Harue Kagetsu - Chapter 132

Outside the gate of the high mansion, an inconspicuous cyan sedan chair parked quietly. Apart from the two front and rear Yufu, only Gao Qi was standing nearby, standing with his hands down.

Gao Qiao put on the feather crown, held the Gui Gui in both hands, and sat in the middle of the yurt early. When he saw Li Mu coming out, he nodded slightly to him, put down the yuguan, and the sedan chair walked forward.

Li Mu took the reins of the horse from the servant who was leading the horse, turned over and got on the horse’s back, slightly behind.

One horse and one horse, in the hazy dawn glowing with a faint blue light, went in the direction of Jiankang Palace.

Luoshen stood behind the door, watching the backs of the sitting and horse in front of him gradually disappearing in the semi-dark sky, raised his eyes, and turned his eyes to the Hongyu Chong Building and the tall and majestic palace in the distance. direction.

Since she can remember, she has been in and out of that place so many times that she is so familiar that she will not get lost even with her eyes closed.

But in fact, if you think about it carefully, isn’t that place like a mirage among the clouds, illusory and unreachable?

In the palace city, which is made up of countless gorgeous palaces, there have been many meetings between the monarch and his ministers.

Today’s meeting was just one of those countless times.

But because of a person named Li Mu, today is destined to be a special court meeting.

Who would have imagined that the little-known military commander in the wilderness would actually rise to the sky, step into the sky, surpass hundreds of officials as the great Sima, hold power and execute orders, and be majestic. superior.

Luoshen was not able to experience this court meeting in person, but he could imagine the scene. In the Golden Palace, hundreds of officials stood, Li Mu was wearing golden crowns and red robes, and the moment he took the seal before the stage, what kind of glory the scene should be.

In the countless eyes behind him, in addition to awe and envy, there must also be a dark peep full of jealousy and dissatisfaction.

This is a victory belonging to the poor family, and it is also a shame branded on the forehead of the aristocratic family.

She could even imagine that when her father, who had been in charge of the imperial court for many years, handed out the resignation letter he had written in his own hand, and uttered the sentence of resigning from the illness, the people in the court, civil and military, noble and noble, those people were there. For a moment, what surprise and shock should have been received.

That night, when night had just come, a palace chariot, escorted by the guard of honor, stopped in front of the gate of the Gao Mansion.

Empress Dowager Gao Yongrong took the young emperor out of the palace to Gao Mansion, and came to visit Gao Qiao in person.

Li Mu was still outside and did not come back.

Gao Qiao returned home from the dynasty and entered the study, but the door remained closed, and he never showed up when he learned that the Empress Dowager brought the Young Emperor there.

Luoshen took his family to the front hall to kneel and greet Luan.

With a smile on Gao Yongrong’s face, he chatted with Luoshen.

Luoshen could see that although he was covering it up, his cousin’s greeting seemed a little absent-minded.

She knew that in the eyes of her cousin and those ministers of civil and military affairs, her father’s resignation was a bit sudden.

After the two said a few words, Gao Yongrong asked about Gao Qiao’s body.

Luoshen led her and the young emperor to the study, and when they reached the door, he knocked gently on the door, and the door opened from the inside.

Gao Qiao stood behind the door, with a plain green robe, wide sleeves, a thin face, and a serious expression. He looked at Gao Yongrong and the young emperor who came up the corridor outside the door, and his figures remained motionless, waiting for her to lead the young emperor to his own. In front of him, he took a step back, knelt down and said, “His Majesty and the Queen Mother came to the humble house, but Gao Qiao failed to go to meet him, begging for forgiveness.”

Gao Yongrong gently pushed the young emperor’s shoulder.

The young emperor was only four years old and had not yet gone to school, but he was already extremely smart.

Before the chaos in the middle school last year, Gao Yongrong had asked Gao Qiao to be the prince’s grandfather. Luoshen also knew that his father really wanted to wait for the prince to get older, so he personally taught him to read. Unexpectedly, Tianshijiao and Xu Mi successively rebelled and the country had no peace, so this matter was put on hold until now.

The child kept in mind the advice from his mother, walked in front of Gao Qiao, stretched out his hand, grabbed Gao Qiao’s sleeve, and said clearly: “Grandfather, please get up, don’t let go…”

Seeing that Gao Qiao looked up and seemed to be about to speak, Gao Yongrong had followed him up, rushing to support Gao Qiao, and said, “Uncle, please get up quickly! Today, my niece brought Deng’er back, and she came to visit her parents as a family member. Uncle must never bring the ritual of kneeling in the imperial court into his home. If so, he will see the outside world and not take his niece and Deng’er as his own.”

