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Outside the small gate, more than [-] soldiers stood in two rows orderly holding halberds. In the middle of the courtyard was a woman.The woman is wearing a simple and elegant toga, her hair is tied into a bun, which is incompatible with the awe-inspiring courtyard.

She heard the knock on the door and turned around to look over.

Liu Zao walked over with her grandmother.The grandmother stopped in front of the woman, brought Liu Zao to her side, looked around at everyone in the court, and said loudly: "This is the daughter of Prince Wei."

The woman's eyes kept falling on Liu Zao, and when she heard the words, she bowed and saluted: "I pay homage to the grandson of the emperor."

As soon as she took the lead, the twenty or so soldiers knelt down in unison and shouted in unison: "Greetings to the grandson of the emperor."

Liu Zao had never seen such a big battle, and his face turned pale.Grandmother said: "Dare to ask who is Junhou?"

Facing Liu Zao, the woman didn't seem to answer her grandmother, but said to her: "My minister, Xie Yi, occupies the position of prime minister."

Hearing this, Liu Zao couldn't help but look at Xie Yi several more times.It's not easy to be an official, let alone a woman.She can be an extremely human minister, and she must have something extraordinary.

Liu Zao was looking at Xie Yi, and Xie Yi was also looking at her.

Different from Liu Zao's pure curiosity, Xie Yi's eyes were thoughtful.Liu Zao immediately remembered the matter of entering the palace, and felt uneasy again.

Xie Yi withdrew her gaze and said, "It's getting late, please invite the emperor's grandson to accompany me into the palace."

Whether it's her official position or the twenty or so soldiers with halberds in the court, it shows that Liu Zao has no power to resist.Grandma closed her eyes and said nothing.

Liu Zao walked out, and she took the first step, her steps were so heavy that she couldn't lift them up.But she didn't stop, she walked towards Xie Yi step by step.

Xie Yi seemed very satisfied, and the halberd bearer she brought parted a path in the middle, giving way to the gate behind him, and Liu Zao passed through this path.

Walking to the door, she heard the sound of her knees touching the ground, and her grandmother's pleading: "This is the grandson of Emperor Wu, the blood of the Han Dynasty, I hope the prime minister will take care of him."

The old man's voice was even a little trembling due to old age, but she still muttered each word clearly, and she chiseled every word clearly into everyone's ears.

Liu Zao could feel that the meaning of grandma's saying that the grandson of Emperor Wu was different from the daughter of Prince Wei was different.Prince Wei has been dead for many years, and he has never even touched the side of the throne, and no one has been in awe for a long time.In the 56 years of Emperor Wu's reign, he conquered all directions and dismissed hundreds of schools.When he was alive, none of the ministers in the court dared to say no; when the imperial edict came out of Beijing, all the prefectures and countries listened respectfully.He died many years ago, and most of the ministers appointed by the court were veterans he promoted.

Grandmother mentioned Emperor Wu because she wanted to take advantage of Emperor Wu's power and kindness, and begged Xie Yi to take care of the emperor's grandson.

Liu Zao paid attention to Xie Yi who was walking beside her, Xie Yi didn't stop, she didn't even change her expression, and the soldier behind her was also calm, as if what her grandmother said was just Liu Zao's illusion.

Liu Zao suddenly thought that after this trip, he does not know when he will return.She turned her head, wanting to take a look at her grandmother, but the halberd-handlers on both sides merged into two rows again, blocking Liu Zao's gaze.

All she could see was the cold armor, which made her feel cold in the hot summer.

Chapter 2 Weird

Night is approaching, just before it gets dark.In the bustling place of the capital, even at dusk, there are still many pedestrians and horses passing by in the alleys.

There were more than [-] people in their party, soldiers all rode horses, Liu Zao and Xie Yi rode in chariots.More than twenty riders were well-trained. They divided the left and right to protect the only one cart, and divided into more than ten riders. The front opened the way, and the rear was cut off to protect the cart airtight.

The car has only one canopy, and the four walls are unobstructed. Liu Zao knelt under the canopy, and could have seen where she was going, but the soldiers surrounded her, blocking her view, so she could only recognize the direction.

Go north out of the gate of the mansion, and walk to a thoroughfare. The soldiers who opened the way in front turned to the east.

To the east is Changle Palace.Changle Palace was the first palace of the Han Dynasty. Gao Zu once lived here, where he summoned his officials and dealt with government affairs. After Gao Zu, Changle Palace became the residence of the Empress Dowager, while the emperor of the Han Dynasty lived in Weiyang Palace.

Because Changle Palace is to the east of Chang'an City, it is also called East Palace.

Why did the Queen Mother want to see her?

Liu Zao couldn't figure it out.She is only fourteen years old, and because her grandmother has no children of similar age and no playmates, she has a relatively calm temperament.It was also because she was raised by her natal family and loved by her grandmother, she grew up safely and never saw any conspiracy.

