Harue Kagetsu

Jiankang Palace.

In the Yitai Palace, accompanied by the sharp weeping of children, the sound of objects being smashed to the ground was constantly heard.

Zongzheng, who was ordered to invite King Wuxing out of the palace to go to the fief, did not dare to enter. The maids and servants knelt outside the palace, trembling and trembling.

"Go and call Gao's wife for me! I'm not dead yet, I can't tolerate her being so presumptuous in front of me!"

The sound of rage came from the hall.

Spring is cold, but Zong Zheng is sweating.

This is the third time, he was ordered to move the former prince, who was renamed King Wu Xing, out of the palace and sent to the fief, but was obstructed by the Queen Mother Xu.

The first two times, she closed the palace gate and ignored the request. This time, because the limited date came, he came to remind him again, and the Queen Mother Xu intensified, and the trouble was so bad.

If there is only one queen mother, there is not much fear. What he was afraid of was Xu Mi behind the Queen Mother. If the queen mother won't let people go, what can she do? He had to send someone to sue the queen. While waiting anxiously, he saw a wrong golden goblet smashed out of the temple door with a "wheeze" and was coming towards him. He hurriedly turned his head to avoid it. Flying over, with a "bang", it smashed onto the hall steps behind him, rolled down, and finally rolled to the side of a flower skirt that dragged the ground, and Fang stopped.

Zongzheng turned his head and saw that Empress Gao had arrived, standing there, relieved, and ran to meet her.

Gao Yongrong raised his eyes from the smashed golden goblet beside his feet, stared at Zong Zheng, and said coldly: "What are you doing? You want me to come even though I'm moving someone?"

Zongzheng hurriedly knelt down: "If the minister dared to disturb the queen, it was the queen mother who obstructed it. She kept saying she wanted to see the queen. Seeing that the deadline was coming, the minister was helpless."

Gao Yongrong frowned, Han Mian passed by Zongzheng and walked up the steps of the palace. The accompanying palace people hurried in and said loudly, "His Royal Highness is here—"

The sound of smashing objects in the hall stopped, but the children's shrill cries continued.

Gao Yongrong walked through the messy ground full of broken porcelain and debris, and the pair of jade-edged high sandals under his feet made a sound.

She stepped into the hall, raised her eyes, and saw Empress Dowager Xu leaning on the couch, holding the crying King Wu Xing in her arms, her face ashen, staring at herself with a cold face, she walked to the front with a smile on her face, and greeted her , said: "In the past few days, I have been entangled in chores in the palace. Although I have been thinking about the Queen Mother, I really have no time to visit. I just heard that there is some movement here. I am afraid that someone will be disrespectful to the Queen Mother and leave things behind."

She looked around: "what's the matter? If someone dares to be disrespectful to the queen mother and provoke the queen mother's anger, even if the queen mother speaks, I will advocate for the queen mother. "

Now revered as Empress Dowager Xuan Yi, Mrs. Xu, who moved to this place, said coldly, "I dare not ask you to claim. Please raise your hand and let my mother and son go. I will be grateful."

"King Wu Xing is young and sickly, I will never tell him to move out! Unless you also kill me, you will never drive him away from me if I just breathe!"

When her voice fell, King Wu Xing in his arms cried again.

Gao Yongrong's face showed panic: "Does the queen mother blame me for speaking like this? It's not that I cruelly forced you to separate your mother and son, it's just that the ancestors' rules have always been like this, and I just follow the rules."

She paused.

"Wu Xing is a rich and prosperous place, and Wu Xing was relocated. How can I intervene in such an important matter? I am a woman and a man, so how can I intervene? It is your majesty who listens to the words of the high minister. How can you expect the next thing to be ignorant of the importance, so that the queen mother misunderstood me! Isn't it wrong!"

Xu Shi sneered.

Gao Yongrong pondered for a while, looked at King Wu Xing who was still crying, and said with a smile: "Forget it, since the queen mother has spoken like this, I have broken the ancestral system, and I can't bear the separation of your mother and son. I will go ask Gao. Give it a try, if Gao Xiang is willing to nod, why would I refuse?"

