Daming prepares the emperor

"Eunuch Huang."

The middle-aged man who was hurriedly walking down the corridor was stopped.When he turned around and saw the person coming, he immediately put a smile on his face: "So it's Zhongde, what's the matter with you?"

Wei Zhongde is holding a lacquer tray covered with a sarong.He hurried a few steps, and walked side by side with Huang Xi: "It's nothing, let's chat with you. The weather today is not very good."

Huang Xi protected the candlelight in the lantern in his hand under a gust of wind: "Who says it's not."

The candlelight was covered, and then it slowly stabilized.

The sky is dark, the sun has not yet revealed its corner, a few stars are sparsely scattered under the clouds, lightning shuttles among them, silver light flickers, and there is an uneasy atmosphere in the air. It seems that something is lurking, waiting for the opportunity to choose someone to eat.

"It's going to rain." Wei Zhongde smiled, "Fortunately, it's still hot today, otherwise the porridge would be cold as soon as it was delivered."

Huang Xi glanced at his tray, and said with deep meaning: "Yes, the weather is changing recently, you need to be more careful when running errands, and know how to act according to the weather."

Logically speaking, Huang Xi's status is higher than that of Wei Zhongde. After all, the person he serves is Zhu Yuanzhang, but Comrade Zhu hates eunuchs. He only asked Huang Xi to follow him out of convenience, and did not intend to let him do something.

If possible, Zhu Yuanzhang would not let anyone except Ma Xiuying and Zhu Biao figure out his thoughts, let alone let them get close to his life.

Zhu Biao is different from his father, he treats Wei Zhongde no differently than he treats other subordinates, some things are quickly left to him, and he doesn't mind that Wei Zhongde knows his preferences.

Therefore, although Wei Zhongde's ability and prestige are not enough at present, and his level of perceptual observation is not as good as him, Huang Xi knows that with Wei Zhongde's efforts and opportunities, it is only a matter of time before his actual power surpasses him, so his attitude towards him has always been very good , often offer some help.

Wei Zhongde will not fail to feel this kindness, and he already regards Huang Xi as his master without saying anything.

Although he didn't quite understand the meaning of that sentence just now, he immediately responded respectfully: "You are right."

"Get busy, I'll go first." At the turning, Huang Xi disappeared from Wei Zhongde's sight.

Wei Zhongde stepped on the gravel road back to the small courtyard, and the two maids beside him, one opened an umbrella for precaution, and the other carried a lamp to illuminate him, surrounded him for Zhu Biao's breakfast.

Along the way, Wei Zhongde pondered carefully, what would happen if the climate changed?

And who made it change?He is an eunuch, no matter how much wind and rain there is outside, it cannot be poured on an eunuch.Wars and political affairs are nothing compared to serving His Highness well.But if the wind and rain came from within, what would be the reason?

As soon as Zhu Biao came out after washing his face, he saw Wei Zhongde arranging the plates with a serious face. If he didn't know it, he thought he was dismantling a bomb.Those small dishes, coupled with this expression, made people not know what to eat.

"it's raining outside?"

"Return to the master, I didn't come down." Wei Zhongde wanted to kneel down, but Zhu Biao raised his hand to stop him.

"What time is it? Forget it, no matter what time it is, you help me prepare some clothes and bring an umbrella, I'm going out in a while."

Zhu Biao sat down at the table, looked up at the sky with a perspective, and saw the thunder and cloud that were about to strike, and his mood became worse. He didn't intend to find out what Wei Zhongde was worried about. He had personal matters. I was just thinking that such a weather is really not suitable for going out to see off.

Yes, see you off, Zou Pusheng is leaving Yingtian.

"Master, do you want to prepare a horse?"

"Ride in a carriage."

Picking up the bowls and chopsticks, Zhu Biao casually stuffed something into his mouth, his appetite was so poor that he ate a few mouthfuls, he said: "Take the key and go to my private treasury to get some money. "

"How much does the master want?"

"100 taels."

"Yes."

Wei Zhongde went out immediately, and when he came back, there were many water stains on his body and the uppers of his shoes were also dirty.

At this time, Zhu Biao finished his meal, wiped his mouth, took the box, and said: "Mr. Song will give a lecture at noon. You wait for him at the door in advance and prepare a few towels. If I haven't come back then, you can help him." I will take leave and ask him to go home first."

"Yes, master, don't worry, the servants will remember."

