turmoil

When Zhang Jingche walked out of the Qinzheng Hall, the wind and rain outside hadn't stopped yet, and Liu Yanzhao was waiting in the corridor with a look of anxiety on his face.Seeing Zhang Jingche coming out, he couldn't wait to meet him, his eyes almost begging for hope: "Mother...how is mother?"

Zhang Jingche was expressionless: "Go and see her for the last time."

Liu Yanzhao's face was shocked, and his hopes were suddenly extinguished.He couldn't tell whether it was shock or anger, he pushed away the guards around him desperately, and rushed into the warm pavilion.Zhang Jingche didn't even look at him, and walked out on his own.

The head of the guards still wanted to stop him: "Master Zhang, Your Majesty didn't say that you can leave now..."

Before the words fell, he felt a slight chill on his back, and when he looked closely, a cold firecracker was aimed at the center of his eyebrows.

The leader of the guards slid his throat, and in the harsh wind of the twelfth lunar month, a little trembling sweat oozed from the back of his neck.

Xu Shen said coldly, "Go away!"

Emperor Xinglong and the Empress Dowager were in the warm pavilion, once the two sides started fighting, the consequences would be disastrous.The leader of the guards weighed it over and over again, but he still didn't dare to make a mistake. He gestured behind him, and the guards in front of the imperial guard made way for a passage.

Xu Shen spread out the oil umbrella and put it over Zhang Jingche's head: "Master, the road is slippery in rainy days, walk slowly."

Zhang Jingche let out a "hmm", and walked into the rain at a leisurely pace surrounded by a group of You Yunwei.He glanced around and saw that a new wintersweet plant had bloomed in the courtyard, and the ground was already exhausted by the wind and rain.

Scattered into mud, eventually ground into dust.

On the night of the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month in the fourth year of Xinglong, a rebel party broke into the Palace of Compassion and Ning, and the Empress Dowager was stabbed in the chest to protect the saint, and died.

Zhang Jingche didn't say anything about the Queen Mother's death, but stayed in the Taiji Hall to guard Dingbianhou.You Yunwei and the guards in the palace faced each other far away, and they did not offend each other.

In the early morning of the next day, the chaos in central Beijing was preliminarily settled, and the Beile people who burned, killed, and looted were driven away by Qingqi under the command of Dingbian Hou. , The flames of war between Beijing and China have been extinguished by the wind and rain.

According to Zhang Jingche's instructions, Bianjun Qingqi did not compete with the Beidaying for the initiative, but only ensured that Andingmen and Deshengmen were still under his control.The two thousand Qingqi did not withdraw from the city, but stayed in the city in the name of "evacuating the people". While appeasing the displaced people, they opened up the retreat route from Miyagi to the northern suburbs of the capital without a trace.

The movements of the frontier army's Qingqi were not hidden from Jin Yiwei, but the current situation is delicate. The capital...even half of the Forbidden Palace is under Zhang Jingche's control.But whether it is Youyunwei or the frontier army, they are all powerful troops made by the wild sand of the desert, and no one wants to try for themselves how powerful the blades of these tigers and wolves are.

As soon as the situation in central Beijing stabilized, Liang Yi couldn't wait to rush to Miyagi. Not only was Marquis Dingbian worried about being seriously injured, but he also saw the danger of the situation, so he was eager to discuss countermeasures with Zhang Jingche.

At that time, the wind and rain had just subsided, and a ray of dawn bloomed in the sky, rendering the sky into a clear white.Liang Yi rode his horse and galloped across the long street, and saw that with Yongshou Gate as the boundary, the guards of the Forbidden Palace and You Yunwei were clearly separated, and they had been facing each other for a long time.

Liang Yi hurriedly reined in the horse, and You Yunwei had already stepped forward to meet him: "General Liang, you are here, Mr. Zhang has been waiting for you for a long time."

Liang Yi was thinking about Marquis Dingbian, just as he got off his horse, he saw a man walking out from among the guards, dressed in the color of an inner servant, holding a bright yellow scroll in his hand, and said loudly: "General Liang, the emperor has summoned you, please go to the Palace of Qinzheng immediately See you."

