Dajing Sun and Moon

Chapter 189 Everything is silent

In the southwest of Jinyang City, there is a huge complex of pavilions comparable in size to the palace.

Above the majestic gate of the mansion, there is a black gold plaque hanging, engraved with two magnificent ancient seal characters.

Choi House.

The handwriting is painted with iron hooks and silver hooks, just like a dragon swimming in a fright, showing a posture of soaring and thriving, overlooking Tongqu Tianjie.

Moving down the line of sight, the ferocious stone unicorn is lying on both sides of the Wukai mansion gate. On the gate, there are seven or sixty-three copper-cast floating nails in the shape of an inverted bowl, nine vertical and seven horizontal. Above the princes, second only to the honor of the "Ninth Five-Year Plan".

The pavilions, terraces and corridors in the mansion stretch for several miles, and there are countless tall buildings and pavilions. The pool garden is like a green pearl in the desert, dotted with carved beams and painted buildings. Its exquisite luxury is even better than Jinwang Mansion.

Its level of wealth is even worse than that of the Xiao and Wang families.

In the depths of the courtyard, the candlelight flickered slightly, and a middle-aged man knelt down on the ground, weeping uncontrollably: "I beg my father to come forward and save my Cui family from danger, and save the building from falling."

Through the heavy beaded curtain, heavy coughing sounded one after another. You Meimei hurriedly handed over the spittoon, her gray hair sticking out of the curtain, and spit out a mouthful of thick phlegm.

He breathed a sigh of relief, and the girl's slender hands caressed his thin breastbone. After the dry chest and abdomen squirmed, it gradually calmed down. The old man raised his eyes with difficulty, and the wrinkles on his face moved slightly like old bark. In a trance, as if recalling the past.

The middle-aged man stopped talking, choked up and cried: "My son is not filial, my son is not filial."

After a long time, the old man lowered his eyes and let out a long sigh. His eyes gradually became darker and calmer. He said softly, "Help me up."

The girl standing respectfully by her side hurriedly waited for the old man to get up, and said softly, "Be careful, old ancestor."

After putting on brocade robes and Chinese clothes for the old man, a layer of red robe silk blanket embroidered with golden pheasant and peacock patterns is wrapped, which tightly seals the last warmth in the bed, as if once the warmth disappears, the last remaining vitality will be vanished.

The girl brought the heater closer, and after the old man's breath gradually stabilized, he said softly: "Let's tell the ins and outs of the matter."

The middle-aged man in Jinpao wept with joy, he hastily said yes, and he did not dare to be negligent in telling all the incidents that occurred when the crown prince entered Jin Dynasty, robbing people at the banquet, and breaking into the Jin Palace, etc., and finally did not forget to add fuel and vinegar to Cui Yan. The incident of attacking and killing Xia Houchun was reported, but Cui Yan
Hearing about the changes in the east of the city for the first time, especially when he learned that Cui's son had failed to invite a real person from the family to attack and kill the prince, Cui's then patriarch changed color, suddenly became furious, and was about to ask the teacher for the crime.

Later, he heard that the old lady of the Wang family and Song He, the prince of the Song Dynasty, visited Jin Wangfu together. After being invited into the study by that person, he was startled in horror, knowing that a catastrophe was imminent.

After hesitating again and again, he decided to cut off his tail to survive, and quickly killed his second concubine, Cui Yan's birth mother Liu Shi and the other three sons, and then took Liu Shi and other four heads to Jin Wang's mansion, intending to meet Jin Wang in vain , Gritting his teeth, he went back to the mansion and asked the old lady to take the blame.

However, before meeting the old grandpa, he secretly ordered Li Jin, the magistrate of Qingxu county in Jinzhou, to secretly prepare the army and make preparations for a curious attack on Jinyang, the city of Jinzhou. Take Jinzhou, surrender to Taikang in the south, and secure the position of governor of Jinzhou.

After hearing the ins and outs, the old man was silent for a while.

He turned his head and asked the girl beside him, "What do you think?"

The middle-aged man in Jinpao's heart froze, his eyes drooped, and he seemed unwilling.

