Clouds and Waters

Ruthless Emperor's House

After receiving Xue Wenbin's message from Feige, Ye Wanling felt that something was wrong.Although Xue Zhilan did participate in the government and sent her confidant disciples to assist the emperor before, but this is all old.Ever since the disciples of the Five Elements Sect quit the imperial court one after another, Xue Wenbin seemed quite dissatisfied with his nosy aunt. He used to greet her at least once a month, but now three or four years have passed, except for the Empress Dowager Bintian and Xue Zhilan returning to Beijing once. , Xue Wenbin has nothing to do with his aunt who lives far away.This time, Baili rushed to send such a letter asking for help, and Ye Wanling was very suspicious.

However, Xue Zhilan did not doubt him. "Wen Bin has plenty of courage, but lacks strategy. It is estimated that the emergency at the border this time is really in big trouble. If I don't take action at this time, what is the use of my master? Besides, if there is a war at the border, people will inevitably die. This is what you and I don't want to see. Don't worry, I will deal with it myself. "

Xue Zhilan is always so confident, relying on her outstanding martial arts, years of honing in the world has not changed her childlike innocence.Ye Wanling had no choice but to ask to accompany her.After Xue Zhilan entered the palace, Ye Guanling was not idle for a moment.After a few hours passed, Ye Wanling became more and more uneasy, so she ignored it and forced her way into the palace.Unexpectedly, in front of the Golden Luan Hall, she was greeted by Xue Wenbin's smiling face.

After all, it has been 20 years since I saw Xue Wenbin. Twenty years ago, Xue Wenbin was not an emperor, but a young man who was ignorant and ignorant of world affairs.Xue Zhilan taught him political literature and military strategy every day, and Ye Guanling would make jokes on the sidelines, adding to the sweetness of her red sleeves.When Xue Wenbin was a teenager, he seemed to be very close to Ye Guanling, and he always liked to ask his little sister Ye Zi for advice when he had any questions.Ye Wanling also liked that he was smart and eloquent.It's just that time flies, 20 years have passed, and now Xue Wenbin is no longer that high-spirited young man.

"Sister Xiaoyezi, long time no see. You...you haven't changed at all, you are still the same as 20 years ago. I knew that the Five Elements Water Gate has the ability to retain beauty, and it seems that it really lives up to its reputation."

Ye Wanling's mind was not on reminiscing about the past.She looked around, but she didn't see Xue Zhilan Zhuoran, and said anxiously: "Wen Bin, you... where is your aunt?"

"My aunt is discussing state affairs in the side hall, and I'm afraid I won't be able to leave for a while. Sister Xiao Yezi, you are also coming to the palace for the first time, why don't you just stay here with peace of mind, and wait for aunt to settle this matter, and then you will go laughing proudly together? "

So Ye Wanling stayed in the palace for three days.For the past three days, Xue Wenbin would accompany Ye Wanling to wander around the Imperial Garden when he was not in government affairs, and would also share some anecdotes about government affairs to relieve Ye Wanling's worries. However, there was no news of Xue Zhilan for a long time.

On the fourth day, Ye Wanling couldn't stay any longer.She almost searched the entire palace, and there was no sign of Xue Zhilan.In desperation, Ye Guanling did not hesitate to force her with a sword, Xue Wenbin said with a smile: "If you kill me, I'm afraid you will never see my aunt in this life. No matter how bad it is, I am also the king of this country. It is not a problem to hide someone Yes." Seeing Ye Wanling's doubts, Xue Wenbin continued: "You don't have to worry, little sister Ye Zi, she... After all, she is still my aunt, blood is thicker than water, what can I do to her? Besides, her martial arts Gao Qiang, I can't help it. It's just that the rivers and lakes and the temples have been quite uneasy recently. There are many people with ulterior motives who are against me in the name of my aunt. If I don't resort to some means, I'm afraid the throne will be lost. My aunt is temporarily isolated for her own good. I am an old acquaintance with you, how could I deceive you? Well, you stay in the palace temporarily, and when the time is right, I will arrange for you to meet my aunt."

