In July, the fire is blazing, the stars in the midsummer night are full of stars, and the cicadas in Jeju City are like the sea.
"Heng'er, you don't trust Zhao Ling too much." Geng Shu said solemnly. Although he is now sure of protecting Jiang Heng's safety, he still doesn't like Prince Ling.
"He never killed me." Jiang Heng explained, but then he thought about it, Prince Ling killed Geng Shu, although he didn't succeed. Jiang Hengxiang is a direct person and never makes unnecessary assumptions, such as what would have happened if he hadn't rescued Geng Shu, and if Prince Ling knew that he was a brother, Geng Shu would still kill him. heart of.
biquge.name
But looking at the five kingdoms, Jiang Heng is almost certain that even if he rescued Geng Shu from Fengxuewei Pass, Prince Ling is the only prince who has never explicitly stated that he has murderous intentions towards them.
"Yes." Geng Shu nodded and said, "Even if he knew we were leaving Yong Kingdom, he never hurt us."
Most of the mysteries in the past have been solved. The assassin who assassinated Jiang Heng in front of Luoyan City must be sent by Ju Cong, and there is no one else. On the contrary, even when the two armies faced off and the two sides were betting on the fortune of the country, Prince Ling never thought of getting rid of Jiang Heng.
"He must have a lot to say." Jiang Heng said later.
He had a plan, and this time before Jeju, he promised to solve all the problems in one fell swoop. If it can't be solved, then Geng Shu really has no place to live in this world, and he can only find another paradise and hide from the world.
His journey into the WTO started in Zheng, and maybe it will end in Zheng. In the dark, the hand of fate guided him through thousands of mountains and rivers, and then he still returned to Jeju City.
"I'm very sorry," Sun Ying explained as he rode his horse outside the car. "After a battle with Zheng Jun, if you are afraid that someone will recognize you, please don't show your face before entering the palace."
"Are you afraid of people seeking revenge?" Geng Shu said casually.
Sun Ying said: "Although victory and defeat are common affairs in military affairs, after all, the dead are living people, and there are always people who can't let go, for fear of being abruptly offended."
Jiang Hengben lifted the curtain of the car, and when he heard this, he had to put it down again.
Geng Shu: "How do I remember that Zheng Guoxian started this war?"
Sun Ying said: "Yeah, after losing the battle, don't let people feel unwilling?"
Geng Shu said: "People who practice martial arts have no eyes on swords and swords. They are afraid of losing battles, so they don't fight."
Sun Ying smiled and said: "His Royal Highness Miao said, who is going to fight?"
Jiang Heng didn't speak, just listened quietly. Since ancient times, the king has been defeated, and now the country of Zheng has lost, and it is a complete loss. If Prince Ling wins, now Yongdu falls into the hands of the country of Zheng, and Juicong, Empress Dowager Jiang, Juling and others will all be criminals to escort them. Jeju, it's another story.
"It's over," Sun Ying said politely, "please."
Jeju was even more depressing than the first time a few days ago. In the summer night, the layers of dark clouds were pressing down and it was extremely sultry. Jiang Heng was sweating in the carriage, and there was a sense of loneliness and desolation in the palace.
"Mr. Jiang's bedroom has been tidied up," Sun Ying said. "It's still the original one. As for His Royal Highness Miao..."
Geng Shu: "I don't want him to live in a room."
"You don't need to bring it." Jiang Heng returned to Zheng Palace and was familiar with the road, and the environment has never changed. He lived in a small half house at first, but now he knows the way with his eyes closed, so that Sun Ying doesn't have to follow him any more, and he faces Geng Shu. He smiled and said, "Am I taking you away?"
Geng Shu signaled to stop playing and go see someone first.
"I have something to tell him." Geng Shu said, "I haven't had a good talk with Zhao Ling. What kind of person is he?"
The last time, Geng Shu didn't even see Zhao Ling's face, he was tied up inside the gate, waiting for the car to crack;
It's just that now it's a yin and yang difference, and this old enemy of the Yong Kingdom has to put aside his previous suspicions and temporarily join forces to fight against Juicong.
"He's an easy-going person," Jiang Heng said, refusing to say, "a modest person, at least he looks modest."
Jiang Heng held Geng Shu's hand, and he interlaced his fingers. The two walked across the front porch. Jiang Heng suddenly knew how the desolate man was—there were many fewer people in the Zheng Palace. The number of guards on duty was reduced by nearly 60%.
"Why is there no one patrolling around the study?" Jiang Heng asked in confusion.
"Because I have no money." The voice of Prince Ling said in the study, "Please come in."
