Reincarnation of the powerful minister

On the third day of February in the 16th year of Jinglong, at the end of the Xu Dynasty, the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The big explosion in Baizhifang last night shocked the capital. Su Yan, King Yu and Shen Qi and their group entered the secret passage of Linhua Pavilion to chase the murderer, and were also affected by the explosion. Su Yan also suffered internal injuries.

At this time, Emperor Jinglong had just returned from visiting Aiqing in the Su Mansion, and at this moment the prince Zhu Helin, who was burdened by the fire in the Kunning Palace, was still writing scriptures and pricking blood for the former queen in the Taimiao.

Lan Xi thought of the kindness of the former empress, and tried to beg the prince for mercy, but the emperor seemed a little absent-minded.

The Wei family, the Queen Mother.Vacuum Teaching, Seven Killing Battalion.player...

The fire in Kunning Palace, the mysterious flute player in Prince Yu's Mansion, the explosion in Mingtang and Baizhifang in the secret passage of Linhua Pavilion...

These misty people and things, like dots and lines emitting gloomy light, are connected in the darkness to form a big net, covering him, the capital city, and the entire Ming Dynasty in countless ways.

As the king of a country, Emperor Jinglong felt that the hand playing chess behind the scenes was laying out a game for the camp step by step.He couldn't wait until the opponent occupied the real eye on the chessboard and closed the net before making a counterattack.Then it's too late!

However, where is the entry point to break the game, he has not yet decided.

Emperor Jinglong closed his eyes and meditated, the spiritual lights in his mind were indefinitely, and his fingertips tapped lightly on the table.

"Jin Yiwei's colleague Shen Qi handed over a secret report, saying that he had something important to ask Mr. Mian. He was waiting outside the forbidden gate, waiting for... for more than half an hour." Lan Xi reported softly.

"Shen Qi?" Emperor Jing Long slowly opened his eyes, "Tell him to come in."

Shen Qi came to report to the emperor that the "gatekeepers" lurking in the capital were trying to win over the courtiers, plotting against the law. Of course, this "courtiers" mainly included him.At the same time, he revealed that King Ning had a heart of rebellion, and Feng Qu'e was instigated by him to commit the crime.

But in fact, in June last year, after interrogating Feng Qu'e, Shen Qi had already suspected King Ning, and went to the palace to present the matter, but no evidence was found in Feng's residence.Therefore, Emperor Jinglong pressed the matter and never mentioned it again.

The fact that King Ning was terminally ill was taboo by the clan, and only Emperor Jinglong knew about it.The emperor was worried after all, and secretly sent Wang Chunfu, the envoy of the imperial hospital, and three trusted imperial physicians to King Ning's fief to examine his condition. It was finally confirmed that King Ning was indeed suffering from tuberculosis, and he died soon, with no hope of heirs.

He did not tell Shen Qi the result of the investigation at that time, which indirectly caused Shen Qi to step into the player's trap due to lack of information.

Emperor Jing Long did not think that Shen Qi deliberately framed King Ning.This matter was complicated, and he intuitively felt that the truth was not simple, and it was not necessarily silent, he would not fully trust Shen Qi, nor would he fully trust King Ning.

So, is there a more suitable use for Shen Qi's sinister and ambitious Dark Blade of the Son of Heaven?

The baizi in his head landed on his real eyes with a "snap", Emperor Jing Long seemed to have found the entry point to break the game.

Knowing that she was doomed, Shen Qi let out a deep breath, lifted her clothes, knelt down and kowtowed: "I... guilty."

Emperor Jing Long waved his hand, indicating that Wang Chunfu and Chu Yuan, who were called to testify, both stepped back.

Chu Yuan was worried, and reminded: "The emperor's dragon body is important..." implying that Shen Qi is not reliable, and he should not be allowed to approach without guards.

