The rain was getting heavier. Liu Yan's carriage was covered with thick felt, burning silver charcoal and galool incense. The cold outside did not penetrate into the carriage at all. He leaned on the cushion, closed his eyes and thought, and suddenly heard Zhimo knocking on the door.
"Your Majesty, Mu Zhuohua is taking shelter under the eaves on the roadside."
Liu Yan's eyelids trembled slightly, slowly opened, and said, "Let her come up."
The carriage slowly stopped. Liu Yan heard the voices of Zhimo and Mu Zhuohua talking outside. Not long after, the door opened, and a small face with a wet smile poked in.
"Your subordinate greets Your Majesty." Mu Zhuohua shouted crisply, and then sneezed.
A ray of coldness quietly rushed in with the opening and closing of the door.
Mu Zhuohua took off her hair crown. Most of her hair was wet, and a few strands of hair stuck to her cheeks. Her robes were also wet, and a large area was dark. She was afraid of cold, and after being wet, the coldness penetrated into the bones, making her lips pale, looking weak and pitiful.
Liu Yan's carriage was fully stocked. He opened a compartment on the side, took out a cotton towel from it, and handed it to Mu Zhuohua: "Wipe it quickly."
Mu Zhuohua took it with a smile, and quickly wiped the rain off his head and neck.
"Your Highness' carriage is all wet." Mu Zhuohua huddled near the door, pursed her lips embarrassedly, "Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Liu Yan naturally wouldn't care about this little thing. He looked at Mu Zhuohua's lips, which were white and a little purple, and frowned slightly: "Why are you wet?"
"Today is a day off, and several colleagues agreed to appreciate chrysanthemums. Unexpectedly, the weather was not good. It suddenly rained, and I forgot to bring an umbrella, so I got wet. Fortunately, I ran fast, so I didn't get too wet." Mu Zhuohua explained.
Liu Yan saw that her coat was wet and her lips were slightly purple from the cold. If she continued like this, she would definitely get hurt.
"Take off the wet outer robe." Liu Yan untied his outer cloak and said, "Put this one on."
Mu Zhuohua was a little surprised and still hesitant. Liu Yan urged again: "Be obedient."
Mu Zhuohua pursed his lips, pressed his hand on the belt, and looked up at Liu Yan again. Liu Yan was a gentleman. He put down his clothes and turned his back.
There was a rustling sound of clothes being taken off from behind. Soon, Mu Zhuohua whispered: "Your subordinate has changed..."
Liu Yan turned around.
The wet outer robe was folded and piled by the door. Liu Yan's wide outer cloak wrapped Mu Zhuohua tightly, revealing only a small face as big as a palm. A pair of black and moist almond-shaped eyes flickered a little, the tip of the small nose was slightly red, and there was a faint blush on the cheeks.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Mu Zhuohua's voice was slightly nasal, as if she had just sneezed, as if she was whispering, or acting coquettishly.
She secretly looked up at the carriage today. It was different from the one Liu Yan had taken before, and was more luxurious and comfortable. The felt padding underneath was also made of valuable and good materials, and there were several layers of padding. There were also many secret compartments on both sides of the carriage, which must have been used to place various utensils and food, and perhaps even weapons and hidden weapons. There were two carved twisted wire heaters in the corner, burning the best silver wire charcoal. There was no trace of smoke, but it made the whole carriage warm. At this moment, a pot of milk was burning on the charcoal stove, emitting a faint milky aroma.
Liu Yan reached out and picked up the pot of milk, took a small bowl from the grid, poured it eight-tenths full, and handed it to Mu Zhuohua.
"Warm yourself up."
Mu Zhuohua took it and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness," and then drank it in small sips.
