In the spring of the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, the Tang Dynasty Zaifu and the imperial historian Wei Zheng, who supported the crown prince Chengqian, fell ill.

The Tang Emperor Li Shimin, the crown prince Chengqian, and many of the civil and military ministers visited Wei Zheng.

Chang'an City, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, is the residence of Wei Zheng, the imperial historian.

In the bedroom, Wei Zheng lay on a simple and sturdy bed with a gray hair, and said to his protégé and housekeeper Bian Si in a trembling voice: "Sigo, prepare paper and pen." Regarding the matter of my prince of the Tang Dynasty, I have something I want to report to the emperor. ”

Bian Si went to get paper and pen, and when Wei Zheng finished writing, Bian Si read it, and said to Wei Zheng in surprise: "My lord, what are you writing here?" At this time, why are you still supporting the crown prince? ”

Wei Zheng gasped and said, "Think about it, I should have said it in front of His Majesty. But every time Your Majesty comes, he is followed by the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs, and I can't say these words, and now I can only write them down and present them to the Emperor. My own body and bones, my illness, I know best. If I don't talk about it now, I'm afraid I won't have a chance again in the future..."

"Your Excellency!" Bian Si went to interrupt Wei Zheng's speech and said, "My lord, I know that this is your hard work for the crown prince. But you've done your best, sir. The prince Chengqian is really rotten wood that cannot be carved. Don't you see it, my lord? There are all kinds of indications that His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty has made up his mind to abolish the crown prince of Chengqian. At this time, you will definitely hate you when the new prince takes the throne in the future. You are an important minister of the imperial court, and you have won the trust of Your Majesty, and now that you are doing this, this effort to protect the prince's inheritance will be sent to you, which will bring disaster to your descendants. In history, many important ministers were because of the establishment of the prince. Standing on the wrong side brought disaster to their family. My lord, you are familiar with history books, you can't help but take this as a warning. ”

Wei Zheng said slowly: "Yes! I am an honest official, and the children of Shuyu and Shuwan have followed me, and they have never had a good life in their lives. Once I've handed it over. In the face of His Majesty, their lives may be in danger at any time. But once His Majesty the current Emperor abolished the crown prince Chengqian, and replaced him with the talented and virtuous Wei King Li Tai, a person like the former Yang Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty, wouldn't it be just the descendants of my Wei Zheng who would suffer? That's what will happen to the children and grandchildren of thousands of families. In any case, today's crown prince Chengqian, although he is incapable, he is not a tyrannical person. I, Wei Zheng, am an official and wholeheartedly for the people of the Tang Dynasty, how can I do it for my own selfishness. And ignore the people of the world? How can I ignore my Tang Dynasty for the sake of my family's stability, glory and wealth? ”

Bian Sigo said with tears in his eyes: "My lord, you are sick like this, what you think about in your heart is still my Tang Dynasty and my Tang people!" What about yourself and your family? ”

Wei Zheng waved his hand, carefully studied the fold again, and said: "I am a citizen of the Tang Dynasty, but I am also the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the Imperial Doctor. Since he is an official, he eats the country's money. You should have the community and the people in mind. For the rest, I can't take care of it so much. ”

Chang'an Imperial Palace. Tai Chi Palace.

The Tang Emperor Li Shimin sat on the dragon chair in a dragon robe, and Li Zhi, the king of Jin, stood behind Li Shimin in the service of Prince Yipin.

After pondering for a while, Emperor Li Shimin said to Li Zhi, the king of Jin: "Wei Zheng is sick, you go to see Wei Zheng!" Tell him that I sent you, and that I want to hear what he thinks. You can also show your talents. Ask him for advice on how to govern the country. I want to know what Wei Zheng thinks of you, the prince of the Tang Dynasty that I have chosen. ”

"Yes, Erchen understands." Li Zhi replied respectfully.

And when Li Zhi was about to walk out of the Taiji Palace, the Tang Emperor Li Shimin said to Li Zhi: "Zhi'er, go to the treasury." sent the hundred-year-old ginseng offered by Goguryeo to Wei Zheng. Wei Zheng is dedicated to the country and is honest and honest, I can't treat him badly, and I can't treat him badly. Let him recuperate well, and tell me if he needs anything. I'm waiting for him to recover and do things for me. ”

Li Zhi bowed again and left.

When Li Zhi went to Wei Zheng's mansion, the sky was already gray, the twilight haze covered the attic on the city wall, the lonely geese circled in the sky in confusion, the evening breeze hid in the darkness and stopped in the treetops, and the pedestrians, chariots and horses on the road were busy shaking in the faint candlelight......

Li Zhi because of the sensitivity of his identity, he is the prince of the Tang Dynasty favored by the Tang Emperor Li Shimin, if he goes to visit the seriously ill court chief Wei Zheng during the day, many people in the court will speculate that Li Zhi, the king of Jin, visited Wei Zheng, is it the idea of the Tang Emperor Li Shimin? If so, why did His Majesty the Tang Emperor do this? According to the law of the Tang Dynasty, the prince is forbidden to be associated with the imperial court, His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty let His Royal Highness the King of Jin visit Wei Zheng, is His Majesty intended His Royal Highness the King of Jin to be the prince of the Tang Dynasty? His Royal Highness the King of Jin is the prince of the Tang Dynasty that His Majesty wants? When the time comes, the officials will doubt the identity of Li Zhi, the king of Jin. Although the Tang Emperor Li Shimin is gradually introducing Li Zhi as the prince of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin does not want to make the whole world know about this matter all at once. Li Shimin is gradually preparing for the ascension of Li Zhi, the king of Jin, but he has not yet been completely prepared, and he has not yet reached the step of grandly launching Li Zhi, the king of Jin.

Wei Zheng's mansion is also located on the most prosperous Suzaku Street. The mansion was rewarded by Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, and according to Wei Zheng's incorruptibility, it was impossible to buy such a mansion on Zhuque Street.

Although the mansion occupies a large area, it is very simple. The gate of the mansion and the houses in the mansion are all the same as they were more than ten years ago, and Wei Zheng has not repaired them for more than ten years. The door of the mansion is open, during the day, visiting Wei Zheng from all over the country to worship Wei Zheng and the people of the Tang Dynasty, there is an endless stream, and at this time, in order to let Wei Zheng have a better rest and better recuperation, the people have consciously and tacitly agreed with each other not to enter Wei Zheng's mansion and disturb Wei Zheng.

Li Zhi strode into Wei Zheng's mansion. Different from the mansions of other officials, the open space in Wei Zheng's mansion is planted with various seasonal vegetables, and Wei Zheng's family relies on these vegetables to support themselves.

Hearing the movement, Bian Sigo walked out, and when he saw Li Zhi, the king of Jin, Bian Sigo hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Xiaomin Bian Si went to meet His Royal Highness the King of Jin." ”

Li Zhi, the king of Jin, helped Bian Si up, and said with a smile: "I'm here to visit Lord Wei Zhengwei." (To be continued.) )