Qiu Yizhi smiled bitterly and replied, "Isn't the master talking back?" You see that the students have fallen to this point today, how can they say that they are not afraid of punishment? The student's temperament master also knows, since he was a child, he has been used to running as a lackey, and now he is imprisoned in this square grid that can't even be seen from the sky, and it is really better to live than to die. ”

Qiu Yizhi said his true words, but he didn't say anything to the point - in fact, he just wanted to get out of the cage quickly, ride his sweaty horse, and immediately rush to the Bohai grassland to see what his son looked like, and listen to him call him "Dad" with his own ears.

Zhong Li Kuang didn't think about the matter of children's affection, but just asked, "Does the emperor really want to punish you?" Not to mention anything else, think about how many times you have contradicted the emperor before, what kind of sin is this? It's also a shame that you are Qiu Yizhi, otherwise even ten heads will fall off. ”

Qiu Yizhi was stunned by Zhong Likuang's faint voice, which was like a puddle of clear water, and a chill suddenly felt on the back of his neck.

He was about to say a few words to thank Tian'en, but he heard Zhong Likuang say again: "The emperor locked you in a cage just to sharpen your heart, and he has another great task to entrust to you in the future." ”

Qiu Yizhi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The student really doesn't want to be an official, this matter has already been told to the master, why doesn't the master understand the student's distraction?" ”

Zhong Li Kuang's expression suddenly became extremely serious: "You have this wish, I'm afraid you won't be able to fulfill it." As he spoke, he suddenly coughed dryly twice, and instructed Qiu Yizhi, "You go out first and see if anyone is eavesdropping outside." ”

Qiu Yizhi agreed with an "oh", then pushed the door and walked out of the cell, looked around, and saw that no one was eavesdropping outside, so he walked back again, closed the door, and waved at the master Zhongli Kuang, and replied: "Master don't worry, the student has seen it, and there is no half of it here." ”

The prisoners under the stairs enter and exit the cell as if they were in and out of their own yard, which is also a strange story in the world.

But Zhong Li Kuang didn't feel strange at all when he saw such a strange scene, only nodded, and pointed to the bed by the wall, motioning for Qiu Yizhi to sit down, and then said to him: "After the emperor ordered you to be imprisoned that day, you fainted and fell ill at that time, do you know about this matter?" ”

As soon as these words came out, Qiu Yizhi, who had just sat down, immediately couldn't sit still, got up from the bed "Teng", and asked, "The student hasn't heard of it." Is this true? Does it matter if the emperor's dragon body matters? Have you seen it all? ”

Zhongli Kuang's face was expressionless, he waved his hand to sit down with Qiu Yizhi, and said: "It doesn't matter for the time being, the doctors in the Tai Hospital have also seen it, and they only said that they fell ill after long-distance fatigue, unaccustomed to water and soil, and anger." ”

Qiu Yizhi knew that the emperor's "anger" was caused by himself, so he lowered his head and sighed: "It's all because the student didn't know how to speak tactfully at that time, which made the emperor angry and hurt the dragon's body...... The students' sins are heinous, and they can't apologize for their deaths......"

Zhong Li Kuang said: "I can't blame you for this. Do you remember that I once told you that after the emperor suffered from the puppet emperor Zheng Yao, he injured his lungs, so his vitality was greatly damaged, and he was afraid that he would lose his longevity? ”

The reminder of the Qiu Yi Sutra suddenly remembered that Zhong Li Kuang had indeed said such things to him. It's just that when he heard this, he thought that Emperor Zheng Rongping was in excellent health, and even coughs and colds were extremely rare, and thought that Zhong Likuang was just alarmist, so he didn't take it to heart. However, after hearing this today, I thought that after Zheng Rong became the emperor, he seemed to be often infected with minor diseases, and his body was indeed not as good as before.

However, the safety of the emperor's dragon body is a fundamental matter of the imperial court, and even a bold person like Qiu Yizhi did not dare to speculate at will, and asked tentatively: "What does the master mean?" ”

Zhong Li Kuang's rock-like cold face showed a trace of regret and pain, and replied: "Originally, with the emperor's physical foundation, even if some vitality was damaged, it would not hinder lifespan. But the emperor vowed to rejuvenate the country and create a prosperous generation, reviewing the chapters, meeting officials, and handling affairs every day, and one person did more than three or four people. I also advised the Holy Majesty several times to rest and work in peace, but the emperor always refused to listen...... Alas...... Finally, we have reached the field where we are today. ”

The more Qiu Yizhi listened, the more shocked he became, and he couldn't help asking, "To such a field?" What kind of field did you get to? ”

Zhongli Kuang shook his head, his mouth was so bitter that it seemed to be stuffed with a handful of bitter gentian grass: "In my judgment, it is a matter of two or three years." After that, he sighed incessantly.

When Qiu Yizhi heard this, his eyes instantly moistened, and he choked up and asked, "Master...... Master...... Your medical skills are subtle, isn't there any room for redemption? ”

Zhong Likuang said helplessly: "How many times have I studied with the imperial doctor of the Tai Hospital, and I have done my best to maintain such a body as the emperor...... In fact, as long as the emperor entrusts state affairs to reliable people and retires with peace of mind, he may be able to live a few more years. It is a pity that although the rebellion in the Lingnan royal palace has been put down, the emperor has to implement the new policy non-stop. There is no less to do than counterinsurgency. I'm just afraid ......"

Qiu Yizhi since he met Zheng Rong, in his mind, this Youyan King, the emperor, has always been a dragon spirit and a fierce look, today suddenly heard that Zheng Rong has been like a candle in the wind, such news, he was extremely shocked, slumped on the bed silently, as if he was drained of the essence, energy, and spirit of his body.