She bowed respectfully to the still-black-faced Mrs. Xu, then turned around and went back to the Taichu Palace where the emperor's imperial study was located.

Today, the imperial court is resting, and the emperor is not seen. The palace officials said that he took his concubine to Hualin Garden.

The emperor stayed in the imperial concubine's palace last night, and today he took his concubine to visit Hualin Garden, but Gao Yongrong was not unhappy. However, he narrowed his eyes and walked to the imperial case where the minister's memorial was placed. He slowly turned over it. Suddenly, he heard a message from the palace servant, and the high-ranking minister came, and hurriedly folded the memorial back and turned to greet him.

Today, the imperial court is resting, but Gao Qiao can't get away, and is still busy in the Taicheng government office. Just now I learned the news that Empress Dowager Xu would not let King Wu Xing go to the vassal. She entered the palace to see the emperor, but the emperor was not there.

Gao Yongrong personally welcomed Gao Qiao into the room, frowning and said, "Your Majesty has always been frail and came to Jiankang. Although it has been a while, he is still not used to the climate here. It was a cold spring, and he stayed up all night to review the memorial two days ago. It’s not easy. I went to Hualin Garden today to nourish my mind and relax. If my uncle is in a hurry, I will send someone to call your majesty back.”

Gao Qiao also knew that the emperor was lazy by nature when he was the king of Dongyang, so he waved his hand: "Forget it, Your Majesty's health is important. I heard that the Queen Mother won't let King Wu Xing go to the vassal, do you know?"

Gao Yongrong said: "I just wanted to tell my uncle about this, so that I can listen to what my uncle has to say. The queen mother made a big fuss and almost hurt Zongzheng. Zongzheng called me, and I had to go. The queen mother cursed me. , and forced to die, and His Highness refused to separate from the Queen Mother. I was afraid that she would do too much, so I could only appease and tell King Wu Xing to stay with her for the time being. I was just going to ask my uncle, is this feasible?"

Although Emperor Xingping and Gao Qiao were separated from each other later, he was Xiao Yongjia's younger brother after all. He was gone, leaving only a little blood. Xiao Yongjia didn't like this nephew, but he also didn't want to see him continue to be manipulated by the matriarch. Gao Qiao wanted to follow the ancestral system and arranged for him to be in Wuxing. First, he came to the rich and prosperous place, and he could be the king of Anle. Second, the prefect of Wu Xing was a student of the Gao family, so it was convenient for Gao Qiao to inspect and prevent Xu Mi from borrowing Wu Xing Wang Sheng in the future. thing. Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother Xu acted like this and threatened her with death, knowing that she should have been instructed by Xu Mi.

After pondering for a while, he said: "I know. Let's do this for now. After a few days, I will discuss with His Majesty."

Gao Yongrong was respectful, and insisted on sending Gao Qiao out of the palace in person, saying, "Your Majesty told me last night that I have to trouble my uncle with everything and make him work so hard. I will not delay the memorial service. This is especially true for my niece. In addition to being grateful, I am ashamed. I think I have not been to see my aunt for some time. I miss it very much. I say hello to my aunt."

Gao Qiao nodded and went.

With a smile on his face, Gao Yongrong watched Gao Qiao leave, turned back to Taichu Palace, and entered the side hall.

According to what he had done before, the attendant moved all the memorials in front of him.

Gao Yongrong held the pen in his hand, flipped through the memorial for a moment, and ordered someone to deliver King Xin'an.

After a stick of incense, accompanied by the sound of loud footsteps, an imposing man in Chinese clothes came in. It was Xiao Daocheng, the king of Xin'an, who saluted her: "I heard your majesty's call. Where is your majesty?"

Gao Yongrong did not get up, nor did he hide his memorial, and said, "Your Majesty is unwell and went to Hualin Garden. I was the one who passed you into the palace on his behalf. I have something to discuss."

Xiao Daocheng looked at the beautiful face of the woman across from him, and said, "I am all ears."

Gao Yongrong put down his pen and glanced at the nearby cronies.

Several people retreated, leaving her and Xiao Daocheng in the side hall. On Xiao Daocheng's face, the respectful look just now disappeared, and he got closer, glanced at the memorial in front of Gao Yongrong, and said with a smile: "Your Highness the Queen is really a hero of women. His Majesty's approval is all in the hands of His Highness." His tone was already slightly frivolous.

