Chapter eight hundred and eighty first after the fact
When Hua Qi followed Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying, and Ah Liu who followed reluctantly, and saw the emperor and Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing again, he knew that these cousins had just said everything.
At this time, there was a long distance between the two of them. The emperor's face was calm, but his eyes could be seen blank. On the other hand, Zhu Jing could not see any emotion about surviving the disaster.
"Rebels broke into Baiyun Temple with the intention of assassinating the son-in-law of Zhao Guogong who was holding a funeral ceremony here. After the failure, they did not hesitate to set fire to it. Fortunately, the guards who accompanied him were loyal and brave, and they were all captured in the end. I have sent people to pass on the order, so I say this to the people of the world."
The emperor spoke very slowly, and every word seemed to burst out from between his teeth. But he found that Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying were silent in front of him, Ah Liu was like a wooden man, but there was also Hua Qi who didn't know when he would come back.
, he twitched the corner of his mouth and smiled and said: "The reason why things have ended up in the current situation is because I have been indecisive and careless to the point of being almost blind for many years. I can't blame others."
Having said this, his eyes fell on the hands of Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying that were still intertwined at this moment. When his eyes moved up again, he saw no confusion or fear on their faces, only silence.
, even though he had always known that Zhu Ying was the most generous person, and Zhang Shouze was even more evil, at this moment he couldn't help but envy this young couple.
"Yingying, don't you have anything to say to me? Aren't you worried that I will pursue Zhang Shou?"
"Your Majesty, if you are like some people who follow the example of foolish men and women among the people, then I will go far away with Ah Shou." When she said this, Zhu Ying seemed to be talking about a small thing about an outing, casually and freely,
Even his face didn't change.
She didn't care about her father's glare, which was like needle pricks at that moment, nor was she afraid of the emperor's cold face.
Unfounded speculation? Ah Shou didn’t hold power, didn’t care about things, didn’t form cliques, and didn’t seek selfish interests. In the end, he almost died because of others’ suspicion. Isn’t he unjustly accused?”
"The most important thing is, does he really have something to hide? Is he really like those famous doctors and craftsmen in Xinglin who secretly hide something as their trump card, and then think that the disciples will starve the master to death? No! I only saw it
He works hard to teach others bit by bit what he knows, and I only see that he treats every student with care!"
"If we can't even tolerate a gentle and harmless person like him, then wouldn't it mean that I, who is outspoken and has a bad temper and explodes at the slightest moment, will die without a burial place?"
"Yingying, what are you talking about!" This time, even Zhu Jing couldn't help but shout, but the next sentence fully expressed his bad mood as a father, "It's so outrageous.
How can you curse yourself like this!"
Knowing that Zhu Jing had always regarded his daughter as the apple of his eye, and that he had always regarded Zhu Ying as his own daughter, the emperor thought that he could understand his cousin's angry mood. Especially knowing that the man just now personally treated Zhang Shou
Coming out of the fire scene, his mood was even more subtle and complicated.
Therefore, when he saw Zhu Ying glaring at him fiercely, Zhang Shou on the side did not say anything, but still stood there calmly, as if he was not afraid that he was the emperor who could decide life and death, honor and disgrace with a single word, and had nothing to do with it.
With the consciousness of obeying destiny, he couldn't help but think of Chu Kuan's words that Zhu Jing had just repeated to him.
A country boy with no famous teacher. Even if Ge Yong did teach for a while, he still knew the whereabouts of his teacher. He would never stay in such a remote village often. Therefore, what kind of teaching would Zhang Shou experience?
And grinding, can we be like the round pebbles washed by the rapids in the water, slippery but unmoving?
But these teachings and training are hidden under the water.
Therefore, in today's era where being different from others is considered unusual, this young man is as eye-catching as a torch in the dark. Chu Kuan thought that he was really deceived by Ge Yong's words, so he ignored it
However, how could he ignore Zhang Shou's extraordinary qualities?
He himself is the most deviant emperor, how could he ignore someone who is even more deviant than him?
You know, he has long seen that Zhang Shou has never been in awe of him as the emperor in his heart, and he has never been afraid of the high-ranking elders in the court.
It's not contempt, but complete equality. Under the strict etiquette, no old master can teach such a student, not even Ge Yong!
