Tang Ning always felt that there was something almost missing, but she couldn't figure it out for the moment...
When Tang Ning clutched her cloak and lowered her head, the much larger cloak almost covered her whole body. The faint smell of pine mixed with a few traces of bitter medicinal taste was caused by Xiao Yangong's previous injury. Mrs. Qin specially prescribed this decoction to heal her old illness.
During this period, Xiao Yan's body had been smelling like this.
Tang Ning smelled the slight smell of medicine and her mixed emotions calmed down a bit.
"Yue Jian, how are Uncle Xiao and the others doing lately?"
"They have been living in the academy. The relationship between the Xiao family master and Dean Shi is very good. Xiao Dalangjun also became the martial arts master of the academy during this time."
When the palace congratulated Xiao Yanzhui and congratulated Wenzhuo, Emperor An, perhaps to show his "holy grace", even pardoned the Xiao family who had faked his death earlier and gave him a house.
But the ancestral home of the Xiao family was not in the capital. They came to the capital to help Xiao Yan. They were too lazy to deal with the constant stream of people who wanted to come to inquire and make friends. Xiao Jinan and his son simply stayed at Rongsheng Academy.
Tang Ning asked in a low voice: "I remember Uncle Xiao and the others also led troops before?"
Yue Jian nodded: "Yes, the master of the Xiao family was once the patrol governor of Anyang, leading troops to station in one area. Xiao Dalangjun also studied with the former prince for a long time when he was young. He did not return to Anyang until he was ten years old. Like his master, he was both civil and military. A man of both worlds.”
If the accident in the He family hadn't involved the married daughter and Mrs. Xiao took the initiative to hang herself, in order to protect the legacy of the late prince who was injured when he was young, the Xiao family took the initiative to relinquish their power for fear of arousing suspicion and temporarily evading the public gaze. The Xiao family father and son would also have He is a fierce general on the battlefield.
"This slave has fought against Mr. Xiao Dalang. Although his kung fu is not as good as that of the master, he is rare in the world and is more suitable for the battlefield. The people of the Xiao family have not slacked off in these years. Mr. Xiao Dalang has also been in the army for training, but no one knows him. It’s the Xiao family.”
Tang Ning was stunned when she heard this. No wonder when she first met the eldest son of the Xiao family, she felt a chilling aura in him, something that even Di Tao, who grew up in the northwest, had never experienced.
"Girl, you suddenly asked whether the Xiao family is leading troops, and whether it is in the palace tonight..." Yue Jian asked in a low voice with some hesitation.
Tang Ning said softly: "I'm afraid there's going to be a war."
She listened to the sound of carriages speeding past outside, looked at the dim night outside the carriage curtains and said:
"Let's go to the academy first."
…
Here, Xiao Yan and Jin Yun rode directly into the palace. The palace guards recognized Xiao Yan and did not stop him. The horse went all the way to the second gate before stopping. There were guards on the side who came forward to pick up Xiao Yan and Xiao Yan. Jinyun held the reins in his hands and walked aside with the two followers, when someone came forward and bowed respectfully.
"My lord, Your Majesty and the others are already at the Imperial Palace."
Xiao Yan asked quietly: "Them? Are all of them here?"
The young eunuch replied: "Gong Cao, Grand Master Liang, Wei Zhongshu, six ministers, and several other adults."
Xiao Yan’s meaning was unclear: “It’s quite a blessing.”
The little eunuch didn't dare to speak when he heard the taunting voice, and just led Xiao Yan and Jin Yun toward the Royal Palace.
When they arrived in front of the Imperial Palace and saw Xiao Yan's master and servant coming over, someone shouted "Dingguo Gong" and the young eunuch who had led the way retreated.
The new arrival was a somewhat familiar chamberlain, who stepped forward anxiously.
"Dong Guo, why are you here?"
He came closer and lowered his voice and said quickly:
"King Pingshan rebelled and killed the imperial envoy sent by the palace. He also spread rumors that your Majesty wanted to kill him to cover up his collusion with the Lu family. Your Majesty was furious and wanted to send troops. Eunuch Feng asked his servant to remind the Duke of Guo, wait a moment. Be careful when you go in."
After saying that, he bowed and said:
"My lord, please hurry in. Your Majesty and your lords have been waiting for a long time."
Xiao Yan's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes grew colder. He turned to look at Jinyun, and then strode directly towards the palace. Jinyun turned around and left without leaving a trace, but disappeared within a moment.
…
"This bastard...cough cough cough..."
Before Xiao Yan could even step into the palace door, he heard yelling and yelling accompanied by a cough.
"I think he is just unsatisfied with his position as the vassal king and wants to rebel. I have treated the vassal kings all over the country favorably over the years and have never had any intention of cutting down the vassal. But I didn't expect that it actually fostered their ambitions... Ahem!"
Emperor An sat on the dragon chair and gasped for air, his sick face flushed with anger.
"The Lu family rebelled. King Pingshan took Lu Jiu'an in without telling him, and even killed the people I sent to capture the Lu family rebels. Now he dares to bite back and say that I ordered people to harm him, and he dares to accuse me falsely. He is simply A rebellious traitor, I..."
Cough cough cough!
An Di seemed to be out of breath and couldn't help but cough harder and harder.
Feng Lai hurriedly stepped forward to help him, and the prince and courtiers standing below all spoke one after another.
"Father, calm down."
"Your Majesty, be careful of the dragon body."
Someone outside spread the news that Duke Dingguo was coming. After the palace door was pushed open and Xiao Yan entered, everyone turned around.
Xiao Yan stepped forward and walked into the palace: "I see your Majesty."
An Di gasped and waved his hand: "Get up, no need to be polite."
"Dong Guo, you are finally here."
Wei Quan was the new person who took over the position of Zhongshu Ling vacated after Lu Chongyuan was demoted. When the Lu family failed, the family refused to give up the position of Zhongshu Ling. Emperor An wanted to install one of his own, but Xiao Yan hindered it.
With no one willing to give in after a three-party contest, the position finally fell to Wei Quan, who was originally inconspicuous.
When Wei Quan saw Xiao Yan, he said anxiously: "Does Duke Ding know that King Pingshan has rebelled?"
Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows in surprise: "When did it happen?"
"Not long ago."
Wei Quan's voice was anxious: "The Lu family conspired to rebel before, and a bastard in the Lu family fled to Prince Pingshan's palace in advance. Now Prince Pingshan is afraid that he colluded with him to rebel."
Emperor An saw that Wei Quan's words were unclear and said directly: "Liu Tong'en, tell me."
Liu Tongen took a step forward and said, "After the Lu family was convicted, Your Majesty sent me to arrest Lu Jiu'an and find out whether Prince Pingshan's palace had colluded with the Lu family. However, no news came back from the people sent for a long time."
"Tonight, someone suddenly fled back to the capital, covered with wounds and embarrassment. King Daopingshan hid Lu Jiu'an secretly. Not only did he refuse to admit that he had colluded with the Lu family, and he was unwilling to go to the capital to clarify the matter with his majesty, he also killed the person who went to pursue him. He was blamed. They took action and injured Prince Pingshan, and His Majesty is determined to eradicate the feudal king."
"The man said that all the other people who went with him died. He was in danger several times while escaping. King Pingshan sent people to hunt him all the way. He narrowly escaped death before escaping back to the capital. He said that King Pingshan had moved his troops and had rebelled. .”
After Liu Tongen finished speaking, his words suddenly changed.
"Don't Duke Xiao know about this?"
