my demon

Sure enough, on the second day, Prince Duan Xiao Ji entered the palace again and reported the latest situation to Xiao Yan and Queen Mother Sun: "Yesterday, Hou San's residence arranged by the Criminal Department outside the palace was attacked again, and a small piece of his ear was bitten off. The servant and the doctor saw with their own eyes that it was a black cat, it was very nimble, and it left with one blow, and went through the window, before chasing it in time, it seems very likely that it was a wild cat taking revenge."

Empress Dowager Sun recited Amitabha Buddha before she said: "In this way, all things have spirits, and there are many things about the creatures, beasts and birds to repay their kindness. In the past, there was a judge in Huicheng who burned the beehive, and was later retaliated by black bees. The tongue was stung, swollen and blocked the airway, and he died of suffocation, so we know that Hou San has committed too many crimes, and evil will be rewarded with evil."

Xiao Ji said: "My brother has asked the Ministry of Justice to continue to investigate whether the black cat is specially kept by someone. The palace has checked it several times, but no suspicious person has been found yet. Now that Hou San has moved out of the palace, he wants to come to the palace. There should be no more incidents of this beast hurting people, please rest assured, sister-in-law."

Empress Dowager Sun felt more at ease, and said: "Please trouble King Duan, who has been busy investigating the case these days. Fortunately, Master Pujue just performed a ritual ceremony, and the palace is now strictly investigating, and such cruelty will never be allowed again." The massacre. The Ai family thought about it, and it happened to hold a flower viewing banquet to calm down the atmosphere in the palace."

Xiao Ji said: "Sister-in-law Huang can make an appointment, but my younger brother will leave Beijing in a few days, what else can sister-in-law Huang say?"

Empress Dowager Sun sighed: "Aijia heard that you took the mission to supervise the repair of the river channel in the south? Stay in Beijing well, this river channel is filled with money every year, or is it flooded every year, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households, then It's a conspiracy, and they started to shirk each other when something happened. The masters didn't reflect on the six parts, but they sent you out. Wouldn't you like to stay in Beijing? Why bother to suffer. Besides, Just about to discuss the matter after the emperor's wedding, you, the assistant prince, have gone out, who will be responsible for the appointment."

Xiao Ji said: "Qin Tianjian said that there is plenty of rain this year, and the dredging of the river must be supervised. In winter, there will be snowstorms in the north. I am afraid that Beidi will have another change. Not only is the river repaired, but there is a plague in the south, but no officials report it. , I will drop by the way to investigate and find out the truth. As for the appointment after the establishment, the Ministry of Rites will do it according to the regulations, and you can ask the old man Ping Wang to do the appointment."

Empress Dowager Sun recited a few more times of Buddha: "Forget it, state affairs are the most important thing, and the matter of becoming a queen must be mourned and spent more time, and you will return soon. Whoever put us orphans and widows in front of you?" In the eyes."

Xiao Ji bowed and retreated in response, and went out of the palace.

Empress Dowager Sun was still a little worried, she turned her head and said to Xiao Yan: "It is obviously the critical time to establish a queen, but the previous court insisted on removing King Duan. Your uncle is also a slippery one, so he avoided it on purpose, where is it?" Don’t take offense at all, everyone in the dynasty has their own plans, only our mother and son depend on each other.”

"Look, Aijia, I handed out papers every day before. Ji Xiangye has new considerations. He only carried out what Sejong said at the beginning. He said that he wanted to draft a talent show and choose a concubine from a good family girl. The emperor was young. Don't get confused about this and listen to the instigation of those ministers. They are afraid that the emperor will grow up and have help, and their power will be diluted. What kind of foreign relatives, this is pointing at Aijia's nose and scolding! Do you think that if you mourn your family like this, you will avoid suspicion and follow them?"

"The Marquis of Cheng'en's mansion is dedicated to its duties outside the home, with a bow and respect, sincerely serving the emperor, and being loyal to the imperial court. Even in the village, it also builds bridges and roads, and takes care of the village. There has never been a case of corruption, perverting the law, and bullying others. Discredit. What about the elders of the former court? Instead, they formed cliques for private interests and excluded those who were discordant, and now the court only knows about the cabinet Ji Dashi and Zhang Dashi, how can they remember that this is the world of the Xiao family."

When the Empress Dowager Sun talked about the emotional part, her eyes were red: "The emperor only needs to know that only our mother and son can rely on each other. The ministers in the cabinet outside are thinking that you have no one to help you, the emperor. You can only rely on them for everything. Ai family alone Widows, you can't help the emperor for long, there must be a good helper, someone from the previous court can serve the emperor at critical moments, and recruit some people who really serve the emperor."

"How can a son from a good family who knows nothing about a small family be able to respect the world? If he only cares about childbearing and doesn't know a few words, how can he raise the royal descendants? The emperor read the history books of this dynasty by himself, from Gaozu, Taizong, Sejong, ancestors Which one of you is a lady from a famous family who is not a queen? We don’t have a harem or foreign relatives to do politics. How come my son insists on marrying a queen with a low family background? It can be seen that the ministers have no good intentions."

"The Ai family raised you up from a young age and encouraged you to study hard. How can you not expect you to be good? At the beginning, the emperor appointed two ministers, Ai family and Prince Duan to assist the government. Counting on the peace of the world, who would have expected that this year is too old, greedy for profit, only thinking that the emperor must listen to the Ai family, and when the time comes, you can only see what Cheng Enhou has to say."

