There was a dim candlelight, and a secret letter was placed on the imperial desk in Mingguang Hall.
Two years later, the emperor looked much older, with many fine lines at the corners of his eyes.
All in all, he is eighty-eight years old this year, which is the peak period of energy and power for the ministers.
For example, Fu Jin, who was the same age as him, was at the peak of his fame and knowledge.
Another example is Guo Xu, who is a few years younger than him. When placed in the political affairs hall, he is still a young man.
But he is an emperor. Emperors never live long. After fifty, they are considered old.
In the past two years, his health has been deteriorating.
My headaches become more and more frequent, my sleep becomes less and less frequent, I get sick whenever the weather changes, and I can't do everything as well as I did in previous years.
The emperor always felt that he did not have much time left for him.
Because of this, he became more and more vigorous and resolute in what he said.
The closer I get to death, the less I want to sugarcoat it.
The emperor finished reading the secret letter and closed his eyes without saying a word.
The candlelight shone on his face, casting layers of shadows.
The secret guard kneeling in front of him was as motionless as a statue.
After a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "Are you sure these rumors have nothing to do with him?"
"Yes." The secret guard replied sternly, "After investigation by my subordinates, it was found that the person who spread the rumor was from Prince Liuyang and was related to the rebels in Chengzhou."
"But it was left by King Jin?"
"yes."
The emperor let out a long breath, not sure if he was talking to him or to himself: "Twenty years later, the ghost is still there!"
He tapped the paperweight on the table and fell into deep thought.
The secret guard knelt quietly and said nothing.
Wan Dabao's specially raised voice sounded outside: "Your Majesty, the imperial concubine wishes to see you."
The emperor winked, and the secret guard disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Come in."
Wan Dabao diligently carried the food box and accompanied Concubine Pei in.
The emperor put down his ink pen and greeted him with a smile: "Didn't I tell you to rest earlier? Why are you here again?"
Concubine Pei gave her half-way salute and was supported. She replied with a smile: "I can't sleep anyway, so I came to see His Majesty. You are so busy at this time, why don't you know how to take care of yourself? If you go to bed too late, you may have a headache."
.”
"I am the emperor, this is my job."
"Then it is my concubine's job to take good care of His Majesty."
Wan Dabao over there also said: "It is my duty to serve your Majesty the soup. Your Majesty, this soup is warm and is suitable for drinking now. Do you want to use it first?"
The emperor laughed: "You old slave, you are really good at interrupting."
The soup is a medicinal diet prescribed by Taiyuan Hospital, and the ingredients and cooking techniques are all meticulous.
The emperor finished the soup, and Wan Dabao retreated.
Seeing that Concubine Pei was about to speak but hesitated, the emperor smiled and held her hand: "My dear concubine, you have something to say, why do you need to hesitate in front of me?"
Concubine Pei lowered her head and smiled, as if relieved, and said: "Your Majesty said so, then I have nothing to say."
"Say it." The emperor was in a good mood.
In the past two years, the imperial concubine has become more lively in front of him, and she is angry and smiling at times. Unlike before, although there are times when she is as tender as water, she always feels that there is a layer between her and she cannot reach her heart.
I guess you really gave up, right?
"I heard those rumors," said Concubine Pei.
She frowned and said with anger in her voice: "Those people, I don't know where they got this information from, but they made it public like this. How can Shu'er deal with himself? Your Majesty, you must help him!"
The emperor looked at her and said softly: "Don't worry, I believe in him."
Concubine Pei said, "I'm not afraid that you won't believe me, but I feel that the other party obviously knows the inside story. If things get out of hand and he is driven to a dead end, you will be controlled by others. Your Majesty, you can check it out.
Where did the rumor come from? Is it the work of the Chengzhou rebels? These people are really ridiculous. When Prince Sihuai was in trouble, they didn't help him, but now they are using the dead to kill their family!"
At this point, she was so angry that she burst into tears: "You don't know how terrible that scene was. My concubine had fetal motility and suddenly started to give birth. She had to give birth in the grass, and those people died one by one beside me.
, I will never forget the smell of blood. Guards, servants, King Yongxi, Crown Princess, Crown Prince..."
Concubine Pei burst into tears: "My concubine's life was earned by them fighting for her life! Now there is only Shu'er left. I only hope that he will be safe and prosperous in his life, and that he can be considered worthy of the prince's family."
The emperor patted her gently, his eyes soft: "Don't be afraid, I am with you in everything. I will find out the source and eradicate them, and I will not let them affect Shu'er."
"real?"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
Concubine Pei burst into tears and smiled, wiping away her tears with embarrassment: "I'm so old, and I cried like this just now. I really live better and better." She added, "It's been twenty years, and you have conquered the world.
With such good governance, what trouble can they cause? You don’t have to worry too much.”
The emperor smiled and the two talked for a while. Concubine Pei put on her makeup and went back first.
After the emperor returned to the Imperial Palace, he was lost in thought while reading the secret letter.
The secret guard came back silently, still kneeling on the spot.
The candle flame flickered and flickered until it finally stabilized with the sound of "Bi Pei" and the lanterns exploded.
The emperor finally exhaled and said: "Send the Night Bat to go to the northwest."
He paused and continued calmly: "Don't he want to do something serious? Just ask him to die for the country."
"yes."
The secret guard retreated, and the emperor picked up a pastry sent by Concubine Pei with an unpredictable expression.
Finally, he put the pastry into his mouth and ate it slowly.
Delicious things are more enjoyable when enjoyed alone.
…
Mingwei suddenly asked: "Does your so-called defeat this time mean you have something else to hide?"
Yang Shu blinked.
"You're so happy after losing the battle? Why doesn't it feel like you?"
"Uh..." Yang Shu looked outside and whispered, "Okay, we feel that time is too tight, so we are thinking of luring the enemy deeper. As long as Nasu pursues us, we will surround him and take advantage of him.
die."
"Kill him to death?"
Yang Shu told the truth: "Not necessarily, this kid is really difficult to deal with. You say he is passionate and simple, but I think he kills people without blinking an eye."
Mingwei said: "The way of survival in the grassland is like this. For him, killing people on the battlefield is no different from killing sheep."
A person who has been accustomed to killing since childhood will not think that killing is a cruel thing, because the environment is like this. They want to rob pastures, livestock, and women. This is their life. Right and wrong are given by ethics and morality.
If he hasn't accepted it, he doesn't have such a concept.
It's late at night and it's quiet outside.
Mingwei made the bed and said, "You should rest quickly."
"Yeah." Yang Shu took off his clothes and turned back to look at her, "Together?"
Mingwei understood very well what his look meant. She refused: "We just finished the battle, you are not too tired!"
Yang Shu had already dragged her over: "Yes, I'm not tired at all!"
Young man, what do you mean by tiredness? Hum! (To be continued)