Qing Yu Nian

Zhan Doudou climbed out of the bed. Si Lili, as her attendant, helped her put on a gray-black cloak. She walked to the palace gate, watching the fluttering snowflakes outside, and the supreme ruler of Northern Qi fell into deep thought.

Northern Qi, inheriting the Great Wei, favored somber and upright colors like black and cyan. This millennium palace, built against the mountain, was no exception. The attire she wore today was mainly in these two colors. Her bare feet were in warm velvet shoes, whether they were warm or not was unknown.

Snowflakes fluttered past her slightly narrowed eyes, landing silently on the ground. This palace was deep within the imperial palace, not far from the Empress Dowager's residence, nor far from the small pavilion behind the mountain. It was very quiet. Without Her Majesty's approval, no idlers were allowed to approach. The number of eunuchs and palace maids serving on either side of this palace was extremely small, all old women and slaves who had been brought up by the Empress Dowager herself, so there was no need to worry about Northern Qi's greatest secret being leaked.

However, even in such a safe situation, the Northern Qi Emperor still stood with his hands behind his back, calmly facing the snow, without revealing a trace of weakness. Perhaps for her, dressing as a man was no longer something that needed to be done with intention, something to be concealed, but rather she had long regarded herself as a man, an emperor. This aura had long penetrated her bones and flesh, inseparable.

"After Chen Pingping's death, there are only three people in this world qualified to make a move." A trace of complex emotion reappeared on her face. The weather was a bit cold, and her cheeks were a bit red, but there was no coquettishness, but rather a sense of fierce killing. "I never thought that Chen Pingping would play such a trick in the end..."

The Northern Qi Emperor's brow furrowed, exhaling a breath of cold air, and said, "Only now do I understand why the National Master was so concerned about Chen Pingping's lifespan before he left. It turns out that he had long seen through it, wanting to force Fan Xian to turn against his cheap old man, and only Chen Pingping could actively choose this in the end."

"I don't understand why Chen Pingping did this. What kind of hatred could make him do such a thing?" She sneered and said, "It must be related to that woman from back then."

Si Lili slowly walked to her side, looked at her with concern, handed over the small hand warmer, and asked softly, "Does the three people include Fan Xian?"

She was the granddaughter of the former dynasty's prince of Southern Qing, but now she was the only favored Noble Consort Li in the Northern Qi Imperial Palace. The relationship between her and the Northern Qi Emperor was closer than many people suspected. They were companions, partners who had grown up together since childhood, and also objects of mutual affection. Earlier, the Northern Qi Emperor said that after Chen Pingping's death, there were only three people qualified to make a move in the world. If these three people included Fan Xian...

"Of course Fan Xian is qualified." The Northern Qi Emperor gently caressed the slightly hot hand warmer, sighed, and said, "He has a good mother, and he is cruel enough to himself, so he has the current power... Don't underestimate his energy. There are good things hidden in Dongyi City."

"At least for now, Emperor Qing doesn't want to push him to a dead end. He still wants to subdue him, because subduing Fan Xian's faction is far more beneficial to Southern Qing than eliminating him." The Northern Qi Emperor said quietly, "This alone proves that the power in Fan Xian's hands is something that Emperor Qing is also afraid of."

"It's freezing cold, don't stand at the palace gate." Si Lili carefully looked at the Emperor's face, and the corner of her eye swept over the abdomen wrapped in the cloak in a way that was not easy to detect.

The Emperor was such a smart and sensitive person, and immediately noticed her gaze. A trace of disgust suddenly appeared on his face, and his cheeks tightened slightly, as if he was biting his teeth tightly, suppressing his anger.

Looking at the Emperor's expression, Si Lili couldn't help but laugh out loud: "I don't know what Little Fan Xian would think if he knew Her Majesty's current situation."

"That guy is ruthless, but... he is a Confucian scholar at heart." The Northern Qi Emperor criticized the man in the south mercilessly, sneering and said, "What he has done in the past few months is so naive, childish, and confused! The situation has developed to this point, and he still hopes to solve the problem within Southern Qing, and still wants to kill fewer people so that this matter can come to an end... He has underestimated Emperor Qing after all. Even if his emperor father is not a Grandmaster, how can his little tricks shake his position?"

