Originally scheduled to return from the Spring Hunting on April 15th, due to the chaos of the Qingli Army, it was delayed until late April. There were only a few hundred of the 3,000 imperial troops escorting them when they came, and there were a few unfortunate clans and courtiers who died that last bloody night. During his lifetime, Emperor Liang had experienced two rebellions of this scale, the first time he was an attacker, and this time he was the target of others. The winner of both times was him. The first time he won the throne, the second time he couldn't even tell what he won.
As for the so-called "King Qi's Rebellion Case" that set off a huge wave thirteen years ago and ended with the blood of tens of thousands of people, now that I think about it carefully, in fact, no real sword shadow flashed through the eyes of the emperor from beginning to end. eyelashes. This was particularly strong when the old emperor looked at the remaining banned soldiers beside him with trembling eyes.
Outside the imperial capital, the emperor's return was greeted by civil and military officials headed by Zhongshuling, who stayed behind. There was no queen, no honorable king. Meng Zhi led two thousand imperial troops to immediately take over the defense around Emperor Liang, and all Jicheng troops withdrew. After leaving the capital, camped in the suburbs, waiting for the reward before returning to the original station.
At this point, Emperor Liang finally calmed down and began to prepare to unleash the storm he had been brewing all the way.
Unlike Xia Jiang, who absconded, King Yu didn't plan to escape at all, and neither did the queen. Because they did not have the ability to escape, they could not even survive without the wealth and honor of the capital.
On the second day of Emperor Liang’s return to Luang, Yuwang Manmen became the second royal family in the dynasty to live in the “Hanzihao” cell. I wonder if he had ever thought of his prisoner when he was curled up on the stone floor. The eldest brother who never bowed his head under the shackles.
Because of Concubine Jing's request, Empress Yan was not listed as a rebel party, but she was a person who stayed in the capital. She has not stopped any actions of King Yu, and she has also issued an edict to restrain the imperial army. Disposal of waste is unavoidable. Yan Que expressed his request for the removal of the titles and honors of the Yan family in order to atone for his sins. For some unknown reason, Emperor Liang refused to allow it. After Zhezi was detained, he seemed to have disappeared without any response. When the Inner Court distributed hunting sacrificial rewards to all the descendants of Jingjue in early May, Yan Yujin still got his share. The preservation of the Yan family made many courtiers who did not have obvious party status as kings, but secretly supported him because they were old disciples of Taishi Yan, relieved. In the end, there were a total of twenty-seven people who were judged to be the same party as King Yu. Among them, there were only two of them. Although the officials who stayed behind were all fined and punished for their lack of investigation, the blood flowing through the streets of Kyoto was worse than expected. is much lighter.
The old case, which has been buried in dust for thirteen years and has almost been deliberately forgotten by people, was inevitably turned over by many old officials from the depths of memory to compare them one by one, secretly lamenting the passing of time and time. wrist. So softly soaked.
But for King Yu, who was in the center of the storm, he didn't feel the mercy of his father at all. He regretted it very much, and regretted that he should not have trusted that unicorn genius. I regret that I broke the boat under the agitation of Xia Jiang. But at the same time he is very clear, even if things start over again. He will still make the same choice. Because the ambition and obsession for the throne have soaked into his blood and marrow, and become the main motivation and goal of his life. He would never be like King Yu and King Huai, who would bow down at the feet of another brother and bow down to him as a minister.
Now that he loses, the end result is only death. And this kind of death is still different from that of the eldest brother back then. He knew that he would be banished from the royal family forever. No matter how many thirteen years passed, no one would want to vindicate him.
This is not only because he has no injustice, but also because he is not that Xiao Jingyu who laughs at the world and is unmatched.
There will never be another Xiao Jingyu in the world, even King Jing, who has now vaguely held the throne of the East Palace in his hands, can only look at that person's back in the past.
"Have you not found any trace of Xia Jiang here?" In Su's house, the visiting place Mengzhi shook his head bitterly, "He's really an old orphan, and it's my fault that I didn't notice..." "Xia Jiang was arrested sooner or later. I'm not in a hurry," Mei Changsu sighed, "I'm worried about Sister Xia Dong. Your Highness has already asked for forgiveness. When will you be able to pick up someone?"
