"He said he would leave the capital within two days …" Lin Boyuan held a white chess piece in his hand.
He gestured at several places on the chessboard but couldn't place it.
He raised his head and looked at Lin Ruo, who was gently blowing at the floating tea leaves in the teacup. He regretted taking the initiative to play chess with him in order to prevent his precious nephew from being depressed.
He knew that he would definitely lose, but his temperament didn't allow him to place a chess piece in a place that he wasn't satisfied with.
He could only rack his brain to think of a way so that he wouldn't fall into the opponent's trap.
"This place looks like a trap.
"There are risks there too …" Lin Boyuan sighed.
This brat's chess skills seemed to have improved again. Although he lost in the past,
Although he lost in the past, he still lost clearly.
But now, I can't even figure out his path. "
"And then?"
Lin Boyuan finally made up his mind. Just as he was about to place a chess piece,
He heard Lin Ruo's sudden words and shrank back. "What?"
"Leave the capital within two days.
And then? "
"Oh." Lin Boyuan saw that he wasn't talking about the game of chess, so he placed the chess piece again.
He said, "Pei Ji quietly received the imperial edict. Then, the Pei family began to prepare for leaving the capital. They packed their luggage, bought a carriage, hired a boat, dismissed the servants … Soon, the time limit of two days was up.
Pei Ji, dressed in plain clothes, went to the palace to bid farewell to His Majesty. His Majesty refused to see him.
He kowtowed three times outside of the palace hall.
He apologized to His Majesty.
He failed to live up to His Majesty's expectations. It was natural that His Majesty refused to see him. He also said that he was getting old. After leaving today, he didn't know if they would meet again. That year, he promised His Majesty that he would spend the rest of his life with His Majesty. Now that it wasn't possible, he asked His Majesty to take care. He also mentioned a few names. He lamented that the people who came with him were getting fewer and fewer. Sometimes, he couldn't even remember their names … Pei Ji said to himself for a while outside. He kowtowed again and left absentmindedly. When he was about to reach the palace gate, he tripped and fell into a mud pit. Half of his body was covered in mud. He didn't wait for the guards to help him up. He climbed up silently and left the palace. "
Lin Ruo said, "This Lord Pei is really flexible."
Sitting in such a high position, he could still put down his pride to use such a trick. It was rare.
"Who asked His Majesty to fall for it?" Lin Boyuan sneered and said, "After he left, His Majesty was agitated for the whole morning. After lunch, he said he wanted to go for a walk and went to the Pei Mansion … Let's not talk about what His Majesty saw in the Pei Mansion. Although he didn't see Pei Ji, he lost his temper when he returned to the palace and punished a few people. He said that Pei Ji was not energetic enough and wanted to resign. Although he had resigned from his official position, he still had his title of nobility.
Lin Boyuan had always had a good relationship with others. Although he couldn't find out about some confidential matters, he knew about those that he didn't deliberately hide faster and more detailed than anyone else.
Lin Ruo put down the teacup and put down a chess piece. He said, "His Majesty's temperament is affectionate but also suspicious. The reason why he punished Pei Ji was because he was angry that he disobeyed but secretly disobeyed. More importantly, he was suspicious of him. When he really took away Pei Ji's power and he was no longer a threat, he naturally remembered the previous relationship. After all, it is a friendship of half a lifetime. Pei Ji has always been respectful, so His Majesty must be conflicted and soft-hearted."
However, since His Majesty still didn't want to see him, even if he was soft-hearted, there was a limit.
Lin Boyuan saw that his tone was calm and looked at him. "You're not angry?"
"Angry? Angry about what? No matter what he does or doesn't do, it's just for his own peace of mind. What does it have to do with me? "Lin Ruo leisurely put down a chess piece and said," I, Lin Ruo, don't need others to uphold justice for me. "
It wasn't some heroic statement, just a casual statement. His tone couldn't even be considered confident or calm. Lin Boyuan looked at Lin Ruo, who didn't even bat an eyelash. He didn't know if he was proud or melancholy. This child, in just a few months, had changed so much that even he couldn't recognize her … He sighed softly and said, "His Majesty gave him a few days to pack up before he set off. He also sent 300 royal guards to escort him."
