Surrounded by strong ministers

Xiao Zong returned to his bedroom from the emperor's nephew, the night was already very deep, the rain was heavy, and the eaves of the palace were pouring with rain.

Because of Sima Xian's entry into the capital, Xiao Zong's mind was tense, and he was troubled by King Qin's illness for the past two days, and his head was always aching. After a banquet tonight, his head became more and more uncontrollable. pain.

Wang Rong saw that his master pressed his forehead and kept rubbing it as soon as he entered the bedroom, and asked softly if he was the imperial physician Xuan, Xiao Zong waved his hand, and Wang Rong twisted a warm facecloth wisely and presented it.Xiao Zong pressed the facecloth on his forehead, closed his eyes and tugged at the black dragon robe on his body. He was really tired and had to get on the bed quickly.

Wang Rong and several other servants helped him change his clothes. The imperial costume had complicated accessories, and there were seven or eight kinds of accessories hanging on his waist. As soon as he took off half of his outfit, a servant from the outer hall announced, "Teacher Han please see me."

Xiao Zong was slightly taken aback, lifted his face towel and threw it aside, gathered his half-open skirt, "Please come in."

The banquet ended not long ago, and according to the time, the officials had just left the palace, and Han Su didn't know why he came back again.

Han Su entered the inner hall of Xiao Zong's bedroom under the guidance of his servants, and he saw the emperor with his head bowed, his long hair disheveled and shawl, sitting in a chair with his imperial clothes open and arranging his inner shirt, he couldn't help being startled.

While tidying up his appearance, Xiao Zong said: "I'm about to go to bed, what's the matter with Taifu?" Looking up, seeing Han Su standing in front of him, watching him for a moment, Xiao Zong looked him up and down, and said in surprise: "Teacher, Why are you so wet? Don't you have an umbrella?"

At this time, Han Su was wearing a royal brocade robe with water leaking inside and out, his hair was wet, and water drops dripped down his forehead and the hem of his robe, obviously he came in a hurry in the rain.

Standing in front of Xiao Zong, Taifu Han looked at the emperor, but did not speak.

Xiao Zong was a little puzzled. Following the Taifu's eyes, he saw his white neck that was exposed outside. He blinked uncomfortably, and smiled awkwardly, "I... just going to bed, my clothes are inevitably disheveled, too. Fu Mo wants to take offense." Stretching out his hand to pull the shirt, he remembered that Han Su seemed to have always been very particular about his appearance.

Han Su slowly moved his eyes away, with a calm expression, no displeasure in the past, and said calmly: "The emperor's skin is too pale, and his tendons are slender. It is time for the imperial doctor to take good care of his body." Glancing at Xiao Zongqiang, he cheered up face, "If the emperor is not feeling well, don't cover it."

Xiao Zong said with a smile: "Teacher misses me so much. How can I be unhappy, but I'm just a little sleepy. But you, what's so important that you come to see me in the rain without even holding an umbrella?"

Han Su seemed to have just remembered the business, his expression changed slightly, and he said a little helplessly: "There are people who are more thorough than Chen." Then he explained the reason.

Sima Xian, son of the prince of Chu, was helped out of Longyin Palace because he drank too boldly at the imperial banquet. After walking a few steps, he started talking nonsense. Helping and coaxing and persuading, there is nothing to do with him.Han Su had no choice but to go back to the palace to report. When he came back, Prince Chu was hugging a big stone pillar in front of Xuanwu Gate and calling for a change of clothes to accompany him.

"Several guards of the imperial army stepped forward to help, but were overthrown by the second son of the king of Chu... The minister is too inconvenient to be too rough..."

Xiao Zong rubbed his temples, "Isn't he quite drinkable?" After a moment of silence, he thought to himself, each one of them is very troublesome, and sighed slightly, "Give him two escorts, first coax people into the palace Let’s talk about it tonight after we’re here. Don’t let him ruin the face of the King of Chu’s loyal and virtuous ministers in front of everyone.”

