Chapter 127 Chapter 127
The moment I saw Cao Da.
Fear seized Liu Xie's mind and for a moment he was so terrified that he couldn't make a sound. When he came to his senses and wanted to shout for help, his mouth had been covered by Cao Da.
The "humming" sound between the fingers was not loud enough for people outside to hear.
"My good majesty, please don't move rashly. If you turn around and hurt your precious body, it will be bad."
“…Mmmmm.”
Liu Xie is still struggling.
But it was of no use, he had already been taken into the secret room by Cao Da.
After entering the secret room, Cao Da closed it and then released the person.
"What do you want to do?"
Liu Xie looked at Cao Da with horror on his face and was still trying to get out.
He never thought that Cao Da, who had disappeared for half a year, would appear in his secret room.
How did he get here?
How did he know about this secret room?
With so many people inside and outside, how did he get in here? Liu Xie couldn't figure it out.
"Your Majesty, are you wondering how I ended up here?" Cao Da seemed to be able to see through his thoughts.
Seeing Liu Xie’s face turned pale.
Cao Da laughed without waiting for anyone to respond.
He knew that Liu Xie would not let other people in when he was paying tribute to his biological mother, so he smiled nonchalantly and even showed his kindness to others. How on earth did he appear here?
This was also the reason why he later established a secret passage in the Imperial Household Department.
Only the emperors knew that there was a secret passage in the Imperial Palace. This secret passage was to help the royal family escape in case of any incident.
However, the previous emperor's death was unclear, and Liu Xie was not the originally designated crown prince.
Naturally, he wouldn't know this secret passage.
It was only when Cao Da pressed one of the door panels that Liu Xie realized that there was a secret passage behind the secret room!
He widened his eyes in disbelief.
It was by chance that he discovered this secret room, but he never discovered the secret behind it.
If he knew this, he would definitely seal this secret room!
It's too late to regret now.
Liu Xie racked his brains to think of how to escape from Cao Da, and he couldn't help but regret in his heart that he shouldn't have come in alone!
If there was just one more person, he wouldn't be in this situation now.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to be so afraid. I will not harm you." Cao Da's sharp and deliberately gentle voice echoed in the secret room.
Liu Xie also noticed it.
If Cao Da really wanted to harm him, he would have done it just now.
"What do you want to do with me?"
Although he was afraid of Cao Da, he still tried his best to calm himself down.
Cao Da didn't speak immediately, but looked at him carefully first.
"Your Majesty, I haven't seen you for half a year. You seem to have changed a lot. It must feel good to have the power, right?" Cao Da said with a smile.
Liu Xie didn't know what he wanted to do, and was afraid of angering him, so he pursed his lips and said nothing.
Cao Da didn't mind it either, but changed the subject and suddenly asked him, "Your Majesty trusts Prince Nan'an very much, right?"
Liu Xie frowned.
He didn't know what Cao Da was going to do, but when he heard him talk about his cousin, he admitted without hesitation: "Of course!"
"Then your majesty, do you know what Prince Nannan did behind your back?" Cao Da asked, still looking at him with a smile.
Liu Xie is not someone who can be provoked by just a few words.
"What exactly do you want to say?" He didn't even respond, but just looked at Cao Da and asked again.
He really couldn't figure out what Cao Da was going to do.
Seeing him like this, Cao Da didn't care and just said to him, "Your Majesty trusts Prince Nan'an so much, but do you know why he didn't tell you even though he knew Prince Xin's son was still alive?"
"What did you say?"
Liu Xie frowned as he looked at him: "Prince Xin's son? You mean Zhao'er? How could he still be alive?"
Everyone in the court and the country knew how Zhao'er died.
He even went to his funeral.
He thought Cao Da was crazy, so he simply stopped talking and continued to look for an opportunity, thinking about how to escape safely without angering anyone and then catch Cao Da.
"Your Majesty, do you think I need to lie to you like this? Liu Zhao is in Liaoning. Not only Prince Nan'an knows about this, but Princess Jiashun has also known about it for a long time."
"Not only that, it was your good uncle and Marquis Wu'an who made it possible for Liu Zhao to leave the capital. Liu Zhao has been staying in Liaodong all these years and has been protected by Marquis Wu'an."
"impossible!"
Liu Xie refuted without thinking.
Cao Da looked at him and said, "These things can be discovered if you investigate carefully. Why should I deceive Your Majesty?"
Liu Xie was silent.
Yes, there is no need for Cao Da to make up such a thing.
It is impossible for people to really come back to life.
But Zhao'er was alive, which was a good thing. Why didn't his cousin tell him? Liu Xie couldn't understand.
"Your Majesty, why do you think the Prince of Nan'an didn't tell you?" Cao Da's voice followed him like a shadow.
Liu Xie looked at him and frowned, "My cousin must have his reasons for doing this!"
"It's really a touching brotherhood."
Cao Da applauded and shook his head, saying, "It's a pity that your majesty trusts Prince Nan'an so much, but Prince Nan'an refused to tell you even such news. Isn't Liu Zhao your brother? Or is Prince Nan'an afraid that you will hurt him? Or has Prince Nan'an already had other ideas?"
Liu Xie's face changed color after hearing his every word.
He couldn't control himself and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Cao Da looked at him and smiled: "Then what are you afraid of now, Your Majesty?"
Liu Xie tried to retort that he was not afraid, but he clearly felt his arms trembling.
His face changed slightly, and he tried to hold his arms, trying to suppress his emotion, but when he saw Cao Da looking at him with a half-smile on his face, Liu Xie knew that it was futile.