Although Chu Kuan's remonstrance with his life was like a thorn in the emperor's heart, and Zhu Ying's words were even more piercing, he still laughed in the end. Although the laughter was not as clear and hearty as before, but
The gloom on his face gradually dissipated.
"Okay, Yingying, you don't have to act like a beauty protecting a hero. I have no intention of doing anything to Zhang Shou. Just as your father said to Chu Kuan, he is not the only famous general in the world who can fight, and the confidants around me
Chu Kuan is not the only one. I admire Emperor Taizu very much, but I have never placed my hope on a bunch of old papers."
He did not mention the firearms that were said to be lost in the Ordnance Bureau, nor did he mention the Taizu's Notes in the Ancient and Modern Tongji Library that he might not be able to translate in this lifetime, or even in the future generations of emperors. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back.
He said word for word: "When I first came to the throne, I was still young, arrogant, fond of bows and horses, and often clashed with ministers. At that time, someone once said behind my back..."
"I won't live long. If I live long, I will bring disaster to the country and be a fool!"
He chuckled when he said this, and then said nonchalantly: "Actually, I almost died that time in the tenth year of Yongchen. Later, I was seriously ill and almost died twice. Fortunately, my temper gradually calmed down.
There are quite a few, and I don’t use people according to my preferences. The reputation of the government and the public is finally much better. But those who really know me know that I actually don’t care about these things at all.”
"The royal fleet that has been maintaining the palace expenses, in my hands, is actually no longer just busy doing business to make money a few years ago, but is re-surveying the four seas, drawing maps and nautical charts, and buying some books from overseas.
Come back. Unfortunately, I really can’t understand it. The words are like ghost drawings. It’s not the first time I sent them back at the end of last year.”
"There were two accounts, light and dark, in the Ordnance Bureau, and half of the guns and artillery were sent to those ships. This account was even hidden from Chu Kuan, and Weinan Bo Zhang Kang was the most cautious person, so that Chu Kuan actually
I thought that some of the artillery had been lost. In fact, it was just because there were no fortified cities on the grassland, and it was inconvenient to carry artillery during the Northern Expedition, so it was not used at all."
"Of course it is not without problems. The training of captains and sailors on the royal ships has always been through the teaching of father and son, master and apprentice. It is indeed not as good as the new learning system that Zhang Shou mentioned in your letter. I just didn't expect that there would be so many officials and disciples willing to go there.
Taking such a risk, he is actually willing to risk his life by going overseas to see. Even if many of them are utilitarian..."
"But I appreciate this kind of utility."
He suddenly turned back and glanced at Zhu Jing. After seeing what he said, although the other person's face concealed the shock very well, there were some unexpected emotions in his eyes. Then he looked back with satisfaction, and then took a look.
Looking at Zhu Ying who was also wide-eyed, his eyes fell on Zhang Shou who seemed to be thinking about something.
But then, he suddenly asked: "Where did Chu Kuan send you? How did you get back?"
Although the emperor never named him, how could Hua Qi be wrong? He had just encountered Ah Liu's inexplicable fight for a while, and when he heard Zhu Ying say those words, he actually wanted to leave, but he thought twice before staying.
At this moment, he sighed in his heart and finally told the truth.
"Chu Kuan said that something happened again at Tianjin Linhai Camp. It was said that Commander Xiong was assassinated. The Emperor asked me to rush over and have a look." As soon as he said this, he heard a sneer from behind. No need to look.
He knew that it was Ah Liu's voice. If he was ridiculed like this by his apprentice, he would definitely settle the score with this kid, but now he had to swallow his anger.
After all, it is not a glorious thing to hunt geese all day long only to be pecked by geese. Therefore, he did not bother to mention Chu Kuan's forged messenger, token and certain other evidence that convinced him, and said bluntly: "
However, by chance, my horse stumbled halfway, and when I was looking for a post station to change horses, I casually asked the post manager, but he said he had never seen the emergency messenger at all."
The emperor was speechless after hearing such a coincidence. However, such a coincidence is really reasonable. The imperial court strictly stipulated that four hundred miles and six hundred miles should be used to rush, which is the speed and level of horse riding on the post road, so whether it is urgent to send a messenger
, for Yi Cheng, who greets and sends people off every day, it can really be seen with just one glance.
