son-in-law

Chapter 1282 Quiet Night Thoughts

Chapter 1282 Quiet Night Thoughts

The imperial meal in the evening was rice and three dishes of pickles.

Jun Wu was embarrassed about this and explained that he had just issued an edict yesterday to share the difficulties, and he couldn't slap himself in the face today. But Ning Ji didn't mind. He was a scout and could eat insects and tree bark. The material life during the Southwest War was not considered extremely difficult. If it was during the Xiaocang River period, most of the elite soldiers who survived would have eaten corpses. Ning Ji didn't mind eating the corpses of the Jurchens, but he didn't have the opportunity. He did bite off the enemy's throat directly during the fight. Of course, the taste was not good, but watching the enemy twitching in a pool of blood made him feel very comfortable.

There was no need to describe these things in detail to people who had not experienced them. He hadn't even told Qu Longjun.

"But my brother likes to find delicious food. Every time he goes to a new place, he searches carefully and stealthily by himself."

Ning Ji, who was eating with big mouthfuls, shared interesting stories about his family with Jun Wu.

"My father... I heard that he liked delicious food in the early years, but recently he said that he didn't like it anymore. He likes to steal my brother's delicious food... Every time my aunt asked him to take something to Chengdu for my brother, he would always take half of it, and sometimes he would accidentally eat it all, and then my brother would get nothing..."

"Every time my brother brings me food, it's the same... He always leaves a small portion for me..."

"But sometimes I fight with Wenwen and Ningke for food... I also find it quite interesting..."

Ning Ji started to love snatching food from his brothers and sisters after he came back from the battlefield. Before that, he was the second brother who took care of his brothers and sisters. But after eating insects and grass roots and chewing people's throats, Ning Ji felt that snatching food from his brothers and sisters was a very interesting thing, and the food became more delicious. This was the sin of war. He once wrote this feeling in a crooked composition, but later felt ashamed and did not hand it in.

"Oh..." The emperor was impressed and envious. "When I was a child, my sister was never so interesting. She had a stern face with four words written on it: I am awesome..."

"Ok?"

"Don't look at her face. Everyone who comes to see the princess in her mansion must be warned not to look at her face. Those who violate the rules will be beheaded. I am the emperor, I don't lie."

"Uh……"

The night had already fallen, and there were sparse stars in the sky above the palace. The two brothers had a simple dinner and walked along the imperial road towards the palace wall, enjoying the evening breeze and watching the night view of Fuzhou City. Although there was an age gap, the two had similar personalities and had many topics to talk about. After pointing to the place where the lights were swaying in the city and talking about the plot of Chen Shuangran and Pu Xinggui, Ning Ji, who already had a good impression of the emperor, was afraid that he would die in the future, so he wanted to teach him how to shoot. Who knew that when the two went to the training ground in the palace, they found that Junwu had good skills in using muskets. Even at night, when he used the long muskets that were already distributed in the army, he could hit seven out of ten shots.

"I participated in the whole process of improving gunpowder." Jun Wu said this very naturally. "I have burns on my hands, body, here, look here... I have had burns. My face was burned once, but it was not serious. I have never encountered a barrel explosion that could blind people when testing a musket. In the army, this is the best luck. God protects me. I often tell those management officials that you have to try the finished product yourself. If you don't try it yourself, how do you know if it can be used? If you try it with your own life first, the lives of the soldiers in the army can be saved. But my side is still far behind the Institute of Gewu in the southwest. I heard that..."

After they finished shooting, they sat down on the stone steps next to the parade ground. The emperor mentioned the Southwest Institute for Gewu for the 27th time in the conversation that day, and he talked nonstop. He then discussed with Ning Ji: "A few years ago... after the Southwest War, when there was a meeting in Chengdu, I wrote a letter and asked Zuo Xiuquan to take it over, asking for help. Can Dean Lin Jingwei and others come over to give me guidance... You said, now Lin Jingwei has been injured in the explosion. If I mention this matter again, do you think the teacher can give him over to give me guidance... You said I should write another letter and tell the teacher that your son is with me now. If you give him to Lin Jingwei, I will trade with you..."

Ning Ji was troubled by the group of academic masters in the Institute of Gewu. His face was flattened after hearing what he heard. At this moment, he didn't know whether the other party had revealed his true intentions. He rolled his eyes and said, "Then just write it. My father will definitely say that he has no such son. If you arrest me, he will have less worries. Besides... even if he sends Uncle Lin to you, I won't go back."

"...It's really not easy to get back the reputation of a five-foot-tall sex demon." Jun Wu muttered, stroking his chin.

Ning Ji turned around and glared at him.

"As for this matter... Senior Brother, I can help you clear your name. Look, I am the emperor. I will announce to the world that you have been doing good deeds and fighting for justice in Fuzhou every day. Let the whole world know your reputation..."