"Want to change dynasties by killing fewer people? It's ridiculous to the extreme." The Northern Qi Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, didn't listen to Si Lili's words, and didn't leave the palace gate where the wind and snow were just beginning, and said coldly: "If I don't help him this time, Dongyi City will face the Yanjing Camp head-on. No matter who wins or loses, I want to see how he can still pretend to be a rich and idle person in the capital."

"Does Your Majesty really just want to help him defend Dongyi City?" Si Lili asked softly, her eyes twinkling slightly.

The Northern Qi Emperor's body stiffened slightly, as if he didn't expect Si Lili to see through his other plans at a glance. After a moment of silence, he said: "I am the master of Northern Qi, how can I damage my Great Qi soldiers for a man... Helping him is actually helping myself. If Southern Qing doesn't become chaotic, Great Qi will be under too much pressure. Besides, Emperor Qing has always had the idea of ​​a northern expedition. Now General Shangshan is guarding the south, first probing, and then controlling the central government. With preparations, it will always be easier in the future."

"I'm just a little worried about Shangshan Hu." Si Lili replied with her eyebrows lowered. This sentence was actually not something that a concubine in the harem should say, but she, Noble Consort Li, was actually like a strategist of the Northern Qi Emperor in many situations.

"The enemy is strong, even if Shangshan Hu resents me for joining forces with Fan Xian to kill Xiao En back then..." The Northern Qi Emperor frowned slightly, "But if Southern Qing doesn't eliminate the idea of ​​invading the north, General Shangshan won't forget the world because of personal grudges... I am like this, and so is General Shangshan."

"It's just that Little Fan Xian is already in a difficult situation in the south. Once the Southern Qing court sees that General Shangshan's dispatch of troops this time... is related to Dongyi City..." A trace of worry flashed between Si Lili's brows, and she couldn't help but worry about Fan Xian. Among the three women in Shangjing City who were related to Fan Xian, Haitang Duoduo was far away on the grassland, and Her Majesty the Emperor in the palace had the mind of an emperor, cold and ruthless, and I am afraid she did not care much about Fan Xian's life or death, but Si Lili couldn't help worrying about the man who was sometimes gentle and sometimes cold.

"I never worry that the southerners will see the real purpose of this southward journey. This can't be hidden much in the first place. At least those who know the real state between the Southern Qing court and Dongyi City can definitely guess it." The Northern Qi Emperor said coldly: "Wang Zhikun in Yanjing must be the first to guess... What is there to be afraid of guessing? Even if it spreads out, I am not afraid. Colluding with Great Qi is a crime that Fan Xian can't afford to bear."

Hearing this, Si Lili couldn't help but sigh faintly and said, "It turns out that Your Majesty has never given up the idea of ​​forcing him to come to Shangjing City... But if it really comes to that point, can he still come alive?"

The wind and snow made people feel cold and made their cheeks rosy. The Northern Qi Emperor looked straight at the wind and snow and said slowly: "If he is alive but refuses to come, what is the difference between that and death for me, for you?"

"Duoduo shouldn't know about this." Si Lili raised her head and looked at her.

"Little Martial Aunt is on the grassland, and the people on the Xiliang Road are all dead. It's inconvenient to contact her." The Northern Qi Emperor lowered his head and looked at his toes, remaining silent for a long time. His right hand suddenly raised slightly, trembling slightly, as if he wanted to touch his abdomen, but he didn't make this action for a long time.

However, his fingertips were slightly upturned, finally revealing a trace of feminine grace.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the military report has arrived, and the ministers are waiting at Helan Pavilion." An old eunuch's hoarse voice urgently reported from outside the palace. Now the south is fighting with the Qing people, and the military situation is tense, so no one dares to delay. The Northern Qi people discovered for the first time that their army had finally bravely launched an offensive first, and their mood was also very different from the past.

Hearing this sentence, the Northern Qi Emperor suddenly raised his head, and the trace of tenderness in his eyes had already turned into a cold-like calmness. Si Lili quickly tied a golden jade belt around her black cloak. She walked towards the outside of the palace, her steps were steady, and the aura of an emperor was fully displayed. When she came out of the deep palace, Lord Langtao and He Daoren were already waiting outside.