Liang Yi: "..."

General Liang was just a small general of the Marquis's family, and Marquis Dingbian stood in front of him in everything. For the first time, he knew the weight of the words "dilemma".

He looked at the servant holding the imperial decree in his hand, and then at You Yunwei who refused to budge an inch. He knew that taking this step would not only discredit the emperor, but also confirm the "collusion and rebellion" and "conspiracy". charges.The Marquis of Dingbian has been loyal for generations. Liang Yi can't bear such a big crime. Just when he was at a loss, You Yunwei said again: "Marquis Yang's situation is still stable now. General Liang won't go to see? It was the fine cavalry army under the command of Uncle Zhongyong who made the disturbance in the palace, some of them were captured alive and put in custody in the Tai Chi Hall, if General Liang has any doubts, this is the right time to ask clearly."

Liang Yi was slightly startled, and the words "Uncle Zhongyong" poked his heart into worry.He doesn't want to bear the stigma of "rebellious officials and thieves", but he doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of Uncle Zhongyong and be imprisoned by the court on trumped-up charges.

Although Zhang Jingche did not plan for the chaos in the capital, he understood it early in the morning and made arrangements more leisurely. This method and vision alone are enough for the court to fear.What's more, there is a Dingbian Marquis behind him who holds a heavy army. Regardless of whether the two men have colluded with the Beijing-China Rebel Party or not, and regardless of why the Frontier Army Qingqi appeared in the capital, the moment they showed up, the suspicions on their bodies It can't be washed off.

Liang Yi is like a moat in front of him, and if he takes a step forward, he will never be able to take it back.He closed his eyes and made up his mind in the silent battle between heaven and man—turning to the imperial guards, knelt down and bowed down: "Your Majesty loves you so much, the general will be grateful, but the life and death of Marquis Yang is unknown, and the general is the general of the Hou family." , I am really worried, and I beg Your Majesty to forgive the crime of negligence."

After saying that, he didn't want to see the reaction of the servant who announced the decree, but got up and walked into the Tai Chi Hall.

Yang Fan's injury this time was indeed dangerous, as long as it was half a point deeper, there would be no cure. Even now, Zhang Jingche did not dare to neglect, and took turns guarding by the bed with Wang Xuan, using cold water and a wet towel to calm the side of the persistent high fever Hou do cold compresses.

Perhaps it was because of the protection of the heroic spirits of the ancestors in the dark, or it could be that Yang Fan was physically strong and unusual. When Liang Yi stepped into the Taiji Hall, the high fever of Marquis Dingbian subsided a little. Although his face was pale, his pulse was obvious. stabilize.

Zhang Jingche put his arm around Yang Fan's wrist, held his breath for treatment for a moment, and exhaled calmly - he knew that he had won the bet.

Liang Yi was so angry that he didn't dare to say a word. After Zhang Jingche withdrew his finger, he lowered his voice and asked cautiously, "Mr. Zhang, what's wrong with my Marquis?"

Zhang Jingche turned his head back, with tiredness between his brows, but he bent his eyes and smiled sincerely: "Don't worry, I'm here."

Liang Yi understood his hint, and for a moment, he almost knelt down to the "Bodhisattva Zhang" who rescued the suffering.

"Mr. Zhang's great kindness, I will never forget it!" Liang Yi said in a deep voice, "This time the Hou Ye escaped, everyone in the Hou family will definitely remember it..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Zhang Jingche waving his hand.

"There is no such nonsense between me and Yuanzhou," Zhang Jingche said, "But you, have you thought about your future plans?"

Liang Yi smiled wryly.

The moment he chose Zhang Jingche, he knew that he could never turn back. He had no intention of betraying the court, but he knew that the court would not tolerate him.Liang Yi followed two generations of Marquis Dingbian and practiced "serving the country with all his loyalty" all his life. He would not stand on the opposite side of the country, but he did not want to lose his life in vain.

