warm garden

The messenger continued: "Duke Wu was hit by the poisonous arrow of the Liao army and died in front of the army!"

Above the main hall, there was an instant silence...

King Qing has been going crazy these days. When he heard that Duke Wu was killed in battle, he sat on the ground with his hands straight up.At the same time, Ming Jue, who was ashen-faced, also sat on the ground paralyzed when he heard about the report, holding his head in his hands, unable to catch his breath, tears streaming down his face extremely quietly, and weeping silently while hugging his head.Standing next to him, Qi Yushi slowly knelt down, patted Ming Jue's back, wanted to say "sorry and change", but he couldn't say it, and his eyes were full of tears. A few days ago when he learned of Bai Heyun's death, His wife, Wang Yuehua, also fell ill, so Duke Wu also...

There was no regret, no discussion, just a dead silence...

King Qing floated into the Funing Hall like a ghost, entered the hall, and in front of the royal family, in front of the official's bed, said with a dull expression: "The Liao army was defeated, Duke Wu died in battle, and soon...return to the court. "After speaking, looking at the father who had been in a coma for six days and hadn't woken up, tears shed silently, and he sat on the ground blankly.

Everyone: "..."

Zhao Anchen glanced at the still unresponsive dragon couch and the completely expressionless mother concubine, worried, closed his eyes slightly, frowned, and asked softly, "When will General Bai's coffin enter the capital?"

The servant said: "Take the horse back quickly and enter Beijing about the day after tomorrow."

Zhao Anchen said: "Understood."

Just after midnight, Zhao Anchen sneaked into the tent, took out the hidden snacks and fruits from his pocket, and gave them to the officials.

After eating and drinking, the official took out a green pill the size of a soybean from under his pillow, put it on the palm of his hand, showed it to Zhao Anchen, and said with a smile on his face, "Chen'er, my father will pass away in a short while. It's just seven days after dawn. .”

Zhao Anchen said: "Is Aunt Yun really dead?"

The official thought for a while and said, "Yes."

Zhao Anchen was shocked, couldn't believe what he heard, and asked again: "Where's Uncle Ming?"

The official said: "Yes."

Zhao Anchen's eyes were extremely flustered, his heart ached, and he murmured quietly: "...Ming Huan..." He stretched out his hand and pulled off the gold medal on the official's waist, got out of the curtain, and left Funing Palace without looking back, and rode on his horse to charge Going out of the palace city and walking to the city gate, the guards on duty at night held up torches and looked down at King Ning, shouting: "His Royal Highness Ning Wang, there is a curfew in the palace city, you can go out of the city at dawn."

Zhao Anchen raised the token, and the general on duty at night looked at it, and shouted: "Open the door!"

Zhao Anchen galloped all the way to Nuanyuan in the northern suburbs.

Sitting on the bed, the official felt wronged: "I'm going to die tomorrow..." He put the pill in his mouth and swallowed it, and lay back down again.

Hu Hang sat in the study of the Hu Mansion and was very happy: "Good! Great! God help me, the plan went very smoothly. Sure enough, I am the material to be a king. Ming Ruiran is really a general. He will definitely hit the Liao army hard when he goes out to fight. , let him not dare to violate the border in a short time, and I can take care of the affairs in Beijing, and the Liao army can help the old man get rid of this Ming Ruiran, good! That's great!"

Hu Kang also beamed with joy: "Father is brilliant, he kills two birds with one stone!"

Hu Hang waved his hands and smiled: "Oh, where is it? It's not me who is smart, it's God who is smart. Looking at the situation, the officials may not be able to wake up. It will be the seventh day. If he dies, and there is no crown prince, no I know how much trouble it will save me. If a national funeral is held at this time, hahahahahaha, it’s really great, all the blood of the royal family with the right to inherit will automatically gather together, saving me from having to kill one by one, and it’s all done in one pot! Overnight Kill all the royal blood, hahahaha, God is so eye-opening!"

When Hu Kang heard this, he immediately laughed excitedly and said, "Wonderful! Father is lucky, and the situation is incredible!"

Hu Hangdao: "Nowadays, I have been working hard for my father for many years. Half of the courtiers are close to the Hu family. If there is a sudden change in the palace, the court situation will not be disrupted. Half of the local officials and Xiangjun have interests in connection with me. Naturally support Hu. Home, stable control of the place, now that I hold the military power of hundreds of thousands of imperial troops in the Song Dynasty, it is my turn to sit in the world with the Hu family. Hahahahaha!"

Hu Kang asked: "Which day does father plan to start an incident?"

