steal bi

However, after more than a month, the two princes passed away, and all the officials in the court were horrified.

Before arriving at the king's city, although everything was kept simple, it was still complicated. Liu Yao had to do it himself. In addition, the emperor's illness became more and more serious. In addition to his official duties, he had to go back and forth to the emperor's horses and horses every day to serve the decoction in person. In just a few days, he had already lost some weight. Out of phase.

Yu Xia fell on the emperor's pale face, and he frowned slightly. He wanted to raise his hand to block the light, but he felt his arm was heavy, and it was difficult to do even the simplest movement of raising it.

Liu Yao, who was kneeling in front of the collapse and reading the memorial, heard the sound of the cloth rubbing against the bedding, raised his head, sat up straight and pulled the car curtain.

Curly green smoke is slowly spit out from the incense burner, the fragrance is light and soft, and the smell is relaxing and soothing.

The carriages and horses did not stop, but the carriage did not shake at all. If the curtains on both sides were lowered, the rumble of the carriage would not come in at all.

The emperor stared blankly at the roof of the car, on which was hung a red and black curtain symbolizing the supreme royal power. The black was extremely thick, and the red was very majestic. He looked at it, but felt that the two and the jade surroundings were almost merged into one color.

Liu Yao looked at the emperor's reaction from the corner of his eye for a long time, saw him staring at the roof of the car without blinking, and couldn't help but look up, only seeing things that were commonplace, he put down the memorial, and said softly: "Father, don't keep staring at me. Yes, your eyes hurt carefully."

The emperor turned his head slightly, and his eyes fell on Liu Yao.

A seriously ill person, of course, would not have any sharp eyes. His eyes are cold, powerless, and weak. This kind of eyes reminds Liu Yao of a deer that Wei Que hunted when he was young when the emperor was hunting in autumn. , Wei Que's arrow technique can be described as piercing through a tree with a hundred steps. The arrow is like an inch of a deer's neck. The deer lost too much blood and collapsed on the withered grass covered with a layer of silver-gray frost. In the autumn night wind, the steaming blood wet the soft fur of the deer. , and melted the frost beneath it.

The deer panted heavily on the grass, blood gurgling.

Most of the accompanying princes were young, and the prince turned his head away, unable to bear to look at them.

But he drove forward out of curiosity.

He saw the deer's eyes, which were a pair of clear eyes with tears in them. For the first time, Liu Yao knew that such a lowly ignorant beast would shed tears. Help, it's like a seriously injured person who fell to the ground.

When Liu Yao saw him, it was as if he had returned to the time when he was looking at the seriously injured deer on the grass more than ten years ago.

After being an emperor for decades, when did the emperor become so powerless?

The emperor is like the deer that fell on the ground, and at this moment, the person who sticks to the bow and arrow becomes him.

So Liu Yao's voice became softer, "Father, do you want some ginseng soup?"

If it weren't for the rolling of the eyes, his face would look lifeless.

The emperor looked indifferently at Liu Yao kneeling in front of him like the most filial descendant, he thought for a while, and said, "Qiao Yu taught you?"

The emperor vomited several mouthfuls of blood on the night of Liu Zhao's death, and then passed out directly. Liu Yao knelt in front of his bed and pretended to be a filial son, watching the imperial doctor busy with anxiety on his face, but thinking in his heart, his good father Did the emperor vomit blood because he lost a son, or because he lost a useful chess piece?

After the emperor's high fever subsided, he kept silent every day, as if he didn't even have the strength to speak.

Liu Yao thought about many things the emperor would say to him, but this sentence Qiao Yu taught you was not included.

Liu Yao was a little subtle, as if he was displeased by the emperor's scorn, but his face showed just the right amount of worry and confusion, "Father?" He asked cautiously.

The emperor looked at him coldly, and said lightly, "You and Qiao Yu are accomplices."

