Huan Rong

Yuanzheng is the beginning of the new year, and every time a new emperor ascends the throne and changes to the Yuan Dynasty, Taicheng celebrates three days.

The brazier in front of the hall was ignited, and the red flames kept rising, twisting and dancing in the wind.

Fragmentary sparks flew out, and in the evening, they seemed to be dancing with fluorescent lights, and instantly condensed into an illusory fire dragon, dancing around in front of the temple, and disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

When the auspicious time comes, the drums and music are loud.

A group of ministers marched in from Yunlong gate and Donghua gate.

Sima Huan and envoy Xi Tie lead the way first. They are all dressed in royal court clothes, with military officers on their heads, gold and jade belts around their waists, swords on their sides, sapphires hanging from below, and red boats on their feet.Wearing deep clothes and wide sleeves, walking like a dragon and walking like a tiger, he is extremely majestic, and all the officials are awed and subdued.

Wang Tanzhi and Xie Anxing were in the team, they saw the backs of the two in front of them, they didn't show it on their faces, but their hearts were like fifteen buckets fetching water, and they were up and down all the time.

Xi Yin, who has the style of a celebrity, has suddenly transformed into a powerful minister who stands shoulder to shoulder with Huan Wen.Nowadays, no one in the court knows that the power of Xi Trick is so important that he can stand against Huan Da Sima in court.

Two years ago, with such a change in Xi Yin, Wang Tanzhi and Xie An would definitely applaud.Xi Jishi has always been regarded as a "royalist". With him sitting in Jingkou and holding the elite Beifu army in his hand, it is enough to make Sima Huan fearful and dare not move lightly.

Nowadays, all the clapping and applause are thrown out of the blue.

After several months of observation, the two thoroughly discovered that Xi Yinzao was different from the past.It is simply wishful thinking to expect him to stand on his side, form a united front with the Jiankang gentry, and maintain Sima's "orthodox" status to the maximum extent.

With Xi Yin's current attitude, it is hard to guarantee that one day he will be dissatisfied with the status quo and have the same thoughts as Huan Wen.At that time, all the girls in Jingkou will be in the hands of powerful officials, and the Jiankang court will become a bird in a cage and a turtle in an urn!

military power!

In troubled times, the most important military power!

Thinking of this, Wang Tanzhi sighed deeply, but Xie An gripped the wat board tightly.

If they could control an army, the Jiankang gentry would not be so passive.You can let go of your hands and feet and wrestle with the other party.

It's a pity that no matter how rich the gentry's background is, no matter how many healthy servants and field slaves they have, they can't compete with the government troops who have gone to the battlefield.

Jiankang is already in a treacherous situation, and the place is about to move again.Thinking of the news from Youzhou, Xie An became more worried.

Huan Wenwen and Xi Yin are very powerful, after all, they are old.

Throughout the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Ershun has already lived a long life, and there are very few old and young.

People die like lights go out.

If one day's lifespan is approaching, if you can't compete with the heavens, today's authority is nothing but a mirror, and it will eventually come to naught.

After losing their top figures, the Huan and Xi families may not be as prominent as ever.It will be crazily suppressed by the former enemies, and it will inevitably decline gradually.

However, there is a premise for this, there is no one who can take over the authority!

After learning about Huan Rong's actions in Youzhou, Xie Sheren felt more and more uneasy.

It is heard that his subordinates have gathered capable people, and within a short period of time, the Youzhou Army and the entire army have improved, and their business skills are even better.A month ago, he also borrowed farming cattle to form a friendship with Jiang and Jingzhou, which won Huan Chong's favor, and Huan Huo gave him a sword, and his strength became stronger and stronger.

Looking at his actions, he has shown signs of occupying the place.If things go on like this, it's hard to guarantee that he won't become the second Huan Wen.

It's a pity that Yuan Zhen was entrenched in Shouchun before and failed to lure him into the urn, and let him rescue Yuan Feng, and took the opportunity to gather Yuan's servants and further strengthen his strength.

In addition, with the help of business interests, they set up schools in the middle of the state, recruited refugees to open up wasteland and build cities, and married the Wu surname in the middle of the state to build the entire land like an iron barrel.

These kinds of methods inevitably reminded Xie An of the heroes of the late Han Dynasty.

With financial resources, capable people, and background influence, such Huan Rong made Xie An feel jealous, but he did not dare to act rashly.

Huan Rong is different from Huan Wen, and also different from Xi Yin.

