Don't steal a man from me

In the early morning light, the morning star hangs in the dark sky and shimmers. The crowing of the farmhouse breaks the last sliver of silence before dawn, and Yancheng, who has slept all night, slowly wakes up.

Su Jue adjusted his white clothes and golden phoenix suit. Today he was wearing the nine-day court phoenix and purple jade crown, and the Bian jade around his waist was shining brightly. He sighed almost inaudibly, and stepped into the carriage.

The car rumbled past the bluestone alley at the gate of Xiangfu, turned into the main street, and finally stopped at the Chariot and Horse Square in front of the Chu Palace.The coachman jumped out of the cart and put the bench for Su Jue. After waiting for a while, seeing that Su Jue hadn't got off the car, he hesitated and said tentatively, "Xiangguo, we've arrived at the palace."

Su Jue's eyes moved away from the magnificent King Chu's palace, the corners of his lips curled up, and he leaned out of the carriage and said, "Got it."

The scarlet felt was spread all the way to the palace of King Chu above the 36 white jade steps, and Su Jue stepped up the steps step by step.

Sure enough, people will cherish something unusually after they lose it.

From today onwards, he might never have the chance to wear this white golden phoenix Chu Xiangfu, and never have the chance to step on the 36th white jade step.

No longer, there is no way to see that man dressed in royal clothes sitting on the throne with a fierce and decisive look every day.

The chariots of the courtiers of the Chu court also stopped in the Chariot and Horse Square one after another. All the officials got off the chariots one after another, and greeted Su Jue with different expressions. Thoughts bubbling under the smile.

Prime Minister Chu sent a secret letter to King Xi privately, not to mention that his original intention was for the Chu State, but the seriousness of this matter can be imagined just because a powerful minister of one country sent a secret letter to the king of another country without authorization. What's more, now that Chu is isolated, he will face the danger of the whole world cutting him down at any time.

It's just that Su Jue is a meritorious official of the Chu Kingdom, and the King of Chu has not expressed anything. For a while, the officials dare not neglect this Zhaowen Lord who holds a lot of power, seals thousands of households, and has a status comparable to that of the monarch of a small country in the Central Plains.

Waiting for all the ministers to stand still in the palace of Chu, stand on the third white jade steps and shout: "Mao hour is on time, my king will go to court—"

All the ministers raised their heads to look at the screen with the phoenix totem painted on it. After about half a cup of tea, Chu Yunqi, who was dressed in Dongjun Xuanzhu King's clothes and a crown on his head, came out from behind the screen. He walked slowly to the throne and turned around. After sitting down, he glanced at the ministers.

"My king, Wannian—" All the ministers clasped their hands together and saluted loudly.

Chu Yunqi raised his hand and pressed down slightly, and when Chu Dian calmed down, he said: "This morning, I only said one thing. When the four kingdoms were united, the secret letter sent by Xiangguo to Xiguo was passed through The widow acquiesces, this trick of "directing disaster to the east" was jointly planned by the widow and the prime minister, and the widow did not expect that King Xi would "plead guilty" in the end, so the widow also has a certain responsibility for this matter. Chu fell into a situation surrounded by enemies. He should be punished with fifty lashes, be removed from the position of prime minister, take back his fief, and remove his monarch. The household was sealed off, his title of Emperor Zhaowen was removed, and the widow received fifty lashes on his behalf."

All the ministers were in an uproar. Since ancient times, the king has been a symbol of a country, and it is a rule that people acquiesced to punish a doctor, let alone punishing a king? !

That is to say, even if the king did something wrong, people would blame all the mistakes on the incompetence of the courtiers. The words of the young king of Chu made everyone feel deeply respected instead of shocked.

Su Jue looked up at Chu Yunqi, who was sitting facing the south against the light, and his face was covered by the hanging curtain, so Su Jue couldn't see his expression clearly.

In the hot summer of June, when the sun was scorching the earth, the people of Yancheng gathered in the chariot and horse square, stretching their necks and looking forward.

Chu Yunqi was dressed in royal clothes and knelt in front of the temporary altar built on the chariot and horse square. He straightened his body, waved his sleeves and intertwined his hands. Put me into a situation where I am surrounded by enemies, and I shall be punished with fifty lashes according to the law."

The jailer stood beside him with a whip, and the prison order shouted, "Flogging!"

With an order, the jailer whipped him down, Chu Yunqi gasped, his skin burst open when the whip came down, and the pain was burning, he frowned, gritted his teeth and straightened his back, without saying a word.

After fifty lashes, there was no intact skin on Chu Yunqi's back. Those wounds in all directions looked more hideous under the scorching sun, and the bright red blood soaked through the thick and complicated royal clothes. Chu Yunqi almost fainted this time.

