They only rested for three days before setting off again. The wagons were loaded with enough dry food, the water bags were filled with water, and the animals were well fed.
Yan Sanguan and Yan San's wife sent them outside the village. Shen Wen said in a low voice: "Next year there will be severe floods, and there will be flash floods in the mountains. As long as you stay in this village, nothing will happen."
Mrs. Yan nodded quickly.
Both sides saluted and said goodbye.
Because of the vehicles, they had to travel through the mountains, and they had to go around a hundred miles to places where they could pass over the mountains. There are not many people in the mountains, and they dare not spend more on supplies. Usually, they can only eat twice a day, one meal is dry biscuits, and the other meal is gruel with dried vegetables and meat. But thinking of the people who starved to death on the road and the poverty in front of the wine cellar, everyone is still satisfied.
The journey was tough, and people often got angry and shouted. The fourth prince has the best temper among this group of young people, and he has never lost his style. Su Wanniang is very happy - if the fourth prince causes everyone trouble, then she will be ashamed. The fourth prince joined the team because he was chasing her. Now that the fourth prince has become a model traveler, Su Wanniang naturally needs to take more care of him. Handing a bowl of porridge every day, not to mention sending a cake, and often asking about the warmth and comfort, which made the fourth prince very useful.
After leaving the mountain, he entered the Luoyi area where the prefect surrendered. According to Shen Wen's memory, there is a big river here, which is not a disaster area. But they soon discovered that the land along the way was barren, and the rolling hills were full of rocks, and there was not much land that could be planted. Although there are not groups of refugees and beggars like in the disaster area, most of the pedestrians on the road are dressed in rags and look haggard.
As a result, these people have returned to the way of traveling at night, and the most important consideration is not to attract attention. They were not afraid that someone would discover their identities. This place is far away from the capital, and there would be no one familiar with them at all, but they were afraid that someone would find out that they had goods and come to rob them.
After walking like this for a few days, the field became extremely desolate, full of wilderness with only sporadic vegetation, and there was no human habitation at a glance. Shen Wen was a little flustered, and felt that he had to ask for directions. She knew she was heading in the right direction, but maybe she chose the wrong path and walked into no man's land. So she asked Zhang Yunzheng not to leave at night, but to travel during the day, and finally found a village in the evening of the next day.
Seeing the smoke over the simple houses far away, Zhang Yunzheng immediately sent Yulan who was in charge of inquiring about the news and a strong soldier to check the situation, while the others waited in the field.
Shen Wen walked to Zhang Yunzheng's side, and Ji Wenzhao's fourth prince, Duan Zeng, and others also got out of the car and got off their livestock, and stood on the mound, looking at the village in the distance.
Ji Wenzhao said with emotion: "'Renyan' means that there is water at this time, you can ask for directions, it is popularity."
Shen Wen licked his lower lip, and said: "This area is a place of extreme poverty, and it is rare for someone to still make a living here."
Zhang Yunzheng saw that Shen Wen's lips were dry and cracked, and the wind was blowing on his face, he said, "I hope they have water."
Ji Wenzhao looked around: "There is no river here, and if there are villages, there must be water sources."
Soon the two of Yulan came back. Yulan said: "We asked several companies before we found an old man who told us the direction to the county seat. There is a well and water in the village. I said to buy it, but he said no money, just leave a few catties of grain."
Zhang Yunzheng said: "That's great, let's go to carry the water now, get the water earlier, and we can leave whenever we have something to do."
Shen Wen agreed, and they still kept strong people to protect the car and livestock as before, and Yulan took Shen Wen, Zhang Yunzheng, Ji Wenzhao's fourth prince Duan Zeng and Shi Helin to carry the water.
Walking into the village, the sun was setting, and it was time for every family to eat dinner, but there was no one on the dirt road in the village. An old man, barely naked, was waiting for them at the head of the village. Yulan whispered to Zhang Yunzheng, "They didn't wear any clothes. When he opened the door, everyone in the room was sitting naked on the kang."