Han Su took the order and was about to leave, Xiao Zong called him back, "This matter will be settled by word, you don't need to go again." He turned to Wang Rong and said, "Serve Taifu Qingquan Palace to take a bath and change clothes."

Looking at Han Su again in a blink of an eye, Xiao Zong thought that he would have to spend a lot of time talking to persuade the polite Taifu to go to the place where the emperor used to wash his body.

Unexpectedly, the Tai Tuo simply thanked him, without any excuses, and only said that the prince of Chu had also been drenched in the rain for a long time, and he was afraid that he would have to take a more careful bath.Then he went with Wang Rong.

Xiao Zong looked at his back and thought, his Taifu is really different.

After sitting quietly for a while, Xiao Zong got up, walked out of the bedroom, and stood in the corridor.Qingquan Palace is not far from the emperor's bedroom, not long after, Xiao Zong saw the Taifu coming towards him in a clean and tidy outfit.

"Your Majesty, I'm here to leave. Thank you for your sympathy. I will enter the palace tomorrow morning to pick up Prince Chu and return to Zhuxiangyuan." Han Su bowed, paused, and said again, "It's late at night. , Your Majesty should go to bed earlier."

Xiao Zong looked at him and said with a light smile: "Most of the night has passed, and the wind is heavy and rainy. Why don't the Grand Tutor spend the night in the palace, and take Sima Xian out of the palace tomorrow morning, so as not to have to go back and forth."

These words were said casually, but Xiao Zong saw Taifu's complexion froze.

Xiao Zong just thought, he said something he shouldn't have said, and the next moment he heard Han Su's faint voice: "Your Majesty, don't joke."

Han Su glanced at the rain outside the corridor, and then said in a low voice, "Staying in the inner palace at night will inevitably attract criticism. At the beginning, King Qin stayed in Xinyang Palace for more than a month, but it was forced by the situation. Tonight, the prince of Chu is also known to be drunk. , but there is nothing to talk about. Minister, if you rest in the inner palace, the rumors between the emperor and the minister will become even more exciting." After a moment of pause, he said, "So, does the emperor also want to stay with the minister? The minister doesn't care."

Before Xiao Zong could speak, Han Su bowed again, "I will leave."

Xiao Zong thought blankly, his Tai Tuo is really different.

Han Su stepped back, Xiao Zong stood in the corridor for a long time, the cold wind made his limbs chill, Wang Rong reminded him several times to rest.

But how can he sleep peacefully tonight.

Xiao Zong woke up in the cold wind, gave some instructions to Wang Rong, and turned to enter the bedroom.

There were only a few candles lit in the bedroom, and the flickering lights illuminated the quiet inner hall in a dim yellow. Xiao Zongping retreated from the servants, sat alone behind the desk, casually flipping through a book of strategies for governing the country.

There are only two clear names left in his mind for those chaotic political situations.

King Qin, King Chu.

King Qin, when he received the paperwork to enter the capital, he couldn't see what the man's purpose was. After entering the capital, a poisonous killing seemed to create an opportunity to suddenly narrow the distance between them.What followed was repeated intimidation, bullying, provocation, many unknown approaching temptations, and those contemptuous actions, which made him even more elusive about the man who threatened his country.

Maybe, like Prince Rui's warning, he would think less and be more cruel, so he doesn't need to be so sad.

But he, after all, can't be as cold and straightforward as Prince Rui.

He still couldn't see through King Qin, or he didn't dare to make judgments.

If you make a mistake, the country will be overturned.

He can't afford to gamble.

Fortunately, right now, due to the general situation, he still has a bargaining chip in his hand.

As for King Chu, he has always seen clearly.Many years ago, his father and the pre-Qin king wanted to compete in the world, and several secret orders summoned the Chu king to Beijing to seek advice. When his uncle tried to evade all kinds of excuses, his father warned him that the Chu king's loyalty was no more than a layer of paper. Under the bright skin of loyalty, there is also a wolfish ambition.

