Emperor Kangxi: The First Rule of the Palace

Chapter 77
After leaving the Meridian Gate, Wei Dongting rode his horse and gave him a whip, and rushed to Yuepeng's shop. Mingzhu, who was waiting in front of Tiananmen Square, saw him galloping fast, stomped his feet and complained, "I thought you came when you were going, but you were delayed." It's been a long time! Let's go back and have a look at the fourth child, hey, where did this start!" Wei Dongting didn't say much, just said: "Why are you still here, let's go!" The two put on their bridles and galloped side by side .

The gatekeepers of Yuepeng's shop were joined by people from the Criminal Department, and the guards were tight, which was expected.The common people in the vicinity didn't know what happened to this special inn, and they looked inside, but they didn't dare to come and watch because they couldn't figure out the reason.Wei Dongting and Mingzhu came to the door and pulled the reins of the horse, rolled the saddle and got off the horse.The gatekeepers had already been ordered by Lang Su, and they all stood with their hands down.

He Guizhu was standing under the porch to arrange the banquet.Seeing the two of them coming back, he hurriedly stepped forward, followed the etiquette of the minister and hall official, and said: "They are all waiting for you two inside!"

"You also come together!" Wei Dongting said sullenly, "Make the banquet richer!" As he said, he took Mingzhu's hand and entered the back hall.Although Mingzhu appeared calm on the surface, Wei Dongting's hand touching him was cold and clammy, full of sweat.

It was still where Wu Ciyou talked and talked, but the chief seat was replaced by the mesmerizing Hao Laosi.Sitting on both sides were Mu Zixu and Stubborn Donkey, with gloomy faces and no words.On the other hand, Wu Ciyou was more relaxed, seeing them coming in, he got up and said, "Fourth Brother Hao has been waiting for you for a while, let's sit down and talk." As he spoke, he saw He Guizhu coming in and directing the cook to serve the dishes. A table full of water and land, big pots and small bowls are placed on the table, and there are more than 40 dishes of cold dishes.Everyone just stayed, and no one wanted to move their chopsticks.

"Fourth brother!" Mingzhu raised his glass and spoke first, "Brothers already know the matter! A man dares to act bravely and treats life and death like a joke. I think fourth brother is a good man. Come, brother, I will toast you first!"

Hao Laosi raised his glass and looked at the people around him, suddenly smiled and said: "Brother Mingzhu is happy! The first to die is the honor, I will take this glass of wine first!" Stretching his neck and drinking it, he said, "Please! "

Everyone drank together.However, He Guizhu's eyes were blurred with tears, and he couldn't drink any more, sobbing and saying: "It's alright, how could such a thing happen, I really can't think about it!" Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke.

"Zhu'er!" Wei Dongting knew that when he started crying, everyone couldn't control it, so he spoiled the banquet, and hurriedly stopped him: "Today is the happy day for the fourth son to ascend to heaven, you can't do this!" Wu Ciyou heard this He said, hurting himself secretly, and suppressing tears, he said: "Brother Huchen said yes. Brother Hao Xian said goodbye today, we can make him drunk as much as possible. The fourth brother violated the king's law, and we can't save him. Don't we even have a heart?" Can’t you do it all? Come! Brother, I’ll toast you too!”

Hao Laosi took the glass of wine and drank it tremblingly, and said with a smile: "I do have something to do with Bumble. I'm sorry, the emperor, and I will not surrender even if I die! People who are about to die will not tell lies. I have no intention of harming you brothers!"

"This is what I wanted," Wu Ciyou said, "You just didn't understand the general situation, and I'm afraid you want to open up a way for the brothers. Since that's the case, we don't need to criticize, there will be no meeting today, you You can drink a few more glasses." After saying that, he offered another glass, and Hao Lao Si drank it without hesitation.

Mingzhu stood up calmly and said: "I still have half a bottle of Yuhuchun, when I gathered around the stove with Mr. Wu back then, I kept some, because I thought—" He couldn't continue.He originally wanted to save the half bottle of wine to drink with Cuigu when he was on the gold list, but now he had to change his words and said: "I thought we brothers would share the cup and drink together after the big event, but today I have to favor the fourth brother!" Then he turned and went to the back.

Fourth brother Hao was drunk, and he was a little drunk at this time, so he turned to Mu Zixu and asked, "Second brother, why don't you and third brother have anything to say? Do you blame brother?"

Mu Zixu's face was as white as paper, and he said with a wry smile: "Brother, brother Wei is too busy to take care of you. It's always because I didn't take good care of you, which caused you to end up like this!" There is nothing to say.The stubborn donkey was drunk, and hit the case with a "bang", stood up and said: "Fourth brother has done something, but he also has merit, so why not forgive him! Is it worse than Oboi's crime? I'll talk to the emperor !" Turning around and leaving, Wei Dongting hastily stopped him.Hearing noises outside, the sergeant of the supervisor's chair didn't know what happened, he poked his head in to see that it was all right, and then retreated.