The old man spoke to Magnolia in a dialect they didn't understand, and Magnolia stammered to answer. The old man led them to a well, and Magnolia gave the old man a small bag of rice. The old man's wrinkled face smiled like tears. He took the rice bag, hunched over and knocked on someone's door, grabbed a handful of rice from the bag and gave it to him. There were exclamations from many gates, and soon, people in rags came out of the gates and surrounded them, speaking loudly that they could not understand, and someone pushed his emaciated child into their hands.
Zhang Yunzheng stopped the people, pushed the children out, and said, "Hurry up! Hurry up!"
Ji Wenzhao and the fourth prince hurriedly fetched water and poured it into the water bag. Someone came to help out of kindness, but they also spoke to them like shouting. The fourth prince found that their teeth were all dirty and yellow, and there was an unpleasant smell from their mouth and body, so they could only hold their breath and work quickly. They filled a bunch of water bags, Zhang Yunzheng said to Shen Wen: "You take them back, and you don't come here!"
Shen Wen nodded, carrying Duan Zeng and Shi Helin back to the carriage with a water bag on his back, while Ji Wenzhao and the fourth prince continued to fill the remaining water bags surrounded by people.
Yulan stuttered to answer, Zhang Yunzheng frowned and asked, "How do you understand? What are they talking about?"
Yulan said: "It is Rose who usually teaches us the local dialects of various places. There is a dialect that is very similar to this place. They say we are rich and powerful, and ask us where we are going. Many people want us to buy their children."
Ji Wenzhao said, "Ask them what they do for a living, and if they know who the emperor is."
Yulan reluctantly spoke, and everyone answered, Yulan replied: "They herd some sheep. They don't know who the emperor is, but they know that the county magistrate's surname is Ma. They said the county seat is far away, so let us live here."
Ji Wenzhao said: "Thank them, they said we were passing by, and we will leave immediately." He did not dare to spend the night here.
The last batch of water bags were full. When Duan Zeng and the others came back, they carried the water bags and left the well to leave the village. Many people's hands came to pull their clothes. Fortunately, the winter clothes Zhang Yunzheng prepared for everyone were of high quality and would not be damaged. The fourth prince was staggered. The old man yelled loudly, someone cried, and pushed the children to make them kowtow. In the winter, children wearing only single clothes knelt down and kowtowed on the ground...
But they can't protect themselves, and it is impossible to take their children to the border. Zhang Yunzheng and Yulan jointly pushed the people away, and the group hurried out of the village. The old man shouted from behind, calling back those who were chasing them.
They packed water and started on the road immediately. They walked all night in the direction of the county town that the old man said, and they rested when they saw the shadow of a village in the distance at dawn.
After walking for a few more days, a town appeared ahead. Yulan went to inquire, and it turned out to be the county seat.
Zhang Yunzheng said, "I want to go to the city to see what I can buy."
Shen Wen felt that there was enough food, so there was no need to go, but Ji Wenzhao said, "I also want to go and see. People in remote villages don't know the emperor, but they know the county magistrate. Maybe he has a way."
Shen Wen disagreed: "Is there a way to make the ruler so impoverished? We haven't seen any well-dressed people along the way."
Zhang Yunzheng said: "Let's go for a walk, maybe there are dried fruits for sale."
Several people felt their teeth were sour, Shen Wen bit his lower lip, glared at Zhang Yunzheng, and stopped objecting—Zhang Yunzheng had already finished eating the dried fruit that Zhang Yunzheng brought, and she suddenly wanted to eat dried fruit!
Seeing that Zhang Yunzheng and Ji Wenzhao were about to leave, the fourth prince also leaned over and said, "I want to go and have a look too."
Zhang Yunzheng has been with the fourth prince for a long time, and he has somewhat forgotten his background. He thinks he is Mr. Jiang, so naturally he has no objection. Under Shen Wen's insistence, he brought three people and led the fourth prince Ji Wenzhao to a distant county .
Shi Helin frowned, his head was almost tucked into his clothes, and he held Duan Zeng tightly: "You can't go! Young people are ignorant! You can't enter a city like this!"
