Daming prepares the emperor

"Let's not talk about it, there is nothing to talk about." Liu Ji said, "If the prime minister has nothing to say, I will send the prime minister back."

After years of self-cultivation, Li Shanchang was not angry, and changed his mood in a few breaths. Looking at Liu Ji who lowered his head again, he got up and said, "No need, I will go by myself."

"Prime Minister, go slowly."

Li Shanchang walked out of the door, got into the sedan chair again, and looked at the curtain with empty eyes. For the first time in these months, he felt confused for the first time. He didn't understand how things came to this point. At such a level, he couldn't guess Liu Ji's plan.

The Marquis of Yongjia rebelled, the prince supervised the country, and Li Bin was reported. Although these things were sudden, they were expected and reasonable. After Li Shanchang became the prime minister, he knew that this day would come sooner or later, and even Liu Ji's unreasonable resistance, He also expected it.

But things have come to this point, why does he still have such an attitude?

After thinking for a long time, Li Shanchang turned his gaze to the car window.It must be something that Liu Ji and the crown prince had a secret discussion after the Dengwen drum sounded this morning, otherwise things would not be so difficult to control.

Thinking of this, he coughed, and the sedan chair stopped immediately, followed closely by the servant trotting outside and whispered: "Master, what do you want?"

"Go and call Hu Weiyong to the mansion, remember to let him come in through the back door, and keep quiet."

"Yes."

After the servant walked away, the sedan chair moved again.

Li Shanchang calculated all the way, and when he returned home, he was still frowning when he saw Mrs. Chen, which surprised her.

"It was fine when I went out, what's the matter?" Mrs. Chen brought a cup of tea, "Is it because the discussion with the Ministry of Education is not satisfactory? Are they causing trouble?"

Li Shanchang shook his head, sat down on the recliner, looked at the vines in the yard and the variegated flowers clinging to them, and murmured: "Which step did you go wrong?"

What went wrong?

Chen shi wanted to ask, and then held back. She has been married to Li Shanchang for so long, and she rarely sees her husband frowning. Although the situation has become complicated in recent days, he also hid at home and claimed to be sick, but his expression was still the same. Comfortable and happy, obviously he knew it well, going out today is logically also planned, why did he suddenly become unhappy?

She walked slowly to Li Shanchang.

"Ma'am, do you think there are really people who want to die in this world?"

"I'm afraid there are." Chen thought, "And there are quite a few."

"No, I mean the kind of husband." Li Shanchang paused, "The kind of person who insists on dying, obviously has a good life in front of him, but doesn't think about himself or his family, and is as stubborn as a moth to a flame. Extremely smart, know how to be flexible, and will not be so stupid as to be used as a pawn."

"That's strange." Mrs. Chen's knowledge in the court is not as much as Li Shanchang, but she is no less wise than him in life. After listening to it, she seriously gives advice, "Maybe it's dissatisfaction with myself, or it may be dissatisfaction with the world. .There are also some people who, after suffering from gossip, don’t want to live.”

"Liu Bowen is not such a person." Li Shan said long.

Sure enough, he was talking about him.On the contrary, Mrs. Chen had more ideas in her mind. She took a stool, sat down opposite Li Shanchang, and put her hands on his knees: "Since you are talking about Mr. Liu, the two are really unlikely. But, sir, do you have any ideas?" Have you ever wondered why moths jump into flames?"

"For the light."

"Then what is Mr. Liu's fire?" Chen said, "Is he willing to die for the fire?"

"..." Li Shanchang was silent.

Of course he is not stupid, but his head has been solidified by the way of thinking for a long time. When thinking about problems, he first thinks about interests rather than emotions. Facing opponents of the same level, he sees through the situation and cannot see through people's hearts. He can't think of other reasons for a while. , I forgot the difference between Liu Ji and him.

Although there are still some things I can't figure out, but Li Shanchang vaguely understood something, and sighed: "He is indeed a literati in his bones."

Chen said: "You mean Qing Gao?"

"I mean ideal." Li Shanchang said, "Just like the Holy One and the Prince, he always wants to do things that no one else can do."

Chen said: "People like this can often point out the way forward."

"You're right." Li Shanchang admitted, "But such people will be targeted."

Someone came in from outside the courtyard: "Master, Mr. Hu is here."

Chen stood up: "Master, then I'll go down first."

"Ah."

Hu Weiyong hurried in, holding in his hand the apology written by Li Shanchang, and handed it to him after seeing him, obviously thinking that this was the main purpose of calling him here.

Li Shanchang first took it over and looked at it. There was no problem, so he put it aside and asked, "Is there anything going on outside?"

Hu Weiyong was taken aback for a moment, and said, "Prime Minister, is it because Mr. Liu refuses to let go?"

Li Shanchang answered irrelevantly: "I want to hear news from Da Nei."

