Act like a spoiled child

Huo Bing deceived Ming Shen again.

By the time Mingshen knew, Huo Bing had been gone for four or five days.He ran home and wanted to pack Huo Bing's things ahead of time, but found that the house was already empty.

Even Bu Yu knew the exact date of his brother's departure, but he didn't.

He was very unhappy about this for a while, feeling that he was rejected by Huo Bing again.Yumin took the time to coax him, but he didn't see him being happier, and Mingshen regained his vitality after waiting for Huo Bing's letter to report his safety.

Yumin is very busy recently, and Mingshen actually doesn't have much time to see him.

The obstacles after Yu Min came to power have been cleared away one by one, and the next thing is the highlight - all kinds of hidden dangers left by the late emperor, all parties balance the minutiae problems, many small problems come together, and the wars as far away as the border , the plague that has frequently occurred recently, there is nothing that does not require hard work day and night.

And Mingshen can approve some simple papers for him and help him deal with the smallest things, but he can't help much, he can only try his best to learn to do some things that a queen should do: the palace expenses accounts, Appointment and dismissal of court ladies, eunuchs and bodyguards, the study of the little princess, reward system for female officials and court family members, etc.

He learned to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, and used the experience of collecting rent with Huo Bing when he was in the south of the Yangtze River to use in the palace. He carefully operated the palace market and wanted to earn some money to subsidize the national treasury, but it was a drop in the bucket.

In the second year of Yumin's administration, the financial problems accumulated by the previous generation gradually emerged.

During the reign of the Supreme Emperor, the year-on-year deficits in the court and middle age finally affected them now.Originally, some policies introduced by Yumin before the beginning of the year were enough to turn the situation around. He reduced or exempted the poll tax, supplemented his profits and losses, and planned to make a long-term plan. However, by coincidence, two major events happened this year:

The same is a man-made disaster, the border of Yunlong is still unstable, and the neighboring Qiangjiang raises troops to revolt, kills a general soldier, seizes the flag and dominates, intending to rebel.

The turmoil lasted for eight full months before a break. Due to the height of the sky and the distance, the situation was unclear, which also made the battle more complicated.

The other is natural disasters.

At the beginning of the year, there were floods in Shandong, causing countless deaths and injuries. In the summer, there was a severe drought all over the country, and many places had no crops. No matter what the consequences are, but under the panic of people who are suffering all day long, the saying "if you offend the dragon's veins, the dragon will be angry" spread like wildfire.

At that time Mingshen was awakened by the shock, and ran to the Changning Hall without even wearing his shoes, wanting to ask Yumin if there was anything wrong, but the Changning Hall was full of officials who came to report the disaster, and he waited at the back of the hall from noon until dawn. Hei didn't wait until Yumin was free.

He went back to eat something and took care of himself. When he came in the middle of the night, he found that Yumin had fallen asleep holding a pen.He looked very tired, pale, and his spirit was always in a state of tension - as soon as he stepped into the hall, Yumin woke up with a start.

Seeing that it was him, he breathed a sigh of relief, then hooked his hand: "Come here, Shen."

Ming Shen said: "Brother Min."

Yumin tilted her head and kissed him: "Hey, don't say anything, I will come to accompany you when Brother Min finishes his work."

Over the past year, Mingshen has heard this sentence countless times, every time he is very obedient, and this time is the same.He held Yumin's hand and stayed with him all night, watching him write a letter of guilt.

The edict of guilt, the king declares his fault to the world, the edict, the report, follow the words and orders.

Sin yourself when there is a natural disaster, blame yourself when the monarch and his ministers are misplaced, and blame yourself when life is in danger, and criticize your own mistakes to the people of the world.

Yumin slowly wrote: "My virtues are different, I can't go up to the full three lights, but down to the sum of all living beings, the mutations are frequent, the evidence of blame is bright, and I only fear at night, not to mention Ningkang..."

"At the end of the first lunar month, a meteor was seen in the barracks. The Taishi Zhanjue named it Comet, which is the most serious disaster. The way of heaven is not far away, and the bandits are condemned. All surnames have made mistakes. I am here to blame one person. Now I feel sorry for myself... The hungry take food from the roads, kill people in the city to sell, plunder and sell people in hidden places for profit, the day is late, and there are no pedestrians on the road... It is really my fault." [1]

Mingshen watched from the side, and asked sadly in a low voice: "Brother Min, why are you criticizing yourself? You obviously did nothing wrong."

Yumin smiled and patted his head, but his expression showed exhaustion: "Ah Shen, you will understand later."

At the beginning of August, Yumin approved Bu Yu's request to reinforce Yunlong for the first time: "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking, you'd better go and come back quickly. If I die from overwork one day, you and Huo Bing don't bother." want to run."