Hu Hang said: "Don't be rash and reckless, you must be cautious. After the bodies of Bai Heyun and Ming Ruiran come to Beijing, I will go to condole in person and see if they are really dead. That Ming Ruiran is a serious problem. He He has led the imperial army for a long time, and his prestige in the army is extremely high, and his military exploits are illustrious. No one will be dissatisfied. Moreover, he has a soldier talisman in his hand. Even if he does not have a soldier talisman, he is very likely to mobilize the army as Duke Wu. Bai Heyun is extremely deceitful and difficult to deal with. , with Bai's unfathomable power, it is possible to make any changes. If the old man hadn't seen the corpses of the couple in the Duke of Wu's mansion, it would be hard to rest assured. Those princes are easy to kill. No power to bind a chicken. It doesn't matter much."

Hu Kang said: "Father's words are absolutely true."

☆、Change Six

Zhao Anchen returned to Nuanyuan in the middle of the night, walked into Chaomuju, saw Ming Xiaoyang's sleeping face, and held back his words again, not waking him up.

Zhao Anchen sat by the couch, looked at Ming Xiaoyang quietly, and said in his heart: "Hug my pillow and sleep on my bed, he is really a thick-skinned guy, go to sleep and have a good rest, you will be late if you know it will be an hour later." It will save an hour of pain, after dawn, I will accompany you, and the next morning, Aunt Yun's coffin will go to Beijing, and I will accompany you when you return home."

Zhao Anchen took the pillow in Ming Xiaoyang's arms, put it away, lay down beside Ming Xiaoyang, and slowly closed his eyes.

Ming Xiaoyang fell asleep and rubbed towards Zhao Anchen, hugged him well, and did not move.

Zhao Anchen felt a pain in his heart, and said in his heart, "I'm still a child."

At dawn, the emperor died.National mourning.

Prince Qing was paralyzed on the ground with a pale face, and could not find his sixth younger brother. He thought to himself, "Father, take your son and minister away too..."

In the warm garden, Ming Xiaoyang woke up, sat on the bed, saw Zhao Anchen sleeping next to him, felt inexplicably happy, just wanted to wake him up, but saw Zhao Anchen was sleeping soundly, and thought: "Zhao Yi must have been sleeping for so many days. I'm already very tired, well, I will let you go today, hehe."

Ming Xiaoyang looked at Zhao Anchen fascinatedly, stared for a long time, came back to his senses, panicked for a moment, and muttered in his heart: "What's wrong with me? Zhao Yi is a man... Why is your heart beating against a man? I must have fallen asleep, I have to wash my face quickly to wake up."

Ming Xiaoyang neatly went to practice in the courtyard. Just after the time passed, Zhao Anchen woke up, walked out of Chaomuju, looked for Ming Xiaoyang, and saw that he was still sitting in the Sansheng Pavilion practicing military formations with peace of mind.So he asked the maid to send more refreshments to Sansheng Pavilion.

Zhao Anchen walked slowly to the tea table in Sansheng Pavilion and sat down silently.

Ming Xiaoyang looked up at Zhao Anchen, and asked with a bright smile: "Did your father die?"

Zhao Anchen said: "Yes."

Ming Xiaoyang smiled and said: "Then why don't you put on a show, a national funeral, what are you filial son and grandson doing in Nuan Yuan?"

Zhao Anchen said softly: "It's okay, I just don't want to go, I'm here to accompany you."

Ming Xiaoyang was startled, and thought: "Stay with me? Zhao Yi usually wouldn't say such a thing, what happened today?" Immediately interrupted and asked: "Your father died, who will be enthroned?" ?”

Zhao Anchen said calmly, "Anyway, I won't go."

Ming Xiaoyang smiled and said: "Yes, I can tell, otherwise why would you be here. Why don't you want to be the emperor?"

Zhao Anchen said: "My father, as the emperor, must put the overall situation first. Not only did he marry the queen he hated, but he also took in many concubines, and was forced to give birth to many princes."

Ming Xiaoyang said sympathetically: "Uh, yes, I've heard of this a little too, it's really not easy. Hmm."

Zhao Anchen looked at the tea in his hand, and said slowly: "If I become the emperor, I will also be in the Sangong Sixth Court."

Ming Xiaoyang's heart skipped a beat, he was silent for a moment, and said in a low voice: "It's not good to be an emperor, and the state affairs are worrying. It's okay to be inappropriate, um, it's good to be inappropriate." After speaking, he glanced at Zhao Anchen unnaturally.

Ming Xiaoyang tentatively said in a low voice: ""Book of Rites. Qu Li" has a saying, "Ten years of life is young, learn. Twenty years is weak, crowned. Thirty is strong, have a room...", 20 years old is the time for a man to become an adult. You will get married sooner or later..."

