Delong

Chapter 141: A Journey Through the Sea of ​​Bitterness (8)

On August [-]th, the eldest princess's body was cold.

After all, the Fulong Seal was not used... Maoren Shengren did not pursue the Sima father and son any more. Obviously, Sima Changying was old and mature, and he was forced into a desperate situation.

Of course, the main reason is that Ma and his son seem to be more in line with the dream than Sima and his son.

Ma Rui's family itself is not inferior to Sima's Guanlong family. His father has been the governor of Youzhou for more than ten years, monitoring Hebei and Beihuang, and has a strong network there. Ma Rui himself is now staying in Taiyuan, and his son married Princess, the future is boundless, and there are countless wealth left by Princess Dachang... And this is a shining horse, not Sima.

Of course, Zhang Xing suspects that there is still a huge psychological blind spot of a hairy sage, which was perfectly grasped by Sima Changying—that is, this sage, who is conceited and arrogant in his bones, and is domineering every day, does not believe that he will If it falls to that end in a short period of time, the Land Sovereign is more willing to believe that this is something in the future.

From this point of view, Sima Xianggong is too old, and Ma Rui and his son have infinite possibilities.

Therefore, this saint is more willing to believe that Ma and his son are in line with his dream.

But still that sentence, so what if you believe it?
The eldest princess's bones are cold.

The hairy saint obviously hesitated, and he waved away everyone.

Sima father and son supported each other and left. Sima Changying couldn't hold back his tears until now. Bai Yousi who was opposite him disappeared into the hall in a flash, and Zhang Xing took Fu Longwei to follow Niu Dugong. out.

"Don't tell anyone what happened today." Dugong Niu sent Fu Longwei out the same way, and told him solemnly.

"Understood." Zhang Xing replied earnestly. "I was never called away by you, Duke Du. Fu Longwei went back to continue his night duty, and I continued to help the coffin. Nothing happened tonight."

Niu Dugong nodded, he hesitated to speak, but he could only sigh, then folded his hands and turned back.

After a while, Zhang Xing really returned to the coffin of the eldest princess and continued to make ice. Ma Rui looked at it curiously, but in the end he didn't say anything. Naturally, Zhang Xing did not dare to say any nonsense in this hall.

That seemed to be the end of things.

However, then, subtle and rapid changes took place in the western tour team.

In the early morning of the second day, just as Zhang Xing came out of his shift, the sage issued an order, saying that there was no need to build a large pontoon bridge, but to untie the Guanfeng Temple directly, and spread out the carriages to cross the river from several small bridges.

Everyone was naturally grateful that there was no need for a major project, so that few people noticed that the carts crossing the river were not completely closed. The coffin of the eldest princess and several carts assembled together formed a small mobile hall.

I have noticed that most people can understand it, and it is impossible to think of the thrilling things that happened that night.

Next, Zhang Xing was still on duty as a refrigerator, pretending nothing had happened... No way, what happened that night also made Zhang Xing a little guilty and scared. That scene was too creepy, and he was not sure if it would happen again Things, and I'm not sure if I dare to think about that thought that I think is actually a bit overstressed.

The only thing he can be sure of is that he is determined not to endure this political environment any longer - after the western tour is over, he will run away!Without waiting for Ren Du's second lineage, he ran away, took out all the gold in the family, and bribed Yu Changji to change to a magistrate.

But the more it was like this, the more calm he had to be. For a moment, he even inexplicably thought of the couple who died in his hands.

After passing the Si River, the sage did not go down the Wei River, but suddenly ordered the team to turn north, saying that they were going to Qiyang Palace in Yong County.But when the team arrived in Yong County, the sage was not willing to go...and ordered to climb Qishan Mountain to the east...but just as the team was dispatched again, another order came, saying that they were going to the Renshou Palace in the north of Qishan Mountain.

Within three days, the original route was changed three times, plus there was a distinguished corpse in the team, and everyone was more panicked. Those like Zhang Xing, who had experienced that night, naturally made the situation worse, and they arrived at grandma's house uneasy.

