Chapter 120 – Winter Arrives Again

War Doudou climbed up from the collapse, and had his own Si Li Li put a gray and black cloak on him. Walking to the entrance of the temple, looking at the snowflakes drifting outside the temple, the supreme ruler of Northern Qi fell into deep thought.

Northern Qi inherited from Wei, preferring black and green and other solemn and neutral colors, this thousand-year-old palace built on the mountain is so, the clothes he is wearing today are basically these two colors, his bare feet in the warm fleece shoes, I wonder if it has ever been warm.

Snowflakes drifted through the slits of his slightly squinted eyes and landed on the quiet ground. This hall is deep in the depths of the palace, not far from the empress dowager’s palace, not far from the pavilion behind the mountain, very quiet, if there is no His Majesty’s authorization, any idle people are not allowed to approach. Serving in this palace around the number of eunuchs and maids is very small, are when the empress dowager brought up the old ma old slaves, also do not have to worry about the biggest secret of northern qi will be leaked.

However, in such a safe situation, the Emperor of Northern Qi still put his hands behind his back, calmly staring straight into the snow, without a hint of weakness. Perhaps for her, dressing up as a man has long since not been something to be done with care, something to be hidden, but rather she has long since seen herself as a man, an emperor, and this aura has long since penetrated into her flesh and bones, unable to be separated.

“After Chen Pingping’s death, there are only three people left in this world who are qualified to land a son.” A trace of complexity surfaced on her face, the weather was a little cold, her cheeks were a little red, just no delicate meaning, instead, there were a few points of stern killing, “I have not thought that Chen Pingping actually played such a game in the end ……”

Beiqi emperor’s eyebrow tip knit up, heave a mouth of cold air, said, “Only now do I understand, the state master before he left, why he cared so much about Chen Pingping’s longevity, it turns out that he has long seen the right, want to force Fan Xian and his cheap old man to turn over his face, and also only Chen Pingping’s last active choice.”

“I don’t understand why Chen Pingping did this, what kind of hatred could make him do such a desperate thing?” She sneered and said, “I think it has something to do with that woman back then.”

Si Li Li slowly walked to her side and gave her a worried look, handing over the small warmer in her hand and asking softly, “The three people include Fan Xian as well?”

She was the granddaughter of the former Prince of Southern Qing, but now she was the only favored Li Noble Consort in the Beiqi Palace, the relationship between her and the Beiqi Emperor was a bit more intimate than what many people had guessed, they were companions, partners who had grown up together since childhood, and also confided in each other. Earlier, the Emperor of Beiqi said that after Chen Pingping’s death, there were only three people who were still qualified to fall in the world, and if these three people included Fan Xian ……

“Fan Xian is certainly qualified.” The Emperor of Beiqi gently rubbed the slightly hot heater and said with a sigh, “He had a good mother and was ruthless enough with himself to have the power he has today …… Don’t underestimate his energy, there are good things hidden inside Dongyi City.”

“At least right now, Emperor Qing doesn’t want to push him to the brink of extinction, and is still thinking of taking him in. Because subduing Fan Xian’s lineage is far more beneficial to Southern Qing than eliminating him.” The Emperor of Northern Qi said quietly, “This alone proves that the power in Fan Xian’s hands makes even Emperor Qing wary.”

“It’s freezing cold, don’t stand at the entrance of the palace.” Si Li Li carefully looked at the emperor’s face, and out of the corner of his eye, he very imperceptibly brushed over the abdomen that was wrapped in that cloak.

The emperor, who was such an intelligent and sensitive person, immediately noticed her line of sight, and a trace of disgust immediately surfaced on his face, his cheeks tightened slightly, as if he was clenching his teeth and suppressing his anger.

Looking at the emperor with this look, Si Li Li but puffed and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “I wonder how Little Lord Fan would do his thoughts if he knew about His Majesty’s situation at this time.”

“That guy is ruthless as hell, yet …… in his bones he is a corrupt scholar.” The Emperor of Beiqi was unforgiving, meanly criticizing the man in the south and said with a cold smile, “What a naïve, childish and confused thing to do in these past few months! The current situation has developed so far, he even still has the luxury of hoping to solve the problem within Southern Qing, still wanting to die fewer people, he can let this matter come to an end …… He ultimately underestimated the Qing Emperor, even if that Emperor’s old man of his is not a great master, where are these small hands and feet of his to be able to shake the position?”