His biological mother was the princess of the Jin Dynasty, who was responsible for the Northern Expedition and was well-known among the people.The result of acting rashly is likely to be the loss outweighs the gain, just like the Empress Dowager Chu, who failed to achieve her goal, but instead helped the other party to take a step forward and became a stepping stone for the other party to move forward.

More importantly, Xie An also loves talents.

Thinking of Xie Xuan's praise of Huan Rong, after thinking about it a few times, he really wanted to meet him.

Just like Director Wang mentioned to him back then.

If Huan Rong is willing to regard the Jin family as orthodox, then he is not a potential ally, and he can take the opportunity to win him over.Although this possibility is very slim, Xie An still wants to give it a try.

After a hundred years of war, the land of China has been devastated, and it really cannot bear more war disasters.

If Huan Rong knew what Xie An was thinking, he would probably shake his head.

Assuming he is stupid and sweet, the current Xie An is somewhat idealized.

However, ideals will eventually be shattered by reality.

Jiangzuo Merry Prime Minister will also face the reality, advance or retreat, no matter what choice he makes, if he wants to carry the banner of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it will be more difficult than in history.

"Why did An Shi sigh?"

"Think of someone."

Xie An stopped in his tracks, raised his head, glanced at Sima Yu who walked out amidst the music, and said to Wang Tanzhi: "Jiankang is full of wind and rain, you and I have no military power, and you can't do anything by force. If you can support one of the princes, Watch out for each other, or a disaster can be avoided."

"One of the princes?" Wang Tanzhi frowned, naturally he didn't think that Xie An was talking about King Wuling and others.Most likely it's a matter of the states.But in this way, the danger is not small.

"Just thinking about it for the time being." Xie An lowered his voice, and before the music turned sharply, he said the shocking words, "The wind and rain in Jiankang are getting worse, it is really impossible, we should follow the example of the predecessors, otherwise everything is uncertain."

Contact the foreword, the person Xie An wants to emulate, except Director Wang, does not think of him.

Wang Tanzhi turned his head in astonishment, as if he couldn't believe that the words came from Xie An.

The eunuchs in front of the hall sang loudly, and it was inconvenient for the two of them to speak again, so they could only gather their minds and bow down along with the singing, to celebrate the new year and the longevity of the new emperor.

In Changle Palace, candles as thick as children's arms were lit in rows.

Entering the main hall from the front door is brightly lit, as bright as day.

The hall is covered with thick blankets, with bright colors and gorgeous patterns, which are obviously the patterns of the Western Regions.

Empress Dowager Chu sat upright, with twelve jade screens standing behind her, on which were carved flowers, birds, insects, fish, and animals in the mountains, all of which were vivid and lifelike.Especially the fierce tiger in the middle, with its front feet on the stone, its head raised and roaring, it is quite frightening against the light.

There are two rows of low tables in the hall, behind which are futons made of silk cloth.

The concubines in the palace and the female relatives of each family took their seats in order. The palace maids served drinks and vegetables, and the musicians played the zither and the zither.

The chime bells sounded, and the dancers filed into the hall.

The tall and slender beauty is dressed as a teenager, wearing a square mountain crown on her head, holding a wooden sword, and dancing a unique Han dance to the sound of the piano and drums.

Jin people love beauty.

This is the case in all folk palaces.

The singing is added to the music, which is not like the long Han and Wei Changqu, but more like an ancient tune from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

The singing became louder and the dancers' movements became more free and easy.

During the flying, there is no beauty of the daughter's family, but a bit of the heroic and unruly young man's heroic demeanor.

"It's hard for Da Yu Le Ling to think ingeniously, and he can fill up the broken ancient songs." Empress Dowager Chu put down her wine glass, and said to the eunuch who was waiting on her side, "Reward Da Yu Le Ling twenty gold and ten pieces of silk."

"promise!"

At the end of the song, the dancers and musicians knelt in front of the hall to congratulate the Empress Dowager on her birthday.This is Yuanzheng's custom, not that today is Queen Mother Chu's birthday.

"reward!"

The eunuch raised his voice and sang loudly, and ordered the upper hall to kowtow to thank him.The official named Liubaishi's status is still not high.It is destined to be "not popular" if it is linked with martial arts.

After the rewards are over, the music starts again.

This time it is no longer the high-pitched drum music, but the gentle Wudi tune.

The atmosphere in the palace was even more lively. The female relatives of each family either raised their cups to drink together, or talked and laughed together. Regardless of whether there were disputes in the family, the relationship between the female relatives was still harmonious.

For example, the Wang family of Langya and the Xie family of Chenjun who were drifting away were still relatives by marriage.The DPRK and China are fighting for life and death, but the Houzhai can always maintain a trace of contact.