The knuckles tightened, and there was a soft creak, but he lowered his eyes and lowered his eyebrows, gritted his teeth, and kept his mouth shut, for fear of revealing the slightest flaw and offending the old man.

The girl has bright eyes and white teeth, curved brows and eyes, and a slight smile with low curtains. When viewed from a close distance, she has the appearance of a shy flower under a closed moon, and from a distance, she has the color of a falling geese and a fish. .

However, the reputation is not obvious, and few people know that the girl's name is Cui Fuyu, her boudoir name is Ruoxiu, she is beautiful and intelligent, she has followed the rules since she was a child, was born in a boudoir, grew up in a deep court, but she is as careful as a hair , Linghui is natural, so he is valued by the old man, and he has [-]% of his true biography, and his friends call it "Cui's fortune, I entrust this daughter to you".

The girl came out of the pavilion like a bud, ready to be released. I saw her drooping head and breasts, her small breasts were slightly protruding, she spoke softly, and after contemplating for a while, she said softly: "The granddaughter thinks that the person who untied the bell must tie it. The palace seems to be coming in a menacing way, but the source is still in the prince, my crisis in the Cui family began with the prince, and will end with the prince."

The old matriarch nodded, "Then, in your opinion, what should be the solution to this matter?"

Cui Fuyu raised her eyebrows and turned to look at the middle-aged man who was kneeling on the ground. After hesitating for a while, she said softly: "The old ancestor has his own calculations, how dare the granddaughter speak indiscriminately."

The old man patted his grandson's fat and bright wrist, and sighed softly: "The old ancestor is old, it is inevitable that he will be confused, let alone, let's try to leave a trace of blessing for you while he has his last breath."

Feeling ashamed, the middle-aged man bowed down and knelt down: "Please teach me, my ancestors."

The old man didn't answer, his cloudy eyes were gloomy, and he seemed to be able to jump through many pavilions until he arrived at the study room of Prince Jin's mansion. He let out a long sigh and remained silent.

For a long time, the old man lowered his eyes and landed on the middle-aged man, only to see that his aura was vain and sluggish, but his temperament was gloomy, and it was difficult to appear majestic.

A trace of disappointment flashed quietly in the old man's eyes, if he closed his eyes, the Cui family might be destroyed by this son.

After sighing softly, the old man slowly straightened his hunched back, looked straight at the eyes, and said indifferently: "Prepare the horse immediately, and take a thorny vine. In addition, hand over the greeting card to the Jin Palace, and you will follow me to visit Let's hit that one!"

The middle-aged man was stunned by the sound, and raised his head subconsciously, only to see the old man on the sick bed, sitting upright, with a tiger-like posture that swallowed ten thousand li spontaneously.

The middle-aged man was suffocated, and the old man's calm and prestige made him feel depressed, subconsciously crawled again, and said with a trembling voice: "No!"

The old grandpa of the Cui family, named Cui Zao, was more than a few years old, and belonged to the lineage of Shouyang in Jinzhong. He was a Jinshi during the reign of Emperor Taizong, so he was accepted by the main lineage. Later, he became the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Minister of the Ministry of Industry. One of the proponents urged Emperor Taizong to promulgate the decree of "no political interference in the harem". He has gone through three dynasties of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Hong. Like Song He, he is a veritable veteran of the two dynasties.

Until the tenth year of Hongdi Chunxi, when he was dismissed from his post, the old man went to beg for bones and retired at sixty.

On the side of Prince Jin's mansion, King Xia Hourong of Jin heard that the thorn was pleading guilty, so he dared not delay, so he asked the old servant to report to Xia Houxu for a decision.

In the study room, the old man didn't seem surprised, and ordered quietly: "Let him in."

The old servant replied, and after going back and forth, he brought the gray-haired Cui Zao.

As soon as Cui Zaofu entered, his trembling old body bent down and bowed, without waiting for the old servant's help, he knelt down on the ground, crying facelessly, with tears streaming down his face, "My minister Cui Zao is ashamed to worship His Royal Highness King Jin, Knowing that His Highness has flourished for thousands of years, the veteran also died without regret."

Xia Houchun was really surprised when this old grandpa of the Cui family kowtowed at such an ancient age. In addition, he subconsciously squinted his eyes when he came to see him in the depths of winter.

