In the palace, in Emperor Xia's study.
The emperor and his husband sat across from each other, while the mistress stood quietly aside, with a steaming pot of tea boiling on the table.
"In your opinion, sir, when will the imperial army arrive at Nanyun City in southern Xinjiang? Can the eldest prince block the attacks of the grassland tribes before the national troops arrive?"
The emperor held the bookcase with one hand, picked up the tea cup with the other hand, and blew gently into the cup.
The gentleman looked at the emperor in front of him and pondered for a long time before replying: "The eldest prince should have received the documents from the palace ten days ago. If he proceeds according to our plan, dozens of mines will have been excavated outside Nanyun City by now. Although the river ditch that is 10 feet long cannot divert water into it, there is a ditch that can be regarded as a barrier."
The emperor nodded and replied: "Sir, you are right. There have been no wars in the past twenty years. The defenders from various regions have long been sent to Nanshan, and they have lost their will to fight! Even an important border town like Nanyun City has no A moat is ridiculous.”
Hearing this, the gentleman smiled faintly and said: "There is no moat, which is a bad thing and a good thing. If there was a river before and there were no drainage facilities, when winter comes and the river freezes, what is the difference between it and the plains?"
The Emperor frowned slightly. He was indeed a little tired. Ever since the first battle report was sent back from Southern Xinjiang, he had not won a single battle, which made him very annoyed.
If his husband had not repeatedly dissuaded him, he would have gone to southern Xinjiang with his own temperament.
Hearing this explanation from my husband, I suddenly realized something in my heart. I nodded repeatedly and said, "No wonder your husband has repeatedly adjusted not to put water in it. It turns out that he was worried about this reason. It seems that before repairing the moat in the future, we must first consider where to put the water in this winter." ."
The eunuch nodded repeatedly at the side, came up and gave the two hot tea, and said: "Sir, your foresight is brilliant, and the dynasty is blessed!"
"It seems that the big war this winter will not be fought for the time being, and everything will have to wait until spring." The emperor sighed softly and relaxed his nervous mood.
The gentleman smiled and replied calmly: "The soldiers of the Five Regions have been in Nanshan for a long time. They have not been on the battlefield for a long time and have even forgotten how to fight. It would be good to let them have a longer memory this time."
The emperor heard this and clapped his hands in agreement, and then asked: "This is also the first time for the Imperial Master to go to the battlefield. Can he withstand this baptism of blood and fire?"
"Can't stand it?" Upon hearing this, the gentleman laughed lightly, picked up the tea cup and took a sip.
He laughed self-deprecatingly: "When he was less than nine years old, as soon as he came down from the Tianshan Mountains, a Nascent Soul Realm killer from the Five Realms assassinated him by the stream at the back of the Great Buddha Temple. The final result was that Ye'er was seriously injured and the killer He died on the spot... I was the one who handled the killer's body, you should still remember this."
The emperor was stunned when he heard this. If the gentleman had not mentioned this matter, he would have forgotten it.
Looking at the calm look on Mr.'s face, I couldn't help but smile bitterly.
He frowned and said, "If you don't tell me, I would have forgotten about it. The Imperial Master has experienced life and death fights and seen bloody people since he was a child. Going to the battlefield in southern Xinjiang is just a field experience for him."
The husband replied: "I hope this war will not be too bloody. After all, a war will result in rivers of blood and countless casualties. The killing will be too heavy and will have a great impact on his future practice. "
After saying these words, the gentleman was thoughtful, and his originally smiling face gradually showed a trace of worry...
"One general's success will lead to thousands of bones being withered. Who can escape from the ancient truth?" After the emperor finished speaking, he couldn't help but frown.
...
"What are your plans next, sir?" The emperor changed the subject and stared at him.
"Where can I go? If there is no war, I will definitely stay in the Imperial City. After the war situation stabilizes, I may take the two little guys back to Fengyun City. After all, it is far away from the Imperial City and quiet." The gentleman smiled.
Seeing the gentleman's calm expression, the emperor couldn't help but frown.
"Why, what's the problem with the emperor?" The gentleman was a little surprised.
"I may not have much time to stay here. It can take at least one year, or at most two years, before I have to find a place to survive the tribulation. This damn thing, I can't control my state anymore."
The emperor sighed quietly.
