All the imperial doctors rushed into the palace, causing panic inside and outside the palace. The palace maids hurriedly walked around the Wansui Palace, the old men had fierce consultations and debates, and the turbulent atmosphere spread from the Wansui Palace.
Jinzhan stayed in the Wansui Hall for a whole day. She saw the old men shaking their heads, sighing, frowning and thinking hard, and she felt that hope was getting slimmer and slimmer. She finally left this chaotic place and came to the Sanqing Hall.
The little nun Qingxu who had saved her was still sleeping, and Jinzhan ordered someone to lift Qingxu's quilt and use both soft and hard methods to get her out of bed. Jinzhan asked Qingxu to think of a way, but the little girl looked at a loss.
Jinzhan gave the order without further explanation: Escort Taoist nun Qingxu to Wansui Palace.
Qingxu kept saying: "My Queen Mother, I am not a doctor and I don't even know the pulse.
It was Queen Jinzhan who said angrily. She still cared about the title at this time. She felt that the title of Queen Mother was unlucky. If you can save me, you should save the emperor again.
Qingxu was half pushed and half dragged out of the Sanqing Temple. Jinzhan was about to leave, but was attracted by the statue of Yuanshi Tianzun in the main hall of the Sanqing Temple. The clay statue was very exquisitely made, with lifelike expressions and postures, especially the movements that seemed alive.
Jinzhan stopped immediately.
She turned around and stood in front of the statue's cushion for a while, while the eunuchs and palace maids around her hurriedly stepped back. Jinzhan slowly knelt down on the cushion and looked up at the tall statue overlooking the hall.
Maybe I shouldn't have lived to this day. When Jinzhan opened her mouth, her voice choked uncontrollably, because the scene of Guo Shao swearing to the sky on the way to Huainan many years ago emerged in her mind.
The scene at that time seemed to be right in front of me, and Guo Shao's voice seemed to still linger in my ears: Those who violate the will of heaven, Guo Shao. If the old man wants to punish me, it will be me.
Jinzhan prayed devoutly: Please, God, take my life, and let him live well.
Jinzhan hadn't kowtowed to anyone for many years. She had a high status and usually accepted people's begging and gratitude; but now, Jinzhan knelt helplessly and humbly before the statue.
The expression on the statue was very strange. At first glance it looked very calm, but upon closer inspection it seemed to be sneering, as if mocking the fragility of mortals.
Jinzhan stood up, lit three incense sticks on the candle and put them in the incense burner. She bit her finger and dripped blood into the incense burner. She knelt on the mat again, closed her eyes, and begged God with all her heart to take away everything from her.
The rain in the northwest has stopped, but it is already afternoon. The central army issued an order to set off tomorrow morning.
Someone outside the tent reported: Marshal, someone is coming from Tokyo.
Li Chuyun's expression suddenly changed. This great commander who was so powerful on the battlefield was like a frightened bird in Zhong Li's eyes. Any slight disturbance would make him nervous and uneasy.
The voice outside the Marshal's tent was heard again, because Li Chuyun had not spoken for a while.
Li Chuyun then said hesitantly: Bring him here first.
After waiting for a long time, a man in a cloth robe was brought into the tent by the soldiers. As he came in, he took out something and said, "I am from the residence of the Protector of the Country, Luo Yanhuan. I bring a letter written by A Lang. Please have a look, Lord Li." He said in a deep voice, "Something big happened in Tokyo. The official is seriously ill and I heard he is unconscious."
Unexpectedly, Li Chuyun showed no sign of panic. Zhong Li was naturally not too surprised either, as they had known in advance that it was not only because of the sudden order to recall the army, but also because of another piece of news.
You go down. Li Chuyun was very patient.
The cloth-robed man looked surprised and muttered: "My husband A-lang also knew about it not long ago and sent a little man here immediately."
After the messenger left, Li Chuyun was a little moved and said: Luo Yanhuan is a brother who has shared life and death with me after all.
Zhong Li didn't say anything, but after hearing this, he felt that although Li Chuyun was shrewd, he was still a little bit sophisticated. If Li Chuyun reached Zhong Li's age and had experienced enough, he would understand: Luo Yanhuan was able to send this letter not mainly because of brotherhood, but because he felt that they were grasshoppers on the same rope and it was a clear choice.
Zhong Li thought that when it came to choosing between life and death, depending on the situation, some people would choose to act decisively earlier, while others would wait and wait until things became clearer. That was all, that was the only difference; the term "brothers who had shared life and death" was still too light.
Li Chuyun and Zhong Li looked at each other, their expressions becoming more solemn. It was not that they were not shocked, but they were mentally prepared.
Zhong Li pondered and said: I didn't expect things to change so quickly, and there was a subtle excitement and celebration in his words.
Li Chuyun's mouth twitched, and it was obvious that he was really saddened by the news about the emperor. Zhong Li felt from his subtle and unpretentious reaction that Li Chuyun was enduring great pain.
Zhong Li whispered: "Mr. Li really has the style to accomplish great things. He is calm, steady and wise in critical moments."
