The rising sun, the spring light is infinite, and the wisps of brilliance shroud the Chui Gong Palace, adding a bit of sanctity and nobility to it. Just like the name of the palace, Emperor Liu is now truly sitting north and facing south, firmly occupying the Long Pavilion, and ruling with the hanging arch.
Recently, he spent most of his time in Chui Gong Palace and rarely even went to the harem. This made many concubines who longed for the emperor's fortune look forward to it.
"How can you be so old in just a short period of time?" A slightly surprised voice sounded in the palace. Emperor Liu looked at Li Chongju who was kneeling in the palace with some emotion.
It was nearly a month since Li Chongju came to the palace to pay respects to the saint. During this period, he had been recuperating in the palace. However, in just one month, Li Chongju's whole person had undergone earth-shaking changes.
He looked sick and haggard, his temples were stained with hoarfrost, his figure was thin, and his energy and energy seemed to have been drained by the disease. He looked very difficult even when he was kneeling there, and his whole person was surrounded by a desolate atmosphere.
After all, he is his close confidant who has been with him for more than 20 years. Seeing his appearance now, he couldn't help but feel sad and said: "Didn't I send the imperial doctor to diagnose you? Why is the illness not relieved? Could it be that the imperial doctor is not treating you?"
Try your best?"
There was a trace of sullenness in Emperor Liu's tone, as if he meant to blame the imperial doctor. Li Chongju was still a relatively kind person, and he immediately said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! I don't blame the imperial doctor, he has done his best! My body is my own."
It is clear that I have not contracted any disease in the past twenty years or so, but when the disease comes, there is nothing you can do..."
"There is nothing you can do! If you are sick, treat it, and if you need medicine, take it!" Emperor Liu waved his hand and looked at Li Chongju's weak appearance. Some of the dissatisfaction that had been accumulated in his heart seemed to dissipate, and he sighed: "If you are so sick,
Let me know in the morning!"
Li Chongju paid his respects again: "Before, I was suffering from a terrible illness. If I rushed to see you, I would disturb the holy body. Now that I am relieved, I should go to the palace to express my gratitude!"
"What are you talking about!" Emperor Liu seemed a little excited: "How can I have so many scruples! I have never seen anything and experienced nothing. You and I have been a monarch and minister for more than twenty years, so why do you need to be so open-minded?"
"Your Majesty's kindness to me is as great as a mountain. I will remember it for the rest of my life and dare not forget it!" Li Chongju said.
After some pleasantries, Emperor Liu slowly came to his senses and looked at Li Chongju again. From his words, he seemed to feel something. His eyes flashed with suspicion, and he stretched out his hand and said: "You don't have to do this gift if you are not feeling well."
Come on, stop kneeling, get up quickly, sit down and talk!"
As he said that, Emperor Liu winked at Yantuo. Yantuo understood and stepped forward to help Li Chongju and help him sit down. Emperor Liu said gently: "I'm afraid you are here not just to say hello!"
Hearing this, Li Chongju moved and stood up again. Upon seeing this, Emperor Liu immediately said: "Just sit down and talk!"
Facing Emperor Liu's gaze, Li Chongju took a deep breath, and with a hint of solemnity on his gloomy face, he said: "Your Majesty, I am now old and frail, my energy is very low, it is difficult to manage, and I can no longer assume the military ethics.
I sincerely ask your majesty to be kind and kind to the minister, and allow the minister to return to his care, and select another talented person to take charge of the military affairs of the minister!"
really!
Emperor Liu was already aware of Li Chongju's purpose, but after hearing his explanation, his face was still filled with emotions. Soon, all emotions disappeared, and he stared at Li Chongju expressionlessly. Perhaps Emperor Liu's eyes were too high.
It was so lethal that even if Li Chongju had already made up his mind, he couldn't help but avoid it, lowered his head, and waited for the answer, as if he was waiting for the verdict.
"You also want to resign, want to go to court, want to leave me?" After a long time, Emperor Liu finally spoke, and there seemed to be no emotion in his tone.
His heart was trembling slightly, and Li Chongju didn't even raise his head, and responded: "My current body is indeed difficult to shoulder the heavy responsibility. I hope your majesty will be kind and allow you to do so. Although I have gone to court, I will still be your majesty's minister. I will not change for thousands of years and will not change for thousands of years."
Even in Jianghu, I am always grateful for His Majesty's kindness and pray for Your Majesty!"
"You are not even fifty years old! How can you say you are old!" Emperor Liu's voice suddenly rose, almost shaking the palace beams, and he raised his hand and waved it irregularly in the air a few times, obviously dissatisfied: "After so many years, you
Have you ever seen me release an important minister in his prime to be raised?"
