Chapter 1 Earlier

Some time ago, Marquis Pingxi asked the Sixth Prince, how many soldiers can you mobilize in this capital?

The Sixth Prince replied, about a thousand people.

Zheng Fan mocked, you, Ji Lao Liu, are known as the God of Wealth of Great Yan, is that all you've got?

Yes,

That's all;

Mostly in the Eastern Palace Guard.

The current scene is very awkward.

The Emperor entered the Lu residence,

The Crown Prince came with soldiers;

Then the Sixth Prince, who should have played the role of a desperate dog in this matter, only came over in a carriage with his personal eunuch, Ban Ban.

Finally,

He took over the Eastern Palace Guard from the Crown Prince.

The Emperor came in himself;

The rebel army was delivered by the Crown Prince;

The official history wouldn't dare write it this way, even the storyteller in a small teahouse wouldn't dare tell such a story, the listeners below would think the storyteller was deliberately敷衍了事 (fū yǎn liǎo shì, perfunctorily going through the motions),欺负他们没脑子 (qī fù tā men méi nǎo zi, making fun of their lack of intelligence), and in a fit of rage, they'd overturn his long table and smash his head open with the gavel!

Too bad,

Stories need logic, need people to believe them, but reality doesn't care about that at all.

Ji Lao Liu didn't wear his prince's python robe today, but a white brocade robe.

He's married and has three children,

The Sixth Prince is no longer the suave and dashing figure he used to be,

His face is paler,

And his belly is slightly protruding;

He's obviously heading towards middle age, so naturally, he has to have the appearance of a middle-aged man.

He used to envy that Zheng fellow,

That Zheng fellow is even a bit older than him, back then he was handsome and dashing, but that Zheng fellow, because of the disparity in status, well, he was always lacking something;

Now that that Zheng fellow's status has risen, that temperament has long been made up for;

In recent years, he's had to go on expeditions almost every year, or even play at leading troops on long-distance raids, he's always active, so it's naturally hard for him to get fat.

The last time that Zheng fellow came to his residence,

When he was leaving,

He even patted his belly with his hand,

And asked;

"Yo, how many months along are you?"

To this,

Ji Lao Liu's answer at the time was that they were all adults, so naturally they had to have the appearance of adults;

Adults must be稳重 (wěn zhòng, steady and reliable);

What does 稳重 (wěn zhòng, steady and reliable) mean?

You have to be heavy first, to stand more firmly, so you have to be heavy first!

Then, after Marquis Zheng left the residence, Ji Lao Liu, for once, didn't eat his late-night snack that evening.

People are no longer young, looking back, there is only regret.

Ji Lao Liu walked up to the Crown Prince, Lu Bing was still standing between the two of them.

"Uncle Lu, please inform Father Emperor, just say I've come to see my son."

Lu Bing nodded, gave a half salute, then turned and walked back into the Lu residence, taking the family servants who had been blocking the door with him.

Ji Lao Liu then reached out and placed his hand in front of the Crown Prince, saying;

"Brother, let's take a stroll together."

The Crown Prince also reached out;

Ji Lao Liu didn't shake it, but placed his own palm below the other's palm.

Seeing this,

The Crown Prince,

Reached out,

And grasped Ji Lao Liu's hand.

The two turned around together,

And walked into the Lu residence.

……

"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince has arrived," Lu Bing reported.

"Mm."

The Yan Emperor didn't feel the slightest bit of surprise at this, to be precise, he had come to the Lu residence today to wait for this son of his.

"Cough cough..."

The Yan Emperor suddenly coughed twice, but worried about waking his grandson, he covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve.

Although he was mentally alert now, his body was already as thin as paper, with only a few days left until the ten-day deadline, this forced suppression of his cough almost made him lose his breath.

But the Yan Emperor stubbornly held his neck and forcibly endured it, managing to get through it.