Cao Da had indeed hit the nail on the head for him.
Liu Xie pursed his lips tightly, not intending to continue discussing this topic with others.
"You're here just to tell me this?" He didn't want to be led by Cao Da anymore.
Cao Da looked at him with some surprise.
But it was just a glance, and he looked at him and smiled again: "Of course not, I am here to discuss business with Your Majesty."
"What are you selling?"
Liu Xie still looked at him warily.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to be so wary of me. If I wanted to harm Your Majesty, I would not have waited until now." Cao Da said, and suddenly changed the subject, "In fact, among so many people, Your Majesty does not have to worry about me the least--"
"After all, compared to others, my selfishness is the smallest."
He was not being sincere.
"The one in Shoukang Palace is thinking about the Xiao family and wants a child with the blood of the Xiao family. Your cousin has other options, but I have nothing. I can be your most loyal assistant."
"And I will continue to obey you like a puppet?" Liu Xie interrupted Cao Da with a sneer.
Cao Da's smile froze, but he quickly calmed down and said, "I know your majesty doesn't trust me now, but I am willing to contribute all my abilities to pave the way for you so that you will no longer be controlled by others."
As Cao Da spoke, he took out a booklet and handed it to him before the other person could speak.
Liu Xie didn't know what it was and didn't want to take it.
Cao Da still bent his body, but raised his eyes a little bit and looked at him: "Your Majesty, don't you want to know how I have made them serve me for so many years?"
When Liu Xie heard this, he was moved.
He was hesitant in his heart, but finally couldn't help himself, reached out to the person and took the booklet.
"This……"
Liu Xie looked at what was written in the booklet, and his eyes widened a little.
All the people recorded in this booklet are officials of Daxia.
Not only those from the capital, but also those from other places, officials of all ranks, except for a few, almost everyone has something recorded in it.
Liu Xie knew it all along.
Relying on the eunuchs and Jinyiwei under his control, Cao Da did whatever he wanted and mastered the secrets of many people.
But I didn't expect that there would be so many people involved.
The more he looked, the more frightened he became.
I finally understood why no one dared to disobey Cao Da in all these years.
"In this world, except for a few saints, almost everyone has something against them. Some of these things are created by themselves, and some are brought by their family members."