Wang Xie and other high-ranking families formed a whole of their own, and the concubines of the new emperor fought fiercely with their relatives.The rest are the county princesses who married out, and the middle-class gentry attached to various families.

There is no place for poor family members in the banquet.

Even if the father, brother and husband are in the royal class, a single birth can keep the girl out of the palace gate, let alone step into the Changle Palace.

Empress Dowager Chu watched coldly, and found that Princess Nankang was the most lively.

Even Wang Xie and other female family members with a high surname would take the initiative to drink with her, and at the same time, they laughed and said a few words, which was quite warm.Especially the female relatives of the Langya Wang family, they are more intimate in words and deeds.

The Empress Dowager Chu didn't know the inside story, and people around her had other intentions, so Jiankang was kept in the dark about everything, and she thought it was because of Huan Wen's face.

Anne knew it well.

Where is Sima Huan, he is clearly the assassin of Youzhou!

Huan Rong holds several business routes, and even has maritime trade, and thousands of cattle can be transported at a time.Counting the Jiankang gentry, no less than [-]% have business dealings with him.

At the end of the day, no one wants to have to struggle with money.On such occasions, Princess Nankang will always be given some face.

Thinking of all the things he experienced in Youzhou, Ana couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle, and then looked at Princess Nankang again, and subconsciously shuddered twice.

Huan Rong was born handsome, his eyes looked exactly like Princess Nankang.Every time Princess Nankang toasted, and a pair of sharp eyes swept over her, Ane would subconsciously back away, almost sticking to the screen.

It's too scary, isn't it?

Compared with the bustle around Princess Nankang, Sima Daofu's surroundings were always deserted.

Before entering the hall, she met Xi Daomao face to face, and the latter only nodded slightly, not intending to salute at all.

Sima Daofu broke out on the spot, the servants did not dare to forcefully pull, their faces turned pale with horror.

Before Xi Daomao could say anything, Wang Ningzhi's wife, Xie Daoyun from the Xie family in Chenjun, turned her head and glanced coldly, blocking Sima Daofu's yelling back.

"Is His Highness drunk before the banquet begins?"

Xie Daoyun seemed to be joking, but in fact he stripped Sima Daofu's face clean.All he had to do was point to her forehead and scold her for being rude and not being educated as a woman should be.

In fact, in the eyes of the noble family, the royal girl is indeed lack of education, without the demeanor and self-cultivation that a noble girl should have.For example, Princess Nankang is really rare.

Sima Daofu was not stupid, so he could hear the sarcasm in his words.

Hearing the laughter from all around, it seemed as if they were mocking him, his face turned red, and he gritted his teeth with hatred.

Xie Daoyun did not continue to speak, another sister-in-law of Xi Daomao, whose ancestral home was in Shanyin, Kuaiji, and whose grandfather was an official to Sikong, said: "Your Highness, the eldest father of Ah Si is an official of the Taiwei, and the official of the great monarch is the general of Beizhong Lang. Xu and Yan prefectures guarded Jingkou and guarded the Jin Dynasty for generations."

Having said this, He Shi stopped talking.

Regardless of whether Sima Dao Fuming didn't understand, the gentry and female family members present could hear it clearly.

So what about being a county princess?

The biological mother is only a middle-class gentry, let alone a direct wife.Even if King Langya ascends to the Ninth Five-Year Plan, he is still a "concubine"!

Xi Yin and Huan Wen did not deal with each other, and the whole court knew it.

Xi Daomao was born in the Xi clan of Gaoping, so he got close to Sima Daofu only when his brain was twitching.What's more, Sima Daofu tried to intervene in her marriage. The two were enemies at all, and there was never a possibility of getting married.

It is quite polite to be able to nod to Sima Daofu.Otherwise, it would be even more embarrassing to treat her as air.

Today is different.

Wang Xianzhi was an official in the court, and his taste was about to reach Qianshi.Huan Ji has a disability, what else is there besides a nominal title?

If Sima Daofu thought that her own father would be able to show prestige in front of Xi Daomao if her father ascended the throne, she was undoubtedly a big mistake, and it just made people laugh.

Recalling the joke in front of the palace, Sima Daofu gritted his silver teeth, did not listen to the dissuasion of the servants, poured himself a drink, and soon became three-point drunk.Staring at Xi Daomao, who was talking and laughing with his sister-in-law, his eyes almost burst into flames.Unable to vent his anger, he threw the wine glass on the ground.

The maid wanted to persuade him, but was slapped in the face.

Empress Dowager Chu noticed the movement and frowned.

"Anne."