The Emperor was already used to this, he had been squeezing his body like this again and again in the back garden to forcibly hold on until now.

There was blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, not red, but black, not much, but extremely viscous.

Wei Zhonghe offered a handkerchief,

But the Yan Emperor didn't take it, wiping it directly with his white sleeve.

Then,

He took two steps forward, and finally, he swayed, fortunately his arm landed on Lu Bing.

Lu Bing reached out and quickly supported the Yan Emperor.

The Old Madam sat there, watching calmly.

The Yan Emperor looked at the Old Madam,

And smiled:

"I've made 乳娘 (rǔ niáng, wet nurse) laugh."

The Old Madam closed her eyes, and two lines of hot tears dripped down.

"Hehe, when I was little, I ate so much of 乳娘 (rǔ niáng, wet nurse)'s milk for nothing, which didn't allow Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor) to eat his fill, but looking at it now, this body still isn't good, such a waste of 乳娘 (rǔ niáng, wet nurse)'s milk."

The Yan Emperor's body wasn't good, that was true;

But in the beginning, it hadn't developed to the point of being irreparable.

Although there was the incident of Cang Fuzi entering Yan Jing to斩龙脉 (zhǎn lóng mài, sever the dragon vein), and then the Grand Tutor in the palace bringing the Heavenly Tiger Mountain Daoist court to extinguish it, forcibly replenishing the luck;

Believing in these things would only amount to one loss and one compensation, like a person who gets injured and then recovers, seemingly unharmed, but in reality, there's still a great deficit.

Everyone in the Buddhist nunnery understood that the Yan Emperor was actually just tired.

For the sake of the court, for the sake of the Yan Kingdom, countless days and nights, forgetting to eat and sleep, planning, formulating, and deducing, a person's spirit has always been a fixed amount, if it's used up early, it can't be replenished.

The world only knows of the former Southern and Northern Marquises who踏门阀 (tà mén fá, trampled down aristocratic families), a heroic act worthy of a great toast;

In reality,

How to keep the court from collapsing under the踏门阀 (tà mén fá, trampling down aristocratic families), how to keep the country still a country, that was the most demanding test of the ruler's ability.

The system of a country is like the body of a person;

Everyone knows that strong medicine will inevitably have a quick effect, but you also have to see if the person's body has been nurtured enough to be strong, whether it can withstand the 快哉快哉 (kuài zāi kuài zāi, how wonderful, how wonderful) of "curing the disease with medicine."

The former Zhenbei Marquisate and the Jingnan Marquisate actually both had the strength to launch a rebellion, but they didn't do so, because even if they launched troops and entered Yan Jing for a time, they would be facing a mess.

A country has the framework of a country, and a family also has the rules of a family;

The Yan Emperor toiled day and night, only then did he have the current situation, even if he was criticized by many below for烈火烹油 (liè huǒ pēng yóu, burning oil on a raging fire, an analogy for excessive taxation or extravagant spending), he still managed to get through the most bitter and difficult times, the flowery brocade wouldn't vanish in an instant.

Supported by Lu Bing, the Yan Emperor walked out of the Buddhist nunnery.

However, there's ultimately no reason for a father to welcome his son.

On the steps below the Buddhist nunnery,

The Yan Emperor sat down directly.

Wei Zhonghe brought a蒲团 (pú tuán, meditation cushion), wanting to help the Yan Emperor cushion himself, but the Yan Emperor waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

The weather was getting colder, sitting on the steps was even cooler, but the Yan Emperor hadn't experienced this kind of freedom in a long time.

The gingko tree in front of the Buddhist nunnery exuded mottled brilliance, swaying gently in the wind, a scene full of artistic conception.

"You sit down too, sit down and talk," the Yan Emperor said to Lu Bing.

Lu Bing also sat down.

"Counting the days, Wu Jing and Liang Ting should be arriving at Beifeng County soon," the Yan Emperor said.