Zhao Anchen nodded, looked up at Ming Xiaoyang, and said, "Well, yes, at least I don't have to be forced to marry a wife, let alone so many. As far as I'm concerned, one wife is enough for me."

Ming Xiaoyang was suddenly disturbed, lowered his eyes, did not look at Zhao Anchen, and asked in a low voice: "When... are you going to marry a wife..."

Zhao Anchen: "..."

Ming Xiaoyang saw that Zhao Anchen was silent and didn't answer, so he couldn't help taking a sneak peek. Seeing that he was staring at him, he immediately lowered his eyes to read in a panic, pretending to be calm.

Zhao Anchen said in a calm voice, "I want to marry you when you are an adult."

Ming Xiaoyang said unhappily, "What does your marriage have to do with me?"

Zhao Anchen replied: "My wife is not yet an adult. When you are an adult, my wife will also be an adult."

Ming Xiaoyang was shocked, and looked at Zhao Anchen: "Who is it? Can I recognize him?"

Zhao Anchen smiled slightly: "You are a general, why are you so enthusiastic about this kind of thing? I won't tell you, you will know when the time comes."

Ming Xiaoyang felt resentful in his heart, bowed his head in silence, and continued to read.

Zhao Anchen looked at Ming Xiaoyang silently, the scorching worries became clearer and clearer as time passed, and his heart ached.

The Ministry of Etiquette in the palace was preparing for the national funeral step by step. Several princes and courtiers knelt in front of the official family spirit. The old grand master Gao said: "The country cannot live without a king. Several princes, who will inherit the great power?"

The queen said: "Fourth prince. After all, he was raised under my knees."

The fourth prince hurriedly said: "No, no, I won't, I don't know, I won't do it, don't..." He kept waving his hands, weeping and whimpering, which was not proper.

Mrs. Gao, Mrs. Zhong, and Mrs. Chen, the three elders of the Great Song Dynasty, although they have no real power, they are indeed veterans of the highest rank and high morals. After looking at it, he shook his head and said, "The Fourth Prince is unwilling, so you can't force it. This is a big matter, so it's better to be cautious."

The queen kept silent angrily.

Several old officials looked at King Kang who was trying his best to look into the distance, sighed, and asked, "Where is Prince Ning going?"

The fourth prince said: "I don't know, the sixth brother disappeared early in the morning. I can't find it anywhere."

The veterans had no choice but to look at King Qing, who had dull eyes and was unlovely. King Qing knelt at the front in a daze.

Several old officials looked at each other, nodded, and said, "Then His Royal Highness King Qing, let's ascend the throne today."

When King Qing heard it, he fainted like five thunderbolts...

How could the old officials give up, they tugged, poured water, pinched people, worked for a long time, finally woke up King Qing, and asked, "His Royal Highness? His Royal Highness? Oh, yes, I'm awake!" That's good, good, good, a country can't live without a king, let's become the throne today."

King Qing said: "Ah?" He threw himself on his father's coffin and wept loudly, crying uncontrollably, "Sixth brother, why is my life so hard~~~!"

Grand Master Gao stepped forward and said, "This is Your Majesty's Zi Palace, not His Highness King Ning's. You are calling it wrong..."

King Qing glanced at the old grand master Gao in disbelief, and cried on the coffin again: "Father, you can't just leave like this, what can you tell my son to do? Ah~~~~! Royal father, take away your son and minister, my son is dead, ah~~~! Royal father!"

Seeing King Qing's cry so sincerely, several old officials were heartbroken and nodded their heads one after another: "Oh...it's true, King Qing is really a filial person, and he will be blessed by heaven. Such benevolence and filial piety will definitely make him a good emperor, that's all. deal!"

"Oh, yes"

"yes"

The old master Gao said: "During the national mourning period, the enthronement ceremony will be postponed, but today you are the emperor of our Great Song Dynasty."

When King Qing heard this, he cried even more sadly, wishing he could hit his head to death.

What should come will always come, Bai Heyun's coffin enters Beijing, both sides of the road are covered with road sacrifices, and he walks slowly to Wu Guogong's mansion, Zhu Butler set up a mourning hall in the main hall of the mansion for relatives and friends to worship.

The servant in the palace came to Ning Wang's mansion according to Ning Wang's order and told the housekeeper.The housekeeper arrived at Nuanyuan early in the morning, saw Zhao Anchen lowered his eyes, nodded slightly, and told Ming Xiaoyang the news of the death of Duke Wu and his wife.

Ming Xiaoyang asked in disbelief, "What are you talking about?"

