Emperor Que Shaohua

Not long after, Luo Pingyuan resumed his life of studying in Wentao Palace every day. He could feel that many things were different.Others treated him more contemptuously than before, sometimes imperceptibly, sometimes obviously.He is no stranger to snobbery in the palace, but when it happens to him, he will inevitably feel sad and uncomfortable.

The second brother Luo Wenxiao received much more attention and attention, which was far from what he had been able to compare with in the past.It can also be seen from this that the situation of the eldest prince who still claims to be recovering from his injuries should be very bad.

Although Rupin died for the country, Emperor Tianyi did not show much favor to Luo Pingyuan because of this.Concubine Rong took good care of him, and Xue Ning often stayed with him, but the originally lively and active fifth prince gradually became taciturn.

All kinds of news continued to spread to his ears one after another: the imperial court sent generals to lead troops to reinforce the border, and finally stopped the advance of the Northern Liao Dynasty, but was unable to recover the lost ground for the time being, and could only defend the south of Youyun Sixteen Prefectures of the letter.On the same day, Langhuan's subordinates in Shao'an met Langhuanling, they did not fight back, and they still assisted in defending the city. They suffered heavy casualties in several battles, which can be said to have contributed to the country.But when the imperial court ordered the remaining troops to return to Luocheng for interrogation, Langhuan refused to obey the order, collided with Yu Zhou's army, scattered and fled, and disappeared without a trace.

The eldest son of the emperor was interrogated in the court prison for three days, and then sent back to Changning Palace.

There was also turmoil in the imperial court. The courtiers who supported the eldest prince pointed out that Luo Shenhua was the eldest son born in the central palace, and because of his status and talent, there was no need to treason the country.However, whenever Emperor Tianyi heard this rather powerful argument, his face would be furious.After several times, the courtiers who spoke for the eldest prince were either publicly discussed, secretly demoted, or even lost their lives. Emperor Tianyi seemed to have made up his mind to completely cut off the eldest prince from all the officials in the court. Some influence, carrying out a quiet big cleansing.

During that time, besides being lonely, Luo Pingyuan was still often in anxiety. He didn't know how his father would deal with his elder brother, and he didn't know how the holy will treat the Langhuan case.All kinds of overt and covert investigations never stopped, but there was still no conclusion. He only vaguely learned that Jiang Hengyuan, the uncle of the emperor's brother and the left envoy of Langhuan, argued that the Langhuan order was stolen and fell into the hands of Beiliao. Not treasonous.

As the days passed, the tense atmosphere in the palace gradually subsided. As winter went to spring, the splendor of flowers was restored, but the person in charge of the harem had changed.The concubines will no longer go to Fengyi Palace to say hello, they all go to Yunxiu Palace where Concubine Han lives.The closed Fengyi Palace and the eternally locked Changning Palace seem to belong to another world, and will be forgotten and deserted.

Luo Pingyuan once heard Luo Wenxiao talking with Luo Junping, saying that Langhuan still refused to accept, that he had been in constant conflict with the court, and that many people had died, but he always insisted on two points: the eldest son of the emperor was innocent, and neither was Langhuan.

Luo Wenxiao said: "They are obviously guilty. They should confess their crimes and ask for forgiveness from their father. They are really stubborn and will not change. What is the use of Luo Shenhua's refusal to plead guilty? An arm can't twist a thigh , if Lang Huan continues to fight, it will be a rebellion sooner or later."

Luo Junping sneered and said: "How did Shao'an lose it? Didn't they already conspire against them? They are all rebellious officials and thieves. If our elder brother continues to be stubborn, he will be decapitated in a different place."

Luo Pingyuan had never heard the two of them speak so harshly before, he clenched his fists, almost stood up and rushed towards Luo Junping to fight him.But after all, he sat silently and didn't move, he couldn't do anything, this painful and contradictory sense of powerlessness was deeply burned in his heart.

The voices of the two imperial brothers were so loud that even Luo Linpian heard it. The fourth prince said coldly: "Langhuan is not weak. I heard that most martial arts sects follow their orders. If this continues, Beiliao has not been able to guard against it." , let’s get into a mess first, so it’s better not to hurt both of us.”

Luo Junping jumped up: "Lang Huan has become a traitor collaborating with the enemy. How can there be martial arts sects supporting them? You are alarmist, what are you talking about?"

Luo Linpian looked out the window, ignored him, and said after a while: "Didn't the father say that they conspired against him? Why are you so anxious, you are wiser than the father?"