"As long as you master this booklet, all those people can be used by you."
Cao Da looked at Liu Xie and said, "They are scattered in various departments and places, and many of them are even in high positions. As long as you control them, Your Majesty does not need to worry about who will replace you in the future? Why do you have to do everything but listen to others?"
"You are the emperor of the Xia Dynasty, the supreme ruler of the Nine Warriors. You should have supreme power, not be a puppet who can only obey the orders of others."
Cao Dashi is really good at controlling people's hearts.
Liu Xie was indeed persuaded by him. He had been controlled by others for too long and had been a puppet since he was ten years old. Even though he had regained power now, he still could not do whatever he wanted.
Not only should we take care of our mother, but also our teachers and grandsons.
Each of them thought that he was young and had to make decisions for him.
He didn't even dare to worship his biological mother openly and honestly. He could only worship her cautiously alone like this.
if……
If he could master these people's secrets and make them work for him, then he would never have to listen to them again, right?
Liu Xie's heart began to beat fast because of this thought.
But he hasn't lost his rationality yet.
Cao Da would definitely not be so kind.
"What do you want?" he asked, holding the booklet.
Cao Da saw his movements and knew that he was moved. He lowered his head, hiding the smile in his eyes, and said, "I've been running around for the past six months, and I just want to live an upright life in the future."
“我希望陛下可以給我賜一塊封地，讓我可以頤養天年。”
劉協皺眉。
“表哥不可能同意的。”
曹達不贊同道：“陛下這麽說，就還是沒長大，您是天子，這世上所有人都該伏跪在您面前，我知道您跟南安王兄弟情深，可南安王真的那麽好嗎？他要是真這麽好，為什麽不跟您說劉诏的事？”
“他究竟想做什麽？劉诏的背後可是徐平夷，遼東三十萬大軍……徐平夷要想造反，誰也擋不住。”
劉協的臉，因他這番話，再次變得慘白起來。
他急急辯道：“不可能，武安侯不會這麽做的……表哥也不可能幫他們對付我！”
曹達看着他嗤笑道：“南安王自然不會幫外人，可陛下別忘了，劉诏也是他的親表弟，甚至比起與您的關系，他從前和劉诏的關系，可還要更好一些呢。”
劉協因為曹達的話，不由回憶起了從前。
是，诏兒是信王叔唯一的孩子，信王叔又是父皇唯一的親兄弟，別說表哥了，就連父皇也十分喜歡诏兒……
也因此，所有人都喜歡诏兒。
诏兒天真爛漫，又有信王叔的豁達，比起小時候怯弱膽小的他，的确更招人喜歡。
表哥也的确喜歡诏兒，要超過他……
這種想法，一旦開了頭，就再也控制不住了。
劉協越想，臉就越白。
手中的冊子忽然被曹達抽走。
劉協眼睜睜看着那本冊子被曹達拿走，他臉色微變，忙伸手想去拿回來，又克制着沒去拿……
“年後，我會讓人在城中散播劉诏還活着的消息，到時候陛下可以看看南安王是怎麽做的。”
“至于這本冊子，等事成之後，我會連帶其餘證據，一并交給陛下。”
“陛下，這世上，只有自己才是最可靠的。”
“到底是一輩子被人管束着，還是以後自己做主，全看您。”曹達說着又朝身側的佛衾和牌位看了一眼，“您難道想讓王太嫔，一輩子只能待在這樣的地方嗎？”
“她可是您的生母，要論功勞，她才該受萬人敬仰，而不是壽康宮的那位。”
曹達太知道他了。
他知道他的軟肋，和內心深處的痛苦。
眼見劉協眼睫輕顫，便未再多言，只收起冊子，準備走了。
“這陣子，我不會再來打擾陛下，陛下若想找我，只需要在密室給我留下字條就好。”
曹達說完便轉身朝密道走去。
走之前，他突然回過頭，朝身後的劉協，又笑了一下：“陛下要是想封了這個密室也可以，只是以後您這一輩子，都只能受人挾制了。”
“您、還有您的生母，這一輩子都無法出頭。”