Lu Bing then opened his mouth and said, "Your Majesty, Jingnan Wangye (靖南王爷, Prince Jingnan) might be able to, but Zhenbei Wangye (镇北王爷, Prince Zhenbei), his body can't withstand this kind of long-distance, rapid advance."

"Hehe."

The Yan Emperor smiled;

As if the scene of Li Liangting panting heavily and shouting that he really couldn't hold on and continue to rush on was already appearing before his eyes.

Tian Wujing is a peak martial artist, his physique is enough to support him advancing at the fastest pace, there's no doubt about that.

"The fighting is about to begin over there, it's time for us to end things here earlier as well."

The Yan Emperor reached out and rolled up his sleeve.

The feeling of heat was starting to attack again, he was now regretting not bringing that fan with him.

"Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor), I, believe in you."

Hearing this, Lu Bing immediately stood up and knelt down on the steps:

"Your subject deserves to die!"

He really did deserve to die;

If Wei Zhonghe was deliberately feigning negligence,

Then Lu Bing was actually doing "inviting the lord into the jar."

"Sit back down."

"Your subject obeys."

Lu Bing had no choice but to stand up and sit back down on the steps.

"Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor), like 乳娘 (rǔ niáng, wet nurse), has lived cautiously all his life, because of me, I've made you suffer."

"Your Majesty, you must not say it like this, the Lu family's current wealth is all thanks to Mother having nursed Your Majesty once, without Your Majesty, there would be no Lu family as it is today."

"Later on, Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor) can live in the open, assist the new ruler for a few years first, and then slowly hand over the tasks at hand, let the Lu family, withdraw from here."

Lu Bing's expression changed, he knew that this was His Majesty arranging a way out for his Lu family.

Since ancient times, those who handle the Emperor's eyes and ears, seemingly all once enjoyed boundless glory, but how many have been able to die well?

Eunuchs are different, eunuchs have no descendants.

Letting the Lu family withdraw from this dark side of the government was actually arranging for the wealth and glory of the Lu family for generations to come.

At that time, even if the descendants were not successful, they would still have a few generations to read and chew on, and if the descendants were successful, the Lu family would be able to truly stand up from being a family of fortune.

"Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor)'s body is much better than mine, at that time, if Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor) feels that his body is still strong, he can ask to be released to the border.

I remember,

Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor) used to say when he was little that he would lead troops on an expedition for me in the future;

Because of me, Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor)'s ambitions have been difficult to realize in this life."

"Your Majesty, those were words I said when I was young and didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, but there's really no talk of unfulfilled ambitions, not to mention Wu Jing, even that Pingxi Marquis's ability to use troops is something I can't hope to reach.

Great Yan doesn't lack a general like me, but Your Majesty lacks a family member like me by your side.

Being able to assist Your Majesty, my life, in fact, has long been without regrets."

These were Lu Bing's heartfelt words, he was loyal to the Yan Emperor, whether in the past or now.

"I once hated, hated this Heaven, why it couldn't give me some more time, I really thought at that time that I was the Son of Heaven, omnipotent;

I dreamed of being able to pacify the entire world and unify Zhuxia in my hands during my reign.

Later,

I gradually understood that manpower, even the Emperor, has its limits.

Doing my own part well in this life is already enough, I will try my best to leave a better mess for my descendants.

I…cough cough cough…”

The Yan Emperor coughed again:

"Cough…I, am worthy of the country."

"Your Majesty has already done very well, unprecedented."

"Still lacking this last bit, still lacking this last bit, finish up this last bit, and I, can rest well."

Saying this,

The Yan Emperor looked at Lu Bing,

A curve outlined at the corner of his mouth,

And said:

"These past few days, I've dreamed of the Empress, and I've also dreamed of Consort Min, they're already down below, waiting for me."

"Your Majesty…"

"In my life, I've never lowered my head to anyone, nor have I ever softened to anyone, but now, I've prepared a lot of words, prepared to bow, prepared a lot of jokes.