Previously, Bu Yu applied repeatedly, but Yu Min never approved it. The reason was simple: Huo Bing had already left. If Bu Yu also left, there would really be no one available in the capital.At the time of internal and external troubles, every talent is rare.

And there was no other reason why Bu Yu was let go this time—it was because he had already found someone to take his place temporarily.

Not one, but two.

The two people he found were Xie Yuan and Sang Yi, who were from unknown origin.Originally, Yumin didn't take it seriously, but after he had a few conversations with these two people, he immediately changed his mind.

These two people are said to have traveled to foreign countries all the year round, and worked as military counselors with foreigners, and they are very good at governing the country.It is said that their wish in life is: "I wish to travel around the world like the imperial bandits in the Warring States Period, and use it everywhere, and have nothing outside my heart."

What they asked for was also very simple - not seeking glory, but seeking wealth, and hoped that Yumin would allocate a vacant space for them in the future, because they had no fixed place to live, and when they came back from abroad, they found that they could no longer afford Jingzhong. The house is gone, very bleak.

Yumin agrees.

With the help of these two, Yumin's pressure has been shared a lot, but the current situation is still full of difficulties.

Mingshen once met one of the young men named Sang, who was a man with an extremely outstanding appearance—a face that was even more outstanding than himself and Huo Bing, but with a pair of eyes that could see through the world.

Just from this aspect, he felt that he had been seen through by the other party - he had seen through his identity as a male queen, and also seen through all the incompetence and weakness so far.

With a thought, he asked Yumin that night, and found this young man surnamed Sang for a meeting.

The reason he told Yumin was this: "Because he's so good-looking, I'm afraid that brother Min will change your mind. I need to know myself and the enemy before I can win every battle."

Yumin squeezed his face, reluctantly satisfied: "Very good, now I can barely look like a jealous queen, please keep it up, my little Shen."

That night, this young man surnamed Sang came as scheduled, bowed to him when he saw him, and said, "See the queen."

Mingshen hadn't seen outsiders for more than half a year, so he was a little embarrassed: "Mr. Xiao Sang, you don't need to greet me, my name is Mingshen, you can call me by my real name."

The young man smiled and said, "Lord Ming."

Ming Shen asked someone to lead him to sit down.Sang Yi's first sentence after sitting down was not to ask him what he asked him to do, but softly said: "Careful, cautious, the Lord is worried, Yishun, the name of the adult is not good, it can't be stretched, why don't you change it?" .”

This remark was outrageous, the ceremony officer who followed Mingshen immediately gave him a look, but Mingshen stopped him, and then asked him to go down and wait, only the two of them were left in the big Jianyin Hall.

Mingshen quietly held the teacup and organized his words, but he didn't know where to start after thinking about it for a long time.

Instead, the other party saw his embarrassment and laughed: "Master Ming, I am a long-winded person, if you are not in a hurry to speak, how about letting me talk about it first?"

Ming Shen nodded, "Say it."

Sang Yi said: "In ancient times, there was Zi Gao, Emperor Wen wanted to make her a male queen, but after Emperor Wen died, Zi Gao could not die well. In ancient times, there was also a female emperor who was forced to abdicate at an advanced age. When later generations wrote in the book, It is also said to be "Wu's disaster". In fact, there is no difference between men and women. What men do, women can do, and vice versa. But whether it is before, now, or many years later...we must change everyone's views , It’s like letting the running water go backwards, the sun goes out, and it goes against the sky.”

Ming Shen said: "I'm listening, sir."

Sang Yi continued: "So, in fact, it was our Majesty who took this wrong step first. He wanted to completely change other people's thinking, and wanted those old-fashioned old men to understand his intentions day and night, but it was still too hasty. Frozen Three It takes hundreds or even thousands of years of hard work to promote the transformation of the male empress and the empress... No matter how high the method is, it may be able to force people to admit it, but in the hearts of others, this will always be Turning a deer into a horse, the disaster will always exist, you... can't be at peace, can you?

"Forgive me, if the Supreme Emperor dies, you will be exchanged for two years, but what if two years fail? If two years later, can another concubine die, or someone else die?"

After Mingshen thought for a long time, he said softly: "Actually, I feel it...Brother Min is trying to be brave. He said it's as easy to say not to be a concubine as it is to establish a female crown prince, but he doesn't want to listen to others. It's not like that, it's just that..."

He thought about it, not knowing how to proceed.Sang Yi smiled: "I know, but if you care about it, you will be chaotic, right? When you like someone, it will make people stupid."

He tapped his head and said with a mischievous smile: "I used to be like this."

"So, sir, is there any way to solve this matter?" Mingshen sat upright and asked nervously, "I really...really, I want to help Brother Min."