The butler lowered his head: "..."

Ming Xiaoyang looked at Zhao Anchen, and asked softly, "Zhao Yi?"

Zhao Anchen didn't know how to say: "..."

Ming Xiaoyang pulled Zhao Anchen, tilted his head to look at Zhao Anchen's face: "Is it true?"

Zhao Anchen nodded, "Yes."

Ming Xiaoyang rushed out of Nuanyuan, got on his horse and ran all the way back to Duke Wu's mansion. Before he entered the city gate, he saw the white cloth of national mourning hanging on the city wall. When he entered the city, there were countless road sacrifices on the road, and the streets were full of white flowers. In addition to the emperor's death written on the sacrifice, there are many words that read "Bai Heyun, Mrs. Yun, Wu Guogong, Ming Ruiran..." The elegiac couplets are everywhere...

Ming Xiaoyang rushed into Duke Wu's mansion, and the whole mansion was hung blank, Ming Jue was kneeling in front of the hall, burning paper and weeping bitterly.During the national mourning period, the courtiers all went to the palace to offer sacrifices, and some relatives, friends and family members of officials and women in Duke Wu's mansion came to worship, but none of the courtiers could come.There was constant crying in the mansion.

Inside and outside the Bai Heyun mourning hall were full of Bai clan's elite guards wearing white belts, and there were some people in the mourning hall wearing Bai clan's brocade robes of other colors, who should be members of the Bai clan's Five Elements.

Ming Xiaoyang ran over and stood beside Bai Heyun, seeing his mother lying in the coffin, he couldn't cry at all for a while.He caressed his mother's cold face in a daze, took his mother's wrist and shook it, he really didn't have a pulse...

Seeing Ming Xiaoyang coming back, Ming Jue cried bitterly: "Yangyang, where did you go, why did you come back..."

Ming Xiaoyang's expression was gloomy, tears welled up in his eyes, and silently slid down his face, he turned around and grabbed Huo Yuan's arm, and asked, "How did my mother die? Aunt Huo Yuan, you have always been by Mother's side, tell me, How did my mother die? Huh?..."

Zhao Anchen entered Duke Wu's mansion, ran over and stood beside Ming Xiaoyang, seeing Ming Xiaoyang's grief, his heart ached.

Huo Yuan said: "The head of the family was seriously ill and worked hard on the expedition. He traveled all the way and died of illness on the way back. Duke Wu was scratched by the poisonous arrows of the Liao army before the battle. He died in battle. The coffin will also enter Beijing tomorrow."

Zhao Anchen went to the coffin and looked at Bai Heyun's body. He was indeed dead, and he was very sad and at a loss in his heart: "Why...why?"

In the early morning of the next day, Duke Wu's coffin was escorted back to Beijing by tens of thousands of imperial troops who went to support northern Xinjiang. On both sides of the coffin, Sima Han and Meng Qing, wearing white belts, marched slowly into Beijing.Placed together with Bai Heyun in the mourning hall of Duke Wu's mansion.

Ming Xiaoyang looked at his father lying on the coffin, his face was black and blue, he was indeed poisoned to death.

Ming Xiaoyang's face was full of tears, and he knelt down along the coffin, weeping uncontrollably, with his father on the left and mother on the right, in pain.

Zhao Anchen stood by and watched Ming Xiaoyang sadly, silent.

When Hu Hang heard that the two confidantes had returned to Beijing, he immediately rushed to the mansion of Wu Guogong to pay respects and condolences. Jue, kneeling beside the spirit in a daze, looked at Ming Xiaoyang, who was weeping sadly, and guessed in his heart that [-]% of them were really dead.Still having some doubts, he walked slowly to look at the body like a relative or friend, thinking: "Well, Bai Heyun is the real Bai Heyun, there is no disguise, no vitality." Looking at Ming Ruiran again, he thought : "Well, it is also true that Ming Ruiran died of poisoning, and there is no possibility of survival." Slowly retreating into the hall, and bowing deeply, Housekeeper Zhu returned the salute, and Hu Hang turned and left the Duke of Wu's mansion, confirming This couple is really dead.

Huo Yuan shouted to all the guests in the house: "The time has come! Seal the coffin and carry out the funeral!"

Ming Xiaoyang grabbed the coffin and refused to leave, Huo Yuan waved his hand, and several Jingwei stepped forward to help Ming Xiaoyang down, and the coffin was slowly sealed.

Zhao Anchen asked Huo Yuan: "Why were you buried so early?"

Huo Yuan said: "His Royal Highness Ning, it's getting late. The remains of the Patriarch and Duke Wu have been on the road for many days. It has been seven days since the death of the Patriarch. It would be bad if he didn't bury him. They are a couple with deep affection, and they must be buried together, so it is only appropriate that the two of them must be buried in the ground before noon today."

