Surrounded by strong ministers

Xiao Zong didn't say a word about the past that the King of Qin was chasing so hard.

Xiao Zong didn't bother to think about what kind of face Qin Wang had to bear to leave the palace at the end.Ever since that arrogant man came to Beijing, he has been flattering people everywhere, and he is really aggrieved.

Xiao Zong sat in the pavilion for a while, calmed down, and then went to Chongyang Palace to work diligently as planned. He was spent a lot of time by King Qin today, and he was able to go back to the bedroom to go to bed until late at night after reviewing papers.

After taking a bath, he lay down on the dragon bed, and not long after he touched the pillow, Xiao Zong fell into a deep sleep.

The next few days were very peaceful, but Xiao Zong was extremely busy.

Sima Xian, the prince of Chu, was already on his way to the imperial city a few days ago, and he estimated that he would enter Beijing in the near future. Xiao Zong ordered people to take care of the Zhuxiangyuan, the guest house in the west of the imperial city, which received important foreign envoys, and entertain them from afar. cousin.Thai King Xiao Hong's birthday is just these few days, and Xiao Zong is going to hold a small banquet for his younger brother. Xiao Hong has always been a faint pain in Xiao Zong's heart. My brother was smart and smart when he was young.Then, in the final analysis, the most uneasy thing for him was the king of Qin. Since he left the palace with a sullen face that day, the king of Qin has been shutting the door in the hotel.Xiao Zong sent a few guards in front of the imperial court to keep an eye on the movements in the East Wing Hall, the guards found out the news every day and reported everything in detail.These days, as reported by the guards, the King of Qin summoned his own soldiers to practice martial arts every day in the hotel. The murderous spirit lasted for two or three hours. cannot.

When the guard reported this, Han Su was also at the side.After the guards retreated, Han Su frowned and asked worriedly, "Will the emperor send more people to monitor King Qin?"

Xiao Zong immediately shook his head, according to his understanding of King Qin's temperament, that man seems to be in a temper right now, too many people are staring at him, he might be doing something wrong instead of nothing.

However, in this situation, the king of Qin acted fiercely for no reason, so he couldn't be completely disregarded. After thinking about it, he issued a Taoist order and sent more guards to the Zhuxiang courtyard where Sima Xian was going to stay.

With such an arrangement, we will only wait for Prince Chu to enter the capital.

A few days later, Sima Xian led his servants to arrive outside the imperial city.A group of people got off their horses and cars on the official road a few miles away from the city gate, waiting for the order to listen to the imperial edict.Xiao Zong led Grand Tutor Han Su out of the city to proclaim an edict and welcome him into Zhuxiang Yuan.

At the beginning of the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Emperor Taizu commended several meritorious ministers who accompanied the army and horses to conquer the world. He cracked the earth and conferred several vassal kings. The Sima clan was the most blessed. Wealthy and rich, the Sima family has indeed produced many capable people. Before the Yeqi clan surrendered to Tuoba Hong and was named the King of Qin, among several kings with different surnames, the King of Chu had always been the head of the kings of Lingyue.Xiao Zong had several ancestors who used to suppress the Sima family quite vigorously, but after all, because of one or another reason, it was not possible to cut down the feudal clan.

At present, Chu has 20 soldiers. Among the vassals, except for King Qin's northwest iron cavalry, which has such a large number, no other kings can compete with it.

The Sima Clan has been in the southern region for a long time, and his strength is strong. In fact, there should be no criticism of his reputation as a villain, but the fact is not the case at all.

King Chu now has a good reputation, and sometimes even Xiao Zong feels extremely envious when he hears it.

The reputation of the King of Chu, benevolence, righteousness, loyalty and virtuousness, was not created out of thin air, but was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people through various righteous deeds.

For example, the year before last, during the autumn harvest, the two parts of the southeast of Dazhou were plagued by insects, and the crops suffered heavy losses. At that time, the disaster situation in the area under the jurisdiction of the king of Chu was not optimistic, but he still tightened his belt and released the military rations that had been stored for several years to help others. Affected state capital.At that time, not long after the disaster relief rations allocated by the capital had just left the imperial city, the King of Chu was already accepting the gratitude of the disaster-stricken people everywhere.His benevolence taught the people all over the world to praise him every time.

In addition to being so benevolent and righteous, the King of Chu also showed a rare loyalty to the emperor. When Xiao Zong ascended the throne, in a messy situation, this uncle was the first one among the princes and princes to stand up and bow to him.Then, there are various tributes offered at ordinary times, which makes the old feudal lord even more loyal.