Although Qiao Yu was indeed Liu Yao's staff before, and reminded Liu Yao more about this matter, but he always watched from the other side. Liu Yao deeply believed that Liu Zhao and Qiao Yu wanted to check and balance the dominance of the two of them, of course. He would not let Qiao Yu participate in the assassination of Liu Zhao, so he said, "I don't understand what the father means."

The emperor smiled softly.

The emperor always liked not to speak directly, and all the officials had to figure out their thoughts and purposes, but now Liu Yao was slow to play charades with him, but he felt impatient.

Knowing his son's character well, he closed his eyes and seemed to mutter, "Why you?"

Liu Yao got up to serve the ginseng soup. He lowered his head and tasted whether the temperature of the ginseng soup was moderate. He didn't want to hear the emperor's murmur, so he paused with his hand holding the spoon in the air. After a while, he said nonchalantly, "Father, the soup is warm."

The emperor did not agree, nor refused, and opened his mouth when the soup spoon touched his lower lip. He only drank two or three spoons to moisten his throat, and suppressed the tingling pain in his throat.

He closed his eyes and said, "I don't know how to serve."

Liu Yao suppressed his temper and said, "It's the lack of sons and ministers."

The emperor opened his eyes when he heard this, and casually glanced at Liu Yao who was kneeling on the ground. He smiled softly, more contemptuous than what he said just now.

Liu Yao put down the ginseng soup bowl.

The jade bowl collided with the wooden table, making a very crisp sound.

The emperor smiled even deeper.

"The prince is soft-hearted, but he is very smart," the emperor's voice was very soft, he lacked strength, and he spoke slowly, falling on people's hearts like a blunt knife cutting flesh, "Is it really my son, Chen Qiutai's nephew, his cleverness Clever is very similar to Chen Qiutai back then, regardless of the princes, even the royal family members of the same age are outstanding, but unfortunately his temper is too soft, he looks forward and backward, so cowardly, he can't be a hero, but he can be a successful king, the prince knows favor, no matter who If you support him to ascend the throne, he will treat him as a national scholar."

Liu Yao lowered his head, pretending to be listening.

But the emperor could see his tight lips.

Liu Yao thought he had grown up, and thought he was hiding it properly.

For months the Emperor had rarely felt any joy.

"The fifth son is neither smarter nor kinder than the prince, but he is talented in marching. Among the princes, he is the only one who has military merits. Although he is not as good as the prince, he is not mean and ungrateful. The emperor smiled, causing himself to cough, but Liu Yao forgot to get up and serve him ginseng soup, "No matter how bad it is, there is Liu Fei." His cough was a little hoarse, but he still had a kind of leisurely and pleasant voice, " There is no one in Liu Fei's mother's family, and her mother and concubine are dull and timid. Liu Fei was young, spoiled and pampered since childhood, and was spoiled to the point of obedience, but he has no way to hide. Supporting him as emperor, the court will do everything possible to prevent him, but apart from this point , the older princes are all withered, I died due to illness, Qiao Yu was in charge of the world, he said one thing, made Liu Fei the emperor, his own status is superior, although there is no throne, but the real status of an emperor is better than being a minister many."

"So, I'm curious, why did Qiao Yu choose you?" The emperor's voice was soft, softer than when Liu Yao asked him.

He looked at Liu Yao slowly, waiting for an answer.

In fact, he didn't need Liu Yao to answer, just his reaction was enough.

The prince grew up under his knees, although he didn't have much affection between father and son, but he devoted countless efforts. The other sons, if their mothers were not loved by the emperor, would be ignored.

Among them, of course, is Liu Yao.

But he is also the most competitive and ambitious person.

The emperor's few words reminded Liu Yao of the days when he was not valued by the emperor and treated poorly when he was young.

He suppressed his anger and tried his best to make himself smile naturally, "My son and Qiao Xiang have no personal relationship."

Even if there was, it would all be reduced to nothing after he returned to the imperial city and supervised the country in an open and honest manner.

In the past few days, Liu Yao has been dealing with various matters, and all the accompanying officials thought that the dust had settled. The attitude towards the third prince was different from the past. , Who else is the emperor.

