has become a demon

In the capital city, there is a restaurant on Yandai Xiejie Street.

Yuheng Tower is facing the side of Shichahai, which is considered an elegant place, with rockery and stone benches for guests who like quiet to enjoy the scenery while tasting wine.

Shen Zhu sat on the stone bench near the water, watching Daolu Si scattered not far from the lake.His eyes were dark and deep, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

After a while, the surrounding wine shops turned on the lights, and the gloomy reflections rose on the dark lake.

Xiao Er brought two unopened wine jars over: "Master Shen, your wine."

Shen Zhu withdrew his thoughts, stood up and took the wine jar, took out five taels of silver from his arms and handed it over.

Xiaoer smiled obsequiously: "Oh, our Yuheng Building would never dare to accept your money. You are giving us face by coming. You can't do it, you can't do it."

Shen Zhu wanted to give it again, and inserted a drunken voice obliquely.

"The man Shen Zhu Shen is now the commander of Beizhen Fusi. He listens to all officials and specializes in edicts. Whoever dares to be disobedient and dares to say something bad about the emperor's court can be arrested and imprisoned without requesting an order. Now I'll give you the money for the drink, you're a mistress... still, dare you not accept it?"

Shen Zhu raised his eyes to see that Duan Baozhai staggered over, his drunken eyes were loose.

"Yu Shu." Shen Zhu called him.

Duan Baozhai laughed strangely: "Master Shen calls me brother and brother, I just feel terrified and dare not respond. After all, Tang Haolan, who was your brother before, died in front of the imperial steps, didn't he?"

"...he didn't obey the prince's order to write history, so I can't—"

"Hmph." Duan Baozhai walked up to him and looked straight at him, "Shen Zhu, you used to say that you had to obey the orders of your superiors in Beizhen Fusi. We brothers all sympathize with you. Rui Miao usually sees you Kaiji and I often comfort him. But you, you...how could you..."

When he said this, his voice was hoarse, and he questioned: "How can you take refuge in Zhao Ji and be such a lowly person. Even your own brother has murderous intentions?! Does this mouthful of human blood feel good?"

Listening to his questioning, Shen Zhu frowned gradually.

"Duan Baozhai, I'm not you. The son of the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, he has no worries about food and clothing, and has been rich since he was a child. Some things naturally belong to you noble sons, so there is no need to fight or grab them. Now you say that I drink human blood, how do you understand my suffering? .”

"Bitterness?" Duan Baozhai laughed a few times and asked, "Your suffering can be compared to the humiliation of the crown prince whose head you cut off to show the public? Can it be compared to the death of the whole family, the deprivation of the title of common people, Zhao Yuan who is far away in Ningxia?" Miserable?! Other people’s lives are not life, but yours is? Shen Zhu, what about your conscience, what about human nature, are you fed to the dog?!”

After some pressing questions, it reached Shen Zhu's heart.

It made him so embarrassed that he could hardly dodge.

Shen Zhu asked angrily: "You said I was despicable. Your father, Duan Zhi, turned his back on the battlefield and pulled twenty or thirty Chao Zhongqing into the water. Could it be that he drank less human blood than me?"

The drunken Duan Baozhai was stunned.

He recalled everything that his father, the so-called important official of the court, the loyal pillar of the Qingliu, and the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Duan Zhi, had done.

He said in a daze: "He is not my father...my father is not such a person..."

"Why isn't he your father?" Shen Zhu said, "It's just that no matter how stubborn you are now, you don't seek to make progress. Your father can still rely on the power of the sky to get you the position of general in the Han Chuanjun. Your family has a great career , There are many servants, no worries about food and drink, and you are proficient in fighting, gambling and drinking. It is ridiculous that you are such a devil in the world, but there are countless matchmakers for you. Now because your father has gained trust in front of the new emperor, people respect you more Duan Baozhai, you were born as the son of Duan Zhi, you shed his blood, use his accumulated wealth, and rely on his official fortune to prosper. How cleaner are you than me?"

Duan Baozhai's face was gradually painful, as if he had been defeated. After a while, he suddenly laughed out loud, weeping.

"You, you're right. I'm no different from you. Father's career will be accomplished, and father's debt will be repaid. You're right, Shen Zhu...I'm just a blood-sucking silverfish...Even if I don't agree, I follow my father's wishes Became a general of Han Chuanjun, but I will go to Xuanzhou with him in a few days... Han Chuanjun killed Kaiji's father and brother, but I'm going to be a general for him...I'm sorry Kaiji...I, I'm sorry for him!"