“我可聽說，武安侯十分照拂您那位表弟，文武騎射，就沒有落下的。”
“當初信王便十分受人愛戴。”
“倘若這朝野之中，知曉還有這樣出色的一位宗室，您說旁人會如何想？”
眼見劉協臉色變得愈發慘白，曹達滿意離開。
劉協看着他離開，又看着密道自他眼前重新合上，很快，這密室之中，就再次只剩下他一個人了。
身子恍如虛脫一般，劉協背靠着牆坐在地上。
他望着那塊牌位緩了好一會，而後才沉默地扶着牆，起身離開了這邊。
小貴子一直守在外面。
見他出來，自是立刻迎了過來。
“陛下。”
小貴子過來之後，就看見了劉協的不對勁，他是知道裏面那個密室的，也知道裏面放着什麽。
這些年，他其實并沒有少見陛下這副模樣。
因此他也沒敢多問，只當陛下是又在為王太嫔的事傷心了，便默默扶着人往外走去。
“小貴子……”
“奴才在。”
可答應完之後，小貴子又遲遲未聽到陛下說話，不由轉頭看去，低聲詢問道：“陛下，您有什麽吩咐？”
劉協遲疑不言。
就在小貴子準備，再出聲詢問他一番的時候，劉協忽然搖了搖頭，說了句：“……沒事，就是有些累了。”
劉協最終，也沒跟人透露出，剛才曹達出現過的事。
除了劉協之外，無人知道曹達再度出現在了京城，甚至還直接去了宮裏。
更無人知道皇極殿中還有這樣一處密道。
謝清崖也不知道，劉協已經知道劉诏的事了。
那日從宮中離開之後，沒幾日就是除夕了，百官休假，謝清崖自然也無需上朝。
一個好年。
這也是徐端宜和謝清崖，時隔多年，第一次一起過年。
年後，徐端宜如當日承諾的一般，去宮裏陪着昭裕太後待了幾日。
之後她跟謝清崖又帶着長寧、平安兄妹，去給兩家的長輩上了香，問了好。
元宵之後。
百官的假期便徹底結束了。
結束假期的第一日，就要上早朝。
不過因為是年後第一天，倒是給他們寬限了時間，無需天沒亮就要進宮。
謝清崖睡了一個年的懶覺，如今便有些不肯早起。
徐端宜叫了他好幾回，他不僅不肯起來，反而還反手把人抱在懷裏，讓她別說話了。
“我倒是可以不說話，也能一直陪你躺着，但你真準備不去上早朝了？”徐端宜好笑道。
謝清崖連眼睛都不肯睜開，閉着眼睛，抱着她含糊道：“回頭讓人告個病假好了。”
“那老師，回頭可是，又要來王府看望你了呢。”
徐端宜說的老師，自然是她跟謝清崖共同的老師，屈博淵。
謝清崖對這個名字可謂是記憶猶新。
之前他就拿這個借口，逃過幾回早朝，老頭開始以為是真的，下完早朝就來王府看他，然後——
就看到跟個沒事人一樣的謝清崖。
他是誰都敢罵的。
不僅把謝清崖罵了個狗血淋頭，還要遷怪到徐端宜的身上，覺得她沒做好妻子的本分。
謝清崖想到這事，就開始頭疼。
腦子也變得清醒了許多。
睡是睡不着了，起也不想起，他睜着眼睛，滿臉痛苦：“老頭怎麽就這麽閑。”
“老師還不是關心你。”
徐端宜說着，就不肯讓人再繼續犯懶了。
她先坐了起來，又朝謝清崖伸出手：“好了，起來吧，等你下回休沐，我陪你多睡會。”
謝清崖撇着嘴看她：“你每回都這麽說。”
話雖如此。
謝清崖到底還是沒再繼續躺着，牽着徐端宜的手，就起來了，只起來後，也不肯立刻下床，而是抱着人又溫存了好一會，實在沒時間耽誤了，這才只能不情不願地起來。
“你繼續睡吧。”
謝清崖沒讓徐端宜跟着起來。
但徐端宜已經睡不着了，正要跟人說話，外頭忽然傳來急促的聲音：“主子，王爺，出事了！”
徐端宜和謝清崖同時朝對方看去。
謝清崖立刻穿好衣裳。
徐端宜也披了件衣裳，喊人進來。
門開後，徐端宜見碧溪匆匆進來，主仆多年，徐端宜還是第一次在她的臉上，看到這樣着急的神色。
“怎麽回事？”
徐端宜心下一沉，心裏也開始打起鼓來。
雖然着急，但碧溪還是沒忘規矩，進來之後先與兩人問了好，這才禀道：“外頭都在傳，信王世子還活着，還說……”
“說什麽？”謝清崖沉聲問。
碧溪看了兩人一眼，才回道：“說他就在遼東，如今正被侯爺照顧着。”
……
今日早朝，也都是議論這件事的人，對于這則消息，有人相信，也有人覺得荒謬至極。
涉及皇室宗親，衆臣自是議論紛紛。
其中有人直接點名指姓，問起謝清崖：“南安王，微臣聽說去年六月，您還陪着長公主去過遼東，臣請問，民間所傳言，究竟是真是假。”
他這話問出口之後。
幾乎滿朝文武百官的目光，都落到了謝清崖的身上。
謝清崖雖然身為三品，但他還有南安王的爵位在，自劉協掌權之後，他的位置也從中間，調到了第一排。
謝清崖能感覺到衆人的目光，也能看到上座天子的注視。
官服下的手，被他合握成拳。
他從來能言善辯，此時卻有些不知道說什麽。
從王府知道這件事之後，他想了一路，究竟是誰散播的這個消息。
知曉诏兒活着的，就這麽幾個。
岳父那邊自然不可能說，他手裏那些人也肯定是岳父精挑細選，值得信任的。
他跟端宜的人，就更加不用說了。
不過如今盤查這些，其實也已經沒什麽意思了，就算他如今反駁，只要有人真心想去查這件事，除非诏兒立刻離開遼東，逃得無影無蹤，不然他總會被發現。
不……
就算他離開也沒用。
普天之下，莫非王土，他那樣一張臉，又如何逃得過重重關卡？
“南安王為何不說話？”
那人見他遲遲不言，不由繼續追問道。
謝清崖此時并沒有注意到，劉協冕旒下注視着他的目光，滿是哀傷，他先沉聲回答起那人的追問：“我在思考。”
“思考什麽？”
那人下意識順着他的話回答。
“思考這事，究竟是誰傳的，又所欲為何。”未等人回答，謝清崖便主動與劉協拱手說道，“陛下，微臣提議即刻遣人去遼東，探查此事，若此事是真，那便把信王世子接回京中，歸還其爵位。”
他這話一出，自是不少人皆跟着附和起來。
但也有少部分，表示道：“若此事是真，微臣倒是不明白信王世子為何明明活着，卻盤踞于遼東境地。”
“還有武安侯，他——”
“他什麽？”
謝清崖打斷了他的話。
他說着，轉頭朝身後看去，盯着那名官員繼續說道：“武安侯駐守邊關幾十年，為國為民，從未貪過功勞，也沒喊過累。”
“這麽多年，他有家不能回，只能一個人駐守在遼東那樣的苦寒地方，現在僅僅出現一個謠言，廖大人就開始要猜度起武安侯的用意嗎？”
“怎麽，你是覺得武安侯會謀反嗎？”
那說話的大人，也沒想到謝清崖竟這麽直白地把這兩字說出來了，而他原本想說的話，此時反倒有些說不出口了。
尤其被謝清崖這樣看着，他頭皮發麻，只能反駁：“我可沒那麽說！”
“沒那麽說不行，沒這麽想才行。”謝清崖依舊看着人，淡淡說道，“自先帝年間，武安侯便于遼東駐守，功勳卓絕，便是信王世子真在他那，又能說明什麽？”