Meng Zhi already knew about Nie Feng at this time, and of course he could understand Mei Changsu's urgency, but he wanted to know more about the current situation in the palace, and immediately persuaded: "You can rest assured first, and forgiveness is only a pardon. The death penalty should be punished lightly, not without punishment. Xia Jiang tried to defect and hide, and His Majesty was angry with the Xuanjing Division. How could it be so easy to get people out? If King Jing's strength was too strong, His Majesty said You may be suspicious again. Don't you dare to tell King Jing what Nie Feng is waiting for? Because of this, Nie Feng has already heard you explain the cause and effect of this, so he is not at ease, as long as Xia Dong It's fine in the end, just wait a month or two, it's a good thing."
Mei Changsu actually understood the truth of his persuasion. He sighed without answering, and turned his eyes to the light figure in the middle, and said, "Gong Yu, don't do it any more, go and rest."
Gong Yu, who was holding a delicate incense burner and smoking a veil, lowered his head when he heard the words, a red cloud flew over his cheeks, and said in a low voice, "I want to smoke it evenly, so that the Sect Master can sleep better at night." It's already very good. "Mei Changsu said warmly, "I said you are not my maid, so you don't have to serve me like this. "
Meng Zhi looked at Gong Yu's pink face, and hurriedly smiled and said, "Has Miss Gong moved into Su's house? I feel like coming here today, it seems that the house is different from usual."
"Master Meng made fun of it. Big Brother Li is still in charge of the house, how dare I intervene." Gong Yulian stepped out of the room and stopped about five steps in front of Mei Changsu, hesitated for a while, and approached again. Taking two steps, he bowed his head and said, "Gong Yu heard that the sect master was in trouble just now, but thought of an idea. I wonder if it can relieve the sect master's worries..."
"You mean about Xia Dong?"
"Yes… "
"What's your idea, let's hear it?"
"Gong Yu has a rough understanding of the art of disguise, although it is impossible to hide it for a long time, or completely replace it with another person, but the light in the prison is dim. At most, there are only guards patrolling every day. If he can successfully hide it for a few days, it will Unknown…”
Mei Changsu is so smart. As soon as I heard it, I understood, "You mean let us take you to the Heavenly Prison. Exchange you with Xia Dong?"
"Yes. General Nie and Mrs. Nie are so affectionate, I can imagine how they want to meet soon... But when Mrs. Nie will be released from prison is still uncertain, why don't you let me in instead for a few days. At least let them meet and talk to each other..."
Mei Changsu lowered his eyes and pondered for a while. Xu Xu asked, "Are you sure?"
"Miyagi is confident that he will not be exposed."
"Aren't you the same height as Xia Dong?"
"It's a bit shorter, but I have special shoes that can make my body taller, so it's about the same."
"Your idea is feasible... As long as you are careful not to let Xia Dong be arraigned during that time, you can probably hide it..." Mei Changsu looked at Gong Yu, "But if you want to go to the prison for her, I'm afraid she will be eaten. It's a little bitter."
Seeing him like this, Gong Yu's heartbeat involuntarily sped up a lot, and he said softly, "I can share the worries for the sect master. Gong Yu doesn't feel bitter..."
"That's it," Meng Zhi clapped his hands and smiled, "You always have this thing hanging in your heart. I'm also worried. I think the Gong girl's strategy is good, even though it's a prison. It's okay to find an excuse to go in and visit the prison. Just do it. I'll arrange it, you don't care."
A faint smile appeared on Mei Changsu's face. Gently said to Gong Yu: "Then I will wrong you, go down and prepare early, and then listen to the arrangements of the great commander."
"Yes." Gong Yu pursed her cherry lips, a look of extreme joy flashed in her eyes, squatted down slightly, and slowly backed out.
Meng Zhi craned his neck and looked at her scurrying back, then looked back at Mei Changsu, raised his eyebrows and said, "Xiaoshu, I'm already a very rough person, but I think even me Can see..."
"You'd better continue to be rough." Mei Changsu coldly swung over, "Is the commander very busy now? King Jing has no time to manage the patrol camp now, and asked you to find a suitable partner for Ouyang Ji, this matter Are you ready?"
