Drunken Exquisiteness

"Forbidden Daily Life Notes" volume 128, Chapter 10, starting from Tiandufan 103 days.

In the twenty-seventh year, in June, Emperor Chao gave an order to stop the court. Xinmao, the disease worsened, moved to the Qinghe Hall, and withdrew from the imperial doctor...

In the early summer of the twenty-seventh year of Shengwu, Yige City was full of flowers, and the broad sky streets were thick and shaded. Occasionally, the cicadas could be heard, and they were singing under the fiery sun. Shangjiufang adds a bit of excitement.

And above the court, Xu was really quiet for a while because of the Emperor's condition. It's just that King Cham's army is about to return to the imperial class. It is very busy everywhere in preparation for various matters.

Nowadays, all the restaurants and tea shops in Yige City are spreading about the rebellion of King Zhan, the annihilation of Turks, and the Dingxi Regions. Among them, there is nothing more than the legend that King Zhan rode into Khotan alone and retreated from the Tubo envoys alone.

At the beginning of May, the army of the Chinese empire was stationed in Ganzhou and joined the Chinese delegation that had been waiting here. King Zhan removed his swords and armor, and led a delegation including a thousand guards into the Western Regions as a prince. At the same time, Tubo Zanpu Chilang Lunzan also sent envoys north to win over the forces of the Western Regions.

Among the 36 countries in the Western Regions, Loulan, Yanqi, Cheshi, Khotan, Qiuci, Shule and other countries have the strongest national strength and the greatest power. Among them, Loulan, Qiuci, Shule, etc. have long been under the rule of the celestial dynasty or have good relations with the celestial dynasty, but Yutian has always been ambiguous because of the closest proximity to the Tubo border.

The Celestial mission went west to Khotan. Because the Tubo envoys arrived earlier and preconceived, the King of Khotan had always been friendly to Tubo, and refused the entry of the Heavenly mission on the grounds that the number of guards was too large.

King Zhan heard the news, and the deputy envoy Zhou Yun led the people to Ronglu, leaving only ten followers to follow.

The general of Khotan Protectorate, Hanuer, was ordered to greet him. He sent a large army of tens of thousands of people, and set up the honor of distinguished guests in name, but managed to make things difficult to follow. Unexpectedly, King Zhan did not bring guards and swords, and rode into the city alone with Hanur. A white horse with a jade crown, slowly wearing a light shirt, spotless, and free to talk and laugh. Passing through the tens of thousands of swords, as if entering the realm of no one, Hanuer was secretly frightened, and he couldn't help but admire him. He was no longer arrogant.

That night, King Khotan hosted a banquet in the palace, and Tubo envoys were seated. During the dinner, the Tubo envoy frequently provoke King Cham, and King Khotan pretended not to see him. King Zhan held up wine and laughed and talked, calmly dealt with, sharp but tepid tone, arrogant but slow as a spring breeze, elegant speech, knowledgeable, unique insight, and a few laughs made the other party be restrained everywhere and slapped himself.

During a Hongmen banquet, the royal family members of the Khotan Kingdom were awed by the noble demeanor of King Cham, and they were all willing to persuade them. Instead, they ignored the Tubo envoys who were originally regarded as guests. After the banquet, King Zhan and King Khotan had a close talk until late at night. King Khotan, who had been friendly to Tubo, ordered the Tubo envoys to be expelled from the territory the next morning and welcomed the Chinese delegation into the dynasty with a grand national ceremony.

The change of Khotan's attitude made the rule of the Heavenly Dynasty in the Western Regions even more unshakable. What method King Zhan used to achieve such a goal is unavoidable. But the most charming and mysterious thing in the rumors is that King Yutian offered to marry the second daughter, Princess Duoxia, to King Zhan as his concubine.

Princess Duoxia is the jewel in the palm of King Khotan, beautiful as a flower, and intelligent in appearance. Because of her beauty and intelligence, she has never rejected the proposal of many princes and princes from neighboring countries. . Unexpectedly, after the palace dinner, she was deeply impressed by King Zhan's unrestrained elegance, and was willing to commit herself to marrying each other.