Zhao Anchen nodded slightly: "Yes" helped Ming Xiaoyang and stood aside.

On the way out of the funeral, paper money was floating all over the sky, and everyone sent them off. Wu Guogong and his wife had a grand burial like this. Zhao Anchen followed Ming Xiaoyang, and walked in front of the coffin with Ming Jue, all the way silent.

Pedestrians on the road who didn't know about it also came to watch the ceremony, discussing in whispers.

"Didn't Duke Wu have only one son?"

"No, I heard that there are two sons."

"Then why are the three sons leading the way in front of the coffin?"

"How many sons are there?"

"...I don't know, maybe it's the son-in-law?"

"Jing nonsense, Duke Wu's daughter has not yet reached Ji, where is the son-in-law?"

"Then I don't know how many sons I have..."

At night, Ming Xiaoyang returned to Duke Wu's mansion where he had no parents, and sat in the courtyard in a daze, while Zhao Anchen sat with him.

Huo Tong came back, as soon as he entered the gate of the mansion, he rushed towards Ming Xiaoyang, and said in a trembling voice: "My lord, I heard, your condolences have changed."

Ming Xiaoyang raised his head to see Huo Tong's swollen eyes, and stretched out his hand to pull Huo Tong to sit beside him.

It has been three days since the official family passed away, and the national funeral is busy.

Huo Tong looked at Zhao Anchen and said, "The official family is dead, why is King Ning here?"

Zhao Anchen was also depressed and didn't want to talk, so he prevaricated: "This king is an unworthy descendant."

Ming Xiaoyang suddenly raised his head and asked Zhao Anchen: "Zhao Yi, are my parents...? The same as the official family?"

Zhao Anchen said: "It seems not."

When Ming Xiaoyang heard this, his bright eyes dimmed again.

Huo Tong asked, "What is the same?"

no one answered...

Hu Fu.

Hu Kang said: "Father, can I..."

Hu Hang said: "No, the official family passed away just three days ago, and many people of royal blood have not yet arrived. The official family's brothers Xianwang, King Qi, and the official's uncles, King Jing and King Yi are still on the way."

Hu Kang said: "Intercept and kill on the way?"

Hu Hang said: "No, what if anyone runs away along the way, they all enter the capital and enter the palace. Kill them all at once, and none of them can escape."

Hu Kang said: "Father said so."

There is one thing that Hu Hang never figured out, that is, what happened to King Ning, he disappeared from the palace after the death of the official family, and he could not be found anywhere, and ran out from nowhere three days later, and went to Duke Wu’s mansion Went to vigil?

Hu Hang asked again: "What happened to King Ning? Why didn't he participate in the national funeral, but went to the Duke of Wu?"

Hu Kangdao: "Listen to the rumors, this King Ning has a strange and cold personality, never gets close to others, as if he has no feelings, for some reason, Dudu is on good terms with Ming Xiaoyang, this Ming Xiaoyang lost his parents when he was underage, King Ning Maybe I will accompany you according to your temperament."

Hu Hang said: "Oh, so it is like this, is it just like this? Was it his father who died in the palace?"

Hu Kangdao: "Isn't it also the Emperor Taizong who killed Emperor □□ in the royal family? It's not surprising."

Hu Hang nodded and said: "That's right, um, but the Duke of Wu's mansion is not an easy place to break into. The mansion is filled with Bai's Jingwei, and that monster Ming Xiaoyang. I'm afraid it will take a while to kill this King Ning." Jin, the pot in the palace is good, this one is King Ning..."

Hu Kang said: "Father, why did you forget? Emperors, princes, and ministers have never avoided joy and mourning when they succeeded to the throne and the title. You will go to the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Officials tomorrow, and urge them to write official documents quickly, so that Ming Xiaoyang will be happy tomorrow." Just take over the title and become the new Duke of Wu, isn’t that enough? As long as he takes over the title, he will be a first-rank official in the court. Before the national mourning has passed for seven days, he must enter the palace to serve the national mourning. King Ning will definitely follow him. Gong, your pot is still one pot!"

Hu Hang smiled and said: "Yes! What Kanger said is true! According to the report from the state government along the road, all other royal families will also enter the palace within three days. We will send all the royal families to the west on the first seven days of the official house!"

Hu Kangxi said: "Yes, father."

Hu Hang said: "Well, on that day, not only the royal family, but also Ming Xiaoyang will die..."

