long friend

After the Lantern Festival, everything returned to normal. When Xiao Qichen woke up on the morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, he didn't want to go to court for a moment.As long as he thinks of the scenes of civil servants and generals accusing each other, he instinctively has a headache, but this day the pain is especially severe.

As soon as Xiao Qichen sat on the bed, he didn't stand firm at first, and knelt down on the ground.

This frightened both Xu Zhengde and Lvyi, especially Lvyi, who almost dropped the cup.Xu Zhengde yelled and called the imperial doctor, and spent a long time checking the pulse and asking the doctor, the other party stroked his beard and came to the conclusion: he was suffering from a cold.

Xu Zhengde breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn't help complaining to Xiao Qichen: "Your Majesty, there is a stove burning in this palace every day. The old servant has advised you not to keep the windows open all day long. Why are you suddenly caught in the cold? Young people, don't be greedy for cold ..."

Xiao Qichen knew that he went to the Qinhuai River with Su Yan to blow some air the night before, he felt wronged for a while, he rubbed his nose and dared not speak, and when his eyes touched the green clothes, he became even more short of breath, so he had to accept all the accusations and admit his mistakes obediently.

The imperial doctor arrived soon, took the pulse and asked the doctor. After a while, he repeatedly warned: "Although it is a common cold, but your Majesty has been deficient in Qi and Yin since he was a child. If you don't take good care of it, the root of the disease will also fall..." After saying that Added another post of conditioning by one party, and only after thousands of urgings did I quit without worry.

Even though he swallowed the pill, he was still not feeling well, Xiao Qichen still had to hold on to the court.

His face was ugly, and the courtiers present thought he was angry, so they tacitly grew their minds, and dared not mention the New Deal anymore, and instead discussed the national economy and the people's livelihood.

Xiao Qichen became a little confused when he heard it, he watched Xie Hui's mouth open and close, he and Wang Di were arguing about something, neither of them convinced each other as if they didn't convince each other.He supported his cheeks, trying not to fall down, but his eyelids were getting heavier and heavier.

"...Master Sima only saw immediate benefits in this move. Taxation is the livelihood of the people. The people have not yet lived a comfortable life. Rashly increasing taxes will inevitably arouse public anger—"

"Thank you." It was Su Yan who interrupted him, and the other party waved his hand suddenly, signaling Xie Hui to look at Xiao Qichen.

The person leaning on the voucher was in the worst condition ever. His face was flushed strangely, his eyelids were half closed, and he couldn't see his mood. It only made people feel that he was a little impatient.Xie Hui quickly shut up, and even Wang Di saw that Su Yan seemed to have something to say, so he didn't dare to take the opportunity to provoke trouble, and stood silently aside.

Su Yan said: "I see that His Majesty's complexion is not good, is there something wrong?"

Hearing his voice, Xiao Qichen, who was drowsy, suddenly woke up a little bit. Seeing a group of worried ministers with faces like a row of sick radishes staring at him neatly, he wanted to laugh inexplicably.He raised the corners of his lips and said with strength: "I'm fine, what did Xie Qing say just now? Taxes? Go ahead, I'm listening."

Xie Hui looked at Su Yan reflexively. His face was as dark as a pot at the moment. He never had such a terrifying expression on the battlefield. How could he dare to continue, and reluctantly said: "...The minister suddenly forgot what to say."

The rest of the people wanted to report, but they all saw that Xie Hui, who was still talking eloquently just now, suddenly became dumb because Xiao Qichen was obviously ill, and immediately didn't dare to work His Majesty's precious mind to listen to their quarrel, and they all looked at the sky and the earth.

Xiao Qichen glanced around at the peaceful Tai Chi Hall, and said with a smile: "Since you forgot, let's talk about it tomorrow, don't worry about it for a while. The official and academic matters... Xie Qing, you can write a summary later for me." I have looked at it, and I see that the ministers are quite supportive of this matter, so it is better to implement it as soon as possible. Let’s do this today, and report to the court later if there are important matters.”

He didn't mention the other two new policies at all. The one about cutting the title had already been cooked, and Xiao Qichen could not hear any opposition. As for the other one, it was too sensitive, so he had to figure it out slowly.