Thinking,

After going down,

I'll go and apologize to them.

It was I,

Who let them down.

They,

Never let me down in the slightest."

Saying this,

The Yan Emperor pointed to the gingko tree in front of him,

And said:

"Consort Min was a simpleton, the day after she married into the princely residence, when she saw Rou Gu at the Empress's place, she specifically came to my study to tell me that this Rou Gu was a nail that her father had planted in my princely residence.

Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor),

What a good woman she was."

"Your Majesty…"

"Cough cough…cough cough…”

The Yan Emperor coughed violently again, and then gasped for breath, reaching out and wiping the corner of his mouth with his sleeve again,

"Wu Jing definitely hates me, Liang Ting is also dissatisfied with me, in fact, even I myself, am I not hating myself every moment.

But I, can't show it, not even a shred of it.

Fortunately,

I can give an explanation,

Right here,

Right after a while,

I,

Am going to give everyone, and at the same time, to myself, an explanation."

"Lu Bing, receive the decree."

Lu Bing immediately stood up and knelt down:

"Your subject is here."

"I order you, next, here, no matter what happens, you must not interfere, everyone in your yamen can only be used to protect the crown prince who walks out of here first.

Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor),

I've always treated you as family,

This time,

Please, once again, guard this family for me."

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

"Wei Zhonghe."

"This servant is here."

Eunuch Wei immediately knelt down.

"Sending away that house full of fine talents of yours like this is a bit too wasteful, that's your hard work over many years."

At this time, Wei Zhonghe wasn't at all panicked that his private hobbies had been discovered by His Majesty,

Instead, he smiled with great relief;

"Your Majesty, this servant really has made Your Majesty laugh."

"Thank you for your hard work as a servant all these years."

"Your Majesty, being able to serve by Your Majesty's side is a blessing that this servant has cultivated for ten lifetimes!"

"I won't need you, this castrated thing, to serve me for the time being, don't rush to disturb me;

Like Nai Gege (奶哥哥, Milk Brother - term for male children raised by the same wet nurse as the emperor), help out for a couple of years first, and then hand over everything properly.

At that time, it's fine to take a walk in the martial world, or to take a look at the back mountain of the Qian Kingdom, walk around more, see more, when you really feel that there's nothing interesting outside, then come to my mausoleum, keep me company, and tell me about the people and things you saw out there."

"This servant…this servant obeys the decree."

Wei Zhonghe's eyes had long been red, he was forcibly holding back from crying.

The Yan Emperor took a deep breath,

His gaze, looking ahead,

And cursed:

"Why haven't those two beasts come over yet."

………

The Crown Prince held Ji Chengjue's hand, the two of them walking in the courtyard of the Lu residence.

"Zhu Xuancheng, is he also one of your people, Sixth Brother?"

Xuancheng was Zhu Zicong's courtesy name.

Ji Chengjue shook his head and said, "No, but I noticed that Second Brother had this person around him a long time ago, and sent people to investigate.

He's quite a talented person, well-versed in writing, knows military affairs, and is also good at accounting."

"So, he was just calculated by you?"

The one who was predicted wasn't the Crown Prince, but the most important strategist by the Crown Prince's side.

Ji Chengjue nodded and said, "I suppose."

"Second Brother, I don't know why, but I feel very relaxed now, it's like I've returned to my childhood."

"When you were little, you were the smartest, and now, you're still the smartest."

"Yeah, when I was little, everything seemed unbelievable, I thought, how could my brothers be so stupid, haha."

"Yesterday, I read the letter you sent, I saw it," the Crown Prince opened his mouth and said, "Is this also considered a psychological attack?"

In the letter,

An old eunuch was mentioned.

This old eunuch was very experienced in the palace and had seen a lot of things. In the years after the Empress developed hysteria, the old eunuch had been in Fengzheng Palace.

