Rui Hegui

Chapter 70

After a burst of cold rain, autumn in Gyeonggi came suddenly, the reds faded and the greens faded, the cold dew turned to frost, and the trees in the entire capital began to scramble to wither overnight.

In the Fifth Prince's Mansion in the east of the city, the servants had just cleaned up for a round, and not long after, another floor fell in the courtyard. Seeing this, the manager hurriedly ordered the servants to clean up again, for fear of offending the master again.

It is said that the family of the son of heaven is ungrateful and ungrateful, with no husband and wife, no father and son, and no brothers.These words are rarely applicable to the Ji clan's royal family.

In the past, the Wang family was prominent, the father and son of the Wang family held high positions, the queen ruled the harem alone, and the prime minister Han Wenyun assisted him all the way. Ji Sheng grew up surrounded by stars, and the mansion was always a place where the rich and powerful stepped over the threshold. , I am used to being superior, and I am used to it. Whether it is to the father of the king of a country, or to the brother of the prince of a country, there has never been much affection at all, and even more, he has violated the etiquette and replaced it with all his heart.

But just a month ago, Chu Bandit and Zhao Liangyue returned to Beijing with three major cases brought out by Ningzhou's disaster relief. He was also degraded as a commoner, driven into the cold palace, and used the word amnesty to show his benevolence.As for Ji Sheng, the formerly unparalleled prince, his father and brother jointly kicked him out of the court and deprived him of his title. In just half a month, all the guests in the house dispersed, and the guests from the past couldn't avoid him. For a while, the house was empty, and yesterday was just like a dream.

Yes, it's like a dream, a beautiful dream called prosperity and wealth, when you wake up, the clouds will fall, and you will be in great pain.

And just a few days ago, Ji Sheng, who had no real power, was taken the lead by his good brother, the prince who was now worthy of the name, and Emperor Ping Chong simply confines him to the mansion, and no one is allowed to visit him.

The separation between husband and wife, between father and son, between brothers, Ji Sheng felt the indifference and humiliation he had never experienced before, maybe he had it before, but when those facts were thoroughly revealed and bloody revealed to him, After all, it still hurts.

Ji Sheng was filled with only hatred, hatred for Emperor Ping Chong, hatred for Ji Xuan, and hatred for the so-called upright officials and pure ministers headed by Chu Bandit and Zhao Liangyue.

"Your Highness, do you want to take back everything that belongs to you from them?"

That night was windless and moonless, Han Wenyun came to visit in a cloak and asked this sentence.

"If I can get the prime minister's help, I will worship the prime minister as the emperor's teacher in the future. Apart from me, the prime minister will be the only one in the world who respects me!"

"Your Highness's words, I would like to be heartbroken, but..."

"Prime Minister, don't worry, my father and brother are not benevolent, how can I be righteous? Everything depends on the Prime Minister!"

After Han Wenyun got a satisfactory answer, he explained and left in a hurry.

From then on, Ji Sheng pretended to be decadent and drank all day long, but in fact he was secretly making arrangements with Han Wenyun for the final desperate fight.

"Has Your Highness eaten breakfast today?"

The cold autumn light shone into the room through the window paper, Ji Sheng was sitting in a corner drinking, his hair disheveled, he was in a mess, he could vaguely hear Yang's voice talking to his attendants outside.

The fifth concubine, Yang, is the daughter of Yang Shaohe, former Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry. Yang Shaohe was also among the officials who were beheaded after the case of Ningzhou was settled. After his death, the rest of the Yang family were either excluded or dismissed from office. , completely lonely.

Counting it, Yang was designated as the fifth prince concubine at the age of 14, and she has been with him for 15 years in total.

Ji Cheng glanced at the sword hanging on the wall, and ordered to the servant at the door: "Go and call the princess in."

The little servant was stunned when he heard the words, but when he looked up at Ji Sheng looking at him with irritated eyes, his legs gave way in fright, and he staggered out to invite someone.

Yang Shi originally planned to leave after asking the attendants, but it wasn't that she didn't want to go in and have a look, but that Ji Cheng didn't like her all along, and now he didn't want to see her even more, even if he was worried, he only dared to ask others.

So, when the servant came to invite Mrs. Yang to come in, she was surprised and excited, she brows happily, and hurriedly asked the servant girl to see if her bun was crooked, and whether her dress was elegant and pleasant.

The servant looked at the concubine, who was usually kind and gentle, with mixed feelings, and couldn't help reminding: "Your highness is drunk now after drinking, and it is easy to hurt people. The concubine should be careful when she goes in later." .”

Yang smiled and nodded slightly at the servant girl, told the servant girl to wait outside, and brought the food box in by herself.

When Yang entered the door, she didn't see Ji Sheng, and after searching for half a circle, she found him bent and leaning against a corner. Feeling sore, she hurriedly put down the food box and helped him up.

