my country is dead

It was only that night that Wen or Yue finally remembered why he felt so familiar with the scene of being questioned by the general and the concubine at the same time, because a similar thing happened during the Daqi period.

At that time, the threat to Wen or Yue was said to be the hidden guards who came and went without a trace by the emperors.

Yes, the dark guard, the kind of tool man that is necessary for the emperor living in the novel to travel at home.What is the order of one or two numbers, the heavenly stems and the earthly branches are listed, killing people like hemp, and swearing allegiance to the death.In short, if you don't have such a thing, it's not good to greet other emperors under Jiuquan in the future.

The Great Qi Dynasty in the Heavenly Book is naturally not exempt.

It has been rumored to the generation of Lao Tzu Qi Zhongzong in Wenjuyue that the secret guards of the Daqi royal family still existed. They were not only the strongest shield to protect the emperor, but also the best spear for the emperor to spy on the court. Ordinary courtiers heard that When it comes to the name of the secret guard, I always feel apprehensive, and I am most afraid of such a spy agency.

This was also when Zhongzong suddenly died of a sudden illness, no one would question the ambiguity of Zhongzong's death.With so many hidden guards around, who can kill Zhongzong invisible without being discovered by the hidden guards?

Taking a step back, if such a master really exists, it is not something that ordinary people can solve, and there is no need to cause trouble for the upper body.

According to the tradition, the hidden guards of the late emperor would either follow the late emperor and carry all the secrets of the late emperor to continue their allegiance; or they would become the tomb keeper of the late emperor's mausoleum and spend the rest of his life protecting the dead souls of the late emperor from being disturbed.

As for the new emperor's dark guards, they would generally start training during the prince or prince's period, but they would not appear in front of the new emperor under the recommendation of the older generation's dark guards until the new emperor ascended the throne and pledge their allegiance.It is said that a drop of the new emperor's fingertip dragon blood is fused into a special mother Gu, so that there is no need to worry about the betrayal of the hidden guards who own the child Gu, because once they give birth to two hearts, the child Gu will eat the host's heart .

In short, it sounds extremely mysterious, and the stubble in the blood is not something that can be appreciated by smell or jump.

Before the handover, the new emperor's hidden guards will generally be in the hands of the empress, or the emperor's biological mother. After all, some emperors leave in a hurry and may not have time to confess, such as Zhongzong.

However, the ancestors who set up this rule probably never imagined that there would be a birth mother like the Queen Mother who disliked her son in every possible way.It is said that the poison of a tiger does not eat its offspring, but humans are far more poisonous than tigers.

In short, Wen or Yue, the unlucky new emperor, became the first emperor in the history of Daqi without a hidden guard.

The courtiers didn't know the tricks in the handover of the dark guards. They just felt that the late emperor died in a hurry, and he didn't intend to establish a reserve before his death. He probably didn't think of training the dark guards early, and even if he did, he didn't know who he should be loyal to.The tradition of dark guards, which has already been criticized by others, is probably destined to be discontinued in this generation.

Wen or Yue thought so at the beginning, no, to be precise, Wen or Yue didn't even know that the emperor was still a hidden guard at first, although he had heard it once or twice, he only thought it was an unreliable rumor, after all, the hidden guard Existence is too incredible.

It wasn't until Wen Or Yue was confirmed as the next emperor, on the eve of preparing to take the throne, that the leader of the late emperor's secret guard finally showed up.

It was a middle-aged man who was about the same age as the first emperor, with gray hair and taciturn, he looked very reliable.After he appeared, the first thing he did was to plead guilty to Wen or Yue. According to tradition, the leader of the dark guard should appear next to the new emperor at the first time, escort the new emperor, guide him to a certain extent, and start the handover Two generations of dark guards.But……

"No matter how much I try to persuade the queen mother, she is unwilling to let go. I am incompetent. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

It is inevitable that the new generation of dark guards will join forces with the older generation of dark guards. After the new generation of dark guards leave the army, they will completely lose contact with the older generation of dark guards. They will only dormant in the royal family's secret Zhuangzi for training and wait quietly. The new master's superior.Except for the Empress Dowager Nashi, no one knew where these hidden guards were supposed to be activated.