Gao Qiao stopped talking, slowly got up from the ground, and sat cross-legged in the center of a square couch.

Luoshen led Gao Yongrong and the young emperor to sit there, and the servants quickly brought tea. Luoshen rolled up his sleeves, sat on his knees, and brewed tea himself.

Gao Yongrong asked about Gao Qiao’s body, his tone was full of concern. Hearing that Gao Qiao said that he was fine, he breathed a sigh of relief, and said, “My niece has long wanted to bring Deng’er to visit my uncle. First, I was busy with other affairs. Second, I heard that my uncle has closed the door recently, for fear of disturbing my uncle’s recuperation. , I have not been able to make the trip. I finally returned home today, and I am relieved to see that my uncle is well. I urge my uncle to relax and recuperate. The well-being of my uncle is my great blessing. “

Gao Qiao was noncommittal, his eyes fell on the young emperor who was sitting beside Gao Yongrong, as if he was thinking about something, and he was slightly lost.

Gao Yongrong noticed it and said hurriedly: “Deng’er has a dull aptitude, and because of his young age, he did not formally enter school, but his niece did not dare to relax, and she had nothing to do on weekdays, so she taught him diligently, teaching him about Yao, Shun, Yu Tang, sages and ancient sages. I hope that he will become a generation of Mingjun in the future. Fortunately, this child is diligent and devoted to learning. After the first emperor goes, it can be regarded as a comfort to me…”

As if being saddened by her own words, her eyes were slightly red, she lowered her head to take the handkerchief, and gently wiped away her tears.

Gao Qiao retracted his gaze and nodded: “You can teach Ruzi.”

Gao Yongrong burst into tears and smiled: “Uncle is wrong. When the late emperor was still alive last year, the late emperor wanted to ask his uncle to be the prince’s grandfather and teach Deng’er to read. He didn’t want the country to fall into chaos, and the late emperor died unfortunately, so this matter was settled. It’s over. Now that the country has settled down, taking this opportunity, my niece has an unkind request. When my uncle recovers, can I take the time to be Deng’er’s grandfather in the future? It will also be of great benefit to him in the future if he gets one or two points from his uncle.”

Gao Qiao stared at Gao Yongrong without saying a word.

In the study, it suddenly became quiet, and only the sound of bubbles from the boiling water in the belly of the teapot could be heard.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little unusual.

Luoshen poured tea and gently sent it to the two of them.

Gao Qiao finally opened his mouth and said word by word: “Since ancient times, the ability of a monarch to learn has always been second. The virtue of a monarch is the first.”

His tone sounded very solemn.

Luoshen quietly glanced at his father, and then at his cousin.

Gao Yongrong seemed to be stunned. He probably didn’t expect Gao Qiao to answer like this. After a pause, he immediately reacted and said with a smile, “What uncle said is very true. What my niece means is that Deng’er is learning from uncle Yu in addition to his studies. Besides, I also need my uncle to teach him the way of being a king and the principles of being a man.”

She motioned to the young emperor and asked him to bow down to Gao Qiao’s disciple and teacher.

The child was taught very cleverly by his mother, so he got up immediately, and was about to greet Gao Qiao as a disciple, but was supported by Gao Qiao.

With a smile on his face, staring at the child, he gently told him to sit back without salute to himself, and then turned to Gao Yongrong.

“Your Majesty’s age, like a sapling rooted in the ground, is a good opportunity for teaching. Don’t spoil and indulge, and if you have a master to guide you in your studies, it is possible to become a generation of masters in the future. I can’t take this responsibility. Lang Ya Yan Gui , his talent and learning are far better than mine. When he was young, he was famous in the village for his sincerity and filial piety. He can be the emperor’s teacher. Another Feng Wei, who is talented in character and learning, can also be competent. After I go, you can hire two of them as Taifu. I It is expected that the two of them will do their best to teach Your Majesty.”

Gao Yongrong was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Luoshen, smiled and said, “Ami, please take Deng’er out to rest temporarily, okay?”

Luo Shen knew that when she came to see her father tonight, it must be related to the resignation her father submitted during the day. Having said so much just now, it is time to get to the point.

She glanced at her father, saw his indifferent expression, and with a promise, got up and led the young emperor out of the study.

When Luoshen left, Gao Yongrong said, “Uncle, to be honest, my niece is going home tonight, not only to visit my uncle, but also to beg my uncle, can she withdraw her resignation and stay in the court in the future?”

