Qi Ning saw Li Hongxin's solemn expression, thought for a moment, and then asked: "Your Majesty, this person killed all the officials of the imperial court. Is he a rebel who specifically goes against the imperial court?"
Li Hongxin sighed: "Master Marquis, to tell you the truth, I have been growing up in this city of Chengdu for more than fifty years, but I have never seen this happen. I don't want to hide it from you either. I have offended you in the past. I have passed many people, and even today, I know that there are many people who want to take my life, so there are still several masters in my palace."
"This is what it should be." Qi Ning said immediately: "Not to mention heroes like the prince, even if I am a junior and harmless to humans and animals, there are still many people who want to take my life."
Li Hongxin nodded slightly and said: "Both your Qi family and our Li family have committed murderous crimes, and it is inevitable that they will be hated by others." After a pause, he sneered and said: "But for so many years, I have been through many storms. , but was stumped by the Throat Throat this time. The Throat Throat was extremely skilled in martial arts. He sneaked into my palace without anyone noticing. If I hadn’t gone back to the room in the middle of the night, Fei Qiong would have been killed. That’s also something no one noticed.”
"Your Majesty, are you sure that Fei Qiong was killed by the Throat Killer?"
Li Hongxin nodded and said: "It is undoubtedly true. The Throat Killer seemed to be worried that others would not recognize him. Every time he struck, he would pierce the throat and come out." After a pause, he continued: "Several officials were killed in succession. I The king and Mr. Wei had discussed it. They didn't want the city to panic too much, so they tried their best to block the news. However, the people in the city seemed to have gotten some wind. This time Fei Qiong was killed, if the people in the city knew that the assassin had even come and gone from the Shu Palace. If you are comfortable, you will inevitably be even more panicked, so I just let people make some arrangements in the palace and then bury you quietly."
Qi Ning sighed: "There is such a big event in the prince's house, but he still has to go out of the city to welcome me, and even holds a banquet for the junior here. The junior is really... really ashamed to deserve it!"
Li Hongxin shook his head and said with a smile: "That's not what you said. You came from the capital with great difficulty, and you were ordered to do so. How can I not welcome you?" He looked at Wei Shutong and asked: "Master Wei, over there at Black Rock Ridge Are you ready to withdraw your troops?"
Wei Shutong immediately said: "The official has ordered them to withdraw from Heiyan Ridge within two days."
"After I knew the news, I have already sent people there." Li Hongxin nodded slightly, and then said to Qining with a smile: "Master Marquis, this king has sent his Jin Guanwei to go to the Black Rock Ridge incident. I don't know that the imperial court Are there any objections?"
Qining shook his head and smiled: "That's not true."
Li Hongxin said with a smile: "I am now a minister of Dachu. I am living my life in Chengdu. In fact, it is okay to turn a blind eye to some things. To be honest, I am just sending troops to express my attitude. , if you want to cause trouble in Xichuan, I will be the first to refuse, but I did not expect that there is another hidden reason behind the Black Cave incident."
Qi Ning said: "Your Majesty does not know. Bai Tangling's assassination has nothing to do with Heiyan Cave. It was done by another traitor who wanted to blame Heiyan Ridge. Fortunately, Bai Tangling escaped death, otherwise we would have wronged a good person."
"Yes, yes." Li Hongxin said immediately: "I already knew about this, and I was surprised when I heard about it." He frowned and asked: "Master Wei, Lord Marquis, as you can see, what is behind this What's the secret? Why would someone want to blame Heiyan Cave?"
Qi Ning shook his head and said: "The matter is complicated and confusing, I really don't have any clue."
Li Hongxin raised his hand and said: "Come on, Mr. Hou, don't stop with your chopsticks, talk while eating." He picked up the chopsticks, put it down suddenly, and asked: "Master Hou, do you think this matter has anything to do with me? ?”
As soon as these words came out, Qi Ning was slightly surprised. He thought to himself that this King of Shu was indeed not taking the usual path. He never expected that he would ask such a question at the dinner table. He was already surprised and had an exaggerated look on his face. : "Why did the prince say this?"
Li Hongxin put down his chopsticks and said with a faint smile: "Master Marquis, to tell you the truth, ever since I surrendered to the Chu State, over the years, some slanderous remarks have never ceased."
"Slanderous remarks?" Qi Ning also put down his chopsticks, "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
"There are always people who say that this king wants to rebel." Li Hongxin said with a smile: "Hasn't the Marquis ever heard any rumors?"
Qi Ning's heart tightened slightly, thinking to himself that Li Hongxin was not an ordinary person, and his words and deeds were unexpected. For a moment, he couldn't guess what the old guy was thinking. He frowned and said, "Your Majesty, you will be pure yourself. Do you still care about other people's slanderous words?"
Li Hongxin sighed and said: "I am a warrior, and I never like to mince words when speaking. Some people say that I was a native emperor in Xichuan, and they also said that I surrendered to Da Chu out of helplessness. Hehe, Lord Marquis, I will tell you the truth today. When I was young and vigorous, the Chu army attacked Xichuan. I was dissatisfied and felt that I could fight anyone with my own abilities. But the old marquis in Jinyi was like a god with his troops, and The Chu army was brave and good at fighting, and I surrendered in the end. Although it was indeed because I had no control over the situation, in the final analysis, I wanted to understand at that time that I was not as capable as I thought."
