Don't steal a man from me

This matter has to be talked about a month ago.

First let’s talk about Prince Ping of Chu State, the eldest prince of Chu State, born of the Queen of Chu, who has been weak since he was a child. He didn't want to stir up troubles in the palace because of this, and often gave up on bullying the prince.

The third prince, Chu Yunqi, couldn't bear to look down on him, and had been protecting Prince Ping. Chu Yunqi's birth mother, Zhao Shi, also regarded Prince Ping as her own son. In the harem where the dark tide was surging, the relationship between Zhao Shi and the Queen Mother was really like sisters.

On that day when Chu Yunqi paid tribute to the property, Prince Ping came to pay his respects to the Zhao family as usual after the court was dispersed, and overheard the conversation between the king of Chu and the Zhao family, and everything started from this.

"Father really loves Brother Yun so much! Chu Ping looked at King Chu with a sneer and said, "You are afraid that if Brother Yun becomes the crown prince, Brother Yun will become the target of public criticism, so you use the child as a shield for Brother Yun ? !"

It turned out that no matter how much effort I put in, I was not half as good as Brother Yun in the eyes of my father.

"Ping'er." King Chu frowned.

"They are also the sons of the father, why! Why is the father so partial to brother Yun! You tell the child, what did I do wrong?" Prince Ping hoarse, he questioned the old king of Chu, asking him why he was so unfair!

The king of Chu is silent, no matter how much he talks, it will be useless. As long as people have hearts, they will have a preference. Chu Yunqi is Mu Qing's favorite prince. He naturally prefers Chu Yunqi, but the throne...

"Ping'er, your father never meant that! Brother Yun never thought of competing with you for the crown prince!" Wei said urgently.

Now his words directly pushed Chu Yunqi to the cusp of the storm, if the crown prince didn't stand by Chu Yunqi's side, then Yun'er would be in danger.

Prince Ping glanced at Wei Shi, and walked away in a huff.

Soon, this whole matter was reported to Mrs. Zhao, and Zhao was shocked. She did not expect that the old Chu king would value Chu Yunqi who was not doing his job so much. The only reason was——

Chu Yunqi is definitely not a cynical, ignorant person! Thinking of this, Mrs. Zhao was in a cold sweat, and secretly went out of the palace to discuss countermeasures with Chu Xiangzhao.

"The only way now is to win over Prince Ping, kill the old king of Chu, then assist the prince to ascend to the throne, and then focus on dealing with Chu Yunqi!"

Chu Xiangzhao and the old scheming, he is much calmer than Zhao: "You quickly write a letter to Qingguo, asking Qingwang to send troops into Chu, the reason is that there is a civil strife in Chu, to protect the princess."

"Qingguo is my mother country. I am very clear about Brother Wang's ambition. Now that I am the concubine of Chu, how can I lure wolves into my house? This will bring disaster to Chu country." Really entering Chu to interfere in Chu's internal affairs will definitely cause chaos in Chu.

"Princess, don't worry, Qingguo is just a cover. The king of Chu will definitely send troops to strengthen the deployment. At this time, the capital will be empty. Brother Yunqi and Chuping turned against each other, and at that time, what can a small Yingcheng do? It’s not enough to fit our teeth.” There was cunning in Zhaohe Triangle’s eyes, and the shadow of the candlelight hit his thin face, revealing cold.

"That's good..." Mrs. Zhao nodded, stood up and said, "I don't want to stay here for a long time. The prince and Qingguo will be handled by me."

"Princess, go slowly." Zhao He saluted.

Mrs. Zhao didn't know, just after she left the city, King Chu's shadow guard followed her all the way, and when she returned to the palace, King Chu already knew all the plans.

"Bastard!" King Chu shook his sleeves and said angrily, "Shaohe, you old thief, you even dare to sell the country for power! I will kill that old thief right now!" As he spoke, he took Zhang Gongjian of the former king and was about to leave the palace.

"Your Majesty." Mrs. Wei stepped forward and grabbed King Chu's sleeve, shaking her head.

