Age of Lazurite, Tower of Glass

Chapter 77: The gift of tower gloom and sadness

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The lotus flower leaned in front of the wooden door, looking at a corner of the sky, blue and high. A white cloud slowly passed by, not stopping for anyone to watch; a few birds soared in the sky and soon flew out of sight. "All the birds are flying high, and the lonely cloud is alone." The lotus sighed softly.

The sky in Seoul is also so blue.

It's just that the sky at that time was vast and boundless, and there were always voices and laughter floating under the sky.

I have been in the pagoda for a year, and I can only see this corner of the sky. The lotus flower can tell the shape of this corner with its eyes closed. The tower body of Shenggan Pagoda blocks the view to the north and has two edges; to the south is the eaves of the Sutra Pavilion; to the east are the branches of a big tree; to the west is the thick shade covering the high wall of Tianxi Temple .

Suddenly, the crows on the tower circled up one after another, croaked, flew around and landed back on the tower.

Two young men in brocade clothes jumped in front of the door and shouted with a smile: "Yining!" It was Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui.

Lianhua complained: "He always creeps out and scares people!" while waving his hand at Haishou to indicate that it was okay.

These young men had nothing to do in the capital. They spent all day traveling around, hunting and fishing. When they got tired of playing, they would occasionally come to Lianhua to chat and relieve their boredom. A few people were unwilling to go to the palace to petition, so they always sneaked in by taking detours and climbing over the wall.

Zhu Gaosui stuck out his tongue: "You are too timid." He said and looked around curiously: "Is there anything interesting?"

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and said: "Yining! We are here to say goodbye to you!"

Lianhua was surprised: "Where are you going?"

"Go back to Peiping and leave tomorrow." The two brothers said in unison.

Lianhua asked: "Why do you want to go back suddenly? Isn't it about mourning?"

Zhu Gaoxu spread his hands and said: "My father is ill. It seems he is not serious. My mother is anxious to ask for the three of us to go back." He paused as if he didn't know how to address him in front of the lotus: "Your Majesty, you are right. The eldest brother is going to the palace to express his gratitude." .

Lianhua's face turned pale: "What's wrong with the prince? Is it so serious?"

Zhu Gaosui scratched his head and said, "I said he fell ill on the day he left Beijing. First he suffered from wind chill and fever. Now what is it called 'sickness and panic syndrome'?" He looked around and whispered in a low voice, "He said he didn't even recognize his mother."

Lianhua's face is pale, she was ill the day she left Beijing! In the thunderous rainstorm, the blood and rain on his face were mixed together in the rainstorm, his miserable eyes, and his desperate cry.

That shrill "Lotus!" seemed to ring in my ears. Lianhua was startled and covered her ears with her hands.

Seeing Lianhua's expression, Zhu Gaoxu comforted him: "Yining! Don't be sad. It will be fine if the three of us go back to our father. He is very sad."

Lian Hua was silent, and after a moment of composure, she thought for a moment, turned around, took the glazed tower, and asked the two brothers, "Can you help me bring this to the prince?" His eyes were full of pleading.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui looked at each other, and Zhu Gaoxu smiled and said, "As long as you are willing."

Lotus stared at the glazed tower. The tower was almost transparent and two corners were broken. One was dropped when something happened in the palace; the other was hit on his head. .

Lianhua took out a cotton handkerchief from her sleeve, carefully wrapped the glazed tower, tied a beautiful double knot at the four corners of the handkerchief, and handed it to Zhu Gaoxu: "Please."

The two brothers laughed together and said, "No problem! Yining, don't worry."

Lianhua thought for a while and said, "There is one more thing." He raised his voice and shouted: "Hai Shou!"

Hai Shou was watching the wind in front of the wooden shed and hurried over: "What's the matter, princess?"

Lianhua said: "Hai Shou, give Xiaoxue to Gao Xu and Gao Sui to take back to Peiping." Hai Shou was startled and didn't say much. Xiaoxue has never used it much since she came out of Peiping. When we arrived in the capital, we were always in the horse pen: those from Duke Cao's palace, those from the East Palace, and those from the back court. Even as a princess or a talented person, I couldn't ride a horse; it was even more impossible now.

Hai Shou thought sadly: Will the princess always be in this tower

Zhu Gaoxu asked with a smile: "Xiaoxue is your original horse? You want us to bring it to our father too?"

Lianhua said: "Let Xiaoxue return to Peiping. He is in the capital, bored in the horse pen in the palace, and he is not happy at all." He looked at Zhu Gaoxu and said with a smile: "If you like it, just give it to you."

Zhu Gaoxu was excited: "Really? Can you give it to me?"

