Chapter 203 Cui Ning's visit to his father

In the early morning, the rising sun slowly poked its head out from the distant Qinling Mountains and spread thousands of rays of light on the Guanzhong Great Plain. This day is also the New Year of Xuanren's third year.

A team of cavalry traveled far away on the official road west of Chang'an, with a total of about 2,000 people. They were Zhang Huan and his party from Longyou. Ten days ago, the Empress Dowager Cui Xiaofu issued an order to enthrone troops to force Zhu Li to retreat. Zhang Huan, who made great contributions to stabilizing the country, was the governor of Longyou, the champion general, and the assistant minister of the school inspector. He also ordered Zhang Huan to go to Beijing to report his duties.

There was a carriage mixed in the team. The carriage was Cui Ning, who went home to visit her father. As the center of gravity of Helong gradually moved south to Jincheng County, she also moved her Chunlei Hall to Jincheng County.

At this moment, Cui Ning was wearing a silver fox fur cloak and her hair was combed in an exquisite high bun, which looked very noble and elegant, but her face was a little pale. She fell ill a few days ago. Although she has recovered now, she has lost weight.

Cui Ning has been in Hexi for nearly a year. Compared with a year ago, she has become much more mature in terms of both her figure and personality, especially after she runs the school independently, her mind gradually becomes wider.

But at this time, she was in a heavy mood. A few days ago, Zhang Huan told her that her father was stimulated by the news of the defeat in Shuzhong and had already collapsed on the bed with a stroke. For this reason, Cui Ning's heart was full of anxiety and self-blame.

"Huanlang, I'm very worried about my father's illness. Do you think he will be..." Cui Ning had already seen the towering city walls of Chang'an from afar. She couldn't help but worry and asked Zhang Huan beside the carriage in a low voice.

"Don't worry, I've asked the master about this matter." Zhang Huan comforted her softly: "The master said that this situation in the prime minister is usually overworked and suddenly received violent stimulation, so he suffered a stroke. Although this situation is very dangerous, as long as it stabilizes, it will generally not be in danger of life."

Cui Ning received Zhang Huan's comfort, and she sighed softly, "In the past, when my father was sick, I would arrange his treatment, and he would recover soon, but if I was not by his side, who would take care of him so hard?"

Speaking of this, Cui Ning hesitated for a moment. She looked at Zhang Huan with a hint of begging eyes. Her lips moved, but she couldn't say it. Zhang Huan understood what she meant, and then smiled and pointed to Chunming's far-fetched look, saying, "I'll send you to see your father's condition first, and I'll talk about other things later."

Soon, Zhang Huan and his party came outside the city. They waited for a while at the gate, and a Jinwu Guard General on duty hurriedly came out.

"Envoy Zhang has worked hard all the way. In the Xia Sun Jian, sent by General Cui, he specially came to arrange Zhang's entourage."

"General Cui?" Zhang Huan was slightly surprised. Is Cui Qinggong still in office?

Sun Jian seemed to know Zhang Huan’s thoughts and quickly smiled: “Cui Qinggong has been removed from office and returned to Shandong. The current General of Jinwu Guard is Cui Zhe, a Taiyuan military envoy, and he came to Chang’an ten days ago.”

Zhang Huan nodded, "It seems that after a war turmoil, Chang'an has indeed changed a lot."

"Yes! This defeat in Shu has had a profound impact on our Tang Dynasty. Everyone is very worried. I really don't know when the bandits will be wiped out?"

At this time, Cui Ning, who was standing by, couldn't help but ask, "General Sun, how is our father?"

Sun Jian knew Cui Ning, so he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully, and replied: "Report to Miss, I only heard that Cui Xiangguo has been lying in bed. I don't know the specific situation. The lady will know it when she goes back to see her."

After saying that, he went to go through the garrison procedures with Zhang Huan's personal guard Lin Jiuhan, while Zhang Huan led 300 people into Chang'an City.

Today is the first day of the first lunar month. The city of Chang'an was very quiet in the morning. Most people were still sleeping soundly. It snowed lightly last night. The road was crystal clear and white. Only some yamen runners shoveling snow and hired workers were busy on the streets.

They soon entered Xuanyangfang. Perhaps because of their timid feelings for the countryside, Cui Ning's face became obviously nervous. She twisted her fingers and bit her lips.

Zhang Huan smiled slightly, patted the back of her hand, indicating that she didn't have to be nervous. At this time, Zhang Huan saw a grocery store in an alley just opened. He suddenly remembered the past and laughed in a low voice to Cui Ning: "Do you still remember the scene when I sent you back two years ago? In the end, you were caught by your father."

