Chapter 1, Spring Snow (Middle)
Cining Palace is located on the west side of the outer inner court, next to the Yaozong Gate. In front of the gate, there is a square extending east to west, with a palace gate on each side. Cining Gate is situated on the north side of the square. By ascending the steps to the elevated corridor, one reaches the main entrance of Cining Palace. On both the east and west sides of the courtyard, there are covered walkways for shelter from wind and rain, extending southward to connect with Cining Gate, while the north leads directly to the east and west side rooms of the rear sleeping quarters.
Xianggui was so frightened that he kept bowing his head repeatedly
Bing Shan whispered: "What? Is there anyone else in the court who is ill?"
Your Majesty, one must not act impulsively in all matters. Xiao Nihan has numerous supporters both inside and outside the court. Even the Prime Minister Xuhuo cannot easily seize his power. Does Your Majesty not remember that he has successively killed five princes?
"What is nothingness?" Bing Shan raised his two white eyebrows slightly, and his deep-set eyes sparkled with an inscrutable light
"Today in the court, Xiao Nihan killed Xiao Qizi!" Long Yuan spoke of this matter with deep resentment, tears glistening in his eyes; it was only in front of Bing Shan that he dared to reveal his true feelings.
Bing Shan said softly: "Most people in this world think of themselves first; the common people think of food, clothing, and safety, while the ministers think of glory and wealth"
Your Majesty, this old servant has not taught you anything; it is merely that having spent a long time in the palace, you have seen and heard much. Everything you know today has been learned through your own diligent efforts.
Qiu Fuhai's old face flushed with embarrassment as he said: "Thank you for your great kindness, my lord! Thank you for your great kindness, my lord!"
As he stepped into the corridor, shaking off the snowflakes from his body, Long Yuan noticed two sword-bearing guards standing ahead. The two were whispering to each other, and upon seeing Long Yuan approach, they hurriedly knelt down on the ground: "Your Majesty, may you be blessed!"
Long Yuan clenched his fist and struck the desk fiercely: "How could I forget! My two imperial uncles, my three imperial brothers, all died at the hands of this old scoundrel. I will make him pay for this blood debt."
The auspicious snow heralds a bountiful year, Your Majesty. It seems that this year will once again be a year of abundant harvests!" Qiu Fuhai said this with a hint of unease, as last year, the twelve prefectures of Dakang suffered from a once-in-a-century drought, and the people are currently living in dire straits. This is also the fundamental reason for the recent frequent civil unrest.
Longyuan waved his hand and said: "Everyone, please rise. Baihong, Qingya, you two accompany me to the Cining Palace, while the rest may attend to your own matters."
Bing Shandao: "Those who achieve great things must endure what others cannot. Your Majesty, your wings have yet to fully develop, and your strength fundamentally cannot compete with him..."
Bing Shan sighed, saying: "Given the current momentum of Xiao Nihan, opposing him is tantamount to seeking one's own demise; they too are left with no choice but to act as they have."
Qiu Fuhai leaped forward in a swift motion and struck Xianggui hard across the face, saying: "You dog servant, how dare you show disrespect to His Majesty!"
Long Yuan raised his two sword-like eyebrows and said, "What a coincidence, why are so many ministers falling ill today"
The group of eunuchs and palace maids kneeling on the ground finally dared to stand up, with Long Yuan walking at the forefront, Qiu Fuhai bending over and following closely beside him, and two palace maids trailing at the back
Long Yuan smiled and said, "Master, do you think this time my illness related to the void has anything to do with Xiao Nihan?"
Bing Shan sighed and said, "Xiao Nihan is becoming increasingly rampant!"
Long Yuan sighed and said: "Unfortunately, I cannot give them either of these two things"
His qualifications in the palace are somewhat inferior to those of Bing Shan, yet due to his adeptness in handling affairs and his deep favor with the Empress Dowager Su Wugou, he was able to smoothly ascend to the position of chief steward
Longyuan picked up the hand warmer from the desk, yawned, and said: "Alright, I also want to eat the dishes made by Mother Empress herself, let's go!"
