Fengmou in troubled times

At three o'clock in Haishi, Zhou Ruji, who was the empress dowager, was going through the memorials that had been corrected by the ministers as usual, and wrote her own decision at the end.Outsiders only know that she is supreme and glamorous on the stage, but they never imagined how difficult the process she went through to get to this position.Once she was chosen as the imperial concubine to enter the palace, she had to fight against the beauties in the palace in order to keep herself and her family, and when she was named queen, she would not let go of consolidating her position for a moment.

Chu Xia said that she was jealous, that's right, which woman can bear the fact that her husband has three thousand beauties and cares about others?And which woman doesn't think hard to plan everything for her children?Once entering the palace gate, it is as deep as the sea, and it is not only the childhood sweethearts who have become passers-by from then on, the first thing to abandon is one's own conscience and pure kindness!How can this woman who is like a dye vat tolerate a woman as pure as paper like He Shining?

Thinking of the only woman in her life whom she regarded as her real opponent, Zhou Ruji put down the vermilion pen in her hand, looked at her nails painted with Dan Kou, and couldn't help being dazed.From the moment He Shining entered the palace, she should have known that in this lifetime, even if she had smashed He Shining to pieces, she would never be able to truly defeat her...

The sudden noise interrupted Zhou Ruji's recollection. She frowned, and while calling for Eunuch Li, the chief eunuch in her palace, she picked up the golden finger guard that she had taken off earlier and put it back on her hand. Hastily, the golden The rolled-up fingertips actually cut a wound on her hand, and blood gushed out immediately. "Little Li, what's going on outside?"

Zhou Ruji didn't care about the wound on her hand, she got up and wanted to see what happened.There was no answer from Eunuch Li outside the door, replaced by a scream that stopped abruptly.Zhou Ruji's heart shuddered, but she calmed down, thinking that she had survived the difficulties after the abolishment, and now that she is the empress dowager, she has nothing to be afraid of.Turning around, he took out the mother-in-law knife that he always carried with him, stood upright and looked at the door.

Seeing Chu Boluan pushing the door and entering, the long sword in his hand was stained with blood, which dripped and stained his carpet, Zhou Ruji smiled brightly, and said gracefully: "The son of Prince Li broke in with a sword late at night, it is difficult Isn’t it because you want to force the palace? Although your lineage of King Li is also a direct lineage, but the reputation of killing the monarch is enough for the princes of the world to attack.”

Chu Boluan also responded with a smile, Zhou Ruji, Wen Yun's number one beauty, really deserved her name, and she was always good at scheming, but it's a pity that the beauty is late... There are rumors in the palace that the Queen Mother Zhou came from a family of martial arts, Although Chu Boluan had never seen it with his own eyes, he did not dare to underestimate the enemy. Standing five steps away from Zhou Ruji, he said with a smile: "This son is here, and he is named as the new emperor, to set things right and get rid of Wen Yun." Get rid of you poisonous woman."

"The new emperor?" Zhou Ruji was worried about the safety of her beloved son, but she still smiled calmly on her face, "The first emperor has only one son under his knees, where did you find a cat and a dog, and dare to recommend him to that position?"

Estimating that his soldiers should have already controlled the entire palace, Chu Boluan was too lazy to deal with her, and said bluntly: "Of course it is Chu Ligui, the son of Concubine Ning. Queen Mother, you did not find Chu who had been missing for many years. Has General Xia been captured?" Seeing that Zhou Ruji's perfect smile was finally shaken, Chu Boluan continued to laugh and said, "Queen Mother, you don't have to rush to deny it, don't say that Chu Ligui is really the blood left by the late emperor. Without him, I would have made everything happen smoothly today." He flicked his fingers, and a scent like orchid and musk spread in the hall, "Empress Dowager, do you still remember this smell?"

She hurriedly covered her mouth and nose, Zhou Ruji had used and experienced many poisons, and now she smelled this smell, she immediately recalled, "This is..."

Seeing Zhou Ruji push away like a snake and scorpion, Chu Boluan said coldly: "Don't be afraid, Empress Dowager, just smelling it will at most reduce your internal strength by [-] to [-] percent." He pointed out his fingertips while speaking. Holding the little pill, he said slowly: "When the Empress Dowager mixed this thing into my mother's concubine's teacup in order to frame Concubine Shu and Concubine De, and killed her, did you ever think that she would get it someday? What kind of retribution?" He took a step forward, and the blood-stained sword tip slashed across the ground, "When you tortured Concubine Ning to death and persecuted every concubine, did you ever think that one day, you would do everything for you? , what price to pay?"