The King of Chu stopped, took a few deep breaths, and calmed down. He returned to the wooden chair and sat down. After a long time, he said in a deep voice, "Zhang Qing, secretly call Prince Ping, and ask him to wait for you in the ancestral temple."

"No." After Zhang Qing clasped his fists and saluted, he disappeared in a flash.

Prince Ping pushed open the heavy gate of the ancestral temple of the Chu family, and the king of Chu was kneeling on the futon in front of the ancestral hall, closing his eyes and whispering something.

"Father." Prince Ping's eyes flickered, and he stepped forward to call out, the rattan injury on his body was still aching, the queen learned that he had made a big noise in Jingquan Palace, and went back to teach him a lesson.

"Ping'er, come here." King Chu slowly opened his eyes and called softly.

"Yes." Chu Ping nodded, and knelt down on the futon beside King Chu.

"Ping'er, my father asks you, what is a king? What is a minister?"

"A ruler looks at the world with his spleen, and his heart is for the common people. A minister, Kunfu is the ruler, containing all things and having light."

"What is the heart of a king?"

"This... child is stupid, please teach me, father." Chu Ping paused.

"The heart of a king knows how to retreat to advance, hide the front and hide the light, and can carry the whole country on his shoulders, and let go of the love of his children." The king of Chu said word by word: "Ping'er, you are only soft-tempered. You will be a good courtier, and you will be the person your brother Yun trusts the most."

Chu Ping lowered his eyes and remained silent. King Chu's deep voice echoed in the ancestral hall for a long time, and the sound of the hourglass seemed particularly quiet in the huge palace.

"Since King Zhuang of Chu became king, my Great Chu has dominated the south for hundreds of years, thanks to the mutual help and trust between brothers. Ping'er, you are the prince of Chu. What you and Yun'er have to face Liming people of my Great Chu, your grievances are not the anger of the common people, bleeding a few steps, but the lives of thousands of soldiers of my Great Chu, this will be nothing in the world!"

"Father, my child understands. In this life, I will do my best to help Brother Yun. If Chu Ping has other intentions, he will be like this little finger." He cut off his right little finger with the sword he was wearing.

The king of Chu sighed and said: "Ping'er can say that, father and king can rest assured that Chu will be handed over to you." He held Chu Ping's hand and said.

"Father, what you said..." Chu Ping asked in pain.

The King of Chu smiled lovingly and said, "You and Brother Yun will protect the Kingdom of Chu on behalf of King Father."

After going to court the next day, the king of Chu suddenly announced that he would hunt in Lutai three days later.

Chu Xiangzhao sneered, and when he returned to the palace, he wrote a secret letter and sent it to King Chu's palace.

"The king of Chu hunted in Lutai five days later, and the plan has changed. Madam, please win over the prince as soon as possible, and plot to besiege the king of Chu to force him to abdicate. 1 veterans are outside to support him."

After reading the secret letter, Mrs. Zhao's complexion changed drastically. She had already sent the secret letter to Qingguo, but the king of Chu suddenly said that he wanted to hunt.

"Ma'am, don't worry, King Qing is your elder brother and will not hurt you. Maybe this time the Chu country is in chaos, madam is the first to do it! In my opinion, madam simply killed the old king of Chu with a single knife." Her personal maid four said in a low voice.

"This, this, this, how can I do this." Mrs. Zhao looked a little confused.

"Ma'am! Think about it, since you married into this palace, the King of Chu has loved you a little bit," Si'er said.

"Yes, he never loved me." Mrs. Zhao smiled bitterly.

"So, why can't Madam not take action against such a heartless man?" Si'er sneered, looked at Madam Zhao, and further lured him; "Kill him, and Madam can enjoy boundless glory."

Mrs. Zhao's eyes gradually became vicious, and she murmured: "If you are ruthless, don't blame me for being ungrateful! Call Ming'er."

In the dead of night, Chu Ming's mother and son kept talking in secret, saying that the east is already clear.

After seeing off the second prince, Chu Ming, Mrs. Zhao dressed up meticulously, and took brocade silk, rouge, gouache, and all kinds of treasures to the Queen's Palace of Chu.