When Xiao Qichen got up, he felt his eyes darkened again. After finally supporting Xu Zhengde who came forward to help him, he stood still. He thought that his clothes were perfect, and left the palace with his back straight, but Su Yan had a panoramic view of all this.As soon as he left, Su Yan walked out of the Tai Chi Hall, but didn't go outside the palace, and went straight to the Nuan Pavilion to wait.

So when Xiao Qichen dawdled back, he met Su Yan with a black face.

This person usually doesn't get angry easily, even if he does, most of the time he is bored in his heart, but once he expresses it, he must be very angry.Xiao Qichen saw that his gentle and gentle expression had disappeared, he first reduced his arrogance by three points, let Xu Zhengde back out, resigned himself to his fate and sat down next to Su Yan, he was so obedient that he couldn't believe it.

"What's going on?" Su Yan frowned, "Sick?"

Xiao Qichen kept silent as if his tongue had been taken away by a cat, but he acquiesced.Su Yan immediately scolded: "Just now I heard that your voice seems to be hoarse, did you blow the wind too much yesterday?"

Hearing that Su Yan didn't blame him indiscriminately, Xiao Qichen thought for a while before concealing what the imperial doctor had said, and said: "It's about the same. It's not a serious problem. There is an imperial doctor in the palace to take care of you." , don't worry about it either."

Su Yan doesn't know how to hurt others, hearing the words, he was only worried, but couldn't say comforting words, he repeatedly covered Xiao Qichen's cold hands, looking like he didn't know what to do with him, his dark face just now disappeared.

Xiao Qichen laughed again: "You sleep with me, maybe it will be fine when you wake up?"

As soon as the words were finished, there was a suppressed coughing sound from under the window, someone was outside, but none of them heard it!Xiao Qichen immediately stopped being presumptuous, sat upright and said, "Who?"

Xu Zhengde hurriedly walked in with steady steps: "Your Majesty, it was Prime Minister Xie and Shang Shu who asked Sir Li to see him. The old slave said that His Majesty was in poor health, but Master Li wanted to rush in, saying that there was something important... This old slave is dead. .”

Immediately, Xiao Qichen and Su Yan became embarrassed at the same time. Mr. Li who was promoted to Shang Shuling years ago was no one else, but Su Yan's brother-in-law Li Xu who loved his sister so much.

He wasn't sure how much Li Xu heard from behind, and it was too deliberate to let Su Yan avoid suspicion at this moment, so he patted Su Yan, let him get up first, and then said: "It's all here, let him come in, I listen Listen to what's going on. If it's really urgent, you can't stop Eunuch Xu."

Xu Zhengde even claimed it was, and went down to spread the word.

Su Yan said to Xiao Qichen with an ugly expression: "He is still in a panic, what will he think of you?"

Xiao Qichen said frankly: "Rongniang's illness has nothing to do with you. The Li family concealed the truth from you when they married their daughter. When she was still there, you and I were innocent and never felt guilty. How dare he frame her in public? You?"

After he spoke for a while, Xie Hui came in with a toothache all over his face.This person saw Master Su Yanxing rushing into the warm pavilion and waited for the rabbit, and he was well aware of the mess between them. He thought that he not only didn't stop Li Xu, but also involved himself in it, and stood aside innocently. "I don't know anything" means.

Then Li Xu came in step by step. When he saw Su Yan, he first frowned.The in-law relationship between Su and Li's family is still there. In order to make up for it, Li Xu took a distant niece of Mrs. Cao as a concubine two years ago.

Su Yan stood aside and glanced at Li Xu indifferently.The two hadn't confronted each other yet, and there was already some inexplicable tension.

In order to break the weird atmosphere, Xiao Qichen coughed twice and said, "Master Li, what do you want?"

Li Xu's face turned red, and he said hastily: "Your Majesty, I came here for official education. At present, the Guozijian in the court is only responsible for the education of the children of the aristocratic family, and it is really overkill. In the matter of official education, I think I can follow the example of the previous dynasty." The Hanlin Academy set up Taixuetang or Yushutang, and every year the students of official schools pass the assessment, and then..."

