The temporary office of the imperial court was originally not large, and there were many places separated as the yamen of the yamen of each department, so that the general yamen only had one hall and a back hall.

When the empress entered the palace, she had to change her clothes first, and Han Jian was the only person who had the right to enter the courtyard of the palace with her except for the palace maid.

"Stand down, all of you." The empress commanded the palace maid.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The palace ladies retreated in a hurry, leaving only Han Jian and the empress in the courtyard of the dormitory.

Han Jian could hear the noise of the ministers outside, probably talking about how the empress would dress when she came back, and how to start the performance later. The empress also glanced at the distance, turned her head to look at Han Jian and said, "King Dong, how did you find me?" ”

The empress's expression was very serious, she obviously didn't expect that she would still be found by Han Jian if she hid so deeply in Jiangdu City.

"Your Majesty, can you not answer this question?" Han Jian glanced at the empress in a monk's robe and hat, and the empress in front of him was dressed a little nondescriptly.

"Nope." The Empress said, "You have to make it clear today." ”

Han Jian sighed slightly, and saluted: "The minister is the one who was found according to the news." ”

"Message? What's the news? Who messaged to you? The Empress continued to ask aggressively.

Han Jian thought to himself, the empress was so eager to know how he found people, it was obviously impossible to fool him. It's not a secret, and it's not a loss for him to say it.

"After His Majesty left the barracks that day, for more than half a year, the minister really didn't know where His Majesty was." Han Jian said, "There was a rumor that said. His Majesty had appeared in the Jiangshui generation, and it seemed that he was going to enter Shu by way, and the minister's Jiuniang and some of the details of the Eastern Palace's Mansion had already gone to investigate, hoping to find the whereabouts of His Majesty. But later the minister found out that the whereabouts of His Majesty were just smoke deliberately released by someone, and His Majesty did not go to Shudi. ”

The empress frowned slightly, she thought that everything was done seamlessly, and she deliberately found someone to disguise herself as herself, making people think that she really went to Shudi. And I didn't expect it. In the end, it gave Han Jian a clue.

"And how do you find out? I didn't go to Shudi? ”

Han Jian said: "The minister didn't know whether His Majesty had gone to Shu or not, but he just found that someone was letting go of the wind, and it seemed to be inducing the Eastern Palace. The minister only deduced from his feelings that His Majesty had not left the vicinity of Jiangdu. At that time, the minister thought. 陛xià comes from the Daomen. It is likely that he will go to a Taoist temple for training. I told the minister's Erniang and Sanniang that they have been looking in this direction recently.

It wasn't until the minister looked through the living notes of His Majesty that he realized that His Majesty seemed to have studied Buddhism. I tried to search for some secret Buddhist temples around Jiangdu, and then I found the whereabouts of His Majesty. It's actually accidental. ”

The empress didn't expect Han Jian to go around such a big circle to find her, and she thought she could hide it without leaking, and in the end, she still didn't escape the eyeliner of the East Palace.

But what she didn't know was that the person in the intelligence system used by Han Jian was not the intelligence system of the Eastern Prince's Mansion or the imperial court, but the intelligence system of Mrs. Luo. Because of this, even the people secretly sent by the empress didn't notice that Han Jian was secretly looking for her.

"The East King really has a heart." The Empress said with a sneer.

Han Jian bowed, but his voice was a little tough: "The minister has done his best for His Majesty, so naturally he doesn't want His Majesty to be harmed." When the time comes, it will be unbearable. ”

The empress heard Han Jian say that it was "unbearable", it was clearly not out of the righteousness of any monarch and minister, but those "delusions" in his heart, she snorted coldly, and the person also entered the palace.

Han Jian stood at the door, waved his hand to the palace maids in the distance, and motioned for them to come in and serve the empress to change clothes.

At this time, in the empress's bedroom, the empress's stand-in had already been transferred to another place, and the empress did not notice anything unusual inside.

In a short time, the empress came out, and in addition to changing into a fairly clean casual dress, she did not even have her hair coiled, but only tied up slightly, which looked better like a man's dress. However, because the empress does not always attend events in the palace on weekdays, the empress's casual clothes will only make people feel close to the people, even if the empress goes out like this, the ministers will not say anything.

"Your Majesty, please go outside with the minister to see the minister." Han Jian said.

The empress looked at Han Jian again with a complicated expression, and it seemed that she didn't really want to go out with Han Jian like this, but she knew that it was she who appointed Han Jian to the position of superintendent, and it was also very formal etiquette for Han Jian to accompany her out to meet the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs at this time.

