In the vast palace city, there are several monarchs and ministers in the royal study.
Hai Wuji, who was meticulous about his hair and clothes, looked cold and stood with his hands behind his back, his back to the desk, facing several ministers.
Jinzhou suddenly took the initiative to disclose the news of Hai Ruyue's poisoning, which really caught everyone here off guard. They all felt that Wandong Tianfu was unlikely to do this, and they were thinking about Jinzhou's intentions together.
"The Queen Mother is here!" The eunuch guarding the door suddenly shouted in a high voice, as if to remind the people inside.
The ministers turned and looked at the door. A graceful old woman appeared at the door. She was dignified in appearance. Although she was old, her beauty in her youth could be seen in her wealth. She was none other than the Empress Dowager Shang Youlan of the State of Zhao.
"See the Queen Mother!" The ministers bowed in greeting.
"Mother!" Hai Wuji quickly stepped forward to the door and respectfully helped his mother's arm to enter.
"I'm not interrupting your discussion of state affairs, are you?" Shang Youlan asked.
Hai Wuji smiled and said, "It doesn't matter."
"That's good." Shang Youlan nodded and glanced at everyone. There was an unconcealable dignity in his slow tone, "The Ai family has something to say with the emperor. Please step back for a moment."
The value of mother to child is evident at this moment.
Hai Wuji also immediately waved to everyone, looking very filial.
"Yes!" The ministers bowed to accept the order, stepped back one after another, and went out.
An old eunuch with gray hair and a hunched back, his eyes were cloudy, and he seemed to be too old to walk, so he was also walking out.
This person is none other than Zhuge Chi, the general manager of the palace.
Shang Youlan shouted to him, "Old Zhuge, I didn't let you go. I want you to comment on something."
Zhuge Chi stopped and looked up to see Hai Wuji's reaction.
Hai Wuji smiled and said: "Mother, why are you being judgmental? Who made you angry again?"
A look of anger suddenly appeared on Shang Youlan's face, "How long are you going to keep this secret from me?"
Hai Wuji realized something was wrong, but pretended to be surprised, "Why did the queen say this?"
Shang Youlan said angrily: "Let me ask you, was it you who did Ruyue's poisoning?"
Hai Wuji's face darkened, and he was angry in his heart. He had deliberately concealed it from his mother, and he didn't know who could not keep his mouth shut. Don't let him find out later.
He forced himself to defend himself and said: "Where did your mother hear the rumors?"
Shang Youlan shook her head in disappointment, "Last time, I felt strange when you asked me for things from Ru Yue's childhood. You still want to lie to me? I'm not an old fool yet! He is your only biological sister, how can you bear it?
To commit such a murderous act?"
Hai Wuji had a cold face, and after holding it in for a while, he slowly said: "Mother, I have my own difficulties."
"Difficulties? I know your difficulties." Shang Youlan patted her chest, emotional, "I understand that you rule the world and leave your own family to take care of everyone. You want to force your sister's family to be destroyed, but I will turn a blind eye.
Yiyan, if you want to take Jinzhou, go ahead and take it, but why do you have to put her to death and leave her alive?"
"Are you willing to have her die? When the Yan Kingdom was a hostage, you pushed her out to please others in order to protect yourself. Do you think I don't know? I know it, I just don't say it. She suffered for you.
How much humiliation has she suffered? If my nephew Shang Jianbo hadn't protected her... After you returned to China and ascended the throne, in order to stabilize Xiao Huang, you forced her to marry Xiao Huang's sick son. Have you ever thought about how much she suffered?
?”
"You single-handedly pushed her to this day, and now you think she is in the way, and you are cruel to her. How could you do it! How do you want the world to see me, a mother-in-law? How do you want the world to see you?
!Isn’t it enough to just give her a way to survive?”
Hai Wuji was so angry at being scolded that he couldn't stand it anymore and said in a deep voice: "Mother, you have suffered so many grievances and endured so much bitterness along the way. You should know the word 'helpless' better than anyone in your heart! In this world,
The situation was deliberately created by some people, just to make the people of the world consume each other non-stop! For all countries, the situation is like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. No one can be comfortable. Whoever dares to be complacent will perish. Only
Keep getting stronger, and only if you are strong enough can you withstand enough risks. Mother, Zhao Guo has no way out! Son, there is no way out!"
He waved his arms and pointed to the ground behind him, and his last words were loud and clear.
…
In the Yingwu Hall, in front of the hanging map, Meng Shanming and Shang Chaozong in wheelchairs pointed at the map and discussed it.
Meng Shanming sat in a low posture, holding a stick in his hand to point on the map.
I have just arrived at Dachan Mountain, so I can’t hide it, so I have already told you about Ga Miaoshui’s visit. And here in Yan State, you are not deaf or blind. The imperial court has already begun to mobilize supplies and people. In addition, Fang Zhe from Jinzhou
Let me know in advance that Hai Ruyue has been poisoned.
How could we not know that a storm was coming and quickly respond to it?
From time to time, heralds would come in and out of Yingwu Hall to convey the situation of the mobilization of troops from various places.
Lan Ruoting quickly walked in, and when the herald in the hall left, he informed: "Prince, Meng Shuai, and Taoist Master have sent back the message, asking us not to panic. He told Wandong Tianfu to make Hai Ruyue's poisoning known to the public.
Let us ignore this matter and let Nanzhou respond as we should. Just be prepared for the contingency. He will be stationed in Jinzhou and will notify this side in time if there is any situation."
Meng Shanming nodded: "It's good that Master Dao has an idea."
…
"Hai Ruyue is poisoned at this time?"
In the main hall of Dazen Mountain, Huang Lie stared at the newly sculpted statue of the Patriarch on the throne and muttered to himself.
