In the south of Youzhou City, a brocade carriage drove in front of a towering Washington mansion, and the groom grabbed the reins and stopped leisurely, got out of the car first, and then lifted the curtain and said to the people in the car: "My lord, Situ Mansion has arrived." ”

The people in the car were sitting on their laps, their eyebrows and eyes were slightly drooping, calm and deep, as if they were thinking about something, they raised their heads when they heard the words of the horseman, changed their looks, and were a little anxious, got up and walked out of the brocade shed, and got out of the carriage.

As soon as his feet hit the ground, a person hurriedly came out of the gate of Situ Mansion. The butler of Situ Mansion stepped forward and saluted, with a worried face, and said, "Lord Taiwei, please come in, my lord has been waiting for Lord Taiwei for a long time." ”

Shen Donglai walked into the mansion with him and said, "Today the court is busy with affairs, and when I returned to the mansion, I saw Lord Situ's letterhead, so I hurriedly came, I am also very worried about Lord Situ, butler, what kind of illness is your family suffering from? How could a person who was still in good health a few days ago suddenly become so seriously ill?"

The butler sighed again and again, quite unspeakable, and said: "Lord Taiwei, please forgive me for not discussing the master's illness without permission, and I will know when I see it." ”

Shen Donglai frowned and walked hurriedly, without asking, he only entered the backyard with the housekeeper, bypassed a few galleries, and saw a separate courtyard, which was completely devoid of the luxury and exquisiteness of the front yard of the military aircraft chief auxiliary mansion, and there were not even a few subordinates, and there were two family members guarding in front of the gate of the other courtyard.

He asked suspiciously, "Your adult is in poor health, why did you move into such a simple side room of the courtyard?"

The housekeeper saw that he had already arrived at the door, anyway, he would know and understand, so he didn't prevaricate more, and replied: "There are many people in the main hospital, which will interfere with the condition of my family, and the other hospital is quiet, and it can also ensure that the condition of my family will not be spread." ”

Shen Donglai was even more surprised, and wanted to ask, the housekeeper had already opened the bedroom door and invited him in, he turned to step into this room full of medicinal smell, and when he went in, the room was simply furnished, there was a carved wooden bed at one end of the room, the gauze tent on the bed was closed, and the figure of the person lying inside was faintly visible, and the uninterrupted pain murmured came out, and there was a hot stove next to the bed with a strange-smelling decoction.

Shen Donglai wanted to get closer, and greeted Situ Lianying, the first and auxiliary minister of the military aircraft, but the housekeeper stopped him and said, "Please talk here, it's inconvenient to come forward......"

Shen Donglai stopped in place, worriedly reaching out to look at the person on the bed. The housekeeper raised his voice and reported: "My lord, Lord Taiwei has arrived. ”

There was a violent wheezing sound from behind the gauze curtain, and a harsh and hoarse voice said, "Okay, butler, you should step back first, I want to talk to Lord Shen alone." The butler withdrew, and the door shut.

"Lord Shen...... Forgive me for not being able to see the ...... when I am sick."

Shen Donglai looked anxious, took a few steps forward, and said, "How could Lord Situ suddenly become so sick? A few days ago, I saw that my lord had not been in the court for many days and sent someone to greet him, didn't my lord say that he was just slightly ill?"

Situ Lianying gasped for a few moments and then became weak, sighed twice, and replied: "Eh, Lord Lao Shen is worried, I didn't mean to hide it, just because this illness is really difficult to talk about, I invite Lord Shen to come today, I want to confess to the adults that I will entrust the big things, please agree, I must keep it a secret, otherwise the reputation of my Situ family for several generations will be ruined by me!"

Shen Donglai said: "I have been friends with Lord Situ for more than ten years, if I didn't have the sponsorship of Lord Situ to Beiliang back then, how could I be reused by the emperor?

