The sudden slippage of the soles of his feet made Li Jinche feel shocked, and after standing firm, he looked back and found that the person holding him was Cheng Yan.

Cheng Yan is now a popular man in the court, although his official position is not high, but he is deeply trusted by Emperor Jingfeng, he is in an important position in the ministry, and his subordinates do not know how many people's promotion lifeline, every time before and after the performance assessment, the people who rush to give gifts to Cheng Yan can block the streets.

Although Li Jinze has not officially participated in political affairs now, he is no stranger to Cheng Yan himself, and when he saw this, he hurriedly said politely: "It turned out to be Lord Cheng, so thank you Lord Cheng for your help."

Cheng Yan smiled gently: "It's just a trivial matter, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn't have to take it to heart, the road is slippery on rainy days, His Royal Highness still needs to be more careful when walking, pay attention to your step."

Li Jinze simply hummed twice, a little absent-minded.

Seeing Li Jinze's lonely expression, thinking of Emperor Jingfeng and Li Jinche in the imperial study, Cheng Yan could probably guess what the reason was, so he kindly instructed two more sentences:

"Look...... His Highness's face doesn't seem to be very good? Before His Royal Highness came down to the imperial study, the minister also listened to His Majesty's chatter, saying that although it is now spring, the cold of spring is still very cold, and he also said that Your Highness, you have always liked to dress thinly to temper your will, although this style is good, but you still have to focus on your body."

Emperor Jingfeng is eccentric and homely, how can he still care about whether his clothes are thin or not, Li Jinze thought about it and knew that this was made up by Cheng Yan to comfort him.

Although it was a lie, it was still kind after all, Li Jinze couldn't help but have a little more affection for Cheng Yan in his heart, and sincerely thanked him.

At this time, a little eunuch from the East Palace hurriedly ran over, his eyes were red, and he said with a crying voice, "Your Highness, it's not good! Mrs. Zhou's illness suddenly became serious, and the imperial doctor was unable to recover from the heavens, saying that it was ...... It's probably tonight, so why don't you go and see Taifu for the last time......

"What?! Teacher, he ......."

Li Jinze was like a thunderbolt from the blue, the whole person stayed in place, and tears unconsciously slipped down his cheeks.

After coming back to his senses, Li Jinze wiped a handful of tears indiscriminately, and didn't bother to say goodbye to Cheng Yan, so he ran outside the palace without looking back.

Outside the palace, Zhou Mansion.

In the bedroom, the sons of the Zhou family served the decoction in front of Zhou Minqing's bed, and the younger generations gathered here, looking at the dying Zhou Minqing, everyone could not hide their grief, and from time to time there were low sobs.

"Teacher—"

The prince, who is the most dignified and dignified on weekdays, didn't care about his image at this time, stumbled over, and suddenly threw himself in front of Zhou Minqing's bed, holding his hand tightly: "Teacher, I'm here, I'm here, teacher......

Everyone in the Zhou family knew that the prince had a deep friendship with Zhou Minqing, and when they saw this, they all stepped aside and left the space to Li Jinze.

Seeing Zhou Minqing's energetic appearance, many people have forgotten that he is over 70 years old, and he is an old man in his last years.

He lay on the bed with a pale face, the whole person was as thin as a handful of dry wood, and even gasping became difficult, and every breath was accompanied by the phlegm in his throat, listening to it intermittently, just like the oil lamp by the window, the fire in the wind was getting weaker and weaker, and it would be completely extinguished at any time.

Hearing Li Jinze's voice, Zhou Minqing opened his eyes and barely cheered up: "It's His Highness......

Li Jinze cried uncontrollably: "Teacher, why is this happening...... When I came to see you yesterday, you also said that your illness had improved, and you had an extra half bowl of porridge at noon, so why did it take only one day, and you ...... it?"

「…… Is Lang not good at medicine? I'll go back to the palace and go to the doctor at the hospital, and the doctor will be able to cure you."

Zhou Minqing shook his head, his voice hoarse: "Your Highness, don't waste your efforts, my doctor has already come to see the disease, and it can't be cured." I am over 70 years old, and it stands to reason that I am not young, and sooner or later this will happen, and Your Highness must learn to accept it."

Li Jinze cried and shook his head, refusing to listen: "I can't learn it, and I can't accept it...... When I was a down-and-out prince who no one cared about, it was you who led the ministers to write to my father and emperor in turn, trying to ensure that I was the crown prince. Later, it was you who enlightened me personally and taught me to read, so that I have ...... today."

"You also said that you want to see me grow up with your own eyes

Grow up and become a true king. It's still early for that day, and you haven't seen anything, so how can you just leave me......

"Hey......" Zhou Minqing sighed regretfully, "Your Highness, life is impermanent, how can you expect everything to be as you wish?" The old minister has more than enough heart but not enough strength, even if he wants to see it, he can't see it, and the next road still depends on His Highness to walk by himself."

In the past few years, Li Jinze's every step has been taken under the protection of Zhou Minqing, and he can hardly imagine how he would have won the dangerous struggle for the heir without Zhou Minqing.

Thinking of all kinds of dangers that may arise in the future, Li Jinze's heart panicked, and his eyes were full of fear for the future: "If you are not there, what will I do in the future? Can anyone help me? Who can I rely on? Teacher, I can't live without you......

"Your Highness, don't be presumptuous, even if you don't have an old minister, you can do the same."

Zhou Minqing didn't know where the strength came from, so he sat up with half of his body propped up, and said: "Your Highness is the prince, the eldest son of Your Majesty, the head of the clan who is justifiable, and in the future, after a hundred years of Your Majesty, you should inherit the unification, this is a fact that no one can deny."

"As long as Your Highness stabilizes his heart and does what he needs to do, what can you do with those little people?"

Speaking of this, Zhou Minqing became emotional, holding Li Jinze's hand faintly painful, his originally gray face suddenly became ruddy, and his eyes were also bright, which was an obvious sign of returning to the light.

When everyone saw this, they couldn't help but feel sad, and low weeping came and went.

Zhou Minqing waved his hand: "Okay, you go out first, I still have something to say to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince alone."

After retiring from everyone, Zhou Minqing grabbed Li Jinze's hand tightly and looked straight into his eyes: "Your Highness, the old minister's time is running out, you have to listen carefully to the minister's next words."

Li Jinze's expression also became solemn: "Although the teacher said, I must keep it in mind."

At this time, there is no need to detour anymore, Zhou Minqing got straight to the point and said: "Now that the situation between the DPRK and China is changing, and the situation of the struggle is becoming more and more prominent, the minister knows that what His Highness is most worried about is nothing more than the instability of his storage position."

"Today, His Majesty has a strategy and skill, and can be regarded as a wise king, but in recent years, he has become increasingly suspicious, self-serving, and especially favors the second prince, so it is difficult to guarantee that he will not be confused, and if His Highness makes plans again, it will be too late."

"The second prince is ambitious, and his biological mother is quite favored, not a peaceful person, and the battle for the heir is inevitable. Your Highness should immediately abandon the illusion of brotherhood and fraternity, you and the second prince will sooner or later become enemies against each other, and the only way to secure your position is to fight him to the death."