“Trying to change the dynasty with fewer deaths? It’s really absurd to the extreme.” The Emperor of Northern Qi narrowed his eyes slightly and did not listen to Si Li Li’s words as he left the entrance of this windy and snowy beginning of the temple and said coldly, “If I don’t help him this time around, Dongyi City will then face off head-on with Yan Jing’s battalion, and regardless of whether the two sides win or lose, I would like to see how he can still disguise himself as a rich and noble idler in the Kyoto.”

“Does Your Majesty really just want to help him hold Dong Yi City?” Si Li Li’s eyes turned slightly and asked softly.

Beiqi Emperor’s body slightly stiffened, seemingly did not expect Si Li Li a glance will see their other intentions, after a moment of silence said, “I am the Lord of Beiqi, can not because of a man to damage my Daqi soldiers and soldiers …… to help him is in fact to help themselves, the South Qing does not mess up, the pressure of Daqi is too great. Besides, the Qing Emperor originally has always had the idea of the northern expedition, now the Uesugi general cross guard in the south, first test, and then control the center, with the preparation, the future will always be easier.”

“I’m just a little worried about Uesugi Tiger.” Si Li Li lowered her eyebrows and responded, this sentence is actually not the turn of a harem consort to say, it’s just that she, this Noble Consort Li, in many times, is actually almost the same as the Northern Qi Emperor’s strategist.

“The foreign enemy is strong, Shangsugi tiger even if he remembers hate me back then and Fan Xian teamed up to kill Sean ……,” the Emperor of Beiqi slightly frowned, “but the South Qing one day does not eliminate the idea of northern invasion, Shangsugi general will not forget the world because of personal hatred …… I am so, and so is General Uesugi.”

“Just small Fan Lord right now in the south is in a difficult situation, once the people of the South Qing court to see out this Uesugi General troops …… and Dongyi City that aspect of the relationship …… “Si Li Li eyebrows A trace of worry flashed between Si Li Li’s eyebrows, and he couldn’t help but worry for Fan Xian. The three women in the capital city who have relations with Fan Xian, Haitang Duo Duo is far above the grassland, the palace of this emperor, His Majesty the emperor’s heart, cold and heartless, I’m afraid that he doesn’t care much about Fan Xian’s death or life, but Si Li Li can’t help worrying about the man who is gentle at times, but also cold at times.

“I have never worried that the Southerners would be able to tell the true purpose of this southward journey, which could not have been hidden from many people, or at least those who know the true state of affairs between the Southern Qing court and Dongyi City would surely be able to guess it.” Beiqi Emperor said indifferently, “Yanjing that Wang Zhikun must be the first to guess …… what to be afraid of? Even if it gets out, I’m not afraid, colluding with Da Qi, I think this is a crime that Fan Xian can’t even afford.”

When Si Li Li heard this section, he couldn’t help but sigh quietly and said, “It turns out that His Majesty has never gotten rid of the idea of forcing him to come to the Upper Capital …… Just if it really comes to that, will he still be able to come over alive?”

The wind and snow are chilling, making the cheeks blush, the Emperor of Northern Qi looked flatly at the wind and snow and slowly said, “If he is alive but refuses to come, to me, to you, what difference does it make with being dead?”

“Duo should not know about this.” Si Li Li tilted her head and looked at her.

“Junior Master Aunt is on the grasslands, and the people on the Western Liang Road are dead, so it’s inconvenient to contact her.” The Emperor of Northern Qi lowered his head, looking at his toes, silent for a long time. His right hand suddenly lifted up, slightly trembling, as if he wanted to stroke his abdomen, only this action was not done for a long time. However, the fingertips were slightly curved, finally revealing a trace of feminization.

“Your Majesty, the military report has arrived, all the ministers are waiting for the carriage at the Hop Ran Pavilion.” An old eunuch outside the hall sandy his voice and urgently reported, now that the south is fighting with the Qing people, the military situation is tense, no one dares to miss a beat, and the mood of the people of Beiqi, who for the first time find their own army, finally brave enough to launch an offensive first, is also much different than before.

