Jiuxi

Chapter 982 980 [Sunshine in the Cracks]

Jing State, Dadu.

Regent's Palace, West Garden.

Qing Yu Huaijin walked in dressed in casual clothes, and the maids hurriedly bowed respectfully.

She came to the outer room of the main house and talked with her eldest sister-in-law who had a sad face for a while. After calming her down, she walked around the screen and into the inner bedroom.

A pale-faced man was lying on the bed. He was Qing Yu Zhongwang, who had gone through untold hardships, crossed the Ten Thousand Mountains with injuries, and traveled thousands of miles to escape.

When the cavalry under Miegudi found him on the north bank of the Jing River, he was already dying, emaciated, with multiple wounds on his body that were life-threatening.

Miegudi ordered the military doctor to perform rescue work immediately, sent a fast horse to Dadu to deliver a message, and used the best carriage to send Qing Yu Zhongwang back.

Then there were more than two months of treatment. Qing Yuzhongwang was in a coma most of the time, and would be awake for half an hour every one or two days. He basically relied on medicine and liquid food to maintain his life.

According to the diagnosis of several famous doctors, his body was severely damaged and even if he could recover, it would affect his life span.

Qing Yu Huaijin first looked at the furnishings in the room, then moved a chair and sat beside the bed.

Qing Yuzhongwang leaned against the soft pillow, noticed her movements, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"See if the people in the mansion are serious. If there are any stupid people like this, kick them out as soon as possible."
Qing Yu Huaijin's answer was simple and direct, without any concealment at all.

Qing Yuzhongwang felt somewhat relieved.

This is an unavoidable question.

Logically, as the eldest son of Qing Yugong, he should be the next head of the Qing Yu clan. However, in the past few years, he and Qing Yugong have been under close surveillance by Emperor Jing, and he has to go on the expedition with the army. Therefore, Qing Yugong can only gradually hand over the trump cards to Qing Yu Huaijin.

After that extremely crucial night of the palace coup, Qing Yu Huaijin had already gained the unanimous recognition of the Qing Yu clan's overt and covert forces, generals such as Tuoman Ulu, and the other five major surnames. Over the past six months, as the regent of Dajing, Qing Yu Huaijin had taken advantage of the opportunity to quell domestic unrest and adjust the court, and had firmly grasped power in his hands.

Even if Qing Yuzhongwang came back now, he is only the eldest son of Qing Yugong and obviously cannot shake this situation.

There are also some people who are watching secretly, hoping for a scene of siblings fighting each other.

Qing Yu Zhongwang knew this very well. He smiled and said, "It's actually not a bad thing to be misunderstood."

Qing Yu Huaijin was no longer the same person he used to be. He pondered and said, "Brother, are you trying to lure the snake out of its hole?"

"Your sister-in-law has been nagging non-stop these past few days. Although it is a bit annoying to listen to, it also gives me a rough idea of ​​the current situation in the government and the country."

Qing Yu Zhongwang adjusted his posture slightly and continued, "The remaining forces of the Alihe clan are no longer a threat. It will be easy for you to let Mie Gudi deal with them. The civil officials in the court are not a problem either. You can win over some and suppress some, and let them fight among themselves while doing their work. That will be enough to control the noose around their necks. The ones who are really troublesome are Wen Gusun and Du Ji. The Huite clan and Huiluo clan behind them will not be so peaceful. I heard from your sister-in-law that the members of these two families are now extremely arrogant in the city?"

"Ah."

Qing Yu Huaijin looked calm and said, "Just the day before yesterday afternoon, Wen Gusun's second son Echang broke the leg of Zhao Siwen's eldest grandson. The reason was that he humiliated a seventh-rank official in the street. Zhao Siwen's eldest grandson couldn't bear it and said a few fair words."

Shangshu Ling Zhao Siwen is a veteran minister of three dynasties. Regardless of his character, at least half of the civil officials in the court have been promoted by him.

If it were Emperor Jingdi, even though those Jinglian nobles looked down on the civil officials with Qi blood, they would not dare to be so arrogant.

Qing Yu Zhongwang asked curiously, "Then how did you deal with it?"

"How else can we deal with it?"

Qing Yu Huaijin's eyes were filled with sarcasm, and he said calmly: "Wen Gusun is now leading troops in the south to guard against the Qi army. He loves his second son the most, so he can't just break E Chang's legs. I asked Tu Shan to bring E Chang to the palace, scolded him severely in front of Zhao Siwen, and then punished him to reflect on himself in the palace for half a year."

"That's enough."

Qing Yuzhong looked at his sister's thin face with pity and said softly, "Don't worry, wait until these people become the wrath of heaven and people, then you can take action to catch them all in one fell swoop."

"Don't worry, brother. I can take care of these people."

Qing Yu Huaijin paused for a moment, then explained, "Brother, I just hope you can recover as soon as possible, and then come out to work. I'm ready to let you--"

"Huai Jin."

Qing Yuzhongwang interrupted her, looked into her eyes and asked, "How have I treated you since we were little?"

"Excellent."

Qing Yu Huaijin didn't hesitate at all.

She has lived in an extremely happy environment since she was a child. Even if we put aside the influence of the outside world, Qing Yugong treats her like the apple of his eye, and Qing Yuzhongwang cares for her in every way. Moreover, she can feel that her brother's sincerity has remained the same for twenty years and it is by no means a pretense or perfunctory attitude.

