Gao Chi of the Ming River

October 1391, Nanjing, Zhang Shi's mansion.

A white lantern hangs high in front of the door, and servants and maids in white linen filial piety look hasty and sad.

The candles lit in the center of the lobby were dim and weak under the gloomy sky. A gust of cold wind blew past, and the candles swayed erratically.

In the fine coffin, with a calm face and closed eyes.

Even if it is death, he is never afraid. This is Zhang Shi's loyalty to the emperor?

Fang Xiaoru quietly stared at the friend in the coffin who could no longer open his eyes, could no longer drink tea and laugh with him about world affairs, and could no longer... ask himself with a worried face, what should I do?

Glancing at Zhang Shi's family members who had fainted from crying, Fang Xiaoru slowly turned around and asked in his heart, "Zhang Shi, is it worth doing this?"

It's a pity that this is worth it, and I will never know.

Perhaps, Zhang Shi's final choice is his answer?

When Fang Xiaoru walked towards the gate, a person was slowly walking towards the gate. Although he was dressed in plain clothes, the golden crown with his hair tied up and the golden belt around his waist all showed his extraordinary status.

Pausing, Fang Xiaoru bowed and cupped his hands in salute.

The visitor stopped in his tracks, raised his hand to support him, and said in a low voice, "Mr. Fang, you don't have to be polite."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fang Xiaoru said in a low and concise voice, and slowly got up.

The person who came was Zhu Yunwen.

"Mister also came to pay homage to Teacher Zhang Shi?" Zhu Yunwen asked with a very gentle expression and a slight hint of joy.

But Fang Xiaoru just lowered his eyes, cupped his hands and said respectfully, "If you go back to the emperor, yes."

"Then sir, can you wait for a moment, and after I worship the teacher, I will talk to you."

Fang Xiaoru was silent for a while, and said in a low voice, "Please forgive me, the grassroots have important matters, so it is inconvenient to stay."

Zhu Yunxuan frowned slightly, a little displeased, but seeing Fang Xiaoru's respectful appearance, but his brows were quite persistent, after thinking about it, he smiled gently, "If that's the case, then I will talk to sir another day. "

"The grassroots leave." After Fang Xiaoru said, he bent down to salute respectfully, and walked towards the gate.

When Fang Xiaoru stepped back, a person who followed Zhu Yunqi whispered, "This person is just a commoner, relying on the prestige of the people, he is so rude to the emperor!!"

"Enough!" Zhu Yunwen scolded in a low voice, and said coldly, "Mr. Fang is not allowed to be rude!"

"This lord probably doesn't know. Fang Xiaoru is respected by scholars all over the world. He is knowledgeable and knowledgeable. How can you humiliate him at will?" Immediately afterwards, Huang Zicheng sneered and his tone was extremely mocking.

"You—" The man couldn't help but get angry when Huang Zicheng ridiculed him so much.

"Enough!" Zhu Yunqi said coldly again.

"Yes, I'm sorry, sir!" Huang Zicheng and the man hurriedly saluted.

"Humph!"

Zhu Yunwen was quite irritable, turned around, and waved into the mourning hall.

Looking at the coffin in the middle of the mourning hall, Zhu Yunwen took a deep breath, and clenched his hands hidden in his sleeves into fists.

remember that day...

"Teacher! What are you doing?!" He looked at Zhang Shi in astonishment who knelt down after coming in to meet him, and refused to get up again.

"My minister is here to bid farewell to the emperor..."

"Teacher? What are you talking about?!" He was even more stunned.

"Master Huang... told Weichen all..." Zhang Shi, who was kneeling on the ground, raised his head and showed a very peaceful smile.

But he couldn't help but his face changed.

"Your Majesty... those who achieve great things must not hesitate to be cowardly." Zhang Shi said quietly, with such a calm expression.

He stared at Zhang Shi in a daze, and said with some difficulty, "Teacher..."

"Master Huang's strategy is very good. Perhaps this way, our chances of winning will be even greater! But, Your Majesty, Li Jinglong is a man with no talent and no virtue. It is best for the Emperor to choose Sheng Yong or Tie Xuan. A person with both talent and virtue..." Zhang Shi analyzed carefully, then paused again, and said softly, "As for Fang Xiaoru, he and I have been close friends for many years, no matter in talent, learning or virtue, this person is above me, The most important point is that he has a very high prestige among the people. However, this man is proud and admires Yan Wang Zhu Di and his son Zhu Gaochi, but the emperor can rest assured that this man has already expressed his attitude. I will definitely stand by your side, Your Majesty... When necessary, the Emperor can use this person, as for how to use him, the Emperor may wish to discuss with Master Huang..."