The milk was a little hot, and Mu Zhuohua blew it while drinking it in small sips. The heat flowed into his stomach, and his whole body was warmed up a lot, and his lips gradually became red. Seeing her holding the bowl with both hands and drinking milk in small sips, Liu Yan somehow thought of the kitten in the palace. It was unknown whether the kitten was born by a wild cat, but it was never seen again. Liu Yan saw the palm-sized cat meowing, and he couldn't bear to see it starve to death, so he asked the servants to pour some milk for it. The kitten drank milk in the same way, drinking it in small sips, squinting her eyes in comfort, and licking her lips with her pink tongue...
Liu Yan's eyes sank, but Mu Zhuohua was unaware. She slowly drank a bowl of hot milk, licked her lips subconsciously, and then put down the bowl and said happily: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."
Haha, this flattering look is somewhat similar to that of the cat. Liu Yan fed it for a few months, and the cat seemed to recognize him as its master. Every time he walked out of the study, he would see it falling from the eaves, gently wagging its tail at him, and meowing. Liu Yan looked down and was immediately at a loss whether to laugh or cry - the stupid cat had caught a mouse from somewhere, killed it, and put it in front of his door.
Give me a papaya, and I will give you a jade. The stupid cat sent what it thought was the best thing to please him, but it scared the servants, who waved the broom to drive it away. It quickly jumped up and jumped lightly onto the eaves, looking at Liu Yan with its big eyes, meowing, as if a little aggrieved.
Mu Zhuohua looked no different from the stupid cat, except that she was smarter. People couldn't help but feel itchy and wanted to rub her head and scratch her chin.
"Your Highness, I've never seen you ride in this carriage before?" Mu Zhuohua pursed her lips, her eyes shining, and asked softly, "Are you going to be promoted?"
Liu Yan was brought back to his senses by her voice, and smiled gently, "You are very perceptive. This is a reward from His Majesty."
Mu Zhuohua guessed that Liu Yan fell ill some time ago, and Liu Chen was worried about his health, so he specially built such a thoughtful and comfortable carriage, which also showed the honor to Prince Ding.
Mu Zhuohua's eyes rolled and the smile on his lips could not be hidden: "Your Majesty is not going back to his fiefdom, is he?"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "You are happy that my prince is not going back."
"Of course I am happy." Mu Zhuohua's nose was slightly red and her eyes were moist and shining. Because of her good mood, her voice was sweet and soft, "After all, your Majesty and I are in the same boat. If your Majesty is in Dingjing, your Majesty can also lean on a big tree to enjoy the shade."
Liu Yan smiled suddenly and said: "If my prince is not in Dingjing, you will find another backer and choose a tree to live in?"
Mu Zhuohua laughed dryly: "Your Majesty is loyal to the emperor and patriotism. Your Majesty must not misunderstand me. I am striving for an official position only to better serve the court and repay my prince!"
"Loyalty to the emperor." Liu Yan looked at her with a smile, "In your heart, is His Majesty more important, or is my Majesty more important?"
Mu Zhuohua's heart trembled and her scalp tingled. How could she answer such a question? It was a sure death. Liu Yan watched her frowning face with interest, looking embarrassed. He wanted to know what other flattering words this slick little girl could say.
Mu Zhuohua sniffed and looked at Liu Yan cautiously. She lowered her voice and asked softly, "Your Highness... do you hope that I will regard Your Majesty as more important, or that you are more important?"
Liu Yan was stunned, then he laughed, and reached out to knock on her slightly wet head: "You are becoming more and more presumptuous. I ask you a question, but you make it difficult for me instead."
Mu Zhuohua pouted aggrievedly: "Your Highness also knows that this kind of question is embarrassing... Your Highness and Your Majesty are of the same mind. It doesn't matter whether I am loyal to Your Majesty or to Your Highness?"
Liu Yan sighed softly in his heart - that is of course different. What he wants is not loyalty...
"His Majesty summoned me today and said that he would transfer you to the Ministry of Revenue. Are you happy?" Liu Yan asked.
Mu Zhuohua was a little surprised: "Ministry of Revenue... What about the prince?"
Liu Yan said casually: "Your Majesty has drafted an edict to confer the title of Prince of Councillors on me. The edict will be announced at the morning court tomorrow."