☆, change the situation seven

At the end of Haishi, Zhao Anchen asked Huotong to go to bed, and he sat quietly on the steps in the courtyard with Ming Xiaoyang who was not making a sound.Until late at night, if there were not a few chirping insects in the summer night, it would be even more silent.Ming Xiaoyang didn't speak, tears rolled down slowly and silently.Zhao Anchen hugged Ming Xiaoyang distressedly, not only missed Aunt Yun and Uncle Ming, but also couldn't figure out why his father knew it well, but why he could stand on the sidelines and let the matter develop to such a point.Zhao Anchen's heart was also still in the dead of night, full of worries.

The moonlight shone on the courtyard of Duke Hehe Wuguo's mansion, but at this moment, it didn't melt like water like in the poem at all, it was just as desolate as the cold light on a snowy night.

Yin Shi bang, Ming Xiaoyang's face was covered with half-dried tears, he tilted his head tiredly, leaned on Zhao Anchen's shoulder and fell asleep in a daze.Zhao Anchen picked up Ming Xiaoyang by the waist and sent him back to his room, gently hugged him in his arms, and spent a sleepless night.

In the early morning, there was no Bai Heyun's ear pulling, nor the "everyone went to the court" of the Duke of Wu's mansion. Ming Xiaoyang opened his eyes, stared at the roof for a moment with a sad expression, and then turned his head to look at the man who was beside him in his clothes. Zhao Anchen, who was sleeping, frowned slightly, as if thinking of something, raised his hand and gently pushed Zhao Anchen.

Zhao Anchen opened his eyes, looked at him quietly, and didn't speak.Ming Xiaoyang turned his head and said slowly: "You go back to the palace to see the official's house."

Zhao Anchen said softly, "Why?"

Ming Xiaoyang said in a cold tone: "The official died, today is the fourth day, even if you use the secret medicine of feigning death, if you don't wake up for seven days, you will still die due to the lack of water and rice."

Zhao Anchen opened his eyes wide and looked at the expressionless Ming Xiaoyang, and got up slightly.Ming Xiaoyang said: "I don't have an antidote, if the official hadn't really passed away, he should have woken up in the Zi Palace in the mourning hall by now."

Zhao Anchen sat up straight, looked down at Ming Xiaoyang, Ming Xiaoyang turned sideways, turned his back to Zhao Anchen and said: "You are right, my parents are really gone, my mother passed away for eight days. I can't come back... you better go quickly, don't worry about me." Weiwei closed her eyes, a tear flowed down, and she stopped talking.

Zhao Anchen said: "Ming Huan..."

Ming Xiaoyang took a deep breath, and said slowly: "Zhao Yi, the overall situation is the most important, the officials are waiting for you."

Bai's Jingwei and Patriarch both woke up at Chen Shi, Huo Tong was worried about Ming Xiaoyang, so he came to knock on the door right after getting up, and whispered: "Master? Are you okay?"

Zhao Anchen stood up and opened the door, took a deep look at Huotong, and said in a low voice: "Take care of your son." He left the bedroom and left the Duke of Wu's mansion.

Huo Tong replied softly: "Oh, good." He wondered in his heart: "Why did King Ning come out of the son's room..." He looked at Ming Xiaoyang who was lying in his clothes, and then at King Ning's back, Not wanting to understand, he shook his head, walked into Ming Xiaoyang's room, and asked in a low voice, "My lord? Are you awake?"

Ming Xiaoyang got up and looked at Huotong: "Yes."

Seeing Ming Xiaoyang's pale face, Huo Tong asked, "My lord, take care of yourself, if nothing happens today..."

Ming Xiaoyang said: "There is something wrong, where is Huo Yuan?"

Huo Tong said: "The head of the house has left according to the order of the previous Patriarch."

Ming Xiaoyang said: "Leaving?"

Huo Tong nodded: "Yes, first, the head of the family asked the head to return to Hongzhou after the funeral."

Ming Xiaoyang said: "Hongzhou?"

Huo Tong said: "The place where the Bai family raised and trained Jingwei is in Hongzhou. I also come from Hongzhou. Don't you know, my lord?"

Ming Xiaoyang shook his head, sighed softly: "I don't know."

Huo Tong said, "Oh."

Ming Xiaoyang asked: "Where are the other managers?"

Huo Tong said, "I don't know about that."

Ming Xiaoyang said: "Are all the core locations of Bai's Five Elements located in Hongzhou?"

Huo Tong said: "Of course not, I don't know about the others, I only know the Jingwei of the Fire Clan."

Ming Xiaoyang smiled miserably: "Mother, how can I be the Patriarch..."

Huo Tong said: "I don't know why the people in charge didn't explain anything to the young master, but they will definitely explain it to you in the future. Don't worry, young master."

