Chapter 22 first quarter

After only staying in the fragrant warm pavilion of the Changshengyuan for a short while, Liu Bi's forehead began to sweat.Around the warm pavilion, pepper walls are fragrant, and thick curtains are layered on top of each other to block the cold air of severe winter.Especially the "Ruitan" burning in the copper furnace is very rare.This kind of charcoal comes from Xiliang as a tribute. It is green and hard in color. When it burns, it is flameless but glowing, and the heat is overwhelming. Therefore, the entire warm pavilion can be described as "warm as spring". Concubine Guo Gui walked out from behind the screen, sat down gracefully, and blamed half-truths: "You are too blind, didn't you see that Guoshi Liu is sweating? Why don't you take off your clothes for Guoshi?"

The maid hurriedly stepped forward and carefully stretched out her hands: "Master, please remove the cloak." Liu Bi was startled, and involuntarily closed the front of the crane feather cloak: "No need, I'll wear it." Guo Nianyun smiled sweetly: "Isn't Liu Guoshi frightened from the cold at the Holy Majesty's place?" Liu Bi didn't answer. Guo Nianyun asked: "How did I hear that the Holy Majesty still uses ice in such a cold winter? Does Liu Guoshi know?" "I know." Liu Mi replied arrogantly, "That's because the Holy Majesty took the elixir refined by Pindao, and his body is full of yang energy, so he is naturally not afraid of the severe cold."

"Oh? The national teacher's elixir is so miraculous, it's amazing. It's just that the national teacher's Taoism is so deep, why is he afraid of the cold?" Liu Mi let out a "hum" and said, "If the imperial concubine has something to say, she can say it clearly, there is no need to insinuate." "Innuendo?" Guo Nianyun's face darkened, "I, Guo Nianyun, have never learned what is called innuendo since I was a child! Do you have something to say? Hmph, I'm afraid that Liu Guoshi will not be able to bear it!" "Concubine Gui, please enlighten me!" Liu Bi showed no signs of fear.

"I heard that after the Holy Majesty took the elixir, his stomach was so hot that he needed to use the cold air to restrain it. Is this what you mean by exuberant yang energy? Moreover, the Holy Majesty has increased from one elixir a day to three elixir a day now. , what's going on?" "Why don't the noble concubine ask the sage directly about these questions?" Liu Bi still looked confident, "Since the poor Taoist offered alchemy to the sage, there have been various criticisms from the court and the field, not only turning a blind eye to the benefits of the elixir, but also Blindly slandering that the elixir of the poor is harmful to the Holy Majesty. If I understand correctly, the words of the noble concubine also mean the same?"

"You got it right." Guo Nianyun stared at Liu Mi. "Pindao still said that, it is the holy majesty who takes pills every day. Whether the pills are beneficial or harmful, the holy majesty knows better than anyone else. Pindao is refining alchemy in the Sanqing Palace, and he cannot leave the Daming Palace. The elixir has the slightest flaw, the Holy Majesty can take Pindao's life at any time. But the Holy Majesty still shows kindness to Pindao, but why?" "Because your pill has ghosts." Liu Bi's eyes widened with anger: "Please make it clear, the noble concubine!"

Guo Nianyun said word by word: "Because you put addictive drugs in the golden elixir, the Holy Majesty couldn't do without your elixir even for a moment, and he couldn't leave you. And you, that's why you can keep this Dog's life, and even the promotion of the rank of the official, the title of the national teacher, you were exchanged for the dragon body of the tormenting sage!" Liu Bi turned pale with shock!Liu Bi knew all about his ups and downs in the Daming Palace, all kinds of criticism, jealousy, suspicion and even hatred.But he always insisted that as long as he controlled the emperor, he would be invincible.Nowadays, even Tutu Chengcui, who is the most capable of crushing Liu Bi to death like a bug, keeps him at a respectful distance, doesn't he?Liu Mi thought that she would have no worries in the Daming Palace, but she never expected that another Concubine Guo Gui would pop out today!

