faint [rebirth]

Xiao Wuchen, Xiao Wuchen, Xiao Wuchen...

These three words seemed to have taken root and sprouted in Xiao Junye's heart, and they could never be removed or driven away.

Fortunately, Xiao Junye was quite willing to do so.

He cares about Xiao Wuchen and likes Xiao Wuchen.Although I don't know what kind of feelings Xiao Wuchen has for him in his heart, but what's so important?From Xiao Junye's point of view at this moment, as long as he is of great use to Xiao Wuchen, he can gain a firm foothold beside Xiao Wuchen, and even influence Xiao Wuchen's decision. As for the future...

He always has a chance.

Xiao Junye thought so, after taking a bath, he picked up the portraits that Xiao Wuchen had sent one after another in the past two years and began to look at them.

Teenagers are always growing.

Whether it is the head or the eyes, all are slowly changing.

Although the boy's portrait is still somewhat different from the real person's, Xiao Junye is still satisfied in his heart—look, even though he doesn't know what the boy is thinking, but just because the boy is willing to satisfy his request time and time again, he draws the portrait himself, When someone brought it here, Xiao Junye felt that Xiao Wuchen actually cared about him very, very much in his heart.

That's enough.

At least for now it is enough.

Before Xiao Junye went to bed, he looked at Xiao Wuchen's portrait again and again, stroked and touched it over and over again, and then put a few portraits in an ebony box with great care, and put it beside his pillow , Then, holding the safety buckle Xiao Wuchen gave him in his hand, he curled up his lips and fell asleep peacefully.

The garrison was camped north of Chang'an, so although it was still October, it was already a bit cold.

Xiao Junye got up the next morning and went to the marshal's tent. After discussing military affairs with everyone, he frowned, and he didn't quite understand why the Xiongnu side cooperated so much this time.In the past, although Shan Yu of the Xiongnu valued the great prince, but Shan Yu had many sons, the sons born to those official concubines would have been ranked in the twenties. Forget it, but now, the Huns' envoy is extremely humble, as if what he captured on the battlefield was not the Huns' eldest prince, but the next Huns' Shanyu.

Thinking of these, Xiao Junye couldn't help feeling even more strange.

The marshal saw his appearance and knew that this King Zhao was not only born with general talent, but also delicate in mind, so he thought he had noticed something wrong, so he said, "What's the difference, Prince Zhao? You and I are both from Daxing. If the prince has Whatever you think, you can say it, and you and I will discuss it together."

Xiao Junye thought that Xiao Wuchen was about to come to the border, paused, then shook his head expressionlessly: "Marshal misunderstood, this king is just worrying, the border is hard, the crown prince is not in good health, if he comes, wouldn't it be sad? "

The marshal became sad when he heard the words, and said: "What the prince said is true. If the prince is in good health and suffers for a few days, it's fine, and His Majesty will not blame him. But the prince's health is not good. If he comes, After suffering for ten days and eight months, and then suffering a serious illness at the border, I still don't know how His Majesty will blame me..."

When the marshal said this, he paused suddenly and did not continue.

Xiao Junye knew the reason why the Marshal didn't continue talking.Because when His Majesty valued the Crown Prince earlier, he naturally attached great importance to the Prince's affairs. If the Crown Prince fell ill at the border, His Majesty would not be able to say that he would be furious.But now...

Xiao Junye bowed his head, bid farewell and left.

When he arrived in his tent, just as he sat down, he saw the attendant come back from outside beaming, and after saluting, he said: "My lord, look, this is a letter from the crown prince!"

Xiao Junye was startled.

The attendant continued: "It's strange to say that in the past, the prince's letter to the lord was written in the lord's name. Today's letter was found in the letter from home to the younger... "

The attendants around King Zhao, of course, because of the status of King Zhao, the tide has risen, not to mention every month, every first half of the year, they can send a letter to their old lady.This time the prince's letter to King Zhao was mixed with the servant's letter.

Xiao Junye thought a lot, and soon guessed that there was something wrong, took the letter, and said: "You can't tell others about this matter."

