Chapter 457 The Princess Returns

It was already dusk when he returned to Chang'an. The guards brought Wu Xiuniang back to the palace, Li Qi also returned to his Prince Yong's Mansion, and Zhang Huan came directly to his Zichen Pavilion Imperial Study. He was not in the court today, so he should have accumulated a lot of memorials. As soon as he walked to the door, the eunuch An Zhong hurried forward and reported: "Your Majesty, the Korean Princess is back."

"Korean Princess?" The sudden news made Zhang Huan stunned. He didn't get any news in advance. "Where is she now? Where is Pei Mingyuan? Is he back too?"

Surprised, he asked three questions in one breath, and An Zhongshun quickly replied: "Report to Your Majesty, the Korean Princess has been taken into the palace by the Empress, and Dr. Pei has also come back. He has also come to see Your Majesty in the morning."

"So quickly he comes to see me." Before An Zhongshun finished speaking, Zhang Huan interrupted him and ordered Pei Mingyuan to come to see him. He quickly walked back to the imperial study and sat down. His excitement calmed down slightly. Half a month ago, he had already known that there was indeed an internal strife in the Uighurs. Zhongzhen Khan died. Jie Gangas was supported as the new khan. Nearly a thousand loyal people who were loyal to the original khan were killed. The Korean princess and Pei Mingyuan who Zhang Huan was worried about were unknown. Although the news came that there was no accident in the envoy of the Tang Dynasty, he still worried for half a month. Today, Pei Mingyuan and Li Su could both return smoothly, which really made him feel very relieved. Pei Mingyuan was his confidant and the head of the Pei family. He would be the one he valued in the future. This time he was able to take the princess to escape successfully, which also shows that he had good emergency response capabilities.

About half an hour later, Pei Mingyuan was led into the imperial study room. Compared with Han'erduobali, he was obviously thinner. A month-long difficult return made him extremely tired. Not long after he left Han'erduobali, they were chased by the Uighur army. At the critical moment, the tribesmen of Yaoluo Geling rescued them. About three hundred miles away from the Xishoujiang City, they were once again attacked by thousands of Uighur border troops. Nearly 200 Tang troops were killed. It was the desperate protection of the Tang army that they were finally able to return to the Tang Dynasty.

"My minister Pei Mingyuan, please see Your Majesty." Pei Mingyuan stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Huanshen.

Seeing that he was dark and thin, his face was so tired that he could not hide his fatigue. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He personally poured Pei Mingyuan a cup of tea and said, "I am also well aware of the risks and difficulties of this trip to the Uighurs. I am very happy that you and the princess can return safely. Sit down quickly and tell me about the experience of the Uighurs."

Pei Mingyuan sat down, and he told Zhang Huan in detail how the Uighur Zhongzhen Khan wanted to attack Beiting, how did he make a sudden turn, and then he wanted to marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty, how could he die on the eve of the wedding, and how Yao Luo Ge Ling could do his best to help them escape from danger. Finally, he asked with some concern: "Your Majesty, since the princess has returned to the Tang Dynasty, how should she deal with her engagement with the Uighur?"

"I guess you know that the Uighur New Khan has completely cancelled the agreement signed with the Tang Dynasty, so the marriage will naturally be stopped. We don't have to mention the million-stone grain we promised to have." Speaking of this, Zhang Huan smiled slightly and said, "Since this Jiegangas was supported by the three major forces against the Tang Dynasty, the Sogdians, the Mo Cult, and the Uighur military, he naturally needs to show his performance. However, if he is asked to send troops to attack the Tang Dynasty immediately, I understand that he does not have the courage."

"Why?" Pei Mingyuan blurted out, and he immediately reacted, "What Your Majesty is talking about is the people of Kias?"

"That's right, the people of Khikas. With them here, the Uighurs dare not really go south. I only see this and allow them to fight in the internal strife. It's better to kill each other, so as not to send troops to deal with them."

