Memorials for help from all over the country flew to the capital like snowflakes. The court officials couldn't sit still anymore. Regardless of whether the emperor would fly into a rage, they all pleaded with the emperor to depose the crown prince and install the second prince.
The crown prince was ill. If it hadn't been for the crown princess giving birth to the eldest grandson of the emperor, the crown prince might have been deposed long ago.
Actually, there had long been voices in the court saying that the crown prince's illness was due to his inborn weakness and might be passed on to his offspring. Although the eldest grandson of the emperor seemed fine for now, who could say for sure about the future? Moreover, the crown prince's health had been getting weaker in recent years, and he hadn't had any more offspring. It was really inappropriate for him to ascend the throne.
However, all those previous voices had faded away under the emperor's anger. Now, the words from the Imperial Astronomical Observatory seemed to confirm that it was a warning from heaven. There had been many natural disasters in recent years. Who knew if it wasn't because the crown prince was unfit to be the heir apparent?
The best solution to this matter would have been for the crown prince to voluntarily step down to spare the emperor's embarrassment. But at this critical moment, the crown prince fell seriously ill and seemed to be at death's door.
The emperor was deeply grieved. He personally went to the Eastern Palace to visit his beloved son. In front of the imperial physicians, he held the crown prince's bony hand and shed tears continuously.
Such deep father - son affection made the rumors in the court disappear. The court officials didn't dare to force the emperor to depose the crown prince and establish a new heir at this time.
However, although the young master Zhu volunteered to lead troops to the northwestern battlefield to resist the enemy, the emperor rejected his offer. Perhaps because the crown prince was seriously ill and might not live long, the emperor was afraid that if the crown prince suddenly died, the Zhu family wouldn't be able to rush back in time to see the crown prince for the last time, just like when the queen passed away.
As for the general to lead the troops, it was changed to General Liang, who had been recruited by the Zhu family during the last battle. General Liang was over forty years old and extremely strong. Except for General Liang who came to the capital to pay homage to the emperor, all his officers and soldiers were stationed outside the capital and were not allowed to enter.
But the court officials thought that he came from a humble background and was just a brute without the bearing of a great general. Moreover, he was a newly - recruited general who used to be a bandit, so they were afraid that he might not be loyal.
As soon as these words were spoken, General Liang was so angry that he cursed in the court, saying that as a citizen of the Great Zhou, how could he not be loyal to the Great Zhou?
Some court officials despised this rough general for his rude words and questioned whether he was qualified to lead troops in place of General Zhu and General Gao.
The two sides quarreled fiercely. Finally, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Marquis Xue of Qiyang, suggested that when using someone, one should have full trust, and if one didn't trust, one shouldn't use. Since General Zhu trusted General Liang and was willing to use him, General Liang was a trustworthy person.
Although General Liang was reckless, he still knew the rules. After the court session, he patted Marquis Xue of Qiyang on the shoulder and said, "You spoke up for me, which shows that you're not as pedantic as others say. I used to think that everyone in your marquis's mansion was a dirty person."
Marquis Xue of Qiyang grimaced. He thought that this guy was really a brute. Even his words of gratitude were so unpleasant. What made him even more uncomfortable was that this guy was really incredibly strong. Just these few pats on the shoulder made him feel as if his bones were about to fall apart and he was about to be slapped into the ground.
The two of them walked out of the palace side by side and happened to meet the fifteen - year - old young man Xue Yuxi. Xue Yuxi had made an appointment with his cousin Xue Yusong to go to the bookstore to choose books today.
When Xue Yuxi saw his uncle, he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects. After paying his respects, he looked up and saw the tall and big General Liang beside him. He couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, then bent down to salute and said, "So you're also an official."
Marquis Xue looked at his nephew and then at General Liang and asked, "Do you know each other?"
A strange look flashed across General Liang's face. He shouted, "Well, it's not really knowing each other. By coincidence, I met your young master of the mansion a few times. I saw him being bullied, so I helped him a few times."
Xue Yuxi nodded seriously and thanked General Liang over and over again in a mature manner for a boy his age. "Sir, you stood up for justice. I'm extremely grateful. But I don't know your honorable surname, nor do I know where you live. I can't go to your place to thank you, and I feel uneasy..."
General Liang waved his hand and said, "It's just a small matter. It's not worth the young master's remembering."
Hearing this, Marquis Xue thanked General Liang seriously on behalf of his nephew. "General, you're wrong. It may be a small matter to you, but it's not a small matter to my nephew. My nephew has been timid since childhood. It's common for him to be ridiculed when he goes out. Not everyone is as upright as you. Well, since we're so lucky to meet today, I'll be the host and invite the general to Wangge for a gathering. It's not only to thank the general for your help but also to see the general off. I only hope that everything will go well for the general on this trip."
However, General Liang, who was usually bold and unconstrained, showed hesitation on his face and didn't agree for a long time.
After a long time, he asked, "Since you're his uncle, why didn't your family protect him when he was being ridiculed?"
Xue Yuxi was the illegitimate son of the second branch of the Xue family. When they used to live together, because there weren't many children in the family, Marquis Xue still valued this nephew. Xue Yusong also often gave him guidance. Now that the family had split up, they couldn't be considered as one family anymore, so Marquis Xue naturally couldn't interfere in the affairs of the second branch.
Previously, when Mrs. Shao spoke up for Xue Yuxi and let him study in the Shao family, Mrs. Xiao had spread some unpleasant rumors. Later, Marquis Xue went out and gave his younger brother a warning, and that was how the matter was settled.