The attendant knew it well, he was originally a member of Prince Zhao's mansion, he would do what King Zhao asked him to do.

Xiao Junye opened the letter after waiting for the attendants to leave.

There was no secret in the letter, but Xiao Junye could still see Xiao Wuchen's purpose from it.

Xiao Wuchen's letter was no different from ordinary letters, except that the great prince of the Xiongnu was mentioned twice, and the matter of re-signing the New Year's Tribute agreement had already been handed over to Marquis Ningyang by His Majesty.

Xiao Junye read the letter silently, stretched out his big rough hand, touched the two thin papers back and forth several times, finally folded the two papers into very small pieces, threw them into the tent and was cooking. Inside the small stove with tea.

By the way, he swallowed his previous doubts about the Xiongnu Shanyu, and decided that no one would mention it again.

——Since this was what Xiao Wuchen wanted to happen, then he just let it happen.

In Luoyang City, it was already mid-October at this time.

Xiao Wuchen is still a leisurely prince, he and Emperor Chengguang have different opinions on pills, and almost everything depends on the emperor's father.

In fact, Emperor Chengguang didn't want Xiao Wuchen to take those "miraculous medicines" like him. Seeing that although Xiao Wuchen disapproved of him continuing to take the medicine, he never forced him not to take it like before, so he treated him Seeing his son who was about to travel far away, he became more and more charitable.

Xiao Wuchen knew that since ancient times, the position of prince had been difficult to hold.According to historical records, there are very few people who can truly succeed from the crown prince to the throne.In his previous life, he was weak, and he was the most suitable to inherit the throne among the only three remaining sons of Emperor Chengguang. He was also the son of the empress whom Emperor Chengguang cared about most. cherish.

Even when he knew that he might be childless for life because of his frail body, Emperor Chengguang still under pressure let him continue to be the prince and finally inherit the throne.

Xiao Wuchen was not without gratitude to Emperor Chengguang.

After all, to him, he is the son of the empress, and he has been the crown prince since he was three years old.If he really doesn't want to be the crown prince and inherit the throne...then he really has no way out.

However, the more this was the case, the more Xiao Wuchen couldn't understand why his father started to alienate him more and more now that he was in good health.

The emperor father was the most sober and rational in the past. He criticized Qin Shihuang's life long ago, but he was confused before his death. He spent a lot of time, manpower and gold and silver in pursuit of the illusory immortality pill. Didn't he end up dying in a foreign land?He also said that the first emperor was absurd, that birth, old age, sickness and death are common things in the world, but it is enough to hope that before death, he should be worthy of his ancestors, take care of the Daxing Dynasty, and hand it over to future generations.

The words of my father were still in my ears back then, but my father was no longer the original father.

Xiao Wuchen couldn't help feeling angry when he thought about his father's trust in many Taoist priests in order to seek longevity, and promised to open gymnasiums in various places in the Daxing Dynasty to recruit Taoist priests.

Taoism pays attention to letting nature take its course. However, although the Daxing Dynasty is not besieged on all sides, there are also Xiongnu, Xianbei, etc. watching. How can we let nature take its course?If it really goes well, wouldn't the world of the Daxing Dynasty have to change their surnames?

Daxing Taoism means that more people in the Daxing Dynasty will become Taoists in order to avoid the imperial court's corvee and taxes. At that time, how will the already unstable Daxing Dynasty face the Huns, Xianbei and other barbarians around them?

Moreover, the gymnasiums promised by the emperor are all built on non-divided land.As for the kings in the enfeoffed land, although some people followed suit and began to build Taoist temples, the number was not too large. The kings also strictly limited the number of Taoist priests. It is obvious that they understand that the number of Taoist priests increases, and those who lose are not only those who can fight. It will also lose the taxes and corvees that these people should pay, as well as the number of marriages and children.