After all, horses are something that needs to be cherished these days. If there is no urgent matter, who would risk everything to beat a horse and gallop on the road? How much does it cost to destroy a horse? Even the rich and powerful families are not willing to do so.
It’s easy to afford such unnecessary losses.
"Then you came back immediately?"
"I showed the postman the token for mobilizing the post station, and dispatched a post soldier to deliver the message to the Linhai camp, and another post soldier followed behind." As for why he did this, Hua Qi knew that these were smart people in front of him, and there was no need for them to do so.
There is no need for him to waste any more words - as for the stupid apprentice with a stupid face, I am afraid that he has a stupid face and a clear mind now. If he underestimates him, he will only be the unlucky one.
Now that the truth about most things had been revealed, the emperor finally shook his head in dismay and made a decision.
"That's the end of the matter. Zhang Shou, no matter who your teacher is, whether you were born knowing it or not, and how many things you know that others in the world don't know, I don't care. As the emperor, I am afraid of this.
, don’t tolerate that, in the end you will just be a mediocre single man! Whatever you want to do, just do it, and say what you want to say, without any scruples!"
Seeing Zhu Ying next to Zhang Shou, she was more happy than anyone else. Her joyful look was as vivid and real as before. The emperor only felt that his mood, which was obviously gloomy and unspeakable, suddenly improved a lot.
Therefore, his originally harsh tone became softer without realizing it.
"I have always regarded Yingying as my daughter, but she is a stubborn girl who has never accepted any other status. Even if I once gave her a princess crown, she would just put it under the box. However, Zhang
Shou, I hope you remember something..." The emperor paused, glanced at Zhu Jing intentionally or unintentionally, and finally coughed heavily.
"If it were me just now, I would definitely carry you out of the fire!"
Zhang Shouzheng was calmly thinking about whether he should express his gratitude to some extent. After all, the emperor generously stated that he would have corresponding freedom in speaking and doing things in the future. After Chu Kuan's unsuccessful attempt to bully him, it was also good news.
But this last sentence still calmed him down, so that he couldn't help but look up at Zhu Jing behind the emperor.
As expected, the father-in-law, who always had a dark face, now looked like a pot-bottomed helmet. Especially when the emperor seemed to be particularly dissatisfied and added, "I also regard you as my son-in-law," he only saw Zhu.
Jing finally couldn't help but frown, and objected in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, be careful what you say!"
However, who is the emperor? Why would he care about such a level of protest? He smiled and said calmly: "There is nothing to be cautious about. We are all our own people here, and you and I are almost like brothers. I have always treated you as a brother."
Your wife is your half-mother, so I, your eldest son and son-in-law, are also your half-son, and my sons and daughters who are not living up to expectations are also your juniors!"
Hearing this, Zhang Shou couldn't help complaining in his heart - Fortunately, the emperor didn't say, your mother is my mother, your children are my children, and your wife is also my wife... Otherwise, Zhu Jing will definitely fight the emperor!
Although he had just walked around the gate of hell, he was completely unable to feel any sadness and dejection at this time. He even had a smile on his lips, and actually said with a smile: "So, I am alone, but
It is a rare adventure in the world to have two father-in-laws. But since we are the son-in-law, Brother Zhu is already married, so the Emperor must not forget him."
"I can't forget it!" the emperor said with a dumb smile, "That boy has always been incompetent in literature and martial arts, but now he can make a difference. How can I, my cousin, not show anything? Don't worry, I will give him an official position!"
Don't worry, I'll have a headache if you really give it to me! Zhu Jing was speechless just now when his objections were ineffective. At this time, he felt that one was bigger than the other. He couldn't help but give Zhang Shou a hard look.
, for the first time, I wondered if it would have been better to just throw the person into the fire - anyway, with Ah Liu entangled with Chu Kuan, this clever boy would definitely not die!
When the group of people came out of Baiyun Temple, the fire in the side hall had been put out. Fortunately, Chu Kuan used some excuse to clear out all the Taoist priests and pilgrims here before, but this sudden fire did not.
The consequences are too serious. As for how much it will cost to repair, that is already a small problem.
Hua Qi, who was at the end, glanced at the body covered with white cloth and was loaded onto the carriage, but couldn't help but press her chest gently. Chu Kuan had asked him to deliver a letter to the Queen Mother early, so it was better to wait until he checked it.