In the past two months, Emperor Yonghua has been more diligent than ever before, even worse than when he first came to the throne. Although it is already the end of the school day, I am still holding a candle to review, just like a student taking an exam.
"Your Majesty, it's getting late. It's time to take a rest. There will be an early morning court tomorrow." Since the beginning of Haishi, this is the fifth time that Ni Juzheng has come to wake him up. If we want to say that there is only one person in the world who truly loves Emperor Yonghua, then "he (she)" will never be the queen or a concubine, let alone a prince, grandson, princess, or princess. "He" could only be Ni Juzheng, the old eunuch who had been with Emperor Yonghua for more than fifty years.
Several princes in the current dynasty were capable of governing and were keen on state affairs. It happened that Emperor Yonghua was devoted to Taoism and devoted himself to seeking immortality. Therefore, in the past ten years, most of the memorials sent from various places were handed over to King Yi, King Jia, and Zhi. The three Wangs commanded and dealt with it. At this time, disaster was beginning to happen and people were uneasy. All the three princes who were in charge of the government left the capital. Emperor Yonghua did not dare to be lazy in government as usual, so he had to take charge of the affairs.
The memorial sent by Shangshu Mansion this morning was approved by less than four. Emperor Yonghua took a long breath, pushed aside the unread memorials on the desk, put down the wolf hair, shook his head gently, and said: "I'm sleeping." No." After a slight pause, he said with a smile: "Ju Zheng, I still have many doubts in my heart, so why don't you just stay up tonight and bring me some food and wine, and you can eat, drink, and chat with me. !”
Ni Juzheng's face froze, and he smiled and said: "It's rare for the emperor to be so elegant. It's good." After saying this, he resigned and gave instructions.
About half an hour later, the fourth eunuch brought the small food table, and the fourth maid came meandering over carrying the food tray. The food table was set, the cushions were spread, the wine and food were served, and the two of them sat down cross-legged. Ni Juzheng and Emperor Yonghua had already become an extraordinary master and servant, monarch and minister. They were more like close friends for many years. A close friend, but not entirely. Ni Juzheng is more like the shadow of Emperor Yonghua, because he no longer has himself. Therefore, when the two of them are alone, he is always casual. It’s not that he doesn’t know about honor and inferiority, but it’s because he understands Emperor Yonghua to the extreme: There is no shortage of groveling servants around the emperor, but there is only one missing confidant who can express his true feelings; and he is naturally his best friend. A confidant.
"There have been many things happening in the imperial court recently, and I have been touched a lot. It really feels like I am waking up from a dream." After a sip of wine, Emperor Yonghua said in a deep voice, "For more than three hundred years, Dahua has always been like this. Among the hegemonic countries thousands of miles away, which one of Jue, Shatuo, Xianma, and Snow would dare to make any slight move? Dahua has always sent troops to defeat them. Haha, I don’t think that in the past twenty-eight years since I succeeded to the throne, Dahua’s national strength will It has declined so fast that it has been caught up by the Jue Kingdom and is likely to fall behind. Alas... I am really the most foolish and incompetent among the twenty-six emperors of Great China over the past three hundred years. !" Having said this, he drank another glass of wine and sighed with a desolate look on his face: "If I had not come to take over the throne, Dahua would not be in such a difficult situation today. Huh~~~ After my death, How can I face my ancestors?" His words actually had the meaning of "sinning against oneself".
Ni Juzheng's eyelids twitched, obviously very surprised by his remarks. He twirled his wine glass and said softly: "Your Majesty, you are telling the truth!" Seeing him lowering his head and thinking deeply, he didn't seem to have listened to what he said. Voice, then said: "Who in the world doesn't know that the decline of Dahua's power began with the late emperor? Especially when the battle for the crown prince between King Duan and King Lin, King Xu, and King Sui lasted for a long time, it had already greatly damaged the country. When the emperor ascends the throne, it can be said that he is entrusted with the task of saving the building from collapse in times of crisis!"
Emperor Yonghua didn't seem to want to hear what he said. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "Ju Zheng, do you think there is really a way to immortality in this world?" He was a very smart man, but what he wanted in his life was nothing more than immortality. After decades of searching, he has still not made any progress, which really makes him feel both pain and hatred. There had been a lot of turmoil in the imperial court recently. He worked hard day and night, and his beard and hair were getting grayer and older. Knowing that his time was running out, he couldn't help but look back frequently. However, at this time, the path to immortality was still his greatest concern. Even though his long-cherished wish was not fulfilled, Emperor Yonghua always had a feeling of being unable to escape, as if his soul was imprisoned.
"Immortality? Your Majesty, you really have the art of immortality. I'm afraid it can only be obtained by people with extremely strong immortality." Ni Juzheng has witnessed with his own eyes the rejuvenation of Taoist Qingxuan in the past twenty years, and he does not dare to There is no such way in the world, so I have to persuade from the side.
How could Emperor Yonghua not know? He took the wine glass, closed his eyes and drank it, two lines of turbid tears slowly flowed down, and he lamented: "I...actually spent most of my life worrying about this matter!" While taking the wine bottle, he drank the wine. Pour the wine down your throat until the pot of light wine is empty. He laughed "haha" several times, and said as if he was crazy: "What bullshit immortality! What bullshit imperial power! They are all just illusory! Juzheng, do you know? At this moment, my mind is empty, there is nothing, nothing." I remember... I don't remember how old Muren was when he called me father, I don't remember when Mu Chao learned to walk, I don't remember why Mu Yang fell in love with leading soldiers into the army, I don't remember when Mu Yan opened his mansion. King! I don’t remember, how did I become the emperor? When did I become obsessed with Taoist magic? I don’t remember, why did I have a quarrel with Brother Duan Wang? I...I don’t remember anything. I can’t get up!” Then he started crying loudly.
He has been obsessed with dreams and illusions all his life, and only wants immortality. But at this time, the dream was broken and I woke up, as if I was a human being again. However, the son of the genius back then is now very old and dying!
"Your Majesty!" Ni Ju stood up from the cushion and walked over to support him. While whispering: "Your Majesty, why is this happening! Why is it happening like this!" Seeing Emperor Yonghua so sad and desperate, how could he feel less sad?
Emperor Yonghua's eyes were filled with tears and he sighed heavily. He turned to look at Ni Juzheng and chuckled softly: "Juzheng, you have become a bad old man! I still remember that when I first met you, you couldn't reach the bed. Tent hook, every time I go to bed, you have to ask the eunuch to put down the tent hook. Hehe...hehe..." The "hehe" behind him was actually crying.
Listening to Emperor Yonghua talking about old things, Ni Juzheng was also in tears. While helping him to rest on the dragon chair, he chuckled and said: "From the palace to Prince Hua's Mansion, and from Prince Hua's Mansion back to the palace, the old minister has been guarding the emperor. Fifty-two years, naturally he is old."
"Ju Zheng, I really can't help you, and I haven't given you anything." Emperor Yonghua said with shame, leaning on the dragon chair on the desk.
"Your Majesty, I am an eunuch and have no heirs. What use do I have for those things outside my body? Thanks to the Emperor's favor, I have been ranked first among the internal officials for many years. What else is missing? It is a great blessing for me to be by the Emperor's side at all times. ." Ni Juzheng said with a smile, remembering something in his mind, and felt that this was a good time, so he said casually: "If you want to say I'm sorry, the only person the emperor can really feel sorry for is Prince Duan!"