Sang Yi stretched out two fingers to him: "Two ways."

"Master Ming, I can't say much about other things, but at this time, it's better to ask God for a try."

"Pray...God?" Ming Shen opened his eyes wide, instinctively thinking that this method is not very reliable.

Sang Yi nodded solemnly.

He hesitated and asked, "Then, what about the second method?"

This time Sang Yi gave him a booing gesture: "The second method, I told you when I came to see you, this method is also recommended by me, but I can't say, when the opportunity comes, you will know."

The next day, Ming Shen still came to the Sheji Altar.

Although he didn't want to understand the second method the man said, he still heard the question of praying to God.The dead horse came here as a living horse doctor.

Since the beginning of this dynasty, Sheji Altar and Ziwei Terrace have become synonymous with the location of priests and state teachers.It was the first time he came here, and it was only at this time that he realized that what the priest told him back then was not false. There are all kinds of gods enshrined here. ,eternal.

He doesn't believe in these things, but it doesn't prevent him from being in awe of them, or finding a place to rely on at this time, this is his place of meditation.This place is quieter and more peaceful than the Taimiao——Since the middle of this year, Mingshen has been reluctant to go to the Taimiao. Every time he passes by the tablets of the ancestors of the Yu family, he seems to feel that these old people are looking at him , are all reproachful eyes, because he failed to help Yumin share his worries.

This time, Huo Bing was still absent, and neither was Bu Yu.But he couldn't ask Yumin, Yumin would just pinch his nose with a smile, coaxing him not to worry, and then take care of everything alone.

The priest sprinkled a handful of grains on him, and then he was still beaming with blessings. The words have not changed a bit in two years: "I wish you a healthy body and a precious son early. Today's Master Ming is also so irresistible." Eyes, I represent the Ziwei Terrace and the entire Altar of the State, and I feel radiant."

Ming Shen smiled: "You're talking nonsense again. I wish I could have children."

If men could have children, there would be no such troubles, and he could be with Yumin without any worries.

The priest immediately said: "Why not? My lord, listen to me. The representative of the queen is the phoenix. In ancient times, the phoenix was the male and the phoenix was the female. Later, they evolved into one body, that is, hermaphrodite, and the female can also be a phoenix." Men, men can also turn into women, as far as I know, besides men and women, there are so-called intersex people in the world, earlier, these people were regarded as representatives of the phoenix, the queens chosen by heaven."

Ming Shen patted his head: "Before you told brother Min that I was the chosen queen, but I am indeed a man."

"It doesn't matter, Mr. Ming, are you unhappy recently? Let's go and say goodbye. All in all, the phoenix is ​​also the king of all birds, the beginning of auspiciousness, maybe it can really protect you?"

The priest pushed him to the front of a phoenix statue, so Mingshen followed his example and knelt down to offer incense.

The priest said mysteriously again: "According to the latest gossip, the current most powerful Phoenix is ​​more down-to-earth and loves cherries the most. You can bring some cherries to worship when you come back next time... In addition, there is a survey statistic, according to recent investigators It is said that paying homage to the original emperor of Fuli and the Phoenix statue at the same time can significantly increase the probability of wish fulfillment..."

Mingshen was too lazy to listen to his nonsense, but he happened to have a pack of high-grade cherries in his pocket that he was going to bring to Yumin, so he offered it up.Afterwards, I really went to worship in front of the Fuli statue next door.

He silently made a wish: "I hope Brother Min, my brother, and Lord Bu are all safe and well."

"I hope they are well. If what I say can be heard by Datian, I am willing to pay any price."

Towards the end of the year, another major event occurred: the snowstorm in Hubei, Sichuan and Sichuan, and the disaster was serious.

Yumin's voice sounded like he was going to be sick, he laughed hoarsely, "It's better than I expected, there are only two places, if there is a severe drought like in the middle of the year, I'm afraid I will lose ten years of life. "

It was also the same day, after being bored for a whole year, Yunlong received good news from Huo Bing: He not only suppressed the people and soldiers at Yunlong's border, but also dealt with the rebels next door. failure.

Because of this good news, Yumin took the time out of Changning Hall for the first time, and spent an afternoon with Mingshen, telling him about the happy event, coaxing him, clinging to him, and turning people around like before. Pressing down firmly under his body, as if he wanted to integrate him into his flesh and blood, as if he wanted to make up for the companionship he had missed this year at once, until he forced tears out of his eyes and refused to let go.

When Mingshen was about to fall asleep drowsily, he only remembered Yumin gently kissing the corners of his eyes, and said in a low voice, "Wait for me for a while, okay, baby?"