Hu Weiyong immediately knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, so he tightened his mind, looked around, and said carefully: "The news from the great nephew, the lower officials have been paying attention to it. After Liu Bowen beat the Dengwen drum this morning, His Royal Highness will see you soon. He, there was almost no space in the middle, and later the crown prince blocked the left and right, and not a single eunuch and court lady stayed, no one knows exactly what was discussed inside, we only know that Eunuch Wei sent him out of the palace in person in the end."

"Given by Eunuch Wei?"

"Yes." Hu Weiyong recalled, "As for the rest... it's just a trivial matter."

Li Shanchang responded vaguely, and was about to lean back on the reclining chair again when his straightened body suddenly found that Hu Weiyong's expression was a little hesitant, and his eyes were not calm, so he quickly got up and said, "What are you thinking?"

"The lower official didn't think about anything." Hu Weiyong was surprised.

"Tell me what you think is a problem." Li Shanchang said sternly, "Even if it's a trivial matter, I won't blame it."

Hu Weiyong was originally afraid that Li Shanchang would question his ability. Seeing what he said, he said honestly: "Before the official came here, I overheard other people talking about it. The palace said that it has not rained these days, which will affect the harvest of the farmers. Your Highness intends to do a ceremony to pray for rain, and Taichang Temple should cooperate."

Speaking of this, Hu Weiyong glanced at Li Shanchang from the corner of his eye, and seeing him listening carefully, he felt relieved: "This is a common thing, but the officials asked the people from Zhenyaosi, but they didn't know about it. , it stands to reason that Yingtian has not rained for a long time, praying for rain is not for anyone to see, according to the character of the prince, most of them will directly ask the Taoist priests of the town demon division to be responsible. ..."

Li Shanchang stood up abruptly, supported the table with his hands, took two deep breaths, seemed to have symptoms of fainting, shook his head, stretched his hands towards Hu Weiyong, trembling all over, but couldn't say anything.

Hu Weiyong rushed to Li Shanchang to support him, and said anxiously, "Prime Minister?"

"You, go check it out, check it carefully, who did the prince ask to pray for rain!"

"The next officer will help you to sit first..."

"Go!"

Hu Weiyong had no choice but to turn around and run out.

In front of the Hall of Spring Harmony.

Wei Zhongde stood at the door of the study, seemingly aimless, but in fact he was watching all directions, and any small movement around him could not escape his observation.

"Eunuch Wei." A young eunuch walked quickly from outside, holding two umbrellas horizontally in his hand, and said in a low voice, "I have brought what you ordered."

"Put it down." Wei Zhongde's voice was also very soft.

The little eunuch put the umbrella in the corner and leaned against the wall, stood to the right, and also stood by the door, standing with Wei Zhongde, but his movements and expressions were not as steady and conservative, and he looked up at the sky from time to time, It seems to be observing something.

After all, Wei Zhongde was still young, and he was attracted to the attention. After holding back for a while, he asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"

The sky is gloomy, and the wind and rain are about to come. The sky seems to be much lower, and it presses down heavily. From time to time, there will be thunderous explosions, and then the lightning will bring white light, and it will shuttle in the air like a dragon and snake. It seems that a heavy rain will come soon. .

"Father-in-law, forgive me." The little eunuch was taken aback, "My servant, I am watching the weather. It has not rained for a long time, and my grandfather outside the palace grows vegetables. If it rains, he doesn't have to go today. Water the ground."

"Yeah." Wei Zhongde felt the cool breeze in the air blowing over his face, "It seems to be raining."

"My servant heard that Master Liu begged for this rain." Although the rain had not yet fallen, the little eunuch had already confirmed the fact, "Master Liu is really a man of gods, and he has magical powers even in order to be an official in the court."

"..." Wei Zhongde glanced at him, "How do you know Master Liu is praying for rain today?"

"Back to Eunuch, the servant girl heard what the maids in the other palace said." The little eunuch replied, "This matter has spread all over the world, and everyone is very happy. There is a lot of news, whether it is from the eunuchs or from the people."

Wei Zhongde was silent. He didn't know what the prince and Chengyi talked about that day, but after serving the prince for so long, he dared to say that he was the person who knew the prince best besides the emperor and the queen. In his hand, he knew very well that the prince's expression that day was clearly guilt.

So today's sudden rain...

No, it hasn't rained yet.

Boom—a huge, wheel-like sound came from beyond the sky.

The flashing light illuminated the Hall of Spring Harmony for a moment.

The cloud rolled up, as if a pair of invisible hands were stirring the sky, the wind gradually increased, and it blew violently, the sleeves of Wei Zhongde and the little eunuch were rolled up, their hems were fluttering, and they couldn't help but take a few steps back.