————————————————

In the tenth year of Qingli, Dongyi City nominally submitted to Southern Qing, and the general trend of the world was changing irreversibly. However, a rain in the capital in early autumn brought this situation back. Whether Fan Xian, who was in the center of the vortex, really had such a far-sighted plan, at least the current Dongyi City is actually under the control of him and the Eldest Prince.

It must be said that Si Gu Jian's legacy truly exerted its most powerful effect at this moment. In addition to Yun Zhilan serving as the city lord of Dongyi City, the other twelve of Jianlu's thirteen disciples, as well as the masters of the grandchildren generation, gathered under Fan Xian's command. In addition, there were 10,000 elite soldiers led by the Southern Qing Eldest Prince, plus the 4,000 Black Riders that Chen Pingping left to Fan Xian. As long as the cooperation between Fan Xian and the Eldest Prince was unimpeded, Dongyi City had once again become a separate force.

And no matter from which aspect, the trust and cooperation between Fan Xian and the Eldest Prince was not so easy to break. This had been well reflected in the Kyoto rebellion three years ago.

Dongyi City after Si Gu Jian's death still maintained its independence, and I believe that the soul of this Grandmaster after death would also be gratified.

Of course, the key to achieving the current situation, in addition to the strength of Dongyi City itself, was actually the autumn offensive suddenly launched by the Northern Qi military in the late autumn of the tenth year of Qingli. This incursion cost the Northern Qi court a lot of strength and food, and in the end, only allowed Shangshan Hu to miraculously obtain the state city at the corner. It seemed that the Northern Qi people were really losing more than they gained.

Immediately afterwards, the entire territory of Northern Qi was mobilized, making a full-scale southward appearance, forcing Southern Qing to prepare for war with all its strength. A war seemed to be about to break out next spring.

And this, at least gave Dongyi City and Fan Xian half a year of buffer time.

No matter how the Northern Qi Emperor, disguised as a man, concealed her inner thoughts in front of Si Lili, and put the interests of the Northern Qi court and its people first, she couldn't convince herself. She did all this largely because of the man in Southern Qing, the man who had gambled with her for several years, cooperated for several years, fought for several years, and finally had a night of joy in front of the palace, becoming her first and only man.

When the news of the war in the north-central continent reached Kyoto, it was early winter. The weather in Kyoto this year was a bit abnormal. The autumn rain was even denser, as if squeezing out the moisture in the sky. After winter, the sky was clear of clouds, only a desolate, cold, and high atmosphere, but no snow.

Without the Overwatch Council, the information from Baoyuelou was after all just some marginal news. Fan Xian didn't know the real inside story of the battle in the north, but this couldn't stop him from analyzing and making judgments that were close to the truth. Unlike what Zhan Doudou expected, the outbreak of the war didn't make Fan Xian angry, because he was not a true saint after all, but just an ordinary person. He knew that the female emperor in the north was helping him, so it was difficult to be angry about anything, he was just a little gloomy.

The reason for the gloom between his brows was very complicated. Perhaps it was because he realized that he actually had no way to influence the Northern Qi royal family's thoughts, even if he held the other party's greatest handle, but the other party was ultimately a monarch and would have her own ideas. Another reason was the attitude of the palace after this incident.

Northern Qi's invasion, retreat, non-acceptance, and preparation for war were actually all to share the pressure for Dongyi City. As long as the big figures with keen eyes could understand this, some people would understand the role Fan Xian was playing in this. Although there were not many people who understood this point, and it didn't affect the discussions among the Qing people, the silence in the palace still caught Fan Xian a little off guard.

Those big figures in Southern Qing would be shocked by Fan Xian's influence, shocked that he could actually get the Northern Qi people to send troops to help. For example, Duke Liu, who rarely visited the mansion a few days ago. That night, Liu's father, Duke Liu, who had been silent in the court for many years but still had remaining prestige, had a long conversation with Fan Xian for the whole night.

He was Liu's biological father, and he was also Fan Xian's ancestor. Fan Xian had always been extremely respectful to Guogong Lane in Kyoto these years. Although this Duke rarely left the mansion, he always stood on Fan Xian's side at critical moments, so Fan Xian was silent about the other party's teachings, but did not refute them.