Duan Zeng asked impatiently, "Why?"
Shi Helin said: "You don't understand!"
After arriving outside the city, Zhang Yunzheng, the fourth prince Ji Wenzhao and others understood. There are soldiers guarding the gate of the city. Everyone who enters the city must pay money or leave some property, and those who enter the city to sell firewood must leave a bundle of firewood.
Zhang Yunzheng frowned, and Ji Wenzhao was afraid that he would get angry, so he hurriedly said, "This is a way of making money, don't talk, just give me the loose change!"
Ji Wenzhao took the money, bent over to pick up a handful of dry soil from the ground, and rubbed it together with the loose money. When it was their turn, Ji Wenzhao smiled apologetically, and handed over a handful of copper coins that had been mixed with mud in his hands for a long time. They traveled all the way, not to mention Shen Wen, everyone had cracked lips and chapped faces, and they looked like refugees. The soldiers asked a few words, and Ji Wenzhao awkwardly used the village dialect: "Go to relatives... Go to relatives..." showing his language genius.
The soldier took the money in disgust, and signaled them to enter the city, but after a few more glances, Zhang Yunzheng, who looked up with his chest up and his face upright, was disgraced.
When they entered the city gate, Ji Wenzhao pulled Zhang Yunzheng: "How can you act like that! Don't cause trouble!"
Zhang Yunzheng rolled his eyes: "What am I doing?"
Ji Wenzhao said, "Don't be so crazy!"
Zhang Yunzheng was disdainful: "How dare you ask for such things in such a small ruined city! You can't even pull your hair out like this when you enter the capital!"
One sentence knocked Ji Wenzhao down, so he could only follow Zhang Yunzheng angrily. They walked along the main road to the city, only to find that there were shops on both sides of the main road. Zhang Yunzheng hadn't done much shopping since he left Yan's Academy, so he went around with his eyes wide open, wanting to see if there was anyone selling dried fruit.
But here is located in the north, and there are not many kinds of fruits produced in total. Where is there a store that specializes in dried fruits? When he looked around, he saw a majestic gate, a spacious building in the courtyard, and a block of buildings behind it. The courtyard next to it was also luxuriously built. Seeing Zhang Yunzheng and others approaching, a yamen servant immediately shouted loudly: "Go away! Go away! This is the yamen!"
Ji Wenzhao hurriedly pulled Zhang Yunzheng back, and whispered in surprise, "This is the county government office?!"
Zhang Yunzheng said: "Now you know why everyone knows Ma County Magistrate."
Ji Wenzhao pulled Zhang Yunzheng and said, "Go! Go! Don't talk here! What if someone can recognize the capital accent?"
Zhang Yunzheng reached the end of the street, but couldn't find his dried fruit, so he could only walk back. When I was about to walk out of this commercial street, I heard a female accent from the capital say: "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for coming..."
A dozen or so women came out of a makeup shop next to the street, dressed in gold and silver, a little rustic, but really rich. Wearing a veil, he boarded a string of sedan chairs by the side of the road, and the sedan chairs went in the direction they had come from. Several people looked back involuntarily, and the sedan chair entered the courtyard of some wealthy families next to the yamen.
Zhang Yunzheng thought of Shen Wen's cracked lips, and was about to enter the powder shop. A fat woman in her forties hurriedly stopped her and said, "Stop! This is not something you beggars can enter!"
Zhang Yunzheng didn't dare to speak, fearing that she would recognize his accent, so he motioned to Ji Wenzhao and made a gesture of smearing his lips and face. The Fourth Prince looked at it, quickly pulled Ji Wenzhao, and nodded to him.
Ji Wenzhao learned the local dialect clumsily: "I want to buy... a few boxes... mouthwash... oil..."
The fat woman sneered contemptuously: "You can afford it too! A box of ten taels of silver!"