Zhongli Kuang stroked his sleeves, as if wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said, "Now do you know why the emperor wants to force you to go to Lingnan or Youyan to take charge of the army?" ”

Qiu Yizhi nodded with tears, and replied with a crying voice: "Learn ...... The student got it. ”

He really knew - the emperor was about to be mourned, but there were still a lot of things that had not been arranged properly in front of and behind him, and he really needed a talent who could be absolutely trusted and able to take charge of himself.

Sure enough, Zhong Likuang immediately explained: "Let you go to the center to participate in politics, I'm afraid you won't want to, so the emperor and I will consider asking you to go to Lingnan or Youyan to take charge of the army." In this way, with Dai Luanxiang commanding the army on the other side, the south and north will no longer have hidden worries, and they can handle the internal affairs of the imperial court with peace of mind. ”

Qiu Yizhi was stunned again when he heard this, and thought: Didn't the news from the court come from the court before that Dai Luanxiang had been set aside by the emperor and no longer held the military power?

But after thinking about it, he realized that the emperor wanted Dai Luanxiang to stay away from the court disputes and not to get entangled with the forces of the government and the opposition, so that he could be sent out boldly to take charge of the heavy army.

I heard Zhong Likuang ask Qiu Yi in a very expectant tone: "Yizhi, can you bear such a heavy trust from the emperor?" ”

Zhongli Kuangman thought that he had deigned to come to the ominous place of the prison and said so many words in a serious tone, which should be enough to persuade Qiu Yizhi to change his mind and obey Zheng Rong's will, choose Lingnan or Youyan, and continue to serve the imperial court.

But he didn't expect that he, a proud disciple, still refused to give in, sat up from the bed, knelt on the ground with a "poof", kowtowed a few times to Zhongli Kuang, and said: "Master, the student is not talented, and I really can't bear the heavy trust of the emperor and the master." The students have made up their minds and only want to retire to the countryside, and they don't want to go out again. ”

Zhong Li Kuang glanced at Qiu Yizhi, who was shrunk into a ball on the ground, sighed deeply, and said, "Yizhi, Yizhi." Don't you understand? Your worth and life are not yours alone for a long time. Can you retire if you want to? With your talents, merits, and connections, there are many people in the government and the opposition who are afraid that you will die, and there are also many people who are looking forward to your death. If you don't have soldiers and horses in your hands and no power in your hands, you want to be a recluse with peace of mind? I don't think it will necessarily be possible. ”

Qiu Yizhi was stunned when he heard this.

He only thought that as long as he lived in seclusion, handed over all the power in his hands, and became a white man, then the emperor and the powerful ministers would not be too embarrassed for themselves. Now after being reminded by Zhongli Kuangyi, I realized that my identity and experience are an eyesore in anyone's eyes - just like what is said in "Han Feizi", if it can be used, it must be eliminated if it is not available.

Zhongli Kuang saw Qiu Yi's surprised look on his face, knowing that his disciple had finally heard his master's words in his ears and in his heart, and said with some relief: "You should think about this matter." Now that the emperor's dragon body is sick, it is the biggest variable in the world, and he can only take one step at a time. In short, your next step is not to go into hiding. You can't take this step, and no one will allow you to do it, you have to remember. ”

Seeing Qiu Yi's heart, he nodded convincingly, and said, "There is one more thing to ask you." You already know that the emperor is going to hold a 'prisoner sacrifice ceremony', Zheng Gui, the king of Lingnan, and Zheng Yu, who is among his two sons, are all caught by you. Do you want to go out and watch the ceremony? ”

Qiu Yizhi raised his head in a daze and asked, "The prince of Lingnan is the emperor's younger brother, why bother to hold such a big ceremony and deliberately humiliate him?" It's too pitiful, isn't it? I am afraid that the dignity of the royal family will not be preserved. ”

Zhong Li Kuang replied: "Originally, I could have given a few words of advice on this matter, but now that the emperor's deadline is approaching, it is precisely this ceremony that is needed to tell the world that the orthodoxy of the Han royal family is on the emperor's branch." This ceremony is a must-do. ”

As he spoke, Zhong Li Kuang lowered his voice and said, "After the ceremony, the entire Lingnan royal family will be put under house arrest, and according to the emperor's wishes, they cannot be dealt with openly, but they must all be executed in private!" ”

"This ...... This...... This ......" Qiu Yizhi, who had seen many great worlds before, was frightened and stammered when he heard such news, "This ...... What's the problem? The Lingnan Royal Mansion is gone, the army under the King of Lingnan is gone, and the Lingnan Road is also directly controlled by the imperial court, and there is no chance to turn over, so why bother to put him to death? ”

Zhong Likuang said: "The king of Lingnan is a talented, prestigious, and ambitious person. For a person like him, if there is really no chance of turning over, it is not certain. The emperor just thought that after his descendants succeeded to the throne in the future, his talent, prestige, and ambition might not be able to suppress the king of Lingnan, so he gritted his teeth and made this decision. ”

When Qiu Yizhi heard this, his heart was so cold that he seemed to be frozen by the cold, and he couldn't speak anymore - the so-called "ruthlessness is the most emperor's family", he finally knew a little bit today, shook his head and said: "It's better for the students to stay in this cell for the time being, and the students should not go to see the grand occasion of the 'Prisoner Sacrifice Ceremony'." ”

As he spoke, he thought to himself: With the status of Zheng Gui, the king of Lingnan, the emperor can be disposed of at will, either with heart or ruthlessness; He is just a dispensable son of a moth, and if his father-in-law wants to execute himself, wouldn't it be easier than breaking an egg?