But the emperor said: "I know that well." He looked down at Shen Qi's back, "Shen Tongzhi suffered a bone injury when he was catching bandits last night, and now he even has difficulty raising his arms. What do you have to worry about?"

Chu Yuan then resigned.

The emperor folded to the desk, wrote a note with a few strokes, handed it to Lan Xi, and signaled him to back down too.

Knowing that the emperor wanted to have a private conversation with Shen Tongzhi alone, Lan Xi knew that no one could persuade him because of the holy will, so she had to bow and leave.

When he arrived outside the hall, he opened the note and saw that it read: "Secretly summon Su Yan to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and we will do it immediately."

In the hall, Shen Qi knelt in front of the emperor, while anxiously thinking about countermeasures, while waiting for the emperor's punishment.

Emperor Jing Long walked up to him and looked down at the flying fish patch on his back.The flying fish has a dragon head, wings, and fish tail. It looks like a dragon but not a dragon, like a python but not a python. The "Shan Hai Jing" says "If you take it without fear of thunder, you can defend against soldiers."The "flying fish" pattern given to important ministers expresses the emperor's reward and expectation, which is not something ordinary officials and Jin Yiwei can get.

Shen Qi has handled several major cases well one after another. This person is talented, but he has no sense of awe, not only has no respect for the royal family, but also has no respect for the ethics.

"Lift up your face," said the Emperor.

Shen Qi raised her face docilely, but from those bottomless black eyes, the Emperor saw a ferocious beast that was tightly bound by iron chains, roaring and biting.

At this moment, the flash of thought in the emperor's heart became clear and full, and because of the Jin Yiwei in front of him, there was a heavy sharpness.

"Shen Qi, although you are capable of doing things, you have a dark heart and cruel methods. Every time I see you, I repeatedly weigh between cherishing talents and eliminating disasters. It can be said that you can live to this day, and I also have some Accident."

Shen Qi said: "Thank you, the emperor, for your kindness, I will thank you with all my heart."

"You don't need to put a high hat on me." Emperor Jinglong smiled mockingly, "It's a pity that you didn't cherish my tolerance, and you should never touch it if you get involved. Today, I really can't tolerate you. Give you face, go back."

This is to make him suicidal.It is indeed the last piece of decency that the king can leave to his subjects... Shen Qi's heart was filled with chills.He is absolutely unwilling to die, let alone die in such a useless situation.Ever since he was a child, he has struggled countless times to survive from the shadow of death, and he will not wait to die just like that now.

The emperor appreciates your talent, but he doesn't like your temperament, and he even taboos Jin Yiwei from getting too close with any other party forces.You can't stroke the tiger's beard, don't step on his bottom line, you must always let him cherish talent more than suspicion, so that he can continue to move forward.

Qilang, you are a smart person, but also a ruthless person. You are ruthless to others and even more ruthless to yourself.If you are too cruel and fold yourself in, I will blame you for the rest of my life.

Promise me, don't go crazy when it's time to bide your time.You have to save your life in order to be on good terms with me for the rest of your life.

Qinghe's exhortation is still in his ears.

I promise you.

He made a lifetime promise to his wife, and he must never break his promise.He couldn't leave Su Yan alone, in this turbulent situation, in this court that was staring at him like a tiger.

There was silence for a few breaths, as if she had endured a long torture, Shen Qi slowly lowered the Xiuchun knife, put her hands and forehead on the ground, and kowtowed three times.When he raised his face again, his eyes were red, his face was pale, and even his lips trembled: "I... want to live."

"That night, the emperor asked the minister, why did Feng go evil? The minister said it was for the country and the people, but the emperor disagreed. In the end, the minister said, 'in order to survive', the emperor felt that this was the truth, So he gave the minister a way to go up.

"Right now, I still want to live.

"I beg the emperor... show me the way to survive!" He squeezed out the last four words from between his teeth along with humiliation and blood and tears.

