Returning to Yongwang's Mansion that night, Yongwang Hongyu and his staff Zhang Qigong were having wine in the study. While drinking, they talked about being summoned by his father in the evening.
During this period, Yong Wang Hongyu praised: "Qi Gong's miraculous plan, after the Japanese king expressed his complaints today, he escaped smoothly... This move of "retreating to advance" is really clever."
Zhang Qigong smiled faintly when he heard this, and then said seriously: "Your Highness, please don't relax...Although His Highness escaped the return of the imperial guard today, I am afraid that this will make His Majesty feel dissatisfied. If I am not wrong about your guess, today and tomorrow
, His Majesty will summon King Su to explore King Su’s thoughts..."
Yong Wang Hongyu was silent when he heard this. His father, the emperor, was interested in Zhao Hongrun, the eighth son, to take over the country. This was not a secret in the court.
After thinking about it, Yong Wang Hongyu frowned and said: "Based on my understanding of Hongrun, Hongrun will not..."
However, before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Zhang Qigong: "Your Highness, how can you do such a big thing to others? If King Su is persuaded by Your Majesty, wouldn't he be in vain?"
Yongwang Hongyu frowned when he heard this and said: "Then what do you mean..."
"I still said what I said back then." After glancing at King Yong Hongyu, Zhang Qigong lowered his voice and said: "King Su... we cannot keep him in Daliang. We must try to get him to leave voluntarily and return to Shangshui, the feudal city. In this way, Your Majesty will
There is no other choice.”
Yong Wang Hongyu thought for a long time and nodded slowly.
From mid-to-late October, when King Yong Hongyu was the favorite to become the crown prince, a rumor spread quietly in Daliang City, and within just two days it spread like wildfire.
Rumor has it that Yong Wang Hongyu's succession to the throne is unstoppable unless Su Wang Hongrun intervenes and seizes the throne.
Later, it was revealed that "Zhao Hongrun did not personally come forward to refute the rumors and denied his intention to interfere in the seizure of the throne." For a time, the Yongwang Party was extremely wary of Su Wang Zhao Hongrun and the Suwang Party.
During this period, the two sides had some conflicts in the city.
So finally on October 19th, King Yong Hongyu sent someone to deliver an invitation to Prince Su's Mansion, inviting Zhao Hongrun and his wife Mi Jiang to come over and attend the banquet.
Zhao Hongrun also hoped to resolve this misunderstanding as soon as possible, so before dusk he took Princess Su's Mi Jiang, his two concubines Que'er, and Zong Wei Chief Wei Jiao to visit Prince Yong's Mansion.
Yong Wang Hongyu summoned Princess Cui to receive Mi Jiang and Queer, while he himself led Zhao Hongrun and Wei Jiao to a side hall to sit across from each other and have a drink.
During this period, Yongwang Hongyu asked Zhao Hongrun with a smile: "Hongrun, I heard that my father summoned you in the Manna Hall two days ago, right?"
Zhao Hongrun was stunned when he heard this, and said with a smile: "It is true."
"What did you talk about?"
"We didn't talk about much, we just chatted about a few things."
"Haha." Yong Wang Hongyu smiled noncommittally and suddenly asked: "Didn't my father ask you if you intend to take over the country?"
Zhao Hongrun was stunned for a moment, and his smile was inevitably a little forced.
Because just as Zhao Hongyu guessed, on that day, his father did ask him if he had changed his mind.
"Brother Yongwang..."
Zhao Hongrun wanted to explain, but Yong Wang Hongyu raised his hand to interrupt him.
"Hongrun doesn't need to explain. In fact, Brother Yu has always believed that you have the qualifications and ability to take over the country. It's just that you can't bear the hardship, so you shrink back..." As he spoke, Yong Wang Hongyu himself laughed.
Seeing that Yong Wang Hongyu's expression remained as usual, Zhao Hongrun also breathed a sigh of relief.
