Qiu Yi thought to herself: Since her father-in-law has not crossed the Yellow River yet, it would be better to persuade him to stay still and not to enter Beijing in Youyan Dao. So I hurriedly finished lunch, and was just about to get up to go to the wharf to look for the ferry, but I saw a big boat at the crossing of the Yellow River from a distance upstairs, and a big flag fluttered in the wind on the highest mast in the middle of the boat, and I vaguely saw several golden dragons embroidered on this flag.

Although Qiu Yizhi didn't see it very really, he already understood in his heart that it was none other than his father-in-law, Emperor Daxing's brother, Zheng Rong, the king of Youyan. He secretly screamed "not good", and hurriedly beckoned Zhao Chengxiao to throw down the dishes and chopsticks, and he didn't even have time to pay for the meal, so he went downstairs and galloped towards the ferry.

Approaching the ferry, Qiu Yizhi saw that the big ship was hanging, and sure enough, it was the big flag of Youyan King embroidered with seven golden dragons and the name "Han Youyan King Marshal Soldiers and Horses Zheng" on it, so he hurriedly rolled off the saddle and led the horse to the side of the boat.

At this time, the big ship had docked and docked, and the treads had been laid on the dock and the deck of the ship, and many soldiers and family members in the palace were busy carrying their luggage to the shore through the pedals.

Qiu Yizhi saw that the person in command was Zhang Long, a henchman under his father-in-law, and became more and more sure that Prince Youyan was on this big ship, so he hurriedly stepped forward to say hello and said, "General Zhang, don't come unharmed?" ”

Zhang Long heard someone call him, and when he looked back, it was Qiu Yizhi, the son of Youyan Wang, who had not seen him for ten months, and he was a little surprised in his heart, and hurriedly bowed his hand and said: "It turns out that the Righteous Palace has come down, and the end will be polite." ”

Qiu Yizhi didn't have time to greet him, so he only raised his hand and asked, "My father-in-law, is it on this boat?" ”

"Oh, yes. The prince was on the boat, and he was about to rush to the capital Luoyang to mourn the emperor of Daxing. Zhang Long replied.

Qiu Yizhi saw that everyone was already wearing plain clothes, and the ship was also hung with black and white spirit flags everywhere, so he knew that Zhang Long's words were true, so he said to him: "General Zhang will rest first, and after a while, the prince may pass on the order, and you don't have to do it twice." ”

Zhang Long knew that Qiu Yizhi was eclectic in his speech and deeds, and he was not surprised to listen to his inexplicable instructions, but asked confirmatively: "Is His Highness Yi going to suspend the carrying of luggage at the end of the year?" ”

Qiu Yizhi didn't answer, just nodded, stepped on the swaying pedal, and got on the boat. Just halfway through, Qiu Yizhi seemed to remember something, turned back again, and asked Zhang Longdao, "When did the prince leave Guangyang?" ”

"Four days ago. The prince received the obituary of the imperial court, and immediately ordered to set off, and arrived here after a starry night. Zhang Long replied very briskly.

Qiu Yizhi let out an "oh", and strode towards the boat without looking back.

The boat is full of acquaintances in the palace, Qiu Yizhi inquired a little, and found the cabin where his father-in-law was, so he rearranged his clothes, and asked Zhao Chengxiao to wait outside, so he announced his name loudly outside the door: "Qiu Yizhi is here, please come to my father-in-law." ”

When Zheng Rong, the king of Youyan, heard that Qiu Yizhi was here, he was a little surprised, and hurriedly said, "You come in!" ”

Qiu Yizhi pushed the door and lifted the curtain to enter, and saw that his father-in-law Zheng Rong, eldest brother Zheng Xin, second brother Zheng Sen, third brother Zheng Miao and master Zhong Likuang were all sitting in the cabin to discuss matters.

