The eastern sky gradually spit out the white color of the fish's maw. The early morning passed, and the day came. The huge fleet moved southward. Seabirds flew in the sky and boarded the ship's side.
Above the dragon boat, sandalwood incense was burned at the gate of the palace, to disperse the moisture and fishy smell of the sea, and occasionally soothing music sounded.
Walking through the corridor of the building boat, Qin Hui stopped the imperial physician Chu Hao and asked him about His Majesty's physical condition. Chu Hao stated in a low voice, and the two of them were embarrassed.
After questioning, Qin Hui went to the cabin where Zhou Yongxiu was lying, and saw the concubine and palace maids waiting outside from a distance. These women were originally just playthings in the harem. After they suddenly fell ill, there were not many people who trusted Zhou Yong. Some were worried about their future situation, so they often came over and waited, hoping to have a chance to go in and serve Zhou Yong. . Qin Hui came to salute and asked a little, and then he knew that Zhou Pei had already entered.
Most of the women in the harem are women with weak personalities. After training all the way, Zhou Pei, who has accumulated power for ten years, does not show any resentment, but in private, he still dares to be angry and dare not speak. Zhou Yong's body recovered a little, and Zhou Pei often came to take care of him. She didn't talk much with her father, just scrubbed him a little, and fed him porridge and medicine.
Zhou Yong's mind was already a little confused. For a time, he wept for the situation of Junwu on the shore. He wanted to tell the world and give way to the prince; for a time, he was confused by the words of the ministers. The Wu Dynasty still exists. If it gives way to the prince, once Jiang Ning is broken, the Wu Dynasty will really be gone.
He occasionally opened his mouth to talk about these things with Zhou Pei, hoping his daughter would express his opinion, but Zhou Pei only looked at him sympathetically. I couldn't understand what my daughter was saying, and after thinking about it, I became confused again.
Qin Hui probably knew about these things around Zhou Yong. Seeing Zhou Pei serving inside, he quietly said goodbye and left quietly. The concubines were worried about their future and didn't care about the old man's departure. .
Back in the mid-level cabin where he was, occasionally someone came to visit.
After Zhou Yong's fall, the small court held several meetings, and there were a few days' rest, and the official statements were turned into private visits. The officials who came over mentioned the land form and mentioned Zhou Yong's intention to give way, which was embarrassing.
"... Although the crown prince is brave and is the blessing of the world, but the situation in Jiangning is like this, and I don't know what will happen next. My generation is really compelled to stop your majesty. It's just your majesty's body, has Lord Qin asked the imperial doctor..."
"Your Majesty is in the year of bravery and pioneering, and there are occasional minor ailments. The imperial doctor said that he will recover soon, so don't worry. The situation on land is very emotional..."
"... I heard that the Taihu Fleet has already landed the golden dog, and may be about to chase it to the sea. Hu Sunming's shameless villain will sooner or later be cast aside by thousands of people all over the world..."
"The fleet of Taihu Lake suffered a lot in the previous battle with the Jurchen, and no matter the military equipment, it is not as elite as the dragon boat fleet. I believe that God bless my Wu Dynasty, nothing will happen in the end..."
"... But on the ship, Master Qin should be careful. Her Royal Highness, the eldest princess, has a strong personality and took her aboard. It was Lord Qin's idea at first, but now her relationship with His Majesty is gradually rehabilitated. Dear, Master Qin…”
"The eldest princess is a child of the heavenly family. She has been running Lin'an for ten years, and she is not comparable to ordinary people. You and I can't speculate about noble people's affairs..."
"...Xiaguan just mentioned it casually, the villain saves the belly of a gentleman... Meng Lang is gone, forgive me, forgive me..."
Officials came and went. In the early days of the Wu Dynasty, the world was as vast as thousands of miles. At this time, there was only a square inch of the Dragon Boat Fleet. For a few days, Qin Hui's mood could not be seen to fluctuate. In the evening, he brought a pen and paper and began to write a book. When the old wife came to call him for dinner, he was still raising his pen and thinking about his words.
"I heard that Your Majesty is not in good health, and the rest of the adults are no longer discussing matters. If you write a book, you are not afraid that you will not be able to reach His Majesty..." The old wife was slightly puzzled and mentioned.
Qin Hui looked solemn and nodded: "Even so, there are still important things in the world that have to be said. Prince Jiangning is brave and determined, which makes us ashamed... The ministers on the ship, cower... I have to come out and persuade His Majesty to give up as soon as possible. It's for the Prince."
"A few days ago, didn't you still persuade Your Majesty not to give way?"
"...I was wrong."
Qin Hui said so, a look of determination flashed on his face.
Soon, the book was handed over.
…
The sea and the sky are vast, the fleet is floating on the sea, and the scenery is the same every day. The wind and clouds are passing by, the seabirds come and go, and this year's Mid-Autumn Festival has finally arrived.
Zhou Yong's body improved a little. Under the encouragement of everyone, the dragon boat was decorated with lights. The palace people moved the big bed to the main cabin of the dragon boat. The concubines and concubines practiced various programs to prepare for a lively event. Zhou Yongchong rejoiced.
After the night fell, there were floating clouds in the sky, the moonlight was hazy, and the lights were on the huge dragon boat. The music sounded, and the huge banquet had begun. Some ministers and their families were invited to participate in this event. During the banquet, Zhou Yong sat on the big bed and watched the program in the cabin, and his spirit improved slightly.
