National Division

When Ma Mingzi said this, Wang Jin, who was standing next to her, felt her heart skip a beat.

Among Emperor Jing'an's six sons, Qi Jun was the eldest son of the Empress of the Central Palace. He became the crown prince at the age of six when Emperor Jing'an ascended the throne, and he has lived in the East Palace for 12 years now.However, the empress has always had a mediocre relationship with Emperor Jing'an. On the contrary, when she was in the palace, the concubine Anshi was favored and conferred the title of noble concubine. She not only gave birth to the second prince Qizhang, but also gave birth to the sixth prince Qi Yue the year before last. The crown of the harem.The two princes, Qizhang, are only one year younger than Qi Jun, born exactly like Emperor Jing'an, able to write poetry at the age of seven, Emperor Jing'an once called him a prodigy, and said "this son is Xiao Zhen".Therefore, although he is ranked second and is a concubine, his status in the palace is close to that of the crown prince.If the second prince was not sent to welcome the auspicious return to the southwest this time instead of the crown prince, then... Wang Jin didn't dare to think about it.Although he was a middleman serving Emperor Jing'an, but he came out of the palace, he knew that the former concubine and now the empress is the most loyal and honest person, but the imperial concubine is shrewd.From the point of view of royal orthodoxy, of course he admired the crown prince, even if he was a slave, he was willing to follow a generous master, and he was not willing to share with the powerful and ruthless one.

"My son is willing to go to the southwest." Qi Jun gritted his teeth and knelt down, "This injury is not a hindrance. The emperor just wants to teach my son, not to kill him. What's more, the country's auspiciousness is a big deal. I'm delaying? It's just to welcome auspiciousness, and if you think about it, you have to choose an auspicious day to set off, and let Qin Tianjian count the days."

These words reached Emperor Jing'an's heart, and he couldn't help but nodded: "What you said is, of course, we must carefully choose an auspicious day, in order to respect the meaning of heaven."

Zhen Mingzi had expected that Qi Jun would fight for this job, and he would say that his injury was not a problem. He was going to use this to provoke Emperor Jing'an, saying that the middlemen outside were perfunctory in their execution.But Qi Jun moved Emperor Jing'an out, if he insisted on asking the middlemen to beat Qi Jun up, wouldn't it mean that Emperor Jing'an wanted to beat his son to death?This sentence had to be swallowed.Just as he wanted to change the words to let Qi Jun go out with his injuries tomorrow, Qi Jun moved out of the Qintian Supervisor to choose an auspicious day, and Emperor Jing'an was very much in favor of it, so he choked on the words that came to his lips.

It was quite uncomfortable to choke, and Ma Mingzi couldn't maintain her fairy demeanor, and looked at Qi Jun with a gloomy look.But Qi Jun also raised his head at this time, looking back at Ma Mingzi sharply at a place where Emperor Jing'an was not paying attention, and his eyes met, almost sparking.

Emperor Jing'an didn't pay attention at all. Seeing Qi Jun kneeling on the ground trembling, he waved his hands and said, "Go back, take good care of your injuries, and set off for the southwest when Qin Tianjian chooses an auspicious day."

Emperor Jing'an made a decision on who would go out to greet him, and Qi Jun agreed, and with Feng En's support, he stood up and exited the Hanying Hall.The two middle-aged people from the Eastern Palace outside had heard the commotion inside, and they waited desperately. When they saw Qi Jun coming out, they hurried forward to help him.Suddenly someone laughed and asked, "Brother, what's the matter?" A man walked in from the Chuihua Gate, wearing a black robe, similar to Qi Jun, except that the embroidered silver python pattern was only one inch square, it was the second prince Qi Jun. Peak.

Qizhang looks very similar to Emperor Jing'an, gentle and fair, wearing black clothes looks like a crown jade, although he is only 16 years old, he is a classy and elegant, not only the most favored by Emperor Jing'an, there are also "beautiful people" in the harem known as.Qi Jun's complexion is slightly dark, and his complexion looks even darker when he is wearing black. At this time, the two brothers are standing face to face, which makes him look even paler by comparison.Qi Jun's expression remained unchanged, he just stood up straight, and said indifferently: "Second brother is not studying in Beigong, why are you here at this time?"

