Song Emperor Jiangshan

Xiao Shan smiled and said: "I don't know what crime it is to disturb His Highness's reading, and how to be punished?"

Zhao Yuan was awakened by Xiao Shan's words, and suddenly realized how out of control he was, he hurriedly picked up the scroll that fell on the desk, and put it away again, then stood up, walked towards Xiao Shan, in front of him He stopped in front of him and said, "Just now I was wondering if there was heavy snowfall in Ezhou, how are you doing there, who knew that when I raised my eyes, you were standing in front of me."

Xiao Shan looked at Zhao Yuan with a smile, and said: "It just so happened that the boss sent me to attend the Grand Court Meeting, so I came to have a look."

Zhao Yuan asked him when he arrived in Lin'an, whether the journey went smoothly, and whether he had eaten anything.When he heard that he had brought a seven or eight-year-old girl with him, Zhao Yuan invited Li Fengniang to live here too: "There are many vacant rooms in the palace, and you don't have a place to live in Lin'an. This time you will come for more than ten days, why don't you come together?" It’s good to live here. Yu’er is about the same age as the girl Li you brought, and you can still play with her.”

Xiao Shan didn't want Li Fengniang to get involved with Zhao Yuan at all, so he found an excuse to reject Zhao Yuan's invitation: "It's not good for local officials to have a close relationship with His Highness in private, and it's not very convenient for me to live here. here."

Zhao Yuan didn't know how inappropriate it was for Xiao Shan to live in his own mansion as a general of Ezhou, but he finally came back once, and hoped that he could stay if it was inappropriate.Now that Xiao Shan said that on his own initiative, Zhao Yuan couldn't keep him anymore, he could only say: "Although I said that, it's almost noon, at least I have dinner at the house before going to work."

Xiao Shan saw Zhao Yuan's sincerity in retaining him, his heart was as sweet as honey, and he also saw that he didn't mention the secret kiss before leaving at all, and he didn't show any signs of getting angry, let alone what was going on in his heart .He followed Zhao Yuan all the way as he walked slowly in the palace, he only felt that he was floating like walking on clouds.Zhao Yuan took him for a walk in the mansion, and at the same time asked him about the situation in Ezhou in the past six months. Xiao Shan told him one by one, and Zhao Yuan also talked about what happened in the capital in the past six months. Zhao Gou was exercising the power of the emperor in many ways. , rehabilitated and changed everywhere, tried hard to pour more sewage on the dead Qin Hui, and revealed the fact that he was forced to hide a dagger in his boot, so as to prove that during Qin Hui's reign, no matter what Qin Hui's fault.

They also met two unfamiliar women while they were talking, and Xiao Shan saw a girl come up to Zhao Yuan to say hello, so he wanted to ask that question, but Zhao Yuan didn't mention it himself, he was not good ask directly.

Zhao Yuan took Xiao Shan to the place where he lived before his wedding, and it was also the place where Xiao Shan lived when he first entered the mansion. Snow fell on the privet tree in the center of the courtyard, and Xiao Shan's room was still furnished. After moving out, it was used for other purposes, but Zhao Yuan changed it back.

Xiao Shan walked into the room, saw the tofu cubes on the bed at a glance, and couldn't help laughing: "Whose handwriting is this? It's well folded!"

Zhao Yuan said: "It was made by a court lady, so she still remembers what your room looked like that day."

Xiao Shan tentatively asked: "Xie Yi?"

Zhao Yuan nodded, Xiao Shan smiled again: "Don't your Highness remember what it was like here that day?"

Zhao Yuan smiled and said: "Of course I remember, but it's not easy for me to come and make you a quilt..." When he said this, Zhao Yuan's face turned slightly red.

He was wearing a sky blue cotton robe and a white tiger skin fur coat. He was standing by the window, and his fair complexion looked like Fu Fen's. At this moment, his face was slightly red, but his expression was very calm. This appearance looked like Xiao Shan's. There was a bump in my heart.

The two of them didn't speak for a while, Xiao Shan suddenly said: "By the way, I almost forgot, I received the letter His Highness sent me a few days ago."

Zhao Yuan hummed and asked, "What do you think?"

Xiao Shan didn't answer, but asked instead: "Your Highness, you didn't do anything you shouldn't have done, did you?"

