is mad

four

Time passed like this, and in the second year, the nine-year-old child was taken by his grandmother, Queen Mother Zhou, to raise him.The emperor, concubine Wan Gui, and ministers all breathed a sigh of relief, and then were very unhappy about the other party's relief.

Then in March of this year, when the Jurchen committed crimes, Wang Zhi wanted to go to the front line, but was scolded by Concubine Wan Gui, who said that good iron would not be nailed, and a good man should not be a soldier. Are you blind?

Wang Zhi was so angry that he lifted his foot out of Zhaode Palace and didn't come back for three months.

He nestled in his mansion outside the palace angrily, working angrily, and performing angrily, trying to make the martial arts examinations that are in name only like Wenju, there are township examinations, palace examinations, and Jinshi backgrounds.Probably the emperor felt that the last time he was so obstinate and refused to let him go to Liaodong, it might hurt his heart a little, so he agreed with the matter of martial arts—unexpectedly, it was really very useful, that is It's a later story, just press it and don't mention it.

In May, he thought about going to Liaodong again, but his intuition told him that he couldn't do it like last time, and had to use another way to outsmart him.

But he couldn't figure out how to outsmart him. He thought about it all day and night, and today he was so tired of thinking, he slipped to the study room, just in between classes, saw him come in, and slipped away with great interest as a companion, leaving him alone. and Zhu Youtang.

The weather was so hot that he couldn't bear the heat, so he opened his collar carelessly, sat cross-legged on a cool stone table in the pavilion, stretched out his hand, and pulled Zhu Youtang into his arms like a dog. On top of Zhu Youtang's head.

Zhu Youtang's body was weak and his whole body was cold. He ran into the palace with a hot face, and sighed against his slender neck, which was as smooth as jade.

Zhu Youtang sat upright on his knees, tried his best to look up at him, and asked him what was wrong in a soft voice.He stroked Zhu Youtang's slender throat like a cat, sighed old-fashionedly, and said that you children should not ask about us adults.

Zhu Youtang blinked, pulled his sleeve, looked at him with round almond eyes, and said timidly, brother, tell me...

"..." Wang looked straight at him.

"..." Zhu Youtang looked at him.

Wang Zhiru found a treasure, "Say it again!"

"Brother... you tell me...?" the child repeated suspiciously.

"Again."

Something was wrong with Wang Zhi, Zhu Youtang wanted to jump off his knee, but was held down by the young man, although Wang Zhi was spoiled, but he was very rough, he was pulling his arm and was about to say so high, you fell carefully!Zhu Youtang let out a weak hey.

He let go of his hand immediately, the child was ashamed but fell to the ground safely, he also jumped down, holding his hand carefully, not daring to touch the place he grabbed just now, frowning and looking at his pale face, after a while He whispered: "...Did I hurt you?"

"No, I twisted it myself." Zhu Youtang shook his head, there was a fine layer of sweat beads on his forehead, Wang Zhi couldn't believe it, he opened his sleeve, and saw that the place he had just scratched was bruised and purple.

He forgot that Zhu Youtang was originally such a fragile child.

Getting sick more easily than others, falling over from normal frolics among children, bruising if you pinch your wrists too hard—he forgot.

Seeing him in a daze, Zhu Youtang hurriedly put down his sleeves, but coaxed him and said, "It's okay, when grandma sees me at night, she will tell him that I accidentally knocked myself down, and she will tell me a few words at most."

Wang Zhi scratched his head and pulled out a strand of broken hair that was sticking out of the official hat. He said shyly, then I'll get you some Zhao Ziang's horses tomorrow, don't you like it?

He has a young heart, guilt is real, but it comes and goes faster, he squats down, is as tall as Zhu Youtang, and is very persistent: "Well...you say it again."

Zhu Youtang sighed maturely, and pretended to coax the child himself: "Brother, tell me."

Wang clapped his hands.

That's right, that's the arc, the eyes, the tone.Once he learns, he will be able to outsmart him!

With certainty in mind, he happily picked up Zhu Youtang and walked out. If it was normal, the child would put on a straight face and scold him, saying what is it like, let me down.But not this time, he just said you stop.Wang Zhi stopped, and the child put one hand on his shoulder, leaned forward, gently tucked the strand of hair on his forehead into the hat, and smiled with satisfaction.