Zhang Yunzheng was about to take money from his pocket, but was held down by Ji Wenzhao. He turned his head and said to the fat woman, "One... two... silver... a box..." Ji Wenzhao had never gone to the market to buy any cosmetics, powders and sesame oils. Knowing the price, I just feel that I can't be wrong if I say a tenth of it to the other party. How did he know that one tael of silver for a small box of oil to wipe his mouth is already too expensive!
A hint of surprise flashed in the fat woman's eyes, but she immediately covered it up and said with a smile, "Then let's get ten boxes, ten taels of silver!"
Ji Wenzhao couldn't change his own price, so he could only nod his head. Zhang Yunzheng took out a bank note from his bosom, and was about to hand it over, but Ji Wenzhao stopped him again, and stretched out his hand to the fat woman.
The fat woman went back to the house and didn't come out after a long time. Ji Wenzhao felt something was wrong and said to Zhang Yunzheng, "Let's go!" Zhang Yunzheng was about to leave when he saw the fat woman come out with a small package and smiled to them. Said: "I've been looking for it for a long time!"
Ji Wenzhao stretched out his hand, and the fat woman handed him the package. Ji Wenzhao looked inside, and then took the banknote from Zhang Yunzheng's hand and gave it to the fat woman. The fat woman took the silver ticket, and smiled until her eyes narrowed: "Aren't you going to come in and sit around? My store specializes in cosmetics from the capital, and the relatives of the magistrate of the county all buy from me..."
The fourth prince tugged at Ji Wenzhao, and Ji Wenzhao hurriedly said: "Thank you very much..." pulled Zhang Yunzheng, turned around and left.
They were in a hurry, but they were not stopped when they left the city. The Fourth Prince heaved a sigh of relief and said, "She mentioned the county magistrate, I thought she had reported it..."
Ji Wenzhao nodded and said, "Yes, maybe we have exposed our wealth..." Before he finished speaking, a group of soldiers chased out from the city gate, shouting: "Stop them! They are thieves!"
Zhang Yunzheng said: "She's really going to talk! Run!" Several people hurried to the parking place, after all, there were their own people and crossbow arrows there.
While running, Yulan turned her head and shouted: "We... are not... thieves..."
The soldiers chased even tighter.
Zhang Yunzheng pulled Yulan who was behind: "Stop talking! They are the culprits!"
A few of them ran in front, chasing a large group of soldiers behind, Shen Wen and the others saw it from a distance.
Shi Helin was frightened and said: "Look! Did I say you can't go into the city?!" Su Wanniang and Yan originally got out of the car and walked around. Seeing this scene, they quickly climbed into the car.
Shen Wen climbed onto a donkey and said to Duan Zeng, "Quick, let's pick them up!"
Duan Zeng was in charge at this time, and kept yelling: "Get in the carriage, drive the carriage to pick them up!" Leaving the animals with the fleeing people, he and a guard sat on the shaft of the carriage and drove the carriage.
These people are all from the Marquis of Pingyuan's mansion, at this time they naturally responded, raised their swords, and rode on the animals to meet Zhang Yunzheng, Ji Wenzhao, the fourth prince and the others.
When they arrived in front of those people, Zhang Yunzheng climbed onto a mule, Ji Wenzhao onto a donkey, the fourth prince climbed into a carriage, Yulan and other guards got into the animals, and the soldiers who were chasing them also arrived, and surrounded them all at once. Suddenly, a person shouted: "Thief! Put down your weapon! Otherwise, the Fa will be executed!"
Zhang Yunzheng held his sword, but he couldn't kill his soldiers, so he could only wave his sword, signaling everyone to follow him.
The people over there shouted: "Up arrow!"
The soldiers untied their bows and arrows one after another, and they were about to draw their bows...
Shen Wen kicked off the donkey, rode up to Ji Wenzhao, and said in a low voice, "Have you learned a foreign language for nothing?!"
Ji Wenzhao was taken aback for a moment, and immediately yelled a Beirong dialect!
Someone on the other side lost his voice: "They belong to Beirong!"
Ji Wenzhao yelled again, made gestures, Zhang Yunzheng understood, shouted "Yeah" and rushed over.