The old man by the fireside had complicated eyes, and after taking a fixed look at the other party, he sighed softly, "You're almost dead, so why bother?"

Cui Zao looked miserable, but the old man on the ground let go quietly, and said in a hoarse voice: "The sons and grandchildren are unworthy, go astray, and even endanger the whole family. I am old and helpless, so I have the audacity to beg Your Highness to forgive me and give Cui a way out. "

The old man turned over the frozen palms, roasted them on the coquettish open fire, and said casually: "It's just a loss of money, and it's not cut off after autumn. What are you afraid of? Isn't there a way to survive? Is it because of your Cui family?" Are you afraid that you won't be able to stand up?"

Cui Zao smiled wryly, mere money naturally cannot damage Cui's background, at most it will hurt his muscles and bones, but how could he not know about his son's urination, they must not be able to bear this breath, there is more than [-]% chance of rebellion afterwards In Jinzhou, but with Jin Wangfu sitting here, the Cui family can't change their fate against the sky no matter how upheaval they are. The final result can only be the beheading of all the nine clans. How could he just watch the Cui family go to perish.

The old man looked at Cui Zao's humility and pleading for perfection, he sighed secretly, and said intentionally or unintentionally: "It's not me who provoked your grandson this time, Jin Wangfu, otherwise, with the friendship between you and me for many years, how could it be so troublesome."

Xia Houchun's eyelids twitched, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he rolled his eyes secretly. He killed Cui Yan in self-defense, and retreated to the Jin Palace to seek help for self-protection. He was worried that Cui's anger would retaliate. Of course, the reason why he agreed to ransack his home Extermination of the genocide also wants to get it done once and for all.

It's not that Xia Houchun is murderous by nature, it's just that apart from the thought of cutting grass and roots, he also has a strategic consideration of suppressing the arrogance of the family politically and drawing salary from the bottom of the family.

Cui Zao raised his head, and the three people by the fire came into view. Apart from Wendi Xia Houxu who was also an old man, there were two young people, a graceful girl with low eyebrows and pleasing eyes, so it was hard to see what she looked like.

The remaining one is a rich and handsome young man with a crown, his face is like a crown of jade, his brows are clear and bright, but the murderous aura revealed in his plain eyes makes him feel chilled, especially the other party looks like Emperor Taizong. His face was full of contempt, his eyes were cold and calm, and he seemed to see the shadow of Emperor Taizong in this son.

Cui Zao was silent. After Yu Yu walked forward for more than ten steps, he bowed down and said: "My minister Cui Zao pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Xia Houchun looked sideways, spoke warmly, and said slowly: "Why does the old grandpa need to perform such a grand ceremony, the ground is cold, get up quickly."

The tone was light, but in Cui Zao's ears, it was like thunder, like a thunderbolt across the sky, piercing through Biyu.

As soon as the words finished, Murong Yan glanced at Xia Houchun, got up and walked to Cui Zao's side, bent down to help the old man up, she looked out the window, there was a beautiful woman standing proudly in the courtyard, standing alone, like a frosty plum , left behind and independent.

The two gazes meet in the air, one is gentle and beautiful, showing beauty in shame; the other is soft and hides strength, like a graceful lotus, the king of flowers.

The frost and snow melted, and the cool breeze was blowing, blowing the cheeks of the beautiful woman Ranxia, ​​and the eyes were flowing, and the spring was soft and snowy.

Murong Yan raised his eyebrows, lowered his eyes slightly, and nodded in greeting.

The woman outside the window smiled sweetly, her beauty was delicious.

Cui Zao glanced at the woman beside him, she was beautiful and beautiful, she was no less than his own granddaughter, he sighed inwardly, this trip might not be going well.

He thanked kindly, "Thank you, girl."

Murong Yan said to Xiahou Chun: "Brother, can you let the girl outside the house in, don't freeze her."

Cui Zao hung down the curtain and remained silent.

Xia Houchun glanced at the old man beside him, saw that the other party was smiling but not smiling, his heart skipped a beat, and he said to Cui Zao without changing his face: "Grandpa Cui, it's bitterly cold outside, please come in the girl outside."

