The shadow of the country

Perhaps the prince told the queen what happened in the imperial garden that day, and a few days later, the queen brought the prince to Lanling Hall to "make amends" for the incident.Concubine Jia was able to advance to the posthumous position, thanks to ten years of hard work, the empress is not as stupid as the crown prince.The prince came here to make amends because he was unwilling to come here, and was persuaded by the empress many times before he was willing to come.

The queen's appearance was not clearly visible at the queen's canonization ceremony last time, but this time the queen was able to see clearly when she approached.The empress's skin is like fat, her lips are like bright clouds, she is very gorgeous and beautiful.She was dressed in brocade forging luxurious palace clothes, filled with the golden and precious aphrodisiac dragon brain breath.

"Greetings to the empress." All the people bowed to the queen to greet her.The queen's eyes were sparkling, and she paused for a moment before she smiled and said, "Let's get back on your feet. What happened last time was Yao'er's fault. This time, I brought him here to apologize to the Fifth Prince." next to the prince.The prince pointed at himself after seeing his mother, but only slightly raised his eyebrows, his eyes were full of contempt.

"Even if the empress came, there is absolutely no reason to apologize to us juniors. The empress and prince are polite." Yi Lan saw that the two came here in a bad manner, and just wanted to ask them to leave as soon as possible.

The empress smiled even more, "Yi Lan's words are wrong. I am not your biological mother, but I am also your mother. You and Yao'er are brothers, so why should you see each other? I also hope that you can put aside the past and forgive me. Yao'er made a mistake unintentionally." After finishing speaking, he waved his hand and summoned another maid.The maid came forward with two bowls of blood bird's nest on the tray in her hand.The queen took the tray, and said to Yilan Yijin: "These are two bowls of top-quality golden silk blood bird's nest, specially prepared by the palace for the fifth prince and princess."

Before Yi Lan could speak, a high-pitched voice came from outside the hall - "The emperor is here!"Everyone was in an uproar when the emperor came in person. After all, the emperor had seen the two brothers and sisters in the future after Concubine Ziru fell out of favor, and he hardly paid any attention to them.Why did the emperor come here today?

However, among the astonished crowd, Yilan and the queen were the only ones missing.Only they looked calm, as expected in advance.Yi Lan is a very smart person, he guessed that it must be the empress who persuaded the emperor to come here.As for the queen's purpose, maybe it's to show off her gentleness to the emperor, or maybe it's because she came here to find out the truth.No matter how much the empress is favored by the emperor, and no matter how powerful the party members are in the court, she will definitely not dare to poison a prince who is no longer favored by the emperor.Therefore, those two bowls of golden silk blood bird's nest will definitely not have any problems.

Although the emperor's thoughts were hard to figure out, everyone still knelt down to greet the emperor.The emperor only raised his hand slightly to signal his flat body.Seeing this posture, the emperor understood a little bit. "Is the queen giving blood bird's nest to Yilan and Yijin?" The queen nodded with a slight smile when she heard this.

The emperor nodded, and said to Yilan Yijin: "The empress specially prepared this bird's nest for you, please use it after you thank me."

Mu Yan stood behind Yi Lan, silently watching the scene.Although he didn't know why the empress and prince came here to make amends, he also didn't know why the emperor came to order Yi Lan to eat that bowl of blood bird's nest.But even if he is not good at observing words and expressions, he can still see that the empress prince is not kind.Even so, could those two bowls of blood bird's nest be poisoned?But the emperor's order is hard to disobey, so what can his master do?

As he was thinking about it right now, he broke out in a cold sweat unconsciously, and his ears were buzzing, and he didn't catch a word of what they said later.Although Mu Yan was panicked, he made a decisive decision. He stepped forward quickly and snatched the bloody bird's nest from Yi Lan's hand.Then he raised his head and drank it all in one gulp!

This action surprised everyone present, even Yi Lan, who was so calm, was slightly taken aback.

