steal bi

Since Liu Zhao came back, Liu Yao has been living in fear.

Although he and Liu Zhao had a brotherly relationship when they were young, but after several years, the two would not be strangers, but they would not return to the past when they had no suspicion, power and position moved people's hearts, and Liu Yao was the first to strike first, he was not benevolent Naturally, Liu Zhao cannot be blamed for being unrighteous.

Therefore, when Liu Zhao invited him, Liu Yao's fear can be imagined.

It wasn't until this time that he really started to resent Qiao Yu's proposal to invite him to the palace.If he doesn't come, as he himself said, no matter how bad he is, he will be a wealthy and idle person. It's like now, he doesn't know how to keep his wealth and life.

"Your Highness," the person who spoke was a young scribe, one of the counselors who accompanied Liu Yao, named Yunpei. He saw that Liu Yao's face was extremely ugly after receiving the invitation, so he walked forward and said goodbye He poured a cup of tea and put it in Liu Yao's hand, "Your Highness looks bad, do you want this subordinate to invite an imperial doctor for His Highness?"

Liu Yao threw the greeting card to Yun Pei, and hissed, "You and I may die here today."

Yun Pei picked up the greeting card from the table, read it at a glance, frowned and said nothing.

Liu Zhao was away all year round and had little contact with the officials, but he was not a reckless man who only knew the battlefield, otherwise the emperor would not have wanted to call him to his side immediately.Yun Pei thought for a moment and said: "Your Highness, don't worry too much, His Highness Fifth may not be unfavorable to His Highness at the banquet." Liu Zhao is not as cowardly as Liu Chang, nor is he as cruel as Liu Yao, "Your Highness Fifth is benevolent, I think I won't do it It's about the brothers fighting against the wall."

Liu Yao supported his temples with both hands, and said: "I'm afraid that this hall, he knows what happened when he came."

In normal times, he would definitely refute Yun Pei's claim that Liu Zhao would not do such a thing as a brother-in-law, but the matter has come to this point, and he has no mood to say another word.

Yun Pei shook his head and said: "Your Highness, apart from you, no matter if it is Xie Xiang, Qiao Xiang does not want His Highness to come back. Although the assassination was unsuccessful, His Highness has no evidence after all. How can His Highness launch troubles for no reason?"

Hearing the word Qiao Yu, Liu Yao couldn't help but sneered and said, "Why would you bet your life on whether Liu Zhao is a benevolent person? You are right, Liu Zhao is indeed not a ruthless person, and there is no need for this hall and Liu Zhao to As for immortality!"

Yun Pei worried: "Your Highness."

"If it wasn't for..." He snapped back.

If it wasn't for Qiao Yu.he thought.

It would be best to ask Qiao Yu to meet him at this time, but he was afraid that the wall would have ears at such a time, so he had to give up.

"Your Highness, if His Highness the Fifth Highness wants to do something to His Highness, there is no need to hold a banquet." Yun Pei said: "There are ten thousand good ways to kill people, and killing people at a banquet is not the best choice."

Liu Yao said irritably, "Perhaps, he wants to deceive others."

Yun Pei said: "Your Highness, right now the Fifth Highness is in control of everything, so why bother to deceive others?"

Liu Yao was speechless.

Yun Pei stood by the table silently.

After a while, Liu Yao said: "You are right," he raised his voice, "Come here, change clothes for the hall."

Since it was a private banquet between brothers, Liu Yao's clothes were not very formal, but at least it was much better than his careless appearance of serving soup and medicine in front of the emperor for dozens of days, deliberately making himself haggard.

All the stubble on his chin was shaved off, and there was an obvious cyan circle under his eyes. The maid wanted to cover him with lead powder, but Liu Yao refused.

Yun Pei stood by Liu Yao's side in his servant's attire, and went to the banquet with him.

It was said to be a banquet, but it was actually very simple. It was just a banquet in Liu Zhao's tent. The emperor was still ill and on the road, so there was no room for extravagance or extravagance.

When Liu Zhao saw Liu Yao coming in, he hurried over to greet him. With a smile on his face, he couldn't help being stunned when he saw Liu Yao's clothes.

Liu Yao noticed that there was something wrong in his eyes, and his heart was very tense, so he forced a smile and said, "Is there anything wrong?"

Liu Zhao said truthfully, "Brother, this clothes."

Liu Yao said: "I came here because I heard that my father was seriously ill. When I came, I was in a hurry and didn't prepare for the proper clothes, which made my fifth brother laugh."