Beigong is the place where the princes study. Regardless of whether they are sons or daughters, they all go to school at the age of six, and they don't have to go to Beigong until they can enter the court to listen to politics.According to the rules of this dynasty, the prince can enter the court to listen to politics when he is 15 years old, but the other princes have to be 20 years old and crowned before they are eligible. Detained to study in Beigong.Concubine Ye Gui also spoke to Emperor Jing'an about this, but the ancestral system is like this, and Emperor Jing'an can't do anything about it.At this moment when Qi Jun mentioned the North Palace, Qi Zhang couldn't help showing a bit of sullen expression on his face, but then he hid it and said with a smile: "I heard that the emperor's body is a little sick, come here to pay your respects."

The Hanying Hall is the place where political affairs are handled, and the princes who are not in the court to listen to the government are not allowed to enter, but Qizhang is an exception, and he can come to pay his respects at any time.The two brothers looked at each other, smiled thoughtfully at each other, and parted ways outside Hanying Hall.

Before Qi Jun's sedan chair arrived at the East Palace, the queen had already heard the news, and she brought people over wiping her tears. When she saw Qi Jun staggering in with the help of the palace servants, her tears flowed down her cheeks, and she began to cry while holding Qi Jun.

"Mother, my son is fine, it's just a flesh injury." Qi Jun practiced bow and horse every day, and his complexion was slightly tanned. The palace man helped the queen to lie prone on the couch and applied medicine, while comforting the queen, "Queen mother, don't cry like this, it's just the father who taught the sons and ministers, and if someone who wants to hear it will make trouble again." The queen hurt her body during childbirth, not only She never gave birth to a child again, and it was difficult to leave the medicinal soup all day long. The imperial doctor told her not to think too much, not to get angry and hurt her heart. If she let the queen cry like this, she might have another illness when she turned around.

Feng En waited on him with tea and medicine, and he couldn't help but sigh secretly.Qi Jun worked hard, not only because of the concubine's favorite brother, but also because of his biological mother who was really not up to date.

Back then, Emperor Jing'an himself was only born by Jieyu, and his biological mother passed away early. Although he was ranked third, he might not even have the third-to-last hope of inheriting the throne.Since his status is low, he naturally couldn't pick any famous daughter when he opened a mansion and built an office to pick a princess. The queen at that time picked a prostitute for him who had fallen into the uncle's mansion.The concubine's daughter is a concubine's daughter, but because of her family's decline, she doesn't have much knowledge and vision, but she is dignified and rich, and she looks very good at giving birth, so she was selected by the queen.

The princess entered the mansion, but soon became pregnant.It was inevitable that she would not be able to serve her husband when she was pregnant. The queen just wanted to pick a concubine for her son, so she picked two side concubines for him.

Speaking of which, Concubine Ye Gui's background was much worse than that of the queen. Her father was just a minor military officer at that time, and she was only selected because of her beauty.But her luck is really good, not only because of her beauty, but also her father and brother have followed suit. After Emperor Jing'an ascended the throne, the Ye family flourished. The second son holds a heavy army in the southwest, and he seems to be a big official in the frontier.

In contrast, the queen's natal family could not help at all. Although Cheng Enhou was granted as a rule, it was only a free salary. Fathers, brothers, and even nephews and nieces could not find a single one who could be successful.Even the queen herself is mediocre.For example, let's talk about today's events, it's natural for the empress to feel sorry for her, but if she cried so hard, isn't she blaming Emperor Jing'an?If this is passed on by someone with a heart, it will be said that the queen is dissatisfied with the emperor teaching the prince, so what good does Qi Jun have?I can't even figure it out, so it's no wonder that the empress often goes wrong in managing the harem, so that concubine Ye Guifei took the right to assist the sixth palace, splitting half of the palace power.

Every time Feng En thinks of these things, he can't help but worry about Qi Jun—except for the prince in the middle palace, the prince really has nothing to rely on.And the Ye family is in the southwest - Feng En suddenly had a cold war - southwest!Isn't the place where the star iron is located in the southwest mountain?Although it has not entered the territory of Guangxi, it is extremely easy for the Ye family's forces to reach out.

"If it wasn't in the southwest, how could the demon way be mentioned?" After seeing off the crying queen, Yan Yan lay on the side of the couch, and sneered, "There are so many mountains in the southwest, and a piece of star iron fell in it, how easy is it to find it?" If I don't go, the Ye family has tens of thousands of soldiers, so they can naturally find that piece of star iron, so that the second brother can get the reputation of welcoming home auspiciously; if I go—" His eyes were cold, "Ye family not only does not It will help me find this star iron, and it will also——make it impossible for me to return to the capital.”

Feng En couldn't help shivering again: "Your Highness—" It's one thing for him to think about it, but it's another thing for Qi Jun to say it calmly, "The Ye family won't, won't they be so bold?"