Mingshen wanted to talk to him again, but he was also busy these few days counting Gongshi's income, trying to squeeze out some money to help Yumin's disaster relief, but he hadn't closed his eyes for a long time.As soon as the drowsiness came, he fell into a deep sleep, and when he woke up it was already midnight, and the palace man said that Yumin had returned to Changning Hall.

Mingshen heard Yumin tell the news of Huo Bing's victory, and also swept away the haze of these days.He happily made soup, expecting that Yumin must still be busy with political affairs at this time, so he stepped on the snow and wanted to see him, but unexpectedly Yumin had already fallen asleep.

Cheng Yiduo showed worry in front of him for the first time: "Your Majesty must be ill. He didn't feel well a few days ago and refused to see the imperial doctor. He fell asleep directly when drafting the draft tonight...he still has a fever."

Mingshen hurried over to check on his condition - Yumin really had a fever, his cheeks were flushed red and his body was hot, but he couldn't sweat.

He asked, "Have you seen the imperial doctor today?"

Cheng Yiduo nodded: "I read it and drank the medicine, but the imperial doctor said that His Majesty's illness was dragged on because he often didn't rest and hurt his liver and stomach, and he needs to recuperate slowly in the future."

Mingshen felt a little sad: "I will persuade him."

Cheng Yiduo left, and stood guard at the door to prevent outsiders from entering.

Mingshen asked the palace servants to bring hot water, first wiped Yumin's body from head to toe, and then added a quilt to him to help him sweat—he quietly looked at the man in front of him, with a smile like The heroism of a god-like king and the exhaustion of a mortal——he has been in love with Brother Ming, his husband, for 14 years.

He complained in a low voice: "...you are like this again."

"Don't tell me anything. In fact, what is there to say? I'm your queen now. It's no big deal for your husband to be a little vulnerable in front of his wife occasionally."

He sniffled, blinked, and held back his tears this time.

He whispered: "Get well soon. I'm waiting for you to marry me in from the south gate."

Yumin's breath was hot, he leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips.

After taking care of Yumin, he came to Yumin's desk and wanted to help him sort out a series of messy things such as the messy notebooks, written and unfinished imperial edicts, etc. When he was halfway through, he was suddenly stunned. Stopped, his eyes fell on an imperial decree.

It should be the imperial decree that was just finished, because it was placed in the middle of the case, and only a few memorials were pressed on it—this meant that it was written tonight.

The content is also very ordinary. Ming Shen took a rough glance and saw the words "Yun Long" and "Pay over the rebels". Award.

But the name listed at the top is neither Huo Bing nor Bu Yu, but... himself.

The words "Mingshen" written by Dansha pierced his eyes brightly, making him suddenly feel pain in breathing.

He was in a hurry, and he struggled to find the memorial to the victory—but it was still like this, even the first line of the first page of the victory report was written with his name, ranking first among all the contributors.

...Is that so?

It turned out that there was no such thing as "just in case", and there was no such thing as Huo Bing's so-called "name". He thought that his brother was obsessed with the battlefield, and one day he would finally be able to show his ambitions. He was happy for him while worrying, but it turned out that he His two elder brothers had already discussed that they would keep this little fool in the dark and weave a grand fantasy dream for him.

Just to make him eligible to stand by his side and not let him be wronged.One gambled on his dream and future, and the other gambled on the mouth of the people and the honor of the emperor, just to pave the way for him.

But why is he the only one who can't be wronged?

Ming Shen put the memorial back in its original place, and put the imperial decree back in its original place.He wiped his eyes indiscriminately, and then he seemed to remember something. After rubbing the ink, he copied the imperial decree as it was, and changed two words in it.

His hands tremble a little.The boldest and most prudent decision in my life.

Then he took a deep breath, went out with the rest of the imperial decree on the table, and found Cheng Yiduo: "Grandpa Cheng, you can distribute it, these are all written by Brother Min, so there is no need to wait until tomorrow to deliver them. "

Cheng Yiduo didn't notice that something was wrong, and acted according to his words, but paused slightly when he saw his red eye circles, and persuaded him: "Shen, don't worry about getting sick, just go to rest earlier."

Ming Shen nodded obediently.

He returned to the main hall, continued to tidy up the table, hung up the court clothes that Yumin was going to change tomorrow, lit the fire for the charcoal stove, and lighted ambergris for him to soothe the nerves.

He boiled the medicine in advance, added Yumin's usual favorite snacks, and put the soup he brought tonight beside him.

He wanted to write something to Yumin, but he couldn't write anything, and finally he wrote: "Brother Min, I'm leaving, I'll be back."

He whispered in his ear: "Brother Min, I don't want to wait for you anymore, this time it's me who is being misbehaved again, and you wait for me, okay?"