Zhou Ruji flicked her long sleeves, and the short sword in her hand struck Chu Boluan's face like lightning, "The winner is the king, the loser, in this whole thing, if I don't harm others, I will be killed by others!"

"Hmph." Chu Boluan, who was always on guard against her dagger, barely dodged the second sword that was attacking after the dagger, and while dealing with Zhou Ruji, he said: "My son forgot to report to the queen mother. When I came here, I was anxious for a while, but I indulged my subordinates to run into that little boy you raised. The queen mother also knows that it is difficult to control the horses when they are frightened. I didn't have time to rescue the queen mother. People, watching him being trampled by horseshoes into a pool of bloody mud, is really incompetent."

"What?!" Zhou Ruji, who was shocked and angry, was distracted for a moment, was kicked by Chu Boluan in the center of her heart, fell to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood, "Chu Boluan! Ai's family is the queen mother of a country, even if there is something wrong It’s not your turn to teach me a lesson! Hui’er of the Ai family is the emperor, if you do this, everyone in our Wenyun country will be punished!”

Clapping his hands exaggeratedly, Chu Boluan looked down at Zhou Ruji who was struggling to get up, and smiled gently, "Don't worry, the queen mother, I haven't finished my words. The queen mother still remembers that you and the late emperor worked together for us. The eldest son-in-law chosen by His Royal Highness the eldest princess? Everyone in the capital has heard about it for the past two days. The eldest princess was finally moved by the sincerity of the eldest son-in-law. It's a pity that Zhao Qiongzhang's entire family is under the control of this prince..." Chu Boluan deliberately slowed down his speech, and said word by word: "Speaking of which, Princess Wan'er is also considered this prince. Watching her grow up. Seeing her being poisoned to death by the person he loves, and her death is unclear, this son also feels very sorry."

Hearing that her daughter had suffered an accident, Zhou Ruji felt her heart was being pinched by a big hand, and it hurt hard, "Chu Boluan! You have such a cruel heart!" Almost biting her silver teeth, Zhou Ruji Just as she was about to raise her hand, the meridians in both hands were immediately cut off by Chu Boluan's sword. The pain made her sweat profusely for a while. "Ai's family has one person to do things and one person to do things. Why do you bother my daughter?!"

"One person does things and one person does it?" With a cold smile, Chu Boluan looked at Zhou Ruji in disdain, and threw a bloody dagger in front of her. But I didn’t find Concubine Ning’s son, who lived and ate with Huier these few days. Just now he saw the head of General Chu sent by the Queen Mother, took this dagger and entered Huier’s bedroom... Compared with the empress dowager who let the first emperor taste the flesh and blood of her lover, this son just encourages their brothers to kill each other, which is really too superficial."

"It's you! It's you who killed Chu Xia and put the blame on Ai's family!...My Huier! My Huier! Impossible! Impossible!" Zhou Ruji struggled like a dehydrated fish, going crazy He crawled towards Chu Boluan, "You must be lying! My Hui'er is not yet five years old, he is so cute, how can you bear to attack him! Let me see him..."

Kicking Zhou Ruji away in disgust, Chu Boluan backed away slowly, and said with a low laugh, "Zhou Ruji, this is your retribution."

Reluctantly shouting, Zhou Ruji was heartbroken: "No! Those sluts deserve to die! Chu Boluan! You give back my Hui'er, my Wan'er!"

"Crazy woman, from now on you have plenty of time to guard your magnificent palace and meditate on your own past." Without looking at Zhou Ruji again, Chu Boluan turned around and left the hall. The soldiers outside said: "The empress dowager heard that the eldest princess died unfortunately, she couldn't accept it for a while, and she fell into a madness. You should order someone to take care of her."

After everyone was ordered to disperse, the surroundings returned to calm.Chu Boluan was thinking about how to respond to the inquiries from the officials tomorrow morning, how to prove his identity for Chu Ligui, when he suddenly heard someone shout: "The emperor's palace is on fire! Come and put out the fire!"

Chu Boluan was startled, and was about to go over to check, but Fang Linyuan suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way.Dressed in white clothes like snow, he said with a smile, "My son is very busy tonight."

Gathering his mind, Chu Boluan responded politely: "Your Majesty the Seventh Highness visited late at night, I don't know why?" Although Fang Linyuan and Feng Yinran were willing to help Chu Ligui succeed to the throne, Chu Boluan always believed that this There is no unbreakable covenant in this world.Seeing Fang Linyuan like this, I'm afraid he watched a lot of plays behind him, but he didn't know how much he knew and guessed.

