At the beginning of the new year, truck after truck of corpses were pushed out of the palace in the unexplained morning light and thrown into mass graves.

The corpses of Queen Zhou and Pei Changzhou were also thrown to the mass grave together. They were wrapped in broken straw mats. They were not fed to the dogs. They were only burned clean, saving two coffins.

The palace on the first day of the Lunar New Year is full of sorrows, without the slightest New Year's celebration.

In the evening, the harem heard the news that the second princess Pei Lingbi had hanged herself.

I heard that when the little palace lady found her, her body was already stiff and cold, her legs were straight, and her tongue was spit out long. It was terrifying and scared the palace ladies and eunuchs.

For a while, everyone in the palace became more and more cautious, and did not dare to make a lot of noise and laugh, for fear of causing any sin.

This silence and depressive atmosphere continued until the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, when the spring break was over, the civil and military officials returned to the court, and the court began to operate.

Only in the first early dynasty of the new year, Emperor Zhaokang was absent.

The imperial chief Li Gui held the whisk, and his pale face was also a little haggard. Standing upright, he first informed the civil and military officials that his majesty had contracted the cold and was unwell and could not preside over the early court.

Then, he read out an imperial decree. The general content was that Queen Zhou and the three princes conspired to force the palace. From now on, he was removed from the jade diary and demoted to a common person, and had no relationship with the royal family.

Finally, Li Gui looked at the crown prince who was standing at the head of His Royal Highness Golden Dragon, bent over, and said respectfully, "His Royal Highness, Your Majesty said, until his body recovers, all government affairs in the court will be handled by you for the time being."

Pei Yan seemed to have guessed it early, and there was no half of the waves on his handsome and cold face, and he nodded slightly, and said quietly, "I know it."

After a pause, he added another sentence, "Mr. Li brought a sentence for the lonely, so that the father can take a good rest, and the lonely person will be diligent about the affairs of the court, and will never disappoint his father's high hopes."

"Yes, the minion will surely bring the words there." Li Gui hurriedly responded, and ordered someone to add a red sandalwood inlaid moire throne next to the dragon chair in the center.

Pei Yan walked up the exquisite white marble steps step by step, glancing at the high, golden dragon chair from the corner of his eye.

In a daze, he thought of the scene when his father was sitting on a dragon chair holding him in his arms when he was a child.

At that time, the emperor father gave him the jade seal, and said to him kindly and surely, "Yan'er, you are the prince, and this position will be yours from now on."

How he answered at the time, now he can't remember clearly.

It's just that he keeps remembering in his heart that this position is destined to be his, and no one else is qualified to covet it.

Pei Yan squinted his black eyes, retracted his thoughts, and turned around, Shi Shiran sat on the additional moire throne.

He wore a prince's gown, his jet-black hair was **** and secured with a golden crown studded with white jade. He wore a white jade belt of the same color around his waist, wearing a sachet and jade pendant. He was tall and straight, with a handsome face, and the young brows and eyes were calm and majestic that did not match his age.

There were many veterans in the audience. When they looked up and saw the person sitting here, they thought they were dazzled--

For a moment, they thought that time traveled back twenty years ago, and the young Emperor Zhaokang sitting at the top.

Although their appearances are not completely similar, the auras emanating from the father and son are exactly the same strong, so powerful that they can't be ignored.

Pei Yan casually rubbed the jade finger on his thumb, looked at the military officials below the stage, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, Aiqing, start discussing politics."

This unhurried high-ranking aura made everyone in the hall dare not make trouble, and started to play right one by one, honestly.

………

East Palace, Yaoguang Hall.

With so many things happening in the palace one after another, Tao Ti's mood didn't get better.

She wasn't sympathetic to Queen Zhou and Pei Changzhou, it was just that the New Year's Eve, so many people died, and her heart was always in mourning, and she felt unsatisfactory.

During this period, the only thing that can make her happy is that the business of the milk tea shop is prospering in the winter. Even if the daily limit is increased to two hundred cups, the supply is still in short supply, and one milk is hard to find.

Let’s say Tao Ti knows that Emperor Zhaokang is too sick to go away even in the early morning, and she frowns and asks Pei Yan, "His Royal Highness, Father is sick, should I go and visit as a daughter-in-law?"

Pei Yan's black eyes moved slightly and calmly said, "No need to go."

Tao Ti was startled and hesitated, "If you don't go, it's not very good."

Pei stretched her hand to sit her in her arms, rubbed her delicate palm lightly with his rough fingers, the corners of her mouth tightened, and said solemnly, "Father needs to be quiet now. After a while, his body will recover. Some, I'll take you to visit him again, eh?"

He who is a son said so, Tao Ti is not good to say more, and only gently nodded, "It's okay."

Pei Yan didn't speak any more, only hugged her from behind, buried her head in her neck, closed her eyes tiredly, and rested.

Since he stopped taking the medicine for pretending to be sick, his body temperature has gradually returned to normal, no longer cold and pale, but like a normal young man, as hot as fire and extremely hot.

For example, at this moment, his body was like a thick quilt, which wrapped Tao Ti tightly, covering her a little hot.

Tao Ti knew that he must be tired after a long day of government affairs. She let him hold her, her eyes dropped, but in her heart she thought to herself--

Is Emperor Zhaokang really sick?

Although she didn't know what happened on New Year's Eve, Pei Yan's attitude towards Emperor Zhaokang was obviously different from before.

