Still waiting for Zhaoyang

Chapter 30
Shang Rui instructed: "Chengzhi, you only need to cut off their food source, and then stand by for orders. You must not make up your own mind. If you violate it, you will be punished by military law."

Xu Chengzhi knelt down to accept the decree: "I would like to obey the holy order."

After explaining to Xu Chengzhi, Shang Rui said to Hong Wu again, "General Hong, you must stop the thief who is meeting King Wu no matter what."

Hong Wu led the decree and said: "The minister will not disgrace the mission."

After Hong Wu finished speaking, Shang Rui got up from his seat, walked down the steps, took two steps, turned around and walked back: "Send my oral order to Sima Lin." Shang Rui said, "If Zizhang and Chengzhi, And with General Hong's great help, if he still can't take down the rebels and rescue Xu Jingye, then he," he paused, "come and see me."

The empress dowager in the apse never spoke.

The ministers left together in twos and threes, and they sighed quietly: "Is my David Dynasty going to be destroyed by the Xu family?"

Tian Yuan quietly watched the backs of Wang Qing and his son going away.

He Lan Xun stroked his beard: "Xun suddenly remembered marbles."

Tian Yuan followed He Lanxun's words and said: "The emperor is ready to deliver the most powerful blow, and bounce all the glazed balls to their proper positions." As long as Xu Chengzhi is obedient, he will be able to retreat completely.

He Lanxun walked out of the palace gate of the imperial city side by side with Tian Yuan.

Under Li Ji's careful conditioning, Xia Yue has basically recovered, and she is full of energy.At night, after He Xiang fed Ah Mo's milk, she went to decoct medicine for Xia Yue, forgetting to leave the dog on the table.

After Ah Mo licked himself, he wanted to get off the table, but found that the table was too high, so he stood by the table and looked down anxiously.

Xia Yue was reading a book on the couch, when she heard its voice, she looked up.

Ah Mo poked one foot down, then retracted it in fear.

She put down the book helplessly, got up and walked to pick it up.She was holding the hand stove in her hand just now, her arms were warm, Ah Mo couldn't help rubbing her head greedily.

This is her first time holding it.The little black plush head acted like a baby, and suddenly touched the soft place in her heart, and couldn't help playing with it for a while while He Xiang was away.

Before going to bed, Xia Yue asked He Xiang to take out the burden given by the old lady last time, took out some silver taels inside, and said to He Xiang: "It's time to say goodbye tomorrow. I will hand over these silver taels to Master Li when I leave." He wanted to spend some more time to ask Li Ji to change his mind and see a doctor for Zijin, but now it seems hopeless.

He Xiang said: "Miss, your body is in good shape. Let's take another two or three days to recuperate. It won't be good if the root of the disease falls."

"Then - leave the day after tomorrow, don't stop me anymore."

He Xiang nodded: "Where are we going back?"

"Let's go back to uncle first. Anyway, the house is empty."

Sleeping until midnight, something moved around her feet, Xia Yue got up in the dark to check, and found that it was Ah Mo.She didn't push it away either, and let it do whatever it wanted.

After one night, Ah Mo clings to her and follows her all the time.The puppy was short and small, and followed closely. Xia Yue almost stepped on it several times.In desperation, Xia Yue had no choice but to hold it in her arms.

four

After the court was over, Shang Rui went to Chengfu Palace to greet him as usual.

Empress Dowager Xu was kneeling on the futon in front of the Buddha statue, chanting sutras and paying homage to the Buddha.He didn't want to disturb, so he wandered around the yard, but he didn't expect to see Ran Hong, the orphan of King Wei.

Ever since King Wei was executed, Ran Hong acted as if he was hiding from Shang Rui on purpose, and never dared to appear in front of Shang Rui again.Although he was demoted to a commoner, there was no order to send him where, so he stayed in the palace.

If it wasn't for someone reminding Shang Rui in the court hall from time to time that the remnants of the king of Wei would have caused endless troubles, he almost forgot about this child.In fact, it is not forgetting, but not daring to think about it, for fear of recalling the child's father, his elder brother.Because of Empress Dowager Xu, his relationship with his brothers is not very close, but Wei Wang is heartless and knows everyone well, so Shang Rui actually has the most interaction with him.

Wang Xiaoxiang understands Shang Rui's thoughts, and has been taking care of Ran Hong, eating and sleeping with the prince Ran Jun, and has never been wronged.

When they bumped into each other in the queen mother's yard, the two children were concentrating on teasing the queen mother's litter of puppies. When they saw Shang Rui, they immediately stood up.