Those soldiers were already timid when they heard the word "Bei Rong". Seeing Zhang Yunzheng yelling, some people turned around and ran, shouting, "Bei Rong is here!" Hurrah, the remaining soldiers dropped their bows and arrows, After running away, dozens of people ran back to the city after a while, and the soldiers at the city gate also retreated into the city, and the city gate suddenly closed.
Zhang Yunzheng led a group of people along the road to the north, away from the county seat.
When they camped again, although everyone successfully escaped from the dangerous situation again, everyone's heart was heavy and they were not happy at all.
At night, except for Shi Helin who said he was old and couldn't stay up late, so he went to bed first, everyone else sat around the campfire.
Zhang Yunzheng gave Shen Wen a small bag, Shen Wen opened it, smiled wryly, and said to Zhang Yunzheng in a tired voice: "Thank you..."
Except for Zhang Yunzheng, everyone breathed in, especially Ji Wenzhao. He always thought of the strategy of being unable to replace Shen Wen, and his heart was very blocked. Now hearing Shen Wen's words, he shivered violently.
Yan Shi took the small bag from Shen Wen's hand and asked, "Is this lip oil? How much is it?"
Ji Wenzhao said: "She asked for a box of twelve taels, and I returned a box of one tael."
Yan's laughed: "No wonder you've revealed your secrets! The best of this kind of thing is only 300 Wen, and these are only about a few tens of Wen per box."
Zhang Yunzheng was angry: "That thief!"
Ji Wenzhao shook his head helplessly, resentful that he fell into the hands of a woman again.
Yan took out a few boxes for Su Wanniang, took two boxes for herself, and returned the small bag to Shen Wen.
Ji Wenzhao sighed heavily, and said to Shen Wen: "You said that the prefect of this place surrendered in the future, and Bei Rong will have a guide?"
Shen Wen nodded, and Zhang Yunzheng said disdainfully: "Can you not vote? Look at those soldiers, showing off their might to the people. When they heard that it was Beirong, they were so frightened!"
Shen Wen said: "There has always been poverty here, and officials are corrupt."
The fourth prince said with some melancholy: "In the village we passed by that day, the people didn't even know who the emperor was. They were so poor, and they had no intention of resisting when Bei Rong came? If Bei Rong didn't grab them, why would they Go to war?"
Yan said: "Yes, for them, who is the emperor is not the same?"
Ji Wenzhao frowned: "To put it bluntly, what will happen if this world is changed?"
But Shen Wen shook his head and said: "It can't be changed. After the change of dynasty, the result can only be worse than this. The nomads have always won the many with the few. From north to south, every hit is accurate. Bei Rong defeated me with 500,000 people. They ruled over 100 million people. However, after they came to power, they were brutal and immoral, and the people were forced to rebel, and they were naturally overthrown. The new Han Dynasty focused on the concentration of power, and soon there was a miasma of corrupt officials everywhere. There was a man named Manchu, who used Hundreds of thousands of people conquered the Han and Ming Dynasty with 200 million people. It is ridiculous that this Manchu Dynasty will become even more corrupt in the future! The originally strong military power was also strangled by the imperial power system. In a battle with foreign barbarians , the 20,000 cavalrymen of the Manchu Qing Dynasty were defeated by thousands of others, and they gave up the land. Because the opponent had muskets, they completely restrained the cavalry. But that was the case, the danger was at the door, and the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty did not dare to let it go. The army is equipped with muskets for fear of rebellion. But he keeps dozens of muskets in his palace to prevent others from assassinating him. For the emperor, self-interest is greater than the interests of the country and the people. The same is true for other officials. The emperor It can harm the country, and one county magistrate can be in the fish and meat township, which is the deterioration of centralization. Therefore, it will not be good if you change it."
Ji Wenzhao was silent for a moment, and said: "If the country is governed by law..."
Shen Wen waved his hand: "It's useless! Now there are ninety-nine illiterates and ninety-seven farmers out of a hundred people. Who understands the law? Farming is civilized, relatives care for each other, human affection is always greater than law..."
