Lang Yi

Tian Zong sank into a nightmare, struggled for a long time but couldn't escape, finally opened his eyes and sat up, covered in cold sweat.

The inner eunuch who was on guard at night heard the sound and hurriedly called Li Qiu to come in and check it out.Tian Zong didn't say a word, just took a hot towel to wipe off the cold sweat, and lay down with his eyes open, feeling a little hot and tired the next day.

Li Qiu was so anxious that he couldn't help nagging to Ning Xingye while he was waiting outside for the doctor's diagnosis and treatment: "Your Highness was still full of energy after watching the fireworks last night, why did he suddenly become ill? What should I do..."

Since being reprimanded by Tian Zong last time, Ning Xingye has changed from being lively and talkative, and has become taciturn; at this moment, he folded his arms and lowered his head thoughtfully.

Seeing his indifferent appearance, Li Qiu complained slightly: "What's the matter, you were just said a few words by His Highness last time, did you just annoy His Highness and not care about him?!"

Ning Xingye didn't even think about it, raised his eyebrows, and snapped back rudely: "You know what, who else cares about Your Highness more than me?!"

As soon as the words came out, he was in a daze for a moment, and then continued: "You are the chief of the Eastern Palace's inner prison, and I am the commander of the Eastern Palace's guards. We must not panic. It is useless for you to be anxious right now. Why don't you listen carefully to Dr. Luo later? Command, don’t miss out on what you should pay attention to.”

Seeing his calm look, Li Qiu nodded in agreement, and then calmed down.

While speaking, I saw the imperial physician Luo Nan walking out of the hall slowly.Luo Nan is the elder sister of Luo Bei. Although she is not very old, she is recognized by the imperial hospital as the next head of the hospital, and she is very prestigious; Li Qiu looked at her expression, felt a little relieved, and rushed up to ask: "Miss Luo, is your Highness now?" How's the situation?"

Luo Nan was carrying a small medical kit with a calm expression: "It's okay, Your Highness is in good health, but it's just the occasional wind-heat invading the body, and it will be fine after a few days of recuperation. Luo Bei will stay in the hall to take care of it, and Qiu Dajian doesn't have to worry."

Ning Xingye interjected, "Brother Luo is used to smelling of tobacco. I'm afraid it will smoke His Highness, so it's better for you to take care of His Highness yourself."

Luo Nan has always known Ning Xingye's straightforward nature, so he smiled slightly, not surprised: "The official has already ordered Luo Bei to quit tobacco, and now he only smells of herbs, which doesn't smoke people. Recently, the official is developing a new drug, and he can't leave it alone. "Furthermore, the next official is a female doctor after all, so it's inconvenient to stay here. Luo Bei knows how to measure, you two don't have to worry, just listen to his orders."

After Luo Nan finished speaking, he turned around and was about to leave, then stopped and said: "By the way, the official looked at His Highness's illness, which may also be related to his recent depression. His Highness is involved in government affairs, and you two are close attendants. If you see him in a state of mind When he is tired and depressed, he should be patiently persuaded and make him smile more."

Li Qiu subconsciously replied: "Our Highness, we used to be the most kind and easy to laugh, do we want to laugh more now?"

Luo Nan glanced at him lightly, and said no more, Li Qiu came to his senses, and hurriedly bowed his hands together with Ning Xingye to thank him.After Luo Nan left, Li Qiu scratched his head and worried: "It is said that since His Royal Highness entered the East Palace, it is indeed far less carefree than when he was in the palace. But our Highness has never lacked anything since he was a child, and we can see all kinds of treasures and rare things However, how can this make him really happy?"

As the warm wind blows through in the afternoon, the willow branches inside and outside the wall sway together, the blue color smudges into one piece, and the sound of cicadas becomes louder and louder.

Ning Xingye looked at the two rows of weeping willows beside the palace wall in the distance, seemed to be in trouble, and remained silent.

*****

After Tian Zong recovered from his illness, he still handled government affairs as usual. He was originally smart, but under the emperor's guidance, he gradually learned some ways to get along with all the officials, and also became familiar with the routines of the officials in the court, and gradually got used to this kind of behavior. day.

The choice of the crown prince and concubine has not yet been decided. It is said that the emperor and empress have different opinions and are still considering it; in this way, no one dared to mention the matter of arranging to welcome Qi Luo into the palace.In short, Tian Zong didn't take these things to heart, and devoted himself to studying the affairs of the court, going back and forth to the main hall, study room, and sleeping hall all day long, and he didn't even go to the garden anymore.Seeing this, Li Qiu was secretly anxious, for fear that he would get sick again one day if he was so bored. Seeing that Ning Xingye didn't care much about it, he often took pains to collect some folk gadgets, and held them in front of Tian Zong like offering treasures for fun.Tian Zong couldn't bear to show his kindness, so he smiled every time.

Just after noon that day, Li Qiu happily came to his desk: "Your Highness, do you see who is here?"

Tian Zong let go of the memorial, and was slightly annoyed: "Who came here without a pass? Why didn't you know it? How could you be so bad?!"

There was a thick voice outside the study with a smile, and he responded boldly and neatly: "Your Highness, forgive me, it is my recklessness and rudeness."

Hearing this voice, Tian Zong hurriedly got up and walked out, pulling up the man who was kneeling: "Cousin Xiao! When did you return to Qingdu from the northern border? I originally expected you to have three to five days left." just arrived."

Xiao Tongxuan was not polite either, he stood up, laughed and said: "I'm running fast, I heard that the empress's health is getting better, and I'm worried again recently, so I rushed to the palace to visit and pay my respects."

