Within the high wall, Chunxiang and Zhu Yujian were sitting opposite each other. On the rough table between them were two cups of tea. The tea was quite good and had been given to Zhu Yujian by Lu Zhenfei before. They were using it to entertain guests.
"From the palace?" Zhu Yujian looked at the young eunuch in front of him. He was different from all the eunuchs he had seen before. The eunuchs he had seen before were either groveling and dodgey, or they were arrogant and domineering, but the look on this man's face was
Self-possessed, neither happy nor sad.
"Dongchang's" Chunxiang bowed his hand.
Zhu Yujian frowned: "Could it be Eunuch Chang?"
Chunxiang smiled: "It seems that my eldest brother is really famous all over the world, even within the high wall, he is famous."
Zhu Yujian was startled, then smiled bitterly: "Don't blame me, sir. People who have been imprisoned for several years have become stupid. Just follow the wind and it will rain."
Chunxiang smiled slightly and said nothing, just stared at Zhu Yujian carefully. This prince, who had been miserable since childhood, had to work hard to sit on the throne of the vassal. However, he was not a peaceful master.
Within these high walls for seven or eight years, the young man who was once in his prime was about to run away to his fifth year in a blink of an eye. The torture of the past few years seemed to be almost unheard of in ancient times.
But even after this, fate still refused to let him go. Chunxiang once asked Chang Yu about the hidden ambush in the capital. It was impossible to have anything to do with Zhu Yujian, but the emperor insisted on having nothing to do with him.
Although the reason cannot be explained, everyone knows it.
They are born from the same roots, so why be too hasty?
The irony is that they were killed just because they were born from the same roots.
Even among ordinary people, it is common for brothers to be at odds with each other. After two generations, there is no family affection and they are even jealous of each other.
Common people are like this, not to mention the royal family, which is the most powerful one in the world. It is normal for father and son to turn against each other and fight against brothers. Compared to ordinary people, the most common hatred is to avoid contact, but for the royal family, it is easy to kill someone.
The emperor's lineage is naturally always on guard against other branches usurping the throne. Even if the country is destroyed, they cannot fall into the hands of other lines. And these vassal kings also have this mentality. Why are they all descendants of their ancestors? Just your family.
The same lineage sits on the dragon's throne, and as time goes by, hatred grows, and one wishes one could die and subjugate the country.
Even if someone else dominates the world, I feel comfortable in my heart.
Therefore, when an emperor finds an excuse for the vassal king, he will mercilessly reduce his title to a commoner and be imprisoned in a high wall. However, the vassal king will also refuse to save him. Emperor Chongzhen is the best example. In his last year,
He spends a lot of time collecting donations, but none of the vassal kings from all over the world are interested in him, because they all want to see his lineage become extinct, even if the country is destroyed, it doesn't matter. Maybe if someone else becomes the emperor, we can live a more comfortable life.
Zhu Yujian is a man with stories. This life has been full of ups and downs, and he has seen everything. Although Chunxiang has an expressionless face and does not speak more than three sentences, he seems to know everything: "Is my death day approaching?"
Seven years ago, he was demoted to a civilian because he left the fiefdom without authorization and raised troops without authorization. He was then detained here to guard the ancestral mausoleum. He was then abused by the eunuch Shi Yingzhao. But there is a question here. Was it the eunuch's personal behavior or was it someone's instruction?
If it was a private act, death would not be a pity, but how could it be concealed for seven years?
If it was artificially ordered, the cause of his death may be improper execution. It has been seven years and he has not been killed. Are you going to kill him or protect him?
This has become an unsolved case, and no one knows the true nature of the matter.
But now, he has been imprisoned for seven years, and has long lost contact with the outside world. What good can happen if Dongchang suddenly comes to visit? If the emperor pardons him, he will just send the eunuch in the palace to send a message. There is no need for Dongchang to come.
What does Dongchang do?
So he knew he was doomed.
Chunxiang didn't say anything. He stood up and walked along the high wall with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky. Zhu Yujian also stood up and leaned against a pillar, his eyes following Chunxiang's figure as he swayed back and forth.
"You should have died, but some people don't want you to die. Do you want to die?" Chunxiang walked around and started to say this. Zhu Yujian was stunned for a while, and it took him a while to come back to his senses: "Isn't that an ant?"
I don't want to die, at least I don't want to die like this."
"If you don't want to die, then die here first." Chunxiang smiled faintly like a tongue twister, and Zhu Yujian frowned: "Can you let me know why you have to die?"
