After exhausting myself to death

In the 22nd year of the reign of Yongguo.

The three kingdoms of Yan, Jin, and Yong still exist awkwardly and anxiously on the nine states at the same time. Today you take my city, and tomorrow I will take your land. The conquests are endless.

At the same time, another small country suddenly emerged and was named "Xia". It is said that the person in charge was a disabled slave.

But that's not important. Every year, countless pretentious people declare the founding of a country. In the past hundred years of Kyushu, countless small countries like this have been wiped out. The Xia Kingdom is still too small, too small to deserve their attention.

Under the emperor's crown, Shen Yourong stared bitterly at the courtiers standing at the forefront.

The man's long hair tied up by a crown has turned gray, and there are wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, but his back is still as unbent as a green bamboo, like a pine, or like a orchid and jade tree.

That was 49-year-old Nan Huaijin.

Shen Yourong knew that his ability to become emperor depended on this person, but so what? He was brought to the throne before he was even a year old. He reigned for twenty-two years and never felt in power for a day.

Nan Huaijin just wanted to support a puppet to control the government, and he happened to be the youngest among his father's sons. I am afraid that the death of my father and the fourth emperor brother is also related to this traitor.

Sooner or later, he will cut this man into pieces!

"I have a written report. I, Han Li, have the audacity to sue the Prime Minister Nan Huaijin for embezzlement, perverting the law, and sacrificing human life!"

"Mr. Hu Gui Hu has been my friend for many years. He offended the Prime Minister a few days ago because of his admonition, and he died in mysterious circumstances. I can't bear the unexplained death of my friend. I have been running around for many days. Now I will submit the confession I have made, asking for your Majesty's help. I will make the decision with Master Hu.”

The eunuch presented the book, and Shen Yourong asked in a cold tone without even looking at it: "Prime Minister, what do you have to say?"

Nan Huaijin walked out of the queue calmly. He knelt in the middle of the hall and lowered his eyes slightly: "I don't know about this."

Nan Huaijin didn't know that his life would come to an end this year, but he had indeed felt increasingly powerless recently. His aging body, the root causes of illness in his early years, and the messy things in the court made him tired and desperate.

He believed that he was devoted to the Yong Kingdom and never had any selfish intentions, but to this day, the Yong Kingdom does not seem to be much better.

He really didn't know what else he could do.

Nie Shiyun could no longer take naps when he went to court. Looking at the old figure kneeling alone in the hall, he felt a little pity in his heart.

The Prime Minister, who is more powerful than a million people, is getting older, but almost every day he kneels in the hall due to various criticisms during the court meeting. Sometimes the court meeting lasts for a long time, and he has to kneel for an hour.

But Nie Shiyun forced himself to retract his gaze. He was just a treacherous minister who controlled the government. His grandfather had told him many times that such a person did not deserve sympathy.

As Nie Shiyun thought, this was a very common scene in the Yong Kingdom's court, so the courtiers watched calmly.

However, the next second, a huge black screen suddenly appeared in mid-air. The eunuch was frightened and threw the whisk in his hand, but the whisk passed through the black screen, as if there was only a ball of air in the sky.

"A miracle, a miracle!"

Such power of gods and ghosts cannot help but astonish people. The courtiers all knelt down to worship, and even Shen Yourong got off the high platform and knelt at the steps to show respect for the sky.

Nan Huaijin, who was kneeling now, was no longer conspicuous. However, looking at this slightly absurd scene, he felt unspeakable sadness in his heart.

Is there really a god in this world? If so, why are we turning a blind eye to the suffering of the common people?

If not, what does it matter now? Come to punish him for his disobedience and disrespect for the imperial power?

The next second the black screen suddenly lit up, revealing another world.

Fertile fields, well-fed people, and schools everywhere jumped by, just like a god casting a glance from the sky, watching the joys and sorrows of the world.

Oh, sorry, there is no sadness, only joy.

That was what it looked like in the prosperous times, and it was even more beautiful than imagined. Even the most ordinary civilian tables had meat on them. Children are practicing calligraphy on the sand, old people are lying on rocking chairs under the trees, and adults returning from their busy days say goodbye with a smile.

Not a starved corpse, not a ragged piece of clothing, not an ongoing war.

The scene changed again, passing by a towering city wall, with the inscription: [Yongdu].

The courtiers started talking "Hua-".

Old ministers like Chen Yushi were already in tears: "This is the Yong Kingdom, our Yong Kingdom."

