Ma Qi and Xiao Yongzao walked through the long corridor all the way, and finally entered Kangxi's dormitory, but after all, this is a palace, and Kangxi rarely comes here on weekdays, so the facilities are very simple and low-key, in this dim palace, there are only a few long candles to accompany them, and there are also some palace maids and eunuchs kneeling aside.

After entering the dormitory, Ma Qi and Xiao Yongzao did not see the emperor, because in front of them, a bright yellow curtain divided the entire dormitory into two worlds, but there was no movement inside, which made Ma Qi feel a little bad in his heart, it seems that this battle is too big a blow to Kangxi.

But it's normal to say it, just like this for more than a year, not to mention how many governors and governors have been folded in, even the military department Shangshu has folded into two, one Bai Huang died in prison, and one Tong Fahai committed suicide. In addition, there are no two ministers in the guard, Arsonga in front committed suicide and martyrdom, and after the end of the war, Puzhao, who fled to Daguanli, was surrounded by the Fu Han army, and saw no hope of escaping, so he also committed suicide directly.

After fighting for more than a year, a full 200,000 troops, and now only 10,000 remnants of the army have returned..... It can be said that it is the worst battle lost since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, more than 70,000 Eight Banner soldiers have died on the battlefield in Huguang, and the remaining ones are all in charge of the deputy capital, the commander of the green battalion, and the dead are difficult to describe.

What is this concept?

Let's not talk about the Eight Banners of Jingzhou, Jiangning Eight Banners and Hangzhou Eight Banners, even in the Beijing Division at this time, now every family is carrying filial piety, and every household approves hemp, and the crying is shocking, turning this good and decent Beijing Division into a big filial piety hall.

It's just that no matter what, it's not a matter that the emperor has been hiding in the palace, and after Ma Qi and Xiao Yongzao knelt down and saluted, they said directly: "The emperor is now back in Beijing, which is really gratifying." It's just that the Jinghai Palace is really simple, but it made the emperor feel wronged, and the servants asked the emperor to return to the palace as soon as possible to stabilize the hearts of the people in the world. ”

There was silence in the curtain, and Ma Qi and Xiao Yongzao didn't dare to say much, so they could only kneel on the ground and wait quietly. I don't know how long it took, Kangxi's voice came from the tent.

"I'm fine, let's stand down first."

"Huh! The minions retired. ”

Ma Qi and Xiao Yongzao were a little weird in their hearts, but they didn't dare to disobey Kangxi's intentions, so they had to retreat in a huff. Although I didn't see Kangxi, I finally heard Kangxi's voice, and I didn't know anything, so I could make a deal when I went out.

The two of them walked out of the palace side by side, but they were silent all the time, even because the palace was located, there were many ears and eyes, and it was inevitable that what they said would be leaked, and secondly, they really didn't have anything to say.

The ministers, who had been waiting outside the palace gate for a long time, saw Ma Qi and Xiao Yongzao coming out side by side, and immediately flocked to them, gathered around the two, and asked all the way: "How is the emperor?" When will I be able to return to Beijing? ”

Ma Qi smiled bitterly and said: "You are all together, now the emperor is fine, but he needs to recuperate more, I don't gather here, if you disturb the emperor's rest, it will be the sin of the courtiers." ”

Seeing Ma Qi say this, the ministers were helpless, except for these two people who could see Kangxi, the others had no qualifications, so they did not continue to get together, but dispersed in a swarm.

However, at the stall where everyone was outward, there was one other person, who had been quietly watching everyone there, with a warm smile on his face, and this person was Zhang Tingyu.

"Hengchen, I said goodbye in a hurry last time, and now I see you again like a world away." With a smile on his face, Ma Qi walked over to Zhang Tingyu, "When the old man sees him today, is Hengchen okay?" ”

Xiao Yongzao on the side also changed his temper at this time, and he was not as rude as other ministers, but looked at Zhang Tingyu with a smile on his face, and there was a lot of protection in his expression. If other people see this, I'm afraid they won't believe their eyes, and this Xiao Yongzao can also put on a smiling face at people?

It turned out that Xiao Yongzao and Zhang Tingyu's father Zhang Ying had been friends for many years, and the two had similar interests, close friendship, and a very deep friendship. Because of this, Xiao Yongzao also has blue eyes for Zhang Tingyu, regards him as a nephew, and takes care of him in many ways. Now that I see that Zhang Tingyu has become a pillar of the imperial court, I am also very comforted.

When Zhang Tingyu saw these two people, the smile on his face became more and more intense: "Meet Lord Ma Qi, meet Lord Xiao, last time I said goodbye to Anqing, I was really quite emotional in my heart, and now the demeanor of the adults is still the same, and the lower officials are also overjoyed." Although the words are very polite, there is not much taste of intimacy.