Pei Mingyuan nodded as if enlightened. He suddenly remembered something and said to Zhang Huan: "When Yao Luo Ge Ling said that when he said goodbye to me, several of their tribes had the idea of ​​moving south. Now the anti-Tang faction in the Uighur country has an absolute advantage, and their situation is also in danger. As Your Majesty said, the Uighurs are likely to have a split. Why doesn't Your Majesty follow the trend and win over the pro-Tang faction and completely let the Uighurs split?"

Zhang Huan suddenly smiled. He glanced at Pei Mingyuan meaningfully and said slowly: "How do you know I didn't go with the flow? I have played a total of five steps against the Uighurs in Mobei. They are linked together. Supporting the Kiagas people is the first step, and allowing the Uighurs to fight against the Tang Dynasty is the second step. What you said just now has attracted Yao Luo Ge Ling and others to send someone to do. This is the third step. I have the fourth step below and the fifth step. Mingyuan may as well guess,"

When Pei Mingyuan guessed, Zhang Huan didn't give him time. He changed the subject and smiled apologetically: "Mingyuan just returned home and was called by me, delaying your reunion with his children. I feel very guilty."

Pei Mingyuan quickly stood up and bowed to salute, "Your Majesty is so serious, but I want to thank the Queen for taking care of her daughter on behalf of me. I will remember the kindness of Your Majesty and the Queen to me."

"Okay! Okay! We don't have to be so polite." Zhang Huan waved his hand and smiled, "The queen is your real sister. Who will take care of her if she doesn't take care of her? But you! I want you to go to the place to train in the New Year, are you mentally prepared?"

‘Local! Pei Mingyuan was stunned. He didn’t understand what Zhang Huan meant for a moment. Before going to the Uighurs, he served as the Land and Land Supervision Order and had been working in Changzhou. As the head of the Pei family, he had almost ignored the affairs of the Pei family, which had caused dissatisfaction among many people in the family. After finally, he stepped down and returned to Chang'an, but he served as a marriage envoy to the Uighurs. Logically, after he came back, he should have directly entered the court as an official. Why did he let him go to the local area to serve? What is the purpose of the emperor? He looked at Zhang Huan with confusion, hoping to give himself a clear answer.

Zhang Huan did not answer his doubts clearly. He pondered for a while, and only smiled faintly and said, "I have decided to appoint you as the governor of Yizhou and the governor of Jiannan, and officially go to Yizhou in five days to take office."

After Pei Ming left, Zhang Huan paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. Last year, due to the outbreak of the Battle of Broken Leaf, many of his planned things were temporarily stranded, especially personnel changes at the top management. They have basically not been moved in the past four years. With the end of the war, the power structure should be restructured.

In December last year, Cui Yuan, the former prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, who had controlled the court for a full ten years, unfortunately passed away. His death was certainly a great loss to the Tang Dynasty, but it means the end of an era. The heads of the seven major families, Cui Yuan, Pei Jun, Wei Yan, Zhang Ruohao, Wang Ang, Yang Qi, and Chu Xingshui, and Wei Yan also passed away the disease the year before yesterday. Now, except for Chu Xingshui, who is still a high-ranking official in the court, the other six people are no longer alive. When Zhang Huan fought openly and secretly with these seven people, he is the only one who is left to laugh at the world.

Zhang Huan slowly walked to the window and stared at a crescent moon in the distance. It seemed as lonely as himself in the boundless blue sky. He suddenly felt that he was so cold that he could not bear the coldness of the heights. Without political enemies, there seemed to be a little missing in his life. Perhaps sometimes the enemy was also a special friend. At this time, he suddenly thought of a person, an enemy far away in Baghdad.

The harem was very lively today. First, the Korean princess returned to Chang'an. In the afternoon, Zhang Huan invited Wu Xiuniang, who was wearing a light face, into the palace. Zhang Huan's wives and concubines were so excited that her husband had not returned to the palace for a long time, and no one cared about it. However, there was only one person who was worried today, that was Cui Ning. She waited for her husband to return from morning to night.

The reason why she was worried was that she received a news early in the morning that shocked her. Her nephew Cui Yao was actually captured by a cannibal and taken to Baghdad. She didn't know her life or death. This news made Cui Ning feel like she was struck by lightning.

