Chapter 23: The Emperor and His Ministers Have Met with the Time (23)

Shen Minghuan came back from the Ruiwang Mansion. After dealing with the Second Prince, he felt that his mission for today had been completed, so he returned to the courtyard with peace of mind.

Shen An was particularly good at taking care of people. Although he didn't know what happened, he inexplicably felt that Shen Minghuan had been wronged.

After all, he had been with the young master for so many years, and he knew best how much he missed his father who was far away in Xiqiu.

But Shen Duo was not close to Shen Minghuan when he returned this time. Shen An saw them appear at the same time several times, and Shen Duo always treated them coldly.

Shen An didn't know what he could do, so he could only take care of the young master more wholeheartedly.

Not only him, but the servants of the Shen Mansion were also very united in hatred of the enemy. The more Shen Duo ignored Shen Minghuan, the more enthusiastic the servants were.

It seemed as if they wanted to compensate Shen Minghuan in another way.

At the same time, Luo Xiuqi couldn't wait to enter the palace to see the emperor.

"Father, I have evidence. Gu Chenglin has come to Beijing several times without being summoned to meet with my eldest brother. The earliest time was the day when my eldest brother was deposed. It can be seen that he has long been rebellious!" Luo Xiuqi said righteously, "In theory, I should not make irresponsible remarks about my brother, but I am also your son, the prince of Daqi, and I can't just sit back and watch."

Luo Xiuqi has been a little arrogant recently. He used to pay respects to the emperor every morning and evening, and act like a spoiled child. Even after he left the palace to build a mansion, he would go to the palace to pay respects every three days.

But how can pleasing others be more interesting than being pleasing others? The corrupt officials of Daqi are all talented and speak very nicely. Luo Xiuqi was flattered and didn't know how high the sky was and how deep the earth was, and he had long forgotten the years of "sleeping on straw and tasting gall".

The emperor is not stupid. He knows that the father-son relationship between him and Luo Xiuqi is far from as deep as he shows. He just needs a "good son". It doesn't matter whether he is sincere or not.

But how can a person who covets his father's position and has a dark mind that can even use and hurt his father be qualified to be his child?

The emperor looked at Luo Xiuqi kneeling on the ground and spoke impassionedly without saying a word, his eyes were deep and he could not tell whether he was happy or angry.

Luo Xiuqi's voice unconsciously became weaker and weaker, and he suddenly shuddered, and he could not say the rest of the words anyway.

A deep fear rose in Luo Xiuqi's heart, as if he was back in his childhood, when he tore up the scroll of his eldest brother because of jealousy, the emperor who saw this scene had such a dark expression, and deep murderous intent surged in his eyes.

At that time, he was both afraid and yearning, thinking over and over again that it would be great if he was favored by the emperor.

Later, his dream came true, and his memory slowly faded, but it turned out that the nightmare was still buried deep in his heart, and it has not diminished at all.

"Do you know that before you, I just met He Zhang." The emperor's tone was flat, but the more this happened, the more scared Luo Xiuqi became.

After so many years, it is impossible for him to know nothing about the emperor. At least, he has seen Luo Dan's look when he wants to kill someone countless times.

Luo Xiuqi tried hard not to tremble, "I don't know."

The emperor ignored his fear. He spoke word by word, as if he was sentencing: "He Zhang told me that you, Luo Xiuqi, colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, colluded with the bandits, and intended to destroy the hundred-year national destiny of our Great Qi."

This crime was too serious. Luo Xiuqi knelt forward two steps and shouted in grievance: "Father, father, please understand that the Qi Dynasty and the Kou Kingdom are mortal enemies. Even if I am ignorant, I will never do treason, father!"

"You mean, He Zhang lied to me? He said that the soldiers of the Kou Kingdom have infiltrated Yanling, I ordered martial law in the capital, and the thief must be found, otherwise he will be beheaded. "The emperor sneered: "What's the reason for telling such a big lie?"

"Reason, reason..." Luo Xiuqi's forehead was sweating, "It's Luo Xiuyuan! It must be him!"

"Father, Gu Chenglin left the camp several times, how could He Zhang not notice anything? They must have colluded with each other a long time ago. With the excuse of the unfounded enemy country, they can reasonably lead troops into the capital. We must be on guard, father."

This is exactly the result that the emperor did not want to see the most.

He appointed two generals for the Xianzhen Camp in order to divide power and check and balance, but what if the two generals are in the same group?

Fortunately, he also arranged for Zhuo Feichen to take over temporarily.

The more generals there are, the less influence a single person has on the military camp, and the less threat he poses to him.

"This is interesting." The emperor looked cold: "You and He Zhang asked for an audience one after another. He said that you colluded with Kouguo, and you said that he colluded with the deposed prince. Who do you think I believe?"

"I have evidence, father, I have evidence!" Luo Xiuyuan realized that the emperor really wanted to kill him. He didn't care about being afraid and shouted loudly to defend himself.

The emperor was indifferent, "Evidence can be forged."

He stood up and said viciously: "I tell you, I don't believe anyone."

*

At this time of year in previous years, the people should look forward to the New Year. No matter how many disappointments this year, no matter how many ups and downs they have experienced, on this day of the New Year, they should put aside their worries and look forward to the coming year happily.