Gao Yongrong was also not unhappy, just glanced at him and smiled: "Could it be that you are angry, this son is yours, you didn't make it? Didn't my uncle recommend you to be the prince? You said it yourself, now Blame me again?"

Xiao Daocheng said nothing, walked to her side, grabbed one of her hands, and only stroked a few times before being pulled back by Gao Yongrong.

She changed her face, showing anger, and said in a low voice: "You are so bold! I thought I was still the same as before, I didn't understand anything, and I listened to your sweet words and coaxing? If you dare to be disrespectful to me, I will be welcome!"

Xiao Daocheng was stunned for a moment, then took a step back, but there was not much panic in his expression, and he only said: "In the past, you were the one who let me down on my sincerity for you, and the present Your Majesty made a marriage contract, how can I deceive you? And these Years, you are in Dongyang, and I was able to stay in Jiankang because of the reuse of the late emperor. Which time did I not pass the news to you? The prince..."

He turned his head, looked behind him, and lowered his voice.

"If it weren't for the misunderstanding, the prince was sent by Gao Qiao and his wife this time. I had already arranged it in the palace. When the time comes, I will remove it for you, so that you can get what you want."

"I treat you like this, why do you have any complaints? You work hard for His Majesty, but he ignores you. I'm just not worth it for you. That's all, you look down on me, how dare I force you?"

Gao Yongrong sneered: "I think I owe you countless things. When I asked you to get rid of Li Mu, you didn't tell me what you did, and you did something bad for me, which almost caused me to be suspected by my uncle!"

Xiao Daocheng's face turned red: "That time I underestimated him, I was not careful! Next time you will look at him again!"

Gao Yongrong glanced at him, his face slowly turned again, and he showed a smile: "Okay, it's just a joke that has caused so many complaints from you. There are many people in the palace, so you'd better be careful."

Xiao Daocheng's expression also changed, and he said in a low voice, "I know." He stopped teasing Gao Yongrong and asked about King Wu Xing.

Gao Yongrong said it again.

Xiao Daocheng's eyes were gloomy: "Xu Mi doesn't give up, I'm afraid that the abolished prince will make a mistake when he leaves his eyelids, and he still wants to hold the abolished prince in his hands to make a big show in the future." He looked at Gao Yongrong, "In the palace over there, my people are still there. Yes. If you say something, I can get rid of him now, and it's gone!"

Gao Yongrong shook his head: "No hurry. The Xu family can't move my Gao family for a while. The people of the Xu family in the court have been talking about the move of King Wu Xing recently. If they do it now, I am afraid it will lead to suspicion and unnecessary trouble. "

"Besides, if it is so coincidental that something happened to the prince right now, my uncle will be suspicious of me. It's not worth it. We don't have to do anything, I can just let my uncle handle this matter. He doesn't worry about the Xu family and won't let Wu Xing go for a long time. The king is left in the hands of the Xu family."

Xiao Daocheng nodded and said with a smile: "Gao Xianggong is very protective of His Majesty and you, after all, it is a family. Fortunately, there is him in the court, so that Xu Mi's conspiracy will not succeed. I heard that he and the eldest princess are now reconciled? After the funeral of the late emperor, the eldest princess did not return to Bailuzhou, and it is said that she has been staying in the city."

Gao Yongrong remembered that Gao Qiao and his wife had conspired to skip over their husband when Emperor Xingping was dying, and he was fascinated for a moment, and said coldly: "Why do they maintain it? But they are all planning for themselves. Especially My aunt, I know her, since I was a child, she has not kissed me. I still don't know what to think now, I am afraid that in front of my uncle, I will inevitably say that I am not. After a long time, my uncle was originally towards me and His Majesty. , I'm afraid I can't stand her pillow wind."