Hearing these words, the Emperor of Beiqi raised his head in a hugh manner, and the hint of suppleness in his eyes had long since dissolved into a cold general calmness. Si Li Li hurriedly tied a golden jade belt around the waist of her black cloak. She marched towards the outside of the hall, her footsteps steady, her imperial demeanor on full display. After leaving the deep hall, Lord Wolf Peach and Daoist He were already waiting outside.

In the 10th year of the Qing calendar, Dongyi City nominally submitted to the Southern Qing, and the world’s momentum looked to be irreversibly changed, however, a rain in Kyoto at the beginning of the fall pulled the situation back. Regardless of whether Fan Xian, who was in the center of the vortex, really had such far-sightedness at the beginning, but at least the current Dongyi City was actually under the control of him and the Grand Chamberlain.

It had to be said that the Four Gu Swords’ last order had really played its most powerful role at this moment. The thirteen sons of the Sword Lodge, with the exception of Yun Zhilan who had taken up the position of Lord of Dongyi City, the remaining twelve, as well as those grandchildren’s masters, had all gathered under Fan Xian’s command, and together with the 10,000 elite troops led by the Grand Prince of Nanqing, and with the 4,000 Black Riders left by Chen Pingping for Fan Xian, as long as there was no obstacle to cooperation between Fan Xian and the Grand Prince, Dongyi City had once again become a separate power.

And no matter which way one looked at it, the trust and cooperation between Fan Xian and the Grand Prince was not something that could be broken so easily, as had been extremely well demonstrated in the Kyoto Rebellion three years ago.

Dongyi City, after the death of the Four Gu Swords, still maintained its independence, and it was thought that the soul of this great master after his death would also be pleased.

Of course, the key to achieving the current situation, in addition to Dongyi City’s own strength, in fact, the most critical, or the Qingli ten years in the late fall, the Northern Qi military suddenly launched this autumn offensive. This inbound offensive, so that the Northern Qi court lost a lot of strength and food and grass, and ultimately just let the Uesugi tiger wonderful hand even got that corner of the state city, looks like, the Northern Qi people really some more than worth the loss.

Immediately after the Northern Qi whole territory launched, made a full-scale southward appearance, forcing the Southern Qing Dynasty to prepare for war, a big war, it seems that in the spring of next year is going to break out.

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

Regardless of how that female disguised as a male Emperor of Beiqi in front of Si Li Li, how to hide her inner thoughts, mouth only put the interests of the court of Beiqi and its people in the forefront, but she ultimately could not convince herself that she did all this, largely because of that man in Nanqing, that with her game for several years, cooperate for several years, struggle for several years, and finally once in the Palace of the joy, to become the first and only one of her man.

The news of the war in the north central part of the continent reached Kyoto, has entered the early winter, this year’s weather in Kyoto is somewhat abnormal, the autumn rain is even more dense, seems to squeeze down the moisture in the sky, after the winter, the sky is cloudless, just a dull and cold, but no snow.

Without the Supervisory Board, the intelligence from the Moon Embracing House was all marginal news after all, and Fan Xian wasn’t clear on the true inner workings of that battle in the north, but that didn’t stop him from analyzing it and making judgments that were close to the truth. Unlike what Battle Doudou expected, the outbreak of the battle did not make Fan Xian angry, because after all, he was not a real saint, but just an ordinary person, he knew that the female emperor in the north was helping herself, it was hard to be angry about anything, he was just a little gloomy.

The reason for the gloominess between his eyebrows was complicated, perhaps it was because he realized that he actually had no way of influencing the thoughts of the Northern Qi Imperial family, even if he had pinched the other party’s biggest handle, but the other party was ultimately a monarch, and would have her own thoughts. Another reason was the attitude of the palace after this matter.

Beiqi invaded, then retreated, do not collect, prepare for war, this chain of four strikes, in fact, are in the Dongyi City to share the pressure, but all the sharp-eyed bigwigs can see this point, so some people are also clear about the role played by Fan Xian in this. Although not many people understood this, and it didn’t spill over into the discussions in the folklore of the Kingdom of Qing, the silence in the palace, however, still left Fan Xian somewhat unprepared.

Those few Southern Qing bigwigs would be shocked at Fan Xian’s influence, shocked that he was actually able to get the Northern Qi people to send troops to help him, such as the Duke of Liu, who had rarely been to the palace the other day, Liu’s father, the Duke of Liu, who had been silent for many years in the imperial court, but whose residual power was still there, had spoken at length with Fan Xian for an entire night that night.

