Chapter 1150: Stopping the Army from Going South

Chapter 1150: Stopping the Army from Going South

During this period of time, there have been various turmoils inside and outside the Northern Qi Dynasty, but as the military center of Jinyang, the situation has been relatively calm.

Just when the Wei army entered the Kouqueshu Valley, there was some human turmoil in the city, but after learning that the frontline soldiers successfully resisted the Wei army, the human situation became stable again.

But in this era of great strife, it is very difficult for even a political power center like Jinyang to maintain a relatively long-term stable state. After a short period of peace, the arrival of a team soon broke the calm situation in Jinyang.

Fearing that they would be noticed and intercepted, the servants of the Changshan Prince's Mansion hid day and night all the way, cautiously and quickly, and finally escorted Princess Yuanshi and the Crown Prince Gao Baibai to Jinyang safely.

After arriving in Jinyang, Princess Yuanshi still did not relax her vigilance and did not dare to take her son Gao Baibai with her. Instead, she ordered her slaves to take her son to hide in a secret manor outside Jinyang City, and then she went to the slaves at home. They all went straight to the palace of the Empress Dowager Lou in Jinyang City to ask for an audience.

At this time, in the Empress Dowager's palace, Mrs. Lou was having a banquet and games accompanied by a group of domestic and foreign ladies. When she heard that Princess Changshan came into the palace to ask for an audience, she was surprised. She rushed to introduce Princess Changshan, and immediately asked: "Why did the bride suddenly return to Jinyang after my son had settled in Yezhong for a long time? Could it be that my son has also returned to the capital to see his old mother?"

Speaking of this, Lou Zhaojun couldn't help but smile on her face. Among the children she had with Emperor Shenwu, the one she loved most was her third son, Gao Yan. At this time, Gao Yan returned to Jinyang to visit her due to misunderstanding. I couldn't help but smile.

Because there were outsiders present, Princess Changshan was unable to speak directly. She just knelt down in front of the Empress Dowager's table and cried without saying a word. When the Empress Dowager saw this, she was naturally surprised and angry. The smile on her face suddenly faded, and she pointed at Yuan and said angrily: "Why are you crying? Why can't you speak frankly! Don't make such a sad gesture again. If it damages my son's happiness, how will the foolish woman pay for it!"

When Mrs. Yuan heard the scolding, she cried louder and louder, and the Queen Mother naturally became more and more angry. Seeing that a family conflict was about to break out, the other married women present stood up and resigned and left. They didn't know what to say if they stayed here. If Chi Yu was hurt again, they would inevitably cry without tears.

After all the other people in the hall had exited, Yuan Shi cried again and said, "The Empress Dowager cares about the king, but the king is about to die soon. Does the Empress Dowager know?"

"You unruly woman, don't talk nonsense! My son is in the prime of life, strong and immune to all evil, how dare you interfere with his evil words!"

After Lou Zhaojun heard this, his face became even more angry. He pointed at his daughter-in-law and cursed loudly, and even raised his hand to order the waiter to expel her from the room.

Naturally, Mrs. Yuan would not leave easily, but continued to cry: "If the Empress Dowager really loves the king, she should quickly rescue her instead of making these endless lies. No matter how clumsy I am, I will not travel thousands of miles." I'm here to curse my husband!"

"What's going on? Stop crying and tell me quickly, what's going on with my son?"

After hearing this, Lou Zhaojun realized that the matter did not seem to be a conflict between husband and wife, but that a disaster had really befallen her beloved son. She was immediately panicked. She stood up from her seat and came to Yuan Dynasty. Shi held her arm in front of her and asked quickly.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is in trouble. Yes, Your Majesty cannot tolerate it. Your Majesty wants to murder our King..."

The emotions that Yuan had suppressed for a long time were finally released. Naturally, it was not easy to restrain them. While crying, he told the Empress Dowager intermittently about the difficulties encountered by the king.

After listening to the princess's cry, the empress dowager learned that a tragedy of fratricide was about to occur in her family. She panicked for a moment, her body swayed, and she had to hold on to the table to steady herself. She said in a trembling voice: "How, how could this happen?"

"The King knows that the Supreme Being is afraid of threatening the Crown Prince's succession, so he wants to find ways to harm the King. He has no choice but to send his concubine and son to Jinyang for a hundred years, hoping that the Queen Mother can protect them..."

Yuanshi covered her face again and cried sadly: "But I don't know whether the Queen Mother is willing or able to protect the blood of the king, so she can only hide the child outside. I come here to ask for it alone, and I will die... Pity my son, he is not yet weaned, and he has to live without anyone to pity him! Hateful, hateful, why should he be born in the royal family, even if he lives in a poor family, who would be willing to abandon such a child in the wild..."

"Why wouldn't I want to? Why wouldn't I? My son, my darling... How dare the emperor commit such a crime! My son has offended him in some way, but he cannot be tolerated!"

When Lou Zhaojun heard Yuan's cry, she was in a state of chaos and burst into mourning. Of all her sons, Gao was the most popular among them. At this time, hearing that her most beloved son was being coerced and tortured, her heart almost broke. , and hearing the pitiful words from the princess, he quickly confessed loudly: "Go quickly, quickly find my grandson and bring him back to the palace. I swear I will not be in conflict with anyone who dares to harm my son's flesh and blood!"