"Teacher!!" After all, he couldn't help getting up, walking towards Zhang Shi who was kneeling on the ground, analyzing carefully, and speaking respectfully, kneeling down with a plop, his voice was bitter and choked, "Teacher, you—"

Zhang Shi raised his head, stared at Zhu Yunqi, showed a rather emotional smile, and murmured, "In a blink of an eye, the emperor is so old. I still remember that when the emperor was ten years old, I was ordered to be the emperor's teacher. Now, I can't help it." It's been ten years..."

Zhu Yunxuan's body trembled, and he couldn't help but close his eyes tightly, forcing back the tears that were about to roll down.

He smiled faintly again, "Your Majesty...there is only so much I can do for you..." After finishing speaking, he said solemnly, "Please remember, Your Majesty! The scourge of feudal lords must be eradicated! Only in this way can Daming A truly peaceful and prosperous world!"

Zhu Yunwen was startled, and looked up at Zhang Shi, seeing Zhang Shi's firm and solemn face, he couldn't help being stunned, then straightened his face, and responded solemnly, "Teacher, I swear to God, I will eradicate the vassal king! "

Only then did Zhang Shi smile in relief.

……

After recovering from the memory, Zhu Yunqi took the incense handed over by the eunuch respectfully, raised his head high, worshiped, and said silently in his heart, teacher, I will never let your hard work go to waste!

****************

Huang Zicheng respectfully sent Zhu Yunwen back to the imperial city, and was about to turn around and walk towards his carriage, when he saw a person standing beside the carriage.

Huang Zicheng paused and walked slowly.

"I met Mr. Fang." Huang Zicheng saluted respectfully.

Fang Xiaoru bowed silently.

"Mr. Fang, please!" Huang Zicheng pointed to the carriage.

Fang Xiaoru said lightly, "Master Huang is an official, and I am a citizen, so please invite Master Huang first!"

Huang Zicheng was taken aback for a moment, then turned around in silence, and got into the carriage neatly.

On the carriage, Huang Zicheng and Fang Xiaoru sat opposite each other.

The air was stuffy, Fang Xiaoru remained silent, Huang Zicheng lowered his eyes and put his hands on his knees.

"Whatever Mr. Fang wants to ask, just ask." After a while, Huang Zicheng finally spoke in a low voice and sighed.

"Why did you do that?" Fang Xiaoru asked coldly.

"In order to get back...the former emperor's little jade seal..." Huang Zicheng lowered his voice and said in a hoarse voice.

Fang Xiaoru was stunned.

"The late emperor had a small jade seal, which he always carried with him, embedded in the jade pendant. The jade pendant was a gift from the late empress to the late emperor. It was very precious. After the late empress passed away, the jade pendant was almost inseparable from the late emperor. Everyone around the emperor knows that, it is said that once, when the first emperor was drunk, he said that he would give this little jade seal to the successor to the throne. After that, the first emperor put the little jade seal in a small box. No one saw it." Huang Zicheng spoke slowly, his voice still low.

Fang Xiaoru stared at Huang Zicheng, so it was so!If the emperor only had the big jade seal, but did not have the small jade seal that the previous emperor carried with him, the courtiers would definitely be puzzled... I am afraid that the emperor himself is also very disturbed and doubtful. The most important point is... If the small jade seal is true On King Yan's side, the current situation might be even more dangerous!Suppose, King Yan took out the small jade seal, and added what the former emperor's drunken queen said...

Fang Xiaoru spoke slowly, "The emperor doesn't have that little box in his hand, that little box... Do you suspect that it's on King Yan's side?"

Huang Zicheng smiled wryly, "Sir, you are indeed wise!"

Fang Xiaoru frowned, "Then you forced Zhang Shi to death for—"

"Mr. Fang!" Huang Zicheng suddenly darkened his face, and said coldly, with suppressed anger, "We have never forced Mr. Zhang Shi to do what he is not willing to do!"