Sure enough, on the night when he arrived at Renshou Palace, Zhang Xing saw with his own eyes that Ma Rui, the leader of the Shangzhu Kingdom in Taiyuan, was summoned.

And early in the morning of the second day, the team stopped at Renshou Palace, and Zhang Xing had just woken up when news spread that Ma Rui and his son had received further rewards, and the official position could no longer be granted, so another three thousand households were added. ... At this time, it may be that the entire western tour team wanted to rest in Renshou Palace, so new rumors spread, only that the saint was going to wait here for the opening of the mausoleum of the former emperor, and then directly send the eldest princess into the palace. burial.

This can only be said to be a rumor, not a rumor, because the mausoleums of several emperors in the previous dynasties are located on the east side of Qishan Mountain and the north side of Weishui River, not far from Renshou Palace.

But Zhang Xing had already noticed something, and knew that something might happen again, but he made up his mind to ask someone for advice.But at this time, he didn't dare to discuss with Bai Yousi about the core position of the palace at all, let alone discuss this issue with Qin Bao, so he simply went to Li Ding.

The weather was sweltering and gloomy. After Zhang Xing found Li Ding, he dragged him to a remote place outside, and directly explained what happened one by one, just omitting his impulsive thoughts.

"Is there such a thing?" Li Ding was stunned for a while, but then he suddenly woke up. "But that makes sense."

"How do you say it? What does a sage mean?" Zhang Xing sincerely asked for advice. This kind of thing is likely to involve the aristocratic customs for a while, that is to say, the specific political rules of the nobles at this time, he really doesn't understand.

"The sage obviously wants Ma Rui to commit suicide." Li Ding sighed, trying to keep his voice down despite being outside the palace. "Don't make things difficult for him, and don't let him bear the reputation of disregarding the eldest princess's body as the last blood relative... Maybe you want Ma Rui to die in the name of worrying too much and be buried together... The matter It must be so...but I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it!"

It was rare for Zhang Xing to be in a trance, and sure enough, Mao Ren Sheng did not disappoint him.

However, Zhang Sanlang soon discovered that although Li Ding answered correctly, he was obviously out of control... This kind of situation is rare, as if the other party's dark circles are rarely as light as they are now.

"Didn't expect what?" Zhang Xing, who was slightly moved in his heart after thinking about it, asked on the spot.

"I didn't expect the saint to be so cold..." Li Dingchang, who stood with his arms tied, let out a breath. "Not to mention, Mr. Sima also..."

"Why do you think saints are not so cold?" Zhang Xing asked in turn. "All four brothers were killed... Why is my sister an exception? As long as it hinders him from being a domineering person, it doesn't matter if it's a good thing, what would he care about? Let alone a dead sister?"

Li Ding almost panicked and sat on the grass.

Zhang Xing then sat down and said with certainty:
"As for Mr. Sima, I can understand him. If he doesn't cause trouble, his whole family will die. If you and I are in his situation, what can we do? I'm afraid we can only kill him... This is not to say We have the conscience not to harm others, but we don't have Sima Xianggong's quick wit and understanding of the saint's mentality."

Li Ding didn't say a word, his complexion became paler.

"You can't resist. It's the scariest thing to have no retreat." Zhang Xing looked around and lowered his voice to respond. "After this incident, I feel more and more that with the presence of a saint, it is impossible for Great Wei to have a future..."

"Don't...don't instigate." Li Ding seemed to realize something, and sat there waving his hands again and again.

"I instigated?" Zhang Xing sneered for a moment. "Why don't you sue the officials? You still instigated... What did I instigate? Which sentence I said was not true?"

"It's a big deal to find a foreign job." Li Ding sighed.

"Whatever." Zhang Xing said disapprovingly. "Anyway, the sage is in one day, and you are afraid that your ambition will not be rewarded."

"Don't talk about this yet." Li Ding continued to wave his hands while holding his forehead. "I don't know if I will succeed in this life, anyway, you are dying... Hurry up and find a way not to guard the spirit."