"The Ai family will arrange the wedding for you. From now on, you can eat fast and chant the Buddha's name with peace of mind. The affairs of the palace will be handed over to the queen. The Ai family can also rest for a while. Since the emperor came to the throne, what day will the Ai family live?" I have never found peace, and my heart is always anxious, I am afraid that I will live up to the great trust of the late emperor and mislead the world of the Xiao family..."

Xiao Yan said: "What the mother said is true." These are the words that the Empress Dowager Sun often whispered in his ear.He has been "sick" these days and has not gone to court, but he didn't know that some of the ministers had written a book to be selected among the daughters of good families in the capital.These are the assistant ministers of the previous dynasty. On the one hand, they refused to let the queen mother's relatives sit on the throne like this, and on the other hand, they prevented the rise of a new queen party.

Empress Dowager Sun said a few more words heartily, and then remembered that it was time to go to the Buddha to recite sutras, and then told the flower viewing party a few more words: "When the time comes for the flower viewing party, take care of your cousin."

Xiao Yan complied, and Empress Dowager Sun let him go back to Ziwei Palace, and she never mentioned it before going to the Buddha.

Xiao Yan went back to Ziwei Palace, and the Lich asked him: "That Prince Duan also has a very thin dragon aura on his body, is he very close to your blood?" Xiao Yan's body is even thicker.

Xiao Yan was stunned, a trace of sourness surged in his heart, but his face remained calm, he explained to the Lich: "That is the assistant prince, my uncle, the younger brother of the first emperor, who was in charge of the army before, 15 years old As far as he was successful in suppressing bandits, the troupe outside are still singing the scene where he rode into the village alone at the age of 15, persuaded the bandits to surrender, and the bandits abandoned their swords and begged for surrender."

"At the time when the late emperor was suddenly absent, some courtiers wanted to elect him. After all, he and the late emperor were brothers, close blood relatives, in their prime of life, and had served in the army, with excellent talents. But he resigned and only teamed up with the queen mother, picked me as his successor in the near branch, and inherited the throne."

The Lich asked, "Why did he resign?"

Xiao Yan said: "I also heard the legend, he said that he is a good Longyang, and he will definitely have no heirs in this life, so he refuses to accept the throne."

The Lich was thoughtful: "Good Longyang? Does that mean he likes men?"

Xiao Yan said: "I don't know if it's true or not. There are rumors that he was the Marshal of the Army and Horses at the beginning, and he was very close to General Lin Jiangping...but then General Lin defected to Beidi, and he resigned as the Marshal of the Army and Horses to avoid suspicion. After that, he stayed behind closed doors and indulged in mountains and rivers. At first, the late emperor was a little suspicious of him, but he simply handed in the commander's seal, and he had no friendship with courtiers and generals. He only planted flowers and melons on the village every day. The late emperor dispelled his doubts."

Lich asked: "Then why did Lin Jiangping defect?"

Xiao Yan said: "Speaking of which, it is also Beidi's countermeasures. When General Lin went out to fight, there was no news, so there were rumors that he was defeated in the war and was afraid of being questioned when he returned to Beijing, so he surrendered the city. The late emperor listened to it Rumors spread, so they ordered people to arrest Lin Jiangping's mother and relatives, and beheaded without explanation."

"As a result, when General Lin received the news, he was furious and really defected to Beidi and became the general there."

The lich fell silent.

Xiao Yan also said in a low voice after a while: "It's a pity. I read the dossier at that time, and I also thought it was a pity. The Beidi people are so treacherous. General Lin should also know. Although the first emperor listened to the slander, but That's because Beidi people conspired first, so why do they still want to join the enemy?"

Lich thought for a while and said: "This is how wars are - even if he came back at that time, the first emperor killed his whole family, how could he still trust him, he must be charged with other crimes. If you want to choose a side, that stupid Those who are not smart, there is no need to follow."

Xiao Yan said in a low voice: "But I think Uncle Duan is probably very sad. He said that he is a good Longyang, but for so many years, he has no one around him, neither a concubine nor a male favorite."

The Lich said: "It may be for self-protection."

Xiao Yan said: "That's right. At that time, the late emperor might not have doubted him. According to the law, if he had been accused of treason, marrying the princess would have harmed his whole family. It's just that he couldn't figure it out. Then when the late emperor was gone, why didn't he Are you willing to be emperor?"

The Lich said: "Maybe he really doesn't want to, or maybe he's not sure."

Xiao Yan was silent for a while: "I also guessed that way." Because he was not sure that he could seize the throne, it is better to establish a puppet emperor first.

A young puppet little emperor was the best choice for all the forces at that time. They were suspicious of each other and checked and balanced each other. At the same time, they launched the little emperor to ease the extreme situation that was imminent. redistribute.

It's just that the little emperor has grown up and has his own ambitions and unwillingness. He can't help being involved in this situation, and he also has to do everything he can to seize power and protect himself.

Xiao Yan hid a word and didn't ask Lich.

Uncle Duanhuang, is he more suitable to be an emperor than himself?Mature, powerful, brave, good at soldiers, and caring about the world, the imperial court and the queen mother only stare at his wedding to fight for power and profit, only he still has the people in his eyes, and he still cares about the river and the plague.

No matter how you look at it, the Dragon Qi is obviously stronger by King Duan's side than by his side.

If so, will the Lich come to him?

Xiao Yan didn't dare to ask.