Liu Zhao grabbed his hand and walked forward with him, shaking his head and laughing: "That's not the case, I just think that today is just a family banquet, brother's clothes are too solemn." Liu Yao's palm was cold, Covered with a thin layer of cold sweat, if Liu Zhao hadn't held his hand, he would have thought that his expression was as usual, calm and composed, which made him feel awkward, "Third brother, please."

Liu Yao declined and said, "I dare not take the first place."

President Liu Yao, Liu Zhao's move is reasonable and reasonable, but right now Liu Yao really dare not do anything disobedient.

Liu Zhao sighed and said, "Third brother insists on refusing, it means you and I are brothers."

Liu Yao glanced at Yun Pei from the corner of his eye, saw the latter nodding, and said: "Since this is the case, but it's disrespectful, I have the audacity to do so."

Liu Zhao smiled but did not answer.

The tent was not very big, although the two were divided into seats, they were not far apart, enough to toast each other.

Perhaps Liu Zhao was afraid that he would worry, the tableware, wine glasses, etc. were all made of sterling silver.

Most of Liu Yao's hanging heart was relieved.

Liu Zhao poured himself a glass of wine, and was about to speak, when he saw Yun Pei standing behind Liu Yao, and said, "Since today is a family banquet, my third brother and I have a lot to talk about, so it may be inconvenient for outsiders to be here. .”

Liu Yao's heart tightened, he took a deep breath without any trace, and said: "As the fifth younger brother said, you don't have to be by the side of the hall, you don't have to wait for the hall outside the tent."

Yun Pei bowed and said, "Yes."

Liu Zhao raised his glass and said, "I toast to third brother."

Liu Yao picked up the jug, carefully poured wine into the cup, then raised it up to respect Liu Zhao.

The two of them get together less and leave more, so they don't have much to say. In addition, they have different thoughts. Although Liu Yao smiled and talked with Liu Zhaoxu, what he said was limited.

There was a moment of silence in the account.

In order to make his movements look more natural, Liu Yao added food and wine from time to time.

Liu Zhao kept drinking, one cup after another, and he had already drank half of the pot.

Liu Yao was terrified when he saw it. He didn't know what Liu Yao's intention was for drinking so much. He didn't want Liu Zhao to throw a cup as a token of his cruelty after being drunk, and a group of people rushed in and chopped him into a pulp.

Every time Liu Zhao puts down his hand, Liu Yao's heart skips a beat.

Seeing that his eyes were red from drinking, Liu Yao couldn't help persuading him: "Although everything is exhausting, but drunkenness hurts the body, the fifth younger brother is the arm of the country, and he should protect his body for the world. Besides, if the father finds out, the father will be the king of the country." would also be concerned.”

Liu Zhao stared at him with a pair of drunken eyes, expressionless and silent.

Liu Yao's heart was already in his throat.

Liu Zhao burst into a smile, and immediately eased the atmosphere. He swirled the wine in his glass and said, "Third Brother, are you worried?"

Liu Yao never expected that this sentence was waiting for him, and he didn't know what to say for a while.

Liu Zhao raised his head and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

Only then did Liu Yao come to his senses, and hurriedly said, "Of course I'm worried."

Liu Zhaodao; "A few days ago it rained continuously and the night was cloudy, but tonight there is a moon."

Liu Yao didn't dare to catch his breath, and said dryly, "Fifth brother... is very elegant."

The disappointment in Liu Zhao's eyes was clearly visible, he paused, and said: "Since I came to the palace, I have seen my third brother every day, and my attitude every day is the same as today, third brother, you know, the thing I think about the most What?"

Better not kill me.Liu Yao was terrified to the extreme, and suddenly thought of this.

He shook his head, "Fifth brother, you know I've always been dull, why don't you explain it clearly."

"I often think of the days when we were young in the palace," Liu Zhao looked reminiscent, "Your Majesty's heirs are weak, and there are few people of the same age as me. The queen is afraid that we will be unaccompanied in the palace, and our temperament will be withdrawn. Ordering wives who have school-age children to bring their children to the palace often, His Royal Highness..." He paused, Liu Yao tried his best to suppress his fear, and looked at him as usual, "His Royal Highness is always surrounded by stars, Flowers are like clusters of flowers, but there are few people who get close to me and my brother."

Liu Yao said: "It can be seen that the facts are as unpredictable as white clouds and dogs."

What he was referring to was not Liu Chang, who committed suicide, but Liu Zhao, whom he now treats with care.

"It's fickle. The third brother didn't have a deep relationship with His Royal Highness when he was young, but you and I got close." Liu Zhao smiled, but the loneliness in his smile was clearly visible. "Many people in the palace lamented that although the third brother and I Not from the same mother, but they are as close as brothers from the same father and mother, I wonder if the elder brother still remembers it?"