"I have already met Xiao Hei and the others in Jiangning. It's strange that they would believe you. You do good things every day. If those bastards hear about it, they will laugh to death again..."

"I'm just giving the teacher a way out. He sent Dean Lin here, so I can go back on my word and say you ran away. I'm the emperor, and the teacher will be pleased if I'm not so cunning and don't keep my word."

"Then just write it..." Ning Ji didn't care. His reputation in the southwest was dead and he was now a piece of chopping block.

"Let me think about it. Your situation is very troublesome. I can't really write a letter yet, otherwise it will be intercepted by others and I will be in trouble. But you have been away from home for more than a year, and your teacher must want to know about your news. I can let you know that you are safe..."

"He already knows about my stay in Jiangning..." Ning Ji sighed, holding his chin with both hands.

"But you have to go back, right? When do you want to go back?"

"I'll kill Lin Zongwu, Xiao Hei and the others will know that I'm the best martial artist in the world, and I can go back."

"Oh..." Jun Wu looked at the stars in the sky, "Your mother must be very worried about you..."

"..."

"Brother, I have lost both my father and mother. My mother passed away earlier... My useless father died at sea. I was not by his side when he died, but my sister said that he was still thinking about me..."

"..."

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more..."

"..."

"By the way, your mother is Miss Xiaochan, right? I called her sister..."

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

……

After talking about the big things, they talked about family affection for a while. Ning Ji was annoyed and wanted to kill the king. Jun Wu felt threatened and reluctantly let him go: "I originally wanted you to rest in the palace, but I still have a lot to say to you."

"I still want to seek justice for Zuo Xingzhou. I also have to meet Pu Xinggui tomorrow morning." Ning Ji said that he had something important to do.

"Alas..." Jun Wu sighed, and when Ning Ji was about to leave, he said, "Regarding the layout of the city this time, many things have been handled by Mr. Cheng. His layout is closely linked, and I don't understand some of the arrangements. Regarding your matter, I think he knows the priorities. You need to remember this when you act outside."

"What...what do you mean..." Ning Ji frowned, "You mean...Cheng Zhouhai will do something out of the ordinary..."

"No..." Jun Wu laughed, "What I mean is that you should also be more cautious. Don't make a fuss and make things too ugly. In the end, we lose face in front of Mr. Cheng..."

Jun Wu lowered his voice.

"In the final analysis, he is the direct disciple of Prime Minister Qin and is also known for his strategies. He seems to be in the same group with us, but he is somewhat competing with the regicide villain, Teacher... You will find out slowly..."

Not long after, Ning Ji, with a puzzled look on his face, left the palace through a secret passage.

In the afternoon, he went to the Princess's residence to intercept this junior fellow apprentice. They spent too much time reminiscing and chatting. After seeing him off, Jun Wu returned to the imperial study to begin reviewing memorials. Halfway through the review, Cheng Zhouhai dragged his tired body to come for an audience.

Obviously he already knew about Jun Wu's meeting with Ning Ji.

"...I heard that Your Majesty dismissed his attendants and gave the musket to Ning Ji. This is indeed a bit reckless and risky. This is unbecoming of an emperor and must not happen again..."

Cheng Zhouhai began to nag earnestly. Jun Wu then pulled out a piece of paper from the table.

"When the matter of the musket was brought up, didn't Lord Cheng foresee it? Otherwise, don't tell me about it."

Cheng Zhouhai sighed: "Even if I tell you this, I hope that His Majesty will make the decision by other means. There is no one in the hall. If you take out the musket, you are handing your life to him..."

"I handed it over to him when we were riding in the same carriage. Master Cheng, I made the right bet. My junior brother has a pure heart. He doesn't need a musket to kill me."

"It's easy to say that I'll give my life to him! Your Majesty is the supreme ruler. If this matter is leaked, what will those Confucian ministers think? Your Majesty, will they still work for you? You are getting carried away!"

"..."

Jun Wu was slightly stunned.

Not long after, he made a self-examination.

Cheng Zhouhai sighed, "This is... the result I least wanted to see when I handed over the intelligence. Your Majesty, you are not mature enough when dealing with matters related to the southwest. In the future, you will negotiate, fight, and bargain with the southwest. How can everyone who has placed so much hope on you trust you?"

"..." Jun Wu was silent for a moment, "I have also kept my mouth shut..."

"This palace is leaky on all sides, how can we really keep the news secret... Your Majesty, many times, you are sincere, but when you encounter things in the southwest, you become a child, which is not good. Everyone behind you has their own hopes and their own sustenance. You have the inheritance of the Wu Dynasty, the tradition of family rule, the Confucian tradition and responsibility. Even if it is just acting, you have to play your part well..."