Several elders behind him took turns checking the secret messages that had been sent to them, all of them with solemn expressions.
Someone said: "It seems that Yan Ting and Zhao Ting have planned it beforehand. They want to join forces to act against both sides at the same time. Nanzhou is in danger!"
Huang Lie turned around: "Has Niu Youdao not replied yet?"
A disciple said: "I have sent three letters, but so far, there has been no reply. The news from Qingshan County said that there was nothing unusual at Maolu Villa, and the people of the three sects did not see any unusual movements.
.”
Huang Lie frowned: "What does that guy mean?"
An elder said: "Master, a storm is coming. Do you want a reply from Gamiaoshui?"
Huang Lie waved his hand and said: "You have also seen what that guy did before. He is not a vegetarian. I don't believe that guy can sit still and wait for death. He will definitely react. Let's see how he responds first. We won't make a decision until the army is approaching.
Chi. It’s time for us people to move around and go to Fucheng to sit down and respond at any time."
…
A house in Jinzhou Fucheng is also Nanzhou’s foothold here.
Chao Shenghuai was tied to a beam in a room, lowering his head from time to time and raising his head to sigh.
The door creaked open, and Zhu Laoba came in. He brought food and put it on the table beside him, "Brother Chao, let's have something to eat."
Chao Shenghuai shook his head, "I won't eat it!"
Zhu Laoba, who was about to untie him, smiled and said, "Drink some water?"
Chao Shenghuai: "Don't drink! Where is this? I want to see Niu Youdao."
As soon as he arrived at Qingshan County, Niu Youdao was nowhere to be seen, and he could not leave. He was restrained on the spot and then brought here.
He didn't know where this was. It was brought about by his drowsiness. As a person who has lived in the mountains for a long time, he felt that the freshness of the surrounding breath did not feel like he was in the mountains, but like he was in some city.
Zhu Laoba: "Master Tao is very busy now and has no time to see you. I will meet you when I am free. Why are you in a hurry? Eat something. Your cultivation has not reached the legendary realm of becoming a saint and transcending the human body. Don't follow me.
It’s not worth it if your body can’t survive it and you’re starving.”
Chao Shenghuai was angry, "If you want to give me a happy message, let Niu Youdao come to see me, otherwise no one will be able to have a better life!"
"Shh!" Zhu Laoba raised his index finger in front of his mouth, "Brother, as promised, don't make any noise, otherwise you will become a stuffy gourd later and you will feel uncomfortable again."
…
"Old man, give it a try!"
At the banquet, the Yan envoy Gao Shaoming stood up and slammed the table, pointing at the Song envoy Tu Huaiyu and angrily scolding him.
There was a night banquet at Liufang Pavilion to entertain distinguished guests from all over the world. Suddenly someone came to the courtyard from the Yan Kingdom and whispered to Gao Shaoming, saying that they had discovered that someone from the Song Envoy wanted to rob them of the Golden Wings.
So under questioning, the two sides got into a quarrel at the banquet. It happened that the banquet was held at the place where Niu Youdao killed Song Long, the Yan envoy. Tu Huaiyu used this sarcastic comment to make Gao Shaoming careful to follow in his footsteps and angered Gao Shaoming on the spot.
The accompanying mages outside the pavilions on both sides immediately rushed in.
Bang! Li Wuhua also slapped the table and stood up, and said in a deep voice: "What do you two mean? Do you think that my Ten Thousand Cave Heavenly Mansion is just a decoration? If you want to fight, fight after leaving Jinzhou, otherwise don't blame me for being rude!"
Li Wuhua's complexion was also not good-looking, and the haggard look on his face could not be concealed.
He was allowed to appear like this because of his status. In this capital city of Jinzhou, he is the most suitable person to replace Hai Ruyue to entertain distinguished guests.
"High Envoy, don't forget that this is our country, Zhao. You'd better restrain yourself."
Zhao Sen, who was present, gave him a cold jab, but he was actually reminding him not to cause trouble at this time, especially the Song Dynasty.
Gao Shaoming glanced at it, snorted coldly, waved his hand to signal the mage to retreat, and he slowly sat down.
Everyone else here also has their own ulterior motives, and they all know that the peace in Jinzhou will not last long, as a wild rainstorm is about to hit.
The Wei envoy Sui Pai and the Qi envoy Zuo Anyian warned Zhao Sen with words during the banquet. The meaning of their words was to warn Zhao not to act indiscriminately, otherwise the two countries would not sit idly by.
Chu Xiangyu, the always strong envoy of Jin, acted like a peacemaker today, raising a glass from time to time to persuade everyone to calm down.
As for the Han envoy Zhuge Xun, he basically just sat there eating and drinking happily, but his eyes would glance left and right at this person and that one from time to time, as if he was watching a show from the outside.
Of course, everyone can't help but ask Li Wuhua, how is Hai Ruyue's health?
Li Wuhua has no comment.
As soon as the night banquet was over, Li Wuhua went straight to the Governor's Mansion and arrived at Hai Ruyue's bed. Looking at the pale and haggard Hai Ruyue on the bed, she couldn't bear to look at it any longer and turned away.
After he came out, he went to his son's room again. He first thanked several fellow disciples for their hard work. He only glanced at his son who was sleeping and had a blue complexion. He couldn't help but burst into tears and murmured to himself, "What evil have I done?"
ah!"
He knew that his son couldn't hold on for a few more days, and that was all.
…
Early the next morning, there was a commotion in the Governor's Mansion. Many disciples of Wandong Tianfu flew up to the roof, wary of a bird hovering in the sky.
Standing on the bird was a man dressed in white as snow. He had a handsome face, fair skin, and a calm and elegant expression. He carried a bamboo basket behind him and looked down at the mansion below.