Although King Khotan worried about the recurring relationship between the two countries and was reluctant, the princess had decided and insisted on requesting. She also urged her father not to be uncertain and sway between the two countries so as not to please each other. King Yutian finally felt that the princess was justified, so he proposed an alliance with the heavenly dynasty, wishing to marry the good of Qin and Jin.

Faced with the marriage proposed by Tian, ​​King Zhan smiled happily and ordered Eight Baili Feiqi to return to Tiandu, and please play the Emperor of Heaven. After getting permission, with the pearl of Thousands of Dendrobium, the golden thousand liang, various colors of silk, silk, silk, Luo, brocade, satin and extremely rare luxury treasures as the dowry, we will marry Princess Duoxia back to the court. Among them, only a small piece of fist-sized ambergris has been invaluable, not to mention other rare and exotic treasures, which caused a sensation in the Western countries for a while.

This incident was passed back to Tiandu, and naturally turned into various bizarre versions. The day when the Cham Dynasty returns to the dynasty must be that all restaurants in Yige City that can see the city gate have been robbed. The Ministry of Rites and Emperor Zongsi made a ritual. Although the emperor’s dragon body was not healed, he did not dare to have the great momentum of the emperor’s visit to the army of Shenwumen. The style, the streets and alleys are in full swing.

Before King Zhan left Khotan, some traveling merchants who had returned from the Western Regions had already brought various legends back to Heaven. How did King Zhan go to Yutian alone, how to deal with the Tibetan messengers, how to be happy with the princess, and return with his beauty... It was so vivid and vivid, like personal experience.

But of course no one would think about it, letting you be astonished and stunning, there is nothing in this world that is obtained out of thin air. Behind the myth, the glorious bottom is always a contest between resourcefulness and courage. It will always require long-term vision, extraordinary courage, and omnipotent means.

The difficulties of Yutian and his party were well known before King Zhan entered the Western Regions. The Celestial army was stationed in Ganzhou in name. In fact, when the mission was still in Loulan, there were 30,000 Qingqi troops who had taken the route to Qiuci. Under the guidance of the guide of Qiuci state, they traversed the desert and arrived at the border of Khotan by the Hetian River. , Chen Bing quietly.

The reason why King Zhan went to risk alone was because he knew that there were many merchants from the heaven in Khotan. These wealthy businessmen are all inextricably linked with the Yin family of the rich world. They have been familiar with the princes and nobles in Yutian, and they have formed a force that can influence the political situation of Khotan, and they are the solid financial backing of King Zhan's trip.

King Zhan only had to summon a few merchants to understand that King Khotan was suspicious, greedy and lustful, and immediately presented King Khotan with a batch of jewels, gold and silver, plus dozens of beautiful women. On the night of the banquet, news of the Tibetan messengers forcibly molesting these women after drinking reached King Khotan's ears, and King Khotan was naturally furious.

At this time, King Khotan, who was invited by the attendant to the garden to calm down his anger, naturally met King Zhan who was invited by Princess Duoxia to appreciate the beautiful jade. During a happily meeting between the host and the guest, King Zhan and the King Khotan and the princess laughed and talked about elegance, but seemed to have no intention of mentioning that the deputy envoy Zhou Yun who came with him had made multiple trips to the Western Regions. , Yuli, Qiuci, Gumo and other countries went straight to Shule, thus leaving the commercial road of Congling to the west. Due to state disputes and considering the safety of business travel, the heavenly dynasty meant to completely abandon the original old way.

The ancient roads of the Western Regions passed through Shanshan, Qiemo, Jingjue and other countries, and then passed through Khotan to Dashule, which has always been an important dependence for the prosperity of these countries. Once the prohibition and business travel are in place, the value of silk, tea, iron, gold and silver and some exquisite luxury goods of the dynasty will double in Khotan's domestic value, while the jade, spices, medicinal materials and other items produced by Khotan will be less popular. Even if Yutian can make good relations with Tubo, and Tubo is in a barren place, how can it be compared with the prosperity of the Tian Dynasty even if the country is prosperous?