"The servant is here."

"Let Xu Shuyi go over and have a look, don't make trouble."

"promise!"

Anakong agreed, and went to the seat where the concubine was.

Because Princess Langya was dead, Sima Yu didn't have a successor concubine, so naturally he didn't have a successor after ascending to the throne, and he only named the concubine of the palace as Shuyi.

Although the grades are equal, there are also differences between each other.

The one with the highest status is Wang Shuyi, who came from the same family as the princess and entered the palace as a concubine.After her is Hu Shuyi who gave birth to Sima Yu's two sons.Even if the two sons have died, their family background can still secure the second place.

In third place is Xu Shuyi, Sima Daofu's biological mother.

Li Shuyi, who gave birth to Sima Yao and Sima Daozi, was squeezed in the last.

She was born as a maidservant in Kunlun, she has neither appearance nor talent, but for Hu Qian's words, Sima Yu would not even look at her.

Ane was ordered by the Queen Mother to come, but Xu Shuyi was not at the banquet, so she thought she was going to change clothes.

Seeing Sima Daofu's drunk state, Wang Shuyi and Hu Shuyi didn't want to touch this nail, but Li Shuyi didn't know what was thinking, or to show her sense of existence, she stood up and said, "I'll go with Dachangle."

Anne instinctively wanted to refuse.

Who doesn't know that Princess Yuyao dislikes this man, second only to Xi Daomao.Where is this past persuasion, it is clearly adding fuel to the fire.

Add fuel to the fire?

Ane's eyeballs rolled, a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, he quickly put away the words that came to his lips, stepped aside, and said, "Please, Shuyi."

Watching the fun is not too big.

The tone passed by Yi Xi Lang might as well make the relationship between the Queen Mother and the officials more tense.If Li Shuyi and the princess of Yuyao County cause trouble in Changle Palace, regardless of whether they take care of it, the queen mother will be left behind by the officials.

While thinking about it, An'e already thought of an excuse to get out.

Don't be afraid of being questioned by the queen mother, as long as you push the matter to a few Shuyis, you will be able to get out of the body.

As expected, as soon as Li Shuyi showed up, Sima Daofu exploded before he could say a word.

"Get out! Why do you care about me?!"

Relying on a bit of alcohol, Sima Daofu didn't give Li Shuyi any face at all, pointed at Li Shuyi's nose and scolded; "How dare a mere Kunlun servant call my mother?! My mother is from a noble family, the daughter of Sikong, and my aunt is also Gentlemen! A servant dares to call my mother, how courageous!"

Sima Daofu really wanted to take the opportunity to vent his anger, but he did not lose his mind.

Li Shuyi came from a humble background, but her son occupies the position of the eldest son, Wang Shuyi and others have long disliked her.Even if Sima Yu and Empress Dowager Chu wanted to hold her accountable, Sima Daofu still had a reason to excuse herself if she didn't know her identity.

"Your Highness, I didn't..." Li Shuyi's face was pale, her eyes were full of tears, and she looked very pitiful.

If you change the occasion, it is estimated that you can get some sympathy.

It's a pity that all the female relatives were present, and they were well aware of the ghosts in the palace and the struggle in the back house. When they saw this scene, they would avoid it immediately, and no one stepped forward at all.

Empress Dowager Chu's face darkened.

"Nankang, don't you care?"

Princess Nankang didn't even look at her, and said with a sneer, "I can't control it. Logically, you and I have to call the official's uncle. Li Shuyi is the official's concubine, and Yuyao is a firecracker. big."

Speaking of this, Princess Nankang picked up the wine cup, seemingly unintentionally said: "Speaking of which, the new emperor has been on the throne for two months, and he still hasn't given the title of empress dowager?"

Empress Dowager Chu was so blocked that her liver hurt.

To be honest, Empress Dowager Chu has gone through four dynasties, and after Sima Yu ascended the throne, she should be given an honorary title based on reason and reason.

But two months passed, and there was not even a word of news.The new emperor stated that he did not want to see the Queen Mother, and Princess Nankang poked the Queen Mother Chu's lung tube with a word, and almost fainted the latter.

Thinking about it carefully, it's no wonder Sima Yu behaved like this.

There are Huanwen Ximin and Jiankang gentry outside, he is like a mouse in a bellows, unable to decide everything.Empress Dowager Chu once again showed her ambition to become a regent, so she didn't try to be on guard, waiting for the same fate as Sima Yi?

Sima Yu has been a prime minister for many years and knows the knack of power struggle.

Temporarily unable to move the powerful ministers, he can always suppress the palace.

