In fact, Mingde didn't feel much pain.
Zhuo Yu had already shown him mercy. If he really wanted to kill him, his life would be in the blink of an eye.
Most of his injuries were caused when he was climbing the cliff with the Rong Shiba on his shoulder.
If he had to do it again, he probably wouldn't have the courage to jump off the cliff. After all, the cliff was a hundred feet high, and any protruding branch on the way down could easily take his life.
Mingde slept in the Hall of Qing Frame for three days. When he woke up, it was raining outside. It had been raining for an entire day.
Hu Zhicheng's face looked extremely haggard. He suddenly sat down on the chair and muttered, "It's good that you're alive. It's good that you're alive."
Mingde got up from the bed. He immediately felt a piercing pain in his elbow, joints, and bones. However, he didn't feel it at all. He grabbed Hu Zhicheng and asked sternly, "Where's the Rong Shiba?"
Hu Zhicheng said, "If I were you, I would lie down right now …"
"Where's the Rong Shiba?!"
Hu Zhicheng looked at the hand around his neck and said, "… In the side chamber."
The knuckles of the hand were still bleeding. Drops of scarlet seeped through the bandages. The hand around his neck was so close that it felt like it was going to pierce deep into his muscles and blood vessels.
Every Shadow Guard had personally come into contact with corpses and rotting flesh. Even though Mingde had the highest degree of protection, he couldn't be considered a kind person.
Hu Zhicheng collapsed on the chair with cold sweat. Mingde staggered off the bed and ran out.
The bluestone road was slippery in the fine rain. The muddy ground gave off the smell of fresh grass.
Ming De pushed open the heavy door of the side chamber. A thin ray of light shone in through the opening of the door, creating a long trail of light.
The Rong Shiba was lying on the couch in the southeast corner. Lu Jiuchen had just finished healing himself and was slowly standing up.
Mingde suddenly felt as if all the strength in his body had been sucked away.
He glanced at the Rong Shiba, who was obviously still alive, and his gaze immediately returned to its usual gentle and calm appearance. He glanced at it expressionlessly, then turned around and walked back.
Lu Jiuchen said in a low voice, "… He's considered lucky.
Zhuo Yu usually doesn't leave anyone alive when he attacks. This time, he only broke your legs. "
Mingde stopped abruptly. "What did you say?"
When the Rong Shiba heard his voice, he immediately turned his head and waved at him with a smile.
His movements were very forced, and if one took a closer look, they would notice that his legs were completely unable to move.
Probably seeing Mingde's incredulous gaze, the Rong Shiba tried to smile as easily as possible. "It's nothing. Actually, it's not Zhuo Yu's fault. He was quite merciful … I fell and broke my leg. Even though I can't stand up in the future, it's better than losing my life. Mingde, don't you think …"
Lu Jiuchen sighed, turned around, and walked out of the palace door step by step.
He was still wearing the same gray robe, broad and silent, like a silent mountain rock.
This person's appearance was very ordinary, and the way he walked was very steady and calm. But for some reason, he gave people a similar feeling of … pressure and calmness.
All the excess carvings had been washed away by time, leaving behind only a simple and hard inner layer.
Mingde suddenly thought of a person. It was said that many years ago, there was a Minister of Internal Affairs in the Xi Wan Palace. He was extremely skilled in the Five Elements Stealth Hearing and various secret techniques. Many people said that he was a sharp knife without a blade. That kind of silent power was enough to make all the masters of the Celestial Empire retreat in fear in his direction.
However, after Zhuo Yu took control of the Imperial Court, there was no more news of that person.
Some people said that he was locked up. Some people said that his martial arts were enough to let him out of any predicament at any time. Even State Preceptor Zhuo could not use the army and prison to lock him up.
Some people said that he was just silently watching. One day, he would intervene, and once he did, he would immediately take Zhuo Yu's life.
All of this was just a legend.
Lu Jiuchen quietly walked out from beside him, almost silently saying, "… He's crippled."
The Rong Shiba was crippled.
… A shadow guard who could not stand up … even if he was reincarnated, he would just be given some money to make a living and spend the rest of his life under the surveillance of the shadow guards in the capital …
If one day, someone in a higher position thought that he might leak some important secret, he would immediately be dealt with cleanly …
Mingde stood in the same place.