The only one who dared to say such things in Chonghua Palace was Luo Linpian, who was deeply loved and had a cold and arrogant personality.Luo Pingyuan remembered that Luo Wenxiao seemed to say a few words to smooth things over, and pulled away the furious Luo Junping.He couldn't help but glanced at Brother Sihuang, but Luo Linpian packed up his books and turned to leave as if he hadn't seen him.

Luo Pingyuan slowly let go of his sore hand, even he himself felt that now he was like a wandering soul, so involuntarily, panic-stricken.Every time he wants to say something, he doesn't know where to stand.

Living in the Lanting Palace, he felt that only Qingluan was left for him, and only Qingluan came out of Fengyi Palace like him, had the same memories, and understood his pain and miss.Whenever he woke up from a nightmare, Qingluan would easily understand what he dreamed about and what he was thinking, although he could not comfort him, he could still accompany him.

Those familiar maids and servants in Fengyi Palace, they all died, and were silently disposed of in a place where the sun couldn't shine, as if they had never existed.

Wei Wuze still came to pester him from time to time, Qingluan was even more afraid than him.When she was emotionally unstable, she would unconsciously talk about the eldest son of the emperor: "Your Majesty does not see you, because he is afraid of hurting you. Although the situation is bad, His Majesty and him are father and son after all, and nothing will happen. His Majesty must be thinking Way, when the matter is over, he will come to see you."

Luo Pingyuan thought in a daze, what's the use of even coming to see himself, the queen stabbed her concubine to death, they were speechless, but after hearing this, there was still a glimmer of hope in their hearts.

Every time Qingluan mentions the eldest son of the emperor, his face will be more charming and confident unconsciously. Luo Pingyuan knows that the 16-year-old Qingluan admires the emperor's brother very much. Even if she doesn't say it, everyone can see it.

He thought that things were so bad that it would be difficult to get worse.However, later he realized that he was really naive, perhaps because he was protected too well in the past, and he was far behind the few emperor brothers including Luo Junping.

The accident happened on an ordinary afternoon. Luo Pingyuan woke up from a nap and was practicing calligraphy when he heard Wei Wuze's voice from outside, and he came to harass Qingluan again.

He didn't know who Wei Wuze had worked for and why he was always able to enter the palace. He only knew that every time he went to Lanting Palace, he would be unaware. You will find that this person has been there.

He put down his pen and walked out, saying: "Wei Wuze, you, a traitor, dare to come here to act wildly, get out! Don't pester Qingluan, or I'll be called a bodyguard!"

Wei Wuze acted as if he hadn’t heard, and looked at Qingluan with a pale face with a smile on his face: “Wei is here to congratulate you today, and in a few days, His Highness Fifth Highness will be taken to Yunxiu Palace of Concubine Han. Taking care of him so well, of course he can't do wrong to his son, and the second prince is such a gentle and considerate brother, His Highness the Fifth Highness is waiting to enjoy the blessing."

As he spoke, he whispered a few words into Qingluan's ear, Luo Pingyuan only heard the words "cut grass and roots".Wei Wuze immediately raised his head: "A thoughtful and impeccable person like Mrs. Han will definitely do everything well, whether she treats Luo Shenhua or Your Highness. Qingluan, don't you beg me? Beg hard, maybe I will show mercy."

He spoke jokingly, but there was a chilling viciousness in it, and his eyes were fixed on Qingluan's reaction.

Luo Pingyuan shouted "Come here", and he said to Wei Wuze: "If you don't leave, I will say that you intend to assassinate!"

Wei Wuze smiled, and suddenly stretched out his hands to pinch his face: "Your Highness, your brother has long forgotten you and Qingluan, when you arrive at Yunxiu Palace, Concubine Han can give Qingluan to me at any time, you You can't stop it, understand? Then you will understand what it means to be insecure. I don't want to make it too ugly, so I won't bother with you today. Luo Shenhua has to beg me to save his life now. You should be more polite in the future Be careful, you won't even have the chance to ask for it!" He left.

Qingluan was in a trance all afternoon and night, and even accidentally knocked over two cups.

Luo Pingyuan took her hand: "Qingluan, what did Wei Wuze say to you, are you afraid of becoming like this? What he said may not be true, let's endure it for a few years, and when I grow up, I will have the strength to protect you." Stop you!"

Many years later, Luo Pingyuan, who was named King Ning, still remembered Qingluan's expression at that time.She was very beautiful, and looked at him with almond-shaped watery eyes, and suddenly burst into tears: "I don't know what I am afraid of, but I am very afraid. Fifth Highness, Qingluan really wants to wait until you grow up." , go out of the palace to build a mansion, but I am too useless, you are only ten years old, and you have no one to rely on in the palace, what if Qingluan can't protect you?"