Zhao Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly: "What should not be done?"

Xiao Shan felt that Zhao Yuan was trying to squeeze his words on purpose, and it was not very good for him to ask this kind of question, but since he had already talked about this question, he didn't need to avoid it anymore, so he said, "That's... that is, did you sleep with them?" ah!"

Zhao Yuan didn't speak, just looked at Xiao Shan with a smile, with a hint of cunning in his eyes.

Xiao Shan also couldn't figure out whether Zhao Yuan had done anything, but what did he mean by not speaking?

Xiao Shan was a little dissatisfied: "What do you always look at me for? I don't have any flowers growing on my face!"

Zhao Yuan said: "I haven't made up my mind yet. Some people around me say I should sleep, and some say I shouldn't sleep. I want to hear your opinion." After saying this, he added, "You have always been more sensible. Visionary."

Xiao Shan heard that Zhao Yuan hadn't done it yet, so he felt relieved—at last he didn't blow away something that shouldn't be because of his butterfly wings.Without even thinking about it, he immediately said, "Don't touch those women!"

Seeing Xiao Shan's resoluteness, Zhao Yuan felt his heart tremble slightly. He waited quietly for Xiao Shan to say the next thing, but he didn't expect Xiao Shan to end here, so he asked, "What's next?"

An inexplicable irritability surged up in Xiao Shan's heart, and he said, "There's nothing down there, anyway, just don't sleep with those women."

Seeing Xiao Shan's unfriendly expression, Zhao Yuan should have been displeased in his heart, but he himself didn't know why, seeing him like this, he was vaguely happy in his heart.

The corners of his mouth raised slightly unknowingly, and he asked: "The two masters around me have different opinions on this matter. Master Chen said that he should give birth to more children as soon as possible, but Master Shi means that if they sleep with them , I am afraid it will make the officials feel unhappy, because..." Zhao Yuan didn't go on to say that he couldn't talk about Zhao Gou's impotence in front of Xiao Shan. He immediately turned around and said: "Your reason Woolen cloth?"

Xiao Shan's reason is historical proof, but he can't say that.He looked at Zhao Yuan discussing the matter in bed with a calm expression, thinking that this is not something that can only be done between close lovers, but a kind of exchange of interests.Xiao Shan felt a little uncomfortable, and said: "My reasons are not important. I want to ask, if sleeping with those women will help you become the heir of the emperor, will you do it?"

Zhao Yuan turned his head to one side, he was standing by the window, but at this moment his eyes fell on the snow on the privet tree in the courtyard.He also asked himself in his heart, if there was something that could increase Zhao Gou's favor towards him, would he do it?He asked himself many times in his heart, but in the end there was no answer.

Zhao Yuan said slowly: "I don't know either..."

But I heard Xiao Shan's voice in my ears: "Since you don't know, why are you asking me about this kind of thing?" Zhao Yuan turned around and found Xiao Shan standing very close to him, the other party's eyes were deep, Zhuo Ran was staring at himself, and many things that were originally difficult to see were hidden in it.

Zhao Yuan suddenly felt flustered in his heart, Xiao Shan's voice was slightly low: "My reasons are not important, if it's just that I don't want you to sleep with those women, how would you choose?"

That voice was very mellow, and the winter breath turned into clouds of white mist, and the white mist from the two of them intertwined.

Xiao Shan didn't speak any more, just looked at Zhao Yuan quietly, but his heaving chest and slightly trembling throat betrayed his true inner thoughts.

Zhao Yuan's gaze intertwined with Xiao Shan's gaze, the two were very close to each other, and the heat exhaled by the other could be felt, at this moment, there was an ambiguous atmosphere in the air, and the sound of heartbeat seemed to fill the entire room.

Zhao Yuan's palms were a little sweaty, this was the first time in more than 20 years that he felt his heart beat so fast when facing someone.His breath became a little quick, and this quick breath made Xiao Shan, who was very close to him, move forward slightly.

The tip of their noses almost collided, and their lips would touch each other with a slight poke. There was no one else in the small courtyard, only the sound of guards walking back and forth and the woman's charming laughter could be heard from afar.

But these two people couldn't hear those voices. The only thing they could hear was their own heartbeat.

