“Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary is waiting outside the Imperial Study.”

Wei Zhonghe reported.

A trace of exhaustion flashed in the Yan Emperor's eyes.

Getting out of the carriage,

Zhao Jiulang stood there, just looking at the Yan Emperor, without performing the salute.

The Yan Emperor, supported by Wei Zhonghe, walked towards him.

When the distance between the two sides was close enough, Zhao Jiulang sighed and knelt down:

“Your subject pays homage to Your Majesty.”

The Yan Emperor said:

“I thought the Grand Secretary would take off his official hat and put it aside first.”

“Your subject wanted to, but my Great Yan is not Great Qian after all. We don’t have the custom of resigning and throwing our hands up in the air.”

“Indeed.”

The Yan Emperor nodded and entered the Imperial Study.

Zhao Jiulang got up and followed him in.

The Yan Emperor sat at the head of the table,

Zhao Jiulang knelt below.

Whether the Yan Emperor was in this Imperial Study or the Crown Prince was acting as regent here, the Grand Secretary was always given a seat, but he didn't take it.

Wei Zhonghe stood inside and didn't take the initiative to ask the Grand Secretary to sit down.

“Your Majesty,”

Zhao Jiulang began.

This was a familiar scene for the Yan Emperor;

Many officials began with “morality”, “rules”, “etiquette”, “the common people”, in short, when an official felt that his reasons were sufficient and his voice was full of confidence,

He would start in this way.

Originally, Zhao Jiulang wouldn't have done this. As Grand Secretary, he should have been the leader of the bureaucracy in court, checking and balancing the imperial power, but in the years since the Yan Emperor ascended the throne, he had never taken the lead in disobeying the Yan Emperor's will;

Even when the court and public gave him the nickname of a paper-mâché Grand Secretary or a clay figure Chief Assistant, he didn't care.

But today,

Here,

He

Started.

Although he hadn't spoken yet, the Yan Emperor already knew what he was going to say.

The Yan Emperor was, after all, the Yan Emperor. When he sat in the Imperial Study, on this chair, he was like the eyes behind the candlelight, and the officials were trembling puppets between the candles.

At the same time,

The Yan Emperor also knew why Zhao Jiulang dared to have this "first time" at this moment;

Because,

He

Ji Runhao,

Was old.

It wasn't a matter of age, but this time coming out of the back garden had almost declared that this emperor's lifespan was truly entering its final countdown.

A young and vigorous Yan Emperor,

Could replace his Grand Secretary at will. As long as he showed the slightest sign of disobedience, he could be emptied, checked, or even sent away.

But,

An aging emperor,

Faced with this situation,

He had no choice but to compromise.

He had returned, returned to his power center, but he was no longer the all-powerful emperor, he knew, and the officials knew, that his time was running out.

Relatively speaking,

It was now up to the aging emperor to hope to maintain the stability of the entire court in an orderly manner, in order to hand it over to his descendants and heirs.

“Your Majesty, matters of national importance concern the safety of the state, how can they be treated so casually, so childishly, so…!”

Zhao Jiulang "sang loudly and cried bitterly."

The Yan Emperor smiled,

This expression,

This tone,

This posture,

Good, good, worthy of being the Grand Secretary he had promoted all the way up. The tricks that those officials played, Zhao Jiulang could actually play better and more dedicatedly.

Between emperor and minister,

There was no argument,

Because they were too familiar with each other, so familiar that everything that was argued could be imagined in one's own mind, almost able to imagine the other's immediate reaction;

Therefore, there was no need to say it at all, saving each other trouble.

But because it was too fast, it was inevitably a bit too thin, but the Grand Secretary still maintained excellent control over his emotions.

He didn't take off his hat,

But loosened his official robe,

Revealing his arms,

Even

Reached out and patted his chest.

“Your Majesty, I didn’t bring a coffin.”

In the Yan army, there had always been a story circulating about Marquis Pingxi. It was said that when Marquis Pingxi went to war in his early years, he would bring a coffin with him, ready to fight to the death.

But in fact,

It was inconvenient to bring a coffin when fighting, and it was actually the civil officials who liked to bring out coffins at every turn.

Zhao Jiulang said,

That he didn't bring a coffin,

Meaning, he wanted to save trouble and didn't bring it;

Your Majesty,

Just think of a coffin placed next to me.

The Yan Emperor nodded.

“Your Majesty, since I entered the Prince’s residence as a staff member, followed Your Majesty into the Eastern Palace as an official, followed Your Majesty into the palace to ascend the throne from Shangshu to Grand Secretary, I have never disobeyed any of Your Majesty’s will;

But this time,

I

Have to remonstrate with Your Majesty:

Your Majesty,

You are old,

When you are here, naturally anything is possible, but please, for the sake of Great Yan's eternal future, establish rules!”