Cui Yao is the eldest grandson who is the most difficult for his father to give up. Before his father died, he held his hand and repeatedly told him to cultivate Cui Yao into a pillar of the Cui family. But now his father's advice has not yet dissipated in his ears, but the news that Cui Yao was captured to Baghdad came. How could Cui Ning not be anxious? If Cui Yao had any problems, how could he explain to his deceased father?

Cui Ning stood on the steps and paced back and forth anxiously. She had sent two eunuchs to inquire about the emperor's news. It was already very late now, so why didn't he come back yet?

"Empress, Your Majesty is back." The maid beside her suddenly pointed to a string of lanterns that appeared in the distance and shouted loudly.

"It's really him back." Cui Ning picked up his skirt and ran down the steps, but after running for a few steps, he was a little hesitant. When he ran like this, others would discuss her behind her back if they knew.

After thinking about it, she pulled out a hairpin from her head and handed it to her personal palace maid and said, "You go and give it to Your Majesty, there is nothing to say."

The lantern was Zhang Huan's dragon chariot. He had been traveling outside for a day and was really tired. Seeing that it was late at night, he returned to the palace to rest and crossed a bridge. An Zhongshun suddenly reported outside the car window, "Your Majesty, Empress Yuan Concubine gave you a hairpin."

'Hairpin?' Zhang Huan was a little surprised. Why did Ning'er give him the hairpin? He picked it up casually. It was indeed Cui Ning's thing. He looked out the window again. Seeing Cui Ning's personal maid standing outside the car, he asked her, "Does Yuan have anything else to bring to me?"

The maid hurriedly saluted, "The Empress said nothing."

Zhang Huan pondered for a moment and slowly understood that it was Cui Ning who asked him to go to her tonight! He smiled and said, "You go and tell the Yuan Concubine, and I understand."

The maid responded, turned around and ran away in panic. Zhang Huan kept watching her disappear, looked at the golden hairpin in her hand, shook her head gently, and a knowing smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. Although Cui Ning was using a trick, he liked it.

According to normal habits, he always had to come to Pei Ying for dinner first, and then decide to rest tonight. Today was no exception. He walked into Pei Ying's bedroom. Pei Ying had already heard the news and greeted her, but followed the Korean princess Lee Su behind her. She stepped forward to give Zhang Huanying a bow, "Li Su met the emperor's brother."

Zhang Huan waved his hand and smiled, "I heard that you have returned safely, and I feel extremely happy. I want to drink some wine tonight to show my congratulations."

"The Emperor is looking for an excuse to drink again." Pei Ying pretended to be unhappy, but after just pretending, she couldn't help laughing, "Then drink less, I'll give the Emperor a hot wine."

"Wait a minute." Zhang Huan grabbed her and smiled, "Why would you rather ask everyone to have a drink together, how about it?"

"Everyone will have a drink together tomorrow! Now they are all learning about Rose, and they are in high spirits, especially Pingping. The lady Wu Xiu Niang is an old acquaintance. She has never been able to sit still and she is actually learning Rose seriously." Pei Ying shook her head and smiled.

"Then the little sister won't disturb the emperor's drink." Li Su bowed again and wanted to say goodbye.

"Sister-in-law." Li Su's face suddenly turned red, and she attached herself to Pei Ying's ear and whispered: "Don't tell me what happened just now."

"I understand, you go quickly!" Pei Ying blinked at her ambiguously, and Li Su turned around with a red face.

Zhang Huan smiled but did not ask in depth. He came to the cafeteria to sit down. Pei Ying brought him a few dishes, warmed up another pot of wine, and sat down beside him. While pouring the wine, she asked, "Li Su returned from the Uighurs, will her marriage with the Uighurs still work?"

"All people die, and the marriage will be cancelled." Zhang Huan drank the wine in the glass and said with a smile: "Mingyuan also asked me this question, why did you brothers and sisters think of going together?"

"Did Mingyuan ask?" Pei Ying was very interested. She suddenly seemed to be ten years younger and asked excitedly in front of Zhang Huan: "Tell me what is Mingyuan's expression when he mentioned Li Su?"

