Vicissitudes know Jinhua

The birthday of King Qi Wushang of the Western Wei Dynasty was a major event in Yongliang City, and if he wanted to, it could also be a major event in the entire officialdom.Therefore, in the Dajing Palace in Chenjing, several princes traveled thousands of miles to send them here politely.

Along with the Seventh Prince, Mu Zishi also sent a few things that were neither brilliant nor rude, including a string of rosary beads consecrated by the abbot of Xinming Temple himself, and a sandalwood fish.

Qi Shaochong laughed and said, "Does Zishi want the king of the Western Wei Dynasty to convert to Buddhism?"

Mu Zishi said: "My lord was born in the army, so it is inevitable to kill too much. It is also good to offer some Buddhist instruments to ward off disasters and take refuge."

This was the first time he gave something to Qi Wushang after he arrived in Chenjing. Qi Wushang never heard from him, and only sent Lu Kuangxi to Chenjing a year ago to prescribe medicine for Mu Zishi. Prescription, drink every day.

More than a month later, Shu Polu, who had just gone to Yunzhou to serve as a general in the Yiwei Army, was assassinated in his private residence by a poisoned short dagger.

Death froze his expression at the last moment on his face, his eyes were not closed, he seemed to be sad or happy, he seemed to be suddenly enlightened, and he seemed to regret and hate. In one corner, one word can be vaguely discerned on the yellowed piece of paper: Xi.

The murderer was caught without a fight, but it was a young man surnamed Tao who suffered from dementia. After laughing, he cried, cried and laughed again, repeating only one sentence over and over in his mouth: Father and mother, I have revenge!

The murderer's name was Mu Yu, who had been taken captive by Nanke Mountain for several years, and then wandered and wandered, his whereabouts were uncertain, but he didn't expect this muddle-headed fool to sneak up to General Shu with his belief in revenge.

The murderer, the dead body, physical evidence, witnesses, and the facts of the case were all there, and the Yunzhou government quickly reviewed and closed the case.

There are still some doubts in this case. For example, as a rising general, why did Shu Polu allow a mere vagrant to talk in secret in his study?Why does a half-stupid waif have the skill to kill a general of the imperial court with one blow?And why didn't Shu Polu let go of that letter after he died, but why did it burn to a corner?What does the word Xi mean?

Although the doubts are unresolved, they are irrelevant after all, and they involve the old affairs of Nankeshan. The Yunzhou government does not want to delve into it. After the trial, the closing documents are submitted to the Dali Temple of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. , make a decision.

In the Zhiping Palace, Mu Zishi was kneeling, and Qi Jin read the papers he had just submitted about formulating, cleaning up and supervising taxation.

Qi Jin drank two cups of honey soup, changed his clothes again, and said, "Get up!"

Mu Zishi sat down on the spot with a wry smile, without thanking him, he said: "Does the emperor like to punish the humble minister to kneel? The humble minister has five tuberculosis and seven injuries. If one accidentally kneels to death, it will not be a waste of the emperor's life." A painstaking effort?"

Because there was no one else in the hall, Mu Zishi spoke quite casually.

Qi Jin ignored it, and slowly closed the memorial, saying: "You are indeed a rare talent. Although you are no longer in the household department, these few tax opinions are concise and to the point, and you can consider the implementation of meticulous and effective. Even veteran officials who have been in charge of the finances for half of their lives will be ashamed of themselves!"

Mu Zishi rubbed his knees, lazily said: "The emperor rewards you."

Qi Jin changed the topic: "It's a pity that you have more problems."

Mu Zishi lowered his head, with a smile that was not a smile: "What the emperor said is very true, my minister's hemoptysis has made the imperial hospital helpless... The emperor has always favored this minister, but he didn't know that he was loyal and respectful. Shun, which one will the emperor choose to bestow on the humble minister?"

Qi Jin glanced at his pale sick face, his expression changed, he sighed for a long time, and said: "You rely on your talents to act fiercely, and you are arrogant, what posthumous title do you think you deserve?"

Mu Zishi wondered: "The humble minister is just a pawn in the emperor's hand, where does the arrogance come from? How dare you commit suicide without authorization?"

Seeing that he dared to deny it as if nothing had happened, Qi Jin couldn't help but slapped the case and said angrily: "Buddhist magic weapon to ward off disasters and take refuge... Humph, don't you know? A wooden fish took Shu Polu's life. You are so bold and reckless as to obey the law." For nothing, when my court is full of mediocre trash, let you collude with Yongliang to kill heroes?"

"After all, is it your idea, or Qi Wushang's plan?"

Mu Zishi sneered and didn't answer, just said: "The emperor is wrong."

"The humble official killed General Shu in accordance with the emperor's will. What does it have to do with the king of the Western Wei Dynasty? The emperor hates civil servants taking power for themselves, and generals supporting themselves. If Shu is left in Chenjing or Jingyuanwei, It means that the emperor still wants to use him and let him go to Yunzhou, so naturally he will abandon this person, does the emperor hope to raise another Yu Chan, so that the court will be cautious for many years?"

Mu Zishi said leisurely, his voice was as clear and refreshing as a mountain spring, but there was a strong look of lethargy in his brows: "Although Shu Polu had made little achievements in the past, he was even more disrespectful. His Majesty's matter, he Even if you are obedient and keep your mouth shut, it is a hidden danger to keep it, my humble minister will get rid of this person on behalf of the Emperor and His Highness the Seventh Prince, how could he be guilty of arbitrariness?"

Qi Jin stared at him, the anger on his face gradually disappeared, his expression was calm, and he said in a low voice: "Prying into my mind is also a serious crime."

Mu Zishi said casually: "Then let the Ministry of Punishments arrest me and put me in jail!"

He was invulnerable to all poisons, and Qi Jin walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, feeling a little irritable in his heart, and even a hint of danger flashed through him.

Using Muzi stone is like using a knife with two blades on both sides. Even if you are invincible, if you don't pay attention, you may hurt your hand.

Although he doesn't care about his own safety, honor and disgrace in his words, and his actions seem to be willful and willful, but in fact, he walks between the ingenious line. The line is deduced after careful consideration and with amazing insight. See The danger is safe, and it is easy to handle.

His actions have always been within the range of his tolerance and expectations, including the assassination of Shu Polu, which was completely guided by himself, but he can see through his own self by grasping this small thread in Yunzhou. The intention was decisive, without any omissions, and that Muyu, as an amazing soldier, was by no means accomplished in a day, regardless of his profound scheming, his tacit understanding with Qi Wushang has reached such a point!

Such a person...isn't it too dangerous?

Mu Zishi's talent shines like a pearl, making people reluctant to use it. The same is true for Shu Polu on Nanke Mountain. He knows that using him is like a poisonous snake in his sleeve, but he still can't help but take chances.

If Yu Pei is still alive, he must be able to raise him well, how to use it, how to handle it, but now that the world is changing, Yin and Yang are not connected, and I don't know how much of his loyalty to Yu Pei is left?

I didn't plan to use him for a long time, it was just the wax for the bridge across the river to cross the night, but at this moment, Qi Jin felt faintly out of control.

Could it be that this person can no longer stay?

Mu Zishi looked at his face, stood up and said, "The emperor wants to kill me?"

Qi Jin said indifferently: "It's better to think carefully. After considering the pros and cons, you need to stop when you should."

Mu Zishi smiled: "I still remember that when I returned to the capital, when I had an audience with the emperor for the first time, I was punished to kneel outside the palace for two hours in heavy snow. My knees are as painful as needles stabbed by knives... But it was also that day, the emperor confided his heart and gave me the beginning of the road to Qingyun as a famous minister, and it also made me concentrate on power, slander and resentment."

If Qi Jin was moved, he nodded and sighed slightly: "After the restoration of the government, there are many parties and forces in the court. However, the current situation and the world can't stand any more chaos, so we can only act in a gentle and gentle way. There is a suspicion of being mean and ungrateful, I can't do it, but you dare to do it."

Mu Zishi walked slowly to the imperial case, sat down and picked up his pen, Qi Jin saw that his behavior was extremely weird and presumptuous, but he only frowned slightly, and did not stop him.

Mu Zishi wrote neatly and beautifully, and said in a low voice: "The emperor regards me as a strong medicine to break through the barriers, to make up for the disadvantages, to overcorrect, and to pave the way for His Royal Highness. Today, I am afraid of people. In the future, His Highness will surely make all the ministers and the common people return their hearts and respect... Is there any reason for the emperor to be ignorant, dissatisfied, and unfulfilling of the emperor's painstaking efforts towards His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince?"