It's a pity that Xiao Wuchen is the crown prince, but now he can't persuade him anything.Especially now that the frontier has been victorious, and the influence of wanton construction of gymnasiums has not been immediately apparent, how can Xiao Wuchen persuade Chengguang Emperor?You know, Emperor Chengguang has been emperor for more than 30 years, can't he see the dangers of too many Taoist monks?But even so, Emperor Chengguang still did this, obviously he had made up his mind and didn't need others to persuade him at all.

Xiao Wuchen sighed again in his heart, he just didn't understand what kind of treacherous villain was around his father, how could his father become so confused.

Let's not mention how Xiao Wuchen thinks.

In Wei Yanghou's mansion, it was soon reported that Concubine Shen Gui wanted to have another son.

This was originally what Wei Yanghou and Mrs. Wei Yanghou worked hard to bring about. The husband and wife were delighted when they heard about it.

Wei Yanghou was left in the cold by Xiao Wuchen for a long time, and he knew in his heart that because of the previous events, Xiao Wuchen had long been cold-hearted towards him and Wei Yanghou's residence.The fact that Wei Yanghou's mansion is not dealt with now is just because the old lady is still there and Xiao Wuchen is still the prince.

Wei Yanghou might have pinned his hopes on the little nephew of the eighth prince before, but after seeing the eighth prince got smallpox, he couldn't help scratching himself into what he is now, not to mention your majesty, it was his own uncle who saw him I don't even want to look at the Eighth Prince anymore. What will such an Eighth Prince do in the future?

It would be better to take advantage of His Majesty's old age and strength so that Concubine Shen Gui can give birth to a son.Even if Concubine Shen did not give birth to a son this time, as long as the method is right, once Concubine Shen conceives again, they just need to take advantage of His Majesty's great joy to think more about it, and perhaps His Majesty will be happy and canonize Concubine Shen as Empress.

A queen is different from a noble concubine, once your majesty comes to heaven, Xiao Wuchen will respect her as the queen mother in the future.As for a queen mother, it is more than enough to keep Wei Yanghou's mansion.

Wei Yanghou had to work hard for this.

Madam Wei Yanghou was thinking in her heart, if Concubine Shen Gui could really fulfill her wish in the future, maybe her delicate little daughter wouldn't need to marry the Eighth Prince again?After all, her youngest daughter is the flesh and blood of her heart, how could she be willing to marry the ugly and ruthless Eighth Prince?

Mrs. Wei Yanghou thought so, and said what was in her heart.

Wei Yanghou sighed in his heart, and said: "Madam, did you forget that the Eighth Prince got smallpox back then, and was the Eighth Prince infected by Ruier?" Seeing that Mrs. Wei Yanghou's body froze, he couldn't bear it, and continued, "We don't The other reason is to make my sister not be bored with the whole Hou Mansion. Rui'er must marry the Eighth Prince in the future. Otherwise, if we push my sister to the position of Queen or even Empress Dowager, she will hate her in the end. The Hou Mansion killed the Eighth Prince, so isn't it just a waste of time for us to earn my sister's resentment?"

Mrs. Wei Yanghou cried: "But, if the eighth prince is really just ugly, I heard that at a young age, he started to whip the servants who served him with a whip. He is so violent..." She covered her face and said, "Also, my sister just needs the Marquis Mansion right now. If my sister really gave birth to a son and became a queen, she may not be willing to forgive us when she thinks of the eighth prince's illness in the future."

Wei Yanghou only laughed when he heard the words: "Madam, you can rest assured about this matter. Since my husband has to spend so much time helping his sister to succeed, naturally he can't get any benefits. Madam, you forgot, Wei Shi is now pregnant. It's been seven months, and my husband has already consulted with the doctor, and it is considered a daughter. So..."

Mrs. Wei Yanghou didn't need to continue listening, she already knew Wei Yanghou's plan.

Because her prostitute might have been infected with the Eighth Prince's smallpox back then, no matter whether she wanted to or not, she now had to be Concubine Shen's maid and stayed in the palace. In the future, she could only marry the ugly and violent Eighth Prince.And the unborn daughter of the Wei family, even if it is only a concubine, due to Wei Yanghou's diligent plan, there is a great possibility that she will marry Shen Guifei's unconceived child in the future!

