The household department did not neglect to prepare grain and grass because of the negotiations ahead, except for the sacrifice for the Taishi and the day of the Taishi's funeral, Han Xuandao personally sat in the household department at other times, actively raising grain and grass, and even as the head of the cabinet, vigorously urged the Ministry of Industry to build weapons and equipment.

Obviously, Han Xuandao is unusually attentive to the war on the front line, but it is related to the national fortune of Yan Guo, and as the first assistant of the cabinet, it is normal to concentrate his energy on that aspect.

The palace lantern festival in the palace was not interrupted because of the battle ahead and the death of the princess, after Han Shu was made the queen, although many concubines in the harem were resentful, they were helpless for a while.

The emperor's love, the birth of a dragon son, and the prosperity of the family are no longer something that other concubines can compete with.

The streets and alleys of Yanjing City have also been covered with all kinds of lanterns, the New Year is coming, everyone likes to draw a festive picture, especially on the bank of the Liujing River, that is even more colorful, guessing the riddle funny, overlooking from the sky above Yanjing City, the whole Yanjing City is brilliantly lit, a prosperous scene.

The eunuchs and maids in the palace are very lively, and the maids and servants of various mansions in Beijing are also lively.

At this time, there are also some people who faintly think of the northwest soldiers in front, when people are singing and dancing to celebrate the New Year, but there is a group of iron-blooded warriors on the frontier, sharpening their sharp knives, ready to go into battle to kill the enemy.

In the Shangfu of the Ministry of Rites, Mrs. Han had already let the maids and servants go to have fun by themselves, allowing them to go out to the street to see the lanterns, and many of the servants got the reward and got together to gamble for money.

The table was full of delicacies, and the colors were extremely rich, but the people sitting at the table did not have much joy in the Chinese New Year's Eve.

Han Xuanchang and his wife, Aunt Bi and Han Qin's mother and son, the young lady Fan Xiaoqian, and the red sleeves who incarnated as the eldest lady of the Han family, sat around the table.

Fan Xiaoqian's lower abdomen has protruded, but her beautiful face shows a little loneliness.

This is the first Chinese New Year's Eve dinner she has entered the Han family, but unfortunately there is no man around her, and without Han Mo in the mansion, the whole atmosphere is much stiffer.

Han Xuanchang has almost no smile since Taishi Xiao was stabbed, he is silent, full of worries, even if it is tonight, he can barely squeeze out a smile, but he is very stiff.

"Xiaoqian, red sleeves, Qin'er, eat more vegetables." Han Xuanchang also felt that the atmosphere in the hall was very cold, smiled reluctantly, and said gently: "It's rare to have a reunion dinner together, everyone is happy, today is the Chinese New Year's Eve!" ”

Han Xuanchang has been busy with affairs recently, and he rarely eats in the mansion, and Aunt Bi's mother and son eat in the West Courtyard, but it is quite rare for such a family to get together.

After Han Xuanchang finished speaking, he picked up the chopsticks and took a few bites of food to eat, but he couldn't eat the taste, and he was full of worries.

He suddenly caught a glimpse of Mrs. Han beside him looking at him extremely gently, and couldn't help laughing: "Eat it all, eat it all!" "Do it yourself, pick up the dishes for Mrs. Han, and it's even more rare to pick up the dishes for Aunt Bi.

"Sir, you ...... What is this for? Mrs. Han suddenly asked.

Han Xuanchang was stunned, came back to his senses, and asked, "What's wrong?" ”

"See for yourself?" Mrs. Han glanced at him, pointed to her plate and said, "Can this be eaten?" ”

Han Xuanchang was stunned for a moment, and then he saw that he had put a soup spoon in a soup bowl into Mrs. Han's plate, but Aunt Bi's plate was filled with sauce.

Everyone at the table looked at each other, and then they all covered their mouths and laughed, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed for a while.

Han Xuanchang also laughed and said, "I'm inviting my wife to drink soup......!" Xiang Aunt Bi said: "Bi'er, add sauce to you, it is for you to eat with the dishes, then it will have a taste." ”

Aunt Bi smiled and said, "Thank you, Master! ”

"Don't listen to this old guy's nonsense." Mrs. Han grinned and said, "It's just that I did something wrong and likes to make excuses." ”

Han Xuanchang hurriedly arched his hand and said, "It's me who is wrong, madam, don't blame!" ”

Han Qin had already grinned and said, "Father, I rarely saw you apologize in the past, but today I took the initiative!" ”

"It's not big, it's not too small." Han Xuanchang glared at her, then stroked his beard and smiled: "Chinese New Year's Eve, there are no taboos, no taboos." ”

Mrs. Han said softly to Red Sleeves: "Red Sleeves, come, eat more vegetables, and after eating later, I will wait for you to see the lanterns...... It's been years since I've put out a lantern in Kyori! ”

Redsleeves smiled sweetly and nodded.

Han Xuanchang frowned slightly and asked, "You want to leave the mansion?" ”

"What's wrong?" Mrs. Han got up and crossed her waist and said, "You still don't allow us to go out and have a look?" ”

Han Xuanchang smiled bitterly and said, "Madam, there are many people in the streets and alleys tonight, but I am afraid that it will not be safe." And Xiaoqian is pregnant, so she has to be more cautious, where can she go out? ”

Xiao Qian was a little happy when she heard that she went out to see the lanterns, but when Han Xuanchang said this, she was immediately gloomy.

"The old lady is in charge, leave him alone." Mrs. Han said: "After eating, just follow me, it will be fine." ”

Han Xuanchang sighed, got up and said, "When you go out, bring more guards, be cautious, go early and return early." Without further ado, he was leaving.