He is Liu’s biological father, counting is also Fan Xian’s grandparents, Fan Xian these years in the capital on the State Duke Lane has been extremely respectful, this State Duke, although seldom out of the house, but in the critical moment, has never stood on the side of Fan Xian, so for the other side of the lesson, Fan Xian, although silent, but did not refute.

As a soldier of Qing origin, Duke Liu was somewhat shocked and alarmed at the hidden relationship between the war in the north and Fan’s household, only that things could not be picked apart, so the old man only came up to the mansion to warn Fan Xian for a few moments, reminding him of a few things.

Why was the palace still so calm when even an unquestioning figure like the Duke of Liu had begun to fear the role that Fan Xian might play? Fan Xian did not believe that the Emperor’s Elder would be shocked by the strange changes in the north, and even less did he believe that the Emperor’s Elder would develop some scruples even if his own strong Northern Qi reinforcements were bared to the Emperor’s Elder.

His Majesty originally needed a war, where would he be afraid of the Northern Qi’s advance. Just this kind of quiet and silence, really some unusual.

The cold air gradually condensed, and the first snow in Kyoto finally drifted down. At the beginning of winter, on the winter solstice, dumplings began to cook in the cauldrons of the people’s houses in Kyoto, and the business of killing goats in all the restaurants was so good that every corner of the streets and alleys seemed to be filled with the delicious taste of mutton soup.

The Prince He’s Mansion, which has been silent in Kyoto for a long time, has its main door wide open today, and there are honored guests, however, it still can’t be lively, because the people who come are always just a few. Prince Heping’s residence outside of the forbidden army responsible for guarding, with vigilant eyes watching the movement of each place, nowadays the role of these forbidden army, to a greater extent, is used to guard this royal residence, right.

The great prince resisted the holy will and did not return to the capital, this matter was not publicized, only a few ministers in the court know. One of the royal son who led the army outside, disobeyed the decree, this thing is extremely treasonous, just for the court and Li’s royal family’s face, in Yanjing camp side can’t enter Dongyi city’s situation, the court kept silent for the time being, but no one is willing to relax on the Prince of Harmony’s mansion’s guarding.

Fan Xian held Shuning’s small hand and walked into the Prince of Harmony’s Mansion with a smile on his face, walking side by side with the crown princess towards the pavilion room in the center of that lake. Lin Wan’er was pulled away by Ye Ling’er as soon as she entered the mansion, and this pair of handkerchief friends didn’t know what things they would go on about.

“Little Lord Fan is still really every amazing.” The Prince Consort of Harmony’s pink face was not powerful, just a tranquil, she is now also equal to a hostage, often closed the door of the house, today is a rare winter solstice, but will be the most delicate situation in Kyoto of these young people invited over.

Fan Xian husband and wife, Ye Ling’er, Roujia county princess, plus Prince Consort and side consort Wang Tiel, this is already most of the people in the royal family of Qing, in addition to the third prince in the deep palace, Li’s royal family’s young generation, have gathered to the royal residence, bias these young people are in a very bad situation nowadays.

“The Grand Princess is joking.” Fan Xian responded in a harmonious voice, “If we’re talking about what’s going on outside of Cangzhou City, I think you should know better than I do, that His Majesty, the young emperor of the north, is not a character I can make move.”

Wangfei looked at him with a complicated expression and said quietly, “It is precisely because I know his character, Imperial Brother, that I don’t understand how you were able to persuade him to send troops to help you.”

“I don’t think this matter needs to be mentioned.” Fan Xian smiled and responded, “At least it’s a good thing …… for the Great Hallkeeper who’s far away in Dongyi City, it’s just that you, Wangfei, are alone in Kyoto nowadays, so if there’s any inconvenience, please speak to me.”

Wangfei faintly smiled, very solemn salute, today’s situation is unpredictable, but she knows that she once made a mistake back then, and now can no longer make this kind of mistake, his husband and this young man in front of him, have been tied together, tied in the city of Dongyi.