Having said that, he roared and threw the wine jar in his hand to the ground.

Wine jars shattered.

Dirty wine splashed everywhere.

A few years ago, the teenagers met in front of this Yuheng Tower.

A few years later, they were separated when they were young.

Brotherhood is like this shattered wine jar, a wet blob, made into a farcical joke.

With tears streaming down his face, Duan Baozhai raised his eyes to look at Shen Zhu.

"Since then, parted ways, not brothers."

Shen Zhu took the two jars of wine home, entered the gate and passed the sedan chair hall, and saw a man in a gray cloak waiting with his hands behind his back in the courtyard.

The man turned his head, his temples were gray.

It was Yan Dalong, the eunuch who was rescued by Xie Taichu during the Yiling Rebellion.After returning to Beijing, he listened to Xie Taichu's words, and praised Zhao Ji in the inner court and harem.

Zhao Ji was at the time when he was employing people, and now with the death of Emperor Daxing, Zhao Ji has held the jade seal and become the successor emperor, and he has also received the grace, Rong Sheng's internal supervisor is in charge of the post of eunuch.

Seeing that he had arrived, Shen Zhu stepped forward and clasped his fists and said, "Let Yan Zhangyin wait for a long time."

Yan Dalong is kind, smiled, and replied: "I haven't waited long. The new emperor's enthronement ceremony is just around the corner, and the inner prison is busy. Our family just pulled away and came over to see the pear blossoms in Mr. Shen's courtyard." It’s beautiful, but I just stood there for a while.”

He glanced at Shen Zhuti's wine.

"Master Shen went to Yuheng Tower?"

"I heard that Zhang Yin loves wine, so I went to drink two jars."

"Now I don't dare to overdose."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and finally entered the private inner house. After closing the door, Yan Dalong asked: "Where is the person you want me to see, bring him here."

Shen Zhu responded.

"Bring out the emperor grandson Zhao Jun."

After he said this, Yan Dalong's expression changed, he looked at the inner bedroom solemnly.

A moment later, a young man in Taoist robes came over with his head bowed and a ten-year-old child in his arms. Yan Dalong stepped forward to take a look.

It really was Zhao Jun, the grandson of the emperor who died in the Yeling Rebellion.

"The grandson is really alive." Yan Dalong's voice trembled, "What, what's going on?"

"After the death of the first prince, the emperor's grandson came forward to cry and fainted due to a shoulder injury. He lost too much blood. At that time, the situation was complicated. I fabricated the news of the death, and later brought the grandson out by chaos." Shen Zhu said, " It's just that the emperor's grandson has been in a coma since then. I have consulted a doctor, but there is no improvement."

"Okay, it's good to be alive. The emperor's grandson and auspicious people have their own destiny. After such a big disaster, they will always wake up." Yan Dalong's eyes were red, he looked at Zhao Jun carefully, and said with a sob, "Master Shen, you This is a great merit.”

Shen Zhu was taken aback.

Xie Taichu's verdict rang in his ears.

——Master Shen seems to have great merit and virtue, but also seems to have a catastrophe.

——Great merit is great calamity.Great catastrophe is also great merit.Destined, inevitable.

Yan Dalong watched the emperor's grandson again for a long time, reluctantly covering him with a quilt.

The person holding the grandson sent the grandson back to the inner room.

Yan Dalong sat down, wiped his tears, and said with emotion: "It's better to put the emperor's grandson in your place, and I will secretly ask a famous doctor to see it, and it will be better. Everything will be better."

While speaking, the servant who was holding the emperor's grandson came out again, raised his skirt and knelt down in front of Yan Dalong.

Yan Dalong was confused.

"This is……?"

"This is Lin Feng'an, the eunuch in charge of the king of Le'an County." Shen Zhu said, "I arrested him outside Yanshou Temple, and I needed someone to take care of the emperor's grandson, so I took him back to Beijing privately and stayed with us. on the house."

The man kneeling on the ground said: "My servant, Lin Feng'an, wants to be a servant in the inner prison, please help Yan Lord."

He looked up at Yan Dalong.

It really was Feng An who was beside Zhao Yuan.

He is five or six years younger than Zhao Yuan, and he already has a childlike disposition, carefree.After the Yeling Rebellion, the baby fat that was still on her face faded away, and more than that.The whole person is long and thin, and it is almost the same as before.His eyes are submissive, with a hint of desolation, the innocence of the past is gone, and a little introverted and quiet is rewound.