"Why not?" Qi Jun sneered.He looks quite like a queen, but his outline has gradually become the depth of a young man. His straight and thick black eyebrows are always slightly locked, showing a bit of maturity and depth that does not match his age. "The Ye family is looking forward to me and the queen mother It's not a day to die, this is at least in the East Palace, why do you need to deceive yourself?"

Feng En couldn't help but said: "In fact, it doesn't matter if His Highness doesn't go, His Majesty has already..." As long as the Queen does not die and the Crown Prince does not abolish, once Emperor Jing'an dies, Qi Jun will be able to ascend the throne in a legitimate way, and the Ye family will continue It is useless to toss.

"Let me hide in the palace like a tortoise?" Qi Jun raised his head proudly, "I don't care for such a shrunken prince! Besides, if I do nothing, the Ye family will hold my second brother for something." As! For three years, Ye Chang still has many dreams, let alone three years! With that demon, the Ye family has a lot of opportunities, and if I escape this time, there will be another one. Rather than sit and wait for death, I would rather stand up and fight!"

Feng En lowered his head: "The slave girl follows His Highness."

"No." Qi Jun categorically denied, "You have to stay in the palace. Although it is dangerous for me to go out of the palace, it may not be safe for the queen mother. Zichen Palace is full of useless people. You stay in the palace and watch for me. Looking at the Hall of Liangyi, if Mrs. Ye does anything, the Queen Mother will still be counting on you."

Feng En knelt down with a plop: "This servant vows to protect your mother to the death! But Your Highness—the servant is really worried about Your Highness!"

Qi Jun smiled slightly.Feng En is his big companion who grew up with him, and his confidant is more different than others, and Feng En is alert and alert. To be honest, he is much more useful than the chief inspector next to the queen.It's just that Feng En is a middle-aged person after all, he can't lift his shoulders or lift his hands. It is really unfeasible to expect him to go out of the palace to deal with the Ye family's soldiers and horses. It would be more useful to stay in the East Palace.

"The queen mother and I are related as one. If there is something wrong with the mother mother, it is as if I have made a mistake." Qi Jun waved his hand and made a decision, "You go to Qintianjian to find Deputy Envoy Lin, and ask him to pick one that is farther away. Pick another auspicious day that is closest to you—” He leaned slightly, looked at Feng En with his eyes, and lowered his voice, “Just say, I will close the East Palace and fast for seven days to show my piety. Then, prepare the horse for me ..."

Feng En was shocked: "But His Highness's injury—" He understood what Qi Jun meant. Deputy Envoy Lin of the Qin Tianjian had received Qi Jun's favor, at least Qi Jun could decide on the matter of choosing an auspicious trip.Qi Jun asked Deputy Envoy Lin to pick a distant date, and then closed the East Palace under the pretext of fasting.In this way, everyone would think that he was looking for an excuse to recover from his injuries, and he took this opportunity to travel early.The closest auspicious day picked out by the deputy envoy of Qin Tianjian was his excuse for traveling.

Speaking of it, it is a safe way to abandon the crown prince's ceremonial guards and go ahead. If Qi Jun is not injured, this is indeed a safe way, but now Qi Jun has just received [-] boards. Even if the executioner is merciful, this flesh and blood injury is real. .It is necessary to ride a horse to go to the southwest. Qi Jun is injured in his hip and leg, how can he sit in the saddle?

"There is always a way." Qi Jun smiled lightly, put his head back on his arm, and slightly closed his eyes, "It's better than losing your life or being crippled. You go." When I first learned riding and archery, the saddle was worn out The queen cried and let him rest, but Concubine Ye Gui provoked him in front of Emperor Jing'an, saying that the crown prince is the prince of the country, and if he is allowed to be pampered by the queen and grows better in the hands of women, it will not be a blessing for the country.Emperor Jing'an was really furious. In order to prevent the empress from being reprimanded, why didn't he continue to practice riding and shooting with his injuries?Emperor Jing'an is the lord of Taiping, he values ​​literature over martial arts, and likes the second prince who is good at poetry and prose, but he doesn't know that practicing martial arts is more difficult than practicing literature. If Zhen Mingzi thinks that only twenty boards can knock him down, it is a joke.

Tie Xiangrui, the star descended from the sky, the news that the crown prince was going to welcome his father in place of his father spread throughout the palace within a day.It is so auspicious, so naturally everything should be grand, and the day of travel must be chosen especially auspiciously, but at this critical moment, the Qin Tianjian is making the old man greedy, eating more fresh fish and shrimp just out of the water, and having diarrhea in the middle of the night, so he has to lie down He was in bed and could not serve in court, so the heavy responsibility of choosing auspiciousness fell to the deputy envoy.The deputy envoy calculated overnight, and calculated that eight days later would be a good time to travel, so the prince closed the East Palace and decided to take a bath and fast for seven days before leaving.

