To The Land of Nevernight

Ji Wengji spoke a series of rebellious and outrageous words in a calm voice, as if the surface of the calm water, the breeze is not disturbed, but there are turbulent waves hidden under the surface of the water.Every time he uttered a word, Zhao Fu's expression became ferocious, his eyes were about to burst, and he stared at Ji Wengji standing in the hall with murderous eyes.

However, when Ji Wengji came to the end, Zhao Fu was relieved.

He smiled slightly, reached out to pick up another teacup on the table, and slammed it against a pillar beside him with a bang.

The blue and white porcelain cup was smashed to pieces.

Ji Wengji didn't even look at the broken teacup.

The emperor's words were resounding, like thunder: "Chongming, you really make me feel cold. In your heart, I am such an emperor?"

Ji Xiang looked up at him, and said seriously: "In my opinion, His Majesty is the most holy emperor since the founding of the Song Dynasty."

Zhao Fu: "I can't hear it, how sincere you are."

"Very sincerely."

Zhao Fu was speechless, he sighed, "Then why did you enter the palace today?"

Ji Wengji: "I can't bear to see the tragedy repeat itself."

Zhao Fu was silent for a long time: "32 years ago, I remembered that Chongming was not in Shengjing. Where were you then? I have to think about it..."

"At that time, I was in the northwest, fighting against the Liao army."

"Oh yes, yes, you are in Youzhou, with the grand master. The grand master praised you to the first emperor many times, saying that you are a rare general." Zhao Fu showed a puzzled look, "You again You are not in Shengjing, and you are not the former princeling party or the Songqing party...then what does this matter have to do with you?"

Ji Wengji suddenly closed his mouth and said nothing.He mentioned another thing: "I suddenly understand Your Majesty a little bit."

Zhao Fu: "Oh, what do you know?"

"In fact, you have never changed. It is because you are pedantic. I once wondered if the three princes all died in Zhaodemen, what is the use of the great Song Dynasty, the country you have worked so hard for? But at this moment I understand, you care about this country because it is your country. If it is no longer your country, no matter if it belongs to Zhao Shang, Zhao Jing, Zhao Ji, or even Zhao Ao and Zhao Qiong , what does this country have to do with you?"

Zhao Fu's lips moved.

Ji Wengji: "The contract between Song and Liao is the achievement of Emperor Kaiping. The prosperity of this prosperous age is all due to the contribution of Emperor Kaiping. You are not afraid of hardships, opened three official roads, and worked hard for the people of the world. Even now, unless you are seriously ill, There has never been an early dynasty in 32 years. There has never been an emperor in the Song Dynasty who worked hard like you. You have lived in extreme hardship. For 32 years, you are like an ascetic, far worse than an ascetic."

Zhao Fu showed an indescribable expression, he straightened his back excitedly, and shouted: "Chongming."

Ji Wengji said sadly: "It's so difficult to use paper money. You have been doing this all these years, but you never gave up. Having you in the Song Dynasty is a blessing to all officials and the common people. I have served two times in my life. There is only one emperor in my life, but I have only one king in my life, and that is you."

Zhao Fuyu said earnestly: "Above the court, I have always known that you know me best."

Ji Wengji raised his head and said: "So you want to prove that even if you came to the throne by killing your father and brother, you are not wrong. Zhao Shangru you, Zhao Ji, Zhao Jingru, the former princes, if you repeat it, anyone will choose like you, As you do."

Zhao Fu: "Is there anything wrong with me?"

Ji Wengji: "You are not wrong. There is no need to repeat it, you were never wrong."

Zhao Fu closed his eyes, stopping the warm eye sockets.

"But the former crown prince was not wrong, Zhao Shang, Zhao Jing, Zhao Ji, who is wrong." Ji Wengji said slowly, "You are a wise king, and you are also a selfish and lonely person. Your Majesty, I can no longer accompany you on this road, you have always walked alone. Now I want to understand another thing."

Zhao Fu was not angry, he smiled and said to Ji Wengji, "What's the matter?"

"If you put it a year ago, you would never have done such a behavior. You are doubting yourself, you are hesitant, and you are afraid. It is the death of the Queen Mother that made you start to fear the afterlife and worry about going to hell after death. ?"

The smile on Zhao Fu's face froze.

Without him answering, Ji Wengji understood everything from the emperor's expression. He bowed respectfully and saluted, and said: "Your Majesty, since you are the winner, why do you need to think about unnecessary people and unnecessary things. You are you." , There are still many things in this world, waiting for His Majesty to break through the confusion and open up the world."