The matter of the nation's foundation,

You can do as you please,

You are the Emperor,

You are the father of the princes,

You are the most powerful monarch in Great Yan in the last hundred years;

You can be unrestrained,

But after your unrestrainedness, who will clean up this mess?

“My dear minister.”

“Your subject is here.”

“Then tell me, who should be chosen?”

“As a subject, one should abide by the duties of a subject. The Crown Prince has not made any major mistakes. Since he has been acting as regent, he has been diligent and conscientious. Your subject asks Your Majesty, since you once comforted the ancestral temple and established the Crown Prince;

Then please, Your Majesty,

Give the Crown Prince dignity,

Give the ancestral temple dignity,

Give the Great Yan's land and state dignity!”

This was the political correctness of the civil officials.

The Crown Prince was already half a monarch.

In the court, the existence of the Sixth Prince Party could be allowed, but when others asked you in a formal occasion, even if you were a staunch Sixth Prince Party member, it was impossible to say that you would depose the Crown Prince and establish the Sixth Prince!

This was disobedience, disobedience to the monarch.

“The Crown Prince has not made any mistakes?” The Yan Emperor shook his head. “If it weren’t for my support, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be able to sit firmly in the Eastern Palace today.”

Without him, the emperor, favoring one side,

The Sixth Prince Party would have suppressed the Crown Prince Party to the point where they couldn't breathe.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is the heir you established. If you don’t support the Crown Prince, who will support him?”

“I have not deposed the Crown Prince.”

“But now, the court and the public are already in a state of panic. Your Majesty, your subject begs you to make plans early and decide the situation early!”

The implication was,

I support the Crown Prince is true,

But you, can also change the Crown Prince,

But please,

Hurry!

“I’m not dead yet.”

“Your Majesty, do you know why your subject didn’t put on a full show today and didn’t bring that coffin into the palace?

Is it that my salary can't afford a good coffin?

Is it that my subordinates don't have servants to move this coffin?”

The implication was,

Because,

Your Majesty, you are almost there,

So I didn't dare to bring the coffin to offend your taboo.

The Yan Emperor looked at Wei Zhonghe standing beside him,

And said;

“Look, this is my pillar of strength, worthy of being my Grand Secretary.”

“Your Majesty, when I was in the Prince's residence, you were the master; when I was in the Eastern Palace, you were the master; now, you are the Emperor of Great Yan, and I am the Grand Secretary of Great Yan.

I

Should plan for the eternal future of Great Yan!”

After saying that,

Zhao Jiulang's forehead rested on the bluestone bricks of the Imperial Study.

The Yan Emperor closed his eyes,

Zhao Jiulang also remained motionless,

After a long time,

The Yan Emperor spoke:

“I’m hungry.”

Wei Zhonghe immediately walked out and shouted;

“Prepare the meal!”

The imperial meal was quickly brought in.

Like before, two portions.

Wei Zhonghe walked to Zhao Jiulang's side and said, "Grand Secretary, let's eat first."

Zhao Jiulang raised his head,

There was a clear dark cyan mark on his forehead.

Without being affected or pretentious, he got up and saluted the Yan Emperor:

“Your subject thanks you for your grace.”

Then

He sat down on the side.

The meal was very simple.

Zhao Jiulang ate quickly. He had long developed the habit of eating while working.

The Yan Emperor,

Only used a little and then stopped.

Zhao Jiulang finished eating,

Looking at the Yan Emperor's imperial table.

Wei Zhonghe understood and stepped forward to pick up the remaining food in front of the Emperor and was about to send it to Zhao Jiulang's side.

When His Majesty's health first deteriorated, his appetite decreased. Basically, every meal had leftovers, and Zhao Jiulang ate two people's portions alone.

He was very full,

But he still had to eat it,

So that the outside world wouldn't know that the Emperor of Great Yan had a problem with his health.

But this time,

The Yan Emperor raised his hand,

Stopping Wei Zhonghe,

At the same time,

Looking at Zhao Jiulang,

Said:

“My dear minister, you don’t have to force yourself anymore, don’t ruin your stomach.”

As he said that,

The Yan Emperor leaned back slightly,

Said;

“Just leave the leftovers there, anyway, everyone knows that my health is not getting any better.”

Zhao Jiulang opened his mouth,

This Grand Secretary of Great Yan, whose wrist strength and ability were absolutely first-class and who had been entrusted with important tasks by the late emperor for twenty years, was now in tears.

He got up,

Knelt on the ground,

Said:

“Your Majesty, your subject deserves to die, your subject deserves to die.”

“My dear minister, I suddenly miss the rice cakes made by Great Grandfather. At this time, I really want to eat one.”