Lotus smiled and nodded: "Send it to you. Treat it well."

Zhu Gaoxu cheered, pulled Zhu Gaosui and said to Hai Shou: "Then let's go get it quickly." He turned back to Lianhua and shouted: "We will leave tomorrow and will not come back again." Hesitantly added: "Next time, see you next time."

Zhu Gaosui said reluctantly: "See you next time."

A few people didn't know that there was no next time for this farewell.

Lianhua said goodbye with a smile and stared blankly at the backs of the three people. The news that King Yan was seriously ill weighed heavily on his heart like a lead weight. He had saved her life since she first met him in the desert. How many things had he done for her? Even though his forehead was hit and bleeding, he still just said "Follow me"!

Zhien came over and said, "Princess, the prince must be fine." Seeing Lianhua dumbfounded, he then persuaded: "Liu Li Pagoda has saved the princess so many times, I will definitely be able to save the prince this time."

Really, Liuli Tower, can you save King Yan

"Dang, clang, clang..." The bells of Tianxi Temple came one after another, ringing around the tower. It was the afternoon class. Soon, waves of dense chanting sounds floated into my ears. The sky is clear of all worries, and the sound of Sanskrit subdues thousands of demons. Lotus took a long breath, closed her eyes and fell into concentration.

****************

In the main hall of the harem, the prince's tutor Xu Huizu and Fang Xiaoru were giving lectures to the prince Zhu Wenkui.

Wen Kui was less than four years old, and he spoke in a babyish voice. He was reading "The Thousand Character Classic" and knew some words, but he hadn't even started the classics and history article yet. "The sky and earth are dark and yellow, the universe is vast, the sun and moon are waxing, and the stars are spread out..."

Amid the loud sound of books, there was suddenly the sound of boots, and Qi Tai strode in without waiting for an announcement, shouting loudly: "Wei Guogong!"

Xu Huizu frowned: "Master Qi, what is this?" Fang Xiaoru also glared at Qi Tai.

Qi Tai didn't seem to notice the dissatisfaction between the two, and said hurriedly: "Wei Guogong! There is something urgent!" He took a breath and continued: "Zhang Bing from Peiping thanked you for sending a memorial, saying that King Yan was ill and seriously ill; Princess Yan asked Your Majesty to let her three sons return to Peking. Your Majesty actually agreed!"

Xu Huizu was stunned, looked at Qi Tai and asked: "How did Mr. Qi know?"

Qi Tai was running in a hurry just now, and his breath was still lingering: "I saw the Crown Prince of Yan coming out of the palace to bow down. He had just said goodbye to His Majesty. Wei Guogong! The third son of King Yan can't go back to Peking!" Seeing Xu Huizu pondering, he said anxiously: " It makes sense for Taizu to order the princes and princes to observe mourning in the capital for three years! If the third son returns to Peking this time, King Yan will no longer have any scruples!"

Fang Xiaoru was a little anxious when Qi Tai said: "What do you mean, Mr. Qi?"

Qi Tai said: "Duke Wei and Princess Yan are close relatives, and the three princes have been living in the residence of Duke Wei. Duke Wei knows them very well. If Duke Wei comes forward to persuade your majesty, maybe he can change his mind."

Xu Huizu pondered for a long time and said: "Let me try it!"

Qi Tai was overjoyed: "Let's go! Then let's go together!"

The two said goodbye to the prince and Fang Xiaoru, and strode to the provincial palace. After asking Zhang Yuanheng to report, they entered the palace.

Zhu Yunwen frowned and said: "You two came just in time, I have something to discuss."

Qitai Xu Huizu saw the emperor's face and knew that something was wrong again, so he looked at Huang Zicheng next to him.

Huang Zicheng said: "The Marquis of Xiping, Mu Sheng, came to report that the King of Min, Zhu Pian, violated the king's laws, killed officials and people, and even took the seals of various ministers without permission. The Marquis of Xiping couldn't restrain him, so I begged Your Majesty for help."

King Min Zhu is the eighteenth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, and his mother is the concubine Zhou. He is twenty-one years old. In the 24th year of Hongwu's reign, he was granted the title of King Min, and in the 28th year of his reign, he was granted the title of King of Kunming, Yunnan Province.

Xiping Hou Mu Sheng is the son of Mu Ying, the founding hero of the country, and has guarded Yunnan for generations. Mu Ying was posthumously named King of Qianning after his death, and the Mu family had absolute power and prestige in Yunnan. Even the Marquis of Xiping said that he couldn't control it and had to report it to the emperor. You can imagine how rampant Min King Zhu Chu was.