"Your Majesty!" Li Chongju's voice still sounded old and weak, and he said sincerely: "I have this old and sick body, which is of no use to the court!"
"I'm afraid it's not possible!" Emperor Liu narrowed his eyes slightly, and his hidden gaze seemed to be releasing some kind of dangerous signal: "The argument of old age is difficult to establish. If it is just an illness and recuperation, it will not be the end of the world.
Let’s get to the level of an official!”
Emperor Liu's words, to Li Chongju, were like a thunderbolt. Hearing the words, his heart was shaken. A touch of bitterness flashed across his weak face, and then he asked in a sincere tone: "I sincerely ask your Majesty.
Show some mercy!"
Li Chongju's performance was really pitiful. Emperor Liu didn't answer for a while. He stared at him for a while, stood up, and walked to him with his hands behind his back. Seeing this, Li Chongju stood up tremblingly, and it seemed a little difficult to stand. Maybe he was frightened.
, or the body is really embarrassed.
Looking at him, Emperor Liu said quietly: "Zhou Zhe, don't you think that in recent years, you and I have become increasingly estranged?"
Without waiting for a reply, Emperor Liu said to himself: "Since Luzhou, you have followed me for twenty-four years, through ups and downs, with sincerity, life and death!
There are not many people in the whole government who are worthy of my trust, and you, Li Shouze, are one of them, and I have always relied on you. What a critical position the Wude Department is, and it has been entrusted to you. In the past twenty years, there has never been any
Suspect.
That's it. In recent years, you and I seem to have drifted apart! What caused the estrangement between you and me? Now, you want to resign to avoid the court?
Is it me who makes you feel uneasy? Are you afraid that I am suspicious and jealous? Or do you think that I am stubborn and arrogant and have a cold nature, so you are afraid that I will not end well?"
These words were probably the most sincere words Emperor Liu had for Li Chongju in recent years. However, to Li Chongju, these words were like sharp knives stabbing him mercilessly. Every word was heartbreaking.
fear.
But Li Chongju couldn't hold it any longer, and he suddenly fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face, and kept kowtowing: "Your Majesty said, I never dare to accept it! Don't say it, it's because I'm secretly worried and betraying the grace of God.
, please forgive me..."
He lowered his head and looked at Li Chongju who was prostrating himself at his feet. Listening to the sound, the kowtow was really cruel. After listening to his request, Emperor Liu's expression was finally no longer so cold. He lowered his body, reached out to help him up, and sighed: "That's it! I
I hope there will be a beginning and an end, but some things, it seems, are difficult to force after all!"
"Your Majesty!" Li Chongju called out choked with blood on his forehead.
Emperor Liu slowly turned around and sat down, saying: "If you have decided to leave, I won't force you, but you can resign, but you don't have to go back to your home to be recuperated. Just stay in the capital, in your mansion, and recuperate in peace!"
Whenever you think of me, come into the palace and see me!"
"I pay my respects to you, Your Majesty!" After hearing that Emperor Liu finally relented, Li Chongju, as if he had been granted amnesty, prostrated himself again and thanked him emotionally.
Emperor Liu looked at the excited Li Chongju and turned his head away. He couldn't help but feel a sense of loss in his heart. Maybe he had suspicions about Li Chongju, but overall, Emperor Liu still trusted him. During the twenty-four years of spring and autumn, the friendship was also
It cannot be summed up in a few words, but it can stand the test.
However, the special nature of the position of Wude Si inevitably leads to strange situations. A minister who has presided over Wude Si for nearly twenty years will always retain it even if Emperor Liu trusts him again. Moreover, for Li Chongju, time means nothing.
The longer it goes, the more dangerous it is.
Emperor Liu knew Li Chongju well. Just like his name, he was a rule-abiding and capable person. This was evident from the time when he resigned in fear when he first became the envoy.
Similarly, Li Chongju was one of the ministers who knew Emperor Liu best. He also sensed the risk from Emperor Liu's dissatisfaction with Wude Si's many accusations and relegations in recent years, especially during the Northern Expedition.
Even if it is not against Wude Si, it is because he is a Wude envoy. Instead of sitting on this stove and suffering, it is better to retreat and save himself. This is Li Chongju's choice.
In fact, after the people in Wude Division found the Mobei Expeditionary Force and confirmed the safety of the two princes, Li Chongju made plans to retire and resign.
But he still suppressed it until his condition gradually worsened and until the war in the Western Regions came to an end, then he went to the palace to express his love. Of course, Li Chongju wanted to return to his hometown in Luzhou and stay away from trouble and trouble, but judging from Emperor Liu's arrangements
, We still have to place ourselves in the capital and be under surveillance. This cannot be forced. Emperor Liu's words are really shocking and frightening him.