Yan Dalong carefully identified it for a long time before he vaguely remembered that this was really Zhao Yuan's servant.

He couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Son, why do you want to enter the palace?"

"The slaves are favored by the King Su's mansion, and they are also leniently treated by the county king. They have the grace of recreating their encounters. Now that the King Su's mansion is in trouble, my master Zhao Yuan is suffering in Ningxia, with countless lives and deaths. After thinking about it, with the humble body of a slave and maidservant, the only way to enter Only in the palace can it be possible to do something. In case the future, the future king of the county, or the grandson of the grandson can use it. The slaves can also repay this kindness and stop being useless people."

"The palace is full of monsters that cannibalize people and don't spit out their bones." Yan Dalong said, "Now that I have promoted the palm print, I am on the same level as Shu Liang. It is extremely dangerous to follow me."

"Slaves are not afraid." Lin Feng'an said, "Shu Liang is Zhao Ji's accomplice and also the enemy of slaves."

Yan Dalong was silent for a long time.

In the end he said: "during the Yeling Rebellion, Daoist Ningshan saved my life and made me the status I am today. He married the county king, so I am obliged to be in the county's trouble. If you want to enter the palace, I will help you. After a few days Today I will send you the book of household registration, saying that you are a distant relative of mine who has been eunuched into the palace. Then I will send someone to pick you up."

Lin Fengan was overjoyed: "Thank you, Lord Yan!"

"Don't call me Master Yan."

"Then, what's that called?"

Yan Dalong said: "You recognize me as godfather today."

After hearing this, Lin Fengan knocked his head three times and called out: "Godfather."

An eunuch had no descendants, Yan Dalong was moved when he heard the sound of godfather, and responded with emotion: "Son, you can no longer use the word Feng'an. Keep the surname Lin, and people must not forget their roots. Godfather Let me give you a name, your second generation will be called Yan Shuanglin [Note 1]. From then on, you and I will be like grasshoppers tied to the same rope in the palace, sharing weal and woe, we are closely related."

Shen Zhu sent Yan Dalong away, and when he came back, he saw Lin Fengan... Maybe he should be called Yan Shuanglin from now on, and he was still kneeling on the ground in a daze.

Seeing him enter, Yan Shuanglin kowtowed to thank him again.

"Thank you, Mr. Shen, for making it happen."

Shen Zhu didn't answer, walked to his side, bowed and said: "Get up, why should I be so polite."

Yan Shuanglin lowered his head and shook his head.

"I don't know anything about this slave," he said.

"You speak."

"Since Mr. Shen has already invested in Zhao Ji, why, why did you help the Crown Prince, help, help me?"

"I didn't help the Crown Prince." Shen Zhu said, "I just wanted to save Zhao Yuan..."

"What do you mean, my lord?"

Shen Zhu was silent for a while and said: "Scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen are not the last. If you want to gain fame, the only way out is to enter the Twelve Guards, enter Jinyiwei, and enter Beizhen Fusi. But this single-plank bridge is crowded by tens of thousands of people. When will I be able to get ahead. The handprint of Shu palm gives me a shortcut, why don't I leave? It's just halfway there, the situation is in dire straits, even if I want to turn back, it's too late."

"Your Excellency has now become a minister, and has the glory that the children of merchants have never had... It is really ridiculous to talk about guilt and regret." Yan Shuanglin said.

Shen Zhu laughed at himself: "You're right. I rose to power with blood and betrayed my lord and brother. How can I talk about guilt. I deserve it."

"But I have other selfish intentions." He whispered, half squatted down, and looked at Yan Shuanglin, "The first time I stepped into the king's mansion, Zhao Yuan showed me his house of rare treasures, and I just fell in love with it." same."

Yan Shuanglin was puzzled and asked, "What did your lord like?"

Shen Zhu smiled, pinched his chin, and gently pecked his lips.

In Yan Shuanglin's astonished eyes, he revealed his true feelings.

"It's you."

Whether it is a great merit or a great calamity.

Sin, blood debt.

And this man.

It's a fate he can't escape.

Yan Dalong came out of Shen Zhu's mansion, took a small sedan chair for two people and went straight into the palace, changed into his official uniform at the yamen of the inner official prison, and stepped into the Forbidden City to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

When he arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Duan Zhi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, also arrived.