Liu Yao was extremely vigilant and said, "Of course I remember."

"My third brother and I are both the sons of His Majesty, so we naturally have hope in the throne. It's just that there was a crown prince before, and the position of the Eastern Palace was unshakable. All these years were nothing but wishful thinking. Now the crown prince died of illness, and the Eastern Palace is vacant," Liu Zhao said with a smile: " Third brother, do you want to?"

Liu Yao didn't know how ugly his face was, but it would never be any better than their lingering sick father.

Liu Yao said: "Just because..."

Liu Zhao interrupted with a wave of his hand, and said, "I came here at the order of Your Majesty, but the journey was difficult and dangerous, do you know? I was careful when I came, and I didn't even allow strangers to approach, for fear that the drinking water that someone handed over would be poisonous, or Draw your sword against me."

Liu Yao said with a pale face, "Fifth Brother, do you mean to doubt me?"

Liu Zhaodao: "Is the third brother completely innocent?"

In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts flashed through Liu Yao's mind.

He sighed, "So that's how it is. It turns out that the fifth younger brother invited me to the banquet to find a crime to be charged on me. Since the fifth younger brother has identified me, what can I say if he wants to impose the crime?" Although he was laughing , but the ending trembled, and as he spoke, tears fell down, and he continued with a smile while weeping, "Fifth brother, the crime has already been woven, and the next step is to throw a cup as a sign, and the knife and axe come in and take it out." I dismembered the body and claimed that I was seriously ill and died?"

Liu's royal family was born with good looks, and Liu Yao's crying was not disgusting, but sympathetic.

Only people with eyes higher than the top like Qiao Yu can feel that Liu Yao is crying like a plate of dead fish and rotten shrimps out of water.

Liu Zhao was speechless.

The most correct thing Liu Yao said was that he had no evidence.

If there is evidence, he can be ruthless and disregard brotherhood, but there is no evidence that Liu Yao sent him to assassinate him.

Liu Zhao looked at Liu Yao crying silently.

He was playing with the wine glass, as Liu Yao said, if he dropped the glass, someone would rush in with the excuse of arresting the assassin, and then killed Liu Yao without any reason, and then just find any excuse to explain Liu Yao's sudden death. A villain like Qiao Yu who meets the wind will not cause too much trouble.

Liu Zhaodao: "I...I have no intention of doubting the third brother."

Liu Yao sneered and didn't answer.

Liu Zhao almost had doubts written all over his face. Wouldn't it be hypocritical to say that he had no doubts at this time?

Liu Zhao's cronies had been waiting for news outside the tent, but there was no response from inside.

Yun Pei was standing not far from him, wondering what she was thinking.

Liu Yao felt that he was almost crying, covered his face with his sleeves, and said, "Why don't you do it?"

Liu Zhao sighed, "In third brother's heart, I have become an out-and-out hypocrite."

Liu Yao scolded Liu Zhao in his heart for his hypocrisy, but only wiped away tears on his face, shaking his head and saying, "Don't dare."

Seeing that he didn't cry, Liu Zhao said slowly, "I don't know if the person who wants to kill me...will definitely not come from the third brother, in the palace or in the imperial city, there are many people who don't go with me, who want to assassinate me It's everywhere, I'm not sure, I just said something offensive," he got up, and bowed to Liu Yao to apologize, "I offended, I hope third brother don't take the previous friendship to heart."

Liu Yao hurried down to help him.

"It's just that this matter may not have nothing to do with the third brother." Liu Zhao said.

Liu Yao pretended to be puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"Third brother has always been on good terms with Qiao," Liu Zhaodao said, "Perhaps Qiao Xiang wanted third brother to be emperor so he ordered someone to murder me. It's not certain."

Liu Yao said: "Fifth brother still doubts me." He let go of Liu Zhao and distanced himself from him.

Liu Zhao said, "Third brother thinks, how is Your Majesty's health today?"

The emperor's health was indeed much better than before. Liu Yao only thought that the doctor brought by Liu Zhao had excellent medical skills, and said, "Although your majesty's health is still not in danger, it is much better than half a month ago, and it is thanks to the fifth younger brother who brought us a lot of medical skills. the doctor."

Liu Zhaodao: "It's not that my doctor is skilled in medicine, but it's because the former imperial physician dared not speak up."

Liu Yao was taken aback, "Forgive me for my confusion."