"No personal relationship?" The emperor rolled his eyes.

He was tortured by illness, and when he was in the worst pain, his joints were cut like a knife. He couldn't eat, and he was covered all over the night. For sharpness, make this gorgeous color more fierce.

Liu Yao suddenly felt that this expression was very familiar, but couldn't remember why it was so familiar.

The emperor said: "When you personally recommended Qiao Yu that day, it was the most correct thing in your life." He smiled, "My son, after the matter is completed, how much do you want to thank Qiao Yu?"

Liu Yao felt that anger could not be suppressed.

He has never been tolerant, let alone gentle. Now that he is in power, he tried his best to hide his complacency and arrogance under the persuasion of his advisers. The courtiers have been respectful to him recently, and he almost forgot what it is like to be despised by others. However, he spoke in a joking tone The person who said such heartbreaking words was his father, the most honorable person today.

"Your Majesty," Liu Yao said, "Everything I have gained today is my own." He lowered his head, trying not to let the emperor see his angry eyes, "It has nothing to do with others."

Under the long sleeves that hang down, are the fingers that are clenched blue.

"The crown prince rebelled, why did you come before Lao Wu?" The emperor said softly, "Why didn't the Imperial Army come when they heard the strange noise on the day Lao Wu had an accident? The leader of the Imperial Army has some personal friendship with Qiao Yu," he looked at Liu with satisfaction. Yao had a mixed expression of astonishment and anger, "Well, it seems that His Highness the Third Highness is not clear about this matter."

Liu Yao finally couldn't help it, and said: "Recommending Qiao Yu is the thing I regret most in this life. Qiao Yu is ambitious, how can he be satisfied with a small aspect? What he wants is power in the court, and supporting the monarch is of great value to him. What's the benefit? It's more like him if Liu Zhao and I go up and down!"

He spoke harshly, and finally spoke out what was kept secret in his heart.

The counselors persuaded him to be kind to Qiao Yu, but Qiao Yuyang was ambitious, so how could he write off the past?Therefore, I don't see Qiao Yu often, and every time I see him, I have to maintain the appearance of being a hero of the country, which makes Liu Yao feel sick.

Obviously at that time he was just a small staff who was attached to him, but now he has to coax him hard!

Liu Yao wished he could go back to the palace right away and find a reason to dismiss Qiao Yu. After that, whether to kill or stay was all in his mind.

His son's dissatisfaction with Qiao Yu was beyond words.

Liu Yao is arrogant and irritable, not easy to get along with, but easy to control. He originally thought that Qiao Yu wanted Liu Yao to be in the position because of this. Now it seems that Qiao Yu and Liu Yao have separated each other. No matter whether Qiao Yu is sincere or not, Liu Yao After gaining power, he will no longer tolerate Qiao Yu.

Qiao Yu is not a fool, how could he fail to see Liu Yao's attitude?

The emperor closed his eyes as if sleepy.

Qiao Yu will not be caught without a fight.

Liu Yao resentfully shut up.

"Qiao Yu is still loyal to you," said the emperor.

Liu Yao looked at the emperor with his eyes closed on the bed, the evil in his eyes was undisguised.

Unfortunately, not.

The emperor said: "Are you going to Wangcheng tomorrow?"

Liu Yao lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "Yes."

……

The next day.

The army entered the city safely.

The Huzhou army was not qualified to enter the city, so they had to station in the big camp outside the city, and return to Huzhou after a period of rest.

After the emperor returned to the palace, his spirit was worse than usual, and he fell asleep after taking the tranquilizing medicine.

Liu Yao temporarily lives in the palace, which is only a hundred steps away from the emperor's palace.

In order to show his filial piety, there are no maidservants in the palace, only the second and third caretakers in the court use people to sweep the courtyard and serve tea and meals.

Liu Yao was reading a book with a gloomy face. When he talked with Xie Jujin, he still had a gentle and worried face, but it disappeared completely as soon as he entered the bedroom, like a wooden doll whose expression has been erased.

Yun Pei stood by the door without saying a word.

