Deep ice

Xilian put a good Junshan silver needle on the dragon case.

Then he turned his head to look at the emperor, his eyes were closed and his face was paler than before.

Thinking of the recent days due to the endless wars between the two places, the memorials sent over are piled up on the table.

The emperor has to approve the papers until the third watch every night, and he has to continue to deal with the backlog of memorials after the morning court the next day. In the past, he still had time to read and write, but now he even has time to eat. The emperor is not iron-clad. The people who have lost weight have lost a lot of weight in a few days.

Although Yuan Jing closed his eyes, his mind was full of matters of northern Xinjiang.

The battle in northern Xinjiang has been stalemate for a year. Two days ago, Lin Chang suddenly made a statement, saying that the Northern Yi were fierce and unstoppable. Although the enemy was retreated hundreds of miles in the battle of Baicheng, the loss was heavy. The remaining troops may not be enough to defend. I want to recruit 20 soldiers and ask for a million military pay.

At the same time, Ningyue Pass also arrived in the central province. In order to defend the city, please also increase the number of troops by 300 and the army ration by [-] million shi.

The reaction of civil servants in the imperial court to such news was expected to be polarized.

On the one hand, he advocated that the inside must be settled first, and Ningyueguan was approved first, and on the other hand, he advocated that foreign thieves are stronger than rogue bandits, and should be the first in supply and demand.

But in the end it's all about giving.

There is no food in Taicang, which can be expropriated from the common people, and the treasury is empty, so the Ministry of Households can only reach out to the emperor.

After all, the emperor's own treasury was still rich.

But Yuan Jing's reaction was unexpected.

Not only did he put the matter on hold for more than two days, but he also allowed a group of ministers in the court to lobby in turn, but they refused to approve it.

In fact, Yuan Jing didn't feel sorry for the millions of silver, but he had other plans this time around.

Ning Yueguan and Lin Chang had a close relationship with He Yan at the beginning, and they were both high-ranking figures in the party's name list.The reason why Yuan Jing kept them alive was that Daping still needed them to quell the chaos and retreat the enemy, and it was not impossible to expand the army to serve the country, but Yuan Jing's bottom line was lower than usual for these traitorous remnants.

In the early days, the emperor raised tigers to cause trouble, which is a good example.

These people will have to be dealt with sooner or later, and Yuan Jing will not give any of them a chance to grow stronger.

However, internal and external difficulties and the country's precarious situation cannot always be ignored.

Yuan Jing opened his eyes, his pupils covered with bloodshot eyes, and picked up his pen again.

Xi Lian couldn't stand it any longer, so he bowed forward, "Your Majesty... forgive me for being bold."

Yuan Jing didn't raise his head, "Say."

Xi Lian said: "The emperor has been approving the papers for five full hours, and the servant is tired looking at it."

Yuan Jing was in a trance, "It's been so long."

Xi Lian said: "Right now the peach blossoms in the imperial garden are in full bloom, why not accompany the emperor to have a look and relax, and it won't be too late to give approval when I come back."

Yuan Jing heard the words, really felt exhausted, so he put down his pen and stood up.

Seeing this, Xilian turned around and went out of the outer hall to prepare. After only a cup of tea, she was ready and walked out of the imperial study with the emperor.

The imperial garden is full of spring.

Mossy slate, cherry petals dipped in the corridor.

Maybe it's because the weather is fine, and there are many ladies visiting the garden. After walking for a short time, they met Concubine Lian and Lady Ye.It is said that the concubine in the harem has not been favored for many days, seeing Yuan Jing, she tried her best to stay by Yuan Jing's side.

Helpless, Yuan Jingzheng was upset, and he only responded blandly to those concubines who came up to flatter him, without any intention of walking side by side.

Xilian followed the emperor for a long time without making a sound.

Seeing the emperor stopped, he was thinking about which palace he met again, Xi Lian raised his head and looked over, there was nothing in front of the emperor, there was no figure of the empress.

Yuan Jing stopped, staring at the pool of clear water in front of him, tracing the glowing peach blossoms on the shore.

Between the clouds and the water, the figure of the man's back is monotonous, with a little bit of ink.

Huai Huai stood by the thawed pool, absent-mindedly throwing stones into the pool.

"Brother He, why don't you accompany me to climb the wall, instead of throwing stones at this ghostly place."

He Yan's black pupils glowed with a hard light, "Don't embarrass me in the future."

Huai Huai said: "I'm not embarrassing you, climbing walls is also a craft, isn't it, you still don't know how to climb."

He Yan said coldly: "I don't care about that."

Huai Huai sighed, "I haven't seen the emperor for quite a while."

He Yan also threw a stone out, hitting a dull sound on the surface of the water, "Is there anything good to see."

Huai Huai said, "I'm different from you."

He Yan thought for a moment, then raised his eyebrows, "That's true."

Huai Huai said: "You only think about how to contact people outside the palace all day long, thinking about going out of the palace, but I want to stay here and accompany the emperor every day, staying next to the palace where he lives, all the time. like him."

He Yan furrowed his eyebrows, "Nothing!"

Huaihuai was silent for a moment, "What did the eunuch give you last night?"

He Yan whispered: "It's good news."

After a pause, he said again: "They have already started gathering troops."

Huaihuai locked his neck, looked to both sides, and leaned forward again, "Could it be that you want to rebel?"

He Yan smiled and shook his head, "The heat is still very bad."

Huai Huai said angrily: "You can't harm the emperor."

He Yan remained silent for a long time, chuckled twice, but did not speak.

The eyes are unclear, and the mood is complicated.

Huaihuai complained: "You said you helped me find the emperor."