Xiao Shan's lips moved forward slightly, but Zhao Yuan shrank back, but neither changed color, nor did he get angry, and he didn't even say a word.

Xiao Shan whispered: "Your Highness, I want to kiss you, what should I do?"

Zhao Yuan violently pushed Xiao Shan away, and Xiao Shan's heart fell to the bottom of the valley, but he heard a woman's voice from outside: "Your Highness, Professor Shi of the Wangfu seeks to see you!"

Xiao Shan turned his head and saw Xie Yi was outside, looking down at the ground.

He went to see Zhao Yuan again, only to see that Zhao Yuan's face was flushed, even the base of his neck was no exception, this scene fell into Xiao Shan's eyes, making him feel dizzy and suffocated.

Zhao Yuan's tone was calm: "Understood, you tell him to wait for a while, I'll be there right away!"

Xie Yi responded, turned around and walked out, without looking up from the beginning to the end.

It wasn't until Xie Yi left that Zhao Yuan's face gradually returned to normal color, and he didn't turn his head back, he said to Xiao Shan, "Go and look around by yourself first, I still have things to do, so I'll go first."

After finishing speaking, he almost ran away in a hurry, Xiao Shan didn't answer, just knocked himself on the head with his hand.It seemed that when facing Zhao Yuan, it was not the first time that someone behind him hadn't noticed it himself!

However, Zhao Yuan at that time did not intend to refuse, did he?So, he just didn't feel good about turning his back on him?Still want to?

Zhao Yuan walked out in a panic, and after taking a few breaths outside the courtyard, his head gradually cleared up.

What were you doing just now? !He questioned himself, unexpectedly, would have that kind of thought!He shook his head vigorously, put away all the mixed emotions in his heart, and walked towards the hall.

Shi Hao was sitting there drinking tea while waiting for Zhao Yuan. When he saw Zhao Yuan coming, he was not in a hurry. In recent years, his temperament has become much calmer for some reason, which is very different from when he just became an official. .

Zhao Yuan saluted Shi Hao: "Professor Shi."

Shi Hao hurriedly got up and turned sideways to avoid it, saying: "Your Highness, today is a holiday, but I heard something, so I hurried back."

Zhao Yuan signaled Shi Hao to continue, and Shi Hao said: "I heard that the king of Enping County has slept with all the women given by the officials, and those ten are all virgins!"

Zhao Yuan was taken aback for a moment, looked at Shi Hao, and said, "So, the officials really tested me!"

Shi Hao said: "Yes! If my guess is right, the officials will bring these women back for inspection in a short time! The temperament of the officials is also somewhat difficult to understand, and it is difficult for ordinary people to guess his heart. It's better to be careful, Your Highness, don't touch any of those women!"

Zhao Yuan nodded, and said: "I'm just thinking, if the official asks why, how should I answer in order to meet his wishes."

Shi Haodao: "The official family has no parents, so they must want to pick a loving, obedient, and talented heir."

Zhao Yuan secretly sighed in his heart, feeling that Zhao Gou's request was almost impossible.Shi Hao said again: "Recently, the official family has the idea of ​​establishing an heir. Your Highness must not be careless. You must serve the official family carefully. Other ministers are not worried, but your Highness must not reveal the slightest intention to restore the Central Plains... ..."

Zhao Yuan nodded, and said: "Got it, Professor Shi, this time the government sent someone to Jiangbei to congratulate Jin Guozheng Dan, was it you?"

Zhengdan of the Kingdom of Jin is different from that of the Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty it was the first day of the Lunar New Year, while in the Kingdom of Jin it was in October. Shi Hao went to the Kingdom of Jin as an envoy. Everyone knew it. He heard Zhao Yuan suddenly ask this question, but he didn’t know what the other party was. Meaning, he said: "Yes, it was the minister who went."

Zhao Yuan looked at Shi Hao for a while, and didn't ask any more questions, just said: "Xiao Shan is here, he keeps saying he wants to see you."

Shi Hao laughed, both of them were his students back then, Zhao Yuan studied diligently and made progress, but Xiao Shan was listless all the time.Especially when he told about the battles of the past dynasties, Zhao Yuan listened with great interest, while Xiao Shan was lying on the table and drowsy. generals.

Shi Hao said: "We should see each other!"