After he finished speaking, he saw Xiao Daocheng looking at him, as if thoughtfully, and waved his hand: "Forget it, let's not talk about that. I called you into the palace because of Xu Mi Luguang's northern expedition. His two families jointly sent troops, named For the Northern Expedition for the imperial court, who knows that these two people want to take advantage of Bei Jie's exhaustion to deal with it, and His Majesty is at the beginning of his enthronement. The court asks for food and grass? They dare to send troops, but they don't have it? They just took the opportunity to open their mouths and want to defraud the court! You are the minister of government now, and you have to handle this matter for me. You can't not send food and grass at all. , so as not to fall into the trap of truth, the imperial court and His Majesty have no intention of expedition to the north, but they must not send them as many times as they want!"

Xiao Daocheng said: "Don't worry. Mr. Gao is working on this matter. He is raising food and grass to send to the son of the Lu family. It's just that there were constant natural disasters last year.

Gao Yongrong's expression relaxed a little.

Xiao Daocheng paused for a moment, but couldn't help but say again: "Gao Xianggong is also a strange person. Xu Mi Luguang's northern expedition is clearly aimed at him. Intending to encircle the Xu Lu allied army, he ordered the Guangling army to snipe and intercept the Qingzhou soldiers. It's really..."

He shook his head, puzzled.

Gao Yongrong said: "Of course you don't understand what my uncle did. But no one knows him better than me. Since there is no food to raise, that's all. Just do what he wants and don't make him suspicious."

Xiao Daocheng nodded: "I know."

Gao Yongrong snorted: "The Xu Lu family has really conquered Luoyang this time, and they must not work together. In the future, the three families will confront each other again, let's see them fight!"

Xiao Daocheng smiled and said: "With a queen like you who is not inferior to men, it is God who wants to revive my Xiao family. Given time, I am afraid that these noble families will not be able to do anything? Let them fight on their own first, the harder the fight, the better. It's our turn to clean up!"

"Right!" He suddenly remembered and looked at Gao Yongrong.

"In the past few days, the courtiers have been talking about Li Mu. He actually sent troops to fight against Xijin? I heard that he also sent a message to the court to ask for a war? It's incredible. Xi Jingang took Chang'an from Beixia, with an aura like that. Hong, thousands of miles in the west of Longxi, all the people in Xianbei, he has the confidence to call out!"

"At this time and another, you were justifiable that you didn't want Mr. Gao to be humiliated by him in the past, but now the situation is different. If this time, if we really ask him to do extraordinary things again, we must recruit and make use of such talents. When the late emperor promoted him, he wanted to reuse him in the future and use him to deal with those people. He is now your brother-in-law, I heard that your sisters are deeply in love, and if you add your skills, he will definitely be used by you. "

Gao Yongrong said, "You don't need to tell me, I know too! Let's see if he can beat it first."

After a few more recitations, Gao Yongrong urged him to leave the palace. Xiao Daocheng also knew that he could not stay for a long time. When he retired, he was stopped by Gao Yongrong.

"I called you here, in addition to the matter just now, there is another matter. I am really worried about my aunt. You and my uncle are getting close. You should pay attention to me carefully. Let me know right away."

Xiao Dao agreed, hesitated for a while, then walked back, and whispered a few words in a low voice.

Gao Yongrong was startled: "Is there really such a person?"

"If you don't believe it, I'll arrange for you to see it someday when you're free. It's true or false, I'm sure I won't be able to hide it from you."

Gao Yongrong was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Alright. You bring someone quietly, I'll see you."

…

After Xiao Yongjia and her husband were reconciled, Gao Qiao seemed to have an old house on fire, and she was even more attached to her than when she was young. When Taicheng comes back every day, as soon as the task at hand is over, he will definitely find her.

Some time ago, Xiao Yongjia thought about a building on the island that was old and had to be renovated. I also thought that if I had already cultivated, it would be better to cultivate better, and wait for my daughter and son-in-law to come back in the future to live for them, so I watched it myself. On those days, sometimes it was too late to go back to the city, so I stayed on the island. I don't want her husband to come back to Taicheng, no matter how late, if she is not in the city, she will leave the city and go to the island to spend the night with her. Early the next day, she will return to the city for the meeting, but she will only sleep for a few hours. Xiao Yongjia felt sorry for Gao Qiao's hard work. Before the house was finished, he returned to Gao's house and never went back to live on the island.