Zheng Rong was not in a very good mood, and after Qiu Yizhi finished entering the door and saluting, he asked: "Didn't this king ask you to stay in the capital for the time being?" Didn't Zhao Chengxiao send the letter to you? ”

Qiu Yizhi listened to his father-in-law's tone a little stiff, and he didn't let himself sit down, so he had to consider the words and answer truthfully: "Yizhi's letter from his father-in-law has been received. However, the situation in the capital has changed dramatically a few days ago, and Yizhi really can't sit still in the capital, so he rushed here, and he has something to say to his father. ”

After that, Qiu Yizhi raised his eyes and glanced at his father-in-law, who was famous in the government and the opposition, and saw that there were still faint tear stains on his slightly thin cheeks, which was much more haggard than when he left Guangyang, and couldn't help but shout in a low voice: "Father-in-law, you have to take care of your body!" There were almost tears in his eyes.

Zheng Rong listened to Qiu Yi's tone was extremely sincere, and thought that he had indeed violated his edict out of a heart of loyalty and filial piety, so he didn't want to pursue the matter anymore, and sighed and said: "The first emperor died, the mountains and rivers are su, how can this king not ......" As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to wipe his tears. Seeing this, the three brothers beside him also whimpered.

Seeing them like this, Qiu Yizhi didn't know when to stop mourning, and hurriedly said straight to the point: "Yi Zhi is here, so it's for this matter." Dare to ask his father-in-law to return to Youyan, do not enter Beijing for the time being, wait and see how the situation changes, and then think about it in the long run. ”

Zheng Rong sobbed twice after hearing this, and asked with a crying voice, "What?" What did you say? "I don't seem to have heard what Qiu Yizhi said.

Qiu Yizhi repeated his previous words: "Yizhi wants to ask his father-in-law to return to Youyan, not to enter Beijing for the time being, to wait and see how things change, and then to think about it in the long run." ”

Zheng Rong finally heard Qiu Yizhi's words clearly, but his eyes widened, as if he was looking at a monster that he had never seen before, staring straight at Qiu Yizhi, staring him uncomfortably.

Zhong Likuang, who was still with a wooden face on the side, shook a folding fan that never left his hand and said, "Yizhi, you sit down and speak slowly." ”

Although Zhong Likuang was nominally only a staff member hired by Youyan Palace, Zheng Rong had always treated him as a teacher, and he was extremely prestigious in front of several children of the Zheng family. Therefore, Qiu Yizhi listened to his instructions, and saw that his father-in-law did not object, so he found an empty seat in the corner and sat down, silently sorted out the sentences in his heart, and said:

"My father-in-law sent me to Beijing to find out who was behind the instigation of the court officials to impeach my father-in-law. After I consulted Prime Minister Yang Laocheng and inquired in many ways from the government and the opposition, I finally found out that it was Wang Zhonghai, the chief eunuch in the palace, who misinterpreted the holy will and drove some officials who were attached to him to write a letter to impeach his father-in-law. Therefore, according to my father-in-law's plan, under the introduction of Prime Minister Yang, I met with His Royal Highness the eldest son of the emperor and asked him to come forward to restrain the hundred officials of the court to set the record straight. ”

Zheng Rong listened to Qiu Yizhi's short words, explained the ins and outs of the matter clearly, and concealed his original intention of sending him to Beijing to join the emperor's eldest son Zheng Chang, and was very satisfied in his heart, so he said: "You go on." ”

Qiu Yizhi swallowed his saliva and said, "If Emperor Daxing is a year late, or three or five months late, then everything will be fine." But the first emperor died at this juncture, and it was the emperor's second son Zheng Yao who ascended the throne. I'm afraid that my father-in-law is a little disadvantageous. ”

Zheng Rong knew what Qiu Yizhi meant, and sighed softly, his eyebrows were already wrinkled, and his mouth kept moving, as if he was talking to himself.

Qiu Yizhi just wanted to persuade his father-in-law to return as soon as possible, so he added fuel and vinegar and said: "When I left Beijing, the situation in Luoyang was already very strange. Yang Laocheng and other loyal ministers in the court have all closed their doors, and His Royal Highness the second son of the emperor does not know his safety. The gates of Luoyang and Tongguan are more than ten times stricter than before, and there seem to be people from the Quanshan Division involved. In short, in Luoyang right now, although the surface is calm and solemn, the inside is already turbulent, and the crisis is lurking! ”

After Zheng Rong heard what Qiu Yizhi said, he breathed a long sigh of relief and said: "Yizhi is worried about the safety of this king, and this king understands it. However, entering Beijing to mourn the emperor is not only the filial piety of being a brother, but also the loyal duty of being a courtier. Then he fell silent again.

