Xiao Xiao was still in a flurry of moods: "I didn't understand what you said to Zi Yan just now. You said you met a rascal outside, is that true?"
Rong Changan: "Is it true, am I a liar?"
When he was talking, he had already arrived at the door of the residence, but he saw several eunuchs waiting, saw Rong Changan and Xiao Xiao came back, and greeted him happily: "Xue Cairen, you are finally back, but the emperor is so anxious! "
Rong Changan said: "The emperor is looking for me?"
"Yes, if it's convenient for you now, follow me to the Shang's study. The emperor is discussing matters with several ministers there."
Rong Chang'an showed embarrassment: "This is not good! The Shang's study is a place for discussion, how can I go!"
The eunuch said: "You are the emperor's new favorite now, you can't go anywhere!"
Rong Changan thought for a while, then said to the eunuch: "Wait for me for a while, I'll go in and freshen up a bit."
After fighting with those three people in the small forest, Rong Chang'an washed his face and hands, dressed up a bit, still put on the scarlet cloak, and followed the eunuch to the Shang study.
There are several charcoal stoves inside, and it is as warm as spring. Yan Li sat on the throne, and several ministers sat on chairs with thick cushions on both sides. Usually, when summoning the ministers in the Shang Study Room, the ministers could only stand. Seeing the cold weather today, Yan Li specially arranged soft seats for these ministers.
"Xue'er, you're here!" Upon seeing Xue'er, Yan Li's frown immediately relaxed, and his gloomy face became radiant.
Rong Changan glanced at those ministers, they were all from the Ministry of Punishment. Yan Shijie's case was tortured by people from Chu Lin and Yushitai, and people from the Ministry of Punishment hardly participated in it. Therefore, if there is a new trial, people from the Ministry of Punishment can only be brought in.
"The concubine kowtows to the emperor!"
Yan Li walked down from the throne, his cold eyes flicked across Rong Changan: "What did you buy?"
Rong Changan: "Actually, I didn't buy anything."
A strange expression appeared on Yan Li's face: "Why?"
Rong Changan: "No one helps me to see, I don't know which color or fabric to choose."
"Didn't Xiaoxiao go with you?"
Rong Changan said with a smile: "Women wear clothes to show men. Xiaoxiao is a woman, so how do you know which color looks good on me?"
Yan Li: "It seems that next time, I will go out with you, so that you can buy good fabrics and beautiful colors."
Rong Chang'an bowed his body: "If the emperor can accompany me, the concubine will still be having fun secretly even if she sleeps at night!"
After the relaxed greetings, Yan Li's tight face became serious again: "Does Xue'er know why I called you over?"
Rong Changan replied without thinking, "It's for the case of the emperor's uncle."
A slight smile spread across Yan Li's cold face: "You are really smart, and you guessed right. Without further ado, let's go to the prison with these ministers of punishment to see the emperor's uncle."
Rong Chang'an asked: "Did Master Chu know about the emperor's going to the Heavenly Prison?"
Yan Li was puzzled and said, "Why do you want Master Chu to know?"
After thinking about it for a while, Yan Li understood. If Chu Lin knew, Chu Lin would definitely ask to go with him, and Yan Shijie would not reveal the truth in front of Chu Lin.
"I didn't notify Lord Chu, nor the people at Yushitai."
Rong Changan: "That would be the best."
A group of people came to the gate of the prison, but Eunuch Lu took a step forward, standing in front of Yan Li and Rong Changan.
"Your Majesty, the dungeon is extremely filthy, damp and cold. It's better for the emperor and Xue'er to wait in the side hall. Tell the people in the dungeon to bring the uncle to ask."
Yan Li looked sad: "The emperor's uncle lived such a life in the sky prison. If I don't go in and experience it myself, how can I understand the suffering of the emperor's uncle? According to my will, there is no need to arrange the dharma driver in the side hall, and go directly to the prison. The emperor's prison!"
Eunuch Lu: "This..."