The rain outside was really heavy, and the rain streaked into a rain curtain. Under the strong wind, it fluttered and swept around. The acacia flowers fell to the ground, and the grass seemed to fall against the dark sky.

The evil and decadent feudal system made Zhu Biao receive meticulous care as soon as he went out. From his yard to the back door, and then to the carriage, not even a hair was wet.

He put the wooden box on the car seat, and when he crossed the long bridge in the city, the silver inside rattled a few times as he went uphill.

It has been five days since he and Liu Ji quarreled.For the first time, Zhu Biao knew that he was a hypocritical person. When he killed monsters and dragons, he didn't blink his eyes. Now, he has learned the mysteries of the Cold War without a teacher. When Liu Ji came to see Zhu Yuanzhang, he avoided it. He went to sign and check in at the Zhenyao Office, but he avoided it. Liu Ji asked Li Shanchang to discuss military affairs, and he walked away.

Unable to tell what kind of psychology it is, Zhu Biao thinks he is a little naive, but he feels even more awkward to ask him to take the initiative to reconcile with Liu Ji.

He figured it out, and he knew from the very beginning that what Liu Ji said was right.Yanque Lake must be filled, Zhu Biao is not willing, and Wu Wang Shizi must be willing.

Right now the north is still occupied by Yuan Ting, Comrade Zhu’s foundation is in Huaiyou, the Forbidden City was built either in Yingtian or Fengyang, the backcountry of Fengyang is really inappropriate...

What's more, the dragon's veins are in Zhongshan.

But it's one thing to know, but another thing to control your emotions, let alone the question he raised, isn't it wrong, sir?

Wasn't the gentleman reconciled to me on this point?

... Maybe I have never clearly distinguished the relationship between the subject and the monarch, the relationship between the master and the apprentice, and the relationship between friends.

After thinking about it in a mess, Zhu Biao looked away from the window, and heard silver ringing again.

In the past few days, he didn't think about how to solve the matter of Yanque Lake. Chen Shan's suicide tripped him up.

The arch guard reported the matter in a timely manner, and Wu Ce gave him a detailed record of the process. When he rushed over, the corpses were all processed and sealed in a very nice coffin, just waiting to be buried.

In fact, speaking of Chen Shan, he and Zhu Biao only had a one-night friendship, and the two had never even spoken to each other. After the city of Wuchang was broken, their identities were even higher than the other. Zhu Biaoben had no reason to personally handle this " little things".

For Zou Pusheng?Not necessarily the whole reason...

"Your Highness, the place is here."

The coachman grabbed the reins, stopped the horse, and shouted back.

Zhu Biao got out of the car, opened the umbrella and held it in one hand, and took down the wooden box with the other. He accidentally saw a weeping willow on the bank, and said, "Break a willow branch for me."

He thinks in the mind of modern people that giving money is the most practical, but the ancients were more delicate and affectionate, and the meaning of breaking willows is good, so let’s take a branch by the way.

After getting the wet wicker, Zhu Biao told the coachman not to wait for him to go back and then strode away.

At this time, the sky was slightly brighter, and the light beams shot down along the gaps in the clouds, the thunder gradually stopped, and the rain also subsided, but there were still not many people outside the city gate.

Zhu Biao saw Liu Bowen from a distance. He didn't hold an umbrella, nor did he stand under a tree to shelter from the rain. Instead, he was drenched in the rain with his sleeves facing the wind and his hands hanging down in the open space. Opposite him, Zou Pusheng seemed to be saying something.

Zhu Biao stopped and went to read their mouth movements.

"Brother Liu." Zou Pusheng laughed, "Chen Shan committed suicide!"

He pronounced the word suicide as if he had held it in his mouth for ten years and chewed it a thousand times.

Zou Pusheng, who used to have a standing posture and a sitting posture, now looks loose as if he has no bones, standing obliquely, with two straps on his outer robe, one is on the shoulder, and the other is fluttering in the wind. .

His middle coat was exposed, sticking to his body in the cold water, his hair was loose and sticking to his body, covering half of his face, no longer dignified and groomed like before, like a lunatic who doesn't know how to feel cold or warm.

"Didn't you ask me to assist Zhu Yuanzhang?" Zou Pusheng pointed a finger at Liu Ji's nose, and asked him as he approached him. Their faces were almost touching.