Everyone in the Daming Palace knew that Guo Nianyunsu was at odds with the emperor, and Liu Mi did not believe that she would care for the emperor from the bottom of her heart.So what is the purpose of what she said today?Concubine Guo Gui, who is so arrogant that she can't see everything, has never pretended to Liu Bi, why did she suddenly target him? In any case, Liu Mi must fight back against Guo Nianyun's terrible accusation. He said sternly: "If the imperial concubine has no real evidence, she will be spitting blood!" "I have no proof." Liu Bi laughed arrogantly.No one could recognize the hands and feet I made in the pill, even if the imperial doctors noticed something wrong, they could only say nothing.As early as three years ago, Tutu Chengcui tried to find clues from the pill furnace and medicine, but the result was also in vain?Sure enough, Guo Nianyun was just cheating.

Guo Nianyun caressed the incense burner in his arms, and asked leisurely: "Isn't the national teacher worried?" Liu Mi asked provocatively: "What is there to worry about, poor?" "The Holy Majesty took your golden elixir, if one day you really become immortal, how will the national teacher deal with himself?" Liu Mi was dumbfounded: Guo Nianyun kept saying amazing things, what exactly did he want to do? Guo Nianyun admired Liu Mi's horrified appearance for a while, and said: "Master Liu Guo has profound morality and is well versed in the secret art of alchemy, so he must be able to calculate the auspicious day and the good day for Sheng Shengxian."

As soon as these words came out, Liu Bi was almost paralyzed by fright. Guo Nianyun still refused to let him go: "Which day and hour is it, can Liu Guoshi tell me? I'd like to be prepared." "Imperial concubine! You can't talk nonsense like this, Liu Mi can't afford it!" "What's wrong with the national teacher? Why are you so flustered all of a sudden?" "Once the words of the imperial concubine and empress are spread, the poor will be cut to pieces!" "Not necessarily." "Ah?" Liu Mi looked at Guo Nianyun in panic.

"The saint ascended to immortality, and the world will never lack the emperor." Liu Bi was sweating like rain, and could no longer speak a word. After a long time, Guo Nianyun said in a weary tone: "Master Liu, go down first. I have something to do in the future, and I will invite you to come." "Yes." Liu Bi turned pale, bowed and retreated. Guo Nianyun felt dizzy all of a sudden, and his whole body was so weak that it seemed like he was going to collapse. In the end, she still couldn't speak. Fortunately, Liu Bi had been overwhelmed, and Guo Nianyun comforted himself in his heart, so there was no time to talk about it later.She just didn't think about it, this idea has been brewing for a long time, but when she really brought it up, she still felt a heart-piercing pain, not the fear she originally thought.