The green shade is like jade, the sun is like gold, and the smiles of little children are like snow-colored flowers blooming in it.

Wang Zhi looked at him and thought to himself, I'm going to Liaodong, I want to win, and then took him to the top of the capital city, and said to him, did you see, there are all mountains and rivers that my brother fought for you.

In June of the 14th year of Chenghua, Wang Zhi finally persuaded the emperor to give him an edict that he could act cheaply. The 15-year-old Quan Huan left the capital and went to Liaodong.

He got his wish and threw himself into the blood and fire.

The boy who everyone thought was just a gadget in front of the emperor showed a rare military genius.

Going out of the town of Liaodong to discuss the three guards of Jianzhou, killing the two Jurchen leaders Li Manzhu and Dong Shan, they won the great victory of Jianzhou, making the mighty Jurchen, who threatened to invade the border, bow their heads and surrender. The two groups have been fighting for more than 50 years.

He was promoted to be the fourth-rank eunuch of the Royal Horse Supervisor, with a salary of 36 shi, and the governor of the [-]th regiment, becoming the first eunuch in the entire Ming Dynasty to truly hold military power.

In the 15th year of Liaodong's peace and Chenghua, he supervised the army in Datong and found out where the Mongolian royal court was. spared.

In Liaodong and Mongolia, he plowed the courtyard and swept the caves, and made great achievements—and Wang Zhi was only 17 years old when he did all this.

Wang Zhi went back to Beijing proudly, a set of triumphant red tape was completed, and once back to Zhaode Palace, Concubine Wan Gui yelled, saying how my Ah Zhi is so skinny and dark, oh, let me see, this Why do you have scars on your face?It's okay, it's okay, I didn't hurt my eyes, and I didn't lose my appearance.

The big fat woman, who had begun to enter her old age, coaxed him to eat the bird's nest, but he turned his head, no, I want meat.

Concubine Wan Gui was panting with anger, scolding him for twisting the meat on his arm, Wang Zhi followed her to twist, happily eating roast goose and braised puffer fish, while Concubine Wan Gui ji waiwai peeled pepper vinegar shrimp for him .

After dinner, Concubine Wan Gui led him into the house mysteriously, and said, Ah Zhi, you are not young anymore, I will show you a few people, they are all from Jinyiwei, good people who know everything, take a look .

Wang Zhi was particularly interested. He leaned his head to look at the scrolls that Concubine Wan Gui held out, and opened them. The girls in the paintings were delicate, pretty, and elegant, but they all looked the same.

He praised this and that, and Concubine Wan Gui was very happy, saying that you choose and tell me when you have chosen.

At this time, the emperor Diandian came to join in the fun, and then the couple quarreled again without hesitation.

Concubine Wan Gui insisted on letting him come back, saying that Ah Zhi had made such a great contribution and must come back. The emperor persuaded him earnestly, saying that Ah Zhi was needed outside now, and there would be no harm in letting him practice more.

Concubine Wan Gui spouted like all ordinary women who favor children, I don't care.

Wang Zhi picked out his ears, hummed a ditty, picked up the scroll, and walked to the East Palace while the palace gate was unlocked.

From the beginning of this year, Zhu Youtang lived in the East Palace by himself. Wang Zhi came in unimpeded all the way, quite satisfied: Well, this screen was given by him the year before last, these calligraphy and paintings were given by him last year, and the piano was given to him when he was a child. Yes, um, happy.

Then he opened the bead curtain, and when he saw the man standing in the study, he was so satisfied that his heart was bursting with joy.

The moon-white gown embroidered with thundercloud patterns was the fabric he sent over for the New Year this year.

His little prince was comforted and placed under his wing.

Zhu Youtang quietly turned his head, smiled at him, and called out, brother.

Children who are almost 12 years old are born mature, and they hardly have the childishness of children, only the handsomeness of teenagers and the maturity that does not meet their age.

He looked at Wang Zhi, whom he hadn't seen for more than two years, before he could figure out how to be polite to him, he was dragged over by Wang Zhi, "Come, come, come and see beauties with me!"

