February, the third year of Taihe in the Eastern Jin Dynasty
Last year the weather was cold, snowflakes were flying everywhere in the north, salt trucks were everywhere, and in the south it rained heavily, almost causing a flood.
Rain and snow caused disasters, especially in Jingxiang and other places.
Whether it was the Di tribe or the Han fortress, they were all short of food and clothing. In less than two months, more than a hundred people had died of starvation and cold. Some refugees took the opportunity to rob the government warehouse, which almost caused a disaster.
Due to the instability in Xiangyang and other places, the Former Qin Emperor Fu Jian had to postpone his plan, stop fighting with the Eastern Jin and Former Yan, and send officials to provide disaster relief as soon as possible.
The rulers and ministers of the Former Yan Dynasty failed to seize the opportunity to stabilize the political situation with thundering means, but instead intensified the internal struggle for power. As a result, the court and the officials were in chaos, which laid hidden dangers for the future.
The Eastern Jin Dynasty was in a safe position in the south of the Yangtze River. After two northern expeditions in the 10th and 12th years of Yonghe, the border was temporarily stable. Although the court was in constant struggle, with the powerful officials headed by Huan Wen and the high-ranking nobles such as Wang and Xie refusing to give in, the people had a rare good year.
In Jiankang city, before dawn, voices could be heard on both sides of the Qinhuai River.
Several men wearing small crowns and short robes with narrow sleeves hurried to the dock, waiting for the merchant ships coming from the canal.
On both sides of the river, workshops and shops are lined up one after another. Some shop assistants have already opened the door panels and are cleaning in front of the door while stamping their feet and rubbing their hands, regardless of the cold wind in the early morning. When they encounter potholes with accumulated water, they can only frown because they cannot clean them up.
A tavern and a restaurant are next to each other. The waiters are familiar with each other. They are busy and gossiping, sharing the news they have obtained.
"I heard that the son of Sima Huan's family made a fool of himself again."
"real?"
"How could it be false? My brother saw it with his own eyes!" The clerk stopped talking, propped up the broom with one hand, looked into the store, and made sure that the shopkeeper was not paying attention. He squinted his eyes and said, "Just yesterday, in front of Miss Yin, Mr. Yu whipped her on the back and she fell into the mud."
"Hiss---" The obedient servant widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief, "You really used the whip, aren't you afraid that the Huan family will investigate? Wasn't there a rumor a few days ago that the Huan family was going to marry the Yin family?"
"How would we know about the affairs of the rich and powerful?" The waiter at the food store curled his lips, and when he saw the shopkeeper coming out, he immediately got busy and stopped chatting.
The son of the Huan family in question was Sebastian Huan, the fourth son of the then Grand Marshal Huan Wen. Sebastian Huan was not liked by Huan Wen because he was dull by nature, not good at studying, not good at martial arts, and even did not know beans and wheat.
Brothers and sisters rarely get close to him. Some, like Huan Ji, will even join others in bullying this brother.
This time, the Huan family wanted to marry the Yin family, and the rumor was that it was for Sebastian Huan. When the young ladies of the Yin family heard this, their faces turned pale. Some even said, "It's better to marry this stupid and vulgar man and become a nun in the temple!"
Yesterday, Sebastian Huan went out and somehow his ox cart bumped into Yu's carriage, which immediately angered the other party. Without saying anything, he raised his whip and whipped Sebastian Huan off the carriage.
If it was just Sebastian Huan, the matter wouldn't be considered serious.
Coincidentally, Princess Nankang and her son, as well as Adrian Huan, who had just returned from Jingzhou, were in the car together.
When Sebastian Huan rolled down, Adrian Huan also rolled down.
Sebastian Huan was nearly twenty years old, and although he was covered in mud and lost face, he was not seriously injured. However, Adrian Huan bumped into the carriage, injured the back of his head, and lost consciousness immediately.
Because Adrian Huan was in poor health and had rarely appeared in public since childhood, the young men and women present did not yet realize the seriousness of the matter.
When Huan's servant's face changed drastically and he kept shouting, Sebastian Huan, who had always been dull, also turned pale and looked stern, and only then did he realize that he might have caused a big disaster.
That day, Adrian Huan was carried back to the palace, and Princess Nankang was furious.
The precious thing that was born at the age of 30, which even Sima Huan dared not touch, was actually hurt by someone? !
"Go tell Yu Xi that my son will wake up, otherwise, I will make all his sons pay with their lives!"
"Empress? Even the Emperor has to call me aunt!"
