Chapter 54. Fate (medium).

"Liu Xingzhi, are you guilty?"

Liu Xingzhi was out of breath, and when he heard such a question from the prince Tian Yuan, he was frightened, and he didn't catch his breath, and almost fainted. [Full text reading]

finally gasped for breath, Liu Xingzhi was about to kneel down to ask for guilt, but as soon as his knee was bent, he was already supported by Prince Tian Yuan.

"Don't kneel yet, if you kneel, the officials and people around you will also kneel, it's very troublesome." Tian Yuan's expression was cold, and his tone was cold: "You and I continue to move stones, and you can be regarded as doing something practical for the people with me." During this period, I can ask you and answer, and you don't have to kneel around. ”

Saying that, Prince Tian Yuan had already led Liu Xingzhi to another piece of rubble, and moved it with Liu Xingzhi as before.

Liu Xingzhi had been waiting for Prince Tian Yuan all day outside Shangyuan City, he was already exhausted, and then he was moving stones, and he was frightened, and now his legs and feet are weak, and he even feels difficult to walk around normally. However, under the order of the prince, not only did he not dare to rest, but he also had to continue to carry the gravel, not to mention, but also to be prepared not to let the prince be injured and nervous. All this made Liu Xing only feel that life was worse than death, and he thought that carrying gravel was the greatest torture in the world.

However, Prince Tian Yuan didn't seem to notice Liu Xingzhi's pain at all, and just continued to ask: "Do you know why I want to ask you for my guilt?" ”

"It was the ineffective work of the lower officials who failed to appease the people and restore the people's livelihood, so that Beicheng is still in ruins."

Liu Xingyi gasped and replied quickly.

In this case, Liu Xingzhi had no intention of thinking about anything else, he just wanted to end it quickly, and when he said something, he didn't think about it when he answered.

Prince Tian Yuan snorted and said: "It's good that you know, now that the war has stopped, it is the top priority to appease the people and cultivate the people's livelihood, but what about you?" What did you do? It has been two months since the armistice, and the ruins of Beicheng are still the same, I have already asked the people, you have never worked hard here, you are bent on other things, am I right? ”

Liu Xingzhi lowered his head and replied: "What His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said is extremely true, and the officials are guilty. ”

Prince Tian Yuan said coldly: "If you hadn't known that you were a meritorious man, and although you were derelict in your duties these days, you also remembered to open a porridge factory every day to release grain, and didn't let the people starve to death, this prince would have cured you of your sins."

Hearing the prince Tian Yuan say this, Liu Xingzhi hurriedly replied: "Thank you for the prince's forgiveness." ”

Prince Tian Yuan sneered: "I haven't said that I want to forgive you, let me ask you, these days, as the Taishou of Shangyuan City, since you have no intention of appeasing the people's hearts and cultivating the people's livelihood, where are your thoughts used?" ”

Hearing the prince Tian Yuan's inquiry, Liu Xingzhi couldn't help but feel a tightening in his heart, this was related to the confidential matter that Xiao Mo confessed, so he didn't dare to tell the prince casually, so he just stammered and said, "Xiaguan...... Xiaguan ......"

Seeing that Liu Xingzhi was at a loss, Prince Tian Yuan's face became even colder, and he continued to ask, "Do you really think I don't know?" This prince also asks you, before the battle of Shangyuan City, before the fall of several northern states, grain, grass, ordnance, money and other resources were all returned here, why is most of it missing now? Although the battle of Shangyuan City was fierce, it would never consume so much, where did the difference go? But you're greedy for ink? Say"

He and the crown prince Tian Yuan worked together to carry the gravel, but Liu Xingzhi didn't dare to kneel, but just defended in a panic: "His Royal Highness the prince Mingjian, this is not a matter of the lower officials......

Prince Tian Yuan said: "Forgive you for being too guarded in a city, and you don't have the courage to dare to be greedy for millions of taels in one go." Who is responsible for this? Say it, Prince Ben will keep you safe. ”

"Yes...... It was Lord Xiao Moxiao's idea, and it was not about the lower officials. ”

As soon as he said this, Liu Xingzhi already regretted it.

"Xiao Zirou?"

After hearing Liu Xingzhi's words, Prince Tian Yuan's eyes narrowed, and he muttered to himself thoughtfully.

Although Prince Tian Yuan took the initiative to give his submerged residence to Xiao Mo a few days ago and won the praise of the Manchu Dynasty, he didn't know why, but for some reason, it has always been difficult to have a good impression of Xiao Mo, a world-famous literary person, a favorite minister of his father, and a great Chu meritorious service.

Maybe it was because Xiao Mo was too favored, and Emperor Chu Ling treated him even better than his own parent, which made Tian Yuan jealous; Maybe it's because Xiao Mo will be the auxiliary minister designated by Emperor Chu Ling in the future, sharing the power of the emperor, which will make Tian Yuan rebound; Maybe it's because Xiao Mo's talent is too good, his prestige is too great, and his merits are too high, which makes Tian Yuan scruples......

In short, no matter what, for Xiao Mo, Tian Yuan always had some dislike.

And the reason why he gave his house to Xiao Mo as a reward for the court was just a means for the crown prince Tian Yuan.

Now, when he heard that it was Xiao Mo who was greedy for ink, he was unexpectedly overjoyed.