Shang Rui beckoned and called his son over, then looked at Ran Hong and motioned for him to come too.

Ran Jun was bouncing around, but Ran Hong dawdled for a while before moving closer step by step.

Shang Rui sat down on the stool in the gazebo.

Ran Jun greeted An and said, "Jun'er has seen Father."

Before Ran Jun's words hit the ground, Ran Hong quickly knelt down: "Ran Hong, the son of the criminal minister, pays his respects to the emperor."

Shang Rui twitched his eyebrows, and even glanced at Ran Hong, thinking something, but he opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say.

He glanced at his son.

Ran Jun has always been peaceful, intelligent and considerate, and immediately helped Ran Hong up: "Brother Hong, don't be like this, you are my brother, and my father is naturally your uncle."

Ran Hong knelt down again, kowtowed hastily and said, "The son of a guilty minister dare not do anything wrong."

Shang Rui's eyes turned cold: "Who taught you these words on weekdays?"

Ran Hong didn't dare to answer, and knelt on the ground, his back arched like a shrimp, trembling.

Seeing this, Shang Rui couldn't bear to question him, and after a while, he eased his tone: "Hong'er, get up and come back to me."

After hearing Shang Rui's words, Ran Hong stood up tremblingly: "Going back to the emperor, it is Ran Hong who knows himself..." Before Ran Hong finished speaking, he raised his eyes and was frightened by Shang Rui's eyes. Go on.

It happened that Wang Xiaoxiang also came to Chengfu Palace to meet the Queen Mother. Seeing this scene from a distance, he approached and persuaded: "Look at the emperor, you scared the child. Why are you teaching the child here?" The child led him back to his own Jinde Palace.

Wang Xiaoxiang ordered the maid to bring some snacks for the children.Ran Jun took a mouthful of fruit, and secretly glanced at Shang Rui.And Ran Hong's hands were still shaking.

Wang Xiaoxiang patted Ran Hong's head, and then said to Shang Rui: "Don't make things difficult for him, no matter what, he wouldn't dare to tell you the truth."

The words have been picked very clearly, in this huge palace, who else can make everyone keep tight-lipped about him, so Wang Xiaoxiang diverted the conversation and led people away from Chengfu Palace.

It's not that Shang Rui doesn't understand, it's because he has nowhere to vent his anger.

After all, Ran Jun was still a child. Seeing his father and mother in front of him and swallowing his mouth, he dared to defend Ran Hong cautiously: "It was Grandma Huang who said that if Brother Hong didn't know his sins and didn't keep his principles At the end of the day, Grandma Huang, she just...she just..."

Beside him, Ran Hong's tears were already falling down, but he didn't dare to make a sound.

Ran Jun was also infected, and suddenly burst into tears: "Father, can you not tell Grandma Huang, Grandma Huang told Brother Hong not to tell me, let alone anyone else. If Grandma Huang finds out, will you not tell me?" I will really want Brother Hong to die."

Wang Xiaoxiang held the child in his arms.

Shang Rui looked at Ran Hong, and reached out to hold him.Although Ran Hong felt a little sad, he still walked up to Shang Rui.

Shang Rui said: "Hong'er, did the Grand Tutor in the palace teach you what is a country and what is a family?"

Ran Hong nodded.

Shang Rui's tone changed slightly, and he said again: "We are the children of the Tian family, different from ordinary people, the family is the country, and the country is the family. Ran Hong's father is also my elder brother. My elder brother violated the laws of the country and was punished. I'm very sad, because of my closeness, I may be a little less than Ran Hong, so I can understand your pain. But you are not wrong, even if your father violated the law of the country, you are not wrong. Before your father was sentenced, I went to see He, he said his only wish is that you can live a good life and be a useful person upright. Your duty in this life is to live better with your father's expectations, not to pity yourself with unnecessary sins mourning."

After hearing this, Ran Jun immediately threw himself on Shang Rui's chest, hugged him tightly and began to cry, sobbing and shouting: "Uncle Nine, Uncle Nine..." Those who heard the voice couldn't help but burst into tears .

Shang Rui spent half a day playing marbles with the two children in the Jude Palace, until lunch was over, and it was time for a lunch break.

After watching Wang Xiaoxiang lead the two children away, Shang Rui's expression gradually turned cold.

Ming Lian stood behind Shang Rui, not daring to be careless at all.

Wang Xiaoxiang left and returned from the side hall, and was slightly taken aback when he saw him.

"emperor."