Although King Khotan was not a king of the Ming Dynasty, he acted capriciously, but he could see this clearly right now. In addition, Princess Duoxia persuaded him from the side. She immediately saw the wind and expelled the Tibetan envoys from the country, showing sincerity to the heaven.

Compared with her father, Princess Duoxia obviously has superior wisdom and vision. Not only did she manage to facilitate the friendship between the two countries, she also chose a splendid husband. However, just as the people of the celestial dynasty would not think of the complexity of the union between countries, Princess Duoxia would never understand that this graceful and suave man in front of her, thought in her heart while smiling gently at her. Think, but it is what a woman in white clothes in the jail of the Gyeonggi Division of Yige City said many years ago: Business travel and trade are far easier to control a country than war...

This sentence came to his mind so vividly when he faced the flying sand in the desert of thousands of miles. The beautiful Crescent Moon Spring in the night was like her clear and bright eyes, while the sand and stones deep in the bottom of Jingchen Yuquan were like his mood at this time. , After being exposed to the scorching sun during the day, the icy coldness of the night came to the bones, all prosperity and pride were declining, and the cold moon followed the waves, silent and silent.

The king of Khotan sent three hundred envoys, and brought rich dowry and tribute items such as high-quality five-color jade, fine horse wine and other rich dowry and tribute items with the king of Zhan to travel east, sending Princess Duoxia into the celestial dynasty and see the emperor. However, this grand event of the marriage between the two countries has made the originally melancholy imperial hospital worse. It is only because the Emperor of Heaven is seriously ill, and he is gradually unable to afford it. One of the most headaches for the imperial doctors was that the Emperor of Heaven had abandoned the doctor since he moved to Qinghe Hall. Apart from occasionally summoning several important ministers and ordering concubine Su Shu to serve, he did not see courtiers and concubines, and even the queen was turned away. There is no cure for medicine, and no cure for medicine. How can I not let the imperial doctor be in a dilemma?

Three provinces, six ministries, one Taiwan and nine divisions. The government was helpless. After this dragged on until the end of June, Qintian Supervisor Zhengqing Wu Congzhao issued a list:

In the Yinyou year Yihai, the earth is full of dry water, and the wood is weak and gold. Today, Taibai Jingtian, the White Tiger offends the day, Tai Sui is in the west, invading the Purple Palace, easily avoiding the West and occupying the northern position. People who belong to the year of the tiger, especially women...

This watch was stopped for less than half an hour by the General Secretary, and was directly sent to Hanguang Palace by the inner court female officer.

At the time of Guisi Xu in June, in accordance with the decree of the Empress of Hanguang Palace, the emperor's clan division and the division of the court searched all the concubines, maids, and maidservants in the Taisho Palace. After being summoned, they are not allowed to enter the palace privately, and the maids and maids who have never been a servant are released from the palace and return home.

In the middle of the night, the shadows of the lights and shadows of the Taisho Palace shuttled back and forth, and the footsteps were intensive, and the supervisor of the court personally led people to interrogate the palaces. The Emperor Zongsi had already sent out several concubines who were not suitable to stay in the palace, and went to Qianmen Temple overnight, including Ding concubine living in Chengping Palace, the westernmost part of the palace.

The next day, King Xi went to the table and asked to play, begging the Heavenly Emperor's grace to allow him to join Dingyi to Prince Xi's mansion. Unlike Wu Congzhao's seal, this seal entered the Zhongshu Province through the Department of Communications and Political Affairs, and was held in Feng Xiang's hands for three days, and was not issued.

After another day, Princess Ling, who had not been in the palace for many days, came to greet the Emperor of Heaven. After a while, the Qinghe Hall issued an decree, and ordered the imperial hospital to submit an imperial inspection of the prescriptions used a few days ago. At this time, Huang Wen, who has been promoted to the imperial physician, is still waiting in the outer hall, waiting for the call.