Yang's voice was a little choked up: "Now that autumn is coming, and it's getting colder in Beijing, Your Highness should take good care of your body."

Ji Sheng was reeking of alcohol, and when he heard the words, he smiled, looked straight at Yang, and asked: "A few days ago, I went crazy and killed the two servants in the room in the middle of the night, do you know?"

Yang was silent for a while, and carefully replied: "Your Highness is drunk, not crazy, nor intentional."

Ji Sheng sneered, patted Yang's shoulder, and asked, "You and I have been with me for 15 years, do you know what kind of person I am?"

Before Yang Shi could speak, Ji Cheng said: "I was not drunk that night, I killed someone on purpose, because those two boys didn't refill the incense and didn't do a good job, so they deserve to die. It's useless Damn everything, I won't keep any of it."

Ji Sheng's gaze became sharp and cold, and Yang felt a chill running up her spine, but she still smiled and said, "No matter what happens, my concubine, my concubine will always be with Your Highness!"

"Okay, remember your words." Ji Sheng raised his hand to caress Yang's thin face, and said gently, "Never leave, I will give you a gift in the spring of next year."

Yang Shao couldn't help smiling, and said, "Okay, my concubine is waiting for Your Highness."

Snapper.

Emperor Ping Chong had just listened to Tang Shiyu, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, report on the resumption of normal mining and transportation of the iron mine in Tang County, Ningzhou, when he leaned over and coughed. Ji Xuan, who was sitting next to him, immediately stepped forward and handed over the handkerchief, and patted his back help.

After Emperor Ping Chong finished coughing, he spread out the veil and saw that it was full of blood. The officials discussing matters in front of him all bowed their heads and retreated to the back.

Chu Bandit glanced at the screen, and moved a few steps to the left to get behind Zhao Liangyue. The official who was standing beside Zhao Liangyue quickly stepped aside, and stepped back with several other officials, leaving a gap between them. space out.

The two hadn't spoken for several days, and every day when they went to court, they lived on the left and right sides of the carriage. Chu Bandit hadn't figured out a reason to quibble, Zhao Liangyue didn't understand what this senior brother was struggling with, but he didn't know how to speak. I was so busy with the supply of salt and iron that I didn't have time to distract too much, so I have been consuming it all the time.

Chu Bandit thought a lot on the sidelines just now, but when he turned his head slightly and whispered, he still changed into one sentence: "Xilin, have you had lunch?"

In fact, Bandit Chu didn't expect Zhao Liangyue to pay attention to him, but Zhao Liangyue turned his head to look at him, nodded seriously, and replied: "I have eaten, there are stuffed tofu and fish." After thinking for a while, he added, "There are no fruits and vegetables. , a bit greasy."

Bandit Chu was stunned for a moment, couldn't help smiling, and asked, "Then when we go back, we'll go to that restaurant in the south of the city to eat together? Last time you said that the taste is light, but it's not tasteless and tasteless, just treat it as a solution."

In fact, what Uncle Song did was better than many restaurants outside, but Zhao Liangyue still nodded and said yes.

The officials next to each other were stunned, thinking that the two were whispering something, they looked at each other, but they didn't dare to ask.

So in the following time, inside the screen, Emperor Ping Chong was coughing to death, and Ji Xuan was so anxious that he almost pulled an imperial doctor out to behead him. Outside the screen, Han Wenyun and six officials peeked at the gap of the screen. However, only Chu Shangshu is as blessed as a soul, with a pair of peach blossom eyes overflowing with a sincere smile from time to time, those who don't know think that he is looking forward to the death of the sick emperor inside, and wants to replace him with a coup d'état.

Finally, after dragging on for more than half an hour, the discussion still could not continue, Ji Xuan came out and asked all the officials to step down, and the discussion will be held another day.

After Zhao Liangyue and Chu Bandit left the Nuan Pavilion, they didn't gather together with the other six officials to discuss, but went directly out of the Meridian Gate, got into a carriage, and drove to Xuefangyuan.

Chu Bandit and Zhao Liangyue sat on the same side, and said: "Xi Lin, you can also see that our emperor is strangely ill?"

Zhao Liangyue nodded, frowned and said, "I think the prince's behavior is a bit abnormal."

"Indeed, our emperor managed to surpass Han Wenyun recently, and began to personally decide some major government affairs, especially on the Yantie New Deal, and he did it by himself, using only pure ministers, and not allowing any other party to intervene." Chu bandit said, "It stands to reason that according to his temperament, unless he is so sick that he can only crawl on the ground, he will not let the prince intervene in the middle."