"Is this day finally coming?" The gentleman nodded. He knew the emperor's situation. "Where do you plan to go to overcome the tribulation? Fangcun Mountain? Qingcheng? Or Phoenix Mountain?"
The emperor frowned and smiled bitterly: "I don't want to go to any of these places. I want to go to the place where you practiced. It is said that the chance of overcoming the tribulation is higher there."
The teacher pondered for a moment, smiled, and replied lightly: "Indeed, the probability there is slightly higher. At least in the past few years, I know that there are two practitioners who went to overcome the tribulation and successfully ascended."
"Then, we will cause trouble for you sir." The emperor was overjoyed when he heard this, and his tightly frowning brows slowly relaxed.
The gentleman picked up the teapot and filled the two of them with hot tea. He looked at the emperor and said with a smile, "Have you caused enough trouble to my master and my disciple?"
The emperor was stunned, then he laughed and said, "Didn't you say that jade cannot be used if it is not polished? I am also polishing beautiful jade for you."
The gentleman shook his head and sighed: "Since you are leaving, have you arranged everything in the imperial city? Who will take over your throne?"
The emperor was startled, and turned to look at the great eunuch Ye Wuxue. The great eunuch lowered his head, opened the door to the study, and retreated.
"The eldest brother is too soft-hearted, and the second brother is too cruel. They are not the best choices to be kings. Why don't you do it sir?" The emperor turned around and teased.
The husband was stunned for a moment, then patted the table gently: "I have retired, and you can handle your troubles by yourself."
The emperor looked at his husband's appearance and couldn't help but let out a long sigh: "I have already arranged some things and told the Imperial Master what to do. I hope my two sons will not disappoint me."
"Don't trick my disciple, he is still young. After this war, he will continue to go back to Prajna Temple to practice."
The husband was a little angry. He didn't like the emperor's repeated calculations against Li Ye.
The emperor smiled and said earnestly: "Don't worry, this matter is not that serious. I just hope that after I leave, the five regions will have a king who can make all officials feel at ease and the people enjoy their work."
When the gentleman heard this, he smiled and nodded, and said with a faint smile: "The one who can make the people live a stable life is a good king."
"For this reason, it is worth the hardship for your disciple and my two sons. I promised the Imperial Master that as long as he does this favor for me, I can stay or leave as he pleases."
The emperor looked at the gentleman, said all his thoughts one by one, and then looked at the gentleman quietly. I thought that was all I could do.
Do your best and obey destiny. Isn't this the way it has been since ancient times?
After hearing the words of the emperor, the gentleman finally felt relieved and said with a slight smile: "In that case, you can leave with peace of mind. I will help you watch over it for a few days so that there will be no chaos in the world."
The emperor smiled and said: "Come, let's continue drinking tea. We won't talk about state affairs anymore. We have the state master to relax for the day."
"Drink tea. This is enjoyment, life is just like this." The gentleman smiled lightly, and looked at the emperor who finally relaxed, and sighed softly in his heart.
"Fortunately, I met the Imperial Master in the inn and secretly made friends with him. Otherwise, where would I be today to find a capable Imperial Master to fight for me in the Southern and Southern Borders? Could it be that you can't do it? "
The emperor looked at the gentleman in front of him and couldn't help but smile proudly.
The teacher glanced at him, shook his head and said with a smile: "Not counting the plot you plotted against me back then, if you didn't even let go of my precious disciple, you wouldn't have spent as much time as the emperor as you did on my master and disciple."
"Isn't there nothing I can do? If the boss can do it, why am I so worried?" The emperor said with a bitter smile.
The husband shook his head and replied with a smile: "I won't worry about you anymore, let's have tea!"
The emperor patted his thigh heavily, looked at his husband and said with a smile: "With friends like this, what more could you ask for in a husband? Come on, let's have a drink together."
Feeling depressed, let's go have some tea.
If your heart is full of flowers, go and have some tea.
...
At noon on the second day after Li Ye led the imperial army on the expedition, there was a heavy knock on the door of the Imperial Prefecture at No. 49, Zhuque Street.
The servant who answered the door opened the door, only to see a carriage parked outside the courtyard. The people who jumped out of the carriage were the young lady and Xu Jingyun who had rushed back from the Royal Academy.
