spoil the big thing!"
Empress Song has now moved out of the queen's residence and lives in a side hall in the palace. This side hall is rarely occupied by people and is not repaired in time. The conditions inside are naturally much worse. Before she moved here,
Simple renovations have been done here, but now the palace still smells like paint, mixed with damp mold, which is very unpleasant.
Empress Song was lying on the couch, with a pale face and dull eyes. Zhao Dezhao, Zhao Defang, and Princess Yongqing were surrounding her on the couch. Now there were fewer servants around her, and the palace servants had nothing to do with such a queen.
There was nothing to be said for her. Although everyone knew that Gu Ruoli was ordered by the chamberlain to spy on her, she was unwilling to do so, so she was chased away by Yong Qing and went down to rest. Only then could the mother and son get along alone.
Say a few words of sincerity.
Zhao Dezhao said with red eyes: "Second uncle has become suspicious of us. Now I seem to be free, but in fact I have been under house arrest. No matter where I go, there are people from my second uncle following me. With the empress, sisters Defang and Yongqing are more and more interested in each other.
It's hard to have the chance to meet you. If my wife hadn't been seriously ill, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you."
Zhao Defang said bitterly: "Not only brother, but even a kid like me is looked down upon by the palace attendants. I can't go outside the palace. I stay in my courtyard all day long. When you look up, you can only see that corner of the sky, which is undoubtedly the prisoner."
Empress Song smiled bitterly and said: "Now I am looking forward to getting sick. Only if I get sick, the officials will have no excuse to prevent my mother and son from seeing each other."
She took Zhao Defang's hand and said with red eyes: "It's nothing to me to be in the confinement palace. I'm a woman, where else can I go, but you are so young, what should you do? Defang, I see. Now that you are all fine and alive, I feel more at ease. You cannot stay here for a long time. The official is obviously suspicious of us. If he has ill intentions towards us and a strange disaster is imminent, I will not regret my death. , but if there is something wrong with you, I...I am so helpless, how can I meet your father?"
At this point, she was already in tears, and Yongqing said angrily: "What's the use of talking about this? It's just you, he can't even see me. Now I can't see or hear anything. What's the difference between being like this and already dead?"
She glanced at Zhao Dezhao and said: "I expected my eldest brother to return to the capital and punish the rebels, but as Yang Hao expected, my eldest brother couldn't command those arrogant and powerful generals at all. Now our only hope is Yang Hao." , he has gone to the Western Regions and holds military power in his hands. Hengshan Jiedushi was given to him by us, so he should reciprocate the favor."
Empress Song said: "But... we don't know what is going on with him in the northwest now. He is being watched by a bunch of hawks and dogs all day long. Not only can we not get any news about him, but we can't communicate with him at all." What can you do if you’re stuck here?”
Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang looked at each other sadly: Now that the world is in Zhao Guangyi's hands, and he, the emperor, is secure, what power do they, orphans and widowers, have to change the situation?
After being silent for a long time, Princess Yongqing suddenly jumped up, her eyes shining: "I have a solution."
Empress Song, Zhao Dezhao and others said in unison: "What can we do?"
"Monk!"
"What?" Several people were shocked.
Princess Yongqing said: "There were precedents for many princesses to become monks in the previous dynasty, and many of them wanted to avoid the disaster of internal strife in the royal family. If they could do it, so can I. Now I am watched very closely, like a prisoner. It is difficult to move even a single step, but if I were to become a nun, following the old rules of the previous dynasty, I would have to leave the palace and live in a temple.
No matter how great he is, he can't make many eyes and ears keep an eye on me all day long. You have also seen that although those inner palace servants are now responsible for monitoring us, in such a miserable life, none of them are willing to do so. , so I can be lazy if I can. If I become a monk, my life will be even harder. Although it is inevitable that I will still have eyes and ears to watch me secretly, their actions in the temple will eventually be restricted, and my situation will definitely be worse than now. It's much more relaxed, and besides... there are many believers and pilgrims coming and going all the time, so as long as you look carefully, you're afraid you won't be able to find a way to communicate with the outside world?"
Empress Song was shocked and said: "Absolutely not. The officials are planning to marry you off to the third son of Xianggong Wei. If you marry someone and become their daughter-in-law, you may not be able to regain your freedom. This is That’s what’s happening right now, can’t we wait any longer? But if you become a monk, wouldn’t you have to have the Green Lantern Buddha and the scriptures with you for the rest of your life?”
Yongqing sneered and said: "Grandma found me a good husband! I heard that Xianggong Wei's precious son, the third son of the prime minister's family, is a rare stingy person in ancient and modern times. He is famous for his stingy ways of cherishing money. .Xiangong Wei passed away six years ago, and all the properties and fields he left behind were occupied by him on the basis of his status as the future prince-in-law, and he did not give any to his brothers and nephews.
After taking possession of the inheritance, he could only get in and out, and refused to provide for the livelihood of the clan members. His family was still in a lawsuit against him. Everyone in the neighborhood despised him as a person. I would not be willing to marry such a thing. It’s just that This marriage was arranged by grandma herself. My father was filial and refused to go against grandma's last wish. He always told me that even if he was not good to people in the world, he would not treat me badly and would not agree to break up the marriage.
At that time, I had no choice but to become a monk with such regrets. But now it is different. My whole family is in danger, so what does my future in Yongqing mean? I am killing two birds with one stone by becoming a monk. Otherwise, I heard that Mr. Wei’s family The rules are stricter than those of the royal family. If I really want to marry, I will just marry a husband I am not ashamed of. How can I have the chance to communicate with outsiders in such a family?"
Empress Song and Zhao Dezhao looked at each other in silence. Zhao Defang was still young and didn't know much about becoming a monk. He didn't understand what it meant. Once he heard that his future brother-in-law was so disgusting, it was because he could get outside information and interacted with Yang. Hao, the only means of communication, immediately clapped his hands and said happily: "I agree, sister is so smart, let's just do it."
In the Northern Song Dynasty, there were many princesses who became monks. Among Zhao Yiyi's six daughters, two became nuns and one became a layman. However, history has obviously changed, and Princess Yongqing was not born yet. The eldest daughter of Zhao Jiong, Princess Bingguo, became the first bhikshuni among the princesses of the Song Dynasty.