The rising sun is rising, the spring light is infinite, and the wisps of brilliance shroud the Druid Gong Hall, adding a bit of sanctity and nobility to it. Just like the name of his palace, Emperor Liu now truly faces the north and faces the south, firmly resides in the Dragon Palace, and rules from the vertical arch. Recently, he spends most of his time in the vertical arch palace and rarely even goes to the harem. This makes many people who yearn for the emperor Xing's concubines could only look forward to seeing what happened.
"It has not been long, why are you so old?" A slightly surprised voice sounded in the palace. Emperor Liu looked at Li Chongju who was kneeling in the palace with some emotion.
This was the first time in nearly a month that Li Chongju came to the palace to pay his respects to the saint. During this period, he had been recuperating in the palace. However, in just one month, Li Chongju's whole person has undergone earth-shaking changes.
He looked sick and haggard, his temples were stained with hoarfrost, his figure was thin, and his energy and energy seemed to have been drained by the disease. Kneeling there, it seemed very difficult, and his whole person was surrounded by a desolate atmosphere.
After all, he is his confidant who has been with him for more than 20 years. Seeing his appearance now, he couldn't help but feel sad and said: "Didn't I send the imperial doctor to diagnose you? Why is the illness not relieved? Could it be that the imperial doctor is not treating you?" Try your best?"
There was a trace of sullenness in Emperor Liu's tone, as if he meant to blame the imperial doctor. Li Chongju was still a relatively kind person, and he immediately said to the ground: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! I don't blame the imperial doctor, he has done his best! My body, my own Clearly, I have not contracted any disease in the past twenty years or so, but when the disease comes, there is nothing you can do..."
"There is no help! If you are sick, treat it and take medicine if you need it!" Emperor Liu waved his hand and looked at Li Chongju's weak appearance. Some of the dissatisfaction that had been accumulated in his heart seemed to dissipate. He sighed: "If you are so sick, Let me know this morning!"
Li Chongju paid his respects again: "Before, I was suffering from a terrible illness. I would disturb the holy body if I saw him rashly. Now that I am relieved, I should go to the palace to express my gratitude!"
"What are you talking about!" Emperor Liu seemed a little excited: "How can I have so many scruples! I have never seen anything or experienced anything. You and I have been a monarch and minister for more than 20 years, why do you need to be so open-minded!"
"Your Majesty's kindness to me is as great as a mountain. I will remember it for the rest of my life and dare not forget it!" Li Chongju said.
After exchanging pleasantries, Emperor Liu slowly came to his senses and looked at Li Chongju again. From his words, he seemed to feel something. His eyes flickered with suspicion, and he stretched out his hand and said, "You don't need to perform this grand ceremony if you are not feeling well. Stop kneeling, get up quickly, and sit down to talk!"
As he said this, Emperor Liu winked at Yantuo. Yantuo understood and stepped forward to pick up Li Chongju and help him sit down. Emperor Liu said gently: "I'm afraid you are here not just to say hello!"
Hearing this, Li Chongju moved and stood up again. Seeing this, Emperor Liu immediately said: "Just sit down and talk!"
Facing Emperor Liu's gaze, Li Chongju took a deep breath, with a hint of solemnity on his gloomy face, and said: "Your Majesty, I am now old and frail, and my energy is very low. It is difficult to manage affairs, and I can no longer assume the military ethics. I sincerely ask your majesty to be kind and kind, and allow your ministers to return to your care, and select new talents to preside over the affairs of the military affairs department!"
really!
Emperor Liu was already aware of Li Chongju's intention, but when he really listened to his explanation, his face still couldn't help but be troubled. Soon, all emotions disappeared, and he stared at Li Chongju expressionlessly. Perhaps Emperor Liu's gaze was too lethal. Even if Li Chongju had already made up his mind, he couldn't help but avoid it, lowered his head, and waited for the answer. It's like waiting for the verdict.
"You also want to resign, want to go to court, want to leave me?" After a long time, Emperor Liu finally spoke, and there seemed to be no emotion in his tone.
With his heart trembling slightly, Li Chongju responded without raising his head: "My current body is indeed difficult to shoulder the heavy responsibility. I hope your majesty will be kind and allow you to do so. Although I have gone to court, I will still be your majesty's minister. I will not change for thousands of years and will not change for thousands of years." Even in Jianghu, I am always grateful for His Majesty’s kindness and pray for Your Majesty!”
"You are not even fifty years old! How can you say you are old!" Emperor Liu's voice suddenly rose, almost shaking the palace beams, and he raised his hand and waved it irregularly in the air a few times, obviously dissatisfied: "After so many years, you Have you ever seen me release an important minister in his prime to be raised?"