"I want to see the imperial master, I want to see my mother!" The young lady said to the servant who opened the door seriously.
The servant was a guy Nalan Yu transferred from Youjian Inn. Seeing the anxious look on the young lady's face, he knew that she must be related to the Imperial Master.
It was not easy to answer at the moment, so he asked carefully: "The Imperial Master is not here, who is the mother of the young lady?"
The young lady was stunned, turned to look at Xu Jingyun, and blurted out: "My mother is Lin Yueru, and my brother Shangguan Qiu Ming is also in the house with sister Xiaoxue..."
The servant was shocked when he heard this and quickly replied: "It turns out to be Miss Shangguan. The Imperial Master's mother is in the living room. Please come with me."
Hearing this, Xu Jingyun waved to the coachman and walked in with the young lady. With a "squeak", the door closed again.
"The dog watches the night, and the chicken watches the morning. If you don't learn, you will behave like a human being..."
Before the three of them entered the living room, they heard Li Xiaoxue and Shangguan Qiu Ming studying, while Ye Zhiqiu and Lin Yueru were sitting nearby chatting.
"Mother, Master, where is Junior Brother Li Ye?" The first thing the young lady asked after entering the living room was Li Ye.
Ye Zhiqiu was startled, looked back at the young lady, and looked at the young lady in surprise: "Wushuang, why are you back when you have time?"
Lin Yueru was also stunned. Seeing her daughter and Xu Jingyun hurried in, she had a bad feeling.
He sighed softly and said: "As soon as I entered the door, I yelled, this is the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion. How can you call me by his first name like this? Outsiders will laugh at you for being uneducated."
The young lady stepped forward quickly, took Lin Yueru's hand and asked, "Where is Master Li... now?"
"Sister, eldest brother has led the troops to fight!" Shangguan Qiu Ming replied from the side, shaking his little head.
"Sister Wushuang, my brother went to southern Xinjiang yesterday." Li Xiaoxue was more sensible, put down the book and looked at the little sister.
"Li Ye..." The young lady went limp and fell into Lin Yueru's arms.
...
Xu Jingyun sighed secretly and didn't know what to say. She just sat down next to the table and stayed quietly.
After a long while, Lin Yueru comforted the good young lady, patted her and said: "If you had come two days earlier, you would still have seen him. Early yesterday morning, he went to Southern Xinjiang with the imperial army in the imperial city. Alas!"
"Why didn't he tell me and just left without saying a word? How could he..." The young lady burst into tears.
Seeing the young lady's uncomfortable look, Ye Zhiqiu finally couldn't bear it and came over to comfort her softly.
"I heard from your wife that when Yeer received the secret letter from Mr. Fangcun Mountain, she knew that she would go to southern Xinjiang when she came back. I can't blame him for this. After all, it is a national event and cannot be controlled by us."
Upon hearing this, Xu Jingyun frowned, looked at Ye Zhiqiu and asked, "Mrs. Ye, could it be said that Li Ye knew that he was going to lead his army on the expedition on the way back from Xixuan Territory?"
"My husband explained the affairs of the Imperial City and Southern Xinjiang to that boy in the letter, otherwise he would not have come back from the mountain in advance."
Before Ye Zhiqiu could reply, Li Hongxiu's voice came from behind. Li Hongxiu, who had just woken up from a nap, yawned and walked in.
After hearing this, the young lady was startled again. She turned her head and glanced at Xu Jingyun. The master and apprentice were shocked again.
It turned out that that day in the small courtyard of the Royal Academy, Li Ye knew that he was going to Southern Xinjiang when he came back. No wonder he was unwilling to explain his own affairs. It turned out that he was rushing back to the imperial city to fight against the enemy in Southern Xinjiang.
The two people's hurried moment on the terrace of the small courtyard turned out to be the beginning of their separation again.
What I don’t know is, when we will be separated this time before we can meet again, and what kind of situation it will be like when we meet again.
Li Hongxiu looked at the young lady and asked thoughtfully: "Wushuang, didn't that guy tell you about this at the Royal Academy? Or did you have some misunderstanding with him?"
The young lady glanced at Xu Jingyun, then looked up at Li Hongxiu, shaking her head and being speechless.
At this time, she only felt a bitterness rising in her mouth, which continued to her heart.