Qiu Fuhai awkwardly smiled and said: "This servant does not dare to be disrespectful in front of Your Majesty"
Long Yuan chuckled and said: "Fu Hai, it's just a sneeze, why make such a fuss about it? www.hetushu.com.com Have you never sneezed before?"
Suddenly, footsteps were heard outside the door, and the two stopped their conversation warily. After a short while, a soft voice emerged: "Your Majesty, this humble servant Fu Hai has come to pay his respects to you"
Does this old fox really think that hiding at home like a turtle can preserve his life
Longyuan gritted his teeth and said: "I want to kill this traitor!"
Bing Shan, with a solemn expression, said: "Your Majesty, what is your opinion?"
Bing Shandao: "Xuwu Wo is indeed a veteran official from the Three Dynasties. He is quite adept at superficial matters and holds a high position in the hearts of the people. Xiao Nihan will not take action against him for the time being"
Bing Shan handed the prepared cloisonné hand warmer to him. Long Yuan took it, gently rubbing the hand warmer with both hands, and said softly: "Xiao Nihan took advantage of the civil unrest to transfer General Lan Xun from Yanmen Pass, allowing his confidant Sima Xiong to take over Lan Xun's position."
Today cannot be given, it does not mean it cannot be given tomorrow
Longyuan smiled faintly, stopping in his tracks as he gazed towards the hazy palace in the east, where the Jingxiu Palace was located. It was said to be the residence of his mother, Lin Shuyuan, during her lifetime. He had never seen his mother; on the very day he was born into this world, she passed away due to complications during childbirth. Subsequently, he was entrusted to the care of the childless Empress Su Wugou. Fortune lies where misfortune lurks, and misfortune leans on fortune. It was precisely for this reason that he was able to inherit the throne and become the ruler of the Great Kang.
Long Yuan's brows furrowed slightly, for the chief eunuch Qiu Fuhai had arrived. He exchanged a glance with Bing Shan, who then opened the door. Qiu Fuhai knelt in the snow before the door, the snowfall having increased significantly since the morning. His body and eyebrows were covered in white snowflakes, which made him appear even more kind and approachable, exuding a humble and amiable demeanor
Long Yuan stood up, slowly took two steps, turned around, and fixed his piercing gaze on Bing Shan Dao: "I will never allow the fall of Da Kang to occur at my hands. In my lifetime, I, Long Yuan, will undoubtedly eliminate treachery and dispel the layers of gloom that shroud the skies of Da Kang"
What is the master worried about
In previous years, I might have dared to speak out a few words about Xu Nuo, but now his influence has significantly diminished. Even if Xiao Nihan were to act excessively, he would not dare to stand out directly anymore
Qiu Fuhai, constrained by the presence of his master, did not dare to express his anger
Long Yuan did not like this sycophant, yet he never showed any displeasure on the surface. At such a young age, he already possessed such profound depth of character, which is indeed rare: "What is it?"
Longyuan emotionally stated: "In my heart, in this life and the next, there is only you as my master. Only in front of you can I speak the words I dare to say, and only in front of you can I truly be myself"
Qiu Fuhai, with a thick skin, said: "Even a small favor is a great grace from the emperor; as a humble servant, I shall repay it with all my heart!" The horse he rode was indeed too ostentatious, attracting a group of eunuchs and palace maids who couldn't help but stifle their laughter.
Long Yuan expressed his concerns, saying: "I am not too worried about the matters in the court; what is most critical now is Lan Xun. If he leaves Yanmen Pass, will the Hu people take the opportunity to rebel? At that time, will my Da Kang not face both internal and external troubles?"
Upon entering the imperial study, Longyuan's anger immediately dissipated. The old eunuch Bingshan approached to assist him in removing his outer cloak. Longyuan rubbed his hands together and sat down at the writing desk: "Did the Grand Tutor not come today?"
Bing Shan said softly: "Your Majesty, please forgive this old servant for speaking candidly. The main reason Your Majesty has been able to reign for twelve years without incident is that Xiao Nihan believes Your Majesty is merely a naive and unruly youth"
Longyuan smiled and said: "If it were not for you as my guide, I fear that today I would still be a foolish and ignorant young man, oblivious to the ways of the world."