"I have recommended a few. King Jing thinks Zhu Shouchun is good. He is my former deputy commander. He is absolutely honest and reliable." The Inner Court has already issued a decree for the Si Tianjian to predict the auspicious day. It is estimated that in two days, the news will spread throughout the city."
"Is it an auspicious day for the Crown Prince?" Mei Changsu smiled lightly, "This is not an accident."
"Although it's not unexpected, it's a happy event. My wish for many years is getting closer step by step. You should be happy too." Meng Zhi patted him on the shoulder, "Your Majesty has been ill recently and can't go to court. Wait for the prince to be established. , King Jing is justifiably supervising the country. You have worked so hard for all these years, isn't that what you are doing? Why are you so boring?"
Mei Changsu didn't answer in silence, turned his head to look out the window, saw Li Gang hurried in from outside the yard, obviously bringing some message, he couldn't help squinting his eyes.
"Sect Master, there is news from Qianzhou Flying Pigeon..."
"Come in."
"Yes." Li Gang stepped forward, clasped his fists and said, "Reporting to Sect Master, Xie Yu is dead."
Meng Zhi was startled and asked in a voiceless voice, "How did you die?"
"The government concluded that it was an accident. He was doing hard labor in a quarry, and a rock fell on the slope, killing him."
"So coincidental?" Meng Zhi patted his forehead in a daze, "but thinking about the sins he committed, it's really cheap for him to die like this."
"It's cheaper, but he's more useful when he's dead than alive." A ruthless light flashed in Mei Changsu's eyes, "Xia Jiang rebelled, the old emperor is dying, the new crown prince has high prestige, and wants to retrial Chiyan's old case, This time was just right, but there was only one chance to hook up. Meng Zhi moved in his heart and asked, "You mean..."
"Xie Yu is a man who cherishes his life. He has been freed from the death penalty now, and he will never be willing to turn over the old case, so it is useless for him to live. The opportunity I need is in the hands of Princess Liyang, which will only be available when he is dead. The handwritten confession that may have been taken out."
"I understand what you mean. But will you be in a hurry?" Meng Zhi asked worriedly, "Prince Jing hasn't been established yet, I think it's better to be more stable."
Mei Changsu glanced at him and couldn't help laughing, "Brother Meng, you forgot that we received a book from flying pigeons? Xie Yu is now a convict, and most of the news of his death is passed on by the stage horse. I don't have the qualifications for expediting. I came all the way from Qianzhou, and when Princess Liyang received the message, it was almost a month or two later, and the time was just right."
"Oops!" Meng Zhi knocked on his head, "Yes, I think things are just not meticulous. No one really can match your delicate heart."
"In the past few months, we must be quiet and stable. King Jing's status is different now, and he needs to work harder in the government. Fortunately, after the adjustment of the past two years, there are more ministers who are handy, and the situation is not bad. The corners of Mei Changsu's lips lifted slightly, with a look of relief on his face, "Every place has done a good job of closing positions in the year of good fortune. Now who would dare to say that His Royal Highness King Jing is not good at civil affairs?"
"But it's weird," Meng Zhi shrugged. "He's just like you now. Even though he has so many happy things, he still looks bored. You're bored because of the poison on Nie Feng's body, why is he bored? stuffy?"
"Think about him too, he's getting heavier and heavier burdens now, and he will inevitably feel tired." Mei Changsu sighed, "I still have you guys who can talk to me, who's with him? Courtiers, ministers General, counselor... Although Concubine Jing can forgive him, in the end there is a palace ban."
When Meng Zhi said this, he couldn't help but stay for a long time, and his heart was very sad. He wanted to say something, but when he saw Mei Changsu's gloomy face, he felt that he couldn't say it.
"Sect Master," Zhen Ping's voice suddenly sounded outside the door, "General Nie is awake."
Mei Changsu immediately raised his eyebrows and smiled, took Meng Zhi's arm and said, "Let's go, let's accompany Brother Nie, Wei Zheng has been in his room. For a while, I was in a trance, as if I saw the silver-robed teenager again, and shouted with a bright smile: "Go, let's go to Big Brother Nie, compare arrows! "But in just a short moment, the scene in front of him became clear again, only a pale face and a faint smile, no trace of the old days.
"Xiaoshu," the commander of the Imperial Guard grabbed his shoulder and rushed out, "I think... let's tell Prince Jing?"