Qi Ning said: "Your Majesty's literary and military skills are well known to the world."
"You are trying to save face for my old face." Li Hongxin waved his hand and said with a smile: "I know very well that compared to the old Marquis Jinyi and even your father, I am far behind. Over the years, I have Wang Chang thought deeply, but he also understood clearly that if he was a free and easy prince, why would he need to fight and kill? Not only would it be useless to himself, but it would also make the people suffer...!" He smiled bitterly and said: "Every life is like a grass and a fall, it's really not worth it. I can't stand too many hardships. Besides, I am already old...!" When he said this, his expression became desolate.
There was silence in the elegant hall for a short moment before Li Hongxin continued: "The Black Cave Incident, Bai Tangling was assassinated, and the guy in the Black Cave, in the eyes of many people, it is inevitable that someone wants to provoke the Miao rebellion, and then cause The Xichuan Rebellion. Lord Marquis, if I were an ordinary person, who do you think I would be the first to doubt?"
"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"
Li Hongxin stroked his beard and smiled and said: "It's none other than me. Some people have always felt that I have evil intentions and want to see chaos in Xichuan, and then take this opportunity to do something. Hahahaha...!"
Qi Ning was actually thinking this, but he really didn't expect Li Hongxin to say it directly, and he was a little surprised.
"But I can tell you that this incident has nothing to do with me." Li Hongxin's expression suddenly became serious, and he said in a deep voice: "I know that even if you say this to others, not many people will I believe it. I am tired, and now the country is at peace and the people of Xichuan want to live a peaceful life. If I go against the will of the people, there will never be a good end."
He looked calm and serious. Qin Ning thought to himself that this incident had nothing to do with Li Hongxin.
Wei Shutong remained silent, and finally said: "Your Majesty, if someone wants to deliberately slander you, you don't have to worry about it. As long as the court believes in you and the emperor believes in you, nothing else matters."
"I know." Li Hongxin's expression was still very serious. He thought for a moment and finally said: "I was born and raised in Xichuan since I was a child, and I am full of affection for this land. Over the years, the people of Xichuan have recuperated and had ample food and clothing. Master Wei has been in Xichuan for a long time. They are also conscientious in their work. I don’t talk much to Master Wei on weekdays, but I am very grateful in my heart.”
"Your Majesty, your words are serious."
Li Hongxin shook his head and said: "After what I said today, you may never hear me speak like this again. I just want to tell you that I want to see peace and stability in Xichuan. Someone sabotaged it. But after I learned that there was another secret behind the Black Rock Cave incident, I began to worry that there was a force in Xichuan that was preparing to stir up trouble in Xichuan."
"Your Majesty, you see something fishy in this?" Qining asked immediately.
Li Hongxin sneered and said, "Someone wants to cause trouble in Xichuan, but I am the first to refuse." After a pause, he said, "Have you ever heard of Ksitigarbha?"
Qi Ning was startled, but he still said on his face: "The Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva that the prince mentioned is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva? I have heard that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is the king of the underworld."
"Be patient and immovable like the earth, and meditate deeply like a secret treasure." Li Hongxin said slowly: "If hell is not empty, I will never become a Buddha. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva could have become a Buddha, but in order to save all the dead souls in the underworld, But he voluntarily stayed in the underworld and made great aspirations."
Wei Shutong looked a little confused, as if he didn't know why Li Hongxin mentioned Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
Qi Ning also smiled and said: "Does the prince like Buddhism?"
"I have really studied Buddhism in the past few years. As I get older, I always want to find something to do." Li Hongxin said with a smile: "It is said that some people say that I eat fast and chant Buddha's name, but that is false. Although I have donated a few buildings Temple, but I never eat fast. I keep drinking and eating meat every day. If I can’t even eat meat and wine, I might as well take my life.”
The three of them suddenly laughed.
Li Hongxin immediately looked cold and said: "The Ksitigarbha I am talking about is not Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, but a force."
"Power?" Qining frowned and said, "My lord, what you are talking about is somewhat difficult for this junior to understand."
Li Hongxin said: "I also accidentally learned that in the secret place, there is a force that respects Ksitigarbha and appears and disappears. In the past two years, it seems to have ulterior secrets wandering around Xichuan. It's just that these people are very Cunning, I actually secretly sent people to investigate and found nothing, but this force does exist in Xichuan, and it does endanger the stability of Xichuan."
Wei Shutong frowned and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know anything about this."
Qi Ning thought to himself, the late emperor sent you to Xichuan to take charge. You should be a shrewd and capable person. You don't know what is going on in Xichuan. I really don't know what the governor of Xichuan does for a living.
But Tinghua Feng, although these two people are both in Chengdu, they don't seem to have much contact with each other.
Think about it, Wei Shutong was sent by the imperial court, and one of his important missions was to monitor Li Hongxin, the king of Shu. If the two of them were usually close friends, they would be in trouble.
Li Hongxin said: "They are demons and monsters, and their whereabouts are strange. It is not surprising that Mr. Wei doesn't know about it. There are very few people who know about the existence of this force." With eyes like daggers, he said coldly: "I suspect that the Black Cave Incident , I’m afraid it has something to do with Ksitigarbha.”