This time it was more than two hours. Seeing that the sun was in the middle of the day, more than half of the day had passed. Huang Wenshang saw Princess Ling slowly pacing out of the inner hall, in a dark blue palace dress, elegant and elegant, with wide sleeves and swallows. , Phi and silk are slender, although they have been pregnant for several months and can be seen vaguely, but they have a special grace. The smooth and transparent Yuhuan Ribbon swayed with her footsteps, making a pleasant voice, bringing a bit of coolness to the hall that was a little bit hot.

"I have seen the princess!"

Following Huang Wenshang's greetings, Qing Chen stopped in front of him: "What medicine did the emperor use before?"

Huang Wenshang turned his head and gestured, and the two waiters behind him bowed and presented the lacquer tray holding the prescription. Qing Chen stood there, looking carefully one by one, and then said, "Get pen and ink."

One of the waiters retreated, and quickly fetched pen and ink to offer. Qing Chen lifted his pen and looked down, adding and subtracting slightly to the prescriptions listed by the imperial hospital. Huang Wenshang was secretly surprised when he saw the dragon flying and phoenix dancing.

After Qing Chen finished writing, he said to Huang Wenshang: "From today, I will take this recipe and give me the medicine. Remember that the stone cassia will be fried first, and then the uncaria will go down. From now on, I will come to the Qinghe Hall to ask for pulse every day. If the pulse is slippery, Add five coins of gentian grass, three coins of chrysanthemum, and three coins of tree peony peel. If the string is thin, you will add the Jinkui Shenqi Pills made by Shang Medicine Supervision. You should write it down carefully and make no mistake.

Huang Wenshang hurriedly wrote down her instructions, holding the prescription in his heart, feeling uneasy. When he looked up, he saw that she had already walked out of the temple, and caught up with her in three steps and two steps: "The princess! The princess..."

Qing Chen stopped and turned around and asked. Huang Wenshang hesitated and said: "Wang Hao, there are a few powerful medicines on this prescription. The officials are terrified, and I really don't dare to use them."

Qing Chen said slightly, "Should your imperial hospital also change those princes who are not good enough?"

Huang Wenshang whispered: "Every disease should be treated in three parts, and nourishment in seven parts. If the viscera is not reconciled, it will be treated with strong medicine, which may lead to accidents. If the official loses his life, it is a small matter, but the Eucharist is more important!"

After speaking, Qing Chen did not respond for half a day. Huang Wenshang looked up and saw that she was quietly looking at the Qinghe Temple on the Dragon Wall of the Cloud Eaves. A deep meaning was reflected in her clear eyes, and a swirling bright light disappeared in the depths of the bright pupils, with a slight ripple. Warm and cold.

Only for a moment, Qing Chen withdrew his gaze from a distance, and said quietly, "I'm afraid the emperor can't wait for you to reconcile the viscera, so I can calm my nerves."

Huang Wenshang stood there dumbfounded, sweating through his back, unable to say a word. Seeing his appearance, Qing Chen smiled faintly: "You are also a person who knows well the principles of medicine. Is the medicine I used wrong?"

Huang Wenshang said: "It is true that the medicine is correct for the disease, but..."

Before Qing Chen finished speaking, he said, "Since the medicine is correct, and I dare to let you use it, I am sure to save your future and life. Don't you believe me?"

Huang Wenshang hurriedly said, "Don't dare to subordinate officials!"

"That's fine, this medicinal is not needed, you can decide for yourself." Qing Chen stopped talking, turned and continued on. In front of him, there was an attendant in front of the hall walking quickly to lead Feng Yan into the Qinghe Hall. Seeing Qing Chen and Huang Wenshang standing outside the hall, Feng Yan stopped, the guiding attendant bowed and went into the hall first. .