Zhu Youtang was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud.

Wang Zhiqing's madness has not changed, and he has a youthful heart.

He lowered his head and looked together with him, seeing one beautiful girl after another on the unfolded scroll.

Zhu Youtang teased him that the empress was about to choose a daughter-in-law.

Wang Zhi said, which one do you think is better?

"I think it's all good." After speaking, he suddenly asked, "Brother wants to marry a wife?"

"Ah, a little bit." He let out a breath, "I kind of like the kind of empress and grandpa. Noisy, lively life."

He suddenly felt a little melancholy, "If it weren't for the palace, grandpa and empress would be the most loving couple in the world."

Zhu Youtang lowered his eyes and did not speak, and the feeling of melancholy lasted for a moment. Wang Zhi said "uh", and looked at the scroll in his hand again. At first, he was very interested, but in the end he was bored. He threw the scroll and sat on the couch. , "Forget it. People are different from paintings, forget it."

Zhu Youtang tilted his head to look at him, and said slowly, "Brother doesn't like it?"

"Where does it matter whether you like it or not, no one has seen it, forget it."

"Oh." Zhu Youtang already vaguely looked like an adult, he sat next to Wang Zhi, suddenly frowned, and said, why are you hurt?

"Go to the battlefield, Your Highness, swords don't have eyes."

Zhu Youtang was silent for a while, "Then don't go."

"Are you kidding me? If I don't go to Hetao, who will guard it? Seeing that the Tatars are going to invade the border, after Datong is the hinterland of the Central Plains, let the Mongols knock on the city gate again?"

Talking about his grandfather's scandal, Zhu Youtang was silent, but Wang Zhi didn't care much. He raised his head and said to him as if he remembered something, "Lady of the Eastern Palace, don't sleep around."

Zhu Youtang looked at him in shock, his white jade-like face flushed slightly, Wang Zhi looked at him very seriously, "You are young now, your body is weak, and you can't control your sexuality. Don't tell me you are not good for your health. Give it back to me." The speaker keeps the handle."

At this time, the prince finally felt a little helpless that a young man should have, he said in a low voice, "I won't..."

Wang Zhi suddenly held his chin to look at him, Zhu Youtang was a little scared by him, and he backed up a little.

Wang Zhi suddenly said, "It would be great if you were a princess."

The redness on the young man's face became heavier. He lowered his head and looked at his toes, "Even if I'm a princess, I won't marry you."

"...Indeed." He nodded, thought for a while, and suddenly clapped his hands, "No, there is a way!"

He looked at Zhu Youtang with great interest, and said, "If you are a princess, then I will go to the Supervisor of Ceremonies. I must be the one to choose a husband for you. Then I will choose a tuberculosis ghost for you, and that's it."

Zhu Youtang felt that this way of thinking was a bit weird, and he couldn't keep up with it.

Wang Zhi went on to say, look, I will choose a tuberculosis ghost for you, and I will guarantee that you will be a widow right after you marry, and I will take care of your princess mansion, right?

Zhu Youtang nodded blankly.

Wang Zhi leaned on the back of the chair and looked at him with a smile. The young man was handsome and insane, with vigorous eyes and brows. He said, then I can occupy you.

Zhu Youtang shook his hand, and something fell to the ground.

Wang Zhi felt that he had told a perfect joke, so triumphantly, he turned around and ran out, saying, what kind of supper do you have here?I'm hungry.

Zhu Youtang leaned over slowly and picked it up, but it turned out to be a jade hairpin, which had been broken into two pieces. He held it in his hand, and after a moment of silence, he raised his voice and said, "There are soufflés, do you want to eat them?"

Wang Zhi said lightly from outside, okay, let's eat together.

☆, the fifth time

五

Wang Zhi left Beijing, forgetting about Concubine Wan Gui and the emperor who had been arguing all the way.

——Concubine Wan Gui has not twisted the emperor after all. In this regard, she has a strange weakness of a folk woman. When the emperor tells her that this is a military matter, what do you know, she can always frighten her .

Wang Zhi's brocade hat is mink fur, and Qianqi rolls Hiraoka.

A year later, Heishiya was victorious, and Wang Zhi added three hundred stones of rice with his military merits, ranking first among all the eunuchs with palm prints.