He backed up abruptly: "I know how you think of me, you think I'm indecisive, you think I'm irresponsible, don't you? Is it true that only cold-hearted people like you can do something for the world ?”

The silent Liu Ji finally spit out a few words: "The emperor's mind is so good, how can there be an extremely benevolent monarch in the world? Now it is a troubled time. Only the thunder can save the common people, and only killing one can save ten thousand people! Chen Shan But Zhu Zier! He has neither ability nor use, he has a hypocritical and compassionate attitude, do you still want to help him get up again?"

Zou Pusheng was not angry, he smiled and asked: "The rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked, the bird is hidden, don't you think about your future?"

"I have something to think about, I just do what I have to do." Liu Ji replied very calmly.

"Ah, you want to do something." Zou Pusheng suddenly realized, "You want to do something. Then tell me, why did you have a dispute with the prince a few days ago?"

"It's just a disagreement about filling the lake."

"With your eloquence, will you easily offend the young master?"

"No one is perfect, and I will be negligent sometimes."

"That's good." Zou Pusheng said, "The construction of the Forbidden City is still a year or two away. Is it just a coincidence that you bring it up now?"

"It was by chance."

Liu Bowen was like a stone statue in the wind and rain, no matter what Zou Pusheng said, he didn't waver.

Zou Pusheng stared into Liu Ji's eyes, so he stopped talking.The rain ran across the side of his face like a tear.

"You can still come to see me off today, I'm very happy." After a long time, Zou Pusheng said hoarsely.

"Brother Zou." Liu Ji was moved, "You shouldn't have been with Chen Shan in the first place."

After a pause, he changed his words again: "I was wrong. With your character, you are not suitable to be an official at all, and you are not suitable to be involved in the muddy water. I have been forcing you all this time, and I should send you away."

Liu Ji would not have said these words in the first place, but now he really confided his heart.It's a pity that Zou Pusheng couldn't listen to any words, he was completely disheartened.All kinds of things in the past were sad enough, but the new things in recent days have added to the pain.

He came out with enthusiasm, struggled for several years, and finally discovered that the impermanence of the world, the bitterness of life, the comparison of one person against the general trend is like a pebble against a stone, and the joys and sorrows of one person are nothing more than a feather.

"Okay." Zou Pusheng cupped his hands, bowed deeply, and straightened his body for a long time, "You can go up and down in this fame and fortune. I won't cry again from now on, so go cry!"

"Brother Zou..."

"Don't call me Brother Zou. From now on, my name is He Yeyun. Idle clouds and wild cranes, no fixed place. You just assume that Zou Pusheng is dead. He should have died a long time ago. He committed suicide by hanging on a hemp rope."

"I……"

"I'm leaving!" Zou Pusheng continued his words, and at the same time threw off his clothes and threw them into the mud pit.He stepped over there without hesitation, staining his snow-white socks with mud, "The prince must be coming soon, please say goodbye to him for me, and we will never see each other again in this life, each cherishes it!"

He seemed to be a different person, unexpectedly so decisive.

Liu Ji watched him go away, but didn't chase after him. When the cloud cleared and the people all went out, walking back and forth, he walked against the crowd towards home, his back straight and thin.

A hand throws a bent willow branch into the moat.

"Master, oh, why are you drenched all over, what did the coachman do!" Wei Zhongde came up to meet him, "You were fine when you left, let this servant wipe you off."

Zhu Biao reached for the towel and said nothing.

"What's wrong with you?" Wei Zhongde asked cautiously, "I will fetch you some dry clothes first."

"Has Master Song come?"

"The servant has been watching, Master Song hasn't come yet."

"You just say I'm sick, no, just say I'm busy, go and ask for a leave of absence for me in person."

"Yes." Wei Zhongde bowed his head, and took the time to wink at a young eunuch at the door, and the little eunuch immediately left to get his clothes, "Since you are back, the princess has orders, please come over for lunch."

"Is my dad there?"

"My lord is here."

"Then I won't go." Zhu Biao sighed.

Wei Zhongde was taken aback for a moment, hesitating for a moment, but he responded immediately: "Yes, this servant is going to talk to the princess, saying that you are tired and won't go today."

Zhu Biao waved his hand to signal him to go out, then closed the door, and threw the wooden box in his hand on the ground with a bang.

Wei Zhongde, who was about to leave outside the door, shuddered violently when he heard the crisp sound of silver coins.

He thought he understood what Huang Xichen meant.