Mrs. Wei Yanghou didn't show her face when Wei Yanghou was still there, and she lay down on the bed when Wei Yanghou was still there, and wept uncontrollably.

In the Taoist temple built by Emperor Chengguang in the palace for those Taoist priests in order to seek panacea, one of the Taoist priests with white beard and hair, but a face of only about 40 years old, was sitting cross-legged, holding a book, and waiting Hearing that Emperor Chengguang was coming, he got up leisurely.

He didn't kneel down, just bowed slightly, which was regarded as a salute.

Emperor Chengguang didn't care about these things, seeing this, he just said: "Why does the Taoist priest need to be strict with etiquette? These common rituals are only necessary for ordinary people. The Taoist priest is half a fairy, so he doesn't have to do these things."

The Taoist stroked his beard and said: "Your Majesty has the capacity to tolerate people, and I don't mind outsiders like Lao Dao. However, the crown prince values ​​etiquette, if he knows that the old Dao can't do these trivial ordinary etiquette..." He paused, no Go on.

But the implication is self-evident.

Emperor Chengguang also paused, didn't mention the crown prince, just smiled and said, "Why didn't the Taoist priest stand by the alchemy furnace today? As I remember, the Taoist priest always regarded alchemy as a daily necessity, and today I have nothing to do. It's strange to read a book."

The Daoist didn't talk about the prince any more, he just raised the book in his hand and said, "Look, Your Majesty, do you like the elixir in this book? If Your Majesty likes it, the old Taoist is refining the longevity pill. Yu, I would also like to spare time to refine this pill for Your Majesty, so that His Majesty's dragon-horse spirit will grow old and strong, and then summon the children that His Majesty already has in the mortal world from birth."

Emperor Chengguang was slightly taken aback, and after reading the book carefully, he understood what the Taoist priest meant.

This is a book of refining pills that can restore a man's sexual life to his prime.

Emperor Chengguang's mind is now on immortality. When he saw these pills, he only glanced at them roughly, and said: "Just now, the Taoist priest said, there are still one or two children in my life? The one or two children, Or is it the reincarnation of an immortal from the sky?"

The Taoist priest laughed immediately: "The heavenly secret must not be leaked. It is just that your Majesty should know that, as your Majesty has been a benevolent monarch for a lifetime, then God will not only give your Majesty a few sons and daughters who will bother your Majesty and die early. As for the remaining one or two Children, whether you want it or not depends on His Majesty's will."

Emperor Chengguang was thoughtful.

So, before Xiao Wuchen set out to leave Luoyang City, when he was going to bid farewell to Emperor Chengguang for the last time, he saw Emperor Chengguang hesitantly speak.

"Wuchen, do you still want a younger brother?"

Xiao Wuchen: "...Of course, having many sons and grandchildren is a blessing. Of course, sons want their father to be blessed and live a long and safe life."

After hearing this, Emperor Chengguang twitched the corners of his lips a little, and said, "You are the only child of your mother. You said, if your mother knew that after she left... I had one or two more children, how would she know?" Underground, angry with me?"

……

Xiao Wuchen left in silence.

His body is no longer what it was just reborn more than two years ago.Now his health is much better, walking from his father's palace to the East Palace is already something his body can bear.

It's just that he may have guessed that Concubine Shen would like to have another child by relying on the people placed next to Concubine Shen, and also knew that Concubine Shen would make a move through the Taoist priests recommended by her, but what he obviously did not expect was that his royal father Seriously moved.

Not only was his heart moved, but he also told him about this matter, asking him and... his mother's thoughts.

When Xiao Wuchen heard his father ask his opinion on this matter, he knew that he could not interfere with this matter.Even if he has the memory of his previous life, unless he intends to follow the example of abolishing the crown prince, force the palace to seize the throne, and drive the father from the throne, otherwise, he can only let the father do what he wants to do.

Including pampering Concubine Shen and having children.

Xiao Wuchen was walking on the bluestone road, and his father's voice still echoed in his ears, "In any case, she is the only sibling sister of your mother's queen, and she is also the woman who most resembles your mother's queen." He only intends to let Shen have a son.

