Chapter 199 This is not a transaction
The leading eunuch bowed and asked with concern, "The Saint just heard that the prince had woken up, so he sent me to visit him. I wonder how the prince feels now? Is there anything wrong with him?"
"Thank you for your concern, Saint. I am really worried." Li Lu's voice was weak, but he tried to sit up straighter to show his seriousness, and replied: "I am fine now, please rest assured, Saint."
The eunuch sighed upon hearing this: "Your Highness, you are always so unwilling to report any worries, and always say that everything is fine... Little do you know that the more you do this, the more the Saint will worry."
So the eunuch sent someone to call the medical officer from Prince Rong's mansion to come and answer the question.
This medical officer had been living in the Rong Wang Mansion since his early years under the imperial order, and was specifically responsible for treating and caring for the sickly Prince Rong.
"…The prince's old illness was triggered this time, and he fell into a coma due to the high fever. Because his body had been weak for a long time, it was difficult for him to wake up."
The doctor gave a detailed answer: "Although he is out of danger now, he still needs to rest well. In addition to taking medicine on time and paying attention to his diet and daily life, he also needs to avoid extreme joy, sorrow, and shock."
The eunuch nodded and said, "Thank you, Doctor Gao."
The medical officer raised his hand and saluted: "This is my job."
"Since the prince needs to rest, we will not disturb him if we can. However, the saint has a few more words to tell the prince..." As the eunuch spoke, he looked around and said, "You guys go wait outside for now."
The eunuch and the medical officer who came with him retreated.
As the door was closed, it seemed that only the leading eunuch and Prince Rong were left in the room.
"I wonder what the saint wants to tell me?"
Seeing that the young man on the sickbed sat up straighter, the eunuch smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, my lord. The sage always thinks of you. I just want to remind you a few things."
He quickly got to the point: "Your Highness has been awake for some time. I believe you have heard about the progress of the trial of the young master of the Chang family in the Dali Temple. You should also know that the young master of the Chang family said that you can testify for him-"
"Yes." Li Lu said quickly, "I did talk with the young master of the Chang family that day... Tomorrow, I will go to the Dali Temple to explain the matter!"
Seeing that he looked extremely weak but still eager to prove someone's innocence, Chang Suining, who was standing behind him, felt that this man was really good at acting and he should have a place among the famous actors in the capital.
"You should go, but not tomorrow. The prince is so weak now, how can you treat your body like this?" The eunuch said with concern: "There is no rush to testify, the prince should rest for a few days first."
Li Lu: "But the young master of the Chang family is now in prison..."
"But the evidence is there..." The eunuch sighed softly, "The prince has a pure and honest character. You must know that human hearts are unpredictable."
Li Lu was stunned: "What the father-in-law meant is..."
"It doesn't matter what I mean. What matters is that the truth is out." The eunuch reminded with kindness in his eyes: "Although the prince did meet the young master of the Chang family that day, they did not go or return together. How can we know where the young master of the Chang family went and what he did after they separated?"
Li Lu's expression changed slightly. He opened his mouth to speak, but paused cautiously.
"I came here this time to remind you, my lord, that you can't trust everyone and you can't be too confident..."
The eunuch finally said, "It is well known that the prince loves the lady of the Chang family, but you should not act on emotion. If someone takes advantage of you and you are prepared to protect her, and you rashly become a guarantor for someone, and accidentally give false testimony... I am afraid you will bring disaster upon yourself."
Li Lu was silent for a moment, and finally said: "Yes, I have always been dull, thanks to the eunuch for reminding me. The saint is very thoughtful, I will keep it in mind."
The eunuch then showed a look of relief, bowed and left.
The eunuch came to remind people that "don't be too sure", and the eunuch didn't say too much, just enough. In the final analysis, the emperor doesn't need to explain his actions too clearly, just tell people the "right way to do it".
"It seems... the saint has made his choice." Li Lu sighed.
Chang Suining put away the dagger and said in an unusually calm voice: "It seems that there is nothing worth sighing about in surprise."
It was expected that the Queen would choose Bao Mingjin.
What the other party wanted to save was not Ming Jin, but to cover up the truth of the matter.
Between Queen Ming and the Ming family, family affection is the most minor bond. What really connects the two is the naturally bound power, interests and reputation.
What the Ming family did was already related to the reputation of the saint. Moreover, the one who died this time was the eldest daughter of the Changsun clan. Once the Ming family was "charged" with this crime, the account would inevitably be blamed on the emperor by the Changsun clan and other noble families as well as people all over the world.