Qi Tai was angry: "Those who commit lawlessness should be severely punished! Your Majesty cannot tolerate this!"

Zhu Yunwen sighed: "I have only been on the throne for a year, and my four uncles, King Zhou, King Dai, King Xiangxian, and King Qi, have had troubles. If I punish Uncle Min, I will be the fifth." His words were full of fatigue. .

Qi Tai advised: "Your Majesty upholds the laws of the country and eliminates harm for the people, which is what the Holy Emperor should do. The last time His Majesty demoted the King of Qi, the people in the capital all clapped their hands and cheered, and the sound of firecrackers was endless. There were even people setting off fireworks and lighting lanterns. !”

Huang Zicheng also said: "It's true, the streets were very lively in those days."

Zhu Yunwen finally had a smile on his face. He recalled those days when he passed by the Qinhuai River. Restaurants and restaurants were competing to celebrate, and they only paid half price. Wanqinglou Jinlingchun simply had running water mats on the roadside, which was very festive.

Xu Huizu said: "Taizu often said that everything should be beneficial to the people. The people of Yunnan are also your Majesty's people."

Zhu Yunwen no longer hesitated and told Huang Zicheng: "Draw up the decree and King Min will be demoted to a commoner and move to Zhangzhou." After saying that, he waved his hand and didn't want to say any more.

Qi Tai rushed straight to Xu Huizu to show off. Zhu Yunwen saw it and said warmly: "What's the matter with you two?".

Qi Tai couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty! This King Yan is strangely ill! Your Majesty can't just let the three sons of King Yan go away casually!"

Zhu Yunwen frowned, and Huang Zicheng was about to speak when Xu Huizu stepped forward and said, "My sister, Princess Yan, and her ministers have always been brotherly friends, and they often exchange family letters. It is true that King Yan is sick." Regardless of Qi Tai, who was staring at the side. , said: "The three sons of King Yan are the nephews of Weichen. They have been living in humble houses since they entered the capital."

Seeing Zhu Yunwen listening quietly, Xu Huizu continued: "The eldest son, Gao Chi, is gentle, benevolent and filial, externally and internally tough; the second son, Gao Xu, is powerful and good at riding and shooting, and is a fierce and ruthless bird; the third son, Gao Sui, although young, is outstanding in both civil and military affairs." You are extraordinary."

Xu Huizu said slowly: "These three princes are King Yan's best helpers and also King Yan's trust. If Your Majesty wants King Yan to guard the northern border forever, with these three sons, King Yan will definitely keep the northern border safe."

Qi Tai's eyes almost burst into flames, and Xu Huizu said word by word: "However, if King Yan has other intentions in the future, these three sons will definitely be the most difficult enemies to deal with. There may be something wrong if they are all returned to Peking."

Qi Tai said loudly: "Your Majesty! King Yan is so powerful that he was very dissatisfied with the court when he was in Beijing last time. You must be on guard!"

Huang Zicheng said: "Your Majesty! What Mr. Qi said is reasonable. You must be on guard against others. It is also a good idea to keep one of the three princes of Yan in the capital."

Xu Huizu agreed: "Your Majesty can leave the eldest son Gao Chi in the capital to observe filial piety on the grounds of Taizu's death, or leave the second son Gao Xu behind."

Zhu Yunwen listened to the words of several people and remained silent for a long time. After a long time, he said: "Uncle King Yan came to Beijing last time. I saw that he was loyal to the court and always took the protection of the northern border as his own responsibility. I govern the country with benevolence and filial piety. Now that King Yan is seriously ill, how can we not allow him and his son to meet?"

Qi Tai said anxiously: "Your Majesty! King Yan was already dissatisfied with His Majesty's handling of King Zhou Dai and King Xiangxian. Now that King Qi and King Min are involved, King Yan will definitely have some ideas!"

Zhu Yunwen said: "I dealt with these five uncles just because they violated the law and committed crimes. I am not ashamed in my heart and the spirit of Taizu in heaven. Uncle Yan has been guarding the northern border for many years and is the pillar of our Ming Dynasty. How can we say the same thing?" Seeing three people He wanted to say more, waved his hand and said: "Uncle King Yan is a meritorious official. I can't reward him but guard against him. Isn't it chilling the loyal ministers? How can I explain to Taizu?"

Seeing the emperor's resolute attitude, the three people had no choice but to retreat in dismay.

Zhu Yunwen looked at the backs of several people, feeling a little uneasy. He stood up, walked to the window, and looked into the distance with his hands behind his hands. On the glazed gold tiles of the vermilion palace wall, there are several birds flying to the north in the blue sky.

Uncle Emperor, I treat you with sincerity and I hope you will live up to my heart!