Can our Yong Kingdom really become like this? That old minister is really satisfied even if he closes his eyes now.

The picture passes through the streets and alleys, passes through numerous palace gates, and finally stops in the court meeting hall.

The courtiers were a little strange. The structure of the city was not like that of Yongdu, and the palace and the main hall were not very similar to the place where they were staying. Is that really the Yongdu they thought it was?

But soon they turned into ecstasy, because above the big curtain, in another Yong Kingdom, their familiar faces suddenly appeared.

Chen Yushi, Mr. Liu, Mr. Wang, Nie Shiyun...

And Nan Huaijin, who also stood at the forefront of the courtiers and belonged to the prime minister's position, looked very young.

"Brother Nine Emperors!" Shen Yourong screamed.

The courtiers were suddenly stunned and boldly looked directly at the emperor's face on the light screen.

Is this the former Ninth Prince? Could it be that the Yong Kingdom on the light screen was so prosperous and wealthy because the emperor was different?

The veterans thought thoughtfully, if this was the case, it would not be impossible to change the emperor.

The younger courtiers are looking around, trying to find their own figures on the light screen. If they find them, they will let out a small exclamation, and then guess their official positions based on their positions.

A voice came from the light screen:

[Minister Han Li sued Nan Huaijin, the right minister of the government, for forming a clique for personal gain and intending to commit rebellion! 】

Right Prime Minister? Not the Prime Minister?

This crime was more serious than what Han Li said just now, and everyone looked at the figure kneeling in front of them with their peripheral vision.

Good guy, you are a traitor no matter where you are.

Nan Huaijin: Ha.

He laughed at himself, no matter where he was, Yong State could not tolerate him.

*

Shen Xiaojiu felt that he must be the happiest emperor. His only job every day was to go through the motions during the morning court.

Although it was a bit painful to get up early, nothing could ever be perfect, and he was already very satisfied.

There is no need for him to worry about the morning meeting, he only needs to nod his head responsibly, and his two almighty prime ministers and teachers will take care of other things.

Shen Xiaojiu originally thought that today would be such an ordinary and boring day, but he saw a courtier below stood up and said very impassionedly: "Your Majesty, Han Li, is suing Nan Huaijin, the right minister of the government, for forming a clique for personal gain and intending to commit rebellion! "

Shen Xiaojiu: "???"

Shen Xiaojiu's eyes widened.

It seemed like an idiot had wandered into his court, which was full of talented people.

The courtiers were also stunned, and many even reached out to rub their ears or pinch themselves in a daze.

Either I heard wrongly or I was dreaming. People can't, or at least shouldn't be, stupid like this.

Nie Shiyun, who was leaning against the pillar and sleeping with his eyes squinted, suddenly woke up: "What? What the hell?"

He rolled up his sleeves, rushed out and punched Han Li who was kneeling on the ground, "You dare to slander Huai Jin? Who are you?"

He could not bring weapons to court, but he still had fists.

The scene was a bit chaotic, and even Nan Huaijin, the person involved, was stunned for a moment and could not react for a while. He has indeed not experienced this kind of thing for more than ten years. It is not only very unfamiliar, but also a bit novel.

But we can’t let the general continue to beat officials violently, right? Typing the question would be breaking the law.

Nan Huaijin hurriedly stopped him: "Nie Shiyun, stop."

Nie Shiyun listened to Nan Huaijin's words. He punched two more times and stopped before he could finish his punch: "Huaijin, I have to hold back my strength."

The implication is that no human life can be spared.

Nan Huaijin felt helpless and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, are you just watching?"

Shen Xiaojiu was the younger brother he had watched grow up, and he was the only younger brother who had Shen Minghuan's permission to call that person "brother emperor". This was more of an endearment, and therefore not very respectful. To an uninformed person, it might be misunderstood as a threat.

"Ah, oh."

Shen Xiaojiu still hasn't recovered from the disbelief, "This person, Han Li, right? He slandered the right prime minister and ordered..."

"Your Majesty." Nan Huaijin was even more helpless: "You should check it out."

"Oh, okay, then leave this matter to the right minister."

"I must avoid suspicion."

Shen Xiaojiu nodded obediently: "Okay, then leave it to Zhang Yushi."

Zhang Yushi, one of Zhou Yan's disciples, everyone knows that he admires the right prime minister the most.

Zhang Yushi came out: "I accept the order."

