bantayden Chapter 125 124
Chapter 125 124
Ye Sirui rubbed his eyebrows wearily. "Then there is nothing to say. My father doesn't like me, and he never allows me to show up in front of the ministers. But I am in the palace after all. The palace people are not as guarded against me as they are to His Majesty. It is not difficult to pry into anything." What's more, I haven't ignored it in recent years, and I know very well how much the aristocratic family hates my father."
Zhou Yi walked over to help him massage the acupuncture points on his head.Ye Sirui closed his eyes contentedly, and continued: "The king of Xiang is on his southern tour, and there is only my elder brother in the palace. He is much more stupid than my father, and it is not difficult to subdue him. Doubt, for the sake of this son who has grown up so easily, I have to take a risk."
"Then...then you know, the king of Xiang, his family was confiscated and his family expelled, my brother was put under house arrest, the rest of the males were beheaded, and the female relatives were distributed."
"Where's your mother?" Zhou Yi asked suddenly.Ye Sirui has been talking about his father and brother for so long, but he never mentioned a word about his mother.
"Mother..." Ye Sirui repeated this title in a daze, "I don't even remember what my mother looks like." Zhou Yi held his shoulders more gently, and Ye Sirui sighed comfortably. "My mother is just a concubine in the palace, her family background is not obvious, the princess did not criticize her, but my father has no feelings for her, and she is not allowed to see me and my brother. I left home when I was four years old, and I only slept once in my memory. She secretly came to see me." Ye Sirui tried his best to recall, his eyebrows frowned. "Later, when my father entered the palace, she seemed to have died of illness. It's okay, but she didn't suffer much afterwards."
Zhou Yi hugged him from behind. "I used to see you pampered and pampered, and always thought you were raised by your family."
"Although the first queen didn't like Your Majesty and me, she never made things difficult for us because of the protection of the prince's elder brother." Ye Sirui smiled lightly, "I am already very satisfied."
Zhou Yi brought back the topic that had been dragged away: "So after getting rid of the Queen of Xiang, you took Ye Kuang to live among the people?"
"Yes. The world only knew that the King of Xiang had a son, so I just let me continue to hide my name." Ye Sirui remembered that the little emperor was finally able to govern himself, and stood in front of him wearing a dragon robe, "You go, go to the folk life, and don't show up again. In front of me." But within a few years, he appeared in the capital again, and even sat in the Zhongcui Palace.Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile.
"Then why did you become an official again?" Zhou Yi asked, leaning his head on Ye Sirui's shoulder and turning his face.
"I have nothing to do, I took the imperial examination, and I don't want to enter Beijing, so I can only be a county magistrate." Ye Sirui blew into his eyes, showing a successful mischievous smile.Zhou Yi quickly caught him, leaned forward and kissed him lightly.
After parting, Zhou Yi took a few breaths, and then asked again: "But, it's all right for you to remain anonymous, why did you take Ye Kuang away?"
Ye Sirui was staring at his intertwined hands and smiling, when he heard this question, his smile immediately turned into a mockery, "Do you think my cousin wants this nephew to be known?"
Zhou Yi was silent.
"Even if he is willing, I don't want Kuang'er to die in an accident at some point." Ye Sirui said lightly again: "You don't know how many innocent children have been swallowed up by this huge palace city."
Zhou Yi tightened his arm around his arm. "Then, why did people from the Southern Party come to you? And why did you..." Why did you help the little emperor?
"The Southern Party could not have rebelled. After all, they still had the upper hand in the struggle with the Northern Party. It would be great if the rebellion succeeded in getting rid of the Northern Party's shackles, but once it failed, it would be irreversible. But Director Zhu saw me in Pu County and took me After the news that Zhu Jianglin was still alive was told, they had to turn against him."
Ye Sirui gently pressed Zhou Yi's lips with his fingers, and also pressed his unspoken questions. "Zhu Jianglin said that they rebelled for the reputation of the scholars, and he was not lying when he said so. As long as His Majesty is in power, the Southern Party will never raise its head. It will always be pointed out by the Northern Party because of its attachment to King Xiang. Nose scolding, and this is something these civil servants and orthodox scholars will never be able to bear. There is only one solution. Your Majesty has no children, and if there is something wrong, or he will abdicate voluntarily..." He didn't say any more.But Zhou Yi understood what he meant, "If I support you to ascend the throne, will you rehabilitate King Xiang?" His voice was a little tight.