Zhao Yuan asked someone to call Xiao Shan, and the eunuch at the side came in within a blink of an eye, it turned out that Xiao Shan was waiting outside, and ran into him after walking two steps.

After Xiao Shan and Shi Hao met, they greeted each other. Seeing that it was already noon, Zhao Yuan hosted a banquet in the flower hall to treat the two of them. It was not very luxurious, just some home-cooked dishes, some cured meat and cured fish, even the royal family There is no mutton that I have always eaten.

Xiao Shan and Shi Hao didn't care too much, Shi Hao just wanted the food to be delicious, Xiao Shan was rougher, as long as he could eat enough.

During the dinner, the three chatted for a while, Xiao Shan looked at Zhao Yuan from time to time, but found that no matter when I went to see him, his eyes were always elsewhere.

After lunch, Shi Hao left. Xiao Shan originally wanted to stay, but when he saw Shi Hao, he suddenly remembered something, so he said goodbye with Shi Hao. Zhao Yuan didn't want to keep him anymore. He walked out of the palace with Shi Hao.

When the two were able to talk alone, Xiao Shan asked: "Lord Shi, the imperial court sent you to congratulate Jin Guozhengdan this time, right?"

Shi Hao said: "Yes, across the river from Huaixi to Yanjing Mansion."

Xiao Shan asked again: "Then have you seen the gold master Wan Yanliang? He... what is the state of Jin?"

Shi Hao pondered for a while, but suddenly said in a rambling manner: "Your Highness has been smart since he was a child, and he is good at everything, but he is just the same. He is still too young to be calm, and he wants to have a fight with Jin Guo. Hey, it's okay. I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse.”

Xiao Shan was a little surprised when he heard Shi Hao's idea of ​​seeking peace suddenly. All the bloody people in the Song Dynasty wanted to restore their homeland. It was normal for Zhao Yuan to have such thoughts, but he didn't know As Zhao Yuan's teacher, how could Shi Hao get close to Zhao Gou and Qin Hui's thoughts.

Xiao Shan thought for a while and asked, "Did Mr. Shi go to the Kingdom of Jin to see something?"

Shi Hao sighed, and said: "This is the first time I have gone to the land of Yanzhao. Although you may not like to hear this, the Jin country is so powerful that the Song Dynasty, which is far away, cannot handle it."

Xiao Shan couldn't speak for a while, Shi Hao said: "This time when I went to Yanjing, the gold master Wan Yanliang was arrogant and condescending, and I couldn't swallow this breath, but he immediately took me to see his The sergeants, with strong soldiers and strong horses, are all masters of tigers and wolves. Looking back at my Great Song Dynasty, I don’t need to say what it has become in these years. You should have seen it. I am worried that His Highness intends to recover after boarding the Great Treasure in the future. "

Xiao Shan nodded, and said after a while: "Lord Shi, you don't need to be so worried. You went to the Kingdom of Jin as an envoy of the Song Dynasty. In order to deter the vassals, Wan Yanliang must have arranged a strong army in advance, although it cannot be said that it was all superficial. , but there must be a lot of superficial skills. According to the information I inquired in Ezhou, these years, the Jin Kingdom has been a strong outsider and a cadre in the middle. They have been harassed by Mongolia every year in the north, and the relationship between the Northwest and Xixia is also quite tense. The former emperor of the Jin Kingdom ascended the throne at the age of 16 He has been a puppet for many years. Because of this, there are constant coups in the Kingdom of Jin, and some generals have killed a lot of them. Later, after the young emperor took charge of the government, he didn't care about the government. His temperament was violent and made people angry. This gave him an opportunity to usurp the throne."

Shi Haodao: "Wan Yanliang should not be underestimated. I see that he is very ambitious and good at fighting. If there is a real fight, Da Song may not be his opponent."

Xiao Shan smiled slightly, and said: "If they really fight, they will be a very good opponent. Since ancient times, those who win the hearts of the people will win the world. Many people in the Central Plains went to the mountains to become bandits, and there were few people who actually farmed and could provide him with financial taxes. Moreover, Meng An, a female real in the Jin Dynasty, was also disarmed and returned to the fields, occupying more land and busy making money. Compared with the past few years, Wan Yanliang wants to conquer the world, but he doesn't think about how to develop production and train the army, but blindly extorts money. Also, I heard that his life is exaggerated. He not only looks for The woman also found the heads of the wives of his subordinates. Several of the wives of General Jin Guo were put to sleep by Wan Yanliang. I think he can live for two more days if he doesn’t go south. One!"