Jiang Heng stopped outside the door, but Geng Shu pulled him and walked straight into the study. Prince Ling had succeeded four months ago, and now he is dressed in purple and gold embroidered royal robes. Although he is wearing robes, he also wears the simple crown of the king. His appearance is more mature than before, and his temples are stained with a little frosty white. His eyes were still clear and energetic, and he made a "please" gesture towards Geng Shu and Jiang Hengwang.
"Mr. Zheng is no longer an outsider." Prince Ling was as gentle and courteous as before, "General Nie, please feel free to be at home."
Geng Shu nodded and sat down. He could really see that Jiang Heng was very comfortable, even more comfortable than in the Lama Temple. When meeting with the Crown Prince, he avoided any greetings, just like a confidant who knew a lot.
It's true that I have gotten to know each other a little bit. Jiang Heng was once a friend of the Prince's spirit, and he was also an enemy, an enemy, and a friend. Their relationship is changing at any time, just like the cycle of yin and yang, only one thing has not changed.
Some kind of agreement between the two parties.
Jiang Heng, Ju Cong, and Zhao Ling had a tacit understanding that was like an enemy as well as a friend. When this rare tacit understanding always existed, Jiang Heng was still in a very happy mood.
"How can there be no money?" Jiang Heng didn't care, he walked straight to the side to pour tea and entertain himself. There was no one close to Prince Ling.
"The war has run out." Geng Shu said indifferently.
"Yeah." Prince Ling said, "You killed nearly 30,000 people, and you need to be comforted and take care of their wives and children. Today, the domestic harvest is not good, and you can't collect much tax."
Jiang Heng handed Geng Shu tea, Zheng tea tasted bitter and astringent in the mouth, but bursts of sweetness appeared after the aftertaste.
He observed Prince Ling for a moment and found that he was thin and haggard, especially with Dai Xiao's sackcloth wrapped around his arms.
"Isn't it hot?" Jiang Heng said, "wear so much in summer."
Geng Shu: "..."
Zheng Du was already sultry, and Jiang Heng wished he could only wear a single shirt and shorts. Seeing that Prince Ling was wearing a royal robe, he felt even hotter.
"Isn't this because of you?" Prince Ling said helplessly, "Tonight, I should prepare clothes first, so as not to see the previous one first, and when a king sees his courtiers, he will never wear one. Robe, are you going out to see the guests?"
Jiang Heng only found it very funny, and Prince Ling said again: "I'm not used to wearing this royal robe. It's enough to go to court every day, and I'll be guilty for a while."
Prince Ling turned around the screen and went to change his clothes. Geng Shu originally had a lot to say, but after such an outburst, he was unable to speak. At the same time, he understood Jiang Heng's evaluation of him as an "easy-going person". .
"I haven't sued General Nie yet." Prince Ling undressed behind the screen, and the figure was reflected, and said.
"It doesn't matter." Geng Shu was very open-minded, "When the two countries fight against each other, the kindness to the enemy is the cruelty to one's own people. I understand it."
Jiang Heng drank tea and flipped through the documents on Prince Lingna's case. It was about disaster relief, and underneath it was the follow-up of state affairs after the death of King Zheng, as well as a lot of memorials from courtiers.
"...But even so, I still have to apologize." Prince Ling tied his belt and walked out, wearing a thin linen robe with a well-proportioned figure, literati's muscles, and fair skin looming.
"If I had known that you two were brothers," Prince Ling motioned Jiang Hengchao to give way, knelt in front of the king's case, and said seriously to Geng Shu, "I would not kill you, even if Jiang Heng fell into Yong Guo's hands, I would not kill you. The original method was to exchange you for him. It's just that when he returned, your father killed my father again, and I must take revenge."
"That's natural," Geng Shu replied. "If it were me, I would take revenge."
Prince Ling bowed to Geng Shu and said solemnly, "I believe that General Nie understands."
Geng Shu asked, "What about now?"
"Now, there is still a blood feud between us." Prince Ling replied, "Nowadays, we have a common enemy, and we must not cover our eyes because of hatred. It’s not too late to negotiate again.”
Geng Shu let out a light "um".
Assuming that Prince Ling used Jiang Heng as an excuse to answer, Xu Gengshu would not believe him, but since he said so, Geng Shu no longer doubted that the blood feud of the previous generation was a foregone conclusion, and this tragedy extended. If it is done to them, there must be an end to it.
Until then, they can still cooperate temporarily.
As far as Geng Shu is concerned, this matter is over. He knows his position and represents Jiang Heng.