As if he had never heard of it, he turned his head and looked at the direction of the little emperor's bedroom. Fang Linyuan turned his head and said indifferently: "Your Majesty, is he trying so hard to avenge his own personal grievances? Are you really willing to let Chu Li come back to sit in that position? "

Not to mention his father, he himself has asked this question many times... "I didn't want to at first, but after I met Chu Ligui, I changed my mind." Li Gui and Chu Boluan always vaguely saw He Shining's shadow, but until now, it was he himself who personally destroyed Chu Ligui's clean and kindness that was exactly the same as He Shining. "I also understand that he doesn't like that seat, but this is what I can give him, and I think it's the best thing." Chu Boluan said this, but his expression was a little dazed, so why didn't he understand, Chu Boluan With Li Gui's temperament, he is not suitable to be a king at all, "Your Highness Seventh, maybe you can understand."

know what?Is it the desire to give the best to that person with both hands, or is it the overbearing that the person accepts even if forced?Fang Linyuan didn't answer, he didn't care about Chu Li's return or Wen Yun's country.Chu Ligui, who can be said to have no foundation in the court, wants to secure his position. Apart from enfeoffing princes from various places and generals with heavy troops in his hands, the most important thing to guard against is Prince Li and his son.The court can't make orders and prohibit them, the princes can't obey them, and internal troubles are everywhere. How can this Wenyun country not be chaotic?

Seeing the flash of white light in the night sky, like a shooting star, Fang Linyuan knew that everything was going well with Feng Yinran, and he had no intention of talking nonsense with Chu Ligui at the moment. "For the matter of the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the prince must still have a lot of things to do, so the prince will not bother."

Chu Boluan watched his back disappear between the palace walls, knowing that Fang Linyuan must have appeared here to hold him back, and looked in the direction of the little emperor's bedroom, but he didn't want to pursue further. "Alas, Li Gui..." The low sigh drifted into the night wind, and he couldn't be found anymore...

……Dividing line……

In the late autumn of Emperor Hui's first year, these two fires burned down half of the emperor's bedroom, and also burned down the entire palace of the eldest princess.The little emperor Chu Hui'an had no bones left, and the eldest princess Chu Wansi and her son-in-law Zhao Qiongzhang were buried in the sea of ​​flames. The successive blows drove the Queen Mother Zhou, who had controlled the government for many years, into a madness, so she had to stay in the concubine to rest.

Two emperors of Wen Yun Kingdom died during this year, and the whole country was in panic.Just when civil and military officials were uneasy, the highly respected King Li suddenly announced that Chu Ligui, the exiled prince of Emperor Wen and the son of Concubine Ning, recognized his ancestor and returned to his clan with the seal that was only passed on to the prince, and called on all the officials to embrace him as emperor.This day's court meeting ended with Prince Li's son shooting ten ministers who refused to recognize Chu Ligui's identity on the spot. I don't know if it was due to the majesty of Prince Li's father and son, or because he recognized the Chuanguo in Chu Ligui's hands. Yuxi and the rest of the officials finally recognized Chu Ligui as their new master.

Looking at the bottom of the jade steps, Chu Boluan, who was newly named the regent, led his group of officials to kneel down to him repeatedly. Chu Ligui, who was sitting on a golden chair in a cumbersome crown dress, admired this show manipulated by the ceremony officer with no expression on his face. "Puppet show", can't help being a little distracted.He didn't intend to be on the throne, but his uncle Chu Boluan insisted on pushing him to this position.In fact, in his heart, he would rather travel around the wilderness, and maybe be a companion with Yin Ran and the others who are about to set off for the Cangjue Kingdom...

However, now he still inherited the throne, or, it should be said, usurped the throne... Chu Ligui laughed at himself in his heart, but he still had a dignified and cold expression on his face.In the end, I was just a puppet prepared by Prince Li and his son, maybe I won't be able to stay in this seat for long, and I should abdicate and let Xian hand over the jade seal to the current king regent.I don't know if the emperor uncle will leave himself to be a carefree "overlord" at that time.However, probably not.

Thinking of the scene he saw with his own eyes yesterday, Chu Ligui felt that the armrests and back of the dragon chair became colder and colder.When he saw Chu Xia's head and heard what happened to his mother and concubine, he admitted that he really wanted to chop Zhou Ruji into pieces.But seeing that Zhou Ruji got the revenge she deserved, her tendons were severed, her mind was completely lost, and she was left like a piece of rag in the cold palace to languish, he felt so unbearable in his heart.Yin Ran is right, a cowardly and weak person like him is really not suitable for the position of emperor...