Fang Xiaoru just raised the corners of his mouth and smiled mockingly.

Huang Zicheng stared at Fang Xiaoru's mocking smile, slowly lowered his eyes, and said in a low voice, "This is all helpless."

Fang Xiaoru just looked at Huang Zicheng indifferently, and said calmly, "Are you so sure that Rongyue can help you get back the small box? If...the small box is really with King Yan..."

Huang Zicheng was abruptly silent.

After a long while, while Fang Xiaoru frowned in doubt, Huang Zicheng spoke slowly, his voice still hoarse, "The little box is in the hands of Zhu Gaochi, the son of King Yan."

"Huh?" Fang Xiaoru was surprised, then shook his head, and said firmly, "Impossible! If it was really there, King Yan would have taken it out."

"What if...even King Yan doesn't know?" Huang Zicheng stared at Fang Xiaoru with sharp eyes, and spoke slowly.

Fang Xiaoru was taken aback for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "Then how do you know?!"

Huang Zicheng said indifferently, "The former emperor left the royal robes for the emperor to travel at night!"

Fang Xiaoru was a little dazed, "That's..."

"It can protect the emperor, and can monitor anyone's movements... King Yan's flying fish suit is also incomparable, Jinyi Nightwalk!" At the end, Huang Zicheng raised a smile at the corner of his mouth, a little complacent and proud.

Fang Xiaoru narrowed his eyes slightly, can he monitor anyone's movements?

Could it be the imperial guard? !

But wasn't that abolished by the first emperor? !

As if seeing Fang Xiaoru's question, Huang Zicheng smiled slightly, "Perhaps the former emperor had estimated the situation today, and left the emperor with the most elite brocade night walker!"

Fang Xiaoru was silent. If he really estimated the situation today, why didn't he hand over the small box to the emperor?

What was the late emperor thinking? !

****************

At this time, King Yan led his army to Beiping on the way...

Beside the main road, the army is resting.

Standing in front of the army, beside the woods, Zhu Di was concentrating on a report, frowning as he read it. So, he put down the report in his hand, looked at King Ning and Zhu Quan, who was squatting aside, laughing at King Zhou, and said lightly, "Fifth brother."

King Zhou turned his head, let go of King Ning's neck with a stinky face, got up and looked at Zhu Di, and said with a smile, "If you have something to do, fourth brother, please tell me."

"After returning to Beiping, you have to pay attention to Zhang Rongyue, don't let her approach Chi'er." Zhu Di said with a frown.

King Zhou was taken aback for a moment, and then he chuckled, "What? Isn't fourth brother afraid that his son will be snatched away?"

Zhu Di glanced at King Zhou and said coldly, "Zhang Shi is dead!"

King Zhou was taken aback.

Zhu Di looked up at the sky, the sky was a little dark, and the dark clouds began to gather, the sky...

He frowned tightly, feeling even more uneasy.

Zhu Di said coldly, "If necessary, kill that Rongyue Zhang!"

King Zhou was startled, then frowned, "Fourth brother, if that woman is so dangerous, why didn't you kill her right from the start? Everyone knows that it's impossible for the old man to marry you, so why are you keeping her?" ?!"

Zhu Di clenched the report in his hand, lowered his voice, and said hoarsely, "For—Jinyi Night Walk!"

King Zhou was stunned, and King Ning, who had been listening silently, couldn't help but change his expression.

"... Jinyi Night Walk?!" King Ning lost his voice, "Isn't the father abolished?"

Zhu Di laughed mockingly, "How can the father be willing?"

"It's in Xiao Wenwen's hands?" King Zhou frowned and murmured, pulling his hair and worrying, "What is the old man thinking!"

You gave Zhu Yunqi the brocade night walk, but gave Chi'er the small box that symbolized inheritance? !

What does the emperor want to do? !

Zhu Di was furious.

If it wasn't for the complete eradication of Jinyi Yexing, he wouldn't have kept that Rongyue!hateful! !

"Does Xiao Gaochi know?" King Zhou suddenly turned his head and asked seriously.

Zhu Di was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head silently.

Zhou Wang stared at Zhu Di for a long time before slowly opening his mouth, "Do you not want him to know, or... are you afraid that he will know, fourth brother?"

Zhu Di was stunned.