Ye Sirui didn't answer his question directly. "Your Majesty asked me to investigate the assassination case of King Xiang. At first I thought he was tempting me with you, but later I found out that it was not. He had had enough of the Southern Party and wanted to use me to catch them all."
"Then isn't the Beidang family dominant in the court?"
"Then you underestimate my cousin. He did use these aristocratic families to rise to power, but haven't you heard how he described the left and right governors of the five armies' governor's mansion? The southern party hates these officials of the northern party. He will bring down killers, but His Majesty doesn't care at all. Including the harem... You may not know that most of His Majesty's harem today are women from aristocratic families."
He clicked to the end, but Zhou Yi was startled into a cold sweat.
"Your Majesty is here—"
Suddenly, the eunuch's sharp voice came from the door.Zhou Yi quickly let go of Ye Sirui, Ye Sirui picked up the leather cap from the table and put it on, the two straightened their clothes, kowtowed and saluted. "No courtesy." The emperor only brought Eunuch Feng, who stayed outside the hall to guard the gate.The emperor strode into the palace, looking around as he walked. "I haven't been to this Zhongcui Palace for a long time. I just asked the palace staff to clean it as it is. Brother Huang, how do you see how it is preserved here?"
"Your Majesty, please worry about it." Ye Sirui put away his casualness and replied solemnly.
"Both of you have made great contributions this time. Zhou Yi," he looked at Zhou Yi first, "You have made great contributions in saving him. Would you like to join my personal guard? Governor of Jinwu Guard, how about this position?"
The governor of the Jinwu Guard is an official of the eighth rank.Zhou Yi didn't know this, so he just shook his head and replied, "Thank you for your kindness, it's just that the grassroots are used to idleness, and I'm afraid they won't be able to adapt to court."
"You really don't think about it anymore? Although the governor only has eight ranks, you are still young and have good skills. Sooner or later, you will be able to do a good job, and even be an acquaintance and commander." The emperor explained in a persuasive manner.
Zhou Yi still refused. "Caomin just want to have something to eat and live the same life as before."
The emperor nodded, no longer insisting, and turned to look at Ye Sirui. "Brother Huang, it is really a last resort for you to be wronged by the people for a few years. Now that the court has been set, you should come back."
Ye Sirui bowed his head and replied: "This minister is just an ordinary person, he is favored by His Majesty, and now he is punished by the Prosecutor Siqian. It is a good fortune to share His Majesty's worries in the court."
"Are you still angry with me?" Before he could answer, the emperor said, "I used to say some angry words, but I was young at that time, why should I be angry? Brother Huang has been an official in the people for several years. You have made achievements. I told you to replace Zhu Quan earlier, but I thought about it again. How can such a precious man, the emperor, take the risk of being punished and prosecuted? I will announce it to the world immediately, announcing the recovery of the lost civilians of the king of Xiang. Flesh and blood, if you continue to be King of Xiang, I will definitely use you again, how about it?"
Ye Sirui brushed off his robe, knelt down straight, and took off the hat on his head. "Everyone knows that Prince Xiang's heir is difficult, and he has only one son. Everything in Beijing is over, and I would like to resign and return to my hometown. Please allow your majesty."
"How can this be done?" The little emperor persuaded: "I have also heard that the residence of the emperor's brother in Helin County is really too simple. The emperor's brother went deep into the tiger's den and made great contributions, which can be reused. How can I Let the royal blood be shed outside? Brother Huang, why not take his nephew to Beijing as soon as possible, or..."
"Your Majesty." Ye Sirui raised his head suddenly, interrupting the emperor's words.He has always abided by the principles of a monarch and his ministers, such a disrespectful behavior caused the emperor to be stunned for a while, and he didn't care about the reaction.
"I would like to ask Your Majesty, do you know a Juren named Zhou Hui in Dong'an County? He used to be Kuang'er's teacher."
The emperor's eyes widened. "How do I know this?"
"I would like to ask Your Majesty again, the remnants of the Golden Scissors Association have been lingering in Helin County for many years, Your Majesty really knows nothing about it?"
The emperor lowered his face, "Is the emperor questioning me?"
"So, Zhu Yousi disguised himself as Zhu Kun and went to Linxian County, deliberately induced the scholar to write the story of King Xiang's illegitimate son living in the rivers and lakes, and then killed the scholar to attract the attention of the courtiers. Your Majesty also knew about it?"