It was finally over, Chu Yunqi breathed a sigh of relief, stood up staggeringly, and the waiter standing beside him hurriedly stepped forward to support him.

Chu Yunqi obeyed, raised his voice vigorously and said: "Today, I am here to declare to the world: I, Chu Yunqi, the current monarch of the Chu Kingdom, will be self-restraining and diligent in this life, and strive to build Chu into the Huaxia Kingdom of the Central Plains vassals." The largest country! Any sage with a chest can enter Chu, and I will treat him as a superior!"

In the bedroom of the King of Chu, the waiters were in a hurry, their foreheads were covered with beads of sweat, and their expressions were worried.

Chu Yunqi fell asleep lying on the pillow embroidered with phoenix patterns, the wound on his back had been treated by the doctor, the waiter brought out pots of bloody water, and brought back pots of clean water, The bitter smell of ointment mixed with the smell of blood lingered in the bedroom for a long time.

Empress Dowager Wei was sitting by the bed, carefully wiping the sweat off Chu Yunqi's face, it hit her son and hurt her mother's heart, Zhuo was sitting on the other side of the bed with tears streaming down her face, sobbing softly, Chu Ping stepped forward to hug her. Zhuo said softly: "Mother, Brother Yun's injury needs rest. If you cry like this, if you hurt your body, if Brother Yun wakes up, you should blame yourself again. I will take you out for a walk."

Empress Dowager Wei touched the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, sighed, and said, "Sister, I'm here with Yun'er, don't be too sad, this child has rough skin and thick flesh since he was a child, he is resistant to beating."

Zhuo nodded with tears in her eyes, and Chu Ping helped her out of the bedroom.

Chu Yunqi lay on the bed in a dazed state, and when he was conscious, the whip wound on his back made him sweat profusely.

When he was unconscious, he felt that his consciousness was floating and his mind was wandering.

He vaguely felt that he had come under the old pine tree in Xiaoyao Valley, under the bright moon and the breeze, Su Jue in white was playing the piano with a gentle expression.

The scene changed, and the lights of Qianjia were dim and warm amidst the smoke from the cooking. He saw that Su Jue, who was holding his sleeves, was carefully mixing peach blossom juice into the snow-white rice, with a strand of hair falling down from his forehead and hanging on his shoulders.

The scene changed again. Su Jue was wearing white clothes and a golden phoenix suit, and walked towards him with a smile on her face. Chu Yunqi subconsciously hooked the corners of her lips, and reached out to hold his hand.

The details of getting along day and night are infinitely magnified at this time. It turns out that the frown and smile of the boy in white have already been integrated into his flesh and blood, and they will naturally appear before his eyes without thinking about it. This is probably the feeling that is unforgettable.

Chu Yunqi was fully awake and it had been three days since the day of execution. He opened his eyes, Zhuo Shi was sitting by the bed with red eyes, Empress Dowager Wei was also sitting on the wooden chair by the bed, frowning deeply, Chu Yunqi Twitching the corners of her mouth, she tried her best to give Zhuo a smile, and said softly, "Mother, Yun'er is fine."

It’s okay if he didn’t speak, but when he spoke, Zhuo cried again, Chu Yunqi slowly raised his hand to hold Zhuo’s white and soft hand, and comforted softly, Chu Ping also stepped forward to embrace Zhuo in his arms Chu Ping comforted her in a low voice, finally Zhuo stopped crying, Chu Ping took her back to the doctor's mansion, Chu Yunqi struggled to support his upper body, looked at Queen Mother Wei, curled his lips and called: "Mother."

Empress Dowager Wei shook her head, sat down beside him, softened her eyes and said, "Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt."

"Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Mom will make it for you."

"I'm not hungry..." Chu Yunqi paused and said, "Lan Jun...where does he live now?"

Empress Dowager Wei frowned, sighed almost inaudibly, and her voice became colder, she said: "You have been in a coma for the past few days. , and now lives in the east of Yancheng 'Spring Breeze Threshold'."

After hearing this, Chu Yunqi's face darkened, he struggled to get up and said anxiously: "Hurry up and send someone to pick him up to the palace! Go immediately!"

"Why is that?" Empress Dowager Wei gave a displeased "tsk".

"Chu's isolation from Lan'er has nothing to do with him. We deposed him and took back his fiefdom. We are already sorry for him. In the early dynasty, he was still a prime minister admired by thousands of people. In the blink of an eye, his reputation was ruined. I can't stand those gossips either, mother, I beg you, take him here." Because of his anxiety, Chu Yunqi's back injury was cracked again, and his voice trembled slightly when he spoke.

Empress Dowager Wei's eyes flickered, she sighed and said, "Okay, I'll send someone to pick him up right away."

"Baby thanked mother on behalf of Lan'er." Chu Yunqi breathed a sigh of relief.