Qiu Yizhi frowned and pondered: "Yizhi still has some reasons, but I see that there are still a lot of idle people on and off this ferry. I also asked my father-in-law to give an order for irrelevant people to avoid it, so that I could be as careful as my father-in-law. ”

Zheng Rong said: "Except for Mr. Zhongli and your three brothers, all of them are old characters in the Youyan Palace, and there has never been a leak of secrets, so you can talk about it if you have something." ”

Qiu Yizhi heard this, and said categorically: "The matter is big, if the father-in-law is lacking now, then Yizhi will ask the father-in-law to rest in the boat first, and I will come to the door in the dead of night." ”

Zheng Rong knew that the righteous son in front of him had always been bold and not alert, but now that he heard him say it so resolutely, he knew that this matter must be very important. So Zheng Rong passed Zhang Long and ordered him to organize all the soldiers and servants in the ship to disembark, and he did not listen to the order and forbade him to board the ship. Qiu Yizhi was afraid that Zhang Long was not secret, so he pulled Zhang Long up and down to check again, convinced that no one could eavesdrop, and finally sent Zhang Long off the ship, and then returned to the cabin.

After Qiu Yizhi finished the matter, Zheng Rong had been sitting on the boat for half an hour, and finally felt a little tired, so he said to him: "You have something to say, can you say it now?" Do you still want to ask Master Zhongli and your three brothers to disembark? ”

Qiu Yizhi made a gesture, and said, "Don't dare." Dare to ask my father-in-law, when did the obituary of the emperor's death arrive at Youyan Palace? ”

Zheng Rong closed his eyes and said, "Four days ago." What's wrong? ”

The way of Qiuyi: "From the capital Luoyang to Youyan Road Guangyang City, you must first pass through Tongguan, and after Tongguan, you have to pass through Linzhou and Qingzhou to reach here, cross the Yellow River, and go north through Xingzhou and Yanzhou to reach Guangyang City." Yizhi knew the news of the emperor's death on the night of three days ago, and immediately borrowed Yiran's BMW Liangju and took a shortcut, and it took four days to reach this Anhe Town even with the head and tail. Therefore, even if the imperial court is eight hundred miles faster, I am afraid it will take at least ten days to send the imperial obituary to the righteous father! If the righteous father does not believe it, he can send someone to get off the boat and inquire, and ask how many people in this Anhe town know the news of the emperor's death. ”

When Qiu Yizhi said this, everyone was already shocked, and their eight eyes looked at Zheng Rong together.

Zheng Rong didn't seem to believe his ears, and asked, "Yizhi, what do you mean by this?" ”

"It means that the emperor has not yet died, and the obituary has already set off for Guangyang!" Qiu Yizhi summed up cleanly.

Everyone already had the answer in their hearts, and when they heard Qiu Yizhi say it in person, they were relieved and said in unison, "Oh! He said a word, but he couldn't say a second word.

After being silent for a long time, Zhongli Kuang asked leisurely: "Then according to what Yi Zhi saw, why did this obituary be sent out in advance?" ”

Qiu Yizhi listened, looked at Master Zhongli, and looked at his father-in-law Zheng Rong. Seeing that one of the two of them had an ethereal look in his eyes, and the other had extremely sad eyes, he couldn't figure out why Zhong Likuang asked himself like this, so he thought about it before saying, "It's just because someone already knew about the emperor's death in advance." ”

"Huh." Zhongli Kuang laughed dryly, thinking that this Qiuyi Luoyang and his party had also grown a little, and knew the truth of Mingzhe's self-preservation, so he said: "Although Yizhi's words are true, there is no big difference between saying and not saying it, let me say it for you." There is no such thing as an unknown prophet. It was nothing more than someone in the court who killed the king, and it took two or three days to cut off dissidents, and only when the situation stabilized did he report to the world. It's just that this person's heart to be the emperor is too anxious and negligent in calculation, and finally let me see the flaws. ”

"Then who dares to do such a rebellious act?" Zheng Rong asked sharply.