"How to say?" Zhang Xing was taken aback, and then quickly recalled that he came to ask for help, not to instigate the fire.

"You..." Li Ding hesitated to speak. "My mouth is very dry, get me a glass of water first."

Zhang Xing was speechless, and quickly handed over the water bag on his waist.

Li Ding took two gulps, and then he looked at Zhang Xinglai seriously and said, "It's a good thing you came to me, otherwise I'm afraid something bad will happen... It's not that you will definitely die, after all, Bai Sanniang is also here, holding the Fulong seal... ...My God! Who will die by then! "

"Hurry up!" Zhang Xing couldn't hurry up. "You mean the saint will silence? Afterwards?"

"It's a possibility." Li Ding shook his head. "But the probability is extremely small... Only when Ma Rui commits suicide will he and the ten Fulongguards be punished... But since Ma Rui didn't commit suicide, he was greedy for life, and he is unlikely to commit suicide again."

Zhang Xing was sweating coldly on his back, how dare he die if Ma Rui committed suicide yesterday?
But after all, he has experienced a lot of life and death, so he quickly suppressed this uneasiness forcibly, and analyzed it with the other party seriously: "But since the sage has this intention, according to his temper, which would rather turn the world upside down and make him happy, how could it be possible?" Not to kill in the end?"

"Yes." Li Ding also shook his head. "If Ma Rui committed suicide at that time, his child might not be able to change his name and surname to survive, and the last bit of affection from the eldest princess would have played a role... But he didn't want to die, and the whole family would be unjust in the end!"

Zhang Xing nodded, and didn't comment on Ma Rui's behavior... He just met this person, so he didn't know anything.

It may be naive and naive, thinking that if you procrastinate, there will be a turning point when the mother-in-law is buried;

It may also be a ruthless man with ulterior motives, who knows the fate of his family and does not want to die, so he is going to procrastinate and try to escape back to Taiyuan to rebel:

But the most likely thing is human nature, purely greedy for life, not wanting to die, and then struggling with fluke and ruthlessness in the mind.

"You mean, Ma Rui will die sooner or later, and I will be silenced sooner or later?" Zhang Xing asked seriously.

"Not at all." Li Ding replied with a wry smile, and his tone became faint. "When it's time to deal with Madam Ma, why would the saint want to silence? The eldest princess has only been dead for a few days? You were silenced, only Ma Rui suddenly woke up and prepared to die, but the possibility of this is too small. I mean Mr. Sima..."

"What?" Zhang Xing didn't seem to understand.

"I mean Mr. Sima." Li Ding sat on the ground and sighed. "Didn't you teach me the other way around just now? How could you be so stupid at this time? Mr. Sima may have had no choice but to go this way. But since he has taken this path, in order to protect the family, he can only intensify it... I Let me ask you, the sage wants to get rid of Ma Rui and his son, but what about Sima Xianggong's family? Isn't it even more impatient?"

Zhang Xinglen was on the spot, and slowly squatted down.

"And, don't they want to protect their reputation?" Li Ding continued. "Don't Mr. Sima know that the saint has murderous intentions, and he just needs to be pushed again? If I were Mr. Sima, no matter what, I would just go to the coffin in these two days and report to the saint immediately. , Said that Ma Rui was whispering to you officers guarding the spirit, intending to rebel...or more ruthlessly, said that Ma Rui pulled him, and wanted Sima to rebel with Ma!"

Zhang Xing looked up to the sky and sighed, but saw dark clouds rolling over his head, and then smiled wryly: "At this time, I should have scolded Grandpa Sima Erlong shamelessly, but I couldn't get angry... You say, if another saint is in power, this Sima Can Xianggong also be a loyal minister and good general?"

"No." Li Ding replied seriously after taking a few deep breaths. "Don't talk about changing to a better one. Even when the first emperor, who you think was harsh in administration, was not there for Sima and his son to be loyal ministers and good generals... Su Gong, Niu Gong, and Zhang Gong are all there!"

