In the 30th year of Kaiyuan, the emperor personally led an army to attack the ancient Khan and was defeated miserably. Three hundred thousand soldiers were killed, which shocked the Jing Dynasty. The atmosphere in the capital became even more tense. All officials were in danger because the emperor was old. , hearing that after the defeat, they were so angry that they were afraid that the emperor would die, but at this time the prince had not yet moved to the East Palace.
This year, Xiao Wei Wang and Ping An were one year old.
In the courtyard, Jiang Changsheng was meditating under the tree. The Earth Spirit Tree was already one foot tall, but the leaves were not lush enough. Now it could only generate weak spiritual energy, but it was also a good sign.
Not far away, Xiaopingan was riding a white dragon around, while Qingku was chasing beside him, playing games.
Although Xiao Ping'an was born with a mental disability, his physical and mental talents are indeed remarkable. At one year old, he already has the strength of a four or five-year-old child and can run and jump. In Longqi Temple, he is already recognized as a martial arts wizard.
A figure walked quickly from outside the courtyard. It was Chen Li. With a worried look on his face, he came to Jiang Changsheng and whispered: "Changsheng, something bad happened. The second prince is missing."
Jiang Changsheng didn't open his eyes and said: "If you are missing, you are missing. Didn't your Chen family take refuge with the Seventh Prince?"
Chen Li said: "The second prince is missing, and the Hong family is afraid that he will rebel. It just so happens that your Majesty suffered a defeat in the north. Then the capital will rebel, and the situation will be in danger."
Only then did Jiang Changsheng open his eyes.
Jiang Yuan's life before he was sixty years old was absolutely brilliant. Unfortunately, he reigned for too long. When he was old, he personally led the army and suffered a huge defeat. His prestige in the hearts of the people was greatly reduced. Even the civil and military officials also disliked him. No longer so afraid, if the Hong family rebels at this time, even if it fails, Da Jing will be severely damaged.
The Hong family's troops were stationed outside the capital in preparation for protecting the capital, but now they have become a threat.
Jiang Changsheng said helplessly: "If the Hong family wants to rebel, what's the use of telling me?"
Chen Li said: "Of course I would like to remind you that once chaos breaks out, how will Longqiguan protect itself? You should stock up on food in recent days. Even if the Hong family does not target Longqiguan, if chaos breaks out in the city, Longqiguan will definitely be isolated, because on the mountain Very suitable for Tibetans.”
Jiang Changsheng nodded and said, "I understand."
Chen Li sat down, not caring about Qing Ku being beside him. After all, they were also acquaintances. Jiang Changsheng had been friends with him for eighteen years.
Eighteen years have passed, and Chen Li is no longer the high-spirited number one scholar, and has now entered middle age.
Unknowingly, time passed so quickly.
Jiang Changsheng looked at Chen Li's vicissitudes of face and sighed in his heart.
Not only Chen Li, but also the older disciples in the temple are gradually entering middle age, including senior sister Meng Qiu Shuang.
Jiang Changsheng refined three beauty pills in total. One was taken by himself, one was given to the queen by the emperor, and the remaining one was taken by Hua Jianxin. Anyway, Hua Jianxin gave birth to a son for him. His wife is naturally preferred.
He did not want to interfere with other people's life, old age, illness and death, but his youth gradually made his disciples respect him more.
The Taoist priest is truly righteous.
Chen Li said: "The prince has the help of the Yang family, and has two provinces and two ministers. He has a very high say in the court. But it is a pity that he has no military power, and the masters under him are not as good as the seventh prince. I suddenly feel that your majesty is deliberately leaving. Beijing, let the prince and the second prince fight. How can the second prince fight against the prince? When the second prince dies, the Hong family will rebel and vow to kill the prince. When the prince dies, the seventh prince can legitimately attack the Hong family and establish another Great achievements, the heart of an emperor is truly terrifying.”
Jiang Changsheng felt that it made sense. It was indeed very possible. Anyway, he knew that the prince was bound to die.