In July of the 17th year of Chenghua, Wang Zhi was the governor of military affairs, and the emperor gave him an edict, ordering the guards, generals, and governors of various places to be subject to his orders. If there is any violation, it will be dealt with by military law.

He is only this year.

Then, when his power reached its peak, he began to slide rapidly——

The young man was hung on the court hall like a good bow that was no longer useful.

In the 18th year of Chenghua, Wang Zhi was appointed as the eunuch guarding Datong, and all the soldiers of the Beijing camp under him were recalled.

In March of the same year, Xichang was dismissed.

During this series of dizzying and thrilling confrontations, the letter Wang Zhi sent to the East Palace was peaceful. The Wang Zhi in the letter and the Wang Zhi of Datong seemed to be two unrelated people.

He would send Zhu Youtang a golden leaf when the capital was still hot, with five words in the letter, the first autumn in the North.Then the next package contained walnuts wrapped in green skins, with a word in the letter: stewed chicken is delicious!

He babbled in the letter, saying that I met my idol Yang Jizong! !He went home to attend his mother's funeral, I kowtowed in front of the mourning hall, and walked to the ancestral hall in a good manner! !So far, so far!Oh! ! !But I was a little too excited, offended the idol, and was scolded by the idol.

He would secretly ask his confidantes to send the pure white fox fur there, and he would remind and instruct Wan Guifei that he must not let Concubine Wan Gui know.

Then he and Zhu Youtang said in the letter, I am getting married, and I am a very pungent girl.My surname is Li, the daughter of a businessman, not very good-looking, stocky, with no bound feet, illiterate, but very courageous, I asked her why she would marry me, she looked at me and told me, you are a hero !Then she blushed and said in a low voice, "Also, you look good!"

After writing this, he was triumphant and said that I think what she said is very right, very right, I really look good hahahahaha~~~

This letter was sent, but he didn't receive a reply for a long time. Wang Zhi didn't care much about Fu Yanguan, his colleagues and Dayan Khan who wanted to avenge his wife's murder.

The 19th year of Chenghua came soon, and he received a letter, a congratulatory letter written by Zhu Youtang, with a hand-haired flower in block letters, handsome and tall, and a pair of flawless concentric jade.

Blue and white double jade, beautiful jade flawless.

One should have been given to him and one to his wife, but for some reason, Wang Zhi carefully hid it in a small box under his pillow.

The future heir of the empire told him that upon hearing the news of his marriage, he immediately ordered someone to look for him. After a thousand choices, he got this pair of jade bis. Please forgive me for the late congratulations.

Wang Zhi pinched the letter paper and thought, what's so strange about this, he wrote a letter back to comfort him, and told him by the way that he was planning to adopt two adopted sons, and the Wang family would also have descendants in the future.

Zhu Youtang answered the letter quickly this time, and blamed him for not saying it earlier, and preparing a congratulatory gift would make it difficult for him to read.

This time, it is a pair of Baizi jade bottles, the suet is warm and moist, and the carving is extremely exquisite.

The bottle was cold to hold, but it was warm, as if after such a long time, he held Zhu Youtang's hand again.

The pair of jade bottles were still left in his bedroom, placed on a shelf, and he wiped them carefully every day, not allowing anyone else to touch them.

Then he had a dream.He dreamed of Zhu Youtang, who looked grown up, but couldn't see his face clearly, talking to him in a fog.He didn't understand, and wanted to move forward, but Zhu Youtang left. He was panicked for some reason, and hurried forward to grab his wrist, Zhu Youtang looked back at him.

Those were a pair of pitch-black eyes, as if the stars were shining in the sky.

Then, he only grabbed a handful of Qingyan.

Wang Zhi opened his eyes abruptly, dripping with cold sweat. Before he could recover, the housekeeper stumbled and ran in, saying in panic, "Father! There is an envoy who wants, wants us to receive the order!"

Wang Zhi remembered the dream just now, and his whole body was terrified. He rudely pushed the butler away, quickly changed into his official uniform, and strode out!

The middle door of the mansion was opened, and the incense table was laid out, he kowtowed to listen to the decree, his body trembling slightly.