It was the servant's voice that broke the silence.

Yun Pei glanced at Liu Yao, and opened the door after getting Liu Yao's permission.

The guard bowed down and said, "Your Highness, Yuan Mansion and Qiao Manor are in trouble."

When Liu Yao heard this, there was finally a little fluctuation on his face.

I am afraid that many people now think that he wants to cross the river and demolish the bridge, but this matter really has nothing to do with him.

Besides, he summoned Yuan Zanbi and Qiao Yu one after another, so he really wouldn't set fire to them before they left.

Yun Pei looked at Liu Yao's expression and said, "Let's talk about it in detail."

The guard said: "Yes. The fire started from the woodshed of Qiao's mansion. It is said that it was caused by the newly bought servants in the mansion. Qiao Yu had just returned to the mansion, and there were a lot of people to welcome and send. Most of the servants were in the front yard and the back yard. There were few people, and no one knew that the firewood house caught fire. When it was discovered, the fire had already burned most of the backyard. There will be no one to live in for a while."

Liu Yao originally wanted to ask where they lived, but stopped after thinking about it.

Obviously, neither Yuan Zanbi nor Qiao Yu would casually say this kind of thing in front of outsiders, and it would be useless to ask.

The guard continued: "Not long after, the prefect Gu sent someone to ask the two adults to live outside the city first."

Liu Yao: "...absurd, there are some uninhabited courtyards in the city, and with their financial resources, do they need to temporarily live outside the city?"

The guard was speechless.

He waved irritably.

The guard goes down.

Liu Yao turned to Yun Pei, "What do you think?"

Yun Pei carefully said: "My humble opinion..." He was quite hesitant, seeing Liu Yao looking at him impatiently, he just thought about what he was thinking, "I'm afraid the two adults have some concerns in their hearts, that's why they came here Live outside the city."

If Gu Yuanting really had a deep friendship with Yuan Zanbi, it would indeed be safer outside the city than inside the city, at least there would be much fewer assassinations.

"You think they did it on purpose?"

Yun Pei said: "It's just my subordinates' random speculation."

Liu Yao sneered and said nothing.

Just as he was about to pick up the book he had put down, there was a burst of yelling from outside, "Your Highness, Third Highness!"

Liu Yao smashed the book on the desk, shaking everything on the desk.

He didn't pick any smart servants, he didn't need these servants to be smart, just do some chores, who would have thought that these servants who stayed in Yeting court for a long time, had little contact with nobles, they didn't even have a quick mind, let alone any rules etiquette.

Liu Yao tried his best to restrain his temper.

The little eunuch almost rushed in, knelt down on the ground, breathless and said: "Your Highness, Your Majesty wants you to go over!"

Hearing that it was the emperor's oral order, Liu Yao had no choice but to patiently say: "This hall will pass right away."

He strode outside, with a somewhat eager pace.

He secretly had a guess in his mind, but he was not sure.

But that's uncertain, enough that it's hard for him to keep calm.

Yun Pei followed behind him, keeping a distance of two steps.

In the dormitory, the smell of medicine filled the air.

Through the heavy gauze curtain, the emperor leaned on the bed.

Liu Yao was almost taken aback.

Could it be that the imperial physician in the palace really had some way to heal the bones of the dead, so that the emperor could be cured?

He knelt on the ground, kowtowed and said: "I see my father."

The emperor coughed a few times, still looking weak and sick, "Tomorrow, I want to go to court."

Liu Yao was extremely disappointed, but he couldn't show it, so he had no choice but to persuade him: "Father Emperor violated the peace, and the court has accumulated several months of affairs. I am afraid that Father Emperor will be overworked, which is not good for the body. Besides, the sky was not clear in the early court. The imperial doctor said that the emperor should rest more, it is really not appropriate to get up too early."

He clearly intended to comfort, but in fact it was more like a threat.

The emperor seemed to be very puzzled and asked: "Zhen, but I'm begging you?"