“I know this is an unkind request. My uncle is saddened by the death of my aunt. My niece also feels the same way. But people cannot be resurrected from the dead. At the time of making great ambitions, if I retire here, it will not only be a loss to the Great Yu court, but also to my uncle himself, wouldn’t it be a pity?”

She paused.

“Besides, I have always regarded my uncle as my parent, and I don’t hide it in front of my uncle. The reason why I hope that my uncle can stay is not only for the reason of just now, but also for Deng’er’s consideration…”

The circles around her eyes gradually became red again, and her tone was sad.

“Unfortunately, the late emperor passed away, Deng’er was young, and I was a woman and a family, an orphan and a widow, the situation was already difficult, the rebellion was just set, and the court still had internal and external troubles, if my uncle left, there will be such chaos in the future, who will come In charge of the overall situation, who will assist the young emperor? The niece begged my uncle to wait for the body to recover, focus on the overall situation, stay and continue to preside over the government. Dayu can’t live without his uncle!”

Gao Qiao said: “Feng Wei is the prime minister on my behalf, and Li Mu is the chief Sima. The two of them are in charge of the inside and the outside. I have also prepared a list of reusable officials, which I have submitted together with the resignation letter today. The honor of the queen mother, assisting the young emperor, discussing with the two of them in case of trouble, using more people on the list, stirring up the turbulence and clearing up, even if something happens, why should you be afraid and have nothing to rely on?”

Gao Yongrong said: “Compared to uncle, others are foreign surnames after all…”

Gao Qiao said, “You don’t believe in Li Mu?”

Gao Yongrong was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly explained: “Uncle, don’t misunderstand. How can your niece not believe in her brother-in-law? It’s just that His Majesty is young, and I am a wife and Taoist family. Dare to take it lightly…”

Gao Qiao smiled lightly: “Why should the empress dowager be humble. When the late emperor was alive, there were seven or eight of the memorials handed by the ministers, probably all of them were criticized by the first emperor, the descendant of the grandchildren. The empress dowager has long been familiar with dealing with the affairs of the state. Feng Wei, you just need to follow the rules, follow the steps step by step, be your empress dowager, assist the young emperor, and when the young emperor is an adult in the future, why are you worried?”

Gao Yongrong’s heart skipped a beat, his face changed slightly, he looked at Gao Qiao and saw his eyes fell on his face with a cold expression.

Her first reaction was to categorically deny it.

But in a short period of time, several thoughts flashed in my mind.

In the past, she reviewed the memorial for the emperor, all imitating the handwriting, and the matter was very secret, only a few cronies knew about it.

She didn’t expect that Gao Qiao knew about this, but she never mentioned it before, and it was only now that she said it unintentionally.

She quickly rejected the idea of ​​denial. He settled down and hurriedly explained: “Uncle, don’t misunderstand! It’s not that the niece intends to overstep. It is because the late emperor was weak, and those memorials could not be delayed. The late emperor asked me to help him. Every memorial, before sending it back to the minister, send it all to His Majesty for a look…”

As she explained, she quickly sifted through the people around her, wondering which one had betrayed her.

Gao Qiao seemed to have guessed what she was thinking, and said lightly: “Not long after the first emperor ascended the throne, he showed a state of laziness, and he clearly didn’t pay much attention to the affairs of the court. A batch of reissues were issued, and there was no omission, and you often defended the emperor in front of me.”

“It’s not too late to know. I guessed it.”

Gao Yongrong had a cold sweat on his back, and before he could breathe a sigh of relief, he heard Gao Qiao say again: “Arong, you have been doing things since you were young, and you have rules and regulations. This is a good thing. Later, you became a princess. , entered Jiankang as the queen, and then became today’s queen mother. When you reach your current position, do things with some scheming and use some means, as long as you have the overall situation in your heart, there is nothing wrong with it. The thing just now, although it is against the etiquette system, it is also considered Excusable. But I want to ask you something else.”

He stared at Gao Yongrong, his tone gradually became stern.

“You and the King of Xin’an, I’m afraid they had secret contacts in the past, right? How did he die that night? He originally used the Shaw Brothers to spy on me, so that the eldest princess was later killed by that woman. You dare to say that you didn’t know Shao before. Shi, has nothing to do with this matter?”

If Gao Qiao just revealed that it was only a trivial matter for him to review the memorials on behalf of the late emperor, then at this moment, when he heard such a straightforward questioning from his mouth, a piercing chill instantly turned her whole body from scratch. Surrounded by feet.

She couldn’t help shivering.

She wouldn’t admit it, but she didn’t dare deny it right away.

She didn’t know what evidence Gao Qiao had when he said this, or was it just his own suspicions and inferences based on some clues, just like before?