It is certainly advisable to sacrifice one's relatives for the sake of justice, but the matter has been delayed until now, and the Queen has missed the best opportunity to do so.
What's more, compared to sacrificing one's own family for the sake of justice and abandoning the son of a military commander, the cost of the latter is obviously much smaller.
"Since ancient times, it is sad that the ruler does not know the loyalty of his subjects." Li Lu still sighed: "But what is even sadder is that the ruler knows the loyalty of his subjects, but after weighing the pros and cons, he has no choice but to abandon the loyal subjects... How can this not make people sigh?"
"General Chang has been a soldier for half his life, and now he still volunteers to fight against the rebels despite his wounded body, and to protect the country and the people with his own body..." Li Lu said: "He can protect the country and the people, but he can't protect his only loved one..."
"If the news of Chang Langjun being punished reaches General Chang, will General Chang fight or not? If he fights, he will have to swallow the pain of losing his son, and will also be suspected by the emperor in the future. If he does not fight, he will probably be punished for delaying military affairs on the spot..."
As Li Lu spoke, he looked at the girl who came out from behind the screen: "There is no right or wrong in the art of being an emperor, but I really feel sorry for General Chang."
"Every word the prince said is meant to instigate me." Chang Suining did not sit down this time. Instead, she faced the closed window with her back to Li Lu. After a moment, she said, "But every word he said is true."
Compared with the reputation of the emperor during a time of imperial turmoil, a mere military general without real power was insignificant, and the general's son was even less important.
Should such a person be abandoned without hesitation when he can be abandoned...?
Old Chang had made countless contributions to Dasheng, and had countless bloodshed and scars, but in the end, he had to ruin his glory for a dandy who killed innocent people and deserved to die. He had to let his only son bear all the blame and stigma, and even paid the price of the dandy's life.
Why? Just because that dandy boy's last name is Ming? Chang Suining's knuckles turned slightly white from the force of holding the dagger sheath. She said, "Let's talk about the deal between me and the prince. What will it take for the prince to come forward and explain the truth?"
"I'm sorry." Li Lu shook his head regretfully. "Madam Chang also heard what the eunuch said just now. The sage has made it clear that I really dare not and cannot disobey. Otherwise, I will have no place to stay in the capital."
Chang Suining showed no sign of being irritated. He just turned around, looked at him, and asked, "What will the sage choose? Prince Rong will not know it now and say that he cannot disobey now. Then, what is the sincerity of the prince in wanting to trade with my Chang family?"
Li Lu: "To be honest, what I want to do with Madam Chang is another deal."
Chang Suining looked at him and motioned for him to speak clearly.
"Please forgive me for speaking frankly, but if the Lord wants me to die, I have to die. The Lord's will is set, and your brother cannot escape punishment."
Li Lu said, "Whether it's Madam Chang or me, if we try to resist the Holy Will with our bodies, it's like trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm or hitting a rock with an egg. We are doomed to have no chance of winning."
Chang Suining: "Your Highness, do you mean to allow this crime to be placed on my brother?"
"This game is decided." Li Lu looked at her with persuasion in his eyes: "Although Madam Chang is smart and courageous, she is too eager to argue about right and wrong, and does not know the difference between big and small. Sometimes, when the overall situation is at stake, it is more important to stay alive than to insist on arguing about meaningless "right and wrong" in public."
This girl had a heart that pursued justice too much, and he saw it during the cuckoo match in the Imperial College that day.
But this time she was not standing on the Cuju field, but on the opposite side of the emperor.
He was conveying all of this clearly to the girl at this moment, so that she would understand that if she insisted on demanding justice "inappropriately", she would only end up with a bloody head and broken bones.
She didn't know whether he had heard it or not, so she just asked him, "Then according to Prince Rong, what is the best strategy for the moment?"
"I have found someone in the capital who is somewhat useful, and he may be able to help Mr. Chang escape secretly."
Chang Suining: "Switching the pillars? Escape?"
"That's right." Li Lu said, "This is to put yourself in a desperate situation and then survive."
"What happens next?" Chang Suining asked, "Let's not talk about whether people will find out about it later. Just think about my brother being accused of murder. What should he do? Will he live in hiding for the rest of his life?"
Li Lu: "I can help Lord Chang go to Yizhou."
Yizhou?
That was the territory of King Rong.
"I promise Madam Chang that once we reach Yizhou, no one will be able to do anything to Chang Langjun." Li Lu said, "I will prepare a new identity for Chang Langjun so that he can join the army in Yizhou and realize his ambitions."