Cui Ning nodded, a blush flew on her face, and she couldn't help but recall the scene when she met Zhang Huanchu at that time, and a sweetness surged in her heart. She sighed and said quietly: "At that time, you sent me back alone. You knew you were going to be caught by my father but were not afraid. But now you have a large army guard and a high-ranking official. It seems very majestic, but the feeling that makes me care and unforgettable is gone."

Zhang Huan was speechless and walked for about a hundred steps. Cui Ning suddenly said, "Huanlang, can you accompany me to Zhongnan Mountain in two days? I want to make a wish for my father."

Speaking of this, a hint of shyness appeared in her eyes and she whispered: "Is it okay for the two of us to go?"

Zhang Huan was overjoyed and nodded heavily.

At this time, they had already arrived at the Prime Minister's residence. Someone had already run in to report that Cui Ning's elder brother had gone out to pay New Year's greetings early in the morning and was not in the mansion. After waiting for a while, Cui Ning's sister-in-law and Cui Yuan's wife and concubines ran out. Everyone had not seen each other for a year. They were so excited that they hugged each other, crying and laughing.

Zhang Huan smiled and shook his head, then took his personal soldiers to Xuanyifang.

Cui Ning entered the mansion and saw that there was no New Year atmosphere in the mansion, and it was deserted and all the scenery was still the same, but things had changed. He couldn't help but feel sad again and couldn't help but shed tears. Everyone comforted her for a long time before Cui Ning wiped away her tears and said, "Where is Daddy? I'm going to see him."

At this time, Cui Yuan was lying in a quiet room in the outer study room, with a strong smell of medicine everywhere. A concubine stood in the corner of the room, like a puppet.

After this serious illness, Cui Yuan's body was completely collapsed. He lay there with his head facing out, resting his head on a high pillow, his face was not blood-colored, his originally round cheeks became very thin, his mouth was slightly opened, and his mouth was shiny on his gray beard. His hair had completely turned gray and white. His high cheekbones were embedded with a pair of long and long eyes that were sometimes opened and sometimes closed. He looked very weak and pitiful, and he could not tell at all that he was once a powerful country in the Tang Dynasty.

His legs were half paralyzed, but he still had a little sense of consciousness, but he was not obedient. This was actually rescued. After waking up, his lower body was completely unconscious. After nearly a month of acupuncture treatment, he barely improved a little. However, the imperial doctor told him that he had stepped into the gate of hell with one foot. If he did not take good care of himself, he would have no chance next time.

Although his body collapsed, Cui Yuan's mind was still very clear. He was lying on the couch, staring at a wintersweet outside the window, stunned. He was considering the current court.

After this chaos, the Tang Dynasty's cemetery was already facing re-arrangement. The first thing he was to be affected was that his body could no longer bear the responsibility of the right prime minister. Of course, he would not give up the right prime minister to Pei Jun. He had to find a successor in the family. This person only appeared in the court and appeared in the family. He was a puppet he was holding.

According to common sense, this person should be his own son, but his son's qualifications are not enough to convince the public, and his ability and talent are far from meeting the requirements of the right prime minister, and he is not even a match for Pei Jun. Cui Yuan naturally thought of his clan brother Cui Yu, who is the second largest figure in the Cui family. He has been an official for more than 20 years and is a veteran in the court. He has always been cautious and cautious in his work, and is also very talented. But the only regret is that he has always been a real power official and asked him to represent the right prime minister of the Cui family. I am afraid that he will sooner or later break away from his control. And there is another worry that he is incompatible with Cui Qinggong, who is in charge of military power, and may cause civil strife in the Cui family.

But it would be even more inappropriate if he didn't let him take over and let others do it, so it would be even more inappropriate! Think about it for a few more days at this time.

Putting aside Cui Yu's incident, Cui Yuan thought of the rebellion in Shu again, which was a pain in his heart. Although Zhu Li was forced to retreat to Shu, he would make a comeback and it would be even more fierce. A war will happen sooner or later. It is like a knife hanging on his head. You know its existence, but you don't know when it will fall.

But what can I do to curb his strength? Cui Yuan felt anxious in his heart. Should he really let Longyou Zhang Huan deal with him?

As soon as his thoughts turned to Zhang Huan, a quick footstep suddenly came from the door, and someone walked into the room. This was a very familiar footstep. Many years ago, the footsteps would always sound behind him. Cui Yuan felt a soreness in his eyes. He knew who was back.

"Dad!" Cui Ning stared at her father in a daze, her eyes full of shock. Although she was mentally prepared, she was still shocked by her father's weakness and aging.

Cui Ning's tears poured into her eyes. She knelt down and said sadly: "My daughter is unfilial!" Then she leaned beside her father and cried in silence.

"Child, don't cry! Don't cry! Daddy doesn't blame you." Cui Yuan was already in tears at this time. He trembled with his dead branches and gently stroked his daughter's hair, "Daddy is actually very good, nothing is wrong."
Chapter completed!