"Sir, where are you going?" Mrs. Han shouted.

Han Xuanchang didn't look back, but said, "Go and talk to the eldest brother about something." ”

……

Hubu Shangfu, Han Xuanchang arrived, and he kept the house busy for a while, serving tea and snacks, Han Bin even came forward to ask for New Year's money, and was reprimanded by Han Xuandao: "What age?" I also want to press the New Year's money! ”

Han Xuanchang smiled and took out ten taels of silver, which was regarded as the money for the New Year, and the commander of the Zhongyi Battalion made Han Cang come back for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, said hello to Han Xuanchang, and then left the mansion and returned to the Zhongyi Camp.

Han Bin accompanied Han Xuanchang and Han Xuandao to drink a few glasses of wine, then said that he wanted to go out to see the lanterns, and left with a smoke.

Han Xuandao knew that Han Xuanchang was not staying in his mansion on the night of the Chinese New Year's Eve, and when he came here, he must have something to say, so he sent off the servants who served, that is, even Han Cao's family went down with great interest, and only the two brothers were left in the hall.

Han Xuandao poured a glass of wine for Han Xuanchang and said slowly, "Are you worried about Xiao Wu?" ”

Han Xuanchang raised his head and looked at Han Xuandao.

"It is said that negotiations with the people of Qingguo have been successful." Han Xuandao said with a smile: "Not only did I ask for 250,000 stone of grain, but I also asked for 2,000 heavy armor and 3,500 tiger face shields, Xiao Wu's appetite is much bigger than ours old guys!" ”

Han Xuanchang thought for a moment before asking, "What kind of play is it this time?" To drive the Wei people out of Nanyang Pass, it is still ......! ”

"Go with the flow." Han Xuandao drank a glass of wine and said calmly: "Wherever you hit, you can fight as much as you want, you can fight as far as you can!" ”

Han Xuanchang frowned slightly.

Seeing Han Xuanchang's uncertain expression, as if he was full of concerns, Han Xuandao lifted the wine jug and poured wine for himself, and asked, "Xuanchang, do you have anything to say?" ”

Han Xuanchang raised his head and finally said, "Big brother, Xuanchang has a question in his heart, and he wants to ask his eldest brother tonight!" ”

Han Xuandao's expression remained unchanged, and he said lightly: "Oh? Picked up the wine glass and signaled to Han Xuanchang, Han Xuanchang also picked up the wine glass, and the two brothers clinked glasses, and then they both drank it all.

Putting down the wine glass, Han Xuan said, "What do you want to ask?" ”

Han Xuanchang looked left and right, and Han Xuandao had already said: "Don't worry, if you have anything to say, there are no other ears here!" ”

"Good!" Han Xuanchang's expression became solemn: "Big brother, Xuanchang asked you, is the death of the Taishi related to you?" ”

Han Xuandao was extremely calm, and said with a faint smile: "In this way, you also think that the old fox was killed by someone I sent someone?" He leaned back in his chair and didn't look at Han Xuanchang, but said calmly: "I'm afraid that the entire Yan country thinks that the death of the Taishi was done by someone I sent to do it, right?" ”

"Isn't it?" Han Xuanchang frowned.

Han Xuandao turned his head to look at Han Xuanchang and asked, "Then you tell me, if it was really me who sent someone to kill, why did I do this?" Homicide...... There's always a reason for that! He stroked his beard lightly and said lightly: "A retired old man, is it worth my hands?" ”

Han Xuanchang pondered for a moment, and finally said: "As soon as Taishi Xiao dies, the entire Xiao family will inevitably be leaderless, and they will definitely suspect that it is our Han family who did it." After Xiao Taishi retired, the Xiao family was honest and responsible, and they all seemed to have changed their temperament, but in this way, it was difficult to have a chance to eradicate them, and now the death of Xiao Taishi is likely to arouse the anger of the Xiao family, once they can't hold their breath and take a wrong step, they may incur a catastrophe! ”

Han Xuandao's face was expressionless, and he said lightly: "So you think I want to eradicate the Xiao family in one fell swoop, so I sent someone to assassinate Taishi Xiao on the way?" ”

Han Xuanchang said solemnly: "Big brother, I just want to know the truth of the matter. ”

"Then I want to ask you, when Taishi Xiao returned to his hometown, he brought forty masters with him." Han Xuandao said slowly: "And as far as I know, there are thirteen of them who use ancient swords, although I don't know what the identity of these thirteen people is, but they must be a powerful force that the Xiao family has been hiding in the shadows." Xiao Taishi's own martial arts are not weak, but these forty masters were all killed, and Xiao Taishi was also taken off the head...... Do you know how much force you need to use to achieve such an effect? ”

Han Xuanchang frowned.

"Then let me ask you again, have we ever had such a strength in our hands?" Han Xuandao stared at Han Xuanchang sharply: "How much strength we have, don't you know yet?" ”

This is also where Han Xuanchang doubts.

Regarding the strength of the Han clan itself, Han Xuanchang is still relatively clear, and wants to quietly and cleanly kill Xiao Taishi and the forty-one master escorts, including Steward Xiao, the Han family does not seem to have such a terrifying dark power, and it is precisely because of this that he can't be sure whether this matter is related to the Han family.

"There are some things that you don't have to think about." Han Xuandao said lightly: "Don't take the dirty water on yourself, who knows if this matter will be done by someone sent by the palace......!" ”

Han Xuanchang picked up the wine glass, drank it all, and filled the wine jug himself, without looking at Han Xuandao, and only asked, "So what's going on in the East China Sea's hometown?" That girl...... Who exactly? ”