Chang Suining roughly understood it.
"So the prince wants to hold my brother hostage in Yizhou in order to force my father, right?" she asked bluntly.
It turns out he was waiting here.
"How can you say I'm driving you?" Li Lu was not ashamed, but explained seriously: "When I was young, I often heard my father talk about the reputation of General Chang. General Chang is extremely brave and has followed the late Crown Prince through life and death for many years. He is a loyal general with the utmost affection and character, and it is rare to find him in the world..."
"My father and I both have a heart for talent. General Chang has not been used in recent years, which is really a waste of talent. Now Mr. Chang has suffered this hardship again. I just want to do my best to find a place of shelter for General Chang and the future General Chang."
"It turns out that the prince was attracted by my father and brother's military talents." Chang Suining finally understood: "This is the real reason why the prince asked to marry me in the first place."
He wanted to use her to win over Lao Chang.
It turned out that King Rong of Yizhou was secretly planning to recruit military generals.
"Yes, but not entirely." The young man said seriously, "I really love Madam Chang. Madam Chang is outstanding in every way. She has a heart that is unwilling to be trapped in a woman's body, just as I am unwilling to be trapped in this sick body—"
Perhaps it was because of this similarity that he was attracted to that girl.
He said, "If Madam Chang doubts my sincerity in saving your brother, my original proposal still stands. I am willing to marry Madam Chang. When we become a family, we should trust each other wholeheartedly and stick together through thick and thin."
Chang Suining only found these respectable words funny: "The prince has a good eye and a good calculation."
"It's just..." She couldn't help but ask: "If I want to rescue my brother secretly, I may not be unable to do it. Why must I cooperate with the prince and let my brother out of prison for no reason, but then keep him in Yizhou as a hostage?"
"Of course it's because..." Li Lu laughed helplessly: "The best way to make others keep a secret is to cooperate and win together."
Chang Suining also laughed: "In other words, if I don't cooperate with the prince, he will report me and leak the secret, and secretly stop me from saving my brother?"
If the cooperation fails, is she going to destroy what he calls her brother's only chance of survival?
Prince Rong sighed, "This is clearly a deal that benefits both parties. Why does Madam Chang always want to push me away?"
"Because this is not a transaction." Chang Suining looked at him: "It's coercion."
From the very beginning, he had intended to use this incident to set up a plan, wanting to move her and her father and brother onto his chessboard and make them his pawns.
Li Lu's eyes were still gentle: "Madam Chang, you really shouldn't think like this."
Chang Suining looked at him and said, "The Crown Prince is so eager to recruit talents that he would resort to any means necessary. Can I understand that the Crown Prince and Prince Rong have a rebellious heart?"
Li Lu shook his head.
"My father and I both have the surname Li. My father is the younger brother of the late emperor. The Great Sheng Kingdom originally belonged to our Li family. How can we be disloyal?" He said, "Protecting the military generals is only for the sake of the stability of the Li family's kingdom."
Li Lu coughed twice, calmed his breathing, and then continued slowly: "The overall situation is about to be in chaos. The current sage is old and can no longer do anything... General Chang and I have the same aspirations. We are people on the same path. Why don't we work together to bring peace to the country?"
He looked at the girl who was in a desperate situation but still showed no sign of bending, and finally reminded her: "Besides, your family has no other choice at the moment."
Chang Suining looked at the young man who kept talking about cooperation and companionship, but was actually full of intimidation and condescension.
Use the most pleasant and humble words to carry out the strongest coercive actions.
After a moment, Chang Suining said, "This proposal from the prince was not what I expected. I need to think about it for two days."
"Okay." Li Lu nodded: "Let's wait for Madam Chang to think it over and then discuss a plan to save him."
He thought, at most only two days -
Now that the emperor's will has been decided, the next actions will no longer be as gentle as before.
She is smart but lacks experience. Once she faces the real storm, she will give up her luck and understand that some costs are unavoidable.
He would wait for her to come again.
Prince Rong watched the figure disappear behind the bead curtain, his mouth slightly curled up, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
…
As the sky gradually darkened, lights were lit in the palaces one after another.
Inside the Ganlu Hall, after seeing off several officials and ministers who came to discuss matters, Ming Luo returned to the inner hall, knelt down in front of the Holy Ce Emperor with a solemn expression, and kowtowed, as if to ask for forgiveness.
Good night~ (End of this chapter)
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