In the early autumn, the burned ruins of the Jiyi Building has been completed, the building that has just been painted is more prosperous and magnificent than before, has not yet opened for business, and the faint fragrance of flowers has attracted passers-by to often stop and think about it.

Soon after, the guards at the door of Jiyilou were added to the people of the criminal department, and they were heavily guarded. The people nearby didn't know what was going on with the shop that had just been renovated, so they looked inside, but they didn't dare to come and watch because they couldn't guess what was going on. In the evening, a group of black-robed men rode to the door, reined their horses, and dismounted. The gatekeeper had already listened to the order, and one by one he looked respectful, and knelt down on one knee to meet the group of people into the Jiyi Tower.

Lu Qixiang was standing under the corridor and arranging the banquet. Seeing a few of them coming, he hurriedly stepped forward, saluted the black-clothed man in the lead, and said, "The inside is all arranged according to the king's orders, and they are all waiting for you inside!" ”

"Make the feast richer!" Xiao Zhi nodded, and ordered the guards who were preparing to guard the surroundings, "It's safe here, you guys should come with it!" As he spoke, he personally took Fang Fei's hand into the bamboo forest in the backyard. Although Fang Fei was calm and calm on the surface, Xiao Zhi's hand was cold and wet when she touched her, and she was sweaty.

"I've got my own measure." Xiao Zhi gently shook Fang Fei's hand and motioned for her not to worry.

is still where Xiao Zhen, Guo Zhang, and Shen Lian talked about it back then, but the main seat was replaced by Cao Ze and Xiao Yan, who were intoxicated. Sitting on both sides were Wu Haoze and Song Qinglian, Wu Haoze only had a gloomy face and did not speak. However, Song Qinglian was still a little more free, and when he saw them coming in, he got up with a smile and said, "Eh, when you have a while, let's sit and talk." As he spoke, he saw Lu Qixiang come in and direct the cook to serve the food, but it was a full table of land and water, with large pots and small bowls on the table, and there were more than 40 cold dishes. The crowd just stayed, and no one wanted to move.

"The big picture has been decided, and I lost." Cao Ze raised his glass and spoke first, just like the pride and self-control when he was in the auxiliary government of the dynasty, "Everyone here knows our affairs!" The king also counts his words. The big husband dares to do it, and regards life as child's play! I, Cao Ze, am willing to gamble and lose! ”

At this time, Xiao Yan was sitting beside Cao Ze, with grief and hatred in his heart, not a taste. He knew about the gamble that was fought for his life. After this banquet, I will be separated from this benefactor who is also a teacher and a friend.

Xiao Zhi raised his glass and looked at the people around him, and suddenly smiled, "This Manchu Dynasty is civil and military, and the royal family looks at it, it is still Cao Gong who is happy, and I will dry this glass of wine first." As he spoke, he stretched his neck and drank, "Please!" ”

Everyone drank together, but Xiao Yan's eyes were blurred with tears, and he couldn't get down the wine, and he whimpered, "It's me, it's me who is sorry for the general." Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke.

"Ah Yan!" Cao Ze knew that as soon as he cried, he was afraid that he would not be able to control it, so he ruined the banquet. Anyway, he was going to die, and he didn't want to cry and make people laugh. "Eh, life and death are fateful, and wealth is in the sky. You're still younger, and you've been prepared for the worst since the day the old man made up his mind. ”

"Xiao Zhen, there are some things I have to make clear to you, the general can't be a substitute for the dead in a daze." Xiao Yan wiped away his tears, looked at Xiao Zhi fixedly, and said, "The general himself is grateful for the grace of the previous king and has no intention of rebelling. It was only out of my personal grudge that I united with my confidants and friends to encourage the general to rebel. ”

"As a member of the royal family, I instigated rebellion, and my crime is not punishable. The general has made great contributions and has a profound Taoism, and he can be described as a general of the Qi State. Even if you remember the love of saving the previous king in the past, please forgive him for his capital crime. Xiao Yan bowed, thought about it again, and added, "Xiao Zhen, I think you also understand that at this time, the countries are in turmoil, and the war between the Three Dynasties and the Qi State is imminent. ”