Thinking it was a big deal, after listening to it, Xiao Qichen was immediately uninterested: "I have thought about most of what Li Qing said. It's not that the official school has no one to imitate, but I don't want a bunch of literary servants and imperial scholars to guide the government. It is the way of people's livelihood. If you are not pragmatic in being an official, then there is nothing good about your salary."

Li Xu obviously came prepared, and pointed out the pros and cons of the official school one by one, the central idea is that Xiao Qichen's move is still a bit risky, and they should be more on the safe side.

Xiao Qichen had heard the word "safety" too many times, and his ears hurt a little at the moment, but because Li Xu had heard the small talk between himself and Su Yan just now, he still had to bite the bullet and let him finish the counting, before saying: "I know .I will discuss it with the prime minister later. Is there anything else for Li Qing?"

Li Xu gritted his teeth, glanced at Su Yan from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help it: "I have one more thing to say, Your Majesty has changed his courtiers now, as a king, he should control his courtiers more strictly, so as not to let some people be arrogant. "

As soon as these words came out, Xie Hui trembled all over, and looked straight at Xiao Qichen.He didn't have any expression on his face, and he still smiled and said calmly: "Li Qing, you're halfway there, who are you blaming for this groundless nonsense?"

Li Xu lowered his eyelids and said: "I always thought that it was my job to assist His Majesty, and I didn't need to ask questions all day long, and I'm not a concubine in the harem. Why should I do that? I didn't target Your Majesty, I just thought that a courtier should look like a courtier." That's all."

The direction of these words was too clear, Xiao Qichen smiled without saying a word, the atmosphere in the Nuan Pavilion was dignified and quiet, as if a needle could be heard falling on the ground.Su Yan felt very uncomfortable. In his opinion, it was all his fault, but Xiao Qichen was inexplicably accused and scolded by Li Xuyi.

Just as Su Yan wanted to speak, he asked Li Xu to come to him, when Xiao Qichen suddenly said, "Get out."

Li Xu: "Your Majesty..."

Xiao Qichen patted the table: "I told you to get out! Do you still want to contradict me?!"

He only frowned slightly, but his tone was already full of anger.Since succeeding to the throne, Xiao Qichen has never lost his temper in front of the courtiers. Although his methods are tough, he has always been polite and polite, making it hard to tell what his mood is like.At this moment, Li Xu didn't know the depth and didn't have the courage to continue talking, so he had to leave first.

When the extra people left, Xie Hui also ran away in a hurry, fearing that the fire at the city gate would harm the fish in the pond.

"Who does he think he is!" Xiao Qichen stretched out his hand, and the teacup placed on the table fell on the couch with a clatter, but fortunately it didn't fall apart, and only wet a piece of bedding, "How many years has it been, and it's still biting you If you don't let it go, he will be happy if you really live in guilt all your life? So Li Rong can come back to life?"

Xiao Qichen has always had a good impression of Li Rong, but now he said this even by name, it can be seen that he is indeed extremely angry.

Su Yan lowered his head and said: "He thinks that I caused Rongniang's death, and he will never feel relieved...Why are you so angry because of this, does your throat hurt? The girl in green will bring pear soup later, at least drink some."

He doesn't care about it himself, this kind of self-immobile temper has infected Xiao Qichen to some extent.He took the tea and drank it, and said unfairly: "Are you not angry at all?"

"I can't wait to be hacked into pieces." Su Yan said, "But it's not because he said me, but why he is facing you."

Xiao Qichen's temper faded quickly, but he remembered it clearly in his heart.After he finished his tea, he lost his furious attitude and said to Su Yan: "Don't worry about him, the trouble comes from your mouth. I was very unhappy when he beat you in public, but now I caught him How can I feel comfortable if I don’t take care of it properly.”

"Public revenge, Your Majesty," Su Yan said with a smile, a little helplessly, "This is what a foolish king did."

Xiao Qichen: "I'm a fool, you're a disaster—don't scold yourself."

Su Yan was dissatisfied, put down what he was doing, leaned over to touch the itchy flesh on Xiao Qichen's waist, and rubbed him in all directions, the other party begged for forgiveness, but laughed very wantonly, as if the accident just now hadn't affected them at all. like.

The green clothes in the outer room closed the door, and said to Mr. Xu: "Master Li will take care of you more in the future... Your Majesty likes and values ​​the general very much. When you are with him, you will definitely not like to see other people. Just now when Mr. Li came, Your Majesty has made a big fuss...don't let him hear any rumors in the palace anymore."