Mu Zhuohua took a breath of cold air. The status of the Prince of Councillors was too noble, far above all the princes, and could be said to be half an emperor. Before, Liu Yan suffered setbacks in the war and was in poor health, so he was relegated to the position of Shangshu in the Lifan Temple, and he was in charge of only one ministry. The power of the Prince of Councillors was equal to that of the Prime Minister, and he was in charge of six ministries. He was even more noble. The six ministers of
the six ministries had to salute him respectfully when they saw him, while others stood while he sat... However, with Liu Yan's current power, he was almost the same as half an emperor, but with the three words "Prince of Councillors", it seemed more legitimate. There were too many rumors outside, and the king was accused of usurping power, but Liu Yan handed the power to him, allowing him to do things legitimately, making others feel dissatisfied. The relationship between them as uncle and nephew was not something that others could arbitrarily separate.
Mu Zhuohua couldn't help but envy such a family relationship.
Seeing that Mu Zhuohua kept her head down and said nothing, Liu Yan continued, "His Majesty let Shen Jinghong enter the Ministry of Personnel and you enter the Ministry of Revenue. He wants to gradually promote you and let you take charge of the two most important departments in the future. The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the appointment of officials, and the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the world's money. They are the top priorities."
Mu Zhuohua smiled awkwardly, "Your Majesty, you are joking. This job is not easy. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel are the most offensive government offices. Shen Jinghong is not afraid, but I am very afraid."
"But His Majesty said that you are smooth in handling matters and come from a wealthy family. You must be good at this." Liu Yan smiled, "Isn't it because you know people and appoint them to the right positions?"
Mu Zhuohua smiled sincerely, "Your Majesty and Your Majesty both know people and appoint them to the right positions."
Liu Yan laughed secretly. She was really good at flattering him and her words were sweeter than honey. It's a pity... she had no heart. "Your Highness." The carriage suddenly slowed down, and Zhimo's voice came from outside, "There is a house collapsed by the rain ahead. The carriage is too big and the road is blocked. I'm afraid we have to take a detour."
Liu Yan replied, "Then take a detour." He looked at Mu Zhuohua, "Are you in a hurry to go back?"
Mu Zhuohua shook his head, "It's a day off today, so there's nothing big to do."
"In that case, take a break." Liu Yan pointed to the exquisite iron kettle on the stove, "Drink more hot milk to avoid catching a cold."
Some honey was added to the milk, and the taste was sweet and just right. Mu Zhuohua poured another half bowl, and after drinking it, his body warmed up. The carriage was shock-absorbing, and it moved slowly in the rain, shaking gently with the rustling sound of rain, which made people feel sleepy involuntarily. The incense in the carriage was rich and soothing, making people relax unconsciously. Liu Yan casually picked up a book to read, but his heart was not very calm. He secretly glanced at Mu Zhuohua from the corner of his eye and found that she was leaning against the cushion with her eyes closed wearily. She had fallen asleep without knowing when.
Liu Yan was stunned for a moment, then put down the book and leaned over. Worried that she had numbed her arms, he ran his hands through her slightly damp long hair. His warm palm supported the back of her neck and gently lifted her up. He placed her on the soft mattress and pulled up the wide outer cloak to cover her tightly to prevent her from catching a cold.
The galo incense was worth a fortune, so the effect was naturally extraordinary. Mu Zhuohua was immersed in this rich fragrance and slept very comfortably. She didn't know what she dreamed about, but the corners of her mouth were slightly raised. Liu Yan looked down at her sleeping face, and a smile unconsciously appeared in his eyes. Her originally pale face has now regained its color, her delicate cheeks are stained with pink rouge, but there is still a trace of dried white marks at the corners of her mouth, which should be the residue of milk she drank earlier. Before Liu Yan could think, he had already reached out his hand to touch the white stain at the corners of her lips. When his fingertips touched the warm and soft lips, he realized what he was doing.
This can be considered frivolous...