Liu Yao knelt on the ground, he couldn't see the emperor's expression clearly, and the emperor couldn't see his condition at the moment, he said slowly: "Your Majesty is not suitable to go to court."

The emperor laughed: "You really won't regret it?"

Liu Yao was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly noticed the deep meaning in the emperor's words.

A burst of indescribable ecstasy almost made him dizzy. He was about to speak, but the emperor coughed so hard that his heart broke. Eunuch Xia wanted to serve the soup, but Liu Yao hurriedly got up to take it. He drank a spoonful, only saying it was to test the temperature, and then fed the spoon to the emperor after swallowing it.

The emperor's face was flushed with a cough, and he drank half a bowl of soup and medicine for relief.

The emperor said in a low voice: "It's not unwise for you to want to break up with Qiao Yu."

Liu Yao was stunned, wondering if he heard it wrong.

"Qiao Yu's mind is secretive and his methods are vicious. The new emperor ascends the throne, and he should take on a completely new look. You must not leave such people in the court." The emperor said slowly.

Liu Yao woke up from a dream, "Father was in..."

Was it to test how his relationship with Qiao Yu was?

The emperor nodded and coughed again.

Liu Yao hurriedly comforted the emperor.

"You are my son, and you are the only one who can be crowned prince." The emperor's words are true. If he really appoints Liu Fei, all the officials in the court will not agree, and his son will not tolerate Liu Fei even more." I use Qiao Yu because the situation in the court is dangerous, but it is expedient. If you ascend the throne, no brother will be eyeing the throne. The power of the two young families will be divided between the emperor. I don't want you to use him. Qiao Yu's mind is hard to guess, but the other Everyone knows his ambition, I am afraid that he will confuse you and do something ashamed of your ancestors." He smiled at Liu Yao, "I am very satisfied with your attitude towards Qiao Yu."

Liu Yao pinched his hand hard, he wanted to hurt, but was afraid that it wouldn't hurt.

Such a beautiful dream, he just didn't want to wake up.

"Tomorrow, I..." He coughed so hard, Liu Yao looked at him, his eyes were full of admiration and worry, "I want to tell the officials, I want you."

Liu Yao was stunned for a long time, "Father, my son... my son..." He was incoherent.

The emperor saw it all, and he said in a fatherly tone that had never been seen before: "I have written the imperial edict, and put it in the case on the case. It will be read to all officials tomorrow."

Only then did Liu Yao come to his senses, and when he lifted the hem of his robe, tears rolled down his cheeks, "I have no morals and incompetence, and I am ashamed of my father's love."

The emperor smiled at him, "You are the prince, and you should take on the responsibility of the prince. From tomorrow onwards, I want you to supervise the country so that I can cultivate my spirit. Do you feel tired?"

Liu Yao kowtowed deeply, "I will do my best to live up to my father's expectations."

So the emperor nodded and smiled contentedly.

……

After the emperor returned to Beijing, Duke Huai never saw any guests.

I don't know how many people want to inquire about the emperor's news from him, see, but there are many more things.

He had just returned from Xiyuan, his face was still covered with makeup, because he was easy-going and unrestrained, all the servants just looked at him and smiled without reminding him.

Duke Huai walked back to the study slowly.

The study is still the same study, nothing has changed.

The only difference is that a person who should not exist in his study is sitting on the chair for outsiders in the study.

Duke Huai looked suspiciously at Yuan Zanbi who was sitting upright, even though he saw an unexpected visitor who shouldn't have appeared here, he didn't show much anger on his face, he was a very unruly person, "Master Yuan , this king seems to have said that this king does not want to see guests."

Yuan Zan wrote: "It's my presumptuousness to come here late at night."

King Huai said: "It's not a big deal, I don't want to embarrass myself, Master Yuan came here, so I can go back." He casually picked up the bronze mirror on the table, but saw his face with red marks , he stretched out his hand to wipe off the rouge, and when he turned around, Yuan Zanbi was still sitting there.

"Master Yuan?"

Yuan Zan brush lifted his robe and bowed down, respectfully said: "I have something to ask."