A few days … a few days?
Lin Ruo frowned and said, "Uncle, send someone to find out when Pei Ji will set off!"
"There's no need to find out." Lin Boyuan shrugged and said, "The 17th of June."
Lin Ruo was slightly stunned. Li Yuan had just issued the decree, so Pei Ji wouldn't set off so quickly, right?
It was rare for Lin Boyuan to see his nephew being humiliated. He said proudly, "Although I don't have the ability to calculate, I can read the almanac. With Pei Ji's character, since the decree has been issued, he won't force himself to leave on the scheduled date and ruin His Majesty's good intentions. He won't use this decree to stay in the capital and make His Majesty unhappy. Therefore, he will definitely set off within 10 days. Within these 10 days, this is the only auspicious day and everything is suitable. "
Lin Ruo looked at him and said, "Since Uncle knows how to read the almanac, why don't you calculate which day is suitable for marriage … Uncle, aren't you preparing to remarry and have children?"
Lin Boyuan looked up at Lin Ruo and saw that although Lin Ruo was joking, the corners of his lips were slightly curled up, but his eyes were clear and cold without any smile. Lin Boyuan felt a pain in his heart and turned away from Lin Ruo. He randomly picked up a chess piece in his hand and lowered his head to study the game.
Lin Ruo spoke again in an inexplicable tone, "That day is indeed a good day."
Lin Boyuan didn't answer. Lin Ruo said again, "Uncle, I'm going to stay at the manor outside the city for a few days."
"Why?"
"I don't like the smell of blood."
Li Yuan was still feeling guilty towards him at the moment, but he had done Pei Ji a favor. When he came to his senses, he naturally had to appease him. Unfortunately, he couldn't touch the Crown Prince, and Prince Qi couldn't bear to do so. In the end, only the people from the Supreme Judiciary were unlucky. He had originally said that he would investigate thoroughly, but now that he was in a hurry, he was afraid that those who should be killed and those who shouldn't be killed would have to pay with their lives. Li Yuan's soft-heartedness had always been limited to those he cared about.
Lin Boyuan frowned and didn't even have the mood to play chess anymore. He directly threw the chess piece away and said, "Our Emperor is still reasonable in political affairs. How can he be so muddle-headed when it comes to people around him …"
His son, his concubines, and his close officials all couldn't understand.
*****
On the second day after Lin Ruo left the city, Chang 'an was indeed filled with the thick smell of blood. Within a few days, the Supreme Judiciary, from the officials to the jailers, had more than 20 heads chopped off. More people were demoted and removed from their posts. The entire Supreme Judiciary had suddenly lost half of its people.
Lin Ruo's name once again resounded throughout Chang 'an. A page boy of the Eldest Young Master Lin had died in the Supreme Judiciary, so dozens of people in the Supreme Judiciary had died. The Crown Prince was reprimanded, Prince Qi was grounded, and the Emperor's most favored minister, Pei Ji, was chased out of the capital and dragged his family back to their hometown.
For a moment, almost everyone in the imperial court changed their expressions at the mention of "Lin".
The 17th of June was an auspicious day, suitable for everything.
Rather than saying that he "resigned and returned to his hometown", it would be more accurate to say that Pei Ji, who had been chased out of the capital, did not pretend to be miserable. Instead, he showed his sincerity in resigning. He packed more than 20 carriages, including the elderly, children, and dozens of concubines, as well as the maids and servants left after some were dismissed. He only left a capable steward to take care of the remaining properties. It seemed that he would never return.
More than 200 people of the Pei family and 300 imperial guards left the city in a mighty manner. The people who saw them off in the suburbs outside the city were also quite spectacular.