"Your government documents are a mess," Jiang Heng said, flipping two pages, "Where have all the clients gone? No one has commented on you?"
"All of you have killed them all." Prince Ling said lightly, "They protected me through the night of Tongguan Pass, and I will never forget them in my life."
Jiang Heng: "…"
Zheng Guo was defeated, and when he escaped from Luoyan, Zeng Yu led his army to chase and kill him. The disciples who accompanied Prince Ling on the expedition were all skilled in martial arts. When they were in danger, they desperately held back the vanguard of Yong's army.
And the disciples faced the cavalry in armor with their flesh and blood. No matter how strong their martial arts were, they could not escape the slaughter. In the end, Prince Ling's chariot was dyed purple and black, and the six hundred disciples returned to the country in fashion. The remaining forty-seven people.
After returning to the country, Prince Ling restrained the dead disciples and sent money to the remaining people to let them each return to their hometowns.
Prince Ling put it lightly, but Jiang Heng was like how tragic the situation was at that time. In the snowy night in Tongguan, Prince Ling was escorted by Sun Ying and escaped to the sky. Behind him were more than 500 corpses buried in the heavy snow. Random arrows shot to death, or 長jun's knife pierced his chest, and died in a foreign country.
"But I don't regret it," Prince Ling said casually, "there was such a battle, either in the ancestral temple or in front of Tongguan."
Now, the crown prince is flexible. He didn't save Liang Guo, and Juicong has become a big crisis. He will sooner or later. After Zheng Guo's expedition to Luoyan was defeated, his vitality was greatly damaged, Juicong became a big crisis. If you cross the Weiguan, the Zheng Kingdom will definitely fight to the death of the whole city, or the country will be destroyed, and there will be no other thoughts.
"I see where you are going now," Jiang Heng said, turning over a few pages of his memorial. "If you're not careful, you'll still have to die in the ancestral temple."
Prince Ling said, "It is better to die in one's own home than in Tongguan."
"What's wrong?" Geng Shu asked Jiang Heng, frowning when he saw Jiang Heng.
"It's too much trouble." Jiang Heng didn't think that a war had actually made Zheng Guo's problem so serious.
Prince Ling did not hide it from them, saying: "General Cha died, this year, and after the death of the king, the ministers in the country are very dissatisfied with this battle."
"I can see it." Jiang Heng sat next to Geng Shu and began to read articles by the ministers criticizing Zheng Wangling.
"The military budget is in short supply," said Prince Ling. "Only General Long Yu is on my side, and he is currently guarding Weiguan."
Geng Shu said, "Change the law for him, don't you know how to change the law?"
"That's a dead end." Jiang Heng couldn't tell whether to laugh or cry.
Zheng Kingdom and Yong Kingdom are fundamentally two different things. Yong Kingdom’s royal power is unique. To implement reforms, they have to face many obstacles. The interests of the Prince’s Ling Dynasty are intertwined. Forced reform will only provoke rebellion.
"Jiang Heng, are you taking care of the government affairs for me?" Prince Ling asked, "It's late at night, take a rest first, let's talk about business in detail tomorrow."
Jiang Heng said, "Okay, let's just use a dead horse as a living horse doctor."
"The Japanese side," said Prince Ling, "there are still many things to be said slowly, don't be in a hurry."
Geng Shu put away the playing roll for Jiang Heng, raised his eyebrows and signaled to leave, and went back to sleep. When Jiang Heng was about to leave, Prince Ling suddenly got involved and asked, "By the way, do you remember Zhao Qi who served you back then?"
Of course Jiang Heng remembered that he never forgot Zhao Qi during these times. It was a time when he was alone. Zhao Qi was by his side. Although the time was short, he was like family.
"I'm looking for him." Jiang Hengben said that if he was in the palace, he might as well let him live.
Prince Ling said, "It's strange that Zhao Qi has disappeared since you left."
"Ah?" Jiang Heng was surprised.
Prince Ling was equally puzzled, and said, "I sent people to look around. I thought he would leave without saying goodbye, but I ended up looking for him in Xunxi. What's even more strange is that he was actually looking for him during that time. I don't remember the slightest bit, but insisting that after I left the imperial mausoleum, I have never been to the capital... It's like crazy."
Jiang Heng: "…"
Prince Ling said: "I didn't force him, and I didn't summon him to the palace again. If you..."
"No need," said Geng Shu, who had already guessed the inside story, "God's will is like this, it can't be forced."
Jiang Heng was even more puzzled, suspecting that Zhao Qi was ill and had a fever and had forgotten something, but since Prince Ling had settled him properly, he was no longer reluctant.