"Good. I'll just say it to Lord Shen...... Eh, you and I have been friends for many years, and you also know that the worst thing about me is that I am greedy for women...... Indulge in lustful dogs and horses, sleep in the willows in your spare time...... It's really ashamed to think about it now, but as a minister of the court, he doesn't know how to check himself, but he destroys himself more and more, and enjoys getting by for a while, until he ...... Until this ......" the more he spoke, the more he could not continue, and the words of shame were repentant word by word.

Shen Donglai understood more and more, and the more he listened, the more surprised he became, "Ah......! Be...... Is it a dirty disease?"

The man in the gauze tent whimpered and replied with difficulty, "Exactly...... Woo, Lord Shen, it's too late for me to regret it!"

Shen Donglai stomped his feet angrily and frightened, and said sharply to him in a suppressed voice: "Eh! You, you! I have persuaded you several times to restrain and cherish your dignity, but you have not listened! Now it is good! It has become like this! Lord Situ, Lord Situ! You are the first and auxiliary of the military aircraft of the DPRK to rank as the third duke! There is no mistake in the court in your life, how can you just not change this bad problem! You really let me say that you are good!"

Shen Donglai's temperament was really reprimanded, which made Situ Lianying even more embarrassed, and he gasped for grief, "Yes, Lord Shen, I am self-inflicted!

Shen Donglai also gasped violently, as if he was stabilizing his emotions, regardless of others, he took a step forward, and said solemnly with concern: "Lord Situ, this matter must be suppressed, the reputation of the Situ family and you must not be destroyed!" Now that His Majesty's southern expedition is imminent, although I have objections, I have no choice but to do my best to supplement His Majesty's will and dare not slack off, and you are the head of the military aircraft, and you have the great responsibility of taking charge of the internal and external military, at such a juncture, you are the reliance of Your Majesty and the hundreds of officials in the court, you must cure the evil disease as soon as possible, and return to the court to help Your Majesty achieve great cause! Don't worry, I will keep this matter secret for you, and seek a famous doctor for you to send it to your house to treat you with all your might, and several old doctors in the Tai Hospital are also familiar with you, if you are not good to come forward, how about I go and ask the Tai Doctor to come over to the house to treat you?"

Situ Lianying was deeply moved when he heard Shen Donglai's words, tears flowed, regret and sorrow, and the torture of illness also made him miserable, he said: "Lord Shen treats me sincerely so far, it is not in vain for you and me to have a relationship, but Lord Shen ...... Actually, I have already asked a famous doctor to diagnose it, and even the famous doctors in the world are helpless against my disease...... Let's just say that my disease is worsened by a visceral disease, and now it has hurt my kidneys and lungs...... I don't have much time left!"

"Ahh

Between the two phases of grief, Situ Lianying said: "I am ashamed of the emperor, ashamed of Your Majesty, and ashamed of Beiliang...... What kind of court pillar stone do you talk about? Just be a self-destructive person! The real court pillar stone is you, Lord Shen...... I've always been the most sorry for Lord Shen...... I also know that I am a scholar, if not, if Qin Wenruo died that year, the post of prime minister would be vacant, and no one could take office...... So the first emperor asked the Taiwei, who was in charge of the military and political affairs of the Northern Liang Dynasty, to take the post of prime minister...... I am afraid that you are the minister of Nanke, and I am afraid that you will be too powerful...... That's why I was promoted to the chief assistant of the military aircraft and took away most of your military power...... Otherwise, how could I be ranked among the three dukes? Now, the great war is coming, and my time is short...... I have written to Your Majesty today, confessing my guilt and resigning from my official position, and urging Your Majesty Lord Shen to take charge of the military and political affairs...... Since then, the responsibility has been all on Lord Shen...... Please Lord Shen to help His Majesty in his southern expedition...... Baobei Liang is strong and stable...... It's my long-cherished wish to atone for my sins...... Lord Shen, how are you?"

"Lord Situ, you look down on Shen Dong to come! How can I take on such a heavy responsibility? At this juncture, how can Lord Situ bear to abandon the world?" Shen Donglai hid his face and wept, grief-stricken.