In Funing Palace, there was a long silence.

After a long time, Zhao Fu said, "Go down."

"Yes."

"Wait a minute."

Ji Wengji stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at the lonely and wise emperor.

Zhao Fu laughed and said, "Chongming said something wrong. Zhao Jing and Zhao Ji are like Zhao Sui, but I have never been Zhao Shang."

Ji Wengji narrowed his eyes.

Zhao Fu: "Chongming hasn't given me the answer to the question I asked. 32 years ago, everything had nothing to do with Chongming. Today, I have thought about many people, even Wang Quanzhen. He will enter the palace and be alone. I didn't expect that it was you who came. Why did you come, and why bother."

Ji Wengji's heart was full of ups and downs, he looked at the emperor in front of him solemnly.After decades of ups and downs, he thought he was the person who understood the other person best, but after all, he guessed wrongly about this person's mind.But in this world, is there really anyone who can understand the emperor's heart?

After figuring it out, Ji Wengji said: "Your Majesty said that I am not the former princeling party, nor the Songqing party."

Zhao Fu's expression changed slightly, he pretended to be calm: "Is what I said wrong?"

Ji Wengji: "Your Majesty is not wrong. I am only a second-class Jinshi, how can I become a member of the Songqing Party and get into the eyes of the former prince? It's just that I was named Qionglin Banquet on the gold list that year, and I was born in poverty. , made a fool of himself, and was secretly teased by the Jinshi at the same table, one person helped the drunken minister, and said to the minister, don't ask the origin of the world's heroes."

Zhao Fu already knew who that person was, under the dragon robe, his fingers clenched into fists.

Ji Wengji took a deep look at him, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, who in the world doesn't like Zhao Sui!"

Ji Wengji turned and left.

As soon as he left, the sound of broken porcelain came from Funing Palace, which rang for a long time and continued.

When Zuo Xiang left Funing Palace, he happened to meet Geng Shaoyun, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment who had entered the palace to face the saint.When Geng Shaoyun saw him, he was very surprised and saluted, "I've seen Ji Xiang."

Ji Wengji bowed back, but did not respond.

Geng Shaoyun waited outside Funing Palace for a long time, finally, Zhao Fu sent him into the palace.Geng Shaoyun was shocked when he saw the fragments all over the floor, he calmly walked to the inner hall, and bowed respectfully.Zhao Fu glanced at him weakly, and then said sadly: "Wang Qing, my heart is chilling!"

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, the farce of forcing the palace finally came to an end.

The demon monk is good at listening to confuse the holy listener, confuses the court, waits for an opportunity to make trouble when the emperor is seriously ill, and puts him in the prison for execution.Zuo Xiang Ji Wengji secretly communicated with the demon monks, did evil things, and waited for an opportunity to force the palace. Thinking that he had worked for the country for many years and made great achievements, he would be stripped of his official position and spend his old age peacefully.

The fourth prince, Zhao Jing, and the fifth prince, Zhao Ji, mistakenly believed in the thieves, which led to the chaos in Shengjing.

Promoted You Cheng Xu Wei to Zuo Xiang, Geng Shaoyun, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, as Minister of Justice, and Yu Chaosheng, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, as Minister of the Ministry of Punishment.

This series of promotions and relegations dazzled the officials.However, the most unexpected thing is that the emperor transferred Zhao Jing, the governor of Qinzhou, back to Beijing, and served as the right servant of the Ministry of officials, and the third rank of the official residence.

Zhao Jing is Ji Wengji's favorite student. Ji Wengji was deprived of his official position, but Zhao Jing finally got over his hardships and returned to Beijing to be an official.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the first morning court in 32 years of Kaiping, the officials gathered in the Zichen Hall, and Tang Shen also saw Zhao Jing who had come back from Qinzhou all the way.

The emperor's health still didn't seem to be in good condition. After going through a muddle-headed palace change, he was a little older, but his eyes became sharper.At this time, no one would dare to think that the emperor's time is approaching.Can an emperor who is about to die suddenly wake up in that chaotic palace change and take control of the power?

Some courtiers had already guessed some of the truth, and some officials who didn't know the truth were terrified and feared the emperor even more.

In the early court, Zhao Fu said a few words softly, which conveyed the palace change during the first month.