"What is Yu Daolian!"
Princess Nankang had a strong temper. Once she got angry, even Marshal Huan had to hide from her.
Adrian Huan was her only biological son, and she looked at him like an eyeball. After this disaster, she really wanted to kill him.
"Immediately send someone to the camp outside the city to tell the old slave that I will investigate this matter to the end! And the Yin family's daughter, do you want to become a nun? Great! I will send them on their way!"
Princess Nankang was furious. After hearing these words, the Yin family's daughter would no longer have a good marriage, and the Yin family would suffer a great loss.
The servants hurriedly left the house and walked to the corridor, all of them breaking out in cold sweat.
Sebastian Huan admitted that he had made a big mistake, and after returning home, he stayed by Adrian Huan's bed. Not only was he covered in mud, but his eyes were red from crying. Even if Princess Nankang was angry, she couldn't vent it on him.
"That's enough!" Princess Nankang was upset by the crying. She sat on the edge of the couch and frowned at Sebastian Huan. "I know it's not your fault. Go back and ask Ateng to change your robe."
"promise."
Sebastian Huan hiccuped and nodded, his simple and honest face looking even more foolish.
"Go ahead."
Princess Nankang frowned, unable to get angry, so she waved her hand and asked the servant to take Sebastian Huan out. When the room was quiet, she turned to look at Adrian Huan, her eyes reddening.
"My son, your mother will definitely avenge you!"
Princess Nankang reached out her hand and gently stroked her son's cheek. She gritted her teeth as she remembered the old servant's secret report.
"Mai."
"I'm here." A servant bowed and listened to the order.
"All those who followed my husband out today will be locked up. They are not allowed to step out of the door until my husband wakes up."
"promise."
The maidservant left the room and Princess Nankang sat in front of the couch, looking at her son's pale face, a hint of cruelty flashed in her eyes.
Do you really think she is stupid?
How could he roll off while sitting in the car?
Si Lang would not lie, and he would not take someone out of the car at arm's length! Xiao Lang was clearly attacked by someone and had his head smashed!
No matter who is behind this, she will track it down to the end!
As for the Yu and Yin families, don’t even think about escaping!
Adrian Huan remained unconscious and refused to take medicine. The doctor stayed in the room, frowning. He wanted to speak, but seeing Princess Nankang's grim expression, he didn't dare to speak.
Sebastian Huan was kind-hearted. He changed his clothes as instructed, refused to eat, and once again stayed by Adrian Huan's bedside.
When the lights were turned on, Adrian Huan regained consciousness briefly, but he could not recognize anyone and refused to take the medicine with gritted teeth.
The doctors exchanged glances with each other, and one of them said anxiously: "The young master has a head injury, I'm afraid it's not going to be good..."
When he was halfway through his words, Princess Nankang became furious and had him dragged away. The rest of the people were sweating coldly and tried their best to deliver half a bowl of medicine. They did not dare to relax during this period, fearing that if something happened to the young master, they would also lose their lives.
As dawn approached, Adrian Huan woke up again.
The doctors took turns feeling Adrian Huan's pulse and then served him the medicine. Only after they saw Adrian Huan drink it with their own eyes did they dare to wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads.
It was just one night, but it felt like a journey between life and death.
After taking the medicine, Adrian Huan leaned on the couch, his face so pale that it seemed transparent.
His facial features were delicate and he was as handsome as a painting, but he looked tired, with two strands of hair falling on his cheeks, making him look particularly weak.
"Are you feeling better?"
Holding her son's hand, Princess Nankang's eyes were bloodshot, and she was still worried.
The doctor stepped forward and asked carefully, "Sir, do you feel dizzy? Do you feel like vomiting?"
Adrian Huan shook his head.
"Does the injury still hurt?"
Adrian Huan continued to shake his head.
The doctor asked a few more questions, but Adrian Huan either nodded or shook his head, but remained silent.
Seeing this, Princess Nankang couldn't help but question.
"What's wrong with my son? Why doesn't he say anything?"
"I feel a little uncomfortable."
Adrian Huan finally spoke, his tone a little awkward, not the Luoyang Mandarin, but the authentic Wu dialect. Considering that he had been studying in Kuaiji County with his uncle for many years, it didn't seem strange.
Princess Nankang relaxed her expression, but immediately became nervous again.
"Uncomfortable? Where is it that's uncomfortable? Doctor!"
There was another round of busyness. Adrian Huan drank the whole bowl of medicine. His facial features were wrinkled with bitterness, but he still did not forget to persuade Princess Nankang to rest.
