"Hibiscus Tent" 97

On a sudden stormy night, the country of Li changed hands.

The Li family forced the palace to commit regicide. Li Guogong led his army to surround the palace. His Highness the Second Highness led the troops to rescue him. Although it was a step too late, fortunately, the Li family's party was wiped out and the palace was saved from fire and water.

On November 27, when the death knell rang, Kunning Palace let out a mournful wail. Seeing the lifeless woman leaning on the imperial concubine's bed, Xiangyue knelt down and cried: "Empress, empress!"

The Li family's attempt to force the palace to rebel was a certainty. As the son of Empress Li, Zhao Huaimin was closely involved. Almost at the same time that the death knell rang, the prince's palace was surrounded by Xu Chiyan's people.

Xu Chiyan bowed his hands and said: "Your Highness, Fourth Highness, I have been ordered to escort Your Highness to the clan mansion."

Zhao Huaimin stared at him deeply and walked out of the house without saying a word.

When the late emperor passed away, the funeral ceremony followed one after another. There was no heir in the palace, so the funeral was mostly handled by the virtuous concubine, the mother of the fifth prince.

On the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month, the Concubine Xian ordered a funeral ceremony. All the officials were dressed in white singlets, with no white hats. 1

The city gates and palace gates were closed. Among the nearby ministers, Huangmen held troops, Hu Ben, Yu Lin, and Lang Zhongshu were all closely guarding the palace. Police from all palaces and five schools of the Northern Army surrounded the palace to garrison troops. Huangmen's orders, ministers, censors, and visitors traveled day and night. Chen.2

In front of the Palace of Supreme Harmony, hundreds of officials were wailing. In the Palace of Qianqing, concubines, princesses, and princes were wailing day and night.

After three days of this, the funeral ceremony was over, and the important event of welcoming the new emperor to the throne ushered in.

Emperor Xuanwu died suddenly, without establishing a crown prince or leaving any legacy. At present, in addition to the second prince Zhao Huaijin, the Li Kingdom also has the fifth prince Zhao Huai'an, the seventh prince Zhao Huaiping, and the eighth prince Zhao Huaicheng. However, these five princes are only interested in having fun. With the qualities of an emperor, the seventh prince is too weak and sick to hold a big position, not to mention the eighth prince, who is still a baby.

And because Zhao Huaiyi was the legitimate son of the late empress and had the ability to eliminate traitors, it was natural for him to be promoted to the throne.

Adhering to the principle that a country cannot be without a king for a day, Qin Tianjian chose an auspicious day nearby.

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the new emperor ascended the throne, changed his reign to Kangzhen, and named him Emperor Ningxi, and granted a general amnesty to the world.

On the first day that Zhao Huaiyi ascended the throne, he overturned the old case in the capital. Han Yu, who had insisted that He Chen had lied about the military situation, was personally escorted into the Hall of Supreme Harmony by Lu Jiuxiao. Without the protection of the Li family, Han Yu would do anything.

General He's military report was true to every detail. It was detained by Li Guogong's people before it was delivered to Kyoto. The military report that was handed over to the Holy Master had already been lost.

Han Yu was just a little guy working for the Li family, and what he told was all the truth he knew. As for the role Emperor Xuanwu played behind the scenes, no one except a few people knew about it. And this matter is harmful to heaven. Because of his family's reputation, Zhao Huaiyi followed the trend and poured all the dirty water on the Li family, thus punishing the Li family for collaborating with the enemy.

For treason and collaboration with the enemy, on the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the entire Li family was executed.

For a time, the trees fell and the hozens scattered, and those ants that relied on the Li family for survival had to clamp their tails between their legs and become human beings.

Bian Wei, the Minister of War, took advantage of his position to conspire with the Li family. One person was sentenced to death and the whole family was exiled. And the newly appointed Minister of War was Governor He, He Lin, who had not had much presence in the past five years.

The new emperor returned the military power to the He family, appointed nine additional admirals, and ordered General He Luming to take charge of it.

He Chen was also awarded the title of First-Rank Tiance General, the only honor he had in the three dynasties of the Li Kingdom.

The He family in Kyoto, which had been dormant for many years, seemed to have been transformed overnight, returning to the grand occasion of its great military exploits five or six years ago.

On the tower of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhao Huaiyi stood in front of him with his hands folded. He slowly breathed out a sigh of relief. The cold wind blew, and the eunuch who had cared for him since childhood gave him a big cloak. "Your Majesty, it's cold. Be careful of freezing."

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Zhao Huaiyi said "Yes" and looked at the majestic palace gate.

The dust has settled at this time, but what can't come back will never come back.

He remembered what he said to He Chen seven years ago. He said: "Your He family will always be loyal to my father, and you will also be loyal to my father."

He Chen said: "Our He family will always be loyal to Mingjun. If you are Mingjun in the future, I will also be loyal to you."

"You said that if I become the crown prince and ascend the throne in the future, you will assist me. Well, let me think about what kind of official title I can give you..."

He Chen laughed out loud.

Thinking about this, Zhao Huaiyi curled his lips in a depressed tone and said, "Come on, bring me a pot of wine."

The father-in-law was slightly stunned and hurriedly sent someone to bring a pot of wine.

Zhao Huaiyi picked up the pot and poured half a pot of wine on the side of him.

He thought to himself, Zhao Huaiyi, you have to be worthy of him and the importance he told you that night.

"Oh, Your Majesty, the wine has been spilled." The little eunuch on the side reminded him confusedly.

