Early in the morning of the second day.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the fold in his hand and the annotations behind him, and said happily to the prince Zhu Biao beside him: "Not bad, not bad!" That's good! ”

Then he picked up a book on the side and said: "This dispute between the border people is also appropriate, Biao'er, the government should be like this in the future, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, please consult Li Shanchang first, and then bring it to your father." ”

When Zhu Biao heard this, he immediately replied: "Erchen knows." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang handed the fold back to Zhu Biao and said, "Submit it to the Ministry of Justice." ”

As Zhu Biao took over the fold, Zhu Yuanzhang said again: "We still want to send you an errand." ”

Zhu Biao immediately replied: "Please show my father." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, and then sent all the palace maids around him away, and then said: "You take the fourth prince Zhu Di and inspect the three cities of Kaifeng, Jinan, and Dadu." One, let's take a look at the situation of the newly returned state capital, especially the situation of the border people and the garrison. Again, choose two of the three cities as backup capitals. ”

"You draw up the length of each city, the advantages and disadvantages, and report to us for consideration."

Speaking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's face was rare and solemn, and he admonished: "Remember, the last thing is related to the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, and it must not be leaked!" ”

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Zhu Biao, who was not very old, couldn't help but worry: "Erchen is worried that he won't be able to take on the heavy responsibility." ”

But Zhu Yuanzhang just smiled, didn't care, and said: "Tell Zhu Di to prepare, you will set off in two days, by the way, go back and forth for more than 1,000 miles, you must pay attention to safety." ”

Seeing this, Zhu Biao had no choice but to give up his hand and say: "Obey the order!" ”

Zhu Yuanzhang patted him on the shoulder and signaled to step back.

As Zhu Biao left with Zhu Yuanzhang's pleased gaze, Erhu at the door suddenly walked over and said to Zhu Yuanzhang on the stage: "Your Majesty, when my subordinates saw the officials coming in just now, Liu Bowen had a hard time walking, and he almost fell down several times. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang, who suddenly heard Erhu's words, was stunned at first, and then said, "What's wrong with him?" ”

Erhu said: "The last general sent someone to investigate, Liu Zhongcheng died of a heavy illness, coughing all night, accompanied by high fever and vomiting blood. ”

Listening to Erhu's words, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

Soon.

After the court meeting, Zhu Yuanzhang invited Liu Bowen to the imperial study.

Just when the palace maid poured the tea and was about to give it to Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the teacup with one hand, slowly came to Liu Bowen's side, personally sent the teacup to him, and said: "Bowen, you are sick like this, why do you still come to the court, let that.... Let Liu Lian give us a word. ”

But Liu Bowen hurriedly surrendered his hand and said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, minister, I want to ask the emperor for a favor." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang, who heard this, seemed to have guessed that Liu Bowen would say this, so he said directly: "Say it." As long as we can do it, we will do it for you. ”

Hearing this, Liu Bowen put on an embarrassed expression and said: "Since last year, the minister has been getting weaker and weaker, and yesterday, the minister's lung disease was committed again, coughing all night and vomiting blood. ”

As he spoke, he coughed deeply twice.

"The minister's lowly body is really not angry."

But Zhu Yuanzhang said directly: "It's okay, wait a while, let's call the imperial doctor to take a look at you." ”

Seeing this, Liu Bowen hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the world has been decided, and the minister's lowly body can't be of great use. ”

Hearing Liu Bowen's decisive words, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the expression on Liu Bowen's face and was silent for a moment.

But then he suddenly smiled again, and said, "Berwyn, I have long expected you to have this hand. Say, do you think the title is low? ”

Liu Bowen hurriedly said: "No, so many years of war have come, and how many virtuous people have turned into unjust souls and returned to the sky." It's a fluke that the minister can survive to this day. ”

When Liu Bowen said this, his expression was unusually sincere, and he couldn't see the slightest artificiality at all.

But when Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he immediately asked, "Luck? ”

"Do you think that the birds are good at hiding their bows? It's been a long time, and there is a disaster of rabbits and dead dogs? ”

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Liu Bowen was ecstatic in his heart.

The way he came here today was to make Zhu Yuanzhang think so.