Liu Zhao looked at Liu Yao without blinking, and said in a deep voice, "Father is not as the imperial doctor said. He was suffering from cold and worry. In addition to years of hard work, his hidden illnesses were exposed once, but he was laid down by others." The poison is mixed with the medicine that my father used every day, and the more I use it, the more serious the disease will be, until the heart is damaged, and there is no way to recover!"

Liu Yao turned pale with shock, couldn't help leaning back, and pushed most of the wine glass down on the case.

Liu Yao's panic and anxiety did not seem to be fake.

It's really not a fake, because Liu Yao doesn't know anything at all.

The wine jug fell, and the wine dripped down the table.

Liu Zhao walked around Liu Yao and straightened the jug.

Liu Yao muttered to himself, "How could this be?"

He and the crown prince were at the point of life and death, and he had put in a lot of effort in killing his brother, but he never thought of killing his father.

He noticed Liu Zhao's inquisitive eyes, he came back to his senses suddenly, and explained in a panic, "I am both a king and a father, how dare I do such a treasonous thing?"

Liu Zhao grabbed his wrist and said, "It's not that the imperial doctor couldn't see that the emperor was poisoned, but he didn't dare to speak up. Why didn't he dare to speak up? Because the person who did this is extremely powerful, and people think that he There are more valuable people behind him to support. Xie Jujin is high enough, but he has always been close to the crown prince and has no connection with the third brother. Only Qiao Yu, Qiao Yu wants the third brother to be the king wholeheartedly. He poisoned the father, Naturally, the imperial physicians thought it was the order of the third brother, His Majesty was in a daze for a few days at that time, and the third brother was in power again, how could anyone dare to tell the emperor that he was poisoned?"

His eyes reflected Liu Yao who lost his composure for the first time tonight, "Third brother, the person who poisoned must be Qiao Yu."

Liu Zhao's face was as white as paper, and countless calculations and plans flashed through his mind.

Qiao Yu asked him to come, and when he came, the emperor ordered him to be in charge.

Qiao Yu poisoned the emperor, and he is in charge of the government. If Liu Zhao does not come, he will indeed benefit.

But Qiao Yu didn't poison him quickly, and the emperor didn't really set up a reserve, so things would definitely change over time. With his intelligence, how could he not have thought of that?

What if he knew it and did it on purpose?

What does he want to do?

Liu Zhao fell into an ice cave, resisted trembling and said: "This matter really has nothing to do with me."

This fear did not come from Liu Yao who might kill him at any time, but from Qiao Yu whose purpose was unknown.

Qiao Yu didn't want him to be crowned at all!

For such a ruthless official like him, perhaps His Majesty is infected with Shen Ke, and the two princes are constantly fighting is the best choice for him. Even if no one wins him over, no one is stupid enough to really offend him!

What Qiao Yu did was just to maintain a balance!

Only by maintaining balance can he stand tall forever.

Liu Yao closed his eyes, trying his best to hide the killing intent in his eyes.

Qiao Yu wanted the two of them to check and balance each other, so let his wish come true.he thought.

"Third brother?" Liu Zhao called him worriedly.

Liu Yao said in a hoarse voice, "It's because I don't know people well. I don't want Qiao Yu to be so ambitious, to be a power minister and not satisfied, and to control all the government affairs in his hands. The prince has become a pawn in his hands."

Liu Zhao poured Liu Yao a glass of wine.

Liu Yao took it and drank it clean.

Liu Zhaodao: "What do you think, third brother?"

Liu Yao wanted to kill Qiao Yu immediately.

But he couldn't help the desire to say this sentence.

Qiao Yucheng was using the two of them, but in the eyes of outsiders, wasn't he and Qiao Xiang also on the same boat?Isn't Liu Yao more afraid of him because of this?Killing Qiao Yu now is equivalent to handing over the weapon to others.

Suddenly there was a commotion outside.

A military general with a weapon in hand rushed in, and in an instant, dozens of people poured in densely.

Liu Yao suddenly turned his head and looked at Liu Zhao in disbelief.

Liu Zhao shouted angrily, "What's going on!"

When the general staggered and stood still, Liu Yao took a closer look and saw that there was still a person hanging on him.

Said it was hanging, because the man firmly grasped the general's cloak, the general was so powerful that he dragged a grown man in.

It was Yun Pei who was hung up.

Yun Pei got down from the general, rubbed the forehead that was about to crack on the armor, and said: "This subordinate is disrespectful, this subordinate has not recovered from the cold before, and his headache relapsed when he was blown by the wind at night, and he couldn't stand for a while. , just grabbed the cloak of the general who was going to come in to report the affairs, and disturbed the two adults, please forgive me, Your Highness."