Emperor Jing Long knew that the ferocious beast flinched, bowed its head, struggled and roared uncontrollably, and at this moment gave in for a certain reason.

He wanted to live, but it wasn't because he was afraid of death—the emperor had a faint realization.

There was silence in the hall.After a long time, the emperor spoke again: "I will show you a way to survive, do you dare to go?"

Shen Qi said: "Chen, dare to go any way."

"Okay. I want you to take the opportunity of today's incident of King Shouning's failure to join the player's camp secretly, and be willing to be a spy and pawn for him. I want you to not only penetrate into the deepest part of the enemy's camp, but also obtain the true identity of the player , but also to find out their full strength, and finally help me to uproot this force. It is like walking on a bush of knives and ropes, and there is always the danger of overturning and killing yourself-do you dare to walk this way? "

"I dare you."

"One day in the future, you may completely betray the court. At that time, no one will know your mission, and the subjects of a whole country will poke your spine and call you a traitor-do you dare to do this way? Walk?"

"I dare you."

"You betray everyone, and even the closest people will hate you and treat you like a stranger, and you can't tell anyone for the sake of the overall situation——Do you dare to take such a road?"

"..."

"You're scared. Shen Qi, you're not afraid of death, you're not even afraid of bearing the whole world's infamy, but you're afraid of one person's misunderstanding and alienation from you, who is he?"

Shen Qi pressed her lips tightly, as if guarding a secret that was more silent than death.

Emperor Jinglong sighed silently, turned and walked towards the throne.

Shen Qi looked at the real dragon on his ochre-yellow dragon robe, which symbolized the supreme imperial power, and suddenly said: "I... dare!"

"This is a life-and-death road. I don't want to tell you about the righteousness of the family and the responsibility of the community, because you are not such a person at all." The emperor turned his head sideways and looked back at him, "But I can tell you the reward in advance, And the golden words will not be invalidated, just like the time you handled the demon monk case."

Shen Qi's heart skipped a beat suddenly, but immediately realized that what he wanted, the Emperor would never give him.

He never counted on anyone's gift, what he wanted, he fought for himself.

Emperor Jing Long said: "If this happens, you will be the second Yuan Bin in my court."

"!!"

Rao did not report her expectations, Shen Qi was still shocked when she heard the words! "The second Yuan Bin", when he was in office, he was the commander of Jinyiwei and the commander-in-chief of the five armies.The weight of this reward is so heavy that if it is thrown on Fengtianmen Square, most of the courtiers will fight for it.

"It is well known in the market that you have to put in as much bargaining chips as you want to put in as much effort and as long as you want to sell your life. You can also treat it as a deal—use your dog's life for future prosperity, wealth, and success." A good death, in exchange for the destruction of the player's power, I don't think it's a bad loss."

Shen Qi moved her lips, and made a terribly dry voice: "When the time comes... Can I use this reward to exchange someone's freedom? I just need the Emperor to listen to his heart and respect his choice."

Emperor Jinglong smiled: "The person you mentioned is free. I also gave him a choice. He chose the ambition of governing the country, and I fulfilled him. After a while, I will give him another choice. Which side do you think he will choose?"

……after a while?Shen Qi had doubts in her heart, would the emperor call Su Yan into the palace, confront him face to face, and force him to ask about their relationship?

Emperor Jing Long clapped his palms twice, and two imperial guards walked in from outside the palace gate.

"Shen Qi, recognize these two people, they will leave tonight and never return."

In the cell of the Imperial Prison, Su Yan was thrilled to hear it, and his heart was tumbling so many times.Fearing that he would never come back again, he tightly grasped Shen Qi's wrist, and blurted out: "That night the emperor secretly summoned me to hide behind a door, but everything I heard was done by you I read it?"

Shen Qi shook her head: "No, at that time I didn't know what Emperor Jing Long wanted to do, and why he asked me to identify those two guards. Until he said that he wanted me to get you drunk and send you to Prince Yu's mansion, and sent you Those two people came to escort and monitor me to do business, and only then did I understand his intentions."