Li Chuyun sat steadily on the stool with his legs apart, with a cold face, sadness and helplessness alternating subtly, and ignored Zhong Li.
Zhong Li whispered again: "The emperor was not well prepared, and the emergency occurred suddenly, leading to turmoil. But Lord Li was also not well prepared, and now is not the time to act rashly. The more critical it is, the more calm we must be."
Zhong Li understood that Li Chuyun was very scheming, and it would be impossible to persuade him to rebel now. Li Chuyun was not that stupid. From the former camp of the Hexi Legion to the central government, there were too many people hindering Li Chuyun, and he was not well prepared and the risk was too great. Once he acted rashly, Li Chuyun would have no control over the situation.
It's not that there is no other way, that is, to take a gamble and do something extraordinary, such as killing Wei Renpu and his group directly. But this approach is not only likely to fail, but also not the style of people like Li Chuyun who are willing to take risks and fight to the death. Most people are willing to fight; Li Chuyun has too many things and is too old, so he doesn't have the courage of a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger.
Zhongli thought of a strategy that Li Chuyun could accept more easily, which was to delay. The most important thing for Lord Li now is to keep the Qingshan here. You can't go back to Beijing too soon, otherwise it will be over.
Li Chuyun glanced at Zhong Li coldly, with anger in his eyes.
But Zhongli had a solemn expression, as if he was risking his life to give advice that was not easy to hear. Zhongli had been careful in his words and deeds for countless days, and he had finally gained trust, trust like a confidant. However, now was the time to squander the trust that he had worked so hard to gain.
He said solemnly: Any wise emperor would definitely get rid of Li Gong at this time. The loyalty between the monarch and his subjects and the friendship between life and death are useless. The emperor has no choice, and Li Gong has no choice either.
As long as you get through this period, things will be easy in the future. Maybe there are not many people in the court who are loyal to Lord Li, but there are the most people in the world who know the current situation, and there are even more people who are unwilling to live a mediocre life and are struggling to find a rapid rise in the sky. As long as you wait slowly, there will be more and more people around you. Lord Li does not need to worry about many things himself, and naturally there will be many people who will fight for you.
Even if Shi Yanchao could become Li Gong's man, don't disbelieve it. Shi Yanchao used to listen to the emperor. Wasn't he only under the control of the previous emperor? How could he do that now
Li Chuyun gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: Zhongli, do you think this guild will rebel
Zhong Li was choked and said hurriedly: From the day I joined Lord Li's army, I knew that Lord Li was loyal and righteous.
Li Chuyun said coldly: What do you mean now
Zhong Li was silent for a moment, then sighed and said: "I am about to die, fame and fortune are nothing but smoke and clouds. I am planning for Mr. Li, all for your good, to repay your kindness.
Li Chuyun remained calm.
Zhong Li said: I am reminding Lord Li that you have no choice now but you will have a choice in the future.
Oh, Li Chuyun had a complicated expression and looked haggard.
Zhong Li said: Lord Li will devote himself to the country in the future, and he can also be a pillar to assist the king. At that time, you have the ability to accomplish great things, but you are loyal to the royal family of Daxu. Isn't it more worthy of the world's admiration? Why must fate be in the hands of others? Isn't it good to be able to decide what to do yourself
As expected, Li Chuyun fell silent after hearing this, and the harshness in his words also faded.
After a long while, Li Chuyun frowned and said: This letter needs to be shown to Wei Renpu as well.
Zhong Li hurriedly said: Li Gongying, this is not the time to act rashly. You have to reassure everyone and not rush to provoke anyone.
Li Chuyun suddenly stood up and walked out of the tent, followed closely by Zhong Li.
Wei Renpu, Zan Jurun and other military commanders were summoned. Li Chuyun told everyone that he had just received news from Tokyo, and then showed the letter to Wei Renpu.
Li Chuyun no longer needed to cover up this matter for Luo Yanhuan. Luo Yanhuan dared to do this, so he had no intention of hiding his friendship with Li Chuyun, and he couldn't make those people in the court, both civil and military, know about it.
The atmosphere in the big tent was suddenly filled with sorrow, and some generals even burst into tears in public. Zhong Li watched this scene and sighed in his heart that Li Chuyun really couldn't start a rebellion right away.
On the contrary, Wei Renpu was very calm and not at all ostentatious. In the noisy big tent, some people were so excited that even Wei Renpu, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, felt ignored.
However, Zhong Li's greatest attention was on Wei Renpu, and he never ignored this civil servant.
When the army was still in the old city of Feng'an, Zhongli remembered the scene of Wei Renpu crying while holding an old monument from the Sui Dynasty. It was like a painting, very clear to Zhongli. He could see through this civil servant and deeply feel what he was thinking.
Zhong Li recalled the past events recorded in the book, when the country was in mourning, all the ministers cried until they fainted in the mourning hall; but a few of them were really sad.
The more people hold their feelings in their hearts, the less likely they are to cry and show too much pain when a great change occurs. The pain that penetrates their heart is silent... ... ... ... ... ...