Liu Yao felt numb from his back to his neck, he was the first to react, and said coldly: "Useless things, go back!"

Yun Pei obediently withdrew.

Liu Zhao waved his hand and said, "You all go down and come back after I finish talking with Third Brother."

A group of people withdrew back again.

Looking at Liu Yao's defensive eyes, Liu Zhao felt that it was hard to argue, so he changed the subject and said, "What do you think the third brother wants to take Qiao Yu?"

Liu Yao said: "Qiao Yu and Yuan Zanbi are on good terms today." Yuan Zanbi and Qiao Yu are more than just friends. Yuan Zanbi can't get rid of the relationship, so killing him on the road may be very difficult."

Liu Zhaodao: "Could it be that Yuanzanbi really conspired against Qiao Yu?" He felt it was ridiculous when he said it, "Yuanzanbi is not stupid, but Gu Yuanting is even more shrewd."

Liu Yao retorted: "Did the fifth brother forget the quiet room back then? Yuan Zanbi dared to ask for Qiao Yu from His Majesty as soon as he had meritorious service, and he was willing to risk Longyan's wrath. Yuan Ting's army cannot enter the royal city. If he insists on entering, he can be punished for treason. At that time, we will not only have the Zhongzhou army at our disposal. It would be best for Gu Yuanting to keep his own place. At that time, if you want to kill Yuan Ting It's easy for the two of Joe."

Liu Zhao nodded.

Liu Yao took the opportunity and said: "I'm tired too, why don't we stop tonight, you and my brother will talk about it tomorrow."

Liu Zhaodao: "That's fine." He personally sent Liu Yao out of the tent, and when Liu Yao was nowhere to be seen, he lowered his face and said, "Tell Lu Xiangyou to come in!"

Not long after, Lu Xiangyou got into the account.

Liu Zhao couldn't restrain his anger, but remembering that Lu Xiangyou was his confidant who had been with him for many years, he said coldly, "Did I say that without my permission, Liu Yao is not allowed to be hurt at all!"

Lu Xiangyou knelt down and said: "I am guilty."

Liu Zhao smiled coldly.

Lu Xiangyou said: "I'm guilty of failing to obey His Highness's orders. However, I think that I have nothing to do. The ambition of the third prince is clearly revealed. If you don't kill the wolf now, you will be eaten by the wolf."

"presumptuous!"

Lu Xiangyou kowtowed, but still said: "If there is no such little official to get in the way today, His Highness will have nothing to worry about. It is a pity for His Highness."

Liu Zhao was so angry that his chest heaved up and down quickly, "If the little official didn't loyally protect the lord today, the name of killing brother would be engraved in the history books with me. Besides, Yuan Zanbi's attitude is still unclear, how do you know that he is not like Qiao Yu?" , wholeheartedly to Liu Yao, once Liu Yao dies, the Huzhou Army will have no control, who will I order to fight Yuan Zanbi, will I order you?!"

Lu Xiangyou kowtowed deeply, "Your Highness, calm down."

Liu Zhao's face turned ashen.

"This hall has said that the royal family has lost a crown prince, and there can be no more three princes. The crown prince died of illness, and the death of the third prince is unknown. His majesty is as poisonous as the bone marrow, and he will pass away soon. Youyou's mouth? There are people in the court who talk about killing him, and people in the world talk about it. Could it be that this palace can kill all the people in the world? If the name is not right and the words are not right, things will not be done. How many times does this palace have to say this before you can understand?"

Lu Xiangyou had no way to refute, and said, "It's my fault,"

Liu Zhao took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down.

He turned his head away, instead of looking at Lu Xiangyou kneeling on the ground, he only looked at the scenery outside the half-drawn curtain.

The wind blows in.

Autumn is here, and the night wind is much colder than before.

Liu Yao was shivering from the wind.

He couldn't help the trembling, this near-death fear mingled with the anger of being betrayed, almost over his head.

Yun Pei silently followed behind him without speaking.

After entering the tent and retreating everyone, Liu Yao sat down heavily on the collapsed floor.

He tried to relax himself, and when he flicked his sleeve, something fell from it.

Yun Pei bent down to pick it up.

It was a slender blade, extremely beautiful, and it seemed to be used for self-defense of noble girls.

But even if it is beautiful, this knife is enough to kill people.

Liu Yao panted heavily, he trembled so violently that Yun Pei was afraid that he would not be able to catch his breath.

Liu Yao's eyes were red.

Yun Pei put the knife on the case away from Liu Yao.

Liu Yao tremblingly said: "Go, call Qiao Yu."

Yun Pei was stunned, and said, "Now?"