Ming Xiaoyang's expression froze, he froze for a moment, he didn't move for a while, his eyes suddenly rolled, and he said: "Well, you go, I'm fine."

Huo Tong said, "Yes, Young Master."

When the Liao capital went to Beijing, the Liao emperor was furious and scolded: "I told you to bring one hundred thousand troops to help you lure and kill Ming Ruiran, not to send you all the one hundred thousand troops to be buried with Ming Ruiran! You bastard, what a shame!" I'm so mad!" As he spoke, he grabbed the paperwork on the case and threw it down.

Liao Shuai, who was kneeling under the steps, said nervously: "Your Majesty, calm down. Although the price is higher this time, we can't bury a hundred thousand soldiers in vain. Now that Ming Ruiran is gone and Bai Heyun is dead, how about... ...Why don't we simply send our troops south and flatten the Central Plains? Let's see who can stop my Daliao iron cavalry! Also, I heard that the emperor of the Song Dynasty has died, and that Hu Hang is taking this opportunity to launch a mutiny in the Song Dynasty. As far as Liao is concerned, this is a great event, such a golden opportunity should not be missed, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Liao thought for a moment and said: "You, a defeated general, have the face to say, you go down, I will think about it again."

Shuai Liao responded and withdrew, leaving the hall and went to Prince Cheng's Mansion.Cheng Wang Yelu Hezhuo blamed: "You, how do you do things? I thought that you could make more military exploits and make this king overpower the crown prince Yelu Hongqi. Now it's better to kill one enemy and damage one hundred thousand soldiers The prince advocates attacking Xia, and this king advocates attacking Song. This time, the prince maliciously proposed to cooperate with Hu Hang of Song. The proposed war wants to take the opportunity to make us suffer. This king sees that you are a veteran who has fought for many years. , I recommended you as the commander-in-chief to slap the crown prince, but I never thought you... oh..."

Liao Shuai said: "Your Majesty, don't be impatient. There may be a turning point for things. I have suggested to His Majesty just now. Now we have pulled out the thorn of Ming Ruiran and took advantage of the civil strife in the Song Dynasty to flatten the Song Dynasty." It's a good time, why don't you take the opportunity to send more troops to the south, and it won't be in vain that one hundred thousand of my warriors died in battle!"

Yelu Hezhuo said: "Your Majesty agrees?"

Liao Shuai said: "Your Majesty said that we should consider it. If the prince can go to persuade His Majesty again, maybe it can be done."

In Prince Liao's mansion, Crown Prince Yelu Hongqi was drinking with Prime Minister Right, and said with a smile: "That idiot, King Cheng, the crown prince supported him to fight Song, so he really went to fight Song. According to this prince, although Song is rich, but The ambitions of the ruling and opposition parties are not great, and it can't compare with Xia, who is full of soldiers and horses all day long. Although Xia doesn't have much land, but the Dangxiang clan is good at riding and shooting, and can forcefully cut a place from Song's hands to gain a foothold, which is enough for people to guard against. Xia has become more and more rampant in recent years, not only advanced military equipment, but also stationed more than [-] troops in the territory, it is definitely not a good stubble, His Majesty always does not pay attention to the little Xia, thinking it is a disease of ringworm, but this crown prince thinks that Xia is a hot-blooded A small country that is good at war is a serious threat, if it is not eliminated early, there will be endless troubles."

Prime Minister You said: "I also feel that the crown prince is far-sighted and accurate in his judgment. Although the people of Song Dynasty had famous generals, they did not have the heart to expand and frequently use swords. Xia is different. He is ambitious all day long and is very dangerous. Although our Liao Dynasty is He is good at conquering and fighting, and has a vast territory, but after all, the land is vast and sparsely populated, so he is not considered rich, and I have recently heard that the Jurchen tribe is making trouble again, so it is best to get rid of this small Xia country with strong combat power as soon as possible."

The crown prince said: "That's exactly the case. The fight with Song this time made that King Cheng feel ashamed. It can also remind His Majesty that Song's bone is not easy to chew. It is better to focus on Xia's body." It is the right move, if His Majesty thinks it through clearly, it will be time for this prince to make contributions! Come! Drink!"

After a few hours, Emperor Liao called a group of ministers to discuss matters, and decided to send another 20 Chen soldiers to the Song and Liao borders to launch a general southward attack at the right time when the great Song Liang general died suddenly!

Great Song Dynasty, the Imperial Palace in the capital.