Xu Zhengde is an old man in the palace, so he can naturally understand what the green clothes mean, and his wrinkled face almost smiles like a chrysanthemum after autumn: "Our family understands that from today onwards, no one in the inner palace will say that the general gossip."

The green clothes put on the clothes and saluted him, the wind brought layers of warmth, and a willow tree outside the west hall sprouted new branches.

Not long after, Shangshu ordered Li Xu to be dismissed from office, and it was useless for the censor to intercede in person.Li Xu was usually upright and upright. He didn't stand on either side of the New Deal, so he didn't know who he had offended without any merit.

Later, there was a lot of rumors in the market, and they actually told the old things in the past:

Back then, Li Xu blamed the general for his sister's death. He had just run back from Yunmen Pass to attend the funeral without sleep, when he blocked him at the gate of the Hou Mansion and attacked him on the spot.After that incident, Su Yan and the two patriarchs didn't say anything, but now Li Xu is still cursing people around the bush. How can His Majesty and the General be brothers and sisters since childhood? How can he bear it?

In this way, it seems to be clear, but the storyteller of Yanyulou made up some flowers, and privately talked about the grievances and grievances of the officials and officials, repeating the affairs of the Su and Li families over and over again.What's more, he didn't think it was a big deal, and went straight to arrange Su Yan - the general ran to the palace all day after returning to Beijing, and the brotherhood couldn't be surpassed like this. Now that your majesty is young and unmarried, could it be that the general really has such benefits , but also get the dragon bed on the battlefield?

Rumors always spread faster than anything else, and when the original words fell into Su Yan's ears, several versions had already been changed.He wasn't angry himself, he just found it a little funny.

When they made great achievements, they didn't see them talking about themselves, but now that there is a little trouble, it turns the relationship between the general and his majesty into a conversation after dinner?

What kind of atmosphere are these?

A few days later, when he went to the court again, a lord servant took this and said to Xiao Qichen, "The atmosphere is not good." Xiao Qichen was shocked, and Wang Di stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty is not married yet, so naturally there are such gossips. You should Dispel the rumors as soon as possible, instead of letting the whole Jinling and even the whole world make fun of it."

The corners of Xiao Qichen's brows twitched, feeling that what he was about to say next would make him angry, so he recited some words to calm down and calm down.

"...I thought that Your Majesty did not have a mother and concubine in the past, and now the Empress Dowager should be in charge of the selection of concubines. The previous emperors of my dynasty were all weak children, and I hope Your Majesty will take this as a warning." Wang Di said, and there were echoes from all around. Voices.

Xiao Qichen looked at Su Yan, the other party had recently lost his mind due to those rumors, and he didn't like to enter the palace at any time, now he was staring at his boots in a daze, as if he didn't hear anything at all.After thinking about it for a while, he felt that Su Yan should not be embarrassed, but was brought up with sad things, and the ignorance of being kidnapped by his parents to worship in those years.

So when Xiao Qichen looked at Wang Di again, he felt that everything was not pleasing to the eye: "I know that all the ministers think that family affairs are also state affairs, but I can't rush to choose a concubine."

Wang Di: "Your Majesty, the emperor's heir is the most important thing..."

Xiao Qichen interrupted him and said, "Don't bother me, sir, I have my own measure."

Xiao Qichen got a headache when he mentioned these things, but there were still people who offended him again and again.

Xiao Qichen had just recovered from the cold, so he was too lazy to listen to them discussing which daughter was the right age, so he decided: "Since everyone is so enthusiastic today, why don't you talk about the reform of the military system? I think it's better sooner rather than later. Do you have any objections?"

A swipe distracted everyone, and the bickering now sounds much more pleasant.From the corner of Xiao Qichen's eyes, he caught a glimpse of Su Yan smiling inaudibly, and the irritability in his heart subsided for no reason.

But for him, this was indeed a big problem that needed to be solved urgently. Xiao Qichen thought about it for a while, and chose the one he thought was the safest among all the methods that could not hurt Su Yan.

Unexpectedly, before he said anything, Su Yan found him one step ahead.