“廖大人可別胡亂猜度，寒了這些功臣老将們的心。”
謝清崖這樣一番話說下來，便是先前想就此事說話的官員，也不敢再多言了。
那廖大人臉漲紅着，到底也不敢再多嘴。
謝清崖見他們住嘴，便重新回過頭，面向天子。
“陛下覺得如何？”
劉協看着他，好一會才找回自己的聲音：“……就按南安王說的。”
這事，就這麽定了下來。
劉協頒旨，特地喊了禮部的人，親去遼東帶回劉诏。
之後早朝結束。
不用劉協多說，謝清崖便主動留了下來。
梅雪征走之前，看了謝清崖一眼，卻無法留下。
他如今已經被派到戶部了。
蕭元福自戶部辭官之後，戶部侍郎的位置就空了出來，劉協掌權後的第一件事，就是讓梅雪征去了戶部。
此時他目光擔憂地看着謝清崖。
謝清崖與他搖了搖頭，眼見天子進了裏殿，他沉默地跟了上去。
“王爺。”
小貴子守在殿外，看見他過來，忙與他問好。
謝清崖與他點了點頭，便先行進去了。
小貴子目露擔憂。
劉協背對着謝清崖站着，聽到身後傳來的腳步聲，他握着拳頭又松開。
“表哥是不是早知道诏兒還活着？”劉協轉身看着謝清崖問道。
謝清崖看着他沉默片刻，最終還是沒有隐瞞他。
“是，”怕人誤會，謝清崖忙又與人說道，“但我也是上回去才知道。”
他跟人解釋了當年的情況。
“诏兒他，并不想回京，我也怕他的存在引起波瀾，這才沒有和你說。”
“難道不是擔心我會讓他出事嗎？”
劉協這話才說完，就見表哥望向他時，眼中未曾掩飾的驚訝：“你說什麽？你怎麽會這麽想？”
劉協也知道自己這話問得不對，但他剛才是真的生氣。
雖然事先，就已經從曹達的口中，知曉此事。
但表哥先前的表現，實在令他傷心。
可看着表哥這麽震驚，他忽然又有些覺得對不住表哥，他低下頭，聲音也跟着低了下來：“……是我犯渾了。”
謝清崖自然不會怪他，只是看着他嘆了口氣。
他走過去，想輕輕拍一拍他的肩膀，卻被劉協避開了。
這還是頭一回。
不僅是謝清崖，劉協也怔住了。
“表哥，我……”
他緊張地看着謝清崖，想說自己不是故意的。
謝清崖面上的确有失神，但并未責怪他，此時看着劉協緊張的面目，也未計前嫌，重新拍了下他的肩膀：“不用擔心诏兒，他不會對你有威脅，等他回來，你把信王叔的封地給他，讓他日後待在封地，終身都不得進京就好。”
劉協看着他說好。
出了這樣的事，兄弟倆之間的氣氛到底還是變了一些。
謝清崖也沒再久待，只讓人別多心，便先行離開了，走之前又叮囑了小貴子一聲，讓他好好照顧陛下。
而後便先行回了王府。
徐端宜一直都在等着他回來。
早間知道這樣一個消息，明顯是有人故意引起風波，徐端宜自是擔心不已。
聽時雨說“王爺回來了”，她便立刻按捺不住，起身出去迎了。
謝清崖也知道她擔心這件事。
因此從宮裏出來後，他連衙門也沒去，便立刻先回來了。
此刻看着她擔心的神情。
謝清崖伸手扶住她的胳膊，與她說：“進去說。”
之後碧溪等人上了茶水，謝清崖便把早朝上的事，跟徐端宜說了。
“讓诏兒回來？”
徐端宜對于這個回答，睜着眼睛，有些失語。
謝清崖也知道，這其實并不是最好的解決辦法，但如今這個情況，也沒有別的更好的法子了。
“這人敢傳這樣的消息，必定是知情的。”
“現在瞞着不報，被人找出诏兒的蹤跡，更危險。”
謝清崖嘆了口氣：“诏兒總不能一輩子不見人，他那張臉就是最大的危險。”
徐端宜也知道。
“那我現在就給阿父寫信！”她說完便準備去寫信。
謝清崖也未曾阻攔。
本書由LK團隊為您獨家整理 徐端宜寫信的時候，謝清崖則坐着在想今日這事。
待徐端宜寫完信，回過頭，他還是那副沉思的表情。
“在想什麽”她問謝清崖。
謝清崖回答：“想這事究竟是誰傳的。”他說着看向徐端宜。
徐端宜與他四目相對，默契地問道：“你覺得是曹達？”
謝清崖沒否認，他說：“他一直沒出現攪弄風雲，我就覺得不對勁，今日說話的那個廖鑫，以前就是他的人。”
徐端宜其實也覺得是他。
但表哥那邊始終沒有動靜，可見曹達還沒回那處宅子。
不知道他現在，究竟在哪裏。
眼見清崖始終蹙着眉，跟聚了一座山峰似的。
徐端宜走過去，指腹邊于他眉心處輕輕撫平，邊道：“兵來将擋水來土掩，不管他想做什麽，只要我們自己不亂，他就無濟于事。”
比起曹達。
她其實還是更擔心陛下。
“陛下知道這件事後，可還好？”她問謝清崖。
謝清崖想到先前皇極殿中的對話，默了一瞬，但他也不想讓端宜擔憂。
也理解阿協今日為何如此。
“有些震驚，但并未說什麽，他們畢竟也是從小長大的兄弟，诏兒活着，他自然也是高興的。”
說完，未等徐端宜多思多想，謝清崖便擡手把人圈抱在了自己的腿上，柔聲安慰她：“別怕，不會有事的。”
徐端宜垂眸看着他，輕聲答“嗯”。
去往遼東的隊伍，不日就出發了，徐端宜寫給徐平夷的信，則早一日就遣人快馬加鞭先送出去了。
只是還未等劉诏被接回京城。
冀州那邊就先傳來了戰報，沉寂多年的鞑子，竟然又開始進犯邊境了。
偏偏不趕巧的是，冀州營指揮使婁高寒前陣子還受傷了，如今正卧床不起，無法挂帥。
冀州營內，雖然還有兩員副将，但總歸還需要一名統帥作為領導。
今日早朝議論完這件事後。
劉诏又把謝清崖與一幹老臣全都留了下來，商議此事。
謝清崖今日上朝的路上，就感覺自己的眼皮一直在跳，此時聽那兵部侍郎，說着戰事和能去的将帥名單，忽然話鋒一轉，朝着他的方向說道：“臣提議由南安王挂帥出征！”
這話一出，先前議論紛紛的朝堂，忽然變得安靜了下來。
衆人的目光，不約而同地朝謝清崖看了過去。
謝清崖原本還在按着自己的眼皮，此時聽聞這番話，終于知曉自己今日這眼皮是何故跳得那麽厲害了。
他随意收起手，揚眉朝那兵部侍郎看去。
但謝清崖也只是看了一眼，便又把視線收了回來，正想開口時，站在另一側的屈博淵，便先皺眉說道：“他如何能去？統帥一職，最需要經驗，他都多少年沒打過仗了？年齡和資歷也不符合。”
沈複雖然沒說話，卻也皺了眉。
顯然也不贊同。
“誰說南安王沒經驗的？”
兵部侍郎陳克反駁道：“南安王十四出征，跟鞑子打的交道是最多的。”
“最主要的是，冀州營的人都服他也認他，如今這個情況，什麽年齡和資歷都是次要的，合适最重要，南安王就是最合适出征的那個。”
兵部侍郎說完之後，便直接面朝劉協，拱手詢問道：“陛下覺得如何？”
劉協被衆人看着，一時只覺得如坐針氈。
自那日之後，曹達一直都沒再聯系過他，但不知道為什麽，他總覺得這事跟他脫不了幹系。