Bing Shan hurriedly draped a cloak over him, while Long Yuan raised his head, and Bing Shan fastened the golden sash for him
Witnessing the young master establish such grand ambitions and plans, Bing Shan felt a surge of emotions within, secretly rejoicing that Da Kang could finally see a glimmer of hope. However, recalling the current state of Da Kang, his heart inevitably grew heavy once more. This is an era where strength speaks for itself; he had no confidence that Long Yuan's somewhat immature shoulders could bear this heavy burden. He often reminded himself to do his utmost and leave the rest to fate. Bing Shan had told himself more than once that he was a servant of Da Kang, a servant of the emperor, and that his duty was to be loyal and to do everything in his power to help Long Yuan grow.
The Prime Minister is nothingness!
Longyuan smiled and said: "On the seventh day of last month, I accompanied the Empress Dowager to admire the flowers in the Imperial Garden. Who ruined the scenery by letting out a loud fart? If I hadn't taken the initiative to take the blame, the steward would surely have received a beating!"
Long Yuan said softly: "Xiao Nihan has long regarded Lan Xun as a thorn in his side, and this time transferring him away clearly serves the purpose of dealing with him. Even if he cannot be eliminated, the intention is to take advantage of the situation to strip Lan Xun of his military power"
What heavy snow! Longyuan exclaimed softly
If Xiao Nihan were to force Lan Xun into a corner, it is highly likely that he would raise an army to rebel, which would inevitably place the state of Dakang in a precarious situation
Bing Shan pressed her lips together, pondering for a long time before saying: "This matter is indeed tricky. Based on my past understanding of Lan Xun, this person is capable in battle and holds himself in high regard. Ever since Xiao Nihan took control of the power in Da Kang, he has rarely entered the palace to pay his respects. In recent years, he has remained stationed at the border. What I am truly concerned about is not his reassignment by Xiao Nihan."
Long Yuan stepped outside, taking two steps before arriving in the garden, only to find that the group of young eunuchs and palace maids he had seen earlier were still kneeling in the snow, each one pitifully covered in a thick layer of snow, resembling little snowmen.
Qiu Fuhai respectfully said: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence!"
When Long Yuan stepped out of the study, Qiu Fu Hai came over to assist him with great courtesy. Long Yuan smiled and said, "With your old arms and legs, you should take good care of yourself."
Longyuan Dao: "Since I became aware of the world with the books, I have had a total of nineteen teachers. Now, only two remain alive, and both of them are lackeys of Xiao Nihan!" At this point, a chilling murderous intent emerged in his gaze, a look that should not belong to a mere fifteen-year-old boy
The snow is becoming heavier, drifting in delicate clusters, carried by the cold wind. It silently falls upon the royal robe of Longyuan, upon the purple-gold crown, settling on the eyelashes and eyebrows, melting and gathering again, drying and then falling once more. In the air, little can be seen, only layers upon layers, densely packed snowflakes.
Long Yuan sighed and said: "I had originally hoped that the Prime Minister would step forward to engage in a theatrical performance with Xiao Nihan, but unexpectedly, this old fellow claimed to be ill and has withdrawn to his home, completely distancing himself from the matter."
He merely regards me as a puppet, granting me the title of emperor, while he himself holds the true power.
Longyuan said in a low voice: "I have long had enough of such days!"
Longyuan walked over to Xianggui, extending his finger to flick the nose of Xianggui, which was as red as a carrot from the cold. Xianggui's nose felt both painful and itchy, and he couldn't help but sneeze. Having knelt in the snow for too long, his movements had become stiff, and it was too late to turn his head away, resulting in mucus and saliva spraying onto Longyuan's imperial robe
Bing Shan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor is ill"
Longyuan had not considered this aspect, and Bing Shan's reminder made his mood increasingly heavy. He said gloomily, "Looking across our great Kang, is it really impossible to find loyal ministers?"
Respectfully, I say: "Your Majesty, do not forget our agreement. I, Bing Shan, will forever be your servant, and you will always be my master"
"There is nothing to it, just a favor as small as a fart!" Longyuan laughed heartily
Qiu Fuhai flattered with a smile: "I am but a clumsy servant, how could I possibly match Your Majesty's vigor and might!"
Bing Shan nodded and said: "Has Your Majesty agreed?"