Zhang Xing shook his head, then stood up: "No matter what, I'll go to Chang Jian first, and tell her clearly, and then I will go to Niu Dugong to ask for leave in a fair manner, and hide for a while... Niu Dugong is a man with a pattern. , may not have guessed Sima Xianggong's methods, but nine out of ten will agree."

Li Ding hesitated to speak for a moment.

"What?" Zhang Xing turned around in surprise.

"Nothing..." Li Ding shook his head. "I wanted to say, maybe the sage was the reincarnation of Dong Qi and the last faint master of Nanchen to take revenge. After thinking about it, I realized that when the sage was born, these two were still alive."

Zhang Xing smiled, put his hands together and walked away.

About an hour later, he and the expressionless Bai Yousi appeared in front of Duke Niu.

Dugong Niuhe is not inside the Renshou Palace, but weaves ropes here in the Guanfengxing Palace outside the palace. The living ropes, the vines germinate and grow easily under his hands as if they were alive, and then hook up the vehicles. Then he clapped his hands to see the person who came: "Vice Chief Zhang is going to ask for leave? Why?"

"The cultivation base is not enough, I just passed the Zhengmai on the west tour, and the strength of sending true energy for several days is not enough." Zhang Xing's words were impeccable.

Dugong Niu nodded and clapped his hands: "If that's the case, let's rest for two days... Whether it's Fulongwei, or the master of cold ice and true energy who guards the coffin... I don't miss you, I'll find another one."

This person is indeed appropriate.

Zhang Xing nodded, turned around and wanted to leave, but turned back after taking two steps:
"Bull!"

"What?" Dugong Niu, who had lowered his head and continued to weave the rope, was surprised for a moment.

"It's hard to bear not to say something..." Under Bai Yousi's gaze, Zhang Xing gritted his teeth. "There is actually no need to keep so many palace servants and father-in-law with the eldest princess."

Niu Dugong was taken aback for a moment, then turned his head to look at Bai Yousi again, with a half-smile: "They say this is your think tank?"

"It's a think tank, a best friend, and a confidant." Bai Yousi answered proudly. "What does the Duke think?"

"Very good." The No. [-] expert in Beiya nodded, and then looked at Zhang Xing. "I'm not smart, so I just want to ask, why don't there be two fewer officers on duty...instead, fewer palace servants and eunuchs?"

"First of all, it's because everyone has only one life." Zhang Xing's forehead was slightly sweating, and he said something. "If there are fewer officers on duty, the reasonable solution I can think of is two less at most, and a dozen or so less palace men and father-in-laws; secondly, Mr. Niu is the governor of Beiya, and the palace man and father-in-law agreed. It's more likely...it's as simple as that."

Niu Dugong nodded, and looked at Zhang Xing again: "I see... let's take a good rest these few days..."

Zhang Xing saluted immediately as if he was relieved.

And Niu Hefu went to see Bai Yousi again: "Bai Changjian has a good eye... It's just that people have high and low births, and their fortunes fluctuate. Some people might as well take care of them... Of course, Bai Changjian is already very courageous, but it seems The old man’s words are redundant.”

As he said, he continued to bow his head to weave the rope.

Bai Yousi was silent for a moment, then turned and left with Zhang Xing.

They tacitly walked to the edge of the other side of the palace away from Duke Niu. The two stopped together and stood looking at each other. Zhang Xing only felt that there were thousands of words to say, but he didn't know where to start. Sigh: "I didn't expect there to be such a conscientious person in this world, and he was in the palace. He and I were only shocked..."

"The worse the world is, the less you can act together, the less you can bully the weak, the less you can kill innocent people indiscriminately." Bai Yousi looked serious.

"But you should cherish good people even more." Zhang Xing lowered his voice to persuade. "It's more about strategies...Chang Jian, I know you are as shaken as I am, but especially at this time, you must know how to keep a useful body, so that there is a possibility of earth-shaking in the future... Now that things are going on, do you still expect Can that person change his temperament? And if he doesn’t change his temperament, how can you bring back the morals of the world? Whether it’s good or bad, don’t you have to do big things?”