Shi Hao just sighed slightly and shook his head, noncommittal to Xiao Shan's words.

Xiao Shan continued: "Although the situation in the Song Dynasty is worse than that of the Jin Dynasty, if you think that it is not as good as the Jin Dynasty, aggressiveness will inevitably lead to disasters, and it will only become worse! How the military affairs will develop in the future, no one can say I don't know, but I believe that His Highness is definitely not a reckless person. He will not make any decisions rashly. Master Shi really doesn't need to have so many worries. What's more, even if it is difficult and dangerous, you should face it. Don't be pessimistic and disappointed because the future is difficult, it will only make the situation worse."

After listening to Xiao Shan's words, Shi Hao nodded slightly, patted Xiao Shan's shoulder and said, "You are right, Your Highness is only a county king now, and has not been formally accepted as prince by the official family, so there is no need to worry too much about these things. Too worried."

Xiao Shan also smiled, the other middle-aged officials in their 40s can't change their minds with just a word, they can only chat casually, now Zhao Yuan has not even confirmed the position of the emperor's heir, and has not even participated in politics Formal qualifications, let alone asking about these things.And Xiao Shan himself is only a general leading 1000 people, and there is only so much he can do about such national policy decisions or changes.

Only by staying in his position can he seek his government.Although everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, if an ordinary person with no power or power is so anxious that his hair turns white overnight, there is very limited what he can do, and the most he can do is sigh helplessly.

What Xiao Shan can do now is to gather strength in the local troops and unite the people around him as much as possible. If he wants to truly dominate the situation, he still has to wait for the moment when the situation changes.

Zhao Yuan is the same, only by changing his own situation first, can he then change others, and finally change the whole world.

Xiao Shan went back to the inn in the afternoon, but he didn't see Li Fengniang. He heard one of Li Fengniang's maids say that the lady was going to swim in the West Lake. Xiao Shan saw that the two guards he sent followed Li Fengniang, so he didn't bother to look for her. , I went to visit relatives and friends on my own.

In the evening Li Fengniang came back, and as soon as she arrived at the inn, she broke into Xiao Shan's room, dragged Xiao Shan to chat about the day's affairs, and finally shook her head and said, "Xiao Shan, if you don't accompany me to go to the lake today, you missed something very important." You deserve it!"

Xiao Shan felt that he had a headache for this seven or eight-year-old girl, and he didn't really want to hear about the big things Li Fengniang said.I wonder what big things can happen to a child?Unexpectedly, Li Fengniang said: "Today I met the Taoist priest who told my fortune before! He chatted with me for a long time, and beside him was an old lady who was blind in one eye, and that old lady even gave me good things!" As she spoke, Li Fengniang stretched out her hand. On her wrist was a shiny gold and silver enamel bracelet inlaid with silk. The workmanship was extremely exquisite. The bracelet was embedded with various precious stones.

Xiao Shan said casually: "It's a beautiful bracelet. Miss, I'm tired, so you can go to bed too early!"

Li Fengniang pouted and said, "That Taoist priest is very good at fortune-telling. I met him when I was a child. He said that I am destined to be rich and powerful. Whoever marries me will become the lord of the world. He also said that I am seven years old. It’s time to meet a nobleman! If you didn’t go today, otherwise he will tell your fortune to see if you will become a great hero in the future!”

Xiao Shan was not interested in these Taoist priests' fortune-telling at all, and said, "It's all these charlatans cheating money, you should go to sleep."

But Li Fengniang refused to leave, she pulled Xiao Shan's sleeve and said, "Uncle Huangfu is no ordinary charlatan!"

Xiao Shan was taken aback for a moment, thinking of the old woman who was blind in one eye that Li Fengniang had just mentioned, he took Li Fengniang's hand and went to look at her bracelet carefully. Manufactured by the government, this is Ouchi's stuff!

Xiao Shan asked: "The Taoist priest you met today is called Huangfu Tan?"

Li Fengniang nodded: "Yes."