The spring rain had stopped at some point. The Rong Shiba's face looked slightly lonely in the twilight.
"I may not be able to go to Yunnan to ride roughshod over others," he tilted his face, as if he was listening to the dripping of water outside the eaves. He looked very focused, and his tone was as indifferent as possible, "… I may stay in the capital, but at least we can still see each other often, drink a little wine or something … I've also saved some money over the years. It's enough to live on in the future …"
He looked back at Mingde and laughed, "Why do you look so pale?
I'm the one who's crippled, not you.
Speaking of which, State Preceptor Zhuo was really merciful. Otherwise, I would have ascended long ago … It's rare for him to care about the feelings of being in the same sect. You have to know that he was raised by a wolf. After he finished his apprenticeship, he killed his master ruthlessly. Tsk tsk, he killed gods and devils. After so many years, other than Lu Jiuchen, only you and I could survive under his hands, right?
Speaking of which, I'm really lucky that you came down to find me. I didn't expect you to be so loyal … "
Mingde opened his mouth, his voice was a little dazed, "… You really can't stand up?"
The Rong Shiba suddenly seemed to choke, and then his eyes slowly turned red.
He covered it with his hand and then ordered, "Mingde, get out!"
Mingde stood up and almost rushed forward, "But didn't you say that you want to go to Yunnan? Didn't you say that you want to build a big house in Miaojiang, where peach blossoms are everywhere? You also said that you want to get married and have children …"
"Get out!"
"Why can't you stand up?
Aren't you alive and well?! "
The Rong Shiba's voice was almost out of control, with a choked hoarseness, "Get out!
Don't let me say it again! "
Mingde stared at him and suddenly felt that everything was so far away.
The blurry dreams of the Jiangnan water towns and peach blossoms seemed to be broken in this infinite darkness, forever isolated from the deep, misty Jiuchong Palace.
He suddenly turned around and quickly ran out of the palace door.
Zhang Kuo was standing at the door of the courtyard at some point. He seemed to be quietly waiting for something. When he saw Mingde come out, he smiled and even bent down.
Mingde grabbed him and asked hurriedly, "Where's Li Ji?
Where's Li Ji? "
"The Emperor is in Zhengtai Hall …" Zhang Kuo said softly, "The Emperor is in Zhengtai Hall … waiting for you …"
Mingde almost couldn't feel the piercing pain coming from his feet.
He ran barefoot on the slippery path after the rain, only wearing a thin robe. The slightly cool evening air gradually seeped into his skin as if it was going to penetrate into his bones.
There was no one on the road.
Everyone had been sent away in advance. On the path leading to Zhengtai Hall, no one stopped him from entering the Imperial Study.
When he suddenly pushed open the door to the royal study, the eunuchs who usually guarded the door disappeared without a trace.
Qianwandi sat high up in the dragon chair and looked down at him.
Mingde stood at the door and dazedly raised his head to look at the man shrouded in bright yellow.
His hair was down and dripping wet against his forehead. He breathed quickly, his chest rising and falling.
He was wearing a thin and pitiful robe, and the corners of his robe were splattered with mud. His bare feet in the air were a kind of magnetic white in the dirty dust, like the best celadon, without the slightest trace of human life.
Qianwandi wanted to stand up and rush down, and then fiercely pull this little thing into his arms.
But he did not move. His expression was indifferent. Even though his fingernails were digging into his palms, almost digging into his flesh.
"What are you doing here?"
Mingde raised his hand to wipe away the water dripping from the corners of his eyes. This action made him look like he was wiping away tears. Qianwandi almost stood up and knelt down in an instant.
Mingde wiped away the water droplets as he said in a low voice, "This subject has come to beg … … to beg the Emperor for an imperial edict … …"
Qianwandi looked at him without a word.
"This subject begs the Emperor for an imperial edict to bestow upon the Rong Shiba the position of Zhennan General of Yun Nan, a large residence, guaranteed food and clothing for the rest of his life, and never to involve himself in politics … …"
Just a few days ago, he had begged for something else.
