When Hua Qi followed Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying, as well as Ah Liu, who reluctantly followed behind, and saw the emperor and Zhu Jing of Zhao Guogong again, he knew that the two cousins should have said everything thoroughly. At this time, there was a considerable distance between the two, and the emperor's face was calm, but he could see the dazedness in his eyes, but Zhu Jing couldn't see any emotions for the rest of his life after the catastrophe.

"There are traitors in Baiyunguan, intending to assassinate the son-in-law of Zhao Guogong who is fighting here, and he did not hesitate to set fire to it after the defeat, but fortunately, the entourage of the guards was loyal and brave, and they were all captured in the end. I have already sent people to the order, and I will say this to the people of the world. ”

The emperor spoke slowly, and every word seemed to burst out from between his teeth. And finding that Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying were silent in front of him, Ah Liu looked like a wooden man, but there was one more Hua Qi who didn't know when he would come back, so he pulled the corners of his mouth and smiled: "Things have fallen to the point where they are now, because I have been indecisive for many years, and I have neglected to the point of almost blindness, no wonder others." ”

Speaking of this, his eyes fell on Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying's hands that were still clasped together at the moment, and when his eyes moved up again, he saw that there was no confusion and fear on the faces of the two, only calm, Rao is he had always known that Zhu Ying was the most big-hearted person, and Zhang Shou was even more demonic, and he couldn't help but envy this young pair at this time.

"Yingying, you don't have anything to say to me? Aren't you worried about me pursuing Zhang Shou? ”

"Your Majesty, if you are like some people who learn from folk fools and foolish women, then I will go away with Ah Shou and fly high." When she said this, Zhu Ying seemed to be talking about a trivial thing about a trip, and her face didn't even change.

She didn't care about her father's angry eyes like a pinprick at him at that moment, nor was she afraid of the emperor's elongated cold face, and said to herself: "If you want to add sin, why do you have no excuse?" Not to mention this kind of unwarranted speculation? Ah Shou doesn't take power, doesn't care about things, doesn't form a party, doesn't run a business, but he almost lost his life because of other people's suspicions, isn't he wronged? ”

"And most importantly, is he really hiding something? Is there really a famous doctor and a famous craftsman in Xinglin, who quietly hides one hand as his killer weapon, and then thinks that the apprentices of the church starve to death the master? No! I only saw him trying hard to take out what he knew little by little to teach others, and I only saw him treating every student with care! ”

"If even a gentle and harmless person like him can't tolerate it, then wouldn't I, who is open-mouthed, short-tempered, and explosive at one point, even more dead and without a place to be buried?"

"Yingying, what nonsense are you talking about!" This time, even Zhu Jing couldn't help but speak, but the next sentence fully expressed his bad mood as a father, "It's so unusual, how can you curse yourself like this!" ”

Knowing that Zhu Jing has always regarded this daughter as the pearl in his palm, and he has always regarded Zhu Ying as a daughter, the emperor thinks that he can understand his cousin's angry mood. Especially knowing that Zhang Shou was personally carried out of the fire just now, his mood was even more subtle and complicated.

Therefore, seeing Zhu Ying glaring at him menacingly, Zhang Shou on the side did not say anything, but still stood there calmly, as if he was not afraid that he was the son of heaven who could decide the honor and disgrace of life and death with one word, and he did not have the consciousness of listening to the destiny of heaven, he couldn't help but think of Chu Kuan's words that Zhu Jing had retold to him just now.

A young man in the countryside, a young unknown teacher, even if Ge Yong has indeed taught people for a while, but he still knows the whereabouts of his teacher, and it is impossible for him to stay in that kind of remote countryside often, so what kind of teaching and tempering does Zhang Shou have to go through, so that he can be like a round pebble washed by the torrent in the water, slippery and untouchable?

And these teachings and grinds are hidden under the surface of the water.

So, in today's era when being different from others is considered unusual, this boy is as striking as a torch in the dark. Chu Kuan thought that he was really deceived by Ge Yong's words, so he ignored Zhang Shou's extraordinary, but how could he ignore it?

He himself is the most deviant of the Son of Heaven, how can he ignore a person who is even more deviant than him?

You must know that he has long seen that Zhang Shou has never feared him as an emperor in his heart, and as for the high-ranking and powerful elders in the court, he has never been afraid.

