Qiu Yizi gave a bitter laugh and replied, "Master, are you speaking in a sarcastic way? Look at how I have fallen to this point today. How can I say I am not afraid of punishment? You also know my character. I have been a lackey since I was a child. Now I am imprisoned in this square grid where I can't even see the sky when I look up. It's really worse than death."
What Qiu Yizi said was his true feelings, but he didn't hit the point - in fact, he just wanted to get out of the cage as soon as possible, ride his own Ferghana horse, and immediately gallop to the Bohai grassland to see what his son looked like and hear him call "Dad" with his own ears.
Zhongli Kuang didn't think about the love affair, but asked: "Does the emperor really want to punish you? If nothing else, think about how many times you contradicted the emperor before. What kind of sin is that? Fortunately, you are Qiu Yizi, otherwise you would have lost ten heads."
Qiu Yizi was startled by Zhongli Kuang's voice which was as bland as a pool of clear water, and a chill suddenly arose on the back of her neck.
He was about to say a few words of thanks when he heard Zhongli Kuang say, "The emperor has imprisoned you in a cage only to sharpen your character. He will entrust you with another important task in the future."
Qiu Yizhi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I really don't want to be an official anymore. I have already told Master about this. How come Master still doesn't understand my distraction?"
Zhong Li Kuang's expression suddenly became extremely serious: "I'm afraid your wish will not be fulfilled." As he said that, he suddenly coughed twice and told Qiu Yizhi, "Go out first and see if there is anyone eavesdropping outside."
Qiu Yizi said "Oh" in agreement, then pushed the door open and walked out of the cell. He looked around and saw that there was indeed no one eavesdropping outside. Then he walked back, closed the door, bowed to his master Zhong Li Kuang, and replied, "Master, don't worry. I have checked and there is no one here."
It is a strange thing that prisoners can enter and leave the cell as if they were entering and leaving their own yard.
But Zhongli Kuang was not surprised at all when he saw such a strange sight. He just nodded and pointed to the bed by the wall, motioning Qiu Yizhi to sit down. Then he said to him, "The emperor ordered you to be imprisoned that day, and then you fainted and became ill. Did you know about this?"
As soon as these words came out, Qiu Yizi, who had just sat down, could no longer sit still. He stood up from the bed and asked, "I have never heard of this. Is this true? Is the emperor's health in danger? Has the imperial physician examined him?"
Zhong Li Kuang had a blank expression on his face. He waved his hand to let Qiu Yizhi sit down and said, "It's not a big deal for now. The imperial doctors at the Imperial Hospital have examined him. They said that he fell ill due to long-distance fatigue, unfamiliar climate, and anger."
Qiu Yizi knew that the emperor's "anger" was caused by him, so he lowered his head and sighed, "It's all my fault that I didn't know how to be tactful and restrained when I spoke, which made the emperor angry and hurt his body... My crime is so heinous that I can't apologize even if I die..."
Zhongli Kuang said: "This matter cannot be blamed on you. Do you remember that I once told you that the emperor's lung qi was damaged after he suffered at the hands of the false emperor Zheng Yao, so his vitality was greatly damaged, and I am afraid that his life span will be shortened?"
Qiu Yi Zhi Jing's reminder suddenly reminded him that Zhong Li Kuang had indeed said such a thing to him. However, when he heard this, he thought that Emperor Zheng Rong was in very good health, and even coughing and colds were very rare. He thought that Zhong Li Kuang was just exaggerating, so he didn't take it seriously. However, after hearing this today, he remembered that after Zheng Rong became emperor, he seemed to be infected with minor illnesses frequently, and his health was indeed not as good as before.
However, the safety of the emperor's body was a matter of great importance to the court. Even a bold person like Qiu Yizi did not dare to speculate casually and asked tentatively, "What does the master mean?"
Zhongli Kuang's rock-like face showed a trace of regret and pain, and he replied: "With the emperor's physical foundation, even if some of his vitality was damaged, it would not affect his life. But the emperor vowed to revive the country and create a prosperous era. Every day, he reviews memorials, meets with officials, and handles affairs. One person has to do more than three or four people. I have advised the emperor several times to rest and reduce his work, but the emperor always refused to listen... Alas... Finally, it has come to this today."
The more Qiu Yizhi listened, the more shocked he became. He couldn't help but ask, "Has it come to this? What has it come to?"
Zhongli Kuang shook his head, his mouth feeling as bitter as if a handful of bitter gentian was stuffed in it: "According to my judgment, it will be a matter of two to three years." After saying this, he couldn't stop sighing.
Qiu Yizi's eyes moistened instantly after hearing this, and she choked up and asked, "Master... Master... Your medical skills are profound, is there no room for redemption?"
Zhong Li Kuang said helplessly: "I have discussed this with the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital many times. We have done our best to maintain the emperor's health... In fact, as long as the emperor entrusted state affairs to reliable people and rested in peace, he might be able to live a few more years. Unfortunately, although the rebellion in the Lingnan Palace has been suppressed, the emperor has to implement the new policy without stopping. There are no fewer things involved than suppressing the rebellion. I am afraid..."
Ever since Qiu Yizi met Zheng Rong, in his mind, the King and Emperor of Youyan has always been a vigorous and powerful man. Today, he suddenly heard that Zheng Rong had become like a candle in the wind. This news hit him hard. He sat paralyzed on the bed in silence, as if all the energy, spirit and vitality had been drained away from his body.