Of course, although the queen mother knew where the hidden guards were, she had no right to use any of the hidden guards to do things for her. She was the custodian of the keys.

But now, the custodian of the key refuses to hand over the key to her son, even if she can't use it, she won't let him use it.It's really hurting others and not benefiting oneself, even Wen or Yue and the former leader of the secret guards couldn't figure out what the Queen Mother could get by doing such a thing.

The queen mother didn't say she was dead, and she didn't let anyone hear or jump at all, but the time limit she promised to hand over was delayed again and again.

Wen or Yue got used to the protection of the Ji family army brought by the queen, and even began to consider the possibility of really breaking the tradition of dark guards in his generation.

To be honest, the existence of hidden guards is indeed inhumane. These hidden guards were born as orphans. From the moment they were picked by Huangzhuang, they have lived a life of objectifying themselves into weapons without emotion.They are not allowed to have their own preferences, thoughts, and personalities. They live their whole lives to protect one person, and some people are even so numb that they don't know what pain is.

The emperor is quite at ease with the dark guards, but what about the dark guards?Even their personalities were wiped out.

When Daqi's dynasty was first established, the situation was special, special affairs were handled specially, and it was fine to master such a secret guard organization. Now it is a peaceful and prosperous age, at least there is no more swords and swords like in the past. The emperor is still like this, it is really Not suitable anymore.Just like the first emperor, the reason why he was able to poison and kill the brave General Situ back then was the effect of the secret guard's life.

The dark guard is like a double-edged sword. If it is used well, it will serve the country and the people. If it is not used well, it will be the source of disaster for the country.

Wen or Yue could understand the emperor's feeling of wanting to control everything, and even if he had hidden guards to assist him in the early days of his ascension to the throne, he didn't know how much trouble would be saved.

But, for your own convenience, can you really do whatever you want?

The other emperors couldn't let go of the dark guards because they were so easy to use.He can only smell or jump, because he has never used it for a day, so he has no way of experiencing that convenience.No matter how difficult the court affairs were, he had to deal with them by himself. He didn't feel dependent, so naturally he didn't feel that it was a pity to give up.

All he needs to do is rely on himself.

So, after Wen or Yue thought it through, he really went to the queen mother and expressed his opinion clearly - she didn't want to give it to him, he knew it, but he didn't want it now either, so it was better to disband on the spot.

Wen or Yue thought that this matter should be very simple, the Queen Mother had no reason to disagree, she always felt happy as long as she was unhappy when she heard or jumped.

But this time, it was the Queen Mother who had the strongest opposition.

The Queen Mother is actually not very old, she was only sixteen when she was born, and she is not even forty now.But with a little bit of maintenance, the whole person should look very young.However, the Queen Mother did not know why, but she had gray hair early on, showing her old age.She always frowns tightly, as if no matter what others do, she cannot be satisfied.

When facing Wen or Yue, the queen mother didn't even have a good face. Either she accused Wen or Yue of being wrong here, or that Wen or Yue was wrong there, or she just ignored it coldly and violently.

It is the same today when Wen Huyue became the emperor.

However, the Queen Mother seldom loses her temper with Wen or Yue. She is not a character who likes to yell and yell at people, because her childhood education told her that only shrews who have lost their minds will do this.She is the empress of the middle palace, her elegance and calmness should be engraved in her bones and blood, and she can't forget it even when she sleeps.

However, at the moment when Wen or Yue proposed to disband the hidden guards, the empress dowager showed bruised veins and a ferocious face, as if she was about to burst out all the patience she had endured for so many years. She asked him hoarsely: "Who are you?" Why do you care?"

Wen or Yue was dumbfounded by the question, what could he have in mind?If these hidden queen mothers don't give them to him, he can't use them, so they can only be placed there as abandoned children forever.Since he has made up his mind not to use them, why not let them go home early in exchange for a lifetime of freedom?Who did he harm?