The empress didn't say much, walked in front, while Han Jian followed behind, and the two arrived at the main hall of the mansion, where several ministers hurriedly saluted.

"Stand down first, what is the matter, I will see you recently." As soon as the empress entered the door, she showed her dignity of the Ninety-Five, and as soon as she spoke, there was a deterrent that was difficult to refuse, and some ministers hurriedly wanted to retreat.

At this time, the empress suddenly said, "Gu Taifu, Lin Shangshu, you should stay with the East King first." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Gu Weipan and Lin Ke didn't know what the empress was going to say, and stood aside with a little trepidation.

Although the courtyard was full of ministers, there were only five people in the hall. In addition to the empress and the people she named and left behind, there was also Han Song's clan standing on the side and listening to orders.

"Mrs. Gu, Lin Shangshu, in the past half a year, I have been recuperating from my illness, and you have cooperated with the East King to resist the rebellion, which is really indispensable."

The empress sat down in the position at the head, looked at Gu Weipan and Lin Ke, and praised her.

Gu Weipan didn't quite understand what the empress meant at this time, so he was silent, while Lin Ke smiled and saluted: "It's still Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the East King is wise and martial, I just helped on the side, and I was fortunate that I didn't help." ”

Han Jian glanced at Lin Ke, Lin Ke's words seemed to be complimenting him, but in fact, it was no different from scolding him. There is also a hidden meaning in Lin Ke's words, that is, this war is completely dominated by the Eastern Palace, and if the people in the court want to help, they will not be reused by Han Jian, which is equivalent to being left aside.

The empress didn't seem to hear this meaning, nodded and said, "Lin Shangshu is too modest, you find someone to treat me, and you are also indispensable, and I will be rewarded." ”

"Huh? This ......" Lin Ke's face was a little embarrassed, what kind of treatment. It's just nothing, he knows it, and the empress also knows it very well, the empress said this, which is tantamount to agreeing with the previous statement of Dongwangfu, that is, she is recuperating. Saying this, it is also an argument not to announce her disappearance for half a year to the world.

The empress looked at Gu Weipan again and said, "Mrs. Gu, you have formed a family with the East Palace. I haven't had time to congratulate you. ”

"Xie Majesty xià remembers the old minister. This marriage was originally given by His Majesty. Gu Weipan saluted and replied in a medium-thick voice.

"Hmm." The empress looked at Gu Weipan and nodded with a smile. He seems to be satisfied with his appointed First Minister. Road. "Mrs. Gu is a pillar of my Wei Dynasty, and I am ready to promote Mrs. Gu to Guangluqing to show her strength."

"The minister doesn't dare to be a ......," Gu Weipan's old face was excited. Almost on his knees.

Han Jian watched from the sidelines, thinking that this was the empress's way of buying people's hearts.

In the Wei Dynasty, although Guangluqing was not an official, it was the highest level that a civil official could reach, which was equivalent to a duke. Originally, Gu Weipan was already a first-class official, but the most important thing for Guangluqing was that it could be hereditary, although the descendants needed to be demoted, they could be passed down to five or six generations.

Gu Weipan is worried about his son's future education, and the empress said this, which is tantamount to arranging official products for his son in the future, and even his descendants. Even if Gu Weipan didn't pay attention to these, he couldn't help but be very excited.

"Gu Taifu is an example of a hundred officials, and he is also the backbone of the Wei Dynasty, and he will ...... in the future It is necessary to assist the king of the east well and take care of military and political affairs. The empress said, and glanced at Han Jian again, but there was something unusual in her eyes.

Han Jian heard what he meant, could it be that the empress was going to devote herself to practicing Buddhism and hand over all political affairs to him?

If the empress had handed over power when the empress had disappeared before, it would have been a matter of desperation. But now that the empress is back, Han Jian thinks that things are not so simple. Regardless of whether he is in public, he is a minister, unless he openly rebels, otherwise in terms of power, he and the empress will inevitably have disputes, even if the empress has the heart to let go.

The empress did not say anything substantive about government affairs, but kept asking about trivial matters, such as how the Dongwang Mansion was, and even the family affairs of Lin Ke and Gu Weipan.

It's like chattering.

Han Jian listened carefully on the side, but he kept thinking about the empress's intentions in his heart. This time, the empress was found out by him, and it stands to reason that if the empress sincerely embarrassed him, she would not have a relationship with him. Now that the empress is back, and pretending that she has just recovered from her illness and has just recovered from a serious illness, she is already relieving the siege of the East Palace.