The alienation and indifference are obvious.

She wanted to ask Pei Yan several times, but seeing that he had been busy and tired for the past few days, she couldn't bear to ask.

She vaguely felt that what happened that day must be unpleasant, since it would make Pei Yan uncomfortable, then she didn't mention it.

After that, another snow fell in Chang'an City.

Pei Yan was in charge of government affairs and became more busy, leaving early and late to return to normal.

Tao Ti gradually got used to it, anyway, no matter how busy it was, Pei Yan would return to Yaoguang Hall to settle and sleep with her arms around.

In this cold weather, Tao Ti's body became more and more lazy. Every day, she just wanted to lie on the couch and cook, eat, and sleep. She was too lazy to move, enjoying her leisurely hibernation day with peace of mind.

In the afternoon that day, she ate and drank enough, leaning on the ginger-yellow embroidered lush green branch of the big welcome pillow, flipping through the script for pastime.

As soon as I saw the key section of "Fox demon showing his true face in front of scholars", I heard the sound of salutes coming from outside the hall.

Tao Ti was startled slightly, and subconsciously looked towards the door, only to see Pei Yan walk around the seven-foot landscaped rosewood screen, lifted the crystal bead curtain and walked in.

There was a trace of surprise in Tao Ti's dark and shiny eyes, and he said in surprise, "His Royal Highness? Why did you come back so early today."

Pei Yan took off the black cloak from his body and handed it to the maid on the side. He strode to Tao Ti and sat down, staring at her with a warm smile in his black eyes, "You forgot that today is Shangyuan Festival?"

On Yuan Festival.

Tao Ti blinked, after a moment, she also reacted, "Wow, it's fifteen so soon?"

She didn't seem to have done anything, just passed a year in a daze?

Seeing her ignorant little appearance, Pei Yan couldn't help but raised her hand and squeezed her cheek. "I knew you had forgotten the day, so I shouldn't have rushed to criticize it. It's over. After all morning, my wrists are sore."

Tao Ti also remembered what Pei Yan had promised before. He said that he would take her to play outside the palace during the Spring Festival.

At the thought of playing, she suddenly became energetic.

She immediately threw the notebook aside, took his hand, and said softly, "Is your right hand sour, I will rub it for you, it won't be sour... But you have to say it, promise." Take me out of the palace to play, so I can’t break my promise..."

Pei Yan lowered his eyes and saw her pink cheeks as tender as peaches, as well as the appearance of her helping him to rub his hands and babbling. He only felt warm in his heart, and the corners of her lips did not consciously raise a gentle curvature.

"I won't break my promise."

As long as he promised her, he would never break his promise.

The two got together for a while, got up and tidied up, ready to go out.

In winter, the days were short, and when the sky was just getting dark, a canopy carriage slowly drove out of the majestic palace gate.

In the carriage, Tao Ti wore a lotus-colored solid yarn and dark patterned begonia stand collar jacket, with a swans-like pattern on the collar and a mother-of-pearl button, a plain white dress underneath, a simple but dignified concentric bun, two full of flowers Behind the temples, the beaded hairpin of the gemstone looks sober and elegant, and the temperament is noble.

Pei Yan was like her, and also wore a light-colored robe. Although the style was ordinary, he couldn't stand his handsome appearance. He didn't need more gorgeous and expensive accessories. Just wearing it as simple as this was enough to show his noble and cold.

Tao Ti is very satisfied with their outfits today. Standing together is like wearing a couple's outfits. They match up very well.

The last time I went out of the palace was to go to Lishan Hot Springs a year ago, and now after a depressed year, I can finally get out of the palace and breathe, Tao Ti can't hide the excitement between his eyebrows and eyes.

"Your Majesty, the street is so lively!" She raised a corner of the car curtain and looked out, her eyes lit up.

I saw all kinds of lanterns hung on the spacious street, and there were many tiles in the market. The people who came out to go shopping at the lantern festival were all shoulder to shoulder. Most of them were carrying a lantern in their hands. .

"There is a big phoenix lamp hanging upstairs in front. It's really beautiful." Tao Ti was full of interest.

Is this the ancient Lantern Festival? The excitement is really not lost to the modern ones.

Pei Yan looked at her sideways and saw the shining light and shadow of the lantern reflected in her clear eyes. He also bent his eyes and whispered, "Well, it's so beautiful."

I don't know if I'm boasting about lights or people.

The carriage walked slowly through the main street, and finally stopped at Dongshikou.

The east and west cities are the two most lively places in Chang'an City during the Spring Festival. Two rows of long lanterns are hung at the gate of the square, glowing with romantic light in the hazy night.

"Here." Pei Yan said, picking up the scarlet cloak placed aside, and draping it carefully for Tao Tizi.

His slender fingers tied the buckles slowly, and warmly reminded, "There are many people on the street, I will lead you later, don't go away with me."

Tao Ti had already flown into the busy street with a heart, and said casually, "I am not a kid anymore. Besides, if I get lost, I can go to the government office without fear at all."

Pei Yan's black eyes condensed.

Immediately, he stretched out his hand to pinch her chin, turned her little head, and forced to stare at his deep black eyes.

He opened his thin lips lightly, "You are not afraid, I am afraid."

Tao Ti was startled.

Pei Yan curled his eyebrows, patted her little head dozingly, and put the veil hat on her again, "Okay, get out of the car."