"Mother, I'm fine."
Princess Nankang was still worried, and asked the doctor several times, only to get the latter's guarantee. She also made sure to find out whether Adrian Huan was assassinated, and then she got up and left.
"If anything happens, send someone to report it immediately."
"promise."
The servants did not dare to be careless at all. A boy was guarding in front of the bed, several people were guarding in the outer room, and several healthy servants stood in front of the door. The doctor was not allowed to leave and stayed in the side room to rest.
"Thank you."
All of the healthy servants were from the Southern Palace Army and had followed Huan Wen in the Northern Expedition. They were full of evil spirits, so how could a doctor dare to say "no" to them?
Everything was arranged and it was already dawn.
The boy lit spices to dispel the smell of medicine in the room.
Adrian Huan lay on the couch, pinched his eyebrows, then spread out his palms, looked at the back of his hands, and frowned between his brows.
Is this a man's hand?
While the boy wasn't paying attention, he carefully lifted the quilt, made sure all the parts were there, and breathed a sigh of relief.
There are so many strange things in the world, and you never expected that you would encounter them.
He had not encountered any natural disasters nor any violence. He had just been working overtime and had gone to bed a little late. He had never expected that when he opened his eyes he would find himself in a different place - or a different time and space?
At first I thought it was a dream, so I forced myself to fall asleep, and when I woke up I would be back to normal.
I didn't expect that when I opened my eyes again, the scene would remain the same.
There is a wooden couch, a high screen, incense burners and jade bottles. Next to the table is not a wooden stool, but a green futon.
The ancient man in the long gown with the right lapels, the graceful lady guarding the bedside...
Adrian Huan closed his eyes, his head ached as another memory emerged in his mind.
In the third year of Taihe, the emperor's surname was Sima.
If you are not familiar with history, you may not know which emperor's reign title was Taihe. But since the Qin and Han dynasties, only the Jin Dynasty had emperors with the surname Sima.
The Western Jin Dynasty was extravagant, while the Eastern Jin Dynasty was relatively peaceful.
The Five Barbarians invaded China and the Han people suffered a great disaster.
Thinking of this history, Adrian Huan's brows furrowed even more tightly.
It is unknown whether it is the Western Jin Dynasty or the Eastern Jin Dynasty now?
In a trance, I heard someone mention Sima Huan, Her Royal Highness the Princess. Combining the memories in my mind, many great scholars in Kuaiji County flashed before my eyes.
A thought flashed through his mind, Adrian Huan opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling of the tent.
No way?
It's not what he thought, is it?
"What's wrong with you, sir?"
Seeing that Adrian Huan looked unhappy, the boy immediately stepped forward to ask.
"I ask you, where is my father now?"
The boy felt strange, but answered honestly: "My lord has just returned from Kuaiji, so I'm afraid he doesn't know that my lord has submitted a petition to resign from the post of Shangshu, and has been appointed as the governor of Yangzhou, and moved to Gusu. He is now stationed in Zheqi."
Gusu, Zheqi?
"Is there a soldier named Xi Chao around my father?"
"Yes, my dear."
After being stunned for two seconds, Adrian Huan fell back onto the couch.
He didn't know much about the Eastern Jin Dynasty, but he was familiar with the story of "the guest entering the curtain". With the memory in his mind, he really couldn't deny it.
His father was none other than Huan Wen, the famous and powerful official of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He was the man who led three northern expeditions, deposed an emperor once, fought against Murong Chui and Fu Jian, wrestled with Xie An and Wang Tanzhi, and was always ready to rebel, but never succeeded!
"My dear?"
"fine."
Adrian Huan closed his eyes and slowly began to recall.
According to limited knowledge, after Huan Wen's death, his sons did not seem to have a good ending. Even though Huan Xuan succeeded in his rebellion and accomplished his father's mission, he was still killed by someone else in the end.
Fate really played a huge joke on him.
Close your eyes and open them again, and you will travel through time.
The Eastern Jin Dynasty, the era of the Five Barbarians' Invasion of China.
My father was a powerful official in the dynasty and had countless enemies. He just needed to carve four words on his forehead: I want to rebel.
Is there anything more heartbreaking than this?
People often say that when God closes your door, he will at least leave a window. But in his case, not only was the door closed, the windows were bolted shut, and even the chimney was blocked!
With a wry smile, Adrian Huan suddenly had an idea: should he find a place to bump into it, maybe he could wear it again?
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