"Huh? This is already made much thinner following the Emperor's orders. Being thicker isn't entirely useless; at least it's safe, isn't it?"
Zhao Yan patted Zi Yan's head and sighed helplessly.
"Yan'er, some things aren't as simple as you think. Just being a little thicker won't work at all!"
“If it’s still this thick, it will definitely be unfair to His Majesty. He kept complaining to me last time that he couldn’t appreciate the winding mountain road.” Hearing this, Zi Yan became even more confused.
"A winding mountain road?"
"I can understand each word individually, so why can't I understand it at all when they're put together?"
Zhao Yan had no idea how to answer, but Yun Jiaoyu timidly gave her instructions.
"Alright, silly girl, don't ask so many questions. You'll find out in the future."
"Listen to me, replace all these carp swim bladders with those of grass carp. Grass carp swim bladders are thinner and more resilient."
As they were speaking, Anfu was already outside the door, calling out in his thin, high-pitched voice.
"Your Majesty! This old servant has something to report!"
Zhao Yan immediately assumed that the emperor was giving her advance notice, telling her to prepare to serve him in bed.
Looking at Zi Yan, she immediately said shyly and urgently, "Quickly, His Majesty is about to arrive, put these things away!"
After a moment, Zhao Yan coughed once, "Eunuch An, please come in!"
"This old servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."
"No need for formalities. When did His Majesty arrive? Has he had his meal yet?"
Anfu shook his head. "His Majesty has important business tonight and is also tired. He specially sent this old servant to inform Your Highness that you do not need to wait."
After saying this, Anfu took his leave.
Upon hearing the news that the emperor had not come, Zhao Yan felt a deep sense of disappointment. She sat on the edge of the bed, looking extremely forlorn.
Her small hands, tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, revealed her inner turmoil.
Every time the emperor learned that his sister had left the palace and that he had come, he would rush over in a great hurry. Except for the morning court session, which he could not refuse, he would spend any spare time by her side.
But what happened this time?
Tired?
Zi Yan could easily see Zhao Yan's thoughts. After years of being mistress and servant, the two had long since reached a mutual understanding.
She immediately offered words of comfort, "Second Miss, don't be too sad. Perhaps His Majesty is just really tired."
"Sigh... He won't get tired. You don't understand. In the dead of night, when the moon is bright and the stars are few, the streets and alleys are quiet. At this time, the inns are closed and the people are resting and sleeping."
But only that dilapidated little house remained brightly lit, bustling with people, still busy at work.
Everyone in Song Zhenglian's room had been engrossed in their books of classical allusions, diligently searching for ways to reform, but after so much effort, they still hadn't found anything.
Too sleepy to continue, yawning incessantly, Guangfa rubbed his sleepy eyes and wanted to say goodbye.
"Brother Song, it's really getting late. We're feeling quite sleepy. How about we come back tomorrow?"
Song Zhenglian immediately stood up to see him off, expressing his gratitude.
"I'm so lucky to have friends like you all! If you're tired, go back and rest!"
As soon as they stepped outside, the group of friends looked at each other, then sighed repeatedly and shook their heads.
"Brother Guangfa, Brother Song is in grave danger this time. It would take ten days or half a month to accomplish this, let alone a day. The emperor has only given him a few days."
“Who says otherwise? I’m just being blunt, so let’s get straight to the point. Let’s get ready to collect Brother Song’s body and make the funeral arrangements.”
The door panel was just a thin piece of wood.
Song Zhenglian, behind the door, couldn't hear his friends' voices outside.
He certainly didn't resent his friends for not helping him in his time of need; the matter was simply at a dead end with no chance of turning things around!
Looking up at the bright moon in the sky, he sighed deeply. He knew, of course, that he was doomed to die!
Frustrated and indignant, he took out the old wine he had always been reluctant to drink and drank it heartily.
"Why! Why is it that wicked and treacherous officials always hold power in this world? Why can't the emperor recognize talent?"
He cried out in despair, and before he knew it, he was completely drunk.
Just then, there was a noise outside the door. Song Zhenglian was about to lift his drooping eyes to look when the study door was pushed open. A group of men in black rushed in, grabbed a sack, and put him inside.
On the way, Song Zhenglian roared angrily.
"Sima Lie! You shameless old bastard, you wield immense power and control the emperor! Not only do you try to destroy the very foundation of our Great Xia Dynasty, but you also extend your filthy hands to millions of poor students who have studied diligently through hardship!"
May you die a horrible death, may you be struck by lightning!
He instinctively assumed that this was revenge from Sima Lie, who was in charge of Weng Tonghe's gang, and cursed him all the way before being thrown to the ground.
The sack was untied.
He had assumed that the executioners on both sides were already prepared, but to his surprise, it was a dark, secret room.
He pointed at the person in front of him and began to curse.
"You old scoundrel Sima, if you want to kill me, just kill me. Why go through all these tricks?"
But upon closer inspection, he suddenly understood.
The person standing before me with a smile and his hands behind his back was not Sima Lie, but the current emperor!
However, there doesn't seem to be any fundamental difference.
What else could it be if the emperor has bound himself? Could it be that he truly intends to implement reforms?
He was definitely more eager to kill me to vent his anger than Sima Lie, after all, I had cursed him as a tyrant in front of so many people.
With a cold laugh, Song Zhenglian said neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Isn't this the wise ruler of our Great Xia? If he has nothing to hide, why resort to such despicable means? If he wants to get rid of me, he can simply give the order!"
Seeing Song Zhenglian's reaction, Qin Yu was no longer in a hurry. Instead of explaining the truth, he deliberately kept a gloomy face.
"Since you know you are going to die, then I will allow you to say everything you need to say before you die!"
Song Zhenglian laughed wildly, clearly not intending to let this opportunity slip by.
He had kept these words in his heart for a long time, and now he spoke them out with great passion.
"The safety of the nation rests on the ruler! The way to govern a country is to employ the virtuous and eliminate the wicked. In today's court, treacherous officials run rampant, demons are rampant, the old scoundrel Sima has the power to cover up the sky, and the northern barbarians are invading from the border. If we do not rectify the situation in time, I fear the country will not survive."
"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. A ruler should prioritize the people, not act like you, levying exorbitant taxes and oppressing the people. This will incite a popular uprising, and the Great Xia will be in grave danger."
After he finished speaking, Song Zhenglian moved his lips as if he wanted to continue, but he felt it was a waste of breath.
He shook his head helplessly, holding his head high with pride.
Standing confidently with his hands behind his back, Song Zhenglian displayed an expression of righteous indignation and resolute acceptance of death.
"You tyrant, go ahead and do it!"
"What is there to fear in death? Even in the underworld, I dare say I am a loyal subject of the Great Xia!"
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