"You have to think carefully, you may not be able to come back after you go." Zhang Sloppy looked serious.
"I know." Zhu Yunwen had a gentle smile on his face, "It's nothing to do with that. In fact, there was nothing to complain about when he was burned to death in the palace. After living in the mountains for so many years, I have long since looked away."
After a pause, his smile turned into an apology, "It's just... I'm sorry, Master."
"You have nothing to apologize to me for." Zhang Slutty shook his head: "My legs are on you. It's up to you to decide how to go and how to go. This is your right. No one is qualified to make decisions for you.
Just follow your heart!"
"Thank you, Master." Zhu Yunwen saluted.
He kowtowed respectfully and stood up slowly: "Senior brother, I have thought about it. No matter what the consequences are, I will bear them myself."
Li Qing was a little conflicted. He wanted to give Zhu Di a life but regretted it, but he didn't want Zhu Yunwen to risk his life for it.
"Have you really decided?"
"It's decided."
"He will really kill you!"
"It doesn't matter." Zhu Yunwen chuckled: "I went this time not only to reassure my fourth uncle, but also to reassure my successors, so that they can be emperors and be good emperors with peace of mind;
This is the last thing I, a sinner, can do for the Ming Dynasty."
Li Qing was silent for a moment, "I will do my best to protect you."
"In that case, thank you very much, senior brother." Zhu Yunwen nodded with a smile.
…
night.
The three masters and apprentices were enjoying the cool air under the eaves, looking at the stars in the sky, and chatting about the past.
~
After a night, Li Qing bid farewell to Zhang Slutty.
"Master, I will bring my junior brother back intact." Li Qing promised seriously.
Zhang Sloppy yawned and waved his hands carelessly, "Since Xiao Zhu has thought about it, what else is there to say? No matter what the outcome is, I will accept it with peace of mind;
This is his decision, and all consequences will naturally be borne by him;
Everyone in the world cannot escape death, and being a teacher is no exception. Dying well is a good choice."
"That's what Master said." Zhu Yunwen smiled and said, "Senior brother, you don't have to have any psychological burden. Life is full of grass and trees. Being able to do something that you think is meaningful is the greatest luck."
Your realm is so high... Li Qing smiled bitterly: Maybe, without the curse of immortality, I could reach this realm!
…
…
Capital.
Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Di was leaning on a spacious lounge chair, covered with a thin blanket on a hot day. "The sun is really coming out in the west. You said you would take a month off and then come back in twenty days. This is not your style!"
"Don't you think of the emperor?" Li Qing said with a smile, "One day is like three autumns, and twenty days are like a month."
"Hey~ don't be so stupid." Zhu Di curled his lips, "No matter how loud you flatter me, you won't get any reward."
"It turns out that in the eyes of the emperor, I am actually that kind of person." Li Qing looked hurt.
This made Zhu Di laugh heartily: "I don't know that you are just a money addict."
Li Qing also smiled: "The emperor said before that he wanted to visit Changling, why don't we go tomorrow?"
"Well, okay." Zhu Di took a breath and murmured: "When I think about sleeping there for hundreds of years, I feel so panicked. I keep dreaming these days."
"What are you dreaming about?"
"Dream..." Zhu Di sighed, with deep worry on his old face, and even a hint of fear, "I dreamed about Taizu, and I dreamed about Jianwen, and he was hiding behind Taizu, and I wanted to kill him.
In the end, he was not killed, but was chopped into pieces by Taizu.
I also dreamed about Emperor Qin, Wu of Han, Zong of Tang, and Zu of Song... They all ignored me. They all looked contemptuous and ashamed of being associated with me;
They were talking and laughing, but they isolated me and ignored me..."
"Dreams are all contrary." Li Qing comforted, "They will not ignore you. The emperor's criterion is never personal morality, but merit. Once the Yongle Dynasty raised the Ming Dynasty to a new height, they
It’s too late to feel sorry for you.”
Zhu Di said bitterly: "But I am disgraceful!"
"What does it matter?" Li Qing said with a smile, "Who doesn't have a disgraceful past?
Emperor Qin served as a hostage, Wu of Han Dynasty relied on palace fighting to become the prince, and then sat on the throne, Tang Zong's Xuanwumen rebellion, Song Zu's Chenqiao mutiny... They are not much more glorious than you, the emperor;
Compared with being dishonorable, the emperor’s achievements are more dazzling.”
Zhu Di was stunned for a moment, and finally smiled, "Yes, it's always difficult to balance a good emperor and a good person. You can't have your cake and eat it too."
After Li Qing said this, Zhu Di felt much better and felt less guilty.
After chatting for a while, Li Qing took out the needle box and said, "Your Majesty, let me give you acupuncture."