These half-earnest and half-threatening words made the people present inevitably feel a little surprised, this Xiao Yan, did he make up his mind not to die? Wu Haoze was still silent, but Song Qinglian looked at Xiao Zhi with a smile, as if he wanted to observe his reaction and the next response. The hidden guards and Xie Lan at the same table couldn't hold back the anger in their hearts, and they all half stood up and asked loudly, "The sinner is so rude, he still doesn't kneel!" ”

Xiao Yan didn't seem to hear it, and he turned a blind eye to the shiny weapon, only raised his feet and walked in front of Xiao Zhen, and asked, "How about one life for another?" ”

"You two are guilty of capital crimes, and you deserve to be beheaded! I am magnanimous and spare your life, what right do you have to bargain with me? Xiao Zhi waved his hand, motioned for the guards to step back, and asked with a grin.

"Bet! Anyway, even if I live, life is better than death. Xiao Yan only lowered his head and laughed at himself, "Xiao Zhen, I'm just jealous of your good life, I was born destined to have everything, I am unwilling to compete with you." To be honest, you are indeed better than me, and I have no regrets about losing to you. The only thing to be ashamed of is the general, he obviously doesn't need to participate in these things, he can spend his old age in peace, and enjoy the honor and dignity he deserves, but because of my obsession, I was involved, and I even had to take my life. ”

"What's the change?"

"I know that my life is worthless even if I die, if you allow it." Xiao Yan paused, "I am willing to follow Jing Ke's example and get rid of any of your mortal enemies among the nations for you at the cost of my life, how about this?" ”

"Empty words, your Taoism is not as good as mine, how can you kill to death?" Xiao Zhi felt very unreliable.

"I have my own way. Taking a step back, even if I didn't kill it, I died tragically under the sword of another country, and you can be regarded as a famous teacher. Xiao Yan smiled, "Your ambitions are not limited to the Qi Kingdom. ”

"You, what a ........"

To a certain extent, your strategy is much stronger than my cleverness, if it weren't for the two "plug-ins" of Song Qinglian and Wu Haoze, I would have been beaten by you a long time ago. Xiao Zhi secretly stuck out his tongue and looked at Cao Ze again, "What does Cao Gong think?" ”

Listening to Xiao Yan's words, Cao Ze's face became more and more pale, and he was speechless in surprise when he looked at Xiao Yan's familiar figure.

This child has been seen by himself since he was a child, and he knows how much he has suffered, how many sins he has suffered, and how he conceived so that he did not meet him. He still remembered the scene when he first saw Xiao Yan, his thin body was inconspicuous among the royal family, but his unruly eyes left a deep impression on Cao Ze. While the other clan relatives obediently and respectfully kowtowed to the first king, Xiao Yan hid in the dark alone, staring straight at the first king with his eyes, but his face was unbelievably calm.

What a hard one! What a daring child! Cao Ze, who had been on the battlefield for a long time, seemed to see his own shadow, so he gradually paid attention to Xiao Yan's affairs, and learned that his family was in difficulty, so he paid for help, personally taught him Taoism, and recommended him to important positions. Xiao Yan did not live up to his expectations, with his sleek wrist and smart mind, he slowly occupied a place in the court, and also gave advice to Cao Ze from time to time.

"The old man has no children under his knees, and only one daughter is also married to Ah Yan, so he has long been regarded as his own son." The wine was stuffy, Cao Ze was already a little drunk at this time, and when he recalled the past president, he sighed even more, "Eh, where is there a father who is willing to let his son die for him?" ”

"Our father and son have done the wrong thing after all." Cao Ze stood up calmly and pulled Xiao Yan to kneel, "I disciplined and evacuated, and I failed to find Ah Yan's mistakes and make him repent in time. Ah Yan even stirred up the country with his own selfishness, and the lives were ruined, and they were all sinners. ”

"The old man is at his disposal! No complaints! Cao Ze patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, "It's just to say something disrespectful, Ah Yan's strategy and means are really worthy of the use of the country, but he is blinded by desire!" Now he knows the measure, he is still young, please open the net! ”

"Joke! You two stabbed such a big basket, and now you know that you regret it? Big snot flowing into the mouth know to shake it? Xiao Zhi was a little crazy and couldn't sit still, "Now that you know how to plead, what did you think at the beginning?" ”