After knowing the fate of the prince, Jiang Changsheng lost his hatred for him and did not even pay attention to him. Speaking of which, the prince was also a pitiful person. He was manipulated after he was born. When the Yang family knew the truth, the prince was really alone and helpless. , abandoned by the whole world.
Jiang Changsheng said: "Let's talk about the affairs of the world."
Hua Jianxin guarded the young King of Wei day and night, and occasionally told Jiang Changsheng about the affairs of the court, so Jiang Changsheng didn't care.
Jiang Changsheng's only concern for the court is that the Little Wei King will ascend the throne, but he is still young and is far away from taking the throne. Before that, as long as the situation survives, the Little Wei King will be fine. No matter what those people do, he The goal is to practice.
Chen Li shook his head and said: "How can I have time to pay attention to the world now? Oh, by the way, do you still remember your senior brother Li Changqing?"
Jiang Changsheng nodded and said, "Of course I remember."
Li Changqing rebelled against Long Qiguan when he was young, and because of this, Taoist Master Qingxu was deeply poisoned by the Demon Sect.
Chen Li lamented: "He entered the devil's sect because of a woman. Last year, the woman died, and he went crazy. Now he kills everyone he sees in the world. He has a notorious reputation. Eighteen sects are joining forces to hunt him down. I'm afraid he will be killed." He won’t live long.”
Jiang Changsheng was silent.
Chen Li said with relief: "Don't think too much, that is the path he chose. Don't get involved. With the combined efforts of the eighteen sects, even the supreme martial arts master may not be able to escape unscathed."
Jiang Changsheng smiled and said: "Brother Chen, you are worrying too much, I will not go down the mountain."
Chen Li smiled and then talked about other things.
What happened to Li Changqing really made Jiang Changsheng feel emotional. After all, they were old acquaintances.
He thought about Taoist Master Qingxu again and wondered where the master had gone.
…
Half a year later, Chen Li's guess was correct. The Hong family rebelled. General Hong Lie broke into the capital with one hundred thousand cavalry and broke into the palace.
The sound of fighting echoed in the capital.
Jiang Changsheng opened his eyes, sighed, and stood up.
After all, I can’t let go.
Jiang Changsheng gave Bai Long a few words of advice before turning into a sparrow and flying towards the palace.
At the same time, in the palace, iron cavalry were everywhere, and the maids and eunuchs were all kneeling on the ground, trembling.
Hong Lie wore heavy black armor and rode a strong black horse, advancing slowly. He held a big sword in one hand and looked fiercely.
"Seal the palace and find the prince!"
A general raised his sword and shouted, and the soldiers took the order and dispersed to search.
A concubine ran to Hong Lie's side and cried: "Brother, you have to avenge Ming'er!"
Hong Lie glanced at her and said, "Don't worry, sister, the prince will die today."
The concubine wiped her tears and asked: "Where is Ming'er? Have you sent someone to investigate?"
Hong Lie said: "My soldiers found a corpse outside the city. It belongs to Ming'er. Big brother can't bear to tell you."
Hearing this, the concubine collapsed on the ground as if struck by lightning.
Hong Lie shook his head, reined in his horse and moved forward. His face became unruly, and he stared at the Jinluan Palace in the distance. He murmured: "Brother Jiang, you have been sitting here for thirty years, and it is my turn. Sit down."
On the other side, in the Queen's palace.
Prince Jiang Gan was sitting at the table with disheveled hair, extremely decadent.
The empress walked in from outside, closed the door, and said: "No, Hong Lie has already entered, and I can't ask the Yang family for help."
Jiang Gan smiled bitterly and said: "Mother, how could the Yang family not hear such a big movement from Hong Lie? Before the second brother disappeared, I noticed that something was wrong with the Yang family's attitude, and my uncles' attitude towards me was not as eager as before. ,even……"
Even a little disgusted!
Jiang Qian did not say these words. He was puzzled. In his opinion, all the officials might betray him, but the Yang family should not.
The Queen frowned and said, "Did you really kill your second brother?"