"Your Majesty, the congratulations of all the officials are over, and you can drive back to the palace."

Because he has no adulthood for the time being, there is no need to grant the queen the golden book and the golden seal, and the enthronement ceremony is considered to be over at this time.Hearing Xu Baoren, the servant in charge of his diet and daily life, reminding him in a low voice in his ear, Chu Ligui returned his wandering thoughts, walked past the kneeling civil and military officials, and walked towards his chariot.

When he walked to Chu Boluan's side, Chu Ligui glanced at the standing man who was kneeling respectfully and wearing a four-clawed python-style court uniform, and his doubts were extremely strong.Even in front of him, Chu Boluan never concealed his ambition for the throne, so why did the emperor so persistently put his elm head on the dragon chair?

Bustling all the way back to the palace where he lived, Chu Ligui still didn't get the slightest idea.Because the palace where successive emperors lived was burned beyond recognition by the fire that night, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had to choose another palace for Chu Ligui, who had just succeeded to the throne, and re-arranged it.On weekdays, except that he had to go to the morning court to make a decoration, most of the memorials sent up every day were screened by the cabinet, and the important ones were selected and sent to him and Chu Boluan for review, but it was usually Chu Boluan who made the final decision. That's all.Although he is indeed the son of Emperor Wen, he has been living abroad for many years. In this court, except for Prince Li and his son, Chu Ligui doesn't even know a single minister.I have no foundation, but only wear the name of the emperor. Apart from being able to confer the title of Empress Dowager to my biological mother He Shining and the posthumous title of General Protector to my adoptive father Chu Xia, it can be said to be useless.

Thinking of this, Chu Ligui couldn't help sighing at his incompetence.He waved away the servants who were serving on the left and right, and was stunned in the room alone.Xu Baoren, who came in with tea, checked inside and out, and then leaned over to Chu Ligui and whispered: "Your Majesty, Mr. Xu Su, please see me."

Chu Ligui, who was thinking wildly, was stunned for a moment before he realized it.Before Yin Ran left that night, he told him that there were people in the palace to help him, but he didn't expect that the little Xu Zi who followed her these days was also a member of Xing Xing Pavilion. "Invite him in quickly."

While talking, Xu Su, who was wearing a dark blue Xingxiu robe, had already walked in. Although he didn't salute Chu Ligui, he bowed in a proper manner when he saw Chu Ligui. "Xu Su was ordered by my Pavilion Master to come to congratulate His Majesty on his enthronement."

After hearing this congratulations, the smile on Chu Ligui's face became even more bitter. "Yin Ran asked you to come, do you have something to tell me?" Still not used to calling himself Zhen, Chu Ligui looked at the palm of his left hand that was still helping the gauze, and remembered the conversation with Feng Yinran that night, I knew in my heart that he was about to leave Wen Yun, so maybe I wouldn't have the chance to meet him for a long time.He asked a little unwillingly: "Did they set a date to leave the capital?"

Xu Su nodded and laughed, not sure if he inherited the different characteristics of his parents, Xu Su looks almost the same as his younger sister Wei Yueyan, his eyes are so small that there is basically only a slit when he smiles. "The pavilion master left for Cangjue Kingdom today, and he ordered Beizhi to bid farewell to His Majesty on his behalf. From now on, Beizhi and his younger sister Wei Su will do their best to assist His Majesty, please rest assured."

Help yourself?Or are you afraid that you will be played by the emperor's uncle and his son in the applause?Chu Ligui couldn't see the clue from Xu Su's serious smile, if he wanted to sit safely in this position, I'm afraid he still has a lot to learn. "Yin Ran, did he say when he could come back to see me?"

Xu Su wasn't surprised to hear him ask such childish words, "The pavilion master didn't mention it. It's just that before the humble official entered the palace, he repeatedly told the humble official to tell His Majesty. I have long had the heart of disobedience, and it will be a matter of time to raise troops to rebel, but the ones who are most worried about this must be Prince Li and his son, His Majesty only needs to protect himself and become better." He didn't dare to imitate the tone of his own pavilion master. Li Gui is also considered his half master, so he has to save some face, "The pavilion master also said that your majesty should also be careful to beware of the regent, if you make the slightest mistake, he has no sympathy for the Chu family. .”