Chunxiang did not hide anything, so he told about a hidden force in the capital. Zhu Yujian was shocked: "I have absolutely nothing to do with this matter, absolutely nothing!"
"Is this important?" Chunxiang's mouth twitched, and Zhu Yujian was stunned for a moment, with a look of decadence on his face: "Yes, it's not important, it's just..." He suddenly raised his head and said, "But if I die like this, wouldn't I be found guilty?
”.
"No." Chunxiang shook his head: "No matter whether this matter has anything to do with you or not, it is a royal scandal that is too late to cover up and will not be exaggerated. As for that person, you only need to die. It doesn't matter whether you are guilty or not."
It’s not important anymore”.
"Yes, yes" Zhu Yujian sighed: "Since that man asked me to die, why did my father-in-law want to save me again?"
Chunxiang chuckled: "Do you think our family is such a kind-hearted person? Our family is just entrusted by others. There is a person who appreciates you very much..."
As night fell, Lu Zhenfei prepared food and wine in the governor's yamen to entertain the people of Dongchang. Naturally, his immediate boss Ma Shiying was accompanying him. He just waited and waited but didn't see Dongchang and his entourage returning. He saw that the sky was getting dark.
He asked people to invite him.
Before the servants could enter the city gate, Chunxiang and his entourage hurried back, and without much politeness, they washed themselves up and then sat down to eat. Ma Shiying kept making insinuations and still couldn't figure out why these Dongchang people were talking about it.
I asked Lu Zhenfei, but Lu Zhenfei always spread his hands and shook his head.
"The rebel army in the south is making trouble. Nanjing rushes 800 miles to the capital three times a day. Why is there no response from the imperial court? And is Eunuch Chang here?" Seeing that he could not pull off this purpose, Ma Shiying had to ask some questions.
Yes.
Chunxiang pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps in the next two or three days, the Governor will arrive here."
Ah! Ma Shiying and Lu Zhenfei were suddenly startled. They looked at each other and drank in silence with their own thoughts in mind.
The banquet ended early, because Chunxiang ate quickly and he and the two of them had nothing in common, so they dispersed after eating.
"Jianbai (characterized by Lu Zhenfei), I have something to discuss with you." As soon as the banquet ended, Ma Shiying called Lu Zhenfei. Chunxiang, who was walking to the door, suddenly turned back: "Governor Ma, please wait a moment. We have something to do at home."
Let me first talk to the governor:
"Eunuch Chun, please come first." Ma Shiying politely cupped his hands and turned to leave.
Lu Zhenfei frowned and glanced at Chunxiang: "Eunuch Chun, I don't want to get involved in those things, and I don't want to know too much..."
"Governor Lu was overly worried." Chunxiang smiled slightly and said, "I just want to inform you that the deposed King Tang died suddenly."
Ah! Lu Zhenfei was horrified, and then he rubbed his head and took a long breath: "I have been tortured by that stone thief for seven or eight years. I was almost exhausted. It is a miracle that I can survive until now. Even if I die, it will be a miracle."
You'll be relieved." He cupped his hands and turned to leave.
"Sir, this person named Lu..." A Dongchang fan was very angry when he saw Lu Zhenfei's behavior. Chunxiang shrugged and smiled slightly: "We have already told you that none of these officials are old oilmen.
, they don’t even want to hear about this kind of thing, let alone explore it, not to mention that we are careful not to leak any flaws.”
Lu Zhenfei left the hall and walked quickly towards the side courtyard. Seeing no one around, he exhaled, patted his heart and shook his head. After all, he was killed. After all, he still couldn't escape, but this treacherous man
Why does the little eunuch always want to drag himself into trouble? Is it a test? I have been in officialdom for more than ten years in vain. Can I fall into your trap?
"See Bai, see Bai, here." At this moment, Ma Shiying waved to him from a pavilion not far away. Lu Zhenfei calmed down and walked over quickly, cupped his hands and said: "Governor Ma wants to talk to the official
What are we discussing?".
Ma Shiying sighed, took a step forward, took Lu Zhenfei's arm and sat down on the stone bench in the pavilion: "Jian Bai, you just heard that the eunuch named Chang will be arriving in two or three days..."
"So?" Lu Zhenfei snorted. He had already guessed why Ma Shiying was looking for him. He was just trying to cover up and say good things, fearing that the people in Dongchang would investigate him for leaving his post without permission.