Huang Wenshang saw Feng Yan as if he had seen a savior, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "Feng Xiang!"

Seeing him with a worried look on his face, Feng Yan frowned and said, "What's the matter?"

Huang Wenshang was hesitantly empty, and Qing Chen smiled and said: "I am discussing with Huang Yuyi about the prescription for the emperor. Huang Yuyi has some questions about several medicines and dare not use it."

"Oh!" Feng Yan glanced at Huang Wenshang, "Since it is the prescription of the princess, please feel free to use it."

This simple sentence seemed to give Huang Wenshang a reassurance. He seemed to heaved a sigh of relief and said, "The next official is obedient, and the next official has retired first."

Feng Yan waved his hand, and Huang Wenshang bowed back. Qing Chen raised his gaze and paused on Huang Wenshang's back. Feng Yan smiled kindly: "The emperor is really willing to use your medicine, which shows that he trusts you more!"

However, Qing Chen just smiled if there was nothing to say: "I must at least make the emperor look better than before, otherwise it is not the one who made Yushitai single out the Qin Tianjian, and Wu Congzhao is not easy to explain."

Feng Yan nodded, paused, and asked: "What is the emperor..."

The slightly longer ending, you don't have to finish the sentence, the meaning is already clear, Qing Chen Bingxue is smart, would you not know the meaning? Slightly shook his head: "Do your best and obey the fate."

Feng Yan understood and didn't ask any more, but suddenly saw a very light smile on Qing Chen's face. Looking back, it turned out that Ye Tianling had stepped far up the white jade stone steps, obviously coming to them.

Because he is entering the palace, Ye Tianling is wearing a black prince's uniform today. On the ink-colored background, he is embroidered with a five-claw gun dragon with flying clouds and water patterns. Adding arrogance to the usual coldness makes one dare not look up. He raised his lips slightly at the moment when he met Qing Chen's eyes, the star pupils that were originally strict and forceful showed a faint smile, and his expression was flying for a while.

When he got closer, he said to Feng Yan: "Unexpectedly, Feng Xiang is also there." He stretched out his hand to hold Qing Chen, and whispered, "Why is it so long?"

Qing Chen said: "After talking with the emperor for a while, why are you here?"

Ye Tianling said: "Your body is inconvenient, so you should go back to your home earlier. Don't be too tired."

Qing Chen nodded with a smile, Feng Yan looked in his eyes, and smiled: "His Royal Highness is so considerate of Qing Chen, and the old official, the father, is really happy for her."

Ye Tianling raised the corner of her lips, did not answer, but said: "Today in Wenlan Hall, Feng Xiang has bothered."

Feng Yan chuckled: "The establishment of the Xuanjia Army has been approved by the Holy Spirit. There has been no objection for more than ten years. The old minister is just in his position and his duty."

Ye Tianling's expression was calm and his tone was sloppy: "Speaking of the military establishment, the Ministry of War just mentioned something. The number of Gyeonggi Guards in the Tiandu is now more than 20,000, which seems to be inconsistent with the system."

Feng Yan's smile remained undiminished: "It seems that there is indeed something beyond the control in the army. There is no way to get around without the rules. Those who should be rectified should not be sloppy."

Ye Tianling said lightly: "Fengxiang has worked hard."

Feng Yan smiled and said, "It's a matter of division."

In the warm sun, the two of them talked little, understatement, so that people could not feel the slightest smell of gunpowder. They did not know that just a few hours ago, the Wenlan Hall was furious and quarrelsome. Wei Zongping and Feng Yan had another tit-for-tat contest in the joint court meeting. At this time, they were pacing back and forth in the provincial room under the gate, brewing the impeachment, but Feng Yan went directly to the Qinghe Palace in the name of Wen An.

The matter originated from an addendum to the Xuanjia Army.

Although the battle of Mobei at the beginning of the year ended with the victory of the Heavenly Dynasty, it was only a tragic victory for the Xuanjia Army.