Except for the greed for power when he first returned to Zhu Yuanzhang, he has never shown greed for power since he took the initiative to leave Zhu Yuanzhang last time and came back.

On the contrary, knowing that he couldn't compete with Qi Heng and Li Shanchang, he behaved indifferently and calmly everywhere.

There is no competition for power.

put on an attitude of wanting to get away from everything.

Now that he is doing this again, he wants Zhu Yuanzhang to think that he has no desire to be greedy for power.

He knows very well in his heart that the more he wants to escape from the current situation in the court, the more Zhu Yuanzhang likes it!

On the contrary, what Zhu Yuanzhang fears most is greed for power!

However, after hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Liu Bowen immediately put on a sincere and frightened look, as if he was taken a fancy to his thoughts, and knelt down and shouted: "Your Majesty, the ministers will never dare!" ”

Seeing this scene, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately understood that he had guessed Liu Bowen's thoughts, and he had just killed two meritorious heroes the day before yesterday, so Liu Bowen must have felt scared because of this, and he was even more sure of his guess for a while.

continued: "In other words, a companion is like a tiger, and Enwei is unpredictable, so it is better to avoid this Zhu Yuanzhang from a distance, be happy, and be at ease." ”

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Bowen directly, and said these words one by one, as if he wanted to pierce Liu Bowen's mind.

And the more Zhu Yuanzhang is like this, the more happy Liu Bowen's heart becomes, and he continues to pretend to be distressed, and said: "Your Majesty, the minister is indeed sick and difficult to support, and there is nothing else." ”

But Zhu Yuanzhang said: "But let's see that you have been quite resilient all the way." ”

As Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Liu Bowen didn't know what to say.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang no longer pretended, his face was happy, he got up and came to Liu Bowen, and while helping him up, he persuaded him with kind words: "Oh, Berwin, come on, come on, get up." ”

After helping Liu Bowen up, he continued: "Let's tell you, we can allow you to recuperate in Beijing without recuperation, but you are not allowed to return to Qingtian. ”

After speaking, he shouted to the two tigers outside the door: "Two tigers! ”

"In!"

"Spread the order to the Tai Hospital, let them choose the best Tai Doctor, go to Liu's Mansion to treat him, and all the expenses will be borne by the Inner Government. Forget it, let the imperial doctor live in Liu's mansion and take care of it day and night until Liu Zhongcheng recovers. ”

"Command!"

Liu Bowen saw that Zhu Yuanzhang's words had come to this, so he had no choice but to say helplessly: "Minister, thank you." ”

And Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Berwyn, after you recover from your illness, we will entrust you with a heavy responsibility!" ”

Although Zhu Yuanzhang guessed that Liu Bowen's resignation was because he was afraid that the birds would hide the bow, and the rabbits would die and the dogs would cook.

But he still continued to draw a cake for Liu Bowen, not wanting him to lose his thoughts because of the low title conferred.

Seeing this, Liu Bowen had no choice but to pretend that he was not here, and reluctantly resigned.

Zhu Yuanzhang in the house, looking at Liu Bowen's coughing while walking, couldn't help but smile, and also learned Liu Bowen's coughing appearance interestingly.

I'm in a good mood.

seemed to see Liu Bowen through and rejected the request, which made him very proud.

didn't know that it was not that he saw Liu Bowen thoroughly, but that Liu Bowen took his mind to death.

With Liu Bowen returned to his house.

Soon he lay down in bed and fell asleep.

It wasn't until I woke up slowly more than an hour later, and when I opened my eyes, I saw the queen Ma Xiuying sitting in front of me, and I couldn't help but be shocked.

And the son Liu Lian on the side, after seeing him wake up, hurriedly said: "Father, the queen mother has been waiting here for more than half an hour. ”

Hearing this, Liu Bowen was anxious to get up and said, "The minister is rude, please forgive the queen." ”

But Ma Xiuying didn't care, and said with a smile: "You lie down and don't move, I just want to talk to you." ”

"Empress Xie."

And Ma Xiuying looked at Liu Lian beside Liu Bowen and Yu'er behind him, and said, "You all go out first." ”

"Yes."

As the two left, only Ma Xiuying and Liu Bowen on the bed were left in the whole room.