The old man's heart moved, and it seemed that His Royal Highness was not as ruthless as the rumors said.

At the same time, he quickly glanced at the woman next to him, already thinking about it in his heart, and after suppressing his thoughts, he bent down and bowed: "Thank you, Prince, for being considerate of your grandson."

He called out, and when the woman entered, his brows softened, and he said in a gentle voice: "Hurry up and meet King Jin and His Highness the Crown Prince."

The woman smiled softly and bowed profusely: "Fu Yu pays homage to His Royal Highness Prince Jin!"

The old man frowned kindly, and nodded slightly: "Excuse me."

Cui Fuyu's eyes flashed, he stared at Xia Houchun, and smiled shyly: "I have seen the prince."

The voice is soft and not sweet, the face is soft and bright, and the gestures are all the model of a lady, worthy of the eminent family.

Xia Houchun helped her up, and said softly, "Miss Cui, you don't need to be too polite."

Cui Fuyu lowered his eyebrows, and said softly: "Fuyu's nickname is Ruoxiu, your Highness can just call me by my nickname."

Murong Yan's eyebrows were heroic, and she raised her eyebrows slightly, her sense of crisis greatly increased.

Xia Houxu by the stove clapped his hands, and the old servant stood respectfully outside the door, and he ordered: "Hurry up and take off the vines on Cui Shilang's back?"

The old servant hurried in, apologized to Cui Zao, and took down the vines under the calmness of the other party.

"Bring my two robes and put them on, so they don't get cold."

Xia Houxu ordered again.

The old servant didn't dare to be negligent, so he hurriedly went to bed and got two dragon robes embroidered with nine golden silk patterns of Chilong playing with pearls, Cui Zao changed color, his face turned pale, he knelt down again with a thud, and hissed: "I beg your Highness to be merciful! "

Cui Fuyu clenched her teeth and knelt down with the old man.

The old servant took off the old dragon robe but didn't really put it on. Standing respectfully by the side, he lowered his eyebrows and looked pleasing to the eye.

Xia Houxu smiled at Xia Houchun: "I wanted to take off this robe and keep it in Taikang back then, but my second son Enzhun took it away, so I didn't pretend to be hypocritical. I kept it until now, and it's just a thought."

His cloudy eyes seemed to be smiling but not smiling, "If you think it's inappropriate, you can take it away."

Xia Houchun's scalp went numb, and he felt that this moody man immediately turned serious, and said righteously: "Grandpa Zunlong Wushuang, besides Grandpa Taizong, who else is qualified to wear this dress?"

The old man raised his eyebrows: "Your father doesn't mind?"

Xia Houchun smiled casually, "Grandfather has paid so much for Dajing, a mere robe is nothing, not to mention why did Emperor Father ever mind these things, it's just some trivial things that are not worth mentioning."

He smiled generously and said, "If grandpa really likes it, grandson will ask Shaofu Supervision Weaving and Dyeing Department to weave a few more pieces for you in the future."

The old man raised his eyebrows: "Really?"

Xia Houchun said seriously: "It's just a mere clothes, why don't you begrudge me?"

The old man laughed.

Cui Zao's face twitched, his brows furrowed deeply, the more he listened, the more frightened he became, he thought that Jin Wangfu and Hongdi were in the same line, but unexpectedly they are so close as glue and family, could it be that the rumors outside are all illusions, Is Taikangcheng playing a big game?
In this person's eyes, the world is like chess, if the Cui family hinders the development of Dajing, no matter how kind he is, he will not hesitate to pick up the butcher's knife and kill him.

After all, he was a former emperor. The so-called kindness and softness that Taizong said was relatively speaking.

Man is a complicated animal, even if his character is a dish, let alone an emperor's heart?
In this world, no one is purely vicious and bad, and no one is purely good-natured. People's hearts are like the sea, complex and unpredictable, contradictory yet consistent.

For example, Xia Houxu, he is sometimes moody, sometimes dismissive with kindness, sometimes cruel, and sometimes kind.

