After a while, Qiu Yizhi got used to the drastic changes in the light. She squinted her eyes and looked inside the door. Sure enough, she saw a thin figure standing inside the door. The owner of this figure had a shriveled face covered with carvings. Wrinkles, a pair of triangular eyes soaked with fatigue and exertion, and even his hair was mostly gray—it was indeed Qiu Yizhi’s teacher and the prime minister of the imperial court, Zhong Lizhi.
When Qiu Yizhi saw his teacher aged like this, the emotion he felt just now turned into sorrow. Two tears finally flowed down from his eyes involuntarily. He quickly stepped forward and said with a choked sob: "Master, you... you... hello. ..." After saying that, he knelt down to salute.
When Zhongli Kuang saw him, he didn't help him. He only said coldly: "Don't do this false courtesy. We have important errands. Please hurry in and drive in the cart containing the King of Lingnan."
In fact, how could Zhongli Kuang not be extremely excited when he saw Qiu Yizhi, his proud disciple? However, he had always been known for his strictness and coldness, and now he had an important mission, so he tried hard to suppress his surging emotions and put all his energy first. Focus on this top priority in the world.
After listening to the teacher's words, Qiu Yizhi quickly wiped away his tears, bowed and returned to his team. He unloaded the horses in front of the chariot of Lingnan King Zhenggui, and asked Yuchi Lianghong and Yuchi Jiming to protect the chariot. The capable soldiers under his command followed closely behind the carriage and pushed and pulled it manually before slowly pushing the carriage into the city.
When they entered the capital, they saw that the Helv Gate was already filled with soldiers who were waiting for them.
Qiu Yizhi looked carefully and saw that these soldiers were all wearing officer uniforms, starting from Zhonglang General, to Captain, to Inspector, and the youngest was also a Qian Commander. Looking at their faces, they were all very familiar. At least a quarter of the people who came up with the names were officers who had been trained in Lao Youyan Road.
Only then did Qiu Yizhi suddenly realize that the reason why Zhongli Kuang had to wait outside the city for five hours was to mobilize these officers whom he could trust to escort King Zheng Gui of Lingnan.
With the protection of these people, Qiu Yizhi relaxed slightly, but immediately tensed up and asked Zhongli Kuang: "Master, what should we do next?"
Zhongli Kuang pointed forward: "Stop talking and follow me." After saying that, he slowly walked forward.
Qiu Yizhi did not dare to neglect, waved his hand back, and ordered the driver to follow him, moving forward equally slowly.
Helv Gate is very close to the imperial city. Although the carriage carrying the King of Lingnan was pushed by people and was not very fast, it didn't take long before it arrived under a high wall and outside the gate.
Qiu Yizhi had never been here before, but when he saw the bright yellow walls and the red-painted gate studded with copper nails, he knew that he had arrived at the foot of the imperial city at the heart of the world.
This is not a place where one can act arbitrarily. Even a bold man like Qiu Yizhi could not help but feel a little nervous. He stopped uneasily and looked at his master Zhongli Kuang, waiting for his next instruction.
Zhongli Kuang didn't say anything. He walked quickly to the door, picked up the knocker and patted the wooden door a few times. He said to the door, "Open the door. I'm Zhongli Kuang."
Qiu Yi Zhiyin was a few steps away and couldn't hear what was said inside the door. Then he saw that the door that had been opened for some time finally slowly opened, and two groups of soldiers walked out neatly. On both sides of the wooden door.
Zhongli Kuang glanced at the soldiers on both sides and saw that they were in high spirits and in order. He nodded with relief and said to Qiu Yizhi: "Yizhi, your men have made a meritorious service in escorting the King of Lingnan to the capital. I will sign up to discuss the merits." Reward. However, the royal guards have their own rules. Outside soldiers and horses are not allowed to enter the palace. You can follow me into the palace to meet the emperor with the king of Lingnan under the escort of this group of imperial guards."