He bowed slightly to Nan Huaijin, and then gave Han Li a "friendly" smile on the ground.

Oh, it’s about to end.

The courtiers looked back and even felt a little sorry for the right minister. I was standing still at the National People's Congress in the morning, and I was bitten by a dog for no reason. What an injustice.

Shen Xiaojiu finally felt comfortable watching the guards drag Han Li out. My court is still full of talented people, all of whom are elites.

*

Outside the light curtain, the courtiers looked at each other.

There was another member they were looking at out of the corner of their eyes - they had never seen before that Lord Nie Shiyun was so flattering.

Nie Shiyun's face was twisted, was that really him? It was so unsightly that he even despised himself.

Chen Yushi pointed at Nan Huaijin and cursed: "You thief, you will not die in peace!"

The Yong Kingdom on the light screen is his dream, the place where all his beautiful things are embodied. How can he tolerate any imperfection? Judging from the scene just now, Nan Huaijin actually controlled the entire court. No one in the court dared to say a bad word about him, even His Majesty had to look at his face.

If this man destroys his Yong Kingdom, he will risk his life to drag Nan Huaijin to death with him!

Nan Huaijin listened to the dirty words in his ears and quietly looked up at the light curtain.

*

In Dayong, the weather is smooth, the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and there are no troubles to deal with. The officials had no intention of scheming. No matter how much they fought, they could not get past the two prime ministers.

People like to gossip when they have free time.

After going to court, a very young official followed his elder and said, "Father, I don't understand."

The middle-aged man stroked his beard and said, "It's your first time going to court today. It's normal that there are things you don't understand. Please tell me. What specifically do you have doubts about?"

The young man didn't know how to describe it, "That Han Li..."

The middle-aged official pulled off a handful of his beard with all his strength.

He was still shocked: "Where did this Han Li come from? My son, you must not learn from this. In this court, you must know who you must not mess with."

A friend from the side came over and said, "I just found out that he is Liu Shangshu's son-in-law. Liu Shangshu is such a daughter, and she has to marry this Han Li life and death. Liu Shangshu has no choice but to sell favors everywhere to promote him. As a result, it was such a big surprise when I went to court for the first time today.”

"He is indeed a talented person. Is Liu Shangshu so angry?"

"Isn't it? I just heard that Liu Shangshu said that he wanted his daughter to reconcile with Han Li, otherwise she would be kicked out of the house."

It must have been too long since there was anything interesting going on in the court, so the two officials laughed at Han Li. The young man stood aside pitifully, unable to get a word in at all.

*

Nan Huaijin, who must not be offended:...

Courtiers:…

We are all literati, so we can naturally tell what the two people in the light screen mean by [talent] and [surprise]. But the strange thing is that from the tone of these two people, it seems that they don't dislike Nan Huaijin that much?

This is a bit funny. Could it be that what they just saw with their own eyes was that Nan Huaijin was not intimidating the Holy Emperor, but was exchanging feelings?

So these two people can't offend Nan Huaijin, not because Nan Huaijin has great power, but because of the emperor's favor?

You can't make up lies like this.

Just as I was thinking about it, the light screen happened to be talking about this matter.

*

The young man said: "No wonder my father always told me to respect the two prime ministers more. Your Majesty really loves and trusts the right prime minister."

The two middle-aged men looked at him with an indescribable look, shook their heads and sighed: "Young, too young."

young people:? ? ?

Is not it?

"What does this mean? The two prime ministers have restrained themselves a lot in recent years. If the late emperor was here, how could anyone dare to say anything wrong to these two adults?"

The two middle-aged men sighed together. Shen Minghuan treated Nan Huaijin and Xie Zhifei so well that it made people jealous.

The young man asked curiously: "Did the late emperor also favor and trust the two prime ministers?"

His father told him: "That is not favor, that is trust. As a father, I still can't figure it out. Although the two prime ministers have the talents of kings and assistants, how could the late emperor be so confident that he even dared to entrust the government to them?"

His friend smiled and said: "Because that is the late emperor. With the late emperor's ability, there is nothing he dare not do."

Their tone was one of complete reverence and nostalgia.

"Son, it's a good thing that you are my son, otherwise I wouldn't be able to tell you this matter."

The middle-aged man asked mysteriously: "What do you think of His Majesty today?"