At three o'clock, Zhou Pei left the main cabin of the dragon boat and walked towards the rear of the boat along the long cabin. This is on the middle and upper floors of the dragon boat. After turning a few small turns and walking down the stairs, there are fewer guards nearby. At the end of the passage is an unmanned viewing cabin with a large platform above it, which is reserved for the nobles. Watching the sea reading use.
In the past ten years, the dragon boat has been moored at the dock of Qiantang River most of the time, and there are many flashy places in the renovation and decoration. At sea, many things on this platform were taken away, only a few shelves, boxes, coffee tables, etc., were fixed by wooden wedges, waiting for people to use when the weather was calm. At this time, the moonlight was dim, and two small The lantern swayed gently in the sea breeze.
After Zhou Pei came in, a figure came out of the light and saluted her. The face of a sincere and humble old courtier flashed in the light. Zhou Pei took out the note in his sleeve: "I never thought of it before. Master Qin would call me over for this matter."
Qin Hui's face flashed with deep guilt, and he bowed his hands: "The adults on the boat do not agree with the old man's proposal. In order to avoid the partition wall, they had no choice but to see His Highness privately, and Chen said this... And today, the situation is critical, Jiang Ning I don’t know how long it will last, Prince Yingwu, if my Wu Dynasty wants to flourish again, we must not lose the Prince, His Majesty must give way and help the Prince…”
Zhou Pei looked indifferent: "A few days ago, you also prevented the father and emperor from abdicating, but today you called me in private. Gentlemen are crowded without a party, and villains are not a party. What kind of bad intentions do you have in your heart?"
"His Royal Highness, it is clear that the old minister has acted in his life, and there are many calculations. In the early years, he was influenced by Qin Siyuan, Mr. Qin, and hoped that things would come to an end. When I suddenly heard about the matter on the land a few days ago, the ministers were in an uproar, and the old minister was in an uproar. My heart is also a little swaying, I can't make up my mind, everyone is still discussing, and His Majesty's physical strength is exhausted... In the past few days, the old minister has figured out the matter, but the thoughts of the ministers on the boat are swaying, and His Majesty is still sick. Your Majesty has not seen it yet."
"... Ben Gong knows your book."
"Then Your Highness will definitely understand the old minister's mind." Qin Hui bowed again and saluted, "This matter is very important and cannot be delayed any longer. If the old minister's book cannot be handed over, I have thought that tonight or tomorrow, I will meet His Majesty Li Chen. This matter, even if I was criticized by the officials, I do not regret it. But before this, the old minister still has something unknown, and he has to ask His Highness for details..."
Zhou Pei looked at him, Qin Hui took a deep breath.
"Your Highness, please forgive the contempt of the old minister, but because of this, he has seen too many things in his life. If the big thing fails, the death of the old minister will not be regrettable, but the world is in danger, so why should the people live... In the past few days, the most incomprehensible thing for the old minister is, This is His Highness's thoughts. His Highness and His Majesty both understand each other, and in the current situation, only His Highness is the person His Majesty trusts the most. I don't understand His Highness's mind, but I understand one thing. If His Highness supports His Majesty's abdication, this matter can be done. If His Highness does not want this to happen, even if the old minister dies before His Majesty, I am afraid this matter will still be empty talk. Therefore, the old minister has to talk to him first. His Royal Highness Chen said it was amazing…”
The sea breeze blew in, making a humming sound, Qin Hui folded his hands and leaned down low. Zhou Pei didn't speak, with a look of sadness and disdain on his face, he walked forward and looked at him with disdain: "Before doing something, try to figure out what you like. This is... the way you little people do things."
"The old minister knows that he is wrong, but in the officialdom, he often bears tens of thousands of lives, and the old minister can't bear it... Only this last thing, the old minister Xinyiquan, just wants to do it and leave some hope for my Wu Dynasty... "
Qin Hui knelt on the ground with a thud, his forehead lowered: "From the news from the land, the old officials have all come here for the past few days, looking to the rear, where the sea and the sky meet is the direction of Lin'an and Jiangning. Your Highness. , The old minister knows that my crime of abandoning Lin'an is extremely heinous, and right there, His Royal Highness, in such a situation, is still leading more than 200,000 people to fight to the death in Jiangning. In comparison, the old minister will die."
His forehead was knocked on the deck, and his words had a huge infectious power. Zhou Pei looked into the distance, his eyes blurred.
"His Royal Highness Prince's bravery reminded the old minister of a poem written by Ningyi in the southwest. When the kingdom of Shu was destroyed, everyone surrendered to Cao Cao, but the king of the north, Liu Chen, would rather die than surrender. Ning Yi wrote a poem to the Jin people, saying: "The ruler and the minister are willing to bow their knees, but one son is sad. He has gone to Xichuan, and he is the king of the northern land. He has sacrificed his body and rewarded his ancestors, scratching his head and weeping. …”
Qin Hui's words contained a slight weeping sound, and there was an incomparable solemnity in the slow and slow manner. The wind whimpered on the platform, and the lantern was shaking gently. Qin Hui's figure stood up quietly in the back, and the sobbing in his mouth did not fluctuate or stop at all.
"Majestic my prince..."
His feet suddenly exerted force and rushed towards Zhou Pei in front of him.
Zhou Pei turned around, tears were flashing in his eyes, Qin Hui had used his utmost strength to push him down the terrace!
Zhou Pei's feet left the ground, and his long hair was scattered in the sea breeze.