Qiu Yizhi thought for a while and said: "Master, I don't think this is appropriate. My soldiers have to enter the palace as escorts. Before entering the palace, the safety of King Lingnan must of course be fully borne by the students. After entering the palace, Students should also bear half of the responsibility. Students may as well say that the teacher cannot trust these soldiers under my command, and I may not be able to trust these imperial guards."
Zhongli Kuang was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and stared at his unabashed student with wide eyes.
But he was relieved immediately - when Yuchi Lianghong was ordered to come to report, he said that he should be careful of the Lingnan Palace and the Tianzun cult. However, Wen Honghui, the leader of Tianzun Cult, was actually hiding next to the emperor and even served as an imperial envoy to deliver orders. Such shocking things had happened. So what's so strange about the fact that there were several spies among the Imperial Guards
So Zhongli Kuang thought about it for a long time, and finally made up his mind and said, "That's good. I remember that you have more than a dozen bandits who were recruited from Funiu Mountain. I know most of these people, and they can be regarded as old people from Youyan Road. I I think they can go into the palace with them, and Yuchi Lianghong and his daughter can also come together. As for the others, let’s stay outside the palace gate.”
Qiu Yizhi thought for a moment. Although he did not have a full army to protect him, Zhao Chengxiao, Yuchi Lianghong, and Yuchi Jiming followed him into the palace, which was enough to reassure him, so he nodded and agreed.
So Zhang Long, Lin Shuhan and others, as well as two hundred village warriors, stayed outside the palace gate to wait, while the others escorted the extremely honorable prisoner Zheng Gui, King of Lingnan, into the imperial city, the center of world rule.
The palace was even more tightly guarded. As if they were going to use up all the torches stored in the palace, countless Imperial Guardsmen lit countless torches and held them up to the sky in their hands, illuminating a road leading to the depths of the imperial city. It seemed that they were going to Take photos of every corner inside and out.
Such a serious and tense atmosphere was so heavy that it almost overwhelmed everyone who entered the imperial city. Even the bandit soldiers under Qiu Yi's men who were capable of making three-foot waves even if there was no wind, became He was silent, lowering his head and walking forward silently, while subconsciously clenching the weapons in his hands with both hands.
Prime Minister Zhongli Kuang personally led the way. After turning countless turns in the winding, sometimes wide and sometimes narrow palace, we finally arrived at a courtyard.
Although the courtyard is quite grand, the shape of the houses is not like a palace with tall buildings, red walls and black tiles, but rather like thatched huts like ordinary farmhouses - this place is a bit shabby in the midst of the majestic palace city. The courtyard is the "Shu Li Hall" where the emperor used for his daily work and meetings.
This "Shu Li Hall" was built under the decree of Emperor Gao, Taizu of the Han Dynasty, and he decreed that future generations must handle government affairs here. Firstly, the descendants of the Zheng family wanted to commemorate Taizu's difficulties in starting a business, and secondly, they wanted to live in the ninth level. The emperor did not forget the hardships of the people to survive.
Qiu Yizhi had been here more than once, and saw a faint light coming from the palace window. He knew that the emperor Zheng Rong must be waiting for him there, and also waiting for his captured brother Zheng Gui, the king of Lingnan. Therefore, he couldn't help but feel nervous. He subconsciously stroked the wrinkles on his clothes, looked at the carriage escorting Zheng Gui, and then stood aside, waiting for Zhongli Kuang's instructions.
Seeing that Qiu Yi's actions were not disrespectful, Zhongli Kuang nodded with satisfaction, took half a step forward, and raised his voice to report: "Your Majesty, Zhongli Kuang is back alive."
I don't know if Emperor Zheng Rong's answer came from the "Shu Li Palace", but I saw the door of the palace opened to a gap that could only allow one person to enter and exit. A person appeared from the gap in the door and slowly walked towards Qiu Yizhi.
