The soft sound of the door opening startled Sima Tulan, who was distracted. She frowned and turned around, speaking in a somewhat impatient tone: "Moxue, I asked you to find General I last night. Why haven't you seen him yet?"
"Back to the Empress, I have been looking for you. However, after Master Shen arrived, General I moved to live outside the palace on the emperor's order. I was nowhere to be seen even in the morning. I finally got up early today and went to the palace. Outside the General's Mansion, I was told that General I had gone to General Sima and Master Yao early in the morning and has not returned yet. I really have no choice but to do so..."
"Go to my brother's place?" Sima Tulan took a deep breath, feeling uneasy.
To her, Ou Suiliang was like a cloud, even more difficult to understand and contact than Yi Huaiyu. He was far away and sometimes close to her, almost as if he was far away. She once believed that Ou Suiliang would loyally assist Yi Huaiyu, but the appearance of Shen Junfang broke that belief. The unbreakable monarch-minister relationship between the two makes it difficult to speculate on the development of the situation - taking the initiative to contact Yao Junxian would never have happened before. Could it be that Ou Suiliang was dissatisfied with Yi Huaiyu for being too attached to Shen Junfang and planned to abandon him? Has he maintained his faith for so many years?
One was a despicable blood relative who used her as a pawn, and the other was a person who had given her tenderness at all costs when she was in the most difficult time. Sima Duran was more worried about what would happen to Ou Suiliang than her uncle who was in danger.
"Moxue, change your clothes, I have to leave the palace."
"How can this be done? The Queen must obtain the Emperor's permission before leaving the palace. If the Emperor blames her—"
Sima Duran raised her long eyebrows, and her tone was unmistakable: "I'll take the blame, it's none of your business. Go and get the clothes!"
After a cup of tea, the Huanqing Palace where the Queen lived was left without its master. Only a group of palace maids gathered together uneasily and talked about seemingly unusual things. Sima Duran was already leaving. Halfway to the palace, the destination is General Sima's Mansion.
After the morning court, Yi Huaiyu refused all ministers' requests for an audience with the excuse of a headache. In the quiet imperial study room, he lit a small brazier and lit some soothing incense. A large pear wood and vermilion lacquer chair was added to the side of the desk. The monarch and his ministers were facing each other sideways. While sitting, there is no etiquette or rules at all.
"Did the Emperor just see Yao Junxian's livid face? Fortunately, he is among the civil servants and I am beside the throne, otherwise I am really afraid that he will rush up and tear me to pieces." The Imperial Preceptor is younger than the new emperor of Yao Kingdom. Shen Junfang smiled and drank tea.
"How could you not see it? Do you know Jun Fang, the happiest thing for me over the years is not winning battles or seizing the throne, but seeing Yao Junxian's deflated expression. Every time he trembles with anger, I feel extremely happy." The chatter box opened up. Unable to stop himself, Yi Huaiyu changed his position and lazily sat back in his chair, "Didn't I cut taxes according to your proposal last time? The corrupt officials under the old fox are complaining about the lack of profit and water. He couldn't bear it and came to me for discussion, hoping that I could take back my order and revise the new policy. I was in a bad mood at the time, so I replied to him and said, "If Mr. Yao is willing to pay taxes for the poor people, I don't mind reformulating the policy." As a result, the old fox's face was instantly changed. It was so dark. Every time I thought about that scene afterwards, I felt extremely happy, as if I was addicted to it, and I wanted to see more of him looking angry and depressed."
Shen Junfang put down his tea cup, and his bright smile was like a ray of sunshine in the gloomy clouds: "Happiness is a good thing, but the emperor cannot always play with fire. What if the old fox is forced to bite the emperor? I'm afraid it is more likely to make people sick than a mad dog. !”
"I've only heard that dogs jump over the wall in a hurry, but I really don't know why a fox jumps in a hurry. It would be easier for me if I just jumped into the river."
Wanton laughter resounded in the imperial study room. At this time, Yi Huaiyu was free and happy. He was not as serious as usual, but a little more naughty. It was as if he had returned to his unfettered youth, laughing and joking with his close friends.
How many carefree and happy days can we have in a lifetime?
The smile gradually dissipated in the reflection of the tea. Yi Huaiyu sighed silently, and the smile he squeezed out again was more self-deprecating: "I haven't laughed like this for a long time. Talking to you seems to make me younger and back to the frivolous and unruly person."
My prince, Jun Fang, please promise me that no matter how high your position is in the future, you will not change. I hope that those I trust will always face me with a true and calm side."
"Does the Emperor care about General I?" Seeing Yi Huaiyu's sad expression, Shen Junfang also put away his smile and said seriously, "I don't have much contact with General I, but I can see that he respects the Emperor very much. In terms of loyalty,
, no one in the civil and military affairs of the dynasty can compare with General Ou. To be honest, General Ou's calmness and sophistication make me envious. As long as he is responsible for things, he will never make any mistakes. This is something I can never match. Maybe.
It's because he is too upright. Sometimes General I will inevitably make the Emperor feel rigid and dull, but this is not a sign of disobedience or betrayal. I believe that no matter what time and under what circumstances, General I will still be the person whom the Emperor should trust the most.
."
Rigid and dull... When Shen Junfang said this, Yi Huaiyu really felt that Ou Suiliang was such a person.
"Actually, Suiliang often joked with me before, and argued endlessly with me over a certain point of view, but I didn't notice when he started to change. He became cautious and less talkative. When facing me, he always picked up those tasteless words.
.I understand that I am sorry for him for some of the things I have done, but they were all forced by the situation. I thought he would understand and forgive me, but I didn’t expect... As expected... people’s hearts are separated from each other. No matter how close we are, we will not be the same person. Sooner or later, we will go our separate ways.
."
Shen Junfang did not answer immediately, but quietly looked at Emperor Dayao who was standing silently facing the bookcase with his hands folded. Perhaps the gloomy atmosphere was too desolate, and he always felt that this man had lost some kind of luster, and he looked much older in an instant.
"Jun Fang still remembers the first time he met the emperor." Suddenly changing the subject and recalling the not-so-distant past, Shen Junfang smiled lightly, his eyes bright, "That was the emperor's third expedition, right? General and the emperor
We are still young, and I am just an ignorant boy. If the emperor had not been kind enough to rescue me from the thieves, I might have been beaten to death by them and buried in a random grave. At that time, I said that I would repay the emperor, but the emperor
I didn’t believe it, so I smiled and said that I was not repaying the favor by saving people, but General Ou said, if I have the ability, then I will do everything possible to prove myself and help with all my heart. At first, I thought General Ou was too outspoken and profit-seeking.
Then I realized that General Ou was just doing what he should do. Even if he is misunderstood and disliked by others, he always works hard to think about the emperor." After taking a breath and drinking a cup of tea, Shen Junfang pointed to the seat where Ou Suiliang often sat and said softly.
"Has your Majesty ever thought about the relationship between you and General I in the eyes of outsiders?"
Yi Huaiyu was stunned for a moment, turned around and looked at the seat, and suddenly realized that he couldn't answer the question.