When the palace slave hurriedly exited, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the room couldn't help crying.

After a while, Lou's crying gradually stopped. After all, she had experienced big things, and she was not an ordinary aristocratic woman who was raised in a boudoir and didn't know the hardships of the world.

It was because of the influence of Princess Yuanshi just now, and because I was concerned about it, I was in chaos. Now my sadness subsided a little, my thoughts began to spin again, and I said in a deep voice: "According to what you said, things still seem to be turning around now. Your husband sent you At this point, I think it’s not just about begging for work. If there are any other instructions, please explain them in detail quickly and don’t miss them!”

After a lot of crying and venting, Yuanshi gradually stopped her sorrow, and then whispered: "Your Majesty knows that the situation is dangerous, but he is not willing to just sit back and wait for death. Now everyone in Ye is trying their best to save themselves. But with the Supreme Lord In comparison, the king's power is weak, and the disciples are too afraid to follow the king and resist his name. In particular, the queen mother needs to give the king support..."

When Lou Zhaojun heard this, he frowned immediately, but soon relaxed, and said angrily: "The emperor has become more and more violent in recent years, and he is bewitched by Han women, and has alienated his relatives. Now he doesn't even have brothers." Are you willing to let it go! If his son really has his destiny, how can my son take it away? If not, what's the use of killing my son?

My son dares to fight back, and he is worthy of his father and brother's style. Do you think that if the real king wants me to die, I have no choice but to die! I dare not ask how the emperor uses people to govern the country. But if he wants to harm my son to pave the way for his clumsy son to succeed him, I will never agree! The world is at his mercy, but no one in this family can even think of murdering my son! "

Although the emperor is also his son, in Lou Zhaojun's mind, son and son are very different. In his heart, he is completely on Gao Yan's side. Not only does he not feel that Gao Yan is secretly gathering people to fight against the emperor's order There is nothing wrong with it, but I still support it from the bottom of my heart.

But right now, apart from verbally expressing support, Lou Zhaojun can't do much more.

She is not the kind of woman who is unwilling to be lonely and is easy to use power. She has lived in the harem for many years since the death of Emperor Shenwu. Whenever she comes in and out, she always travels to the homes of noble relatives. She has a good understanding and control of the current situation and personnel outside the palace. not many.

Moreover, Gao Yan did not tell the princess what to do when she told the Queen Mother. If he acted rashly, he might reveal his son's plan and ruin his good deeds. Therefore, Mrs. Lou could only keep the princess and the prince in her palace at the moment and protect the mother and son.

However, as follow-up news continued to come, the situation gradually became clearer.

First, the emperor's order arrived in Jinyang, and Puyang King Lou Zhongda was about to lead a division and brigade to Liaoyang to greet him. Before leaving, he went to the Empress Dowager's palace to say goodbye to his aunt.

When the Empress Dowager learned that she had been called to lead the army south, her sensitive nerves were immediately provoked, and she quickly asked: "Why did the emperor call you to go?"

After hearing this, Lou Zhongda didn't doubt him, and immediately replied: "To the Queen Mother, there is no special explanation in your Majesty's order. It is just that the ministers led the troops to greet him. However, some colleagues told me that it was your Majesty who came to Liaoyang. His condition has turned critical and he no longer dares to stay outside. He must return to Jinyang quickly to make arrangements for his lover. "

"Is the situation already so critical?"

Since the emperor had been ill in public several times recently, the matter was not top secret, but the development of the illness was still difficult to ascertain. When the empress dowager heard what Lou Zhongda said, she couldn't help but frown, feeling a little irritable and sad in her heart.

But after just a moment, she glared again and said, "You are not allowed to go, find an excuse to shirk it!"

When Lou Zhongda heard this, he suddenly looked puzzled: "But, His Majesty ordered us to go quickly... Why is the Queen Mother not allowed to go?"

"Don't ask too much about the reasons, I naturally have my own reasons!"

After hearing this, Lou Zhaojun said impatiently and in a deep voice, and his tone became less polite: "If you still think that I am your aunt, then follow my order and you are not allowed to go. Try to delay it as much as possible!"

"Of course I respect my aunt, but in addition to being my aunt's nephew, I am also a minister of the dynasty! The Supreme Being is not feeling well, so he summoned me to greet you. If I don't go, how will you repay your kindness!"

Lou Zhongda was not just a young boy who obeyed his elders in everything. When he heard the Queen Mother's arrogant orders, he frowned and said.

After Lou Zhaojun heard this, his expression became even more angry. He slapped the table and scolded: "Do you really think that you are serving the court based on your talents? Don't forget why you are famous! In the past, you shared the glory and power with this family, but now you are It's time to repay the favor! You will be loyal to the king in the future, but you are not allowed to go to Liaoyang now. You are not allowed to go, and neither is the army!"

"Auntie, please calm down. I will obey your orders. However, your Majesty will return to the capital to hold you accountable tomorrow. How should you respond?"

Lou Zhongda was frightened when he saw Lou Zhaojun was really angry. He didn't dare to persist anymore and hurriedly lowered his head and said.

"If he can return alive, it will not be too late to plan for the future."

After Lou Zhaojun heard this, he was silent for a moment, and then whispered again.