Relying on the countless torches lit around him, Qiu Yizhi saw this man wearing a red Shu brocade python robe. He was meticulously groomed. He had a rather tall figure and a very clear face. Although he was about fifty years old, his face had only There are a few shallow and short wrinkles, so he looks like he is just over thirty years old.
This person was also an acquaintance of Qiu Yizhi, but his status was extremely noble—he was the younger brother of Emperor Zheng Rong and the older brother of Lingnan King Zheng Gui—Zheng Hua, who had been granted the title of King of Heluo.
Although Zheng Hua was the third son of the late emperor, he gave up his ambition to compete for the throne early that year. He never got involved in government affairs. Instead, he hung out with some literati all day long, singing about flowers and moonlighting. Therefore, no matter who the other three brothers ascended to the throne, Even if he becomes emperor, he will not be embarrassed.
Thanks to the peaceful and comfortable life he spent for half his life, nourishing his body and Qi, coupled with his natural royal nobility, Heluo King Zheng Huarong had a glowing face and full of energy.
I saw Zheng Hua walking up to Qiu Yizhi, nodding towards him with a smile, and asked: "My dear nephew, are you okay?"
Qiu Yi lifted up the corner of her robe and was about to bow down, when she was supported by Zheng Hua and heard him say: "My nephew has made such an unparalleled contribution today, how can I dare to accept your worship?"
Qiu Yi wanted to return to the countryside, but why did she ever think of achieving such a so-called "unparalleled achievement"? He had no choice but to smile bitterly: "Your Majesty, this is really embarrassing for this junior. But since Your Majesty is here late at night, could it be that His Majesty has sent His Majesty on an important errand?"
Hearing Qiu Yizhi talk about business, Zheng Hua couldn't help but straighten his face and said seriously: "That's right. This king is here to investigate my fourth brother, King Zheng Gui of Lingnan, in accordance with the emperor's order."
This arrangement was made after several discussions between Emperor Zheng Rong and Prime Minister Zhongli Kuang. Just because Zheng Gui is the son of the late emperor and the majestic prince of Lingnan. Except for the emperor himself and Heluo King Zheng Hua, no one in the court respects him more than him. Anyone who meets Zheng Gui will kneel down and kneel. The ceremony of knocking.
Wouldn't it be too disgraceful for the court to use such etiquette to meet a rebel king who failed and became a prisoner? If we don’t use such etiquette, how can we reflect the majesty of the throne and the royal orthodoxy
Under such a balance between the two, Emperor Zheng Rong had no choice but to send an edict to Heluo King Zheng Hua, who was also his third brother and the third brother of Lingnan King Zheng Gui, who stayed out of the court affairs. He used his hand to suppress Zheng Gui's head. His identity is to give his unruly fourth emperor brother a show of strength.
Although Zheng Hua was reluctant, he had to obey the emperor's order. Seeing Qiu Yizhi pointing to the carriage behind him, and knowing that Zheng Gui was in the carriage, he slowly walked to the carriage under the protection of two tall imperial guards. Going forward, he lifted the door curtain himself and looked inside the carriage.
But I saw that the carriage was very spacious. Although the interior seemed a bit simple, the floor was covered with quilts, giving people a rare warm feeling in the early spring night in the Central Plains, which was still a bit cold.
Then I saw a person in the middle of the carriage wearing a very simple cotton coat and trousers, sitting cross-legged on the quilt, with his eyes slightly closed, and he didn't know whether he was awake or asleep - it was indeed the King of Lingnan Zhenggui.
When Zheng Hua saw his fourth brother, who had been restless since childhood, he couldn't tell whether he felt regretful or proud. He asked with complicated emotions: "Fourth brother, do you still recognize me?"
Zheng Gui had long heard the conversation between Zheng Hua and Qiu Yizhi in the car. He raised his head and glanced at Zheng Hua who poked his head in: "Oh, it turns out to be the third brother. I remember that you are usually the toughest person, even when the eldest brother was here I can’t help you at this time... What? Do you want to do something for your second brother today?”