"Wei Wuze can't come to the harem all the time, he's a man. Don't be afraid, Qingluan, I'll go to my father and ask for a few more guards. I'm the prince." Luo Pingyuan hugged her and spoke hard, but he felt very uncomfortable. Practical.In the palace, what can a ten-year-old prince with a humble background and the emperor doesn't care about, what can he do? This identity is illusory, and his power is very small.

Qingluan always kept the etiquette, but that day, Luo Pingyuan felt that she hugged him very tightly, with trembling sadness.He tried his best to calm Qingluan down, and he said a lot, Qingluan might have heard it, and finally, he smiled and said: "Don't be afraid, my servant, the Fifth Highness is right, there will be a solution."

Luo Pingyuan calmed down a little, thinking that tomorrow he might ask the Taifu to make an article and ask his father to see him.If Emperor Father saw that he was working hard, he would look for an opportunity and ask to stay in Lanting Palace, saying that he wanted to be with Xue Ning.Thinking of Concubine Han's Yunxiu Palace, for some reason, he was also a little scared.He thought again, ask Qingluan another day, what else did Wei Wuze say recently, why the emperor brother has to beg him.He vaguely felt that even if Wei Wuze hadn't joined Concubine Han, he must have had a lot to do with it, but he couldn't figure out the stakes involved, as if he was in a fog.

That was the last time Luo Pingyuan stayed with Qingluan.The next day, when he got up in the morning and was about to go to Wentao Palace to study, Qingluan disappeared, leaving only a note with two words: Don't read.

Luo Pingyuan didn't dare to say anything, he asked Xue Ning for help, quietly begged Concubine Rong, and secretly looked for Qingluan.Because of the strict rules in the palace, Qingluan disappeared without a trace like this. After a long time, even if he was found, he would not be able to save his life.There was a cold despair in his heart, Qingluan had only two possible destinations, either to see Brother Huang for help, or to go to Wei Wuze.But if she went to Changning Palace, she should have come back long ago.

A few days later, Concubine Rong got the news that Qingluan had indeed gone to Changning Palace alone, but it was strange that she, a little maid, was not stopped. The guards in front of the palace gate seemed to have been ordered to take her away put it in.Three days later at night, she came out alone again, and instead of returning to Lanting Palace, she was directly taken away by a man guarding the gate of the palace.

The palace maid can't disappear without reason, so Concubine Rong went to check the records in the palace. On the roster of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Qingluan's name was noted as having a sudden illness, and she was sent out of the palace to recuperate, and then died of illness outside the palace.

Luo Pingyuan knew that that man would only be Wei Wuze, and Qingluan fell into his grasp just like that, and never came back.And the only one in the harem who has the ability to write off her name is Concubine Han.

It was impossible for Concubine Rong to search any further. The reason why she was able to help him like this was because he had jumped into the icy water to save Xue Ning, and the fact that he was able to find out to this extent was probably because Concubine Han didn't want to hide it.After the Queen's death, Concubine Han's power has reached such a point.

Concubine Rong appointed a new maid to serve him.For the next period of time, Luo Pingyuan couldn't sleep at night, and sat on the bed blankly all night.Qingluan should have gone to seek help from the emperor's brother, but the emperor still handed her over. There was no help, so she must have been powerless.But why not let Qingluan come back even once, let her figure out a way, just let her fall into Wei Wuze's hands, what happened behind the two closed gates of Changning Palace, why he couldn't get in, and why But Qingluan can go in?

Later, he saw Wei Wuze again. On his way to Wentao Palace, the man came out from behind a clump of flowers and trees, folded his arms, and thought playfully: "Your Highness is quite leisurely. It seems that Qingluan is gone. It's no big deal to you."

Luo Pingyuan clenched his teeth, so he didn't rush up and grab him: "Where is Qingluan, what did you do to her? She is my maid of honor, give her back to me!"

Wei Wuze hooked the corners of his lips: "Your Highness, are you her master? She is from Langhuan, your eldest brother gave her to me, and I will take her out of Changning Palace in a legitimate way, understand? I can't talk." He said with a happy expression, somewhat complacent, and seemed to be sarcasm, "Luo Shenhua is a sensible person, otherwise he wouldn't be alive today, don't blame him, he traded a maid for his life , what else is it?"

Luo Pingyuanmu stood in place, Wei Wuze's words hit the level in his heart that he was thinking repeatedly but didn't want to think about, Brother Huang, really gave Qingluan away.He gritted his teeth for a long time before saying: "You are talking nonsense, Brother Huang is not that kind of person."