After laughing for a while, Yongwang Hongyu asked melancholy: "I guess my father must have all kinds of complaints about me... right?"
Zhao Hongrun thought for a while and finally nodded.
Seeing this, Yong Wang Hongyu gave a bitter laugh, shook his head and said: "This prince who supervises the country is really a loser as a brother... The prince who supervises the country with great dignity, but his orders cannot go out. It's ridiculous! Sad!"
Zhao Hongrun was silent. He naturally knew what Yong Wang Hongyu was referring to - it referred to the embarrassment of Yong Wang Hongyu who wanted to kill Xiang Wang Hongjing but had no way.
"Do you think Zhao Hongjing should be killed?" Suddenly, Yong Wang Hongyu turned around and asked Zhao Hongrun.
Zhao Hongrun remained silent.
In fact, both of them understood that if King Xiang Zhao Hongjing had designed to frame Concubine Shen Shu, Zhao Hongrun would have probably sent out two crows to kill Zhao Hongjing with a thousand swords - but at this moment, Zhao Hongrun could not say that.
At least, he could not clearly express his support for Yong Wang Hongyu's attempt to "kill his brothers."
"Brother Yongwang, people cannot be resurrected after death... Even if you kill Zhao Hongjing, Concubine Shi cannot be resurrected." Zhao Hongrun persuaded from the side, although he also knew that Yongwang Hongyu could not listen to his words at all.
.
As expected, King Yong Hongyu shook his head and said: "Although my mother and concubine cannot be resurrected from the dead, I can pay tribute to her spirit in heaven... I have never had such a strong murderous intention towards a person."
As he spoke, he took a deep breath and suddenly looked back at Zhao Hongrun and said: "Hongrun, Brother Yu wants to ask you one last question, are you interested in taking over the country?"
"Brother Yong Wang?" Zhao Hongrun frowned and said, "Could it be that Brother Yong Wang also believed the rumors in the city and still has doubts about my younger brother?"
"Those rumors?" Yong Wang Hongyu smiled when he heard the words, shook his head and said: "Those rumors were probably released by Xiao Ni to drive a wedge between my two brothers. How can you believe them?" When he said this, he saw Zhao Hongrun look surprised.
With a look on his face, he added: "Empress Wang has revealed to me why she sent people to kill Sima Song, the Marquis of Quliang... It was Xiao Ni who set up the frame and wanted to get rid of Prince Qing and his brother one after another."
"That's it." Zhao Hongrun nodded.
At this time, King Yong Hongyu said jokingly: "Does Hongrun suspect that Brother Yu was released under the guise of the Xiao family?"
Zhao Hongrun was stunned for a moment and muttered a few words in his heart.
Not to mention, Zhao Hongrun and his staff Jie Ziyu and Wen Qi really suspected that this recent rumor was released by Yong Wang Hongyu in order to get him to leave Daliang voluntarily and temporarily avoid the rumors.
"Don't you really think it's a rumor spread by someone on behalf of your brother?" Zhao Hongyu asked in shock when he saw Zhao Hongrun's expression was different.
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun quickly explained, but was interrupted by Zhao Hongyu, who said seriously: "Hongrun, brother Wei has never doubted that you will compete for the throne. To say the least, if you have this intention, brother Wei is willing to withdraw.
Fighting for position, giving up the big position, as long as you can do one thing for me, I will feel relieved."
Zhao Hongrun naturally understood what Zhao Hongyu meant by "one thing", but he neither wanted to help Zhao Hongyu kill Zhao Hongjing, nor did he ever want to seize the throne that Zhao Hongyu had at his fingertips.
"Brother Yong Wang said something serious. Hongrun has never thought about this matter." Zhao Hongrun quickly declined.
After hearing this, Yong Wang Hongyu thought for a long time while holding the wine cup, and suddenly said to Zhao Hongrun: "Hongrun, is this really what you say?"
