Yes, no one can foresee the future.
If one were to hold back for fear of becoming a tyrant in the future, it would be better for him to die right now. After all, he would sooner or later be beheaded by a rebel official, wouldn't he?
Li Zhao nodded in agreement. "You're right. No one can foresee the future. Just like I never thought back then that the Li Clan would perish because of a single wrong decision of mine."
Mentioning this, his expression changed. "Although the King of Chu was crazy and cruel, was I really blameless?
"After I became the Chief Secretary, power clouded my judgment. I thought I was all - powerful and could save the world. I first had the idea of getting rid of the King of Chu and supporting another prince to the throne. That's why I was used by others and became the blade the King of Chu wielded against the Li Clan.
"In the eyes of the King of Chu, wasn't my Li Clan just a bunch of traitors? He was just doing what a king should do."
Outside the wall, a figure in cyan stood silently by the door for a long time.
[The King of Chu was just doing what a king should do.]
Mo Zhizhang's face took on a strange expression, a mix of confusion and bewilderment.
Looking down at the bowl in his hand, Mo Zhizhang pondered for a long time. Then he raised his hand and spilled the herbal medicine in the bowl. He turned around and went back to the stove. Whether it was the heavy rain covering his footsteps or his excellent light - footed skills, he made no sound at all during his comings and goings.
Neither Xiao Jingcheng nor Li Zhao in the room noticed his approach or departure.
At this moment, Li Zhao's words also surprised Xiao Jingcheng.
Was Li Zhao admitting that he was the former Chief Secretary, Li Bingjun?
Seeing Xiao Jingcheng's expression, Li Zhao's smile deepened. "You have sharp eyes. You can deduce my identity from just a few clues. All those history books you've read weren't in vain."
Xiao Jingcheng's mind raced. He finally understood that the words Li Zhao had said to him that day were not only to show his attitude towards the Xiao royal family but also to test him.
Letting out a silent sigh of relief, Xiao Jingcheng's tone became much lighter. "I thought Uncle Li hated the King of Chu so much that day that he wanted to eat his flesh and gnaw his bones."
"Hate? How could I not hate? But if I blindly blame others for everything, wouldn't I be just another 'King of Chu'?"
Yes, this man was the youngest Chief Secretary in the history of the State of Chu. How could he be ordinary?
The two sat face - to - face, calmly exchanging their views. It didn't seem like they were in a shabby and poor rural area but rather in the solemn study of the Eastern Palace.
At this moment, Li Zhao was like a good teacher that Xiao Jingcheng had accidentally found.
"Just now you mentioned that Xiao Tianchi has rebelled with his troops and has now ascended the throne. What are your plans for the future?" Li Zhao asked.
Ye Wanmian had asked Xiao Jingcheng the same question when she was sleepy just now, but at that time, Xiao Jingcheng didn't answer her directly.
Now, facing Li Zhao, Xiao Jingcheng didn't dare to be vague anymore. With a bit of a learning attitude, he calmly analyzed the situation for Li Zhao.
"I learned the news from the King of Xuan, and the eunuch who passed the news to the King of Xuan came from Concubine Feng's palace.
"According to that eunuch, both my father and Concubine Feng are missing. For now, we don't know whether they are alive or dead, or if they have left the capital.
"A change of regime is no small matter. We'll know what kind of upheaval this will cause in a few more days. I want to wait for the right opportunity, analyze the pros and cons, and then make a decision."
In such a tense situation, it was really rare for him to calm down and plan to lie low for a while to seize his own opportunity.
Li Zhao said, "Given the current situation, this is indeed the best choice."
Xiao Jingcheng bent down, grabbed Li Zhao's shoulders, and squeezed them hard.
"Uncle Li, I sincerely hope that you take good care of your health. Only in this way can you protect those you want to protect." Xiao Jingcheng said sincerely.
He was forced to leave the capital because of this scheme. Now he couldn't even protect his mother.
But fortunately, he was still alive. As long as he was alive, there were countless possibilities.
The poison in Li Zhao's body was acting violently. Just talking to Xiao Jingcheng so much had already exhausted all his energy. Seeing his exhausted look, Xiao Jingcheng didn't want to stay any longer. He helped Li Zhao lie down, covered him with the quilt, and then walked out of the room.
"Brother Gou Dan, are you leaving already?" Mo Zhizhang walked towards him, holding a bowl of steaming medicine in his hand. He pretended to be regretful and said, "My junior - niece's medicine for typhoid is ready. It seems that I'll have to feed her."
The next moment, the bowl in his hand was snatched away. Xiao Jingcheng brushed past him and said, "No need to trouble yourself."
Watching Xiao Jingcheng enter the room where Ye Wanmian was with the medicine bowl, Mo Zhizhang let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "Just the same as always."
After pausing outside for a moment, Mo Zhizhang stepped back into his own room.
Li Zhao was now fast asleep and was completely unaware of Mo Zhizhang's arrival. Mo Zhizhang stood by the bedside, looking at Li Zhao's sleeping face. He calmly straightened his sleeves, with a meaningful smile on his face.
The heavy rain pattered on the green tiles.
Ye Wanmian was probably really tired. She opened her eyes groggily, cooperated with Xiao Jingcheng to take the typhoid medicine, then closed her eyes and turned her head to fall asleep again. She probably didn't even see clearly who had fed her the medicine.
Xiao Jingcheng pulled the quilt to cover her body to prevent the cold air from getting in. He got up and was about to leave when a sob reached his ears.
"…Don't…"
She murmured in a panic, and her tears wet her temples. Maybe she was having another nightmare.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Jingcheng couldn't move his legs. He sat down by the bed, let her lean against his chest, pulled the quilt closer, and gently patted her.
Maybe she had found a pillar of support. She grabbed his sleeve and clung to him tightly.
"Mother... Uncle Li..."
Listening to her murmured words full of admiration, Xiao Jingcheng looked into the void and was lost in a daze.
How was his mother now?
...
The sky over the capital was densely covered with dark clouds. There was not a single breath of wind, and the air was unbearably stuffy.
In the western side - hall of the Cold Palace, two people were huddled tightly on a small bed that could only accommodate one person. They were Shen Lingyun and her maid Biwu.
The conditions in the Cold Palace were poor. There was a shortage of food, clothing, and daily necessities. Even the bed had uneven legs. The mistress and the maid covered themselves with the tattered clothes they had scavenged from other halls in the Cold Palace to keep warm.
Fortunately, it was summer now. Even without bedding, they could still manage to hold on.
It was the dead of night. Suddenly, the locked palace gate of the Cold Palace was pushed open from the outside. A team of armored guards filed in one by one. The clanging sound of their armor was extremely distinct in the silent Cold Palace at night.