"...I originally thought that Mr. Cheng was testing my opinion on the southwest, but I never expected..."

"…Your Majesty, we have been together for such a long time. I know what Your Majesty thinks about the southwest." Cheng Zhouhai sighed, "What I really want to see is Your Majesty's methods and scheming. Your Majesty, what you think is not important, what is important is what you can do."

Jun Wu nodded slightly at the other end of the table. After a moment, he said, "Mr. Cheng...what you've been thinking about...is it Grandpa Qin's things?"

Cheng Zhouhai remained silent for a long time before speaking.

"My master has devoted his whole life to teaching Confucianism, which has a long history. Ning Yi's approach is extreme, and my approach has never been moderate, but in the final analysis, he still follows the path of establishing a heart for the world, establishing a destiny for life, and creating peace for all eternity. He violated the Confucianism of later generations, but he did not violate Confucius and Mencius. He can't turn the world upside down!"

He paused for a moment when he said this: "…It is nothing more than redefining what is meant by ancient sages and what is meant by unparalleled knowledge. Your Majesty, do not be discouraged."

Jun Wu nodded: "But Mr. Cheng... I think what the teacher said is very right..."

"Many of his words are true! If he wins in the end, we will leave the knowledge for him to choose. If he loses, we will still promote him as a saint and incorporate his ideas of equality for all and the pursuit of knowledge through investigation of things into Confucianism. So what!"

In the years after Jun Wu ascended the throne, even though Cheng Zhouhai occasionally showed an extremely close attitude towards Xinan, he never said a word. But at this moment, he was obviously angered by Jun Wu's adventurous attitude of handing his life to Ning Ji, and he spoke a few truths from his heart.

When both sides talked about this, Jun Wu knew that he was right. Putting one's life in the hands of others was the greatest recklessness of an emperor, and it was also the greatest disrespect to all followers. He accepted the lesson and reflected on himself, and Cheng Zhouhai said no more.

He then reported some events of the day, and when he was about to leave, Jun Wu stopped him.

"Mr. Cheng," he said, "You are my teacher and elder. As a junior, I have something to ask you."

Cheng Zhouhai nodded.

"...Today, I met my junior brother and treated him with sincerity. I was happy for this sincerity, but at the same time, I also knew clearly that this would bring me the greatest benefit, and I would get his sincerity...Teacher, I have so many thoughts in my mind. Tell me, am I sincere or fake?"

Cheng Zhouhai was silent for a moment, then smiled tiredly and sighed.

"Your Majesty... As an elder, I want to say that you are quite innocent to ask this question. As a subject, I want to say, Your Majesty, please don't be angry with me, okay?"

"Hahahaha..." Jun Wu laughed.

Cheng Zhouhai sighed, turned around and left. When he walked to the door, he turned his head slightly.

"Your Majesty, in fact... Ning Ji grew up in Zhang Village and was influenced by Ning Yi. He is not as stubborn and stupid as he looks... If you really have bad intentions, you might really die if you give him the gun today..."

“…Is there…?”

Jun Wu frowned and was slightly stunned.

……

After leaving the palace through the secret passage instructed by Jun Wu, it was already late when he returned to the Princess's Mansion. Qu Longjun had already been released by the Princess.

Ning Ji sat in the yard and talked with Qu Longjun about the whole process of meeting his "senior brother" today: "My father taught many disciples in the southwest. I feel that he is really a bit like my senior brother who was lost outside... But some of his ideas are more... more... pessimistic. For example, when I asked him why he didn't send troops into the city, he told me..."

Ning Ji talked about his feelings in a babble, and Qu Longjun gradually pieced together the appearance of the "emperor" the boy saw today. In fact, he was somewhat similar to the emperor brother that the eldest princess had mentioned in the past two days, but he was very different from the emperor seen in the books.

"I can understand that, actually." Qu Longjun said, "They have never enjoyed the happiness of power. Ever since Mr. Ning killed the king, they have been trembling with fear. Later, they were chased all over the world by the Jurchens... With the lesson of the Jingping Shame before them, I would be afraid too."

"It was just that he was a little nagging at the end... He kept wanting me to go back to the southwest, saying that he was worried that my parents would miss me... so nagging..." Ning Ji pouted, looking unhappy. He actually missed home a little. His reputation was ruined, and he couldn't go back. What could he do? Bringing up this matter would only add to his troubles.

"Actually... Mr. Ning and... your mother should miss you too..."

Qu Longjun forgot to read his expression and said the same thing. Ning Ji recalled the letter sent by the fool Qin Weiwen when he left home. His nose was sour. He looked at Qu Longjun and said in a muffled voice: "If you give birth to the child, you can go back."