When he heard that he was ordered to be demoted and transferred to Nanjing Yumajian, he immediately relaxed.

Wang Zhi thought, luckily, luckily it wasn't Zhu Youtang's accident.

fortunately.

Zhu Youtang was fine, and he regained his spirits immediately.After receiving the order, he yelled into the house, yelling, lady, ready to move!

He doesn't have many things, his wife Li is very capable, Wang Zhi looks around, moving house just to check things can make his brain hurt, if he can't do it, he just put oil on the soles of his feet, bring a few attendants, and go to Beijing first up.

What he brought with him was a book, a sword, a pair of green and white concentric bismuths and a pair of jade bottles that he hid in his clothes.

He held it carefully, and immediately hugged it in his arms, staggering, and walked all the way.

The result is... Well, when he left last time, Concubine Wan Gui and the emperor were arguing. When he went back this time, the couple were still arguing, giving him a strong illusion that they had been arguing for four years.

In Zhaode Palace, the emperor was trained to be like a quail. Seeing him stepping into Zhaode Palace leisurely, Concubine Wan Gui pulled him over and was so angry that he was fighting like this, saying that you just let those grandsons bully Ah Zhi like this ?

First of all, the matter was entangled, and secondly, the emperor was indeed at fault, so he quickly apologized and pulled Wang to him, "Ah Zhi, are you back?"

He killed chickens and wiped his neck and winked at Wang Zhi, Wang Zhi looked at him with a smile, turned around and helped Concubine Wan Gui to sit down, the woman who was already in her old age was obese, she sat on a chair in a rage, Wang Zhi felt that the whole Zhaode Palace trembled one time.

The Emperor did tremble.

Wang Zhi is now 21 years old, and it is the best time in his life.He was born handsome, and when he was a boy, there was still a little softness between his eyebrows and eyes. Now that he is old, his roundness has faded, and his bones are tough. He also went to the battlefield by himself, killing people without counting. generally.

He held Concubine Wan Gui's hand, flicked his hem, and sat on the carpet at her feet freely, just like when he was a child, gently shook her hand, and said softly, "Your Majesty, don't be angry, Grandpa." It's for my own good."

"Remove you for your own good?!! Let those grandsons bully you?!!!" Concubine Wan Gui was so angry that her tone changed. He patted her hand, frowned, and said oops, the empress has done it all.

After finishing speaking, he took out a suet box from his sleeve. He applied a little of the translucent ointment inside, and rubbed it on the acupuncture points on her hand. Climbing too fast, early bird, everyone will be beaten. I have never ransacked my house or been imprisoned..."

"He dares!" Concubine Wan Gui screamed, glaring at the emperor angrily, he patted her hand, and continued, now that the frontline battles are almost done, he will simply come back and not be an eyesore in the capital, how wonderful Nanjing is, and Comfortable and no one cares about ginseng, grandpa loves me.

He babbled on and on, Concubine Wan Gui's anger gradually subsided, but she still stared at the emperor fiercely, "How dare you cut his salary!"

The emperor said in a low voice, "No pruning, no pruning, I will get you a few thousand acres of land, with mulberry, fish and ponds, how about it?"

Wang Zhi clapped his hands and looked at Concubine Wan Gui with a smile, you see, empress, the capital is not good, I can be drowned by the spit of the officials.

Concubine Wan Gui laughed out loud, pulled out her hand, looked at it carefully, and said that your stuff is very good, but it tastes great.

"Just mix some rose juice and put it in. The house I brought back from Mongolia, I will finish it in two days and send it to my mother."

After coaxing Concubine Wan Gui, he stood up and patted his butt indifferently. The woman glared at him, "Aren't you going to eat here?"

"Your Majesty, do I still think that the official's saliva is not enough to take a bath?"

Concubine Wan Gui glared at the emperor again, and the emperor hurriedly said that I had already given the rice noodles to his mansion.She is satisfied with this.

Then Wang Zhi went to the East Palace without fear of swimming in the spittle of the officials.

A 15-year-old child is lying ill on the bed.

Zhu Youtang was already thin, but this time he became weaker and weaker, leaving only a few bones, except for a pair of dark eyes, like a galaxy in his dream for a day.