"How is sister?" Mrs. Zhao asked with a smile before she stepped into the threshold of Jinfang Palace.

Mrs. Zhuo was having a meal with the crown prince, when she saw Mrs. Zhao coming in, she put down her chopsticks and gave a salute with a gentle smile: "Sister, please sit down."

Zhao smiled and sat down beside Prince Ping, took Prince Ping's hand kindly and said: "Look, before you know it, Ping'er has become a crowned adult, look at this full-body demeanor, just like a king." The phase!"

Zhuo smiled faintly, bowed his head to eat, and did not answer.

Mrs. Zhao continued: "Poor Ping'er is weak, and let the third prince take the limelight." Looking at Prince Ping with regret, he burst into tears.

"Sister's words are a bit serious." Zhuo said lightly.

"My sister doesn't know how the Wei family's mother and son slandered my sister and the crown prince in front of the king. Even my younger sister can't stand it anymore." Zhao said fiercely, with a look of resentment for Zhuo's.

Zhuo smiled lightly, got up and said: "Ping'er, I'm a little tired, you can sit with Mrs. Zhao." Prince Ping responded sullenly, and continued to eat with his head down.

After Zhuo Shi left, the prince said flatly: "Concubine Zhao doesn't have to beat around the bush, just say what you want."

"Abolish the king of Chu, assist the crown prince to ascend the position, and get rid of Chu Yunqi." Seeing him asking this question, Mrs. Zhao leaned closer and whispered.

"Oh, what is Madam planning to do?" The prince raised his eyebrows flatly.

"Tomorrow the king of Chu is hunting, and my son will cooperate with the prime minister internally and externally to assist the prince to take the throne." Zhao said.

"If that's the case...then I'll trouble Madam and Mr. Xiangguo." Prince Ping smiled and bowed his hands to Mrs. Zhao.

That night, Wang Cheng did not sleep.

On the day of the hunt, the wind was breezy and the sky was bright and clear. The king of Chu led all the civil and military officials to hunt at the Lutai hunting ground in the east of Yancheng City, and asked Zhuo and other harem concubines to accompany him.

The King of Chu was dressed in royal clothes and a crown and sat on the deer platform overlooking the generals fighting their prey on the hunting ground. During this period, the King of Chu turned his head and said to Wei Shi and Zhuo Shi: "Both of you, go and order the dining room to prepare more food and wine. , I want to get drunk with my lovers today!"

Zhuo Shi and Wei Shi looked at each other, and then Yingying bowed to the King of Chu and stepped back. A careful maid found tears in their eyes.

Zhao was overjoyed, feeling that the time was right, she pulled out the short blade she had prepared in advance from her bosom, and stabbed at King Chu without hesitation.

There were only some concubines and maidservants left on the deer platform, and when they saw the assassination of the king of Chu, they all fled in panic.

Mrs. Zhao raised her eyes and saw the dust flying outside the paddock. It must be that the army led by the Prime Minister and Chu Ming was fighting with the guards of the Chu Palace. She was overjoyed and looked at the dying King Chu and said, "Haha, this Chu Kingdom belongs to my son!"

The King of Chu glanced at Mrs. Zhao lightly, smiled, turned his head with difficulty, looked into the distance, his eyes gradually blurred, and called: "Ah Qing..."

When Mrs. Zhao was proud, Mrs. Wei and Mrs. Zhuo led the troops to Lutai, Mrs. Zhuo threw herself in front of the King of Chu and cried loudly. Mrs. Wei glanced at Mrs. Zhao and said, "It's locked."

Two guards behind her quickly stepped forward, and an iron chain clattered to lock Zhao's hands and feet.

"What are you doing? My son has already led the army to surround this place. If you are sensible, let me go this morning!" Zhao struggled.

Wei Shi sneered, turned around and walked down the deer platform, followed by the guards escorting Zhao Shi.

Outside the hunting ground, [-] soldiers stood quietly. Chu Xiangzhao and Chu Ming were bound and knelt in front of the crown prince. Mrs. Zhao was stunned. She broke away from the guards, threw herself to Chu Ming and cried, "What's going on?" How is this going?"