“Your subject……”

“Unfortunately, Great Grandfather is gone.”

The Yan Emperor sighed,

“Gone.”

Zhao Jiulang didn't speak, and Wei Zhonghe didn't speak either. No one dared to disturb the monarch's thoughts at this time;

“Some people are gone;

Those who are still here are not necessarily happy.

Wei Zhonghe,

Do you think

It’s worth it?”

“Your Majesty, although this servant is a eunuch, if Great Yan needs it one day, this servant will not hesitate to hold a knife and rush forward. For Great Yan, for Your Majesty, this servant will die without regret!”

The Yan Emperor turned his gaze back to Zhao Jiulang,

Said:

“My dear minister, a banquet will be held in the palace tomorrow, I don’t want to see the officials come to force me to abdicate, I am most afraid of noise now.”

“Your subject obeys, your subject will help Your Majesty quell the激议 of the ministers.”

“Well, Great Yan can’t do without you, my dear minister.”

“Your subject is terrified.”

“Alright, my dear minister, go and be busy, I should rest.”

“Your subject takes his leave.”

Zhao Jiulang got up,

As he was about to walk out of the Imperial Study,

The Yan Emperor suddenly spoke:

“My dear minister, is it worth it?”

Zhao Jiulang took a deep breath,

And smiled:

“Your Majesty, your subject wouldn’t be inferior to even Eunuch Wei, would I?”

Wei Zhonghe immediately became angry,

Of course, not really angry.

At his level, how could he get angry at being called a eunuch?

Moreover, it came from the current Grand Secretary’s joke.

The reason for showing an angry look was still to let the Emperor see the fun.

“Hehe…”

The Yan Emperor laughed,

Pointed at Zhao Jiulang,

And said to Wei Zhonghe:

“Wei Zhonghe, can you tolerate this?”

“Oh, Your Majesty, you have to stand up for this servant. The Grand Secretary is too mean!”

……

Although he shouted the slogan of削藩 in front of his father and the two princes;

After coming out of the roast duck restaurant, Ji Laoliu still led Zheng Fan back to his palace.

He Sisi and Lingxiang came out to greet the guests, carrying two infants.

Marquis Zheng gave each of them a red envelope, very thick, piled with copper coins.

After seeing the people he should see and teasing the children he should tease,

Ji Chengjue led Zheng Fan into his study.

There was no secret room in the study, because if he couldn't even take care of the study properly, then Ji Laoliu shouldn't be fighting for the throne and should go sell cornmeal early.

Zheng Fan sat down by himself and crossed his legs.

After being fed a large mouthful of baby food again, he felt really depressed.

After Ji Chengjue sat down, he picked up the Fengyoujing produced by the Marquis's mansion and applied it to his forehead and temples. Today, he was truly physically and mentally exhausted.

“Old Zheng, I'm suffering.”

“Cherish this meeting, maybe the next time we meet will be in front of your grave.”

This was a joke,

But Marquis Zheng didn’t sound like he was joking;

Ji Laoliu didn't get angry, but nodded and smiled.

After a period of calm after the roast duck restaurant incident, the two of them actually had some new understanding.

When sitting in the carriage, a look in each other's eyes could see the information they needed from each other.

It wasn't that the wind from Jin came to Yanjing,

It was purely that the two of them had felt a certain quality similar to their own from each other since their first meeting in the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

“You didn’t remind me.” Ji Chengjue pointed at Zheng Fan, “King Jingnan, actually has this attitude.”

“I didn’t know in advance either. When I was in Licheng, the King asked me which prince I thought was more suitable to inherit the throne.”

“What did you say?”

“You know, I have always recommended people based on their merits, and directly recommended you, believing that you are the best candidate for the future king of Great Yan.”

Ji Laoliu used his little finger to pick his ears,

Then put it to his lips and blew on it,

Said:

“I am very touched, but I still don’t believe you would say that.”

“Then what do you think I would say?”

“You, probably think it doesn’t matter, anyway, you have already become a vassal, and King Jingnan is determined to protect you. No matter who sits on that dragon chair in the future, you can continue to push your hands from a distance in Jin Dong, in your Marquis Mansion.

You,

Like me,

Your hearts,

Are the most unkind.”

“You actually see me like this?”

“Uh-huh.”

Marquis Zheng got up, shook his head, and said with emotion: "Okay, then I'll go to the Eastern Palace to visit the Crown Prince."

Maybe,

In the eyes of others,

This was a kind of threat,

It was like flirting between brothers,

But Ji Laoliu leaned forward,

Looked at Zheng Fan,

And asked;

“You didn’t tell me in the restaurant, why?”

Why put the two coffee tables together;

Why decide to participate himself;

Even,

Why come home with me today?