He Yan opened his mouth, "Whether you look for him or not, he will come to you, so why bother?"

Huai Huai said: "Nonsense, how many days have passed, not to mention the emperor, even Eunuch Xi is gone."

He Yan was thoughtful, "He must be worrying about the war between the two places."

Huiyan murmured, and gold floated on the surface of the pool.

Yuan Jing was stunned for a long time, and saw that person throwing stones alone, very much like Jiangnan after the rain, by the West Lake.

I also stood at a distance like this, watching the local governor flattering and talking to He Yan. He Yan turned his face and laughed at the old official. Among the people, it is really dazzling.

Jiang Huaijin was stunned, got up, and came out of the small pavilion sheltered from the rain.

The guard in front of him stretched out his hand to block the way, "My lord, Mr. He told you to stay here."

Jiang Huaijin was dressed in white, and she was about to fly away in the cool wind, "He told you to look at me because he was afraid that I would run away. His soldiers are all around him. Do you think I can run away?"

The guard said nothing, but did not let go of his hands.

Jiang Huaijin's eyes were lacquered, "I just went over to have a look."

The guard understood and said respectfully, "My lord, please—"

When Jiang Huaijin looked over again, He Yan was the only one left by the lake.

As if thinking about something, he threw stones one after another, completely unaware of his approach.

The evening mist is magnificent, and half the sky is burning red.

On the honey-colored soil, two long shadows were cast, one in front and one behind.

The surface of the lake was shimmering, and the man's shadow was broken into flowing water, unable to get together for a long time.

Jiang Huaijin suddenly wondered if he could be relieved if he just pushed He Yan down.

Thinking of this, Jiang Huaijin stretched out his hand towards the strong body, hesitated for a while, and then took it back.

Thinking for a long time how this person is doing many evils, slandering and domineering, he gritted his teeth and vented his anger.

But it still doesn't work.

so repeatedly.

He Yan didn't look back for a long time.

Until the pebbles in his hand were thrown away, he still stood by the water and planned the world.

The little prince at the back stretched out his hand and put his sleeve back, stretched out his hand again and put his sleeve back again.

Finally unable to take it anymore, he put his head on He Yan's back, his face was dripping wet,

But not cold sweat.

Xilian said softly, "Your Majesty?"

Yuan Jing's clear and bright phoenix eyes gradually deepened.

Returning to his senses, he said lightly, "Wait here for me."

After speaking, he went towards the man.

Huaihuai threw away the last stone in his hand, but also remained motionless.

Yuan Jing's footsteps became more and more light, and when he got closer, he just stretched out his hand, but Huaihuai turned around and grabbed Yuan Jing's hand, with a smile on his face, "I said there was someone behind, but I didn't expect it to be the emperor. "

Yuan Jing was dumbfounded, and gripped Huai Huai tightly.

Five fingers overlapped, lingering.

Huai Huai was very happy, "Your Majesty, you finally came to see me?"

Seeing that Yuan Jing was silent, he continued: "Your Majesty, why are your hands so cold?"

Yuan Jing lowered his eyes, thinking of the man who had changed beyond recognition, his voice trembled without warning, "I'm very tired, walk with me."

Huai Huai smiled and said, "Okay."

Yuan Jing withdrew his hand, turned around and left.

Huai Huai followed behind, as if suddenly remembering, he went back to look for He Yan.

He Yan still stood by the pool, as if he wanted to blend into the clear spring.

Just as Huaihuai was about to speak, he thought about Brother He's instructions to him, so he stopped talking and left with Yuan Jing.

The two walked side by side for quite a while, Huai Huai was very happy, but Yuan Jing, who was preoccupied, didn't say anything along the way.

Until the sun sets and the silver moon dims.

A group of people arrived at the gate of Weiyang Palace, and then went forward to the Imperial Study Room.

Huai Huai suddenly pulled Yuan Jing, "Your Majesty, don't go."

Seeing Huaihuai like this, the guards behind him all lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him.

Yuan Jing thought of the mountains of excerpts and sighed.

"No."

Huai Huai said urgently: "Then I will go back with you?"

Yuan Jing looked at him, but his tone was faintly slow,

"…no."

Huai Huai continued to plead: "Just for a while, you see it's not dark yet, you can leave when it gets dark."

Yuan Jing stared straight at Huai Huai.

Thinking of the innocent child in front of him, he is not like the arrogant man back then.

At that time, he only had power in his eyes, and he followed him, watching him devour all the people who stood in his way, never the same as now, saying that he likes himself every day and treats him well.

Seeing that Yuan Jing was silent, Huai Huai couldn't wait any longer, and boldly dragged Yuan Jing into Weiyang Palace.

Xi Lian was taken aback for a moment, followed into the palace, but Huai Huai yelled out,

"Don't follow in."

Xi Lian was about to get angry, but seeing the emperor's silence, he lost his temper, luckily the weather wasn't too cold, so staying in the courtyard for a while was not too much of a hindrance.

The silver moon and the setting sun reflect each other, and the cold afterglow falls all over the ground.

The inner hall of Weiyang Palace has not yet been illuminated, and the ground is full of shadows intertwined with window lattices, bright and dark, layer upon layer.

Huaihuai closed the door, his face was immersed in the darkness, his eyes were shining brightly.

"emperor…"

The people who were close at hand were breathing more and more heavily. Yuan Jing didn't dodge, but said inexplicably, "You may not understand, but I do regret it."

The person on the opposite side really couldn't understand, shouting in his head, his blood spurted, and he suppressed his temper.

Huai Huai moved forward tentatively, like a wild beast sniffing a rose,

"The emperor... can you?"