When Ye Wanling heard this, she felt completely hopeless.She was originally from a famous family in the former dynasty, and she almost became the princess of the former dynasty. The struggle for imperial power and throne has always been a life-and-death struggle, and there is no consideration for human kindness.Since Xue Wenbin felt that Zhilan was obstructing his throne, he would definitely go to war. Even if Xue Zhilan's life could not be killed for the time being, it would be even more difficult to find her and rescue her.Don't say that Ye Wanling's power alone is limited, even if she gathers Xue Zhilan's lifelong friends, how can she defeat the powerful imperial power?For the current plan, if you want to inquire about Xue Zhilan's whereabouts, it seems to be the best choice to make a compromise for the time being.After all, Xue Wenbin hasn't broken his face yet. After all, they watched him grow up. Maybe, he will miss his old love?

Thus, Ye Wanling began to dormant for a long time.Spring goes and autumn comes, time flies, and three years have passed in a blink of an eye.Xue Wenbin didn't keep his word. Every Mid-Autumn Festival and New Year's Eve, when family banquets were held in the harem, the imperial aunt Xue Zhilan would be invited, and Ye Wanling could take a look at them from a distance, but Xue Wenbin never allowed them to speak or exchange messages.After the dinner, Xue Wenbin will definitely send his confidants to escort Xue Zhilan away and not allow anyone to approach her.These people in charge of escorting were all highly skilled in martial arts, all dressed in black, and of average stature, without any obvious features.Ye Wanling inquired many times, but there was still no result.And every time she sees Xue Zhilan at a dinner party, Ye Wanling always feels that she looks sad and her eyes are empty, she just drinks and eats quietly, doesn't talk to anyone, and never even meets her eyes.Ye Wanling could conclude that Xue Zhilan must have been controlled by Xue Wenbin by some means.

Things finally turned around in the fourth year.That night, Xue Wenbin gave a big banquet to all the ministers.Without the restraint of the Five Elements Gate and Xue Zhilan's heart disease, Xue Wenbin has only tasted the sweetness of being an emperor in recent years.At the pinnacle of power, life and death, killing and decisiveness made him feel an incomparable pleasure.As for the praises and flattery of the officials, he could distinguish them carefully at first, but he didn't bother to pay attention to them later.Anyway, who doesn't like to hear good things?Seeing that the world is peaceful, the rivers are clear, and the singing and dancing are rising to peace, Xue Wenbin feels that he, as the emperor, is still very successful.So that night, after Xue Wenbin got drunk, he made two decisions—to stand up as a queen, and to seal Zen.

Xue Wenbin has been on the throne for more than 20 years, and there are many favorite concubines in the harem, but he never mentions the matter of becoming a queen.When the Empress Dowager was still alive, she was able to persuade him a little bit, but since Empress Dowager Bintian, no one dared to mention this matter again.At the banquet of the ministers that night, if Xue Wenbin hadn't proposed it himself, how could the ministers dare to say more?

"The emperor's decision to become a queen is naturally a great joyous event for the whole world to celebrate. The position of the lord of the harem has been vacant for many years, and it is time to promote the ranks of all the empresses in the harem. I just don't know which empress the emperor wants to be the queen?" the prime minister Zhen Ping asked himself. According to Xue Wenbin's words, there should be no problem.

As soon as the clinker finished speaking, the master on the throne laughed loudly: "Prime Minister Zhen thinks, which empress is suitable?"

"This..." Zhen Ping was speechless for a moment.Companion to a king is like a tiger, the emperor's mind is the most difficult to figure out. Zhen Ping couldn't figure out the meaning of this smile for a moment, but the emperor asked a question, and the courtier dared not answer, so he had to bite the bullet and say: "Excuse me for being stupid. The matter of the harem is originally a matter of the emperor's family, so I can't wait to talk about it..."

"I ask you, which empress is suitable!"

When Zhen Ping was drunk by the emperor, he suddenly lost his mind, knelt on the ground as if sifting through chaff, and said, "Embroidery... Concubine Zheng Gui of Xiuhua Palace has contributed to raising the prince, so it should be..."