Rong Changan nodded to Eunuch Lu: "The emperor is not the kind of person who can't bear hardships and be hypocritical, so Eunuch will lead the way ahead!"
Eunuch Lu had no choice but to agree: "Yes!"
He ordered the people from the Heavenly Prison to go ahead, Eunuch Lu to follow, Yan Li and Rong Changan to follow, and finally the senior members of the Ministry of Punishment. Sky Prison is actually more like a "dungeon". It is built underground, damp and cold, without sunlight all day long. Fleas, lice, cockroaches, etc. are all the rage here. Even if it is the strongest person, nine times out of ten will die here. Seeing such an environment, Yan Li couldn't help feeling sad, thinking, no matter how guilty Yan Shijie was, he shouldn't be arranged here to suffer such inhuman torture.
Seeing Yan Li's ugly face, Rong Changan grasped his hand and said, "Your Majesty, the past is past. The ancients didn't say it was good, it's not far away. It's not too late. As long as the emperor can clear the name of the emperor's uncle, the emperor will not blame the emperor."
Yan Li said sadly: "If the emperor's uncle is Qingbai, even if he doesn't blame me, how can I see him again!"
While speaking, the people in front had already stopped at a cell at the end. The cell was built of terrazzo, with thick iron doors, and even a strong man could not open the iron doors.
Eunuch Lu came over: "Your Majesty..."
It meant to ask Yan Li if he was ready to meet Yan Shijie. Yan Li took a deep breath and nodded to Eunuch Lu. Eunuch Lu instructed the guards in the nearby prison to open Yan Shijie's door. Hearing a heavy sigh from the iron gate, the scene in the prison was slowly revealed before everyone's eyes.
In the dark room, there was no bed, only straw spread on the wet and cold ground, and a dilapidated thin blanket, which was Yan Shijie's quilt. From the pavement, in addition to the coldness, there is also the disgusting rancid smell.
The prison was empty. If it wasn't for an old cough coming from behind the door, Yan Li and Rong Chang'an would have thought that there were no prisoners in this prison at all.
Eunuch Lu went in first, and was about to say, "Emperor..."
Yan Li motioned him not to speak, then turned into the door. I saw an old, hunchbacked prisoner standing with his back to everyone. In front of him was a cold and smooth stone wall. He held a bald pen in his hand, and he was writing like a snake on the wall. It was just water, and the handwriting on the wall was prone to volatilization and blurring, but he remembered every stroke and every drawing in his heart without any confusion.
He was only thinking about writing, and he didn't care if anyone came in.
Yan Li walked behind him and vaguely recognized the sentence written by Yan Shijie on the wall, but it was Zhuge Liang's "Before the Teacher".
When he wrote "I will die with all my heart and soul", Yan Shijie's grip on the pen was tighter, his upper and lower teeth clenched tighter, and his pen strength increased, as if he wanted to write the brush through the stone wall, and his writing speed accelerated, like wind and rain. .
After finishing the article, he gracefully threw away the bald pen in his hand, folded his hands behind his back, looked at the increasingly blurred handwriting on the wall righteously, suddenly his shoulders trembled, and he laughed, fearless laughter, in the prison It reverberated for a long time.
Eunuch Lu coughed twice, and said softly behind Yan Shijie, "Uncle Emperor, the Emperor has come to see you."
Yan Shijie trembled slightly, turned to look at Eunuch Lu, as if he didn't believe that Yan Li would come: "Who do you think is here?"
Eunuch Lu said: "The emperor is here!"
It was fine if Eunuch Lu didn't say it, but when he said it, Yan Shijie started to sob, crying like a three-year-old child. This state is completely different from when he wrote Zhuge Liang's "Teacher's List" just now with great momentum, and he is like a different person.
"The veteran can't help the emperor get rid of the treacherous minister. Instead, he was framed by the traitor, and he was notorious through the ages. How can the veteran see the emperor!"
Yan Shijie, who is the emperor's uncle, is in such a miserable situation that the ministers present can't help but feel sad. Yan Li, who was Yan Shijie's closest relative, dared not look up to him.