Xu Wei stood at the head of the ministers and civil officials, leading a hundred officials, congratulating Kaiping on the 32nd year of the country and the people, and the weather was smooth.

Tang Shen didn't really see Zhao Jing clearly until the morning court was over.

Four years ago, Zhao Jing was demoted to Qinzhou by Zhao Fu because of his disadvantage in supervising the Duzhi Division, and changed from a second-rank official to a small fourth-rank governor.Now that he has returned to Beijing, he has become the right servant of the third-rank official department, but the trend of the Central Disciplinary Party is gone, and Zhao Jing also has gray hair. He is only in his 40s, but he looks like an old man in his sixtieth birthday.

Tang Shen felt like a boat, drifting on the rough ocean.

The next day, Tang Shen had just left the Yamen and returned home, when the steward of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion came to pick him up again.Tang Shen asked in surprise, "Your Prime Minister is waiting for me at the residence?"

The steward smiled and said, "Your Excellency will know when he's gone."

Tang Shen was at a loss, but soon he discovered that this carriage was not going to the Youxiang Mansion in the east of the city, but all the way south, directly out of Shengjing City!

The carriage wobbled to the Shili Pavilion outside the city, Tang Shen got out of the carriage, and saw Wang Quan, the Prime Minister of the Right, in black clothes, waiting in the pavilion.Tang Shen walked up immediately: "I met my uncle. What's the matter with my uncle?"

Wang Quan didn't answer, but looked at him up and down: "I was negligent, I just wanted you to come quickly, but I didn't expect you to be wearing an official robe. It's a private matter to bring you here today, and I should prepare it for you. Wearing black clothes. The Wang family likes to wear black clothes, do you know that?"

Tang Shen: "...I know."

Wang Quan was about to speak, when he suddenly saw a carriage coming from the direction of Shengjing, he said: "He has already arrived." As he spoke, he strode to the side of the official road, and Tang Shen also followed.

The carriage stopped leisurely, and the people in the car lifted the curtain, and when they saw that it was Wang Quan, they were a little surprised: "President Wang?"

Wang Quan bowed and said, "Ji Xiang."

Ji Wengji got down from the carriage, he also saluted, and said, "Where does Ji Xiang come from in the body of a criminal official?" As he spoke, he glanced at Tang Shen at the side.

Tang Shen immediately saluted him.

Wang Quan said leisurely: "Since this is the case, where is the king's appearance in the black clothes?"

The two looked at each other and both laughed.

Above the imperial court, the Disciplinary Party and the Royal Party have been fighting for many years. They are not mortal enemies, but they are real enemies.Who would have thought that now Ji Wengji and Wang Quan are chatting and laughing outside the Shili Pavilion on the outskirts of the city.

Tang Shen didn't know why, he didn't know why Wang Quan brought himself here, but he stood aside and listened calmly, without saying a word.

Ji Wengji: "It's getting late, it's inconvenient to stay any longer, the old man should go."

Wang Quan cupped his hands and said, "Safe journey."

Ji Wengji glanced at Tang Shen, then suddenly said, "I just remembered something."

Wang Quan: "Oh, what's the matter?"

Ji Wengji: "At the New Year's Eve palace banquet, the three princes can be chosen by anyone, but the Holy One chose the second prince, Zhao Shang."

Tang Shen's heart trembled, he collected his energy calmly, and listened to Ji Wengji's continuation.

Ji Wengji said with emotion: "It was done at will, and one of them was randomly selected to be the most innocent person. Or, because he is the eldest son, the eldest son, it reminded the Holy One of someone, someone who made him feel guilty. So why did you choose him?"

Ji Wengji's voice stopped, and he said in astonishment: "Hey, the old man was talking nonsense just now? Brother Dezhan, don't be surprised. Ever since I was confused by that demon monk, I always say some strange things. Don't let me go." In my heart."

Wang Quan: "Of course not, what did brother Chongming say just now?"

Tang Shen said: "Master Ji never said anything."

Ji Wengji and Wang Quanqi glanced at Tang Shen with admiration.Tang Shen looked down at the ground with a calm expression.

Ji Wengji laughed, raised his hand, pointed at Tang Shen's official robe and said, "I thought Mr. Tang should also wear black clothes."

Tang Shen's eyelids twitched.

Wang Quan: "Hahaha, the younger generation has its own blessings. Brother Chongming, there will be a time to meet again. Let me leave now!"

"Farewell!"