The chill and hostility emanating from Shang Rui's surroundings almost enveloped his whole body.In the porcelain vase placed on the table, there were a few peach blossoms that bloomed obliquely, but this tangy spring did not render his handsome face even a trace of warmth.

He returned to Qiantai Palace without saying a word, and after ordering someone to grind the ink, he dismissed all the palace people including Ming Lian. He personally dipped in the thick ink, unfolded the scroll on the table, and wrote slowly.

Half an hour later, Ming Lian heard Shang Rui calling him outside the door, and then followed him to Chengfu Palace again.

This time, the Empress Dowager just woke up from a nap, her hair was tied up in a new style, and she looked very energetic.

When she looked up and saw Shang Rui's expression, she knew that he had something to say, so she told the others to retreat.

In the side hall, only mother and son are left.

The queen mother flattened the folds on the plain clothes: "Tell me, what's the matter?"

Shang Rui got straight to the point and said, "My son has just drawn up two orders. The queen mother will see, which one should I send?"

After finishing speaking, he put the two scrolls on the desk next to the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother unfolded one, read it hastily, glared at Shang Rui who was sitting across from him with anger, put it down heavily, and picked up another one, before reading it completely, the person had already become furious, and put it in his hand Throwing the thing at Shang Rui's feet fiercely: "You bastard! Are you trying to force Aijia to death?"

Shang Rui listened to the words "bastard" in the Queen Mother's mouth, and calmly replied: "Mother has raised her son for so many years, is it just a thing to be a son in the end?"

The queen mother was furious and said: "You also know that the Ai family has raised you for so many years, but you are going to destroy the Xu family? Your conscience has been eaten by dogs?"

Shang Rui didn't answer.

Seeing his attitude, the Queen Mother pointed to his nose and shouted, "You kneel down to Aijia!"

Hearing the queen mother's scolding, Shang Rui got up and followed suit.

"Look at what you wrote." The queen mother was so angry that her hands trembled, she picked up another scroll on the desk, and said angrily, "The current national disaster is imminent, Wei Wang Xu Jingye is holding the military power, and he is defeated. The rebels. Later, they joined forces with the rebels, intending to rebel, and their hearts can be punished. Now Xu Jingye's title of King of Wei will be removed, and his hereditary rights will be stripped. I think Xu is my family member of the David Dynasty, and his family is pardoned. However, the Xu family will not be an official for life, and they are not allowed to enter Beijing at will unless they are summoned by order, and if they violate it, the nine families will be implicated..." At the end, the queen mother couldn't read any more, and slapped the imperial edict on the table.Empress Dowager Xu is a strong temper herself, the more she talked, the more angry she was, she picked up the half bowl of glutinous rice and lotus seed porridge left on the table and threw it at Shang Rui, but he didn't expect him to hide, the bowl hit his chest and broke into two halves. The porridge splashed all over his body.

Shang Rui knelt down and remained silent.

"You are talking to Aijia!" The Queen Mother glared.

Shang Rui lowered his eyes and said lightly: "What can the son say, mother, you don't know why Xu Jingye was captured alive by Wei Shangren."

The queen mother was taken aback, she naturally knew about this, and said falteringly: "You...your uncle...he just received a letter from Fifth Sister, saying that he could save Xu Yang's life. You know Xu Yang is his That's why he took the risk to bring his confidant..." The Fifth Younger Sister mentioned by the Empress Dowager is Princess Huai.

Shang Rui coldly reprimanded: "I don't know how my mother found out about this. In order to deceive you, they actually made up such a lie about the deep love between father and son."

He continued: "The letter was indeed written by Princess Huai, but what was written in it was Xu Jingye's plan in his heart. Every sentence was to persuade him to join hands with Duke Huai, in a delusion to share the world with him."

The queen mother glared at him, completely disbelieving: "How can you be sure that what Aijia knows is false, but what you know is true?"

"My son has already sent someone to get that letter, and it will be sent to the Imperial Capital in a few days, so that my mother can personally appreciate Princess Huai's handwriting."

Empress Dowager Xu was a little speechless when she heard the words, so she said, "How do you know it wasn't Wei Shangren's conspiracy?"

"Mother, you know that Sima Lin found Xu Yang last night."

Empress Dowager Xu was surprised: "Didn't he be caught by Wei Shangren?"

"There was a mutiny in the southern region. Xu Yang broke through with the cavalry in the camp of Syria. He was trapped in Shicheng Mountain. He was seriously injured in the scuffle and was rescued by a hunter."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager quickly chanted "Amitabha Buddha", put her palms together, went to the Buddha statue and worshiped: "The Bodhisattva has a kind heart, and the Bodhisattva has a kind heart."