“With the Yanjing Battalion’s sword pointing at Dongyi, I wonder how Wang Tiel feels in the mansion.” Seeing that Shuning beside him was somewhat unable to walk, Fan Xian picked her up and asked Wang Tieri. The little girl couldn’t understand what her elders were saying, and curiously opened her big eyes, turning them around on Fan Xian’s face and the Wang Concubine’s face.

“Although Tiel’s temperament is a bit arrogant, she is actually an innocent child, just slightly bored, sometimes I let her go to Ye Mansion to stroll around, she is so happy that she can’t …… By the way, she once thought of going up to Fan Mansion to take a look, but as you know, it is always inconvenient. ”

“Understood.” Fan Xian smiled faintly, looked at the Wangfei and said, “At first it was thought that with the Wangfei in the mansion, the Wang family’s young lady shouldn’t have any problems.”

“It wasn’t even something you straightened out in the first place. By the way, Miss Marzoso still doesn’t have a name, her age is finally too big …… ” The Wang Consort’s brows flashed a trace of gloom, now the great prince is far away in the east barbarians, far away from the court, her hostage life in Kyoto naturally lived an extremely miserable life, and the mansion is biased there is also a small child like a side consort, there is also There was also a small child-like concubine in her house, and a Hu girl who was straightforward but didn’t understand the world, which made it a bit difficult for her to fulfill her duties.

Fan Xian sighed: “Nowadays, where do I still care about these. But at first, although I am the Secretary of the Taishang Temple to get out of the demon ezi, but you and I know that, ultimately, but is His Majesty’s intention.”

Words here, say again also tasteless, it so happens that the two have walked across the wooden bridge over the lake to the pavilion in the middle. The pavilion is surrounded by glass windows, light and wind, with a few warm stoves, the breath is like spring, cozy. 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 let out a sigh in his heart.

On the winter solstice of that year, Fan Xian was summoned to the palace as a county princess and extra horse harnessed by the side of a team, and under the ice-like gaze of the empress dowager, he ate a meal of mutton soup in a very uninterested manner. It seemed that it was still in that year that the eldest prince opened his residence to invite guests, and it was in this very pavilion that all the young men of the Li Clan’s royal family, except for the crown prince, were present, and the second prince was there as well.

Now that the Empress Dowager was dead, the Second Prince was dead, the Crown Prince was dead, those who deserved to die, those who didn’t, were all dead, leaving Fan Xian, who was locked up in Kyoto, the Great Prince, who was isolated in the Eastern Barbarians, the Third Prince, who was secluded in the palace, plus these five girls.

All of his children were implicitly standing against him, was he better off? Fan Xian couldn’t help but think of His Majesty the Emperor in the palace, and stood at the entrance of the pavilion a little lost in thought, half a long time apathetic and speechless.

The hot pot was brought in, but today’s meal was a bit silent, probably each of them had thought of something in their hearts. Fan Xian sat beside Rou Jia, like a warm and friendly elder brother, asking for warmth and asking for warmth, shabbling the mutton in the bowl for her. The girls in the pavilion, probably Rou Jia appeared to be the most timid and pitiful, although there were rumors in the palace that the King of King of King County would return to his residence in a couple of days, but when he thought of a girl who had been alone in the King of King of King County’s residence for a couple of months, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

With no servants in the pavilion, everyone was much more casual in their conversation, and even Wang Tiel, who was a bit formal and unfamiliar, with a funny look in her eyes, didn’t feel left out. Fan Xian got up and went to the corner of the pavilion to pick up the silver coals, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ye Ling’er following him.

“I know your heart aches for Wang Tiel.” Fan Xian stood up and looked at her and said softly. What kind of ending would Wang Tiel have in the future, would she become a young widow like Ye Ling’er? It was anyone’s guess.

Ye Ling’er sighed, long gone was the pretty woman who had marched through the streets of Kyoto on horseback, and said, “Master, could it be that you’re just going to keep messing around with His Majesty like this?”

Fan Xian was silent for a moment and then said, “You asked me to death …… but His Majesty’s eyes are only afraid that there is no me at all, in a few days, perhaps there is news coming from the west, you help me to inquire about the wind, there is no movement in the Privy Council in the dark.”

“In terms of political affairs, father won’t let me interfere, I’m not Sun Knitting.” Ye Ling’er glared at him, then said with a slightly gloomy face, “I don’t know what you’re doing master, I just want to advise you.”