The next morning, Yang Guang and Xiao Meiniang played around until their stomachs were empty. When they walked out of the warm pavilion, the maids had already prepared hot water and jade food.
During the banquet, Yang Guang and Xiao Meiniang were enjoying their meal. Suddenly, Cao Zhengying walked in quickly and said respectfully,""Reporting to Your Majesty, the jade plum tree that Suanzao County had offered as tribute in the past had never bloomed. Last night, countless flowers suddenly bloomed. The clear Yin shadow covered several miles away. The courtyard was filled with fragrance. It was a great auspicious sign. Imperial Noble Consort was delighted and wanted to invite Your Majesty and the Empress to enjoy it.”
Xiao Meiniang asked curiously," This jade plum hasn't bloomed for a long time. Why is it suddenly blooming? It must be strange. If Your Majesty has nothing important to do, can you accompany me?"”
Yang Guang's heart skipped a beat as he vaguely remembered something important. The corners of his lips slightly parted as he said,""What's the harm in looking?"
Long Luan set off. Before she arrived at the destination, she could already smell a thick and gloomy exotic fragrance. When she got closer, she saw that the trees were full of exotic flowers and branches. It was as if they were made of jade and pearls. The courtyard was covered with auspicious light and a thousand layers of auspicious mist. It did not look like a tree, but like some peerless treasure shining.
Yang Guang had just alighted from the sedan when a palace maid quickly walked over and said in a clear voice,"Your Majesty, General Yuwen of the Left Guard is outside the palace. He says he has something to report.”
"Let him come over." Yang Guang nodded lightly.”
On the other side, Xiao Meiniang had already walked to the group of imperial concubines to admire the flowers.
The concubines didn't know what was going on. This Dao Daqi, that Dao Maosheng, they all praised endlessly. Only Xiao Meiniang looked thoughtful and remained silent.
Zhu Guo 'er was simple-minded. Seeing that Xiao Meiniang was silent, she said,""This jade plum is so lush. Don't you like it?”
Xiao Meiniang's eyes lit up as she frowned."Jade plums are only fresh and charming. How can they be as fragrant and beautiful as waxberries? Moreover, this tree is blooming so luxuriously. It must be the flower demon that is causing trouble. If it is left alive, it will definitely be a disaster. Your Majesty, please cut it down by the roots and kill the demon.”
When the imperial concubines heard that Xiao Meiniang wanted to cut down the tree, they all looked reluctant and said,"Although the waxberries are good, the jade plums are not bad either. Besides, blooming and flourishing is a good omen for the country. Why do you say it is a demon? I hope Your Majesty will understand.”
Before Yang Guang could speak, Yuwen Huaji had already walked forward in large strides and bowed,""Your humble subject Yuwen Huaji has something to report.”
"What is it?"
"This morning, for some reason, the jade plum trees in Jiang Du bloomed and flourished, while the waxberry trees showed signs of fatigue and their flowers withered. The people were surprised. They didn't know who had written a folk song that had spread throughout Jiangdu.”
As soon as Yuwen Huaji finished speaking, all the imperial concubines fell silent. Although some of them did not quite understand, they could feel the heavy atmosphere.
Yang Guang's lips curled into a mocking arc as he chuckled,""What ballad? Let me hear it."
" This..." Yuwen Huaji hesitated, as if he had something he couldn't say.
"To be honest, I forgive you.”
Only then did Yuwen Huaji solemnly say,"Folk songs: Poplar trees have no flowers, plum trees bear fruit. The sun and moon shine on the dragon boat, Huainan against the water flow, sweep away the willow flowers, the emperor's end is headless.”
The smile on Yang Guang's face grew wider as he said slowly,""The word 'Ji' means 'Li' without a head'. Could it be that this folk song is saying that the Li family is going to seize the Yang family's empire?”
As soon as he said this, everyone present, including Yuwen Huaji, prostrated on the ground, not daring to breathe loudly.
Zhu Guo 'er was so scared that her face turned pale. Only then did she understand the meaning behind Xiao Meiniang's words. She quickly raised her head and said,"Your Majesty, this jade plum tree is indeed an ominous omen. I will order people to cut it down by the roots.”
Yuwen Huaji also followed up,"I have already ordered an investigation into the origin of the ballad and forbid it from being publicized in the city." It's just that…it's just that the Jade Plum Tree suddenly blossomed and flourished. It's really a little strange. Your Majesty has to be on guard.”
Cao Zheng Ying seemed to have thought of something and exclaimed,"Didn't Li Shimin, the son of Taiyuan's Li Yuan, enter Jiang Du a few days ago? Looking at the time, he should be here soon. Could it be that he…"
Yuwen Huaji put on a look of realization and immediately said,""Your Majesty, I will send someone to intercept Li Shiming, just in case!”
Yang Guang's face was calm, but he was sneering in his heart. Yuwen Huaji's trick of a thief calling a thief was really brilliant. If he had not read the original work, he would never have thought that this folk song was written by the Yuwen family. The purpose was to drive a wedge between him and the Li family.
Unfortunately, although Yang Guang also disliked Li Fu, he had no intention of getting rid of him. One had to know that the world was already in chaos. There were a total of eighteen rebellions and sixty-four beacon fires. At this time, he didn't want to push the aristocratic families that Li Fu represented to the side of the rebels.
Moreover, to Yang Guang, the threat of the Yuwen family was far greater than that of the Li family. After all, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty in the original novel died at the hands of Yuwen Huaji four months later.
Thinking of this, Yang Guang calmly waved his hand to stop Yuwen Huaji's actions and said righteously,""As an official of the imperial court, how can you believe the rumors in the market? Moreover, the Li family's loyalty to the court can be seen by the sun and the moon. How can I suspect a loyal person just because of folk rumors? What's the difference between that and a fatuous ruler!"
Yuwen Huaji looked at Yang Guang with his mouth agape and thought," Aren't you the famous fatuous ruler? What was going on today…
Of course, Yuwen Huaji didn't dare to say this out loud. He could only say tactfully,""As the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry, Your Majesty…"
Yang Guang directly interrupted,"Don't mention this matter again, beloved minister. Otherwise, the law of the country will be merciless!" Cao Zheng Ying, pass on my order. Send twenty Golden Snake Guards to meet Li Shi Min immediately. Protect him along the way!”
The Golden Snake Guards were Yang Jian's personal guards, who had been trained by Yang Guang himself, imitating the Golden Dragon Guards. Although there were less than a hundred of them, they were all elite. Not only could the Golden Snake Guards protect Li Shimin, but they could also show his great kindness to Li Shimin. It was killing two birds with one stone.
Yang Guang did this because he was afraid that Yuwen Huaji would make a move in the dark. Then, his painstaking efforts to fool Li Shiming today would be in vain.
This time, Yuwen Huaji was really stunned. He never thought that this shocking conspiracy that he had spent countless efforts to plan could not shake Yang Guang's will at all. He could not help but feel a deep sense of defeat.
"But poplars without flowers and plum trees bearing fruit are bad omens! And that ballad…"
Yuwen Huaji still did not give up.
Yang Guang laughed." You don't talk about supernatural powers. How can a mere misfortune shake the country?" In the past, the Southern Dynasty built temples and worshipped Buddha. But in front of the Great Sui's iron cavalry, they were still reduced to ashes. Since the people love ballads, I will also compose a poem to share the joy with the people.”
Yang Guang was very good at calligraphy in modern times. He was not clumsy when he picked up the brush. He splashed ink and a seven-character quatrain appeared on the bluestone beside the jade plum tree.# Daguan Review Passed: Daguan Time:011720192:32PM
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]