"Well, okay." Zhu Di stood up with difficulty holding on to the chair.
Li Qing helped him to the bed and took out the silver needle for acupuncture.
After a while, Zhu Di fell into a deep sleep. While he was sleeping soundly, Li Qing helped him drain some of his energy. After acupuncture, he called the Xiaohuangmen to wait on him before leaving Qianqing Palace.
~
East Palace.
On Xiaopang's desk, memorials were piled up like a mountain, almost covering his fat body.
"Prince." Li Qing called.
Xiaopang raised his head and saw that he was coming. He quickly put down his hand and stood up and stepped forward: "How is your father's health?"
"It's okay." Li Qing reached out and grabbed his wrist: "Let me see how you are feeling?"
Little Fatty didn't resist. After half a quarter of an hour, Li Qing let go and said, "Pay more attention to rest."
"Is it okay?" Xiaopang asked.
There really isn't anything wrong with him, he's just a little tall, but he's already in his forties and has such a heavy workload, so it's unrealistic for him to lose weight.
Li Qing warned: "You have become ill due to overwork, and your health is not in good shape. You should pay more attention to your health."
"I think we don't have that condition!" Xiaopang sighed, "The situation is stable now, but if my father...then it would be tiring."
"Don't worry, I will take action." Li Qing comforted: "The sky won't fall."
After a pause, "By the way, the Emperor is going to Changling tomorrow, so you and your grandson should come together."
This was Zhu Yunwen's request, and the purpose was to allow Zhu Di's lineage to be the emperor and no longer worry about the disappeared Jianwen.
"Okay, I'll just spare some time." Xiaopang nodded, "When?"
"No need to go too early, set off early in the morning."
"no problem."
…
The next day.
Li Qing got up early. After not going to court for a long time, he went to court for the first time.
Zhu Di also went to the morning session today. He fell asleep in the middle of the acupuncture yesterday and didn't wake up during the process. After getting up, he was full of energy, as if there was a vitality in his body that was holding him firmly, and his physical strength was much better than before.
"Long live my emperor! Long live my emperor!" The ministers saluted.
"All the ministers are safe." Zhu Di was full of energy, as if he could fight for another twenty years, "Xia Aiqing, how is the national policy of moving people from the south to the north going?"
Xia Yuanji left: "Back to the emperor, the total migrant population currently reaches nearly one million, including more than 700,000 from Shaanxi, Hebei, and Gansu, and 200,000 people have moved to Liaodong."
Zhu Di nodded with satisfaction: "How much farmland has been opened up?"
"The cultivated land is changing all the time," Xia Yuanji said. "Last month's statistics showed that a total of more than 4.3 million acres were reclaimed. A lot of this cultivated land has not yet reached the standard of fertile land. It cannot be planted with wheat or rice, but Yongle is cultivated.
The yield of rice and Yongle beans is not low.”
After a pause, "Most of the people are already almost self-sufficient and do not need support from the court."
"Well, very good." Zhu Di's face became even more joyful, "The national policy of people from the south to the north cannot be stopped, and efforts must be intensified."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Xia Yuanji cupped his hands and said.
All the ministers said in unison: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
This group of people have learned a lot, and no one dares to speak out against it. They all choose to endure it.
…
In the square of Fengtian Palace, the dragon chariot, royal guards, and the emperor's guard of honor were ready. When the ministers who came out of Fengtian Palace saw this, they all had a clear understanding in their hearts.
However, no one spoke and left quietly.
Zhu Di sat quietly in Fengtian Hall for a while. When he came to the square, Xiaopang and Zhu Zhanji were already waiting respectfully.
"Why are you here too?"
"Grandpa, we will accompany you." Zhu Zhanji said softly.
"I think you two just want to be lazy." Zhu Di snorted, "Where's Li Qing?"
"He said he couldn't sit in the dragon chariot, so he went to Changling first." Xiaopang explained, looking a little hurt: Am I that fat?
Zhu Di's face was disgusting, "I'm giving him shame. If he really thinks that the dragon chariot belongs to his family, I have no intention of letting him sit on it."
"Gone."
"Grandpa, slow down~"
…
The other side.
Li Qing and Zhu Yunwen set off towards Changling with one man and one horse.
"Why did Fourth Uncle place the imperial mausoleum in such a remote place?" Zhu Yunwen asked.
"Because this place is close to Juyong Pass." Li Qing explained: "He was afraid that the group of people would clamor to go back after his death, so he buried himself here. Juyong Pass is the gateway to the Ming Dynasty. In the past, when he was the King of Yan, he guarded here.
Guomen, being buried here after death can be regarded as a kind of spiritual sustenance."