His hand paused, and his heart seemed to be scratched by a cat's claws for a few times, and he felt indescribable numbness, pain and itchiness. This is not what a gentleman does... But he was reluctant to withdraw his hand after all, and his fingertips gently stroked her soft and tender lips, and his breathing unconsciously became heavier. This little mouth is used to saying things to please him, but he also knows that there is probably not a single truth in ten sentences. Although he knows it is a play, the audience is moved.
The vivid dream came into his mind again, and he seemed to still smell the fragrance from her neck and the soft and sweet honey between her lips and teeth.
Liu Yan suddenly came back to his senses, and found that his body had already followed his thoughts and pressed down unconsciously. Their lips were only an inch apart, and their noses almost touched. Her fine and curled eyelashes covered her clever eyes, and her usually eloquent mouth was gently closed. Her gentle breath brushed his face. She slept in front of him like this without knowing it, and her appearance was rarely seen.
Do you trust him so much?
Easily get in the car, take off your clothes behind him, wear his clothes, have his breath on your body, and sleep peacefully in front of him...
He is also a man, and he also has the meanness and desires of a man...
His heart is unbearably sour and cramped, but there is a sweetness in this ten-point soreness, and it is only this sweetness that can make him willing to endure the ten-point torture.
Knowing that she was acting insincerely, he was into the play and obsessed.
Liu Yan laughed at himself, and finally did not taste the taste of her lips, for fear of waking her up and scaring her away. He wanted to bully her, to see her wronged and cry, but he couldn't bear to see her really sad, for fear that she would get hurt...
He knew that she was unwilling to follow him, and if he pushed her too hard, she would just slip away.
Liu Yan bit his tongue and forced himself to close his eyes and not look at the sweet temptation.
Whatever, fake is better than nothing.
No matter how unruly a cat is, he has the patience to slowly smooth out her thorns...
Mu Zhuohua didn't expect that she would fall asleep in front of Liu Yan. She was more or less a cautious person. Later, she thought about it carefully and thought that it was probably because the incense was too hypnotic and the milk was too sweet, which numbed the nerves and made people drowsy. The carriage didn't know how far it had gone. When Mu Zhuohua woke up, it was almost sunset. Zhimo said that they had just arrived home.
The carriage stopped at the back door of Prince Ding's mansion, her doorstep. Liu Yan was afraid that she would catch a cold, so he ordered her to get off the carriage wearing a warm coat. Guo Juli was stunned when she saw Mu Zhuohua getting off Liu Yan's carriage in dishevel.
She didn't recover for a long time. There was a storm in her mind. After a long while, she rushed back to the house. Mu Zhuohua had already changed into her own clothes, and Liu Yan's expensive coat was hung on the rack.
"Miss, you, you, you..." Guo Juli spoke incoherently, holding Mu Zhuohua's hand and looking her up and down, "You and Prince Ding..."
"It rained halfway and I got wet. He gave me a ride." Mu Zhuohua rubbed her eyes, yawned, and looked at Guo Juli with amusement, "What's your expression?"
Guo Juli breathed a sigh of relief and frowned, "Of course I'm worried that Miss will be bullied. Miss...you like Prince Ding...no no, it should be Prince Ding's love for you, don't you? He is a prince, isn't he too good to you?"
Mu Zhuohua chuckled: "Because I can flatter and please people?"
Guo Juli propped up his chin and thought: "He doesn't look like a fool who can be easily deceived. How could he be deceived by you again and again?"
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"How can you say you were fooled by me?" Mu Zhuohua was unhappy. "Yes, I lied to him before and said I liked him, but later I made it clear that I didn't like him. Now we are purely in a superior-subordinate relationship. He values my talent and likes to hear me praise him. I need his protection. We each take what we need."
Guo Juli curled his lips and said disapprovingly, "Miss, although I'm not smart, I'm not stupid. I haven't eaten pork, but I have seen a lot of pigs running. I can see clearly how the master treats the concubines. Prince Ding clearly cares about you."