As a generation of multi-faceted animals, the emperor's thoughts are far more complicated than others imagined. In a deeper way, many actions today seem to be ruthless towards Cui's iron and blood, so why not protect themselves in disguise?
Frankly speaking, when the town killed the Cui family, ransacked his family and wiped out his family, that was for Xiahou Chun; There is even a hint of compassion, and even a hint of helplessness and helplessness for a lonely old man who was once a generation of emperors and is now under the brilliant situation.

Of course, as for how many considerations there are in declaring force and deterring someone, you can only ask Xia Houxu himself.

As for His Royal Highness, Cui Zao is even more impressed. Isn’t it rumored that this son is stupid and ignorant of the general situation? Why is he so cunning, and the scheming city can wrestle with this man? They Cui fell into the abyss.

Seeing that the Xiahou family's two eldest sons joined forces, Cui Zao suddenly felt that it was not appropriate to force it now, and he kowtowed without hesitation: "My lord, I implore your highness to spare the lives of the clansmen for the sake of the Cui family's worship for many years."

He paused, and said in a deep voice: "If Your Highness still doesn't understand the hatred, this old minister is willing to die to appease His Highness's anger."

The room was silent, Xia Houxu was expressionless and indifferent.

He picked up the tongs again, fiddled with the charcoal, watched the rising smoke, and handed it to Xia Houchun.

Murong Yan looked up at Xia Houchun.

Xia Houchun took the tongs, his eyes lowered, and fell on the kneeling old man. After a long silence, he slowly uttered a sentence: "Originally, in my palace's opinion, since the Cui family has bullied and offended, it must be punished." Use thunderous methods to suppress and kill them immediately, so that we can make an example of them."

The fall of these words is tantamount to a thunderclap on the ground.

The old man's momentum stagnated, like opening a sluice to release a flood, and the awe-inspiring aloofness could no longer be maintained.

His dry lips trembled slightly, his cloudy eyes showed unwillingness, and there were tears in the corners of his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but he hesitated to speak.

He knew that the prince in front of him was not only similar to Taizong, but also a kind-hearted and soft-hearted person.

Don't say that the people who died because of Taizong's rebellion back then were as many as dozens of family members who were slaughtered after he ascended the throne, and the Weishui River was dyed red again and again.

The four emperors of Dajing all ascended the throne by stepping on thousands of corpses, and Longwei descended, laying down millions of corpses, bleeding and drifting.

Cui Fu's face was resolute, and he bowed down: "His Royal Highness, I, the Cui family, are willing to exchange half of the family wealth for a chance of life."

Xia Houchun's eyes were light and quiet, and he didn't say a word.

Xia Houxu smiled at Yan Yan, noncommittal.

Cui Fuyu's face was miserable, and he said sadly: "If Your Highness still feels that it is not enough, I would like to serve Your Highness as a slave and servant, serving tea and water, serving daily life, and I hope His Highness will make it happen."

Murong Yan had no expression on his face, but there was anger hidden in his heart.

Brother, I haven't tasted it yet, yet you still want to do it in one step, heh, it's a beautiful idea.

Xia Houchun frowned, with an unhappy expression on his face, he said: "This matter is because your Cui family provoked me first, and then condoned your clan's sons to send real people to attack. How come it looks like I am bullying others?"

The old man was speechless and gave a bitter smile. The situation was involuntary. How could he have expected that the man from the Prince Jin's Mansion would come forward in person, especially since he also learned that this man even used the backhand left by Emperor Taizong for the sake of insurance. Otherwise, why would Mrs. Cui be so compromising?

But he didn't dare, and if he really fell out, Cui's thousands of years of savings would really be destroyed.

Cui Zao's aura on the ground was weak, his face was withered, like a rotten tree, he took a breath, and raised his head with difficulty: "I, Cui family, would like to serve Your Highness as the Lord, and from generation to generation, I will never say anything against you, and I beg the crown prince to help you!"

Those who serve the master are also slaves.

As soon as these words came out, Cui Fuyu's beautiful face turned pale, her pale face flushed suddenly, but her whole body was cold, and she stood stiff on the spot.

Her complexion changed, she bit her lip, and remained silent.

Murong Yan carefully glanced at Xia Houxu who was tinkering with the charcoal basin, and he gently tugged on Xia Houchun's sleeve.

Xia Houchun remained silent, looked up at the old man by the fire, and said softly: "Grandpa, in your opinion, what should we do?"