心裏害怕表哥去的話，會出事。
劉協想也沒想，就立刻說道：“南安王不能去。”
眼見兵部侍郎等人皺眉，劉協也覺得自己這話說得有些太過絕對了。
不該是一個英明君主該說的。
便忙又放緩了語氣，接着說道：“屈太師說得沒錯，南安王已經很久沒上戰場了，還是派個更有經驗的老将去，比較好。”
“陛下，如若有合适的人選，微臣又何必提議南安王出征？”兵部侍郎說着，便開始列舉出能出征的人。
有經驗的，年紀都大了。
要麽都是些年輕的将軍。
不然就都是現在在自己的營地駐守，離不開的。
他這一列舉，衆人也跟着沉默了下來。
是真的沒人了。
劉協見他們如此，心下也有些沉，還想說話的時候，謝清崖忽然開口了：“我去。”
劉協一時沒控制住。
他看着謝清崖喊了一聲：“南安王！”
謝清崖朝劉協看去。
他們兩兄弟，其實有些日子沒見過面了，那日诏兒的事，讓他們到底還是存了一些隔閡。
但此時此刻。
看着少年天子面上掩飾不住的擔憂，謝清崖的心裏不由頗為安慰。
他朝上座的天子，安撫一笑，示意自己沒事。
而後又看着兵部侍郎，笑着說了一句：“陳大人說得沒錯，現在這種時候，與其派個不知根底，還要磨合的，還不如我去。”
“至少我的确熟悉冀州營。”
“你別逞強。”屈博淵皺眉盯着他提醒道。
謝清崖自然知道，他們這是擔心他出事，但他心裏也同樣清楚，不管這一趟究竟是不是他們故意給他布的局，但敵情不是假的。
鞑子來進犯大夏這事，是真的。
無論如何，把這群人先趕出大夏，才是正經事。
他不能讓他們破了冀州營的防線。
那是他父親一手建立起來的防線，是他父兄奮鬥一生的地方，他絕不能讓鞑子走進那條防線！
擾了大夏邊境百姓的安危。
最主要的是——
他也的确該去一趟冀州，會一會他們這位婁指揮使了。
有些事情，早該結束了。
謝清崖心思已定，說着便朝劉協的方向跪了下去：“陛下，微臣請旨，挂帥出征！”
這麽多人，作為天子的劉協，自然無法再說反駁的話。
便是不願，也只能答應。
但等其餘大臣一走，他便再也坐不住，立刻就從龍椅上下來了。
“表哥為何要答應？要是你出事可怎麽辦？”劉協滿臉擔心地看着謝清崖。
并非作僞，也不是作秀，他是真的擔心表哥。
不管诏兒的事，表哥究竟為何瞞着他，但這麽多年，表哥對他的照拂不是假的。
他自然不放心。
在曹達虎視眈眈的情況下，表哥這樣離開。
他不知道。
等着表哥的，究竟會是什麽。
他怕當年姑父和大表哥的悲劇，再次重演。
謝清崖看着他臉上藏不住的擔憂，心裏又是一軟，他仍笑着與他說道：“不相信我？”
未等劉協說話，他又接着說道：“別擔心，我十四歲的時候，就能取他們統帥的項上人頭，不過是一群被我們打跑打碎了的雜碎，不用擔心。”
“可是——”
劉協看着他，仍有擔憂。
他不敢說自己跟曹達見過的事，絞盡腦汁，終于想到一個。
“你不是說冀州營裏有人有問題嗎？要是他又對付你怎麽辦？”
謝清崖聽他說起這個，臉上表情明顯沉默了一瞬。
但也只是片刻光景。
他便又重新笑了起來：“正是因為如此，才更該由我去，不然換了個人，就真的要什麽都不知道，無辜掉進對方的陷阱中了。”
“表哥……”
劉協還是不放心，皺着眉。
甚至好幾次想把曹達的事，與人說了，可話到嘴邊，還是無法說出口。
他怕表哥怪他，更怕表哥對他失望。
謝清崖不知道這些內情，仍笑着安慰他道：“好了，別擔心，我會小心的。”
本書由LK團隊為您獨家整理 “倒是你——”
他忽然話鋒一轉：“我不在的這陣子，你有事就多跟梅大人他們商量，平日無論去哪裏，也都記得多帶些人。”
“千萬別自己行動。”
曹達始終沒出現，謝清崖這個心裏，到底還是有些不放心。
他總覺得曹達不可能這麽太平。
尤其近日發生的這兩件事，無一例外，矛頭幾乎都對準了他，他就更覺得是曹達在背後做什麽了。
只廖鑫情有可原，他原本就是曹達的人。
可這陳克，又為何這麽做？
早知曹達浸淫朝廷之久，可這朝廷，究竟還有多少他的人？就連謝清崖也不知道。
劉協見表哥都到這個時候了，還在擔心他，不由紅了眼圈。
“表哥……”
他聲音都啞了。
謝清崖又笑着輕輕拍了拍他的肩膀，這次，劉協沒像上回一樣躲開。
“我還得去安排別的事，先走了。”謝清崖與他說。
劉協看着他，淚光閃爍，說不出話。
謝清崖便先與人告辭走了。
轉身的時候，謝清崖的臉色，才一點點收斂起笑意。
冀州肯定要去。
但京城之中，他也不放心。
謝清崖決定走之前，見一趟梅雪征和蕭元星。
還有昭昭那邊……
她若知曉他要出征，尤其還是去冀州接婁高寒的班，恐怕也不會安心。
想到昭昭。
謝清崖不由又輕嘆了口氣。
而劉協看着謝清崖離開，下意識追了幾步，最後卻還是咬牙停下，掉頭往內殿走去。
小貴子想跟過去。
被劉協喊住，讓他留在外面。
小貴子雖然不解。
但料想內殿之內也不會有什麽，便也沒有意見，留在了外頭。
小貴子不知道，劉協進了內殿之後，便氣勢洶洶打開了密室，他滿腔怒火，想去盤問曹達，這事究竟是不是他做的？
他究竟想做什麽！
但密室之內，并沒有人。
劉協仍沉着一張臉，想打開那條密道，手都準備按下去了，忽然又開始面露猶豫起來。
他有些害怕……
怕那密道之內，會有他承受不住的危險。
掙紮半天，劉協最終還是松開手，沒真的按下去。
就算真是曹達做的，他又有什麽辦法？
他就算找到他，質問他，又能做什麽？殺了他嗎？
殺了曹達的念頭，出現在劉協的腦中，令他神情微滞。
這是他第一次，對一個人起殺心。
他如今，其實并非沒辦法殺了曹達。
他早先時候，就已經吩咐過龍毅，讓他留在內殿。
以備不時之需。
龍毅是姑姑，也可以說是父皇給他留下的人。
當初父皇突然離世，什麽交待都沒留下。
而風雲變動，他被迫架在了這個位置之上，之後姑姑便交給他一塊可以調遣禦林軍的令牌。
禦林軍專屬于天子。
這也是完全可以聽憑他差遣的一支部隊。
可龍毅只是禦林軍中一名不起眼的成員，劉協為什麽會找到他，還是因為，曾經好幾次曹達對他不敬的時候，龍毅始終擋在他的面前。
之後曹達借題發揮，想解決龍毅，他第一次憑借自己的身份，把人救下，放在自己身邊。
龍毅是禦林軍中，他最為信任的人。
有些事，他始終不敢讓旁人知道。
他不清楚這支曾由姑姑交給他的禦林軍，會不會有人會違背他的意思，偷偷告訴表哥什麽。
他不想讓表哥知道。
他跟曹達私下見過面，卻沒跟他說。
他也不清楚，這支禦林軍中，有沒有曹達的人。
曹達的手，伸得實在太長了，他不得不警惕。