"Your Majesty!" Li Chongju's voice still sounded old and weak, and he said sincerely: "I have this old and sick body, which is of no use to the court!"
"I'm afraid it's not possible!" Emperor Liu narrowed his eyes slightly, and his hidden gaze seemed to release some kind of dangerous signal: "The argument of old age is difficult to establish. If it is just an illness and recuperation, it will not be the end of the world. Let’s get to the level of an official!”
Emperor Liu's words, to Li Chongju, were like a thunderbolt. Hearing the words, his heart was shaken. A touch of bitterness flashed across his weak face, and then he asked in a sincere tone: "I sincerely ask your Majesty Show some mercy!”
Li Chongju's performance was really pitiful. Emperor Liu didn't answer for a while. He stared at him for a while, stood up, and walked to him with his hands behind his back. Seeing this, Li Chongju stood up tremblingly. Standing seemed a little difficult. He didn't know whether it was because he was frightened or because his body was really overwhelmed.
Looking at him, Emperor Liu said quietly: "Zheze, don't you think that in recent years, you and I have become increasingly estranged?"
Without waiting for a reply, Emperor Liu said to himself: "You have been following me since Luzhou, for twenty-four years, through ups and downs, with sincerity and sincerity, and in life and death!
There are not many people in the whole court who are worthy of my trust, and you, Li Shouze, are one of them, and I have always relied on you. What a crucial position the Secretary of Defense is, and it has been entrusted to you for nearly twenty years. There has never been any doubt.
That's it. In recent years, you and I seem to be drifting apart! What caused the estrangement between you and me, and now you want to resign to avoid the court?
Is it me who makes you feel uneasy? Are you afraid that I will be suspicious and jealous? Or do you think that I am stubborn and arrogant, with a cold nature, and I am afraid that I will not be able to end well? "
These words were probably the most sincere words Emperor Liu had for Li Chongju in recent years. However, to Li Chongju, these words were like sharp knives stabbing him mercilessly. Every word was heartbreaking and heartbreaking. fear.
But Li Chongju couldn't hold it any longer, and he suddenly fell to his knees, with tears streaming down his face, and kept kowtowing: "Your Majesty said, I never dare to accept it! Don't say it, it's because I am secretly worried and betraying the grace of God." , please convict Your Majesty..."
He lowered his head and looked at Li Chongju, who was bowing his head at his feet. Listening to the sound, he kowtowed really hard. After listening to his request, Emperor Liu's expression was finally no longer so cold. He lowered his body, reached out to help him up, and sighed: "That's it! I hope there will be a beginning and an end, but some things, it seems, are difficult to force after all!"
"Your Majesty!" Li Chongju called out choked with blood marks on his forehead.
Emperor Liu slowly turned around and sat down, saying: "If you have decided to leave, I won't force you, but you can resign, but you don't have to go back to your home to be recuperated. Just stay in the capital, in your mansion, and recuperate in peace!" Whenever you think of me, come into the palace and see me!"
"I thank you, Your Majesty!" After hearing that Emperor Liu finally relented, Li Chongju, as if he had received an amnesty, prostrated himself again and thanked him emotionally.
Emperor Liu looked at the excited Li Chongju and turned his head away, feeling a sense of loss in his heart. There may have been suspicions about Li Chongju, but in general, Emperor Liu still trusted him. The friendship over the past twenty-four years could not be summed up in a few words and could withstand the test.
However, due to the particularity of Wu Desi's position, strange situations will inevitably arise. A minister who has been in charge of the Wude Department for nearly twenty years will always retain him even if Emperor Liu trusts him again. Moreover, for Li Chongju, the longer the time, the more dangerous it becomes.
Emperor Liu knew Li Chongju well. Just like his name, he was a rule-abiding and capable man. This could be seen from the time when he resigned in fear when he first became the envoy.
Similarly, Li Chongju was one of the ministers who knew Emperor Liu best. He also sensed the risks from Emperor Liu's dissatisfaction with Wude Si in recent years, especially during the Northern Expedition.
Even if it is not against Wude Si, but because he is a Wude envoy, rather than sit on this stove and suffer, it is better to retreat and save himself. This is Li Chongju's choice.
In fact, after the people in Wude Division found the Mobei Expeditionary Force and confirmed that the two princes were safe, Li Chongju made plans to retire and resign.
But he still suppressed it until his condition gradually worsened and until the war in the Western Regions came to an end, he went to the palace to express his love. Of course, Li Chongju wanted to go back to his hometown in Luzhou and stay away from right and wrong, but judging from Emperor Liu's arrangements, he still had to be placed in the capital and under surveillance. This could not be forced. Emperor Liu Those words were really shocking and frightened him.