Ma Qi people are old thieves, he saw Zhang Tingyu staying here, and it didn't seem like waiting for the two of them, it was obvious that Emperor Kangxi had a secret message to let him go to the audience. Although he wanted to know what kind of medicine was sold in Kangxi's gourd, he also knew that the time was not right, so he had to forcibly endure the curiosity in his heart.

"Hehe, Hengchen, looking at you like this, it must be that the emperor has something to explain. There won't be much delay today, in a few days, will Hengchen be willing to come to my house as a guest? ”

Ma Qi had a smile on his face, but he glanced at Xiao Yongzao lightly, but found that Xiao Yongzao's face was not half abnormal, so he was slightly relieved. At this critical time, he didn't dare to guarantee what Xiao Yongzao was planning to do, but as long as he knew Xiao Yongzao's movements, he wouldn't be particularly worried.

Zhang Tingyu saluted and said, "Lord Ma Qi invited, how dare the lower officials disobey?" It's just that now it is the emperor's order, but it is not good to accompany the two adults to talk more, and the next day the official will definitely come to visit. ”

Xiao Yongzao had a smile on his face, he was really good to this nephew, he deliberately lowered his head and whispered in his ear: "The old man won't say anything more polite to you." I just hope that you will understand one thing, whatever you do now, you must think more carefully, and do not act recklessly. ”

Ma Qi was already waiting in front, and seeing that Xiao Yongzao had already negotiated the matter between his words, he said loudly: "Hehe, although this Jinghai County is located in a remote area, it is not difficult to find one or two restaurants, Lord Xiao, you and I might as well find a secluded place and have a long talk?" ”

Xiao Yongzao was also indispensable, so he nodded and agreed, and the two of them sent someone to the nearby restaurant together, ordered a table of good wine and food, and planned to chat while eating.

After these two old ministers left, Zhang Tingyu didn't dare to slack off anymore, tidied up his clothes slightly, put the braid behind his neck, fixed it with his collar, and went to see Emperor Kangxi along the road where the two of them had passed.

It just so happened that it was Wei Zhu who came to greet Zhang Tingyu again, with a smile on his face, and he smiled almost flatteringly: "Lord Zhang is here, the emperor is urging the old slave to call Master Zhang!" ”

Zhang Tingyu hurriedly bowed his hand, and his face showed a little guilt, "The lower officials acted in a hurry, but they caused the father-in-law to wait here for a long time, so I went to ask the emperor for the guilt, and I hope that the father-in-law will forgive me." ”

Wei Zhu has always been a red-topped and white-topped character, since this southern expedition, he has also seen Emperor Kangxi's attitude towards his subordinates, and he is sure that Zhang Tingyu will have unlimited future, so he has the heart to envelop a few more times, and his words are full of affection: "Yo, Lord Zhang is polite, the old slave can't afford it." After finishing speaking, he was a little mysterious, "After the emperor woke up, although he also summoned a few people, when he first woke up, he wanted to be the first to summon you!" ”

Zhang Tingyu followed Wei Zhu into Kangxi's bedroom, and as soon as he entered, he knelt on the ground, put his head on the ground, and said loudly: "The slave visits the emperor, the emperor's holy body is safe, and the slave's heart is settled." ”

The bright yellow curtain was slowly opened, but Kangxi stood up, now his face became more and more pale, and he coughed a little from time to time, and when he saw Zhang Tingyu kneeling on the ground, he said softly: "Heng Chen, do you know why I called you?" ”

When Zhang Tingyu heard Kangxi's voice, he didn't dare to raise his head to peep at Shengyan, and honestly lay on the ground, "The slave is stupid and doesn't know the emperor's intentions." ”

"Stupid..... Hmph, just be stupid, these people are just too smart! A dark cloud appeared on Kangxi's face, but when he spoke, he coughed a few times.

This is more heartbreaking, Zhang Tingyu probably understands what is going on in his heart, but at the moment, he doesn't dare to say more on this topic, no matter what he says, it is easy to be associated with other aspects, and then it will really be burned.

Fortunately, Kangxi didn't continue to embarrass him, but just whispered: "Since I fell into a coma, although I can't speak or move, I can hear your words, you are so bold!" ”

Zhang Tingyu was shocked when he heard it, and he now believes in the so-called rumor, that is, Kangxi was not in a coma at all, but took advantage of this coma to avoid his embarrassment, and by the way, he took this opportunity to check the loyalty of the ministers. Judging from these words, it is quite credible.

"The slave can't relieve the emperor's worries, it's really a crime that deserves death!"

"You all say that you deserve to die for your sin, but if you really want to die, what should happen to the Qing Dynasty?" Kangxi snorted softly.

Kangxi paused, and then said: "Since this coma, I have also understood in my heart, I am afraid that my life will not be long, but I am really not at ease in this Qing Dynasty......

