The Devil's Tribulation

In Panjia Village, Uncle Niu looked at Pan Chengfeng, and suddenly his tone changed, and asked: "You ran back today?" Pan Chengfeng said seriously: "How is it possible! How dare I run back without Master's permission?" Uncle Niu thought: "Is there anything you dare not do?" But he didn't say more about this topic, and asked another question: "Have you been out and got into trouble recently?" Pan Chengfeng's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be that my cultivation business was known? Impossible! Something related to Master? Could it be that you ran back secretly? But looking at Master's expression, it doesn't seem like this."

After thinking for a while, Pan Chengfeng shook his head and said, "No, my disciple has been working hard recently, otherwise his realm would not have improved so quickly." Uncle Niu thought for a while and felt that if this disciple really got into trouble and involved him, he would definitely tell him. Maybe he was just being too suspicious. Uncle Niu sat for a while and felt that his disciple would not lie to him, so he said, "Okay, it's okay, you continue to work hard. Try to enter the Flesh Refining Realm as soon as possible." Pan Chengfeng nodded and asked, "Master, don't you want to eat before you leave?" Uncle Niu shook his head and said, "Today is your master's wife's birthday. I want to go home for dinner. You can eat by yourself." Last time, he gave his wife a necklace and bracelet, and his wife was very obedient to him. Now the two of them feel like they are in love again, and they are inseparable.

Uncle Niu went back after he finished speaking. Pan Chengfeng muttered, "Master, why did you suddenly come to ask this? Did I really get into trouble? No?" Pan Chengfeng couldn't think of what he had gotten into. If he couldn't figure it out, he would stop thinking about it. This was Pan Chengfeng's usual principle. Eating was important, so he immediately lit a fire and cooked. The two of them didn't know what happened, because it happened in the capital, tens of thousands of kilometers away from Li County. How could the master and apprentice know?

In a magnificent palace in the capital, a middle-aged man wearing a dragon robe with a five-clawed golden dragon was sitting on a dragon rider, reviewing memorials one by one, with the chief eunuch serving on the side. A young eunuch rushed in, but was glared at by the chief eunuch as soon as he entered the door, so he was afraid and prepared to leave. The middle-aged man's majestic voice sounded: "Tell me what's the matter." The chief eunuch then walked down, took the memorial from the young eunuch's hand, took a look, and his hand trembled slightly. This small action could not be hidden from the middle-aged man. The man knew that the chief eunuch beside him was a man who had seen a lot of storms and would definitely not have this reaction to a small matter. So he said: "Play!" The chief eunuch shuddered, and a slightly sharp voice sounded: "Your Majesty, it's news about the fifteenth prince."

Yes, the middle-aged man is the Emperor of the Great Zhou Kingdom, Zhou Zhixiong. After listening to the eunuch's report, Zhou Zhixiong slapped the table and said in a low voice: "This rebellious son!" All the eunuchs and palace maids around knelt down and trembled. At this time, if you are scared to pee or fart, you will be sentenced to death! The palace was silent. After a few breaths, the Emperor of the Great Zhou suddenly asked: "Where is it?" The eunuch reported: "It was the prefect of Fancheng. He received a report from a county magistrate saying that a dagger with the royal emblem was found in Li County." The Emperor of the Great Zhou thought to himself: "It's that dagger, it should be right." After thinking for a while, the emperor ordered: "Call the third prince."

After half an hour, a young man who looked about the same as Uncle Niu walked into the hall, bowed deeply to the emperor on the dragon throne, and said loudly: "Your son pays homage to the emperor, long live the emperor!" Zhou Zhixiong looked up at his third son, who was the son he was most satisfied with except for the crown prince. So his tone became much softer: "Jun'er, get up." Zhou Shijun stood up, but still bowed his body, waiting for his father's instructions. He knew that his father wanted him to come here, and he must have a task for him, and he was very happy. Sure enough, after waiting for a while, Zhou Zhixiong said: "Your fifteenth brother has been found, you go and bring him back." Zhou Shijun was stunned, and secretly complained: "What's going on? Asking me to pick up the fifteenth brother? Leaving Beijing at this critical moment is not a good thing!"

As if he could see that his son was somewhat reluctant, His Majesty the Emperor continued, "Last year, the vassal states presented a batch of good mounts. You can go pick one first." The Third Prince felt a little relieved after hearing this. He bowed his hands and thanked the Emperor, "Thank you, Father, for the reward!" After thanking the Emperor, it was time to get down to business. The Third Prince asked, "Where is the Fifteenth Brother? I'll bring him back and apologize to the Emperor!" The Emperor glanced at the eunuch, who understood and bowed his hands to the Third Prince, saying, "The Fifteenth Prince should be in Fancheng. This is a memorial submitted by Prefect Lu of Fancheng a month ago." The Third Prince glanced at His Majesty the Emperor, and when he saw the Emperor nod, he took the memorial and opened it to read. He read ten lines at a glance, closed the memorial, and said with a look of resentment, "This old Fifteenth! He is too ignorant. He actually ran to such a far place! Is he not going to come back?" After hearing the Third Prince's words, His Majesty the Emperor also looked displeased. No matter how much the royal family had wronged him, he had no right to leave without saying goodbye. He had the blood of the royal family in his veins, even if he died! I will die in this imperial city!