On the other side, after Liu Xingzhi said Xiao Mo's name, he regretted it even more, looked up, and saw that the expression on Prince Tian Yuan's face was uncertain, and hurriedly said: "Your Royal Highness the Prince, don't misunderstand, although this is what Lord Xiao Mo meant, but there is absolutely no greed for ink, Lord Xiao Mo He is dedicated to the country, and His Majesty also knows about this matter." ”

Prince Tian Yuan was planning, and when he heard Liu Xingzhi's words, he couldn't help but be slightly stunned and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Liu Xingzhi hesitated and said: "Back to His Majesty the Prince, this matter involves confidentiality, and the lower officials have always been only responsible for Lord Xiao Mo and His Majesty......"

"If I am the crown prince, will I still mislead the country?"

Prince Tahara said angrily.

In desperation, Liu Xingzhi had to explain: "Back to His Royal Highness the Prince, here's the thing, after the peace talks with the grassland coalition army, in order to prevent the barbarians of the grassland from recovering their strength, the disaster of the day appeared again, but Lord Xiao thought of a Xiao Wall Record, that is, let General Zhao Ying lead an army of 30,000 dead soldiers, as well as a large amount of grain, grass, ordnance, and money, to take refuge in the Murowei clan, in order to contain the strongest Di clan on the grassland, take the opportunity to provoke a war, and let the grassland tribes have internal friction, at the same time, The army of 30,000 dead soldiers can also learn the grassland tactical tactics, and after they come back, they can strengthen the military strength of our Great Chu. ”

After a pause, Liu Xingzhi continued: "And the lower officials are busy with these things these days, and all kinds of deficits are also because of this matter, but because of this, they ignore the cultivation and stability of the people's hearts and livelihoods, and ask His Royal Highness the Prince to surrender his crimes." "Computer* access

After pondering for a moment, Tahara asked, "This matter is so important, why even I don't know about it?" ”

Liu Xingzhi replied: "Back to His Royal Highness the Prince, it is like this, Lord Xiao Mo thinks that this kind of thing is unprecedented, once implemented, it will inevitably be opposed by the conservative ministers of the court, when the court unifies the opinion, I am afraid that the opportunity has been missed, so I will play Your Majesty, this will be implemented in secret in advance, and after everything is prepared, I will inform the old ministers of the cabinet......"

Hearing Liu Xingzhi's answer, Prince Tian Yuan's face became extremely gloomy.

It's just that the other old ministers don't know about it, and as the crown prince, they don't even know it, and now they are even more embarrassed in front of Liu Xingzhi...... As the crown prince, is he not as favored and trustworthy as Xiao Mo? It's a big joke.

Emperor Chu Ling is now nearly sixty years old and has been on the throne for a long time, and although Tian Yuan is the crown prince, he is nearly forty years old.

In this regard, Tahara still has some ideas to be honest, but it is not the most unacceptable for Tahara.

What Tian Yuan couldn't accept the most was that Emperor Chu Ling had delegated power all his life and ruled with his hands, and now he was about to abdicate, and he still wanted to continue to spread this situation to his generation, according to Emperor Chu Ling's arrangement, Xiao Mo and Zhang Yansheng were Tian Yuan's future Zhang Qian and Wang Han

finally became the emperor, he is already old, but he can't take over the power alone, and he is controlled by his subordinates, so what else does the emperor have in front of him?

This is probably the biggest reason why Tian Yuan doesn't like Xiao Mo.

And today's events once again verified Emperor Chu Ling's thoughts, which made Tian Yuan unable to accept it at all.

It's just that the resentment in his heart just flashed, and in the next moment, the coldness on Tian Yuan's face melted, but he signaled Liu Xingzhi and himself to put down the gravel in their hands.

Then, Tian Yuan bowed to Liu Xingzhi, and Liu Xingzhi was startled, and he didn't even dare to say it.

But I heard Tahara say: "Lord Taishou is dedicated to the country, but he is ignorant Tahara to question and reprimand for no reason, this is Tahara's fault, and I ask Lord Liu to forgive me." ”

Liu Xingzhi didn't dare to bear it, and hurriedly dodged.

After Tian Yuan saluted, he looked at Liu Xingzhi, who was covered in sweat and mud because of carrying gravel, and his face was full of apologies, and said, "I am really wronged." Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, we don't need to be here anymore, but the people here are really hard for the prince, so I would like to ask Lord Taishou to pay a little attention to it in addition to his busy schedule. ”

"Nature, nature."

Liu Xingzhi saw that he finally didn't have to suffer anymore, and he was overjoyed in his heart, and hurriedly said.

After that, after saying goodbye to the surrounding people, Prince Tian Yuan no longer had the original coldness, his expression was quite cordial, talking and laughing, personally holding Liu Xingzhi's hand, and walking out of the ruins. Shangyuan City's civil and military forces, who didn't know the situation, were surprised and inexplicable, and they couldn't figure it out, not knowing what had happened.

And Liu Xingzhi, although his steps were staggering and his face was covered with sweat and mud, he finally recovered the demeanor of a city guard.

For a while, up and down the joy.

However, just when Prince Tahara was about to get on the sedan chair and go to the Taishou Mansion to meet the hundred officials, a change abruptly appeared.

I saw that before getting on the sedan chair, Prince Tian Yuan inadvertently glanced outside the sedan chair, but his body was shocked, his face changed greatly, and he lost his voice and said: "Concubine Yin, Concubine Yin, you are really back."

The hundred officials were surprised by the gaffe of the prince Tian Yuan, and looked at the prince's gaze, but saw a young official who came with Liu Xingzhi, with a delicate face, big eyes and thin eyebrows, and fair skin, although he was a man, he was even more female.

Seeing the attention of hundreds of officials, the young official was also at a loss and panicked.

PS: The account number, it seems that it can't be recovered......