Wang Zhi panicked all of a sudden, he just thought that there was still something to do with that dream, just in case he...

Wang Zhi suddenly didn't dare to think about it, and hurried forward to his bedside, holding his hand.

His hands were colder than the pair of jade bottles.

Wang Zhi's mind went blank, he just asked in a low voice, why are you like this...

Zhu Youtang coughed twice and smiled, "It's like this every year when it's cold."

"Where's the pear paste I gave you?"

"After eating, the cough is not so severe, and I can sleep for two or three hours at night." Zhu Youtang looked at him with a smile.

Zhu Youtang was born mature, coupled with his calm demeanor, he seems to be a little older than Wang Zhi now.

The prince has a kind of beauty that is not outstanding, just like the jade bi he gave him, it is not dazzling, only it is gentle and flawless, and you can feel its superiority after rubbing it for a long time.

Zhu Youtang held his hand instead, and clenched it little by little. He lowered his head, and the long hair tied around his shoulders slid down like running water, and landed on his fingertips.

A handful of blue silk is as cool as water.

The gunpowder smoke that had been agitating in his veins receded in an instant, and Wang Zhi seemed to have been sucked away by the hand holding his fingertips, leaving only a little inexplicable sadness.

Then he heard the child who grew up in his palm say to him in a low voice, brother, I'm sorry, I failed to protect you.

Wang Zhi blinked.He thought it would be nice if you could protect yourself well.What do you care about me, I just want you to be well.

But he couldn't say it, all the thoughts about the child were stuck in his throat.

The boy raised his head and looked at him, "When I was young, my elder brother protected me. When I grow up, I will protect my elder brother."

He was still speechless, the young man laughed seeing his rare stupid look, but coughed before laughing twice, he hurriedly took him into his arms, and gently followed his back.

Zhu Youtang was too thin. He arched his back when he coughed, and his shoulder blades could be seen through several layers of clothes, like two small wings that were about to fly.

Wang Zhi suddenly pulled him into his arms uncontrollably.

Zhu Youtang obediently let him hold him, and after a while, he whispered, brother is so warm.

"I'll sleep with you tonight."

"Yeah." The boy looked up in his arms, showing a nice smile.

After Wang Zhi washed and changed his clothes, he kicked off his soft shoes and went to bed. He slept outside. The two of them shared a quilt and held Zhu Youtang in his arms.

The boy leaned on his chest and asked him if it was cold in the north?He said it was cold, and it snowed in August. One of his soldiers, who was young, thought he was in good health. He went out at night without a hat, and his ears froze.

Zhu Youtang was frightened and went to touch his ears, and felt that both sides were intact before leaning back in peace.

He muttered, "It's good for you to come back, the north is too bitter."

"I'm not suffering, it's your turn to suffer."

Zhu Youtang thought for a while, "Then I would rather suffer."

"But I would rather suffer myself."

"Brother...does he like fighting so much?"

"Men, who doesn't want to make contributions to the army, but until now... I just don't want you to worry about this."

Zhu Youtang was about to speak, but he didn't want to say more, so he covered Zhu Youtang's eyes and softly coaxed him to sleep.The boy obediently agreed, and closed his eyes in his palm, his eyelashes passed by, leaving a soft itchy faintly.

The body in his arms was thin and cold, but he felt inexplicably at ease.

Wang Zhi's good habit in the military camp is to fall asleep on his head, and he fell asleep in a while. The young man counted his long and slow breaths, and slowly opened his eyes.

He leaned over slightly, and kissed Wang Zhi's trembling long eyelashes vaguely.Then he snuggled back again and closed his eyes in peace.

☆, end

六

Then Wang Zhi left Kyoto and went to Nanjing.

He didn't do anything else in Nanjing. He spent all day in the manor bestowed on him by the emperor, and he didn't build it.

The officials made a noise for a while, but they were not very interested in him, the dog in the water in their eyes, and directly replaced the target with a new one.

Then, in the first month of the 23rd year of Chenghua, when Wang Zhi was 23 years old, Concubine Wan Gui died. At the age of 60, he died in a panic attack to teach a court lady a lesson.