The surrounding trees shook and rattled, and the dead branches and leaves fell in the wind, flying in all directions, hitting the pillars and doors in front of the temple, as heroically as a broken body.

Everything that could fly flew up, no matter what it was, they even saw a few distressed sparrows that were blown into the sky.

It's not like a rain, it's more like some monk is about to cross the catastrophe, and God wants to punish the evil beast.

The momentum is growing, growing, and gradually reaching its apex. The little eunuch is young and does not understand the horror of nature. His eyes are bright, staring straight at the sky, waiting for the first drop of rain to fall, waiting for the pouring rain to help him relatives.

But after a moment, the fist hit the cotton, the cloud quickly dissipated, the wind calmed down, nothing seemed to have happened, the sun shone, the birds were singing and the flowers were fragrant, and it became active again in front of the temple, looking at the horizon, The clouds are pure white, floating slowly, and the ground is even more dry, without any trace of wetness.

"What's going on here?" the little eunuch murmured puzzled.

Wei Zhongde sighed secretly, leaned against the door and closed his eyes to rest.

The little eunuch wanted to ask his opinion, but seeing that he had closed his eyes, he had no choice but to keep his doubts in his stomach, stared blankly at the sky for a while, then lowered his head, very disappointed.

When he raised his neck again and wanted to move it secretly, he suddenly saw a man in black striding towards him, he quickly straightened up, and whispered: "Elder-in-law, someone is here."

Wei Zhongde opened his eyes, and said enthusiastically in surprise, "Master Zhang?"

Zhang Ziming saluted Wei Zhongde, then nodded to the little eunuch: "Eunuch Wei, I have something urgent to report to His Highness, please inform me."

"Okay, I'll go in now." Without asking why, Wei Zhongde immediately opened the door and walked in, and came out after a while, "Please."

Zhang Ziming stepped across the threshold and walked inward.

Incense was lit in the room, and light smoke rose from the copper stove, lingering between the bookshelves, tables and chairs. It was extremely quiet here, which contrasted with the noise outside. Zhang Ziming slowed down his already inaudible footsteps. Looking for traces of Zhu Biao within a very well-regulated range.

"stop."

When the voice came, Zhang Ziming looked sideways, and saw the prince standing beside a screen, holding a folded book in his hand, staring at him lightly.

Zhang Ziming quickly knelt down: "I greet Your Highness."

"What's the matter?" Zhu Biao asked, "I heard thunder, is it raining outside?"

"Go back to Your Highness, it didn't rain." Zhang Ziming stuck his head on the ground, "I came here from the court where I prayed for rain, and I am here to report the situation to Your Highness."

"Well, tell me."

"Uncle Chengyi put on his Taoist robe to pray for rain. It went smoothly at first, but there was thunder and lightning, and the clouds were dense. Just as His Highness saw, when the wind and thunder were at their peak, he suddenly ordered Li Bin to go there."

Zhang Ziming said: "Under that kind of thunder and lightning, no one dared to refuse Uncle Chengyi's order, so he had someone cut off Li Bin's head in front of all the officials, and the blood spilled on the altar."

"Is that Li Bin?" Zhu Biao asked.

"The minister and others verified it with a weapon. It is indeed Li Bin himself, and he is indeed dead."

"You keep talking."

Zhu Biao closed the book.

"After Li Bin died, Uncle Chengyi continued to beg for rain, but for some reason, he suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood and passed out." Zhang Ziming said, "So the begging for rain failed, and the vision disappeared. Doctor, after I sent someone to send Uncle Chengyi to the medical center, I came to see His Highness."

"What do you think?"

"Chen..." The matter between Zhedong and Huaixi is an open secret. Zhang Ziming instinctively feels that if he doesn't answer well, there will be problems. What do you mean?"

"Liu Ji." Zhu Biao said.

"I thought that Uncle Chengyi's injury might be the backlash after casting the spell."

"Oh, so you also think that Liu Ji is still capable of praying for rain as an official?"

Zhang Ziming was subconsciously terrified, and said puzzledly: "I heard that the Zhenyao Division was established because of sincerity, so..."

"What's the reaction from the prime minister?"

"Han Hangong met Hu Weiyong in secret a few days ago. During the period, the two of them talked loudly and emotionally. I couldn't find out what they said specifically." Zhang Ziming breathed a sigh of relief, "But until Li Bin was killed, relatives There is no change in the government."

"understood."

"Okay, you go down." Zhu Biao interrupted him.

Zhang Ziming got up and walked out as if he had been pardoned.

"and many more."

"Yes." Zhang Ziming turned around, bowed respectfully, and turned to Zhu Biao's direction.

"Your Majesty is coming back soon." Zhu Biao said, "The patrols in the capital have sent more people to patrol the capital these days. If you encounter troublemakers, especially those dudes, you should first arrest them and lock them up. If their families are dissatisfied, let them Come find me."