Shi Liangzhi suffered a loss in the fight, but he refused to give in. He had long forgotten the concepts of superiority, inferiority, courtesy, and status that he had always talked about. He got up from the ground, rushed to King Youyan Zheng Rong, and started to fight with him with his fists.
At this moment, a voice behind him shouted: "Master Shi, you are too outrageous!"
Shi Liangzhi was startled by the shout. He put away his fist and turned to look back. It was Heluo King Zheng Hua who was staring at him with anger. He only heard him scolding: "Master Shi, you are at least an official appointed by the court, a third-rank official, and the Minister of Rites, who is a model of etiquette in the world. How can you be so unruly? Although my second brother has committed a minor offense, he is still the current emperor's uncle. How can you have the right to touch him? Get out of here immediately!"
Zheng Hua was always gentle and refined, and his every move was elegant and refined. Shi Liangzhi always prided herself on being cultured, and often went to Zheng Hua's mansion to recite poems and write couplets. She had never seen the Heluo prince get angry, so after being scolded by him, the anger in her heart immediately subsided, and she dared not to attack again, and just stood there in a daze, not knowing whether to move forward or retreat.
Zheng Hua was still angry, and said, "I think we should stop here today. Please go and have a rest. I have something to say to my second brother in person. Tomorrow morning, please meet the two ministers at my humble residence first, and then come here together to do the work."
Zheng Hua's tone was very firm, leaving no room for maneuver. The Minister of Justice Yuwen Guan heard it and quickly agreed. He waved to the four yamen runners standing beside Zheng Rong and led them out of the room. Shi Liangzhi was still unwilling to leave, and whispered to Zheng Hua in a low voice: "This is a case that the emperor is personally involved in. It seems inappropriate for the prince to be alone in a room with the Prince of Youyan, right?"
After hearing this, Zheng Hua glared at Shi Liangzhi and said, "What? Are you not allowed to talk to my second brother? If Lord Shi has any opinions, you can report to the emperor and impeach me!"
Shi Liangzhi had just experienced Zheng Hua's power and did not dare to stroke the tiger's beard again. He hurriedly said, "I dare not, I dare not." Then he turned around and left the room carefully.
Qiu Yizi was still worried. After they left, he stuck his head out to take a closer look. Then he turned around and knelt in front of Zheng Rong, kowtowed three times, and said in a low voice with tears in his eyes: "Yizi is unfilial. He failed to see through the evil tricks and let his adoptive father be imprisoned. He deserves to die, he deserves to die!"
Upon seeing this, Zheng Rong personally helped Qiu Yizi up and said, "What crime has Yizi committed? It's all my fault for not doing it right back then... Alas!" He stopped talking halfway and could only sigh.
Zheng Hua, who was standing by, comforted him, "Don't be discouraged, second brother. The current emperor is very wise and I will not deceive him. In my opinion, in just a few days, when the emperor changes his mind, second brother will be able to see the light of day again."
Zheng Rong felt warm at heart after hearing this. He held Zheng Hua's hand and said, "My foolish brother has been leading troops in battles outside for many years, while I have been studying and writing in the capital. In fact, the affection between you and me..." Zheng Rong shook his head and said, "In fact, the affection between us is normal. As the saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed. My foolish brother is in danger right now. Your frank words just now have shown your pure heart."
Zheng Hua smiled and said, "Brother, what are you talking about? I have read a few books on the sayings of saints and know a little about loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness. I just said a few true words."
Zheng Rong sighed again and said, "My dear brother, you are too modest. Look at Shi Liangzhi. He has probably read as many books as me, but he is so rebellious. I really didn't expect him to be so rebellious."
Zheng Hua pulled his clean hands out of his brother's tightly clenched hands, turned around, took the folding fan on the table, fanned it a few times, and then said: "Brother is in the army, he is used to being straightforward, how can he understand the pettiness of scholars? Take Shi Liangzhi for example, he was originally a member of Zheng Chang's party, but only joined the name of the current emperor two or three years ago. He knows that he has offended the emperor in many ways before. Seizing this opportunity to interrogate my second brother, he must show his best to please the emperor, right?"
Zheng Rong nodded and said, "I think the Minister of Justice Yuwen Guan still has some conscience. I didn't hear him say anything just now."
Zheng Hua waved his folding fan and said, "Brother, don't think that Yuwen Guan is a good person. In my opinion, he is ten times smarter than Shi Liangzhi. You see, he knows that he has secured his position as the head of the Ministry of Justice. No matter how the trial goes, his contribution is indispensable. That's why he is unwilling to embarrass you too much. If the news of today's incident gets out, he can still get the reputation of respecting the prince. It can be said that he has gained both benefits and reputation. His ability to do things in a snail shell is really amazing!"
Zheng Hua paused and continued, "Speaking of conscience, I think the young master Qiu, whom my brother has adopted, is the one who truly has a conscience. I wonder how many connections he has made and how many risks he has taken to be able to see you. If my three sons are half as loyal and filial as he is, then my Heluo Palace will have a successor."