Zhao Liangyue recalled the sickness of Emperor Ping Chong. He was skinny, pale as paper, and his body was bent so that his chest and knees were close to each other. It was not far from what Chu Bandit said about crawling on the ground, so he sighed and said: "At least the emperor can't If he dies this year, the situation in the East Palace is too complicated."

Chu Bandit tapped his fingers and said: "From the current point of view, the prince seems to be more filial and obedient than ever when his father is seriously ill, and the emperor feels that he has come to an end, so he feels guilty towards their mother and son. This time, I am even more affectionate, and I want to pave the way for him to start."

Zhao Liangyue: "But, you and I both know that the crown prince actually wants his father to die early. When I first met him, I saw his suppressed desire and killing intent."

Chu bandit chuckled, and said: "The Ninth Five-Year Lord, a lonely family, a real lonely family."

Not long after, the carriage stopped at the back door of Xuefangyuan, and someone inside immediately took the two of them in.

In fact, the two of them seldom come to Xuefangyuan together like this, so the young servant can tell at a glance that there is something important, so he hastened to send people to the stage to meet his master.

When Xiao Rong rushed to the backyard, the two had already released the pigeons twice.

Zhao Liangyue asked directly: "Does Xuefangyuan have eyeliner in the palace?"

Xiao Rong said: "Yes, but a lot of them have been expelled recently, and now the remaining people can only work in the outer hall."

"Sure enough." Chu Bandit said, "Xi Lin and I suspected that the Eastern Palace had tampered with the emperor's soup and meals, which made his condition worse, and he is now one step away from the gate of hell."

Xiao Rong thought for a while, and said: "It is difficult for our people to show their fists in the palace, but there is one person who can."

Bandit Chu thought for a while, and said, "You mean, you are asking the Fifth Prince for help?"

"Yes." Xiao Rong, "After all, the fifth prince grew up in the palace, and the queen and queen have also ruled the palace for many years. Although they are losing power now, after all, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. They must still have people in the palace."

Zhao Liangyue frowned slightly, and said: "Investigating the prince's rebellious deeds is indeed beneficial to the fifth prince, but..."

But Ji Sheng, mother and son, and the downfall of the Wang family are all thanks to them, so how can they cooperate?Moreover, it is impossible for the fifth prince not to know about the inextricable connection between Xuefangyuan and them.

But Xiao Rong smiled and said: "Lord Zhao, don't worry, I have an extraordinary friendship with the Fifth Prince."

Zhao Liangyue frowned, and said: "Although the Fifth Prince has always liked your dramas, but..."

"Okay, okay." Bandit Chu came over to interrupt Zhao Liangyue, and said, "Since Mr. Xiao said yes, we just believe him."

Zhao Liangyue didn't know why, so he still wanted to ask, but Chu bandit gave him a look, but Zhao Liangyue didn't open his mouth.

After some discussion, the two boarded the carriage and left.

In the carriage, before Zhao Liangyue could speak, Bandit Chu spoke first.

"Xilin, in this man-eating capital, if you want to accomplish something, sometimes the price you have to pay is not only very high, but also very dirty." Chu Bandit paused and said, "I'm not I intend to hide it from you, but Rong Ge... besides being the owner of Xuefang Courtyard, he is also a frequent visitor of Bili Pavilion, and he is not a frequent visitor who spends a lot of money to buy Xiaowan a smile."

Zhao Liang was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

Zhao Liangyue couldn't help but think of the first time he went to Xuefangyuan to watch Xiao Rong's play, he was dressed in white clothes better than snow, as bright and clear as a bright moon, as unattainable as an exiled immortal, clean to the extreme.

But he was just a mortal in the world, and under that white clothes, he was riddled with holes.

Zhao Liangyue's lips moved, and he said intermittently: "Senior Brother, Young Master Xiao, he...he actually..."

In fact, he is also an old man from the past, and he has worked so hard to get to where he is today.

But I have already promised that if he is not willing, he will not tell others.

In the end, Zhao Liangyue let out a long sigh and said only one sentence:

"It's not easy."

Bandit Chu patted Zhao Liangyue on the shoulder lightly, and said: "A benevolent and righteous man in the world bears humiliation and bears the burden and moves forward. There is nothing but respectability and no stain."

Zhao Liangyue nodded and looked at Bandit Chu.

Bandit Chu froze for a moment, rolled his peach eyes, and said with a smile: "Xi Lin, let me tell you the truth, you already know everything I kept from you, and as a senior brother, I will definitely treat each other frankly and honestly. I will never hide anything from you."

Zhao Liangyue had a sore nose and said, "Let's keep it a secret."

After all, I can't be honest with you, no matter about Youbai or Xiao Rong, I can only hide it.

But Bandit Chu didn't care, and said as if promising: "It's okay, even if Xilin doesn't tell me anything about himself, I will tell you everything."

As soon as these words came out, Zhao Liang felt his nose became more sour.