Su Yan recalled that when the bridge broke in the rainy night, Shen Qi confessed to him that he had killed the two imperial guards as a token of honor for the players, could it be that it wasn't the truth?

"Those two guards... aren't dead?"

"Still alive, I changed my name and surname to Tengxiangwei." Shen Qi said, "I attacked them in front of the owner of the wonton stall, one got a knife in his chest, and the other got a chopstick in his throat, but they both avoided the vital points. The man fell into the Tonghui River next to Dongshi, and there was no body left."

"No wonder, no matter how repeatedly Chu Yuan and his men raked that section of the river, they couldn't salvage the corpse."

"This was the first step planned by Emperor Jinglong to let me enter the Yizhe camp. After that, I didn't meet him much in private, but the court secrets passed to Yizhe through the mechanism were all approved by him. Some of the secrets are true, some are false, and some are half-truths. He is very good at playing chess, knowing when to attack and when to give up some of his own interests to paralyze the opponent."

With mixed emotions in Su Yan's heart, he murmured, "Is it the emperor's intention that you killed the guarded eunuch in Nanjing to blame He Lin?"

Shen Qi hesitated for a while.Some of the things he did for the chess players were indeed partly planned by Emperor Jinglong, but many of them were his own expedient measures that he did not report, such as killing the eunuch Yan, such as worrying about Mr. He Attack Su Yan and go to Nanjing without authorization.

And after Emperor Jing Long had the craniotomy and fell into a coma, he was like a tiger out of his guard, without any restraints, and he could do whatever he wanted.

There were even a few times when he felt that it would be good for Emperor Jing Long to remain in a coma forever.Mr. Yi Zhe and Mr. He didn't know that Emperor Jing Long was still alive. If he knew and sent him to assassinate him, he couldn't be sure whether he would take the opportunity to do it and eliminate future troubles for his love life forever.

However, Emperor Jinglong still woke up.

After waking up, he was not summoned once, and all instructions were delivered through the silk script in Chu Yuan's hand.The secret language on the silk script can only be understood by the person involved.

Su Yan's hearing was almost numb: "You followed Su Xiaojing who stole the Tianhuang Jade Document from the Taimiao, met with the chess players, and was overheard by your subordinates. So you killed people to kill them, but you missed them and buried them in the ground He Lin was shocked and determined to eradicate you, so you had to break with me and betray the court—are these also the orders of the emperor?"

Shen Qi said: "If I really want to kill them, can they crawl out of the pit alive?"

"...Where is King Liao, how did King Liao die? He Lin swears that he did not kill him, and said that a cauldron fell from the sky, and he still has to carry it."

Shen Qi smiled slightly: "Of course I killed it according to the order. There was only a bright red cross on the silk script sent by Chu Yuan. I knew that Emperor Jing Long wanted King Liao to die, and used it to confirm the rumor that the Qing Dynasty and the emperor could not tolerate the princes. , so that those vassal kings who are dissatisfied and rebellious will simply rebel. This kind of method is for "disgraceful ministers", and he used it against the Yi Chu faction back then."

"Wang's rebellious army, feudal lords, and Bei Mo launched an attack at the same time, just like setting up a firewood pile around the dragon chair, and the fire became more and more intense. The emperor...he personally lit the fire to roast his son, and he was not afraid of scorching He Lin! "Su Yan shook his head again and again, "Fortunately, King Liao died early, otherwise he would not be so easy to deal with if he was added to the army of 'King Qin' who went to Beijing. Fortunately, Altan—" He suddenly shut up.

Shen Qi said: "In terms of character and means, Emperor Jing Long is much more ruthless than me."

Su Yan sighed, and said, "No wonder the emperor's fake death was entrusted to you to execute it. It turns out that the two of you have conspired for a long time."