After the queen mother finished speaking, she also regretted it, and tried her best to pretend that nothing happened just now: "If you don't think about yourself, you should also think about me..."

"You what?"

"Think about it for my future grandson." The Empress Dowager's face was ashen, and there was nothing wrong with the turn of the conversation, but it was inevitable to be a little blunt, "You don't need it yourself, how do you know that your future son won't need it?"

This is the first time the Empress Dowager took the initiative to raise the issue of future generations with Wen or Yue.

In fact, when marrying his cousin Na Yun, Wen or Yue even conspired to speculate whether the queen mother wanted to wait for him and Na Yun to give birth to a grandson with the blood of that family, so that she would take him out of the way and raise the baby Listen to politics behind the curtain or something.However, the Queen Mother did not.The queen mother never mentioned this kind of thing once, but she always felt that she was sorry for Na Yun, and compensated and took good care of her from time to time.

As for what was widely rumored by outsiders, the Empress Dowager thought that Yun was too stupid, and that the plan to change another niece into the palace was even more unfounded.The Queen Mother really loves the other niece more, and often takes her into the palace to chat, but...

She wouldn't let Wen or Leap touch each other at all.

It's like Wen or Yue is some kind of hungry ghost, guarding against death, for fear that Wen or Yue will see his cousin again.

Wen or Yue had no interest in marrying his cousin at all, so the queen mother was so on guard, which saved him a lot of trouble.This sister of Nayun is really not a fuel-efficient lamp.

Speaking of which, this is actually very strange, the Queen Mother's attitude towards Wen Or Yue is as if this is not her own son, but the Queen Mother's natal family respects Wen Or Yue very much. At the end of the day, the old man of that family was the first to kneel down to pay respects to the new monarch. Wen Ruyue's appearance was also very similar to his uncle, no one would think that he was the son of Zhonggong.

From the disclosure between the lines in that cloud, it can also be known that her father persuaded her sister countless times, hoping that she would treat Wen or Yue better.

Wen or Yue also had a good impression of his uncle, because he was the only person who secretly visited Wen or Yue a few times when Wen or Yue lived in the minister's house when he was a child.

Due to the intention of the late emperor, the uncle of that family could not show too close emotions to Wen or Yue, but at any rate, Wen or Yue knew that he had been here before, and he had been paying attention to him as much as he could. he.This is also the reason why Wen or Yue has no grudges against her cousin Na Yun. Although she is the empress dowager's niece, she is also the uncle's daughter.

Long story short, many of the queen mother's actions are inconsistent.

Wen or Yue once thought about exploring the reasons behind the queen mother's actions, trying to ease the conflict with her biological mother, but then she became numb. Whatever she likes, anyway, Wen or Yue will definitely follow her own ideas here.What if the Queen Mother disagrees with disbanding the secret guard?

"I'm just here to inform you, not to discuss."

On the same day, upon hearing of Ru Yue's order to disband the secret guards, it was issued and posted all over the country, so that everyone knew about it.Most ordinary people were in the same state as Wen or Yue before this, and they didn't even know that His Majesty had hidden guards. By the time they found out, it was time for the organization of the hidden guards to be disbanded. Naturally, all the courtiers who knew about it were writing letters. Blowing "Your Majesty is merciful", who would like someone to watch him every day?

Although the courtiers will inevitably say something in their hearts, the new emperor is indeed too young to understand the benefits of this kind of manpower, so he will give up as soon as he says it.

Only Wen or Yue knew about his family's situation. Anyway, he couldn't use these hidden guards himself, so he might as well disband them and give himself a good reputation.

After the decree was issued, the purpose was indeed achieved, and the effect was outstanding, and everyone praised it.

The queen mother was so angry that she was half dead, she heard that most of the palace was smashed, and she took the initiative to go to the Hall of Wuwei after waiting for a thousand years, hoping that Wen Juyue could recover her life.