Xiao Wuchen's footsteps were getting faster and faster.

Ah Zhuang and Ah Chou who followed behind him did not dare to persuade him, so they could only let the prince do so.

Fortunately, the East Palace is not too far away, and when Xiao Wuchen walked back to the East Palace quickly, he was fine.

It was just because he was walking so fast that he was sweating. When Eunuch Ruan saw it, he still groaned twice, and hurriedly asked someone to bring up the boiling water quickly, so that the prince could bathe and wipe himself.

Xiao Wuchen walked quickly all the way back to the East Palace. Hearing that Eunuch Ruan was starting to worry about his body again, he gradually suppressed the anger in his heart and let others drag him to take a bath, change clothes and eat.

Forget it, why is the father so different from the previous life? He started to investigate the day when the father started to change, and he has not found any results until now.That being the case, since he was about to leave again, there was no need to think about it, it was better to take a rest and leave for the border tomorrow.

To see his uncle.

On the second day, Xiao Wuchen went to see Emperor Chengguang for the last time before the morning court, and then headed north with Marquis Ningyang.

Ningyang Hou is now over forty years old, and he insists on being strong, so he got on the horse directly, and rarely got on the carriage along the way.

But Xiao Wuchen was different.

He only comes out for half an hour every morning and dusk to race horses, and the rest of the time, he stays in the very luxurious and spacious carriage that he specially arranged.

According to Ning Yanghou, since he was on his way, when he went out to rest at night, naturally he had to hurry on the road for the rest of the time.

However, even though Marquis Ningyang is the elder brother of the four princesses and has the title of marquis, he still can't handle the delicate and delicate His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Xiao Wuchen hadn't seen the emperor's uncle for more than two years. Although he missed him very much, he also knew that his trip should not be too hasty—too hasty, as if he was leaving for something special.What's more, his body can't tolerate him rushing like this.

Therefore, in a day, he is only willing to spend four hours on the road, the rest of the time, especially at noon, Xiao Wuchen is determined not to rush, but to take a walk to loosen his bones and take a lunch break.

Ning Yanghou was so angry that His Highness the Prince's "nonsense" made him tremble.His younger brother is the son-in-law of the fourth princess, and the fourth princess is the aunt of King Yuan's direct relative. Naturally, Marquis Ningyang is on King Yuan's side.Therefore, seeing that the prince was so reckless, after "persuading" the prince, he wrote the matter in a letter, which made people rush to report it to Emperor Chengguang.

Ning Yanghou originally thought that since Emperor Chengguang had shown that he didn't like the prince that much in the past two years, once his letter of laziness from the prince came out, Emperor Chengguang would be furious and reprimand the prince.

Unexpectedly, what he waited for was not the reprimand of Emperor Chengguang at all, but the imperial decree of Emperor Chengguang.

"...The crown prince is weak, and he should rest properly after a hard journey. The daily travel time should not exceed three hours. Once the crown prince shows signs of fatigue, he cannot continue on that day..."

When Ning Yanghou received this imperial decree, his entire face turned green.

Xiao Wuchen glanced at him with a half-smile, but didn't speak.

But Ning Yanghou couldn't help but stepped forward and said: "It's a good thing for Your Majesty to cherish the prince, but if we only travel for three hours a day, how can we catch up with the time to negotiate with the Huns? This kind of credit... If it is delayed, then What should I do?"

Xiao Wuchen looked at him: "So what if it's delayed? I go here and there alone, just to look around and see my generals and soldiers. As for those who don't deserve credit, they only care about the people and don't care."

Ning Yanghou, who is willing to work so hard for that credit, said: "..."

After Ning Yanghou finally belatedly "guessed" that Xiao Wuchen's trip really wasn't for merit, he could only bite the bullet and continue on his way slowly.

Fortunately, although they were slow, they finally reached the border at the end of November.

He saw Xiao Junye who was riding a big black horse, wearing a black wolf fur cloak, and a big black beard.

galloped towards them.