With all these things, Xiao Zong didn't dare to underestimate his uncle's city.

In this way, Sima Xian's entry into the capital this time, compared to the uproar caused when King Qin entered the capital, the courtiers behaved much calmer and more at ease.

Sima Xian had just entered the imperial city, and fell ill that night.There is no other reason. When he was waiting outside the imperial city for Xiao Zong's imperial decree to announce his entry, it was raining and it was cool in late autumn. Although there were attendants holding umbrellas, he waited for a long time. At the time of the decree, I even pushed the umbrella, kneeled three times and kowtowed nine times, which made me feel a little cold.

When Sima Xian fell ill, the capital inevitably paid more praise to the King of Chu, praising the King of Chu for teaching his children well and setting an example for his loyal ministers.

Xiao Zong was very helpless about this.

He looked at Han Su, who was standing bowed under the throne, who had just returned from a visit to Zhuxiangyuan. He was silent for a moment, and couldn't help but sigh secretly.

My uncle has a good reputation, his son can be a loyal emperor even in the rain, and Sima Xian has a little ailment, and the courtiers who visited his illness in the past two or three days are too numerous to enumerate.

The reputation of the King of Chu can be seen.

Xiao Zong rubbed his forehead, and when he looked at Tai Tuo again, he suddenly thought of his own reputation for some reason, but he had to do something that was not on the table when he was young, it has been ten years, and everyone still remembers it No matter how he makes up for it now, he can't get that lewd word off his face.

Thinking of this, Xiao Zong felt even more helpless.

Xiao Zong was helpless for a moment, collected his mind, and said to Han Su who was waiting quietly: "Sima Xian created such a popular momentum as soon as he entered the imperial city. I don't care whether he intends to put pressure on me or not. From the beginning to the end, I always We can't let him have an accident, and we can't let the king of Chu have any reason to start an army. Han Su, no matter how strong the guards I assign in Zhuxiangyuan, they can only guard against open robbery. Those hidden arrows are hard to guard against. Zhao Yin carefully checked everyone around Sima Xian, not even the attendants he brought to Beijing from the Prince of Chu's residence could be left behind."

Xiao Zong issued the order, picked up the teacup and was about to sip tea, but Han Su calmly said, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I have already explained to Jing Zhaoyin earlier."

Xiao Zong was stunned for a moment, before he could speak, he heard Han Su continue, "Jing Zhao Yin is investigating this matter secretly, anyone around Sima Xian who has doubts will go to the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice for interrogation before today." After a slight pause, He also said, "Your Majesty can rest assured about the means of the criminal department's mausoleum. If there is really an unruly person around Sima Xian, if Wang Ling, the envoy behind him, can't find out, no one will be able to."

Xiao Zong was still a little dazed, he looked at the Taifu's face which was no different from usual, that face was calm, gentle and refined, it was indeed the same as before, but for some reason, Xiao Zong felt that the Taifu's whole body was There was a faint coldness.

"When... did you give the instructions?"

Han Su looked at Xiao Zong, "Sima Xian before entering the capital." After a pause, he glanced slightly, "Your Majesty is not happy with your own opinion?"

Xiao Zong was stunned for a moment, and said, "No."

Subconsciously, he looked up and down the Taifu who he thought he knew very well in front of him a few times.A person who is used to gentleness, suddenly acted vigorously, Xiao Zong thought, he was just a little surprised, a little... at a loss.

Han Su looked at Xiao Zong, raised his lips lightly, and said with a smile: "I said that I would like to share the worries of the emperor, the emperor will not really think that I just accompany the emperor to drink tea, watch the scenery, and play a piece of music. Bar."

Xiao Zong hurriedly said, "Of course not."

"Then why is the emperor looking at the minister now, as if looking at a stranger?"

"This..." Xiao Zong suddenly didn't know how to answer.

Han Su has been famous all over the world for his talent in poetry and writing since he was young. Since he was a weaker year, he was appointed as the Taifu and became an official. The first time Xiao Zong saw him, he believed that he was an unparalleled scholar in this dynasty. its right.

Ya is gentle, and a gentle person suddenly seems to be not gentle... Xiao Zong picked up the teacup and took a sip of water.

Han Su looked at Xiao Zong drinking tea from the other side, glanced lightly, and didn't follow Xiao Zong to ask any more questions.