"Your Highness, the so-called "shooting the sky with blood in a bag" refers to the story of Emperor Wu Yi of the Shang Dynasty, which comes from Sima Gong's "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Yin". At the end of the Shang Dynasty, Emperor Wu Yi was tyrannical and arrogant, which angered the heaven and the people. In order to show off his authority, the arrogant Wu Yi made gods of heaven with wood and mud and fought with them. In addition, he came up with a game called "shooting the sky", in which people filled a bag with blood and hung it high up, and shot arrows at the bag from below, making blood splattered everywhere and smelling extremely bad. However, Emperor Wu Yi of the Shang Dynasty laughed arrogantly and boasted to his attendants: Today, I shot a hole through the 'sky'. Therefore, it was called "shooting the sky with blood in a bag... ah-choo... the sky" by later generations."
When Zhou Fangzheng revealed to Yan Song and his son that Zhu Ping'an had visited Yang Jisheng in the morning, Zhu Ping'an was reading with Prince Yu in his study. The lecturer in Prince Yu's mansion was originally Prince Yu's advisor, and this was one of his duties. While reading, Prince Yu felt unfamiliar with the term "囊血射天" in the book, so he asked Zhu Ping'an. Zhu Ping'an had a good memory and simply interpreted the origin of the term "囊血射天". When he was about to finish interpreting it, he sneezed inexplicably for some reason. Fortunately, Zhu Ping'an felt something in his heart and lowered his head to cover it with his hand in time, so that Prince Yu was not affected.
"I have lost my composure, Your Highness. Please punish me." Zhu Ping'an rubbed his nose and bowed to Prince Yu in embarrassment to apologize.
"Haha, it's just a sneeze, Zihou, you're too serious. I'm not as cruel and unjust as Wu Yi. Did you not get enough rest last night, or did you sleep in a cool place and catch a cold? Zihou, you have to take care of yourself. I can't live without you." Prince Yu smiled and shook his head. He didn't care about it and was also concerned about Zhu Ping'an's health.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness." Zhu Ping'an bowed his hands to express his gratitude, smiled slightly and said, "I am in good health. Your Highness, let's continue reading."
"Um."
Prince Yu nodded, and the two continued reading.
Inside Yan's house.
Although Zhou Fangzheng had been speaking for a while and Yan Song had even changed his clothes, the shock caused by Zhou Fangzheng's words was still fermenting in the study, from a violent storm to a tsunami.
"Zhu Ping'an?"
Zhao Wenhua stood there in a daze, with a complicated expression.
"You said Zhu Ping'an had already informed Yang Jisheng of these two fatal omissions and suggested that Yang Jisheng delete them?!"
The one-eyed fat man approached Zhou Fangzheng like a black bear whose honey was stolen. He stretched out his bear-like claws and grabbed Zhou Fangzheng's collar. He squinted his one eye and asked menacingly, and the saliva splashing from his mouth sprayed into Zhou Fangzheng's mouth.
Yan Shifan's aura was too strong, many times stronger than Zhao Wenhua's. Zhou Fangzheng was grabbed by the collar by Yan Shifan and was completely frightened. His mind went blank and he opened his mouth again and again, but he couldn't utter a single word.
"say!"
Yan Shifan exerted force again, pulling Zhou Fangzheng closer, and cursed impatiently.
“Yes, yes.”
Zhou Fangzheng nodded repeatedly in fear.
"Ahem... Donglou! How can you talk like that? Be polite to Lord Zhou." Yan Song glared at Yan Shifan, then said to Zhou Fangzheng in a friendly manner, "Haha, Lord Zhou, don't bother with him, just say what you want to say. Today, you warned me, which is a favor to me. I will not treat you unfairly."
"Haha, I'm just worried too much. Hehe, I'm sorry for offending Lord Zhou." Upon hearing this, Yan Shifan forced a smile on his fat face, loosened his hand that was grabbing Zhou Fangzheng's collar, and considerately helped Zhou Fangzheng tidy up his clothes.
"Thank you, Lord Yan. Lord Yan, you are too kind. Filial piety comes first in everything. How could I not know that Lord Yan cares about you so much? Who says that a little bit of grass can repay the kindness of the spring? Lord Yan's filial piety can move the heaven and earth, and he should be a role model for me to emulate." Zhou Fangzheng hurriedly bowed in gratitude, and responded tactfully, pouring out flattering words to Yan Shifan as if they were free.
"Haha, as long as Lord Zhou understands." Yan Shifan curled the corner of his mouth.
"Mr. Zhou, please tell me again in detail what you just said." Zhao Wenhua said slowly.
"Yes, it happened this morning, when the curfew had just ended. I was at Yang Ni's house, eating breakfast with him while discussing the memorial to impeach the elder. At this time, Zhu Ping'an came to visit. I was cautious and informed Yang Ni in advance and quickly hid in the inner room. Zhu Ping'an was wearing..."
After calming down, Zhou Fangzheng told everything that had happened in the morning, detailing what Zhu Ping'an was wearing, what he said, and so on.
"When Zhu Ping'an discovered the loophole in the memorial and suggested to Yang Ni that it be deleted, I heard it in the inner room. I was worried about the elder and accidentally knocked over the cup. Fortunately, Yang Ni's youngest son was smart and said he was thirsty and poured a cup of tea. Unexpectedly, the tea was too hot, causing him to accidentally knock over the cup and cover up the matter..."
Zhou Fangzheng had a good memory and he almost reproduced the entire situation and dialogue at that time in detail.
"How did Zhu Ping'an remind Yang Jisheng?" Yan Shifan asked with his one eye narrowed.
"The reason why Zhu Pingan reminded Yang Ni to delete the two loopholes is almost the same as what Lord Yan just said. First, Zhu Pingan said that Yang Ni's memorial implied that the emperor was protecting the elders, and said that the emperor might not be happy after reading the memorial... The second point, 'or ask the two kings', is the key point of Zhu Pingan's reminder to Yang Ni. Zhu Pingan gave two reasons, which are almost exactly the same as what Lord Yan just said. He said..."
Zhou Fangzheng told Zhu Ping'an all the reasons why he reminded Yang Jisheng to delete the loopholes in the memorial.
"Shh... Interesting, Zhu Ping'an is a smart man, haha, but also a big fool..."
After listening to Zhou Fangzheng's report, Yan Shifan closed his only eye, stretched out his bear-like paw and rubbed the back of his head vigorously, looking tired. Then he smiled and said sarcastically.
"That's right, that's right. Zhu Ping'an is ignorant of the current situation and actually colluded with Yang Ni. He doesn't know whether he lives or dies. He is just a fool."
Zhou Fangzheng agreed, bowing his waist.
Yan Shifan turned his head to look at him, pulled the corners of his mouth and revealed a strange smile.
Zhou Fangzheng lowered his head and dared not say anything.
Boom... Boom...
Yan Song sat there with a very gloomy face. His bony hands were placed on the table, and his weathered fingers tapped the table lightly from time to time. This was Yan Song's habitual action when he was thinking seriously about a problem.
The study was eerily quiet, with only the sound of Yan Song tapping on the table.