On the third day of fasting, in the Zichen Palace where the queen lived, the concubines dressed up in fancy dress filed in to greet the queen.The queen was dressed in a black robe embroidered with a colorful phoenix and sat on the throne, but her face could not conceal the sadness.There are no secrets in the harem that can't be kept secret. The prince's name is fasting, but it's actually healing his wounds. Who else doesn't know?The concubines below were winking at each other, and they all kept silent, but Concubine Ye Gui coughed lightly, and said with a smile: "Sister, you don't look very well today, but you didn't rest well tonight?"

The queen agreed vaguely, and the person next to him laughed and said, "I think His Royal Highness is fasting in the East Palace, and the empress is worried."

The queen glanced at it, and recognized the speaker as Zhou Cainu, who had just entered the palace.Zhou Cainu is from Concubine Ye Gui's palace, so she has defected to a party early on, she said this just to bring out the matter of Qi Jun's slap in the face before chewing her tongue, and by the way, embarrassing the Queen's face.If it was usual, although the queen could not do anything to her, she would have to show some face, but today she had no thoughts, snorted in her throat, and turned her gaze to the southwest window.

Concubine Ye Gui's eyes flickered slightly.After entering the palace for nearly 20 years, she knows the Queen's temper well: she is cowardly and reticent, but she can't hide what's on her mind. Although she doesn't care about other things, the prince Qi Jun is her lifeblood.Zhou Cainu spoke with Qi Jun, although the queen couldn't find her fault, she would definitely be sullen.To be honest, Concubine Ye Gui didn't like the queen's incompetence from the bottom of her heart. When others stepped on her face, she could only shake her face without pain, but today the queen didn't respond. It's wrong.

"Sister, what are you looking at?" Concubine Ye Gui quickly glanced out of the window, there was a small piece of maple forest, the leaves were just turning red at this time, and there was nothing to see.

"Oh? Oh, I didn't look at anything." The queen withdrew her gaze, but after a while, she couldn't help but slipped her gaze away again.

Most of the concubines below bowed their heads to drink tea, but Zhou Cainu smiled and said, "The crown prince is in the East Palace, why is the Empress looking straight to the south? Could it be that the crown prince didn't fast in the East Palace and fell to the south?"

On the tight south corner of the imperial city is the Royal Hospital. What Zhou Cainu said was actually a satire on the crown prince secretly seeking medical advice, but the queen was a little flustered, and quickly looked back: "Nonsense! The crown prince is naturally in the East Palace. What are you going to do in the south? It's not the time yet!"

Ever since the East Palace was closed for fasting, Feng En often ran to the Queen's Palace under the banner of paying his respects to the Crown Prince. In fact, he was afraid that the Queen would show her flaws.Today he was a little late in dealing with the affairs of the East Palace. He heard the Queen's words just after entering the Zichen Palace, and his heart skipped a beat. Taking advantage of the situation, he went in and knelt down to the queen: "My servant greets the empress on behalf of the crown prince, and the empress is blessed and golden."

Concubine Ye Gui sat there with a half-smile: "His Royal Highness didn't forget to call someone to say hello to sister even though he was fasting. It's really filial. But the East Palace is going in and out like this, maybe it's not pious enough?"

Feng En looked at the square inch of ground in front of him without squinting, and said respectfully, "His Royal Highness is pure filial piety. Every day, he is willing to rest only after knowing that the empress is safe. Not contrary."

Concubine Ye Gui snorted and said, "What a eloquent slave, he really deserves to be entrusted by the Eastern Palace." After finishing speaking, Shi Shiran stood up, "After sitting for a long time, I don't look very good looking at my sister, my sister I won't bother you any more, I'll take my leave now." Leading the palace maids away.

As soon as Concubine Ye Gui left, the rest of the concubines naturally followed suit, and the queen leaned back on the chair and sighed: "It's exhausting to deal with them every day. Your Highness hasn't sent a letter yet?"

Feng En wished he could go up and cover the queen's mouth.Although the room is filled with the queen's confidantes, it's better not to say these things.Thinking of the empress being flustered by Zhou Cainu's words just now, and thinking of Ye Guifei's shrewd eyes, Feng En just felt his heart sink - I hope God has eyes, don't make Ye Guifei suspicious, Not to mention that the Ye family found the trace of the prince...