"With just these two words of yours, I am satisfied."

Qing Yu Zhongwang smiled lightly, and then said: "I know my physical condition well. I was seriously injured on the battlefield before, and I was even more devastated during the subsequent escape of thousands of miles. Not to mention becoming a disabled person, I don't have enough energy to handle major matters. I will definitely help you in the future, because you are the future of our Qing Yu family, and you are my only sister. But you must remember, since you have reached this position, you must hold the power firmly in your hands and don't give anyone else the opportunity to spy, even if that person is your own brother."

Hearing this, a trace of disappointment finally appeared on Qing Yu Huaijin's calm face. Qing Yu Zhongwang said seriously: "Promise me."

After a long silence, Qing Yu Huaijin nodded and said, "Okay."

"Actually... you don't have to bear too much pressure. At least I won't stand against you."

Qing Yuzhong sighed and said slowly: "I promised my father that I would do my best to protect you."

At this moment, he finally stopped hiding the sadness in his eyes.

The thousands of miles of escape, especially the endless dangers in the Ten Thousand Mountains, and the figure of Qing Yugong who was trapped in a desperate situation in order to give him a chance of survival, became an indelible grief in his heart.

The double torture of physical and psychological suffering made the once strong Qing Yuzhongwang emaciated. If it were not for Qing Yugong's exhortation that made him unable to give up, and if he had not wanted to fulfill his duties as the eldest son of the Qing Yu family, perhaps he would have left this world long ago.

Looking at Qing Yuzhongwang's forced smile, Qing Yuhuaijin's heart, which had been frozen for more than half a year, finally felt a little warm.

She said softly, "Brother, tell me about the Battle of Pingyang."

"Ah."

Qing Yuzhongwang narrated the story calmly, starting from when their father accepted the post of commander-in-chief of the Western Route Army, to the first half of the period when the Jing Army was advancing unstoppably toward the city of Pingyang, to the three consecutive earth-shaking battles between Qing Yugong and Xiao Wangzhi, and then to that night when the cold wind was howling in Jinsha City.

The last scene is that Qing Yugong is trapped in the Qi army's array, while Qing Yuzhongwang escapes from the battlefield under the protection of some loyal guards.

His voice was calm, but the sadness in his tone was as thick as ink.

"Huai Jin, father hopes you won't be too sad. He is proud of you."

Qing Yu Zhongwang's last words completely broke through Qing Yu Huaijin's defenses, but she did not cry or shed tears. Perhaps on that night after the palace coup, she had shed all the tears in her life.

She just said softly but firmly: "I won't let him down."

Qing Yu Zhongwang raised his hand with some effort and gently touched her forehead, while Qing Yu Huaijin leaned forward on his own initiative, just like the tacit understanding between the brother and sister when they were playing many years ago.

"Brother, take a good rest and don't let your sister-in-law worry. I will arrange everything."

"Okay, you have to take care of yourself and don't overwork yourself."

Qing Yu Huaijin agreed, then stood up and walked out.

When she arrived at the main hall of the front house, there was no longer any sadness or loneliness on her face.

In addition to several backbone members of the Qingyu clan, there was also an extremely humble and respectful middle-aged man in the hall.

Qing Yu Huaijin looked at him expressionlessly and said calmly, "Master Wang, it is said that good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years. This saying is very appropriate for you."

The middle-aged man was none other than Wang Shidao, the former head of the Yan State's Inspection Office. Back then, Wang An used the birthday banquet to set up a killing trap, and he was the only lucky one who escaped. Later, he was silent for a long time due to recuperation from his injuries, and was finally sent by Qing Yugong to work under Qing Yu Huaijin.

After so many years of twists and turns, Wang Shidao had long since extinguished the ridiculous thoughts in his heart. He also understood that he did not have the qualifications to stir up the situation, especially in the core area of ​​the Jinglian people's influence. He could only continue to live a stable life by wholeheartedly helping Qing Yu Huaijin and exerting his ability in the sinister level.

Wang Shidao bowed and said, "Thanks to your kindness, I am able to survive in this world."

“It was a pretty good job.”

Qing Yu Huaijin nodded slightly and asked, "Have all the people been settled?"

"In accordance with your Highness's order, the workshop is located at the northern foot of Ningshan Mountain in the western suburbs. I have recruited more than 500 craftsmen from all over the country, of whom more than 120 are skilled in the production of gunpowder. The rest are craftsmen who are skilled in various craftsmanship according to your Highness's requirements."

Wang Shidao continued, still hunched over, "According to the descriptions of General Shubulie and the soldiers who participated in the Battle of Lei Ze, the craftsmen have begun to study the muskets and cannons used by the Qi army."

"very good."

Qing Yu Huaijin walked out and said, "Come on, follow me to the western suburbs to take a look. These people are shouldering important tasks, and we must not treat them lightly."

Everyone responded in unison: "Yes, Your Highness."

After a while, more than a thousand elite cavalrymen left the palace and walked slowly along the main street of the city.

Qing Yu Huaijin looked at the streets which were gradually becoming bustling, and scenes of iron and blood intertwined over the past six months flashed through his mind.

She subconsciously looked up at the sky.

The sun was shining brightly and the sky was blue.

In this world, all things grow and are full of vitality.

(End of this chapter)