Qianwandi opened his mouth. His voice was so stiff that it seemed to have been frozen. "… … Mingde."
"Yes."
"You can only ask for one thing."
Mingde raised his face to look at him. There was a bit of weak pleading in his eyes.
Qianwandi forced himself to stare at him. He said slowly, word by word, "You can only choose one between yourself and the Rong Shiba … …"
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"You can only choose one between Suhang and Yunnan … …"
"You can only choose one between who leaves and who stays … …"
Mingde looked at him like a small beast that had fallen into a trap. He watched helplessly as the hunter walked towards him step by step with a knife.
There was resentment. But it was not just resentment. There was more fear and pain.
Qianwandi closed his eyes. After a while, he heard the sound of knees kneeling on the carpet. The little thing that should be placed in the palm of the Emperor's hand to spoil and pamper, the most beloved and precious little thing. Even his voice was so weak and trembling. It was full of choking sobs as if he was about to cry. It was as if anyone could bully and hurt him without any scruples.
"I beg the Emperor … … to bestow upon the Rong Shiba … … Zhennan General of Yun Nan … …"
Qianwandi suddenly stood up and rushed down. He knelt in front of Mingde and pressed him tightly into his arms.
He could clearly hear the soft, kitten-like sobs in his arms. Even the choking sobs were suppressed to a small voice. He tried his best to hide it and did not dare to be discovered.
Tears inevitably dripped onto the Emperor's bright yellow dragon robe. It was like clusters of small flames burning, hot to the bone.
"In the future, if we go on a tour of the South, I will definitely take you to Jiangnan … …" Qianwandi trembled as he kissed Mingde's wet and fine hair. He murmured, "… … I will definitely take you. I will take you to West Lake. You can go anywhere you want. The entire world is yours. Everything is yours … …"
But that was not the same. There was a small, desperate voice in Mingde's heart that stubbornly said.
That was not the same … … They were completely … … two different things … …
Dusk pressed down heavily. The last remnants of the setting sun outside the window also disappeared. Tired birds returned to their nests and murmured.
The wind blew through the treetops. The rustling sound drowned out the weak and desperate sobs. Gradually, it could not be heard at all.
The next day, the Emperor issued an edict. The former Captain of the Hidden Guards, Rong Shiba, had meritorious service in protecting the Emperor. He was bestowed the title of Zhennan General of Yun Nan and the power of salt and iron. He could leave for Yunnan to take up his post.
The Imperial Court was in an uproar. Everyone was shocked.
Rong Shiba's legs were already crippled. Furthermore, his background was unknown. How could he be worthy of the title of Zhennan General of Yun Nan?
Zhennan General of Yun Nan was equivalent to the local tyrant of Yunnan. He would be given a piece of land and receive all of the taxes. Not to mention a lifetime, but a few lifetimes, he would be able to eat and drink and would not have to worry about spending money like water.
A few old officials wept bitterly and begged the Emperor to reconsider. However, once the edict was issued, there was no reason to take it back. Qianwandi's attitude was unusually firm. He blocked everyone outside the Imperial Study.
Half a month later, Rong Shiba's injuries were slightly better. He immediately set out.
Looking into the distance outside the city gate, the shadows of a group of carriages and horses were faintly discernible. They had already gradually disappeared into the horizon.
The wind grew stronger and stronger. Mingde shrank into his thick cloak. Qianwandi hugged him and asked in a low voice, "Are you cold?"
Mingde blinked. Tears rolled down his face and immediately fell into the corner of his clothes.
Qianwandi picked him up and walked back and forth.
At this moment, a man on a horse galloped over from a distance. When he got close, he pulled the reins. An Imperial Bodyguard rolled and crawled off the horse. He shouted, "Your Majesty!
It's not good! "
Qianwandi suddenly looked at him. The Imperial Bodyguard's expression was almost distorted. He could not form a sentence, "Your Majesty!
Xi Wan Kingdom … Xi Wan Kingdom has a new king!
State Preceptor Zhuo personally led three hundred thousand soldiers!
He is invading the border on a large scale!
Your Majesty, the enemy is already pressing on the border! "