Zhongli Kuang stroked his sleeves, as if wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes, and said, "Now do you know why the emperor is forcing you to go to Lingnan or Youyan to command the army?"
Qiu Yizi nodded while crying, and replied in a tearful voice: "Students...students understand."
He really knew it - the emperor was about to pass away, but there were still a lot of things that had not been arranged before and after his death. He really needed a person who could be absolutely trusted and who could stand on his own to take care of his affairs after his death.
As expected, Zhongli Kuang immediately explained, "I'm afraid you won't agree to go to the central government to participate in government affairs, so the emperor and I are considering letting you go to Lingnan or Youyan to command the army. In this way, Dai Luanxiang will lead the army on the other side, and there will be no hidden worries in the south and the north, and we can focus on handling the internal affairs of the court."
Qiu Yizi was stunned again after hearing this, and thought: Didn’t the news from the court say that Dai Luanxiang had been sidelined by the emperor and no longer held military power
But he changed his mind and realized that the emperor wanted Dai Luanxiang to stay away from court disputes and not get entangled with various forces in the court and the country, so that he could be sent out with confidence to command heavy troops.
Then Zhongli Kuang asked Qiu Yizhi in an expectant tone: "Yizhi, can you shoulder the heavy responsibility entrusted by the emperor?"
Zhongli Kuang thought that since he had condescended to come to this ominous place, the prison, and spoke so many words in a sincere and earnest manner, he should be able to persuade Qiu Yizhi to change her mind, obey Zheng Rong's will, choose Lingnan or Youyan, and continue to serve the court.
However, he did not expect that his favorite disciple would still refuse to give in. He sat up from the bed, knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Zhongli Kuang several times, and said, "Master, I am not talented enough to bear the trust of the emperor and master. I have made up my mind and only wish to retire to the countryside and never stand out again."
Zhongli Kuang glanced at Qiu Yizhi who was curled up on the ground, sighed deeply, and said, "Yizhi, Yizhi. Don't you understand? Your worth and life no longer belong to you alone. Can you retire just because you want to? With your talent, achievements, and connections, there are countless people in the government and the country who are afraid of your death, and there are countless people who hope you will die soon. If you don't have troops and power in your hands, do you want to be a carefree hermit? I'm afraid you may not be able to do so."
After hearing this, Qiu Yizi was stunned.
He had previously thought that as long as he retired, gave up all his power, and became a commoner, the emperor and the powerful ministers would not make things difficult for him. Now, after Zhongli Kuang's reminder, he realized that his identity and experience were an eyesore in the eyes of everyone - just like what Han Feizi said, if he could be used, he could be used, if he could not be used, he had to be removed.
Seeing Qiu Yi's surprised expression, Zhongli Kuang knew that his disciple had finally heard his master's words, and said with some relief: "Think about this matter carefully. The emperor is ill now, which is the biggest variable in the world. We can only take one step at a time. In short, you must not retire in your next step. You can't take this step, and no one will allow you to take it, so you must remember this."
Seeing Qiu Yizhi nodded sincerely, he added, "There is one more thing I want to ask you. You already know that the emperor is going to hold a 'prisoner presentation ceremony'. You captured Lingnan King Zheng Gui and one of his two sons, Zheng Yu. Do you want to go out and watch the ceremony?"
Qiu Yizhi looked up blankly and asked, "Prince Lingnan is the emperor's biological brother. Why hold such a grand ceremony to humiliate him? Isn't it too pitiful? I'm afraid the dignity of the royal family can't be preserved."
Zhongli Kuang replied, "Originally I could have given some advice on this matter, but now that the emperor is about to die, this ceremony is necessary to announce to the world that the orthodoxy of the Han imperial family is in the emperor's line. This ceremony must be held."
As he spoke, Zhongli Kuang lowered his voice and said, "After the ceremony, the entire family of the King of Lingnan will be placed under house arrest, and according to the Emperor's wishes, they cannot be dealt with openly, but must all be executed in private!"
"This... this... this..." Qiu Yizi, who had seen so many big things before, was so scared that he stuttered when he heard such news, "This... why bother? The Lingnan Palace is gone, the army under the Lingnan King is gone, and Lingnan Road is also directly controlled by the court. There is no chance of turning things around. Why do we have to execute him?"
Zhong Li Kuang said, "The King of Lingnan is a man of talent, prestige, and ambition. It is not necessarily true that a man like him has no chance of turning things around. The Emperor made this decision because he thought that after his descendants succeed to the throne, their talent, prestige, and ambition might not be able to overpower the King of Lingnan, so he gritted his teeth."
After hearing this, Qiu Yizhi felt as if his heart was frozen by ice. He was speechless and could not utter a word. Today, he finally understood a little about the saying "The emperor is the most ruthless". He shook his head and said, "It is better for me to stay in this cell for the time being. I'd better not go to see the grand ceremony of "surrendering the captives". "
As he spoke, he thought to himself: With a status and position like King of Lingnan Zheng Gui, the emperor could easily get rid of him, either intentionally or mercilessly. I am just an insignificant son of a wealthy family. Wouldn't it be easier for my adoptive father, the emperor, to execute me than to crack an egg