As a Qing soldier, Duke Liu was somewhat shocked and terrified by the faint relationship between the northern war and the Fan Mansion. However, the matter could not be clarified, so the old man only came to the mansion to warn Fan Xian a few times and reminded him a few times.

Even a reclusive figure like Duke Liu had begun to be wary of the role Fan Xian might play. Why was the palace still so calm? Fan Xian didn't believe that his emperor father would be shocked by the changes in the north, and he didn't believe that even if his Northern Qi reinforcements were exposed to his emperor father, his emperor father would have any scruples.

His Majesty needed a war in the first place, so why would he be afraid of the Northern Qi people's invasion? It was just that this kind of silence was really a little unusual.

The cold air gradually condensed, and the first snow in Kyoto finally fell. In the first month of winter, at the winter solstice, large pots of dumplings began to be cooked in the houses of Kyoto residents, and the business of killing sheep in the markets was extremely good. The deliciousness of mutton soup seemed to be rising in every corner of the streets and alleys.

The Prince He's mansion, which had been silent in Kyoto for a long time, opened its main gate today, and distinguished guests were visiting, but it still couldn't be lively, because there were only a few people who came after all. The Imperial Guards responsible for guarding outside the Prince He's mansion watched the movements everywhere with vigilant eyes. Perhaps the role of these Imperial Guards now was more to guard this mansion.

The Eldest Prince resisted the imperial decree and did not return to the capital. This matter was not publicized. Only a few ministers in the court knew about it. A prince leading troops outside refused to obey the imperial decree. This matter was originally extremely rebellious, but for the sake of the court and the face of the Li clan, the court remained silent for the time being, but no one dared to relax their surveillance over the Prince He's mansion.

Fan Xian led Shuning's little hand and walked into the Prince He's mansion with a smile on his face, walking side by side with the Princess towards the pavilion in the center of the lake. Lin Wan'er was pulled away by Ye Ling'er as soon as she entered the mansion. No one knew what these best friends would talk about.

"Little Fan Xian always has shocking moves." The Princess He's face was fair and without majesty, only a constant composure. She was now also a hostage, and she didn't leave the mansion all year round. Today was a rare winter solstice, but she invited these young people in Kyoto who were in the most delicate situations.

Fan Xian and his wife, Ye Ling'er, Princess Roujia, plus Princess He and Concubine Wang Tong'er, this was already most of the Qing Kingdom's royal family. Except for the Third Prince in the deep palace, the younger generation of the Li clan had gathered in the Prince's mansion, but these young people were now in a bad situation.

"The Eldest Princess is joking." Fan Xian responded in a soft voice: "If you are talking about the matter outside Cangzhou City, I think you should know better than me that the little emperor of the north is not a character that I can manipulate."

The Princess looked at him with a complicated expression and said quietly: "It is precisely because I know his temperament that I don't understand how you were able to persuade him to send troops to help you."

"I think this matter doesn't need to be mentioned." Fan Xian responded with a smile: "At least it's a good thing for the Eldest Prince who is far away in Dongyi City... It's just that Your Highness is now alone in Kyoto. If there is anything inconvenient, please tell me."

The Princess smiled slightly and gave a solemn salute. Although the current situation was unpredictable, she knew that she had made a mistake once in the past, and she could not make this mistake again now. Her husband and the young man in front of her were already tied together, tied in Dongyi City.

"The Yanjing Camp is pointing its sword at Dongyi. I don't know how Wang Tong'er feels in the mansion." Fan Xian saw that Shuning was a little unable to walk, so he picked her up and asked the Princess. The little girl couldn't understand what the elders were saying and curiously opened her big eyes, turning back and forth on Fan Xian's face and the Princess's face.

"Although Tong'er's temperament is a bit arrogant, she is actually an innocent and carefree child, but she is a little bored. Sometimes I let her go to the Ye Mansion to stroll around, and she is so happy... By the way, she once thought about going to the Fan Mansion to take a look, but you also know that it is always not very convenient."

"Understood." Fan Xian smiled slightly and looked at the Princess and said: "I thought about it at the beginning, with Your Highness in the mansion, Miss Wang should be fine."