"What the hell do you mean!"
"It's fine if you don't save him after several assassinations, and it's fine if you transfer me to Lin County. But you shouldn't have made up Kuang'er's idea! Kuang'er was killed, and you asked someone to hand over the poison to Zhou Hui, right? Otherwise he Where did such a poor and impoverished man get such colorless and tasteless drugs! It's just to test Zhou Yi's ability! If His Majesty wants to use you again, I won't be able to bear it."
The emperor's face sank like water, and the anger of the emperor was in his eyes. "Do you really think that I dare not kill you?"
"I don't dare! But if I can't keep the prince's flesh and blood, I would rather go to the underworld to plead guilty to him!" Ye Sirui bumped back indifferently. "Since I have already said something that violated the precepts today, I might as well say a few more words. Your Majesty has been in power for five years, and the rest of the King of Xiang's party who violated him has been wiped out. Today's world should be peaceful and peaceful, but what now? Floods are rampant. Disaster relief. Imperial examination fraud, no one is punished. Corruption and fraud, party disputes continue. Your Majesty wants to balance the power of the court, no one can be trusted, some people are not available, and some people cannot be moved. , compared to when King Xiang was in charge, has the life of the people improved? If not, will His Majesty have a face to see the late Emperor and the elder brother of the Crown Prince under the Nine Springs in the future!?"
"If you can't know people and make good use of them, and appoint people on their merits, the court will be full of incompetent, party-minded and dissidents. Even if one Hunan king is removed and a group of officials are dismissed, there will be a second Xiang king in the future, and a second Nandang!"
Ye Sirui didn't care about it, and said what was in his heart in one go.Then kowtow and wait for treatment.These words are already disrespectful, but the emperor who was still furious just now didn't explode for a long time.Seeing this, Ye Sirui uttered again: "Your Majesty please grant me your permission!"
The emperor stared at him blankly, as if he knew this brother for the first time.It was also the first time for Ye Sirui to stare at this younger brother for such a long time. He took the initiative to hold Ye Sirui's hand tightly, waiting for this young king with heavy eyes to decide the fate of the two of them.
It took him a long time before he said slowly, "Sure."
He Ying sent Ye Sirui and Zhou Yi out of the city.
"I didn't expect that you really became a martial artist." Ye Sirui laughed.
"I also learned it from Mr. Xia." He Ying glanced at Zhou Yi. "If you can't benefit the people, protect the people you care about, what's the use of learning martial arts and reading the books of sages all over the world?"
"You have indeed made progress, and you have lived up to Lord Hou's high expectations." Ye Sirui stopped. "Just send it here."
He Ying led the horse to stop. "I'll visit you when I go home during the Chinese New Year."
"Zhou Yi and I are planning to go back to Lin County and take a walk around. We might have gone somewhere by then." Zhou Yi raised the curtain, waiting for Ye Sirui to get in the car first.Ye Sirui hurriedly said goodbye to He Ying: "Okay, let's go back!"
The carriage kicked and started to move.
Ye Sirui wobbled and bumped into Zhou Yi's shoulder from time to time. "I almost forgot something." He said suddenly, the carriage staggered, and his head almost hit the wall of the carriage. Fortunately, Zhou Yi had quick eyesight and quick hands, and grabbed his shoulders into his arms. "What's up?"
"I still owe you an apology." Ye Sirui said seriously, "Although you misunderstood me in the previous quarrel in the Zhuangyuan Building, I was also wrong. It was indeed my father who killed your parents. You think his death is more than justified. It's as it should be. I'm his son, no matter how much I don't want to admit it, it's true, I... still want to apologize to you, and I also want to apologize to your parents on behalf of my father."
Zhou Yi rubbed his hair crown, and said casually: "I said earlier that I don't blame you. As for your father's matter, I will cancel the account of killing him."
"What's more..." Zhou Yi said thoughtfully again: "I'm also thinking, your father did kill my parents, but must he be a heinous bastard? Maybe it's not worth it for so many years."
The carriage drove out of the gate of the capital, and the spring morning sun was shining golden. Taking advantage of the bumps of the carriage, it passed through the gaps in the curtains and shone on the two of them. As the two left the bustling and luxurious capital behind, they became farther and farther away.