This month, the court has another major event.

Li Mu single-handedly fought against the powerful Xijin Xianbei, making her very worried. One wave has not settled, and another has risen. Xu Mi Luguang's alliance with the Northern Expedition was clearly aimed at Gao Qiao, but this old man still raised food and grass for others, and sent Gao Yin to attack the Qingzhou Army in Beixia. Xiao Yongjia was very annoyed. He wanted to talk about him, but he knew he would not listen. Originally, he would go to the study to accompany him every night. In the past few nights, one is angry with him, and the other is that people feel very tired and sleepy during the day. He didn't go to the study room to accompany him, and went to bed early.

Today is Xiu Mu. Early in the morning, Gao Qiao saw that his wife was not in good spirits, soothed her and told her to sleep again, saying that he would come back to accompany her earlier, and then hurried to Taicheng.

Twenty years ago, he had said that to her. Xiao Yongjia didn't believe his nonsense any longer. After her husband went, she lay alone for a while, thinking about her daughter, not knowing how she was now, she was very worried, and then got up and suddenly felt nausea and vomiting when she had breakfast.

The maid next to her thought that she was cold last night and was busy to call an imperial doctor, but she suddenly realized that her menstrual affairs seemed to be delayed for a few days last month, and it is still in the future.

Immediately, I thought that it might be because I was pregnant again, so I immediately called someone to invite an imperial doctor who was good at gynecology.

The imperial doctor said everything, and congratulated her, saying that she was happy. After a careful re-examination, she said that she was a little older, no younger than a young woman, and her fetus seemed to be slightly unstable. She told her to relax, not to think too much, and to have a good health. She told him to call him immediately if there was any discomfort. After opening the prescription for the secondary safety tire, I went.

At this age, her daughter is also married, and she is pregnant!

Xiao Yongjia was confused by this news. He didn't know whether it was joy or sorrow, and he didn't dare to speak up. He didn't even tell the people who served him. He sent the imperial doctor away. He was in a complicated mood, restless, and was suffering. A letter from his daughter, Cong Yicheng, who has been looking forward to it.

It has been half a year since my daughter went to Yicheng. In the past six months, the mother and daughter have communicated with each other.

Xiao Yongjia was worried that his daughter would suffer there. Thinking that as long as she said she was suffering, he would immediately send someone to pick her up. But later, after reading her letter, she described the life over there, not only did she not cry out bitterness, but there was joy everywhere between the lines, so she guessed that her son-in-law should be very good to her daughter. Feeling happy, she gradually let go.

The last time I received her letter was early last month. Over the past month, the situation has changed drastically. From the day she heard the news that Li Mu was going to fight Xijin, she had been very concerned. At this moment, she finally received the letter and hurriedly read it.

The letter was written to Li Mu by her daughter on the day she sent her away. Said that Li Mu had led the army northward, and she had great confidence in Lang Jun, knowing that he would win. Yicheng's rear is also stable, so that his mother can rest assured that there is no need to worry about her emptiness.

Her daughter's optimism finally made Xiao Yongjia's heart that had been hanging for a long time put down a little.

Gao Qiao returned very late today. Xiao Yongjia has gone to bed. Seeing that he finally returned, he sat down.

Gao Qiao walked quickly to the bedside, supported her, sat on the side, and asked her about her body. Said that I just listened to the next person, and the imperial doctor came during the day and asked her what was wrong.

Seeing her husband's concerned expression, Xiao Yongjia remembered that the imperial doctor said that his fetal image was unstable. He was afraid that he would not be able to save the pregnancy. He told him early, and made him feel happy. All right.

Gao Qiao breathed a sigh of relief, helped her lie down, and said softly, "Go to sleep first. I have something to do. Go to the study, and I'll be back when I'm ready."

Xiao Yongjia watched her husband go out of the house, how did she fall asleep? After tossing and turning for a while, I thought that he had woken up early these days and was in the dark again. Although I was angry with him, I couldn't let it go. I also got up and took a bowl of angelica lotus seed soup that I started to cook in the evening, and sent it to the study in person.