"Your Majesty, there are still hundreds of officials waiting outside to meet you." Han Jian really couldn't listen to it, so he reminded him.

"Hmm." The empress nodded slightly, but with a long sigh, she said, "I'm a little tired today, and I'm not going to see the minister." King Dong, the hundred officials outside, you let them go back first, and then see you one by one when I am sick and recuperated. ”

Han Jian didn't speak, and Lin Ke on the side immediately said, "Your Majesty can't do it...... The ministers outside have long wanted to heal His Majesty, and there are many words and many political affairs to be played to His Majesty. ”

"Let's keep it for later." The empress looked a little impatient and said, "Lin Shangshu, otherwise, you go and summarize the things that the ministers outside are going to present, and together with the transcript, give it to me." If it is urgent, it can be handed over to the East King to deal with, the East King has been recuperating from my illness for more than half a year, taking care of the government and keeping it in order, and I am very relieved of him. ”

As she spoke, the empress also gave Han Jian a look of appreciation. But Han Jian knew that most of the empress's expression was disguised.

"Your Majesty ......" Lin Ke knelt on the ground, and began to learn to cry like those old ministers before.

But the empress stood up and walked to the door, there was still some small talk outside, and she was silent when she saw her.

"Go back, all of you!" The empress said loudly, "I want to meditate on my body these days, if you have any business, just present it to Lin Shangshu and let him transfer it to me." ”

The ministers outside had nothing to say except for the uproar. By saying this, the empress also recognized the dominant position of the Eastern Prince's Mansion in the officialdom of the Wei Dynasty, and the attitude of the empress was to tolerate and ignore it.

Although some ministers were resentful, now that they saw the Empress, they had achieved what they wanted. As for how to sue the empress in the future and bitter the "evil deeds" of the Dongwang Mansion these days, they also understand that they are not in a hurry.

Some ministers will think badly, thinking that the empress said this because she was "forced to do so", it may be that the empress has been held hostage, knowing that the current military and political power falls on the East Prince's Mansion, and the East King is present, she just has the intention to stir up the chaos anyway and has to wait for the opportunity. At this time, the empress also gave them a channel to access the will of heaven, that is, to summarize their opinions to Lin Ke.

Compared with Gu Weipan, Lin Ke is closer to a "loyal minister" in the eyes of these ministers, and he also has their trust. Some people even believe that this time the empress "can see the light of day", it is also Lin Ke's strategy to force the East Wangfu to comply with the ten-day deadline.

After the empress finished speaking, she was about to leave for the inner courtyard, which was also her bedroom.

The ministers outside saluted, but the empress kept walking. When the empress entered the arch of the inner courtyard, Han Jian glanced at Lin Ke, who was still kneeling on the ground, and sighed.

Han Jian was also in a bad mood at this time.

In his heart, he would rather be the empress come back and scold him or punish him. But now the Empress seemed to acquiesce to everything, and he felt overwhelmed. After all, the empress left because of his marriage proposal. Now the empress deliberately forgot about the matter, but intentionally or unintentionally reminded him to keep his duty, which would make him think that the empress was preparing for a storm and was ready to "settle accounts" with him, and deliberately treated it coldly first, which made him feel relaxed his vigilance.

Han Jian was thinking about things, and Gu Weipan had already helped Lin Ke up.

At this time, Han Songshi came over and said to Han Jian: "Jian'er, you dismiss these ministers first, and Erniang will go in and talk to His Majesty." ”

"Hmm." Han Jian nodded.

Han Jian thought to himself, since the empress originally thought that she was one of his "aunts", she and Han Song were sisters. The so-called sisters have nothing to say, as long as Han Song's family goes in, can the empress not say that he made a marriage proposal that day? And when Han Songshi knew what he and the empress's stand-in had before, he immediately asked him if he had "indistinguishable thoughts" about the empress, that is, the two women realized that Han Jian was not willing to be the empress and the monarch, but wanted to take the empress as a woman for himself.

Although Han Jian knew that if the empress told the events of the day, it would affect the relationship between him and Han Song. But it's better than the empress not saying anything.

Han Jian first asked the ministers outside to be dismissed, and when the courtyard outside was quiet, he waited in the hall for a while, and when he didn't see Han Song coming out, he returned to the East King Mansion first.

At this time, Han Jian also had some uneasy feelings in his heart, he didn't know what Han Song would say to him after he came back. Whether to scold him or ignore it. (To be continued......)