After a while, it was Yi Lan who spoke coldly first: "This guard is so bold, how dare he act so presumptuously! How dare he even grab what the empress rewarded him? Someone, drag him to the back hall, and give him fifty sticks!" Then, he quietly winked at Eunuch An.Seeing this, Eunuch An bowed and said "obedience", before motioning to the left and right eunuchs to drag Mu Yan down.

"Father, empress. This bodyguard just came to my son's office yesterday, and he doesn't know the rules yet. I hope father, empress, forgive me." Yi Lan said in amazement.He can only act first, otherwise, if Mu Yan falls into the queen's hands, he doesn't know what to do with him.

The emperor snorted coldly, and said: "Hmph, this slave who doesn't understand the rules should have been shot! But it's the first offense, so let's do it like this."

At this moment, there was a muffled sound of the imperial staff being smashed down from the apse. The emperor frowned slightly, as if he didn't want to listen any longer, "Queen, you follow me back, and Yao'er also follow me."

"Yes." When the queen walked to the gate of the palace, she still didn't forget to turn her head and take a deep look at Yi Lan, but her eyes were full of hatred, and she also worriedly looked at the apse that her eyes couldn't reach.

Since the emperor arranged it like this, it is inconvenient for her to say more.However, this little guard who is willing to be so loyal to Su Yilan must be eliminated.Even if it is not removed, it must be used for oneself in the future.

It wasn't until the emperor and queen walked away that Yijin panicked and asked someone to use a silver needle to check whether the other bowl of blood bird's nest was poisonous. After confirming that it was not poisonous, Yilan turned around and strode towards the apse.

When Yi Lan arrived at the back hall just now, she saw two eunuchs holding court sticks, a piece of sheepskin on the ground, and Mu Yan standing beside her unharmed.Yilan is usually the best at guessing people's thoughts, no matter how scheming a politician is, there are traces of their thoughts, but today is the first time that she can't see through a person's schemes.This Liu Muyan, even if he is too thoughtful and wants to cling to him to seek an official position, there is no need to fight with his life.Besides, judging from his expression just now, it doesn't seem like he predicted it in advance... Yi Lan thought for a moment, walked up to him, and asked, "You knew in advance that the queen would come to deliver the blood bird's nest?"

Mu Yan did not avoid Yi Lan's scrutiny, shook his head and said, "I don't know, this is the first time I have seen the Queen."

Yi Lan frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Then why did you snatch that bowl of blood bird's nest?"

"Subordinates...I just feel that the Queen's visit is not kind, and I'm afraid that the Queen will poison the bird's nest...Since the Emperor is also there, if I die from poisoning, the person who hurt you will naturally be responsible." Seeing Yi Lan's silence for a long time, Realizing that he seemed to have made a slip of the tongue, he hurriedly bowed his head and said, "This subordinate slipped his words..."

Just about to kneel down but was stopped by Yi Lan. Hearing his words, Yi Lan softened her tone a lot, "It's not that you made a slip of the tongue, it's just that people are unpredictable. What do you want?"

Mu Yan raised his head in doubt, "What?"

"What do you want? Official position? Gold and silver? Or something else?"

Mu Yan seemed to really think about it seriously, but still shook his head, "No need. It's the subordinate's duty to protect the master well."

Yi Lan was slightly taken aback, "You don't want to be an official in court?"

Mu Yan smiled lightly and said truthfully: "My father hopes that I can be like this. It's just that the subordinates are careless. They only want to be calm and stable. They never thought of being in a high position."

Yi Lan's expression froze for a while, and she smiled apologetically, "So I was thinking about it. Then, would you be willing to be my personal attendant in the future? It doesn't mean that you are in a high position, but at least you can be safe."

Mu Yan raised his head to look at Yilan. Yilan's temperament was as gentle as jade, and he was so handsome.Can't help feeling moved, Xie En said: "This subordinate obeys orders, thank you Fifth Prince for promoting."

Yi Lan nodded and helped him up, "When no one else is around, you don't have to be so rigid. From now on, can I call you Mu Yan?"

Mu Yan was slightly taken aback, but finally nodded.I don't know that the feelings in my heart have been secretly born.

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☆, four. Struggle

Three months have passed in a stable life, and it is rare that there is no difficulty from the queen. Maybe she is still looking for an excuse.For three months, Mu Yan and Yilan Yijin got to know each other a lot.