Bai Yousi hesitated to speak.

"Then I'll be straightforward." Zhang Xing answered seriously. "I don't allow you to fall into danger easily in this ridiculous internal strife among the rich and powerful... You have the seal of Fulong. Once you say something that goes too far, the sage cannot be careless, but after being cautious, your whole family's life and our subordinates will be purged! As long as it's for me, we don't need to spin around in the quagmire! When the western tour is over, you can also find a foreigner, okay?"

Bai Yousi stared at the other party in a daze, nodded slowly while holding the long sword, and then said with difficulty: "Okay, I promise you, when you go back from this patrol, you will go find your foreigner first, I have been waiting for a full year, Also find a foreigner."

Raindrops fell from the sky, and Zhang Xing felt much relieved for a while.

Almost at the same time, outside Renshou Palace, Sima Changying and his son were sitting in the outlying camp looking after each other, losing their composure and feeling heavy.

"It would be great if only Ah Zheng." Sima Huada lowered his head and supported his forehead, wiping away a drop of rainwater that dripped from it.

"Remember what happened today." Sima Changying suddenly raised his head from the saddle and spoke. His face was expressionless, but his gray beard was trembling.

"What?" Sima Huada was puzzled for a moment.

"I said, don't rely on the second child for everything!" Sima Changying's tone became sharp. "You've been a piece of trash all your life! You'll hold me back first, and you'll hold me back in the future! Ah Zheng is going to become Jackie Chan! You have to stand up!"

The dignified general Yiwei, at this moment, actually dared not speak up.

"Remember what happened that day, and remember what happened today... Do you understand?" Sima Changying's tone became more restrained, but it became more difficult. At the same time, the raindrops on the top of his head began to gradually gather.

"Yes! My son has remembered!" Sima Huada nodded heavily, then knelt down on one knee, trying to help him up. "Father, it's raining, let's go in and talk."

"It's just raining." Sima Changying quietly looked at the sky. "God's will is unpredictable, God's will is unpredictable, God's will is a bastard... a good person, he can only be satisfied if he sees you wrestling and raining, in a mess... people should have a choice at any time? Why do you only give a bad one? Way to go? Why do you want everyone in the world to see Sima's ugly behavior?"

Speaking of this, Sima Changying, who has been on the battlefield several times and is known for his versatility and ingenuity, actually cried in the rain on the spot.

Sima Huada was finally completely panicked, and quickly knelt down on his knees.

And Sima Changying finally helped his son to stand up, but then told him, "Don't move here! Just remember what happened today... I'll go pay homage to the eldest princess and I'll be back... Hurry up." Otherwise, when Su Wei and Zhang Shizhao come, it will be even more embarrassing!"

In the heavy rain, Li Ding, who specially found a tent beside the road to shelter from the rain, stared blankly at Sima Xianggong, who was covered in mud and water, passing by the road in front of his tent, almost expressionless, and just watched him go to the palace.

In mid-August, one afternoon, in Renshou Palace, Sima Changying, one of the ministers of Nanya, suddenly appeared, and as a ruler, informed Taiyuan's stay-at-home Ma Rui that he held his hand in the mourning hall of the eldest princess to stop him. ...The saint was furious, and immediately sent Ma Rui to prison and handed him over to Yu Changji for interrogation!
Yu Changji's interrogation was completed that night, and he replied that Ma Rui was not insane, but intended to win over Zaizhi and the imperial army, and hijack the saint, and his intention of treason was obvious.

The sage returned the decree and executed him immediately to save his family.

Ma Rui, who stayed behind in Taiyuan and Shangzhu Guo, died inexplicably in front of the imperial court, and the whole line of the western tour team was shocked.

At this time, the eldest princess's body was cold.

PS: Thank you Master Xiao Guo for your second cuteness... I just saw it... I was really dizzy.

(End of this chapter)