How did you, a prisoner on death row, become an important weapon of the country? Yecheng Gao Weiming

Speculating on the fate of the Ming Dynasty?

Queen Ma, who hadn't had time to speak, was stunned for a moment, then she reacted.

This means Zhu Yuanzhang has started to draw his knife and is ready to kill people.

He deliberately asked Liu Ji about the future destiny of the country, probably to find an excuse to blame the other party.

If the other party's answer is not satisfactory, I'm afraid...

"Chongpachi!"

Queen Ma couldn't help but let out a soft cry, meaning, have you forgotten what you promised me?

"Sister, shut up first!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved at his wife and glanced at her with anger in his eyes.

Queen Ma was speechless.

In public, she would never embarrass Zhu Yuanzhang.

But he became more and more panicked, thinking about how to tactfully persuade Liu Bowen to leave quickly.

Seeing that Liu Ji was about to answer, she couldn't help but laugh first.

"Oh! Lord Chengyi, you've been sitting here for so long and haven't even had a sip of tea!"

Empress Ma glared at the maid beside her: "What are you still standing there for! Why don't you serve tea to Marquis Chengyi? Besides, Nanyang just sent some high-quality dates and pears as tribute, hurry up and serve some to Marquis Chengyi..."

When she said this, the maid beside her bowed quickly and agreed, and hurriedly prepared to leave.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned when he heard this.

Liu Bowen even grinned with a gratified smile.

As mentioned earlier, the Right Prime Minister Hu Weiyong left dates and silk at home, and now Empress Ma gave dates and pears.

What does this mean?

One died tragically early, the other left early.

The kind and generous Queen Ma was subtly reminding him to leave quickly!

only……

Liu Bowen bowed to Queen Ma.

"Thank you, Queen, for the tea and fruit! But when I came here, I had just had breakfast, so I really couldn't enjoy them..."

"Humph!"

Seeing that this old man didn't know what was good for him, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but snorted, "Liu Ji, just eat what I told you to eat, why are you wasting your words!"

Liu Bowen had no choice but to agree with a wry smile.

Zhu Yuanzhang, however, had no intention of letting the other party go and continued to frown.

"What? Didn't you hear what I said? Liu Ji, can you help me predict the future of the Ming Dynasty?"

The butcher knife continued to be pulled out and was slowly placed on Liu Bowen's head.

Liu Bowen seemed to realize it, but also seemed not to realize it. He bowed and smiled.

"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty has been established for eight years. The north and south are prosperous, and the east and west are in harmony. What is there to worry about? Not to mention that my lord has thousands of sons and grandsons, there is even less to fear!"

What Liu Bowen meant was that the Ming Dynasty had been established for eight years and the world was at peace, so what was there to worry about?

Not to mention that you will have ten thousand descendants in the future, and you don’t have to worry about the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

When Queen Ma heard the other party say this, she was greatly relieved.

It seems that the old man understands that if he doesn't give a good answer today, he will probably come in straight and leave sideways.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not so easily fooled and continued to sneer upon hearing this.

"The world does not belong to me alone, and my descendants cannot rule for eternity. Moreover, the ruler of the world should be a virtuous person. If my descendants are immoral, it is only natural that they will lose the world!"

"Liu Ji, don't lie, just speak boldly, I want to hear it!"

Zhu Yuanzhang’s meaning was very simple.

Don’t fool me with sweet words, I want to hear the real stuff!

Dry goods!

Do you know?

Seeing that her husband still refused to give in, Queen Ma was so angry that she gritted her teeth but there was nothing she could do.

At this time, the maid also brought tea, dates, and pears, and placed a tea table in front of Liu Bowen for the old man to enjoy.

Liu Bowen did not hesitate. He picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, but his expression became more indifferent.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned when he saw the other person's indifferent expression.

It seems like...

It seems like this old man’s reaction when I asked him to come out of retirement again and again!

At this moment, Liu Ji no longer had the fear and chill on his face.

After taking a sip of tea, Liu Bowen's face became more and more normal and rosy, just like the last burst of vitality before death.

He smiled and said, "If Your Majesty really wants to hear it, it is only right for me to tell you about it!"

"But leaking the secret is a capital crime! Your Majesty is the common ruler of the world, the real dragon in the world, the chosen one of heaven. Please forgive me the death penalty, I dare to be so presumptuous..."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered in his heart and understood what Liu Ji meant.

This is the Golden Book and Iron Scroll!

What is the Golden Book and Iron Certificate?

This is similar to the golden medal of immunity from death and the red-lettered iron certificate of the previous dynasty, which can exempt the holder from all death penalty crimes except treason.

Not only the holder is exempted, but also his/her immediate family members can enjoy these benefits.

In the third year of Hongwu, when Zhu Yuanzhang conferred titles on his ministers, he gave a gold book and iron certificate to each of the six dukes and twenty-eight marquises, but he did not give any reward to the two earls.

Among them is Liu Bowen!

This was also one of the projects that slapped people in the face that year.

It seems that the old man is still thinking about asking for this thing to avoid death today!

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head slightly, thinking to himself, if I give you the Golden Book and Iron Certificate, will you not die?

Don’t you know that with just one glance from me, countless vicious dogs will devour your entire family?

You still think too simply.

"Come here, give Liu Ji, the Earl of Sincerity, a written certificate of honor!"

Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and shouted loudly, and immediately a eunuch bowed and ran out to handle the matter.

"Liu Ji, I'm going to spare you the death penalty, but you should at least tell me why, right?"

Old Zhu was gnashing his teeth, with an annoyed look on his face.

If you keep making excuses, I will let you know how angry I am.

Liu Ji struggled to get up, knelt down and thanked Zhu Yuanzhang for the reward, but his heart was still cold.

Why?

Receiving the golden book and iron certificate was an unexpected surprise when I came to meet Zhu Yuanzhang today.

But he also understood that this all depended on the emperor's decision.

If he says it is useful, then it is useful. If he says it is useless, then it is useless.

Throughout history, how many princes and ministers who had been given the golden medal of immunity from death were still killed at will?

When the emperor wants to kill you, no one can stop him, let alone a piece of scrap copper or iron.

and so……

The golden book and iron certificate have a certain honorary value at most. Apart from being able to demonstrate one's identity, they are not of much use.

Maybe it can ensure the safety of my descendants, but...

Liu Bowen sighed in his heart.

He is proficient in the Eight Trigrams and the Book of Changes, can predict the future tens of thousands of years, and can even predict events like a god.

I'm afraid the final outcome of my Liu family will be the destruction of the whole family!

Liu Ji's idea was by no means wrong.

Despite having the Golden Book and Iron Certificate, after his death, his eldest son Liu Lian, who was serving as the provincial governor and participating in government affairs, was forced to fall into a well and die because he was persecuted by Hu Weiyong.

The second son, Liu Jing, was imprisoned in Tianlao by Zhu Di because of his loyalty to Zhu Yunwen. Unable to bear the humiliation, Liu Jing committed suicide in prison.

A great hero who followed the emperor to the throne and a member of the prominent Liu family, ended up in a miserable state.

But these are all things of the past.

After Liu Bowen sat down again, he bowed and said.

"I have no more worries. Your Majesty, please listen to me and let me tell you slowly..."

As he spoke, he pinched his fingers and closed his eyes in thought for a moment. But his next sentence made Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma change color suddenly.

"Our dynasty is now at peace and tranquility, but we still have concerns."

"It is said that... although the Ming Dynasty still exists, the South will eventually destroy the North. The legitimate prince is the legitimate prince, and the literary star is high and guards the west!"