The crown prince said calmly: "Zhao, Zhaohe, and Chuming intend to rebel, dragged them out and beheaded!"

"Prince, you are wronged, Prince!" Zhao cried.

Prince Ping waved his hand impatiently, signaling for execution as soon as possible.

"Wait a minute!" I saw a horse running like a gust of wind in the distance.

When he came to the front, the horse stopped with a long hiss, and the envoy of Qingguo in red got off his horse and said, "General Qingguojing leads the army to protect the princess. The army has reached the border of Qingchu. The city gate welcomes the Qing army to enter the city."

"Oh? Why do you want to protect the princess?" Wei smiled and said slowly.

"Chu's civil strife, my king is afraid that the princess will die." Qingshi said.

"My king is hunting in Lutai. Where did the civil strife come from?" Wei Shi shrugged, looked at Zhuo Shi, smiled gently, and stepped forward and said, "Besides, where did my Chu Kingdom come from, Princess Qingguo?"

"Chu Concubine Zhao is my royal sister." Qing said.

"The envoys all say that she is Concubine Chu, why is the princess here? Since she is already married to my king, there is no mention of Princess Qingguo. Besides, when did King Qing be so enthusiastic that he even takes care of our Chu country's housework! "Wei Shi put away his smile little by little, and said with a cold snort.

The envoy glanced at the Wei family, sweating coldly. He did not expect a concubine to be so powerful, and she couldn't say a word when asked for a while.

"I'm sorry to bother you to go back and tell General Jing, saying that Qingguo's heart is in Chu's heart, but my little state of Chu can't accommodate General Jing's many troops, so please return quickly." Wei said with a pleasant face. , turned to Prince Ping and said: "Prince, the king has sent a message saying that today is as good as it gets, so let's go back to the palace."

Prince Ping nodded, and said loudly: "Get up and escort the king and the ladies back to the palace!" After speaking, [-] soldiers and courtiers followed Prince Ping and left.

The inner hall of Chu Palace.The guard came to report and said: "Qingguo Jingming shows no sign of retreating."

Wei frowned, and said to Prince Ping: "The country cannot live without a king. Please hold the enthronement ceremony as soon as possible to stabilize the courtiers. As for the king's funeral, we will wait until the Qing army has retreated."

"Mother called Brother Yun back as soon as possible." Prince Ping took out a book of state from his arms and handed it to Wei.

Wei Shi was puzzled, took it, unfolded it, quickly glanced at it, and said: "Abolish Prince Ping, and make son Yun Qi the crown prince!" She handed the letter of credence to Prince Ping and said, "Yun'er is embarrassed by this important task, and invite the prince to ascend the throne."

"Mother, don't refuse any more. This is written by the father himself. It was handed over to the boy in the ancestral temple that day. There is also a silk book, which is to be handed over to Brother Yun."

Prince Ping smiled and said: "The father called Chu Ping to him that day, and let the child understand some things."

"The ancestors worked hard and worked hard, so that the state of Chu could become stronger. If the children are not talented, if the hard work of these generations is ruined by the children, then Chu Ping will be a sinner through the ages. Now all countries are staring at me. Chu, Chu The country needs Brother Yun to turn the tide."

Wei took Chu Ping's hand and said, "Ping'er is suffering, thanks to you leading the troops to surround the Prime Minister's Mansion first so that the Zhaohe old thief can't send troops to support Chu Ming."

"This time, if it wasn't for my mother and my father's plan to lure the Zhao family into a trap, the rebellion would not have been quelled so quickly, and the encirclement and suppression of the rebels would have all depended on my uncle. Where did Ping'er get the credit? It's just my father... "Princess Ping burst into tears as he said that.

At that time, the Wei family discussed with the king of Chu and tried their best to oppose the king of Chu using himself as a bait under the guise of going out for hunting.

Wei said that if the ruler of a country makes a mistake, the country will be in chaos.

The King of Chu just smiled at that time, but didn't answer the words. Now it seems that he wanted to clear all obstacles and even himself for Chu Yunqi's successful ascension to the throne.