Zhao Anchen went back to the palace and came to the mourning hall of the official family. He saw several princes guarding the mourning, and fell asleep kneeling in front of the mourning.Zhao Anchen took a set of mourning clothes and put them on, without burning incense or bowing down, he walked over to see his father lying in Zi Palace, stared at him for a while, then walked up to King Qing and pushed him, "Fifth brother!"

King Qing opened his eyes and saw that the sixth brother had returned. He was ecstatic, grabbed Zhao Anchen and did not let go, and said in a low voice, "Sixth brother, where have you been? Why did you come back? You have suffered a lot..."

Zhao Anchen asked: "Who is the emperor now?"

When King Qing heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to cry, Zhao Anchen said: "Stop! Don't cry, tell me who is the emperor?"

King Qing said with tears in his eyes, "It's me...those veterans forced me...what can I do..."

Zhao Anchen asked: "Has my mother and concubine come here to guard the spirit?"

King Qing said: "The concubines in the harem only offer sacrifices on the first day, and we princes are the ones who guard the spirit."

Zhao Anchen said: "You are the emperor, you order them not to guard the spirit here, and evacuate the guards in the palace to the outside of the palace to guard, and you, the heir emperor, and I will guard the spirit in the palace! Hurry up!"

King Qing didn't know why, but he just knew that the sixth brother was always right, so he clung to Zhao Anchen's life-saving straw and refused to let go, afraid of running away again, he got up and said, "All of you go outside to guard, and you are not allowed to come in without my order. !"

The guards and palace people said: "Yes!" They all went out.

The princes on the ground also woke up, and when they saw Zhao Anchen came back, they all smiled happily.Kang Wang said: "Sixth brother finally came back, where did he go?"

Zhao Anchen said: "Wu Guogong's mansion, send Wu Guogong and his wife on behalf of the father."

Kang Wang said: "Well, it should be, how is brother Ming?"

Zhao Anchen: "...well." Pushing King Qing lightly, King Qing said: "Ah, oh, yes, the sixth brother ordered me to say that you don't have to stay here anymore, go back and have a good rest, my sixth brother and I Just stay here, if someone asks, just say I said it.”

Kang Wang patted his numb legs and said, "Oh, my legs are great, so thank you both for hard work!"

The fourth prince then agreed: "Okay."

They all left, only King Qing and Zhao Anchen were left in the hall.Zhao Anchen said: "Now there is no one in the hall, fifth brother, go to the side hall and lie down to rest, I will call you if someone comes."

Upon hearing this, King Qing agreed very much, yawned and floated to the side hall.

Zhao Anchen walked to Zi Palace and whispered to the officials: "It's only me, when did Father wake up?"

The official opened his eyes and said: "I woke up last night, Chen'er, you unworthy bastard, you ran away after leaving daddy behind, and you just came back because daddy was starving to death!"

Zhao Anchen took the sacrificial water and tribute, and handed them into the coffin: "Let's eat."

The official was afraid that people would see him as a "deceitful corpse", so he couldn't sit up, so he could only stand up slightly to drink water, then lie down to eat cakes and fruits, and said: "The bowl is not convenient, I will bring Xiaoyang's water bag to Dad later."

Zhao Anchen said: "Yes."

Seeing that his son's expression was not right, the official asked, "Is Xiaoyang alright?"

Zhao Anchen said, "Dad thinks he's okay?"

The official said: "Trust me, it will pass, and it will pass soon."

Zhao Anchen stared sadly and coldly at his father who was eating and drinking, and kept silent.

☆, the situation changes eight

Shen Lingshuang left Beijing for half a month and went out to do business. Before arriving in the capital, she already learned the news of the death of Wu Guogong and his wife. As soon as she entered the city gate, she rode straight to Wu Guogong's mansion, and saw Ming Xiaoyang sitting alone in the pavilion with a blank expression , then quietly walked over, sat next to Ming Xiaoyang, wanted to speak comforting words, but felt sad and couldn't say anything, in the end he didn't say anything, wiped his tears, and sat quietly with Ming Xiaoyang.

Before noon, people from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials came to Duke Wu's mansion, and the Ministry of Officials came to the mansion and said, "Young Master Ming, you have now become the new Duke of Wu. Here are your court clothes and documents."

The Ministry of Rites came and said: "Mr. Wu, it is the time of national mourning. You are in the first rank. You are an important minister of our court. According to the etiquette system, you should enter the palace and participate in the national funeral ceremony every day. The courtiers' sacrifice is over today. You will come back at tomorrow's hour." Just enter the palace for the ceremony."

After finishing their errands, the two saluted and left Duke Wu's mansion.

Huo Tong took the things he sent to Ming Xiaoyang's room, and Shen Lingshuang said softly: "We are alive