Taking ten thousand steps back, he is an elder of the royal family, and Empress Dowager Chu wants to call him uncle.If it wasn't for his aunt's long-awaited conferment, he wouldn't mind having another "big ceremony" to let Empress Dowager Chu fully understand her identity.

However, things always have limits.

After suppressing the other party for a period of time, to let her understand their respective positions, Sima Yu would always let go, and had no intention of doing things to the extreme.

Taking advantage of the New Year's greetings, the honorary decree was sent to Changle Palace, and it was Sima Yao and Sima Daozi who delivered the decree and announced the good news. The new emperor extended an olive branch and planned to ease the relationship with Queen Mother Chu.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the two arrived at Changle Palace, they saw their mother being scolded by the hall, and no one came forward to make a rescue.And the one who insulted Li Shuyi was none other than her half-sister!

Regardless of the relationship between Sima Yao and Sima Daozi, both of them are very protective of their mother.

Seeing his mother alone and helpless, the whole hall was watching the excitement, Sima Yao clenched his fists, Sima Daozi broke out on the spot, rushed to the hall, and gave Sima Daofu a hard push.

"You dare to insult my aunt?!"

When the two appeared, Li Shuyi cried even more sadly, but secretly pleased in her heart.

She did it on purpose!

I learned from Sima Yao that the official family intends to choose today as the Empress Dowager, and specially sent people to guard outside Changle Palace.When she learned that Sima Yao and Sima Daozi had come, and met Ane who was looking for someone, she made up her mind at the time that she must provoke Sima Daofu into a fit.

Things turned out as expected.

Seeing her being insulted, Sima Yao's face was gloomy, and Sima Daozi exploded on the spot.

It's not about restraining her emotions. Knowing that the play is going to continue, she will definitely look at Wang Shuyi and the others proudly, and laugh a few times, so that they can fully understand that the palace is not a palace, let alone a nobleman's back house!

Parenthood isn't everything.

Without a son to rely on, why should I put on airs in front of myself? It's ridiculous!

Sima Daofu was pushed down, knocked over the low table, and was covered in wine.

Sima Daozi didn't want to stop, he grabbed the wine spoon and smashed it down, angrily said: "You insulted Auntie's bloodliness, fortunately, what did Auntie's father say? What are my brother and I?!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was silent.

Sima Yao held the imperial decree tightly and looked at Sima Daofu with hostility in his eyes.

Empress Dowager Chu knew that she could no longer keep silent.He stood up while supporting the eunuch's hand, and said, "Yu Yao is drunk."

The four characters fell, obviously because he didn't want Sima Daozi to continue to pursue.

Sima Yao held back his furious brother, and let the palace maid help Sima Daofu and Li Shuyi down, bowed his hands and saluted, and said, "You surprised the Queen Mother."

This sentence was said very skillfully, and Empress Dowager Chu couldn't help but look sideways.

Princess Nankang also put down the wine cup, and turned to look at Sima Yao.

"Father and emperor have a decree, the empress dowager is wise and virtuous, supports the two emperors, regents the previous dynasty, and manages the palace. Her moral conduct is comparable to that of Emperor Shun's second concubine, and now she respects the empress dowager!"

After reading the imperial decree aloud, Sima Yao took two steps forward, held up the bamboo slips, and presented them respectfully in front of the Empress Dowager Chu.

Looking at the slightly unfamiliar young man, and the honor that finally arrived, for some reason, Empress Dowager Chu felt a little bit happy, but felt chills in her heart.

Princess Nankang looked at it coldly, feeling extremely ironic.

The two people who were supposed to work together to rejuvenate the Jin family are now intriguing.Thinking about the situation in the court, and thinking about the Qin family and the Di people in the north, she suddenly felt that her mood was fading.

Candles are still burning in the hall, and the music and singing are endless.

The fragrance of fat, powder and wine is mixed together, the red is flying and the emeralds are dancing, the rings are jingling, the feast is extravagant, and the scenery is everywhere, but it inexplicably shows decadence, showing the desolation after the prosperity.

Looking down at the reflection in the wine glass, Princess Nankang frowned.

In a chaotic world, catastrophe is approaching, but the high-ranking person closes his eyes and fights blindly.

Perhaps, Sima's fate will eventually come to an end.

As the lights flickered, the dancing girl in red silk was as light as a butterfly, and her figure stretched and twisted on the wall.

Princess Nankang picked up the wine glass and drank it down.Thinking of Huan Rong who was far away in Youzhou, he finally suppressed the last bit of bitterness.

As long as my son is safe, it doesn't matter if the Jin Dynasty is about to perish!