This kind of discourse would be fine if it were said ordinarily, but at this time, it would seem a bit outrageous. It's just that before Zhang Tingyu could think about what to say, Kangxi spoke again: "Hengchen, I want to ask you, among the princes now, who is the most worthy of the great responsibility?" ”

Faced with the question suddenly thrown by Kangxi, Zhang Tingyu was calm on the surface, but in his heart he was already turning over the river and the sea, whether it was for the sake of his family or for himself, this question could not be answered wrong, otherwise he would not be alone in the future.

"The slave doesn't dare to spy on the affairs of the royal prince, let alone talk nonsense, and hope that the emperor will know ....." Zhang Tingyu's forehead oozed sweat.

"Hmph..... The matter of the establishment of the Qing Dynasty is still unresolved, isn't this related to the safety of my society in the Qing Dynasty? How dare you not speak? ”

Kangxi looked at Zhang Tingyu with deep eyes, but his face looked quite cold, the older the old emperor became, the more strange his temper became.

Zhang Tingyu took a deep breath and put his forehead on the cold ground, "The slave thinks that the matter of establishing the prince has the emperor's sacred heart to decide, and the slave is short-sighted, and he will never dare to talk more about this matter, and the emperor will know it!" ”

Kangxi didn't speak at this time, but just stared at Zhang Tingyu for a while, and then sighed: "You go down first, today's matter must not fall into the ears of others, otherwise I will not be spared." ”

Zhang Tingyu naturally swore again and again, and then walked towards the door, but when he just stepped through the palace gate, he couldn't help touching his sleeve, which was already soaked, and he didn't know whether it was sweat or fright.

It is said that when Zhang Tingyu was lucky to pass the test, Ma Qi and Xiao Yongzao were drinking in a restaurant in Jinghai County.

In fact, the relationship between Ma Qi and Xiao Yongzao is also very deep, as early as more than ten years ago, both of them were members of the Eight Masters Party, and the Eight Masters Party at that time was quite remarkable, like He Fuquan, Mandu Hu, Wu Erzhan These clan princes, as well as Tong Guowei, Oro Dai, Yu Xu, Wang Hongxu, Ma Qi, He Zhuo, Xiao Yongzao and other ministers, are all members of the Eight Masters Party.

To what extent is the strength at its peak? That is, today, more than ten years after the Eight Masters Party was liquidated by Kangxi, there are still many Eight Masters Party members, from the clan to the court, from the palace to the army, almost all of them have their shadows, and it is precisely because of this that Kangxi feels more and more jealous.

Xiao Yongzao dipped his chopsticks in the wine, wrote the word "嫡" on the table, and then wiped it off, looked at Ma Qi with a meaningful face, and said in a low voice: "Lord Ma Qi, I'm afraid that Hengchen is about to come out at the moment, maybe the emperor called him over for this matter." ”

Ma Qi smiled, it is true that he is the Eighth Master Party, but it does not mean that he can abandon his family and business for the Eighth Master, right now, for Kangxi, maybe he is taking the opportunity to clean up a group of old ministers, if he jumps out and becomes this rising bird, I am afraid that the end will be more uncomfortable.

"What does Lord Xiao mean by this? Don't you think about the merits of such a splash? It's just that the old man said bluntly, I'm afraid the Sacred Heart has already been decided. ”

"Humph! How is it decided? You Ma Qimo are not greedy for life and afraid of death, and deliberately excuse and prevaricate! Xiao Yongzao's temper is indeed not very good, it can almost be regarded as the kind that can be blown up by lighting a fire, but now seeing that Ma Qi intends to make excuses, he is staring at Ma Qi with anger on his face.

Ma Qi himself has a hard time, but he knows Emperor Kangxi too well, this emperor is very tolerant on the surface, but if he really touches the dragon scales, it is not a joke.

"Lord Xiao, this matter is definitely not something that you and I can decide here, now the emperor seems to be in good health, if there is any rash move, it will be a big deal! What's more, when the time comes, the eighth and fourteenth will have to fight! ”

Ma Qi's words can be regarded as tearing a layer of skin to the current status quo of the Eight Masters Party, which seems to be powerful but has actually been torn apart, many people in the original Eight Masters Party already think that the Eighth is no play, but the Old Fourteen is more favored by Kangxi, and it will be more beneficial to support the Old Fourteen when the time comes, even the Eighth himself thinks that it should be so.

Xiao Yongzao sighed, he looked at Ma Qi with burning eyes, "No matter which one it is, if it ascends to the throne in the future, it will be indispensable for our good, but if it is the cold-faced king, we can end up with a beggar bone in the future, it will be good!" ”

Ma Qi nodded slightly, with a smile on his face: "Isn't that Zhang Hengchen a good chess eye now?" If I'm not mistaken, in the future, if there is a big change, this person will be able to decide the direction of the situation! ”