"Although Lord Shen is from Nanke...... But I did my best to contribute to my Northern Liang court...... The achievements of the past few years are obvious to all...... also helped the emperor to go south three times, and the emperor did not go south to fight hard, but you did your best to save and turn the tide...... Who can compare this kind of feat?"

Shen Donglai shook his head again and again and lamented, although Situ Lianying couldn't see it, his shaking head was indeed sincere, hearing Situ's words, he couldn't help laughing at himself in his heart, "Indeed, if it weren't for me" to save and turn the tide ", the Southern Expedition of the Emperor of Northern Liang would have been successful a long time ago, and this kind of "merit" is unmatched." ”

"Your Majesty will definitely save some face for me if you have been an assistant for many years...... I won't make my scandal public...... And the law of the Ten Thousand Dynasty Sect is strict, and I have committed a great crime that insults the virtue of officials...... Wan Chaozong will not spare me...... Even if I die, I am afraid that Your Majesty will punish the Situ family under other names, and my family will be restless...... I invited Lord Shen to come today, just to ask Lord Shen to ask for a favor for the Situ family when His Majesty offended our Situ family...... lest the Situ family be hit hard because of me, a pickled person......" His breath became more and more low, and every word was spitted out with difficulty.

Shen Donglai solemnly swore to him to protect the Situ family, he was relieved, explained this last thing, and he waited for death with peace of mind.

Shen Donglai emotionally told and comforted him for a long time, and then reluctantly left, saying that he would come to visit him often, and Situ Lianying was quite emotional.

He walked out of this bedroom, the housekeeper closed the door, he stopped and looked back, his eyes were wet with tears, his face was full of sadness for half a lifetime, and he seemed to be able to hear Situ Lianying's difficult gasp, the voice was painful, he closed his eyes and sighed, turned around heavily, and walked forward.

Situ Lianying has been friends with him for more than 15 years, and has always trusted him, and when the time is about to end, he still has a long-cherished wish for him to write to him. In fact, Situ Lianying didn't need to be like this, a little selfish, he didn't have to go to Xun Shaoling, he just waited at home all day for illness, the people of the Situ family would be able to keep the secret for him and cover up the ugly deeds, even if he died of illness suddenly, his reputation was not at risk of being ruined, and the Situ family had no worries, but he just confessed his guilt and wanted to give up the power, he wanted to be honest with the monarch and responsible for the court, he thought that Shen Donglai was the person who was most entrusted with the important task after his death, so he was willing to take the risk to atone for his sins and do his last bit for the court, which shows a naked heart。

But, Situ Lianying, Situ Lianying, you are thoughtful and willing to sacrifice, but you are entrusted to a non-person.

If you and I were born in the same country, we would be friends for life, but it's a pity......

The wheels drove out of the south city, at the foot of the Son of Heaven, the style of the capital, the nobles gathered, the treasures of Tianhua, the prosperity and prosperity all the way, a prosperous and peaceful, who can laugh at the treacherous clouds here?

The carriage drove to Changsheng Street, the most lively street in Youzhou City, Shen Donglai asked the groom to stop, got out of the car, and said, "You wait to go back to the house first, I want to walk by myself." ”

When the groom saw him coming out of Situ's mansion, he looked depressed, and thought that he was thinking that he was taking a walk on the street for his sick colleague, and he didn't dare to say anything, so he obeyed the order and drove back to the house.

Shen Donglai was walking alone on the street, passing by Feiyun Pavilion, and glanced up, Aunt Yan, who was busy soliciting customers among the beauties standing on the second floor, happened to see him, met his eyes for a moment, and smiled indifferently.

In the Zhaoming Palace, the autumn sunset is warm, Mo Li led Elder Qingyuan into the Huxin Pavilion, Jianing was teasing a silver pigeon, the elder finished the ceremony, Jianing invited him to sit down. After Qin Fengge served the tea, she was sent to the Huxin Pavilion by Mo Li, she was indignant, and she could only avoid it with interest.

Elder Qingyuan said, "Why did Your Highness urgently summon the old minister?" He caught a glimpse of the pigeon in Jianing's hand, "Could it be that something happened to the north?"