Now it is the hunting season, the emperor will go to Shanglin Garden for hunting in three days, and all princes and princes will go with him.Yi Lan only brought Mu Yan as an entourage, and went into battle lightly.

Today, at the hunting ground in Shanglin Garden.The early summer sun shone through the densely packed branches and leaves, and the ground reflected sparkling spots the size of copper coins. The emperor accompanied a large group of people and horses, and he also brought the queen with him.The emperor was at the front on horseback, the queen and the prince followed closely behind, and Mu Yan rode behind Yilan on horseback.

The emperor seemed to be in high spirits today, and said: "Today is my dynasty's annual hunting meeting. All my sons are here. You can do your best, and you don't need to give in to each other. I will reward the one who hunts the most!"

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, there was a sudden melodious flute sound from the depths of the forest. The sound of the flute was as beautiful and smooth as flowing water, crisp and melodious, faintly visible.Although the relatives of the emperor were used to listening to musicians playing in the palace, they were still fascinated by the melodious and clear sound of flute.

It's just that the flute was only halfway through, when the maroon sweat-blooded BMW riding under the emperor began to neigh at a high pitch like a madman. Its slender front legs were kicking wildly in the air, but it was very light during the test ride a few days ago. Graceful steps are no more.This blood-sweat horse was brought up as a tribute from the Western Regions two months ago. It is an extremely precious and high-quality breed, and the horse trainer in the palace has also bred it well for several months.It's just today, but I don't know why this bloody horse is suddenly frightened.

The emperor was jolting on the frightened horse, and couldn't help feeling a little panicked, holding on to the rein tightly and not daring to let go.The incident happened suddenly, and the guards around the emperor rushed to rescue him before they reacted, but the queen showed a hint of joy at the side, and secretly winked at the prince, signaling him to go over.The prince remembered what the empress mother had told him this morning, and he whipped the horse's buttocks in a hurry, and the horse he was riding rushed out in an instant, and it rushed in front of the emperor.But the prince didn't think too much about how disrespectful he was, he just stretched out his hand to give his father a hand.

Seeing that he rushed in front of him in such arrogance, the emperor was inevitably displeased, so he didn't reach out his hand for him to save him.Even if the prince wins the emperor's favor again, he can't rely on his favor to be arrogant and rush before the emperor!

Seeing that his father was still refusing to reach out to save him, the prince was even more anxious, and in desperation he began to speak indiscriminately: "Father, you should stretch out your hand to let my minister save you!  … "

When the queen heard this, her expression suddenly changed.It was I who arranged in advance for someone with extremely high martial arts to play flute music here, which shocked the emperor's specially trained horse, and then asked the prince to rescue him, so as to show his loyalty and filial piety to his father, so that Yao The prince's position is more stable.Unexpectedly, Yao'er would say such a sentence, I don't know if the emperor will be suspicious...

Thinking of this, the empress felt even more panicked, and cold sweat dripped from her back.Just as all the guards and courtiers hurriedly shouted "Guardian", a stone flew towards us from nowhere.

"Wh... bang!" The stone precisely hit a certain acupuncture point on the back of the startled horse's neck, but after a while, the horse calmed down, and the chaotic scene quickly returned to calm.The guards at the side hurriedly chased after the flute player in the forest, and the rest of them all turned their heads and looked back, trying to find out who was controlling the frightened horse and saving the emperor.

When everyone was looking at each other, Yi Lan was the only one who sat quietly on the horse, without the slightest arrogance of having done something to save someone.The long black hair was blown slightly by the wind, flowing with the wind.She was dressed in white with elegant plain patterns embroidered on it. Although it was simple, it was more elegant and leisurely, and she was unparalleled in handsomeness.

"Yilan?" The emperor got off his horse, squinted slightly at Yilan.

Yi Lan calmly said: "Father, I think that the horse must have received special training, and it will be uneasy when it hears the sound of the flute. The person who plays the flute must have been arranged deliberately." Yi Lan turned her head slightly to look at the Queen , and continued, "If I remember correctly, half a month ago, this maroon horse was borrowed by the empress, right?"