As if to prove that what she said was true, Shen Qi took out a few silk books from her bosom and handed them over.Su Yan picked it up and flipped through it, and sure enough there was a piece with a red cross on it, and another one with the word "Jingzhe" written on it. I don't know what it meant, but it was indeed the emperor's handwriting.

"What does 'Awakening of Insects' mean?"

"The spring thunder exploded, waking up all the dormant winter insects, which means that the player's power has been exhausted, and we can prepare to close the net."

Su Yan was slightly stunned, as if admiring, but also as if gnashing his teeth: "Old man, you are really powerful, and you are also really ruthless!"

"Sometimes I have also thought about why Emperor Jinglong played this game of chess? Is it for the country, for the stability of his son's dragon chair, or for... to regain control of the universe after waking up?"

Su Yan thought about Shen Qi: "What do you mean by that?"

Shen Qi said: "He is playing chess with your hand, just like the chess player hiding behind the scenes is playing chess with Mr. Crane's hand. Don't you think he is very similar to the chess player? Like this emperor who 'does not love anyone but loves the world' Xinxing, is it really suitable for you to deliver your sincerity?"

Su Yan was speechless.

Shen Qi stretched out her hands to stroke his cheeks, shoulders, and back, and said in a hoarse voice: "Lady, there is only one husband in the world, and he is wholeheartedly just for you..."

A heavy cough came from outside the cell door.

Su Yan was startled, looked at the door, and suddenly saw a face as black as the bottom of a pot: "...Chu Yuan, Chu Tantou?"

"Tantou" is Chu Yuan's childhood name, but he doesn't mind being called that by his relatives and friends.But the appearance of Chu Yuan here also meant that Emperor Jing Long's eyes and ears appeared here, so Shen Qi's face also turned dark.

Chu Yuan ignored Shen Qi, walked straight up to Su Yan, bowed and clasped his fists: "Master Su, the emperor ordered me to come and pick you up from prison."

Su Yan said with a cold face: "What kind of prison will I get out of? I won't leave prison. If the emperor wants to summon me, then he will issue an imperial decree."

Chu Yuan quickly explained: "It's not a summons, but the emperor knows that the prison environment is poor, and he is afraid of the hard work of the adults, so he sent a lowly official to pick up the adults."

Su Yan didn't give any face, and turned to tell Shen Qi: "Qilang, help me pick up the chess pieces, it just so happens that I'm tired of wrestling with each other, and I want to find someone to play against."

The corner of Shen Qi's mouth smiled slightly, she got up and went to help him pick up the black and white pieces scattered all over the ground.

Chu Yuan was left on the sidelines, and said awkwardly: "Master Su, I also follow orders in a humble position..."

"I know." Su Yan's tone was flat, "I didn't mean to embarrass Lord Chu. It's just that I really don't want to be released from prison, so I just want to hide. There is an emperor who has returned to Beijing to take charge, and there are civil and military officials from the Manchu Dynasty. I am not alone. .”

Chu Yuan had no choice but to bow and leave.

Shen Qi watched Chu Yuan get out of the cell, walked to the door and wanted to lock the cell door, but suddenly saw a big black pill in the crack of the door, mixed in the black bricks and stones, making it hard to see clearly.

His eyes changed several times, sometimes eager, sometimes loathing, and then completely numb, until he heard Su Yan calling behind him: "Qilang?" , stepping on the sole of the boot on the pill and grinding it hard, thoroughly grinding it into dust.Only then did he turn around and look back, and said in a gentle voice, "Here we are."

On Fusi's carriage in Beizhen, Chu Yuan said to Emperor Jing Long with a shameful expression on his face: "This minister is incompetent..."

Emperor Jinglong raised his hand to prevent him from pleading guilty, sighed silently, and wrote with a pen: "I don't want to show up in public, so as not to shock the world. If he doesn't want to come out of prison to meet him, I will have to go to prison .”