Xiao Shan wished he could strangle himself to death!Huangfu Tan he met before, when Zhao Gou called him into the palace half a year ago.Because Empress Dowager Wei suffered from an eye disease and could not see in both eyes, Zhao Gou searched for people to treat it everywhere, but Huangfu Tan saw it, and used a golden needle to pierce the white cloud of Empress Dowager Wei's left eye, but left the right eye untouched.

At that time, Xiao Shan heard rumors about this story, saying that when the Empress Dowager Wei returned from the north, Emperor Qinzong Zhao Heng pulled her carriage and asked her to intercede with Zhao Gou after she came back, so as to save herself very much. Even if you are an ordinary person.Empress Dowager Wei vowed at the time that if she returned to Zhao Gou, she would speak for him and ask Zhao Gou to save her elder brother, or she would lose both eyes.

But after Queen Mother Wei came back, she learned that Zhao Gou had no intention of the Northern Expedition at all, so Queen Mother Wei never mentioned this matter.Later, Queen Mother Wei suddenly lost her eyesight one day. Zhao Gou searched all over the country but could not find anyone who could cure Queen Mother Wei.

He made announcements everywhere, and Huangfu Tancai came to the palace to heal Empress Dowager Wei, but only cured one of her eyes.People outside have rumors that this is because the Queen Mother Wei did not fulfill the oath she made, and it is God's retribution.

Xiao Shan had heard people talking about this matter in Lin'an, and heard people talking about it in Ezhou. He had also met Huangfu Tan himself, and he seemed to be an ordinary Taoist priest, nothing special.

But she never expected that when Li Fengniang went to swim in the West Lake today, she would meet Empress Dowager Wei and Huangfu Tan!Moreover, looking at the bracelet on Li Fengniang's wrist, it seems that she still likes Queen Mother Wei very much.

Xiao Shan was surprised, how could Li Fengniang's temper like a ghost can please the elders, but she didn't expect that Li Fengniang suddenly took Xiao Shan's hand and pulled him hard, blinking her eyes and asked: "Xiao Shan, Uncle Huangfu said that he can marry me I don’t know what a great blessing they have accumulated virtues in their previous lives! They also said that whoever marries me can win the world, do you want to marry me?”

Xiaoshantou immediately turned into two big ones, and the seven-year-old child was probably in the first grade of elementary school, and ordinary beasts would not like such immature girls.

Xiao Shan scolded Li Fengniang with a stern face, and after telling her to go back to her room to sleep, he felt a little worried—in case the Queen Mother Wei and Zhao Gou insisted on giving Li Fengniang to Zhao Yuan as a daughter-in-law, it would really be a pity What a headache!

After Xiao Shan stayed in Lin'an for a few days, it was already New Year's Eve. Ordinary people would set off firecrackers to celebrate and stay up all night to watch the new year. The palace was no exception. , Zhao Yuan and Zhao Zhuo are definitely going to bring their families into the palace.

Xiao Shan has no place to go at all, Yu Mo originally invited him to celebrate the new year with homeless people like himself, but Xiao Shan refused, at this time when everyone is reunited, he especially wanted to see someone.

Xiao Shan was walking aimlessly on the street alone. He wandered around like a headless chicken, and when he encountered beggars, he took out his own change and handed them to them.It was not until dusk that a carriage passed by on the street, escorted by several guards around the carriage.

Xiao Shan recognized that it was Zhao Yuan's carriage.This time Zhao Yuan was driving forward in the prince's car, he wanted to go up to say hello, but stopped halfway.

Because he immediately saw the people in the car lift the curtain, Zhao Yuan's eyes shot out from the car, and then bumped into Xiao Shan's.

One stood still, and the other was speeding in a car.

The wheels of the carriage rolled over the ground, making a rattling sound, and occasionally ice shards were crushed, Zhao Yuan didn't greet Xiao Shan, and Xiao Shan didn't go forward.

The two passed by like this, and the intertwined eyes finally parted.

Xiao Shan walked around silently by himself, and finally chose to go to Yu Mo to spend this New Year's Eve with these bachelors who have no home.

At the moment when fireworks and firecrackers bloomed in the night sky, Zhao Yuan was in the palace, looking at the vermilion walls, but his thoughts could not help but fly to the moment when he met on the road: Why was he alone on the street on New Year's Eve?Will he be lonely in Lin'an alone?