Gao Qiao also knew in his heart that Xiao Yongjia was angry for his cooperation with Xu Lu's Northern Expedition. He hadn't come to the study for a few nights. Suddenly seeing her coming again, he even gave him something to eat. If there is nothing good at hand, he will turn off the lights and say that he will accompany her back to the room to sleep.

Xiao Yongjia sat over and sorted out the messy letters and documents on the case for him, saying: "Okay! I don't know you yet, even if I fall asleep in the middle of the night, you will secretly sneak in the middle of the night. Get up and do it here again. I don't want you to sleep well either. You do your job, leave me alone. Go to sleep when you're well."

Gao Qiao thoughtfully put a blanket around his wife's legs to keep out the cold in winter, and put a hidden capsule behind her waist, and sighed with a smile: "You are the only one who knows me best. I don't know how you are."

Her husband was just an unintentional remark, but it made Xiao Yongjia feel infinite in his heart. He secretly touched his now flat belly, thinking that no matter what, he must take good care of his body and give birth to a child for him.

The library fell silent.

The candles were burning, the couple sat opposite each other, as usual, one was busy, the other was arranging and transcribing for him, looking for what he wanted for him, and finally after the matter was over, the two went back to the house together and went to bed, Gao Qiao thought about these days. She is busy, and she doesn't pay attention to herself. It has been several days since she has had sex. At this moment, she sees his wife lying beside him, charming and gentle, and suddenly moves his hand towards her, but she is pushed away.

Xiao Yongjia ordered him to lie on the pillow, climbed up by himself, sat down on his lap, and kneaded his shoulders with both hands.

Gao Qiaozheng had some sore neck and shoulders, quietly enjoying his wife to relax his muscles and bones. After a while, he closed his eyes and said in a low voice: "A Ling, I know you are angry. It's just that I can't do it without paying attention. No matter what their original intentions are, if they can really capture Luoyang, they will regain half of the country that has been lost for many years for the court. , it's like doing things for me that I couldn't do back then, what regrets do I have?"

He felt the hands pressed against his back, stopped for a while, and kneaded again.

"You are willing to do things for those who want to harm you. I can ignore you, but why don't you think about your daughter and son-in-law? Today I received a letter from my daughter. She even asked me to ask you how you are!"

He heard his wife speak again. He opened his eyes and turned over.

"Show me now!"

Seeing his happy face, Xiao Yongjia rolled his eyes at him, took Luoshen's letter from under the pillow, and handed it over.

After reading it, Gao Qiao slowly accepted the letter. After being silent for a long time, he said: "Compared with Xu Lu's Northern Expedition, I am actually more worried about Chang'an. Although he made a one-year contract with me, I have no intention of persecuting it. He hastily used troops to fulfill his contract. If he can't get Chang'an back, do I really bring Ami back? I also raised some provisions for him. Last time, he only sent a letter to the imperial court asking for Zhanshu, and he didn't give me anything. personal letters, not to mention asking the imperial court for provisions."

"Li Muqi's..."

He looked complicated, stopped, and didn't speak again for a long time.

Xiao Yongjia hugged her husband from the back, told him to lie back, and whispered: "Don't worry. I think he is a very well-organized person. Since marrying our daughter, and all the way, have you ever seen him act recklessly? He If we decide to fight with Xijin, we must have a chance of winning. Let's rest assured and wait for the good news over there."

Gao Qiao suppressed the worries in his heart and murmured.

"Deep of Field, have you ever thought, let's have another baby?"

He closed his eyes and meditated. After a while, he suddenly heard his wife ask such a question in his ear. With her long hair scattered on the pillow, she sighed, "I'm old, I can't do it anymore."

"What if? Are you happy?"

Gao Qiao smiled again and took his wife into his arms: "naturally. I'm just afraid that you'll be working too hard, so I don't want it. I have Ami, that's enough."

Xiao Yongjia stopped talking, leaned into her husband's arms, and slowly closed his eyes.

His wife's casual remarks did not make Gao Qiao think too much. He also closed his eyes, but couldn't sleep for a long time.

Considering the time and distance, Li Mu's army should have almost reached Shunyang at this time.

It should be about to meet halfway with the Xijin army going south.

He was extremely anxious, and was always waiting for the outcome of the battle.