"At the beginning, I was tossed miserably by the two of you, I couldn't even sleep well every day, and I was dead in my dreams! When a king is worried every day, not to mention the stumbling between countries and countries, you still make small moves for me. There is no good one inside and outside, and I, the king, have been fooled, but I am unlucky! Xiao Zhi danced and shouted, spitting stars and jumping far away, and looked at Cao Ze Xiao Yan with resentment, "You two are so good, did you look at me like a fool at the beginning." It's not true, but the joy of being done is real! I haven't felt it for a day! The feeling of hovering on the death line every day is very real! ”

Wu Haoze slammed the burned soot in the smoke pot. Song Qinglian cleared his throat, "Your Majesty, please pay attention to the quality!" ”

"Oh." Xiao Zhi sat back in his seat unwillingly, "In short, you two have committed such a big crime and left me such a mess, there is no way to die." ”

"Then we ......."

"You have to bear the consequences of your mistakes, didn't your parents tell you?" Xiao Zhi looked at them, "Since you all know that you have done something wrong, you have to think about how to deal with it." ”

"There are still some things that have not been dealt with by corrupt officials in the south, and the turmoil over there in the Three Dynasties also needs capable people to solve them. If you can make up for your merits, I will save you from death, and I will be regarded as accumulating merit for yourself. ”

Cao Ze Xiao Yan looked at each other, this king first made a fuss indiscriminately, and now he said that he wanted to make up for his mistakes, what does it mean?

"In fact, the king admires the talents of the two very much, and Cao Gong saved the life of the first king, so he can't kill him. Mr. Xiao Yan is a national warrior. What's more, now is the time to employ people......." Song Qinglian explained on the side, and then took out the imperial edict.

The court has punished Cao Ze and Xiao Yan's rebellion, Xiao Zhi kept his promise in the general's mansion that year, and exiled most of the people who participated in the rebellion and their families, and the corrupt officials of Cao Ze's party were also dismissed from their official positions and ordered to hand over the embezzled property and land within a time limit, and a small number of people with huge amounts of corruption such as Tai Hengyu were beheaded in public as punishment. Even Xiao Yan, who instigated Cao Ze to rebel and gave advice to him, was not executed, but was only removed from the clan and demoted to a concubine. Cao Ze himself, remembering his outstanding merits, exempted him from capital crimes, and exiled him to the border.

"The king's meaning is to give you new identities and entrust you with some important things. One is that the two can reform themselves and make up for their mistakes, and the other is that Mr. Xiao Yan no longer has to be troubled by his identity and can really show his talents. ”

"How's that?" Xiao Zhi interjected, "I must agree!" If you don't agree, you'll be killed! ”

After a long while, the two slowly came to their senses.

"The king won't kill us?"

"Nope."

"Forgive us for such a great sin?"

"It's not about forgiving, it's about making up for mistakes, so it's fairer."

"Why?" Xiao Yan asked keenly, "Aren't you afraid that we will still want to take your place?" ”

"As long as it is beneficial to the Qi country, I will do it. This is also what I said, and giving full play to your talents is also for the sake of making the Qi country stronger. Xiao Zhi smiled and personally poured a glass of wine for Cao Ze and Xiao Yan, "What's more, I think I am a good king, and I naturally have the strength and skill to govern you." ”

"As you say, my ambition is not just the Qi country, but this continent. When the Qi State becomes the overlord of the world, and I, Xiao Zhijun, are in the world, don't you want to follow me to see it? Xiao Zhi raised his glass and signaled to the two, "That's really standing on a high place, just for the world." ”

It's not a strategy, it's not a way, what I lost to Xiao Zhi was such an open mind, and a true ambition that was not mixed with personal grievances and was willing to do everything for it. You may be a good strategist, but you can never be a good monarch.

Xiao Zhen's high-spirited face, Xiao Yan saw it in his eyes, and it was also deeply imprinted in his heart. He was a king worthy of his own help, able to stand on top of the world.

"I want to serve the king!" As soon as the wine in the cup was drunk, all I could hear was the overwhelming cry in my ears.