It's just that the Wei family and the king of Chu didn't expect that they were still one step too late. The Zhao family still sent the secret letter to Qingguo. "Quickly return to Yan".

In one month, Chu Yunqi received two letters, one was "Change in the court", which was sent to Chu Yunqi by the Wei family when they learned that the Zhao family and Zhaohe were plotting a rebellion, fearing that they would raid Yingcheng. Yes, the "Hurry back to Yan" sent after that is the second letter.

Chu Yunqi received the second letter while he was injured. Seeing that it was sealed with a copper tube and delivered by his personal maid, he knew that the civil strife had been settled. It must be something unexpected happened to the father and the king. The succession of the new king is uncertain. , Urgently called himself back to Yan, and immediately rushed back to Yancheng with Fan Yao.

As dusk fell, Chu Yunqi and Fan Yao walked to the gate of Yancheng, and the guards shouted from afar: "Who is here?" Chu Yunqi handed the seal worn by Marquis Yingle on his waist to the soldiers, and said, "Marquis Yingle. "

After the guards saw it, they hurriedly opened the city gate, Chu Yunqi said "Thank you", and galloped out of the palace.

Jingquan Palace. "My Yun'er, let mother see how she has lost a lot of weight. Mrs. Wei said as she held Chu Yunqi in her arms.

"Mother, let me go first." Chu Yunqi struggled.

"What a boy! How dare you talk to your mother like that!" Wei Shi was furious, he raised his hand and hit him, Chu Yunqi didn't hide, let Wei Shi hit him.

He turned to face Zhuo, and Chu Ping saluted: "Mother, Brother Ping."

"Hurry up and let the aunt take a look." Zhuo pulled Chu Yunqi over, looked up and down, and his eyes got wet: "My Yun'er has grown up."

As she spoke, she took Chu Ping's hand again and said, "You two brothers have often fought over the candied cakes I made since you were young. Do you still fight now?"

"If brother Ping still fights with Yun'er, Yun'er will still fight." Chu Yunqi laughed.

"Okay, don't talk so much." Wei smiled, then turned to call the maid, "Xiang Wen, tell the dining room to cook some food."

Ten years later, the two brothers met again. Chu Ping looked Chu Yunqi up and down, and sighed: "I haven't seen Brother Yun for many years, and he looks more and more heroic. My father will be very happy to see it."

As soon as the former king was mentioned, everyone's expressions dimmed, and Zhuo's eyes glistened with tears, holding Chu Yunqi's hand, staring at him blankly, and said softly, "Yun'er, your father has always been your father. I have high hopes for you..."

Chu Yunqi was taken aback for a moment, he paused for a moment and smiled and said, "Ma'am, you have to pay attention to your body, if you feel bored, come to Jingquan Palace to talk to my mother."

Zhuo sighed, and Chu Ping was afraid that his mother would be too sad, so he stepped forward and complained, "Mother, am I your own? You have been talking to Brother Yun since he came back."

"You child, why are you talking?" Zhuo Shi glared at him, stretched out his pale finger and pushed his forehead, and said angrily.

After such a commotion, the atmosphere in Jingquan Palace was no longer so heavy. The Wei family hadn't seen their son for many years, so it was inevitable that they would love each other for a while. Chu Yunqi and Chu Ping had been close like brothers since childhood, and they were often in Zhuo's Jinfang. Playing in the palace, Zhuo Shi also treated Chu Yunqi as his own son, and for a while, the four of them enjoyed themselves happily.

The author has something to say: In fact, the abdication of every king in history is very dangerous. This country is equipped with a bomb, and the courtiers usually choose a prince from the previous king to assist them, either for self-protection or for rights. This is the so-called "standing in line". The surface is calm, but there is an undercurrent under the surface, which is equivalent to a group of hungry wolves trapped in a trap, and the only way to survive is to bite each other to death.The power struggle at this time is also the cruelest. It is no exaggeration to say that if a powerful country goes through such civil strife, its national power will definitely be greatly reduced, which is fatal to a country.So, the old king of Chu is really clever in handling this matter, and of course our Chu Ping is also very good.