Ma Xiuying said slowly: "Berwyn, let's say first, I came here today, not because the emperor meant, but by myself." ”

Hearing this, Liu Bowen said: "The minister dares to ask, is there any difference?" ”

Ma Xiuying said: "It may be a little different. ”

"I understand."

And Ma Xiuying continued: "What I say in this room, only you and I am allowed to know, and I am never allowed to say it." ”

"Yes."

After seeing Liu Bowen agree, Ma Xiuying spoke: "Do you still remember, when I brought you back from Qingtian?" ”

Liu Bowen nodded: "I remember." ”

"Since then, I have found out that you are not a person of fame and fortune, your dream is to have a peaceful world and be a master of the world."

Liu Bowen hurriedly said: "Queen Xie praises." ”

Ma Xiuying: "So, sooner or later you are going to leave the court and return to your hometown in Qingtian, you are just waiting, pondering, and seeing when it is most appropriate and natural to go back." Neither evil nor trace. If I'm right, I'll excuse you. ”

Liu Bowen thought about it, but still said: "The queen is right. ”

Ma Xiuying said again: "I won't talk about the emperor's kindness, I'll only talk about his problems." ”

Hearing this, Liu Bowen, who was still leaning on the side of the bed just now, sat up in shock, and hurriedly said in a panic: "The queen mother ......."

But before Liu Bowen could finish speaking, Ma Xiuying interrupted him and said, "The emperor is also a human being, and the white wall is also slightly flawed, isn't it?" ”

"The emperor's problem is, whether he likes you or not, but he doesn't like others to avoid him. It is better for him to abandon others than to allow others to leave him. Why, because he is the Son of Heaven, you are a minister, and the minister has no right to refuse the Son of Heaven. ”

Hearing this, Liu Bowen had no choice but to pretend to have a sad expression and said, "Yes." ”

Seeing this, Ma Xiuying began to talk about the topic of today's coming, and said: "At the beginning of the founding of the country, a hundred wastes are waiting to be rebuilt, and the next three or five years will be the busiest and most important time for the imperial court, so I hope you will help the emperor for another five years, and after five years, you will be in your fifties, and at that time, I will guarantee that the emperor will allow you to return to your hometown and spend your old age in peace." ”

When he heard Ma Xiuying's promise, although Liu Bowen was not here, he still said in surprise: "Queen Mother, can this be done?" ”

Ma Xiuying sighed helplessly and said, "I may not be able to take care of other people's affairs, but you are brought back by me, and I will send you back peacefully with my wife." ”

Hearing this, Liu Bowen immediately bowed to Ma Xiuying and said gratefully: "Queen Xie!" ”

Seeing this, Ma Xiuying stood up and asked, "When will the illness be cured?" ”

Liu Bowen said: "Queen, the minister will be fine tomorrow!" ”

But Ma Xiuying said: "Don't, such a serious illness, how can you say that it is good, let's raise it for two more days, it is too fast, it looks like a fake." ”

"Yes!"

As Liu Bowen finished speaking, Ma Xiuying slowly walked out of the house.

Liu Bowen, who was kneeling on the bed in the room, sat down slowly.

Thinking about Ma Xiuying's personal arrival just now, it is inevitable that there is still some guilt in my heart.

Ma Xiuying is an upright person, in her opinion, Liu Bowen came back and gave her a lot of face, so she must be responsible for this.

That's why I came here and made such a promise to him personally.

If he Liu Bowen really wants to be adopted, such a promise is as heavy as a thousand pounds.

But he deceived her.

At the beginning, she promised to come back with such a little kindness, but Ma Xiuying remembered it now.

Moreover, the reason why he agreed to come back was because of Qi Hengchuan's order at the beginning.

To put it bluntly, he, Liu Bowen, actually has no kindness to Ma Xiuying at all.

Now, he has received such a great favor from the other party.

However, while feeling a little uneasy in my heart, I was very happy.

Now Ma Xiuying has come here to persuade himself, that is to say, the effect he wants has been fully achieved.

Now not only Zhu Yuanzhang, but also in the eyes of Ma Xiuying, he is a person who is not greedy for power and only wants to be raised.

In this way, he, Liu Bowen, will never be jealous of Zhu Yuanzhang.

will even be reused for him because of his single-minded desire to return.