The young man answered honestly: "Uncle Chen said that since the unification of Kyushu and the founding of the Yong Dynasty, the world has been governed for ten years. Now the world is at peace, and the people are prosperous. Among them... Your Majesty has no merit."

"Ahem, cough, cough." The middle-aged man was almost frightened to death by him: "Don't say this outside."

The old friend next to him blushed: "Hui'er, you don't have to learn every word of Uncle Chen's words."

The young man nodded: "I know, I told my father and Uncle Chen directly."

The middle-aged man looked around like a thief, and then lowered his voice: "Uncle Chen is right, but your Majesty has one great advantage - he has no ambitions and is obedient."

He said it sincerely, but for the emperor, such a description could not be considered a compliment.

"When the late emperor selected your majesty as the crown prince, he also specifically asked your majesty to worship the two prime ministers as his disciples and offer them tea. Not only that, the late emperor also gave the two prime ministers the military power of the four major military camps. He said in public that if they were not satisfied Your Majesty, you can change it to another one.”

"If you ask my father, the late Emperor, how much trust he placed in the two prime ministers, you can see from this incident. When the late emperor was in power, no one dared to offend the prime minister. After the late emperor left, he was afraid that the prime minister would be wronged, so he made a special trip to plan a lot for them. Backhand."

The young man was so fascinated when he heard it that he wished he could replace it with his own body.

The two laughed at him: "Are you envious? Are you jealous? Just bear with it. In less than two years, the late emperor unified the nine provinces, divine civilization and martial arts. I don't know how many talented people came all the way to join him, and they were willing to be driven by him. Your current ability is still second to none." No number."

As they spoke, they became melancholy. The official surnamed Chen said: "Hui'er, do you know why I say that your Majesty has no merit? It's because of the late emperor."

"His legacy will shine through the ages, and Mianze will last for generations. Now, we are just following the path set by the late emperor twenty years ago."

"I know that since you were a child, you should have learned many poems and essays praising the late emperor, but those articles cannot fully describe the late emperor's style. Unfortunately, I am not very talented and cannot tell you about it."

"If I can be a ruler and minister with the late emperor for a day, I will have no regrets in this life."

*

Kyushu unified? It only took less than two years? Ten years to rule the world?

The courtiers were stunned by one surprise after another. They took a deep breath and wished they could get into the light curtain to see who the late emperor was.

What kind of person is he who deserves such a level of praise? If the man in the scene speaks from his heart, then what kind of magnificence must this man have?

Anyway, it won't be Shen Wei, nor the former fourth prince, nor the current twelfth prince.

Nan Huaijin couldn't understand the light screen more and more. If the method wasn't too mysterious, he would have suspected someone was up to something.

Or is it that Nan Huaijin over there just happens to look the same as him and have the same name?

He was a slave in the first half of his life, and was full of infamy in the second half of his life. How could a lowly person like him deserve someone who would take care of him in all aspects and trust him with the country and the country?

Nan Huaijin over there must be a talented person with bright clothes and beautiful scenery, who never knows what it is like to be sad in his life.

There was a good friend like Nie Shiyun protecting him, and there was also such a wise and mighty king who gave him a chance to retaliate.

Probably sensing the curiosity of the people present, the light curtain turned to Nan Huaijin who came out of the hall at the right time.

*

"You are already a general, why are you still so unstable?"

Nie Shiyun felt aggrieved: "Then he can't slander you, Huaijin. If His Majesty were here, he would have asked me to beat him."

Even though Shen Minghuan passed away many years ago, they still stubbornly call him Your Majesty.

Nan Huaijin laughed angrily: "So you are still reasonable? Nie Shiyun, if Han Li is beaten by you, you can go to the heavenly prison and live there."

"Just stay." Nie Shiyun snorted: "I promised Your Majesty that I will not let you be wronged again. When you were young, you suffered enough wrongs because of Shen Wei."

The painful and gloomy memory was too long ago. Nan Huaijin could no longer recall what it felt like when those instruments of torture from the Shenxing Division were hit on his body. He smiled and said, "It's all over."

Nie Shiyun pestered him and returned to Nanfu. There was already someone waiting for them in the living room.

Xie Zhifei smiled slightly: "I heard that Your Majesty the Right Prime Minister was accused of forming a clique for personal gain today? Your Majesty will not be implicated in your visit this time, right?"

Nan Huaijin also chuckled: "Then I have no choice but to say sorry and ask Mr. Zuo to go to the Western Regions to avoid the limelight."