"Isn't this what you stirred up at the beginning? By the way, Miss Masosuo still doesn't have a title, and she is getting older..." A trace of sadness flashed between the Princess's brows. Now that the Eldest Prince was far away in Dongyi, and he was remotely confronting the court, her hostage life in Kyoto was naturally extremely desolate, and there was also a concubine in the mansion who was like a child, and a Hunu who was straightforward but did not understand the ways of the world, which made her feel quite embarrassed.

Fan Xian sighed: "How can we take care of these things now? But although I, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, stirred up this mess at the beginning, you and I know that it was ultimately His Majesty's intention."

It was tasteless to say anything more here, and it just so happened that the two had already walked across the wooden bridge on the lake to the middle of the pavilion. All the windows around the pavilion were made of glass, which was translucent but not windproof. There were several heaters, and the atmosphere was like spring, making people feel comfortable. Fan Xian narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the four girls who were talking together in the corner of the pavilion, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

One winter solstice, Fan Xian was summoned into the palace as the Princess's consort, and ate a bowl of mutton soup with extreme disinterest under the Empress Dowager's icy gaze. It seemed that it was also in that year that the Eldest Prince opened his mansion to entertain guests. It was in this pavilion that all the young people of the Li clan, except for the Crown Prince, arrived, and the Second Prince also arrived.

Now the Empress Dowager was dead, the Second Prince was dead, the Crown Prince was dead, and the people who should die and the people who shouldn't die were all dead. Only Fan Xian, who was locked in Kyoto, the Eldest Prince, who was separated in Dongyi, the Third Prince, who was imprisoned in the palace, plus these five girls were left.

All the younger generation stood faintly on the opposite side of him. Was he any better? Fan Xian couldn't help but think of His Majesty the Emperor in the palace, standing at the entrance of the pavilion in a daze, silent for a long time.

The hot pot was delivered, but everyone ate in silence today, probably thinking of something in their hearts. Fan Xian sat next to Roujia, warming her and asking questions like a kind and amiable elder brother, and serving her the mutton in the bowl. Among the girls in this pavilion, Roujia seemed to be the most timid and pitiful. Although there were rumors in the palace that Prince Jing would probably return to the mansion in a few days, Fan Xian couldn't help but feel pity for a girl who had spent several months alone in the Prince Jing's mansion.

There were no servants in the pavilion, so everyone spoke much more casually. Even Wang Tong'er, who was a little restrained, a little unfamiliar, and had interesting eyes, didn't feel neglected. Fan Xian got up and went to the corner of the pavilion to pick up silver charcoal. In the corner of his eye, he saw Ye Ling'er following him.

"I know you feel sorry for Wang Tong'er." Fan Xian stood up and said softly to her. What kind of ending would Wang Chan'er have in the future? Would she become a young widow like Ye Ling'er? No one knew.

Ye Ling'er sighed. She was no longer the pretty girl who galloped through the streets of Kyoto back then and said: "Master, are you just going to keep fighting with His Majesty like this?"

Fan Xian remained silent for a moment and said: "You're killing me with this question... But His Majesty probably doesn't have me in his eyes at all. In a few days, perhaps news will come from the west. Help me inquire about the rumors. Is there any movement under the radar in the Privy Council?"

"Father won't let me get involved in political affairs. I'm not Sun Pin'er." Ye Ling'er glared at him, and then her face darkened slightly and said: "I don't know what you are doing, Master. I just want to advise you."

...

...

(I would like to recommend a book called Dangerous Character to everyone. The author is Baofengyu Zhong, the book number is 1103444, and the link is below:

ps: A few words of leisure, I am still sick, dizzy and uncomfortable, but I know that I was the third on the annual monthly ticket total list last year, and I am naturally happy. I have to thank everyone, because these are all the monthly tickets that everyone voted for, thank you very much. Then I must thank Tangjiasanshao, because a long, long time ago, Brother Tang reminded me of the annual total list, so I have been working hard to solicit votes after July, and with everyone's love and help, I entered the top three... Uh, is it the top three? If I miscalculated, that would be a big drop.

I heard that the third place is a trip to Australia and New Zealand... This, I want to ask the editor to see if it can be cashed out.

I wish you all a happy holiday, and the monthly tickets are still doubling. I was thinking of not soliciting votes in the last month... But in the end, I can't resist the temptation of money... Please vote for Qing Yu Nian.)