After about a meal, there were footsteps outside the bedroom, Chu Yunqi raised his head from the pillow, and the waiter walked in with Su Jue.

Su Jue was wearing a deep moon-white dress, without a crown, and her long black hair was loosely tied with a vermilion headband, hanging behind her head.

Chu Yunqi waved his hand, signaling all the waiters in the hall to retreat, then stared at Su Jue without saying a word.

I haven't seen you for a few days, like spring and autumn.

After a long time, Chu Yunqi curled his lips and said, "Come here, help the widow to get up."

Su Jue raised her eyebrows, gave a "tsk", stepped forward, put her hand on his armpit, and supported him gently against the head of the bed.

"May I ask which nobleman your young master is?"

Chu Yunqi looked at him, his deep eyes were full of smiles, and he repeated what he said when he first met Su Jue that day.

Su Jue softened her gaze, and replied softly with a smile, "I am a living Bodhisattva in Xiaying City."

Chu Yunqi tilted his body and leaned against Su Jue's arms. He breathed the familiar Lanxiang. He closed his eyes and said softly: "It's raining, it's raining, there is a beautiful person in the east of the pear orchard. The attack of the bandit car, what's the matter?" In the mud?"

Su Jue held him in her arms, interlocked his fingers, tilted her head and kissed his temples, and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

"It hurts." Chu Yunqi pursed his lips, looked up at Su Jue and said, "If you kiss me, it won't hurt anymore."

"Okay." Su Jue nodded, and lowered her head to press his warm thin lips.

"Hmm..." Chu Yunqi was taken aback for a moment. Those words were meant to tease Su Jue, but he didn't wait for the man to get up with a blushing face and sullenness, but he was caught off guard. kiss.

His heartbeat gradually accelerated, and Chu Yunqi's throat rolled up and down unconsciously. He felt extremely hot all over. He wanted to hug Su Jue, wanting more. He stretched out his hand to pinch Su Jue's chin, and pulled him down. , deepened that kiss.

Su Jue struggled and turned his head. His breathing was a little unsteady, his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were a little loose. He breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, "Your injury hasn't healed yet, be careful of the wound opening."

Chu Yunqi gave a "tsk" in desire and dissatisfaction, and wanted to go up to kiss the man's cheek, but was slapped away by Su Jue. He rubbed in Su Jue's arms for a long time, and finally exhausted, leaning against him In his arms, he closed his eyes and rested contentedly.

Su Jue lowered her head and caressed his eyebrows, his voice came from the top of Chu Yunqi's head: "This time we have a good relationship with Mo, we must lower our figure, and it is best to have a little flattery in the alliance letter."

"Also, it's best to show that we, Chu, are surrounded by enemies and urgently need to find a country to form an alliance, so as to guard against Xi's continuous crusade. The gift given to Mo is handled by the senior doctor Chu Ping, who is cautious and careful , and consider things very thoughtfully.”

"The princess who is going to marry the King of Mo will be recruited in the country as soon as possible. In addition, I will find ten beautiful Chu daughters to marry. The princess's dowry must also be carefully prepared. The matter of encouraging Chu people to move to Modi can be announced after the princess's wedding. As for the rest of the details, we will wait. I'll pass the book back and do it again."

"Yeah." Chu Yunqi didn't open his eyes, and rubbed his head against the palm of his hand, brushing his temples with slightly cool fingertips, Chu Yunqi enjoyed this kind of comfort very much.

"By the way, Xiangguo can't be vacant. If no suitable candidate can be found for the time being, the senior doctor Chu Ping can take the position." Su Jue continued.

"Leave in a few days, okay? You will stay in the palace during this time. Tell me what you want to do, what you want to eat, what you want to play, and where you want to go. During this time, you don't want anything. Leave it alone, okay?" Chu Yunqi looked up at him and said every word.

Su Jue looked softly, his brows and eyes curved into smiles, and he nodded and replied, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

How could he not know what he was thinking? The people in front of him wanted to hold him in the palm of his hand and protect him. Many ministers were impeached by him, but he threw them into the brazier without saying a word. For personal use, to protect Chang'an, even fifty lashes are reluctant to let myself suffer. This kind of pampering is like Chu wine. When you drink it, it is light and light, and you sip it carefully. It is sweet but not greasy and lingers between your lips and teeth for a long time. Let people sink deeper and deeper.

After resigning as Prime Minister, Su Jue stayed in the King Chu's bedroom, Chu Yunqi did not allow him to deal with any state affairs, Su Jue couldn't hold him back, so he had to give up, reading sage books in the palace every day, it was leisurely.

There was no prime minister in the middle school for a while, and Chu Yunqi had to handle all the big and small affairs in the middle school. Although it was a lot of work, the efficiency was greatly reduced, so Chu Yunqi adjusted Chu's official positions from top to bottom.