Father-in-law Sui patted him on the forehead and made a silencing gesture to him.

This wine is to commemorate an old friend.

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On November 13th, fine snow fell again in Kyoto, and it piled up into a thick layer on the ground, covered with footprints coming and going.

In the Qianqing Palace, Lu Jiuxiao had a large gray-brown cloak hanging on the armrest of his chair. He touched the small objects on the small table out of boredom, frowned and glanced at Zhao Huaiyi who was approving the memorial. After waiting for about half a stick of incense, he finally

I couldn't help but said: "Is there something wrong with Your Majesty?"

Listening to this tone, the word "Holy Lord" didn't even make him shout out the slightest bit of respect.

Zhao Huaijin laughed, put down the wolf hair, stood up, came over and sat down and said: "The Lu family now has titles, official positions, and military power. This time I can only give you a title that is not very practical. How about you, do you want to take the opportunity to ask for something else?"

What he said was not very practical was the title of General Yunhui, which was the icing on the cake for the Lu family of the Hou family.

Lu Jiuxiao raised his eyebrows slightly. He would not refuse this kind of benefit from heaven, so he thought about it seriously.

Zhao Huaiyi reminded him: "For example, a marriage or something."

Zhao Huaiyi also had a rough idea of ​​the relationship between Prince Lu and the daughter of the He family. In fact, if he really decreed the marriage, Yihe Lin's temperament that wanted to kill Lu Jiuxiao would probably be displeased, but...

The man in front of him could be said to be his biological brother, so he could still withstand He Lin's eye roll.

However, Lu Jiuxiao glanced at him lightly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but this is still unnecessary."

He coughed lightly and said, "You can just praise me a few times in court."

Zhao Huaiyi paused, then lowered his head and laughed suddenly, "Why, is it difficult for the father-in-law to attack, or is it difficult for the mother-in-law to attack?"

Lu Jiuxiao didn't say anything, she was her mother-in-law.

Since ancient times, women have been the most troublesome.

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In recent days, Hanping Lane, where the Lu He family lives, has been crowded with people, bustling with people, and bustling like a market, making other people look at it with envy.

The vindication of the eldest son's injustice made Mr. Cen's body suddenly feel refreshed overnight, and his whole face looked radiant and full of smiles.

Therefore, the He family, which had always been deserted, took advantage of this reputation and held a Cuju banquet at the racecourse on the outskirts of Beijing.

The people attending the banquet were none other than the princes, grandsons, ladies of the house, and young girls.

The busiest person at the moment is none other than Mr. Cen. None of his sons or daughters have been married yet, so it is inevitable that they will be coveted by others.

Lu Jiuxiao, Meng Jingheng, and Tang Mian were sitting in the second row of the spectator seats at the bottom. Meng Jingheng tilted his head and said, "Well, half of the ladies around Mrs. He are going to Miss He."

Lu Jiuxiao looked there and saw his little girl being held by a lady from an unknown family.

He frowned for a moment.

However, not only him, but also Yuan, who was not far away, also frowned.

After a while, Mrs. Yuan got up and went to the main table.

Mrs. Ren of the Qing family of Dali Temple said quickly: "Mrs. Lu, this son is almost twenty-two now, but which girl has he chosen?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the ladies all pricked up their ears to listen.

Mrs. Yuan smiled and said, "He has found someone he likes. She is a girl from a good family. I am also very happy. I am waiting to pick an auspicious day to propose marriage."

Everyone expressed their congratulations in advance.

I have to admit that Yuan's words made Cen very happy. She smiled and glanced at her, which seemed to say -

Stop speaking for that bastard of yours.

After talking a few more words about the family affairs, when all the ladies returned to their seats to enjoy the Cuju game, Mrs. Yuan coughed slightly and ordered: "Didn't the Crown Prince prepare a gift for Madam He? Go and call the Crown Prince."

Hearing this, Shen Shitiao straightened her back subconsciously, and out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of a figure in dark blue robes approaching.

Lu Jiuxiao handed over a wooden box and said, "Aunt He, I heard from Ajia that your health has improved slightly recently. The medicinal effect of this wild ginseng is mild, but it is not too strong."

Listening to these words, there is intimacy in every word.

Shen Shiting clenched the silk handkerchief, and the tips of her ears tensed.

Cen glanced at her young daughter out of the corner of her eye, then at Lu Jiuxiao, took a sip of tea, nodded and said, "You are serious."

She smiled at Mrs. Yuan as if unintentionally and said: "My daughter has had a difficult life and her life is really hard. She has only been back home for a few days, and I haven't had enough pain yet. You said those matchmakers are coming to my door these days. As soon as I want to

I will never let her go if I marry her off."

Yuan answered the conversation with a kind smile, "It's human nature, A Ting... is only sixteen years old, so there's no need to be too hasty."

Shen Shitiao lowered her head to drink the plum tea in the cup, avoiding Lu Jiuxiao's gaze.

"That's what I thought too." Mrs. Cen sighed, "With her temper, I'm worried that she will be bullied and angry."

Mrs. Yuan paused for a moment, her voice was a little lower than before, she glanced at Lu Jiuxiao rather sadly, and said with a smile: "I think you are worrying too much, A Ting is so painful, who is so blind?"

Provoke her?"

Lu Jiuxiao: "......"

Mrs. Cen nodded, "As a mother, don't you just hope that your children will live well? I don't expect her to marry a very high-ranking family. I just hope that her future husband will be gentle and tolerant. The prince said so.
To be continued...