“You could have watched the fire from the other side, watched a play, with a handful of peanuts in your hand, why, why did you have to participate personally;

Don't say it's for me,

If you, Zheng Fan, and I switched positions one day,

I wouldn’t participate,

I would only,

Protect your family.”

“Do you want to sit on that dragon chair?” Zheng Fan asked.

“I want to know, what exactly do you want to do.”

“You, don’t worry about it, I have to do it.” Zheng Fan looked at Ji Chengjue and said word by word, “You haven’t sat on the dragon chair yet, why ask so much?”

“My surname is Ji.”

Ji Chengjue sat back in his chair,

And continued,

“Some things won’t change just because I sit on the dragon chair. Intuition tells me that you are planning a big game, and it will threaten Great Yan’s state.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t assassinate the Emperor.”

“You don’t dare to assassinate the Emperor either.” Ji Chengjue said in a deep voice, “Tell me, what exactly do you want to do, I can help you.”

“Telling you will only make things difficult for you.”

Zheng Fan also sat down again,

“Let’s take it one step at a time.”

“Okay, good.” Ji Chengjue rubbed his forehead again.

This was obviously a default.

Zheng Fan smiled, "Sure enough, the stability of the country is still more important than the individual's dragon chair."

“I’m a father.”

“Okay, you can shut up now.”

“The father of three children.”

“I want to go to the Eastern Palace.”

“I might continue to be the father of more children in the future.”

“I’m going to join the Crown Prince.”

“Hahahahaha.” Ji Chengjue spread his hands in front of Zheng Fan, “I want that chair, I must have it. I swear to you, you help me, I help you.

Let’s not say the words ‘we don’t owe each other’, let’s just treat it like we did in the desert back then, and trust each other one more time. I really like that feeling.

This Great Yan,

This Yanjing City,

There are not many people more important than you, Marquis Pingxi.”

“Don’t speak too full.” Zheng Fan stared into Ji Chengjue’s eyes very seriously, “Let me say the ugly things first. It’s easy to make a pact, but after I help you, if you dare to forget your oath today because of the difference in position;

I'm sorry,

I will be very angry.

By then,

Even if you, Ji Laoliu, sit on that dragon chair,

Unless you kill me in Yanjing City,

Once you let me leave the capital alive,

I will spare no expense to overthrow your country, and kill…your whole family.

I don’t like the betrayal of friends after believing in them, it’s too cliché, too boring, and too disgusting.”

After saying that,

Marquis Zheng spread his palm;

Ji Chengjue smiled and cursed: "You surnamed Zheng, don't look down on people, I was also in the underworld back then. Go to Nanan County to inquire about my reputation as the hero Yan Xiaoliu!

In this life,

You always have to be impulsive, why be crazy, this life is interesting.

You surnamed Zheng,

I’m with you!”

After saying that,

Ji Chengjue took the initiative to slap hands with Zheng Fan.

“Pa!”

After the palm slap,

The two sides quickly settled down.

Ji Chengjue said:

"The relationship between the Emperor and the two princes can be described as an entangled mess. Xiaobi's ascension is the most stable way, which can make the family harmonious, at least, it will continue to be harmonious in the next few years."

Zheng Fan said; "But the two princes want to watch the excitement."

After a pause,

Zheng Fan added, "Or, in their eyes, only by moving the knife can we really be quiet."

"They don't want to determine the national foundation, but they want to see us brothers kill each other." Ji Chengjue said.

“So… we can’t hesitate anymore, it’s time to make a move.”

“No.” Ji Chengjue shook his head, “It’s time to take out the knife. Since the elders want to see the younger generation fight, okay, then I, Yan Xiaoliu, will show off my skills.

Tomorrow, the eldest brother will return to Beijing, and a banquet will be held in the palace. Since the two kings and two lords are gathered together, then the Emperor will inevitably hold a grand court meeting the day after tomorrow. I will drop this first knife at the grand court meeting.

You, just wait and see the next good show."

"Let's wait and see."

"Don't worry, I won't disappoint you."

"Hmm." Zheng Fan nodded.

Ji Chengjue stood up,

Picked up the brush, dipped it in ink,

On the paper in front of him,

Wrote eight characters:

“By Imperial Order of Heaven-Bestowed Emperor”

“What’s wrong, are you itching?” Zheng Fan asked, “While there’s still some time, I can think about the posthumous title with you again.”

Ji Laoliu blew on the paper in front of him,

Said:

“Actually, it’s quite boring.”

"What's wrong again?"

"Next, you will see that if my father doesn't take action, it's not a big deal for me to fight those brothers."

"Pa!"

Ji Chengjue clapped his hands,

Stretched,

Said:

"Watch it."