Pei Ji had always been popular in the imperial court. Although he had temporarily angered His Majesty, in this era, trustworthiness was very important. There were not many people who would turn their backs on someone just because they lost power. Moreover, anyone with a discerning eye could see that in His Majesty's heart, Pei Ji's weight was different. Who dared to say that he would never return after leaving today? Therefore, more than half of the nobles and ministers in the imperial court came to see him off.
Looking at the sincere faces in front of him, Pei Ji, although he did not drink much, was already a little drunk. His lips curled into a faint sneer. So what if he temporarily left the imperial court? His title was still there, his connections were still there, his influence was still there, and his royal favor was still there. Then, no matter where he was, he would still be the powerful Pei Ji!
Moreover, he believed that he would not be away for too long. He, Pei Ji, was able to become Li Yuan's most favored official because he had something that no one else could replace. Previously, he was worried that Lin Ruo would threaten his position, but after this incident and seeing Lin Ruo's character, he was more than half relieved. That kid only won His Majesty's favor because of his talent. So what if His Majesty appreciates and likes him? How could he understand His Majesty's thoughts better than him? Can he solve His Majesty's problems? Can he know what His Majesty wants just by seeing His Majesty frown and then find it for His Majesty without batting an eyelid?
Not long after, His Majesty will naturally feel the inconvenience of not having him around and will naturally remember his good intentions. Then, with a few good words from the side, His Majesty will naturally summon him back to the capital.
Pei Ji expressed his thanks and frowned to stop them from continuing to vent their anger towards Lin Ruo. At the same time, he slightly narrowed his eyes. If His Majesty's reliance is his foundation, then these people in front of me are his branches and leaves. I, Pei Ji, am deeply rooted and flourishing. How can a little Lin Ruo shake me? Let him be proud for a few days. When he returns to the capital …
Pei Ji drank the last cup of wine and was about to get on the carriage to leave when he heard the sound of hooves. A man and a horse galloped over from the direction of the city gate. Most of the face of the rider was hidden in the hood. He didn't get off the horse until he came close. He threw the reins and laughed loudly. "Luckily, I'm late."
Although Pei Ji couldn't see his face, he could hear his voice clearly. He said in shock, "Your Highness …"
The man raised his index finger and shushed him. He said with a smile, "I'm still grounded. Are you deliberately trying to get me flogged by your shouts?" Although he pretended to be secretive, he had no intention of hiding his identity. Once he said this, even those who didn't recognize his voice recognized his identity.
Pei Ji stamped his feet and said, "You're too reckless. The Emperor is angry right now. You …"
The man sneered and said, "At most, I'll be locked up for a few more days. What's the big deal? Official Pei has always treated me well. If I don't even dare to offer a cup of wine before leaving, what kind of person would I, Li Yuanji, be? "
Finished speaking, he took out a small wine jar from his sleeve. Breaking the clay seal, he gulped down more than half of the wine before handing it to Pei Ji. "Official Pei, please."
Pei Ji looked deeply at Li Yuanji and sighed softly. He accepted the wine jar with both hands and said, "This Pei will remember Your Highness, Prince of Qi's friendship."
He then cupped his hands to Li Yuanji and the others, saying, "Everyone, Pei Ji is going to a high mountain and a long road. I don't know if we will meet again after this separation. This Pei presents Buddha with borrowed wine to everyone!"
Finished speaking, he raised his head and gulped down the wine. Because he poured too much, a large amount of wine spilled on his chin and collar, displaying a heroic and sorrowful expression. Everyone's eyes brimmed with tears.
… …
Not far away, a carriage covered in green cloth slowly drove along the pipeline. The coachman turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Young Master, do you want to get off the carriage?"
A cold voice came from inside the carriage, "Go straight to the dock."
The coachman responded and sped up.
Lin Ruo withdrew his gaze from the window. He seemed to hear the little attendant's noisy voice, "Young Master, didn't you say you wanted to see off Official Pei? Why don't you get off the carriage?"
Lin Ruo's eyes turned slightly cold. He didn't want to be immersed in sorrow, didn't want to live in the past. However, the pain of losing a piece of his life constantly reminded him.
"Young Master, it's raining."