Mu Zhuohua's heart skipped a beat when Guo Juli said that. She felt guilty for no reason. She turned her eyes away and didn't dare to look into Guo Juli's eyes. Her voice also became weak. "This was originally my purpose... If he doesn't care, how can I borrow his power to bully others?"
Guo Juli looked at Mu Zhuohua suspiciously: "Miss, aren't you afraid that he really loves you and will force you?"
"Of course I'm not afraid. First, I'm an official appointed by the court, and now I'm valued by His Majesty. He dare not force me." Mu Zhuohua raised her finger and said affirmatively, "Second, he is a gentleman and will not do despicable things."
Guo Juli suddenly realized: "I understand, what the lady said before about how to bully a gentleman..."
Mu Zhuohua choked and said with empty eyes: "A gentleman can be bullied by some tricks..."
"So you just think that Prince Ding is a gentleman, and he won't do anything to you even if you bully and deceive him, but you just want to harm him." Guo Juli clicked his tongue twice, frowned, and glared at Mu Zhuohua, "Miss, you are such a scum."
Mu Zhuohua took a half step back after being accused by Guo Juli. She trembled slightly and covered her mouth and said, "Guo Juli, do you have a conscience? I do this for this family!"
Guo Juli saw Mu Zhuohua's pretentious look. With her understanding of the young lady, she knew that this was clearly a sign of guilt, so she couldn't help but sternly scolded her, "Miss, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but the prince is such a good person, you should stop lying to him. If he likes you, it would be nice for you to marry him and be a princess."
Mu Zhuohua was startled, poked Guo Juli's forehead, and glared at him. He glared at her and said, "Are you crazy? What nonsense are you talking about? Have you forgotten all the principles I taught you? Once you get married, your life is over, let alone becoming a princess. As a princess, I definitely can't show my face in public and work as an official. I can only be locked up in a deep courtyard for the rest of my life waiting for a man to favor me occasionally. If he falls in love with other women and brings them into the mansion one by one, I can only wait until my beauty turns gray. Have you forgotten my mother's teachings?"
Guo Juli covered his forehead and muttered, "The prince doesn't seem to be interested in women. He shouldn't be like the master..."
Mu Zhuohua remembered the smell of powder she had smelled on Liu Yan before, and sneered, "That may not be the case. Men can't underestimate the ability to act according to the situation and to change their minds when they see a different woman. The first time I saw him was in the Xiao Qin Palace."
"Miss, you are also good at acting according to the situation." Guo Juli whispered.
"That's all forced by life." Mu Zhuohua said confidently, "Little girl, you don't understand what I said. Put away your inappropriate thoughts. Don't forget what we have been working hard for all these years. If you take a man's kindness seriously, you will suffer in this life."
Guo Juli looked at Mu Zhuohua's indifferent eyes and sighed in his heart.
The young lady is too smart and has too many thoughts. The master's romanticism and the death of the aunt have dealt her too much of a blow. She will not easily believe in men.
Guo Juli knew that her young lady had many thoughts and ideas, and she could not convince her. She could only go to cook. When she walked to the door, she stopped and looked back at Mu Zhuohua who was standing by the window in a daze. She whispered: "Young lady, you said you don't want to suffer from love like the fourth aunt, but don't be as ruthless and unfaithful as the master!"
The next morning was the first court meeting after Liu Yan had been sick for many days. All officials seemed to feel that something big was going to happen. Everyone's face was tense and their brows were slightly frowned.
Liu Chen sat high up in the palace, looking down from above, and saw everyone's expressions.
"A few days ago, I asked the six ministries to hold a meeting to discuss the construction of the imperial palace. I have read the memorials of the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works, and they are indeed loyal to the emperor and the country. After careful consideration, I decided to listen to the advice of the two ministers and handle the construction of the palace in a simple and fast manner."