Although the feud between the two branches of the Xue family was well - known in the capital, General Liang might not be from here and didn't like to listen to rumors. So he didn't seem to know much about the Xue family's affairs.
Marquis Xue looked at his nephew's pale face but didn't tell the truth. He just bowed again and said with a smile, "The general is right. It's my lack of consideration."
General Liang's eyes wandered around Xue Yuxi a few times, then he nodded and agreed to the invitation.
Soon, when Xue Yusong came out, the four of them went to Wangge together.
Xue Yusong didn't know the inside story. Looking at his father, who was walking very uneasily with General Liang's arm around his shoulder in front, he lowered his head and whispered to his younger brother, "Is General Liang going to thank father for speaking up for him in the court, so he's inviting father to Wangge? But why are we going with them?"
Xue Yuxi shook his head. Being timid, his face turned even paler. Just as he was about to open his mouth to explain, he saw the mighty man in front turn around. Although the man was smiling at him, he always felt that this man, who rarely smiled, looked even scarier when he smiled.
General Liang waved and said, "Look at you two. You've got fair and delicate skins, but why do you walk so slowly? If you were so磨蹭 during a war, it would be a disaster!"
When he was young, Xue Yusong was a noble and popular young master. He was not just a weak scholar who only knew how to read. Instead, he was a man of both literary and military talents. It was the first time for him to be said to be磨蹭, so he couldn't help but look at General Liang in surprise and subconsciously pointed at himself.
General Liang stared at Xue Yusong with his big bull - like eyes. "Yes, I'm talking about you. I see that your younger brother always takes you as an example. That's not good. I know you're capable, but your martial arts skills don't seem very good. You probably can't teach your younger brother."
Xue Yuxi was very embarrassed. He quickly stepped forward and explained gently, "General, my elder brother is a judge in the Supreme Court. Investigating cases also requires skills, but it's different from your marching and fighting. It requires more strategies."
Although General Liang seemed careless and looked down on everyone, he could actually listen to Xue Yuxi's words. He nodded immediately, reached out to touch Xue Yuxi's head, and smiled. "The first time I saw you, I thought you were a capable, sensible, and filial boy. Since your elder brother is so excellent, you should learn from him more on weekdays. When you've learned well in the future, go back and be filial to your mother..."
He paused for a moment. "Be filial to your parents and your uncle's family."
Xue Yuxi's eyebrows twitched. He thought that this general probably didn't like to pry into gossip. He didn't know the situation of the Xue family, nor did he know that he was an illegitimate son. The "mother" he mentioned wasn't his biological mother, and the "father" wasn't a good father either.
He nodded meekly again. "The general is right."
General Liang was tall and strong, nearly nine feet tall, half a head taller than Marquis Xue. Standing with the not - yet - fully - grown Xue Yuxi at this moment, he made Xue Yuxi look like a child. However, there was kindness in General Liang's eyes when he looked down at Xue Yuxi. It was extremely harmonious.
After they were seated in the private room, Marquis Xue asked General Liang about his past days with concern.
General Liang waved his big hand. He imitated them and drank wine from a small cup, but he couldn't help smacking his lips. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he shook his head. "In the past, it was just like that. I was wandering on the river, thinking I was a hero of the green forest, doing some things like robbing the rich to help the poor. The marquis may not know that in Qu County where I used to be, the fat rats were scarier than tigers. The common people had a hard time. They all relied on us... Hahaha, that was in the past."
Xue Yuxi was in a daze for a long time before he realized that the general wasn't talking about real rats, but corrupt officials. He subconsciously asked, "What about later?"
General Liang shrugged. "Later? Later, life got better. There was no need for us to eliminate harm for the people anymore. So we went to the mountains and set up a stockade. We fought with all kinds of wandering bandits and mountain outlaws..."
Xue Yuxi quickly asked, "How did life get better later? Did it get better after you killed the fat rats?"
Such innocent words made General Liang burst into laughter. He reached out to touch Xue Yuxi's head again. "Haven't you heard that children's song? There was Chen Wenwei in Yun County, who worked for the country and the people. A Lord Shen came from the sky, bringing peace and well - being to the common people every day. A few years ago, after the deeds of Lord Chen and Lord Shen in Yun County spread throughout the Great Zhou, the court issued an order to investigate and punish many corrupt officials. Only then did the common people's lives get a little better."
"Sister Yuning?"
Xue Yuxi stared wide - eyed. He knew that Brother Chen and Sister Yuning had done a lot for the common people, but he didn't know that their influence was so great that even the common people praised them so much.
General Liang didn't know the details and didn't know the real name of Lord Shen in the song. Seeing Xue Yuxi's surprised look, he asked, "Do you know them?"
"She's my sister!" Xue Yuxi straightened his chest and said loudly. Then he looked at his uncle and cousin timidly and lowered his voice a bit. "She was my sister in the past."
Seeing this, Marquis Xue sighed. "It's a long story. Lord Shen is my adopted daughter now. She is indeed Yuxi's sister."
General Liang stared at Marquis Xue intently, looking thoughtful. "Previously, I thought that the Xue family were just people with a false reputation. Now it seems that's not the case."
This was the second time he said that he used to look down on the Xue family.
Marquis Xue couldn't help asking, "Did the general hear someone speak ill of my Xue family before?"
General Liang picked up the wine cup on the table. His big hand holding the small cup was really uncomfortable. So he simply put down the cup, picked up the wine pot, took a big gulp, wiped the spilled wine, and laughed. "No. Come on, Marquis. I'm really happy to meet you today. Let's get drunk tonight!"