Hong Zhou had caught wind and cold a few days ago. He thought it was just a minor illness and would be cured by drinking a few doses of ginger soup. Unexpectedly, it became more and more serious. He coughed all night long and today it was difficult to even get up. In desperation, he had to
He was told that he was sick at home and did not go to morning court.
When the servants left, Hong Zhou had just taken medicine and rested. Cui Jia of Fujian Province was accompanying him in the house. He was extremely surprised to learn about the servants' report. Over the years, Hong Zhou had never paid attention to Hongli's doting on the Buddhist and Taoist families.
Although he never said anything, people close to him
Everyone knew that he was quite disgusted with this, so while other officials were scrambling to curry favor so that they could help him speak well in front of Hongli, he and Yun Zhongzi rarely interacted with each other, and sometimes they had to talk to each other.
See you, just a few polite words.
Cui Jia thought for a moment and said softly: "Just say that the prince is ill and it is inconvenient to see each other. Please ask them to come back another day."
The servant stepped back as he was told, but within the time of a stick of incense, he walked in again and said with a troubled expression: "To Cui Fujin, Master Yun Zhongzi and Master Kong Jing said that there is an urgent matter, and they must see the prince.
, they are waiting at the door right now."
Hearing this, Cui Jia was a little unhappy and said in a cold voice: "These two people are so confused about whether to advance or retreat. They have already said that the prince is unwell and they still insist on seeing each other. It is up to them to decide when to go to the prince's palace.
see a visitor out!"
Just as the servant was about to agree, a hoarse voice came from the bed, "Why is it so noisy?"
Mrs. Cui Jia quickly walked to the bed and said apologetically: "It was my bad health that woke up the prince. It was Master Yun Zhongzi and Master Kongjing who came to the prince's house to ask for an audience. I have asked Ah Fu to tell them that the prince
I'm not feeling well and can't see my guests, but they still insist on asking for me. I'm just about to ask Ah Fu to send them back."
"Is it them?" Hong Zhou responded unexpectedly, and after signaling Cui Jia to help him sit up, he said to Ah Fu, who was standing aside with his hands hanging down, "Invite them in."
"But the doctor said that the prince should not be tired, or..." Before Cui Jia could continue, Hong Zhou waved his hand and said, "I am fine. Besides, I feel less energetic when I lie down all the time."
Seeing what he said, Cui Jia didn't say anything. After a while, Ah Fu led Yun Zhongzi and two others in. After bowing to Hong Zhou, Master Kong Jing said: "I'm sorry for bothering the prince to recuperate.
I feel sorry for you, but the matter is urgent and cannot be delayed for a moment. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Seeing that they were serious, Hong Zhou asked, "What happened?"
Master Kongjing glanced at Cui Jia and Ah Fu, but said nothing. Hong Zhou understood and said, "You all go down first." When only the three of them were left in the room, Hong Zhou said, "Now you can say
Is it done?"
Master Kong Jing immediately stopped hiding anything and told the whole story. Hong Zhou looked at him in shock, and it took him a while to come back to his senses, "Is this serious?"
Master Kongjing shouted the Buddha's name and said: "Monks don't lie, let alone hundreds of innocent lives are involved in this matter. How dare a poor monk lie?"
Hong Zhou tried his best to calm down and said: "But I have never heard the emperor mention this matter." After a pause, he said again: "Fate...does such a mysterious and mysterious thing really exist?
?”
Yun Zhongzi said: "As soon as a person is born, there is a certain destiny that determines the path he will take in the future and the things he will experience. It is difficult for mortals to understand, but it does exist. As for the twelfth elder brother
, both Pindao and the master once consulted Xiang to calculate his birth date and destiny.
Noble, but too light in the horoscope, it is a sign of premature death. The several dangers of the twelfth prince are the best proof. Forgive me for saying it bluntly, if it hadn’t been for so many years, Pindao and the master have been talking about Ziyun Temple and Wanshou Temple.
I use my strength to pray for the twelfth prince, and his death has already been fulfilled."
Thinking about it carefully, Yong Cang has indeed suffered several deaths, especially that time in the paddock. If Yong Xun had not arrived at the right time, Yong Cang would have been killed. He said with a complicated expression: "According to your words, the reason why the emperor relies on you
Both of them are because of the twelfth elder brother?"
"Yes, ten years ago, the emperor found Master Pindao and Master Kongjing in the hope that he could fulfill the fate of the twelfth prince. Unfortunately, except for the method that Master Pindao said before his death, he searched through the book collection and could not find the second one.
There is a way. As for the prince not knowing this, it is normal. Today
Before, apart from the emperor, the only people who knew that the twelfth prince's fate was lacking were Tang Qizhang, Pindao, Master Kongjing, and the fifth manager who was serving the emperor. The prince was the sixth person who knew; in fact,
If the matter were not urgent, I would never dare to reveal it to the prince."
Hong Zhou had always thought that Hong Li favored the Buddhist and Taoist families because he was pursuing the art of immortality. Unexpectedly, it was because of Yong Cang that for eleven years, everyone was kept in the dark by Hong Li.
"Now that the twelfth elder brother has smallpox, will he die?" Mentioning Yong Cang, the figures of Xiayue, Changle, and Yongjing flashed through Hong Zhou's mind. Every separation in life and death made Xianyue grief-stricken. If Lian Yong
Something happened to Xing too, I'm afraid she...can't hold on any longer.
Yun Zhongzi sighed and said: "Yes, but it may not be lifeless. In the past few times, Brother Twelve was able to save the day. Maybe..."
Before he could finish speaking, Hong Zhou interrupted: "Maybe? So you are not sure you can help the twelfth elder brother survive this disaster?"
Yun Zhongzi thought for a moment, lowered his eyes and said: "Even though Master Ping Dao and Master Kong Jing have spent their whole lives, it is difficult to see the way of heaven. If the prince insists on asking Ping Tao and Master Kong Jing to answer, he can only say - do your best."
, he added: "Now, in order to save the twelfth elder brother, the emperor wants to take the lives of nearly a hundred innocent boys and cast a spell. If the poor people refuse, he will slaughter hundreds of people from Ziyun Temple and Wanshou Temple."
Personally, with all due respect to Pindao, even if this can really save the twelfth prince, there will definitely be backlash in the future, which will be harmful to the twelfth prince. Unfortunately, the emperor would not listen to the advice, and the two of them thought about it.
, the only one who can persuade the emperor is the prince, so I have the courage to come to see the prince, hoping that the prince will realize that God has the virtue of good life and save these innocent people."
Hong Zhou remained silent. Yun Zhongzi waited for a long time without seeing him speak. He was worried and said: "Your Majesty..."
Hong Zhou coughed several times and said in a hoarse voice: "I understand what you mean, Your Majesty..." After hesitating for a moment, he said: "You guys tell me the truth. This time, the twelfth prince survived the smallpox.
What are the chances?"
The two looked at each other, and Master Kong Jing lowered his head and said: "I dare not hide it from the prince. The chance of life and death should be only half."
"Half..." Hong Zhou murmured and repeated, gritting his teeth and said: "I know, you should go back immediately and lead everyone to pray for the twelfth prince, and I will go to see the emperor immediately."