Everyone listened to Liu Chen's words, confused, not knowing what Liu Chen meant, but they all bowed their heads and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Liu Chen curled his lips and said, "It's just that when building the palace, if we want to do it quickly and well, it is most appropriate for the Ministry of Works to be responsible. This matter will be handed over to the Minister of Works to preside over it, and the Ministry of Revenue will assist. I wonder if you ministers have any objections?"
After hearing this, all the officials had different thoughts. Some were unhappy, some were happy, and Liu Yan was confused.
Yesterday, Liu Chen had asked him for help, asking him to help him suppress the two ministers in the morning court and let Wen Xiaoli preside over the construction of the palace. Why did he suddenly change his mind at this time?
Building a palace is something that must be done, but it is of great importance who is entrusted with the task. Wen Xiaoli is more reliable than Sun Ru. If Sun Ru is entrusted with the task, the palace can certainly be built, but it will probably cost millions more taels.
Liu Yan frowned secretly, but this matter was said by Liu Chen, and at this moment, the Minister of Works had already stepped out to receive the order. If he rashly refuted, it would not only make Liu Chen lose face, but also cause others to speculate that the uncle and nephew were at odds...
Liu Yan could only suppress his doubts.
After Liu Chen solved this matter, he announced the performance evaluation of foreign officials. This matter is held once every three years, and has always been the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel. Following the old convention, there is nothing to discuss. Liu Chen only mentioned that the newly appointed Minister of Personnel Shen Jinghong was very talented and let Shen Jinghong be responsible for the performance evaluation of foreign officials this time. A group of officials knew that Shen Jinghong was a favorite of Liu Chen and his talent moved the capital, so they did not raise any objections.
Shen Jinghong immediately stepped out to receive the order and thanked him.
Liu Yan glanced at Shen Jinghong. The young man was wearing a black official robe, with a handsome face, a fairy-like appearance, a tall and straight figure, and as strong as pine and cypress. At this time, he smiled and bowed his head, not arrogant or impatient, and there was a calmness in his phoenix eyes. Liu Yan remembered that when he first met this man, he was arrogant and proud of his talent. He also told Liu Chen that this man was unruly and difficult to tame. Unexpectedly, in just one year, he had grown to this level. His scheming was really unfathomable.
After discussing several trivial matters in the court, Liu Chen finally issued an imperial decree, conferring Liu Yan as the King of Councillors, allowing him to sit in front of the emperor and hold a sword in the palace...
Everyone was shocked and looked at Liu Yan in disbelief, but they only saw the latter's calm and elegant side.
The King of Councillors, with the same position as the prime minister, commanded state affairs and covered the sky with one hand.
He was given a seat in front of the emperor, which was extremely honorable, and he was allowed to hold a sword in the palace. This showed the emperor's trust in Prince Ding to the world!
Whoever dared to say one more word, his sword would fall on his neck!
Such a big thing, countless people desperately opposed it in their hearts, but in the end no one dared to step forward to refute it.
Liu Yan slowly walked out of the queue, stood in front of the officials, and bowed his head to thank him.
Several eunuchs carried a heavy rosewood chair to the palace. The chair fell on the shiny ground with a dull thud, as if hitting everyone's heart.
Ten years ago, Liu Yan fought on the battlefield, was successful at a young age, and became famous all over the world.
Three years ago, Liu Yan was defeated and retired to the court.
In the past three years, in the minds of many people, Prince Ding has been broken by the defeat and is no longer a threat. But when Emperor Zhaoming died suddenly and the court was in chaos, he stood up again and suppressed all the restlessness and conspiracy with his own strength.
He is still himself, the demon god who killed Beiliang for three thousand miles, and the god of war who can stabilize the State of Chen for decades.
From today on, he is not only Prince Ding, but also the Prince of Political Affairs.
Who can resist a Prince of Political Affairs who commands six civil departments and holds 200,000 elite soldiers?
Liu Yan sat down slowly, ignoring the fearful and dreadful eyes behind him. In his position, he no longer needs to be afraid of anything.
He was not greedy for power, but only in this position could he protect everything he cared about.
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