"Strict palm print."

"Otsuka Zai is here. 【Note 2】"

"Yes, the Emperor Si is summoned." Duan Zhi said, "Come here and wait for the transmission."

Yan Dalong nodded: "Then our family went first?"

"Please."

Yan Dalong entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation first, just in time for the shift.Shu Liang bowed out from the East Nuan Pavilion.

Yan Dalong stepped forward and hurriedly said: "Old Ancestor, the servants are here."

Shu Liang has been promoted to the chief inspector of ceremonies, and when he heard him call out "Old Ancestor", he pretended to decline and said, "Master Yan is the elder of our family, and I am ashamed to say that I am an Ancestor."

"You are the leader of the eunuchs, you can afford it." Yan Dalong replied.

Shu Liang then nodded lightly: "Who is outside?"

"The Minister of the Ministry of Officials has arrived."

"Oh...he treasures his son Duan Baozhai. He flattered the emperor a few days ago, so he begged him to serve as a general under Han Chuanjun. He is really a guy who takes advantage of everything." Shu Liang didn't respond, and went to the door and waited. The wearing palace man took the cloak from his hands and tied it on his shoulders, and then said, "The emperor is in trouble, Lord Yan, to take good care of you."

"Slaves save it."

"If there is anything, remember to report to the Lijian Supervisor." Shu Liang reminded.

Yan Dalong smiled: "It should be so."

After Shu Liang was satisfied and left, Yan Dalong tidied up his clothes carefully, passed the news and entered the East Nuan Pavilion.

Duan Zhi waited for another moment under the pagoda, and then he heard Emperor Si pass him in.

After entering the Nuan Pavilion and saluting, he raised his head and looked over.

Now Zhao Ji, who had changed into a dragon uniform, was sitting on the couch in the warm pavilion in hemp and filial piety, holding a memorial book in his hand and asked him: "Does Duan Aiqing remember this?"

Duan Zhi took a closer look, and was already so frightened that he knelt down and kowtowed: "This is the "Treatise on the Reduction of Fans" based on the premise before the minister, the minister Shuangjiang."

Zhao Ji smiled: "What is Duan Aiqing talking about?"

"My lord is guilty!"

"Aiqing is flat."

Duan Zhi got up tremblingly and stood up, when he heard Zhao Ji say: "Father is seriously ill, I read your "Tong Lun" when I was sick in front of the dragon bed. The chronic disease of my relatives has dragged me down so much that the national treasury is empty and the people are in dire straits."

Duan Zhi was dumbfounded, and stared up at the former King Ning, who is now the master of Da Duan.

If it wasn't because the former prince was anxious to cut down the feudal clan, how could there be chaos in Yeling.

If it wasn't for the Yeling Rebellion, how could it be Zhao Ji sitting in this position?

"Chen, I dare to ask Your Majesty, why...why..."

"Why bring up old things again?"

"Yes Yes."

Zhao Ji smiled: "Duan Aiqing is confused, isn't that what you said?"

"Chen, when did you say something?"

"National strategy should be questioned according to the locality and time. At that time, the vassal was to be cut down, but now it is not necessary to cut down the vassal. What happened in the past is discussed in the past." Zhao Ji brought up the shameless remarks that day during the Yumen hearing period. Once, with a slight smile, "At that time, at this time. Now that the Emperor Daxing is in the funeral, the vassal kings hold heavy troops and store up food, which is a threat to the whole country. It is also a worry in my heart."

He paused and announced, "I am determined to cut down the feudal clan."

Ningxia Town, the back house of Jinbaozhai.

Xie Taichu browsed through the information sent to Jinbaozhai from various places for nearly a month.In particular, there are many Shuntian Prefectures.

As he watched, he frowned solemnly.

Lu Jiuwan looked at him, and handed him a cup of tea: "You are old-fashioned at a young age, be careful if your Highness doesn't like it."

Xie Taichu: "..."

Lu Jiuwan said again: "I heard that His Highness sent He Li books to you. Have you found the reason? Is it related to this. Is it too boring and dry to make His Highness unhappy?"

Xie Taichu felt that the cup of tea in his hand was really hot, and finally couldn't hold it any longer, so he put it on the table.

"What does Master Master want to say?"

"After the ruthless way was broken, I see that your expression is much more lively." Lu Jiuwan said, "Although you are still mature and steady all day long, you have somewhat of a human touch. It is more interesting than when you practiced the infinite magic skill before."