Qu Longjun's face turned red, but she didn't say anything. She just looked at Ning Ji quietly, then nodded slightly.

"Ah."

Ning Ji didn't know that she had just thought of the names for her three children that morning. Although it would most likely be Mr. Ning who would name them after they returned to the southwest, the ones she named could be used as nicknames.

Ning Ji was not as thick-skinned as her. If she was not shy, he would be shy. Soon after, he changed the subject and talked about Pu Xingui and Chen Shuangran. He was intercepted by the emperor and taken to the palace this afternoon, so the killing of people and the chaos were not enough. Tomorrow, he would kill Chen Shuangran's minions outside and make a river of blood. By then, Monk Tunyun should come out to contact him again. After that, he would go with the flow and become Pu Xingui as a token of his loyalty...

……

The stars in the sky are gazing at the earth in the night.

At the other end of the city, Tou Ming Zhuang saw Cao Jinlong and Ai Lao's envoy coming to find him in his hiding place.

Last night, the letter had been sent to several old gentlemen. At this time, Pu Xinggui was ready to confront them verbally. However, Cao Jinlong had a happy look on his face, and the messenger representing Mr. Ai was also very respectful in his words.

"Fuck... If I had known, you should have written those letters a month ago..." Cao Jinlong cursed, holding his hand.

"Ok?"

"To be honest with Master Pu, there has been a fight among our own people in the city in the past two days, and the elders are very worried." The envoy explained with a smile, "Master Pu's letter arrived last night, and Elder Ai was a little angry at first, but he also knew the position of Master Pu in the hearts of many brothers, and with the mediation of Master Cao, Elder Ai also carefully considered what Master Pu said, and discussed it with Miss Chen today. It doesn't matter if we don't talk about it, but it's shocking when we talk about it."

"……what?"

"The little girl is so noisy, she has no experience." Cao Jinlong lowered his voice, "I originally thought that Chen Shuangran was keeping it a secret this time, hiding some extraordinary plan. Today, both sides checked carefully, and Elder Ai was so angry... It turns out that Chen Shuangran's hidden plan later had many ideas that are the same as yours, Young Master Pu!"

"--ah?"

"So, let's set a time..." Cao Jinlong grabbed Pu Xingui's hand, "Tomorrow afternoon, you two will meet and have a good conversation to clear up the misunderstanding. This time, we will work together to do something big—"

"what?"

Pu Xinggui was stunned for a long time.

"Really?"

"Really...it's such a coincidence!"

"... Then... who is in charge of this matter?"

"Now it seems that it is you, Master Pu... Although there is still room for negotiation, Chen Shuangran was severely reprimanded by Elder Ai, who said that she did not trust her own people..."

Pu Xinggui looked at the two people in front of him who were talking vividly.

He actually didn't completely believe that there was such a logic behind the matter. For example, he had discussed the general framework of many things with Ai Lao before. Why didn't they make up the accounts before, but now they are starting to make up the accounts? But it was obvious that he had gathered many brothers in the past two days, and they were unwilling to retreat, so they had to change their minds.

You see, this is how the world is.

If you are hard, she will be soft.

……

"In addition, I would like to ask Master Pu to persuade that killer named Sun." The messenger walked to Pu Xinggui and said earnestly, "For the sake of the overall situation, don't kill him anymore."

"Then...I'll try my best?"

——This is the world of Jianghu.

……

The flames of the city died out in silence, and the moon climbed to the zenith.

Too much time was wasted during the day, and the emperor finished reviewing the memorials very late. He sat under the eaves outside the study and thought quietly for a long time, recalling the childhood memories brought by Ning Ji, and also recalling the present time when he and Cheng Zhouhai and others overcame difficulties together. The past was beautiful, but countless memories were hard to distinguish between true and false. The reality was heavy, but because of this, there was a heavy weight. In any case, he had unknowingly become a middle-aged man in his thirties, shouldering a mountain of responsibilities.

Outside the palace, Cheng Zhouhai was also sitting under the eaves of the courtyard. He finished his work, blew out the lights, and everything was quiet. He thought of the brother and sister he had met many years ago, and the turbulent journey along the way. As time went by, the changes in the world were too intense.

Chen Shuangran was in the lighted room, listening to the envoys from Elder Ai talking about peace while eating cakes. She seemed to be smiling but not laughing, and was unruly. After the people left, the girl held her belly in the room and laughed for a long time.

Pu Xingui knew that he was on the stage. He thought about many things that would happen next and stayed up almost all night, but he did not feel tired at all.

Ning Ji and Qu Longjun still slept in the same bed. He dreamed of Xinan’s father, mother, brothers and sisters. He and Qu Longjun returned home with the child. Everyone showed awe to him and no longer mentioned the past...

The breeze was clear at night and lasted until dawn.

(End of this chapter)