When the prime minister is in power, he can lead the army to go out and enter the prime minister's government. He still respects power. In order to check and balance the prime minister's power, Chu Yunqi set up certain official positions to manage military affairs, diplomatic relations and civil affairs separately.

In terms of military affairs, there are generals, generals, generals, generals, Mo Ao, etc.; in terms of diplomatic relations, there are official positions such as Lingyin, Dazai, and Zuotu;

Among them, Zhu Guo is the highest military officer of Chu, which is held by Wei Ran, Shang Dafu is the highest official of state relations, which is held by Chu Ping, and Da Sima is the highest civil officer, which is held by Zhuo Yao.

In this way, the power of Xiangguo is almost emptied, that is to say, even if Chu does not set up the post of Xiangguo, it will not affect the daily operation of state affairs. But it is no longer as powerful and high-status as Su Jue was when he was in power.

What Chu Yunqi didn't expect was that, in order to weaken the power of the prime minister, the emperors of all dynasties adopted his system by coincidence.

Chu Yunqi has been processing the memorials presented in the side hall since the end of the morning dynasty. He did not finish processing the last bamboo slip of the day until the entire Yancheng city was lit up with thousands of lanterns. He got up and moved his body. Still waiting for him in the bedroom, the corners of Chu Yunqi's mouth raised unconsciously, he walked out of the side hall quickly, and walked towards the bedroom under the brilliant light of the lamp.

In the bedroom of the king of Chu, there is a candlestick, and one person holds a scroll.

Su Jue was dressed in a white shirt, holding a scroll of books in white jade-like hands, time was frozen on him, no matter how noisy the palace was, he was always very quiet, his smile was as elegant as an orchid in an empty valley, and his brows and eyes seemed like Like a fairy in a painting, the tenderness just spread out little by little, and it seemed that the passage of time could not be seen on him.

A secluded orchid was quietly blooming next to the desk, exuding a faint fragrance. He was the only one in the huge bedroom, sitting there lightly, waiting for him to come back.

Chu Yunqi stepped into the bedroom and saw this scene.

Under the orange candlelight, the man with picturesque eyebrows was sitting quietly, his eyelashes drooping, as if waiting for a thousand years, even the time became gentle.

"Lan'er!" Chu Yunqi called out, stepping forward to embrace her in his arms, the familiar faint fragrance of orchids, and the familiar voice.

The man in his arms said, "You're back."

It's just that I haven't seen each other for a day, and after a long time, my full of lovesickness finally turned into a faint response-"I'm back".

Su Jue's slightly cool fingertips lightly touched the person's eyebrows and eyes. He carefully looked at the person in front of him. After a long time, he smiled and said, "Why didn't the crown come off, and the court clothes didn't take off." After speaking, he got up and was about to change his clothes .

Chu Yunqi stood there obediently like a child, watching Su Jue's long and slender hands like white jade take the crown for himself, took off the heavy royal clothes, tidied them up and put them aside, and took a piece of paper from the side of the bed. Put on a dark black coat for yourself.

Chu Yunqi's eyes flickered, and there was a smile on his lips. He sat down beside the desk in a very relaxed manner. Su Jue had just untied his crown. At this time, his long hair was scattered behind him, shaking his head. Complaining to Su Jue all the time, what do those courtiers do for food, and they have to ask for instructions on any small problem.

While making tea, Su Jue listened quietly. When the clear fragrance of tea diffused in the bedroom, Su Jue took a cup and poured it out, and put it beside the desk for him.

Chu Yunqi hugged Su Jue, and said with a sly smile: "Even my usual clothes are placed beside the bed, Lan'er really puts her heart into it, why don't you be my Queen of Chu."

Hearing what he said, Su Jue blushed immediately and struggled to get up. Chu Yunqi hugged him tightly, lowered his head and pressed his thin lips, greedily sucking Su Jue's unique tenderness, Chu Yunqi wished to put his eyes on him. People hold it in the palm of their hand and protect it at the tip of their heart.

After a long time, Chu Yunqi reluctantly let go of the blushing person, Su Jue's eyes were a little blurred, he leaned softly in Chu Yunqi's arms and gasped, Chu Yunqi hugged the person with one hand, and took the tea on the desk with the other, He raised his head and drank it all, and said with a smile: "Good tea!" After speaking, he got up and hugged Su Jue and walked towards the bed with soft tents.

The two hugged and lay down, Chu Yunqi told him all the big and small national affairs these days, Su Jue leaned in his arms, just looked at him, and listened quietly, the bright moon and bamboo forest outside the window, dense phoenix tails, beautiful shadows Throwing it on the bamboo window lattice, the two whispered to each other, as affectionate as the farm couple.