"Come here, the Prime Minister Zhen Ping has no status in front of the imperial court, and his behavior is inappropriate. He will be resigned from the post of Prime Minister Zhen Ping and demoted to the prefect of Chenzhou. He will take office immediately, and there must be no mistake!"

As soon as the emperor's order came out, the guards dragged the first-rank official out of the hall.The voices of grievances were still ringing in his ears, but Xue Wenbin ignored them, and continued to ask with a pleasant face: "Is there any other minister who has a suitable candidate?"

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty could not understand the emperor's mind, and there was a lesson learned from Prime Minister Zhen, so who dared to speak too much?There was only a five-rank General Administration Secretary named Jia Xing who participated in the council, because he had a daughter who was in charge of the maid in the harem, he had accidentally heard that in recent years the emperor valued a commoner woman named Ye Wanling who had no rank or title, and had business with her in everything There is a quantity, and it seems that there is a lot of love for children.Jia Xing didn't have the chance to have a dinner in Japan today, but his boss was ill, so he was barely qualified to enter the palace. At this moment, Ye Wanling suddenly appeared in his mind, and he didn't know if it suited the emperor's wishes.It's just that this person is usually quite bold and a gambler. Anyway, he is only a fifth-rank official, so where can he be demoted?So he turned his heart and said: "I think that the empress, the master of the harem, must have a virtuous person to live in it, so that she can be like a dragon and a phoenix with the saint. A virtuous person does not have a noble background. Then Those who are holy, the Spring and Autumn Period is at its peak, so why worry about heirs? After becoming a queen, he will surely reproduce for our royal family and prosper forever."

"There is something interesting in what you say. It's just that you said that this harem is a virtuous person, but I didn't remember who it was for a while."

Jia Xing saw that the emperor seemed to be very pleased with his face, and he had something in his heart, so he hurriedly replied: "In the harem, there are people who are virtuous but have no status. The wind is clear and lofty. I think that there is Ye Shi calling Wan Ling in the harem, who has this virtue."

"Hahaha..." Xue Wenbin smiled heartily, and said: "Aiqing is right. Wan Ling Ye is a virtuous and virtuous, noble and dignified man, and has lived in the harem for a long time, accompanying me by my side. He is indeed a noble scholar. Chi Chi It is indeed my responsibility not to give such sages titles. It's just that it's a big deal to be conferred, and it shouldn't be hasty. So, let's temporarily confer the title of Ye Shizheng's fourth-rank concubine, and the title will be a sage. Uh... Ai Qing doesn't seem to be very serious Walking around in the palace, I will not check for a while..."

Jia Xing was full of joy, and hurriedly kowtowed and said loudly: "Minister, the Secretary of General Administration is going to discuss Jia Xing, and kowtow to the emperor!"

"Jia Qing has a good knowledge of people and meritorious service in recommending them. She has been specially promoted to be the second-ranking rites minister Zuo Shilang, who is in charge of post-sealing matters."

Xue Wenbin is full of ambition, and will write a more colorful stroke for his imperial career. As for Ye Wanling's wish, he has not considered it.Although Ye Wanling has feelings for Xue Zhilan, it has been many years ago. I am afraid that she was young and vigorous at that time, and she was arrogant for a while. What would be the result of such an unethical love like theirs?What's more, Xue Wenbin regards the emperor as the supreme, with such affection, and has not changed his original intention for more than 20 years. What an honor it is to confer the title of Ye Wanling's mother. What is Xue Zhilan to her?As long as the ministers agree, the conferment must be a great joyous event for the whole world to celebrate.Fortunately, with such a clever person as Jia Xing, Xue Wenbin didn't need to bother. There were already overwhelming memorials brought into the Palace of Qinzheng in a horse-drawn carriage. .In this regard, Xue Wenbin is happy to see it succeed.The more such memorials, the smoother Xiao Yezi's road to becoming queen will be.

However, it was Ye Wanling, whom Xue Wenbin neglected the most, that made the originally smooth road to queenhood extremely difficult.

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back again. . .Everyone remember to eat zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival!