Reincarnation of the powerful minister

Xiaoling Mausoleum of Zhongshan, in front of the gate of Shengong.

Zhu Helin looked at the general who had been summoned and knelt down in front of him, but he hadn't recovered from the accident.

Su Yan stepped forward to hold Mei Changxi's elbow, and Mei Changxi stood up.

"Unexpectedly, the farmer who planted rice seedlings with his trouser legs turned into a guard commander in a flash, is Mr. Mei playing tricks on us?" Su Yan asked with a smile.

Mei Changxi replied with some embarrassment: "The lower officials have no such intentions. The Xiaoling Guard is different from the other 26 guards of the pro-military. It's not that I'm playing tricks on Young Master and Master Su, I hope you will forgive me."

Zhu Helin waved his hand and said, "No guilt, no guilt, it's my young master who voluntarily went to the fields to help you plant rice seedlings."

Su Yan called them into the Fufu Hall next to them for a detailed discussion.

After the three sat down, Su Yan sighed: "It seems that I'm the only one who was kept in the dark the most. The kit has been in my arms for a whole year, but I don't even know what's inside."

Zhu Helin hurriedly explained: "It's not that I don't want to show you the secret paper, it's really... well, it's all over anyway, so it's okay to tell you the secret."

At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Emperor Taizu established 26 guards of the pro-army, who were responsible for escorting the left and right, and guarding the palace.The 26 guards only obeyed the emperor's orders, and the governor's office of the five armies and the Ministry of War had no right to mobilize.

Later, the power of the cabinet gradually increased, and the successive emperors gradually lost military power in the game with the civil service system.Especially Jinwu, Habayashi and other nineteen guards, because they are in charge of the patrol police on duty in the imperial city, they are taken over by the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies.

Up to now, when he succeeded to the throne, only the Jinyiwei and the Tengxiang Four Guards were under the direct command of the emperor and were relatively flexible.

Among them, Jinyiwei has about 8000 people, and Tengxiang Four Guards has more than [-] soldiers and horses.

These are all on the surface.

Everyone in the court thought that Jinyiwei and Tengxiangwei were the emperor's sharp weapons, but what everyone didn't know was that the emperor actually had a real trump card hidden in his hand.

That is the Xiaoling Guard who usually hides and comes out in times of chaos.

This hole card is a secret weapon that only belongs to the emperor. Only when the prince inherits the throne by legitimate means will he learn how to activate it from the mouth of the previous emperor.

Hearing this, Su Yan was surprised and said: "Since it will be taught when the new king succeeds to the throne, why did the emperor hand over the kit to me a year ago? Could it be that he had expected the predicament that the young master would have today?"

Zhu Helin also couldn't figure it out: "Father is at the peak of his age, and the inheritance is decades later. I can't figure out why father would suddenly tell me the secret of Xiaolingwei. Maybe...he met in the capital. What special situation happened, it is difficult to mobilize Jinyiwei and Tengxiangwei on the bright side, so you plan to dispatch Xiaolingwei?"

Su Yan immediately thought of the "Edict to Abolish the Crown Prince" received last night, and became even more suspicious that it was a false edict.

There must be a big change in the capital, the kind that is enough to turn the world upside down.And the emperor had a premonition and arrangement as early as a year ago, so he planned ahead.

Zhu Helin agreed with his inference.

Mei Changxi said: "It has nothing to do with the Xiaoling Guard. As a commander, I only recognize the token of the Tian family. No matter which prince, as long as he can summon the Xiaoling Guard, Mei will regard him as the next The monarch of the world—unless the monarch does not believe in me and does not use me, then it is another matter."

Zhu Helin nodded to him: "Of course I believe you, my lord. According to the imperial father's secret decree, the Mei family in Nanjing has served as the commander of the Xiaoling Guard since the founding of the country. The first commander of Mei was the son of the founding princess of Daming, so Speaking of which, although you and I are not connected by the same spirit, we are also connected by blood, and in the future we will surely be able to get along with each other."

Su Yan secretly nodded for the prince's words: Xiao Zhu has become more mature and mellow in dealing with people, and knows how to conquer people's hearts.

Sure enough, Mei Changxi was deeply moved, stood up and cupped his fists: "His Royal Highness believes in Mei, and does not consider him an outsider. Mei will definitely repay her with sincerity and loyalty."

Zhu Helin asked back: "How loyal is it?"

Mei Changxi was taken aback by the question.

Zhu Helin stared at him closely, with a subtle expression on his face: "Follow the young master to rebel, dare you?"

Su Yan: "..."

What did you just praise you for?ah?Just tell me nonsense!This worry-free baby!

He was about to speak to save the scene, but Zhu Helin pressed the back of his hand calmly.

So Su Yan shut his mouth and waited quietly.

After Mei Changxi was stunned, he looked surprised and uncertain. After a moment of confusion, he suddenly laughed cloudily: "Young master almost got me in! If you can get Xiaolingwei's Tiger Talisman, it means that you are the emperor." The confirmed successor, who can rebel against me by following the young master? Your own rebellion?"

Zhu Helin got up, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a loud smile: "It's just a joke. It's all because I didn't receive the order to return to Beijing, and I was worried about something happening in the capital, so I wanted to go back to Beijing on the charge of resisting the order. Are you willing to help me, so I ask this question."

Go back to Beijing against the decree?Mei Changxi hesitated.

This is the great crime of losing one's head.If he was alone, he would accept his fate if something happened with the prince.But behind him are three thousand soldiers of Xiaoling Guard, they have families, parents, wives and children, how can I determine their life and death with one thought?

"...Master, have you ever thought about sending someone to the capital to find out what's going on?" He suggested, "It's not my life, but because my return to Beijing will not be questioned by the government and the public."

"It's too late." Zhu Helin said, "You know, last night someone pretended to be a Jin Yiwei and sent a false edict with the intention of assassinating me."

Mei Changxi was shocked.

At the beginning of the night rain, the accumulated water on the roof leaked from the corners of the eaves and dripped into the large tank outside the corridor.

In the twilight of dawn, Shen Qi used the scabbard to push open the half-covered courtyard door, and stepped into the Zhongshan Mausoleum.

——What came into view was corpses strewn all over the ground, even the rainwater on the ground was stained red, like a sea of ​​blood.

The entire courtyard was dead silent, like ruins.

Shi Yanshuang behind him said in shock: "Why are so many Jin Yiwei dead? Where is the prince?"

Shen Qi frowned, turned over a corpse under her feet with the scabbard, and ordered: "Search the body and find the badge."

Two Tiqi stepped forward, searched the body inside and out, and replied: "There is no waist card."

"Looking at this person's attire, at least he is a thousand householder. It is impossible not to wear a belt when he goes out to do errands. Unless..." Shen Qi narrowed her eyes, "They are not real Jinyiwei."

Shi Yanshuang asked one after another: "Isn't it Jin Yiwei? It's a fake? So it was killed by the prince's guards?"

Shen Qi ordered: "Search them one by one, to see if we can find clues to the real identities of these people."

The most proficient detectives in Beizhen Fusi immediately began to search the corpses one by one. After a while, they found a clue—one of the corpses was wearing a strangely shaped wooden plaque with burnt marks from lightning strikes on it.

There were also the empty box and thin-necked gold bottle that once contained the imperial edict, which were also found in the muddy water, and presented to Shen Qi together.

Shen Qi sniffed the smell of wine in the bottle, and said with certainty: "The wine is mixed with crane crest red."

Shi Yanshuang looked at the empty box: "It looks like a box used to pass edicts in the palace... Where is the edict inside?"

"The edict may be in the hands of the crown prince."

"Prince...after receiving the edict, killed all the Jin Yiwei who sent the order?" Shi Yanshuang turned pale with shock, "This is to make—" He swallowed the last word abruptly, and uttered a loud retort for it. belch.

Shen Qi sneered: "Not necessarily. Look at this." He showed Shi Yanshuang the wooden sign tied with a thin hemp rope, "This is lightning strike wood, engraved with spells to protect peace. As far as I know, only People in Gyeongju wear this lightning strike wood as a talisman."

"Qingzhou?" Shi Yanshuang hiccupped, and said, "Beyond the Great Wall, this is too far away. Besides, Qingzhou has long been in the hands of the Tatars. How could the people of Qingzhou appear here? "

Shen Qi only answered two words: "Wei family."

Shi Yanshuang suddenly realized: Qingzhou Army of the Wei family!

——Unexpectedly, the Wei family had defected to Daming for 20 years, and even secretly hid a Qingzhou army!

——Send someone to pretend to be the Imperial Guard to deliver the imperial edict, and bring poisoned wine. The Wei family is outrageous, trying to murder the crown prince?

——Who gave the Wei family the courage, who regarded the prince as a thorn in the side...

Shi Yanshuang shuddered, not daring to think about it any further, and turned her pleading eyes to the Shangguan who made up his mind.

What Shen Qi is worried about right now is not the prince, but Su Yan.

The Mausoleum is so close to Nanjing City, and Su Yan is close to the Crown Prince, will this assassination affect him?

Shen Qi clenched her fists and ordered: "You search the surroundings for the prince's whereabouts with the Mausoleum as the center. In case of enemy attack, call the police immediately."

After the Tiqis agreed, they were divided into several teams and dispersed in all directions.

Seeing Shangguan's complexion, Shi Yanshuang comforted him, "Looking at the corpse and the traces of fighting, it's still very fresh. The prince and his party should have just left, and they will be found soon."

Shen Qi was about to speak, when suddenly she heard a sharp whistle.

Not far away, a red light streaked across the air like a shooting star, which was Jin Yiwei's signal fireworks.Shen Qi immediately got on her horse, drew out the Xiuchun knife, and shouted: "Enemy attack—Jin Yiwei, follow me to fight!"

Zhongshan Xiaoling Mausoleum, inside the Fufu Hall.

Mei Changxi broke out in a cold sweat after listening to Su Yan's story of last night.

"Since the emperor handed over the Xiaoling Guard to the young master, he would never issue such an edict to abolish the prince, there must be a conspiracy in it!" He said decisively.

Zhu Helin said: "That's why I want to go back to Beijing and ask my father what happened in person. The only thing is that there is no order to call me back to Beijing, and the teacher came out of nowhere."

Mei Changxi thought about it, and he was about to speak, when someone outside the hall reported loudly: "Master Commander, I found the Jinyiwei team at the foot of the mountain!"

Jin Yiwei?

Could it be the reinforcements from those people last night?

Zhu Helin said angrily: "This is Xiaoling! They dare to assassinate his descendants in front of Emperor Taizu!"

Mei Changxi cupped her fists: "His Royal Highness, rest less, I will go and take them down now, and leave them alone!"

He turned around and left the palace gate.

Zhu Helin and Su Yan waited for news in the hall.Not long after, another messenger ran over panting, and reported outside the palace gate: "The leader of that group of Jinyiwei, who claimed to be Shen Qi, the co-prefect of Beizhen Fusi, was ordered by the emperor to pick up His Highness the Crown Prince. Your Excellency Commander It is difficult to tell the truth from the false, so I sent a young man to inform, and ask if the prince wants to meet?"

Su Yan got up abruptly, the action was too hasty, and the teacup on the table was turned over by his sleeve.

Zhu Helin was stunned for a moment, got up and said, "Bring him to see me."

Su Yan couldn't wait, and wanted to leave the palace in a hurry, but Zhu Helin grabbed the sleeve of his robe.

"What's the rush? It won't take long to tell the truth from the falsehood." Zhu Helin's nose is not his nose, his eyes are not his eyes, and he said sourly, "As my father's 'lover', I rush to see another wild woman so eagerly." Man, do you think it's appropriate?"

Su Yan became angry and pulled his sleeves hard: "Nonsense!"

"Which word is nonsense, is it 'lover' or 'wild man'?" Zhu Helin retorted.

Su Yan was so angry that she wanted to sew his mouth shut with a needle and thread.

"I'm in a hurry to see a brother or a wild man, what's your business, what right do you have to meddle with me?" Su Yan couldn't move his sleeves, and said indiscriminately, "Who are you, you meddle in my private affairs! "

Now Zhu Helin was also angry: "You said that the young master is not qualified? Well, I am not someone like you... I will take care of you for my father!" He said and dragged Su Yan onto the chair.

The two chattered almost to the point of fighting.

After eating the cat food fed by the guards, Lihua crept in from some corner, circled around the feet of the two of them, meowing anxiously.

"Don't quarrel in front of Lihua, the child will be anxious." Zhu Helin said in a low voice.

Su Yan: "Then you let go first."

Zhu Helin: "I'll let you go, don't sneak out and run out! Young Master, don't you want to lose face?"

Su Yan: "...I said we are brothers, but I haven't seen you for a year and a half."

Zhu Helin: "Since we're just brothers, it's normal if we haven't seen each other for ten years. If you continue to protect that man surnamed Shen like an adulterer, I'll kill—"

Su Yan glared at him fiercely.The prince was forced to change his words: "—I will give him little shoes to wear every day!"

Su Yan was discouraged by the threat from the future boss. He let go first, and sighed: "Forget it, if you don't see it, I won't see it. I'll go to the back to avoid it." He opened the curtain and went to the side room next to him. .

Zhu Helin didn't expect him to give up so simply, and was a little dazed looking at his back.

At this time, Mei Changxi led a leader of Jinyi Guards into the gate of the palace, clasped his fists and said, "Master, I have brought you here."

Zhu Helin turned his head and saw that it was really Shen Qi.

He intentionally wanted to vent his anger on Shen Qi, so he nodded towards Mei Changxi, signaling that the other party should wait outside the hall first.Mei Changxi backed out.

Shen Qi's boots and clothes were covered with mud spots, and a little blood was splashed on the side of her neck, as if she had just been through a fierce fight.Zhu Helin thought that Shen Qi was not pleasing to the eye, and wished that he would be dealt with severely by the Xiaoling guards, so he mocked: "Why, Shen Tongzhi came all the way to Nanjing to compete with the Xiaoling guards in martial arts? What was the result?"

Shen Qi didn't answer, but only looked at the prince with a pair of bloody eyes after the battle, her face was expressionless, but there was a hint of leisurely sarcasm hidden in the depths of her eyes, as if she was enjoying the other party's next reaction.

He only said four words, which really made the prince's face change greatly——

"The emperor is critically ill."

"...What did you say?" The prince was so shocked that he lost his voice, "This is impossible! My royal father...he was fine when I left Beijing, why is he suddenly critically ill...Shen Qi! How dare you curse the emperor, this is Yi San The death penalty of the clan!"

Shen Qi still had no expression on her face, and repeated it again: "The emperor is critically ill, and now there is no news in the palace, and the government orders are chaotic. Fifteen days ago, the emperor secretly summoned his ministers and gave an oral order - 'go to Nanjing and bring the prince back safely' .”

"Oral order? Why is there no edict?" The prince asked back.

Shen Qi said: "The imperial edict was sent out a long time ago, seven or eight days before I left. Why, Your Highness didn't receive it?"

The prince heard the slight mocking meaning in his words, and gritted his teeth angrily: "Shut up! I received a bullshit false edict from a pheasant brocade guard who doesn't know where, and wants to take my life!"

The leader of Jinyiwei who was alluded to as a pheasant said coldly: "That is not Jinyiwei, it is Qingzhou Army."

He told the prince the evidence he had found in the mausoleum, and then said that the Jinyiwei team he led was attacked, and fought with hundreds of Qingzhou troops suspected of being reinforcements near the mausoleum, and finally defeated the opponent.

When the sky was bright, he saw beacon smoke rising from the sky above Zhongshan. He suspected that it was a warning signal from the prince, so he led a team to rescue him.

"Help me?" The prince looked at him with an unfriendly expression, "You saw it too. There is a large group of people outside, all of whom are young master's men and horses. You don't need your help. Besides, what you said just now, young master alone I don't believe a word—"

"—I believe it!" Su Yan swung the curtain and came out.

God knows how hard it took him to force himself to stay where he was when he heard "the emperor is critically ill" just now, instead of rushing out immediately.

Zhu Helin turned to look at Su Yan: "Are you listening to his nonsense? My father is in his prime and in good health, how could he be in critical condition suddenly? I knew that my father had always been on guard against this guy, thinking that he—"

"My lord!" Su Yan interrupted the prince, "Do you really not believe it, or do you dare not believe it, and you don't want to believe it? Besides, is there any reason why the emperor will lose his respect for the jade seal and the imperial edict?" The power to control?"

And you?Do you believe it or not?Zhu Helin wanted to ask back, but couldn't ask.He looked at Su Yan sternly, his expression changed: "Qinghe...Qinghe, your hand!"

Shen Qi rushed forward with a stride, and held up Su Yan's hand.

The bruise on the wrist pinched by the fake Jin Yiwei has not disappeared, and the blood between the fingers drips down to the ground.Su Yan opened his fingers subconsciously, and the palm was full of broken porcelain pieces. The thin and sharp pieces of porcelain pierced into the flesh and blood, and he broke a teacup abruptly.

He looked at his palm in a daze, and remembered that when he was listening to Shen Qi talking to the prince behind the curtain, he was pouring himself a cup of tea.

Shen Qi quickly pulled him to sit on the chair, pulled out a dagger, roasted the tip of the knife on the candle, and picked out the broken pieces of porcelain embedded in the meat for him.

"Does it hurt, does it hurt?" Zhu Helin asked repeatedly while digging out the hemostatic powder from his bag.

Su Yan shook his head: "It doesn't hurt."

He really didn't feel any pain in his hands.Because the four words Shen Qi uttered had already crushed his heart back and forth in the stone mill for two rounds, covering up all the pain, how could he still feel it?

How could it not hurt?Shen Qi picked up the broken porcelain balls, gritted her teeth and thought.Qinghe is so afraid of pain, he gnawed a few teeth marks on his body, the skin has never been broken, and the person who wants to moan and scream in pain, now the palm is almost pierced, how can it not hurt!

Su Yan felt as if he had fallen into a state he had never experienced before——

On the one hand, there is confusion and confusion, with countless shimmering words flying between the pages in my mind, and countless voices intertwined in it:

"The emperor's head disease is getting worse, I'm afraid it will affect the vision of both eyes, and he will go blind..."

"What did Chen Shiyu tell you?"

"Recently, headache attacks have been frequent. Maybe it's due to the busy government affairs, and I'm a little tired. I'll rest more in the future...don't worry too much."

"Qinghe doesn't need to bother to comfort him, I know what kind of body I am now."

He twitched his fingers convulsively, in exchange for Shen Qi's nervous sentence, "Don't move, it's getting deeper and deeper!"

But on the other hand, his consciousness was unprecedentedly calm, and he could even continue to speculate along this line of thought, connecting all the previous doubts and what was wrong, so he suddenly realized.

"The reason for the emperor's precautions...is here," Su Yan murmured, "He kept it from me...for a whole year."

"A whole year!" He looked up at the prince, his face was pale and sharp, "What the hell does he think of me, Su Qinghe?!"