Could it be that he still has a little affection for him? No.Even if there was a long time ago, this trace of affection has been exhausted in years of suspicion and indifference.Her hatred for him has accumulated for so long and so deep, isn't it enough to give her the courage to support her to take the necessary action? Absolutely necessary! After the end of the new year, the emperor turned forty-two years old, which was the heyday of Spring and Autumn.The crown prince in the Shaoyang courtyard was not taken seriously, because in the eyes of everyone, the emperor was strong and energetic, and he could reign for at least ten years.For such a long time, there are still variables in the position of the crown prince. But for Guo Nianyun, it was this uncertainty that was driving her crazy. Not long ago, the emperor just dismissed the prime minister Cui Qun, which once again made Guo Nianyun feel extremely uneasy about the position of the prince.Cui Qun was a prime minister known for his honesty and integrity in the court, and he had always been highly valued by the emperor.After the former prince Li Ning passed away, the emperor hesitated for a long time, and finally decided to make Li Heng, the son of Guo Nianyun, the prince.At that time, Cui Qun remonstrated that he only needs to give in to what he deserves, and if he doesn't deserve it, he can't talk about giving in.King Li is a concubine, and it is not his turn to be the crown prince, so it is superfluous to push him up. Cui Qun's outspoken words embarrass the emperor.In fact, Cui Qun is not a member of the Guo family, and he has never followed the Guo family.His support for establishing the son of Guo Nianyun as the crown prince is entirely based on the orthodoxy of the patriarchal system, so it is even more commendable. However, not long ago, such a loyal and capable prime minister was relegated just because of the dispute over the title of the emperor.At that time, Prime Minister Huangfu Po advocated adding the word "filial piety", but Cui Qun believed that the existing word "Ruisheng" contained the meaning of filial piety and virtue, and there was no need to repeat it.It was only a small difference of opinion, but the emperor was furious, and soon found a reason, dismissed Cui Qun from his position, sent him to be an observation envoy in Hunan, and expelled him from the capital. The government and the opposition have a lot of discussion on this.Some said it was Huangfu Piao who slandered and successfully squeezed out his opponents in the court; others said that the emperor was always the most sensitive to the word "filial piety".But Guo Nianyun smelled a different kind of danger. She knew that the emperor had never been satisfied with the crown prince Li Heng, and that damned Tutu Chengcui had been trying to persuade the emperor in private, abolished Li Heng's crown prince, and re-established Li Wang as the crown prince.Tutu Chengcui is the emperor's number one confidant, he dared to operate this matter only because he saw through the emperor's deepest thoughts.In other words, the emperor was using the mouth of Tutu Chengcui to expose his ulterior motives. Among other reasons, Cui Qun's dismissal must have the purpose of removing obstacles for the exchange of reserves. Just when Guo Nianyun was worried, the case of the Tibetan prisoners was triggered by the Buddha bones.To others, this might just be an attempted hostage rescue case, but to Guo Nianyun, the scar in his heart was torn open again bloody. The nightmare of more than 20 years ago reappeared, and the secret passage from Jinxianguan to Taiji Palace reproduced almost exactly the same process.And Guo Nianyun lost his first child in the Tibetan hostage escape more than 20 years ago. Although she narrowly escaped death by chance, her hatred for the emperor and even the former emperor was deeply planted in Guo Nianyun's heart from then on, and it blossomed and gradually grew into a towering tree. She thought that she had just married Li Chun, the king of Guangling County, and she went to Jinxian Temple to practice Taoism with him in a fit of anger.Guo Nianyun admitted that he was indeed self-willed at that time, but Li Chun's indifferent attitude towards her bride, I am afraid that even a woman from a small family can't bear it, let alone her who thinks highly of herself.It must be known that Guo Nianyun's mother is the famous Shengping Princess. When she married into the Guo family, she was taught a lesson by her husband. She went back to the palace and cried to Emperor Daizong.If Guo Ziyi hadn't rebuilt the Tang room, this country would not have belonged to our Li family long ago. So, what right does Li Chun have to let Guo Nianyun see her face? That time, it was the first emperor who arranged for Guo Nianyun to go to Jinxian Temple to practice Taoism.Jinxian Temple is a royal Taoist temple, worthy of Guo Nianyun's status.Just as Emperor Daizong helped his daughter, Princess Shengping, to smooth things over in front of his in-laws, the first emperor, as Guo Nianyun's father-in-law, was trying his best to make up for his son Li Chun. However, the tunnel under the Jinxian Temple leads directly to the dungeon of His Highness Sanqing in the Taiji Palace. In the dungeon, Lun Mangre, a Tubo felon, was imprisoned. This top secret was only held by the late emperor at that time.Lun Mangre accidentally escaped