"The facts are all there, otherwise, why would Qingluan obediently follow me?" Wei Wuze said with a smile, "I'm here to tell you for her today, lest she still miss me and not be able to serve me well. Your Highness, you are so stupid , It’s really pitiful to see your ignorant look. If you want to survive, you have to learn from your brother Huang, and when you give in, you have to give in!”

Luo Pingyuan didn't go to Wentao Palace that day, after he recovered, Wei Wuze had disappeared.He shook off his companion, walked to the imperial garden alone, found a corner, sat down there, and acted as if he didn't hear anyone calling.If he really felt resentment towards Brother Huang in his heart, it should be on that summer day when he was sitting with his knees hugged.

The scorching sun shone on his body, but his heart seemed to be covered with eternal ice and snow.The empress killed Rupin, but he didn't hate the emperor's brother. The empress was dead, and he paid for his life. Even if he could no longer be as close as before with the emperor's brother, he at least wanted to get some explanation and comfort, even if it was someone with a guilty conscience. look, but he didn't get it.The only remaining Qingluan is also lost now, and was sold by the emperor's brother to his former subordinates. He is really the queen's biological son.

The fifth prince, who was about to turn 11 years old, swore in his heart that he wanted to gain ability and strength, and never lose it so helplessly, and never let others manipulate and bully him. In order to achieve this, he was willing to give anything.

Even Emperor Tianyi heard about skipping class that day, but he didn't blame him. Only the Tai Tuo punished his companion for reading ten hands and kneeling for an hour.Luo Pingyuan was not as sad as he used to be, he was completely numb, he didn't feel happy playing with Xue Ning, and he didn't feel pain when he was treated coldly.The only thing that can be counted as a good thing is that he was not sent to Yunxiu Palace, Concubine Han seems to have forgotten him.

A few days later, Emperor Tianyi issued a decree, accusing the eldest son Luo Shenhua of acting disobediently, relying on his talent and arrogance, and not being able to use it. He changed his name to Luo Yanhua from now on, and was confined in Changning Palace to reflect on his mistakes.There were a lot of harsh words and accusations in the imperial decree, Luo Pingyuan heard about it, but just dealt with it silently, he didn't feel it.

This imperial palace is like a huge cage, imprisoning the emperor brother who brought him good memories, burying the queen who raised him, loving him like a concubine, and losing Qingluan who accompanied and took care of him, but he still wants to survive in it.

Luo Pingyuan thought that he would always struggle and grow up in this cage, but when the season changed to the bleak autumn wind, he waited for the most important opportunity in his life.

Master Hanshan traveled to Luocheng, came to the Chonghua Palace to face the saint, mentioned that the Hanshan School had a relationship with the late emperor in the past, so if the royal family is willing, they are willing to accept a prince as an apprentice, and teach the essence of the sect carefully, so that Continuation of the leading edge.

Emperor Tianyi admired his knowledge and demeanor, and gladly called all the princes to see him. Master Han Shan saw it, and said with a smile: "Your Highnesses are all endowed with excellent talents. As long as you don't fear my hardships in Cuiping Mountain, you will be able to learn something. .”

Emperor Tianyi laughed and said: "These rebellious sons are spoiled and spoiled, and they are not used to suffering, so they may not be able to become masters." Then he asked: "Which one does the real person prefer?"

Master Han Shan said implicitly: "Although there is no age limit for learning art, but for those who are younger, they have less distractions and should settle down."

When Luo Pingyuan heard the four characters of learning something, his heart moved. He knew that his father would not be willing to let Luo Linpian stay away, and Luo Junping must be afraid of hardship, so he knelt down and said without any hesitation: "Father, son I wish to go." Then he respectfully kowtowed three times to Mo Hanshan: "Master."

On the day when Master left Chonghua Palace, it was the beginning of winter and it was bitterly cold.He bid farewell to Emperor Tianyi, thanked Concubine Rong, bid farewell to several imperial brothers and the sad Xue Ning, and went to Yunxiu Palace where Concubine Han lived to bid farewell.Two servants carried the luggage for him. When he passed the east side of the palace city, he glanced at the Changning Palace, and suddenly saw a figure in black clothes standing in front of the palace gate. Even if it was far away, he could still recognize it. It turned out that it was the emperor's brother Luo Yanhua whom he hadn't seen for a year.

He thought he would turn around indifferently and leave, but he didn't. He walked towards him with his feet uncontrollable, stepped on the steps, and silently looked at his elder brother in front of the palace gate.

Luo Yanhua lost a little weight, but his figure was still tall and straight. There seemed to be something more and something missing in his eyes, but it still carried the soft warmth of the past.

Luo Pingyuan only said one sentence to him: "Since I have nothing to say, why bother to send them off."

They'd never go back to that snowy winter day before they could build that promised snowman again.