Jianing raised his eyes and looked at Mo Li: "What's the matter, didn't Mo Li tell the elder on the way to invite the elder?"

Mo Li said: "Mo Li doesn't dare to speak lightly about the affairs of his superiors. ”

Jianing waved her hand to let go of the pigeon, and the silver pigeon flew into the pigeon cage in the corner, and she smiled lightly: "Elder, there is a great thing in the north, and Lord Shen Donglai has made another miraculous achievement." ”

Elder Qingyuan said happily: "Oh? ”

Jianing said: "Xun Shaoling insisted on the southern invasion, Shangguan Tianyuan helped him, and Lord Shen knew that the southern invasion of Northern Liang had become a fixed situation, so he no longer insisted on blocking it, but changed his strategy in an attempt to take the military and political power of Northern Liang." After the failure of Emperor Wen of Liang's sixth southern invasion, he was either suspicious or jealous, so he cut most of Shen Donglai's power as the chief lieutenant, let him follow the post of prime minister, and set up a military aircraft chief assistant to balance Lord Shen, Elder Qingyuan should know who this military aircraft chief assistant is......"

"It's Situ Lianying, the former Shangshu of the Northern Liang Military Department. Situ is also a famous family in the Northern Liang, generation of capable ministers, Situ Lianying is ranked in the third duke, before the appointment of the Ministry of War, once served as a hussar captain, many times with Emperor Wen of Liang sent troops to invade the south, with a good character, discerning talents, recommended a lot of talents for the Northern Liang......" Elder Qingyuan recalled.

Jianing covered his mouth and smiled: "No matter how capable a courtier is, there is also a dereliction of duty, and no matter how generous a person is, he also has the vice of losing morality." However, our Lord Shen happened to catch one of his major shortcomings - lustful, so he designed to lure him to often linger in Feiyun Pavilion, and Aunt Yan bewitched him with a beauty, and gave him a strange poison, this poison is the same as a dirty disease when it is diagnosed, but it is actually a deadly poison, so Situ Lianying has died soon, and he also wrote to Xun Shaoling to sponsor Lord Shen to take charge of the military and politics, so the military and political power of Beiliang will definitely fall into the hands of Lord Shen, elder, do you say it is gratifying?"

Elder Qingyuan couldn't help laughing loudly, shook his head and praised: "Shen Donglai, Shen Donglai, what a Shen Donglai! In the fifteenth year of more than 15 years in the north, he can be able to take charge of the military and politics every time there is a big war, and this is also his habitual move! With him in Beiliang, how can I worry about Nanke?"

Jianing was arrogant and said: "This military and political power has fallen into the hands of my ministers of Nanke, I want to see how he can fight this battle of Xun Shaoling!"

After thinking about it, Elder Qingyuan's face was worried: "However, Lord Shen is also taking a greater risk, since Xun Shaoling ascended the throne, Lord Shen has been working with him, and Shangguan Tianyuan has been suspicious of Lord Shen for many years...... After all, it's a new dynasty, so don't be careful. ”

Jia Ning said: "Yes, I believe that Lord Shen has his own measure, when did he neglect to be cautious in Beiliang for many years? And for the sake of thoroughness, I have already sent a letter to him to discuss a better plan with him, in other words, in fact, what he did this time is also part of this plan, and today I want the elders to help consider what is wrong or what can be improved." ”

Elder Qingyuan said: "Please tell Your Highness in detail, the old minister will listen attentively." ”

Jianing told Elder Qingyuan about the plan in detail, and Elder Qingyuan was even more overjoyed when he heard it, and kept exclaiming: "Wonderful, really wonderful! Previously, the old minister was worried that Lord Shen would fail, but after knowing this plan, he suddenly felt that it was seamless, and Lord Shen really thought about it and looked at the overall situation, no matter how much Shangguan Tianyuan suspected Lord Shen, we all had room to win." ”

After discussing the strategy, Elder Qingyuan asked, "Suzaku has not heard from her for a long time, I don't know what her situation is now?"