Zhang Jingche saw his embarrassment, and said considerately: "Yuanzhou once told me that he wanted to resign his title to the imperial court, and follow me to the Western Regions... Dingbian's lineage has been loyal and good for generations, so there is no need to disappoint the title passed down by our ancestors. Just staying in the Central Plains will inevitably hinder the eyes of others. When Yuanzhou is in better health, I want to submit a memorial to the court on his behalf and continue to be stationed in the northwest. At that time, you will return to the north with me. It is also good if you are willing to stay in the army. I'm tired of staying, and I want to go to the Western Regions, but it's just a matter of adding a few more pairs of chopsticks."

He said it lightly, but Liang Yi knew that it must cost a lot to feed thousands or even tens of thousands of people.This kind of wealth and confidence is enough to compete with the Central Plains court. The rare thing is that Zhang Jingche has no intention of becoming a king on his own. He even gave enough respect to the Northwest Frontier Army, allowing them to choose their own future path.

No matter how much Liang Yi cherished the imperial court, he had to be moved by Zhang Jingche's sincerity at this moment, but he also had concerns: "The capital has just gone through some turmoil, and the imperial court is at a time when everything is in a state of chaos...Can they make the commander-in-chief go west?"

Zhang Jingche raised his head and smiled gently at him.

"Don't worry," he said as usual, "everything is up to me."

Zhang Jingche didn't want Liang Yi to worry, so Liang Yi really ignored everything, except to restrain the Qingqi of the frontier army, and stay in the Tai Chi Hall to take care of Yang Fan.Two days later, the situation in central Beijing completely calmed down, and the escaped Beile remnants were wiped out by Jin Yiwei and You Yunwei, and the chaotic court situation for several days finally got back on track.

The first thing Emperor Xinglong did when he appeared in the court hall was to announce the death of the Empress Dowager. It is said that the funeral ceremony must be grand when the Empress Dowager passed away.What Emperor Xinglong could do was to send people to notify the clan members scattered all over the place to return to Beijing as soon as possible to express their condolences.

You Yunwei, who was lurking in the capital, had a panoramic view of the court's movements, compiled them into informative reports, and sent them to the Tai Chi Hall continuously.Zhang Jingche glanced over, moved the short note to the candle, and burned it into an ominous ball of fire.

Liang Yi had no intention of peeping at the newspaper, but just got close, and glanced at the last few lines by accident, and his heart shuddered.He opened his mouth to speak, looked at Zhang Jingche's face, and swallowed back the words that came to his lips.

Zhang Jingche noticed and laughed dumbly: "What do you want to say?"

Liang Yi didn't want to fight against the imperial court, but it didn't mean that when the butcher's knife was on his neck, he would be caught without a fight: "Mr. Zhang is well aware of today's plan, isn't he ready to deal with it?"

"I have followed the present for many years, and I have a general understanding of his xinxing methods," Zhang Jingche said casually, "Zuo is just those tricks, there is nothing to deal with... The book has been handed over, it is best if he is willing to let it go, if you want to play tricks, I will I don't mind letting him know who is in charge of this world!"

These words were rebellious, almost outrageous, but Liang Yi felt inexplicably relieved. He knew that Zhang Jingche never bluffed, and he must have full confidence if he dared to say such words.

Zhang Jingche used to be like Liang Yi, who endured humiliation and struggled to survive, pinning his only hope on the kindness of the Tian family.However, the facts gave him a merciless slap in the face. He lost his only relative, the rainy night when Concubine Shu died. , can only be taken back with both hands.

He stayed by Yang Fan's side for three days, during which time there was a faint sound of wailing outside the hall, it was the palace people mourning the sudden and long death of the queen mother.Zhang Jingche didn't like to hear crying, so he covered Dingbianhou's ears with his hands, and wiped away the sweat from his forehead.

Yang Fan's condition is very stable, the wound has gradually healed, and there are no complications, which means that he has escaped the clutches of Hades.The hidden weapons and voodoo of the Beile people failed to do anything to him, but this was not the end, but the beginning of a fierce battle.