Tian Zong knew what he was referring to, seeing that he was not shy, he couldn't help patting him on the shoulder vigorously, and jokingly said: "Are you here in front of this palace to make publicity for your Xiao family's daughter?"

The Xiao family is a prominent family that existed at the beginning of the founding of the country, and many generations of women have married into the royal family. It is not an exaggeration to say that half of the Ji family's blood is mixed with Xiao's blood.Therefore, now the empress wants to choose a favorite concubine for Tianzong from her mother's Xiao family, but the emperor intends to choose another daughter from the family of Prince Duanrui's widow.

Although Xiao Tongxuan was not wearing military uniform, he could still tell that he was tall and burly, and he was patted on the shoulder by Tian Zong without even shaking it.He shook his head resolutely, and teased: "Your Highness's marriage, there is no place for me to intervene! Besides, Your Highness has looked down on you since you were young, and I have never understood your mind; now I only know how to wield swords and swords. Do you know which beautiful woman you pretend to be in your heart, who burns incense and plays the piano?"

Tian Zong felt relieved when he saw that he still treated him the same as before, so he walked slowly on the palace road and chatted with him.Li Qiu and Ning Xingye followed, seeing Tian Zong's rare relaxed expression, they all wished that Xiao Tongxuan could stay in the palace for longer.

Walking to the gate of the imperial garden unknowingly, Tian Zong couldn't help but stop because he had something on his mind.

Xiao Tongxuan went in without knowing it, thinking that he was tired, so he said goodbye.Tian Zong didn't reply in time, he just stood outside the garden, looked in with his head slightly turned, and suddenly asked: "Brother Xiao, have you ever had a crush on anyone?"

Although Xiao Tongxuan has been stationed in the northern region for a long time now, he is a son of a noble family who grew up in Qingdu City, not a rough guy; seeing Tian Zong's abrupt question, and watching his expression, he understands a little bit.Without hiding or twisting, he stretched out his two sword eyebrows, and said with a frank smile: "Youth is absurd, and there is no one who has never had it; if you say no, this life will be spent in vain. Although the subject and the person you like are not meant to be together in the end, but In the end, it was a great show, and both of them had no regrets in their hearts. This kind of affection is kept in their hearts, just as if they have saved a pot of wine, and they will pour themselves a glass whenever there are difficult times in the future."

Tian Zong pondered and said: "That man, what happened afterwards? But you also thought like you? You are the son of the Xiao family, so it's easy to say."

Xiao Tongxuan was at a loss for words for a while, and after a while, he said seriously: "I understand what your highness means, but your highness understands better than I do. As a noble son, there is helplessness in the glory; It's not easy for anyone. At that time, the minister had tried his best, and that person knew that the minister had never failed; the hatchback was magnanimous, no matter what the ending was, even if the gray hair came back in the middle of the night, there was nothing to regret."

Tian Zong was noncommittal, and nodded silently: "I see, it's admirable."

Xiao Tongxuan knows how to measure, even though this cousin has been close to him since childhood, he is now a big prince; at this moment, he dare not make a joke, and he does not inquire about his family, he just waved his hand and smiled: "Hey, in the past The past year, just use it to gossip and make love with His Highness, His Highness can't tell others."

His implication was that he would not reveal Tian Zong's question just now to others.

Tian Zong smiled and said: "That's natural. You just mentioned the matter of the northern border, and I will remind the emperor in time in front of the father, but now that the national treasury is tight, if you want to allocate military funds to the northern border, I'm afraid it will have to be ranked next to the western border." Afterwards."

Xiao Tongxuan followed his topic to chat about political affairs: "Speaking of which, I heard that the Southwest Lu family is quiet, and they are not in a hurry to ask the court for money and food?"

Tian Zong frowned slightly: "The Lu family has repeatedly expressed their loyalty to the emperor and is willing to share the worries of the court. But the Lu family is by no means a peaceful person, but their business in the southwest is indeed remarkable. I have visited the South Market in person, Seeing that the Southwest has a lot of products, and now that the Nanxu has surrendered, the Lu family will definitely reach out there; even though he knows this, he has no choice but to have a vast territory, and now that this palace is just beginning to manage political affairs, it is beyond our reach."

Xiao Tongxuan comforted him and said: "The Lu clan occupies the southwest, and there are two county kings sitting in the fiefdom. The Lu clan is not enough to become powerful, so don't worry about it, Your Highness. Although the dog army in the north is very fierce, but there is Xiao's garrison, your Highness can do whatever you want." rest assured."

The two chatted happily, and it was almost dusk when Xiao Tongxuan was sent away.

Tian Zong turned around and walked on the palace road, glanced at the guards who were patrolling and changing defenses from a distance, his heart moved slightly, he stopped by the Qinglan River in Miyagi, stared at the river for a while, and suddenly ordered Li Qiu to fetch his zither .

Li Qiu saw that it was going to be late, and was waiting to dissuade him, Ning Xingye kicked him in time: "Your Highness hasn't touched the strings for a long time, and it's rare to be in a good mood today. It's still summer, and the evening breeze is blowing. A beauty lamp, blowing the air is no big deal, hurry up and take it!"

Seeing Li Qiu running away in a hurry, Tian Zong said with a smile: "Ning Xingye, you kid is becoming more and more obedient now. Why, last time I reprimanded you, you only dare to follow my wishes from now on?"

Ning Xingye said with a cheeky grin: "That day I was presumptuous, Your Highness was right to scold me; after returning home, my eldest brother heard me talk about this matter, and also scolded me, and I knew I was wrong. "

"Oh?" Tian Zong remained calm, stepped towards the small pavilion by the river, and asked casually, "What does your elder brother say?"