Xie Taichu was stunned: "I was told by my uncle, after thinking about it carefully, it seems to be exactly the case."

"So you didn't take the golden pill I gave you." Lu Jiuwan said.

"Not yet... I'll think about it a little bit more."

"What are you considering? Isn't life-saving important?"

It used to be a clay sculpture gold statue in the shrine.Only now is the real body attached.

Understand the seven emotions and six desires.

Understand the ups and downs.

That person's frowns and smiles no longer only reach the eyes, but finally penetrate into the heart and into the atrium.

The cold pool was like water with waves and ripples.

This kind of taste has endless aftertaste and can't stop.How could he be willing to give up.

"Just wait," he said.

Lu Jiuwan sighed secretly, and then asked, "What do you think of this information?"

"Zhao Ji must have moved his hands and feet at the funeral of Emperor Daxing. It's hard to tell at this time." Xie Taichu said, "However, what he will do next will definitely be to bring up the matter of reducing the vassal. He started from the vassal king and decided to No one is allowed to follow his old path."

Xie Taichu raised his finger to dip some tea from the cup, drew a line to the north of Daduan on the table, and pointed out: "The nine kings of the frontier fortress, the king of Liao is young and not a threat, and the king of Qin can not be mentioned. After King Su was beheaded The first to bear the brunt are the three vassals closest to Shuntian Mansion, the King of Xuanfu Valley, the King of Datong, and the King of Taiyuan Jin. Zhao Ji must have decreed that these three vassals should be abolished first, and then discuss the others."

With a solemn expression, Lu Jiuwan got up and took a new envelope and handed it to Xie Taichu: "You are right. This is the urgent report just received today."

Xie Taichu opened it and looked, his expression became serious.

"The second son of Xuanfu King Gu was raised in Shuntian Mansion. He has been spying on the position of the son for a long time. He beat the drums in the clan mansion to appeal for grievances. He sued the King of Gu, Zhao Yi, and the Dai Wang Zhao Gui for conspiring to rebel. Han Chuanjun, the governor of Xuanfu and Datong, has taken the two kings away. Next, turn over Shuntian Mansion for punishment."

"It was instigated by someone, deliberately framed." Xie Taichu said, "There are more."

"Another imperial decree was sent to Taiyuan. King Zhao Xi of Jin ordered the imperial decree to be abolished ten days ago. Taiyuan General Guard Wei Yi also received the decree and sent Zhao Xi to be imprisoned in Yunnan."

"And King Qing."

"Prince Qing has no ambitions, he only likes to have fun. It's not considered a threat." Lu Jiuwan said. "Do you have a backup?"

"I have intentionally helped some people in Yeling and planted my thoughts." Xie Taichu said, "In the future, Shuntian Mansion will cause ripples and waves."

Xie Taichu looked at the land in the north that he had just marked out with tea on the table, it has gradually disappeared, only the land in the westernmost Ganzhou is still there, but it is drying up rapidly.

It disappeared on the table in a blink of an eye.

Ganzhou Fu Wang became the target of public criticism.

"Zhao Ji is so impatient to take power, and soon there will be no opponents in the universe. He only needs a year at most, or even half a year. If the foundation is solid, if you want to change your fate for Zhao Yuan, it is absolutely impossible. " Lu Jiuwan said again.

"No." he replied.

Xie Taichu stood up, walked to the courtyard with his hands behind his back and stood still.

The sky is full of stars, and among the zodiac houses, 28 constellations are the brightest stars in the sky.

In the middle of the head is the Ziwei star, already sitting in the palace of life, surrounded by the stars of the twelve palaces, forming the atmosphere of an emperor.

"Qingxing Pavilion, in troubled times, there must be one person to assist, and this person can rule the world."

This is a sentence that was rumored by countless children in the streets, and it sounds more like a funny sigh.

But Lu Jiuwan didn't smile.

"Are you sure?" he asked

Xie Taichu replied "Yes", he said: "This is the meaning of the existence of Qingxing Pavilion. In the troubled times, to put order out of the chaos, to turn the tide, to save the common people in the world, and to save the luck of Daduan."

"King Ning's fate."

"And Zhao Yuan... can rule the world."

he said.

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[Note 1] The word Shuanglin was borrowed from the word "Shuanglin" of Feng Bao, the great eunuch of the Ming Dynasty.

[Note 2] Otsuka Zai: The Minister of the Ministry of Officials said elegantly.