As he spoke, he raised his head and glanced at Qi Jin, and there was indifferent but obvious pity in his eyes: "The emperor's thoughts and humble ministers all understand that the seven years of Chiwutai is like a purgatory on earth, I am afraid that before you take the dragon to control Bintian, no prince will be able to do it." Dare to believe and stand again..."

Qi Jin's eyes were fixed, and a stern look appeared on his old face.

But Mu Zishi ignored it, only pondered for a moment, and said: "Perhaps the emperor has thought about His Royal Highness Li Qi, but there is a knot in his heart that cannot be untied... His Royal Highness is the younger brother of Prince Huichun, but also the direct son of Empress Luo. ,Is it?"

Qi Jin was furious immediately, trembling all over with anger: "Mu Zishi, I think you really don't want to live anymore!"

What I love most in my life is Prince Huichun, but what I hate the most is his mother, the instigator of the Heaven's Family Change, the Queen Luo who poisoned her parents and children!

Qi Shaochong was the most favored by the empress in the past, and even the Luo family took Qi Yupei's life, probably because of his plotting achievements. Based on this alone, I couldn't love this son.

But Qi Shaochong lived among the people and tasted all the hardships, and he was also deeply hurt by the Luo family. What's more, he has been handling government affairs by himself in the past two years, and he is quite talented in governing and rejuvenating the country. When he was alive, he placed high hopes on his only younger brother, and when he died, he left a Mu Zishi to assist him.

Right now, Mu Zishi's words have revealed all his mentality and thinking, from the skin to the bone, it is full of pungent pain.

The emperor's heart is secretive about such a big matter, how can a small courtier be allowed to talk wildly?

Qi Jin was furious and wanted to call the guards to take Mu Zishi down and punish him.

Mu Zishi hurriedly knelt down on the ground and said, "Hold on a moment, Your Majesty! Allow me to say a few more words!"

Qi Jin hesitated for a moment, only to hear him say loudly: "Your Majesty, you know that the people's hearts are not stable, but the political situation is not stable? The position of the crown prince is pending. If you don't issue an edict to establish a crown prince for a day, how can King Rui and King An be willing to give up? They If you don't give up, how can the court be calm?"

Qi Jin's heart skipped a beat, he was full of suspicion, and tried with anger: "Shao Chong has alienated you very much recently, but you want me to make him the crown prince as soon as possible? Could it be..."

Mu Zishi held up the paper he had just written with both hands, shook his head, and said: "Since the emperor doesn't want to establish a crown prince, I thought of this strategy to prevent future troubles."

Qi Jin took it over and took a look, only to see the word Chunwei written at the beginning, but below it was a list of names, including the faction of King Rui and King An, and several officials and censors.

In a blink of an eye, he understood Mu Zishi's intentions, and he couldn't help but relax his brows, and said lightly: "It's a great work that has been accomplished in one battle! Chunwei is a major event for the imperial court to select scholars and select talents..."

Mu Zishi's eyes were as cold as iron stone, and he said: "It's not a big deal, it's not worth it... In the spring of next year, I will ask King Rui to take charge of the financing, so that His Highness King Rui will be put in the cauldron, and the heart of seizing power and making troubles will be used as firewood." , the wings of supporters are fire knives and flints. If King Rui remains unmoved and does not harbor greed, even if the breeze blows and the fire goes out, there is no danger. In the future, His Royal Highness will also have to watch and help each other. If King Rui can't think about it... Then the emperor favored him to stay away from Chenjing as an idle prince, it might not be a good thing."

Qi Jin was noncommittal, but personally burned the paper on the lamp. After thinking for a while, he suddenly asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Mu Zishi was slightly taken aback.

Qi Jin was condescending and stared at him closely: "Don't you know that with your scheming and tricks today, all kinds of rude and presumptuous, I can't bear you, so I have to kill you?"

Mu Zishi lowered his head, with his hands under the red official robe, he looked pale and thin: "My minister is also made of flesh and blood... My illness can't last anymore."

Qi Jin was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Raise your head."

Mu Zishi followed his words, and Qi Jin looked at his face carefully, feeling both surprised and sad.

His skin was surprisingly white and delicate, but now he was haggard and weak with no vitality. Although his complexion was not damaged under the serious illness, it was like the bright moon before sunrise, it was the last dazzling magnificence, and it was about to disappear. People are born with a regret that is so beautiful that it is easy to wither and the city is fragile.

Qi Jin's expression was a little dazed, and he sighed for a while: "I also watched you grow up, you... you really have a little bit of resemblance to Yu Pei, are you going to go with him now?"