Seeing this, Wu Ciyou dissuaded him: "The heart of heaven is hard to return, and the power of heaven is unpredictable. Since ancient times..." He wanted to say, "Accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger", but he swallowed it back and offered a glass of wine to Hao Laosi, "Brother, After drinking this cup, brother will make excuses for you!" Seeing that the fourth Hao had drunk, he stood up and said with trembling voice: "No one is perfect in ancient and modern times, it is sad that the sergeant will be punished, and there are people under the Nine Plains ;..."

"Wait a minute." Wei Dongting was really on fire at this time, and said proudly, "Mr. Wu, stop reciting the second couplet. We brothers will go to court tomorrow, and we will fight for the official position. In exchange for the life of the fourth brother, maybe we can save Tianxin At this moment, Mingzhu came in with a half bottle of wine.Hearing this, he couldn't help being surprised.Today, this matter has been confirmed in front of Long Live God, so how can we turn around again?While pouring the wine, he thought about it, but said in his mouth: "Yes, it may be possible to ask the emperor for permission to perform crimes and make meritorious deeds."

Just at this point, I heard the soldiers outside the door scolding: "Where is the ugly Taoist priest? He doesn't even look at the place for alms. Go quickly!" Hearing the noise, Wei Dongting went out to look around and saw Hu Gongshan wearing Taoist clothes , unkempt, crazy and authentic: "The emperor still has a poor family, so I can't eat the good wine and food here?"When the sergeant guarding the gate hurriedly stopped him, how could he be stopped!The people who were drinking in the room were stunned for a while, Wei Dongting signaled the gatekeepers to retreat, and asked the court chief, "Where did the crane come from?"

"Come to look for disciples!" Hu Gongshan said with a smile, "Why is the crane driving or not? The good food and wine at this table made me meet the poor again."

"Master!" Hao Laosi suddenly recalled the encounter with Hu Gongshan in Baiyun Temple, and shouted: "Master is here, haha! Master is here!" Everyone in the room was stunned, not knowing what it was What happened, Hao Lao Si knelt down to meet him.

Hu Gongshan came in in a big way, and only bowed to He Guizhu and said, "Benefactor He, the poor are going to disturb you, are you willing?" Enshrined, Taoist dog today. Here is a pork shoulder, can I still eat it?" Hu Gongshan sat down and said with a smile, "You still have an old friend's affection, so it's a pleasure to eat a cooked pork leg!" He Guizhu arrived in a hurry In the kitchen, a newly stewed Jinhua ham was brought out on a large plate.

"Okay!" Hu Gongshan only glanced at Hao Lao Si who was kneeling on the ground, and treated the others as if he didn't care. He grabbed the ham and began to chew it, and asked in his mouth: "Wei Benefactor, when will this boy die?" When Hu Gongshan said, the wolf outside had already been rewarded, and came in with his sword.Hearing the question, he interjected: "The emperor ordered him to commit suicide, and it will be at midnight tonight."

"Why do you have to go to Zishi?" Hu Gongshan had almost finished eating the ham, so he asked, "Teacher, I promised you to settle this matter for you, are you willing?"

Hao Lao Si is as intelligent as a bright pearl, he already knew his intentions, so he quickly kowtowed and said: "I am willing!"

"Get up, drink this glass of wine, Master will send you on your way!" Hu Gongshan picked up the wine and said to the crowd, "Please, please, everyone is my disciple Hao Chuncheng's friends, not outsiders, come on !"

Everyone didn't know what kind of trick he was doing, and hesitantly looked at each other and picked up the wine bowl.Wei Mingzhu looked at the bowl of Yuhuchun she poured in a daze.

"Pearl benefactor," Hu Gongshan said with a smile, "Please drink too. Han Guangwu's minister Song Hong once said: 'A friend of the poor and humble should not be forgotten, and a wife of dross will never go to court.' You can't fail to keep it!"

"Brother Hu is too good at joking." Mingzhu's face turned red and white, "Can I still drink the wine?" She picked up the toast, but she just refused to drink.

"Poisoned wine!" When the stubborn donkey was stupid but also smart, seeing Mingzhu in such a mess, he suddenly came to his senses, slapped the table, jumped over, grabbed Mingzhu's chest, and cursed: " You bastard, what enmity does he have with you, and he did it like this?" Ming Zhu was dragged out of breath, she just shook her head with a wry smile, and said intermittently: "Third brother is wrong... wrong brother...!"

"That's right!" Hu Gongshan took the wine toast and said with a smile, "Let go of Master Ming, people outside the poor way have a heart of compassion, so let's use up this bit of poisoned wine!" Opened his mouth, shook his head , A glass of wine has been drunk clean.Then she pushed her own bowl of wine to Mingzhu, "Drink this bowl and see off your fourth child!" Seeing Hu Gongshan like this, Mingzhu didn't dare to turn back, so she had to drink it down.

(End of this chapter)