As long as he was there,

No one could hurt the Empress, no one could be detrimental to the Empress,

Including,

The Empress herself couldn't either.

And a few days before the Empress passed away, the old eunuch was transferred away.

Then, the Empress passed away.

The Empress had wanted to die a long time ago, but she had never been allowed to leave;

Finally, perhaps out of compassion, or perhaps feeling that the time had come, the old eunuch was transferred away, and the Empress, in a moment of clarity, didn't see the figure of that dull-faced eunuch in her sight, and chose to end her own life.

"No, but it can also be considered as one," Ji Chengjue stopped and looked at the Crown Prince, and said: "I've always felt that even if we brothers are fighting each other, we should fight clearly, not confusedly."

"I never thought that you were the one who did it to Mother Empress," the Crown Prince said.

Ji Chengjue nodded.

The Crown Prince turned his head and looked at his Sixth Brother,

And said:

"If I give you a few more years, will all of the people in my Eastern Palace be yours?"

"Second Brother, we, were never on the same level to begin with, when you were still reading the books of sages, I had already taken over my maternal grandfather's inheritance.

Wealth, connections.

Furthermore, I'm also smarter than you.

I can arrange that the woman you bought who was selling herself to bury her father when we left the palace together was one of my people;

The woman you rescued as a hero, was one of my people;

The little beggar who stole your purse and was caught by you, only to find out that he needed the money to get medicine for his mother, was also one of my people;

The maidservant who served you for the first time when you were just beginning to understand love, might also be one of my people;

Before you were consciously building your own team, I had already provided you with candidates, I'm younger than you, but I did these things much faster.

My maternal grandfather's inheritance is much bigger than all of you think, it once made me feel that it was really also unavoidable that Father Emperor destroyed the Min family.

In short, one sentence, with money, you can really do whatever you want.

But today, I didn't expect that Second Brother would personally bring troops over, because Father Emperor had just told Second Brother that doing nothing was your greatest advantage.

Mr. Zhu, that person, is talented, he can see through some things, but that doesn't mean he can arrange countermeasures well.

Rou Gu's trap doesn't count;

This time, Second Brother, you shouldn't have come."

"If I didn't come, how did you plan to mobilize this army?"

"Just launch troops and kill your way over, using your Eastern Palace's banner, let Wu Liang directly set fire to encircle and attack the Lu residence.

Then let Eldest Brother and Marquis Pingxi act according to the wind;

Purging the ruler's side, suppressing the rebellion, muddling through the waters, let the fire burn, and then see if Heaven will send rain.

It's a bit rough,

But I, your younger brother, really have no other choice, I really can only jump over the wall like a desperate dog.

So,

Second Brother,

Why did you come?

Do you know,

Because you came,

You saved me, your younger brother, from so many things.

This Eastern Palace Guard, it was originally Wen Yin who secretly built it up, and even though Wu Liang was replaced, he hadn't done a large-scale purge, and you, Second Brother, really dared to pull them out?"

"Sixth Brother, do you remember what I asked you when I went to your residence on the day Chuanye was born?"

"I remember," Ji Chengjue opened his mouth and said, "At that time, Second Brother asked me, whether I hated it or not."

The Crown Prince took a deep breath,

And said:

"For a long time, no one has ever asked me, do you even want this world?

I thought, I probably wanted it, because I'm the eldest son of the legitimate wife, I'm Father Emperor's son, what I should fight for, what I should take, what I should do, everything, is what I should do.

But later,

I gradually discovered,

The world, is too far away from me, so far away that I can't see it clearly at all, and home, is right in front of my eyes.

I watched it with my own eyes,

Disintegrate,

Fall apart,

Break,

Bleed."

The Crown Prince smiled,

And continued:

"In fact, even if Zhu Zicong didn't come to persuade me, I would still come.

Since you're going to take action against that old thing,

I, your older brother,

What I can do,

Is help you bring the troops over."

——————

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