因此當時曹達出現的時候，他只秘密喊來龍毅，與他說了這件事。
而後便把人秘密留在了內殿，以此來保證自己的安危。
這件事，就連小貴子也不知道。
有龍毅在，劉協自是再也不用擔心，曹達出現的時候，他會再次被他威脅了。
他甚至可以佯裝成害怕的樣子，騙過曹達，然後借機殺了他。
只要曹達一死，他就再也沒有威脅了。
但想到曹達手裏握着的那本冊子，還有他口中的那些證據……劉協神色未變，但臉卻被內殿外的光照着，半邊暗半邊亮。
那本冊子太重要了。
只要擁有了那本冊子，他就再也不用擔心蕭家，畏懼母後。
他就可以真的穩坐這個位置，讓那些人為他所用。
劉協心裏的那根天秤，此時在不住上下傾斜。
表哥既然與他保證，那就不會讓自己身處險境之中……
回頭他再好好提醒他一番。
他肯定不會出事的。
至于曹達——
等他拿到他手裏的那些東西，他一定會殺了他！
劉協最終還是沒有留下字條給曹達，怒氣沖沖地進來，又沉默地出去了，只叮囑留在殿中的龍毅，讓他随時盯着密室的動靜。
……
夜裏。
謝清崖奔波一日，回到府中。
還沒到吃晚膳的時間，平安和長寧也還沒過來，謝清崖看着徐端宜，把碧溪等人都先打發了出去，卻不知道該怎麽與她開這個口。
鞑子犯境的消息，徐端宜午間就知道了。
這一下午，她的眼皮也跳了很久，總覺得有什麽不好的事要發生了。
Looking at Qingya's expression when he looked at her, Xu Duanyi suddenly knew what the bad thing was.
The smile on her face faded a little bit, but she still looked at him and asked softly, "Are you going to the battle?"
The two of them are really too familiar with each other.
With just one look or one gesture, you can know what the other person is thinking and what he or she wants to do.
This book is exclusively compiled for you by the LK team. Xie Qingya was not surprised that Xu Duanyi guessed what he had not said yet. He looked at him and nodded lightly.
He walked over and held her somewhat cold hand.
Xie Qingya led his people to sit on the bed in the inner room.
No secrets.
Xie Qingya poured her a cup of Eight Treasures Tea and then told her what happened after the morning court session.
Xu Duanyi frowned after hearing this: "How could he be injured suddenly without any reason? And how could Minister Chen..."
The words are not finished yet.
Xu Duanyi saw the expression on Xie Qingya's face when he looked at her, and she guessed it first. She looked at Xie Qingya and asked in a low voice: "Do you think it was Cao Da who did it?"
The incident with Zhao'er before.
Qingya told her that Liao Xin was Cao Da's man.
During this period, there was still no sign of Cao Da, either in the palace or in the house. There were also people watching Liao Xin, but they didn't see anything wrong.
I didn’t expect this Chen Ke…
Xu Duanyi frowned and said, "I remember that he was promoted by my uncle. Logically, he shouldn't be the one."
"When Chen Ke said that today, I was also surprised."
During this period, Xiao Changbao was ill at home, and all affairs of the Ministry of War were handled exclusively by Chen Ke.
As Xie Qingya spoke, he gently smoothed the wrinkles between Xu Duanyi's brows: "If that's true, then Cao Da's hands have really been stretched far enough over the years."
"But whether it is——"
Xie Qingya looked at her, and suddenly changed the subject, his voice gradually becoming lower: "Zhao Zhao, I must go on this trip."