Wang Zhi wanted to go back to the funeral, but was rejected by the cabinet: He is a demoted sixth-rank eunuch, what qualifications does he have to return to the funeral of the noble concubine in Beijing?

Reasonable, full of malice.

His eyes were tearing, and he smashed things frantically in Nanjing for a day. In the end, the two little children he adopted knelt at his feet, each holding him, and Li Shi hugged him tightly. calm down.

With blood on his hands, he fell back and passed out in the courtyard.

He didn't dream of Concubine Wan Gui.He woke up heavily, looked around, he thought, once again, I have no mother.

In August of this year, the emperor passed away suddenly.

At the age of 41, when he was in his prime, he didn't have any diseases, but after the death of Concubine Wan Gui, he told the people around him that if she left, I wouldn't live long.

As if to prove this prophecy, seven months later, the rapidly weakening emperor stopped breathing peacefully and happily in the Forbidden City.

The prince succeeded to the throne and changed Yuan Hongzhi.

Wang Zhi was finally allowed to enter Beijing.

The weather in August is full of whiteness.Like falling snow that came early.He looked at the whole city, and felt a faint sense of absurdity in his heart.

Wang Zhi entered the city and went to kowtow to Zigong. After three bows and nine kowtows, he stood up without crying, and when he habitually wanted to go to the East Palace, he suddenly remembered, no, Zhu Youtang was no longer in the East Palace.

He is already the emperor.

He went to Qianqing Palace.

In parallel, he actually didn't go to the Qianqing Palace very often, the emperor basically stayed in the Zhaode Palace, and when he walked there, his eyes were full of snow, and he suddenly became a stranger.

After passing through the palace gate, he waited for someone to report—this is not the past, he is the most favored Eunuch Wang in the palace, and he can come and go as he pleases.He stood on the porch, looking at a group of filial piety people beaming.

They are all old people from the East Palace, and now it's their turn to live in the palace, the only thing they can restrain is not to laugh out loud.

After a while, someone sent him in, and he stepped into the Nuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace, where Zhu Youtang was sitting in front of the desk, pressing his eyebrows.

He is 17 years old this year and has just become a queen. He has no youthful air in him, except for his calmness that has not changed.

When he heard footsteps, he turned his head to look. Just as he was about to speak, Wang Zhi took a step forward and knelt down neatly, "Grandpa!"

Zhu Youtang and him both froze for a moment when he called out the emperor's customary address in the palace. Zhu Youtang continued to stretch out his hand to help him up, but he obviously forgot what he wanted to say.

Then the two looked at each other for a while, Wang Zhi didn't hold his hand, and laughed out loud.Then he laughed and laughed, and the tears fell.

Now he called "Grandpa" and stuffed him with sugar and milk cakes, a man who looked more like his brother than his father, but he would never answer him again.

Wang Zhi suddenly felt uncontrollable grief—the emperor, the emperor who loved him, died, really died, and would never come back.

He wailed like a child, crying so hard that he couldn't stand still, and his whole body was paralyzed on the ground. Zhu Youtang was also half-kneeled on the ground by him, and Wang Zhi tightly clutched his arm. On the ground, she put one arm around him, held him in her arms, and patted his back lightly—just like when Wang Zhi coaxed him when he was a child.

Wang Zhi cried until he couldn't make a sound, and after an unknown amount of time, half of Zhu Youtang's body became numb, and he said softly: "Cry again, I can't hold you when you cry softly."

Wang Zhi sniffed, wiped his face with a handkerchief, stared at him with red eyes, "...you can't even hold your wife."

"...I really can't hold it." Zhu Youtang admitted frankly.

Wang Zhi stopped talking, he just looked at him, and Zhu Youtang also looked at him. After a while, the two of them spoke together as if they had a tacit understanding:

"……grandfather……"

"……elder brother……"

Wang Zhi: ……………

Zhu Youtang: …………

Then the two of them put their foreheads together and laughed together.

In the end, it was Wang Zhi who picked up the new emperor who was half paralyzed.Putting Zhu Youtang on the couch, the two talked slowly.

Zhu Youtang told him, do you still want to go out and lead troops?

He looked at the young emperor tenderly, thought for a while, and shook his head.