The court's scheming was beyond her imagination.

It's just that no matter how ignorant he is, Liu Zao wouldn't believe the Queen Mother missed her and called her into the palace just now.

"What is the emperor's grandson thinking?" Xie Yi asked.

She suddenly uttered a sound, waking Liu Zao up from deep thought.She was silent for a moment, then replied: "I was wondering why the Empress Dowager called me into the palace."

Xie Yi smiled when she heard this.

Because of the dark sky, her smile fell into Liu Zao's eyes, looking vague and ethereal. Only then did Liu Zao notice that the elegant fragrance on Xie Xiang's body was very soft. I don't know if it was the incense on his clothes or the inherent fragrance of a woman. .

"The emperor's grandson is diligent in thinking, which is a good thing." Xie Yi said again, "I've thought about it all the way, do you have a clue?"

Liu Zao didn't know how to answer.

She didn't know why she entered the palace, and she didn't know what was waiting for her in front of her. She didn't even know whether the Prime Minister beside her was an enemy or a friend.

Xie Yi's treatment of her could not be called respectful, but it was far from rude.Liu Zao was not hostile to her, but she didn't dare to trust her too much. After a while, she shook her head, not knowing whether she had no idea or was unwilling to answer.

Xie Yi didn't make things difficult for her, but said: "It seems that the emperor's grandson doesn't like talking."

The roads in central Beijing are flat, especially here, between Weiyang Palace and Changle Palace, where nobles often come and go, the floor tiles laid are flat, with few bumps.The cart was driving very fast, the wheels rolled across the ground, making a rumbling sound, Liu Zao only felt very few slight bumps.

After walking for another section, the magnificent palace walls of Changle Palace appeared in front of my eyes.In front of the palace gate, more than a dozen men dressed in armor were divided into two rows and stood holding halberds. On the palace wall, banners and flags were fluttering, and there were many palace guards, which gave off the solemn atmosphere of the Han family.

Xie Yi stared at it for a while, then said: "After entering the palace, the emperor's grandson will know."

Liu Zao was startled, and realized that he was answering what she said earlier, why the Empress Dowager called her into the palace.As soon as she finished speaking, she saw that her eyes darkened, and the car had already entered the palace gate.

The doorman in front of the palace did not stop him, so it can be seen that the order has already been obtained.

Passing through the palace gate, there is a circle of palace roads. High walls stand on both sides of the palace road, and cars drive between the high walls.

The Han Palace is as majestic as a beast, entrenched in the night.Liu Zao's heart tightened for a moment, and he felt that he was about to be swallowed by this beast.

The car was still moving forward, passed through several palace alleys, passed through several palaces, and stopped in front of a small gate.

All the soldiers guarding them retreated, and a few eunuchs walked out of the door, and the one in charge raised his sleeves and bowed: "I pay homage to the prime minister."

Xie Yi sat in the car and said, "Excuse me."

Liu Zao also did not move, but secretly looked at these eunuchs.The eunuch in charge was quite old, and the sideburns exposed under the crown seemed to be frosty. He saluted and stood up.Maybe it's because he kneels down a lot and serves the nobles all day, so his back is slightly hunched.Liu Zao didn't know the position of the eunuch in the palace, nor could he recognize their robes, so he didn't know where the eunuch was.

After the eunuch stood up, he took two steps in front of the car, and looked towards Liu Zao with a usual smile on his face.His hale and bright eyes fell on Liu Zao, as if he was looking at an object.

Liu Zao made him look uncomfortable, but the eunuch smiled and said, "Is this the daughter of Prince Wei?" After saying that, he saluted again: "I have seen the emperor's grandson."

This ceremony was perfunctory, there was no respect on his face, and he didn't even bend his waist.Liu Zao knew that although she was of Han blood, she had already lost power before she was born, and she was even inferior to a little official with some power.She didn't make a sound, the eunuch was just putting on a show.

Sure enough, the eunuch straightened up quickly, and said again: "The empress dowager has been waiting for the prime minister and the emperor's grandson for a long time."

Xie Yi got up, and an eunuch came forward to help him with a wink.Xie Yi fell to the ground with his support, and turned around again, trying to support Liu Zao.

When helping people out of the car, it is often that the young serve the elders, and the humble serve the noble.There are many eunuchs around, so it is not necessary for her to do this in person.As soon as Liu Zao entered the palace, she was treated coldly, she never expected that Xie Yi would come to help her.

She was stunned for a moment, and quickly put her hand in hers, and she helped her out of the car.Xie Yi's palms are smooth, with a coolness that is repulsive for thousands of miles, completely different from the dry and warm grandmother's.

Liu Zao landed, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Thank you."

Xie Yi withdrew her hand, turned to face the eunuch and said, "Lead the way in front of the Zhonghuang Gate."

It turned out that he was from the Zhonghuang Gate.Liu Zao secretly thought.But she didn't know how big an official position Zhonghuangmen was.