The old man smiled and said, "You can live or die as you please, you don't need to ask me."

The old man was testing him, but Xia Houchun was not only respectful, but also secretly fearful of him.

He was also afraid, he was afraid that the Jin Palace would rebel, and he was afraid that Xiahou Chun would be used as a sacrificial flag, and he would be killed regardless of the date.

I am also afraid that the former emperor is pretending to be stupid, hiding clumsiness, and showing weakness in order to make a comeback and regain the throne.

But these thoughts, Xia Houchun can only hide in his heart, unable to express, let alone reveal the slightest, otherwise it will not force him to rebel.

Rebellion is always a true proposition.

Xiahoumo, the eldest son of the Jin Dynasty, clamored that there were [-] troops outside the city. He believed it, but he was not afraid, because those soldiers Xiahoumo could not move.

The new king Xia Hourong spoke sharp words and hid needles in his mouth. He was worried, but he didn't lose his sense of control, because although the new king's prestige was high, it still couldn't match his father's imperial edict.

But if the old man in front of him eats the weight and is determined to rebel, it will undoubtedly be a disaster for Dajing.

Yes, he, Xia Houchun, keeps saying that we are all one family, and that the throne will take turns to come to my house this year. It doesn't seem to matter. After all, the fat and water will not flow to outsiders' fields, but can the words of the royal family be taken seriously?

The emperor once vowed to save you from death, hereditary will not replace you, and you will die with the country, why do you really believe it?

If this is the case, why should the new king come to kill first and play later, and then talk about inheriting the title?It's not that I'm worried that Taikang City will backtrack.

Heh, you said the emperor's golden words?But in this world, how many emperors can make promises and live forever?It's all bullshit.

Therefore, this meeting at the Prince Jin's Mansion was not only an opportunity for the old Jin King Xia Houxu to "open his liver and ask his heart" to Xia Houchun, expressing his loyalty, but also to take this opportunity to convey goodwill, with the intention of resolving the previous misunderstanding and grievances between the prince and the Prince Jin Mansion.

And Xia Houchun took the initiative to come to the door, and he also had this intention. The bow when he first entered the mansion was full of too much. Naturally, it is enough to give face to Prince Jin's mansion.

When Xia Houxu went out to greet him, he acquiesced, and Xia Hourong gave Cui Shi as a return gift to Xia Houchun.

As for half of Cui's family property, it is naturally the tacit understanding of the two parties that "blessed and shared, and difficult to be shared". If there is a sudden change in the future, it is not only the basis for joining hands to bear the disasters, but also the basis for the two parties to be able to bear the misfortunes once there is a quarrel in the future. It is relieved to fight for power and profit calmly, and the spoils are divided fairly, and no one suffers.

And the reason why Xia Houxu summoned the old lady Wang and Song He was to declare to all the family members that Taizong's line and Jin Wangfu's line have reconciled as before, and both inside and outside are safe and will no longer be divided.

If their aristocratic families want to split, or plan some unreasonable ideas, they should weigh it carefully. After all, there is Jinwang Mansion nearby, Taikang City far away, and even Buddhist gates, all of which are heavy weights. Not to mention, it is still easy to pick a Cui family to kill.

So Mrs. Wang was silent, and Song He was frightened.

As for Xia Houchun, pulling the tiger's skin to pull the banner, pretending to be the name of Emperor Jing, carrying the momentum of Buddhism, and borrowing the prestige of Jin's palace and the power of the aristocratic family, his wings gradually became more and more abundant.

With a butcher's knife in one hand and compassion in the other, he played like a thief.

Under Murong Yan's hope, Xia Houxu squinted his eyes to examine, Xia Houchun got up, walked in front of Cui Fuyu, took a deep look at her, moved his steps again, and helped the white-haired old man rise.

He patted his thin arm lightly, and said in a complicated tone, "Old man, you are too serious."

The old man smiled shyly, but he could no longer underestimate His Highness the Crown Prince.

Murong Yan followed closely behind, helped Cui Fuyu up again, and sighed faintly.

Among the women in the world, who is not struggling to survive?

All living beings suffer, but women suffer the most.

(End of this chapter)