Ji Wenzhao said: "You just know you can't! In this situation, there is no way for the people to govern! Look at the way we have come, the people are helpless like lambs..."
Shen Wen said: "Don't always look at them so condescendingly. The real power of a country is the individual strength of the people. Revitalizing the country starts with educating the people to be self-respecting and self-improving. People like lambs are what we encounter today."
Ji Wenzhao sighed deeply: "As an emperor, one must control the balance of aristocratic families, and guard against generals. How can it be possible to encourage the people to strengthen themselves and respect themselves..."
Zhang Yunzheng breathed out through his nostrils: "Isn't that the following offense?"
Shen Wen said: "There are too many problems here, the system, education, ideology..."
Duan Zeng yawned: "Is there any use for you to talk like this? No matter who becomes the emperor, I am a doctor, and I will treat people's diseases. I don't care about these trivial matters." He got up and went to sleep.
Ji Wenzhao said with despair: "Is it true that there can be no emperor? I can't imagine what chaos would be like without the emperor!"
Shen Wen said to Ji Wenzhao: "Not necessarily, the civilization of later generations began to develop rapidly, and it started under the monarchy..."
Ji Wenzhao's eyes lit up: "Look, there is still an emperor!"
Shen Wen shook his head: "It's not our emperor here. The system there, the law is independent, the army is also semi-independent, and the culture is free. The monarch is just a person who guides the overall situation. Later generations have great empires all over the world. It was when a woman was the emperor. Established…”
"How is it possible?!" This time the fourth prince also joined in the exclamation.
Shen Wen nodded, and the fourth prince asked Shen Wen: "Do you want to be an empress?"
Shen Wen disdained: "Why should I be that? I'm not tired enough?"
Zhang Yunzheng also cut it: "Exactly! Who wants to be imprisoned for the rest of their lives? I'm full!"
The fourth prince said repeatedly: "I understand, I understand!"
Ji Wenzhao accused Shen Wen: "You have deep scheming, but you don't plan for the future for the country and the people. Have you ever thought about it, you just turned the tide and saved your family, saved the Shen family army, and brought down the prince, but you still have to be in your place." I hate living under the imperial power. According to what you said, there is no safety under the imperial power, how can you guarantee that your family will be spared in the future?"
Shen Wen said: "I have my own plan!"
Ji Wenzhao asked: "What plan?"
Shen Wen glanced at Zhang Yunzheng, Zhang Yunzheng was alert: "What are you going to do?"
Shen Wen said: "I want to leave the Central Plains..."
Zhang Yunzheng immediately became anxious: "What do you mean leaving... oh... leaving the Central Plains? Where are you going?!"
Shen Wen said vaguely, "I'm going to an island."
Ji Wenzhao was angry: "You just walked away?!"
Shen Wen said: "What if I don't leave? Let my family repeat the same mistakes? I can save them now because I know the opportunity. But what about after I die? As long as the Shen family is strong, sooner or later they will be suspected by the king. In the end, they may become the poor peasants we see. Xie Anfengliu, his descendants, lived in the countryside and could not read! I am going to an island to open up a new world."
Zhang Yunzheng's face darkened.
Ji Wenzhao said: "This is actually running away! Girl! If you don't ask for a deep understanding, you will know how to avoid it!"
Shen Wen said: "Even if you are escaping from the imperial power! There are good rules from the beginning. Although it is impossible for illiterate people to take power, those in power must pass power peacefully through the representative system, from the public opinion, and don't mess with it. It’s a matter of blood inheritance! One dragon and nine kinds, who said that it’s enough for me to be a good son? How many people have understood the emperor since ancient times?”
Ji Wenzhao said: "The royal family has been trained in how to govern the country..."
Shen Wen shook his head: "Don't talk so profoundly! Governing a country is not a matter for one person! A person is covered in iron, how many nails can he drive? The future generations will be the most powerful in the world, with weapons that can destroy heaven and earth. A country can choose an actor... uh... an actor! Or a lawyer who becomes the president is the emperor. Because they have a strong management system, they will not be chaotic due to the change of power at the top."