When Jiang Qian heard this, he immediately became anxious and gritted his teeth and said: "How is it possible! The dispute between me and my second brother is because he wants to fight with me. Mother, for so many years, haven't I endured it again and again? Why do I endure it? Isn't it because I care about my brother? Family ties? I never thought about killing my second brother. Even if I was killed by my second brother, I would never kill my own brothers!"
Although he is a prince, the attitude of the emperor and empress towards him has been hot and cold since he was a child, which makes him cherish the brotherly relationship, because when he was a child, his brothers all needed him and respected him. He always wanted to protect his brothers, otherwise The dispute between him and the second prince could not last for several years.
He is the prince and holds the power of the court. How easy it is to deal with the second prince!
He could even ask the emperor to send Jiang Ming to the border.
The Queen sighed and looked at Jiang Qian with extremely complicated eyes.
Jiang Qian was in panic, fear, and anger at the moment, and did not notice her eyes.
The sound of horse hooves and footsteps could be heard outside the palace, and one could tell from the sound that a large number of soldiers were approaching.
"Your fourth brother went to war with your father. Otherwise, with him and Zong Tianwu here, you would still be saved." The Queen said helplessly.
Jiang Gan gritted his teeth, stood up and said, "Queen Mother, please don't come out. If I go out alone, I will die at the worst. How can I, the son of the Jiang family, live or die?"
After that, he walked to the gate without hesitation and pushed out. The courtyard outside was full of dark soldiers. Hong Lie was riding a horse on the corridor outside the courtyard, looking at him from a distance.
Jiang Qian took a deep breath, straightened his hair, stepped forward, and said loudly: "General Hong, if you don't believe that your second brother was not killed by this Highness, Your Highness has nothing to say. I will kill you or cut him into pieces." Please do as you wish, when my father and fourth brother come back, you will not be able to escape death either."
The soldiers were silent and did not move immediately, waiting for General Hong to speak.
Jiang Gan followed: "General Hong, even if my second brother is really dead, what's the use of being so angry? You are dragging the Hong family to be buried with him. The Hong family only has one prince to rely on!"
Hong Lie leaned forward and said with a contemptuous smile: "Since there is no prince to rely on, I, the general, will wear royal robes. I wonder what your highness thinks?"
"you……"
Jiang Gan's eyes widened and he was shaking with anger. He suddenly became enlightened.
Could it be that Jiang Ming’s disappearance is related to Hong Lie?
The soldiers laughed and shouted, "Long live Emperor Hong."
Jiang Gan was extremely angry and rushed towards Hong Lie. He had never practiced martial arts and was like a scholar. He was kicked over by a soldier, a sword pierced his body, and his blood spilled on the ground.
Jiang Gan's mouth was full of blood as he stared at the soldier in front of him. There was no fear in his eyes, only anger.
"Presumptuous! Hong Lie, do you really not miss your old relationship?"
The queen's voice came, her words were cold, and she was heard walking out of the palace.
Hong Lie laughed and said: "Sister-in-law, I didn't expect that after decades, you are still beautiful, and I don't know what rare treasures His Majesty has fed you. I have come to this point, do you think I have a way out? "
"Come here, capture the queen for me and take her to the general... my palace, hahaha!"
Hong Lieyou laughed wildly and actually changed his name to "I". He was already crazy because in his opinion, the throne was right in front of him.
The soldiers immediately stepped forward. Jiang Gan raised his hand and cursed: "Hong Lie, you are not a human being! You will not die easily!"
The soldier who was holding him down immediately slit his throat. He covered his throat with his hands and was speechless. The blood was pouring out and he couldn't stop it.
The Queen was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she backed away one after another, leaning against the door.
At this moment, a voice fell softly:
"A dog from Da Jing also wants to wear royal robes? You are arrogant and do not know the heights of the world. Today, you will die miserably."
Everyone looked up and saw a figure appearing on the eaves of the Queen's palace. This person was wearing a shabby black monk's robe, a wooden mask on his face, and no weapons in his hands, but he stood there giving people a look. A feeling of extreme danger.