I can fully imagine Yin Ran's expression when he said this, Chu Ligui couldn't help laughing, nodded and agreed, "I've written it all down." He said and pointed to Xu Baoren who was waiting beside him, "From now on If there is anything, I will entrust little Xu Zi to send you a letter."

Xu Su sneaked a glance at Chu Ligui's expression, then at his bandaged left hand.The young emperor who had just succeeded to the throne in front of him was actually a smart one, but his previous life had been protected so well that he hadn't adapted to the darkness of reality yet.After completing the appraisal in his heart, Xu Su explained to Chu Ligui who he could trust in the palace and which ministers in the court were chess pieces buried by Qianxing Pavilion. The arrangements made so hard were explained to Chu Ligui, and his heart ached somewhat, so he couldn't help saying: "Your Majesty should know these people and things, and you must not let Prince Li and his son know about them!"

After Chu Li returned to the capital clearly and promised to keep it secret, Xu Su felt relieved, "I almost forgot about the humble position, the pavilion master asked His Majesty to remember to keep that seal well, and don't leave it in the regent's office unless it is absolutely necessary." Take it out in front of you."

Unexpectedly, Yin Ran, who met with the emperor's uncle in the past and talked happily, would be so wary of Chu Boluan. Chu Ligui thought that Feng Yinran was uncharacteristically nagging about these things because he was worried about his own safety, so he couldn't help being overjoyed. Less heart melancholy. "If you can, send a message to Yin Ran for me, remember to come to Wen Yun to see me when you are free!"

Xu Su, who was about to step out of the room, heard this, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he quickly bowed his head and left.

At this moment, Feng Yinran, who was missed by Chu Ligui, was handing over the boy who was sleeping peacefully on his shoulder in his arms to Wei Yueyan. "Let someone take care of him carefully. I have already sent a letter to Mo Xi to pick him up and go back to the main pavilion. During this time, let him slowly adapt to his new identity."

"Will the master change the name of the young master?" Wei Yueyan put her arms around Chu Hui'an, who still didn't understand what happened, and was still sleeping soundly, and couldn't help but hope that he could continue to be so carefree forever, never to forget again. Referring to his short career as emperor, "Why don't you let him take your surname?"

Feng Yinran thought for a while, then finally shook her head and said, "It's okay to be named Feng. Just erase half of the character Chu and let him change his surname to Lin." This child is now five years old, and he is smart and precocious. It is best to forget the previous life. If you can't forget it, you don't want to force it. "You take him back now."

Turning around and getting into the carriage, Feng Yinran sat next to Fang Linyuan who had been waiting for him in the carriage for a long time, and ordered the driver to leave the city immediately.After such a long delay, it was time for Fang Linyuan, the former proton who had regained his freedom, to return to Cangjue Kingdom to meet his father, Huang Fang Hua. "If everything goes well, within half a month, we will be able to arrive at Cangjue's capital, Liangcheng."

Speaking of returning to his hometown, Fang Linyuan's interest was not high, he just responded casually, and then said: "You really don't want to tell Chu Ligui about Chu Xia?"

For some reason, Feng Yinran suddenly saw Chu Ligui holding the dagger that Chu Boluan gave him, scratching his hand and blood staining it as proof of killing Chu Hui'an, and then setting fire to the palace. The resoluteness when begging himself to take the little emperor out of the palace. "You and I are still here, Chu Boluan dare not do anything to him so easily, why should I let him know the truth, and fight Chu Boluan desperately?" Going back, how could Feng Yinran leave Chu Ligui alone to deal with the mess of Wenyun Kingdom? "I always feel guilty about Chu Xia..."

"Yin Ran, this matter has nothing to do with you." Knowing that Feng Yinran made the most serious promise, she couldn't rescue Chu Xia safely this time, and Feng Yinran felt annoyed many times in private. "The most urgent task is to stabilize the affairs of Cangjue, so that we can have the qualifications and ability to help Chu Ligui sit firmly on the dragon chair."

Feng Yinran nodded, he couldn't figure out the connection, but he was still a little worried about that idiot Chu Ligui for a while.Unexpectedly, during the short period of half a month that he stayed in Wenyun, he would witness the change of emperor. Feng Yinran couldn't help but smile wryly as he thought about another drama that Cang Jue was about to stage.This time I left Rongshao to travel to various countries, not only can I enjoy the scenery along the way, but also see the open and secret struggles of the royal families of various countries, which is extremely exciting.

Now he only hopes that this trip to Cangjue will be smooth and safe...