Not contempt, but complete equality. Under the strict etiquette, it is impossible for any old master to teach such a student, and neither can Ge Yong!

Although Chu Kuan's admonition was like a thorn in the emperor's heart, and Zhu Ying's words were even more piercing, he finally laughed. Although the laughter was not as clear and hearty as before, the gloom on his face gradually dissipated.

"Okay, Yingying, you don't have to look like a beauty protecting a hero, I don't plan to do anything to Zhang Shou. Just like your father said to Chu Kuan, he is not the only famous general in the world who can fight, and Chu Kuan is not the only henchman around me. I admired Emperor Taizu very much, but I never pinned my hopes on a pile of old papers. ”

He didn't mention the so-called firearms of the Ordnance Bureau that were about to be lost, nor did he mention the Taizu Codex in the Ancient and Modern Tongji Library that he might not be able to translate in this life and even future generations of emperors, but stood with his hands behind his back and said word by word: "When I first ascended the throne, I was still young, and I was very talkative, and I liked bows and horses, and I often clashed with ministers, and at that time someone used to say behind my back......"

"I don't live long, if I live long, I will definitely be a disaster for the country!"

He smiled when he said this, and then said casually: "Actually, once in the tenth year of Yongchen, I almost died, and then I was sick twice and died, almost dying. Fortunately, my temperament has gradually converged a lot, and I have not allowed me to use people according to my preferences, and the style of the government and the opposition has finally improved a lot. But anyone who really knows me knows that I don't really care about any of that. ”

"The royal fleet, which has been supporting the expenses of the court, has been in my hands for several years, and is no longer just busy making money through trade, but is reconforming the four seas, drawing maps and charts, and buying some books from overseas. It's a pity that I really can't understand it, and those words are like ghost drawings. It's not the first time I've sent it back at the end of last year. ”

"There are two accounts in the Ordnance Bureau, half of the muskets and artillery are sent to those ships, this account is even hidden from Chu Kuan, and Weinan Bo Zhang Kang is the most cautious person, so that Chu Kuan really thought that some artillery pieces had been lost. In fact, it was just because there was no fortified city on the grassland, and it was inconvenient to carry artillery in the Northern Expedition, so it was not needed at all. ”

"Of course, it is not without problems, the training of captains and sailors on those royal ships has always been a master-apprentice mentor between father and son, and it is indeed not as good as the new learning system that Zhang Shou mentioned in your book. I just didn't expect that there would be so many children of eunuchs who were willing to take such a risk, and they were willing to risk being buried in the belly of a fish to go overseas to see. Even if many of them have utilitarian hearts......"

"But I appreciate such utilitarianism."

He suddenly glanced back at Zhu Jing, and after seeing his words, the other party's face was certainly well hidden, but there was some surprise in his eyes, so he turned back with satisfaction, and then glanced at Zhu Ying, who was also staring, but his eyes fell on Zhang Shou, who seemed to be thinking about something.

But immediately after, he suddenly asked, "Where did Chu Kuan branch you to?" How did you get back? ”

Although the emperor did not name names, how could Hua Qi be wrong? He had just encountered Ah Liu's inexplicable fight for a while, and when he heard Zhu Ying say that, he actually wanted to slip away, and he stayed after thinking about it again. At this moment, he sighed in his heart, and after all, he still told the truth.

"Chu Kuan said that there was another accident in the Tianjin Linhai camp, saying that the Xiong commander was assassinated, and the emperor asked me to rush over to take a look." As soon as he said this, he heard a sneer from behind him, and he didn't need to look at him to know that it was Ah Liu's voice. If he was usually ridiculed by his apprentice like this, he would definitely have to settle accounts with this kid, but at this time he had to swallow his anger.

After all, it is not a glorious thing to be pecked by geese all day long. Therefore, he didn't bother to mention the messenger, token, and some other evidence forged by Chu Kuan, so he had to be convinced, and said bluntly: "However, when I arrived halfway to the horse, I coincidentally lost my mount and looked for a post station to change horses, I casually asked the post man, but the person said that I had never seen the emergency messenger at all. ”

Such a coincidence, the emperor couldn't help but be speechless for a while. However, such a coincidence is really reasonable. The imperial court strictly stipulated the use of four hundred li and six hundred li to expedit, that is, the speed and grade of the post road galloping horse, so whether it was an emergency messenger or not, for the post man who ushered in the delivery every day, it was really just a glance to see.