Xu Duanyi looked at him and remained silent.
If she was talking about selfish reasons, she definitely didn't want him to go. Not to mention the danger of the battlefield, Cao Da was hiding somewhere, and Lou Gaohan was not sure if she was really sick...
She was worried about going over to Qingya.
But she also knew that her Qingya was never a coward hiding behind others.
He is braver than anyone else.
Even if he knew there were swords and sabers ahead, he would still wade through the mountains of swords and seas of fire and move forward.
What’s more, that was Jizhou.
He couldn't just sit there and watch something happen in Jizhou.
She also didn't want to see him looking regretful.
"When are we leaving?" In the end, she just looked at Xie Qingya and asked this question.
Xie Qingya was surprised that she accepted it so quickly. He originally wanted to comfort her.
"...Early tomorrow morning." He looked at Xu Duanyi and said.
If he had not just received the news today and needed to dispatch troops and generals and make adjustments before leaving, he would probably have set off today.
Xu Duanyi was also the daughter of a military commander, so she naturally knew that there was no time to waste before the enemy's attack.
When war really comes.
I don’t care whether it’s New Year or a festival, or any other day.
It's time to set off.
Therefore, even though she was reluctant, Xu Duanyi still didn't say much. She just said, "I'll go prepare something for you."
As she spoke, she stood up and planned to call someone to prepare.
But he hasn't taken a single step forward.
Xie Qingya hugged her waist from behind and she fell into his arms.
Xie Qingya's tall figure held her tightly in his arms, his head buried in her shoulders.
"Xu Duanyi, I'll be fine." He promised her in a hoarse voice.
Hearing this, Xu Duanyi also put her hand on top of the hand he had placed on her waist.
Hearing this.
She also hummed softly in a hoarse voice.
She didn't say anything reluctant, but assured everyone: "You don't have to worry about us. I will take good care of Changning and Ping'an. All three of us will be fine."
There was no sound behind me.
Xie Qingya just kept rubbing her neck with his face, full of reluctance.
"Qingya."
Xu Duanyi called him.
A muffled "hmm" sound came from my ear.
Xu Duanyi still held his hand and whispered to him, "I only have one request, don't get into trouble, and come back the same way you left."
"……good."
As Xie Qingya spoke, he rested his forehead on Xu Duanyi's shoulder.
The news that Xie Qingya was going to go to war quickly spread throughout the palace.
Changning and Ping'an were of course very reluctant to let him go, but they had often experienced such things in their early years and were used to it. They were just afraid that Xie Qingya would get into trouble like their father and brother, so they gave him instructions and asked him to promise many things.
They didn't know what was happening in the Jizhou camp.
If I knew, I would not be so accepting.
Aunt Deng and Butler Sun also came forward in turn and talked a lot with Xie Qingya.
Lingji Changfeng went with Xie Qingya this time.
They already had merits.
Originally, he should have been granted the official position before the war.
But the Battle of Nagano ended ungracefully, and even if we won the battle later, it would only offset our merits and demerits.
After the truth of the Battle of Nagano came to light, the imperial court wanted to reinstate them, but they ultimately refused.
However, before leaving, Xie Qingya still left a lot of people for Xu Duanyi.
It was only at this time that Xu Duanyi found out that when they first met on Changjie, the "close friend" Furong who was beside him was actually a secret guard of the Nan'an Palace.
Now the truth is out.
Naturally, she no longer needed to stay outside and could come back.
Xu Duanyi sent people to Changning's side to take care of her safety.
The day of the expedition.
Although it is still winter, the sky is clear and the weather is nice, and it looks like a good day.
The battle flags fluttered in the air.
Liu Xie personally came out of the palace to see him off, and before leaving, he gave Xie Qingya many uneasy instructions.
Then, Xie Qingya, wearing the old armor, turned around and looked in the direction of Xu Duanyi under the gaze of everyone.
He is still the same as he was when he was young, without any scruples.
In full view of everyone, he rode his horse towards Xu Duanyi again.
Xu Duanyi looked at him coming, as surprised as he was that year.
But that year, except Xie Qingya, no one knew that she also went to Changjie to see him off, nor did anyone know that the person Xie Qingya met when he rode his horse was her.
And now, everyone knows.
No one spoke, everyone was looking at them.
Seeing him getting closer to her, Xu Duanyi changed from being surprised at first to being calm and composed.
"The amulet. I always carry it with me."
"I won't forget what I promised you. I'll come back the same way I left."
Xie Qingya did not dismount, but bent over on horseback to talk to Xu Duanyi, just as he did in the past.
There are so many people around.
But he only had eyes for her.
When he first went to the battlefield, he searched the crowd for a long time and finally found Xu Duanyi.
She stayed where almost no one would notice her.
He saw her at a glance.
Then he came towards her happily and carefree.
And now, she was standing in the most eye-catching place in the crowd, and he didn't have to worry about others noticing her.
"Xu Duanyi, wait for me to come back."
At the very end, Xie Qingya and Xu Duanyi said exactly the same words as they did before they left.
The wind blew up Xu Duanyi's hair.
A few strands of black hair fluttered onto the back of Xie Qingya's hand.
The only regret Xie Qingya felt was that he couldn't kiss her again before leaving.
"Leave."
Full of reluctance, he gently twirled the black hair between his fingertips, and then, under Xu Duanyi's reluctant gaze, he gritted his teeth and rode away.
The army is traveling.
Xu Duanyi watched Xie Qingya leave and involuntarily took two steps forward.
Then she suppressed her emotions and stopped.
soon.
The team led by Xie Qingya disappeared from their sight.