"Absolutely true."
"Hmm." Zhao Hongyu nodded, then looked at Zhao Hongrun seriously and said: "In that case, Hongrun, for my brother's sake, please return to Shangshui temporarily." At this point, he saw Zhao Hongrun's look of astonishment on his face, and explained:
"...It's not because of that rumor, but because of my father. You also know that my father is still waiting for you to change your mind. As long as you stay in Daliang, my brother will not be able to inherit the power."
"..." Zhao Hongrun remained silent.
"Also, the power and connections in your hands... Of course Brother Wei can trust you, but those who support Brother Wei will be hostile to Hongrun. Even Brother Wei cannot change this; even Hongrun
People around you actually hope that you can replace Brother, right?... This is human nature and Brother can understand it, but this will also give Xiao Ni an opportunity to take advantage of."
"..." After listening to Yong Wang Hongyu's words, Zhao Hongrun nodded slightly.
Indeed, as Yong Wang Hongyu said, at the most critical moment when the former took over the Wei State, if he, Zhao Hongrun, who did not participate in the battle for the throne, continued to stay in Daliang, it would only add chaos to the former and make this long battle for the throne endless.
proceed on.
On the contrary, if he leaves Daliang, this will be the most powerful response to those rumors.
When the time comes, King Yong Hongyu successfully takes over the state of Wei, and Wei will be able to get through the chaotic situation of changing kingship as quickly as possible, develop rapidly under the rule of the new king, and lay the foundation for becoming the hegemon of the Central Plains.
"I see."
Zhao Hongrun nodded.
That night, Yong Wang Hongyu and Zhao Hongrun had a drink at the house. During this period, Yong Wang Hongyu promised Zhao Hongrun all kinds of things about Wei in the future, which made Zhao Hongrun very happy.
Zhao Hongrun suddenly felt that he might be only one step away from the extravagant aspirations of the former King Xian - in the future, under the governance of Yong Wang Hongyu, the Wei State would definitely become stronger and stronger, and by then, he could
Everything, just be a leisurely king who only wants to enjoy the sounds of dogs and horses.
At dawn the next day, Zhao Hongrun, who had been drinking with Yong Wang Hongyu all night, took a carriage back to Prince Su's Mansion with the support of his wife Mi Jiang and his concubine Que'er.
After Zhao Hongrun left, Zhang Qigong came to Yong Wang Hongyu and asked, "How are you, Your Highness?"
I saw Yong Wang Hongyu saying half drunk and half awake: "Hongrun has agreed to return to Shangshui in three days..."
After hearing this, even Zhang Qigong, who had always been calm, showed a look of joy on his face.
Because only after King Su Zhao Hongrun also left Daliang, His Highness would be truly invincible in Daliang.
"Congratulations, Your Highness."
"Let's not rush to congratulate you." Yong Wang Hongyu waved his hand, and then said seriously: "Be careful about those rumors. Later, I will urge the Bingwei Mansion, Daliang Mansion, and Dali Temple to jointly investigate. If everything goes well,
It should be possible to use this matter to take over Bingwei..."
After hearing this, Zhang Qigong immediately turned serious and said in a deep voice, "I understand."
After Zhang Qigong left, Yong Wang Hongyu walked out of the study with his hands behind his back, looked at the rising sun on the horizon, and muttered: "...in three days, I will...make the rules!"
At the same time, in the Manlu Hall in the palace, the eunuch Tong Xian reported to Emperor Wei that "Prince Su Zhao Hongrun came out of Prince Yong's Mansion drunk this morning."
I heard Emperor Wei's eyes changing for a while.
"...This series of tricks caught me off guard. Hongyu, you really have never disappointed me, but..."
Not knowing what he thought of, he frowned and sighed secretly.
Then, he suddenly remembered a certain brat who was still dreaming about being a free king, and Emperor Wei showed a hint of contemplation in his eyes.