After all, horses are also something that needs to be cherished in this year, if it weren't for the 100,000 urgent events, who would be desperate to gallop on the avenue? How much does it cost to scrap a horse? Even high-ranking officials and wealthy families are not willing to easily bear such unnecessary losses.

"Then you're rushing back right away?"

"I showed the post station token to the post man, and transferred a post soldier to the Linhai camp to deliver the letter, and a post soldier followed." As for why he did this, Hua Qi knew that these were all smart people in front of him, and he didn't need to bother with more words at all - as for the stupid apprentice with a wooden face, he was probably stupid now, and no matter how much he underestimated him, it would only be him who was unlucky.

Now that most of the truth had been revealed, the Emperor finally shook his head in anticipation and made a decision.

"That's the end of it. Zhang Shou, no matter who your teacher is, whether you were born to know it or not, and how much you know what other people in this world don't understand, I don't care. As the Son of Heaven, he is afraid of this and does not tolerate that, and in the end he is just a mediocre lone husband! Just let go of what you want to do, and just say what you want to say, don't have any scruples! ”

Seeing Zhu Ying beside Zhang Shou was happier than anyone else, that kind of excited look was as vivid and real as before, and the emperor only felt that his obviously depressed and unspeakable mood suddenly improved a lot at this time.

Therefore, his originally somewhat stiff tone unconsciously softened.

"I have always regarded Yingying as a daughter, but she is a stubborn girl, and she has never accepted any other titles, even if I once gave the princess a crown dress, she was directly pressed to the bottom of the box. But, Zhang Shou, I want you to remember something......" The emperor paused, glanced at Zhu Jing intentionally or unintentionally, and finally coughed heavily.

"If it had just been replaced by me, it would have carried you out of the fire!"

Zhang Shou was calmly thinking about whether he should express his gratitude to some extent, after all, the emperor generously said that he would have the corresponding freedom to speak and act in the future, which was also good news after Chu Kuan's unsuccessful bullying. But this last sentence still suppressed him, so much so that he couldn't help but look up at Zhu Jing behind the emperor.

Sure enough, my father-in-law, who has always had a black face, has a face like a pot helmet at this moment. Especially when the emperor seemed to be particularly disgusted and added that I also regarded you as a son-in-law, he saw that Zhu Jing finally couldn't help frowning, and objected in a deep voice: "The emperor is cautious!" ”

However, who was the emperor and how could he care about such a level of protest? He smiled and said casually, "What is there to be cautious about, these are all my own people, and I am similar to you as brothers." I have always regarded Mrs. Tai as a half-mother, and your eldest husband and Erlang I are also regarded as a half-son, and my sons and daughters who are not angry are also your juniors! ”

Hearing this, Zhang Shou couldn't help but complain in his heart - fortunately, the emperor didn't say it, your mother is my mother, your children are my children, and your daughter-in-law is also my daughter-in-law...... Otherwise, Zhu Jing will definitely fight with the emperor!

Although he had just turned around at the ghost gate, he couldn't give birth to any sad and depressed emotions at this time, and even a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he actually said with a smile: "In this way, I can have two fathers-in-law alone, which is a rare adventure in the world." But since it is said that it is half a son, Second Brother Zhu is already married, and the emperor must not forget him. ”

"I can't forget it!" The emperor smiled dumbly and said, "That kid has always been uneducated, and now he can be promising, how can I, my cousin, not have a voice?" Don't worry, I'll give him an official position! ”

What kind of heart, if you really give me a headache! Zhu Jing was speechless enough in his heart just now, and at this time he felt that one head and two were big. He couldn't help but glared at Zhang Shou fiercely, thinking for the first time if it would be better if he had thrown people in the fire just now - anyway, with Ah Liu pestering Chu Kuan, this ghostly and clever kid would definitely not die!

When the group came out of Baiyun Temple, the fire in the side hall had also been extinguished. Fortunately, Chu Kuan didn't know what excuse he used to empty all the Taoist priests and pilgrims here, but this sudden fire did not cause too serious consequences, as for how much it cost to rebuild, it was already a small problem.

And Hua Qi, who fell at the end, glanced at the corpse covered with a white cloth and carried into the carriage, but couldn't help but press his chest lightly. Chu Kuan asked him to hand over a letter to the Queen Mother early, and it was better to wait for him to check it, otherwise it would be regarded as nothing!