The emperor looked back at the queen who was trying to hide her flustered expression, and then at the prince who was in the front with an angry and resentful face.I remembered that half a month ago, the queen did borrow it from herself, saying that it was for the prince to practice riding...

At this time, the horse trainer who was in charge of raising the bloody sweat horse stood up silently, knelt on the ground and kowtowed.I don't know why, but the other sweat horses have been looking sick these days, and they really can't be ridden by the emperor.Although the maroon sweat horse that was borrowed from the prince has only been returned for three days, it has not been adjusted well.But only because he was afraid that the emperor would blame him, he took the risk and led the horse out.

After hearing this, the emperor couldn't help but get angry, and immediately ordered the horse trainer to be killed.He turned back and asked, "Queen! How should you explain this?"

"This... no matter how bold my concubine is, I would never dare to harm the emperor! The horse trainer just spoke nonsense, and my concubine was wronged!" The queen knelt down on the ground and argued.She never thought that the horse trainer she hadn't bought in the future would stand up and tell the truth, but fortunately, that man had already been given death, and there was no proof.

Before the emperor could say a word, he heard the guards in front of him rushing to report: "Your Majesty, I am humble and incompetent. I failed to catch the person who played the flute. Please forgive me!" Although the emperor was annoyed, he didn't say anything after hearing this. Talking too much, I just waved my hand impatiently to make him back away.

Hearing this, the queen felt a little more relaxed, but her face remained unchanged.At this moment, the crown prince also got down from his horse, and knelt down in front of his father and his mother together: "Father, my son deserves to die. If I failed to save you in time, please forgive me!"

Time seemed to freeze, but the emperor still didn't say a word.The prince was puzzled, so he raised his head, but saw that his father's face was full of anger.It is rare for the crown prince to see his father like this, so he asked tentatively: "Father, you...?"

"You rebellious son! Go to the back!" The emperor scolded him.The emperor was already suspicious, and when he thought of what the crown prince said just now, he felt suspicious again, but he had no choice but to give up because there was no evidence.I only secretly felt that the way of ordering the death of the horse trainer just now was really impulsive.

"Father, father emperor?..." The prince was a little at a loss, but he still didn't know where he was wrong.

The emperor ignored him and ordered the guards to kill the maroon horse on the spot.The sharp sword stabbed at the innocent horse. The horse only neighed sharply a few times, blood gushed from its neck, then kicked its legs, and finally fell to the ground without any response.

Mu Yan who was behind was suddenly startled when he saw this.Sure enough, accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger, this statement is true.Today, he is favored by thousands of people and admired by thousands of people, but if he angers the emperor once, it may not necessarily end in such a tragic end tomorrow.

Seeing this scene, the queen felt even more anxious.He had clearly arranged everything seamlessly, so he didn't expect to kill Cheng Yaojin halfway.Not only did Su Yilan gain advantage, but it also weakened the crown prince's position in the emperor's heart. He really lost his wife and lost his army...

Seeing that her father was so angry, Yi Lan didn't take pleasure in other people's misfortune, but pleaded for the empress and prince: "Father, the empress is gentle and virtuous, there is absolutely no way to frame the emperor. The prince is only thinking of saving you. Although there is a mistake, it is also unintentional." This is a big mistake. My son has the courage to ask the emperor to forgive the prince once." The emperor did not say much, but it was regarded as acquiescing.Seeing this, the queen and the prince breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yilan, come here. Get closer to me." It was rare for the emperor to show such kindness to Yilan.

"Yes." Yi Lan then got on the horse and walked forward.When passing by the queen, she whispered in the queen's ear: "Last time, the empress pleaded for Yijin at the canonization ceremony. This time, it is only regarded as Yilan's repayment. From then on, we are both clean." Without emotion The flat tone made the Queen's face turn pale immediately.

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Thank you all for your encouragement and support, it is really deeply appreciated.

There is nothing to repay, only work hard to write well, worthy of all the people who support and care.

Deeply grateful.

☆, five. Discretion