Qiu Yizi was about to say a few humble words when he heard Zheng Hua continue, "Well, there is no outsider in this room right now. This is a rare opportunity. You and your son can have some private conversation. I'll go and keep watch for you." After saying that, he nodded slightly to the two of them, then turned around and walked out in a very casual manner.
Seeing that there was no one else in the room, Qiu Yizi asked Zheng Rong in a voice that could not be any softer: "In this situation, what should we do? Please tell me, foster father."
Zheng Rong frowned and said, "What else can I do now? I am now in a desperate situation, being manipulated by a treacherous villain like Shi Liangzhi. I can only stand up straight and argue with reason. Even if I die here, I don't want to leave a reputation of a coward in the history books."
Qiu Yizi felt very desperate when hearing Zheng Rong's words, and hurriedly comforted him: "The situation is not irreversible now, otherwise, with the wisdom of Prince Heluo, he would not speak for my adoptive father!"
Zheng Rong's eyes lit up when he heard this, but he frowned and asked, "Could it be that Yizhi has a way to rescue me?"
Qiu Yizi's brows were furrowed more tightly than his adoptive father's. He thought for a long time before saying, "I don't have a solution for now, but people can always come up with solutions. Even if I exhaust all my energy and sacrifice my life, I will definitely find a way to save my adoptive father. But..."
"Just what?" Zheng Rong asked hurriedly.
"Father, please don't blame me for speaking harshly. But no matter what method you use, if you escape from this prison of the Ministry of Justice, you will be the number one traitor and will probably have to fight against the imperial court. Father, do you have this understanding?"
After hearing this, Zheng Rong nodded solemnly and said, "I am the fish, and others are the butchers. Even if a live fish is sent to the chopping board, it will at least struggle a few times. I have fought for the Han Dynasty for so many years, and I died in such an unclear way. I can't rest in peace in the underworld, and I am even more sorry for your biological father who lost his life to save me!"
In fact, Qiu Yizhi was most afraid that his adoptive father would not make up his mind and would want to be a loyal minister and filial son of the Han Dynasty at the critical moment. Now, after hearing what Zheng Rong said, he finally put his mind at ease and said to his adoptive father: "Since my adoptive father sent me to Luoyang to do business, I have also met many people from all walks of life in the capital. If we can brainstorm, maybe we can really come up with a way to rescue my adoptive father. Please stay here for a few more days, I will definitely go back to Youyan Road with you!"
The two of them whispered a few more words. Qiu Yizi felt that if he lingered any longer here, he would inevitably be discovered, so he reluctantly said goodbye to Youyan King Zheng Rong and followed Heluo King Zheng Hua out of the prison.
When he left the Ministry of Justice prison, the golden crow was setting in the west and the jade moon was hanging high in the sky.
In the darkness of the night, Qiu Yizi saw from afar that Zhao Chengxiao was still waiting for him in the square in front of the prison gate, so he caught up with him and told him a few words about the situation in the prison. Then he turned back to Heluo King Zheng Hua and said, "I really want to thank Your Majesty for letting me meet my adoptive father this time! Your kindness will be repaid with a spring in the future!" After saying that, he bowed deeply.
Zheng Hua smiled and said, "Okay, okay. It's worth my trip to see you. It's still early, why don't you come with me for a drink?"
Qiu Yizi replied, "Your Majesty's kindness is appreciated. This is what I want to say. The current emperor is in charge of the Ministry of Persuasion, and his eyes and ears are so well-informed that I am afraid we cannot imagine. I am a person who knows right from wrong, and I dare not implicate Your Majesty again. Why don't we say goodbye here?"
Zheng Hua was obviously reluctant to let him go, and said, "How many young heroes like you are there in the world? To be unlucky, if something happens to my second brother, you can become my disciple, and I can probably keep you safe."
Qiu Yizi hurriedly said a few more words of thanks and no longer dared to stay in front of the prison of the Ministry of Justice for long. He led Zhao Chengxiao towards Luoyang City.
Zhao Chengxiao lowered his head and followed Qiu Yizhi for half an hour. Finally, he couldn't help but asked, "Your Highness, where are we going?"
Qiu Yizi's face was filled with sorrow, and he replied, "We two are now like dogs that have lost their homes. The capital is so big, but there is no place for us two to stay."
"I don't understand what you mean. Don't we still have the Siyi Pavilion to go to?" Zhao Chengxiao asked.
Qiu Yizhi sighed and said, "Brother Zhao, don't think that we are free to move around now. I'm afraid that the spies of the Persuasion Department have already been watching us. The two of us are two pots of trouble. Wherever we are poured, there will be chaos and entanglement. There is only one place that can take you and me in now, but I don't know if Brother Zhao dares to go with me?"
Zhao Chengxiao nodded naively and said, "I have accompanied Your Highness and have been to mountains of swords and seas of fire. Is there any place more dangerous than the Ministry of Justice Prison?"
"A brothel. Do you dare to go there?"
Zhao Chengxiao was stunned for a moment, but when he came to his senses, he couldn't help but laugh: "Sir, you are joking. That place is a land of tenderness. Which man doesn't want to go there? Which man dares not to go there?"
After hearing this, Qiu Yizi also chuckled and whispered, "If it was a brothel run by the Tianzun Sect, would you still dare to go there?" (To be continued)