Ji Wenzhao said from the root of his teeth: "After all, you just can't come up with an idea of how to save this country?"
Shen Wen said seriously: "I didn't! I also advise you not to get too involved, this is not something you can do. If you want to rule the country according to the law, what should you do if the emperor's order is inconsistent with the law? How dare you bring the emperor to justice Law? What if the county magistrate’s behavior is not in accordance with the law? Let the government officials arrest the county magistrate? Don’t think too well... "
Zhang Yunzheng got up irritably: "It's time to sleep!" He turned and walked into the darkness.
Seeing that his expression was not good, Shen Wen also said, "I'll go first too." He got up and followed Zhang Yunzheng.
Su Wanniang, who was doing needlework, wanted to get up, but the Fourth Prince whispered, "Don't go there, they probably have something to say."
Su Wanniang snorted, lowered her head and finished the work in hand by the light of the fire.
The fourth prince thought of the island Shen Wen mentioned, and asked unwillingly: "Where are you... going... in the future?"
Su Wanniang rarely intervened in their conversation, and said without raising her head after hearing what the Fourth Prince said: "I want to go to the island."
The fourth prince swallowed, and finally said: "Then I..."
Su Wanniang glanced at him, even though her hair was covered with dust and her face was wrinkled, her eyes were still bright and brilliant. The fourth prince's heart skipped a beat, and he whispered with a smile, "... let's go there too..."
Yan waved his hand: "I will go too! Open up a new world! How wonderful!"
Ji Wenzhao said angrily: "I'm not going! I'm going to be here, I have to try! I can't watch our country fall like this!"
Yan sighed: "Brother Ji, what you want to do is to lose your head. If the emperor wants to kill you, we will also have a way out for you."
The fourth prince hurriedly said: "The third prince... son... is not a narrow-minded person."
Ji Wenzhao sighed: "I just don't know if he can understand these principles, if he understands that governing the country is like a game, if every step is mediocre, it will only be a matter of time before he loses!" He suddenly remembered something: "Young Master Jiang, you said that the Fourth Prince knows how to play chess... "
The fourth prince hurriedly said: "He only knows superficially, and he has a serious problem, which means he is destined to miss the throne."
Ji Wenzhao said: "His leg is not good? Actually, it's not a big deal, it's just a matter of treatment..."
The fourth prince shook his head: "...he likes to sleep late. When the emperor has to get up on the fourth watch, the fourth prince can't get up in the morning, there is no cure..."
Several people around the fire laughed.
They were laughing here, but in the darkness outside the camp, Zhang Yunzheng who was standing with his back to Shen Wen was definitely not smiling. Shen Wen could feel Zhang Yunzheng's anger.
Shen Wen whispered, "Are you unhappy?"
Zhang Yunzheng didn't speak.
Shen Wen had no choice but to act coquettishly: "Don't do this, I'm afraid..." At first she was just using the tricks she used since she was a child, but suddenly, she really felt sad-if Zhang Yunzheng got angry and ignored her, how would she feel? uncomfortable!
Shen Wen cried: "Don't you want to talk to me anymore? Won't you go to that island with me?"
Zhang Yunzheng turned around sharply: "Did you tell me about that island?!" He originally had a very bad tone, but when he turned around and saw that there were really tears on Shen Wen's face, he managed to suppress his anger and said, "You have never talked to me before. I said!"
Shen Wen sobbed: "I never told anyone... It's not too late to say it now, don't you just follow me?..."
Zhang Yunzheng was taken aback: "Who wants to follow you?! Did you ask me?!"
Shen Wen cried: "I asked... I just asked..."
Zhang Yunzheng anxiously: "That was just now! Did you ask before?"
Shen Wen twisted his back, and continued to cry: "Anyway, it's too late to ask... Is it too late?... You haven't agreed yet... That island has everything... But it will be very bitter at first..."