Seeing this, Shang Rui's eyes were filled with coldness: "The bodhisattva's heart that my mother cultivated is only for Xu Yang and the others, but not for Ran Hong and the others?"

Empress Dowager Xu retorted: "What do you know, you wouldn't be where you are today without Mrs. Xu, the Wei family would have eaten our mother and child long ago."

As she spoke, she walked back from the altar again: "Even if Xu Yang is fine, it doesn't prove that your uncle has a rebellious heart."

At this moment, Empress Dowager Xu has calmed down a lot. Although she doesn't fully believe Shang Rui's words, she also has doubts. She thought that Shang Rui would definitely continue to use words to persuade her, but Shang Rui nodded and replied: "That's right. "

He raised his eyes and continued: "But if I want it to be true, it can be true. I will ask people to imitate Xu Jingye's handwriting, and write a letter back to Wei Shangren. With the handwriting of Princess Huai before, the evidence is solid and fake. It will become true. If Wei Shangren picked up a fisherman and made a profit, he will probably continue to play tricks. If he doesn't know the current affairs and wants to put aside his relationship with Xu Jingye, it will be easier. I can say that he It's just a play to protect Xu Jingye. When the time comes, I will send this order down. Mother, what will happen when you say it?"

"You're crazy!" Empress Dowager Xu said in horror, "Do you know what will happen if the Xu family's army is forced to defect by you?"

"If I let the blood of Xu's family flow into rivers, it will be one of them; if they form an alliance with Wei Shangren, and in turn kill their son, this is the second. Originally, the king and the bandit, the son has nothing to say , but how will you die, mother?"

"Then why did you come up with such a decree?" Empress Dowager Xu asked angrily.

"That's why my son drew up another copy, and I ask my mother to decide." Shang Rui lowered his hand, picked up the scroll that the Queen Mother had dropped at his feet just now, and presented it with both hands, "If Xu Jingye can commit suicide in the rebel prison, my son We will treat him with state ceremonies, welcome back his body, and bury him in the mausoleum according to the rank of king, and the Xu family will be relieved of their military power, so they can enjoy the holy favor forever."

The queen mother looked at the imperial decree in Shang Rui's hand, and did not speak for a long time, nor did she reach out to take it.Shang Rui also maintained that posture without moving.

Shang Rui looked at the Empress Dowager: "Mother, do you know that Xu Jingye has been involved in embezzlement with the DPRK and China?"

Empress Dowager Xu waved her hand: "He told Aijia before. Some colleagues and fellow villagers can't get rid of their feelings. It's such a small matter, but Wang Ji and Yu Shitai always make trouble for him."

Shang Rui sneered and said, "Small matter?" He put down the edict, and took out a notebook from his pocket, "This is the letter I received after the joint trial of the third division of the Liangmadu corruption case."

"How is the result?"

"Liang Madu made a confession, and Xu Jingye was the mastermind behind the scenes. Xu Jingye's party colluded with the officials of the DPRK and China, not only buying and selling official positions, but even reselling military rations in the army. This is just a rough statistics of the rations involved in the case that Liang Madu and his family pleaded guilty. It has reached 350 million shi." Shang Rui's eyes were like a cold pool, "350 million shi——Mother naturally knows that since her son ascended the throne, the annual autumn grain collected by the whole country is only 400 million shi."

Empress Dowager Xu asked in surprise, "Is what you said true?"

Shang Rui replied: "Everything my son said is true. If my mother doesn't believe it, she can go to Dali Temple to have a trial. Xu Jingye's party's actions are all aimed at destroying my Wei family, and his heart can be punished." He said His tone was neither urgent nor slow, but it was like a hammer chiseling in his heart.

Empress Dowager Xu's fingers vigorously stirred the silk handkerchief in her hand, almost breaking it: "However, he is the elder brother of the Ai family, and the century-old foundation of the Xu family is tied to him. After the death of the Ai family, what face will I have to meet Xu?" The ancestors of the family."

Shang Rui lowered his eyes and said: "If you can only choose one of the son and the Xu family, who will the mother choose? Has the mother ever thought that when Luanyu returns to the west in the future, the mother's god should be provided to the Wei family, or should the mother be the one?" The Xu family? What's more, the son didn't ask the mother to abandon the Xu family at this moment, only Xu Jingye was alone."

Empress Dowager Xu's eyes moved slightly, but her mouth was tightly shut.

The two of them knelt and sat down without saying anything.

(End of this chapter)