Zhu Youtang was slightly surprised. He knew that leading troops to war had always been Wang Zhi's dream. He did have talent, not to mention that he was still so young.

Wang Zhi shook his head.He said: "Sweeping caves in Liting, Mongolia, Liaodong. I promised you when I was a child, and I have done it. Now that Mongolia is not in the climate, I don't want to trouble you anymore."

He took the emperor's numb hand and pressed it gently, "Why bother to be scolded for me."

Having said that, he paused and looked up at him, "Youtang, in my life, now, only you are left."

If compared with his emperor, his dream is not important, "I'll just stay in Nanjing, I'll help you look to the south, I'll come back, too much trouble."

The emperor opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't say it.

Finally, when Wang Zhi left Qianqing Palace, he took his hand and said to him, brother, I will protect you.

Wang Zhi looked down at him, patted his head, and nodded.

Zhu Youtang did it.

He asked Wang Zhi to stay in Nanjing, and all the memorials to impeach him were left unpublished.Not confiscated, not imprisoned, not dismissed, not lowered salary, Wang Zhi lived a carefree life in Nanjing.

Drinking and fighting cards, raising mulberry and farming, bickering with Mrs. Li, and raising two little bastards.Then he walked to the study and closed the door to write something mysteriously. No one knew what he wrote, but he wrote for a while, and then sent a package of letters to Kyoto.

He lived in Nanjing for another 11 years this time.

In his life, he spent more time in Nanjing than in all other places.But he doesn't feel like this is his home.

His home, in the distant Zhaode Palace, his grandparents and his quiet and beautiful little brother.

But that home is gone, and I can never go back.

He was no longer in high spirits.His father and mother are gone, so what right does he have to wander around?He wants to take care of his family and take care of his emperor.

Wang Zhi really grew up overnight.

In the 11th year of Hongzhi, Zhu Youtang ordered him to go to Beijing as if there was some unpredictable and dangerous premonition. After 11 years, he saw his emperor again.

The emperor, who was approaching his thirties, looked like his elder brother.

It was still the kind of unobtrusive, quiet and gentle good-looking. He stayed in Qianqing Palace and met the little prince. The little prince was born well, and he was very reckless. When he saw Wang Zhi, he clamored to be a teacher. Does your son read too many storybooks?

The emperor shooed the little bastard away in embarrassment, bolted the door, turned to look at him, looked at him for a while, and then said slowly, "You've lost weight."

"Well, I'm dying." Wang Zhi said calmly.

Zhu Youtang wasn't surprised at all, he just looked at him with those star-like eyes.

In a dream for 23 years, his emperor always had a pair of clean eyes.

After a while, the emperor said slowly: "I don't live long either."

Wang Zhi nodded, unusually calm.

The emperor asked again, "What?"

"The old disease left by the soldiers, hurt the lungs in the north, and coughed up blood." He paused, "What about you?"

"It's an old problem. I can hardly get up in winter, but there are so many things that I can't rest for a day." The emperor said gently, "I hope I can last a few more years, at least wait until the thick photo is bigger, and I will die when I am sensible." .”

Wang Zhi was silent for a while, then he changed the subject, "Have you read what I gave you?"

The emperor nodded, "Look, the plan to levy Hetao has been given to the cabinet."

"What about the cotoes?"

"...It's too hasty." The emperor looked down at him, the candlelight was warm and warm, and the emperor's pale face seemed a little bloody, "Da Ming can't do it now. Keep it, my son, my son's son, there will always be a chance to get it." According to the plan you left behind, conquer the southern border."

His whole life's painstaking efforts, the final plan to conquer Jiaozhi was put on hold, and he was not angry, he just raised his eyebrows, "...then we two will not see it when we are alive."

"...Brother, do you know why I summoned you here?"

Wang Zhi shook his head, and the emperor said softly, I think this is the last time we meet.

He will not tell Wang Zhi that he had a dream.

In his dream, the person who had protected him since he was a child and held him in his arms returned to his childhood when he was held by his father and Concubine Wan Gui and walked into Zhaode Palace.

He had a strong premonition, he knew that he was going to lose Wang Zhi.In spite of the fierce opposition from the officials, he summoned him to Beijing with only one thought in his mind