The queen mother thought she was condescending, but Wen Huyue just sneered and didn't even see the queen mother.The eunuch who sent the order replied to the Queen Mother, "Your Majesty is very busy. The Empress Dowager should be more considerate. Don't cause trouble for Your Majesty. When he wants to see you, he will naturally meet you."

Just like back then, when Wen or Yue was ridiculed by others and still had hope for his parents, when he wanted to ask to see him, the cold reply he got was exactly the same—"Your Majesty is busy, Your Highness needs to be more sympathetic, so don't cause trouble for your mother anymore, she When I want to see you, I will naturally meet."

If Wen or Yue wants to activate the hidden guard, he needs to use the Queen Mother's key, but if it's just to disband, a decree is enough.

But it was also with this action that rumors of "dissatisfaction with the dark guards" arose.The end of an era is often so miraculous that you feel that you are setting them free, but those who are truly set free may not be grateful.Some of the hidden guards happily disarmed and returned to the fields, and some were sure that this was not the person they were truly loyal to and wanted to enter the palace to assassinate.

I don't know why the news leaked out, even if Wen or Yue was in the palace, he had to strengthen his guard, three floors inside and three floors outside.

Both the queen and the imperial concubine expressed their willingness to protect Wen or Yue personally.The imperial concubine said that the empress is only the future empress, if she lives in the palace now, what kind of words would it sound like?From the beginning to the end, the empress only said to the imperial concubine, "You can't beat me".

In the end, neither the queen nor the imperial concubine, Wen or Yue, was chosen.

He chose Concubine Shu.

Among the four concubines who are virtuous and virtuous, the real transparent person is Concubine Shu. She neither has the father of a minister like Concubine Xian, nor the bright face of the most beautiful concubine Liang, nor the unique personality of Concubine De who is dedicated to popularizing education. Shanxue is still like a little transparent, when he said "Concubine Shu", some palace people would even be surprised that there is a concubine Shu in the palace?

But it was such Concubine Shu who once saved Wen or Yue's life under a frightened horse.

That was almost what happened when Wen or Yue first came to the throne. It is hard to say whether the startled horse was an accident or a conspiracy, but in short, Wen or Yue was rescued by Concubine Shu, who was still a court lady. I have no intention of hiding my clumsiness.

When Wen or Yue asked her what she said, he realized that she was a Miao Jiang woman, who couldn't even speak Chinese well, and she turned upside down.

However, when Wen or Yue asked her what reward she wanted, she answered very smoothly and decisively, as if she had practiced countless times: "I want to enter the palace and become a concubine."

Wen or Yue was shocked by the other party's straightforwardness, and he didn't know whether it was a language problem or a folk custom problem that made Concubine Shu so outspoken.But no matter what, Wen Huyue kept her promise, named her Concubine Shu, and granted her the position of first palace master.There were also objections among the courtiers, who felt that women from other races should not be made concubines, but upon hearing Ru Yue's words, "I feel that my life is much more important than being a concubine", it blocked You You's mouth.

Wen or Yue originally thought that if Concubine Shu took the initiative to enter the palace, she would definitely do something else.

But it's so strange, as if Concubine Shu really just wanted to enter the palace, she completed her mission when she moved in, without any other actions, she was as quiet as if she didn't exist.

Until another accident happened in the palace, before hearing or jumping to ask, Concubine Shu appeared again and offered to protect each other with her life.And really did.

To this day, Wen or Yue doesn't know what Concubine Shu is planning.

This time something happened, Wen or Yue even had a very weird thought, Concubine Shu will not appear again, right?

"Really maybe." On the first night, it was Ji Zaiyuan who stayed at Wen's house, and he knew what Wen or Yue was thinking from the way he saw Wen or Yue, "Ms. Persistence is terrifying." When Wen Or Yue fell into a coma, Concubine Shu was the first to move in secret, she broke into the Hall of Wuwei secretly with a knife, and asked the queen to give her an explanation.Later on, when investigating the poisoning of His Majesty, he did his best and did a lot for Ji Zaiyuan.

Wen or Yue was taken aback: "How do you know about Concubine Shu?" Concubine Shu is so insignificant, why is the general's tone so familiar?