"I am."
Thanks to the servants of the palace who have always been good at observing people's words and have developed sharp ears and eyes, they heard Wei Huai's weak voice.
"Open the door." The servant walked to Wei Huai's cell and ordered the cell leader.
The cell boss took out the key, opened the cell door, went in and said to Wei Huai, "Thank you for impressing the prince, otherwise I would have spent the rest of my life here! Why don't you thank the prince!"
"I have to take off my shackles..."
"Open the yoke." The servant walked in and ordered again.
"Yes." The prison leader took apart the shackles on both sides and removed the shackles on Wei Huai's hands and feet, revealing blood-red marks.
Wei Huai slowly bowed to the man.
"My lord, have you allowed me to go out?" he asked dubiously.
"That's right. It doesn't matter where you want to go now." The servant stood in front of him and said.
"Where's the academy? Is it still closed?"
"The king of the county has his own arrangements for this matter. In addition, the prefect will investigate his crime for disobeying the king's will. You will still serve as the Imperial Academy to offer wine and the official will be reinstated."
Wei Huai sneered.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."
He stood up tiredly, and after taking a step or two, he stumbled. Fortunately, the prison head held him.
"Come quickly! Bring Wei Jijiu's cane!" the cell leader shouted.
…
Wei Huai limped out of the cell. At this time, he had shaken off his sleepiness and gradually woke up. He thought it should be a bright day outside, but the afterglow of the setting sun was like scattered gold, from far to near. It came and shone directly on his face.
"It's getting late, it's time to discuss the academy with the two of them..." He muttered to himself and strode towards the street.
He didn't take care of his appearance. He just changed into clean clothes and walked to Sihe Academy. Therefore, no one recognized him as he passed by the streets.
Wei Huai walked to the main entrance of the academy and saw that the courtyard was silent and full of weeds. There was a layer of dust on the door panel, and the seal was still attached to the door panel. Wei Huai touched the seals and couldn't help but sigh.
"Wei...Brother Wei?"
Wei Huai suddenly turned around and saw a scholar wearing plain short clothes talking to him - it was Xia Yuanlong.
"Ji Min!" Xia Yuanlong hurried over, took a look at his luggage, and then grabbed him.
"Brother Xia Xian..." Wei Huai also held his hand and said.
"He was finally willing to let you out!" Xia Yuanlong immediately knelt down on the ground, tears welling up in his eyes: "In order to save brother Ji Min, I spent all my energy and tried many countermeasures before I finally saw you come out with my own eyes... ..." He sighed for a while and wiped his tears.
Wei Huai slowly knelt down, patted his back gently, and said comfortingly: "I know it's not easy for you, thank you for all your hard work..."
"It's not hard work, it's not hard work..." He straightened his clothes, "But it doesn't matter! As long as Brother Wei can return safely, this reform cause will have a backbone!" Xia Yuanlong took a deep breath, He smiled with relief.
"Okay," Wei Huaiye's spirit also cheered up. He pulled Xia Yuanlong up with all his strength, "Let's go, call Brother Zhongfang, we'd better go to Huaiqing Bridge."
Just as Yang Huaisheng was coming out of the Imperial Academy, he heard rumors from outside that Wei Huai had been rescued from prison by Prince Wan and pardoned for his serious crimes. I am afraid that without the emperor's approval, this official position will be almost impossible to secure.
He was extremely excited and held his forehead in celebration, and the people were also very happy that the prefect was deposed. He then returned to his apartment in high spirits and saw a letter written by Xia Yuanlong and handed it to him. A quick glance showed that he was asked to go to Huaiqing Bridge and the three of them would get together. Although Yang Huaisheng was exhausted physically and mentally after a long day of business, he couldn't help but feel happy when he thought of Wei Huai being released from prison, and he shook off all his fatigue. So without hesitation, he put on his coat again and walked to Huaiqing Bridge.
"Look, Zhong Fang is here."
Xia Yuanlong sat under the blue-grey ceiling of the teahouse, poked Wei Huai, and pointed in the distance.
"Brother Zhong Fang!" Wei Huai immediately stood up and waved towards the bridge.
Yang Huaisheng saw Wei Huai's figure in the crowd and hurriedly pushed away the crowd, hoping to run away from the teahouse.
"Ji Min!" Yang Huaisheng walked up to them as if he was speeding, quickly stopped and bowed.
Wei Huai couldn't help being excited, so he stepped forward and hugged Yang Huaisheng, grabbing his clothes with both hands.
But he suddenly saw Yang Huaisheng's angry expression, and realized that he had lost his etiquette, so he slowly stepped back.
"Ji Min!" Yang Huaisheng suddenly shouted with a straight face, "As a scholar who wants to reform and save the world, you are indifferent to the word 'propriety and justice'. What on earth do you want to reform!"
Wei Huai looked at the tea guests around him with shame on his face. "Okay..." Xia Yuanlong rushed to them and persuaded them with a smile in order to lighten the atmosphere.
"To get rid of the old regime, we need to govern the world with virtue and treat the people as the first to sing the New Deal. Shouldn't we set an example by setting an example?" Yang Huaisheng raised his eyes and scanned the crowd, then looked at Wei Huai: "The people are all looking at you. Oh! My dear brother actually did such unethical things in front of everyone..." He sighed deeply and threw his arms in anger.
Xia Yuanlong also didn't expect that Yang Huaisheng would get so angry over this little disrespectful thing, and even humiliate Wei Huai in the spotlight, which really made him angry and ridiculous.
Wei Huai had no objection. He was silent for a while and then apologized to Yang Huaisheng: "Brother Zhong Fang, I was anxious for a moment and I didn't expect to be disrespectful. Please forgive Zhong Fang..."
"Then, dear brother, you should be more careful in the future... Also," Yang Huaisheng lifted his robe and knelt down in the middle of his sentence. The crowd was noisy.
"Since you admit your fault, I also admit mine, it's best to save your face..." He was about to kowtow, but Wei Huai quickly stopped him: "This is all Wei Huai's fault, Zhong Fang We are brothers, so don’t worry about gains and losses!”
"Isn't that great," Xia Yuanlong smiled, "I think the three of us are like brothers. We must not make ourselves unhappy over trivial matters. Come, have a drink of tea and rest."
"I'm not a narrow-minded person, so what does this matter?" Yang Huaisheng pulled Wei Huai over and said, "Brother, you and I have some tea."
Wei Huai didn't mind at all. He sat down on the chair and poured tea for Yang Huaisheng. The three of them continued to chat and laugh happily, talking about heaven and earth. When the sun was approaching dusk and the sky was getting dark, the three of them went their separate ways. Leave.
But Xia Yuanlong was still following Wei Huai. Seeing that Yang Huaisheng had gone far away, he sighed slightly: "Although Zhong Fang is a man of strong temper, I don't think he cares about the overall situation."
"Don't talk about people behind their backs, let alone our brothers?" Wei Huai patted Xia Yuanlong on the arm and advised him.
"Oh, Jimin has misunderstood me. I also sincerely regard Zhong Fang as a life and death brother, but for the sake of reform, I must say a few words: He cannot be your prime minister. If you give it to Brother Yang I think imposing a burden on him will actually harm him... I hope Ji Min understands this truth. It's getting late, so Yuan Long takes his leave."
After that, he walked alone into the dark alley without waiting for Wei Huai's reply.