Seeing his father's displeasure, the third prince immediately changed the subject and said, "Father, my mother's birthday is next month, and I'm afraid I won't be able to make it back. I hope you can spare some time to spend her birthday with her." The third prince, who had just flattered Uncle Niu, immediately fought for an opportunity for his mother. Although the Emperor of the Great Zhou was not lustful, in order to have more children, women were indispensable. There was one queen, four imperial concubines, and not to mention concubines. The third prince was the son of Concubine Xian, one of the four imperial concubines.

The emperor thought about it and seemed to remember it. It seemed that he had not seen his imperial concubines for a long time. For the sake of state affairs, this emperor who worked hard to govern the country had not been close to women for a long time. Thinking of his queen and concubines, his heart was warmed. He immediately ordered: "Zhao Quan, on the birthday of Concubine Xian, please arrange a banquet at her place. Invite the queen, Concubine Shu, Concubine Yan and Concubine Zhengui to have fun together." For the sake of the country, Zhou Zhixiong has always been very frugal. This time, in order to celebrate Concubine Xian's birthday, a family banquet was held, which was considered to be a great respect for the third prince. The third prince was happy at first, but when he heard the following words, he complained in his heart: "Why did you bring those people too?" But his face was still full of joy, and he bowed to express his gratitude: "Your son thanks your father for his grace on behalf of your mother!"

The third prince walked out of the palace, thinking about this lousy job, and finally sighed helplessly: "It's all the fault of the fifteenth prince! At this critical moment, this prince has to run so far! This round trip will take at least two months, and I don't know what changes will happen in the capital!" Just as he was muttering, he heard a voice that he hated: "Third brother, what's wrong? Mumbling?" The third prince was startled, turned around and bowed, saying: "Meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." The person who came was the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Kingdom, and the second brother of the third prince, Zhou Shijun. There is a "jun" in the name, and the emperor's intention was very clear when he named this son. The crown prince is also the son of the queen, a legitimate son! His status is much more noble than the third prince. So the third prince has always been very well-behaved in front of the crown prince. However, no matter how much he hates it in his heart, he can't suppress it. When the third prince heard the crown prince's question, he smiled and said: "It's nothing, it's just that my father gave me an errand, and I have to arrange it immediately." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's eyes turned, knowing that it must not be a good job, otherwise the third prince would not have this expression.

The crown prince patted the third prince on the shoulder and said, "Since it is an errand given by our father, you should hurry up and do it." After that, he went straight into the palace. When the third prince saw the crown prince go directly into the palace without being summoned, anyone could see the jealousy in his eyes. In the entire Great Zhou Kingdom, only the crown prince did not need to be summoned to see the emperor. The third prince hurried back to his mansion, and as soon as he arrived at his own mansion, he could not help himself. He slapped his palm on the table and said in an angry and low voice: "What a thing! Isn't it just because your mother is the queen? Apart from this, how else are you better than me?! You are always hanging around in front of me! Showing off your power! That position will be mine sooner or later! It's mine! Just wait and see!"

After collecting his thoughts, the Third Prince suddenly laughed: "Fifteenth brother, fifteenth brother, why did you show up at any other time? Why did you show up at this time? Don't blame me for making a fuss about you! If I can follow the expedition to the Great Chu this time, I will have the opportunity to get to know those generals and build my own power! This way I will be one step closer to that position!" The Great Zhou Kingdom is ready to go to the Great Chu again. Several princes are secretly competing with each other, all wanting to get some benefits in this national war. Although Emperor Zhou Zhixiong knew about the actions of several princes, he did not stop them, because he himself had been through this. If one cannot stand out in the cruel struggle, then this emperor is definitely not qualified. Besides, he has so many sons, and he would not feel bad if a few of them died. There is no family affection in the royal family.

After the third prince returned home, the prince also met the emperor, his own father. Looking at his father on the dragon throne, the prince straightened his clothes, knelt down and said, "Your son pays homage to your father." After that, he kowtowed. Even in formal occasions, the prince does not need to perform grand ceremony, after all, he is the crown prince, the candidate for the next emperor. However, the prince has always been well-behaved and performed all the necessary ceremonies. The emperor looked up and said casually, "The prince is here. Come and take a look at this memorial. It was sent from the border." As soon as you hear the emperor's tone, you can tell how much the emperor likes this prince. The prince stood up, walked to the emperor, picked up the memorial and looked at it for a while, and asked in confusion, "So, it seems that the State of Chu is ready to fight a protracted war with us? This is very disadvantageous for our Great Zhou." The prince thought for a while and said, "The same is true for the State of Qi. At this time, they are also sending troops to the border. Does the State of Qi want to get a piece of the pie?"

Listening to the words of the prince, His Majesty Emperor Zhou Zhixiong laughed for the first time and said, "The emperor of Qi is still young, and the power is in the hands of others. This should be the idea of ​​the prime minister. But we can't underestimate this person. Although Qi has increased its troops at the border, I don't think they dare to wade into this muddy water! It's just a show. I think the envoys of Qi will come soon." As he was speaking, the eunuch outside the hall came in and reported something to Zhao Quan. After listening, Zhao Quan nodded, turned around and reported to the emperor, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites, Mr. Chen, came up with a letter saying that the envoys of Qi have arrived." The prince was shocked: "Qi is coming to ask for benefits?" His Majesty nodded and ordered, "Tell Minister Chen to leave them alone for a few days."