His father said that the fate of the country is declining, and the next emperor is doomed to be difficult.

In fact, from the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty to the present, there are so many vassal kings, which one of the emperors is not difficult.

After keeping a low profile for so many years, Sima Xian didn't believe in this trip to Beijing, no matter whether the king of Chu was instigated or not, his uncle had no plans of his own.

After a few candles, the lamp oil gradually dried up, and the flames dimmed. Xiao Zong came back to his senses, got up, added some oil to the candlestick, and turned the wick.

At this time, some servants came in for supper.

"Your Majesty, use a small amount and drink a cup of hot tea to warm up your body."

After Xiao Zong sat back at the desk, he put down the scrolls, and the waiter spread some small dishes in front of him, and made a cup of weak tea for him.

Xiao Zong picked up the teacup and took a sip, and the servant said again: "Does the emperor need anything else? Tell the servant, and the servant will do it immediately."

Xiao Zong put the teacup away, and after a while, he said calmly: "Sima Xian, are you here to serve me?"

Bowed all the time with his face lowered, the inner servant was slightly startled, slowly raised his head, showing a beautiful face, looked at Xiao Zong for a moment, with a slight smile on his thin lips, and a slight smile on his slender eyes. Picking up, he cast a glance at the emperor, "It turns out that the emperor found out that it was a humble minister early in the morning." He sighed softly.

Xiao Zong didn't speak, Sima Xian said again: "Your Majesty is sitting alone in front of the blue lantern case tonight, is he waiting for this humble minister?"

Xiao Zong said with a smile: "You think it's so easy to get in my bedroom, and my forbidden army is made of paper?"

Sima Xian put on a show and sighed softly, raised his eyebrows, turned to Xiao Zong, and gave a salute, "Sima Xian has seen the emperor, my humble minister trespassed on the emperor's bedroom, please forgive me."

Xiao Zong said: "You don't need to put on a show in front of me, since I let you in, why would I ask you for your crimes?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Sima Xian raised his face, his slender eyes narrowed, revealing a few wisps of amorous feelings. If it wasn't for the natural gloom between his brows, he would really have an air of amorous feelings.

After a moment of silence, he seemed not quite reconciled, "Why does the emperor think that the minister will definitely come to see you?"

Xiao Zong picked up the teacup in his hand, took a sip, and said calmly, "You don't care about your face in front of all the ministers, and you refuse to leave at the gate of the palace. I can't think of any other reason for you to do it. This step."

Sima Xian didn't change his face, "The emperor is wise."

The King of Chu sent his son to Beijing this time, if you believe that he has no purpose, not planning for his own ambition, then Xiao Zong is a complete fool.

Sima Xian had been in the imperial city for some time, except for that minor illness, which allowed him to see the weight of King Chu's benevolence and righteousness rooted in everyone's hearts, he didn't see any other actions by the second son of King Chu.He didn't know how his uncle would stir up the situation, so he tried his best to prevent it, but waited.

Wait for his uncle to make a move.

No matter how anxious he was, he had to hold his breath.

A few hours ago, when Han Su returned to the palace and told him about the excitement in front of the Xuanwu Gate, he was somewhat sure that his uncle wasn't trying to cheat on him.

He pushed the boat along the way to let Prince Chu enter the inner palace, and Sima Xian came in the middle of the night as he expected.

Xiao Zong was holding the teacup, and the lid of the cup gently flicked the tea leaves floating in the cup, and said: "If you have anything to say, just say it, in a few hours, all the maids and servants in the palace will wake up, and the guards will change their guards. If you go out of this palace gate before you know it, you will have no chance."

Sima Xian raised his thin lips slightly, and said with a light smile: "What I want to say is not something shameful, but I just don't intend to let too many people know." King, I have a word to express to the heavens, the Chu Palace is willing to do its best to help His Majesty destroy the King of Qin."

His brows and eyes are slightly raised, and in his slender eyes, there is a thin color, as cold as a knife.

Xiao Zong couldn't help but sneered, that's why.