In any case, Zhu Yuanzhang, a situation full of Huaixi children in the court, will definitely be resolved, it is only a matter of time.

Now it's just because at the beginning of the founding of the country, everything was undecided, and you still need to rely on these people.

But when the time comes, Zhu Yuanzhang will definitely make a move.

At that point, who will fill these vacancies?

Thinking of this, Liu Bowen couldn't help but feel proud of the method of retreating as advance that he thought of temporarily.

With this move, the Zhedong faction he represents will be completely invincible.

Got Zhu Yuanzhang's complete trust.

A courtier who is not greedy for power and has the ability is something that every emperor likes to use.

Because he doesn't have to worry about losing power.

Just when Liu Bowen secretly congratulated himself on his plan.

Backer King's Mansion.

Qi Heng looked at the information in his hand, listened to the narration of the people around him, and suddenly slapped the table, shaking the teacup on the table to the ground and shattering it.

No matter who it is, you play tricks with Zhu Yuanzhang and make plans, he can't control it.

After all, if everyone wants to live, especially in this court, it is impossible not to make a little bit of thought.

However, he would never allow anyone to deceive his eldest sister Ma Xiuying in such a way!

Although many of Ma Xiuying's ideas are very simple, it is precisely because of this simplicity that they are commendable.

She wants those generals and brothers who follow Zhu Yuanzhang to have a good result one by one.

I also want those courtiers who follow Zhu Yuanzhang to be like a family, twisting up and down into a rope, and take good care of this Daming.

I don't want those who have given her some favors to worry about their husbands.

So she came, and for this reason, she even broke her promise to Zhu Yuanzhang to sing with her husband and her wife, and the promise and principle of co-obsession.

In order to make him Liu Bowen feel at ease, he decided to not hesitate to argue and quarrel with Zhu Yuanzhang in the future, and let him enjoy his old age in peace.

And gave the other party a promise in advance.

What a blessing this is.

But Qi Heng understands that these are not what he Liu Bowen wants at all!

His eldest sister Ma Xiuying's heart has become a ladder for others to climb.

As Ma Xiuying's younger brother, Qi Heng, who is taken care of by Ma Xiuying, is very angry in his heart.

If in the past, his attitude towards Liu Bowen was just ordinary.

Don't look good or bad.

And now, Liu Bowen has been hated by him.

This point, even that Li Shanchang has not done it!

Although he doesn't look down on Li Shanchang, there are even irreconcilable contradictions with him.

But he always thought it was because of the situation.

As a last resort.

Otherwise, why would he have to go against Li Shanchang.

Even if Li Shanchang originally proposed to use Anfeng Road to make up for the lack of the imperial court, he thought that it was what Li Shanchang needed to do in his camp.

Therefore, he did not take the initiative to find a way to deal with Li Shanchang even once.

Although Liu Bowen is also like this, there is no way, Ma Xiuying is his Qi Heng's counterscale!

Although as a traverser, Qi Heng does not think that he is Ma Xiuying's younger brother.

But Ma Xiuying took care of herself, accompanied her when she was in a coma, cried and was sad.

But he was the first and only person in the entire Ming Dynasty who made him really feel cordial.

She will make clothes for Qi Heng by herself, and when it is cold, she will think about whether Qi Heng will freeze, and when she eats, she will think about whether Qi Heng is still hungry.

When she reaches the age of marriage, she will give Qi Heng a girl who wants to get married.

Even if Qi Heng messes with flowers and grass everywhere, she will be accommodating and conniving.

For Qi Heng, this is family!

In Qi Heng's heart, even Zhu Yuanzhang was because of Ma Xiuying's relationship, so he abandoned his past suspicions against Zhu Yuanzhang several times.

Even for the sake of the overall situation, he put his hot face on each other's cold ass.

Although there is also an understanding of this emperor through the ages, it is largely because of the obsession in my heart that I don't want to destroy such a relationship.

Otherwise, with his character, how could he continue to be a gunman for him here, and also used as a means to contain Li Shanchang.

Trick up with them here, make means.

Thinking of this, Qi Heng's eyes gradually narrowed, and he said secretly: "Liu Bowen....."

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