and went on a killing spree in the Golden Immortal Temple. Guo Nianyun almost became the ghost of the Tubo people. Naturally, the former emperor could not predict the foresight, so it can only be said that he did not think carefully and did bad things with good intentions.Fortunately, Guo Nianyun was unharmed. After the incident, he learned his lesson and obediently went back to Guangling Palace to be her princess. What was kept secret was that Guo Nianyun was already pregnant at that time.In the Jinxianguan case, she was frightened and had a miscarriage shortly after returning home—it was a baby boy who had already formed.In this way, Guo Nianyun lost the opportunity to give birth to Li Chun's eldest son, and when she conceived again, she would only be the third eldest. This is the result of a series of accidents, no one can blame it, it seems like God played tricks on her.But when Guo Nianyun suffered setbacks because of his conferred empress status and his son's establishment of a concubine, a terrible suspicion gradually formed in his heart: the catastrophe of Jinxian Temple was fundamentally a vicious conspiracy against him by the emperor and his father and son. Because she wanted to take advantage of the power of the Guo family, she married Guo Nianyun as her concubine.But he didn't want her to give birth to the eldest son, in case the next generation of emperors would have Guo's blood, and the power of his relatives would be too powerful to control.That's why everything happened in the Golden Immortal Temple! In Guo Nianyun's repeated thinking, this idea gradually became an indisputable conclusion.She didn't think about it, it was the Taoist temple she and Li Chun wanted to enter in the first place, and she didn't think about how the Tubo people could collude with the East Palace, let alone how Li Chun and his son could not use the theory of letting go even if they harbored evil intentions. at the expense of heat.After all, Datang is still their world. She doesn't care about all the reasons.Guo Nianyun wanted to blame all the disappointments, remorse and dissatisfaction in her life on the emperor's head. Only in this way could she hate him with peace of mind and continue to hate him. The tragedy of Jinxian Temple was staged again, which made Guo Nianyun feel that God was reminding him that he should completely abandon the illusion of the emperor-he would never let her son ascend the throne.Removing Cui Qun is only the first step. As long as he wants to change reserves, he will be able to implement his plan in an orderly, resolute and continuous manner.It's like it took him fifteen years to finally subdue those rebellious vassal towns one by one, and return the world to the unification of Li and Tang. In addition to power and wisdom, the emperor's willpower is the most formidable.Guo Nianyun knew very well that he and his son were not his opponents. She once hoped with all her heart that her son could be the crown prince safely and securely, and one day he would inherit the throne in a legitimate way.Now she understood that it was impossible.Unless you act first and seize the throne before the emperor changes his reserve! That is to say, the emperor must die as soon as possible.As long as the emperor died, Guo Nianyun's son was still the prince, and no one could stop him from ascending the throne.But just in his early forties, how could the normally healthy emperor die suddenly? Guo Nianyun believes that everything is possible. But careful planning is necessary, because the sudden death of the emperor will definitely cause shocks in the government and the public, and when the time comes to investigate, there must be no clues left.Of course, even if something was found out, Guo Nianyun would not be afraid.Because at that time, the one sitting on the dragon chair was already her son.It's just that some words are easy to say and hard to hear, just like today's emperor, no matter how iron-blooded and tough, but repeatedly loses composure before the word "filial piety", which is ultimately harmful to his face and detrimental to his authority. So Guo Nianyun made up his mind to let himself do the outrageous things.The crown prince doesn't need to intervene, or even know.This grievance was originally between her and Li Chun. Godsend.The scene he accidentally saw by the Taiye Pool, coupled with the information revealed by Chen Hongzhi, quickly formed a plan in Guo Nianyun's mind.This plan was too bold and vicious, and it frightened her herself, so that when she took Liu Bi into the trap step by step, she hesitated at the last moment. The plan she failed to say was to have Liu Bi poison the elixir directly. Guo Nianyun believed that Liu Mi's elixir would kill the emperor sooner or later, and he was just speeding up the process.Liu Mi is a smart person, he should understand that once the emperor dies, his backer will fall, and now he is domineering and has made too many enemies, at that time there is no need for any evidence, and he can be drowned with only spittle.So Liu Mi should be grateful to Guo Nianyun for pointing out a way out for him. The saint ascended to immortality and left, the world will never lack the emperor. As long as Liu Bi made great contributions, the succeeding emperor would not treat him badly. Although they did not say so, they reached a consensus today.For Guo Nianyun, this is enough.