"Don't worry," Zhang Jingche whispered next to Yang Fan's ear, "With me here... I will take you back to the desert unscathed."

The sky is high and the ground is far away, the mountains are long and the water is wide, that is the homeland that the eagle yearns for.

In the evening three days later, the servant came to the Taiji Hall to announce the decree, saying that the emperor had summoned him.He failed to see Zhang Jingche's face, and was stopped by You Yunwei, who was wearing tough clothes, as soon as he arrived at the steps.Xu Shen was too aware of the grievances between Zhang Jingche and the Tian family, he could not trust Emperor Xinglong, let alone allow Zhang Jingche to meet him alone.

The servant had no choice but to stand in front of the Taiji Hall and read the edict over and over again. When he read it for the third time, there was a long and endless "Yiya", and the door of the Taiji Hall suddenly opened. Zhang Jingche was wearing a big cloak and stood alone on the steps. .

Xu Shen was startled, and rushed forward three steps at a time: "Master, why did you come out?"

Zhang Jingche waved his hand and said to the servant, "Where is the Son of Heaven?"

The waiter breathed a sigh of relief, but Xu Shen was taken aback: "Master, you can't go."

"It doesn't matter," Zhang Jingche said calmly, with a certainty in his calmness, "The current emperor can't embarrass me anymore."

Zhang Jingche's words were arrogant, and he did have the confidence. He had no intention of embarrassing the court, but he was definitely not the imperial court's hawk dog who relied on others.When he walked out of the Palace of Qinzheng, the guards of the forbidden army Hulala gave way out of the passage, and everyone looked at him in awe, as if this person was not just a man in white, but a master who echoed like mountains and seas.

The Queen Mother passed away, and the imperial court was holding a funeral. The vermilion and gold tiles were covered with onyx, and weeping choked up in the strong wind.When Zhang Jingche walked into the Hall of Qinzheng, the former gold and jade were covered with severe frost, Liu Yanzhao was wearing hemp and mourning, standing in the hall with his hands behind his back, looking intently at the newly enshrined spirit tablet on the incense table.

Zhang Jingche thought for a moment, but he still gave the Ninety-Five Supreme Being a face. He lifted the hem of his clothes and made a prostration ceremony: "Caomin bows to His Majesty."

Liu Yanzhao turned his head and looked at him condescendingly, with complicated and unspeakable eyes.It is rare for Zhang Jingche to put on such a humble posture, but Liu Yanzhao did not feel respectful, he even had an indescribable intuition that the reason why this always unruly man bent down was not because he succumbed to the pressure of the emperor, but because he showed it to the heavenly family almost accommodating tolerance.

Because he is strong enough, he is not afraid to show humility. A moment of lying down cannot break his spine. When he raises his head, even the Nine-Five Supreme will be afraid.

Liu Yanzhao hated this recognition, but also felt an indescribable pride... It was as if he saw an eagle tamed by himself, soaring across the mountains and rivers with a posture soaring above the sky.

He turned the white jade finger on his thumb, was silent for a moment, and then sarcastically said: "I don't really respect you, and you don't need to be hypocritical...get up."

Zhang Jingche had no intention of arguing with him, so he simply stood up.

He stayed up for several nights, and there was an unconcealable exhaustion between his brows and eyes, and against the gorgeous brows and eyes, there was a kind of unbearable frailty.Liu Yanzhao once thought that this was his real face, but when he experienced Zhang Jingche's sharpness, he still couldn't get rid of his inherent impression.

It was not until the queen mother's words before her death that she woke him up.

"You have contributed a lot to the escort of the Central Beijing during this chaos," Liu Yanzhao said blankly. "It happened that the commander of Jinyiwei, Xiao Heshan, was seriously injured and unable to take charge of Jinyiwei Youyunwei. I have discussed with the officials and decided to seal you up." As the Marquis of Andu, he regained control of Jinyiwei and took charge of the defense of Gyeonggi."

Zhang Jingche narrowed his eyes slightly, and for a moment, he felt that the fighting in Beijing was not over yet, and the sound of swords and soldiers came from a very far away place, resounding in his ears.