After the loss of nearly half of the 10,000 soldiers in Baizhang, Ye Tianling personally selected a group of soldiers from various armies to prepare for additional troops. This time he went back to Tian to check all the way, and after repeated tests and comparisons in recent months, he finally determined. Three thousand two hundred and sixty-nine people were reported to the Ministry of War for replacement of military status.

As usual, this matter should be reported by the Ministry of War and implemented by the Ministry of Books. Unexpectedly, the imperial order approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology was transferred to the Ministry of Education, but it was rejected in the name of "exceeding" and sent back to the Ministry of Science and Technology for new drafting.

According to the military system of the Tian Dynasty, in addition to the 20,000 soldiers of the Yulin Army stationed in the Taisho Palace, the East Palace and the Xuansheng Palace, the two garrisons in the two cities inside and outside the imperial capital, there are also two troops stationed in the outer city. The Imperial Forest Army is directly under the emperor, and has always been under the command of the Prince of the East Palace. The Shenyu and Shence armies are respectively controlled by the princes above the prince and assisted by the Ministry of War. These three armies need to be trusted by the emperor's seal when they are enlisted, and they are actually responsible to the emperor. They are the direct army used by the royal family to defend the imperial capital and prevent rebellion.

In addition to these garrisons, there is another 15,000 Gyeonggi Guards in the inner city of Tiandu, which is dispatched and commanded by the Gyeonggi Division to maintain the daily stability of the eighty-one areas inside and outside Tiandu. There are also guards of guards in each palace, and the number of them varies according to their rank. The nine-chapter prince's mansion with the highest rank can raise 1,500 soldiers, and so on. House five hundred.

Except for King Cham, who is about to be named Prince Nine Chapters in this return, the only prince of the heavenly princes is Ling Wang who was promoted to Prince Nine Chapters in the 26th year of Shengwu. The privilege of Zhongchi Horse is governed by 1,500 soldiers in the Lingwang Mansion. However, because King Ling led the troops all the year round, the Xuanjia Army was personally trained and commanded by him since the establishment of the army. These ten thousand soldiers are nominally under the Imperial Army, but in fact they are no different from the guards of the Royal Palace.

King Ling has a long history of city mansion, and he knows the great taboo of the master of high power. He is in the hands of heavy soldiers, but he has always acted upright and relaxed. Therefore, even if the Emperor of Heaven knew his prestige in the army, he was not aware of any concerns. The military affairs can also be handled by him. What's more, the Xuanjia army has strict discipline. From the hussars to the ordinary soldiers, they are clean and self-loving. They do not form factions, do not fight, do not publicize, and do not make trouble. They are very appreciated by the Emperor of Heaven. Therefore, the existence of the Xuanjia Army is actually in the Emperor of Heaven. With the acquiescence of.

However, at this time, Emperor Tian's condition was repeated, and the situation of the court was unknown. The Xuanjia Army attracted the attention of some people, and this led to the fierce debate of Wenlan Palace. It’s just that although everyone knows some things, they have never been ordered to clearly state that the Xuanjia Army is a personal soldier of King Ling when they are actually moved to the table. Now it is very unreasonable to abolish them by "exceeding control".

In the Wenlan Temple, King Ling almost didn't even bother to speak, and looked at people with ulterior motives in a solemn and impassioned manner. This attitude is self-evident. Feng Yan, in the name of the Ministry of Books, successively questioned why the subordinates of the province had been made out of nothing to refute the edict, aggressively. The Ministry of War lukewarmly asked the subordinates to give a reasonable reason. Since it intends to abolish the Xuanjia army, it naturally has to give an explanation to the soldiers.

The two factions are on their own, and they talk and talk endlessly. Some neutral ministers are worried and frightened.

What is worrying is that the divine spirit is declining with the lingering sick bed, and waves are rising above the court, and another day is in sight. Surprised in such a situation, the two armies of Shenyu and Shence expedition to the north of Turkistan, and the border of West Town, now this seemingly prosperous and peaceful Yige City is an empty city without army guards.