The two of them always talked in a shady and arrogant way, and Yu Wenshan and Nie Shiyun looked at each other sympathetically and shrank back to the corner.

The two had a routine friendly exchange and finally got down to business.

Xie Zhifei took a sip of tea and said, "Two more countries in the Western Region have surrendered. Their envoys will return to Yongdu in a while. Your right minister, please remember to arrange for someone to receive them."

Nan Huaijin's hand shaking as he poured the tea said, "Xie Zizheng! There are a lot of official affairs in the court, can you stop running away all the time? Dayong's territory is already very large. Do you know how difficult it is to manage the Western Region when it is so far away?"

"No way? Your Majesty, Your Majesty, once praised you as a minister with both ability and political integrity. Can't you handle this matter well?"

"Your Majesty, Mr. Zuo Xiang, is a rare talent that can only be seen in a century. How dare you do anything in front of Zuo Xiang?"

It started again, Yu Wenshan and Nie Shiyun were trembling, for fear of being affected.

Nan Huaijin snorted: "No matter what, you must stay and help me next."

Xie Zhifei finished the tea and said, "Your Majesty the Prime Minister has given orders, and I dare not disobey them."

Nan Huaijin couldn't bear it anymore, "What's wrong with you? Although Dayong has respected the right since ancient times, the left and right prime ministers are equals. Do you have to be both an adult and a subordinate!"

"There is a difference between superiority and inferiority." Xie Zhifei glanced at Nan Huaijin, "Since you said so, fine, I won't listen to you anymore. I will set off tomorrow to go to the sea."

Nan Huaijin put down the cup heavily: "You are not allowed to go. You want to die for your country, and you want to see His Majesty first? Xie Zizheng, you have a good idea!"

They were noisy, and outside the mansion, the father and son just now also passed by Nanfu in a carriage.

The father took his children out of the carriage and bowed slightly to the plaque that read "Nanfu".

"Okay, let's go back."

"Father, I will definitely follow the example of the two prime ministers and work hard."

The middle-aged man laughed loudly, "Then you have to work hard. When the Right Prime Minister was your age, he was already able to help the late emperor eliminate King Dun and handle the government affairs; when the Left Prime Minister was as old as you, he was able to accompany I'll take His Majesty to the battlefield and defeat the Jin Kingdom in half a year. You still have a lot to learn."

The carriage gradually drove away, and the sounds inside dispersed into the wind.

"Alas, Dayong is so prosperous and powerful now that no one is needed to turn the tide, so many people have forgotten how dazzling the two prime ministers were years ago."

"Ten years ago, the world was far from this."

"They are people who can create a prosperous age with the late emperor."

*

Nie Shiyun rubbed his eyes, then his ears, and then looked at Nan Huaijin.

Let’s not talk about other things for now, but—he became a general? Is he a general? !

Nan Huaijin's back suddenly bent.

Shen Wei, and the familiar Nanfu... That is indeed him, but that is not him.

He didn't have such good luck.

Chen Yushi was silent for a moment, "You created a prosperous age, Nan Huaijin, how did you do it?"

The courtiers all looked up at him with complicated expressions. Is Nan Huaijin so powerful?

If they all listen to him in the future and don't hold him back, can he lead them to create another prosperous era?

And the left prime minister on the light screen...

They didn't know who the late emperor was, and he was probably gone by the time, but the appearance of the left prime minister was clear.

Seeing that Zuo Xiang and Nan Huaijin have a good relationship, can they use this friendship to win over them?

Shen Yourong clenched his fists, and his mind was full of middle-aged people saying that the emperor's advantages were "no ambition and obedience".

After a long while, he gritted his teeth and stood up, walked to Nan Huaijin and knelt down again.

With the dignity of an emperor, he knelt before his ministers.

He said: "Prime Minister, I entrust the Yong Kingdom to you."

*

The appearance of the light curtain seemed to be the god inadvertently leaking the secret. When the god reacted and took back the magic weapon, the light screen slowly disappeared.

First it dimmed, then bit by bit it turned into nothingness.

The figure that had faded to the point of being invisible opened its lips. After they finished speaking, this fateful show of mercy also came to an end.

[Zizheng, do you think we have now... achieved the prosperous age His Majesty wanted? 】

[...I am stupid and mediocre, and I can only do this if I try my best. If Your Majesty is not satisfied, let him come back in person. 】

[That's right, he said that he will watch us. 】