However, this year's Yanling seemed a little deserted and solemn, I don't know if it was because of the particularly cold winter or the increasing number of soldiers on the streets.

It was already evening when the second prince entered the palace, and he never left the palace since then.

The officials who were paying attention to the movements in the palace did not find it strange at first. After all, according to the emperor's love for the second prince, it was not unusual to keep him for a meal or stay for a day or two.

Until night fell and Yanling began to light up with thousands of lights, He Zhang led 300 soldiers from the Xianzhen Camp to surround the Rui Palace.

Rui Palace was very large, so large that it could hide thousands of people.

He Zhang was sure that he had discovered the traces of the army marching that day, and there must be a lot of people. He followed the traces to Yanling, but couldn't find it afterwards.

How could so many people disappear out of thin air? They could only be hidden.

There were not many people who could hide an army, and the second prince was one of them.

He Zhang kicked open the door of Rui Palace without hesitation.

He never considered whether he would offend the powerful when doing things. Just like now, he never thought that if the emperor regretted it one day, what he did today would become evidence of his crime in the future.

As if a thunderclap fell to the ground, Yanling City woke up from the silence.

The common people trembled and hugged their families. As weak as they were, they had no power to resist in the game of the powerful.

They couldn't even know what was happening.

Officials of all sizes were also awakened from their sleep. Everything happened too suddenly, making them a little confused about the situation.

He Zhang dared to lead troops to surround the Rui Wang Mansion, which must be the emperor's will. But how could Rui Wang fall out of favor when he just went to the palace to have a meal?

Shen Mansion.

Shen Minghuan said he would rebel "tomorrow" and didn't delay at all.

At dawn, he got up slowly and pushed open the door of the courtyard.

Shen An, who was in charge of the night watch tonight, was surprised, "Master, why are you up so late... so early?"

"Because there are important things to do." Shen Minghuan's expression was serious and serious, but there was a lazy smile that could not be hidden in his words.

Shen An scratched his head, "I'll go with the master."

Seeing that Shen Minghuan didn't object, he grinned and followed Shen Minghuan happily.

Shen Changqing didn't sleep all night.

He sat in the small stone pavilion all night.

It snowed during the day, and the moon at night seemed to be washed by snow, becoming brighter and brighter.

It looks like there will be good weather the next day.

Shen Changqing didn't ask anyone to light the lamp, and under the bright moonlight, the snow on the ground was rotating with a cool light.

He looked at the path leading to the gate of the Shen family in the moonlight.

He had walked this road countless times before, and was familiar with every pattern on it, and every flower and grass on the roadside.

But he only realized at this time that such familiar things could suddenly become so terrible.

When the sky was dawning, Shen Changqing saw Shen Minghuan.

Shen Minghuan was still wearing a white robe, without the heavy, furry cape, so he looked particularly thin in the snow-white.

He was holding a folding fan in his hand, and his steps were slow. He did not hesitate because of the unpredictable road ahead, but showed a sense of leisure and ease.

Shen Changqing did not blink, watching Shen Minghuan walk slowly along the long path, watching his figure disappear behind the shadows of layers of bamboo leaves.

Shen Changqing suddenly couldn't help coughing, and then he realized that he had forgotten to breathe just now, and his eyes were dry and uncomfortable.

He waved away the servants who were worried about him, and propped up his forehead tiredly, "Keep an eye on Shen Duo, don't let him leave the yard today."

Shen Changqing actually didn't know Shen Minghuan's plan completely. That day, Shen Minghuan knelt in front of him and only said that he was going to do something very bad and asked for his forgiveness.

"Grandpa, I also want to fulfill the unfulfilled wish of you and the Shen family, so you shouldn't stop me."

"I have my reasons for doing it. Even if Grandpa blames me, I can only apologize in the next life."

The young man in his prime talked about the next life so casually. He was determined to die, and no one could stop him.

Shen Changqing had nothing to say. He was just suddenly confused.

This was the boy he watched grow up with his own eyes. He watched him learn to speak, watched him learn to read, and watched him grow up to be so elegant and clear.

He taught him poetry, songs, and poems, taught him to play the piano and paint, and taught him the character of a scholar...

But he, the little child who called him "Grandpa", the boy with gentle eyebrows, how could he die?

Shen Changqing's eyes were sore, and he closed his eyes hard.

He knew nothing, was protected under the wings, and was kept in the dark. He didn't know what Shen Minghuan was going to do, let alone what he had done.

But he should have discovered it long ago! When he asked Shen Minghuan about his plan several times and the man avoided answering, he should have realized that Shen Minghuan had already made up his mind to die. The servant came back after delivering Shen Changqing's order, and was even more worried. He called out carefully, "Sir?" When Shen Changqing looked up again, he had already restrained his emotions. His slightly red eyes were not clear in the night. He stood up and said calmly, "Go back."

The servant was about to say "yes" when he suddenly heard a very disappointed sigh. He looked around but found nothing unusual and thought he had misheard.

Shen Changqing's back was slightly slumped and he left the small stone pavilion in a mess.

After walking a few steps, he couldn't help but look back. He didn't see Shen Minghuan, but only the swaying green bamboo.

He was a little dazed for a moment, and felt that his grandson was like the green bamboo in winter, full of aloofness and determination that could not be tolerated by the world.