Most of Zhang Yunzheng's anger subsided: "Bitter?! Are we not suffering now?!"
Shen Wen heard Zhang Yunzheng's intention to relax, so he stopped crying immediately, but quickly showed Zhang Yunzheng's precious tears, looked up and blinked at Zhang Yunzheng: "Then you will go, right? Let's go together?"
Zhang Yunzheng looked at Shen Wen's cat face covered with tears under the moonlight, and said, "It seems like you can go there without me! Who will find you a boat?! Who will transport food to the island for you Delivery?!"
Shen Wen smiled through tears, twisted his waist twice, and said coquettishly: "Only you! What would I do without you..."
Zhang Yunzheng frowned, feeling as if his heart was itching like being scratched by a cat, but he held his breath, raised his chin coolly to Shen Wen on the surface and hummed: "You just know!"
Shen Wen nodded with a smile: "I know!"
Zhang Yunzheng said in a low voice: "Little liar!"
Shen Wen smiled and said, "Then let's go to rest?" The two reconciled and walked back to the carriage side by side.
Afterwards, they accelerated their journey, arduous all the way, and finally entered the border area before the New Year's Eve.
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At the same time, the emperor in the capital was also very uncomfortable.
During this period of time, he often felt very tired, and it was very difficult for him to distinguish the handwriting when reading the memorial. Before I woke up in the morning, I felt pain in my brain! Sitting on the dragon chair, no matter how thick the cushion is, it is also uncomfortable. When he went up to court, although there were several braziers burning around him, his feet still felt cold. Maybe it was because the vast palace couldn't really keep warm, and the cold wind always blew from the cracks in the doors and windows. Sometimes when he listened to the ministers talking, there would be a sudden ringing in his ears, like cicadas, which lasted for a long time, which disturbed him...
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the back of the prince who always bowed slightly in front of the imperial court, feeling a little jealous in his heart. Is he really old? ! A feeling of powerlessness made him panic.
It turned out that he always felt that he was aloof, looking down on the officials and his children. But now he finally understands—he will fall down one day, and his seat will belong to others sooner or later. He harbored resentment for that day, and no affection for the man who would sit in his seat in the future, even if it was his child.
He understood why there was a Crown Prince Li in the previous dynasty. It always happened when the king was old. Many times, he also hoped to abolish the prince, either to let the third prince take the throne, or because there would be no crown prince, no crown prince! Let yourself feel that this seat is still your own! No one else is coveting day by day.
Of course, although the prince has not done anything these years, he has not committed any unforgivable mistakes, and it is impossible to abolish him.
The emperor knew that the prince had always had the support of the Lu family, and just when he felt that the prince was too powerful in court, something happened to the prince's harem. The Lu family obviously put pressure on the prince, but the prince actually dispersed the harem. The emperor really looked down on the prince, and he would soften when he encountered a strong enemy. But he didn't intend to vent his anger for the prince: Isn't the prince's compromise just to let the Lu family continue to support him? The prince's forbearance in order to maintain the support of the courtiers is a manifestation of the prince's scheming skills, and he must be extra vigilant, lest he do something he doesn't like like the last time he gave Beirong food.
He also discovered that the third prince now has the help of Yan Jing's disciples. The emperor couldn't figure out why Yan Jing, who had retired, entered the arena again, but it was definitely nothing more than a nostalgia for power. Now this situation somewhat balances his displeasure with the prince. Seeing that the prince was restrained, the two princes were evenly matched, and no one could beat the other, the emperor felt very good.
After weighing the two sons, it is inevitable to remember the one outside the capital. After the emperor came down to court, he suddenly asked Sun Gonggong: "How is the fourth prince?"
Eunuch Sun said: "The letter said that he has a cold and is lying in bed, so he will not enter the palace for the New Year."
The emperor was a little disappointed, and said: "Someone send some things, I wanted him to enter the palace for a new year."
Eunuch Sun bowed and said yes, and asked someone to send a letter to the fourth prince, saying what the emperor meant.