Zhang Huan was extremely surprised. He stopped the wine glass and asked, "What do you mean?"

He suddenly remembered Li Su's shy look just now, and felt something in his heart, and smiled and said, "Do you want to be a matchmaker once?"

Pei Ying didn't say anything for a long time. After his wife passed away a few years ago, his elder brother never married again. He only had a daughter, and he was the head of the Pei family. How could he have no children? For this matter, Pei Ying advised her brother many times, even if she took a concubine, but he always refused. He seemed to have only one deceased wife in his heart, which has become the top priority of the Pei family. When chatting with Li Su today, she always criticized Pei Mingyuan's situation, which aroused Pei Ying's suspicion. Under her reluctance to ask, there was indeed this sign between them. Pei Ying was very interested in this, but now her husband's words made Pei Ying feel like a basin of cold water. He suddenly woke up. Yes, the key is Li Su's identity as a princess. Can his elder brother marry her? Will it affect the future of the Pei family and Mingyuan?

Thinking of this, she stared at her husband tightly, hoping that he could give herself a definite answer, ‘Can Pei Mingyuan be?’

Zhang Huan's wife's eyes were full of expectations. Zhang Huan knew clearly in his heart that decades ago, the aristocratic families disdained to marry the Li royal family. They always maintained a arrogant attitude, or the aristocratic families were connected with each other. Although the aristocratic government has declined, it has not disappeared. Their children have largely controlled the place. They have advantages that ordinary people cannot match and can cultivate a large number of outstanding talents. Although he has tried his best to change this situation in school, Men Yin, etc., he also knew that it would take at least ten years to change this situation. If Pei Mingyuan married Li Su, he might not be anxious about himself, but those stubborn forces that still strive to protect the interests of the aristocratic families.

"I will not interfere in this matter nor inquire about it." Zhang Huan's tone was extremely plain. He drank a glass of wine and said to Pei Ying slowly: "I have decided to transfer Mingyuan to the governor of Yizhou and the governor of Jiannan, and officially take office in five days."

After dinner, Zhang Huan stood up and came to Cui Ning's bedroom. As soon as he entered the door, he heard someone telling me, "Empress, your coming." Then Cui Ning ran out quickly, but her eyes were not surprised and attached, but an anxiety and even fear. Yes! Her expression was like a doe with a child lost.

"Ning'er, what happened?" Zhang Huan hurriedly supported her and asked in surprise.

Cui Ning grabbed Zhang Huan's hand tightly and said in a trembling voice: "Huanlang, can Cui Yao still get it?"

"Who told you about this?" Zhang Huan was a little unhappy. He learned about this from the urgent report from Sui Ye at the beginning of the 12th. He was afraid that Cui Ning and Cui Yuan, who was terminally ill, would know about it. He had been hiding it until now, and even Pei Ying did not tell her. Unexpectedly, Cui Ning still knew about it. Who leaked this matter?

Zhang Huan turned around coldly and glanced at An Zhongshun and others. Their heads were so scared that they lowered their heads, fearing and not daring to take a breath.

"Huanlang, don't ask anyone who told me. The key is whether Cui Yao can save him?" Cui Ning was extremely worried. She wanted to ask Cui Yao if he was still alive, but she didn't dare to think about it. She looked at her husband with begging eyes, hoping that he could give herself an acceptable answer.

Zhang Huan's eyes at Cui Ning had become gentler. He could feel the tension in Cui Ning's heart. Cui Yao was the only thing her father had entrusted to her before her death. If something happened to Cui Yao, she would not be able to explain to her father. Zhang Huan gently patted her hand, "Let's go inside and talk!"

He took Cui Ning's hand into the inner room. Zhang Huan sat down and put her waist and said sincerely: "Do you know? When I heard that Cui Yao was caught, I was extremely nervous, and I was also worried that he would be killed. But later when I learned that he was brought to Baghdad by Agush, I knew that at least his life was saved. Although I had never seen their caliph, he was the king of a great country. If he had not even the heart to accommodate an envoy, he would not be able to control a country as big as Dashi, just like if I did not kill Agush, I would finally take him to the end.
Chapter completed!